Iku Quest N?nt? - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small frown.
> Run our fingers through a little bit of her hair (moving ourselves closer to her head as necessary), in an effort to at least straighten it a little bit and prepare it for a proper combing.

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small frown.
> Run our fingers through a little bit of her hair (moving ourselves closer to her head as necessary), in an effort to at least straighten it a little bit and prepare it for a proper combing.

>You make some effort to straighten it out.
>"Hey, what're you doing?" asks Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Assessing the damage, and preparing it for proper fixing."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Assessing the damage, and preparing it for proper fixing."

>"I got it," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is her hair splayed across the bed from lying down on the back of her head, or is it still relatively organized?
> "Oh, you took care of it already?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Is her hair splayed across the bed from lying down on the back of her head, or is it still relatively organized?
> "Oh, you took care of it already?"

>Relatively organized.
>"I'll get to it, I mean," she says.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "Oh... I was kind of hoping you would let me do it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh... I was hoping you would let me do it..."

>"Well, I guess, if you're that fired up about it..." says Tenshi.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "Well, even after all the bureaucracy, behind the titles and the duties, the expectations, the self-applied rogue label, we're still just a couple of girls, aren't we?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, even after all the bureaucracy, behind the titles and the duties, the expectations, the self-applied rogue label, we're still just a couple of girls, aren't we?"

>"Yeah, I get it," says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "But more important than that, is that I would like us to get to a point where we can have physical contact without you being confused about or skeptical of my intentions."

[Hello Purvis]

> "But more important than that, is that I would like us to get to a point where we can have physical contact without you being confused about or skeptical of my intentions."

>"Well, I guess I'm not skeptical anymore," she says. "So you got that. It's just, you know, kinda out of nowhere."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I suppose that's understandable. Just remember that I wouldn't do what I do with you without feeling I had a good reason."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "I suppose that's understandable. Just remember that I wouldn't do what I do with you without feeling I had a good reason."

>"I figured you just wanted to," says Tenshi. "So what's this good reason?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Have we ever tried to grow our own hair out long?
> "The one I just described, pretty much. I've been thinking about what you've said a few times as well, about how what you do and what I do basically makes it my job to get in your way. And that may be true, to a degree. I obviously can't play favorites with you when it comes to official celestial business, that would end up bad for both of us. But even though there are going to be times where we have to be the Dragon Palace Messenger and the Rogue Eldest Daughter, that doesn't mean there can't be times where we're simply Iku and Tenshi."

[Hello Purvis]

> Have we ever tried to grow our own hair out long?
> "The one I just described, pretty much. I've been thinking about what you've said a few times as well, about how what you do and what I do basically makes it my job to get in your way. And that may be true, to a degree. I obviously can't play favorites with you when it comes to official celestial business, that would end up bad for both of us. But even though there are going to be times where we have to be the Dragon Palace Messenger and the Rogue Eldest Daughter, that doesn't mean there can't be times where we're simply Iku and Tenshi."

>You have not. You're reasonably sure you couldn't get it that long.
>"I dunno about you," says Tenshi, "But I'm not the kind of person who just stops being who she is."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Of course not. I try to be true to myself at all times as well. But I wasn't asking either of us to change who we are. I am simply stating that, even though there are going to be times where who we are will clash, there can still be times where who we are can work together in a friendly capacity. Like sharing a meal, or doing each other's hair, or even something as simple yet intimate as a hug. Things like that."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Of course not. I try to be true to myself at all times as well. But I wasn't asking either of us to change who we are. I am simply stating that, even though there are going to be times where who we are will clash, there can still be times where who we are can work together in a friendly capacity. Like sharing a meal, or doing each other's hair, or even something as simple yet intimate as a hug. Things like that."

>"Oh, okay," says Tenshi. "Misheard you, I guess."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I admit it's a bit hard to explain. I'm not saying that Tenshi Hinanai and the Rogue Eldest Daughter are two different people. I'm saying that they're two aspects of the same person. They're both who you are, they just carry slightly different connotations. The Rogue Eldest Daughter and the Dragon Palace Messenger may find themselves in each other's way, but Tenshi Hinanai and Iku Nagae can share a delicious lunch together, or work together to restore zombified Gensokyo natives to their former selves, reuniting friends in a happy celebration. They're both yourself and myself, just in different situations. The parts of us that clash don't have to define us. I would even say that they shouldn't define us. I would much rather we be defined by the parts of us that do work together, that can embrace each other. The parts of us that clash will come as they may; they will simply serve to make the moments where we can embrace each other all the sweeter, knowing that we can enjoy each other's company despite our differences."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I admit it's a bit hard to explain. I'm not saying that Tenshi Hinanai and the Rogue Eldest Daughter are two different people. I'm saying that they're two aspects of the same person. They're both who you are, they just carry slightly different connotations. The Rogue Eldest Daughter and the Dragon Palace Messenger may find themselves in each other's way, but Tenshi Hinanai and Iku Nagae can share a delicious lunch together, or work together to restore zombified Gensokyo natives to their former selves, reuniting friends in a happy celebration. They're both yourself and myself, just in different situations. The parts of us that clash don't have to define us. I would even say that they shouldn't define us. I would much rather we be defined by the parts of us that do work together, that can embrace each other. The parts of us that clash will come as they may; they will simply serve to make the moments where we can embrace each other all the sweeter, knowing that we can enjoy each other's company despite our differences."

>Tenshi nods. Given she's still laying down, you wonder if she's even listening to you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Check over to the head of our bed. How many pillows do we have?

[Hello Purvis]

> Check over to the head of our bed. How many pillows do we have?

>Just one.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did we use a pillow when we slept in Tenshi's futon last night?

[Hello Purvis]

> Did we use a pillow when we slept in Tenshi's futon last night?

>You did. It is still there.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Get up off the bed and go grab the pillow we used last night.
> "Of course, perhaps there are ways where we can indulge both of our desires."
> Put it on the bed next to Tenshi, then go over and grab the pillow at the head of the bed.
> "My desire for a friendly relationship, and your desire for combat."

[Hello Purvis]

> Get up off the bed and go grab the pillow we used last night.
> "Of course, perhaps there are ways where we can indulge both of our desires."
> Put it on the bed next to Tenshi, then go over and grab the pillow at the head of the bed.
> "My desire for a friendly relationship, and your desire for combat."

>You find the pillow on the bed is occupied by Tenshi at the moment.
>"Huh?" she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Pick up the futon pillow, then.
> Are Tenshi's eyes open? If so, where is she looking?
> "I'm saying that even friends fight from time to time, and sometimes it's not even because they're angry at each other."

[Hello Purvis]

> Pick up the futon pillow, then.
> Are Tenshi's eyes open? If so, where is she looking?
> "I'm saying that even friends fight from time to time, and sometimes it's not even because they're angry at each other."

>You claim the futon pillow.
>She is facing away from you, and still seems to have her eyes closed.
>"Well, yeah," says Tenshi. "Look at Marisa and Reimu."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> ...Nah, maybe we shouldn't start a pillow fight. Tenshi at rest is a sufficiently uncommon thing, and she probably needs it after that fight.
> "...Yeah, like them."
> Is there enough room on the bed to lie down beside her?

[Hello Purvis]

> ...Nah, maybe we shouldn't start a pillow fight. Tenshi at rest is a sufficiently uncommon thing, and she probably needs it after that fight.
> "...Yeah, like them."
> Is there enough room on the bed to lie down beside her?

>You could lay down, if you don't mind clinging to the edge for dear life.

>_