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A Rat's Guide to Glory

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Makuta said:
Sure, you can go and collect your worthless pieces of scrap paper as the City doesn't recognize Dollars as a legitimate form of currency.
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Obviously we just need to find the "Green Capitalist" to exchange our currencies… sure we'll only get like 10% of our money transferred since it's the city and shit ain't cheap but some moneys better than no money!
 
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Grade 6 - 5; There is Never a Reason to Trust Someone. If There's a Reason, Then It's Not Trust
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    • [] Help Parvati, trust Giano

    It is a snap decision to turn around and carve through the mob trying to keep Parvati occupied. Some of them are augmented, but none even close to either of you. Screams, blood, and the stench of cooked meat permeate the stage as you open a path for your partner to escape, then you both run for the exit that Giano must have smashed open just before.

    Fixers watch your retreat and guards try to slow you down, but even a thrown knife can only do so much as it hits with the handle first and leaves no more than a bruise on your back. You almost race each other across the stadium and into the building, then out the other side and far away; there is no sense trying to find Giano now.

    Your heartbeat echoes painfully loud as you clear street after street as fast as you can, vanishing in the labyrinthine streets and losing your pursuers before long. Yet you run until you are far away from the place, Parvati by your side.

    You eventually slow down into a jog, then a walk. Beads of sweat run down your brows that you slowly wipe away, unsure what to say now. You made it out alive but there was no word from Giano yet.

    "I had it covered," Parvati finally says. "You could've gone ahead."

    There is something almost petulant to her words, but you are more confused than anything as you meet her gaze. "I was just making sure you're fine."

    "And you clearly didn't trust me to take care of myself. I'm not a child, Ciel."

    You scowl back at her for how ungrateful she is being right now. Nothing was certain with so many enemies around.

    "It's not about trust."

    "Of course it is!" she shouts back while throwing her hands up. "You clearly trusted Giano enough to go after the prophet alone, but then wheel around and start babying me! We've been partners for over a year and you just put me over the mission!"

    Something in her words gives Parvati herself pause, long enough for you to get a word in: "Of course I did! We can get the prophet another day if things go bad, but I'll never get you back if I lose you! And I'm done losing people I care about!"

    The words came out almost on their own, surprising you almost as much as her. Parvati is taken aback, all anger evaporating. You manage to glower a moment longer before embarassment about that outburst takes over. It ultimately leads to an explosive sigh as you cross your arms. "Maybe you're right and I should've trusted you more. But what's done is done."

    "I guess so."

    Before either of you can fill the awkward silence, your phone jingles to inform you of a new message from Giano. You quickly open it up and start to actually regret your choices here; it says 'Prophet escaped. We need to talk'.

    "The good news is that Giano seems fine," you start morosely. "The bad news is that the prophet escaped."

    Parvati just arches a brow, the 'I told you so' almost audible from her gaze alone. She does not say anything and gets moving toward the meeting point; you shuffle after her, trying to understand how that blunder could have happened.

    You did not lie when you said you care about her. Parvati is dear to you by now, Mai as well if not nearly as much. You hate the thought of losing either of them. But do you hate it so much you would blow your chance of joining Hana Association? If you fail to kill the prophet, that will be not one but two black marks: failing to complete the mission and biting off more than you can chew with an Urban Plague.

    Weirdly enough, as much as your recently found sense of self-worth suffers right now, some other part almost does not mind. You would blow your chance at Hana for Parvati's sake.

    The realisation makes your heart race again, eyes drawn to her back. This sense of belonging, this bond you feel, what is it exactly? Friendship? Familial? Romantic? You can not tell and that scares you almost as much as the question of whether Parvati feels the same to you.

    Minutes pass in introspective silence, but you do not find any answers to your questions. Before long Parvati cuts off those thoughts in a softer tone than earlier: "Look, I appreciate that you care for me so much, but things won't work this way. So it's probably for the best that we don't work on the same cases from now on."

    It was meant to happen anyway, but the way she says it still feels like punishment. You just nod without a word, well aware of the wisdom in it. Putting someone over the mission just makes you fail the mission and that helps nobody. Yet even as you think that, you know deep down that you would do the same thing every time if it were someone you truly care about.

    Maybe it is having to see Mu again earlier that caused it.

    With all those thoughts in mind, you slowly catch up to Parvati and clasp her hand in yours; the way she almost misses a step is the only indication of her surprise.

    "Maybe I'm too soft to be a Fixer."

    The words steal themselves from your mouth again, causing your friend to look at you fully. Your own gaze is on the ground, though; you could not keep talking if you had to look into those eyes right now.

    "When that Index Proselyte killed them, my pack, I couldn't do anything. It was already over before I even realised they were there. I hate those feelings, being powerless, the empty hole in my heart where warmth used to be. But I still can't bring myself to stay detached."

    You squeeze her hand to convey what you can not say in words. You do not even know what you really want to say to her. Parvati squeezes back after a moment and does not let go as you keep walking. It is a cold comfort, but comfort nonetheless.

