[X] Cannongerbil

And yeah, I can't be brothered to read through massive amount of pages on very similar votes every time. No 26 voices in Sabrina's head, it is more like 10.
Hopefully our oujo doesn't try and keep us locked up to prevent us from running headfirst into danger.
Not locked up, but tied to Mami so we don't get lost.
 
This is actually pretty good, but it's the middle section that I've highlighted that's problematic if anything at all. Like, I think if the plan had been determined workable with half-seeds, we could have asked for other ideas, and then worked through each with a quick evaluation of their viability, then followed up with asking both groups which they'd prefer, then hashing out the details of the more-preferred ones.
This is an inherent limitation of the quest format. The only way for us to accomplish this part is through multiple updates, in which we raise a proposal, they brainstorm and give their reply, after which we break for another round of voting, and I think we can all agree that doing so is an excellent way of inducing voter fatigue.

It's part of why our negotiations always fail, because if a negotiation streches on for more than three updates, it starts feeling as though we've spent literal days on them, so everyone gets impatient and start pushing for a nuclear option. We can try and make some allowance for NPC agency, but if we push too far it's going to start negatively impacting on our enjoyment.
 
It's part of why our negotiations always fail, because if a negotiation streches on for more than three updates, it starts feeling as though we've spent literal days on them, so everyone gets impatient and start pushing for a nuclear option. We can try and make some allowance for NPC agency, but if we push too far it's going to start negatively impacting on our enjoyment.

I thinks it's a Webcomic Time issue, honestly. Maybe more generally phrased point-based voting would alleviate the problem somewhat? Micromanage less = more time passing?
 
I thinks it's a Webcomic Time issue, honestly. Maybe more generally phrased point-based voting would alleviate the problem somewhat? Micromanage less = more time passing?
Well, we have been doing that, or at least trying to, It's the whole reason behind the directive to state general points, not exact wording, but we tend to end up heading back to the MICRO EVERYTHING! style of voting after awhile. It's part of the reason why I wanted to impose a word limit on votes, to help keep the urge to micromanage in check, but that idea didn't get any traction.
 
Consider something even as simple as the current votes. We have to answer three separate questions from the end of the update (but not actually answer the questions, since it's supposed to be in point format), and that's before even deciding what we actually want to do. Ignoring personality aspects, how simple can you actually make the current votes?

Mine (heck, will have fun and update my vote to this):
[x] Sure. Dunno. Will see when we wake them up.
[x] Relax. Talk to Noa.

Ugo's:
[] Sure. Everything's good.
[] Have to talk with Akiko. Ask for info about Fukushima.
[] Wake Moe. Start interrogation.

Maybe making responses on the coherent level of a half-awake stoner will help. On the other hand, there's a huge amount of missing context and intent in the above simplified versions.
 
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Would the context and intent not come from our non-vote posts? Given the whole "we're Sabrina's brain" thing? We could certainly give it a whirl now that things have settled down somewhat.
 
Maybe making responses on the coherent level of a half-awake stoner will help. On the other hand, there's a huge amount of missing context and intent in the above simplified versions.
Yeah, that's a little too simple. Also, the whole reason we feel the need to get so much done per vote is so that a few simple lines and actions don't take a week IRL to perform.
 
Maybe making responses on the coherent level of a half-awake stoner will help. On the other hand, there's a huge amount of missing context and intent in the above simplified versions.
You're reducing it way to much. There should be nice happy middle ground between "Braindead stoner" and "Votes the size of some story updates." For instance, we could try making votes in point form instead of complete sentences, and elaborate on why we do certain causes of actions outside to vote itself. This way, the intent and context is clear and will hopefully make it's way into the update, but the vote remains nice and compact.
 
Unless it somehow becomes relevant to Mitakihara, I'm going to disagree.

There are limits to how far we (Sabrina) can extend ourselves. More time out of Mitakihara is more time out of Mitakihara and we know shit is going to go down here and we do need to be present when it goes down. That's why we're here.

I know our intent is 'to help everyone' but our reach is a good deal more limited then that.

I agree with your overall point, but I would counter that Asurano is one of the few case studies that stands out as particularly relevant to our goals and our metagaming nature. I'd advocate Asurano even if we otherwise don't go to an equidistant location pretty much entirely because we're researching the same shit as them.

Basically SCIENCE.
 
"We've Got Hostiles" pt. 46
"Yes, please do," you say, inclining your head at Yumi.

Yumi shakes a shuddering breath, and nods. "By your leave, then," she says. "Sakura?" She holds out a hand.

