Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Topic started by: E-Nazrin on October 12, 2010, 06:52:27 AM
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> You are Alice Margatroid, the Seven-Colored Puppeteer of the Forest of Magic, daughter of the Devil Goddess Shinki, and frankly, a bit of a bitch.
(http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/3053/aliceisabitch.png)
> You were born and raised in Makai, but immigrated to Gensokyo several years ago and have lived there on your own ever since. You have taken up puppeteering and dollmaking, and now own and masterfully control a small army of self-made dolls used both for combat and housework. You are fairly reclusive, usually preferring to stay at home with your dolls and a good book than being a social butterfly. Despite that, you have a few friends in Gensokyo, though you rarely seek them out. You have gotten involved in several major incidents in Gensokyo in the past. Your life's dream is to make an independent doll capable of moving and thinking on its own. You are moderately disturbed by the fanboys.
(http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1997/meingensokyo.th.png) (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/meingensokyo.png/)
> Right - the fanboys. Probably the strangest of the strange things that have happened in Gensokyo since you arrived, the fanboys are a growing population of (usually) male humans from outside Gensokyo that know about Gensokyo and its major inhabitants thanks to some fantasy game in the outside world about the major incidents of the past several years. They tend to be well-informed about major figures in Gensokyo, but also carry a lot of disturbing or offensive misconceptions. This has made many in Gensokyo, including yourself, into celebrities, which was somewhat enjoyable until the stalking, crowds, and sexual proposals got out of hand. Thankfully, most of them are weaker than even fairies in a danmaku match, and tend to learn a little bit faster. Usually. They also brought in many other, less personal ideas, particularly about outer-world technology to try and implement in Gensokyo. Despite the number of science heresies they kept bringing up, a few of them managed to get very real results, and there were stirrings of very big changes in Gensokyo as of two or three months ago.
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/549/aliceresearching.th.jpg) (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/aliceresearching.jpg/)
> This is about as far as you know about them, as you've spent that time secluded in your home, researching the next big lead for your independent doll project. A while after the fanboys first arrived in Gensokyo, one of them tried to explain the idea of 'AI' to you; artificial intelligence, a 'computer' mind supposedly capable of turning a human-sized mechanical doll into a fully independent 'android' - quite possibly the missing key to all of your previous attempts. You promptly blew the majority of your savings on acquiring books of related material from Rinnosuke and Patchouli (no mean feat!), and spent the past two or three months reading through the various books you could get on robots, AI, androids, mechanics, and tomes of obscure details of golem and enchantment magic. Ultimately, all you could get from them was a refined design for a mechanical doll, and the knowledge that there has been virtually no research done into information-processing magic similar to the 'computers' you heard about. This is actually very exciting, as it means that you're almost definitely on to something with the idea. Unfortunately, it also means that you'll need to start from scratch - unless you can get some of the fanboys to give you some detail on how it's supposed to work that isn't from a work of fiction. (That was embarrassing.)
> Having finally exhausted your resources at home, you have decided that today is the day to end your hiatus from the rest of Gensokyo and look for a way to make progress on this 'AI' - and perhaps see what's happened in Gensokyo in your absence. Some breakfast would be nice, too, since you ran out of food in the house a week or two ago.
> You are currently standing in the front room of your home, making your final preparations for the trip - you get the feeling this will be a long day, one way or another.
>_
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>Do we get one of the kappa newspapers? Might be a good idea to look through one of those before heading out.
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> Check chest for usual growths.
> How the bloody fuck did these perverts get into Gensokyo in the first place? What's the red-white doing? Shouldn't she be monitoring that tomfoolery?
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> tl;dr?
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>Do we get one of the kappa newspapers? Might be a good idea to look through one of those before heading out.
>You generally don't bother with the newspaper - you're rarely interested in what's reported (especially the parts that are embellishments or outright lies anyway), and Marisa usually forwards the most interesting and important bits when she visits. Though, you haven't let her in to chat during your hiatus, either.
> Check chest for usual growths.
> How the bloody fuck did these perverts get into Gensokyo in the first place? What's the red-white doing? Shouldn't she be monitoring that tomfoolery?
>Modest, but present, if the pressure on your brasserie is any indication.
>Things got rather chaotic after they first started arriving, yes. Apparently Yukari was bringing them in as youkai food since, as outsiders to Gensokyo, they were technically not protected by the Spellcard rules. The main incident squad beat her up to remedy that part, but it doesn't seem like she stopped bringing them in...
> tl;dr?
>what no this isn't fanboy chat quest
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> Mentally compare chest to Patchouli and Nitori.
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> Mentally compare chest to Patchouli and Nitori.
>You've never seen Patchouli outside of her usual loose nightgown, so you have very little idea what her bust size would be. All you're certain of is that they're not completely gigantic. Yukari wouldn't be able to hide in that, at the very least.
>Nitori... Nitori is the kappa Marisa worked with underground a while back, right? You're not sure you've met her at all. You only visited the kappa village a few times a few years ago to get help with the first mechanical doll you attempted, and Marisa never tried to introduce you to her.
>_
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>What sort of anti-fanboy measures do we have in place?
>What is the status of our doll horde?
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> Hmm. Not entirely unacceptable, but still, better safe than sorry.
> Recall known potential methods of altering physical appearance, in terms of body build. Has there even been magical research done into this kind of thing, that we're aware of?
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>What sort of anti-fanboy measures do we have in place?
>Little more than keeping the entrances locked and a few protective wards you've always had to keep the fairies out. The fairies themselves are also a good deterrent, given how weak the fanboys usually are. And you've probably got some sort of reputation among them after beating up the first dozen or so to visit and try and molest you. You only had to chase off a handful during your hiatus, and simply having a spear-wielding doll greet them at the window did the trick for most of them.
>What is the status of our doll horde?
>Present and accounted for. Shanghai hovers by your shoulder as usual, and the rest are in storage, ready to be summoned when needed. You usually only keep one or two out when you aren't fighting - magical means or not, coordinating many at once takes some concentration.
> Hmm. Not entirely unacceptable, but still, better safe than sorry.
> Recall known potential methods of altering physical appearance, in terms of body build. Has there even been magical research done into this kind of thing, that we're aware of?
>You begin considering enhancements to your current physical condition. You're really not very impressive for a youkai, in that sense...
>Magical methods to influence this are outside of your sphere of knowledge, sadly - enchantments on living beings is generally a different field than enchanting dolls and the like. You expect it's possible, and there's probably someone that could help you out, but you're not sure where to start with that. Marisa or Patchouli might be able to point you in the right direction.
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> Set up a team of New England dolls in ground mode. Let those fanboys taste shotgun.
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> Mental note: visit Patchouli and inquire about magical physical alteration. Marisa might also know offhand, so we should ask her too if we run into her first, but Patchouli's bound to have research materials we can borrow.
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>Quests
>Inventory
>Skills
>Hemospectrum
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> Set up a team of New England dolls in ground mode. Let those fanboys taste shotgun.
>New what now?
> Mental note: visit Patchouli and inquire about magical physical alteration. Marisa might also know offhand, so we should ask her too if we run into her first, but Patchouli's bound to have research materials we can borrow.
>You start planning out your route for the day. Marisa, the Mansion, or the Human Village were the main places you had in mind, anyway.
>Quests
>Inventory
>Skills
>Hemospectrum
>Aw fuck here we go
>Your current Quests are:
&Artificial Independence
& If there's one good thing the fanboys have done, it's giving you the promising new 'AI' lead for your independent doll research. If nothing else, it means information processing magic might be key. But where to go from there?
&Rainbow Wizard Needs Food Badly
& As a youkai magician, you technically don't need to eat, but going too long without having something still tends to make concentrating a little difficult. The week it's been since you ran out of food in your house is definitely 'too long.'
>Current Points of Interest include:
&Neo Olde Gensokyo
& Fanboys. Everywhere. Running virtually unchecked for two months. Who knows what horrors they may have wrought? Finding out would probably be a good idea.
&Magical Makeover
& You're considering looking into some personal enchantments to improve your... appearance. But you don't know anything about how to do that offhand - maybe one of the other magicians can help?
>Inventory
>Your Inventory contains:
& ?6,500
& Blue Dress (Worn as clothing)
& Frilly Pink Ascot (Worn as clothing)
& White Caplet (Worn as clothing)
& Red Hairband (Worn as clothing)
& Steel-Toed Boots (Worn as footwear)
& Grimoire of Alice (Held)
& Puppeteer Fingerguards
& Doll Brigade
& Puppeteer Sign 「Maiden's Bunraku」
& Darkness Sign 「Foggy London Dolls」
& Curse 「Hanged Hourai Dolls」
& Magic Sign 「Artful Sacrifice」
>You could probably find more around the house, but you're comfortable leaving with this.
>Skills
>Skills:
&Premiere Puppeteer
& You are unmatched in your ability to puppeteer many dolls at once, for all sorts of purposes. Still, you have your limits - more than a dozen at once becomes difficult normally, or even less if under manual control.
&Dextrosity Grandmaster
& You have incredible fine motor control, able to manipulate even tiny and clumsy objects with great precision.
&Substantial Seamsorcerer
& You've made plenty of clothes over the years, both for your dolls and to make some money. Thread and needle, knitting, or embroidery - it's all but second nature by now.
&Effectual Danmakufu
& You're not a true master at danmaku combat, with or without your dolls, but you can more than hold your own.
&Voodoo Tenderfoot
& You've dabbled in voodoo and curses, but haven't practiced it too much. Still, you can turn a straw doll and a lock of hair into plenty of discomfort.
>Hemospectrum
>You are not a troll
>Your blood is red. It'd be just weird otherwise. Right?
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>Head outside.
>Contemplate Shanghai, and her abilities and limitations.
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> Give Hourai more attention
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>Contemplate Shanghai, and her abilities and limitations.
>Shanghai is one of your first, favorite, and most powerful dolls. You usually keep her 'out' and alongside you to represent your powers and ability with the best of your work. In combat, she is your most powerful conduit for magical lasers, and well above average for most other purposes. Except for explosions.
> Part of this comes from her origins - Shanghai was the first doll you made all on your own back in Makai, with magically-infused wood from that world. It's not something easily reproduced, so you've taken good care of her - she's one of the few dolls you own without gunpowder inside to use as an explosive.
> Give Hourai more attention
>Hourai is... a half-failed attempt to reproduce Shanghai's power by enchanting a doll made of cursed wood. It worked in that Hourai is almost as powerful as Shanghai, but she's also less... presentable. You rarely hesitate to bring her out in a real fight, but she doesn't make the best first impression.
>Head outside.
>You walk out the front door, and into the grassy clearing in the Forest of Magic that serves as your front yard.
>It's a fine early-fall morning, the leaves on the trees still changing color - few have fallen so far. The summer heat is gone, and it's a little chilly for the morning, but overall it's quite nice out.
>Marisa's house is in the woods to the east, past Korindou. The Scarlet Devil Mansion is roughly southish, and the Human Village is to the southeast.
>Where to?
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>Head toward Kourindou. Maybe there's more to be found on the subject at hand.
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>Head toward Kourindou. Maybe there's more to be found on the subject at hand.
>Would you like to travel above or below the canopy? The local fairies have mostly learned to leave you alone either way, but it's been a while since they had a reminder. You might attract some unwanted attention from above.
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>Let's stay on the ground for now. There's no hurry.
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>Let's stay on the ground for now. There's no hurry.
>You decide to play it safe for now, and work your way through the underbrush to Korindou. Briefly conjured swords for Shanghai help clear the path you usually use, now slightly overgrown from lack of use, but the trip is uneventful.
>At least, until reaching Korindou itself. You usually remember it as essentially a large, run-down home cluttered inside and out with artifacts from the outside world, with little care given to the lawn or the half-overgrown 'road' supposedly leading from the store to the Human Village. Much of this has changed.
>The road to Korindou is now properly cleared, and footprints in the dirt suggest that it actually sees regular use. Korindou itself also looks much more tidy, in general. The lawn is neatly trimmed, littered only with a neatly organized display of larger objects for sale, and with a small arrangement of faded flowers by the front door. The door is also... very different. It looks like, for some insane reason, it's now basically a large glass window on hinges, with a paper sign hanging on the inside reading "Hello, we're OPEN." And you're pretty sure the paint on the rest of the house wasn't nearly as fresh the last time you visited.
>_
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>Frown.
>Look around. Does it seem like there are people around?
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> Head inside and observe the store. Be sure to greet Rinnosuke too.
> How are the others taking to the appearance of the fanboys?
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>Frown.
>Look around. Does it seem like there are people around?
>How disturbing.
>It doesn't look like there's anyone else around at the moment, at least outside of the shop. You think you can see movement inside, though.
> How are the others taking to the appearance of the fanboys?
>It varies, from what little you've seen. Most of the people in the Human Village seemed rather annoyed about their antics once the initial novelty wore off, but others have taken to them differently. The kappa were very eager to mess with some of the technological and engineering ideas, and brought a fair number of them away from the village to help with the work for that, but you didn't see any of the results before your hiatus. You know you've overheard fanboys talking about adventuring to the Underground, and even to Higan or Hakugyokurou, but you have no idea how successful these excursions might have been.
>On an individual level, Gensokyo's major players have taken to them differently, as well: Marisa's always been eager to have fun with them and make use of the offensive 'memes' they spout - you've gotten into numerous danmaku matches with her over the use of the word 'tsundere.' Reimu didn't mind too much as long as no one annoyed her personally. Patchouli seemed more amused by them than anything. You mostly find them creepy perverted stalkers.
> Head inside and observe the store. Be sure to greet Rinnosuke too.
>You put your concerns aside and enter Korindou, pulling the door's handle down and pushing on the window to let yourself in. A bell tingles from above your head as the door opens, which is also new.
>The inside of Korindou is drastically different. Where there was little distinction between living space and shop space before, now there's a clear distinction: An open, carpeted-floor room with shelves of roughly organized, price-tagged items makes up the main shop space, separated from the back rooms (and presumably Rinnosuke's living space) by a painted white counter.
>Even more interesting are the two unfamiliar young men that look up at you as you enter, one sitting at the counter and holding a small book, the other lazily polishing a brass statue in the corner. Rinnosuke is nowhere to be seen.
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>"Okay. You have 30 seconds to explain before I burn this place to the ground."
>"29..."
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>"Okay. You have 30 seconds to explain before I burn this place to the ground."
>Their eyes widen in alarm, even more than when you had simply entered the store.
>"Are you..." the one polishing the statue starts starts,
>"29..."
>, before being interrupted by the other panicking and shouting "We work for Rinnosuke! I, he's out right now!"
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>"I'm pretty sure you're lying, because this doesn't a thing like Kourindou. Also: 25..."
>_
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>"I'm pretty sure you're lying, because this doesn't a thing like Kourindou. Also: 25..."
>"W-We remodeled last month!" the fanboy behind the counter cries, eyes darting between you and Shanghai in obvious fear, "Rinnosuke wanted to have the, uh, outworlders help out with the shop now that he has way too much stuff from out there!"
>The other fanboy frowns at the exchange, and stands up.
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>Does this sound at all like something Rinnosuke would do?
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>Does this sound at all like something Rinnosuke would do?
>... maybe? He always did seem half-hearted about the shopkeeper part of owning Korindou, more interested in philosophy than sales, and a little laid-back about a lot of things - he rarely raises a fuss about personal debts unless you're trying to make a big purchase. You had to pay off close to a year's worth of earlier minor debts before he started letting you buy research books before your hiatus. Not that those 'science-fiction' novels were particularly useful...
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>"So. You want me to believe that lazy old Rinnosuke suddenly started caring, had the stole remodeled, and hired people? By the by: 14..."
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>"So. You want me to believe that lazy old Rinnosuke suddenly started caring, had the stole remodeled, and hired people? By the by: 14..."
>"That... but he..."
>"You say that as if he did all the work himself." the polisher-fanboy chimes in, leaning on a shelf with one arm. "You think guys like us have ANYTHING when we get here in Gensokyo? The boss started forcing new fanboys to make the place more presentable once he got up to his eyes in iPods, rather than just trading outer-world stuff for something to start off with. Too much of a good thing, even for him. He doesn't really care about the shop, just having outer-world stuff to mess around with."
>He smirks a little. "But, it wouldn't do to disappoint all his loyal fans wanting to shop at the famous Korindou... so here we are."
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>"Well you've disappointed me."
>Have a look at the stock.
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> Specifically, keep an eye out for any books.
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>Mentally keep on the look out for a Youkai that speaks directly to flowers and plants
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> Keep an eye on the fanboys to make sure they don't try anything.
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> "Hm, I suppose that will do."
> Have Shanghai greet one of them, and take note of how that one reacts.
> Last time we came here, did Rinnosuke sell food or drink? Or was it purely objects and such?
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>"Well you've disappointed me."
> "Hm, I suppose that will do."
>You express your mixed disappointment and satisfaction with this answer. The fanboy at the counter heaves a big sigh of relief. The polisher one frowns at you for a moment, then nods and heads back to his corner.
> Have Shanghai greet one of them, and take note of how that one reacts.
>You direct Shanghai to curtsy in the air at the fanboy at the counter. He stares in amazement, awestruck.
>"Can... does she move on her own?" he asks, too eagerly for comfort.
>"Stop being an idiot, Shomaru." the other fanboy calls over, as he sits back down.
>Have a look at the stock.
> Keep an eye on the fanboys to make sure they don't try anything.
>Generally, keeping an eye on the creeps goes without saying. It seems like both of them warrant it, for different reasons.
>You take a look around the shop, making sure to keep half an eye on the fanboys in the meantime. The one at the counter seems nervous and watches you and Shanghai intently, but doesn't move much. The one polishing the statue in the corner mostly stares at his work, but you catch him glancing up at you a few times.
>Currently on display inside Korindou:
& Jar of Bean Paste
& iPod Mini
& Spotted Yellow Bandanna
& Jar of Chewable Vitamins
& Gold Unicorn Statue
& Magic Fry Pan
& Leather Whip
& USB Stick
& Tibetan Passport
& Silver Ring
& Rubber Gloves
& Hello Kitty Purse
& Mu Fetish
& Brass Tanuki Statue
& Koishi In a Bottle
& Whirring Ioun Stone
& All-You-Can-Eat Coupon
& Unmelting Ice
& Broken Wristwatch
& Plastic Bag of Plastic Bags
& Scotsman's Skullcutter
& Small Electric Fan
& Maid Headdress
& Phantasmagoria of Flower View
& Moon Stone
& Magic Marker
& Broken Antenna
& Dried Gecko Skin
& Purple Basketball
& Ghostbusters T-Shirt
& Spiral Notebook
& Chipped Plate
>The fanboy at the counter notices you looking around, and says, "If you want to know more about anything, feel free to ask. Rinnosuke left us some notes from when he ID'd them."
>Mentally keep on the look out for a Youkai that speaks directly to flowers and plants
>No sign of Yuuka here. She doesn't leave her field often, thankfully.
> Last time we came here, did Rinnosuke sell food or drink? Or was it purely objects and such?
>Korindou is basically a glorified pawn shop; he'll take and sell whatever he comes across or catches his fancy. Food and drink are uncommon, but sometimes they show up.
>The Jar of Bean Paste looks like it should be edible, at a glance.
> Specifically, keep an eye out for any books.
>You don't see any real books, but if Rinnosuke is still in charge of this shop, you know he wouldn't part with them lightly enough to leave them on display. They're probably in the back somewhere. Though there is that one the fanboy left on the counter...
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>No sign of Yuuka here. She doesn't leave her field often, thankfully.
I said talks to flowers, not grows them :3c
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I said talks to flowers, not grows them :3c
>These are not mutually exclusive.
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> Examine Phantasmagoria of Flower view
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>Examing & Mu Fetish. & Brass Tanuki Statue, & Koishi In a Bottle
I tried googling the first one. Don't. Also, for some reason I have a feeling they're related to each other somehow (again, if you don't know, don't ask.)
>Also examing Coupon, Notebook, Marker, and possibly frying pan for the list of stuff we probably need.
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> Examine Silver Ring, Moon Stone and Ghostbusters T-Shirt. For the T-Shirt, make sure to note its size and compare it to what we might wear.
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> Take a look at Phantasmagoria of Flower view
>Examing & Mu Fetish. & Brass Tanuki Statue, & Koishi In a Bottle
>Also examing Coupon, Notebook, Marker, and possibly frying pan for the list of stuff we probably need.
> Examine Silver Ring, Moon Stone and Ghostbusters T-Shirt. For the T-Shirt, make sure to note its size and compare it to what we might wear.
&Phantasmagoria of Flower View
& A small rectangular box made of some sort of plastic, barely a quarter inch thick. Beneath the front plastic, there's a colorful piece of paper with "Touhou Oriental Flower Viewing Mound" written on the front in Japanese, and "Phantasmagoria of Flower View" written in English below it, backed by an unfamiliar silhouette that seems to be wearing an elaborate hat. At the bottom is another brief snippet of English reading "9th Touhou Project."
&Mu Fetish
& A small humanoid carving made out of a dark blue stone, with small gems for eyes. It's lanky, and slumped over in a rather apathetic pose. You can feel a sort of dark magic from it...
>You recognize the style of magic enough to guess that it's some sort of voodoo instrument, but you don't think you're skilled enough to use it safely.
&Brass Tanuki Statue
& A waist-height brass statue of a tanuki, standing upright with a curious look on its masked face. Oversized testicles included. Thankfully the fanboy isn't polishing that part.
&Koishi In a Bottle
& Somehow, the closed-eye satori that Marisa encountered after the trip underground has gotten shrunk down to about two inches in height and stuck in a glass jar on one of the shelves, watching you with an amused smile. What the hell is she doing here?
&All-You-Can-Eat Coupon
& A paper with a hastily scrawled note on it claiming it to be good for "all you can eat for one fourthmeal," at some place called 'Nightbird's Roost.' Also signed by a 'Mystia Lorelei.'
&Spiral Notebook
& A bunch of papers bound by a metal wire, with a thick black page marking the front and a dull brown back. It looks a little ratty.
&Magic Marker
& A white stick of sorts, one end covered in a black cap. It looks like the new style of pens that the fanboys brought over, but much thicker. "Magic Marker" is written on the side in black, along with a lot of other specific details and warnings.
&Magic Fry Pan
& An ordinary-looking metal frying pan. You can feel traces of an unfamiliar magic from it.
&Silver Ring
& A small silver ring, slightly large for your hands. You... aren't sure if it's enchanted. Very weakly, if it is.
&Moon Stone
& A smooth, silver-colored rock with a soft white glow that reminds you of the moon.
> Moon Stones can store solar energy to be used as a power source, but usually take years to charge to useful levels. This one's near dry.
&Ghostbusters T-Shirt
& A black t-shirt with a crossed-out person wearing a sheet on the front. Beneath it is the word "Ghostbusters," with the O replaced with the same crossed-out person.
>It'd be a bit large, but it wouldn't really get in the way. Generally not your style, though...
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> Ask the fanboys about all the items that you just examined.
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> That shirt could come in handy should we need temporary clothing to cover ourselves after our planned physical alteration, tacky as it may be. Best keep it in mind.
> We can do the proper alterations to our own clothing, right? Since we're such a great seamstress and all.
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> Ask the fanboys about all the items that you just examined.
>You begin your interrogations, mostly focusing on the one behind the counter. He pulls out a sheet of paper from beneath the counter and scans it regularly as he explains them in turn:
>"Oh, PoFV? Yeah, we get a lot of copies of the games. That one's about the flower incident when Komachi got lazy about ferrying spirits over to Higan."
>"I think she'd know that already." the other fanboy cuts in, gruffly.
>Shomaru frowns when you ask about the Mu Fetish. "Uh... apparently that's an idol to a god of nothingness. Rinnosuke said it was some sort of voodoo fetish, too."
>The other blows on the statue for a moment, then adds, "And I can feel the curses oozing from it."
>"I'm pretty sure it's not for sale." the polishing fanboy interrupts, before Shomaru can answer you about the tanuki statue. "Besides, I'm not sure you could get it out of here."
>Shomaru frowns. "Well, technically it is, but apparently Yukari likes having it here, so..."
>There's an uncomfortable silence before the other fanboy finishes the thought. "... right."
>"What? Koishi snuck in here again? Damnit!"
>"I keep telling you not to bother. She brings herself in whenever no one's looking." The polisher shoots Koishi a dirty look. "Or when no one notices."
>Koishi sticks out her tongue in response.
>"She's been doing that for a while now." Shomaru explains. "Whenever I try to let her go outside, she'll just vanish and end up in here in a day or two." He sighs. "And whenever a guy tries to, uh, buy her, she vanishes from the jar as soon as they're out of the door."
>"I keep telling you!" Koishi calls out, voice high-pitched and muffled in her current condition, "I'm here as a genie for what every girl wants! Not guys!"
>The fanboy at the counter sighs again. "I don't think I want to know what she means, but if you want to risk finding out..."
>"The coupon? Mystia really wanted the--"
>The polishing fanboy clears his throat loudly.
>"... right, confidentiality." Shomaru says, sheepishly. "Um, Mystia traded that in last night. But she really doesn't want it to end up in Yuyuko's hands, for, uh, understandable reasons."
>"But no promises." the other fanboy says, smirking.
>"That notebook's used, of course. I think they're Econ 101 notes? Reidman, do you know?"
>"No clue."
>Shomaru shrugs.
>"It's a magic marker. Uh... I'm not sure what to say?"
>"Big pen. Lasts forever. Smells nasty, makes you high."
>"I thought you said she knew stuff like that already?"
>Reidman snorts.
>"Rinnosuke said the frying pan's supposed to be used as a weapon."
>"And enchanted for it, I can tell." Reidman adds. "Good weight on that thing." He grins. "I swear, it's gotta be an Earthbound reference."
>"You think EVERYTHING is an Earthbound reference."
>"Shaddap."
>"The ring? I think that's just a ring."
>"I swear there's something magical to it." Reidman insists. "I just can't read it, it's so weak."
>"Apparently the stone's a battery or something?"
>"Does it charge faster than in CT?" Reidman asks, with a smirk.
>"What?"
>"Plebe."
>"Oh, uh, the shirt's mine." Shomaru says, sheepishly. "Needed a little something to get started, you know?"
>He does seem the right size for it.
> That shirt could come in handy should we need temporary clothing to cover ourselves after our planned physical alteration, tacky as it may be. Best keep it in mind.
> We can do the proper alterations to our own clothing, right? Since we're such a great seamstress and all.
>That's something resembling a use for it...
>You could, but you don't have the materials or equipment handy to do it effectively. Your sewing kit is still at home, and you'd have to take the fabric for expansion from somewhere else on your outfit unless you bring some of that, too. It wouldn't work very well unless you got the right materials beforehand.
