Iku Quest P?t: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't mean you any harm. I didn't from the start, for that matter. I'm sad the feeling wasn't mutual."
>"How are you feeling?"

>"Let me go," she she says in a low tone, glaring at you still.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "I would actually like to. But we need to talk, first. At the very least."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I would actually like to. But we need to talk, first. At the very least."

>"No," she says. "Now let me go."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "If we can't talk, then I can't let you go. It's up to you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug.
> "If we can't talk, then I can't let you go. It's up to you."

>She doesn't answer, instead continuing to give you a withering glare. You can't help but wonder if she is trying to hate you into submission.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And if I were to let you go right now, what would you do?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"And if I were to let you go right now, what would you do?"

>She does not answer, continuing to glare at you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Then given what you tried to do to me the last time you were free, that doesn't give me a lot of incentive, does it?"
>"Would it be so bad to talk, a little?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Then given what you tried to do to me the last time you were free, that doesn't give me a lot of incentive, does it?"
>"Would it be so bad to talk, a little?"

>"You've made it clear there's nothing to say to you," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "Now that's just not true. There's plenty you could say. You could tell me why you want to hide so much, for example."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "Now that's just not true. There's plenty you could say. You could tell me why you want to hide so much, for example."

>Her glare darkens, mildly surprising you that it is possible. Even though she has not made any motions to suggest it, you can't shake the feeling she is about to try to bite you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I can set you down. But I don't intend to let you wander off on your own until I'm satisfied you won't take that chance to harm someone else, you understand?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I can set you down. But I don't intend to let you wander off on your own until I'm satisfied you won't take that chance to harm someone else, you understand?"

>Her glare does not soften; it seems she does not consider this an acceptable compromise.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Do so, anyway
>Set the poltergeist gently on the ground, in a sitting position
>Then step away such that our shadow is not near her reach and kneel down, ourselves

[Hello Purvis]

>Do so, anyway
>Set the poltergeist gently on the ground, in a sitting position
>Then step away such that our shadow is not near her reach and kneel down, ourselves

>You set her down, and into as much of a sitting position you can with someone who is hogtied.
>You cannot be sure your shadow is not touching her, given the radius of shadow around you, but you try to estimate and kneel down. Tenshi says nothing, standing close to you with the Sword of Hisou ready.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Let us try this, then."
> "I did not know who you were before, but I have since figured it out. I still want to help you. Even more so than before, if that can be believed. But, in order for me to do so, you need to work with me."
> "There are a handful of things we can do. The first is that you tell me why you want to hide yourself so desperately. I only know that you do; I do not know why. If you can tell me why you are hiding, perhaps we can try to fix that problem so you don't have to anymore."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Let us try this, then."
> "I did not know who you were before, but I have since figured it out. I still want to help you. Even more so than before, if that can be believed. But, in order for me to do so, you need to work with me."
> "There are a handful of things we can do. The first is that you tell me why you want to hide yourself so desperately. I only know that you do; I do not know why. If you can tell me why you are hiding, perhaps we can try to fix that problem so you don't have to anymore."

>"If you want to help me, disappear quietly," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That's not something I can do, sadly, and it won't solve your hiding problem anyway, as others have seen you and know who you are. But there are other options."
> "The second thing you can do is tell us the title of your book. It would be easier to find if we were able to ask a lot of people, right? Giving them the book's name will enable that process."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That's not something I can do, sadly, and it won't solve your hiding problem anyway, as others have seen you and know who you are. But there are other options."
> "The second thing you can do is tell us the title of your book. It would be easier to find if we were able to ask a lot of people, right? Giving them the book's name will enable that process."

>"I'll deal with them in good time," she says.
>"No. You know far too much already."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Would you rather not find your book again than to have anyone help you search for it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Would you rather not find your book again than to have anyone help you search for it?"

>"I would rather it had been left alone in the first place," she says, "And I would rather you had left me alone!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And I would rathered you not taken Kogasa and Nitori's shadows, either. Their well-being is important to me. To say nothing of what you tried to do to me."
>"The point is, we've both done things that other would have rathered we had not. But they are done. Wishing they had not happened does not change the present. Your book is gone, and it needs to be found again. So, I say again: Would you rather not find your book again to have anyone help you search for it? "

[Hello Purvis]

>"And I would rathered you not taken Kogasa and Nitori's shadows, either. Their well-being is important to me. To say nothing of what you tried to do to me."
>"The point is, we've both done things that other would have rathered we had not. But they are done. Wishing they had not happened does not change the present. Your book is gone, and it needs to be found again. So, I say again: Would you rather not find your book again to have anyone help you search for it? "

>"Then they should have left me alone," says the poltergeist, "And so should you."
>"Then let me go and disappear quietly," she says. "That will help more than anything."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I do not believe that me disappearing will bring your book back to you, wherever it has gone."
>"Why does it bother you so much to be spoken to by people? Why is it wrong for anyone to want to get to know you?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I do not believe that me disappearing will bring your book back to you, wherever it has gone."
>"Why does it bother you so much to be spoken to by people? Why is it wrong for anyone to want to get to know you?"

>She does not answer, opting to glare at you instead.
>"She really is kind of a shit, isn't she?" says Tenshi.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>To Tenshi: "She is... hostile, certainly. Though I understand some of the reason for that."
>To the Spectre: "Haven't you ever felt lonely, hiding from everyone? The world is a sad place without people in it who you trust and care about. And who care about you in return."

[Hello Purvis]

>To Tenshi: "She is... hostile, certainly. Though I understand some of the reason for that."
>To the Spectre: "Haven't you ever felt lonely, hiding from everyone? The world is a sad place without people in it who you trust and care about. And who care about you in return."

>Tenshi nods. "Want me to rough her up a bit? It'll be me doing it, so you don't have to worry about getting in trouble."
>The poltergeist just continues to glare at you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>To Tenshi: "No, I don't want to harm her."
>To the Spectre: "Nor would most people in this world, if you would not try to harm them yourself."
>"I know you have seen people in that forest who you did not strike down. You must have seen them speaking among themselves, enjoying each others company. Haven't you ever wanted more for yourself than you have?"

[Hello Purvis]

>To Tenshi: "No, I don't want to harm her."
>To the Spectre: "Nor would most people in this world, if you would not try to harm them yourself."
>"I know you have seen people in that forest who you did not strike down. You must have seen them speaking among themselves, enjoying each others company. Haven't you ever wanted more for yourself than you have?"

>"If that's what you want," says Tenshi with a shrug.
>"Let me go," says the poltergeist, practically growling each word.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Would you let me go, were our positions reversed? Will you let Kogasa and Nitori go? They are far away from you, and pose no threat to you."