Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Oldmansour on June 11, 2014, 08:38:44 PM
-
>You are Hatate Himekaidou, owner and editor of the Gensokyo newspaper Kakashi Spirit News.
>Your day began with the notation of the unexpected and extended absence of Aya Shameimaru from Youkai Mountain, and you took it upon yourself to locate your wayward friend/rival. To this end, you drafted Ranger captain Momiji Inubashiri to aid you. During the course of your investigation, you had a somewhat unpleasant encounter with a Dai-tengu newspaper supporter Tsubaki Ayatsuji, in which more than a few veiled threats were exchanged between you and she. You're quite certain she was up to something, she didn't break into Aya's house for no reason, but thus far have been unable to come up with any reason for her actions, beyond the knowledge that she and Aya are not on the best of terms with each other.
>During your travels off of the mountain, you were dragooned by Yukari Yakumo into investigating an odd defensive layering around Marisa Kirisame's home. Your investigation eventually took you to the Cobalt Keep, hope of several new arrivals to Gensokyo. Among the individuals you met down there was one Ranka Kitajima, a wind youkai who is quite possibly the most beautiful individual you have ever laid your eyes upon. Immediately you set about the task of trying to pitch her a little woo, only to find the youkai had more than one strong opinion about the tengu race. This led to a sometimes heated discussion between you and her about the philosophies and personality exhibited by your people. You found that she truly was trying to understand your point of view, as you tried to understand hers, but there was a fairly wide gulf between you and her. You had a sense that she really was trying her best to make you understand, but she simply wasn't explaining herself clearly enough. You hope to have another chance to see her again.
>These hopes have been put on the back burner for the moment, however. With the help of the steward of the Cobalt Keep, Celes d'Arquien, and the archmage Patchouli Knowledge, you, Momiji and Celes gained entry into Marisa's house and found the magical book she had stolen from the Cobalt Keep. The book, however, was either some kind of trap, or had a trap placed upon it, and in a wave of magical power, the three of you were swept away from your world. When you came to, you found yourself almost sixteen years in the future, and you're starting to believe that it's a different Gensokyo than yours as well. The Cobalt Keep, which in your time is home to a collection of hopeful, friendly people, is in this world a place of dread and horror that not even Reimu herself would not approach. You have met Alice Margatroid, who has a young daughter of about fourteen years and is a more social figure than in your time, owning a sewing circle which caters to many members. Including, most bizarrely, a Yamabushi tengu. Apparantly, in that missing sixteen year span, some kind of revolution occured that has made the tengu an open society, freely interacting with non-tengu. You suspect this would make Ranka very happy. And somewhere in this world, there is another Hatate Himekaidou, whom you would very much like to meet.
>Presently, you, Momiji and Celes are at the Hakurei shrine, speaking with Reimu, who in this time seems much more prosperous than in yours. Marisa is also here, and you have been gathering information on this timeline while you wait to speak with Marisa, who in all likelihood was caught up in the same magical trap that sent you here.
>"Why's that? Taking pictures usually doesn't hurt."
>"It does when you take pictures of something you shouldn't see." Reimu counters, sipping on her tea. "You try to look at that place from here, your camera might explode. Or worse."
-
>"Yeesh. I'm surprised you haven't leveled the place, then."
-
>"Yeesh. I'm surprised you haven't leveled the place, then."
>"I can't. No one can. But even if I could, I wouldn't."
-
>"...Okay. I have to know what's different now. I mean, I won't report or anything, but this is a far cry from the place I just visited like an hour ago."
>"Not that I'm going to go, of course, because it sounds like all kinds of suicide. But what happened there? Do you have any idea, Celes?"
-
You know ... we're sort of assuming the difference between our worlds started circa Night of Rage but it may be worth exploring the history to see if there are differences prior to that as well.
-
Oh I hadn't assumed anything with regards to that. Just that it's not really important if Perfect Cherry Blossom went down any differently at this point.
-
>"...Okay. I have to know what's different now. I mean, I won't report or anything, but this is a far cry from the place I just visited like an hour ago."
>"Not that I'm going to go, of course, because it sounds like all kinds of suicide. But what happened there? Do you have any idea, Celes?"
>The steward studies her teacup. "You're sure it's not the old owner of the place?" Momiji asks her.
>"Positive. If it was him, we would sense that evil even here." Celes falls silent a moment longer. "There are still objects of evil, and of power, within my Keep, but none that I can think would manifest like this. Any item I know of that could cause such an upwelling of evil and power would have also had a more aggressive bend. It would do more than simply drive people away. The only thing I can think of would be if some new force of evil came to inhabit the Keep during our absence, something unknown to me. Something that didn't wish to be known by anyone, which is why it would defend itself so fiercely, like you said happened to Marisa, Reimu-san. And it would have to be incredibly powerful, to either kill, corrupt or drive out the other residents. The Countess herself is as powerful as the Scarlet Devil, an elite vampire."
>"Assuming of course that this is our own timeline." Celes says thoughtfully.
-
>Nod.
>"Yeah. Seems that way. Well, if you don't know, then I guess there's not too much point worrying about it. Hopefully Marisa has that book."
-
>Nod.
>"Yeah. Seems that way. Well, if you don't know, then I guess there's not too much point worrying about it. Hopefully Marisa has that book."
>"If I may ask, Reimu." Celes says to the red-white. "In all the time that you've been aware of the Keep, nothing inside it has ever come out to attack anyone outside it, am I right?"
>Reimu shakes her head. "Only times I know when something came out of that place is when someone tried to get inside and got chased out, like that psycho Sakuya tries now and then."
>"So whatever is in there appears to be content to stay there, so long as it is undisturbed?"
>Reimu nods. "You got it. We leave it alone, it leaves everyone else alone. Anyway, what's so important about that book? You in a hurry to leave or something?"
-
>"We need it to get home. So even if we don't use it first thing, getting it is a big deal."
-
>Does Gensokyo have sci-fi or fantasy literature that we have read?
-
>Does Gensokyo have sci-fi or fantasy literature that we have read?
>Not really, not that you've read. Reading books has never been one of your preferred pastimes, unless it's relevant to an article you're working on.
>"We need it to get home. So even if we don't use it first thing, getting it is a big deal."
>"Suit yourself." Reimu replies casually.
>"Let me ask you something, Hatate." Celes says. "With your ability, could you record an image of the book where it is right now? It is possible Marisa might not have it anymore."
-
>Could we record a thing if we don't know where or when it is, and barely have any familiarity with it?
-
>Could we record a thing if we don't know where or when it is, and barely have any familiarity with it?
>You think you might be able to. Obviously, the more familiar you are with something, the easier it is to produce an image of that thing. In this case, however, you've had first hand experience with the object in question, and that image is still fresh in your mind. It shouldn't be too hard to thoughtography up a picture of it, no matter where it is. You're less sure, however, of how much information you can gain this way. It's just as possible that you could get an image of the book on some nondescript wood table as something more specific.
-
>"It's...kinda tricky. But maybe I can. I guess I was around it enough. Give me a minute."
>Concentrate and see if we can get a photo of where it is at this point in time.
-
>"It's...kinda tricky. But maybe I can. I guess I was around it enough. Give me a minute."
>Concentrate and see if we can get a photo of where it is at this point in time.
>Celes nods and you set to work.
>Recalling the book you saw in Marisa's house, you mentally 'trigger' your special power and impress your will into your camera. Looking down at the display in your finder, you see the red and brown tome displayed clearly. It is surrounded by darkness, almost as though it is suspended in a void. Or... is it a void? There are flecks in the darkness that are somehow.... darker than other spots. Black areas that seem almost to be holes in the picture. Black within black. And though you know it to be impossible, you are equally certain they are moving. Undulating, shaking, slithering through the void in which the book floats.
-
>Show the others.
>"It's in something...weird. Don't you think it looks like all that stuff is moving?"
-
>Show the others.
>"It's in something...weird. Don't you think it looks like all that stuff is moving?"
>"Isn't that kind of impossible?" Reimu asks nonchalantly as she takes a glance at the picture. And instantly snaps her head the other way, her arm snapping up to shield her eyes, which have grown wide with dread.
>"Good gods." Celes exclaims, looking at Reimu. "What could..." Trailing off, she takes a look at your photograph. "How bizarre. It seems to be suspended in some kind of void. And... I think you're right, Hatate. Is this some effect of your power?"
-
>"Nope. Here. let me see if I can get a wider shot."
>Delete that picture, and take another one, as though we were some distance back; enough that the book is only a small part of the center of the picture.
-
>"Nope. Here. let me see if I can get a wider shot."
>Delete that picture, and take another one, as though we were some distance back; enough that the book is only a small part of the center of the picture.
>After you delete the image, you note Reimu becomes almost automatically relaxed again, almost as though that moment of dread never hit her. Momiji, at the same time, gives her head a shake.
>Refocusing your mind's eye, you record another image. This one yields a different result. You succeed in your desire of taking the more distant image of the book in the void, but in doing so, you have placed 'yourself' outside a chamber of some sort. Black stone walls lead to a large doorway, armored dark wooden doors swung inward. A pair of large grey suits of armor, the type a human would wear, stand one either side of the doorway, one carrying a poleaxe, the other a giant sword.
-
>Let Celes see it.
>"I haven't been there too much, but...looks kind of like your place, doesn't it?"
-
>Let Celes see it.
>"I haven't been there too much, but...looks kind of like your place, doesn't it?"
>Celes examines the image for only one second before scowling. "That is- That is not possible."
-
>"Go on."
-
>"Go on."
>"That is the entrance to the throne room of the Keep." Celes says, then visibly swallows. "But, that's how it looked when he ruled the place."
>"I thought you said you were sure he wasn't here." says Momiji.
>"I was. I AM."
-
>"He didn't hibernate or anything like that, did he?"
-
>"He didn't hibernate or anything like that, did he?"
>"Not that I know of. I know that some vampires can and do, but not him. I can't explain how THAT version of the Keep could be in Gensokyo. WE owned the Keep by the time the Keep came to this place. Even if we'd been pulled inside the book, and this was some kind of false world, we'd be seeing OUR version of the Keep, not that one."
-
>"Then maybe those sin things messed it all up? Or someone cast something they shouldn't have."
-
>"Then maybe those sin things messed it all up? Or someone cast something they shouldn't have."
>"The Sins wouldn't have- Wait a minute." Celes breaks off, sinking back in her chair. "Greed got through Marisa's shield. Greed is here, too. If he found a compatable host, someone to form a symbiotic bond with.... He could have done that. I can't think why he would... But he could have."
-
>"Or maybe he just got too greedy and screwed something up?"
-
>"Or maybe he just got too greedy and screwed something up?"
>"Not on his own. The Sins on their own don't have that kind of power, not even Wrath."
-
>"I was thinking it would be more with one of the things he might've found. Since hoarding is kind of what he does and all."
-
>"I was thinking it would be more with one of the things he might've found. Since hoarding is kind of what he does and all."
>"True. And Gensokyo does have many treasures to find, no question of that. Though you might have more knowledge on what kind of object that might be than I."
-
>Ponder. Can we think of anything we've heard of that does that?
>If so, elaborate to the others.
>If not, say "I got nothing. Only a couple people I can think of that might."
-
>Ponder. Can we think of anything we've heard of that does that?
>If so, elaborate to the others.
>If not, say "I got nothing. Only a couple people I can think of that might."
>Nothing that could explain the current set of situations.
>"Nor I." Celes says. "And you, Mom- Momiji?"
>The white wolf tengu is still staring at the image of the book in the void, her eyes vacant and glazed over.
-
>Turn off the camera.
>"Hey!"
-
> Steadfast."Oh dear! Celes, I need a bit of focus and space and here comes the the help."
> Focus for a brief while on a corroborating wind for Tengu:quickly pull out your fan and throw several light gusts of wind into the visage of our white wolf friend.
> Fan and wait: carefully shake her shoulders and snap your fingers ,mantaining the wind fanless, whether she still display grogginess.
>Be prepared to ask for support from the Cobalt Steward and the Hakurei Miko.
The book,the book, mmh mmh :sword!:
-
>Do these things only if Momiji doesn't react, first.
-
>Turn off the camera.
>"Hey!"
>With the image gone, Momiji's eyelids shudder slightly, but that glazed look remains in her eyes. She sways slightly in her seat, but otherwise shows no sign of responce to your call.
> Steadfast."Oh dear! Celes, I need a bit of focus and space and here comes the the help."
> Focus for a brief while on a corroborating wind for Tengu:quickly pull out your fan and throw several light gusts of wind into the visage of our white wolf friend.
> Fan and wait: carefully shake her shoulders and snap your fingers ,mantaining the wind fanless, whether she still display grogginess.
>Be prepared to ask for support from the Cobalt Steward and the Hakurei Miko.
>You don't actually have a fan at the moment. Not every tengu carries one, after all. As a tengu, of course, you are still plenty capable of generating a gust of wind or three on your own.
>Which you do, sending a few bursts of air into the white wolf's face. After the second wave of wind, Momiji's eyes shut sharply and she gives her head a sharp shake, emitting a groan.
-
>"Hey, you all there, Momiji?"
-
>"Hey, you all there, Momiji?"
>"I... I think so."
>"What happened?" Celes asks with some concern.
>"I tried to get a closer look at... whatever was moving in that void." Momiji opens her eyes, which fortunately have returned to their normal appearance. She focuses her gaze on her open hand in front of her. "But the dark... it went on forever. I couldn't see the end of it, no matter how far I looked."
-
>"You kind of zoned out a bit, too. I changed the picture and then turned if off and I don't think you noticed."
-
>"You kind of zoned out a bit, too. I changed the picture and then turned if off and I don't think you noticed."
>"Yes I did." Momiji disagrees. "But the same thing probably happened with the first picture, too. I could almost see what was moving in the dark, but every time I tried to look closer, the shadows moved."
-
>"Either way, it's some heavy stuff and I'm kinda hoping there's another copy out there."
-
>"Either way, it's some heavy stuff and I'm kinda hoping there's another copy out there."
>"Why don't you ask Kosuza about it?" Reimu asks casually.
-
>"Might not be a bad idea."
>We do know that name, right? It's been awhile.
-
>"Might not be a bad idea."
>We do know that name, right? It's been awhile.
>"You mentioned her before Patchouli." Celes remarks.
>Reimu shrugs. "She's easier to see. Easier to get along with, too. Being married to Marisa's mellowed her a bit, but not that much."
>Alice mentioned her before. She is a librarian in the human village, and is apparantly acquainted with a number of Gensokyo's spellcasters.
-
>Married, huh. What a lousy wife, if what's going on the next room is what she implied...
>"Might be the next stop, then."
-
>Married, huh. What a lousy wife, if what's going on the next room is what she implied...
>"Might be the next stop, then."
>It appears that Momiji agrees with you, as she comes out and asks, "I'm sorry, Marisa married Patchouli?"
>"Yup."
>"But, you said that.... Well, she and-"
>"She married Flan, too." Reimu states matter of factly. At the blank stare she receives from the white wolf, Reimu looks around the table. "What, your crazy world doesn't go for that?"
-
>"Of course no-Well, not really, no. I guess there are some weird places outside where it happens?"
-
>"Of course no-Well, not really, no. I guess there are some weird places outside where it happens?"
>"How come?" the shrine maiden asks, taking another drink.
-
>"Because it's about pledging yourself to your eternal partner and stuff. And there's a whole bunch of legal aspects to it, too. Like inheritance and stuff. Well, for us, anyways."
-
>"Because it's about pledging yourself to your eternal partner and stuff. And there's a whole bunch of legal aspects to it, too. Like inheritance and stuff. Well, for us, anyways."
>"Indeed." Momiji says with a nod. "We tengu are devoted monogomists. It's been that way since the time of the oni."
>Reimu merely shrugs. "Hey, if that's what makes you happy. Me, I like this way. Makes everyone happy."
>"Talking 'bout my love life again?" the voice of Marisa Kirisame comes from down the hallway. The blonde witch is clad in a simple knee-length black and grey robe, plus her trademarked hat of course, currently keeping her frousy hair under wraps.
-
>"Well, not like you weren't making a show of it a minute ago. But we need to talk to you a little bit, and this book. Just give me a minute here."
>Delete the second keep picture, then get a picture of the book as we saw it in Marisa's house before things happened, a close up on it, and show it to her.
>"This look familiar to you?"
-
>"Well, not like you weren't making a show of it a minute ago. But we need to talk to you a little bit, and this book. Just give me a minute here."
>Delete the second keep picture, then get a picture of the book as we saw it in Marisa's house before things happened, a close up on it, and show it to her.
>"This look familiar to you?"
>"Oh, you want a show, huh?" Marisa replies with a sly grin. "Didn't know you ran that kinda paper, Hatate. Got any tea for me, Reimu?" she asks, coming up to the table.
>"Yeah, sure, hang on."
>"Thanks, doll." Marisa gives the shrine maiden a quick peck on the cheek before Reimu moves back to the kitchen, a gesture Reimu seems to take very little exception to.
>"Whacha got there?" the witch asks, looking at the image you produce on your phone. "A book, eh. Well, I've sure seen..." The blonde witch's eyes narrow, then. "But that one... I think so?"
-
>"Okay, go on. It's kind of important. Just trust us on this one."
-
>"Okay, go on. It's kind of important. Just trust us on this one."
>Marisa's face twists in concentration. "It... It LOOKS familiar. Like, something I saw in a, in a dream. I think."
-
>"Well, I guess dreams don't help us much. You think maybe it'd be worth asking Kosuzu about it?"
-
>"Well, I guess dreams don't help us much. You think maybe it'd be worth asking Kosuzu about it?"
>You are not sure Marisa heard your question. She seems very deep in thought. "Yeah, I've... dreamed about that book before. More than once." Marisa holds her hand up to her eyes for a moment, like one that is fighting a headache. "What's this about? You doing an expose on books or something for next weeks' paper?"
-
>"No. Um...I'm not actually from here. I mean Gensokyo as you know it. I'm from a different one, the three of us are."
-
>"No. Um...I'm not actually from here. I mean Gensokyo as you know it. I'm from a different one, the three of us are."
>Marisa takes a slow, steadying breath. "Cool."
-
>"Are you okay?"
-
>"Are you okay?"
>"Aces. It's just, something about that dream, just.... It's just one of those images that stays with ya, ze."
>"Would you mind telling us about it?" Celes asks politely.
>The black-white points casually in your direction. "Sure, if you wanna know, but I didn't think she was interested."
-
>"Actually, I kinda mentioned the other thing to see if it shook anything else loose. Let's hear it."
-
>"Actually, I kinda mentioned the other thing to see if it shook anything else loose. Let's hear it."
>"Shake loose...?" Marisa asks quietly, but carries on before giving you a chance to explain. "Ever now and again, I have this dream. I'm in my house, with Alice, and I'm showing her a bunch of stuff. Don't remember a lot of it, but there's this book. That book, the one you got a picture of." As she explains, Reimu reenters the room, carrying another tray, this one with a fresh mug of tea and a collection of rice crackers. "And then I get this- Ah, thanks, doll." Marisa says as she accepts her drink from Reimu. "Anyway, I get this really bad feelin in my gut, right? And Alice says something, can't remember what, and then things got a bit pear shaped when that book starts glowing."
>Marisa pauses in her story to take a long drink. "After that it gets a bit hazy." she says at last in a with little life. Reimu gently lays a hand on her shoulder, and Marisa grips the offered hand firmly.
-
>Not too surprising.
>"You more or less described what happened to us before we ended up here, with the glowing and all. Ever tell Alice about this?"
-
>Not too surprising.
>"You more or less described what happened to us before we ended up here, with the glowing and all. Ever tell Alice about this?"
>"'course I have, she's my wife." You absently wonder how many more times you're going to hear that phrase. But you don't have time to ponder it for too long before Reimu interrupts.
>The shrine maiden looks a fair bit less jovial than Marisa does now. "What're you implying?"
-
>"She has vague dream-like memories of this book, even though it's supposedly sealed away here. She's seen what it looks like when it does what it does when it brought us here. Marisa in our world had been missing for a month. I don't think I have to draw a map to make what I'm suspecting obvious."
>"So, have any other odd dreams or missing memories, Marisa? I might be barking up the wrong tree, but you can see why I'm doing it, right?"
-
>"She has vague dream-like memories of this book, even though it's supposedly sealed away here. She's seen what it looks like when it does what it does when it brought us here. Marisa in our world had been missing for a month. I don't think I have to draw a map to make what I'm suspecting obvious."
>"So, have any other odd dreams or missing memories, Marisa? I might be barking up the wrong tree, but you can see why I'm doing it, right?"
>Obvious though it may be, it doesn't make Reimu look any happier. Marisa, however, merely squeezes her hand again. "Does it matter, Reimu? Liluye and that crazy Sakuya said the same thing, that I was from some other world. I'm still here, aren't I?" The black-white gives Reimu one of her grins. "So what if Hatate sings the same tune. Doesn't mean I'm goin' anywhere, and it don't change who I am." Reimu seems to accept that, and she smiles quietly. Patting Marisa's shoulder once more, Reimu takes a seat next to the witch.
>"As for you, miss reporter-Oh, right." Marisa stops, chuckling quietly. "Since you're from some other Gensokyo, I don't know if that's your job back home. Anyway, if I had memories missing, would I know about 'em, seein as how they're missing and all?" she asks with another chuckle.
-
>"Yeah, I'm a reporter, and I guess you'd know if you tried to think back to a thing you really should remember and just couldn't find anything."
>Does Liluye ring any bells for us?
-
So, how would Marisa have had that dream? Maybe she's our world's Marisa, she came here and started believing it was her real world. Reimu suspects the truth, and is unwilling to let her go.
Alternatively, she IS this world's Marisa but the experience was so traumatic or memorable for our Marisa that the dream bled over into this world's Marisa.
There could be a number of other options as well; the easiest I can imagine would be that this Marisa is lying about that dream because she's a construct of the book that we are trapped in, along with everyone else here. Of course, that would be kind of tinfoil-hat paranoia in that it doesn't get us anywhere.
-
The question is, assuming this is our Marisa, where is their Marisa? The quick way to maybe get an answer would be to try and find our counterpart in this world. If there isn't one, and we're kind of expected to take on the role that's been laid out, then it suggests this place isn't real at all. (It's also be disappointing, because I totally want to beat up/make out with OtherHatate).
What I am noting is that pretty much everything is saying "Don't go to the goddamn Keep holy shit". Which, if this place isn't real, suggests that is precisely where we need to go.
-
If we're talking constructs and artifact the core of this book-world, hyphotesis taking flesh as I had Hatate mention but it could evolve above itself(?), is the Trap-Book in the Cobalt Keep; occasions for Hatate in sharpening out her intuition of Tengu reporter and bonds. This is a nice start. Yet the investigation, journey to the destination and the destination itself are certainly going to be laden with side-tracks and at least a red herring,not discounting them being relayed by anyone, so we better keep a good analytic watch to avoid the aforementioned while not withering aids.
And Let us not forget that time appears to play strange tricks in both Genso and alt Genso and our Aya is surely in this alt Genso too... Adventure-oh!
-
>"Yeah, I'm a reporter, and I guess you'd know if you tried to think back to a thing you really should remember and just couldn't find anything."
>Does Liluye ring any bells for us?
>Marisa grins a lopsided grin. "'zat count anniversaries? Because I have forgot a couple of those."
>It does not.
-
>Grin back.
>"Probably not. But if you have anything to add?"
-
>Grin back.
>"Probably not. But if you have anything to add?"
>Marisa shakes her head. "I don't think I'm missing anything important. Not that I've thought much about it."
>"And the fact that other people have mentioned this idea, that you're not of this world, that hasn't bothered you?" Momiji asks.
>The witch shrugs. "Not really. This is my home. I have everything I ever wanted." She smiles. "More besides, too."
-
>Definitely not suspicious, that.
>"Well, let me know if you do remember anything else. Maybe you're just connected in a different way and that's why we're here."
-
>Definitely not suspicious, that.
>"Well, let me know if you do remember anything else. Maybe you're just connected in a different way and that's why we're here."
>"What, to 'bring me home', or somethin'?"
-
>"Or you just had some contact with that book and we got drawn to that? Not like magic has to make sense."
-
>"Or you just had some contact with that book and we got drawn to that? Not like magic has to make sense."
>"That's the fun part, ze."
-
>Chuckle.
>Glance to the others. "Anything else you think we need to grill her about?"
-
>Chuckle.
>Glance to the others. "Anything else you think we need to grill her about?"
>"What, outta questions already?" Marisa drawls, leaning back in her seat.
-
>"Nothing to really grill you about. I mean, there's probably all kinds of sordid details, but not like I get to report those. I guess I should ask if you know me and Momiji's other selves much?"
-
>"Nothing to really grill you about. I mean, there's probably all kinds of sordid details, but not like I get to report those. I guess I should ask if you know me and Momiji's other selves much?"
>"Don't see much of Momiji, not since she came to power. Running half of Youkai Mountain keeps a tengu busy, don't ya know."
>"HALF?" Momiji blurts, her eyes bulging slightly.
>"Well, you and that council of birds, I mean." She pauses and glances at Reimu. "Should I be saying 'you' there, or would 'she' work better?"
>The shrine maiden replies, between bites of biscuit, "Either or."
>"Helpful, ain't ya." Marisa needles her friend before returning her attention to you. "You... Her, whatever. Hatate I see more of. You-she gets around more'n Aya does lately, especially since she-you started followin' Ran around on that project of hers."
>"Speaking other versions," Celes starts, tapping the rim of her teacup absently. "Is there another version of you in this world, Marisa?"
>"Nope. I'm one of a kind." Marisa then rolls her eyes back in thought. "Well, except for that Great Marisa Hunt a couple years back. You remember that, Reimu?"
>"Vividly." Reimu deadpans, drawing a laugh from the black-white.
>"And Alice Margatroid?" Celes continues.
>Once Marisa is done chuckling, she shakes her head again. "Just one of her too. And she's all mine."
>"Mostly all yours." Reimu absently remarks to no one in particular.
-
>No surprise there isn't more than one Marisa, otherwise it'd be obvious something was up...
>"I don't suppose you'd know what that project is?"
-
>No surprise there isn't more than one Marisa, otherwise it'd be obvious something was up...
>"I don't suppose you'd know what that project is?"
>"Oh yeah. We've helped, Reimu and me. But, if you ask me, if you're lookin' for details, you're better off getting em from the kitsune's tails." Marisa makes a face. "Oh, that didn't work at all."
>"Keep practicing." Reimu advises.
>"Metaphors aside, Ran or Aya's a better source for... information...." Marisa's sentance goes unfinished, the mage lowering her head slightly.
>"Is something wrong?" Celes asks.
>"I think..." Marisa closes her eyes and presses her fingers to her face. "Ran, Aya.... I think I saw them, too. In my dreams."
>"Alice might not like that." Reimu warns.
>If Marisa noticed her friends' comment, she shows no sign of it. "Yeah, I remember. It only happened once, for each. That dream, with that book. Once, it was Ran. And then a while later, it was Aya instead of Alice. Or... was it the other way around?" The witch gives her head a shake. "Not sure. Maybe it doesn't matter."
-
>"That's interesting, because they were up to something in our world, too, Ran and Aya. Hadn't figured out what, and was hoping maybe it'd be the same thing here."
-
>"That's interesting, because they were up to something in our world, too, Ran and Aya. Hadn't figured out what, and was hoping maybe it'd be the same thing here."
>"Well, if you don't know what they were doing over there, how'd you know if it was the same over here?" Marisa asks.
-
>"I wouldn't, but it'd give me some clues, sorta, when I get back home."
