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1Quest Collection: 9 threads in 468kb
2
3You feel like somebody's pounding your head with a sledgehammer and your body's about as stiff as a board as you wake up from a deep sleep, your alarm clock radio blaring adds for some overrated boxer's straight-to-DVD fitness program and a country & western-themed burger joint before you mercifully turn the thing off with a punch. Damn, and it only felt like you had just closed your eyes and drifted off to sleep too...
4
5Actually, hang on a minute, what exactly did you do last night? You meekly roll out of bed and flick on a light before you start to stretch a little bit to jog your foggy memory, looking at an old rare King of Fighters media poster you had framed for inspiration. A couple of sniffs of your underarms have you gagging; You reek of blood, sweat, stale cigarette smoke & Stella Artois... Your kind of night, but not an odor you want to take home with you. It only raises further questions in the back of your mind because you usually don't go out drinking on weekdays and you were holding off on regularly street fighting again until Real Bout this Friday, so...?
6
7Whatever. You're too tired to sweat the small stuff at 4 AM. You hop in the shower and try to get your brain to kick-start itself into high gear because you know there's something on your personal agenda today... Then it hits you just as you're drying yourself off and starting to slip into your pajamas (Not wearing them before hitting the sack's another oddity; You almost never sleep in the clothes you wear out and about).
8
9>A. You've got to work today. Early shift too. #fml
10
11>B. You've got Karate classes before your afternoon closing shift. #thanksellie
12
13>C. It's Friday! Real Bout Day! #EatSleepFightRepeat
14
15>D. You're in no shape to do anything super-early today. Better call in sick and see how you feel by lunchtime. #lazydays
16
17>E. You're supposed to meet up with some Douche McMoneybags near Port Downtown. #thuglife
18
19--------------
20
21
22You quickly jump out of your PJs and scramble to get your stuff together; You forgot you've got morning classes at the dojo today (7 AM Sharp) before covering for some sick girl at the Cafe in the afternoon You quickly put on some gym clothes (Shorts, a wife-beater and Chuck Taylors) and bust out a warm-up routine that takes about an hour, then pull on your Gi and get your work clothes ready in your dad's old canvass bag (Turtleneck sweater for the evening, a Southtown Maulers T-Shirt & a pair of jeans).
23
24You slam the door behind you and take a moment to breathe in the early morning air and watch the sun crest the peaks of a mountain range directly across from your house and smile. Sure, you overpaid a ton to inherit some crazy old guys cabin out in the woods, but you just can't put a price on the peace and calm it gives you living out in the wilderness. Especially when you think about where you grew up and how the scenery looks positively alien compared to this...
25
26Can't enjoy the scenery too much though; It's quite a drive to get to the Dojo, which is in South Town proper. You hop into your old Slantnose Porsche 911, plug in your MP3 player, set that sucker on "Shuffle" and drive off into the twisty backroads hoping you'll get something good to listen to.
27
28>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTuD8k3JvxQ
29
30Fuck yeah, today's going to be a good day.
31
32+++
33
34You arrive at the Dojo about 15 minutes early and formally greet your sensei with a bow. He's a dude that looks like he should be a sumo or something and, honestly, is trying to damn hard to mimic Kyokugenryuu stud Ryo Sakazaki, but he's a damn good teacher... Especially since you tried to beat the holy crap out of his daughter that one time...
35
36Bah, what's in the past is in the past. you''ve got to focus on performing drills with the rest of the class or else Tatsuya-Sensei's gonna have your ass handed to you... Again...
37
38>Roll 3d20; First 3 rolls within 15 Minutes count.
39
40---------------
41
42Everything's pretty peachy at first, mainly because it's just simple "Punch 500 times with each arm" & "Do this Kick 200 times with each leg" stuff, but the longer the first session of the class lasts the more you start to lose focus. Again, pretty unusual for you, but then again everything just feels... 'Off" for you today. It's really noticeable when you go to try and land some kind of whirlwind kick-thingy and land flat on your ass.
43
44The laughs from the class drill into your ears like a pack of Hyenas and makes you want to curl up into a ball and forget about life...
45
46"Hey! Knock it off!"
47
48Thank god for Tatsuya-Sensei looking out for greenhorns like you. He helps you up to your feet and points at some kid in the crowd still laughing. "You try it."
49
50The guy's face goes pale and it takes a good five minutes before he attempts the same "Special" move... And he lands flat on his back.
51
52You smirk a little, but try not to laugh as Tatsuya-Sensei eyes you up. "Something wrong Kiddo? You didn't have your usual game face on."
53
54>A. Shrug your shoulders and tell him you don't know either. #caseofthemondays
55
56>B.Sigh and give him a quick rundown on why your part-time job sucks so damn much. #fml
57
58>C. You're probably just nervous about Friday. #EatSleepFightRepeat
59
60>D. "A lot of things". #vague
61
62-------------------
63
64
65"It's a lot of things, Sensei."
66
67He nods, clearly seeing you don't want to get into it any further. "It's OK, we've all got off-days. Now try it again."
68
69You close your eyes and hear Tatsuya-Sensei telling the rest of the students to give you some space. Three long, easy breaths. Channel your Ki into your legs & feet. Control you breathe... No need for any kind of Fire or Ice or Electricity or whatever on this one...
70
71You run towards the training dummy they have set up (Complete with a picture of somebody's face taped over the head) and execute a "Hien Kyaku" picture-perfectly to claps from the rest of the class.You bow, then watch five others (4 guys and somebody you can't tell is a guy or a girl) all try to get it right as well as you did. Most of them can't stick the landing and stumble after hitting the dummy's head; Only the girly-boy/tomgirl hits it as clean as you did.
72
73"Alright, now let's get a 10 Km in before lunch" Tatsuya-Sensei says, draining away all of the goodwill you had for him.
74
75>LATER THAT DAY
76
77You nearly forgot that you started work at 11 AM today instead of your usual Noon shift, so halfway through your run with the rest of the class you had to bail and drive like a maniac to clock in on time and changed out of your Gi in the bathroom.
78
79Ah yes, "Cafe de Paradiso"...What a dump.
80
81OK, to be fair the place itself is pretty nice and the decor is fine for what it is, but it's in the middle of nowhere and you could go on for days about how ineptly run it is... Then again, what could expect from some two-bit mafioso's trying to tap into the "Whole Foods" clientele that's started to show up in South Town lately, except without anything on the menu being Organic? Or using fucking microwaves because they're too cheap to get convection ovens?
82
83Shit, if it weren't for the fact that the pay was good and you've been there longer than anyone else you would've walked a long time ago. The thing is...
84
85
86-------------
87
88
89Thinking about it, you're honestly a little embarrassed about what your life was like just a few years ago; Working as a "Ringer" in various underground fightclubs so somebody somewhere could make a bet that cost the local bookies thousands of dollars, the street racing up in the hills where you live, the drinking, the drugs... Oh yeah, and you helped set Southtown on fire once and beat up nearly every dojo-owner in town.
90
91How can you explain all of that to somebody and expect to get hired? Hell, you lost a job at a Baskin Robbins because you lied about all that... Or rather, only listed your accomplishments in college (Went to Tokai university, made the Judo Team, Majored in engineering and worked on their aborted Le Mans 24 Hours program).
92
93"Hey, space cadet! You gonna me help with these cold cuts or what?"
94
95Damn, there you go again. It's really noticeable at the Cafe because you're about the only responsible person in the damn place... And that becomes all-the-more apparent when you realize that you're out of Turkey meat halfway through making an order.
96
97Oh fuck, dude, I'm so sorry" she says (What was her name? Brandi? Brandy?).
98
99"Not a problem, I'll be right back" you sigh. Figures. Fucking do-nothing bitches can't even get the orders right on the damn Cisco sheet right, so their always running out of shit... By the time you get back, some bro-douche asshole is screaming in one of your co-workers faces about a mistake on their order.
100
101Wonderful. How could your day get any better?
102
103"Hey you! I want to see you're fucking manager over my fucking smoothie!" he yells, storming over to your side of the check-in counter.
104
105>A. "I'm the manager. What's all this then?"
106
107>B. Politely ask him how/why his order's wrong.
108
109>C. Coldly tell him he's not here.
110
111>D. Threaten to call the cops on his ass if he keeps this up.
112
113>E. Hello, Operator? NOW I'VE LOST IT.
114
115------------
116
117
118
119You feel a very sudden, violent urge to deck this son of a bitch and bum-rush him out of here, but you need this job and you don't want no trable. Not until Friday.
120
121"I'm the manager" you coolly tell him, standing in front of where the entrance to the bathroom and the back is. "Now what seems to be the trouble?"
122
123"Some bitch fucked up my smoothie! I wanted a 24 oz Paradiso with a shot of wheatgrass."
124
125"And?"
126
127"She fucking gave me a 16, added cream and charged me for the 24 instead!"
128
129You take a quick look around the prep area and see that no one else is looking at what's going down. You had a feeling somebody was shorting the till and staling out of the register; This just proves it.
130
131"I'm sorry sir, but was out on a run for product. I wasn't here for that-"
132
133"-Like I give a fuck!"
134
135"Try to watch your mouth sir, there ARE kids present" you sternly say, pointing to the table just a few feet from where he's standing from.
136
137"It's a free country, ain't it? I'll say what I want to fucking say, bitch" he replies, halfway under his breath.
138
139You hate this job sometimes. You really do. Again, you try to calm your nerves by running a hand through your hair and bluntly ask "You want that on the house then? Or what?"
140
141He seems to cool off a little at that. "Full refund and I'll drop it."
142
143You sigh, hand him his $7.50 and wish he could get hit by a passing truck or something watching him walk out.
144
145>LATER THAT EVENING
146
147Mercifully, the rest of the day was pretty dull as dishwater and you were able to get out early enough that you're not too tired just yet... Or feel like killing somebody just yet. Where should you go?
148
149>A. The Gym. #nopainnogain
150
151>B. The Mall. #shopping
152
153>C. That New "Speed Shop" on 16th & Dowe, near some old hotel. #speedhunter
154
155>D. That one Arcade down in China Town. #fgc
156
157>E. Just go home and relax. #netflixandchill
158
159------------
160
161
162You decide to drive to Central City and get the competitive juices flowing and blow off some steam at an arcade built in the China Town district. "Live the Dream", you think it was called? Whatever, you can't read Cantonese or Madarin anyway and their sign doesn't have an English translation on it.
163
164You feel the buzz of electricity and feel the wall of sound wash over you as you walk inside; The place has been around for nearly a decade now, though it's mainly because some local gangster bought it and has a hard-on for videogames... Still, you can't complain; Everything's fairly clean, the machines are all properly functioning, they've got a good selection of of just about every genre you could think of...
165
166And they have two of the most fun racing games around: Talladega USA & Northwest TT.
167
168You get about $5 in Quarters and plop yourself down on the 'Dega machine first. It's a sit-down racer with an actual swinging pod, so you really have to muscle your way around with your forearms to set quick times on it (And also requires you to hang the car out like a Fast & Furious movie, but that's just part of the fun). You haven't played it in a while, though, and your run in the "Season" mode ends after 3 races of 7.
169
170Satisfied, you clamber out of machine and hop on the Northwest TT cab. It's notorious for requiring you to steer with your legs & hips moving side-to-side rather than with the actual peg bars (Which only make minute adjustments), but otherwise it's a blast to play. Especially if you can get 3 others to race you.
171
172You're a lot better at handling the idiosyncrasies of this game than the previous one, though, and get a new top time on the Time Trail mode. you even complete the ridiculously hard "Northwest 200" mode, where one mistake ends your race...
173
174In fact, you're having so much fun you don't notice the large group of suit-wearing guys and girls starting to stream through the arcade...
175
176-----------
177
178
179
180You quickly, quietly slip out of the arcade without any of the gangsters you used to do jobs for noticing you. Though you're on OK terms with their boss, most of the crew are still pretty sore at you for a couple of things... But again, what's with you dwelling on your past today? It's not like you at all.
181
182You head over to some Chinese place a few blocks down, eye the pretty little thing with the bells in her hair busing tables and get some Kung-Pao Chicken. You're lucky this place has old-fashioned booths that nearly swallow you up, because a couple of "The Waifus" stroll in, clearly looking for somebody... Not you though, which is a relief.
183
184"You're a sight for sore eyes."
185
186Aw damn it, really? HE just had to be here, didn't he? ... Hang on, is he under the-
187
188"-Just try to act natural, OK? I'll explain when they leave."
189
190Yep, he's hiding out under your table. FROM HIS OWN FUCKING GANG. What the fuck.
191
192"What's the deal, Kaz? Your boys trying to cut your vacation short again?"
193
194"On-point as ever, I see."
195
196KazunorI Kazahaya... "The Wind", if you go by his street name. How he became the head of the biggest gang in city and run the biggest drug connections is beyond your comprehension. Actually, now that you think about it, he can be a total fucking sociopath when he wants to be, complete with his cronies dancing in-step with him like it's a Michael Jackson video. The problem is, he hasn't felt like that kind of guy for a while now, and he's starting to slip in his reign as unofficial "King of the Underworld"...
197
198You know all of this, of course, because you helped him bankrupt quite a few bookies and gang-bangers through the fight-clubs. And that he WAS a friend for a spell... Now, it's just sad watching this.
199
200>A. "What's eating you Really, Kaz?"
201
202>B. "So, how's the filth?"
203
204>C. Eat your food and let him speak up on what's going on.
205
206>D. Finish up your meal and walk out.
207
208-------------
209
210
211"OK, come on, what's the deal Kaz?"
212
213"Deal about what?"
214
215"THE Deal, Kaz. There's a reason why you're hiding here, and it isn't to goof off."
216
217He takes a moment to look at you, trying to give you some kind of "Pittance Stare" or something. You've seen him do it one of his many, many girlfriends.
218
219It doesn't work on you.
220
221"My Sifu is back in town" he finally says.
222
223"And he doesn't know you're a drug-dealing scumbag?"
224
225He winces at that and nods. "He's getting frail and if he knew, It would break his heart." He pauses for a moment, then adds "My sources have spotted my sister nearby too. And you know how bad that is."
226
227You pause at that. Kazahaya, for all of his faults, is still generally a OK guy; He looks after Chinatown, doesn't really ask too much for protection... Hell, Chinatown was about the only place that didn't get damaged when the "Ellie Riots" went down. The same couldn't be said about his gay, crazy, knife-wielding sister. Or how the two of them broke it off as partners in the underground scene over the same girl...
228
229"That makes more sense" you finally state, breaking the silence. "I wish I could help you out, man. Really."
230
231"I know, I know" Kazahaya mutters. "You want to rock the straight-and-narrow because of your parole. I don't want to attract whatever's left of Water Margin..."
232
233"Your Sifu's all that's left, right? And he left before they tried to move in."
234
235He shrugs. "Pretty much, yeah. But you never can know anymore... Hell, I'm stressing out over the new KOF Tournament going on."
236
237Your ears perk up at the sound of that. "Excuse me?"
238
239"You haven't heard? Some crazy Russian guy that looks like Duke is hosting it" he explains.
240
241"You get an invite?"
242
243"I wish!" he chuckles. "Hell, if I had I would've called you with an offer to join me."
244
245"Who's your third?" you ask.
246
247"Don't know" Kazahaya says. "I better get going; Take care."
248
249--------------
250
251
252The rest of the night was thankfully drama-free and after a movie or two you crashed on your bed at around... 10:30? 11? Early enough to get some sleep in.
253
254>THE NEXT DAY
255
256You wake up early, feeling a little bit better bit still a tad bit sore for your liking as you stretch and warm your body up. Even for as strong as you are, your muscle-memory is fairly poor, so you really have to push hard to keep your level of fitness up.
257
258"Thank god for bodyweight training" you think as you switch to doing push-ups and sit-ups. When you're done, you check the calendar on your phone and break out into a smile like a kid on Christmas morning.
259
260It's Friday.
261
262>A. Hit Sound Beach do calisthenics.
263
264>B. Jog around your property for a good hike.
265
266>C. Hit the gym in South Town.
267
268>D. Just sleep in and get going after a nice breakfast.
269
270-----------
271
272
273
274Going out to the beach super-early sounds tempting, especially since you haven't had a chance to try out your recently-restored surf board yet (An 80's tri-fin you snagged for a song at some thrift shop), but then again it isn't really surfing season until May... So, you wait until the sun rises before going out on a hike through the woods.
275
276Though your parcel is "Only" 20 acres or so, it's quite rugged terrain, with your cabin being on just about the only solid, flat piece of land and everything else dropping down nearly 500 feet. As such, you stop halfway through your jog to stretch, take a breather and just... Listen to nature speak. It calms you down in a way that's hard to explain to others; Only fighting or racing gives you the same kind of serene feeling being outdoors does.
277
278By the time you get back to the house it's just a shade before noon, so you fix up a hearty lunch and chill until around 3 or so before driving back into South Town.
279
280>LATER THAT NIGHT
281
282"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this week's Real Bout!"
283
284Back in the day, just after the King of Fighters went international and a host of Fatal Fury copycats took over across the country, Real Bout sprung up as a sort-of replacement and a way to keep South Town citizen's morale up. Kind of like FDR creating April Fool's Day during The Great Depression, actually.
285
286As time wore on and it's regulars either moved on to competing in KOF exclusively (The Bogard Brothers, Joe Higashi, Blue Mary, Kim Kaphwan & Yamazaki), retired (Franco Bash, Tung-Fue Rue, Toji Sakata) or just faded away from the fight scene altogether (The Jin Twins, Hon-Fu, Rick Strowd), Real bout became kind of an informal get-together for all of the fighters that either couldn't make it to KOF level, were new or just purely amateur on a weekly basis.
287
288"Fightclubs come and go, but Real Bout sticks around" was the tagline they went with.
289
290-----------
291
292
293For you, this is like a bit of a homecoming really. You did judo back in college and almost learned a couple of moves from a coach that was one of the last students of Jubei Yamada, "The Demon" as he was known in his prime. Alas, it wasn't meant to be...
294
295It was probably because you did one of the four "Forbidden Techniques" in a tournament to stick it to a rival... Which is how you ended up turning into a "Persona Non Grata" at Judo meets across Japan and gravitated towards street fighting.
296
297...
298
299Fuck it, not the time dwell on the past. Time to find your center and pound some fucker into paste with a smile on your face.
300
301>Roll 1d100 and suggest an opponent for the MC (Pictures recommended). Highest roll wins.
302
303-----------
304
305
306==== END THREAD ====
307
308The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #2
309written by That Damn Weasel (20 posts, 6 omitted posts)
310-------- qst2txt --------
311
312>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46394792/
313>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
314
315>Introduction:
316
317You drive to what looks like some old bingo hall on East Island and spend a good 5 minutes trying to find a parking spot before giving up and walking about half a mile to the entrance. On a second glance, you recognise it from FightChan via "CopyPasta": Allegedly, this place once hosted a crazy, open hardcore pro wrasslin' tourney that only stopped when somebody called in the National Guard. OK, sure, it might just be an urban legend, but you're sore about not being able to go to that. Hell, just WATCHING something like that with the rest of the marks would've been fun, worked shoot or not...
318
3193 days a week, you work at a hole-in-the-wall called "Cafe de Paradiso" as a barista. Half the time there, you feel like killing somebody; If the pay wasn't as good as it is thanks to some mobsters laundering money through the place, you WOULD'VE killed someone there already. 
320
321Another 3 days a week, you do classes at some guy's knock-off Kyokugen Karate dojo as part of your "Rehabilitation" (Something you agreed to do instead of letting your instructor's daughter making a citizen's arrest on you during the "Ellie Riots"). Half the time you're in class, you feel like killing yourself just to end the sheer pain and struggle you have to put up with from Tatsuya-Sensei's relentless training drills; Sometimes you think about committing a crime just to get your ass in jail to get time off to rest and heal all of your bruises.
322
323Twice a week, you have to do both and don't get home until around 10 PM at night, by which point you're straining to stay awake to take a shower and go to bed.
324
325Fridays, though, are what keep you centered. Keeps all of the bullshit and drama from work and the dojo from eating away at your sanity; Keeps your head clear... It's one of your two precious days off, sure, but Fridays are going to start to have a bigger meaning for you.
326
327-------------------------
328
329>>46437068
330
331"Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to this week's Real Bout!"
332
333Real Bout as a tournament hasn't really been a major thing since the old heavy-hitters like the Bogard Brothers, Joe Higashi & Blue Mary all moved on to competing in KOF and regulars like Rick Strowd & Franco Bash retired (Not to mention whatever happened to Yamazaki, The Jin Twins & that one Jackie Chan lookalike). With that said, the "Casual" vibe you got from spectating the last few Real Bouts is completely absent tonight; This place is packed to the rafters with people. It makes you wonder why it's so crowded; Maybe there are scouts looking for some fresh new face to add to their King of Fighters team? And if what Kazahaya said is true, then...?
334
335Whatever. You're too scared about having any "Ring Rust" while you're out there to care about shit like that. Focus, damn it! FOCUS!
336
337That's better. Hell, you calmed down enough that you don't even notice Tatsuya-Sensei tapping you on the should-Wait WHAT.
338
339"About time you noticed me! Thought your brain switched off there for a second."
340
341"It might have" you crack. "Uh... No disrespect Sensei, but why are you here?"
342
343"What? A proud teacher like myself can't show up to cheer on his students during their first fight outside of the dojo?" He pauses, then admits "I was here for that one police trainee girl in our class. She's fighting tonight too."
344
345Wait, there's another girl in your class? Huh... Probably the one that looks like a boy.
346
347Tatsuya clears his throat, holding up a suitcase to you. "Look, I'm alright with you doing this; It's healthy to fight other styles on a regular basis and I'm not the kind of guy that would stop you... Hell, I let Pumpkin sneak out and do it the day she turned 16 and didn't say a word until she lost and got tore up for the first time."
348
349"Yeah? Good for you family man, but I've got to sign up-"
350
351"-But I think you should keep a low profile and fight under an assumed name, or with a costume or something" Tatsuya concludes.
352
353-------------------------
354
355>>46437224
356
357>A. "Hold my place in the line then Sensei. I'll have to get changed."
358
359>B. "I'm fighting under my real name tonight. I'm through with hiding behind costumes and masks."
360
361>C. Tell him you'll only do that if you can bust out some sweet Pro-Wrestling moves you've been itching to try.
362
363>D. "If that's the case, I'll just watch it tonight with you."
364
365-omitted one small post.
366
367-------------------------
368
369>>46437498
370>>46437291
371
372You sigh. It's better off for your health not to argue with Tatsuya-Sensei; He's got that intangible "Fire" in his eyes tonight. "OK, hold my place in the line; I have to get changed."
373
374"Bathroom's to the right, near the service entrance" he tells you as you snatch the briefcase out of his hands and try to work your way through the crowd. Eventually, you make it to an open stall, lock the door behind you and open the briefcase to find... The gaudiest, tackiest superfero outfit you've ever seen. Seriously, who would want to wear this? 
375
376Aw shit, no time to worry about appearences; The first fights are already starting up.
377
378"What took you so long?"
379
380"I went into shock over how ridiculous I look" you tell him through muffled tones in your mask.
381
382"Hey, Pumpkin & Adam wore that thing once as part of their training. I figured you should too."
383
384... That's actually kind of sweet. Who knew?
385
386"What name did you sign me under?"
387
388"You'll see" is all Tatsuya says as you catch the end of a fight between a guy dressed in combat fatigues throwing fireballs out of a Tuba and some Biker dude with chains wrapped around his wrists & ankles. It goes to time and you can't believe "Tuba Ted" scored the win on points; The face on Axl "Slash" Rose is a pretty clear indicator of how the crowd felt.
389
390Goddamn, you miss this.
391
392Fighting is something you've used to keep sane for a while now. You're considered to be too old to make a fist of a "Real" racing career (Well, unless you had Millions of dollars to throw at teams) and a life of crime doesn't really suit you... So, you settled on being a fighter. Besides, it's South Town for god's sake; How else are you going to survive?
393
394You completely miss the all-too-short match-up of Avery Mitchell wiping the floor up with some Try-hard Cool-guy and step up into the lane that leads to the ring.
395
396>"And in the Red corner, Hailing from Parts Unknown... It's..."
397
398>A. Skullomania X
399
400>B. Lady Skulltopia Z
401
402>C. Space Medafighter Omega
403
404-omitted one small post.
405
406-------------------------
407
408>>46438081
409>>46438144
410
411>"... LAAAAAAAAADDDDDYYYYYY SKUL-LO!!!"
412
413The lights dim as you hop into the ring, getting a couple of cheers from some of the diehards in the crowd who remember when Ellie wore this suit. Most of them are hoots and hollers from how it tight the damn thing is on you; Not unwelcome, but unexpected considering how the crowd reacted to other female fighters when you spectated.
414
415"Aaaaaaaand her opponent..."
416
417>Roll 1d100 and suggest an opponent (Pictures preferable). Highest roll within 15 minutes wins.
418
419-------------------------
420
421>>46438361
422
423"From the Guangdong province in China... GIVE IT UP FOR FEEEEEEEENG ZHAO!"
424
425A guy that looks like he came straight out of some wire-fu epic casually strolls up to the ring. You note the nunchaku on his hip and offer to shake his hand. Surprisingly, he accepts while speaking to you in Mandarin Chinese about... Well, something you guess as you get into a looser take on the stance Tatsuya-Sensei grilled into you. to fit the more comedic nature of your assumed persona and Feng starts doing some Wing-Chun stuff before the two of you hop away as the lights dim down again.
426
427Six months is too long to be out of "The Game", you reckon as your body fills up with Ki and the bell rings.
428
429>"ROUND 1... FIGHT!"
430
431===
432
433>A, Go on the offense and rush him down.
434
435>B. Let Feng come to you; You want to try and land some counter-hits for real Kyokugen damage.
436
437>C. Try to gauge his range with "Safe" strikes and feel out his style.
438
439>D. Go "Demon of Judo" on his ass like your coach in college would.
440
441-------------------------
442
443>>46438766
444>>46438798
445
446Even though you're fired up and raring to beat Feng up, you know for a fact that rushing in is a sure-fire way to lose a fight in seconds. So, you hang back a little, letting off any excess stress or nervousness out by exaggerating your Kyokugen motions just a little.
447
448Curiously, Feng seems content to just toy with you, moving in and out range while moving his hands in a way to make it look like he'll whip out his nunchucks any second. Less than 15 seconds into the round and you can hear some fuckhead in the crowd try to start a "BO-ORING" chant, but hear a scuffle break out as Feng finally cracks and makes a step just a tad too close.
449
450You jump up with your foot outstetched, then get down low and sweep Feng of his feet. He takes longer than you expected to get up, so you hop back a little and throw out a slow projectile (Somewhat electricity-infused, you note). He blocks it, but it gives you a chance to try out a Hien Shippu Kyaku...
451
452Which he hits you out with a Backflip Somersault kick, then clips you a little bit with the nunchucks as you fall back to the ground. Joy.
453
454You pull a Ukemi and hit him with your patented flurry of punches (That Tatsuya helped to make into a pseudo-Zanretsuken or whatever it's called) and knock him right on his ass again. He seemed to be charging up his Ki while doing that right after using the 'chucks, so that's something to exploit... The crowd seems to be into it too, but mostly because they can't tell if it's really Ellie inside your costume or not... (Come on, really? Ellie's at least 2 dress sizes smaller than you in every area!)
455
456===
457
458>A. Try to get in on offense a little bit more; Feng looks like he could be hurting already (Roll 1d20)
459
460>B.Stick with what you're doing; For as many lumps as you've taken, you feel like you're getting some good shots in (Roll 2d20)
461
462>C. Mix it up a little with some combinations. (Roll 3d20)
463
464>D. Bust out some old Judo throws you know by heart. (Roll 1d20)
465
466-------------------------
467
468>>46439184
469>>46439217
470
471On second thought, Feng seems to be trying to clear his head after that last hit, so you take this chace to land some damage and maybe even finish the fight off...?
472
473You sprint towards Feng and connect with a Left Hook, then transition into a "Super Kick" that sends him bouncing off of the ropes. You go to try and combo into your punch flurry, but the sonnofabitch recovers and hits you with a divekick to the chest!
474
475It doesn't do much to knock you off balance, though, and you beef your way through his next two punches with the uppercut Tatsuya's tried to turn into a more traditional "Kohou". Though it looks fairly sloppy, it rockets him into the sky and he lands flat down onto his back... Part of you feels like the fight's already over, but you keep your guard up in case he has any more tricks up his sleeve.
476
477Sure enough, he lets out a yell, busts out both nunchucks and flies towards you with a Dragon Kick you usually only see in Fei-Long movies.
478
479>A. Block and counter it with your favorite Pro-Wrasslin' move (Roll 2d20)
480
481>B. Roll past him and hit him the "Ryuuko Ranbuu"-ish thing Tatsuya-Sensei taught you. (Roll 1d50)
482
483>C. Just block the whole thing and chuck his ass. (Roll 1d20)
484
485>D. Parry the hit and whatever comes next like Ryo Sakazaki would, then hit Feng with your longest combo (Roll 1d100)
486
487-------------------------
488
489>>46439566
490>>46439628
491
492On second though, Feng Zhao seems more like Kim Kapwhan than anyone else as he hits you with what's probably his "Desperation Move", yelling and screaming in Mandarin with each hit. Rather than try to be flashy and dodge it or even parry the whole thing, you just block it and wait for a chance to throw him. You're lucky that he ran out of steam when he did, because one more hit would've broken your guard.
493
494Still, you chuck his ass into the ground with an Ippon Seoi and watch him fail to get up in time.
495
496>"KO! LADY SKULLO WINS!"
497
498You look around and see the crowd cheer a little, so you try to strike your best "Hero Pose" and... Only hear crickets chirp back at you. Well, until some guy yells "WATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THE SKULLOMANIA RUNS WILD OVER YOU, BROTHA?!"
499
500Again, you hear another scuffle breaks out as you head back to the center of the ring, waiting until Feng gets back up and spouts off some sack-talk in his native tongue. He's probably talking big, but then somebody that looks like an official escorts you off to the side as two more fighters square each other up.
501
502That's... Odd. Usually, Real bout fights are a best of three rounds unless there's an actual tournament-OH SHIT.
503
504+++
505
506"You did good Kiddo" Tatsuya-Sensei says with a pat on the back that feels like a closed-fist blow. 
507
508"I forgot that when they do real tournaments it's one round only. I would taken a second to do something more dramatic" you admit.
509
510"Nah, it's alright" he says. You can't help but notice he's a little roughed-up compared to what he looked like when you got here, but then that tomboy Avery shows up.
511
512"Hey... Nice one" is all she says before finding a spot to watch the next fight.
513
514"What side of the bracket am I on?" you wonder out loud as you watch somebody dressed in a metal mask and a Prohibition-Era detective outfit yelling "NO TICKET NO RIDE" go up against some schoolgirl.
515
516All in all, not too bad of a way to get back into it. Wonder who's next?
517
518-------------------------
519
520>>46440198
521
522It takes a good half hour before the next round of fights start up. Curiously, yours goes up firstand they even manage to throw on some generic theme music over the loudspeakers for you.
523
524>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuAdpP8evyY
525
526It only makes you want to bust out some more cheesy poses... But you just hold back and do some thumbs ups to the crowd instead. It gets some pops, but you're not here for that. You just want to win this tournament, collect a modest prize and go home.
527
528>"Aaaand her opponent..."
529
530>>Roll 1d100 and suggest an opponent (Pictures preferable). Highest roll within 15 minutes wins.
531
532-------------------------
533
534"Hailing from Kansas City, MO but and currently lecturing students at South Town University in Physics, Astrology & The History of Fashion... Ladies & Gentlemen, GIVE A BIG HAND FOR PROFESSOR ISAAC JACKSON!"
535
536An older, buff Black guy with a big beard and an awesome suit climbs up into the ring. Seriously, all he needs is a gold pocketwatch hanging off of a chain to complete the look and he could probably freeze time itself from sheer awesomeness... However, he takes one look at you and snorts. 
537
538"All the skill in the world can't you from looking like a clown... Why do you need to hide behind a silly mask like that?"
539
540"I'm no clown! And I'm not silly! I'm LADY SKULLO, CHAMPION OF JUSTICE!" you yell, really getting into such a ridiculous pose and character. Makes you wish you got into the SWF when you first got out of college... Then again, you're a competitive person and the thought of having to even pretend to lose doesn't goes against your train of thought.
541
542You hear Issac mumble "Can't fix stupid" while adopting a stance that vaguely resembles boxing as the bell rings.
543
544"Ready? FIGHT!"
545
546===
547
548>A. Rushdown him down and don't let up. (Roll 2d20)
549
550>B. Zone him out with projectiles. It's the one part of your training you need to work on. (Roll 2d20)
551
552>C. Wait for him to come to you; This guy looks like a straight brawler, so there's obviously going to gaps in his defense (Roll 1d20)
553
554>D. Ham it up and go for crazy shit; Combos, throws, the works. You're feeling it right now (Roll 3d20)
555
556-omitted one small post.
557
558-------------------------
559
560>>46441176
561>>46441200
562>>46441240
563
564You feel a little bit more confident that your fundamentals are still with you, so you jump the gun a little bit and try to overwhelm Issac with an unrelenting offense. You stick with the "Safe" stuff at first and watch him try to break out of it with a couple of stylish-looking punches and kicks. 
565
566If he were faster or less concerned with looking "Cool" (Or at least "Jojo Cool"), they'd have probably hit you an done some damage, but he seems to be having trouble keeping you off of him and you capitalize on it with a nice Hien Shippu Kyaku, your heel arcing downward on the last hit to bash him into the ground. You duck under his clothesline and hit him again with that uppercut of yours, but he seems to have expecting you to do that and takes the hit full-on, giving him time to grab you out of the air and drive you into the ground.
567
568Damn, OK, that hurt. You get up off the floor and immediately block a Clothesline, then land another "Super Kick" that knocks him off of you for now. The look he has on Issac's face as he gets up seems to suggest that it didn't even scratch him though...
569
570>A. Bait him to eat a "Desperation Move" on a counter-hit (Roll 3d20)
571
572>B. Let him try to come to you; He's got gaps in his strikes you can exploit. (Roll 2d20)
573
574>C. "Lame it out" with projectiles & well-placed punches & kicks; He's got a reach advantage and you need to keep him at more than an arm's length. (Roll 1d20)
575
576>D. Screw it, "Power Up" and hit him with your longest, wildest combo (Roll 3d20)
577
578-------------------------
579
580>>46441589
581>>46441657
582>>46441730
583
584You can see how this is going to go; Isaac's gonna rage out and try to bash your face in while berating your over the costume if you try to rush in on him again, so you take your time to set up a solid defense and wait for a chance to strike...
585
586Really, it's a style you kind of perfected over the years: "Give the enemy just enough rope so they can hang themselves with it." Worked for your first (And only) Judo championship, worked a bunch of times in the fightclubs...
587
588And surprise, surprise, it works here too.
589
590He tries to hit you with some glowing dropkick to your shins, but you block it easily and quickly run him down with your "Ryuuko Ranbuu" (Not a real one; You're not that fast yet and lack the proper form) and strain to NOT yell "KYOKUGENRYUU!!" as you wail on Isaac. The last blast from your fist (Again, Electricity swirling around blue-ish Ki-flame) nearly knocks him straight out of the ring and into the crowd, but the ropes hold him in check.
591
592He takes a moment to try to get back up, but suffers a coughing fit and asks for the referee at ringside to call the match. You breathe a sigh of relief and be a good sport, offering up your hand. He takes a moment to eye you suspiciously, but then finally lets you help him up.
593
594"Get a better costume next time; I'll be ready to get revenge when you do." 
595
596"I intend to" you coolly reply, then sprint to one of the turnbuckles and try to hype the crowd up a little before the next fight.
597
598Damn, this feels good. It's good to be back.
599
600+++
601
602"Damn... I might have to up your training a little bit or send you to somebody else; You're on a roll."
603
604"Thanks Sensei" you meekly reply with a bow, then watch Avery's fight with some Fei-Long lookalike. It's a hell of a back-and-forth fight, but Avery just manages to squeeze out a win, though she did it with a move that has you raising an eyebrow.
605
606"That counter... Is a Todoh-Style technique, isn't it?"
607
608-------------------------
609
610>>46442201
611
612"Well, there IS a Kyokugenryuu move that kind of resembles it... But yeah, she's a convert" Tatsuya-Sensei explains with a hint of pride in his voice. "She was high up in their food chain too, but had to drop out for the police trainee exam."
613
614"Really?"
615
616Tatsuya nods. "Yeah... Got to thank Pumpkin for that; Business has been on the up since Kyokugenryuu became an optional self-defense art for the South Town PD... Well, she could've gone to Korea and learn Tae Kwan Do from Kim Kapwhan" he starts to add, but stops as Avery labors over to your "Post-fight VIP section" near the ring.
617
618Just looking at her covered in sweat breathing hard and heavy makes you wonder if she's got anything left in the tank, especially with at least two more fights to go. "I don't know if I can continue, Sensei. That took a lot out me."
619
620"Nonsense! You go out there and even if you do lose, you go down swinging. That's the Kyokugen way!" Tatsuya barks as you're taken aback at his mood shifting.
621
622He seems to catch himself and adds "Er, well, I mean if you absolutely can't continue I'll go inform the judges at ringside so you don't get disqualif-"
623
624"-Thanks Sensei, I'll be fine" Avery sighs as the lights dim for another set of fighter introductions.
625
626>A. Offer up some words of advice for Avery. She looks like she needs some cheering up right now.
627
628>B. Ask her if she wants to study the remainder of the tournament roster with you by watching the next few fights.
629
630>C. Say nothing and just watch the rest of this bracket with the crowd.
631
632>D. Ask if either of them wants something from one of the snack bars Real Bout set up; You're getting hungry.
633
634-------------------------
635
636>>46442855
637
638Better. I could've ran yesterday, but didn't want to push it. On the plus side, it seems that I'm not too shabby with left-hand only typing.
639
640>>46442897
641>>46442929
642>>46442985
643
644You see some blonde-haired guy roll up with like four other people (One of them nearly foot taller than anybody you've seen in the tournament) and a Pomeranian the size of a wolf to shit-talk the schoolgirl a little bit before the fight starts, but you can't help but feel a little sorry for Avery; Having to drop Todohryu Aikijutsu for Kyokugen is like asking a Hatfield to join the McCoys.
645
646"Hey..." you stumble for words. You're not exactly great at offering words of encouragement or anything... "Whatever's up, just keep going, alright?"
647
648"Why?" she sighs as the fight actually starts after a 3-minute delay.
649
650"Why do fighters fight? What makes the sky blue? How does a Wankel engne keep bursting Apex Seals? It just does."
651
652She looks up at you, but doesn't say anything .
653
654"How're you going along with your police training?"
655
656She perks up a little at that. "I just have the field exam left. As soon as I can ace that, I can be a cop for real."
657
658"Yeah? How old are you?"
659
660"Would you believe... Twenty?"
661
662Yeah right. Avery's 20 years old? And you're next in line to be The Pope "Nice try. you're like, what? 16, 17 at the most?"
663
664"OK, fine, 18" she pouts as a break in the match gets called because one of the blonde guy's friends tried to illegally interfere with the fight with a steel chair hidden under a body pillow...
665
666"Hey, don't be sore. I'm impressed, really" you say, trying not to sound sarcastic. "I was still hell-raising my local neighborhood at your age and you're gonna try and ."
667
668" 'At your age?' You sound like an old lady!"
669
670The chorus of cheers and boos drown out your witty reply as the fight gets called in favor of the schoolgirl.
671
672"Aw man, they're gonna riot sooner or later..." Tatsuya-Sensei groans.
673
674"Yeah, the crowd's getting pretty antsy" you add.
675
676-------------------------
677
678>>46443497
679
680"Should we just drop out Sensei? it looks like it could get ugly quick" Avery asks.
681
682"Nah, I'm mad that I didn't bring the rest of the class with me. This would've been a good test of our skills out in the field" he explains while you try not to crack up.
683
684===
685
686Much to Tatsuya's dismay, the crowd doesn't actually riot, though it's another delay in the action and it lasts long enough that the three of you end up getting stuff from the snack bar before the "Final Four" fights are announced, yours up first again.
687
688"Introducing First! From Parts Unknown, the champion of Justice LAAAAAADDDDDDDYYYYY SKULLO!"
689
690Another nice "Pop" from the crowd as you do a little dance-shuffle to the ring like "Bone Cold" Corpus Christi used to do. All you need is a folding chair...
691
692"And her opponent..."
693
694>A. Avery Mitchell.
695
696>B. The Sukeban Schoolgirl (You don't know her actual name yet).
697
698>C. Roll 1d100 and suggest an opponent (Pictures preferable); Highest roll within 15 minutes wins.
699
700>D. "A Masked Man from the rafters has just crashed the tournament!"
701
702-------------------------
703
704>>46443750
705>>46443861
706
707>"All the way from Okinawa, Japan... the "One-Woman Army", SUUUUUEEEENAAAMMMIIIII TSUYAKO!!!"
708
709An ENOURMOUS Asian chick with a tan and reddish-brown hair walks out with some oldest-of-oldschool rock & roll for a theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAGWTUrBAMw) and sneers at you while she rolls under the lowest rope of the ring.
710
711One look at her outfit suggests she came out of a time-warp; A skirt that practically scrapes the floor, a sleeved blouse that covers all but her neck, a white headband that flows in the wind even though there isn't any actual wind in the building... The embroidery on her clothes is exquisite too; A bunch of different, "Hard-Boiled" slogans in Kanji. "Too Kawaii to Live; Too Sugoi to Die" and a logo proclaiming she's the head of the "Okinawa Womens' Delinquent Alliance" stand out to you among others.
712
713Well, here's hoping she'll put up a good fight. You've heard stories about toughs like these back in the day, and for the amount of "Flair" she's got on her outfit she'd be dead yesterday if she couldn't back it up in a fight.
714
715She cracks her knuckles, gets down into a crouch you've seen Yamazaki do in old KOF tapes (No mean feet for her girth), slips on a pair of red gloves and starts the shit-talking in Japanese. "Go back to some third-rate kids show before I put the smackdown on ya' girlie."
716
717>A. Offer up a witty retort (Roll1d20 for effectiveness)
718
719>B. Act like you're cowering in fear at her words until the fight starts, then hit her with a Punch Flurry (Roll 2d20)
720
721>C. Say nothing and eye her up; Maybe you can psyche her out a little bit? (Roll1d20 for effectiveness)
722
723>D. Write-In.
724
725-------------------------
726
727>>46444490
728>>46444524
729>>46444547
730
731Sorry about that Anons; Had to get dinner started.
732
733If reading up on all of those dirt sheets online left anything in your mind about the "Psychology" of pro-wrestling, now's the time to quit goofing off and act like a hero to show just how serious this is. You do just that and the two of you quietly stand in the center of the ring, staring each other down. She's got some real fire in her eyes, sure, but it's nothing you haven't seen before.
734
735Unfortunately, you forgot that you had a mask that that covers your entire face and even your hair; How could it have worked?
736
737"You're 100 years too late to fuck with me" is all "Tsunami Tsuyako" says before the bell rings and a referee carefully pushes you back. The instant he cleared the ring Tsuyako crouches down low and dashes towards you. You try to sweep her out of it, but she just tackles your ankles and lifts you up for a "Oklahoma Slam".
738
739Yeah, no, fuck this grappler bitch. Time to get your game-face on. You land down onto the canvass pretty hard, but roll back up to your feet quicker than Tsuyako and hit her with your "Beefy" Uppercut (Lord Wellington's Last Upper? You suck at naming special moves). 
740
741She hits the mat with a resounding thud, but surprises you by sweeping you off your feet and going for a Muta Lock (Which is astounding considering her girth). You kick out of it quickly though and land a "Super Kick" to the chest, only for her to "No-Sell" it and counter with a Suplex.
742
743OK, can't get too greedy with this one. And shits like a truck too, so you need a plan and fast.
744
745>A. Keep trying to overwhelm her with quick, safe moves; She's a grappler, she's too slow to react that... Right? (Roll 2d20)
746
747>B. Zone her out with projectiles and well-timed attacks; You can't let her get in close and toss you around like a ragdoll (Roll 1d20)
748
749>C. Bust out the old Judo moves; If she's gonna grapple you, then damn it you're gonna grapple her (Roll 3d20).
750
751>D. Write-In.
752
753-omitted one small post.
754
755-------------------------
756
757>>46445532
758
759No, I never did. Mostly because I was going to commission someone I knew on Pixiv & dA to do a full character sheet, but had to back out due to money problems.
760
761>>46445621
762
763Kind of...? I can't think of anyone that comes close to the vision of Tsuyako rattling around in my mind.
764
765>>46445668
766>>46445549
767
768Screw it, you're not going to wait around and let some wannabe gang-banger throw you around like a sack of potatoes; You can do that just as well, thank you very much! 
769
770You gingerly get up off the floor and see "Tsunami Tsuyako" mocking you by doing the "Thunderbolt" pose you did earlier in the night and dash towards her. She doesn't turn around in time to try and break your grab, so you get to show off a move your coach taught you: The "Nihon Seoi."
771
772The impact to the canvass is sickening, but "Tsunami" gets right back up and tries to give you a "Misawa Special" of an elbow, but then you counter and set up a Fujiwara Armbar. You can hear somebody try to start up a "This AWE-SOME!" chant, but Tsuyako practically picks you up off the floor trying to break free of the hold and flings you into the turnbuckle and it dies down a little.
773
774Fucking Christ, how strong is she? You felt like you were on a the end of a Shot-Put Tenns serve, except you as the Shot...
775
776You clear your head just in time to see Tsuyako do a cartwheel and smash your face in with her ass, then drop you with a Bulldog. The crowd starts to chant for Tsuyako by now, but that only forces your hand as you grab and tackle Tsuyako and apply one of the "Forbidden Techniques" of Judo: The "Ashi garami".
777
778Tsuyako actually starts to wince pain as you apply the move long enough for the referee to check up on her, but she only used that as a cover to try and wiggle out of it and try to land a "Desperation Move" that you couldn't even try to get out of: You can't even describe what the hell she's doing to you, but all you feel is pain. Mind-blowing amounts of pain...
779
780-omitted one small post.
781
782-omitted one small post.
783
784-------------------------
785
786>>46446676
787
788I'm leaving that open for discussion until the story comes to a point where the MC's identity can be fully explored.
789
790>>46446735
791
792When my wrist fully heals I'll make an effort to keep it down to 15-20 minutes per post.
793
794==== END THREAD ====
795
796The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #3
797written by That Damn Weasel (18 posts, 5 omitted posts)
798-------- qst2txt --------
799
800>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46437068/
801>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
802
803>Introduction:
804
805Your world is upside-down right now. Literally. To the cheers of thousands, you're on the wrong side of a painful submission hold in the Semi-Finals of the biggest "Friday Night Real Bout" you've seen yet. Everything's getting a little dizzy, too, from the fact that your legs and torso are stretched back like a pretzel while your overly-large opponent is sitting on the ground with a leg up for leverage.
806
807The first two fights of the night were easy enough; Some Chinese Kung-Fu dude folded like a origami crane and while that college professor was strong, he was slow and easily beaten by your relentless speed and offense. Hell, you were starting to think that it was easy; That 6 months off just training with the rest of class preserved your fundamental skills.
808
809"Tsunami Tsuyako", on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish and certainly strong enough to carry the whole "Schoolgirl delinquent straight out of the 1970's" gimmick she's got going for her... Though her padded singlet, thick kneepads, shin guards and her boots you can spot from peeking up her long skirt explain how she's toughed out your attacks so far and dished out damage back to you in spades. Hell, the cheesy costume Tatsuya "Persuaded" you to wear is almost as thin as paper in comparison; You've felt every punch & kick reverberate through your gloves and shoes tonight, that's for sure!
810
811You wriggle around like a freshly-caught fish and catch glances of Tatsuya-Sensei looking disappointed and Avery blushing while holding her hands in front of her face... Did your "Disguise" rip open or something? Hell with it, there's no time to check: You've got to get out of this quickly or else you'll have to explain how you lost to a greenhorn in a "Casual" tournament full of KOF No-Hopers, Has-Beens, Make-Weights & Never-Will-Bes...
812
813>Roll 1d20 to try and break the submission hold
814
815-------------------------
816
817>>46481365
818
819No, she's got you in the center of the ring.
820
821>>46481081
822>>46481116
823
824For as ridiculous-looking as this thing is (Some kind of inverted reverse figure-four leglock), Tsuyako's got you locked up tighter than a cardinal's marbles and the pain is excruciating. You strain to try and keep from tapping out, but that only forces the opponent's hand and she cranks the submission even harder...
825
826Thank god for the referee forcing Tsuyako to break it up; Another half a minute and you would've had to tap for sure. You carefully roll over to the ring-ropes and slowly get up to your feet, "Tsunami Tsuyako" bullying the referee by yelling in his face in a mixture of Japanese & broken "Engrish". Your legs feel like they're almost shot, but your arms and upper body seem OK... The ref does a hand motion, the bell rings twice to restart the fight and you don't know what to do next and it shows; You take so long to get back into a more "Traditional" Kyokugen stance (IE The one Tatsuya has tried to get you to follow) that Tsuyako does some kind of hopping arm-stretch taunt before walking towards you.
827
828>A. Focus on Punches and zoning with Projectiles for now; Your legs are clearly not up to anything fancy and you need to keep her away from you (Roll 2d20)
829
830>B. Rush her down with punches & elbows; The gloves are coming off this fight now (Roll 1d20)
831
832>C. Counter and throw her; Your legs aren't up to kickig, but your balance feels OK-ish (Roll 2d20)
833
834>D. Ignore the pain in your legs and "Power Up" to unleash a wild string of combinations (Roll 3d20)
835
836-------------------------
837
838>>46481488
839>>46481477
840>>46481495
841
842You crack your neck from side-to-side and land a solid left hook to Tsuyako's jaw, then combo into your "Flurry Punches", the sound reminding you of a machine gun before Tsuyako falls down to the center of the ring. You thought about trying to go for a quicker variant of your uppercut for a split-second, but nearly fall over after the punch flurry (To a couple of chuckles from the crowd, followed by yet another scuffle)...
843
844You steady yourself and see Tsuyako wipe a touch of blood from her mouth with the back of her hand, then dash down low towards you. You correctly guess that a projectile wouldn't do much and instead crouch down to quickly smack her in the head with a quick, awkward-looking right straight.
845
846She seems genuinely confused at getting hit out of her "WaveDash" (You don't know what it's actually called, but it looks similar to something you've seen in a 3D fighter you used to play a lot of) and it takes a couple seconds longer for her to recover, which sets you up to try and space her out with a fast "Ha'oh Shouken", then a harder-hitting one that knocks her off of her feet. Tsuyako does a Ukemi to get back on her feet, but you keep throwing out quick projectiles to keep her away from you until she either gives up in frustration, makes a mistake or the time runs out.
847
848Though it's relatively effective, the crowd doesn't seem to like your tactics though; Some asshole started up a"THIS IS BULL-SHIT!" chant that quickly spread like wildfire throughout the building. You don't care though; All that matters now is winning.
849
850After a couple of failed attempts to close in you with that "Wave Dash"-thingie, she simply tries to walk towards you and block whatever comes her way. Curiously, it seems to be working and you let up on the projectile spam just a little bit to give her more of a chance to try and get in you... God, you hope she takes this bait; Your arms are starting to get tired from chucking fireballs at her.
851
852-------------------------
853
854>>46481834
855
856>A. Counter her next attack with your favorite Pro Wrasslin' move EVER (Roll 1d20)
857
858>B. Block whatever's up her sleeve and chuck her ass into the ground (Roll 2d20)
859
860>C. Ignore the pain your legs and go for a sweet combo to try and put her down (Roll 3d20)
861
862>D. RYUUKO RANBUU TIME BITCHES! (Roll 1d20)
863
864-------------------------
865
866>>46482050
867
868I had something in mind for this Anon, so no. Sorry.
869
870>>46482095
871
872Damn, I wish I had thought of that... I don't think y'all will mind what I had planned though.
873
874Votes are in and I'm currently writing it all out. Wait warmly please!
875
876-------------------------
877
878>>46482050
879>>46481959
880>>46481919
881
882As worldly and "Cultured" as your dad was, he sure loved wrestling. In time, so did you, though by the time you got truly understand it the old days of CWA, BWA and other "Outlaw" federations had passed into memory. Still, it didn't stop you from learning your favorite finishing move from a former Southtown Wrestling Federation regular who met at your gym.
883
884You carefully wait for "Tsunami Tsuyako" to get in range, duck under her high grab and kick her in the gut before delivering a nice, quick, Seated three-quarter Facelock Jawbreaker.
885
886>New thread theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xrSH0G8kBo
887
888The crowd goes berserk and Tsuyako is still standing after it (Though obviously dazed), so you deliver another "Stinger" that knocks her back so hard, you could swear a bolt of lightning went through her or something. You start to even do the "Rabid Dog" taunt old "Bone Cold" Corpus Christi would do, but stop and instead clumsily transition into doing a couple of cheesy "Hero" poses for the crowd as a referee checks up on Tsuyako...
889
890You feel a silence hit the crowd after about a minute while a creeping sensation hits your gut when you look at Tsuyako; You knocked out cold with that one... 
891
892>"AAAAAND YOUR WINNER, BY TKO AND ADVANCING TO THE GRAND FINAL... LAAAAADDDDDYYYYY SKULLO!"
893
894But it subsides when the bell rings and the crowd starts cheering and booing your win in equal measure.
895
896>A. Check up on Tsuyako; You didn't mean to hit her THAT hard...
897
898>B. Let the referees and the medics handle her; You've got to focus on tuning up to fight Avery for the win.
899
900>C. Go over and tell Tatsuya that you're done for the night; That took everything you had out of you.
901
902>D. Write-In.
903
904-------------------------
905
906>>46482563
907>>46482571
908>>46482640
909
910Even if you weren't in such a cheesy costume, you would've checked up on "Tsuami Tsuyako" after a hit like that. As you're supposed to be "Lady Skullo, Champion of JUSTICE" tonight, it's practically expected of you.
911
912"Need a hand?" you ask, arm outstretched to help her up. She looks at you half confused, half in awe and looking like she's not so tough right now. She merely nods, then slowly gets up with your help as you raise her arm up and point at her like any good-old-fashioned "Baby face" would; Hell, she had you for a lot of the fight and could've won it if you hadn't sprung that move on her...
913
914"You were the better fighter tonight" you whisper through your mask.
915
916"Thank you... I'm sorry" is all she says back before turning around and punching you in the stomach. She pulled the punch back though, so you play along and let her do some kind of reverse spinning Argentine Backbreaker before storming out of the building to deafening boos.
917
918What a fucking bitch. What a great heel move... You black out before you could think of anything else.
919
920===
921
922You wake up in a bed, your mask off and your arm hooked up to an IV drip. On first glance, it doesn't look like you're in a hospital; It could be the bingo hall's broiler room by the looks of it. On second glance, most of your costume is ripped open with big, gaping holes revealing what little you had on underneath; No wonder Avery was blushing. You're lucky that you wore the toughest underwear you owned today because otherwise it would've been a "Wardrobe Malfunction" you'd never live down...
923
924Well damn it, you didn't expect that to end your night. Maybe you've gotten soft after all..? Or maybe Tsuyako made the same mistake you did?
