Maribel Quest Adjoining: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Halfway? I'm pretty sure you're about the last person who needs to worry about doing things halfway, Renko."
>Smile at Yukari
>"And I think that might be nice, sometime. Thank you."

>Renko chuckles a bit, as you finish up with her hair. "Don't think you can sweet talk your way out of this one, Mary," she says, her tone light.
>Yukari smile seems to beam even more in response to yours. You can practically feel the strings attached.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hey, does it count as sweet talking when it's also true? I think we've both dived pretty headfirst into Gensokyo life already."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hey, does it count as sweet talking when it's also true? I think we've both dived pretty headfirst into Gensokyo life already."

>She nods, then begins to rinse out her hair.
>"Watching you two makes me think I've not been bickering with Ran enough these days," says Yukari.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh? Is bickering a good thing, now?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh? Is bickering a good thing, now?"

>Yukari chuckles in response, placing her fingertips to her mouth. "Shall we move on, then, or would you prefer to relax a little more?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I think I feel sufficiently soaked if you do, Renko. Not that I'd mind staying, either, if you still wanted to for a bit."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think I feel sufficiently soaked if you do, Renko. Not that I'd mind staying, either, if you still wanted to for a bit."

>"I'd love too," says Renko, "But I get back before Daiyousei forgets about the plan and starts drilling them in dance numbers or something."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Haha, yeah, that's probably a good idea. Best save the dance numbers for later."
>Go get dried off and change

[Hello Purvis]

>"Haha, yeah, that's probably a good idea. Best save the dance numbers for later."
>Go get dried off and change

>"I can only imagine," says Renko, as she follows you out.
>The two of you dry off, while Yukari remains in the spring. "Nowthen, back to the field, Renko?"
>"Yeah, please," says Renko.
>Yukari nods, and opens a gap in front of Renko. Renko looks to you, then says, "See you in a bit," then gives you a quick kiss on the cheek and steps through. The gap closes behind her.
>Yukari emerges then and dries herself off. Throwing on one of the robes, not bothering to tie it up, she opens another gap, and gestures for you to walk through it. "Oh, and could you get the towels and things, too?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Collect the towels and things
>Walk through the gap

[Hello Purvis]

>Collect the towels and things
>Walk through the gap

>You collect up the towels and discarded clothing, tucking yours back into your bag, then walk through the gap.
>After a moment of disorient and clamminess, you find yourself back at Yukari's house. The table has been cleaned, no signs of dishes anywhere, and two dresses lay on the table. Ran is sweeping the floor, she doesn't even glance up as your enter the house.
>Yukari follows you inside. "I'll be stepping out for a little bit, Ran," she says, "I should be back in time for lunch."
>"Robe, Yukari-sama," Ran says, still not looking up from her cleaning.
>"Oh, yes," says Yukari, as she closes the garment and ties it properly. Then she opens another gap. "That would have been a small problem, I suppose."
>Then the gap youkai suddenly wraps her arms around you and hugs you tightly. "And you may come for dinner whenever you wish, though it is good manners to let Ran know ahead of time."
>Then she leans closer to your ears and whispers,"You really haven't fooled me as much as you think you've fooled yourself, you know."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Um, I- well..."
>Brace for the inevitable chuckle at our expense

[Hello Purvis]

>"Um, I- well..."
>Brace for the inevitable chuckle at our expense

>"After all, who would have let things unfold as they have if you weren't tempted, hmm?" she says. "But that is fine, too."
>Then she kisses you on top on you head and lets you go. Before you can say much, she steps through the gap, waving to you and Ran.
>Before there is time for a true awkward silence to fill the air, Ran says, "Please don't think too poorly of Yukari-sama."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I... I don't. Honestly. She seems like a kind person, actually. Even though she is... unusual, to say the least."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I... I don't. Honestly. She seems like a kind person, actually. Even though she is... unusual, to say the least."

