Maribel Quest Succeeding - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>Ponder whether we might do more harm than good by poking our nose in again at the moment, if they're actually talking civilly.

[E-Nazrin]

>Are they either angry or passionate?
>If neither, knock gently.

[Hello Purvis]

>Ponder whether we might do more harm than good by poking our nose in again at the moment, if they're actually talking civilly.

>You wonder if they really need a mediator if they're behaving.

>Are they either angry or passionate?
>If neither, knock gently.

>It doesn't seem that way, at least. They sound pretty sedate.
>You knock.
>"Go away!" comes the voice of Parsee from inside.

[E-Nazrin]

>"It's Maribel. Are you three alright?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's Maribel. Are you three alright?"

>"Yeah, we're zoggin' peachy!" comes the voice of Yuugi. "You need something?

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Was Yuugi being sarcastic?

[Hello Purvis]

>Was Yuugi being sarcastic?

>...It's kind of hard to tell.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I stopped by to see if any of you wanted me around to help work this out, or at least give some advice. Should I come in?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I stopped by to see if any of you wanted me around to help work this out, or at least give some advice. Should I come in?"

>"This is kind of personal, you know!" Parsee says. You hear someone reply to her, but you can't make out what aside from the general sound of talking.

>_

[DracoOmega]

Look, I know you said to leave this to you and all, but unless you have something very specific to say, I think it's really a very, very bad idea to try this. She's right that it's private, and we're mostly an outsider here. We risk making things worse by not leaving them alone.

[Kilgamayan]

> Skedaddle. Parsee clearly doesn't want any help, and quite possibly doesn't need it.

Back up to the surface, then? I think we owe Sakuya a visit.

Oh hey I didn't realize there was a plan.

[DracoOmega]

If there is, I don't know what it is, yet ^^;

[E-Nazrin]

>"I know. But that doesn't mean that advice can't help, and someone from outside a conflict may be able to be more level-headed about things. Or suggest crazy ideas. Either way, I'm willing to help if you want it."

I'm on it, you guys. I have experience (or at least knowledge) for both aspects of this.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I know. But that doesn't mean that advice can't help, and someone from outside a conflict may be able to be more level-headed about things. Or suggest crazy ideas. Either way, I'm willing to help if you want it."

>The door opens, and Yuugi peeks out, her face suspiciously neutral.
>"Get."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"... alright."
>Get going aboveground, then. Hope Utsuho's okay.

[Rin Kagamine]

> Nod and leave very quickly

[Hello Purvis]

>"... alright."
>Get going aboveground, then. Hope Utsuho's okay.

> Nod and leave very quickly

>You leave very quickly, hoping Utsuho's silence was just others speaking for her. Or, alternately, that she got lost.
>The trip back to the surface is much easier now that you can fly; it lets you skip over all the unpleasant obstacles that got in the way the first time. True to her word, Kisume doesn't bother you this time. You don't even see her. As well, Yamame seems to be absent as well. In fairly short order, you are outside again, blinking against the sunlight.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Drop in on Mystia and Tokiko on our way towards the village

[E-Nazrin]

>Mental note: Fairies near Mystia's are supposed to be likely to have the bellows. Maybe.

[Hello Purvis]

>Drop in on Mystia and Tokiko on our way towards the village

>You head toward Mystia' stand, a short enough flight all in all.
>Landing near it, you see that Mystia is serving a customer, though the curtain obscures her. You don't see any signs of Tokiko at the moment.

>Mental note: Fairies near Mystia's are supposed to be likely to have the bellows. Maybe.

>Oh, that's right.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Walk over to Mystia
>Once she's done with the customer: "Hey there! How'd it go with Tokiko afterwards? Nothing bad, I hope?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Walk over to Mystia
>Once she's done with the customer: "Hey there! How'd it go with Tokiko afterwards? Nothing bad, I hope?"

>You walk over to Mystia's side of the stand. "Hey, you're not su-" she says at first, then notices you. "Oh, hi Maribel! Let me finish with Ran real quick."
>Glancing over, you notice the customer, who is currently occupied with her skewer, as a blonde woman in robes and a mop had covered with yellow talismans. You note the cap is altered to allow for some rather large triangular ears. You don't think she's really noticed you just yet...

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Oh dear. Act natural.
>"Alright. I'll be back in a bit, I'd like to look around."
>slip into the forest, hopefully out of Ran's line of sight. Not that THAT'S likely.

[Hello Purvis]

>Oh dear. Act natural.
>"Alright. I'll be back in a bit, I'd like to look around."
>slip into the forest, hopefully out of Ran's line of sight. Not that THAT'S likely.

>"Okay, it shouldn't take long," says Mystia, slip away. Thankfully, the forest itself is still rather dense, and you are able to disappear into it pretty quickly.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Wait a reasonable length of time, then cautiously come back if the coast seems clear

[Hello Purvis]

>Wait a reasonable length of time, then cautiously come back if the coast seems clear

>You give it a few minutes, and head back. You see Ran walking away from the booth, apparently lost in thought. Without the curtain in the way, you can see she have a rather impressive array of tails.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Resist urge to Lupin-dive into said tails.

[DracoOmega]

>Head back over to Mystia when Ran is out of sight.
>"So, how'd it go, earlier?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Resist urge to Lupin-dive into said tails.

>They...really do look very snuggly. If this Yukari does look like you, you can see why she would keep Ran around.

>Head back over to Mystia when Ran is out of sight.
>"So, how'd it go, earlier?"

>You let Ran meander off, then return to Mystia.
>"She didn't burn herself on the grill," Mystia says, "Which I consider to be a pretty good for a first try. Also delivered that lunch for me, which was helpful of her. She said there was some woman there who looked a lot like you. That side, she has a long way to go on picking up the basics." she shakes her her head. "She had to learn the hard way why you only use a pinch of salt."

>_
>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"She seems to be new at a lot of things. Give her time."
>"Where'd she go after you finished?"
>"Uh... do you think that the person at Rinnosuke's may have been Yukari?"

>Approximate time.