Deliverator: 30 minutes or less! (Restart)

[Doll.S CUBE]

> "Well this is uh...unusual"

> Hop on board the cushion

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Well this is uh...unusual"
> Hop on board the cushion

> "I take it you are not used to flying?  I can assure you that there is no risk."
> You step onto the platform.  As you do, four more devils fly to join the current supporters.  Knowing about the extra support helps to calm you.
> You sit down on a cushion across from the woman.  She smiles, before suddenly pulling out a handkerchief and coughing into it.
> "Apologies," she puts the handkerchief away, "I am Patchouli Knowledge and this is my library: the greatest collection of intellectual thought and practical science from around the world!  Are you looking for anything in particular?"
> You feel the platform start to fly away into the library itself. 

>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"A few things, actually."
>Show her the list.
>Look around. Try not to look down. "So, this is all yours? Where did you get it all?"

[Doll.S CUBE]

> "It's not the flying, but more the cushion and yeah, um, I'm looking for books that are on this list" hand her the list

> "Also, do you have any books begginers to learn magic?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Also, do you have any books begginers to learn magic?"

>Belay this. It'd be incredibly foolish to dive into it this way. If we decide to at all.

[Doll.S CUBE]

> Yeah, but the books might help supplement the training

[Rin Kagamine]

>"A few things, actually."
>Show her the list.
>Look around. Try not to look down. "So, this is all yours? Where did you get it all?"

> You hand the list to Patchouli.  She glances over and frowns. 
> "Nothing out of the ordinary, but this is quite a lot of books to ask for at once.  Are there any in particular you wish to borrow?"
> "Yes, every last sheet of parchment is mine.  Before we crossed over I spent all my time hunting down rare and unusual texts, as well as reading what I already had.  I traveled the world to find what I needed, and paid any price to obtain them.  After all, the pursuit of knowledge is the most important aspect of life, and that justifies any cost."

> "It's not the flying, but more the cushion and yeah, um, I'm looking for books that are on this list" hand her the list
> "Also, do you have any books begginers to learn magic?"

> "The cushions are to relax, but the sedan is stable enough.  Koa is perfect in any regard after all."
> She sucks her teeth.  "Magic can be complicated, but more importantly magic is varied.  In fact, I recently obtained my 50,000th book that can be classified as magic.  What exactly are you looking to do?"

>Belay this. It'd be incredibly foolish to dive into it this way. If we decide to at all.

> Rats, you and your loose tongue.

> Yeah, but the books might help with supplementing the training

> Possibly, but it sounds difficult anyway.  Plus, what would you be pursuing?
> Patchouli coughs again.

>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

> " The top 2 on the list, if that's okay"

> She sucks her teeth.  "Magic can be complicated, but more importantly magic is varied.  In fact, I recently obtained my 50,000th book that can be classified as magic.  What exactly are you looking to do?"

> "Actually, do you have about a book that introduces the magic in general? and that list the different types of magic you could learn?"

[Rin Kagamine]

> " The top 2 on the list, if that's okay"
> "Actually, do you have about a book that introduces the magic in general? and that list the different types of magic you could learn?"

> "Hegel right?  He's a good read.  Are they for you or for someone else?"
> "That's where the issue arises.  Most of the books that market themselves as introduction to magic focus solely of magic as a theory instead of magic in practice.  Still, with more information about what you're looking for I can help select more accurate books for your purpose."  She coughs again.  "More is better right?"
> She claps her hands.  Yet another devil appears next to the sedan.  "I'd like some tea, the usual please."  The devil nods at Patchouli's request.
> "Would you care for anything?"

>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

> Are we thirsty? If so, get green tea

> "Yeah, those books are for someone"

> "I'm actually going to see someone about learning magic and I thought a book might help with that, I never knew there were so much different about magic though. What book would you recommend?"

[Rin Kagamine]

> Are we thirsty? If so, get green tea
> "Yeah, those books are for someone"
> "I'm actually going to see someone about learning magic and I thought a book might help with that, I never knew there were so much different about magic though. What book would you recommend?"