-
>"I wouldn't, but it'd give me some clues, sorta, when I get back home."
>"All right, then." Reimu answers. "In the simplest terms possible, they're fixing the Barrier to bring up to Genskoyo's current standards of life."
>"Ya mean 'we', Reimu." Marisa offers.
>"Okay, yeah, 'we', but Ran's doing all the leg work."
-
>"Bring up the standard of life? How?"
-
>"Bring up the standard of life? How?"
>"Up TO, I said." Reimu corrects you. "The Gensokyo you come from, it has its own Great Hakurei Barrier, right?"
-
>"Yeah?"
-
>"Yeah?"
>"And you know how it works?"
-
>"Sorta. It keeps us separate from the outside world, but some things can get through, like animals."
-
>"Sorta. It keeps us separate from the outside world, but some things can get through, like animals."
>"That's part of it. There's a lot more to it, though." Reimu sighs, resting her head in her hand. "Believe me, keeping track of it all is a pain."
>"I ain't about to claim I understand it all myself, but I can tell ya this." Marisa takes over. "When the barrier was built, Yukari and all those other wise-asses she had working with her built it as a way for youkai to survive, a place they could coexist with humans without running the risk of just fading away. But part of the barrier was conflict."
>Reimu nods. "The Barrier was build with the basic premise that humans and youkai would always conflict with each other. Humans fear and exterminate youkai, youkai despise and eat humans. We'd live in the same place, but never really coexist."
>Celes, finishing her tea, asks, "And, this has somehow changed?"
>"You got it, sister." Marisa says. "You got youkai going to school with humans, humans now live all over youkai mountain, the tengu have open borders, the oni even make human-strength booze now. There's really no seperation between human and youkai anymore."
>"Except for the most ignorant humans, and the most feral youkai, there's just no racial conflict anymore. And even those are rarer than ever."
>As Reimu takes a bite out of another rice biscuit, Marisa carries on, "If Gensokyo's a house, its one whose upper levels didn't mesh with the foundation. So Ran's decided to fix that."
-
>"Huh, I think I understand. But what's that supposed to do, as far as we're concerned?"
-
>"Huh, I think I understand. But what's that supposed to do, as far as we're concerned?"
>"Keep Gensokyo from collapsing in on itself." Reimu replies.
-
>"Okay, that's pretty important."
-
>"Okay, that's pretty important."
>"And why it'll take a while to set up. Now, don't get the wrong idea, the place isn't about to fall apart any day now, or anything. Ran's thinking long term here."
>"She's one smart cookie." Marisa adds with a nod. "In any world, I'd bet."
-
>"At least I can't disagree about our Ran."
-
>"At least I can't disagree about our Ran."
>"Is there more than one Ran here?" Momiji asks.
>"Actually, yes." Marisa answers. "But we just think of them as one Ran."
>"You do? Why?"
>"Because they're basically the same person. Act the same, wear the same clothes, do the same things. Heck, for all I know, Yukari made one and forgot to unmake her."
>"And this never struck you as odd?"
>"Never thought about it before. It was, there was one Ran, then there was two." Marisa tips her hat down as she lowers her head in thought. "I guess it IS kinda weird, now that you mention."
-
>"When did the other Ran show up? And do they get along?"
-
>"When did the other Ran show up? And do they get along?"
>"I... I don't remember." Marisa mutters.
>"A few years ago now." Reimu answers in her place. "And they get along now, at any rate. If they ever didn't, she never told me."
-
>"And none of you didn't think to ask why there's two of her now? Doesn't that sound like an incident?"
>"And has this happened to anyone else? There's not 37 Mystias running around, is there?"
-
>"And none of you didn't think to ask why there's two of her now? Doesn't that sound like an incident?"
>"And has this happened to anyone else? There's not 37 Mystias running around, is there?"
>"Naw, Ran's okay." Remi replies casually. "Two of her's meant less work for me." Marisa, however, seems faintly troubled.
>Reimu chuckles. "There's a thought. We'd be the most musical Gensokyo ever. But no, there's only one of her, one of me, Marisa, Kosuza, Yuugi.... It's just Ran, you and Momiji here."
>"Aya." Marisa mutters. "Aya. There used to be two Ayas for a while."
>"Used to?" Celes asks.
>"One of them disappeared a long time ago. I don't know where, or why."
-
>"What? Tell me everything you remember!"
-
>"What? Tell me everything you remember!"
>"It was.... I don't remember how long ago it was. It's funny, I remember now, I had one of those dreams, but Aya was in it. Then I saw another Aya a couple days later outside the Scarlet Devil Manor."
>"How do you know it wasn't the Aya of this world?" Celes asks.
>"She told me. That she'd already met the other Aya, I mean. Didn't talk long, she was busy."
>"Looking for another story, no doubt." Momiji remarks.
>Marisa shakes her head. "No. She had this funny look in her eye, like.... Like someone who'd got something they'd always wanted but didn't believe it yet. She said that she was 'enjoying the world. For the first time.' Said she was free. I didn't know what she meant, she never told me. Anyway, for a little while, there were two of them flying around, and then one day, one of 'em was just gone. I don't know where she went. I don't know if anyone knows, except maybe the Aya that's still here."
-
>"And you never asked the Aya still here about it?"
-
>"And you never asked the Aya still here about it?"
>"I.... just never thought about it."
-
>"So, how many times is it now that you've not thought about or outright forgot something really out of the normal? That we've found with just this conversation? And, do either of you know if this other Aya met with the other Ran?"
-
>"So, how many times is it now that you've not thought about or outright forgot something really out of the normal? That we've found with just this conversation? And, do either of you know if this other Aya met with the other Ran?"
>"Not sure." Reimu replies. "But, I'd guess so. One Aya's as curious as the other, after all."
-
>Nod.
>"So this is a thing that's happened several times now. I'm not sure if that's bad or encouraging... Either way, seems like the it was best of us to report an incident."
-
>Nod.
>"So this is a thing that's happened several times now. I'm not sure if that's bad or encouraging... Either way, seems like the it was best of us to report an incident."
>"If this is some kind of incident, it's one that takes its sweet time."
>"We were kinda due for one." Marisa says to her. "It's been about a year since Tenshi mixed it up with the kids."
>"Yeah, maybe."
-
>Look to Momiji and Celes.
>"So, what do you two think? Seems like finding Aya or Ran is our best bet. But, I kinda think we should also find ourselves and, well, let them know we're kinda stepping on their turf."
-
>Look to Momiji and Celes.
>"So, what do you two think? Seems like finding Aya or Ran is our best bet. But, I kinda think we should also find ourselves and, well, let them know we're kinda stepping on their turf."
>"Whether this is our world or not, I'd like to visit the tengu." Momiji answers. "Something dramatic happened to them here, something which I've always thought was impossible. I want to know how."
>"I agree with you, Hatate." Celes says once the tengu is done. "About finding Ran and Aya. However, there is one more thing I would like to ask our hosts first, before we leave."
-
>"Sure thing, Celes."
-
>"Sure thing, Celes."
>The steward nods and turns back to Reimu and Marisa. "I'd like to ask you about two people you've mentioned previously. When we came in, Reimu, you mentioned a 'psycho Sakuya', I believe were your precise words, and a barber in the human village."
>"What about them?" the shrine maiden asks.
>"Well for starters, we passed Sakuya on the way in, and she didn't seem particularly psychotic."
>"That's the real Sakuya. She's got some lunatic twin running around." Reimu makes a sour face. "I don't know where she came from or why she's here, but that one's more trouble than Seija, Nue and Tenshi put together. You don't want anything to do with her, believe me." The red-white sweeps her finger between you and your group. "Do yourselves a big favor and keep your distance from that one."
-
>"So there is another twin after all. Okay, and what makes this one such a psycho?"
-
>"So there is another twin after all. Okay, and what makes this one such a psycho?"
>"First off, I don't think she's like the rest of you lot. She looks different from the real Sakuya for one, and she's got different powers. As for how psycho?" Reimu snorts out a humorless laugh. "She's the only person in Gensokyo who's been the Cobalt Keep more than once. That psycho enough?"
>"Really." says Celes. "Would you happen to know-"
>"If you're gonna ask where to find her, don't bother." Reimu interrupts. "I don't know, and if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
>"She's kind of a pariah." Marisa adds. "People here think the Keep's 'tainted' her, somehow. Like she carries some of that evil with her."
>"And spreads it all around Gensokyo." Reimu adds fiercely. "If I ever find her, I think I'll send her to the back side of the moon."
-
>"So what's she done that's so bad? Does she go around knifing people? And how are her powers different?"
-
>"So what's she done that's so bad? Does she go around knifing people? And how are her powers different?"
>"She's dangerous." Reimu insists. "She doesn't belong here."
>Marisa gives her friend a curious look, then says to you, "She doesn't seem to have the same skill with time powers that the real Sakuya does. Or the same kind of power wth knives. And she carries more equipment than the real Sakuya. She calls herself a vampire hunter, too, and our Sakuya doesn't."
-
>"I see..."
>Have we heard anything about that regarding the likes of Sakuya before?
-
>"I see..."
>Have we heard anything about that regarding the likes of Sakuya before?
>The vampire hunter part? No.
>"Well, we will consider ourselves warned." Celes says. "And the other person I mentioned..."
>"Ah, yeah. Liluye." Marisa answers with a nod. "That's the barber. She's a weird one. Knows her way around scissors and shampoos, but she talks really funny. Kinda like she never really got the hang of Japanese. Calls herself an 'Apache', whatever that is."
>"Every now and then she'll say something about other worlds, walking shadows...." Reimu says between bites. "She's harmless, though, never causes any trouble. She just talks strange."
>Celes, still looking at Mariasa, asks, "And she claimed that you were not of this world?"
>Marisa nods. "Pretty sure, anyway. She don't always make the most sense, ze."
-
>"Is she a youkai?"
-
>"Is she a youkai?"
>Marisa nods. "Not sure what kind, though."
>"Most likely a human-turned youkai." Celes suggests.
>"How would you know?"
>"I am familiar with the Apache people." the steward replies, her tone very much like that of a formal educators. "They are a tribe of humans native to the North American continent. A warrior people, by necessity and temperment."
-
>"So, you can tell how crazy she is?"
-
>"So, you can tell how crazy she is?"
>Celes chuckles quietly. "Not from here, no. But her background could account for her odd way of speech. The Apache, like many native American peoples, have a profound spiritual side. Some of them live side by side with their sacred spirits. It is possible that her becoming a youkai affected her in ways different from someone raised in the Orient." To Reimu, she asks, "How long has Lilyue... Liluye, been here?"
>Reimu grins. "Tough name, yeah. But she's been here for ages. Decades, at least."
-
>"Yeah, we definitely don't have anyone like that. Unless there's she's been hiding with you guys, Celes."
-
>"Yeah, we definitely don't have anyone like that. Unless there's she's been hiding with you guys, Celes."
>"No, I'm afraid that's one demographic not represented by my home." the steward replies with an amused look.
-
>"Well, we'll have to add her to the list of people to see."
>Glance to the others to see if they're ready to go.
-
>"Well, we'll have to add her to the list of people to see."
>Glance to the others to see if they're ready to go.
>"You might need to make an appointment." Reimu advises you.
>Both of your companions give you a nod.
-
>"I think we've gotten more than enough things to look into now, thank you both. We'll try to send word if we find anything exciting."
>Make proper goodbyes and make our way out.
>"So, Youkai Mountain?"
-
>"I think we've gotten more than enough things to look into now, thank you both. We'll try to send word if we find anything exciting."
>Make proper goodbyes and make our way out.
>"So, Youkai Mountain?"
>"Knock yourselves out." Reimu replies. "I'm sure we'll read all about it the papers."
>"Take your time, while you're here." Marisa advises with a smile. "Maybe this world ain't your world, but it's a good one."
>"It does seem to be." Momiji says with a nod as she stands along with you. Celes stands as well, quiet, her expression slightly pensive.
>Deferring the offer of alcohol from Suika and Komachi outside once again, you and your companions take to the sky, putting a bit of distance between yourselves and the shrine before checking with the other ladies.
>Momiji nods. "Maybe we'll find Aya there, as well as learning about their society."
>The Keep's steward, however, sounds a bit less enthusiastic as she says, "I am not sure it matters."
-
>"It matters to us. And I really want to meet myself, don't you, Momiji?"
>Proceed toward the mountain.
>"Or, are you saying it doesn't matter because you don't think it's real?"
-
>"It matters to us. And I really want to meet myself, don't you, Momiji?"
>Proceed toward the mountain.
>"Or, are you saying it doesn't matter because you don't think it's real?"
>The white wolf grins a little. "I'd be lying if I said I was curious."
>Celes nods in answer to your question as you set course towards the mountain. "No, this is real, make no mistake about that. But from what I saw back there, in talking to Marisa, I'm almost certain now that we were, in fact, pulled inside that book."
-
>"Go on. And, wouldn't that mean it's still fake?"
-
>"Go on. And, wouldn't that mean it's still fake?"
>"Think of it more as a pocket universe. The Countess coined the term 'reality marble' for them, but I've always found that description a bit too poetic for these things."
-
>"Okay, I suppose it's a pocket because it's small. So, how small is it if they need to fix up the barrier? And, why would it be there at all?"
-
>"Okay, I suppose it's a pocket because it's small. So, how small is it if they need to fix up the barrier? And, why would it be there at all?"
>"I believe this trap was designed to tailor itself to either the experiences or the desires of the one who first spring it."
>"Marisa and Alice." Momiji says.
>"Precisely. That is what it took the form of Gensokyo, complete with Hakurei Barrier. It's a part of the real Gensokyo, therefore it is here. As for why Ran, at least one Ran, decided to try and change it, that I don't know."
-
>"So Aya stumbled in, too. And also Sakuya?"
-
>"So Aya stumbled in, too. And also Sakuya?"
>"I don't think so. At least, not the Sakuya from our timeline."
-
>"But the book is in our timeline, so it'd have to be our Sakuya, right?"
-
>"But the book is in our timeline, so it'd have to be our Sakuya, right?"
>"Not necessarily. You see, there are at present- or at least there were- two different Sakuya Izayoi's in our timeline."
>"How is that possible?" Momiji blurts.
>"It's a rather complicated issue." Celes admits.
-
>"Well, it couldn't be Sakuya in our past, because then she'd be gone and we wouldn't have a Sakuya, so... are you saying maybe there's two books or something?"
-
>"Well, it couldn't be Sakuya in our past, because then she'd be gone and we wouldn't have a Sakuya, so... are you saying maybe there's two books or something?"
>"Let me explain." Celes starts. "It may take a little time. You see, prior to the events of the Night of Rage, Sakuya- the one from our timeline, was running an errand for her mistress, when she became possessed by the Sin Spirit of Pride. Their merger, however, became complicated by the personalities of the two parties involved. Influenced by Pride's presence, Sakuya refused to release her hold on him."
>"Hold on, I thought you said Pride possessed her." Momiji interrupts.
>"He did. But Sakuya remained the dominant will. I've never known it to happen before, but somehow she imprisoned him within her. And we could not seperate them, not without causing serious, even irreparable damage to both of them. On the Night of Rage, however, Remilia Scarlet paid us a visit, and she found a way to pull them apart. With some help from Meiling Hong and the Spirit of Lust, Remilia was able to separate Sakuya from Pride without harming either of them."
>"At least, that's what we thought at the time." Celes says with a slight sigh. "Unbeknownst to any of us, using her powers over fate that way had unforeseen consequences. Now, this is the part that's the hardest to explain. Somehow, Sakuya was almost overtaken by alternate versions of herself. Sakuyas that never happened." The Keep steward pauses, clearly expecting to have to clarify that.
-
>"Weird. But okay. So this other Sakuya is pretty much what happened when she took over Pride? I guess that makes some kind of sense. And I guess it means we don't have to worry about bringing her back."
-
>"Weird. But okay. So this other Sakuya is pretty much what happened when she took over Pride? I guess that makes some kind of sense. And I guess it means we don't have to worry about bringing her back."
>Celes shakes her head slightly. "Not quite. But a clever guess on your part, if I may say. There were two possibilities that could have overtaken our Sakuya. Remilia was able to stop one, but the other, a vampire hunter, emerged into our world, seperate from our Sakuya."
>"You mean, in another timeline, Sakuya was a vampire hunter, and that version of Sakuya came into our world because of everything that happened to our Sakuya?" Momiji tries to sum up the odd event.
>"In short, yes. Though to be precise, we don't know for sure if the hunter really IS that Sakuya from that timeline, or just some kind of copy. Even Yukari didn't know."
>"How do you know that?"
>"Remilia told us about the events of that night when next we spoke." The steward smirks slightly. "Remilia seemed rather pleased at the thought of solving a problem before Yukari did."
-
>"So why is another timeline even invovled? And why is she here?"
-
>"So why is another timeline even invovled? And why is she here?"
>"It was a side of effect of Remilia using her fate manipulating power to pull apart Sakuya and Pride. That at least is as close as I understand it. Her power is outside of my understanding. As for why the hunter is here inside the book, that I have no idea. She left the Scarlet Devil Manor not long after she emerged into our world. As I understand, she and our Sakuya didn't get along well. Remilia promised to find a way to send her back to her own timeline, but the hunter apparently decided to try and find her own way."
>"You keep calling her 'hunter." Momiji points out.
>With a nod, Celes explains, "I was told that she does not identify herself as Sakuya Izayoi. In fact, she doesn't appear to have a name, at least not one she calls her own."
-
>"Sounds like a weirdo we ought to keep away from, then."
-
>"Sounds like a weirdo we ought to keep away from, then."
>"Was she especially psychotic in our world?" Momiji asks.
>"Not that I know of. It is possible that the power of this place may have adversely affected her mind, but why it affected her differently than it seems to have affected Marisa and Alice, I can't say."
>"Speaking of affecting people," the white wolf asks, glancing between you and Celes. "Marisa didn't seem to realize where she was, even after Hatate all but spelled it out for her."
>"I suspect the process is gradual. The power in this world may make its victims forget their old world, imprison the mind as much as the body, and eventually the soul. You heard what Marisa said, that she was happier than she'd ever been here. I suspect Alice, Ran and Aya will say much the same thing. Convincing any of them of the reality of their situation could prove to be very difficult."
-
>"Well, it seems like Aya convinced herself, by the sound of it. Ran, well...if they're at odds at all still, I suspect one or the other will be interested to hear what we say. Unless they were completely able to put it behind them. Marisa...I bet if we could get her away from all her girlfriends for a minute, we could convince her. But it'll help to have more proof first."
-
>"Well, it seems like Aya convinced herself, by the sound of it. Ran, well...if they're at odds at all still, I suspect one or the other will be interested to hear what we say. Unless they were completely able to put it behind them. Marisa...I bet if we could get her away from all her girlfriends for a minute, we could convince her. But it'll help to have more proof first."
>"What sort of proof did you have in mind?" Momiji asks you.
-
>"I'll know it when I see it. I hope. But, well, if we could prove she's got memory holes, that'd be a start. And maybe Alice, too? Maybe we can talk to her after this if nothing better comes up?"
-
>"I'll know it when I see it. I hope. But, well, if we could prove she's got memory holes, that'd be a start. And maybe Alice, too? Maybe we can talk to her after this if nothing better comes up?"
>"I would suggest you take care when and if you do." Celes advises you. "If the book has a firm grip on their minds, trying to shake it loose could provoke them, even to violence."
>"Marisa didn't seem to react that way." Momiji points.
>"That's true, but none of us actively tried to take her out of the scenario. Hatate all but spelled it out for her, but that's not the same thing as directly confronting her."
>Momiji nods. "Okay, so, what about the other residents of this world?"
>"Based on what we've seen so far, I don't think they pose any immediate threat to us. But they will more than likely try to convince us to stay here. That will be the real threat." The stewards says with some emphasis. "We have no way of knowing how long it will take before the power of the book starts to affect us. Guard your thoughts well. You can't let yourselves be tempted by anything you see in this world."
-
>"Wonder what happens if we tried to take one of them with us?"
-
>"Wonder what happens if we tried to take one of them with us?"
>"I don't think that's possible. The worlds and peoples created by these kind of traps are sustained by the power of the object itself. We've never known any such being to be able to exist in our world."
>"You've tried before? How?" Momiji asks her.
>"This kind of trap is all too familiar to me, Momiji." Celes replies darkly. "That is why I have little hope of us finding our own way out."
-
>"Well, Aya managed to do...something. So if she can, I bet we can do the same, only faster."
-
>"Well, Aya managed to do...something. So if she can, I bet we can do the same, only faster."
>"An Aya left Gensokyo." Celes retorts. "As I recall, you said that she hadn't been seen in our world since her visit to the Keep." The steward shakes her head. "No one escapes on his his soul prisons. Not on their own."
>Momiji almost glares at the human. "Tail fluff. Don't give up before you try."
>"I said, on their own." Celes answers, meeting Momiji's eyes. "We are fortunate. In addition to the remaining members of the Keep, several powerful individuals of Gensokyo know about these traps, including Patchouli. She was there, she would know what it was that happened to us. If we are very fortunate, she will have taken the book either back to the Keep, or the Scarlet Devil Manor, and is now working on a way to free us. In which case, it falls to us to resist the influence of this book's power until we can be freed."
-
>"Sounds like you've already given up. Besides, there's not a trap in the world that can hold a tengu. Even the trap's admitted that much."
-
>"Sounds like you've already given up. Besides, there's not a trap in the world that can hold a tengu. Even the trap's admitted that much."
>"I do not take your meaning." Celes answers, slightly confused.
-
>"Some Aya escaped, we can do it too. It's just figuring out how."
-
>"Some Aya escaped, we can do it too. It's just figuring out how."
>"She may have left this Gensokyo, but she didn't escape the book."
-
>"I dunno. There's got to be a limit on how many of those pocket places it could made. I mean, it's not got unlimited power, right?"
-
>"I dunno. There's got to be a limit on how many of those pocket places it could made. I mean, it's not got unlimited power, right?"
>"No, that's true." Celes says with a nod. "It can only do so much, especailly with him gone. But the Aya of this world couldn't have left the book, and our Aya is still in here somewhere."
>"Could the other Aya have just vanished?" Momiji asks.
>Celes ponders that one for a moment. "Possibly. It's possible that the false Aya and our Aya combined existences. Or that the book no longed needed the Aya it produced."
>"I'm not sure what you mean."
>"This Gensokyo was created when Marisa and Alice were pulled inside. As a result, there would have been an Aya generated as well. When the real Aya was pulled inside, the book might not have needed that other Aya."
-
>"Except, there's been other copies? Like Ran, and that can't be easy to make two of. "
-
>"Except, there's been other copies? Like Ran, and that can't be easy to make two of. "
>"I would agree. Each of the five beings we know are in here, other than ourselves, are hardly lacking in power, but Ran is in a class above them."
>"Five?" Momiji asks.
>"Don't forget, Greed is in here as well. But we can deal with him later. To return to your point, Hatate, I can't be sure why there are still two Rans and only one Aya here. Not yet, anyway. Perhaps the processes at work in this book are different for Ran, since she is a shikigami, or due to her extreme power. Possibly both."
-
>"I wonder where he's hiding? Either way...I think we can all agree this is probably more complicated than just the book doing anything and everything."
>"Actually, thinking on it, what's it like when Greed possesses someone? Because there's a good chance it's happened, now that I think about it. And how do you fix it?"
-
>"I wonder where he's hiding? Either way...I think we can all agree this is probably more complicated than just the book doing anything and everything."
>"He gravitates towards those of wealth and means. Knowing what he is sure to know of our Gensokyo, he will be either within, or near, the Scarlet Devil Manor, of that I have little doubt." Celes says confidently.
>"As opposed to, say, a wealthy tengu, or human?" Momiji counters.
>"I may not know him as well as Tsumiko, but I know Greed, at least enough of his tastes and behavior. Trust me, Momiji, he will want what Remilia Scarlet has. He'd possess her if he could, but vampires are immune to that aspect of the Sins' power."
>"Actually, thinking on it, what's it like when Greed possesses someone? Because there's a good chance it's happened, now that I think about it. And how do you fix it?"
>"Are you speaking about a voluntary possession, or an involuntary one? And what makes you so sure, Hatate?"
-
>"Because otherwise you'd probably have noticed something already, and it's a better way to hide. People are going to be a lot less suspicious if somoene they know acts a little weird than a complete stranger acting weird. And let's say both kinds?"
-
>"Because otherwise you'd probably have noticed something already, and it's a better way to hide. People are going to be a lot less suspicious if somoene they know acts a little weird than a complete stranger acting weird. And let's say both kinds?"
>The steward of the Keep still seems rather confused. "Well, I can certainly explain what's involved in a Sin possession, but, perhaps you could explain what you mean, precisely?"
-
>"Okay, let's say Rinnosuke got possessed. What's going to be weirder and get more attention, Rinnosuke being greedy or some stranger being greedy? People will give the Rinnosuke a pass because they kinda know him, he just's changed. A stranger doing the same thing is way more suspicious, because you don't know 'em. So you're naturally going to be a lot more curious, and a lot less willing to let things go by because you don't know them. Also, you're a lot more likely to buy the excuses a person you know would give you. If I were Greed, I'd possess someone as soon as I could just to be able to push blame onto someone else, and to get away with things for longer."
-
>"Okay, let's say Rinnosuke got possessed. What's going to be weirder and get more attention, Rinnosuke being greedy or some stranger being greedy? People will give the Rinnosuke a pass because they kinda know him, he just's changed. A stranger doing the same thing is way more suspicious, because you don't know 'em. So you're naturally going to be a lot more curious, and a lot less willing to let things go by because you don't know them. Also, you're a lot more likely to buy the excuses a person you know would give you. If I were Greed, I'd possess someone as soon as I could just to be able to push blame onto someone else, and to get away with things for longer."
>Celes nods. "There is some logic to what you say. And in addition, Greed will likely have learned about the other five Sins' defeat and return to the Keep, so he may very well have been seeking somewhere, or rather someone, to hide in. Even if the book has affected him as it seems to have done to Marisa, he will still act like Greed, and he will at least suspect that Tsumiko will be trying to find him. But he couldn't possess just anyone." The steward explains. "The Sins can only possess someone that has aspects of themselves similar to the Sins' nature. For example, Envy could not possess anyone who does not harbor deep, powerful jealousy towards someone else. Likewise, Greed would need to possess someone who had great desire for things, be it wealth, objects of great value, a harem of lovers, something for which they have a need, a passion, to possess. In nearly every instance, the Sin becomes the dominant personality. In some ways, this is not unlike possession by a ghost, or some other malevolant spirit or specter. They almost always act on the factor that brought them to their host, but they remain in charge of the body."
>"Does the host mind remain conscious?" Momiji asks.
>"Sometimes. It depends on the Sin, and the being they are possessing."
>"When a Sin holds possession of a living being, they can wield all the powers the Sin possesses, and usually all of the powers and abilities of the host." Celes continues. "But not always. The Sins are, at their core, minor incarnations of evil. They cannot wield powers of light, or good, holy magic, no matter who they possess. And there are certain beings that seem to be immune to this effect. Vampires, for one, and beings with especially strong souls, or souls that have been touched by light. Reimu Hakurei, for instance, would normally be immune to Sin's possession. The only reason Sloth was able to possess her on the Night of Rage was that Sloth caught her when she was asleep, with her defenses down."
-
>"Can you tell when you see 'em? Like, if Marisa were possessed, you'd know, right?"
-
>"Can you tell when you see 'em? Like, if Marisa were possessed, you'd know, right?"
