Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Hello Purvis on March 03, 2011, 03:08:25 AM
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>You are Iku Nagae, Gensokyo's premier messenger and dancer, and the sky has fallen! Related to this, you have had a terrible, no good, awful, very bad day yesterday, and are having another one today.
>You do not know how, or why, but Bhava-Arga has fallen from the sky and now hovers scant yards over the surface of Gensokyo. This has caused numerous problems. On top of this, Tenshi has run off after stealing the Sword of Hisou. This has made her a primary suspect in the eyes of many. including yourself at one point. You've since proven her innocence on the matter.
>You are an oarfish youkai in service to the Dragon Palace. As a resident of Bhava-Agra, you bear a status similar to that of a Celestial, and are considered a minor functionary in the Celestial Bureaucracy that makes certain the known universe runs as it should, with all the rights privileges, and duties that come with this position. You are in the service of The Dragon, who reigns quietly as the highest god of this realm, and is among the highest beings in the universe. It regards you well, and you think of it as a guardian.
>While your duties and position suggest your place is in Bhava-Agra, you have a tendency to roam to other places. You somewhat blame this on Tenshi Hinanai, whom you have unfortunately been charged with keeping out of significant trouble, and her tendency to visit Gensokyo whenever possible. You are well-know for your love of dance, and excellence in performing it; oftentimes you've been asked to star in performances given at the Dragon Palace. Others have styled you the Dance Empress, particularly those who would try to claim that title for themselves. You are, as far as you know, well regarded by everyone you know and are welcome practically anywhere in Gensokyo, save perhaps for Higan. The only real black spot in your days is periodically having to deal with Tenshi's chicanery.
>You have been tasked by The Dragon in dealing with this incident. You have taken some stock of the damage surrounding the fall. You have found that Bhava-Agra's food supply has been badly affected by these events; you defeated a tsuchinoko on Minoirko's behalf in hopes of alleviating this. You have delivered messages for Patchouli. You have had bad run ins with Marisa and Reimu; and nearly had one with Sanae. You have found Tenshi hiding in the Ancient City, became convinced of her innocence, convinced her to join you, and have had several spats with her. You've done your best to bond with Tenshi, and you've made significant progress in that regard. You've been hearing a lot about a search for some thing called the Brocken Spectre, and learned it is key to the whole issue. You found and rescued Yamame, who was captured by faeries. You've been given a hit list by Yuugi. You've released Aya from prison after a rather confused encounter. You've discovered that the islands of Bhava-Agra do not cast proper shadows; nor does Nitori, who was practically dead to the world before you were able to have her shadow restored. You've found Kogasa has had her shadow stolen very recently, it has since been restored. Yukari has loaned you a very important tool, which you have returned safely! You tried to get a candid photo of Aya, but had problems when she ran from Momiji. Hopefully she will appear at Kourindou this evening. You have learned of a mysterious poltergeist roaming the Forest of Magic, and have deduced that she is both the shadow thief and the Brocken Spectre. You've beaten the Brocken Spectre in combat, then got exilled away to what you believed was the missing shadow of Bhava-Agra. You managed to escape there and end up in Makai, from which you have escaped after several misadventures. You may have convinced Reimu not to come after you! You seem to have even managed to make a connection with the paranoid and isolationist poltergeist and gotten some of the missing shadows restored.
>You have almost convince the poltergeist to open up to someone else, in hopes of seeking a solution to her problems.
> "If she were going to, she would have come here herself instead of sending her messenger again. The fact that she is not here right now very strongly suggests she is not coming without your invitation."
>"Oh..." says the poltergeist. "And...you really think she would know something?"
>_
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>"She knows a lot. As I said, I have questions for her, too."
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> "I would be surprised if there were another person in Gensokyo that has more expertise in their specialty than she has in hers, and this includes yourself and myself."
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Have you considered mentioning the satori species to Shuuei? I wonder what she would think about a species of creature who have the innate ability to invade privacy and can't (normally) shut it off.
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>"She knows a lot. As I said, I have questions for her, too."
>The Poltergeist grimaces. "I...well...maybe...I just don't...."
>_
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> "I would be surprised if there were another person in Gensokyo that has more expertise in their specialty than she has in hers, and this includes yourself and myself."
> Put on a sympathetic expression.
> "But it is still up to you. If you do not wish to go, then that is that."
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> "I would be surprised if there were another person in Gensokyo that has more expertise in their specialty than she has in hers, and this includes yourself and myself."
> Put on a sympathetic expression.
> "But it is still up to you. If you do not wish to go, then that is that."
>She doesn't say anything, but the conflict is written clearly on her face.
>_
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> "...I'm so sorry...I wish this life wasn't so unfair to you..."
> Reach to put a hand on her shoulder, but hesitate before it gets there. Let it hang for a second or two, then pull it back.
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> "...I'm so sorry...I wish this life wasn't so unfair to you..."
> Reach to put a hand on her shoulder, but hesitate before it gets there. Let it hang for a second or two, then pull it back.
>You express your regret, but you get the feeling it didn't really help anything.
>You nearly put a hand on her shoulder, then stop.
>_
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> "...Whatever you choose, I will support you."
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Have you considered mentioning the satori species to Shuuei? I wonder what she would think about a species of creature who have the innate ability to invade privacy and can't (normally) shut it off.
I was waiting until I had a chance to investigate my plan a bit further, but whatever. We don't need to mention we're formulating a plan that may involve a satori. I'd say wait on that for now, but that's just me.
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> "...Whatever you choose, I will support you."
>"I know," she says. "I just don't know what to choose..."
>_
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> Sad frown.
> "...May I assume you are still averse to the act of hugging?"
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Kilga, are you avoiding asking her to trust you that this is a good idea?
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I'm trying to avoid actively pushing her in the direction we want with anything other than selling Yukari as a source of help. I suppose I want her to visit Yukari on Yukari's merits instead of ours.
But if you really want to, I guess I won't stop you. I just ask that you wait until after the potential hug situation is resolved.
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It sounds like she's not capable of making the decision on her own. I'm still willing to let you handle it.
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> Sad frown.
> "...May I assume you are still averse to the act of hugging?"
>"...Maybe? I haven't even thought about it..."
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> "...Well...I want to comfort you in some fashion, but all I really know how to do at this point is based on physical contact..."
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> "...Well...I want to comfort you in some fashion, but all I really know how to do at this point is based on physical contact..."
>She sighs. "Fine, I suppose."
>_
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> "It would defeat the purpose if you only let it happen to please me, though."
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> "It would defeat the purpose if you only let it happen to please me, though."
>"Fine, then don't," she says.
>_
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> Nod.
> "All right."
> Give a small sigh.
> "I do not think I will ever truly know the struggle that is going on in your mind and heart right now, in regards to visiting Yukari. But I can tell you this much...I would never have suggested this idea if I did not think you would benefit from it in the long run."
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It actually just occurred to me that asking about Koishi in Pocky and Brocky's presence may elicit some interesting reactions. Describing a satori youkai to her is likely to produce an interesting enough reaction, but possibly even more interesting than that is her learning of someone that had to reject themselves and essentially lose their family just to live a shell of a life. Finding self-exposure inherently deplorable is one thing. But finding oneself inherently deplorable? Ouch.
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I think if we tell her about the mind reader or the person who can read your subconscious secrets we might never get her out of these damn woods.
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Koishi has been known to wander them, though, and even if Iku doesn't know that, Yukari likely does.
Talk about nightmare fuel for this poor girl.
(But yes we wouldn't mention it until we're at Yukari's.)
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> Nod.
> "All right."
> Give a small sigh.
> "I do not think I will ever truly know the struggle that is going on in your mind and heart right now, in regards to visiting Yukari. But I can tell you this much...I would never have suggested this idea if I did not think you would benefit from it in the long run."
>She looks toward you. "You really think so?"
>_
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> Nod.
> "The trust I have in Lady Yakumo and her wisdom and power runs very deep."
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> Nod.
> "The trust I have in Lady Yakumo and her wisdom and power runs very deep."
>She sighs. "Okay then. I guess I should..."
>_
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> Nod with a small smile.
> "I have faith this will work out for the best."
> "Now, Lady Yakumo's house is not far from the forest, but it is in a fairly open field."
> Look down at our skirt, then back up at the poltergeist.
> "So, um...do we want to try to set this up now, or..."
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> Nod with a small smile.
> "I have faith this will work out for the best."
> "Now, Lady Yakumo's house is not far from the forest, but it is in a fairly open field."
> Look down at our skirt, then back up at the poltergeist.
> "So, um...do we want to try to set this up now, or..."
>"Do you think I'll be seen?" she asks. "The field is usually empty, isn't it?"
>_
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If Shuuei comes with us to see Yukari, it'll likely come out then. We'll hopefully know more about Koishi by then, too (remember, Iku doesn't know what Koishi's closing of her third eye did); we'll need to stop by Maribel and renko's to get Chen, and Shuuei obviously won't want to accompany us for that (we can just tell Chen to go back to Yukari, then meet back up with Shuuei and take her there). Hopefully, Utsuho'll be there and we can ask her about Koishi.
Oh, and just so it's clear, my intention right now is that Iku's wondering if Koishi might no longer have direct mind-reading ability but still have enough of a remnant of that power to do what Iku's after. Out of character, the idea is to get her to discover what actually happened to Koishi's ability, which would likely work even better.
>"I doubt you'll be seen, but we can take precautions. How about this: I'll go find Chen and send her back to Yukari to deliver the messae that you'll be coming in person. I'll have her tell Yukari to make sure there's nobody else around. Would that suffice?"
Edit: Yes, I think it's best to look for Utsuho before speaking to Yukari. Although I suppose Yukari may very well also know about what happened to Koishi's power.
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>"I doubt you'll be seen, but we can take precautions. How about this: I'll go find Chen and send her back to Yukari to deliver the messae that you'll be coming in person. I'll have her tell Yukari to make sure there's nobody else around. Would that suffice?"
>She nods. "That would be good."
>_
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I'm pretty sure Utsuho said she was going back underground, and we made no plans for her to come back to Renko and Mary's, so.
> "We can then assess the environmental situation once we reach the edge of the forest, heading to Lady Yakumo's house, to see if you need to hide, um, in me, for lack of a better way of putting it. There should not be any problems once we reach the house, of course; we may just need it for the trip from the forest to the house, and even that is not a guaranteed thing by any stretch."
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Ohgod I've been cracking up since you brought up hiding in Iku's skirt.
> Try not to blush despite how bad this conversation sounds.
> Decide asking Yukari to gap in a cloak and mask for Shuuei is a very good idea.
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I'm pretty sure Utsuho said she was going back underground, and we made no plans for her to come back to Renko and Mary's, so.
Oh, I thought we'd split up and agreed to meet ant renko's, and we were just the first ones back (or was that at an earlier point and I'm just misremembering?). Well, if not, then we'll just have to hope Yukari knows enough.
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> "We can then assess the environmental situation once we reach the edge of the forest, heading to Lady Yakumo's house, to see if you need to hide, um, in me, for lack of a better way of putting it. There should not be any problems once we reach the house, of course; we may just need it for the trip from the forest to the house, and even that is not a guaranteed thing by any stretch."
>She nods. "That'll be fine."
> Try not to blush despite how bad this conversation sounds.
> Decide asking Yukari to gap in a cloak and mask for Shuuei is a very good idea.
>You're literally thinking about sneaking a poltergeist around under your skirt. Tenshi would never, ever let you live this down.
>You expect she would appreciate those.
>_
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We had agreed to split up and meet at Renko's again with everyone except Utsuho. :V She wanted to go back underground for a while.
> "I will go ahead to the nearby house, then, to see if the messenger girl is there. May I assume you will remain here, as there may be others present there? I do not plan to be long."
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Oh. Well, we can ask whoever's there about Koishi anyways (Parsee's supposed to come back, right? There's at least a chance she knows something). And if nobody can tell us anything, we'll just have to hope Yukari knows enough about her.
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> "I will go ahead to the nearby house, then, to see if the messenger girl is there. May I assume you will remain here, as there may be others present there? I do not plan to be long."
>"I suppose I'll follow you to the edge of the forest," she says. "I can use the time to study the plain."
>_
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> "Well, I will be checking in at the nearby house first instead of going directly to Lady Yakumo's house. It is the house with the turtle painted on the side of it. Unless this is the house of which you were thinking."
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> "Well, I will be checking in at the nearby house first instead of going directly to Lady Yakumo's house. It is the house with the turtle painted on the side of it. Unless this is the house of which you were thinking."
>"I know," she says. "I'll wait nearby."
>_
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> Nod.
> "Okay. Keep watch for me, and stay out of sight."
> Head back to the Turtle House.
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> Nod.
> "Okay. Keep watch for me, and stay out of sight."
> Head back to the Turtle House.
>You head back to the Turtle House, a fairly short walk.
>As you reach the edge of the forest, the poltergeist leaves you and heads for the trees.
>Knocking on the front door, it quickly opens to reveal Chen. "Hi Miss Ikuerson!" she says.
>_
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> "Hello again. We have one final message for you to deliver. We are willing to comply with Miss Yukari's suggestion, but we will need total privacy for it. Just her and us. Miss Yukari will understand what I mean."
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> "Hello again. We have one final message for you to deliver. We are willing to comply with Miss Yukari's suggestion, but we will need total privacy for it. Just her and us. Miss Yukari will understand what I mean."
>"Um, okay," says Chen. "I'll go do that right now."
>"Hey, dancer," comes the voice of Parsee from inside. "I saw Reimu in town for maybe a half minute. She didn't have any interest in talking with me, though."
>_
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oh man i finally finished reading/rereading the entire Z-Machine series. That's a large chunk of time i will never get back :V
>Thank Chen (unless she's left already)
>Ask Parsee what she knows about a Koishi
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>Thank Chen (unless she's left already)
>Ask Parsee what she knows about a Koishi
>Chen hasn't left yet. "You're welcome!" she says.
>"Koishi's kind of a pain in the ass," says Parsee, as she approaches the door. "I'll give you 10☼ to punch her in the gut for me."
>_
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>
Add Quest: Punch us a Koishi
> Frown.
> "I'd rather not inflict violence on anyone. Why do you wish harm on her person?"
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> Add Quest: Punch us a Koishi
> Frown.
> "I'd rather not inflict violence on anyone. Why do you wish harm on her person?"
>"Don't tell Okuu I said it like this," says Parsee, "But Koishi's been nothing but a pain in the ass for her whole family. Frankly, it's a good thing she's never met me."
>She raises an eyebrow. "So why're you asking about the little shit, anyways?"
>_
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>"I have heard that Koishi sealed her third eye, and this affected her powers in some way. What can you tell me of this?"
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>"I have heard that Koishi sealed her third eye, and this affected her powers in some way. What can you tell me of this?"
>"Yeah, but I don't know all the details," says Parsee. "Kinda a weird thing to ask out of the blue, too."
>_
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> "I have been doing some thinking about various situations, and I found myself curious as to the specifics of what happened to her, given how very little I know."
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> "I have been doing some thinking about various situations, and I found myself curious as to the specifics of what happened to her, given how very little I know."
>"Eh, guess that works," says Parsee. "Anyways, all I know is that whatever Koishi did to her third eye, it didn't fix anything at all. Probably made her worse, really. She still does the whole mind thing, but it's different now."
>_
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> Put on a curious look.
> "Really? Do you know how it works now?"
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> Put on a curious look.
> "Really? Do you know how it works now?"
>"Didn't just say that's all I know?" says Parsee. "I dunno. It's probably different from what Satori does, at least. Well, there's another bit. You pretty much can't see her unless you ether sneak up on her, or she wants you to see her. So she's pretty much impossible to find."
>_
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> Frown.
> "Sorry. And that is...a bit troublesome to hear."
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> Frown.
> "Sorry. And that is...a bit troublesome to hear."
>"Yeah, if she were easy to find," says Parsee, "You better believe I would have given her a piece of my mind."
>_
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> "I will keep the Komeiji family in my heart, then. Hopefully they will become whole and happy again one day."
> "Just as an aside, how many people have returned here? I seem to be unable to leave this place, despite my best efforts."
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> "I will keep the Komeiji family in my heart, then. Hopefully they will become whole and happy again one day."
> "Just as an aside, how many people have returned here? I seem to be unable to leave this place, despite my best efforts."
>"Just me," says Parsee.
>_
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> Nod.
> "I apologize for asking you to attempt to find a way to Eientei, I actually lucked into one myself."
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>Ponder what Parsee said about Koishi. If her 'mind thing' is different but still there, that might be even better than expected.
>"Who do you think might know more about Koishi, aside from Satori? Would Utsuho know more?"
>Regardless of the answer, make a mental note to see if Yukari knows anything about Koishi.
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> Nod.
> "I apologize for asking you to attempt to find a way to Eientei, I actually lucked into one myself."
>"Eh, not like I actually had to go look," says Parsee with a shrug. "Don't worry about it."
>Ponder what Parsee said about Koishi. If her 'mind thing' is different but still there, that might be even better than expected.
>"Who do you think might know more about Koishi, aside from Satori? Would Utsuho know more?"
>Regardless of the answer, make a mental note to see if Yukari knows anything about Koishi.
>Perhaps she could be more useful than Satori...
>"Utsuho would, yeah," says Parsee. "But who gives a shit about Koishi anyways? Just let her rot."
>_
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>"You really don't like her much, do you?"
>"Regardless, I have an idea that I may need Koishi for. A regular satori is probably out of the question for... various reasons, but if Koishi's power has changed, she might be not just an acceptable substitute, but actually better-suited to the task in the first place. It depends on what the change is, which is why I need more information."
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>"You really don't like her much, do you?"
>"Regardless, I have an idea that I may need Koishi for. A regular satori is probably out of the question for... various reasons, but if Koishi's power has changed, she might be not just an acceptable substitute, but actually better-suited to the task in the first place. It depends on what the change is, which is why I need more information."
>"Like I said," says Parsee, "She's given Okuu enough grief that I don't have time for her anymore."
>Parsee raises an eyebrow. "It's kinda rude use them like tools," she says. "So Satori probably won't do it, whatever your planning. They really hate that, as far as I can tell anyways."
>_
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>"I apologize if it sounded like I was going to use a satori like a tool; that was not my intent. I simply have need of one's abilities."
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>"I apologize if it sounded like I was going to use a satori like a tool; that was not my intent. I simply have need of one's abilities."
>"Not sure how that's different, but okay," says Parsee. "Anyways, good luck finding Koishi. Because like I said, she's not found unless she wants to be."
>_
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>Do we know about Nazrin and her ability to find things?
>"There is a difference. I'm simply going to ask for help."
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>Do we know about Nazrin and her ability to find things?
>"There is a difference. I'm simply going to ask for help."
>Not really.
>"I suppose," she says.
>_
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>"Do you know of any good way to find things?"
>Make a mental note to ask Yukari the same questio.
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>"Do you know of any good way to find things?"
>Make a mental note to ask Yukari the same questio.
>"I'd go to Kourindou or the market if I wanted to find things," says Parsee. "But you're probably going to be hunting Koishi. So I got no idea how you'd do it. The popular way is to ask Kanako, and even that doesn't really work from what Maribel told me."
>_
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>Make a mental note to ask Yukari the same question.
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>Make a mental note to ask Yukari the same question.
>You make yet another mental note. Hopefully you don't lose your mental notebook.
>"Anyways," Parse says, "Reimu was in town for at least a bit, even if she didn't care to actually be friendly or anything. So at least she's not dead."
>_
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>"Yes. I actually found her at Eientei-Yukari sent me there through a gap."
>Summarize the meeting.
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> Where did we leave the note we wrote?
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>"Yes. I actually found her at Eientei-Yukari sent me there through a gap."
>Summarize the meeting.
>She nods. "Huh. Well."
> Where did we leave the note we wrote?
>It was on the door. Maybe Parsee didn't think it was for her?
>_
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> "Yeah. I must admit my happiness level with Reimu and Marisa has vastly improved from this time yesterday."
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> "Yeah. I must admit my happiness level with Reimu and Marisa has vastly improved from this time yesterday."
>"Yeah I'd imagine so," says Parsee. "Not being target number one does a lot for you mood."
>_
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> "Yes, and hearing that they have decided to help my people instead of hurt them is even better."
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> "Yes, and hearing that they have decided to help my people instead of hurt them is even better."
>"Yeah, probably," says Parsee. "Got anything else you wanna ask?"
>_
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I have nothing, I'm ready to head to Yukari's. Anyone else have anything to ask?
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I can't think of anything.
>"Not at the moment, no. Thank you. Farewell."
>Leave and go meet Shuuei.
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> What time is it?
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>"Not at the moment, no. Thank you. Farewell."
>Leave and go meet Shuuei.
>"Later," says Parsee.
>You head back to where the poltergeist disappeared. She glances around a tree. "Ready?" she asks.
> What time is it?
>Still midafternoon.
>_
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> Nod.
> "Yes. If you are, let us go."
> Head toward Yukari's house, making a game note when we reach the edge of the forest to check around the area.
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> Nod.
> "Yes. If you are, let us go."
> Head toward Yukari's house, making a game note when we reach the edge of the forest to check around the area.
>You are already at the edge of the forest.
>_
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> How much environmental cover is there between here and Yukari's house?
> "I must admit that I do not know what conditions will be like when we arrive. When I first arrived there to propose the letter idea, the messenger girl you saw was playing around the house outside, in easy position to see someone approaching her house if she happened to look in the right direction. It is possible the other residents of the house have been sent away elsewhere, but it is also possible that they are spending time together playing outside the house, or even perhaps waiting inside."
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> How much environmental cover is there between here and Yukari's house?
> "I must admit that I do not know what conditions will be like when we arrive. When I first arrived there to propose the letter idea, the messenger girl you saw was playing around the house outside, in easy position to see someone approaching her house if she happened to look in the right direction. It is possible the other residents of the house have been sent away elsewhere, but it is also possible that they are spending time together playing outside the house, or even perhaps waiting inside."
>There isn't much. Just some tall grass. You can kinda see the Yakumo house from here, in the distance.
>"If...you could check ahead when we get there, that would be nice," says the poltergeist. "I can hide behind the house."
>_
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> "I can do that. There is also some decently tall grass that perhaps you could lie down in. The way there looks clear enough, anyway."
> Point in the direction of the house.
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> "I can do that. There is also some decently tall grass that perhaps you could lie down in. The way there looks clear enough, anyway."
> Point in the direction of the house.
>She nods. "Let's go, then."
>_
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> "Okay. Get my attention if you need me."
> Head to the Yakumo household, flying very close to the ground, and not so fast that the poltergeist can't keep up. Keep watch across the landscape for any people in the area.
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> "Okay. Get my attention if you need me."
> Head to the Yakumo household, flying very close to the ground, and not so fast that the poltergeist can't keep up. Keep watch across the landscape for any people in the area.
>You take to the air and fly fairly slowly, so that the poltergeist can keep up with you at a fair jog.
>Taking a direct route, you keep a wary eye out, but see no one around; save for two people leaving the house and heading westward. You doubt you'll intercept them on your current heading. Still, you note the poltergeist slowing down, and lining up behind you.
>_
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> Lower voice and slow down a bit.
> "That will be the other residents of the house leaving for other things at Lady Yakumo's request. Do you wish to hide?"
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> Lower voice and slow down a bit.
> "That will be the other residents of the house leaving for other things at Lady Yakumo's request. Do you wish to hide?"
>"Let's just go slowly," she says.
>_
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> "All right."
> Keep on moving toward the Yakumo house at our current pace, still keeping an eye out for people.
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> "All right."
> Keep on moving toward the Yakumo house at our current pace, still keeping an eye out for people.
>Aside from those two people, you don't see anyone else. They quickly head west of you, and seem to be paying you no mind or notice. Still, the poltergeist is careful to keep you between she and they.
>Soon enough, you reach the front door of the Yakumo household.
>_
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> Turn to the poltergeist and smile.
> "Congratulations. This must have taken a lot of guts so far."
> Turn back to the door and knock on it.
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> Turn to the poltergeist and smile.
> "Congratulations. This must have taken a lot of guts so far."
> Turn back to the door and knock on it.
>She doesn't say anything. But she definitely seems harried.
>You knock on the door. "It's open!" Yukari calls.
>_
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> Turn back to the poltergeist.
> "You can do this. I believe in you."
> Enter the house, making sure to position ourselves so that our body blocks the poltergeist from being visible from within the house (at least initially).
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> Turn back to the poltergeist.
> "You can do this. I believe in you."
> Enter the house, making sure to position ourselves so that our body blocks the poltergeist from being visible from within the house (at least initially).
>You enter the house, and find Yukari at the table once again, having shifted to another position.
>"Hello, messenger," she says. "I believe you have a delivery for me?"
>_
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> "I do. Funny how things like that work out."
> Move a bit further into the house so that the poltergeist can come in. When she does so, close the door behind her.
-
> "I do. Funny how things like that work out."
> Move a bit further into the house so that the poltergeist can come in. When she does so, close the door behind her.
>You move to the side.
>She does not enter, and is not in the doorway at all..
>Glancing back, you can see her press standing away from the door frame and staring at the ground with intensity.
>_
-
> Turn back to Yukari and hold up an index finger, in a 'wait one moment' fashion.
> Walk back into the doorway and gently put a hand on the poltergeist's shoulder.
> "Would it be easier if you're only heard and not seen?"
-
> Turn back to Yukari and hold up an index finger, in a 'wait one moment' fashion.
> Walk back into the doorway and gently put a hand on the poltergeist's shoulder.
> "Would it be easier if you're only heard and not seen?"
>"Of course," says Yukari.
>You put a hand on the poltergeist's shoulder. She flinches, but doesn't try to pull away.
>She doesn't look up at you, but she nods.
>_
-
> "Okay."
> Turn to look back into the house.
> "My deepest apologies, Lady Yakumo, but would you mind turning away for a moment?"
> Assuming a positive response, lift the side of our skirt closest to the poltergeist a little bit and beckon the poltergeist toward it with our other hand.
-
> "Okay."
> Turn to look back into the house.
> "My deepest apologies, Lady Yakumo, but would you mind turning away for a moment?"
> Assuming a positive response, lift the side of our skirt closest to the poltergeist a little bit and beckon the poltergeist toward it with our other hand.
>"Oh my," says Yukari, as she looks away.
>The poltergeist frowns, then ducks down and crawls forward until she is hidden under your skirt.
>_
-
> How awkward does our skirt look? Normal, or like someone is hiding under it?
> Close the door and turn back around to face Yukari again as best we can without moving our legs too much.
> "Okay, I think we are ready."
-
> How awkward does our skirt look? Normal, or like someone is hiding under it?
> Close the door and turn back around to face Yukari again as best we can without moving our legs too much.
> "Okay, I think we are ready."
>There are most definitely some bulges that suggest something is under it around your feet.
>You do your best to face Yukari and again close the door.
>Yukari looks toward you for a moment, frowns, then puts a hand to her lips and giggles. "Well, some is better than none, I suppose," she says.
>_
-
> Look dignified despite having a poltergeist under our skirt.
> "If you happened to know where I could procure a concealing cloak and mask after our conversation I would appreciate assistance in that regard."
-
> Look dignified despite having a poltergeist under our skirt.
> "If you happened to know where I could procure a concealing cloak and mask after our conversation I would appreciate assistance in that regard."
>You do your best to look dignified. It would be easier it you didn't have to take such a wide stance, but that's just how things are.
>"Mmm, I might be able to loan you something," says Yukari.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Thank you. They would be most appreciated."
> "Now then. I must admit that I am at a bit of a loss for where to begin. As I have not seen either of the letters that were just exchanged, I do not know what has been admitted, requested or offered, and I would rather not risk mentioning things that do not need to be mentioned."
-
"Therefore, I will ask that someone else start things off."
-
> Nod.
> "Thank you. They would be most appreciated."
> "Now then. I must admit that I am at a bit of a loss for where to begin. As I have not seen either of the letters that were just exchanged, I do not know what has been admitted, requested or offered, and I would rather not risk mentioning things that do not need to be mentioned."
"Therefore, I will ask that someone else start things off."
>"Ah, that's not difficult," says Yukari. "Your friend wrote me, saying that she was dying and count see no way to handle the situation. And since you spoke so well of me, she eventually consented to consult me. I in turn informed her that I was flattered by her trust, and demonstrated there was no reason her to really hide anything from me. It is good to see that she agreed, to some extend."
>She glances toward your feet. "I suppose the first order of business is set things up so you can stand less awkwardly, wouldn't you agree?"
>_
-
> "I thank you for you concern, but I am content to stand like this, unless it becomes necessary that I move."
-
> "I thank you for you concern, but I am content to stand like this, unless it becomes necessary that I move."
>"Quite, but you wouldn't be the only one to benefit, would you?" says Yukari.
>_
-
> Nudge the poltergeist very, very gently with one of our legs, ideally by leaning a thigh or shin into her ever so slightly and keeping our foot still.
> "Perhaps. What would you propose as an alternative?"
-
> Nudge the poltergeist very, very gently with one of our legs, ideally by leaning a thigh or shin into her ever so slightly and keeping our foot still.
> "Perhaps. What would you propose as an alternative?"
>You give her a light nudge with your shin; as best you can tell, she's curled up on the floor around your feet. She twitches a bit.
>"Well, I think we all know what the alternative should be," says Yukari.
>_
-
> Look around the room. Is there any place that makes for a good full-body hiding spot?
-
> Look around the room. Is there any place that makes for a good full-body hiding spot?
>You look around, and note there are the curtained-off parts of the house to the left, which seem to serve as bedrooms. As well, you imagine she could fit under the table.
>_
-
> "I can see a few places perhaps better suited for the function than I am. If you are proposing using none of them, however, that is not my decision to make."
-
>If Yukari is indeed trying to say that Shuuei should come out of hiding, ask Shuuei about it.
-
> "I can see a few places perhaps better suited for the function than I am. If you are proposing using none of them, however, that is not my decision to make."
>"Mmm, I suppose that is true," says Yukari. "But one must not underestimate the value of a supportive friend."
>If Yukari is indeed trying to say that Shuuei should come out of hiding, ask Shuuei about it.
>"I'd rather not," she mumbles, almost inaudibly.
>_
-
>"Well, it's your decision. I'll support you, whatever it is."
-
>"Well, it's your decision. I'll support you, whatever it is."
>"Thank you..." the poltergeist mumbles.
>"Well, I suppose we should move to the next order of business," says Yukari.
>_
-
>"Yes, please do."
-
> How far apart are our feet, anyway?
-
>"Yes, please do."
>"I suppose, then, the question is, does your little friend want to give up that shadow she's appropriated?"
> How far apart are our feet, anyway?
>A bit more than usual, it's not uncomfortable yet, but it would be nice not to have to stand for too long like this.
>_
-
>"She has been attempting to answer that question herself. And without success, I'm afraid."
-
> Look down at our skirt and give the poltergeist another very gentle nudge.
> Take on a soft voice.
> "Is there anything you feel comfortable asking about?"
-
>"She has been attempting to answer that question herself. And without success, I'm afraid."
>"Let's consider it this way," says Yukari. "All things being equal, if you did not have to keep it to support yourself, would you give it back?"
>"...I don't know..." says the Poltergeist in a small voice. "Maybe? I guess so...Iku does want it back."
>_
-
> Aww...
> Look down at our skirt and smile, even though she can't see it.
> Take on a soft voice.
> "Is there anything you feel comfortable asking about?"
-
> Aww...
> Look down at our skirt and smile, even though she can't see it.
> Take on a soft voice.
> "Is there anything you feel comfortable asking about?"
>You smile down at someone hunkered under your skirt like you never would have expected to a couple days ago.
