Maribel Quest Adjoining: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yukari wants a threesome. You in?"

>"What, without dinner?"

> "I've been thinking about some of the things we've talked about recently, and I think we need to talk about us, about how we can take what we have and make it even better."
> "Before we really get into that, though, I have an important question. When I brought up the size-changing effect of Byakuren's enchantment, what did you really think of that possibly happening? To one or both of us?"

>"Okay, go on," says Renko, raising an eyebrow.
>"Well, yeah," says Renko, "I mean, it's something I'd have to get used to, but also long as you're okay, that'd be alright."

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "But is it something you want? I don't want something like that happening to you unless you are truly willing to have it happen for your own reasons. I'm happy you would do that for me, but at the same time, I don't want you to do something you wouldn't really want, just because you wanted to make me happy."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Mmm. Yeah, that's what I was, admittedly, a little afraid of."
> "Renko, I'm a little bit worried about you. All that magical enhancement stuff we talked about last night, those enhancements would be real big life-changing things. They would have a huge impact on us as people, if one or both of us goes through with it. I worry that you were just going with the flow because you thought it would make me happy. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate that sentiment. I appreciate it very much. But just as much as you want me to be happy, I want you to be happy, and to that end, I'd like to hear what you genuinely feel about things like that."
> "For example, when were talking when we talked about the possible size change, you talked about how we could find a way to reverse it maybe, or if we had to, we would make do and live with it. It didn't sound like you were enthused about the idea at all. It sounded like the idea didn't appeal to you, and that you would only go along with it because it was something I wanted to do. You shouldn't have to think that way. I don't want you to think that way. I want you to voice what you think on issues. If you think something sucks, I want you to tell me, really. If we each know what the other wants, we can work toward compromises that make both of us happy. Like the other big thing we've been discussing so much, the one with the fairies, the one that we compromised on and found a solution that satisfied both of us."
> "What we have, it's not about me, it's not about you, it's about us. We should be pursuing the things that make both of us happy, not one of us happy, and especially not at the expense of the other."

[Hello Purvis]

> "But is it something you want? I don't want something like that happening to you unless you are truly willing to have it happen for your own reasons. I'm happy you would do that for me, but at the same time, I don't want you to do something you wouldn't really want, just because you wanted to make me happy."

> "Mmm. Yeah, that's what I was, admittedly, a little afraid of."
> "Renko, I'm a little bit worried about you. All that magical enhancement stuff we talked about last night, those enhancements would be real big life-changing things. They would have a huge impact on us as people, if one or both of us goes through with it. I worry that you were just going with the flow because you thought it would make me happy. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate that sentiment. I appreciate it very much. But just as much as you want me to be happy, I want you to be happy, and to that end, I'd like to hear what you genuinely feel about things like that."
> "For example, when were talking when we talked about the possible size change, you talked about how we could find a way to reverse it maybe, or if we had to, we would make do and live with it. It didn't sound like you were enthused about the idea at all. It sounded like the idea didn't appeal to you, and that you would only go along with it because it was something I wanted to do. You shouldn't have to think that way. I don't want you to think that way. I want you to voice what you think on issues. If you think something sucks, I want you to tell me, really. If we each know what the other wants, we can work toward compromises that make both of us happy. Like the other big thing we've been discussing so much, the one with the fairies, the one that we compromised on and found a solution that satisfied both of us."
> "What we have, it's not about me, it's not about you, it's about us. We should be pursuing the things that make both of us happy, not one of us happy, and especially not at the expense of the other."

>Renko frowns, and looks down. "Well...I was kinda..."  She sighs. "I don't know. It sounds pretty weird, the whole big thing. But, you sounded like you were interested, so maybe it's not actually as weird as it seems. I mean, you know more about it than I do, so...I don't know. And you can get used to anything, they say. And, I was a little curious about what it was like, if you didn't think it'd be that bad. It's just...you know...it'd be kind of bad if I said no, when you're letting me do what I wanted you do even though you don't like it. Isn't that what they mean by give and take?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"No, Renko. Expressing your honest opinion is not 'bad'. Compromises are reached by knowing each other's honest opinion and then finding a middle ground between them. I don't want you to go around doing everything just because I seem to think it's right. I'm not infallible, either. And... I want to know what you think. I care about you opinion, Renko."

