Author Topic: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 7) (Read 33509 times)

DracoOmega · « **Reply #840 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:20:10 AM »

Quote from: Kilgamayan on February 07, 2012, 04:09:13 AM

> Could we dowse for a certain kind of object, given the presence of other similar objects?

>Assuming an object's resonance is distinct enough to sense clearly in the first place, recognizing another object with a similar resonance would be very straightforward. In fact, this is a principle that a lot of your dowsing relies on. Even if you couldn't tell what an object was made from (say, if it were an unknown magical signature) you could still detect a match against this unknown.

Kilgamayan · « **Reply #841 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:20:58 AM »

> "Well. You didn't happen to catch how the records were organized within the filing cabinets, did you?"

DracoOmega · « **Reply #842 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:23:08 AM »

Quote from: Kilgamayan on February 07, 2012, 04:20:58 AM

> "Well. You didn't happen to catch how the records were organized within the filing cabinets, did you?"

>"Oh, I didn't get a look at where they were stored," she says. "I just waited outside until she came and told me what she'd found. Or hadn't found, as it turned out."

Kilgamayan · « **Reply #843 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:24:37 AM »

> "Depending on how they're stored, I may be able to make the process of finding them a bit quicker than it needs to be."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #844 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:27:23 AM »

Quote from: Kilgamayan on February 07, 2012, 04:24:37 AM

> "Depending on how they're stored, I may be able to make the process of finding them a bit quicker than it needs to be."

>Neu's antennae twitch slightly. "Oh? How?"

Kilgamayan · « **Reply #845 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:30:32 AM »

> Jerk a thumb toward one of the dowsing rods.
> "These suckers. If I can pick up some sort of resonance from the containers of the records, I can search around the building for a matching resonance. Of course, if the storage system is just tons of loose papers jammed into those filing cabinets, I'm not going to be useful, but if they're within unique containers of some sort, those containers might have a noticeable resonance that I can latch onto."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #846 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:35:58 AM »

Quote from: Kilgamayan on February 07, 2012, 04:30:32 AM

> Jerk a thumb toward one of the dowsing rods.
> "These suckers. If I can pick up some sort of resonance from the containers of the records, I can search around the building for a matching resonance. Of course, if the storage system is just tons of loose papers jammed into those filing cabinets, I'm not going to be useful, but if they're within unique containers of some sort, those containers might have a noticeable resonance that I can latch onto."

>"I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to answer that," she says. "Though with the volume of records they keep, I'd assumed they merely used standard practices."

Kilgamayan · « **Reply #847 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:39:16 AM »

> "Guess we won't find out until tomorrow, if we ever do."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #848 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:40:07 AM »

>"Did she mention if she was going to get in touch with the Watch?"

DracoOmega · « **Reply #849 on:** February 07, 2012, 04:44:56 AM »

Quote from: Kilgamayan on February 07, 2012, 04:39:16 AM

> "Guess we won't find out until tomorrow, if we ever do."

>"I should think we'll get an update then, anyway," Neu says. "I hope that even if they can't find the ledgers, it'll raise enough doubt that she'll accelerate a re-licensing."

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 04:40:07 AM

>"Did she mention if she was going to get in touch with the Watch?"

>"I don't think she was quite ready to admit that the records had been stolen, just misplaced. But there's only so long you believe that if you can't find them, I think."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #850 on:** February 07, 2012, 07:42:03 AM »

>Sigh.
>Lean against wall of the building.
>"You understand how much I'm not enjoying the thought of twiddling my tail while time ticks away."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #851 on:** February 07, 2012, 07:57:28 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 07:42:03 AM

>Sigh.
>Lean against wall of the building.
>"You understand how much I'm not enjoying the thought of twiddling my tail while time ticks away."

>You sigh and lean against the side of the building.
>"No," she says, shaking her head. "No, I'm sure you don't. But is there anything you can do right now that doesn't risk making things worse?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #852 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:02:43 AM »

>.... "Give me a minute to think."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #853 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:04:12 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 08:02:43 AM

>.... "Give me a minute to think."

>Neu nods.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #854 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:11:37 AM »

>In our experience, have we ever had a joint operation with the Watch? If so, how did it go?
>Not counting when Orange and we beat up that oni thug a few days ago, of course.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #855 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:36:56 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 08:11:37 AM

>In our experience, have we ever had a joint operation with the Watch? If so, how did it go?
>Not counting when Orange and we beat up that oni thug a few days ago, of course.

>You have not. Unlike the Watch, Seekers have no legal authority, so people tend to go to them either for matters they wouldn't expect the Watch to bother with, or matters that they'd rather the Watch not bother with. There are sometimes collaborative efforts, since Seekers frequently possess tracking skills the Watch does not, but these are often strained things; Seekers are well-known to be motivated primarily by self-interest of one sort or another, and often not above bending the law. In most cases, however, the context simply doesn't arise; both groups tend to be pursuing different objectives for different reasons.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #856 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:46:34 AM »

>From what we know of the Watch's procedure, would they wait until tomorrow before turning...
>Check that. Louise would only stall them as much as she'd stall us.
>"Considering that I've no more idea now how to find those books than I did an hour ago. Considering that Louise isn't likely to let me help until she does her own investigation."
>Clench teeth.
>"... no."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #857 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:01:02 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 08:46:34 AM

>From what we know of the Watch's procedure, would they wait until tomorrow before turning...
>Check that. Louise would only stall them as much as she'd stall us.
>"Considering that I've no more idea now how to find those books than I did an hour ago. Considering that Louise isn't likely to let me help until she does her own investigation."
>Clench teeth.
>"... no."

