Maribel Quest Adjoining: A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>"Actually, she said that she'd support whatever I chose, and that it wouldn't really make a difference, because I'd still be me."
>Smile
>"Told you she was wonderful, didn't I?"
>"Although, to be frank, I'd really rather not grow so tall in the process..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Actually, she said that she'd support whatever I chose, and that it wouldn't really make a difference, because I'd still be me."
>Smile
>"Told you she was wonderful, didn't I?"
>"Although, to be frank, I'd really rather not grow so tall in the process..."

>"Awww," says Yukari, "It took ages for Ran to say those kinds of things to me."
>"Well, I could see how it'd be a downside. There's probably safer and more easily reversible ways if you felt like being a giant, anyways."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I certainly don't feel like being a giant. But the associated power boost is apparently quite considerable. And that didn't sound so bad. ...not that I'm the power-hungry sort, or anything. I realize how that must sound, out of context of knowing me.  But Gensokyo feels like a place where that kind of power can be used for a lot of useful and helpful things."
>"As for the element of becoming a youkai, I suppose I was curious what it would be like. And a little wary, understandably."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I certainly don't feel like being a giant. But the associated power boost is apparently quite considerable. And that didn't sound so bad. ...not that I'm the power-hungry sort, or anything. I realize how that must sound, out of context of knowing me.  But Gensokyo feels like a place where that kind of power can be used for a lot of useful and helpful things."
>"As for the element of becoming a youkai, I suppose I was curious what it would be like. And a little wary, understandably."

>"Hmm, perhaps," says Yukari. "But in my time, I've found that power tends to make as many problems as it solves. Look at Bykauren. She was sealed away for what she did to herself, and she is among the kindest souls I've known."
>"What's it like being human?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Byakuren gave me a similar warning. But I don't think she would have offered this if she hadn't felt that there could be a net benefit."
>"And... I think that's probably an impossible question for me to answer. I don't know what it's like to be anything else. In fact, I can't even conceptualize the idea of 'being' outside a human framework. But from what I've seen of youkai, many of them seem, at least from the outside, not much different than humans in terms of their consciousness."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Byakuren gave me a similar warning. But I don't think she would have offered this if she hadn't felt that there could be a net benefit."
>"And... I think that's probably an impossible question for me to answer. I don't know what it's like to be anything else. In fact, I can't even conceptualize the idea of 'being' outside a human framework. But from what I've seen of youkai, many of them seem, at least from the outside, not much different than humans in terms of their consciousness."

>Yukari nods; thankfully you're about halfway down her hair now, so she has the slack to do it. "I would think she is an optimist."
>"It is mostly true," says Yukari. "We really are the same in a lot of ways. But there are differences. None we could call universal, of course, but there are some things humans have much more often, and some things youkai tend to have more often. One notices these things with enough time."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Could you tell me what some of those things are?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Could you tell me what some of those things are?"

>"You must realize," says Yukari, "That for every one of these things I name, there are many examples otherwise. Some youkai are very human indeed, some humans are very much like youkai. So, do try to take them with a grain of salt.  That said. I think the first difference is that youkai and humans have different levels of curiosity.  Humans seem to be more interested in exploring. They tend to want to know what is down the road, what is on the other side of the mountains, and so one. Humans seem to think in width, if that makes sense. Youkai are more interested in depth. A youkai may never go more than a hundred yards from her home her entire life. We tend not to care so much what is elsewhere. But, we are very interested in our little places. Getting to know every tree, pondering what is under every rock, where every rabbit hole is. Humans are more interested in the unknown, and youkai more interested in total understanding. Now, you can probably think of a number of exceptions, and I wouldn't contest a one of them. Magicans come to mind. But hopefully, this makes sense?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, I think I understand what you're saying."
>"I wonder how much becoming a youkai does to change one's mentality, though. Or whether there really is much change other than moving further down the road you were already upon."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, I think I understand what you're saying."
>"I wonder how much becoming a youkai does to change one's mentality, though. Or whether there really is much change other than moving further down the road you were already upon."

>"Good. As for changes in mentality, well, that varies from person to person, and from how you do it. Byakuren, as I understand, didn't change a bit. But, someone who becomes a youkai might change radically over time. But, how much of that is simple age, who can say?"
>"Another key difference is that humans tend to be drawn toward order and laws, while  youkai are more likely to follow their hearts. Now, there is the obvious counterexample of the tengu, but I would say their hearts just lead them toward an lawful society. Humans tend toward it whether they are free spirits or not.  Obviously, both have their good and bad sides. Many incidents are caused by youkai following their hearts. But it is an honest way to live. A human may well never get in touch with what she really is. But, she will likely never cause an incident, either. Humans seem more likely to be able to balance the two, if only because until recently, youkai felt little need to do so."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps that last point has a lot to do with it. What's changed in that regard, recently?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Perhaps that last point has a lot to do with it. What's changed in that regard, recently?"

