We could wait for Maus before we officially take things to the next level, I guess. He has a knack for thinking of things no one else does.
Kilga, this statement makes me very happy. Thank you.
Also Nthing that Draco really, really needs to get it through his head that being confrontational is not always, and likely rarely, the best approach to these sort of situations.
As for Utsuho Quest: Even if I haven't read up all of it, actually asking about why else the goddesses did it and allowing, like, an extra day for Sanae to experience that jet piloting just once would have done a lot. And, y'know, allowing at least a skeptical understanding for why they did something so ridiculous. Removing the Sanae excuse would remove their only legitimate reason for their actions. Much like swaying Renko away from looting the house removed the only really illegitimate reason for hers. And then we fought
Koishi Alice instead of
Suwako and Kanako Renko.
Also, discussing previous games is valid for understanding the
parser's trends for the consequences of player behavior and storyline trends. You want meta? I'll give you meta, fucker.
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Fightest has a good idea in making use of child psychology for this - Tenshi is clearly lacking in empathy for what her actions do to others, which is a childish symptom - but it's important to remember that she's not actually a child. She isn't stupid about being misdirected, as this conversation is showing, and would probably find being treated as a kid... I don't know the best word for it (patronizing? Demeaning? Insulting?), but she wouldn't like it. So we need to be more subtle about it than blatantly pandering to her own beliefs. We also need an appropriate approach to explaining empathy and its importance, so that she understands why what she's done in the past was upsetting. I think what we lost somewhere in the pandering is giving her respect. She's not buying the innocent act, and maintaining it despite that insults her intelligence.
"Why" tends to be an exceptionally important question. So uh. Let's focus on it before assuming things?
I do want to follow along with Tenshi, if only to be available to backstab her as soon as she starts objectively being a jerk. Again, at least. But she won't buy being a conspirator, and we really shouldn't anyway. But she might buy reluctantly giving her the benefit of the doubt and asking about what she really wants, why, and what else might work to address that without putting her through the hassles of getting in trouble.
Tenshi has some semi-legitimate reasons for being allowed to take, or at least touch, the sword (if only family heritage), but context also makes the violence on her and our parts in (response to) the attempt understandable; it is possible to say that we wanted to talk with her, but given her history with the sword, we would have preferred to do so without her having it - and knowing her history, attacking to prevent that is understandable. While unlikely, there is a slim chance that Tenshi has a legitimate reason for wanting the sword (and it's likely that she believes she does). And if she does have a legitimate reason, then it is understandable for the caretakers to assume that she was going to do something untowards with it, and that Tenshi would prefer to prevent that issue before (or while) trying to take the sword. So I'm willing to call a no-fault on that encounter, barring more information. Now that we're on even ground, we do not have that preventive reason to attack her, which explains that part. But we WILL talk.
We want to know what Tenshi is planning to do, and why. It would also be important to try and understand that reason, figure out what she's thinking, and how to approach it to influence it properly. Framing it as wanting to understand what she wants to do, rather than what or why explicitly to persuade her otherwise, is also more likely to convince her that we aren't necessarily opposing her, while actually being somewhat believable. That's the best next step, I believe.
After that, a reasonable compromise might be to allow her to go out with the sword, but only on the condition that we follow along to chaperone and make sure that she doesn't misuse it like last time. If she is responsible with it, then we can put in a good word with the judges and see about whether they actually hate her - or if they can be swayed from it, as a better way to word it since she seems convinced that they do already. (And to be fair, it might be true for at least a few of them.) Unfortunately, it's unlikely that she'll buy that.
Fortunately, we have a whole litany of threats and difficulties to throw at her to make it clear that it may be a more reasonable compromise than trying to fight her way out.
- She has to get through Iku, first of all, and while she's strong enough to be a true challenge, it would be a pain in the ass for both of us and she might still lose anyway.
- In a loud voice, we could note that the shrine caretakers could go alert the rest of Heaven about what just happened, to get more support and cause her more trouble.
- Even if she does make it past Iku and out of Heaven (assuming that's a goal, which admittedly may not be the case), not many in Gensokyo are fond of her, or outright dislike her. And this time, we know who to talk to to get help in stopping any stupid schemes of hers, and what places/people she might go to to hide. And what sorts of stupid schemes to expect and predict from her.
Ultimately, we want to understand what she wants, see whether we can trust her, and find a good way to solve the problems she's having without causing more for others.
(Personally, I think just kicking Tenshi down to Gensokyo would solve plenty of problems; Tenshi herself would be happier there since she doesn't like Heaven, I'm not sure much of Heaven would miss her and her antics, her shenanigans do not necessarily have to be dangerous or particularly troublesome, especially without the sword, and Gensokyo has many more people willing, suited to, and used to dealing with antics like hers, making for better damage control. But there's probably some political, logistic, or practical reason she can't get booted, or she would have been a while ago. That, or I wouldn't be surprised if the Dragon specifically keeps her in Heaven to keep the place interesting. Like Yukari, the most understandable motive for any powerful immortal is entertainment...)
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That in mind, here's my suggestions:
Sigh.
"Perhaps I should be more direct."
"Eldest Daughter, I was trying to stop you from taking the Sword of Hisou because of your previous actions with it. I wished to talk with you without having to fear for a repeat of that. But that is no longer an option, so I have less reason to fight you now."
"... but as I said, I am willing to believe that you have a good reason for it. I will admit I am doubtful, again due to what happened last time, but... I would like to understand why you want the sword, or at least try to."
"You said you wanted to show the Celestials that they were... what was it, not as great as they think they are? (We are?) I know you've probably said it before, but please remind me, Tenshi. Why do you want to do this?"
And one thing to set up the future, if appropriate:
>Is there anything Tenshi owns that she finds precious or important?
>Why is Tenshi in Heaven, again?
EDIT: If anyone pulls out those threat suggestions before Tenshi is substantially aggressive I swear to god I will hit you
