Iku Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's nothing personal, I promise you. In fact, you seems like a honest and cheerful woman, and I do appreciate your interest. But where I come from... such activities are generally not considered proper to engage in, like this. Society in Bhava-Agra is different from Gensokyo in many ways."

>She frowns for a moment, then says, "But, when you think about it for a moment, don't you agree that's not a good way of looking at things at all?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I... admit I don't have a great deal of experience on the subject. But what issue do you have with that particular view?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I... admit I don't have a great deal of experience on the subject. But what issue do you have with that particular view?"

>"Don't you think it's completely wrong to deny love of any kind?" She asks. "Isn't that supposed to be the greatest thing? And wouldn't things be better if everyone were like that? I would have thought that someone like you would feel this way too!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Not being a celestial ourselves, have we lived in Bhava-Agra our whole life?
>This technically makes us unascended, correct? Is this mostly a technicality, though?
>Is romance rare among celestials largely because they tend to be subdued and dispassionate in most things in their lives?

[Hello Purvis]

>Not being a celestial ourselves, have we lived in Bhava-Agra our whole life?
>This technically makes us unascended, correct? Is this mostly a technicality, though?
>Is romance rare among celestials largely because they tend to be subdued and dispassionate in most things in their lives?

>You have.
>If anything, you're more like the Hinanai Clan, in that you were uplifted. But as far as you know, no one seems to think of you as anything else.
>Largely so, mostly don't feel the desire to express fondness in romantic terms. It's also difficult to approach such a thing without being drawn away from enlightenment. Close friendships are much more common and more in line with their way of thinking.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Love is certainly a great and important thing. And I think you're right that the world would be a better place if more people had an honest and abiding care for their fellows. But... such things as this are often not about love, as much as they're about desire, and desire itself is something one must strive to cast off to attain enlightenment."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Love is certainly a great and important thing. And I think you're right that the world would be a better place if more people had an honest and abiding care for their fellows. But... such things as this are often not about love, as much as they're about desire, and desire itself is something one must strive to cast off to attain enlightenment."

>"But that's okay, too," says Petite, frowning. "Isn't everything you talked about also a desire? Is it wrong to desire more love in the world?"

[DracoOmega]

>Is a desire not to desire also a desire?
>Does our head hurt?
>"In those very terms, I don't think I could disagree..."

[Hello Purvis]

>Is a desire not to desire also a desire?
>Does our head hurt?
>"In those very terms, I don't think I could disagree..."

>It is. But one embraces it for the sake of getting rid of it.  It could also be argued one does not desire not to desire, but rather in following that path because it is a need rather than a want.
>It could be worse, you think.
>"Exactly!" she says, "Now come on, it'll be great!"

>_

[WHMZakeri]

>Frown
>Burrow eyes
>Be possesed by the fury, as if another voice has taken charge of your mind

>"It is true that love is encouraged, and that love permeates the airs of Bhava-Agra, but what you are speaking of is nothing more than pure desire. A Desire that could not have been harbored for more than a few hours non-the-less."
>"I am sorry, but I must refuse."

[DracoOmega]

>Frown
>Burrow eyes
>Be possesed by the fury, as if another voice has taken charge of your mind

>"It is true that love is encouraged, and that love permeates the airs of Bhava-Agra, but what you are speaking of is nothing more than pure desire. A Desire that could not have been harbored for more than a few hours non-the-less."
>"I am sorry, but I must refuse."

>Tone down the fury a little bit. May as well not come off as hostile, at the least.

[Hello Purvis]

>Frown
>Burrow eyes
>Be possesed by the fury, as if another voice has taken charge of your mind

>"It is true that love is encouraged, and that love permeates the airs of Bhava-Agra, but what you are speaking of is nothing more than pure desire. A Desire that could not have been harbored for more than a few hours non-the-less."
>"I am sorry, but I must refuse."

>Tone down the fury a little bit. May as well not come off as hostile, at the least.

>She frowns deeply. "No it isn't! I mean...after we're done, wouldn't you like me more? I know I would in your place. It's how people are. It's not just desire..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Is curiosity about the unknown also considered an objectionable desire?
>"I... don't mean to hurt you. But deep and loving bonds are possible in the absence of such physical intimacy. Celestials very rarely engage in it, but still can have true and abiding closeness with each other. I don't mean it to be a rejection of you yourself."
>"I do wonder at your haste, though. I'm admittedly not too familiar with these sorts of relationships, but as best I understand it, even most people from the surface would find this... extremely sudden."

