(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest

[Oldmansour]

>Allow ourselves a small grin.
>"Well, alright, there's a bit of luck."

[DracoOmega]

>Allow ourselves a small grin.
>"Well, alright, there's a bit of luck."

>You grin. At least something was simple today.
>"What is?" Orange asks uncertainly, then follows the direction of your gaze over towards the alleyway. "Oh! Is that him over there?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Approach him, and hope he doesn't run off, pause if he draws back, dash after him if he bolts.
>In a soothing pet-calling voice: "C'mere, Sokrates. Let's get you home and into some real food, alright?"

[DracoOmega]

>Approach him, and hope he doesn't run off, pause if he draws back, dash after him if he bolts.
>In a soothing pet-calling voice: "C'mere, Sokrates. Let's get you home and into some real food, alright?"

>You walk towards Sokrates. He pauses as he sees you approach, but makes no attempt to withdraw.
>You speak reassuringly to him as you approach. Sokrates continues to regard you passively. He seems calm enough, though.
>"Aww, he's cute," Orange says.

[Oldmansour]

>Gesture back to Orange with our head.
>"Sokrates, this is Orange; defender of the peace, arrester of oni, and guardian of mice and cats both. And people, too, keeps your owner safe."

[DracoOmega]

>Gesture back to Orange with our head.
>"Sokrates, this is Orange; defender of the peace, arrester of oni, and guardian of mice and cats both. And people, too, keeps your owner safe."

>"Naz!" Orange says, a little bashfully. "Come on, now..." Sokrates seems unmoved by the accolades.

[Hello Purvis]

>Pick him up.

[Oldmansour]

>Laugh a little at our friends reaction.
>"Ah, come on, Orange. End of the day, we took down a pissed off Oni, saved a guy from considerable bodily harm, came away in fairly good shape to boot, and brought a cat home to his owner. I'd say that's worth a bit of praise, wouldn't you, Sokrates?"

[DracoOmega]

>Pick him up.

>You pick Sokrates up without any sign of protest from the cat. Orange leans in and gives him a little pet on the head; Sokrates purrs.

>Laugh a little at our friends reaction.
>"Ah, come on, Orange. End of the day, we took down a pissed off Oni, saved a guy from considerable bodily harm, came away in fairly good shape to boot, and brought a cat home to his owner. I'd say that's worth a bit of praise, wouldn't you, Sokrates?"

>You chuckle a little at Orange's consternation.
>"Well... I suppose," she says, looking a little unconvinced. "Actually, I meant to thank you for that. I know it's my job and all, but... well... I don't know that I could have done it without your help." She seems a touch dispirited.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Sure you could. You would've just gotten a worse beating."
>...Okay, despite ourselves, pet Sokrates just a bit.
>"You really are the calmest cat I've ever seen."

[Oldmansour]

"Ah, c'mon, no need for thanks. You'dve done the same for me, job or no. 'sides, now you know to go for the legs first next time, eh."

[DracoOmega]

>"Sure you could. You would've just gotten a worse beating."
>...Okay, despite ourselves, pet Sokrates just a bit.
>"You really are the calmest cat I've ever seen."

>Orange screws up her face a little. "That's, uh... I suppose that's, uh... thanks?"
>After a few moment's hesitation, you give Sokrates a somewhat reluctant pet yourself. He rubs his head back up against your hand as you do so, purring.
>"I was thinking the same thing," Orange says. "Doesn't seem spooked at all after being in the middle of a fist fight."

"Ah, c'mon, no need for thanks. You'dve done the same for me, job or no. 'sides, now you know to go for the legs first next time, eh."

>"Hey, I was trying..." she protests. "But yeah, of course I would. You know that."

[Hello Purvis]

>Resume the path toward Ellen's place.
>If Orange doesn't follow, say, "See you later!"
>if she does: "Speaking of cats...some faeries hired me on to find a few for them."
>speaking of cats, keep watch on the local strays for any that fit the criteria that the faeries gave.

[DracoOmega]

>Resume the path toward Ellen's place.
>If Orange doesn't follow, say, "See you later!"
>if she does: "Speaking of cats...some faeries hired me on to find a few for them."
>speaking of cats, keep watch on the local strays for any that fit the criteria that the faeries gave.

