Okuu Quest After - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>"And I assume that the things they don't feel the world could handle include Sanae, as well? Yet, you say that as two gods, it would still be too difficult for you to stop them? Is that really a better world for her to live in, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ooh, that is indeed interesting. What do they do that would necessitate "all of us" stopping them?"
> Do we still have Nitori's home phone handy in our head?

>"I don't think you understood what I said," Kanako says. "I meant that they would classify all of us as beings to be contained."
>No. But you do have it written down.

>"And I assume that the things they don't feel the world could handle include Sanae, as well? Yet, you say that as two gods, it would still be too difficult for you to stop them? Is that really a better world for her to live in, then?"

>"Sanae is wise enough not to give people a reason to suspect," says Kanako.
>"Oh, we could fight them to a standstill," says Suwako. "Just you gotta be dumb to want to fight them. Our way's much better. Too bad you had to go and alert them and make us have to do something at all. Not that you actually care, since you're too full of yourself to actually admit you messed up, got a whole lot of your friends in trouble, and now need us to save 'em for you."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Why do you keep thinking I don't care? I said that I care. Before you interrupted me, I was flying off to put my life on the line for my friends. I'll still put my life on the line for them. If you want to help with that, I can accept your help. As long as it doesn't mean making any of us forget any of this."

[Kilgamayan]

> "I did nothing of the sort. The Utsuho Reiuzi you created and let get 'infected' through your own incompetence is the one that set all that into motion. I have done nothing but attempt to help my friends, despite repeated ignorant Moriya interference. Of course, if you hadn't created this world in the first place, we wouldn't have to deal with them at all, would we? But I suppose hanging the threat of the Foundation over the heads of all Gensokyo natives is ignorable collateral damage in the name of making Sanae happy, huh?"

[Kilgamayan]

>How about Parsee's number? Do we have that memorized? Or is her phone still back at the Institute?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why do you keep thinking I don't care? I said that I care. Before you interrupted me, I was flying off to put my life on the line for my friends. I'll still put my life on the line for them. If you want to help with that, I can accept your help. As long as it doesn't mean making any of us forget any of this."

>"Part and Parsel with the deal, kid," Suwako says.
>"Perhaps not," says Kanako. "Would you yield, if we allowed you to keep your memories? You understand why you cannot retain many things, I think, but if you were allowed to remember, would you yield?"
>Suwako is giving Kanako a look.

> "I did nothing of the sort. The Utsuho Reiuzi you created and let get 'infected' through your own incompetence is the one that set all that into motion. I have done nothing but attempt to help my friends, despite repeated ignorant Moriya interference. Of course, if you hadn't created this world in the first place, we wouldn't have to deal with them at all, would we? But I suppose hanging the threat of the Foundation over the heads of all Gensokyo natives is ignorable collateral damage in the name of making Sanae happy, huh?"

>Suwako laughs again. "Trying to act like you didn't even choose to do it. Weren't you the one making a bit deal about free will over happiness a little bit ago? But, oh, now it's not you fault at all, no no no. It certainly wasn't you who did that freely. And you wonder why people think you're a moron."
>Kanako simply looks at you.

>How about Parsee's number? Do we have that memorized? Or is her phone still back at the Institute?

>Maybe... You're not sure. And, she left it at her apartment, you think.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, I chose to do it freely, I admit. This decision may have been made in ignorance, but I made what seemed like the best choice to make at the time. It had fallout I did not intend or expect, and I do regret that. Does that satisfy you any? It still would not have happened if not for what you'd done."

>"And it's not just my memories I'm worried about. You said I was being selfish. Well, wouldn't it be selfish if I was content that only I remember?"

[Seian Verian]

> "Alright, fine, I screwed up. I did something risky, my friends got caught up in it, and in the end, it was my actions that put them in danger. I was seeking answers, trying to find what was real, and it led to this."

> "But no. My memory isn't the issue here. I'd rather know the truth than be thrust into a lie, but at the same time, I don't want others to be thrust into that same lie. Surely you understand that by now? This isn't just about me. I admit, part of me does desperately want to go back. This world now feels completely wrong, as if it simply should not be! But I would be willing to stay in it, if I knew... If I knew it was what the others affected wanted. None of us can read minds, be sure that this world is better for everyone than the other. Not completely, and no matter what you say, I will stick to that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, I chose to do it freely, I admit. This decision may have been made in ignorance, but I made what seemed like the best choice to make at the time. It had fallout I did not intend or expect, and I do regret that. Does that satisfy you any? It still would not have happened if not for what you'd done."