    Giano's brow arches high when she sees you walk up hand in hand to the meeting spot ten minutes later. She takes a final drag from her cigarette before stomping it out with her foot.

    "Now what is this?"

    You let go with a grimace, well aware this is your responsibility to take. "I'm sorry, Giano. I messed up back there, let personal attachment get in the way."

    She is clearly unimpressed, arms crossing as she regards you. "That takes care of my other question, I didn't actually see what kept you two. Explain."

    So you do, quickly summarising the fight from your perspective. Parvati adds her own afterward. Giano listens quietly until you are done, then she speaks up again: "Okay, so first of all, what kind of relationship do you two have?" The only answer she gets are two uncomfortable shrugs, to which she rolls her eyes. "Whatever, you may wanna get that sorted out.

    "Anyway. Yes, you messed up. I could've gotten the prophet if I had someone else there to help box them in, but they were too nimble for just me. I'm not good at fighting people who can weave around my attacks. Now the prophet is going to go to ground if they're smart, it could be months until we hear from them again."

    That hurts to hear. You just try not to hang your head in disappointment, well aware you could have gotten the job done if you made another choice earlier. Then Parvati chimes in softly: "I already gave Ciel a few words on putting the mission first, you don't need to repeat them."

    "Good." Giano snorts and throws her a little grin. "At least one of you got their head screwed on right. But what you probably didn't tell them is this: don't bring someone you don't think can handle the mission, Ciel. It was you who invited her along to do this, so you better trust that she can handle herself."

    "I understand."

    It is really all you can say. Giano is right. Parvati is right. And you hate that they are. This was your fault and yet you can not stop yourself from feeling like you did the right thing. You would do it again without hesitation, and damn the consequences.

    A clap shakes you out of those thoughts and draws your attention back to Giano, who gives you a searching look. "Alright, so what now? It's your job, your call. Do you keep going or write it off as a failure?"

    It is an almost innocuous question, but you can tell what lies beneath even without seeing Giano's severe expression; this is about more than just the job. If you are not willing to see this through, then you will not make it into Hana Association either.

    But can you really do it? Do you even want to?
    [] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes

    [] Give up on it, and Hana with it

    View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0JxBJSVu6U&ab_channel=Nepsol
     
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    • Hey, that's the risk.

    Unga Bunga will only get you so far without the strength to back it up.

    [X] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes

    Get Hunting Fixer. It's about time Ciel get some training on their tracking skill anyhow.
     
    Yeah, we were bound to have this happen eventually, but at least we got a wake-up call and character growth from it. Trust your friends and all that jazz. But even if we fail in certain aspects of being a fixer, there's one that we can still aim for, and that is persistence. After all...
    [X] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes
    ...we've still got a job to do.
     
    This choice was made knowing this was a likely result.

    Still would make the same if asked, we got some advancements in the Pavati relationship that way too.

    Now, we continue the job:

    [X] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes
     
    [X] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes

    It's not like we would ever do anything else here other than continuing, I don't think.

    On the bright side, Ciel's fine with the decision that led us here. We may have messed up the mission, but we followed our hearts; we'll harness the power of love/found family/friendship/two uncomfortable shrugs!
     
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    [X] Give up on it, and Hana with it

    Partly just doing this so it isn't purely unanminous, but I will also say I am interested in the possibility to joining with Shi instead.
     
    [X] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes

    Not interested in Hana still, but marking a failure here will just get disapprovals from both Giano and Parvati. Let's just get it done I guess.
     
    [X] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes

    The Prophet is still in play
    He escaped
    But we can trace them even still
    Afterall Spider tracks are a lot more standout than typical boot prints
    Smaller....... but more distinct
    Footage and similar likely exists as well
    The Hunt Can Continue

    And if he is an ego weilder or abnormality
    He'll resurface soon enough
    One can not deny their Twists of nature
     
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    I must say, Ciel is growing in a way I didn't expect from the start of this quest. To think they would be such a sentimental mess in this City. It's so sappy, in a kinda endearing way
     
    "It's not a good idea for Fixers to form such tight bonds with each other." -Roland.

    Glad to see we're becoming a textbook example. Gosh, it's visceral in practice. And while the scorn here is earned and unfortunate, I imagine that a world with the other option was not going to be "We got the Prophet, Parvati escapes without a scratch, and they all celebrated with drinks. Huzzah!"

    [x] Finish the job, no matter how long it takes
    ...If we can do it without putting Parvati in direct combat with another mob or some crazy-strong enemy.

    Since we're not going to work with Parvati in the future and Ciel wants to join Hana, I'm fine with this.
     
    ChroniclerW said:
    Glad to see we're becoming a textbook example. Gosh, it's visceral in practice. And while the scorn here is earned and unfortunate, I imagine that a world with the other option was not going to be "We got the Prophet, Parvati escapes without a scratch, and they all celebrated with drinks. Huzzah!"
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    I can see it from there, Ciel get the power to see alternates timelines, after despair at the number of stupid death they had, they see this choice... and the other option is exactly what you described, cue giant NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :V
     
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