Ran Quest Overtime: A Z-Machine Sidestory

[UncertainJakutten]

> "I need to ask a favor of her. It's kind of a strange one, but hopefully she'll at least listen to it?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I need to ask a favor of her. It's kind of a strange one, but hopefully she'll at least listen to it?"

>"I think she would be inclined to do so," says Shou. "You did give us a little aid here and again. Go east a bit, she should still be watching the stars."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "Thanks!"
> Do so.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Thanks!"
> Do so.

>You follow Shou's directions, and soon see a sizable dent in the grass. Drawing closer, you can see Byakuren laying in it, watching the sky. You see Ichiri and Murasa snuggled against her, her with an arm around either one. Normally you would think that to be indicative of a rather intimate relationship, but in this case, you don't get that feeling.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "Oh...um...would now be a bad time to ask a favor?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh...um...would now be a bad time to ask a favor?"

>Byakuren glances over toward you, as does Ichiin. From Murasa's lack of reaction, you think she has dozed off.
>"No, it's fine," says Byakuren. "It's just been so long since I've had contact with another being..."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "Yeah...I can imagine that'd be rather important. Um...anyway...I have a friend who seems interested in you, and she'd like to take a picture...I know, it seems silly but she seemed REALLY keen on the idea, and I figured it couldn't at least hurt to ask..."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah...I can imagine that'd be rather important. Um...anyway...I have a friend who seems interested in you, and she'd like to take a picture...I know, it seems silly but she seemed REALLY keen on the idea, and I figured it couldn't at least hurt to ask..."

>"Oh?" Byakuren asks, "When you say take a picture, do you mean making a portrait?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "OH! Right...you've been sealed away for awhile. It's sorta like that...except done almost instantaneously. It's done using a machine called a 'camera'. I think it might be from the outside world. But at any rate, my friend has one, and she wants to meet you and get your picture."

[Hello Purvis]

> "OH! Right...you've been sealed away for awhile. It's sorta like that...except done almost instantaneously. It's done using a machine called a 'camera'. I think it might be from the outside world. But at any rate, my friend has one, and she wants to meet you and get your picture."

>"Curious," says Byakuren. "Well, I suppose she could come whenever she likes."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "Um, well, she's a bit particular about her art. She wants a kinda strange pose. Well, some other things in the picture, actually. There are some interesting flowers that she thinks would compliment you in a photo. Do you by any chance have a few minutes to come with me?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Um, well, she's a bit particular about her art. She wants a kinda strange pose. Well, some other things in the picture, actually. There are some interesting flowers that she thinks would compliment you in a photo. Do you by any chance have a few minutes to come with me?"

>"How unusual," says Byakuren. "Why would she want a strange pose, though?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "Sorry, pose was a bad word. I meant posing with the flowers, which is kinda strange in and of itself"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sorry, pose was a bad word. I meant posing with the flowers, which is kinda strange in and of itself"

>"Ah. If I may, why is she interested? I can't imagine she knows anything about me."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "I'd imagine because you just arrived. She takes an interest in a lot of people in Gensokyo for her art. A new arrival is probably exciting for her."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'd imagine because you just arrived. She takes an interest in a lot of people in Gensokyo for her art. A new arrival is probably exciting for her."

>"Ah," she says. "Could it wait until morning?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

K Other voices, I need help at this point. Not sure I can get it, and I really want to.

[axman36]

>"You see... that's the thing about the artwork, she wants to capture it with the night sky. The place she wants to take pictures at has these glowing flowers that become even more magnificent during the darkness of the night. It will enhance the picture significantly allowing the beauty of the area to reach its peak. This is an opportunity for a background that she doesn't want to miss."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You see... that's the thing about the artwork, she wants to capture it with the night sky. The place she wants to take pictures at has these glowing flowers that become even more magnificent during the darkness of the night. It will enhance the picture significantly allowing the beauty of the area to reach its peak. This is an opportunity for a background that she doesn't want to miss."

>"That does sound nice," says Bykauren. "But isn't it a little much for someone like me? I'm really not very suited for that sort of thing..."
>"Oh Hijiri," says Ichirin, "Stop being so modest."

>_

[axman36]

>"She just wants to make your first picture here in today's Gensokyo a happy one! It shouldn't be too much."

[Hello Purvis]

>"She just wants to make your first picture here in today's Gensokyo a happy one! It shouldn't be too much."

>"Well, I suppose that is alright," says Byakuren, as she gently slips free of Murasa. "Ichirin, could you take care of her for me?"
>"Of course, Hijiri," says Ichirin.
>Byakuren stands up, and says, "Please lead the way. I didn't really intend to start exploring until tomorrow, but a little preview shouldn't hurt."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Lead her to the flowers then.

[Hello Purvis]

> Lead her to the flowers then.
[/quote

>You take to the air, Byakuren following a little ways behind you. The trip is not as fast as you might like, Byakuren seems all too happy to just take her time and enjoy the trip. You suppose that you can't blame her for this, in retrospect, as she has been sealed away for a long time. But it doesn't change the fact it's a little irksome.
>Soon enough, you can see the Garden of the Sun drawing closer. "Oh, that is lovely," says Byakuren.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

>Any signs of Yuuka?

[Hello Purvis]

>Any signs of Yuuka?

>At a glance, you do not see her around.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Well, then I guess continue to the shiny flowers
> If we still are fine: "OK, let me go get my friend, she should be around here"
> And go get Aya
> If Yuuka appears...um...I'll come up with something.

[Hello Purvis]

> Well, then I guess continue to the shiny flowers
> If we still are fine: "OK, let me go get my friend, she should be around here"
> And go get Aya
> If Yuuka appears...um...I'll come up with something.

>You make your way toward the vicinity of the glittering flowers. There is still no sign of Yuka about. You near the edge of the field, and tell Byakuren to wait there. "Very well," the big woman replies. "I must say, this field is very pretty. I can see why your friend would like to use it as a backdrop for her portrait."
>You make your way back toward the nearby forest, and find Aya lurking near the edge of it, watching toward the north. She doesn't notice you just yet.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Go get Aya
> "I got Hijiri to come. She's by the flowers. Can you take the pic?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Go get Aya
> "I got Hijiri to come. She's by the flowers. Can you take the pic?"

>"Let's go," she says without prelude, turning and leaving the forest. "What'd you tell her?"

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "That you were very interested in the people of Gensokyo and wanted her picture for your art, and wanted a pretty background with the flowers and the night sky."