925
926Speak of the devil, Tatsuya-Sensei & Avery both walk in, clearly looking like they've been waiting for some time to see you wake up.
927
928""How're you feeling?" Tatsuya asks, though Avery cuts in and ask you something you've only seen in movies. "What day is it?"
929
930-------------------------
931
932>>46483092
933
934"April 2nd?" you calmly answer and get to enjoy a hug from her.
935
936Urgh, she's glomping you hard enough you can hear your ribs creaking inside your eyes... 
937
938"What time is it?"
939
940"Right around midnight" Tatsuya answers. "Me'n'Avery here had to stay and help the cops calm the crowd down after your fight."
941
942"Why'd you let her do that to you?" Avery again cuts in.
943
944You shrug. "She pulled the punch back, so I thought she would do an easy move after..."
945
946Avery's brow furrows trying to make sense of your explanation while Tatsuya just face-palms. "If it were anyone else, would you have done the same?"
947
948You start to say "yes", but pause for a moment. Damn it to hell, you HAVE gone soft. "I shouldn't have done that."
949
950"Damn right you shouldn't!" Tatsuya growls, but again calms down and asks Avery to leave the room.
951
952She takes a look at him, but sighs as she shuts the door behind you and Tatsuya. "You understand how lucky you are, right? Because if this were a KOF fight you'd be dead already."
953
954You nod. "I'm not gonna lie or hide behind big words here. I think you've got a lot of potential and could go very far in fighting. But you lack discipline, and in the art of Kyokugenryuu that's a grave sin."
955
956"So what do want from me?" you ask, that "Tired/Pissed off/Don't fuck with me" lilt in your voice showing up a little.
957
958"I want to work you privately... Train with you on a more intensive basis. Like what I did with Adam when he was going to enter his first Street Fighter tournament."
959
960>A. Accept his "Private lessons"; You need to get into serious shape before trying this again.
961
962>B. Decline his offer; You want to build back up to your old standard at a more relaxed pace.
963
964>C. Tell him you want to think about it when you heal up from your injuries and that you need to take a breather from training for the time being after a night like this.
965
966>D. Tell him that you agree with him, but want to seek somebody else out to train with on a one-to-one basis.
967
968-------------------------
969
970>>46483447
971>>46483536
972>>46484023
973
974Internet issues flaring up. So sorry Anons.
975
976"I'll think about it" you reply after a long pause. "I need to cleary head and lick my wounds a little bit Sensei."
977
978He smiles a little. "OK, no problem. Now let's get you home." 
979
980===
981
982The next few days are about as dull as you could imagine. You aren't really in shape to go anywhere or do anything, so you take the opportunity to catch up on your backlog of books & manga to read, marathon throw an anime and lurk FightChan a little to catch up on the news of the day (Mostly shit-posting and forced memes, as usual). 
983
984Unfortunately, no one there made a thread about your exploits in "Real Bout", but that's to be expected; It really has fallen off the map as far as tournaments go. Plus, most of the posts are wondering when Mai Shiranui/Kasumi Todoh/Yamazaki/etc. etc. are going to get an invite for the next KOF... Which is going ahead with no actual TV coverage, apparently; Most of the posts in the /biz/ section are about who's going to stream the fights and post them back on FightChan.
985
986By Sunday afternoon you're back at Cafe de Paradiso, too sore and tired to care about anyone else's personal dramas. As much as you hate the job, you can't deny that it's a good respite from fighting all of the time. At least you don't have to hide any bruises behind big sunglasses or whatever; You just dress in long sleeves and jeans to cover up the bumps and bruises you still have.
987
988By the time you start to close up shop, no one's in the cafe except for some muscley red-headed biker chick who's taller than you... Not exactly your usual customer.
989
990"Whatcha having? We're gonna close up soon, hun" you ask as you polish off the counter-top.
991
992She takes a moment to glance at the menu drawn up on the huge chalkboard behind you, then replies "I'm looking for somebody; Do you have anyone here that fights regularly?"
993
994Her accent's weird; Eastern European maybe? German? Swedish?
995
996-omitted one small post.
997
998-------------------------
999
1000>>46484553
1001>>46484594
1002
1003Had to reformat the entire post because Hiromoot thought it was spam.
1004
1005If you were in business of costumed heroism or professional wrestling (Or at least both were portrayed in your youth), you might've tried to change the subject or deny that anyone like that was working here. Fortunately, you've come to understand that life isn't some cheesy soap opera (Most of the time, at least!) and come out with it in five easy words.
1006
1007"I'm the girl. What's up?"
1008
1009She takes a moment or two to eye you up and down, then says "Take this gift on behalf of Tsunami Tsuyako" while handing you an manila envelope.
1010
1011A quick glance inside makes your eyes pop. It's about enough money you would've expected to win at Real Bout on Friday... Enough to buy some new training gear, or a complete costume to replace Tatsuya's ratty old one even.
1012
1013Before you can thank her, she's gone out of the place with nairy a footstep to hear. Damn, not even a first name? Oh well. You close up shop by yourself (No thanks to Alex being hung-over from last night and puking her guts out in the bathroom) and head out to your car to count your "Gift"... Which is when you spot an ornate business card with a phone number falling out onto the floor of your car:
1014
1015>"Call me! Fiona Graves - SWF Talent Scout"
1016
1017Huh... Well, it's a local number, at least. And you can't help but feel a little familiar about the name and the agency she's with... Eh, you'll sleep on that one for a little bit; For right now, you want to...
1018
1019>A. Drive down to Sound Beach and watch the sunset. It's relaxing.
1020
1021>B. Get some food before going home. You're hungry.
1022
1023>C. Check out that one Speedshop you saw a flier for; They're supposed to be open until 8 PM.
1024
1025>D. Head home and relax some more... You're still a little tired and want to catch up on some more shows.
1026
1027-------------------------
1028
1029>>46485033
1030>>46485046
1031>>46485080
1032
1033You drive down towards South Town's ritziest district (The "Bay Area") to check out a garage you had seen a couple of fliers for while doing one of Tatsuya-Sensei's early-morning runs with the rest of the class. Judging from the fliers and how well they were designed/attracted the eye, it could be an actual racer's hang-out/parts shop rather than the usual stereotypical "Greasy Wrench" kind of place that'll rip you off for all you've got if you aren't careful...
1034
1035Now that you think about it, The Kyokugenryuu Dojo is supposed to be somewhere in the Bay Area too, isn't it? You'll have to check that out at some point; Tatsuya-Sensei was rumored to have been trained by Ryo Sakazaki himself, which would go a long way to explain the Orange Gi and the "Sheer guts & determination" style of training he does...
1036
1037You spot the exit that leads into the service park that houses "Advanced Vehicle Systems Inc" sooner than you think and can't quite believe your eyes; It looks more like a professional racing team's shop than a service station as you pull in... It kind of reminds of one of those "Autobacs" places in Japan.
1038
1039The open bays are damn-near spotless as you get out and take a look around. At least 10, maybe 12 mechanics are all hard at work on a Smörgåsbord of cars & bikes; most of them you can't even recognize. 
1040
1041"Who knew KTM made sportbikes now?" you think as you take a close-but-not-too close look at one bay, but then spot a '66 Chevrolet Nova SS up on jacks in another, then some low, black thing with a widebodykit and a fleet of competition-grade Go-Karts getting complete tear-downs... It's almost an overload of your senses before you hear a familiar voice.
1042
1043"Hey! Long time no see!"
1044
1045You turn around to see an old friend stroll up and shake your hand. "Dave?! Holy crap, I haven't seen you in forever!"
1046
1047"Same here! How've you been?"
1048
1049"Could be better, could be worse... You work here, or just getting your old junker trashed?" you tease.
1050
1051-------------------------
1052
1053>>46485477
1054
1055"Har har, very funny" he replies, then adds "I own this place!"
1056
1057You stare back at him. How? How could a complete yutz like Dave, with no mechanical acumen at all be running a garage as clean as this? "Crazy world huh?"
1058
1059"Yeah! ... So, you want some work done on your ride? Or are you just cruising around?"
1060
1061>A. "I'm just window-shopping right now. The old wallet's a little too light for any custom work."
1062
1063>B. "Well, actually..."
1064
1065>C. "I just wanted to check this place out; Since that old garage in East Island closed down, there hasn't been anywhere I could go with my Porsche."
1066
1067>D. Write-In.
1068
1069-------------------------
1070
1071>>46485646
1072>>46485655
1073>>46485775
1074
1075You shrug. Even though you and Dave fgo way back from the fightclub scene, you've been burned too many times by shady garage owners to know he's smelling money in your pockets with that question, friendly or not.
1076
1077"Nah, I just wanted to check this place out. Since that old garage in East Island closed down, there hasn't been anywhere I could go with my Porsche."
1078
1079Dave nods. "That was kind of what I was going with this place, actually... Get the street racers and everyday customers together again." He pauses for a second, then asks "Come on in! Take a tour of the place on me."
1080
1081You smile and go along with him and walk inside the parts shop you didn't even notice. As he rattles off on how he got the place together and all of the exclusive parts he's got on sale, you can't help but wonder what happened to him. 
1082
1083You met Dave for the first time on a hot, sweaty night in some dingy dive near South Town's busiest port in some guy's after-hours fightclub, but had heard rumors about him long before; A kickboxing prodigy who was being trained by former Super Heavyweight Champion Franco Bash, a scrawny kid with boundless potential... Yet, his career never went anywhere. He never progressed beyond being a big fish in a small pond and he kind of fizzled out from the fightclub scene after a while... Wonder what happened to him?
1084
1085Maybe that limp he's trying to hide from you tells the story.
1086
1087Ah well, at least he's got his health. And hey, he's a business owner at 26 and despite his temper-tantrums is pretty good at managing people, so who knows?
1088
1089"But enough about the shop, how are you doing?" Dave asks, snapping you back into focus.
1090
1091>A. "I got wrecked at Real Bout on Friday. Otherwise, I couldn't be better."
1092
1093>B. "I'm taking Karate classes to try and calm my rage down and learn how to strike."
1094
1095>C. "I'm still fighting, but I feel like I'm hitting a wall in my training..."
1096
1097>D. Write-In.
1098
1099-------------------------
1100
1101>>46486248
1102>>46486296
1103>>46486329
1104
1105"Ah, you know, I got wrecked at Real Bout on Friday. Otherwise, I couldn't be better."
1106
1107From the way you said it, you could've been talking about losing to some guy at the arcade over a match of BlazeGear GuiltyBlue. From the way Dave reacts, it looked like you just dropped a bombshell on him.
1108
1109After picking his jaw up from off the floor, he shakes his head in amazement. "Never thought I'd see the day that the new "Demon of Judo" would lose a match... And in Real Bout even!"
1110
1111"Hey come on man, it was my first time fighting in like six months, yeah? Cut me some slack" you joke.
1112
1113"Six Months?! What happened to you?"
1114
1115You take a moment to pause, then simply say "A lot of things, Dave."
1116
1117"Huh... Who'd you lose to?"
1118
1119"Some schoolgirl wrestler. I let my guard down after the fight was over and she tore me up so badly I couldn't continue" you explain.
1120
1121"Tsunami Tsuyako?" Dave asks and you nod. "I've heard of her. She's one of the new hires for the South Town Wrestling Federation. A real hard-ass."
1122
1123"And since when do you care about wrestlers? I thought you didn't like that "Fake Shit"?"
1124
1125"I don't, but her tag-team partner was the first customer our shop ever had" Dave tells you, then motions you over to a sort-of "Hall of Fame" with some signed photos of the more famous people that have apparently been here. "Blue Mary" Ryan is the only one you can recognize though...
1126
1127"Huh... I didn't know South Town had so many people interested in cars and bikes" you ponder out loud. "Who's the tall dark & handsome guy on the right?" you ask.
1128
1129As if on cue, the "Tall, Dark & Handsome" guy walks into the front office and asks "Hey Dave, you got an ETA on when my car's going to be done? Because I'm thinking about rolling my sleeves and doing it myself."
1130
1131Dave rolls his eyes and sighs. "Sorry babe, I got to take care of this; Excuse me."
1132
1133You don't bother to listen on the animated conversation the two of them have and figure that it's time to get going.
1134
1135-------------------------
1136
1137>>46486705
1138
1139You get home by around 9-ish, taking some time to dick around some of the backroads that lead to your cabin. A quick bowl of soup and some Netflix caps off your night at around 11, though there's something about that guy from AVS that you can't shake... Like, you can't help but recognize him from somewhere before...
1140
1141===
1142
1143You wake up early the next morning with every fiber of your body extracting revenge on you for not stretching enough yesterday. Damn this low muscle memory of yours! Plus fucking'a' you forgot you had a morning shift at work today... You peel yourself from out under your covers and stretch as much as you can before taking a shower and driving off to work. (Fucking Alex, man. That guy needs to get his shit together or else you're gonna complain to the owners again, because you can't keep covering for him all of the damn time.)
1144
1145You're glad Tatsuya gave you a week off from classes to heal up; You would be dying if you had to go in for afternoon drills today... Hell, you barely can do stuff around the Cafe without feeling you're gonna drop everything from a lack of strength or control over your strength.
1146
1147"Hey, you need a break? Because you're not looking too good" Alair (One of the few "Nice" ones at the cafe) asks.
1148
1149>A. "Nah, I'm alright. Help me with these smoothies quick; I'm swamped with orders right now."
1150
1151>B. "OK. I'll grab a bite to eat and be back in a sec."
1152
1153>C. Take the break and quickly call up up Fiona. You want to see if she's for real or not.
1154
1155>D. Write-In.
1156
1157-omitted one small post.
1158
1159-omitted one small post.
1160
1161-------------------------
1162
1163>>46487055
1164>>46487166
1165
1166Usually you'd balk at an offer to take a break this early in the morning. Hell, you've only got like an hour or so left before you clock out! Taking 15 minutes off of that just never felt right... But today, with how you're feeling, you need a little breather.
1167
1168"OK, I'll be back in about 15 or so" you tell her, clocking out before taking the break like you're supposed to (Mostly because the owners have a nasty habit of illegally shortening paychecks by taking when you punch back in and out quite seriously, but also because of the do-nothing bitches that take breaks while technically on the clock) and take a breather on the patio.
1169
1170No one else seems to like eating outdoors this early in the year, so no one's around... You figure that you should get something on your mind out of the way pronto, so you call the number on the back of "Fiona's" business card. You just hope that it doesn't ask for anything like your credit card number or an ID...
1171
1172A couple of rings go by and it makes you "I'm glad you called."
1173
1174"Yeah? This is Fiona Graves, right?"
1175
1176"You bet' she quickly answers, then gets right to the point. "The Southtown Wrestling Federation is looking to expand it's stable and bring back its Women's Division full-time. The problem is, the caliber of wrestler that SWF prefers was a rare commodity back when they active, let alone now."
1177
1178"So, you liked how I was out there?" you ask, genuinely curious and watching Alair in the window pointing at her watch.
1179
1180"Yes... If you could, I'd like to book a try-out sometime this week" Fiona asks as you try to shoo Alair away.
1181
1182===
1183
1184And that's the thread! The next session will happen sometime this week if all goes well. I'll also be around to ask questions for a little bit too.
1185
1186-------------------------
1187
1188>>46488096
1189
1190Good. I just felt like stopping a little earlier than usual today instead of stretching it out into a marathon (The girl in my last post was basically the manager at the place I was running this session asking me to leave).
1191
1192-omitted one small post.
1193
1194-------------------------
1195
1196>>46488817
1197
1198And the thread's finally archived: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46481009/
1199
1200OK then, the next KOF Quest:R thread will be tomorrow at the same time as today's (11 AM PST/2 PM EST).
1201
1202See you then everybody!
1203
1204-omitted one small post.
1205
1206==== END THREAD ====
1207
1208The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #4
1209written by That Damn Weasel (25 posts, 3 omitted posts)
1210-------- qst2txt --------
1211
1212>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46481009/
1213>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
1214
1215>Introduction:
1216
1217You honestly can't quite believe your ears right now. Three days removed from beating up some wrestler moonlighting in a Real Bout tournament ("Tsunami Tsuyako") and less than 24 hours after some weird biker chick gifted you some cash and a business card ("Fiona Graves), you called the number and have been given an opportunity to book a try-out to become a professional wrestler... OK, it's not exactly The King of Fighters and you've already got a lot on your plate already with work and classes at the dojo, but knowing you've got options is nice. Hell, knowing that somebody liked how silly you were in that costume on Friday night, or thought you had "The Look" is reward enough. (You're quite self-conscious about your looks in spite of your rugged upbringing).
1218
1219Well, back to reality... You quickly tell Fiona on the other end of the line "Can I call you back?" and hang up just as you hear her say "No" in that odd accent of hers (Definitely Eastern European to your ear). A punch to your arm from Alair shows how mad she is at your tardiness.
1220
1221"What the hell 'Lair?"
1222
1223"The juicer's stuck, the Wheatgrass thing is broken and you've been out there for like twenty minutes" she whines as you clock back in, customers starting to fill into the place for a rare "Lunch Rush".
1224
1225Damn, you didn't even notice the time fly by out there... You start by cleaning out most of the Wheatgrass "Gunk" that can get stuck in there after a while (Again, not a problem if people actually DID THEIR FUCKING JOBS FOR ONCE! God!) and get it going again, but the primary juicer the cafe uses is terminally damaged; You'll have to call up the owner and get him to get some techies out here to fix and replace it A.S.A.P... By the time you're done firing up the back-up mixer you're behind on the orders again and stay nearly half an hour later than usual just to deal with them all.
1226
1227-------------------------
1228
1229>>46502219
1230
1231Oh, if only you were as clever as the gangsters that built this place; Charging a premium price for everyday shit, but just letting the customers assume everything's organic when it's not? What a racket! ... God, you hate people sometimes. Or at least the greedier side of human nature. You finally bust out of there before another wave of the lunch rush crashes into the place and drive a few blocks to a low-key parking lot to call Fiona back.
1232
1233"You, know you're the first girl we've had call us twice" she says, clearly pissed off at you giving her the cold shoulder an hour or so earlier.
1234
1235>A. "It was my fault; I should've waited a little later to talk business."
1236
1237>B. "I was busy managing a restaurant; My time is precious."
1238
1239>C. "How many people are really interested in working for ya'? You said yourself that women wrestlers are in short supply."
1240
1241>D. Write-In
1242
1243-------------------------
1244
1245>>46502539
1246
1247Not quite... Close, but not quite is all I will say on the matter at this time.
1248
1249>>46502284
1250>>46502387
1251
1252You scratch your head a little at Fiona's tone. You get that wrestling is a business, but just an hour earlier she had told you that it was slim pickings for women that could stand up the SWF's "Standards"... So why is she making it sound like you already screwed yourself out of a chance?
1253
1254"How many people are really interested in working for ya'? You said yourself that women wrestlers are in short supply."
1255
1256Fiona pauses at that, then quietly explains "That's correct. But the SWF is looking to try and steal some thunder back from one of our partners in Mexico."
1257
1258"How so?"
1259
1260Another pause. It's either heavy info, or "Need-to-Know" stuff, you reckon. "The AAWA in Mexico has gotten invites to the next King of Fighters tournament. The SWF has not..." Fiona finally tells you.
1261
1262"Oh... I see. So you'd like to get a team together and need at least one girl on it, right?"
1263
1264"More-or-less" Fiona answers. "Tsuyako, even with her loss to you on Friday, is the toughest natural fighter SWF currently has that's active and is a lock for the team. The other two spots, well..."
1265
1266"Injuries?"
1267
1268"And poaching, yes. Raiden wants time off for his knees, but the real hammer blow was when Tizoc, Ramon & Angel quit and went to AAWA when they heard about the tournament" Fiona adds with a sigh. "You can imagine the pressure to get a group ready to possibly challenge them."
1269
1270"I'll bet..." you start to say, but trail off. "Look, Fiona? I'll be honest: As much as I would like to commit to this..."
1271
1272>A. "I'll be ready for a try-out on Thursday."
1273
1274>B. "I can't accept the offer. I have too much on my plate already."
1275
1276>C. "I have a lot of people to talk to and need some advice... I'll get back to you within the week about it."
1277
1278>D. Write-In.
1279
1280-------------------------
1281
1282>>46502744
1283>>46502790
1284
1285You take a breath to think about this. As much as you hate your job at times and dislike having to really exert yourself in class with Tatsuya-Sensei, you don't know if you could handle the life of a wrestler; The travel, the grueling schedule, the pressure to perform... You're not exactly the best at dealing with all of that on a regular basis. The fightclubs probably took it out of you.
1286
1287On the other hand, the whole reason you ended up in South Town was because you wanted to make it as a fighter and win a KOF tournament, so even if this is how you get in the door...
1288
1289No, no, hang on. Don't make anything too irrational now. You're still not quite healed up after a 16-Fighter tournament; How could you deal with teams? "I have a lot of people to talk to and need some advice... I'll get back to you within the week about it."
1290
1291Fiona hangs up on you not a second later after you said that. Shit. 
1292
1293Ah well, it's nice to dream once in a while... Damn it, what's with you today? You need to quit moping around and do something to keep your spirits up.
1294
1295>A. Head out to the beach and do some cardio training.
1296
1297>B. Hit the Gym.
1298
1299>C. Grab some lunch and explore South Town a little while traffic's light.
1300
1301>D. Drive home and explore your property a little bit.
1302
1303-------------------------
1304
1305>>46502984
1306>>46503014
1307>>46503191
1308
1309Frankly, even though a trip to Sound Beach sounds good right about now you remember that left your swimsuit at home, which is as good of an excuse as ever to take the rest of the day off and relax a little bit.
1310
1311After a quick lunch (Caesar Salad, mostly to clean out your fridge), you figure that you should keep moving and take a hike through your property to stave off the "Lazy Bones" feeling you sometimes get after a hard day at work, or the dojo.
1312
1313"Smell that mountain air, goddamn" you say to yourself while taking a rest near a babbling brook. Shit, just being out here calms your nerves and helps your body relax... Something you couldn't do when you were growing up; It was too damn hot most of the time to do stuff during the day. A hearty stretching session later and you're back at your cabin before you know it feeling refreshed and at ease with yourself.
1314
1315In fact, you were so chillaxed on your walk and stretches that you didn't even notice that you missed two calls, or even that they left messages...
1316
1317>A. Check what's up. It could be important.
1318
1319>B. Do some work around the house; The place is getting a little dusty.
1320
1321>C. Check up on The Southtown Wrestling Federation online. You should at least get an idea of what they're like before doing a try-out.
1322
1323>D. Netflix & Chill? Netflix & Chill.
1324
1325-------------------------
1326
1327>>46503549
1328>>46503529
1329>>46503482
1330>>46503471
1331
1332You take a look around your cabin and shake your head. You've been so busy with fighting and work and classes and work and recovering from fighting that you neglected to clean the place up once a while... You were just about to grab a duster when you take a look at your phone to see if it's something you need to take care of.
1333
1334And of course it is. 
1335
1336The first message is from Tatsuya asking about you, wondering if you could join him at his place for a movie night or something... As nice as that sounds, you can guess he'll find a way to slip something resembling training in there somehow, so you hang on with that and listen to the second message...
1337
1338... Which is just... Static? No, not quite static. It's really hard to make out, but there's somebody talking on the message. But it's garbled at best.
1339
1340Curious, you check the number on the second message and see it's from an unlisted caller... "Meh, probably just a prank-caller with nothing better to do" you think while dusting up the place and rubbing the tables and counter-tops down wits a wet cloth. 
1341
1342After about an hour you're finally done and grab your phone.
1343
1344>A. Call up Tatsuya and ask him what time you want to show up at his place; You've got to show before going back out again from all of the dust.
1345
1346>B. Call up Tatsuya and politely decline; You just want to relax today.
1347
1348>C. Listen to the unknown message again; If you really concentrate, you might be able to make out what it says (Roll 1d20)
1349
1350>D. Write-In.
1351
1352-------------------------
1353
1354>>46503838
1355>>46503841
1356>>46503891
1357
1358Something about that message from before, the weird one filled with static, sticks in your mind. For as alien as it sounded (Or what you could make), you KNOW you've heard that language from somewhere before... But, you can't think of anybody that spoke something like that...
1359
1360You turn off the music you had going to help you out while dusting, grab your best pair of headphones and replay the message a couple of times, really intent on listening to what's going on.
1361
1362You'really so glad you got these for Christmas. They really can amplify even the worst sound quality into something listenable. Eventually, you come to a conclusion: It sounds like two guys (One of them gruff, the other raspy, both of them old) screaming at each other in Russian, then a pause, then a string of numbers so long your phone cut it off before it was done...
1363
1364What could that be? A bank account? The combination to a safe? A computer algorithm that's going to laumch every nuclear missile in America'South arsenal? You've seen enough action movies to guess...
1365
1366"I have too much free time on my hands" you say to yourself with a sigh, then call up Tatsuya.
1367
1368"Hey. I was wondering when you would get back to me."
1369
1370"I had to clean up my house a little" you truthfully reply.
1371
1372"Did you get my message?" He asks, what sounds like the rest of his class (Or a cheesy martial arts movie) in the background.
1373
1374>A. "Yeah... I'll be right over after I get changed."
1375
1376>B. "Yeah, but I'll have to pass on it."
1377
1378>C. Tell him about Fiona and the SWF chance.
1379
1380>D. Ask him if he knows any Russian guys in South Town and segue into talking about the message in hused tones.
1381
1382-------------------------
1383
1384>>46504255
1385>>46504271
1386>>46504298
1387
1388"Yeah... I'll be right over after I get changed."
1389
1390"Bitchin'. I'll text you directions and see you soon" Tatsuya tells you before hanging up.
1391
1392Well, OK, you wanted another night to relax before really hitting the gym. How bad could it be hanging with Tatsuya for a night?
1393
1394What are you saying, you know how bad it could be; If the one time you met Adam, got drunk with him and listened to him partly tell the story of the wolverine fight on the mountain is anything to go by, well...
1395
1396Screw it, you said you'd go. So you hop into the shower, somehow manage to get all of the dust out of your hair and off of your body and change into some casual wear... But not before preparing a duffel bag that has your Gi, the undershirt you wear (For the guys in your class's sake, not yours), an extra-large water bottle and all of bandages and grip-tape you can find. 
1397
1398"Be a girl scout" you overheard one of the do-nothing bitches at work say at it's a great attitude to take when it comes to dealing with the more... "Eccentric" parts of your life. By the time you're done packing you'very got a detailed map of where to go and which streets to take to get to Tatsuya'so apartment (Which is just a stones throw away from the dojo).
1399
1400I'm going on a short break after this. Wait warmly for the next update please! 
1401
1402-------------------------
1403
1404>>46504617
1405
1406Thanks for the wait anons!
1407
1408You arrive at Tatsuya's place right around 6 and are struck by how nice the building looks to what your mind's eye had pictured. Hell, there's even a doorman that asks who you're here to see before letting you in...
1409
1410A couple of elevator rides up and you arrive at apartment #349 and knock on the door. "Come on in" Tatsuya's voice calls from inside.
1411
1412A look around the place suggests that it hasn't been cleaned in around a decade, maybe longer... Or maybe Tatsuya purposefully likes to make a large apartment look smaller than it is? 
1413
1414"Sorry, had to finish up a call. You like pizza, right?" Tatsuya asks as he comes out from the hallway in a tacky-looking "Aloha" T-Shirt that's bigger than your bedspread, sweatpants that probably could double as drapes... And bunny slippers?
1415
1416"Always!" you tell him as you flop down on his comfy couch and let out a sigh of relief while dropping your duffel bag on the hardwood floor. You have to admit, it's a bit of a head trip to see your sensei in anything else other than the Orange Gi... 
1417
1418Tatsuya merely smiles as he tosses you a bottle of beer (Stella even, how nice of him) and turns on the TV (Bigger than yours by some degree) and his Bluray player hums to life. First up: A cheesy Fei-Long movie. Of course.
1419
1420"I hope you don't mind; I haven't seen this one in a while" he says, then asks "You haven't really called or stopped by the dojo since last Friday... You been alright?" as the credits/opening sequence starts up.
1421
1422>A. "I've been too busy to think about it Sensei. I'm sorry."
1423
1424>B. "I've got weird phone calls showing up on my answering machine in the dead of the night; I don't have a clue what's going on anymore."
1425
1426>C. "I'm still trying to get back to my old self since that last Real Bout, I guess."
1427
1428>D. Write-In.
1429
1430-------------------------
1431
1432>>46505700
1433>>46505725
1434>>46505747
1435
1436Internet's getting "Chunky". Please bear with me Anons.
1437
1438"Oh, I'dunno, I've got weird phone calls showing up on my answering machine in the dead of the night; I don't have a clue what's going on anymore."
1439
1440Tatsuya shrugs as he opens up his drink. "It's all part of the game, girlie. I felt the same way when Pumpkin was younger and... Well, you know."
1441
1442You nod, careful not to bring up your sensei's past and instead focus on the straight-to-cable masterpiece "Trials of the Dragon": The last film Fei-Long made before semi-retiring from acting to focus on his new film company... And then the Panama Papers leaked... Still, it's a delightful romp with some insane stunts, so you can't complain. You pop off the top of your beer and wordlessly toast your sensei.
1443
1444"Thanks for coming over, really" Tatsuya says after a little bit. "Pumpkin's busy at work all of the time and Adam's never around..."
1445
1446"It's no problem, really." You pause as it gets into your favorite part: Fei-Long driving a schoolbus full of orphans through a fireworks factory. It's as ridiculous as it sounds, but all the more awesome for it.
1447
1448That's when you decide to ask Tatsuya a question that's been bugging you: "Do you think I could win a KOF tournament?"
1449
1450"Nah, but don't let it get to you. It takes a rare breed of fighter to go 1-on-3 day-in and day-out and come out on top" he quickly replies, then pauses to actually think it over. "Oh, you mean on a team?"
1451
1452"Yeah."
1453
1454"... Maybe. Like I said, you've got the potential" he answers. "Have you thought about upping your training?"
1455
1456You nod and nearly spit out your drink laughing at scene you forgot about that one has to see to really believe (You just hope that was a dummy instead of a stuntman because otherwise... Ewww....). "Sorry, that gets me every time."
1457
1458"Me too."
1459
1460There's an awkward pause only broken by the action on-screen, but then Tatsuya asks you a big question: "Have you thought about what I said?"
1461
1462-------------------------
1463
1464>>46506444
1465
1466"About the discipline, or training with you?"
1467
1468"Both."
1469
1470You can tell from his voice and the look on his face that this was what he really wanted you to come over for. Damn it... You'd take running behind his car for 10km over this.
1471
1472>A. Tell him that you want him to whip you into fighting shape; You want to win the new KOF and he's man to do it.
1473
1474>B. Tell him that you want to keep your options open, maybe find a new sparring partner while he works at the dojo.
1475
1476>C. Tell him about the offer from SWF and see what he thinks.
1477
1478>D. Write-In.
1479
1480-------------------------
1481
1482>>46506547
1483>>46506572
1484>>46506791
1485
1486"Well... It's tempting... But I got an offer to join a wrestling promotion."
1487
1488Tatsuya looks at you for a second, a "What the fuck did I just hear?" look on his face. 
1489
1490"I haven't accepted it or anything... But I guess I'm interested? I don't know. Part of me feels like I need a change sometimes" you tell him.
1491
1492"Eh, I never really got wrestling. I mean, when you had guys on the Street Fighter side crossing over it made sense, but KOF usually is beyond that kind of stuff. Look at what happened with NESTS and all of that" Tatsuya replies as the "Big Bad" of the movie belatedly makes his first appearance.
1493
1494"Yeah... I'dunno, if the money's good, I might take it. The girl I fought on Friday was one of their best girls and they were impressed enough to call me up" you admit. "Again, I don't know if I should take it on or not. But work sometimes work makes me mad enough to just throw in my apron and walk out..."
1495
1496"You've been there for a while, right? You shouldn't throw away a good rep in case you decide to come home from your travels and be a family woman" Tatsuya says before taking a sip as the movie kicks into high-gear.
1497
1498"Yeah... Yeah. No offense to you and your style, sensei, but I don't know if I'm cut for it anymore. I felt better with my old Judo tricks out there... Maybe that's why I'm entertaining Fiona at SWF."
1499
1500Tatsuya takes a look at you, but doesn't say anything as somebody walks in.
1501
1502"Hey dad..." you hear his daughter, Ellie, say with a weary voice. "How're you?"
1503
1504"Fine honey. How was work?"
1505
1506"I had a bunch of meetings with a ton of jerks, got threatened by a stuck-up ass... And ran into Belle, so you know" she replies while taking off her helmet and sitting down next to you on the couch. "Whatcha' watching?"
1507
1508"Trails of the Dragon" you tell her as you take a breath. For whatever reason, you and Ellie could never see eye-to-eye. There was always this kind of weird tension between the two of you... Unfinished business...?
1509
1510-------------------------
1511
1512>>46507156
1513
1514At least she doesn't make a fuss about you being in her father's apartment tonight. She even thanks you for grabbing her a beer as the three of you watch the fiery climax to the movie.
1515
1516"I never got why he lived after that. It would've been better if his character had bit the dust" Ellie flatly says while the credits roll.
1517
1518"That would've made it more like a traditional wuxia fable I guess, and maybe the mood shift would've been too off-putting?" you ask.
1519
1520"Well, I'm good for suggestions. You'd be amazed at how many "
1521
1522>A. A nice comedy. You want to lighten up the mood in the place.
1523
1524>B. A good crime drama, maybe a Japanese Yakuza flick?
1525
1526>C. Something about cars or racing.
1527
1528>D. Take off for the night. You need to think over things before deciding what to do with your life for the time being.
1529
1530-------------------------
1531
1532>>46507367
1533>>46507423
1534>>46507466
1535
1536As much as you'd like to introduce Tatsuya & Ellie to a movie like "Driver" or "The Fast Life" or even "Street Racer: N20", you feel like you should take off now rather than outstay your welcome. Besides, you're not 100% comfortable being around Ellie yet...
1537
1538"Eh, I think I'll get some rest and hit the gym hard tomorrow" you fib.
1539
1540"Really? Aw man, I wanted you to hang for a little longer" Tatsuya asks, his voice sounding like he's started to get a good "Buzz" going.
1541
1542"Yeah... There'll be another time, trust me." 
1543
1544"Alright, drive safe up there" he replies as Ellie puts on what looks like a romantic comedy.
1545
1546"See you later" Ellie says, sounding "Out of it" as you head out of the door with your bag in hand. Who knew Tatsuya lived in relative comfort? Sure. you've got running water & wired electricity up at your cabin, but you still have to make fires with a woodstove for heat... In comparison, his place, even as messy as it was, felt like a palace or a castle.
1547
1548You arrive home just before 11 o'clock at night, traffic backed up because of an overturned semi-truck on the main highway bottled up everybody at your exit. You brush your teeth, quickly make your bed and soundly fall asleep...
1549
1550===
1551
1552... And just like that wake up to the sound of something tapping at your window, like somebody throwing rocks or something.
1553
1554"Damn it, I went out to the woods to get away from stupid kids doing stupid shit" you mutter while putting on your slippers and yelling out your window "HEY! KNOCK THAT SHIT OFF! I'm trying to sleep!"
1555
1556That's when you notice something rustling in the underbrush and blur past your line of sight...
1557
1558>A. Quietly close the window and get your guns; You aren't confident enough to take whatever/whoever it is barehanded.
1559
1560>B. Hide in the closet and call the cops.
1561
1562>C. Wait for whatever that was to try and make a break into your house, then beat him/her/it up.
1563
1564>D. Shrug it off as your mind playing tricks on you and go back to bed.
1565
1566-------------------------
1567
1568>>46508160
1569
1570This is a blue board, Anon. Besides, there's no way SNKP's new Chinese masters would OK a character like Katja for KOF XIV...
1571
1572>>46508398
1573
1574>K9999'd Katja
1575Quit giving me ideas.
1576
1577>>46509297
1578
1579Tiger!
1580
1581>>46507909
1582>>46508066
1583>>46508263
1584
1585Lost track of time talking to friends. Sorry for the delay anons.
1586
1587You're wide awake now and use the adrenaline pumping through your veins to quickly hide in your largest closet, though not before you grab your smartphone and quietly start to call 911. Then you stop for a moment to try and listen in on your would-be assailant... No footsteps to your ears either mean that this guy/girl/thing is extremely quiet, a ghost or just a figment of your your own imagination.
1588
1589Speaking of imagination, you laugh at yourself for thinking that the South Town Police Department could help you out on something like this and don't even send the call before you carefully step out of your close-OH FUCK IT'S ALREADY IN HERE.
1590
1591You're breathing hard as you think you see a shadow in your peripheral vision and hear a door close behind you.
1592
1593"I ain't scared of you motherfucker!" you yell, almost too stiff with fear to move.
1594
1595Then a voice, smooth as silk yet raspy, genderless and oddly-pitched replies "I'm not afraid of you either".
1596
1597Goddamn it, you weren't expecting that. Maybe you need to rent an apartment back in South Town again, because FUCK. 
1598
1599THIS.
1600
1601NOISE. 
1602
1603>A. NOPE the fuck out of here, grab your bag and hit up a fightclub or something downtown; You ain't coming home tonight, that's for sure.
1604
1605>B. Run out of the house and see if you can fight whatever it is out in the open; The moon's bright enough that you can see well enough.
1606
1607>C. Calm down, close your eyes, and concentrate; Every living thing gives off Ki and if you can just hone in on where it's coming from... (Roll 1d20)
1608
1609>D. Do what FightChan always recommends when dealing with ethereal/ghostly figures from beyond.
1610
1611-------------------------
1612
1613>>46509647
1614>>46509632
1615>>46509684
1616>>46509819
1617>>46509677
1618
1619OK, quick question: There are two votes to combine Options C & D, two votes for just D and one for just C... 
1620
1621Should I go with the D vote (As it's technically 4-3 for Option D at this point)? Ask for a tie-break? Or go pic related?
1622
1623-------------------------
1624
1625>>46509989
1626>>46510013
1627>>46510032
1628>>46510076
1629
1630OK, just checking.
1631
1632>>46509606
1633
1634Wait a minute, slow your roll there. If whatever this thing is just a guy or girl in a mask fucking with you (Not out of the question; This IS South Town, after all), you could maybe try to pin-point where it could be coming from by focusing on it's Ki, it's life-force energy?
1635
1636Well, it's worth a shot. Even though you've trained in judo grappling and Tatsuya's not the best at focusing purely on how Ki flows through your body (There's a guy in China Town who does, but is insanely expensive to see on anything other than a "Life-or-Death" situation), you close your eyes, steady your heartbeat and try to find where this shithead might be...
1637
1638And fail miserably. Fucking great.
1639
1640All you can hear and feel is the wired electricity from the room and hear that voice laugh back at you as you keep your eyes closed, now to afraid to open them... Though, there is that one thing you read on FightChan about how to deal with ghosts and malevolent spirits...
1641
1642Eyes still closed you slowly, carefully, strip down to your birthday suit and slowly walk backwards towards your kitchen. When you feel your feet hit the tile floor of the kitchen, you slowly, carefully grab a match, a wax candle, a cutting board, the sharpest knife you've got and use the light of your fridge to "See" where you put that long stick of Salami you "borrowed" from work. Also, holy shit you're glad you did dishes the other day and organized your drawers.
1643
1644Finally, you start to draw a pentagram shape with the lit wax candle on the cutting board (Again, using the lit candle to "See" where things sort of are with your eyes closed) and... Well... Start to work the stick of Salami around your body like a man's big, throbbing-
1645
1646"You're fucking WEIRD" the ghostly voice says, clearly disgusted at what's it's seeing... Which is when you slam the meat-stick down onto the pentagram and the slice the fucker in half with the knife.
1647
1648-omitted one small post.
1649
1650-omitted one small post.
1651
1652-omitted one small post.
1653
1654-------------------------
1655
1656>>46510823
1657>>46510888
1658>>46510893
1659
1660You haven't been to the Gym in a while now, but it's been longer since you've been to the beach, and with global warming (Despite what dumbass politicians and preachers say) pushing the temperatures up to a sizzling 90 degrees Fahrenheit in fucking APRIL, today would be the day to go... So, you plug in your MP3 player to the dash, set it on "Shuffle", hit the "Play" button and hope it's a good song for a drive down to Sound Beach...
1661
1662>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVANQheoRUw
1663
1664OK, that's two-for-two on driving songs now. You already feel a little bit better.
1665
1666===
1667
1668"Sound Beach"... Easily the most famous beach in all of South Town. It is also a famous resort spot for surfing and today, it looks picture-perfect. Shit, about the only real detraction from coming here is that it's located on East Island and has been known to be a spot where fights can break out (Well, more than usual anyway). 
1669
1670Speaking of hot, the two blond guys you spot sparring on the beach while you jog are pretty easy on your eyes... But, you focus on doing cardiovascular work today; "Sick Gainz" and sheer musculature can wait for now. Besides, that last little intangible amount of soreness from Real Bout isn't gone yet and you want to try and shake it off before thinking about maybe going back, or training with Tatsuya... Or what about Dave? He looks like he could still go a few rounds every now and then.
1671
1672You start with some jumping jacks, then some push-ups on a towel you brought, then some sit-ups and finally some bodyweight stuff you had practiced at home due to the lack of space, your eyes locked into that sparring match that's about to start a third "Round"...
1673
1674>A. Take a rest and watch those two guys fight. You might learn something (Roll 1d20)
1675
1676>B. Take a rest for a second, then stretch out the pain you still feel and do a run up and down the beach.
1677
1678>C. Relax for a little bit and work on your tan. You're starting to get pale.
1679
1680>D. Write-In.
1681
1682-------------------------
1683
1684>>46511629
1685>>46511670
1686>>46511697
1687>>46511755
1688
1689You hold off on the run you wanted to do for a second to catch these two guys fight. From the flashes you caught earlier, they aren't your average hoodlums, or even the kind of guys you'd find in Real Bout... However, you're a little too far away to really get a good look at either one of them (Tragic, you know) and even then, this "Round" ends quicker than you expected it to; The short one in a T-Shirt and swim trunks tries to dash in with his elbow out, but the bigger, hunkier guy in Blue Jean shorts ("Jorts? Who the fuck wears those?") and a basketball jersey-shirt rockets his fist forward and kicks up enough sand that you can't see anything except a ring about a foot deep around the two of them...
1690
1691Oh well, so much for that. Maybe you could check up online and see if they're locals you weren't aware of? Or maybe they're retired pros from the fightclub scene or something... You jog out to a lifeguard tower that looks like a speck out in the distance, then head back while keeping a steady pace and trying to ignore the douchebags and assholes staring at your, well... "Bounce".
1692
1693"It's the price to pay for what I have, but no way am I getting rid of these" you think while you head back to your towel and bag. Seriously, you'll never get tired of making guys drool over you... By the time you get back those two guys are gone and you're starting to feel the burn from being out in the sun for a tad too long without any lotion...
1694
1695>A. Put on your Gi and hit "The Pao Pao Cafe" for lunch.
1696
1697>B. Drive across town and hit the Gym.
1698
1699>C. Check out the East Side Park. You haven't been to their Aquarium in ages.
1700
1701>D. Go shopping for stuff at the mall. You feel like maybe getting some new clothes, or better yet a new outfit to fight in after trashing the last costume or something.
1702
1703>E. Run to the nearest store, get some lotion and work on your tan today.
1704
1705-------------------------
1706
1707>>46512439
1708>>46512359
1709>>46512342
1710
1711As much as you'd like to stay and work on your tan, you realize that you left your suntan lotion at home and that you're starving after all of that running, so you drive up to one of the more notable eateries in South Town: "The Pao Pao Cafe".
1712
1713Opened up by Capoeira "Professor" Richard Meyer just in time for the the first "Major" Fatal Fury tournament, The Cafe serves up a variety of dishes and drinks from Richard's homeland of Brazil and abroad; You can order everything from common Hot Dogs to... Crocodile Meat...
1714
1715Richard also stages live capoeira stage performances in a separate deck of the cafe, featuring capoeira enthusiasts or occasionally his disciple, Bobby Wilson. The biggest reason the place is still around (Aside from always having a way to find the KOF Tournament broadcast) is that the stage doubles as a place where he or other fighters can spar with one another...
1716
1717You aren't 100% up for a fight today, but if somebody challenges you than hell, you'll try to oblige and give'em a good fight. Besides, you switched out of your gym clothes and put on your Gi, so somebody is probably going to want to throw down. You spot those two blond guys (Brothers? On second glance they look like it) having a drink off in the corner with girls on each of their arms (SHIT... But damn, they've got good taste; You'd kill of the blonde woman's arms and traps and that Brunette? Jesus) and find a way to an open table.
1718
1719"You're menus will here in just a sec" some guy with beaded dreadlocks says, then asks "Would you like a drink, miss...?"
1720
1721"Water, please" you reply as you lay back in your chair and relax a little. Damn, why do all the cute guys always have girlfriends that aren't you? It's like half the time, you're only dating somebody because the guy you actually want is taken... No wonder you've broken so many hearts over the years; Half the time, it felt like you did it for the sheer hell of it all...
1722
1723-------------------------
1724
1725>>46513028
1726
1727"Here's your menu, Miss Water" the dreadlocks guy says, clearly poking fun at you. "And your drink."
1728
1729You look through the menu, see what you want and have a little fun at his expense: "I'll take a Double Triple Bossy Deluxe on a raft, 4x4 animal style, extra shingles with a shimmy and a squeeze, light axle grease; make it cry, burn it, and let it swim."
1730
1731You feel like the whole room stopped when you said that and dreadlocks looks at you like you're a hellspawn for a half a second. "You're playin' me, right? You gotta be playin; me."
1732
1733"Of course!" you cheerily reply. "I didn't get to do any April Fool's jokes this year,,, So, I'll have the double-double burger with a Coke, please."
1734
1735Dreadlocks nods, takes your menu and walks away shaking his head... Though you wish he was still around when you spot "Tsunami Tsyako" barge in with all of the grace of a baby elephant.
1736
1737She takes a look around, spots you and asks "Hey... You fight?" when she gets to your table.
1738
1739"Is the pope catholic?" you ask, hoping against hope she doesn't recognize your voice.
1740
1741"You wanna spar for a little bit or something? My regulars are all out.for the day and I've got an itch punching bags can't scratch, miss...?"
1742
1743>A. "Bond. Jaime Bond."
1744
1745>B. Ellen Bryant
1746
1747>C. Christie Davis
1748
1749>D. Kamui Takane
1750
1751>E. Katherine Hart
1752
1753>F. Katja Hartkern
1754
1755-------------------------
1756
1757>>46513396
1758>>46513410
1759>>46513437
1760
1761"Katja" you say, then get up to shake her hand. "Katja Hartkern, nice to meet you!"
1762
1763Tsuyako looks at you like you just insulted her family or something and crosses her arms. "That's not really funny, you know."
1764
1765"What isn't?"
1766
1767"I'll ask again: What's you're real name?" Tsuyako asks, her voice closer to the sterner one she used at Real Bout.
1768
1769"Come again? I've always been Katja, girl. Since the day I was born in Coober Pedy."
1770
1771Again, that look... Your smile fades and part of you feels like Tsuyako's gonna slug you for saying your name, like it's some kind of swear word (Maybe it is? Your dad never taught you German and had a"unique" sense of humor).
1772
1773"You're not her... Not even close to be her" Tsuyako says, then adds "I knew Katja Hartkern. I didn't spend enough time with her, but I knew her. Fiona knew her. That table over there knew her... And you aren't her."
1774
1775Something feels wrong as she adds "So OK, fine... Be Katja. You use electricity in your moves; It fits. I'll meet you up on the stage over there and just beat your name out of you" Tsuyako growls before storming off.
1776
1777The hell is her problem? Come the fuck on, there can't be TWO Katjas out in South Town... Your name is, like, the most unique one you've ever heard; You were made fun of in school for it (Well, for a lot of things, but your goofy name didn't help) for christ's sake; Your dad even named you "Katja" because it was the closest compromise phonetically to what your mom wanted, but was more in line with what he wanted... Something's up. 
1778
1779Oh, if those motherfuckers at the Cafe had somebody use your name to do illegal business deals, or something else that'll get you arrested you're gonna torch the fucking place when you get the chance...
1780
1781===
1782
1783And that's the thread everybody! I sadly will not be able to continue this tomorrow, as other more pressing issues have come up... However, I'll resume this quest on Friday at the same time as today's session.
1784
1785-------------------------
1786
1787>>46514694
1788
1789Hold your horses! I was busy archiving the thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46502219/
1790
1791Also, dang y'all got a lot of questions. I guess I'll try to answer them one at a time.
1792
1793 >>46514053
1794>>46514178
1795
1796Well... What happened is basically how I was going to end the original KOF Quest. (I'll leave it up for request if anyone wants the details.) 
1797
1798However, I fell into a rut, got confused with what I wanted to do and watched my personal life fall apart, so decided to cut my losses and start again from a much more solid base as a writer and with a more compact storyline overall.
1799
1800For the record: I kept things intentionally vague because I wanted this character, the new MC, to stand on her own two feet and be able act a certain way without any prior judgement connected to an "Old" name  After reviewing my old work, I had strongly felt that I had wasted too much time focusing on Katja's looks and her body, so I wanted to refrain from posting any images or descriptive text about the new MC until the time was right.
1801
1802
1803>>46514126
1804
1805I can assure you that's not what happened here.
1806
1807>>46514483
1808
1809At least you don't need a dictionary full of terms to try and wrap your head around before you even can start to understand the story. Seriously though, BlazBlue's plot is impossible for me to comprehend in a non-asshole/troll way. (IE "lol Incest"/Everyone is Ragna"/"Everyone wants to Fuck or Kill Ragna")
1810
1811>>46514632
1812>>46514694
1813>>46514522
1814
1815I admit that I have a soft-spot for that look. Laura's Half-Gi with a swimsuit or sportsbra underneath is fine for "Casual" fighting wear (Underground fightclubs might be a little too "Rough & Tumble" for something like that though).
1816
1817Any other questions? (Also, Pic Related with a Katja-like Tan or a Kuro-like Tan could fit as well IMO.)
1818
1819-------------------------
1820
1821>>46515233
1822
1823NESTS shenanigans are a part of KOF now though Sleepy. Just look at Sylvie.
1824
1825>Now we have to build up this new Katja's personality from scratch, from what bits and pieces of history we can pull together.
1826
1827I honestly feel that the same could be said of Katja in the first KOF Quest. For all we ("We" being players) knew about her, there were still unanswered questions that I never got around to explaining or shedding light on... Well, at least directly.
1828
1829
1830>>46515267
1831
1832I really can't answer most of those questions G. You'll just have to wait and see.
1833
1834>>46515306
1835
1836Heck, the "New" Katja (Which, as others have pointed out, at this point only shares a name with original and some traits) is still on the fringe of fighting game character design IMO. She still would stand out in a KOF game, even one as wild as XIV (Nelson kind of comes close, but the scars make him look like he contracted Vitaligo).
1837
1838>>46515348
1839
1840Yes. I have found over time that I am a bit of "Gardener" when it comes to writing when I need to be more of an "Architect" to really hack it as a QM IMO.
1841
1842-------------------------
1843
1844>>46515601
1845
1846I don't intend to. I fell asleep and deleted a long wall'o'text that explained why I don't intend to rush this quest; All I'll say is it will finish when it finishes... Or it'll spin-off from itself. I don't know.
1847
1848Well, I'm turning in for the night. See y'all on 4/8/16 @ 11 AM PST/2 PM EST for the next session!
1849
1850==== END THREAD ====
1851
1852The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #5
1853written by That Damn Weasel (19 posts, 3 omitted posts)
1854-------- qst2txt --------
1855
1856>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46502219/
1857>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
1858
1859>Introduction:
1860
1861"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
1862
1863While you not much of a Shakespeare buff, that line of dialogue keeps popping up in your head as you sit back down at your table inside "The Pao Pao Cafe" and try to think over what the hell just happened. One moment, you're talking about doing a friendly sparring session with "Tsunami Tsyako" (The girl that knocked out of last week's Real Bout final) and could even see a flash of a person behind her "Kayfabe" Pro-Wrestling gimmick... Then you tell her your name and she wants to rip your head off your neck and shit down the hole.
1864
1865The fuck is with that? That's where the whole name business comes back into focus.
1866
1867Your name is Katja Hartkern. You've had to deal with a lot of shit for having such a unique name, even in a relatively "Liberal" place as your hometown of Coober Pedy, Australia (Noted for supplying most of the world's gem-quality Opal and for being located in a desert so hot and arid that most of the houses there are built underground or inside of mountains)... Your skin tone didn't help either. Especially when you finally started living on your own in Adelaide before graduating High School and re-locating to Japan...
1868
1869Except Tsuyako seems to know of somebody named Katja Hartkern and claimed that the two guys (Brothers for sure, now that you can see their faces clearer) and their girlfriends(?) at the table across from yours knew this "Other Katja" too. And apparently, you're disrespecting the memory of her by simply existing...? 
1870
1871Between this, the poltergeist you vanquished last night and that garbled phone message you might have to hire somebody to exorcise your house... Where you could go for that though? China Town? Little Korea? A Catholic Church? (Wait, scratch that last one. You're not a little boy; They wouldn't be interested.)
1872
1873-------------------------
1874
1875>>46545437
1876
1877That's when you follow your nose and look down to see your food (A "Double-Double" Burger, a small side of curly fries you didn't order and a bottle of Coca-Cola) has magically arrived.
1878
1879"The fries are on me" the waiter (A cute-looking black guy with dated, beaded dreadlocks) says with a smile. "Actually, I forgot to mention that both cafes are doing a promotion: If you're order's over-" 
1880
1881"-Thanks."
1882
1883He shrugs at how quickly you cut off his sales pitch, but says "It should be a crime for pretty girls like you to frown like that" before heading off to check in on the blond guy's table. Well, that's considerate of him, you guess... No, wait, not "Considerate". What's a good word for a guy hitting on you, but not even knowing it? Because that what it felt like.
1884
1885>A. Eat your meal, then do a few warm-ups before stepping into the squared circle with Tsuyako. Your metabolism is quick enough it wont upset your stomach.
1886
1887>B. Chow down, but tell the two blond guys that somebody's looking for a fight upstairs if they're interested before take off; Either one of them could wipe the floor with Tsuyako easily.
1888
1889>C. Ask the waiter if you could get some stuff to have this to-go and quietly make your exit; You don't want to turn on the dark side of your ego today... Not in a sparring session, at least. Or without at least two fair witnesses.
1890
1891>D. Ask for a waiter, tell him/her that you want to take your food to-go, then pound "Tsunami Tsuyako" into paste; You always fight better on an empty stomach anyway...
1892
1893-------------------------
1894
1895>>46545539
1896>>46545551
1897>>46545987
1898
1899As appetizing as your food looks (Seriously, what is it about a good burger from a local restaurant that looks a thousand better than any fast food joint save In-N-Out or Five Guys?), you know what has to be done. So, you quietly motion for a waiter and ask him "Could you get this in a to-go bag for me? I have to take care of something..."
1900
1901He looks at you for a second and starts to say something before you storm off and prepare yourself to throw down at the Pao Pao cafe's "Performance Stage", Tsuyako already waiting for you and doing stretches.