>"And it's not just my memories I'm worried about. You said I was being selfish. Well, wouldn't it be selfish if I was content that only I remember?"

> "Alright, fine, I screwed up. I did something risky, my friends got caught up in it, and in the end, it was my actions that put them in danger. I was seeking answers, trying to find what was real, and it led to this."

> "But no. My memory isn't the issue here. I'd rather know the truth than be thrust into a lie, but at the same time, I don't want others to be thrust into that same lie. Surely you understand that by now? This isn't just about me. I admit, part of me does desperately want to go back. This world now feels completely wrong, as if it simply should not be! But I would be willing to stay in it, if I knew... If I knew it was what the others affected wanted. None of us can read minds, be sure that this world is better for everyone than the other. Not completely, and no matter what you say, I will stick to that."

>"That wasn't so hard, was it?" says Suwako, sounding...oddly nice, even sympathetic,  compared to her usual acidic tones from before.
>"I had hoped you would have come to understand a bit more," says Kanako, her tone carrying a ring of finality to it. "But very well."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So what now, then? I'm still going to press on for my friends and loved ones, to the death if need be, and I imagine you'll do the same, though I guess death isn't really a concern for goddesses, is it?"
> Wave to the mop hat woman.
> "Hey! We all know you're here! You wanna join us?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "So what now, then? I'm still going to press on for my friends and loved ones, to the death if need be, and I imagine you'll do the same, though I guess death isn't really a concern for goddesses, is it?"
> Wave to the mop hat woman.
> "Hey! We all know you're here! You wanna join us?"

>"Yep," says Suwako. "Me, I would have just laid into you. But it makes Kanako feel good to talk things out, so I humored her. But for real? You did good on the whole, kid."
>You wave to the woman in the distance. She doesn't really react. "Forgive her," says Kanako, "She's rather terrified at the moment, I would imagine. Now, It seems time for me to indulge Suwako."
>She waves a hand, conjuring several tall columns of light to flank her.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "So, will this be fair or will you two gang up on me? It appears I don't have that much of a friend "
> Check charge. Should be 60%, IIRC?

[Kilgamayan]

> "Who is it, anyway?"

[DracoOmega]

>"So, it really all comes down to this in the end, anyway? I'm disappointed."

>How close are Kanako and Suwako to us, physically?

[UncertainJakutten]

> Unleash SUBTERRANEAN SEPULCHRITUDE!!!!

[Seian Verian]

> ...Crud. It's not at all likely that we'll be able to deal with both of them at once. Or successively for that matter.
> Well, nothing says we can't do our best at it while running away at the same time.
> Dash underneath and past Kanako, sending some shots of the most disorienting variety we have toward her while we do so.

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

> We're retreating TOWARDS the mystery third person, yes? We're going to need a potential ally in this.

[Hello Purvis]

> "So, will this be fair or will you two gang up on me? It appears I don't have that much of a friend "
> Check charge. Should be 60%, IIRC?

>"Works for the Prismrivers," says Suwako, making a circular gesture and conjuring a number of lily pads into her hands.
>You are charged to 60%

> "Who is it, anyway?"

>"She's the one who let you meet your little friend," says Suwako,

>"So, it really all comes down to this in the end, anyway? I'm disappointed."

>How close are Kanako and Suwako to us, physically?

>"As am I," says Kanako.
>Kanako is several yards in front of you. Suwako is maybe a yard overhead, still hovering upside down.

> Unleash SUBTERRANEAN SEPULCHRITUDE!!!!

>You are going to flip out so har-
>Kanako sends two of the columns flying at you!

> ...Crud. It's not at all likely that we'll be able to deal with both of them at once. Or successively for that matter.
> Well, nothing says we can't do our best at it while running away at the same time.
> Dash underneath and past Kanako, sending some shots of the most disorienting variety we have toward her while we do so.

>You drop down, moving beneath the columns of light that Kanako threw. You through out some danmaku at her as well, causing Kanako to draw back a bit. As you do, the air before you is suddenly filled with glowing lily pads, packed into dense clusters!