>"Um..." the polstergeist mumbles. "Something about borders..."
>_
-
> "And how much did you tell Lady Yakumo about that situation?"
-
> "And how much did you tell Lady Yakumo about that situation?"
>"Not very much," says Yukari. "I daresay I've gleaned more for your misadventures than what she's told me."
>_
-
> "I see..."
> If we aren't still looking down at our skirt, do so again.
> "Is there any more you would like to say, now that we're here? I really think she can help you."
-
> "I see..."
> If we aren't still looking down at our skirt, do so again.
> "Is there any more you would like to say, now that we're here? I really think she can help you."
>"Um...I suppose so," she says. "It's just...there's some gap in it I can't really understand..."
>"Perhaps you could show me?" says Yukari, who is clearly straining to hear the poltergeist.
>"Okay..." says the Poltergeist.
>The floor starts to darken as pools of shadow manifest from it, slowly growing and merging into one another. Soon, the whole thing is practically covered, as if there were no light coming in at all.
>Yukari glances down at it, and runs a finger along the floor. "Oh my," she says. "This isn't bad work for a beginner. Hmmm, so you did join up the edges. I thought so."
>"...Yes..." says the poltergeist's voice, even more small than before.
>"It's a simple-sounding technique," Yukari continues, "But to executed it? Hmm, harder than it sounds. You have to match the edges just so, and then you get into the geometry of the thing and that makes it all the worse. Not all boundaries want to join up just so, and there you find the problems. I can see a bit of overlapping there, and I can't blame you for that. It's not as though you had many options available. But those overlaps are where things can slip out if they know where to look, or are just lucky. Still, it's not bad work at all. Iku was quite lucky to find that seam."
>"I see..." mutters the poltergeist. You aren't quite sure if she does, given her shaky tone.
>_
-
> "How difficult would it be to fix such a thing? While it was a lucky thing it was there while I was there, it would not do if someone else with ill intent was put there and also managed to escape."
-
> "How difficult would it be to fix such a thing? While it was a lucky thing it was there while I was there, it would not do if someone else with ill intent was put there and also managed to escape."
>"Oh, I expect I could," says Yukari. "But, that would all be undone should she give it up. And, do we really wish to give that kind of capacity to anyone?"
>_
-
> "Well, I would trust her to not misuse it, but I suppose I can see why others would be a little more nervous."
> Give the poltergeist another very gentle nudge and soften our voice again.
> "What do you think about this development?"
-
> "Well, I would trust her to not misuse it, but I suppose I can see why others would be a little more nervous."
> Give the poltergeist another very gentle nudge and soften our voice again.
> "What do you think about this development?"
>Yukari nods. "Well, it's not as if we don't have the likes of Utsuho, Patchouli, Yuka and so on to worry about, really."
>"...I guess that would be okay," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> "...I'm sorry. Which would be okay?"
-
> "...I'm sorry. Which would be okay?"
>"Her fixing it..." she says in a smaller tone.
>_
-
>"Very well, then. Yukari, how long do you think it will take to fix?"
-
>"Very well, then. Yukari, how long do you think it will take to fix?"
>"Mmm, a few minutes," says Yukari. "It really isn't as large of a job as it looks like."
>_
-
>"In that case..."
>Nudge Shuuei again
>"Should we go ahead and ask her to do it now?"
-
>"In that case..."
>Nudge Shuuei again
>"Should we go ahead and ask her to do it now?"
>"...If you would, please?"
>"As you like," says Yukari, as she draw her finger along the air in front of her, conjuring a gap about two feet across. She places her hands into it. "You shouldn't feel a thing. And do feel free to keep talking."
>_
-
>"So you can converse while maintaining the necessary concentration, then?"
>Nudge Shuuei yet again.
>"I have some questions for Yukari, as I said earlier, but first, do you have anything more to ask her?"
-
> "After all, we are here first to get you whatever assistance you decide you want."
-
>"So you can converse while maintaining the necessary concentration, then?"
>Nudge Shuuei yet again.
>"I have some questions for Yukari, as I said earlier, but first, do you have anything more to ask her?"
> "After all, we are here first to get you whatever assistance you decide you want."
>"Of course," Yukari says.
>"Not right now," says poltergeist after a moment's pause.
>_
-
>"Let me know if you think of anything."
>"In that case, Yukari, I happen to have some questions of my own for you. What do you know about Koishi Komeiji?"
-
>"Let me know if you think of anything."
> "I'm very proud of you for getting this far."
>"In that case, Yukari, I happen to have some questions of my own for you. What do you know about Koishi Komeiji?"
> Say things in this order.
-
>"Let me know if you think of anything."
>"In that case, Yukari, I happen to have some questions of my own for you. What do you know about Koishi Komeiji?"
>"Oh my," says Yukari, as she glances into the gap. "I do hope you're not planning anything unethical."
>_
-
>"I am not. I can garuntee that there will be no unwanted invasions of privacy. I have an idea that may help my friend with her dilemma, but I will need help, and it may very well be that Koishi is the one who can give it. So please, tell me what you know about her, especially in relation to her power."
-
>"I am not. I can garuntee that there will be no unwanted invasions of privacy. I have an idea that may help my friend with her dilemma, but I will need help, and it may very well be that Koishi is the one who can give it. So please, tell me what you know about her, especially in relation to her power."
>"She has ways of manipulating the subconscious," says Yukari. "Perhaps, to some degree, the unconscious. Now I must ask what you would want from her, if you didn't even know what she's capable of."
>_
-
>"I had an idea that would require a satori, but I have no doubt that my friend would refuse to be anywhere near one. Then I remembered that Koishi closed her third eye. It's said that this sealed her power away, but it seemed odd to me that a satori could get rid of what makes her a satori. My first thought was that her power might have dimmed but would remain enough for what I need, but when I spoke to Parsee about her, I learned that her power had been not sealed, but altered. And now that I know what that change is, I think that Koishi is indeed the one I need to see. But first, I have another question for you-and no, I do not plan to do this to anybody without consent. Do you think there's a way Koishi could take someone else along for the ride, as it were? Take someone into another's mind, or at least share what she sees in there?"
-
>"I had an idea that would require a satori, but I have no doubt that my friend would refuse to be anywhere near one. Then I remembered that Koishi closed her third eye. It's said that this sealed her power away, but it seemed odd to me that a satori could get rid of what makes her a satori. My first thought was that her power might have dimmed but would remain enough for what I need, but when I spoke to Parsee about her, I learned that her power had been not sealed, but altered. And now that I know what that change is, I think that Koishi is indeed the one I need to see. But first, I have another question for you-and no, I do not plan to do this to anybody without consent. Do you think there's a way Koishi could take someone else along for the ride, as it were? Take someone into another's mind, or at least share what she sees in there?"
>"How ambitious," says Yukari. "Unfortunately, it's also not a question I could answer. I don't think anyone could, but Koishi herself. And, likely, not even she would know."
>"That sounds absolutely horrid," the poltergeist says, almost too quiet to hear.
>_
-
>"It's not what you may be thinking. It did occur to me to have a satori look into your mind, but I knew you would never agree to such a thing, and I can understand why. The probelm is that you don't know what you want to do, and there may very well be something in your mind that would help you decide, but I knew you would not want that. But there's another option. There are many ways to live life, but you only know one way, the way of complete isolation. I thought it might help you decide if you knew what another way was like. For example, my way of life. What I would like to do is have Koishi take you into my mind, so that you can know what my way of life is like. I agree that that level of exposure is enough to make even me uncomfortable, but if it will help you, I am willing to do it."
-
>"It's not what you may be thinking. It did occur to me to have a satori look into your mind, but I knew you would never agree to such a thing, and I can understand why. The probelm is that you don't know what you want to do, and there may very well be something in your mind that would help you decide, but I knew you would not want that. But there's another option. There are many ways to live life, but you only know one way, the way of complete isolation. I thought it might help you decide if you knew what another way was like. For example, my way of life. What I would like to do is have Koishi take you into my mind, so that you can know what my way of life is like. I agree that that level of exposure is enough to make even me uncomfortable, but if it will help you, I am willing to do it."
>"Is it that she can't make a decision," says Yukari, "Or that she doesn't want to make one?"
>_
-
>"That, I'm afraid, is a question only she can answer. But even if that's the case, I think it would help her to know what my life is like. If she doesn't want to choose, it's likely because of apprehension of the unknown. If she knew more, that would be somewhat less of an issue."
-
>"That, I'm afraid, is a question only she can answer. But even if that's the case, I think it would help her to know what my life is like. If she doesn't want to choose, it's likely because of apprehension of the unknown. If she knew more, that would be somewhat less of an issue."
>"Well, perhaps we should ask her," says Yukari. "Or, you could try to deduce it yourself."
>_
-
>"As I said, I think the knowledge I am offering would help her either way. But perhaps you are correct about the fact that I should ask her."
>Nudge Shuuei.
>"You heard what she said, right? So let me ask: is your difficulty in making a choice because you do not know which choice you want to make, or because you do not want to make it?"
-
>"As I said, I think the knowledge I am offering would help her either way. But perhaps you are correct about the fact that I should ask her."
>Nudge Shuuei.
>"You heard what she said, right? So let me ask: is your difficulty in making a choice because you do not know which choice you want to make, or because you do not want to make it?"
>"...Maybe," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
>"Maybe to which?"
-
>"Maybe to which?"
>She doesn't answer.
>_
-
>"Hmm... well, what are your thoughts on my idea? If we can find a way to make it happen, I am willing to let you into my mind to learn what my life is like. To not just hear me talk about it, but know see it as I did, feel it as I did. If you know it, you will be more easily able to choose. I am willing to let you do so. If we can find a way to do it, what would you say?"
-
>"Hmm... well, what are your thoughts on my idea? If we can find a way to make it happen, I am willing to let you into my mind to learn what my life is like. To not just hear me talk about it, but know see it as I did, feel it as I did. If you know it, you will be more easily able to choose. I am willing to let you do so. If we can find a way to do it, what would you say?"
>"It sounds horrible," the poltergeist mutters. "I wouldn't be party to such a thing..."
>_
-
>"Even if I am willing to let you in? If I want to let you in?"
-
>"Even if I am willing to let you in? If I want to let you in?"
>"Would you kill someone if they said it were okay?" she asks. "Permission doesn't make it acceptable."
>_
-
>"But killing is different. Killing costs someone their life. All this would do to me is cause a little unease. And if my unease can help you, then I will endure it gladly."
-
>"But killing is different. Killing costs someone their life. All this would do to me is cause a little unease. And if my unease can help you, then I will endure it gladly."
>"It's a terrible thing," she says. "I don't want any part of it."
>_
-
>Kneel down, making sure to keep Shuuei concealed.
>Pull our head inside so we can see Shuuei.
>"Please, let me help you."
-
>Kneel down, making sure to keep Shuuei concealed.
>Pull our head inside so we can see Shuuei.
>"Please, let me help you."
>You kneel down, but really can't look inside your own skirt without lifting it up and revealing the poltergeist.
>_
-
Just a fair warning: don't push her too hard. She's already really stressed out right now, given the situation.
> Wow, it's a good thing we didn't kneel right down on top of her.
-
Noted.
>Move behind one of the curtains.
>Step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."
-
> Wow, it's a good thing we didn't kneel right down on top of her.
>It is. She must be curled up on the floor.
>Move behind one of the curtains.
>Step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."
>The curtains are some distance away. You'll have to coordinate some kind of motion to get there, unless you intend to leave her behind.
>_
-
>"Yukari, could you turn around for a moment, please?"
>When Yukari turns aroun, step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."
-
>"Yukari, could you turn around for a moment, please?"
>When Yukari turns aroun, step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."
>"When I'm done," says Yukari.
>_
-
You're really enjoying making this difficult, aren't you?
>"Ah, I see."
>Pull our arms in through our sleeves.
>Put our hands on Shuuei's shoulders.
>"Please, let me help you."
-
Usually, if repeated attempts to do something don't work, there's a good reason. <_<
-
>"Ah, I see."
>Pull our arms in through our sleeves.
>Put our hands on Shuuei's shoulders.
>"Please, let me help you."
>You work your arms through your sleeves, down your blouse, and into your skirt. It is distinctly uncomfortable.
>You put your hands on her shoulders, thankfully finding them the first time, and ask her to let you help her.
>"I won't have you expose yourself like that for me," she says. "Never."
>_
-
I don't plan to keep this up much longer. If what I'm about to say doesn't work, then I don't know what would.
>"Don't you get it? It doesn't matter what I have to do! If we don't do something, you're going to die, and I don't want that! I don't want you to die! If there's anything I can do to help you, anything I can do to save you, I'll do it! Even if I had to give my own life, I would do it gladly if it would help you! Don't you get it? I don't care what I have to do! I'll do whatever the fuck it takes!"
>Try uncuccessfully to fight back tears.
>"So please, please, please let me help you!"
Note: Yes, I know, Iku's not the type to swear. But remember, it's not the words but the emotions behind them that are frowned upon in Bhava-Agra, and those emotions aren't behind this usage of 'fuck'. This f-bomb has a constructive purpose, and is deliberately used for maximum impact and emphasis. And I'm saying Iku's willing to do anything for Shuuei; she's certainly willing to utter a swear or two.
-
I was actually going to recommend cutting it there - I think you had set yourself up a decent foundation off of which to work later, once Pocky and Brocky was in a much less stressful situation - but uh okay.
-
I think the direct approach is better than it usually gets credit for.
-
That has nothing to do with what I said. You can still be direct when she's not in the process of freaking out.
-
I suppose, but I don't think what I said would work all that well if the mood was calm.
-
Um...I know I haven't been very invested in this, but that last post on page 6 makes me nervous. Just my two cents.
-
>"Don't you get it? It doesn't matter what I have to do! If we don't do something, you're going to die, and I don't want that! I don't want you to die! If there's anything I can do to help you, anything I can do to save you, I'll do it! Even if I had to give my own life, I would do it gladly if it would help you! Don't you get it? I don't care what I have to do! I'll do whatever the fuck it takes!"
>Try uncuccessfully to fight back tears.
>"So please, please, please let me help you!"
>You tear up and plead with her.
>'I know!" she says, "I know! Don't you get it? Maybe you don't care but I do! I don't want you to do that to yourself, even for me!"
>"Oh my, she does do more than whisper," says Yukari, still looking into the gap.
>_
-
Well, it doesn't look like it screwed anything up.
>"But I do want to do it. I want to do it because it's for you. Because of how much I want to help you. Even as recently as yesterday I wouldn't have done something like that, but now..."
>Embrace Shuuei as best we can without exposing her.
>"You're going to die if we don't do something, and no amount of exposure could possibly hurt me as much as that."
-
>"But I do want to do it. I want to do it because it's for you. Because of how much I want to help you. Even as recently as yesterday I wouldn't have done something like that, but now..."
>Embrace Shuuei as best we can without exposing her.
>"You're going to die if we don't do something, and no amount of exposure could possibly hurt me as much as that."
>You try to embrace her, and don't really succeed. Really, it's a miracle you don't topple over or accidentally grope her.
>"I refuse," she says. "Even if you did, I wouldn't do it!"
>You can't help but notice Yukari smirking out of the corner of your eye.
>_
-
Right, time to go for broke.
>"Please, Shuuei. If not for yourself, then do it for me."
Yeah, I know, but Shuuei's not her real name, so it should be okay to use, but it should still get the intended message across.
-
It's also a name she doesn't like very much. :V
I may seem overly critical about this, but this is basically par for the course when Draco and I are tagging in and out.
-
That's really kinda selfish at this point and is going to push things in the wrong direction. Trying a "for me" thing basically destroys some level of trust. At least, I think it would in a somewhat realistic situation when dealing with someone who is incredibly paranoid.
Sorry if I sound critical but that's just my observation from things said elsewhere.
EDIT: Let me clarify. I mean that it will sound selfish of Iku at this point.
-
Not a problem, to both of you. I'd rather you point out any potential flaws you see.
And like I said, if this doesn't work, I don't know what else to say. And we already know she cares about us. I know it's a risk, but I did say it was time to go for broke.
>Say the previous line, but leave out 'Shuuei'.
-
The thing about caring for us is that it's not a tool you can actually use. Well, not so blatantly. It's sorta like the person who has a long record of never lying. They're well known as a truth teller. So they can EASILY lie about a thing and be believed. But, once that lie is used? It can't be used again. They cashed all their cred in one move. That's rarely a good idea.
-
>"Please, Shuuei. If not for yourself, then do it for me."
Not a problem, to both of you. I'd rather you point out any potential flaws you see.
>Say the previous line, but leave out 'Shuuei'.
>"I just...no!" says the poltergeist.
>"I wonder if you two are even arguing about the same thing anymore," says Yukari.
>_
-
> "Um...I'm sorry..."
> Hesitate a moment
> "Um...what were you saying no to? I just want to make sure we both understand each other, because I fear I may have miscommunicated."
-
> "Um...I'm sorry..."
> Hesitate a moment
> "Um...what were you saying no to? I just want to make sure we both understand each other, because I fear I may have miscommunicated."
>"Never apologize for passion, dear," says Yukari.
>"I'm not going to let you debase yourself for me," says the poltergeist, her voice softer now, but still firm.
>_
-
>Sigh.
>"All right. It's your choice just as much as it is mine. Just... if we can't figure this out any other way, then please, don't let yourself die when there's another option. Please. I care too much about you to see that happen."
>Stand up.
>Put our arms back through our sleaves.
>Wipe the tears from our eyes.
>"Right, then. What's your progress, Yukari?"
-
>Sigh.
>"All right. It's your choice just as much as it is mine. Just... if we can't figure this out any other way, then please, don't let yourself die when there's another option. Please. I care too much about you to see that happen."
>Stand up.
>Put our arms back through our sleaves.
>Wipe the tears from our eyes.
>"Right, then. What's your progress, Yukari?"
>You sigh and acknowledge it is her choice, then try to put yourself back into your clothes properly, dry your eyes, and ask Yukari of her progress.
>"Nearly finished," she says.
>_
-
>Wait for Yukari to be done.
Oh, and don't think this is a failure yet. I'm not going to push the Koishi idea more, but there's still some progress to get out of this.
-
>Wait for Yukari to be done.
>You wait patiently, while trying to subtly adjust your blouse so it fits like it should without making too much of a scene.
>"There we are," Yukari says. "That should keep it nice and impermeable. Do try not to end up there again, Messenger, you would likely need either The Dragon or I to pull you out of there, and I assure you I wouldn't be paying enough attention."
>_
-
>"Warning taken."
>Nudge Shuuei one more time.
>"I do not have anything more to ask Yukari at this time. Do you?"
-
>"Warning taken."
>Nudge Shuuei one more time.
>"I do not have anything more to ask Yukari at this time. Do you?"
>You give her another nudge. At least you can do this much without causing a scene.
>"Um...what do you think I should do?" asks the poltergeist. "
>Yukari gives you a questioning look, as she banishes the gap away.
>_
-
Okay, I'm goint to bed. In the quite like event that the talk with Shuuei after leaving Yukari's happens before I can get on again, here's where I'm going with this:
Once we leave Yukari's, the plan is to bring up Shuuei's reaction to the entering-our-mind idea; specifically, the fact that she was unwilling to do that to us. Mention the fact that even when directly presented with the idea of dying if she refused, she still refused. Tell her that this means she cares about us. Also, try to get this in somewhere: "You should also think about what it means that I am willing to do such a thing. It means that I trust you completely, trust you enough to open everything I am to you. Words cannot describe how wonderful it is to have someone you trust that completely, and it is a feeling experienced by sadly few. Having someone I trust that deeply is a joy and an honor that I am truly blessed to receive." Feel free to tone it down if you think it's too corny or sappy or anything, though.
And with that, good night,and good lu-*shot*
-
Strange coincidence seeing you here UK.
> Wonder if we are forgetting something after that argument.
> "..Ah! About those concealing items I asked about earlier." Glance down at our skirt. "I don't believe it would be proper to hold more conversations like this."
-
I've been entertaining this idea since I mentioned a mask and cloak. How do you think Shuuei would feel about having an alternate identity? Isolationist poltergeist by day, incident solver by night! In all seriousness I think she would appreciate the concept of being able to interact with people without exposing herself.
Also I don't think we should bring up the mind exploring idea. I don't think she reacted badly because she cares about us. I think we just asked her to do something that goes against the core of her beliefs. Remember that she thinks anyone exposing themselves is debasing.
-
> Wonder if we are forgetting something after that argument.
> "..Ah! About those concealing items I asked about earlier." Glance down at our skirt. "I don't believe it would be proper to hold more conversations like this."
>There are all sorts of things you might have forgotten.
>"I placed them on the bed in the eastern room," says Yukari, gesturing toward the curtains. "I expected your friend would avail herself of them when she was ready."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Look back down, take on a soft tone.
> "Did you want to ask her about the other thing? The one that was the reason we initially decided to see someone about in the first place."
-
I've been entertaining this idea since I mentioned a mask and cloak. How do you think Shuuei would feel about having an alternate identity? Isolationist poltergeist by day, incident solver by night! In all seriousness I think she would appreciate the concept of being able to interact with people without exposing herself.
Also I don't think we should bring up the mind exploring idea. I don't think she reacted badly because she cares about us. I think we just asked her to do something that goes against the core of her beliefs. Remember that she thinks anyone exposing themselves is debasing.
I've had that thought myself. It's certainly a possibility.
As for the mind-exploring thing, well, she did specifically say that she didn't want to do that to us. Yes, the fact that such a thing goes against her core beliefs is almost certainly a factor, but I think caring about us is also a factor.
-
If you decide to keep pursuing that later, do remember that she draws a pretty good parallel between us asking her to enter our mind and her asking us to kill her. I tend to forget this fact myself, but this isn't a simple case of shyness we're dealing with, it's a case of utter revulsion over a moral wrong, one that isn't really made okay just because the receiving party wants it to happen.
-
Noted.
-
Also, were you planning on asking why Koishi did what she did to herself? I think it might actually get an interesting reaction, if Yukari does know.
-
> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Look back down, take on a soft tone.
> "Did you want to ask her about the other thing? The one that was the reason we initially decided to see someone about in the first place."
>"Oh, don't mention it," says Yukari with a little wave of her hand.
>You try to nudge the poltergeist toward other topics. "I should..." she mumbles. "Just...I'm not sure how to phrase it."
>_
-
> "I can give it a try if you like, but the obvious downside is that I do not have the same inhibitions you have."
-
> "I can give it a try if you like, but the obvious downside is that I do not have the same inhibitions you have."
>"...That'll be okay," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> "All right, I will do my best. Feel free to poke me if I start to go down a path you do not like."
> Look back up at Yukari.
> "We are wondering about the general manifestation of shadows, on the spiritual level. How much do you know about this?"
-
> "All right, I will do my best. Feel free to poke me if I start to go down a path you do not like."
> Look back up at Yukari.
> "We are wondering about the general manifestation of shadows, on the spiritual level."
>"I will," she says.
>You look back to Yukari, and bring up the topic. "Go on," she says.
>_
-
> "I understand from Lady Moriya that a shadow is a physical representation of a spiritual quality, that light can touch you. But there are inanimate objects out there right now with no shadows. How could one go about altering them spiritually so that the light can touch them again?"
-
> Wait a minute. You're up rather early, parser. Is something amiss?
-
> "I understand from Lady Moriya that a shadow is a physical representation of a spiritual quality, that light can touch you. But there are inanimate objects out there right now with no shadows. How could one go about altering them spiritually so that the light can touch them again?"
>"Well, the simple answer is that you return whatever was taken from them," says Yukari.
> Wait a minute. You're up rather early, parser. Is something amiss?
>Can't sleep no more. Don't know why. It's fairly irritating; anticipate crashing this afternoon.
>_
-
> "And the thing that was taken from them would be something intrinsic to them, I assume? For example, one of the shadowless objects is a large rock near Marisa's house. What may have been taken from it?"
-
> "And the thing that was taken from them would be something intrinsic to them, I assume? For example, one of the shadowless objects is a large rock near Marisa's house. What may have been taken from it?"
>"That is a good question," she says, smiling. "What has been taken is an aspect of its being, part of what binds it together and makes it be a rock. It's soul, if you will. Think of it as the difference between the New Year and the first day of the first calendar month."
>_
-
> "Hmm. So if I woke up one morning and found I lacked a shadow, what would you guess was taken from me? It sounds like it would be something more intrinsic to myself than the obvious things, like my passion for dance, or my electrical usage."
-
> "Hmm. So if I woke up one morning and found I lacked a shadow, what would you guess was taken from me? It sounds like it would be something more intrinsic to myself than the obvious things, like my passion for dance, or my electrical usage."
>"If I knew how to answer that," says Yukari, "I expect I would be regarded as quite a bit more dangerous than I am already. But more generally, perhaps passion would be it? Or something more basic to existence. I couldn't say exactly what is taken, I don't think anyone can."
>_
-
> "Something basic to existence, huh...something that would define me as a youkai, I presume. That makes sense."
-
Also, were you planning on asking why Koishi did what she did to herself? I think it might actually get an interesting reaction, if Yukari does know.
That may be a good idea, actually. And it may also be worth mentioning that the satori were driven underground because of their mind-reading ability; it would show Shuuei that people aren't just okay with that kind of exposure. I'm not too sure on that one, though. Asking about Koishi I agree with, but talking about the satori in general I'm not too sure on, so discuss amongst yourselves.
Also, I won't be able to be on as much today and tomorrow (weekends in general, really), so don't think you need to wait for my input. Just remember the stuff I want to say to Shuuei about her reaction to the Koishi idea.
-
> "Something basic to existence, huh...something that would define me as a youkai, I presume. That makes sense."
>"More basic than that, I imagine," says Youkai. "Something that defines you as an existence rather than a collection of humors and tissues and such, if not more basic than that."
>_
-
I will do my best if there comes a time where I end up steering that ship, but I can't guarantee anything.
> Nod.
> Give the poltergeist another gentle nudge, look down and soften our voice again.
> "What do you think of this?"
-
> Nod.
> Give the poltergeist another gentle nudge, look down and soften our voice again.
> "What do you think of this?"
>"It...sounds right, I suppose," she says in a quiet tone. "I wouldn't have said it like that..."
>_
-
> Look back to Yukari.
> "Now, can I presume that, whatever this essence of being is that was taken, that the effect could be duplicated if I somehow got rid of it on my own?"
-
> Look back to Yukari.
> "Now, can I presume that, whatever this essence of being is that was taken, that the effect could be duplicated if I somehow got rid of it on my own?"
>"One would imagine," says Yukari. "Of course, this would take a very interesting mistake in sorcery, and I would hardly expect you to take an interest in such things."
>_
-
> "Of course. I am merely thinking about the theory here, where it is conceivably possible that one can lose their shadow through getting rid of what they are themselves. And then the reverse is likely true, where it they take the discarded thing back, then their shadow would return."
-
> "Of course. I am merely thinking about the theory here, where it is conceivably possible that one can lose their shadow through getting rid of what they are themselves. And then the reverse is likely true, where it they take the discarded thing back, then their shadow would return."
>"Assuming they didn't accidentally destroy it, it should be possible," says Yukari.
>_
-
> "Right."
> Give the poltergeist another gentle nudge, look down and soften our voice again.
> "Should I keep going, or have we heard as much as we need?"
-
> "Right."
> Give the poltergeist another gentle nudge, look down and soften our voice again.
> "Should I keep going, or have we heard as much as we need?"
>"Keep going..." she says.
>_
-
> "Okay."
> Turn back to Yukari and resume normal voice.
> "Now, this all applies to objects that had shadows and lost them. What if we found an object, somewhere, that appeared to have never had one in the first place?"
-
> "Okay."
> Turn back to Yukari and resume normal voice.
> "Now, this all applies to objects that had shadows and lost them. What if we found an object, somewhere, that appeared to have never had one in the first place?"
>"That would lead me to suspect they had a pretty tenuous existence to begin with," says Yukari.
>_
-
> "That may very well be possible. How could one manifest a shadow for this object?"
-
> "That may very well be possible. How could one manifest a shadow for this object?"
>"I imagine you would have to make their existence much less tenuous," says Yukari.
>_
-
> "Mmm...yes, that would make sense. Or, presumably, they could do it themselves."
-
> "Mmm...yes, that would make sense. Or, presumably, they could do it themselves."
>"In some cases, I imagine," she says. "It really depends on the existence in question. But, given we both know exactly which one you're talking about, I think it would quite do the trick."
>_
-
>"I see. I suppose it would depend on the existence, yes."
-
>"Can you provide any clue as to how one might go about doing this?"
-
>"I see. I suppose it would depend on the existence, yes."
>She nods.
>"Can you provide any clue as to how one might go about doing this?"
>"Mmmm, I don't think you need any more advice on how to resolve that situation, really. I am sure you both know the answer."
>_
-
> Look down and soften our voice.
> "What do you think?"
-
> Look down and soften our voice.
> "What do you think?"
>"Uh..." she says softly.
>_
-
> "Just remember, I am here for you."
-
> "Just remember, I am here for you."
>"I know," says the poltergeist. And doesn't seem to be following it up.
>_
-
I'm glad Yukari thinks we know what she's talking about because I don't. Kilga is she talking about how Shuuei needs to make noise to exist?
-
Yes.
> Stare down at our skirt for another couple of moments.
> If the poltergeist is still silent, look back up at Yukari.
> "Lady Yakumo, I am sorry for requesting this again in your home, but could you possibly give me a few moments?"
-
> Stare down at our skirt for another couple of moments.
> If the poltergeist is still silent, look back up at Yukari.
> "Lady Yakumo, I am sorry for requesting this again in your home, but could you possibly give me a few moments?"
>"I suppose I could check the kitchen for a few moments," she says.
>She stands, and goes to do so, turning her back to you,
>_
-
> Look down and soften our voice.
> "It is safe to come out now."
-
> Look down and soften our voice.
> "It is safe to come out now."
>"I would rather not," she says.
>_
-
> "Would you feel more comfortable coming out if we went to another room?"
-
> "Would you feel more comfortable coming out if we went to another room?"
>"Probably," she says.
>_
-
> Look back up and resume our normal voice, if not a little bit louder.
> "Lady Yakumo, may we temporarily borrow a different room?"
-
> "Preferrably the eastern room as my friend needs to check there anyways."
-
> "Preferrably the eastern room as my friend needs to check there anyways."
> "Preferrably the eastern room as my friend needs to check there anyways."
>"By all means," says Yukari. "Do try not to mess with anything, though."
>_
-
What's in the eastern room again?
> "Thank you."
> Look back down and soften our voice again.
> "How do you want to get there?"
-
> "Thank you."
> Look back down and soften our voice again.
> "How do you want to get there?"
>"If she's not looking, I guess I can run," she says.
>_
-
> "..Ah! About those concealing items I asked about earlier." Glance down at our skirt. "I don't believe it would be proper to hold more conversations like this."
Shuuei is the shadow that pierced the heavens. 8)
-
> "She is not looking, no. If you wish, you can cling to my legs, and I can float over to the door."
-
> "She is not looking, no. If you wish, you can cling to my legs, and I can float over to the door."
>"That sounds a little risky," she says. "I'll just move quickly."
>_
-
>"Well all right then."
>Move off Shuuei so she can run to the eastern room
>Then follow her
-
>"Well all right then."
>Move off Shuuei so she can run to the eastern room
>Then follow her
>You step away from her. The moment you do, she scampers to her feet and runs through the curtain.
>Following her inside, you find yourself in a windowless room at the southeastern corner of the house. A large, comfortable-looking futon lays on the floor, with a straw raincloak and noh mask of an oni resting on it. There is a nightstand with a coal brazier set on it, a shelf of books, and numerous pictures, photographs, and trinkets lining the walls. A couple of wooden chests sit at the corners. It barely feels like there's room to breath with all of this stuff.