-
> Point the Broken Antenna out to the one that bitched about EarthBound references. Then pray he gets hit with PSI StarStorm Omega.
> We would indeed need the materials, but more important is knowing we have the skills to make the proper alterations. Good, the lesser details seem to be coming along nicely. Now if only the major obstacle was already cleared...
> Recall known fabric sale locations.
> Ugh, the shirt belonged to HIM? So much for that idea.
> Recall known information about "Komachi".
> Is Koishi's bottle sealed?
> To Koishi: "'Sup?"
-
> Point the Broken Antenna out to the one that bitched about EarthBound references. Then pray he gets hit with PSI StarStorm Omega.
> We would indeed need the materials, but more important is knowing we have the skills to make the proper alterations. Good, the lesser details seem to be coming along nicely. Now if only the major obstacle was already cleared...
> Recall known fabric sale locations.
> Ugh, the shirt belonged to HIM? So much for that idea.
> Recall known information about "Komachi".
> Is Koishi's bottle sealed?
> To Koishi: "'Sup?"
>"Man, you have no idea how much I've wanted to stick that in Nitori's backpack and see what happens"
>You'll have to tweak the rest of our outfits at home as well, and you've heard rumors of back pain, but it could be worthwhile! Now if only you could find a lead...
>You have a good rapport with the weaver at the human village: your main source of income, most of the time, is putting together pieces of clothing to sell to the general store. Or directly to people, if a request catches your fancy.
>Of course, you also keep material for repairing clothes for yourself and your dolls at home. There should be plenty available.
>It looks like it was probably washed, but still... ew.
>Hmm... you think Marisa mentioned the name 'Komachi' a few times, but you don't really remember much else about her. You think the name first came up just after the 60 years' flower incident, so at least that lines up...
>Koishi's bottle is made of clear glass, plugged with a cork stopper with tiny airholes. It might take some effort to remove, but it should be doable.
>"Hello~" Koishi sings back, waving a tiny arm, "You're the doll lady that wants to get in Marisa's bloomers, right?"
>Damnit, not this again.
-
>Examine the Scotsman's Skullsplitter.
-
> To Koishi: "Why, you want that action to yourself?"
> Smirk.
> "So what's up with the bottle? What kinda racket you runnin' here?"
-
>Examine the Scotsman's Skullsplitter.
&Scotsman's Skullcutter
& A massive battle- (http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Scotsman%27s_Skullcutter)axe, almost as tall as you! Both blades are tinted with dried blood, and despite the mostly-wooden handle, it looks very heavy. It'd probably take a few dolls to carry this comfortably, let alone wield it.
> To Koishi: "Why, you want that action to yourself?"
> Smirk.
> "So what's up with the bottle? What kinda racket you runnin' here?"
>You decide to play along with the miniature satori. Denials never worked with Marisa, after all. Though the raised eyebrows from the fanboys leave you a little uncomfortable...
>Koishi laughs at your question. "I dunno! Would you share?"
>"And I told you, I'm a genie in a bottle! But there's just one wish I'm gonna grant..." she smiles mischievously. "Though it might help you with that bloomer entry~"
-
>"Can you get out of there yourself?"
>"In fact, how'd you get in there?"
-
>"Can you get out of there yourself?"
>"In fact, how'd you get in there?"
>"I put myself in here, silly! Of course I can get out!"
>Shomaru sighs. "I really have no idea what her deal is, but I don't like that grin she gets."
>Koishi gives you one as an example. It is... mildly unsettling, yes.
-
> "But how'd you do the shrink thing?"
-
>To the clerks: "So, if you don't want her here, it's no problem if I just help myself to this, right?"
>Gesture toward the bottle.
>If she can make herself tiny, she may well have useful knowledge in the realm of body modifications.
-
> "But how'd you do the shrink thing?"
>Koishi puts a hand on her chest and nods solemnly. "Trade secret."
>To the clerks: "So, if you don't want her here, it's no problem if I just help myself to this, right?"
>Gesture toward the bottle.
>If she can make herself tiny, she may well have useful knowledge in the realm of body modifications.
>Shomaru frowns. "Well, I don't have much of a problem with it, but Rinnosuke said to still charge for the jar... even if both keep showing up when we're not looking." He shakes his head. "Shouldn't be much though."
>That's true. Whether she'll share it, though...
-
>"What trade is that? And yeah, I can always use an extra jar."
-
>"What trade is that? And yeah, I can always use an extra jar."
>"What is this, Zelda?"
>"Good question!" Koishi replies, smiling.
>Shomaru runs his finger down the paper he took from behind the counter. After a moment, he says, "Make me an offer."
-
>"Fifty Yen."
-
>"Fifty Yen."
>Reidman snorts back a laugh as Shomaru gives you a confused look.
>"I think you can do a bit better than that." the polisher says.
-
>"No, I don't think I can. Pretty sure that's about what a chintzy glass jar is worth."
-
> If they don't settle for 50, then offer them 100.
> To Koishi "However you managed to shrink down like that, I may have use of info on that, especially for the 'action' bit."
PS: I have next to no idea how much 100 Yen is, or any amount really.
-
A yen's about a penny.
-
>"No, I don't think I can. Pretty sure that's about what a chintzy glass jar is worth."
>Reidman shakes his head. "Not in Gensokyo. Those things aren't mass-produced. We've basically skipped the industrial era here." He frowns for a moment, thinking. "Uh... back me up here, Sho."
>Shomaru nods, and explains. "That'd be crazy expensive for the outer world, but in Gensokyo, glass bottles aren't easy to make, and sand is difficult to come by when it's only on a few shores of the mountain rivers and the Misty Lake. Especially when the kappa are using most of it for silicon. Sorry, it'll be a bit more than you might normally expect." He frowns. "Apparently."
> If they don't settle for 50, then offer them 100.
> To Koishi "However you managed to shrink down like that, I may have use of info on that, especially for the 'action' bit."
>You try doubling your initial offer. Shomaru shakes his head. "Three hundred."
>Koishi tilts her head curiously. "'Action?' Does Marisa have a minigirl fetish?"
-
> To Koishi "Well, if you can shrink, then you could also grow right? Maybe even make yourself more... well endowed, so to speak? And if you can do that, then so could I. Also, do I have to get the bottle for you to go genie for me, or if I let you out, would you still do the genie act?"
-
> To Koishi "Well, if you can shrink, then you could also grow right? Maybe even make yourself more... well endowed, so to speak? And if you can do that, then so could I. Also, do I have to get the bottle for you to go genie for me, or if I let you out, would you still do the genie act?"
> Belay, it's unbecoming to be so forthright about such a desire, especially in front of those people.
Other question is fine, though.
> To Koishi: "Do I have to get the bottle for you to go genie for me, or if I let you out, would you still do the genie act?"
-
>To the clerks, before talking to Koishi: "You act like it's quality glass, and not a piece of trash. People don't make bottles to be fancy or worth that much. And I do dislike people trying to rip me off. Especially people who are already too suspicious for their own good. One hundred will be more than adequate, thank you."
-
>To the clerks, before talking to Koishi: "You act like it's quality glass, and not a piece of trash. People don't make bottles to be fancy or worth that much. And I do dislike people trying to rip me off. Especially people who are already too suspicious for their own good. One hundred will be more than adequate, thank you."
>Shomaru frowns. "... two hundred."
>"Looks decent quality to me..." Reidman mutters.
> To Koishi "Well, if you can shrink, then you could also grow right? Maybe even make yourself more... well endowed, so to speak? And if you can do that, then so could I. Also, do I have to get the bottle for you to go genie for me, or if I let you out, would you still do the genie act?"
> Belay, it's unbecoming to be so forthright about such a desire, especially in front of those people.
> To Koishi: "Do I have to get the bottle for you to go genie for me, or if I let you out, would you still do the genie act?"
>You consider being direct about your intents with the micro-satori, but manage to remember who would be listening in. Giving them more fodder is the last thing you need...
>Instead, you ask Koishi about the exact conditions of her wishes.
>She tilts her head again for a moment, then cheerfully replies, "I don't know! I never thought about that!"
-
>"Well, Koishi, it looks like we won't be doing anything after all. You may think these gentlemen for dissuading me."
>Our subconscious, of course, points out this is a clever ruse to lower the price. And it would help if Koishi plays along.
>_
-
>"Well, Koishi, it looks like we won't be doing anything after all. You may thank these gentlemen for dissuading me."
>Our subconscious, of course, points out this is a clever ruse to lower the price. And it would help if Koishi plays along.
>Koishi frowns. "Maybe I can make the glass fancier?"
>"I could go lower if you're willing to give up getting a refund if something weird happens." Shomaru says, "Apparently the bottle vanished a few times when other outworlders bought her before."
>_
>_
-
>"Very well."
-
>"Very well."
>Shomaru nods, then frowns at you for a moment and drums his fingers on the countertop, thinking. "... 120." he says, at length.
-
>Shomaru nods, then frowns at you for a moment and drums his fingers on the countertop, thinking. "... 120." he says, at length.
>"Did I misspeak earlier? Or are you hard of hearing? Koishi, do you think he's hard of hearing?"
-
>"Did I misspeak earlier? Or are you hard of hearing? Koishi, do you think he's hard of hearing?"
>"Nuh-uh! But he really likes those trashy romance novels!"
>Reidman snickers. "She's been paying attention, I see."
>Shomaru sighs heavily. "Fine. You win. One hundred."
-
>Pay up. Claim the bottle.
-
>Pay up. Claim the bottle.
>Shomaru scowls as he looks over the cash, then nods curtly and puts it away somewhere beneath the counter.
>You have spent ?100.
>You obtain: Koishi In a Bottle
-
>"How much for the moon stone?"
-
>Mark bottle as possible Chekhov's Gun.
-
>"How much for the moon stone?"
>Shomaru consults his paper again. "Three thousand. There's still a tiny bit of charge, apparently."
>"But it'll be invaluable in sixty-five million years!" Reidman adds, with a grin.
>Mark bottle as possible Chekhov's Gun.
>You really have no idea what Koishi might have to do with The Seagull, but the writer's name comes to mind for some reason.
-
>"Hmmm. I'll take it."
-
>"Hmmm. I'll take it."
>Shomaru blinks in surprise at your prompt acceptance. "Uh, yeah. Sure thing."
>Reidman continues grinning like an idiot. "A worthy investment!"
>You have spent ?3,000.
>You obtain: Moon Stone
-
> "You look surprised. A Moon Stone with some charge left is quite valuable, you know, and that was a fair price."
> Did we decide we had cloth available at home for alterations as well, or would we need to purchase that from the weaver?
-
>Look around. Does this place happen to carry the newpaper as well?
-
> "You look surprised. A Moon Stone with some charge left is quite valuable, you know, and that was a fair price."
> Did we decide we had cloth available at home for alterations as well, or would we need to purchase that from the weaver?
>"If you say so." Shomaru replies, putting the money away behind the counter.
>You have more than enough to modify your current outfit, and... probably about enough to modify the rest. Unless you decide to try and rival Yukari, in which case you might need a bit more to fix your whole wardrobe. You should be able to go a few days without getting more fabric, more if you reuse some of your outfits more than usual. But you'll have to restock soon after if you want to be ready for future repairs.
>Still, it'd probably be best to stop back home for sewing supplies and fabric for your current clothes if you want to be prepared for the altercation.
>Look around. Does this place happen to carry the newpaper as well?
>You don't see any copies of the newspaper lying around, but Rinnosuke seems gossipy enough to subscribe to Aya's nonsense. There might be something in the back.
-
>"Would you happen to have a newspaper?"
-
>"Would you happen to have a newspaper?"
>The fanboys glance at each other.
>"Uh, well..."
>"I can get you last week's." Reidman offers, getting up and climbing over the counter.
>"You sure? Rinnosuke said..."
>"He throws them out anyway, I doubt he'll care."
>Shomaru frowns as Reidman heads through the doorway behind the counter, giving you a brief glimpse of what is definitely the same room you remember from the Korindou of several months ago.
>After half a minute or so, he comes back out carrying a slightly faded, disheveled newspaper, and reaches over the countertop to offer it to you. "Here."
-
>Take it. Flip through it.
>"Thank you."
-
> Hmm. On one hand, it would be nice to put that obnoxious old hag in her place by outdoing her. On the other, there's something to be said about keeping a figure realistic. And they'd surely be pretty heavy.
> ...Might be worth picking up a little extra fabric next time we're in the village. Just in case. No seamstress ever suffered from being over-prepared.
-
> Hmm. On one hand, it would be nice to put that obnoxious old hag in her place by outdoing her. On the other, there's something to be said about keeping a figure realistic. And they'd surely be pretty heavy.
> ...Might be worth picking up a little extra fabric next time we're in the village. Just in case. No seamstress ever suffered from being over-prepared.
>Makai hath no fury like a Yukari scorned... probably. Assuming she doesn't decide to do the same...
>You can probably get a good supply for cheap enough. You're not sure what other costs you're going to be facing getting the main prize, though.
>Take it. Flip through it.
>"Thank you."
>"You're welcome." Reidman replies, with a gleeful grin. It soon vanishes, replaced with a look of embarrassment as he heads back to his corner.
>You skim through the newspaper, and find it rather different than the Bunbunmaru you remember. Virtually every page has some sort of advertisement on it, showing off an array of goods, services, and places that you'd barely dreamed possible. You even notice two full-page advertisements: one for someplace claiming to sell 'oni-slaying sake,' and the other a rather... imposing image of Reimu reminding everyone not to mess with the year's harvest, with a note at the bottom about being a 'public service announcement.'
>The main parts of the paper are split up by several broad topics. There are a few ads and articles that catch your eye among them:
&Village News:
& Power Outage Cut Short by Fever, Heretical Academy Draws Complaints, Nightbird's Roost
&Gensokyo News:
& Things on China's Head, Mysterious Maid Cafe!, Body Found on Youkai Mountain
&Internet Report:
& Meme of the Week: Get Down, Kappature Science, Blog of Knowledge
&Homekeeping:
& Flower Power Hour, Dishwashing With Magic, ATAI STRONGEST
&Editorials:
& Gensokyo's Tech Boom, The Dangers of Overpopulation, Why Find Mima
-
>Check "Gensokyo's Tech Boom."
-
>Check "Gensokyo's Tech Boom."
>The past few months have seen incredible leaps forward in the technology of Gensokyo, through the slow acceptance of outer-world science and the application of magic to produce comparable alternatives to the comforts of home outside. There are conservative roadbumps, of course, but things are progressing explosively, and it's an excellent example of how the outer world has helped Gensokyo develop. The recent completion and rapid spread of blender and mince spells is a shining example of how outer-world ideas can be implemented effectively while making use of the magic of Gensokyo. To say nothing, of course, of the rapid implementation and development of the internet, with universal broadband in the Human Village, highly-used T3 lines to both the Scarlet Devil Mansion and Eintei, and the ensuing influx of knowledge from all of the outer world. Gensokyo is expanding and improving itself at a wonderous pace. We must embrace the wonders of these changes and follow through with them to advance Gensokyo to the best world it can be.
- Honoka Taiko
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Bunbunmaru.
>_
-
> How many of these terms do we recognize?
-
> How many of these terms do we recognize?
>You understand most of it, despite the fancy language, but there are two parts that are confusing.
>You don't know what a 'blender' is, but you know 'mincing' is a way to prepare food - presumably it's another preparation method? But why spells?
>And this 'internet' has always been a bit of a mystery to you. You've heard fanboys talk about it fairly often in the past, but you never exactly sought out a thorough explanation. Given the enthusiasm they had about it and the seemingly all-knowing nature of 'the internet,' your best guess would it being some sort of deity of the outer world common among the fanboys. But that doesn't explain 'broadband' or 'T3' in any capacity - maybe those are priest titles or something? No, that still doesn't make sense...
>_
-
> Damnit, we're falling behind the times. Soon we'll be the country bumpkin. Hopefully Marisa's equally oblivious to some of this shit.
> Not that we're going to ask these two for any help.
> Check out "Body Found on Youkai Mountain".
-
> Damnit, we're falling behind the times. Soon we'll be the country bumpkin. Hopefully Marisa's equally oblivious to some of this shit.
> Not that we're going to ask these two for any help.
> Check out "Body Found on Youkai Mountain".
>You've fallen behind on events during other hiatuses like this, but it was never THIS bad... maybe shooing Marisa away when she tried to visit was a bad idea? Tsundere jokes and fanboy gossip fodder aside, at least...
>You get the feeling you'll be able to find a more respectable source to get updates from than this duo.
>You flip back to the Gensokyo News segment and read through what's probably the most newsworthy article in the paper:
At 7:14 PM Thursday, the body of an unidentified male was found in the Cattail Gully of Youkai Mountain. He was killed by falling off of the side of the mountain sometime in the past three days. If you know the identity of this young man, or any further information about his death, please report it to the Tengu Patrol. The Bunbunmaru staff would like to remind all readers that cannot fly to be very careful when traveling in hilly areas! Even friendly fairies can forget whether pushing you off a cliff is a safe prank!
>The article is accompanied by a photograph of the face of a young man with pale-colored hair, lying on a riverbank. His facial structure doesn't quite look... local. And he's definitely unfamiliar.
-
> Oh, right, the outsiders can't fly, can they? Shame. Oh well.
> Let's see, what else is here...
> Power Outage...and Fever? Sounds vaguely like that dancing oarfish youkai woman from when the red-white's shrine got knocked over. Might be worth looking into.
> Nightbird's Roost, probably a Mystia story. Eh.
> Don't care about China.
> Don't care about maids.
> ...the hell is a 'meme'?
> Flower Power Hour, could be worth looking into just to get brownie points with Yuuka.
> Cirno story? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Pass.
> Mima? Mima? Wow, that's a name we haven't heard in ages. Didn't she die or something? Whatever, who cares.
> Peruse Power Outage Cut Short By Fever. Could be good to learn more about that oarfish youkai.
-
Frying pan enchanted as a weapon
Say what? (http://www.giantbomb.com/linear-cannon/94-12611/)
Oh well, it clashes with our established fighting style anyway.
>Blog of Knowledge? Patchouli's already involved with this internet thing? I didn't think she was religious.
>Dishwashing with magic, huh? dolls aren't very good with water, so we might want to look into that one as well.
>Stomach growls
>We should ask to pay for the foodstand coupon. We're going to want it.
-
> Oh, right, the outsiders can't fly, can they? Shame. Oh well.
> Let's see, what else is here...
> Power Outage...and Fever? Sounds vaguely like that dancing oarfish youkai woman from when the red-white's shrine got knocked over. Might be worth looking into.
> Nightbird's Roost, probably a Mystia story. Eh.
> Don't care about China.
> Don't care about maids.
> ...the hell is a 'meme'?
> Flower Power Hour, could be worth looking into just to get brownie points with Yuuka.
> Cirno story? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Pass.
> Mima? Mima? Wow, that's a name we haven't heard in ages. Didn't she die or something? Whatever, who cares.
> Peruse Power Outage Cut Short By Fever. Could be good to learn more about that oarfish youkai.
>You think the same sort of thing happened a few times while you were still paying attention early in their invasion. You're not sure whether the article has any significant meaning to it, or if it was just a slow news day. Or pandering to the fanboys, maybe.
>You review the article titles that caught your eye and write off a few as unnecessary or irrelevant, at least for the time being. And the Nightbird and ATAI advertisements.
>The local news power outage sounds sane enough to be worth reading, though:
The Human Village electricity blackout Tuesday night was ended ahead of schedule by a philanthropic visit by Iku Nagae, the increasingly-famous dancing envoy of the dragon palace.
"I saw the lights in the village go out when I was on my way back to the Palace's island." she said, in an exclusive interview with our reporter, "I remembered that some of the men from the outer world said my lightning would be able to help with that, so I visited to find out what I could do."
As it turned out, an electrifying dance by Miss Nagae was enough to bring the blackout to an end, and maintain electricity through the Human Village for the remaining hour of repairs needed at the river generator.
"I'm very glad my dancing was useful as well as enjoyable." Iku said, after the performance, "But I must return home."
After she left, many outworlders that had watched the dance expressed a desire to visit Heaven to see her again. Sadly, the seeking of Disco Fever may not be enough to bring these dreamers to Heaven.
>Aside from not having a clear understanding of electricity or power generators and how that would relate to the lights going out, this is about what you expected from the article.
>Blog of Knowledge? Patchouli's already involved with this internet thing? I didn't think she was religious.
>Dishwashing with magic, huh? dolls aren't very good with water, so we might want to look into that one as well.
>Stomach growls
>We should ask to pay for the foodstand coupon. We're going to want it.
>You have no idea what a blog is, but if Patchouli's involved in it, she could probably provide a good explanation. Hopefully it hasn't changed her too much...
>Waterproofing isn't that difficult, actually. Especially when you custom-ordered a handful of rust-proof doll arms for a specifically domestic set. Still, how would you pull that off directly...?
>Your stomach lets out a rather unfeminine growl. Shomaru starts to laugh, then claps his hands over his mouth and falls silent, wide-eyed.
>You try to overlook his blatant gaffe for the moment, and ask about the food coupon. He takes a moment to reply, looking rather nervous, but manages to answer, "Three thousand, five hundred."
>You only have ?3,400 left.
-
> Recall the usual prices at Mystia's stand.
> Patchouli getting on the internet, eh? Hopefully this means she'll be able to answer some of our questions.
> ...Where did we put Koishi, anyway?
-
> Recall the usual prices at Mystia's stand.
> Patchouli getting on the internet, eh? Hopefully this means she'll be able to answer some of our questions.
> ...Where did we put Koishi, anyway?
>You've only visited Mystia's stand a handful of times, so you don't really know the exact prices offhand. But you're pretty sure you could get a good meal there for ?2,000 on the high end, probably less. You don't think you'd be able to eat enough to warrant a ?3,500 price tag, even after starving for a week. Well, prices might have changed...
>You and Patchouli aren't the warmest of friends, but with so many shared interests it'd be difficult not to get to know one another. Actually making visits with your personalities, though...
>You left Koishi's bottle on the countertop next to the paper when you started reading. She has her face pressed up to the side, peering down at the articles.
>_
-
> To Koishi: "See anything good?"
Zakeri, how's that price looking for you? I want to make sure we have enough money to get extra fabric, so I don't want to blow it all here.
-
> To Koishi: "See anything good?"
>"What's the meme of the week?" she asks, curiously. "And what do people do at the maid cafe?"
>Shomaru bites his lower lip for a moment.
-
> "The meme of last week appears to be 'Get Down'."
> Do we have any idea what this is?
> Stare at Shomaru.
> "Would you like to answer her other question?"
-
> "The meme of last week appears to be 'Get Down'."
> Do we have any idea what this is?
> Stare at Shomaru.
> "Would you like to answer her other question?"
>"Well, what's it about?" Koishi asks, smearing her nose against the glass a bit as she tries to look.
>Not a clue.
>The fanboy at the counter balks under your stare. "Uh, well..."
>"It's a stupid fanboy thing." Reidman calls over, "It's more embarrassing than anything."
>"Well yeah, but what do you do?" Koishi presses, a mischievous smile on her face.
>"That... would probably depend on what sort of maid cafe it is."
-
> "I wonder if I really want to learn about such a thing."
> "This 'meme' sounds rather harmless, though."
> Sure, why not. Making Koishi happy may get us more of what we want out of her.
> Flip to the Meme article.
-
> "I wonder if I really want to learn about such a thing."
> "This 'meme' sounds rather harmless, though."
> Sure, why not. Making Koishi happy may get us more of what we want out of her.
> Flip to the Meme article.
>"Probably not, yeah." Reidman agrees.
>Memes themselves may be harmless, but some of the things Marisa's done to mock you and calling them 'memes' from the fanboys have been rather aggravating. Apparently 'Alice is tsundere' is a 'meme,' and she mocked you a fair bit about that. Sadly, there was no easy way to dispel the idea...
>Regardless, you flip over to the "Meme of the Week: Get Down" article, and move the paper so the article can be easily read by Koishi.
>Would you like to read along with her, or leave her to it?
-
> Read along with her. The last thing we need is another embarrassment we don't know is coming.
-
>Do we know what the term "tsundere" means?
-
>Have a look at those academy and overpopulation articles, too.
-
>To be honest, I'd rather chance going to Mystia's without the coupon, rather than spend all of our money on it. I vehemently disagree with what Kilgamayan's trying to do, but I am on the same page as far as not spending too much money.
>Read the Meme article. It might help us find out what a Meme is.
-
I wouldn't normally do it but it fits the character.
(Also I more or less figured Maus would see it coming and thus probably be more receptive to it than most. >_> Not to say it'll be easy, of course - I expect a lot of resistance from both parser and fellow players to get this done.)
-
And bastards like me who might ruin it at any time for the laughs.
-
And yes, there is that too.
Frankly I'm surprised it took this long for anyone to say anything.
-
I wouldn't normally do it but it fits the character.
(http://i52.tinypic.com/jrsidy.jpg) (http://i55.tinypic.com/2s1x1y8.jpg)
Consider this an official declaration of war, as far as the boob-job goes.
-
I'm very aware of what Alice is and isn't. I claimed this sidequest fits the character operating with the Alice presented to us at the beginning of the game. Note how I have been properly bitchy when necessary, both internally and externally (aside from having fun with Koishi), and that at no time did Marisa enter my thought process when deciding to do this.
-
(http://i52.tinypic.com/jrsidy.jpg) (http://i55.tinypic.com/2s1x1y8.jpg)
Consider this an official declaration of war, as far as the boob-job goes.
Oh hey, another thing that neglects she's canonically tsundere, too. (IN stage 1)
-
>Do we know what the term "tsundere" means?
>Yes. Marisa explained that fairly clearly to make sure that her teasing got through. Apparently it's a twisted form of romance popular among the fanboys, where one of the lovers acts cold, distant, or hostilely 'tsun' most of the time, to conceal the submissively affectionate 'dere' they don't want to admit to.
>Unfortunately, this also means that repeated denials of it have accomplished nothing, as they can be interpreted as fitting right into the model.
>To be honest, I'd rather chance going to Mystia's without the coupon, rather than spend all of our money on it. I vehemently disagree with what Kilgamayan's trying to do, but I am on the same page as far as not spending too much money.
>Unless lamprey is somehow nearly impossible to find now, you doubt that Mystia would have any reason to increase her prices substantially - it'd probably be much cheaper to just go and pay for the amount you eat, unless you somehow grow two extra stomachs. But that doesn't explain why an all-you-can-eat coupon would be so expensive... and why does it specify 'fourthmeal?'
