Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Hello Purvis on September 20, 2010, 11:17:09 PM
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>You are Maribel Hearn, and the world is wrong. Or rather, you're in the wrong world! Well, it's not wrong anymore.
>Having woken up in a strange room, you've discovered you are in the middle of a world called Gensokyo, and you've finally discovered another world that you've always knew existed.
>You grew up in Japan, living a fairly normal life. Still, you always had a strong instinct that there was more to the world than you could see. You studied psychology in college, and met your best friend there, a woman named Renko. The two of you shared a passion for the supernatural (extranormal, Renko called it, to make it sound more legitimate). In pursuing that passion, the two of you followed your instincts and moved to small island nation called Gensokyo. From there, then memories of the past half year fuzzy. You remember running a modestly successful detective agency and numerous attempts to find supernatural activity. You remember a woman named Utsuho being a prominent influence on your life in the last few days before you woke up here, but you can't remember a lot about it. You remember, though, that she helped you prove the supernatural exists beyond the shadow of a doubt!
>You have been wandering throughout Gensokyo! You've learned some of the basics of flight, danmaku, time-stopping and barrier magic, and you're on cloud nine! Utsuho and Yuugi are in a doomed rivalry for Parsee's love, you have nudged them toward polyamory, and into a kind of peace. You visited Komachi and got her back to work on Reimu's behalf! You have assisted Murasa at the underground clinic on Byakuren's behalf, which involved cleaning up vomit buckets and dealing with a racist old oni. Byakuren has agreed to consider enhancing your natural magical abilities if you gather the necessary ingredients. You have planted flowers for Yuka! You have discovered where all the maids at Scarlet Devil Mansion have gone! You've been chased by a mob of faeries! You have befriend Tokiko, and helped her get used to society and not eating animals raw. You have engaged in a few fact finding missions on Utsuho's behalf. You have found, bickered with, worried over, and slept with Renko Usami. You have earned the enmity of Alice Margatroid, and then beat her up. You have begun trying to fulfill Sanae's dream, and healing the rift between Utsuho and Kanako. You've had a frightening trip into Hakugyokuro! You are having a serious internal debate over whether or not to seek out becoming a youkai. You've met Yukari, and gotten a very indecent proposal. You have quietly helped and supported Renko in invading Scarlet Devil Mansion. You are now technically a homeowner!
>You are now conversing with Renko outside your new home, standing by a bonfire while group of faeries clean up inside.
> Nod.
> "Say, have any of the faeries acquired a set of bellows recently? There's a blacksmith in the village that's missing some."
>"Actually, yeah," says Renko. "There was a group of 'em that like to hang around in the northeastern forest that had a set, from what Daiyousei told me. She got them to join up with us last night. They probably left it behind."
> "I would have actually thought your original outfit of however-many years would be the one of sentimental value, though. You really want nothing to do with our former lives anymore, do you?"
>"I've got no real use for it, anymore. I burned all my bridges coming to the island to begin with. And since it's gone..."
>She shrugs.
>"I'd rather look forward, anyways."
>_
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> "Okay, I can get behind that. I'll miss my folks, though."
> "Anyway, would you happen to know exactly what part of the northeastern forest those fairies are from? The blacksmith is looking to have them back. She might be able to hook us up with someone capable of melting down the golem's parts."
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> Note post edit, parser. Sorry for the late change, I was being dumb.
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> "Okay, I can get behind that. I'll miss my folks, though."
> "Anyway, would you happen to know exactly what part of the northeastern forest those fairies are from? The blacksmith is looking to have them back. She might be able to hook us up with someone capable of melting down the golem's parts."
>She nods. "Well, I'm sure you could get Yukari to take you back for a holiday or something. Although she's definitely going to want something for it."
>"Not really," says Renko, "But I don't think it's too far from that food stand, you know the one?"
>_
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> "Oh, you mean Mystia's lamprey stand?"
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> "Oh, you mean Mystia's lamprey stand?"
>"Is it run by the bird youkai?" asks Renko. "It's that one."
>_
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> "Great. I wanted to stop by and visit her again at some point."
> "Did you actually grab any pieces of the golem before you left? It occurred to me afterward that I forgot to."
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>What time is it?
>"Yeah, that sounds right. I've talked with her a fair bit. She's nice enough."
>"... though, now I wonder how Tokiko's doing."
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> "Great. I wanted to stop by and visit her again at some point."
> "Did you actually grab any pieces of the golem before you left? It occurred to me afterward that I forgot to."
>Renko nods. "Good, you know where it is."
>"Not really. Why?"
>What time is it?
>"Yeah, that sounds right. I've talked with her a fair bit. She's nice enough."
>"... though, now I wonder how Tokiko's doing."
>It's early afternoon.
>Renko nods idly, then asks, "Tokiko?"
>_
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> "Some kind of bird youkai that I met yesterday. She was kind of pressed for food, so I introduced her to Mystia after an unsettling encounter involving her and an unfortunate snake..."
> Shudder.
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> "We should probably pick up at least some of it. It's already been defeated by one party and lifted by another party once before. If we want to make sure we get what we need from it, I'd recommend sooner rather than later, just to be safe."
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> "Some kind of bird youkai that I met yesterday. She was kind of pressed for food, so I introduced her to Mystia after an unsettling encounter involving her and an unfortunate snake..."
> Shudder.
>"...I see," says Renko, in a voice that clearly demonstrates the opposite.
>You shudder regardless. The memory isn't so fresh now, but still...
> "We should probably pick up at least some of it. It's already been defeated by one party and lifted by another party once before. If we want to make sure we get what we need from it, I'd recommend sooner rather than later, just to be safe."
>Renko nods. "Alright."
>_
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> "Yeah. There's actually quite a few things on my plate, though none as major as your mansion conquest, and none so important that we can't spend a little downtime together right now."
> "I think you may be interested in joining me for at least a few, though, if you have nothing major planned for the rest of the day."
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> "Yeah. There's actually quite a few things on my plate, though none as major as your mansion conquest, and none so important that we can't spend a little downtime together right now."
> "I think you may be interested in joining me for at least a few, though, if you have nothing major planned for the rest of the day."
>Renko nods. "Well, you do need a rest. And sure, I'll come with you. Or if you want, I can try to take care of one or two of them myself, if you tell me what you need done."
>_
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>"The fairies would probably be more willing to let you take the bellows, but we should probably see about getting those golem parts first. And both of us can carry more than one anyway, so we might as well go together."
>"And maybe we can make out on the way, too!"
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> "Okay, sure. I think I'd rather us do as many of them as possible together, though."
> Smile.
> "Anyway..."
> "The ones I've already mentioned are getting the bellows back and gathering some parts from the golem. We should probably do both of those in one swoop, since I think we should be taking the parts to the blacksmith to see what she thinks we can do with them."
> "I would like to check up on Reimu and Plum Flower to see how they're doing. Have you had the chance to meet Reimu, yet? If not, we should at least thank her proper for her help exorcising our house."
> "We should also go looking for Kogasa, just to let her know what you've accomplished. She's a new friend of mine that lives in the woods, not too far from here. She knows where this house is, and I've invited her to stop by occasionally. She's...quite unique."
> Lower voice and check to make sure Kogasa is not in the area.
> "And, honestly, she's very adorable. Don't tell her I said that, though. And don't worry, she's no competition for you."
> Raise voice again.
> "Finally...do you remember Yamame, from Utsuho's story about the island? I imagine she believes it was a dream just like everyone else. I think we should fill her in on what really happened and then re-introduce her to Utsuho. Poor Okuu's gone through so much hardship just for doing what she believed was right for her family...she deserves a little extra happiness."
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>"The fairies would probably be more willing to let you take the bellows, but we should probably see about getting those golem parts first. And both of us can carry more than one anyway, so we might as well go together."
>"And maybe we can make out on the way, too!"
>Renko nods.
>"I am not making out while moving through a cluttered forest, I like my bones unbroken."
> "Okay, sure. I think I'd rather us do as many of them as possible together, though."
> Smile.
> "Anyway..."
> "The ones I've already mentioned are getting the bellows back and gathering some parts from the golem. We should probably do both of those in one swoop, since I think we should be taking the parts to the blacksmith to see what she thinks we can do with them."
> "I would like to check up on Reimu and Plum Flower to see how they're doing. Have you had the chance to meet Reimu, yet? If not, we should at least thank her proper for her help exorcising our house."
> "We should also go looking for Kogasa, just to let her know what you've accomplished. She's a new friend of mine that lives in the woods, not too far from here. She knows where this house is, and I've invited her to stop by occasionally. She's...quite unique."
> Lower voice and check to make sure Kogasa is not in the area.
> "And, honestly, she's very adorable. Don't tell her I said that, though. And don't worry, she's no competition for you."
> Raise voice again.
> "Finally...do you remember Yamame, from Utsuho's story about the island? I imagine she believes it was a dream just like everyone else. I think we should fill her in on what really happened and then re-introduce her to Utsuho. Poor Okuu's gone through so much hardship just for doing what she believed was right for her family...she deserves a little extra happiness."
>"Well, yeah. Just saying, if you need to be two places at once, you can count on me to be at one of them."
>She nods as you explain the plan for the bellows and the parts. "No, I've never met Reimu. Know of her, of course, from what you and the faeries told me."
>You tell her about Kogasa. "Well, I won't say no to that, and competition? Geez, do you really think I'm that jealous?"
>You ask her about Yamame. "Um, don't remember very well, I'm afraid."
>_
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> "I don't think we ever got to meet Yamame, so I guess that's to be expected. Utsuho did mention her in her story, though. I figured you might want to be there more for moral support than meeting Yamame, anyway."
> "But, like I said, all that can wait, at least for a little while..."
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> "I don't think we ever got to meet Yamame, so I guess that's to be expected. Utsuho did mention her in her story, though. I figured you might want to be there more for moral support than meeting Yamame, anyway."
> "But, like I said, all that can wait, at least for a little while..."
>She nods. "Yeah, for a bit. Want to find someplace a bit more secluded?"
>_
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Note to self: When Renko is involved, leave it to Kilga.
>Grin.
>"Sure thing."
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>Grin.
>"Sure thing."
>You grin and voice your agreement.
>"Got any place in mind?" she asks.
>_
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>"Well, if we can bully Ran out of Yukari's place..."
>"Let's troll the mind-readers at the hot springs!"
>"How much do you mind dust?"
>"Tokiko owes me."
>"Satori will be out this time."
>"To the batcave!"
>"Alice's house should be empty, right?"
>"Do you think the fairies are done with the pantry?"
More realistically, the tent sounds fine if it's unoccupied.
Also, don't forget about Yukari's shady new drug, for whatever it's worth.
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> "You still have that tent?"
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>"Well, if we can bully Ran out of Yukari's place..."
>"Let's troll the mind-readers at the hot springs!"
>"How much do you mind dust?"
>"Tokiko owes me."
>"Satori will be out this time."
>"To the batcave!"
>"Alice's house should be empty, right?"
>"Do you think the fairies are done with the pantry?"
>"Make a calender, jesus..."
> "You still have that tent?"
>She nods. "That'll do just fine..."
>_
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> "In that case, I know this really good forest."
> Grin.
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> "In that case, I know this really good forest."
> Grin.
>"Lead the way, then," she says while smiling herself.
>_
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>Lead on.
>Yo-yo bondage
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>Lead on.
>Yo-yo bondage
>You lead on.
>The field where the faerie army gathered is mostly deserted now. There's a couple of small groups playing around, but the teeming hundreds are gone now. It feels almost eerie, after the fervent energy that used to be gathered here. Still, the tent is standing, and inside you find it is as you left it this morning.
>Renko lays down on the futon, stretching
>_
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>Lie down next to her
>Put our arm around her
>"Never has something like this been so well earned, I think."
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>Lie down next to her
>Put our arm around her
>"Never has something like this been so well earned, I think."
>You lay down, and frankly, it feels better than snuggling with Renko at the moment.
>But you decide to snuggle with Renko anyways and get the most out of the experience.
>"Mhm," she says.
>One part of you really would like to carry this on further. But the tired and sore part of you would probably beat the first part up if you tried. Still, the two of you have a little fun; a god kiss doesn't take that much energy. Nor does a tender caress here and again. But it's a slow, relaxed sort of thing. It never goes anywhere, you're just too worn out physically and emotionally for it.
>So you're not terribly surprised to wake up, and discover that you drifted off for awhile. "Hey there," says Renko as you stir, her face scarcely inches from yours, then quite a bit closer as she kisses you on the lips. "Feeling better?"
>_
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> Good question. How do we feel?
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> Good question. How do we feel?
>A whole lot less tired and sore, for one thing. You're kind of hungry, though. But it can wait for awhile.
>_
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> "A bit better, yeah, but...you should ask me again in a minute."
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> "A bit better, yeah, but...you should ask me again in a minute."
>"I'll give you a minute, then," she says, smiling.
>_
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> "Okay."
> Sigh.
> "Renko, I've been thinking...ever since that talk we had about my, uh, blink ability, I've been thinking about us, and...and how I've just been such a jerk to you, so many times since we found each other yesterday. Like that, and questioning your sanity, and making you stand up to Alice, and...and just everything I've done. I feel so...ugh..."
> If we haven't teared up yet, we should be doing it now.
> "I'm...I'm so sorry, Renko...I'm so selfish, and short-sighted, and you've been so good to me, and...and..."
> Hug. We both need this.
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> "Okay."
> Sigh.
> "Renko, I've been thinking...ever since that talk we had about my, uh, blink ability, I've been thinking about us, and...and how I've just been such a jerk to you, so many times since we found each other yesterday. Like that, and questioning your sanity, and making you stand up to Alice, and...and just everything I've done. I feel so...ugh..."
> If we haven't teared up yet, we should be doing it now.
> "I'm...I'm so sorry, Renko...I'm so selfish, and short-sighted, and you've been so good to me, and...and..."
> Hug. We both need this.
>You unburden your heart to Renko, tearing up a bit, and apologize. You hug her, which isn't too hard as you are both already pretty firmly embraced.
>"Hey, stop that," says Renko. "It's been a crazy time for both of us. And yeah, some of those things got me a bit mad, but you stopped doing them and that's the important part. It's okay." She kisses you again. "We both made mistakes. Don't worry about it, I forgive you."
>_
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> "I...I'm so lucky to have you...I love you so much..."
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> "I...I'm so lucky to have you...I love you so much..."
>"Damn right you are," says Renko. "But really, don't worry about it. You did what was right in the end. Only a jerk would hold it against you. Now calm down and kiss or something."
>_
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>"Well, who am I to argue with that?"
>Calm down a little
>Kiss her
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>"Well, who am I to argue with that?"
>Calm down a little
>Kiss her
>"Exactly," she says.
>You try to calm your; all has been forgiven. You feel guilty, still, but she's let it go. You can start making it up to her now, rather than just worrying.
>You kiss her. It turns out to be a long one. Perhaps it wouldn't be too bad to get worn out again...
>_
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>Perhaps it mightn't. What's a victory if you can't celebrate a little afterwards, hey?
>Let's give Renko and ourselves a better reason to be worn out.
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>Perhaps it mightn't. What's a victory if you can't celebrate a little afterwards, hey?
>Let's give Renko and ourselves a better reason to be worn out.
>You decide to have a victory celebration with Renko. It serves to relieve the morning tension nicely, to say the least. Her shirt takes more time to get off, but perhaps that's more rewarding. The two of you are getting into a nice routine now. And she's definitely picking up a thing or two, much to your delight.
>Afterward, you spent some more time cuddled together, periodically murmuring soft nothings to each other.
>_
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>"You know, Renko, it's going to be nice just being able to have a bit of a peaceful life here, after all the craziness that's happened. Here's hoping crazy comes in somewhat smaller doses in the future, hey?"
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>"You know, Renko, it's going to be nice just being able to have a bit of a peaceful life here, after all the craziness that's happened. Here's hoping crazy comes in somewhat smaller doses in the future, hey?"
>"Yeah," she murmurs. "Bit more manageable."
>_
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>It's evening by now, isn't it?
>Enjoy cuddles.
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>It's evening by now, isn't it?
>Enjoy cuddles.
>You aren't sure, but give you can still see in here, you don't think it was that long. The two of you certainly didn't spend that much time together. You estimate it is mid to late afternoon.
>Regardless, you enjoy the cuddles. She is very pleasingly soft and warm...
>_
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>Remember that we still have stuff to do
>Ignore it and cuddle some more
>Eventually, admit that we can always resume this once other stuff is off our plate
>"Well, should probably get a few more things done before it gets too late. Go find those bellows and see about getting those parts melted down. Can you show me the area you think they were at?"
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>Remember that we still have stuff to do
>Ignore it and cuddle some more
>Eventually, admit that we can always resume this once other stuff is off our plate
>"Well, should probably get a few more things done before it gets too late. Go find those bellows and see about getting those parts melted down. Can you show me the area you think they were at?"
>You were starting to feel a bit restless anyways.
>"Huh? Sure thing, love."
>_
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>Get up and stretch
>Get dressed
>"Well, lead the way."
>Follow along
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>Get up and stretch
>Get dressed
>"Well, lead the way."
>Follow along
>You get up and have a nice stretch. What a lovely conclusion to the afternoon's activities.
>After getting dressed, you bid Renko to lead you toward where she thinks the bellows might be. "Sure, this way," says Renko.
>She leads you near where Marisa's house is. She gestures toward the Eastern forest, opposite of Marisa's house, and says, "It was somewhere in there, I think."
>The forest she gestures toward is pretty dense, you'd not sure you can see an obvious path to get through.
>_
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> "That looks a bit difficult to get through..."
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>From the ground, from above, or both?
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>Look around for less obvious paths, including ones not quite at ground level
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> "That looks a bit difficult to get through..."
>"That's why faeries like it," says Renko.
>From the ground, from above, or both?
>You could easily fly over the trees, but then you wouldn't see the bellows if they are there. But walking would be difficult and probably scratch you up pretty badly.
>Look around for less obvious paths, including ones not quite at ground level
>You might be able to slip through if you fly just below the tree boughs, but it seems to seems to lead more toward the east.
>_
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>"Well, nothing but to poke around a bit, I guess."
>Try to slip in through the path just below the tree boughs
>Move slowly, and keep an eye out for both bellows and fairies who might know something about it
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>"Well, nothing but to poke around a bit, I guess."
>Try to slip in through the path just below the tree boughs
>Move slowly, and keep an eye out for both bellows and fairies who might know something about it
>"Alright," says Renko. "I'll let you know if I know anybody."
>You try to slip through. It is slow going, the foliage below doesn't offer much in the way of clearance.
>Moving eastward and looking around, you don't seem much empty ground; mostly there are bushes and tall grasses. You also see a faerie, about as long as your forearm with red hair and a green dress, loafing on a low branch. "Hi Other Dai," she says, looking toward you. "Hi Other Dai's Girl."
>_
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>"Hey there! How's it going?"
>"I don't suppose you've seen a bellows around here? We need it for something important."
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>"Hey there! How's it going?"
>"I don't suppose you've seen a bellows around here? We need it for something important."
>"Pretty good!" says the faerie. "I got hit by a knife! Then when I woke up, I got some bread from the pantry!"
>"A what bell?"
>_
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>"It's a blacksmith thing. You squeeze it, and puffs of air come out the other end. I heard there was one in the general area, here."
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>"How was the bread?"
>Would just calling it something weird from the human village work better?
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>"How was the bread?"
>Would just calling it something weird from the human village work better?
>"Long and white!" the faerie answers.
>It might. But there's a lot of things from there faeries might find weird.
>"It's a blacksmith thing. You squeeze it, and puffs of air come out the other end. I heard there was one in the general area, here."
>"Oh, I think Sun Drop was talking about a blowy thing... I haven't seen it. But I've not really looked around. She does play around here a lot."
>_
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>"Any idea where Sun Drop is, then? Or what she wanted it for?"
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>"Have you seen her around here this afternoon? Or anyone else who might know where it is, for that matter?"
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>"Any idea where Sun Drop is, then? Or what she wanted it for?"
>"She said it made funny noises! And, um...last I saw her was at the Mansion's pantry."
>"Have you seen her around here this afternoon? Or anyone else who might know where it is, for that matter?"
>"Um...I dunno. There's a creek over there, though!"
>She gestures toward the North. Which is about as thickly overgrown as any place else.
>_
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>Ponder the wisdom of arming fairies with whoopee cushions.
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>"Are you saying you think someone else might be over that way?"
>Can we see any reasonable path for us to get there, even slowly?
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>Ponder the wisdom of arming fairies with whoopee cushions.
>You can already imagine the tragic and hilarious accidents.
>"Are you saying you think someone else might be over that way?"
>Can we see any reasonable path for us to get there, even slowly?
>"Maybe!"
>There seems to be a deer path that goes to the north and to the east.
>_
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>"Well, thanks a bunch. Have a nice day, now!"
>Head towards where the fairy gestured
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>"Can't hurt to check. Thanks, uh...?"
>Unless there's more to say to her name, make like a doe northwardsly.
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>"Well, thanks a bunch. Have a nice day, now!"
>Head towards where the fairy gestured
>"Can't hurt to check. Thanks, uh...?"
>Unless there's more to say to her name, make like a doe northwardsly.
>"Oh, I'm Cloud Burst!" says the faerie. "You're welcome!"
>You follow the trail, and soon come to a little stream of water, barely more than a half foot across and not deep enough to wet your ankles. The grases around here are thick, but manageable looking. You can see a few scattered toadstools about. Obvious exists are South.
>_
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>Look around for fairies, or any signs of the bellows
>Assuming none of either, call out: "Anyone around here?"
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>Look around for fairies, or any signs of the bellows
>Assuming none of either, call out: "Anyone around here?"
>You do not see any faeries around. You do not see the bellows, either, but the grass here is pretty tall and could easily hide such a thing.
>You get no answers to your query.
>_
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>Take a little bit more time to look through the grass more thoroughly for the bellows
>If we find nothing, head back south, then take the trail east
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>Take a little bit more time to look through the grass more thoroughly for the bellows
>If we find nothing, head back south, then take the trail east
>You take some time to look through the grass, Renko serving as a second set of eyes.
>Looking around the eastern part of the field, you see it! A set of bellows about as long as your leg, resting on the ground!
>_
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>"Found it!"
>Go over and retrieve it
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>"Found it!"
>Go over and retrieve it
>"I see it!" Renko says.
>You walk over and retrieve the bellows! As you do, something bursts from the ground!
>"Urameshiya!"
>Suddenly something entwines around your feet and jerks powerfully! You fall to the ground, dropping the bellows to catch yourself.
>"Oh hell no!" Renko cries.
>_
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>"Gah!"
>Damnit, Kogasa!
>Tug legs away from whatever it is!
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>Try to collect ourself
>We're not more than just a little scraped up, right?
>Assuming so: "I'm alright. It's ok."
>Try to get to our feet
>Look around for Kogasa
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>Try to collect ourself
>We're not more than just a little scraped up, right?
>Assuming so: "I'm alright. It's ok."
>Try to get to our feet
>Look around for Kogasa
>You try to collect yourself. You feel something tight around your ankles and can't move your legs freely.
>This aside, you're just a little sore from the fall.
>"You are?" asks Renko, as she stands over you, clearly ready for trouble. "That's a load off my mind."
>You try to get to your feet, and fail miserably.
>You don't need to look around, you can hear Kogasa cackling, and look over to see her standing up from the surrounding foliage, holding a rope.
>_
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>Well, if our legs don't work, try floating ourselves upright
>"Renko, this is Kogasa. Kogasa, Renko."
>"And I honestly have a hard time believing people when they say you weren't much good at this."
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>Well, if our legs don't work, try floating ourselves upright
>"Renko, this is Kogasa. Kogasa, Renko."
>"And I honestly have a hard time believing people when they say you weren't much good at this."
>You try to float upright. However, you find being snared does a lot to disrupt your disregarding of gravity.
>"Wait, this was that one person you were talking about?" says Renko, giving Kogasa a suspicious look.
>"Hi!" says Kogasa, juggling the rope to her umbrella-holding hand and waving to Renko.
>You express your disbelief at Kogasa's apparent lack of talent. "Hold out baits to entice the enemy," says Kogasa, sticking out her tongue for a moment. "Feign disorder, and crush him."
>_
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>"Nicely done. ...does that mean you put this where we could find it? Or just watched us looking for it?"
>"And I don't suppose someone could come untie my legs?"
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>"Nicely done. ...does that mean you put this where we could find it? Or just watched us looking for it?"
>"And I don't suppose someone could come untie my legs?"
>"Oh, I found it," says Kogasa, "And waited."
>"Right, sorry!" Renko says. "Just, I thought we were going to have to fight it out and stuff."
>She kneels down and beings to fiddle with the rope. After a few moments, you are free!
>_
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>Stand up
>"Thanks, Renko. And thankfully no. I've had way more than enough of that today, I think. Kogasa just does it to surprise people. No malice of intent."
-
Imagine the look on my face last night in bed when I remembered I forgot to include the bucket in my list. Can't forget Kisume!
> To Renko: "Would you believe she found a copy of The Art of War, and is applying it to scaring people? It's actually quite impressive."
> To Kogasa: "Hey, did you happen to see what Renko here did earlier today?"
-
>Stand up
>"Thanks, Renko. And thankfully no. I've had way more than enough of that today, I think. Kogasa just does it to surprise people. No malice of intent."
>You stand up. Your ankles hurt a bit, but that shouldn't be a real problem.
>Kogasa nods in agreement as you defend her. "Kind of a blurry line, don't you think?" Renko says.
> To Renko: "Would you believe she found a copy of The Art of War, and is applying it to scaring people? It's actually quite impressive."
> To Kogasa: "Hey, did you happen to see what Renko here did earlier today?"
>"Oh, that explains the quote," says Renko. "And yeah, I guess it is."
>"Nope!" says Kogasa in a cheery tone, as she gathers up her rope.
>_
-
>"Blurry line for a lot of people, probably. I get the impression it really isn't for her, though."
>Go collect the bellows
-
>"Blurry line for a lot of people, probably. I get the impression it really isn't for her, though."
>Go collect the bellows
>"Huh," says Renko. "So the two of you are kinda friends, right?"
>You obtain: Bellows
>_
-
>"Yeah, you could say that. This is the third time she's gotten me, now, actually."
>"Oh, Kogasa, I saw you at the Felt this morning, but I was really pressed for time so I didn't get a chance to say hi. Did you win anything?"
-
>"Have you had any success in surprising people other than me?"
-
>"Yeah, you could say that. This is the third time she's gotten me, now, actually."
>"Oh, Kogasa, I saw you at the Felt this morning, but I was really pressed for time so I didn't get a chance to say hi. Did you win anything?"
>"Huh, so a frequent hassler," says Renko. "You get a lot of those."
>"I bet it all on black," says Kogasa with a shrug. "Maybe next time."
>"Have you had any success in surprising people other than me?"
>"I've gotten a few faeries!" says Kogasa. "Oh, and one time I surprised a farmer by hiding under the chicken coop."
>_
-
>"Not bad, not bad. Anyhow, I think we probably should probably go return this. Have a nice day, now!"
>Head to the human village
-
> Wait, don't leave just yet!
> "Oh, I almost forgot to mention! That thing Renko did earlier today? She went to the Scarlet Devil Mansion with a fairy army and beat everyone there!"
-
>"Not bad, not bad. Anyhow, I think we probably should probably go return this. Have a nice day, now!"
>Head to the human village
>She nods. "Every little one counts."
> Wait, don't leave just yet!
> "Oh, I almost forgot to mention! That thing Renko did earlier today? She went to the Scarlet Devil Mansion with a fairy army and beat everyone there!"
>You are about to leave, when you stop yourself.
>Kogasa's eyes widen. "Nu-uh! You're kidding!" she says. Then after a moment, "Really? "
>Renko grins and nods.
>"It's a trick!" says Kogasa, frowning.
>_
-
> "Hand to God, it's true. There will be a newspaper article about it some time soon. We can show it to you, if you like."
-
> "Hand to God, it's true. There will be a newspaper article about it some time soon. We can show it to you, if you like."
>"Everyone knows the newspaper is full of lies," says Kogasa. "But okay. I'd like to see!"
>_
-
>"Lies?"
>Look to Renko
>"So much for responsible journalism. Ah, well. It'd probably end up in there one way or another. Giving Hatate a front row seat at least increases the chances of accurate reporting. Right?"
>To Kogasa: "For what it's worth, I imagine most of the fairies around here will vouch for it. It was... quite an impressive battle."
-
>"Lies?"
>Look to Renko
>"So much for responsible journalism. Ah, well. It'd probably end up in there one way or another. Giving Hatate a front row seat at least increases the chances of accurate reporting. Right?"
>To Kogasa: "For what it's worth, I imagine most of the fairies around here will vouch for it. It was... quite an impressive battle."
>"Yep," says Kogasa, "You can't trust that thing."
>Renko nods, though frowning a little. "I guess as long as the main parts are right..."
>"Oh, okay," says Kogasa as you mention the faeries. "Well I'm happy you did alright!"
>_
-
>"Anyway, you have a nice day now. See you later!"
>Head to the human village
-
>"Anyway, you have a nice day now. See you later!"
>Head to the human village
>"You too!" Says Kogasa. She waves as the two of you depart.
>You make your way back toward the main road. Once a discrete distance away, Renko asks, "What's her deal?"
>_
-
>"Honestly, as far as I can tell, that's it. Surprising people is just what she does. She's pretty good-natured about it, though, which is why it doesn't really bother me as much as it normally might. Apparently she used to be completely ineffective at it until she found that copy of the Art of War. I'm amazed at how much of a difference that could make, if the stories I've heard about her are to be believed."
-
>"Honestly, as far as I can tell, that's it. Surprising people is just what she does. She's pretty good-natured about it, though, which is why it doesn't really bother me as much as it normally might. Apparently she used to be completely ineffective at it until she found that copy of the Art of War. I'm amazed at how much of a difference that could make, if the stories I've heard about her are to be believed."
>"Weird," says Renko, as the two of you continue out of the forest. You glance over toward your house, and notice that the bonfire seems to have burned out. At the same time, you also notice a lot of the front yard is scorched and blackened. Thankfully, this doesn't seem to have extended to the house itself.
>_
-
>Frown at the yard
>"Going to have to fix that one, eventually..."
-
>Frown at the yard
>"Going to have to fix that one, eventually..."
>Renko nods. "Yeah, guess we will. Wonder what happened?"
>_
-
>"Maybe the fairies forgot about the fire for a bit, and some of the rest of the yard caught fire before they could put it out again?"
>About how much of the yard is burned, in comparison to the actual size of the space the bonfire occupied?
-
>"Maybe the fairies forgot about the fire for a bit, and some of the rest of the yard caught fire before they could put it out again?"
>About how much of the yard is burned, in comparison to the actual size of the space the bonfire occupied?
>It's hard to tell, but you think it's a good three or four times more than the bonfire's radius when you say it. Maybe more.
-
>"Oh well. I guess the damage is done now, whatever happened. Not much we can do except scrape and resoil the place eventually.The house was a fixer-upper from the start..."
>Continue on to the village
-
> Regret not grabbing pieces of the golem while we were out.
-
> Regret not grabbing pieces of the golem while we were out.
Frankly, I was hoping the blacksmith or someone else would have a cart or something we could load them in. There's far too much to just carry with us.
-
I wasn't expecting us to grab the whole thing, but surely our backpack has some room for at least a little bit, and it would be nice to have something to show Ari(?) so she can at least see what we'll be talking about.
-
Of course it's entirely possible we were in the wrong part of the forest anyway. My imagination's compass is terrible.
-
>"Oh well. I guess the damage is done now, whatever happened. Not much we can do except scrape and resoil the place eventually.The house was a fixer-upper from the start..."
>Continue on to the village
>She nods. "Yeah, I guess it will be alright."
>You continue on.
> Regret not grabbing pieces of the golem while we were out.
>Oh right. You did kind of pass that by in your eagerness to get to the bellows...
>_
-
> "Hey, Renko, do you remember seeing any fairies with a bucket yesterday? A bucket you didn't expect them to have?"
-
> "Hey, Renko, do you remember seeing any fairies with a bucket yesterday? A bucket you didn't expect them to have?"
Remember, Renko already said that fairies stay the hell away from Kourindou. So I doubt any of them would be trading anything in there.
Besides, wasn't Tewi suspect number one at this point, anyway?
-
Is she? I'm not sure I'm sold on Tewi being an outright thief so much as a grifter. She steals Reisen's shit, sure, but that's Reisen. There's no wit or cleverness involved in waiting for a bucket's owner to leave for a while before taking the bucket. I'm not sure Tewi would really bother.
We also don't know if she would have a reason to go underground. Admittedly, I can't think of any reason for fairies to go underground either, but fairies are dumb and there are a lot of them so it seems like at least one or two would eventually find their way down there purely by chance.
EDIT: There's also the possibility that whoever took the bucket later lost it, leading to Nazrin finding it (and thus not knowing where it came from), leading to Nazrin selling it. Though I don't know why Nazrin would sell a bucket to Kourindou if it was important enough to the clinic for Murasa to buy it...
-
I don't know if you recall, but Kisume specifically mentioned, among the list of people passing through around the time the bucket was stolen, a dark-haired rabbit.
-
I actually do not remember that. Do you happen to have the post handy? I realize that's a lot to ask of a 10-topic game, but...
Or, well I guess we could try this.
> Recall list of people Kisume identified as passing by when talking about when her bucket was stolen.
-
Here's the post. Seems it didn't specify dark-haired, but rather short. Nevertheless:
>"Lemme think..." She looks up toward the ceiling, leaning back far enough to tip her bucket. "Um...Yammy, a short little rabbit, someone with blue hair, one of those Prismriver girls... think there were some others."
-
Hmm. Doubt any of the PrismReznors would bother.
Blue hair could be...
- Remilia: Extremely unlikely, not worth considering.
- Keine: Same.
- Nitori: Maybe worth considering - I can see Nitori grabbing stuff that isn't hers in a fit of invention inspiration - but she was on the mountain all day, as I recall, and if she really wanted it for something like that she wouldn't turn around and sell it.
- Tenshi: I could actually see this happening, if Tenshi found some time away from the bar. No particular motivation needed other than "it's Tenshi".
- Kogasa: ...Maybe? She might've lifted it for some Sun Tsu-based reason. Kisume certainly seemed surprised. Kinda wishing I had thought to ask her. .-.
- Cirno: This would play into my fairy theory. I can see Cirno doing something like this, even if I can't think of an immediate reason (but since when do fairies need a logical reason to do anything?). I can also see Cirno ignoring any and all fairy conventions as she pleases.
So ultimately it's down to one of Tewi, Tenshi, Cirno and Kogasa. This does admittedly make Tewi look worse, but...I just don't think pinching a bucket is her style.
...Or it might be Rise. Did she go back to the moon for good?
-
I can't imagine Kogasa would do it. What's the point in surprising someone if you're not around to see their reaction? It really doesn't seem her style. As for Tewi, I think she'd do it just to be a pain, particularly if she expected someone else to end up with the bucket afterwards and cause the kind of awkward confrontation that actually happened. It also really doesn't seem like Cirno's style on a number of counts, in my opinion. Plus, I'd think Kisume would have specified it was a fairy, and not just someone with blue hair, if that were the case.
EDIT: For that matter, what are you hoping to accomplish by tracking them down at this point? The bucket's been returned, Kisume is satisfied Murasa didn't do it, and went to apologize. And it's not like we're going to get any apologies out of most of the most likely candidates on the list, anyway. If they even admit they did it.
-
> "Hey, Renko, do you remember seeing any fairies with a bucket yesterday? A bucket you didn't expect them to have?"
>"A few of them" says Renko. "They use them to carry water and stuff. It wasn't really unexpected, though."
>_
-
> "Did Cirno do any of that work?"