>"You're more generous than many people, then," says Ran, as she kneels down to fill a dust pan. "Then again, this is only your first meeting."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Should I expect her to get... more unusual, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Should I expect her to get... more unusual, then?"

>"Perhaps," says Ran, as she empties the dustpan into a wastebasket.
>Having some time now without being assaulted by Yukari in some fashion or another, you get a look around the house. For someone so reputedly powerful, it is a fairly humble place. It seems to be largely made of one room; with a kitchen to the north, a sort of general living room and dining room in the middle, and some sheets hung up toward the south end to make what you believe at little bedrooms. Up in the rafters, you can see a number of things being stored, mostly spare blankets and the like. Along the walls, you can see a number of what look like electric train tracks, built on little shelves.
>"I would warn you," says Ran, "she does have a tendency to invite herself over when the whim takes her."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I've gotten the impression she does a great many things based on what whim happens to be taking her at the moment. No offense intended."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I've gotten the impression she does a great many things based on what whim happens to be taking her at the moment. No offense intended."

>"None taken," says Ran. "It's one of her charms."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"How on Earth do you put up with her?"
>"I can certainly believe that. But I guess it takes some getting used to."
>Examine dresses, train tracks
>Consider offering to help Ran a bit with the housework, if she's that busy.

[Hello Purvis]

>"How on Earth do you put up with her?"
>"I can certainly believe that. But I guess it takes some getting used to."
>Examine dresses, train tracks
>Consider offering to help Ran a bit with the housework, if she's that busy.

>"Let's just say you missed out."
>"Not as much as you might think," says Ran. "She keeps things interesting."
>Your Purple Dress is neatly folded on the table. Beside it is a White Dress, similar to the one Yukari was wearing, without the tabard over it. "That should fit you well," she says.
>The train tracks seem to be well maintained and free of dust. You can see a couple of model trains sitting on them at places, near model stations.
>It might be nice of you to put those towels and and Yukari's old clothes away.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"Where should I put these?"
>... what are we wearing?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Where should I put these?"
>... what are we wearing?

>"There's a hamper by the door," says Ran, as she starts to sweep the kitchen.
>One of the terrycloth robes that Yukari brought with her.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"Right."
>Put them away.
>"If you'll pardon my curiosity, what's with the model trains setup? It looks very well-maintained, but somewhat... unusual for Gensokyo."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Right."
>Put them away.
>"If you'll pardon my curiosity, what's with the model trains setup? It looks very well-maintained, but somewhat... unusual for Gensokyo."

>"Thank you," says Ran as you put the clothes away.
>"Ah, well, we all need a hobby, don't we?" she says, smiling a bit.

>_

[Janitor Morgan]

> How far overhead was the sun before we left the bath?

[E-Nazrin]

>"Oh, they're yours? Does Yukari help you get models from the outside?"
>Pause.
>"Or do you make them yourself?"

[Hello Purvis]

> How far overhead was the sun before we left the bath?

>You've still got some hours before it's fully overhead.

>"Oh, they're yours? Does Yukari help you get models from the outside?"
>Pause.
>"Or do you make them yourself?"

>"A bit of both," says Ran. "Though finding information to work from can be difficult, so I've not made many."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I can see how that would be a problem, yes."
>"Why not ask for a model-making how-to book to help with making them? I know there must be some of those in the outer world. Though, I guess they might presume a few things that aren't as easy to get here..."

So, anyone particularly care about outfits, or should we just try out the white dress Ran made/modified?

[Hello Purvis]

>"I can see how that would be a problem, yes."
>"Why not ask for a model-making how-to book to help with making them? I know there must be some of those in the outer world. Though, I guess they might presume a few things that aren't as easy to get here..."

So, anyone particularly care about outfits, or should we just try out the white dress Ran made/modified?

>"I know how to make them," says Ran. "Just one needs information about the kind of car or engine one wishes to make before one can make a proper model. Yukari brings me things from time to time."

>_