> Read along with her. The last thing we need is another embarrassment we don't know is coming.
>Read the Meme article. It might help us find out what a Meme is.
(http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/2708/nitorigeddanphoto.jpg)
"Get Down" or "Geddan" is a popular music-dance meme that started from a glitch in Goldeneye for the Nintendo 64, where people in the game spun around spasmodically in midair. (sm602860) The video was soon put to a short part of Hirose Kohmi's "Promise," a Japanese song from the outer world (sm689476), and the two were later combined into a hand-drawn dance video of futaba's beloved Mona dancing in much the same style (sm4946055), titled "☆GEDDAN☆" after the first two English words used.
This hand-animated version took off as a true meme, spawning dozens of imitations, both collections of live-action still shots and image animations. Naturally, works based on the Touhou crew were a significant part of this move, and a simplistically-drawn but well-made video of the kappa engineer Nitori Kawashiro (pictured, nm5374848) was among the most popular of the videos. Now everybody, Get Down!
>The article is accompanied by a photo (http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/2708/nitorigeddanphoto.jpg), that looks more like some sort of well-made painting than an actual person. Is that what Nitori looks like?
>You really don't understand much of this one. Video? Glitch? Nintendo? Goldeneye? Futaba? Mona? Live-action? And what are those meaningless numbers for?
>You've taken to defining 'meme' as 'stupid fanboy shit.' The article does little to dispel this perception, but at least it seems more benign than some of the stuff Marisa's sprung on you.
>"Cool!" Koishi says, after finishing the article herself, "Did they make one of me?"
>"I... don't remember seeing one..." Shomaru says, hesitantly.
>Koishi's face falls. "Aww..."
>"Wait." Reidman cuts in, "Wasn't there that one made by the guy who did Smooochireiden?"
>"Oh, yeah! That one! With Satori, right?"
>"Yeah."
>"Yaha! I'll have to see that one!" Koishi cries, grinning happily.
>Have a look at those academy and overpopulation articles, too.
>You rethink the wisdom of disregarding a few of the articles you passed over earlier, and flip over to the Village News segment to start reading there.
>"Whatcha reading now?" Koishi asks, peering down at the paper as you read.
The Scientific Studies Academy constructed along the route to the kappa domain has always been controversial, but advertisement fliers put up in town square Wednesday sparked new anger from many locals. The fliers were taken down shortly after their discovery around 5 PM, but emotions ran high both during and after the process.
"It's obscene." one of the villagers removing them fumed, when asked by our reporter, "To come back here and mock us after fleeing to the kappa to practice their heresies is inexcusable!"
Several of the village elders agreed, when asked later that evening. "It is bad enough that we allowed these heretics of science to spread their madness in the first place." Elder Yuzuki said, speaking for a number of the others, "If the kappa are mad enough to let those fanboys turn their backs on the gods and the truth, then they are free to destroy themselves. But to come here to lure our children into their insanity is completely unacceptable."
Others did not oppose the action as strongly. Elder Chouko had a much quieter position on the matter. "I still believe that the outworlders are right about it being better to allow even violently offensive and heretical ideas, to see what good can be made of them or to allow their believers to destroy themselves. We only demanded that the academy be built outside of the village - this is an insensitive action by them, but I do not believe it is necessary to give them much punishment beyond ensuring they never do it again."
Representatives of the Scientific Studies Academy were unavailable for comment when our reporter visited.
The recent influx of humans from outside of Gensokyo has led to many changes - some good, some bad. More importantly, a lot of those changes have had mixed effects: The popularity of people starring in the 'Touhou' series has led both to increased appreciation and comfort for many figures that do deserve it, but also many counts of slander or hostility to others, as well as mixed appreciation for that popularity and attention itself. Science, too, has had its share of problems, leading both to legitimate conflicts and useful inventions. But one issue only seems to receive positive attention: The rapidly increasing number of fanboy outworlders has often been touted as a great boon to Gensokyo, since regardless of their strength or sanity, the sheer number of them allows for enough people to hire them for menial tasks and lighten up the workloads of everyone in Gensokyo - the days of 14-hour farming shifts has, by all accounts, ended. However, the outer world itself shows some of the dangers of such high population: When there are so many people in the same place, especially with many having few skills, a new problem arises in the difficulty of being able to have appropriate work for all of them. While the help with menial tasks is generally appreciated, and there are great benefits to advancing new technologies to improve life for people, after a certain point it becomes difficult to create or find meaningful jobs for some of the population. These cast-offs, unable to find meaningful work out of laziness, lack of skills, or despair, often end up turning to either welfare or theft to survive, which can cause many problems for the working people that they survive off of. While the Myouren Temple's charity to all newcomers is appropriate and appreciated, its generosity is unlikely to be sustainable, and the actual formation of Kotohime's police department is a worrying sign. There is no easy solution to this problem, due to the moral quandaries involved and Yukari's insistence on not letting fanboys leave Gensokyo due to being a security risk, but it is important to openly take it into account before this counter-intuitive subtlety begins contributing to the same problems that the outer world is facing now.
- Midori Natsumi
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Bunbunmaru.
>_
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>Depart the store, making sure to grab Koishi first.
>"So. What is the deal with you and the bottle, exactly?"
-
>Dey dook yer jerbs!
>But seriously, investigate financial security. :ohdear:
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>Dey dook yer jerbs!
>But seriously, investigate financial security. :ohdear:
>If that second article's true, then maybe Rinnosuke isn't the only one with fanboys around to do busywork...
>Financial security is generally a low priority for you: Since food is technically optional and you have your own house and well, you don't have to pay for the rawest physical necessities. You've even done some simple home repairs on your own with only doll labor to help, and there's plenty of wood and stone in the forest. The main thing you really have to spend money on is fabric for clothing, assuming you don't want to go naked.
>That said, unless there's a lot of fanboys which can rival your sewing skills, you doubt you'll be completely pushed out of your usual clothes-selling niche.
>Depart the store, making sure to grab Koishi first.
>You pick up Koishi's bottle and head back for the door, noticing that the back of the sign on it reads "Sorry, we're CLOSED." Strange.
>"Thanks for shopping at Korindou!" Shomaru calls after you, as you walk out of the shop. You hear him shuffling up the paper on the desk, probably to put it back.
>"So. What is the deal with you and the bottle, exactly?"
>Once safely out of earshot on the road to Korindou, you try speaking with the bottled satori you purchased.
>Koishi gives you a big grin, an eager glint in her eye. "I saw something online that was kinda neat, then I got the genie idea. There's a reaaaaaaally fun wish in store for you~"
>You don't think you like that look on her face.
-
>"Have I already obligated myself to it? Or could I pass off your unopened bottle to someone else and inflict it on them?"
-
>Non-nonchalantly threaten to store the bottle somewhere for safe keeping after hearing the implications behind the wish.
>Don't do so in a way that would convince Koishi that we're really going to do that, though.
>Ask her about this "Online" since she knows so much about it. Avoid saying too much about it to not show our complete ignorance.
-
>"Have I already obligated myself to it? Or could I pass off your unopened bottle to someone else and inflict it on them?"
>"Well, I was going to ask whether you wanted to give it to yourself or a friend..."
>Non-nonchalantly threaten to store the bottle somewhere for safe keeping after hearing the implications behind the wish.
>Don't do so in a way that would convince Koishi that we're really going to do that, though.
>Ask her about this "Online" since she knows so much about it. Avoid saying too much about it to not show our complete ignorance.
>This sounds like a good plan, but how do you intend to go about it?
-
> "I don't suppose I get to know what it is first?"
-
> "I don't suppose I get to know what it is first?"
>Her grin widens. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, I already gave you a hint! The one thing every girl wants~"
-
> "And would this wish actually be granted? Or would we only think it it had been granted?"
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> "And would this wish actually be granted? Or would we only think it it had been granted?"
>She screws up her face and crosses her arms in a rather cute little pout. "Do you really think I'm that mean?! Of course you'll really have one!"
-
>"...I do get the right to revoke this wish if I don't like it, right?"
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>"...I do get the right to revoke this wish if I don't like it, right?"
>She grins again, like nothing had happened. "Where's the fun in that?"
-
>She grins again, like nothing had happened. "Where's the fun in that?"
>"Well, it'd be more fun that for you than me wringing your next."
>Walk some distance from the store, toward Marisaheim. Once we get far enough away we feel secure in our privacy, and have a look around to make sure there are no interfering Speedwagons faeries, open the bottle.
>_
-
>Do what Purvis said, except belay last phrase
>"Before I let you out. Can I ask you a few questions?"
>"I haven't exactly been ... keeping up with the times this past month of so. This "internet" and "Meme" thing is getting pretty out of hand. I've heard you take an interest, I know Marisa has, and apparently, Knowledge has as well. Can you explain to me, even vaguely, what this thing is?"
Note: I still plan on opening the bottle in a concealed location (Worse case scenario: Kilga wins unexpectedly early, and I can forget about the war declaration I made.) But I want to get Alice up to date first.
-
>"Well, it'd be more fun that for you than me wringing your next neck."
>She raises her eyebrows in surprise, then gives you a smug smirk.
>Walk some distance from the store, toward Marisaheim. Once we get far enough away we feel secure in our privacy, and have a look around to make sure there are no interfering Speedwagons faeries, open the bottle.
>Do what Purvis said, except belay last phrase
>"Before I let you out. Can I ask you a few questions?"
>"I haven't exactly been ... keeping up with the times this past month of so. This "internet" and "Meme" thing is getting pretty out of hand. I've heard you take an interest, I know Marisa has, and apparently, Knowledge has as well. Can you explain to me, even vaguely, what this thing is?"
>You head into the forest towards Marisa's house, favoring the strictly direct route through the forest over the easier meandering path Marisa usually uses.
>Once you're decently into the forest, you take a furtive look around to make sure no fairies are running amok nearby. It's rare this close to Marisa's, and at this time of the morning, but better safe than sorry.
>Thankfully, you're still nowhere near Mystia's, so stands and Speedwagons are not an issue
>Once satisfied of your safety, you begin your interrogations.
>Koishi's eyes glint again. "So you're gonna let me out?"
>She frowns for a moment, and tilts her head. "What questions?"
>You admit your unfamiliarity with the fanboys' recent shenanigans, and Koishi bursts out laughing.
>"Seriously? You've been that cooped up? Ahahaha! Okay, okay, fine. Uh... the internet is..."
>She trails off for a moment, a distant look in her eyes, then grins and starts singing in a relatively deep voice.
>"The internet is for porn, the internet is for porn, why you think the 'net was born? Porn, porn, porn!"
>Koishi grins up at you for a moment, then continues in a somewhat different singing voice.
>"I'm glad we have this new technology~ Which gives us untold opportunity~ Right from you own desktop, you can research browse and shop, until you've had enough and you're ready to stop!"
>She switches 'voice' again. "FOR PORN!"
>Somehow, you doubt that was a serious answer.
-
>combine :blush:, :fail: and :flamingv: into one expression
>"I regret even bothering."
>Open bottle.
-
> Before opening the bottle, shake it a bit and try to get a serious answer from her.
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> Before opening the bottle, shake it a bit and try to get a serious answer from her.
>Don't do this. We really don't need to get on Koishi's bad side.
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>Don't do this. We really don't need to get on Koishi's bad side.
> Well, at least try to get a serious answer out of her.
-
> Well, at least try to get a serious answer out of her.
>This we can do
>"That wasn't really helpful at all. Honestly, what is it?"
-
>combine :blush:, :fail: and :flamingv: into one expression
>You blush in combined embarrassment, exasperation, and fury. What is wrong with this girl?!
>"I regret even bothering."
> Before opening the bottle, shake it a bit and try to get a serious answer from her.
>You consider both snarkiness and light violence to express your exasperation with the tiny satori,
>Don't do this. We really don't need to get on Koishi's bad side.
> Well, at least try to get a serious answer out of her.
>This we can do
>"That wasn't really helpful at all. Honestly, what is it?"
>, but hold your temper well enough to avoid lashing out at her.
>Koishi laughs when you point out that her singing wasn't exactly helpful. "Well yeah, that was a joke! A fun meme song from... uh... oh, nevermind." She pauses and considers for a moment. "Okay, the real deal is, uh... the internet is... a big network of computers that lets you do all sorts of stuff from online whenever you're at a computer! You can really do all of those things I listed. But I like chatting and joking around with people online more than most of those..."
>Open bottle.
>Are you satisfied with her answer?
-
> "Chatting? You can talk to people through computers?"
> Recall definition of 'porn'.
-
>What do we know about computers? Because the fact that they're like Shikigami without souls.
>"A network? As in, you can pass information through it?"
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> "Chatting? You can talk to people through computers?"
> Recall definition of 'porn'.
>"Well, sort of. Yukari's security filter makes voice chat too laggy, but text chat works pretty well!"
>You aren't entirely sure wh--wait! No, Marisa made a point of that once, too. It was short for pornography, right? Erotica? Naked and sexual pictures? Apparently often of big people in Gensokyo... including yourself. She showed you a strange painting of sorts of... well, one of you and her, once. It was extremely disturbing. And you think she mostly lost the danmaku fight immediately afterwards because she was laughing too hard.
>Thankfully, she didn't try to do it again, though you stopped letting her visit shortly after that...
>What do we know about computers? Because the fact that they're like Shikigami without souls.
>"A network? As in, you can pass information through it?"
>They're another thing that fanboys have always had a strong interest in, though you don't have a clear understanding of them. Apparently, they're like boxes that can make noises and show pictures from some sort of magical window, and only really respond to the pressing of runes attached to them or moving some other artifact along the ground. Sometimes they require a big wire to be attached to them, sometimes they don't.
>... thinking about it, it does make sense that they'd be related to the 'internet.'
>Koishi nods. "Yep! The internet's all about sending all sorts of information everywhere!"
>_
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> "Do you know any place where I can..check this internet?"
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> "Do you know any place where I can..check this internet?"
>"You can probably talk some fanboy at the human village into letting you use their computer." She grins. "Especially if you offer a pair of panties."
-
>"No."
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> Nearly give into the urge to shake the bottle but don't.
> "I'm not that desperate. Any place else?"
-
> Ugh, that stuff? How on earth does Marisa look at...that and not get extremely offended and disgusted? That's us being used to...oh God...
> Resist urge to be violently ill.
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> Ugh, that stuff? How on earth does Marisa look at...that and not get extremely offended and disgusted? That's us being used to...oh God...
> Resist urge to be violently ill.
>Marisa always took the fanboy idiocy in stride alarmingly well, but being able to shrug off something like that... granted, she always seemed rather comfortable with sexuality, but still...
>You managed to contain your stomach until after beating up Marisa for that, but even the memory is unsettling... thankfully there isn't anything in there at the moment to aggravate you further.
> Nearly give into the urge to shake the bottle but don't.
>This girl is seriously pushing her luck...
>"No."
>Koishi laughs again. "Well, I never said it was necessary, did I? Just it'd guarantee it!"
> "I'm not that desperate. Any place else?"
>She chuckles. "But it's so easy if they already know about you!"
>"I think there's a lot of places that have it now, actually. Rinnosuke was planning to work out getting a wire line set up sometime soon..." she trails off for a moment, and frowns. "... and I know Satori loves being able to e-mail people without having to read their minds."
>_
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> "Are these expensive? I will probably stab myself later for thinking this, but...they actually sound some degree of useful."
> "Beyond being a medium for...ugh. How can you sing about that stuff? Have you never been the subject of it?"
-
>Think about it though. We could borrow book without having to borrow books. It's just the words, not the paper itself we'd be taking, right? Plus, we wouldn't have to leave the house as much while we're studying.
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>Think about it though. We could borrow book without having to borrow books. It's just the words, not the paper itself we'd be taking, right? Plus, we wouldn't have to leave the house as much while we're studying.
>Research without leaving home... information from everywhere... could those fanboys actually be on to something good?
> "Are these expensive? I will probably stab myself later for thinking this, but...they actually sound some degree of useful."
>"They're awesome!" Koishi cries. "And you could probably get one, but it might be a little tricky. The kappa are trying to make computers now, but there's a few people that buy most of the stuff as soon as it's done." She frowns. "You might be able to talk someone out of theirs, but I don't think panties would be enough... even used."
> "Beyond being a medium for...ugh. How can you sing about that stuff? Have you never been the subject of it?"
>She grins. "The internet is a wonderful and terrible place! Both flattering and disgusting!"
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> "I don't suppose we get free license to maim anyone we happen to find with that...stuff, if we're involved?"
> This can be as quick and accessible as it likes, we're not so desperate as to whore ourselves out. Might be worth starting to dedicate more time toward our practice, however...the extra money could be useful.
-
> This can be as quick and accessible as it likes, we're not so desperate as to whore ourselves out. Might be worth starting to dedicate more time toward our practice, however...the extra money could be useful.
>This discovery may warrant a larger purchase, yes... perhaps even the last of your savings at home.
> "I don't suppose we get free license to maim anyone we happen to find with that...stuff, if we're involved?"
>Koishi chuckles. "Nothing stopping you from giving them a danmaku challenge. Just try not to hurt 'em too much, or Reimu'll get mad."
>"Don't try and think it's possible to get rid of all of it, though..."
-
> "We really need to put a cap on immigration."
> Shiver.
> "Let's think about something more pleasant. Did I understand right that you would return to Kourindou after your wish was used? Does that mean, if I liked what you did enough, I could go back there and purchase you again?"
-
> "We really need to put a cap on immigration."
> Shiver.
>Koishi smiles oddly. "You'd have to bring that one up with Yukari."
> "Let's think about something more pleasant. Did I understand right that you would return to Kourindou after your wish was used? Does that mean, if I liked what you did enough, I could go back there and purchase you again?"
>"More pleasant?"
>She listens to your questions, then grins. "I didn't know what I was gonna do after I granted it, but you seem really eager! Maybe I could give you both versions!"
-
> "...there are two versions?"
> Ponder what thing 'every girl wants' of which there could possibly be two versions.
-
> "...there are two versions?"
> Ponder what thing 'every girl wants' of which there could possibly be two versions.
>She grins broadly. "Yep! One for yourself, one to play with friends!"
>You... really don't know offhand. What WOULD every girl want? At least, in Koishi's mind...?
>Koishi speaks up amid your silence. "Now, Frau Alice, I believe you were planning to release the genie, da?"
>... why is she speaking German?
-
I suddenly have a VERY bad feeling about this. >_>
Regardless, I vote for opening the bottle.
> "Well...a few final questions, if you don't mind. Sorry, it's just...I like to do my research, you know?"
> "You mentioned that your physical alteration was a 'trade secret'. What would I have to do to learn about it?"
> "And why are you speaking German?"
-
> "Well...a few final questions, if you don't mind. Sorry, it's just...I like to do my research, you know?"
> "You mentioned that your physical alteration was a 'trade secret'. What would I have to do to learn about it?"
> "And why are you speaking German?"
>"Heheh! What else you research, then?"
>"You'd have to find out whose trade it is!" Koishi explains. "Though, I guess it's gotten out a fair bit..."
>She grins at your last question. "It's your fiiiinal hint."
-
...I know what's going to happen.
Still voting for opening the bottle; I have no real trepidation for doing so any longer. Kinda anticlimactic result after all that, but, for 100 yen, still a bargain, so. (Plus that final line clued me in on where to start for physical alteration research.)
That being said, I'm obviously not going to act unilaterally (and I want to give people a chance to figure it out on their own), so I'll go to bed soon and let other people weigh in.
-
I've had suspicions for awhile.
>OPEN ZE BOTTLE!
-
>OPEN ZE BOTTLE!
>FUCK THIS NOISE
>Whatever this tiny satori is scheming, you figure it's high time to see what the hell it is.
>As it turns out, the cork top of Koishi's bottle isn't sealed on nearly as tightly as you thought: It comes off with a loud POP shortly after you start pulling on it.
>This is accompanied by a puff of magical smoke shooting out of the bottle, obscuring the air in front of you. It fades in the wind quickly enough, revealing a full-size Koishi hovering a few feet in the air in front of you, arms crossed and smirking down at you.
>"So, dear herrin, you have unsealed my might! I grant you a gift as a wish - but I must ask you. Do you want this gift as something to give to yourself? Or something to share with a... friend?"
>Still with the German. Is she trying to imitate an accent?
-
>"I don't get any more hints, do I?"
-
>"I don't get any more hints, do I?"
>A toothy grin. "No."
>She considers for a moment. "... well, maybe you can guess! That could be fun."
>"Now, for yourself, or a friend?"
-
Could go either way. I'm slightly more inclined to vote "friend" because that might get us both for being selfless, though getting anything for a "friend" could cause more nasty rumors.
-
>"I suppose a friend would be fine."
-
The parser would like to apologize in advance for what is about to happen.
>"I suppose a friend would be fine."
>She gives you a small, unsettling smile (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3793/koishirosesmirk.jpg).
>"So be it."
>You blink, and suddenly Koishi is nowhere to be seen.
-
> Look around warily.
-
> Look around warily.
>You eye the trees and bushes around you with cautiously. People vanishing like that is rarely a good sign.
>... isn't it Koishi's power to do something like that, though?
>Wait, that branch moved a second ago, didn't it-
>Something grabs around your waist from behind!
>Oh god is that hand groping the crotch of your dress?!
-
>Now is not the time to panic!
>Now is the time to estimate where our assailant's face ought to be, and turn to slam our elbow into it.
-
>Now is not the time to panic!
>Now is the time to estimate where our assailant's face ought to be, and turn to slam our elbow into it.
>If nothing else, panic must be done productively!
>While it's difficult to get a good angle for striking at the spot you suspect most, you manage to connect solidly with what feels vaguely like a cheekbone.
>You are promptly rewarded by a quick "Ow!" from Koishi and a swift release from her unexpected embrace.
-
>If we turn around, can we see her now? Or is she still quite invisible?
-
>If we turn around, can we see her now? Or is she still quite invisible?
>Do you want to keep that as an if or turn around to see?
-
>Turn around
-
>Turn around
>You spin around to see Koishi stumbling away from you, gingerly touching her cheek with a hand.
>... but she's grinning.
>The uh... skin beneath where she touched you inappropriately is starting to tingle a little.
-
>"What did you do?"
-
>How quickly can we deploy the army?
-
>"What did you do?"
>You seriously doubt her face could accommodate a larger grin. "I gave you every girl's deepest desire - in a way you could share with friends! It should be ready soon!"
>How quickly can we deploy the army?
>Depends on how many. One or two would only take a split second. More than that with any complexity would take a second or two and probably seriously tax your concentration, especially on an empty stomach.
>You can handle more via the magic to coordinate them you designed into your spellcards, but declaring one would take a second.
>What sort of dolls would you like to deploy? You mainly use spear, sword, shield, danmaku burst, laser, or explosive dolls for fights. Most dolls themselves are somewhat multipurpose, but changing weapons in storage takes a second or two, and danmaku bursts take a moment to charge after summoning. You keep an okay amount of each handy when you're prepared for a fight - and right now you are, for the most part.
>Of course, Shanghai still hovers by you, ready but unarmed. Her lasers activate much faster than your other dolls, though.
>Koishi keeps backing away, rubbing at the developing bruise on her cheek. You'll have to act fast if you want to do anything before she recovers from that elbow.
-
> Blast her with a laser from Shanghai to keep her from running and summon three spear dolls to try and impale her, two danmaku dolls to keep her distracted and two explosive dolls to finish her off.
Edit: > Also have Shanghai keep blasting her with danmaku and lasers.
-
> Blast her with a laser from Shanghai to keep her from running and summon three spear dolls to try and impale her, two danmaku dolls to keep her distracted and two explosive dolls to finish her off.
> Also have Shanghai keep blasting her with danmaku and lasers.
>You can't do all of this at once!
-
> Okay then, get Shanghai to stop her from running away by blasting her with a laser and keep her blasting Koishi afterward with danmaku, two spear dolls to impale her and an explosive one to finish her off while.
-
>You know what?
>Just introduce her to the Shitkickers +5
-
Okay, that is distinctly not what I expected. >_>
-
It was exactly what I expected!
-
> Okay then, get Shanghai to stop her from running away by blasting her with a laser and keep her blasting Koishi afterward with danmaku, two spear dolls to impale her and an explosive one to finish her off while.
>A bit complex, but doable.
>You extend an arm and direct Shanghai to fire a neck-thick pink laser through the air at Koishi. She sidesteps the attack without too much difficulty, but it does slow her retreat.
>You then rush forward a bit to get her within reach of one of your spear dolls, and conjure one to thrust directly at her position. She has to drop to the ground to evade it, but counterattacks with a compact burst of thick, oblong danmaku!
>You don't think you can comfortably dodge through it at this distance, but getting out of the way wouldn't be too difficult. The ones on the right side of the burst are approaching a little faster than the left.
>You know what?
>Just introduce her to the Shitkickers +5
>While this would be intensely satisfying, you're not quite close enough to give Koishi a piece of your boot, and you don't think rushing in to do so would be the best idea right now.
>The tingling in your bloomers isn't going away...
-
> Try and keep her distracted with Shanghai while you run towards her from the left side and then dodging to the right as soon as the faster bullets past you, then try to get closer for a boot to a convenient spot while keeping her distract by the spear dolls and Shanghai.
-
>How high is this danmaku, give she's low to the ground. Does it seem feasible to ump then fly over it. And possibly land on her?
-
>Back and left to give ourselves room to dodge. Let the barrage pass, and just to keep our position in front of Koishi, dodge to the right before the next Barrage reaches us. Continue repeating this while firing Shanghai Directly forward.
-
> Hmm...do Zekeri's one but also send the spear dolls forward to melee range and try to distract her with them so Shanghai's danmaku fire could hit her.
-
> Try and keep her distracted with Shanghai while you run towards her from the left side and then dodging to the right as soon as the faster bullets past you, then try to get closer for a boot to a convenient spot while keeping her distract by the spear dolls and Shanghai.
>Back and left to give ourselves room to dodge. Let the barrage pass, and just to keep our position in front of Koishi, dodge to the right before the next Barrage reaches us. Continue repeating this while firing Shanghai Directly forward.
> Hmm...do Zekeri's one but also send the spear dolls forward to melee range and try to distract her with them so Shanghai's danmaku fire could hit her.
>You decide to give it a moment to figure out her pattern before getting too aggressive in person, shifting to the left around the slower part of Koishi's attack and pulling back to get a little more room to breathe.
>Not that you allow Koishi the same: Calling Shanghai to your hand to produce a constant laser leaves her rolling on the ground for a bit to stay out of the way, leading to an easy opportunity to ambush her with the spear doll you already had summoned.