>The poltergeist stands over the bed, looking at the items resting on it.
>_
-
> "So."
-
> "So."
>"So?" she says, looking back at you.
>_
-
> Give a small sad frown.
> "So what will you do now?"
-
> Give a small sad frown.
> "So what will you do now?"
>"I don't know..." she says. "I would give it back to you. Just...the price is too high."
>_
-
> Nod and lower voice.
> "So this means that you are willing to live without one of your own?"
-
> Nod and lower voice.
> "So this means that you are willing to live without one of your own?"
>She nods. "I'd manage, I guess..."
>_
-
> "Mmm...was there anything else you wished to learn while we were here?"
-
> "Mmm...was there anything else you wished to learn while we were here?"
>"I...was just hopping to find a way where I could let you have it back, and not disappear."
>_
-
> Smile.
> "I very much appreciate the effort you put into it. I am very proud of you, and very thankful."
-
> Examine Noh Oni Mask and Straw Raincloak.
> "What if I proposed a way that you can make your presence known to others without exposing yourself?"
-
> Smile.
> "I very much appreciate the effort you put into it. I am very proud of you, and very thankful."
>She sighs. "I'm glad it means something, then."
> Examine Noh Oni Mask and Straw Raincloak.
> "What if I proposed a way that you can make your presence known to others without exposing yourself?"
>Noh Oni Mask
>This ceramic mask has two horns jutting from the temples and a rather inhuman face painted on it. A string along the top keeps it in place.
>Straw Raincloak
>This cloak woven from straw is designed to be draped over one's shoulders to keep rain off of one's clothes.
>"Huh?" she says.
>_
-
>"If you wore this mask and raincoat, for example, you could hide your identity and yet be seen by others."
-
>"If you wore this mask and raincoat, for example, you could hide your identity and yet be seen by others."
>"Maybe," she says...
>_
-
> "...Would that be acceptable?"
-
> "...Would that be acceptable?"
>"I guess it wouldn't be as bad as the alternative," she says.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "All right. And while I am thinking about it, on a rather unrelated note, when you are standing on someone's shadow to pin them in place, like you did with Tenshi and myself this morning, can you take their shadow without getting off of it?"
-
> Nod.
> "All right. And while I am thinking about it, on a rather unrelated note, when you are standing on someone's shadow to pin them in place, like you did with Tenshi and myself this morning, can you take their shadow without getting off of it?"
>"I could," she says.
>_
-
> "That is good to know, then, if you would find this an acceptable alternative."
> Gesture toward the cloak and mask.
> "I may have a very large favor to ask of you, should you decide to give this a try."
-
> Pause. "This may seem like a foolish question but it occurs to me to ask. Do you know how to lie?"
-
Are we thinking of two different plans?
-
Possibly? I'm still thinking alternate identity which would need her to give an assumed name to people. Possibly fake backstory too. It just occured to me she's really honest. What's your plan?
-
> "That is good to know, then, if you would find this an acceptable alternative."
> Gesture toward the cloak and mask.
> "I may have a very large favor to ask of you, should you decide to give this a try."
>"What is it?" she says.
> Pause. "This may seem like a foolish question but it occurs to me to ask. Do you know how to lie?"
>She frowns. "Of course, why?"
>_
-
> "I would like your help in freeing my people from the control of the vampire mansion we visited earlier."
-
I think our plans can work together.
> "I want to help you make yourself noticed in Gensokyo without any danger of exposing details about yourself. If you assist me in this task while disguised so no one can identify you we will be able to convince people that you are a good hearted youkai that fights for freedom or any other motives you want people to believe."
-
> "I would like your help in freeing my people from the control of the vampire mansion we visited earlier."
>"How?" she says.
> "I want to help you make yourself noticed in Gensokyo without any danger of exposing details about yourself. If you assist me in this task while disguised so no one can identify you we will be able to convince people that you are a good hearted youkai that fights for freedom or any other motives you want people to believe."
>She nods. "I think I can...what do you need?"
>_
-
Oh, you actually want her to go around as this caped crusader? I was only going to have that as a temporary stopover on the road to just being herself.
-
After freeing the islands we can check to see if she's ready for that. I'm actually going a step further then just making her a part of the Z-Machine. If she becomes more of a
superhero incident solver she could be a main character.
The Brocken Spectre is a pretty cool superhero name though.
-
That's rather ambitious, I dare say. I wonder if you really qualify as an incident solver by fixing an incident you caused, though. :V
> "The two can kind of work together, actually. In my travels, when asking around for advice on how to free my people from the control of the vampire at the mansion, it was suggested that I offer the household head something in exchange. Even if I wanted to give her something, which I will readily admit I do not find very appealing given the self-serving nature of her treatment of Bhava-Agra's islands and people, I do not really have anything to offer her of my own. So I think it is only fair if her people are treated in a similar way."
> Point at the poltergeist.
> "I think she may be willing to exchange the freedom of my people and islands for the essences of being of her two finest servants."
-
> "The two can kind of work together, actually. In my travels, when asking around for advice on how to free my people from the control of the vampire at the mansion, it was suggested that I offer the household head something in exchange. Even if I wanted to give her something, which I will readily admit I do not find very appealing given the self-serving nature of her treatment of Bhava-Agra's islands and people, I do not really have anything to offer her of my own. So I think it is only fair if her people are treated in a similar way."
> Point at the poltergeist.
> "I think she may be willing to exchange the freedom of my people and islands for the essences of being of her two finest servants."
>"You...want me to take shadows?" she says. "I though that was completely unacceptable."
>_
-
> "I have found making a lot of decisions I did not think I would ever make even just two days ago over the last day and a half. In this instance, I trust you not to misuse them, and after observing Nitori and Kogasa, I have found that the entire procedure does not appear to do any lasting damage, merely some pain when the shadow is taken and some soreness when it is restored."
-
What people don't know won't hurt them. :3
> "I will not pretend this is an easy task. We will need to plan our moves carefully. I may wish to ask more of my allies to help us. However I do believe we can do this."
We also might want to practice a bit of combat and danmaku with Shuuei. I doubt she even has spellcards of her own. Pick her up some?
-
> "I have found making a lot of decisions I did not think I would ever make even just two days ago over the last day and a half. In this instance, I trust you not to misuse them, and after observing Nitori and Kogasa, I have found that the entire procedure does not appear to do any lasting damage, merely some pain when the shadow is taken and some soreness when it is restored."
>"I see," says the poltergeist.
> "I will not pretend this is an easy task. We will need to plan our moves carefully. I may wish to ask more of my allies to help us. However I do believe we can do this."
>She nods. "If that is what you want, I will do my best."
>_
-
I wasn't planning on any combat. Why do you think I asked about being able to take a person's shadow while pinning them?
> "All right. Ideally, this plan will entail me distracting them away from their own shadows, at which point you can pin them where they stand and take their shadows without risk of repercussion. I will not pretend that the two people in mind are pushovers. They both know how to fight quite well, and one of them can even stop time. Is there a specific manner in which you need to stand on them so that they cannot move?"
-
You say this right before describing combat. We can plan to do a sneak attack but if she misses or something unexpected happens we'll be in direct combat fast, especially since you're talking about Meiling and Sakuya.
-
I'm not worried at all about dealing with Meiling, given nothing weird will have happened yet when she gets ambushed.
Sakuya could be a worry if she gets suspicious very fast, yes, but we can have a flash prepared in case she gets aggressive, which we can warn Team Brocket about in advance.
-
As long as we have Tenshi and possibly one of the incident solvers with us I don't see any problems then. Even if Remilia starts a fight with us.
> Where did we leave Tenshi and did we say we were going to meet her somewhere?
-
> "All right. Ideally, this plan will entail me distracting them away from their own shadows, at which point you can pin them where they stand and take their shadows without risk of repercussion. I will not pretend that the two people in mind are pushovers. They both know how to fight quite well, and one of them can even stop time. Is there a specific manner in which you need to stand on them so that they cannot move?"
>"I just need to put my weight on them," she says. "But the more firmly I can, the better. I don't know if they'll be able to escape, I've never really gone after anyone particularly strong."
> Where did we leave Tenshi and did we say we were going to meet her somewhere?
>Tenshi left to go investigate the islands, and maybe snag the flags from them. You're supposed to meet her somewhere.
>_
-
>"I would advise moving quickly, then. Now, here's a tentative plan: I believe I have a way to distract them sufficiently for you to sneak into their shadows, but once in them, you will need to act quickly. Also, you may very well have to choose between the two's shadows; it's unlikely you'll be able to reach both simultaniously. Your priority should be Sakuya, the one who can stop time. She'll be the one with silver hair; Meiling's is red. I should have her distracted long enough for you to reach her shadow and pin her in place. Once you have her shadow, go for Meiling's. you won't have the same advantage of surprise, but once you strike at Sakuya, I'd expect a battle to begin. I will ensure that Meiling is occupied. I'll likely have Tenshi do it; Meiling's probably eager for a chance at payback. I can hold Remilia off; I've beaten her before. Once you have both shadows, I'll signal a stop to the fighting. Now, it is possible that Remilia will conclude that she can restore them by killing you, so once you have Meiling's shadow, go for Remilia's. Don't take it; just pin her down so she can't try anything."
>"Now, I would say there's a fairly high likelyhood of things not going exactly as planned. Some improvization is likely to be necessary. You just focus on the shadows; if I need you to do anything else, I'll let you know."
>"Also, there may very well be changes made to the plan between now and when we put it into action, but don't worry; I'll make sure you're informed."
And by the way, the distraction I have in mind is the rant to Remilia that I mentioned previously. What I've got in mind for that is fairly certain to keep their attention.
-
>"I would advise moving quickly, then. Now, here's a tentative plan: I believe I have a way to distract them sufficiently for you to sneak into their shadows, but once in them, you will need to act quickly. Also, you may very well have to choose between the two's shadows; it's unlikely you'll be able to reach both simultaniously. Your priority should be Sakuya, the one who can stop time. She'll be the one with silver hair; Meiling's is red. I should have her distracted long enough for you to reach her shadow and pin her in place. Once you have her shadow, go for Meiling's. you won't have the same advantage of surprise, but once you strike at Sakuya, I'd expect a battle to begin. I will ensure that Meiling is occupied. I'll likely have Tenshi do it; Meiling's probably eager for a chance at payback. I can hold Remilia off; I've beaten her before. Once you have both shadows, I'll signal a stop to the fighting. Now, it is possible that Remilia will conclude that she can restore them by killing you, so once you have Meiling's shadow, go for Remilia's. Don't take it; just pin her down so she can't try anything."
>"Now, I would say there's a fairly high likelyhood of things not going exactly as planned. Some improvization is likely to be necessary. You just focus on the shadows; if I need you to do anything else, I'll let you know."
>"Also, there may very well be changes made to the plan between now and when we put it into action, but don't worry; I'll make sure you're informed."
>She nods. "Focus on the silver-haired one first. Alright."
>_
-
We might not get to be choosey but I'm pretty sure Kilga wants to ambush them one at a time.
-
Well, then my plan's what we can go with if they come at us as a group. Which, given what we've got Tenshi doing, is the situation I'm expecting.
-
> What did Amaya look like again?
> "Of course, if we manage to get to them one at a time, then things become a lot easier. Getting the gatekeeper, if she is alone or accompanied by another celestial, will be a simpler affair, as she will have no reason to suspect something is amiss. What you should do is hide behind the corner of the outer mansion wall in the direction shadows are being cast, so that if she were facing away from her own shadow, she would also be facing away from you. I will keep her distracted and looking away from her own shadow, so you can run up behind her and take it. Once that is done, escape back the way you came, and hide behind the wall corner again. The other celestial, if she is present, will use their communications device to call for the head maid to come out and investigate. I will position the gatekeeper so that the head maid will have to put her back to her own shadow, and you, in order to look at the incapacitated gatekeeper. Once she starts investigating, you can run up again and take her shadow as well. Once you have both, run back toward your hiding place and wait. I will summon our allies with a bolt of lightning, and negotiations will begin. When they conclude, I will summon you with a second bolt of lightning, aimed more in your general direction but obviously not actually intending to hit you, and you can approach for further instructions."
> Do we have any immediate family members?
-
Just FYI, there's a small character development thing I want to do before Shuuei puts the mask and cloak on, so please don't advance too far without me.
-
triple post wheeeee
I'll try to get Wacko on in the middle of this afternoon's shenanigans so that I don't delay things too much. Sorry for asking this.
-
No problemo, plan looks good and we're in no hurry right?
> "If you get noticed and targetted by either of our targets it's more important for you to dodge their attacks then try to take their shadows. If you get knocked out our plan won't work and if it comes down to it you can take their shadows after we wear them down."
-
> What did Amaya look like again?
> "Of course, if we manage to get to them one at a time, then things become a lot easier. Getting the gatekeeper, if she is alone or accompanied by another celestial, will be a simpler affair, as she will have no reason to suspect something is amiss. What you should do is hide behind the corner of the outer mansion wall in the direction shadows are being cast, so that if she were facing away from her own shadow, she would also be facing away from you. I will keep her distracted and looking away from her own shadow, so you can run up behind her and take it. Once that is done, escape back the way you came, and hide behind the wall corner again. The other celestial, if she is present, will use their communications device to call for the head maid to come out and investigate. I will position the gatekeeper so that the head maid will have to put her back to her own shadow, and you, in order to look at the incapacitated gatekeeper. Once she starts investigating, you can run up again and take her shadow as well. Once you have both, run back toward your hiding place and wait. I will summon our allies with a bolt of lightning, and negotiations will begin. When they conclude, I will summon you with a second bolt of lightning, aimed more in your general direction but obviously not actually intending to hit you, and you can approach for further instructions."
> Do we have any immediate family members?
>Fairly thin and green-haired, as you recall.
>"Okay, so not that different from how we snuck in," says the poltergeist.
>No.
> "If you get noticed and targetted by either of our targets it's more important for you to dodge their attacks then try to take their shadows. If you get knocked out our plan won't work and if it comes down to it you can take their shadows after we wear them down."
>"Alright," she says. "I'll try to get away if they attack me."
>_
-
>Smile.
> "I have to admit...that whole ordeal just now, it rather made me feel like a mother hen."
-
>Smile.
> "I have to admit...that whole ordeal just now, it rather made me feel like a mother hen."
>"What does that feel like?" asks the poltergeist, frowning.
>_
-
> "A mother hen uses her body to protect her children. It felt like it was my duty to protect my daughter from what she hates more than anything else."
-
> "A mother hen uses her body to protect her children. It felt like it was my duty to protect my daughter from what she hates more than anything else."
>She seems fairly bewildered, but she nods regardless.
>_
-
> "Given that, I should tell you that I am planning on meeting Tenshi again rather soon, and our designated meeting place was back at my room on one of the floating islands. I would like you to come along for coordination purposes, as it will be important that the two of you are aware of each other's roles in regards to the mansion plan, just in case something goes wrong."
-
> "Given that, I should tell you that I am planning on meeting Tenshi again rather soon, and our designated meeting place was back at my room on one of the floating islands. I would like you to come along for coordination purposes, as it will be important that the two of you are aware of each other's roles in regards to the mansion plan, just in case something goes wrong."
>She frowns. "Must I?"
>_
-
> "We can meet on the ground to avoid the potential crowds instead, if you like."
-
> "We can meet on the ground to avoid the potential crowds instead, if you like."
>"Wait, crowds?" She frowns deeply. "Yes, that sounds much better."
>_
-
> "I do not know for sure how many people will be around the island with my bedroom, but it is island that houses The August One, so it is the most important island in all of Bhava-Agra and thus tends to have a lot of people. There may also be curious Gensokyo natives about; I saw a couple earlier today. So yes, there would be that risk. We can meet on the ground instead, then. How about the same place as always?"
-
> "I do not know for sure how many people will be around the island with my bedroom, but it is island that houses The August One, so it is the most important island in all of Bhava-Agra and thus tends to have a lot of people. There may also be curious Gensokyo natives about; I saw a couple earlier today. So yes, there would be that risk. We can meet on the ground instead, then. How about the same place as always?"
>She nods. "That would be so much better, yes."
>_
-
> "All right. And you will be able to tolerate Tenshi's presence, dressed as you will be? I imagine she will be able to figure out pretty quickly who you are."
-
> "All right. And you will be able to tolerate Tenshi's presence, dressed as you will be? I imagine she will be able to figure out pretty quickly who you are."
>"She doesn't need to see me there, anyways," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> Frown.
> "Well, all right, but that seems like it sort of defeats the purpose of using this outfit at all."
-
> Frown.
> "Well, all right, but that seems like it sort of defeats the purpose of using this outfit at all."
>"It's a fallback, as far as I'm concerned," she says.
>_
-
> "Such a shame. I really do think the two of you would get along well, considering the many ways in which you are similar. But I suppose it is like Lady Yakumo says, some is better than none."
-
> "Such a shame. I really do think the two of you would get along well, considering the many ways in which you are similar. But I suppose it is like Lady Yakumo says, some is better than none."
>"We'll see," she says. "Speaking of her..."
>She glances toward the curtain outside.
>"Have we asked her everything?"
>_
-
> "Is there any more you wish to know? There are some other questions I wish to ask about Koishi, but not many, and after that, I will be ready to depart if you are."
-
> "Is there any more you wish to know? There are some other questions I wish to ask about Koishi, but not many, and after that, I will be ready to depart if you are."
>"I don't think she's really going to open up any new possibilities," says the poltergeist, "So I guess not...I've exposed too much already."
>_
-
> "At least it was not completely without benefit. You now have nigh impenetrable confinement at your disposal, and the question of manifesting a shadow has been answered, even though it was not an answer you liked. And speaking of things you do not like, I know you are not terribly fond of this, but I can think of no greater demonstration of how proud I am of you and all that you have done since arriving here."
> Give the poltergeist a gentle hug.
-
> "At least it was not completely without benefit. You now have nigh impenetrable confinement at your disposal, and the question of manifesting a shadow has been answered, even though it was not an answer you liked. And speaking of things you do not like, I know you are not terribly fond of this, but I can think of no greater demonstration of how proud I am of you and all that you have done since arriving here."
> Give the poltergeist a gentle hug.
>You give her a hug after summing things up. She stiffens, but she doesn't try to fight you off or anything. "I suppose that is something, at least," she says.
>_
-
> "Mmm...I wish there was a way where I could show my appreciation for you at which you would not balk, like you do now."
-
> "Mmm...I wish there was a way where I could show my appreciation for you at which you would not balk, like you do now."
>"What, I didn't stop you," she says, frowning.
>_
-
> "Yes, and I appreciate that, but you are still clearly somewhat uncomfortable with the act. I wish I knew of something you would not find so uncomfortable."
-
> "Yes, and I appreciate that, but you are still clearly somewhat uncomfortable with the act. I wish I knew of something you would not find so uncomfortable."
>"I'm probably never going to be comfortable with others," she says. "Don't worry about it."
>_
-
> Smile and raise and eyebrow.
> "...Probably?"
-
> Smile and raise and eyebrow.
> "...Probably?"
>She shrugs. "It's just a word."
>_
-
> "It is a word that means quite a bit coming from you, given the context."
-
> "It is a word that means quite a bit coming from you, given the context."
>She shrugs.
>_
-
> That's quite a lack of objection. Maybe she's having second thoughts about her whole life philosophy...
> Is there a mirror in here?
> Let go of the hug, if we haven't already (and be impressed at her ability to shrug while we're latched onto her if we were still hugging her).
> "Anyway, since you seem anxious to go, I think I will leave you in here to don your new accessories and go see Lady Yakumo to ask my questions about Koishi. Will you be all right in here alone?"
-
> That's quite a lack of objection. Maybe she's having second thoughts about her whole life philosophy...
> Is there a mirror in here?
> Let go of the hug, if we haven't already (and be impressed at her ability to shrug while we're latched onto her if we were still hugging her).
> "Anyway, since you seem anxious to go, I think I will leave you in here to don your new accessories and go see Lady Yakumo to ask my questions about Koishi. Will you be all right in here alone?"
>It could be, if it's not also her habit of saying nothing when apparently flustered.
>There is a small mirror on the wall; it's a little easy to miss among all the other things.
>You did let her go.
>"Alright," she says. "I think I should be fine."
>_
-
> Point at the mirror.
> "Be sure to check yourself in the mirror to make sure your new accessories look okay. I will return momentarily."
> Assuming the poltergeist makes no effort to stop us, leave the room and head for the kitchen, where Yukari disappeared earlier."
-
> Point at the mirror.
> "Be sure to check yourself in the mirror to make sure your new accessories look okay. I will return momentarily."
> Assuming the poltergeist makes no effort to stop us, leave the room and head for the kitchen, where Yukari disappeared earlier."
>"Alright," she says.
>You leave the room. The kitchen isn't really separate, as the house does not have proper rooms. Instead it just occupies the northern part. Yukari seems to be idly staring out of a window.
>_
-
> "Lady Yakumo, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. I do not think I will ever be able to sufficiently show my appreciation for what you have done for her."
> Give a deep bow in Yukari's direction.
-
> "Lady Yakumo, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. I do not think I will ever be able to sufficiently show my appreciation for what you have done for her."
> Give a deep bow in Yukari's direction.
>"Mmm, if you say so," says Yukari, not turning around and apparently not noticing your bow.
>_
-
> "...Is something wrong?"
-
> "...Is something wrong?"
>"Nothing at all," she says. "All I've really given you is my patience, and some old junk I had lying around."
>_
-
> Frown.
> "Your apathy betrays your words. If you wish to keep something private, I will be glad to ask no further, but if there is something we can do, or some offense we have wrought for which we must atone..."
-
> Frown.
> "Your apathy betrays your words. If you wish to keep something private, I will be glad to ask no further, but if there is something we can do, or some offense we have wrought for which we must atone..."
>"Well, you seem to be insisting I'm being anything other than sincere," says Yukari. "That is rather offensive. But aside from that, no."
>_
-
> "Then I deeply apologize for this offense. I assure you no ill will was intended, and that my words were borne of concern instead of mistrust."
-
> "Then I deeply apologize for this offense. I assure you no ill will was intended, and that my words were borne of concern instead of mistrust."
>"We shall pretend nothing was said," says Yukari. "But in short, do not worry. Most of what I did was confirm what you both already knew."
>_
-
> "All right, I will do my best to not concern myself. Still, I hope to be able to return the favor in some capacity someday. And while I am thinking about it, on that note, it sadly seems that Chen has no particular interest in interacting with my people again. Hopefully there is some other way to reward her for her hard work."
-
> "All right, I will do my best to not concern myself. Still, I hope to be able to return the favor in some capacity someday. And while I am thinking about it, on that note, it sadly seems that Chen has no particular interest in interacting with my people again. Hopefully there is some other way to reward her for her hard work."
>"Buy her some fish, and she'll be your best friend for months," says Yukari.
>_
-
> Weren't the kappa having a fish sale yesterday?
> Did we manage to check to see if it was still going on today?
-
> Weren't the kappa having a fish sale yesterday?
> Did we manage to check to see if it was still going on today?
>You did!
>You didn't see today, but you are pretty sure that their fish market is a daily thing when it's not too nasty out.
>_
-
> "I did see the kappa fish market yesterday. I will be sure to pick something up, should I come into some money. Does she have any favorite species?"
> ...Wait, are we really okay talking this way about our fellow fish?
-
>All living things require sustanence. It is a natural part of life.
-
> "I did see the kappa fish market yesterday. I will be sure to pick something up, should I come into some money. Does she have any favorite species?"
> ...Wait, are we really okay talking this way about our fellow fish?
>"She likes nearly anything," says Yukari.
>Do humans get upset when other mammals are eaten?
>All living things require sustanence. It is a natural part of life.
>As long as it's done in an enlightened manner.
>_
-
> "Hmm...I wonder what she would do if I told her I was once a fish myself..."
-
> "Hmm...I wonder what she would do if I told her I was once a fish myself..."
>"Oh, I imagine she'd try to taste you at worse," says Yukari. "Likely she wouldn't care. She's smart enough not to try to snack on people. I suppose it comes with being domesticated."
>_
-
> "I see. Well, I will keep that fish market in mind for her."
> "On an unrelated note, there is some small part of Koishi's story about which I am still curious. Do you know why she chose to seal her ability?"
-
> "I see. Well, I will keep that fish market in mind for her."
> "On an unrelated note, there is some small part of Koishi's story about which I am still curious. Do you know why she chose to seal her ability?"
>"To my understanding," says Yukari, "She found it a burden she could not live with."
>_
-
> "Interesting...do you know how she lives now? Does she seem any happier for it?"
-
> "Interesting...do you know how she lives now? Does she seem any happier for it?"
>"She's not my concern at all," says Yukari. "She knows to keep well away from me, though. I would have little patience for her antics."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "I understand. Thank you very much, I believe this is the extent of what I wished to know. I will impose on your family no further."
-
>Go back to Shuuei.
-
> Nod.
> "I understand. Thank you very much, I believe this is the extend of what I wished to know. I will impose on your family no further."
>"Well then, I shall anticipate good results," says Yukari.
>Go back to Shuuei.
>You return to the room, and see that the poltergeist has dressed. With a straw cloak over her brocaded coat and dangling down past her waste, and a noh mask over her face, frankly it takes some self control not to break out laughing.
>_
-
> We are Bhavagran. We can control ourselves. Besides, it would not be right to laugh at a friend in this sort of situation.
> ...Unless it was Tenshi.
> Oh no, do not laugh at the idea of Tenshi dressing up like this. Shuuei will think we are laughing at her.
> "What do you think?"
-
> We are Bhavagran. We can control ourselves. Besides, it would not be right to laugh at a friend in this sort of situation.
> ...Unless it was Tenshi.
> Oh no, do not laugh at the idea of Tenshi dressing up like this. Shuuei will think we are laughing at her.
> "What do you think?"
>You manage to keep things under control. Even with the thought of dressing up Tenshi in silly costumes.
>"It's a little hard to see out of the mask," she says, her voice somewhat muffled. "And the grass thing is going to make it a bit harder to stay quiet and move around. But I guess no one would recognize me."
>_
-
>"That's the idea. This way, you can go out in public without exposing yourself. We can make up a lot of things about you, create a fake identity you can use. That way, you could survive without needing to actually expose yourself."
>"And if you're having problems with the mask, I'm sure we can find one that'll work better."
-
>"That's the idea. This way, you can go out in public without exposing yourself. We can make up a lot of things about you, create a fake identity you can use. That way, you could survive without needing to actually expose yourself."
>"And if you're having problems with the mask, I'm sure we can find one that'll work better."
>You would normally feel guilty for encouraging someone to be dishonest, but you suppose it would be better than the alternative...
>"I would like a better mask," she says.
>_
-
Yes, do remember that falsehoods are very much frowned upon in Bhava-Agra. As an important representative of the Dragon Palace, we need to be careful what we suggest in that regard.
> Nod.
> "I must admit, I think you look nicer with it off."
-
> Nod.
> "I must admit, I think you look nicer with it off."
>As you can't see her face, you have no idea what her reaction to that is. But she doesn't say anything.
>_
-
I hadn't forgotten. We both agree we don't want her to do this forever. It's like.. training wheels before riding the bike of social interaction.
> "We can stop by the human village to see if there is one that fits better for sale. I don't believe Rinnosuke had anything of the sort for sale.. hmm."
> Do we know any tailorers or someone that can make an outfit?
-
> "We can stop by the human village to see if there is one that fits better for sale. I don't believe Rinnosuke had anything of the sort for sale.. hmm."
> Do we know any tailorers or someone that can make an outfit?
>She nods. "I suppose so."
>There is that clothing store in town.
>_
-
> "And if you make faces to react to things I say, bear in mind that I can't see them."
-
> "And if you make faces to react to things I say, bear in mind that I can't see them."
>"I know," she says.
>_
-
> Smile.
> "So I can assume that, any time you make a face that I can't see, you're doing it because you don't want me to see it?"
-
> Smile.
> "So I can assume that, any time you make a face that I can't see, you're doing it because you don't want me to see it?"
>"It'd be happiest if you didn't see any of them" she says.
>_
-
> "Oh, very well. Anyway, I think it is time for us to leave. Let us go say thank you to Lady Yakumo for all that she has done for us, shall we?"
-
> "Oh, very well. Anyway, I think it is time for us to leave. Let us go say thank you to Lady Yakumo for all that she has done for us, shall we?"
>"I suppose we must..." she says.
>_
-
> "You can say thank you from the other room if you do not wish to see her face-to-face. Or mask-to-face, as the case may be."
-
> "You can say thank you from the other room if you do not wish to see her face-to-face. Or mask-to-face, as the case may be."
>"I...guess I can do that," she says.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Let's go, then."
> Leave the room and make our way back to the main room.
> "Lady Yakumo, we will be departing now. Thank you again for all your kindness."
-
> Nod.
> "Let's go, then."
> Leave the room and make our way back to the main room.
> "Lady Yakumo, we will be departing now. Thank you again for all your kindness."
>You leave the cramped bedroom and return to the main room, where you find Yukari resuming her prior position at the table.
>You thank Yukari for her tolerance. "Think little of it," she says. "I but shall likely be retiring soon."
>You hear the poltergeist follow you, and stop at the curtain.
>_
-
> Turn back to the curtain and soften our voice a bit.
> "Is there something you would like to say?"
-
> Turn back to the curtain and soften our voice a bit.
> "Is there something you would like to say?"
>You look back, and see her paused at the edge of the curtain.
>"T-thank you," she says.
>"Of course," says Yukari. "You're getting a bit better about things."
>_
-
> Is she on this side of the curtain or the other side?
-
> Is she on this side of the curtain or the other side?
>She is still in the room, but at the edge of it.
>_
-
> Turn back around to face Yukari.
> "Be well, Lady Yakumo, and enjoy your well-earned rest. I will be sure to let one of your shikigami know how things turn out."
> Assuming Yukari makes no effort to keep us, beckon to the poltergeist to follow us and leave the house.
-
> Turn back around to face Yukari.
> "Be well, Lady Yakumo, and enjoy your well-earned rest. I will be sure to let one of your shikigami know how things turn out."
> Assuming Yukari makes no effort to keep us, beckon to the poltergeist to follow us and leave the house.
>"And may you have one of your own soon," says Yukari.
>Yukari makes no effort to stop you. You beckon for the poltergeist to follow, and leave the house.
>The poltergeist hesitates for a moment, then dashes after you, trying to put you between herself and Yukari, then exiting before you do.
>_
-
> Mmm. That will need some work...
> Could we hear the straw cloak rustling as she ran by?
> Exit the house after her.
-
> Mmm. That will need some work...
> Could we hear the straw cloak rustling as she ran by?
> Exit the house after her.
>You could hear it rustle a little bit.
>You follow the poltergeist outside, finding her just outside the door.
>_
-
> Oho, quit from IRC but still here! Sneaky sneaky.
> Close the door behind us if we haven't already.
> Turn to the poltergeist.
> "I'm sorry, should I have let you back underneath before we left?"
-
> Oho, quit from IRC but still here! Sneaky sneaky.
> Close the door behind us if we haven't already.
> Turn to the poltergeist.
> "I'm sorry, should I have let you back underneath before we left?"
>You close the door.
>"Maybe," she says. "I guess it wasn't so bad this time..."
-
>"That's good. I can't be there every time somebody might see you, so you'll need to get used to it. Just remember that people can't see through your concealment, so you're not exposed. It will take some getting used to, I'm sure, but as long as you keep that in mind, I think you'll be all right. And I can be with you the first few times, certainly, so you'll have me there while you get used to it."