A thought occurs to you, and you bring Sakura's Gem in front of her, still contained in the sphere of Grief. The sphere dilates, presenting the Hem to her. The teleporter looks like she's sucking on an entire lemon as she snatches the Gem back before grabbing Yumi's hand, glaring sourly at the ground. She frowns, concentrating for a moment, before the pair of them snap away with the familiar noise.

You look to your left. Kirika grins at you, fang poking out, before transitioning into a massive, jaw cracking yawn that makes your own ache in sympathy. You're not entirely sure if it's just that she's bored or that it's somewhere near midnight now, at a guess. The clouds are too thick to see the moon for a guess, anyway. Past her is Noa, the Tokyo girl looking quietly contemplative.

Past her are the University girls, now closed into their own little circle as they talk to each other, radiating quiet relief and disbelieving joy in their posture. The quick, unsure smiles flashing back and forth, the clasped hands for physical reassurance...

On your right, Mami, still holding your hand. Her half lidded golden eyes crinkle into a warm smile at you, and you return it.

Vwwp.

Sakura returns with Yumi at her side, the grey haired girl clutching two plastic bags, visibly indented from the inside by their cargo of Grief Seeds. Yumi steps forward, holding one of the bag out to you.

You shake your head, and look at Chouko instead. "Miss Tsubaki?" you say, gesturing at Yumi. "And..." you look at Yumi, holding her eyes with your own for a moment. "This... this way will be better for everyone in the long run. I promise." Your look at the rest of the Sendai girls. Rin sees you looking, her green eyes hooded and tired. But she gives you a nod that's almost a bow, a flash of a smile showing on her face. You return the bow. Tamiko is... inscrutable, pushing back her long, orange hair while regarding you quietly.

Sakura rolls her eyes at you.

It will be better for everyone in the long run, you repeat to yourself. It's... it's for the good of everyone.

And that's not really a good line of thought.

Chouko's motions are hurried as she moves over, hand already reaching out for the bags before she checks herself. She stops in front of Yumi, and hesitates for a moment before bowing to the gravity controller. "Thank you."

Yumi, looking faintly surprised, returns the bow in silence, before holding the bag in front of her. Chouko takes it with a quiet rustle of plastic, hands moving quickly and closing convulsively on the handle of the bag. She almost snatches it towards her chest, bowing deeply to Yumi, and then you in turn before she turns back to her friends.

They don't pass the Grief Seeds out, but Chouko hands the bag to Yuko, who peeks inside it with a dazed, pleased look, before she passes it to Rei, who in turn passes it to Haru, who runs her hand through the bag with faint clinking noises.

A stray thought crosses your brain - why don't the pointed bottoms of the Grief Seeds punch holes in the plastic bag?

You huff out a breath.

Next order of business, then.

"Miss Minami," you say, drawing her attention away from watching the University girls. "If you don't mind, we'll be hanging on to Akiko for a while longer. I want to try and find out what's..." you fumble for a word, before continuing, "... what's wrong with her, and help her if I can."

Mami's fingers tighten on yours, and Yumi frowns. "I understand," she says, looking wary. Sakura sets her jaw stubbornly, crossing her arms and seemingly ready to retort, before Rin gives her a sharp look. Even Tamiko seems perturbed by your declaration, looking questioningly at Rin.

Rin nods calmly, accepting your statement without question.

"Alright," you say. "Then the next order of business will be the Fukushima girls. I'll wake them up, and I'd appreciate your help in keeping them calm."

This goes down a lot easier, Yumi nodding in acceptance. "Yes, we'll help."

"By the way, speaking of which," you say. "You can afford to pay them, right? And you still have enough Grief Seeds for yourself?"

"Yes, we do," Yumi says, looking slightly evasive.

You snort. "However many you have leftover isn't my business, as long as you have enough for yourselves and aren't... up to something nefarious."

The gravity controller nods, grey hair bobbing with the motion.

"Ah, excuse me, Miss Sabrina?" Chouko asks, clutching the bag of Grief Seeds in her hands. "Would it be acceptable if we... went aside for a moment? Just the next roof over, say?"

"Uh, sure," you say. "It's still raining, though."

"That's not a problem," Chouko says, accompanied by affirmative nods from her friends.

"Then, yeah, I guess?" you say. You're guessing they want to get away from the Sendai girls so that they can express themselves more freely?

"May I accompany you?" Noa speaks up, glancing sidelong at you. "By your leave, of course, Miss Sabrina?"

You shrug. "If they're OK with it, sure," you agree. "Miss Tsubaki?"

Chouko looks quizzical, as do her friends, puzzled glances abounding. "I suppose?" she replies.

Noa bows politely. "Thank you. I shall not get in the way, I merely wish to ask a few questions."

