Iku Quest Dos - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Start to search around the area for any sign of Tenshi.
>Try to avoid parts with evil spirits for now.

>What sort of searching will you be doing?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>What sort of searching will you be doing?

>Walk along the streets here in a sequential fashion, and peer into the open wreckage for signs of Tenshi, or even other people
>If this turns up neither of the above things, start looking inside apparently abandoned buildings. Be alert in case they're not quite as abandoned as they appear.

[Hello Purvis]

>Walk along the streets here in a sequential fashion, and peer into the open wreckage for signs of Tenshi, or even other people
>If this turns up neither of the above things, start looking inside apparently abandoned buildings. Be alert in case they're not quite as abandoned as they appear.

>You walk along the streets, peering through windows and open doors. As far as you tell, there's not been much disturbing this place. Here and there you not places where it looks like the dust might have been kicked up.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Are we satisfied that we've covered the nearby buildings adequately and that Tenshi wouldn't be hiding inside any of them?
>Can we discern anything in the way of footprints or simply a general path among the places where the dust appears to have been kicked up?

[Hello Purvis]

>Are we satisfied that we've covered the nearby buildings adequately and that Tenshi wouldn't be hiding inside any of them?
>Can we discern anything in the way of footprints or simply a general path among the places where the dust appears to have been kicked up?

>You've yet to really go through any of them, having made a cursory search thus far. She theoretically could be in any of them.
>There are three buildings that seem to have things that could be construed footsteps. One is a small building that has partially collapsed on itself. Another seems to be a tenement, with several homes in it, and a third seems to have been a shop of some kind.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Examine the partially collapsed building, and what interior is accessible.
>Take care to avoid parts of it that look like they might collapse on top of us or below us, even now

[Hello Purvis]

>Examine the partially collapsed building, and what interior is accessible.
>Take care to avoid parts of it that look like they might collapse on top of us or below us, even now

>You examine the partially collapsed building.
>You're not sure what it once was, but it seems to have had multiple rooms. This rooms are now just suggestions, as the roof caving in did much to knock out the walls. There isn't much of the place that you feel you can explore. Judging by the marks in the dust, whomever was here agreed with that. She seems to have poked around a little bit, though.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Examine a couple of the parts that seem to have been poked around at.
>Go examine the former shop

[Hello Purvis]

>Examine a couple of the parts that seem to have been poked around at.
>Go examine the former shop

>You examine those parts. Near as you can tell, it seems someone had be going through the wreckage in some of the safer-looking parts of the building.
>You examine the former shop. Across the road from the slags, it is better condition than many of the other buildings here. Entering it, you find yourself in an empty storefront. There are some shelves built into the walls, bearing nothing at the moment, and an empty counter. Behind the counter is a doorway that hangs open, you are certain a curtain used to go over it. Obvious exits are East and West.
>The dust is a little disturbed, it seems whomever was here looked out a window, then headed toward the back.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head towards the back ourselves
>Try to be quiet, and be extra alert for the chance someone is still in here. Be ready to respond accordingly

[Hello Purvis]

>Head towards the back ourselves
>Try to be quiet, and be extra alert for the chance someone is still in here. Be ready to respond accordingly

>You head toward the back, trying to be quiet.
>The back seems to have been a storeroom. There are still a couple of old  crates here in the corner. The marks in the dust lead toward them.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Examine the crates and the area around them

[Hello Purvis]

>Examine the crates and the area around them

>You approach the crates. As you do, you get a better view of what is around them. Past the crates, sitting in the corner, you see someone with a blue skirt sitting on the floor, hugging her legs to her chest. You have perhaps a second before she sees you, too.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Does it look like Tenshi?
>Are we in a position that she'd essentially have to run past us to exit the building?
>If so, softly: "Tenshi?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Does it look like Tenshi?
>Are we in a position that she'd essentially have to run past us to exit the building?
>If so, softly: "Tenshi?"

>You believe so. Unless she has left another dummy.
>More or less, though she has lots of room to maneuver at the moment if she tried to run.
>She starts visibly, and cries, "Oh crap!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Gently: "Please, Tenshi. I just want to speak with you."
>What sort of state does she look like she's in? Outside of being startled.

[Hello Purvis]

>Gently: "Please, Tenshi. I just want to speak with you."
>What sort of state does she look like she's in? Outside of being startled.

>"J-just go away, damn it..." she mutters, then buries her face in her knees.
>She looks like she's been in a few fights, and didn't do very well.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Take a few steps towards her and crouch down towards her level
>"Please, Tenshi. Tell me what's happened."

[Hello Purvis]

>Take a few steps towards her and crouch down towards her level
>"Please, Tenshi. Tell me what's happened."

>You take a few steps closer and kneel.
>"Just go away..." she mutters into her dress. "I wanna be alone."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Please Tenshi... I'm here because I'm concerned about you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Please Tenshi... I'm here because I'm concerned about you."

>"Don't care..." she mutters.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"But I care, Tenshi. Please. I'm very sorry about what passed between us this morning. I genuinely am. But you're hurt, and frankly I think you need someone to confide in. Whatever it is won't get better by keeping to yourself in an abandoned corner of the Ancient City. Please try to trust me. At least a little."

[Hello Purvis]

>"But I care, Tenshi. Please. I'm very sorry about what passed between us this morning. I genuinely am. But you're hurt, and frankly I think you need someone to confide in. Whatever it is won't get better by keeping to yourself in an abandoned corner of the Ancient City. Please try to trust me. At least a little."

>"Everybody thinks I did it anyways, so it doesn't matter what I say," she says. "Just go away"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I does matter what you say, because I'm not convinced you did it. And if you truly didn't, I will defend you against anyone who says otherwise. Even Reimu, if necessary."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I does matter what you say, because I'm not convinced you did it. And if you truly didn't, I will defend you against anyone who says otherwise. Even Reimu, if necessary."

>"Too late for that," she says. "Barely got away..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"From who? Reimu? She found you?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"From who? Reimu? She found you?"

>Tenshi nods. The gesture isn't quite so effective with her face buried in her skirt.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Sigh
>"And I guess she didn't wait for an explanation then, did she? I already told her that I didn't think you were responsible. Of course, that didn't stop her from attacking me, too. For whatever consolation it's worth, I'm gaining some understanding of what it's like for everyone to think it's your fault, and refuse to listen otherwise. She's not the only one who's tried to attack me this morning, either."

[Hello Purvis]

>Sigh
>"And I guess she didn't wait for an explanation then, did she? I already told her that I didn't think you were responsible. Of course, that didn't stop her from attacking me, too. For whatever consolation it's worth, I'm gaining some understanding of what it's like for everyone to think it's your fault, and refuse to listen otherwise. She's not the only one who's tried to attack me this morning, either."

>"Did you run into Marisa, too?" she asks, glancing up toward you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I saw her, but managed to hide in the forest while she flew overhead. After what had already happened to me, I didn't want to risk talking to her."