>"In the past couple decades, tensions have been steadily on the decline," says Yukari, "Both between us and you, and between we youkai ourselves. The creation of the spellcard system did much to help that. When youkai follow their hearts, they often conflict with others. And, well, others saw no reason to disregard the impulse to eat humans. But, with tensions low as they are, and there being a good way to conflict without causing problems, it's really done much to improve relations, and has led many of those who would eat humans to reconsider. Of course, people like Reimu and Marisa are an effective stick to compliment that carrot and gotten the rest to think otherwise."
>"Which do you think is the best way, I wonder?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Which way? Of Youkai and Human, you mean?"
>"I don't think there's really an answer to that question. I mean, eating humans is obviously wrong, and I'm not saying that just because I am one. I wouldn't think humans eating youkai is any better. We're both sentient beings. But in terms of depth versus width, or heart versus law, there are arguments for each. I don't think you can answer the question of 'best' among those except on an individual basis."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Which way? Of Youkai and Human, you mean?"
>"I don't think there's really an answer to that question. I mean, eating humans is obviously wrong, and I'm not saying that just because I am one. I wouldn't think humans eating youkai is any better. We're both sentient beings. But in terms of depth versus width, or heart versus law, there are arguments for each. I don't think you can answer the question of 'best' among those except on an individual basis."

>"Then which do you prefer?" Yukari asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I, well... this sense of exploration you speak of is definitely a part of myself. Mine and Renko's search for unusual phenomenon even led us to leave our country to better pursue them. And since I've come here, I've tried to explore nearly every corner of Gensokyo I could find. The same with magic. It's about the discovery. But, at the same time, you could say that this was all about following my heart. The outside world isn't very accepting of people who search for these things and are convinced they exist. It doesn't fit the dominant norms of society, and is only something we chose to pursue because we really believed in it, and desired it to exist in our heart of hearts. ...does that put me somewhere between the two?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I, well... this sense of exploration you speak of is definitely a part of myself. Mine and Renko's search for unusual phenomenon even led us to leave our country to better pursue them. And since I've come here, I've tried to explore nearly every corner of Gensokyo I could find. The same with magic. It's about the discovery. But, at the same time, you could say that this was all about following my heart. The outside world isn't very accepting of people who search for these things and are convinced they exist. It doesn't fit the dominant norms of society, and is only something we chose to pursue because we really believed in it, and desired it to exist in our heart of hearts. ...does that put me somewhere between the two?"

>"I think it does," says Yukari, "And if you should become a youkai someday, you would make a fine example. I do wonder about your friend, though."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"In what way?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"In what way?"

>"I get the feeling she feels the same way. But, I wonder how like it is that she would join you as a youkai?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Actually, when I brought the idea up with her, she said she'd join me along the path I chose, if it were possible."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Actually, when I brought the idea up with her, she said she'd join me along the path I chose, if it were possible."

>"Even if you ended up like Byakuren?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That is what she said, I believe."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That is what she said, I believe."

>"How disturbing," says Yukari.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Disturbing? Well, I suppose I can see how it could be. She did seem almost surprisingly nonchalant about it."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Disturbing? Well, I suppose I can see how it could be. She did seem almost surprisingly nonchalant about it."

>"Quite," says Yukari. "It's one thing to love another, but to so willingly do that? Isn't that just a little worrisome? Although, I can admit it'd be just a little romantic to become a giant just to be able to stay with one's level, but...I don't think she was really thinking that, do you?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm... not sure, I admit. I think she wanted to support me, if she felt that was what I wanted."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm... not sure, I admit. I think she wanted to support me, if she felt that was what I wanted."

>"Mmm, it's good she wants to do that, but if she's not really thinking about herself in the process, isn't it a problem? I bet she hasn't put nearly as much thought into it as you have."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"It's... possible. She seemed ready to accept anything I thought was right at face value. ...so quickly that it was rather surprising, in fact. But... to be perfectly honest, she's been a bit different since she got here. She was always the scientifically-minded one of the two of us, and seeing so many of the rules she'd believe in turn out not to work the way she thought they were always supposed to, well... I think she eventually came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth worrying about things like that too much anymore."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's... possible. She seemed ready to accept anything I thought was right at face value. ...so quickly that it was rather surprising, in fact. But... to be perfectly honest, she's been a bit different since she got here. She was always the scientifically-minded one of the two of us, and seeing so many of the rules she'd believe in turn out not to work the way she thought they were always supposed to, well... I think she eventually came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth worrying about things like that too much anymore."

>"Ah," says Yukari. "That might explain some of it. You may want to tell her some of the things we've talked about, don't you think?"
>There! You're finally done with all that hair.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I have actually tried, a little. Not just about this, but about other issues. She's seemed pretty intent on not letting much of anything be an issue worth worrying about, though. If she's fronting, she's been doing a good job of being convincing about it."

[E-Nazrin]

>Except that mumbling when she was falling asleep...