Iku Quest Edi'nayset: A Z-Machine Adventure.

[Kilgamayan]

I was actually going to recommend cutting it there - I think you had set yourself up a decent foundation off of which to work later, once Pocky and Brocky was in a much less stressful situation - but uh okay.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I think the direct approach is better than it usually gets credit for.

[Kilgamayan]

That has nothing to do with what I said. You can still be direct when she's not in the process of freaking out.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I suppose, but I don't think what I said would work all that well if the mood was calm.

[UncertainJakutten]

Um...I know I haven't been very invested in this, but that last post on page 6 makes me nervous. Just my two cents.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Don't you get it? It doesn't matter what I have to do! If we don't do something, you're going to die, and I don't want that! I don't want you to die! If there's anything I can do to help you, anything I can do to save you, I'll do it! Even if I had to give my own life, I would do it gladly if it would help you! Don't you get it? I don't care what I have to do! I'll do whatever the fuck it takes!"
>Try uncuccessfully to fight back tears.
>"So please, please, please let me help you!"

>You tear up and plead with her.
>'I know!" she says, "I know! Don't you get it? Maybe you don't care but I do! I don't want you to do that to yourself, even for me!"
>"Oh my, she does do more than whisper," says Yukari, still looking into the gap.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Well, it doesn't look like it screwed anything up.
 
>"But I do want to do it. I want to do it because it's for you. Because of how much I want to help you. Even as recently as yesterday I wouldn't have done something like that, but now..."
>Embrace Shuuei as best we can without exposing her.
>"You're going to die if we don't do something, and no amount of exposure could possibly hurt me as much as that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"But I do want to do it. I want to do it because it's for you. Because of how much I want to help you. Even as recently as yesterday I wouldn't have done something like that, but now..."
>Embrace Shuuei as best we can without exposing her.
>"You're going to die if we don't do something, and no amount of exposure could possibly hurt me as much as that."

>You try to embrace her, and don't really succeed. Really, it's a miracle you don't topple over or accidentally grope her.
>"I refuse," she says. "Even if you did, I wouldn't do it!"
>You can't help but notice Yukari smirking out of the corner of your eye.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Right, time to go for broke.

>"Please, Shuuei. If not for yourself, then do it for me."

Yeah, I know, but Shuuei's not her real name, so it should be okay to use, but it should still get the intended message across.

[Kilgamayan]

It's also a name she doesn't like very much. :V

I may seem overly critical about this, but this is basically par for the course when Draco and I are tagging in and out.

[UncertainJakutten]

That's really kinda selfish at this point and is going to push things in the wrong direction. Trying a "for me" thing basically destroys some level of trust. At least, I think it would in a somewhat realistic situation when dealing with someone who is incredibly paranoid.

Sorry if I sound critical but that's just my observation from things said elsewhere.

EDIT: Let me clarify. I mean that it will sound selfish of Iku at this point.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Not a problem, to both of you. I'd rather you point out any potential flaws you see.
 
And like I said, if this doesn't work, I don't know what else to say. And we already know she cares about us. I know it's a risk, but I did say it was time to go for broke.

>Say the previous line, but leave out 'Shuuei'.

[UncertainJakutten]

The thing about caring for us is that it's not a tool you can actually use. Well, not so blatantly. It's sorta like the person who has a long record of never lying. They're well known as a truth teller. So they can EASILY lie about a thing and be believed. But, once that lie is used? It can't be used again. They cashed all their cred in one move. That's rarely a good idea.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Please, Shuuei. If not for yourself, then do it for me."

Not a problem, to both of you. I'd rather you point out any potential flaws you see.
 >Say the previous line, but leave out 'Shuuei'.

>"I just...no!" says the poltergeist.
>"I wonder if you two are even arguing about the same thing anymore," says Yukari.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "Um...I'm sorry..."
> Hesitate a moment
> "Um...what were you saying no to? I just want to make sure we both understand each other, because I fear I may have miscommunicated."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Um...I'm sorry..."
> Hesitate a moment
> "Um...what were you saying no to? I just want to make sure we both understand each other, because I fear I may have miscommunicated."

>"Never apologize for passion, dear," says Yukari.
>"I'm not going to let you debase yourself for me," says the poltergeist, her voice softer now, but still firm.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Sigh.
>"All right. It's your choice just as much as it is mine. Just... if we can't figure this out any other way, then please, don't let yourself die when there's another option. Please. I care too much about you to see that happen."
>Stand up.
>Put our arms back through our sleaves.
>Wipe the tears from our eyes.
>"Right, then. What's your progress, Yukari?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Sigh.
>"All right. It's your choice just as much as it is mine. Just... if we can't figure this out any other way, then please, don't let yourself die when there's another option. Please. I care too much about you to see that happen."
>Stand up.
>Put our arms back through our sleaves.
>Wipe the tears from our eyes.
>"Right, then. What's your progress, Yukari?"