>"Sometimes it is more obvious than others. Some of the Sins are easier to detect than others, there are multiple signs to look for. The most obvious sign is unnatural spkies of emotion. When someone is around a Sin Spirit, their presence can evoke the emotion, the sin, they represent. Sudden swells of jealousy or a sudden feeling of hunger, for example, would indicate the presence of Envy or Gluttony, those two are especially bad at keeping their powers suppressed. Unfortunately for us, Greed is one of the best at concealing his presence when he is possessing someone." She pulls in her hand to glance at the rings on her hand. "The only sure way I have of detecting Greed is my divination ring."
-
>"And I'm guessing it hasn't gone off yet? If so, good."
-
>"And I'm guessing it hasn't gone off yet? If so, good."
>"Well, I can't use it yet. It's still non-functional as a result of that magic wave that brought us here." She narrows her eyes to examine the dull jewel. "I would guess it will be at least an hour before it is functional again."
-
>"Oh. Well, that's a pain. So, if we do find a possessed person, what can we do?"
-
>"Oh. Well, that's a pain. So, if we do find a possessed person, what can we do?"
>"Fortunately, we have rather more options in the field of removing a Sin from someone than we do in locating our erstwhile Greed." Celes replies. "In most cases, the simplest method is to, for lack of a better term, beat the Sin out. Sufficient damage to a host will drive the Sin from the body."
>"That's what you call the easy way?" Momiji asks, her face a bit disturbed at the idea.
>"Simplest, not the easiest, Momiji. And I might add, this is actually much easier to do in Gensokyo than it is in the outside world."
>"Why is that- Ah, because of danmaku." The white wolf says with a nod.
>"Precisely. This is actually how, at least in part, Remilia was able to excise Envy from the host she had taken on the Night of Rage without hurting her. Either of them, really. Which begs the question." she says, looking between you and Momiji. "May I ask how skilled you both are at the art of spellcard duels?"
-
>"I'm...better at photography during duels than winning duels, to be honest. It counts as a win, but...it's not really doing damage."
>How good are we at the actual fighting thing, as opposed to getting pictures of an irate Reimu on the battlefield?
-
>"I'm...better at photography during duels than winning duels, to be honest. It counts as a win, but...it's not really doing damage."
>How good are we at the actual fighting thing, as opposed to getting pictures of an irate Reimu on the battlefield?
>"I'm not too bad at danmaku." Momiji replies. "Maybe not as strong as I'd like, but I can hold my own. I don't have a lot of spellcards, but the ones I've got are none too easy."
>Celes nods. "In the event that we should have to confront someone possessed by Greed, perhaps you should leave that aspect of it to us, Hatate. I myself am more than capable of besting most opponents, outside of the likes of Byakuren and Remilia."
>In terms of more conventional danmaku duels, you'd be about a stage 2 boss. your skill level would put you about on par with the likes of Hina Kagiyama. Respectable, certainly, but plenty of room for improvement.
-
>"Oh, let's say a sin possessed someone weak, would that slow them down? Or does it not matter?"
-
>"Oh, let's say a sin possessed someone weak, would that slow them down? Or does it not matter?"
>"'Slow them down?'"
-
>"Would a weak host make them weak? And the opposite, I suppose?"
-
>"Would a weak host make them weak? And the opposite, I suppose?"
>"Ah. Well, the Sin would still have the use of all of its natural powers, but if it chose a host who was weak, an ordinary human, for example, then it would make a much less challenging foe. And as a consequence, be easier to exorcise, since we would only have to contend with the powers of the Sin, rather than whatever luckless being it had latched onto."
>"Which brings me back to the first point. There's more than one way to drive a Sin from a host. They're as much a spirit as they are flesh, so they can be exorcised much like a ghost could be. A priest or shrine maiden with sufficient power and skill can do it. And they are susceptable to multiple forms of magic, as well. I can think of many residents of Gensokyo with the knowledge and the power to pull a Sin out of someone. Even I can." she adds with a look at her other hand. "My divination ring may be the only method I have of detecting a Sin Spirit, but my abjuration ring can force a possessing spirit out of a living body. It isn't a painless way to do it, but it can work."
>"Didn't you say earlier that you had a lot of trouble separating Sakuya and Pride?" Momiji asks.
>"Those were very unusual circumstances. The odds of anything like that happening again are so remote, I wouldn't care to calculate them. Don't misunderstand, Momiji. Separating a Sin from a host is by no means easy, necessarily. But there are more ways than simply one to approach the problem."
-
>"So what can Greed do. anyways? Any tricks I need to worry about?"
-
>"So what can Greed do. anyways? Any tricks I need to worry about?"
>"At the risk of stating the obvious, each of the Sins has power over the sin they embody. Greed has the ability to see what one desires, and to bring those feelings of desire to the surface. He also possesses illusionary powers. He can project the wealth of nations into an empty room, and overwhelm someone with the desire to possess it all. He can also generate more mundane illusions as well, but no less dangerous. Projecting a solid floor over a gaping chasm, for instance."
>"His most dangerous power, though, is his brain. Greed is the most cunning of all the Sins. He, more than any of the others, knows how to use all the powers he has, and he knows how to read people. How to manipulate them. His tongue can wreak more havok than his powers can."
-
>"Sounds nasty. How do you tell illusions are illusions, anyways?"
-
>"Sounds nasty. How do you tell illusions are illusions, anyways?"
>With a straight face, Celes answers, "With some difficulty. I'm afraid there's no sure-fire way of knowing whether or not what you see is real or illusion. You see, he even has the ability to generate tactile illusions. You can touch an illusionary coin, and it will feel as real as a genuine one."
>"Smell." Momiji says shortly.
>"I beg your pardon?"
>"I've had some go-rounds with illusionists in my time." the white wolf informs her. "And almost all of them have one flaw. No matter how real their illusions look, or sound, they never have a scent, or their scent is faint, or wrong."
-
>"Do you think they usually get taste? Oh, and what happens if you take a fake coin that feels real, and try to slam a door on it or something? Does it fool the door?"
-
>"Do you think they usually get taste? Oh, and what happens if you take a fake coin that feels real, and try to slam a door on it or something? Does it fool the door?"
>"They can, but not always." Celes says in answer to your first question. "I believe it's harder for him to generate that level of detail. I can't tell you how much harder, though, I don't know everything about the Sins abilties. That's Tsumiko's domain, a fact she reminds me of every now and then."
>"As for whether or not his illusions can blend with reality to the point of fooling a door, as you put it, I believe they can, but only if his attention is focused upon that particular illusion. And so far as I understand his power, he wouldn't be fooling the door, as much as affecting your perception of it. He could make you see a door that was kept ajar by a coin, even replicate the sound if he knows it, but that level of detail and focus is more of a drain on his power."
-
>"Okay. So it's better to try to fool as many as I can at once, sounds like."
-
>"Okay. So it's better to try to fool as many as I can at once, sounds like."
>"Come again?"
-
>"Get him to overextend and slip up."
-
>"Get him to overextend and slip up."
>"Ah. Yes, that can work against him. But it is not an easy approach. Remember, he knows the limits of his power, and how far he can stretch himself. In some ways, he is as dangerous an opponent as Wrath."
>"Of course, this may not be at all necessary." Celes adds. "As clever and as greedy as he is, he's also one of the most reasonable Sins. He can be bargained with, reasoned with. If he even means to challenge us, that is. He may not wish to. He usually only confronts someone who opposes him getting something he wants, and right now, I don't think we're doing that."
-
>"Maybe, but I don't feel good about letting him run around doing what he pleases. But I guess we could bargain to buy time."
-
>"Maybe, but I don't feel good about letting him run around doing what he pleases. But I guess we could bargain to buy time."
>"Right now, he's in the same position we are, Hatate. Wherever he is in this world, he's trapped in here just as much as we are."
-
>"I dunno. If he's so clever, why would he get caught in a trap that easily? Unless he's also stupid enough to use something like this without even thinking twice or looking over it."
>"I mean, it can happen by accident? But I dunno if we should hope to be that lucky, or that just leaving him here won't be a problem."
-
>"I dunno. If he's so clever, why would he get caught in a trap that easily? Unless he's also stupid enough to use something like this without even thinking twice or looking over it."
>"I mean, it can happen by accident? But I dunno if we should hope to be that lucky, or that just leaving him here won't be a problem."
>"Let us not forget that we were caught easily, ourselves." Celes says evenly. "I would assume that the book is activated by someone reading it, or at least looking over the pages. Anyone could have triggered it."
>"As for leaving him here, well, if the others outside can find a way to pull us out, they'll do the same for him as well. After that, he will be brought back to Tsumiko, where he belongs."
-
>"Right."
>Contemplate pointing out there that we were caught off guard, while Greed certainly had some idea about this this book, but leave it at that.
-
>"Right."
>Contemplate pointing out there that we were caught off guard, while Greed certainly had some idea about this this book, but leave it at that.
>"While we're on the subject of potential threats," Celes says as you restrain from offering a counter to her previous point, "Are there any notable threats on Youkai Mountain that you believe I should be wary of? And also, perhaps, something that could serve as a worthy mount?"
-
>"Well, just about everything up there is a threat. But it sounds like it's a totally different place now. Um, nothing much to ride that I can think of. Maybe some larger birds? But they probably won't care for it. Or you could bribe a kappa into giving you a piggyback ride."
-
>"Well, just about everything up there is a threat. But it sounds like it's a totally different place now. Um, nothing much to ride that I can think of. Maybe some larger birds? But they probably won't care for it. Or you could bribe a kappa into giving you a piggyback ride."
>The latter idea draws a mighty chuckle from the normally straight faced steward of the Keep. So far as you can remember, that's the first time you've heard her laugh since you met her.
>"Actually, CAN you ride birds the same way you can with a horse?" Momiji asks the chuckling Celes, who replies with a nod.
>"It might an odd thought, I know, but I have done it before."
>"Hatate's right about the larger birds. Giant eagles make their nests in the higher regions of the mountain, a bit beyond where the pegasi usually roost."
>"Pegasi?" Celes asks, her head coming up.
>"Winged horses."
>"I know what they are." the purple haired woman replies, her eyes excited. "Pegasus. That's lovely. Thank you, ladies.""
-
>When did we get pegasi on the mountain? And how are they regarded? Majestic beasts? Pests?
>"Anyways, probably just best to assume anyone you meet will probably be interested in beating you up. Kappa like their privacy, and we don't like people in our territory unannounced. ...Well, maybe. Who knows, these days? And the lower forests tend to have a lot of rowdy faeries."
-
>When did we get pegasi on the mountain? And how are they regarded? Majestic beasts? Pests?
>"Anyways, probably just best to assume anyone you meet will probably be interested in beating you up. Kappa like their privacy, and we don't like people in our territory unannounced. ...Well, maybe. Who knows, these days? And the lower forests tend to have a lot of rowdy faeries."
>You're not entirely sure. They've been there for as long as you can remember, at least. They don't loom too large in the minds of the tengu, though. Your people don't have a very high opinion of the pegasus race by and large. They are viewed as, to put it bluntly, groundlings that decided to invade your people's turf. A horse is supposed to be a horse. The tengu know that a pegasus is intelligent, but they have no more respect for the winged horses than they do for humans. Less, more than likely. The feeling, you think, is mutual. The Pegasus are territorial by nature, but they seem to be especially aggressive towards the tengu. Both races are perfectly happy to leave the other alone, the tengu maintaining their distant, quiet disdain, the pegasi feeling whatever it is horses with feathers feel.
>"What of the Goddesses who dwell on the mountain?" Celes asks. "I had been told that they were rather welcoming of people."
-
>"Oh right, them. They're pretty nice, overall. Well, one of them might just greet you with bullets because. And maybe the wind priestess too if she's in a mood."
-
>"Oh right, them. They're pretty nice, overall. Well, one of them might just greet you with bullets because. And maybe the wind priestess too if she's in a mood."
>"I can think of worse welcomes." Celes replies dryly.
>"Mind if I ask why you wanted to know about mounts?" Momiji asks her. "We shouldn't plan on being here long enough so you'd need one, don't you think?"
>Celes sighs quietly. "Unlike you, Momiji, I have little in the way of optimism in regards to an early escape. It is quite possible we could spend years in here. Many years. And if I am to be cut off from my mistress in this Gensokyo, I can at least take some comfort in my other passion."
>Momiji scowls at the human. "Don't be so defeatist. Hatate's almost as good as Aya is when it comes to snooping out secrets and information." The white wolf's praise brings a smile to your face, though you question her use of the word 'snoop'. It's a bit of an ugly term. "And no trap in the world is perfect. I don't care who made it. We'll get out of here, mark my words."
-
>"Exactly. Some stupid book isn't going to hold us down."
-
>"Exactly. Some stupid book isn't going to hold us down."
>Celes offers you a wistful smile. "Part of me wishes I shared your optimism, my friends."
>"Trust us." Momiji replies, full of confidence. "Maybe we won't be home in time for supper, but long before you get too homesick."
>"Perhaps." the steward answers. "Just remember, for as long as we are here, that this is not our world. Keep that thought foremost in your minds. That may be our only way of staving off the effects the book will eventually have on us."
-
>"Don't worry, even if I find something good, I'm going to try and take it with me."
>What was Celes' species again?
-
>What was Celes' species again?
>She seems to be human, but there is something slightly different about her presence. And when she was speaking with Celia the centaur before you got pulled into the book, she mentioned that she wasn't exactly human. If she elaborated on the point at the time, you didn't hear her do so.
>"Don't worry, even if I find something good, I'm going to try and take it with me."
>"You might have a chance sooner than you think, too." Momiji says, looking ahead in the direction of Youkai Mountain. "There's a village at the base of the mountain that isn't there in our world."
-
>"What? Weird..."
>Look for this village, and assess it.
-
>"What? Weird..."
>Look for this village, and assess it.
>You scan the base of Youkai Mountain, following the direction of Momiji's gaze. You can't really see much in the way of details, though, you're still quite a ways away. You think the vague blue of colors near the river could be in the shape of buildings, but you're not sure.
>"Marisa did say that the tengu have opened their borders." Celes ventures. "Might this be a tengu village?"
>"Not like any one I've ever seen." Momiji answers. "I'm seeing all kinds of people there besides tengu. Kappa, humans, other youkai. I even thought I saw an oni for a second, but I can't seem to find her now."
-
>"Maybe they're outcasts or something? There was supposed to be a revolution, right?"
-
>"Maybe they're outcasts or something? There was supposed to be a revolution, right?"
>"That's a possibility." Momiji muses. "I haven't seen any faces I recognize yet, though. Think we should have a closer look?"
-
>"We can at least fly over, see what stands out."
-
>"We can at least fly over, see what stands out."
>"Do you see any sign of fortifications or defensive weaponry?" Celes asks her.
>Momiji scans ahead for a moment before answering, "Not unless you count the odd wrench or garden trowel. Seems to be pretty peaceful. I don't think a flyby would do any harm."
-
>Is our hometown particularly fortified?
>"Don't imagine they'd need it or want it."
>Let's approach and have a flyover for anything interesting. Also, do the forests that used to be at the base of the mountain still seem to be there, or have they given way to fields or grazing lands or the like?
-
>Is our hometown particularly fortified?
>"Don't imagine they'd need it or want it."
>Not the tengu cities themselves, really. The white wolves provide security on the frontier, with guardposts and fortifications at strategic locations. With the Oni gone, the Dai-tengu turned the might of the Tengu outward, to ensure no one bothered them unless they had Dai-tengu permission, which has been of course rarely granted. This gave the other tengu races more ability and room to focus using their territory on industry, beautification and of course, pleasure.
>"If they were outcasts, they might." Celes counters. "It has been my experience that a people expelled from a region are left with a sense of concern, almost paranoia, towards the ones who expelled them."
>Let's approach and have a flyover for anything interesting. Also, do the forests that used to be at the base of the mountain still seem to be there, or have they
given way to fields or grazing lands or the like?
>Drifting slightly to port, you and your companions angle in to do a quick fly by of this village that wasn't there when you left. The woodlands around the base of the mountain seem largely intact, even in the area of new development, which is something of a surprise. That's not to say there aren't fewer trees in the area of the village, but there has been far less removal than you might have expected. Perhaps whomever established that village didn't want to deforest the area any more than necessary? You can't be sure.
>There has been a large amount of development around the lake and river attached to it. Several homes and buildings have been built close to it, and a number of piers, each seeming to be painted a bit differently than the last, poke themselves out from the land like multicolored fingers. Fishing nets hang drying in the spring air, and poles and smaller nets seem to be plentiful. The lake itself is also full of activity, a number of small boats dotting the surface with many more humanoid figures
playing in and around the water.
>There are two structures that stand out among the rest of the buildings in the village. One is a two-building complex straddling a small portion of the lake that has all the earmarks of a white wolf made brewery, albeit one of the largest ones you've ever seen. The other is an expansive stage and field on the southeastern outskirts of the village, the stage part of which is presently unengaged save for a teenaged human plucking casually at a three-string guitar. At least two dozen people are presently using the field in front of the stage for purposes ranging from tossing a frisbee back and forth to a picnic to simply reading a book beneath a blooming cherry tree.
>The figure that catches your eye on the field below you, however, is a feminine figure with exceedingly long blonde hair that seems to coil around her exceedingly shapely legs. That can only be the wind spirit Ranka Kitajima. Or at least, this world's ersatz version of her, you remind yourself, recalling Celes' advice. The wind spirit is casually floating away from a pair of younger women, a white-winged yamabushi tengu and a human, both of whom are blushing furiously.
-
>Point out Ranka
>"Think she'd recognize any of us?"
-
>Point out Ranka
>"Think she'd recognize any of us?"
>"Who?" Celes asks, looking down in that direction. "Ah, that must be Ranka. Well, I can't say for certain, I haven't entirely figured out how this world is put together yet. Frankly, Hatate, that might even be OUR Ranka. She was close when the book went off and trapped us, and she is a rather curious spirit. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if that was her down there. Our Ranka, I mean."
-
>"I suppose it's possible. Well, there's one way to find out."
>Call out: "Hey! Ranka! Up here!"
-
>"I suppose it's possible. Well, there's one way to find out."
>Call out: "Hey! Ranka! Up here!"
>The blonde woman pauses and glances back your way, peering through a small gap in her carpet of hair.
-
>Wave to catch her attention.
-
>Wave to catch her attention.
>Ranka tosses her hair back over her shoulder with a flick of her wrist as she turns around to look your way. She seems a bit confused as she sees just who's waving at her.
-
>"Doesn't seem like she knows us."
>Call out, "Got a minute, we need to ask you some things!"
-
>"Doesn't seem like she knows us."
>Call out, "Got a minute, we need to ask you some things!"
>The lovely blonde tilts her head to the side slightly. You have the impression she's never seen you before. Which is a bit odd, now that you think. Everyone you've met so far has recognized you in some capacity, or rather, has believed you to be the other Hatate. Even here, you've drawn some looks your way, though perhaps not quite as many as Momiji, but Ranka merely stares blankly at you.
>Something very much like static crosses the blonde woman's green eyes, and her head jerks sharply to the side, almost like a spasm. When it passes, her eyes are normal again, and with a nod, she starts to float up in your direction.
>"Be on your guard." Celes hisses in a low voice.
>"Why?" Momiji asks.
>"That reaction may have been a sign of the book reassessing our presence."
-
>"Yeah, something bad definitely happened right there. You saw that bit with her eyes, right?"
>Do we recall anyone else getting that kind of look?
-
>"Yeah, something bad definitely happened right there. You saw that bit with her eyes, right?"
>Do we recall anyone else getting that kind of look?
>Momiji nods breifly. "Never seen anything like that before."
>You don't, neither in this world or your own.
>The look of curiousity has returned to Ranka's face, you see, as she draws closer. Alert as you are, you still can't help but be slightly distracted by the vision she is. "You... look like Hatate." she says as she comes within about ten feet of you. "But you don't look Hatate. Or Momiji. Who are you?"
-
>"We're just who you said we were. Only, we're kinda from another world. Now, um, could you tell us what you know about us?"
-
>"We're just who you said we were. Only, we're kinda from another world. Now, um, could you tell us what you know about us?"
>Ranka's look of puzzlement does not fade as she looks closer at you and then Momiji. "I know you're different." she says in a strange voice. "You're not like the other tengu. You're... like you were. Like THEY were. Before they changed, healed."
-
>"Yeah yeah, we've hashed and rehashed this all before."
-
>"Yeah yeah, we've hashed and rehashed this all before."
>"No, I don't think so." Ranka says with a shake of her head. "I've never met you before."
-
>Grin. "I've met you in my world. She said about the same thing, so you can be proud of her. Could you help us find our way around?"
-
>Grin. "I've met you in my world. She said about the same thing, so you can be proud of her. Could you help us find our way around?"
>"Are you looking for something?"
-
>"Actually, I'm looking for myself, so is Momiji. Our friend Celes here is interested in any pegasi that are around. But stuff in general is good to know too."
-
>"Actually, I'm looking for myself, so is Momiji. Our friend Celes here is interested in any pegasi that are around. But stuff in general is good to know too."
>The hint of a smile touches the beautiful wind spirit's lips. "From the way you talked earlier, it sounds like the Ranka you met before and you didn't get along too well. Are you sure you want to ask me?"
-
>Smile back. "We got along well enough, just we disagreed a bit and never got around to resolving it."
-
>Smile back. "We got along well enough, just we disagreed a bit and never got around to resolving it."
>"Oh. Well, that's not so bad, then." Ranka turns her gaze to your two companions. "Did we disagree a bit?"
>Celes shakes her head. "As a matter of fact, in our world, you and I are friends. The Ranka of our world was among the first to visit us after we awoke in Gensokyo."
>"That was nice of her." the blonde says with some satisfaction.
>"And I'd never seen you before today." Momiji says. "Either version of you, at least not in person."
>Ranka pouts slightly. "You sure?"
>"I'm pretty sure I'd remember seeing you around." The white wolf says, not quite managing to keep her eyes away from Ranka's more salient features.
>The wind spirit giggles. "Isn't she sweet?"
-
>Wink.
>"You be good, now. But yeah, you and I just met earlier too, but we talked a lot. However, that really doesn't apply to you yourself, does it? But could you help us out?"
-
>Wink.
>"You be good, now. But yeah, you and I just met earlier too, but we talked a lot. However, that really doesn't apply to you yourself, does it? But could you help us out?"
>"Mm. Yeah, sure I can. I had fun the last time I helped tengu like you, I think it'll be fun again."
-
>"Thanks! So, do you know where we can find any of those things I asked about?"
-
>"Thanks! So, do you know where we can find any of those things I asked about?"
>Ranka waggles her finger idly in Momiji's direction. "You, right off. You've got fire training today up in the city." Before the confused Momiji can inquire into exactly what she means, Ranka's attention has turned to you. "You, that'll take a minute or two. She moves around almost as much as Aya used to."
-
>"Huh. Guess she got a taste for it."
>Give Wendy a moment.
-
>"Huh. Guess she got a taste for it."
>Give Wendy a moment.
>"Gimme a minute." the lovely blonde says quickly, before floating backwards slightly. Rotating in place, her hair wraps around her like a cocoon before she fades from sight, joining with the winds.
>"Well, despite that odd moment we all observed, she seems much the same as she does in our world." Celes observes. "But I still advise caution, at least for now." Casting a look between you and Momiji, she asks, "Does the expression 'fire training' have some significance to either of you?"
-
>"Not particularly, but I could imagine it meaning a few things. Could be danmaku practice, or training people how to deal with fires. I imagine it's a big deal if the stories we heard about Momiji here are true."
-
>"Not particularly, but I could imagine it meaning a few things. Could be danmaku practice, or training people how to deal with fires. I imagine it's a big deal if the stories we heard about Momiji here are true."
>"Excuse me." Momiji says, still looking a touch distracted. "But, just who was that woman?"
-
>"She's Ranka, an air elemental I met around the keep in our world. I didn't really get a chance to introduce you two, since things happened, but you might remember her sitting on top of Marisa's house."
-
>"She's Ranka, an air elemental I met around the keep in our world. I didn't really get a chance to introduce you two, since things happened, but you might remember her sitting on top of Marisa's house."
>"Yeah. And I remember Patchouli shocking the bajeezus out of her as well."
>"Not the first time that sort of thing has happened to her." Celes adds. "She's a very amorous thing who, unfortunately, needs a firm rejection from time to time."
>"Does she..." The white wolf's cheeks color slightly. "Does she dress that way in our world too?"
-
>"How do you think I picked her out?"
-
>"How do you think I picked her out?"
>"I thought it was the hair." Momiji says with a faint shrug. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone with a head of hair that long. Or quite that shade."
-
>"That helped too."
-
>"That helped too."
>"Mind if I ask what you two were discussing? OUR Ranka, I mean." she adds quickly.
-
>"Just back and forth on whether tengu are really in tune with the wind or not. She says we've fallen out from it, and I'm telling we just have a different way of approaching it than she does. I think she just doesn't like it so she doesn't want to admit other ways are fine, too."
-
>"Just back and forth on whether tengu are really in tune with the wind or not. She says we've fallen out from it, and I'm telling we just have a different way of approaching it than she does. I think she just doesn't like it so she doesn't want to admit other ways are fine, too."
>"That's quite a bold statement." Momiji observes. "One could almost think she was judging us as a race."
>"I wouldn't go that far." Celes says with a shake of her head. "I have known Ranka for some time now. She is rather intelligent, but also simple, in her ways. She may have a point- and I assure you both, I mean no offense at that." she adds, looking between both of you. "I am neither wind spirit nor tengu, I cannot judge which of you is right or wrong. I merely wish to point out that Ranka is not very good at explaining herself when it comes to complex issues."
>"Maybe." Momiji says, folding her arms. "Still, it can't have been so bad an argument, for you to call out to her, Hatate."
-
>"I don't think she's coming from a place of hate toward tengu, but she's real good at making it seem like that if you don't read between the lines a little bit. I am going to say she probably doesn't understand us very well at all. What does the squirrel know of a wolf pack but what she sees and all."
-
>"I don't think she's coming from a place of hate toward tengu, but she's real good at making it seem like that if you don't read between the lines a little bit. I am going to say she probably doesn't understand us very well at all. What does the squirrel know of a wolf pack but what she sees and all."
>"Well, maybe we'll have the chance to enlighten her a little bit." Momiji says with a smile. "I haven't had a philosophical discussion like that in a long time."
>"Don't forget, Momiji, this isn't our Ranka." Celes asserts, but the white wolf nods quickly.
>"I know. But we can call it practice for when we get home."
>About a minute or so later, Ranka spins herself back into view, her golden locks splaying out from her as she emerges from her cocoon of hair like a glittering fan. You hear Momiji's breath catch. "Turns out you two are about in the same place." The wind spirit says as she reduces the speed of her spin. "Hatate's practicing up there with the rest of them."
-
>"Oh, great, thanks!"
>"What are they practicing, anyways?"
-
>"Oh, great, thanks!"
>"What are they practicing, anyways?"
>"Right now, danmaku. Weapons was earlier today. I think."
>"Weapons training?" Momiji asks.
>"It was your idea. At least I think that's what Honoka told me."
-
>"That's...weird. Why would they need soldiers so bad that they're training people who aren't suited for it?"
-
>"That's...weird. Why would they need soldiers so bad that they're training people who aren't suited for it?"
>Momiji frowns. "Does that really sound like something I would do, Hatate?"
-
>"Yeah, that's my point. There's no reason to have anyone other than the white wolves learning how to use weapons, unless the white wolves are too few in number. Like, there's the occasional person who takes an interest, I guess, but there's can't be enough to have a class for them. And, given things are pretty peaceful here, it can't be because of a war."