1902
1903Curiously, she's not wearing the "Traditional" Sukeban outfit she rolled up in while doing her stretches (And going into a full split); Instead she's stripped down to the outfit she probably already had on and what you peeked at her wearing at Real Bout (Red One-Piece Swimsuit, Black Elbow & Kneepads along with matching Ankle boots).
1904
1905As a look, you kind of like it more than her "Usual" outfit; It has a real retro charm and makes her look like the lead in "Gatblaster" or something (Well, a stretched and widened "Gatblaster" anyway; Tsuyako's the kind of "High-Test Queen" FightChan would drool over).
1906
1907As a fighter? Right now, she's a target, a benchmark. Just another piece of meat for you to slaughter while laughing your head off all the way to the bookies...
1908
1909"Any last words, "Katja"?" she asks, saying your name like she was spitting something foul out of her mouth while tightening up her gloves.
1910
1911>A. "I came here to chew bubblgum and kick yer' arse. But now? I'm all out of gum."
1912
1913>B. "No hard feelings kid. Don't hold anything against me."
1914
1915>C. Do your best Dolph Lundgren impression (Roll 1d20 for effectiveness)
1916
1917>D. Say nothing and rush her down; Fuck this bitch (Roll 2d20)
1918
1919-------------------------
1920
1921>>46546174
1922>>46546145
1923>>46546096
1924
1925>New Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZuicpv82GA
1926
1927Well, so much for thinking about going easy on her. Or taking that gig for The Southtown Wrestling Federation, for that matter; If you have to deal with this bitch on a daily basis, you'd just go back to training in the art of Not!Kyokugenryuu Karate with Tatsuya-Sensei (And maybe Adam if he gets off of his lazy ass and does something outside of playing videogames and dote on Ellie).
1928
1929You run towards Tsuyako with the same kind of reckless abandon that most martial artists would scoff at and hit her in the head with a jumping heel kick, then combo into your Left Hook and top it off with your "Punch Flurry". She lands too quickly to try to go for an uppercut, but you stick with her and try to sweep her while she's still getting up. Tsuyako blocked it, but you were able to hop back and throw out a quick Kou'ouken to stagger her for an uppercut...
1930
1931Which she dodges and then grabs you out of the second you land. OK, she ain't a tin-can. Not yet at least. 
1932
1933You wordlessly ukemi out of her throw and land a kick to her stomach, nearly doubling her over. For a brief second you think about hitting a "Stun-Gun Stinger", but hold off and instead do a Hien Shippu Kyaku, the sound of wind blowing through your feet as you land the last hit and knock Tsuyako down HARD.
1934
1935Much to your amazement, she gets up quickly, but seems to be dizzy already; She's rubbing her forehead and trying to smack herself back into focus... The perfect chance to:
1936
1937>A. Keep the offense train going and don't let up; This bitch's going to pay for talking to you like that! (Roll 2d20)
1938
1939>B. Let her come to you and counter her advances; She's mad and you can use that anger against her (Roll 2d20)
1940
1941>C. RYUUKO RANBUU!!! (Roll 3d20)
1942
1943>D. Taunt her while she's down and see how she reacts (Roll 1d20 and suggest a line of dialogue)
1944
1945>E. Write-In.
1946
1947-------------------------
1948
1949>>46546720
1950
1951Never? I wasn't a big fan of XIII's ToD combo system... But, if "Katja" trains hard enough and learns the right moves? You could get that kind of damage.
1952
1953>>46546611
1954>>46546514
1955
1956Sorry for the delay; Lost track of time talking to friends.
1957
1958No mercy for this one. Not for talking to you like that, or for denying you Real Bout glory last week (Even if you got paid a generous amount by her fed afterward). You hit her in the face with a dashing Straight Right, then hit a quick uppercut that should've knocked her right out of the "Ring"...
1959
1960Except Tsuyako seems to recover while in mid-air and latches onto your arm, quickly taking you down with her and locking in a Jujigatame. The pain is pretty excruciating for a couple of seconds, but Tsuyako didn't properly lock it in, so you minimize the damage and kick out of it and land a "Super Kick" to her back.
1961
1962She rolls off of the raised platform and lands with a thud and you start to slowly make your way back to your table (Walking backwards to keep your guard up), but Tsuyako hops back up to the ring and quickly takes off her headband and dashes at you quicker than you expected. You anage to land a quick kick to knock her out of that "Wave-Dash", but she seems to power through it and tackle your legs.
1963
1964Rather than going for a submission, she transitions into a "Full Mount" and tries to do some "Ground & Pound" to your face.. That's not good.
1965
1966>A. Block it and try to lift and slam her up off of the floor (Roll 1d20)
1967
1968>B. Laugh at her while you counter and lock in a Fujiwara armbar; This bitch's gonna tap (Roll 2d20)
1969
1970>C. Try to fire off a Kou'ouken on your back to get her off of you; You can't take much more of this (Roll 3d20)
1971
1972>D. Let Tsuyako wear herself out and capitalize on the first chance you can get to KO her (Roll 1d20)
1973
1974>E. Go "Legendary Super 'Strayan on her (Roll 3d20)
1975
1976-------------------------
1977
1978>>46547635
1979>>46547434
1980>>46547390
1981>>46547384
1982
1983OK, no more kiddie gloves. Those punches are starting to hurt as you try to block a few, but "Tsunami Tsuyako" seems to be tiring after a couple of strikes, so you hear yourself laughing at her while you grab her arm and mover her around the hard floor of the "Stage" and perform a Judo submission move tailor-made for a situation like this: The Ude hishigi juji gatame.
1984
1985Goddamn, Judo's awesome sometimes. You didn't even have to get up off of your back to counter that punch! You've got your crazy old pervert of a teacher at Tokai to thank; He taught you well.
1986
1987"Do you really think that the last disciple of "The Demon" is gonna lose to a dough-ball like you!?" you yell as you crank her arm back and for, still chuckling a little as you can hear footsteps walking towards the two of you. 
1988
1989Spectators? Fuck yeah, it'll only add to this bitch's humiliation.
1990
1991"Come on, tap already!" you say with a laugh, Tsuyako trying to get out of it but struggling to break free with a face that looked like it was carved out of marble stone-faced. "You keep this up and I'll just break your bloody arm!"
1992
1993You're laughing like an escaped mental patient right now and you don't care. If it'll throw the opponent off of their game and get them to submit, so be it; To you, victory is all that matters at the moment. She lasts longer than you expected, but eventually Tsuyako cracks and starts to tap like crazy, that stone-like face crumbling into rubble and starting to sweat.
1994
1995Fucking pathetic.And she calls herself "The Boss" ("Sukeban")? You're a bigger gangster than her at this point.
1996
1997>A. Keep it locked in and break her fucking arm.
1998
1999>B. Let her go and get out of here. You need to calm down after losing it like that.
2000
2001>C. Ask her what the fuck crawled up her ass before letting go of your hold; You want to know more about this "Other Katja".
2002
2003>D. Challenge one of the blond brothers or one of their girlfriends; You're on a roll right now!
2004
2005>E. Write-in.
2006
2007-------------------------
2008
2009>>46548097
2010>>46548147
2011>>46548160
2012>>46548171
2013
2014"Alright, before I let you go, you're going to tell me what you know" you state, putting on the kind of voice you usually only use on your boss or with a stingy fightclub promoter trying to stiff you.
2015
2016"W-What?" Tsuyako groans.
2017
2018"About this girl... The Katja Hartkern you know."
2019
2020"Let go and I'llaaaaaargh!" Tsuyako gasps.
2021
2022"Not yet... Not until you talk."
2023
2024The sweat on Tsuyako's face is pouring down her neck... It looks almost sexy, not that you're into the kind of stuff. "Alright... Alright..."
2025
2026You let up just enough so that her face doesn't look like a grape and she starts to explain after taking a big breath. "About a year ago, there was a KOF tournament. A big one."
2027
2028"Why haven't I heard about it?" you ask, genuinely curious and dropping the "Tough Bitch" act for a moment.
2029
2030"I don't know!" she groans, thrashing to try and get up out of the hold like you did to her at Real Bout. "It's tied down in legal stuff... New sponsors came in and denied it happened, or won't acknowledge it, or release-"
2031
2032"-OK. And Katja?" you ask, the group from the table watching you go throw this interrogation.
2033
2034"Hey, let her go" the muscular blond girl says in the kind of tone that Cops on TV use.
2035
2036"Not until I'm DONE!" you snarl. 
2037
2038"She... She was like you. A little darker skin, a little buffer bodyeeeeaaaahhh" she says. "Can't you just let me go?! I'll tell you everything!"
2039
2040"And?" you ask, still locked in and not giving an inch but not applying any real pressure either.
2041
2042"And she fought alongside me, and Fiona Graves, and a couple of Kyokugen" Tsuyako starts to say, but pauses to hyperventilate a little.
2043
2044"Come~on" you muse.
2045
2046"OK, this is just getting ridiculous; Let her go or I'm calling the damn cops!" the blond chick yells at you.
2047
2048>A. Fuck it, you've got enough info for now.
2049
2050>B. Wait until Tsuyako finishes her story.
2051
2052>C. "Why should I? I know the law around here. You can't arrest me over something like this."
2053
2054>D. "Make me, pig."
2055
2056-------------------------
2057
2058>>46548665
2059>>46548603
2060>>46548521
2061>>46548744
2062
2063You sigh, let go of Tsuyako's arm and do a Pro-Wrestling-style "Kip-Up" to get back on your feet. "Fine... Now talk. My food's getting cold."
2064
2065Tsuyako sits up and grasps her arm for a second before looking up at you. "That was it... the five of us fought this..."
2066
2067"This? What?"
2068
2069"... Something..." Tsuyako says, a confused look on her face. "I blacked out after a little bit and woke up in the hospital. I don't know what happened after that."
2070
2071You cross your arms under your chest (Mocking how Tsuyako did it to you just a few minutes ago), then tap the brunette Asian chick's shoulder and ask her "Hey, do you know what she's talking about?" in Japanese.
2072
2073"I honestly don't have a clue" she replies (Round, soft parts of her body shifting ever-so-slightly under her dress) as her hubby (The shorter blond brother) shrugs, but then asks "You really studied under Jubei Yamada?"
2074
2075You nod. "I was the last person to train under him before he got ill and had to retire."
2076
2077"Is Master Jubei really still alive?"
2078
2079"I think so... God knows how" you reply, then tell Tsuyako "Stay off that arm for a couple of days, OK? I tried not to break it."
2080
2081Tsuyako seems to hear you, but doesn't nod as she kind of curls up into a ball and you head back to your table. She really needs to change her gimmick; You can tell that she doesn't want to be the "Hard-ass destroyer" kind of girl all of the time... Which is something you could pull off with flying colors.
2082
2083The blonde muscle-girl walks with you back your table and stares you down while you grab your bags and your food.
2084
2085"Do you know who I am?" she asks.
2086
2087You take a look at her. Nice bod, but not ringing any bells. "No, I don't. Should I?"
2088
2089She pulls out a badge out of her back pocket and shows it you. A bounty hunter? "Maybe you should" she says with a cool, steely gaze.
2090
2091Aw fuck, she probably knows about you from the fightclubs. Damn it to hell, how are you going to get out of this one?
2092
2093-------------------------
2094
2095>>46549109
2096
2097>A. "OK, OK, I get it. What do you want? Money? Info? Or what?"
2098
2099>B. "I'll be a girl scout from now on. Honest, Mary."
2100
2101>C. Blow her off without saying a word.
2102
2103>D. "I'm a worthless Abbo from Australia that had to deal with cops arresting me on trumped-up charges all the time; You don't scare me."
2104
2105-------------------------
2106
2107>>46550002
2108
2109Pic Related is for you Anon.
2110
2111>>46550628
2112>>46550496
2113>>46550449
2114>>46550096
2115
2116I had to leave where I was posting from much sooner than I had expected due to a power outage, got stuck in traffic on the way to the store, got stuck in line at the store becuse the same power outage had affected them and they had to reboot their cash registers... So, my sincerest apologies for the wait.
2117
2118>>46549157
2119>>46549174
2120>>46549324
2121>>46549361
2122
2123You can tell by the look in her eye that she's trying to play the "Bad, but sensible Cop" right now. Yeah, nah, that's not going to work on you. Besides, you cut any of the possible ties to whichever gang is in power now in South Town's underworld a while ago.
2124
2125"Listen, Mary... I grew up thinking that I'm a worthless Abbo from Australia. I've that had to deal with cops arresting me on trumped-up charges all the time; You don't scare me" you tell her, complete with your best "No Fucks Given" face.
2126
2127Surprisingly, she backs up a little. It probably wasn't what she was expecting... Then again, it never is here in 'Murricah. In 'Straya, racism is a part of everyday life and it makes you ponder why no one has come up with a "Aborigine Lives Matter" hashtag yet.
2128
2129"And I'm sorry to hear that" Mary admits (Oh shit, is this that "Blue Mary" Ryan chick you've heard about? Damn, she's a lot prettier than you imagined). "But you know what's just as bad? Using that kind of prejudice as an excuse to do whatever you want."
2130
2131"If it's cold comfort, I never have and don't intend to" you tell her. "Besides, the cops here are worse than where I lived..."
2132
2133"Tell me about it "Mary grumbles as the big, hunky one of the two blonde brothers walks over. "From what I heard half the damn force had to get taken in since last year over a bunch of charges..."
2134
2135"Mary, let's just go" her boyfriend(?) says to her, then turns to you. "the kind of skill you have is a gift. You shouldn't abuse it like that."
2136
2137-omitted one small post.
2138
2139-------------------------
2140
2141>>46551253
2142>>46551276
2143>>46551370
2144
2145"I hear you loud and clear there... Er, what's your name?"
2146
2147"Terry" he says, then shakes your hand.
2148
2149A nice, firm handshake? On a hunk like him? Shit, why do you miss out on nice guys all the time? ... Hang on, Terry?! No way, is he?
2150
2151"I gotta take off... See ya' both around" you stammer, blushing a little. Fucking'A', that was Terry Bogard! In the flesh! From the way FightChan talks about him, you figured he was a tall tale, like South Town's Paul Bunyan or something... So damn, that was Andy & Mai huh? Cute not-couple. 
2152
2153By the time you get to your car and start to FINALLY eat your lunch, it's not quite 2:30 in the afternoon... Plenty of time to go somewhere else until traffic hits and everything gridlocks, but on the other hand where could you go? Do you want to even go anywhere else after all of that just went down in The Pao Pao Cafe?
2154
2155>A. The Gym. You need to work your stresses and go over why you almost snapped at the Pao Pao. Also, Sick Gainz.
2156
2157>B. The Aquarium. You need to soothe and calm your nerves. Looking at fish helps.
2158
2159>C. The Arcade in China Town. Get the competitive juices out of your system with that one racing game that makes your eyes almost bleed.
2160
2161>D. Look through a phone book and call up an exorcist. You need to get the freaky stuff at your house taken care of pronto.
2162
2163>E. Write-In.
2164
2165-------------------------
2166
2167>>46551891
2168>>46551913
2169>>46551967
2170>>46551991
2171
2172You finish your meal right as it's starting to get cold and flip out your phone, searching for any kind of "Exorcist" or equivalent. Unfortunately, in the hour you spent looking that up on your phone (And getting glares from passers-by sitting in your car), you find a bunch of weird links to lots of questionable content (Along with one you bookmarked for later that discussed something that allegedly happened at the end of the Bakumatsu Roman era), you don't end up finding anything close to what you were looking for.
2173
2174Well, damn it, you'll have to call HIM up...
2175
2176You search through your rolodex of numbers and call up "The Wind". As much as you hate having to deal with him, he's not too bad when it comes to dealing with otherworldly ghosts and spirits and shit (Probably got it from his sister; She was big into all of that).
2177
2178"Yo?"
2179
2180"Yo. It's me."
2181
2182"He~ey girl. Miss me?"
2183
2184"As if" you joke. "I was wondering if you know anybody that could help me out?"
2185
2186"Whatchu need girl? I owe you a favor" he says, the sound of something debauched going on in the background. Christ, is he at a strip club or something already? Where cold you go for something like that this early in the day?
2187
2188"I've got a bit of a ghost problem" you slowly, carefully admit.
2189
2190"Some guy in a mask trying to steal from you?"
2191
2192"No, a real ghost problem... Well, actually, it's a lot of little things but I need like an exorcist to come out to my house or something."
2193
2194"The Wind" (Kazunori Kazahaya, the gangster who hides from his own gang at times) pauses on the phone for a while. "Man, I'dunno... Most of the peeps I knew that did that kind of thing are either retired, out of the country or pushing up daisies."
2195
2196"Could you do it? I'm kind of desperate here" you admit. 
2197
2198Another long pause... And yep, you can tell that he's at some club throwing money down some girl's panties. "I need like two days, maybe three to cleanse myself for something like that..."
2199
2200-------------------------
2201
2202>>46552524
2203
2204Three days your ass, for the amount of sins he commits on a daily basis it would take a lifetime for him to "cleanse" himself... Then again, you're not one to judge.
2205
2206"Come on man, I had to deal with one last night. I've been up since 3 AM trying to stay awake in case he comes back" you half-fib.
2207
2208"Sorry... I mean, if my sister were here, maybe she could-"
2209
2210"-NO. No fucking way is she coming up to my house."
2211
2212Yet another pause, more hoots and hollars from the other end of your conversation... Now that you think about it, it sounds like they're watching something like mud or oil wrestling maybe. "You absolutely HAVE to have it all done by tomorrow?"
2213
2214"Yes please!"
2215
2216"... OK, I'll call in a couple of favors and have somebody come out tonight" "The Wind" tells you. "But I don't think it would be wise to stay there during any of the rituals or anything; Weird shit could happen and my sister would kill me if anything happened to you."
2217
2218"Your sister would kill you for just hating your guts, ya' goof..." you tell him as you start to think over the planning of something like this. 
2219
2220>A. Accept the offer and try to get a cheap hotel, or call up Tatsuya to crash at his house or something for the time being.
2221
2222>B. Ask for Kazahaya to do it personally in a few days. What's the worse that could happen in the meantime?
2223
2224>C. Tell him that you wasted his time and just shrug off all of this superstitious mumbo-jumbo. Besides, as Tatsuya would say "You aren't trying hard enough if you can't punch a ghost."
2225
2226>D. Write-In.
2227
2228-------------------------
2229
2230>>46552832
2231>>46552845
2232>>46553121
2233
2234"So, you OK? You need to think about it, or?"
2235
2236"Nah, go ahead and do it tonight" you tell "The Wind". "I'll just pack and head out before your guy arrives."
2237
2238"Kay... I'll be seeing you" "Wind" tells you before hanging up. 
2239
2240OK, so you're out of your house for a day.No biggie; You had to do the same thing when you had to call up the fumigators in Adelaide that one time... You hit the road and call up Tatsuya the moment traffic comes to a stop (You can't be too careful about that; You don't have a wireless headset and the fine's outrageous if a cop catches you).
2241
2242"Hey. What's up?"
2243
2244"Can I crash at your place for a night Tatsuya-Sensei" you ask.
2245
2246"Something wrong?"
2247
2248"Kind of... I was going through my pantry and found a roach infestation, so I called up some exterminators."
2249
2250"Damn... That sucks." he takes a long pause before admitting "I can't help you out sweetie; I've got a game night going with some old friends" before hanging up.
2251
2252Huh, that's... Not like him at all. Something's up. Trouble with Ellie & Adam? Maybe a student got hurt while you were gone from classes?
2253
2254Whatever, that window's closed. You drive home and say a silent prayer before walking inside your house, hoping that everything's still in the places that you left it. Thankfully, no malevolent spirits decided to fuck with you, so you grab all of your most precious belongings (A couple sets of your best clothes, some socks & lingerie, the family photo album, your lap-top, your stuffed Kangaroos "Ripper & Hopper" and all of the money you stashed in false walls) and drive back into the city... But not before you take one last look back at the old place.
2255
2256"I mean, it's ludicrous to think anything'll happen" you mutter, but still you can't help but think of stranger things that have happened to you before today... Maybe your Mp3 player could cheer you up on the drive down?
2257
2258>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=che7BNTqBnE
2259
2260Ah well, they all can't be winners.
2261
2262-------------------------
2263
2264>>46553760
2265
2266You settle on a decent little hotel near Pioneer Plaza in Central City and flop onto your bed by around 7 PM, traffic hindering your progress and the guy at the desk acting like a total dick when you wanted to pay with straight cash frazzling your nerves...
2267
2268You do a light stretching session to ease some of the aches and pains from fighting Tsuyako, take a shower and turn on the TV to see if anything's on... And find that the place doesn't even have basic cable. Great.
2269
2270Lucky you brought your laptop with you then. You fire up ye olde' Netflix and stare off into space for a second, thinking of something to watch.
2271
2272>Roll 1d100 and suggest a movie. Highest roll wins.
2273
2274-------------------------
2275
2276>>46554002
2277
2278You spot an anime you had been meaning to watch for some time, then see a campy-but-awesome-looking giant monster flick... But, settle on watching the original "Old Boy". You had seen the American remake with Josh Brolin and, well, weren't all that impressed. Sure, Brolin was excellent in his part, but everything else had felt like window-dressing in comparison. You hadn't thought about it until somebody on FightChan brought to your attention that the original was supposed to be leagues better... So, you put on and curl up into bed, getting nice and comfy with your 'roos.
2279
2280All you can say by the end of it is WHOA. Fucking hell, that was good. You need a rollercoaster of emotions sometimes to ease your soul and take your mind off of stuff... Though, you have admit that some parts of it cut a little too close to the bone for your tastes (Much more than the American version), but even then that's on you and not the film itself.
2281
2282You stifle a yawn, get up to take a leak and check the time. 9 PM? Nah, it's too early to pack it in just yet. You should probably check up stuff on FightChan before bed. Maybe set your alarm, because you need to get up early in the morning for work...
2283
2284You walk out into your modest room, take a look out at your stuffed 'roos and smile. They have a lot of good memories attached to them; They remind you so much of the happy times with mum and dad, when you were a kid and life seemed so much simpler... Even now, they can help you sleep when your mind's ill at ease with life. Why, they even look cute with the mask and top-hat that ghost left behind on the-
2285
2286-Wait a minute... You didn't bring those with you, didn't you...?
2287
2288Oh FUCK.
2289
2290===
2291
2292And that's the thread everybody! So sorry for the delay right in the middle of it. I intended to not have it happen again without reason...
2293
2294I'll stick around for Q&A for a little bit if anyone's interested.
2295
2296-------------------------
2297
2298>>46555072
2299
2300I'm not really sure... I might run tomorrow at the usual time (11 AM PST.2 PM EST), but I have laundry and a bunch of little things to do. And Sunday's out because I have to attend a party, so...?
2301
2302>>46555080
2303
2304Find out in the next thread! It's not related to the Opera Masks chick in KOF XIV, though.
2305
2306Also, random image because why not?
2307
2308-------------------------
2309
2310>>46555288
2311
2312"Bizuki was a mistake." -That Damn Weasel
2313
2314>>46555541
2315
2316I actually didn't read that manga until January of this year. I kind of wish I had based Bizuki on her, because THAT is what she should've been in retrospect.
2317
2318Also, nice theory. No, I'm not going to elaborate on what happened.
2319
2320-omitted one small post.
2321
2322-------------------------
2323
2324>>46555658
2325
2326Everything will be revealed in time. That's all I can say.
2327
2328>>46555815
2329
2330I'd have to think about it G.
2331
2332>>46555842
2333
2334Steve Blum as K' is a natural fit to my ears, but then again I know nothing.
2335
2336>>46555863
2337
2338I'll archive it.
2339
2340-omitted one small post.
2341
2342==== END THREAD ====
2343
2344The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #6
2345written by That Damn Weasel (32 posts, 6 omitted posts)
2346-------- qst2txt --------
2347
2348>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46545437/
2349>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
2350
2351>Introduction:
2352
2353OK, stay calm, control your breathing in 10 easy steps. You can get through this. Breathe in... Breathe out. Lather, rinse, repeat. Think of good thoughts. Happy thoughts. That time you won your only Judo tournament despite having to argue with refs over how much you were bleeding; Watching the last few years of Formula 1 cars blasting down the streets of Adelaide with your dad when you a little kid; Your first bar-room brawl of a fight with that rugby team after you had started to take up Judo courses; Going out with your parents to have nightly picnics in the Australian Outback and watching the stars; Listening to your mom tell you old Aboriginal bed-time stories about magical places like "DreamTime"...
2354
2355Yeah... Nah, it's not working. Not when you see two things you very specifically DIDN'T bring with you, sitting on the two stuffed animals that you always thought were supposed to ward off freaky shit like this.
2356
2357You are Katja Hartkern. Even though there might be other people out there with the same name, that's your name and you're sticking with it. A bigger concern is less than 4 hours after packing up and leaving your cabin out in the woods so an "Exorcist" can cleanse your house from all kinds of recent, spiritually-heinous activity, two artifacts you left behind (A Black Top-Hat and a White Mask) followed you back to your hotel room.
2358
2359Man, today is just not your day. Especially after "Seeing Red" and nearly breaking that one girl's arm at The Pao Pao cafe...
2360
2361>A. Leave the hotel. It's not safe to stay here any longer.
2362
2363>B. Hop on FightChan and see if that "/x/pert" has a thread up. Following his(?) advice worked last time.
2364
2365>C. Destroy the mask and burn the top-hat (Roll 3d20)
2366
2367>D. Go out for a night drive and sleep in your car at a rest-stop or something.
2368
2369>E. Put them both on. They're calling for your touch.
2370
2371-------------------------
2372
2373>>46565390
2374
2375>15 Minutes in
2376>1 Vote
2377
2378And this is what happens when I don't expressly say "I'll be back tomorrow!" with certainty at the end of a thread... I guess I'll keep the voting open for a little longer.
2379
2380-------------------------
2381
2382>>46565786
2383
2384I thought so too. Seems as though most of my plans didn't happen, so I figured it would be nice to run today before taking tomorrow off for my frend's party.
2385
2386>>46565390
2387
2388OK, that's two votes; Currently writing for Option C. Random image because random image.
2389
2390-------------------------
2391
2392>>46565390
2393>>46565786
2394
2395You cautiously walk toward your bed and take one last look at your two precious stuffed Kangaroos ("Ripper & Hopper"), your heart beating fast enough that it could explode out of your chest as you grab the top-hat off of one of them. You examine it for a good 5 minutes before concluding that it's really just an old, impeccably well-made hat from a brand you don't recognize. It'll be a shame to destroy it...
2396
2397But oh well. You grab a match from the small bedside stand (You're lucky that the only room the Hotel had available was a "Smoking' one), take the hat and light it on fire in the shower. You were half-expecting it to burn in some kind of oddly-colored flame, or see a face that would scream in agony in the flames, but it just burns like a normal hat would.
2398
2399You flick on the shower-head to douse out the flames and clean up the ashes before going back to your room to take a look at the mask... When you see that it changed locations on you again: Now it's sitting on top of the lamp sitting on the bedside stand. Also, both of your stuffed 'roos are missing...
2400
2401Yeah, nah, not tonight motherfucker. That mask is toast.
2402
2403You do a little neck-stretch and start to warm yourself up before slowly, carefully grabbing the mask to inspect it and see if you maybe take it outside and throw a Kou'ouken at it or something. It's an odd mask; The design doesn't really hint at who could've made it or where it might be from. The color of it suggests a European opera mask, but the shape is like that of something Chinese and the design itself looked like it came out of an old manga you never got a chance to read...
2404
2405You can't really feel any kind of dark aura around it or anything, so you shrug, get into your Karate Stance and toss the mask high enough into the air that it bangs off of the ceiling before you line up your first to try and break it.
2406
2407However, you only nearly break your hand as it flies across the room and lands softly on your bed.
2408
2409-------------------------
2410
2411>>46566282
2412
2413"Fuck, what is that thing made out of?" you growl while shaking out your hand. You peer to take a closer look and can see that it's still in one piece, though there's a crack from one of it's eye slits that goes all the way down to where the mouth ends... 
2414
2415You can't lie, it looks kind of cool. But you need to get rid of this thing before it, like, posses you or starts ordering you to start killing people like "The Son of Sam".
2416
2417>A. Look on your phone for any late-night hardware stores and see if there's one nearby; You're gonna get a sledgehammer and finish this the old fashioned way.
2418
2419>B. See if you can find anything out in the mean streets of South Town like a lead pipe, or a baseball bat... Hell, even a long, hard dildo could do the trick at this point!
2420
2421>C. Go out for a night drive and chuck this thing into the South Town Harbor, then maybe get a late-night snack while you're at it.
2422
2423>D. Hop on FightChan, search for that "/x/pert" and see if he's got a thread up; Hell, you're honestly desperate enough that you could post photos of you posing if it'll get some attention.
2424
2425>E. Put on the mask, become "The G-Mantle" and paint the town red.
2426
2427-------------------------
2428
2429>>46566627
2430>>46566687
2431
2432You grab the mask, get changed into something a little warmer than the clothes you had on (The days might be nice, but it's still April so South Town nights can get cold) and hop into your car, driving out to the largest bridge you can think of. 
2433
2434If one of your punches can't break this damn thing, then you're probably going to have to chuck it off of "South Town Bridge" on East Island, you reckon, so that's what you do. You stand close to the edge of the side of the railing on the small "Pedestrian Pathway" and watch the mask float down like a lone cherry blossom gracefully shedding off of a tree.
2435
2436Part of you figures that you might have to deal with it again, but not for a while at least. You make your way back to the hotel (Stopping on the way to pick up some Korean BBQ) and rest uneasily while trying to drift off to sleep.
2437
2438===
2439
2440The next day felt like a blur to you. Once again, you had to wake up after it had felt like you only just fell asleep and clocked in at "Cafe de Paradiso" just a few minutes later than usual despite having a much shorter, more direct route to it the old shit-shack. Work itself was much of the same old, same old... Kind of comforting really after all of the stuff you usually deal with, but it was enough that you felt like you were stuck in "Zombie Mode" until like 11 AM (Less than an hour left in your shift).
2441
2442At least it wasn't super-busy and you got to FINALLY clean everything... Well, OK, you weren't up for cleaning detail today but Jennette didn't show up for work today so you had to basically hold down the fort until 9 or so. Gosh, wonder what happened to her? For as much of a bitch as she was, she's not the type to not show up for work...
2443
2444Whatever, you clocked out early on account of not having any real customers in the place and take a "Cat-Nap" in your car until around 1 PM, by which point the sun started shining and the temperature outside started rising. Today's looking up, that's for sure...
2445
2446-------------------------
2447
2448>>46567088
2449
2450>A. Use that good energy to drop in on Tatsuya-Sensei. You're ready to get back to doing classes again.
2451
2452>B. You've neglected going to the Gym long enough. You probably don't even know what "Sick Gainz" look like anymore.
2453
2454>C. You feel like shopping for some new clothes... Maybe some new fighting gear to wear for Real Bout? (Not this week's though.)
2455
2456>D. Write-In.
2457
2458-------------------------
2459
2460>>46567228
2461>>46567289
2462>>46567337
2463>>46567475
2464
2465As good as going shopping, or crashing Tatsuya's afternoon classes sounds, you need to hit the gym. It's been far too long since you've had a really good session of whaling on your glutes, or your pecs, or your arms... Plus, since you weren't planning on fighting in Real Bout tomorrow you need to have at least one day of wearing yourself out by pushing your limits to the extremes.
2466
2467You arrive at your gym, a "Fitness Center" that seems forever stuck in the 1980's design-wise, but generally has just about anything you'll ever need to stay fit in it. Plus, it's kind of a hang-out for Real Bout regulars and other local fighting toughs, so the equipment won't break on you in the middle of working out like some of the more "Normal" places in South Town.
2468
2469You take a few minutes to get changed into some purposefully-tight bodywear that is supposed to help increase your circulation, but generally just shows off your body... Not that you mind; Gym code here is not to be caught 'mirin' somebody when you should be focusing on your own shit.
2470
2471Speaking of which, you should probably take a photo of that sign of 'The REAL Gym Rules" the owner put up and share it on FightChan one of these days; You read so many damn horror stories about the shit that goes on that it could be a good laugh... OK, enough fucking around; Time to get serious and focus on improving your...
2472
2473>A. Striking
2474
2475>B. Grappling
2476
2477>C. Overall Speed
2478
2479>D. Overall Power
2480
2481-------------------------
2482
2483>>46567717
2484>>46567731
2485>>46567763
2486>>46568062
2487
2488... Striking... Yeah, that makes sense. It's probably the weakest aspect of your "Game" at the moment; You really only learned how to throw punches and kicks to set up your throws when you did Judo all of the time and Tatsuya, for as much as he's taught you, has kind of given up on teaching you proper form and all of that because of how your arms & legs react...
2489
2490You end your stretches and start by warming up with some freeweights, progressively going heavier and heavier with each set before stopping just before your limit at the 5th one (You usually do 5x15s, but sometimes go longer for endurance training) and switching to doing leg work on a couple of free machines, again going up in weight until you're starting to strain (4x15, unfortunately).
2491
2492A quick rest, an even quicker stretch and you start to get into the meat & potatoes of your workout: Smashing the heaviest bag in the gym, with punches & kicks. For whatever reason, you always seem to tune your mind out when punching air and doing these drills with Tatsuya & the rest of the class, but here in the gym you lock out everything else and get into some kind of "Zone" you read and hear racing car drivers talk about.
2493
2494By the time you're done punching, your knuckles almost feel raw inside of your gloves as you finish up that last "Punch Flurry" (You usually do one after another and switch off each leading arm) and smile when you see the bag move ever-so-slightly. Your kicks aren't as fast and you're not as flexible with your legs as you like, so you focus on single, hard-hitting strikes with your legs at first.
2495
2496You have to keep yourself from doing a silly little dance after performing each one of your "Super Kicks" on the bag (You got the nickname "Hart-Break Queen" for two reasons, after all), then do a couple of Hien Shippu Kyakus to finish off your set. Sweat poring down your chest, your hair wet and muscles sore... You kind of miss doing this after all.
2497
2498-------------------------
2499
2500>>46568256
2501
2502Time seemed to melt as you head out of the gym; It's just past 5 PM and your stomach's growling, so you head to the nearest place you can find (A Jamaican restaurant, of all things), order some jerked prawn and think over things for a little bit.
2503
2504You're probably weaker than you were when you were at your peak, doing the fightclub circuit in South Town 3 nights a weak and not even bothering with Real Bout unless you owed somebody a favor or needed some "Walking Around Money"; That's just common sense after being gone from competitively fighting for 6 months.
2505
2506However... There's no denying that you're a tougher, stronger woman than the little thing you were when you started doing the fightlubs here altogether, let alone when you picked up your taste for fighting outside of Judo meets in Highschool & College... Is it really enough for a spot in a King of Fighters tournament though? Those have a nasty reputation for being full of Fire-chucking Highschoolers, Cyborgs, Androids, Ghosts, pissed-off Gods hell-bent on destroying humanity...
2507
2508You tap your fingers to the beat of some reggae tune and sigh. Maybe you're stuck in a rut and can't get to that last rung, the top of the mountain, a championship with what you've got. Maybe you really do need to ship up, shape out and push yourself harder to achieve it...?
2509
2510Your food arrives none too soon and your phone goes off to remind you that you missed a call and got a new message. Apparently, you only booked a day and a night at the hotel...
2511
2512>A. Book another night at the Hotel; You'll check up on your house tomorrow to see if it's still there or not.
2513
2514>B. Call the hotel back, apologize profusely and race to get your shit out of your room before they trash it all...
2515
2516>C. Eat your dinner, then call up Kazahaya and see if he knows if his "Exocist" is done yet; You want to go home already.
2517
2518>D. Munch on your prawns for a little bit, then call up Tatsuya and see if you can crash at his place tonight.
2519
2520-------------------------
2521
2522>>46568650
2523>>46568683
2524>>46568723
2525
2526Even though it doesn't seem like a good time or place, you call up the hotel and go through the motions of setting up a one-night extension on your current room in between chomping down on prawns. Eventually, you get the extension and breathe a sigh of relief before finishing up your meal... Though, from the amount of money you had on you and the amount you're going to need to cover the extra night and your groceries, you might just have to fight tomorrow in Real Bout after all.
2527
2528Ah, screw it, you'll manage. You'll just have to go back to classes and fight over Tatsuya's daily Buckwheat Soba with the rest of the class... 
2529
2530You drive back to hotel and arrive at your room by around 7:30, traffic again hindering your progress and raising your blood pressure a little bit. You quickly check to see if all of your personal belongings are still there and, amazingly, they are (A small miracle considering that you had enough money stashed away in your bags to put a down payment on a Bay Area condo). Hell, you even find "Ripper & Hopper" hiding in the closet...
2531
2532You do one last stretch, then flop down on your bed and call up Kazahaya. And endless amount of rings later, he finally picks up. "Hello?"
2533
2534"It's me Kaz. What's going on with my house?"
2535
2536"... Are you sitting down for this?" he asks, your stomach in knots at the sound of that.
2537
2538"Yes...?"
2539
2540"OK... Well, my guy found a couple of really nasty ghosts and phantoms around your property. Nothing in your house, but just a matter of time before they moved in."
2541
2542"And what happened to my cabin exactly, Kazunroi?" you growl, your blood pressure rising again.
2543
2544"Well... He got your house set up real nice, but he blew out all of the electrical sockets and the powerlines by accident" Kazahaya mutters. "I it fried your TV too."
2545
2546You let out a long, frustrated sigh. You're going to have to win at least a month's worth of Real Bouts to pay for all of that... "At least it's still standing, right?"
2547
2548-------------------------
2549
2550>>46569206
2551
2552"Oh yeah, the place looks spotless. He sent me a couple of photos and the grass even looks greener than it did before" he tells you.
2553
2554Well, OK, that;'s good. At least it's still standing; Maybe you've watched too many horror movies in your teens and read too many "Creepypastas" on FightChan, but you were bracing yourself to hear that your house got sucked into some kind of alternate dimension.
2555
2556"It didn't spoil my food, did it?" you ask. You need to get some fruit and veggies tomorrow or Saturday, but you shudder to think about what you just bought on Sunday might've already gone sour or turned to nothing.
2557
2558"Nah, nothing that crazy" he says, sounding like he wants to get off the line as soon as possible. Well, you would too if you had just told somebody that they're house's electrics are fucked by your hand.
2559 
2560>A. "You're gonna help cover me on the bill and the TV, right Windy Boy?"
2561
2562>B. "Thanks. See you never."
2563
2564>C. Hang up on him and read through your backlog of manga. You want to be in a good mood before you go off to sleep tonight.
2565
2566>D. Hop on FightChan and just... Vent through the art of shit-posting.
2567
2568-------------------------
2569
2570>>46569463
2571>>46569648
2572>>46569704
2573>>46569901
2574
2575"You're gonna help cover me on the bill and the TV, right Windy Boy?" you ask with a tone that's both sugary and dark.
2576
2577"Uh... I'll get back to you on that" Kazahaya quickly says before hanging up on you.
2578
2579Well shit, you've got a house with no TV, no way to charge up your lap-top and no damn lights... Great... At least you get your paycheck from the Cafe tomorrow. And you were smart enough that you aren't going to get fucked over on your hours because you forgot to clock in and out.
2580
2581You fire up ye olde Netflix and marathon an Anime on your backlog before finally calling it a night just before Midnight. As usual, the best girl lost... But, you aren't too sad about it; The thing was so bad in a funny kind of way that you didn't really feel anything. Maybe you should just stick to "The Classics" for a while? Because that's like the third Anime series you've completed in the last month that didn't leave any impression on you.
2582
2583===
2584
2585You wake up at around 8 AM and stretch out all of the pain your body accrued while you were asleep. You have to check out of here by 10, so you don't waste any time: You take a shower, clip your nails, change into a nice dressy-shirt and slacks and pack up your Porsche just before the manager of the hotel calls you up to demand that you need to leave or else he'll call the cops on you.
2586
2587"No worries" you tell him, laughing inwardly at him while driving back up to your house. You pull up to your semi-permanent garage that you had built with your bare hands and take a minute to breath in the crisp mountain air. It's high-up enough that you're getting rolling fog a lot of wetness ("Tree Rain", you call it) and grey skies while South Town proper still enjoys bright sunny weather... But man, you miss the air. So fresh, so clean.
2588
2589You let yourself inside and see that somebody cleaned up the place and re-arranged your furniture. That'll be a fun couple of hours...
2590
2591-------------------------
2592
2593>>46570318
2594
2595The real "Fun" starts when you spot a young kid, maybe 10-11 at the most, walk out and nearly trip over... Himself? Herself? you honestly can't tell.
2596
2597"Hey... You lost?" you ask as you help him/her up.
2598
2599He/she looks at you, then starts speaking a language you can't understand. He/she takes a moment to think it over while looking at your impassive face, then asks "English?" in a cute accent.
2600
2601"Yes. I'm the owner of this place..." you tell him/her. "What's your name?"
2602
2603"Bao" he/he says.
2604
2605"OK Bao, what's a kid like you doing here?"
2606
2607"I was hunting spirits!" he/she beams. "I caught a lot of them just down that hill over there!" he adds with a smile.
2608
2609"Really?" you smile. KAZ YOU MOTHERFUCKER YOU JUST SENT SOME GODDAMN KID UP HERE TO USE UP MY ELECTRICITY, DIDN'T YOU?!
2610
2611"Yep!" he squeaks, but then pauses. "I'm sorry I broke your TV... And your Playstation..."
2612
2613"Ah, don't worry, they're just things. I can replace things... I can't replace my spiritual health" you reassure him in a calm, friendly voice. GODDAMN IT THE NEXT CHANCE YOU GET YOU'RE GONNA BEAT THAT MOTHERFUCKER'S ASS FOR LYING TO YOU AND SENDING ONE OF HIS FUCKING BASTARD KIDS OFF ON A VACTION ARGHDGARGRGSBAZFSGX.
2614
2615Bao smiles and says "Thank you" before trotting out of the house and going on his merry way.
2616
2617>A. Hit up one of the known gang spots and tear it up in a blind rage.
2618
2619>B. Do some "Angry Yoga" to relieve all of this stress.
2620
2621>C. Enter tonight's "Real Bout". You're blood is boiling so hot right now that pain has no meaning.
2622
2623>D. Run off into the woods and go meditate until this rage passes; You want to be as far away from anything touched by the hands of humanity right now.
2624
2625>E. Go outside and attempt to become "The Legendary Super-'Strayan" (Roll 1d20)
2626
2627-------------------------
2628
2629>>46570867
2630>>46570911
2631>>46571101
2632
2633>LATER THAT NIGHT
2634
2635>"Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome to this week's Real Bout!"
2636
2637You're still mad about Kazahaya lying to you and sending some kid to fuck around in your house that you still feel like killing somebody. And, to paraphrase what one KOF competitor infamously said: "You just love it when you can maim people and get money!"
2638
2639You didn't bother with the Kyokugen Gi tonight or rent out a cheesy costume: Instead, you went to the fighting gear store located in East Island's "Happy Park" and bought a nice, high-quality Luchadore Mask, a cheap Sports-bra and T-Shirt, some cargo pants and dipped them all in a solution that makes them resistant to fire or fire-based Ki attacks and signed up under the name "Miss X."
2640
2641Even when it took you most of your day to apply the solution to your new clothes and dry everything out before Real Bout, your anger didn't subside in the slightest. Instead, it seemed to grow ever-stronger and only drive you towards competing tonight to "Blow off some Steam".
2642
2643You walk out in your new costume to the center of the park they've set-up in today, eagerly waiting for a chance to demolish whoever has the stones to fight you.
2644
2645>Roll 1d100 and suggest an opponent. Highest roll wins.
2646
2647-------------------------
2648
2649>>46571995
2650
2651>(What dialect is he supposed to be Weasel?)
2652
2653Hokkaido-Ben if we're talking Japanese. Tsuyako's supposed to be from Okinawa.
2654
2655Dave doesn't really have a look... Maybe pic Related?
2656
2657>>46572065
2658
2659I've seen "Cheesecake" threads on /co/ get pruned because pics like that, solely because of what series the character was from.
2660
2661-omitted one small post.
2662
2663-------------------------
2664
2665>>46572323
2666
2667I won't lie, there's some cute designs out there. And I don't mind it.
2668
2669>>46571800
2670>>46571652
2671
2672>"AAAAAAAAAND her opponent... From Austin, Texas, she's a local and state champion in Rodeo competition and an All-American in Amatuer Wrestling... Please welcome JOOOOOOOSSSSIIIIIIIEEEEE MILLLLEEEERRRRR!!!"
2673
2674A blond, freckled cowgirl chewing on a pic and dressed like a total skank walks up to the designated "Space" set aside for fighting and laughs at you. "Aw hell, y'all jumpin' beans crack me up... If y'all had any ground & mat skills like mine, you wouldn't need to dress up fer' hallaween every day."
2675
2676You say nothing, only letting your body stretching speaking any words as you gear up to pound this girl's face in. Josie "Come on, girl, loosen up a little! We ain't gonna kill each other now."
2677
2678More silence as you stare into her eyes. You werevery particular
2679
2680"Fine, be a tough nut t'crack. I'll just catch'ya' out of the sky if ya' try asny flippy stuff" Josie says as she gets into a low crouch. You try not to stare at her heaving, wriggling chest straing to bust out of her flannel shirt as you get into the "Brawler"-kind of stance you used in Fightclubs. Maybe you should've gotten a full-face obscuring mask? Because she's a bit... "Distracting" compared to who you usually fight.
2681
2682>A. Rush down and dominate. RIP & TEAR HER APART! (Roll 1d20)
2683
2684>B. Hold back and stuff her advances through spacing and counters. (Roll 2d20)
2685
2686>C. Focus on combos and how long you can stretch one out; You're not too fond of fighting "Grapplers" anymore and the less time she's throwing you down, the better (Roll 3d20)
2687
2688>D. RYUUKO RANBUU RIGHT OFF THE BAT!!! (Roll 3d20)
2689
2690-------------------------
2691
2692>>46572870
2693
269410/10 would main for those post-win quotes alone.
2695
2696>>46572636
2697>>46572709
2698>>46572784
2699
2700Even in your blinding rage, you know that it's foolish to rush-in on a Grappler" right from the get go. Plus, you figure that if she's an All-American at traditional Wrestling, her striking skills should be lacking or only there to set-up her grabs like yours...
2701
2702So, you simply hang back and let Josie bounce her way over to you... Man, if this were another time and place you'd ask her how she'd gotten that tan; It's almost as deep as yours...
2703
2704Josie seems to hesitate for a couple of seconds before finally committing to a "Wave Dash" that reminds you of Tsunami Tsuyako's for a moment. Her's is much, much shorter though and you land a stiff kick to her shoulder wile she tries to get up out of it. She gasps in pain and you land a Left Hook to her arm before backing up again, standing up and making her guess what you're going to do as Josie gets back down into a crouch.
2705
2706You can hear the skies crackle with thunder and see flashes of lightning off in the distance as some of the spectators either get out their rain coats or head back inside of the small restaurant just behind you in case of an April Shower starts... You wish you had that luxury as Josie again dashes towards you. You crouch down low to try and counter whatever she's doing, but Josie pops up out of the crouch and goes to grab you; She looks shocked as the two of you lock arms in a classic "Test of Strength."
2707
2708"Y-You call this a hold? Gimme a lasso, an' I'll show you what a hold REALLY looks like!" Josie grunts. If if this were an actual grappling tournament like she would be someone to fear... Thank god for you that it's not. You let up for just a second to knee her in the stomach, then toss her over your shoulder with a "Ippon seoinage".
2709
2710You land a low sweep that knocks Josie off of her feet, but she recovers out of it and goes for a Fireman's Carry that you can't quite jump way from. Damn.
2711
2712-------------------------
2713
2714>>46573246
2715
2716Her technique is flawless, but her power isn't quite as forceful as you'd expect, so you roll away from her follow-up submission hold and smack Josie in the face with a Left Hook and keep her from advancing with a "Super Kick'.
2717
2718You back up again, almost right to the edge of the "Stage" as Josie wipes a small trickle of blood from her mouth. "Girl, I've wrestled steers more ornery than you! Three times bigger, too!" she boasts before she copies a page from your book and takes it slowly, cautiously as the skies begin to open and some rain trickles down. 
2719
2720Well, at least it's a relatively "Warm" rain. And it only makes Josie look even more appealing to your eye... Hell, you could probably just wait out the clock until the rain really starts to come down, because they're probably going to DQ her if her shirt gets wet and she ends up exposing herself.
2721
2722>A. Switch gears and go on the offense now, while you can still feel some grip in the ground and have solid footing (Roll 1d20)
2723
2724>B. Stick to the plan and make Josie come to you. Her striking isn't as good as yours and your limbs have a reach advantage despite being around the same height (Roll 2d20)
2725
2726>C. Do a combo and try to hit one of your "Desperation Moves" to finish this match quickly; You never liked fighting in the rain (Roll 3d20)
2727
2728>D. "Lame it out" with Fireballs until the time runs out. If you're lucky, you could blow Josie's clothes off... (Roll 2d20)
2729
2730-------------------------
2731
2732>>46573661
2733>>46573709
2734>>46573891
2735
2736Just one look at Josie and how she's nervously backing away from you, then feebly feeling out whether it's safe to try and advance tells you all you need to know about her experience in "Real" street fights like this. You made the same mistakes when you first started; They're easy enough to spot.
2737
2738You switch gears as a light drizzle begins to fall and run in on Josie. You fool her into thinking you'll jump-in with a kick and instead knock her back with a Right Straight Punch, then combo into your "Punch Flurry" with your Left arm (That training session yesterday helped enormously; Your power in your left arm has improved a little bit).
2739
2740She's struggling to get up as the rain steadily starts to fall now. You have to concentrate to keep your footing too; So much for trying to hold one of these things out in the open... Who's idea was that anyway?
2741
2742You hop back and miss a wild Haymaker to throw out a Kou'ouken that nearly knocks her over and go for a Hien Shippu Kyaku string of kicks. Though they land beautifully, she tanked the last hit to grab you while you tried to regain your footing on the slick grass. Wait what in the fu-
2743
2744"-When you're the only girl in a family fulla boys, you gotta get tough" Josie huffs as she has you in a nice, big hug that feels like your insides are getting squeezed out while lifting you up off the ground. You know how damaging something so simple can be; You can recall reading about how Raiden/Big Bear in his prime used to finish off lesser opponents with this "Bear Hug" and sent some guy to the hospital...
2745
2746>Roll 1d20 to break the submission hold. The first 3 rolls will count
2747
2748-------------------------
2749
2750>>46574398
2751>>46574363
2752
2753Thanks to the rain pouring down, Josie's grip isn't as tight as she thought, so you wriggle your right arm out of her grasp and punch her in the head. She looks confused at the hit, so you punch her again and she drops the hold and tries to cover her face from any further punishment. 
2754
2755That's when you grab her and land a nice, quick "Stun-Gun Stinger" that launches her right out of the "Designated Area" and through a wooden table to the shocked gasps of the crowd looking on from indoors. Again, you get a creeping feeling of dread rise up in your stomach as the medics check up on her as she laid still for just a moment too long, but pump your fist up as the referee calls for the bell and Josie sits up, clearly looking like that gave her a concussion or something.
2756
2757>"And your winner.... MMMMMMMIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS X!"
2758
2759The referee leads you towards the little plaza next to the fountain while a crack team of hired hands quickly set up a temporary awning and a mat on the wet ground and you take a good look at the usual crop of fighters... Except there's no Tatsuya, no Avery, heck nobody you recognize here today. The weather might be affecting that, but compared to last week it feels like you crashed a private garden party.
2760
2761It takes about an hour to set everything back up, by which point the rain had stopped and most of the crowd had stayed away and the rest of the fights take a lot longer than yours did. You really had to keep yourself "In the Zone" to try and tap into the same mindless rage that fueled you signing up here in the first place. By the time you're finally up to fight, you're starting to feel a little more of Josie's grapples.
2762
2763>Roll 1d100 and suggest another opponent. Highest roll wins.
2764
2765-------------------------
2766
2767>>46575310
2768>>46574955
2769
2770Fixing dinner. Sorry for the late reply.
2771
2772Thinking about it, you kind of feel bad for Josie a little. While inexperienced, she had all of the fundamentals of a great fighter. Plus, she was pretty friendly to you even while you were trying to put on the "Silent Badass" schtick... That's probably why you dislike donning masks and disguises so much; You miss out on being able to just talk to other fighters like her and show that there weren't any hard feelings.
2773
2774Oh well... She'll be back in one these things sooner or later. Right now, you need to fight.
2775
2776A wave of boos and hisses greet you as you walk onto the mat, the sun starting to shine and the clouds clearing up as the announcer fumbles his way through your next opponent's name.
2777
2778>"Aaaaaand her opponent.... From Hong Kong, PAO SHEEEEEEEENNNNN PING!"
2779
2780How he pronounces "Pao" makes you chuckle a little bit and nearly makes you break your character. What makes you chuckle and break character is some guy that looks like a Japanese Train Conductor from the 1930's walks up, stands at "Attention" to deliver a short speech (In Mandarin, so it goes in one ear and out of the other) and then finally settles on going into a Kenpo-like stance.
2781
2782You rotate your shoulders back a little before the bell rings and the fight starts. Again, you start off cautiously, not quite eager to get this fight started as much as Pao is. He lunges at you with a palm, then a standing "Roadhouse" kick and ginally with ends with a couple of quick strikes that aren't so quick after all...
2783
2784You toss him with a "Sumi Otoshi", but he gets right back up and shows off some surprising flexibility by ducking backwards to dodge your Left Hook and counter you with a kick that knocks you off of your feet and nearly turned into a nasty submission if you weren't careful enough to dodge in time...
2785
2786-------------------------
2787
2788>>46575964
2789
2790>A. Go on the offense and rush Pao down (Roll 1d20)
2791
2792>B. Try to space him out with projectiles & counter-hits (Roll 2d20)
2793
2794>C. Let him keep coming, then block & punish his attacks (Roll 2d20)
2795
2796>D. Hunt for a gap and land a sick combo (Roll 3d20)
2797
2798>E. RYUUKO RANBUU! (Roll 3d20)
2799
2800-------------------------
2801
2802>>46576196
2803>>46576038
2804>>46576016
2805
2806You smack Pao in the face with a Right straight when you get up and block a kick string (Rekka-style, from the way he stopped after the second hit), then counter his grab by breaking it and throwing out a quick Kou'ouken to try and keep him off of you.
2807
2808Surprisingly, it works like a charm, as Pao has to back up and block every time you throw out a projectile. When he finally does get in to try and hit you, your limb's superior reach is enough to carry you away and knock him back at the same time (He took, like, two "Super Kicks" raw before blocking the third one). The "Space & Aggravate" plan is one you used to perfection once you learned how to take hits and throw out "Fireballs" without it taking too much strain.
2809
2810Pao seems to be struggling to keep his cool, but eventually he "Powers Up" and starts using some kind of parry technique to swat your Kou'oukens away... Though your punches and kicks are doing damage, he powered through a "Punch Flurry" to smack you in the face, then delivered a quick series of disconbuboolating slaps, pokes and kicks to your shins...
2811
2812The last one really hurt and you fall down to the ground, clutching your knee in pain before he kicks up sand in your face? No, wait, it's Ki-infused mud like Yamazaki would do. It stings a little actually as Pao slowly starts to walk around you, half of the time trying to kick you in the stomach, the other half trying to tell you something in Mandarin... You wish you could tell him that you don't speak it, but you're not sure t would matter...