[E-Nazrin]

I, for one, actually approve of the idea of getting fairies more respect. So 'we' don't entirely disagree on that - just the methods. It'd be even better if we could find some way we both like more, but...

[Kilgamayan]

> "The thing about that is that we've already compromised and removed the part I really didn't like. There are still parts I'm not a huge fan of, but I don't dislike them enough to overcome my desire to see you obtain something you can attach to your name for the rest of your life, something no one will ever be able to take away from you. Maybe I haven't talked about it enough, but I really want you to have something like that, Renko. Besides, it would be selfish of me to try to make you abandon the idea entirely. What we have right now is a fair compromise, as it will make both of us happy. At least, I assume it makes you happy..."
> "And, in that vein, I...I'm so sorry for how I treated you yesterday, when we talked about this. I was being incredibly short-sighted and selfish. You deserve much better than that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, Renko. Expressing your honest opinion is not 'bad'. Compromises are reached by knowing each other's honest opinion and then finding a middle ground between them. I don't want you to go around doing everything just because I seem to think it's right. I'm not infallible, either. And... I want to know what you think. I care about you opinion, Renko."

>"Yeah," says Renko. "but...I just didn't want to give you a whole bunch of guilt and grief over something I didn't even know was really going to a problem, you know?"

> "The thing about that is that we've already compromised and removed the part I really didn't like. There are still parts I'm not a huge fan of, but I don't dislike them enough to overcome my desire to see you obtain something you can attach to your name for the rest of your life, something no one will ever be able to take away from you. Maybe I haven't talked about it enough, but I really want you to have something like that, Renko. Besides, it would be selfish of me to try to make you abandon the idea entirely. What we have right now is a fair compromise, as it will make both of us happy. At least, I assume it makes you happy..."
> "And, in that vein, I...I'm so sorry for how I treated you yesterday, when we talked about this. I was being incredibly short-sighted and selfish. You deserve much better than that."

>"Well, maybe," says Renko. "But it's just...I didn't want to be a tyrant."
>"You didn't do anything like that yesterday," says Renko, giving you a quick kiss. "Don't beat yourself up. All you did was help me out."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Renko, I appreciate that you want to avoid making things harder on me, but I'd feel even worse if I knew that I was doing something that bothered you and you never said. Especially something as big as this."
>Give her a kiss back
>"Renko, we're in this together, and that means both of us being honest with each other about what bothers us."

[E-Nazrin]

We're still dancing around the issue of her being in shock/trying too hard in rejecting outer world beliefs. But I'm probably pointing this out too early in the talk. Also Yukari wanting to molest us

[Hello Purvis]

>"Renko, I appreciate that you want to avoid making things harder on me, but I'd feel even worse if I knew that I was doing something that bothered you and you never said. Especially something as big as this."
>Give her a kiss back
>"Renko, we're in this together, and that means both of us being honest with each other about what bothers us."