-
>"Yeah, that's my point. There's no reason to have anyone other than the white wolves learning how to use weapons, unless the white wolves are too few in number. Like, there's the occasional person who takes an interest, I guess, but there's can't be enough to have a class for them. And, given things are pretty peaceful here, it can't be because of a war."
>"Well, that's not entirely true." Momiji says thoughtfully. "I can think of a few reasons to teach a non white wolf tengu how to wield a weapon. But I can't think of how I'd ever get the chance. Or where I'd find non white wolves willing to learn, at least enough to call a 'class'. Long-noses wouldn't want to get their hands dirty, Yamabushi have neither the aptitude nor interest in weaponry, Crows always let us do the fighting, and the Dai-tengu teach themselves if they ever want to."
-
>"Yeah, the Daitengu are the only ones I can think of who'd want to. And there's no real point in anyone else doing it; because who could do the job better than you? I mean, if we were really were being invaded and needed everyone we could field, then I don't think most people would protest much, but in peace time?"
-
>"Yeah, the Daitengu are the only ones I can think of who'd want to. And there's no real point in anyone else doing it; because who could do the job better than you? I mean, if we were really were being invaded and needed everyone we could field, then I don't think most people would protest much, but in peace time?"
>"Is this really that big a deal?" Ranka asks.
-
>"Yeah, it is. But I guess we best go check it out and make them explain it."
-
>"Yeah, it is. But I guess we best go check it out and make them explain it."
>"Agreed." Momiji says instantly. "I already had a lot of things to ask about, but I think this might have just jumped to the top of the list."
>"Excuse me." Celes starts. "But if you don't mind me saying, basic weapons training seems only sensible, does it not? Each of us of my home have at least some training with one form of weapon, even Tsumiko, and she is functionally a priest."
-
>"Well, first off that's kinda of old-fashioned anyways, since we use danmaku now. But second off, there's a reason why white wolves take care of defense, it's because they're best at it. They have the agility, the coordination, the strength, and all the other sword-fighty things. No one else could really hope to match one normally. It's what they're best at. That's also why the Long-nosed tengu handle the accounting and paperwork and things, its what their talents are."
-
>"Well, first off that's kinda of old-fashioned anyways, since we use danmaku now. But second off, there's a reason why white wolves take care of defense, it's because they're best at it. They have the agility, the coordination, the strength, and all the other sword-fighty things. No one else could really hope to match one normally. It's what they're best at. That's also why the Long-nosed tengu handle the accounting and paperwork and things, its what their talents are."
>"Ah, a strictly caste-based society." Celes says with an acknowledging nod. "I've seen many such systems in my time of course, but not with such diversity among one race." The keep's steward pauses. "That didn't sound how I intended."
>"I think I know what you meant." Momiji replies. "A White Wolf can seem vastly different than a Crow, and yet we're both Tengu."
>Celes smiles gratefully. "That is essentially what I meant, yes. I am curious as to how such a thing arose, but that of course can wait until a later time."
-
>"Yeah, let's go get to the bottom of this."
-
>"Yeah, let's go get to the bottom of this."
>"Where exactly was this practice happening?" Momiji asks Ranka.
>"I'll take you there." the wind spirit offers. "I'm curious about you two, anyway."
-
>"Thanks!"
>Follow dat wind ghost!
-
>"And we are curious as well about our alter-egos and their lively roles as well,Ranka".
>Monologue inside our mind:"Curious enough to skedaddle everyone out of the place and gather plenty of reverie-like article material for the REAL Gensokyo.Keep your feathers on your head ,guys!"
Mhmh(WARNING:long :o elucubration from Branneg Xy). This is a tentative guide to help and spur we players to process the "Trap Book" inner workings and how the trapped ones ,like Hunter Sakuya Greed,are responding.By the by,Hunter Sakuya/Hunter/H. Sakuya were monikers given to her from Remilia Quest Tri -- Eager to disclose her true identity?
- - Read the previous arc. I am pretty keen on having the party work together to find a way past osaid workings and coming as far as to release all captives. Of course, I understand am getting sort of ahead of everything and this jumble the sense of comprehension :take your time by reading one block at a time orjust read the last one bearing the numbered list .
Several intuitions are being showed to us.
Other-Reimu,the Cobalt Keep,Greed are those we have to perceive of standing in everyone's way to freedom as though a combined persuasion and magical barrier.
Our party can gauge the enthrallment and fatigue level of the victims by how well they are coping with their doppelgangers.
Heck! I would not be surprised if Alice and Marisa resisted at first ,but the clones merged with them(?) when they were at their weakest and the book reassessed their roles: even if it is not true,a face off with both pairs of Ayas and Rans twins could be useful to help snapping the real ones out of their funk. Proofs of the theory are the non presence of clones of our Marisa and Alice and other-Ranka was made to be reassesed to assimilate our three unacknowledged existences as roles.
Captives sorted out from their rank of defiance to the book roles, from balky to accepting.
1) Celes referred to Hunter Sakuya and her relationships -- shackles in mind and soul -- : she seems to be the most incompatible with a role as she is in fact the regarded -- "Psychotic explorer of the "Evil Keep"- - by Reimu: it would be unwise to leave her behind in the planning of the escape route.
2)Aya is very aware but so appalled by this ordeal she sought escape in the "other-Outside World" from her role: we should dig out pieces of revelations occurred to her.
3)Ran and her double are expressing her analytical and caretaker role for Gensokyo :she is another source of evidences ,relatively safe if at risk . A logical and genuinely sensible approach should pull her back to her senses for I am assuming to encounter a logical stubborness.
4)Marisa and Alice are off to the deep end of roles : it is advisable to get them to tactfully recall emotional memories lest something wounds the duo psyche and/or prompt them to turn hostile.
5)Greed is currently concealing himself and his host by projecting illusion powers and acting the role as an unsuspecting collaborator for the influence of the Trap Book: the most afflicted, a Sin Spirit of Greed whose powers and purpose are an aid to this prison . Suspected base and host:Cobalt Keep or sorroundings . The closer we are onto him, the more pronounced greed we must be prepared to endure among the party :aim for his host by trying to weaken the possession bond,remind the duo of the REAL WORLD and let us not get sidetracked.
P.S.The "individuation ring"of Celes against illusions should have recharged for the confrontation going at this pace.
-
I frequently have no idea what you're talking about. =[
-
>"Thanks!"
>Follow dat wind ghost!
>"And we are curious as well about our alter-egos and their lively roles as well,Ranka".
>Mind monologue."Curious enough to skedaddle everyone out of the place and gather plenty of revrie-like article material for the REAL Gensokyo.Keep on your feathers,guys!"
>Having gained a guide, Ranka turns and sets her course up the mountain, you and your companions following close behind.
I'm assuming 'mind monologue' means you were having Hatate think to herself, rather than say that out loud.
>"Well you're both awful popular." Ranka starts with a grin. "I think your newspaper is actually bigger than Aya's now, Hatate. At least I see you more than her on the job, you're always busy, her not as much nowadays." The blonde woman stops. "Wait, did I say that before?"
-
>"Something to that effect. But while we're on the topic, there used to be two Ayas too, wasn't there?"
-
>"Something to that effect. But while we're on the topic, there used to be two Ayas too, wasn't there?"
>The blonde spirit tilts her head slightly, slowly. "Two? Uhhhhh......" She frowns with concentration for a moment. "Two Ayas...? Oh yeah!" she yells, visibly startling Momiji with her exclamation. "I'd almost forgot about that."
-
>"What happened with them? I heard one went and vanished."
-
>"What happened with them? I heard one went and vanished."
>"Yup. There's only been one for a while now."
-
>"I guess where she went is a mystery to you too, huh?"
-
>"I guess where she went is a mystery to you too, huh?"
>Ranka nods.
>"But could you find out?" Momiji asks her. "You found Hatate and my doppelgangers without much effort."
>The wind spirit considers that. "Well, I could try. If you want. It'd take me a bit longer than last time, since I don't know where she might be. But I can try."
-
>"Maybe once we're done here."
>Did Ranka strike us as this prone to be helpful back in our world?
>If not: "Actually, before that, can I get a few photos of you? It'd be a crime to not do so!"
-
>"Maybe once we're done here."
>"All right."
>Did Ranka strike us as this prone to be helpful back in our world?
>If not: "Actually, before that, can I get a few photos of you? It'd be a crime to not do so!"
>Not especially, no. She may have been with others, but the Ranka of your world seemed to be a bit too hung up on her own issues with tengu when you met her.
>Ranka laughs a golden little laugh. "Hatate said the same thing the first time I met her."
>"Great minds think alike?" Momiji says with a faint little smirk.
-
>"That they do. So, is that a yes?"
>Not a denial. Interesting...
-
>"That they do. So, is that a yes?"
>Not a denial. Interesting...
>The wind spirit looks at you appraisingly, tapping her pale lips with a slender finger. "Maybe later." she says at last. "You should meet the other Hatate first."
-
>"Of course."
-
>"Of course."
>"I remember, I was surprised when she asked me that." Ranka adds conversationally. "It was the first time any tengu ever asked me for my picture."
-
>"Not even Aya?"
>Yep, not our Ranka.
-
>"Not even Aya?"
>Yep, not our Ranka.
>Ranka starts to shake her head, then pauses. "Which one?"
-
>"Either, both?"
>Did anyone else with copies, such as Ran, seem to cause these kinds of memory holes?
-
>Did anyone else with copies, such as Ran, seem to cause these kinds of memory holes?
>Clarify, please?
-
>Does the existence of two Ayas seem (to Hatate) to have caused people to forget some things?
-
>Or rather, does it seem that people have had difficulty remembering any other sets of clones?
-
>Did anyone else with copies, such as Ran, seem to cause these kinds of memory holes?
>Does the existence of two Ayas seem (to Hatate) to have caused people to forget some things?
>Or rather, does it seem that people have had difficulty remembering any other sets of clones?
>Among the people you've met so far, Reimu didn't seem to remember there being two Ayas until Marisa mentioned it, and Marisa didn't remember it right away either. It was among the many things she claimed to have 'never thought about'. Ranka didn't recall there being two Ayas right away either, but that isn't necessarily abnormal for her. The Ranka you met earlier today seemed a little absent minded and forgetful, so this one may be as well.
>Both Reimu and Marisa seemed to clearly recall two Rans flying through the world, but neither one of them seemed to find this strange. And everyone you've met today seemed willing to accept you as another version of Hatate, with the possible exception of Alice. The same can be said for Momiji as well. And no one has mentioned there being another Celes here.
>"Either, both?"
>Ranka thinks on that for a moment, then shakes her head, the motion sending a ripple through her golden hair. "No, neither one. But I think I only met one of them."
>"How could you tell?" Momiji asks.
>"She felt the same every time I met her." The lovely wind spirit smiles a bright smile. "It was nice, too. All tengu feel better now, but her most of all, I think."
-
>"Out of curiosity, do we feel even worse than they used to?"
-
>"Out of curiosity, do we feel even worse than they used to?"
>"No, not worse." She grins a little. "Actually, your wind feels a bit better than the normal tengu did before. It's still stagnant, turned inward, but not as much as others. Kinda stale, though. Like you didn't want to get out into the world much until not long ago. I think." she adds, tossing her hair back. "It's kinda hard to read tengu like you sometimes."
-
>"Heh, is that so?"
-
>"Heh, is that so?"
>"Mm-hmm. It's 'cuz we're not in harmony. But the tengu here might be able to explain that better than me." She gives you light little smile. "I know I don't explain complicated things that good."
>"Is that true for me as well?" Momiji asks her. "Do I feel.... stagnant?"
>"Uh-huh." Ranka says with a nod, seemingly oblivious to the fact that her statement is a trifle offensive. "But that's not your fault. All your people feel the same- used to feel the same." she corrects herself. "You feel better now that you're free."
-
>Let's not answer that. We don't need another argument. Just put a hand on Momiji's shoulder if it seems like she's about to bite. Bigger fish to fry and all.
-
>Let's not answer that. We don't need another argument. Just put a hand on Momiji's shoulder if it seems like she's about to bite. Bigger fish to fry and all.
>Somewhat to your surprise, Momiji doesn't actually seem either offended or angered by Ranka's choice of words. If anything, she seems almost curious. Perplexed might be a better word. You mentally brace yourself. You have no desire to have another sparring match with Ranka (well, not THAT kind of sparring, anyway) and the prospect of bearing witness to one between Momiji and the wind spirit isn't exactly a more attractive one.
>Luckily, Celes diverts the blonde elemental onto a different topic, inquiring into the general landscape of the mountain. You feel a moment of gratitude for the formal human. Nearly human. Whatever she is.
>With Ranka distracted by Celes, you find yourself with the opportunity to have a look around yourself, to see how different, if at all, the approach to tengu territory is in this world from yours. Straightaway you note a very well-worn path beaten up the mountain to your west, seemingly connected to the fishing village down at the bottom of the mountain. The trail seems wide enough to accommodate any of the vehicles you've seen the humans use. In fact, you seem to have just passed a pair of men on horseback leading a large carriage up the mountain, with a pigtailed youkai riding atop the carriage, seemingly keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding wilderness while strumming on a guitar. There's something you don't see too often. Another very unusual sight is the red-haired oni you spot on a grassy plateau just off your course to the east, who seems to be sharing a drink with a kappa.
>Music seems to be coming from all over the mountain as well. You ears can pick out no less than half a dozen instruments coming from parts of the mountain around you, and one or two more voices singing beyond that. The tengu and the kappa like music well enough in your world, but it didn't seem to be as prevalent there as it is here.
>"Uh, Ranka?" Momiji says to the blonde, a touch of nervousness in her voice. "Would you happen to know if oni are a common sight on the mountain?"
>"I think so. I see them a lot more than I used to. Why, you want to meet one?"
>"Not especially. But where we come from, the tengu and the oni don't.... coexist." she settles after a moment's thought.
>"Oh." Ranka tilts her head. "Why? Don't like horns or something?"
-
>"They kinda conquered us. And we kinda threw them off the mountain after awhile."
-
>"They kinda conquered us. And we kinda threw them off the mountain after awhile."
>Momiji nods. "That sums it up in a nutshell."
>Ranka nods for a moment longer than she probably needs to.
>"Do you happen to know how things stand between us and them now?"
>"Which us?" Ranka inquires.
>"Sorry, I meant the tengu of this world." the white wolf explains. As she does, your eyes fall upon the red-haired oni once more. She seems to be pointing at you and your group.
>"Well, there's no conquering. I don't think. And no throwing." The wind spirit pauses. "Well, maybe throwing DOWN, I think I've seen that happen once or twice. Can't remember though."
>As Ranka speaks, the hand of the oni below you seems to catch fire, as she launches a somewhat slow moving fireball in the direction of your group.
-
>"Heads up."
>Move out of the way, then call down "Hey! We're kinda busy! Important work and stuff!"
-
>"Heads up."
>Move out of the way, then call down "Hey! We're kinda busy! Important work and stuff!"
>Warning the others, you go evasive, Ranka and Celes immediately following suit. Momiji, however, narrows her eyes at the incoming projectile, draws her shield, then flies right at the thing. The white wolf intercepts the fireball with the front of her shield, which explodes in a cloud of flame harmlessly in front of Momiji. "What is the meaning of this?" Momiji demands of the oni.
>The red haired oni levels a challenging look at you and your fellow tengu. "This is important too. To me."
>"Important enough to attack travellers unprovoked?" Momiji almost bellows.
>The oni's grin becomes even more evil. "Got your attention, didn't I?"
-
>"Hey Celes, mind cleaning this up? Don't wanna lose our targets wasting time here."
-
>"Hey Celes, mind cleaning this up? Don't wanna lose our targets wasting time here."
>The steward of the Keep nods solemnly. "As a matter of fact, I was about to suggest that myself."
>"Are you sure?" Momiji asks, looking back at the human. "Oni can be as nasty as they are powerful."
>Celes' face is confidant and determined. "I appreciate your concern, Momiji. But I assure you, I can handle myself." She looks between you and she. "You can go on ahead. I'll be along without too much of a delay."
-
>Besides, if some punk oni thinks she can be on our mountain, she deserves to get whipped by a human.
>"Just don't let her get close enough to kidnap you."
>Proceed!
-
>Besides, if some punk oni thinks she can be on our mountain, she deserves to get whipped by a human.
>"Just don't let her get close enough to kidnap you."
>Proceed!
>Darn tootin'.
>Celes rests her hand on the hilt of her sheathed saber. "The results of that could be interesting indeed."
>The steward of the Cobalt Keep descends to meet her soon to be opponent, while you, Momiji and Ranka continue along up the mountain. Your white wolf companion's expression seems almost outraged. "When we get to the border, I intend to have a word with the soldiers there. If the tengu of this world are more concerned about the affairs of the mountain, then incidents like that shouldn't happen. DOES that happen often, Ranka?"
>"I don't think so. But Honoka pays more attention to that kind of thing than I do."
>Momiji lets out a sharp breath, trying to calm herself. "You've known her a bit longer than I have, Hatate. Are you sure Celes can handle herself? I know I shouldn't be too worried, the spellcard rules being in effect and all, but I can't help it."
-
>"Probably. All those keep peoples seem pretty capable. Besides, I'm betting that oni won't take her seriously til it's too late."
-
>"Probably. All those keep peoples seem pretty capable. Besides, I'm betting that oni won't take her seriously til it's too late."
>"Good point. I've known a lot of youkai to make that mistake with humans."
>Despite her words, you catch Momiji glancing behind her rather frequently as your now reduced group fly up the mountain. Putting that telescopic vision of hers to use, no doubt. Not that you'd expect anything else, really, Momiji takes the safety of her friends and companions very seriously.
>The oni you left to Celes appears to be the only one out and about on the mountain, at least along your flight path, and though you make note of several more bodies in flight and in play on the ground above it, none of them impede your path. You start to look around the ground below for the nearest white wolf border post, just to see if there's any notable differences between the ones here and the ones back home.
>A couple of minutes later, your eyes do indeed fall upon the fortified white-washed building used by the white wolves as a border post. The building is identical to the ones you've seen in your own world, but the tengu seen outside are a bit different. A White Wolf, a Yamabushi and a Dai-tengu are seated around a flat tree stump, rolling dice against each other, while another Wolf leans indolently against the southern facing wall, reading a newspaper. Your newspaper, you note with a touch of satisfaction.
>Despite her earlier statement, Momiji does not seem to slow when she comes within range of the guard house. "Didn't you want to stop?" Ranka asks the wolf captain.
>Momiji shakes her head slowly. "No. No, I don't think that's really necessary. Hatate's right, we probably shouldn't get too distracted by these little side trips. It's true I'd like to know more about oni activities on the mountain, but I can find that out from my counterpart just as easily as I can here. Assuming she's as on top of things as I try to be." Glancing over at you, she adds, "Unless you'd like to stop for a moment, Hatate?"
-
>"Let's find 'em before they run off. We can bother these guys later if we need to."
>Onvard!
-
>"Let's find 'em before they run off. We can bother these guys later if we need to."
>Onvard!
>Leaving the tengu below to their own amusements, you and your merry group press on into tengu territory proper. The air here feels a bit different than home. There's always been a bit of a distinction between the air on one side of the border and the other. That distinction seems to be less pronounced here. There's still a noticeable difference that says 'tengu turf', but the air here seems to flow more freely in this world. It takes you several moments to adjust to the difference, but you find it to be a rather nice sensation.
>The racial diversity that you saw in the village below doesn't seem to have spread to the cities in the same way, but you do see more kappa than usual as you fly over white wolf territory, and an occasional human and youkai as well. Even though you've been told that this was the reality of this world, seeing it with your own eyes is something else. Despite your desire to meet your counterpart farther along, you can't but slow at the sight of a human merchant haggling with a White Wolf brewmaster, or a young girl sitting outside a wolf's house brushing the hair of a young Wolf. Or in the air above, a rather young Crow and Dai-tengu chasing after a red-haired fairy, flying with all the skill of a pair of drunken bumblebees, big smiles and laughter on the faces of all three, as well as the older Dai-tengu following them at a discreet distance.
>Momiji, it seems, has been struck by these sights even more than you. For what may be the first time you've ever seen, her face is one of sheer wonderment. You can see her mouth move slightly now and then, but precious little sound emerges from it. Ranka, being the incorrigible flirt that she is, grins at the captain lasciviously and drawls, "You wouldn't be inviting-"
>"How long?" Momiji finally blurts, interrupting the wind spirit.
>Ranka blinks. "Is that a yes?"
>"How long has it been like this?"
>The blonde pouts. "What, you mean me?"
>"I mean THIS." Momiji extolls, spreading her arms out wide. "Humans and fairies and youkai and kappa, here, it's...." The ranger captain slows even more, almost to a crawl, slowly turning her head around to take in the sights of the changed tengu world around you. "It's unreal." she finishes at last.
-
>"It's like coming home and finding a stranger in your front room. Even if you didn't mind them showing up, it's still weird and unsettling, and you wish they had just politely waited outside or something..."
>"And since it's her job to keep intruders out, I'm gonna say it's probably worse for her then for me, and I'm uncomfortable enough already..."
-
>"It's like coming home and finding a stranger in your front room. Even if you didn't mind them showing up, it's still weird and unsettling, and you wish they had just politely waited outside or something..."
>"And since it's her job to keep intruders out, I'm gonna say it's probably worse for her then for me, and I'm uncomfortable enough already..."
>Ranka gives you a supportive smile. Well, as close as she can get, since it still seems a bit on the flirty side. "You'll get used to it."
>"You know what though, Hatate?" Momiji asks quietly. "It's.... It's not so bad, really. I mean, I kind of imagined what it might be like if things were, well, like this. But I never once imagined I'd actually see it, not with my own eyes." The wolf manages a faint laugh, then tries to grin. "It's a lot to take in."
-
>"Really, huh? I never would've though you'd be the kind of person to imagine what it'd be like to let someone slip through."
>Glance back down.
>"Are they even being escorted? How shameless can you get?"
-
>"Really, huh? I never would've though you'd be the kind of person to imagine what it'd be like to let someone slip through."
>Glance back down.
>"Are they even being escorted? How shameless can you get?"
>"I imagine that all the time. That's one of the ways you improve security." Momiji grins ruefully. "Remind me to tell you about a woman named Suishou, she taught us a thing or two about imagination."
>"But that's not what I mean. I've spent the past few hundred years keeping non-tengu out of our territory, except the odd kappa inventor, and even then it's only on Dai-tengu terms. But even now and again, when I was younger, I've wondered, is it really necessary? Would it be too terrible to relax the guard a little bit?" Momiji gives her head a little shake. "I haven't really thought that in a long time. I'm a solider, I have my duty. But seeing this, here? I wonder..."
-
>"I think this is the part where Celes would tell you that you're letting the place get to you. As for me, it's pretty plain, because it's kind of uncomfortable to just have outsiders wandering around our mountain as they please. Maybe I'd get used to it? But... I dunno if I'd want to."
-
>"I think this is the part where Celes would tell you that you're letting the place get to you. As for me, it's pretty plain, because it's kind of uncomfortable to just have outsiders wandering around our mountain as they please. Maybe I'd get used to it? But... I dunno if I'd want to."
>"Why not?" Ranka asks with surprising gentleness. "Isn't it better when everyone's happy? Every tengu I've seen lately's been happier than I've seen before. And everyone who lives on the mountain's been happier for being closer to the tengu. I may not live on the mountain, but it's plain even to me that things have been better this way, for everyone."
-
>"It...wouldn't work quite like that, where I'm from."
-
>"It...wouldn't work quite like that, where I'm from."
>"It'd take some work." Ranka says with a nod. "It took some work here too." Then she smiles. "Work's worth it though, sometimes."
>"A lot of work." Momiji agrees. "Where we come from, this sort of thing.... Whew, I can't even begin to tell you how many people would have apoplexy at the idea."
>"Apowhat?" the wind spirit asks.
>"Never mind." Momiji says with a shake of her head. "Maybe you're right, Hatate, maybe I'm letting this place get to me. I just.... Can't help but wonder." she says quietly, smiling a faint smile.
-
>"I'm just wondering what we'd gain from it. Not like we can't go mingle with people down off the mountain as it is, anyways."
-
>"I'm just wondering what we'd gain from it. Not like we can't go mingle with people down off the mountain as it is, anyways."
>"But not invite them home." Momiji replies. "Not without clearing it through the proper channels."
>"Downside of living in buildings." Ranka says with a grin.
>The White Wolf blinks, glances over at Ranka, then bursts out laughing. "I.... I never thought about it that way before." she gasps, prompting a rather bemused smile from the wind spirit. After a moment's chuckling, Momiji wipes her eyes. "Ah hah.... Sorry for the hold up here, Hatate." The ranger captain straightens herself. "We should probably get a move on. If we're supposed to be famous here, we might get flagged down if we hang around up here much longer."
>"And thanks." she adds after a moment. "For keeping my feet on the ground. So to speak."
-
>"Don't worry about it. And besides, you can visit their houses as it is. Well, except for Ranka, since she's a hobo."
>Onvard.
-
>"Don't worry about it. And besides, you can visit their houses as it is. Well, except for Ranka, since she's a hobo."
>Onvard.
>"The prettiest hobo around." Ranka says with an inviting little smirk on her full lips.
>Momiji's concern about being waylaid by any admirers seems a bit off, as Ranka leads you due east. Although you spy quite a few heads turn to look your way, the vast majority of the looks on their faces are confused rather than anything else. Their confusion keeps them from interrupting your flight, so more's the better at the moment. Means you can focus on the task at hand.
>Ranka leads you towards a broad field which, in your world, is used for larger scale sporting events, usually baseball or the occasional soccer game. Judging by the sounds coming from up ahead, today it's being used for a brawl. The sharp cracking sound of wood on wood strikes a counterpoint to the sounds of steel clashing against steel, mixed at points with the twanging of bowstrings. You can pick out the sound of a guitar and flute as well, but the ruckus of weapons and shouting fairly well covers the tune. Her face slightly concerned, Momiji accelerates a bit.
>Coming into view of the field, it looks almost as much as sounds like a battle. Almost a hundred individuals cover the grounds below you, weapons in the hands of nearly all of them. They seem to have been grouped together based on the weapons they're training with. The most populous seem to be those swinging wooden practice sticks at each other, but there are also a group firing off arrows at distant targets, flailing with blunted spears and hoisting shields of various sizes. Only twice do you see a pair of combatants going at it with sharpened weapons, and those four- three white wolves and a Crow- all seem to know their stuff. Standing off to the side are a pair of white wolves in the garb of nurses, conversing idly with a labcoat wearing kappa with a rather dubious looking device slung on her back. The music is being produced by a pair of tengu seated on the other side of a white-haired youkai with a short puffy tail.
>Adding to the rather alien nature of the scene before you is the fact that practically everyone sparring with each other appears to be enjoying themselves. The feel of the air is almost casual. The number of grins and laughs outweighs by miles the number of scowls and fierce yells.
>And walking through them all, observing and advising as she goes, is Momiji. Outwardly, she seems all but identical to the Momiji floating next to you. Her hair is just a bit longer, but apart from that, she could be your Momiji's twin. Even her clothes seem to the same, apart from a silver necklace from which dangles a multicolored collection of feathers. She's also being flanked by a pair of somewhat stern faced tengu, a Yamabushi and a Dai-tengu, both in clad and armed in the style befitting bodyguards, the type usually reserved for the elite Dai-tengu.
-
>Well, she's definitely been upjumped...
>"So, she's your doppelganger, how do you want to go about doing this?"
>Look around while speaking, any sign of our double?