>Or at least, it would have been a good ambush, if Koishi didn't lash out with another tight cluster of thick bullets, landing solidly with several and knocking the poor thing back a few feet, sporting several new dents in the wood. Its newly summoned twin charges in to replace it, but comes in at the wrong angle to take advantage of the pressure Shanghai's laser is putting on Koishi. It'll take a moment to get close enough to strike, assuming Koishi doesn't try to shoot it down.
>Koishi keeps moving to the side to stay out of the way of Shanghai's laser, and manages to get back on her feet. She gives you a grin and keeps moving.
>Is she headed for that tree? It's a rather thick one...
>How high is this danmaku, give she's low to the ground. Does it seem feasible to jump then fly over it. And possibly land on her?
>That's entirely possible, but since her clusters have proven most dangerous at close range, you're not sure how safe it would be.
-
>Start to move towards the tree as well, attempting to keep even with her
>Sweep the laser in front of the path Koishi is taking
>Get the spear dolls to close in from behind, each on either side of her
-
> Can we summon one more doll?
> If so, get a shield doll and have it protect the spear doll so it can get in close enough to distract Koishi.
-
> Can we summon one more doll?
>You're pretty sure you can handle two or three more without taxing yourself too much, as long as you don't try to coordinate them too precisely.
>Start to move towards the tree as well, attempting to keep even with her
>Sweep the laser in front of the path Koishi is taking
>Letting Koishi get behind cover sounds like a bad idea, so you decide to try and cut her off.
>You can't sweep Shanghai's laser past her fast enough with it already active, but turning it off for a moment lets you switch it over to Koishi's other side to block her escape.
>In response, she frowns and begins backing away from you in the other direction, limiting the effectiveness of your approach. This moves her a little closer to the undamaged spear doll near her, but still just barely out of reach.
> If so, get a shield doll and have it protect the spear doll so it can get in close enough to distract Koishi.
>Get the spear dolls to close in from behind, each on either side of her
>You try for some more tactical use of your dolls, summoning one with a large yellow shield to help provide cover and sending it towards the damaged spear doll as it sluggishly rises back into the air.
>The other spear doll stops its straight approach and keeps a little distance to try and circle around Koishi, which turns out to be a good idea as another danmaku cluster heads straight for it! Thankfully, there's a little time for it to react.
>You aren't sure it can circle by the faster portion of that cluster unharmed without backing away a little.
-
>Have the spear doll back off to give it more room to properly dodge the incoming fire
>Have the other spear doll close in on Koishi from a different angle, once it's mobile again
>Continue to shift our own position to put ourself between Koishi and the nearest cover
>If we can spare the focus, toss up another doll to spray danmaku in Koishi's general direction. Don't worry about controlling it precisely, just add another distraction for her
-
>Have the spear doll back off to give it more room to properly dodge the incoming fire
>You decide keeping the unharmed spear doll unharmed is worth lightening up the pressure on Koishi a little, and let it fall back a little to comfortably clear the burst headed for it, continuing to circle.
>Have the other spear doll close in on Koishi from a different angle, once it's mobile again
>Continue to shift our own position to put ourself between Koishi and the nearest cover
>The other spear doll and its shield guardian cut a more aggressive angle towards the laser you're pressuring Koishi with, moving to cut off that direction so you can pin her properly.
>You press forward along with them to keep pace with her and push her towards the damaged doll some more.
>If we can spare the focus, toss up another doll to spray danmaku in Koishi's general direction. Don't worry about controlling it precisely, just add another distraction for her
>You can spare the focus to quickly fling up an unarmed danmaku doll, which pauses briefly before firing an irregular spread of triangular danmaku in Koishi's direction and vanishing back to storage. There's not enough precision or strength to the shots to be more than an annoyance, but it should help.
>For her part, Koishi continues her retreat, but starts striking back a bit more actively - either she's properly recovered from that elbow, or she's starting to take this a little more seriously. Maybe both.
>One cluster, a little faster than the earlier ones, flies at the lone spear doll, forcing it a little further away. You're not sure it can get beyond her effectively at that distance, at least as long as Koishi keeps moving away from you.
>Another flies at the shield and spear combo, too quickly for a proper reaction. The two stumble on each other a little as they get shoved back slightly by the shots pounding into the shield, but it holds and they continue their advance.
>"Really, Alice!" Koishi says, grinning again, "You're acting like you don't want my gift! Reaction formations aren't healthy, you know!"
>She hops back a little and begins hovering just above the ground.
-
>Continue to close in with the dolls. Attempt to form a triangular pincer with Shanghai in front, and the two spear dolls at angles in the back. Keep the unshielded one on the side it's on, while trying to maneuver the shield one around the other side. Make sure the shield is facing Koishi at all times.
>"Perhaps I'd be reacting less if you'd kept your hands to yourself. Or do you think it's perfectly healthy to take such liberties with others' bodies?"
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We're not gonna beat her at them danmakus, I don't think. The way we will beat her, however, is by introducing her to the Shitkickers +5.
My suggestion is to get close, use some dolls to distract her, then go for a running punt.
-
I'm inclined to agree. Actually, I'm rather expecting her to simply vanish once she feels she's had her fun. But harrying her with dolls from angles such that she can't keep them all in sight at once may at least allow us to close a little. Then, at mid range, toss out as many danmaku dolls as we can at once for an uncontrolled burst, and close for the kick under the covering fire?
-
Gofer it.
-
>Continue to close in with the dolls. Attempt to form a triangular pincer with Shanghai in front, and the two spear dolls at angles in the back. Keep the unshielded one on the side it's on, while trying to maneuver the shield one around the other side. Make sure the shield is facing Koishi at all times.
>"Perhaps I'd be reacting less if you'd kept your hands to yourself. Or do you think it's perfectly healthy to take such liberties with others' bodies?"
>You continue pushing in with your pincer attack, allowing your unarmored doll a little more distance to avoid getting hit as the shield and spear combo risks a closer approach to the side Shanghai's laser is on, to allow you a proper chance to focus on Koishi.
>"Hey, I had to do that to give it to you!" Koishi replies, still grinning. "And I bet you'd enjoy it if you let yourself!"
>She continues backing away, and weaves through the stray triangle shots headed for her. They don't give her much trouble, but she does end up letting one graze past her side to avoid getting too close to the shield+spear combo.
>She continues firing clusters to keep your dolls at bay: one set for both of them, with results similar to last time.
>This time, she also adds a cluster headed for you. You... might be able to weave through the shots if you slow down a little, but it'd be a close call. The right side is moving slower than the left.
>Your bloomers are feeling markedly less roomy than usual.
-
>"And it never occurred to you that doing something like that without warning might net you an elbow in the face?"
>If the shots don't extend very far vertically, quickly ascend and fly over them, closing distance on Koishi
>If this looks too tricky, swing wide of the burst, along the right side, then close a little on Koishi
-
>"But, do you know what I am going to enjoy, Koishi? Can you guess?"
-
>"And it never occurred to you that doing something like that without warning might net you an elbow in the face?"
>"But, do you know what I am going to enjoy, Koishi? Can you guess?"
>"Oh, I'm willing to take a little tough love to give you the best you deserve~" Koishi sings, floating a little higher off the ground, "Even if you don't know you want it~"
>If the shots don't extend very far vertically, quickly ascend and fly over them, closing distance on Koishi
>If this looks too tricky, swing wide of the burst, along the right side, then close a little on Koishi
>They don't extend far vertically, no.
>You take advantage of your mastery of the third dimension to fly up and over the cluster of shots. It slows you a moment to take off and lift your legs out of the way (especially with your heavy boots), but you're pretty sure it was faster than circling around, and less dangerous than sneaking through.
>You're starting to get closer now, but she's still got a fair safety window, especially from you.
>On the upside, Shanghai's laser is starting to look redundant with the shield and spear duo in position.
>Koishi extends her arms to her sides and twirls in midair in a graceful but silly-looking spin. It slows her down for a moment.
>The undamaged spear doll is still too far away to take proper advantage of this, but the other one might be able to get a hit in if the shield doll moves out of the way for a moment.
>Wait - there's a small burst of energy in the air several feet from Koishi, roughly in the direction her right arm was pointing when she started that spin. A bunch of narrow green danmaku spreads out from it in every direction.
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>Try to shift through the danmaku while continuing closer
>Have the shielded doll clear a path by charging into the shots in the spear doll's way, then shift aside to allow it to strike
>Have the other spear doll evade as best we can. Prioritize its safety over closing distance at the moment, but move it closer if we see a path
>"If I don't know I want it, what makes you presume you do?"
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>"If I don't know I want it, what makes you presume you do?"
>"Don't you remember what my power is, silly~"
>Try to shift through the danmaku while continuing closer
>Have the other spear doll evade as best we can. Prioritize its safety over closing distance at the moment, but move it closer if we see a path
>While there was a lot shot from that burst, it went in a lot of directions that aren't harmful, and it's not very dense. It won't be a problem once it reaches you... actually, you probably won't have to dodge at all. Same with the undamaged spear doll. Strange...
>Have the shielded doll clear a path by charging into the shots in the spear doll's way, then shift aside to allow it to strike
>But this does make a good opportunity to make a meaningful offensive!
>So you let the shield doll stop to let its companion past, spinning around in preparation for the green shots Koishi called up from behind them.
>The freed spear doll lunges forward and manages to leave a good scrape on Koishi's side! She flinches away from the attack - she definitely felt that.
>Several more bursts of energy in the air start forming and exploding in green shots in a circle around Koishi! There are shots coming at the shield/spear duo from every direction, it looks like the lone spear doll might run headlong into a burst as the shots form, and a bunch of them are converging on your position.
>You don't think you can get everyone through this unharmed!
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>Have the shield/spear duo drop flat to the ground, with the shield placed flat over them
>Try to have the lone spear doll duck around the burst it's about to run into, but otherwise have it rush Koishi with less regard for its own safety
>Try to keep closing on Koishi, while shifting through the danmaku
>"Oh, I remember your power alright, but I have only your word that you're acting on it, and not just playing games."
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>"Oh, I remember your power alright, but I have only your word that you're acting on it, and not just playing games."
>"If you say so~"
>Have the shield/spear duo drop flat to the ground, with the shield placed flat over them
>Try to have the lone spear doll duck around the burst it's about to run into, but otherwise have it rush Koishi with less regard for its own safety
>Try to keep closing on Koishi, while shifting through the danmaku
>You send the shield and spear duo prone to the ground to save them, taking a moment to get them in the most defensible position possible.
>The undamaged spear doll rushes towards Koishi, rising above where you expect the burst to form. Luckily, you guess right, and it speeds by just ahead of the green shots, aiming for Koishi's waist!
>Unfortunately, such precise guiding of your dolls leaves you a little too distracted to focus on the shots heading for you until too late. One catches you in the shoulder before you can really react, and the rest push you back a little before you figure out a proper path through them.
>Even less fortunately, Koishi sees the charging spear doll coming, and blasts it out of the air with a concentrated burst as it gets close. The tip of the spear just barely grazes her leg before plummeting to the ground.
>The tortoise-ly used shield is badly battered by the small green shots, and the dolls beneath it get one or two dents from ones coming in at unfavorable angles, but both get through alright.
>You don't think that shield is going to last much longer.
>Koishi rises up to roughly tree-branch height and grins at her handiwork.
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>Is the lone spear doll down for the count? If not, try to right itself, and move to the side of Koishi, while remaining low to the ground. Take a shot with it, if it has one
>Have the shield duo get up and rush Koishi
>If they get in range, have the shield doll rise up and ram Koishi in the head with the shield, as the spear doll thrusts from behind the rising shield
>Launch a spray of danmaku at Koishi, then try to rush in and close some distance ourself
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>If the solo spead doll is too damaged to attack, then-
>Pull in damaged solo spear doll.
>Punt said doll with the shitkicker +5's and go into an artful sacrifice.
I know it may not be the nicest thing but then it's a battle and we got explosives to throw BV
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>Is the lone spear doll down for the count? If not, try to right itself, and move to the side of Koishi, while remaining low to the ground. Take a shot with it, if it has one
>If the solo spead doll is too damaged to attack, then-
>Pull in damaged solo spear doll.
>Punt said doll with the shitkicker +5's and go into an artful sacrifice.
>It's not completely gone, but it's going to take a moment to get back up again, let alone into the air. Retrieving it to storage or by string would take even longer, but you could call up a new doll for detonary purposes.
>Weapons or shields usually get in the way of effective danmaku from dolls, but they're easy enough to drop. The spear almost fell out of that one's hand when it got hit anyway, so you direct the fallen doll to drop its spear and reach up from its position on the ground to launch a feeble spray of triangle danmaku in Koishi's direction.
>Have the shield duo get up and rush Koishi
>If they get in range, have the shield doll rise up and ram Koishi in the head with the shield, as the spear doll thrusts from behind the rising shield
>Launch a spray of danmaku at Koishi, then try to rush in and close some distance ourself
>You press a desperate offensive to make up for that fumble, but Koishi is just too far away and high in the air for it to be very effective:
>A sweep of your arm sends a semi-circle of fast, semi-overlapping triangle shots at Koishi, but it'll take a moment for them to get there, and she has space to move up and away from the worst of it if she wants to.
>You rush forward after it, hoping to give her a good taste of leather-coated steel.
>Sending the spear and shield duo up is a little more promising: The shield doll takes the brunt of another focused cluster, and even though the shield ends up breaking too much to be of any more real use, the shots that get through only manage to knock the doll around a little, floating unsteadily.
>The damaged spear doll dodges around its companion for a valiant charge of its own, managing to nick one of Koishi's forearms before getting blasted point-blank by a danmaku cluster.
>You're pretty sure that one's down for the count.
>Koishi starts retreating towards the branches of a particularly leafy tree, laughing gaily.
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>Have the former spear doll keep firing, while trying to right itself and take to the air again
>Is the former shield doll close enough to Koishi to rush and detonate on her? If so, have it do so.
>Otherwise, have it also spray danmaku at her, and swerve to the side of your path, moving forward
>Send Shangai off ahead and to the side
>Try to have it use its laser to block Koishi's retreat. Force her towards the ground, if we can.
>Keep moving towards Koishi
>How close are we to her at the moment, anyway?
-
Darn I missed a lot, but not as much as the other quest...
> Can we remotely detonate the dolls?
> Follow with the now unarmed dolls, making them send regular bursts of danmaku at Koishi try and get her to stop running away.
> Can we store dolls quickly? If so, store the downed one away for later use as explosive and quickly summon a sword doll and shield doll combo and make them go harass Koishi. If not, just leave the downed one alone, we could get her back later.
> Also follow behind those two dolls so we could give her that kick she oh so deserves.
Edit: Darn, beaten to it....I don't know, choose one I guess.
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> Can we remotely detonate the dolls?
>Yes. You were fairly embarrassed when someone pointed out this rather obvious idea after the UFO incident, but now it's standard-issue. They don't get any special propulsion without using spellcards, though, and it takes a moment to explode without a solid impact to set them off.
>Still, dolls thrown only for detonating require no real concentration and don't cut into your ability to handle others.
> Can we store dolls quickly?
>Dolls and equipment too damaged to be usable are returned to the storage they're summoned from after several seconds. The fallen one will be back home soon enough.
> If so, store the downed one away for later use as explosive and quickly summon a sword doll and shield doll combo and make them go harass Koishi.
>You call up a replacement for the fallen doll plus a friend to guard it, and send them ahead of you to get some close-range pressure on Koishi again.
>You think you're near your limit at doll management for now.
> Also follow behind those two dolls so we could give her that kick she oh so deserves.
>Keep moving towards Koishi
>How close are we to her at the moment, anyway?
>Your boots hunger... you're closing the distance a little bit, at least.
>Something like ten feet. She's been doing a good job of keeping her distance.
> Follow with the now unarmed dolls, making them send regular bursts of danmaku at Koishi try and get her to stop running away.
>Have the former spear doll keep firing, while trying to right itself and take to the air again
>Is the former shield doll close enough to Koishi to rush and detonate on her? If so, have it do so.
>Otherwise, have it also spray danmaku at her, and swerve to the side of your path, moving forward
>The still-functioning spear doll unsteadily rises into the air, launching another loose cluster of shots in Koishi's direction. You're not getting much precision out of this one.
>The doll with the broken shield might be close enough to reach Koishi and detonate, but the satori's retreating at a decent clip. You're not sure it could reach her easily.
>You have it pursue her and fire a small cluster as a compromise.
>Send Shangai off ahead and to the side
>Try to have it use its laser to block Koishi's retreat. Force her towards the ground, if we can.
>You push Shanghai forward a bit and guide her to try and flank Koishi, firing near the area least covered by the danmaku sprays of your other dolls.
>Koishi weaves her way through the wave of shots you fired personally, and changes her retreat to favor the path of danmaku coming from the once-shielded doll. She watches them for a moment, moves slightly to get in position, then smiles and points her right arm at you before spinning in the air once more, dancing through the danmaku unharmed.
>You're going to run right into the first burst this way!
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>If we can, fly over the burst without losing too much forward momentum. Swerve around it a little if we have to, but be willing to graze a little.
>Have the duo continue towards Koishi, maneuvering the shield to best block incoming fire that cannot be easily dodged
>Have the former shield doll continue towards Koishi, and explode if in range
>Have the injured spear doll continue fire
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>If we can, fly over the burst without losing too much forward momentum. Swerve around it a little if we have to, but be willing to graze a little.
>Have the duo continue towards Koishi, maneuvering the shield to best block incoming fire that cannot be easily dodged
>You safely ascend above the first burst, and rush forward to try and outrun the shots, hot on the heels of your new melee-shield pair.
>Too late you realize that this also leads you directly toward the convergent center of the shot bursts.
>While the doll pair's small size and direct movement limits the danger this puts them in, you make a much larger, unshielded target, and flinch away as a number of green shots pepper your left side, many from partially behind. Ow!
>Even though the sword-shield pair is making headway without much damage, the shield isn't blocking enough shots to make direct progress safe for you.
>Have the injured spear doll continue fire
>The damaged doll sluggishly weaves through the green shots striking the forest floor, thankfully loose enough to evade.
>It fires back, but makes no safe headway.
>Shanghai's laser fades without your immediate support to extend it. You're pretty sure she won't be in danger, but direct her to move back a little to stay out of trouble while she recharges.
>Koishi laughs at you as she dances through her own green shots and stray doll danmaku with practiced ease, then winks and blows a kiss (http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/1965/koishikissblow.jpg) at you.
>"It's been fun, Alice! Enjoy your gift, but I gotta--"
>Have the former shield doll continue towards Koishi, and explode if in range
>"-ACK!"
>Distracted by her own attack and gloating, apparently she failed to see the nearer doll approach her silently to detonate a foot or two from her side.
>She 'staggers' away from the explosion with a cry of pain, her side lightly tinted with wood splinters and spent gunpowder.
-
Move in while she's distracted! Boot to the head!
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> Move in while she's distracted! Boot to the head (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFldBVWFgWo)!
-
>Don't neglect to keep the duo moving forward with us.
>Be ready to quickly move the shield in front of us if she recovers before we can kick her and launches something at too close range to dodge
-
> If boot to the head connects, shield doll to stomach!
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Move in while she's distracted! Boot to the head!
>Well, you can always put it in your wi-- (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFldBVWFgWo)
> Move in while she's distracted! Boot to the head (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFldBVWFgWo)!
>oh fuck you
>You grit your teeth against the barrage of shots hitting you and press on toward Koishi, but there are just too many coming from every direction to get through easily.
>After the moderate pelting you've gotten, you're feeling a little out of breath. Distracted or not, Koishi still isn't in facekicking range, and you're not sure you can manage full speed and this many dolls at the same time right now.
>Don't neglect to keep the duo moving forward with us.
>Be ready to quickly move the shield in front of us if she recovers before we can kick her and launches something at too close range to dodge
>They're having a much easier time advancing than you are, yes.
>The pair manages to get close enough to Koishi for a good attack. Looks like she's starting to recover from her shock, though.
> If boot to the head connects, shield doll to stomach!
>Would you like to do this anyway, or have it move aside for the sword?
-
>Have the shield doll ram Koishi in the head
>As it reaches near the point of contact, have the sword doll slip down beneath the shield and attack as well
>If there are still shots all around us, take a moment to assess them, and try to find a clearer path through
>If Shanghai is recharged, have her fire at Koishi from the side or behind, hopefully while she's distracted with the dolls in front of her. Make sure the angle is not likely to hit the other dolls in melee range
-
>Have the shield doll ram Koishi in the head
>As it reaches near the point of contact, have the sword doll slip down beneath the shield and attack as well
>The doll pair charges for Koishi's head! She raises an arm up reflexively to protect her face, which bends back enough to trivialize the impact of the shield.
>But she doesn't catch on to the sword doll until too late. It dips down and twirls to leave a shallow red gash in Koishi's stomach.
>Koishi grunts in pain and cluster-danmakus the sword doll in the face. It loses height quickly.
>If there are still shots all around us, take a moment to assess them, and try to find a clearer path through
>You think you're through the worst of it, but you take care in estimating where the last few shots behind you are likely to come from and giving them a wide berth while more slowly approaching Koishi.
>She suddenly breaks away from the shield doll aggressing her and turns to sprint into the leafy yellow tree nearby!
>If Shanghai is recharged, have her fire at Koishi from the side or behind, hopefully while she's distracted with the dolls in front of her. Make sure the angle is not likely to hit the other dolls in melee range
>The other dolls were in the way, but Koishi's sudden move makes her a safe target.
>Unfortunately, she's going a little too fast and far away for Shanghai to get a good shot in, and the laser only streaks through open air.
>Koishi vanishes from sight among the tree's leaves, shaking fluttering yellow loose with her intrusion.
-
> "Darn it"
> Pursue Koishi and watch out for traps.
-
>Charge after her
>Try to keep the shield doll close to us
>Have the injured dolls rally, if they can, and move towards the sides of the tree
>Spray a cluster of danmaku towards the part of the tree she vanished into
>Can we still hear/see motion in the tree?
-
> "Darn it"
>You keep the intensity of your language at this scenario relatively tame.
> Pursue Koishi and watch out for traps.
>Charge after her
>Try to keep the shield doll close to us
>Have the injured dolls rally, if they can, and move towards the sides of the tree
>Spray a cluster of danmaku towards the part of the tree she vanished into
>You rush for the tree as well, calling upon your other dolls to surround it as best they can: The sword doll is sluggish in getting there and is stuck near the ground, but the others get into position quickly enough.
>You fire a circle of medium round shots into the tree to flush Koishi out. Aside from shaking some more leaves loose, nothing seems to happen.
>Can we still hear/see motion in the tree?
>Not really. Well, your shots shook a few loose, but... wait, no, it did move! A... second ago, but not now? The lower part of the side on the right? Or was that your imagination?
-
> Blast it with Shanghai's laser just to be sure.
-
> Blast it with Shanghai's laser just to be sure.
>Shanghai shakes loose a few singed leaves.
>... nothing.
>Wait, that bush down there moved a second ago, right? Or was that the wind?
-
> Just sigh "Koishi, get out here and fix whatever you did and I promise I won't hurt you anymore"
Edit: Fixed it
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> Just sigh "Koishi, get out here and fix whatever you did and I promise I won't hurt you"
I kinda think the 'won't hurt you' bit will fall a little flat, given that we've elbowed her in the face, slashed and stabbed her, and blew up something next to her.
>Dash towards that bush
>Keep eyes and ears peeled for any signs of motion anywhere
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> Just sigh "Koishi, get out here and fix whatever you did and I promise I won't hurt you anymore"
>Your belated offer of nonviolence earns you an echoing laugh from... somewhere.
>"Fix?" Koishi's voice calls, on the wind.
>Dash towards that bush
>Keep eyes and ears peeled for any signs of motion anywhere
>Lacking any better evidence, you rush for the suspicious bush and look around for further hints.
>Let's see... no, that shift really was from the wind... there's nothing on the ground... where could - wait!
>You think you remember the canopy of one of the trees a few dozen feet away rustling unnaturally, as if something had just flown past it... upwards.
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> Fly out above the tree and look for anything suspicious.
> Also store our damaged dolls away and replace them with some new one of the same type.
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> Fly out above the tree and look for anything suspicious.
> Also store our damaged dolls away and replace them with some new one of the same type.
>You fly up above the treetops to search for Koishi, dismissing the damaged spear and sword dolls to replace them with fresh siblings. The disarmed shield one isn't in terrible shape so far.
>Above the trees, you see little more than clear blue skies, a scattering of puffy and wispy clouds floating high above. Koishi is nowhere to be seen.
>Since you rather doubt open air would leave any useful trace of her passage, you're getting the sinking feeling that Koishi just managed to give you the slip.
-
> "Grr" then sigh.
> Pack up the dolls and fly back to the ground. Now what were we doing before this whole...Grrr...
-
>Examine self.
-
>"Nice to see you acknowledge when you're outmatched, Koishi. You're a few centuries too soon to take me on."
-
>"Nice to see you acknowledge when you're outmatched, Koishi. You're a few centuries too soon to take me on."
>You call upon the powers of sarcasm to try and goad Koishi out of hiding, but get no response.
> "Grr" then sigh.
>Damnit.
>Examine self.
>Aside from some new, bad-looking wrinkles on your clothes covering the stings and likely bruises on your upper body, you're pretty sure you look about the same as usual.
>... except for the fading tingling sensation in your privates on... skin you don't recognize.
>Would you like to go into more detail?
> Pack up the dolls and fly back to the ground. Now what were we doing before this whole...Grrr...
>You recall the other dolls and return to the ground, grumbling under your breath.
>What were you doing?
-
>Sigh
>In either case, out in the open is probably not the best place to examine such a thing in more detail
>Ponder how permanent this was supposed to be...
>We really don't know anything about the mechanics of the type of magic used to do this, do we?
>Head to Mystia's. Maybe a little food to fill the hole will be a welcome distraction at the moment. We can deal with this on a full stomach.
-
>Sigh
>What a wonderful way to start the day.
>Ponder how permanent this was supposed to be...
>We really don't know anything about the mechanics of the type of magic used to do this, do we?
>You really don't know. This may be an even more prudent reason to look into bodily enchantments...
>In either case, out in the open is probably not the best place to examine such a thing in more detail
>Head to Mystia's. Maybe a little food to fill the hole will be a welcome distraction at the moment. We can deal with this on a full stomach.
>You decide that now is a poor time to investigate further, and that it would be a good time to get some comfort food.
>You don't 100% remember where Mystia's house and stand are, but you're pretty sure it's somewhere a bit off the road near Korindou.
>Would you like to head there above or below the canopy, and would you like to go to Korindou and that road itself, or try to reach Mystia's place directly?
