Okuu Quest Thereafter - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"I won't. We've got a lot of work to do tonight, and the sooner we're in, the sooner we can be out again."
>Say goodbye to Ace and close the door

>"Well, at least she didn't show up a few minutes earlier. Anyway, let's get cleaned up and do this."

>You see Ace off, and head back inside.
>You start to talk to Parsee, and find she has disappeared. The bathroom door is closed, and you're pretty sure you hear the shower running inside. ...Being cut off to the bathroom is so annoying.
>Stargazer lurks near the windows, looking at you and full of inquisitiveness about recent events.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"You know, the more you start to understand, the more awkward that's going to be.... Let's just say that we went from enjoying each other's company to REALLY enjoying each other's company. It's a way to share comfort and closeness with someone you care about. And, uh, also a lot of fun. But... it's also really private. It's probably better if Parsee doesn't reflect too hard on the idea that you were watching..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You know, the more you start to understand, the more awkward that's going to be.... Let's just say that we went from enjoying each other's company to REALLY enjoying each other's company. It's a way to share comfort and closeness with someone you care about. And, uh, also a lot of fun. But... it's also really private. It's probably better if Parsee doesn't reflect too hard on the idea that you were watching..."

>You're pretty sure her understanding of this is...limited at best. But she seems to acknowledge you clearly enjoyed it greatly, and she'll try not to watch. But it's really hard to ignore everything you kept saying. She didn't mind, though. She's wondering if she did something wrong.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Nah, it's ok. You were just being you. I can't really fault you for what you don't understand."
>Wait for Parsee to finish showering

[Hello Purvis]

>"Nah, it's ok. You were just being you. I can't really fault you for what you don't understand."
>Wait for Parsee to finish showering

>You do your best to be comforting. But at the same time, it is really hard to overcome that sense of mortification that she was probably listening in on that.
>Parsee emerges from the bathroom a few minutes later, drying her hair. "All yours," she says. "Ace get everything set up?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah. The fakes look pretty good, in my opinion."
>Show her ours
>"I take it Ace still has hers and yours on her. She's waiting downstairs in the lobby, by the way, so I'll make this as quick as I can."
>Go take a quick shower

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah. The fakes look pretty good, in my opinion."
>Show her ours
>"I take it Ace still has hers and yours on her. She's waiting downstairs in the lobby, by the way, so I'll make this as quick as I can."
>Go take a quick shower

>You show her the fake. "Yeah, that's not too bad," she says. "I'll be downstairs waiting, then.
>You get a quickly shower. You're don't exactly clean at the end of it, but you're not sticky and sweaty anymore, so at least you can be in public. You also find yourself regretting you didn't think to bring a change of clothes with you. But your current ones aren't too dirty, just a bit worn from their day and a half worth of service.
>As you finish getting dressed, the spectral crow takes a place on your shoulder.

[DracoOmega]

>"Hey, little fellow. You're really going to have to stay out of sight this time. We're going into a place where being seen with you could get us into a lot of trouble. So, could you please hide again?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hey, little fellow. You're really going to have to stay out of sight this time. We're going into a place where being seen with you could get us into a lot of trouble. So, could you please hide again?"

>You have no idea if it comprehended you at all, but it does disappear into you again. Again, you don't really feel it the same way you do when Stagazer does this.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Well, it's better this than nothing
>If we're finished getting ready, head downstairs and meet up with Ace and Parsee

[Hello Purvis]

>Well, it's better this than nothing
>If we're finished getting ready, head downstairs and meet up with Ace and Parsee

>You head downstairs and find Parsee and Ace in the lobby, talking about something. "You ready?" Parsee asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this."
>Head out

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this."
>Head out

>You head out, Parsee following you wordlessly.
>The two of you climb onto Chiko's motorcycle, Parsee getting on behind you and holding on tightly. Moreso than necessary really. You're pretty sure she's just looking for an excuse to snuggle. But that is fine.
>Ace takes the lead. presumably knowing the way there better than you do. You find, much to your dismay, that you can feel Stargazer lingering about Ace's bike.
>You follow the city streets, which involves a fair deal of stop and go driving. At the first stop, the spectral crow steps out from you and takes flight, prompting a cry of surprise from Parsee. Still, in the darkness of the early evening, you doubt anyone is going to notice it.
>You reach the University without incident. Ace parts her motorcycle in lot behind the university, picking spot in the corner near some trees. As you pull up near her, she takes off her helmet, a green thing with stylized antennae drawn on it, and asks, "Well chummer, how're we doing this B&E? You think this is a good spot to hide the getaway?"
>The spectral crow lands on the fence, not far away.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>How long would it take to get back to the bikes from the research facility, at a brisk but non-suspicious pace?
>Is this as reasonably close as we can park to there, while still being inconspicuous?

