Keine Quest (Part 5): Broken History

[Hello Purvis]

>Hold it for a bit, until the fissure is about to close and snap our fingers off.

[DracoOmega]

>Hold it for a bit, until the fissure is about to close and snap our fingers off.

>As you've been careful to keep your fingers out of the gap, you don't think they're at any immediate risk. You hold the coin inside it for a while, but get no reaction.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Guess it takes something magically active..."

[DracoOmega]

>"Guess it takes something magically active..."

>"Perhaps," Ran says. "Or perhaps it just happened to be passing by this space at the time? It would be difficult to speculate without knowing what it is, or how it came this way."

[Hello Purvis]

>Push the coin on through. Don't want it in our pocket after it's got dimensional backstage gunk all over it.
>"Are there even places there that it can pass through?"

[DracoOmega]

>Push the coin on through. Don't want it in our pocket after it's got dimensional backstage gunk all over it.
>"Are there even places there that it can pass through?"

>You decide to dispense with the coin, making good on your threat to litter between dimensions. Who knows, maybe you'll make some Kyoto coin collector's lucky day?
>"I'm not sure what you mean," Ran says.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Does the concept of space even really exist there? Are there places for it to actually go, and places to leave in there? Would traveling even be possible within something that's essentially just a corridor between two places?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Does the concept of space even really exist there? Are there places for it to actually go, and places to leave in there? Would traveling even be possible within something that's essentially just a corridor between two places?"

>"Well," Ran says, "our own transit took some time, as you no doubt noticed. And though we entered together, we exited separately. Space is tangled along this route. Perhaps you snagged it while it was in transit? I really wish I could say more."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"It was juts a thing I was pondering. But that's about all I can think of, unless Mokou wants to jam her hand in there."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"It was juts a thing I was pondering. But that's about all I can think of, unless Mokou wants to jam her hand in there."

>"Hell no!" Mokou says. "...well." She frowns. "You really want me to?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, I don't want have to deal with you having a severed arm for awhile. it would make me feel like I kicked a puppy."
>"You feel some aspects of dream here, right Mugetsu? Do you feel anything near those fissures?"

[DracoOmega]

>"No, I don't want have to deal with you having a severed arm for awhile. it would make me feel like I kicked a puppy."
>"You feel some aspects of dream here, right Mugetsu? Do you feel anything near those fissures?"

>Mokou laughs. "Well, aren't you sweet tonight."
>"Not like this," Mugetsu responds. "You destroyed that dream here. Or... dispersed it, perhaps. And the remnants of it haven't entirely faded. I don't feel anything more tangible than that through these gaps."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Shame. I was hoping you might be able to use that to reach into there."
>"...What can you do, exactly, aside from put people to sleep?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Shame. I was hoping you might be able to use that to reach into there."
>"...What can you do, exactly, aside from put people to sleep?"

>Mugetsu frowns. "I'm sorry."
>"I can enter the dreams of those already sleeping," she says. "Sometimes these are lucid. Other times not. I can shape them. ...well, a little. My sister is much stronger than I am. The place I contacted you was neither your dream nor mine, but one constructed for that purpose. I can hide in these, sometimes. Why?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Can you move from one person's dream to another, without having to step out into reality?"
>"If so...could you enter the dream of someone from this world, and go into the dreams of someone outside?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Can you move from one person's dream to another, without having to step out into reality?"
>"If so...could you enter the dream of someone from this world, and go into the dreams of someone outside?"

>"I can, yes. Sometimes."
>She shakes her head. "Unless I could enter the second person's dream from here, as well, I couldn't use the first's as a conduit to it. Dreams don't transcend the boundaries between worlds like that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Shame. Then we'll just need to find a way to lure them here."

[DracoOmega]

>"Shame. Then we'll just need to find a way to lure them here."

>"Are you still referring to that shadow creature?" Ran asks.

[Hello Purvis]

>"The shadow creature, Gengetsu, whatever happens to be in there."

[DracoOmega]

>"The shadow creature, Gengetsu, whatever happens to be in there."