-
>If we aren't certain where it is, take the road there
-
>If we aren't certain where it is, take the road there
>From ground level, or above the trees?
-
>Ground level
-
>Ground level
>You double back to Korindou under the trees without any real incident, and find it roughly the same as you left it. The new tidiness and fresh paint is still odd, but at least you didn't miss any other huge changes.
>You follow the well-cleared dirt road southeast, toward the human village, and soon notice a narrower dirt road off to the left, marked with a tall, painted signpost.
>The signpost is of plain wood, topped by a circular sign reading "Nightbird's Roost." The letters are bright green over bright white, underlined by a slithering shape that you're willing to guess is a lamprey. The edges of the sign gradually fade to black, giving the impression of the store name being a bright spot in the darkness. On top of the sign is an unpainted, carved wooden figure of a sparrow, with some sort of tiny hat on its head that you can't precisely identify at this distance.
>You're pretty sure there wasn't such a clear road to Mystia's before, let alone one openly advertised. At least it makes your job easier.
-
>Follow the road
-
>Follow the road
>You turn and follow this new road, roughly to the east. The scent of grilling meat removes any doubt of the road heading to Mystia's, and makes your mouth water eagerly.
>As you approach, you hear two male voices chatting in the distance, with occasional soft laughs.
>Soon, you emerge into a well-trimmed, grassy clearing, Mystia's modified yakitori stand standing clear in the middle. It now has a strikingly similar copy of the sign you saw earlier on top of it, and the loose cloth screen behind the seats has been painted a gradient green-to-black similar to the sign's coloring, but nothing else seems to have changed about it.
>Mystia's home is nestled in the treetops on the other side of the clearing - she lives in a moderately large treehouse, apparently still attached to some of her bird roots. You don't think it was painted dull purple before, but it's also relatively unchanged.
>Through the screen, you can see the back of someone wearing the red hakama and white gi of a miko suit sitting at one of the customer chairs, pulling a stick of grilled lamprey to his mouth to chew on it.
>Behind the grill is a dark-haired fanboy in a stained white apron, grinning as he chats with his customer.
>"Yeah, Mystia's been good recently. Came back a few hours ago with a cute new yukata before she crashed for the night. Well, morning. Looked a little worried about something, but she just said to take care of the stand."
>They don't seem to have noticed you yet.
>_
-
>Must they have taken over everything?
>Well, the food still smells great, at any rate.
>Steel ourselves for potential further irritation and proceed to the attendant
-
>Must they have taken over everything?
>Well, the food still smells great, at any rate.
>Steel ourselves for potential further irritation and proceed to the attendant
>For fuck's sake.
>Mystia's food is known to be quite good in general, but just about anything would strike your fancy at this point, you think.
>You approach the stand.
>"A yukata?" the miko-suited person asks, in a male voice, "What, is she taking night sparrow love seriously, or something?"
>This is enough to make you favor one of the seats further away from the miko-fanboy as you push the screen aside to enter the stand.
>The fanboy behind the grill laughs at his customer's comment for a moment, before you enter the stand. He stops immediately and turns to you.
>"Oh, sorry! I didn't see you... there..."
>He trails off for a moment, eyebrows raised in surprise.
>The other fanboy turns to look at you as well, half-eaten lamprey-on-a-stick still in his mouth. He looks a little more alarmed than the shopkeeper, but says nothing.
>The fanboy behind the grill laughs for a moment, and recovers. He gives you a friendly grin. "Well! Alice Margatroid! That's unexpected! Welcome to the Nightbird's Roost! Whatcha want?"
>_
-
>"A lamprey skewer, please."
>If one of them gives us the slightest bit of guff, have Shanghai shoot him. Not in the mood for this business anymore.
-
>"A lamprey skewer, please."
>If one of them gives us the slightest bit of guff, have Shanghai shoot him. Not in the mood for this business anymore.
>The shopkeeper fanboy nods, and gathers up a few of the utensils he'll need. "You want large or small? Large's 500 yen, small's 300."
>The fanmiko silently chews on his lamprey, eyes darting between you and Shanghai.
>Thankfully, these two seem to be keeping benign so far. But you keep her on alert - you've had enough trouble with subtle seduction attempts in the past.
-
>"Large, please."
>Pay up
-
>Quietly direct Shanghai to keep an eye on fanmiko. He's cruisin' for a danmakuin'.
-
>"Large, please."
>Pay up
>He nods, and sticks the cash in a pocket of his apron.
>You have spent ?500.
>"One large lamprey, coming right up!"
>He pulls out a fair-sized dead lamprey from the stand's storage, spears it on a narrow bamboo skewer along with a few mushrooms and a little bit of leek, and sets to grilling.
>Oh god that smells so good.
>Quietly direct Shanghai to keep an eye on fanmiko. He's cruisin' for a danmakuin'.
>You direct Shanghai to focus on the quiet one. This soon turns into a staring contest, as fanmiko slowly forgets to remove the last few bits of lamprey from his skewer.
-
>Let him stare. The less he speaks, the less we have to listen
>Wait for the food to be ready
-
>Let him stare. The less he speaks, the less we have to listen
>Wait for the food to be ready
>You decide to give the crossdresser the silent treatment until he actively does something stupid. He returns the favor, still staring at Shanghai with wide eyes.
>The chef isn't as quiet. He flips over the delicious lamprey and tries to make conversation.
>"So. Alice. Heard you haven't been going out for a while?"
-
>Let him stare. The less he speaks, the less we have to listen
>Wait for the food to be ready
>We've been physically violated twice over for trying to play along; had to pay for it, and then had our vengeance taken from us via cowardice. Then there's these people are our dining place.
>We want not even the hint of guff from them. We want them properly terrified in submission. It makes us less irritated by them.
-
derp!
-
Ground level.
Don't worry, kid, I've posted replies to previous pages of content before. And everyone forgets the > for commands sometimes.
>We've been physically violated twice over for trying to play along; had to pay for it, and then had our vengeance taken from us via cowardice. Then there's these people are our dining place.
>We want not even the hint of guff from them. We want them properly terrified in submission. It makes us less irritated by them.
>It's been a trying day, and even noon is still some distance away...
>Intimidation certainly worked at Korindou, but how do you intend to go about it here?
-
>Let Shanghai watch him for now. She can be our intimidating glare. They are beneath our notice at this time.
>As for the chef, he has earned our personal attention. "And this is your business, how...?"
-
>Let Shanghai watch him for now. She can be our intimidating glare. They are beneath our notice at this time.
>As for the chef, he has earned our personal attention. "And this is your business, how...?"
>One of the advantages of having dolls is the option of having multiple routes to express yourself. Disconcerting ogles are especially effective.
>The fanboy behind the grill shrugs at your question. "Guess it's not? Just trying to chat - Mystia likes to keep the atmosphere here friendly. You rather talk about something else?"
>Mikoboy finally balks under Shanghai's glare, and turns away, tearing off a rather oversized portion of lamprey and chewing furiously. Looks like that was enough to get him nervous.
-
>Let Shanghai keep it up. It's nice to make someone else squirm for a bit.
>In fact, it's nice enough we can be nice to the guy making our food!
>Nod toward the chef. That is...an acceptable answer. "I've simply had my fill outworlders and their being involved in apparently everything already today. Perhaps I am being a bit short with you."
-
>Let Shanghai keep it up. It's nice to make someone else squirm for a bit.
>In fact, it's nice enough we can be nice to the guy making our food!
>Nod toward the chef. That is...an acceptable answer. "I've simply had my fill outworlders and their being involved in apparently everything already today. Perhaps I am being a bit short with you."
>Good to see one thing going right today!
>You allow the chef a hint of civility as he flips over the lamprey again. He nods. "Not a fan, eh? 'fraid the fanboys have gotten a hand in most things now, for better or for worse. Hope I'm not among the worse of 'em?"
>The miko-suited fanboy hacks a little, choking on the oversized piece of lamprey he just tried to down.
>"You okay, Takeyuki?" the chef asks.
>Mikoboy coughs a little, then replies, "Y-yeah. Just a bit much."
>"Take your time, man."
-
>Continue ignoring Maiden-boy.
>Think about our major sources of pain today.
>Realize it's not really the Fanboys themselves, just Gensokyo's reaction to the fanboys makes us son i am disappoint.
>"In fact, now that I think of it, it may even be fair to say you yourselves aren't the problem, rather it's the sudden changes that have been made to Gensokyo and it's people."
>Still doesn't mean we can't blame them, though.
-
> "And some other things too.."
-
>Continue ignoring Maiden-boy.
>Think about our major sources of pain today.
>Realize it's not really the Fanboys themselves, just Gensokyo's reaction to the fanboys makes us son i am disappoint.
>"In fact, now that I think of it, it may even be fair to say you yourselves aren't the problem, rather it's the sudden changes that have been made to Gensokyo and it's people."
>Still doesn't mean we can't blame them, though.
>Not true. There are the invasions of privacy and introduction of weird things. There is plenty they have to answer for.
>So let's not say this.
>But this one seems tolerable, so far.
>"Perhaps. It is still quite irksome to find two once familiar places quite different than they should be in the space of...half an hour or so? I suppose you are not so bad, in comparison."
>_
-
> "And some other things too.."
>The parser is afraid it does not understand the appropriate context for this command! Apologies, sir.
>Continue ignoring Maiden-boy.
>At least he seems harmless enough.
>Think about our major sources of pain today.
>Realize it's not really the Fanboys themselves, just Gensokyo's reaction to the fanboys makes us son i am disappoint.
>"In fact, now that I think of it, it may even be fair to say you yourselves aren't the problem, rather it's the sudden changes that have been made to Gensokyo and it's people."
>Still doesn't mean we can't blame them, though.
>Not true. There are the invasions of privacy and introduction of weird things. There is plenty they have to answer for.
>So let's not say this.
>You muse over the implications of recent events and experiences for a moment, and bite back a relatively scathing conclusion.
>But this one seems tolerable, so far.
>"Perhaps. It is still quite irksome to find two once familiar places quite different than they should be in the space of...half an hour or so? I suppose you are not so bad, in comparison."
>Your chef still seems not-obnoxious enough to warrant tolerance, and you give him a fairly restrained summary.
>He nods. "Thanks. That's about the best complement someone like me can get out of one of Gensokyo's big figures, especially the first time meeting you."
>A chuckle. "Self-centeredness aside, what's the other place that's changed? Assuming the stand's different than you remember, at least."
>He flips the cooking lamprey over again, shakes it a little, and lifts it off the grill. "Ah, and I think this is ready."
>He offers it to you.
-
>Take the skewer with a nod
>Dig in
>"Kourindou is... unrecognizable. And staffed by people far more... unpleasant than the proprietor I'm accustomed to dealing with."
-
>"It's a pain to go there now. As for here, you are well aware."
-
>Take the skewer with a nod
>Dig in
>You express some silent appreciation for his work, take the lamprey onna stick, and take a bite.
>oh god that is wonderful this is why you keep eating yesssss
>You manage to restrain your bliss enough to avoid notice, thankfully.
>"Kourindou is... unrecognizable. And staffed by people far more... unpleasant than the proprietor I'm accustomed to dealing with."
>"It's a pain to go there now. As for here, you are well aware."
>The cook chuckles. "Yeah, Rinnosuke seems like a really generous guy. It's a pity, but I think he fobbed off shopkeeping on fanboys to keep in business - if Perfect Memento was any indication, he's not so good at insisting on prices and payment. And I guess he's gotta be more cash-conscious if he's helping fund the kappas' research, like I hear."
>"You like the new color scheme and stuff here? It looks a lot better than an unmarked path off the road to Korindou, doesn't it?"
>The miko fanboy finishes off his lamprey and dumps the stick into a bin on the far end of the stand.
>"I better get back to the shrine before Reimu decides I'm slacking off." he says, getting to his feet a fair distance away from you, "Thanks, Seigo."
>"No problem. Later." the cook replies, giving him a nod.
-
>So Reimu's been drafting them, too? Whatever happened to standards?
>Then again, she was always lazy...
>"The sign and more visible path are certainly suitable additions."
>"And what research is this you say he's funding?"
-
>Was Rinnosuke ever the sort to fund things in the past?
-
>So Reimu's been drafting them, too? Whatever happened to standards?
>Then again, she was always lazy...
>In retrospect, the detached sleeves should have tipped you off. You must see Reimu too often, if that escaped your notice this whole time.
>While perhaps more understandable than Rinnosuke, Reimu's implicit approval is still worrying...
>"Bye." the miko fanboy says, giving your cook a little wave. He gives you a nervous look for a moment, and walks out the screen to leave.
>"The sign and more visible path are certainly suitable additions."
>"And what research is this you say he's funding?"
>Seigo raises an eyebrow when you mention 'more visible path,' but he nods and leaves it at that.
>The research question gets you a shrug. "Dunno. The kappa seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough on a new outer world tech every few days. They're always working on getting harddrives bigger than megabytes, but they do a lot more than that."
>Was Rinnosuke ever the sort to fund things in the past?
>Rinnosuke's one overwhelming interest has always been stuff from the outer world, and his willingness to allow severe debts shows he's nowhere near stingy: You don't think he's actively funded anything in the past, but funding ways to get stuff 'from' the outer world sounds like a plausible explanation.
-
>Keep munching on that lamprey. One bright spot in the day so far, at least.
>"Hard drives? Megabytes?"
-
>Keep munching on that lamprey. One bright spot in the day so far, at least.
>"Hard drives? Megabytes?"
>And how! This'll probably take a bit to finish off.
>He gives you a funny look for a moment. "Uh... okay, how much do you know about computers?"
-
>"I know they are tools of the outside world used to share information across great distances, and little more than that."
-
>"I know they are tools of the outside world used to share information across great distances, and little more than that."
>The apron-wearing fanboy nods slowly, looking somewhat concerned.
>"I... guess I'll have to start at the beginning, then."
>"Computers are information-processing machines from the outer world that are used... well, all over the place, by now. They started out as convenient ways to do arithmetic automatically, but things took off from there. Now they can do a bunch of things, like store a whole bunch of data, search for stuff in that data, communicate with other computers, display images, play sounds, let you make stuff on the computer, or play games, or stuff like that. They're pretty flexible."
>"Hard drives are what computers use to store data, so you can have more stuff on the computer to use. Megabytes are... a measurement of size for that, which isn't too terrible, but about a thousandth of what the outer world is usually using at this point."
-
>"I'm also quite aware they've been used to do things that make me have to remember very strongly that dismembering the foolish is theoretically frowned on. I sometimes consider testing that anyways."
-
>"That being said, they do sound like versatile tools. I take it the Kappa are busy trying to catch up with the outside worlds versions, then?"
-
>Replace catch up with improve. We are clearly better than these clods.
-
> Now now, we shouldn't let prejudice blind us from the truth but don't admit that to him.
-
>"I'm also quite aware they've been used to do things that make me have to remember very strongly that dismembering the foolish is theoretically frowned on. I sometimes consider testing that anyways."
>He grins nervously.
>Replace catch up with improve. We are clearly better than these clods.
> Now now, we shouldn't let prejudice blind us from the truth but don't admit that to him.
>"That being said, they do sound like versatile tools. I take it the Kappa are busy trying to catch up with the outside worlds versions, then?"
>After a moment of debate, you decide a little humility may be in order, if only for the moment.
>Seigo nods. "Yeah, pretty much. It sounds like they're doing a pretty good job of it, but I dunno the specifics."
-
> "Can you tell me were one can buy these computers? Or perhaps someone willing to sell them?"
> "Also your friend...why does he wear those clothes? I'm quite sure there a male garments to wear for shrine duty, are there not?"
-
> "Can you tell me where one can buy these computers? Or perhaps someone willing to sell them?"
>He frowns. "Good question. My best guess would be to visit the kappa village and find whoever's manufacturing them. I think it'll cost you a good bit, though."
> "Also your friend...why does he wear those clothes? I'm quite sure there a male garments to wear for shrine duty, are there not?"
>"Hazing ritual." he explains, with a chuckle, "He's a new recruit, and Reimu needs to make sure her shrine helpers are humbled enough to avoid stirring up trouble, doesn't she?"
-
Darn, missed a h....
> Eat our lamprey a bit more.
> Nod
> Finish off our meal.
-
> Eat our lamprey a bit more.
> Nod
> Finish off our meal.
>You give the fanboy's explanation a quiet nod and press on with your meal. You're maybe half done with this one.
>So good. So, so good. Pity it only tastes this wonderful when you've gone hungry for a long time.
>... something in your bloomers feels... pressured. As if you're sitting on yourself, somehow.
-
>Was this not the case a few minutes ago, or had we just not noticed yet?
-
>Was this not the case a few minutes ago, or had we just not noticed yet?
>Hadn't really noticed. Or did you shift into it somehow? Either way, it's uncomfortable.
-
>Try to adjust our seating position so that it's less uncomfortable
-
>Try to adjust our seating position so that it's less uncomfortable
>You shift in your seat a little, trying to escape the pressure, and end up having to stand up for a moment to change your seating. Ah, that's better.
>The cook frowns for a moment when you move. "Something wrong?"
-
>"No, not at all."
>Of course there is!
>"Just getting trying to get a little more comfortable."
-
>"No, not at all."
>Of course there is!
>You lie through your teeth, while briefly pondering exactly what to do to that damn satori if... no, once you get your hands on her.
>"Just getting trying to get a little more comfortable."
>But follow it up with an effective half-truth.
>Seigo nods, grins mischievously for a moment, then frowns. "... no, I suppose bloomer jokes would be a bad idea."
>He coughs briefly and tries a different topic. "So, was there anything interesting at Korindou?"
-
>For various definitions of 'interesting'....
>"The usual assortment of useless curiosities and interesting rarities; at least that aspect doesn't seem to have changed entirely."
-
>"Now that I think of it, there was something curious there. It was a coupon for a free meal at this stand. It cost about seven times as much as I payed for this. Do you know anything about that?"
-
>For various definitions of 'interesting'....
>Interesting indeed...
>"The usual assortment of useless curiosities and interesting rarities; at least that aspect doesn't seem to have changed entirely."
>"Now that I think of it, there was something curious there. It was a coupon for a free meal at this stand. It cost about seven times as much as I payed for this. Do you know anything about that?"
>The cook nods along with your vague description, then raises his eyebrows in surprise when you mention the free meal coupon.
>"Oh? A coupon for here? That must have been what Mystia traded for that yukata!" He laughs. "What were the specifics on it?"
>You're almost done with your lamprey, but you could go for another one. Even a large, though that might not be necessary.
-
>"It said it was good for 'all you can eat for one fourthmeal', whatever a fourthmeal is."
>Finish off our lamprey and order a second one. If we still have the appetite for a large, make it large. Otherwise, small.
-
>"It said it was good for 'all you can eat for one fourthmeal', whatever a fourthmeal is."
>He bursts out laughing again, rather amused by this. "Ahahaha! She went all-out, didn't she?" he asks, grinning, "No wonder it was so expensive! You just don't do all-you-can-eat these days with Yuyuko around."
>"As for fourthmeal? That's our name for late-night dining hours, with a few special deals set up for the time. It does fairly well among night owls." A chuckle. "And Mystia fanboys, since she makes sure to be at the grill for fourthmeal. Sings sometimes, if she's in a good mood."
>He shakes his head. "And BOTH of those... man, she'd be in a tight spot if Yuyu ever got ahold of that."
>Finish off our lamprey and order a second one. If we still have the appetite for a large, make it large. Otherwise, small.
>You finish off your delicious lamprey skewer and order up another large.
>"Pretty hungry, eh?" Seigo asks, with a grin, but takes the money and puts together another large skewered lamprey. It sizzles on the grill.
>You have spent ?500.
-
>"You'd be surprised how good food tastes when you haven't eaten for a week."
-
>"You'd be surprised how good food tastes when you haven't eaten for a week."
>The griller's eyes widen. "A week?! How did..." he trails off for a moment. "Wait, is this some youkai thing?"
-
>"Hmmm.... or was it two? But yes, youkai magicians don't strictly require food, though I will admit it is missed if gone without for too long."
-
>"Hmmm.... or was it two? But yes, youkai magicians don't strictly require food, though I will admit it is missed if gone without for too long."
>You muse over your fasting for a moment, and give the fanboy an explanation.
>He whistles appreciatively. "That must be really convenient." Then frowns at the lamprey as he flips it over. "And save a lot on food."
>"I take it Patchouli is the same way?"
-
>"Yes, it is a convenient trait. And yes, she would be the same."
-
>"Yes, it is a convenient trait. And yes, she would be the same."
>He nods. "Makes you wonder if the whole psuedo-immortality bit is worth it..." he muses, then shakes his head. "Nah, I'm just speaking out my ass."
>"What's Patchouli like, anyway? Only one that visits there I've gotten to talk to at the stand is Marisa, and I can't pick out what she really thinks from all the fanon gags she keeps throwing at me."
-
>What is Patchouli like, as best we know her?
>"Wait, that fan stuff she keeps spouting gets on your nerves, too?"
-
>What is Patchouli like, as best we know her?
>"Wait, that fan stuff she keeps spouting gets on your nerves, too?"
>He shrugs. "Dunno if it gets on my nerves or not, but it makes it difficult to figure out what parts she really means and what parts she's just joking around with. If I want fanon gossip I can just check online... I mean, she's fun to talk to, no doubts there, but it makes it tough to tell whether she's really been trying to seduce Patchouli, or if she's just playing along." He shakes his head. "And I don't even know whether Patchouli would want to incinerate me for saying that, either."
>Patchouli is quiet, gruff, intelligent, focused, and fairly ruthless. She's an accomplished multi-elemental sorceress, a capable researcher, and a very successful book enthusiast. She's often a little sickly, though you don't know the precise cause of it. She's a friendly acquaintance of yours that you visit on occasion, both for research and conversational purposes. She rarely looks up from her books unless you've especially earned her attention. Overall difficult to approach, but strong and resourceful if you can get on her good side.
-
>Do we have any idea whether Marisa has honestly been trying to seduce Patchouli? Or was at least interested in her in that sense?
-
>Do we have any idea whether Marisa has honestly been trying to seduce Patchouli? Or was at least interested in her in that sense?
>Seigo's description of Marisa's behavior is just about exactly what you've received from her as well - it's extremely difficult to tell what she really means anymore. One of the first things she gushed about after first hearing about fanboy memes to screw around with was saying that she was known for having a 'harem' of other girls in Gensokyo, including yourself, Patchouli, Reimu, and... others you forget offhand. She kept joking about that a lot of the time, tied in with the constant accusations of tsundere.
>You didn't bring it up with Patchouli the few times you visited to get books for research after that point, so you don't have her word to confirm or deny what Marisa's actually been doing.
-
>"I doubt Patchouli would consider it worth her attention. Frankly, Marisa if anyone would be the most likely to draw her ire for that; I have barely more idea than you when she's serious and when she isn't, these days."
-
>"I doubt Patchouli would consider it worth her attention. Frankly, Marisa if anyone would be the most likely to draw her ire for that; I have barely more idea than you when she's serious and when she isn't, these days."
>"That's some relief." he replies, flipping the lamprey over again, "And yeah, Marisa can be a pain on occasion. I almost flipped out when she stole the cash tray when I was still in training, but Mystia just said it was one of those things she does and put me on double shift for a few days. I can tell she likes being the lovable thief, but it's a pity she's so hard to decipher."
>He hesitates. "Would... I'm not really expecting anything here, but would it be too personal to ask what else you think of Marisa?"
-
> "Yes it would"
> What do we think about Marisa?
-
>Is he trying to pump us for data for those damn injoke things?
>Mentally slide him a few steps closer to the beatings column.
-
> "Yes it would"
> What do we think about Marisa?
>He nods. "Yeah, figured. Sorry, I'll drop it."
>Marisa has always been aggravating and obnoxious to some degree, but she's still a good friend. She's too impulsive and distractable to be much help for lengthy research projects, but she's creative, powerful, and friendly. Sometimes it's good to have an outgoing magician around, and even if her unannounced visits are sometimes annoying, not having to go out for the occasional chat is very convenient. She's helped you out with things on occasion without apparently expecting anything in return, but she's also helped herself to some of your stuff without expecting retaliation. Even with all the meme teasing, you aren't ready to write her off entirely.
>Is he trying to pump us for data for those damn injoke things?
>Mentally slide him a few steps closer to the beatings column.
>It's always difficult to tell how much of their talk is friendly chatter and how much of it is a setup...
>Seigo drums his fingertips on part of the stand's counter and shuffles the lamprey on the grill a little. It looks almost done, but apparently he wants to give it a little bit longer.
>After a moment he comes up with a safe topic: "Hey, where else are you planning to visit today? I might be able to give you some warnings about what else the fanboys have been up to."
-
>"Figuring it out as I go along. But I'm getting the feeling I'll be disappointed no matter where I go as it is."
-
>"Figuring it out as I go along. But I'm getting the feeling I'll be disappointed no matter where I go as it is."
>The cook nods. "Yeah, you might be. If it's any consolation, though? I think Marisa's kept from letting any fanboys get in on her place, at least for any significant amount of time. Granted, sounds like she's acting up a fair bit herself, but at least it'd be just her there."
>He pulls the lamprey off the grill, shakes it off a little, and offers it to you. "Course two complete!"
-
>"Are there any other places that haven't been affected too much?"
>Consider adding "Like Former Hell", then think better of it.
>Nibble on the lamprey.
-
>"Are there any other places that haven't been affected too much?"
>Consider adding "Like Former Hell", then think better of it.
>Nibble on the lamprey.
>Seigo frowns as you claim your second skewered lamprey. "Hmm... that's a tough one. I mostly hear about places that HAVE changed. Maybe places that are especially tough to get to? I mean, Hakugyokurou and Higan are flooded by dead ones these days, but I dunno about some of the other places. I haven't heard much about the Heavens, if that helps any? And I guess no one's allowed to try and get into Makai..."
>"If you want to go on a personal basis, though, I'd probably understand if people that really didn't like fanboys or didn't have too many visit anyway didn't let 'em stick around much. I think Marisa's just insisting on being independent."
>... come to think of it, Koishi mentioned Satori using the internet, so even that might be too much to hope.
>This one doesn't taste as orgasmically delicious as the first, but it's still very, very good. Mystia taught this kid well.
-
>"...What were you trying to say with that last part?"
-
>"...What were you trying to say with that last part?"
>He blinks. "Uh... oh. Sorry, yeah, I guess that was a bit insulting." He says sheepishly, then shakes his head. "Don't worry, I can understand being annoyed with us fanboys. Not gonna blame you there."