[Hello Purvis]

>How long would it take to get back to the bikes from the research facility, at a brisk but non-suspicious pace?
>Is this as reasonably close as we can park to there, while still being inconspicuous?

>It's a five minute walk. Maybe four if you hustle.
>You might get closer, but the area is pretty brightly lit up, and they would stand out. This may be an acceptable trade-off.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I guess this'll do. Probably the best place we're going to manage, anyway."
>Park our bike in the same spot
>"As for the plan, remember we're not sneaking in. We're grad students. We're allowed to be here. Try to look at natural as you can."
>Head towards the facility

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I guess this'll do. Probably the best place we're going to manage, anyway."
>Park our bike in the same spot
>"As for the plan, remember we're not sneaking in. We're grad students. We're allowed to be here. Try to look at natural as you can."
>Head towards the facility

>You park the motorcycle and disembark.
>"Got it," says Ace. "Just give 'em the SINs"
>You start walking toward the Institute. Your attempt to look natural is slightly ruined when the spectral crow lands on your shoulder. "...That happen often?" Ace asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Uh, well, I've always had a bit of a way with crows. But this one seems to insist on following me everywhere. It's kinda annoying at times like this."
>Can we try to shift the angle of our body such that Ace might not be able to see the crow if it merged with us again? If so, do so. Wait until we're in a dimly lit bit, if it helps
>"Now, if you could just be nice and make yourself scarce until we come out of this place again?"
>Try to wave the crow off. At least for show. Try to also conceal line-of-sight from Ace with this gesture

[Hello Purvis]

>"Uh, well, I've always had a bit of a way with crows. But this one seems to insist on following me everywhere. It's kinda annoying at times like this."
>Can we try to shift the angle of our body such that Ace might not be able to see the crow if it merged with us again? If so, do so. Wait until we're in a dimly lit bit, if it helps
>"Now, if you could just be nice and make yourself scarce until we come out of this place again?"
>Try to wave the crow off. At least for show. Try to also conceal line-of-sight from Ace with this gesture

>"Maybe you should jam Orinthology?" she says, as she returns to looking where she is going.
>You are able to fall a little behind and make shooing motions. It merges with you again. Ace doesn't seem to notice, or if she did she didn't react.
>You carry on. Soon, the gates of the Research Institute come into view. You don't recognize the guard on duty, a blond-haired woman with should length hair that curls at the bottom. She looks rather distracted.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Walk up to the guard
>"Good evening."
>Nod to the guard and nonchalantly show her our ID

[Hello Purvis]

>Walk up to the guard
>"Good evening."
>Nod to the guard and nonchalantly show her our ID

>"Hey," she says. She glances at your ID. "Huh, never seen you before,"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I'm new. Professor Okazaki gave me the grand tour the other night, and now the paperwork for my own ID has finally come through. It's so exciting finally getting a chance to work here."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I'm new. Professor Okazaki gave me the grand tour the other night, and now the paperwork for my own ID has finally come through. It's so exciting finally getting a chance to work here."

>"Alright," says the guard, as she goes to check everyone else's ID.
>After a moment, she lift the gate.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thanks."
>Enter the gates
>When a safe distance from both the guards outside, and the facility outside, speak quietly to Parsee
>"You did remember to bring the stun gun, right?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thanks."
>Enter the gates
>When a safe distance from both the guards outside, and the facility outside, speak quietly to Parsee
>"You did remember to bring the stun gun, right?"

>You make your way in, and start on the walk toward the the Institute itself.
>"It's in my purse," says Parsee. You can hear a tightness in her voice.

[DracoOmega]

>Try to non-verbally ask Stargazer if she remembers what we talked to her about earlier today regarding the stun gun

[Hello Purvis]

>Try to non-verbally ask Stargazer if she remembers what we talked to her about earlier today regarding the stun gun

>She doesn't seem to really get the message very well, judging by the confusion you feel from her.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Try to non-verbally communicate the following question/mental image: "Metal archway? Metal detector? Moving an object around it without being seen? Does that sound at all familiar?"

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

> Examine surroundings now that we're past the gate.

[Hello Purvis]

>Try to non-verbally communicate the following question/mental image: "Metal archway? Metal detector? Moving an object around it without being seen? Does that sound at all familiar?"

>You break it down into individual concepts, and she quickly figures out what you're trying to say. She remembers, she thinks she can do it.

> Examine surroundings now that we're past the gate.

>You are within the main grounds, a simple-well maintained lawn. It is quite large and empty. You think it's there to give a buffer if something leaks out of the facility, and to make it harder for people to break in without being seen. Up ahead is the Institute itself, a large boxy multi-floor facility.

>_