EDIT: For that matter, what are you hoping to accomplish by tracking them down at this point? The bucket's been returned, Kisume is satisfied Murasa didn't do it, and went to apologize. And it's not like we're going to get any apologies out of most of the most likely candidates on the list, anyway. If they even admit they did it.
Because the quest is still sitting there - if it were "complete" it would have been taken off. It hasn't been taken off; instead, it's been modified to fit what we know and left there. This alone makes it worth pursuing to me.
-
> "Did Cirno do any of that work?"
>"Cirno's way too lazy for that sort of thing," says Renko.
>_
-
>Continue to the human village
-
>Continue to the human village
>You continue on toward the human village. The rest of the trip is uneventful, and as you reach town, you can see a moderate amount of activity.
>_
-
> Is it general town activity, or does it appear concentrated somewhere?
-
There's also simple curiosity about who would want to rob a hobo. Then again, that she's a mugger as well might do the trick.
Also, a better reason to get some golem parts would have been damage control - if the fairies collected every part of it last time, what would stop them from doing it again?
Then again, making out with Renko probably gave them more than enough time to strip it empty anyway, so...
-
> Is it general town activity, or does it appear concentrated somewhere?
>It seems to be general activity.
>_
-
>Carry on to the blacksmith
-
>Quests
-
>Carry on to the blacksmith
>You walk to the smithy. Thankfully, she doesn't seem to be busy with any customers at the moment, presently she seems to be in the process of beating a bit of metal around the horn of her anvil.
>Quests
>Your Quests are:
>Love is a Battlefield
>Your friend Utsuho in a bitter rivalry with Yuugi for the heart of Parsee Mizuhashi. You've managed to help them approach another solution, now it's just a matter of getting Utsuho and Yuugi together for the long run.
>Maximum Charge Maribel Hearn
>Byakuren has offered to cast a spell to enhance your innate magic potential, if you gather the ingredients and prove yourself worthy. You've completed it, but...now you're having doubts. Maybe there's something else to be gotten for all that legwork?
>Clinic Catastophe
>Byakuren asked you to help Murasa run the clinic, and to make sure Murasa is doing her job. Kisume's bucket appeared there, but how?
>Bellow away!
>The town blacksmith's bellows are missing! You found them out in the middle of the Forest of Magic. Now to hand them over.
>_
-
>"Hello, there. I think I found your bellows."
>Present the bellows
-
>Wonder how angry Sun Drop's going to be about losing her stolen bellows.
-
>"Hello, there. I think I found your bellows."
>Present the bellows
>She looks up, then eyes the Bellows as you present them. "Those are the ones, alright," she says with a nod. "Put them by the anvil there, and I'll give you a proper reward in a moment."
>Wonder how angry Sun Drop's going to be about losing her stolen bellows.
>Hard to say. She might not even remember having them, from what you've seen.
>_
-
>Put them were indicated.
>"Actually, we may also have a request for you. Do you smelt coins, or know who would?"
>... what are ☼ made of, anyway?
-
>Put them were indicated.
>"Actually, we may also have a request for you. Do you smelt coins, or know who would?"
>... what are ☼ made of, anyway?
>You place them where she told you to.
>"That'd be me," says Ari. "You want some coins made?"
>They seem to be made of precious metals. You suspect they're alloyed to something to give them more resilience, though.
>_
-
> "Yeah, we have a few things that we could really use smelted. We'd need to go fetch them, though."
> "Do you happen to have a wheelbarrow or a cart or something? There's, uh, quite a lot of it."
-
>"There's some gold 'n silver that Renko and I found that we'd like to have in a more useful state."
-
> "Yeah, we have a few things that we could really use smelted. We'd need to go fetch them, though."
> "Do you happen to have a wheelbarrow or a cart or something? There's, uh, quite a lot of it."
>"There's some gold 'n silver that Renko and I found that we'd like to have in a more useful state."
>"I'll make you a deal," says Ari. "Normally, I take one coin for every ten I cast. But for you, I'll let you have the first five hundred or so free since you found my bellows, alright? And, sorry, don't have any carts or the like."
>_
-
>"That sounds great, thanks. I don't suppose you know some place around here that might have one, though?"
-
>"That sounds great, thanks. I don't suppose you know some place around here that might have one, though?"
>"Might wanna ask one of the farmers," says Ari. "Aside from that, might be some youkai willing to help out."
>_
-
>"Ah, well I suppose I can have a look around. Thanks again. I'll be back when I have the stuff I'd like melted down."
>Exit the blacksmith
>Head for Byakuren's
-
>Fairies would probably be a better bet since they probably don't understand the full value of gold and silver as well, but...
>"That works. Is there anyone in particular you'd recommend?"
-
>Fairies would probably be a better bet since they probably don't understand the full value of gold and silver as well, but...
>"That works. Is there anyone in particular you'd recommend?"
>This seems likely.
>"Never borrowed a wagon before," says Ari with a shrug.
>"Ah, well I suppose I can have a look around. Thanks again. I'll be back when I have the stuff I'd like melted down."
>Exit the blacksmith
>Head for Byakuren's
>"I'll be here," she says.
>You leave the smithy and head for the northern part of town, where you can hear hammering inside of the ship-turned-temple. Aside from that, the area seems empty.
>_
-
>Enter the temple
>Look around for Byakuren (unless we meet someone else first, of course)
-
>Enter the temple
>Look around for Byakuren (unless we meet someone else first, of course)
>You walk inside, and hear the sounds of hammering toward the south again, past the sheets. Looking around, you don't see any signs of Byakuren until you look past the sheets, and see her looming beyond a mostly-complete wall frame.
>_
-
>Walk over to her
>"Hello, again. How are things?"
-
>Walk over to her
>"Hello, again. How are things?"
>You walk past the sheet, Renko following behind you, and hail Byakuren.
>"Ah, hello Maribel," she says. "I trust you are doing well?"
>_
-
>"Yes. Better now, at any rate. This morning was... well, crazy barely begins to describe it."
>"In any event, I wanted to return the branch to you. Thank you very much for lending it to me, and teaching me what you did. Those skills have been necessary more times than I would ever have expected over the last two days."
>"Also, I thought I'd let you know the status regarding the enchantment you offered. I did gather the remaining materials last night, but... well, I think the decision is a bigger one than I want to make just yet. I'm not going anywhere, so there's plenty of time for me to give it the thought it deserves, rather than rushing into something."
-
>"Yes. Better now, at any rate. This morning was... well, crazy barely begins to describe it."
>"In any event, I wanted to return the branch to you. Thank you very much for lending it to me, and teaching me what you did. Those skills have been necessary more times than I would ever have expected over the last two days."
>"Also, I thought I'd let you know the status regarding the enchantment you offered. I did gather the remaining materials last night, but... well, I think the decision is a bigger one than I want to make just yet. I'm not going anywhere, so there's plenty of time for me to give it the thought it deserves, rather than rushing into something."
>She nods. "You are most welcome for it. And you are most welcome."
>You explain your thoughts on the spells she's offered to cast. "That's fine," says Byakuren. "If you decide not to go through with it, I am sure we can find some other sort of compensation for your trouble."
>_
-
>"Oh, it really wasn't trouble. And if it was, it was trouble of my own choosing. But for the most part, it doubled as a good chance to explore new places. I doubt I would have seen the edge of the Netherworld if not for what I was seeking there. Even if some of the things I saw there were... a bit unsettling."
>"Although I suppose such components might have other potential magical uses?"
-
>"Oh, it really wasn't trouble. And if it was, it was trouble of my own choosing. But for the most part, it doubled as a good chance to explore new places. I doubt I would have seen the edge of the Netherworld if not for what I was seeking there. Even if some of the things I saw there were... a bit unsettling."
>"Although I suppose such components might have other potential magical uses?"
>"Regardless, if you don't use them, then you've just done me a favor."
>"I can do something with most of them," says Byakuren. "Those I can't, I can trade as needs be."
>_
-
>Nod.
>"Out of curiosity, what would you be able to do with them?"
>Show her what we've got.
-
>Nod.
>"Out of curiosity, what would you be able to do with them?"
>Show her what we've got.
>"There's a number of uses for them," says Byakuren. "The geode can be uses it many kinds of enchanting. There's a few other spells I may with to use in the future that call for the blood moss, and so on."
>You show her the Sanzu River Water and the Essence of the Netherworld. "Would you like me to keep those for you, as well?" she asks.
>_
-
>"Well, I suppose I have no way to use them myself, so if it wouldn't be too much trouble."
>"On another matter, I don't suppose you have a wheelbarrow, or cart or something we could borrow for a short time? We need to transport something."
-
>"Or do they not have much magical use for anyone other than the person that gathered them?"
I'm inclined to say to keep them as mementos and so as to not seem ungrateful to Komachi and Yuyuko. We'll have a house to keep them in by the end of the day.
-
>"Well, I suppose I have no way to use them myself, so if it wouldn't be too much trouble."
>"On another matter, I don't suppose you have a wheelbarrow, or cart or something we could borrow for a short time? We need to transport something."
>"None at all," says Byakuren.
>"We used to," she says, frowning, "But we took it apart for the wood a little while ago. I'm sorry."
>"Or do they not have much magical use for anyone other than the person that gathered them?"
>"No, it doesn't matter who gets them. Just that they are both unusual and can be troublesome to get."
-
>"I don't suppose you know anywhere else I might be able to get the use of one for a brief time? Or something else we could use to transport a pile of scrap metal?"
-
>"I don't suppose you know anywhere else I might be able to get the use of one for a brief time? Or something else we could use to transport a pile of scrap metal?"
>"I would consider acting one of the farmers," says Byakuren, "Or perhaps you could convince one of your oni friends to help out?"
>_
-
>"A farmer probably sounds like a better idea. We can probably get it all sorted out sooner or later without too much help, but having a tool or two to help would be nice."
>"Uh... I don't know anyone, though, so I'm not sure who I should try asking."
Note: We may want to ask someone about how much food the SDM usually goes through, and see about the feasibility of helping with Sakuya a little bit.
-
>"A farmer probably sounds like a better idea. We can probably get it all sorted out sooner or later without too much help, but having a tool or two to help would be nice."
>"Uh... I don't know anyone, though, so I'm not sure who I should try asking."
>"I might recommend Thea," says Byakuren. "She has her ranch not too far from the northeastern part of the forest of Magic. Should be due south of forest at the foot of Youkai Mountain some distance. What do you need a wagon for, if I might ask?"
>_
-
>"To collect the remains of a very dangerous mechanical construct, and melt it down so that no one will try to reassemble it a second time."
-
>"To collect the remains of a very dangerous mechanical construct, and melt it down so that no one will try to reassemble it a second time."
>Byakuren frowns. "Are you speaking of the thing that was housed in the lake, last winter?"
>_
-
> "I believe so, if the stories I've heard are correct. I understand this thing is the thing Reisen defeated some time ago."
-
> "I believe so, if the stories I've heard are correct. I understand this thing is the thing Reisen defeated some time ago."
>"I would like to hear an explanation, please," says Byakuren, "And, more importantly, who is guarding it?"
>_
-
>"Guarding? Uh, no one at the moment... In all the confusion, I guess we forgot to think about that angle. Its remains are by the lake, near the Scarlet Devil Mansion. As for what happened, in short, Alice reassembled it and it, uh, kinda went berserk and tried to kill us all after she lost consciousness. I managed to pull the power source of its chest, and it collapsed back into pieces again. Apparently, whatever consciousness was still left in the metal stared to reassert itself."
-
>"Guarding? Uh, no one at the moment... In all the confusion, I guess we forgot to think about that angle. Its remains are by the lake, near the Scarlet Devil Mansion. As for what happened, in short, Alice reassembled it and it, uh, kinda went berserk and tried to kill us all after she lost consciousness. I managed to pull the power source of its chest, and it collapsed back into pieces again. Apparently, whatever consciousness was still left in the metal stared to reassert itself."
>"That should be fixed, quickly," says Byakuren. "I think it would be acceptable to save the rest of the story until then."
>_
-
>"Yes, you're right of course. I guess I just wasn't thinking straight by the time it was all over. Probably ought to hurry."
-
>"Yes, you're right of course. I guess I just wasn't thinking straight by the time it was all over. Probably ought to hurry."
>Byakuren nods. "In the meantime, you may leave anything you like with me."
>_
-
>"I may hang onto the last of the reagents for the moment, but here's the branch you lent me."
>Give her the branch
>"Thank you again."
>Head back to where the construct collapsed
-
>Uh Why don't we ask Renko to guard the construct remains while we find a wheelbarrow or something from the farmers?
-
>Uh Why don't we ask Renko to guard the construct remains while we find a wheelbarrow or something from the farmers?
I was thinking of doing it the other way around, for the sake of expedience. And Maribel is more equipped than Renko if anyone DOES try anything foolish. (Although, I figure if something is going to happen, it already will have)
-
>"I may hang onto the last of the reagents for the moment, but here's the branch you lent me."
>Give her the branch
>"Thank you again."
>Head back to where the construct collapsed
>You return her branch. "That is no problem," she says. "And you're welcome."
>You leave quickly, and start back for the lakeside.
>Uh Why don't we ask Renko to guard the construct remains while we find a wheelbarrow or something from the farmers?
>This could work.
>_
-
>Continue back to the construct. We can split up once we're comfortable it's like we left it.
-
>Continue back to the construct. We can split up once we're comfortable it's like we left it.
>You return to the site where you left it, and find it is gone. There is literally no sign of it.
>"Oh shit..." says Renko.
>_
-
>"Ok, ok, don't panic..."
>Try not to panic
>"I doubt the fairies would be this thorough, don't you?"
>"Maybe Patchouli had the forethought to get the rest of the mansion out to gather it up, once they were back on their feet again? ....let's hope."
>Assuming we can spy no unusual activity or any other sign of the construct, head to the mansion.
-
>"Ok, ok, don't panic..."
>Try not to panic
>"I doubt the fairies would be this thorough, don't you?"
>"Maybe Patchouli had the forethought to get the rest of the mansion out to gather it up, once they were back on their feet again? ....let's hope."
>Assuming we can spy no unusual activity or any other sign of the construct, head to the mansion.
>"Right, right," says Renko.
>Oh god, oh man. Oh god, oh man. Oh god, oh man...
>"Yeah..." says Renko, "Unless there were a lot of them... Then they might just strip it clean."
>"Um, maybe..." says Renko.
>You look around, and see a bit of motion. Why is there a little white thing by that rock? Is that some paper?
>_
-
>....wait, there's always Yukari, too, isn't there? We did tell her about it, and she's already demonstrated her ability to be a busybody.
>Go down and examine the potential paper
-
>....wait, there's always Yukari, too, isn't there? We did tell her about it, and she's already demonstrated her ability to be a busybody.
>Go down and examine the potential paper
>That's also possible, isn't it?
>You descend and see that it is a piece of paper, half tucked under a rock.
>_
-
>Take it out and have a look at it
-
>Take it out and have a look at it
>You take it out, and find there is a thin oval drawn on it it, with what look like stylized eyes within it.
>_
-
>"Well, I think Yukari may have scooped this up."
>Show Renko the note
>"Which is probably better than leaving it there, anyway. I wonder if she enjoys leaving messages this vague?"
-
>"Well, I think Yukari may have scooped this up."
>Show Renko the note
>"Which is probably better than leaving it there, anyway. I wonder if she enjoys leaving messages this vague?"
>You turn to show Renko the note, and find Yukari is standing behind her.
>"That was a very mischievous thing to leave laying around, don't you think?" she asks.
>Renko jumps, then whirls around. "Damn it! Don't do that!"
>"Do what?" Yukari asks, frowning a little.
>_
-
>"Well, we were trying to find a cart or something to gather it up with at the moment, actually. As for not keeping watch on it earlier... all I can say is that I was exhausted and preoccupied, and really have no good excuse. So thank you."
>"What did you do with it?"
-
>"Well, we were trying to find a cart or something to gather it up with at the moment, actually. As for not keeping watch on it earlier... all I can say is that I was exhausted and preoccupied, and really have no good excuse. So thank you."
>"What did you do with it?"
>You answer her calmly, finding you may be getting just a little too used to this.
>"Oh, you're most welcome," says Yukari. "And, I put it some place where it won't cause any problems."
>_
-
>"And that's that, then? Renko was thinking of melting it down and making money out of it. A little something to help furnish our new place and for the future."
>"Although, given the properties it exhibited, I can't say I necessarily disagree with simply sealing it away somewhere. I assume you're more than capable of putting it where no one else could get access to it?"
-
>"And that's that, then? Renko was thinking of melting it down and making money out of it. A little something to help furnish our new place and for the future."
>"Although, given the properties it exhibited, I can't say I necessarily disagree with simply sealing it away somewhere. I assume you're more than capable of putting it where no one else could get access to it?"
>"Yeah, we kinda had plans for it," says Renko, frowning.
>"Oh, of course I am," says Yukari. "But, I suppose it's possible to bring it back..."
>_
-
>"Yukari, do you feel comfortable that there's no way for its consciousness, or whatever it was, to exert itself outside of its current form?"
-
>"Yukari, do you feel comfortable that there's no way for its consciousness, or whatever it was, to exert itself outside of its current form?"
>"Oh, isn't that a question?" says Yukari. "Well, I do think if you take away its shape, whatever it might have will have a much more difficult time manifesting if it still can, don't you think?"
>_
-
>"I would hope so. I guess I have a hard time shaking the unnerving feeling that there'd still be something lurking down there. I mean, I was told that its consciousness was destroyed once already."
>"That being said, even in its natural form, it couldn't move without an external power source. I imagine as coinage that would be even more true. And the money would be nice, considering that we arrived here with literally nothing more than the clothes on our backs."
-
>"I would hope so. I guess I have a hard time shaking the unnerving feeling that there'd still be something lurking down there. I mean, I was told that its consciousness was destroyed once already."
>"That being said, even in its natural form, it couldn't move without an external power source. I imagine as coinage that would be even more true. And the money would be nice, considering that we arrived here with literally nothing more than the clothes on our backs."
>Yukari nods. "Well, I suppose I could give it back to you. But don't you think I've been doing an awful lot for you already?"
>_
-
>Frown
>"I'm sorry, I'm not meaning to impose. And I very much appreciate your help with the furniture earlier today. Renko mentioned that you moved it out of the house for us. In this case, though, it's not like I could exactly go retrieve it myself."
-
>"You're going to ask for a threesome, aren't you?"
-
>Frown
>"I'm sorry, I'm not meaning to impose. And I very much appreciate your help with the furniture earlier today. Renko mentioned that you moved it out of the house for us. In this case, though, it's not like I could exactly go retrieve it myself."
>"Well," says Yukari, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to do a little more, if you made it worth my time?"
>"You're going to ask for a threesome, aren't you?"
>"I think your answer is more important than what I ask, isn't it?"
>_
-
>"Hey, Renko! Kage bunshin no jutsu! Let's make it fifty!"
>"What would you like, then?"
>Distinct discomfort.
-
>"Hey, Renko! Kage bunshin no jutsu! Let's make it fifty!"
>"What would you like, then?"
>Distinct discomfort.
>"Dammit Maribel, you're not a Ninjer!"
>You ask her what she'd like, visibly uncomfortable.
>"Mmm, use your imagination," says Yukari with a slight smile.
>_
-
... this is both exactly what I was afraid of and perfectly Yukari.
Damnit Yukari. Damnit Purvis.
-
>"You know, I'd be tempted to think you set this up just so that you'd have something we wanted that only you could provide."
-
>"You know, I'd be tempted to think you set this up just so that you'd have something we wanted that only you could provide."
>"Surely you wouldn't think so poorly of me," says Yukari, frowning.
>_
-
>"Well, I believe you genuinely want to be helpful. You've certainly demonstrated that, and I appreciate that. I'm not trying to say otherwise. But you also want... other things. And if it's possible to arrange things such that both happen at once, so much the better, right?"
>Give Renko a nervous / uncertain look
-
>"Well, I believe you genuinely want to be helpful. You've certainly demonstrated that, and I appreciate that. I'm not trying to say otherwise. But you also want... other things. And if it's possible to arrange things such that both happen at once, so much the better, right?"
>Give Renko a nervous / uncertain look
>"I suppose I could see some logic in that," says Yukari, "But surely you're not suspecting I would do such thing?"
>You give Renko an uneasy look. She returns a frown full of uncertainty.
>_
-
>"The thought had occurred to me. No offense intended. You were clearly keeping an eye on my arrival here."
-
>"The thought had occurred to me. No offense intended. You were clearly keeping an eye on my arrival here."
>"Wouldn't it only be proper to keep an eye on people coming through her looking for such a thing? Though I do admit, I had expected you to show up sooner or later."
-
>"Well, regardless of anything else, I am glad you kept it safe."
>"So, uh...."
>Look to Renko again
-
>"Well, regardless of anything else, I am glad you kept it safe."
>"So, uh...."
>Look to Renko again
>Yukari beams.
>You look at Renko. She gives a small, helpless shrug.
>_
-
>"You do realize the unfortunate implications of what you're asking for, given that it would be almost literally in exchange for money, right?"
-
>"You do realize the unfortunate implications of what you're asking for, given that it would be almost literally in exchange for money, right?"
>"And what would I be asking for," she says, "Aside from a pleasant surprise? Don't you think you're being rather uncharitable?"
>_
-
>"You said 'use your imagination'... It felt rather... loaded, given our first meeting, I'll say that much."
-
>"You said 'use your imagination'... It felt rather... loaded, given our first meeting, I'll say that much."
>"I suppose you could see it that way," says Yukari, frowning. "But it's rather flattering if that's the first thing that came to mind for you."
>_
-
>"Well, perhaps I could eschew using my muddled imagination for the moment, and you could suggest something equitable?"
-
>"Well, perhaps I could eschew using my muddled imagination for the moment, and you could suggest something equitable?"
>"Then it's hardly a surprise, is it?" asks Yukari.
>_
-
>"No, I suppose it isn't..."
>"Could you give me just a minute?"
>Take Renko and step away a short distance
>Quietly, to her: "What am I suppose to do?"
-
>"No, I suppose it isn't..."
>"Could you give me just a minute?"
>Take Renko and step away a short distance
>Quietly, to her: "What am I suppose to do?"
>"Well, I suppose I could," says Yukari.
>You take Renko aside, and quietly ask what you're supposed to do. "...I have no idea," says Renko. "Okay...that's a lie, I do have an idea what you're "supposed" to do, but you already kind of hit on it."
>_
-
Interesting conundrum. What do you give to the woman that has everything?
...Besides the situationally obvious.
-
>"Do you think she'd buy doing something for Ran or Chen? More, um, alternatives that way. I don't even know what... else she'd be interested in."
Interesting conundrum. What do you give to the woman that has everything?
...Besides the situationally obvious.
Yukari, like any well-established demigod, has but one motivation: Amusement. What would entertain her isn't quite as clear, though.
-
>"I think I can honestly say I never expected to be in quite this situation, Gensokyo or no. For what it's worth, I think Yukari's actually well-intentioned. She's just... well, a little unique. Ran seemed quite devoted to her, despite being very level-headed herself."
-
Horrible, cruel idea:
We could tell her about Plum Flower.
-
>"Do you think she'd buy doing something for Ran or Chen? More, um, alternatives that way. I don't even know what... else she'd be interested in."
>"I think I can honestly say I never expected to be in quite this situation, Gensokyo or no. For what it's worth, I think Yukari's actually well-intentioned. She's just... well, a little unique. Ran seemed quite devoted to her, despite being very level-headed herself."
>"Who?" asks Renko.
>_
-
>"Oh, sorry. Ran's Yukari's shikigami. In their case, I think they're essentially life partners. And have been for a very long time. I had tea with her after Yukari left at the hot springs. She's almost the polar opposite of Yukari, in terms of random whimsy."
-
>"The girl with lots of fox tails we saw once."
>"Chen is... a young-looking catgirl, for lack of a better term. She goes to school at Keine's. I spoke with her briefly when she was fishing yesterday."
Self-indulgent idea: Ran's tails are probably a bitch to take care of, aren't they? If there's a spare brush...
-
>"Oh, sorry. Ran's Yukari's shikigami. In their case, I think they're essentially life partners. And have been for a very long time. I had tea with her after Yukari left at the hot springs. She's almost the polar opposite of Yukari, in terms of random whimsy."
>"The girl with lots of fox tails we saw once."
>"Chen is... a young-looking catgirl, for lack of a better term. She goes to school at Keine's. I spoke with her briefly when she was fishing yesterday."
>"Wait, so she has..." Renko says, letting it trail off, "And she's still bothering you?"
>Renko shakes her head.
>"Anyways, it might work, I guess? But I dunno...Doesn't she seem a bit self centered to you?"
>_
-
>"For what it's worth, Ran didn't seem to mind the whole incident, either. In fact, I think she might have been expecting it, given Yukari's first reaction when she saw me. I think she even sort of apologized to me about it. Apparently they have something of an agreement about such things."
-
>"Possibly. She does seem to care about Ran's feelings some, though, even if her actions... aren't entirely indicative of that. They have an agreement of sorts."
>Did Yukari seem particularly happy about the mention of Ran being willing to go on the love-you-lots tirade early in the springs talk, comparing their relationship to ours?
Another bad idea: What sort of shenanigans could we convince the fairies to pull for Yukari's amusement?
-
>"For what it's worth, Ran didn't seem to mind the whole incident, either. In fact, I think she might have been expecting it, given Yukari's first reaction when she saw me. I think she even sort of apologized to me about it. Apparently they have something of an agreement about such things."
>"Possibly. She does seem to care about Ran's feelings some, though, even if her actions... aren't entirely indicative of that. They have an agreement of sorts."
>Did Yukari seem particularly happy about the mention of Ran being willing to go on the love-you-lots tirade early in the springs talk, comparing their relationship to ours?
>Renko looks toward the ground for a moment, pondering. Then she asks, "Is it better or worse they have an agreement? I honestly can't tell."
>Who the what now?
>_
-
>"Well, it's better for Ran, at any rate. At least Yukari's not being flagrantly disrespectful to her by the standards they both live by. Ran said Yukari would stop if she ever were to protest. As I said, Ran seemed pretty level-headed and 'normal' to me. And if she's been able to live with her this long... I think Yukari is just one of those people you have to take as they are, you know? The good and the... different."
-
>Who the what now?
>The tone of this. (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,7055.msg433718.html#msg433718)
-
>"Well, it's better for Ran, at any rate. At least Yukari's not being flagrantly disrespectful to her by the standards they both live by. Ran said Yukari would stop if she ever were to protest. As I said, Ran seemed pretty level-headed and 'normal' to me. And if she's been able to live with her this long... I think Yukari is just one of those people you have to take as they are, you know? The good and the... different."
>"I suppose it's good that they have things worked out," says Renko, "But it really doesn't stop her from holding our money hostage."
>_
-
>"No, it doesn't...."
>"For someone who can essentially go anywhere, and get anything from anywhere on a whim, I can't imagine there's much tangible I could offer her that she couldn't go and get for herself in the blink of an eye if she cared to.
>"To be honest, I wouldn't mind doing something in return for her generosity on a few prior occasions, but... I'm not sure what that would be. ....other than the obvious, of course."
>"Why do I get the feeling that I'll probably end up owing her for more things in the future, too?"
-
>"No, it doesn't...."
>"For someone who can essentially go anywhere, and get anything from anywhere on a whim, I can't imagine there's much tangible I could offer her that she couldn't go and get for herself in the blink of an eye if she cared to.
>"To be honest, I wouldn't mind doing something in return for her generosity on a few prior occasions, but... I'm not sure what that would be. ....other than the obvious, of course."
>"Why do I get the feeling that I'll probably end up owing her for more things in the future, too?"
>Renko nods along with your assessment. "Then I guess we'd have to come up with something intangible... And yeah, she seems like the person who likes to get you into debt while somehow also being a pain."
>_
-
>"Um, maybe we could invite her over for dinner, once we have the house presentable enough for guests? Uh, if that wouldn't bother you too much?"
-
>"Um, maybe we could invite her over for dinner, once we have the house presentable enough for guests? Uh, if that wouldn't bother you too much?"
>"I'm not sure if that bothers me or not," says Renko. "On one hand, she is kind of annoying. But on the other hand, she has been helpful, and I guess at least she has the decency not to really go behind my back about it..." She shakes her head. "This is so confusing."
>_
-
>"I know what you mean. It's, uh, different. Then again, Gensokyo is a place where half the rules you know get tossed out the window. Maybe that doesn't just apply to science?"
-
> Do either of us even know how to cook?
> Come to think of it, what housekeeping skills do the two of us have?
-
>"I know what you mean. It's, uh, different. Then again, Gensokyo is a place where half the rules you know get tossed out the window. Maybe that doesn't just apply to science?"
>She nods. "Yeah. I guess dinner's okay."
> Do either of us even know how to cook?
> Come to think of it, what housekeeping skills do the two of us have?
>You can cook pretty decently. Renko is alright at it. Then again, you're also used to an oven with variable temperatures and such...
>You both used to share sweeping up the agency back home and the like. Brooms and dusters shouldn't be too hard for you. But, things like actual repair, you have no real experience with. Also, you're going to have to get used to things like gathering water and firewood, doing laundry by hand...
>_
-
>Ponder asking Nitori to invent a washing machine at some point
>"Ok, good enough. Let's hope she goes for it."
>Walk back over to Yukari
>"I don't suppose you'd like to come over to our place for dinner, once we've got it tidied up enough for guests?"
-
>Ponder asking Nitori to invent a washing machine at some point
>"Ok, good enough. Let's hope she goes for it."
>Walk back over to Yukari
>"I don't suppose you'd like to come over to our place for dinner, once we've got it tidied up enough for guests?"
>She'd probably be all over that...
>Renko nods. "Right."
>You make your way back over to Yukari, and offer to invite her over for dinner. "Why, that sound absolutely wonderful!" she says. "Now, where would you like me to leave all of that junk?"
>_
-
>"Well, we were planning to take it to the blacksmith in the human village. I assume you probably know where that is?"
-
>"Well, we were planning to take it to the blacksmith in the human village. I assume you probably know where that is?"
>"Oh, that'll be no problem," says Yukari, smiling. "Would you prefer it be done now, or would you like to go there first?"
>_
-
>"Well, I think I ought to give Ari fair warning before a pile of junk just suddenly shows up in her shop. So yes, I'd like to go there first."
-
> "I guess we should head over to the village first."
> "Renko and I are gonna need to practice our cooking for when you come over, the help that you have been, it seems fitting that we try as hard to to make a good meal when the time comes."
> Happy smile to Renko :)
-
>"Well, I think I ought to give Ari fair warning before a pile of junk just suddenly shows up in her shop. So yes, I'd like to go there first."
> "I guess we should head over to the village first."
> "Renko and I are gonna need to practice our cooking for when you come over, the help that you have been, it seems fitting that we try as hard to to make a good meal when the time comes."
> Happy smile to Renko :)
>Yukari nods. "Alright. Just toss that piece of paper into a fire when you're ready."
>"Oh, I'm looking forward to it!" says Yukari. "I'm sure it will be a treat."
>You give Renko a smile. She gives you one back, but you can read the uncertainty behind it.
>"This reminds me," Yukari says, "Did you two enjoy my gift?"
>_
-
>"To be honest, I'd barely even had time to mention it. I ended up falling asleep from exhaustion after I finished my business underground, and then we set out nearly right away to try and get this straightened away as quickly as possible."
-
>"To be honest, I'd barely even had time to mention it. I ended up falling asleep from exhaustion after I finished my business underground, and then we set out nearly right away to try and get this straightened away as quickly as possible."
>"Ah, I see," says Yukari. "Well, that's understandable." She opens a gap behind herself. "In any event, ciao!"
>She steps through it, leaving you alone one again.
>"Gift?" Renko asks.
>_
-
>"Yeah, I was meaning to mention that when I got the chance, but as I said, I've been kinda distracted with all this. She popped by and said hi while I was in the underground, and gave me this."
>Show Renko the potion
>"Evidently it increases a person's stature for a short length of time. A few hours to a day, depending on how much you exert yourself. I think the idea was to see what being that size might be like, without any long-term consequences."
-
>"Yeah, I was meaning to mention that when I got the chance, but as I said, I've been kinda distracted with all this. She popped by and said hi while I was in the underground, and gave me this."
>Show Renko the potion
>"Evidently it increases a person's stature for a short length of time. A few hours to a day, depending on how much you exert yourself. I think the idea was to see what being that size might be like, without any long-term consequences."
>Renko examines the bottle in your hands. "Huh. That sounds kind of neat."
>_
-
>"Yeah. It was actually pretty thoughtful of her, given the dilemma we'd had related to that. And really, it could be interesting to see what it's like in a harmless and non-permanent fashion. I figured I'd see about giving it a try after we've gotten the important business straightened away."
>"Oh, and apparently you can split the dose in half. If, you know, you want to see what it was like, too."
>"Anyway, we should probably get back to Ari, and put this business to an end."
>Head back to Ari
-
>"Yeah. It was actually pretty thoughtful of her, given the dilemma we'd had related to that. And really, it could be interesting to see what it's like in a harmless and non-permanent fashion. I figured I'd see about giving it a try after we've gotten the important business straightened away."
>"Oh, and apparently you can split the dose in half. If, you know, you want to see what it was like, too."
>"Anyway, we should probably get back to Ari, and put this business to an end."
>Head back to Ari
>"Mmm, maybe," says Renko. "It if seems like you're having fun."
>She nods in agreement with your suggested course of action, and the two of you fly back to town.
>Landing near Ari's smithy, you find her sitting on the porch of her shop, enjoying a cup of tea. She looks toward the two of you.
>_
-
>"We... managed to get a little unexpected help. Do you know Yukari?"
-
> "Hello again! Our stuff is on its way. We found something better than a wheelbarrow."
Fake edit: :<
-
>"We... managed to get a little unexpected help. Do you know Yukari?"
>"I know of her," says Ari, frowning a little.
> "Hello again! Our stuff is on its way. We found something better than a wheelbarrow."
>"A helicopter?"
>_
-
>"Yeah, well, I think she's going to skip the whole 'carrying the metal from here to there' step. I thought I'd give you fair warning before it just randomly shows up here."
-
>"Yeah, well, I think she's going to skip the whole 'carrying the metal from here to there' step. I thought I'd give you fair warning before it just randomly shows up here."
>"I see," says Ari, eying you for a moment. "Well, put it inside. I'll keep it locked up."
>_
-
>"Thanks."
>Head inside
>If there's a fire still going, toss the note from Yukari into it
-
>"Thanks."
>Head inside
>If there's a fire still going, toss the note from Yukari into it
>She nods.
>You head inside and find that the place seems to be one part shop and one part home, with a few shelves of metal goods on display in the front, and personal quarters in the back.
>You see a small charcoal brazier smoldering away near one of the shelves, and place the paper in it. It quickly burns to ash, as a gap opens nearby, and a smiling Yukari steps out. "Where would you like it."
>"Uh, there..." Ari says, her face wide-eyed and blank, gesturing toward a corner.
>Yukari nods, and gestures in that direction, opening a gap above it that rains down metallic debris for a few moments, covering the floor and sending parts bouncing around everywhere. Then she vanishes back into the first gap. Both close as she leaves.
>"...Right then," says Ari, frowning as she picks up one of the parts. "Mmm. Mixed with something. I'll have to see if I can smelt it out, or if it's become a proper alloy. I'll be keeping the left over metal if it smelts cleanly, alright?"
>_
-
> "Oh, that should be fine. Whatever works out best for you in the end should be fine for us."
> "I know, how you feel. First time I was one of those things she uses, one of those Gaps, it startled me as well."
-
> "Oh, that should be fine. Whatever works out best for you in the end should be fine for us."
> "I know, how you feel. First time I was one of those things she uses, one of those Gaps, it startled me as well."
>She nods. "If that's all, I need to get back to some things."
>_
-
> "I think that's it, beyond a general curiosity as to how long this process takes."
-
>Quests
-
> "I think that's it, beyond a general curiosity as to how long this process takes."