2813
2814>A. "Play Possum" until he gets close, then RYUUKO RANBUU! (Roll 3d20)
2815
2816>B. Sweep Pao off of his feet and do one the forbidden techniques of Judo to try and turn the tide (Roll 2d20)
2817
2818>C. Get up off of the ground and try to combo into a throw or two (Roll 3d20)
2819
2820>D. Get up and block his strikes. He's got quick moments of inactivity and that's where you'll nail him (Roll 1d20)
2821
2822-------------------------
2823
2824>>46576814
2825>>46576872
2826>>46576946
2827
2828Well, the caliber of fighters that "Real Bout" seems to be attracting nowadays really is improving, because this guy hits fairly hard... Or, are you just softer than before? Better yet, did Josie from the last fight hurt you more than you had expected....?
2829
2830Whatever, no time to sweat the big stuff now. You need to get this over with sooner rather than later... But for a change, you don't get up immediately right away. The referee even starts to come over as you wait for Pao Shen Ping to try and kick you again. Man, this guy's moves are so... "Mechanical" for knowing Kenpo. Is he a police officer or something?
2831
2832OK, here we go. You lean into his kick as he FINALLY stops yakking on and on in Mandarin (If it were Cantonese you could understand it and probably lob insults at him to throw off his game) and do a "Kip-Up" that knocks him in the stomach. That's all the opening you need as you punch and kick him over and over, the "Ryuuko Ranbuu" Tatsuya-Sensei calls it.
2833
2834You call it fucking awesome. Well, not in an actual tournament like this. And certainly not as an actual move name... Speaking of which, why do people still yell out the names of their special attacks? It's ridiculous and not even worth it if you were a superhero in-training like that one Tae Kwan Do chick you've seen fanart of...
2835
2836By the time you land the last projectile to cap it off, Pao has slumped down to his knees and is trying to stay upright & conscious, but the referee stops the fight and declares you the winner as Pao salutes you and says something in Mandarin before passing out. Damn, what a guy... You wish you had that kind of conviction and resolve. Or strength even; To take that barrage and not pass out?
2837
2838Maybe Real Bout is starting to become a "Thing" again. If it does you'd need to get paid better
2839
2840You were the last fighter to go up for the round and now you've got a little break before the next bracket starts... Maybe you should get something to nosh on?
2841
2842-------------------------
2843
2844>>46577373
2845
2846>A. Go get a quick bite to eat from inside before your fight.
2847
2848>B. Go look for that Josie chick and apologize to her for roughing her up like that.
2849
2850>C. Take a look at the next bracket of fighters and see if you can learn from any of them (Roll 1d20)
2851
2852>D. It's getting a little cold out as the sun starts to set; You should go grab the jacket you left in your car before you freeze up.
2853
2854-------------------------
2855
2856>>46577569
2857>>46577604
2858>>46577690
2859
2860You look around for a minute or so for Josie, but she seems to have already gone from the medical tents. Damn... You'll have to buy her a beer if you see her again. With the long lines at the one concession stand, you figure it would be a good idea to maybe take at look at the rest of the bracket just to get an impression on where you stand and what chances you have at victory.
2861
2862What you find is that your suspicions about Real Bout becoming "A Thing" again are very, VERY real. There's a good mix of KOF veterans, Real Bout favorites and a couple of guys you don't recognize:
2863
2864>Eiji Kisaragi
2865>Kasumi Todoh
2866>Rick Strowd
2867>Duck King
2868>Andrew Draco
2869>Hobo-Kamen
2870>Karate Joe
2871>Miss X
2872
2873You're not to sure on that "Draco" guy, or "Karate Joe", but Hobo-Kamen is infamous around South Town: A crazy "Karate Hobo" that uses an eclectic mixture of wrestling, martial arts and "Hero" moves... He was even a moderator for the South Town mayor's race.
2874
2875You're surprised to see Ms. Todoh school herself and Strowd in the mix too. Kasumi is pretty much the only Black-Belt in the art left around after her dad took off and you had heard that Strowd was working as a boxing instructor, but could never find out where he actually worked... As for the others, Duck King is practically a legend despite his lack of success; You had figured he had just eased into the life of a club owner until the old "King's Court" got closed down.
2876
2877Eiji Kisaragi? A classic ninja, in the most ridiculous of ways. Seriously, you kind of wonder if he could kill everybody here in around 700 ways with his bare hands or something. 
2878
2879And you're in the middle of all that. On a friday night in South Town, in a fucking Real Bout tournament, the pros are here and ready to rock... The gravity of it all then hits you as the "Great Eight" begins:
2880
2881"I'm not good enough to be here. I need to train before I can come back to this again."
2882
2883===
2884
2885-------------------------
2886
2887>>46578405
2888
2889And that's the thread! I won;t be able to resume this tomorrow due to being at a friend's party, but I plan to continue with the next session (And the conclusion of this tournament) on Monday (4/11/16) at the usual time.
2890
2891I will stick around for a Q&A if y'all want, but I need to take care of a few things so...?
2892
2893-------------------------
2894
2895>>46578503
2896
2897I wouldn't be doing these kind of fighting tournaments if I didn't like them. Trying to get a good spread of characters, their fighting styles and how they could approach a fight have been the biggest challenges for me as a QM so far.
2898
2899With that said, this is probably going to be the last tournament for a while.
2900
2901>>46578645
2902
2903Yes.
2904
2905>>46578782
2906
2907We're a speedy bootleg of EX Ryo from KOF 98UM, but certain moves function more like "Normal" Yashiro specials. Again, I'll have a movelist up and done by the next thread.
2908
2909>>46578669
2910
2911I would've just made this all a prequel to the previous KOF Quest and drop you in Draco's shoes,,, PSYCHE!
2912
2913I didn't really have a name in mind for this MC when I pitched the "Select a Name" vote out there two threads ago. My initial thought was a Mai Shiranui-like cousin or member of her clan, but I decided against it and went with my gut.
2914
2915The OG Katja is still alive somewhere. If you can figure out where she could be, it would be a miracle though.
2916
2917-omitted one small post.
2918
2919-omitted one small post.
2920
2921-------------------------
2922
2923>>46580448
2924
2925Kind of...? Again, the whole "Bootleg AOF Ryo" style of moveset probably seeped into "Katja's" design a little bit. And as for the brackets, I was thinking of "What does a fighting game cast need?" and thought about arch-types, which lead to my choices. Plus, all of them currently not in KOF XIV was a good excuse as well.
2926
2927-------------------------
2928
2929>>46580723
2930
2931>Where's Shermie?
2932
2933Trading make-up and nail tips with [REDACTED]
2934
2935>Where does Draco fit on that?
2936
2937He's kind of a brawler, but has attack counters and grabs. I might change his moveset a little bit to balance him out if you end up having to fight him.
2938
2939-omitted one small post.
2940
2941-omitted one small post.
2942
2943-omitted one small post.
2944
2945-------------------------
2946
2947>>46581517
2948
2949Well, there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to stop and take stock of your life to decide where you want to go and what you want to do.
2950
2951The current MC is nearing the cusp of that time. It took Katja 5 years to understand that time had passed her by already and there wasn't anything she could do about it.
2952
2953==== END THREAD ====
2954
2955The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #7
2956written by That Damn Weasel (62 posts, 15 omitted posts)
2957-------- qst2txt --------
2958
2959>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/46565312/
2960>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
2961>Character Bio & Moveset: http://pastebin.com/YTgbWwQH
2962
2963>Introduction:
2964
2965"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." ~ H.P. Lovecraft
2966
2967You are Katja Hartkern (Despite, or in spite of what anyone else says), and for the first time in a long, long time you're... Scared? Scared of what? You aren't fucking scared... Not over a tournament bracket, at the very least. You were scared when that "Ghost" tried to get the drop on you in your own home and his mask & top-hat showed up later at a hotel you were staying at. You were scared when it felt like that one wrestler chick, "Tsunami Tsuyako", was going to try and break your legs last week. Shit, you were scared that you had gone too far nearly breaking her arm in a sorta-rematch... 
2968
2969But to you, being scared is a sign of weakness, a sign of inexperience. You've won too many goddamn fights and have dealt with too much shit lately to be second-guessing yourself in the middle of your second "Friday Night Real Bout" tournament in two weeks.
2970
2971"Shit, that kind of tough-talk used to work" you think as you take a look at the "Stage" (A small, grassy spot in a park situated between a coffee shop and a recreational center) getting prepared for the first fight of the new bracket. 
2972
2973Why is it that there's something deep inside of you that just...? You just can't quite seem to really give your best at anything, or achieve more than enough to live. You fell into your job at that shit-heap Cafe de Paradiso because it suits your needs and you never looked to try and press yourself any harder than you had to.
2974
2975Fighting? Fighting's the same way. You learned Judo to help with getting bullied at school in your youth, then kept going until college where it got too hard and you felt like everybody else had some kind of advantage over you in some way or another. When you turned your back on Olympic gold for street fighting, you stuck with it because it felt easy compared to what you were doing before and the level of competition was low enough that you didn't need to really push yourself hard... Until now.
2976
2977(Cont...)
2978
2979-------------------------
2980
2981>>278576
2982
2983You take a look at the top 8 of the tournament again and shake your head. Just over a year ago it seemed like nobody important was showing up to this "Get Together" the city would sanction to try and keep youth away from crime, but now... 
2984
2985Now, you've got a couple of King of Fighters regulars (Eiji Kisaragi & Kasumi Todoh), a couple of old-school Real Bout fighters (Duck King & Rick Strowd) and three locals, two of whom are infamous around the city ("Karate Joe" & "Hobo-Kamen"). All you know now is that you don't have a snowball's chance in hell of beating anybody in this tournament. Hell, even the guy you haven't even heard of (Andrew Draco) could probably rip you a new asshole and serve it to you on a silver platter... 
2986
2987>A. Stay in the tournament. Break you fears, win this sucker and make your rent money for the month.
2988
2989>B. Quietly drop out of the tournament. Fake an injury if you have to, but you can't go through with this, not without more time, training & tutoring from... Well, somebody.
2990
2991>C. "Play it by ear" and watch how the rest of the brackets play out. Who knows, maybe you'll get the weaker side of the bracket and breeze through this tournament?
2992
2993>D. Write-In Vote
2994
2995-------------------------
2996
2997Rolled 2 (1d7)
2998
2999>>278627
3000>>278679
3001
3002You shake your head, mentally kicking yourself. Where the hell did that kind of thinking come from? What would Tatsuya-Sensei think of you? "Probably smack me upside my head and tell me to get back to doing drills" you think.
3003
3004You nod at yourself, the crowd and a couple of passer-by giving you a wide berth. You can win this. Hell, you probably NEED to win this, because you're not sure you can hang at the Cafe much longer...
3005
3006"Break the fears... No tears. Break the fears..." you mumble, trying to keep your "Act" up behind the tattered wrestling mask you're wearing in case Tatsuya or anybody from his dojo spots you... Not that you've seen anybody, but it never hurts to be careful.
3007
3008===
3009
3010OK, so in lieu of asking y'all to vote for an opponent, I'm going to make this interesting and roll a 1d7. Each character Kat might face is numbered 1-7.
3011
3012>1. Eiji
3013>2. Kasumi
3014>3. Duck King
3015>4. Rick Strowd
3016>5. Draco
3017>6. Hobo-Kamen
3018>7. Karate Joe
3019
3020>Pic Related: The "Stage"
3021
3022-------------------------
3023
3024>>278736
3025
3026===
3027
3028Curiously, the fight order has been reversed from the preliminaries as you head back to the "Holding" area, then huff it to get to the "Ring" itself as you hear that you're up first. You try to keep the "Hard-ass bringer destruction"-schtick, but nearly break character when you see who you're opponent is.
3029
3030"Kasumi Todoh? Shit, I should'nt have worn this mask" you think as she gets out... What is that, a phrasebook?
3031
3032"You... Are... Go-ing tu loose" Kasumi butchers.
3033
3034Part of you wants to rip your mask off right here and now, then claim the win in honor of Kyokugen Karate... But the "Ham & cheese" announcer cuts in before you could think about doing it.
3035
3036>Round 1! FIGHT!!!
3037
3038>A. Rush in and try to overwhelm her defenses with your natural speed and simple punches & kicks (Roll 2d20).
3039
3040>B.Take it cautiously. Kasumi's style is built around punishing mistakes, so make her come to you (Roll 3d20).
3041
3042>C. Move in and out of what you think her range might be and try to bait her for counter-hits. (Roll 3d20)
3043
3044-omitted one small post.
3045
3046-omitted one small post.
3047
3048-------------------------
3049
3050>>279017
3051>>278937
3052>>278800
3053
3054Kasumi Todoh... Just hearing her name in the back of your mind makes you wonder about what her dad did to piss off the godfather of Kyokugen, because everything you've been trained in so far should be able to counter her Aikido-based fighting style. Plus, what kind of woman would disown a girl like Avery because of her career choices?
3055
3056Not the place to think about that; Time to fight. 
3057
3058You recklessly rush in Kasumi right from the start, expertly hitting her in the head with a flying kick that went over her two-handed almost-projectile (The "Kasane Ate"), then follow up with a Left Hook that nearly knocks her over. She steadies back and tries to hit what looks like a high counter-throw, but you sweep her off her feet and hop back for just a second. 
3059
3060Though Kasumi gracefully rolls back up to her feet, you hit a Super Kick right to her chest and knock her back right to the edge of the "Ring". Interestingly, she doesn't lose her footing and again tries to go for a counter-hold, which you throw her out of with a Uchimata. "Goddamn, this chick is supposed to be the heir to the Todoh style and the best practitioner they've got?" Pathetic. No wonder Avery left them behind her.
3061
3062Despite her tiny frame (Seriously, she couldn't be more than 5' tall tops and probably weighs less than 100 lbs soaking wet), she seems to be made of some stern stuff because she's right back up to her feet, throwing out a projectile you have to actually block for once. It... Kind of stings? 
3063
3064"The hell was that?" you think before hitting a quick Strayacut to her jaw, Kasumi reeling as she tries to get back up.
3065
3066>A. Taunt her. She hasn't even put a scratch on you yet, and you could easily transition into a Ude-Hishigi-Juji-Gatame to try and finish this fight quickly (Roll 2d20 and provide a taunt)
3067
3068>B. Let her get her bearings and fish for counter-hits; You've got this fight in the bag (Roll 3d20)
3069
3070>C. Keep going on the offensive against her, but start slipping in some more quick special moves. (Roll 2d20)
3071
3072>D. Write-In Vote.
3073
3074-------------------------
3075
3076>>279112
3077>>279160
3078
3079"Come on, girly. Fight harder! Or are you too weak because everyone left you?" 
3080
3081Immediately, you realize saying that was a mistake, because Kasumi goes on the attack with a flurry of different moves, ending with a roundhouse kick that nearly knocks you off of your feet. You steady yourself and go for the first opening you spot for a favorite Judo hold of yours: The Ude-Hishigi-Juji-Gatame.
3082
3083Kasumi yelps in fright at the sight of you locking it in and dragging her down to the ground, but your workout from earlier in the day and the first couple of preliminary fights seems to be draining your strength, because Kasumi endured the pain long enough to be able to stand up out of the hold, slapping in you in the head to finally break it.
3084
3085You instinctively try to go for a Hien Shippu Kyaku, but Kasumi finally gets a counter to go off and kicks your leg out from underneath you and swiftly transitions to the other side. "Damn it... That one actually hurt" you think as you roll up to your feet, only to be greeted by another flurry of slaps, elbows & palm strikes. You block most of them fairly easily, but your attempt to get off another "Jump-In" combination gets stuffed by some kind of uppercut palm.
3086
3087"No more games then..."
3088
3089>A. "Powered-up" RYUUKO RANBUU! (Roll 3d20)
3090
3091>B. "Powered-Up" STUN-GUN STINGER! (Roll 3d20)
3092
3093[Green]>C. Block and try to get some counter hits. Kasumi normally doesn't go on offense like she has been in this fight. (Roll 2d20)[/green]
3094
3095>D. Write-In Vote.
3096
3097-------------------------
3098
3099>>279244
3100>>279299
3101
3102You hold back for a moment as you get up off the grass, Kasumi wasting no time to try and end this fight by throwing out another one of those damn projectiles. Fortunately, you block it easily enough and "Power-up", a faint golden glow emanating around your body. Kasumi's eyes widen as you gut her in the gut and land a "Stun-Gun Stinger". However, even though you could hear the crowd "Pop" when the attack connected Kasumi's still standing on her feet through sheer will and determination, egging you on for one more...
3103
3104Which is the second big mistake you've made in this fight, aside from signing up for it without Tatsuya-Sensei's permission.
3105
3106As you go to land a second "Stun-Gun Stinger", Kasumi reverses it mid-way through by grabbing your arms and slamming you over her shoulder with all of her might, then punching the back of your head. The pain is absolutely excruciating before everything goes dark for the second week in a row...
3107
3108Until you wake up to what sounds like the guy on the jury-rigged PA system calling a double count-out:
3109
3110>"4... 5... 6... 7..."
3111
3112"Come on you bag of bones, MOVE!" your mind screams as you try to get up before a dreaded "Double KO" gets called, knocking both of you out of the tournament.
3113
3114>Roll 1d20. First 3 rolls will count.
3115
3116-------------------------
3117
3118>>279419
3119
3120Every sinew in your musculature is screaming at you to stop what you're doing and stay put on the soft blades of grass while your head is trickling a little bit of blood through a hole in your mask from a stone you fell on before Kasumi tried to KO you for good with one punch. Shows what your body knows; you want to win this fight goddamnit and you don't have time to bleed.
3121
3122It takes an agonizingly long time to stand upright, some guy in a disheveled black & white referee's uniform giving you a shoulder to lean on just before he was about to signal for the bell. You look down at Kasumi sprawled out on the damp grass and can't help but feel lucky; Even though you had a lot of the offense in this fight, she had a couple of perfectly-placed hits that should've taken you out of the game...
3123
3124Your mood sours as the crowd still left after the rain showers earlier start to boo and through stuff from the coffee shop at you. "Ingrates..." your mind hazily thinks before you crouch down, grab a cookie and take a bite out of it before flipping off the crowd as the referee guy escorts you out of the ring.
3125
3126"I can handle it from here" you tell him in a darker tone of voice than usual (Again, to try and hide your identity in case anybody from your Dojo or The "Southtown Wrestling Federation" is present), then nearly stumble over as you make your way to the small medical center the Real Bout organizers have set up in the rec center.
3127
3128The doctor (A dowdy older woman with big glasses and a beehive for hair) takes one look at you through a stethoscope and frowns. "You're done."
3129
3130"What do you mean?"
3131
3132"You're pupils are dilated and you suffered blunt trauma to the back of your head. You're done" she coolly replies.
3133
3134"Doc, I'm a fighter. I'm not done until my body says I am" you state.
3135
3136"The doctor throws her hands up in the air in disgust and yells "If you want to risk permanent brain damage, be my guest! But my advice is to drop out of this chickenshit show and get a check-up at the Kagura Clinic for a concussion." 
3137
3138>A. Tell the doctor "Fuck that noise; Give me some morphine injections and get me back out there" the doctor to inject you with some Morphine and get back out there. I've got a tournament to win". (Roll 2d20)
3139
3140>B. Take the doctor's advice and withdraw from the tournament. You don't fuck around with concussions.
3141
3142>C. Ask her if she can give you some tests to really see if you have a concussion or not; You don't feel "Fuzzy" or whatever (Roll 1d20).
3143
3144>D. Write-In Vote
3145
3146-------------------------
3147
3148>>279559
3149
3150"Can I at least get a test?"
3151
3152"For what? A concussion?" the doctor asks, sounding a bit like she's too old for dealing with this kind of thing.
3153
3154"Yeah."
3155
3156She sighs, then gets out a tablet that's almost as big as a lap-top computer screen and runs you through a battery of different but interconnected tests and exercises ("The ImPACT" Test, she called it), as well as asking you a bunch of personal information questions. 
3157
3158It took nearly all of the free time you would've had to get through them, but somehow you... Don't have a concussion? "How'd the hell did that happen?" you think as your shown the results.
3159
3160"Well, you must have a thick skull to be able to cushion a blow like that" the bitch of a doctor says.
3161
3162"Yeah, that's what they all say" you shrug. "Can I go?"
3163
3164"Only if you want to" the doctor replies.
3165
3166You nod, then slowly get up off the bench you were sitting on and immediately feel sore, your neck and arms making audible cracks & pops. "Damn, she did a number on me alright" you ponder as you head back out into the "Holding" area just outside of the ring, some long-haired guy dressed up like he's going to a funeral poring over the bracket charts.
3167
3168He takes a turn around to look at you and... Holy shit, it's the "Tall, Dark & Handsome" guy from the speed shop that one guy (Dave, you think?) owns. Huh... It figures that he'd be into fighting; Shit, if he knew Dave as a friend then it's a given that he's probably interested in fighting to some extent.
3169
3170You hope that your mask covered your face enough to hide a slight blush on your cheeks as you briskly walk past him and head out to look at some "Weekend Warriors" preparing the stage for the semi-finals... Then start to stretch and feel your body fail to comply as introductions begin.
3171
3172>"IIIIN THE RED CORNER... MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSS X!"
3173
3174"Damn it to hell" you grumble as you hop over the fence and enter the arena from the "Wrong" side, then desperately try to stretch out your pain.
3175
3176>"AAAAAAAAAAANNNND HER OPPONENT... THE LOCAL PHENOM ON A ROLL SO FAR, GIVE IT UP FOR AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNDDDDYYYYY DRACO!"
3177
3178"Tall, Dark & Handsome" you saw just a few minutes earlier casually walks out from the shadows and stares you down, an odd feeling in your gut rising up as he slowly shifts into a stance...
3179
3180>A. Take a second to finish stretching, then run in and fight like your life's depending on it. (Roll 3d20)
3181
3182>B. Hop up to your feet and take it slow. Give Draco enough rope to hang himself with and look for counter-hits and throws. (Roll 3d20)
3183
3184>C. Try to keep him guess by moving erratically and mixing offense with defense. (Roll 3d20) 
3185
3186>D. Write-In Vote.
3187
3188>E. Formally withdraw from the tournament. This guy's aura gives you the creeps and your body's not 100% ready to take him on.
3189
3190-------------------------
3191
3192>>279861
3193
3194There's something about this guy... Something dark and foreboding deep in his Ki, his energy... Something that reminds you a little of that "Poltergeist" that's been toying with you for the last week as you finish up your stretches, the aches and pains in your body just not going away. "I'm probably going to lose to this guy" you admit to yourself in your mind. "That and... Well, I wouldn't want to take him on even if I had a clean bill of health..."
3195
3196Just as the announcer signals for the start of the match, you call for time ask Draco to come over. He crosses his arms and strides over, then you tell him the bad news in a quiet voice: "I concede. My body's done, mate."
3197
3198He looks at you funny for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders. "Suit yourself" is all he says before walking over to the booth to inform the officials of your decision.
3199
3200The boos and hisses rain down you again as you hop over the side of the fence you were supposed to enter from in the first place, but this time you don't seem to care as the adrenaline that helped you get up off of the ground during the Kasumi Todoh fight seems to be draining away by the minute, only making you feel even more tired and beat-up than before. You take a longer way around to the back of the rec center and find an open stall in the ladies room to quickly change back into your street clothes, then go downstairs into the back of an underground garage where you parked your "Slant-nose" Porsche.
3201
3202 After a quick jog to keep yourself awake, you unlock and open door, but stop when you hear your MP3 player playing a song you don't recognize. "The fuck? The car isn't even on" you hear yourself think out loud while clambering inside. Strangely enough, as soon as you close the door your MP3 player stops. 
3203
3204"That's... Odd" 
3205
3206Even stranger, just about when you find your cellphone are about to start the car, the damn thing comes back on. Morbidly curious, you take a look at the screen of your MP3 player and see that it's a garbled mess of 1's & 0's, the only legible read-out displaying that you're currently listening to "Track 99" of a set-list you didn't make... Plus, the music itself sounds like something Snoop Dogg would've made when he first got signed to a record deal, which isn't your style at all.
3207
3208You try to remain calm and keep from completely freaking out, especially when the last song your MP3 player was an old Jazz tune by Ornette Coleman and you don't even listen to Snoop (Or Rap, for that matter).
3209
3210That's when the real fun starts.
3211
3212(Cont...)
3213
3214-------------------------
3215
3216>>279943
3217
3218While just staring at the CD player trying to figure out what the hell is going on, you hear a loud bang as all lights in the parking garage go out and your MP3 player stops playing... Whatever that was. Maybe it's because you're scared, maybe it's because you're too tired to care, but rather than start the car up or try to move you seem content to just sit in the driver's seat petrified as all fuck in total darkness for a few minutes until the lights come back on.
3219"Christ, the fuck's going on in this town nowadays?" you rhetorically ask yourself as you fire up the ignition and notice that car next to my yours is turned 180 degrees from where it was 5 minutes ago...
3220
3221>A. GTFO of here NOW.
3222
3223>B. Call up "The Wind", tell him to get his ass over here now because THIS IS TOO SPOOKY.
3224
3225>C. Get some food somewhere, like the Pao Pao Cafe or something in Little Korea nearby. You need to take your mind off of this crazy shit.
3226
3227>D. Write-In Vote
3228
3229>E. Go back up to the Coffee Shop and watch the rest of the tournament unfold.
3230
3231-------------------------
3232
3233>>279969
3234
3235You're mind's wide awake now, an all-too-familiar sense of fear and dread overwhelming you as you fumble around for your cellphone to check the time. "4:44 PM...? Huh... Earlier than I though it was."
3236
3237You briefly consider giving "The Wind" a call to chew him out over all this spooky bullshit you usually read on FightChan happening to you, but think better of it. He owes you a couple more favors still and it's a better idea to be on his good graces than to not... Though, you hold off on getting Chinese for dinner; Korean barbecue sounds good to your now-rumbling stomach.
3238
3239You hit it and roll on out of the garage and make tracks to Little Korea, beating the traffic by mere minutes as you find a parking spot out of a place "Wind" raved was one of the best in the city, the smells alone making you dizzy. Ultimately, you settle on getting an order of Dwaeji bulgogi and take the time think about how crazy your week has been.
3240
3241"Let's see... I let myself get beat up by some fat schoolgirl wrestler, got revenge on her, pissed off a bounty hunter with ties to the South Town P.D., shook Terry Bogard's hand, fought a cowgirl grappler, a Hong-Kong cop, Professor Bad-ass, a Wire-Fu character... And still get shat on at the cafe for actually doing my job. And my house is without electricity..."
3242
3243You pause at that last one, then quietly face-palm. "Sheeeiiit... It's going to suck having to get candles ready in the dark up there with all of the spiritualy crap that's gone on up there."
3244
3245>A. Head home and relax. You need to get some rest for work tomorrow shift at "Cafe de Paradiso".
3246
3247>B. Try to find a cheap motel in the city and stay the night in relative comfort. You've got enough money from 4th place at Real Bout tonight to pay for it.
3248
3249>C. Call up Tatsuya-Sensei and see what he's up to. You need somebody to talk to about all of this and get an opinion.
3250
3251>D. Write-In Vote.
3252
3253>E. Take a walk in Little Korea to digest your food. What could go wrong? 
3254
3255-------------------------
3256
3257>>280105
3258
3259You stop at a gas station on the way home to pick up a bunch of emergency candles and get home to your cabin out in the woods by 6-ish, the sun setting just over the horizon line of the tallest mountain range you can see, the smell of the ocean carrying on the wind as the trees shake and shimmy a little.
3260
3261"Damn, that smells good... Missed it today.'
3262
3263It takes you about an hour to set up the candles and light them as the sun truly sets and the darkness sets in, unnerving you a little bit after what happened. Fortunately, you find that your lap-top and your phone are fully charged from not using them a lot today, so at least you aren't bored out of your skull tonight...
3264
3265"First thing I'll do in the morning is call up an electrician" you think as an episode of some cheesy-as-fuck Super-Robot Anime you wouldn't be caught dead marathoning finishes up, complete with a bombastic announcer giving away a "Preview" that pretty much tells you everything that's going to happen in the next episode. Goddamn, you love turning your brain off and letting pretty/cool/sexy/violent pictures amuse you sometimes. Also, you're pretty sure that "The Wind" copied most of his weird little mannerisms from the two main villains...
3266
3267You stifle a yawn and take a look at your lap-top's clock and decide to hit the hay, hoping for a restful sleep as you blow out the last candles you had lit and curling up under the covers.
3268
3269Of course, if you could preview your dreams in the same way that show did with episodes, you would've wished you had a concussion and had to stay up all night.
3270
3271~~~
3272>You are now entering the world of DreamTime
3273~~~
3274
3275For whatever reason, you don't seem to remember your dreams all that much. It's ironic considering your mother (God rest her soul) was some kind of Aborigine priestess in all-but name and would go on about a mystical place where past, present, future, what could've been and what might be all mingle together: "DreamTime".
3276
3277So, you find yourself in a church, dressed like a... Bridesmaid? 
3278
3279"Wonder if I left my stove on" you think as a bride walks in, her face completely shrouded behind a veil, her shapely body shown off by an ornate dress and her escort looking like your dad, if he were like a thousand years old and had a beard that went down to the floor.
3280
3281Before you could even begin to comprehend just how many people are holding up the (Shorter-than-you-thought) bride, the groom is introduced and, it's... Andy Draco from the tournament. 
3282
3283"Wonderful" you think, your bridesmaid dress turning into a butch suit and Tie as Andy and the bride exchange vows in a backwards language... Then asks for the rings.
3284
3285>A. "Ya' shoulda' bumped uglies with me, mate. Woulda' made the cunt next't'ya' look like a damn nun amirite?"
3286
3287>B. "How long is a piece of string?"
3288
3289>C. "I've always loved you."
3290
3291>D. Write-In Vote.
3292
3293>E. "You're fuckin' dead to me, Andy Draco."
3294
3295-------------------------
3296
3297>>280329
3298
3299You fish around in your pockets, then produce a box the size of your car's engine and hand it to him, but not before telling him "Ya' shoulda' bumped uglies with me, mate. Woulda' made the cunt next ya' look like a damn nun amirite?"
3300
3301Every set of eyes in the room looks at you, including a symphony of mechanics wearing greasy overalls and playing instruments built out of scrap metal you didn't notice until now as the box drops and scatters into a million triangular pieces.
3302
3303"Wut?"
3304
3305The music stops and a cacophony of rage & anger fills your ears, all in that backwards language you swear you heard somewhere before... But more unusual than that is your voice; It's got an accent you've only read about on "Austalians GTFO" troll-bait threads on FightChan.
3306
3307"Come tha'fuck on, y'all bloody well know that I had a fancy fer'the goddamn groom! Why'd'y'think I let meself be a bloody Groom?!" you yell, but soon the riot that sprang up out of nowhere becomes enveloped in flames, church bells ringing and police sirens blaring from outside as Draco stares you down, the bride from before nowhere to be seen and those Triangles floating high in the ceilings above you.
3308
3309>A. "Just couldn't wait fer'that rematch eh? I should'a'killed you when I had the chance."
3310
3311>B. "Not like this."
3312
3313>C. "Wanna get some squid with the rest of the Buffalo Soldiers? We got a good barbecue going."
3314
3315>D. Write-in Vote
3316
3317>E. Ascend to "Legendary Super-'Strayan" status. You know you want to. (Roll 1d100)
3318
3319-------------------------
3320
3321Had dinner. Sorry for the delayed reply.
3322
3323>>280504
3324
3325The inner weaboo trash festering inside of you since highschool urges you to try something you've done in small doses for a while now... But never gone as far as this.
3326
3327You scream at the top of your lungs as that "Powered-Up" sensation washes over your body, then keeps growing and growing, the hair on your head rising up from all of the electricity flowing through your body and a bright golden aura surrounds you. It's powerful enough that it throws up bits of debris as Draco hops back from it, holding up an arm to block out the light. When you feel your lungs about to collapse, you stop screaming and take a moment to bask in your new, unspeakable power... And also note one of the "Dramatic" background tracks of the last Anime you watched is playing in the background.
3328
3329"W... What in god's name are you?" Draco fumbles, sounding scared in spite of his eyes covered in darkness.
3330
3331"I... I am the legendary Super'Strayan, Katja Hartkern!' You roar, holding up a hand trembling with electricity. "And this Hand'o'mine... IS GOIN' RIGHT UP YER' ARSE MATE!!!"
3332
3333You laugh an inhuman wail as you dash towards Draco at an impossible speed, grabbing his neck with your other arm and squeezing tight enough a normal person probably would've had their head ripped off already. He looks stone-faced at you, a kind of sadness behind the expression. "I never should've even looked at you back at Dave's" he croaks.
3334
3335The second those words escape his lips, everything kind of stops in place and you can actually see what the actual fuck is going on, the insanity in your eyes... And how they remind you of stories you heard from "Wind" about watching you fight in the underground clubs and tournaments.
3336
3337Then his body turns to literal stone and ashes along with the rest of the cathedral, leaving you standing in the middle of the rain, the coat he was wearing on your shoulders and embers hissing in the night, a "Sad" song from the same OST as before quietly droning on in the background.
3338
3339>A. Laugh.
3340
3341>B. Cry.
3342
3343>C. Go see a man about a horse.
3344
3345>D. Write-In Vote.
3346
3347>E. Wake Up.
3348
3349-------------------------
3350
3351>>280749
3352
3353"You can never run away from your past" you hear Ellie, Tatsuya-Sensei's daughter tell you as you kneel down into the ashes, the "Super Strayan" effect powering down and leaving you feeling as drained as... Well, as drained as you were the night all of those bad choices caught up with you and it took South Town's Mayor to set you right.
3354
3355The wail of the police sirens rise up again as Ellie materializes next to you, memories of the night that wouldn't end replaying like an old film in your mind. "I'm never going to forget what you've done tonight, or what you did before. I don't think anyone in this city would've if I hadn't found you and done this" Ellie curtly says. "But..."
3356
3357"But?"
3358
3359She pauses, the look on her face giving you the impression she's trying to get the words just right. "You can go on to be something else in your future" she says, though it's muffled by the motorcycle helmet you now remember she wore and the squeaks of the tight 'bike leathers.
3360
3361"I don't have a future" you ruefully tell her. "Who's going to want somebody that makes a living out of treating people like punching bags?"
3362
3363"My dad" Ellie replies.
3364
3365"I broke his bloody arm though" you state.
3366
3367You remember that this was when Ellie kind of shrugged as the two of you stopped at an intersection that was crowded with cops, stopping under a lamppost and nearly taking the both of you over because your legs were just about shot...
3368
3369~~~
3370>The DreamTime has passed
3371~~~
3372
3373You looked up into the light of that lamppost and hear crickets & birds chirping, the sun not quite up yet and your alarm vibrating. 
3374
3375"What the fuck, man" you wonder as you struggle to get out of bed, the pain in your arms and legs especially apparent today. A quick shower (Especially quick, as you don't have hot water until the electricity gets fixed) doesn't help and since your 'fridge was also electric, most of the food in there is probably dodgy as well...
3376
3377"Oh yeah, it's Cheat Day" you remember, your stomach gurgling in agreement and a smirk on your face. Maybe today isn't going to be so bad after all...?
3378
3379>A. Fuck it, hit the Paradiso early and make yourself something there. The food's not half-bad if you take the time to actually cook it.
3380
3381>B. Go out and try to hit up that one Donut shop nearby you always wanted to try out on "Cheat Day".
3382
3383>C. Make some toast and have a couple of pieces of fruit before you leave for work.
3384
3385>D. Write-In Vote.
3386
3387>E. Call in sick and spend the rest of the day lazing around the house watching stuff until your lap-top's battery dies.
3388
3389-------------------------
3390
3391>>280923
3392
3393"Fuck it, might as well go to work."
3394
3395You have to really dig through your closet to find some clean clothes ("Probably need to do some laundry soon"), but then get going and are out on the winding road to the highway that leads to the outskirts of South Town soon enough... Though, you didn't want to tempt fate by messing around with the MP3 player hooked up to your car's stereo. Or try out that one Donut shop just north of your house... Maybe next time...
3396
3397You arrive at "Cafe de Paradiso", the biggest scam in town as far as what people think they get compared to what the food actually is, earlier than you usually would and starving after crashing last night without a snack or two to tide you over.
3398
3399As you have to pay for whatever you make for yourself and the fact that most of the ingredients come from a mix of different grocery stores and a bakery that's always pissed off they have to drive out to the "Middle of Nowhere" for "So Little" product, you go for a breakfast sandwich using a Bagel, some eggs, melted cheddar cheese and... Fuck it, some ham for shits and giggles. It's cheat day, after all.
3400
3401You pre-heat the "Convection" oven (Honestly just a fancy microwave), then flop it in as you prepare and clean for today, the "Do-Nothing-Bitches" making life hell for you as usual. Thankfully, it's a weekend shift and you're early, so you actually have a good chunk of time to eat, get everything ready and hold down the fort until back-up arrives... But, once again, a sort of lingering hatred of working in this place flares up when an hour goes by with no customers, only the sound of the machines humming and your phone & laptop charging keeping you company.
3402
3403"What am I doing with myself?" you wonder as you try to look busy for... Shit, no one at all. Fuck.
3404
3405>A. Send in your two-weeks notice. You need a change in your life, no matter how good the money is.
3406
3407>B. Call up one of... Actually, use your phone to catch up on the crazy shit FightChan has been up to while you wait for a customer.
3408
3409>C. Hold out until the other girl (Guy? Does the Paradiso have guys on staff again?) shows up, then make an excuse to leave early. (Roll 1d20)
3410
3411>D. Write-In Vote.
3412
3413-------------------------
3414
3415>>281060
3416
3417I guess this is as good of a time as any to call time on the session. Thank you dear anon for participating, though I hope more show up tomorrow...
3418
3419Anyway, expect this thread to resume by around 10 AM PST/ Noon EST and continue on into the wee hours.
3420
3421Also, the current vote is still active and I'll be around for a little bit to answer any questions.
3422
3423-omitted one small post.
3424
3425-omitted one small post.
3426
3427-omitted one small post.
3428
3429-------------------------
3430
3431Ended up losing track of time talking to a friend.
3432
3433>>282192
3434>>282203
3435
3436>Updates Now resume
3437>You're still... You.
3438
3439With the Cafe de Paradiso about as bustling as a city morgue (Scratch that, the morgue in South Town is actually pretty happening because of all of the damn street violence), you figure that you can catch some slack and grab your phone to catch up on all of the wild, crazy underground scenes in south town:
3440
3441"Ah yes, FightChan on my phone... Can't forget that I'm here forever, after all."
3442
3443You screw around with the browser tab, getting past the Cafe's "Firewall" to block out NSFW websites and take a look at the front page, Andrew Draco face's trying to be a forced meme (>"YOU CAN'T BREAK THE DRACO") following his win in yesterday's Real Bout tournament, a couple of meet-and-greets and get-togethers planned among FightChan's "Social" boards, a "Salt Bet" thread with over a thousand replies...
3444
3445And a photo of a guy wearing the mask & top-hat that "Ghost" left behind after you had dealt with it, along with an explanation on who he is. "Here we go" you murmur, then find that the OP is that "/x/-Bro" that posted the detailed explanation on how to get rid of ghosts (That actually fucking worked, holy shit) talking about an encounter with a being that called himself "G-Mantle" before disappearing in... "A bouquet of Roses? The Fuck?"
3446
3447Before you can read more, what looks like a highschool baseball team rolls in and kicks off a balls-to-the-wall rush that lasts until 1 PM. Even worse, is that your second (Alexis) no-showed on you. "She's gonna get it from the boss" you think as you finally get a chance to clock out for 45 Minutes and go for lunch.
3448
3449>A. Get a quick lunch at that Mexican place just down the street.
3450
3451>B. Make something and read up on "The G-Mantle" on the back patio.
3452
3453>C. Call up the bosses and tell them you're going to have to close early. (Roll 1d20)
3454
3455>D. Write-In Vote.
3456
3457-------------------------
3458
3459>>282490
3460
3461You let out a weary sigh, your body feeling a little bit better than this morning but still pretty beat-up from yesterday's extensive training and Real Bout fights, then look down at your phone and glare at the image of the artist rendering of "G-Mantle"... Then hear your stomach rumble.
3462
3463"Eh, creepypastas can wait. I'm hungry."
3464
3465With that, you get some tasty chimichangas from the Mexican place down the street and take your sweet time getting back to work. "Serious, what the fuck Alex? She needs to get her shit together" you think as you clock back in, the little-seen boss of this dump seemingly filling in.
3466
3467"Hey Paulie... No word on Alex huh?"
3468
3469He shakes his head "No". "I'm sorry you had work by yourself today..." he tells you in a sad-sack kind of voice, then looks around before diving into one of his pockets to hand you a manila envelope. "Take this. It's on me."
3470
3471You Paulie him suspiciously, not knowing what to expect. He's a fat, glasses-wearing nerd who's somehow the third generation of a local crime family and half of the time uses this place as a front to launder money... Yet, if he REALLY wanted to do that right they should've made this place a pizza parlor instead of some fake-ass yuppie paradise advertising organic foods while using commercial produce...
3472
3473You finally take the damn thing and tuck into your back pocket before getting back to work and half-cleaning things up while you've got a lull in the day.
3474
3475"You're not going to look?"
3476
3477"Why? It's bad form" you reply. You've dealt with enough gangster shit through "The Wind" to know about how to take money you aren't sure is 100% "Clean". Paulie looks at you funny for half a second, but snaps back to putting on his "Customers are here!" look as... Goddamn it, it's that Red-Head "Talent Agent" from The South Town Wresling Federation, "Fiona".
3478
3479>A. Tell Paulie you need to talk to Fiona outside. If she's here, there's a reason behind it.
3480
3481>B. Try to be nice and professional to Fiona. Who knows, maybe she's just here as a customer?
3482
3483>C. Ask Paulie if you can get off of work early and GTFO of there. (Roll 1d20)
3484
3485>D. Write-In Vote.
3486
3487-------------------------
3488
3489>>282605
3490
3491Fiona Graves... She's got a nice look to her. Big Red hair, muscle, and... Well, everything really. She called you last week about a job offer to join the SWF's new "Women's Division" after you beat up on their linchpin "Tsunami Tsuyako" at a Real Bout while wearing the costume Tatsuya-Sensei brought for you.
3492
3493"If she's here, it ain't to chit-chat"[/i you think as you catch Paulie eyeing her up. God, he can be such a pig sometimes... Hell, you started dressing butch just to keep him from leering at you half the time you were on the job when you first started. Then, he started fucking with the air conditioning and making you and all the other girls sweat... Well, until you threatened to call up the contract labor board on his ass and get the place shut down.
3494
3495"Hey Paul, you're lookin' kind of thirsty" you say, Fiona getting a sly smirk on her face as Paulie flubs something before getting a bottle of water from under the counter. "Hey there. What can I get for you?"
3496
3497Fiona looks up the menu. then replies with something that sounds like "Blue Lagoon Smoothie" in that odd accent of hers (Eastern European? Scandinavia?), then takes a seat up at the counter.
3498
3499"One sec" you say, your mind on auto-pilot while getting everything ready (Rasberries, Blueberries, a dollop of Vanilla ice cream and some juice). "How's the talent search going?"
3500
3501Fiona lets out a laugh, her hair flowing around everywhere. "Lousy. No one we've interviewed in the last week was able to pass the physical."
3502
3503"Are they still going for eye-candy, or what?"
3504
3505"Heh... At first, yeah. But now we're trying to find enough talent to get the division started" Fiona explains, raising her voice to try and let you hear her over the sound of the blender.
3506
3507"Too bad" you reply while handing the sweet concoction to her, adding "That'll be $5 sweetie."
3508
3509Fiona flips out a $20 bill at you like it was a throwing knife, an odd tension in the air all of a sudden...
3510
3511>A. "So really, why are you here Fiona?"
3512
3513>B. "Look, if it's about Tsuyako's arm..."
3514
3515>C. Ask her if she wants to take this outside, or what her problem is. (Roll 1d20)
3516
3517>D. Write-In Vote.
3518
3519-------------------------
3520
3521>>282713
3522Thanks.
3523>>282703
3524
3525"So really, why are you here Fiona?" you ask with a hushed tone of voice.
3526
3527Fiona takes a sip of the smoothie, her face making some kind of half-pout before slamming the cup on the counter. "What the hell do you think I'm here for?" she growls, Paulie saying something like "I'll... Start on counting the till" as an excuse to get of the room.
3528
3529"I told, you I'm not really interested in-"
3530
3531"-Listen you little fuckstick, that stunt you pulled with Tsuyako's arm cost the company a chance to book a inter-promotional show in Metro City and make SERIOUS money. Company-Saving/b] money" Fiona explains with a mean glare.
3532
3533"I didn't break her damn arm, Fiona." 
3534
3535"You might as well have! There's so many complications from the bruising that she's going to be out of action for at least 3 months" Fiona clarifies for you. "And if the King of Fighters tournament actually happens, we're going out two fighters because Roy's knee isn't getting any better and no one else is returning our calls..."
3536
3537There's a pause between the two of you, and you're not quite sure if you should hop over the other side of the counter and try to drag her out of here... Before Fiona clears her throat. 
3538
3539"If this were a year ago, the company wouldn't really mind all that much OK? This kind of thing has happened before and our roster is deep enough that it normally wouldn't be a problem... But..."
3540
3541"But ?" 
3542
3543"They were planning to re-launch in May with the SWF's first real Pay-Per-View event and part of that plan was having a match for the newly-created Women's Title" Fiona adds.
3544
3545"And I threw a wrench into that plan, huh?"
3546
3547"You royally fucked over that plan, yes" She coldly replies.
3548
3549>A. "OK, fair enough. But you still haven't answered why you're here."
3550
3551>B. Ask her what she wants you to do about it.
3552
3553>C. Tell her "Oh well, sucks to be you. See you never" and try to escort her out of the door (Roll 1d20)
3554
3555>D. Write-In Vote.
3556
3557-------------------------
3558
3559>>282808
3560
3561"OK, fair enough... But you still haven't answered why you're here."
3562
3563Fiona's eyes narrow at you, but you hold up a hand to try and calm her down. "What do you want me to do about it? I'm sorry about what I did, really... But she knew the risks behind fighting me when all I wanted to do was spar with her. You want to rake me over the coals for her mistake?"
3564
3565"No... No, you're right." Fiona finally admits with gritted teeth. "But..."
3566
3567"No buts. What do you want me to do?"
3568
3569Fiona lets out a long breath, then gets down on to one knee and... "Aw shit, she's not going to...?"
3570
3571"Please... We need your help. I need your help on this" she says, grasping at a hand. "You wouldn't even have to work full-time. Just until Tsuyako can get back on her feet."
3572
3573"You need to fill out a King of Fighters team quick, right?" you ask, gears in your mind turning.
3574
3575"Maybe... There's one person I haven't had a chance to call, but again I can't make that decision. Only the higher-ups can decide who gets on our team or not."
3576
3577"So... It would be for what, 3 months?"
3578
3579"Yes."
3580
3581"And that's..."
3582
3583"Two shows a week at the most, one a week guaranteed" Fiona quickly adds.
3584
3585"TV time?"
3586
3587"Also guaranteed. SWF really want to push their Women & Cruiserweights to counter the CWF's fascination big guys that look like deadwood in the ring" Fiona adds before getting back up, a slight blush on her face while dusting off her knees and skirt.
3588
3589"CWF?" "I didn't know that old fed was still around" you hear yourself say while looking around the Cafe. "God, it's so tempting but... Shit, what would Tatsuya think? Or Ellie?"
3590
3591"Yeah... You've heard of them?"
3592
3593You nod. "My dad was friends with Raiden and scored tickets to a couple of the CWA/SNKW shows when I was a wee lass."
3594
3595Fiona has a look of hope on her face that's... Kind of lovely, actually. Reminds you of yourself when you were young and full of the wonders of life.
3596
3597>A. Accept, but demand that because it's only going to be a 3 month gig, you want creative control over your gimmick; You know enough about wrestling that you're not going to be portrayed as some random hoochie-mama or some shit (Roll 2d20).
3598
3599>B. Decline and ask her to leave the premises.
3600
3601>C. Tell you need to talk some people and get your schedules cleared up before you can think about accepting her offer.
3602
3603>D. Write-In Vote.
3604
3605-------------------------
3606
3607Bathroom Break. Sorry for the delayed reply.
3608
3609>>282909
3610
3611You can't deny that it's a tempting offer. You're a fan of "The Business" and kind of know enough about how things work on the inside of Pro-Wrestling to not act like a clueless kid from bum-fuck nowhere or have one of those "IT'S REAL TO ME DAMN IT!" moments... But, between work at the Cafe & Dojo lessons with Tatsuya (Oh god, that's right, you've got to go in and work with him tomorrow), you don't really have any time for frivolous pursuits like 'wrasslin'...
3612
3613"I'dunno... I've got a ton of things to work out before I can say 'Yes' or 'No' " you admit. "I'm either working or training six days a week and do both twice a week."
3614
3615"Wow..." is all Fiona says.
3616
3617"Yeah... I'll try to get back to you quick about it though." 
3618
3619The hope in Fiona's face seems to drain away when you said that, that >"You can actually see where her heart breaks!" meme playing in your head and trying to make you laugh. "I'll hold that to you." She finally says, then walks out the door.
3620
3621"Send a bunch of your clowns to try and make me sign, I'll beat'em all up" you think while you look for Paulie to try and explain what went down between the two of you. Sure enough, you find him in the back room he calls an "Office" actually counting out the receipts for today.
3622
3623"You really did a Thousand-Dollar day?" he asks when he spots you walk in.
3624
3625"Yeah... I got lucky up until my lunch break" you reply, then switch gears. "So... About that girl..."
3626
3627"Hey, it's between the two of you. I don't want to hear about it unless you've got gangsters attacking the store again"
3628
3629"Wrestlers this time maybe, but nah, I think I can handle it" you tell him, feeling bad about that one time "The Wind" got you involved in one of his group's turf wars.
3630
3631"I've got to say, you've got good taste though."
3632
3633>A. "EXCUSE me?"
3634
3635>B. "Paulie, I'm not gay."
3636
3637>C. 'Nah... She's too bossy for me."
3638
3639>D. Write-In Vote.
3640
3641-------------------------
3642
3643My friends ("Team Jerkass") decided to show up and talk shit. Sorry for the lost track of time!
3644
3645>>283091
3646
3647Part of you wants to strangle Paulie's fat neck for even suggesting that you're gay... Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it only highlights why nobody likes him or why he's stuck running a place like this instead of "Real" gangster shit.
3648
3649Still, you've been here for almost... 3 years now? And that reference is gold if you want to get a gig after this, so you simply reply "Nah... She's too bossy for me."
3650
3651Paulie chuckles, then says something you've never thought possible: "Take the rest of the day off Kat."
3652
3653You raise an eyebrow at that. "Is he hurtin' that bad to send me home early?"
3654
3655"What? You do a tough job keeping everybody else together and you worked all morning by yourself. You earned it" he adds.
3656
3657You shrug, give him a "Thanks boss" and clock out. "Kay... Now what?" you think as you flip your phone back on and check the time. "2:22 PM... What was that about repeating digits that's good for you?" you think, but shrug it off and read through the rest of the "G-Mantle" thread on FightChan. Sadly, it devolved into shit-posting and dank memes about roses (His "calling Card") so you close it out and try to figure out what to do with your free time...
3658
3659>A. Hit the gym. No pain, no gain... Plus, you need to try and get your body ready for Tatsuya's lessons tomorrow.
3660
3661>B. Head home and take a walk through your property. It calms you down.
3662
3663>C. Check up with Dave down at "Advanced Vehicle Systems" and see what he's up to.
3664
3665>D. Write-In Vote.
3666
3667>E. Go down to the arcade and give that racing game that makes your eyes almost bleed another try. Especially since you started that new file.
3668
3669-------------------------
3670
3671>>283306
3672
3673You feel the aches and burning pain in your joints as you wheel out of the Cafe de Paradiso's parking lot. Most people would probably drive home, or head to a Turkish bath or something to try and ease it, but for you it's like a challenge, a benchmark to match or even break.
3674
3675So, you head back home, slip into your gym gear and head into South Town itself to hit up your stuck-in-the-1980s gym filled with machines and weights tailor-made for fighters like yourself. You take about half an hour to stretch in the locker room after that long drive, the pain slowly but surely fading away by the end of your warm-ups. "OK... Let's go!"
3676
3677You strut out to the main floor of the gym, a couple of glances going your way on account of your shapely body and your necessarily-tight clothes. you don't mind it though; You worked hard to get what you have and as long as nobody's trying to make a deal about it, why should you?
3678
3679"Right... What to focus on today..."
3680
3681>A. Striking
3682
3683[blue>B. Grappling[/blue]
3684
3685>C. Cardio
3686
3687>D. Defense
3688
3689>E. All of the above (Roll 3d20)
3690
3691-------------------------
3692
3693>>283407
3694
3695Though you have a background in Judo, you've been neglecting focusing on pure grappling arts lately. Because Tatsuya-Sensei has been training you in Kyokugen Karate, you've mainly focused on striking and changing your offense to move away from "Set up a grab" to "Pound him into the ground and grab when he/she blocks". Truthfully, you haven't minded it all that much. But between fighting Tsunami Tsuyako and that one cowgirl yesterday, your grappling arts need some polishing before they get rusty.
3696
3697So, you head towards a small ring the gym has for boxing and look for the heaviest bag you can find... Ultimately settling on a 150 lb one (Just under your body weight), slide into the ring and start to throw down. It's trickier than you thought and at first, it takes a little bit before you get a firm grip on the bag. Soon enough, you get the hang of throwing it around the ring, doing alternate sets of 10 of a given throw each (Cycling between the "Ippon Seoinage", the "Uchimata" and the set-up for your "Stun-Gun Stinger") before a quick rest.
3698
3699You continue this cycle of throws for about an hour and a half, sweat beads forming on your face by the time you're done and your whole body feeling spent... "At least they all meant something" you think as you go to put the bag back where you found and break to the lockers to shower and change.
3700
3701However, you notice that a heavy-set woman is standing in front of you, a stern look on her face. "Hi... Can I talk with you for a moment?"
3702
3703You shrug. "Sure. What's up?"
3704
3705She gets a look on her face that suggests what she's about to say is uncomfortable for both of you. Unfortunately for you, it is. "If you haven't noticed or read the signs,this gym is a safe space for all walks of life and gender to enjoy feeling fit and getting healthier. However... The outfits you've worn for the last month, as well as the one you have on today, are problematic and causing a great disturbance in our space, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
3706
3707"Goddamn it, I knew this gym was too good to be true. Fucking Tumblr's invaded it now? Just fucking wonderful..."
3708
3709>A. "Fine. Can I finish up and take a shower before I go, or what?"
3710
3711[blue>B. "Why?"[/blue]
3712
3713>C. "No."
3714
3715>D. Write-in Vote
3716
3717-------------------------
3718
3719>>283490
3720
3721"Why?" you ask, genuinely curious as to why.
3722
3723"Your breasts and your ass" the girl ("Cassandra", her name-tag says) bluntly replies.
3724
3725"What about them?"
3726
3727"They've been flaunted and pushed in my face and everyone else's in this gym, without a care in the world for the last month, that's why."
