Okuu Quest Thereafter - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>The motorcycle is parked in the lot by Parsee's building, right? If not, drive it over there and park it
>Go up to Parsee's. There's time to do other stuff, but we ought to let her know that everything's gone ok

[Hello Purvis]

>The motorcycle is parked in the lot by Parsee's building, right? If not, drive it over there and park it
>Go up to Parsee's. There's time to do other stuff, but we ought to let her know that everything's gone ok

>It's parked in front of the building on the crub, that should be sufficient.
>You head back up to Parsee's apartment. She smiles upon seeing you when she opens the door. "So, it went well?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yup!"
>"Orin made a great distraction, although she didn't end up getting Yumemi further away from me than the doorframe. Was rather nerve-wracking having cards float back and forth from her purse while she's standing no more than a couple feet away from me... But we did it. Ace has the ID now. Said she'll be back around nine."
>"I ended up with more cards than just the research facility one, partially because I didn't know which was which at first. I'm sure that'll make it more suspicious, but I hope it still takes her a little while to notice."
>"I picked up some sort of military ID for her, too. Not sure if it'll be any good to us or not at some point, but..."
>Show her the military ID

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yup!"
>"Orin made a great distraction, although she didn't end up getting Yumemi further away from me than the doorframe. Was rather nerve-wracking having cards float back and forth from her purse while she's standing no more than a couple feet away from me... But we did it. Ace has the ID now. Said she'll be back around nine."
>"I ended up with more cards than just the research facility one, partially because I didn't know which was which at first. I'm sure that'll make it more suspicious, but I hope it still takes her a little while to notice."
>"I picked up some sort of military ID for her, too. Not sure if it'll be any good to us or not at some point, but..."
>Show her the military ID

>Parsee nods along. "Good, good. I'm happy it went well. I guess it's alright to take more cards, although now she's more likely to think she was robbed."
>You show her the Military ID. "This could probably be useful, even if we don't go over there. Might give us an in to taking with that Inaba woman Stargazer was so worried about, if we could play up the finding it angle right..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah. Well, I'm hoping that we'll be in and out of that place before she even notices anything is gone. I mean, it's a Friday night. Surely even Yumemi does something to kick back, sometimes? Well, can't second-guess it now. What's done is done."
>"And yeah, I thought it might be possible to make use of it, somehow."

>"Oh, and Ace also got us an extra motorcycle for tonight. I don't know if you'll laugh or scream at this, but it came from Chiko."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah. Well, I'm hoping that we'll be in and out of that place before she even notices anything is gone. I mean, it's a Friday night. Surely even Yumemi does something to kick back, sometimes? Well, can't second-guess it now. What's done is done."
>"And yeah, I thought it might be possible to make use of it, somehow."

>"Oh, and Ace also got us an extra motorcycle for tonight. I don't know if you'll laugh or scream at this, but it came from Chiko."

>She nods along as you more or less agree with her assessment. When you mention the source of the motorcycle, she groans. "God, further in debt to those assholes. I guess it can't be helped, though."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah. You take what help you can get, in times like this. Although, at this rate, I really WILL owe them a few drinks by the time this is over with. Well, Yuugi seems to like me for whatever reason. I can probably make it out without any major bruises."

>"Anyway, we've got a few hours before the real fun starts. I figured I might go do a few things in the meantime. Unless you had any plans?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah. You take what help you can get, in times like this. Although, at this rate, I really WILL owe them a few drinks by the time this is over with. Well, Yuugi seems to like me for whatever reason. I can probably make it out without any major bruises."

>"Anyway, we've got a few hours before the real fun starts. I figured I might go do a few things in the meantime. Unless you had any plans?"

>She seems ready to say something else in regards to the bikers, then changes her mind. "What've you got in mind?" asks Parsee.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, Orin mentioned Hijiri again. I figure that if she was concerned about me, it couldn't hurt to drop by and let her know that I'm hanging in there. She seemed the most understanding and honestly desiring to help of the three religious people I visited a couple days ago. And, well, Orin seemed to care enough to mention it again, a few minutes ago. I figure it probably can't hurt. I really doubt she's messed up in any of this. Of course, I AM growing kind of paranoid these days..."

>"And... well, I was going to mention the museum, but it's probably too late for that again, today, isn't it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, Orin mentioned Hijiri again. I figure that if she was concerned about me, it couldn't hurt to drop by and let her know that I'm hanging in there. She seemed the most understanding and honestly desiring to help of the three religious people I visited a couple days ago. And, well, Orin seemed to care enough to mention it again, a few minutes ago. I figure it probably can't hurt. I really doubt she's messed up in any of this. Of course, I AM growing kind of paranoid these days..."

>"And... well, I was going to mention the museum, but it's probably too late for that again, today, isn't it?"

>She nods. "Well, if that's what you want to do. I don't have any real plans myself. But yeah, I think it's a bit late for the museum. We kinda did some other things..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Eh, the old pottery will still be there, later. Some things are worth seizing the moment for."
>Smile and give her a kiss
>"But I think I will drop back to the temple. I shouldn't be gone too long."
>Wave goodbye and head towards the Myouren Temple.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Eh, the old pottery will still be there, later. Some things are worth seizing the moment for."
>Smile and give her a kiss
>"But I think I will drop back to the temple. I shouldn't be gone too long."
>Wave goodbye and head towards the Myouren Temple.