Chouko's confusion fades slightly, and she nods, looking more sure of herself. "You're welcome," she says, bowing shallowly in return, before turning to join her friends. They leap across to the next roof over, Noa following behind them.

"Alright, then," you say. You flex your will, and Grief shifts to deposit Moe on the roof, from the... floating mausoleum you have. Reminded of its existence, the Sendai girls give it and Moe's body equally uncomfortable looks.

Rin did good work, Moe's body fully healed, smoothly unblemished skin showing beneath rips in a modest, heavily ruffled black dress, a single, asymmetrical dark red glove on her hand. You can see where you tore her Soul Gem away from the wrist of her glove, worn like a watch.

You kneel down next to her, slipping her Gem out of your pocket.

"Kirika?" you ask.

The black haired girl snaps smartly to attention, before ruining the effect with another enormous yawn. "Yes?"

"Um... be ready to antimagic her if she tries to use her powers?" you ask. You glance around. There aren't any particularly deep shadows she could manipulate, so you think it should be OK. Not like she's demonstrated the ability to strangle you with them or something, anyway.

"Okies!" Kirika chirps.

You nod. "And, um, Mami?"

Mami smiles. "Of course."

Ribbons wrap securely around the girl's wrists and legs.

You nod in approval, as the Sendai girls hover, unsure of what to do. Yumi kneels down beside the Moe's body, opposite to you.

You take a deep breath, holding her Gem up for everyone to see, and then press it into her hand.

A breathless moment passes before Moe inhales sharply and her eyelids flick open, to reveal crimson eyes, wide and vacant in confusion. And then she screams.

It's a good scream, one delivered right from her diaphragm to bounce and echo off the buildings.

Moe bolts upright, before jerking up short against the ribbons. You can see her muscles flex under her skin, especially her formerly severed arm, before rational thought seems to slowly seep back into her mind as she glances around, her eyes flickering around.

Yumi raises her arms, gently pressing Moe back. "Miss Nishimura, you're-" a trace of hesitation, "-safe now. You're safe, it's alright."

Moe takes another breath, eyes still darting around, flickering from the Sendai girls to Kirika, you, then Mami. A touch of fear seems to enter her eyes, and she looks back at Yumi.

"W-what happened?" she asked. Her voice is a clear, warm contralto, completely at odds with the... well, you'd half expected a whispery, sbiliant voice to go along with her shadow powers.

"We lost," Yumi says baldly.

Moe squeezes her eyes shut, her head turning away. "Damn it," she mutters. "I knew this was a bad idea."

"Miss Nishimura," you say as gently as you can. "Your friends are OK. We don't want to hurt you, and the war's over. You... yes, you lost, and you hurt a lot of people doing it."

Relief flickers in her expression as she looks at you. "Sasami, Atsuko, they're OK?"

"Yes," you confirm. You nudge the body repository -there has be a better term for it- away from her line of sight. "Just, ah, neutralized."

"Oh," she says, grimacing, before her face settles into a neutral mask.

"Yes," you say, nodding firmly. "Before I let you go, could you answer some questions for me?"

You can feel a glare trying to burn a hole in the side of your head - Sakura, of course. She seems to disapprove of everything you do, on sheer principle.

Moe tries to sit up, and you reach out to help her up. You can feel her jerk away from your hand. "Ask away, Miss...?"

"I'm Sabrina. Just Sabrina," you introduce yourself. "This is Tomoe Mami, and Kure Kirika. Now... tell me about your group. Why did you take Miss Hamasaki's offer?"

The shadow controller's eyes narrow fractionally, her arms flexing against Mami's ribbons. "We owe her," she says slowly. "She waived part of the costs for healing we needed, in exchange for a favour. And she's paying us in Grief Seeds for this... or was." Her eyes fix on yours, unblinking. "You're the 'witch-girl'?"

[] Write-in

=====​

No, she does not have the sharingan.
 
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You're reducing it way to much. There should be nice happy middle ground between "Braindead stoner" and "Votes the size of some story updates."
What? No! How do you get any happier than "Braindead stoner"?

...

Sorry.

We've done some progress on the anti-micromanagement thing. We haven't been using "dialogue" as much as we used to.

And I don't know about all of you guys, but I'm not all that conflicted about Sabrina's demanding nature. It does have drawbacks, but it'll be really, really useful if other megucas would just listen to Sabrina when we're trying to get them to accept our grief cleansing offers. If we have to convince every single meguca personally, instead of relying on a reputation, we're gonna take forever.
Firnagzen said:
It will be better for everyone in the long run, you repeat to yourself. It's... it's for the good of everyone.