>"Few days at best," says Ari.
>Quests
>Your Quests are:
>Love is a Battlefield
>Your friend Utsuho in a bitter rivalry with Yuugi for the heart of Parsee Mizuhashi. You've managed to help them approach another solution, now it's just a matter of getting Utsuho and Yuugi together for the long run.
>Clinic Catastophe
>Byakuren asked you to help Murasa run the clinic, and to make sure Murasa is doing her job. Kisume's bucket appeared there, but how?
>_
-
> "Okay. Thanks for doing this for us! You're helping us out tremendously."
> Add Optional Side Quest: Spider Sense
> After hearing from Koishi, you really pity Utsuho. Maybe being reintroduced to her best friend will do her the right she deserves...
-
> "Okay. Thanks for doing this for us! You're helping us out tremendously."
> Add Optional Side Quest: Spider Sense
> After hearing from Koishi, you really pity Utsuho. Maybe being reintroduced to her best friend will do her the right she deserves...
>Ari nods. "You did me a good turn. And if the metal's good, it saves me the trouble getting more."
>You add a personal goal.
>_
-
>Add quest: Find Chen and hug the shit out of her
>Wonder if it's platinum or something. Or some special space alloy.
>"How difficult is it to get metal in Gensokyo, usually?"
>That actually might be a problem for industrialization...
I'm going to laugh if Yukari brings Yuyuko along for dinner. For obvious reasons.
-
>Add quest: Find Chen and hug the shit out of her
>Wonder if it's platinum or something. Or some special space alloy.
>"How difficult is it to get metal in Gensokyo, usually?"
>That actually might be a problem for industrialization...
>Yukari will enforce the me first rule.
>You have no idea. Metallurgy is not your subject at all.
>"There's not too much," says Ari, as she leads you outside, "But there's enough to get things done. Way I hear it, Youkai Mountain has a goodly amount."
>That would be an issue, wouldn't it?
>_
-
>"Well, thanks again, and I guess I'll drop back in a couple days and see how things went. See ya!"
>Head to the tavern
-
>Consider the feasibility of material-creation or transmutation magic. Or other utility stuff... what would a magical version of a washing machine be like? For Science!
>"That's good, then. Thanks again, Ari."
>Withdraw and plan our next move. Glance around the town a bit while we're here, if only out of curiosity.
What's next on the agenda? Main quests are all underground, unless we specifically want to look for any of the suspects Kisume mentioned. Telling Reisen about Golden Silver might not be a bad idea, either. Or we can see whether Plum Flower got popped yet. What else was on Kilga's to-do list?
-
Visiting Reimu again comes before going back underground. I want that bottle back.
-
I'm not in favor of capturing a ghost for the air conditioner, after what Youmu said about them, if that's what you wanted it for.
-
How do you propose solving Nitori's problem, then?
-
You're content with the idea of locking a sentient being up in a jar to power an air conditioner?
-
That doesn't answer my question.
-
That's harsher than intended.
If you have an alternate solution, go for it. Ultimately I don't care how it gets done, I just want it done.
-
I'm inclined to let that one slide as well, though I wouldn't much mind locking up a malicious ghost. The question there is whether the spirits underground would actually be useful for that.
The real issue at hand is coming up with a good cooling system, rather than the notion of AC itself. A better solution for that would be to talk to Youmu about allowing bored, friendly ghosts to hang out in occupied homes desperate for some cooling, but that's outside of the scope of this quest. Especially since the season is wrong as well.
EDIT: What exactly did you have in mind, Kilga?
-
>"Well, thanks again, and I guess I'll drop back in a couple days and see how things went. See ya!"
>Head to the tavern
>Consider the feasibility of material-creation or transmutation magic. Or other utility stuff... what would a magical version of a washing machine be like? For Science!
>"That's good, then. Thanks again, Ari."
>Withdraw and plan our next move. Glance around the town a bit while we're here, if only out of curiosity.
What's next on the agenda? Main quests are all underground, unless we specifically want to look for any of the suspects Kisume mentioned. Telling Reisen about Golden Silver might not be a bad idea, either. Or we can see whether Plum Flower got popped yet. What else was on Kilga's to-do list?
>"You do that," says Ari, "I'll see you then."
>You make your way toward the tavern, pondering what kind of transmutations may be possible. You really don't know, it's not a kind of magic you looked into at all. Perhaps it would be Patchouli's domain?
>Entering the Tavern, you see it is not too busy. The blue-haired barkeep is busy wiping down the bar. You can see a couple people at the booths; in particular you notice Yamame at one, with a large plate of noodles, and Nazrin at another.
>_
-
Also, this is a bit of idle speculation combined with the elephant in the room, but I would like to see us complete as many side quests (official or not) as possible, because outside of the money pile we have coming in several days, we have absobloodylutely nothing for our house. Four walls and a roof, and that's about it. If we're going to completely reset our lives and strike out on our own in a world that doesn't have a tenth of the outside world's necessities/conveniences that we're used to (electricity, gas power, indoor plumbing), we need to do some work to make this house a home. Especially if we're going to be entertaining a demigod for dinner this very evening despite merely serviceable cooking skills and no groceries between the two of us.
Fake edit: Oh wow, that's pretty convenient, one-and-a-half people I wanted to talk to.
> Inventory
> Check other bar patrons for any unique/distinguishable features.
-
This very evening? I'd assumed it would be a fair bit later than that. We did specify 'after it was fit to have guests', which I imagine would include having some food, furniture, and some way to cook things. I don't imagine it's likely to happen until post-quest.
That being said, I think the amount of money you could expect to get from melting that construct down would still be quite sizable.
-
> Inventory
> Check other bar patrons for any unique/distinguishable features.
>Your Inventory Contains
>Mop Hat (Worn as Hat)
>Red Robe
>White Hakama
>Ingredient List
>Ring of Rhythm
>Starlight Incantation Slip.
>Purple Messenger Bag
>Blue Silk Flower
>65☼
>Silver Rabbit Figurine
>Purple Dress
>Wound Sign: Pain Flow Endlessly. (Captured)
>Kakashi Spirit News
>Frilly Dark Dress
>Green Yo-yo
>Dirty Bowl
>Sanzu River Water
>Essence of the Netherworld
>Mushroom Bracelet
>White Dress (Worn as Clothing)
>Amber Liquid of Growth
>You check the other patrons. Two of them seem like farmers, justing from the amount of dirt they have clinging to them. The other three seem to be various townspeople you cannot identify.
>_
-
Actually, that's also a few days of needing to be fed and such on our own. An odd job or two to make ends meet until then might not be unwise, especially if it can overlap with a little extra skill for Yukari's visit.
I wonder if Mystia would be overburdened with a little extra help?
-
Woo I missed the detail about "fit for guests". Damn you, game progression while I am at work that forces me to skim posts.
Or maybe I did see it and just assumed Yukari would decide for herself when our house is fit for guests.
Still, though, we need some shit, and we need it soon, since it'll be a few days before we have any money, and probably some more time after that before we have a consistent income. A pile of smelted coins is only going to last us so long. Renko's expedition ambition is cute and admirable but unlikely to be reliable, and who knows when that uni will get built (and if we'll even get a job there).
> Mental check: What do we know about Nazrin?
> Does Yamame look busy?
-
My thought is, if Yukari decides for herself that it's ready when it isn't, that's her own fault, and she'll get whatever we can put together with what we have.
And honestly, in terms of things as minor as getting groceries for the next couple days, I think we can easily leave that for post-game. It's not like Maribel suddenly loses all competency in daily life just because we're not controlling her. We've laid the groundwork. They'll be ok.
-
You'll have to forgive me for being less than enthusiastic about winning a moral victory over an unhappy demigod. >_>;
My approach to Yukari is "better safe than sorry", and now that we've extended an open invitation to her, contingency or no contingency, I want to be as prepared for her as possible.
-
What moral victory? It's just a matter of logistics. How can she honestly expect us to provide what we don't have? I don't think we need to rush ourselves just to make sure we don't disappoint her. I doubt Yukari would be seriously disappointed either way. And certainly not upset in the sense you seem to mean. Are you actually worried about dissatisfying her in some way?
-
Yes.
-
Yes, because it's Yukari.
Now, all that being said, I'm not thinking or saying we need to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. I don't think it's all that unreasonable to want to fulfill, at the very least, what's been actively presented to us. There are admittedly things I've tacked on (the jet, Yamame), but they have all been things we (okay, I) were reasonably sure we could do when they were suggested.
Getting Nitori her power source helps the jet sidequest along, and it might also have some side benefits for other things (most notably our living conditions), because Nitori is arguably the most resourceful reliable NPC we have.
-
> Mental check: What do we know about Nazrin?
> Does Yamame look busy?
>Not a whole lot. You know she's friends with Byakuren, and apparently has done work in the clinic in the Ancient City. You get the feeling is more rough around the edges compared to Byakuren and Ichirin
>She is ending her noodles, but doesn't seem occupied otherwise.
>_
-
Well, shoot, that eliminates the main line of conversation I wanted to use with Nazrin. Oh well, knowing she works at the clinic might be enough to drive it where I want it to go anyway.
(Note: I do not plan on accusing Nazrin of theft.)
> Did we ever explain the truth behind the mass dream to Yamame?
> Walk up to Yamame's booth and greet her.
-
> Did we ever explain the truth behind the mass dream to Yamame?
> Walk up to Yamame's booth and greet her.
>You're pretty sure you didn't. At least not to any great degree.
>You approach the spider youkai's booth and greet her. "Hey, buddy!" she says between mouthfuls of noodles.
>_
-
Getting Nitori her power source helps the jet sidequest along, and it might also have some side benefits for other things (most notably our living conditions), because Nitori is arguably the most resourceful reliable NPC we have.
Tangential complaint, but I'm pretty sure the ghost is to be used as a coolant, not a power source.
-
You know what I meant. :V
> "Hello! I didn't expect to see you here. How often do you get out this way?"
> Dumb question: is Renko still with us?
-
You know what I meant. :V
> "Hello! I didn't expect to see you here. How often do you get out this way?"
> Dumb question: is Renko still with us?
>"When I can," says Yamame. "Got some good money, gonna enjoy it, yeah?"
>She sure is. She is looking at Yamame curiously.
>_
-
> Did we not see Yamame any time we brought Renko down underground?
> "Oh, good. I'm glad to hear your advertising has paid off well."
-
> Did we not see Yamame any time we brought Renko down underground?
> "Oh, good. I'm glad to hear your advertising has paid off well."
>You don't think so. But it's been pretty busy lately. You haven't seen her today, at least.
>"Did pretty good with blood moss, too!" she says. "How's it been, buddy?"
>_
-
> "We've been doing pretty good for ourselves. Found a place for us to live, which is very nice."
> "Oh! Where are my manners? Yamame, this is Renko, a long-time friend of mine from outside, and now my better half. Renko, this is Yamame. She's an Earth Spider that lives just inside the entrance to the Underground."
-
Look, Purvis, your Flanbot registered for our forums. (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=3275)
-
> "We've been doing pretty good for ourselves. Found a place for us to live, which is very nice."
> "Oh! Where are my manners? Yamame, this is Renko, a long-time friend of mine from outside, and now my better half. Renko, this is Yamame. She's an Earth Spider that lives just inside the entrance to the Underground."
>"Awesome," says Yamame. "Hope it doesn't flood!"
>"Hello," says Renko, bowing toward Yamame.
>"Hey buddy," says Yamame, then looks toward you. "Better half? She's pretty cute, nice job!"
>_
-
> "Ehehe, uh, thanks!"
> Blush a little bit.
> "Ah! I just remembered. I've been meaning to talk to you about something important. Do you mind if we join you for a moment?"
> How much noise activity is there in the tavern?
-
> "Ehehe, uh, thanks!"
> Blush a little bit.
> "Ah! I just remembered. I've been meaning to talk to you about something important. Do you mind if we join you for a moment?"
> How much noise activity is there in the tavern?
>You stammer a thanks and blush a bit. Renko just chuckles, whether at her or at you is a mystery.
>"Have a seat," says Yamame, gesturing toward the opposite side of the booth.
>It's pretty quiet at the moment. Nothing like last night.
>_
-
> "Thank you."
> Have a seat indeed. Gesture for Renko to do the same, if she doesn't follow suit on her own.
> Lower voice voice pretty far. Lean forward if it helps. Given it's not very noisy, we have to be careful not to be overheard.
> If we lean forward, try not to get splashed in the face by noodles.
> "All right. What I have to say is pretty serious stuff, and it's not something that needs to be heard by or discussed with any random person we come across. I'm telling you because it's important that you know, okay?"
> "I assume you had that same mass dream that everyone else had, right? How much of it do you remember?"
-
> "Thank you."
> Have a seat indeed. Gesture for Renko to do the same, if she doesn't follow suit on her own.
> Lower voice voice pretty far. Lean forward if it helps. Given it's not very noisy, we have to be careful not to be overheard.
> If we lean forward, try not to get splashed in the face by noodles.
> "All right. What I have to say is pretty serious stuff, and it's not something that needs to be heard by or discussed with any random person we come across. I'm telling you because it's important that you know, okay?"
> "I assume you had that same mass dream that everyone else had, right? How much of it do you remember?"
>You have a seat, Renko sliding in next to you. You lower your voice and lean forward. Yamame leans forward as well, getting a little too close for comfort.
>You explain this is serious, then ask her about the dream. "Well, it kind of a few days ago, buddy," says Yamame, talking in low tones. "But I kind of remember it real good. There were huge buildings and windows with moving pictures and all kinds of crazy stuff. And I worked at a store and things."
>_
-
> "Yeah, I know it's been a little while, but it's still quite important. Do you remember anything from the dream about Utsuho?"
-
> "Yeah, I know it's been a little while, but it's still quite important. Do you remember anything from the dream about Utsuho?"
>She nods, frowning a bit; you think this may be the first time she has around you. "Yeah, kinda. We were friends and stuff. But how come you asked about her? That's kinda weird."
>_
-
> "Yeah, I know. This is the important part, the part we need to keep a secret. I admit this might come as a shock, but we need to keep it down. And yes, it will sound outlandish, but there are others that can prove it, if we aren't proof enough ourselves."
> Deep breath.
> "That dream? It really happened. You were a human, working at a store, friends with Utsuho, just as you remember. That dream is actually how Renko and I came here from the outside world; we got caught up in the spell that made the dream by accident."
-
> "Yeah, I know. This is the important part, the part we need to keep a secret. I admit this might come as a shock, but we need to keep it down. And yes, it will sound outlandish, but there are others that can prove it, if we aren't proof enough ourselves."
> Deep breath.
> "That dream? It really happened. You were a human, working at a store, friends with Utsuho, just as you remember. That dream is actually how Renko and I came here from the outside world; we got caught up in the spell that made the dream by accident."
>"That's crazy talk," says Yamame.
>_
-
> "I know it sounds like it, yeah, but like I said, others can prove it. Utsuho can, for one. She was a major player in getting things back to normal, and she remembers what happened through having the spell broken."
-
> "I know it sounds like it, yeah, but like I said, others can prove it. Utsuho can, for one. She was a major player in getting things back to normal, and she remembers what happened through having the spell broken."
>"Huh, okay," says Yamame. "That's pretty weird."
>_
-
> "It really is. I'm still not entirely sure I'm all here, myself. It's been very weird, yeah."
> "But I'm telling this to you for a reason. What Utsuho did, bringing Gensokyo back to normal, she did it because she thought it was the right thing to do, for her family, and probably for Gensokyo on the whole. Even as she did this, she faced terrible hardships, physical and emotional, and things didn't get much better for her when everyone was finally brought back. There are several powerful people that were very angry with her, because they thought she was doing it for selfish reasons...and she managed to anger Yuugi when she came back, too. I imagine you'd at least heard about that, though."
> "Anyway, the point is that she has suffered a lot of anger and hatred just for doing what she believed was right for the world, and she's hasn't seen much of anything positive. I tell you all of this because you were a very good friend of hers. I'm willing to bet it hurt her not being able to bring you back with her, which would only make her current emotional situation worse. I want to do something good for her, something she can be happy about. So I come to you. Since you remember what the two of you had on Gensokyo Isle...I'd like to ask if you're interested in rekindling that friendship with her."
-
> "It really is. I'm still not entirely sure I'm all here, myself. It's been very weird, yeah."
> "But I'm telling this to you for a reason. What Utsuho did, bringing Gensokyo back to normal, she did it because she thought it was the right thing to do, for her family, and probably for Gensokyo on the whole. Even as she did this, she faced terrible hardships, physical and emotional, and things didn't get much better for her when everyone was finally brought back. There are several powerful people that were very angry with her, because they thought she was doing it for selfish reasons...and she managed to anger Yuugi when she came back, too. I imagine you'd at least heard about that, though."
> "Anyway, the point is that she has suffered a lot of anger and hatred just for doing what she believed was right for the world, and she's hasn't seen much of anything positive. I tell you all of this because you were a very good friend of hers. I'm willing to bet it hurt her not being able to bring you back with her, which would only make her current emotional situation worse. I want to do something good for her, something she can be happy about. So I come to you. Since you remember what the two of you had on Gensokyo Isle...I'd like to ask if you're interested in rekindling that friendship with her."
>Yamame listens. "That's pretty weird, just going up to someone and saying, "Hey buddy, I was your friend in this dream. Let's be friends!" But, uh, has she really had it that hard?"
>_
-
> "Don't forget, that dream really happened, and with the way she came back, she remembers all of it. It wasn't a dream to her. As weird as it sounds to you, what the two of you had was real. Not much different than what Renko and I had...though that's since changed, of course."
> "As for how hard she's had it? Aside from Yuugi getting really pissed at her and wanting to punch her teeth down her throat, a couple of goddesses got very upset with her. Upset to the point where they had a really nasty battle, and even after things were fixed they were still very upset. And, well...please don't tell her or anyone else I said this, but even part of her family is upset with her. The family she did what she did for. Part of it hates her for it. So...yeah. She's had it pretty rough."
-
> "Don't forget, that dream really happened, and with the way she came back, she remembers all of it. It wasn't a dream to her. As weird as it sounds to you, what the two of you had was real. Not much different than what Renko and I had...though that's since changed, of course."
> "As for how hard she's had it? Aside from Yuugi getting really pissed at her and wanting to punch her teeth down her throat, a couple of goddesses got very upset with her. Upset to the point where they had a really nasty battle, and even after things were fixed they were still very upset. And, well...please don't tell her or anyone else I said this, but even part of her family is upset with her. The family she did what she did for. Part of it hates her for it. So...yeah. She's had it pretty rough."
>"Huh. Well, uh..." Yamame frowns. "You'd think she'd want to see me? I mean, she's the hell crow and junk."
>_
-
> "I understand. I've heard she used to be...different. Satori told me, and she admitted to it herself. But in the time I've known her, both on Gensokyo Isle and here, she's been a great person. Very friendly, not particularly self-centered. She doesn't seem too interested in the limelight, either. Really, right now I think she would be content to be just another person living in the Underground, doing whatever it is she does. And don't forget, she remembers everything that happened on Gensokyo Isle. She'll remember you, I'm sure. In fact, I wouldn't have gone to you if I didn't think you'd be able to help her and make her feel better."
-
> "I understand. I've heard she used to be...different. Satori told me, and she admitted to it herself. But in the time I've known her, both on Gensokyo Isle and here, she's been a great person. Very friendly, not particularly self-centered. She doesn't seem too interested in the limelight, either. Really, right now I think she would be content to be just another person living in the Underground, doing whatever it is she does. And don't forget, she remembers everything that happened on Gensokyo Isle. She'll remember you, I'm sure. In fact, I wouldn't have gone to you if I didn't think you'd be able to help her and make her feel better."
>"Guess maybe I could go say hello or something..." she says, still frowning. "You don't think Yuugi's gonna think we're plotting something and stuff? Because, buddy, I don't need to be on a deva's wrong side."
>_
-
Look at me, getting frustrated with watching so much of the game go by in the middle of the night and then turning around and doing it myself. <_<
> "Yuugi wouldn't have a problem with you. The nature of her anger is...circumstantial. It would only be directed at Utsuho. In addition, some work has been done to get her to calm down, and while things still seem to be somewhat tense, I think any major devastation has been avoided. Yuugi's still probably not overly happy with Utsuho, but...she's been willing to sit down and reason, at least."
-
If it's any consolation, you're probably going about it better than I would.
Though, won't the mind-readers know about us sending her after Utsuho anyway?
-
What, you mean Yamame? I'm not concerned about Satori or Koishi learning about her.
-
> "Yuugi wouldn't have a problem with you. The nature of her anger is...circumstantial. It would only be directed at Utsuho. In addition, some work has been done to get her to calm down, and while things still seem to be somewhat tense, I think any major devastation has been avoided. Yuugi's still probably not overly happy with Utsuho, but...she's been willing to sit down and reason, at least."
>She nods.
>"Okay, I'll go drop in on her later," says Yamame. "It's gonna be weird, though."
>_
-
> Smile
> "Thank you so much for this. I really think you're going to make her day."
> "And yeah, I know it's going to be a little bit weird. Actually, if you don't mind, could I go with you when you go? I have something I need to tell Utsuho myself, and you deserve to have someone there to help explain why you're there, since you're right, it is going to be weird. If it helps, though, try focusing on all you remember of yourself and Utsuho on Gensokyo Isle, and remember that all of that was real, it actually happened, both of you felt it. It isn't right that either of you had to lose what you two had, really."
-
Suggest: "It'd be nice if SOME good came of that whole ordeal."
-
> Smile
> "Thank you so much for this. I really think you're going to make her day."
> "And yeah, I know it's going to be a little bit weird. Actually, if you don't mind, could I go with you when you go? I have something I need to tell Utsuho myself, and you deserve to have someone there to help explain why you're there, since you're right, it is going to be weird. If it helps, though, try focusing on all you remember of yourself and Utsuho on Gensokyo Isle, and remember that all of that was real, it actually happened, both of you felt it. It isn't right that either of you had to lose what you two had, really."
>You smile. It doesn't really seem to brighten up Yamame much.
>"It better, buddy," says Yamame. "And, uh, yeah you can come. I'll catch you in the front web chamber, yeah?"
>_
-
> "That works. Again, thank you so much for this. It'll be nice that SOME good will come for her from this whole ordeal."
> Is Yamame in reasonable hugging range, and can we hug her without knocking her noodle bowl over? If so, hug.
-
Yamame has little respect for personal space, but I dunno if she's the huggy sort.
Oh well.
>Are we reasonably certain we know what she means by "front web chamber?"
-
> "That works. Again, thank you so much for this. It'll be nice that SOME good will come for her from this whole ordeal."
> Is Yamame in reasonable hugging range, and can we hug her without knocking her noodle bowl over? If so, hug.
>"Hey..." Renko says.
>Not really. And there's a table in the way.
>_
-
>"Heh. Well, more, at least."
Suggest: Kiss Renko's cheek.
-
> "Hey, I said 'her' for a reason. I've already had plenty of good happen to me from this whole ordeal."
> Renkohug time. No table is gonna get in the way of this!
-
>"Heh. Well, more, at least."
> "Hey, I said 'her' for a reason. I've already had plenty of good happen to me from this whole ordeal."
> Renkohug time. No table is gonna get in the way of this!
>You cover both your bases, then give her a hug. One of the advantages of sitting beside someone rather than across from them, that.
>"Didn't hear that bit, sorry," she says.
>_
-
> Mischievous grin.
> "Reeeeally? You suuuuure you weren't just looking for some affection?"
-
>Are we reasonably certain we know what she means by "front web chamber?"
>You...don't know for sure. Maybe it's the one you go through when you head toward the city?
> Mischievous grin.
> "Reeeeally? You suuuuure you weren't just looking for some affection?"
>You grin and tease her a bit. "It's just a nice bonus," says Renko, grinning back.
>_
-
I, uh, kinda need to bow out for the time being, since I need to be away and driving in less than 2 hours.
I think we have what we want from this conversation (is this the collective we or the royal we? WHO KNOWS), so unless Yamame has any further questions, I'd suggesting finding out what time she plans on being back home and make timing plans accordingly. If we end up with time to kill, we can go visit Reimu. (Or you could try to start a conversation with Nazrin and use the clinic as a segue into asking her if she knows anything about how the bucket got to Kourindou. Don't accuse her of taking it; it's entirely possible whoever took it lost it and she found it.)
Fake edit: Also yes get some clarification on that front web chamber thing.
-
>"By front web chamber, you mean the place with the advertising?"
>"When abouts do you think you'll be back that way, anyway?"
-
>"By front web chamber, you mean the place with the advertising?"
>"When abouts do you think you'll be back that way, anyway?"
>"Yeah, buddy," says Yamame. "And, um, lemme get done with my eats and check out a couple thigns in town, and it'll be good. I'll wait on you!"
>_
-
>"Ok, good enough. I'll see you a little later, then."
>Head to Reimu's
-
>"Ok, good enough. I'll see you a little later, then."
>Head to Reimu's
>"I'll be there, buddy!" says Yamame, as you depart.
>You make your way out of town, and fly toward the Hakurei Shrine. It is an uneventful trip, thankfully, given some of your prior experiences with the route.
>Landing outside the old torii, you see Reimu sitting on the front porch of the shrine, sipping a cup of tea and watching the trees.
>"This place looks cool," says Renko, landing behind you.
>_
-
>Wave to Reimu
>Approach
>"Hey, how's it going?"
-
oh man I'm back
> To Renko: "Yeah, it is pretty neat, isn't it?"
-
> To Renko: "Yeah, it is pretty neat, isn't it?"
>She nods. "Looks really...shrine-like. Old. Like it's used, you know?"
>Wave to Reimu
>Approach
>"Hey, how's it going?"
>You wave to Reimu and approach. As you do, you note that Plum Flower is sitting near her, with one of Reimu's detached sleeves on her lap, about the size of a blakent, sewing away at it.
>"Oh, hey there," says Reimu as you approach, "I wonder if Yuyuko got you or something. Things are okay here. Though this little pain in the ass insisted on sleeping in my underwear drawer last night."
>"I slept at the slopes of heaven..." Plum Flower says in a quavering voice.
>"Better'n where Suika suggested, anyways," Reimu mutters. "Who's you're friend?"
>_
-
>"Reimu, this is Renko. Renko, Reimu."
>"And I got to the Netherworld and back safely enough, with what I'd gone there to retrieve. Thanks for the directions."
-
>"Reimu, this is Renko. Renko, Reimu."
>"And I got to the Netherworld and back safely enough, with what I'd gone there to retrieve. Thanks for the directions."
>"Oh, this is her," says Reimu. "Pleased to meet you."
>Renko bows again. "Thank you. Your Shrine is very lovely."
>Plum Flower gives Renko a long, hard look, then shrugs and goes back to her sewing.
>"Just don't tell anyone else," says Reimu, "And we'll call it even. Glad it went well, though. Youmu can be kind of problem if you get on her bad side."
>_
-
>"Youmu was quite polite. Yuyuko was... a little odd and cryptic. Honestly though, the only really unpleasant part was the edge of the Netherworld itself, and the... figments it made manifest. Perhaps if someone had told me in advance what to expect there, it wouldn't have been quite as unsettling. As it was, it took a bit of coaxing on Youmu's part to convince me that at least one of them wasn't real."
-
>"Youmu was quite polite. Yuyuko was... a little odd and cryptic. Honestly though, the only really unpleasant part was the edge of the Netherworld itself, and the... figments it made manifest. Perhaps if someone had told me in advance what to expect there, it wouldn't have been quite as unsettling. As it was, it took a bit of coaxing on Youmu's part to convince me that at least one of them wasn't real."
>She nods. "Youmu's polite, so long as you're not in her way or causing problems. After that, all bets are off. And Yuyuko is...well, she's Yuyuko. She never makes any sense. Don't worry about her. As for the edge? Well...I've never been there myself. But you seem to have made it back, so I guess it isn't all bad."
>_
-
>"Well, the unsettling bits weren't actually dangerous, as far as I understand. But I bumped into a version of Flandre Scarlet that referred to herself as the one whose role it was to bring about the end of all creation. That was... disturbing."
-
>"Well, the unsettling bits weren't actually dangerous, as far as I understand. But I bumped into a version of Flandre Scarlet that referred to herself as the one whose role it was to bring about the end of all creation. That was... disturbing."
>"You learned about Flandre, eh?" says Reimu. She frowns a bit, looking away from you a little. "Well...I suppose you're right, that doesn't sound pleasant at all. I'd probably get nightmares, to be honest. Flandre is simply not to be taken lightly."
>_
-
>"Apparently she was created from the memories of the ghost who was traveling with me. She seemed... a bit different than the one I saw outside the mansion itself. Disturbingly composed. Talked about how she'd discarded her own name on her quest to free herself from worldly attachments so that she could usher in the end. When I passed the real one playing by the fountain at the mansion, she seemed downright harmless and cheerful. I've been informed that this isn't... entirely accurate."
-
>"Apparently she was created from the memories of the ghost who was traveling with me. She seemed... a bit different than the one I saw outside the mansion itself. Disturbingly composed. Talked about how she'd discarded her own name on her quest to free herself from worldly attachments so that she could usher in the end. When I passed the real one playing by the fountain at the mansion, she seemed downright harmless and cheerful. I've been informed that this isn't... entirely accurate."
>"That's a little strange," says Reimu. "I don't know Flandre that well, but it doesn't really sound like her at all. The fake one, that is. Don't get me wrong, the real one is pretty much just a sweet little kid. Just she can get carried away, and then things get broken."
>_
-
>"Yeah. Like I said, she came from someone else's memories. I guess that's how the ghost remembered her, for whatever reason."
>"We've already set to cleaning up that old house, now. Thanks again for your help with that. Got the old furniture discarded, and some of the rooms swept."
>To Renko: "Now that I think of it, do you have any idea how capable they are at cleaning, in the first place? Never did go in and have a look around at what they were doing."
-
>"Yeah. Like I said, she came from someone else's memories. I guess that's how the ghost remembered her, for whatever reason."
>"We've already set to cleaning up that old house, now. Thanks again for your help with that. Got the old furniture discarded, and some of the rooms swept."
>To Renko: "Now that I think of it, do you have any idea how capable they are at cleaning, in the first place? Never did go in and have a look around at what they were doing."
>Reimu nods, and sips her tea.
>"Oh, that's good," says Reimu. "I'd hate to think my exorcism went to waste."
>"They're maids," says Renko. "I guess they may not be completely up to snuff without Sakuya looming over them, but I think they'll do a good job."
>_
-
>"Out of curiosity, do you get the paper out here?"
-
> To Renko: "Hmm, I suppose that's true."
> To Reimu: "So how's her sewing, anyway? I see she's working away, which implies that you find it some degree of handy."
-
> To Renko: "Hmm, I suppose that's true."
> To Reimu: "So how's her sewing, anyway? I see she's working away, which implies that you find it some degree of handy."
>Renko nods.
>"She's doing okay," says Reimu. "Better than that useless oni, anyways."
>"Out of curiosity, do you get the paper out here?"
>"Yeah," she says, "When Hatate comes around to sell it, and I have the money, anyways."
>_
-
> "Really? That's pretty neat. Kogasa said something about the newspaper being full of lies, but if you're willing to buy copies..."
-
> "Really? That's pretty neat. Kogasa said something about the newspaper being full of lies, but if you're willing to buy copies..."
>"It can be," says Reimu. "But they can be entertaining lies, so that is alright."
>_
-
> "Huh. Even when she has pictures?"
-
> "Huh. Even when she has pictures?"
>"You'd be surprised the "mistakes" any of those reporters can make," says Reimu as she sips her tea.
>_
-
>Like calling us Yukari, for one...
-
>Like calling us Yukari, for one...
>That was indeed a mistake. Or "mistake".
>_
-
>"I suppose I'll have to bear that in mind when today's issue comes out. ...I can only think of how many horrible ways one could misconstrue that, if one tried to."
>"Is it deliberately sensationalized, or just... kinda poorly verified?"
-
>"I suppose I'll have to bear that in mind when today's issue comes out. ...I can only think of how many horrible ways one could misconstrue that, if one tried to."
>"Is it deliberately sensationalized, or just... kinda poorly verified?"
>She nods. "Yeah, you have to take the news with some caution, if you ask me."
>Reimu shrugs. "Probably both."
>_
-
>To Renko: "Almost makes me a little nervous, actually. Do you remember when Hatate said this issue would be out?"
-
>To Renko: "Almost makes me a little nervous, actually. Do you remember when Hatate said this issue would be out?"
>Renko nods, frowning a little. "She said this afternoon."
>_
-
>Cue Hatate flying by in three... two...
-
>It is quite definitely afternoon now, right?
>"Think we ought to set the record straight, while we're here? Just in case?"
-
>It is quite definitely afternoon now, right?
>"Think we ought to set the record straight, while we're here? Just in case?"
>It is mid afternoon now. Maybe 4 PM?
>"Yeah, that might be a good idea..."
>"I'd rather you not," says Reimu. "It sounds it'll be more fun to see the Paper's version first. And if there's a problem, well, I know where to find you."
>_
-
>"Ok, fair enough. Although I wouldn't be surprised if some of what you'll think must be exaggeration turns out to be true. I'm curious to see what she has to say myself, really."
>"Anyway, I probably should be heading off. You still have that jar I left here?"
-
>"Ok, fair enough. Although I wouldn't be surprised if some of what you'll think must be exaggeration turns out to be true. I'm curious to see what she has to say myself, really."
>"Anyway, I probably should be heading off. You still have that jar I left here?"
>She nods. "If there's a problem, I'll see you," says Reimu.
>"Ah yes." She nods. "I brought it inside. Just a moment."
>Reimu stands up and walks into the shrine, leaving you alone with Plum Flower, who is glaring intently at the sleeve while sewing it.
>_
-
>To Plum Flower: "So, how's it been, being here?"
-
>To Plum Flower: "So, how's it been, being here?"
>"It's...been...heaven..." she says, her voice still quavering. "I got to eat rice she made for me...I thought I would die of joy! And...and..."
>She doesn't seem to be finding words anytime soon.
>_
-
> To Renko: "I think I understand why Reimu wants to keep this under wraps. This is adorably awesome."
> Grin.
-
> To Renko: "I think I understand why Reimu wants to keep this under wraps. This is adorably awesome."
> Grin.
>"Isn't it?" says Renko, grinning back at you.
>"What are you two smiling about?" asks Reimu, as she steps out of the shrine with the bottle in hand.
>_
-
> Point at Plum Flower.
> "Her."
-
> Point at Plum Flower.
> "Her."
>"You people are as bad as Yukari," says Reimu, as she hands you the jar.
>You obtain: Ghost Catching Jar.
>_
-
> "Thanks."
-
> "Thanks."
>"You really shouldn't thank people for comparing you to Yukari, you know..." Reimu says, frowning.
>_
-
> "Haha, sorry! I meant for the jar. But really, I've already been compared to Yukari so many times since coming here that it doesn't really affect me that much anymore."
-
>She starts to say something, then shrugs. "Never mind."
>_
-
> "Besides, Yukari has been helpful to me and Renko plenty of times, so it's not that bad."
> "Oh and Reimu, me and Renko may just be bringing donation when we visit, once some business is done with, so cheer up a bit, 'kay?"
> Smile :)
-
> "Besides, Yukari has been helpful to me and Renko plenty of times, so it's not that bad."
> "Oh and Reimu, me and Renko may just be bringing donation when we visit, once some business is done with, so cheer up a bit, 'kay?"
> Smile :)
>"You've dealt with her, huh?" says Reimu. "My condolences."
>"Is that so?" she asks. "Well, I'll be looking forward to that."
>_
-
I...think we're done here? Interesting info on Hatate's article, but I still have hope she'll come through for us.