[Hello Purvis]

>Is curiosity about the unknown also considered an objectionable desire?
>"I... don't mean to hurt you. But deep and loving bonds are possible in the absence of such physical intimacy. Celestials very rarely engage in it, but still can have true and abiding closeness with each other. I don't mean it to be a rejection of you yourself."
>"I do wonder at your haste, though. I'm admittedly not too familiar with these sorts of relationships, but as best I understand it, even most people from the surface would find this... extremely sudden."

>Not really. But like all of them, there's a point of going too far.
>She frowns. "Don't you think that's kind of silly? Isn't that like raising a garden and just leaving the crop to rot?"
>She shakes her head. "I'm not hasty, other people are just too pent up or too busy being hateful or snide or detached or whatever. And it'd be better if they weren't, but they won't even let themselves have fun. Isn't it stupid that a bow is more common than a kiss?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I do think that more gentle openness and honesty between people would only be a good thing. In fact, the qualities of hate and pride and such you describe are among the things we strive most to do away with."
>"But... I can only imagine that most people would not interpret these advances in... quite that way."
>"If I may ask without sounding rude... why me?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I do think that more gentle openness and honesty between people would only be a good thing. In fact, the qualities of hate and pride and such you describe are among the things we strive most to do away with."
>"But... I can only imagine that most people would not interpret these advances in... quite that way."
>"If I may ask without sounding rude... why me?"

>"See, we're in agreement?" says Petite. "And maybe most people won't, but we have to start somewhere, don't we?"
>"Because I thought you'd understand," she says, "And I've never been with a Bhava-Agran before! I bet you've never been with a devil, either."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Have we been with anyone? Sure, it's not something that generally comes up where we live, but we're also been alive a long time.

[Hello Purvis]

>Have we been with anyone? Sure, it's not something that generally comes up where we live, but we're also been alive a long time.

>You have not. You've never especially felt the desire or been that close to someone.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>If her desire that this be a means towards fostering love and understanding for widely is genuine, would it still be considered unbecoming to consider accepting?

[Hello Purvis]

>If her desire that this be a means towards fostering love and understanding for widely is genuine, would it still be considered unbecoming to consider accepting?

>It's an extremely gray area, but you are moderately sure you're not. There's really just not that much of a connection between the two of you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Petite... while it's true that physical intimacy can foster love, and I admire you for caring about this, it... also tends to require there be a close connection between both people beforehand. Not just to feel comfortable and safe being that open with each other, but to drive the act itself. I've barely met you... and, having lived in Bhava-Agra my whole life, don't feel physical desire like you do. Even for the sake of noble intentions."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Petite... while it's true that physical intimacy can foster love, and I admire you for caring about this, it... also tends to require there be a close connection between both people beforehand. Not just to feel comfortable and safe being that open with each other, but to drive the act itself. I've barely met you... and, having lived in Bhava-Agra my whole life, don't feel physical desire like you do. Even for the sake of noble intentions."

>"Yeah, but..." she frowns, as hee headwngs droop. "...It doesn't have to be like that..." she finishes softly.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Take her other hand in ours and give her a caring expression.
>"I wish I knew what to say. I truly don't wish to hurt you. But I don't think I can give you what you ask of me."
>"For what it's worth, I think I'd still like to get to know you. If that means anything to you at this point."

[Hello Purvis]

>Take her other hand in ours and give her a caring expression.
>"I wish I knew what to say. I truly don't wish to hurt you. But I don't think I can give you what you ask of me."
>"For what it's worth, I think I'd still like to get to know you. If that means anything to you at this point."

>You take her by the hand, and give her your best caring expression. She, on the other hand, moves in for a kiss. And sighs when one doesn't come.
>"Maybe you should try?" she suggests, "If you don't think you can, that means you could surprise yourself...right?"
>"I guess," she says, disappointment still evident in her tone.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"You still feel that this is a rejection of you, don't you?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"You still feel that this is a rejection of you, don't you?"

>She grimaces a little, then nods, looking toward the floor.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I swear that it isn't. Honesty is a virtue we we hold in the highest regard, and I hope you can believe me. I think you are a sincere and earnest woman, and I have great respect for the attitudes you've put forth. I wouldn't still be having this conversation if I didn't care."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I swear that it isn't. Honesty is a virtue we we hold in the highest regard, and I hope you can believe me. I think you are a sincere and earnest woman, and I have great respect for the attitudes you've put forth. I wouldn't still be having this conversation if I didn't care."

>She nods, but doesn't seem to be especially comforted by this. "Let go back and see if Patchouli has found you thing, alright?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok. And I'm sorry for hurting you."
>Head back to the library

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ok. And I'm sorry for hurting you."
>Head back to the library

>She just gives a sort of wordless noise that signifies she heard you, and returns to the library behind you. Afterward, she vanishes back into the bookshelves.
>In the center of the library, you can see a lot of smoke.

>_