Iku Quest Edi'nayset: A Z-Machine Adventure.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Let me know if you think of anything."
>"In that case, Yukari, I happen to have some questions of my own for you. What do you know about Koishi Komeiji?"

>"Oh my," says Yukari, as she glances into the gap. "I do hope you're not planning anything unethical."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I am not. I can garuntee that there will be no unwanted invasions of privacy. I have an idea that may help my friend with her dilemma, but I will need help, and it may very well be that Koishi is the one who can give it. So please, tell me what you know about her, especially in relation to her power."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I am not. I can garuntee that there will be no unwanted invasions of privacy. I have an idea that may help my friend with her dilemma, but I will need help, and it may very well be that Koishi is the one who can give it. So please, tell me what you know about her, especially in relation to her power."

>"She has ways of manipulating the subconscious," says Yukari. "Perhaps, to some degree, the unconscious. Now I must ask what you would want from her, if you didn't even know what she's capable of."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I had an idea that would require a satori, but I have no doubt that my friend would refuse to be anywhere near one. Then I remembered that Koishi closed her third eye. It's said that this sealed her power away, but it seemed odd to me that a satori could get rid of what makes her a satori. My first thought was that her power might have dimmed but would remain enough for what I need, but when I spoke to Parsee about her, I learned that her power had been not sealed, but altered. And now that I know what that change is, I think that Koishi is indeed the one I need to see. But first, I have another question for you-and no, I do not plan to do this to anybody without consent. Do you think there's a way Koishi could take someone else along for the ride, as it were? Take someone into another's mind, or at least share what she sees in there?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I had an idea that would require a satori, but I have no doubt that my friend would refuse to be anywhere near one. Then I remembered that Koishi closed her third eye. It's said that this sealed her power away, but it seemed odd to me that a satori could get rid of what makes her a satori. My first thought was that her power might have dimmed but would remain enough for what I need, but when I spoke to Parsee about her, I learned that her power had been not sealed, but altered. And now that I know what that change is, I think that Koishi is indeed the one I need to see. But first, I have another question for you-and no, I do not plan to do this to anybody without consent. Do you think there's a way Koishi could take someone else along for the ride, as it were? Take someone into another's mind, or at least share what she sees in there?"

>"How ambitious," says Yukari. "Unfortunately, it's also not a question I could answer. I don't think anyone could, but Koishi herself. And, likely, not even she would know."
>"That sounds absolutely horrid," the  poltergeist says, almost too quiet to hear.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"It's not what you may be thinking. It did occur to me to have a satori look into your mind, but I knew you would never agree to such a thing, and I can understand why. The probelm is that you don't know what you want to do, and there may very well be something in your mind that would help you decide, but I knew you would not want that. But there's another option. There are many ways to live life, but you only know one way, the way of complete isolation. I thought it might help you decide if you knew what another way was like. For example, my way of life. What I would like to do is have Koishi take you into my mind, so that you can know what my way of life is like. I agree that that level of exposure is enough to make even me uncomfortable, but if it will help you, I am willing to do it."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's not what you may be thinking. It did occur to me to have a satori look into your mind, but I knew you would never agree to such a thing, and I can understand why. The probelm is that you don't know what you want to do, and there may very well be something in your mind that would help you decide, but I knew you would not want that. But there's another option. There are many ways to live life, but you only know one way, the way of complete isolation. I thought it might help you decide if you knew what another way was like. For example, my way of life. What I would like to do is have Koishi take you into my mind, so that you can know what my way of life is like. I agree that that level of exposure is enough to make even me uncomfortable, but if it will help you, I am willing to do it."

>"Is it that she can't make a decision," says Yukari, "Or that she doesn't want to make one?"

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"That, I'm afraid, is a question only she can answer. But even if that's the case, I think it would help her to know what my life is like. If she doesn't want to choose, it's likely because of apprehension of the unknown. If she knew more, that would be somewhat less of an issue."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That, I'm afraid, is a question only she can answer. But even if that's the case, I think it would help her to know what my life is like. If she doesn't want to choose, it's likely because of apprehension of the unknown. If she knew more, that would be somewhat less of an issue."