-
>"That's good. I can't be there every time somebody might see you, so you'll need to get used to it. Just remember that people can't see through your concealment, so you're not exposed. It will take some getting used to, I'm sure, but as long as you keep that in mind, I think you'll be all right. And I can be with you the first few times, certainly, so you'll have me there while you get used to it."
>She nods. "I know. Just...its weird."
>_
-
>"New experiences do tend to be that way. I remember how it was when I first became a youkai; I had to get used to new ways of doing pretty much everything, all the way down to breathing. But I can tell you that given time, you will get used to it."
-
>"New experiences do tend to be that way. I remember how it was when I first became a youkai; I had to get used to new ways of doing pretty much everything, all the way down to breathing. But I can tell you that given time, you will get used to it."
>"I don't think it's quite the same," she says.
>)
-
>"No, but it's the same idea. I'm sure your process of adjustment will be different than mine was, but you can handle it. Don't doubt yourself; it won't be easy, especially at first, but you can handle it."
-
>"No, but it's the same idea. I'm sure your process of adjustment will be different than mine was, but you can handle it. Don't doubt yourself; it won't be easy, especially at first, but you can handle it."
>"Maybe," she says. "What do we do now?"
>_
-
Anyone have anything else you want to do, or should we go meet up with Tenshi?
-
We need to lead her back to the riverside meeting place, but I do want to talk about satori in general and Koishi's choice in particular along the way.
> "Let's head back to our meeting place by the river. You can wait there for Tenshi and myself to arrive. Another may be with us, one dressed in red and white. She has never seen you before, but since you will be hiding from Tenshi I suspect you will choose to hide from her as well."
-
> "Let's head back to our meeting place by the river. You can wait there for Tenshi and myself to arrive. Another may be with us, one dressed in red and white. She has never seen you before, but since you will be hiding from Tenshi I suspect you will choose to hide from her as well."
>She nods. "Alright. I'll be wary for her."
>_
-
> "Let us walk to the river together, then."
> Begin travel back toward the riverside meeting place.
> Along the way, turn to the poltergeist.
> "So how much did you gather about the satori species of youkai from that conversation?"
-
> "Let us walk to the river together, then."
> Begin travel back toward the riverside meeting place.
> Along the way, turn to the poltergeist.
> "So how much did you gather about the satori species of youkai from that conversation?"
>The two of you start back toward the stream.
>"They sound absolutely terrible," she says.
>_
-
> "I imagine they would, to someone such as yourself. They have the ability to read minds, and hear all of one's thoughts, whether one wants them to or not."
-
> "I imagine they would, to someone such as yourself. They have the ability to read minds, and hear all of one's thoughts, whether one wants them to or not."
>"Absolutely terrible," she says again.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Now what if I told you that it is something they have no control over? That they read minds whether they want to or not?"
-
> Nod.
> "Now what if I told you that it is something they have no control over? That they read minds whether they want to or not?"
>"Then they are cursed or they are demons," she says.
>_
-
> "I suspect they likely feel the former. The Komeiji Sisters are people, just like anyone else, but since they were satori youkai, they heard all thoughts around them, whether they wanted to or not. Can you imagine such an existence? Simply by standing in someone's presence, you hear an unblockable string of thoughts, the most private of desires. Imagine going to town, with dozens upon dozens of people around, milling about, taking care of their business. A deafening roar of thoughts, a veritable deluge of mental noise, potentially overwhelming to the point of being physically disabling. And everyone knows you know what they're thinking, because they know you can't shut it off. They know you know their deepest secrets, what they want kept private above all else. And as nice as they may or may not act toward you in public, you know they resent you for knowing what they don't want you to know. Just because of what you are, because of something you have no control over, deep down, all those people hate you."
Will be back in ~half an hour, am going somewhere with this, sorry for interruption
-
> "I suspect they likely feel the former. The Komeiji Sisters are people, just like anyone else, but since they were satori youkai, they heard all thoughts around them, whether they wanted to or not. Can you imagine such an existence? Simply by standing in someone's presence, you hear an unblockable string of thoughts, the most private of desires. Imagine going to town, with dozens upon dozens of people around, milling about, taking care of their business. A deafening roar of thoughts, a veritable deluge of mental noise, potentially overwhelming to the point of being physically disabling. And everyone knows you know what they're thinking, because they know you can't shut it off. They know you know their deepest secrets, what they want kept private above all else. And as nice as they may or may not act toward you in public, you know they resent you for knowing what they don't want you to know. Just because of what you are, because of something you have no control over, deep down, all those people hate you."
>"That sounds awful," she says, "But not nearly as awful as what they inflict upon others."
>_
-
> "The Komeiji sister I mentioned, Koishi, the one who managed to seal her power. I asked Lady Yakumo if she knew why. Apparently, it was because she could not stand the burden anymore."
-
> "The Komeiji sister I mentioned, Koishi, the one who managed to seal her power. I asked Lady Yakumo if she knew why. Apparently, it was because she could not stand the burden anymore."
>"From what I gathered, it didn't really work," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> "It seems it did not, or at least not in the way I imagine she desired. For however awful what I just described must be, I can only think trying to deny truth, a truth about oneself, just to live happily and failing is much worse."
-
> "It seems it did not, or at least not in the way I imagine she desired. For however awful what I just described must be, I can only think trying to deny truth, a truth about oneself, just to live happily and failing is much worse."
>"I don't know," she says. "It would depend on how she failed. Denying something as awful as that is a very proper thing to do."
>_
-
> "Even though it is a truth?"
-
> "Even though it is a truth?"
>"Between that and inflicting such horrifying levels of exposure, there is no question," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> "Hmm, I see."
-
> "Hmm, I see."
>She seems content not to say anything else on the subject.
>_
-
> Continue on to the riverside meeting place.
-
> Continue on to the riverside meeting place.
>It does not take too long to get to the stream.
>"So, I'll wait here again?" she asks.
>_
-
> "Yes. I will likely given instructions out loud so you and any others present can hear them. May I assume you know how to get to the mansion from here?"
-
> "Yes. I will likely given instructions out loud so you and any others present can hear them. May I assume you know how to get to the mansion from here?"
>She nods.
>_
-
> "All right. And..."
> Smile.
> "Thank you for helping me out with this. I really appreciate it."
-
> "All right. And..."
> Smile.
> "Thank you for helping me out with this. I really appreciate it."
>She nods. "And...thank you for trying to help me. Even if it means you're basically telling me to do something terrible, I suppose there's not much alternative."
>_
-
> "We'll...we'll figure out something. There has to be a way."
-
> "We'll...we'll figure out something. There has to be a way."
>"I suppose," she says. "In the mean time. I'll be here."
>_
-
> "All right. I will be back soon."
> Give a lopsided grin.
> "Shuuei."
-
> "All right. I will be back soon."
> Give a lopsided grin.
> "Shuuei."
>She doesn't say anything, and her expression is hidden by the mask.
>_
-
> Assuming the poltergeist makes no effort to stop us, leave the area and head to the closer of the two islands that had Scarlet Devil Mansion flags on their peak.
-
I won't be here for awhile so I just wanted to remind you to pick up a better fitting mask, good luck!
-
I don't know what we have to give out to get one but okay! :V
-
>Check inventory
-
>Examine quests
>Examine self. How are we feeling?
-
I'm sure we have something we don't need we can trade to Rinnosuke for monies. Also to complete the check
> Skills.
-
Rinnosuke doesn't generally offer monies for things, IIRC. He most assuredly prefers barter.
-
> Assuming the poltergeist makes no effort to stop us, leave the area and head to the closer of the two islands that had Scarlet Devil Mansion flags on their peak.
>You leave the poltergeist behind, and go to examine the island near Kourindou.
>The flag still waves from the peak of the mountain. You are quite sure this is the one that Tenshi was going for.
>Check inventory
>Wide-brimmed hat (worn as hat)
>Exceedingly Stylish!
>Heavy Flamenco Dress (worn as dress)
>Allows both modesty and freedom of movement
>Large Black Purse
>Exactly what it sounds like. It holds all your stuff
>Spine Sign: "Acanthodii of the Thunder Clouds"
>This spellcard engulfs you in a shield of electricity. It can be broken with enough force, and only lasts for a short time before it must be renewed
>Cloud Realm: "The Thunder Court in the Sea of Abstruse Clouds"
>Fills the air with webs of lightning, but leaves you motionless.
>Dragonfish: "Dragon Palace's Messenger Swimming Shot"
>Sends electricity spiraling out from you, but leaves you defenseless.
>1☼
>This is 1☼
>Jail Key
>The key to the tengu jail.
>Aya's Primary Camera
>She'll be very angry if you break this. It doesn't seem to be taking pictures anymore.
>2 Pictures of Shadowless Tree
>Taken in the Forest of Magic.
> Picture of Sky and Shadowed Land
>A picture of the Brocken Spectre's shadow and the clear horizon
>Picture of Unconscious Poltergeist
>A Picture of the Brocken Spectre after you defeated her.
>Picture of the Shadow Dais.
>Taken within The Dragon's Chamber in the false Bhava-Agra.
>Picture of Makai Landscape with Goats
>Taken to show Yumeko how a Camera Works
>Pink Shawl
>A shawl that represents your status as a part of Bhava-Arga and allows you to defend yourself with devastating techniques.
>Aya's Note
>It reads: "Did some looking around. Word has it there's a blue-coated ghost running around the forest. Lots of people coming and going looking for the Brocken Spectre. Some rock near Marisa's house missing a shadow; investigated it, found nothing else special. Wasn't able to ask around SDM. Kogasa seems to have gotten much more dangerous lately; maybe a connection? Couldn't ask. Will return tomorrow afternoon. Owe you bigtime -Aya."
>Box
>This small gray box once held several gems.
>Plunger
>A rubber-headed object you mistook for a javelin.
>Stuffed Platypus
>This is a plush rendition of everyone's favorite beaver-tailed, duck-billed mammal! It is very adorable.
>Pale Green Plant
>Its broad leaves seem to be usually shiny.
>Vial of Sand Grains
>This vial contains eleven grains of sand, one from each of the continents of the outer world.
>Amethyst: A translucent purple gemstone, cut into a faceted shape.
>Examine quests
>Examine self. How are we feeling?
>You quests are:
>The Sky Has Fallen
>Bhava Agra has descended into Gensokyo. The Dragon has tasked you with finding out why and fixing it. You have discovered the Poltergeist who has done it, and found she has done to to preserve her own existence.
>Imperial Ambitions
>Remilia has set about conquering and enslaving fallen parts of Bhava-Agra. This will probably have to be dealt with. Tenshi went to do some scouting around the territory that Remilia holds.
>You are feeling fine. Though you'll want supper in a couple hours.
> Skills.
>Shawl-Fu
>When equipped with a shawl, you can be a terror in battle!
>Dancinating
>When equipped with a beat, you can be a terror on the dancefloor!
>Celestial Bureaucratizing
>You are familiar with the ways that the Celestial Bureaucracy works, and know the proper channels to get minor things done or arrange for meetings with august personages.
>Moderate Danmakutimes
>You know a little bit about this thing they call Danmaku.
>Basic Songsmithing
>No one seems to notice you're a decent singer, too.
>Astronomics
>You are well versed in the various aspects and objects of the night sky.
>Basic Leadershipping
>You can competently direct small groups of willing people and get excellent results.
>Landscaping
>You can design beautiful landscapes of all kinds, and implement them.
>Major Domoship
>You can run a household without difficulty.
>Ink Paintilizing
>You are a decent artist with an ink brush!
>_
-
> Frown. Did something happen to her...?
> Cautiously fly up to the flag. If we see any celestials along the way, fly down to them.
-
Rinnosuke doesn't generally offer monies for things, IIRC. He most assuredly prefers barter.
Then we can just trade the thing we don't need for other things directly, can't we?
-
He offers less money directly but if we want to buy something he doesn't have he can work like a pawn shop. I'd say we could dance for money but I think I'd get lynched.
-
Contrary to what our given name suggests, we are not a whore.
-
> Frown. Did something happen to her...?
> Cautiously fly up to the flag. If we see any celestials along the way, fly down to them.
>You frown. It would be a problem if something happened to Tenshi.
>You approach the flag, staying wary for any celestials along the way. Unfortunately, the forest canopy is about as impenetrable as always. You can see a couple faeries moving about just above it.
>_
-
>Fly up to the flag and examine it while keeping an eye out for anyone approaching.
-
>Fly up to the flag and examine it while keeping an eye out for anyone approaching.
>You fly up to the flag and have a look at it. It is waving in the breeze from a metal pole driving into the dirt. The edges are slightly frayed, and it seems that this flag was actually constructed from a crimson drape with the edges cut off and carefully sewn.
>_
-
> And there's no one around? Odd.
> Grab the flagpole. Tug a little bit to see how secure it is.
-
> And there's no one around? Odd.
> Grab the flagpole. Tug a little bit to see how secure it is.
>There doesn't seem to be anyone around the immediate vicinity.
>You give the flagpole a bit of a tug. It doesn't move; you get the feeling it's been driven into the ground fairly well.
>_
-
> Probably best not to get too presumptive about this...maybe we should leave the flag for the time being, just in case someone from the SDM sees us and considers it an early declaration of war.
> Where is the other flagged island, and how far away is it from here?
-
> Probably best not to get too presumptive about this...maybe we should leave the flag for the time being, just in case someone from the SDM sees us and considers it an early declaration of war.
> Where is the other flagged island, and how far away is it from here?
>It may not be a bad idea to leave it alone after all.
>It is over Scarlet Devil Mansion, and some distance from here.
>_
-
> How far is Palace Island from here?
-
> How far is Palace Island from here?
>Quite a bit further away than Scarlet Devil Mansion.
>_
-
> Mentally slap ourselves for not planning this properly.
> Where is the nearest visible village on the island?
-
> Mentally slap ourselves for not planning this properly.
> Where is the nearest visible village on the island?
>When you're in a hurry, sometimes things get overlooked. Oh for the times when you were just overseeing a harvest...
>None of them are really visible, but you know there is one close to the shore of the largest lake.
>_
-
> Head to that village. Keep an eye out for any non-Bhavagrans.
-
> Head to that village. Keep an eye out for any non-Bhavagrans.
>You make your way toward the village.
>As you do, you see one distinctly non-Bhava-Agran person standing on the lake shore. A smallish, bat-winged woman in a pink dress, carrying a parasol. There is no question that she is watching you.
>_
-
>Do we know who this is?
-
>Do we know who this is?
>You dealt with Remilia Scarlet before. As well, you saw her yesterday.
>_
-
>Detour over, land in front of Remilia.
>"Good day, miss Scarlet."
-
Okay, since I'm going to be distracted on and off with commitments for the next couple of hours, I must stress the importance of civility. We're not here right now to fight anyone or take back the island. If Remilia taunts us about having conquered our stuff, roll with it.
EDIT: That being said.
> Begin building a charge.
Better safe than sorry. I'd prefer to use it for Solar Flare purposes only, though.
-
>Detour over, land in front of Remilia.
>"Good day, miss Scarlet."
>It is not really a detour at all, it seems Remilia has come from the village you are heading toward. You land in front of her and wish her a good day.
>"Ah, Miss Nagae, if we recall correctly," she says. "How kind of you to come pay us a visit eventually. We were just about to go and greet you personally. But as you apparently had the same thought, we decided it would be best to let you come to us. We expect you are wondering about your companion, are you not?"
>_
-
> Begin building a charge.
> "The Eldest Daughter's condition and whereabouts are a regular concern of mine, yes. I would be a terrible friend otherwise."
-
> Begin building a charge.
> "The Eldest Daughter's condition and whereabouts are a regular concern of mine, yes. I would be a terrible friend otherwise."
>You start to build up a charge.
>"You'll be pleased to know, then, that our recently-obtained subjects are taking very good care of her after she foolishly decided to attack our maid," says Remilia. "She will make a full recovery, we have been assured."
>_
-
>"She decided to attack your maid? I would like to know the full details of this, if you do not mind."
-
>"She decided to attack your maid? I would like to know the full details of this, if you do not mind."
>"It is a rather simple story," says Remilia. "She foolishly decided to help herself to our flag. When Sakuya went to disabuse her of this notion, she lashed out and things progressed from there much as you would expect. Of course, we note that you decided to inspect our flag before paying us any kind of visit as well, which we are certain you will agree is most impolite."
>_
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I can think of a great many things more impolite than inspecting a foreign object in my people's home."
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I can think of a great many things more impolite than inspecting a foreign object in my people's home."
>"We see no difficulty in placing our flag upon our holdings," says Remilia. "But we do see quite a difficulty in inviting oneself into our lands during a time of war and not bothering to present oneself to the authorities and demonstrate that one is not, in fact, trying to stir up trouble. But we shall be gracious and overlook this mistake on your part."
>_
-
Give me a few moments, I think I know where to go from here.
-
> "Well, I have to admit I was discounting the current state of affairs, since we were talking of impoliteness. I can think of little more impolite than invading innocent homes."
-
> "Well, I have to admit I was discounting the current state of affairs, since we were talking of impoliteness. I can think of little more impolite than invading innocent homes."
>"We quite agree," says Remilia, grinning. "It is a shame you choose such a route. But I presume this is an indication you would like to negotiate your surrender? I feel we can be most generous with our terms."
>_
-
> Keep that charge coming.
> "Sadly, no. It is an indication that I wish to prove to you that Bhava-Agra's fall was not of its own doing, a fact for which I have been able to construct evidence for you to see yourself, if you, quite understandably, are unwilling to take my word for it."
-
> Keep that charge coming.
> "Sadly, no. It is an indication that I wish to prove to you that Bhava-Agra's fall was not of its own doing, a fact for which I have been able to construct evidence for you to see yourself, if you, quite understandably, are unwilling to take my word for it."
>You continue to charge.
>"Mmm. Sending your companion to steal our flag and assault our maid was a very poor first step to that, I think you'll agree."
>_
-
> "I think you can hardly blame innocent people for fighting back when their land is taken from them by strange invaders. I will grant, however, that there were better ways to approach the situation on my part, so yes, I admit my own erring there. But ultimately it is good that you are already here, because the first piece of evidence can be found right here, below this island."
-
> "I think you can hardly blame innocent people for fighting back when their land is taken from them by strange invaders. I will grant, however, that there were better ways to approach the situation on my part, so yes, I admit my own erring there. But ultimately it is good that you are already here, because the first piece of evidence can be found right here, below this island."
>"And this would be?" says Remilia.
>_
-
> "The faint shadow it is casting. All of Bhava-Agra's islands are casting improper shadows. It is this shadow drain that caused the islands to fall in the first place. You may ask your librarian friend for further details into shadow magic, unless you are already well-versed in it yourself."
-
> "The faint shadow it is casting. All of Bhava-Agra's islands are casting improper shadows. It is this shadow drain that caused the islands to fall in the first place. You may ask your librarian friend for further details into shadow magic, unless you are already well-versed in it yourself."
>"We are well aware of the unusual shadows," says Remilia.
>_
-
> "That is good, it saves us some time inspecting them. But obviously this does nothing to disprove the theory, however...far-fetched it may be, that we took our own home's shadow in an attempt to invade Gensokyo in such a fashion where we could play innocent should our invasion fail. However, the one responsible for the shadow drain has struck elsewhere across Gensokyo. You may have heard of a large rock near Marisa's house that lacks a shadow, or perhaps of a shadowless row of trees somewhere in the main forest. More interesting than those, however, are the people that had their shadow taken, because they observed the shadow thief themselves."
-
> "That is good, it saves us some time inspecting them. But obviously this does nothing to disprove the theory, however...far-fetched it may be, that we took our own home's shadow in an attempt to invade Gensokyo in such a fashion where we could play innocent should our invasion fail. However, the one responsible for the shadow drain has struck elsewhere across Gensokyo. You may have heard of a large rock near Marisa's house that lacks a shadow, or perhaps of a shadowless row of trees somewhere in the main forest. More interesting than those, however, are the people that had their shadow taken, because they observed the shadow thief themselves."
>"Do go on," says Remilia.
>_
-
> "I found two people that had their shadows taken by the party responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, and have since managed to restore their shadows. Sadly, part of the agreement they made for getting their shadows back was that they would not talk about who the responsible party is, but they confirm that the responsible party is not Bhavagran in origin, and they have several other people that can serve witness to the fact that they were missing their shadows for a time."
-
> "I found two people that had their shadows taken by the party responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, and have since managed to restore their shadows. Sadly, part of the agreement they made for getting their shadows back was that they would not talk about who the responsible party is, but they confirm that the responsible party is not Bhavagran in origin, and they have several other people that can serve witness to the fact that they were missing their shadows for a time."
>"And?" says Remilia.
>_
-
> "And we can go talk to them to confirm what I have told you, if you like. We have been meeting fairly regularly at a certain location for the past day or so, and I know of at least one group member who was still there last I checked, with the others planning on returning."
-
> "And we can go talk to them to confirm what I have told you, if you like. We have been meeting fairly regularly at a certain location for the past day or so, and I know of at least one group member who was still there last I checked, with the others planning on returning."
>"You understand, we hope, exactly how suspicious this is in regards to your timing," says Remilia. "How long have you known of this?"
>_
-
> How long ago were Nitori and Kogasa's shadows restored? A couple of hours ago?
-
> How long ago were Nitori and Kogasa's shadows restored? A couple of hours ago?
>No more than three or four. Maybe a bit over four, you've been running around a lot.
>_
-
> "The affected had their shadows restored about four hours ago. I apologize for not coming to you with this information sooner, but there have been other matters I have had to address. Given how suspicious the timing admittedly is, however, I will say that one of the witnesses to the shadowlessness of one of the affected is Yuugi Hoshiguma, whom I imagine you would rather not accuse of lying. I know I would certainly rather avoid it."
-
> "The affected had their shadows restored about four hours ago. I apologize for not coming to you with this information sooner, but there have been other matters I have had to address. Given how suspicious the timing admittedly is, however, I will say that one of the witnesses to the shadowlessness of one of the affected is Yuugi Hoshiguma, whom I imagine you would rather not accuse of lying. I know I would certainly rather avoid it."
>"Hmm, yes," says Remilia. "Rather, we find it interesting that the only attempt made to communicate with us at all was yesterday, in which you cannot deny we were most accommodating. Yet in that time there have been two more attacks on us. Then, with the second one thwarted, you finally come to us with this story. We are sure you can understand how it is all most suspicious."
>_
-
> "Two more? I can only think of what just recently transpired. When was the other?"
-
> "Two more? I can only think of what just recently transpired. When was the other?"
>"It would be when your companion attacked our chief of security," says Remilia. "As we understand, you were in attendance for this event."
>_
-
> "Oh, that. As I recall, that was a duel agreed upon by your chief of security, one for which she had shown enthusiasm yesterday. Had she not agreed to the duel, it would not have taken place. For all that it means to say so now."
-
> "Oh, that. As I recall, that was a duel agreed upon by your chief of security, one for which she had shown enthusiasm yesterday. Had she not agreed to the duel, it would not have taken place. For all that it means to say so now."
>"Perhaps so," says Remilia. "But we feel it is very strange that you were able to attend a duel against one of our own, yet were not able to find the time to inform us of these things sooner."
>_
-
> Was that duel before or after Nitori and Kogasa's shadows were restored?
-
It was, I'm pretty sure. Since you were convincing the poultrygeist about things.
-
I think it was before as well, for that very reason, but I want to be sure.
-
> Was that duel before or after Nitori and Kogasa's shadows were restored?
>A little before.
>_
-
> "That duel took place a little bit before the shadows of the affected were restored, a point in time at which I did not have sufficient evidence to come to you. Your librarian friend can attest that I was with her for most of the fight, learning important information from her."
-
> "That duel took place a little bit before the shadows of the affected were restored, a point in time at which I did not have sufficient evidence to come to you. Your librarian friend can attest that I was with her for most of the fight, learning important information from her."
>"Mmm. We will most definitely have to have a long chat with Patchouli," says Remilia. "And you did have sufficient suspicion, did you not? We were we not informed, during your bouts of sending that uncouth girl to cause trouble? As well, what would this evidence be, precisely?"
>_
-
> "I had more than sufficient suspicion because I know we are innocent, but my day yesterday was a very long series of one Gensokyo native after another thinking my people and myself harbingers of war and refusing to listen to my protests to the contrary. It would have made no sense for me to approach anyone that doubted me without solid evidence to support my cause, such as testimony from trustworthy Gensokyo individuals that my people were not to blame."
> "As for the evidence, it is in the affected Gensokyo natives who saw the perpetrator themselves, and, with their shadows restored, can now speak for themselves and testify that the perpetrator was not a Bhavagran native. As I mentioned before, we were all to meet at a certain location after scattering to go on a search for Reimu, whom we had not seen all day. I am a bit loathe to mention it, as I am aware of your house's history with them, but our meeting place is the Turtle House near the woods, where the two girls from the outside world live."
-
> "I had more than sufficient suspicion because I know we are innocent, but my day yesterday was a very long series of one Gensokyo native after another thinking my people and myself harbingers of war and refusing to listen to my protests to the contrary. It would have made no sense for me to approach anyone that doubted me without solid evidence to support my cause, such as testimony from trustworthy Gensokyo individuals that my people were not to blame."
> "As for the evidence, it is in the affected Gensokyo natives who saw the perpetrator themselves, and, with their shadows restored, can now speak for themselves and testify that the perpetrator was not a Bhavagran native. As I mentioned before, we were all to meet at a certain location after scattering to go on a search for Reimu, whom we had not seen all day. I am a bit loathe to mention it, as I am aware of your house's history with them, but our meeting place is the Turtle House near the woods, where the two girls from the outside world live."
>"I see," says Remilia in a tone that says otherwise and suggests she is not pleased with that.
>_
-
> "I can understand why you may not be pleased with that house and its residents, and my sympathies are extended for the unfortunate coincidence, but that potential dissonance was not at the front of my mind when helping to set things up yesterday. Regardless, the affected people were the kappa Nitori Kawashiro and the karakasa Kogasa Tatara. They are the ones that can confirm the perpetrator of our home's fall was not Bhavagran in origin. The ones that paid witness to their shadowlessness, aside from the two outside world girls, are the youkai Parsee Mizuhashi and the hell raven Utsuho Reiuzi. Yuugi Hoshiguma can also confirm that Nitori was missing her shadow, though I am not sure if she ever saw Kogasa for herself. Utsuho and Yuugi are currently tending to affairs underground, I believe, but the rest should be convening at the Turtle House."
-
> "I can understand why you may not be pleased with that house and its residents, and my sympathies are extended for the unfortunate coincidence, but that potential dissonance was not at the front of my mind when helping to set things up yesterday. Regardless, the affected people were the kappa Nitori Kawashiro and the karakasa Kogasa Tatara. They are the ones that can confirm the perpetrator of our home's fall was not Bhavagran in origin. The ones that paid witness to their shadowlessness, aside from the two outside world girls, are the youkai Parsee Mizuhashi and the hell raven Utsuho Reiuzi. Yuugi Hoshiguma can also confirm that Nitori was missing her shadow, though I am not sure if she ever saw Kogasa for herself. Utsuho and Yuugi are currently tending to affairs underground, I believe, but the rest should be convening at the Turtle House."
>"Yes, that would be a very unfortunate choice of ally in the wake of current events," says Remilia. "Let us consider a hypothetical. Let us presume it is all as you say. What would you wish to have follow?"
>_
-
> "Ideally, this entire incident will end with my people and their homes restored to their proper place in the heavens."
-
> "Ideally, this entire incident will end with my people and their homes restored to their proper place in the heavens."
>"I see," she says.
>_
-
> "I suppose I should extend you the same question, given the circumstances. Since you have yet to have a chance to confirm what I have told you, I can only ask you to presume what I am saying is true. Presuming my story is true, what would you desire follow from it?"
-
> "I suppose I should extend you the same question, given the circumstances. Since you have yet to have a chance to confirm what I have told you, I can only ask you to presume what I am saying is true. Presuming my story is true, what would you desire follow from it?"
>"We shall be frank," says Remilia. "Despite your words, we have seen a woeful lack of diplomacy from Bhava-Agra, and several further attacks in the place of such when we have been most accommodating to the former. Did we not let you examine our prisoners as a courtesy, with no preconditions? Of course we did. We, frankly, have several grievances that must be addressed if what you are saying is true. Should it not be so, then we have quite a few more on top of that."
>_
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "List your grievances, then, and I will try to address them as best I can."
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "List your grievances, then, and I will try to address them as best I can."
>"We have," she says. "Despite our efforts to be accommodating, you have taken aggressive actions against us twice and still hold a claim of innocence. You have not informed us of this situation, when we can agree that it would be a priority to do so. These actions, against your claim of innocence, do not satisfy us. In short, we would like to know what do you intend to do about it?"
>_
-
> "I am not sure what else to tell you. I told you yesterday that I would return when I had found proof. You claimed you did not believe it to exist. Now I am back, with the evidence I have to offer, which I feel is very substantial, and you tell me I did not inform you of the situation. If you wanted constant updates into my search, then I apologize for that, but I did not promise any such thing, and various other unexpected things have sprung up between the last time we met and now."
-
> "I am not sure what else to tell you. I told you yesterday that I would return when I had found proof. You claimed you did not believe it to exist. Now I am back, with the evidence I have to offer, which I feel is very substantial, and you tell me I did not inform you of the situation. If you wanted constant updates into my search, then I apologize for that, but I did not promise any such thing, and various other unexpected things have sprung up between the last time we met and now."
>"We are very confused about why basic courtesy would have to be promised," says Remilia, giving you a look. "By all means, elaborate on this idea."
>_
-
> Frown.
> "Did I not do so already? Various other unexpected things happened that forced me to deal with them. In my efforts to find the perpetrator, I nearly had my own shadow stolen, then, after a lengthy and exhausting duel, was cast away into a shadow void prison, which eventually unceremoniously dumped me into Makai, which had its own gauntlet of issues. I have also had to find a way to restore the shadows to the people missing them, rescue another person from being sold at an auction as a slave, rescue my bladed companion when nearly everyone assumed she was the one responsible for the fall of the islands, fend off all three major incident solvers, perform a task for the harvest goddess in the hopes that she will be able to help our destroyed crops and orchards, and gather information from the perpetrator as to how and why they did, not to mention perform various other tasks with them for both their benefit and mine. Amidst all of these things, as well as gathering the promised evidence, I have not been able to give you the status updates you apparently desired."
-
> Frown.
> "Did I not do so already? Various other unexpected things happened that forced me to deal with them. In my efforts to find the perpetrator, I nearly had my own shadow stolen, then, after a lengthy and exhausting duel, was cast away into a shadow void prison, which eventually unceremoniously dumped me into Makai, which had its own gauntlet of issues. I have also had to find a way to restore the shadows to the people missing them, rescue another person from being sold at an auction as a slave, rescue my bladed companion when nearly everyone assumed she was the one responsible for the fall of the islands, fend off all three major incident solvers, perform a task for the harvest goddess in the hopes that she will be able to help our destroyed crops and orchards, and gather information from the perpetrator as to how and why they did, not to mention perform various other tasks with them for both their benefit and mine. Amidst all of these things, as well as gathering the promised evidence, I have not been able to give you the status updates you apparently desired."
>"We note that you were perfect fine with using your agents to attack us," says Remilia, "Yet not to serve basic diplomacy? You will not be surprised to learn we grow more dubious."
>_
-
> "Are you really that upset that Bhavagrans have attacked you after you attacked them?"
-
> "Are you really that upset that Bhavagrans have attacked you after you attacked them?"
