Reisen Quest Still: A Z-Machine Adventure

[E-Nazrin]

>"Thank you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you."

>You feel the cool wet thing on your forehead again; you suspect it is a damp sponge. "You can open your eyes when you're ready," say the voice; you can discern it well enough to confirm it. "the lights are not very bright. And when you're ready, tell me what happened?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>Check to make sure we have all kidneys
>Explain what happened

[Hello Purvis]

>Check to make sure we have all kidneys
>Explain what happened

>Feeling a bit stronger now, you check your torso and don't find any sign of incisions. Your kidneys are safe and sound.
>You summarize your battle with the Oni Eater as well as you can; finding your words coming easier now. Eirin listens quietly, you wouldn't know she was there at all if not for the periodic dabbing of your forehead with the sponge. You don't really need it at this point, leaving you to suspect she is doing it more to occupy herself. >"Intriguing," she says as you finish. "Well, you know the basics of what happened afterward. Yamame brought you to the Ancient City. She doesn't typically come here, so she took it upon herself to shout and raise a scene until it drew Nue's attention. She came to get me, after getting a little lost in the forest. To be honest, she made it sound much worse than it was: she had me convinced that you were completely mauled..." Eirin sighs. "But thankfully, the main problem was, as you said, the poison. You only got a small dose of it, thankfully. It doesn't seem to have done any lingering harm. The rest of your wounds were minor, I've treated them and they should not trouble you anymore. How do you feel?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>"Alright...a little in and out...um...did Yamame liberate any of our possessions in exchange for her "service?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright...a little in and out...um...did Yamame liberate any of our possessions in exchange for her "service?"

>"I have no idea," says Eirin. "I did take the liberty of inviting her to dinner. There's another thing you've been dancing around as well, Udonge." You can feel her run her fingers over the Red Gem, it's...weird.

>_

[Kasu]

> Ponder if a mandible would've made a useful weapon.
> "How long've I been out for?"
> Try to open eyes.
> Explain the whole gem thing to Eirin.

[Hello Purvis]

> Ponder if a mandible would've made a useful weapon.
> "How long've I been out for?"
> Try to open eyes.
> Explain the whole gem thing to Eirin.

>It would have been too large to carry very easily. You're not much for melee, anyways.
>"About an hour and a half. Thankfully, as I said, your situation wasn't too hard to treat. Worrisome, but treatable."
>You open your eyes. You don't recognize the ceiling above you, or the room itself. You seem to be laying on a simple bed in an small unadorned room. It feels rather like a large closet. Eirin sits in a chair beside you, with a table beside her that's a little bit out of sight. She doesn't seem quite so calm as usual, but your eyes haven't quite cleared enough to really put a finger on it.
>You explain the situation with the gems, trying not to worry that Eirin might disapprove. She nods every so often, until you finish. Then she asks, "Why are you hunting them?"

>_

[Kasu]

> "Heh.  I don't even remember anymore."

[UncertainJakutten]

>"Because they are cool, dammit"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Heh.  I don't even remember anymore."

>"Because they are cool, dammit"

>You tell her that you can't remember, then try to make an excuse. Eirin chuckles, and reaches over to ruffle your hair. For a moment, you are convinced this is a prelude to an upbraiding, but instead she just gives you a sad sort of smile. You've never really seen her do that before. "Is that really all you have to say to me about it?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>Um...wait, didn't we mention our super strength when we explained about the gems?
>If not, do so.

[Hello Purvis]

>Um...wait, didn't we mention our super strength when we explained about the gems?
>If not, do so.

>You did mention it. It seems she isn't satisfied with this as a reason in and of itself.

>_

[Kasu]

> Also explain the spectre incident.

[UncertainJakutten]

>So wait, we aren't allowed to want powah? But powahs are cool!

[Hello Purvis]

> Also explain the spectre incident.

>You add this to the story. Eirin quirks her lips. "That is interesting. It's certainly not a true ghost, however I imagine you've already deduced that. It...may be premature to assume it's connected to the gems, but I don't see any other factor that would attract such a thing. I'm happy that it didn't hurt you."

>So wait, we aren't allowed to want powah? But powahs are cool!

>Why are you trying to convince me?

>_

[Serela]

>"After I came across two of them without even knowing what they were... I thought it'd be fun to find the other two! Patchouli and Ran are also very interested in them; Ran really freaked out when she found out I had two of them, turns out she's been trying to locate them on her time off."

[Kasu]

> "Yeah...  Though I'm starting to think that it may be a projection of the Queen or her daughter who hid the gems..."
> Test our movement limitations a bit.

