Sword Quest XI - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Yuck. We should just forget the forced servitude; we don't want to have to deal with that nonsense for two weeks. The humiliation of losing and getting stripped of that wand should be enough. Heaven only knows how Miko ever put up with her.
> ...Not that we need to tell anyone any of this until after we beat her, of course. Insult can (and should) be added to injury then.
> Head off to the tavern to meet up with Kotohime.

>You let Seiga fly off, and head for the Tavern.
>Leading in front of the building, you can hear that it is fairly boisterous within, and opening the doors you can see the place is packed. Farmers and tradesfolk occupy every table, talking and laughing, drinking and dining and sometimes singing when they've had to much. Tenshi rushes between the tables, carrying a tray full of drinks and food. You see a few youkai are here as well, some interspersed with the townsfolk, others off on their own. It takes you a minute to pick out Kotohime, who has staked out a table along the side wall and is waving at you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Join her.

[Hello Purvis]

> Join her.

>You make your way to the table, and are pleased to find that the wall cuts down some of the noise. Kotohime smiles lazily. "Did you find her?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I did. She was not particularly happy."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I did. She was not particularly happy."

>"She didn't try anything, did she?" says Kotohime.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, she was constantly trying things. It was all verbal, though. There was no actual combat."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh, she was constantly trying things. It was all verbal, though. There was no actual combat."

>"Well, that's good," says Kotohime. "...No it isn't. I mean...you know..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I know what you mean, don't worry."
> Float our ghost half over to Kotohime's side of the table while speaking.

[Hello Purvis]

> "I know what you mean, don't worry."
> Float our ghost half over to Kotohime's side of the table while speaking.

>She glances toward you ghost half as you speak, but is clearly trying to pay attention to it and your words at the same time.
>"It's been pretty calm here," she says. "I should arrest these people for disturbing the peace, but there's too many and I suppose it's okay to celebrate getting through a faerie uprising. ...Maybe?" She frowns thoughtfully. "Mmm. I don't like that slippery slope, no I don't..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Perhaps high noise levels are permissible on private property as long as they do not disrupt other property?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Perhaps high noise levels are permissible on private property as long as they do not disrupt other property?"

>"I dunno, that sounds too easy to abuse," says Kotohime.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Bob our ghost half up and down a bit.
> "Will you attempt to arrest them all, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Bob our ghost half up and down a bit.
> "Will you attempt to arrest them all, then?"

>"Hm. I guess I might have to," she says, glancing toward your ghost half.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Keep it bobbing, though not quickly so.
> "That seems like a rather tall order."

[Mr. Sacchi]

So Kilga, out of curiosity, do you intend to make that ship actually sail or not?

[Kilgamayan]

You mean MyonHime? Eh, I'm not particularly attached to it. Personal UdoMyon tendencies aside, I've always felt like Youmu screams aro-ace, both in Touhou in general and the Purvisverse in particular. I do plan on at least checking romantic history once it became prudent to do so, but I would be surprised if there was any. (I asked about Reisen at the beginning of the game for this reason; the response to that query just further bolstered the aro-ace idea.)

Also, as cruel and blunt as this may be, Kotohime's kinda sorta dumb, and I have a hard time seeing Youmu going for that.

But we'll see! I do feel a bit bad for her, so I don't intend to give a flat no, at least. Most likely I'll leave it as "we just met 8 hours ago, let's take some time to get to know each other better" and leave it to the currents of postgame/future games to decide their fate.

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep it bobbing, though not quickly so.
> "That seems like a rather tall order."

>She nods, glancing over toward your ghost half every so often. "Law enforcement has never been an easy path. Well, you've seen that today, haven't you?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Indeed."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Indeed."

>"Have you considered getting into it more seriously?" says Kotohime. "I think you're a natural."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I am willing to solve the occasional incident. But Gensokyo is not truly my territory, and my duties to Yuyuko-sama trump all else."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I am willing to solve the occasional incident. But Gensokyo is not truly my territory, and my duties to Yuyuko-sama trump all else."

>"Oh, I see," she says. "Do you...ever have lawbreakers there?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Chuckle a bit.
> "We just had one today."

[Hello Purvis]

> Chuckle a bit.
> "We just had one today."

>"Well, I suppose, but that's not what I meant," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is there a menu available?
> "In all seriousness, visitors are rather rare, and active troublemakers are rarer still. The living tend to not have business in the land of the dead."

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there a menu available?
> "In all seriousness, visitors are rather rare, and active troublemakers are rarer still. The living tend to not have business in the land of the dead."

>There is one against the wall.
>She nods. "I didn't think so. There seemed like there was a lot of people there today..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Have a look at it while speaking.
> "Yes, today has been very unusual in that regard. I imagine the visitors from the Underground will not be making regular appearances, though, at least. I've no idea what Yuyuko-sama wishes to do for rehearsals."

[Hello Purvis]

> Have a look at it while speaking.
> "Yes, today has been very unusual in that regard. I imagine the visitors from the Underground will not be making regular appearances, though, at least. I've no idea what Yuyuko-sama wishes to do for rehearsals."

>You glance over the menu. The selection seems reasonable today. Lots of noodles and vegetables, some fish, grains a'plenty. It's not quite full harvest season yet, but soon.
>"I could let her use my house, there's plenty of spare rooms," says Kotohime.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What are our food preferences when it comes to dinner?
> "Ah, I see. I will pass this information along, then, and we will see what comes of it. Thank you for your hospitality."

[Hello Purvis]

> What are our food preferences when it comes to dinner?
> "Ah, I see. I will pass this information along, then, and we will see what comes of it. Thank you for your hospitality."

>What indeed?
>"It's no problem," she says. "There's so much room in there I don't know what to do with it all."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Any noodle/veggie combo dishes?
> "How did you find that place, anyway? The entrance is not exactly obvious."