Iku Quest Drei - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "How bizarre. What kind of magic could be doing this, I wonder?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "How bizarre. What kind of magic could be doing this, I wonder?"

>"If I had any idea, I would have told you back at the tavern," says Utsuho, "Want to put her back in bed for me?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, I can do that. Let me try something first, though."
> Wave a hand in front of Nitori's face.
> "Hey."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, I can do that. Let me try something first, though."
> Wave a hand in front of Nitori's face.
> "Hey."

>You wave your hand in front of Nitori's face. Her eyes move a bit, not quite following you hand, but close.
>"She seems to respond the most to touch," says Utsuho.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Gently poke Nitori's nose with an index finger.

[Hello Purvis]

> Gently poke Nitori's nose with an index finger.

>You give her a slight poke. She slowly draws back, after a moment.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did her expression change?
> "Looking at things that seem unrelated...hey, Utsuho, if I may ask, what kinds of stimulus have you tried?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Did her expression change?
> "Looking at things that seem unrelated...hey, Utsuho, if I may ask, what kinds of stimulus have you tried?"

>You think you say her brow scrunch just a little.
>"Not a lot, honestly," says Utsuho. "We found you can lead her around if you take her hand, or push her from behind. She doesn't like being poked, but she hardly notices if you don't get her somewhere sensitive. She doesn't like getting splashed, but she'll ignore it after the initial shock."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Somewhere sensitive? Like where?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Somewhere sensitive? Like where?"

>"Just about any place you particularly don't like to be poked," says Utsuho. "Like in the ribs, or the throat."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Any place...more sensitive than those?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Any place...more sensitive than those?"

>"Probably," says Utsuho, "but we sure as hell aren't going to test them."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And I assume you'd rather me not test them as well?"
> Look around the room. Is there anything in it we could use to poke something?

[Hello Purvis]

> "And I assume you'd rather me not test them as well?"
> Look around the room. Is there anything in it we could use to poke something?

>"Well, ask first," says Utsuho. "And don't be mean."
>You look around, and notice there are actually a few piles and stacks of mostly-cleaned up clutter. One of them has a wrench on top.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Would she actually respond?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Would she actually respond?"

>"How would I know?" says Utsuho, "We've not tested that much. It became pretty clear it wasn't going to get much of a response anyways, and it's kind of mean to go around poking her."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Granted. It's at least an idea to keep around, however. It could be the deciding factor in terms of figuring out what's going on here. Whatever has befallen her, it could be extreme ennui, or it could be extremely dulled senses. Or maybe it's something else entirely."
> "But...I think I may have another idea, one that involves less, uh, invasion of privacy."

[Kilgamayan]

Doubleposting to make sure the change in plans has been noticed.

> "Let's get her into the bed first, though. The least we can do is make her more comfortable."
> Gently pick Nitori up, accepting Utsuho's help if she offers it, and lay her properly in her bed.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Granted. It's at least an idea to keep around, however. It could be the deciding factor in terms of figuring out what's going on here. Whatever has befallen her, it could be extreme ennui, or it could be extremely dulled senses. Or maybe it's something else entirely."
> "But...I think I may have another idea, one that involves less, uh, invasion of privacy."

> "Let's get her into the bed first, though. The least we can do is make her more comfortable."
> Gently pick Nitori up, accepting Utsuho's help if she offers it, and lay her properly in her bed.

>Utsuho nods, and first. Then she frowns. "Wait, you weren't talking about poking her in the eye?"
>She lets that drop as the two of you get Nitori back into bed. Nitori walks along toward it with little prompting. Then Utsuho practically pushes her over with one hand, and keeps her from just falling over with the other. The two of you ease her into bed.
>So, what did you have in mind?" Utsuho asks.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I thought about the eye, but decided against it, in the interest of not causing bodily harm. I was, uh...well, remember when you mentioned checking out unrelated events? Well, I got propositioned for intercourse several hours ago. And, well, you mentioned physical stimulus, and my mind sorta blended the two together."

