Okuu Quest Next - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Furienify]

>Curse our lack of confrontational grace.
>Give Parsee a pleading look.

[Hello Purvis]

>Curse our lack of confrontational grace.
>Give Parsee a pleading look.

>This isn't nearly as easy as the movies make it look!
>You give Parsee a pleading look. She grimaces a bit, it seems she's not as confident about things now that she's actually doing them. "You were following us since we left the outskirts," Parsee says, her voice wavering a little, "On a motor scooter."
>"I think you're terribly mistaken," answers the plain-clothed woman. "Unless you're saying that I intend to just leave it here? Besides, why would I follow you guys around anyways, even if you do make a cute couple?"
>Parsee gives you a pleading look. You're going to have to come up with some evidence or trip her up fast...

>_

[Kasu]

> Recall important facts pertaining to the situation.

[Hello Purvis]

> Recall important facts pertaining to the situation.

>What you remember is that Parsee said she saw this person following you since you left Usami Investigations. She apparently did so on a motor scooter. She followed you to Uptown, then followed you as you went south, checking out the restaurants and the theatre. She then followed you north until you went into the pawn shop. From that point, she apparently went to the bus stop to wait for you to come back out. You suspect you could make a few good deductions from this information.

>_

[Kasu]

> Are there any rental stores on the Island that rent out scooters or stores that let you test-drive them?  If so, are there any in this area that she easily could've ditched her scooter at?

[Hello Purvis]

> Are there any rental stores on the Island that rent out scooters or stores that let you test-drive them?  If so, are there any in this area that she easily could've ditched her scooter at?

>You know there are rental places, but the closest one to this area is a few blocks away. There's no way she could have ditched it there and followed you, even if she wasn't intentionally stalking after you.

>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Uncomfortable silence follows. You can't see the plain-clothed woman's eyes, but you imagine she is staring at you pretty hard right now. The set of her lips certainly isn't pleased.
>Then the C-Route bus rounds the corner and approaches. The tension breaks as the people who were watching the three of you board the bus, and others exit. As the bus pulls away, it leaves you, Parsee, and the plain-clothed woman alone.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>So, she's claimed that she hadn't ditched her scooter, and she's still here, to be clear? So the she didn't go on the bus?
>Ok, I guess it's time for me to TRY to rescue you flailing fuckshits >=[
>"Well, as far as I can tell, you couldn't make the motor scooter disappear. So, assumably, you would have left it near the store we were just in, were you following us. In which case, if the motor scooter isn't around that area, we probably were terribly mistaken. I'm sorry to bother you like this but for our peace of mind could you accompany us to look around for a little bit?"

[Hello Purvis]

>So, she's claimed that she hadn't ditched her scooter, and she's still here, to be clear? So the she didn't go on the bus?
>Ok, I guess it's time for me to TRY to rescue you flailing fuckshits >=[
>"Well, as far as I can tell, you couldn't make the motor scooter disappear. So, assumably, you would have left it near the store we were just in, were you following us. In which case, if the motor scooter isn't around that area, we probably were terribly mistaken. I'm sorry to bother you like this but for our peace of mind could you accompany us to look around for a little bit?"

>"I need to wait for the bus," says the Plain-clothed woman. "I can't just walk off to go looking for some fictional scooter just to assuage whatever paranoia is bouncing around that head of yours."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>ETA to the next bus arrival

[Hello Purvis]

>ETA to the next bus arrival

>From what you recall of the schedule, the B Route should arrive in five minutes, and the D route in ten.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>"Ok, ok, I have an idea. But it requires your help, Parsee. I can go look for the scooter. What I'd like from you is to go on the bus with...um...sorry, what's your name again? I know these aren't the best circumstances for meeting and greeting but it would help to know who everyone is I think. I'm Utsuho. Anyway, Parsee, you accompany her for the bus ride, hell, you two don't even have to sit together, I'll try to find the scooter, and I'll meet you at your destination when I have a result. Where are you headed?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ok, ok, I have an idea. But it requires your help, Parsee. I can go look for the scooter. What I'd like from you is to go on the bus with...um...sorry, what's your name again? I know these aren't the best circumstances for meeting and greeting but it would help to know who everyone is I think. I'm Utsuho. Anyway, Parsee, you accompany her for the bus ride, hell, you two don't even have to sit together, I'll try to find the scooter, and I'll meet you at your destination when I have a result. Where are you headed?"