>"We are perplexed that you claim innocence," says Remilia, "And did little to follow it up, as though your words alone were enough and we should kneel to them in spite of actions and actions lacking that suggest the contrary. We merely ask how you intend to satisfy this, and it seems that there is little intention to do so; that we are merely to ignore these insults, while we give to you all that you wish. It seems, rather, you would rather not have a settlement that is not perfectly in your favor, and we are waiting eagerly for you to show otherwise."
>_
-
> How is that charge coming.
> "You claimed evidence of our innocence did not exist. I found it for you. I would hardly call that 'doing little'. If you do not believe my words, the Turtle House is down there, housing people that will gladly corroborate my story. If you wish for a further demonstration, I must ask why I should provide one when you have done little to demonstrate you are the gracious conqueror you claim to be, as evidenced by the flag on this mountain."
-
> How is that charge coming.
> "You claimed evidence of our existence did not exist. I found it for you. I would hardly call that 'doing little'. If you do not believe my words, the Turtle House is down there, housing people that will gladly corroborate my story. If you wish for a further demonstration, I must ask why I should provide one when you have done little to demonstrate you are the gracious conqueror you claim to be, as evidenced by the flag on this mountain."
>You have a full charge. It doesn't seem Remilia is doing anything hostile.
>"And in the meantime, you have, despite your claims of innocence, done nothing to establish this innocence. We've heard not a word from you until now. No effort to negotiate a cease fire or appease our concerns. Instead, we see several attacks from you. In fact, we only see you now after we have defeated your companion. Until now, we have avoided putting too fine a point on, but it seems you leave us no choice. It seems you are losing quite badly, and are now trying to back away from what you have done. Had your agent succeeded, would we have even seen you making this effort? History seems to suggest we would not. We get the feeling you do not take us seriously. As for demonstrations, when have we not demonstrated it? When have you given us the opportunity?"
>_
-
> "You demonstrated a lack of graciousness in coming to this island at all. If you had stuck merely to the island right above your own home, you would have a self-defense argument, but striking out here cannot possibly be interpreted as a self-defense maneuver and does nothing but suggest you are power-hungry. It even seems the other residents of Gensokyo think the same of you, given the defenses that have started lining up around other islands of ours. It is easy for you to claim you are gracious; you are not the one in captivity, nor the one with the ruined home. Between your efforts in taking over this island, your initial claims on the non-existence of evidence of our innocence, and now your apathy in the face of that same evidence, what reason have I ever had to believe you are not merely in this for the opportunistic megalomania?"
-
> "You demonstrated a lack of graciousness in coming to this island at all. If you had stuck merely to the island right above your own home, you would have a self-defense argument, but striking out here cannot possibly be interpreted as a self-defense maneuver and does nothing but suggest you are power-hungry. It even seems the other residents of Gensokyo think the same of you, given the defenses that have started lining up around other islands of ours. It is easy for you to claim you are gracious; you are not the one in captivity, nor the one with the ruined home. Between your efforts in taking over this island, your initial claims on the non-existence of evidence of our innocence, and now your apathy in the face of that same evidence, what reason have I ever had to believe you are not merely in this for the opportunistic megalomania?"
>"You do not think that striking against an invader's base of operations is self defense?" says Remilia. "As for being in captivity, it is clear you have no experience with that it actually is. Have we not allowed our prisoners freedom to and speak with each other? Have we not given the useful work to occupy themselves, rather than rot in bored solitude? And questioning your motives in light of your actions is not apathy, it is wisdom. But as you wish to make attacks on our conduct despite the glaring flaws in your own, and in light of your lack of desire to have any kind of settlement that is not totally favorable to you, it seems we have been wasting our time."
>_
-
> "Then I must ask why an innocent conquered people must offer something to their captors to gain their freedom after substantial evidence comes to light that they are innocent, instead of simply having it given to them in the interest of righting a wrong. Why should you see a net gain when it is you that made the greatest mistaken assumption?"
-
I don't think Remillia even cares if we're innocent or not. You might want to change angles to convince her the islands are too much trouble to be worth holding. This is harder because I know you're dead set against offering her anything.
-
How are they too much trouble? It's a pretty cushy position to be in, truth be told. >_>
-
It's cushy until Reimu flies up and Fantasy Heavens you in the face.
-
Which Reimu has established isn't going to happen, because she doesn't care about the island currently conquered, only that Remilia doesn't keep expanding.
-
Okay, this isn't getting anywhere. Remilia's pissing me off, and I'm this close to dropping my rant, calling out her bullshit, and beating the ever-loving crap out of her. And defeating her would, of course, allow us to capture the enemy leader, which would, um, mean our victory and allow us to reclaim our lands and people, so getting into a fight here would not be against Iku's character (and given Remilia's attitude, nor would Iku being royally pissed off at the moment).
I don't think your idea will work either, Shadoweh. There's clearly no convincing Remilia to retract her occupation of the islands and release her prisoners. So basically, I say that since talking obviously isn't going to do any good (and also, Remilia's clearly not going to accept any evidence to our innocence that she's presented with), it's time to call out Remilia's bullshit and take her down. In which case I'd really love a chance to drop my rant before the fighting starts, although since I'm headed to bed, I'll understand if you don't wait on me (I'd still appreciate it, though).
Anyways, those are my thoughts.
-
My memory might be faulty again, but didn't Reimu say that before Remillia took over the island over the Forest of Magic?
-
> "Then I must ask why an innocent conquered people must offer something to their captors to gain their freedom after substantial evidence comes to light that they are innocent, instead of simply having it given to them in the interest of righting a wrong. Why should you see a net gain when it is you that made the greatest mistaken assumption?"
>"Because you have not acted in a manner befitting innocents," says Remilia. "You've made little attempt to assuage our worries. Instead you have attacked our people and allied with our enemies, what are we to think of this? We even offered you the opportunity in the beginning, and you did not take it. What reason have we to entertain anything you say in light of this? What reason have we to believe you, given your failure to account for this or acknowledge it, or to even ask our forgiveness. Simply put, it merely seems you are losing the war and are trying to avoid any concessions or guilt for your actions. We are always willing to negotiate, but we shall not be treated as fools or a joke."
>_
-
Please let me rip this bitch a new one.
-
I refuse to fight unless she attacks first. Period.
I do, however, have no problem waiting for her to give up on us and turn around, leaving her underside exposed to assaults of the photographic kind. >_>
> "Then let us establish certain things, before I consider negotiations for something I do not think should even need them. Do you believe I am lying when I tell you that all the people I have named can vouch that Bhava-Agra was not the party responsible for its fall?"
-
Perhaps GYMO can rant if Remilia does attack? :V Then everyone will be happy!
>From where we are, can we see anyone other than Remilia in the area?
-
After what I have to say to her, she'll definitely attack (and what I have planned wouldn't fit very well during or after the battle). It won't be anything like cussing at her; it's just calling out her bullshit, which she's pretty much garunteed not to like.
Anyways, turning my computer off now, so I'll see you all tomorrow.
-
We seriously have different definitions about honorable and upright actions Mr. Perverted Tengu and the Maidens of Tragedy. <.<
I actually think Remillia has a right to be insulted. We've been treating her badly just because we knew she was in the wrong. We've been just as upright and pretentious as she's being right now.
Secondary idea: Find something to offer her that will benefit the celestials more then her. Like some of Sakuya's trainees serving as maids for awhile.
> Did Reimu say she wanted to stop Remillia's expansions before or after Remillia conquered more islands?
-
> "Then let us establish certain things, before I consider negotiations for something I do not think should even need them. Do you believe I am lying when I tell you that all the people I have named can vouch that Bhava-Agra was not the party responsible for its fall?"
>"We do not know," says Remilia. "Given the duplicity we have seen from you so far, we cannot say for sure if can accept such on faith anymore. We shall entertain the possibility for now. And should you be claiming we are to overlook your attacks on our people and the insults you have paid us, we feel you need to reconsider what it not needing to negotiate means."
>From where we are, can we see anyone other than Remilia in the area?
>There seem to be a half-dozen celestials in the village behind Remilia, watching from a distance.
> Did Reimu say she wanted to stop Remillia's expansions before or after Remillia conquered more islands?
>Reimu seemed to be interested in making sure that Remilia did not take any more of them.
>_
-
> "If you do not believe me fully, then why do you not take the opportunity to confirm it for yourself?"
-
> "If you do not believe me fully, then why do you not take the opportunity to confirm it for yourself?"
>"Because it could we be a trick to remove us from our holdings," says Remilia. "And as Bhava-Agra has shown a willingness to attack us in the past, we do not desire to leave our position at this time."
>_
-
> "And what if I accompanied you on this journey while placed in a position where I could not attack you, so you could keep an eye on me while your head maid keeps an eye on everyone else?"
-
> "And what if I accompanied you on this journey while placed in a position where I could not attack you, so you could keep an eye on me while your head maid keeps an eye on everyone else?"
>"You will find our attendant is unfortunately indisposed at this time," says Remilia, giving you a brief look.
>_
-
> Oh, well done, Tenshi, well done!
> "Is there no one else available to watch over them?"
-
> Oh, well done, Tenshi, well done!
> "Is there no one else available to watch over them?"
>At least Tenshi went down swinging.
>"We would prefer to attend to such matter ourself," says Remilia.
>_
-
> Frown.
> "You give me very little room with which to work. Given what I presented, I cannot possibly be reasonably expected to negotiate under the current circumstances, and you refuse to let them change."
-
> Frown.
> "You give me very little room with which to work. Given what I presented, I cannot possibly be reasonably expected to negotiate under the current circumstances, and you refuse to let them change."
>"There is little room which to work," says Remilia. "We shall not be leaving here any time soon. We invite you to bring your evidence here, with the understanding that you shall afford Us proper courtesy this time."
>_
-
> "Very well. I will do what I can on that front."
> Take off our hat and extend it towards Remilia.
> "Perhaps you would appreciate some collateral, to make sure I return peaceably? I will want it back in the same condition when I return, of course."
-
> "Very well. I will do what I can on that front."
> Take off our hat and extend it towards Remilia.
> "Perhaps you would appreciate some collateral, to make sure I return peaceably? I will want it back in the same condition when I return, of course."
>Remilia regards your had for a moment. Then raises her hand and makes a gesture. You notice a little confusion from the celestials watching, before one of them approaches.
>"Take that, please," says Remilia. "Keep it in good condition.
>The celestial, a short woman with dark hair, nods and accepts your hat.
>"Do be sure to inform us before you bring anyone else," says Remilia.
>_
-
> "That was actually my intention. I wanted to bring the affected kappa here, since presumably you do not wish to see the outside girls, and she is a little bit more reliable and trustworthy than the karakasa. Will her presence be a problem?"
-
> "That was actually my intention. I wanted to bring the affected kappa here, since presumably you do not wish to see the outside girls, and she is a little bit more reliable and trustworthy than the karakasa. Will her presence be a problem?"
>"We shall accept the kappa," says Remilia.
>_
-
> Are the photographs we possess large enough to write a note on the back of them?
> "All right. I will be back soon. And...please do not get very angry with your librarian friend. For all the information she provided me about the nature of shadows, she seems very much in your camp on this issue. I do not wish to be the reason two friends argue."
-
> Are the photographs we possess large enough to write a note on the back of them?
> "All right. I will be back soon. And...please do not get very angry with your librarian friend. For all the information she provided me about the nature of shadows, she seems very much in your camp on this issue. I do not wish to be the reason two friends argue."
>You should be able to write a note on them without difficulty.
>"We shall keep this in mind," says Remilia.
>_
-
> Nod.
> Assuming Remilia makes no effort to stop us, leave the island and head back to Shuuei's riverside meeting place.
-
> Nod.
> Assuming Remilia makes no effort to stop us, leave the island and head back to Shuuei's riverside meeting place.
>You nod and depart, Remilia makes no move to stop you.
>It takes a little bit to find the stream spot from the air, but it is not terribly far from the island. You descend down and find it empty. After a moment, the rustle of straw gives the poltergeist away before she emerges from around a tree.
>_
-
> "Hello again. There's been a change in plans, and you will not need to assist in capturing shadows at the mansion gate anymore."
-
> "Hello again. There's been a change in plans, and you will not need to assist in capturing shadows at the mansion gate anymore."
>"Oh good," she says. "What happened?"
>_
-
> "I went to investigate where I had sent Tenshi, and found that she had been captured by the vampire in charge of the mansion after defeating the mansion's head maid on combat."
> Frown.
> "I am now expect to negotiate for the freedom of my people, a freedom which was wrongfully taken from them in the first place."
-
> "I went to investigate where I had sent Tenshi, and found that she had been captured by the vampire in charge of the mansion after defeating the mansion's head maid on combat."
> Frown.
> "I am now expect to negotiate for the freedom of my people, a freedom which was wrongfully taken from them in the first place."
>"Oh," she says. "I suppose that's not much better."
>_
-
> "Indeed. But it why I have come to you again so quickly, as I wanted to run something by you before I actually went through with it. Given the terms of the agreement she made, as long as she said nothing else on the subject, would you object to the kappa testifying to the vampire that Bhava-Agra's fall was not done by its own people?"
-
> "Indeed. But it why I have come to you again so quickly, as I wanted to run something by you before I actually went through with it. Given the terms of the agreement she made, as long as she said nothing else on the subject, would you object to the kappa testifying to the vampire that Bhava-Agra's fall was not done by its own people?"
>"Um...maybe," says the poltergeist. "That's all she's going to say, and nothing else?"
>_
-
> Nod.
> "No mention will be made of who you are, or what you look like, or how you fight, or where you were found, or anything else about you. Only that Bhava-Agra's fall was not Bhavagran in origin."
-
> Nod.
> "No mention will be made of who you are, or what you look like, or how you fight, or where you were found, or anything else about you. Only that Bhava-Agra's fall was not Bhavagran in origin."
>She nods. "Okay, that should not be a problem."
>_
-
> Smile.
> "Excellent. Thank you very much. I will now take my leave, unless you wish to ask anything else of me."
-
> Smile.
> "Excellent. Thank you very much. I will now take my leave, unless you wish to ask anything else of me."
>"I don't think so," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> "All right. I will perhaps see you again, at a time later today."
> Assuming the poltergeist makes no effort to stop our departure, leave the area and head to the Turle House, knocking on the door if no one is present outside.
-
> "All right. I will perhaps see you again, at a time later today."
> Assuming the poltergeist makes no effort to stop our departure, leave the area and head to the Turle House, knocking on the door if no one is present outside.
>"I'll be here," says the poltergeist.
>Leave the stream behind and make the short trip to Maribel's house.
>_
-
> Is there anyone visible outside?
> If so, hail them.
> If not, knock on the door.
-
> Is there anyone visible outside?
> If so, hail them.
> If not, knock on the door.
>You look around, and see someone approaching in the distance. Her green clothing suggests that she is Nitori, but she's still a bit distant.
>_
-
Pre-emptive apologies to anyone who wakes up this morning and flips their shit at how the Remilia situation was handled overnight.
> Knock on the door regardless. We can do things while we wait for her to arrive.
-
> Knock on the door regardless. We can do things while we wait for her to arrive.
>You knock on the door. It opens, and Parsee peers out through the crack. "Oh, it's you again," she says.
>_
-
> "It is. Like I said, I cannot seem to stay away from this place. Are you still the only one present?"
-
> "It is. Like I said, I cannot seem to stay away from this place. Are you still the only one present?"
>"Yeah, it's just me," says Parsee. "There's a lotta forest and mountain and stuff for the others to look through, I imagine."
>_
-
> "It seems Nitori is approaching. I will have to ask another small favor of the two of you, if you are the only ones present. Do you have a writing utensil?"
-
> "It seems Nitori is approaching. I will have to ask another small favor of the two of you, if you are the only ones present. Do you have a writing utensil?"
>"Yeah, we got something to write with," says Parsee. "What's on your mind this time?"
>_
-
> "I would like Nitori to sign a note stating that she can confirm Bhava-Agra was not the party responsible for its own fall, and I would like you to sign the same note as a witness to her former shadowlessness."
-
> "I would like Nitori to sign a note stating that she can confirm Bhava-Agra was not the party responsible for its own fall, and I would like you to sign the same note as a witness to her former shadowlessness."
>"Yeah, sure, that's no problem," says Parsee. "Sounded like you wanted something annoying."
>_
-
> "My apologies for that. Though it could be argued that it is indeed something annoying for which I am asking. To make a long story short, this note will be for Remilia, who currently does not particularly believe that Bhava-Agra is innocent in regards to its fall."
-
Pre-emptive apologies to anyone who wakes up this morning and flips their shit at how the Remilia situation was handled overnight.
No objections here. I still want to rant and then beat the shit out of her, but like I said, I'm expecting that she's not going to accept any evidence we present her with, so I'll get my chance (and, incidentally, her rejection of the evidence would be the perfect prompt for the rant).
-
You're still going to bring Nitori to Remillia right? You told her you would.
-
That's what I understood the plan to be. I just don't think Remilia's going to accept that we're innocent even after hearing what Nitori has to say.
-
I will ask Nitori to come with us, yes, but the signed note is there in case Nitori decides it's not really worth her time to trundle down to some random Bhavagran island to deal with an obnoxious personality with which she doesn't have to deal, even though (or perhaps especially because) the meeting may last all of five seconds.
-
Just so we're clear, are there any objections to me calling out Remilia's bullshit if, as I expect, she refuses to accept our innocence?
-
I have to be honest; the way you've been carrying on about that for this long at this point makes me very nervous that it will do nothing but vent out-of-game frustration while making the actual in-game situation much worse. Every time I've wanted/tried to do what you are itching to do it has backfired, most notably with all the verbal blows that got traded in Utsuho Quest.
If you want to enter it as a command, I would recommend putting it up for peer review first. There's more that are following the game than just those that are posting commands.
-
It's not venting out-of-game frustration, I can garuntee that much. yes, Remilia's pissing me off, but this has been in my head ever since the first time someone assumed Bhava-Agra was attacking. Remilia's just the only one we've seen keep to that belief; all the others we've met more than once seem to at least accept that it's possible the islands falling wasn't part of an attack (although we haven't run into Marisa again, so she's uncertain).
As for what I'm planning to say, you got fairly close to the idea when you accused Remilia of meglomania. What I want to say is basically the next step from that. The idea is to come straight out and tell her she's full of shit. As for it backfiring, well, as I've said, I'm pretty sure there's no avoiding a fight anyways (hell, pissing her off would probably help us; an angry opponent is more likely to make mistakes). It should also be said that what I'm planning to have Iku say is perfectly in-character.
As for how much I've been looking forward to it, well, that's just me; I get that way over all kinds of things.
-
Kilga has convinced me that he's capable of avoiding a fight with an oncoming train with no brakes. He will convince the train it actually pedals backwards and the train will leave peacefully. If it comes down to a fight I'd prefer if someone challenges Remillia honorably to a danmaku battle for the islands because this is Touhou and that's how incidents get resolved damnit.
-
As long as I can call out her bullshit afterwards (it won't be the same, but it'll be good enough), that works for me.
-
> "My apologies for that. Though it could be argued that it is indeed something annoying for which I am asking. To make a long story short, this note will be for Remilia, who currently does not particularly believe that Bhava-Agra is innocent in regards to its fall."
>"Huh," says Parsee, as she opens the door a bit. "I heard she was a big pain in the ass."
>_
-
This may sound completely insane, but I've done some thinking on the subject, and I think I may have given Remilia too little credit. I am nervous about what she will ask in return once negotiations begin, but I actually think she'll believe evidence if it's actually presented to her, rather than asking her to go to it.
I will admit that I kinda half-expect her to demand we get Yuugi's signature as well (or worse, demand we drag Yuugi up topside to vouch in person), but we can deal with that when it comes.
> "Given how she conducts herself, I am not surprised at all to hear this spoken of her. It is a rather complex situation on the whole, though."
-
> "Given how she conducts herself, I am not surprised at all to hear this spoken of her. It is a rather complex situation on the whole, though."
>"Yeah, I imagine so," says Parsee. Then she looks over your shoulder. "Hey, is that Nitori coming down the way?"
>_
-
> Look back over our shoulder.
> "I believe it is. This is good fortune, as Remilia actually was open to meeting with Nitori in person."
-
> Look back over our shoulder.
> "I believe it is. This is good fortune, as Remilia actually was open to meeting with Nitori in person."
>You look over your shoulder. Nitori is much closer now, you can tell it is her. She waves.
>"That sounds like a great thing to wake up to," says Parsee.
>_
-
> Wave in return.
> "I would understand fully if she did not want to go, yes."
-
> Wave in return.
> "I would understand fully if she did not want to go, yes."
>You wave back. She seems to quicken her pace.
>"Just bribe her with some peaches or something," says Parsee with a shrug. "She'll probably be overjoyed that someone is giving her something that isn't cucumbers."
>_
-
> "Really? Surely they aren't the only thing the kappa eat..."
-
> "Really? Surely they aren't the only thing the kappa eat..."
>"No, it's just what everyone thinks of when it comes to gifts and payments," says Parsee.
>_
-
> ""Oh, that's true. Well, luckily for her, our specialty is not cucumber orchards."
-
> ""Oh, that's true. Well, luckily for her, our specialty is not cucumber orchards."
>"What's this about cucumber orchards?" says Nitori as she draws close.
>_
-
> "I was sort of lamenting my home's lack of them, given recent events. But that can come in a bit. How did you fare?"
-
> "I was sort of lamenting my home's lack of them, given recent events. But that can come in a bit. How did you fare?"
>"Yeah, that is a loss," says Nitori. "And no sign of Reimu around the Youkai Mountain. Things are kinda tense there with Suika there and kind of on the warpath, though."
>_
-
> "Oh dear. She got mad again? I thought she had calmed down by the time I talked to her last night."
-
>"What is she upset about?"
-
> "Oh dear. She got mad again? I thought she had calmed down by the time I talked to her last night."
>"What is she upset about?"
>"I didn't get close enough to find out," says Nitori. "But I guess she's mad about the tengu being territorial? I don't know."
>_
-
> "I wonder if she is agitated by their increased patrols. I am surprised; I cannot imagine Lord Tenma authorizing any sort of antagonization of an oni. But that can place itself far down on my list of things to do. I must apologize for sending everyone out on this search, when I not only managed to secure myself quick passage to Eientei, but found Reimu there, talking with Eirin. It seems the incident solvers have taken up guard posts around a few of my home's islands, in the interest of preventing Remilia from expanding her empire."
-
> "I wonder if she is agitated by their increased patrols. I am surprised; I cannot imagine Lord Tenma authorizing any sort of antagonization of an oni. But that can place itself far down on my list of things to do. I must apologize for sending everyone out on this search, when I not only managed to secure myself quick passage to Eientei, but found Reimu there, talking with Eirin. It seems the incident solvers have taken up guard posts around a few of my home's islands, in the interest of preventing Remilia from expanding her empire."
>Nitori nods. "Well, if that's that, think I'll be going home. Got a lot of catching up to do."
>_
-
> Grimace.
> "Actually, given recent events, I do have one more favor to ask of you. It will hopefully not take long, but as things stand, you are in a special position to fulfill it."
-
> Grimace.
> "Actually, given recent events, I do have one more favor to ask of you. It will hopefully not take long, but as things stand, you are in a special position to fulfill it."
>"Since I'm here, sure," says Nitori. "What needs doing?"
>_
-
> Exhale.
> "If possible, I would like you to testify to Remilia Scarlet that you observed the party responsible for the recent shadow problems, and while you are sworn to secrecy in discussing who they are, you can confirm they are not Bhavagran."
-
> Exhale.
> "If possible, I would like you to testify to Remilia Scarlet that you observed the party responsible for the recent shadow problems, and while you are sworn to secrecy in discussing who they are, you can confirm they are not Bhavagran."
>"You want me to go talk with Remilia?" says Nitori, frowning. "And, I don't get what you want me to say, exactly. That I saw who did all this, but not say who?"
>_
-
> "I admit it sounds bizarre, but yes. The specific identity of the perpetrator is not important to Remilia, as far as I can tell, only the fact that they are not Bhavagran. I believe - and sincerely hope - she will not want you around for much longer than the time necessary to administer this testimony."
-
> "I admit it sounds bizarre, but yes. The specific identity of the perpetrator is not important to Remilia, as far as I can tell, only the fact that they are not Bhavagran. I believe - and sincerely hope - she will not want you around for much longer than the time necessary to administer this testimony."
>"Are you sure she wouldn't care?" says Nitori. "I don't really understand the situation, but if she cares to learn one detail, she's probably going to want more..."
>_
-
> "Her concern is that she believes Bhava-Agra was responsible for its own fall, and that this justifies her conquering our islands, as it serves to defend against an invading army."
-
> "Her concern is that she believes Bhava-Agra was responsible for its own fall, and that this justifies her conquering our islands, as it serves to defend against an invading army."
>Nitori nods. "Huh. Well, chances are she's going to ask who did it second thing. At least I would."
>_
-
> "I have already informed her prior that you are under agreement to not discuss further details about the perpetrator. She made no particular effort to pursue the point."
-
> "I have already informed her prior that you are under agreement to not discuss further details about the perpetrator. She made no particular effort to pursue the point."
>Nitori nods. "I guess it's not my problem."
>"But it might be yours," Parsee says, glancing toward you.
>_
-
> "It very much is mine. Providing evidence of my people's innocence will go a long way in freeing them from her control, but she claims to not believe me, for fairly obvious reasons."
-
> "It very much is mine. Providing evidence of my people's innocence will go a long way in freeing them from her control, but she claims to not believe me, for fairly obvious reasons."
>"Yeah, I'm just saying," says Nitori, "Once she knows it wasn't you, she's definitely going to want to know who really did it."
>_
-
> "That may very well be true, but I will deal with that situation when it arises."
-
> "That may very well be true, but I will deal with that situation when it arises."
>"Okay," says Nitori. "Anyways, I'll do it. But if Remilia flips out, don't expect me to stay there. I mean, I owe you and stuff, but I'm not about to get into a match with her."
>_
-
>"I understand. You're a witness; any battle that occurs would not be your fight."
-
> Nod.
> "I do not expect you to stay longer than is necessary, and if your well-being is put in danger, do not hesitate to escape. But I do thank you for your willingness to accompany me on this trip."
> "Now, before we leave. Parsee, about that writing utensil..."
-
>"I understand. You're a witness; any battle that occurs would not be your fight."
>"I might come back if you don't get away yourself, though," says Nitori. "Just to make sure of what's happened."
> Nod.
> "I do not expect you to stay longer than is necessary, and if your well-being is put in danger, do not hesitate to escape. But I do thank you for your willingness to accompany me on this trip."
> "Now, before we leave. Parsee, about that writing utensil..."
>"I do owe you," says Nitori.
>"Oh, right," says Parsee as she heads into the house. A moment later, she comes back with a writing brush and some paper. "Here you go."
>_
-
> "Since Nitori is the only party whose presence Remilia has permitted so far, it would be good to have something signed from other parties that were present and witness to her affliction. Nitori, may I bother you to write up a quick explanation of what happened? Something along the lines of "As someone that saw the shadow thief before they were victimized, I can confirm that they were not Bhavagran" would do. Once written and signed, Parsee, you can sign it as a witness to Nitori's former shadowlessness."
-
> "Since Nitori is the only party whose presence Remilia has permitted so far, it would be good to have something signed from other parties that were present and witness to her affliction. Nitori, may I bother you to write up a quick explanation of what happened? Something along the lines of "As someone that saw the shadow thief before they were victimized, I can confirm that they were not Bhavagran" would do. Once written and signed, Parsee, you can sign it as a witness to Nitori's former shadowlessness."
>"I guess," says Nitori. "Could you write it up? You know what you want it to say."
>_
-
> Nod.
> Write "As one that bore witness to the shadow thief before being victimized by the same, the undersigned can confirm that the party responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall as a result of its improper shadows is not Bhavagran in origin." Be sure to leave plenty of space for a signature.
> Hand the brush and paper to Nitori.
-
> Nod.
> Write "As one that bore witness to the shadow thief before being victimized by the same, the undersigned can confirm that the party responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall as a result of its improper shadows is not Bhavagran in origin." Be sure to leave plenty of space for a signature.
> Hand the brush and paper to Nitori.
>You write it out, then give it to Nitori to sign.
>She produces a wooden stamp, and places it on the signing spot, leaving a crisp signature.
>_
-
> Do we have such a stamp? That's pretty handy.
> In the space remaining, write "The undersigned can attest to the former shadowlessness of one Nitori Kawashiro." If there is not enough room to write this and leave space for more signatures, write it on the back instead.
> After writing our second note, hand the paper and brush to Parsee.
-
> Do we have such a stamp? That's pretty handy.
> In the space remaining, write "The undersigned can attest to the former shadowlessness of one Nitori Kawashiro." If there is not enough room to write this and leave space for more signatures, write it on the back instead.
> After writing our second note, hand the paper and brush to Parsee.
>You do not.
>You write some more, there is ample room. Then you hand it to Parsee.
>Parsee reads through it all idly, before taking the brush and writing her own name.
>_
-
> "Thank you both very much. Nitori, do you wish to rest from your scouting efforts before we leave again?"
-
> "Thank you both very much. Nitori, do you wish to rest from your scouting efforts before we leave again?"
>"I've been resting way too much lately," she says. "Too antsy to just sit around more."
>_
-
>"Then unless there is something you would like to do first, let us depart."
-
>"Then unless there is something you would like to do first, let us depart."
>"Let's go," says Nitori.
>"Hey, you going to need me around anymore?" says Parsee.
>_
-
> "I do not believe so. But I must thank you for all the help you have provided me. Since I have had various opportunities to extend this invitation to your friends, I think it is only right that you receive it too. There is an island that normally floats above the mountain, one that serves as a haven for guests. Once my home is restored to its proper place in the heavens, I will put in a word with the tengu to allow you passage up the mountain to visit it as you like."
-
> "I do not believe so. But I must thank you for all the help you have provided me. Since I have had various opportunities to extend this invitation to your friends, I think it is only right that you receive it too. There is an island that normally floats above the mountain, one that serves as a haven for guests. Once my home is restored to its proper place in the heavens, I will put in a word with the tengu to allow you passage up the mountain to visit it as you like."
>"Eh, I got no use for above ground, let alone being above above ground," says Parsee. "I'll think about about, but don't hold your breath. But Maribel and Renko oughta be happy to have their house back. It's been almost a day, they're probably about to burst."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "I admit I wasn't sure how much interest you would take in it, but I would feel bad if I did not extend the same offer to everyone."
-
> Nod.
> "I admit I wasn't sure how much interest you would take in it, but I would feel bad if I did not extend the same offer to everyone."
>"The thought's nice, at least," says Parsee.
>_
-
> "If I ever think of something more fitting, I will be sure to extend it to you. And your underground companions."
> "Shall we all depart now, then?"
-
> "If I ever think of something more fitting, I will be sure to extend it to you. And your underground companions."
> "Shall we all depart now, then?"
>Parsee nods. "That'd be nice."
>"Yeah, let's get this over with," says Nitori.
>_
-
> "All right. Be well, Parsee, and thank you again for everything."
> Assuming neither makes any objection, take flight and head back to the island where Remilia was stationed with the note tucked away securely.
-
> "All right. Be well, Parsee, and thank you again for everything."
> Assuming neither makes any objection, take flight and head back to the island where Remilia was stationed with the note tucked away securely.
>"Don't get beat up," says Parsee. "It's get Okuu out of sorts if you did."
>You and Nitori depart, making way toward the Island. It is not a long trip, quickly you find yourself close to it.
>_
-
> Does there appear to be anything unusual about it from the last time we were at it?
> Turn to Nitori.
> "Are you prepared?"