-
>Well, she's definitely been upjumped...
>"So, she's your doppelganger, how do you want to go about doing this?"
>Look around while speaking, any sign of our double?
>Evidently.
>"I, uh..." Momiji stammers, seemingly at a bit of a loss for words. Coughing quietly, she takes another glance around the field. "We should... probably head down and introduce ourselves. It won't be long before they see us anyway. But not too quickly, not if those Windwalkers are as serious as they can be in our world."
>A cursory glance around doesn't reveal any sign of your counterpart, but a short flight away to the southeast reveals a danmaku duel in progress. In and of itself this would not be remarkable, but the purple talisman danmaku pattern you see looks very familiar. In fact, you have no doubt that it's your danmaku.
-
>"Alright, let's go."
>Descend. When they notice us, give a cheery wave and say "Hey there! Need to talk for a couple minutes!"
-
>"Alright, let's go."
>Descend. When they notice us, give a cheery wave and say "Hey there! Need to talk for a couple minutes!"
>In fact, the other Momiji notices you straightaway as you and Momiji begin to drop out of the sky. She seems a touch confused herself. "Hata-" She gets as far as the second syllable of your name before her gaze falls fully upon the Momiji descending next to you.
>"We definately need to talk." your Momiji says quietly. The Wolf with the bodyguards simply stares for a moment more before nodding faintly.
>Among the crowd around you, however, the mood appears to be changing a little. The sounds of weapons drops away slowly as, in twos and fours, the various tengu and youkai in the field cease their activities to turn and look at who is dropping in on them. A murmur starts to run through the crowd, and it isn't a very friendly sound. The two bodyguards flanking the Momiji on the ground, both of which have very unusual eyes, both are aiming very hard looks at the Momiji you came in with. Said Momiji, however, simply looks curious. Idly she points at her counterpart. "You, I can tell, are going to have a story." Turning her eyes and her finger on you, she asks, "And for some reason, I'm guessing you didn't just leave here a couple of minutes ago with an oni woman, did you?"
-
>"Right on both counts. To keep it simple, we're from another Gensokyo, and it looks like we'll be stuck here for a little while. So, we figured it'd be best to come and introduce ourselves before any real mistaken identities started up, and get ourselves situated at home."
-
>"Right on both counts. To keep it simple, we're from another Gensokyo, and it looks like we'll be stuck here for a little while. So, we figured it'd be best to come and introduce ourselves before any real mistaken identities started up, and get ourselves situated at home."
>"From what we were told about the tengu here, we knew it would only be a matter of time before word got back here about us." your Momiji adds. "So, like Hatate said, we thought we'd come up here before any rumors got ahead of us."
>"That a fact." the dai-tengu to Momiji-2's right states flatly. The rather dark look in her eyes echoes the looks many of the people in the crowd seem to be throwing at you and your Momiji. The Dai-tengu definitely has the edge on them, though, in terms of dirty looks. Her eyes are completely colorless. "Pretty out there story."
-
>"Okay, so you don't believe us? Then, how about your ideas? If we were gonna impersonate people and raise hell, we're doing a really lousy job of it by coming to find you guys first thing, don't you think? What would we have to gain by impersonating people intentionally?"
-
>"Okay, so you don't believe us? Then, how about your ideas? If we were gonna impersonate people and raise hell, we're doing a really lousy job of it by coming to find you guys first thing, don't you think? What would we have to gain by impersonating people intentionally?"
>"That's what we asked Nue after we caught her impersonating Aya several months ago." the Yamabushi replies. This one is a bit shorter than her partner, but her eyes are almost as strange. The colored parts of her eyes are a solid grey, like little spheres of lead. She's prettier than her partner, but she presently looks a bit more threatening, as her hands are resting atop the two short swords sheathed at her belt. "She said it was 'A larf.'"
>A wave of angry murmurs runs through the crowd again. The shapeshifter's name seems to have struck an annoyed chord with the assembled individuals. While this plainly doesn't help your case, what may is the fact that Momiji herself doesn't appear either suspicious or annoyed. If anything, she seems to be curious.
-
>"Okay, so if we're not able to change shape, then that wouldn't have anything to do with us, right? You're the magician here, so you oughta know how to sniff out a shapechanger's true form, shouldn't you?"
-
>"Okay, so if we're not able to change shape, then that wouldn't have anything to do with us, right? You're the magician here, so you oughta know how to sniff out a shapechanger's true form, shouldn't you?"
>The grey-eyed woman nods. "I do have a trick or two under my wings."
-
>"Then please. Let's get this dealt with so we can talk about useful things."
-
>"Then please. Let's get this dealt with so we can talk about useful things."
>"All right." The grey eyed Yamabushi extends her hand out, palm up, towards you. In a voice holding no friendly tones at all, she says, "Hold still."
>Before she can fire a spell at you, the promoted Momiji catches her wrist firmly. "I don't think that will be necessary."
>The Yamabushi splutters, "But, why not?"
>"I think I believe them." The white winged Windwalker splutters once more, but Momiji continues, pointing at her counterpart, "Look at the way she's acting. She's let Hatate do most of the talking, and she's standing just behind her, close enough to guard her but not assuming the same place as a Crow. Just like I used to." Your Momiji's eyes widen as she stares at the other, while that Momiji smiles. "The revolution hasn't happened yet for you two, has it?"
-
>"No. And we have a lot of questions about that, because I really wanna know why you're training up an army."
-
>"No. And we have a lot of questions about that, because I really wanna know why you're training up an army."
>"There is also another reason to give them the benefit of the doubt." a familiar voice announces from the crowd. A group of white wolves part ways to allow the scarlet cloaked youkai Honoka to pass between them. She is accompanied by a demure looking youkai in a green and black robe. She seems vaguely familiar to you, and it takes you a moment to recall that you saw her earlier today- from your perspective, of course- at the Moriya shrine, performing with the goddess trio.
>With a brief glance upwards, Honoka asks, "Ranka brought you here, did she not?"
>Your Momiji nods. "We met her in the village at the base of the mountain, and she was good enough to escort us here."
>"And you managed to keep your clothes on the whole way up?" Although Honoka asks the question rather seriously, the slight grin on her face belies her tone.
-
>"Oh we're too old-fashioned for her tastes. Now about this army."
-
>"Oh we're too old-fashioned for her tastes. Now about this army."
>"Don't tengu where you come from know how to defend themselves?" the white-eyed Windwalker asks acidly.
>"Not like this, they don't." the other Momiji answers for you. "Remember, before the Revolution, this sort of activity would never happen, not with more than White Wolves involved. We did all the fighting. And Kohebi and Honoka definitely wouldn't be here either." The black winged bodyguard mumbles sourly, but doesn't dispute her charges' words. "Now, there's a short answer to your question, Hata...." The other Momiji trails off and chuckles quietly. "This is going to be a bit awkward when the other Hatate gets back. Anyway, there's a short answer and a long answer." With a smile, she asks, "If you're like her, I'd wager you want the longer one, right?"
-
>"Gimme short, then long."
-
>"Gimme short, then long."
>"The short answer is, we might need one." Momiji says simply. "Though the term 'army' is a bit inaccurate. All we're doing here now is teaching people how to handle themselves if and when things go wrong."
>"The long answer is, well, a fair bit longer." the white wolf says with a somewhat depreciating smile. "But I think it'd be best if we went somewhere else to continue that line of discussion." she finishes. "A demonstration might help, though, if you'd like. I was planning on offering one for all the first-timers here this morning anyway, and this is as good a time as any."
-
>"Sure, demonstrate away."
-
>"Sure, demonstrate away."
>Momiji nods, then her face changes just a little. "Form ranks!" she barks, her voice carrying more authority than you think you've ever heard your Momiji use. And it has an immediate effect, as the warriors in training immediately cease their suspicious looks and angry muttering to assemble before their leader, who turns from you and walks towards a box carved into the dirt not far from where you stand, her bodyguards following her.
>"You have nothing else to fear here." Honoka assures you and your Momiji. "They may not accept you, but no one will do anything against you if Momiji has accepted you. And I will vouch for you as well." she adds, glancing up towards the long-haired blonde reclining in the air above. "Ranka liked you enough to escort you here, and in this, I trust her judgement."
-
>"If they're going around giving fellow tengu trouble, then whatever happened has failed so much worse than I could imagine, and I'd have to disavow them as fellows anyways. I'm going to pretend they still have that basic dignity."
-
>"If they're going around giving fellow tengu trouble, then whatever happened has failed so much worse than I could imagine, and I'd have to disavow them as fellows anyways. I'm going to pretend they still have that basic dignity."
>"You can pretend whatever you want, but understand this." Honoka says firmly. "In their eyes, you're an imposter, and of one the most popular tengu around at the moment. And that's even more true for you." she adds to Momiji. "Momiji Inubashiri was one of the architects of the current society. She is beloved by every tengu on the mountain and beyond. Seeing another youkai wearing her face, which is what they suspect right now, is infuriating to them."
>"But Momiji herself is a very reasonable woman." the snake youkai adds, her voice as sinuous and sinister as it was when you met her earlier today. "She will listen to you. If she accepts you and your story, then so too will the others."
-
>No point in trying to lecture an outsider on what it means to be a tengu, especially if Celes is right and it's all fake anyways. Just observe Momiji instead.
-
>No point in trying to lecture an outsider on what it means to be a tengu, especially if Celes is right and it's all fake anyways. Just observe Momiji instead.
>"There are a number of reasons why the White Wolves used to do all the fighting." the supposedly fake Momiji speaks as she marches back and forth before the assembled tengu crowd, looking a proper general as her eyes skim across the gathered men and women. "We tend to have the temperament for it, we have the physicality for it, and we tend to have the discipline for this kind of training. None of that means by any stretch than none of you have the temperament for fighting, or the physicality for it, or the discipline. And most importantly, you all have the will to defend yourselves and your homes, and the spirit to do anything anyone else can do." Momiji affords them a faint smile. "You've already proven that by being here. And to honor that spirit, I will help you discover the skills you want."
>"YES, MA'AM!" the crowd roars almost perfectly in unison, over a hundred voices strong announcing their loyalty to the White Wolf.
>The other Momiji, the one you arrived with, takes this opportunity to speak to Honoka, "How is it that you came to be here?"
>"The Momiji over there enlisted my help." the cloaked youkai replies. "Around the time she started organizing these classes for weapons training, she did the same thing for spellcard training. But she didn't want to draw her instructors solely from the ranks of the tengu, so she sought out youkai from other walks of life to offer lessons to her people in the ways of danmaku. That is why Kohebi and I are here."
>"That makes sense." Momiji says with a thoughtful nod. "You both think differently than a tengu, so you'd have other ideas to offer. And you both must be very good teachers, or there's no way you'd get tengu to accept you as teachers."
>"Thank you." the sinister voiced snake youkai hisses in reply.
>"It is my hope that not one of us here, myself included, will ever be called upon to use these skills outside of this field." 'General' Momiji continues. "But if that time DOES come, you will all be ready. If the old guard return, and try to use their swords to turn things back to the way they were, will you be ready to fend them off?"
>"YES, MA'AM!"
>"If something in the Underworld escapes the Oni again, and dare to come to challenge us, will you be ready?"
>"YES, MA'AM!"
>"If a threat arises among the Outside world, and they turn their guns upon Gensokyo and her people, will you be ready?"
>"YES, MA'AM!"
>"That's what I like to hear." Momiji's complimentary tone draws a chorus of cheers from the assembled tengu. The sense of camaraderie between them is visible even to someone like you, who is a virtual stranger to the battlefield. It is stunning to see that level of reverence offered to a White Wolf from tengu of other castes. Even Dai-tengu seem to acknowledge her command over the crowd. Momiji then continues, "Now I know there are some among you, especially among those who are new to our trainings, that are thinking, 'No matter how strong I get, I'll never be as good as a White Wolf warrior.'" She looks over at you. "That's the way it is where you come from, isn't it?" she asks curiously.
-
>"Flukes might happen, but on the whole that's known to be true. The pride of the a white wolf wouldn't allow for anything different."
-
>"Flukes might happen, but on the whole that's known to be true. The pride of the a white wolf wouldn't allow for anything different."
>"That's a fair point she makes." Momiji says as she turns back to her students. "We Wolves did indeed used to pride ourselves on being the best pure warriors, didn't we?" Rather than the enthusiastic roar you've come to expect, there are only nods and a few murmured agreements from the White Wolves among the crowd. "But now we've found more ways to take pride in our prowess, haven't we?" This question draws a louder response than the last. "Now we take pride when someone who isn't a Wolf can match our skill. And for all of you who still think this can't be done, other than the odd Dai-tengu, like Hatate said.... RAT!" She bellows, then grins, a warrior's grin. "Let's dance."
>Wondering why she called for a rat, you spy instead a brown-winged Long-nose tengu winding her way through the crowd. The woman's nose is very angular and her jaw is even longer, giving her a distinctly rodent-like appearance. She carries a pair of short swords on her belt, as well as a long knife at the small of her back, two daggers tucked into her leather boots, and your trained eye catches at least one more dagger hilt hidden inside her brown leather vest. A very wirey frame is concealed beneath her rather masculine apparel, but the return grin she levels at Momiji speaks volumes of confidence.
>The White Wolf and the Long Nose walk in sidestep as the both head towards a large circle marked in the grass of the field, an excited muttering running though the other tengu present as they move apart, letting Momiji and the Rat have some room, many taking to the air to get a better view of the certain dual to come. You, however, are slightly confused. To look at this Long-nose, one would not get the impression that she'd have any chance against a warrior like Momiji, despite her wealth of blades. On the other hand, Momiji wouldn't have called her out if she didn't think the weasel-faced tengu was a match for her. This could be interesting.
>"Are these duels recorded usually?" Momiji asks Honoka.
>"Sometimes. Whenever Hatate is around, she usually comes away with a shot or two at least." After a moment, she adds, "That's the other Hatate."
>"This could get somewhat confusing." the snake youkai adds with a wry grin.
-
>"Yeah, it's only fair that we come up with other names. So, does she look competent, Momiji?"
>Whatever she answers, watch to see what happens. In particular, watch for cheating, mundane or otherwise.
-
>"Yeah, it's only fair that we come up with other names. So, does she look competent, Momiji?"
>Whatever she answers, watch to see what happens. In particular, watch for cheating, mundane or otherwise.
>Your Momiji offers up a sigh as she smiles. "It seems that... 'Momicchi' might come in handy." she suggests dryly.
>The captain gives the Long-nose an appraising look as her doppelganger and her opponent reach the wide circle in the grass. "Kohebi. Call the time." the other Momiji calls out. The snake youkai moves to join her as the tengu called 'Rat' draws her two short blades and brandishes them in front of her.
>"Yes." Momiji answers your question as she studies the Long-noses' stance. "She's confidant, but her stance is relaxed. Honoka, she's fought Momiji before, hasn't she?"
>The cloaked youkai nods. "She is frequently called upon to demonstrate what a non-White Wolf is capable of in the martial arts."
>"How do they usually- Never mind." Momiji's question is interrupted when her counterpart draws her armaments. While the shield she carries is the same as the one from your world, this Momiji wields a different sword. This one has a black handle, and its curved blade is tinted a mixture of white and a cold blue. "Is that a frostbranded weapon?"
>Honoka nods. "As I understand, it was a gift to her from a sightless blacksmith."
>"Karen." Momiji says with a smile. "In any timeline, she looks after me. I assume that the time is five minutes?"
>"Ten."
>"Ten minutes." Momiji studies the two tengu again, now circling each other warily. "It won't last that long." she says to you. "Not ten minutes. The Long-nose looks good, but I can already tell that this Momiji is much better than I am. She'll have this 'Rat' in the dirt before ten minutes."
>If Momiji's doppelganger's victory is assured, it doesn't show in the opening blows of the duel. Three times the Long-nose darts in, her blades flashing, and although three times they fail to touch Momiji's skin, so too does Momiji fail to make contact with her opponent. The wirey tengu is far more acrobatic than you've ever seen a Long-nose demonstrate, springing around the circle, cartwheeling and handspringing at points, making Momiji's sword strike naught but air. She even goes on the offensive with these circus-like moves, driving her joined feet forward or sometimes her twin daggers, forcing Momiji either to block with her shield or give ground.
>"Gods." you Momiji breathes. "She's making me work for it."
>"You mean her." Honoka corrects solemnly.
>"Right, sorry."
>And it seems to be a fair fight, too. Your eyes are very keen, and they show you no sign of any improper conduct on the part of the Long-nose fighter. She seems to be the more dexterous of the two, which negates the edge Momiji has in raw strength. She's not fast enough to keep someone as skilled as Momiji from scoring hits completely, but she is skilled enough to blunt Momiji's offense, and her deft bladework is just good enough to keep the White Wolf's sword at bay. Twice, Momiji manages to strike the Rat with her shield, but the first strike is nothing more than a glancing blow, and the other is blocked by by of the Long-nose's blades, softening the impact considerably. Only once does the Long-nose seem to make a mistake, putting a bit too much force behind a backhanded swipe with her off-hand blade. As the dagger bounces off Momiji's sword, your eyes detect a faltering of her step when she puts her foot down. She's thrown herself off balance, not by much, but surely enough for a warrior like Momiji to take advantage of. The White Wolf, however, holds back her weapons, allowing Rat to get her footing back before thrusting her sword forward, which is met by a parrying slash from her foe.
>Your Momiji, of course, noticed this as well. "She doesn't want to win." she explains. "It's the duel that matters, not the result. She's showing everyone that it doesn't take a White Wolf to beat a White Wolf."
-
>"Yeah, she's going a little easy. Now what I wanna know is just how many other people can pull that off?"
-
>"Yeah, she's going a little easy. Now what I wanna know is just how many other people can pull that off?"
>"Not many." Honoka replies. "Momiji is an excellent teacher, but the people who match her physicality and her natural talent, and have the discipline to train as she has, are very few." Honoka pauses to watch the dueling Momiji ward off an overhand strike from the Long-Nose, and deliver a firm boot to Rat's sternum, forcing her to back off a few steps. "I cannot judge martial talent as readily as I do danmaku, but to my knowledge, Momiji is one of the finest warriors in Gensokyo, of any species."
>"She fights Oni like this?" your Momiji starts.
>"She has. And she usually wins. And speaking of Oni," Honoka says as she turns her head towards you. "There is a particular Oni who lives here that may challenge you to a duel yourself the moment she returns. Knowing her, fighting one Hatate in a day probably won't be enough."
-
>"I'll have to make some kind of arrangement, then. And yeah, this is interesting, but it's also a fluke, isn't it? I mean, those happen sometimes, it's like how sometimes people are born blind, you know?"
-
>"I'll have to make some kind of arrangement, then. And yeah, this is interesting, but it's also a fluke, isn't it? I mean, those happen sometimes, it's like how sometimes people are born blind, you know?"
>"I suppose that's one way to look at it." Honoka admits.
>"It doesn't really matter, though." Momiji interjects. "Not the fight itself, anyway. That's not the point she's trying to make to us. Well, not the MAIN point, anyway. Try to imagine what a scene like this would look like in our world."
-
>"It'd be pretty wild, yeah. But I think we've gotten beyond the main point, because this isn't a good excuse for raising an army, is it?"
-
>"It'd be pretty wild, yeah. But I think we've gotten beyond the main point, because this isn't a good excuse for raising an army, is it?"
>"The army isn't the point, either." Momiji says with a shake of her head. "It's a way to bring the different castes together. She's given them a common goal, something that matters to every one of them - defending their homes. I think every one of them hopes to never ever have to use those weapons once they leave this field, but every one of them is going to be more comfortable working and living around the other castes at the end of every day. They'll all know that if the time ever DOES come, they'll stand together, instead of waiting for one group to take care of all the bad things." The Wolf captain pauses, then frowns. "At least... That's what I think."
-
>"It seems like a really loaded thing to use to bring people together, if you ask me. Why raise an army and insult all the white wolves who spent their whole lives doing a perfectly fine job when you could do something else? I mean, there's things that no one caste really does yet, like danmaku. Or if you really want to turn people's eyes outward, maybe tinkering in those devices the people at the shrine like so much? It's just weird, you know? Or since there seem to be oni coming and going now, why not things like brewing? Don't you think there's something we're not being told?"
-
>"It seems like a really loaded thing to use to bring people together, if you ask me. Why raise an army and insult all the white wolves who spent their whole lives doing a perfectly fine job when you could do something else? I mean, there's things that no one caste really does yet, like danmaku. Or if you really want to turn people's eyes outward, maybe tinkering in those devices the people at the shrine like so much? It's just weird, you know? Or since there seem to be oni coming and going now, why not things like brewing? Don't you think there's something we're not being told?"
>"I haven't gotten the impression that anyone's concealing anything." Momiji replies, though she does lower her voice a little. "On the other hand, I've never had to try to pick deception out of my own mouth before. But if she IS anything like me, and there IS something else she hasn't mentioned, then it's probably something she can't talk about in public."
>"But I can tell you this, though, I wouldn't consider it an insult. And I can think of a lot of White Wolves who would approve of a class like this, they'd even volunteer to help. It'd be an insult if we were getting replaced outright, but I don't think that's what this is."
-
>Nod.
>"Maybe. I have to admit, that longnose is pretty good at it. Though I wonder what her ancestors would think of it. Maybe I'm just overly wary of teaching people about weapons when the era of weapons is more or less done with as far as anyone civilized is concerned. It's...bad form, you know?"
-
>Nod.
>"Maybe. I have to admit, that longnose is pretty good at it. Though I wonder what her ancestors would think of it. Maybe I'm just overly wary of teaching people about weapons when the era of weapons is more or less done with as far as anyone civilized is concerned. It's...bad form, you know?"
>"Yeah, I can see your point. Especially with the Hakurei's about, I can just picture Reimu getting a bit upset if she came along and saw this going on." Turning to Honoka, she says, "Actually, HAS Reimu been up here since these classes started?"
>"As a matter of fact, she has." the cloaked youkai replies. "And you are correct, she was not pleased at the idea of the tengu seemingly expanding their interest in armed combat. I think she may in fact have taken it as something of a personal insult, a slight to the spellcard system, which she had a hand in creating, after all. But Aya was there at the time, and she explained to Reimu just what the intent of these exercises are, and that no one meant any hard by them. I believe she had to do a bit of fast talking, but whatever she said seemed to convince Reimu. She allowed the classes to continue, though she did make several threats about what would happen if it ever became something other than a bonding a defense exercise. And I think thrashing me at a game of danmaku helped improve her mood, as well." Honoka adds quickly.
-
>"I can only imagine. Has anyone else expressed that kind of distaste for it?"
>Let OtherMiji finish her duel.
-
>"I can only imagine. Has anyone else expressed that kind of distaste for it?"
>Let OtherMiji finish her duel.
>"I believe there has been some dissent among some of the more conservative Dai-Tengu who allied themselves with the rebels, but not that many. The other races have actually embraced the idea. For the Kappa, it presents them a new field of objects to tinker with. Which has had varying results." Honoka says wryly. "If for no other reason than to firmly establish the fact that the words 'rocket' and 'sword' do not belong attached to each other."
>"No kidding." Momiji remarks.
>"For the Oni that have come above ground, it's a new way to challenge people, though such challenges have been very few thus far. As far as I know, most oni that seek a challenge use the spellcard rules rather than their clubs. And for the rare oni that does seek an armed challenge, they have the sense to seek out someone skilled, such as Momiji or Kohebi, rather than picking on one of our trainees."
>The duel doesn't last long beyond Honoka's speech. After less than a minute more of exchanged thrusts, parries, ripostes and crashes, the green-haired Kohebi hisses, "Time." But while her voice is loud enough to be heard by you, it doesn't have power enough to divert the two combatants from their fight. Momiji's sword flashes out, turned aside by the Long-noses dagger, while the answering strike clashes harmlessly against Momiji's shield. And then a large glowing green snake materializes between Momiji and the Rat, driving the two tengu apart. Acting quickly, you take a picture of the two being driven apart by the energy serpent, and of Momiji's surprised face. Curiously, you hear another camera shutter clicking from above and behind you.
>"I did call the time." Kohebi says slowly, her arm slightly raised and a faintly sinister grin on her face.
>Momiji's doppelganger nods and sheathes her sword. "So you did. And let that be another lesson." she adds in a louder voice. "Try not to cross a snake if you can help it. They have ways of surprising you." A chorus of chuckles rises from the crowd as Kohebi's energy snake fades from view..
-
>Look back toward the other shutter noise.
-
>Look back toward the other shutter noise.
>A look in that direction reveals... You. Albeit with a different camera, as this Hatate holds a larger, older style camera, not unlike what Aya often wields. With the exception of that object, she's your mirror image.
-
>Has she seen us?
>If so: "Well hello there, gorgeous!"
-
>Has she seen us?
>If so: "Well hello there, gorgeous!"
>Given where she's hovering, and the direction you assume she came from, she had to have seen you by now. Especially if her eye is as keen as yours. So you extend your greetings to her.
>Your twin grins broadly. "We really DO have the same face. Cool!"
-
>"Yep! Hope you don't mind I have it too, things are pretty complicated right now..."
-
>"Yep! Hope you don't mind I have it too, things are pretty complicated right now..."
>"Are you kidding?" Your twin says with a big grin. "Two of me means a heck of a story!"
-
>"That it does."
>Glance around to see what the others are up to.
>"Hey, is there somewhere private we can talk for a bit?"
-
>"That it does."
>Glance around to see what the others are up to.
>Your Momiji is giving the other Hatate a curious look. "You're a bit more receptive of us than the others were at first."
>"Not surprised, since you look like Momiji. But that'll change, give them some time."
>"Hey, is there somewhere private we can talk for a bit?"
>"I think that can be arranged. Momiji's place isn't far from here, and the door's always open to me."
-
>Nod, and look back to our Momiji. "Mind if we meet up where we're supposed to meet with Celes?"
>Presuming she's down with it, let's follow that doppelganger!
-
>Nod, and look back to our Momiji. "Mind if we meet up where we're supposed to meet with Celes?"
>Presuming she's down with it, let's follow that doppelganger!
>"Uh, where was that again?" Momiji asks. "I don't think she mentioned before she went off to deal with that Oni."
-
>"Let's call it the Moriya Shrine, then."
-
>"Let's call it the Moriya Shrine, then."
>"All right." your Momiji says with a nod before turning her face up to Ranka, who'd been idly stretched out in the air above. "Ranka? Would you mind doing us another favor?"
>"Mmmm?"
>"Could you head back down the mountain and find Celes, let her know that we plan to meet up at the Moriya Shrine, please?"
>"Mmmm. Well, all right, hun." the wind spirit drawls as she idly plays with a loose curl of her golden hair. "Since you asked me nice." Giving Momiji a wink, Ranka flickers and dissipates into the wind again, to the sound of a camera clicking.
>"I wish I could do that." your doppelganger says enviously as she lowers her camera. "That's just cool."
-
>"It'd be useful! So, lead the way?"
-
>"It'd be useful! So, lead the way?"
>Your ersatz twin gives you a little bow and turns in a northward direction. "But of course, madame." she says exaggeratedly. "And maybe you can tell me a little bit about this Celes on the way?"
-
>"Sure!"
>Make with the following.
>"Celes is the third person with us. Far as I know, she doesn't have any duplicate here. Um, I'm guessing you know about Ran and Aya?"
-
>"Sure!"
>Make with the following.
>"Celes is the third person with us. Far as I know, she doesn't have any duplicate here. Um, I'm guessing you know about Ran and Aya?"
>"What, they're dating?" Your opposite giggles at her own joke. "But no, you mean the whole twin thing. Yeah, I do. I was the one who broke the story about Ran's twin, after all."
