… Some consideration brings you to a basic conclusion fairly quickly.
For one, there's the Paladin right there, who is from a few centuries future relative to you in terms of her past life. Given honesty is kind of a core principle of every Paladin you've heard of in either of your lives, maybe being honest here is the safer path. Funny given the risks.
However, maybe you should ease them into some major parts of the situation. Like getting Isekai'd. By literally getting hit by a Mack Truck. And that the Paladin ally is from a space-bound future. And…
Look, start with presenting yourself, let them steer the conversation. If you can delay talking about piercing the veil too much at first, ease them into things, that's probably best for getting a raid in to soothe your head out a bit.
… Right. Raid's
tomorrow. Okay, a bit of general play to make sure you're adjusted to the… "Subtle"... Differences in your new form. Slimmer hands, finer nails, arms a bit different. Be ready on that part and people should be fine.
First step: Explain to Helen. "Yeah, I play - played? Please let it stay present tense - an online game with a group of friends. Next raid's tomorrow, so I… Yeah, I want to introduce them to. The new me. Probably before that.
Helen pauses. "Why?", she asks. "Not just why play when there's the quest, I can get your stress spiking and using something to calm yourself. But you're a Succubus, a shapeshifter, you could just… Look like your old self?"
"That'd imply I
liked my old self. It's. Kind of obvious now, but…"
Helen glances at the shirts. "... Oh. You were…"
"A guy, yeah."
"... I'm not sure that's right," Helen says, her expression softening. "Someone who was firmly masculine would
probably have gone with a different sort of demon than a Succubus. I think you may have been closeted, but…"
"I mean. That makes sense now, but…" - you trail off. There's a lot to think of there.
Your Paladin continues, "I was kinda leading you, honestly. You're best off owning the decision - especially when that decision was to rather loudly shift your gender expression. I'd like to say the Compact's pretty good about trans people on average, even the weird Earth where Rome never fell-"
You blink. "Um."
"... Yeah, the cosmological implications of several Earths-except-for-a-major-historical-difference is not something I like thinking about too hard," Helen says with a sigh.
… Yeah, that gives you a headache just thinking about it too much. Especially now that you realize the region of Aridia you're in is rather Europe-esque. Not precisely at all, what with the Elves and the Dwarves and the Vulpinae and damn it now you're just thinking about how you were so close to charming a floof and touching fluffy tail and okay stop.
"A-anyways," you continue. "So you think me just… Showing my new body's best?"
"I do," Helen observed. "Maybe not native Succubus. I think you're from a time where they'll probably be accepting. Maybe confused at the sudden speed of the shift, depending on how often they see you, but…"
"... I think I can try that. But maybe. Not talk about the Isekai thing so much?"
Helen blinks. "... Is that an archaic term for 'other world'?"
"21st-century Japanese," you clarify.
"Ah."
"A-anyways. Yeah. Let's not talk about me being on a divine quest as much."
Helen pauses. "... That would be kind of a massive thing to do, wouldn't it? I guess it's reasonable. Though, how good do you think you'll be at hiding it, honestly? Given everything, I kinda feel like you'll be seen through quicker than you expect."
At that, you can't help but totally smirk. "I'm a
Succubus now. Lies are totally my stock in trade, and this isn't even lying, it's just not dumping everything at once! I've got this. Though, um. I just realize you're now a guest in my apartment, huh."
"... Well, yeah."
"Well, it's. Not much. But it's home. And it's nice to have it. I can… try to make you some food? I know how to cook some stuff. The tap water is fine. And… I guess you can take one of the rooms? I'm going to be a while, so if you want to take the downtime, that might be good."
"..." Helen considers the situation. "Deal, if you can tell me what you were planning to do back in the tavern."
"Charm a few girls and 'enjoy' a bit, collect some information, start an actual plan that I now wouldn't likely wanna do anyways." It's.
So weird thinking like that, but it's the truth.
Helen should probably be pleased she stopped you getting anywhere, but shrugs. "... I guess all plans have to start somewhere. Probably best I got you before yours was actually progressing. Now we can try to figure out the quest without needing to stop anything you started before recovering your morality."
"... Have I really…"
"You're thinking of your friends as a high enough priority that you're not panicking about me, I'd say you've gained
something morality-wise. Maybe you're not completely scrupulous, but way better than you were when we first met. We can work on that," Helen says with a smile.
"... R-right." You're still not sure how comfortable you are with that, though given she did just completely wreck you in a fight, you aren't sure how much negotiating room you have either. "But. Yeah. Not much more than that. Mind, the other rooms don't have much, either."
"I can set up with a couple things I have," Helen replies. "If you don't mind, of course."
"I… Guess I should trust you, so yeah. Go for it. We can… Try to get some proper furniture at some point."
Helen raises a hand, as if to say 'pass'. "Just having working heat pumps will be great, honestly. We can worry about the rest later."
You nod. "Thanks… It's time to try and get towards a bit of normalcy."
