(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 5)

[Oldmansour]

>When an oni wants you, that can be interesting. One way or the other...
>Do we know where to find her?
>"Folks in high places... That all she said, just 'interested in speaking to me'? No mention of what it was about?"

[DracoOmega]

>When an oni wants you, that can be interesting. One way or the other...
>Do we know where to find her?
>"Folks in high places... That all she said, just 'interested in speaking to me'? No mention of what it was about?"

>Some of those kinds of interesting are more pleasant than others...
>You don't know where she lives precisely, but you know where the Miner's Guild headquarters is located. If she isn't there, you imagine someone there would know where she could be found.
>"Correct," he says, taking another sip of tea. "Though I could speculate, if you wish."

[Oldmansour]

>"By all means."

[DracoOmega]

>"By all means."

>"Very well." He folds his hands together. "I understand you were involved in an altercation with an oni several days back, outside a restaurant south of the warehouse district. In fact, as I hear it, you may have played a significant role in preventing a man from being seriously injured by this oni. Miss Hoshiguma has made no secret of her opinion on such assaults: they are simply not tolerated, outside of specific circumstances. I believe she has likely taken a personal interest in your role in this incident."

[Oldmansour]

>Heh. Maybe she wants to give us a pat on the back.
>"Well, all right. I'll have to drop by her pad. After I get a bit more business done first, of course."
>"Don't suppose you'd heard anything more about that guy though, have you? Or if Yuugi's made the same offer to Orange, as well?"

[DracoOmega]

>Heh. Maybe she wants to give us a pat on the back.
>"Well, all right. I'll have to drop by her pad. After I get a bit more business done first, of course."
>"Don't suppose you'd heard anything more about that guy though, have you? Or if Yuugi's made the same offer to Orange, as well?"

>Wouldn't that be something?
>He nods. "Of course."
>"I've heard little more on the matter."

[Oldmansour]

>"Had to check."
>"Thanks again, boss."
>Assuming he doesn't present us with anything else, depart.
>We can just walk, right? No need to take the horse, unless there's a stable along the way.

[DracoOmega]

>"Had to check."
>"Thanks again, boss."
>Assuming he doesn't present us with anything else, depart.
>We can just walk, right? No need to take the horse, unless there's a stable along the way.

>He gives you a little smile. "May our mutual inquiries meet with success."
>Rinnosuke makes no attempt to halt your exit, and you make your way out of the guildhall.
>Marisa's home is certainly within walking distance, though it is also vaguely in the direction of a stable as well.

[Oldmansour]

>Can we leave the horse here until we're done with Marisa, or does the stable have an hours of operation that we know of?

[DracoOmega]

>Can we leave the horse here until we're done with Marisa, or does the stable have an hours of operation that we know of?

>You believe that at least one of them is open all night long.

[Oldmansour]

>To the Kirisame pad, then.
>Have we ever stayed there before? Or observed any of Mari's 'conquests' coming or going?

[DracoOmega]

>To the Kirisame pad, then.
>Have we ever stayed there before? Or observed any of Mari's 'conquests' coming or going?

>You set off towards Marisa's.
>You have not, and frankly you think it would be a little uncomfortable given how cluttered and up in heaps the place often is. Despite Marisa's reputation, you've never seen any 'conquests' at her place, though it wouldn't surprise you if she favored keeping such things to other people's dwellings.

>It is a moderately long walk to your destination, but it's a pleasant night and the gentle bustle of Braston in the evening is a comforting change from the stillness of Easthaven. Fairies frolic and dash across rooftops, while humans and youkai converse and barter and the smells of a dozen cooked meals drift towards your nose. You really are pretty hungry...
>Soon enough, you leave the markets behind and arrive at Marisa's door. There is a light on inside.

[Oldmansour]

>Assuming we can't hear the sounds of 'conquering', knock.
>Correction. If we CAN hear the sounds of 'conquering', kick the door down and join.

[DracoOmega]

>Assuming we can't hear the sounds of 'conquering', knock.

>The place seems quiet at the moment, so you knock on the door.
>"There's no one home!" comes the immediate reply. It's a little... higher pitched than Marisa's voice.

>Correction. If we CAN hear the sounds of 'conquering', kick the door down and join.

>So much for that. You could probably use a little fun in your current state of mind...

[Oldmansour]

>"Honey? That you?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Honey? That you?"

>"Yes! I mean no! I mean-" There is a pause. "No one's home!"

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle despite ourselves. Still a fairy.
>"Honey, it's me. Nazrin."

[DracoOmega]

>Chuckle despite ourselves. Still a fairy.
>"Honey, it's me. Nazrin."

>No mistaking her for anything else.
>"Oh!" There is a distinct note of excited recognition in her voice. "Hi! I'm on guard duty!"

[Oldmansour]

>"And you're doing a mighty fine job."
>Humoring her might be more productive.
>"I need to talk to Marisa, can I come in?"
>Can we tell if the door is even locked?

[DracoOmega]

>"And you're doing a mighty fine job."
>Humoring her might be more productive.
>"I need to talk to Marisa, can I come in?"
>Can we tell if the door is even locked?

>"Yay!" comes a familiar cheer, muffled a little by the interposing door.
>It might indeed.
>"Marisa's gone with- I mean, Marisa's-" She pauses a beat. "There's no one home! ...this is hard," you hear her mutter quietly.
>Not without trying the handle, at least.

[Oldmansour]

>Cute is cute, but time's an issue here.
>"Honey, please. This is important. Is Marisa here?"

[DracoOmega]

>Cute is cute, but time's an issue here.
>"Honey, please. This is important. Is Marisa here?"

>"Important?" Her voice sounds uncertain. "But Marisa said this was important..."

[Oldmansour]

>I'll bet she did.
>"Can you tell me what this is?"
>Are there any windows open?
>Do we recognize which room that light's coming from?

[DracoOmega]

>I'll bet she did.
>"Can you tell me what this is?"
>Are there any windows open?
>Do we recognize which room that light's coming from?

>Probably seemed a good way to convince her of something.
>"Guard duty!" she replies. "Sidekicks need to be able to, um..." She trails off; you can hear her sounding out words under her breath. "...pin down the fort, yeah that's it! Sidekicks need to be able to pin down the fort while the hero goes on important missions." Her words carry an air of confident authority... or at least as best she can manage to imitate such a thing.
>Not that you can see.
>It appears to be coming from the rooms at the front of the house.

[Oldmansour]

>"So Marisa's not here? I really need to talk to her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Besides, I'm a mouse, it's okay if I come in."

[DracoOmega]

>"So Marisa's not here? I really need to talk to her."

>"I didn't say she wasn't here!" Honey hastily asserts. "...did I?"

>"Besides, I'm a mouse, it's okay if I come in."

>"It... is? W- why is that?" she asks tentatively.

[Oldmansour]

Clever approach, Purvis. Carry on, you'll probably have more success with that approach than I would.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Mice always come and go. We even have our own special doors. But since I'm Marisa's friend, it's okay for me to use this one."

[DracoOmega]

>"Mice always come and go. We even have our own special doors. But since I'm Marisa's friend, it's okay for me to use this one."

>"Really?" Her tone is a mixture of awed curiosity and uncertainty. "But Marisa said not to let anyone in until she came back from- I mean, uh, nothing!" she adds sharply. "...oh dear."