Anyone have anything else in mind? Looking at Draco specifically here, since I was surprised to see him go for the bottle again. Like I (thought I) said, I hold no attachment to the ghost solution to Nitori's problem beyond the fact that it's a solution. If you have something else that will get her what she needs and doesn't involve capturing a ghost, I'll gladly support it.
-
I picked up the jar only because you'd planned to get it, and it seemed a bit rude for me to try to leave without it. (I didn't know if you were around at the time, and was essentially done talking)
I'm still just as opposed to using it as I was earlier. With reference to Nitori's problem, I don't know that an alternate cooling method would be of interest, since I think that her issue is less 'I want to way to stay cool' so much as 'I want to build a neat machine like the one I remember from my dream'. For that, I have no idea what else they could use from a Gensokyo tech point of view.
>"Well, nice seeing you, and I'll talk to you later."
>Return to the underground
-
Oh, okay then.
That kinda leaves the problem stuck, though. :| With a refusal to use the provided solution and no alternate solution proposed, what are we supposed to do?
-
You probably won't like this, but to be honest, I'm not sure it matters that we do it. Nitori never asked us to do it, nor even suggested she was looking for someone to do it. We (or at least I) only got the idea to help at all after we saw the ghosts in our own house. Moreover, she indicated that she mightn't even have time to work on it while her interest was still piqued, if she's working on the jet project instead.
Essentially, I'm not sure our assistance of lack thereof will make a lot of long-term difference.
-
Eh, I'm hardly in a position to complain about something like that.
I mostly wanted it done for the bonus points it was likely to provide Nitori's involvement in the JET Programme, but if you think that's getting accomplished anyway then I can let it go.
-
I think Nitori was considering the jet mostly out of kindness towards Sanae rather than us. Although I suppose every little bit helps.
Although, I now recall that we told Nitori we'd leave the jar with her if we didn't bump into a ghost in the next day or two. Of course, she might just turn and do the very thing we didn't want to. Or perhaps she could find a similarly hostile spirit? I get the impression, though, that most people consider ghosts to be sub-sentient, and Youmu is one of the few people that hold them in a different regard (no doubt because she can actually TALK to them. It's hard for a featureless, voiceless creature to seem particularly sentient to anyone else.) So she probably wouldn't go out of her way to be picky about what she was to capture, either.
-
>"Well, nice seeing you, and I'll talk to you later."
>Return to the underground
>"Nice seeing you didn't get eaten up or something," says Reimu, waving as you depart.
>"Bye!" says Plum Flower. As you depart, you can hear her say, "You know, now that we have the place to ourselves-"
>"No." Reimu says firmly.
>You leave the shrine, and fly back to the underground entrance. "So, you think they're going to work out?" Renko asks.
>_
-
>"Who knows? At least Plum Flower seems happy. I wouldn't be surprised if Reimu likes her a little more than she lets on, underneath that grumpiness. ...of course, she might just be content to take advantage of her sewing. Then again, does it really count as taking advantage of someone, if you're also making them that happy in the process?"
-
> "Reimu seems very chill. I think Plum Flower may...well, probably does irritate her, but not enough to be worth doing anything about it. And, well, sewing, which Suika apparently can't do."
> "I didn't think Plum Flower would be that fresh, though. That almost makes me worry for her. ...Almost."
-
>"Who knows? At least Plum Flower seems happy. I wouldn't be surprised if Reimu likes her a little more than she lets on, underneath that grumpiness. ...of course, she might just be content to take advantage of her sewing. Then again, does it really count as taking advantage of someone, if you're also making them that happy in the process?"
>Renko nods. "I guess if Reimu hasn't kicked her yet, it's probably a good sign."
> "Reimu seems very chill. I think Plum Flower may...well, probably does irritate her, but not enough to be worth doing anything about it. And, well, sewing, which Suika apparently can't do."
> "I didn't think Plum Flower would be that fresh, though. That almost makes me worry for her. ...Almost."
>"She does seem pretty relaxed," Renko says. "But I hear she has a really bad temper. And faeries usually pretty direct when they've made up their minds. Or they're so subtle about it you'd really have to think about it to realize they're up to something."
>You can see the entrance to the Underground up ahead.
>_
-
>"Well, we'll just have to hope for the best, I guess. It really is rather adorable."
-
>"Well, we'll just have to hope for the best, I guess. It really is rather adorable."
>Renko nods, as you land near the entrance.
>_
-
> Head on in, keeping an eye out for any pigtailed buckets or Yamames.
EDIT: oh god this sequence is going to take me to 5:30 AM again isn't it
thank god i don't have to work tomorrow
-
> Head on in, keeping an eye out for any pigtailed buckets or Yamames.
>You head inside, and reach the first chamber. Looking around, you don't see any sign of Yamame. Or Kisume, for that matter.
>_
-
> Is this the chamber with all the adverts?
-
> Is this the chamber with all the adverts?
>That it is.
>Renko takes to roaming around and looking at various things.
>_
-
>Wait around a few more minutes, and see if she shows up
-
> "Neat place, huh?"
> Not a bad idea. Let's look around and see what interesting stuff we can find. In particular, it might be worth looking for Kisume's home.
-
> "Neat place, huh?"
> Not a bad idea. Let's look around and see what interesting stuff we can find. In particular, it might be worth looking for Kisume's home.
>Renko nods. "Never been in a cave until yesterday," she says, as she peers around the stalagmites.
>Looking around the chamber, you don't find much of interest at first, aside from bits of web and rock formations, until you find a tunnel in the ceiling masked by stalactites. It's difficult to see unless you're standing under it.
>_
-
> Walk underneath it and look up. If we happen to see a body up there, though, back away a bit, so they're out of our line of vision.
-
>Renko nods. "Never been in a cave until today," she says, as she peers around the stalagmites.
>Ponder if all the excitement of this morning has affected Renko's memory of coming down here yesterday
-
> Walk underneath it and look up. If we happen to see a body up there, though, back away a bit, so they're out of our line of vision.
>You walk underneath and look up. It is about seven or so feet across, leading upward, and inclining northward. You don't seen anyone in it, but you do note some webs along it.
>Ponder if all the excitement of this morning has affected Renko's memory of coming down here yesterday
> =[
>_
-
>Wait around a few more minutes and see if Yamame shows up
-
> Keep an eye on the ceiling tunnel for any activity while waiting.
-
>Wait around a few more minutes and see if Yamame shows up
> Keep an eye on the ceiling tunnel for any activity while waiting.
>You wait around a bit longer, keeping a wary on that tunnel. During this time, Renko gets tired of looking around, and wraps her arms around you from behind and holds you for little bit.
>Soon, Yamame flies into the cavern from the tunnel outside. She doesn't stop, saying, "Just a minute, buddy!" and flying up through the tunnel in the ceiling; Renko scarcely has time to let you go before Yamame's gone again.
>Another half minute passes, before Yamame pokes her head out of that tunnel. "Just putting some stuff away and junk," she says, before descending to the ground in front of you, no more than a foot away.
>_
-
> Reach around behind us and pat Renko on the back of the head.
> "You all set, then, Yamame?"
-
> Reach around behind us and pat Renko on the back of the head.
> "You all set, then, Yamame?"
>You reach around and pat Renko on the back of the head. It's a well meant gesture, at least.
>"Yep, let's get movin'," she says.
>_
-
>"Good enough."
>Head for the Ancient City
-
> Be sure to talk things out along the way.
> "So how much of the details of the dream do you remember? You said you remembered you and Utsuho were friends. Do you know what common interests you shared?"
-
>"Good enough."
>Head for the Ancient City
>You start for the city.
> Be sure to talk things out along the way.
> "So how much of the details of the dream do you remember? You said you remembered you and Utsuho were friends. Do you know what common interests you shared?"
>"We played these weird games a lot, on the window things I told you about? I think they were a lot of fun. And we went to places, ate at all kinds of places, went to parties. I think we might have went to a school, too."
>_
-
> "Games, huh? Do you remember what any of them were like, or what they were about?"
-
> "Games, huh? Do you remember what any of them were like, or what they were about?"
>She shakes her heads. "Nope. Can't keep all the bits straight anymore, buddy...Too weird to remember right, get it?"
>_
-
> "Yeah, I understand. I'm asking you these things, though, because I found I remembered details easier when Utsuho asked me about them and made me think about them. I'm hoping the same will happen with you."
-
> "Yeah, I understand. I'm asking you these things, though, because I found I remembered details easier when Utsuho asked me about them and made me think about them. I'm hoping the same will happen with you."
>Yamame shakes. "It's not really coming back, buddy..."
>_
-
>"Oh, that's too bad. Maybe the reason I could start to remember it more easily is because I was from the outside world in the first place. Even if my memories of Gensokyo Isle itself are fuzzy, at least have a context from my previous experiences to place the things I saw there in."
>"I imagine those 'window things' you're talking about are televisions, for example. You were probably playing video games."
-
>"Oh, that's too bad. Maybe the reason I could start to remember it more easily is because I was from the outside world in the first place. Even if my memories of Gensokyo Isle itself are fuzzy, at least have a context from my previous experiences to place the things I saw there in."
>"I imagine those 'window things' you're talking about are televisions, for example. You were probably playing video games."
>She nods as you explain things. Then she says, "That sure is a whole bunch of weird words, there."
>_
-
> "Mmm. I wonder if hearing it from Utsuho might help more than hearing it from me."
> "I realize there's only so much in the ways of finer detail I can ask of you. Maybe we can come back to that stuff later. What do you remember about Utsuho as a person?"
-
> "Mmm. I wonder if hearing it from Utsuho might help more than hearing it from me."
> "I realize there's only so much in the ways of finer detail I can ask of you. Maybe we can come back to that stuff later. What do you remember about Utsuho as a person?"
>Yamame nods, as the three of you reach the intersection of the main road the the tunnel toward the bat cave.
>"Um, really relaxed. Like, just wanted to have fun. Had money and stuff too, which was pretty good. Um....she'd help out with things, too. And I think we were together for a long time, yeah."
>_
-
>"What do you know of her from here, anyway, out of curiosity?"
-
> "Hmm. You mentioned school earlier, and now this. Maybe you had gone through a lot of school with her?"
-
>"What do you know of her from here, anyway, out of curiosity?"
>"Uh. She kinda tried to set everything on fire. But then got better."
> "Hmm. You mentioned school earlier, and now this. Maybe you had gone through a lot of school with her?"
>"Maybe," says Yamame. "Kinda don't know how schools work, buddy."
>_
-
> "Hmm, okay."
> Something else to revisit.
(Unless someone thinks they can whip up a reasonably understandable description of a school.)
> "Well, I can tell you that she's still pretty relaxed these days, unless she's forced to not be. I also met her in The Felt, so I'm willing to be she's still all for having fun."
> "You mentioned she was good for money. What kinds of things did you two get with it? Aside from food, of course."
-
> "Hmm, okay."
> Something else to revisit.
> "Well, I can tell you that she's still pretty relaxed these days, unless she's forced to not be. I also met her in The Felt, so I'm willing to be she's still all for having fun."
> "You mentioned she was good for money. What kinds of things did you two get with it? Aside from food, of course."
>You're finding you're going to have to revisit a lot.
>"Um, stuff. Like...games! Yeah, you had to get 'em separate. And, I think clothes sometimes? Uh...probably some other things..."
>_
-
> "Wow, you two must have been really into those games."
-
> "Wow, you two must have been really into those games."
>"Pretty sure we were, buddy," says Yamame with a nod.
>_
-
> "What kinds of things did she help out with? Around-the-house stuff, or building things, or what?"
-
> "What kinds of things did she help out with? Around-the-house stuff, or building things, or what?"
>"Around the house things, I think," says Yamame, frowning. "Maybe some other bigger things? Don't really remember too well."
>_
-
> "All right, so we've at least established what you two did, and what she was like. This may sound like a silly question, but how did her presence make you feel?"
-
> "All right, so we've at least established what you two did, and what she was like. This may sound like a silly question, but how did her presence make you feel?"
>"Um...like a friend," says Yamame, frowning. "Not sure what you mean there, buddy."
>_
-
> Check to make sure Renko is still in the land of the living.
> Where are we?
> "I admit it's a kinda weird question. It's hard to ask properly."
> "Maybe it would be better to not ask at all. Clearly you at least remember the things you two did together, as well as what she was like. Why don't you try dwelling on the times you remember spending together with her? As far back as you can reasonably remember. All the fun you two had together, doing various things, eating various foods, and just generally supporting each other, as friends do. Try to focus on those times, and the feelings you got from them. Remember, that feeling of friendship was real. It's still in her, and it's still in you. She's still the same person, and I'd hazard a guess you're the same person, even if you're both youkai here. You can both get that feeling back, because you're both still yourselves. You deserve to have that feeling back."
-
> Check to make sure Renko is still in the land of the living.
> Where are we?
> "I admit it's a kinda weird question. It's hard to ask properly."
> "Maybe it would be better to not ask at all. Clearly you at least remember the things you two did together, as well as what she was like. Why don't you try dwelling on the times you remember spending together with her? As far back as you can reasonably remember. All the fun you two had together, doing various things, eating various foods, and just generally supporting each other, as friends do. Try to focus on those times, and the feelings you got from them. Remember, that feeling of friendship was real. It's still in her, and it's still in you. She's still the same person, and I'd hazard a guess you're the same person, even if you're both youkai here. You can both get that feeling back, because you're both still yourselves. You deserve to have that feeling back."
>Renko is still with you. She seems to be contend to let you handle this.
>You've coming up on the fissure chamber now.
>Yamame nods. "That's pretty weird, but I'll do my best."
>_
-
> "Excellent. I'm sure you'll be able to do it. And don't forget all the times when you depended on her for something, and all the times she depended on you for something, and how all those times made your friendship even stronger. All that was real."
> Continue on to the Ancient City, letting Yamame muse in relative silence.
-
> "Excellent. I'm sure you'll be able to do it. And don't forget all the times when you depended on her for something, and all the times she depended on you for something, and how all those times made your friendship even stronger. All that was real."
> Continue on to the Ancient City, letting Yamame muse in relative silence.
>Yamame nods as you continue on, hovering through the next few chambers just for ease of transit.
>You continue on in silence, reaching the bridge without incident. Looking toward the river, you see Yuugi and Parsee sitting close together by the banks.
>_
-
> Do they appear to be actively doing anything, or just enjoying each other's company?
-
> Do they appear to be actively doing anything, or just enjoying each other's company?
>Mostly the latter, though on closer inspection they seem to be holding hands
>_
-
> Probably best not to bother them, then.
> If one or both of them prompts us or otherwise reacts to us, we can stop and chat. Otherwise, keep on heading to the Earth Spirit Palace.
-
> Probably best not to bother them, then.
> If one or both of them prompts us or otherwise reacts to us, we can stop and chat. Otherwise, keep on heading to the Earth Spirit Palace.
>You decide to leave them alone and move on. They seem content to leave you alone as well.
>You enter the city itself. Renko looks around with interest, having not really gotten her fill of it the first time. Yamame seems a lot more withdrawn now, watching the streets and its denizens carefully.
>_
-
>"Do you not come down this way too often, Yamame?"
-
Fuck, I need to feign sleep. Be back in an hour.
Kinda hoping that I'll still be able to kick off the Utsuho happenings, as I've had an introduction idea planned out since talking to Yamame first occurred to me, but I suppose I can't reasonably expect that to be put in front of me. Current plan is to have Yamame stay out of sight, find and talk to Utsuho, ambiguously set her up for a new arrival and then have Yamame make her appearance.
-
>"Do you not come down this way too often, Yamame?"
>"Not too much," says Yamame, frowning. "Just to sell stuff, get some supplies. It's a rough city, buddy."
>_
-
>"Really? It hadn't seemed that bad to me. And I figured the negative attention I originally got here was only because I was human. Seemed they left other youkai well enough alone."
-
>"Really? It hadn't seemed that bad to me. And I figured the negative attention I originally got here was only because I was human. Seemed they left other youkai well enough alone."
>"It gets pretty rough sometimes, buddy," says Yamame. "Lots of oni get the big idea of testing their strength out on you. Really big problem when it happens, yeah?"
>_
-
>"Uh, you've had that happen to you, then?"
-
>"Uh, you've had that happen to you, then?"
>"Sure have," says Yamame.
>_
-
>Frown
>"I hope you didn't always come out too much the worse for wear for it?"
-
>Frown
>"I hope you didn't always come out too much the worse for wear for it?"
>"I run for it, buddy," says Yamame.
>_
-
>"Oh. Well, I suppose I can't blame you. Practically the first thing that happened to me in Gensokyo was having an oni try to kidnap me. But after I managed to distract her long enough for Satori to get a good hit in on her, she pretty much declared that the rest of the oni were supposed to keep their hands off me. No one's tried to bother me since, thankfully."
-
>"Oh. Well, I suppose I can't blame you. Practically the first thing that happened to me in Gensokyo was having an oni try to kidnap me. But after I managed to distract her long enough for Satori to get a good hit in on her, she pretty much declared that the rest of the oni were supposed to keep their hands off me. No one's tried to bother me since, thankfully."
>Yamame nods. "Sounds like you met a deva, buddy!"
>_
-
>"Yeah, Deva K. The second person I met down here, and my very first oni. Although I spoke, and uh sorta argued with Yuugi later that day, too."
-
>"Yeah, Deva K. The second person I met down here, and my very first oni. Although I spoke, and uh sorta argued with Yuugi later that day, too."
>"She's the nice one," says Yamame, nodding. "Sophisticated. Might be an artist or junk."
>_
-
>"Do the oni bother most people that come down here in that way?"
>"Somehow I have a hard time imaging someone wanting to test their strength against Kogasa..."
-
>"Do the oni bother most people that come down here in that way?"
>"Somehow I have a hard time imaging someone wanting to test their strength against Kogasa..."
>"I think so," says Yamame. "I dunno how Kogasa gets away with it. Maybe they think she works at the clinic? Those guys don't get messed with at all."
>_
-
>"Well, that's respectful of them, anyway. And I imagine Utsuho doesn't get messed with, either? Given what she can do?"
-
>"Well, that's respectful of them, anyway. And I imagine Utsuho doesn't get messed with, either? Given what she can do?"
>"Naw buddy," says Yamame. "All kinds of oni want a piece of her."
>_
-
>"Oh, boo... I'd never gotten that impression from her. But I guess she can more than handle herself, anyway, so I suppose it isn't as big a deal."
-
>"Oh, boo... I'd never gotten that impression from her. But I guess she can more than handle herself, anyway, so I suppose it isn't as big a deal."
>"Doesn't happen every day," Yamame says. "Just sometimes, yeah?"
>_
-
>"Yeah, well, I guess I'm just glad I haven't seen too much of that while I've been down here, anyway."
>Continue the rest of the way to the Palace
-
>"Yeah, well, I guess I'm just glad I haven't seen too much of that while I've been down here, anyway."
>Continue the rest of the way to the Palace
>Yamame nods, while your statement brings back memories of Yuugi taking care of business yesterday.
>The rest of the trip to the palace is thankfully uneventful. You approach the front gates, noting a couple of cats chasing each other near the doors.
>_
-
> "You ready for this?"
> "I know I've asked a lot of you, and if you're frustrated or nervous or anything like that, I fully understand, and I apologize. I just...I know what you two had was real, and it seems like the two of you haven't had your personalities change, so...I think it's really possible you could rekindle what you had. The things that have changed between Gensokyo Isle and here aren't what were important to you two being friends, the things that haven't changed, who you are, who she is, those are the things that are important."
> "I probably should have asked this before, but...does the idea of becoming her friend again appeal to you?"
-
> "You ready for this?"
> "I know I've asked a lot of you, and if you're frustrated or nervous or anything like that, I fully understand, and I apologize. I just...I know what you two had was real, and it seems like the two of you haven't had your personalities change, so...I think it's really possible you could rekindle what you had. The things that have changed between Gensokyo Isle and here aren't what were important to you two being friends, the things that haven't changed, who you are, who she is, those are the things that are important."
> "I probably should have asked this before, but...does the idea of becoming her friend again appeal to you?"
>"Yeah I guess so," says Yamame.
>"It's pretty weird and I'm pretty nervous, yeah," she says, frowning a bit. "But if you're that insistent, it's gotta be true, right buddy?"
>"I dunno...guess it's not gonna hurt to try."
>_
-
> "All right then. Ideally, I'll be able to introduce you before Utsuho sees you, so she understands exactly what's going on. That okay?"
> "And...thanks again for all this."
> Assuming the affirmative is given to the first sentiment, enter the gates.
-
> "All right then. Ideally, I'll be able to introduce you before Utsuho sees you, so she understands exactly what's going on. That okay?"
> "And...thanks again for all this."
> Assuming the affirmative is given to the first sentiment, enter the gates.
>She nods. "Lead the way, buddy."
>You head through the gates, as they were, and reach the front door.
>_
-
> Knock!
> Not Yamame's.
-
> Knock!
> Not Yamame's.
>You knock on the door. It opens after few moments. Utsuho pokes her head around the door, frowning deeply. "Oh, hey. Um, this is really important. Do you have any idea where Satori is?"
She is not very resonant anyways.
>_
-
> "I do, yeah, but it's a bit involved. Can we come in?"
> If Utsuho does not seem to have noticed Yamame, put a hand on Yamame to indicate she not move. (Avoid sensitive areas, obviously.)
-
> "I do, yeah, but it's a bit involved. Can we come in?"
>"Yeah, sure," says Utsuho. "So it's nothing to worry about, right?"
>_
-
> "She's not in any danger, no."
> If Utsuho did not seem to have noticed Yamame, put a hand on Yamame to indicate she not move. (Avoid sensitive areas, obviously.) If we think we can get away with it, give Yamame a look to enhance this sentiment.
> Follow Utsuho inside.
-
> "She's not in any danger, no."
> If Utsuho did not seem to have noticed Yamame, put a hand on Yamame to indicate she not move. (Avoid sensitive areas, obviously.) If we think we can get away with it, give Yamame a look to enhance this sentiment.
> Follow Utsuho inside.
>"Good," says Utsuho, as she looks over toward the people you left at the gate. "And...Yamame?"
>Well, she's seen Yamame now.
>_
-
> "Ah."
> Damnit.
> "Yes, Yamame. I...was hoping she'd be a surprise."
-
> "Ah."
> Damnit.
> "Yes, Yamame. I...was hoping she'd be a surprise."
>"I'm still surprised," says Utsuho. "What's this about?"
>She waves toward Yamame and Renko. They return the gesture.
>_
-
> "Well, it's a bit convoluted, but her being here is tangentially related to why Satori is missing."
> "...I don't mean it's her fault, though! She's here because I asked her to be."
-
> "Well, it's a bit convoluted, but her being here is tangentially related to why Satori is missing."
> "...I don't mean it's her fault, though! She's here because I asked her to be."
>"Wait wha-" says Utsuho, before you correct yourself. "Oh. Well, I guess you guess better come in."
>She waves for the other two to come over, then heads inside.
>_
-
> Head inside and follow Utsuho.
-
> Head inside and follow Utsuho.
>You follow Utsuho inside. She leads you toward the sitting room. Along the way, Yamame looks around at the various artworks on the walls, and says "Swanky."
>Reaching the sitting room, Utsuho says, "Make yourselves comfortable, and tell me what's up."
>_
-
> "All right."
> Deep breath.
> "I...found Koishi. Satori's with her now, up topside."
-
> "All right."
> Deep breath.
> "I...found Koishi. Satori's with her now, up topside."
>"Oh, that's good," says Utsuho. "I suppose you must have had a hell of a time getting her out of here. But it'll probably be good for her in the long run. How'd you find Koishi, anyways? What'd she have to say?"
>Utsuho makes herself comfortable on one of the chairs. Renko sits down on the couch, clearing intending for you to join her, until Yamame takes the spot instead.
>_
-
> Walk over next to the couch, on whichever side Renko is sitting.
> "I had help from Kanako, actually. She gave me a general idea of where Koishi was, I went there, chanced a callout, and she responded."
> "As for what she said...she..."
> "...I'm sorry, Utsuho, she's still not happy..."
-
> Walk over next to the couch, on whichever side Renko is sitting.
> "I had help from Kanako, actually. She gave me a general idea of where Koishi was, I went there, chanced a callout, and she responded."
> "As for what she said...she..."
> "...I'm sorry, Utsuho, she's still not happy..."
>You join Renko's opposite side.
>"So she remembers, huh?" says Utsuho. "Well, that's not terribly surprising I guess."
>_
-
>"I'm sorry, Okuu. I did my best to stand up for you, for all that she would listen. I know I don't understand what it's been like for her, and I probably never really can, but I still don't think she's being fair to you. She said it didn't matter what happened to the rest of the world as long as her and Satori were free of their 'curse'. How anyone can say that and then turn around and call you selfish, I don't know..."
-
>"I'm sorry, Okuu. I did my best to stand up for you, for all that she would listen. I know I don't understand what it's been like for her, and I probably never really can, but I still don't think she's being fair to you. She said it didn't matter what happened to the rest of the world as long as her and Satori were free of their 'curse'. How anyone can say that and then turn around and call you selfish, I don't know..."
>"Oh well," she says. "I'll just have to take solace in doing everyone else a good turn."
>_
-
> "Good for you, Utsuho. I'm happy that's the attitude you're taking. I really don't know if I would be the same way."
> "Still...after all those things she said, I felt so bad for you...after listening to her, and remembering your story, I wanted to do something for you, something you could be happy about, because you really deserve it."
-
>"You did, you know. At least I think so. I'm sure Satori will put in a good word for you, too. Koishi might actually listen to it, coming from her."
-
>"You did, you know. At least I think so. I'm sure Satori will put in a good word for you, too. Koishi might actually listen to it, coming from her."
> Say this first.
-
>"You did, you know. At least I think so. I'm sure Satori will put in a good word for you, too. Koishi might actually listen to it, coming from her."
>"We'll see," says Utsuho. "Satori was alright with it, after all, so maybe she'll bring Koishi around."
> "Good for you, Utsuho. I'm happy that's the attitude you're taking. I really don't know if I would be the same way."
> "Still...after all those things she said, I felt so bad for you...after listening to her, and remembering your story, I wanted to do something for you, something you could be happy about, because you really deserve it."
>"I've had some time to get used to the idea," says Utsuho with a shrug. "Kinda had bigger problems, anyways."
>She nods. "So, Yamame?"
>"Yeah?" asks the spider youkai, who was looking at some of the portraits.
>_
-
> "Yes. I remember you had mentioned her in your story about the Isle, and that got me to thinking. I've...told her the truth behind what happened. It's all pretty weird for her, since it was just a dream to her, but we talked about it for a while, and she remembers you pretty well. She filled in many details about what you two had. I brought her here in the hopes that you two would...get your friends back."
-
> "Yes. I remember you had mentioned her in your story about the Isle, and that got me to thinking. I've...told her the truth behind what happened. It's all pretty weird for her, since it was just a dream to her, but we talked about it for a while, and she remembers you pretty well. She filled in many details about what you two had. I brought her here in the hopes that you two would...get your friends back."
>Utsuho nods. "Well, I appreciate it. I really do. It's really kind of you."
>She looks to Yamame. "So, this is kind of an odd experience for you, I'm guessing?"
>"Yeah, kind of weird, buddy," she says, frowning a bit. "But, looked like it should have been looked into, know what I mean?"
>Utsuho nods. "Wanna go get dinner somewhere? I know a place or two you might like."
>"Kinda already ate," says Yamame, "but a snack would be okay."
>_
-
> Take Renko's hand.
> Yay, we did it!
> "Wonderful! I wish you two the best of luck. I have confidence you'll get back what you had."
-
> Take Renko's hand.
> Yay, we did it!
> "Wonderful! I wish you two the best of luck. I have confidence you'll get back what you had."
>You take Renko's hands and rejoice. A victory for Utsuho!
>"I don't think it'll be something to worry about, myself," says Utsuho. "Anything else you guys needed while you're down here?"
>_
-
>"Actually, now that I think of it, how'd it go with Yuugi, earlier?"
-
>"Actually, now that I think of it, how'd it go with Yuugi, earlier?"
>"Kind of boring, really," says Utsuho. "It was mostly just roaming around, collecting protection and making sure nothing bad happened to her...possessions, I guess? I swear, if we end up doing that every time..."
>_
-
>"Well, it's only fair that you get to pick the activity sometimes too, you know."
>"At least it wasn't too... uncomfortable, anyway?"
-
>"Well, it's only fair that you get to pick the activity sometimes too, you know."
>"At least it wasn't too... uncomfortable, anyway?"
>"Yeah," she shrugs, "just need some ideas, I guess."
>"Well, at first. But, you know, our major arguing point has kinda been dealt with. And after that, we only know each other in pass and by reputation, you know?"
>"Sure do, buddy," Yamame says.
>_
-
>"Well, at least things are looking up on that front. Parsee looked pretty happy when I saw her this morning."
-
>"Well, at least things are looking up on that front. Parsee looked pretty happy when I saw her this morning."
>"I hope so," she says. "Do you have any idea how many pawn shops there are out there?"
>_
-
> "From what I've seen, there's quite a few. One has to wonder how they all manage to stay in business with all that competition, though..."
-
> "From what I've seen, there's quite a few. One has to wonder how they all manage to stay in business with all that competition, though..."
>"It's got something to do with how oni pay off debts," says Utsuho. "If you're late on a payment, they just take your stuff until they feel the debt is paid. Then if they don't actually want the stuff, they sell it. Yuugi makes sure there's no foul play among them, and takes a cut for her time."
>_
-
>"Well, that doesn't sound too bad, in the scheme of things. A little more reasonable than I might have thought, anyway."
>"Oh, by the way, me and Renko have found a house now. Abandoned place by the Forest of Magic that we're cleaning up. It's a fixer-upper, but I think it'll be pretty nice when we're done with it."
-
>"Well, that doesn't sound too bad, in the scheme of things. A little more reasonable than I might have thought, anyway."
>"Oh, by the way, me and Renko have found a house now. Abandoned place by the Forest of Magic that we're cleaning up. It's a fixer-upper, but I think it'll be pretty nice when we're done with it."
>"It's just how oni do," says Yamame.
>"Nice," says Utsuho as you tell her about the house. "I'll have to stop by some time."
>_
-
> "You both should, if you have the time."
-
> "You both should, if you have the time."
>"You got it!" says Yamame.
>_
-
>Well, I guess we'll probably head back up now, and let you two catch up. Have fun!"
-
>Well, I guess we'll probably head back up now, and let you two catch up. Have fun!"
>Utsuho nods. "Alright. You know the way out. Stop by anytime, you're always welcome to dinner and the like."
>_
-
>"Thanks. I might just take you up on that once things settle down a little. See your around!"
>Head back to the surface
-
> To Renko after we've left: "That worked out very well. I hope they pull off bringing themselves back together."
-
>"Thanks. I might just take you up on that once things settle down a little. See your around!"
>Head back to the surface
>"We'll be happy to have you!" says Utsuho.
>You make your way back out and toward the surface again. Thankfully, the city is still fairly quiet, leaving you with little to dodge around.
> To Renko after we've left: "That worked out very well. I hope they pull off bringing themselves back together."
>"Yeah, I think so," says Renko. "But it's got to be really awkward for them both, don't you think?"
>_
-
>"Well, I like to think the awkwardness will pass quickly enough. Utsuho, at least, remembers being friends with Yamame as if it was only a couple days ago. And even if Yamame's not quite the same, I'm sure there's still a lot of the same personality in her. Even if she doesn't remember what a television is, anymore. Besides, good friendships have started from less common ground than this."
-
>"Well, I like to think the awkwardness will pass quickly enough. Utsuho, at least, remembers being friends with Yamame as if it was only a couple days ago. And even if Yamame's not quite the same, I'm sure there's still a lot of the same personality in her. Even if she doesn't remember what a television is, anymore. Besides, good friendships have started from less common ground than this."
>Renko nods. "Yeah. If the will is there, I'm sure they'll get along."
>_
-
>Continue to the surface
-
>Continue to the surface
>The two of you continue on to the surface in silence. As you step out and return to the late afternoon light and gentle breeze, Renko asks, "What now, Mary?"
>_
-
> "Good question. Is there anything you'd like to do?"
-
> "Good question. Is there anything you'd like to do?"
>"Maybe get something to eat," says Renko. "And, see if that paper got out yet."
>_
-
Checklist revisited! Someone slap me if I'm forgetting something.
- Investigate who stole Kisume's bucket. Unknown rabbit, possibly Tewi, top suspect; Kogasa mild suspect but unlikely.
- Get Nitori a cooling source. Redacted: determined to be both unnecessary and morally objectionable.
- Check up on status of JET Programme. I've forgotten exactly how far along that was in terms of help.
- Finish cleaning and house set-up as best we can. We never bothered checking in on the interior after the fire burned out.
*NEW*
- Pick up newspaper from Hatate. We promised Kogasa a view, and Reimu will probably want some sort of explanation. Possibly Marisa too.
- Optional/possible fanboy desires: Use Keine -> Mokou connections to pay a visit to Eientei. If they get the newspaper, Reisen is going to bust a Fallopian Tube upon reading it. Might not be a bad idea to assuage whatever emotion she produces by telling her the thing's getting melted down and won't be coming back a third time. Eientei visit has added bonus of asking around about Kisume's bucket.
-
> "We could do that, sure, and the newspaper was also on my mind. Did you have anything in particular in mind?"
> "Also, something's been gnawing at the back of my head all day...did Dai let Keine know she wasn't going to be in school today?"
-
> "We could do that, sure, and the newspaper was also on my mind. Did you have anything in particular in mind?"
> "Also, something's been gnawing at the back of my head all day...did Dai let Keine know she wasn't going to be in school today?"
>"I don't even know what there is to get," says Renko. "Aside from that tavern."
>She shrugs. "Probably not. But I think she probably skips a lot, anyways."
>_
-
> Ponder known locations of food sales.
> How much money do we have?
-
- Check up on status of JET Programme. I've forgotten exactly how far along that was in terms of help.
We'd gotten all the major parties signed on, but Nitori wanted us to gather grunt labor for the project, so that she could spend as little time as possible on it. We haven't really had a lot luck with that, unfortunately.
-
> Ponder known locations of food sales.
> How much money do we have?
>You know of Mystia's stand and the Tavern. As well as the food stalls in the Ancient City marketplace.
>You have 65☼
>_
-
> "That's kind of disappointing. She has something special if she's there at all, she should be taking full advantage of it."
> "Anyway, how does grilled lamprey sound? I wouldn't mind a chance to see how Mystia and Tokiko are doing."
-
>"And trust me, it tastes better than it probably sounds."
-
> "That's kind of disappointing. She has something special if she's there at all, she should be taking full advantage of it."
> "Anyway, how does grilled lamprey sound? I wouldn't mind a chance to see how Mystia and Tokiko are doing."
>"Yeah, but it's hard to get a faerie to sit straight for that long," says Renko. "I'm amazed she goes at all"
>"Huh. Could be interesting..."
>"And trust me, it tastes better than it probably sounds."
>"Heh. Alright. Let's give it a try."
>_
-
>"Good enough. Let's go."
>Head to Mystia's
-
>"Good enough. Let's go."
>Head to Mystia's
>You make your way towards Mystia's. As it is concealed in the forest, you have to retrace the first path you blazed when you first came to the surface. Like before, there are many faeries, but they are more active than before, flying around, laughing and talking and playing. A few say "Hi Other Dai!" as the two of you make your way through. You notice Star Sapphire as well, talking with a few other faeries. She waves at you with a half-eaten loaf of French bread, which still manages to be an appreciable fraction of her height.
>_
-
>Wave back
>"Hey there!"
-
> We reached the stand and there are a lot of fairies? And Mystia doesn't seem perturbed by this?
-
>Wave back
>"Hey there!"
>"Hello!" she says. "You get anything good?"
> We reached the stand and there are a lot of fairies? And Mystia doesn't seem perturbed by this?
>You haven't gotten there yet.
>_
-
>"What, from the mansion, you mean? I'm afraid we were too busy fighting that giant angry mechanical thing."