---
… You can't help but be really glad one of your roommates did a proper clean on the bathroom two days ago. You can't help but wonder what
their situation is, though - are they in a copy of your apartment without you? Did they have to deal with your stuff, or did it just disappear?
… Do you want to ask? Your phone's in your coat, you probably could..
… No, no, not now or yet. You're about to weird out several people anyways, you can wait on making it more. Especially the ones who would…
(
COMPEL: Past Life Connections. Fate Points set to 3, since this is the first time they've come up. Use (or Invoke) one to gain either a reroll or +4 to a check, if you can justify it as related to one of Senaz's Aspects. But when one does something bad for Senaz and someone calls it out, you instead gain a point as it Compels a problem! Getting more points is always good, especially when you can spend them.)
You grab your phone off the vanity, and send Phil and Jack a text each. "My situation as of now is far weirder than it sounds, and I promise to explain later if you want -Sean"
It's not even ten seconds before "WTF YOU'RE DEAD AREN'T YOU WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WHO TOOK THAT PHONE" comes from Phil.
"Your whiskey's in the second shelf from the bottom of your drawer, Phil." Prove it's in fact you, then get to practicing the lie with the people you
don't care about too much, like the roommate who thinks being in a Baptist church is a strong baseline for a personality. So you're ready to use it for those you really care for.
"HOW DID YOU wait seriously what the FUCK"
You sigh. "In short, yes, I got hit by a truck, but also look what's the state of the apartment?"
"Um lemme check"
… A minute later: "Your stuff's all gone like you moved out super hasty like. Did you fake your death to go into the Witness Protection Program? Helluva way to fake it. That wasn't a lookalike who got, um…"
Well, that's an easy enough lie to go with. "Yeah, pretty much. Can't tell you where I went, obviously."
At least you don't have to explain the Succubus part this way. Or the trans part - Phil would probably be an asshole on that, so no need to explain that part.
"Probably for the best, yeah. Have a good, um."
"A good life. God bless you, brother."
That last word makes you wince a bit. Really, the entire
sentence given the weird goddess thing. "Same to you," you respond nonetheless.
The next text is in a different conversation - from Jack.
"Um, so did I *not* see someone scraping you off a Mack Truck to drop in an ambulance ten minutes ago?"
"Would you believe that that's part of a ploy to get me into Witness Protection?"
"No, because you wouldn't be allowed to tell your roommate in that case."
Fuck, of course Jack "Wikipedia Hobbyist" Gerald would know that. "... Would you believe I'm skipping the country in an elaborate fashion, and that was a crash test dummy?"
"No, because I'm pretty sure you couldn't handle the stench of filling one of those with blood." … Yeah, he's got you there.
"... Please don't tell Phil it's not Witness Protection."
And then you set the phone down. This isn't even going to be the worst of the conversations. You need to get these down pat, even if you can't use the same lie every time. You've got your raid group to worry about, but also your job, and it looks like you're going to
need that job to keep up with the bills. (And some comfort foods maybe. You doubt anywhere in this region can do you a nice fried chicken strips and fries.)
… Do you need the -
(
One other thing with Compels: No getting two Fate Points off compels of the same aspect in the same post, even if they apply multiple times.)
No, you can't do that to your team. You just. Can't.
… Maybe cheer yourself up by being a vain bitch for a moment? Which of course starts with looking yourself over in the mirror, practicing that come-hither smirk that's almost as strong as casting
charm monster on someone.
… Okay maybe you're underselling
charm monster intensely. But the point is, Senaz has spent ten years being supremely confident in her looks, and you're gonna carry that lightness as easily as your rather sizeable chest.
Right now, you're in your disguise still. While Helen's divine senses let her see through you, most would only see a normal human in this mode.
Start with the face. A decently normal structure that calls emphasis to your reddish-brown eyes. Long, purple hair (
great for calling out that you're the sort of bard that knows how to cast a spell or ten, or has the money to fake it with dye or something), with loose bangs and gathered into two loose tails give a certain hint of cute to your overall pose that plays nice to your dextrous, slim body.
Your disguised self goes for a 'hot dancery bard' kinda routine - sheer, silk-like bodysuit that looks expensive and would be if it weren't for your shapeshifting, even covering your arms and the back of your hands, leaving your neatly-manicured fingers bare to play instruments easily. A short skirt with slits up each side leaves rather little to the imagination, but at least doesn't give an
immediate view. Combined with the bustier and visible corset, you look built to move, show off, and attack decency standards.
… This isn't your only look, of course. There's also the custom succubus outfit you dreamed up for when you weren't stuck in your (former) master's uniform? (Not that the Red Queen's sense of style is
bad by any reasonable measure contextualized to your kind, but you knew right away you wanted to be more creative than just the standard outfit for when it's time to be Loud And Proud Demon Of Lust. And which you now recognize was kinda strongly influenced by some fictional lust demons of your own world. Whoops.)
