Maribel Quest Abridging - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I wouldn't mind asking Alice about this. I'd like to hope she never expected this to happen. What she's done was bad enough already."
>"Oh, and I'm, uh... sorry about the wall. I did try to keep the fighting away from the gallery itself, once Alice brought that thing out."

[E-Nazrin]

>Unless, of course, that blob started absorbing or melting things... how would we be able to guess that, though?
>Lean on Renko a bit more.
>"... thanks for the help, both of you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I wouldn't mind asking Alice about this. I'd like to hope she never expected this to happen. What she's done was bad enough already."
>"Oh, and I'm, uh... sorry about the wall. I did try to keep the fighting away from the gallery itself, once Alice brought that thing out."

>"We'll see," says Patchouli. And we'll do something about that wall. As for Alice, don't judge her too harshly. More than likely, someday, this will be you."

>Unless, of course, that blob started absorbing or melting things... how would we be able to guess that, though?
>Lean on Renko a bit more.
>"... thanks for the help, both of you."

>You could imagine all kinds of things that could go wrong. But could anyone predict it?
>You lean on Renko a bit more. She's so soft...
>"Only reason I got anywhere is because of you," says Renko. "I owe you the favor."
>Patchouli shakes her head.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"No. I would never let that be me. No matter how much I wanted to pursue a project, I can't imagine myself invading another's home to steal from them to further it. And to manipulate and exploit others to make it possible. I would rather never achieve something than to achieve it that way."

[Kilgamayan]

Mus: I don't actually expect to get a liquid golem blob after melting parts down, because we'd let them cool off into neat little shapes that aren't gears and other connecting parts. Perhaps "pile of junk" would have been a more appropriate description, in retrospect.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Also...um...sorry about what happened to your house..."

[E-Nazrin]

>Smile at Renko and give her a peck on the cheek.
>"Youkai or not, I'm hoping I won't be tempted to those sorts of extents only for my own sake... but I'll do my best to forgive her. I don't really want to be at odds with her at all, but she... hasn't been very fond of me, either. I guess we'll both have to find some way to try... or at least stay out of each others' way until things have cooled down."

Kilga: I shake my paranoia. :dwi:

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Opening myself to the braclet... really tired me out... I see what Marisa meant, mass power boost, mass energy drain."

[Kilgamayan]

>"No. I would never let that be me. No matter how much I wanted to pursue a project, I can't imagine myself invading another's home to steal from them to further it. And to manipulate and exploit others to make it possible. I would rather never achieve something than to achieve it that way."

>"Youkai or not, I'm hoping I won't be tempted to those sorts of extents only for my own sake... but I'll do my best to forgive her. I don't really want to be at odds with her at all, but she... hasn't been very fond of me, either. I guess we'll both have to find some way to try... or at least stay out of each others' way until things have cooled down."

Draco, you wanna tell him? <_< I'm perfectly happy to be Mary the Altruist even on this issue, but you feel more strongly about the circumstances than I do, so I'll concede to you what to do with Alice if you like.

[E-Nazrin]

I am willing to add the condition that something like this is an aberration from the norm for Alice (which might be plausible given Marisa's testimony), or favoring the avoidance/wariness approach for the foreseeable future.

EDIT: That is, trying to separate distaste of the person from this particular action. We've largely forgiven Renko for similarly suspicious behavior. Though I guess Alice really went through with it instead, so... who knows.

[DracoOmega]

I feel no inclination to be kind or understanding about this with her to any degree unless she feels genuine guilt for her actions. To say nothing of her attempted grand theft, she flagrantly used Renko to simply to gather parts from the fairies and to open up a chance for her to commit this theft. I'm not sure Renko was ever anything more to her than a convenient pawn. I don't feel that's the kind of thing you can just shrug and move on about.

[Hello Purvis]

>"No. I would never let that be me. No matter how much I wanted to pursue a project, I can't imagine myself invading another's home to steal from them to further it. And to manipulate and exploit others to make it possible. I would rather never achieve something than to achieve it that way."

>Patchouli smirks. "Alice would have said the same thing a year ago. Obsession is the curse of the magician, as I told you. Deny it as you like, but you have begun that path. It will come."

>Smile at Renko and give her a peck on the cheek.
>"Youkai or not, I'm hoping I won't be tempted to those sorts of extents only for my own sake... but I'll do my best to forgive her. I don't really want to be at odds with her at all, but she... hasn't been very fond of me, either. I guess we'll both have to find some way to try... or at least stay out of each others' way until things have cooled down."

>You smile at Renko, and kiss her on the cheek. She smuggles a bit closer to you, and kisses you back. "Love you," she says softly.
>Patchouli nods. "In the end, it just comes down to how inspired you are, how much you need to make the breakthrough that you're trying to make."

> "Also...um...sorry about what happened to your house..."

>She waves a hand. "It'll be fixed."

> "Opening myself to the braclet... really tired me out... I see what Marisa meant, mass power boost, mass energy drain."

>Patchouli nods. "I would suggest you gave it too much at once."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Well, there are sufficiently many differences that actually you know what it's just easier for Draco to explain his position. ;\

I'd offer IRC as a medium for that, though, in the interest of not cluttering the thread more than necessary.