>"What I meant is, there's uh... other people that are more upset than anything by the fanboys showing up. Usually people that get a bad rap in memes or don't get much attention so they don't get sought out anyway... I think those two goddesses from MoF are pretty much left alone? I forget their names. Akinators, or something?" The cook frowns. "Though, there's others that use it as an excuse to be dickish. I hear Parsee's teasing some new boyfriend every week. But you probably won't want to let her know you heard that."
>"The main thing I meant there is that Marisa's a bit of an unusual case since she's both popular and tolerant of fanboys, but still doesn't let any stick around. Sorry for the confusion."
-
>Do people even visit the Akinators? Like, normal friendly visits? Or are divinities above that?
>"I see. Dare I ask how the Moriya Shrine is taking their world coming back to haunt them?"
-
> "And, if I may ask a personal question of my own, why do you all come here? Surely you had lives and families on the other side. Were they really worth abandoning in favor of us, where you have no idea how well you'll be recieved or how you'll even survive?"
-
>Do people even visit the Akinators? Like, normal friendly visits? Or are divinities above that?
>"I see. Dare I ask how the Moriya Shrine is taking their world coming back to haunt them?"
>You... really don't know what etiquette is like among the goddesses. From what you've heard, Kanako sounds like the type for formalities, but you don't know about the others.
>Actually, you're not even sure you know who he's referring to...
>Isn't it sad, Shizuha?
>Seigo shakes his head. "No idea. We're a bit far out of the way to get visitors from the mountain often. I'm pretty sure Aya's getting help with the paper these days, but I dunno about the Moriya Shrine regulars." He frowns. "Though I guess there's always rumors of Suwako and Cirno getting into fights on general principle?"
> "And, if I may ask a personal question of my own, why do you all come here? Surely you had lives and families on the other side. Were they really worth abandoning in favor of us, where you have no idea how well you'll be received or how you'll even survive?"
>The cook raises both eyebrows in surprise. "I'm flattered you care."
>He shakes his head. "But that isn't an accurate picture. First of all, most fanboys end up here as part of Yukari's whims, rather than arriving under their - our? - own power. I just woke up outside Yuuka's field one day and sprinted for the human village." A shiver. "Scared the hell out of me, let me tell you."
>"Secondly, if Perfect Memento in Strict Sense was any indication, Yukari is careful about what sort of people to bring in from the outer world. People that won't be missed, or that were expected to be suicidal." Seigo smiles sadly. "Mom was always worried I wouldn't make it past high school with all that time spent on Nicovideo... in a way, she was right."
>"So basically, the Touhou fanboys end up here by no choice of their own, carefully pre-selected by Yukari to make sure that the outer world doesn't miss them. Too much, at least."
>"Even then, a lot of us prefer living in a world where magic is real, even if it means struggling with losing some conveniences of home and having to get some sort of real job. For my part, I love meeting actual youkai, and even if things started out bumpy, this spot at the stand ended up being great." He grins. "You'd have never seen me this outgoing in the outer world, but somehow I picked it up. So many interesting things going on!"
>"And since a lot of people that wouldn't be missed in the outer world are people that would have few friends or only loose attachments, well... we might not miss family as much as you'd think."
>"Not to mention the rather successful push to bring in the more useful ideas from the outer world. Every week that goes by, there's one less excuse to go home for conveniences' sake. Dunno if we'll catch up perfectly, but some creative use of magic might do even better, so who knows?"
>Seigo frowns. "Then there's the weird part: Yukari doesn't want any fanboys returning to the outer world, because they'd try and lead the fanboys of the outer world to find a way into Gensokyo that they can use themselves. She doesn't seem to mind sending back people that don't know about Touhou, but if it's someone that would flip out and spam futaba with claims of waking up in Gensokyo, she doesn't let them leave."
>He shakes his head. "And frankly, she's right. I know a couple of guys at the human village that would love to raise a stink online to drag Mary and Renko in here kicking and screaming. And who knows what that would lead to."
>He glances around and leans in a little for a conspiratorial whisper. "If you ask me? The really weird thing is that Yukari's allowed Gensokyo to get access to the internet, even if she's set up some way to censor it so no convincing evidence of Gensokyo's existence gets uploaded. People are still going online with the same identities, or at least identities easily linked to what they called themselves back outside, and families still get a vague idea of where their not-so-precious kids have vanished to. But that doesn't sound like a good idea for keeping the reality of Gensokyo secret, does it?"
>... well that was one hell of an info dump.
-
>Oh goddamnit we are never asking one of these people about themselves again.
>"Is Yukari still doing this, or does she seem to have stopped?"
-
>Oh goddamnit we are never asking one of these people about themselves again.
>"Is Yukari still doing this, or does she seem to have stopped?"
>Good lord this guy talks too much.
>Seigo nods. "That's the other really weird part - people are still showing up. If anything, there's more fanboys than regular people ending up in Gensokyo. And it's anyone's guess what's going through Yukari's head to do that."
-
>"Doesn't want to get her hands dirty with your blood? I can't imagine she's escaped all the silliness."
-
>"Doesn't want to get her hands dirty with your blood? I can't imagine she's escaped all the silliness."
>The cook shrugs. "Dunno. She's pretty popular in the outer world in, uh, a lot of ways. But aside from taking that bit about not letting Gensokyo get discovered seriously, she's been acting a lot like the mischievous prankster fanon paints her as."
>"As for how much she's dealt with fanboys? I really don't know, but I've heard plenty of tales of her using us as prank targets. I haven't been one yet, thankfully, but I think getting her attention is a risky business..."
-
>What do we know about Yukari?
>"Sounds like she is just creating a problem for everyone..."
-
>What do we know about Yukari?
>"Sounds like she is just creating a problem for everyone..."
>She's an extremely powerful troublemaker, for the most part. She's also very intelligent and knowledgeable, but hides it behind a whimsically inscrutable nature. Or is she whimsically inscrutable anyway? Thankfully, you rarely have to deal with her, but you know that Marisa and Reimu encounter her fairly frequently. She has powers over boundaries and can warp everywhere through her gaps. She's... a little intimidating, admittedly.
>Seigo nods at your summary. "Which sounds a lot like her, honestly."
-
>"Do you know if anyone has spoken with her about it?"
>"In fact, I don't suppose you have a recent paper I could borrow?"
-
>"Do you know if anyone has spoken with her about it?"
>"In fact, I don't suppose you have a recent paper I could borrow?"
>fuck no I am not doing that again those writeups took two hours
>"She's probably been asked about it, but I don't know who has, or what response they got." He shakes his head. "I'd guess Reimu would know something, at least, but I'm not about to stick my neck out and ask."
>"Paper? No, not on me. Mystia isn't a fan, so I leave it at home. You can probably get a copy at the village, if you want to." The chef chuckles. "At least the Bunbunmaru is somewhat reliable now."
-
>Just summarize articles like I do, bitchknuckle
>"Maybe I'll ask Reimu later on, if I feel like dealing with that creepy staring guy again sometime soon."
>Finish dat skewer.
>If Chefford has nothing to add, depart for Casa de Marisa. Perhaps she'll be in a tolerable mood today.
-
> Give him a 100 yen tip, this fanboy has been very helpful without annoying you too much.
-
> Offer a 100 yen tip, this fanboy has been very helpful without annoying you too much.
>We gave him our tolerance. Anything more will just give him ideas. And we need this money anyways. Self motivated dolls are not going to pay for themselves.
-
> Fine, be a stingy pants.
> Anyway, check inventory.
-
>Just summarize articles like I do, bitchknuckle
>Finish dat skewer.
>If Chefford has nothing to add, depart for Casa de Marisa. Perhaps she'll be in a tolerable mood today.
>Fuck you, it's my style
>So tasty. His rant gave you a while to make progress on it, but you're not quite finished.
>"Maybe I'll ask Reimu later on, if I feel like dealing with that creepy staring guy again sometime soon."
>Seigo chuckles. "Ah, don't be too hard on him. He's still new around here. Give it a few days and Reimu'll have wrenched some sensitivity into him, don't worry."
> Give him a 100 yen tip, this fanboy has been very helpful without annoying you too much.
>We gave him our tolerance. Anything more will just give him ideas. And we need this money anyways. Self motivated dolls are not going to pay for themselves.
> Fine, be a stingy pants.
>You briefly debate whether to give your griller a monetary tip for being relatively pleasant, but decide against it.
> Anyway, check inventory.
>Your Inventory contains:
& ?2,400
& Blue Dress (Worn as clothing)
& Frilly Pink Ascot (Worn as clothing)
& White Caplet (Worn as clothing)
& Red Hairband (Worn as clothing)
& Grimoire of Alice (Held)
& Puppeteer Fingerguards
& Doll Brigade
& Puppeteer Sign 「Maiden's Bunraku」
& Darkness Sign 「Foggy London Dolls」
& Curse 「Hanged Hourai Dolls」
& Magic Sign 「Artful Sacrifice」
& Empty Glass Bottle
& Moon Stone
& 7/8ths Eaten Lamprey Skewer (Large)
-
>If Chefford has nothing to add, depart for Casa de Marisa. Perhaps she'll be in a tolerable mood today.
Quoting Purvis.
-
>If Chefford has nothing to add, depart for Casa de Marisa. Perhaps she'll be in a tolerable mood today.
>Once again, above or below the canopy? For that matter, from Korindou or directly through the forest?
>You finish off your second lamprey of the morning and toss its bamboo skewer in the provided wastebin.
>You're feeling contentedly full, now. That was worth every yen.
>As you get up to leave, Seigo cuts in.
>"Wait. One last question. You can tell I'm the gossipy sort, but I get the feeling you might not want me talking about your visit here. Should I try and keep my mouth shut?"
-
> "Yes"
> Fly above the canopy directly to Marisa's house.
-
>"I would have hoped the course of the conversation would have been a strong enough yes for you. So yes."
>Stay below canopy for now, take the direct route. Or trace back until we know what the direct route would be. Should signs of Koishi manifest, pause and prepare to garrote her.
Edit:
>No flight. There's Ayas about.
-
> "Yes"
>"I would have hoped the course of the conversation would have been a strong enough yes for you. So yes."
>The apron-clad fanboy nods. "Right. Thanks for shopping at the Nightbird's Roost, Alice. See you around!"
>He waves, and leans back to lounge behind the grill.
> Fly above the canopy directly to Marisa's house.
>Stay below canopy for now, take the direct route. Or trace back until we know what the direct route would be. Should signs of Koishi manifest, pause and prepare to garrote her.
>No flight. There's Ayas about.
>You briefly consider taking the easy route over to Marisa's, but decide that discretion is the better part of valor for the moment. Running into Aya before catching up on recent events could be disastrous... not to mention the horrors Koishi foisted on you.
>Fortunately, you know the forest well enough to take the direct route to her house by land, skirting around a few patches of dense forest - some you remember, some you don't. You don't encounter anything significant along the way, Koishi-related or otherwise.
>Shuffling away uncomfortable pinches in your bloomers from walking so much, however, keeps her rather fresh in your mind.
>Shanghai vibrates curiously.
>After a few minutes of walking through the woods, you emerge into the smallish, overgrown clearing Marisa's house is in. After the other things you've seen today, it's comforting to see it almost exactly as you remember it: a run-down, patched-up cottage covered in thick vines, with an unkempt lawn riddled with weeds and ferns. The only real difference you can see is the clump of wires coming from the ground at the edge of her house, snaking up on the wall like one of the vines surrounding them and vanishing into a hole in the wall. Odd.
>For a moment you think you see a face at one of the windows, but it vanishes almost immediately.
>_
-
>Go knock on the door. Steel self for badness.
-
>Go knock on the door. Steel self for badness.
>You walk over to the front door of Marisa's house, brace yourself for some new horror, and knock.
>You hear a few footsteps from inside. They reach the door and stop for a moment before the handle moves down and the door swings open inwards.
>You are greeted by what appears to be Marisa's severed head sitting on the floor just inside the doorway, smiling up at you.
>"Take it easy, Alice-lady!"
-
>...This is another one of those memes, isn't it?
>Consider kicking head.
-
>Instead, gape at it in obvious horror.
>What the blazing fuck?
-
>...This is another one of those memes, isn't it?
>Consider kicking head.
>Instead, gape at it in obvious horror.
>What the blazing fuck?
>You let your mouth hang open in dumbstruck horror at the... thing before you. Somewhere in your numbed mind, you wonder whether this is another meme joke from Marisa, and whether to introduce it to your boots.
>Another Marisa head peeks out from behind the door at normal head height, grinning like an idiot. She takes one look at your face and bursts out laughing.
>"Bwahahahaha! Oh man, that look was priceless, ze!"
>Marisa steps out from behind the door in her usual witch outfit, laughing loudly.
-
> Kick the abomination.KICK IT!
> Glare at Marisa.
-
> Kick the abomination.KICK IT!
> Glare at Marisa.
>Enough of this shit!
>Infuriated by this horrible prank, you step forward and swing your foot forward to punt the fake Marisa head through the room. And possibly through the wall, hopefully.
>Both hopes are dashed when Marisa's laughter stops and your boot bounces off one of a blue magic circle - Marisa's signature (sole?) defensive measure.
>The severed Marisa head cries out in fear and... somehow hops away from you, to hide behind Marisa's leg.
>"Whoa, whoa, ze!" Marisa says, her grin gone, "Alice, cool it! She's harmless, ze!"
>She frowns a little. "Guess that was a bit mean of a prank to greet you with, huh?"
-
>"What... is that thing!?"
-
>"I don't know why, but just looking at this thing makes me want to cause it pain. I wonder if it could be forced into a cuter shape."
>Glare at it.
>After cooling off a little...
>"Alright. What is this thing, and where did you get it?"
-
> Have Shanghai glare at it.
-
>"I don't know why, but just looking at this thing makes me want to cause it pain. I wonder if it could be forced into a cuter shape."
>Glare at it.
> Have Shanghai glare at it.
>You express your anger and disapproval for the Marisa head, giving it a stern glare with both pairs of eyes.
>Marisa frowns. "Aw, don't be like that, ze." She reaches down and scoops the head up in her arms. "She's pretty cute when you take a closer look, see?"
>You notice that the severed Marisa head is actually more rounded, even oblong, compared to a regular head, and with very little facial definition: It's a little more like a head-like blob than a severed head, upon closer inspection. The witch hat on top of it makes the impression pretty clear, though...
>It's cringing away from you, clearly frightened.
>After cooling off a little...
>"Alright. What is this thing, and where did you get it?"
>You give it a moment to let your anger fade, and ask Marisa what the hell is going on.
>"It's a Marisa yukkuri, ze!" she replies, grinning again, "I found it in the woods a few days ago!"
-
> "How could something like that..thing exist?"
-
>Note to self: Never use one of these things for erotic activities. (http://yukkuri.wikia.com/wiki/Alice_Margatroid)
>These things have never appeared or have even been heard of in Gensokyo, have they?
-
>"Right, So I'm to believe this thing existed first, then you found it. "
>Pinch it's cheek. Not too hard as to bruise it.
>"Are you sure this isn't another one of your internet things?"
-
>Note to self: Never use one of these things for erotic activities. (http://yukkuri.wikia.com/wiki/Alice_Margatroid)
>These things have never appeared or have even been heard of in Gensokyo, have they?
>You'd rather not even think about erotic activities at the moment, for a number of reasons.
>You've never heard of such a thing before today. Or... did Marisa mention it once, a long time ago? But you know you've never seen anything like this before.
>"Right, So I'm to believe this thing existed first, then you found it. "
> "How could something like that..thing exist?"
>Marisa shrugs. "Dunno, ze. Just found her munching on some mushrooms in the woods and brought her home. Why, you want one too, ze?"
>Pinch it's cheek. Not too hard as to bruise it.
>You reach for the head's cheek and pinch gently. The skin itself feels realistic, but the flesh beneath it is... abnormal. It really DOES feel like some sort of blob in there.
>The yukkuri's eyes start watering, and its mouth opens in a silent sob, but apparently it's too frightened to start really crying.
>"Should I take that as a yes, ze?" Marisa asks, grinning.
>"Are you sure this isn't another one of your internet things?"
>She laughs. "Caught me, ze! Yep, yukkuri are one of those online memes. Never seen one around until then, though, but she's acting just the same."
-
> Throw up hands in disgust.
> "Good Lord, this internet has to be the worst thing that's ever happened to us."
-
> Throw up hands in disgust.
> "Good Lord, this internet has to be the worst thing that's ever happened to us."
>holy shit you didn't ragequit
>You throw up your hands in exasperation.
>Marisa grins mischievously. "What, even worse than you being too tsundere to confess, ze?"
>She laughs for a moment.
-
>Glare
>"Today is a very bad day for that, Marisa."
>"In any case, where in the world did that thing come from? Surely people would have noticed them if they'd always been around here."
-
>Glare
>"Today is a very bad day for that, Marisa."
>Her grin broadens. "Isn't it always, ze?"
>"In any case, where in the world did that thing come from? Surely people would have noticed them if they'd always been around here."
>Marisa shrugs again. "Beats me. Maybe someone made it, ze?"
>"Yuuuuuu..." the head in her arms whines, pitifully. Marisa puts it down on the floor, and it hops a few feet away to hide among a pile of discarded clothing, peeking out from behind a big "M" smock.
-
> Evil eye!
> "Not always this bad. I say today is a very bad day for this bullshit because it IS a very bad day for this bullshit."
No ragequit from me. Hell, the penis gives us an in-character reason for learning alteration magic beyond my retarded self-imposed whims!
Not like I'd ragequit on Alice even if I don't get boobs. Bitch Alice is one of the more fun Toohoos to control.
-
>"I really mean it, Marisa. I could tolerate being called Tsundere. Today, things have happened to me that I can not tolerate."
>"hmm... so it must not just be you then. This invasion of Gensokyo is getting pretty out of hand. I've been to Kourindou and The Lamprey stand today, and everything really has changed a lot over the month."
>Investigate dough whatever ball.
>Try to pat it's head gently so it stops being scared of us for a while.
>"Hey, can you tell me where you came from?"
-
What are you doing being friendly to it. I had this whole awesome super-rant idea at the ready and waiting for Marisa to give us the proper trigger. :<
(This is in semi-jest, I am not going to actually countermand anything.)
-
I'm being nice to it so that it will answer my question.
-
> Evil eye!
> "Not always this bad. I say today is a very bad day for this bullshit because it IS a very bad day for this bullshit."
No ragequit from me. Hell, the penis gives us an in-character reason for learning alteration magic beyond my retarded self-imposed whims!
Not like I'd ragequit on Alice even if I don't get boobs. Bitch Alice is one of the more fun Toohoos to control.
>I meant the yukkuri
>You give Marisa your worst glare and reiterate that it has been a bad day.
>She chuckles. "And what makes this worse than every other time, ze? Not the first time you've said that!"
>"I really mean it, Marisa. I could tolerate being called Tsundere. Today, things have happened to me that I can not tolerate."
>She frowns in concern for a moment. "What things, ze?" That damned grin. "You need a shoulder to dere-dere on?"
>"hmm... so it must not just be you then. This invasion of Gensokyo is getting pretty out of hand. I've been to Kourindou and The Lamprey stand today, and everything really has changed a lot over the month."
>"Heh, not worth trying to make things like this, ze. No power to it!" she says, flexing a little. "Still, a cute find, ze!" Another grin. "And fun to surprise people with, too!"
>"Korin's place looks a lot better now, doesn't it, ze? 'course, not like I'm gonna have anyone else try and clean this place up, but it looks a lot more like a proper shop now, ze."
>She grins at the mention of the lamprey stand. "My favorite part about the new logo is the little bird-Mystia on the top of the signs, ze. Making it look like their head got bitten off is always a laugh."
>"But it's great to see you again, ze!" Marisa says, waving you into the cluttered front room, "What've you been up to the past few months?"
>Marisa's front room is a cluttered mess of black and white clothing, disused magical artifacts, stolen books, filthy dishes, squashed mushrooms, spell reagents, and assorted other odds and ends. You notice that there are significantly more items that look like they came from the outer world littered among the mess than you remember, but it's still comfortingly familiar.
>Investigate dough whatever ball.
>Try to pat it's head gently so it stops being scared of us for a while.
>"Hey, can you tell me where you came from?"
>Curiosity unsatisfied, you pick your way through the disaster that is Marisa's floor, and approach the blobby head that Marisa just released.
>You reach down to pet it through the M smock it's hiding under, but unfortunately just it cringes away from your touch and shivers.
>"Alice-wady's scawwy..." it mumbles, childishly.
>Marisa chuckles. "Don't worry, ze, she'll forget all about it by lunch. You wanna go looking for another one later?"
-
Well.
Do we tell her? I actually kinda want to tell her.
At the very least, we should use her bathroom to find out for ourselves for sure.
-
Oh, I can only imagine the ribbing Marisa would give us over that one.
But honestly, I think I'm just as curious to see her reaction, too.
And yes, I agree with the latter statement.
-
Hmm, I think telling is risky but then again, there not a lot of people who knows magic. So why not.
-
I'm not about to get ribbed for her pleasure.
Besides, if she makes a joke out of this, Woman Law says we have free reign to nuke her house.
-
Honestly, I'd rather not tell her. I mean, just imagine what she'd say if you told her "The internet gave me a penis."
I would be okay with double checking in the bathroom.
>"I wonder. Is there a type of dere where the subject kills the other person?"
>Tactful pause.
>"Oh, don't worry, it's not you."
>"I'm not interested in getting a blob, so much as finding out where the blob came from. It had to have had an origin, and as childish as it is, it can at least talk, so I'm assuming some level of intelligence is involved with the creature's personality."
-
The penis is Gensokyo in origin, though. :V
-
>"I wonder. Is there a type of dere where the subject kills the other person?"
>Tactful pause.
>"Oh, don't worry, it's not you."
>She frowns. "Well, I guess yandere can make a good story, ze, but I don't think you've been acting that way..."
>"I'm not interested in getting a blob, so much as finding out where the blob came from. It had to have had an origin, and as childish as it is, it can at least talk, so I'm assuming some level of intelligence is involved with the creature's personality."
>"So y'know, she's a yukkuri, ze." Marisa reminds you, then frowns again. "... you got a point about the intelligence part, though. That IS pretty weird, ze... so you wanna know who made her?"
-
>"A ... yukkuri. Right..."
>"Who, or what, or when... This thin-err, Yukkuri came from the internet, and I know the internet can't give a physical form to something by itself without someone actually making it."
>"In fact, now that I think about it, it probably doesn't matter who created it. What I should focus on is "Getting online" so I can get a handle on where all of this -stuff- is coming from in the first place."
-
>"A ... yukkuri. Right..."
>Marisa chuckles a little at your indifference to the name.
>"Who, or what, or when... This thin-err, Yukkuri came from the internet, and I know the internet can't give a physical form to something by itself without someone actually making it."
>She nods. "That's right, ze. One of those fanboys must have made her. I'm actually kinda impressed, ze - never seen golems or dolls that expressive before."
>"In fact, now that I think about it, it probably doesn't matter who created it. What I should focus on is "Getting online" so I can get a handle on where all of this -stuff- is coming from in the first place."
>"Heheh! You want to join the crew now, ze?" Marisa asks, with a big grin. "Lucky you, the fairies haven't gotten past the wards on the wiring yet! C'mon, I'll let you see my PC!"
>She heads for one of the other rooms in the house, bouncing among the rubble. You think that was her dining room, last you remember.
-
>follow
-
Tell her. Should she react in an unfavorable way, we can always strangle her.
-
Or do the obvious with it.
Have any of these games ever had a rape scene?
-
Not as of yet.
>"I don't know what this crew is, but...maybe I should just ease into things. I've had a hell of a day, Marisa..."
-
>follow
>"I don't know what this crew is, but...maybe I should just ease into things. I've had a hell of a day, Marisa..."
>You follow her through the domestic minefield, and express your wariness about Marisa's suggestion.
>She chuckles. "The crew online, ze! There's a buncha people that go online these days! I was wondering when you'd get interested, ze!"
>You then reiterate the badness of your current situation, and Marisa stops in the doorway to the dining room. She turns around and frowns at you.
>"Seriously, ze, what's wrong? It's not like you to talk like that." She grins a little. "Unless I'm right about the dere-dere bit?"
-
>"Will you speak in real words, please? Just this once? I can't ever be serious with you, can I?"
-
>"Will you speak in real words, please? Just this once? I can't ever be serious with you, can I?"
>"They ARE real words, ze!" Marisa replies, grinning. "And if you take everything seriously, then where's the fun in life?"
>She frowns again. "But jeez, okay. What is it, ze?"
-
Okay, if we're going to check, now's the time to request a private room and do it.
-
FUCK IT, I'M GOIN' DEEP
> "I...uh...I actually don't know."
> "I need to check something really quick. Something private. Do you have a room where I can be alone real quick? I should be right back out."
> "...I hope."
-
> "I...uh...I actually don't know."
> "I need to check something really quick. Something private. Do you have a room where I can be alone real quick? I should be right back out."
> "...I hope."
>Marisa's brow furrows and her frown deepens as you give her a vague explanation.
>"Well, why so serious, ze?" she asks, puzzled, "You coulda just asked if you needed a minute to yourself. The pantry's right over there if you don't mind making yourself a light in there, and you know where the lab is." She grins. "Unless you wanna use my bedroom?"
-
> Death glare.
> "If what I suspect is true, the last place you want to be right now is in your bedroom."
> Back to normal.
> "Anyway...I'll give the lab a try. And...thanks."
> Assuming no response from Marisa that requires a response from us, head to her lab, as we apparently already know where it is.
-
>Hustle toward the lab. Close door.
>Make certain there's no one around the windows. Close curtains.
>If all is clear, check.
-
> Death glare.
> "If what I suspect is true, the last place you want to be right now is in your bedroom."
>Marisa's eyes widen. "... whatddya mean by that, ze?" she asks, eyebrows raised.
> Back to normal.
> "Anyway...I'll give the lab a try. And...thanks."
> Assuming no response from Marisa that requires a response from us, head to her lab, as we apparently already know where it is.
>Hustle toward the lab. Close door.
>You calm yourself again and thank her.
>Marisa's grin takes a little longer than usual to form. "Ah, no problem, ze."
>You figure that she wouldn't insist on more detail than that, and switch direction to head for the door to the lab, picking your way along a less-traveled route through the front room. The blobby-head yukkuri shies away from you as you pass by, still hiding in that silly smock Marisa made a while back.