> We're retreating TOWARDS the mystery third person, yes? We're going to need a potential ally in this.

>You are, and toward dense clusters of bullets.
>Charged to: 70%

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Is it possible to move toward and then through a less dense cluster of bullets while still heading in the general direction of the mystery person?
> Do so if that is the case. If not, launch trapping arcs of bullets toward Suwako

[UncertainJakutten]

> Inquiry: Is it within our abilities to create a fusion shield to block danmaku and convert it into charge?

[DracoOmega]

>If we're still near to point-blank range of both of them, unleash a nova from ourself

[Hello Purvis]

> Is it possible to move toward and then through a less dense cluster of bullets while still heading in the general direction of the mystery person?
> Do so if that is the case. If not, launch trapping arcs of bullets toward Suwako

>You think you can get through it! You start to weave through the clusters of glowing lily pads.

> Inquiry: Is it within our abilities to create a fusion shield to block danmaku and convert it into charge?

>No. Otherwise you never would have lost to Reimu to begin with.

>If we're still near to point-blank range of both of them, unleash a nova from ourself

>Not anymore, Kanako has moves back and up, leaving you alone in the clusters.
>Then you see a column of light descending on you from above! You have clusters below and to the left of you.

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Quickly dodge forward, down, and to the right!

[UncertainJakutten]

>No. Otherwise you never would have lost to Reimu to begin with.

>What if it dramatically drained charge to do so and was apparent? Hence why it's not a good idea except for a few seconds as a surprise.

[DracoOmega]

>If we can dodge in directions that take us closer to the mystery person, do so. Maybe they'll act if we force the issue
>Try emitting an intense but close range heat from ourselves. Can we burn the lilies?

[Hello Purvis]

> Quickly dodge forward, down, and to the right!

>You move foward and down, the column close enough to your back that you feel it tingling. Then you bank right and it just barely slides past you.
>Now you have a huge cluster to the left, and a fairly widespread one to the right. Two colums descend diagonally from above; you think they are aimed at you. As well, you hear danmaku coming from behind.

>What if it dramatically drained charge to do so and was apparent? Hence why it's not a good idea except for a few seconds as a surprise.

>No, otherwise you would have had a much better time again Reimu.

>If we can dodge in directions that take us closer to the mystery person, do so. Maybe they'll act if we force the issue
>Try emitting an intense but close range heat from ourselves. Can we burn the lilies?

>You give off some heat. Some of the nearby lilies start to wilt, but you won't be able to hold it for long.
>charged to 20%

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Diagonally? Try to quickly judge the trajectory, can we dodge it by going up?
> Do so if that is the case, but don't stop moving forward regardless
> Charge if we can do so without reducing our speed.

[DracoOmega]

>Dash forward towards Kanako to evade the aimed shots from above, shooting danmaku as we go, then quick ascend to try avoiding those from behind us
>Spin around and shoot the splitting/curving danmaku on Suwako. Might still be good for one hit, anyway

[Seian Verian]

>Dash forward towards Kanako to evade the aimed shots from above, shooting danmaku as we go, then quick ascend to try avoiding those from behind us
>Spin around and shoot the splitting/curving danmaku on Suwako. Might still be good for one hit, anyway

> Wait. Isn't Kanako still behind us? Don't dodge toward her if that's the case, we're trying to go toward the stranger right now.

[Hello Purvis]

> Diagonally? Try to quickly judge the trajectory, can we dodge it by going up?
> Do so if that is the case, but don't stop moving forward regardless
> Charge if we can do so without reducing our speed.

>You pull up. The columns come too close for comfort; enough you reflexively hold your breath.
>As you climb, you see another cluster of lily pads up ahead.
>Two lines of rainbow-colored bullets pass below you, spreading out into random directions, some coming up toward you.
>Your heat wave is coming close to wearing out.
>Charged to: 30%

>Dash forward towards Kanako to evade the aimed shots from above, shooting danmaku as we go, then quick ascend to try avoiding those from behind us
>Spin around and shoot the splitting/curving danmaku on Suwako. Might still be good for one hit, anyway

> Wait. Isn't Kanako still behind us? Don't dodge toward her if that's the case, we're trying to go toward the stranger right now.

>Kanako is somewhat behind and above you now. You think she is making more columns

>_