-
>"What, from the mansion, you mean? I'm afraid we were too busy fighting that giant angry mechanical thing."
>"Oh. I heard about that. I'm glad you're okay, it's bad news..."
>_
-
>"No kidding. It was scary... I'm pretty sure we've got it for good this time, though."
-
>"No kidding. It was scary... I'm pretty sure we've got it for good this time, though."
>"It didn't go back into the lake, did it?" asks Star, frowning. "That'd make Cirno really angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry at all..."
>_
-
>"No, it's not going back to the lake, don't worry. But no one will be able to put it back together again, either."
-
>"No, it's not going back to the lake, don't worry. But no one will be able to put it back together again, either."
>"Oh good," says Star.
>_
-
>"Anyway, you have a good day now. You guys totally earned it."
>Wave goodbye
>Continue to Mystia's
-
>"Anyway, you have a good day now. You guys totally earned it."
>Wave goodbye
>Continue to Mystia's
>"You too!" says Star, waving her bread and laughing as you depart.
>You continue on toward Mystia's Stand, getting a few more greetings from the faeries here as you progress.
>Soon enough, you leave them behind and approach Mystia's house. Walking around it, though the thicker trees, you see Mystia at the stand, you think she's serving a customer. Walking around the house, you see Tokiko is laying on the roof of Mystia's house.
>_
-
>Does Tokiko appear to be asleep, or just lounging?
>If the latter, go up and say hi to her. Given her skittishness, may as well make sure we approach from the front.
-
>Does Tokiko appear to be asleep, or just lounging?
>If the latter, go up and say hi to her. Given her skittishness, may as well make sure we approach from the front.
>She seems to be reading, so the latter case.
>You hover over to her and say hello. "Oh, it's you," she says. "Hi! This Egypt place is weird. Is it imaginary too?"
>"Who's this?" Renko asks, hovering behind you and giving Tokiko a curious look.
>_
-
>"No, no, Egypt's quite real. It's in the outside world, but it definitely exists."
>"And this would be Tokiko. Tokiko, meet Renko."
-
>"No, no, Egypt's quite real. It's in the outside world, but it definitely exists."
>"And this would be Tokiko. Tokiko, meet Renko."
>"I don't think that's fair," says Tokiko, frowning, "if Egypt gets to be real and Ratty and Mole and Mr Toad don't..."
>Renko seems to be a little dismayed by Tokiko's last comment. But she shrugs it off and says, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
>"You don't seem very scary," says Tokiko, smiling.
>_
-
>Seems someone else corrected her on that already, then...
>"I'm glad you think so."
>"How've you been since I saw you last, anyway?"
-
>Seems someone else corrected her on that already, then...
>"I'm glad you think so."
>"How've you been since I saw you last, anyway?"
>Indeed.
>"I guess that's a good thing," says Renko.
>"Okay, I think," says Tokiko. "Did you know about those things that Mystia sleeps on? They're really soft, and don't shift so much like leaves do."
>_
-
>"Beds? Oh, of course. I, uh, just didn't think to mention them. Sometimes it's hard to tell what you know, and what you don't know."
>"Have you been hanging around here most of the time since?"
-
>"Beds? Oh, of course. I, uh, just didn't think to mention them. Sometimes it's hard to tell what you know, and what you don't know."
>"Have you been hanging around here most of the time since?"
>"Oh, those are common?" asks Tokiko. "I see..."
>She nods. "Mystia has been very kind. But I really should go home soon."
>_
-
>"Pretty much all humans have beds. I'd assume most youkai do, too. We probably ought to see about finding you one at some point. ...of course, we kinda need one ourselves, too, now that I think about it. We both just arrived here, so we don't actually have any furniture of our own, yet."
-
>"Pretty much all humans have beds. I'd assume most youkai do, too. We probably ought to see about finding you one at some point. ...of course, we kinda need one ourselves, too, now that I think about it. We both just arrived here, so we don't actually have any furniture of our own, yet."
>"We have a futon," says Renko."It's...about all we have, but we have one."
>Tokiko nods. "That'd be nice."
>_
-
>"Oh yeah, I kinda forgot about that. Did the fairies get that one for you?"
-
>"Oh yeah, I kinda forgot about that. Did the fairies get that one for you?"
>"Yep," says Renko. She looks away. "...it's probably better not to ask too many questions about it why faeries would have a human-sized bed."
>_
-
>"Yeah, I figured as much..."
>"Anyway Tokiko, we're going to go get something to eat. Glad to see things have been well for you here."
>Head down to Mystia's stand
-
>"Yeah, I figured as much..."
>"Anyway Tokiko, we're going to go get something to eat. Glad to see things have been well for you here."
>Head down to Mystia's stand
>Renko nods, seeming to be content to leave it at that.
>"Okay," she says. "I'm glad you seem to be okay, too."
>You make your way down to Mystia's stand. Stepping past the curtain, you see her customer is the short, two-horned oni you met at the bar yesterday, Suika you think. "An' then? Suika says, "Little bugger only went and asked t' sleep in the drawer with 'er underthings innit!"
>Mystia nods to you as you enter, then gives Renko a curious look.
>_
-
>Nod back
>"For the record, Mystia, that fairy is also adorable."
>"Anyhow, this Renko. Renko, Mystia. And I don't think you've met Suika, either?"
>We seem to be doing a great many introductions today...
-
>Nod back
>"For the record, Mystia, that fairy is also adorable."
>"Anyhow, this Renko. Renko, Mystia. And I don't think you've met Suika, either?"
>We seem to be doing a great many introductions today...
>"Aye," says Suika, "She's a right sack full of cute. 'Specially when she's latched onto Reimu like a starving kappa on a cucumber."
>Mystia nods to Renko. "I think I've heard the name. Didn't you ask me about her, Maribel?"
>"Hi," says Renko, nodding to Mystia.
>You are. Perhaps this is what happens when you run around a whole lot without Renko.
>_
-
>"Yeah, I might have. I asked around after her a lot before I found her, yesterday."
>"Anyway, we're starving. We'll have one large each, I think."
>Produce and proffer payment
-
>"Yeah, I might have. I asked around after her a lot before I found her, yesterday."
>"Anyway, we're starving. We'll have one large each, I think."
>Produce and proffer payment
>"Maybe," says Mystia. "Sorry, my memory for things like that isn't very good."
>"Two larges, coming up. That'll be 20☼"
>You place 20☼ on the table, while Mystia tosses more meat onto the grill, and begins to season it.
>_
-
>"Eh, no worries."
>Have a seat if there's one, and gesture for Renko to sit beside us.
>"How's Tokiko been, anyway?"
-
>"Eh, no worries."
>Have a seat if there's one, and gesture for Renko to sit beside us.
>"How's Tokiko been, anyway?"
>Mystia nods, and turns her attention to skewering up some finished meats from the grill and handing it to Suika.
>There are seats. You make yourself comfortable, as does Renko.
>"She's been a little angel," says Mystia. "A little dim sometimes, but she's learning."
>_
-
>"Oh, that's great to hear. She really does seem to be enjoying herself. She didn't seem nearly as nervous as she was when I first met her."
>"Still hard to tell the breadth of the thing she doesn't know, though. She mentioned her amazement at the existence of beds. But all that sort of thing takes is time. She does seem to catch on quickly."
-
>"Oh, that's great to hear. She really does seem to be enjoying herself. She didn't seem nearly as nervous as she was when I first met her."
>"Still hard to tell the breadth of the thing she doesn't know, though. She mentioned her amazement at the existence of beds. But all that sort of thing takes is time. She does seem to catch on quickly."
>"I think she's getting used to people," says Mystia. "Though, she still doesn't come down here when she doesn't like the look of someone, such as Suika."
>"Dunno why," says Suika through a mouthful of lamprey skewer. "I'm's cuddly as what they come."
>Mystia grins as you mention Tokiko's discovery of beds. "You should have seen how she reacted when I showed her how a dresser works."
>_
-
>Chuckle
>"It's amazing how many little things you take for granted, isn't it?"
>"Speaking of which, where'd you get your furniture to, anyway? We're kinda looking to furnish a place of our own now. Well, I assume there's probably a carpenter in the village, but I'm sure not everyone's stuff can have come from there."
-
>Chuckle
>"It's amazing how many little things you take for granted, isn't it?"
>"Speaking of which, where'd you get your furniture to, anyway? We're kinda looking to furnish a place of our own now. Well, I assume there's probably a carpenter in the village, but I'm sure not everyone's stuff can have come from there."
>Mystia chuckles as well. "I think it's more amazing to watch someone get amazed at everyday junk."
>"We must be a barrel of laughs, then," says Renko.
>"Most of it does come from the human village," says Mystia. "There's a couple of kappa woodworkers, but they're kinda hobbyists so they don't have a whole lot for sale. Oh, and Kourindou sometimes gets things, too."
>_
-
>"Ah, ok, fair enough."
>"How was it in the days before humans and youkai got along like this, though? Just out of curiosity. Surely they didn't just go without furniture then, did they?"
-
>"Ah, ok, fair enough."
>"How was it in the days before humans and youkai got along like this, though? Just out of curiosity. Surely they didn't just go without furniture then, did they?"
>"Some would go to the kappa," says Mystia, "Some would make their own. Others would just take what they wanted."
>_
-
>"Yeah, I suppose that makes sense."
>"I wonder what the prices are like. I still don't really know the relative market value of things here, and we've got a whole house to furnish from scratch, now."
-
>"Yeah, I suppose that makes sense."
>"I wonder what the prices are like. I still don't really know the relative market value of things here, and we've got a whole house to furnish from scratch, now."
>Mystia nods.
>"Depends on what you're getting," says Mystia. "And who made it. Usually, you can get a deal from Kourindou, if he has anything in."
>_
-
> "On an unrelated note, do you get the Kakashi Spirit News?"
-
> "On an unrelated note, do you get the Kakashi Spirit News?"
>"Sometimes," says Mystia. "I'll get it when Hatate comes around and there's any interesting headline. She's actually kind of late today."
>_
-
> "Really? Hmm."
> To Renko: "I wonder if she's diverting her normal route to our house today."
-
> "Really? Hmm."
> To Renko: "I wonder if she's diverting her normal route to our house today."
>"I dunno," says Renko. "Might be."
>_
-
> "Well, hopefully she'll arrive soon. I'm starting to get antsy in waiting to see this edition."
> Keep working on that lamprey.
-
>Ponder whether to feed Renko some of her lamprey.
-
> "Well, hopefully she'll arrive soon. I'm starting to get antsy in waiting to see this edition."
> Keep working on that lamprey.
>Renko nods.
>You cannot work on that lamprey because Mystia hasn't finished it ye-wait she just handed it to you.
>It is very tasty.
>Ponder whether to feed Renko some of her lamprey.
>That might be romantic. Until you stab her with the skewer.
>_
-
> "So, what do you think?"
-
> "So, what do you think?"
>"Pretty good," says Renko, thought a mouthful.
>You've not had anything to eat since breakfast; it's difficult not to wolf it down yourself.
>_
-
>Eat up
-
>Eat up
>You devour some grilled lamprey, perhaps not enjoying it as much as it deserves in your speediness.
>Suika finishes and departs.
>In a short amount of time, you finish, feeling re-energized for the meal.
>_
-
>Happy sigh.
>"Ahhh, that was good. Thanks, Mystia. I needed that."
>How's Renko doing?
-
>Happy sigh.
>"Ahhh, that was good. Thanks, Mystia. I needed that."
>How's Renko doing?
>You give a happy sigh.
>"Any time," says Mystia, "It's good to be appreciated."
>Renko has finished, and is eying the grill, clearly considering a second course.
>_
-
> How are we doing? Second course sound appealing?
-
> How are we doing? Second course sound appealing?
>You could certainly go for it.
>_
-
>"Actually, I think I'll go for seconds."
>"You want another, too, Renko?"
>Order and pay for a second for ourselves, and a second for Renko as well, if she chooses to
-
>"Actually, I think I'll go for seconds."
>"You want another, too, Renko?"
>Order and pay for a second for ourselves, and a second for Renko as well, if she chooses to
>You decide more is in order.
>"Please," says Renko.
>This time, you get a round of smalls, costing 10☼
>Mystia tosses the meat on the grill. "So, how've things been today?"
>_
-
>"Unbelievably hectic in ways you'd probably never guess. We'll be the headline in today's paper, once it comes out. Well, Renko more than myself, probably. It's kinda why we're a bit antsy to see it."
-
>"Unbelievably hectic in ways you'd probably never guess. We'll be the headline in today's paper, once it comes out. Well, Renko more than myself, probably. It's kinda why we're a bit antsy to see it."
>"Oho," says Mystia. "I'll look forward to it. It's been quiet here. Faeries don't seem to have been very active, though, thank heaven."
>_
-
>Glance at Renko.
>Grin.
>If Renko doesn't quip or explain, "They've been busy elsewhere."
-
>Glance at Renko.
>Grin.
>If Renko doesn't quip or explain, "They've been busy elsewhere."
>You glance at Renko. She grins back at you.
>"They've been up to something," she says.
>"Nothing I need to worry about, I hope," Mystia says with a frown, as she starts flipping the lamprey bits.
>"I don't think so," she says. "Maybe a few faeries trying to trade you a bag of flour or something for a meal."
>"Oy..."
>_
-
>"Well, at least that's probably of more use to you than what they were trying to pawn off on you yesterday morning."
-
>"Well, at least that's probably of more use to you than what they were trying to pawn off on you yesterday morning."
>She nods. "I suppose so. Just i prefer to have proper money. None of that haggling stuff Rinnosuke likes so much."
>_
-
>"Yeah, I understand that."
>Wait for food to be ready
-
>"Yeah, I understand that."
>Wait for food to be ready
>She nods, and silence falls for a mintue or so, until Mystia skewers the meat and hands it to you with a smile.
>_
-
>"Thank you."
>Accept the skewer
>Dig in
-
>"Thank you."
>Accept the skewer
>Dig in
>"You're very welcome," says Mystia.
>You dig into the skewer, not quite so ravenously as before, but still with more than enough gusto. It's still quite tasty, and you feel properly sated by the time you're done with it.
>_
-
>"Well, I think we probably ought to go see what state the inside of our house is in now, don't you think, Renko?"
>"Thanks again, Mystia. You have a nice day!"
>Head back to our house
-
>"Well, I think we probably ought to go see what state the inside of our house is in now, don't you think, Renko?"
>"Thanks again, Mystia. You have a nice day!"
> "Oh yeah, if Hatate comes by, tell her we went back to our place."
>Head back to our house
-
>"Well, I think we probably ought to go see what state the inside of our house is in now, don't you think, Renko?"
>"Thanks again, Mystia. You have a nice day!"
>Head back to our house
> "Oh yeah, if Hatate comes by, tell her we went back to our place."
>Renko nods. "Yeah, that's a good idea."
>"You too, kids!" says Mystia, as you depart. "And I'll tell her!"
>Mystia's stand is fairly close to your home, it only takes a few minutes to walk there. Taking a closer look at it, you can see a lot of the yard is scorched, with most of the scorching radiating out from the former bonfire site. You notice there a fair amount of ash there, as well as a a significant amount of loose dirt poured over it. You get the feeling that it is likely dust swept up from inside the house. You also notice there is a folded newspaper on the front step.
>_
-
>Go pick up and examine the newspaper
-
> Finally!
-
>Go pick up and examine the newspaper
>You pick up the newspaper and examine it.
>It is significantly thicker than the paper you got yesterday, you're pretty sure this one has more pages. The headline reads "Faeries Invade Scarlet Devil Mansion, Led by Mysterious Human!" The front bears a sizable picture of the earlier parts of the fight with Sakuya; Renko is plainly visible in mid gesture. In the lower corner, you notice another picture of you and she exchanging that victory kiss.
>_
-
>"Well, I suppose the headline's not too inflammatory."
>Peruse the substance of the article
-
> Keep an eye out for mentions of the golem
-
> Allow Renko to see it as well if she wants.
> Give Renko a kiss on the cheek once she is close enough.
-
>"Well, I suppose the headline's not too inflammatory."
>Peruse the substance of the article
> Keep an eye out for mentions of the golem
>"Could be a lot worse," says Renko. "She gave the faeries first mention, I like that."
>You start to read the article. In it, Hatate gives a rather dramatic account of the invasion, starting with you tipping her off and her experiences at the faeries' field. It is a bit dramatized, you think, but overall accurate. You notice, as she details the fight with Meiling, she does her best to paint Meiling and others from the mansion in brave and heroic lights. You suspect this is to avoid the ill will of the mansion.
>Turning the page, you notice there are a couple other articles and quite a few more pictures of the invasion. One of the articles is "Betrayal! Alice Margatroid Foiled in Attempt to Rob Undefended Scarlet Devil Mansion!" and "Heroic Human Stops Rampaging Monster!" The latter, you note, has pictures of the Construct.
> Allow Renko to see it as well if she wants.
> Give Renko a kiss on the cheek once she is close enough.
>Renko is most definitely reading over your shoulder, and most definitely in kissing range, which you take advantage of, and she is quick to return.
>_
-
>Can we see any mention of our time stop ability in the article? Even in vague or suggestive terms?
-
> "Wow, look at us, huh? Not even two days here and already we're newsworthy."
> "At least Hatate was nice enough to shine a good light on all parties involved. Well, except for the obvious one."
-
>Schadenfreude.
>Briefly wonder whether that's a good thing.
-
>Can we see any mention of our time stop ability in the article? Even in vague or suggestive terms?
>You read on, and find something worryingly close; there is a mention of you teleporting against Alice; and against the Construct. However, Hatate seems to suggest you have more in common with Yukari than any mention of Sakuya.
> "Wow, look at us, huh? Not even two days here and already we're newsworthy."
> "At least Hatate was nice enough to shine a good light on all parties involved. Well, except for the obvious one."
>Renko grins. "Just as sweet as I imagined it..."
>"Yeah. I think that's covering just herself. I can't imagine the vampire would take being slandered well."
>Schadenfreude.
>Briefly wonder whether that's a good thing.
>Haha, Alice got labeled a traitor. Serves her right.
>...Depends on whether there's any intention to make peace with her, it seems. She does live just down the road some distance...
>_
-
> "Well! We've told plenty of people to keep their eye on the newspaper, and I'm sure there are plenty more that are going to read it and be curious. Anyone whose reaction you want to see in particular?"
-
>Hmmm.... perhaps our resemblance to Yukari comes in handy in other ways
>"Well, this was a lot better than I was worried it would be, after hearing other people talk about the paper."
-
> "Well! We've told plenty of people to keep their eye on the newspaper, and I'm sure there are plenty more that are going to read it and be curious. Anyone whose reaction you want to see in particular?"
>She nods. "Yeah, I can't wait to hear what people are going to be saying! ...Though now that I think on it, I don't know who in particular I want to hear be all impressed by this."
>Hmmm.... perhaps our resemblance to Yukari comes in handy in other ways
>"Well, this was a lot better than I was worried it would be, after hearing other people talk about the paper."
>There may be an upside to it. Despite the obvious downsides of Yukari herself.
>"Yeah, Reimu got me a little worried..."
>_
-
> "Reimu will probably want an explanation. Possibly Marisa too, since we beat up two of her closest friends, one with her bracelet. We promised Kogasa a look. We could talk to Mystia and Tokiko again, but I guess they're not particularly necessary. Utsuho might be interested, too."
> "And then...I don't know how widespread this newspaper is, but if Reisen reads this, I'm sure she's going to want to know what's going on, and why the construct was still around, fighting people."
-
> "Reimu will probably want an explanation. Possibly Marisa too, since we beat up two of her closest friends, one with her bracelet. We promised Kogasa a look. We could talk to Mystia and Tokiko again, but I guess they're not particularly necessary. Utsuho might be interested, too."
> "And then...I don't know how widespread this newspaper is, but if Reisen reads this, I'm sure she's going to want to know what's going on, and why the construct was still around, fighting people."
>"I think Reimu said she knows where to find us, if she needs an explanation. Who's Reisen, exactly?"
>_
-
> "Reisen's a moon rabbit. She was apparently the one that beat that golem thing the first time it appeared here. I recall Patchouli and Byakuren saying something about that...possibly others, but I'm not entirely sure. That thing used to house a great evil, though, and she got rid of it. I'm sure she's going to want to know why it was out and about again."
> "Oh, and she's also a hero to all fairies. Apparently they feared and loathed that thing while it was in their lake. When she took it out...well."
-
> "Reisen's a moon rabbit. She was apparently the one that beat that golem thing the first time it appeared here. I recall Patchouli and Byakuren saying something about that...possibly others, but I'm not entirely sure. That thing used to house a great evil, though, and she got rid of it. I'm sure she's going to want to know why it was out and about again."
> "Oh, and she's also a hero to all fairies. Apparently they feared and loathed that thing while it was in their lake. When she took it out...well."
>"Oh!" says Renko. "I know about her. Yeah, I heard them talk about a moon rabbit a couple of times. Doesn't she live deep in the bamboo forest, which is really easy to get lost in?"
>_
-
> "She does, but I know a couple of people that might be able to get us there."
> "I also kinda want to visit there to ask about Kisume's bucket. She said a rabbit had gone by in the time frame when her bucket was stolen, and there are plenty of rabbits there."
-
> "She does, but I know a couple of people that might be able to get us there."
> "I also kinda want to visit there to ask about Kisume's bucket. She said a rabbit had gone by in the time frame when her bucket was stolen, and there are plenty of rabbits there."
>She nods. "Well...that's up to you. Though if they live in the middle of a maze forest, I don't think they'd get any kind of paper."
>_
-
> "Something about the tengu tells me they're persistent and resourceful enough to get there if they want to. Even if they don't, though, she might hear about it on a trip to town. Byakuren apparently knows a lot about what happened, for one, and we're going to be the talk of the town for a while after this."
-
> "Something about the tengu tells me they're persistent and resourceful enough to get there if they want to. Even if they don't, though, she might hear about it on a trip to town. Byakuren apparently knows a lot about what happened, for one, and we're going to be the talk of the town for a while after this."
>She nods. "Yeah, but that'd probably take a few days."
>_
-
> "Possibly. Reisen was out in the village last night, though, with a woman named Eirin. I don't know how commonly they make their way to the village, but they made it pretty obvious they can go back and forth pretty quickly."
-
> "Possibly. Reisen was out in the village last night, though, with a woman named Eirin. I don't know how commonly they make their way to the village, but they made it pretty obvious they can go back and forth pretty quickly."
>Renko nods. "Well, it's just to you. Just, I'm told that forest is the worst kind of maze."
>_
-
> "I understand your concern, and I do appreciate you looking out for us."
> Take a Renko hand in ours.
> "But like I said, I know a couple of people that I've been told could get us through. How about this? We could ask them how feasible it is. If it sounds too dangerous, we can abandon the idea and just wait for Reisen to appear in the village."
-
> "I understand your concern, and I do appreciate you looking out for us."
> Take a Renko hand in ours.
> "But like I said, I know a couple of people that I've been told could get us through. How about this? We could ask them how feasible it is. If it sounds too dangerous, we can abandon the idea and just wait for Reisen to appear in the village."
>"That's why I said it's up to you, geez," says Renko. "If you know someone, okay."
>_
-
> "I'm sorry, Renko. I didn't mean to be rude."
> "This can all wait until after we've seen the inside of our house, anyway."
-
>And maybe made use of it for that matter
-
> "I'm sorry, Renko. I didn't mean to be rude."
> "This can all wait until after we've seen the inside of our house, anyway."
>"I know, love," she says.
>She nods.
>And maybe made use of it for that matter
>It's certainly plausible.
>_
-
>Step inside and survey the interior
-
> "Shall we take a look, then?"
> Lead her to the front door.
> "Well, then, allow me to be the first to say...welcome home, Renko."
> Open our front door.
-
> "Shall we take a look, then?"
> Lead her to the front door.
> "Well, then, allow me to be the first to say...welcome home, Renko."
> Open our front door.
>Step inside and survey the interior
>"Let's," she says.
>You lead Renko to the door, open it for her, and welcome her home. She chuckles. "Thanks, love," she says.
>You step inside and look around. You hardly recognize the place now, the floors are clean and everything seems so much brighter now without all the dust. It's also quite empty. It is a little difficult to think of it as yours, in some ways, but it certainly seems more inviting than that office block did when you first obtained it.
>_
-
>"Wow, even better than I was expecting, to be honest."
>Go check out the formerly haunted and bloody room upstairs
-
>"Wow, even better than I was expecting, to be honest."
>Go check out the formerly haunted and bloody room upstairs
>"Well, some of them used to work for the mansion, right?" says Renko, "So they'd have to be good at it. Makes a world of difference though, doesn't it."
>You gather up your courage and lead Renko upstairs. You find the door to that room is still open. You take a breath and head inside.
>It is clean and vacant. Literally nothing of the furnishings remains here. Not even the curtains. Still, the memory of what you saw here and what was in here doesn't go away that easily. The room is very different, but still you shiver a bit.
>_
-
>"Well, it'll take a little while for this room to feel normal, I think, but at least it looks normal."
>There was another bedroom, correct? Or at least another room suitable to be used as a bedroom, now that they're all blank slates?
-
>"We'll... have to make use of this room somehow, still."
>We're not going to follow Koishi's claims that easily... that fear needs to be addressed. And someone's been killed almost anywhere, at some point... right?
-
>"Well, it'll take a little while for this room to feel normal, I think, but at least it looks normal."
>There was another bedroom, correct? Or at least another room suitable to be used as a bedroom, now that they're all blank slates?
>Renko nods, frowning at it.
>There was one downstairs, just past the stairway and closet.
>"We'll... have to make use of this room somehow, still."
>We're not going to follow Koishi's claims that easily... that fear needs to be addressed. And someone's been killed almost anywhere, at some point... right?
>"Yeah...but I think we can save it for last or something," says Renko. "And it'd have to be something...I dunno, cheery."
>You really don't want to give Koishi the satisfaction, but you've not been attacked by ghosts elsewhere...
>_
-
> What was the other room on this floor, again?
-
> What was the other room on this floor, again?
>You think it was a bedroom, but you could do just about anything with it.
>_
-
> "Yeah. I think it's workable."
> "So we have two rooms up here, this one and that other one that could be a variety of things, maybe a bedroom. What do we have to work with downstairs?"
-
> "Yeah. I think it's workable."
> "So we have two rooms up here, this one and that other one that could be a variety of things, maybe a bedroom. What do we have to work with downstairs?"
>"There's the front room, the kitchen, that one past the stairs, and I think another one connected to that, judging by the shape of the house. Oh, and a pantry in the kitchen, if I saw right."
>_
-
> "Let's go check it out, then, just to be sure."
> Go back downstairs, investigate this room 'past the stairs' and the potential other room connected to it.
-
> "Let's go check it out, then, just to be sure."
> Go back downstairs, investigate this room 'past the stairs' and the potential other room connected to it.
>"Right," says Renko.
>You head back downstairs into and turn westward, entering into another room. Like the room in front, it has two sets of windows; one on each wall toward the outside, but is otherwise empty. There is a door hanging open on the northern wall, leading to another similar room.
>_
-
> "Well, it's a decent amount of space...I guess the main optional thing that comes to mind is the potential need for a guest bedroom. Do you think we'll get visitors often enough to warrant one? It could be nice to have, but it would take up an entire room."
> Man, we're really gonna miss indoor plumbing.
> Though...interesting that we haven't needed yet. In any capacity. Must be something magic in the air. Crazy Gensokyo and its not following any rules whatsoever. First physics, and now biology.
> ...wait, biology rules not applying? That...that could open some doors.
-
> "Well, it's a decent amount of space...I guess the main optional thing that comes to mind is the potential need for a guest bedroom. Do you think we'll get visitors often enough to warrant one? It could be nice to have, but it would take up an entire room."
> Man, we're really gonna miss indoor plumbing.
> Though...interesting that we haven't needed yet. In any capacity. Must be something magic in the air. Crazy Gensokyo and its not following any rules whatsoever. First physics, and now biology.
> ...wait, biology rules not applying? That...that could open some doors.
>"I guess it wouldn't hurt," says Renko. "At least, we could get an extra futon for them."
>You really are going to miss it. And yes, it's necessary. Just off camera because it's uninteresting.
>_
-
> Oh. That's disappointing. There go our plans for cheering up the ghost room.
> "That's true, or maybe a couch. Probably better off using a room for something else, then."
> "All right, let's see...what about putting our bedroom upstairs, in the room that wasn't the ghost room? Down here, the kitchen and pantry are givens, the front room can be a standard front room...we could probably turn this room into a dining room, I'm not sure how big I am on just eating in the kitchen."
> There didn't appear to be a basement or anything similar, did there?
-
> Oh. That's disappointing. There go our plans for cheering up the ghost room.
> "That's true, or maybe a couch. Probably better off using a room for something else, then."
> "All right, let's see...what about putting our bedroom upstairs, in the room that wasn't the ghost room? Down here, the kitchen and pantry are givens, the front room can be a standard front room...we could probably turn this room into a dining room, I'm not sure how big I am on just eating in the kitchen."
> There didn't appear to be a basement or anything similar, did there?
>"I think the front room might be alright for a dining room. It's next to the kitchen," says Renko. "Maybe make this one into a sitting room. personally, I'd like the bedroom down here, in that room."
>She gestures toward the room to the north.
>"I really don't want to sleep upstairs..."
>You've not seen one yet.
>_
-
> "Still not very big on that ghost room, huh? Okay, I think your way can work as well. I suppose that a first floor bedroom versus a second floor bedroom doesn't really matter in a world where everyone can fly, anyway. The whole house might as well be the first floor."
> "That leaves the question of what to do with the upper rooms, then. We'll definitely need a place for whatever things you find in your travels, if you're that big on straight exploring. We could probably use that same room for the supplies I'll need if I can land a job at that university. Something like a trophy room-study hybrid?"
-
> "Still not very big on that ghost room, huh? Okay, I think your way can work as well. I suppose that a first floor bedroom versus a second floor bedroom doesn't really matter in a world where everyone can fly, anyway. The whole house might as well be the first floor."
> "That leaves the question of what to do with the upper rooms, then. We'll definitely need a place for whatever things you find in your travels, if you're that big on straight exploring. We could probably use that same room for the supplies I'll need if I can land a job at that university. Something like a trophy room-study hybrid?"
>"That sounds pretty workable," says Renko.
>_
-
> "All right, that's one room down, and it could probably be either one. As for the other, well..."
> "...uh..."
> Shift uncomfortably.
> "...I was thinking..."
> Look away from Renko. At the floor could work.
> "...I don't know how...but...there's gotta be some way..."
-
> "All right, that's one room down, and it could probably be either one. As for the other, well..."
> "...uh..."
> Shift uncomfortably.
> "...I was thinking..."
> Look away from Renko. At the floor could work.
> "...I don't know how...but...there's gotta be some way..."
>"Some way what?" Renko asks.
>_
-
> "Some way to...uh...well..."
> Shift again.
> "...I've been thinking, and..."
> "...what about..."
> "...a...a nursery?"
-
> "Some way to...uh...well..."
> Shift again.
> "...I've been thinking, and..."
> "...what about..."
> "...a...a nursery?"
>There's a moment of silence.
>"Huh?"
>_
-
> Look back at Renko for a couple of seconds, then look back at the floor.
> Blush.
> "...yeah..."
-
I hope I'm not the only one a little confused by this exchange?
-
> Look back at Renko for a couple of seconds, then look back at the floor.
> Blush.
> "...yeah..."
>You look at Renko. She seems bewildered.
>"What?"
>_
-
> Look back up.
> "I know it's not supposed to be possible between...between us, but wasn't flying impossible? Or any of the other million things science said weren't possible? I just...maybe, someday...if we can figure it out..."
I hope I'm not the only one a little confused by this exchange?
This is all flavor, really. There's not much else we can do in the house that's productive right now; we're just waiting on Hatate getting around and the news spreading at this point. Might as well have some fun with the downtime, and this felt like the most enjoyable storytelling to me.
-
> Look back up.
> "I know it's not supposed to be possible between...between us, but wasn't flying impossible? Or any of the other million things science said weren't possible? I just...maybe, someday...if we can figure it out..."
>Renko frowns. "What are you even-" her eyes widen. "...Oh."
>She looks away. "I guess there probably would be, wouldn't there? But, um, don't you think it's way too soon to be thinking about that kind of thing?"
>_
-
Well, the way you were broaching it made it sound far more immediate than that. We'll leave aside the magical mechanics for the moment. It is Gensokyo after all. But don't you think that pretty much screams 'too soon' at 120 dB? Give them a few years, anyway... >.>
Fake edit: Bah, beat to it.
-
> "Maybe...it would be pretty hard on us right now...but...it's something I want to keep in mind..."
> Take her hand.
Real edit: Maribel has spent the entire game not thinking things through. One more isn't going to hurt her. ;\
>You take her hand.
>"Well...maybe," says Renko, as she squeezes your hand. "But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves."
>_
-
> Give us a moment to compose ourselves.
> "All right. Yeah, that's still a little while down the road."
> "...Sorry for coming out with it like that."
-
> Give us a moment to compose ourselves.
> "All right. Yeah, that's still a little while down the road."
> "...Sorry for coming out with it like that."
>"Well," says Renko, as she squeezes your hand again, "I guess it's alright to think about the future. I didn't know you were interested in that kind of thing, Mary. It's alright."
>_
-
> "To be honest, I'm a bit surprised myself. But after coming here, and learning the impossible was possible, and discovering that you and I were truly meant to be us, and finding that I enjoy helping people, and watching Utsuho and appreciating the value of family...I guess it was all just a perfect storm in my head."
-
Out for the night, since I need to be at church in a few hours. I think this bit of storytelling has mostly run its course (though if Renko keeps prompting us, by all means, oblige her). Feel free to go out and explore our new famous world. I do recommend we try to get to Reisen's, but personal opinion says top priority right now is Kogasa, followed immediately by Reimu.
-
> "To be honest, I'm a bit surprised myself. But after coming here, and learning the impossible was possible, and discovering that you and I were truly meant to be us, and finding that I enjoy helping people, and watching Utsuho and appreciating the value of family...I guess it was all just a perfect storm in my head."
>Renko laughs, then hugs you. "Let's just move a step at a time, and see what happens. And speaking of a step at a time, what do you have in mind now?"
>_
-
Top priority is Kogasa, why?
And Reimu said she'd contact us if she had any reason to.
This is even assuming all the various people have received / read the paper yet, anyway.
-
Because we told her we would and she's practically our next-door neighbor. The trip to her place and subsequent conversation would take almost no time at all. Might as well get her out of the way first, instead of having to divert our salesman travel and make an obnoxious detour later on.
If you don't want to visit Reimu, then we can go to Marisa's. Before you ask/point out she may not have the paper yet, I argue that it's better to be up-front and honest about things.
-
Oh very well.
>"Well, I mightn't mind hearing Kogasa's reaction after her abject disbelief earlier."
>"Probably ought to pick up the futon and stuff and get it moved over here, too, while we're at it."
>Assuming no objections, head to Kogasa's
-
Oh very well.
>"Well, I mightn't mind hearing Kogasa's reaction after her abject disbelief earlier."
>"Probably ought to pick up the futon and stuff and get it moved over here, too, while we're at it."
>Assuming no objections, head to Kogasa's
>"That might be fun," says Renko. "And yes, lets get the futon before it gets dark out."
>You make your was southward, and turn after crossing the stream. Soon, you come to Kogasa's home. Looking around, you see no signs of ambush.
>_
-
>If Kogasa herself doesn't appear to be around, go knock on the door
-
>If Kogasa herself doesn't appear to be around, go knock on the door
>You see no sign of her. So you knock on the door.
>You knock again.
>One more time.
>Either is is not home, or not answering the door.
>_
-
>"Hmm... not home, I guess."
>Or lying in wait, somewhere.
>"Ah, well."