>You enter Marisa's lab, a fair-sized room off of the entrance, only slightly less sloppy than the front room, and shut the door tight behind you. You get the impression of some sort of method to the madness here, but you've never really been able to figure out what it is: Your best guess is that she does most of her work on the half-cleared table by the window, and stuff on there is for her current project, but it can be difficult to tell. The more volatile spell components are hidden away in the closet off to one side, easily the most organized area in Marisa's entire house, but not somewhere good to visit without a reason.
>The room is covered with spell components and half-made or half-charged magical artifacts, along with a lot of mushrooms, a lot of soot, and numerous burn marks from Marisa's many explosive failures. Interestingly, there are also a couple of half-disassembled outer-world items here as well, covers pried off to reveal messes of wire hidden inside. Odd - but at least that's the only noticeable difference here.
>Make certain there's no one around the windows. Close curtains.
>If all is clear, check.
>But that's not the important thing right now. The important thing is making sure Aya never, ever hears about this. Thankfully, poking your head out the window for a thorough search of the area gives no hint of her presence.
>You close the windows, and pull the curtains tight down over them. Normally a magician would want good ventilation in a good lab to avoid getting suffocated by the fumes that a lot of projects make, but Aya's disregard for privacy makes it important to have a way to cover up anything sensitive that you're up to.
>So you do.
>After closing up Marisa's lab to your satisfaction, you take a deep breath, pull up your dress, and peek down into the front of your bloomers.
>...
>Yep. Koishi gave you a penis.
>_
-
>Quietly replace clothing and curtains and such.
>Exit lab and and seek out Marisa.
>"As I was saying, I would like you to help me beat the everloving hell out of Koishi. Then beat it back into her."
>_
-
> "And possibly beat it out of her again"
>"...Repeating if necessary"
-
> Koishi didn't take anything away, did she?
-
> Koishi didn't take anything away, did she?
>You... REALLY don't want to reach in and investigate this, but steel yourself and lightly check with your fingers.
>... oddly enough, your other, uh, gender identifier is still there, too.
>Oh dear your bloomers feel another size too small now.
>Quietly replace clothing and curtains and such.
>Exit lab and and seek out Marisa.
>You remain calm and collected despite this terrible discovery, and quietly redress yourself before opening the curtains and windows of Marisa's lab to leave it the way you found it.
>You silently work your way back through Marisa's front room to enter the dining room she was standing in a minute ago.
>Marisa's dining room has changed somewhat, but not drastically. It still looks mostly the same: a cluttered dining/cooking area, covered with used dishes and utensils, with the occasional mark of dried mushroom stew that never got cleaned up. The oven and other preparation spaces are still there, but there are a few new items lying around that are unfamiliar - some of them look outer-world in origin, or look like they were made to imitate that.
>The only really big change is that one end of the rickety wooden table is actually cleared off to make space for a large boxy... thing you can only guess is a computer, wires snaking out from it to a similar-looking box on the floor and to an odd spot on the wall. The box on the floor has numerous wires coming out of it, one heading to the wall just below the top box's wire, another up to the assortment of computer runes in front of the top box, and one to the other computer-controlling artifact next to it. Curiously, Marisa apparently actually keeps food products away from all of the things connected to the computer.
>Marisa herself is lounging in a creaky chair in front of it, and looks up at you when you enter. "Done already, ze?"
>"As I was saying, I would like you to help me beat the everloving hell out of Koishi. Then beat it back into her."
> "And possibly beat it out of her again"
>"...Repeating if necessary"
>You continue to try and contain your Jupiterian rage within the confines of your own body whilst asking Marisa for her assistance. Unfortunately, it still manages to leak somewhat.
>Marisa frowns at your request. "Koishi? What, did she do something to you, ze?"
>_
>_
-
> Take amusement in both Alice and the parser throwing 'penis' around casually but lightly treading around saying 'vagina'.
So are we gonna tell her or what. <_< I still kinda want to. I think she would actually take us seriously, given how her attitude has progressed throughout the conversation so far.
-
While Marisa may make fun of Alice, she knows when to stop so I think it'll be safe to tell her...maybe.
-
I have no real objections. We're practically committed at this point, anyway, unless we make up an entirely separate story about why we're annoyed at Koishi. You know Marisa is going to bug us for an answer of some sort.
-
Yeah, unless Marisa is completely insufferable, we need someone to tell so that our fury can be properly comprehended. But if we can let her figure it out, all the better.
>"...She victimized me, we'll say."
-
> Take amusement in both Alice and the parser throwing 'penis' around casually but lightly treading around saying 'vagina'.
>Hey fuck you I'm worried enough about getting in trouble for this as it is =(
>Also I think the penis use thing was mostly you guys
>"...She victimized me, we'll say."
>For the moment, you keep your explanations vague.
>"Victimized how?" Marisa asks, standing up and moving around the table a bit to look you over.
-
did you seriously make koishi make alice... bahahaha what
-
>Oh goddamn you damn dense witch.
>"Before I continue on, Marisa, please understand that the next few moments will determine whether I consider you a true friend or I garrote you. Do you understand?"
-
>Oh goddamn you damn dense witch.
>"Before I continue on, Marisa, please understand that the next few moments will determine whether I consider you a true friend or I garrote you. Do you understand?"
>Fucking hell, after all she's teased you with?!
>"Are these mutually exclusive?"
>Marisa shakes her head sadly. "Guess she did something pretty bad, huh?" She sighs. "Okay, okay, go on, I'll try not to laugh or anything."
-
>"I hope you'll do more than try."
>Deep breath. Sign.
>Small voice. "I she gave me a penis."
>If she even starts to laugh, take out puppet strings and make a cat cradle for garroting purposes.
-
>"I hope you'll do more than try."
>Deep breath. Signh.
>Small voice. "I sShe gave me a penis."
>If she even starts to laugh, take out puppet strings and make a cat cradle for garroting purposes.
>You give her a final warning, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
>Marisa stares at you for a long moment after you make your revelation. A grin slowly starts to spread across her face, though it's clear she's trying to fight it back.
>"W-wait." she says, "Really? You're serious?"
-
> Glare at her.
> Make Shanghai glare at her.
> "Yes"
-
>Produce the strings.
-
> Glare at her.
> Make Shanghai glare at her.
> "Yes"
>Produce the strings.
>You reassure her that you are quite serious about this while assisting Shanghai in giving her a deathglare, and pull out some of your doll-control strings to make good on your earlier threat.
>Marisa's grin keeps widening for a moment, then she snorts back a laugh and stumbles toward the wall next to her.
>"Ahah... oh god, I'm sorry, just... ahaha! just give me a minute..."
>She collapses against the wall and starts shaking with repressed laughter, making strange snorts and snerks as she fights to keep quiet.
-
> Make Shanghai kick her.
> Glare at her.
> "Would you stop that, this is serious" For us at least.
-
> Aim Shanghai at her computer.
> "You think this is funny? Because I think I know how to make you explode with laughter."
-
>Shanghai kick her? After she's turned her back to us and give us a target?
>Garrot her. Give her a swift kick in the ass.
-
> Make Shanghai kick her.
> Glare at her.
> "Would you stop that, this is serious" For us at least.
>You decide to break convention for the moment and send Shanghai to deliver a simple wooden dollkick to Marisa's cranium, glaring and reminding her of the importance of the issue.
>"Owahahaha!" she replies, the blow breaking her concentration on not laughing aloud, "I'm sorry, I know, it's just... ahahahammfghheehaa..."
>Shanghai kick her? After she's turned her back to us and give us a target?
>Garrot her. Give her a swift kick in the ass.
>This response is unsatisfactory, and even if she hasn't actually turned her back, that bent-over pose and near-helpless laughter DOES give you an idea...
>Namely to strangle your best friend and make a realdoll out of her corpse
>You quietly walk around behind Marisa, pause to savor the moment as she makes no move to defend herself, and swing the tip of your boot into the small of her back.
>She gives a proper shriek of pain this time, and falls forward into a pile of pots with a clatter.
> Aim Shanghai at her computer.
>To make sure the message is absolutely clear, you then move Shanghai over to aim at her computer, arms extended in preparation for a laser, and give Marisa a moment to recover.
>"Owowow..." Marisa moans, as she picks herself out of the mess of fallen dishware, "Damnit Alice, that hurt!"
> "You think this is funny? Because I think I know how to make you explode with laughter."
>Marisa blinks at your threat for a moment, then frowns. "... okay, yeah, I guess I earned that one." She sighs. "Okay. Yeah, that's gotta be a pain in the ass, ze." She rubs her own for a moment and winces.
>"D'ya want me to try and remove it?"
-
>"Wait, you can do that? How?"
-
>"Wait, you can do that? How?"
>"Uh, well..." Marisa reaches back with one arm and scratches the back of her head for a moment, "To be honest, uh, Yukari did about the same to me a while ago, so..."
-
No laughing. Srs Alis s srs.
> "She what?"
> "What the hell possesses someone to go around thinking they have the right to do that to someone else?"
-
> "She what?"
> "What the hell possesses someone to go around thinking they have the right to do that to someone else?"
>She laughs a little, sounding a lot more sheepish than she was a minute ago.
>"This is Yukari we're talking about, ze. She'll gladly take her lumps to stir up trouble if she feels like it." She grimaces for a moment. "... and frankly, aside from trying to dodge Aya, I guess it was kinda funny..."
>Marisa shakes her head. "Still, though, I talked to Byakuren to make sure it wouldn't be a problem anymore, ze. Now I can take care of it myself!... I think."
-
>"Then please...and I'll even apologize for the kick on top of it."
-
>"Then please...and I'll even apologize for the kick on top of it."
>Marisa grins. "Heh, taking this real seriously, aren't you, ze? Alright, lemme go find the focus in the lab. Now how did it go again..."
>She leaves for the front room, muttering to herself.
-
>Follow!
-
>Follow!
-
bunp
>hey you try writing when your throat is trying to kill you >:{
>Follow!
>Not content to sit around and wait for whatever Marisa's preparing, you follow her through the mess of her front room towards her lab as she mutters to herself.
>About halfway through the room, her pace slows, and she soon comes to a stop. She falls silent for a moment, then turns around, red-faced.
>"Um, maybe I was a bit hasty about that offer, ze. I forgot the parts Byakuren mentioned about, uh, doing it to others. I mean, I guess can try, ze, but uh..."
-
>"I don't have a clue what you mean. Perhaps you should stop beating around the bush?"
-
"Perhaps you should stop beating around the bush?"
Okay now you're just trying to make her laugh so you can get mad at her.
-
Okay now you're just trying to make her laugh so you can get mad at her.
>how did I not catch that
>"I don't have a clue what you mean. Perhaps you should stop beating around the bush?"
>She gives you a nod, still blushing furiously. "Right, ze."
>"Uh, well, basically the way it works is you use a focus or prepared spell or somethin' to power the magic while envisioning the change you want, ze. That's the easy part."
>"But there's still a few problems, ze. I haven't exactly seen what you, uh, usually look like under there, so I dunno if I'll do it right." a nervous grin, despite the blush. "Pity you've been so reserved, huh, ze?"
>"And I remembered that Byakuren had to, uh, touch me to sort of mold it away when she did it for me, ze. I still haven't tried changing someone else with it, but I betcha I'd have to do the same, ze." Damn that grin. "And I gotta wonder what you'd think of that."
>"... plus, the main way I HAVE been practicing with it is to make stuff bigger, ze..."
>Marisa shakes her head. "I think it'd be safer to go ask Byakuren to take care of it, ze. She's a real goody-goody, and I know she didn't tell anyone after she handled it that first time."
-
> "Yeah, I - wait, you know how to make things bigger?"
-
> "Yeah, I - wait, you know how to make things bigger?"
>She grins, blush fading a bit. "Been working on a new spellcard, ze!"
-
> Frown.
> "So it's temporary?"
-
> Frown.
> "So it's temporary?"
>Marisa frowns back, looking slightly confused.
>"Well... sort of, ze. It's easier to change to whatever form you're used to. Sometimes happens on its own, I think." She shakes her head. "And as cool as it is, walking around like that would be pretty inconvenient, ze." A grin. "Still likin' my current look, too!"
-
> "No no no, not that. Can...whatever magic this is make anything you want bigger?"
-
> "No no no, not that. Can...whatever magic this is make anything you want bigger?"
>Marisa is silent for a moment, her face turning bright red once again.
>She manages to nod. "Y-yeah, pretty sure, ze. Was sort of worried I'd end up making your current problem worse if I tried."
>A pause. "Or did you not mean that, ze?"
-
>"You've clearly forgotten about my Doll Enlargement Project."
-
If Aya ever gets a transcript of this conversation, Alice's life is officially over.
just sayin'
-
> "Yeah, this has nothing to do with that. I've actually just been looking into that sort of magic, though I had no leads. Until now."
> "Do you think it would be possible to make size increase effects more permanent?"
-
>"You've clearly forgotten about my Doll Enlargement Project."
> "Yeah, this has nothing to do with that. I've actually just been looking into that sort of magic, though I had no leads. Until now."
>Marisa shakes her head. "Naw, you made it pretty clear that was just for dolls and inanimate stuff, ze. Pity it isn't worth using to make huge mushrooms, though. That'd be pretty neat, ze."
>She looks you over for a moment, frowning. "... and I dunno why you might want to match that size yourself, ze. Not really worth the trouble for danmaku, right? Too big a target, ze. And too much energy to do it."
> "Do you think it would be possible to make size increase effects more permanent?"
>Her brow furrows, clearly puzzled. Or perhaps suspicious. "... especially permanently, ze."
>Marisa shakes her head. "All I can remember from Byakuren is that it's something about returning to your own 'body image,' ze. Maybe you could change that? Somehow?"
-
> "Even if it doesn't result in something permanently huge, it could still be useful in small doses, applied to specific things. And I'm sure I'll be able to find something with my own research."
> "Anyway, let's get to Byakuren's, then. You can tell me more on the way."
-
> "Even if it doesn't result in something permanently huge, it could still be useful in small doses, applied to specific things. And I'm sure I'll be able to find something with my own research."
> "Anyway, let's get to Byakuren's, then. You can tell me more on the way."
>Marisa continues frowning at you in silence.
>After a few seconds, she speaks up again. "Okay, ze. It isn't like you to take an interest in something without having some idea what to do with it."
>"What're you planning, ze?"
-
Like school in summer.
>"I'm hoping to apply it to overcome some of the limitations I encountered with the Doll Enlargement Project. So finding a lead this close to home, well...I am sure you can imagine my curiosity. And trepidation, given the circumstances..."
-
>"I'm hoping to apply it to overcome some of the limitations I encountered with the Doll Enlargement Project. So finding a lead this close to home, well...I am sure you can imagine my curiosity. And trepidation, given the circumstances..."
>Marisa frowns at you for a long moment, then nods. "... alright, I guess that works, ze. Still dunno how similar they are, but if you think it'll help, Byakuren's the one to ask, ze."
>"Sure you don't wanna mess with the internet before we go? You seemed pretty interested in that earlier, ze."
-
>"I'm more interested in a cure. There will be time for that later on. And, you would be surprised where inspiration can come from in related disciplines."
-
>"I'm more interested in a cure. There will be time for that later on. And, you would be surprised where inspiration can come from in related disciplines."
>She grins at the mention of a 'cure,' and nods. "Fair enough, ze. Gimme a minute to get my stuff together, then. Could ya wait out front, ze?"
-
Should we tell her? If we're going to, I'd rather do it inside, away from prying tengu ears that can hear just about anything on the wind.
-
She doesn't need to know until such a time that we're pretty sure it's going to work.
>Go wait out front, ze.
-
We're a magician youkai, we can do our own research.
-
>Go wait out front, ze.
>If only that verbal tic she decided to pick up didn't get infectious after a while...
>You walk back out to Marisa's front lawn and wait for her to prepare. You think you see her rummaging around a bit in her lab before she closes up the windows and curtains, and hear her talking to that head-blob yukkuri for a moment before she walks out the door, carrying her witch's broom and humming a vaguely familiar tune (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ssmxWJftyo).
>Marisa locks up the front door, grins at you, takes a few steps out onto the lawn, and hops on her broom, rising a few feet into the air.
>"Y'know, ze," she says, "I just realized you never answered my question earlier. What HAVE you been doing lately, ze?"
>You know that Marisa usually likes to take the most direct route to her destination. You rarely see her traveling at ground level unless she's looking for something... apparently she likes the occasional fairy skirmish.
-
> "Research into my independent doll project. Lots of research."
> "...You know, come to think of it...didn't you say someone made that weird head thing that looked like you?"
-
>"And, would it be alright if we kept to the ground, for now?"
-
> "Research into my independent doll project. Lots of research."
> "...You know, come to think of it...didn't you say someone made that weird head thing that looked like you?"
>Marisa grins. "Ah, shoulda known, ze. What was the big lead this time? And did it fall through like half the others, ze?"
>She pauses at the mention of the yukkuri, then nods. "Right, ze. At least, that's my best guess. I thought that might be able to help you out if it's true, ze. But I dunno where to find 'em."
>"And, would it be alright if we kept to the ground, for now?"
>Marisa frowns at your request for subtlety. "Aw, man, that'd take forever, ze! C'mon, I'll run interference if anyone shows up." She grins again. "Haven't gotten to break out the spark for a while, ze!"
>Admittedly, ground travel does take a little longer.
-
> "I've been looking into 'artificial intelligence'. There's little information on magical applications, but that just makes it all the better, as it will make me something of a pioneer in addition to fulfilling a life goal. I've found nothing so far to suggest it isn't doable, and if that head is any indication, I may very well have stumbled across something to suggest it very much is."
-
> "I've been looking into 'artificial intelligence'. There's little information on magical applications, but that just makes it all the better, as it will make me something of a pioneer in addition to fulfilling a life goal. I've found nothing so far to suggest it isn't doable, and if that head is any indication, I may very well have stumbled across something to suggest it very much is."
>Marisa whistles appreciatively. "Damn, ze, that's a good one. Yeah, I think you're really on to something this time. Though... aren't those 'AI' things usually robots, ze? Wouldn't that be more robots and stuff like that, from computers? But I don't think the outer world can pull that off either, ze..."
>She grins. "Oh man, now you got me excited. Now I wanna find whoever made that yukkurisa, too!"
>_
-
>"I don't know what half of those things you said are, so I am going to assume they are painfully annoying and stupid."
>Gets to walking.
-
>"I don't know what half of those things you said are, so I am going to assume they are painfully annoying and stupid."
>Gets to walking.
>Marisa's grin vanishes, and she adopts a hurt expression.
>"Jeez, Alice, I was just tryin' to help, ze!"
>You estimate which direction is south and start walking towards the woods, figuring that it'd be easier to rough it through the forest until getting back into the open than to go back to the road at Korindou. After a few seconds, you hear Marisa sigh and drop to the ground behind you to follow.
>The trip through the forest goes well enough, all things considered: Marisa's teasing is relatively subdued despite catching your attempts to discreetly adjust your bloomers due to Koishi's 'gift,' and a little bush-trimming by Shanghai makes it fairly easy to get through the forest. Still no signs of fairies, thankfully, nor any hint of another disembodied Marisa head.
>Soon enough, you emerge from the Forest of Magic and into the open plains and farmland north of the Human Village. You can see the dirt road to Korindou weaving through the fields into town, dotted with small shacks used by farmers for storing supplies or resting during the day. Aside from looking better-maintained than you remember, this is all fairly normal.
>What's less typical is that it looks like the entire harvest has been taken in already, something like a month ahead of schedule. And the village itself...
>The human village has, put simply, grown. While the edges of the village itself have not spread far into the fields surrounding it, there are many more closely-built buildings filling the village, some of them much larger or taller than you'd have ever expected to see.
>Most noticeable is an incredibly tall, boxy-looking building near the southwest part of town, with at least ten floors of doors visible, linked by staircases and balconies hanging on the outside of the building.
>"Now I'm wonderin', ze." Marisa chimes in, after you look over the village for a moment, "How much of that's new to you?"
-
> "Uh."
> Point at the really big building.
> "What's with that?"
-
>"Pretty much all of it."
>After pointing at the Tower of Box: "Because it is hideous."
-
> "Uh."
>"Pretty much all of it."
>Marisa grins. "Heheh. This should be pretty interestin', then!"
> Point at the really big building.
> "What's with that?"
>After pointing at the Tower of Box: "Because it is hideous."
>She laughs. "Yeah, the fanboys didn't do such a good job making the apartment building pretty-looking, ze. But at least it means somewhere for a bunch of them to stay without mooching off Byakuren, ze."
-
>"So if we burn it down, we'd likely remove a lot of them. Good to know."
>That's probably a joking tone.
>"In the meantime, we'll avoid it like the plague."
>Onward to Byakustan.
-
>"So if we burn it down, we'd likely remove a lot of them. Good to know."
>That's probably a joking tone.
>Marisa chuckles. "Pretty sure the kappa'd be pissed about all that wiring going to waste, ze."
>"In the meantime, we'll avoid it like the plague."
>Onward to Byakustan.
>"Eh, the ones that can afford it are usually somewhat competent, ze." She shakes her head. "But yeah, don't want to visit without a reason."
>You skirt some of the empty fields and work your way to the Korindou road, and from there into the Human Village. As you get close, Marisa gives you a warning in a low voice.
>"Act natural, ze. Only had fanboys really act up when I'm not doing what they expect. Try not to look too much like a tourist, ze."
>It's a difficult rule to follow, as a closer look at the new buildings reveals dozens of strange new sights: Shops for 'electronics repairs,' novice magicians' shops, an unfamiliar general store competing with the one you usually do business with, an odd dome-topped building with a gold-painted cross over the door, and many others you can't get a proper look at due to either distance or risking the crowd's attention.
>And there IS a fair crowd, much of it fanboys - unfortunately the norm ever since their invasion really picked up. You've long since learned that the best way to deal with the people watching you so carefully is to ignore them and not do anything for them to gossip about, but occasionally one works up the courage to be foolish enough to try and talk to you, which is difficult to dissuade gracefully.
>Thankfully, when a freckled, orange-haired fanboy steps out of the crowd to try and speak with you, Marisa makes good on her offer to run interference, and sends him off with a story about introducing you to Byakuren, neatly avoiding any further detail.
>You have to admit that her skill at dealing with them can be useful at times.
>Soon enough, the two of you reach a rather plain-looking, but large, house of stone and clay, with a wooden plaque over the front door reading "Myouren Temple" in both English and Japanese. Small, carved wooden figures of people surround the plaque, several with animal youkai features, and one relatively large one holding an intricate scroll of sorts.
>"This is the place, ze!" Marisa says, a bit more loudly than really necessary.
-
>"So. Byakuren has dealt with this with you before? Um...would be it easier for you to explain I'm hear for the same thing?"
-
>"So. Byakuren has dealt with this with you before? Um...would be it easier for you to explain I'm hearre for the same thing?"
>Marisa turns to face you, then her eyes briefly dart over to one of the fanboys still loitering nearby. You notice the ones behind her looking rather curious as well...
>She looks back at you and grins. "Heheh, bein' with me making you timid now, huh, Alice?" she says, still a little more loudly than necessary. Probably for the fanboys? Oh dear...
>"'course I came back to visit Byakuren to compare magic notes once she got settled in here, ze!" A chuckle. "Hell, you haven't even beaten her up, ze. It'll probably be easier for you anyway!"
>Marisa briefly adopts a serious expression. "Don't worry, the rat'll know what we're here for once we talk to her, ze." She smirks. "Since she's Nazrin!"
>You really hope she's just trying to be subtle...
-
> "All right, whatever gets this over and done with. The quicker, the better."
-
>Quietly: "You know what? If we're going to be doing this, I'm just going to shoot all the outsiders in hearing range. You want the left side or the right?"
-
> "All right, whatever gets this over and done with. The quicker, the better."
>Marisa chuckles slightly. "Aw, even being tsun about getting taken to meet her, ze?"
>Quietly: "You know what? If we're going to be doing this, I'm just going to shoot all the outsiders in hearing range. You want the left side or the right?"
>The witch pauses for a moment, then leans in to whisper back, "Not if you want Byakuren in a good mood."
>Marisa pulls away again, and grins after a moment. "Though maybe I shouldn't be teasing you with sweet little nothings right now, ze!"
>She laughs a little, hefts her broom over her shoulder, and heads for the front doors of the Temple.
-
> Mental note: When this gets fixed, kill Koishi anyway.
-
>Follow her in.
-
> Mental note: When this gets fixed, kill Koishi anyway.
Also find way to teas Marisa. The current dynamic is frustratingly one sided.
-
Teasing Marisa, as things stand, will not work. We have too many ways to be countered. We need to get some dirt on her, or get something she wants. The best thing would be getting her deeply in debt.
-
Alternatively, we can simply not react to it in any meaningful way. Behavioral psychology dictates that the best way to stop negative behavior is to stop feeding it.
-
Yes but the point is not to cut off our relationship with Marisa, asking her to stop teasing would be like asking us to regard people as worthy.
The point is to establish dominance, or at least challenge.
It's a game, one can walk away, but Marisa is worth more then that. She is only barely tolerable but that makes her the best person around, and unfortunately even Magician Yokai are still social creatures. (Why do you think Patully has koakuma?)
Still she can read us, no need to react in a way anyone else could see.
-
Wow, lot of introspection of Alice going on...
> Just ignore the teasing, while annoying, she doesn't really mean any harm. Beside, it's the fanboys fault for giving her the ammo. Fanboys are a acceptable target of our hate.
-
Alternatively, we can simply not react to it in any meaningful way. Behavioral psychology dictates that the best way to stop negative behavior is to stop feeding it.
She knows us too well for this to work as well. It'll just encourage her til explosions of one sort or another go down. Also I dunno if stoicism and Alice go together well in the long term.
-
> Mental note: When this gets fixed, kill Koishi anyway.
> Mental note: When this gets fixed, kill Koishi anyway.
>You're not confident you could get away with actually killing her without Reimu returning the favor, but you definitely have reason to make Koishi pay dearly for this...
> Just ignore the teasing, while annoying, she doesn't really mean any harm. Beside, it's the fanboys fault for giving her the ammo. Fanboys are a acceptable target of our hate.
>You've tried that. She never REALLY stops, but sometimes it's easier to shrug off... but the fanboys and 'memes' have generally made her more aggravating recently, yes. And they've certainly earned some animosity, alright...
>Follow her in.
>You follow behind Marisa as she shoves open the front door of the Temple and swaggers her way inside.
>"Yo, Nazrin!" she calls out, voice echoing a little from the size of the front room, "Need to talk with ya, ze!"
>From the entryway, you can see that the front room of the temple is a large, open room with a smooth stone floor and clay walls. There don't seem to be too many decorations based in the room itself, but you can see a few small Buddha statues and a few vaguely snake-like patterns in the walls.