>You sigh and acknowledge it is her choice, then try to put yourself back into your clothes properly, dry your eyes, and ask Yukari of her progress.
>"Nearly finished," she says.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Wait for Yukari to be done.

Oh, and don't think this is a failure yet. I'm not going to push the Koishi idea more, but there's still some progress to get out of this.

[Hello Purvis]

>Wait for Yukari to be done.

>You wait patiently, while trying to subtly adjust your blouse so it fits like it should without making too much of a scene.
>"There we are," Yukari says. "That should keep it nice and impermeable. Do try not to end up there again, Messenger, you would likely need either The Dragon or I to pull you out of there, and I assure you I wouldn't be paying enough attention."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Warning taken."
>Nudge Shuuei one more time.
>"I do not have anything more to ask Yukari at this time. Do you?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Warning taken."
>Nudge Shuuei one more time.
>"I do not have anything more to ask Yukari at this time. Do you?"

>You give her another nudge. At least you can do this much without causing a scene.
>"Um...what do you think I should do?" asks the poltergeist. "
>Yukari gives you a questioning look, as she banishes the gap away.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Okay, I'm goint to bed. In the quite like event that the talk with Shuuei after leaving Yukari's happens before I can get on again, here's where I'm going with this:

Once we leave Yukari's, the plan is to bring up Shuuei's reaction to the entering-our-mind idea; specifically, the fact that she was unwilling to do that to us. Mention the fact that even when directly presented with the idea of dying if she refused, she still refused. Tell her that this means she cares about us. Also, try to get this in somewhere: "You should also think about what it means that I am willing to do such a thing. It means that I trust you completely, trust you enough to open everything I am to you. Words cannot describe how wonderful it is to have someone you trust that completely, and it is a feeling experienced by sadly few. Having someone I trust that deeply is a joy and an honor that I am truly blessed to receive." Feel free to tone it down if you think it's too corny or sappy or anything, though.

And with that, good night,and good lu-*shot*

[Shadoweh]

Strange coincidence seeing you here UK.
> Wonder if we are forgetting something after that argument.
> "..Ah! About those concealing items I asked about earlier." Glance down at our skirt. "I don't believe it would be proper to hold more conversations like this."

[Shadoweh]

I've been entertaining this idea since I mentioned a mask and cloak. How do you think Shuuei would feel about having an alternate identity? Isolationist poltergeist by day, incident solver by night! In all seriousness I think she would appreciate the concept of being able to interact with people without exposing herself.

Also I don't think we should bring up the mind exploring idea. I don't think she reacted badly because she cares about us. I think we just asked her to do something that goes against the core of her beliefs. Remember that she thinks anyone exposing themselves is debasing.

[Hello Purvis]

> Wonder if we are forgetting something after that argument.
> "..Ah! About those concealing items I asked about earlier." Glance down at our skirt. "I don't believe it would be proper to hold more conversations like this."

>There are all sorts of things you might have forgotten.
>"I placed them on the bed in the eastern room," says Yukari, gesturing toward the curtains. "I expected your friend would avail herself of them when she was ready."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Look back down, take on a soft tone.
> "Did you want to ask her about the other thing? The one that was the reason we initially decided to see someone about in the first place."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I've been entertaining this idea since I mentioned a mask and cloak. How do you think Shuuei would feel about having an alternate identity? Isolationist poltergeist by day, incident solver by night! In all seriousness I think she would appreciate the concept of being able to interact with people without exposing herself.

Also I don't think we should bring up the mind exploring idea. I don't think she reacted badly because she cares about us. I think we just asked her to do something that goes against the core of her beliefs. Remember that she thinks anyone exposing themselves is debasing.

I've had that thought myself. It's certainly a possibility.

As for the mind-exploring thing, well, she did specifically say that she didn't want to do that to us. Yes, the fact that such a thing goes against her core beliefs is almost certainly a factor, but I think caring about us is also a factor.

[Suwako Moriya]

If you decide to keep pursuing that later, do remember that she draws a pretty good parallel between us asking her to enter our mind and her asking us to kill her. I tend to forget this fact myself, but this isn't a simple case of shyness we're dealing with, it's a case of utter revulsion over a moral wrong, one that isn't really made okay just because the receiving party wants it to happen.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Noted.