>Head back to Renko's camp
-
>Prepare for Kogasa ambushing from behind at any moment.
-
>"Hmm... not home, I guess."
>Or lying in wait, somewhere.
>"Ah, well."
>Head back to Renko's camp
>"Seems that way," says Renko.
>It's entirely possible she's applying some obscure tactic on you.
>You decide to cut your losses and return to Renko's camp.
>Prepare for Kogasa ambushing from behind at any moment.
>You keep your senses peeled, until you get to a place where you can conveniently get into the air fly toward your next destination.
>Curiously, nothing happens.
>You find the field is pretty much deserted now. There's only a couple of faeries here. As such, you get to Renko's camp without incident.
>_
-
>Ponder if it is almost as surprising to not be surprised?
>Go gather up the futon
>Did Renko have any other possessions around here that we knew of?
-
>Ponder if it is almost as surprising to not be surprised?
>Go gather up the futon
>Did Renko have any other possessions around here that we knew of?
>You wonder if Kogasa has achieved a level of meta-surprise on you? How disturbing.
>You gather the futon and roll it up, while Renko sets herself to taking the teepee down.
>Aside from those two things, there is nothing else to gather.
>_
-
>"Some pleasant memories here, isn't there? My first night in Gensokyo. And my first with you. The place sure feels different without all the fairies around."
>"Anyhow, lets get this stuff back home."
>Return home
-
>"Some pleasant memories here, isn't there? My first night in Gensokyo. And my first with you. The place sure feels different without all the fairies around."
>"Anyhow, lets get this stuff back home."
>Return home
>"Mmmhmm," says Renko. "And yeah, without all the faeries, it kinda feels like the magic is gone. So yeah, let's get it home. Maybe we'll sneak back here one of these days."
>You return back to your home. Thankfully, it has suffered no further fire damage while you were away.
>_
-
>Hopefully, even in Gensokyo, bonfires don't spontaneously reignite themselves when you're not looking.
>Right?
>Enter the house, and deposit the futon in the room that we've designated as our new bedroom
-
>Hopefully, even in Gensokyo, bonfires don't spontaneously reignite themselves when you're not looking.
>Right?
>Enter the house, and deposit the futon in the room that we've designated as our new bedroom
>You hope to whatever gods happen to like you that they don't.
>You head inside and place the futon in the far corner of the northwestern room. It looks very lonely there, but it'll do for now. In the meantime, Renko leaves the teepee off to the edge of the southwestern room.
>_
-
>"Can't wait to get a few more things and make this place look a little less empty. Hopefully we won't have too long before we have the resources to do that with now, though."
>"Anyway, I think I might go thank Marisa for the bracelet again. I'd hate to have gone through that battle today without it. Bet she didn't think it would be stress-tested that quickly, either."
>"That and, well... I'm sorta wondering what she'll think about this whole Alice thing, after what happened."
-
>"Can't wait to get a few more things and make this place look a little less empty. Hopefully we won't have too long before we have the resources to do that with now, though."
>"Anyway, I think I might go thank Marisa for the bracelet again. I'd hate to have gone through that battle today without it. Bet she didn't think it would be stress-tested that quickly, either."
>"That and, well... I'm sorta wondering what she'll think about this whole Alice thing, after what happened."
>Renko nods. "Some curtains and a dresser would liven this place up a lot."
>"I wouldn't mind seeing Marisa again. And yeah, she needs to know about Alice."
>_
-
>"Yeah, let's get going, then."
>Head to Marisa's
-
>"Yeah, let's get going, then."
>Head to Marisa's
>You leave the house once again, and head toward Marisa's house. It's not a very long walk. Passing by Kourindou along the way, you not nothing particularly different there.
>You reach Marisa's house without incident. You see no sign of her in the yard.
>_
-
>Knock on the door
>Do we have any idea about how many hours may have passed since we saw her crash?
-
>Knock on the door
>Do we have any idea about how many hours may have passed since we saw her crash?
>You knock on the door.
>It's been about half a day, less a few hours. You're pretty sure she should be-
>The door opens, and Marisa darkens the threshold.
>"Oh hey," she says. "Looks like you two brought the ruckus this afternoon."
>_
-
>"The... ruckus? I guess you read it already, then?"
-
>"The... ruckus? I guess you read it already, then?"
>"Yep," says Marisa. "Most enlightening thing I've read on the cheap. So, what were you doing that for?"
>_
-
>"Well, Renko can probably explain her motivations better than I could. I was really just an observer during the first battle. I gave the mansion fair warning, tried to convince them that Renko didn't mean any genuine harm. I stayed to watch, and try to make sure that she, or anyone else for that matter, didn't get seriously hurt."
>"And also... to try and stop Alice if she really did what I was worried she'd do."
-
> "Speaking of Alice...I talked to Patchouli after everything, and she told me not to hold the attack against her. I...guess there are still some things I don't understand with magicians, like there's some kind of universally accepted magician ambition or something, but...if Patchouli doesn't hold a grudge over Alice trying to ransack her house, I guess I shouldn't either."
> "That being said, Alice admitted to my face that she was only using Renko to further her own ends the entire time, and pretty much never actually cared. That...that's gonna take a bit more time to forgive."
-
Oh Kilga, you and your baby rabies
We can speak of Alice's plans without going blind now, right?
-
>"Well, Renko can probably explain her motivations better than I could. I was really just an observer during the first battle. I gave the mansion fair warning, tried to convince them that Renko didn't mean any genuine harm. I stayed to watch, and try to make sure that she, or anyone else for that matter, didn't get seriously hurt."
>"And also... to try and stop Alice if she really did what I was worried she'd do."
>Marisa nods, and looks to Renko.
>"It's hard to explain," Renko says. "Just, it was something that I needed to do, once I saw that i could. There's a bit more to it, but it's kind of personal. Just, I knew it would work."
>"You're not going to make a habit of it, are you?" Marisa says.
>Renko shakes her head. "I don't intend to."
> "Speaking of Alice...I talked to Patchouli after everything, and she told me not to hold the attack against her. I...guess there are still some things I don't understand with magicians, like there's some kind of universally accepted magician ambition or something, but...if Patchouli doesn't hold a grudge over Alice trying to ransack her house, I guess I shouldn't either."
> "That being said, Alice admitted to my face that she was only using Renko to further her own ends the entire time, and pretty much never actually cared. That...that's gonna take a bit more time to forgive."
>"I need to go talk with Alice," says Marisa. "I've never seen her get like that, and I didn't have any idea that she was working on a thing like that. But, well, Patchouli does have a point. There's nothing really strange about it, it's just inspiration driving you, you know? Just like any artist or poet. It tends to get worse with youkai."
>_
-
> "When you go, would you mind telling her that I'm sorry we had that conflict? I mean, I would defend the mansion from theft like that again if it came to it, but I didn't do it just to stomp on her inspiration. Given the condition the mansion was in, I would have defended it from theft from anyone. I even talked Renko down from the same idea yesterday."
> "Although, you say you've never seen her get like that before...there was a point during the battle where the construct started moving on its own, after Alice had been knocked out cold, and it seemed to be learning as it continued fighting. I was also told by a reliable source that...it's main drive was to kill me. Reisen supposedly ejected the evil from it the first time around, but I wonder if she didn't get all of it. Maybe...maybe Alice has been adversely affected by it for some time, or at least the pieces of it."
> "...Don't tell her I said that, though. Let her come out with it on her own if it's really what happened."
-
Suggest:
"I can understand getting passionate about something, but grand theft and using people as nothing more than tools to that end..."
Deep breath.
"I guess I can see how it would be understandable, but it's... not something I'm eager to forgive, either."
"I am willing to try and give her the benefit of the doubt if she's able to show something better of herself, but... I doubt that would be easy for either of us. If you're willing to help figure out how to patch things up or get her to shape up, then I'd appreciate it."
-
> "When you go, would you mind telling her that I'm sorry we had that conflict? I mean, I would defend the mansion from theft like that again if it came to it, but I didn't do it just to stomp on her inspiration. Given the condition the mansion was in, I would have defended it from theft from anyone. I even talked Renko down from the same idea yesterday."
> "Although, you say you've never seen her get like that before...there was a point during the battle where the construct started moving on its own, after Alice had been knocked out cold, and it seemed to be learning as it continued fighting. I was also told by a reliable source that...it's main drive was to kill me. Reisen supposedly ejected the evil from it the first time around, but I wonder if she didn't get all of it. Maybe...maybe Alice has been adversely affected by it for some time, or at least the pieces of it."
> "...Don't tell her I said that, though. Let her come out with it on her own if it's really what happened."
>"You'll get the opportunity to talk to her about it on your own soon enough, " says Marisa. "But I'm not too surprised one of her projects acted without her; that's what she does. But it was really picking up some kind of killing instinct, huh? Don't think Shanghai and the rest ever got that. And don't worry, I won't say anything about your theories, but maybe I'll poke her in that direction like it was my own idea."
>_
-
>"Whatever there was of its 'mind' was manifesting nothing but a growing anger, and an imperative to destroy. Or so Koishi said she sensed in it, anyway. Said that was just all it knew. And I can believe it, after fighting it. You're right, it was nothing like her dolls at all."
-
>"Is... it normal for them to... cry?"
-
>"Whatever there was of its 'mind' was manifesting nothing but a growing anger, and an imperative to destroy. Or so Koishi said she sensed in it, anyway. Said that was just all it knew. And I can believe it, after fighting it. You're right, it was nothing like her dolls at all."
>Marisa nods.
>"Is... it normal for them to... cry?"
>"Kind of," says Marisa. "They don't have emotions, exactly, as I understand it. They're just made to react to things in certain ways. Whether they really feel it or not, I don't know. Of course, once you give a doll a person's shape, move it like a person, and treat it like a person, it's pretty much going to become one sooner or later. At least that's what Alice says."
-
> "Huh. That sounds oddly similar to what happened with the construct..."
> "Also, I should thank you very much for being understanding about all this, since we, uh, did just invade the house of one of your best friends and beat another over the head with a frying pan."
-
>"I wanted to thank you again for this."
>Gesture to the bracelet
>"I don't know that we could have done it without it. I gave it some of myself, like you said, during the fight against the construct. It was... unbelievable, while it lasted. I don't know that we would have opened a big enough hole its chest to get the grimoire out without it."
-
> "Huh. That sounds oddly similar to what happened with the construct..."
> "Also, I should thank you very much for being understanding about all this, since we, uh, did just invade the house of one of your best friends and beat another over the head with a frying pan."
>"Well, it says all you took was the food," says Marisa, "And you're not going to make a habit of it. Though that's going to be an interesting tea with Remilia. And, well, I've beat up Alice before."
>She shrugs.
>"So there's no point in getting too worked up over it.
>"I wanted to thank you again for this."
>Gesture to the bracelet
>"I don't know that we could have done it without it. I gave it some of myself, like you said, during the fight against the construct. It was... unbelievable, while it lasted. I don't know that we would have opened a big enough hole its chest to get the grimoire out without it."
>"No problem," says Marisa. "Thanks for giving me the idea. Ate up pretty much my whole stock until I can boil through those mushrooms you got me, but it was worth it. And yeah, once you get good with a focus, you can do some amazing things with them."
>_
-
>"Yeah, I'm definitely going to have to get some good practice in with it, when I'm less busy fighting for my life. It, uh, kinda felt like I'd run a marathon after that blast. Patchouli said I probably gave it too much."
>"And, uh, what was that about tea?"
-
>Maybe Gensokyo IS as understanding as Renko thought...
>"Though I think I understand what you said about feeding it love, now..."
-
>"Yeah, I'm definitely going to have to get some good practice in with it, when I'm less busy fighting for my life. It, uh, kinda felt like I'd run a marathon after that blast. Patchouli said I probably gave it too much."
>"And, uh, what was that about tea?"
>"Oh yeah, it's not something you should be trying to learn like that," says Marisa. "You do it wrong, and it'll leave you dry. There's an balance you have to strike, so you probably did give it too much."
>"I said that's going to be an interesting tea you'll have with Remilia."
>Maybe Gensokyo IS as understanding as Renko thought...
>"Though I think I understand what you said about feeding it love, now..."
>Maybe...
>Marisa nods. "You just got to use what works best for you."
>_
-
>"Well, I suppose that mightn't be a bad idea.... I'll admit the thought of it makes me a tad nervous at the moment, though."
>"I'd never actually met her before this, and I hear she can be a little... temperamental."
-
>"Well, I suppose that mightn't be a bad idea.... I'll admit the thought of it makes me a tad nervous at the moment, though."
>"I'd never actually met her before this, and I hear she can be a little... temperamental."
>"Suppose what mightn't be a bad idea?"
>"Remilia? She's a wannabe princess. As long as you're polite, she'll probably do nothing worse than a little verbal jab here and again. But she'll do her best to be a gracious loser, so don't worry too much. Just don't be a bad winner."
>_
-
>"Tea, I meant."
>"Oh, I have no intention of gloating. It wasn't even my victory, for that matter. And I'd hope keeping her place from being robbed will ameliorate matters somewhat, as well."
-
>"Tea, I meant."
>"Oh, I have no intention of gloating. It wasn't even my victory, for that matter. And I'd hope keeping her place from being robbed will ameliorate matters somewhat, as well."
>"I don't follow what you're trying to say there with the not a bad idea," says Marisa. "And yeah, this is more advice for Renko. Though you ought to keep it in mind for Alice."
>_
-
>"Well, I don't intend to gloat, period. I stopped her because I felt it was right. That's all."
-
>"Fair point. What should I expect from her?"
>"And, I think I'm just puzzled about why you suggested having tea with Remilia. I mean - I guess talking with her afterwards is a good idea, but I'm not sure why you called it tea. Is there a tradition I'm not familiar with?"
-
>"Well, I don't intend to gloat, period. I stopped her because I felt it was right. That's all."
>"Maybe you oughta not bring it up at all," says Marisa.
>_
-
>"Fair point. What should I expect from her?"
>"And, I think I'm just puzzled about why you suggested having tea with Remilia. I mean - I guess talking with her afterwards is a good idea, but I'm not sure why you called it tea. Is there a tradition I'm not familiar with?"
-
>"Fair point. What should I expect from her?"
>"And, I think I'm just puzzled about why you suggested having tea with Remilia. I mean - I guess talking with her afterwards is a good idea, but I'm not sure why you called it tea. Is there a tradition I'm not familiar with?"
>"Can't say too well," says Marisa. "She'll probably be polite, but distant."
>"What's to be puzzled about? She'll be coming over for tea."
>_
-
>"Yes, but you say that as though this were a matter of course; something taken for granted. Remember, we only arrived here a couple days ago. You can't always assume our understanding of customs."
>"And, uh, do you mean to our place? We... don't really have a very presentable living space at the moment. No tables, no chairs... and no tea."
-
>"Yes, but you say that as though this were a matter of course; something taken for granted. Remember, we only arrived here a couple days ago. You can't always assume our understanding of customs."
>"And, uh, do you mean to our place? We... don't really have a very presentable living space at the moment. No tables, no chairs... and no tea."
>"What custom?" Marisa asks. "It's what you do. That's like calling eating a custom, don't you think?"
>"Well, I can loan you some tea, but you're on your own for the rest."
>_
-
> "When will they be coming?"
-
>fuck fuck fuck fuck
-
>"Well, uh, not from our perspective, anyway. Remember, the outside world is pretty different. So no, tea wouldn't be the first thing that came to my mind in this situation."
-
> "When will they be coming?"
>"Well, if you didn't set up a time they'll probably show up whenever they feel like it. Though it's really rude to make it more than a week after the fight went down."
>fuck fuck fuck fuck
>This might be problematic!
>"Well, uh, not from our perspective, anyway. Remember, the outside world is pretty different. So no, tea wouldn't be the first thing that came to my mind in this situation."
>"I don't see why not," says Marisa. "I mean, you also sleep in the outside world, right?"
>_
-
> "We do, and we also use indoor plumbing, which I haven't seen yet here. Not to be rude, but would you know proper indoor plumbing etiquette if you were dropped into the outside world?"
-
>Painful flashbacks of the science debate with Nitori
-
> Previous statement intended to be a question ended with a period. This has since been changed to a question mark. Parser please take note. :C
-
>Okay, we might be able to do a week if Alice's gold 'n silver is worth enough.
>"Some things are different, some things aren't. Magic and danmaku seem to be missing entirely, and I don't think too many people in the outer world meet for tea after getting into a fight. I guess if it's that natural here I'll get used to it quick enough, but... oh well."
>Should we invite Yukari over at the same time? Hmm... no, that would probably be a very bad idea. Although she might just hear about it and show up on her own anyway...
-
> "We do, and we also use indoor plumbing, which I haven't seen yet here. Not to be rude, but would you know proper indoor plumbing etiquette if you were dropped into the outside world?"
>"What? I don't know what you're talking about or how it compares."
>Painful flashbacks of the science debate with Nitori
>The worst was that she might have been right...
>Okay, we might be able to do a week if Alice's gold 'n silver is worth enough.
>"Some things are different, some things aren't. Magic and danmaku seem to be missing entirely, and I don't think too many people in the outer world meet for tea after getting into a fight. I guess if it's that natural here I'll get used to it quick enough, but... oh well."
>Should we invite Yukari over at the same time? Hmm... no, that would probably be a very bad idea. Although she might just hear about it and show up on her own anyway...
>Hopefully Ari will come through for you.
>"What? That's silly. Of course you do. How else would you end a fight? Do you use sake or something? That's also acceptable with certain people."
>You don't want to imagine what that would cause. Or do you?
>_
-
> "Most fights in the outside world...don't end amicably. Usually one person goes to jail. Sometimes, one person winds up dead, if the fight is bad enough. Professional organized fights, though, usually end in a handshake. Sometimes a hug, too. It's supposed to be a show of good sportsmanship. I'm guessing your tea custom is the same idea?"
-
>"So Marisa, if we invited Yukari along for that group teatime, who would she focus on molesting?"
>"It... varies. But I don't think it's often that friendly, or prompt. Still, I guess it's not relevant at this point. Just something completely alien for me to unlearn, I suppose."
>Shrug.
>Or learn to mask, like the science thing...
>"Either way, it's good to know, and we'll have to work out some plan for that. Hopefully we can get together some decent furnishings soon."
-
> Mental note: Two new subjects to tack onto Outside World curriculum for potential teaching job at university - living customs and organized competition.
-
> "Most fights in the outside world...don't end amicably. Usually one person goes to jail. Sometimes, one person winds up dead, if the fight is bad enough. Professional organized fights, though, usually end in a handshake. Sometimes a hug, too. It's supposed to be a show of good sportsmanship. I'm guessing your tea custom is the same idea?"
>Marisa frowns. "Wow. That is extremely barbaric."
>It looks like she is going to say more, but stops herself.
>"So Marisa, if we invited Yukari along for that group teatime, who would she focus on molesting?"
>"It... varies. But I don't think it's often that friendly, or prompt. Still, I guess it's not relevant at this point. Just something completely alien for me to unlearn, I suppose."
>Shrug.
>Or learn to mask, like the science thing...
>"Either way, it's good to know, and we'll have to work out some plan for that. Hopefully we can get together some decent furnishings soon."
."
>"Yes."
>She seems to let most of your commentary go unanswered. "I might have a chair I something I don't use," Marisa says.
> Mental note: Two new subjects to tack onto Outside World curriculum for potential teaching job at university - living customs and organized competition.
>You wonder how much you'll scandalize your students, if Marisa is any indication.
>_
-
>"It is barbaric. But please don't think that most people there approve of it, either. Most people never get into serious fights. I certainly haven't. It's just that when fights do happen, they tend to be bad."
-
I seriously don't think the university job is going to fly, especially if we're teaching that heresies are accepted there.
Also: Nitori was entirely right, we just approached the explanation/justification wrong. Science and engineering are attached at the hip in the outer world, but there's a real distinction. Engineering is making stuff that works; science is figuring out HOW stuff works. Specific science research can help advance engineering, but so does just throwing stuff together and seeing what happens. A better point may have been that science theories tend to be useful generalizations, and ask whether she would expect most things she makes to fly away (reject gravity) on their own, unless they held certain properties that meant it WOULD fly away. But whatever.
It's also important to be understanding of how different Gensokyo is and not be too insistent on keeping outer-world mannerisms. The physical aspects of magic giving physics the finger are pretty obvious. But it sounds like Marisa's touching on social aspects that we've generally been more skeptical about. :V
-
>"It is barbaric. But please don't think that most people there approve of it, either. Most people never get into serious fights. I certainly haven't. It's just that when fights do happen, they tend to be bad."
>She nods. "Um, I'll try not to mention it. But now you've got me wondering what other basic things you don't do....sorry, that was rude."
>_
-
> "I don't know. There may very well be other Gensokyo...rules? Should I use rules? You seemed bothered by customs. Anyway, there may very well be more I don't know. The outside world is just a whole lot different from here, and neither of us exactly got a handbook to help us acclamate, you know? I apologize for not being familiar with Gensokyo's rules, but given how different they are, I'm not sure all of them can be reasonably held against us."
especially if we're teaching that heresies are accepted there.
Good thing we said we weren't teaching science, then. >_>
-
>Cue Kilga
Suggest:
"No offense taken. Honestly, I'm curious about the differences myself, and I do prefer the Gensokyo version for... well, a lot of the differences I've seen so far, actually. Did you have anything specific in mind? I'd have trouble guessing what would be really basic and different without finding out about the difference first - to me, those weird things are 'normal.' Or were, at least."
EDUT:
Good thing we said we weren't teaching science, then. >_>
Of course. We'll just be a little more subtle and teach about the wonders of the outer world, where science happens to not be a heresy.
-
Nitori's explanation for things was far more arbitrary than that. I never claimed science and engineering were the same thing. I just said that science explains observations, and no matter what phenomenon you're trying to explain, it has to match the reality of the world. I even directly talked about what you mention about how there might be certain properties an object had that made it reject gravity. And Nitori said there didn't even need to be that. ie: There is no reason. It just is. Not even worth thinking about. The end. I'm not sure how you get through to someone at that point.
>"No, that's ok, I don't think that's rude. It's fair to wonder what 'normal' things around here we don't get, and I'm sure there's still some knowledge gaps lurking around. I'm sure the reverse would be just as true, or even moreso, if you were to end up in the outside world, as well. No one really notices all the things they take for granted without a point of comparison."
-
Guess I will go with this.
>"No offense taken. Honestly, I'm curious about the differences myself, and I do prefer the Gensokyo version for... well, a lot of the differences I've seen so far, actually. Did you have anything specific in mind? I'd have trouble guessing what would be really basic and different without finding out about the difference first - to me, those weird things are 'normal.' Or were, at least."
-
> "I don't know. There may very well be other Gensokyo...rules? Should I use rules? You seemed bothered by customs. Anyway, there may very well be more I don't know. The outside world is just a whole lot different from here, and neither of us exactly got a handbook to help us acclamate, you know? I apologize for not being familiar with Gensokyo's rules, but given how different they are, I'm not sure all of them can be reasonably held against us."
>"It's not even rules. It's just how things work. It's like saying that sleeping is a rule, you know?" says Marisa. "I mean, you could not sleep. But why? You're only going to cause problems. It's just...I dunno, it's like hearing people don't wash their hands."
>She frowns again.
>"You do wash your hands, right?"
>"No, that's ok, I don't think that's rude. It's fair to wonder what 'normal' things around here we don't get, and I'm sure there's still some knowledge gaps lurking around. I'm sure the reverse would be just as true, or even moreso, if you were to end up in the outside world, as well. No one really notices all the things they take for granted without a point of comparison."
>"Yeah, it's just...insulting, you know? How do you ask someone if they don't do something really basic without being a huge bore?"
>"No offense taken. Honestly, I'm curious about the differences myself, and I do prefer the Gensokyo version for... well, a lot of the differences I've seen so far, actually. Did you have anything specific in mind? I'd have trouble guessing what would be really basic and different without finding out about the difference first - to me, those weird things are 'normal.' Or were, at least."
>"I don't know if I even would have something specific in mind, you know?" says Marisa, shaking her head.
>_
-
>"Yes, I wash my hands. And I imagine the vast majority of the 'basic stuff' you mention, given how I've seen other people conduct themselves since I'm been here."
>"Oh well, there's probably not much to be done other than keep blundering forward and hope we don't trip up too badly, eh?"
-
>"I guess the most I can ask for is some understanding if I accidentally do something offensive."
>"If you're curious about anything, though, feel free to ask. I should know about any differences before they become a problem for me, too."
-
> "Actually, remember that 'indoor plumbing' thing I mentioned? What that means is water gets pumped right into your house. You can wash your hands, wash your dishes and cutlery, and even take baths, without ever having to leave your house. And when you're done using the water, it leaves your house as safely as it entered it, with no structural harm done. It's very convenient."
-
>"Yes, I wash my hands. And I imagine the vast majority of the 'basic stuff' you mention, given how I've seen other people conduct themselves since I'm been here."
>"Oh well, there's probably not much to be done other than keep blundering forward and hope we don't trip up too badly, eh?"
>Marisa nods. "Yeah, just blunder on."
>"I guess the most I can ask for is some understanding if I accidentally do something offensive."
>"If you're curious about anything, though, feel free to ask. I should know about any differences before they become a problem for me, too."
>"I'll do what I can," says Marisa.
> "Actually, remember that 'indoor plumbing' thing I mentioned? What that means is water gets pumped right into your house. You can wash your hands, wash your dishes and cutlery, and even take baths, without ever having to leave your house. And when you're done using the water, it leaves your house as safely as it entered it, with no structural harm done. It's very convenient."
>"That sounds really convenient," Marisa says with an appreciative nod. "Hard to believe that's not magic."
>_
-
>"There a lot of things in the outside world that might be able to pass for magic if you didn't know the difference. Things that'll do your laundry or dishes for you, ways to see and communicate with people thousands of miles away in an instant, ways to keep your house cool to the exact temperature you want, and more other things than I could possibly name. I'll miss some of them, to be honest. But, in the same way, Gensokyo is full of amazing things you can't find outside, either."
-
>"There a lot of things in the outside world that might be able to pass for magic if you didn't know the difference. Things that'll do your laundry or dishes for you, ways to see and communicate with people thousands of miles away in an instant, ways to keep your house cool to the exact temperature you want, and more other things than I could possibly name. I'll miss some of them, to be honest. But, in the same way, Gensokyo is full of amazing things you can't find outside, either."
>Marisa nods. "I have some memories of 'em. But not much..."
>_
-
> "You know, I wonder...how interesting do you think the citizens of Gensokyo would find these things? I don't know how useful I could be in actually implementing them, but...well, it would just be easier to come out with it."
> "I don't know if you've heard, but the kappa are building a university. Since I'll need a source of income for us to survive here, I was considering applying there once it's finished, with a curriculum like Outer World Culture. And before you ask, there would be no science. I've had that talk several times already. Instead, it could be used to detail the daily lives of the outer world human, and the things the outer world has and does that are different from what goes on in Gensokyo. Things from everyday house activity to professional competitions to governing bodies. Stuff like that. Do you think anyone would consider this worth learning about?"
-
> "You know, I wonder...how interesting do you think the citizens of Gensokyo would find these things? I don't know how useful I could be in actually implementing them, but...well, it would just be easier to come out with it."
> "I don't know if you've heard, but the kappa are building a university. Since I'll need a source of income for us to survive here, I was considering applying there once it's finished, with a curriculum like Outer World Culture. And before you ask, there would be no science. I've had that talk several times already. Instead, it could be used to detail the daily lives of the outer world human, and the things the outer world has and does that are different from what goes on in Gensokyo. Things from everyday house activity to professional competitions to governing bodies. Stuff like that. Do you think anyone would consider this worth learning about?"
>Omit the mention of 'science', one way or another, from this description. No need to give her negative ideas that mightn't have otherwise occurred to her.
-
> "You know, I wonder...how interesting do you think the citizens of Gensokyo would find these things? I don't know how useful I could be in actually implementing them, but...well, it would just be easier to come out with it."
> "I don't know if you've heard, but the kappa are building a university. Since I'll need a source of income for us to survive here, I was considering applying there once it's finished, with a curriculum like Outer World Culture. And before you ask, there would be no science. I've had that talk several times already. Instead, it could be used to detail the daily lives of the outer world human, and the things the outer world has and does that are different from what goes on in Gensokyo. Things from everyday house activity to professional competitions to governing bodies. Stuff like that. Do you think anyone would consider this worth learning about?"
>Omit the mention of 'science', one way or another, from this description. No need to give her negative ideas that mightn't have otherwise occurred to her.
>"That might be interesting," says Marisa. "But I don't know how much you'd make doing that."
>_
-
>"I'm ok with a modest lifestyle. But you need to put food on the table somehow, right? I think it might be enjoyable work. I'm not sure what else there might be around here for me to do that I'd be suited for."
-
>"I'm ok with a modest lifestyle. But you need to put food on the table somehow, right? I think it might be enjoyable work. I'm not sure what else there might be around here for me to do that I'd be suited for."
>"Well, you could try to apprentice with an herbalist or something," says Marisa. "Or find something in the Ancient City, if you don't mind being underground."
>_
-
>"Being underground doesn't really bother me, although I hear the city itself can get rough sometimes. But one of the Devas kinda laid claim to me, so I gather the rest will probably leave me alone. They have so far, anyway. Although working for an oni feels a little, well..."
>"But yeah, I guess there's a few things to look into and think about as we get settled in here."
-
>"Being underground doesn't really bother me, although I hear the city itself can get rough sometimes. But one of the Devas kinda laid claim to me, so I gather the rest will probably leave me alone. They have so far, anyway. Although working for an oni feels a little, well..."
>"But yeah, I guess there's a few things to look into and think about as we get settled in here."
>Marisa nods. "See, there's lots of things you can do. Mind, I'd stay away from the Ancient City if I could help it. But I bet that deva would help you out."
>_
-
> Uh, we know how to prepare tea, right?
-
> Uh, we know how to prepare tea, right?
>You may be a barbarian, but you're not that much of one.
>_
-
>"Well, I hope that we can get the place at least a little together before Remilia decides it's time to drop by for tea. But on the note, I really would appreciate it if you could lend us some, just in case she's quick about it. We, uh, really have nothing household to our name but a futon."
>"...wait, we don't have any way to heat the water, either, do we? Or is there some magical substitute that can be used in a pinch, until we get a real stove?"
-
>"Well, I hope that we can get the place at least a little together before Remilia decides it's time to drop by for tea. But on the note, I really would appreciate it if you could lend us some, just in case she's quick about it. We, uh, really have nothing household to our name but a futon."
>"...wait, we don't have any way to heat the water, either, do we? Or is there some magical substitute that can be used in a pinch, until we get a real stove?"
>"Sure, I'll loan you some tea," says Marisa. "As for the rest, maybe look through the smithy at the village? Or maybe the pawn shops in the ancient city?"
>"There's a stove," says Renko. "Remember, we saw it through the window. But, um...we'd need wood for it. And, maybe learn how to make a fire?"
>Marisa laughs. "Wow, you guys really are helpless. Well, first off, charcoal is better than wood. And you'd be better off using a brazier than a stove for heating tea, unless you're also doing some other cooking. Get a good wok for food, it'll make life easier."
>_
-
>"Yeah, I'm sure it must sound rather clueless. But pretty much all stoves you're going to find in the outside world run on electricity. Using one that requires physical fuel is... different, to say the very least. You won't find too many people in an outside city who've ever gathered firewood on their own, either."
>"But yeah, thanks for the advice. There's going to be a long list of things to shop for, once we have the money to buy them with."
-
>"Yeah, I'm sure it must sound rather clueless. But pretty much all stoves you're going to find in the outside world run on electricity. Using one that requires physical fuel is... different, to say the very least. You won't find too many people in an outside city who've ever gathered firewood on their own, either."
>"But yeah, thanks for the advice. There's going to be a long list of things to shop for, once we have the money to buy them with."
>Marisa chuckles. "Don't worry too much about it. You'll get the hang of it in no time. Anyways, I can loan you some charcoal, too, if money's tight. But I'll expect you to gather me some more mushrooms in the next couple days."
>_
-
>Maybe we should actually make that list.
>"No problem. But what do you do for work, Marisa? It doesn't sound like you live on those mushrooms, if they're mostly for magic."
-
>Maybe we should actually make that list.
>"No problem. But what do you do for work, Marisa? It doesn't sound like you live on those mushrooms, if they're mostly for magic."
>That might not be a bad idea.
>"I run an all purpose magic shop and problem solving service," says Marisa, grinning proudly. "Youkai, faeries, spells, whatever you need beaten up or dealt with. Don't get too much business, though...But I make ends meet."
>_
-
>What do we have, for writing utensils and paper? Or that we've seen in Gensokyo?
>What wonders the printing press might do for this world...
>"That sounds like an... unusual line of work. What sort of things have you done for that, then?"
-
>What wonders the printing press might do for this world...
>Wouldn't the newspaper suggest that such a thing exists? Or at least something that works similarly?
-
>What do we have, for writing utensils and paper? Or that we've seen in Gensokyo?
>What wonders the printing press might do for this world...
>"That sounds like an... unusual line of work. What sort of things have you done for that, then?"
>You have some newspapers you could write in the margins on. You've seen people use quills and ink, brushes and ink, and you think Hatate had a fountain pen. You didn't pay much attention.
>That's an interesting question.
>"Not a whole lot," says Marisa. "Helped some faeries get a tsuchinoko once. Normally I end up roving around looking for jobs when money gets tight."
>Wouldn't the newspaper suggest that such a thing exists? Or at least something that works similarly?
>Oh that's a point, isn't it?
>_
-
>"Yeah, I think I'll take you up on the offer of charcoal, too. I don't mind lending another hand with the mushroom gathering later. I don't think we'll be cashless for too long, but I'd hate to be caught entirely unprepared if Remilia did show up before then. It wouldn't seem very hospitable of us after all this."
-
>"Yeah, I think I'll take you up on the offer of charcoal, too. I don't mind lending another hand with the mushroom gathering later. I don't think we'll be cashless for too long, but I'd hate to be caught entirely unprepared if Remilia did show up before then. It wouldn't seem very hospitable of us after all this."
>Marisa nods. "Where are you two at again? That one house on the edge of the forest?"
>_
-
>"Yeah, the abandoned one. It's tidied up quiet nicely now, though. But essentially completely empty."
-
>"Yeah, the abandoned one. It's tidied up quiet nicely now, though. But essentially completely empty."
>"Alright, I'll drop off some stuff in a little while," says Marisa.
>_
-
>"Ok, sounds great, thanks."
>"Anything else you wanted to know? About today's events, or otherwise?"
-
>"Ok, sounds great, thanks."
>"Anything else you wanted to know? About today's events, or otherwise?"
>"Well, I'm kind curious how you got the faeries to do all that stuff," says Marisa.
>"There's a trick to it," says Renko. "Suffice it to say, it's a trade secret. But the first step is to treat them like you're best friend."
>Marisa nods. "Thought it'd be something like that..."
>_
-
>"They're not as bad as they first seemed, once I got to know them a little."
>"If anything, a nice side benefit to all this is that they're less likely to unpleasantly accost me as I go about my business."
>"Oh, speaking of which, I don't suppose you've been to Reimu's since yesterday evening?"
-
>"They're not as bad as they first seemed, once I got to know them a little."
>"If anything, a nice side benefit to all this is that they're less likely to unpleasantly accost me as I go about my business."
>"Oh, speaking of which, I don't suppose you've been to Reimu's since yesterday evening?"
>"They're alright in small doses," says Marisa. "But after a bit, they'll give you as much trouble as anyone else. Faeries don't have that much of a memory."
>"No, I've not seen her since. Why?"
>_
-
>"Oh, it's just that a fairy professed her undying love for her yesterday, and actually ended up sleeping over there last night. It was rather adorable, I thought."
>"Reimu's got her sewing things up for her, now."