>Then again, this is secondary to the disheartening presence of a few small groups of fanboys in the room, all staring over and you and Marisa thanks to her grand entry. One group off to the left is seated on a large blanket, in front of a woman wearing a blue and white Buddhist nun's robe and holding a large yellow ring with some sort of pink mist surrounding it. Two or three other groups of fanboys are elsewhere in the room, a handful of them wearing orange monk's robes.
>Also of note is the grey-clothed mouse youkai walking towards you and Marisa, frowning.
>"Marisa?" she asks, then glances at you, "... is this Alice? What are you here for?"
>"Bringing Alice to meet Byakuren, ze!" Marisa calls back, with an odd sort of salute. "And I bet you can guess why!"
>Nazrin's frown deepens, looking rather puzzled. "What do you..."
>Her nose twitches for a moment, and she trails off, looking at you from just a few feet away.
>"... nevermind, I think I can guess."
>Marisa laughs a little. "Since you're Nazrin, ze!"
>"Yes." Nazrin replies, dryly, "Since I'm Nazrin."
>She sighs. "She's in the back. I'll ask her if she's ready to see visitors right now."
>"Aw, but Alice really wants to see her!" Marisa goes on, still grinning.
>"I don't think she's about to turn you away, if that's what you're worried about." Nazrin replies, then turns to walk towards a door at the far end of the room.
>_
-
> Wait for Byakuren. Also make Shanghai glare at the fanboys.
-
>Resist murderous impulses. At least until Byakuren fixes this. Then all bets are off.
-
>Consider telling Marisa of the problems of not being able to deny you're tsundere without Marisa claiming you're tsundere exactly because you deny it.
-
>Consider telling Marisa of the problems of not being able to deny you're tsundere without Marisa claiming you're tsundere exactly because you deny it.
>That... would be an interesting topic to discuss, but you're not sure Marisa would take it seriously. You doubt it.
>Resist murderous impulses. At least until Byakuren fixes this. Then all bets are off.
>They're fucking everywhere! This is getting completely out of hand. Hopefully you won't have to put up with this too much longer...
> Wait for Byakuren. Also make Shanghai glare at the fanboys.
>Unfortunately, there's not much to do but to wait after the mouse youkai vanishes into the back room, aside from trying to dissuade the stares of the fanboys inside the temple.
>Curiously, it's... not as necessary as you thought. For the most part, only the group near the blue-and-white nun is still staring at you - the others have returned to talking with one another, or more often listening to one of the group talking about something, often one in a monk robe. That's... sort of unexpected.
>The group by the nun, on the other hand, is still staring at you and Marisa, wide-eyed. A few of them are whispering to each other with an excited tone.
>A few of them turn away from Shanghai's glare, but some of the others just stare at her in awe.
>The nun herself sighs at the attention her group is giving you, and taps the ring in her hand on the wall next to her.
>You feel a brief rush of wind as the pink mist around the ring suddenly bursts into a larger pink cloud, a man's face embedded in it and frowning at the assembled fanboys.
>Thankfully, this also attracts the attention of most of them. And after the nun clears her throat, the last few reluctantly turn back towards her, as well.
>"Thank you." the nun says, "And I think this is also a good time to address another important part of adapting to Gensokyo - try not to stare at, stalk, or otherwise bother people with magical traits, whether they have appeared in Touhou or not. If they have, then it's probably more important, since many of them have already heard most comments that fans would have about them. Make sure to be polite, and avoid intruding on their lives."
>"Teaching a new crowd of newbies, hitbox-tan?" Marisa asks, causing a bunch of the assembled fanboys to turn to look at her grin. Hm, looks like one of them is actually female. Whatever.
>The nun gives Marisa a pained smile. "Marisa, please don't call me that. This task is difficult enough already."
>Marisa laughs a little. "Alright, alright, ze." She looks over the assembled fanboys for a moment. "... take that stuff to heart, ze. Not everyone's so nice about you guys."
>Marisa walks away from the group 'hitbox-tan' seems to be teaching, and approaches another group of fanboys closer to the door Nazrin vanished into, leaning in to peer at their conversation.
>Conveniently, that door also opens, and Nazrin walks out of the back room of the Temple to look around for a moment. She spots you and starts walking toward you.
-
>Silently to Marisa: "hitbox-tan?"
>Then: "on second thougt don't answer that."
-
>Silently to Marisa: "hitbox-tan?"
>Then: "on second thougt don't answer that."
>You sneak close to Marisa and ask a question, then immediately regret it.
>Thankfully, her only real response is to chuckle and reply, "Hitbox-tan, ze."
-
>Whatever
>Go with Nazrin, sinc(ry
-
>Whatever
>Go with Nazrin, sinc(ry
>Damnit, Marisa.
>You break away from the witch's attempts at eavesdropping on the fanboy cluster, and intercept Nazrin. She nods at you. "Head on in. Byakuren's ready for you."
>You start to head for the backroom door Nazrin used earlier, but-
>"Hold it, ze!"
>Marisa quickly sprints up alongside you and gives you a huge grin.
>"I don't suppose you want me taggin' along, ze?"
-
Do we want her tagging along? I'm guessing not but some people seemed to be planning stuff so...
-
We probably don't.
>"And why are you so eager?"
-
>"And why are you so eager?"
>"Heheh. To keep an eye on the tsundere, ze! It'd just be silly for you to try and confess through her, wouldn't it?"
-
>"...The only confession I'll have to worry about is if I don't hide your carcass well enough after I'm through with you."
-
>"...The only confession I'll have to worry about is if I don't hide your carcass well enough after I'm through with you."
>Marisa laughs and slaps a hand on your back. "Guess I'll have to take that as a no, ze!"
>She backs away and returns to eavesdropping on one of the fanboy clusters. Well, it would be eavesdropping if they weren't all trying not to stare at her.
-
>"Perhaps I can hide an exploding doll in your wardrobe..."
>Head toward the back!
-
>"Perhaps I can hide an exploding doll in your wardrobe..."
>"Before or after she gets into the bloomers, ze?" Marisa retorts, with a small laugh.
>Head toward the back!
>You decide you've had about enough verbal sparring with Marisa, and head for the back room of the Temple to meet Byakuren. You aren't interrupted, but Nazrin does give you a strange look and a nod while she leans against the wall, probably watching over the fanboys in the room.
>The back room has very similar architecture to the front, but there's a much quieter, solemn tone to it: The room is only dimly lit by softly glowing orbs hanging from the ceiling, a deep blue carpet quiets your footsteps, and there's a faint scent of incense. The room is more openly decorated with distinctly Buddhist items, including a rather sizable Buddha statue and smaller figurines of relevant deities.
>There's a number of stranger items hidden around the room as well, including a scroll of detached lights neatly rolled up by the Buddha statue - given the potent magic coming from it, your best guess is that Byakuren has a few decent magical items tucked away here.
>In the center of the room is a tall woman with long, flowing hair that gradually fades from purple to blond that you're fairly confident you can call Byakuren.
>"It is a pleasure to meet you, miss Margatroid." she says, with a rather kindly smile, "I would like to simply speak with you, but I think Nazrin hinted that you were had a more pressing problem to handle. Did Yukari decide to interfere with your gender?"
-
> "It's a pleasure for me to meet you as well, miss Byakuren."
> Clear throat before speaking again.
> "T... True. But it was Koishi, one of the satori that live underground."
-
> "It's a pleasure for me to meet you as well, miss Byakuren."
>She seems pleasant enough, so you give her a polite greeting. She smiles and nods back.
> Clear throat before speaking again.
> "T... True. But it was Koishi, one of the satori that live underground."
>Not exactly the reason you'd like to be visiting for... and it sounds like she'd guessed it already.
>Byakuren gives you a puzzled frown. "... Koishi? That's the first I've heard of her pulling pranks like this..." She brings a hand up to her chin for a moment, considering. "But... I suppose if what the outworlders have said about her holds much truth, it might be something she'd do." She sighs. "A pity..."
-
>Wait...
>"...Are you suggesting they put her up to it?"
-
>Wait...
>"...Are you suggesting they put her up to it?"
>You don't like the sound of that...
>Byakuren frowns at your suggestion, and shakes her head. "I don't know. All I've really heard about her are rumors from the 'Touhou' series and the jokes surrounding it from the internet. I don't know if she came up with the idea on her own, or if someone else suggested it to her." Her frown deepens. "Though it's not a pleasant thing in either case."
-
>"I intend to make sure she never contemplates it again. In the meantime, let us proceed with undoing the damage?"
-
>"I intend to make sure she never contemplates it again. In the meantime, let us proceed with undoing the damage?"
>"It would be best if she didn't, yes." Byakuren replies, with a nod.
>"As for curing your condition, well..." she frowns. "I should tell you what I need to do. And find the focus Nue lent me - I know it's in here somewhere."
>She turns and begins rummaging among the decorations in the room while she explains:
>"Form-changing magic generally requires physical contact to work, and a sort of subconscious willingness on the part of the person being changed. It's possible to work around those restrictions by someone powerful enough or with thorough preparations beforehand, but in this case... I'll need to see and feel it, and it will probably take some time for you to feel comfortable enough for the magic to work."
>Byakuren grabs something small nestled among the smaller figurines, and says, "Ah, this must be it."
>She pulls out... apparently an odd-looking curled-up scroll, and turns to face you again. She nods.
>"If you're prepared, then let me see it and we'll begin."
-
> "Wait..see and feel?" They wasn't any talk about feeling...it, 'seeing' we can understand somewhat.
-
> "Wait..see and feel?" They wasn't any talk about feeling...it, 'seeing' we can understand somewhat.
>Byakuren nods. "Yes, I'm afraid. Even with my skill, it's not realistic to fix something like that without direct physical contact."
>After a moment of consideration, she goes on, "Although... I think it would be possible to make a potion or some other alternative, but it would take some time to make, and I'm not sure I have everything I'd need on hand."
-
> Hmm, instant but awkward or long and not awkward....
> "What exactly do you need?"
> Let's wait to find out what it is she needs...
-
> Hmm, instant but awkward or long and not awkward....
> "What exactly do you need?"
> Let's wait to find out what it is she needs...
>Byakuren considers for a moment. "Hmm... I don't often apply it this way, but let me see. I think I have enough tree sap for a base...infusing it would only take some time..."
>She trails off for a moment, then nods and opens her eyes again. "I think I might be short on snake scales right now, but that should only make it take effect more slowly. Getting a few of those would help, but I'm not sure it would be necessary."
>"I think the least I will need from you is a good indicator of the effect it should have." she frowns for a moment. "Something for removing masculinity... a specially prepared flower would probably be best. Preferably an orchid. Having several might help, as well."
>"I would also appreciate it if you would let me use a more proper magician's lab for brewing it - this room is not suited to it." She shakes her head. "People would notice the fumes. But I think my departure might draw attention as well... it would probably lead to more rumors of one sort or another."
-
I vote for just letting her do it now. She already knows it's there, we know it's not really us, and it'll be gone soon enough anyway.
-
>"And, the faster way? What...exactly will it involve, and for how long?"
-
>"And, the faster way? What...exactly will it involve, and for how long?"
>Her cheeks go slightly pink. "I would have to... massage the area, of sorts, to help 'mold' it away. But as it is unlikely to work properly until you feel relaxed and trusting enough for it to take effect, I expect it would take several minutes."
>She shakes her head. "I know that sounds very sketchy, but it is the most effective way. I can swear to you that I have done this before with no suspicious intent, but I must respect the privacy of those that could vouch for me."
-
>"I don't suppose you could, uh...numb it or something?"
-
>"I don't suppose you could, uh...numb it or something?"
>Byakuren gives you a shy grin. "That's not a bad idea, but I don't have any ice, and the only other way I can think of numbing it offhand would be to do some body-changing tweaking... and since that won't work until you're prepared anyway, it's somewhat redundant - there tends to be a numb tingling during the change regardless."
-
>"You don't seem to have much of anything, do you? Oh hell, we'll just do it the fast way. Just lock the doors, close the curtains, and give me a leather strap to bite on."
-
>Check your chest for usual growths.
(Yes, I know that's an often-used command, but I'm checking to see how far Koishi's prank went.)
-
>"You don't seem to have much of anything, do you? Oh hell, we'll just do it the fast way. Just lock the doors, close the curtains, and give me a leather strap to bite on."
>Byakuren's smile takes a moment longer to form, but it does. "I prefer a simple life. But yes, I think something like that would be easy enough to find."
>She briefly glances at the odd scroll in her hand, then shakes her head a little and turns to search among the room once again.
>Check your chest for usual growths.
>You take this opportunity to double-check whether Koishi did anything else to your other sexual characteristics. As near as you can tell, the answer is no - you can still feel the pressure on your bra, and there's no visual indication of anything unusual.
>Byakuren soon turns back toward you to hand over a strip of thick cloth, folded over onto itself several times.
>You obtain: Strip of Cloth
>Byakuren gives you a small nod. "Are you ready?"
-
>"So it seems. Just tell me what to do, and let me bite down on this thing before we start."
-
>"So it seems. Just tell me what to do, and let me bite down on this thing before we start."
>She nods. "All you'll need to do is relax and try to trust me enough to change it while I work on making the magic catch. It will probably take a few minutes, so get yourself comfortable and let me see."
-
>Nod, bite down on the bit of cloth, and try to think about it being over and onto the pleasurable business of nearly drowning Koishi in a bucket for half an hour.
-
> Try to be comfortable and lets get this over with.
-
>Sakuya sneezes.
>Nod, bite down on the bit of cloth, and try to think about it being over and onto the pleasurable business of nearly drowning Koishi in a bucket for half an hour.
> Try to be comfortable and lets get this over with.
>You give Byakuren a nod, and look for someplace to sit comfortably for the deed. A rather velvety plush pillow hidden among her trinkets strikes your fancy, and you take a seat. You then reluctantly expose yourself to Byakuren and bite down on the cloth, trying to distract yourself from the situation with much more enjoyable thoughts of revenge against the one responsible for this disaster. There are still many things that can be done with her, oh yes...
>Unfortunately, this does little to stop Koishi's penile present from responding as Byakuren starts gently pressing on it, trying to mold it away. It's... admittedly more 'pleasurable' than painful, physically, though Byakuren's occasional attempts to press down on it after hardening do make you glad to have that cloth to bite down on to conceal any pain response. Given how disgusting the situation is, though, it's far more disturbing than enjoyable.
>For several minutes, you try to stay relaxed and focus on things other than the sheer awkwardness of the situation. Thankfully, Byakuren doesn't do anything suspicious or provocative in the meantime, managing to stay about as professional as could be expected of someone squeezing another's genitals for strictly practical reasons.
>Just as you're starting to wonder if this is even going to work, a light touch from Byakuren sparks the same tingling feeling that Koishi's molesting caused.
>"Ah, there we go." she says, and presses down harder.
>Thankfully the tingling sensation is accompanied by some numbness, and there's little pain as Byakuren firmly molds away your unwanted penis, and finally removes her hand, turning away to give you some semblance of dignity.
>"There. That should be back to normal, correct?"
-
>Check. Is it back to normal?
-
>Check. Is it back to normal?
>You peek down to make sure, and see nothing out of the ordinary.
>That's one problem solved!
-
>"Yes, and thank you you very much. I'll be sure to leave you whatever money I take from Koishi before I bury her up to her neck in faerie county."
-
>"Yes, and thank you you very much. I'll be sure to leave you whatever money I take from Koishi before I bury her up to her neck in faerie county."
>"Fairy county? I didn't know they had a dedicated district!"
>You can see enough of the side of Byakuren's face to tell that she frowned in response to that.
>After a moment, she replies, "You're welcome. I... appreciate your generosity, but it's only right that I handle problems I am best able to solve."
>"Still, I would appreciate getting to talk with you for a while, if you feel comfortable doing so now."
-
>Oh damn it, Namusan...
>"I suppose I owe you that much. What do you need?"
-
>Oh damn it, Namusan...
>"I suppose I owe you that much. What do you need?"
>Three treasures of pain in the ass...
>Byakuren nods, still looking away. "Put simply, I would like to hear your life story. I want to hear about others that have made the transition from human to youkai, and the rumors of you also being from Makai have made me especially curious."
-
>"There's not much to tell. You are correct, I do hail from Makai, but that was another lifetime ago. Life here has been more pleasant on the whole."
>Why did we leave Makai, anyways? And how did we end up a youkai? What was Makai life like?
-
>Why did we leave Makai, anyways? And how did we end up a youkai? What was Makai life like?
>Your transition to youkai and departure from Makai both ultimately stemmed from the same event: When Reimu, Marisa, Yuuka, and Mima came to Makai to investigate that damned tourist agency that started sending demons to Gensokyo through a dimensional seam in some cave somewhere. You think you could have gotten over getting beaten by each of them in the city, but when they fought Shinki and she had to destroy and recreate significant portions of Makai during the fight, well... you lost it a little.
>It was just too painful that many of the places Shinki destroyed were places that you had some fond memories of - playgrounds from when you were a (younger) child, familiar places in the mansion, and city blocks where some of your friends lived (even if they made it through fine themselves, admittedly).
>But you couldn't bring yourself to blame Shinki for it - she... had actually treated you very well before that, and instead decided that this was more the fault of the four invaders than Shinki herself, so you stole a particularly powerful grimoire from the library - one Shinki had warned you was very powerful, and dangerous to use, though you didn't care at the time - and tracked them down for revenge. Painfully enough, even with the grimoire's help, all of them managed to defeat you again, and you had to return home to Shinki and Yumeko, beaten and sobbing.
>At first, the two of them were sympathetic and comforting. But after a while, you discovered that using the grimoire had also started your transition to becoming a youkai, in a way that Shinki had no way to stop. After that, she always looked... somehow disappointed in you. Your best guess was that she was upset with you losing to them, or getting so upset about what had happened, but you never actually confronted her about it.
>After several months of this, you eventually left, taking the grimoire, Shanghai, and a few other dolls with you to Gensokyo, to try again at taking revenge on the four that caused the whole mess.
>But it... didn't really work out that way. The recent spellcard system honestly struck you as a better way to handle fights than the all-out battles they had fought in Makai, and you were still uncertain you could beat any of the four going all-out with the Grimoire - all of them had improved to some degree.
>And yet... Marisa was friendly with you, even if she kept beating you in spellcard duels and making rather silly, trivial demands after winning. She was obnoxious every step of the way, but she genuinely helped you get established in Gensokyo. The first time you beat her in a duel, shortly after that, she wasn't upset at all... and couldn't quite bring yourself to demand more than extra help with setting up your house as your prize - help that she'd been doing a little of anyway.
>Ultimately Gensokyo won you over, and you were almost half-hearted about your first challenge to Reimu during the long winter several years ago. Since then, you've been much more focused on the independent doll project and happenings in Gensokyo than what happened in Makai.
>"There's not much to tell. You are correct, I do hail from Makai, but that was another lifetime ago. Life here has been more pleasant on the whole."
>But you're not sure how much of that you really want to reveal for now, so you stick to a minimalistic explanation.
>Byakuren nods. "It's good to confirm that, at least. But I am curious about what life was like growing up as a human in Makai, and why you became a youkai."
>"... ah, this is a little rude, but may I ask you to get dressed again so we can talk properly?"
-
>"I was trying to answer your question."
>Get dressed.
>"Makai was...Makai. I spend most of my time in Pandemonium; which was quite different than the sticks were you were bound away, as I understand. I had some good memories there; but in the aftermath of the whole tourist thing, memories were about the only thing I had left there. At least it felt that way at the time."
-
>"I was trying to answer your question."
>Get dressed.
>"That's quite alright." Byakuren replies, as you redress yourself.
>Oh, it's good to have roomy underwear again!
>"Makai was...Makai. I spend most of my time in Pandemonium; which was quite different than the sticks were you were bound away, as I understand. I had some good memories there; but in the aftermath of the whole tourist thing, memories were about the only thing I had left there. At least it felt that way at the time."
>whoops
>She turns to face you and listens politely to your explanation, then nods. "Makai is Makai." she agrees, "And I'm afraid I have seen very little of it, even while I was sealed away within it. But by all accounts it can be a dangerous place, and not somewhere I would expect a human to be raised. I think you may have led a more interesting life than you realize." A pause. "Especially if there is any truth to the outworlders' claims of you being the daughter of the creator goddess of Makai?"
>How the fanboys manage to discover such details about your past is disturbing...
>Shinki did indeed create you, and raised you rather personally as a daughter. She was insistent on educating you well and making you a competent magician, but otherwise gave you a good amount of freedom to do what you want, especially once you became strong enough to handle yourself in the city, with or without loyal demons standing guard - though you're sure there were always a few nearby just in case. Makai is a rather rough place where you need to be strong or crafty to do well, but again, Shinki took good care of you until you could handle yourself. That reputation and protection may have made life easier for you, but sometimes it was difficult to tell how sincere your friends were as a child...
>As for your human nature, you distinctly remember asking Shinki about that many times when you were very young, and her only explanation would be to give you an unusual, sometimes dark smile and say that it was because you had a 'special purpose' for her. As for what, you don't remember pressing hard enough to find out.
>Byakuren bows her head for a moment. "And you have my sympathy for your losses." She gives you a sad smile. "I believe much the same happened with me when I was sealed... I can understand that pain, for what it is worth."
-
>"Perhaps. I had it easy, I suppose. There were guards, and I had my own tricks when I was fairly young. I suppose I had friends, it's hard to say. But it was a happy enough life. I was different, but it didn't matter to me. Maybe to them."
-
>"Perhaps. I had it easy, I suppose. There were guards, and I had my own tricks when I was fairly young. I suppose I had friends, it's hard to say. But it was a happy enough life. I was different, but it didn't matter to me. Maybe to them."
>You avoid giving Byakuren's most pointed question a straight answer, but she still raises her eyebrows at the mention of guards. Then her eyes widen at the end of your statement...
>"It 'didn't matter' to you?" she echos. After a moment of silence, she gives you a small, warm smile. (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/byakurensmile.jpg/)
>"That... actually makes me very happy. Who was it that helped guard you? I think, if Reimu decides to allow visits to Makai again, I may want to thank them for that."
-
>"Well why would it? Not like you can really stick your nose up in the air when you're the only human you've ever known."
>Do we know the names of the guards? Was it Yuki, Mai, and/or Yumeko? If so, share that.
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>"Well why would it? Not like you can really stick your nose up in the air when you're the only human you've ever known."
>Byakuren keeps smiling. "And I believe that someone helping you live there as a human means that they wanted you to be accepted there, even as a human. The three that unsealed me reminded me that humans need to be accepted by youkai, as well - something my resentment had made me forget then, and that your guardian was doing by helping you. I honestly didn't expect there to be someone in Makai like that."
>Do we know the names of the guards? Was it Yuki, Mai, and/or Yumeko? If so, share that.
>The ones guarding you varied - when you were first allowed out with company, Shinki or Yumeko would usually accompany you personally, but as time went by they occasionally started having some of the forgettable servant fairies or particularly loyal demons accompany you instead. But you think that other guards you didn't know well kept an eye on you even after you were allowed out on your own - after all, you would have noticed people you were familiar with if they were stalking you, and Shinki had more than enough influence to send people to try and keep you safe. For that matter, you distinctly remember several skirmishes between servant fairies that just happened to be around town nearby and local hooligans that seemed more than coincidental.
>In any case, you're pretty certain that whoever guarded or watched over you at a given time ultimately came from Shinki's orders.
>What of this would you like to reveal?
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>Shrug. "I suppose there is a point there. As for my guards; originally it was Shinki and her favorite servant, now that I think about it. Well, I suppose they were more parenting than anything, I was rather young. Then it shifted to random servants; local demons and faeries and such. Then I was left alone, but looking back I am quite certain there were hidden guards. And that they probably needed to be there from time to time."
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>Shrug. "I suppose there is a point there. As for my guards; originally it was Shinki and her favorite servant, now that I think about it. Well, I suppose they were more parenting than anything, I was rather young. Then it shifted to random servants; local demons and faeries and such. Then I was left alone, but looking back I am quite certain there were hidden guards. And that they probably needed to be there from time to time."
>Byakuren closes her eyes for a moment, thinking. "Shinki... that was the ruler of Makai, correct?"
>Without waiting for an answer, she grins and laughs softly. "Oh, that's amazing. The outworlders were right, and in ways far better than I had hoped. If Reimu changes her mind about allowing Murasa's trips, I will have to show my appreciation for all of this."
>Byakuren considers for a moment, then asks, "But I'm still curious about another thing - how and why did you become a youkai?"
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> "The outsiders were right?"
> Also, why did we choose to continue to use the Grimore?
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>"Somehow, I suspect the could only be right via process of elimination by doing all the possible wrong things first."
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> Also, why did we choose to continue to use the Grimoire?
>After a while, Shinki allowed you to keep it for yourself, and you knew that you would need all the help you could get against the four that came from Gensokyo. But after it still failed in your first fight against Marisa, followed by a lesson about the spellcard system and a gracious invitation to try again - plus later attempts at theft, you ultimately swore to yourself not to use its full power outside of the worst life-threatening conditions, and sealed away most of the power in it. You sincerely hope that you'll never encounter a situation where you would have to consider it.
> "The outsiders were right?"
>"Somehow, I suspect they could only be right via process of elimination by doing all the possible wrong things first."
>Byakuren shakes her head. "They have assumed many strange things, but it can be amazing how much truth there is hidden among it all. The 'Touhou' games about the major Incidents here are the root of their knowledge, and what they know from those is eerily accurate. And sometimes, their speculation beyond that proves true as well." She smiles a little. "But, I am cautious enough to ask those that would really know before jumping to conclusions."
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>"I do not consider their invasion or privacy to be amazing so much as another reason to send them back at once."
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>"I do not consider their invasion of privacy to be amazing so much as another reason to send them back at once."
>"These are not mutually exclusive."
>Byakuren shakes her head again. "Before arriving, the outworlders had no reason to believe it was a matter of privacy: In their world, Gensokyo and its inhabitants are presented as, and thought to be, fictional." She frowns for a moment. "... even if I am not fond of many of the ways that such celebrity status has been used, I sincerely doubt that it was malicious, and as far as their world knew, it was a victimless crime in any case."
>"I do admit that many of them have difficulty adjusting to such a large change at first, but they do learn. And part of what we've been doing at the temple is helping to teach them the realities of Gensokyo, and proper behavior for meeting with people that they think they know, but really don't." She smiles. "Though, I am always pleased at how rarely they fear youkai for being youkai."
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>"I'm amazed at their lack of respect and willingness to pollute our home with their filth. I'm still waiting, with very bated breath, for even one good thing to come out of this that can possibly outweigh how much they've ruined our home."