(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 10)

[Oldmansour]

>Scoop an additional handful of cream off our head.
>Size up pink-head. How competent does she come off?

[DracoOmega]

>Scoop an additional handful of cream off our head.
>Size up pink-head. How competent does she come off?

>You scoop some more foam off your head. This handful is a blend of neon green and pink. Hmmm... lime-flavored cotton candy.
>You give the new girl a once-over. She seems confident and relaxed enough, though you know that's no sure measure of competency. Her dress isn't particularly evocative of magery, being a simple two-tone shift and vest, and she can't be any older than 20. Of course, you don't know what she had in mind, either.

[Oldmansour]

>"Since I don't see a towel in your hand, I'm guessing you're planning to magic me, too?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Since I don't see a towel in your hand, I'm guessing you're planning to magic me, too?"

>"Well, yes and no," she says, then grins. "It's an old family trick."
>With that, she presses the palms of her hands together. A ray of soft blue light briefly filters through the gap between her fingers, then she spreads them suddenly apart. There is a muted flash and without further ado, a fluffy white towel is occupying the space between her palms. She catches it deftly before it flutters to the ground.
>"Ta-da!" The girl's smile is triumphant. The fairy gives her a sheepish grin and rubs the back of her neck. The librarian doesn't appear to have moved a single facial muscle.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a little. "Well that's a nifty little trick. I might have to see about taking something like that home myself after all this is done."
>Marisa'd like to know a useful little trick like that, wouldn't she?
>Imagine Marisa in the same situation as we were moments ago....Damn that's amusing.
>Let's get the towel already and start getting the foam off.

[DracoOmega]

>Smirk a little. "Well that's a nifty little trick. I might have to see about taking something like that home myself after all this is done."
>Marisa'd like to know a useful little trick like that, wouldn't she?
>Imagine Marisa in the same situation as we were moments ago....Damn that's amusing.
>Let's get the towel already and start getting the foam off.

>"I'll go poof after you let it go," she says, "so I don't know about that. But it's a pretty good towel just the same!"
>You imagine Marisa would get a chuckle out of it, if nothing else.
>You also have a strange feeling she might have given it a taste test by now, too....
>"Here you go," the girl says as she hands you the towel. "Pops may have been a bit nutty, but this still comes in handy more often than you might think."
>You start to clean yourself off with the towel and quickly run into the issue of the sheer quantity there is to remove. Unless this stuff starts to evaporate or otherwise vanish on its own, you're not quite sure what you're supposed to do with all of it; the towel may be pretty absorbent, but this is a bit beyond its reach. Maybe if you had a bucket or something....

[Hanzo K.]

>"I was talking about the trick itself, the towel-making thing. I know a few people who'd love something like this. One of them would get a lot of use out of it, given what she does."
>Beat.
>"Oh yeah, just how absorbent is this thing anyhow? Because I think all this foam's gonna be a bit too much for just the one. Maybe if we had a bucket or something."
>Chuckle a bit. "I don't suppose someone here has a family trick that involves making a bucket, do they?"

[Oldmansour]

>Gesture to the towel. "Or maybe another one of these?"
>"By the by, anybody got any idea what that fairy was trying to cast? Can't imagine making cream-fountain ears is a standard magic."

[DracoOmega]

>"I was talking about the trick itself, the towel-making thing. I know a few people who'd love something like this. One of them would get a lot of use out of it, given what she does."
>Beat.
>"Oh yeah, just how absorbent is this thing anyhow? Because I think all this foam's gonna be a bit too much for just the one. Maybe if we had a bucket or something."
>Chuckle a bit. "I don't suppose someone here has a family trick that involves making a bucket, do they?"

>The girl snickers. "Is she a walking raincloud or something?"
>"Well, it's a good towel," she says, "but it's not magic or anything. Should be able to wipe yourself off well enough, though. After that...." She shrugs.
>"Afraid not."
>"The janitorial staff can take care of it," the librarian says, then lets out a small grumble. "Or her."
>"Rumia doesn't want to eat a bucket," whines the darkness. "They're all bleeeeh and full of splinters...."

>Gesture to the towel. "Or maybe another one of these?"
>"By the by, anybody got any idea what that fairy was trying to cast? Can't imagine making cream-fountain ears is a standard magic."

>The pink-haired girl shakes her head. "One at a time, I'm afraid. I didn't write the thing."
>"Well, a lot of spells are personal inventions," the fairy says. "The principles behind it aren't really all that exotic. But I... think Shady just accidentally triggered a command word stored in the book. I don't think she really did anything except point at you." She shakes her head, the ponytail at her side swaying. "She... Well, I don't think she really understands how magic works."
>"Magically active books aren't shelved in public areas," the librarian says, "but this must have been misidentified. We'll have one of the archmages examine it before it's reshelved."