[Hello Purvis]

>"After I came across two of them without even knowing what they were... I thought it'd be fun to find the other two! Patchouli and Ran are also very interested in them; Ran really freaked out when she found out I had two of them, turns out she's been trying to locate them on her time off."

>"Hm," says Eirin with a nod.

> "Yeah...  Though I'm starting to think that it may be a projection of the Queen or her daughter who hid the gems..."
> Test our movement limitations a bit.

>"It's plausible," says Eirin, "Death can do strange things to an obsessed soul."
>You try to move, and find all of your limbs are properly responding to your commands. You could probably sit up or stand if you decided to toss modesty aside.
>"You understand why I am asking you these questions, I hope?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>"Because of a certain power hungry crow incident? Don't worry, we haven't gone batshit"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Because of a certain power hungry crow incident? Don't worry, we haven't gone batshit"

>"Among other things," says Eirin. "There's also a certain vampire who doesn't seem to care much about the damage she causes, a certain ghost who nearly disrupted the proper flow of seasons, and so on. Not to mention a certain pair of Lunarians who adversely affected quite a few Youkai. The problem with power is that people have a way of being blind to some aspects of the world. Power serves as an way to enforce that blindness."
>"Please don't think I'm speaking ill of you, Udonge." she ruffles your hair again. "If I thought you were as bad as Utsuho, I don't think I would have allowed you enough slack to be roaming around today. But I am worried that you might be influenced by the stones."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>"So far we've been good. I still think the Oni Eater's death was justified in that had it woken up while we were exploring and/or blacking out, we'd have been killed ourselves. Regardless, I'll remain aware of how I am handling future situations and make sure it seems more like myself rather than some unknown will, fair enough?"

[E-Nazrin]

>"I understand you're worried, master. I'll do my best not to let it go to my head; only taking around a limited number might help. I think I can handle this many without going overboard, but I'll have to be careful should I find another... leaving one with someone else for safekeeping may help, if it comes to that."
>"Furthermore, seeing as we're quite aware of the possible problem, having a failsafe in place in case I DO lose it would help, right? Like warning Reimu to look for me in case anything stupid happens, or... I don't know, some way to shut me down if enough other people agree I'm getting unreasonable?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"So far we've been good. I still think the Oni Eater's death was justified in that had it woken up while we were exploring and/or blacking out, we'd have been killed ourselves. Regardless, I'll remain aware of how I am handling future situations and make sure it seems more like myself rather than some unknown will, fair enough?"

>If you're not power hungry, why are you using the royal we?

>"I understand you're worried, master. I'll do my best not to let it go to my head; only taking around a limited number might help. I think I can handle this many without going overboard, but I'll have to be careful should I find another... leaving one with someone else for safekeeping may help, if it comes to that."
>"Furthermore, seeing as we're quite aware of the possible problem, having a failsafe in place in case I DO lose it would help, right? Like warning Reimu to look for me in case anything stupid happens, or... I don't know, some way to shut me down if enough other people agree I'm getting unreasonable?"

>Eirin nods. "As long as you understand that, I won't stand in your way. I trust you to do the proper thing. But, I also want you to be careful, Udonge. You're one of the most important people in the world to me. You don't know how frightened I was when I heard you were hurt and dying. And I am afraid what those gems might have done or will do to you. But if you say that it's fine, I'll trust your judgment. Just be careful."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>If you're not power hungry, why are you using the royal we?

>Because I didn't catch all instances of it in my speech .

[Kasu]

> "If I think something is going wrong, I'll be sure to inform you ASAP."
> Ask Eirin about the status of the various things we've had her analyze for us.

[E-Nazrin]

>and thank her for her concern

[Xijiy]

>Also hug her.

[Hello Purvis]

> "If I think something is going wrong, I'll be sure to inform you ASAP."
> Ask Eirin about the status of the various things we've had her analyze for us.

>She nods. "I'm glad to hear you say that."
>"Well, my work on the shard was cut short. But I think it is more crystalline than metallic in nature."

>and thank her for her concern

>"I'm glad you feel that way," Eirin says, "I know I must seem a nag."

>Also hug her.

>You sit up and hug Eirin despite your advanced state of undress. She is apparently caught too off guard to return the gesture at first, then tentatively does so. You release her to see she is blushing a bit. As are you, if that hot rush to your face tells you anything. Were you really just that forward? Apparently so. And Eirin is at a loss for words.

>_

[Kasu]

> Make an attempt to find clothes.  Ask Eirin if necessary.