> You're more hungry than thirsty, but you could definitely use some tea.  You inform the devil and she flits away.
> "Ah, it seemed like something that tengu would ask for.  In that case I'll have Koa copy them instead of lending out my original copies.  Is that acceptable?"
> "Who would you be seeing about this?  Not to be narcissistic, but I am quite skilled at magic, with my specialty being Aristotelian elementals.  The other two I would suggest talking to about magic as a catch-all would be Marisa Kirisame and Alice Margatroid.  Marisa specializes in emotional magic while Alice uses puppetry."  She draws a circle in the air.  "The three of us are the most powerful magicians in Gensokyo."
> The sedan continues through the air.  You think you see Parsee some distance away, leading a devil carrying an armload of books.
> "Though I'm going to assume that rather than harnessing magical powers, you seek danmaku ability, or perhaps flight.  Am I correct?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Just information about them, but yeah."

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Yes, that is correct."
> "I spoke with Reimu earlyer today, and she said that I have very notable potential, and thus I decided to pursue that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Or at least give it a look, see if it's for me."

[Rin Kagamine]

>"Just information about them, but yeah."

> "Just information for now?  That's certainly doable, we can discuss it over tea."
> The sedan comes to a stop about halfway up a shelf.  Patchouli moves to the edge and starts pulling books from the shelf.
> "Hm, Hegel should be here.  Down Koa."
> The sedan sinks a few levels before Patchouli resumes her search.
> "Right."
> The sedan obeys her command and she quickly hands you two books.
> "Here they are, please hold onto these."
> You take the books from Patchouli, old leather-bound volumes with yellowed parchment, but the proper books Momiji had been looking for.  You can see why Patchouli would have reservations about lending these.
> Patchouli sits back down and coughs.  "Copy."
> The sedan takes off again, banking sharply and it maneuvers through the shelves on its way to the floor.  Despite having nothing to grab, Patchouli is oddly calm about the ride, more than you say for yourself.  This whole flying thing is going to take some getting used to.
> The sedan drops in next to a table covered in typewriters and stacks of paper and surrounded by more devils.  Patchouli takes the books from you and hops off the sedan, handing them off to one of the devils.
> "Koa, please copy these.  Paper-bound will suffice."
> The devil nods and sits in front of a typewriter.  Other devils join and soon a flurry and keystrokes fill the air as they furiously copy the books.  Patchouli returns to her cushion.
> "Parsee."  The sedan storms straight up quick enough to turn your stomach, followed by a slalom through the shelves that does little to alleviate your problem.  Another sudden stop is enough to almost turn you off of flying forever.
> You look up and see Parsee floating in the air next to the book-laden devil.  She looks down at Patchouli's combined whistle and coughing fit.
> "Oh, you're finally here!"  She drops right into the sedan, with enough force that the lack of a crash shocks you, a feeling soon amplified by Patchouli becoming Parsee's target of affection.
> Shock and sick, you'd rather be drinking with the oni again.
> The sedan flies off once again and you clamp your eyes shut, but you can still feel the lurching as the sedan curves through the library.  The jolt of landing is welcome relief.
> The three of you file off the sedan, where a small lounge area greets you, set with an extravagant tea setting.  Reimu's tea earlier today just doesn't compare.  You plop down in a seat, ready for pretty much anything, long day and all that.  Patchouli sits down with Parsee saddling right up next to her.
> "Sorry for the delay," Patchouli announces, "But I was absolutely famished for tea.  Now, danmaku and flight was it?"

> "Yes, that is correct."
> "I spoke with Reimu earlyer today, and she said that I have very notable potential, and thus I decided to pursue that."

> She reaches for a pot.  "Excellent."
> "Potential for magic or danmaku?  There's a pretty big difference between the two," she fills her cup, "But both will allow you to shoot, which I assume to be your goal, yes?"
> "You're twying cho wearn chu phoot?" Parsee asks through a mouthful of cake, "Why?"
> "Are you looking to get started today?"  Patchouli reaches out for a plate of cream puffs.

>"Or at least give it a look, see if it's for me."

> "I take that as a yes.  Won't you have something to drink?  I believe you said green."
> She gestures towards a seperate pot to your left.  "That one should be green."
> Parsee snatches a pastry from Patchouli, earning her a disapproving glare coupled with a hair-tousling.
> "Well, flight is difficult, no two ways around it, and will take quite some time to master without help."  Patchouli sips some tea and continues, "Danmaku is a bit different.  One can rather easily learn to shoot, but the path for mastery is multi-branched and takes serious effort.  The best way to use danmaku is to link that power with something else.  Do you understand so far?"