-
> Does there appear to be anything unusual about it from the last time we were at it?
> Turn to Nitori.
> "Are you prepared?"
>Nothing seems to have changed.
>Nitori frowns. "Not really, but...I doubt I really ever would be. Let's get it over with."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "I am very thankful you are willing to do such an undesirable thing for me."
> Head to the part of the island where we actually met Remilia.
-
> Nod.
> "I am very thankful you are willing to do such an undesirable thing for me."
> Head to the part of the island where we actually met Remilia.
>"As long as it gets everything sorted out," says Nitori.
>You make your way back toward the town. As you you do, you see Remilia leaving one of the buildings, escorted by a faerie maid. She makes a gesture, and the maid returns to the building. "Your speed is commendable," says Remilia.
>_
-
> Smile.
> "I thought that I should at least try to make up for previous delays. I will admit, I have been giving the situation some thinking, and I realized I have given you too little credit. I may have been operating under the knowledge of my own motives, but that does not justify the mistaken assumptions I have made about you. You are right in that it is not fair of me to demand you correctyour mistaken assumptions while I do nothing to correct mine."
> Give a short bow.
> "For this offense, I sincerely apologize."
-
> Smile.
> "I thought that I should at least try to make up for previous delays. I will admit, I have been giving the situation some thinking, and I realized I have given you too little credit. I may have been operating under the knowledge of my own motives, but that does not justify the mistaken assumptions I have made about you. You are right in that it is not fair of me to demand you correctyour mistaken assumptions while I do nothing to correct mine."
> Give a short bow.
> "For this offense, I sincerely apologize."
>She nods. "We will see it fit to overlook such things this time and begin with a fresh start."
>_
-
> "I thank you for this decision."
> Take out the note about Nitori and hand it to Remilia.
> "Here is a written piece, complete with signatures, to attest that what I have told you is true. As you can see, Nitori is here with me herself to confirm the validity of that testimony. There are less signatures than people about which I told you, but not everyone was at the house at the time."
-
> "I thank you for this decision."
> Take out the note about Nitori and hand it to Remilia.
> "Here is a written piece, complete with signatures, to attest that what I have told you is true. As you can see, Nitori is here with me herself to confirm the validity of that testimony. There are less signatures than people about which I told you, but not everyone was at the house at the time."
>Remilia accepts the letter and reads it, her expression distinctly bored.
>"You attest to this?" she says, looking to Nitori.
>Nitori nods. "All of it."
>Remilia turns her look toward you. "So, you are saying that someone has made fools of both of us?"
>_
-
> "I suppose you could put it that way, though it was certainly not their intention. They did not even realize the islands would fall after having their shadows taken until after the deed was done."
-
> "I suppose you could put it that way, though it was certainly not their intention. They did not even realize the islands would fall after having their shadows taken until after the deed was done."
>Remilia regards you coolly for a moment. Then she says, "We feel that doesn't change the facts at all. Praytell, who was this little meddler?"
>_
-
> "She is one who deigns to keep herself hidden above all else, sometimes even her own well-being. As I mentioned to you, and as Nitori herself can attest, the condition upon which Nitori's shadow was returned to her was that she would tell nothing about the identity of the perpetrator. Miraculously, the perpetrator has more or less accepted my presence, so if you desire, I will request a note of apology from her addressed to you regarding the misunderstandings resulting from her actions."
-
If Remilia expresses a desire to meet her in person, should we bring up that we could lose our own shadow due to breach of trust? :\
-
The breach of trust would be far more egregious a problem than the shadow loss. If Remilia expresses a desire to meet Shuuei in person, I planned on telling her that Shuuei may very well rather die than actively choose to meet someone other than ourselves, but that we will ask her all the same if she is willing to do so.
-
This is going to be tough. If I were Remillia I'd want to meet the shadow thief too. Iku protecting the person that brought down the islands looks suspicious. Remillia needs to think we're going to do everything in our power to convince Shuuei to meet her if she asks. That being said since Shuuei didn't attack her, I don't think there would be any danger in introducing them. Kilga did want her to mingle. Good luck convincing her though.
-
> "She is one who deigns to keep herself hidden above all else, sometimes even her own well-being. As I mentioned to you, and as Nitori herself can attest, the condition upon which Nitori's shadow was returned to her was that she would tell nothing about the identity of the perpetrator. Miraculously, the perpetrator has more or less accepted my presence, so if you desire, I will request a note of apology from her addressed to you regarding the misunderstandings resulting from her actions."
>"Or to summarize," says Remilia as she curls her index finger and looks toward the treeline. "It is fine for you to meet with this meddler, but we are permitted to learn nothing."
>She looks toward you, her expression neutral. "Is this right?"
>_
-
> "You may learn of and about her through written word if you so desire. We can designate a drop point on the surface for such correspondence, and she will be happy to send and receive letters. But she considers the possibility of meeting anyone, not just you, face-to-face completely out of the question. Truth be told, even meeting me is apparently a disgusting thing, but she says it has now happened so many times that she no longer resists it."
-
> "If it were entirely my decision I would not hesitate to introduce her to your august personage."
-
> "You may learn of and about her through written word if you so desire. We can designate a drop point on the surface for such correspondence, and she will be happy to send and receive letters. But she considers the possibility of meeting anyone, not just you, face-to-face completely out of the question. Truth be told, even meeting me is apparently a disgusting thing, but she says it has now happened so many times that she no longer resists it."
> "If it were entirely my decision I would not hesitate to introduce her to your august personage."
>"We see," says Remilia. "Well, let us cut to meat of the matter. How, precisely, shall she be recompensing us for this embarrassment? Presuming, of course, this person exists and is responsible."
>_
-
> "What would you like?"
-
> "What would you like?"
>"We would like, to begin, some proof that this person exists and is responsible," says Remilia. "In a manner that does not require Us to take your word on faith."
>_
-
> Examine all Pictures in Inventory
-
We have a picture of Shuuei unconscious and tied up, but I'm not showing that to anyone. Really, we should give it to her and have her dispose of it as she sees fit.
> Is the ground below the island forested?
> "You may talk to Suika Ibuki or Yukari Yakumo if you wish to hear further testimony to the fact that this person exists, as they have both conversed with her. And before you ask, the former caught her completely off guard and then got her drunk, and the latter never actually saw her. But the second part, responsibility, is the part I imagine you are more interested in anyway. Would a demonstration of a shadow being taken suffice?"
-
> Examine all Pictures in Inventory
>2 Pictures of Shadowless Tree
>Taken in the Forest of Magic.
> Picture of Sky and Shadowed Land
>A picture of the Brocken Spectre's shadow and the clear horizon
>Picture of Unconscious Poltergeist
>A Picture of the Brocken Spectre after you defeated her.
>Picture of the Shadow Dais.
>Taken within The Dragon's Chamber in the false Bhava-Agra.
>Picture of Makai Landscape with Goats
>Taken to show Yumeko how a Camera Works
> Is the ground below the island forested?
> "You may talk to Suika Ibuki or Yukari Yakumo if you wish to hear further testimony to the fact that this person exists, as they have both conversed with her. And before you ask, the former caught her completely off guard and then got her drunk, and the latter never actually saw her. But the second part, responsibility, is the part I imagine you are more interested in anyway. Would a demonstration of a shadow being taken suffice?"
>It is forested.
>"Perhaps," says Remilia.
>_
-
>What did we do with the not-as-good picture of Petite's mom again?
-
> "Which is notably not a 'yes'. What would be better?"
-
>What did we do with the not-as-good picture of Petite's mom again?
>You gave them both to Petite.
> "Which is notably not a 'yes'. What would be better?"
>"We would have this person brought before us and explain herself," says Remilia. "From there, We would decided how best to address this situation."
>_
-
> Frown.
> "I had thought you would say that. I will certainly broach the subject with her when we speak. For now, I believe I could convince her to give a demonstration of her shadow removing abilities. Will you allow this first so you can determine if it satisfies you?"
-
> Frown.
> "I had thought you would say that. I will certainly broach the subject with her when we speak. For now, I believe I could convince her to give a demonstration of her shadow removing abilities. Will you allow this first so you can determine if it satisfies you?"
>You frown, and Remilia raises an eyebrow.
>"We cannot imagine that being unable to see the culprit and deal with her personally would be satisfying," says Remilia. "Now, We are starting to wonder why you insist upon preventing this."
>_
-
>"Because I swore to protect her privacy. I will present your request to her, but what happens next is her decision."
-
I ask that you wait for Kilga to come around before we dig ourselves deeper into this hole. I would just be honest with her but I felt our bar take a hit when I presented the wrong statement :/
-
>"Because I swore to protect her privacy. I will present your request to her, but what happens next is her decision."
>"How intriguing," says Remilia. "Would we be remiss to consider this assailant a friend of yours?"
>_
-
Here, debating how to proceed.
-
Well, we're honest to a fault, so there's not really much to be done regarding the question.
> "It has certainly been a rather bizarre set of circumstances, but after learning more about her, I must admit, I've grown rather fond of her, even given she possesses the life energy of my home."
-
> "It has certainly been a rather bizarre set of circumstances, but after learning more about her, I must admit, I've grown rather fond of her, even given she possesses the life energy of my home."
>"Hmmm," says Remilia, as she starts to pace around you. "Interesting. This means, We, presume, you have taken on the role of guarding her, as well?"
>_
-
> Keep an eye on Remilia, but do not move unless we have to.
> "That depends on the sense you mean. I support her and respect her wishes as I would any friend, but she is a big girl, and can handle herself. She does not need my help to avoid people."
-
> Ponder if that's actually true. She's only what, a few weeks old?
-
> Keep an eye on Remilia, but do not move unless we have to.
> "That depends on the sense you mean. I support her and respect her wishes as I would any friend, but she is a big girl, and can handle herself. She does not need my help to avoid people."
>You keep an eye on her. She doesn't seem to be doing anything but pacing.
>"Hmm. But you are here speaking for her, and trying to dissuade Us from seeing or learning more about her. We are getting mixed messages, you understand."
> Ponder if that's actually true. She's only what, a few weeks old?
>She is rather new to things, though she does seem quite capable in a lot of situations.
>_
-
> "If you truly believe I am trying to dissuade you from learning anything about this girl, I will again offer the opportunity for written correspondence, as well as offer my services in asking her for some other sort of compromise. You are welcome to go and seek her out on your own as well, if you so desire."
-
> "If you truly believe I am trying to dissuade you from learning anything about this girl, I will again offer the opportunity for written correspondence, as well as offer my services in asking her for some other sort of compromise. You are welcome to go and seek her out on your own as well, if you so desire."
>"Hmm, let us rephrase, then," says Remilia, as she stands before you again, facing toward the east and looking at your through the corners of her eyes.. "When it is quite within your power to tell Us what we seek to know directly and without difficulty, instead you insist on taking less satisfying and slower routes that require significantly more patience and effort on Our part. It seems, to Us, you are doing your best to shield this person, while admitting she exists and is the true culprit. Are We wrong?"
>_
-
You could add in that you're like an overprotective big sister at this point? That's pretty much why we're protecting Shuuei, she's alone and Iku is the only person she has as a friend.
-
I say we just tell Remilia 'yes'. She's already made up her mind, and it happens that in this case, she's pretty much right in at least the basics (we're not trying to hide Shuuei from her, which is an implication I got from what she said). Agreeing with her (with perhaps a clarification where said implications are concerned) might take her off guard. If nothing else, it would show that we're being honest.
-
> "I realize that I am doing nothing to help my own cause in your eyes. If you believe nothing else I say, believe me when I tell you that it hurts me deeply to see my people suffering. It hurts to see them forced to follow orders from someone other than the August One or one of the August's One's messengers. It hurts to see our islands still float where they do now, rather than where they are supposed to be. It hurts to see that our entire way of life has been drastically altered for the worse, both the ones whom you have encountered and whom you have not. It hurts knowing that I have the power to change so many things, with just a few simple phrases, and am doing nothing to take advantage of it. It hurts. A lot. You, of all people in Gensokyo, should be able to appreciate the pain of seeing your people suffer. But I cannot go against my friend's wishes. Betrayal and falsehoods would sooner see myself and all of Bhava-Agra disgraced than anything else I would hope to accomplish with them in the short term. I am sorry, truly sorry, to both you and to my people, that I cannot simply tell you where she is, or help you capture her. I simply do not have the capacity for it."
EDIT: By "yes" I assume you meant "Yes, you are right", rather than "Yes, you are wrong"? Because we are trying to hide Shuuei in the sense that we will not tell Remilia where she is.
-
> "I realize that I am doing nothing to help my own cause in your eyes. If you believe nothing else I say, believe me when I tell you that it hurts me deeply to see my people suffering. It hurts to see them forced to follow orders from someone other than the August One or one of the August's One's messengers. It hurts to see our islands still float where they do now, rather than where they are supposed to be. It hurts to see that our entire way of life has been drastically altered for the worse, both the ones whom you have encountered and whom you have not. It hurts knowing that I have the power to change so many things, with just a few simple phrases, and am doing nothing to take advantage of it. It hurts. A lot. You, of all people in Gensokyo, should be able to appreciate the pain of seeing your people suffer. But I cannot go against my friend's wishes. Betrayal and falsehoods would sooner see myself and all of Bhava-Agra disgraced than anything else I would hope to accomplish with them in the short term. I am sorry, truly sorry, to both you and to my people, that I cannot simply tell you where she is, or help you capture her. I simply do not have the capacity for it."
>She nods. "We do. So We ask, do you intend to take responsibility for her actions, then, if you are unwilling to have her face them on her own? This would be acceptable for us."
>_
-
>Question the parser on his inconsistent capitalization of Remilia's "royal we" (specifically with regards to "us")
-
> Sigh and lower our head.
> "May I presume, then, that you have no interest in written correspondence, or the possibility of oral correspondence with an unseen?"
-
> Give parser a hug for remembering everything for me.
If anything we're more capable of paying then Shuuei is anyways, so we should say yes.
-
Taking on her responsibility is a possibility, but I would rather exhaust other possibilities first.
-
Okay, but if we keep delaying and pushing other possibilities the offer is likely to disappear.
-
Given most (if not all) of our proposals are ideas that would confirm her existence, I would be very surprised if Remilia turned around and said "Nope never mind I don't believe you anymore".
I actually doubt Remilia actually cares who takes responsibility, as long as someone does.
-
>Question the parser on his inconsistent capitalization of Remilia's "royal we" (specifically with regards to "us")
>I'll turn this text adventure right around, buddy.
> Sigh and lower our head.
> "May I presume, then, that you have no interest in written correspondence, or the possibility of oral correspondence with an unseen?"
>"We would find the culprit remaining in hiding unsatisfactory, as no doubt you would in this situation," says Remilia. "Particularly, given that practically all of the evidence extends from allowing you the benefit of a doubt."
> Give parser a hug for remembering everything for me.
>The Parser does its best, in spite of faulty databases.
>_
-
> "Well, taking up either of those offers would logically prove that this person exists at all, unless you planned on accusing me of ventriloquism or something similar. Or you could ask the oni, who you know will not lie to you."
-
I don't think she cares who does either, that's why I think we should bite the bullet. I also doubt she cares much about Shuuei.
> Considering Remillia controls fate, our entire chance meeting with Shuuei could have been her fault couldn't it?
> "If you are not interested in the culprit as long as someone takes responsibility however I would rather not press the issue."
-
I hope you have a plan for what you're going to offer her, then!
-
EDIT: By "yes" I assume you meant "Yes, you are right", rather than "Yes, you are wrong"?
That's correct. I like what you said, though.
As for taking responsibility, I think we need to be careful. On the other hand, we might impress Remilia by agreeing readily, so I guess I'd be for it unless anyone else has another idea, although I don't like the idea of taking whatever consequence Remilia has in mind. So I guess let's just do whatever you have in mind, Shadoweh.
-
A plan? We're suposed to plan these things?! Maybe she'll take the platypus!
Seriously though...
> Are we high enough rank in Bhava-Agra to promise goods or the use of citizens to someone?
> If not who would be?
-
Use of citizens? You want to keep farming out celestials as slaves?
-
> "Well, taking up either of those offers would logically prove that this person exists at all, unless you planned on accusing me of ventriloquism or something similar. Or you could ask the oni, who you know will not lie to you."
>"Yes, this is why We are willing to consider this at all," says Remilia. "Otherwise, it would come off as a rather shameful deception. But acceptance does not address the rather unsatisfactory nature of the arrangement you propose. We merely seek to cut to the heart of the matter, that being, do you intend to shield this person from consequences, and if so, do you intend to take responsibility for them?"
> Considering Remillia controls fate, our entire chance meeting with Shuuei could have been her fault couldn't it?
> "If you are not interested in the culprit as long as someone takes responsibility however I would rather not press the issue."
>That would be...interesting.
>"We are interested in addressing the situation amicably," says Remilia.
>_
> Are we high enough rank in Bhava-Agra to promise goods or the use of citizens to someone?
> If not who would be?
>You could certainly arrange for gifts or trade agreements, though they are quite uncommon given Bhava-Agra's non-mercantile nature. As for use of citizens, you might be able to use some palace staff for things, though this is an easy privilege to abuse and land yourself in hot water. Likely, though, you'll be doing this quite a bit to help reconstruction efforts.
>_
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I saw what you said the first time <.< I don't want to farm out the celestials as slaves and even if we were allowed to order them I wouldn't go down that route without volunteers. I'd rather use goods. However I don't think it would be difficult to convince one of the higher ranking celestials that after this disaster we could use more celestials who have enough experience with the ground dwellers to not get shot by them. It would help us more then Remillia.
-
> Calm, relaxing breaths. Oh for the days when all we worried about was Tenshi.
> Maybe we can offer Tenshi as payment!
> What types of goods would Bhava-Agra have for trade? There must be more then peaches.
-
That's the point of having Tenshi conduct a self-defense class, though, and the class has the added bonus of giving Tenshi a meaningful job that she enjoys, keeping both sides happy with her situation.
> "I suppose I must ask again what you would have this person do, should they agree to take responsibility. I ask not to be difficult, but because I genuinely do not know what you want, and I have no idea what she could offer you anyway. Surely merely seeing her would not be enough. Where would you go from there?"
-
> Calm, relaxing breaths. Oh for the days when all we worried about was Tenshi.
> Maybe we can offer Tenshi as payment!
> What types of goods would Bhava-Agra have for trade? There must be more then peaches.
>You stay calm. It's been stressful, but you're not going to let the stress beat you. Hopefully, after this is over, you won't have to worry about Tenshi so much, either.
>This would only put you in debt, you are sure. You're not Odin levels of wily to trade off duds for awesome things
>Largely, the items produced in Bhava-Agra are those necessary for day to day life; braziers, beddings, and so on. They tend to be very simple and uncomplicated, though generally of very fine quality. Some art objects are produced on the whims of whatever artisan cares to make them. Typically, the palace can request such goods and expect to receive them quickly.
> "I suppose I must ask again what you would have this person do, should they agree to take responsibility. I ask not to be difficult, but because I genuinely do not know what you want, and I have no idea what she could offer you anyway. Surely merely seeing her would not be enough. Where would you go from there?"
>"We have yet to decide," says Remilia. "But we can agree that she is responsible for quite a few unfortunate clashes between Us and your people, and the embarrassment of us both. We would seek to redress these things, perhaps through payment or indenturing. We have yet to decide, perhaps it would something else entirely."
>_
-
If there's anyone that would appreciate art it's Remilia. Would that be a problem to offer Kilga? I'd rather you keep doing the talking but I think this is the way we should go. Thinking in tangents makes it hard to talk in a straight line.
> Parser, is "We would seek o redress things things" a real sentence?
-
You mean the art that largely got ruined in the fall? >_>
> Frown.
> "I fear it may have to be something else entirely indeed. She has nothing with which to pay, and were I to take responsibility in her stead, the same could be said of me, as I am not materialistic, much like the rest of Bhava-Agra. I am also not in a position to offer myself as a servant; that is a decision for The August One. I suppose it is technically possible she would agree to indenturing, though I must admit I find it extremely unlikely."
-
If you have the artist you don't need an old painting, they can compose something she requests.
-
> Frown.
> "I fear it may have to be something else entirely indeed. She has nothing with which to pay, and were I to take responsibility in her stead, the same could be said of me, as I am not materialistic, much like the rest of Bhava-Agra. I am also not in a position to offer myself as a servant; that is a decision for The August One. I suppose it is technically possible she would agree to indenturing, though I must admit I find it extremely unlikely."
>Remilia nods. "Regardless, the decision is yours. We shall not press you."
>_
-
I'd say that stops being us taking responsibility and starts being someone else taking responsibility in our stead, which is a pretty big dick move. If we're going to take responsibility, we have to be the ones to do whatever it is that is needed. We can't just delegate it off elsewhere.
> Stand in silence for a couple of seconds.
> "...May I go ask her what her thoughts on the matter are, and then return to you with whatever information she provides?"
-
> Stand in silence for a couple of seconds.
> "...May I go ask her what her thoughts on the matter are, and then return to you with whatever information she provides?"
>Remilia nods, her expression unreadably nonchalant. "We will accept this."
>_
-
> Is Nitori still present?
-
If you feel that way then. Although we already said we can't offer ourselves as a servant, could we not offer for Iku to put on a few performances? She IS the Dance Queen. I've already accomplished my goal in this conversation, which was the opposite of what GYMO wanted. I don't want to spend a part of the next Z-Machine trying to fix relations between the SDM and Bhava-Agra because we couldn't try to negotiate. Right now even if we have to take the islands by force I'm satisfied the tea party afterwards would be peaceful.
-
That's the point of having Tenshi conduct a self-defense class, though, and the class has the added bonus of giving Tenshi a meaningful job that she enjoys, keeping both sides happy with her situation.
I think that what he was talking about is having more celestials who come to Gensokyo more often and become familiar faces, so that if something happens again, there would be known people around to attest to Bhava-Agra's innocence. It'd seem a lot less suspicious that way.
I'd say that stops being us taking responsibility and starts being someone else taking responsibility in our stead, which is a pretty big dick move. If we're going to take responsibility, we have to be the ones to do whatever it is that is needed. We can't just delegate it off elsewhere.
We're not doing this for us. We're acting as a representative of Bhava-Agra and the Dragon, and I'd think that gives us a bit of negotiating authority. There's nothing wrong about offering in negotiation something we would be unable to provide just by ourselves.
Oh, and I don't mind how the conversation worked out, although yes, I would have preferred beating the shit out of Remilia. But this works.
-
Dance lessons had crossed my mind and were actually the first thing I would have brought up has Remilia specifically asked us what we would offer.
-
> Is Nitori still present?
>She has been standing back and frowning the frown of someone in the middle of something they have no clue about. You imagine she was also trying hard not to be noticed.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "All right. I will be back soon with our decision."
> Turn to Nitori.
> "Thank you for all your help, Nitori. You may return home and begin catching up on the work time you missed."
-
> Nod.
> "All right. I will be back soon with our decision."
> Turn to Nitori.
> "Thank you for all your help, Nitori. You may return home and begin catching up on the work time you missed."
>"We shall be patient," says Remilia.
>You turn to Nitori and let her know she's not needed anymore. "You sure?" she says.
>_
-
> "I appreciate your concern, but yes, I am sure. I suspect there is not a lot more you could do anyway, not without breaching your agreement."
-
> "I appreciate your concern, but yes, I am sure. I suspect there is not a lot more you could do anyway, not without breaching your agreement."
>"Well, okay," says Nitori. "Feel free to come over whenever you like. If what Parsee said about being at Maribel's house was true anyways, they're probably so sick of guests being in the way they're likely to poison your tea to get rid of you sooner."
>_
-
Oh God fun idea.
> Nod.
> "I will be sure to do you. Thank you for the invitation."
> Brighten up, like we just had an idea.
> "Oh! You reminded me of something."
> Look back to Remilia with an apologetic look on our face, then look at Nitori again.
> Pull out the plunger.
> "I picked this up recently, having learned it was an outside world item. Have you ever worked with one before?"
-
> Nod.
> "I will be sure to do you. Thank you for the invitation."
> Brighten up, like we just had an idea.
> "Oh! You reminded me of something."
> Look back to Remilia with an apologetic look on our face, then look at Nitori again.
> Pull out the plunger.
> "I picked this up recently, having learned it was an outside world item. Have you ever worked with one before?"
>You produce the plunger and show it to Remilia.
>She frowns. "We are not familiar with that tool."
>_
-
What are you up to?
>"What about you, Nitori?"
-
> Wonder how we asked Remilia about the plunger when we had turned back to Nitori.
-
>"What about you, Nitori?"
>"Not sure," she says. She frowns at it. "Huh...looks like it's made for applying suction. Kinda ingenuous, really. Not great for angles, though. Still, for the simplicity..."
> Wonder how we asked Remilia about the plunger when we had turned back to Nitori.
>Misread. =[
-
> "Mmm. I understand that it is used for unclogging drains. But we in Bhava-Agra do not have a drainage system so complicated as to require such a tool, as far as I know. I was rather hoping one of you might have experience with more complex drainage systems, either because you have helped build one or because your home uses one."
-
> "Mmm. I understand that it is used for unclogging drains. But we in Bhava-Agra do not have a drainage system so complicated as to require such a tool, as far as I know. I was rather hoping one of you might have experience with more complex drainage systems, either because you have helped build one or because your home uses one."
>"Huh...yeah, it could do that," says Nitori. "Even kinda has the right shape for a big pipe."
>_
-
> "Perhaps this potential for a fancier drainage system could be looked into at some point? But I am getting distracted from the task at hand. I will detain the two of you no longer."
-
> "Perhaps this potential for a fancier drainage system could be looked into at some point? But I am getting distracted from the task at hand. I will detain the two of you no longer."
>Remilia nods, and returns back toward the village.
>"See you sometime," says Nitori, as she takes to the air, and flies eastward.
>_
-
> Head back to Shuuei's meeting site.
-
> Head back to Shuuei's meeting site.
>You return to the meeting site by the stream. You see her out in the open, looking toward you as you land.
>_
-
> Smile.
> "I must say, it is always pleasant to see you out waiting for me to return."
-
> Smile.
> "I must say, it is always pleasant to see you out waiting for me to return."
>"I saw you coming," she says.
>_
-
> "You are still making an active decision to appear to me, rather than waiting for me to ask you to appear. It may seem a small thing, but I value it all the same."
-
> "You are still making an active decision to appear to me, rather than waiting for me to ask you to appear. It may seem a small thing, but I value it all the same."
>She nods. "I do it when it's safe. Are things well?"
>_
-
> Lose the smile.
> "Not as well as they could be. Remilia is willing to accept the idea of an outside party being responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, but she feels the resulting confusion has embarrassed both her house and Bhava-Agra's people, so she desires recompense from the responsible party for this embarrassment."
-
> Lose the smile.
> "Not as well as they could be. Remilia is willing to accept the idea of an outside party being responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, but she feels the resulting confusion has embarrassed both her house and Bhava-Agra's people, so she desires recompense from the responsible party for this embarrassment."
>"I don't understand," she says. You can practically see the frown despite her mask.
>_
-
> "Do keep in mind that Remilia knows very little about you personally. She has only been informed that an outside party exists, is capable of taking shadows, and has no desire to meet personally with anyone. You will recall that I mentioned your ideal society, where people communicated purely by written word, was largely predicated on everyone involved trusting each other? This is a case where that trust does not exist. She wishes to see you for herself, and will be largely unsatisfied with anything else coming from you."
-
Before anyone asks, I do not plan on forcing Feisty Geist to go if she really doesn't want to. If she balks or outright refuses, then I will mention that Remilia will accept another party taking responsibility on her behalf, which will quite obviously be us.
-
> "Do keep in mind that Remilia knows very little about you personally. She has only been informed that an outside party exists, is capable of taking shadows, and has no desire to meet personally with anyone. You will recall that I mentioned your ideal society, where people communicated purely by written word, was largely predicated on everyone involved trusting each other? This is a case where that trust does not exist. She wishes to see you for herself, and will be largely unsatisfied with anything else coming from you."
>"I suppose I can understand what you say," says the poltergeist. "I guess if she is used to exposure, it would make sense that more proper methods of communication wouldn't be something she would like. But I don't quite get those others things you said."
>_
-
> "I cannot recall if I ever mentioned this to you or not, but when Bhava-Agra fell, many people in Gensokyo felt it was a war-like invasion on our behalf."
> Frown.
> "Never mind that the very code of conduct necessary to attain enlightenment would forbid such a thing."
> Return to a normal expression.
> "One of these people was Remilia Scarlet, the vampire in charge of that manor. Since she took our presence as an invasion, she staged counterattacks on our innocent people, conquering two of our islands and conscripting the celestials that live there. As I have known all along that we were not responsible, in response, I assumed her to be a power-hungry malevolent force intent on enslaving as many of my people as she could. Both her assumption about Bhava-Agra's actions and my assumption about her intentions have been shown to be incorrect, and she considers this an embarrassment, that she was more or less tricked into taking a rather dishonorable course of action. She wants the party responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, which would be you, to compensate her for this embarrassment, a compensation that would begin - but not end - by you presenting yourself to her."
-
So I have a little bit of time now with my lunch break.
I expect Feisty Geist will want nothing to do with presenting herself to Remilia, so I see one of two things coming out of this situation. The less likely is that she flies IntraSkirt Airways and has a broken conversation with Remilia from between our legs. The more likely is that we accept responsibility for her, but when this happens, I want to make sure she knows that we are doing it, so that she fully appreciates the buzzsaw at which we're throwing ourselves.
This then necessitates what we would actually present as recompense. As I've already stated, servitude is out of the question because that is The Dragon's decision (and if Remilia insists that we ask The Dragon about it, we will warn her that we will be telling The Dragon exactly why we are in the situation we are in, with the implication - or outright statement - that angering The Dragon by conscripting its followers is not really the best idea in the world). Monetary payment is similarly out of the question simply because we do not have any. (Or maybe we still have that 1 currency unit? I forget exactly what happened to that Maybe it appeared on the most recent inventory update and I've forgotten already.) We do, however, have a fair number of marketable skills; dancing being the most obvious, but we are also a qualified singer and painter. These are what I primarily plan to offer as potential recompense, as they would not interfere terribly with The Dragon's affairs.
It is worth noting that Remilia likely considers the offense of conscripting a large group of innocent people and the offense of assaulting her chief assistant to be a wash, so I doubt we will get anything further from her on that front. At the very least, trying to get something extra for our people without offering Sakuya anything in return is very likely to piss her off. (In looking on the bright side (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loyjm4SOa0), it is actually very likely that Remilia's conquest has helped this particular group of people, because she would have kept them fed during their time under her control, meaning that our currently meager harvest was not depleted further.) I would not press this overall point unless she does first. I also feel no remorse for Meiling's duel beyond general sympathy for someone that gets knocked unconscious, and would be willing to argue that point with her should she mention it again.
-
That may have worked with Yukari. Remilia is more likely to start shooting at us if we ask her to have a conversation with the ghost under our legs. Even masked isn't likely to be satisfying. Since you prefer to have Iku pay personally I agree on using her own skills. If she brings up the Meiling duel again I suggest telling her when the tea will be.
-
Hmmmm...perhaps you can count the servitude Remilia gained from the Celestials as at least a part of the recompense?
-
She might not be entirely happy with still not being able to see Feisty Geist face-to-face, but I think she will at least appreciate the incredibly undignified position we are putting ourselves in. At worst I expect she will reject the given proposal of talking to our legs and we'll have to accept responsibility right there.
