Yukari Quest - A Z-machine Adventure

[Gappy]

We won't really be creating our own competition, we will eliminate it by controlling ALL the betting. These bookies will be operating regardless. Might as well get our fingers in all the pies.

Besides, Mamizou's an established businesswoman and Yuugi's an oni deva, both relatively trustworthy when compared to your average gensokyo citizen. The only one I wouldn't really trust is Tewi but we'll need her regardless as she'll no doubt be the biggest surface bookie.

[Hello Purvis]

> Be unfair. Order the ladies round(s) of whatever alcoholic beverage they want. Enjoy your own, but sparingly. We want to be most sober person at this table by the time we leave. Listen to the conversation. Supply some of our own if necessary. Let's wait until the atmosphere and people's sobriety's lightened up a bit before we discuss business with Mamizou and Aya.

>You end up ordering a round of sake for everyone. At the same time, you are well aware it'll take a good deal of time to get most of them noticeably inebriated, while Wriggle seems to be taking hers as slowly as you are taking yours. The conversation is light, and not particularly interesting; largely Mamizou talking about little day to day life details in town.

>_

[Gappy]

> "By the by, I heard from a little bird that you've settled in quite nicely and you've even set up shop in Gensokyo, Futatsuiwa-dono. How are things in that regard?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "By the by, I heard from a little bird that you've settled in quite nicely and you've even set up shop in Gensokyo, Futatsuiwa-dono. How are things in that regard?"

>"It wouldn't do to boast," says Mamizou. "But let's just say I have no complaints"

>_

[Gappy]

Hmmm...now this is difficult, how will we be able to have a chat in private with Mamizou? Aya is the last person we want listening in on our plans. I suppose we'll have to try and pull her aside later.

> "This may interest you all, especially you, Shameimaru-dono. There is news of an all-open mahjong tournament coming to Gensokyo soon. The first prize is apparently an ancient scroll that may contain the last secrets to the enigmatic onmyouji Abe no Seimei's power. Doesn't that sound exciting?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "This may interest you all, especially you, Shameimaru-dono. There is news of an all-open mahjong tournament coming to Gensokyo soon. The first prize is apparently an ancient scroll that may contain the last secrets to the enigmatic onmyouji Abe no Seimei's power. Doesn't that sound exciting?"

>"Oh, where'd you get that from?" says Aya.

>_

[Gappy]

> "I have my sources." Knowing smile. "I can introduce her to you if you like, Shameimaru-dono. This might be your next big scoop. Perhaps early tomorrow? The early bird gets the worm, as they say."

[Shadoweh]

There isn't a guarentee that they'll be operating regardless, actually, but they definitely will if we give them the idea to. Out of them I expect only Tewi to set up shop on her own. Yuugi probably won't even hear about it unless we go underground specifically. Though I'd forgotten she was the third one, and we have an in-ish with heer with Suika, maybe. I'd prefer Marisa and Yuugi to doing anything with Mamizou and the rabbit.

Also are we pretending Maribel is our source now? ^^

[Hello Purvis]

> "I have my sources." Knowing smile. "I can introduce her to you if you like, Shameimaru-dono. This might be your next big scoop. Perhaps early tomorrow? The early bird gets the worm, as they say."

>"It's not the bookstore owner, is it?" says Aya. "I know she deals in a lot of rare stuff. Not too sure how you'd separate her from something like that, though."

>_

[Shadoweh]

> Giggle noncommitally at Aya's suggestion. "Now now. You should be flattered I would offer to reveal a source at all, considering how valuable they are."

[Hello Purvis]

> Giggle noncommitally at Aya's suggestion. "Now now. You should be flattered I would offer to reveal a source at all, considering how valuable they are."

>"Ah, that is true," says Aya. "Where shall we meet?"

>_

[Shadoweh]

> "Hum... I supose just outside the Hakurei Shrine would be convenient." When do we expect to be up tomorrow? We can meet with Aya before picking up Maribel.
> Gauge Momizou's reaction to news. Give Wriggle a moment of consideration too.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hum... I supose just outside the Hakurei Shrine would be convenient." When do we expect to be up tomorrow? We can meet with Aya before picking up Maribel.
> Gauge Momizou's reaction to news. Give Wriggle a moment of consideration too.

>It really depends on how soon you decide to get to bed, and whether you actually go to sleep upon doing do. You think you should be able to catch the sunrise easily, you'll only need a decent nap, you think, unless you decide to push yourself.
>Wriggle is definitely paying attention, though she hasn't said anything yet. Mamizou is harder to read.

>_

[Shadoweh]

> "An hour after sunrise." Gives us time to eat first.
> "I might see fit to enter myself, though I doubt I'd be considered much of a player these days." Speak with false modesty, of course. "It might be worth it for the experience~" We want to encourage more small-talk so we can gauge reactions better.

[Hello Purvis]

> "An hour after sunrise." Gives us time to eat first.
> "I might see fit to enter myself, though I doubt I'd be considered much of a player these days." Speak with false modesty, of course. "It might be worth it for the experience~" We want to encourage more small-talk so we can gauge reactions better.

>"Okay, I'll be there," says Aya.
>"Me too," says Wriggle with a nod. "Might as well see how far you can go,. even if you're a total gonk."
>"If there's time," says Mamizou. "I must arrange my schedule to allow for it."

>_

[Yaersulf]

If we can get Mamizou to enter the tournament then that's a way to prevent her from being a bookie without making a deal that Ran wouldn't like.