>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think so, though I am not sure what this something else is."
>Are there snacks? If so, help self.

[Rin Kagamine]

>"I think so, though I am not sure what this something else is."

> "Well that's understandable."
> She snaps her fingers.  Unsurprisingly, a devil appears and fills your cup with tea then places a small cake on your plate before disappearing.  You don't think that will ever not be creepy.
> "Now let's continue.  Remember what I said earlier about linking magic powers, like how Marisa uses emotions?  Having something else to draw power from makes your danmaku not only more powerful, but just plain better.  Drawing from your own natural power for shots isn't difficult, but it's severely limited in its abilities: the shots are not as powerful, not as versatile, your ability to make patterns is very limited, as is the amount of shots you can create, and you still need a catalyst to create them.  You won't be defeating any youkai aside from fairies but it's better than nothing right?  Are you still with me?"

>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

> "Yeah, I think so"

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Yeah, I think so"

> "Good, now drink some tea.  It may be made by fairies but it's making me uncomfortable to just see it sitting there."

>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"Sorry, just too trying to internalize all this."
>DRINK.
>And have some of that cake.
>"So what kinds of things can be used for enhancement? Or is it easier to ask what can't?"

[Rin Kagamine]

>"Sorry, just too trying to internalize all this."
>DRINK.
>And have some of that cake.
>"So what kinds of things can be used for enhancement? Or is it easier to ask what can't?"

> "It's understandable, theory always takes some time to digest.  It's usually easier in practice anyway."
> Parsee has taken to leaning on Patchouli now, capitalizing her right arm.  Patchouli, for some reason, seems content with this.
> You utilize the break to finally have some tea.  You'd say it's wonderful, but it's just tea.  It's way better than Reimu's from earlier, and it's steeped just right.
> OK it's wonderful.  You have more, and chase it with some cake, which is just a little too sweet.
> "What can enhance it?  Just about anything, as long as you can harness it.  Some examples, Sanae uses the power of miracles, but I really think it's just wind manipulation, Reimu can use the power of faith.  You've been underground right?  Utsuho can use nuclear fusion while Rin can use the powers of dead spirits."
> "Okuu and Orin," Parsee adds, noting your confusion.
> Patchouli nods and continues, "It's the same as whatever you can link to to boost your magic potential.  You can cheat the system and force an unlock using someone else's powers, but that only works if you're compatible with their source.  There's never any one thing one can use for power, but once you connect to something it's impossibly difficult to switch."
> She sips some more tea, you follow.  "It'd be better if Koa made it, but the fairies are competent enough.  Anyway, do you understand?"

>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"I believe so, but I don't quite understand this concept of cheating the system via someone else's powers."
>Sip. Cakemunch.

[Doll.S CUBE]

> "So cheating is your relying on some other persons enchantment?"

[Rin Kagamine]

>"I believe so, but I don't quite understand this concept of cheating the system via someone else's powers."
>Sip. Cakemunch.

> "Well, this goes back to theory, but you know how electricity works?"
> The basics, a nod.
> "Saves me some trouble."  She jerks her arm from Parsee, who surprisingly relents.
> "Sorry, need my arms for this bit.  So then you know a power surge yeah?"
> Might as well go with it.  A nod, a sip.
> She starts to gesture with her hands.  "With electricity, if you feed too much power into something then it can't be contained, and it ends up overloading the object, which leads to catastrophic failure."
> Keeping nodding, another sip.
> "Luckily humans don't overload like an electrical appliance, but power is still power.  Think of power as Power with a capital P and substitute that for electricity.  If we think of it as tangible, then it should be able to be shared."
> More nods, more tea.
> "So if we take someone with a lot of Power, and they can find some way to channel it into a person, it can lead to an overload.  Now, this is where the theory part comes in.  Power is naturally occurring in people, it's just a matter of accessing it.  But if you have Power that's being amplified by by an outside source, you can think of it as really being supported by it.  As a result, it's like having a well you can draw on, bigger than one you store naturally, and one that's nearly bottomless.  The theory is that, if you find a way to pump all this Power into somehow who can support it, you can force an adaptation to that source, or you might have be able to replace the inert power totally.  But we're talking a serious power draw, and an incredible transfer of it by someone, well, very powerful."
> You're out of tea right now, so you don't nod.

> "So cheating is your relying on some other persons enchantment?"