-
>"You better have been! Anyways, I think this case is roughly the same? Though what do you know about the other Ran?"
-
>"You better have been! Anyways, I think this case is roughly the same? Though what do you know about the other Ran?"
>"Honestly, not as much as I'd like. Neither one of the Rans can explain the other one. I've talked to Yukari about it more than once, but that old woman's slipperier than a whole school of eels. I've got a theory, though. It's never shown in my paper, since neither one of us runs theory without any backup, do we?"
-
>"At least not outside of some juicy gossip. What is it?"
-
>"At least not outside of some juicy gossip. What is it?"
>"I think Yukari's testing Ran." your twin says in a conspiritorial voice. "That woman just doesn't think like the rest of us, but I do know that she likes testing Ran, since Ran likes passing her tests."
-
>"Well, that's possible. But, here's the thing. Where I come from, Ran and Aya were up to something... And Aya's been missing for a month now."
-
>"Well, that's possible. But, here's the thing. Where I come from, Ran and Aya were up to something... And Aya's been missing for a month now."
>"And you were thinking the other Aya that was here for a while is the Aya from the past?"
-
>"I'm thinking one of them is our Aya, yeah."
-
>"I'm thinking one of them is our Aya, yeah."
>"Well, there's just the one of 'em left here in Gensokyo. The other one went out into the Outside world a few years ago."
-
>"...Huh. Now that's weird. Which one?"
-
>"...Huh. Now that's weird. Which one?"
>"I don't know. I couldn't really tell them apart after a while." She chuckles. "I don't know that THEY could tell themselves apart after a while. Kinda like the two Rans, actually."
-
>"Now that is odd. I don't suppose you happen to have an embarrassing tattoo or something so we can keep who's who straight?"
-
>"Now that is odd. I don't suppose you happen to have an embarrassing tattoo or something so we can keep who's who straight?"
>"Oh, that's easy." your twin says with a wave of her hand. "We feel different."
-
>"Oh, that's easy." your twin says with a wave of her hand. "We feel different."
>"Is that so?"
>Does she feel different, not as though we took the time to really check beyond the visual.
-
> As a precaution,remember to carve that feeling of distinction and individuality into your consciousness and to communicate it with our companions.
>" Not to sound curt ,but Celes,one of my group, is wasting time by dueling a red haired flame casting oni whom challenged us...Regardless of her strength ,could you lend me a wing and blow away the last suspicion of us being Nueish dopplengangers or whatever so we can reach the Moriya Shrine?"
> Once we set off to the "rescue" ."Funny - How come none notices there is no sign of either a Marisa or Alice twin or is everyone here holding out on assisting on good scoops ,Future Hatate? - "
>Quickly add :" I am considering to differentiate you and I by naming you Future and I Past Hatate lest we run into cumbersome misunderstanding not dissimilar from the last or forget our places like the Rans."
"Future Hatate" and "Past Hatate" are to the liking of everyone? I am leaving my intervention hanging for another player to correct with " I like x and y better after all".
Moreover, I have tidied my previous post,meant for potential guide not to be topsy-turvy due to information overflow. Sorry :blush: https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,16984.msg1115615.html#msg1115615
-
>" Not to sound curt ,but Celes,one of my group, is wasting time by dueling a red haired flame casting oni whom challenged us...Regardless of her strength ,could you lend me a wing and blow away the last suspicion of us being Nueish dopplengangers or whatever so we can reach the Moriya Shrine?"
> Once we set off to the "rescue" te? - "
>Clarification request. Did you wish to head back down the mountain to where you left Celes?
-
I'm cool with Past and Future Hatate. But for now, let's let Celes take care of herself. We have business with our Doppelganger.
>Celes can handle herself, let's not bother bringing up the idea of helping her out right now. We got more important things to discuss. Not to mention it would be extremely gauche to interrupt a duel, and possible get a shrine maiden on our tail.
-
I'm cool with Past and Future Hatate. But for now, let's let Celes take care of herself. We have business with our Doppelganger.
>Celes can handle herself, let's not bother bringing up the idea of helping her out right now. We got more important things to discuss. Not to mention it would be extremely gauche to interrupt a duel, and possible get a shrine maiden on our tail.
Fine.However I still mean to send Future Hatate or her acquaintances to fetch Celes up if she starts to miss out too much on this one Moriya Shrine shenanigans.Just in the off-chance of spreading the party too thin while there are breakthroughs.
>Clarification request. Did you wish to head back down the mountain to where you left Celes?
Let us go along with Purvis line but make my mention of Celes a mental reminder for our Hatate and not a vocal request.
-
>"Is that so?"
>Does she feel different, not as though we took the time to really check beyond the visual.
>"Oh yeah, that's how I knew you were the real thing." your twin says confidently. "You feel like I used to."
>You don't often consciously exercising that ability anyway, but now that your curiosity has been aroused, you take a feel of the air around your twin.
>Or rather, you try to. Your connection to the winds doesn't tell you anything about your twin. In fact, it feels like she isn't even there. In fact, you can't feel anything at all around you, not even still air. The closest sensation of any sort you get is Momiji's presense some distance back.
> As a precaution,remember to carve that feeling of distinction and individuality into your consciousness and to communicate it with our companions.
>Quickly add :" I am considering to differentiate you and I by naming you Future and I Past Hatate lest we run into cumbersome misunderstanding not dissimilar from the last or forget our places like the Rans."
>You make a mental note.
>Your counterpart chuckles. "Whatever rubs your Buddha." she says as she points towards a rather sizable marble-shod mansion down below. "That's our destination." With a grin, she adds, "Bet you never thought Momiji'd live in a place like that, eh."
-
>Let's store that tibdit away for now.
>"Yeah, I'm gonna have to say you're totally right. What even happened here, anyways?"
-
>Let's store that tibdit away for now.
>"Yeah, I'm gonna have to say you're totally right. What even happened here, anyways?"
>You make another mental note.
>Your twin chuckles. "Think you could be a bit more specific there, sister?"
-
>"You know, I like the sound of that. Anyways, what I mean is, what exactly have you guys done to this place? And just why is Momiji drilling an army? Is it really just community sports?"
-
>"You know, I like the sound of that. Anyways, what I mean is, what exactly have you guys done to this place? And just why is Momiji drilling an army? Id it really just community sports?"
>"Sports, I like that. I'll have to use that. And you really want the whole story from the start, don't you?"
-
>"That I would. Let's go get comfy, and you can tell me."
-
>"That I would. Let's go get comfy, and you can tell me."
>"Sounds like a plan. IF!" your counterpart adds quickly. "You give me the story of how you and your friends wound up in this neck of the woods. Fair's fair after all."
-
>"That was part of the plan!"
>Did being unable to sense anyone via winds include Ranka? Or had she moved on/out of range?
-
>"That was part of the plan!"
>Did being unable to sense anyone via winds include Ranka? Or had she moved on/out of range?
>If the wind spirit is in range, she is as undetectable as anything and everyone else around you. Other than your Momiji, that is.
>This Momiji lives in style, her house a large two-story affair with a marble wall surrounding its scrupulous grounds. A stout aqueduct feeds a small vegetable garden in the back lot, as well as a sizable flower bed. The front yard is bordered by tall maple trees, all in flower at this time of year. Your twin leads you in for a landing on the sizable slate roof, next to one of the two large skylights. Without any hesitation, Hatatwin pulls the large porthole open and drops down into the house. "Come on down." she calls up to you.
-
>"Coming!"
>Drop down after her.
-
>"Coming!"
>Drop down after her.
>Entering into Other-Momiji's mansion, you find yourself in a sizable room, well furnished with a long sofa, several comfortable looking chairs, and a coffee table large enough to accomdate a number of people. In addition to the skylight that admitted, a pair of tall windows annointed by deep red curtains admit the light of day. There is a more mundane door in the south wall, which your dopelganger currently has her head stuck of, though she pulls it back in when she heads your arrival. "Whaddya feel like, a nice red?" she asks, meaning wine, you would assume.
-
>"You know me well enough to surprise me."
>Remove footwear, and stretch out on the couch.
-
>"You know me well enough to surprise me."
>Remove footwear, and stretch out on the couch.
>"Heheh. I think I can pull that off." Poking her head back outside again, you hear her say, "There still a couple bottles of that Yukishirou mead knocking around?"
>"I think so, yes."
>"Swell. Send a bottle of that up, if you'd be so kind." your counterpart says with a flourish as you have a good stretch out. Her placing her order grants you a moment to further examine some of the fixtures in this room, starting with the artwork. Three framed images hang upon the wall, but the one that catches your eye straight off is the smallest of the three. It is a full body shot of Aya. At first glance, it didn't seem like anything special, since she is wearing her normal outfit, doesn't seem to be carrying anything out of the ordinary or posing extravagantly, simply standing in an open field smiling for the camera. But there's something a little different about the Aya you see pictured. It's her smile, you hit on after a moment's thought. There's a sense of what you'd call freedom in that smile, an ease of expression. It's the smile of a woman who's free of what had been burdening her, of one who can enjoy her life for the first time in a very long time, maybe even ever.
>"I've always liked that one myself." your twin remarks as she plops herself down in a chair to your northeast. "I actually think it's one my best."
-
>"You did good work. So, why don't you tell me what's going on, and then I'll tell you what I can. Then we'll throw theories at each other?"
-
>"You did good work. So, why don't you tell me what's going on, and then I'll tell you what I can. Then we'll throw theories at each other?"
>"Sounds like a plan." Hatatwin replies, leaning back and rolling her head slightly. "Now, where to start, where to start.... Well, what's the last major incident that happened in your time?"
-
>"Night of Rage. Dunno if you guys had that or not."
>Presuming they didn't, name the last one that did happen.
-
>"Night of Rage. Dunno if you guys had that or not."
>Presuming they didn't, name the last one that did happen.
>"Mm, doesn't ring any bells."
>So you then inform her of the Divine Spirit outbreak, which heralded the awakening of Toyosatomimi no Miko. She nods at that one. "Yeah, that takes me back. I remember, Aya used to think Miko was gonna be more trouble than she turned out to be. But this Night of Rage, that's a pretty ominous name."
-
>"Yeah, it was a full-fledged incident. Some spirits escaped from the Cobalt Keep. They were manifestations of the seven deadly sins, and Rage caused a lot of damage."
-
>"Caused a whole lot of problems here, due to some weird rage spores getting into the wind. We still don't completely know what happened, it's been only a month."
-
>"Yeah, it was a full-fledged incident. Some spirits escaped from the Cobalt Keep. They were manifestations of the seven deadly sins, and Rage caused a lot of damage."
>"Caused a whole lot of problems here, due to some weird rage spores getting into the wind. We still don't completely know what happened, it's been only a month."
>At the mention of the Cobalt Keep, all the color drains from your counterpart's face. "The Keep?" she gasps. "You've seen the things that live there?"
-
>"It's...way less forboding where I came from. Just another place where some people live; kinda like another Scarlet Devil Mansion or something."
-
>"It's...way less forboding where I came from. Just another place where some people live; kinda like another Scarlet Devil Mansion or something."
>Your counterpart stares at you in sheer disbelief.
-
>"What makes that so unbelievable?"
-
>"What makes that so unbelievable?"
>"The version I know." your doppelganger replies, then pauses. "Wait a sec here. If you're only from the recent past, how can you have a Cobalt Keep that's so different than mine? Or, different at all, since the place's always been the same."
-
>Shrug in puzzlement. "Maybe there was a different branch for our timelines that caused them to be so different?"
-
>"There's some other ideas I have, but I wanna wait til we've gotten through both our stories before getting into that, so I have more of the pieces. Now, about your side of things?"
-
>Shrug in puzzlement. "Maybe there was a different branch for our timelines that caused them to be so different?"
>"Time travel." Your twin makes a face. "I remember Keine trying to explain that stuff to me and Aya a while back. Gave me a doozy of a headache."
>"There's some other ideas I have, but I wanna wait til we've gotten through both our stories before getting into that, so I have more of the pieces. Now, about your side of things?"
>Hatatwin gives her head a little shake. "Yeah, got a little sidetracked there, didn't we. Where was I. Oh yeah, the story of the tengu." She leans back in her seat a bit. "Did your timeline have an Incident called the Grand Harmony? It was a big music show in the Bamboo Forest."
-
>Did it?
>"Let's just act like none of them happened and explain the basics, so if they did happen I can tell if something went differently."
-
>Did it?
>"Let's just act like none of them happened and explain the basics, so if they did happen I can tell if something went differently."
>"Allright. Well, it was a big concert, all of Gensokyo was invited, human and non alike. I remember, the three big religions organized it, the Taoists, the Myoren crew and the Moriyas with Reimu." Your twin grins. "I remember thinking this was all some kinda recruitment drive at the time. I wasn't that interested in it at the time, I don't think anyone really was. But then Aya started stirring up interest. Said it was a big chance for tengu to show other folks what kind of music we could make. I'll be honest, I didn't really think she'd get that far with it, but she did. She didn't just find one or two people willing to come down the mountain to play, she found a performer or group from every caste. Never knew she was that persuasive 'till then. OR that she was that interested in music, for that matter. She like that where you come from?"
-
>"Not that I know of. But then again, neither did you, so..."
-
>"Not that I know of. But then again, neither did you, so..."
>Hatatwin laughs. "Touche."
>"Anyway, the turnout was huge, music was great, everything was comin' up roses. But there was a bit of a problem. From one of ours, actually. One of the Yamabushi that came down off the mountain, uh.... Edea, that was her name. She'd been researching song magic, and one of the songs she played turned some kind of devil loose." With a mote of pride, she says, "In my article, I called her the Spirit of the Song. Was rather proud of that term. Anyway, she caused a bit of mischief and mayhem, and she started off basically immune to danmaku. Until Mystia started using one of her spellcards and started singing. That seemed to get to her, so Marisa and Aya got every band together and starting them playing and singing, all the same song. It was a hell of a show. And then after the Spirit was weakened, Reimu did her thing, and then everyone went home happy."
>"It was after that that things around here started to change."
-
>Haven't we heard the name Edea before?
>"Go on."
-
>Haven't we heard the name Edea before?
>"Go on."
>It doesn't sound familiar.
>"The tengu who went to the Harmony came back with a lot of stories about the non-tengu they met down there. And they took a lotta questions, too. People got curious. REAL curious. Me and Aya had to answer a whole lot of questions, reprint a lot of articles, tell a lot of stories..." She whistles quietly in recollection. "I never imagined I'd be doin' that, but I was, and in spades. Ah." she pauses as the door opens, admitting a fairly young Long-nose tengu, clad in a maid's gown and cap. The young blonde carries a silver tray weighted down by a tall bottle containing a golden-brown mead and two glasses. "That was faster'n I thought, Wanda."
>"That's what they pay me for." the enmaided tengu replies with some confidence, placing the tray down on the large table between you and your twin. Stealing a glance in your direction, she comments as she straightens. "She really DOES look just like you."
>"She IS me." Hatatwin says with a grin. "Cool, isn't it. Uh, you can just leave that there, I'll take care of it."
>"Sure." The Long-nose bows formally, but before she leaves the room, she looks back at you. "Did you plan to stay here for a while?"
-
>"Not yet, anyways. We'll let you know if plans change."
>Back to our twin; "So it became kind of a trend, you're saying?"
-
>"Not yet, anyways. We'll let you know if plans change."
>Back to our twin; "So it became kind of a trend, you're saying?"
>The bird called Wanda acknowledges your statement with a nod, then departs.
>"It went deeper than just a trend." your doppelganger replies as she grabs the bottle of mead. "Beads on wingtips was a trend, but this was something else. More and more tengu started asking for visits from the Kappas and the humans and the gods and the youkai that live on the mountain. It was like that concert had started a bonfire of curiosity. That just kept growing and growing. And the Dai-tengu didn't like it, not one bit. Oh sure, some of them caught the fever too, but then there was the old guard, the conservatives. The ones who had the most influence, the most power. They were not impressed with this trend in the least, and that's putting it mildly." She pauses long enough to hand you a glass of the golden wine. "Take this here mead, for an example. Family that made this got this recipe from a honeybee youkai, and now it's one of their best sellers. Now, in the olden days, if and when a tengu ever did something like that, they'd have taken all the credit for it. But not now, now they're right honest about Amitsu's help. Even give her a stipend for it, insisted on it, in fact."
-
>"I am surprised they would lower themselves to stealing from others at all. That sounds really...pathetic? I mean, why pass off something that's not our as ours? That's what peddlers trying to dupe some poor human fool do. So, what happened? And most importantly, what did Lord Tenma say about this?"
-
>"I am surprised they would lower themselves to stealing from others at all. That sounds really...pathetic? I mean, why pass off something that's not our as ours? That's what peddlers trying to dupe some poor human fool do. So, what happened? And most importantly, what did Lord Tenma say about this?"
>"Tengu steal as much as any other race. We just didn't admit that other races could have ideas better than ours, so we lied about it." She pauses to quaff her drink in one swallow, visibly savoring the sensation. "Oh yeah, that's a good year. And you're right, it IS pathetic. But our ego was refined to the point where we didn't see it that way. Not until things started changing." Hatatwin pours herself another round. "It was like that concert... opened our eyes. At first to the outsiders, and then to ourselves, our own shortcomings. Our own blindness, as Aya put it. Joining with Gensokyo in song... it was like we joined with Gensokyo in spirit."
>"And Lord Tenma turned out to be pretty useless all in all." your counterpart says with some disdain. "The message from his office seemed to change everytime someone asked. Half the time, he reasserted the authority of the Dai-tengu, other half the time he said that we needed to change with the times. Pretty soon, both factions stopped listening to those announcements. Aya really became the center of Tengu society. The people who wanted change basically adopted her as their leader... Well, more like their symbol for change. And the old guard wanted her silenced. They blamed her for starting this whole thing." She takes another drink, this one just a small swallow. "I'd wager you know what comes next."
-
>"Yeah, I'm assuming it got nasty. I'll tell you what, though, I can hardly imagine Lord Tenma being so...indecisive. I guess things are different here."
-
>"Yeah, I'm assuming it got nasty. I'll tell you what, though, I can hardly imagine Lord Tenma being so...indecisive. I guess things are different here."
>"I think he was kinda stuck between a downdraft and a cliff. I'm prepared to bet that he wanted to side with us, but he didn't have a choice but to support the old guard. I don't blame him for what happened. I doubt it could've been stopped even if Tenma had picked a side."
-
>"Yeah. So, how bad did it get?"
-
>"Yeah. So, how bad did it get?"
>Your twin takes another drink. "Not as bad as you'd think, really. Well, the first night was sort of bad, the night the Dai-tengus tried to spirit Aya off in the night, but after that, practically all the fighting was done with danmaku. The New guard, if you wanna call us that, stuck to it because we liked it. It was flashy, effective, and most of all, new. The Old guard had to fight us on our terms, and not just because they were afraid of what Reimu and Yukari would do if they started breaking their rules." Slowly swirling her mead as though it were fine brandy, your counterpart goes on to say, "A lot of the White Wolves wanted to take to the fighting with sword and shield and spear, but Aya and Momiji talked them out of it. No one wanted change more than Aya, but no one wanted to avoid bloodshed more than Aya. It was a very rare event where steel clashed against steel, and only when the Dai-tengu forced the fight."
-
>"I'm surprised that wasn't enough to get Reimu involved right there. Politics or not, I can't imagine she'd stand for things going hot on her watch."
>If we got a mead, sip it.
-
>"I'm surprised that wasn't enough to get Reimu involved right there. Politics or not, I can't imagine she'd stand for things going hot on her watch."
>If we got a mead, sip it.
>"I asked her about that after everything was said and done." your twin informs you as you take a sip of your drink. The mead is an almost perfect balance between sweet and tart, very flavorful without being overpowering. You're not entirely sure what other fruits were used as part of the brewing of this wine, but whatever it was works wonderfully. "Now you may find this as a bit of a surprise, but she said she had faith in Aya. Said that she was confidant Aya wouldn't let it go too far. I had no idea before that Reimu had anywhere near that kinda confidence in Aya. But then again, there was no outsider that knew Aya better than Reimu did, so I guess I shouldn't have been TOO surprised."
-
>'Well, I'm surprised. So, what happened?"
-
>'Well, I'm surprised. So, what happened?"
>"The fighting basically boiled down to Aya taking on the de facto leader of the old guard, a one Tsubaki Ayatsuji." She grins. "And if that one is like she is in your time, then you can imagine what that fight must've been like."
-
>That would be the one who broke into Aya's house way back when, yes?
>If so: "Yeah...I've dealt with that one before. She's a disgrace to Daitengu in my time, too."
>If not, prompt her to continue.
-
>That would be the one who broke into Aya's house way back when, yes?
>If so: "Yeah...I've dealt with that one before. She's a disgrace to Daitengu in my time, too."
>If not, prompt her to continue.
>That is correct. Good memory, mate.
>"She and Aya'd been sniping each other for decades, but the Rebellion sort of brought everything to a head. When the two of them starting dueling, everyone kinda knew that this was it. Whichever one'a them beat the other would win the whole thing. Now I don't know what she's like where you come from, but Tsubaki's no slouch here. She gave Aya one hell of a fight. As the fight went on, though, it was clear Aya was gonna take it. And then, Tsubaki really lived up to that 'disgrace' descriptor of yours. She cheated. During a close exchange of danmaku between her and Aya, she pulled a knife and stabbed Aya in the ribs. We had Kanako look at that knife after the fight, and the damn thing had been cursed, had some kind of slowing enchantment on it. Not enough to stop someone like Aya in her tracks, but enough to let Tsubaki get the upper hand."
>"Now, as you can imagine, when we saw her do that, everyone on our side wanted to jump up and dogpile on that cheating bitch, even some of the ones on HER side seem outraged at what she did. But as it turned out, no one had to. At least, no tengu." After another quick drink, she asks, "Does the name Yuugi Hoshiguma mean anything to you?"
-
>"Yeah, I've photographed her. And she's one of the devas; so she used to live up here during the occupation."
-
>"Yeah, I've photographed her. And she's one of the devas; so she used to live up here during the occupation."
>"Somehow, during the revolution, Aya found the time to go into the Underground world and have a very interesting talk with Miss Yuugi. How she did that without me or Momiji noticing, I still don't know." Your twin shakes her head as she smiles ruefully. "I've come a long way, but I still can't quite match her."
>"Anyway, to get back to the point, Aya had a feeling that Tsubaki would do something to cheat. She hadn't counted on getting shanked, but that's besides the point. Aya made a deal with Yuugi, so that when Aya and Tsubaki had their fight, Yuugi was waiting in the wings to even the odds when Tsubaki cheated." With an expression and a voice that tells of enormous satisfaction, your doppelganger finishes this part of the story by saying, "There was a lot of ways Yuugi could've evened up the odds, but she chose to do it through the very simple means of clubbing Tsubaki upside the head from behind. And I mean that quite literally. And that pretty much ended the fighting."
-
>"Wow. Going back to our old oppressors? Not sure what to think of that. So, what came after that?"
-
>"Wow. Going back to our old oppressors? Not sure what to think of that. So, what came after that?"
>"A stunned silence." your twin says with a chuckle. "And after THAT, the fight just went out of the old timers. After Tsubaki hit the ground, they all surrendered en masse. After that, the rest of Yuugi's crew came out of hiding and helped us round them all up. See, Aya'd had a piece of foresight that the rest of us really didn't. She didn't want to just behead everyone who'd been fighting against us, but she knew that if she just banished them from the Mountain or imprisoned them, they'd still have power and influence over the rest of us, and that it'd only be a matter of time before some or all of them started trouble all over again. So part of the deal she cut with Yuugi went like this: Anyone who was identified as an unrepentant troublemaker, basically Tsubaki and those that thought like her, was taken Underground for the Oni to keep on eye on, like they do with all the other most dangerous youkai. But this isn't a permanent exile, either. Anyone who demonstrates to Yuugi and Aya's satisfaction that they can fit in with the new society is given passage back up to the mountain." She grins again. "Everyone except Tsubaki. After she'd been down there only a couple days, she disappeared. That caused a bit of concern for a while, until Yukari paid them a visit. The gap youkai was none too pleased at Tsubaki's rule breaking, so she... 'Took charge of the prisoner herself', as Yuugi put it. So far as I know, no one's seen that Dai-tengu since."
-
>"I...really don't know what to think of selling tengu in slavery, either. Anyways, after that, I imagine things ended up like they are?"
-
>"I...really don't know what to think of selling tengu in slavery, either. Anyways, after that, I imagine things ended up like they are?"
>Your doppelganger sits upright very suddenly, nearly spilling her mead. "Whoa, whoa there, sister! Where in all the Gods' names did you get slavery out of that?"
-
>"That's what they do with people they capture, you know. Heck, that's what they did to us back then. Or what, they all got thrown in some oni gulag or something? And is that any better?"
-
>"That's what they do with people they capture, you know. Heck, that's what they did to us back then. Or what, they all got thrown in some oni gulag or something? And is that any better?"
>"You really think AYA would do that to someone? Come on, girl, you know her better than that."
-
>"I thought I knew her better than to involve oni in one of our disputes at all. But I guess there's no point in shouting over it, what's done is done."
-
>"I thought I knew her better than to involve oni in one of our disputes at all. But I guess there's no point in shouting over it, what's done is done."
>"I admit, it surprised the hell outta me, too. But she had her reasons, and you know what? I actually agree with her on 'em. Well, most of 'em, anyway. But she can explain better than I can. Come to think of it, you haven't seen Aya yet since you arrived here, have ya?"
-
>"Nope."
-
>"Nope."
>"Well, plenty of time for that in a bit." she says, laying down her empty glass. "That's basically the story of our big societal change. After the Dai-tengu lost power, Aya and the rest of the elders of the tribes got together and put together a council of leaders. Nobody wanted just one tribe in charge anymore, and nobody wanted the people in charge to have the kind of power Dai-tengu had over the rest of us anymore. Now everyone has a voice."
-
>"Howso?"
-
>"Howso?"
>"Every tribe of tengu voted on a representative to appoint to the council." She chuckles. "Well, except the White Wolves. They pretty much ALL chose Momiji, didn't even need to vote. Aya probably would have been the Crow rep, but she refused. Anyway, now instead of the Dai-tengu ordering us around whenever and however they felt and decided things would be done however they wanted, problems get brought up to the council when some kind of official decision is needed. And every caste has the same laws to follow, laws that the council decided. The days of a Long-nose getting away with something a White Wolf would get arrested for are long gone." Your twin pours herself another drink then offers you a refill. "I'm not gonna say it's worked out PERFECT, but it's a damn sight better than looking over your shoulder all the time to make sure a Dai-tengu isn't standing behind you with that scowl on their face."
-
>Take the refill.
>"Honestly, it sounds like you had it worse than I did. I'm not sure what to think."
-
>Take the refill.
>"Honestly, it sounds like you had it worse than I did. I'm not sure what to think."
>Your counterpart fills your glass. "You might be right." A grin lights her face. "Maybe I'll have to pop over and have a look around?"
-
>"I'd be all too happy to bring you over, once we find a way to actually get back. Mmm, guess I best start explaining things on my end."
>"Alright, so, that Night of Rage thing I mentioned. I had just happened like a month ago. I know Aya went out to cover it, and she kinda of never came back. Eventually, I got sick of waiting on her and decided I should go scoop her myself. Anyways, I got Momiji and we checked around her house, and found that Tsubaki, yes that Tsubaki had broken in. Going through old articles of hers related to the Yakumos. Heavy stuff; absolutely shameful."
>Have a drink.