Shifting into the full look, you look over it and yourself. Leotard with open shoulders, heart-shaped openings along the stomach, and bat wings (partially) covering your chest, check. Long sheer gloves and thighhighs, check. Cute little horns out the top of your hairline, check. Big black wings that are almost functional, check. Total showoffy excess that will tell even the dimmest commoner you're dangerous while also being too hot for them to care.
Damn it feels good, no way Helen will approve but if it doesn't give you the confidence to try and tell her to screw off, nothing will!!!
… Though it is a bit much for at least some kinds of social occasion. The Red Queen's uniform
is, while absolutely Impractical Sexy, a bit more subdued - designed to look particularly good when worn by a large number of women saluting the Queen Of Succubi. (One of them. It's a rather fought-over title.) Thighhighs under thighboots, leotard, dress-like front with a transparent skirt that was higher in front than back, layered gloves… It inspires a certain confidence, you have to admit.
She's probably gonna
hate you continuing to wear it if you start doing loud good deeds, huh. Hopefully you'll be able to deal with any retribution with Helen's help…
…. And, of course, there's always the option of, when doing normal 21st-Century American things, just dressing closer to a 21st-century American. T-shirt with some pithy graphic on it, short skirt… Keep the thighhighs and the gloves though, they're comfortable.
Good enough for gently introducing people to the new, transfeminine, sexier, happier -
Your phone buzzes with a text.
"So, you're dead. But you're also texting me. Also also, your room's emptied of all your stuff. And on top, you're trying to be evasive about what the hell's going on without lying. Now, I'm pretty sure that is, in fact, you Sean. And given everything was here thirty minutes ago and no movers came in - look, is this some kind of isekai reincarnation bullshit where your stuff got summoned to another world?"
In your mind, the room is back to being on fire for the second time today. The screen shows messages like "SECRET BLOWN", "HOW HANDLE", and the ever-classic: "
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA".
[ ] (
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) BLUFF CHECK BLUFF CHECK AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (
Compel: Past Life Connections - you're so scared of scaring people off that telling this much of the truth this fast is too terrifying.)
[ ] (
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) HOLY SHIT HOW DID HE KNOW?!?!?! ASK NOW ASK NOW THIS IS NOT GREAT!!!
[ ] (
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)
Just completely lock the hell up :> (Gain a Fate Point on a compel from the just-revealed Scene Aspect, This Is Fine, We Are Okay With The Events That Are Currently Unfolding.)
[ ] (
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) ABORT, RETRY, FAIL
[ ] (
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) Ask the Paladin for how to handle this, she's had to have thought about something similar right?!?! RIGHT?!?!?! (
Invoke: My Allies, Sigh)
[ ] (
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) WRITE-IN BUT KEEP IN MIND SENAZ IS PANICKING SO SENSIBLE RESPONSES MAY BE NIXED
-----
You're pretty sure Succubi do not usually squeak when spooked. It's just not part of their normal audio vocabulary, from what you understand. Admittedly, Senaz may be a weird case, but still…
And then she's talking to what seems like herself. You can't quite make it out, but maybe…
(
COMPEL: Where's That Last Damn .1% Completion - Helen tried to listen in on Senaz automatically in a context . Her Fate Points are set to 3.)
A quick creep up to the bathroom door makes her more intelligible. "How'd he know, it's not the sane answer right? But he got straight to isekai'ing, was it the mack truck, it's too obvious of course it had to be a mack truck, HOW DO I HANDLE THIS?!"
… She was trying to hide things and her cover got blown instantly, didn't she??? That's kind of hilarious, especially since you warned her. But can you resist the urge to crack up about it loudly enough to dent her self-esteem?
[ ] (REACT) Break out laughing openly, Solaria will forgive you because she probably finds it hilarious. It'll definitely hurt Senaz, though. (Compel: My Allies, Sigh)
[ ] (REACT) Hold it in, but make it obvious to Senaz you find this hilarious.
[ ] (REACT) Keep relatively stoic. It's not easy, but.
[ ] (REACT) Try to sneak back to your room before Senaz realizes you heard this.
[ ] (REACT) Support Senaz a bit, and encourage her to just be honest. (Invoke: Human Paladin of Solaria)
***
Yup, time for the first vote to influence Helen's actions. Voting goes until noon Sunday (PST), to give me time for a couple weekend tasks and to figure out two major groups of Earth-side NPCs Senaz will be 'inspired' to work with. After both of them and maybe a couple other setup reveals, we can start in the main story.
Senaz's desire to keep her Earthside friendships is an undercurrent of this campaign - an intentional hard break from one of the most common Isekai tropes. But how much they intersect may be something you can influence.
should I repost mine? I just used basic google image search results for Olivia and Tharja for Fire Emblem Awakening, easy enough to find and post them again if need be.
It'd be nice to edit fresh URLs into your existing posts so people can see the context, but fresh posts would be kind of unneeded at this point.