[Kilgamayan]

> Aim face away from Renko.
> "Hey, Hatate, where are you?"
> Use louder than normal voice.

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, how about this, Renko? If you ever see me even thinking about something like this, you smack me upside the head and remind me of what I said today? Deal?"

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Well... that explains it... I gave it pretty much all I got..."
> Think back at how much danmaku we shot out during that burst. Be amazed at ourself, and smile
> Enjoy our rest, we might not get a nap for a bit
> "Guess I'll need something good to have an "obsession" for, something unlikly to result in something like this.

[E-Nazrin]

I feel no inclination to be kind or understanding about this with her to any degree unless she feels genuine guilt for her actions. To say nothing of her attempted grand theft, she flagrantly used Renko to simply to gather parts from the fairies and to open up a chance for her to commit this theft. I'm not sure Renko was ever anything more to her than a convenient pawn. I don't feel that's the kind of thing you can just shrug and move on about.

It's not. But it's important to be willing to reconsider if her behavior changes. Don't burn the bridge too badly.

Let me fake-try that again, then:

Strike previous.
"Youkai or not, I'm hoping I won't be tempted to those sorts of extents only for my own sake. But I'll... consider whether I can forgive her for what she's done. I've little reason to trust her beyond your word and Marisa's, but if grand larceny isn't the norm with her, it would be fair to try. I rather doubt I'll find it easy, though..."

Gah too slow

>"... what's Byakuren usually do, again?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Aim face away from Renko.
> "Hey, Hatate, where are you?"
> Use louder than normal voice.

>"Just getting some aerial shots!" comes a voice from above, and toward the mansion.

>"Well, how about this, Renko? If you ever see me even thinking about something like this, you smack me upside the head and remind me of what I said today? Deal?"

>"I'll find some way to make you think twice," says Renko, grinning a little.
>"It might not matter," says Patchouli.

> "Well... that explains it... I gave it pretty much all I got..."
> Think back at how much danmaku we shot out during that burst. Be amazed at ourself, and smile
> Enjoy our rest, we might not get a nap for a bit
> "Guess I'll need something good to have an "obsession" for, something unlikly to result in something like this.

>Patchouli nods. "Take that lesson to heart. The exchange was far from optimal."
>You smile with a bit of pride when you think back to just how nuts that danmaku burst was. A part of you wonders what it would have been like with Marisa's focus, or perhaps the Grimoire.
>You try to enjoy this rest. Honestly, you aren't looking forward to yet another trek Underground.
>"You'll find something in time, I'm certain," says Patchouli. "We all do."

>_

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "May have been far from optimal... but wow that was pretty nuts for me. Tide turning power boost, the only kicker is that I am tired..."
> Are we hungry?
> If so "...And hungry"
> Give Renko another kiss.

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm just glad we put a stop to all this, at any rate. A few uneventful days will be nice after this. I wish I could just lie back and rest for a while."
>"Unfortunately, I need to run back to the underground before I can let myself."

[Hello Purvis]

> "May have been far from optimal... but wow that was pretty nuts for me. Tide turning power boost, the only kicker is that I am tired..."
> Are we hungry?
> If so "...And hungry"
> Give Renko another kiss.

>You could do with lunch, to be certain.
>"Not much we can do," says Patchouli. "Your faeries have probably cleaned out or pantry completely by this point."
>You give Renko another kiss. "Shame I'm still sore and you're worn out," she says softly. "At least the sore part's going away..."

>"I'm just glad we put a stop to all this, at any rate. A few uneventful days will be nice after this. I wish I could just lie back and rest for a while."
>"Unfortunately, I need to run back to the underground before I can let myself."

>"Yeah, we'll take it nice and easy for the next few days," says Renko.
>Renko frowns. "What, why?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did we ever tell Renko about the Komeiji family problems?

[DracoOmega]

>"Because I made a promise and some people are depending on this a great deal. I'd do it later, but I don't think it's the kind of thing that can wait."

[E-Nazrin]

>"... at least, not too much."

[Hello Purvis]

> Did we ever tell Renko about the Komeiji family problems?

>You don't remember. If you did, it wouldn't have been much.

>"Because I made a promise and some people are depending on this a great deal. I'd do it later, but I don't think it's the kind of thing that can wait."

>Renko frowns. "What's going on?"

>"... at least, not too much."

>She smiles.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's...oh, how do I say this...Satori's family needs to become whole again. At least temporarily."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It's...oh, how do I say this...Satori's family needs to become whole again. At least temporarily."

>"What?" Renko asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I may have a chance to get some of them talking again, and I feel it's a rare enough opportunity that I don't want to miss it. There's a lot of hurt feelings going around, and Okuu's come in for more than her fair share of them, in my opinion. Satori's sister... Okuu's aunt, really, considers her a traitor to both her and Satori for her role in fixing history. She never wants to see her ever again. But... she may be willing to speak with Satori. I want to make that happen. They've been estranged for a long time."

[Kilgamayan]

Well uh okay then! I didn't really think anyone involved would want us telling people unrelated to the issue but.

[DracoOmega]

Oh yeah, Patchy's still there... uh... >.>
Feel free to suggest an alternative =/
I don't really mind Renko knowing, given our relationship. I'm not sure Okuu would have minded telling her, either, seeing she told us.

>Take Renko aside before telling her this, and do it discretely