>"I guess I just didn't want to seem like I was complaining needlessly," she says.
>You return her kiss. She grins, despite her contrition, and snuggles against you.
>"I don't want to be a nag, either," she says. "I'll try to do better, though."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Remember, Renko, what we agreed upon yesterday, it's not just a 'maybe', it's exactly the kind of thing we should be striving for, to make what we have better. If you think an idea of mine is bad, I want you to tell me. We've already seen I'm willing to carry that out the other way around. It's all about communication. All relationships are. If we talk things out with each other and reach an agreement both of us can be happy with, that's so much better than one of us being happy at the expense of the other."
> "Talking things out also helps us see sides of an issue we might not have before. I don't think I told you about this in detail yet, but the conversations I've had with some of Gensokyo's other citizens made me realize I hadn't thought my enhancement plans out as far as I should have. There were some...undesirable stories being told me, especially about the second enhancement. Of course, I can't say for sure who, if anyone, has the right opinions on the subject, but if even some of them were true, and I or we had went through with it anyway...it could have been bad. Disagreeing with me isn't complaining needlessly; it's entirely possible I was very wrong about what I thought was right yesterday."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Remember, Renko, what we agreed upon yesterday, it's not just a 'maybe', it's exactly the kind of thing we should be striving for, to make what we have better. If you think an idea of mine is bad, I want you to tell me. We've already seen I'm willing to carry that out the other way around. It's all about communication. All relationships are. If we talk things out with each other and reach an agreement both of us can be happy with, that's so much better than one of us being happy at the expense of the other."
> "Talking things out also helps us see sides of an issue we might not have before. I don't think I told you about this in detail yet, but the conversations I've had with some of Gensokyo's other citizens made me realize I hadn't thought my enhancement plans out as far as I should have. There were some...undesirable stories being told me, especially about the second enhancement. Of course, I can't say for sure who, if anyone, has the right opinions on the subject, but if even some of them were true, and I or we had went through with it anyway...it could have been bad. Disagreeing with me isn't complaining needlessly; it's entirely possible I was very wrong about what I thought was right yesterday."

>"I was just trying to have faith in you, I guess," says Renko. "I mean, just thinking it's bad doesn't make it so. And...well, I guess you heard all the rest of my reasons. And yeah, maybe it was wrong for good solid reasons, but I didn't know what they were, so..."
>She gives a half shrug. Which really isn't very effective given she now has an arm around you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I know you did it for a lot of the right reasons, and there's a lot to be said for the motto of not worrying about things. Especially in a place like this. Just... make sure you're being honest with yourself, ok?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I know you did it for a lot of the right reasons, and there's a lot to be said for the motto of not worrying about things. Especially in a place like this. Just... make sure you're being honest with yourself, ok?"

>She nods. "Sorry..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Now, now, don't go feeling too bad about it, either. Just... keep it in mind."
>Kiss her

[Kilgamayan]

> Snuggle time. Heavy conversation warrants cuddling afterward.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Now, now, don't go feeling too bad about it, either. Just... keep it in mind."
>Kiss her

>"I will, I will," she says, grinning despite her tone as you kiss her again.

> Snuggle time. Heavy conversation warrants cuddling afterward.

>You snuggle with her, it feels quite lovely.
>"You are just too adorable," says Yukari, smiling broadly, "I want to but you both in a bottle and place it on the mantle!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Laugh
>"I may be smaller than you, but I'm not that much smaller than you."

[E-Nazrin]

>"With or without Koishi?"

... why didn't we call her out on caving in so promptly on the "honest with yourself" part? Or make the full extent of that uncertainty known, at least...

[Hello Purvis]

>Laugh
>"I may be smaller than you, but I'm not that much smaller than you."

>You laugh at Yukari comment. Renko gives a grin.
>"I could arrange for something, I'm sure," says Yukari. "But I do hope you feel a little better about things, now?"

>"With or without Koishi?"

>"No one wants to be stuck with Koishi."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I think I do a little, yes."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think I do a little, yes."

>She smiles. "That's pleasing to hear. Perhaps, then, we can move onto other things?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, um, perhaps."
>"Uh, Renko... you feel you've become a lot more open-minded since coming to Gensokyo, right?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, um, perhaps."
>"Uh, Renko... you feel you've become a lot more open-minded since coming to Gensokyo, right?"

>"Easily," says Renko. "I never even thought to question the laws of motion until I came here."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I know what you mean. And, uh, maybe about other things? ...less sciencey things?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I know what you mean. And, uh, maybe about other things? ...less sciencey things?"

>"Well, I never imagined I'd be friends with faeries," says Renko.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, you probably never thought fairies quite like these existed, either."
>"But that's... uh, not exactly what I was getting at, either..."

[E-Nazrin]

I think it might have been better to fob off the explanation on Yukari. :V She isn't going to guess.

[DracoOmega]

I'm not really expecting her to guess. I was hoping Yukari would actually just jump in once Maribel flounders around enough. ^^;