3728
3729"I'm wearing spats and a sleeveless bodywear turtleneck that's actually pushing these" you pause to move your breasts around for a second "down and you're telling me I'm "Flaunting" them?" you argue.
3730
3731You can just imagine Cassandra getting steam out of her ears at that last barb. Her face gets as she goes off on a rant that leaves you speechless:
3732
3733"I don't know if this is a dude thing or because you'rel just THAT depraved, but how can anyone find a women that looks like you attractive? Such... Grotesque proportions and fetishism so blatantly paraded about with not even the slightest bit of subtlety or tact... Like, I love me a strong man with a sizable package, but I wouldn't go as far as to say Clark Steel, or Goro Daimon or even Shen Woo is the ideal look all men everywhere should strive to achieve."
3734
3735"Fucking Tumblr ruining everything fun."
3736
3737She pauses for dramatic effect and gives you a cue to walk away back to the lockers, but she waddles alongside of you to continue her spiel:
3738
3739"And you want to know why? Because that's fucking disgusting, that's why! Having a dude who's sculpted his body was solely around an exaggerated jock is disturbing, just like having a woman like you, who's body is built around fetishy thighs/ass/tits is disgusting! Like, what went so wrong in your life that you think others being able to see outlined nipples in your work-out clothes is a good thing? Are you THAT sexually starved? Did you never grow out of your adolescent sex drive? Or did it get worse? You should grow some self respect because this is just pathetic and we're never letting you back in until you do!"
3740
3741>A. "I want a refund of the dues I just paid and the last 2 months I have left on my contract then."
3742
3743>B. Storm off without saying a word, then vent on FightChan about the bullshit you just heard.
3744
3745>C. "You mad and jelly about 'mirin my figure girl? Because that's what it sounds like to me."
3746
3747>D. Write-in Vote
3748
3749>E. "You want take this outside bitch? Because that's what it sounds like to me."
3750
3751-------------------------
3752
3753>>283562
3754
3755By the time Cassandra's done ranting and raving, you've already showered and changed into a fresh set of clothes that mimic what you wore to work (Jeans, Running Shoes, a "Rockstar Glam"-like Belt and a tank-top that shoes off nearly zero cleavage) and stare her down. You've heard of types like her through FightChan, though you've fortunately never had to deal with people like her until now.
3756
3757There's a thousand things you could yell and/or scream at her right this second, though you cool your jets and say "I'm just expressing my natural sexuality. You should do that sometimes. It's not good to repress yourself. But whatever. I'll let you twigs and huff n' puffs work up a sweat."
3758
3759Cassandra looks at you incredulously, like she was expecting you to fly off the handle and give you a legitimate excuse to kick you ut and/or press charges.
3760
3761"I'm not going to argue with you. This is a private business and you have the right to run it however you want" you further explain to break up the silent, sweat and B.O.-filled air... But not before adding "But I want a refund of the dues I just paid and the last 2 months I have left on my contract then."
3762
3763Cassandra's "Poker-face" is truly awful, because it gives away her shock and realization at how much of a "Regular" you were here as you walk out of the locker room and go up to the front desk. You casually look around the place, taking in how much you're going to miss it and the machines that were all calibrated for King of Fighters hopefuls like yourself... Though, to be honest, you only started coming here because you had heard that Yuri Sakazaki, the daughter of the founder of Kyokugen Karate, teaches an aerobics class here.
3764
3765"Too bad I never got to see her in person" you think as Cassandra huffs and puffs back up to the front desk, nearly knocking over some kind of tip-jar and taking a second to right it.
3766
3767"The fuck... Donuts? They've got a bloody Donut Fund now?" you think as you watch her get the necessary paperwork needed to get your membership refunded.
3768
3769"OK, sign on the doted line here, here & here. Then you'll get the money wired to your bank account within 24 hours" Cassandra tells you, venom in her voice at the mere fact you're still hanging around the gym.
3770
3771You quickly sign on the doted lines and then...?
3772
3773>A. Ask her about the "Donut Fund" jar.
3774
3775>B. Tell "If you see Yuri Sakazaki, tell her I'm sorry for not going to one of her classes."
3776
3777>C. Walk out, drive home and pick up some groceries; You want to actually make something yourself tonight.
3778
3779>D. Write-In Vote.
3780
3781===
3782
3783I'm going on a dinner break with my dad. I should be back within an hour or two, but if not I'll post something.
3784
3785-------------------------
3786
3787My dad seems to be late, so I'll pop back in from dinner and /sp/-related shenanigans for more of The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #7!
3788
3789>>283669
3790
3791You think about making fun of the gym having a "Donut Fund" ([i]"Fine for Cheat Days, but all the time? Come on."[/i]), but hold your tongue. You'really not going to be back here for a while and who knows if one of the owners decides to overturn Cassandra and let you come back? [i]"Got to be professional about this... Can't give them rope to hang myself over."[/i] 
3792
3793"Hey, Cass... If you see Yuri Sakazaki-"
3794
3795"Who's that?" 
3796
3797You mentally counter-top-palm at her remark, but fill her in out of the kindness of your heart. "Short Japanese girl with a ponytail? Does an aerobics class here?"
3798
3799Cassandra paused, thinking things over for a second. "Doesn't ring any bells, sorry." You look down at the free poster the gym has been handing out and again force yourself from slamming your head into the counter-top. [I]"Bloody Christ, [b]SHE'S RIGHT FUCKING THERE YOU QUEEN OF SEACOWS![/b]"[/i]
3800
3801"Right here mate" You reply, pointing to her name and photo while showing her the poster (But being careful not to press it in front of her or anything).
3802
3803"Ooh... I don't work on those days, so I've never met her" Cassandra finally replies after adjusting her eyes to the poster.
3804
3805[i]"How the hell do you know about Daimon, Woo & Clark fucking Steel, but not Yuri?"[/i] "Yeah... Well, if you see her, tell her I'm sorry for not going to one of her classes" you reply before slinging your gym bag over your shoulder and turning your back on the only gym you've ever really liked in South Town... Well, for now hopefully.
3806
3807"Well shit, now what?" you rhetorically ask yourself when you sit down in you Porsche, dare to touch your MP3 player (No mean feat after yesterday's... "Incident") and zone out for a little bit as the strains of some 60's psychedelia rock.
3808
3809[red]>A. Swing down by one of The Pao Pao Cafes to see if there's anything going down. You'really not in the mood to fight, but it's always fun to watch others throw down.[/red]
3810
3811[blue]>B. See if you can call up an electrician to show up at your house tomorrow to fix the electricity, or at least survey how much damage was done.[/blue]
3812
3813[green]>C. Get some groceries and head home; It's getting late and you have candles to light...[/green]
3814
3815>D. Write-In Vote.
3816
3817-omitted one small post.
3818
3819-omitted one small post.
3820
3821-omitted one small post.
3822
3823-------------------------
3824
3825>>284564
3826
3827Awesome. I wanted to post a particular image to express how awesome you are for showing back up, but I couldn't find it.
3828
3829>>284569
3830>>284097
3831
3832You take a look at the sun slowly starting to set in the horizon (Out towards the bay) and grab your phone to try and rectify a pretty big problem you've had lately: No electricity thanks to that "Expert Ghost Hunter" that "The Wind" sent up to your house...
3833
3834You quickly go online with your phone (Though not before seeing that "G-Mantle" thread had updated to include a recent sighting with details, so you bookmarked it) and look up electricians in the South Town area code, a few of them within driving distance of your "Old" gym... Unfortuantely, he highest-rated one "Help!.com" is already closed, so you call up the other one and hope for the best.
3835
3836A couple of rings later and you get a live person on the other end. "Hello?"
3837
3838"Yeah, is this Electric Co.?"
3839
3840"Yeah... We're about to close though" the guy on the other end tells you sounding like his minds up in the clouds.
3841
3842"Yeah, I know... Do you think I could get one of your electricians to give me an estimate on what I need repaired to my house?"
3843
3844"Yeah, sure... What's the address?"
3845
3846You tell him and he replies "Cool. We've got a guy available for you..."
3847
3848"Can Noon or 1 PM work? I'm going to be out in the morning tomorrow" you ask.
3849
3850"... Yeah, it should be fine."
3851
3852"Thanks. What's the guy's name?"
3853
3854"... Jorge? Or Emmit, I don't know" the guy on the other end says, again with that kind of "Spacey" lilt in his voice. 
3855
3856"Right... I'll see him then" you say before hanging up and driving out onto the expressway that leads back to your house, stopping at a local "Greasy Spoon" kind of dinner for a burger and some fries ("Cheat Day in full effect today": Besides, you earned it after not killing Cassandra back at the gym) before getting home at dusk.
3857
3858"Home sweet home... Just hope I don't get any roses thrown at my feet" you think out loud while checking out everything inside ("Nothing stolen thank god!") and light some more candles.
3859
3860>A. Movies & Chill? Movies & Chill.
3861
3862>B. Do one last stretch before curling up with a good book to read in bed, by candlelight
3863
3864>C. Shit-Post anonymously on FightChan about your gym.
3865
3866>D. Write-In Vote
3867
3868-------------------------
3869
3870>>284679
3871
3872You fire up the trusty lap-top "The Wind" "Gifted" you after a gig went south and you kept everything together and casualties to the bare minimum and hit up ye olde FightChan, none of the main page "Popular threads" catching your eye so you hit the "/Fit/ - Fitness & Health" board to look for a thread about gym stories so you can rage anonymously about how you were treated at your gym today.
3873
3874Right on top of the catalog ("Never going back to FightChan without the catalog") there's a thread that's exactly what you're looking for and immediately start typing up a SCATHING green-text story about it... But stop halfway through when you spot a candid picture of Fiona Graves and a story about her from some anon. Curious, you read on and aren't quite sure how to react:
3875
3876===
3877
3878Holy shit I know her, she goes to my gym. She's really nice, about the only girl that will spot you and isn't completely up her own ass. I'm honestly amazed by this because her and this dude had a cooking class going teaching people how to make /fit/ meals and she was always going up to fatasses in the gym and encouraging them. Pic related, lifted off her facebook.
3879
3880===
3881
3882"Huh... I guess even rough diamonds can sparkle sometimes." Intrigued , you read the follow-up post and again are surprised about the Fiona Graves you've dealt with compared to who anons are talking about:
3883
3884===
3885
3886I'll be honest, I'm lifting because of her. 
3887
3888Six months ago when I went to the gym as a fatass everything was really fucking hard and frustrating realizing how unfit I was. I was going to go home when she came over and offered me some water and said she was really impressed with me, then said "and I'm even more impressed that you're still carrying on with your workout, even though you look so tired! Come to the weekend cooking classes, we're doing tuna." 
3889
3890We both knew I was going to leave, but she made me stay and keep at it.
3891
3892===
3893
3894>A. Finish up your story while it's still fresh in your mind.
3895
3896>B. Open up another tab and see what else is going on in a different part of FightChan (Write-In Boards encouraged with this vote, but please no "Pink Boards")
3897
3898>C. Read more about the Fiona Graves you Don't know; These stories are great.
3899
3900>D. Write-In Vote
3901
3902-------------------------
3903
3904>>284842
3905
3906As touching as it is to know that there's a real, honest person behind the facade Fiona Graves puts up (Not that there wasn't anyway, but you aren't surprised someone as muscular as her works at a gym along with her SWF commitments), you have to get this story done before the rage passes through you, so you start typing like you're the Fist of the North Star (Even hearing the "WATATATATATATATATA" with each keystroke) and hit "Post" on that motherfucker.
3907
3908Satisfied with it, you link all of the posts about Fiona and type in simply this:
3909
3910===
3911
3912Fiona is the hero South Town needs.[/grren]
3913
3914===
3915
3916Before you know it, there's already five replies to your story, four of them memes you don't get (You're not that much of a ">/fit/izen")... But the fifth one has a Tumblr post showcasing the exact same "Donut Fund" jar and what it used to look like:
3917
3918===
3919
3920I know the place you're talking about Anon. I stopped going there last year, right before Christmas time. Pic Related is why.
3921
3922===
3923
3924Before you can respond though, somebody posted a pasta (Pic Related ~ That Damn Weasel) that has you in stitches. "Goddamn you guys my sides are in fucking orbit right now... Almost had me tearing up after that one."
3925
3926>A. Look up some of the info on "G-Mantle" in that "X-Bro" thread you bookmarked earlier in the day.
3927
3928>B. Open up another tab and see what else is going on in a different part of FightChan (Write-In Boards encouraged with this vote, but please no "Pink Boards")
3929
3930>C. Read more about the Fiona Graves; You need motivation for tomorrow and dealing Tatsuya-Sensei. 
3931
3932>D. Write-In Vote
3933
3934>E. Watch a Movie or an Anime from your backlog or something; Too much FightChan can rot the brain (Suggest a Movie and roll 1d100; Highest roll wins)
3935
3936-------------------------
3937
3938>>284930
3939
3940The replies die down from your story and go off into an off-topic discussion about censorship in modern-day life (Interesting, but not really you cup of tea) and read up on both of the stories anons have posted about Fiona Graves:
3941
3942===
3943
3944Here's a thing she did:
3945
3946Here's a thing she did:
3947
3948>Be struggling on the ellipticals, 300lbs hambeast
3949>Notice two hammies waddling in, judging by the way they dressed, they were female
3950>You can have one gym session free as a taster, to see if you like the gym
3951>Blue (she was a fat chick with tumblr-tier blue hair) got on a treadmill and started a brisk walking pace
3952>her fat friend plops down on a chair and pulls out a tube of pringles, eats it noisily
3953>Constantly complaining about how boring it is here
3954>Points at me and loudly says 'see, he's working out but still fat, I told you its all genetics!'
3955>Blue looks a bit upset but stays on and keeps walking
3956>Hammy is constantly complaining, just smacking her lips loudly and whining
3957>"Heya, you two alright?"
3958>Hammy looks over at Fiona and haughtily explains that Blue was trying to lose weight, going into full fat logic mode
3959>Fiona is smiling and nodding, agreeing with the fatty
3960>"Oh yeah I agree, genetics definitely plays a part in it. To be honest your friend is an idiot to drag you out here for nothing."
3961>Blue looks more and more upset, while Hammy, encouraged, starts bitching about her
3962>Fiona joins in and they both make fun of Blue for trying to lose weight
3963>"You know what, there's a really nice cafe down the road, why don't you go there and relax and I'll talk some sense into Blue? It's not fair that you've had to put up with her like this."
3964>Fatty gets up and hugs Hannah, wobbles off quite eagerly
3965>Fiona turns to Blue and crosses her arms, then demands "Why the fuck did you let us speak to you that way?"
3966>Blue looks shocked, gets off the treadmill and stammers something
3967>"Your friend there? She's toxic. Nobody should ever, EVER treat you like that. The first step to losing weight isn't hitting the treadmill, it's detoxing your life. Cutting out the bad food, bad people, cutting it all out. You don't need someone like that around, and if you're worried about being lonely, I'm your friend now."
3968
3969Shit, too long of a post, hang on.
3970
3971===
3972
3973You honestly can't help but picture "Tsunami Tsuyako" as "Blue" from this story, not just because she's a big girl, but also because she looks (And it felt) like she knows how to keep fit.
3974
3975(Cont...)
3976
3977-------------------------
3978
3979>>285003
3980
3981===
3982
3983Blue looks really stunned, realizes what Fiona was trying to do
3984>Blue starts crying and Fiona actually tries to hug her, even though she's too damn fat for 99.9% of people out there to even fucking give a shot at it
3985>"Yeah, in a couple months remind me to do this right." She makes a joke about it, Blue smiles
3986>Fiona takes her to the weights and helps her get started with lifting, Blue is determined as fuck
3987>After about half an hour of Red lifting and taking breaks Hammy shows up
3988>Tries to get in but can't as she's not a member
3989>Calls for Fiona and Blue, asks them what the fuck they're doing from the edge of the gym cafe
3990>Fiona looks at Blue, and puts an arm on her shoulder for support
3991>"Good timing, I think Red here has something to say to you."
3992>"I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore. You're a horrible person and all you ever do is put me down to make yourself feel better. I don't need that in my life anymore."
3993>Fatty gets pissy as fuck, but Fiona pulls Blue back and tells her to keep working out
3994>Fatty not leaving, so Fiona walks up to her and actually fucking squares up to the bitch
3995>Her eyes have gone cold as fuck, she's staring down at the fatty like she's made of shit
3996>"Get the fuck away from my friend if you know what's best for you. If I so much as hear you've done or said anything to her from now on, I will make your life hell. Believe me, I'm damn good at it."
3997>Fiona looked legit terrifying, all the more so because of her stature and figure
3998>Fatty goes quiet and actually leaves, mumbles something
3999>Blue and Fiona are still friends
4000>Blue has dropped a good deal of weight and Fiona set her up with this 6'4ft kickboxing instructor
4001>They've been dating for a month now and seem pretty happy
4002
4003===
4004
4005"Goddamn... she really is a hero, huh?" you think, feeling something in your spirit swell up with... Something. It's a good something, whatever it is, so you continue reading more crazy stories (Not just Fiona's) and before you know it, the buzzer on your phone's going off, signalling it's time to hit the hay in case Tatsuya-Sensei gets the rest of the Dojo together and knocks down your door to roust your ass up.
4006
4007"Fat chance of that. I'm like two hours away from the dojo without any traffic and live on a mountain that's nearly 2,500 ft." You stifle a yawn, bookmark the thread for tomorrow (You started to nod off about a story involving Fiona helping out the kind of "Cardio Bunny" you used to be in Middleschool) and drift off to sleep.
4008
4009~~~
4010
4011You woke up the next morning feeling rested and ready for anything, visions of you and Fiona clad in high-fantasy "Barbarian Bimbo Armor" battling back-to-back against increasingly-strange beasts seemed to calm you down as Tatsuya Sensei drills you on doing a thousand punches.
4012
4013>Roll 1d20; Best of the first 3 rolls submitted count
4014
4015-------------------------
4016
4017>>285039
4018
4019>Your striking level has increased to Level 1!
4020>Add a +1 Modifier on certain combat rolls!
4021
4022You admire the woodland scenery around you (Tatsuya-Sensei dragged all of you out here in some park you've never been to today because of a roach problem back at the dojo) and let your mind go blank, the sound of the air being cut by your arms all you can hear until Tatsuya signals for the rest of you to stop.
4023
4024"Good! Now let's do some kicks" he says, then you go through the same routine of a thousand reps, except with your legs. Again, your mind empties and all you can see are your master showing you how to landing a standing "Hard" kick with each leg, your limbs battering the wind away from your feet with each repetition.
4025
4026Tatsuya-Sensei looks pleased at all of you when you get through the last two kicks. "Alright, alright... Good job out there! Let's do some stretches, then gear up for a run to lunch alright?" he orders. It takes about half an hour to go through them all and even though you've been taking this class for nearly... "Shit, 6 months already? Time Flies.", you're never ceased to be amazed at how flexible Tatsuya-Sensei is, especially since he looks like a Sumo Wrestler trying to cosplay as Ryo Sakazaki (The only son of Takuma and one of the heirs of The Kykugenryu Art of Fighting)...
4027
4028Soon enough, you and the rest of the class (Avery too, looking cute as a button to your eyes today) start following Tatsuya-Sensei's car on a run to... Somewhere for lunch. 
4029
4030"Hope it's good food... Probably just going to be a place that serves Buckwheat Soba."
4031
4032However, you feel your legs start to cramp up and begin to fall behind the rest of the class, the leg Kasumi Todoh caught during the last Real Bout you were in hurting the most.
4033
4034"Damn it all! Not now!..." you think, dreading to have to explain what you did on Friday...
4035
4036>Roll 1d20
4037
4038-------------------------
4039
4040>>285103
4041
4042"No... Not like this. Not here, not now" you think as you fall back through the group and lag behind. Something inside of you flicks on like a light switch and... You just do it. You force yourself to stay moving, to keep going, to put one foot in front of the other and goddamn it, you refuse to let this cramp get to you.
4043
4044You have to fight the pain from advancing as you hustle to catch up to the tail end of the rest of the class, tears streaming down your eyes, your mind filled with every cuss word in the book and your mouth too busy inhaling and exhaling to say any of them. You keep up with the tail of the class, keeping on with business at hand until you arrive at some kind of "Dim-Sum" Chinese place on the outskirts of Chinatown in the "Central City" district.
4045
4046It takes all of your might not to double over and curl into a ball over the pain in your legs and keep up appearances... Avery isn't fooled by it though.
4047
4048"Hey, are you arlight Katja?"
4049
4050"... No" you quietly reply, the waterworks flowing as you slowly use a lamppost just outside the front entrance of the noodle shop ("Of course he's going to serve us Buckwheat Soba. It's practically Kyokugen tradition at this point.") to collapse neatly onto the ground.
4051
4052Avery yells for Tatsuya to take a look at you while you go to work on stretching your legs. 
4053
4054"Damn Kat, what happened?"
4055
4056"I'dunno... Might've pulled something" you lie.
4057
4058Tatsuya nods and gets down on his knees to steady you while you stretch out your legs some more, telling Avery "Go ahead and order us some food. I'll be here for a little bit."
4059
4060"Buckwheat Soba Noodles, right?"
4061
4062Tatsuya nods and you start to feel the pain subside a bit, though any relief "So come on, what did you do to wreck your legs like this?"
4063
4064>A. "I really don't know what's going on Sensei. I was fine yesterday doing Grapple training and stuff." (Roll 1d20)
4065
4066>B. Admit the truth and tell him how your last "Friday Night Real Bout" went.
4067
4068>C."I think I just overdid it on my running and striking on Friday Sensei" (Roll 1d20)
4069
4070>D. Write-in Vote.
4071
4072===
4073
4074Alright, that'll do it for today. Thanks for participating anon! It really means a lot to me.
4075
4076Same as today, I expect to resume this thread by around 10 AM PST/ Noon EST tomorrow and continue until it starts to auto-sage.
4077
4078Also, the current vote is still active and I'll be up for a little bit to answer any questions about the lore/setting/MC/Extra Cast etc. etc.
4079
4080-omitted one small post.
4081
4082-omitted one small post.
4083
4084-------------------------
4085
4086>>286164
4087
4088Oh come on Anon! I'm not nearly the cruel, heartless QM I was when I first started out...
4089
4090>>285161
4091>>285148
4092
4093>Updates Resume
4094
4095Every time you even look at Tatsuya-Sensei, you're overtaken a feeling of awe. He's a man who was taught in the ways of Kyokugen Karate by Ryo Sakazaki himself, was tipped by everyone in the Kyokugenryu organization to possibly become one of a "Next Generation" of practitioners (That never amounted to much, in the end), cleaned out the streets of several cities across the United States and abroad as part of his training... But chose to "Go home and be a family man" on the cusp of greatness and nurture the growth of his only daughter, Ellie, into the fine young woman she is today.
4096
4097"OK, got to sell this just right... Sensei is a pretty laid-back kind of guy, but heaven knows what he'll do to me if he sees through this." You look at him square in the eye and explain "I think I just overdid it on my running and striking on Friday Sensei."
4098
4099You try to smile and scratch the back of your head to really sell how sorry you are about all of the trouble and what a scene you've caused... But of course, Tatsuya-Sensei is able to cut through your bullshit like a laser beam.
4100
4101"Why do you always try to lie to me Kat? You should know by now that it doesn't work" is all he says before getting up off the ground to go inside, leaving you to your own devices to try and stand up. "Shit, he's pissed..."
4102
4103It takes some doing, but you get to your feet and clamber inside, the aromas of the larger than you expected shop welcome to your senses. You take an open seat at the very front of a long table, everybody else joking around and chatting to keep morale up about the grueling challenges Tatsuya-Sensei has planned ahead. Soon, what seems like every waiter in the place starts serving bowls of Buckwheat Soba ("The cornerstone of Kyokugenryu's diet plan!", the manuscript Sensei read to you all had said) and Tatsuya commences lunch with a simple "Alright, dig in."
4104
4105You look around and see that everybody has a bowl ready and is chowing down... Except you. "Fuck me, Sensei's gone fucking NUCLEAR over me..."
4106
4107You've been around the dojo long enough to see him do this to other students and are aware that asking for a bowl of your own, or even offering to pay for one only makes it worse... But damn, you never expected to have pissed of Tatsuya-Sensei enough to have him deny you lunch like this. You mercifully get through watching others eat and wallow in self-pity at the predicament you've found yourself in, though Tatsuya-Sensei offers a shred of help after ignoring you throughout the course of the meal. 
4108
4109"How's the leg? You think you can run with it?"
4110
4111You get up and walk around a little bit outside of the noodle shop, your calf muscles burning hotter that South Town around the 4th of July. "Nah mate, I think I'm done on running today..."
4112
4113(Cont...)
4114
4115-------------------------
4116
4117>>286247
4118
4119Tatsuya-Sensei shrugs, then asks Avery to come over and shoulder you into his car while the rest of the students have to jog behind the two of you. There's an awkward air of tension between the two of you, rushing air from the side windows and the noise of Tatsuya's car the only things breaking the silence.
4120
4121"You fought in Real Bout again, didn't you?"
4122
4123You nod. "I had a lot of rage built up inside of me and... Well... I over did it."
4124
4125A long pause. You don't like it when Tatsuya takes a moment to think. "Did you win?"
4126
4127"4th place" you admit, adding "But I beat Kasumi Todoh."
4128
4129"Oh? Well good for you. Yuri Sakazaki has a 7-1 record on her" he replies.
4130
4131"Sensei, I'm sor-"
4132
4133"Don't try to apologize to me with words" he says, cutting you off. "Good & Evil can be seen. Words don't matter to me."
4134
4135"I'm royally fucked out of this class, aren't I? And I'll probably go right into the slammer too since Ellie set this whole thing up..."
4136
4137>A. Quit being so negative! Try to be positive about yourself today!(Roll 1d20)
4138
4139>B. Let your silence try to speak louder than words.
4140
4141>C. "Sensei... I know this is not the best of times to ask, but I've got an offer to join up with a wrestling company... do you think I should take it?"
4142
4143>D. Write-In Vote
4144
4145>E. Ask Tatsuya to drop you off somewhere; You don't feel like riding with him right now.
4146
4147-------------------------
4148
4149>>286265
4150
4151You shake your head, the wind blowing through your hair as Tatsuya picks up the pace a little bit (To the dismay of the rest of the class). What's with you the last few days? Nothing but negative thoughts, negative energy flowig through you and colorig all of your actions... You gotta be more positive about life! You got 4th place in two straight Real Bouts, one o which you entered in a blind rage and didn't really prepare for outside of your costume... Plus, you're making good money from doing braindead work at the Cafe and you've got options.
4152
4153"speaking of which..."
4154
4155You're starting to feel a little better, or at least enough to ask Tatsuya-Sensei a tough question: "Sensei... I know this is not the best of times to ask, but I've got an offer to join up with a wrestling company... Do you think I should take it?"
4156
4157Tatsuya mulls it over, then takes a look in his rear-view mirror and yells "Come on! Pick up the pace a little! It's only 6 more Km's back to the Dojo!"
4158
4159You smile a little. It's weird, but you always feel more comfortable when Tatsuya's barking orders at you and the rest of the class, or making you do some insane training drills while giving out gold nuggets of wisdom instead of just hanging out with him and Ellie at his house or something...
4160
4161Finally, he sheds a little light on your question. "I don't know... I thought Adam was an idiot for taking it up, but he came out alright and Ryo came out on top of the one Buriki-One tournament he entered..."
4162
4163"I just feel like I could need a change of pace... I haven't been all that thrilled with work and figured that I could give them my two weeks notice and transition into it or something" you admit.
4164
4165"How long is it for?"
4166
4167"3 months. I kind of owe them too, because I bruised one of their top talent's arms in a sparring match that went over the line" you explain.
4168
4169Tatsuya shrugs. "If you really want to do it, I'll talk to Ellie and see if you can get a reprieve."
4170
4171You nod, your stomach sounding making those strangled cat noises you're always embarrassed of. "Should've just gotten something at that noodles place, because I'm starting to get a headache." "Thanks, Sensei."
4172
4173"No problem" he says, adding "You can take off when we get back to the park."
4174
4175"Really? Thanks."
4176
4177With that, the rest of your morning went by pretty smoothly. You drove back to that noodle shop in Chinatown, got some Udon and some chicken and drove back up to your house, a truck with the logo for "Electric Co." parked in your driveway and a average-looking guy waiting for you.
4178
4179>A. "I'm screwed, aren't I?"
4180
4181>B. Let him tell you what's wrong and hope that you can coax "The Wind" to pay for it.
4182
4183>C. Introduce yourself, ask him what's up and prepare to yell and scream at "The Wind" over his incompetence.
4184
4185>D. Write-In Vote.
4186
4187-------------------------
4188
4189Early lunch. Sorry for the delay.
4190
4191>>286392
4192
4193You hop out of your car and take a look around.
4194
4195"Hi, I'm Emmit" he finally says.
4196
4197"Katja" you plainly state. "What's the 4-1-1?"
4198
4199You can tell by his body language that it's not going to be good news. You hate that you can read people like that sometimes, because all it does is set you up for disappointment. "You're house's electrical systems are totally fried... You're going to have to get somebody out here and replace and rewire everything."
4200
4201"Thought so... Kazahaya, you better hope you're sister kills you before I do." "I thought so... That was a nasty power surge."
4202
4203"I've never seen this kind of damage on somebody's house though" Emmit replies, adding "You usually see this on transformers, or powerlines..."
4204
4205"How much would that cost me? To get it all fixed?"
4206
4207Emmit takes a moment to do the math in his head, then says "At least 4 figures" with a sigh.
4208
4209"Time to call in that favor or two..." "I'll... Get back you guys on that. How much do I owe you for today?"
4210
4211Emmit shrugs. "It didn't take long to go over everything your house had so... $65?"
4212
4213"Bloody hell, that's a racket I wished I got in on when I was in college" "Here you go" you reply, handing him the money out of your pockets before waving him off, a forced smile on your face that doesn't leave until he's well and gone.
4214
4215"Fuck..." you let out with a sigh as you unpack your stuff inside, looking over the cozy little (OK, not-so-little) cabin you sunk every last penny you made street fighting into. "Goddamn, I love living here but it's so bloody hard sometimes... At least that kid didn't blow the roof off the old place, because I'd have had Kaz's hide by now."
4216
4217You get your phone and call a number that's not found in any phone book and desperately hope that the self-crowned "King of the Underworld" picks up. Luck's on your side today though, because you can hear him loud and clear: 
4218
4219"He~ey... what's goin' down?"
4220
4221"My electricity bill" you joke.
4222
4223"You got it hooked back up yet?" 
4224
4225"Nah... Damn electricians charge an arm and a leg for that shit."
4226
4227"Too bad. It must get dark up there on the hill huh?"
4228
4229"Kaz, come on, you got to help me with this" you plead, a dark tone starting to inflect your voice.
4230
4231"You said to Bao yourself that "Things are just things" and your spiritual health means more to you" he counters, something you don't want to know about going on in the background.
4232
4233>A. "You're damn lucky I didn't rip that kid's throat out with my bare hands."
4234
4235>B. "Kazahaya, please, help me out on this. I sunk my life savings into my cabin; I don't have the money to fix it or rent an apartment again in the city." (Roll 1d20)
4236
4237>C. Tell him in no uncertain terms that if he doesn't fix your house, you're going to bust his gang into little tiny pieces (Roll 2d20)
4238
4239>D. Write-In Vote.
4240
4241-------------------------
4242
4243>>286612
4244
4245Even though he's known in and around South Town for being a shrewd businessman and a ruthless gangster, Kazunori Kazahaya seems to have a soft-spot for you. Maybe it's all of those wins he bet on while you were working the underground fight club scene... Maybe he really is into you after all?
4246
4247Whatever the case, you know you've got at least two favors from him that you haven't collected yet, so you clear your throat and try to deliver a better line than you did to Tatsuya-Sensei earlier:
4248
4249"Kazahaya, please, help me out on this. I sunk my life savings into my cabin; I don't have the money to fix it or rent an apartment again in the city."
4250
4251He takes a long pause, some unspeakable act of violence going on in the background ('Probably lit a guy on fire again from the screams") before he finally cracks. "OK, OK, you got me. I'll help you."
4252
4253"Thank you, really-"
4254
4255"-But we're square after this, OK? Unless you want to get your hands dirty for me again, I owe you nothing" he cuts in with.
4256
4257"What about the bill I had to cover from that bar with my winnings? Or the time I kept your dumbasses from "The Waifus" dying when that raid went bad? Plus, you still haven't paid off Paulie for the damage that one turf war he had nothing involved with did to the Cafe...."
4258
4259Another sigh. You can almost imagine Kazahaya doing that weird near-horizontal head-tilt before he replies "I know, I know... But electricians aren't cheap you know? Look, how much damage did Bao even do?"
4260
4261"That little fucker... He fried every fusebox and outlet. The guy I had over today told me the entire house's interior is going to have to be taken apart and the whole cabin is going to have to be rewired" you calmly explain.
4262
4263"Oooooohhh... Damn, that's fuckin' rough, man. Heath Robinson rough."
4264
4265"Try living with it."
4266
4267"Yeah... OK, yeah, I'll still owe one after this, but why not move into one my places downtown while the work's going on? On me, of course" Kazahaya offers, the sound of a high-pressure fire hose or something going off on his end.
4268
4269>A."And turn into a crimson-colored stain on the carpet for your maids to clean up? No thanks."
4270
4271>B. "I'll think about it... I'll need some your "
4272
4273>C. "OK, sure. When can I start to pack up my stuff?"
4274
4275>D. Write-In Vote.
4276
4277-------------------------
4278
4279>>286703
4280
4281It's a hard choice, having to leave the peace and quiet you busted your ass for to go back into South Town, the city that STILL makes the Bronx Burrogh in New York City look like Smurf Fucking Village at times... But you can't really stay at the cabin if you've got a couple of electricians and drywall guys working on the place all the time, can you?
4282
4283"OK, sure. When can I start to pack my stuff?" you ask, not quite sure if this is the right thing to do or not.
4284
4285"Whenever you like. Like I said, I've got a couple of places downtown I don't really use anymore unless shit's really goin' down" Kazahaya replies. "Just give me a time-frame and a schedule and I can work around it."
4286
4287"Cool... Cool... But no funny business, okay?"
4288
4289Kazahaya laughs. "Girl, I owe too much to you to try and fuck you over, over something like this."
4290
4291"Well, that's good to know." You hear the phone go dead, the distorted screams you heard on his line sticking in the back of your mind for a moment too long. On one hand, it's good to know that Kaz has his swagger back a little; The last time you met him face-to-face he was hiding underneath a table in the back of some Chinese place from his own gang.
4292
4293On the other hand... "I should probably act nicer for a little bit. If he finds his balls and decides that me living and carrying around all of his dirty little secrets is too much work to deal with..."
4294
4295You linger on that thought and get shivers up and down your spine. Just like Ellie told you the night South Town nearly burned down, you can't escape your past.
4296
4297>A. Hop back in your car and take a drive out to... Somewhere. You've got a wanderlust in you today for some reason.
4298
4299>B. Stay in and stretch a little bit to keep you limber, maybe start packing up your stuff again. You're too tired to go anywhere, that's for sure.
4300
4301>C. Hit the town and go clubbing. You haven't done it in a while and it's not like you're in any condition to train.
4302
4303>D. Write-In Vote
4304
4305-------------------------
4306
4307The words are just taking more time to come to me today Anon. I apologize for my lack of update pace today.
4308
4309>>286863
4310
4311You rotate your arms and shoulders, feeling a little stiffness but not enough to be worried about. Your legs, on the other hand, don't feel like they're up to much in the way of training or anything, so you're at a loss for how to kill a few hours before the sun starts to go down...
4312
4313You sigh, then start to pack up your things, taking care to fold everything neatly and into well-marked Suitcases & "Rollers" until you come across an old outfit you haven't worn in a while: Some kind of backless halter top with lapels, some hip-huggers and two pair of cute high-heels you bought from some boutique store that shortly went out of business.
4314
4315You stare at them, bits and pieces of the rant from that bridge troll of a woman at your old fitness ringing in your ears... Then think of the reply you gave her to shut her down cold and get an idea in your head: "I'm going out tonight. I deserve it."
4316
4317You shower, the cold water actually feeling good on your skin for a change and "Doll" yourself up, taking more time than usual to get your make-up just right after you slip into that outfit (And go with Red/Black/White heels to better match your work sneakers/driving shoes)... But pause to consider where you should go? Hell, with all of the raids the crooked cops in the South Town Police Department have been doing, are there any clubs left outside of the fight-oriented ones?
4318
4319>A. Either one of The Pao Pao Cafes. You can watch other people fight and that's always fun.
4320
4321>B. "La Illusion", the bar that a KOF Regular (And female fighting icon) runs.
4322
4323>C. "The King's Court", the old-school dance club located in the roughest part of South Town.
4324
4325>D. Write-In Vote.
4326
4327>E. Just go out and walk around the city for a little bit. What could go wrong?
4328
4329-------------------------
4330
4331>>287014
4332
4333"The Pao Paos are fight clubs and I'm not in the mood to fight... La Illusion is more of a Bar & Grill than a place you can dance at..."
4334
4335You think it over and over, running through where you could go while tapping your fingernails on the leather steering wheel of the "Slant-Nose" Porsche your father (God rest his soul) left you... And in the end, settle on driving to a place you've only been in with Kazahaya and the rest of his "Waifus": Port Downtown.
4336
4337The seediest part of an already seedy city (No matter how many "Cleaner Image" campaigns happen), Port Downtown is a wretched hive of scum and villainy just down the way from the bustling docks of Port Town proper (Including the carrier "The Guardian"). If you've got a body that needs to be dumped, a drug deal that needs to go down, stuff to be smuggled or shit to hit a fan, Port Downtown is the logical place to do it. Why Real Bout regular "Duck King" decided to relaunch his "King's Court" club here, you will never know, but judging from the retro-chic decor, the strobe lights, techno and clientele... You don't know why you're here.
4338
4339Until you hit the bar. THEN you remember why you came here, because by your third beer (Stella Artois, cheaper here than anywhere else in town) you've got a definite "Buzz" going. "Wonder who's DJ'ing tonight, because this sounds like the shit Kazahaya would play..."
4340
4341>A. Get up and dance around. You've got the feeling that you need to get the vibe out there that you're you, you're fucking awesome and you will beat the shit out of anybody that grabs your tits or ass. (Roll 2d20)
4342
4343>B. Take a look around and see if anybody else sitting around the bar catches your eye, then order them a drink. (Roll 1d20)
4344
4345>C. Just people watch a little bit and try to groove to the music while keeping your balance on the bar stool.
4346
4347>D. Write-In Vote.
4348
4349-------------------------
4350
4351>>287216
4352>>287218
4353
4354You take a quick look around the small bar area, your eyes trying to get a good look at somebody to buddy up with and maybe even do something a little more in private... Unfortunately, you don't really see anyone that catches your eye; Seems like everybody here is either too old, or too young, or with dyed hair (As FightChan has drilled into, stay away from girls or guys with dyed hair), or so gay-looking they couldn't possibly interested in you... Or interested in them.
4355
4356"Fuck it, need more beer" you hazily think while ordering one more glass of Stella, the room looking like it's spinning all around you as you sit on the stool up at the bar. Halfway through the fourth beer you feel pretty "Loose" and up to dance, but it takes all of you limited concentration to keep your balance and feel something gag in the back of your throat.
4357
4358"Bashroom?" you ask the bartender. He ("? Man, I'm havin' beer goggles early tonight!") points to his right and you follow, nearly doubling over the sink as you start heaving up... Nothing at all? "The fuuuuck...?"
4359
4360You stare down at the sink for a second or two, then get yourself back up and walk out onto the dance floor, a "Slow" jam going. "Sounds like stuff Kaz would play awright... Maybe Duck King got too hurt to attend after Real Bout?"
4361
4362>A. Damn it, start dancing already! It's what you came here to do, after all. Just make it clear that you're into (Roll 2d20)
4363
4364>B. Take another look around, this time focusing on the dance floor. Who knows, you might find somebody cute. (Roll 1d20)
4365
4366>C. Try to find your spot and just zone out for a little bit. Maybe somebody'll notice you and buy you a drink? (Roll 1d20)
4367
4368>D. Write-In Vote
4369
4370>E. Call Kazahaya to get somebody to collect your car and call a cab home; Tonight was a bust.
4371
4372-------------------------
4373
4374>>287379
4375>>287366
4376
4377You try not to stumble back up to the bar, your spot from before occupied some blonde guy with hair and clothes that suggest that he's stepped out a time-warp from the 1970's or something... Cute face though. You're digging the big sideburns too. He eyes you up and you smile, giving him your patened "Sexy" wink... Though unfortunately, instead of trying to chat with you he sips his drink (Vodka Martini, it looks like) and walks away.
4378
4379"Damn it all! WHY WON'T ANYONE TRY TO FUCK ME TONIGHT!?" Your vision feels a little blurry, but you make another look around the bar and the dance floor, the guys & girls you thought were too this, too that looking better and better by the minute...
4380
4381"Gah... Why'd my beer goggles set in so quick? I used to pound'em down before it got this bad" you think as you try to put on your best "Come Hither" look to try and entice somebody, hell ANYBODY at the bar to notice you... Shit, just a conversation would be nice! You've been here for what feels like two hours now and nobody's even given you a second glance, not counting the 70's guy.
4382
4383But of course, you don't get any takers. 3 songs after you start to give off "The Vibe" even! Hell, you probably look like somebody trying to parody the look you want to put out there... "Am I really not that sexy after all? Am I doomed to become a robot?"
4384
4385>A. Fuck it, you're dancing. NOW. You don't even care if you fall over on the now-glowing floor. (Roll 1d20)
4386
4387>B. Bask in your gloominess and start to get the "Philosopher Drunk" thing your friends in college always said you did going.
4388
4389>C. Order one more beer and go out in a blaze of glory. You're drinking to forget tonight.:_;
4390
4391>D. Write-In Vote
4392
4393>E. Call Kazahaya to get one of "The Waifus" to collect your car, then call a cab home; Tonight sucked and you need sleep.
4394
4395-------------------------
4396
4397Internet went down where I was at. Apologies for the delay.
4398
4399>>287503
4400
4401In the time you've started going to bars and drinking alcohol, you've noticed that there are different... "Stages" to being inebriated. There's the slight buzz, the tipsy, full-on drunk, three sheets to the wind... And where you feel like you're at now: "Philosopher Drunk".
4402
4403You're still coherent in your speech patterns that others can understand you, your mind hasn't descended into complete madness... but, you're open 
4404
4405"Hey, barkeep" you start, not waiting for him to respond. "You ever wonder'bout the dark?"
4406
4407"Dark what?" he asks.
4408
4409"The fear of the dark, mate" you clarify. "That deep, primal instinct to avoid shadows is really imprinted in'all our psyches, innit? 'Specially when we're all little tykes."
4410
4411The bartender cleans out glasses, shaking his head. You don't notice and continue on. 
4412
4413"I'dunno, I guesh I'm thinkin' 'bout it because my house's electrics got all fucked up a few days ago... But that one, that fear's like, the first one you and I have t'learn t'overcome right? As we grow up, we don't run t'a light as soon as we turn 
4414another off do we? No! We slowly, almost Shirley stop needin' t'have a lamp on t'sleep, right? And then the fear fades away into nothingness as we all mature..."
4415
4416You seem to have an audience now as a couple of "Hipster" guys and girls stop to hear you speaking about something as crazy as this. "That's the way it's supposed to be... But all of us in this club know that ain't true, innat right?"
4417
4418The bartender shakes his head again. "You sound like the professor I had in college, girl."
4419
4420"Which one? The Badassh with th'bling?"
4421
4422"Yeah... A little bit" he replies before taking an order and mixing a cocktail with dazzling precision, giving you an chance to get to the gist of your ramblings.
4423
4424"But that fear never fades, does it? It'll linger, it might fade... Y'might even stuff it'n'the back of yer'ead, but it's still there. You turn the lights off in 'yer house and fer'a split second y'need to remind yourself that bein' scared of the dark is "Silly"n"Immature", that th'shadows dancin' 'round on 'yer curtains are just from the trees outside 'yer window, that the weird shit y'see swirlin' in the darkest parts of 'yer bedroom is just 'yer eyes adjustin' to the darkness... That you think 'yer safe... But 'yer not safe, are ya'? Y'don't feel safe, do ya'?"
4425
4426The group listening to you seems a little uncomfortable at what you're saying, though it's caught the attention of that 70's guy with the sideburns, so you try to wrap it up quickly as the DJ even seems to be in on it, playing some moody electro sounds.
4427
4428"The lights ar'all gone, y'can't see 'fer shit and y'can't help but feel like there's somethin' watchin' ya', just out of yer' reach. And then everything fades as soon as you turn on a light. And y'tell yourself "Ah, it's just your mind playin' on you" and try to go back t'sleep..."
4429
4430(Cont...)
4431
4432-------------------------
4433
4434>>287811
4435
4436"Damn, I've got'em hook, line and sinker... Not bad for a pasta I liked."
4437
4438You can tell that the DJ's in on the conversation with yourself because now somebody's turned on a fog machine to really amp up the "Too Spooky!" atmosphere.
4439
4440"So, I wonder... What if the shadows we all see in the dark, all of those "Figments of our Imagination"... Are kept as such by our own disbelief of them? And since our disbelief of them isn't absolute, we see these images, these shapes, these attempts to get us to doubt our very selves... To break down the gap between "Us" and whatever "Them" might be..."
4441
4442You let a sly grin form on your face as you close with something you Sensei said to you when you first talked to him about your "Poltergeist" problem: "Of course, my best mate always said "If you can't punch a ghost, you aren't tryin' hard enough!"
4443
4444That gets a laugh and the DJ segues into "Thriller", the room spinning again. It's a good feeling this time though.
4445
4446===
4447
4448Going on "Stand-By Mode Anon(s?) I'll be back ASAP.
4449
4450-------------------------
4451
4452>>287849
4453
4454Thanks. OK, back online any ready to finish this update.
4455
4456>>287846
4457
4458The spinning subsides when the 70's-looking guy shows up in your peripherals and puts a hand on your shoulder. "What in the bloody fuck?"
4459
4460You feel a chill down your spine, though you can't tell from what as the 70's guy finally decides to talk to you. "That was cute" he says, then slips a laminated business card down your chest. You can kind of see it nestling it in your cleavage, but hear him say "If you want to talk, or get some coffee, give me a ring."
4461
4462You watch him grab and put on big coat you've only seen guys of a certain age wear while walking out of the club, something a little contemporary-sounding blasting (Some >["Wub-Wub-Wub Intensifies"] shit) to get the patrons back on the dance floor... Which leaves you thinking "How... What... Who the fuck was that guy?"
4463
4464Whatever he did to you, it cleared your mind enough to get some cognitive thoughts again and you look at the card he gave you: Something black, almost sinister-looking with a name and a number in white letters on the back of it.
4465
4466"Jean-Claude Gabriel... That is the most pretentious name I've ever read" you think, then take a look around and again feel like this place just isn't your kind of scene.
4467
4468>A. Dance. Now. Whatever that Jean guy did to you, you need to dance it off. (Roll 1d20)
4469
4470>B. Call Jean up. What could go wrong?
4471
4472>C. Call Kazahaya to get one of his crew to collect your car, then get a cab ride home; You need sleep.
4473
4474>D. Write-In Vote
4475
4476-------------------------
4477
4478>>288230
4479
4480You're wide awake now and can't believe that it's just now 10:00 PM looking at your phone; It feels like you got here much, much earlier than that... "Christ on a bike, what do he do to me?"
4481
4482The noise level is getting to be a little much for you as the DJ starts building up to a "Drop", so you head for the little girl's room and call up Kazahaya, again hoping he'll answer. Though he does, all you can make out is him yelling "That was a cool story there! I'm up in the control room!" before the line goes dead and he starts texting you directions to reach him.
4483
4484"Heh, I thought that was him playing that "Dreamwave" stuff" you think while navigating the maze-like structure behind the main room/bar area, eventually climbing up a set of stairs and reaching a red, windowless door with a "CAUTION: RESTRICTED AREA: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" sign. You knock on the door and yell "Come on ya' git, let me in!" in a cheery tone of voice.
4485
4486The door sounds like it's a pressurized bank vault or something as it hisses open, the faint hum and beats you heard walking around the back and up the steps a little bit clearer to you as you walk inside. Kazahaya slaps some skin on you as the door closes, again reminding you of a bank vault or even an atomic bomb shelter
4487
4488"Whatcha'doin' here on a Monday night?"
4489
4490"Ah, Duck hurt his hand at Real Bout last Friday and since the set-up he uses here requires two working hands to really get anything out of it, he asked me to fill in" Kazahaya explains, moving his hand back at the two turntable and a fuck-ton of switches monstrosity behind him.
4491
4492"Damn, that thing's enormous."
4493
4494"Yeah... I kind of like it though. It's about as analogue as a snyth can get and every time you use it, the sound is just a little tiny bit different and even the weather or the heat can change how it produces different sounds" Kaz adds, his inner audiophile flaring up.
4495
4496"Custom job?"
4497
4498He nods as the two of you go back to the console. "I mean, there's a couple other cats that have something like this, but nobody is crazy enough to hook it up and use it every day at a club for ambient noises and remixes the way Duck did... So! What's up?"
4499
4500"I'm too drunk to drive home and I don't want to leave my car in a neighborhood this bad" you truthfully tell him. "Can you get one of your guys to collect my car?"
4501
4502"Did somebody ban Uber in South Town again, or what?"
4503
4504"On strike" you reply.
4505
4506Kazahaya takes a minute to make a "Hot Mix" and somehow takes a generic "Wubstep" trash and segue it into motherfucking Earth, Wind & Fire, then turns around to you with a swiveling roller-chair. "I'll call a guy up for you."
4507
4508"Thanks mate."
4509
4510>A. Remind him that you want a ride back to your cabin in the deep, dark woods.
4511
4512>B. Tell him you want to crash at the "New Digs".
4513
4514>C. Skip to the next day hung-over and vaguely remembering what happened (Roll 1d20)
4515
4516>D. Write-In Vote.
4517
4518-omitted one small post.
4519
4520-------------------------
4521
4522>>288439
4523
4524"Hey, I hate to ask, but do you think I could crash at the new digs tonight?"
4525
4526"What, afraid of the dark?" Kazahaya asks with a chuckle, then straightens his expression out when you give him a "Are you fukkin' serious mate?" look. "Come on Katja, you really think I would do that to you after you said what you said out there?"
4527
4528"Mate, I was just reheating an old story I read online and liked" you freely admit.
4529
4530"You got to read more books girl. The Internet's gonna fry your mind."
4531
4532"Says the guy who bought his last apartment just to turn it into a private library?"
4533
4534"Hey, don't knock me for collecting first editions. You'd be amazed at how some of them are going up in price" Kazahaya retorts. "The penthouse I've got downtown is nice and clean for you; I'm in the middle of renting out and renovating the old beach house I had north of here."
4535
4536"Sounds good" you say while letting out a yawn.
4537
4538"And my ace driver's here; He's waiting downstairs to meet you."
4539
4540"Thanks love. I'll see you around" you tell him, blowing him a kiss half-ironically that he catches without even looking at you as he gets back into manning the controls of "The King's Court's" sound systems.
4541
4542"What a paradox... If he wasn't a crook, I'd probably date the fucker and love'n'hate every minute." You quickly go through the complicated directions again and get back to the dance floor in what felt like no time at all, some guy in a suit and... A face-obscuring Luchador's mask holding up a sign for you like you were getting off of a flight at the airport; Kazahaya's crew of "Waifus" never ceases to amaze you.
4543
4544You wave at him and greet him down by the bar. "My Car's outside mate... And can you really see through that thing?"
4545
4546He nods, then escorts you out of "The King's Court" like you were his date for the night. You don't complain though, because you're really feeling the burn in your legs from going out when you get your car.
4547
4548"Well, it's another bar story I guess. At least he's cordial." "You've got directions on where we're going, yeah?"
4549
4550He nods before putting it into gear and navigating the pothole-strewn streets of Port Downtown. You had quite a bitch of a time avoiding most of them, but this guy seems to be an "Ace" driver for a reason; He's smooth and measured with every gearshift and deft dodge of an errant pothole or pedestrian.
4551
4552"You talk? Or are you the strong & silent type?"
4553
4554You get a "Maybe" kind of shake from his wrist before he shifts up a gear and sretches your Porsche's legs on the highway, the wind hitting you and giving you shivers up and down your body.
4555
4556>A. "Where'd you learn to drive like this? You ever wanted to go pro?"
4557
4558>B. "Where do you go for a gym? I'm lookin' around for a new one and you're looking strong mate."
4559
4560>C. "If I take off your mask, would it hurt?"
4561
4562>D. Write-In Vote.
4563
4564-------------------------
4565
4566>>288765
4567
4568You hope to god that Lucha-Driver doesn't notice your chest getting a pair of noticeable bumps as the wind buffets around your seat. "75 MPH? Come on mate, you're playing with fire when it comes to South Town's highway patrol"[.i]
4569
4570"Where do you go for a gym? I'm lookin' around for a new one and you're looking strong mate" you half-ask, half-yell as he finally backs off the accelerator and coasts your car down to around 60-65 MPH.
4571
4572He takes a hand off the wheel to shift back down a gear to match the speed he's going and hands you the third business card you've gotten in two weeks and the second one given to you tonight alone. "Ah, of course, it's Fiona's gym... I'll call them tomorrow after I check my bank account."
4573
4574"Yeah? I've heard about that place. The girl they've got there is supposed to be a real firecracker" you tell him as he seems to be lookig for the right off-ramp. "You know she works for the SWF?"
4575
4576Lucha-Driver nods, then casually starts moving over to the far right lane and drives off the highway and into the residential area near "Sound Beach" on East Island. "Fuck me, that went quick." 
4577
4578"Do you work for them?" you ask when you get to a stoplight.
4579
4580Another shake of his wrist... Either this guy is old as dirt and respects the art of "Kayfabe" or he's just somebody that's too embarrassed just wearing the mask to try and talk to you. Either way, his reluctance to speak is almost kind of impressive.
4581
4582"OK, I'll stop buggin' ya" you tell him with what you think is a cute pout as the light turns green and your chauffeur guns it, again giving the impression that he wants to get the cops on your asses... Fortunately, it's a short drive from where you were to the tall, imposing building Kazahaya's "Penthouse" is in and you get a tap on the shoulder to help you from nodding off.
4583
4584Lucha-Driver makes a gesture with his hands to show that the two of you have arrived and you're quick to hop out of the car and stretch your legs, Lucha-Driver probably ogling you in silence while soft round parts of your anatomy sway underneath your clothes.
4585
4586"Go ahead, get a look... I can't think of anyone outside of King's Court that hasn't" you think before grabbing your gym bag & lap-top case, thankful thankful that you're still half-awake to admire the inside of just the lobby alone of this building. Once more, Lucha-Driver taps you on the shoulder and leads you and a door man up to "Your" room... Which is unique, at least. It's got a bit of an influence from the mansion from the movie "Scarface", but with a Hong Kong-feel to the decor.
4587
4588>A. Dare to dream on Kazahaya's big, fluffy bed.