>You continue toweling off as best you can, working the cloth in and around your ears. Fortunately, the foam doesn't seem to be as slimy or adherent as genuine whipped cream, so you've probably been spared too much of it getting matted in your hair, but there's definitely some of it that's not likely to come off without a bath. You better not come out of this looking like you got into a fight with a bottle of rainbow hair dye....

[Hanzo K.]

>"Actually, she runs an orphanage back home, nicest lady I've ever known. Makes the best cheese sandwich I've ever had y'know. And I'm a mouse, so I know cheese."
>Try our best to towel off the rest, then look back to Icy there. "Lemme know when you guys figure out that spell then, okay? I know a few folks who'd find a spell like that to be pretty amusing. Even I find it sorta funny, despite being the victim here. Magic ain't really my thing, but I might pick that trick up at least. If only for how handy it might come in. When you're a Seeker like me, you learn to improvise."

[Oldmansour]

>We've looked worse. If perhaps, not more ridiculous....  Keep at the stuff, nonetheless.
>Make a note to ensure our lodgings for the night has a bath. Or shower. Or both.
>Then ponder our lodgings for the night, if this place has no Seeker Guildhall.
>"So how come you did? I mean, no offense intended, but a fairy mage is a pretty.. unique sight."

[Oldmansour]

You lost me, Hanzo. Why are you talking about Ichirin out of nowhere?

[Hanzo K.]

Note my earlier remark about how we know someone who could use a trick like the towel spell. We gotta bring her back something nice after all, and a useful spell like that's bound to help her save time on the laundry.

[Oldmansour]

Cheaper than a souvenir, too. Sourfang approves of this.

[DracoOmega]

>"Actually, she runs an orphanage back home, nicest lady I've ever known. Makes the best cheese sandwich I've ever had y'know. And I'm a mouse, so I know cheese."
>Try our best to towel off the rest, then look back to Icy there. "Lemme know when you guys figure out that spell then, okay? I know a few folks who'd find a spell like that to be pretty amusing. Even I find it sorta funny, despite being the victim here. Magic ain't really my thing, but I might pick that trick up at least. If only for how handy it might come in. When you're a Seeker like me, you learn to improvise."

>The librarian gives you a cold look. "As I already said, these sorts of books aren't open to the public."

>We've looked worse. If perhaps, not more ridiculous....  Keep at the stuff, nonetheless.
>Make a note to ensure our lodgings for the night has a bath. Or shower. Or both.
>Then ponder our lodgings for the night, if this place has no Seeker Guildhall.
>"So how come you did? I mean, no offense intended, but a fairy mage is a pretty.. unique sight."

>You grumble inwardly at your appearance, but keep up the toweling.
>A bath would definitely be nice. The accommodations on the Blue Maiden were functional, but not very cushy, and you do have some cash to play with.
>There is a Guild chapter of some description in town, though less full-featured than the one in Braston. It doesn't have the full training program and accompanying infrastructure, but it's possible they may still have some rooms on discount. Otherwise, you passed a couple inns of varying price range on your way into town, and could undoubtedly find more if you went looking. It's a safe bet that the nicest stuff is still out of your price range, though.
>"Dai here's a local celebrity," the pink-haired girl interjects, a broad grin on her face. The eponymous fairy frowns and seems to shrink a little.
>"Taeya..."
>"Well, it's true! First fairy to ever pass the entrance exams. She even had her own fan club."
>Dai blushes and looks at the floor. "They weren't really a fan club..."
>The librarian throws a disapproving look in Taeya's direction, which the latter either fails to see or takes no mind of, then turns and starts to step away.
>"I'll be in my office when you're done here," she says.

[Oldmansour]

>Hmm... Wonder if the Maiden folk would object to letting us keep our bunk? Would save on our pocketbook.
>Give the big fairy a nod. "Thanks."

[DracoOmega]

>Hmm... Wonder if the Maiden folk would object to letting us keep our bunk? Would save on our pocketbook.
>Give the big fairy a nod. "Thanks."

>It might be worth asking.
>You give Dai a nod. She fidgets. "I just tried to help, that's all. I'm sorry it didn't make the foam disappear along with it, but it must be an anchorless conjuration...."
>"Always too modest," Taeya says. "But I actually have that same exam to get to, so I probably should dash off. Fundamental Principles of Abjuration with Professor Yatsuragi." She rolls her eyes. "Fun times."
>"Good luck!" Dai offers.
>"Goob ruck!" the darkness echoes. It appears the darkness is talking with its mouth full.