[Shadoweh]

This is true. I'm a little out of it because I didn't expect those two to tag along on Aya's invite >_> Though now that I'm looking at it, I just realized the other two might just be commenting on the second part about entering the tourney, I r dumbed.

> Quirk a brow, feigning surprise at Wriggle and Mamizou's reactions. "My my, that would be an interesting twist. I wouldn't have expected either of you to take interest. I wonder what surprises a tanuki and a firefly have up their sleeves? I do like to see things shaken up."
> Nod to Aya. "Excellent. It'll be worth your while, I assure you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Quirk a brow, feigning surprise at Wriggle and Mamizou's reactions. "My my, that would be an interesting twist. I wouldn't have expected either of you to take interest. I wonder what surprises a tanuki and a firefly have up their sleeves? I do like to see things shaken up."
> Nod to Aya. "Excellent. It'll be worth your while, I assure you."

>"Why not, ace?" says Wriggle,turning her hands outward. "I like more than just causing static."
>Mamizou just nods. "I may just watch; we'll have to see how things proceed."
>"I can't imagine you'd waste anyone's time," Aya says, with a faint grin. "I'm sure something newsworthy shall come of it."

>_

[Shadoweh]

> "Mmm, I'm sure you do. There simply hasn't been a stage for you to demonstrate before that I've seen you on. As I said, I'll be interested in seeing it."
> "That would be a shame. I do hope you find the time to participate." That calculating tanuki is already thinking of ways to turn this to her advantage..
> Wave a hand absently at Aya. "I'm sure I'm no more newsworthy then anyone else.." Grin. "Well, perhaps a little more. I'm a little interested in what's of note these days. What have you been writing about before I walked in the door?"
> "In point of fact I am mildly interested if you happen to know about a red-haired girl who seems to be easily distracted by commonplace items and whereabouts she could possibly be."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Mmm, I'm sure you do. There simply hasn't been a stage for you to demonstrate before that I've seen you on. As I said, I'll be interested in seeing it."
> "That would be a shame. I do hope you find the time to participate." That calculating tanuki is already thinking of ways to turn this to her advantage..
> Wave a hand absently at Aya. "I'm sure I'm no more newsworthy then anyone else.." Grin. "Well, perhaps a little more. I'm a little interested in what's of note these days. What have you been writing about before I walked in the door?"
> "In point of fact I am mildly interested if you happen to know about a red-haired girl who seems to be easily distracted by commonplace items and whereabouts she could possibly be."

>Wriggle gives you a grin. "You just watch, choomba. You just watch."
>Mamizou nods. "One must do their best. But some things cannot be easily set aside."
>"Oh, nothing much," Aya says, pausing to take another drink. "Just asking Wriggle a few things about goings on in the forest. Nothing really noteworthy."
>"Oy..." says Wriggle, her previous grin gone.
>"Red-haired girl," says Aya. "Surely you don't mean Meiling, do you?"

>_

[Shadoweh]

> Watch the banter non-commitally. "Hmm? No, definitely not her. From the sound of it, it was someone not well known in Gensokyo yet. I'd heard she dwells somewhere north of the human village."

[Hello Purvis]

> Watch the banter non-commitally. "Hmm? No, definitely not her. From the sound of it, it was someone not well known in Gensokyo yet. I'd heard she dwells somewhere north of the human village."

>Aya frowns. "Mmm, no, that doesn't sound too familiar. Do you know anything else about her?"

>_

[Shadoweh]

> "Hmm. She also seemed interested in rare pieces of art, enough to not notice the place she stood in being closed until she was forced out firmly."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. She also seemed interested in rare pieces of art, enough to not notice the place she stood in being closed until she was forced out firmly."

>"Mmm," says Aya, rubbing her chin and staring into her cup. "I might have heard of some people who fit parts of this description. Let me think a little, and see if I can remember anyone who matches all of it."

>_

[Shadoweh]

> Sip lightly at our drink and wait, watching amusedly.
> Is the rest of the tavern still staring at us?

[Hello Purvis]

> Sip lightly at our drink and wait, watching amusedly.
> Is the rest of the tavern still staring at us?

>You watch the people as you continue your drink. The sake here isn't bad, for something from a little tavern. Certainly not on par with what the oni make, but it's pleasant enough not to offend. By this point, most of the patrons have gone back to their own business, with only the occasional glance your way. You suspect not all of those glances are worried or cautious, as well. You do suspect you've been the topic of a couple conversations, though.
>"Mmm," Aya says, swirling her sake around. "I don't think it would be Ellen, she resurfaced a little while ago, literally."
>"Maybe that cat from down below," Wriggle says, looking toward Aya, then over to you for confirmation. "The one that likes to go around grabbing the flatlined people?"
>"No, she's not that airheaded," says Aya. "Mmm, I seem to remember hearing someone talk about someone like that, some years ago, around one of the old incidents. Some woman who didn't make a whole lot of sense. She seemed to have come out of nowhere, then fell off the face of Gensokyo. I don't really even remember her name, Ko-something?"

>_

[Gappy]

> "Kotohime?" raise an eyebrow. Recall what we know about her.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Kotohime?" raise an eyebrow. Recall what we know about her.

>You've never heard that name before. You're not quite omniscient.

>_

[Shadoweh]

> "Interesting. That sounds more like her, someone unrecognized now. But if it's only from memory, it seems you haven't seen this person here recently either."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Interesting. That sounds more like her, someone unrecognized now. But if it's only from memory, it seems you haven't seen this person here recently either."

>"Not recently," says Aya. "If she's been around, she's rather good at not causing any trouble since I've not heard anything."

>_