Maribel Quest Adjoining: A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>The border that we made using the surface of a pond was a lot stronger than the rest we made. Try making one on the surface of the bath, here. See if we've improved any.
>"As for efficiency, I haven't found much use for the ones I can make on open air, yet. Too brief and small to be of much use. But I hope to improve."

[Hello Purvis]

>The border that we made using the surface of a pond was a lot stronger than the rest we made. Try making one on the surface of the bath, here. See if we've improved any.
>"As for efficiency, I haven't found much use for the ones I can make on open air, yet. Too brief and small to be of much use. But I hope to improve."

>You try to make a border on the surface of the pond. It appears; somewhat larger and thicker than the one you made before. It lasts for a few seconds before vanishing. "Oh, that's very nice," says Yukari. "You're quite good for a beginner."
>She nods. "It seems you're using magic rather than faith to make those, so I cannot say I expect you to find the kind of use Reimu does for them. But you are certainly a natural talent! You're rather my anti-type! Isn't that exciting?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>We're not currently wearing our bracelet, are we?
>"It seems oddly literary that two people who look so much alike should have powers that lie opposite each other."
>"And I guess you don't know quite what the consequences of this difference in manifestation means for what uses I could eventually put this to?"

[E-Nazrin]

Oh fuck, Mary's an escaped counter-Yukari creation from the moon. :V

>"It is, actually. Especially considering how similar we look. I'm... honestly wondering whether that's a coincidence."

[Hello Purvis]

>We're not currently wearing our bracelet, are we?
>"It seems oddly literary that two people who look so much alike should have powers that lie opposite each other."
>"And I guess you don't know quite what the consequences of this difference in manifestation means for what uses I could eventually put this to?"

>You are. Given its ceramic, and given you didn't want some mook stepping on it, you left it on.
>"Isn't it?" says Yukari, smiling.
>"Well, it should work about the same, I would imagine," says Yukari. "But, it won't be very efficient."

>"It is, actually. Especially considering how similar we look. I'm... honestly wondering whether that's a coincidence."

>"I imagine it's some trick of fate or universal forces," says Yukari, waving a hand.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Could we feel ourselves drawing power from the bracelet when we made the barrier?
>If not, and we need to be more intentional about using its power, try drawing on it more directly and making a second one

>"I suppose one of the next things I ought to learn, magic-wise, is how to make myself some spellcards. I got the overview from Marisa, but it's obviously going to take a little more than that before I can know how to start writing my own."
>"Actually, there's a whole lot about magic I'd like to learn, although a great many of the people who seem to know the most are also pretty busy."

[E-Nazrin]

>"Fate? Universal forces?... I guess I should take those as plausible now, but would there be any way to tell if there was some active intent behind our similarities?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Fate? Universal forces?... I guess I should take those as plausible now, but would there be any way to tell if there was some active intent behind our similarities?"

>"Perhaps," says Yukari, "But I see no need to bother with them. We can be close friends regardless of what they think, don't you agree?"

>Could we feel ourselves drawing power from the bracelet when we made the barrier?
>If not, and we need to be more intentional about using its power, try drawing on it more directly and making a second one

>"I suppose one of the next things I ought to learn, magic-wise, is how to make myself some spellcards. I got the overview from Marisa, but it's obviously going to take a little more than that before I can know how to start writing my own."
>"Actually, there's a whole lot about magic I'd like to learn, although a great many of the people who seem to know the most are also pretty busy."

>You did. It will be presumed all casting will draw upon the Mushroom Bracelet unless it is missing or specifically not drawn upon.
>"That wouldn't be a bad idea," says Yukari, "Though, yes, you would need some time to learn before doing that kind of thing."
>"Alas, magicians do tend to be the busy sort," says Yukari. "It's rather their curse."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I wonder how I could find some place to really dig in and learn at some point? I wonder if Patchouli would let me be a guest in her library, once I'm advanced enough that some of the books in there might actually be useful. I assume they can't ALL be high level esoterica."
>"For that matter, I wonder what the easiest thing to do next would be, from a magical standpoint?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I wonder how I could find some place to really dig in and learn at some point? I wonder if Patchouli would let me be a guest in her library, once I'm advanced enough that some of the books in there might actually be useful. I assume they can't ALL be high level esoterica."
>"For that matter, I wonder what the easiest thing to do next would be, from a magical standpoint?"

>"She might," says Yukari. "Rinnosuke may find you some basics, or perhaps Marisa. You could ask one of the heretics, but I have no idea if they would be friendly at all."
>"That would be a question for a magician, and for yourself. What is it you seek to do, exactly?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, it's kind of hard to know what I'm seeking to do without knowing what is even possible for someone of my skill level. Outside of the tricks I can already do, I have very little idea of what can even be done with magic. I'm sure there's a lot of interesting and useful constructive ends to which it can be applied."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, it's kind of hard to know what I'm seeking to do without knowing what is even possible for someone of my skill level. Outside of the tricks I can already do, I have very little idea of what can even be done with magic. I'm sure there's a lot of interesting and useful constructive ends to which it can be applied."