>"So we start to look around, and go try to talk with Reimu about it, and find Yukari's there instead with Reimu napping in her lap. Yes, I got a great picture, she even posed for it. We learned from her that Aya had been working with Ran on some kind of project, but she wasn't saying anything. Wasn't able to push too hard, even if she's more a low youkai than we are. Still, it was a clue. Anyways, we go to investigate Marisa's house, and find it's covered in some weirdo shield. We go to ask Alice, turns out Alice and Marisa ran off awhile ago; a very nice centaur was watching over Alice's house and told us that. So, she accompanies us back to Marisa's house, since she knows a bit about magic, and we try to break that barrier; Momiji had the skills to put enough force behind it. That breaks the barriers, but there's another worse one under it. So! We decide to split up, Momiji going to fetch Patchouli, and me going to the Cobalt Keep, which was a new place to me."
>Sip.
>"Now, let me explain. Where I'm from, the Cobalt Keep is just this place, run by another western Vampire. Seems most of them had chosen to sleep out the bad old days in some kind of magical sleep, until Gensokyo calmed down and they didn't have to worry so much about being attacked by whoever wanted a piece of their wealth or power. Kind of a mid-sized prize, so very tasty if you're that kind of person. Nowadays, though, they've just awakened and are getting on reasonably well with everyone else. There's a few weird people there, but they seem like nice sorts all in all. Nothing weird like the one here, it's pretty much like the Scarlet Devil Mansion or Eientei or whatever you wanna thing of, just...castly and westerny. Now, the reason I went there was because there was a big name magician there, too. But also I knew Aya had to have been there, and I was right. But it was weeks ago, so no real help. But I got to meet the peoples, and a few visitors, including that Ranka girl who was hanging around. Heh heh. We only kinda got along, because she thought tengu needed to be more like her and I disagreed. But we kind got along, even though she wouldn't let me get any pictures. How about you?
>"Wait, let me finish. Okay, so, we gather up that Magician, and one of their top people, a human named Celes whose name you might remember. So, we get back to Marisa's house, and Momiji and Patchouli get there soon after. Celes says she recognizes the barrier as the work of one of the sins. Let me explain those real quick."
>Sip.
>"One of the people at the keep, probably the most dangerous one, is someone with a bunch of evil spirits in her, embodiments of western sins or something. They got loose and caused the whole night of rage thing, I don't really understand it myself. Now, the one that was unaccounted for was Greed. And apparently that barrier was his work, so he probably got into Marisa's house and claimed it. Anyways, we go in and the place is just a sty. Nothing like the Marisa's house here. Anyways, one thing that I notice is this book. So I point it out, and Celes panics. Then bam, we wake up here! Apparently it was some trap or curse on the book. Celes has a lot of ideas about it, and so do we. Anyways, that's the short version. And I'm gonna ask you not to report it til we get things sorted, just as a favor, okay. Make any sense at all?"
-
>"I'd be all too happy to bring you over, once we find a way to actually get back. Mmm, guess I best start explaining things on my end."
>"Alright, so, that Night of Rage thing I mentioned. I had just happened like a month ago. I know Aya went out to cover it, and she kinda of never came back. Eventually, I got sick of waiting on her and decided I should go scoop her myself. Anyways, I got Momiji and we checked around her house, and found that Tsubaki, yes that Tsubaki had broken in. Going through old articles of hers related to the Yakumos. Heavy stuff; absolutely shameful."
>Have a drink.
>"So we start to look around, and go try to talk with Reimu about it, and find Yukari's there instead with Reimu napping in her lap. Yes, I got a great picture, she even posed for it. We learned from her that Aya had been working with Ran on some kind of project, but she wasn't saying anything. Wasn't able to push too hard, even if she's more a low youkai than we are. Still, it was a clue. Anyways, we go to investigate Marisa's house, and find it's covered in some weirdo shield. We go to ask Alice, turns out Alice and Marisa ran off awhile ago; a very nice centaur was watching over Alice's house and told us that. So, she accompanies us back to Marisa's house, since she knows a bit about magic, and we try to break that barrier; Momiji had the skills to put enough force behind it. That breaks the barriers, but there's another worse one under it. So! We decide to split up, Momiji going to fetch Patchouli, and me going to the Cobalt Keep, which was a new place to me."
>Sip.
>"Now, let me explain. Where I'm from, the Cobalt Keep is just this place, run by another western Vampire. Seems most of them had chosen to sleep out the bad old days in some kind of magical sleep, until Gensokyo calmed down and they didn't have to worry so much about being attacked by whoever wanted a piece of their wealth or power. Kind of a mid-sized prize, so very tasty if you're that kind of person. Nowadays, though, they've just awakened and are getting on reasonably well with everyone else. There's a few weird people there, but they seem like nice sorts all in all. Nothing weird like the one here, it's pretty much like the Scarlet Devil Mansion or Eientei or whatever you wanna thing of, just...castly and westerny. Now, the reason I went there was because there was a big name magician there, too. But also I knew Aya had to have been there, and I was right. But it was weeks ago, so no real help. But I got to meet the peoples, and a few visitors, including that Ranka girl who was hanging around. Heh heh. We only kinda got along, because she thought tengu needed to be more like her and I disagreed. But we kind got along, even though she wouldn't let me get any pictures. How about you?
>"Wait, let me finish. Okay, so, we gather up that Magician, and one of their top people, a human named Celes whose name you might remember. So, we get back to Marisa's house, and Momiji and Patchouli get there soon after. Celes says she recognizes the barrier as the work of one of the sins. Let me explain those real quick."
>Sip.
>"One of the people at the keep, probably the most dangerous one, is someone with a bunch of evil spirits in her, embodiments of western sins or something. They got loose and caused the whole night of rage thing, I don't really understand it myself. Now, the one that was unaccounted for was Greed. And apparently that barrier was his work, so he probably got into Marisa's house and claimed it. Anyways, we go in and the place is just a sty. Nothing like the Marisa's house here. Anyways, one thing that I notice is this book. So I point it out, and Celes panics. Then bam, we wake up here! Apparently it was some trap or curse on the book. Celes has a lot of ideas about it, and so do we. Anyways, that's the short version. And I'm gonna ask you not to report it til we get things sorted, just as a favor, okay. Make any sense at all?"
Yeesh. I think that's more words I've seen from you at a run in ANY game. Well, apart from Epilogue posts, of course, those are exceptions for all of us.
>After your counterpart takes a moment to digest your hallmark card version of the events of your day, she nods slowly. "I think I'm with ya. And sure, I'll keep this off the pages. I'd want to talk to Momiji and Celes anyway, to get the whole story, you understand."
>"Still, it's real hard for me to wrap my head around the idea of the Cobalt Keep being anything other than..... Well, what it IS." she states, leaning her head against her free hand. "That's a whopper of an idea."
-
>"Yeah, from everything I can gather, they're pretty much entirely different places. I don't even want to imagine what happened."
>Have another sip.
>"There is...more, but it's complicated and I'm only going to mention it to you because, well...who else can I really trust around here? But, I need you to give me some faith on this."
-
>"Yeah, from everything I can gather, they're pretty much entirely different places. I don't even want to imagine what happened."
>Have another sip.
>"There is...more, but it's complicated and I'm only going to mention it to you because, well...who else can I really trust around here? But, I need you to give me some faith on this."
>"That makes two of us." your twin says with emphasis.
>WIth a grin, Hatatwin replies, "Well, much as I appreciate the compliment, I wouldn't feel right if I didn't say that you can probably trust Momiji and Aya as much as me. But that said, I'm all ears."
-
>"Alright. I'm only telling you this because I know I can trust you. I...think one of us might not be real. And if that's true, then we'll really need to work together to get through this."
-
>"Alright. I'm only telling you this because I know I can trust you. I...think one of us might not be real. And if that's true, then we'll really need to work together to get through this."
>"...... Well, I didn't see that coming."
-
>"Heh, yeah. Obviously, I think it's you. And you'll think it's me, which is fair. And I don't know who's right. But, it doesn't matter. But tell me, what's the difference between a youkai that exists and one that doesn't?"
-
>"Heh, yeah. Obviously, I think it's you. And you'll think it's me, which is fair. And I don't know who's right. But, it doesn't matter. But tell me, what's the difference between a youkai that exists and one that doesn't?"
>"Ohhh, I hate riddles." your counterpart says, making a face.
-
>"It's simple. The difference between a youkai that exists and one that doesn't is whether or not someone believes in them. So...as long as you believe in me, and I believe in you, we're both set, am I right?"
-
>"It's simple. The difference between a youkai that exists and one that doesn't is whether or not someone believes in them. So...as long as you believe in me, and I believe in you, we're both set, am I right?"
>"You sure it's that simple? I mean I've heard a lot of theories about...." she trails off, then shrugs. "Well, I guess you're right, it really doesn't matter. I mean neither one of us up and poofed before today. Can't picture that changing anytime soon."
-
>"Well, maybe we did. I mean, what's the different between waking up like any old day and waking up for the very time if your memories tell you've always been around? In fact, I'm kinda sure that is the case. But, it won't matter if we just believe in each other, right? And I certainly believe I'm talking to you right now."
-
>"Well, maybe we did. I mean, what's the different between waking up like any old day and waking up for the very time if your memories tell you've always been around? In fact, I'm kinda sure that is the case. But, it won't matter if we just believe in each other, right? And I certainly believe I'm talking to you right now."
>"And sharing a bottle of fine mead." your twin adds as she raises her glass in a salute to you.
-
>"Indeed."
>Have some more.
>"So...Celes believes this whole place is just an illusion created by the book to try and trap us, since that's what it does. I'm not so sure, but there are some odd things."
-
>"Indeed."
>Have some more.
>"So...Celes believes this whole place is just an illusion created by the book to try and trap us, since that's what it does. I'm not so sure, but there are some odd things."
>"Where'd she get that idea? Oh wait, I forgot, you said she was a Magician, right?"
-
>"Something like that, at least. There is one weird thing, though. I, um, tried to feel the winds, and I didn't feel any of you guys. Or Ranka. Or anyone, except my Momiji."
-
>"Something like that, at least. There is one weird thing, though. I, um, tried to feel the winds, and I didn't feel any of you guys. Or Ranka. Or anyone, except my Momiji."
>"Yeah, that's a weird one, all right." Your counterpart ponders that for a moment, then says, "But if you came to this world, whether it's real or not, from another world, maybe your senses haven't adjusted yet or something. And if that other Momiji came with you, maybe that's why you can sense her still."
-
>"Maybe so, but what about Ranka? She's like a windy sun."
-
>"Maybe so, but what about Ranka? She's like a windy sun."
>"Did she come here with you?"
-
>"I don't think so. I mean your Ranka."
-
>"I don't think so. I mean your Ranka."
>"Like I said. She's not your Ranka, so you can't sense her anymore than anyone else. Probably." she says as she takes a quick drink. "This is new turf to me, too."
-
>"Either way, once we find our way back, I'd like you to come along. If I'm right, well, it ought to make you real enough. And if I'm wrong, I'll need you to stay around once I leave."
-
>"Either way, once we find our way back, I'd like you to come along. If I'm right, well, it ought to make you real enough. And if I'm wrong, I'll need you to stay around once I leave."
>"Making plans to leave already?" your counterpart says with a faint smirk. "Really aren't fond of how things are up here, are ya."
-
>"Got to report what happened to Aya back home, still. And beat her to the punch on the Night of Rage story!"
-
>"Got to report what happened to Aya back home, still. And beat her to the punch on the Night of Rage story!"
>Your twin laughs a warm laugh. "Ahhh, that takes me back. But you said yours had gone missing, right? Did you find out what happened to her before you got pulled here?"
-
>"No. But with your Aya getting a twin, and your Ran, well...you can see what I'm thinking. I'm going to try to find the Rans soonish, and see if either of them feel right to me."
-
>"No. But with your Aya getting a twin, and your Ran, well...you can see what I'm thinking. I'm going to try to find the Rans soonish, and see if either of them feel right to me."
>"Keine's."
-
>"What's that?"
-
>"What's that?"
>"She's staying at Keine's for the next couple days."
-
>"Which one?"
-
>"Which one?"
>Your twin shrugs. "We kinda think of them as the same woman."
-
>"Heh, let's see 'em try to make that mistake with us. So, can I count on you to tag along?"
-
>"Heh, let's see 'em try to make that mistake with us. So, can I count on you to tag along?"
>"What, now?"
-
>"Well, not right this second, but soon. I wanna give Momiji and Celes some time to do what they need to do, but after that, this is exactly where I want to go."
-
>"Well, not right this second, but soon. I wanna give Momiji and Celes some time to do what they need to do, but after that, this is exactly where I want to go."
>"I'd like to have a talk to those two myself. Uh, well...." she pauses. "Momiji anyway. Look, I get that this human's a pal of yours, but I... Well, any Keep that's colored Cobalt gives me the willies."
-
>"Reimu will probably get mad at me for saying this, but we're probably gonna have to mess with it."
>"Speaking of Reimu, that reminds me of another I wanted to ask. What's the deal with Marisa and Alice?"
-
>"Reimu will probably get mad at me for saying this, but we're probably gonna have to mess with it."
>"Speaking of Reimu, that reminds me of another I wanted to ask. What's the deal with Marisa and Alice?"
>"Oh no you won't." Your counterpart says rather firmly. "Only the maniac-al or the suicidal mess with that place, and no Hatate I know is going to be either one of those, not if I have anything to say about it."
>At that, she grins. "What, they're not hitched where you come from?"
-
>"Nope. But they have been gone for about a month and we found the book at Marisa's house, so you can probably see what I'm hinting at."
-
>"Nope. But they have been gone for about a month and we found the book at Marisa's house, so you can probably see what I'm hinting at."
>"Point of order, those two don't have twins here." She chuckles around a quick drink. "Well, not YET. Give 'em another couple months, you never know."
-
>"Yeah, that's where it gets weird. I don't think they have twins. I think they might have replaced the ones here. Marisa is what's making me wonder., because it's like her memory is kinda...gone, you know? She doesn't recall things until someone else does, then it comes back to her. And, well, she's kind of tumbled into her own little slice of heaven, so to speak."
-
>"Yeah, that's where it gets weird. I don't think they have twins. I think they might have replaced the ones here. Marisa is what's making me wonder., because it's like her memory is kinda...gone, you know? She doesn't recall things until someone else does, then it comes back to her. And, well, she's kind of tumbled into her own little slice of heaven, so to speak."
>"I'd say that's true for Alice, too. Her finally landing Marisa's like a dream come true for her, so she says."
-
>"Ha! Knew it! So, anything weird about them you've heard about?"
-
>"Ha! Knew it! So, anything weird about them you've heard about?"
>'Them' as a pair, or 'them' as individuals?
-
>"Both."
-
>"Both."
>Hatatwin pauses for a moment, then drops her voice an octave to say, "Just between you and me?"
-
>"Won't say a word. Unless it's really important."
-
>"Won't say a word. Unless it's really important."
>"All right, follow me on this. Marisa and Alice are really in love. Like, really, a LOT, in love. And they've been married for years now, and they've..... Um, how can I put this delicately? They've been a LOT in love all that time. You read me?"
-
>"You're saying they've never cooled down like people usually do, right?"
-
>"You're saying they've never cooled down like people usually do, right?"
>"In the most diplomatic way I can." your counterpart says with a broad grin. Then she sobers. "Thing is, in all that time, they've only ever had the one kid. I've wondered about that for a long time now. I've never asked, of course. I'm a journalist, but I know when things aren't my business. But I've always sorta wondered...."
-
>"I'd figure they know what they're doing. And, just how many people on the side does Marisa have, anyways?"
-
>"I'd figure they know what they're doing. And, just how many people on the side does Marisa have, anyways?"
>"Trust me, sister, if you'd been around those two any length of time, you'd be wonderin' yourself."
>"On the SIDE? Uh.... Well, no one, not that I can think of off the top of my head. Unless you want to count Reisen, but that was only one time, Youmu was involved, and it was all Yuyuko's fault. And Ranka, but, well, you've met her, you know what she's like."
-
>"So Reimu doesn't count as on the side?"
-
>"So Reimu doesn't count as on the side?"
>"Not really, since they're married."
-
>"Heh, it does where I come from. You only get one. Well, one at a time, I guess."
-
>"Heh, it does where I come from. You only get one. Well, one at a time, I guess."
>"Really. Well, I kinda like it our way myself. It really cuts down on all the ugly drama."
-
>"Yeah, I can see the benefits. But I bet inheritance and branch families and stuff gets really hairy; it's bad enough with just two people. But yeah, that's another thing I'm considering; it's something a whole like what our Marisa would do if she could. So I am wondering if all would match up with her appearing here recently."
-
>"Yeah, I can see the benefits. But I bet inheritance and branch families and stuff gets really hairy; it's bad enough with just two people. But yeah, that's another thing I'm considering; it's something a whole like what our Marisa would do if she could. So I am wondering if all would match up with her appearing here recently."
>"I'm not sure I get it."
-
>"How long ago did she get into all of those marriages, I mean? And were they kinda close together?"
-
>"How long ago did she get into all of those marriages, I mean? And were they kinda close together?"
>"Oh, years ago. And as for close..... Not especially, no. Well, close for a human maybe, but that's just how Marisa is."
>"She got hitched to Alice and Patchy in the span of..... I think it was a couple months apart? The rest, not so much."
-
>"Hm. Okay. Maybe it is just a coincidence."
>"So...speaking of,"
>Grin
>"Did you ever get with Ranka, mmm?"
-
>"Hm. Okay. Maybe it is just a coincidence."
>"So...speaking of,"
>Grin
>"Did you ever get with Ranka, mmm?"
>Your counterpart answers your grin with an immensely lascivious grin that speaks volumes.
-
>"Hahaha, good job! Does she really jump around as much as everyone says?"
-
>"Hahaha, good job! Does she really jump around as much as everyone says?"
>"Only when she doesn't have something to really focus on."
-
>"Oh well. I was hoping one of us could get her to settle down for a bit."
-
>"Oh well. I was hoping one of us could get her to settle down for a bit."
>"Not in this lifetime." your counterpart replies as she takes another drink. "Honoka's the only one of us that's really got a chance of that."
-
>Stretch out and shift on the couch. "Oh well. Oh, did she tell you any of her story here? I wanna know if any of it changed, since she was really bound up in the Cobalt Keep in our world."
-
>Stretch out and shift on the couch. "Oh well. Oh, did she tell you any of her story here? I wanna know if any of it changed, since she was really bound up in the Cobalt Keep in our world."
>"Bound up there?" Hatatwin shudders. "Oh man, I really hope you don't mean that like I think."
-
>"Well, I suppose it's okay to tell myself. But in our world, there was a kind of jerk vampire living there over hundred or so years back, maybe more? He managed to hypnotize her, and she was kind of his thrall for a few decades. I was wondering if that happened here, too?"
-
>"Well, I suppose it's okay to tell myself. But in our world, there was a kind of jerk vampire living there over hundred or so years back, maybe more? He managed to hypnotize her, and she was kind of his thrall for a few decades. I was wondering if that happened here, too?"
>"You're talking about the Red Tide? She didn't live in the Keep. She had her own fortress, up until she got bumped off by Yuuka."
-
>"That's the one, and weird. Where did she live?"
-
>"That's the one, and weird. Where did she live?"
>"Uhrm....." your counterpart thinks for a moment. "Y'know, I can't remember. I'm not sure if Ranka or Honoka ever told me, now that you mention."
-
>"Now that I find hard to believe. Me, not asking more?"
-
>"Now that I find hard to believe. Me, not asking more?"
>"Don't be silly." your twin chides. "Can YOU remember everything everyone's ever told you? There's a lot of things 'photographic' about us, sister, but not our memory."
-
>"Well, I'd like to think I remember details like THAT about my friends, but okay."
-
>"Well, I'd like to think I remember details like THAT about my friends, but okay."
>"She doesn't really like talking about Red Tide. And it's been years since I talked to Honoka about it. I actually started to write a story about that old vamp, but I didn't think that kind of story would be too inter- Hang on a sec." she breaks off, pulling out her cameraphone. "Let me check my old notes. Uhh, here it is. According to Honoka, the Red Tide's old fort was west of Youkai mountain, around 7 miles or so."
-
>Do we know if there's anything located around there in our world?
-
>Do we know if there's anything located around there in our world?
>To your knowledge, the area in question contains nothing more than a rather small lake and one or two rivers. The rest is grassy plains. Nothing really of interest.
-
>"Nothing there on my side of the world. Interesting how things shift around. I wonder if anything else has. Hmm...And you've never heard of anyone like Celes? She calls herself a rider, intends to go catch herself a pegasus right now."
-
>"Nothing there on my side of the world. Interesting how things shift around. I wonder if anything else has. Hmm...And you've never heard of anyone like Celes? She calls herself a rider, intends to go catch herself a pegasus right now."
>"There's nothing there in this world, either." Hatatwin informs you. "Red Tide's fort got smashed up not too long after she came out on the wrong side of Yuuka, and what's left of the ruins of that place are all either grown over or sunk."
>With a chuckle, she says "Lots of people call themselves riders, sister. It's a human thing, they like thinking they can tame things that aren't human-like. Do a pretty decent job at it too sometimes, some of 'em anyway."
-
>"Yeah, but this one rode a nightmare. And apparently it didn't even mind, according to that centaur I mentioned!"
-
>"Yeah, but this one rode a nightmare. And apparently it didn't even mind, according to that centaur I mentioned!"
>"A nightmare you say?" Your counterpart turns her head towards a bare spot on the wall and narrows her eyes. An image of a tall, gaunt black horse with a mane of purple flames and snorting smoke appears where she looks. "Oh, a cauchemar? I've read about those, they're bloody rare. I think there's only been one recorded in Gensokyo, and that was centuries ago."
-
>"Might've been the other one, lot like we're horse people. But it was a nasty one."
-
>"Might've been the other one, lot like we're horse people. But it was a nasty one."
>"I thought you had to be a Hakurei to handle one of those." your counterpart says as she waves her hand vaguely, making the image of the fel horse vanish from the wall. "That's what happened to the one I mentioned; caused some havoc before the Hakurei of the era got the better of it."
-
>Can we do that projection thing?
>I dunno where she got hers, but she rode it well enough."
-
>Can we do that projection thing?
>I dunno where she got hers, but she rode it well enough."
>You've never tried.
>Your counterpart whistles, impressed. "That's pretty tough for a Magician."
-
>"How'd you do that projection thing?"
-
>"How'd you do that projection thing?"
>"Same way you can, of course, silly." Hatatwin says as she divides the last of the mead between your glass and hers.
-
>Sip.
>"How's that?"
-
>Sip.
>"How's that?"
>"Oh. Right, you're a me minus a few years. You probably haven't developed your power as much as I have, haven't you?"
-
>"Doesn't sound like it."
-
>"Doesn't sound like it."
>"Well, that won't do." your twin says with a smile. "What we have here, sister, is a golden opportunity for you to develop a new trick or six."
-
>"You may not be surprised to learn I agree with myself! What other tricks do you have up our sleeve?"
-
>"You may not be surprised to learn I agree with myself! What other tricks do you have up our sleeve?"
>"Well, let's start with that projection trick, like you called. I can make those images permanent, if I think it hard enough. Not here, though." she adds with a grin. "That'd annoy Momicchi. But basically, it's really the same thing you do making pictures of things from home, except you don't put the image into the camera, but something else. A wall, a rock, a fat man's back if you're clever enough. And we are."
-
>"Okay, but how do I keep it from being permanent; don't wanna muss up her walls."
-
>"Okay, but how do I keep it from being permanent; don't wanna muss up her walls."
>"It IS a bit tricky, the first time you try it." she admits. "See, you have think hard enough to project the image out of your mind, but not SO hard as to burn it onto the surface in question. Made that mistake with the side of an oni's house once."
-
>"That sounds like an expensive mistake. Okay, lemme try it."
> Let's see if we can project an image of what we're seeing right now on the wall, take it careful, don't go all in on focusing; right now too little is better than too much until we have a handle on it.
-
>"That sounds like an expensive mistake. Okay, lemme try it."
> Let's see if we can project an image of what we're seeing right now on the wall, take it careful, don't go all in on focusing; right now too little is better than too much until we have a handle on it.
>Since this is your real experiment with this sort of power, you decide to focus on a single, simple image from the filled portions of the room to project onto an empty bit. The picture of Aya there will do nicely. And with that image firmly in mind, you set about the second part of the task, the projecting bit. In theory, it shouldn't be to different from calling up an image on your phone, but you try not to put too much energy into this one, since, like you said to your twin, you wouldn't want to emblazon Aya's image on Momiji's walls.
>It takes a few seconds longer than when you try this trick with your camera, but eventually, the image in your mind is indeed duplicated on the opposite wall, fading rather slowly into view. Well, perhaps 'sputtering' into view would be a better word for it, but it IS working. Although it isn't a perfect reflection of what you have in mind, more faded and lacking in detail and contrast, but that's fine. You imagine that's just the result of you not trying to force it.
-
>"Huh... That's not gonna leave a stain, is it?"
-
>"Huh... That's not gonna leave a stain, is it?"
>"Not if you get the second part right." your twin answers. "Now try making it go away."
-
>Try to do this thing! Possibly using whatever delete techniques we already know, if that is not purely a camera function.
-
>Try to do this thing! Possibly using whatever delete techniques we already know, if that is not purely a camera function.
>Your projected image responds to your mental command more quickly than it did when you put it there, and poofs out of existence.
-
"Well, that's handy! Any thing else to teach?"
-
"Well, that's handy! Any thing else to teach?"
>"Patience, my young Hatate." your twin says with a grin. "Start with that one first. It'll take a bit of practice to get the hang of. Just, don't start with the side of buildings."
>"A lot of it really comes down to thinking, though. Now, if you're where I was about, oh a dozen or so years ago, just about every image you've ever called up has been something for a story that's really basically already been covered, right?"
-
>"I prefer to think I was filling in the gaps, thank you very much!"
>Giggle.
-
I wonder if we have the same phone number.
-
That's a good question!
-
>"I prefer to think I was filling in the gaps, thank you very much!"
>Giggle.
>"Whatever rubs your Buddha." your twin replies with a good natured grin. "But the point is, with a bit of lateral thinking, you can get images of practically everything. Even information. Like say, you wanted to know more about, oh, the history of Yamabushi tengu wine-making. Bit dry, I know, but I've got a glass of good mead in my hand, I got booze on the mind. But if you wanted that sort of information for a story or whatever, then you can think about books or documents about that sort of thing, and call them up on your camera or wall, or whatever you've got handy. But not too much at once." she cautions. "If you try to think about everything that's out there, you can get it all at once, and that can give you a worse headache than you get after a three day brandy bender."
-
>"I've come pretty close to that, I think. I have some pictures of here of Tsubaki pawing through Aya's documents, and did a couple close ups to get a look at what she was reading."
-
>"I've come pretty close to that, I think. I have some pictures of here of Tsubaki pawing through Aya's documents, and did a couple close ups to get a look at what she was reading."
>Your twin seems pleased. "That's my girl. And it works at long range, too, say you wanted to see- Well, I was about to say 'the books in Voile', but your camera'd blow up if you tried to get all of that at once."
>As she chuckles at her own light joke, there comes a polite knock on the door, and the young Long-nose who brought you your drinks pushes the door open. "Excuse me, Hatate... and Hatate. But there's a very unique human outside asking to see you."
>"What, both of us?" your counterpart asks.
>"That's what she said."
>Hatatwin glances your way. "Friend of yours?"
-
>"Well, let's go see!"
>Do so.
-
>"Well, let's go see!"
>Do so.