-
>"Oh, it's just that a fairy professed her undying love for her yesterday, and actually ended up sleeping over there last night. It was rather adorable, I thought."
>"Reimu's got her sewing things up for her, now."
>"What?" says Marisa, who is most definitely stifling a giggle. "Poor Reimu! Geez..."
>_
-
>"Yeah, I'd kinda feel a little sorry for her, too, if it wasn't so cute to watch."
>"Anyway, I think we may head off, now. Thanks for everything, again."
>Assuming no further questions or followups, exit and return to the main path
-
>"Yeah, I'd kinda feel a little sorry for her, too, if it wasn't so cute to watch."
>"Anyway, I think we may head off, now. Thanks for everything, again."
>Assuming no further questions or followups, exit and return to the main path
>"Might have to go see for myself," says Marisa. "And no problem."
>You leave Marisa's home behind and move on.
>_
-
>Head off to the human village
-
>Head off to the human village
>You make your way toward the human village. It is an uneventful, if somewhat long trip by foot.
>The village is bustling away, as the afternoon draws a fairly close to evening. You get a few more looks from the townspeople than usual.
>_
-
>Go poke our head in the tavern
-
>Go poke our head in the tavern
>You peek into the tavern. It's fairly busy at the moment. Among the mix of townspeople and farmers, you notice a woman with tiger-striped hair sitting at a booth; she seems oddly familiar; Nitori at a small table, and at the bar is the distinctive plaid clothing of Yuka, who is being given a polite amount of elbow room, to say the least. The blue-haired barkeeper is busy dealing with everyone. The atmosphere is still friendly, but subdued compared to last night.
>_
-
>Can we figure out why she might seem oddly familiar?
-
>Can we figure out why she might seem oddly familiar?
>You ponder for a moment where you might have seen her. You feel it was yesterday, and not via any direct interaction...
>You notice a few people looking your way, then talking among themselves.
>_
-
>Quietly to Renko: "Well, I guess you've succeeded in getting people talking about us."
-
>Quietly to Renko: "Well, I guess you've succeeded in getting people talking about us."
>Renko chuckles, grinning like a fool. "Yep."
>_
-
>Grin back at her
>If Nitori doesn't seem especially preoccupied, walk over and say hi
-
>Grin back at her
>If Nitori doesn't seem especially preoccupied, walk over and say hi
>You try to match her grin, but frankly, having people staring and whispering about you is kind of embarrassing.
>Approaching Nitori, you see that she's glance at what seems to be a sketchpad. She looks up as you approach. "Oh, hey again. Looks like you two made quit a stir."
>_
-
>"Yeah, I suppose we did at that. Was, uh, a little more excitement than I'd been banking on this afternoon."
>"How've things been with you?"
>Can we discretely glance at what's on the sketchpad? Does it seem to be plans for anything we'd recognize?
-
>"Yeah, I suppose we did at that. Was, uh, a little more excitement than I'd been banking on this afternoon."
>"How've things been with you?"
>Can we discretely glance at what's on the sketchpad? Does it seem to be plans for anything we'd recognize?
>Nitori chuckles. "I've been fine. Nice slow day. Had a game with shoji with Momiji today. Didn't get to finish before her lunch break ended. Think I'm going to have to shelve that air conditioner for awhile, though."
>You try to take a discreet look at the sketchpad. You're not at a good angle for it, and what you see are mostly confusing grids.
>_
-
>"Oh, why is that?"
-
>"Oh, why is that?"
>"Can't get a good power source on it," she says. "Well, not one worth getting for a prototype, anyways."
>_
-
>"Oh, that's too bad."
>"I don't suppose that means the other project would be less of an interruption now, though?"
-
>"Oh, that's too bad."
>"I don't suppose that means the other project would be less of an interruption now, though?"
>"Until I get some inspiration, at least," says Nitori. "And some muscle to actually put the stupid thing together."
-
>"I asked a couple people about helping out with that. No serious hits yet, but I've been a little preoccupied today, as you can probably figure."
-
>"I asked a couple people about helping out with that. No serious hits yet, but I've been a little preoccupied today, as you can probably figure."
>Nitori nods. "Well, if you catch anyone, it'd help."
>_
-
>"I'll definitely try to rustle up some more people, as best I can. I'm pretty highly motivated."
-
>"I'll definitely try to rustle up some more people, as best I can. I'm pretty highly motivated."
>Nitori nods. "That's good. Oh, any news from underground? I know you've been coming and going there. Utsuho okay?"
>_
-
>"Yeah, she's doing pretty good. Ran into a little relationship trouble as fallout from the whole Gensoyko Isle business, but at least some of that seems to be headed in a positive direction now. And Okuu's taken the worst of it pretty well in stride, too."
-
>"Yeah, she's doing pretty good. Ran into a little relationship trouble as fallout from the whole Gensoyko Isle business, but at least some of that seems to be headed in a positive direction now. And Okuu's taken the worst of it pretty well in stride, too."
>Nitori nods, frowning. "You mentioned some of those things beforehand. Anything I ought to know about?"
>_
-
> "I'm honestly not sure. Dunno how much of it she doesn't mind getting around and how much she wants kept private. If you have the time, though, I'd suggest going down there and visiting her. She'd probably be quite happy to see you. And you could find out what you needed to find out directly from her, instead of hearing it second-hand from me."
-
> "I'm honestly not sure. Dunno how much of it she doesn't mind getting around and how much she wants kept private. If you have the time, though, I'd suggest going down there and visiting her. She'd probably be quite happy to see you. And you could find out what you needed to find out directly from her, instead of hearing it second-hand from me."
>"Yeah, I think maybe I ought to do that," says Nitori with a nod.
>_
-
> Did we tell Nitori that the dream wasn't just a dream? It's hard to remember all the people that know.
-
> Did we tell Nitori that the dream wasn't just a dream? It's hard to remember all the people that know.
>You're pretty sure you did.
>_
-
> "Yeah, I think she'd like it. And who knows? Maybe she'll solve your air conditioner problem."
> "Be careful about who you talk to about Gensokyo Isle if you go, though. Not everyone knows. Her immediate family does, as does her Earth Spider friend Yamame, but the underground by and large still assumes it was just a dream."
-
> "Yeah, I think she'd like it. And who knows? Maybe she'll solve your air conditioner problem."
> "Be careful about who you talk to about Gensokyo Isle if you go, though. Not everyone knows. Her immediate family does, as does her Earth Spider friend Yamame, but the underground by and large still assumes it was just a dream."
>"Alright," she says, "I'll keep that in mind."
>_
-
> "Okay then, excellent."
> "We have to take off now. Have you heard about where our house is yet? It's on the edge of the woods..."
> Proceed to give a more accurate description of our house's location.
> "Feel free to stop by, if you're ever in the area. If you're looking for some outside world inspirations, I'm sure we could offer a few suggestions."
> Assuming Nitori doesn't stop us, bid farewell and make our way toward the tavern exit.
> Wave to Yuuka on the way out. Assuming she doesn't stop us for anything, leave the tavern and make way to Keine's school.
-
> "Okay then, excellent."
> "We have to take off now. Have you heard about where our house is yet? It's on the edge of the woods..."
> Proceed to give a more accurate description of our house's location.
> "Feel free to stop by, if you're ever in the area. If you're looking for some outside world inspirations, I'm sure we could offer a few suggestions."
> Assuming Nitori doesn't stop us, bid farewell and make our way toward the tavern exit.
> Wave to Yuuka on the way out. Assuming she doesn't stop us for anything, leave the tavern and make way to Keine's school.
>Nitori nods. "I think I've seen that place from a distance. Maybe I'll drop in sometime."
>Nitori doesn't stop you from leaving. You wave to Yuka. She glances over toward you, and nods politely. She seems satisfied with this, and lets you go about your business.
>You leave the tavern without buying anything yet again, and make your way toward the school. There doesn't seem to be much activity around it at the moment.
>_
-
> Knock on the door.
-
> Knock on the door.
>You knock on the door.
>There is no answer.
>You recall there was a bell beside the door that you used last night. It is still there.
>_
-
> Smack self in the forehead.
> Ring bell.
-
> Smack self in the forehead.
> Ring bell.
>"What'd you do that for, Mary?" Renko asks.
>You ring the bell. After a few moments, the door opens. "Ah, hello again," says Keine as she stands at the threshold. She glances at your companion. "This is Renko, I take it?"
>_
-
> "Yes, it is. Renko, this is Keine."
> "Did you happen to see the news today?"
-
> "Yes, it is. Renko, this is Keine."
> "Did you happen to see the news today?"
>"Hello," says Renko, bowing toward Keine. Keine nods in return.
>"I have," Keine says, "It is how I recognized her."
>_
-
> Keine has seen the paper and made no mention to us of Dai? Interesting.
> "Ah, good, that might make this explanation a bit easier. Do you remember the article about myself and the construct I fought? And, as unrelated as this sounds, do you happen to know if Reisen's mansion gets the newspaper?"
-
> Keine has seen the paper and made no mention to us of Dai? Interesting.
> "Ah, good, that might make this explanation a bit easier. Do you remember the article about myself and the construct I fought? And, as unrelated as this sounds, do you happen to know if Reisen's mansion gets the newspaper?"
>Well you just got here.
>"I seldom have any reason to be at Eientei," says Keine, "so I am afraid I couldn't tell you. I don't think so, though. They're a little isolated and rather prefer it that way."
>_
-
> "Okay. That's actually better, now that I think about it. If Reisen hasn't seen this yet, I'd rather show it to her myself."
> "You see, the construct thing I fought is apparently something she fought once herself, and apparently it was much nastier back then. Given what I've heard about its origins, I don't think she'll be at all happy to hear it was still running around."
> "Given that...would it be possible for us to make a trip to Eientei, to explain to her what has happened with this thing?"
-
> "Okay. That's actually better, now that I think about it. If Reisen hasn't seen this yet, I'd rather show it to her myself."
> "You see, the construct thing I fought is apparently something she fought once herself, and apparently it was much nastier back then. Given what I've heard about its origins, I don't think she'll be at all happy to hear it was still running around."
> "Given that...would it be possible for us to make a trip to Eientei, to explain to her what has happened with this thing?"
>"I wouldn't know how to get there," says Keine. "Mokou does, but I doubt she would want to go given, according to the article, the problem has been resolved."
>_
-
> "Oh. Well. Okay."
> "If she doesn't want to go, then...is it possible for her to just tell us how to get there? Or is that out of the question because of how crazy the place is? I've heard it's really hard to get through the forest."
-
> "Oh. Well. Okay."
> "If she doesn't want to go, then...is it possible for her to just tell us how to get there? Or is that out of the question because of how crazy the place is? I've heard it's really hard to get through the forest."
>"I wouldn't put faith in any directions," says Keine. "Not unless you're already experienced with the place."
>_
-
> "Well, shoot."
> Tug at own hair a bit in agitation.
> "Is there anyone else in the village that would know how to get there?"
-
> "Well, shoot."
> Tug at own hair a bit in agitation.
> "Is there anyone else in the village that would know how to get there?"
>You express your frustration and agitation. Keine frowns a bit.
>"Not that I know of," She says. "Eientei doesn't receive too many guests. Is it really that important? Perhaps I could make sure she has all the details next time I see her?"
>_
-
> "If push came to shove, I guess I could just leave her a message. There is one other thing I want to ask her about, though. It involves rabbit activity, and is a bit more pressing than this news."
-
> "If push came to shove, I guess I could just leave her a message. There is one other thing I want to ask her about, though. It involves rabbit activity, and is a bit more pressing than this news."
>"Rabbit activity?" asks Keine.
>_
-
> "A bucket was stolen underground recently. I know it sounds like 'just a bucket', but it was someone's living quarters. According to that person, a short rabbit passed by in the time frame in which the bucket disappeared. I was hoping Reisen might know something about it."
> "There were a few other passers-by, but most were rather non-descript, so this seemed like the best place to start."
-
> "A bucket was stolen underground recently. I know it sounds like 'just a bucket', but it was someone's living quarters. According to that person, a short rabbit passed by in the time frame in which the bucket disappeared. I was hoping Reisen might know something about it."
> "There were a few other passers-by, but most were rather non-descript, so this seemed like the best place to start."
>"You suspect Tewi, then?" asks Keine.
>_
-
> "I, ah, don't know who that is. All I do know is that there are plenty of rabbits where Reisen lives, and I haven't really seen any other rabbits around aside from her. Though I'll admit, she wasn't exactly short. If they're all as tall as her, I'll probably have to look elsewhere."
-
> "I don't know who that is. All I do know is that there are plenty of rabbits where Reisen lives, and I haven't really seen any other rabbits around aside from her. Though I'll admit, she wasn't exactly short. If they're all as tall as her, I'll probably have to look elsewhere."
>"I'm not especially well versed in rabbits," says Keine, "But I do think Reisen is on the tall side for a rabbit."
>_
-
> Fact check: Who told us about the abandoned Lunarian base, and do we remember where they said it was?
-
> Fact check: Who told us about the abandoned Lunarian base, and do we remember where they said it was?
>It was either Yuka or Komachi.... You believe it is somewhere south of Yuka's field.
>_
-
> And in what direction is Yuuka's field from the village?
> "Hmm, then maybe it was someone from her house. I guess I have some asking around to do, then. Apologies for bothering you about this."
-
> And in what direction is Yuuka's field from the village?
> "Hmm, then maybe it was someone from her house. I guess I have some asking around to do, then. Apologies for bothering you about this."
>It's to the north a ways.
>"Her house? Isn't that Eientei?" asks Keine.
>_
-
> "Yeah. I'm hoping there's someone else in the village that might know the way. If Mokou doesn't want to go, I don't want to impose on her. I seem to recall her having issues with Eientei, from our talk last night."
> "I should at least be straight with you, though. That construct that Reisen beat once and then I stopped again? Apparently it was some ancient evil, centuries-old, buried in the lake near the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Bad enough that even Byakuren was concerned when we were talking about it. I imagine Reisen wouldn't be too happy to hear something of that caliber was still running around after she put it down once herself."
-
> "Yeah. I'm hoping there's someone else in the village that might know the way. If Mokou doesn't want to go, I don't want to impose on her. I seem to recall her having issues with Eientei, from our talk last night."
> "I should at least be straight with you, though. That construct that Reisen beat once and then I stopped again? Apparently it was some ancient evil, centuries-old, buried in the lake near the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Bad enough that even Byakuren was concerned when we were talking about it. I imagine Reisen wouldn't be too happy to hear something of that caliber was still running around after she put it down once herself."
>"She does have issues with Eientei," says Keine, frowning a bit. "Well, at least with its mistress.
>Keine nods. "Hm. I'll be sure to tell her that, as well. What's been done with it since?"
>_
-
> "Renko and I are having it melted down, so it can't be put back together a third time."
> Look to Renko, then back to Keine.
> "It's made of some pretty valuable metals, and, uh, we kinda need the financial start."
-
> "Renko and I are having it melted down, so it can't be put back together a third time."
> Look to Renko, then back to Keine.
> "It's made of some pretty valuable metals, and, uh, we kinda need the financial start."
>Keine nods, then laughs as you mention the last part. "Well, if that doesn't take care of it, I don't know what would. I wouldn't worry about it too much."
>_
-
> "Yeah, it certainly did look like a lot. It should be good enough to keep us set until we find a consistent source of income."
-
> "Yeah, it certainly did look like a lot. It should be good enough to keep us set until we find a consistent source of income."
>Keine nods. "I hope it works out for you. Is there anything else you needed to ask?"
>_
-
> "Nothing that I can think of. I'll be on my way, then. thanks for taking the message, and sorry again for wasting your time."
> Assuming Keine makes no effort to stop us, leave and head north for the area south of Yuuka's field.
> Talk to Renko along the way.
> "Well, that went worse than expected, but the major deed is done. However, I remembered something in the middle of the conversation that could help us out. You ready for some exploring?"
-
> "Nothing that I can think of. I'll be on my way, then. thanks for taking the message, and sorry again for wasting your time."
> Assuming Keine makes no effort to stop us, leave and head north for the area south of Yuuka's field.
> Talk to Renko along the way.
> "Well, that went worse than expected, but the major deed is done. However, I remembered something in the middle of the conversation that could help us out. You ready for some exploring?"
>Keine nods. "Alright. It was nice to see you."
>You break away cleaning and start to the north.
>"It wouldn't hurt," says Renko. "What're thinking, anyways?" she quirks her lips a bit, then says, "Oh, yeah, I had an idea if you want to get to that Eientei place so bad, but you probably wouldn't like it."
>_
-
> "I understand that somewhere, in the fields to the south of Yuuka's fields, there's a hidden Lunarian base that's been abandoned. I know that some of the Eientei people came from the moon, so there might be info on how to get there somewhere. More important, however, if the base has been abandoned, it's ripe for the looting, right? And, of course, there's the thrill of the search."
> "Though now you have me curious. What are you thinking for getting into Eientei?"
-
> "I understand that somewhere, in the fields to the south of Yuuka's fields, there's a hidden Lunarian base that's been abandoned. I know that some of the Eientei people came from the moon, so there might be info on how to get there somewhere. More important, however, if the base has been abandoned, it's ripe for the looting, right? And, of course, there's the thrill of the search."
> "Though now you have me curious. What are you thinking for getting into Eientei?"
>Renko listens to you, her eyebrows slowly raising with obvious interest. "Wow, that sounds interesting," she says. "But I'd be surprised if someone else hadn't beat us to it already."
>"Well, I was thinking, if it's that important, we could ask Yukari. She did manage to take me to that hot spring..."
>_
-
> "Well, there's the thrill of the search to be considered, but I'm sure you've already accounted for that. And someone probably has made it through first, but who knows? It was supposedly hidden. Maybe it still is, to a degree."
> "Hmm, Yukari? I thought of her, but I admit, only briefly...I'm not sure I'm ready to make another request of her when we have an outstanding debt with her already. She is worth considering, though. Let's see what kind of shape we're in after we find this abandoned base. How's that sound?"
-
> "Well, there's the thrill of the search to be considered, but I'm sure you've already accounted for that. And someone probably has made it through first, but who knows? It was supposedly hidden. Maybe it still is, to a degree."
> "Hmm, Yukari? I thought of her, but I admit, only briefly...I'm not sure I'm ready to make another request of her when we have an outstanding debt with her already. She is worth considering, though. Let's see what kind of shape we're in after we find this abandoned base. How's that sound?"
>Renko nods. "I'm not wild about it myself."
>You leave the outskirts and farms of town behind. You can see Yuka's gardens some distance to the north and west a bit. To your immediate west is a sizable plain of tall grass that seems to stretch out for miles. You see no hint of a Lunarian base.
>_
-
>Were we given any more details on its location or means to access it than this?
>Such as how it might be concealed?
-
>Were we given any more details on its location or means to access it than this?
>Such as how it might be concealed?
>No, and no.
>"I don't see anything," Renko says.
>_
-
>"I don't, either. I'm pretty sure this is where they said it was, though. Well, they did say it was hidden."
>Take to the sky and get an aerial view.
>Can we remember roughly what part of this field we saw that person moving through yesterday?
-
>"I don't, either. I'm pretty sure this is where they said it was, though. Well, they did say it was hidden."
>Take to the sky and get an aerial view.
>Can we remember roughly what part of this field we saw that person moving through yesterday?
>"Well, I'd say they did a pretty good job," says Renko.
>You take to the air and look down. You see a lot of grass, rolling into the distance.
>You think you saw her about two thirds of the way between the farmers' fields and Yuka's gardens.
>_
-
>"I saw someone walking here the other day, I think. Never paid much attention to it at the time. And since there doesn't seem to be anything else obvious around here..."
>"She was somewhere in that general area."
>Point, and then fly to the general region we think she may have been
>Keep an eye out for anything even slightly incongruous
>"Of course, it might have been co-incidence, and even if it wasn't, I have no idea how close or far from it she might have been at the time."
-
>"I saw someone walking here the other day, I think. Never paid much attention to it at the time. And since there doesn't seem to be anything else obvious around here..."
>"She was somewhere in that general area."
>Point, and then fly to the general region we think she may have been
>Keep an eye out for anything even slightly incongruous
>"Of course, it might have been co-incidence, and even if it wasn't, I have no idea how close or far from it she might have been at the time."
>"Well, that suggests something is here," says Renko. "There doesn't seem to be anything else to come here for."
>You point Renko in the proper direction.
>Checking that general area from above, you don't see anything that looks at all out of place. Just a lot of grass, going dry with the end of summer.
>"I don't see anything," Renko says. "Maybe they have something hiding it?"
>_
-
>"Maybe. I certainly don't know whether that's possible to do here, or not."
>"Let's see if we can see anything down around here that might be a hint of some kind? Footprints or other signs of someone's passage, maybe? Some accidentally dropped item?"
>Land
>How dense and high is this grass, anyway?
>Start covering the general area, looking for footprints, or any other indication that someone came this way. Cover the area in an orderly manner, so that we're sure not to stumble over indications of our own passage a second time, without realizing it.
-
>"Maybe. I certainly don't know whether that's possible to do here, or not."
>"Let's see if we can see anything down around here that might be a hint of some kind? Footprints or other signs of someone's passage, maybe? Some accidentally dropped item?"
>Land
>How dense and high is this grass, anyway?
>Start covering the general area, looking for footprints, or any other indication that someone came this way. Cover the area in an orderly manner, so that we're sure not to stumble over indications of our own passage a second time, without realizing it.
>"I imagine there's got to be a way, if they can do things like that liquid Yukari gave you can do."
>Renko nods, and the two of your descend.
>The grass is pretty thick for the most part, and anywhere from knee to waist high. Here and there, it its a little spotty. You think this is probably due to either animal trails or maybe spots where the soil isn't so good.
>The two of you begin to methodically look over the area, which is not a very speedy process. After some time, you finally have something like a success; you find a lone footprint in the dust of one of the clearer potions of the grassland; pointed toward the road and approaching it at an angle.
>_
-
>Look at the direction the footprint is pointing, and move in the direction along this vector away from the road.
>Make sure to keep a little to the side of the path, so as not to interfere with it, if we can
>Keep an eye out for further footprints or other signs
-
>Look at the direction the footprint is pointing, and move in the direction along this vector away from the road.
>Make sure to keep a little to the side of the path, so as not to interfere with it, if we can
>Keep an eye out for further footprints or other signs
>You look toward the road, then try to follow the direction that the footprint was coming from.
>Renko takes a moment to stare at the footprint; then glances toward the sky. You're confident she'll be able to find it again.
>You follow that general direction, and keep an eye out for other signs. Here and there, you think you see some grass that's been stepped on or broken. But you're not certain if that is the work of the person walking, animals or just some quirk of nature.
>_
-
>Keep going
>Continue to keep an eye out
-
>Keep going
>Continue to keep an eye out
>You continue on in that direction. After awhile you stop seeing things you can reasonably tell yourself came from a person.
>_
-
>Double-back and look for the last, potentially human-made mark that we saw
-
>Double-back and look for the last, potentially human-made mark that we saw
>You double back, and eventually find it; a few bits of grass bent fairly close together, in a manner than makes it seem unlikely they would straighten out on their own anytime soon.
>_
-
>This grass looks like it was probably bent by being stepped on?
>If so, search the immediate area for anything unusual, or even not that unusual. Something that might have been reason to stop here.
-
>This grass looks like it was probably bent by being stepped on?
>If so, search the immediate area for anything unusual, or even not that unusual. Something that might have been reason to stop here.
>You are pretty sure it was stepped on.
>You look around, and find absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.
>_
-
>Try lining ourselves up with this path exactly, and moving forward, a little ways past the last mark we saw.
-
>Try lining ourselves up with this path exactly, and moving forward, a little ways past the last mark we saw.
>You line yourself up and continue on, trying to keep on the general path.
>"Here, let me help," says Renko as she puts a hand on your shoulder, and another on your back. "You're going too far south..."
>After a minute or so, you nearly trip when step of some unusually flat and hard ground, which makes a hollow metallic thump as you step on it.
>_
-
>Investigate this ground
-
>Investigate this ground
>You look at the ground. It looks completely and absolutely mundane, and there is nothing unusual about it at all.
>Save that you leg has passed through the grass and some of the dirt as though it weren't there at all. You now seem to have several blades of grass growing through your leg. Despite this, you feel nothing unusual; at least not tactilely.
>_
-
>Move leg out of said grass, then back in
>Try stepping down again, with that foot. Does it still make a metallic sound?
>Assuming everything seems fine, try reaching down and touching it
-
>Move leg out of said grass, then back in
>Try stepping down again, with that foot. Does it still make a metallic sound?
>Assuming everything seems fine, try reaching down and touching it
>You remove your leg from the landscape, and now everything looks perfectly fine.
>You step down again, and your foot passes through the landscape and hits something hard, making a metallic sound.
>"Holy hell..." Renko says as she watches the display.
>You position yourself a bit better, and kneel down. You hands pass through the terrain, and you can feel smooth metal under your fingers.
>_
-
>"There's something metal down here. I can feel it."
>Feel around for any discernible features in, or around the metal.
-
>"There's something metal down here. I can feel it."
>Feel around for any discernible features in, or around the metal.
>"Yeah, I think I heard it," says Renko.
>You feel around, and feel some small gaps running along the surface of the metal in straight, parallel lines. After a moment, you also find a handle.
>_
-
>Grab the handle and attempt to pull in whatever direction seems to have some give
-
>You experiment with the handle, and find that it turns outward on an single axis. You do so, turning it about 90 degrees or so.
>_
-
>Does the panel itself move in any other direction now?
>Actually, try leaning our head into the fake grass and see if we can make out what we're doing any better
-
>Does the panel itself move in any other direction now?
>Actually, try leaning our head into the fake grass and see if we can make out what we're doing any better
>You try to move the panel, and find it slides westward.
>You put your face into the insubstantial grass, and see nothing. Apparently light does not pass through it. You hear Renko giggle behind you.
>_
-
>"Was worth a shot."
>Try not to sound too embarrassed.
>Pull the panel aside as far as possible, and feel around to see what that revealed.
-
>"Yes, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Does it look like my head's decided to start growing vegetation?"
>Slide the panel as far westward as it goes
>Can we feel anything underneath it?
-
>"Was worth a shot."
>Try not to sound too embarrassed.
>Pull the panel aside as far as possible, and feel around to see what that revealed.
>"Yes, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Does it look like my head's decided to start growing vegetation?"
>Slide the panel as far westward as it goes
>Can we feel anything underneath it?
>"I know, I know," says Renko, "It was just funny."
>You move the panel aside, and feel empty air underneath it.
>_
-
>"I opened a panel of some sort. There's a hole down there, now."
>Cautiously lower ourselves into the hole that we feel, while hovering so that we don't just fall down who knows how far
>Try to descend in an orderly fashion
-
>"I opened a panel of some sort. There's a hole down there, now."
>Cautiously lower ourselves into the hole that we feel, while hovering so that we don't just fall down who knows how far
>Try to descend in an orderly fashion
>"I thought so," says Renko.
>You try to lower yourself into the hole, and your feet quickly hit something solid and metallic. Stairs?
>_
-
>Try to find our footing on them
>If we feel stable: "Renko, there's stairs down here."
>Follow them down
>It's not still pitch black down here, is it?
-
>Try to find our footing on them
>If we feel stable: "Renko, there's stairs down here."
>Follow them down
>It's not still pitch black down here, is it?
>It takes you a moment to properly center yourself. As you do, you tell Renko what you've found.
>"I'll follow you down," she says.
>You walk down the stairs, and there is a moment of darkness as your head passes through the grass. Then you see light again, artificial light that feels almost harsh after two days of sunlight, braziers, and candlelight. Looking around, you see you are in a shaft descending downward. The walls are glass and lined with white metal, you can see the dirt and soil through them, as well as the roots of the grass and what seems to be some animal's burrow. Looking ahead, it seems the shaft leads into a rocky tunnel.
>_
-
>"I'm going to guess this is it."
>Continue onward, cautiously
-
> "Artificial light? I wonder what's powering it?"
> "And if this place is supposed to be abandoned, why is power still running?"
-
>"I'm going to guess this is it."
>Continue onward, cautiously
>"I'd be a little frightened to consider what this is if this wasn't it," says Renko, as she starts to feel for the stairs herself.
> "Artificial light? I wonder what's powering it?"
> "And if this place is supposed to be abandoned, why is power still running?"
>"No idea," says Renko as she follows you down. "Do you think it's electricity, or something magical? And, well, I guess it means either someone is still using this place, or they forgot to shut the lights off, or they can't shut them off.
>You descend down tunnel, as passing by the clay and bedrock of the land. As you do, you hear a quiet sliding noise behind you, followed by a click. Was that the shutter closing?
>_
-
>Check if the shutter can re-open.
>If not: "Well. Crap."
-
>If it's the shutter, presumably it also opens from the inside or there's an alternate way out.
>Continue onward
-
>Check if the shutter can re-open.
>If not: "Obviously something hates us."
>You turn around to check the shutter, moving around Renko.
>As you walk up a step from Renko, it slides open again.
>If it's the shutter, presumably it also opens from the inside or there's an alternate way out.
>Continue onward
>Satisfied that this is true, you continue onward.
>You descend down into a natural cave tunnel, leading you to wonder if you've just found some other entrance to the Underground. After descending a few more yards, the tunnel opens up to an oblong cavern. It looks something like the chambers you've seen on the way to the Ancient City. The floor is covered by what seems to be a sheet of plastic, colored gray to match the rocky walls. More lights have been set into the walls. Near the far end of the cavern, you can see curious-looking metal things that make you think something of gun bunkers you've seen in movies, not far in front of three tunnels. Two of those tunnels are clearly artificial, having been bored into the rock to resemble arched hallways. The last one, leading southward, seems to be a natural corridor.
>_
-
>Take the first, artificial-looking corridor
-
>Take the first, artificial-looking corridor
>You head for the nearest artificial corridor, which leads to the north. Walking past the barriers, you can see it continues for a few yards before ending in what seems to be a slab of featureless steel.
>_
-
>Move right up next to the steel slab
>If nothing happens, try feeling around it, for a seam or anything else. We mightn't be able to entirely trust our eyes here.
-
>Move right up next to the steel slab
>If nothing happens, try feeling around it, for a seam or anything else. We mightn't be able to entirely trust our eyes here.
>You approach the slab, and nothing happens.
>Feeling around it, it seems to be exactly what it is supposed to be; a featureless slab of metal.
>_
-
>"I wonder... did they seal over something here?"
>Go back to the junction and take the second artificial looking tunnel
-
>"I wonder... did they seal over something here?"
>Go back to the junction and take the second artificial looking tunnel
>"Maybe," says Renko.
>You take the second tunnel, this one leading west and at the far side from the entrance. It is a bit longer, but ends just the same in a metal slab. This one, you noticed, has an old ink picture of what seems to be a Yin Yang symbol and some faded writing beneath it. You think it says something akin to "Gotcha," bu it's hard to tell.
>_
-
>"Well, this is a little disappointing. Did they wall the place up after they left, maybe?"
>Check the last tunnel
-
>First things first: Turn around before Reimu hits us from behind.
-
>First things first: Turn around before Reimu hits us from behind.
>You turn to leave the tunnel, and find no signs of Reimu.
>"Well, this is a little disappointing. Did they wall the place up after they left, maybe?"
>Check the last tunnel
>"I guess it might explain why no one really cares about the place, either," says Renko.
>You check the last tunnel. This one is a natural corridor, which thankfully does not end in a metal slab. You come to a largish, crescent-shaped chamber, about fifty feet across and maybe 20 feet across. The floor is covered here with plastic the color of the rock as well, while there are more lights set into the walls. You notice there are what seem to be tinted shutters that can be pulled over them. The chamber itself is pretty empty, save for a low tables set near the walls and what seems to be a cabinet near the back, the doors hanging open and suggesting there's nothing in it . There is a large metal set into the wall to the east, much larger than the others you have encountered, and an artificial tunnel to the west.
>_
-
>Investigate them shutters.
>Double-check the cabinet real quick, too.
-
> By 'set', it is meant that the tables are held fast to the floors/walls?
-
>Investigate them shutters.
>Double-check the cabinet real quick, too.
>You check the shutters. They seem to be made of translucent dark glass and look like they're made to slide over the lights. Perhaps a system to dim them?
>You walk over to the cabinet, and find it is very empty. It seems to be made of some sort of wood, painted white. Well, you think it's paint.
> By 'set', it is meant that the tables are held fast to the floors/walls?
>You aren't certain, but it doesn't look like they are attached to the floors or wall. Set in this case means placed.
>_
-
>How large and heavy are these tables?
>What is their approximate style, make, and material?
-
>Now why can these lights be dimmed, but not the others... or did we just not see the mechanism for those? Maybe this was a sleeping area?
-
>How large and heavy are these tables?
>What is their approximate style, make, and material?
>The tables are fairly sizable, you could probably seat two people to each side comfortably. As such, you imagine they are kind of heavy.
>They are low tables, you're clearly meant to sit on the floor rather than in chairs. They are square in shape, and look quite sturdy. You think they're made of wood, but it's hard to tell with the white coating-like paint on them.
>Now why can these lights be dimmed, but not the others... or did we just not see the mechanism for those? Maybe this was a sleeping area?
>This seems like a plausible theory.
>_
-
>Knock on them, lightly, to get a better idea of their material.
>"Well, if no one's using these, we could actually use some furniture, even if the previous looters didn't care... though it wouldn't hurt to explore the rest of this place before we carry out something so big."
>"Well, unless they're bolted down or something."
-
>Knock on them, lightly, to get a better idea of their material.
>"Well, if no one's using these, we could actually use some furniture, even if the previous looters didn't care... though it wouldn't hurt to explore the rest of this place before we carry out something so big."
>"Well, unless they're bolted down or something."
>You approach one of the tables and knock on it. Hmmm, seems to be wood. Or a decent facsimile thereof.
>"I was thinking the same thing," says Renko. "Though I had a look down that hall, and there's another metal wall there. Doesn't look like they're bolted down to me, anyways."
>_
-
>Go check down the hall, anyway
>Examine the metal wall at its end close-up
-
>Go check down the hall, anyway
>Examine the metal wall at its end close-up
>You check the hall. It is practically identical to the first hallway you examined.
>The metal slab is also practically identical to the one you first examined at a glance.
>_
-
>Then examine it at more than a glance. Get up next to it and look around for markings of any kind.
-
> Knock on it, too.
-
>Then examine it at more than a glance. Get up next to it and look around for markings of any kind.
>You get close to it and look for markings. You don't see anything.
> Knock on it, too.
>You knock on the door. It seems to be a solid piece of metal.
>_
-
>Blasted non-responsive Lunarian doors
>Have we explored every passage we could see, now?
>If so, head back to the room with the tables
>"Well, I must say this is a bit disappointing..."
-
> First, search around the edges of the door. Where does it appear set into the walls around it?
-
>"Let's at least try moving these tables, to make sure it's possible to take them. Then... we need to figure out how to get them home. Though I doubt it would be TOO difficult to talk some fairies into helping."
-
> First, search around the edges of the door. Where does it appear set into the walls around it?
>You check the edges of the door. It seems to be set into the stone.
>Blasted non-responsive Lunarian doors
>Have we explored every passage we could see, now?
>If so, head back to the room with the tables
>"Well, I must say this is a bit disappointing..."
>You have.
>You return to the crescent-shaped room.
>"Kinda," Renko says. "But I guess it could have been worse."
>"Let's at least try moving these tables, to make sure it's possible to take them. Then... we need to figure out how to get them home. Though I doubt it would be TOO difficult to talk some fairies into helping."
>"Pretty much what I'm thinking," says Renko. "But I don't think the faeries would be much for heavy lifting like that."
>_
-
>Attempt to lift a table, with Renko's help
-
>Attempt to lift a table, with Renko's help
>The two of you approach a table, and lift it.
>It's heavy, but not especially heavy. If it were a more manageable size and shape, you could probably lift it yourself with some difficulty. Really, the problem is that it's fairly unwieldy. But, that aside, you should be able to move it.