> "Pretty much.  Assuming that the transfer is successful and you're compatible, your should have the same powers as whoever you connected with."
> Parsee is enraptured by Patchouli's explanation, but you think it's for the wrong reasons.
> "Do you still understand?"

>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

> "Yeah, I think I got it, although I don't really like the Idea of relying on someone"

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "So, if used how you described it, it's basicly mimicing the Power sources abilities and capabilities, but basicly tossing your own away.
> Enjoy the cake.
> Is the pot our tea was poured from still here? If so, pour ourself a bit more tea.

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Yeah, I think I got it, although I don't really like the Idea of relying on someone"

> "I think you're mistaken.  You wouldn't be relying on them for power past the transfer.  After that point, you're on your own, you wouldn't share any kind of link aside from your power draw being from the same, but unshared, source.  The other person wouldn't be required after that."

> "So, if used how you described it, it's basicly mimicing the Power sources abilities and capabilities, but basicly tossing your own away.
> Enjoy the cake.
> Is the pot our tea was poured from still here? If so, pour ourself a bit more tea.

> Patchouli starts to nod, but stops.  "It's more like copying the power source, since without a power source your power is just about worthless.  It's less throwing your's away and more like replacing it with some power that actually works."
> You chew some cake to mull over what she said, and pour yourself a bit more tea.
> "It's, uh, I never thought it would be that, y'know, hard to do this."  Parsee joins your mulling.  "I guess it's a good thing I'm a youkai?"
> "Well, you don't have to deal with this, so that's an advantage.  This kind of thing is inherent in youkai.  They can learn to source there own power, and so can you, but it takes years and years, something youkai have in spades."
> Patchouli coughs, first time in a while, then continues.
> "Sorry to monopolize the conversation, but does that help?  I'm sure you have some more questions."

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Definately helps knowing all of this. And even if it would take decades to do that, to source my own power, It's still worth trying. Plus, If I truely cared about it that much, couldn't I become a youkai so I could continue improving myself?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"What would you recommend I do, if I wanted to try to develop the talent I have?"

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Definately helps knowing all of this. And even if it would take decades to do that, to source my own power, It's still worth trying. Plus, If I truely cared about it that much, couldn't I become a youkai so I could continue improving myself?"

> Patchouli nods.  "Understandable, but I'm just telling you the theory behind it.  After all, you seemed like you didn't really want to wait to reach your mastery.  Like I said, you can override powers to something else, it's just very difficult."
> She sighs, quite heavily.
> "That's...complicated.  I can't really help you with that, but I do know a bit.  First, the only route that works to go from human to youkai is to become a magician.  There may be others, but that's the only proven path that works.  Second, results will vary.  I only know of two currently, Alice and that Buddhist priest.  Alice got hers through locking herself away and focusing solely on her studies, and that pure dedication is said to have transformed her, but you should ask her for the full story.  That priest transformed but..." her face darkens, "they locked her away for hundreds of years.  Youkai are much more powerful than humans, and it can be difficult to contain that power.  Some say she went mad because of it.  It's a dangerous path and I can't recommend it.  Besides, Reimu and Marisa are still human and they get along fine."

>"What would you recommend I do, if I wanted to try to develop the talent I have?"

> "Well, you have several options.  The main one is, especially if you haven't already, talk to Reimu or Marisa, or Sanae I believe.  They keep the world in check and would probably know the most about humans mastering magic, mostly with danmaku and flight..."
> Patchouli thinks for a minute.
> "You could also talk to Sakuya, the head maid here.  She's human, we think, and she helped solve an incident once.  She might be able to help, and she also knows a lot about knives if that's your thing.  I'd say she's unparalleled in that regard."
> She pours herself some more tea, and pulls Parsee's head in closer to her chest. 
> Did Parsee just moan?
> Patchouli continues, "I could teach a little, of course, but an issue arises with that, and that's Reimu.  She likes to keep a hold of things like that, and doing too much without her knowledge could set her off.  With that transfer of power thing I mentioned earlier, that's probably an easy way to get Reimu and Marisa crashing through your window shooting."
> "Still, they're the best to talk to, because they can probably give some concrete advice on the mastery aspects.  If you'd like though, because you've actually been nice to Parsee, I can help you with the bare basics of danmaku.  Namely, firing a shot.  Would you care to learn now?"

>_