4589
4590>B. Wake up he next morning hung-over and vaguely remembering what happened last night. (Roll 1d20)
4591
4592>C. Start stripping down and do your laundry; You've got to work tomorrow and classes in the afternoon, so you can't get away with having stanky clothes.
4593
4594>D. Write-In Vote
4595
4596-------------------------
4597
4598>>288953
4599
4600While you love the countryside and generally don't miss living in South Town all that much, there are undeniable advantages to city living. Having enough electricity running through your fusebox to run a washing machine, clothes and hair dryer at the same time without blowing out a circuit is a plus. Especially when trying to run either of those things shuts off EVERYTHING at your house due to the surge in power...
4601
4602So, you tell the not-as-big-as-you-thought Lucha-Driver to "Put my bags in the laundry room; I need to get them done now before I pass out."
4603
4604Lucha-Driver shrugs and follows you around a bit as you take a look at how much of a happening bachelor's pad the place is, the Red & Black color of the living room giving way to a couple of other places that catch your eye before finding where "The Wind" cleans his chonies.
4605
4606"Just anywhere in here is great mate" you tell your chauffeur/attendant while being absent-minded and stripping down to your panties in front of him, even emptying out your pants & jeans pockets before noticing you're down to your "Do Me!" pair of black nylon "Nothings"... Before you realize what the holy fuck you just did, you hear a low rumble of a chuckle and find Lucha-Driver turning his back on you, his arms crossed.
4607
4608"Fuck mate, I'm sorry" you sheepishly tell him. "I'm kind of burnt out tonight, so pardon me for bein' an airhead... Thank you for all of this though. I mean it."
4609
4610You kind of feel like you overstepped your apology over nothing a little bit, but the Luchadore shrugs his shoulders and leaves without saying a word... Yet, you can't quite shake the feeling like you've met him somewhere else before. Maybe you saw him unmasked or something?
4611
4612"Whatever... It's late, I'm naked, I'm alone and I have to do laundry. Let's rock."
4613
4614God, you love the convenience of home washers and dryers, you really do. Especially since you've been paying up to $11 each time you've had to have wash your clothes because South Town is full of shady, greedy business owners willing to fleece honest citizens.
4615
4616It's nearly midnight by the time you drift of to sleep, naked under Kaz's bed sheets and linens because you left your pajamas (Along with the rest of your clothes) back at the cabin... Though, you also liked to sleep naked up at the cabin for a little bit until you read one-too-many creepypastas about "Ayy Lamaos" and some secret, shadowy syndicate called NESTS.
4617
4618"What a night... What a day..."
4619
4620>A. DreamTime? DreamTime.
4621
4622>B. Wake up the next morning hung-over and only vaguely remembering what happened last night. (Roll 1d20)
4623
4624>C. Write-In Vote 
4625
4626===
4627
4628And that's it for today's session! I hope that this quest doesn't die while I'm sleeping, but if it does I'll start up a new thread tomorrow @ 10 AM PST/1 PM EST.
4629
4630If this thread's still up, then the session will continue until we hit the dreaded "Auto-Sage". Also, the vote is active and I'll be up to answer any questions.
4631
4632-omitted one small post.
4633
4634-omitted one small post.
4635
4636-omitted one small post.
4637
4638-omitted one small post.
4639
4640-------------------------
4641
4642Sorry for the later-than expected restart. I had a late night. I also lost all of the bios I had planned to post, so I'll be working on them in between updates.
4643
4644>>290593
4645
4646Great to see you back G.
4647
4648>>289154
4649>>289141
4650
4651>Updates Resume
4652
4653~~~
4654>You are now entering the world of DreamTime
4655~~~
4656
4657You find yourself sitting up at a bar with a guy that vaguely resembles Dave, the guy you know from that garage up in South Town's "Bay Area" and from , some soft rock playing on am old jukebox. Judging by the stuff on the wall, this seems like it's a place where servicemen in the military hang out and on a second glance both of you are wearing matching uniforms and have clearly seen some kind of "Action".
4658
4659"Okay, MAYBE that wasn't the best of ideas, Hartkern. But you're going to have to fall a few times if you're going to make some headway. I mean, what the hell do you do? You just stand there with this worried look on your face and sweat a whole lot. You should probably have a medic check into that or something; That can't be normal."
4660
4661You nod and take a sip of your drink (Some kind of weird, blue cocktail that sometimes seems to disappear in the right light) before letting out a sigh. "Yeah I know. I've been feeling just as guilty as you are lately, but unlike you I managed to down a few drinks and work up the courage to admit it. It seemed like a good idea at the time. You know, "Maybe Angel won't go into full autismal rage when I come clean with her!" So I confess, I spill my guts to this girl, and like a fork in a light socket she fucking lights up like she caught Drake making dead Mama jokes."
4662
4663"What? You sayin' it's all my fault or something?" "Dave" asks you. "Man, fuck you dude. I'm perfectly capable of handling myself; I took down a 60-strong cell of a Korean syndicate for Christ's sake. We would have made it off that wall if you hadn't gone all Red Hulk on us... Okay yes, I understand that the crazy Asian fucker was breaking body parts, but that's something you need to learn, Kat ol' buddy. Self-control, that is. You can't be a real warrior if you start pissing your pants the moment Sinhsuke Nakamura starts swinging sharp objects at your throat. You gotta Tai Chi the situation, feel the flow... And of course beat her psychotic sister's girlfriend in a wrestling match in front of the whole platoon."
4664
4665>A. "You wanna go mate? I'll rip yer' bloody arse if you say that kind of shit t'me." (Roll 2d20)
4666
4667>B. "Maybe..."
4668
4669>C. "Save my spot at the bar; I gotta take a leak."
4670
4671>D. Write-In Vote.
4672
4673>E. Just fucking kiss "Dave" already.(Roll 1d20)
4674
4675-------------------------
4676
4677>>290763
4678
4679You take a look at the guy across from you, see the look on his face as he downs another beer... And something inside of you, something you never thought you had, forces you to grab him close and plant a kiss on his loveable mug. His eyes belie the shock of you flat-out kissing him, because you can feel something nice and hard starting to move around in his pants. It's when you get greedy and start to slip him some tongue (Enough that you think that you can actually see it pop out of his right earlobe) that he starts to push you away. 
4680
4681"Kat... Stop" he says after taking a breath.
4682
4683"Why?"
4684
4685"Everything about this is just... Wrong."
4686
4687"Come the fuck on Dave, you know you like me. I've seen you take glances at me across the room just when I'm adjusting my combat suit, or when you "Accidentally" barge into my room while I'm changing."
4688
4689Dave gets a weird look, one you can't really describe, as he swallows the rest of his beer. "I'm not like other guys, Kat."
4690
4691"How so?"
4692
4693"I'm just... Different."
4694
4695"Dave... I know for a fact you aren't gay."
4696
4697"Never said I was..." he mumbles, then takes a look around the bar before whispering "Fuck it, follow me outside. I'll show you."
4698
4699You raise an eyebrow, but down the rest of your drink and take a few minutes to compose yourself after Dave walks out of the bar. When you step out it, you see that you are, in fact, on an airforce base of some sort and turn around to see Dave leaning his back up against the wall of "Aileron".
4700
4701"Took you long enough... Follow me."
4702
4703Even though you aren't quite sure it's the right thing to do, you follow Dave around the base, eventually finding yourself in an old, abandoned.
4704
4705"Kiss me" he firmly states, arms crossed.
4706
4707You shrug and do as he says, that special something 
4708
4709"I wouldn't do that" is all you hear before a gigantic boxing glove on a spring pops out of his pants and socks you in the stomach.
4710
4711You can kind of hear Dave yell "TOOOOOLLLLLLLDDDDDD YOOOOOOOUUUUU!!!" as you blast through the roof of the old storage shed and ascend upward, eventually rocketing out of the atmosphere while passing by a long checklist of >"TOLD" memes (">FUCKING TOLD", ">BONE TOLD CORPUS CHRISTIE", ">TOLD YELLER", ">I AIN’T SAYIN SHE A TOLD DIGGER
4712" & ">TOLD LIKE A BITCH" sticking out to you). 
4713
4714Eventually, you crash-land into a small, moon like planet's crater in a cloud of dust.
4715
4716"The fuck? There's oxygen on this rock, what the bloody shit."
4717
4718>A. Jump back down to the Planet you were one with a fist outstretched; NOBODY sucker-punches you like that! (Roll 3d20)
4719
4720>B. Explore this "Moon" and see what you can find.
4721
4722>C. Yell for an SOS and see if somebody picks you up. (Roll 1d20)
4723
4724>D. Write-In Vote.
4725
4726>E. Start eating the moon. (Roll 3d20)
4727
4728-------------------------
4729
4730"Team Jerkass" arrived and tried to ruin my day, then the internet cut out where I was at again... I think "The Curse" has found out that I'm QM'ing again and is extracting revenge for all of the stupid mistakes I made with the original KOF Quest.
4731
4732>>290888
4733>>290874
4734
4735Part of your heart hurts as you crawl out of the crater you made. Part of you burns with anger (And something else...) at how you can never, ever seem to score with anyone boy or girl (Not that you even like girls, but fucking'A you'll take one that this point)... And it's enough to push you over the edge of your personal breaking point.
4736
4737You feel your body starting to get that "Powered-Up" glow, some rocks and dirt floating around you as you take a huge breath and scream:
4738
4739>"GOD FUCKING DAMN IT SOMEBODY GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEE!!!"
4740
4741You nearly collapse from the effort that mighty roar, nearly choking on the dust swirling around... But, when you look up to see a blimp flying towards you, searchlights beaming down onto the surface. You wave at and in moments you find yourself in a hospital, your body being connected to a wall of machines through wires and an oxygen mask over your face.
4742
4743"What the hell you were thinking?" a disembodied voice asks you. "You nearly jeopardized the mission."
4744
4745"S... Sorry sir" you hear yourself wearily say... Except you don't feel your lips move. 
4746
4747"You should know by now that "Sorry" doesn't cut it" the other voice tells you. "With any other of our agents we would've turned you loose and let you die with all of the rest that try to oppose us. Keep that in mind the next time you make a foolish mistake."
4748
4749You close your eyes, your breath heavy and muffled by your mask as everything goes dark, a stereotypical "Flat-Line" noise ringing in your ears before a bright light harshly wakes you up. "Christ, what time is it?" you hear yourself ask, again not feeling your lips moving as you groggily get up out of a casket and put on a reversible robe with an inside that looks like a million eyes.
4750
4751It's oddly peaceful being surrounded by a vast space of nothingness, you feet stepping down onto a grid of black lines... "A spacing chart?"
4752
4753You hear a loud explosion erupt from behind you and feel the presence of a powerful aura, one that makes your skin crawl and your hair stand up on end as the "Flight" part of your brain kick-starts and has you hop away from a small-ish ball of flaming Ki.
4754
4755When the smoke clears, you can see... "Oh good lord, that outfit is just stupid." "Fiona, why are you dressed up like a little girl's bike?"
4756
4757Fiona snorts at you derisively, then conjures up a microphone out of thin air and takes a deep breath.
4758
4759(Cont...)
4760
4761-------------------------
4762
4763>New Thread theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5vvIc3-Kik
4764
4765>>291101
4766
4767"WELL LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING, SISTER! IT DON’T MATTER JACK DUDE IF YOU’VE GOT A JOSHI ARMY OR IF YOU’RE ON A CYCLE OF ENDLESS DESTRUCTION OR IF WE'RE VASTLY OUTNUMBERED BY YOU SISTER, ‘CAUSE WHATEVER YOUR PLAN IS GIRL, IT’S GONNA FAIL! ME AND MY CREW AND THE MILLIONS OF ULTRAMANIACS ARE GONNA MAKE SURE OF THAT JACK, ‘CAUSE IN THE END YOU’RE NOT EVEN ALIVE! YOU’RE JUST A BIOLOGICAL KNOCK-OFF, SISTER, AND KNOCK-OFFS CAN'T BEAT ORIGINALS!" 
4768
4769Some cheesy face paint starts to glow as some even cheesier theme music starts piping in from nowhere in particular as "Ultima continues to rant and rave like a lunatic.
4770
4771"THIS SUNDAY, WHEN ME AND MY CREW AND THE MILLIONS OF ULTRAMANIACS AAAAALL AROUND THE WORLD GET YOU RIGHT WHERE WE WANT YOU, WHEN I UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE 18-INCH PLASMA PYTHONS SISTER, WHEN I GIVE YOU A SOUL-SHATTERING BLACK-HOLE BOMB THAT WILL SHAKE THE VERY FABRIC OF TIME AND SPACE, THEN AAAAALL THE PSYCHIC FIELDS IN THE UNIVERSE ARE NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO ANSWER THE BIG QUESTION… WHATCHA GONNA DO, BIG BLACK THUNDER?! WHATCHA GONNA DO, WHEN ULTRAMANIA, RUNS RENEGADE ON YOU?!"
4772
4773>A. Mimic her hand motion, get a microphone and craft a comeback (Write-Ins encouraged, but not required with this vote)
4774
4775>B. Shake your head and walk away from this trainwreck waiting to happen.
4776
4777>C. Wordlessly attack "Ultima". (Roll 2d20+1)
4778
4779>D. Write-In Vote.
4780
4781>E. Activate "It". (Roll 3d20)
4782
4783-------------------------
4784
4785>>291137
4786>>291138
4787
4788"So the universe is telling me to wrestle... OK then."
4789
4790You coldly look at her, some kind of spray or cooking oil all over "Ultima's" body to really highlight her muscles, the tassles she's got on her leg-warmers and armbands blowing in the wind even though you can't feel anything like that... Then mimic her hand motion to get a microphone of your own and tap it a few times while clearing your throat.
4791
4792"Ultima, enough is ENOUGH. How much more do you want from me? First, you take away my title... Then you bring out this idiot Tsuyako. And let me tell ya... As I was sitting in the shower with the cold water flowing over my head and the blood circling the drain... I started thinking a little bit about what "Big Black Thunder" was."
4793
4794Some kind of skin-tight leotard and leggings start to form around you as you speak, a mask forming around your face that looks like the one that "Lucha-Driver" had on, even though can't actually see it.
4795
4796"Well Big Black Thunder is an entertaining monster. Big Black Thunder is a pretty damn good story-teller. Big Black Thunder is one tough Son Of a Bee, and Big Black Thunder is one heck of a fighter. So it saddens me to say that after the beating you and your little-big girlfriend gave me, one thing Big Black Thunder is not... Is ready to face you in a Handicap fight on Monday night."
4797
4798A ring forms around the two of you now, something white with gold ropes and a gigantic ladder going up into the heavens as it almost feels like your body's twitching, changing, evolving even...
4799
4800"The two of you are, without a doubt, godesses of the ring. The two of you are without a doubt the strongest faction in the game right now. And Big Black Thunder is in some ways, as you said, nothing more than a beaten up and pathetic fool... But I think the fans deserve a substitute in that skirmish. What I'm gonna do, Dreamwave Reborn, is I'm gonna name that substitute. In fact, I think you know the girl...."
4801
4802"What's... Happening to me?"
4803
4804Your body is definitely changing. The soft curves you had harden, the "Cut" of your arms deepen, your limbs swell and there's a energy coursing through your veins that you've never felt before as you rip off your mask, your "Mind's Eye" telling you that you're skin's gotten darker and your face doesn't even look like "You" aymore...
4805
4806>New Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xrSH0G8kBo
4807
4808"AND I THINK YOU KNOW'ER PRETTY DAMN WELL! 'Er name is Katja Hartkern! And her first official act in wrasslin' is this!"
4809
4810You dash forward so fast it almost feels like teleportation as Ultima seems to panic and throws out a huge projectile that reminds you of Tatsuya-Sensei's "Haou Shokou Ken". You expertly dodge it though and hit a "Stun-Gun Stinger" that slows down time, freezes-frames and repeats the point of impact three times before feeling "Normal" again.
4811
4812>"Stun-Gun Stinger Time!" Roll 1d100 to see how many you can land; The first three rolls count
4813
4814-------------------------
4815
4816>>291218
4817>>291239
4818
4819"Fuck yeah! I feel like Devilman stomping these bitches into the curb!"
4820
4821You rise up off the canvass, your body having spasms and a wild glare in your eyes as you spot "Tsunami Tsuyako" in an impossibly small outfit slide into the ring. Before she can even defend herself you're on her and hit a "Stun-Gun Stinger" on her... "Fuck me, she's a tough nut to crack" Seeing that she's still standing after that, you give another one with a bolt of electricity going through her to finally put her down as more tough-looking guys and girls start to make their way into the ring.
4822
4823You "See Red" and start yelling, screaming and laughing as you try to "Stun-Gun Stinger" everyone last one of them, a guy with a Southern-fried accent giving play-by-play of what you're doing all you can hear:
4824
4825"WHAT, THAT'S BIG BLACK THUNDER'S MUSIC! What the hell does the rolling want with Sasami-san and her broth-- BAH GOD, STUN GUN STINGER ON ONII-CHAN, BAH GOD WHAT THEY HELL DID HE EVER DO TO YOU KATJA, WAIT NO, NO, STUN GUN STINGER ON TSUYAKO-SAN AS SHE BEGGED AND PLEADED FOR MERCY WHAT THE HELL WHAT THE HELL GET THE REFS OUT HERE, BAH GOD THIS IS THE MOST HEINOUS ACT OF VIOLENCE I HAVE EVER-- NO SHE'S PICKING HER UP AGAIN NO DON'T DO BAH GOD ANOTHER VICIOUS STUN GUN STINGER ON TSUYAKO-SAN, KATJA IS A RABID DOG KING, GET THE REFS OUT HERE!" 
4826
4827You can feel the hits you're taking a little more now and are starting to lose some steam as the others try to overwhelm you, but you manage to get a couple more out there while talking on the microphone you dropped and picked back up.
4828
4829"YOU SAY I'M NOT MOE ENOUGH? HUH? YOU SAY I'M NOT CUTE ENOUGH? YEAH? YOU SAY I DON'T PANDER TO THE MOE-GOBBLERS? WHAT!? WELL LET OLD BIG BLACK THUNDER TELL YOU SOMETHIN, YOU SONUVABITCH, I'M THE KAWAII-EST S.O.B. TO COME OUT OF 'STRAYA!"
4830
4831You're breathing heavily now, struggling to stay upright as the angry mob trying to take you down subsides a little to tend to some of the wounded all around you. "So many... Jesus Christ..." "IF YOU THINK OLD KATJA HARTKERN 'ERE IS KAWAII GIVE ME A HELL YEAH!" you yell, then feel a punch to your gut that doubles you over.
4832
4833You feel your breath escape your body as you slump down to the ground, looking up to see Ellie standing above you in her full "Skullgirl" gear (Or the one you've seen her wear lately, anyway)... And start to cry when she takes your hand, helps you up and gives you a hug (Which is something Ellie very rarely ever does and never to you).
4834
4835>A. Smile, then Ryuuko Ranbuu her ass. (Roll 3d20)
4836
4837>B. "I'm so fucking sorry mate."
4838
4839>C. "Someday... I'll overcome you without malice."
4840
4841>D. Write-In Vote.
4842
4843>E. Wake Up.
4844
4845-------------------------
4846
4847>>291431
4848>>291439
4849
4850~~~
4851>The DreamTime has passed
4852~~~
4853
4854You wake up in the impossibly comfy bed you passed out on in Kazahaya's "Penthouse" hugging on a pillow. Your eyes strain to focus as you look around, your head pounding as you sit up. Just the sound of you yawning has your ears ring and make everything in the world is out to kill you, so you grab your phone and call up Paulie from the Cafe De Paradiso.
4855
4856"Hey Paulie... It's Katja" you half-slur, half-mumble. "I'm not feeling so good, so you're going to have to get somebody else to cover my shift."
4857
4858You pause, stifling another yawn. "Thanks" you add before hanging up and flopping back on the bed with the kind of "Pomf!" sound you've seen on FightChan.
4859
4860"What happened to my iron liver and unbeatable drinking method?" you idly think while waiting for the room to stop spinning, closing your eyes to help the feeling of nausea pass. "This almost as bad as last time I went out..."
4861
4862You clamber out of bed and take a long, hot, steamy shower, then turn on the cold water for a minute to actually wake up and dry yourself off. "Jesus, this bathroom's bigger than my kitchen... And that tub looks like it's built for orgies or something." 
4863
4864You grab a robe from the top shelf and put it n, then fix some toast for a quick bite and to see if anything comes back up... Your stomach seems to gurgle in protest, but nothing else really happens so you grab a bottle of water that probably costs more than what you spend on lunch when working at the Cafe and feel your head clear a little.
4865
4866You watch the sun start to rise, the room filling with a warm orange glow and smile. You've got a lot of phone calls to make and people to deal with today, but the little things like this are always worth living for.
4867
4868===
4869
4870I'm going to end this thread earlier than I wanted to, mainly because I haven't been feeling well today (The "QM Curse" catching up to me),.. But I plan on continuing The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn in the near future, sometime next week. The bios for the extensive cast of original characters will also be in the OP of the next thread.
4871
4872I deeply thank the anon that stuck with this thing for every session, I thank G-Mantle for showing up for a little bit and will be around to answer questions.
4873
4874-------------------------
4875
4876>>291658
4877
4878Forgot to add to check my Twitter account in the thread for any announcements and hope to be back running this next week, maybe 6/28/16 @ 10 AM PST/1 PM EST.
4879
4880>>291669
4881
4882Thanks.
4883
4884>>291677
4885
4886Probably, yeah. It might not be finished in time for the next thread, but I do plan to have detailed movesets for everybody.
4887
4888>Pic Unrelated: Rough idea of Katja's "Transformation" from >>291210
4889
4890==== END THREAD ====
4891
4892The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #8
4893written by That Damn Weasel (30 posts, 5 omitted posts)
4894-------- qst2txt --------
4895
4896>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/278576/
4897>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
4898>MC's Character Info & Moveset: http://pastebin.com/YTgbWwQH
4899
4900>Introduction:
4901
4902"There's more to life than passing exams, and paper qualifications can only take you so far. A lot depends on luck, and on being in the right place at the right time, which was certainly true in my case." ~ Terry Wogan
4903
4904You are Katja Hartkern, and as you watch the sun rise over the city of Southtown from a gorgeous view in gangster's penthouse, you can't believe how much luck you've had in the last two weeks. "From the outhouse to the penthouse and everywhere in between..." you idly think, trying to clear your head after a night of drinking and feeling out your legs on the rare day you're not working at "Cafe de Paradiso" or training with Tatsuya-Sensei's Kyokugenryuu Karate class.
4905
4906"Gonna have to take an off day, I guess. Too much aching for my tastes." You look around the lavish interior of the place you're staying at and shake your head, chuckling. "Kazahaya really did watch Scarface too much, because I'm wondering where the mountain of cocaine & $100 bills are..."
4907
4908You pause on that though and roust through "His" fridge for a peach to snack on, then look through the clothes you had on last night for your wallet and car keys. Even if it is only 8 AM, you have a lot of stuff to take care of and considering how groggy you still are...?
4909
4910A bunch of cards for a couple of businesses fall out of your wallet and onto a glass table, hazy memories from last night starting to come into focus. "That's the gym Fiona works at..." you murmur, thinking back to how just plain wrong it felt being at your old one when that walking callous called you out for being too damn sexy for your own good... But stop when you see "That's the 70's guy's number I guess?"
4911
4912Just staring at the black, embossed card with the the name and (Possible) number of "Jean-Claude Gabriel" sends a shiver up your spine. He was cute, for sure, but something about him laying a hand on your shoulder... Something just didn't feel right about it. On the other hand, you've liked being around Kazahaya and he's the biggest crime boss Southtown has left...
4913
4914You shake that aside and spend about half an hour to go through all of the hoops your bank has to check on your account. After finding that the money from your old gym got properly refunded, you think over who you should call...?
4915
4916>(Cont...)
4917
4918-omitted one small post.
4919
4920-------------------------
4921
4922>>317320
4923>>317325
4924
4925Though your legs are still just a touch too cramped to really think about training today, you call up the gym that card Kazahaya's "Ace Driver" from last night slipped you. You're not the type to show up to a gym ready to go for a work-out, only to sit through filling out a million goddamn forms before you can even so much as sit on a machine or grab a set of free weights off the rack. Not only that, but you've read good things about the place from a thread on FightChan's /fit/ board and Fiona Graves apparently works there...
4926
4927You roll your eyes at that last thought and get an answering machine explaining that while the gym itself is open 24 hours for current members, new or renewing members need to call back at 9 AM when the staff arrives. You check the clock, stretch your neck and hang up before doing a series of languid stretches, your body fighting you every step of the way on each movement.
4928
4929"Christ on a bike, I do need to take it easy today..."
4930
4931Even though the pain is a bit much for you to take, you finish up the first part of your warm-up stretches and call the gym back when you check the clock on your phone. 
4932
4933"Bodyworks Gym. Can I help you?" the girl's voice on the other end asks.
4934
4935"Yeah, I was interested in joining your gym today."
4936
4937"Awesome! What time where you going to schedule an appointment?"
4938
4939You take another look at the time and ask "About as soon as possible, but I'd like some directions if that's OK."
4940
4941"Not a problem... Where are you at right now?"
4942
4943You take a moment to try and remember what this place is called, but the name of it escapes you, so you reply "Err... Hang on, I'll call you back."
4944
4945You flip on the one of the google apps you've got on your phone, find that you're in the "Bay Area" of South Town (And just a stone's throw away from The Kyokugen Dojo as well as Dave's Garage, "Advanced Vehicle Systems") and call her back with the info. You listen to the girl give directions at a rapid-fire clip, your hands tying to catch up and write it all down. Judging on how many interchanges and turns, it's either right in the middle of nowhere... Or it's almost out to where the "Cafe de Paradiso" is.
4946
4947"Thanks... I'm on my way."
4948
4949~~~
4950
4951Around 2 hours of traffic, getting lost and stopping for gas later, you finally arrive at a small building tucked in behind a liquor store and a goddamn Footlocker. "Bodyworks Gymnasium... Hope it looks better on the inside."
4952
4953>(Cont...)
4954
4955-------------------------
4956
4957>>317433
4958
4959Your thoughts of finding an oasis in the middle of the desert prove to be far-fetched, because at first glance the place looks like you installed a bunch of mirrors and old gym equipment in an over-sized garage compared to the clean (If-Dated) look of your your old gym. "Is this really the right place...?"
4960
4961"Hello! I take it you're the one who called in earlier?" the girl at the counter asks, snapping you back into focus.
4962
4963"Yeah... I'm Katja, nice to meet you."
4964
4965You feel kind of unnerved looking at the girl behind the counter. Maybe it's the red hair that covers her eyes? Whatever, her voice maybe sweet but there's that kind of "Cold" feeling Gabriel gave you a glimpse of last night as she gets up out of her chair and shows you around. "I know, it's nor much to look at... But all of our equipment is safe and more than strong enough to fit any kind of workout." 
4966
4967You nod, "Sherri" (You think her name tag spells that, because who the fuck would call themselves "Shermie?") leading you under a low-ish beam that opens up into a room full of exercise bikes, treadmills & TVs mounted on the walls, some guys watching some Soccer match in Spanish.
4968
4969>A. "Where can I sign?"
4970
4971>B. Inspect the machines just to be 100% sure "Sherri" isn't trying to pull a fast one one you. (Roll 1d20)
4972
4973>C. Read that "Ten Gym Commandments" sign near the back for a laugh.
4974
4975>D. Write-In Vote.
4976
4977-------------------------
4978
4979>>317494
4980Seems that way.
4981>>317478
4982
4983While the equipment isn't the latest and greatest, it seems to be made of strong stuff because you hop an open bike and start to pedal away for a minute or two and really feel the resistance of the pedals.
4984
4985"Where did you hear about us, by the way?" "Sherri" asks.
4986
4987"Somebody online was talking about how cool this place was, especially the staff. Then somebody who goes here slipped me a card while I was out last night" you explain before hopping off the bike, a large sign hanging on the wall in the very back of the gym catching your eye.
4988
4989"Really? Who was it?" "Sherri" asks while following you to the sign as you study it intently: 
4990
4991===
4992
4993THE TEN GYM COMMANDMENTS
4994
4995Gym etiquette #1: If you use the free weights, PUT THEM BACK. Your mom doesn’t work here.
4996
4997Gym etiquette #2: ASK to work in. Do not just jump on equipment, especially if a there’s a water bottle, bag, phone, towel, keys or person anywhere near the item you wish to use. Someone could be super-setting. It’s RUDE to do so without asking first.
4998
4999Gym etiquette #3: Do not SIT on equipment between sets. Do not sit on equipment while on your phone. Get the fuck outta here with that shit. It’s not your personal office chair.
5000
5001Gym etiquette #4: Do not lift dumbbells AT THE RACK, thus blocking everyone else. Common fucking sense. Step back. Way back.
5002
5003Gym etiquette #5: Try to avoid working out directly in front of someone who is already using the mirror. It’s called checking form. Form 'mirin is more important than weight when working out. (It’s not what you lift/do, it’s HOW you lift/do it.)
5004
5005Gym etiquette #6: Did I mention re-racking your weights? Oh, I did. Well, fucking DO IT. This means YOU, Leg Press Guy Who Leaves Plates Fully Loaded And Then Just Walks Away. 
5006
5007Gym etiquette #7: Too much cologne, perfume…cigarettes…just don’t fucking STINK. Being on a packed treadmill section near you is absolutely nauseating. It can also be quite dangerous for those who have breathing issues and trigger asthma attacks.
5008
5009Gym etiquette #8: Wipe down equipment consciously. WOMEN DO NOT WANT TO SIT ON WET FUCKING SEATS FULL OF CHEMICALS! Stick to wiping handles and sweaty backs. Don’t wipe it and leave it wet for the next person to sit on. Fucking ick.
5010
5011Gym etiquette #9: Do not judge others’ workouts. They could be working around an injury, disability or simply doing the best they can. 
5012
5013Gym etiquette #10: Do not judge fit people as vain – or heavy people as lazy. We are all in there for the same reason. Everyone wants to get healthier, better ourselves and have a nice, hard stomach and ass. Probably not in that order.
5014
5015===
5016
5017"One our managers wrote this up on New Year's Eve, at our office party. She was insistent that new members should read it, but.. What do you think?"
5018
5019-------------------------
5020
5021>>317560
5022
5023>A. "I think I've found my new gym. Where can I sign?
5024
5025>B. "Seems a bit much, ain' it?"
5026
5027>C. "The old gym I used to go to had something like this up, but then it kind of disappeared one day..."
5028
5029>D. Write-In Vote.
5030
5031-------------------------
5032
5033>>317571
5034>>317573
5035
5036"Well, I think I've found my new gym. Where can I sign-up?" you reply, flabbergasted after reading that and getting reminded of a more "Family-Friendly" sign that was up at your old gym for a while.
5037
5038"Wonderful!" "Sherri" ("Hang on, that tag name DOES say "Shermie"...") exclaims. "Well, It's our gym's policy to let you have one free trial work-out... Which you can collect on now, if you want."
5039
5040"Nah, no thanks. I'm pretty beat-up" you admit, then start filling out a bunch of "Sign here, here & here" forms. It goes by quickly enough though as you hand the last form back to Shemie with the money needed to start up your membership. "I kind of wanted to get all of this stuff out of the way, so that when I'm ready I can just walk in and work out."
5041
5042"I understand" "Shermie" says, a slight accent to her voice now ("French? maybe"). "And this should do it" she adds, getting out a stamp to mark the papers with before checking out some big pretty-boy with grey hair doing bench-presses. 
5043
5044"Nice... Not a fan of the grey hair, but he's tasty." "Thanks, I'll keep in touch" you tell her before heading out of the gym and back out to your car... And now that you think about it, there was somebody in the gym that looked like an older "Tsunami Tsuyako" doing press curls and glared at your every step back up to the front desk...
5045
5046"Fuck it, whoever that was can wait, because I'm not in the mood to deal with that today" You look at the time and feel your stomach churn a little, the heat in the day rising and sweat starting to form around your body. 
5047
5048>A. Head back to your Cabin, begin to pack up your stuff, then call up Kazahaya and get one of his minions to help you move it back to the penthouse.
5049
5050>B. Call up Fiona Graves and tell her you want to be a wrestler for 3 months.
5051
5052>C. Food. Need Food. Now.
5053
5054>D. Write-In Vote.
5055
5056>E. Call up Jean-Claude Gabriel and set up a date or something.
5057
5058-------------------------
5059
5060Had a bathroom break. Sorry for the delay.
5061
5062>>317687
5063>>317690
5064
5065As much as it burns you up to be a slave to your appetite, you can't really function on an empty stomach. It's something that you've had to deal with when training with Tatsuya-Sensei, but now it's just an annoyance.
5066
5067"Hmm... What's around here that I like?" you ask yourself in your mind while looking up stuff on your phone. Unfortunately, none of the places your phone finds that are relatively nearby "Bodyworks Gym" interest you and you take a moment to think about what to do... When you notice one of the business cards you had gotten last night fell out of your pocket and is resting neatly on your Porsche's gear shifter.
5068
5069You look back at the sinister, black card that Jean-Claude Gabriel ("If that's even his real name.") had the balls to wedge between your breasts last night at "King's Court", getting another chill down your spine when you think about how your "Buzz" vanished with a slight tap on your shoulders from his fingers... Who knows? You've done more for Kazahaya for a free meal... Well, nothing sexual at least.
5070
5071"Fuck it, food's food" you tell yourself as you dial jJean's number, not quite sure what to expect as you start up your car. After quite a long wait, somebody answers with a simple "Hello?"
5072
5073"Is this Jean?"
5074
5075"Speaking."
5076
5077"Hey... I never really introduced myself, but my name is Katja and we met at this club last night; "King's Court"?" you ask.
5078
5079There's a pause and what almost sounds like a "Hmmm..." on the other end before Jean replies "Oh yes, "The Gentle Story-Teller... How have you been?"
5080
5081"Could be better, could be worse" you tell him. "I was kind of wondering if you'd like to get some lunch or something?"
5082
5083"That sounds wonderful."
5084
5085"Great... Where are you right now?"
5086
5087"East Island, near the lake next to "Karuta" " Jean replies.
5088
5089"What's he doing in the old "Howard Arena"..." "Oh? I'm like on the other side of town, between the outskirts of Central City & Port Town."
5090
5091"I see... Chinese food at "The Rising Dragon" OK then?"
5092
5093"That's the noodle shop down by the arcade I go to... Nice." "Yeah, sounds fine" you reply, hoping against hope that your stomach doesn't start making embarrassing sounds.
5094
5095"Cool... I'll be waiting for you" Jean says before hanging up.
5096
5097You let out a sigh, grab a make-up kit you keep in your car for this kind of thing and quickly slap some mascara and lipstick on befoe driving off, your MP3 once again flipping on without you touching it and playing a song you forgot you had on it:
5098
5099>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXE_n2q08Yw
5100
5101"Is it an omen?"
5102
5103>(Cont...)
5104
5105-------------------------
5106
5107>>317841
5108
5109~~~
5110
5111The drive to the noodle shop near your favorite arcade ("Live the Dream") in Chinatown goes smoothly enough, though it doesn't help to allay your fears that this little semi-date might not be all that pleasant. The little name-drop about an old fighter's hang-out Jean had been at doesn't help, but then again he didn't look like a traditional fighter when you saw him in the neon-lit darkness of "King's Court" last night...
5112
5113"No adventure, nothing gained" you think as you roll up to the curb just outside of "The Rising Dragon", a band-new "Executive Jet" sedan that looks like an electric shaver parked in front of you. You hop out, lock everything up and even go so far as to unhook your steering wheel (You know for a fact that before greeting Jean-Claude Gabriel standing at the corner, his coat blowing in the wind.
5114
5115"How the bloody fuck can he stand to wear that big old thing in this heat?"
5116
5117"Nice car" he says. 
5118
5119"Yeah, it was my dad's" you reply. "Shall we?"
5120
5121He nods and the two of you walk inside, a server sending you to the best seat in the house with a pair of menus. "Must be a new mover and shaker... Kaz doesn't even get this seat when I would be with him."
5122
5123"Have you been here before?" Jean asks as you take a sip of a glass of ice-water, then notice he's carrying something in a long, rectangular case.
5124
5125"Oh yeah, I used to go here all the time. Everything's good."
5126
5127"Do you mind if I order for you, then?"
5128
5129>A. "Nah, it ain't a problem."
5130
5131>B. "I'd like to order for myself please."
5132
5133>C. Try to make a non-committal face, then ask "What's in the case?" (Roll 1d20)
5134
5135>D. Write-In Vote.
5136
5137-------------------------
5138
5139Captcha is being a pain the ass today for me Anons. I again apologize for the delayed post.
5140
5141>>317933
5142>>317956
5143
5144"I'd like to order for myself please."
5145
5146Jean shrugs, then motions for a waiter to take his order. "I'll have the Shrimp Lo Mein. And you Katja?".
5147
5148"The Radish and Sesame Soy Noodle Salad for me, thanks."
5149
5150You take a sip of your water, the heat really getting to you even in the noodle shop and Jean seems to pick up on it too, taking out what looks like some kind of lace doily with an insignia on it to dip in his glass of water and wipe across his head.
5151
5152"Goodness, it's gotten hot hasn't it?" he asks with a huff and a smile.
5153
5154"Southtown usually only has two seasons: 'Instant Summer' or 'Nuclear Winter' " you say with a chuckle. "I just wish I dressed for it... Jeans aren't exactly nice for the summertime, you know?"
5155
5156Jean nods. "And yet, they deny global warming exists..."
5157
5158He lets the implied absurdity of that statement linger for a touch too long, almost like he's trying to goad you into talking politics, but drops it.
5159
5160"So... Are you a local, or?"
5161
5162"No, I travel from here and there... Though, I guess I have settled in South Town" Jean admits. "I haven't really gone anywhere in a while?"
5163
5164"Employed, or?"
5165
5166"No, not really... Not yet, at least." Jean pauses, take a big sip of his water. "I don't want to sound like a pretentious person, but try to see the world for all it's beauty and ugliness and I always felt that money is something that's inherently ugly."
5167
5168"Deep... I like deep." "It's not so much about the actual money itself being ugly, but more about what you can do with it, yeah? And how there are people out there that use it for ugly things."
5169
5170Jean nods in agreement and gets out a "That's true" as your food arrives.
5171
5172You nod, say a quick little silent prayer and dig in, Jean eyeing his food with the kind of scrutiny you usually see Kazahaya pay people to have ("Poisoned food is nothing to fuck around with", he told you).
5173
5174>A. "You think that shrimp's going to bite you back, or what?"
5175
5176>B. See if you can hold a "Steady Silence" with him while you eat. (Roll 1d20)
5177
5178>C. "What's in the case by your side?"
5179
5180>D. Write-In Vote.
5181
5182-------------------------
5183
5184>>318131
5185>>318151
5186
5187The mood seems to be darkening a little as Jean goes over his meal with a fine-tooth comb. "Hope he laughs." "You think that shrimp's going to bite you back, or what?" you ask with a wink.
5188
5189Jean looks up and almost looks like he blushes a little. "Oh? I'm sorry, it's just an old habit" he replies before finally taking a bite.
5190
5191"It's alright. I know how picky eaters act; I used to be one myself."
5192
5193"Part of it is I was training to be a chef and I still have the kind of "Chef's eye" when it comes to food" Jean explains in between bites.
5194
5195"Really?"
5196
5197Jean nods. "Went to Le Cordon Bleu and everything... I can't tell you why I dropped out though."
5198
5199From how he lingers on those words, you hod your tongue and instead use it to taste your food, the radishes and sesame seeds making for a different kind of flavor than what you're used to. "Not too bad though..." 
5200
5201"I hate to ask, but what do you happen to do, Katja?" Jean asks.
5202
5203The more you sit with this guy, the more you can't seem to pinpoint what's wrong with him, or if there's anything wrong with him at all... Yet, you feel kind of nervous talking about yourself to him. "I'm a manager at a Cafe" you quickly reply, adding "But, I'm not particularly happy with what I do..."
5204
5205"A dead-end job?"
5206
5207You nod. "It pays alright, but there's so much wrong with the place in how it's run and the clientele can be such a pain at times... I'dunno, it's easy work but I keep thinking that it's not going to get any better unless new owners come in."
5208
5209"You know, that's what I felt when I walked off the job of this one little bistro I was working at in Paris. I still don't regret it."
5210
5211"Yeah, I hear you..." you let out, then hear a cellphone that's not yours go off.
5212
5213Jean looks down to his lap, then wipes his mouth and tells you "I'm so terribly sorry, but I have to take this call" before excusing himself and going to the bathroom.
5214
5215>A. Stay and talk with him until your meals are done; He's OK to be around.
5216
5217>B. Make up an excuse to leave; If you can't be completely open with him, you can't date him. (Roll 1d20)
5218
5219>C. Ask him if he's into fighting or whatever when he gets back, specifically looking for an explanation as to why he was at "Howard Arena".
5220
5221>D. Write-In Vote.
5222
5223-------------------------
5224
5225>>318333
5226>>318337
5227
5228Sorry Y'all, but I'm going to going to have to call this a day far, far earlier than I wanted because the internet has shut down across my town... Updates will resume tomorrow at 10 AM PST/1 PM EST unless otherwise noted.
5229
5230-------------------------
5231
5232>>318433
5233>>318434
5234
5235I totally forgot I had to brave the DMV in a town away from mine early this morning, so on top of limited internet access I have nothing but apologies for being late. Updates are on the way shortly though...
5236
5237>Pic Related: MFW at the DMV
5238
5239-------------------------
5240
5241Captcha is still being a complete bitch to me today, so the session's updates will be up as soon as possible rather than 20 minutes at a time.
5242
5243>>318425
5244>>318337
5245>>318333
5246>>318313
5247
5248>Updates Resume
5249
5250You fitfully toy with your "Salad" while waiting for your "Date", Jean-Claude Gabriel, to come back from the bathroom. You shrug and let out a sigh, not really knowing if you should just leave when he gets back or not because on one hand, he seems like a nice enough guy... "Deep" in how he talks and what he talks about, maybe, but he has a kind of "World-Weary, Cultured Traveler"-thing going for him and that's attractive. On the other hand, there's just something that you can't quite touch that's making you unable to really open up to him about yourself. Is it Embarrassment? Fear?
5251
5252"Fuck it, I'm almost done with my meal... I'll finish it up and see what he was doing down by Howard Arena." After what feels like an eternity, Jean emerges from the bathroom and puts his phone away.
5253
5254"I'm so sorry about that. A friend of mine wanted some advice and I had to kind of dress him down a little" Jean explains as he takes his seat back at your table.
5255
5256"Hey, it's no problem" you reply, your eyes still glancing a little bit at the case he brought with him that's sitting just underneath the table. "But I was wondering: What were what were doing out by the, what's it called now, Karuta?"
5257
5258Jean shrugs. "Training. Why else would I be there?"
5259
5260"Interesting... He doesn't look like the fighting type." "I was just wondering because I've heard that's an old hang-out for street fighters and such and, no offense, but you don't seem to fit the profile for one."
5261
5262"Well, you're half-right; I'm really not that much interested in Street Fighting" Jean replies, then takes that case and puts it on the table in between the two of your meals and opens it up. "Though, when I do fight, I prefer to use this."
5263
5264"He's a fencer...? That's different." "Fencing, eh?"
5265
5266"Well, it's just a part of my training..." Jean admits before snapping the case shut. "I really want to compete in the Modern Pentathlon at The Olympics."
5267
5268"What the fuck is that? Better act like I know what he's talking about." "Really?"
5269
5270Jean nods. "I always felt that it was the most gentlemanly pursuit of the modern games... So, I took up Fencing & Marksmanship to go along with my natural love of Horseback Riding, Swimming and Running."
5271
5272>A. "So you're a real blue-blood, huh?"
5273
5274>B. "Hey, everybody has their passion. Mine was Judo for the longest time."
5275
5276>C. "How many bad jokes do you get when you tell people it's what you want to do? Because honestly, I've never heard of it."
5277
5278>D. Write-In Vote.
5279
5280-------------------------
5281
5282>>321123
5283
5284"So you're a real blue-blood, huh?"
5285
5286Jean nods, but looks kind of pensive after your remark. "Money and security to do whatever you want with your life is nice, but it's not all what it's cracked up to be... I've had to endure a lot to become the man I am today."
5287
5288"Hey, I'm not judging you about your Olympic dreams or anything. Everybody has their passion; Mine was Judo for the longest time."
5289
5290"Really...?"
5291
5292"I as big into it when I was a kid to help with self-defense, but by college it kind of lost it's luster to me..." you admit. "That's when I started taking Karate classes."
5293
5294Jean makes a face that seems to convey a "Seems logical enough" expression while he's finishing up his meal, then saying "That wasn't bad at all..." to himself. 
5295
5296"Probably his inner chef" you think, then quietly take a few more bites and push your plate away from you. "Man that was filling."
5297
5298"Eh, just wait about an hour and you'll want more" Jean jokes, but seems to get kind of a serious look on his face when he asks "Do you fight, Katja?"
5299
5300"Not gonna lie on this one. Let's see where he goes with it..." "Yeah... I can't help it, mate. I've tried a couple of times to stop and all, but it's something deep down inside me, like with you and the Pentathlon."
5301
5302"I know the feeling... When I was a kid, I didn't really have any kind of hopes or dreams; I lived in a big old mansion in Canada, went to private schools, dealt with stuffy old codgers of all shapes and sizes... But when I hit puberty, I found some kind of spark, a desire to achieve and I went and won something like..." Jean pauses, taking a bit of a moment to do some math using his fingers. "Ah, never mind."
5303
5304"No, what is it?"
5305
5306"Nothing..." Jean replies, the word lingering in your ear before he clears his throat. "So, would you care for dessert?"
5307
5308"I don't think this place has anything really sweet enough for that... Nah, he ain't serious, is he?"
5309
5310>A. "Sure."
5311
5312>B. "No thanks. I'm just not that much of a sweets person."
5313
5314>C. "I'll have to take a rain check on that one mate."
5315
5316>D. Write-In Vote.
5317
5318>E Blush and Make up an excuse to leave this guy; He's creeping you out enough that a second date is out of the question (Roll 1d20 and submit dialogue with this vote)
5319
5320-------------------------
5321
5322>>321289
5323>>321308
5324
5325"Yeah, sure... But, I didn't know they served any kind of desserts here."
5326
5327"Well... They don' actually. But there's an ice cream shop I know that's just around the corner..." Jean explains, trying to sound kind of "Suave" (Or his idea of "Suave").
5328
5329"And here he goes, tryin' to make moves on me already... I got to see how far he can blow this up." "Sounds good. Just let me touch up a couple of things and I'll be right out."
5330
5331With that, you grab your purse and make-up bag, then make a bee-line for the restroom, taking your sweet time to fix a couple of blemishes on your mascara and lipstick before finding Gabriel had already paid for the meal and was waiting for you out by the front entrance. 
5332
5333"Sorry about that. I should've put on some of the stuff I had at home, because it actually lasts long" you fib as he grabs his coat and takes your arm.
5334
5335"Not a problem. I've had to wait longer for less" he replies as the two of you start to take a walk, but stop at the long, black "Electric Shaver" that parked ahead of your car. "I just need to tell my driver that we'll be right around the corner" he tells you almost as an after-thought.
5336
5337"Fuckin' A, my MP3 player knows what's up" you think as Jean talks to some guy that looks like a 19th-century banker before turning around and beckoning you to walk with him. "Well hell, I didn't know that was your car."
5338
5339"I used to have a pretty good collection of automobiles, but had to give them up after a while... It became too much to properly care for them all for how little I would actually drive" Jean says, idly trying to be nonchalant.
5340
5341"Wellp, I've hit the fucking jackpot. Hope he's nice in bed." "Yeah... I couldn't imagine the kind of work that would go into something like that when I'm barely keeping what have in pristine shape..." 
5342
5343"Well, it was your father's car, wasn't it? It must mean a lot to you."
5344
5345"Yeah, it does. That's why I haven't really tried to do any modifications to it or anything outside of newer tires" you admit as the two of you round the corner and walk into a building you had passed many times before, but never knew it was an ice cream shop. before stepping inside.
5346
5347"Do you diet much? Or have any food allergies?" Jean asks as the two of you look at the wares behind a lit, curved glass counter-top.
5348
5349"Nah, I can practically eat anything as long as it's cooked and seasoned right" you tell him, a couple of the flavors jumping out at you but nothing that interesting. Ultimately, you go for a scoop of "Chocolate Moose" ("Kind of looks like a "Rocky Road" variant") while Jean has something with fruit in it and sits you down near the biggest window in the place.
5350
5351"What do you want to do with your life, Katja?" he asks.
5352
5353>A. "I want to be The King of Fighters."
5354
5355>B. "Live without regret, I guess."
5356
5357>C. "I'dunno... I'm an "In-the-Now" kind of gal, you know?"
5358
5359>D. Write-In Vote.
5360
5361-------------------------
5362
5363Seriously, fuck this captcha today.
5364
5365>>321498
5366>>321747
5367
5368"Holy shit, he just threw that out there huh?" You take a pause, mostly to try out your ice cream but also to ponder what you want in your life. "This guys knows his food, holy shit." "Live without regret, I guess... And I know this sounds shallow, but being a world famous fighter wouldn't be too bad."
5369
5370Jean nods, but seems to take a second to look around before asking you "I take it you know of "The King of Fighters" tournament then, yes?" in a lowered voice.
5371
5372You nod. "Well, I'm not at that level yet, but it's always something I've dreamed of since Judo lost it's appeal... Why do you ask?"
5373
5374Jean shrugs, then explains "Well, I'm kind of a fan and, no offense, but you have the look of a KOF regular so...?"
5375
5376"Like I said, I'm getting there... But you should come out to one of the "Real Bout" tournaments sometime; The depth of them changes week by week, but who knows? You might actually like fighting and it's where I go to put all of my skills to good use" you tell him.
5377
5378He smiles, but admits that "Thanks, but I'm not sure if I could... Aside from having a pretty busy life, I have a medical condition that makes that kind of fighting too dangerous for me to take up" with a hint of sadness in his voice before you hear a buzzing from somewhere, like a phone going off.
5379
5380"Is that yours?"
5381
5382"I think so..." Jean sheepishly admits, then takes a look to see who's calling him. The look on his face changes from the kid you've been with for the last hour or so into someone that looks much older and hardened. He puts the phone down, then "I'm horribly sorry, but I have to cut this short... Something very important to me has come up and I have to take care of it, so...? Can we do this again sometime?" 
5383
5384>A. "Yeah. Just give me a ring."
5385
5386>B. "I'll call you, yeah."
5387
5388>C. "Jean, you're really sweet but..."
5389
5390>D. Write-In Vote.
5391
5392>E. Switch to Jean-Claude Gabriel and find out what's going on; Something's up.
5393
5394-------------------------
5395
5396Intermittent Internet today Anons. I'll try to rectify this tomorrow.
5397
5398>>321797
5399>>321855
5400
5401"Unemployed my ass, even Kazahaya doesn't take this many calls during a date." "Yeah. Just give me a ring" you reply, then add "Don't keep me waiting for too long" with a wink. Jean smiles, then blows you a kiss with a free hand while grabbing what's left of his ice cream ("Didn't notice he had a cup") before walking out.
5402
5403"Well... That was something" you think while you snack on your now semi-frozen treat. "I'll have to get to know him better, really talk with him about stuff because it felt like he had something on his mind he wouldn't let himself talk about..." "He's damn cute though... Wonder how old he really is? Because the face he used when got that call..."
5404
5405Part of you then idly wonders how many calories are going straight to your thighs as you finish up your ice cream, but brush it off and take a little walk back to your car, the parking meter almost about to run out. "Lucky... Nothing but good luck for me today, right down to the free meal."
5406
5407You hop in, check the time (2:34 PM) and drive up to the first stoplight, not quite sure what to do with the rest of your all-too-rare free day, the heat incessantly blaring down on you and your car's all-black leather interior...
5408
5409>A. Head back up to your cabin, start packing up your stuff and call up Kazahaya to get one his homies to help you move.
5410
5411>B. Go shopping at the "Real Bout" store for some new fighting gear; The stuff you're using now is starting to get old and stink up something fierce.
5412
5413>C. Take a drive out to the beach, or up to that park near your house maybe? Seize the day.
5414
5415>D. Write-In Vote
5416
5417>E. Arcade time? Arcade time. Besides, it's right down the street.
5418
5419-------------------------
5420
5421>>322091
5422
5423You drive over to East Island and pull up to the so-called "Happy Park", making good time as you beat the early traffic using side-streets most locals stopped using when the new highway system was built. "OK, let's see what I've got on me..." you think while checking your wallet, a nice stack of "Benjamins" staring back at you... OK, some of that has to go to rent and food, but it's still enough money that you could probably drop around $250 on some new fighting/training gear without feeling bad about it. Besides, the stuff you've been using since you started doing Tatsuya-Sensei's Kyokugen Karate classes ("Rehabilitation", you call it) is starting to stink no matter how many times you wash it...
5424
5425"OK... Not going to do any more hidden personas for the tournaments, so no wrestling wear for now" you think while looking around the "Real Bout" Fighting Gear store, half-amused and half-shocked at how awkward a lot of the stuff on sale looks to your eyes. "Did I walk into the right store? Because I wouldn't wear half of this shit in the bedroom for my man, let alone fight in it."
5426
5427"You need anything?" you hear somebody up from the counter ask you.
5428
5429"Nah, I'll just browse for a bit" you reply, then get to the "Accessories" section, looking over some gloves & shoes that actually look like stuff you would wear, albeit in colors that aren't in your usual "Range". "OK, I like those... Fingerless is nice. Good boots too... But Lime Green? Really?"
5430
5431Just as you're thinking about who would wear some of the of the eccentric-looking designs, a young guy ("? Trap Radar intensifying") hugging what looks like a giant jug of Sake on his hip taking a look at the sandals part of the footwear section.
5432
5433"I must be out of the loop, because holy fuck he looks like he just stepped out of a JRPG" you think as the "Sake Kid" ("Hang on, that's a fucking pillow, what the shit?") falls over himself and crashes down onto the floor, fast asleep...
5434
5435Your eyes widen a little, then you get back to thinking about how you want to present yourself to the masses of the next "Friday Night Real Bout" tournament...
5436
5437>A. Go for a "Flashy" look with lots of patterns and distracting designs.
5438
5439>B. Go for a "Practical" look that's not too far removed from what you'd use in a "Real" street fight.
5440
5441>C. Go for a "Sexy" look that emphasizes your...? (Suggest an attribute) to stick to the mad-jelly feminists.
5442
5443>D. Write-In Vote.
5444
5445>E. Come back another day when they've got a better selection, because nothing is really "Grabbing" you today.
5446
5447-omitted one small post.
5448
5449-------------------------
5450
5451>>322301
5452>>322312
5453>>322341
5454
5455You take a breath, then head over to the more "Sexy" options Real Bout is packing, going past a bunch of "Practically Bondage Gear" outfits that, while undeniably "Sexy", feel kind of contrived to your tastes. You browse the racks, thinking "Would Mai Shiranui have the guts to wear this in a KOF?" with each ridiculous design. Soon enough, you find a bunch of different stuff to mix and match, looking at outfits that emphasize your pert, almost-plump ass just to stick to that Cassandra chick from your old gym as well as any "Feminist" that wants to try and tear you down when all you want to do is flaunt the gifts you've been given and the body you've sweated blood & tears to achieve.