>You run a few ideas around in your head before grudgingly admitting that you can't think of anything else useful to do. And damn, but that makes you fume right now. You don't want to just sit here and hope it all works out. You want to do something! That's why you're here at all, instead of back in Easthaven waiting to die.

>"I know this may seem hollow," Neu says, traces of a sympathetic frown on her face, "but... I do understand what this must feel like to you. For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #858 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:02:55 AM »

>"... How could you know?"

DracoOmega · « **Reply #859 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:20:12 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 09:02:55 AM

>"... How could you know?"

>Her antennae flatten slightly. "I didn't mean to presume," she says. "My apologies."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #860 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:28:00 AM »

>Eye her up and down.
>Soften expression.
>"Thanks for the sentiment."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #861 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:35:34 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 09:28:00 AM

>Eye her up and down.
>Soften expression.
>"Thanks for the sentiment."

>You eye the moth up and down. She is wearing an uncomfortable and tentative smile, but it does look genuine. She glances at you with concerned eyes, and then away again.
>You soften your expression and Neu seems to relax in kind, her antennae shifting slowly outward.
>She quietly nods. "Is there anything else I can do for you, or should I head back and report what happened to Murasa?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #862 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:42:07 AM »

>"What do you plan to tell her? About me, I mean."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #863 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:48:37 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 09:42:07 AM

>"What do you plan to tell her? About me, I mean."

>"What you told me," she replies, "unless there's some part of it that you'd rather keep private which doesn't affect the people around you. I have to tell her of the disease you're carrying, of course. The safety of the crew is her responsibility and this affects them, even if you swear you're not contagious."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #864 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:20:50 AM »

>"I know, you've only my word. But I swear, if I was contagious, I never would have gotten close to anyone I thought I'd put in harms' way. It's bad enough I have to bear this, I wouldn't inflict it on anyone else."
>"I'll stay off the ship for now, if you and you captain don't want to take any chances until this problem is solved. Murasa's a ghost, so I couldn't infect her if I WAS contagious. If she wants to talk to me, to hear my story from my own lips, I'm willing to, of course. But if she doesn't want to put her people in any more risk, we can talk on dry land."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #865 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:25:50 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 10:20:50 AM

>"I know, you've only my word. But I swear, if I was contagious, I never would have gotten close to anyone I thought I'd put in harms' way. It's bad enough I have to bear this, I wouldn't inflict it on anyone else."
>"I'll stay off the ship for now, if you and you captain don't want to take any chances until this problem is solved. Murasa's a ghost, so I couldn't infect her if I WAS contagious. If she wants to talk to me, to hear my story from my own lips, I'm willing to, of course. But if she doesn't want to put her people in any more risk, we can talk on dry land."

>Neu nods gently. "I'll be sure to let her know. Now, did you want to come back as far as the ship, or did you have somewhere else you'd rather go now? I can have word sent when there's anything to tell you."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #866 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:31:56 AM »

>Consider.
>"I don't have anywhere else to go. Waiting by the ship's ramp's as good a place as any, since it seems neither one of us are leaving town."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #867 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:33:35 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 10:31:56 AM

>Consider.
>"I don't have anywhere else to go. Waiting by the ship's ramp's as good a place as any, since it seems neither one of us are leaving town."

>She nods again and gestures in the direction of the Blue Maiden. "Shall we return, then?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #868 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:39:31 AM »

>Glance back at the custom's office door. If you hadn't been so difficult, we could have found this sooner, given me...
>Pfah. No use complaining now.
>"Let's."
>Follow behind the moth.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #869 on:** February 07, 2012, 10:55:26 AM »

Quote from: Sourfang, the Falling Star on February 07, 2012, 10:39:31 AM

>Glance back at the custom's office door. If you hadn't been so difficult, we could have found this sooner, given me...
>Pfah. No use complaining now.
>"Let's."
>Follow behind the moth.

>You glance wistfully back at the door to the custom's office, briefly imagining how much better things could have gone... should have gone if Louise wasn't such a... a... You feel your anger rising, but you let it go. It's just a waste of energy now.
>You turn back to Neu and voice your acquiescence. Then the two of you set off for the Blue Maiden.
>You talk even less on return journey than you did on the way out, as consumed as you are with your own thoughts. You've achieved progress of a sort, you suppose, but it feels rather hollow and unsatisfying. It's still up to someone else now, someone you'd wanted to nail to a wall an hour ago, someone who mightn't find a damn thing, and then where are you going to be? And after all this work and frustration and running back and forth, you find yourself uncertain if your ticket out of Braston will even still be waiting for you at the end. Neu occasionally makes an optimistic remark about the outcome of Louise's search, though she is respectful of your reverie. After the passage of a few formless minutes, you find yourself near the ship's berth again. Neu stops and turns to you.
>"I'll come back after I deliver my report," she says.