>"Well, perhaps we should ask her," says Yukari. "Or, you could try to deduce it yourself."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"As I said, I think the knowledge I am offering would help her either way. But perhaps you are correct about the fact that I should ask her."
>Nudge Shuuei.
>"You heard what she said, right? So let me ask: is your difficulty in making a choice because you do not know which choice you want to make, or because you do not want to make it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"As I said, I think the knowledge I am offering would help her either way. But perhaps you are correct about the fact that I should ask her."
>Nudge Shuuei.
>"You heard what she said, right? So let me ask: is your difficulty in making a choice because you do not know which choice you want to make, or because you do not want to make it?"

>"...Maybe," says the poltergeist.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Maybe to which?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Maybe to which?"

>She doesn't answer.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Hmm... well, what are your thoughts on my idea? If we can find a way to make it happen, I am willing to let you into my mind to learn what my life is like. To not just hear me talk about it, but know see it as I did, feel it as I did. If you know it, you will be more easily able to choose. I am willing to let you do so. If we can find a way to do it, what would you say?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hmm... well, what are your thoughts on my idea? If we can find a way to make it happen, I am willing to let you into my mind to learn what my life is like. To not just hear me talk about it, but know see it as I did, feel it as I did. If you know it, you will be more easily able to choose. I am willing to let you do so. If we can find a way to do it, what would you say?"

>"It sounds horrible," the poltergeist mutters. "I wouldn't be party to such a thing..."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Even if I am willing to let you in? If I want to let you in?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Even if I am willing to let you in? If I want to let you in?"

>"Would you kill someone if they said it were okay?" she asks. "Permission doesn't make it acceptable."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"But killing is different. Killing costs someone their life. All this would do to me is cause a little unease. And if my unease can help you, then I will endure it gladly."

[Hello Purvis]

>"But killing is different. Killing costs someone their life. All this would do to me is cause a little unease. And if my unease can help you, then I will endure it gladly."

>"It's a terrible thing," she says. "I don't want any part of it."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Kneel down, making sure to keep Shuuei concealed.
>Pull our head inside so we can see Shuuei.
>"Please, let me help you."

[Hello Purvis]

>Kneel down, making sure to keep Shuuei concealed.
>Pull our head inside so we can see Shuuei.
>"Please, let me help you."

>You kneel down, but really can't look inside your own skirt without lifting it up and revealing the poltergeist.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Just a fair warning: don't push her too hard. She's already really stressed out right now, given the situation.

> Wow, it's a good thing we didn't kneel right down on top of her.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Noted.
 
 
>Move behind one of the curtains.
>Step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Wow, it's a good thing we didn't kneel right down on top of her.

>It is. She must be curled up on the floor.

>Move behind one of the curtains.
>Step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."

>The curtains are some distance away. You'll have to coordinate some kind of motion to get there, unless you intend to leave her behind.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Yukari, could you turn around for a moment, please?"
>When Yukari turns aroun, step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yukari, could you turn around for a moment, please?"
>When Yukari turns aroun, step away from Shuuei.
>Kneel down and look her in the eye.
>"Please, let me help you."

>"When I'm done," says Yukari.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

You're really enjoying making this difficult, aren't you?

>"Ah, I see."
>Pull our arms in through our sleeves.
>Put our hands on Shuuei's shoulders.
>"Please, let me help you."

[Kilgamayan]

Usually, if repeated attempts to do something don't work, there's a good reason. <_<

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, I see."
>Pull our arms in through our sleeves.
>Put our hands on Shuuei's shoulders.
>"Please, let me help you."

>You work your arms through your sleeves, down your blouse, and into your skirt.  It is distinctly uncomfortable.
>You put your hands on her shoulders, thankfully finding them the first time, and ask her to let you help her.
>"I won't have you expose yourself like that for me," she says. "Never."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I don't plan to keep this up much longer. If what I'm about to say doesn't work, then I don't know what would.
 
>"Don't you get it? It doesn't matter what I have to do! If we don't do something, you're going to die, and I don't want that! I don't want you to die! If there's anything I can do to help you, anything I can do to save you, I'll do it! Even if I had to give my own life, I would do it gladly if it would help you! Don't you get it? I don't care what I have to do! I'll do whatever the fuck it takes!"
>Try uncuccessfully to fight back tears.
>"So please, please, please let me help you!"
 
Note: Yes, I know, Iku's not the type to swear. But remember, it's not the words but the emotions behind them that are frowned upon in Bhava-Agra, and those emotions aren't behind this usage of 'fuck'. This f-bomb has a constructive purpose, and is deliberately used for maximum impact and emphasis. And I'm saying Iku's willing to do anything for Shuuei; she's certainly willing to utter a swear or two.