I really do not think Remilia is going to attack unless she is attacked first, as she is in a very advantageous negotiation position but a somewhat disadvantageous combat position, what with being outside during the day. (Maybe if she gets her undergarments photographed, she might fly into enough of a rage...) There is also the fact that there was one combative encounter between these two before. It was indoors and Iku still won.
Fake edit: Don't have any more lunch time to properly address UK's post, will get to it on break, short answer is "unlikely".
-
Well you'd have to sell it properly. But she's already admitted things were a misunderstanding. So if she has a right to recompense for embarassment, you have a right to recompense for unpaid labor.
-
True, and I'd support trying that, but I don't think Remilia will accept it. Of course, I didn't think she'd agree to negotiations at all, so who knows?
-
I'll be out most of the day anyways. You're right about the attacking part. It's just Remilia has made clear she wants to see the person and I can't believe I'm saying this but it could be anyone under Iku's skirt. If that route does become available how about from the other side of a tree? I stay in favor of accepting responsibility and it's good that you're making Shuuei aware of it.
-
It's not entirely unpair labor in the sense that it can be equated in the fuck-up department to Sakuya being taken out of commission. We can demand recompense for the unpair labor, sure, but then Remilia has made a mistake and rectified it, and what have we done as the Bhavagran party (not the poltergeist party - it is quite important to make the representation distinction when determining who owes who what) to rectify the mistake we made in assaulting her chief assistant?
Think of it analogous to the cliche situation where the little boy accidentally hits a baseball through the old lady's window, so he does yard work for her to "pay" her off for the damages. In this case, our Tenshi baseball broke old lady Remilia's Sakuya window, so our celestials do her yard work for a day. (That it happened in the order reverse from the norm is irrelevant.) We can even complete the cliche where the old lady makes the boy dinner as a "reward" for his hard work in that Remilia has fed her celestial workers several meals at this point (theoretically 4 or 5 for the first batch she captured).
-
Also, in thinking about it, this whole equivalent exchange thing very annoyingly takes Reimu and Marisa's debt to us off the books, because they have assisted in preventing further celestial conscription.
-
Also also in thinking about it we technically have a situation where Tenshi caused a fuck-up (permitted by us, granted, but the fighting was her idea in the beginning) and her fellow celestials ended up making up the difference.
That's sure to go over well if anyone else notices it.
-
> "I cannot recall if I ever mentioned this to you or not, but when Bhava-Agra fell, many people in Gensokyo felt it was a war-like invasion on our behalf."
> Frown.
> "Never mind that the very code of conduct necessary to attain enlightenment would forbid such a thing."
> Return to a normal expression.
> "One of these people was Remilia Scarlet, the vampire in charge of that manor. Since she took our presence as an invasion, she staged counterattacks on our innocent people, conquering two of our islands and conscripting the celestials that live there. As I have known all along that we were not responsible, in response, I assumed her to be a power-hungry malevolent force intent on enslaving as many of my people as she could. Both her assumption about Bhava-Agra's actions and my assumption about her intentions have been shown to be incorrect, and she considers this an embarrassment, that she was more or less tricked into taking a rather dishonorable course of action. She wants the party responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, which would be you, to compensate her for this embarrassment, a compensation that would begin - but not end - by you presenting yourself to her."
>"Oh..." she says. While you cannot see her face, you can definitely see her slump a bit. "And then what?"
>_
-
> "That depends on what Remilia decides is sufficient compensation. She mentioned both payment and indenturing as possibilities, the former of which I imagine is not a possibility and the latter of which I imagine you would loathe with all your being."
-
> "That depends on what Remilia decides is sufficient compensation. She mentioned both payment and indenturing as possibilities, the former of which I imagine is not a possibility and the latter of which I imagine you would loathe with all your being."
>"I see..." she says in a small voice. "You wouldn't want me to run, either."
>_
-
> "It is true that I would appreciate this issue resolved, because she will not free my people otherwise. But ultimately, the decision is up to you. If you decide to not appear before her, then..."
> Look away.
> "...Remilia has deemed it acceptable for someone else to take responsibility on your behalf."
-
> "It is true that I would appreciate this issue resolved, because she will not free my people otherwise. But ultimately, the decision is up to you. If you decide to not appear before her, then..."
> Look away.
> "...Remilia has deemed it acceptable for someone else to take responsibility on your behalf."
>She tilts her head just a bit, you don't think you'd notice it if you could see her expression. "I'm not sure I understand how that would follow..."
>_
-
> Look back at the poltergeist.
> "She knows I have comparatively reliable contact with you, and she knows that you value hiding yourself above everything else. From her standpoint, I am actively protecting the true culprit against a party that will force that culprit to step forward, admit their mistake, and being the reparations process. Since I am making the active decision to not simply hand you over to her, I am effectively your accomplice in this incident, and therefore my taking responsibility on your behalf would be sufficient satisfaction for her."
-
> Look back at the poltergeist.
> "She knows I have comparatively reliable contact with you, and she knows that you value hiding yourself above everything else. From her standpoint, I am actively protecting the true culprit against a party that will force that culprit to step forward, admit their mistake, and being the reparations process. Since I am making the active decision to not simply hand you over to her, I am effectively your accomplice in this incident, and therefore my taking responsibility on your behalf would be sufficient satisfaction for her."
>"Oh," she says. "I understand, now. What would she do to you, then?"
>_
-
> "Likely the same things she would have asked of you, though I am no better off than you in regards to payment, and I am not in a position to offer myself as a servant, given I already serve another being. So...I do not really know."
-
> "Likely the same things she would have asked of you, though I am no better off than you in regards to payment, and I am not in a position to offer myself as a servant, given I already serve another being. So...I do not really know."
>"Mmm," she says, with a brief nod.
>_
-
> "...Shall I tell her you will not be taking responsibility, then?"
-
> "...Shall I tell her you will not be taking responsibility, then?"
>"...I don't know," she says in a small voice.
>_
-
> "Mmm...I suppose I should also say that she is likely interested in why this happened. I did not tell her. May I presume this was the correct course of action?"
-
> "Mmm...I suppose I should also say that she is likely interested in why this happened. I did not tell her. May I presume this was the correct course of action?"
>"Yes," says the poltergeist. "Thank you..."
>_
-
> Nod and smile.
> "You are quite welcome."
> "...If I may ask...since we are far more likely to understand what Remilia wants when she is around...would meeting her with an arrangement similar to Lady Yakumo's house be acceptable? Or is that too much for you?"
-
> Nod and smile.
> "You are quite welcome."
> "...If I may ask...since we are far more likely to understand what Remilia wants when she is around...would meeting her with an arrangement similar to Lady Yakumo's house be acceptable? Or is that too much for you?"
>"...Maybe..." she says. "I would...rather not have anything to do with this at all. But I suppose it's not really an option, is it?"
>_
-
> "Of course you have an option. Really, it is myself that does not have an option, as freeing my people is the only way to possibly go."
-
> "Of course you have an option. Really, it is myself that does not have an option, as freeing my people is the only way to possible go."
>She nods. "Um...what do you prefer?"
>_
-
> "I think...mmm...I...think you should be able to make the most informed decision possible. I think what we should do largely depends on Remilia's whims, and those may change drastically depending on how much she actually believes you exist or not. But...I also do not think you should just present yourself to her out in the open. That would be far too much for me to ask of you."
-
> "I think...mmm...I...think you should be able to make the most informed decision possible. I think what we should do largely depends on Remilia's whims, and those may change drastically depending on how much she actually believes you exist or not. But...I also do not think you should just present yourself to her out in the open. That would be far too much for me to ask of you."
>She nods. "But what do you prefer?"
>_
-
> Stand in silence for a couple of seconds.
> "...I would prefer...that it be proven to Remilia that my people are innocent. If I can have that...then I will take responsibility."
-
> Stand in silence for a couple of seconds.
> "...I would prefer...that it be proven to Remilia that my people are innocent. If I can have that...then I will take responsibility."
>She nods. "I...suppose I can go do that much."
>_
-
> "I thank you very much for this sacrifice. But...hmm. Remilia is currently on one of our islands, and she will not leave it. If I am forced to remain, would you be able to get down safely?"
-
> "I thank you very much for this sacrifice. But...hmm. Remilia is currently on one of our islands, and she will not leave it. If I am forced to remain, would you be able to get down safely?"
>She nods. "It will take a little time, but I can."
>_
-
> "And may I presume you will be in this general area, should I need to find you again?"
-
> "And may I presume you will be in this general area, should I need to find you again?"
>She nods. "If I have to run, I'll try to wait for you here. Or leave a message under that rock."
>She gestures toward a fairly large stone some distance from the stream.
>_
-
> Make a mental note of that rock.
> "All right. Well, then..."
> Look down at our skirt, then back up with just the slightest hint of an unpleasant feeling in our facial expression.
> "...Should we give this a try?"
-
> Make a mental note of that rock.
> "All right. Well, then..."
> Look down at our skirt, then back up with just the slightest hint of an unpleasant feeling in our facial expression.
> "...Should we give this a try?"
>"I'd rather not try to fly like that," says the poltergeist, looking toward your feet.
>_
-
> "Very well. How will you get up to the island instead? I could carry you the normal way, but that would leave you completely in the open."
-
> "Very well. How will you get up to the island instead? I could carry you the normal way, but that would leave you completely in the open."
>"I guess, if we do it quickly, it'll be okay..." she says. "Just leave me at the edge, near some trees."
>_
-
>"I can do that."
>"Also, if it helps, keep in mind that your current outfit does quite a good job of concealing you."
-
> Are there trees near the edge of the island?
> How deep is the forestation below the island? Could we reasonably make our way through it so that we were directly below the island ourselves?
-
Just in case I am not around again for a while, I had the idea of not taking off from here. We should take off from as close as we can get to the island while still being on the ground and within reasonable forest area (nothing supremely dense where we will lose track of Pocky and Brocky). This will minimize Pocky and Brocky's air travel time/exposure.
-
>"I can do that."
>"Also, if it helps, keep in mind that your current outfit does quite a good job of concealing you."
>"Thank you," she says. "And I know. But I don't think there's any such thing as an unnecessary precaution."
> Are there trees near the edge of the island?
> How deep is the forestation below the island? Could we reasonably make our way through it so that we were directly below the island ourselves?
>The island is pretty heavily forested, you can find trees near the edge easily.
>It is hovering over the eastern forest., you imagine it will be fairly thick. It should be traversable with some care, but there might be faeries about.
>_
-
> "I understand. In that vein, how objectionable is speaking with someone else in earshot, if it is only a couple of lines?"
-
> "I understand. In that vein, how objectionable is speaking with someone else in earshot, if it is only a couple of lines?"
>"I'd...really rather not," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> "Mmm, okay. What about throwing a small rock or something? Simply something to get attention."
-
> "Mmm, okay. What about throwing a small rock or something? Simply something to get attention."
>"You mean me doing it?" she says. "I guess that's...well, not fine. But I can. You know what I mean."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Let me explain the idea I have in mind, then, so you have some context with which to work. I would bring Remilia to the edge of the forest on the island where I dropped you off, and you would announce your presence somehow, such as by throwing a rock. We could then turn around, while you take a shadow from one of the trees. Once this is done, you can throw another rock, signaling that we may turn around and observe that the tree's shadow is gone. Once Remilia has seen the tree's missing shadow to her satisfaction, we will turn around again, and you can restore it, throwing another rock when that is finished. WE will inspect the tree once more, see that its shadow has returned, and your task will be concluded."
-
> Nod.
> "Let me explain the idea I have in mind, then, so you have some context with which to work. I would bring Remilia to the edge of the forest on the island where I dropped you off, and you would announce your presence somehow, such as by throwing a rock. We could then turn around, while you take a shadow from one of the trees. Once this is done, you can throw another rock, signaling that we may turn around and observe that the tree's shadow is gone. Once Remilia has seen the tree's missing shadow to her satisfaction, we will turn around again, and you can restore it, throwing another rock when that is finished. WE will inspect the tree once more, see that its shadow has returned, and your task will be concluded."
>She nods. "Okay, that is acceptable."
>_
-
> "All right. That will hopefully satisfy her. Once that is done, you may leave the island, and I will resume negotiations with Remilia."
-
> "All right. That will hopefully satisfy her. Once that is done, you may leave the island, and I will resume negotiations with Remilia."
>"Okay," she says. "But if you need me, say so before I do."
>_
-
The potential for fairies does have me a bit worried, I will admit.
> "I will be sure to do so, should such a situation arise."
> "Now, before we go, let me check to make sure the skies are clear."
> Assuming the poltergeist does not object, carefully crest the canopy of trees (so as to make sure we aren't poked in the face by branches) and check around the surrounding area for people within visual range.
-
The potential for fairies does have me a bit worried, I will admit.
> "I will be sure to do so, should such a situation arise."
> "Now, before we go, let me check to make sure the skies are clear."
> Assuming the poltergeist does not object, carefully crest the canopy of trees (so as to make sure we aren't poked in the face by branches) and check around the surrounding area for people within visual range.
>"Okay," says the Poltergeist.
>You look over the forest canopy, and see that the sky seems to be clear.
>_
-
> Return to the forest floor.
> "We seem to be in the clear. Are you ready?"
-
*Has had another idea regarding Shuuei's isolation thing* And one she's far more likely to accept, too.
>What do we know about Nue Houjuu?
-
> Return to the forest floor.
> "We seem to be in the clear. Are you ready?"
>"I suppose," she says.
>_
-
>What do we know about Nue Houjuu?
-
> Why on earth are you fishing through Thread Dos? o_O
-
>What do we know about Nue Houjuu?
>You know that she is a youkai that lives underground and runs one of the many many taverns in the Ancient City. You vaguely that she was sealed away for being a pain to humans in the bad old days, and that she is able to change shapes to some degree.
> Why on earth are you fishing through Thread Dos? o_O
>Well, the parser does have to check the database.
>_
-
> "All right. How would you like me to carry you?"
-
> "All right. How would you like me to carry you?"
>"However is best for you, I suppose," says the poltergeist.
>_
-
> "Okay. Then what we will do is have me carry you by supporting your back and the back of your thighs, near your knees. I will place my arms and hands in the proper positions behind you, and when I nudge you with them, you should relax backward into them. I will scoop them toward you while swinging them so your legs will be brought upward and you will be sort of lying on your back, held in front of me. does this sound acceptable?"
-
> "Okay. Then what we will do is have me carry you by supporting your back and the back of your thighs, near your knees. I will place my arms and hands in the proper positions behind you, and when I nudge you with them, you should relax backward into them. I will scoop them toward you while swinging them so your legs will be brought upward and you will be sort of lying on your back, held in front of me. does this sound acceptable?"
>"Not really..." she says, shifting her weight. "But I don't think there is a way I really would find acceptable, so let's just do that."
>_
-
> "Well, the alternate method I can think of would be that I sling you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes."
-
> "Well, the alternate method I can think of would be that I sling you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes."
>She nods. "I think my point stands, so going with what is best for you is good enough."
>_
-
> She's still wearing the mask, correct?
> "Okay. We will do the former, then."
> Walk over to the poltergeist so that we are at her side, then gently hook one arm around her lower back with the other hooked around her legs just above her knees.
> Nudge slightly forward and follow through to pick her up as she falls into our arms.
-
> She's still wearing the mask, correct?
> "Okay. We will do the former, then."
> Walk over to the poltergeist so that we are at her side, then gently hook one arm around her lower back with the other hooked around her legs just above her knees.
> Nudge slightly forward and follow through to pick her up as she falls into our arms.
>She is still wearing her noh mask.
>You pick her up. She stiffens a bit at first, then relaxes as you instructed her to; at least enough that she can be scooped up. She then tenses again, you're not sure how much of that is just from being touched and how much is from anticipation of being lifted into the air.
>_
-
> So we have her in a proper bridal carry now? If not, finish scooping so we do.
> "I am sorry this is as uncomfortable for you as it is. If it helps, please do your best to remember that I mean you no harm."
-
> So we have her in a proper bridal carry now? If not, finish scooping so we do.
> "I am sorry this is as uncomfortable for you as it is. If it helps, please do your best to remember that I mean you no harm."
>You do.
>"I know," she says, her voice a bit strained.
>_
-
> Close our eyes.
> Sniff.
> Use a quieter voice than normal.
> "...I'm so sorry that this is so painful..."
-
> Close our eyes.
> Sniff.
> Use a quieter voice than normal.
> "...I'm so sorry that this is so painful..."
>You close your eyes, sniff, and apologize.
>"It's not your fault," she says. "It would be worse with anyone else."
>_
-
> Open our eyes and look at her face (or where it would be if not for the mask, anyway.
> "All right. And thank you."
> Give a rueful smile.
> "I still think it something of a shame you wear that mask now. You really are cuter without it."
-
Stop flirting with Shuuei, this is an Iku x Tenshi fic!
-
True affection is not bound by such foolish notions as monogamy.
-
Damn, I really need to catch up: I was thinking this was still a Iku x Petite adventure.
-
It's actually still Iku x Sanae. What short-term memories you all have.
-
> Open our eyes and look at her face (or where it would be if not for the mask, anyway.
> "All right. And thank you."
> Give a rueful smile.
> "I still think it something of a shame you wear that mask now. You really are cuter without it."
>You look at her mask. Up close, you can tell her eyes are closed.
>"Maybe so, but it's better this way."
>_
-
> "Shame. Oh well, there is not much I can do about it now. Hold on tight!"
> Crest the canopy again, being careful to take a path that won't stab the poltergeist with branches too much.
> Look around for other people.
-
True affection is not bound by such foolish notions as monogamy.
-
> "Shame. Oh well, there is not much I can do about it now. Hold on tight!"
> Crest the canopy again, being careful to take a path that won't stab the poltergeist with branches too much.
> Look around for other people.
>You crest canopy, taking your time not to hurt your passenger in the process.
>Looking around, you see the sky is still clear. You imagine there may be some faeries around, somewhere in the distance and too small for you to see effectively.
>_
-
> Are her eyes still closed?
> "I know this experience is dreadful for you, but I would suggest opening your eyes, to help me keep a watch on the skies for any people that might come near us. There are none now, but I can't guarantee our path will be completely devoid of other people, and I can only look in one direction at a time."
-
> Are her eyes still closed?
> "I know this experience is dreadful for you, but I would suggest opening your eyes, to help me keep a watch on the skies for any people that might come near us. There are none now, but I can't guarantee our path will be completely devoid of other people, and I can only look in one direction at a time."
>They are.
>"..I'll try," she says.
>_
-
> Nod.
> Fly off to the island with Remilia on it. Keep careful watch around the skies for people that might be headed in our direction.
-
> Nod.
> Fly off to the island with Remilia on it. Keep careful watch around the skies for people that might be headed in our direction.
>You fly toward the island, and reach it without any worries.
>_
-
> Head to the nearest forest to land and deposit the poltergeist on solid ground.
-
> Head to the nearest forest to land and deposit the poltergeist on solid ground.
>You have pretty much the pick of a good 70% or so of the island's circumference. You go to the nearest wooded point, and stop the poltergeist off. She practically bounds away, heading for the nearest tree and steadying herself against it. "T-thank you," she mutters.
>_
-
> Small smile.
> "You are quite welcome. I think you really could stand to learn how to do that yourself, though."
> Does this island have a peach crop?
-
> Small smile.
> "You are quite welcome. I think you really could stand to learn how to do that yourself, though."
> Does this island have a peach crop?
>"No...I really don't want to," she says.
>You aren't sure. If it does, it wouldn't been a specified orchard, but rather peach trees mixed in with the rest. You imagine that there are probably quite a few here.
>_
-
> How close is the village to which Remilia returned after our previous talks?
> "I imagine that it can be disorienting and nerve-racking the first few times you do it, but you get used to it."
-
> How close is the village to which Remilia returned after our previous talks?
> "I imagine that it can be disorienting and nerve-racking the first few times you do it, but you get used to it."
>It would be a short walk away.
>"...I don't like heights," she says after a moment.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "That is understandable, as one with your abilities and who has gone through what you have gone through."
> Look around. Are any of the visible trees peach trees?
-
> Nod.
> "That is understandable, as one with your abilities and who has gone through what you have gone through."
> Look around. Are any of the visible trees peach trees?
>You look around, and see one a little ways into the forest.
>_
-
> "Hmm. Before I leave and begin what we have planned, would you follow me for a moment?"
> Beckon to the poltergeist to follow us and walk toward the peach tree we spotted.
-
> "Hmm. Before I leave and begin what we have planned, would you follow me for a moment?"
> Beckon to the poltergeist to follow us and walk toward the peach tree we spotted.
>She nods, and you lead her toward the tree that you noticed. She seems to relax a bit as you get further from the edge of the island.
>_
-
> Take a peach from the tree and offer it to her.
> "Have you had the chance to have one of these yet?"
-
> Take a peach from the tree and offer it to her.
> "Have you had the chance to have one of these yet?"
>You pluck off one of the few remaining peaches and offer it to her. She accepts it. "I had a few when I first came," she says. "The youkai I met....Suika, wasn't it? She gave me a few.
>_
-
> "What did you think?"
-
> "What did you think?"
>"They were sweet," she says. "I liked them."
>_
-
> Smile.
> "I hope you enjoy that one just as much, then."
-
> Smile.
> "I hope you enjoy that one just as much, then."
>She nods. "Likewise. Do you want me to wait here, or follow you?"
>_
-
> "Hmm. I think you should follow me to the edge of the forest, so you know from where I will be returning. The local village is not too far from here. Might I suggest, however, that you try taking and returning a tree's shadow now, just to be sure it can be done? I don't know how the extra things in the shadow void may affect what you can do to things here."
-
> "Hmm. I think you should follow me to the edge of the forest, so you know from where I will be returning. The local village is not too far from here. Might I suggest, however, that you try taking and returning a tree's shadow now, just to be sure it can be done? I don't know how the extra things in the shadow void may affect what you can do to things here."
>"I'll follow you, and it won't be a problem," says the poltergeist. "I can do this without fail."
>_
-
> "All right. Be sure you can see us from wherever you are hiding, Remilia may choose for you what tree from which you are going to take."
> Head out to the edge of the forest.
-
> "All right. Be sure you can see us from wherever you are hiding, Remilia may choose for you what tree from which you are going to take."
> Head out to the edge of the forest.
>"I will," she says.
>Where is this edge of the forest you seek? The whole island is covered, which is why you've had such difficulty detecting things on it from the air.
>_
-
> "I will be back momentarily. I need to get a proper sense of direction."
> Crest the canopy and find the village to which Remilia returned after our second talk.
-
> "I will be back momentarily. I need to get a proper sense of direction."
> Crest the canopy and find the village to which Remilia returned after our second talk.
>You don't actually need to do this, you know it's location; it is on the shore of the largest lake. It is west and a little ways south of here.
>_
-
> Oh, okay.
> "All right, let's go."
> Head west through the forest until we get to the forest edge.
-
> Oh, okay.
> "All right, let's go."
> Head west through the forest until we get to the forest edge.
>You head west.
>Soon enough, you see the village in the distance. It is under the forest canopy, like practically everything else on this island. From a distance, things seem fairly normal.
>_
-
> Turn to the poltergeist.
> "I will be back soon with Remilia. Stay safe, and keep wary of anyone wandering around this area."
> Assuming the poltergeist does not object to our departure, head to the village.
-
>Before heading to the village: "When you're done here and have left, do not be alarmed if it is some time before you see me again. I do not know how long I will be occupied with Remilia for, and I may have other business to attend to afterwards."
-
Uh, from what I understand of Kilga's plan we're probably going to bring Remilia to Shuuei so she's gonna see us soon enough.
-
She will see us again then, yes, but she will leave after we dismiss her, and then who knows how long it will be before we see her again, because who knows what Remilia will want.
-
Exactly. And there's also the possibility, depending on how things work out, that I might want to take a trip underground to find Nue.
-
> Turn to the poltergeist.
> "I will be back soon with Remilia. Stay safe, and keep wary of anyone wandering around this area."
> Assuming the poltergeist does not object to our departure, head to the village.
>Before heading to the village: "When you're done here and have left, do not be alarmed if it is some time before you see me again. I do not know how long I will be occupied with Remilia for, and I may have other business to attend to afterwards."
>"I will be careful," she says as you warn her about people nearby.
>You warn her you might not be able to meet her afterward. "I understand."
>With that you head toward the village. Approaching from a different angle, you are able to walk into it before you are noticed by anyone. Looking around, you really don't see any evidence that Remilia or her cronies have done...well, anything really. There's no damage that wasn't here yesterday; mostly a number of fallen tree limbs and some broken glass and pottery here and again. Several celestials are around, cleaning up the mess. You have the feeling they are not especially concerned about it, though.
>_
-
> Look around. Are Remilia, Sakuya or Tenshi visible?
> If not, is there any building that seems like it might be serving as an infirmary?
> What about any nearby celestials that do not appear to be especially busy?
-
> Look around. Are Remilia, Sakuya or Tenshi visible?
> If not, is there any building that seems like it might be serving as an infirmary?
> What about any nearby celestials that do not appear to be especially busy?
>You do not see any of those people about.
>Looking around, none of the buildings seem especially be an infirmary. None really to be very diversified at all.
>You do notice one of the celestials leaving her clean-up work to approach a building.
>_
-
> Approach said celestial and hail her.
-
> Approach said celestial and hail her.
>You approach the celestial and call out to her.
>"Good afternoon, Lady Nagae," she says with a curtsy. "I was going to inform Lady Scarlet of your arrival."
>_
-
> "Understood. I apologize for interrupting you, then. I will wait here."
> Let the celestial continue about her business and wait outside for Remilia.
-
> "Understood. I apologize for interrupting you, then. I will wait here."
> Let the celestial continue about her business and wait outside for Remilia.
>The celestial nods, and continues on her way, soon entering the house she was angling toward.
>After a moment, Remilia emerges from the house, looks around for a moment, then approaches as she catches sight of you.
>"We had expected you to come from the same direction as before," she says. "Have you prepared?"
>_
-
> "I have. But, before we begin, may I ask if the Eldest Daughter and your chief assistant fare any better than before?"
-
> "I have. But, before we begin, may I ask if the Eldest Daughter and your chief assistant fare any better than before?"
>"Your companion will be fine with some rest," says Remilia. "This We assure you. Our maid shall require significantly more rest, it is the way of humans."
>_
-
> "I see."
> Lower our head.
> "Her condition is my fault for losing my way, losing sight of what is right and proper. I am terribly sorry that this has happened."
-
> "I see."
> Lower our head.
> "Her condition is my fault for losing my way, losing sight of what is right and proper. I am terribly sorry that this has happened."
>You lower your head and apologize. Remilia nods. "Just so. Now, We believe you have something for us?"
>_
-
> Raise head again.
> "Yes. I have thought about what I need to do, and I think I have arranged for something with which all parties can be satisfied. I have brought the outside party, the one truly responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, to this island, to demonstrate to you that she exists and is responsible. Once this has been demonstrated to your satisfaction..."
> Breathe.
> "...I will take responsibility for her actions in her place."
-
> Raise head again.
> "Yes. I have thought about what I need to do, and I think I have arranged for something with which all parties can be satisfied. I have brought the outside party, the one truly responsible for Bhava-Agra's fall, to this island, to demonstrate to you that she exists and is responsible. Once this has been demonstrated to your satisfaction..."
> Breathe.
> "...I will take responsibility for her actions in her place."
>Remilia gives a single nod. "So you have chosen to guard her. We shall accept this without complaint."
>_
-
> "Yes, and I thank you for your willingness to accept this decision. She is waiting for us in the forest east of here, whenever you are ready."
-
> "Yes, and I thank you for your willingness to accept this decision. She is waiting for us in the forest east of here, whenever you are ready."
>Remilia makes a brief motion for you to lead the way.
>_
-
> Lead on back east, to the edge of the forest where we left Shuuei.
-
> Lead on back east, to the edge of the forest where we left Shuuei.
>You left her not far from the village, nowhere near the edge of the forest. Which would you prefer to go to?
>_
-
> Wait, so we never actually left the forest? Or did we leave the forest and continue on toward the village with her still in tow before parting ways?
-
> Wait, so we never actually left the forest? Or did we leave the forest and continue on toward the village with her still in tow before parting ways?
>As has been mentioned, the forest covers pretty much all of the island. This is why you couldn't actually see many features, such as the village, from the air. You pretty much do not leave the forest until you leave the island.
>She did follow you toward the village, as well. You parted ways some dozen or so yards from it.
>_
-
> Head back to where we parted ways, then.
-
> Head back to where we parted ways, then.
>You head back to where you left the poltergeist. Predictably, you see no signs of her.
>_
-
> Raise voice a little bit.
> "Can you give us a signal that you can hear me? Any sort of projectile should work, as long as you aim away from us both."
-
> Raise voice a little bit.
> "Can you give us a signal that you can hear me? Any sort of projectile should work, as long as you aim away from us both."
>After a moment, you hear a something clatter against a tree; you look over to see a pebble hit the ground.
>Remilia is looking toward where the pebble probably came from, eyes narrowed. You note she has taken something of a stance as well.
>_
-
> Bring our voice down back to normal and turn to Remilia.
> "Do not worry, she will not attack you."
> Fish out our remaining spellcards and offer them to Remilia.
> "Here. If you believe this to be a potential ambush, you may keep these for the duration of the demonstration, as long as I may have them back when we return to the village."
-
> Bring our voice down back to normal and turn to Remilia.
> "Do not worry, she will not attack you."
> Fish out our remaining spellcards and offer them to Remilia.
> "Here. If you believe this to be a potential ambush, you may keep these for the duration of the demonstration, as long as I may have them back when we return to the village."
>Remilia accepts your spellcards, relaxing somewhat. "We would know what is going on."
>_
-
> "The pebble you just saw is designed to be an indicator of her presence. What I propose to you to further demonstrate her presence, as well as to demonstrate that she is the one that took Bhava-Agra's shadow, is for you to indicate a tree of your choice, one from which she will take its shadow after we have moved somewhere close by, but not able to see her in action. Then we will move away again, and she will restore it for us to see after we return again."
-
> "The pebble you just saw is designed to be an indicator of her presence. What I propose to you to further demonstrate her presence, as well as to demonstrate that she is the one that took Bhava-Agra's shadow, is for you to indicate a tree of your choice, one from which she will take its shadow after we have moved somewhere close by, but not able to see her in action. Then we will move away again, and she will restore it for us to see after we return again."
>"If We are understanding you correctly," says Remilia, "We are not permitted to see this process?"
>_
-
> "Seeing the process would entail seeing her, and she has refused this. You would see the tree with a shadow, and then see the tree without a shadow, and then see it again with a shadow, all while being able to see my own lack of involvement, as I will be with you the entire time."
-
> "Seeing the process would entail seeing her, and she has refused this. You would see the tree with a shadow, and then see the tree without a shadow, and then see it again with a shadow, all while being able to see my own lack of involvement, as I will be with you the entire time."
>"As you say," says Remilia. "But We are aware there are ways to make things disappear without moving them from sight. You have a way to compensate for this?"
>_
-
> "I...was not aware of a way to make a shadow disappear without simply taking it, actually. Hmm...may I assume that you do not trust us sufficiently to have your own shadow taken?"
-
> "I...was not aware of a way to make a shadow disappear without simply taking it, actually. Hmm...may I assume that you do not trust us sufficiently to have your own shadow taken?"
>"We would not accept this if we did trust you fully," says Remilia.
>_
-
> Sigh.
> "Then I do not know what to do for you. You are making me choose between allowing my people to be forever thought of as aggressive war-mongers and betraying my friend's core principles."
> Spread our arms out with open hands.
> "You might as well kill me on this spot, because neither of those options are allowable."
-
If we did it to another random Celestial the effects on them should prove to Remilia the shadow isn't just hidden.