>"Dammit, don't tell her our names!" says Parsee. Then she swears, apparently realizing some slip-up she just made. "Anyways, uh, I actually know what the scooter looks like, so I ought to go look for it."
>"Why are you assuming I want you anywhere near me, now?" says the woman, "And my name is Elspeth. I'm taking the bus bus after the coming one."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>"Sure, that's fine Parsee. As it happens, I feel a pressing need to take the D bus. How convenient. And that's what we're trying to find out, Elspeth. Whether you want to be near us for whatever reason and why, or if we're just crazy paranoid and silly. Parsee, how do you plan to catch up to us? Um...do I have you cell number in that phone you gave me, so I can tell you where I'll be?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Sure, that's fine Parsee. As it happens, I feel a pressing need to take the D bus. How convenient. And that's what we're trying to find out, Elspeth. Whether you want to be near us for whatever reason and why, or if we're just crazy paranoid and silly. Parsee, how do you plan to catch up to us? Um...do I have you cell number in that phone you gave me, so I can tell you where I'll be?"

>"Sure, let me give it to you," says Parsee, "Got something I can write it on?"
>Elspeth is frowning deeply, but says nothing.

[UncertainJakutten]

>"Um, yes, I do"
>Take out notepad and note Parsee's number.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Um, yes, I do"
>Take out notepad and note Parsee's number.

>Parsee writes down her number on your notepad and hands it back to you, careful to keep Elspeth from seeing it. "You sure you're going to be alright, being alone with her?"

>_

[Seian Verian]

>"It's not as if we're standing in a dark alley, and I'm sure there will be other people on the bus as well. I'll be fine."

[Kasu]

> Ponder chances of "Elspeth" being a fake name.

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's not as if we're standing in a dark alley, and I'm sure there will be other people on the bus as well. I'll be fine."

>"Okay, just be careful," says Parsee, before she departs to the south.

> Ponder chances of "Elspeth" being a fake name.

>If you were tailing someone and got caught in the act, you certainly wouldn't give them your real name. You're reasonably sure it's not her actual name, but it is easier to use than Stalker Woman.
>A few minutes pass uncomfortably between you and Elspeth. She certainly isn't in the mood to say anything, ignoring anything you ask,  rather just watching the street. A few more people gather to wait for the next bus, oblivious to the two of you. The next bus comes and goes, leaving the two of you alone again. Then your phone rings. You answer it.
>"I need you to say something like: 'Mom, now is not the time!', alright?" come's Parsee's voice. "We need to throw her off."

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Follow parser's Parsee's instructions

[Hello Purvis]

> Follow parser's Parsee's instructions

>You do as Parsee instructs. Elspeth looks at you oddly; well the way she purses her lips a bit makes you think the way she's looking at you must be odd.
>"I found her scooter," says Parsee. "She didn't even try to hide it, she just parked near the Heating and Air place. I checked it over, and there was a side bag on it she didn't have locked. It's full of wigs and stuff!"

>_

[Furienify]

>"Mom, did I ever mention how much I loved you? Haha. Anyways what is it you needed me for now?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Mom, did I ever mention how much I loved you? Haha. Anyways what is it you needed me for now?"

>"What-? Oh... Anyways. She's probably in disguise. So, we need to figure out what to do about this. I think we need to make her talk, so I'll be on my way back as fast as I can. Alright? Don't let her know that we know, until you can use it to get something good out of her."

>_

[Seian Verian]

> "I'll do that then. Nice talking to you~ You don't need anything else, right?"
> If Parsee doesn't make any response that's relevant, hang up and wait.

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'll do that then. Nice talking to you~ You don't need anything else, right?"
> If Parsee doesn't make any response that's relevant, hang up and wait.

>"No, I'll be there as soon as I can," Parsee replies.
>As you put the phone away, Elspeth breaks into a run, dashing into the presently empty street and heading eastward, in the direction of the nursery and the alley!

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Run after her
> "Just where do you think you're going?!"
> If we can get our phone back out without slowing down, do so, and call Parsee.
> If she answers, immediately tell her "She made a break for it! She's heading back toward the nursery and the alley. I'm following her, meet me outside the alley."

[Hello Purvis]

> Run after her
> "Just where do you think you're going?!"
> If we can get our phone back out without slowing down, do so, and call Parsee.
> If she answers, immediately tell her "She made a break for it! She's heading back toward the nursery and the alley. I'm following her, meet me outside the alley."

>You run after her! She has a head start on you, but you think you can close the gap with some effort.
>She doesn't bother to answer your question, in her dedication to get away.
>You will have to slow down to use the phone and call Parsee. Do you still wish to do this?

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Don't call Parsee yet then. Instead, focus on catching up with Elspeth.
> If we pass by a convenient object that could be used as a weapon, pick it up, assuming it doesn't take too much effort to do so. If she attacks once cornered, we're going to want the advantage.

[Hello Purvis]

> Don't call Parsee yet then. Instead, focus on catching up with Elspeth.
> If we pass by a convenient object that could be used as a weapon, pick it up, assuming it doesn't take too much effort to do so. If she attacks once cornered, we're going to want the advantage.

>You decide not to call Parsee, and pour your efforts into catching up with Elspeth. Little by little, your longer legs let you close the distance, only a a few yards between you now.
>As you run past the alley, you grab the lid off a trashcan. It's a bit awkard, but it'll do.

>_