[Kilgamayan]

Ergh, that might require clarification.

> Put hands up.
> "Not suggesting we necessarily poke her down there! Just, maybe, I dunno, a soft poke in the chest could be worth considering?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I thought about the eye, but decided against it, in the interest of not causing bodily harm. I was, uh...well, remember when you mentioned checking out unrelated events? Well, I got propositioned for intercourse several hours ago. And, well, you mentioned physical stimulus, and my mind sorta blended the two together."

> Put hands up.
> "Not suggesting we necessarily poke her down there! Just, maybe, I dunno, a soft poke in the chest could be worth considering?"

>"Crazy ass topsiders," says Utsuho, frowning. "So what's your real plan, then?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. Don't forget the option exists. But I thought of something else anyway, something that won't cause any physical discomfort."
> Walk over to the wrench and pick it up.
> "Not to her, anyway. No guarantees about me."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. Don't forget the option exists. But I thought of something else anyway, something that won't cause any physical discomfort."
> Walk over to the wrench and pick it up.
> "Not to her, anyway. No guarantees about me."

>"Right, sure," says Utsuho. "Um...what are you going to do with that wrench?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It should make a good prop."
> Point at Utsuho with the wrench.
> "I don't need it to be more than that."
> Stop pointing with the wrench.
> "By the way, I assure you that nothing I am about to do is with any ill intent. Fighting Remilia to correct an injustice is one thing. Being a jerk and pissing off both Yuugi and yourself at the same time is quite another, and I rather value my health."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It should make a good prop."
> Point at Utsuho with the wrench.
> "I don't need it to be more than that."
> Stop pointing with the wrench.
> "By the way, I assure you that nothing I am about to do is with any ill intent. Fighting Remilia to correct an injustice is one thing. Being a jerk and pissing off both Yuugi and yourself at the same time is quite another, and I rather value my health."

>"...You are being extremely vague, and I don't know if I like it." says Utsuho, frowning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm sorry I can't be more specific, and I do appreciate your patience, but I have my reasons. You'll understand what I mean after I begin."
> Walk into Nitori's direct line of vision and wave the wrench a little bit.
> "Hey."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm sorry I can't be more specific, and I do appreciate your patience, but I have my reasons. You'll understand what I mean after I begin."
> Walk into Nitori's direct line of vision and wave the wrench a little bit.
> "Hey."

>"Um, right," says Utsuho, still frowning.
>You walk between Nitori and the window. She does not avert her eyes, or do much of anything. You wonder if she sees you. She does not react as you wave the wrench and speak to her.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So it seems we have a problem."
> Point the wrench at Nitori.
> "You're not casting a proper shadow. It's weird. And I have to admit, I'm pretty well stumped. I mean..."
> Cease pointing the wrench at Nitori and going back to waving with it.
> "...this doesn't seem to make sense. You're still quite opaque, I checked myself. But there you were, standing near the window, with the light shining through it. Science says you should be blocking the bit of the room behind you from the light. But you don't!"
> Tap the wrench head very lightly against our chin.
> "It's just so...unscientific. Very weird. But!"
> Point the wrench into the air.
> "I am confident that science can solve this. I'm sure there must be some sort of scientific explanation for what's going on."

[Hello Purvis]

> "So it seems we have a problem."
> Point the wrench at Nitori.
> "You're not casting a proper shadow. It's weird. And I have to admit, I'm pretty well stumped. I mean..."
> Cease pointing the wrench at Nitori and going back to waving with it.
> "...this doesn't seem to make sense. You're still quite opaque, I checked myself. But there you were, standing near the window, with the light shining through it. Science says you should be blocking the bit of the room behind you from the light. But you don't!"
> Tap the wrench head very lightly against our chin.
> "It's just so...unscientific. Very weird. But!"
> Point the wrench into the air.
> "I am confident that science can solve this. I'm sure there must be some sort of scientific explanation for what's going on."

>Nitori doesn't react to your speech.
>"Huh," says Utsuho.

>_