>Ran nods. "Do you have any other ideas to try, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"A couple. But they are both related to Patchouli. The first is we just try to use that crystal again, and hope that the draining effect is enough to attract some attention. Otherwise, we fill up something with Mugetsu's dream magic, or something else very recognizable, and then release it inside"

[DracoOmega]

>"A couple. But they are both related to Patchouli. The first is we just try to use that crystal again, and hope that the draining effect is enough to attract some attention. Otherwise, we fill up something with Mugetsu's dream magic, or something else very recognizable, and then release it inside"

>"Well," Ran says, "the first method did work once, for whatever reason. As for the second, are you hoping that if that being is related to Gengetsu, she'll sense her sister's magic and respond to it?"
>Mugetsu frowns. "I'm not sure my power is the sort of thing I can fill anything up with."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod to Ran. "Correct in both cases."
>Look to Mugetsu. "I'm certain Patchouli can find a way."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod to Ran. "Correct in both cases."
>Look to Mugetsu. "I'm certain Patchouli can find a way."

>"Well, I'm ready for the inevitable protests, if you are," Ran says.
>"I don't know," Mugetsu says. "...do I need to go speak with more people?"
>"Don't worry, she not gonna hurt ya," Mokou says. "Be annoyed that you're bothering to interrupt her, maybe...."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Let's get to it, then."
>SDMwards.

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Ponder, what did the gap-creature-thing look like again?
> "Five bucks says that gap thing was Anti-Gengetsu. Anyone got a key the size and shape of a sword?"

[DracoOmega]

> Ponder, what did the gap-creature-thing look like again?
> "Five bucks says that gap thing was Anti-Gengetsu. Anyone got a key the size and shape of a sword?"

>It was a pure black silhouette-like shape in the form of a winged humanoid.
>"Well, you have some keys, and we know someone with a sword. How hard can that last bit be?"

>"Let's get to it, then."
>SDMwards.

>Ran nods. "Let's."
>You return to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Meiling notes Mugetsu with a shrug and an idle wave. Or at least what she can see of Mugetsu with her hiding behind you.
>"Hey, new person," she says as she opens the gate.
>"....hello," Mugetsu replies. Meiling raises an eyebrow, then shrugs again.
>You enter the mansion itself and head towards the library. At least Mugetsu doesn't seem as concerned about the fairies as she's seemed about nearly everything else, although she still glances somewhat warily at them.
>You reach the library. You think you could probably find Patchouli blindfolded by this point.
>"What is it now?" she breathes.

[Hello Purvis]

>"First, here is your phone book."
>Hand it over.
>"Marisa obtained it for us; we met her and Reimu outside. She wishes you the best."
>"That said, this is Mugetsu."
>Sidestep so that Mugetsu can be seen.
>"She is a use of dream magic, and the one who tried to put me to sleep in the grove last night."

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "And is nice, timid, but nice. She was trying to put me to sleep so she could speak with me and not feel threatened."
> "Mugetsu, this woman here is Patchouli. She's a bit quiet compared to some, but she is still nice."

[DracoOmega]

>"First, here is your phone book."
>Hand it over.
>"Marisa obtained it for us; we met her and Reimu outside. She wishes you the best."
>"That said, this is Mugetsu."
>Sidestep so that Mugetsu can be seen.
>"She is a use of dream magic, and the one who tried to put me to sleep in the grove last night."

>Patchouli looks up from her reading as you hand the phonebook towards her. She takes it with a raised eyebrow and flicks through it.
>Patchouli grumbles as you mention Marisa. "Oh, she does, does she? I wonder what poor sap she pilfered this from, then. Still," she says, paging slowly through the book, "it is an impressively long list of names. It must have taken a great deal of time and effort to compile them all."
>You introduce Mugetsu, and try to move aside so that Patchouli can see her. Mugetsu half-follows you, but seems to get the impression that she should at least make some effort to remain visible. Patchouli spares her a rather indifferent glance.
>Patchouli's expression becomes rather more focused when you mention Mugetsu's powers, and she examines her closely for a moment. Mugetsu shrinks back behind you a little under her stare
>"I thought you said that this youkai had wings," Patchouli says. "In fact, I remember that as the only distinctive element of your description."

> "And is nice, timid, but nice. She was trying to put me to sleep so she could speak with me and not feel threatened."
> "Mugetsu, this woman here is Patchouli. She's a bit quiet compared to some, but she is still nice."

>Patchouli frowns. "I believe her timidity is already clearly attested." She sighs. "I'm not going to hurt you," she says, sounding rather more exasperated than reassuring. "You can stop hiding behind her. I'm equally aware of your presence whether you're fully or partially visible. I can ill understand the line of reason whereby such a obstacle serves any greater purpose than to make you look foolish." Mugetsu gives her a rather uncertain frown.
>"And were that I could remain quiet more often since your arrival. These impositions are becoming routine rather than exceptional. Still," she says, putting her book aside. "I'm curious to know more about this. I don't believe I have ever encountered a youkai of her nature before."