[Oldmansour]

>"And thanks for the towel, too."
>Are we... presentable yet?
>Start keeping an ear out behind us. In the event Rumia runs out of foam back there and tries to tap the 'source'.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a little. "Are you eating that foam? Hope you don't get sick from it."
>Now then, we've been sidetracked enough, so we should figure out where to look for the info we actually came here for.

[DracoOmega]

>"And thanks for the towel, too."
>Are we... presentable yet?
>Start keeping an ear out behind us. In the event Rumia runs out of foam back there and tries to tap the 'source'.

>"Sure thing!" she says, turning and heading for the door. "Just make sure not to drop it until you're done with it!"
>You're probably as close as you're going to get without a mirror and more privacy. The towel has a large pile of rainbow foam heaped up on it now.
>There's already been several. As near as you can figure, she's been working her way along the trail you left as you attempted to approach Dai. More is splattered near your feet now, so hopefully she'll be able to content herself with that and not insist on munching on your scalp. Though you might well lose your sight again at any moment if you don't move off.

>Chuckle a little. "Are you eating that foam? Hope you don't get sick from it."
>Now then, we've been sidetracked enough, so we should figure out where to look for the info we actually came here for.

>"Rumia won't get sick from lemon foamy pie!" she responds cheerfully. "Unless it was a really, really, really big lemon foamy pie, maybe..."
>Presumably it lies wherever the librarian was leading you before she rushed off to stop the would-be book snatcher. Well, something lies there; you're not ready to assume it's anything that's going to help you just yet.

[Oldmansour]

>Good enough, then. But we'll hang on to the towel for the moment, in the event any more progress can be made between here and the apparant poltergeist librarian.
>"Suppose I'd best not keep her waiting too long." Nod to the fairy. "Thanks again."
>If we're in good enough shape not to drip goo along the way, let's go after our guide.

[DracoOmega]

>Good enough, then. But we'll hang on to the towel for the moment, in the event any more progress can be made between here and the apparant poltergeist librarian.
>"Suppose I'd best not keep her waiting too long." Nod to the fairy. "Thanks again."
>If we're in good enough shape not to drip goo along the way, let's go after our guide.

>You decide to hang onto the towel for a moment.
>Dai nods back at you, looking just a little less flushed. "You're welcome."
>You are probably in good enough shape not to drip all over the floor, but the towel itself is another question. Or rather, not much of a question at all - it's nearly certain to leave bits of foam here and there in its wake unless you divest of it in some orderly manner.

[Oldmansour]

>Well, pink-head said it would dissapear after we let go of it. So, if it's run its course of usefulness, then we can drop it on the way back to the librarian's office.
>Magic can be convenient sometimes. Misfiled books notwithstanding.

[SirChaotick]

Wait, won't the foam on top just drop on the floor then?

[Oldmansour]

EDIT: Okay, so, I misread that. And forgot the point where Draco said this thing would drip, which our guide most likely would not like. At all.
However, I've had a thought.

>How much foam is around our feet?

[DracoOmega]

>Well, pink-head said it would dissapear after we let go of it. So, if it's run its course of usefulness, then we can drop it on the way back to the librarian's office.
>Magic can be convenient sometimes. Misfiled books notwithstanding.

>That is possible, of course.
>It is extremely convenient. It is also, like everything else in life, prone to occasionally going amok. It would just be far too convenient if anything ever went according to plan, now wouldn't it....

>How much foam is around our feet?

>There are a couple roughly fist-sized globs here and there, and a splattering of smaller bits.

[Oldmansour]

>Well, if that towel is going to leave a bit of a mess when it vanishes, no reason Rumia can't handle that, too.
>Place the towel on the ground, and direct to the hungry darkness, "There's a bit more foam over here, Rumia, all for you."

[DracoOmega]

>Well, if that towel is going to leave a bit of a mess when it vanishes, no reason Rumia can't handle that, too.
>Place the towel on the ground, and direct to the hungry darkness, "There's a bit more foam over here, Rumia, all for you."

>You place the towel on the ground and let it go. A moment after you release contact, there is a whooshing sound and the towel vanishes in small rush of air. The piles of fluff that had rested on it settle towards the ground as nearby bits rustle about.
>"'kaaaaaaay~" she replies.

[Oldmansour]

>Salute the towel. It was a brave and true ally, and gave its life for a cause that was beyond it. And that which it nobly bore deserves truly a burial at Rumia.
>Now go catch up to the librarian.

[DracoOmega]

>Salute the towel. It was a brave and true ally, and gave its life for a cause that was beyond it. And that which it nobly bore deserves truly a burial at Rumia.
>Now go catch up to the librarian.

>Dai produces a small tin whistle and starts to play The Last Post. Rumia hums along, slightly off-key.
>You leave the rest of the mess for someone else to clean up and return to the librarian's office. The door is closed once again.