>"You got that right," says Parsee as she returns your kiss. "I'll see about having something to eat around here by the time you get back."
>You wave and begin toward the Myouren Temple. If you intend to walk, you're going to be very late for your rendezvous with Ace.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Isn't there a bus that goes that way?
>Although, if we feel comfortable enough driving the motorcycle in a non-emergency, take that over there instead
>Was Ace thoughtful enough to include a helmet?

[Hello Purvis]

>Isn't there a bus that goes that way?
>Although, if we feel comfortable enough driving the motorcycle in a non-emergency, take that over there instead
>Was Ace thoughtful enough to include a helmet?

>There is, but you have options now.
>You think you can handle it.
>There is a helmet dangling from the handlebar. You're a little surprised someone hasn't taken it yet.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Hmmm... probably should have taken a closer look the first tine
>Examine motorcycle
>Put the helmet on. Safety first!
>Drive to the Myoren Temple

[Hello Purvis]

>Hmmm... probably should have taken a closer look the first tine
>Examine motorcycle
>Put the helmet on. Safety first!
>Drive to the Myoren Temple

>You examine the motorcycle. You really don't know much about them, but it looks like it's loud and powerful. It seems to be in good condition, though your mechanical knowledge is more around heating and air than these things. Still, it should be simple enough to operate.
>You put on the helmet. It's a little tight, but not uncomfortably so.
>It takes you a little bit to start the motorcycle, you're not used to kick starting anything. But you get it to work, and bike roars to life. It's a bit loud at first, but you adapt to it. You drive it onto the nearby highway and set course for the Outskirts. And simply put, it's easily the most fun you've had on any trip that didn't involve Parsee cuddling up against you; and maybe better than that! You quickly get used to switching gears again; thankfully it's not that different than a scooter; and grow confident with it in no time. By the time you've reached the off ramp you want,  you've taken to whizzing around traffic just because. Nothing dangerous, of course, but just making your way around is more fun than it should be.
>You reach the parking lot of the Myouren Shrine and find it is still empty. You park by the door.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>What color is the bike?
>Take off the helmet, and enter the temple

[Hello Purvis]

>What color is the bike?
>Take off the helmet, and enter the temple

>Dark Blue.
>You take off your helmet and enter the temple. You feel Stargazer behind you, unsteady and disoriented. In retrospect, you're not sure how she followed you; whether she was on the bike with you or just drug along.
>You quickly come to the main part of the temple, an find Byakuren sitting there, apparently meditating. She looks over in your direction as you come in, and smiles. "I was hoping I'd see you today," she says. "Come in, make yourself comfortable."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Go in, and sit down
>"Hello, again. I, uh, heard you were asking after me?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Go in, and sit down
>"Hello, again. I, uh, heard you were asking after me?"

>You have a seat on one of the cushions close to hers.
>"Yes," she says. "I was hoping you had made some progress with your problem?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well.... the world doesn't seem any less wrong than it did when we talked last. And, I don't think I have any better answer for how or why it is wrong. But... I suppose I have learned some things that I hadn't known before, and I've found companions to share the search with."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well.... the world doesn't seem any less wrong than it did when we talked last. And, I don't think I have any better answer for how or why it is wrong. But... I suppose I have learned some things that I hadn't known before, and I've found companions to share the search with."

>"That's something," she says. "I'm glad you've found people you can share your burden with.  Have you found any reason why you yourself feel wrong?"

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Hard to really say why I feel I wrong, so not really. But, I may have found a potential lead on this issue, so I am making progress."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well.... yes... and no. This might sound crazy, but I... Well, actually it DOES sound crazy, but I hope you'll give me the benefit of the doubt here. I think I may have developed a bond with something not quite of this world. A spirit, in the form of the animal. And it is through this connection that I am aware that something is wrong with the world. But why this spirit sought me, and how we are joined, I still have no idea."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hard to really say why I feel I wrong, so not really. But, I may have found a potential lead on this issue, so I am making progress."

>"Well.... yes... and no. This might sound crazy, but I... Well, actually it DOES sound crazy, but I hope you'll give me the benefit of the doubt here. I think I may have developed a bond with something not quite of this world. A spirit, in the form of the animal. And it is through this connection that I am aware that something is wrong with the world. But why this spirit sought me, and how we are joined, I still have no idea."

>You tell her that you haven't made much progress, then reluctantly reveal your little friend.
>Byakuren frowns a little, considering, then asks, "How did you come to this conclusion?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I've... seen it with my own eyes. And so have others who do not share my own apparent craziness. And... because I saw a similar spirit join with my sister, before she... woke up to the same sense of wrongness that I have felt."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I've... seen it with my own eyes. And so have others who do not share my own apparent craziness. And... because I saw a similar spirit join with my sister, before she... woke up to the same sense of wrongness that I have felt."

>She nods. "That is...ah...very strange. Might it be possible for me to see it?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I can't make it appear on my own, but... do you have a camera?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I can't make it appear on my own, but... do you have a camera?"

>She nods, and produces one from her dress pocket. Huh, who knew she was a shutterbug?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, that was... quicker than I expected."
>Can we non-verbally ask Stargazer to sleep inside us for a moment? One secret at a time