>"Hmmm, I may be able to give you a little guidance with that," says Yukari, "If your talent is in borders, this suggests you may learn practically any kind of magic, for borders touch upon all things. But, I suspect you've already grasped the converse of that."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Jack of all trades, master of none?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Jack of all trades, master of none?"

>"Quite," says Yukari. "A border touches, but does not intrude. That said, you've already started to find ways to deal with that, as well."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, that very fact was why Byakuren suggested enhancing my abilities directly in the first place. Although this sort of thing,"
>Gesture to the bracelet
>"has the benefit of no long-term consequences."
>"But knowing that you can do practically anything doesn't help you much when you don't even know the comparative possibility of different kinds of magic. It may be impossible for you to step outside the world that you've known here for so long, but for me, I have only the earliest idea of the rules. Flight is easy. But without knowing that, it may as well have been difficult. I don't know what else might be easy versus difficult. And thus it's hard to tell what might be well within my power, and what might be flat-out impossible."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, that very fact was why Byakuren suggested enhancing my abilities directly in the first place. Although this sort of thing,"
>Gesture to the bracelet
>"has the benefit of no long-term consequences."
>"But knowing that you can do practically anything doesn't help you much when you don't even know the comparative possibility of different kinds of magic. It may be impossible for you to step outside the world that you've known here for so long, but for me, I have only the earliest idea of the rules. Flight is easy. But without knowing that, it may as well have been difficult. I don't know what else might be easy versus difficult. And thus it's hard to tell what might be well within my power, and what might be flat-out impossible."

>She nods. "It does run the risk of thieves. But I suppose that being stolen is no great tragedy."
>"Ah, I would kiss you again," says Yukari, "That's just so adorable! You sound like a little lost puppy."
>"Again?" Renko asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, uh, yeah, actually... She did. Rather unexpectedly. That's, uh... kinda what started all this."

[E-Nazrin]

>"On the cheek. Yukari can be... rather affectionate."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, uh, yeah, actually... She did. Rather unexpectedly. That's, uh... kinda what started all this."

>"On the cheek. Yukari can be... rather affectionate."

>Renko nods. "Well, I guess that's okay."
>Yukari smiles. "One must follow their heart, don't you agree, Renko? It's such a tragedy that people restrain their feelings needlessly in the name of control."
>"Yeah, I guess..." says Renko.
>"So, do you both feel properly clean now?" asks Yukari, "Or would you like to stay some more."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"Actually, Renko, if I could wash your hair..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Actually, Renko, if I could wash your hair..."

>"Do we have anything to wash it with?" she asks, looking around. Then she spies the bottle. "Well. Didn't expect to see that here. Sure, go right ahead!"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"You can thank Yukari for that. Or at least, having it bottled."
>Get to work! Enjoy the feel.

[Hello Purvis]

>"You can thank Yukari for that. Or at least, having it bottled."
>Get to work! Enjoy the feel.

>"Oh really?" asks Renko, looking at the bottle, then the youkai, with squinty eyes and a frown.
>You get to work on her hair. For better or worse, she doesn't have nearly as much hair as Yukari, and this process will be much faster. At the same time, you're more inclined to fully enjoy it, as is she.
>"Yes, I do bring in artifacts from outside from time to time," says Yukari. "Maribel was asking me about the possibility of making a trip outside in the future."
>"Eh," says Renko. "I've got no use for the place anymore."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, even if we're going to be living here now, Renko, I'm sure there's the occasional thing from outside that would be nice to have, wouldn't you think?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, even if we're going to be living here now, Renko, I'm sure there's the occasional thing from outside that would be nice to have, wouldn't you think?"

>"Maybe," says Renko, "But it would feel kind of like cheating, if you ask me."
>Yukari chuckles.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Cheating? Why?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Cheating? Why?"

>"Well, it's one thing to say we're gonna live here, right?" says Renko, frowning, "But it's another thing to say that then make an occasional grocery run outside every so often. Feels kind of like we don't mean it."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hey, lots of people live places, and still go elsewhere when they can. Yukari's lived here for way longer than we're ever likely to, and she does it on occasion. I have the impression more people would, too, if they had the means to do so."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hey, lots of people live places, and still go elsewhere when they can. Yukari's lived here for way longer than we're ever likely to, and she does it on occasion. I have the impression more people would, too, if they had the means to do so."

>"Oh, they would," says Yukari. "Sometimes Rinnosuke gets outside items himself. Typically I don't make grocery runs, but maybe I might just get a thing or two for you, Maribel." The youkai beams at you.
>"I guess," says Renko. "I guess I just don't want to feel like I'm doing it halfway..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Halfway? I'm pretty sure you're about the last person who needs to worry about doing things halfway, Renko."
>Smile at Yukari
>"And I think that might be nice, sometime. Thank you."