5456
5457"Not bad, not bad... All of this fetishy stuff is pretty expensive for what it is though, so I can only pick up one right now... you think as you try outfit after outfit on in the spacious changing room in the back of the store, a near-full length mirror giving you a great look at how your frame fills out each choice. "Got to think how I'll look in a KOF with one of these too, so i can't get TOO extreme... Until I win one. THEN I can get away with a Bikini and some belts and trinkets to "Cover-Up" a little..."
5458
5459>Please specify colors with Options A-E
5460
5461>A. One-Piece Leotard with a Thong back and thigh-high boots.
5462
5463>B. Midriff-bearing sports bra and Tights.
5464
5465>C. One-Piece, Motorcycle leathers-like Jumpsuit with cut-outs around the thighs and arms with fancy boots./green]
5466
5467>D. Short-Shorts with a "Crop-Top" & Sneakers.
5468
5469>E. One-Legged Jeans with a low-cut "Wife-Beater".
5470
5471>F. Write-In Vote.
5472
5473>G. Come back another day when they've got a better selection, because nothing is really "Grabbing" you right now.
5474
5475===
5476
5477Due to circumstances outside of my control, this is going to be the last vote of today's session. Make it count Anons!
5478
5479-omitted one small post.
5480
5481-------------------------
5482
5483>>322567
5484>>322499
5485
5486Some of the designs, once you look at them again, feel like the kind of thing you'd see in a KOF knock-off that's desperate for money and attention; Others, while attractive, just really aren't "You" enough to consider really fighting in them all of them time. Again, you've got to consider that you could end up fighting in the latest King of Fighters tournament (No matter how impossible that sounds) and it may be your only shot at showing who "You" are to the rest of the free world...
5487
5488"I'll go with the practical stuff this time... I'll leave the SWF to pick a ridiculous outfit for me if I go with them" you think as you grab a Midriff-bearing Sports Bra (In White) and a pair of Black Tights that snugly showed off the curve of your hips as well as your shapely bottom, leaving the rest of your ideas for an outfit in the changing room for somebody else to deal with.
5489
5490You smirk at the "Pillow Boy" that's still sleeping in the shoes section as well as some raver kid with green hair and headphones trying to wake him up, then get in line behind some chick that looks like she's buying enough clothes to try and be Terry Bogard's biggest fan... "Cute look though."
5491
5492"Did you find everything you were looking for today?" the guy behind the counter asks, sounding like he'd want to be anywhere else but here.
5493
5494"Yeah... What's with all of the funky colors though?"
5495
5496"It's a fad. Raver kids come in and try to get some "AESTHETIC" going, or whatever" he replies.
5497
5498"Too bad.. And the really crazy cuts'n'stuff?"
5499
5500"I'dunno, some local company cut a deal to sell them here... I think they're just a bunch of swimsuits with anti-flame solution" he adds before bagging up your stuff.
5501
5502You pay the man, head back out to your car and take a second to hang around and think over the day so far, your MP3 player almost psychic in your mood ("Learn to be Still" by The Eagles) as it's not quite 5 PM, the sun just starting to set...
5503
5504>A. Go get some dinner at "The Pao Pao Cafe"; You're starting to feel hungry and you can get something cheap there.
5505
5506>B. Head back to the hotel and raid Kazahaya's fridge; You're getting hungry and don't feel like eating out again today.[/blue]
5507
5508>C. Take a drive out to the beach and watch the sun set.
5509
5510>D. Write-In Vote
5511
5512===
5513
5514And that's it for today! Thanks for participating Y'all, and I can guarantee that our MC will get into an actual fight sooner rather than later (As a quest set in the world of "The King of Fighters" probably needs some more action than this IMO).
5515
5516I'm not 100% sure if I can continue this tomorrow, but if not I'll archive this session on ye olde sup/tg/ and use the option that gets the most votes as the basis for the next KOF: R thread.
5517
5518Also, the vote IS open, so y'all know what to do...
5519
5520-------------------------
5521
5522>>322769
5523
5524No problem. Running this is currently kind of tricky, because my house's wi-fi is down until the 4th of July and the rest of my usual free places around my town are iffy at best.
5525
5526>>322807
5527
5528Ah, Goose! Sorry for that, I've been busy.
5529
5530-------------------------
5531
5532>>322769
5533>>322807
5534>>324926
5535
5536OK, I'm back. KOF Quest: R #8 will resume in around 1 Hour & 15 minutes, with >Option C taking the vote.
5537
5538I also don't know how long I can run today, so I'll try to get updates out fairly quickly. >Pic Unrelated
5539
5540-------------------------
5541
5542>>324978
5543>>322747
5544
5545>Updates Resume
5546
5547There's just something about the sound of the calm waves of the ocean crashing down onto the sand that calms you down and puts things into focus, almost as much as being out in the wilderness of your property up north of South Town's city limits. So, for the second time in almost two weeks you take a short drive to "Sound Beach", sitting down on a bench just overlooking the beach itself to watch the sun set.
5548
5549"The penthouse would've been alright, but nothing can beat being on a beach while the sun goes down." You take a sip of an ice-cold water-bottle you paid too much for and smile as the sky looks like it's turning pink. "Work, "Play", Work, "Play"... I'll probably get to Fiona and my stuff tomorrow" you think, trying out your legs as the sun finally sets with a couple of quick stretches. "Tatsuya-Sensei's classes too... I owe him for letting me cut early yesterday."
5550
5551You stretch a little bit more to test your aches ad pains, then take a walk back to your car, wondering if the day could get better... Unfortunately, it gets a whole lot worse as you freeze dead in your tracks and spot an all-too-familiar white mask sitting in the driver's seat. 
5552
5553"The fuck?" You steady your breathing as you go to inspect the wretched thing (A "Present" from dealing with that "Poltergeist" up in your cabin) and find that yes, it's the same one you tried to punch into a million goddamn pieces and later chucked off the South Town Bridge in the middle of the night; The crack that starts near the left eye and goes all the way to the bottom of the cheek confirms it.
5554
5555"Not again... What the bloody hell do I have to do to get rid of you?" you hear yourself think out loud, crossing your arms as you look down at it.
5556
5557>Roll 1d20 for Options A through D
5558
5559>A. Fling the mask into the Ocean.
5560
5561>B. Punch it again.
5562
5563>C. Drive over it with your car.
5564
5565>D. Write-In Vote.
5566
5567>E. Wear the mask.
5568
5569-------------------------
5570
5571>>325278
5572>>325294
5573
5574You give the mask a glare that could probably stop a rampaging bull in it's tracks, your eyes playing tricks on you as the mask almost seems to frown back at you. You reach your hand out to grab the mask almost like you were sticking it in a piranha tank, then hold it at your side as you 
5575
5576You rotate your arms a little, get a couple creaks and groans out of your shoulders and slowly build Ki up into your extremities. You're going to try and break this thing again with your fist, using a move that Tatsuya taught you as a counter-hit, but in actuality is a watered-down version of Ryo Sakazaki's (in)famous "Tenchi Haou Ken".
5577
5578"Here goes nothing..." You take five slow, easy, calm breaths, the Ki swirling inside of you reaching a boiling point as you get into the stance Tatsuya's taught you... Then fling the mask up in the air and hurl your fist into it with a loud "OSU!" 
5579
5580"Well shit... At least my hand didn't hurt that time" you think as you see the mask floating down to the ground about five parking spaces down. You head over to grab the mask and note that there's a red line starting to form in the crack that was there, "Almost looks like it's... Bleeding?"
5581
5582You grab it again, some kind of sticky substance on your fingers that, when you go to taste (In case it actually IS bleeding), almost reminds you of barbecue sauce... "What the fuck are you made out of?" you rhetorically ask the mask, almost expecting an answer like the first time you tried to break it... Bit once more, the face just sort of stares back at you, your eyes again tricking your mind into thinking that it's kind of got a "Sad" expression on it's "Face"...
5583
5584>A. Take the mask with you, but hit up that Arcade in Chinatown and play some Talladega USA to calm your nerves.
5585
5586>B. Grab the mask, then go back to the Penthouse and make a thread on FightChan about this, complete with "Timestamped" photos. 
5587
5588>C. Punch the fucking thing again. It needs to be destroyed. (Roll 1d20)
5589
5590>D. Write-In Vote.
5591
5592-------------------------
5593
5594Original update got lost somehow. Sorry for the delay.
5595
5596>>325414
5597>>325431
5598
5599As much as you want to leave this accursed mask behind and get on with living your life, something deep down tells you to take it with you... At the very least, you don't want somebody else to get possessed by it or something, but you've got a plan as you head back to your car and drive back towards the ritzy "Bay Area" side of South Town, Kazahaya's penthouse waiting for you.
5600
5601"Wonder if I could make a thread on /b/ about this? Like a "Quints say what I do with it" kind of thing?" you think as the door man escorts you up to "Your" place... Then put that thought on hold as your stomach growls, sounding like two big cats fighting in a back alley. So, you raid Kazahaya's 'fridge, take the time to cook up some Chicken Parmigiana and fire up the trusty lap-top to create a thread on FightChan's infamous "Random Randomness" board (Known simply as "/b/").
5602
5603You ignore the sticky for the moment ("Who the fuck makes a sticky on /b-HOLY SHIT NEW KOF TOURNAMENT!") and start typing up the opening post:
5604
5605===
5606
5607Hi /b/. I found this weird mask in the street today. Quints say what I do with it."
5608
5609===
5610
5611It takes a bit to take a photo of it with your phone and re-size it so that FightChan can actually post the damn thing, but eventually everything's all set and the thread gets created... With no replies.
5612
5613"Huh, that new KOF Tournament must have everybody's attention... Better give them some cheesecake" you think, then post an older photo of yourself from when you were playing Tennis in highschool to try and get some attention and kickstart the thread. Again, no takers... Until some fuckhead replies "Wear the Mask" and makes your heart sink.
5614
5615"Fuck me, HE GOT FUCKING QUINTS?! HOW?!?" The thread finally starts to spring to life with some reaction pics that nearly launch your sides into orbit, but you only feel like you're laughing to try and delay the inevitable...
5616
5617>A. Make a Webm of you putting on he mask and set it to automatically post in case anything happens (Roll 1d20)
5618
5619>B. Reply "Mate, this is a bloody cursed mask and you want me to fucking put it on? The fuck is wrong with you?"
5620
5621>C. Do what the Quints demand. (Roll 1d20)
5622
5623>D. Write-In Vote.
5624
5625-------------------------
5626
5627>>325676
5628
5629I don't know either.
5630
5631>>325593
5632>>325610
5633
5634You let out a sigh, shaking your head at tempting fate only for it to bite you right in your sweet tush like this, the mask having an almost "Happy" expression as you take a look at it. "Well, that fucker DID get quints... And at least I'm not going to take a bloody nude selfie or something."
5635
5636You link back to the Anon that got "Quints" and reply: 
5637
5638===
5639
5640"OP here. I'm going to make a Webm of this, because I got to save this shit for scientific research."
5641
5642===
5643
5644You take a photo of yourself with the mask and a timestamp just for good measure and add it to your post. The thread goes nuclear after that, an endless stream of ">TITS OR GTFO" and other ridiculously lewd commands bumping the thread well into the triple-digits.
5645
5646"Well... Here goes..." You set up the web camera on your lap-top to record what you're about to do, but link back to your last post with:
5647
5648===
5649
5650"OP again. Just lettin' everybody ere know that if I get possessed and go a rampage, remember me as a badass bitch who fucked ur mum AND ur dad."
5651
5652===
5653
5654With that, you set the camera to "Record", wave to the camera (As /b/ doesn't support Webms with sound to your knowledge), then grab and show off the mask before slipping it over your face... 
5655
5656"OK, so far so good" you think as you have to hold it on your face due to a lack of any kind of straps, your eyes covered in darkness because the mask is completely solid, with no kind slits for the eyes... Then it feels like it's trying to suck down onto your head like an alien from a movie series you like.
5657
5658Your eyes slowly start to "See" through the mask's eyes, your head pounding and the world spinning as you desperately try to force the mask off of your face, some strange alien language you don't understand speaking sweet nothings into your ears...
5659
5660>Roll 1d20 to fight The Mask's urges!
5661
5662-------------------------
5663
5664"Team Jerkass" showed up to try and monopolize my free time. Sorry for the delayed reply.
5665
5666>>325707
5667>>325771
5668>>325816
5669
5670New Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew_heGDWUtg
5671
5672"W... What... Why...?" your brain feels like it's blowing fuses left and right as you struggle to rip off the mask, your vision from within the mask reminding you of all of those ">HOLY ACID-TRIP" memes on FightChan from a few years ago. 
5673
5674"I don't... What... Is this?" You're breathing heavy now, visions of a ruined colosseum and some kind of weird Shinto Shrine maiden wrecking shit while floating through the air transitioning into some kind of lab doing experiments on a bunch of "Boys from Brazil" (You couldn't see their faces, but their bodies all look the same), then... 
5675
5676"What the fuck am I...?" you let out a scream of pain as you fall off of the couch. From how you're twisting and contorting your body, it's like feel like you're wrestling yourself to get this thing off of your face before it corrupts your mind, or worse... "Come on... Just a little bit more COME THE FUCK ON!!!"
5677
5678No memories of your past start to form in your eyes, tears running down your cheeks as you see your Mom die in the hospital again as well as the freak-out you had when you found that she had used the lst of her strength to make your school lunches for the week, the day your dad was reported as missing... "Oh come on, not the fight nights again..."
5679
5680>"Calm down..."
5681
5682"Who said that?!" you yell, still struggling to try and get the mask off of your face as a voice not unlike the one you heard from that "Poltergeist" fills your ears.
5683
5684>"Let the G-mantle guide you..."
5685
5686"FUCK OFF!" you scream, but almost freeze in your tracks when your vision fills up of a man that looks like Jean-Claude Gabriel sitting behind a hilariously long desk underneath a painting that looks like it came from Hell's private gallery.
5687
5688"You know what you are? A puppet without strings. An action figure. What kind of Australian looks like you? You're a girl from Antarctica with a head full of sweet lies."
5689
5690>Keep fighting the influences of the Mask! Roll 1d20; Best of the first three rolls count
5691
5692-------------------------
5693
5694>>325891
5695>>325897
5696>>325906
5697
5698New Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDMa5ZGHJ8
5699
5700Just as you think you've finally got the mask off, it only clamps down harder onto your face and your headache worsens, the strain on your eyes forcing you to close them completely now. "Not like this..."
5701
5702The voice of someone else fills your head now, your eyes closed but able to "See" a room that looks like the sci-fi hospital from one of your dreams filled with "Girls from Antarctica", some of them resembling your mother (Well, if she were blonde, "Stacked" and "Jacked") and some looking like... "... Me?"
5703
5704The mask stops applying pressure to your face, but now your mind feels like it's getting fried like an egg on a skillet and you hear yourself let out one final scream of pain before everything goes white... Some time later, you wake up in a pool of sweat, your vision as clear as it ever was and the light from the ceiling lamp irritating you.
5705
5706"Gah, too bright." You hop up on to your feet and turn it off, the darkness in the room allowing your eyes to "Rest" a little. "Much better..." You feel limber, flexible... Almost like your body could do anything you ever dreamed of wanting it to.
5707
5708"I'd hate to trash such a nice place, but..." With a devilish grin, you slide down the spiral staircase's banister rail, landing with the kind of crazy pirouette most gymnasts couldn't stick. "OK, the ceiling's high enough... Now, let's boogie!" You fly through the air with an uppercut, a trail of bright electricity following your fist. When you land, you launch yourself forward foot-first, another small trail of electricity forming around your foot. "Shouldn't try a projectile in here... And besides, fighting shadows is boring; I want a real target to sink my teeth into."
5709
5710You look around and grab a pair of shorts you had on, finding our wallet and... Not recognizing the face that's staring back at you? "Who the fuck is "Katja Hartkern?" you think as you go through your wallet, that same face in all of the photos. "I'm G-Mantle Lady."
5711
5712>You are now "G-Mantle Lady"
5713
5714>What do you do? (Write-In)
5715
5716-omitted one small post.
5717
5718-omitted one small post.
5719
5720-------------------------
5721
5722>>326140
5723>>326052
5724
5725You take out the ID and the photos out of your wallet, throwing them to the ground as you head upstairs and check the closet for something to wear; The fires of competition, of fighting... And of "Something Else" have started to burn in your loins and heaven help the man or woman foolish enough to stop you. "Feh! Nothing but men's suits... Oh well. I'll get something nicer while I'm out."
5726
5727You slip into a snazzy 3-piece suit and top-hat, grab a cloak-like jacket and adjust it so that it sits on your shoulders, then step out onto this bachelor pad's outside deck and take a look at the city beneath your feet, a limitless amount of possibilities flowing through your mind and the energy of battles big and small going throughout the whole city.
5728
5729"I think I'm in heaven" your mind tells you as you slowly step to the edge of the high-rise you're on, then hop over the guardrail and run down the side of it. You hop off and land on to the roof of a lower building and start to run like a bat out of hell, the "Cloak" fluttering in the wind before you hop down to a lower building, your body's reaction to a mix of energy guiding you. Soon you're on the streets of South Town, passing by a electronics store with a row of Televisions showing the local news talking about some guy speaking in Russian about how he's "The First KOF Champion" or whatever...
5730
5731"He looks tough... I'll have to get to Sochi sooner or later and give him a visit." You don't stick around long though; The one you want to see is just down this alleyway...
5732
5733"Hishouken!" you hear somebody yell, a group of thugs with their pants hanging down around their buttocks flying through the air, one of them landing at your feet. 
5734
5735"I'll take this one" you whisper into his ear before throwing him over your knee and landing an elbow to his stomach in a motion so fast & fluid your brain has to take a second to register that you actually did that. 
5736
5737A short blonde guy with long hair and dressed up like some kind of Ninja eyes you intently, a rather beautiful woman behind him. "Who are you?" he asks.
5738
5739"Can he be any more of a cliche?" You wordlessly lash out with a "Hien Shippu Kyaku", Blondie blocking the first hit but getting his guard broken on the second. You try to land a Left Hook to his head, but he dodges it and hops to the other side. You block a kick or two as he tries to get an opening, then feel an elbow collide with your chest as your fist hits his face with an electrified uppercut.
5740
5741"I see... He's got skill. His lady friend is delicious too." "I simply want to play a game with you... Care to oblige?" you ask when you land back down on the ground, energy flowing openly through your extremities now as you take a stance that shows you truly give no fucks about what's going to happen next...
5742
5743===
5744
5745-------------------------
5746
5747>>326282
5748
5749I really hate to end this on a cliff-hanger, but that's the thread everybody! I seriously didn't expect this development to happen so soon, but what can I say? The Dice gods are fickle beings, after all.
5750
5751I expect to resume this Quest on 7/5/16 at the usual 10 AM PST/1 PM EST/5 PM GMT, but if that changes check my Twitter feed on the top of the page.
5752
5753==== END THREAD ====
5754
5755The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #9
5756written by That Damn Weasel (53 posts, 27 omitted posts)
5757-------- qst2txt --------
5758
5759>Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/317290/
5760>Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeaselThat
5761>MC's Character Info & Moveset: http://pastebin.com/HMexuJEv
5762
5763>Introduction:
5764
5765"He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command." ~ Niccolo Machiavelli
5766
5767You... Are not Katja Hartkern. In fact, up until you finally woke up tonight you've never even heard of someone having such a ridiculous name ("Sounds like a bad German pornstar nom de guerre"). No, you are something better, stronger, more powerful than all but a few privileged men & women could fathom. You're a dark phantom that prowls the streets of South Town at night looking for the next fight, the next big hit of adrenaline to spice up an otherwise dull & dreary existence...
5768
5769In short, you are "G-Mantle Lady", and you've spotted your first target for the night: A blonde-haired "Manlet" with an open-palm stance and an outfit that suggests that he fights with some kind of Ninjutsu... Though, the steel in his blue eyes and the way he was able to block and counter-attack your strikes suggests that he's not your average fighter. Then again, you wouldn't be interested in challenging him if he was just another garden-variety sucker trying to make his dime-store fighting style work...
5770
5771"Let's see how long he'll wait..." "Well? Do you care to dance? Or shall I look elsewhere for somebody to play with?" you ask, your voice trying to drip with menace.
5772
5773"Andy, come on, let's just go" the blonde ninja's girlfriend(?) says, tugging on her man's shoulder as your stretch your neck a little to feel him out.
5774
5775"Andy" shakes his head and pounds his fist into his palm, then gets back into his stance. "Very well..."
5776
5777>A. Relentlessly rush him down with strings of punches & kicks; You feel fired up tonight (Roll 1d20+1)
5778
5779>B. Use proper spacing, fancy footwork and a solid defense to try and make him look silly in attempting to attack you. (Roll 2d20)
5780
5781>C. "Tank" his first few attacks and score a counter-hit as well as to set up some mind-games. (Roll 3d20)
5782
5783>D. Write-In Vote.
5784
5785-omitted one small post.
5786
5787-------------------------
5788
5789>>338461
5790>>338499
5791
5792>New Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW112GCOGVc
5793
5794You throw out a "G-Lady Shot" to try and keep Andy on his toes, but he jumps over it and tries to hit you with a kick to head. "Quicker than I expected..." Though you're not fast enough to try and counter-hit him, you block it just fine and wait for an opening while blocking his fast strikes.
5795
5796'He seems to be trying to break my bones, rather than bruise my muscles... Interesting..." Your defense is impeccable as you watch him overstep his offense just enough so you can throw him with a quick Uchimata, but Andy rolls out of it with a "Ukemi" and nearly elbows you in the face. Another block, another throw (The "Ippon Seoinage"), but it actually takes him a moment to get up which gives you time to launch towards him with the "Rose Hurricane Kick". To your dismay, he blocks it easily though and hits you out of it with an Uppercut-like attack.
5797
5798"That... Actually hurt." You break your fall though and hit him with a quick combination of a "Left Hook" and a "Right Straight", staggering him long enough to land the "Rose Machinegun Combination". The rain of punches ends when you hear him block some of the later strikes and break away from Andy on a grab attempt, smacking him with another "Left Hook" to try and get some breathing room... However, Andy instead launches a semi-projectile of his own, yelling "Hishou Ken!" as a burst of blue Ki erupts from his palm and lights up the alleyway the two of you are using... 
5799
5800"Strange... Did he think that I would run towards him straight away?"
5801
5802>A. Get on the offense and rush Andy down with some punches & kicks. (Roll 1d20+1)
5803
5804>B. Keep spacing him out and using your "Footsies" to try and open up opportunities to counter-hit him. (Roll 2d20)
5805
5806>C. Wait for a chance to open up some space, then try to "No-Sell/Tank" a couple of Andy's attacks to try and strike fear in his mind (Roll 3d20)
5807
5808>D. Write-In Vote.
5809
5810-------------------------
5811
5812>>338533
5813
5814You lay back just a little bit, eyeing Andy up as he seems to be waiting for you to try anything... "Give him just enough rope to hang himself, they say..." You smile, Andy's eyes widening a little as he seemingly freaks out and tries to close the distance you had opened up. he doesn't try anything though as you feint a quick jab, then hop back and feint another one as Andy lets loose with some kind of 4-hit combination. "Just a little bit more..."
5815
5816You effortlessly block Andy's strikes, then hit some "Chin Music" that rockets him into a brick wall, the "Splat" effect and the noise it makes music to your ears. 'That rung his bells... Let's finish this." You dash towards him, jumping over him with an outstretched foot while holding on to your hat with a gloved hand, then hit him with two quick jabs and your uppercut, the "G-Lady Upper". A trail of electricity follows your fist and once more lights up the dimly-lit alleyway, Andy getting back onto his feet quickly and hitting you in the stomach with a dashing elbow that transitions into a shoulder smash you've only seen old Kung-Fu masters in bad action movies use.
5817
5818Though you fall to the ground, you quickly pick yourself up again and hit Andy with a fast "Rose Hurricane Kick" in the shins. "Stay down now you little shit." He somehow manages to stay standing and goes for another throw, though you once again break out of it and smack him in the face with a Left Hook that nearly doubles him over, setting up a chance to counter his next punch and land your unique garb, the "Ude-Hishigi-Juji-Gatame" Arm-Bar.
5819
5820"Now now, shall I take this arm with me?" you rhetorically ask yourself as Andy is thrashing around and screaming in pain, his girlfriend either having run off to call the authorities on you or is hiding in the shadows herself, waiting or the right chance to jump into this fight...
5821
5822>Roll 1d20 to apply enough pressure to make Andy give up! Best of the first 3 rolls will count.
5823
5824-------------------------
5825
5826Stuck in line waiting for the bathroom. Sorry for the delay.
5827
5828>>338630
5829
5830Nice to see you Tiger. Dat Roll tho...
5831
5832>>338617
5833>>338643
5834
5835
5836"Why are you doing this?" Andy asks in between a couple of grunts and thrashes.
5837
5838"In this city, you have to be a deviant or die of boredom" you reply, trying to desperately at least bruise Andy's arm enough that using it will hinder him in the rest of the fight. The face Andy makes as you tighten the pressure on his arm suggests that he's trying to tough it out, but you can feel that you're about to break his arm if you keep this up... 
5839
5840"You really DO want me to take this arm of your home with me... Very well" you tell him, then let him go right as you feel a satisfying "SNAP".
5841
5842The scream he lets out of his body is loud enough to echo through the brick walls of the alley as you dust yourself off and watch him writhe in pain. "Damn it, i'll have to get this suit pressed and dry-cleaned..."
5843
5844"You... Bastard..." Andy spits out at you as he drops to one knee, giving you and open invitation to land your signature "G-Stinger"... But stop when you hear a faint whistling coming from behind you. You quickly spin around a catch a wooden butterfly fan spinning towards your neck like a frisbee, then calmly hold it at your side as you look around for who might've thrown it.
5845
5846"Can't be too cautious... I think I'll end this now." "Fighting you wasn't worth the dirt and grime I got on this suit" you coldly state while taking a couple of small steps towards him, waiting for someone to try and attack you from the shadows as Andy grasps his arm.
5847
5848Sure enough, his girlfriend from earlier pops out of nowhere in a flash of flaming cherry blossom-petals, clad in an outfit only the most charitable person would call clothing yelling something in Japanese ("Shiranui Mai, mairi masu!")... You step back and let her tend to her man, taking an eyeful of the soft, sweet flesh her "Outfit" barely covers and open up the fan to cool yourself off a little before she turns to you, a real fire in her eyes.
5849
5850>A. "I see... It would be an honor to dance with such a vision of beauty."
5851
5852>B. "Don't involve yourself in the affairs of others... Or else I'll have to break a beautiful little doll like yourself." (Roll 1d20)
5853
5854>C. Make a quick escape; You need to rest a little bit before taking her on...(Roll 1d20)
5855
5856>D. Write-In Vote.
5857
5858>E. Tell them that you'll take them both on and "Power-Up".
5859
5860-omitted one small post.
5861
5862-------------------------
5863
5864>>338766
5865>>338785
5866>>338788
5867
5868Generations of poets have despaired at their inability to capture, in mere words, the unearthly allure of such a goddess of beauty that's standing on front of you... Yet, you don't see what the trouble is: She's Five foot Four, 120 pounds at the most, Asian but with a heart-shaped face framed by reddish black hair, long legs and a chest that could give a monk a heart attack... Oh, and she tried to light you on fire with a costume that barely qualifies as "Clothing". 
5869
5870"I think I'll have some fun with this one." "I see... It would be an honor to dance with such a vision of beauty" you state, then snap the butterfly fan from earlier shut and toss it to her while going into your fighting stance.
5871
5872"If you think flattery is going to get you off the hook for what you did to Andy, you're sorely mistaken!" She yells as she grabs the fan and gets down into a hunched, almost crouching stance that seems to be useful for showing off her "Goods"...
5873
5874===
5875>New Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LarJTx1Aquw
5876===
5877
5878"I'll take my time with this one, soak up her... "Earthly delights"..." You smile at "Mai" ("Pretty sure that's her name...") and throw out a slow "G-Lady Shot" as a test. Mai hops back and seemingly bounces off one of the brick walls to dive head-first at you, the fan from earlier in her mouth. You block it easily and land a quick "G-Lady Upper", then hit her in the stomach with some "Chin Music". She cartwheels back to her feet and hits you in the face with one of those spinning folding fans, staggering you enough that you lose your footing a little bit and open yourself up to getting your head wrapped around her thighs as she flings you to the ground.
5879
5880You check your "Face" as you get back up off the floor and block what looks like the "Tail" of her "Outfit" lit aflame, Mai yelling something in Japanese again ("Ryuu-Enbu!") as you go for a grab, only to have it get broken as the two of you step back just a second.
5881
5882"She seems to be a "Hit-And-Run" type... Again, targeting my bones and joints instead of my muscles..."
5883
5884>A. Rush Mai down and overwhelm her defeses with punches & kicks. (Roll 1d20+1)
5885
5886>B. Let her come to you and counter-hit her blocked attacks. (Roll 2d20)
5887
5888>C. Try and out-space her with your longest-range punches, kicks & projectiles. (Roll 3d20)
5889
5890>D. Write-In Vote.
5891
5892-omitted one small post.
5893
5894-omitted one small post.
5895
5896-------------------------
5897
5898>>338942
5899>>338956
5900
5901"This chick makes Andy look like a sloth" you think as Mai runs towards you at an impressive pace. You try to feint a jab and see if you can fish out a counter-hit, but she backs away and goes for a high kick that pretty much reveals everything except her maiden name to you. You block it and try to go for a throw, but get hit by a flaming backflip kick. You roll onto the ground to try and blot out the flames and flip your hat back on while Mai tries crouch low and hit you in the head with an elbow.
5902
5903You block it and her follow-up "Ryuu-Enbu", quickly countering with a Left Hook that nearly knocks her off her feet and go for a "Rose Hurricane Kick" that launches her down the alleyway. She nearly gets knocked into her "Boy-toy" Andy before steadying herself up and running towards you again to try and get close. "Definitely from the "Hit-and-Run" school of fighting tatics" you think as you quickly throw out a a projectile as bait. She takes it and you jump in the air towards her, knocking her out of the sky with a hard kick that knocks her down to the ground. However she once again quickly gets up to her feet and smack you upside your head with that folding fan, then twirling around with two open fans. The impact hit harder than you thought it would and you once more have to adjust your "Face" as Mai tries to sweep you off of your feet with one of her long long legs.
5904
5905"Nice view." You block it and feint to try to hit some "Chin Music" (Well, more like "Chest Music" due to the height difference between the two of you), but once again block low with another one of those sweep kicks. "She even bounces down there? Andy's a lucky boy indeed." You take a quick hop to try and clear a third straight low sweep and sock Mai in the face with an elbow, then quickly combo into a Right Straight and your quick "G-Lady Upper".
5906
5907It takes a few seconds for Mai to get up off of the ground and shake your head at how revealing this outfit of hers is before launching a couple of fast projectiles to keep her on her toes. "The day I need to dress up like that to be attractive is the day I'll hang myself."
5908
5909"Your desperate tactics can't defeat the Shiranui!" she yells before tumbling towards you with her elbow outstretched. Though it's a strong enough attack that your guard feels slack, her recovery time from it gives you the opportunity to throw her into the ground with a Ippon Seoinage. "She feels... Almost weightless...?"
5910
5911>A. Switch to an uncompromising offense and rain down Punches & Kicks on Mai. (Roll 1d20+1)
5912
5913>B. Go on the defense and ram holes the size of semi-trucks through Mai's attacks. (Roll 2d20)
5914
5915>C. Keep up the spacing and counter-hits and you'll have this fight won for sure. (Roll 3d20)
5916
5917>D. Write-In Vote.
5918
5919-omitted one small post.
5920
5921-------------------------
5922
5923>>339070
5924>>339076
5925>>339142
5926
5927"It seems that "Hard and fast" would be best with her" you think as you watch Mai scramble to her feet and go for a Left Hook while she's vulnerable. Though she blocks your punch, her guard seems to be weakening as she can't quite counter it quick enough, so you transition into the "Rose Machinegun Combination", looking to break Mai's guard completely. Your hunch is proven right because she loses her footing and starts to get pummeled by the third hit. "Oops, can't break her too quickly... If something happens to this beautiful woman, it's the world's loss."
5928
5929You end the punch volley quickly and hit her out of her lame attempt to go for a hopping forward kick with a "Rose Hurricane Kick". However, Mai breaking her fall and smacking you with an overhead strike of her fan... Which you catch and lock in the Ude-Hishigi-Juji-Gatame. "The look on her face was priceless... Makes me wish I had a camera, or a way to frame it."
5930
5931"No doubt you're a burning man... But you can't stop me on guts alone" she says with a grimace, struggling to break out of the Arm Bar you've used to great effect so far. "And a girl as pretty, and tough as me just has to win this fight!"
5932
5933"Yep, she's my kind of girl alright... To hell with quiet types that don't know how to fight." "Sad to say, but I beg to differ" you retort, a bright golden glow starting to envelope your body as you let her go, "Power-Up" and...
5934
5935>A. Rush-in with a MAX'd "Phantom Pain" Desperation Move. (Roll 3d20)
5936
5937>B. Look for an opportunity to end this quickly & quietly; You don't want to break this doll just yet... (Roll 2d20)
5938
5939>C. Go for the MAX'd "G-Stinger" Desperation Move. (Roll 3d20)
5940
5941>D. Write-In Vote.
5942
5943>E. Make a hasty retreat. They're more than worthy to fight you another night, and what's the point of killing someone if they'll make you stronger in the long run? (Roll 1d20)
5944
5945-------------------------
5946
5947Lunch Break. Sorry for the delay.
5948
5949>>339212
5950>>339218
5951>>339249
5952
5953You take a look at Mai, her clothes only staying together through sheer willpower & determination and feel... Sorry for her? Pity? Jealousy that she bagged a guy like him? ... Or that you'd like her to be yours?
5954
5955"Not now... Time to finish this." you think as just when you start to feel some pity, Mai "Powers-Up" and leaps high into the air, cartwheeling down and towards you while lit on fire. The pain you feel through your forearms as you block it is excruciating and you feel like the sleeves of your suit have burnt away by the time it ends. She nearly collapses after landing on her feet and while you could've landed a "Phantom Pain" or a "G-Stinger", you simply grab her and fling her down to the ground with a "Ippon Seoinage".
5956
5957She arcs her back up in pain and looks totally spent as you look down at her, crossing your arms under your chest and trying to hide your gaze at Mai's... "Mais". "You're going to have to do more than that to defeat me."
5958
5959"Don't you... Don't you DARE touch her!" you hear Andy roar as he struggles to get up and then launches himself at you feet-first with some kind of spiraling dropkick. You easily block it and throw him to the ground next to Mai with a "Uchimata". 
5960
5961"A~ndy!" Mai yells, really dragging on that "Ahn"-sound and driving it into your skull.
5962
5963"I'm... Sorry Mai" he croaks before going to shoulder her from you and passing out in her arms.
5964
5965>A. Make a date for a rematch between the two of them; They were strong, and you like fighting strong warriors.
5966
5967>B. Grab a cellphone and call these two an ambulance before making a hasty getaway. (Roll 1d20)
5968
5969>C. Leave the two of them be and look for some new clothes to wear.
5970
5971>D. Write-In Vote.
5972
5973>E. Try to do something naughty.
5974
5975-omitted one small post.
5976
5977-omitted one small post.
5978
5979-------------------------
5980
5981>>339341
5982>>339356
5983
5984"I have a feeling that I'll run into them again... But..." You smile as you casually walk past them and grab a cellphone that's not yours, then leer at Mai huddled up around her man while you fiddle with the phone to check where exactly in South Town the three of you are. When you find out where you are, you immediately call 911 and ask for an ambulance to treat the "Happy Couple" crumpled together on the ground.
5985
5986As soon as you hang up with the paramedics, you turn around and tell Mai "I have to say, I kind of enjoyed the fight we had..." you tell her. "So, I'm going to let the two of you off easily."
5987
5988"Great... At least I don't have to worry about explaining why I lost to a freak like you to Tou-San, up in heaven" she starts to say before stopping to cry for a little bit.
5989
5990You shrug your shoulders and do a "It can't be helped" kind of pose you've seen in Anime, then state "Why should I kill the two of you? All great rivalries need someone stronger than the other to aspire to defeat... And both of you are more than worthy to fight me again, on some other night. Besides that, what's the point of killing someone if they'll make you stronger in the long run?"
5991
5992===
5993New Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmokwFEA12I
5994===
5995
5996"Though, now I suppose I should leave you with something to remember me by..." you say to her, half-sultry, half domineering as you inch closer to Mai, tears silently streaming down her cheeks now. "Oh, how I love this part... The feeling of helplessness, the fleeting hope that maybe I won't do what I like to do..."
5997
5998Mai looks away in disgust as you hold her hand in your cheek and give her a kiss, her eyes opening and looking at you in shock. You even slip your "Face" up a little to feel the pillow-like lips pressing next to your own, wiping away some of the tears before you swoop your coat around her, hold her tight and...
5999
6000===
6001>FADE TO BLACK
6002
6003>Some time later...
6004====
6005
6006You can tell by the look in her eyes that she enjoyed your little fun... But, as all good things have to come to an end, you leave her with your coat as you hear sirens coming, Mai's eyes widening when she realizes that you're a woman ("Damn men's cut suits. They always make me look flat as a board when I'm bigger than any KOF girl in history.")
6007
6008You can hear her yell "G... Get back here! One more match!" as you turn your back on her and quickly slink back into the shadows, where you belong.
6009
6010"Well, that was quite fun... I wonder what I should do now?"
6011
6012>A. Look for some new clothes that really highlight your feminine charms, or hide your gender even more than they do now...? (Please specify which with this vote)
6013
6014>B. Look for something to eat. Even though it's late, there probably is a 24-Hour eatery or something in South Town.
6015
6016>C. Look for another Target.
6017
6018>D. Write-In Vote.
6019
6020-------------------------
6021
6022Sorry Anons, but I'm going to have to put this thread on "Stand-By/Glacier Mode" for now. I hope to be back within an hour, but if not I'll post an update on my current situation and tally up the votes.
6023
6024Also, voting is open until I return and/or check back in.
6025
6026-------------------------
6027
6028>>339550
6029>>339602
6030
6031Well, traffic was a nightmare, every single errand I had to do took longer than expected (And EVERYBODY were complete A-Holes), I nearly got into a car accident 5 times just trying to get out of my town and on the road back home...
6032
6033But! I'm home, I'm ready to continue this until around 8PM PST/11 PM EST/Whatever GMT and [red]Option A[/red] takes the vote.
6034
6035>Pic Related: MFW trying to get home
6036
6037-omitted one small post.
6038
6039-------------------------
6040
6041>>339607
6042
6043I'll be back tomorrow Tiger.
6044
6045>>339917
6046>>339884
6047
6048Fuck it, no more color votes, bolds or italics until this shit sorts itself out. I've had too long of a day to deal with it right now...
6049
6050>>339550
6051>>339602
6052
6053>Updates Resume
6054
6055Though you feel the pangs of hunger, it's late enough at night that you can't think of a restaurant that's open off of the top of your head. So, you hot-foot it to the nearest mall, looking around for a place that might be open to try and score a new suit. Unfortunately, it turns out to be too late for practically anywhere to be open outside of nightclubs, bars, strip joints and a few seedy-looking eateries you couldn't be paid to set foot in (Except that one Donut Shop with the Korean-Language sign).
6056
6057"Hmm... Oh where, oh where can I go to get a couple of suits at this hour?" you hear yourself thinking out loud as you perch on a stoop overlooking a "Mini-Mall" on the corner of a hunting & dry goods supply store and a pawn shop.
6058
6059That's when your eyes notice a security guard forgetting to lock up the service entrance to the Mini-Mall, the cogs in your mind turning gears, which in turn get Rod A to move Fulcrum B, which Pivots on Lever C... In short, within seconds you sneak inside the back of the mini-mall without so much as a sound or any kind of metal detectors going off and find a Men's shop that has several different cuts of suit available. 
6060
6061You can't place why you're attracted to Men's Cut Suits either... Maybe it was the look on Mai's face when she put 2 & 2 together? Maybe it's the thought that someone so strong, such a menace in the night was a Woman, people wouldn't take you seriously? Whatever the case, You've picked 4 suits and start to quickly hold them up to your frame in a full-length body-mirror.
6062
6063>A. American "Ivy-League" Cut.
6064
6065>B. English "Dandy" Cut.
6066
6067>C. Itallian Cut.
6068
6069>D. The crazy Purple Zoot-Suit you found in the back.
6070
6071>E. Leave the store. You're a woman of principle and stealing clothes isn't your style at all.
6072
6073-------------------------
6074
6075>>340104
6076
6077No Problem Tiger. I'll be back same time I started tomorrow.
6078
6079>>340180
6080
6081Seems that way. Also had to get dinner started, so sorry for the delay.
6082
6083>>340027
6084
6085At first, you didn't think much of the Zoot-Suit and go for the "Dandy"-Cut suit, old reruns of "Downtown Abbey" filling your head as you look at it in the mirror... But you find that the Zoot-Suit is kind-of reversible and has a Yellow underside that, when out in the open and under the watch of your eyes, makes you kind of look like a Japanese version of that one comic book character, "The Mask"... And you can't say no to that. You quickly put the other two back and take a long look around the mini-mall, the eerie feeling of being all alone in still silence in a place where such things are rare pleasures indeed sit well with you.
6086
6087"I AM a creature of the night, after all" you think as you take another long look around, craving something to eat and your stomach groaning in protest. Sadly, every single place that even looks like it could serve food is shuttered up, though there's a jewelry store just a ways away from a Schnitzel Cart that catches your eye...
6088
6089>A. Slip out of the mall, get some stuff from the Donut Shop and look for a place to crash in; South Town is just full on abandoned buildings if you know where to look (Roll 1d20)
6090
6091>B. Look for a place to bunk down for the "Night"; You feel that the dawn is coming and you don't like being out in the day unless you absolutely have to.
6092
6093>C. See if you can get some jewelry to go with your new suits; You haven't tripped any security codes or alarms as far as you can tell... (Roll 2d20)
6094
6095>D. Write-In Vote.
6096
6097-------------------------
6098
6099>>340280
6100>>340296
6101
6102You take a look at the Jewelry store's impeccable front window display, your stomach starting to make audible noises and inspect whether or not you can easily break in and get some rings, or a necklace or something to go with your new suits. To your dismay, it seems as though there's some kind of laser-guided tripwire security system installed and you're not really flexible (Or skinny) enough to safely get inside.
6103
6104"I better grab some munchies for the road" you think as you quickly shear off the lock of the Schnitzel Cart's storage lockers and grab some leftover meat, a small cup of "Belgium Fries" and a soda before quietly leaving the way you had gotten in, the security guard snoring like a new-born baby while you let yourself out and try to blend into the mean streets of South Town...
6105
6106"Wonder where I could go to sleep?" you think while stifling a yawn. The penthouse you woke up in is a no-go, especially if that "Katja Hartkern" chick was some mobster's mistress or something and while a hotel would make sense, you hate having to try and talk to others with your "Face" on... "It's not too cold either... I could probably nap on a park bench in this kind of weather" you murmur to yourself as you look around for a taxi while bathed in a neon glow.
6107
6108>A. Swallow your pride and get a room at a cheap hotel; You're getting tired.
6109
6110>B. Look around for an abandoned building to squat in or something. (Roll 1d20)
6111
6112>C. Eat your "Munchies" out in South Town National Park or even on Sound Beach and sleep under the stars tonight.
6113
6114>D. Write-In Vote.
6115
6116>E. Look into a mirror and realize what you have become.
6117
6118===
6119
6120And that's it for today everybody! Thanks to all that participated. I plan to continue this tomorrow at the usual 10 AM PST/1 PM EST/5 PM GMT starting time, but if anything goes down I'll post an update in this thread and on my Twitter feed at the top of the page.
6121
6122Lastly, the Vote is still open and I'll be around to answer any questions for a little bit. (Yeah, I know, I promised the other Original Character bios & movesets; They'll show up eventually.)
6123
6124-------------------------
6125
6126>>340341
6127
6128And archived early on sup/tg/ just in case any mis-archivists are at it again: 
6129
6130http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/338441/
6131
6132Meanwhile, I'm signing off for the night and returning around, oh, 12 hours or so. Have a couple of classic KOF-Related videos to watch before the next session begins.
6133
6134https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMHCRnyCpNA
6135
6136https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0-Cce3gs-Q
6137
6138-------------------------
6139
6140>>340480
6141>>340958
6142
6143OK, I'm up and at'em for today's session. Option B wins the vote and I'll have an update in ASAP. (Two of my usual early-morning Wi-Fi spots were down and I had to hoof it to get to my third choice quickly.)
6144
6145-------------------------
6146
6147>>340341
6148
6149>Updates Resume
6150
6151>You are still G-Mantle Lady
6152
6153You fruitlessly looked around for a taxi cab for nearly an hour, sticking to back streets when you hear police sirens off in the distance every now and then. And while the weather is pleasant enough that you could probably get away with sleeping out under the stars in that big national park to the north-west or on the beach that's to the south-east, you can feel in the air that a storm is coming and figure that it would be a good idea to find some more permanent lodgings.
6154
6155A couple of cheap motels pass your vision, though in truth you don't really like dealing with other people all that much outside of fighting. Trying to explain why you wear your mask all the time is almost always going to be a topic of conversation and, really, even as bizarre as South Town is trying to get a hotelier to accept cash for someone trying to get a room under an assumed identity, at this hour, is just asking for trouble...
6156
6157So, you look towards the west, specifically abandoned buildings that "Squatters" occupy and find one that looks to be in better shape than all of the others. "Here goes..." You knock on the door and, to your surprise, a sliding slit that was hidden opens up and a pair of eyes look down on you. 
6158
6159"What's the password?" a gruff voice asks you from behind the door.
6160
6161You take a moment to think about the nature of this city, as well as one of the more unique local customs you've heard of... And reply with two words:
6162
6163"Gravel Turkey."
6164
6165The guy on the other side takes a moment, then tells "Eh, it's close enough. Come on in."
6166
6167You nod, then take a look inside what looks like some kind of "Karate hobo" condominium, old fight posters hanging from the walls and a couple of known "Names" you've heard of on the underground fight circuit just hanging around.
6168
6169"Welcome to Shangri-La" the guy from behind you tells you. "I don't think I've seen you around here before though..." he adds.
6170
6171"I'm new" you curtly reply, crossing your arms as you gaze at such a scene. "Damn, I guess I really am one of these types after all... Well, I do have the kind of spirit they show."
6172
6173"Well, we're a tight-nit group, so we're not exactly open to outsiders" the doorman (Some kind of Pro-Wrestler wearing a shark mask on his head) tells you. "I need to know who you are and why you're here."
6174
6175>A. Meet this bum's conditions to sleep here for tonight.
6176
6177>B. Decline and seek better lodging quickly; The dawn is coming and you aren't a fan of being seen in broad daylight.
6178
6179>C. "Don't concern yourself with my past. It has no interest to you." (Roll 1d20)
6180
6181>D. Write-In Vote.
6182
6183>E. Challenge the old geezer to a fight. You can take him.
6184
6185-------------------------
6186
6187>>341258
6188
6189We ain't sleeping right now SleepyAnon. Nice to see you again BTW.
6190
6191>>341335
6192
6193Nope! Internet's slow where I'm at.
6194
6195>>341257
6196
6197>Wellp.jpeg
6198
6199>>341253
6200
6201"This is not the time to start talking about my true identity... Better use the "G-Mantle Mind-Trick" to shut this geezer up." "Don't concern yourself with my past. It has no interest to you" you calmly tell him after spinning around to face him, subtly spiking up your Ki and aura to show that you mean business.
6202
6203He seems to back up off of you and holds his hands out. "OK, OK, sheesh... We only ask that if you're trying to hide from the cops, because if they found out that we're all in here they'll evict us again" the doorman explains.
6204
6205"I made sure that I wasn't followed" you swiftly tell him, then take a look around the first floor of this curiously large building. You pass by the restrooms and offer up a silent prayer to "Un-See" what you caught glimpses of, hear a room of old arcade machines being put to good use before you spot them ("Probably set on "Free-Play".") and poke your head on gambling den of-sorts before the door that lead to it closes and you hear some guy clear his throat.
6206
6207"Sorry, can't let you in there if you're not a member" some ex-paramilitary guy looking like he had stepped straight of a Vietnam-era War movie tells you.
6208
6209"Oh? I apologize" you calmly tell him, your eyes starting to get drowsy and your voice starting to "Crack" and fade into some kind of weird, almost "Orcish" accent you've never heard before.
6210
6211>A. Ask "Tuba Ted" here where the sleeping quarters are at.
6212
6213>B. Head back to the "Game Room" and see what they have; The mental stimulation might keep your mind sharp enough to stay awake for a little longer.
6214
6215>C. Keep walking and check out the second floor of this sprawling place.
6216
6217>D. Write-In Vote.
6218
6219-------------------------
6220
6221>>341359
6222
6223You haven't really missed much to be honest. I got so bogged down with personal issues that I felt that running this on /tg/ wouldn't have done much to help the playerbase grow... Plus, I like the formatting and larger text fields for updates.
6224
6225>>341350
6226
6227"Is that a Tuba sticking out of his bag? ... Whatever." "Do you happen to know where the sleeping quarters are here in Shangri-La...?"
6228
6229"It's Ted" the burly guy in fatigues tells you, adding "And there aren't any real defined sleeping spots here. Just pick an empty room and huddle up with whatever you can find."
6230
6231"I see... I suppose I'll have to bring in my own bedding & supplies?" you ask.
6232
6233"I think there's a guy up on the 4th floor that sells that kind of stuff, but you have to fight him for it."
6234
6235"Of course you'd have to fight for supplies in a place like this..." You nod and give "Tuba Ted" a decent-enough salute annd alk around the very back of the first floor of "Shangri-La", passing by a couple of occupied rooms filled with relatively normal-looking people before finding a set of stairs going up.
6236
6237"I wonder how many floors there are to this place?" You trudge up the stairs and see some weird, random junk piled up in the corner and take a left, spotting a guy with vacant eyes, a lobotomy scar across his head and a bright blue beard walking towards you. 
6238
6239"He's dressed like he broke out of prison and stole some pimp's coat." You can hear him muttering "The lord hates motherfuckers. The lord will smite motherfuckers" to himself over and over... Until he spots you and asks "You! Are you a Motherfucker?!"
6240
6241>A. "No sir, I am not."
6242
6243>B. "What would you do if I was?".
6244
6245>C. Don't even reply to this guy and keep walking; Your body's strength is starting to drain due to your tiredness and he looks strong. (Roll 1d20)
6246
6247>D. Write-In Vote.
6248
6249-------------------------
6250
6251>>341429
6252>>341433
6253
6254Any other time of your "Day", you would've said "That is something I aspire to be" to this oddly-creepy man, kick his bald ass and move on with your life... But, you're tired and need sleep, so you quietly & quickly walk past him and duck through a side door, a group of hardened fighters seemingly swapping advice around a campfire and oblivious to your presence.
6255
6256"Well, that depends on the environment I think. I personally think Hon-Fu would destroy Rob Python if they were fighting in an antique furniture store using only ladders, small bedside tables and bin lids, all while stopping priceless Ming vases from shattering on the floor" One of them (An unkempt, older Karateka with the nose of a drunkard and flies surrounding him) explains.
6257
6258"That's assuming Python was looking for his friend by the name of Trabble. And as all of you know by now, Hon-Fu don't want no trabble" a different guy dressed like an out-of-work butler (Complete with a monocle) adds, getting a round of laughs out of the camp fire, the cleanest-looking guy among them (An old man in a stylish purple qi-pao and a braided ponytail) laughing the loudest.
6259
6260"Hmm... I suppose it would be rude to just barge in and sit right next to one of them out of nowhere... Then again, the Chinese man has an aura about him that's telling me to getout of here...?
6261
6262>A. Introduce yourself and ask them if you could crash here for tonight. (Roll 1d20)
6263
6264>B. Listen to these guys swap more stories and beat around the bush in the shadows of the room. (Roll 1d20)
6265
6266>C. Quietly slink back into the main hallway you ducked out of and look for an unoccupied room to sleep in.
6267
6268>D. Write-In Vote.
6269
6270>E. Pass out where you are and fall asleep.
6271
6272-------------------------
6273
6274>>341510
6275>>341519
6276>>341537
6277
6278"Screw it, they seem to be a friendly bunch." "Care to hear one of my stories?" you ask and the whole circle turn their heads to take a look at you. "I'm... G. Charmed to meet you all" you say with a gloved hand outstretched, all but the weird bull of a man dressed in an actual Bull mask giving you a handshake back.
6279
6280"What brings to Shangri-La, Mr. G?" the pony-tailed Kung-Fu master asks as you sit down across from him.
6281
6282"Shit, I didn't think this through... Fuck it, I'll just improvise... No, wait, be honest." "Well, I got into street fighting some time ago and the life I was living wasn't really cutting it for me... So, I put on this mask, exchanged blows with a couple of Ninjas tonight, gave them my best and looked for a place to stay for the time being."
6283
6284"Kisaragi? They've been prowling around for a while now" the smelly guy asks.
6285
6286"I don't think so... I want to say that they were "Shiranui" ninjas? The guy was a a tool and the girl was dressed like a stripper" you explain, adding "Not that I minded..." under your breath.
6287
6288"Feh! Bunch of worthless piggybacking on Dog-Style Kung-Fu mixed in with bullshit weeb bait" a guy with thick-rimmed glasses and a fedora pipes in. "I actually hope for the next KOF to have a distinct lack of women so it can win on its own merits."
6289
6290That gets a couple of groans out of the campfire group, with one guy countering with "Every fighting tournament worth its name has a sizable female presence to attract secondaries; It has always been, it will always be."
6291
6292"And that suddenly makes it right? Fuck the waifufags, a fighting tournament should be popular on the strength of the fights alone, not on blatant fetishism" the "Tryhard Coolguy" in the fedora argues.
6293
6294>A. Interject with "The fuck does this mean? Are you going to cut women out just because you are gay or something? Most female fighters in KOF are actually interesting to watch.
6295".
6296
6297>B. Let these fools bicker among each other until "Master Wuxia" (The Pony-Tailed Guy) breaks it up.
6298
6299>C. Ask the old guy directly in front of you if you can go to sleep here.
6300
6301>D. Write-In Vote.
6302
6303-------------------------
6304
6305>>341611
6306>>341609
6307>>341620
6308
6309"Nope, not stepping my foot into this pile of shit conversation. Time for bed" "Sir? Could I sleep here tonight?" you ask, the sound of three guys arguing over whether or not women have a place in King of Fighters tournaments blaring around you ("So women are a fetish now?" "They're a distraction and a crutch." "You don't watch KOF and you never fucking have. that's extremely evident from listening to you.").
6310
6311"THAT'S ENOUGH!" the Asian Kung-Fu fighter roar, the fire nearly going out before kicking back up again. "Master Wuxia" (Not his real name, but he DOES look like he came from an old Chinese Epic) turns to you and says "Of course! grab a bunk and take a rest off of your shoulders."
6312
6313You nod, then get up and bow to him before walking away from the campfire (Which is in a pretty awesome stone pit they made out of rocks & concrete, now that you take a second glance at it) and quickly fall asleep on the hard bunk-bed, not even bothering to take off your hat or your mask.