-
They could be acting.
-
Considering how devoid people act without their shadows I don't think Remilia would have a problem determining the lack of personality. I would suggest Iku gets her own shadow removed but..
-
I would suggest Iku sacrifice her own shadow, but she could be acting. She could be acting very, very well.
If Remilia would buy a person having their shadow stolen as a proper demonstration instead of an illusion coupled with good acting, I want her to say it, not for us to suggest it.
-
Actually, wait. Shuuei has to be touching the shadow to take it, but she doesn't have to be touching it to release it right? Remilia can see the returning process without seeing her.
-
The returning process could be an illusion as well.
-
> Sigh.
> "Then I do not know what to do for you. You are making me choose between allowing my people to be forever thought of as aggressive war-mongers and betraying my friend's core principles."
> Spread our arms out with open hands.
> "You might as well kill me on this spot, because neither of those options are allowable."
>She raises an eyebrow. "We hardly see how killing you will solve anything. Your friend is truly this bothered by demonstrating your innocence, even when you have agreed to bear the burden afterward?"
>_
-
> "Yes. Nothing takes priority over the sanctity of not exposing oneself to others. She is even willing to die for her beliefs, should such a situation arise. In addition, the fate of my people is not her problem, it is mine alone. She is doing me a great favor by being here at all. That pebble she threw, simply to demonstrate that she is out there, hiding somewhere, even just that was a disgusting act to her, only done because I requested it."
-
> "Yes. Nothing takes priority over the sanctity of not exposing oneself to others. She is even willing to die for her beliefs, should such a situation arise. In addition, the fate of my people is not her problem, it is mine alone. She is doing me a great favor by being here at all. That pebble she threw, simply to demonstrate that she is out there, hiding somewhere, even just that was a disgusting act to her, only done because I requested it."
>"So We see," says Remilia. "What a curious friend. And you say that she is the cause of all of this? And, that you will be taking responsibility?"
>_
-
> "Yes. I must prove my people are innocent, and I must not betray my friend's wishes to keep herself hidden. I will take on whatever personal burdens are required for these things, but they must happen."
-
> "Yes. I must prove my people are innocent, and I must not betray my friend's wishes to keep herself hidden. I will take on whatever personal burdens are required for these things."
>"If you are willing to pay this price," says Remilia, "then We would be ungracious if we did not accept your word for a little while longer. Tell your friend to proceed."
>_
-
> Drop our arms.
> "Very well. Please select the tree from which she will take a shadow. I would personally recommend a tree to which you can turn your back while looking at your own shadow, in the event that you do not trust her to take your shadow while you are not looking, but ultimately the decision is up to you."
-
> Drop our arms.
> "Very well. Please select the tree from which she will take a shadow. I would personally recommend a tree to which you can turn your back while looking at your own shadow, in the event that you do not trust her to take your shadow while you are not looking, but ultimately the decision is up to you."
>Remilia flicks her index and middle fingers toward a peach tree nearby. "That one shall do."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Very well."
> Point at the same tree ourselves and raise voice just a little bit.
> "Do you see the tree Lady Remilia has indicated? Please give us a sign that you understand your task."
-
> Nod.
> "Very well."
> Point at the same tree ourselves and raise voice just a little bit.
> "Do you see the tree Lady Remilia has indicated? Please give us a sign that you understand your task."
>You ask aloud. There doesn't seem to be a reply for a moment, then you hear a soft, "Y-yes."
>_
-
> Look over to Remilia with a mildly surprised expression, then shake it off.
> "All right. We will give you about a minute to do your work."
> Indicate to Remilia that we will be walking in a direction such that the indicated tree is to our back and our shadows are to our front, then begin walking in that direction. Stop after about 8 yards or so.
-
> Look over to Remilia with a mildly surprised expression, then shake it off.
> "All right. We will give you about a minute to do your work."
> Indicate to Remilia that we will be walking in a direction such that the indicated tree is to our back and our shadows are to our front, then begin walking in that direction. Stop after about 8 yards or so.
>You turn and walk away, Remilia keeping pace with you, saying nothing.
>_
-
> Make sure both our back and hers are to the tree.
> Keeping our back to the tree, lean over to Remilia and take on a very quiet voice.
> "I must admit, I did not expect her to speak..."
-
> Make sure both our back and hers are to the tree.
> Keeping our back to the tree, lean over to Remilia and take on a very quiet voice.
> "I must admit, I did not expect her to speak..."
>You are both turned away from the tree.
>"The way you were speaking," says Remilia in a similar tone "We were imaging much the same."
>_
-
> "That girl never ceases to surprise me. But hopefully the question of whether or not she exists is now neatly answered to your satisfaction."
-
> "That girl never ceases to surprise me. But hopefully the question of whether or not she exists is now neatly answered to your satisfaction."
>"It would be uncouth to consider ventriloquism," says Remilia.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Ah, another idea comes to mind."
> Take off our shawl and offer it to Remilia.
> "If I stood in front of you, would you take this and tie my hands behind my back?"
-
> Nod.
> "Ah, another idea comes to mind."
> Take off our shawl and offer it to Remilia.
> "If I stood in front of you, would you take this and tie my hands behind my back?"
>"Why would We desire to do this?" asks Remilia. "It would make no difference."
>_
-
> "In case you thought I could be performing a shadow trick with my hands, or if you were worried that I would try to distract you from an assault with normal danmaku. If you see no need, then I will gladly keep my hands free, but I wanted to offer you the opportunity all the same. As I said, I am willing to take on whatever personal burdens are necessary."
-
> "In case you thought I could be performing a shadow trick with my hands, or if you were worried that I would try to distract you from an assault with normal danmaku. If you see no need, then I will gladly keep my hands free, but I wanted to offer you the opportunity all the same. As I said, I am willing to take on whatever personal burdens are necessary."
>"Rest at ease," says Remilia. "We feel you are no threat.."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Understood."
> Put our shawl back on and wait for the rest of the allotted minute to pass.
-
> Nod.
> "Understood."
> Put our shawl back on and wait for the rest of the allotted minute to pass.
>You replace your shawl and let the time pass.
>Glancing back, you see the tree is without a shadow, and there is no sign of the poltergeist.
>_
-
> Resume a normal talking voice.
> "Ah, it seems my friend has finished her work."
> Walk back over to the shadowless tree.
-
> Resume a normal talking voice.
> "Ah, it seems my friend has finished her work."
> Walk back over to the shadowless tree.
>Remilia glances back, then follows you to the tree. As you reach it, she frowns at the ground, then kneels down and runs of her hand over the dirt.
>After a few moments, she says, "This would be cunningly done, were it false."
>_
-
> Does Remilia still have her parasol?
> "Is this demonstration to your satisfaction, or is there more I can do for you? Another potential idea actually just occurred to me, but it would require putting your back to your shadow, and I would understand if you were not comfortable with this. And no, it would not involve assaulting or taking your shadow."
-
> Does Remilia still have her parasol?
> "Is this demonstration to your satisfaction, or is there more I can do for you? Another potential idea actually just occurred to me, but it would require putting your back to your shadow, and I would understand if you were not comfortable with this. And no, it would not involve assaulting or taking your shadow."
>She does.
>"What would it involve?" she says.
>_
-
> "I remembered that my friend can control physical objects through their shadows in addition to taking their shadows. I propose the idea that you stand with your back to your shadow and look upward, at which point she can get behind you and move your parasol around by touching the shadow of its handle. You will be able to see and feel the movement while observing that nothing is coming in physical contact with the parasol."
-
> "I remembered that my friend can control physical objects through their shadows in addition to taking their shadows. I propose the idea that you stand with your back to your shadow and look upward, at which point she can get behind you and move your parasol around by touching the shadow of its handle. You will be able to see and feel the movement while observing that nothing is coming in physical contact with the parasol."
>Remilia chuckles. "You would have Us turn Our back to a potential assassin, hmm? We would have your word that nothing untoward would happen, lest you give Us an unconditional surrender afterward."
>_
-
>"You have my word."
-
>"You have my word."
>"Surely you can give Us a stronger vow than that?" says Remilia.
>_
-
> "Do you have any of your own house's servants currently available? Perhaps I could be held at point by them with one of your chief assistant's knives, or perhaps the Eldest Daughter's sword."
-
> "Do you have any of your own house's servants currently available? Perhaps I could be held at point by them with one of your chief assistant's knives, or perhaps the Eldest Daughter's sword."
>"We do not," says Remilia. "Otherwise, We would not be unattended."
>_
-
> Frown.
> "Is your chief of security still incapacitated, then? This is most unfortunate. I figured she would have recovered by now. I will have to apologize to her as well."
-
> "Unfortunately, without someone that you trust explicitly, I cannot give you anything other than my word. In that case, will this demonstration suffice as evidence?"
Feel free to strike it if it goes against what you have in mind.
-
Swear on the Dragon.
EDIT: Or your faith to the Dragon.
-
> Frown.
> "Is your chief of security still incapacitated, then? This is most unfortunate. I figured she would have recovered by now. I will have to apologize to her as well."
>"She is not here," says Remilia. "She has her tasks."
> "Unfortunately, without someone that you trust explicitly, I cannot give you anything other than my word. In that case, will this demonstration suffice as evidence?"
>"We have no issue with this," says Remilia. "Rather, We are rather put off with the weakness of your vow."
>_
-
> "You have my word on my faith as a Bhavagran and my position as the Dragon Palace Messenger that, should any uninstigated harm befall you during this process, I will resign from my position, renounce my faith and spend the rest of my days dwelling in a lesser spiritual realm, assuming you do not end my life on the spot."
-
> "You have my word on my faith as a Bhavagran and my position as the Dragon Palace Messenger that, should any uninstigated harm befall you during this process, I will resign from my position, renounce my faith and spend the rest of my days dwelling in a lesser spiritual realm, assuming you do not end my life on the spot."
>"That's better," says Remilia. "You would have Us merely turn toward Our village?"
>_
-
> Mentally parse what may be meant by 'turn town [Remilia's] village'.
-
> Mentally parse what may be meant by 'turn town [Remilia's] village'.
>Give a Purvis a moment to fix his typos ;_;
-
> Mentally ignore the implications of "'Our' village".
> Let's see...the village is to the west, so the sun is setting that way, meaning shadows would be pointed east...so her back would be to her shadow.
> "Yes, that will do, and remember to look upward so you can see your parasol. I suppose I should confirm this plan with the other party involved, however, out of politeness if nothing else."
> Raise our voice a little bit.
> "Shadow party, please give us a sign of whether or not you approve of this plan. Perhaps by throwing another pebble if you are okay with it, and shooting danmaku upward if you are not. Or you may verbalize your response, if you so desire."
-
> Mentally ignore the implications of "'Our' village".
> Let's see...the village is to the west, so the sun is setting that way, meaning shadows would be pointed east...so her back would be to her shadow.
> "Yes, that will do, and remember to look upward so you can see your parasol. I suppose I should confirm this plan with the other party involved, however, out of politeness if nothing else."
> Raise our voice a little bit.
> "Shadow party, please give us a sign of whether or not you approve of this plan. Perhaps by throwing another pebble if you are okay with it, and shooting danmaku upward if you are not. Or you may verbalize your response, if you so desire."
>You ignore the claim placed on the village.
>Remilia turns toward the village, while you call out to the poltergeist.
>After a moment, another pebble hits a nearby tree.
>_
-
> "Very well. Shadow party, you may step forward and perform your task secure in the knowledge that Lady Remilia will not attempt to expose you to herself. Lady Remilia, you may watch your parasol secure in the knowledge that neither the shadow party nor myself will stab you in the back. You may even call out instructions on which way the shadow party should pull your parasol, if you so desire."
-
> "Very well. Shadow party, you may step forward and perform your task secure in the knowledge that Lady Remilia will not attempt to expose you to herself. Lady Remilia, you may watch your parasol secure in the knowledge that neither the shadow party nor myself will stab you in the back. You may even call out instructions on which way the shadow party should pull your parasol, if you so desire."
>"We shall keep this in mind," says Remilia.
>You see the poltergeist creep around one of the trees, walking lightly toward Remilia. She is moving a bit slower than usual, and you can see she is taking exaggerated care with her steps. Step by step, she creeps toward the vampire, seeming to be fairly calm about the situation. You can hear some soft rustling from her rain cloak, but otherwise she is quiet.
>She kneels down by Remilia, and puts her hands on the shadow of the parasol and begins to tug on it. After a moment Remilia says, "To the left." After a moment, she says, "We meant the other left."
>After a few moments and a couple more directions, Remilia says, "You may return to hiding." The poltergeist seems all too happy to complete, letting the shadow go and walking off very quickly behind the nearest tree.
>_
-
> When Shuuhei's perfectly hidden again, step forward.
> "Is that proof enough, Lady Remilia?"
-
> When Shuuhei's perfectly hidden again, step forward.
> "Is that proof enough, Lady Remilia?"
>"We suppose so," says Remilia.
>_
-
> "Has your business with my friend concluded, then?"
-
> "Has your business with my friend concluded, then?"
>She nods.
>_
-
> Sigh of relief. One thing out of the way.
> "So, now the question of recompensation."
-
> "But, before we get to that, one quick final matter."
> Raise voice a bit again.
> "Friend, thank you very much for your assistance. I will be forever grateful. Please return the shadow to this tree, and then you may leave us."
-
> Sigh of relief. One thing out of the way.
> "So, now the question of recompensation."
> "But, before we get to that, one quick final matter."
> Raise voice a bit again.
> "Friend, thank you very much for your assistance. I will be forever grateful. Please return the shadow to this tree, and then you may leave us."
>You sigh, at least that is done with.
>You then call out to the poltergeist, and get no response. Still, you are reasonably certain that she has heard you.
>"Mmm, yes," says Remilia. "Ideally, We would have a proper treaty prepared. But as our maid is not available, a verbal agreement will do until one may be created. In any event, We shall release all prisoners upon the ratification of this agreement without further precondition. We shall promise their goods will be restored to them, though you will find that the only such thing to have occurred is that We have separated your companion from her weapon. We trust that this clause is satisfactory?"
>_
-
> Nod.
> "If they are not already doing so, our people will gladly help tend to your chief assistant until she is well enough to draw up a proper treaty, and most likely beyond that as well."
-
Did I really forget to introduce that parasol idea with something along the lines of "of course if you don't want to put your back to your shadow I'd understand"? Wow, that was a dumb move. Glad it ultimately worked out, but still.
EDIT: Wait no I actually did, before I detailed the plan.
Eh, whatever.
-
> Nod.
> "If they are not already doing so, our people will gladly help tend to your chief assistant until she is well enough to draw up a proper treaty, and most likely beyond that as well."
>"We expect no less," says Remilia. "Are there any other terms you would like to dictate?"
>_
-
> "With my people free, I cannot think of much else I would like to see come of our arrangement. I do not think I am in much of a position to make too many requests anyway."
-
>Strike that.
>"The only other thing I would ask for is that the islands you have occupied also be returned to us."
-
>Strike that.
>"The only other thing I would ask for is that the islands you have occupied also be returned to us."
>"Mmm, I see," says Remilia. "And what would We get in return for this?"
>_
-
> Recall further details our Astronomics and Landscaping abilities.
> "That would depend on what you want. Like I said earlier, I have ostensibly nothing to offer as payment, and my services as a servant are not mine to offer. But, if I may say so myself, I have other talents with which I may work off incurred debts, as my debtors see fit."
-
>In fact, list skills
-
> Recall further details our Astronomics and Landscaping abilities.
> "That would depend on what you want. Like I said earlier, I have ostensibly nothing to offer as payment, and my services as a servant are not mine to offer. But, if I may say so myself, I have other talents with which I may work off incurred debts, as my debtors see fit."
>In fact, list skills
>"This would be a difficulty," says Remilia. "We have, you'll agree, suffered more than Our share of embarrassment and damage in this incident, and little effort was made to alleviate such."
>Your skills are:
>Shawl-Fu
>When equipped with a shawl, you can be a terror in battle!
>Dancinating
>When equipped with a beat, you can be a terror on the dancefloor!
>Celestial Bureaucratizing
>You are familiar with the ways that the Celestial Bureaucracy works, and know the proper channels to get minor things done or arrange for meetings with august personages.
>Moderate Danmakutimes
>You know a little bit about this thing they call Danmaku.
>Basic Songsmithing
>No one seems to notice you're a decent singer, too.
>Astronomics
>You are well versed in the various aspects and objects of the night sky.
>Basic Leadershipping
>You can competently direct small groups of willing people and get excellent results.
>Landscaping
>You can design beautiful landscapes of all kinds, and implement them.
>Major Domoship
>You can run a household without difficulty.
>Ink Paintilizing
>You are a decent artist with an ink brush!
>_
-
> "Which is why I ask what you would like for me to do for you in recompense. I honestly do not know what you would want, at least amongst the things I know I can offer."
-
> "Which is why I ask what you would like for me to do for you in recompense. I honestly do not know what you would want, at least amongst the things I know I can offer."
>"We would ask that your request be dropped," says Remilia. "It is Our finding that these islands are in better hands how."
>She holds up a finger before you can say anything. "Of course, We shall be gracious to these territories. There shall be no conscription, however shorthanded We may be. As well, We shall cede our citizens a degree of autonomy they shall find most familiar. We feel it shall be our role to oversee and coordinate, rather than dictate. Of course, We shall not hinder their comings and goings, provided We can expect the same of you. And you may be assured We have no plans to loot these protected territories. Rather, We shall be investing Our resources in improving them. We are sure you will find this all most agreeable."
>_
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I see. Will you be reporting this to The Dragon, then? It would be rather impolite to annex The August One's islands without letting The August One know of such an action."
-
>"That being said, however, I feel that agreement to your proposal is unlikely-although I could be wrong, of course-so I would like to ask you if there are any alternatives. Please tell me any alternatives you can think of, even if you are certain I would be unable to fulfil them."
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "I see. Will you be reporting this to The Dragon, then? It would be rather impolite to annex The August One's islands without letting The August One know of such an action."
>"We expect that you are here as The Dragons representative," says Remilia. "As such, We would imagine you have been invested with the power to make decisions in regards to this. Were We wrong?"
>"That being said, however, I feel that agreement to your proposal is unlikely-although I could be wrong, of course-so I would like to ask you if there are any alternatives. Please tell me any alternatives you can think of, even if you are certain I would be unable to fulfil them."
>"We consider this the best alternative for everyone involved," says Remilia.
>_
-
> ...Do we have this kind of authority?
-
Um... okay, are we actually considering agreeing to this? Because if so, I have to object.
-
We have to do this diplomatically. Kicking and screaming will just make our situation worse. Finding bureaucratic/political loopholes and employing obnoxious rhetoric is more likely to fix things.
-
>Which is why I was asking; I wasn't sure what you were thinking. And I understand the importance of doing this diplomatically (although I'm still surprised Remilia's willing to negotiate at all). That's why I asked; I didn't know. Should I assume, then, that you're not too fond of the idea of agreeing to cede the islands to her either?
-
> ...Do we have this kind of authority?
>You are pretty sure you're empowered to negotiate settlements like this. But...ceding away parts of Bhava-Agra is sketchy at best.
>Which is why I was asking; I wasn't sure what you were thinking. And I understand the importance of doing this diplomatically (although I'm still surprised Remilia's willing to negotiate at all). That's why I asked; I didn't know. Should I assume, then, that you're not too fond of the idea of agreeing to cede the islands to her either?
>Are you?
>_
-
>Disregard this voice's last comment; the '>' symbol was inserted by mistake.
Yamameko: Which is why I was asking; I wasn't sure what you were thinking. And I understand the importance of doing this diplomatically (although I'm still surprised Remilia's willing to negotiate at all). That's why I asked; I didn't know. Should I assume, then, that you're not too fond of the idea of agreeing to cede the islands to her either?
-
> "I have the authority to negotiate settlements. I do not believe I have the authority to give away islands, however."
-
>Disregard this voice's last comment; the '>' symbol was inserted by mistake.
>Kay.
> "I have the authority to negotiate settlements. I do not believe I have the authority to give away islands, however."
>"We shall be content to wait for confirmation from your superiors," says Remilia.
>_
-
> Hasn't an island been given away to an enemy invader before?
-
> Hasn't an island been given away to an enemy invader before?
>There is...technically precedent. Though really the only reason it has gone through is that no one really wants to go through the trouble of dislodging Suika, and she doesn't seem to have caused any real trouble yet.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Very well. May I see the Eldest Daughter before I go, or do you wish to keep the two of us separated?"
-
> Nod.
> "Very well. May I see the Eldest Daughter before I go, or do you wish to keep the two of us separated?"
>"We would be happy to allow this," says Remilia.
>She motions for you to follow her and heads back toward the village.
>_
-
> "Thank you."
> Do so!
-
> Do so!
>You follow Remilia back to the village, and to the house that she emerged from.
>Walking inside, you see it a very plain-looking home, a little smaller than your suite. You see Tenshi laying on a futon, looking quite battered and bearing a number of bandages for what you imagine are cuts. Across the room, Sakuya reclines on another futon, part of her head swathed in bandages, and her left arm and right leg set in splints. She looks toward you as you enter, and starts to rise, before Remilia says, "We told you to stay still! You may make up your missed obeisances later if needs be."
>"Yes, Mistress," Sakuya says in a weak tone, as she relaxes.
>_
-
> They're in the same room? Tensions must be suffocatingly think...
> Is Tenshi conscious?
> If so, has she noticed us?
-
> They're in the same room? Tensions must be suffocatingly think...
> Is Tenshi conscious?
> If so, has she noticed us?
>They are in the same room, though Tenshi's lack of consciousness likely does a lot to diffuse things.
>_
-
> Sad face.
> Look at Sakuya for a couple of seconds, then back at Remilia.
> "May I?"
-
> Sad face.
> Look at Sakuya for a couple of seconds, then back at Remilia.
> "May I?"
>"Do as you please," says Remilia. "As long as Our Sakuya is not further endangered."
>_
-
> Nod, then turn back to Sakuya.
> Walk over to Sakuya. Stop when we are a few feet away from her.
> Gently drop to our knees, so as to not hit Sakuya or make a loud banging noise.
> Bow our head in shame.
> "...I am terribly sorry this has happened to you. It is entirely my fault. I lost my way, and you paid the price."
> Close our eyes.
> "I am so ashamed of myself, to see you like this..."
-
> Nod, then turn back to Sakuya.
> Walk over to Sakuya. Stop when we are a few feet away from her.
> Gently drop to our knees, so as to not hit Sakuya or make a loud banging noise.
> Bow our head in shame.
> "...I am terribly sorry this has happened to you. It is entirely my fault. I lost my way, and you paid the price."
> Close our eyes.
> "I am so ashamed of myself, to see you like this..."
>"It is not as bad as it seems," says Sakuya. "It's just a fracture and a few spains..."
>"We shall not be taking that chance," says Remilia, giving Sakuya a look, "We are more than worried enough about you as it is. We won't have you hurting yourself further for the sake of pride!"
>_
-
> "Please...please do not worsen your condition."
-
> "Please...please do not worsen your condition."
>"I have no intention of disobeying my Mistress," says Sakuya.
>"We are certain Our Patchouli will have a draught prepared soon enough," says Remilia. "This shall do, We are certain, until Eientei's doctor can be procured."
>"It won't be necessary to call in Eirin," says Sakuya. "The problems have been diagnosed and treated already."
>"We shall not be allowing that risk," Remilia says, fixing a look on Sakuya.
>_
-
> "Miss Yagokoro, hmm? Interesting, for things to come full circle in this manner..."
-
> Who knew Remilia was so overprotective? It's kind of cute.
-
> "Miss Yagokoro, hmm? Interesting, for things to come full circle in this manner..."
>"Hmmm?" says Remilia, breaking her look from Sakuya to glance at you curiously.
> Who knew Remilia was so overprotective? It's kind of cute.
>You never thought she'd be the doting type...
>_
-
> "Her name reminds me of yesterday's happenings, in the immediate aftermath of the fall, when so many people still had no idea what was going on. I quickly discovered that she had lied to Marisa, claiming she knew we were an invading force because Eientei had been our partners...that story certainly set my cause back a good ways, but at least it has been cleared up now."
-
>"Eirin did it to keep Marisa from attacking Eientei, though, so I'm not angry with her. If there's anyone at fault there, it's Marisa. Apparently, she thought we and Eientei were working together because both Bhavagrans and Lunarians are from above the clouds, or something like that."
-
> "Her name reminds me of yesterday's happenings, in the immediate aftermath of the fall, when so many people still had no idea what was going on. I quickly discovered that she had lied to Marisa, claiming she knew we were an invading force because Eientei had been our partners...that story certainly set my cause back a good ways, but at least it has been cleared up now."
>"Mmm," Remilia replies with a nod. "How troublesome Eientei can be."
>_
-
> Stand up and look back over at Tenshi.
-
GOING TO BED
NO LEAVING TENSHI WHILE GONE
-
> Stand up and look back over at Tenshi.
>You look toward Tenshi. Comparatively, she seems better off that Sakuya; nothing seems to be broken or the like. Rather, it seems it was a number of little things that brought her down. Certainly her dress has a number of slashes in it that bespeak Sakuya's knives.
>_
-
> Slowly walk over to her and kneel down next to her, taking a closer look at her face.
-
> Slowly walk over to her and kneel down next to her, taking a closer look at her face.
>You kneel down beside Tenshi. She definitely has some bruises about her face, and a couple of light cuts. She doesn't seem to be especially pained, though.
>_
-
> How is her hair looking?
-
> How is her hair looking?
>It seems most of your work was undone.
>_
-
> Gently wrap our arms around her and hug her upper body to us.
> Lower head in shame again.
> Get a bit teary-eyed. This really is our fault, for making bad assumptions and letting a fight happen...
-
Dude, she's, like, in a coma. :wat:
-
> Gently wrap our arms around her and hug her upper body to us.
> Lower head in shame again.
> Get a bit teary-eyed. This really is our fault, for making bad assumptions and letting a fight happen...
>You hug her to yourself and lower your head in shame. You blame yourself for this.
>_
-
She's injured and it's because of us. Wouldn't you be sad if a friend was hurt because what you told them to do? >_>
> Sniff.
> Quiet voice.
> "I'm sorry, Tenshi..."
-
> Sniff.
> Quiet voice.
> "I'm sorry, Tenshi..."
>You apologize to Tenshi. Being unconscious, she doesn't respond.
>"We believe she is merely unconscious," says Remilia. "With some rest, she will be fine."
>_
-
> Try to compose ourself. We're not alone and this isn't dignified. Tenshi would be proud she came out on top, right?
-
> Try to compose ourself. We're not alone and this isn't dignified. Tenshi would be proud she came out on top, right?
>You try to compose yourself. Tenshi would be proud she came out on top, but you're not certain she actually did...
>_
-
> "I appreciate your words, but...it is still very hard to see this, knowing it is a direct result of an incredible lapse of judgment on my part. People are injured because of me...my friend is injured because of me."
-
> "I appreciate your words, but...it is still very hard to see this, knowing it is a direct result of an incredible lapse of judgment on my part. People are injured because of me...my friend is injured because of me."
>"Mmm. We do not fully agree," says Remilia, "but we shall try to respect those feelings. Regardless, she will be looked after. Perhaps you would like to take custody of her weapon?"
>_
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> "...That would be most appreciated."
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> "...That would be most appreciated."
>Remilia nods, and walks over to a nearby dresser. Opening up the upper portion, she withdraws the Sword of Hisou, and hands it to you.
>_
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> Take it carefully.
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> Take it carefully.
>You obtain: Sword of Hisou.
>_
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>
Trade Sword of Hisou to Rinnosuke for Marbles.
> "Thank you for taking care of this." We should probably put this back where it belongs.
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> Though Remilia might get agitated if we simply hand Tenshi her sword back, especially with the injured and immobile Sakuya lying there as an easy target should Tenshi wake up, and Tenshi might get agitated if we return the sword without telling her after allowing her to have it for so long.
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<.< I think you misunderstand. The sword does not actually belong with Tenshi. She might be agitated but it's not really her sword in the first place.
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Please tell me I'm not going to have this debate again. >_>
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> Trade Sword of Hisou to Rinnosuke for Marbles.
> "Thank you for taking care of this." We should probably put this back where it belongs.
>You get a lot of credit!
>"We would be not be so crass as to simply throw it away," says Remilia.
> Though Remilia might get agitated if we simply hand Tenshi her sword back, especially with the injured and immobile Sakuya lying there as an easy target should Tenshi wake up, and Tenshi might get agitated if we return the sword without telling her after allowing her to have it for so long.
>It would definitely be a bad idea to just give it back to Tenshi right now.
>_
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You have to agree that the situation has changed alot since the first time the issue came up. There were reasons to let her keep it back then. Those excuses are gone. But I'm guessing this has more to do with the trust you're trying to build between them so let her keep it if you want.
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I actually have an idea on how to potentially resolve the issue once and for all.
> The Sword of Hisou belongs to the Hinanai family rather than Tenshi personally, correct?
> Are we permitted to consult The Dragon directly (i.e. not via prayer) on matters of importance without our being summoned by The Dragon first? How uncouth would such an action be?
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I actually have an idea on how to potentially resolve the issue once and for all.
> The Sword of Hisou belongs to the Hinanai family rather than Tenshi personally, correct?
> Are we permitted to consult The Dragon directly (i.e. not via prayer) on matters of importance without our being summoned by The Dragon first? How uncouth would such an action be?
>Yes.
>You have never done this before, you're not sure if there really is a protocol for it. You imagine, if you were not welcome, the door to its chamber would not open.
>_
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Good. This means we can defer the decision of what to do with the sword to Tenshi's mother.
> Exhale.
> "All right."
> Stand up and face Remilia again.
> "Unless you have further need of me, I will depart for The August One's chambers to consult with The August One. To be sure I do not misrepresent your position, let me run your proposal back to you as I understand it. In regards to the two islands you have claimed, you will maintain ownership, presumably even after Bhava-Agra has been restored to its proper place in the heavens. The people on the islands are free to be autonomous as before, and the island's resources are in their control, but you are free to alter the islands as you see fit with your own resources, civil disputes will be overseen by you instead of The August One, and they will answer to you ahead of The August One. Is this all accurate?"
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Good. This means we can defer the decision of what to do with the sword to Tenshi's mother.
> Exhale.
> "All right."
> Stand up and face Remilia again.
> "Unless you have further need of me, I will depart for The August One's chambers to consult with The August One. To be sure I do not misrepresent your position, let me run your proposal back to you as I understand it. In regards to the two islands you have claimed, you will maintain ownership, presumably even after Bhava-Agra has been restored to its proper place in the heavens. The people on the islands are free to be autonomous as before, and the island's resources are in their control, but you are free to alter the islands as you see fit with your own resources, civil disputes will be overseen by you instead of The August One, and they will answer to you ahead of The August One. Is this all accurate?"
>"Largely," says Remilia. "We intend to encourage the residents to select a leader, while We shall appoint a governor to oversee matters and report to Us. We will of course listen to Our citizens concerns and desires when investing Our territories."
>_
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> "That sounds like a wonderful solution. As long as nothing bad like Parsee appearing out of our skirt and shanking us happens we can finally wrap up this Iku Quest!"
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> Nod.
> "I will report this proposal to The August One immediately, then. I will return to this house as soon as I can with The August One's answer, or news of The August One's unavailability, should something have happened that would cause such an undesirable thing."
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> "That sounds like a wonderful solution. As long as nothing bad like Parsee appearing out of our skirt and shanking us happens we can finally wrap up this Iku Quest!"
>Sakuya morosely tries to shank you from her bed, but she cannot reach you and her throwing arm is in a splint.