And that's not really a good line of thought.
Damn it Sabrina, way to contradict me.
"Ah, excuse me, Miss Sabrina?" Chouko asks, clutching the bag of Grief Seeds in her hands. "Would it be acceptable if we... went aside for a moment? Just the next roof over, say?"

"Uh, sure," you say. "It's still raining, though."

"That's not a problem," Chouko says, accompanied by affirmative nods from her friends.

"Then, yeah, I guess?" you say. You're guessing they want to get away from the Sendai girls so that they can express themselves more freely?
And to distribute grief seeds.
Firnagzen said:
Rin did good work, Moe's body fully healed, smoothly unblemished skin showing beneath rips in a modest, heavily ruffled black dress, a single, asymmetrical dark red glove on her hand. You can see where you tore her Soul Gem away from the wrist of her glove, worn like a watch.
We should remember to cleanse Rin's gem. I don't think we have.
Firnagzen said:
Moe takes another breath, eyes still darting around, flickering from the Sendai girls to Kirika, you, then Mami. A touch of fear seems to enter her eyes, and she looks back at Yumi.
Mami's one scary meguca.
Firnagzen said:
You can feel a glare trying to burn a hole in the side of your head - Sakura, of course. She seems to disapprove of everything you do, on sheer principle.
Just like Sabrina does.
 
[] "Well, yes, I suppose, but I'd really prefer Sabrina, if you don't mind."

I just want this line to be in there. I also really would like us to acknowledge her combat powers, particularly how she is the first one who's manage to wound us in direct combat, though I can't find a way to do so without sounding high-handed and/or condescending. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
[X] Agree that you're tyrannical witch girl, named Sabrina.
-[X] If you're called by nicknames, reply back with nicknames.
[X] Check who is group's leader. Wake up, if needed.
[X] Chew leader for collateral. Metal monster took a while to prepare.
[X] Check how mercenary they are. Either make the same offer as to Sendai or one phrased as hiring offer with your terms of conduct.

Squeeing over powers doesn't really fit in with chewing out.
Though, we already gave our name.
 
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Sakura returns with Yumi at her side, the grey haired girl clutching two plastic bags, visibly indented from the inside by their cargo of Grief Seeds. Yumi steps forward, holding one of the bag out to you.
@Firnagzen , did we manage to do a quick count of the seeds using our grief sense?

Two bags, so probably 3 dozen each guesstimate if it's a large grocery plastic bag.

...those are the souls of 60-something teenage girls.
Mami's fingers tighten on yours, and Yumi frowns. "I understand," she says, looking wary.
Even Tamiko seems perturbed by your declaration, looking questioningly at Rin.
Either they're wary about what we'll do, or on what we'll find out.
Sakura sets her jaw stubbornly, crossing her arms and seemingly ready to retort, before Rin gives her a sharp look.
Rin is now wearing the pants in this relationship.
"May I accompany you?" Noa speaks up, glancing sidelong at you. "By your leave, of course, Miss Sabrina?"

You shrug. "If they're OK with it, sure," you agree. "Miss Tsubaki?"

Chouko looks quizzical, as do her friends, puzzled glances abounding. "I suppose?" she replies.

Noa bows politely. "Thank you. I shall not get in the way, I merely wish to ask a few questions."
Probably gonna offer her group's services, now that they some seeds to throw around. Hopefully she's smart enough to realize we will frown upon any attempts to reignite this war for their profit.

...Or she's a teleporter/speedster and wants to steal all those seeds /shadowruns
"You're the 'witch-girl'?"
Man, does word get around. I think it'll be hard to get rid of that alias, specially when we master barrier creation/grief transmutation.
I also really would like us to acknowledge her combat powers, particularly how she is the first one who's manage to wound us in direct combat,
We also got injured back in Ishinomaki.
 
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@defenestrator: Eh, like I said, with only 2 cleanses per seed each veteran meguca have WTC-scale mountain of corpses behind them.

However, not necessarily; familiars are a thing. So instead of 60 teenage girls, may be easily over 600 humans in general.

Point about Ueda, but then Sakura would have been unnecessary and could have kept attacking us.
 
We also got injured back in Ishinomaki.
Yeah, but that wasn't direct combat. We got ganged up upon and still managed to handle ourselves respectably. Moe here took us on in single combat and would've won had Kirika not been present. I feel that's worthy of at least some acknowledgment, though, once again, I can't find the right way to phrase it.
 
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Saying she took us on in single combat doesn't really work when she could only get near thanks to Sasami/Ramiel.

...I kinda want to include the line "we're 64% certain that we are not a witch".
 
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