>Sokrates safely in hand once more, you resume heading back to Ellen's.
>Orange does indeed follow along, and you mention the fairies' request.
>Orange giggles. "You know, if you keep this up, you're going to convince me you really are a cat person, after all."
>You keep an eye out for any strays matching the criteria the fairies asked for. For the moment you don't actually see any cats at all, however.

[Hello Purvis]

>Keep looking while we walk, take note of any we see.
>"I'm thinking of it as a net positive. I get this one out of the streets and where he belongs, and get paid for it. Then I get two more off the streets and into the clutches of some faeries. And overall, the local mice have slightly less to worry about."

[DracoOmega]

>Keep looking while we walk, take note of any we see.
>"I'm thinking of it as a net positive. I get this one out of the streets and where he belongs, and get paid for it. Then I get two more off the streets and into the clutches of some faeries. And overall, the local mice have slightly less to worry about."

>You continue to keep an eye out for cats as you proceed.
>"Sure, sure," Orange says, smirking.
>A few streets south of the Iron Rooster, you see a black long-haired cat scamper past, following the side of the buildings. On further inspection however, you catch a flash of something bright below his neck; he's probably collared. Beyond that, you see no further sight of cats for a while.
>As you pass into an open commercial square, Orange pauses. "Anyway," she says, "I should probably grab something to eat before I'm supposed to go back on duty, or I'll spend the whole afternoon starving."

[Sect]

> "Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and take this cat back, then."
> Start heading off, then pause. "Oh, Orange, I got another job lined up, taking me back home. You want me to pass anything along while I'm there?"

[DracoOmega]

> "Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and take this cat back, then."
> Start heading off, then pause. "Oh, Orange, I got another job lined up, taking me back home. You want me to pass anything along while I'm there?"

>"Sure," Orange says, moving off. "I'll see you around!"
>The two of you part ways, but then you pause and call out to Orange, mentioning the job in Easthaven. "Really?" she says, stepping back towards you. "When are you leaving?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Not sure yet."

[DracoOmega]

>"Not sure yet."

>"Well, like, today? Or just sometime in the near future?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Depends on how things go; maybe today but more likely tomorrow at this rate."

[DracoOmega]

>"Depends on how things go; maybe today but more likely tomorrow at this rate."

>"Oh, ok. I wish I could go with you myself, but, you know, work and all..." She pauses. "If you're not going until tomorrow, I might drop a letter off for you to give to Ichirin. Otherwise, well... just let her let know that I'm doing fine, and that I still miss the place and wish I could tag along; you know how things are."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'll be sure to at least tell her that much."

[DracoOmega]

>"I'll be sure to at least tell her that much."

>Orange nods. "Well, if I don't see you before then, have a pleasant trip and all!"

[Sect]

> "All right. You know where to find me for that letter."
> Wave, and head off to the client's place.

[DracoOmega]

> "All right. You know where to find me for that letter."
> Wave, and head off to the client's place.

>Orange nods. "Yup. See you later, Naz!"
>You wave goodbye to Orange and continue onward, keeping an eye out for cats as you go. For the most part, there isn't really a great many of them to be seen around the streets in general, and most of the trip passes without spotting a single one. However, as reach the edge of the residential areas, you catch sight of a small tabby cat darting behind an isolated cluster of buildings. You think they're workshops of some sort.

[Hello Purvis]

>Take note of this one and it's general location. Continue onward to Ellenhearth.

[DracoOmega]

>Take note of this one and it's general location. Continue onward to Ellenhearth.

>You note the location then continue on your way, passing into the narrow lanes of houses, and the wider ones beyond. Soon enough you arrive at Ellen's door again. Sokrates seems to get a little more active as you draw near.

[Sect]

> Knock knock knockin' on Ellen's door~

[DracoOmega]

> Knock knock knockin' on Ellen's door~

>You knock on the door, and a few moments later Ellen opens it. Her reaction is immediate; you're not sure she so much as noticed you.
>"Sokrates!" she cries, her eyes aglow. "You're home!" Sokrates starts to roust himself in your arms.