>_
-
> "Well...do you think we could get at least one of these home? The more the merrier, but..they're pretty awkward."
> How many tables are there in the room?
> How far is it from this field to our house?
-
>The cabinet is probably way too heavy for us alone, isn't it?
-
> "Well...do you think we could get at least one of these home? The more the merrier, but..they're pretty awkward."
> How many tables are there in the room?
> How far is it from this field to our house?
>"I'd say it's worth a try," says Renko. "Worse comes to worst, we really only need to get it as far as that boat shrine right now, I'm sure they wouldn't object to keeping it overnight.
>There are four of them.
>Some distance. This would take you some time.
>The cabinet is probably way too heavy for us alone, isn't it?
>You do not know! It would be hard to carry, at least.
>_
-
> "You wanna give the cabinet a try, too? If it's much heavier than the tables, we can just leave it here."
-
> "You wanna give the cabinet a try, too? If it's much heavier than the tables, we can just leave it here."
>"Sure," says Renko, "But we really don't need it as much as we need a table."
>She puts down her side of the table and approaches the cabinet.
>_
-
>Put down the table before we get a hernia and join her.
-
>Put down the table before we get a hernia and join her.
>You put the table down and join Renko.
>The cabinet turns out to be lighter than the table, but also harder to hold correctly.
>_
-
I generally agree with Renko that the table is the better thing to take first. Especially if we have teatime guests before we can buy furniture.
-
I do as well. I just wanted to see if the cabinet was movable.
> "Huh, better than I expected. Still, you're right. We need a table more."
Are we about ready to grab one of these things and haul it off? The only other even remote idea I have is to try shooting the metal doors.
-
> "Huh, better than I expected. Still, you're right. We need a table more."
>"Oh, I expect we'll be coming back tomorrow," says Renko.
>_
-
Try shooting them if you want. Nothing else comes to mind to do here.
-
I was mostly intending to point out that we might need help with the cabinet, even if we can handle the table ourselves... but I guess I thought it was larger than intended.
>"Let's give it a shot."
>In it for the long haul
... did we ever ask Byakuren about help with the jet project? XYBER HUGE must count for something.
And I assume that any looters probably tried shooting the doors as well. Unless you want to dig through the dirt around the doors, I guess... or figure out how they're supposed to open. If they are.
-
In Reisen Quest, they just opened when Reisen got near them. Either they're keyed to only work for Lunarians / Moon Rabbits, or they're out of power or have been disabled somehow.
As for asking Byakuren, they're already quite busy with their own construction project, and I wouldn't really feel right asking them.
-
> "Or do you mean you don't want to come back for these tables until tomorrow?"
-
>"Let's give it a shot."
>In it for the long haul
>The two of you combine your efforts, and get to work hijacking a table.
>It's not that hard, really, until you get to the stairs. Then you, being the slightly stronger of the two of you have to take it by the rear and hold it while Renko guides it upwards. This isn't so bad...at least not until you have to manipulate it through the comparatively tiny hatch. Thankfully, it is a short table, so the legs are not too much of a problem.
>Afterward, you need a rest. But from here out, it's just an issue of getting it home.
>_
-
> Take said rest (if we didn't already).
> "Well...I think this is a good start. You're right about coming back tomorrow. With this, and Marisa volunteering us some tea, all we'll need is a tea set. I wonder if Reimu has one? Or maybe the shop..."
> "Anyway, you ready for the haul home?"
-
> Take said rest (if we didn't already).
> "Well...I think this is a good start. You're right about coming back tomorrow. With this, and Marisa volunteering us some tea, all we'll need is a tea set. I wonder if Reimu has one? Or maybe the shop..."
> "Anyway, you ready for the haul home?"
>You have a seat on the table and rest.
>"I can't imagine a kettle and some cups would be that hard to find," says Renko.
>"Yeah, let's do this. We got the bad part out of the way."
>_
-
> "Okay, then. Let's do this."
> Grab the table and head on home.
-
> "Okay, then. Let's do this."
> Grab the table and head on home.
>You grab the table, and begin to relay it home. Getting it through the grass field it annoying, it's easy to trip when you can't see your feet and have to match pace with Renko. But the two of you do alright. You manage to get it to the main road, and to the village before you need to stop and take another rest again. As you do, the two of you get your fair share of curious looks from the villagers. As well, you draw the attention of Suika as she passes by.
>"S'funny looking table," she says, frowning at it.
>_
-
> "Yeah, but we'll take what we can get right about now. Starting over from scratch isn't very easy."
-
> "Yeah, but we'll take what we can get right about now. Starting over from scratch isn't very easy."
>Suika nods. "Right you are."
>With that, she wanders off.
>_
-
> Mentally slap self for not asking for help.
> Continue on home.
-
> Mentally slap self for not asking for help.
> Continue on home.
>She might have been useful, yes. Oh well.
>After resting a bit, you make the final leg of the trip. It's not so bad, really. The road's easy to walk on and it's not too terrible far from town to your house.
>Soon enough you reach the front doors. With a little twisting, you fit the table through it and place it in the middle of your future dining room. Well...current dining room.
>_
-
> Heave a sigh.
> "Phew, finally did it. This place is looking more like a home all the time."
> Look at Renko.
> "...Yeah...more like...our home."
-
> Heave a sigh.
> "Phew, finally did it. This place is looking more like a home all the time."
> Look at Renko.
> "...Yeah...more like...our home."
>"Sure does," she says. Then she frowns. "Wait. Oh man, you're going to hate me for this. I just realized what would have made this way easier. That liquid Yukari gave you."
>She pauses then frowns again. "Wait. Maybe it was better you didn't. We don't know if it affects stuff you're wearing. Like clothes and things."
>_
-
> "Knowing Yukari, I wouldn't be surprised either way, really."
> Check general time.
-
> "Knowing Yukari, I wouldn't be surprised either way, really."
> Check general time.
>"I'm gonna guess the latter, knowing Yukari," says Renko.
>It's practically sunset now. You can see it through the western window pretty well, though the forest obscures some of it.
>_
-
> "How are you feeling? It's not quite dark yet, but we've had pretty long days."
-
> "How are you feeling? It's not quite dark yet, but we've had pretty long days."
>"I'm alright," Renko says. "But I'll probably sleep like the dead tonight."
>_
-
> "You wanna get a leg up on that, then? I think we could stand to, uh, christen our home."
-
> "You wanna get a leg up on that, then? I think we could stand to, uh, christen our home."
>She smiles. "Sure thing, love. Lead the way."
>_
-
> Smile.
> "You got it."
> Take her hand.
> Oh...oh...oh God, here they come again.
> Crying start, smiling stop.
> Throw our arms around Renko and hug her tight.
> "I'm...so happy...so happy I have you..."
-
> Smile.
> "You got it."
> Take her hand.
> Oh...oh...oh God, here they come again.
> Crying start, smiling stop.
> Throw our arms around Renko and hug her tight.
> "I'm...so happy...so happy I have you..."
>You take her hand and start to held toward the back, then start crying again. You throw your arms around her and declare your happiness. "I am too, Mary," she says. "I am too. Now come on, save your breath. We have much better things for you to expend it on."
>The two of you return to the bedroom, and in the fading light of the the sunset you make the house yours as officially as you can without a deed being involved. You take it more slowly this time. Without the flowing adrenaline of before, the tenseness of an upcoming big day, or the significant risk of being caught in the act, you're able to have a fairly relaxed pace of it; taking your time and properly enjoying each other. It's special, to say the least. Also, once it gets dark, neither of you have much better to do as you never picked up any candles or the like.
>The next day is a significant shopping day. Not having anything for breakfast spurs that on. You scour the village, checking the various stories and find which ones are willing to allow you a little credit. Thankfully, some of the grocers are willing to be understanding, and allow you a couple days worth of food. You also manage to secure some bowls and cups, as well as a good brazier and a wok. Marisa makes good on her promise, loaning you an old chair, some tea, some coal, and an old kettle. Mystia also seems a bit sympathetic, loaning you a few spare pillows and some rice. You also splurge a bit and obtain some drapes from Shou's Clothes, which are oddly tiger striped but the proprietor is willing to let go cheaply for the assistance you gave Byakuren the past couple days. You find she, the oddly familiar tiger-striped woman, is one of Byakuren's followers and main sources of income. Perhaps it is a bit unnecessary, but the bare windows are just depressing.
>The rest of the day is spent looting the tables and cabinet out of the Lunarian outpost, then after a break, gathering mushrooms for Marisa. You find the faeries are not quite so helpful as they used to be, having moved on to new things, but they don't give you a hard time and are willing to point out where they saw patches of phantom mushrooms. At one point, Hatate approaches you, asking for an interview. She gushes that you've given her the highest selling edition yet! As well, she gives you copies of all her photos from the invasion, many of which were unprinted. Renko is exceedingly pleased with them. That evening, as you are cooking for first actual meal in your home, you receive your first guest. Answering the door, you find it is Alice. The rest of the evening goes by uncomfortably as you dance around the subject of what happened over tea, while she talks about some of her experiences with enchanting magic and things she's done. In the end, though, you have the feeling she isn't angry enough with you to burn your house down and everything in it, and is kind enough to direct her dolls to take care of the dishes for you.
>The next evening, Remilia, Patchouli, Sakuya, and Meiling stop by for tea, bringing Flandre and Petite with them. Thankfully, this isn't quite so tense, with Remilia being a gracious, if self-centered conversationalist, Sakuya expertly taking care of things, and the rest being good company. Flandre, much unlike your experiences with the shadow who called herself this one, seems to be a fairly normal if especially bright little girl. She finds the fact that you are Renko are a couple to be absolutely adorable and can't stop squealing over the two of you. Things go pleasantly well, in fact, until there is a knock at the door and Yukari invites herself inside for the promised dinner, happily seating herself between you and Renko and throwing her arms around you both. Things are still civil, and there doesn't seem to be any bad blood lingering in the air despite Yukari, but the mood definitely shifts a bit. You really do not want to know what Yukari and Petite had a wished conversation in the corner toward the end of the day, while you and Sakuya helped tidy up. As for Sakuya, if she is upset with you, it does not show at all.
>Taking with the blacksmith again, you find she is having success smelting the metal and over the course of the next few days, she mints 3644 new coins from the resulting metal. After taking her share, you are still left with enough to obtain good furnishings for your home, food, clothing, and have a small amount left over. You also begin to look for a job, and soon find yourself picking up a few ☼ here and there by running errands for people. You start to feel confident your finances, and begin looking for small things to make you home more of a home; decorations and books and the like. Renko, for her part, takes mushroom foraging to the next level, using her faerie contacts to find useful things and sell them in the village. Between the two of you, you think you'll do alright.
>There's a lot for you to adapt to. Learning how to make fires without matches or lighters (you learn not to put them all of them out very quickly), cleaning with a broom rather than a vacuum, doing laundry without a machine, and so on. But you adapt, a bit at a time, and with a little help from your new friends as they come and visit. As much as you hate to admit it, Yukari is exceeding helpful despite her tendency to invite herself over whenever she pleases and hug you in ways which are much too personal for your liking, or whisper things that are just a little too frank into your ear. But she is very helpful in figuring out how to do day to day things. You find you don't often have days to yourself as people such as Nitori, Utsuho and Parsee, Marisa, and at one point even Yuka drop in to visit and see how you are doing. Nitori reports she has more or less finished her plans for the jet, while Utsuho and Parsee report things are going quite well between themselves and Yuugi. Sadly, it doesn't seem Satori was able to do much with Koishi, but the visit seems to have done her quite a lot of good. Yuka leaves you a number of autumnal flowers, which do quite a lot to spruce up the yard. As well, faeries seem to invite themselves over whenever they take the notion, sometimes wanting to help. Sometimes deciding to help without telling you. At least, that's what you tell yourself when you wake up one morning and find a ten foot long picture of a turtle painted on the side of the hose.
>Days flow into weeks, and you find yourself growing more and more comfortable with life in Gensokyo. Once you feel comfortable with your day to day life, you start to think further ahead. The university has finished, and you quickly apply to lecture on the outside world. It is taken under consideration, and you eagerly await the university committee's reply. You also begin to consider your magic anew. Weeks have passed, and as far as you can tell, neither you nor Renko have lost your humanity. As for Renko, she sets her sights on the next big opportunity, just as soon as she can figure out what it is. Perhaps investing that persistent rumor of the Brocken Spectre?
>You have gotten a Happy End!
>
>Credits:
>Original Inspiration: TranceHime
>Art, Programming, Music, Typos, Database Errors: Purvis Hobotech
>Great Player: You!
>And then, to all the wonderful players, I give the fear of eternal life.
>See you next time.
-
Wow, I can't believe we filled what, 11 topics with this? Jesus. Congratulations on running what will probably be the most successful individual game in RPG history.
Anyway, my ego supposes I owe people a couple of explanations.
1) Why did I ship Renko and Mari? That was actually a 100% tactical decision: I gave no fucks about Maribel going into this quest and had never really had interest in seeing the GFC go all the way with each other beyond "Renko's a pretty cool cat, so I wouldn't mind, I guess". The goal of the kiss was to show Renko that, no matter what, we cared. Remember that this was back when we were afraid we were going to have to fight CrazyRenko for the SDM's sake; the kiss would be the deal-sealer that would have forced her to be the aggressor in such a situation, which would have made our forgiving her after our theoretical victory all the more meaningful. Of course, if Renko reciprocated (which I half-anticipated she would; I'm surprised so many people didn't pick up on Satori's not-so-subtle hint, if the kneejerk reactions to the kiss were any indication) and relented, all the better. Either way, we were coming out on top with that kiss, so I felt it was the right move to make.
EDIT: This does not mean Maribel didn't mean the kiss, of course, because she very much did.
(Much to Draco's chagrin, I went most of the quest still giving no fucks about Maribel; rather, my like for Renko skyrocketed instead, and the GFC ship actually does appeal to me now to a degree. Funny how things work. I think Maribel might ultimately get bumped up a few spots on my personal rankings, though. There are enough PC-98s I'm indifferent toward...)
2) Why did I flip my shit so much surrounding the second enhancement? Mostly because I'm a fuckup that gets too emotionally attached to things that don't warrant it (remember me talking about that power outage during the first kiss scene? I actually drove to work and hopped online there to make sure it ran smoothly. Yes, I was that invested.) and this ends up in my panicking and lashing out at people if things appear to be going down a path I don't like and can't stop. If people are looking for a slightly more rational, in-game reason for opposing the second enhancement, it was because Renko was pretty obviously unhappy with the idea of GTS status, despite her best attempts to hide it from us. I wasn't willing to hurt Renko emotionally in the name of something that seemed to me to be far more superficial than her love for us. Banking on her going "well, you're still you, so I'll support you" would have been the biggest dick move I could imagine (in a long line of dick moves of varying degrees we pulled on her throughout this game).
Not that any of this is any sort of excuse for my behavior. I am terribly sorry things went down the way they did, and apologize to anyone that was put off in any fashion by my conduct. (I am rather surprised that no one went to another authority figure because of this; I see it as no different from lashing out in Mafia, which we have punished people for in the past.)
---
Anyway, to the questions I've been saving:
Major Questions
> So what would have happened if we had gone with the second enhancement?
> For that matter, would the first have turned us youkai as well?
> Was Alice + Construct originally the final (or final + EX) boss tandem, or were you planning on making it Renko before the underground make-out session?
> Why were there so many shades-of-grey issues in this quest? Was it planned like that or did it just happen as a function of the course of the story?
> Was it actually possible to argue Koishi into submission regarding Utsuho?
> Why did we wake up later than everyone else? Renko got in a full day without us, and Yamame cited several days having passed.
Minor Questions
> How close were we to Koishi losing her patience and giving up on us?
> How did Koishi and Satori's conversation go? Looks like this one got answered to a degree.
> Did Reisen ever find out about General Construct's Revenge?
> Was it possible to get Flan involved in any of the SDM battle antics - Renko vs. SDM or Alice vs. Za Marudo?
> Why was Suwako on the roof of her shrine?
> Where was Rin the whole time?
> What would have happened if we snagged a cooling mechanism for Nitori, ghost or otherwise?
> Who did take the bucket, anyway?
-
> So what would have happened if we had gone with the second enhancement?
> For that matter, would the first have turned us youkai as well?
> Was Alice + Construct originally the final (or final + EX) boss tandem, or were you planning on making it Renko before the underground make-out session?
> Why were there so many shades-of-grey issues in this quest? Was it planned like that or did it just happen as a function of the course of the story?
> Was it actually possible to argue Koishi into submission regarding Utsuho?
> Why did we wake up later than everyone else? Renko got in a full day without us, and Yamame cited several days having passed.
> How close were we to Koishi losing her patience and giving up on us?
> How did Koishi and Satori's conversation go? Looks like this one got answered to a degree.
> Did Reisen ever find out about General Construct's Revenge?
> Was it possible to get Flan involved in any of the SDM battle antics - Renko vs. SDM or Alice vs. Za Marudo?
> Why was Suwako on the roof of her shrine?
> Where was Rin the whole time?
> What would have happened if we snagged a cooling mechanism for Nitori, ghost or otherwise?
> Who did take the bucket, anyway?
>Maribel would have ended up fairly huge, but emotionally unchanged. As to how well she adapted? That would have been based on your RPing. You would have been better suited to take on Alice and the Construct, but at the same time, much bigger target.
>Would the first? That depends on your RPing. Doll S's constant "Practice Barriers!" didn't help.
>Renko was planned as the endboss, with Alice and the Construct as the EX-/True Final Boss.
>Shades of gray arouse naturally as things proceeded.
>You could have stalemated or defeated Koishi if you spoke more in detail with Keine and the deities regarding the damage done. Keine in particular.
>Mechanical reasons, chiefly. I wanted Renko to have a leg up on you at first. Realistically, the transition was more exhausting for Maribel.
>Hard to say with Koishi.
>Reisen did find out. Maribel doesn't know what she did.
>You could have found the basement when the construct was after you, or when Alice was attacking, and threw open the door. It would have worked better if you had gotten to know Flandre first.
>Because Suwako likes the roof. She was there in Reisen Quest, too.
>Orin was making sure that Blazing Hell was okay on day one. You just missed her on day two.
>She would have probably be reinspired for the project. Also it would have been a step toward becoming a youkai.
>Motherfucking Tenshi.
>_
-
>How would capturing a ghost have been a step towards becoming a youkai? Moreover, how would a NON-ghost cooling mechanism affect this, as implied by the original question/answer
>By 'how we RP' affecting whether we became a youkai or not, are you saying that practicing magic, such as those barrier, more often and explicitly in-quest would have affected the chances of the first enhancement turning us into a youkai?
>Would it also have been affected simply by her having a more explicit attitude that she 'wanted' to be one?
>Would this has actually been possible to happen over the span of the quest itself? Or would it have been a post-quest effect?
>Would it have been possible to stop Alice's spell from assembling the construct once it had started?
>When we snuck back in the mansion front door, while Alice was in the gallery with Koakuma, if we'd taken out all the lookout dolls before going to the library, could we have reached Alice while Koakuma was still active?
>Would it have been reasonably possible to take Alice down before she even got to the gallery or activated the construct, if we'd played our cards in the first encounter better?
>Would the enhancements (especially the second) have affected the duration of Maribel's time stop? And by how much?
>How did the power boost from the bracelet roughly compare to what we would have gotten from the first enhancement?
-
Let's have some title changes to reflect completed status in future, or at least let me know.
-
>How would capturing a ghost have been a step towards becoming a youkai? Moreover, how would a NON-ghost cooling mechanism affect this, as implied by the original question/answer
>By 'how we RP' affecting whether we became a youkai or not, are you saying that practicing magic, such as those barrier, more often and explicitly in-quest would have affected the chances of the first enhancement turning us into a youkai?
>Would it also have been affected simply by her having a more explicit attitude that she 'wanted' to be one?
>Would this has actually been possible to happen over the span of the quest itself? Or would it have been a post-quest effect?
>Would it have been possible to stop Alice's spell from assembling the construct once it had started?
>When we snuck back in the mansion front door, while Alice was in the gallery with Koakuma, if we'd taken out all the lookout dolls before going to the library, could we have reached Alice while Koakuma was still active?
>Would it have been reasonably possible to take Alice down before she even got to the gallery or activated the construct, if we'd played our cards in the first encounter better?
>Would the enhancements (especially the second) have affected the duration of Maribel's time stop? And by how much?
>How did the power boost from the bracelet roughly compare to what we would have gotten from the first enhancement?
>It would have been, essentially, using a sentient and intelligent being for its mystical properties. Kind of the difference between owning a pet and owning a slave. It wouldn't have been a huge step in comparison to some other things, but it would have been one. A non ghost one wouldn't have had the Youkai aspect to it.
>Practicing would have had an effect, though minor. Obsessively practicing every free minute would have been much more of an effect.
>Yes.
>Yes, you could have become a youkai during the course of the quest. Most likely it would have been the side effect of an enhancement, or a following some other course such as trying to cast something too for you to normally cast; some especial act of power hunger.
>You could have used the Oil of Vibration on the Grimoire, and forced Alice to recast.
>You could have gotten to the Koakuma fight if you were fast enough.
>It could have been possible, yes. But at that point she had the parts for it outside.
>The first would have had the same effect as the bracelet; three seconds to four, but with the option to "safely" push it to five. The second would have given you second seconds. But due to not being used to her new size, Maribel wouldn't have necessarily been so effective with it.
>The mushroom bracelet is less powerful than the first enhancement, but not by much.
>_
-
Wow, this one went for (almost exactly) just 2 months and it spanned 9 pages!
These adventures are so awesome.
I should've write down what I wanted to ask post-end-game, because now I've pretty much forgot. D:
>So how could we have not missed Orin and what would be her role?
>If we've actually bought something at the Tavern, would there be any effect? Would it help finding out that Tenshi stole the bucket?
-
>Even if we'd convinced Koishi that setting back the world was necessary to repair important damage, would that have done anything to amend her opinion of Okuu's actions? Especially considering Okuu had no knowledge of any of that at the time, and Koishi would know this.
>Was the force that suddenly held the gallery door closed a doll temporarily enhanced to a goliath doll? And was that why the other doll by the door was dizzy afterwards?
>If Maribel hadn't stopped pushing for a moment to try shooting at Alice, could we actually have gotten the doors open then?
>Why was that doll crying?
-
> BGM, Alice fight.
> BGM, Construct bashing.
> BGM, Opening up to the braclet. (if their is one for that)
> BGM, Raiding the SDM.
> BGM, Renko Batlle.
> BGM, Yukari's Antics.
> Thank the parser for an awesome quest :D
-
Wow, this one went for (almost exactly) just 2 months and it spanned 9 pages!
These adventures are so awesome.
I should've write down what I wanted to ask post-end-game, because now I've pretty much forgot. D:
>So how could we have not missed Orin and what would be her role?
>If we've actually bought something at the Tavern, would there be any effect? Would it help finding out that Tenshi stole the bucket?
Ah bless you.
>You would have have to have either ventured into former hell, or gone to the Palace of the Earth Spirits at the right time.
>It might have gotten you some communication with her, and better understanding of what she does.
>Even if we'd convinced Koishi that setting back the world was necessary to repair important damage, would that have done anything to amend her opinion of Okuu's actions? Especially considering Okuu had no knowledge of any of that at the time, and Koishi would know this.
>Was the force that suddenly held the gallery door closed a doll temporarily enhanced to a goliath doll? And was that why the other doll by the door was dizzy afterwards?
>If Maribel hadn't stopped pushing for a moment to try shooting at Alice, could we actually have gotten the doors open then?
>Why was that doll crying?
>It would have helped if you pushed it far enough.
>It was a goliath doll, and she was dizzy for exactly that reason.
>Yep.
>Because you used her as bludgeon and beat down other dolls, you jerks! Do you have any idea how traumatizing that is!?
> Thank the parser for an awesome quest :D
[/quote]> BGM, Alice fight.
> BGM, Construct bashing.
> BGM, Opening up to the braclet. (if their is one for that)
> BGM, Raiding the SDM.
> BGM, Renko Batlle.
> BGM, Yukari's Antics.
> Thank the parser for an awesome quest :D
>BGM: Doll Judgment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Mat6YDpHE)
>BGM: Gold and Silver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aOS_AklEZ4)
>BGM: Good Lord that's a lotta bullets! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBxHFoaxKEs)
>BGM: Ten Thousand Faeries (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWfT_1vUICc)
>BGM: Fighting of the Shadowy Hat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wVl1kTOga4)
>BGM: It's...Yukari~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH9szMPVNdQ)
>No problem, chummer.
>_
-
>Oh yea, why wasn't Kogasa there when we last visited her?
-
>Oh yea, why wasn't Kogasa there when we last visited her?
>Because she was laying in wait near the gates of SDM.
-
> What would have happened if we and Renko had agreed to Yukari's proposal? Would Renko even have agreed, for that matter?
> Would there have been any sidequests to do at Eientei?
> If we had engaged Rumia just before meeting up with Renko, what would have changed?
-
It was a quite different quest than the previous ones, I say that. And I think this was the most complete one either, with very good reasonable players. Also I liked the lots of debating due to the gray mentality all over the place. I wonder if the next one could top this one. Great job.
-
> What was Nue's favor that we owe her, anyways?
> Fondly regard parser for completed quest.
-
Congrats on the longest complete test adventure to date! :3
BGM: Day One
BGM: Deva K
BGM: Finally Found Renko
BGM: Construct's Final Breath
BGM: Edge of Hakugyokuro
BGM: Komachi and Pochi
-
> What would have happened if we and Renko had agreed to Yukari's proposal? Would Renko even have agreed, for that matter?
> Would there have been any sidequests to do at Eientei?
> If we had engaged Rumia just before meeting up with Renko, what would have changed?
>You would have had a hella threesome. As for whether Renko would have agreed, that is a secret.
>Honestly? No. I didn't have much in the way of ideas for it. Thankfully, Eientei is also hard as hell to reach, so I didn't have to worry much about it.
>You might have learned why she was there. To which there was more than she happened to be there at the time.
It was a quite different quest than the previous ones, I say that. And I think this was the most complete one either, with very good reasonable players. Also I liked the lots of debating due to the gray mentality all over the place. I wonder if the next one could top this one. Great job.
That it was. Personally, when page-long debates spark, I tend to grin like a fox. As for the next one topping this, we do not worry about such things. We simply make things happen.
> What was Nue's favor that we owe her, anyways?
> Fondly regard parser for completed quest.
>She hasn't called it in, yet.
>Aw shucks~
Congrats on the longest complete test adventure to date! :3
BGM: Day One
BGM: Deva K
BGM: Finally Found Renko
BGM: Construct's Final Breath
BGM: Edge of Hakugyokuro
BGM: Komachi and Pochi
>BGM: First Step Toward Wars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSwK-C2vZBQ)
>BGM: The Oldest Friend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCHKPX9MGF4)
>BGM: Reunity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TTL8GyTWig)
>BGM: Ceasing of the Last Motions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEfZr3CEB0)
>BGM: Beyond the Realm of Death (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOEnOmXLE48)
>BGM: Best Friends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOsdLrYg66I)
>_
-
>Did all of this change how the fairies at the SDM were treated at all? (Sorry I forgot to bring this up before we finished :<)
>What could talking to Rikako have accomplished?
>Would Kanako have considered the science heretic's help for the jet project, if we asked?
>What was the problem Marisa was having?
>Will Plum Flower ever get some?
>Will the Construct ever return?
>How is Tokiko doing?
>WHERE IS SARAH CONNER
>BGM: Yuugi vs. Utsuho
>BGM: Chen's Fishing!
>BGM: Fairy Tag
>BGM: Koishi's Hatred
>BGM: Speaking with Satorin
>BGM: Camp of the Great Army
>BGM: Sunny's Deathbed
>BGM: A Magician's Inspiration
>BGM: Head Maid's Threat
>BGM: Bucket, O Bucket, Where Art Thou?
>BGM: Bothering Biggun
>BGM: Abandonment of Humanity
>BGM: Seduction of the Border Goddess
>BGM: Blacksmith Boogie
>BGM: The Felt
>BGM: Guano Chamber
>BGM: Genji's Pond
>BGM: Shizuha Flipout
>BGM: Welcome Home
>BGM: Return to Reality
>BGM: Bumbling Outworlders
>BGM: Love's Birth
>BGM: Abandoned Base
>BGM: Advice of the Elemental Sorceress
>BGM: Prismriver Punkout
>BGM: Booze Central
>BGM: Teaching a New Youkai
>BGM: A Moral Dilemma
-
BGM: Tokiko's Unorthodox Eating Methods
BGM: Trespassing in Airspace
-
> Was the haunted house specifically planted to give the GFC a place to call their own?
> Will you ever do anything with the Mommybel path?
> Why didn't Renko ever cry over us, when we (well, okay, I) spent so much of the game crying over her?
-
>Did all of this change how the fairies at the SDM were treated at all? (Sorry I forgot to bring this up before we finished :<)
>What could talking to Rikako have accomplished?
>Would Kanako have considered the science heretic's help for the jet project, if we asked?
>What was the problem Marisa was having?
>Will Plum Flower ever get some?
>Will the Construct ever return?
>How is Tokiko doing?
>WHERE IS SARAH CONNER
>BGM: Yuugi vs. Utsuho
>BGM: Chen's Fishing!
>BGM: Fairy Tag
>BGM: Koishi's Hatred
>BGM: Speaking with Satorin
>BGM: Camp of the Great Army
>BGM: Sunny's Deathbed
>BGM: A Magician's Inspiration
>BGM: Head Maid's Threat
>BGM: Bucket, O Bucket, Where Art Thou?
>BGM: Bothering Biggun
>BGM: Abandonment of Humanity
>BGM: Seduction of the Border Goddess
>BGM: Blacksmith Boogie
>BGM: The Felt
>BGM: Guano Chamber
>BGM: Genji's Pond
>BGM: Shizuha Flipout
>BGM: Welcome Home
>BGM: Return to Reality
>BGM: Bumbling Outworlders
>BGM: Love's Birth
>BGM: Abandoned Base
>BGM: Advice of the Elemental Sorceress
>BGM: Prismriver Punkout
>BGM: Booze Central
>BGM: Teaching a New Youkai
>BGM: A Moral Dilemma
>Probably not.
>You might have made a new friend. She might have also introduced you to other heretics.
>She might have. But Nitori would have been a very hard sell.
>Lo que tu hablas, Wilis?
>That is too be announced.
>You might spend it on something.
>Iku may find out! But as of the ending, she seemed to be doing well.
>IN YOUR BOOTY!
>BGM: Shake the Earth (unused) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NyvvCGxRes)
>BGM: Catfishing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IhSDea-LXo)
>BGM: Aerial Training (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGUqDvvb4JQ)
>BGM: Bitter Memories (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwoQcCikpY0)
>BGM: She knows what you're thinking. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o30NaQj7Ygc)
>BGM: Chaotic Encampment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvazUyn_9N8)
>BGM: Sunny got a Well-Deserved Beating >=[ (unused) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39hxWXwK3Vs)
>BGM: Marisa Kirisame Has Entered A Strange Mood... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef3asDFaz98)
>BGM: Sakuya is Serious (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iim3hB8qHjQ)
>BGM: Where that Bucket? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGKZQpgvySA)
>BGM: Byakuren is very busy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebc39VbOb80)
>BGM: Humanity Lost (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SySGPOn1jXo)
>BGM: Yukari Got Her Eye On You. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBJFbY_egSU)
>BGM: Smithy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70jMX8qK7dY)
>BGM: A Step Back and a Step Forward (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY4Q3ajZ8ks)
>BGM: Cave of Bats! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVWWyENTFdc)
>BGM: Clear Waters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N6RKS5DoTM)
>BGM: Furious Falling Leaves (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCDCXHXoaI4)
>BGM: After a Hard Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKW9OuwNvSk)
>BGM: Return to Reality (Unused) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnS0kMMIgM)
>BGM: World Without Logos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIYgE6G8I9E)
>BGM: Happy Realization (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y4bq5wtP6o)
>BGM: Lunarian Leftovers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QVj4G1Kb8)
>BGM: Lessons from Patchy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU_5Lyamcjg)
>BGM: Prisms for Faeries (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qutJoj2fSAc)
>BGM: Lively City (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaavYyOoeaE)
>BGM: Lessons for Tokiko (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipBx5JRbavs)
>BGM: Moral Conflicts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGu_M1cYWc4)
BGM: Tokiko's Unorthodox Eating Methods
BGM: Trespassing in Airspace
>Oh god you people.
>BGM: Snake Eater (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWbIF2CiXsg)
>BGM: A Flight Too Far (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcaJxnocad8)
> Was the haunted house specifically planted to give the GFC a place to call their own?
> Will you ever do anything with the Mommybel path?
> Why didn't Renko ever cry over us, when we (well, okay, I) spent so much of the game crying over her?
>Yes wait no maybe.
>Maybe.
>Because she is not a crybaby.
>_
-
>Because she is not a crybaby.
> Well pardon Maribel for caring about her friend!
-
>What would have been the outcome and consequences of the Utsuho/Yuugi fight, if we hadn't averted it?
-
> Well pardon Maribel for caring about her friend!
>Notice how Renko cared without risking dehydration every ten minutes? >=|
>What would have been the outcome and consequences of the Utsuho/Yuugi fight, if we hadn't averted it?
>Depends on whether you interfered in some way. Left on its own, Utsuho would have won by sheer force. The consequences would have been a general lose of respect for Yuugi, leading her to crack down on the city pretty hard both to salvage it and to try to work out her fury. She would have been much less approachable. As for the relationship, who knows?
>_
-
> What would have been the consequences if we were generally disrespectful to Yuka and refused her demands?
-
Death, probably.
>Notice how Renko cared without risking dehydration every ten minutes? >=|
> So if we had a precious outside world concept cruelly stolen from us, she would have cried over us more than she did?
-
> What would have been the consequences if we were generally disrespectful to Yuka and refused her demands?
>You would have woken up outside of human down, beaten and battered and possibly missing a kidney.
Death, probably.
> So if we had a precious outside world concept cruelly stolen from us, she would have cried over us more than she did?
>No because she doesn't have tear duct diarrhea >=[
>But more seriously, it's just not her style.
>_
-
> Well, now I feel kinda sexist, making Mari out to be the overly emotional one and then giving her the desire to have a kid. >_>
-
> Well, now I feel kinda sexist, making Mari out to be the overly emotional one and then giving her the desire to have a kid. >_>
>Eh. Biological urges happen to everyone sometimes. And some people are just prone to crying.
>_
-
>Why create Gensokyo Isle just to let Sanae ride a jet plane? Or were there more reasons than that?
-
>Why create Gensokyo Isle just to let Sanae ride a jet plane? Or were there more reasons than that?
>Given Koishi had no reason to want to treat Sanae, there were probably more reasons. Though, you should consider the importance of Sanae to her goddesses before writing off their reasonings.
>_
-
>Where did Prismriver Punkout go, and why is Humanity Lost not marked unused? :V
-
>Where did Prismriver Punkout go, and why is Humanity Lost not marked unused? :V
>It's there. Just flipped due to Lexiadys. Also, Humanity wasn't lost, so no need for it.
>_
-
>It's there. Just flipped due to Lexiadys. Also, Humanity wasn't lost, so no need for it.
>NOT marked unused. Utsuho and Yuugi didn't fight, either, yet... >=[
-
>NOT marked unused. Utsuho and Yuugi didn't fight, either, yet... >=[
>Database error. Wanna fight about it?
>_
-
> How do Renko and Maribel compare to each other in that fashion?
> And why did you make Tokiko so large, anyway?
-
> How do Renko and Maribel compare to each other in that fashion?
> And why did you make Tokiko so large, anyway?
>Renko is smaller. I am certain I mentioned this when you originally asked.
>She's a Great Tit Youkai, via canonical declarations of Mus.