6314
6315===
6316>Some Time Later...
6317===
6318
6319You let out a long yawn and stretch out your arms as you wake up. You feel oddly refreshed as you stretch out your body a little on the bunk bed and hop down to see that the fire's died down to a pile of ashes and that Wuxia guy's sleeping in a full "V-Sit" pose.
6320
6321'That's... Impressive..."
6322
6323>A. Find a more spacious room and go through a warm-up routine to check to see how damaged your might be after last night.
6324
6325>B. Head back downstairs and check out Shangri-La's "Game-Room'.
6326
6327>C. Take the time to explore the whole building that encapsulates "Shangri-La".
6328
6329>D. Write-In Vote.
6330
6331-------------------------
6332
6333>>341680
6334>>341681
6335
6336You leave the Kung-Fu wizard be and quietly walk out through a different door than the one you walked into last night, finding the room where bull-head guy and the wrestler are sleeping. "Better tip-toe around them and check how I look in the mirror" you think as you gracefully avoid their hulking, sweaty frames and take a look at yourself in the mirror and find that your more well-endowed than you thought, especially in your suit.
6337
6338"I wonder why Mai was so shocked? Did I really fool her with these?" you think as you quickly feel yourself up a little, the heft of your chest quite shocking really. "Probably just in shock, then..."
6339
6340You quickly head of the extra room and grab your bags, heading out in the main hallway and looking around to find an open room on the second floor of "Shangri-La" that's big enough for you to train in... And find a room filled with old, rusting gym equipment and a relatively-new mat. "Perfect."
6341
6342You unbutton your jacket, take off your hat and loosen the cuffs on your shirt's sleeves before starting up your "Warm-up" routine, stretching slowly at first and then really going for it near the end. "Surprising that I don't feel any worse for wear after last night... I suppose I didn't take all that much damage from either of them, but still..." By the end of your stretching you feel limber enough to try a couple of "Body-weight" exercises you were taught by... Somebody... "Damn it, what was his name?" you think, trying to recall who taught you your fighting skills. 
6343
6344Unfortunately, no one sprigs to mind but you get through your body-weight exercises with ease and have worked up a good sweat, your "Face" nearly falling off a couple of times during a "Cool-Down" set of sit-ups.
6345
6346>A. Head out of "Shangri-La" and look for something to eat.
6347
6348>B. Take a quiet moment to sit and tap into your inner Ki. (Roll 1d20)
6349
6350>C. Take the time to explore this whole building that encapsulates "Shangri-La"; You're going to be staying here for a while.
6351
6352>D. Write-In Vote.
6353
6354-------------------------
6355
6356>>341800
6357>>341806
6358>>341815
6359
6360While part of you feels like exploring the rest of this sprawling building called "Shangri-La", you can feel something deep inside of you that's almost calling out for attention and pause to try and listen.
6361
6362>"So I'm a monster then!? Some bloody Frankenstein you made for a giggle while doin' whatever the fuck you did fer'a"-
6363
6364"That voice... Where have I heard it before?" You sit in the "Lotus Pose" on the mat and slowly, but surely begin to try and tap into the deepest part of your Ki, the real power behind all of your attacks... And find that it's a ball of confusion that almost hurts to "Touch" at first.
6365
6366You follow advice you don't recall hearing and take five long, slow, easy breaths while closing your eyes. Then you find the source of your Ki and hold it in the palm of "Your" hand. The Ki is almost... Purple? Violet at the very least and tinged with the electricity you saw flashes of last night fighting Andy & Mai, though it still somewhat burns your hands and numbs your touch if you do it for too long. "Where's that voice? I need to hear that voice again..."
6367
6368"That's impressive" you hear a voice from beyond your consciousness say. You open your eyes and see that "Master Wuxia" guy standing in the doorway, his arms crossed and glaring down at you. "Who taught you how to tap into the Ki our bodies all have?" he asks with a hint of concern in his voice.
6369
6370>A. "... I don't remember."
6371
6372>B. Don't talk to him about it and get going out of "Shangri-La"; You're getting hungry.
6373
6374>C. "Like I told the man at the door, my past is no concern to you, or anyone else." (Roll 1d20)
6375
6376>D. Write-In Vote.
6377
6378>E. "Why don' we take it outside and you can find out?"
6379
6380-------------------------
6381
6382>>341906
6383>>341909
6384
6385You glare it him through your mask, his eyebrows raising as he mimics a look you saw Andy & Mai make last night ("That... That mask just made a face at me?") while you draw back your Ki. "Why do they all do that? It's just my face." "I think I'll grab something to eat..." is all you say as you pick yourself up off the floor and brush past him. "Why does anyone want to know about a monster like me?" 
6386
6387"You know, I always found that there two reasons to wear a mask: To hide from who you really are... And to improve yourself beyond, or maybe even become someone your mind couldn't ha've possibly imagined" "Master Wuxia" casually says before leaving the room and heading back down to the first floor.
6388
6389"... Fuck... He's right..." From the pounding you hear from up above your head, he's probably training himself up there, though you don't think too much into it as you pass a couple of guys milling around the "Game Room" and tell the doorman (Somebody different from last night) "I'll be back..."
6390
6391"OK, you're cool to return" he says as you step back out onto the mean streets of South Town, looking to sate your actual hunger before trying to quench your thirst for battle... "Mid-Afternoon? Damn it all, how can I hide in the shadows during the middle of the damn day? ... Fuck it, I'm too hungry to argue."
6392
6393>A. Go into the first restaurant you see and eat. If they can't handle you and the mask you wear, walk out and try the next one ad ifinitum. (Roll 1d20)
6394
6395>B. Look for a taxi and hit up "The Pao Pao Cafe"; You'll blend in easily there.
6396
6397>C. Hit up the nearest Grocery Store and bring some stuff back to make your own food in that "Fire Pit" on Shangri-La's second floor.
6398
6399>D. Write-In Vote.
6400
6401>E. Mug somebody for lunch money. (Roll 1d100 and post a picture of the unlucky victim. Highest roll among these votes will "Win".)
6402
6403-omitted one small post.
6404
6405-------------------------
6406
6407>>342103
6408We take off the mask when we eat, but aren't aware of doing so.
6409
6410>>342010
6411>>342121
6412
6413You get a kind of "Spring" to your step as you look around for some place to eat, a confidence in your abilities and especially your look that exudes the saying "This is me. Take it or leave it." 'Whatever that is smells heavenly..." You let your nose guide you, smelling some bacon and walking into the kind of "Down-home" local fast-food place that's becoming all-too rare nowadays.
6414
6415The interior looks like it's styled after a typical 1950's diner as the cashier looks at you with a thousand-yard stare, but you don't mind the decor and take a seat in a plush booth, patiently waiting for a waitress or somebody to give you a menu... But, you get a sinking feeling in your gut when you see an older man in a tie come out to talk to you ("Probably the manager.") "Is there something wrong?"
6416
6417"We don't serve gang members here" he plainly states.
6418
6419"Gang? Who would want to wear my clothes and face in this town?" "What do you mean?"
6420
6421"Look, you can try to say whatever you want as a excuse, but we do not serve members of "The Magicians Guild" gang, or whoever! Now get out of here before I have to call the cops!" he yells.
6422
6423You give him a look that could kill a lesser man, but it seems as though this guy is made of sterner stuff than usual and simply nod and take your leave, telling him "A shame... You just lost a regular customer" before slamming the door shut on your way out.
6424
6425"God damn it, and I really wanted that bacon burger they had on that poster too..." You hear your stomach growl back at you and spot a Fried Chicken place that could be good (>Pic Related), but you notice what seems like a gang is loitering outside the front entrance. 
6426
6427"What in the... They're all dressed up like...? What the fuck? THAT is what passes for a "Gang" nowadays? Pitiful." "Seems it's time to clean house" you mumble to yourself as you take a couple of steps toward them.
6428
6429>Roll 1d100 and suggest a theme (With Pictures!) for the "Gang" blocking your path to food; Highest roll wins, only unique IDs can roll (No switching votes)
6430
6431-omitted one small post.
6432
6433-omitted one small post.
6434
6435-------------------------
6436
6437>>342587
6438
6439>WellShit.png
6440
6441>>342207
6442>>342264
6443
6444On second glance, the gang outside of a local(?) fried-chicken place is a group of young highschool girls trying to mimic the looks, style and mannerisms of stereotypical Japanese delinquents, right down to the wildly styled ad colored hair... Yet, if you can recall correctly, all of them are dressed like MALE delinquents? The fuck is that shit?
6445
6446"Maybe they're Junior-High girls?" you think as you approach them, none of them looking remotely Asian as they stop to sneer & leer at you.
6447
6448"Oi! What the fuck do you think you're trying to pull, you fake-ass V for Vendetta fag?!" one of them asks. 
6449
6450"What, I can't go inside to get something to eat?" you plainly ask as the rest of this gets ready and look like they're just waiting for an excuse to try and to beat you into the ground.
6451
6452"This is the meeting place for The Imoutos and the only chicken we serve are two piece and a biscuit combos!" the 
6453
6454"Well then... I'm not exactly the type to beat up little girls like yourselves, but" you start to menacingly say, but cut off by "The Imouto's" so-called "Leader".
6455
6456"Oh what, now you want to bring breasts size into this bitch?!" she asks, the others slowly starting to brandish different, obnoxiously-colored weapons out of their clothes. "When a Flat-Chested girl hugs you, you're closer to her heart than with some big-tittied cowslut!"
6457
6458"Oh dear... She seems like she has no rational judgement" you think as you get into your "I give no fucks" fighting stance with a backdrop of little girls chanting "DFC! DFC! DFC!"
6459
6460>A. Go after their leader first; The rest might just scatter if you take her out quick enough (Roll 1d20)
6461
6462>B. Take them all on at once. None of them look strong enough o pose a challenge to you on-on-one and you want to make this interesting
6463
6464>C. Let them attack you and shrug off their attacks to strike the Fear of G-Mantle Lady in their hearts (Roll 3d20)
6465
6466>D. Write-In Vote.
6467
6468-omitted one small post.
6469
6470-------------------------
6471
6472Apologies for the delay; "Team Jerk Ass" have arrived.
6473
6474>>343004
6475
6476No problem Tiger. In the words of Wolfgang Krauser: "Sleep well!"
6477
6478>>343061
6479>>342903
6480
6481You take a good, long look at the motley crew of young girls trying to look mean and menacing and can't help but laugh. "Come at me, with all your might!" you yell. As you expected most of "The Imoutos" look pensive after you said that, but their "Leader" (Some Brunette that's thin as a rail and wearing a flowing white trench coat, matching pants, some black boots and a chest bandage) swallows some pride and goes to sock you in your "Face". 
6482
6483You try to hold back a chuckle when she recoils in pain shaking her hand, then tell her "You have courage. I like that" before chucking her over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes with an Uchimata. You look down to see that she tried to sweep you off of your feet before getting up, but you don't even budge.
6484
6485"Chris Brown this motherfucker!" one of the others on the sideline yells (Same outfit as the "Leader", but in Blue with Pink Hair and a Train Conductor's hat with a cut in the brim) and the whole group tries to take you down. You blast a couple of them away with the fastest "G-Lady Shot" you could throw, but the few that could get through or avoid it try to take you down to the ground by grabbing on to your arms and legs.
6486
6487You hear yourself laugh as you twirl around like a ballerina and fling a couple of them hanging from your arms off of you, though it takes all of your reflexes to try and break through one of the "Really now... You hit like this and call yourself a gang?" you rhetorically ask as you feel a baseball bat get bent across your "Face", then watch it shatter and see the "Leader" girl from before try to tackle you the ground when you weren't looking.
6488
6489"I'm going to Okonkwo Rape you so FUCKING HARD after this!" she grunts, but there's no effort to her grab and you toss her to the ground with a Ippon Seoinage as the rest start to scatter in fright.
6490
6491"What the hell's going on?" a girl from inside asks as she steps out of the place. You turn to see she's quite a looker, even with that silly eyepatch and the short hair... Though, she's just a tad too young for your tastes.
6492
6493>A. Tell her that her crew were acting like dicks in the nicest way possible. (Roll 1d20)
6494
6495>B. Shrug your shoulders and walk inside without saying anything.
6496
6497>C. "It seems as though your crew got scared of lil' ole' me" and walk inside to get some food.
6498
6499>D. Write-In Vote.
6500
6501>E. "G-Stinger" this bitch. (Roll 3d20)
6502
6503-------------------------
6504
6505>>343168
6506>>343172
6507
6508You simply say "It seems as though your crew got scared of lil' ole' me", then walk past her like she was't even standing there and head inside to get some food. 
6509
6510The cashier (An older gentleman) looks outside and asks "Did you break up those punks outside?", then smiles when you nod. "Take whatever you want on the house."
6511
6512"That's generous of him" you think, then give him a quick "Thank you" before getting a half-order of the regular chicken, some coleslaw and a soda. "The weren't all that tough" you ponder as you take a seat and quickly take off your "Face" and jacket for a brief moment when the beanpole from before points to you in the window, though when the eye-patch girl looks at you, she seems to go off on the beanpole in Japanese as the two of them shoulder each other down the street.
6513
6514"Ah, the folly of youth" you think out loud as you slip your "Face" back on and eat your meal in peace and quiet, the older guy explaining how "The Imoutos" had been harming business and wrecking bits and pieces of the shop for protection money... Which sounds like the saddest thing ever, but at the same time is fairly typical for a town like this. "I could never be a hero" you think with a sigh as the sun starts to slowly begin to set. "Too much work & hassle to ty and keep up appearances and be someone I'm not..."
6515
6516"Again, thank you for the meal" you tell him, leaving $5 for a tip before you head back out into the streets, catching a cab quickly and pondering where you should go next...
6517
6518>A. Tell him you want to head towards "Natural Park" in Central City's suburbs; You want to continue your Ki training from earlier there under the moonlit night.
6519
6520>B. Go to Chinatown and cruise for some more people to fight; Those schoolgirls couldn't even begin to scratch your itch for combat.
6521
6522>C. Tell him you want to go to the "Dream Amusement Park" on East Island; You haven't been to one in ages and feel like clowning around before night falls.
6523
6524>D, Write-In Vote.
6525
6526-------------------------
6527
6528>>343241
6529>>343249
6530
6531"Natural Park, please" you tell him, then sit back and relax, falling asleep halfway through the ride. When you wake up, you're at the entrance to the park with the sun setting at your back.
6532
6533"OK, that'll be $60 mack" the cabby tells you.
6534
6535You flash a $100 bill and get your change, then bow to him after getting out of the cab and start to walk through one of the hidden wonders of South Town, a "Park" that makes Ney York City's central park look tiny and quaint by comparison. Though it's just close enough to Central City's suburbs that you can see the white-picket fences on some of their houses if you find a mountain tall enough to climb, the environment and eco-system is closer to that of an equatorial forest with some exotic animals living here. Interestingly, there's also a farm and a small airfield somewhere farther north, though you don't travel that far and instead head towards the first clearing you can find that's far enough away from the din of of the highways.
6536
6537"What is it about being among nature that's so... Calming to my senses?" you wonder as you take a seat under an ancient, massive tree and slowly, calmly collect your thoughts and try to tap into your Ki like you had back in "Shangri-La". To your surprise, it's like flipping on a light switch compared to before and you have no problem at all drawing out your latent power, the purple glow starting to really shine as the sun sets and the sky darkens. After a while, you draw your inner Ki back into your body and stand up from under the tree, walking out to the clearing with a clear picture of what you want to train in your mind...
6538
6539>A. Focus on improving your current "G-Lady Shot" even further, reducing the time it takes to fire one off as well as how powerful they might become. (Roll 1d20)
6540
6541>B. Try to mimic the kind of "Ground-Skimming" projectiles Iori Yagami & Geese Howard use and transform the "G-Lady Shot" into something different. (Roll 3d20)
6542
6543>C. Thick long and hard about making a kind of "Super-Projectile" to use as a new Desperation Move, then practice it with a clear mind. (Roll 3d20 and come up with an idea for what this new DM could be; Pictures are encouraged with this vote.)
6544
6545>D. Practice adding an Aerial version of the "G-Lady Shot" to your repertoire, like how some members of the Sakazaki family used to use (Roll 2d20).
6546
6547>E. Write-In Vote.
6548
6549===
6550
6551And that's the thread everybody! Thanks for all of y'all supporting this quest. I'll be back tomorrow at the usual time (10 AM PST/1 PM EST/5 PM GMT)
6552
6553>Player Question:
6554How long should I run these sessions? I get the distinct feeling that I lose some players near the end of each thread and part of me wants to sign off on a high, rather than let things slow to a crawl...
6555
6556>Bonus Question:
6557Thoughts so far as we live our life under the influence of "G-Mantle's" Mask?
6558
6559-omitted one small post.
6560
6561-------------------------
6562
6563>>343347
6564
6565>It may be just a couple just pass out? I know I should have gone to bed a couple hours ago if I get the job tomorrow.
6566
6567Well that's the thing, I feel like I can get more done in a 5 hour window than a "5 Hour Window, 1-2 Hour break, 2-3 hour window" kind of schedule. That, and I think it kind of gives the most amount of input for each and every vote.
6568
6569>Though I don't quite get being lady g-mantle though. Could also be from being hot as fuck and tired as hell.
6570
6571The MC has been haunted by a mask after doing some FightChan-approved stuff to get rid of a ghost. She's tried to break the mask twice and throw it off of a bridge, but then decides to let FightChan decide what she should do with it... And then some Anon gets Quints and posts "Put it on".
6572
6573In short, we've been possessed by the mask and don't know the wiser. As for who the MC is, she's NOT the "Original" Katja Hartkern from my first stab at a King of Fighters Quest.
6574
6575Also, I forgot to add that the vote is open until tomorrow when I check in at around 9 AM PST or so.
6576
6577-omitted one small post.
6578
6579-------------------------
6580
6581>>344388
6582>>344421
6583
6584You rotate your arms a little, stretching them out a bit before trying to pin down your new idea of a projectile and fire off a few more. Still, you get a kind of mini-uppercut feel to your attempts at a ground-skimming projectile even after you change up how you hold the Ki in your hands, where you release it, even how you throw it...
6585
6586"Well, it's not lacking for power..." you think as you finally start to see some electricity seep into your attacks. "But it lacks range... And I can't get it to actually form on the ground consistently..." You spend about an hour going through all of the different kinds of hand positions, motions, where to release the Ki, where to focus the Ki... And in the end, the best you can cone up with for now is some kind of odd psuedo-projectile that looks like something that one KOF Boxer who keeps getting his invitations stolen would use.
6587
6588"It's not bad... But not what I want" you hear yourself murmur as you get one of them to actually form on the ground for half a second before it fizzles out in a cloud of dust. You take a moment to pause and look up at the moon shining down on you and giving the clearing a pale glow. "This is quite lovely... I'll have to do these kind of training things at night more often."
6589
6590Smelling the air and feeling the wind pick up and blow through you is an... Oddly calming thing, as you can feel your Ki subside into something more familiar to your body. Part of you wants to keep going and really get this projectile into your arsenal of special attacks, but on the other hand too much Ki usage can lead to greater fatigue down the road...
6591
6592>A. Rest up and try to get the Ground-Skimming projectile down one last time. (Roll 3d20)
6593
6594>B. Do some Kata drills and focus on improving your striking some more. (Roll 1d20)
6595
6596>C. Head back through "Natural Park" and descend into South Town itself; You want to scratch a fighting itch that's been nagging you before getting another meal.
6597
6598>D. Write-In Vote.
6599
6600-omitted one small post.
6601
6602-------------------------
6603
6604>>344708
6605>>344714
6606>>344731
6607
6608>G-Mantle Lady's Striking has Improved! A +2 modifier has been added to certain future rolls!
6609
6610As much as you want to try and really nail down the kind of projectile you really want, there will be time to do it another day. Besides, you did a pretty good job for just the first day and if you can't actually get what you want in time, you've at least got a base idea for a new Special Move (Though you're not really the kind of fighter that would through Ki-Enhanced sand in people's faces).
6611
6612"Time to focus on the muscles" you think as you do a few stretches and then spend some time on a couple of different "Katas": One focused on punches, one focused on kicks, and one that uses all of your limbs as well as movement. You pass through them all with flying colors, the moon rising as you start up the "Combined" Kata. Time seems to melt as you quickly get through it, your hands & feet almost blurring in your vision as you do a clipped version of your "Phantom Pain" desperation move, finishing with an uppercut that nearly lights up the whole clearing.
6613
6614"OK, that's a good sweat for now... Let's see how much I've got for food." You do a couple of quick cool-down stretches and the check contents of your wallet. "I'll be OK for tonight. I'll probably have to start mugging or enter a tournament soon though..."
6615
6616You calmly button up your sleeves, put on your jacket and hat and close your eyes under the gigantic tree, smelling it and reflecting on what that "Master Wuxia" guy had said.
6617
6618"What am I hiding from? What do I need to hide from with this kind of power? ... Better yet, what do I need to do to prove myself and my power to those that choose to doubt me?"
6619
6620You hear your stomach talk to you and break up your thoughts. You'll have time to get back to them later, when you get something to eat... Or when you find a target to let and try out your the fruits of your labors tonight. 
6621
6622>A. Leave "Natural Park" for now and prowl the streets of South Town for "Targets".
6623
6624>B. Leave the "Park" and get something to eat; It shouldn't be too late to find a place that's still open.
6625
6626>C. Stay in the "Park" 
6627
6628>D. Write-In Vote.
6629
6630-------------------------
6631
6632>>344846
6633>>344874
6634
6635"Here's to finding a good one tonight." You smile and take one last look around the clearing and ginormous tree, making a mental note where you are before walking back through the moonlit forest and arrive at the entrance of "Natural Park" to find that they had closed a gate on you...
6636
6637"Well, that's good to know for the future." You hop over the gate in a single bound and land on the other side with the grace of a cat before slinking off into the shadows of the picture-perfect suburb just beyond the "Park" (That feels more like a jungle, now that you stop to think about it). While the manicured lawns and pastel-colored houses make you hum "Little boxes, on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky-tacky", but it takes a good half a hour to find the grim'n'gritty city of South Town that has energy which draws you in like a shining beacon.
6638
6639You follow the strongest source of the energy and casually walk the streets at night, once more ducking into shadows when you even so much as think you hear a siren... After all, you broke into a mall and stole some clothes, not to mention beat up a couple of people in a back alley so it would make sense that Souh Town's boys & girls in blue would be looking for you. On the other hand, the police force is thought to be corrupt enough that you can buy your way out of indictment if you've got enough cash...
6640
6641"OK, here we go..." You stick close to a wall on the corner of a deserted street, the energy you had felt faintly from earlier drawing close... "I wonder who it could be?"
6642
6643>Roll 1d100 and post a picture of the unlucky victim. Highest roll among these votes will "Win".
6644
6645-------------------------
6646
6647I'm not sure how long I can run today. My hand is really starting to hurt.
6648
6649>>345099
6650
6651"Jesus, it smells like a walking trash compactor soaked in bourbon." You nearly give yourself away because of how badly you want to gag as an old guy with a huge beard and his pants hanging off of his bony ass stumbles down the street, muttering to himself in what only kind of sounds like English.
6652
6653"sdgfdnfcArrrighty tdhttthen! gotjhr bdown rthejgfr thing edrzx? Haz!"
6654
6655"This guy couldn't be... Bah, I'll just make it quick to spare him the trouble." 
6656
6657You quickly dash in front of him and try to smack him in he face with a Left Hook, but he falls over himself and trips you up on pure accident. You quickly get up to your feet, but he takes his time to try to think about what the fuck just happened and pull up his pants.
6658
6659"Wrhfhtarfgh!?" he gets wide-eyed and points at you with a bony finger. "DEmon! Dveyoil! Sfgtujkiomgf ain't gomnna trfying tfohno lzwsnkmkosn FROM Me!' he yells, his breath smelling even worse than you imagined up close while tries to hold together a boxing stance.
6660
6661You cross your arms and take a long look at this drunkard trying to hold his own weight up to fight and... Almost feel sorry for him? No, fuck that, you're G-Mantle Lady; You hound these streets to find people that can make you become ever-stronger and if that person happens to be a sailor that's a drunk and older than time itself, so be it. "Well, if he's really serious, I suppose I'll oblige him for a little bit..." you ponder as you slickly move into your stance, a mean glare in the drunk's eyes as you stare him down.
6662
6663>A. Overwhelm him with fast strikes. He'll go down easy enough. (Roll 1d20+2)
6664
6665>B. Let him try to stumble towards you and counter this drunk's (Probably) feeble attacks. (Roll 2d20)
6666
6667>C. Space him out and screw with whatever natural timing he has with long-range attacks and "G-Lady Shots". (Roll 3d20)
6668
6669>D. Write-In Vote.
6670
6671>E. Walk away from this fight, because this just doesn't feel right...
6672
6673-------------------------
6674
6675Fun Fact: The drunkard's speech patterns are almost as bad as what one of my updates looks like before proof-reading it. (Dyslexia is a fucking bitch.)
6676
6677>>345364
6678>>345440
6679>>345581
6680
6681You wait for this crazy old drunkard to make the first move, but he eyes you down, his body shaking like he's got Parkinson's disease. He's got a good eye though and you have to feint a couple of quick standing jabs just to get a response out of him. He yells something indecipherable and tries to go for a running grab, but he's not nearly quick enough to actually touch you... But instead of countering his clumsy attack, you simply trip up his feet and watch him nearly fall over himself. "Something just doesn't feel right about this..." You take a look a him scrambling to his feet and shake your head. "No... Not this time."
6682
6683"Ahgyrmhg COME ON! YoufgdnxsbfcgdczcxbmhGrahhh!" he yells as you turn your back on him, then spin around to block his wild haymaker that throws off his balance and helps him face-plant him into the pavement. "There's a lot of power within him, but he's either past his prime as a fighter or never was one to begin with..." He gets himself up off the ground after a couple push-ups and goes for another punch, this one aimed at your gut. You block it easily, but instead of grabbing him over your shoulder with an Uchimata or even locking your patented "Arm Bar of Doom", you break away from him and try to back away... Only to feel your stomach churn as he spews out some kind of poisonous breath with a belch. You actually feel your hands take off your "Face" and nearly puke your guts out at the smell until you hear the click of a lighter.
6684
6685"OH FUCK." you slip your mask on and try to break out into a sprint, but the explosion of that guy's breath blasts you forward and you crash into the ground flat on your back. Your ears ring like the drums had been blown and your chest hurts as you try to shake away your blurry vision, hoping that you'll regain it quickly. 
6686
6687"What... What happened to my face?" You try and lift up one of your arms to feel your "Face", but everything hurts so damn much at the moment that you grunt in pain as you clumsily flop over onto your stomach and hold your gut in pain. "Come on, crawl, keep moving... Got to get to a hospital..." You try to crawl in any general direction as your vision is still too blurry to make anything out, but again feel your body collapse and fall over, the "Man in the Moon" smirking down on you from the sky above.
6688
6689"Mum... I'm sorry... Dad... I'm so sorry I was such a bludger in life..." You're breathing heavily now, everything hurting like hell as your eyes start to tear up to clear your vision. The corner you were standing on looks like it's covered in soot and the drunkard whom you tried to fight is sleeping it off in front of you, his beard burnt off from the explosion and his snores loud enough to...
6690
6691>(Cont...)
6692
6693-------------------------
6694
6695>>345813
6696
6697"To hell with this, I'm sleeping it off" you think, closing your eyes and letting your breathing relax as the clouds up above start to move in and block the moon... Until you feel a gloved hand punch you in chest to try and wake you up.
6698
6699You yelp in pain, but at the same time your breathing feels stronger than it did as you open your eyes and see a tall guy in Motorcycle Leathers and a full-face Helmet staring down at you. "Am I dreaming again...?" He seems to be looking you over, surveying your injuries before yelling "Don't worry Sunshine! I got'ya!"
6700
6701"I feel like I'm flying..." You can feel your body get picked up to your feet and rest on his strong shoulders while walking you away from the crazy drunken psycho that stared this mess.
6702
6703>A. "Who are you?"
6704
6705>B. "Why are you helping a shadow like me?"
6706
6707>C. Try to get a good look at this guy; He seems familiar to you... (Roll 1d20)
6708
6709>D. Write-In Vote.
6710
6711>E. "Mum? Dad? Is that you?"
6712
6713-------------------------
6714
6715>>345972
6716
6717Thanks. It's just a decent pressure-cut on my Index Finger and the wound itself is already bandaged up, but the bandage itself is pretty cumbersome to try and type with.
6718
6719>>345917
6720>>345934
6721
6722You feel like every step you're taking is bouncing your insides all around, so you steady your breathing and try focus straight ahead of you... But not before you get a glimpse at just who this guy might be in between blinks and tears watering up your eyes.
6723
6724"This guy has strong arms, that's for sure... Built like a swimmer almost with shoulders tapering down to... Well goddamn, his ass is better than mine." You can't think of anybody you know that could be this guardian angel and he's too tall and strong to be The Mayor of South Town (Who wears a get-up similar to this all of the time)... But you hold those thoughts when you ope your eyes and find yourself propped next to a row of public pay-phones.
6725
6726"OK, hold tight, I gotta take a call" he says, fishing out some change from a... Pink, fuzzy change-purse?
6727
6728"Damn it... Well, of course he's got a better ass than you; Gay guys always do."
6729
6730"Bloody'ell, you tyin' t'crack on me right now?" he asks you with the visor of his helmet up slightly, his voice clear and kind of deep-sounding. "Keep it in your Daks mate" he adds before turning around to and putting the phone up to his helmet.
6731
6732"Who is this guy?" You try to get one last good look at him when he takes off his helmet, but you can barely hold your head up and feel your neck give out, gently filling your face with the cold metal of one of the pay phone's covers. "Damn it all..."
6733
6734"Great, thanks" you hear your good samaritan motorcyclist say before hanging up the phone and slapping you upside your head. "Oi! C'mon now, don't lose me here." 
6735
6736You groan in protest, then ask "Who was that?"
6737
6738"Local ambulance I know. They'll patch'ya' up right quick" he replies.
6739
6740>A. "... Thank you."
6741
6742>B. "How's my face?"
6743
6744>C. "So... Who are you? Why are you helping out a shadow like me?"
6745
6746>D. Write-In Vote.
6747
6748I'm going on break after this to start up my dinner and check to see if I need to re-wrap my cut, or if it's healed by now (It stopped throbbing a while ago). I'll try to be back in an hour or so. If not, I'l check in ASAP.
6749
6750-omitted one small post.
6751
6752-------------------------
6753
6754>>346639
6755>>346133
6756
6757>Updates Resume
6758
6759>We have no idea who we are right now
6760
6761Even though you can't see this guy's face, you can't help but think of him without seeing the Archangel Raphael hiding behind that brightly-colored helmet of his.
6762
6763"... Thank you."
6764
6765"Ah, it's nothin' really... I know South Town's a rough place'n'all, but it doesn't give you the right to act like a fuckwit tosser."
6766
6767"How's my face?" you ask, that burning/tingling sensation from before fading fast.
6768
6769He flips up his visor to reveal an amazing pair of Slate-Grey eyes and a black balaclava with a T-shape in the eye sockets that almost hides the skin around his eyes, then flips it back down and tells you "Yeah, you should be alright. That mask you had on absorbed a lot of the blast."
6770
6771Your eyes widen when you hear that, your body starting to shake. "My... Face... WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO MY FACE!?"
6772
6773"Hey! Calm the fuck down-"
6774
6775"HOW CAN I? HALF MY FUCKING FACE HAS BEEN FUCKING BLOWN OFF!" you yell, then nearly fall of the pay-phone "The Biker" had propped you up on.
6776
6777He grabs you by the collar of your shirt and sits you down on a bust-stop bench. 'LISTEN TO ME!" he thunders, his voice almost an octave higher and sounding kind of girly to your ears. "You're damn lucky that ripper of a bang didn't take your bloody head off! Shit, if you didn't have your "Face" on you prolly would've had your jaw blown up through your fuckin' skull!"
6778
6779"He sounds like my dad almost" you think as you're left speechless, "The Biker" going off on a tirade but calming himself down. "And I don't know what yer' doin' out here in the middle of the bloody night, but a life in the shadows AIN'T. WORTH. LIVIN'. OK?"
6780
6781He shakes you with a good amount of force with each of the last four words he says, then seems to catch himself as you start to cry. "Look... I know, it's hard yakka livin' here. I used t'live her too... I know easy it is to lose 'yerself, to start chuckin' sickies and runnin' round with crooks and drownin' your sorrows in tinnies & stubbies."
6782
6783"What the hell is he saying?" you think, but let yourself cry some silent tears as he seems to start wrapping it up.
6784
6785"... But you shouldn't be havin' a sook over this. We all mistakes in our lives. I'm just sayin' that you don't have to carry them with you everywhere, or step in bog every time life gives you lemons."
6786
6787Just then, a white panel-van with tinted windows rolls up, the doors flying open and a couple guys dressed like they were extras in "Rebel without a cause" come to greet the two of you.
6788
6789"Well, I better take off now" "The Biker" says as he stands up, then explains "Hospitals around here are a fuckin' joke since the Kagura Clinics all closed, but these're some good guys that'll patch you up in no time and don't ask questions."
6790
6791[red]>A. Ask for his name. You need to know this man's name.[/red]
6792
6793[blue]>B. Nod & let the "Medics" take care of you.[/blue]
6794
6795[green]>C. Ask if you'll ever see this compassionate man again.[/green]
6796
6797>D. Write-In Vote.
6798
6799-omitted one small post.
6800
6801-------------------------
6802
6803>>346860
6804
6805Seems that way, yeah... It's the one hang-up I have for this board compared to /tg/ to be honest.
6806
6807>>346865
6808
6809"W... Wait" you let out with an almost-gasp as you go to tug on this guy's leathers.
6810
6811"Hang on, I'll lift you up" he says and shoulders you back to your feet once more.
6812
6813"I just... I want to, no, I... I need to know your name."
6814
6815"The Biker" takes a second to think it over as he hands one of the "Greasers" a wad of cash. "I'dunno, I kind of don't have one..." He sheepishly admits as they count and check the legitimacy of his currency. "My friends all call me "Grumbles" because they think I'm always pissed off about stuff..."
6816
6817Once they finally find that the cash is A-OK, the guy on the right asks him "Hey Grumbles. Who's the girl?"
6818
6819"Dunno. Some bloke who had one-too-many from the Bottle-O went off his rocker and lit a fireball that nearly took out half the block" "Grumbles" explains as a the other guy runs around back to grab a stretcher and an IV bottle.
6820
6821"Mr. Grumbles... Makes me picture something fluffy, like a Koala Bear" you think as your handed off and carefully placed on the stretcher, "Mr. Grumbles" giving you a wave before walking back down the street you came from before you pass out in the back of the van, the motion of it haulinng considerable ass washing across your body.
6822
6823~~~
6824>Sometime Later...
6825~~~
6826
6827You wake up with the sun in your eyes, what feels like your whole body in bandages and a drip inserted in your arm... Not an unfamiliar experience at all. At least this place looks a lot nicer than Bernstein Ballroom's boiler room; Kind of low ceilings, but a lot of up-to-date equipment hooked up to some new-ish desk-top computers and every kind of bandage, salve and .
6828
6829"Goddamn, Kat, what happened to you?" a man's voice asks.
6830
6831You turn your head just enough to see some tall Asian guy in a suit like the one you wore leaning up into the doorway and a hat that somehow looks bigger than the one you had on.
6832
6833"He must be...?" you start to think, but your mind draws a blank as he takes a roller-chair and sits up next to you.
6834
6835"So, what's the skinny?"
6836
6837"About what?"
6838
6839"About how you got here, ding-a-ling."
6840
6841"... Didn't those guys that run this place tell you?" you ask.
6842
6843"Yeah, they said you made a call after getting caught up in an explosion about a mile away" he says, a sinking feeling in your gut. 
6844
6845"What about the motorcycle guy?"
6846
6847"What guy?"
6848
6849"Oh no..." you think, then explain the story you had with "Mr. Grumbles" to this man, watching his face change a little bit as you tell him.
6850
6851"Man, that blast must've really rattled your bones, because some guy they found said he watched you black out, then staggered like a zombie with your arm out all the way to the pay phone bank."
6852
6853>A. "Beg your pardon?"
6854
6855>B. Explain again about that "Grumbles" guy. (Roll 1d20)
6856
6857>C. Sit in silence to think over what exactly happened last night.
6858
6859>D. Write-In Vote.
6860
6861>E. "I'm sorry sir, but who are you again?"
6862
6863-------------------------
6864
6865>>347006
6866
6867WellOKThen.jpeg
6868
6869>>346998
6870
6871"This guy has got swagger and charisma in spades" you briefly think, but then blink a few times to clear your mind. "I know what I saw."
6872
6873"You were probably just shell-shocked-"
6874
6875"I Know what I saw!" you yell, but gingerly take a breath as your ribs creak in pain.
6876
6877"OK then, what DID you see?" he asks in a flippant tone.
6878
6879You close your eyes, thinking back long and hard to what you saw and heard last night, getting every detail ju~ust right... Then tell him everything. How you did your training out in "Natural Park", confronting the dunk guy and trying to get away from fighting him, the explosion... It just pours out of you, especially what "Mr. Grumbles" had to say to you while you waited for the "Medics" to arrive.
6880
6881This guy, who looks like a wannabe James Bond villain, intently listens and nods at every single thing you have to say... And when your done, he lets out a knowing sigh. "So tell me, Kat... Do you believe it all happened? Wasn't just booze or pills or anything talking?"
6882
6883"Absolutely."
6884
6885He takes some time to shake his head back and forth, looking like he's having a private conversation with himself before he gets up and grabs his phone. 
6886
6887"Who're you callin'?"
6888
6889"Nobody" he curtly replies. "I'm digging up a photo I should've showed you a long time ago."
6890
6891"Of what?"
6892
6893You feel uneasy after asking that, then feel a chill go up your spine as the wannabe Bond Villain holds his phone up to your face. "That's who you met last night" he says and lets you cradle his phone to get a better look.
6894
6895The photo itself is nothing really out of the ordinary; Just two guys and a girl take a "Selfie" in a packed bar... Except one guy looks like Frank Zappa, the other guy is taking off his stylish sunglasses and hat while woman looks like your mother if she had blonde hair, blue eyes... And was built like a brick shithouse...
6896
6897"That's... That's..."
6898
6899>A. You.
6900
6901>B. Your Sister.
6902
6903>C. Your Mother.
6904
6905>D. Write-In Vote
6906
6907>E. Break his phone and demand to know where the fuck the bitch that destroyed your face and took your King of Fighters invite is. NOW!
6908
6909===
6910
6911And that's it for today! I thank y'all for sticking it out while I tried to type through the gradually-lessening pain today. To make up for the lack of updates, I'm planning to run one last session for this tomorrow at the usual start time (10 AM PST/1 PM EST/5 PM GMT).
6912
6913If that plan somehow happens to fall through, of course, I'll keep y'all posted when I could continue through my Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/WeaselThat).
6914
6915>Player Question:
6916Any thoughts on what the fuck the Mask has done to our dear, sweet bitch of a Katja's mind?
6917
6918>Bonus Question:
6919Which side character so far deserves a brief light to be shined on?
6920
6921-omitted one small post.
6922
6923-------------------------
6924
6925Due to circumstances outside of my control (AKA "A Fuck-Ton of Laundry that I've been too lazy to take care of until today"), The King of Fighters Quest: Reborn #9 will be delayed by up to 2 hours or so from the usual starting time. 
6926
6927I'm expecting today's session will probably start @ Noon PST/3PM EST/8PM GMT. If that time passes, I'll check back into this thread and give Y'all an ETA for when we can resume this sucker.
6928
6929>Pic Unrelated: Some of the "Pool" of characters that could show up at any given "Friday Night Real Bout" tournament
6930
6931-omitted one small post.
6932
6933-------------------------
6934
6935OK, I got through my laundry quicker than I expected, so I'll ally up the votes and get cracking on the first update for today's session.
6936
6937>>348147
6938>>347987
6939>>347139
6940>>347143
6941
6942>T-T-T-TIE BREAKER Time! Y'all know what to do.
6943
6944>Pic Kind-of-Related: The latest team to get shown off for KOF XIV
6945
6946-omitted one small post.
6947
6948-omitted one small post.
6949
6950-------------------------
6951
6952>>347143
6953>>347139
6954>>346988
6955
6956>Updates Resume
6957
6958>We still have no clue about who we really are
6959
6960"That's my mother..."
6961
6962"You think so?" the Asian Bond Villain asks as he smoothly snatches his phone back from you.
6963
6964"Well... Well, she had Brown hair and these odd, almost golden eyes but... But that's her face. And I know that's her smile..."
6965
6966"But she's not among the living anymore, is she?" he asks you while wiping off his sunglasses.
6967
6968"... No, she's not" you admit, your voice almost breaking thinking about the day she died and finding the food she made for you with the last ounce of her strength.
6969
6970"Ah damn, I got to take this" you hear the Asian guy who hasn't introduced himself to you yet mumble. Then he turns to you and says "I know this a touchy subject and a lot to take in... But, I know somebody that can tell you all about this."
6971
6972"R... Really?"
6973
6974"Yeah... His name is Gabriel. He lives up in this creepy mansion near the Northernmost part of "Natural Park" and he's busy enough that I wouldn't try to reach him at night, but I know for a fact that he can tell you everything you need to know."
6975
6976"Thanks... Er..."
6977
6978"You don't recognize me?"
6979 
6980You crane your neck towards him and take a look, no one coming to mind that his this guy's style of dress or facial features. "No, I guess I don't" you admit with a sigh. "Should I?"
6981
6982"... I'll tell you what. Next time you see me, or want to get something in Chinatown, tell them "The Wind" sent you and you'll probably cop a free meal."
6983
6984And with that, "The Wind" departs, an animated conversation you wish you weren't privy to fading through the walls. "The Wind"... What's that in Japanese? Chinese? Korean? Thai? ... He didn't have an accent either."
6985 
6986>A. Drift off to sleep.
6987
6988>B. Stay awake and call for a nurse or whatever to get the TV in the corner switched on.
6989
6990>C. Try to stay awake and think about your night and some of the wilder things that lead up to it. (Roll 1d20)
6991
6992>D. Write-In Vote.
6993
6994-------------------------
6995
6996>>348919
6997>>348928
6998
6999You lay your head down on a curiously comfy pillow and take a look up at the ceiling, a map of the planet above you like you were a little girl living underground in Coober Pedy again. You let out a yawn and struggle to keep your eyes open, your body not exactly primed or ready to sit up for lengths of time let alone walk out of this "Hospital". "What happened yesterday...? There was this building full of crazy homeless people, a cool older Chinese guy..."
7000
7001You blink a couple of times and shake your head to try and keep yourself wake, but it doesn't work and you fall asleep easily.
7002
7003~~~
7004>Some Time Later...
7005~~~
7006
7007Your body feels a lot better after an oddly dreamless sleep as you open your eyes to the sight of the sun giving the room a pseudo-orange glow, but you've got a bit of a headache and feel somewhat "Groggy". "I survived a blast that should've leveled a building, of course I'm going to feel off..."
7008
7009You sit up a lot easier than when you first woke up and almost try to stretch out your arms, but stop yourself when you feel the bandages you've got on tighten. "I probably haven't had enough to eat. That's why my head hurts."[/] you think, your body starting to become in-tune with yourself once again. Sure enough, your stomach growls and you look around for something to alert the "Medics" in charge that you're awake and hungry enough to eat at a fucking Arby's right now.
7010
7011"Never again... Not after that olive-loaf crap nearly destroyed my small intestine." To your dismay, you can't find a button, or a switch or anything like that, so you lay back down and try to think about what you saw and heard from earlier, right up until you woke up in that penthouse ("Probably "The Wind's'... Oh god, I'm not his mistress am I?")... And draw a blank.
7012
7013Well, not exactly a blank... More like a vinyl record with songs censored, like what Jamaica did to some older Bob Marley records. "Who am I...?"
7014
7015>A. "Your'e you, stupid!"
7016
7017>B. "I need to meet that Gabriel guy to find out."
7018
7019>C. Say "Why, I'm Rapestab McGenocide of course!" in a joking way... Then cry when you realize you've got amnesia.
7020
7021>D. Write-In Vote.
7022
7023>E. "Katherine Hart."
7024
7025-omitted one small post.
7026
7027-omitted one small post.
7028
7029-omitted one small post.
7030
7031-------------------------
7032
7033>>349300
7034>>349285
7035>>349226
7036
7037"Jackie Chan, obviously..." you think and giggle at the thought of you trying to actually use nunchucks, but shake your head and mentally smack yourself in the face. "You're you, stupid! What else is there to know?"
7038
7039You hear footsteps walking towards your room and put your thoughts on hold as one of the "Greasers" from last night walks in. "Hey. How're you holding up?"
7040
7041"I could always be better, but I could always be a lot worse..." you tell him with some strength returning to your voice. "I'm hungry though."
7042
7043"Chinese food alright? There's a place just down the way."
7044
7045"Mate, I'm starving right now. I could eat a fucking building if my teeth were up to it" you reply.
7046
7047"OK, I'll get you something in a minute! Jeez, lighten up lady."
7048
7049"Sorry..." you groan with a sigh as he puts on a pair of gloves, grabs some equipment and takes a while to fully examine you, only talking to command you to move & flex certain parts of your body ("OK, open your jaw for a sec... Good! Now turn your head left... Alright, now to the right..."). When he's done, he grabs a cellphone and calls up that Chinese place he was talking about, what sounds like Cantonese coming out of his mouth (And could be some "Epic Bantz" between him and whoever's on the other end).
7050
7051"OK, the money Grumbles gave us to take care of you offers two free meals twice a day: One in the morning and one right around now. Because you didn't wake up early enough to get the breakfast, do you want to splurge a little on dinner, or what?" he asks.
7052
7053"Nah, I'm OK with whatever you ordered. I don't have any real allergies" you tell him and listen to him go back to yakkin' in a foreign language for a little longer, feeling more and more like he's trying to delay the inevitable about your injuries.
7054
7055>A. "What's my prognosis doc?"
7056
7057>B. Give him a look and see if he picks up on the fact that you want to know what he thinks about your injuries. (Roll 1d20)
7058
7059>C. Lay back down and let him break any news about your status. You honestly trust this guy than most "Real" doctors.
7060
7061>D. Write-In Vote.
7062
7063Thread is on "Stand-By Mode" for now because the place I usually go to just lost electricity. Updates will resume ASAP and the vote is open. Really sorry for the inconvenience y'all!
7064
7065-------------------------
7066
7067>>349536
7068>>349544
7069>>349565
7070
7071"So... What's my prognosis doc?"
7072
7073He takes a look at you, then says something in that crazy foreign language he knows and hangs up. "Well... It's good news and bad news."
7074
7075"Oh..."
7076
7077"Mostly good news."
7078
7079"Yeah?" you ask, your face showing a glimmer of hope.
7080
7081"You'll make a full recovery from all your injuries and I can't see there being any real complications down the road..." he starts to explain, but pauses for a moment like he's about to lay something heavy on you. "The bad news is that you're going to be out of action for a while and you might have to do some physical rehabilitation... And we're not exactly the kind of place for that stuff, y'know?"
7082
7083"... I see."
7084
7085"However, I do know a couple of people that could help with that" the "Greaser" adds with a knowing pause.
7086
7087"If I've got the cash to pay for it, right?"
7088
7089He nods and starts to put all of his stuff that he used to examine you away, sterilizing the stethoscope in a sink before he explains "They're all good guys, really..."
7090
7091"I go to Tatsuya and his branch of The Kyokugen Dojo" you flatly tell him, then wonder where that tidbit of information came from because you draw a blank when you try to picture him in your mind.
7092
7093"Oh? Great, he was one of my picks" he says. "What belt are you at?"
7094
7095"Right before Black, I think. The wanker hasn't even talked about when I could do my test for it, or what I would have to do to get the certified Black-Belt" you explain.
7096
7097The "Greaser" shrugs his shoulders, then replies with an "Eh" as a preface. "I heard his style's not as harsh as the real-deal Kyokugen though... More like what that Yuri chick does, but more butched-up for guys"
7098
7099>A. Blow off his comment and tell him "Well good on you mate, I'll just talk to Tatsuya about my physical rehab."
7100
7101>B. Nod, but ask him how much he knows about "The Scene" in South Town.
7102
7103>C. Ask him who else he had in mind to help with your physical rehabilitation.
7104
7105>D. Write-In Vote.
7106
7107>E. Ask him if he knows anybody that can get you to King of Fighters-levels of strength and fighting skill.You want to get in on that this year.
7108
7109-------------------------
7110
7111>>350229
7112>>350237
7113
7114You pause for a moment and let his crack about Tatsuya-Sensei's classes fade into the background. "Don't want to sound like that "KyokugenStronk" tripfag from FightChan right now" you think as you ask "OK, who else did you have in mind?"
7115
7116"What, can't handle the "AWESOME POWER of the "Extreme Utmost Limit Way of The Empty Hand?"
7117
7118"... That's what Kyokugen means?" you think, but don't say anything as the greaser guy waves it off with a hand.
7119
7120"Eh, you're not missing much going to the main branch either. I couldn't hack it in either one, so what do I know?"
7121
7122"Let me guess: Too much Soba?" you ask with a smirk.
7123
7124"Oh gawd, that shit was so bland it took me a month before I could eat my mama's home cooking again without feeling like it was the most over-spiced thing in existence!"
7125
7126You let out a hearty laugh, but have to stop when you feel your sides hurt just a little too much. "Seriously though, who else would you recommend? Because my Sensei's a little..."
7127
7128"Overbearing when he wants to be, yeah. Well, it kind of depends on how much money you want to drop and how quickly you want to get back on your feet, because if money were no object there's this old guy in Chinatown that'll stick you full of needles and wrap you in some "Ancient Chinese Secret" shit."
7129
7130"He any good?"
7131
7132"Well, he claims to have found a cure for hemorrhoids, but he charges an arm and a leg for even the most basic stuff that I never tried to test it, not that I would need to or anything..."
7133
7134"Of course you wouldn't" you think with an inward laugh at this guy's expense, but hold your tongue and ask "Kay... Anybody else?"
7135
7136"There's the "Blood Aikido" dojo, but I'dunno, I haven't heard a lot of good things about them."
7137
7138"Just how they run the place, or what?"
7139
7140He shrugs and explains "It's just a rumor, but even though they'll help you out like you are now,, the day they think you're ready to fight they'll sick the most brutal guy they've got on you and if you don't either win or last long enough... Well, they'll drop you into the Port Town harbour with some new concrete shoes."
7141
7142"Come the fuck on mate, that can't be real" "How the fuck would they have business if they really did that?"
7143
7144"I'dunno, it's just a rumor. But there aren't real businesses aside from them, Lee up in Chinatown & your guy..."
7145
7146>A. Nod and thank him, then ask to have some privacy.
7147
7148>B. "What, is Dave at AVS Inc. too busy, or what?"
7149
7150>C. "Anyone else? None of them seem to float my boat."
7151
7152>D. Write-In Vote.
7153
7154>E. "What about that Grumbles chick who helped set me up?"
7155
7156-omitted one small post.
7157
7158-omitted one small post.
7159
7160-------------------------
7161
7162>>350605
7163>>350625
7164>>350635
7165
7166"What about that Grumbles chick who helped set me up?" you ask, none of the others outside of Tatsuya really striking you as a good choice.
7167
7168The greaser guy kind of looks down, widens his eyes in that "Eureka!" moment and says "Wait... What the fuck, Grumbles is a GIRL?!"
7169
7170"You didn't know that?"
7171
7172"Lady, I don't know who you are, but I don't think anybody's even seen what that guy, girl, whatever's face looks like."
7173
7174You pause at that, nod at him and say "Well... OK then, thanks for all of that mate. You mind? I'd like some privacy before my food arrives."
7175
7176He gives you a "Yeah, yeah" before slamming the door shut on you. "Well, he's still better than the last guy I went to see and I had Blue Cross/Blue Shield-Shield" you think as you flop back down on the bed with an audible "Pomf!" sound, your stomach gurgling over how empty it is.
7177
7178"Maybe that fever-dream stuff will never be fully clear in my mind...? And maybe there's a reason the only thing I can remember is kissing an impossibly gorgeous woman...?" you start to think as you look at the map up on the ceiling again, your mind spacing out on you like it used to from time-to-time. "Nah, I couldn't go full gay. Sheilas are fucking crazy" you rationalize as you take a deep breath and exhale, your lungs still hurting a little and your sides still tender.
7179
7180"Wonder if that one guy I met in that one building could help?" you wonder as you slowly, carefully shift to your side and look out the window, your view of the world outside oddly faint and kind of murky for the sun going down. "But then again, I'd have to admit to all of that stuff I thought I did as a mask-wearing sociopath..."
7181
7182You hear a knock on the door, but you smell your food before you can see it. You quickly try to move yourself upright so you can chow down on what it could be, but feel like you might've pulled something and need the other greaser guy from that faraway last night to help you up.
7183
7184"Take it easy! You need some more rest" he tells you with a gruff kind of voice.
7185
7186"Thanks captain obvious" you mutter as you feel some pinches and pops in your back as he sits you upright.
7187
7188"Try not to make too much of a mess; We won't be able to move you until tomorrow" he says before leaving you with your adorably small box of food.
7189
7190You grab the chopsticks that are tied to it and break the box open, finding some comfort in knowing that your life is probably totally screwed right now. You haven't been to work or your Karate classes in days, you've got bills stacking up since you've been "Out", your body's a wreck and it seems as though almost everything you thought you knew about yourself is a total lie, or at least half of one... Yet, you can't help but try and stuff your face as you ravenously dig through the box of Fried Rice, Sweet & Sour Pork and a couple of other things you can't seem to remember.
7191
7192"Ah well, at least it can't get any worse than this" you think, then put the box on the bedside stand.
7193
7194===
7195
7196-------------------------
7197
7198>>351161
7199
7200And that's it for the thread everybody! I thank y'all for sticking through every little thing that happened with me throughout this "Round" of KOF Quest: Reborn #9.
7201
7202As it stands, I look to start up the next thread on 7/12/16 at the usual starting time of 10 AM PST/1 PM EST/5 PM GMT, but if that plan changes check my twitter feed (https://twitter.com/WeaselThat) for all of the latest changes.
7203
7204I'll stick around for a little bit to answer any questions any of y'all might want to ask me about whatever in lieu of hard-set questions this time around.
7205
7206-------------------------
7207
7208>>351270
7209
7210None of them understand the concept of 4chan. If they did, they probably would be here right now trolling the fuck out of this quest with /b/-tier write-ins.
7211
7212They're good bros to hang with though.
7213
7214-omitted one small post.
7215
7216-------------------------
7217
7218>>351376
7219
7220>Get a squirt bottle and spray them with it.
7221
7222One of my friends is strong enough to bench/suplex me into the fucking ground, so no thanks.
7223
7224Besides, I get a lot of ideas and "Epic Bantz" from talking with them, so...?
7225
7226-------------------------
7227
7228>>351508
7229
7230For as stereotypical as that photo is, it's not really wrong The best local KOF players in my town were all Mexican and I was practically the only white guy that played.
7231
7232That and I guess I still have the Team Mexico trailer on my mind.
7233
7234==== END THREAD ====