>You and your twin elect to exit the building through the skylight, popping up and then down to see this human at the front lawn. It is Celes, which doesn't come as too great a surprise to you. The real surprise is that she's, well, getting a piggyback ride from the oni you left her to fight. She's attracted a bit of a crowd as well, several tengu clad in maid's uniforms and several more civilians, plus the tengu whom you spied with the oni earlier. The latter of which is grinning from ear to ear.
>At the sight of the human riding an oni, your twin stops dead in the air, stating a simple "What."
-
>Obtain picture.
>"...See, she was gonna be fine."
>"So who's you buddy, Celes?"
-
>Obtain picture.
>"...See, she was gonna be fine."
>"So who's you buddy, Celes?"
>You take a quick shot. Seeing this, your counterpart follows suit and does the same.
>"You weren't kiddin'."
>The human gives you a wave. "I call her Yoshi. As you can see, she and I came to an accomodation."
-
>"Yeah, I can see that. Didn't think your whole thing extended to being carried. So looks like things went pretty well for you."
>"Oh, I'm your Hatate, let's make this easy on you."
>Loosen our tie visibly.
-
>"Oh, I'm your Hatate, let's make this easy on you."
>Loosen our tie visibly.
>"Thank you for that."
>"Yeah, I can see that. Didn't think your whole thing extended to being carried. So looks like things went pretty well for you."
>"The oni was quite talented in the art of danmaku dueling. But not as much as I." she says with a vaguely triumphant grin.
>"Is... this what you meant when you called her a 'rider'?" your twin asks you as she takes another photograph of the grinning Celes.
-
>"Yeah, looks like she's a bit better at it than I thought. Anyways, this is my friend, Celes. And Celes, umm..."
>Put an arm around our twin's shoulder and give her a companionable hug, "This is my sister! You can call her Sis!"
>How does the oni seem to be taking this?
-
>"Yeah, looks like she's a bit better at it than I thought. Anyways, this is my friend, Celes. And Celes, umm..."
>Put an arm around our twin's shoulder and give her a companionable hug, "This is my sister! You can call her Sis!"
>How does the oni seem to be taking this?
>Celes smiles at the sight of a mirrored Hata-hug. Bet that's never been used in a story before. "A pleasure to meet you, 'Sis.'"
>"Urh, likewise." your counterpart replies, seeming just a touch on the nervous side.
>The oni seems... sort of out of it, really. She has a rather distant look about her face and eyes, like someone who hasn't slept in too long.
-
>"You okay, Sis? And what did you do to that oni? She looks like a zombie."
-
>"You okay, Sis? And what did you do to that oni? She looks like a zombie."
>"Uh, yeah, fine, it's uh... It's nothing, really." she says, making a game effort at sounding confidant.
>"What do you mean?" Celes inquires.
>"Well, just look at her." your twin answers her.
>"Ah, yes, my apologies, I had forgotten you hadn't seen me mount something that wasn't also my companion." Celes says with a tip of her cap. "Well, as I said, Hatate, I am a Rider. I become the master of whatever I mount. Or anyone."
>"You-"
>Celes gives your counterpart a bemused smile. "I assure you both, you can't possibly make a joke I haven't heard before."
-
>"Not even the taxidermist one?
>Gesture toward the oni.
>"So, uh, is she alright?"
-
>"Not even the taxidermist one?
>Gesture toward the oni.
>"So, uh, is she alright?"
>Celes considers that for a second. "You might actually have me there. I have spent the past century sealed in sleep. It's possible for a few new jokes to have been conceived of in that time." Then she sighs. "Though I cannot help but doubt they are any better."
>"Perfectly." she assures you. "My ability causes no harm. It merely produces a pacifying effect on the more wild of creatures I mount." She gives the oni a poke in the back of her head. "This is more evident in some than others."
-
>"What's she going to do when you hop off, then? And did you find out anything? Oh, and are you done with whatever, or are you just popping in to let us know you're okay before going to find those pegasi?"
-
>"What's she going to do when you hop off, then?"
>"That's up to her. Once I'm done with her, I certainly have no strong desire to keep her around me. If she wants to go home, that's up to her. Unless." she adds, looking at your counterpart. "Do the tengu enforce a peace on this mountain?"
>Hatatwin again looks a touch on the nervous side under Celes' direct scrutiny. "Sort of, yeah, if we need to. It's not official, or anything."
>"Ah, then the goddess Kanako holds official power?"
>"Sort of. There's kind of a communal thing between the tengu the Moriya the Gods and the Kappa and the Humans. It sort of depends on who's involved."
>"And no one speaks for the Oni of the mountain?" Celes is answered with a shake of the head. "Then I'll turn her loose after I have made my request of you."
>"And did you find out anything? Oh, and are you done with whatever, or are you just popping in to let us know you're okay before going to find those pegasi?"
>"Mostly the latter. I wanted to inform you and Momiji that I had triumphed over my foe." She gives a nod to the beaming kappa standing apart from the other spectators. "And made at least one person's day a bit brighter in the doing. Where is Momiji, she is not with you?"
-
>"Yeah, we split up for a bit. I wanted some time to speak with Sis here. We left her over that way."
>Vague gesture in the proper direction.
-
>"Yeah, we split up for a bit. I wanted some time to speak with Sis here. We left her over that way."
>Vague gesture in the proper direction.
>"What's this 'request'?" your counterpart asks Celes.
>The Keep's Steward nods. "I would like you to write about this story."
>"What, you mean you fighting Yoshi here?"
>"To be more specific, I want you to tell people about this bully of an oni, who respects the spellcard rules but not the people who fight by them. Who picks on those she thinks are weak just for the fun of it." There is a great deal of passion in the woman's voice and face. "This oni enjoys humiliating people whenever she gets the chance. I want her to know that this has consequences, and not always in the form of a Hakurei miko. People won't be so afraid of her once they hear about how a mere human rode her around Youkai mountain like a rented mule." She pauses for a moment, then gives your counterpart a polite smile. "Once you are free, of course. I didn't mean to interrupt you both."
-
>"Oh no, that's okay. It's good you let us know you're alright and stuff. Now, give us a smile!"
>Get a good picture of her this time.
-
>"Oh no, that's okay. It's good you let us know you're alright and stuff. Now, give us a smile!"
>Get a good picture of her this time.
>"You heard the ladies, Yoshi." Celes says to her 'mount', and both she and her rider oblige you by smiling, an image you dutifully record. You may not run a story about it in and of itself when you get home, but that's definately one for scrapbook.
>Hatatwin also takes a measured shot, taking a few wingbeats backwards to do so. "You think she'd mind talking to a reporter about it?" she asks Celes.
>"I rather doubt it. But, I'm sure my young friend here can give you some further information." she replies, gesturing politely to the small kappa with the big smile. Who, as your counterpart turns her head to look at her, immediately starts fidgeting under the stranger's gaze. Typical Kappa shyness, there.
>To you, Celes asks, "Well, if you are not otherwise engaged, Hatate, have you discovered any new information on our situation?"
-
>"About our overall situation? Not much. A lot about what happened here, but it's not really that important to us getting home. I mean, it's really important, but not for that."
-
>"About our overall situation? Not much. A lot about what happened here, but it's not really that important to us getting home. I mean, it's really important, but not for that."
>"I would agree. There is a strong possibility that we could be stuck here for some time."
>"And she's been telling me about what things are like where you come from." your twin adds.
>"I imagined so." Celes answers with a polite smile. "From what we had heard, I doubted your curiousty was any the less compared to your own 'Sis', as it were." For the first time, your counterpart smiles at the Keep Steward. "Well, if you'll both excuse me, then, I shall pay a call on Momiji."
-
>"Okay. We'll meet up at the Moriya in...I dunno, awhile? Couple hours maybe? However long it'll take you to wrangle up those pegasi?"
-
>"Okay. We'll meet up at the Moriya in...I dunno, awhile? Couple hours maybe? However long it'll take you to wrangle up those pegasi?"
>"You're really looking for a pegasus?" your counterpart asks her.
>Celes nods. "I am a Rider, but here, I am separated from the companions who bear me. If I am going to be in this world for some time, I would feel better having a mount." She gives Yoshi a slight nudge with her bootheel. "That isn't an oni." she adds dryly.
>Hatatwin points towards the northeast. "Head east till you hit the border, then east for a couple miles more then turn north. There's a group of pegasi that roost in a craggy stretch of the mountain in that area. But be careful if you're going, they get a bit edgy when strangers come around."
>The Steward gives her a respectful bow. "Thank you for the information." Then she gives you both a tip of her cap, then turns to the kappa behind her. "Coming, Hanayo?"
>The little kappa starts, then her smile returns. "Uh, yes!"
>With a gentle smile, Celes gives you and your counterpart a polite nod, then kicks her heels into her 'mounts' ribs. "Hi-ho, Yoshi! Away!" The pacified oni starts off at a run, Hanayo the kappa flying behind them.
-
>Head back inside.
>"Well, she made some friends."
-
>Head back inside.
>"Well, she made some friends."
>With Celes gone, you and your counterpart retreat back indoors through the skylight once more. "No kidding. But I gotta tell ya, I kinda wish I'd seen that before I knew where she called home. If she's smart, she'll keep that under her hat as long as she's here."
-
>"Well, she's probably smart."
>Head back inside, reclaim out position on the couch.
-
>"Well, she's probably smart."
>Head back inside, reclaim out position on the couch.
>"She ever tell you how she got into a place like that?" Hatatwin asks as you restake your couch.
-
>"Ugh, I can't remember. There's so many of them. She's their Steward, though."
>Flip through our notes, did we get Celes' story?
-
>"Ugh, I can't remember. There's so many of them. She's their Steward, though."
>Flip through our notes, did we get Celes' story?
>Not in its complete form. She mentioned that she has been with the Cobalt Countess for a very long time, and that she's at least two centuries old, claiming to be older than Patchouli. But she didn't mention how she came to serve the Countess or her life before that.
-
>"Oh, she mentioned she had been around for about two centuries. But that's about all I got."
-
>"Oh, she mentioned she had been around for about two centuries. But that's about all I got."
>"Didn't run a background search yet?"
-
>"Well, I only just met her a couple hours ago. And maybe I was kinda distracted by a wind elemental who had nothing nice to say about Tengu."
-
>"Well, I only just met her a couple hours ago. And maybe I was kinda distracted by a wind elemental who had nothing nice to say about Tengu."
>"Plenty of time to thoughtograph up a little info." your twin then adds with a nod, "But I understand, we get sidetracked. And you don't have to worry about that now. Even Ranka doesn't complain about- Oh, that's who you meant, right?"
-
>"Yeah, her."
-
>"Yeah, her."
>"Well, you don't have to worry about that from our Ranka. Uh, most of the time." she says with a wry smile. "She doesn't always think before she talks."
-
>"We'll see if she has anything nice to say about me in good time."
-
>"We'll see if she has anything nice to say about me in good time."
>"What, you plan to steal Honoka from her or somethin'?" your twin asks lightly.
-
>"Heh. I mean more, I stick out like a sore thumb, don't I?"
-
>"Heh. I mean more, I stick out like a sore thumb, don't I?"
>"Oh, that'll change with time. A lot of this place seems weird to you, I know, but that'll change."
-
>"I...am not so confident. Frankly, I'm horrified that it lead to tengu being exiled from the mountain, let alone thrown to the oni. It's...monstrous."
-
>"I...am not so confident. Frankly, I'm horrified that it lead to tengu being exiled from the mountain, let alone thrown to the oni. It's...monstrous."
>Your counterpart leans forward in her chair, a supportive smile on her face. "Would it make you feel better to hear that they can come back?"
-
>"No, because it doesn't change the fact that people though it was alright to do that. This whole thing, not just Aya, it's pretty much the end of what made the tengu great, isn't it? All the things our ancestors worked for and built up gone in the space of a couple years. Tengu don't fight tengu like that, and they sure don't just cut people off from their home and soul! How can anyone be proud of themselves after that? Can you really say you wanted it this way, or that what happened was worth it?"
-
>"No, because it doesn't change the fact that people though it was alright to do that. This whole thing, not just Aya, it's pretty much the end of what made the tengu great, isn't it? All the things our ancestors worked for and built up gone in the space of a couple years. Tengu don't fight tengu like that, and they sure don't just cut people off from their home and soul! How can anyone be proud of themselves after that? Can you really say you wanted it this way, or that what happened was worth it?"
>"Completlely." your twin says casually, seemingly unmoved by your outburst. "The system we had before made us great unto ourselves. But there's an old saying among the humans, 'No man is an island'. But that's how we thought of ourselves, and except Aya, who was the Dai-tengu's official spy on the outside world, that's all we were allowed to be by the Dai-tengu. We were stagnant, unchanging. Ranka was right about us, you know, her and the rest of the air spirits. Now, we can be great again, greater than we were before. And now, we don't have to be afraid of the other races. I didn't like having to fight the old guard, no, of course not. But they were the ones who wanted it."
-
>"I'm pretty sure none of them wanted to be exiled or enslaved. And how is it worth having greatness of the back of people being thrown off the mountain? That's like tearing out their souls, isn't it? We didn't become great by infighting and turning on our own; our ancestors lived and died by that idea and it's carried our people through the ages. That's not stagnant, it's basic decency, and that's what made us great. When humans and youkai were going to war with each other, we lived in harmony. If people were abusing that, and I'm not convinced that was a widespread problem, the answer wasn't to abandon it, it was to fix the problems."
>"This is greatness like a someone robbing their neighbors is rich, if you ask me. What's the point of it if you give up the important things?"
-
>"I'm pretty sure none of them wanted to be exiled or enslaved. And how is it worth having greatness of the back of people being thrown off the mountain? That's like tearing out their souls, isn't it? We didn't become great by infighting and turning on our own; our ancestors lived and died by that idea and it's carried our people through the ages. That's not stagnant, it's basic decency, and that's what made us great. When humans and youkai were going to war with each other, we lived in harmony. If people were abusing that, and I'm not convinced that was a widespread problem, the answer wasn't to abandon it, it was to fix the problems."
>"This is greatness like a someone robbing their neighbors is rich, if you ask me. What's the point of it if you give up the important things?"
>"We did fix the problems." Hatatwin says calmly. "And the fighting wasn't our idea. But it was better than the alternative. And it doesn't surprise me that you'd say you didn't think the corruption that had seeped into the Dai-tengu wasn't that bad. I didn't know either. If it wasn't for Aya, there'd be a whole lot of things I wouldn't know."
-
>"Exiling tengu is a way worse problem than anything that was fixed, though! Training up armies is a way worse problem than any corruption! It's like dealing with a wart on your hand by cutting off your arm! You're avoiding the question now, in what way is any of that greatness? All it's doing is destroying everything beautiful about our society! If there was corruption, you don't sever the people involved from their soul and send them off to some oni prison, you expose them and shame them, and prove they aren't worth listening to. Strip them of their wealth and make them into servants if you have to, but you don't exile them from the mountain, you might as well be killing them! You don't lower yourself to that level, you might as well just be some bandit if you do. What's the point of even being a tengu if you're doing that?"
-
>"Exiling tengu is a way worse problem than anything that was fixed, though! Training up armies is a way worse problem than any corruption! It's like dealing with a wart on your hand by cutting off your arm! You're avoiding the question now, in what way is any of that greatness? All it's doing is destroying everything beautiful about our society! If there was corruption, you don't sever the people involved from their soul and send them off to some oni prison, you expose them and shame them, and prove they aren't worth listening to. Strip them of their wealth and make them into servants if you have to, but you don't exile them from the mountain, you might as well be killing them! You don't lower yourself to that level, you might as well just be some bandit if you do. What's the point of even being a tengu if you're doing that?"
>"Keep your voice down, will ya?" your counterpart asks with a worried look on her face. "You're gonna get someone wondering what all the shouting's about in a minute."
-
>"Sorry. It's just...stressful. I'm not mad at you or anything. Just, at all this."
-
>"Sorry. It's just...stressful. I'm not mad at you or anything. Just, at all this."
>"And after half a bottle of good mead, too." she says, offering you a smile.
-
>"Heh, maybe."
-
>"Heh, maybe."
>"And chances are, I would be too, if I was you. Well, in your boots. You know what I mean. I mean, getting dragged out of your own world into another, any other, that's a heck of a shock by itself. And then to find all this different, yeah, I'd probably be shouting and stressed myself."
>"But you have to admit, it hasn't been ALL bad from what you've seen, right?"
-
>"There's been some good bits, yeah. Gonna have to think about how maybe we can export 'em home."
-
>"There's been some good bits, yeah. Gonna have to think about how maybe we can export 'em home."
>"I don't know if you can, not if the Dai-tengu back where you come from are like ours used to be."
-
>"I honestly don't think they are. I mean, Tsubaki is a shame to all tengu, but most of them aren't like that."
-
>"I honestly don't think they are. I mean, Tsubaki is a shame to all tengu, but most of them aren't like that."
>"That's what I thought, too, for all my life, really. But I didn't know then what I know now.
-
>"I suppose we'll see."
-
>"I suppose we'll see."
>"I suppose. Though that probably depends on what Aya does over there. She was the one who started all this after all."
-
>"All I can say is, if she tries half the stuff you told me, I'll discredit her so bad she'll die of shame."
-
>"All I can say is, if she tries half the stuff you told me, I'll discredit her so bad she'll die of shame."
>"Really?"
-
"Oh yeah, but she won't be the only target. You can bet on that."
-
"Oh yeah, but she won't be the only target. You can bet on that."
>"And... while you're here?" she asks cautiously.
-
>"Need to figure out what happened and how to get back. And maybe jimmy the lock on whatever prison camp our people got shoved into."
-
>"Need to figure out what happened and how to get back. And maybe jimmy the lock on whatever prison camp our people got shoved into."
>The second part of your reply makes your counterpart wince noticeably.
-
>"It's sad that you've let yourself be turned against your own people like that, you know?"
-
>"It's sad that you've let yourself be turned against your own people like that, you know?"
>"It's sad that you're still a prisoner of yours." she counters.
-
>"Decency isn't a prison, it's the difference between being alive and living."
-
>"Decency isn't a prison, it's the difference between being alive and living."
>"Decency also isn't what the Dai-tengu did to the rest of us for generations."
>"But you, Sis, have a chance that we didn't. You get to hear about it after the fact, as someone who missed the revolution. I mean sure, you'll never be able to write about it back in your world, but at least you'll know." She pauses, then scowls. "Wait, that's actually worse, now that I think about it. Forget I said that."
-
>"No, you were right the first time. I agree, there are some good things. Just, a lot of bad ones, too. So the trick is to get the good without the bad."
-
>"No, you were right the first time. I agree, there are some good things. Just, a lot of bad ones, too. So the trick is to get the good without the bad."
>"Sister, if you can figure out a way to change your society without pissing off the Dai's enough to take arms, then you're a much smarter girl than I am."
-
>"More like better warned. And I don't mind pissing off any Dais who have fallen from what their position demands of 'em, as long as we get a better ending. And I do mean we, I'm dragging you back with me whether you like or not now!"
-
>"More like better warned. And I don't mind pissing off any Dais who have fallen from what their position demands of 'em, as long as we get a better ending. And I do mean we, I'm dragging you back with me whether you like or not now!"
>She answers your bravado with a grin. "Like I'd miss the chance to see another world?"
-
>"That's the spirit. Now, what other weird things do you have to tell me about? And...is there any more of that mead around?"
-
>"That's the spirit. Now, what other weird things do you have to tell me about? And...is there any more of that mead around?"
>Your counterpart grins. "I'll see what I can do." She stands and heads towards the door, but tosses back over her shoulder, "Isn't it your turn now?"
-
>"Maybe, I've lost track. But stuff about here is more useful, anyways. Though, I can field any questions you have."
>_
-
>"Maybe, I've lost track. But stuff about here is more useful, anyways. Though, I can field any questions you have."
>_
>"Useful to you, maybe, but how often do I get to meet someone from another world?" she asks with a grin before sticking her head out the door. She has a brief, shouted conversation with someone down the hall, then asks of you, "But now that you ask, did Momiji back where you come from make Shogun yet?"
-
>"No, not yet. But, well, she does have Lord Tenma's ear."
>Shogun is a wolf tengu position, right?
-
>"No, not yet. But, well, she does have Lord Tenma's ear."
>Shogun is a wolf tengu position, right?
>"Now that doesn't surprise me." she says as she reclaims her seat. "Momi was always a good egg, in any timeline I reckon."
>Correct. It is the highest rank among the White Wolf military, which in essence makes it the highest rank among the entire caste.
-
>"Wouldn't surprise me if she got it after the current one steps down, though."
-
>"Wouldn't surprise me if she got it after the current one steps down, though."
>"Bet ya she won't want to be called it, though, if she does." she answers with a smirk. "I know ours doesn't."
-
>"Wouldn't surprise me at all, that."
-
>"Wouldn't surprise me at all, that."
>"Just try calling her 'Counsellor.' The look on her face is awesome. Oh, I almost forgot to ask, where were you planning on crashing while you're here?"
-
>"I was kinda hoping you wouldn't mind if I stayed with you, honestly. Not like I wouldn't return the favor once we get to my Gensokyo."
-
>"I was kinda hoping you wouldn't mind if I stayed with you, honestly. Not like I wouldn't return the favor once we get to my Gensokyo."
>"I don't have any problem with that, but, I wasn't sure YOU wanted to. I mean, you haven't been all that happy since you arrived, I'm thinking. Figured you didn't really want to stick around these parts longer than you had to."
-
>"Heh, the mountain's our soul. I'd not rather be anyplace else."
-
>"Heh, the mountain's our soul. I'd not rather be anyplace else."
>"I never said anything about the Mountain, Sis, just our part of it. Matter of fact, I was thinking about maybe Windia farther up the way, or maybe Sanae's pad. Her door's always open for me. Unless Reimu's there, then we knock."
-
>"That'd be imposing on them. Rather impose on myself, you know?"
>Have we heard of a Windia before? If not, inquire about it.
-
>"That'd be imposing on them. Rather impose on myself, you know?"
>Have we heard of a Windia before? If not, inquire about it.
>She laughs but does not protest.
>You have not, so you inquire.
>"That's what they call the new village up the mountian, next door to the Moriya Shrine." She chuckles shortly before adding, "Not the most original name I've ever heard, but the guy who founded the town wasn't exactly a poet."
-
>"What's its deal?"
-
>"What's its deal?"
>"In a sentance, Kanako seduced a bunch of humans up the mountain."
-
>Is the shrine, and presumable Windia, on land that tengu have traditionally regarded as theirs?
>"I guess that's not a big surprise that happened"
>Did we get a refill? Start on that if we have.
-
>Is the shrine, and presumable Windia, on land that tengu have traditionally regarded as theirs?
>The answer to that question largely depends on the Tengu you ask. Some Tengu believe every square inch of the Mountain is Tengu land, while others see no further than the borders defined by the Dai-tengu and guarded by the White Wolves.
>"I guess that's not a big surprise that happened"
>Did we get a refill? Start on that if we have.
>The drinks have not yet arrived. Though as you wonder after them, the door to the room opens from the outside and the Long-nose maid Wanda returns, bearing a tray laden with a bottle, this one a bit taller than the last one, and two glasses. The bottle bears the mark of the Katsura house, a Dai-tengu clan of some note but not one you know as a beer-maker. Your counterpart, noting this as well, gives Wanda the eye. "Where'd you find that?"
>"You remember a few weeks back Yuzo started working here?"
>"Ahhhhhh, riiiiiight." Hatatwin grins. "One thing that's still the same in this world and yours, we still try to butter up the upper ranks."
-
>Would they fall within the latter definition of tengu holdings?
>"Well, that's just common sense. Tell me a bit more about this Windia place while you prepare that?"
-
>Would they fall within the latter definition of tengu holdings?
>"Well, that's just common sense. Tell me a bit more about this Windia place while you prepare that?"
>You don't think so. There's a respectable distance between the Tengu's borders and the areas surrounding the Moriya shrine. Plenty of room to accommodate a human village, provided too many human didn't decide to migrate up here.
>"It's an art for a few folks." Hatatwin remarks as she opens the bottle. This concoction has a stronger scent than the last one, and you determinately smell vanilla and mint mixed in with the honey brew. "They haven't built it yet back in your home? Windia I mean."
-
>"Not yet."
-
>"Not yet."
>"Well, it really started growing up after the Harmony I told you about before." she explains as she pours you a dollop of the stronger smelling mead. "Lotta the humans down below liked what Kanako was selling, or they liked her, or they liked Sanae, or all the above. So they got it into their heads to move closer to be nearer their choice God." She chuckles as she hands you the glass. "Gotta love how you can do that in Gensokyo."
-
>"Gods'll local anyways, so it makes sense to move near the ones you like."
>Drink!
-
>"Gods'll local anyways, so it makes sense to move near the ones you like."
>Drink!
>"It's not a huge village yet, but it's been growing pretty steady for the past few years." your counterpart explains as you take a sip of your new drink. This one has a shock of vanilla blended throughout the honeyed brew, as well a cooling dash of mint. Shock is the right word, as the calming chill surges through your mouth and down your throat, tasting like a warm winter's afternoon distilled from a honeycomb. It's just lovely. "And yeah, there's been an issue or two, some of the other local gods haven't been all that happy about Kanako getting so many new followers, but nothing she and Suwako and Sanae haven't been able to solve. I keep an eye on things myself, of course. A little dust up between divinities always makes for good news."
-
>"Sounds like a gold mine! How're they doing with food and things? Living on the mountain is a lot different than the fields they know and stuff."
>Sip some more. "This stuff is amazing. What's the horrible secret behind it?"
-
>"Sounds like a gold mine! How're they doing with food and things? Living on the mountain is a lot different than the fields they know and stuff."
>Sip some more. "This stuff is amazing. What's the horrible secret behind it?"
>"They've built their place on a little plateau up there. It's not entirely flat, and it's not as fertile as the plains down below, but they're getting by. I think Suwako's cheating a bit, but I haven't been able to catch her yet. She's a slippery little toad."
>"Plus they get regular shipments from the human village. There's some trading going on between the two towns, and it keeps the local fighters in work."
>"You like it?" Hatatwin asks, eying her glass with a somewhat disdainful eye. "I've never been too fond of it myself. Always thought it was the kind of thing rich folk spend a lot of money on and tell themselves they like it to impress the neighbors."
-
>"It's powerful, anyways. Maybe I just need it?"
>Have some more, then grin.
>"So, who're we seeing these days?"
-
>"It's powerful, anyways. Maybe I just need it?"
>Have some more, then grin.
>"So, who're we seeing these days?"
>"Have at it, Sis." your counterpart invites, content to merely sip upon her glass. Though she stops long enough to choke a little when you inquire into her love life. "'kay, I wasn't expecting that." she admits.
-
>Giggle a bit. "C'mon, who else can you tell?"
-
>Giggle a bit. "C'mon, who else can you tell?"
>Your counterpart chuckles quietly, leaning back in her seat a little. "You may be disappointed." she says in a faint sing-song.
-
>Drink.
>"Nothing, then?"
-
>Drink.
>"Nothing, then?"
>"Nothing serious." she corrects. "It hasn't been a desert, don't worry 'bout that, but there hasn't been anyone steady either." She smiles, almost a little defensively. "I've been focused on my work. Ever since Aya dialed back on her own work, I've become at least as big as the Bunbunmaru. Kind of takes up a lot of time."
-
>"Nothing serious." she corrects. "It hasn't been a desert, don't worry 'bout that, but there hasn't been anyone steady either." She smiles, almost a little defensively. "I've been focused on my work. Ever since Aya dialed back on her own work, I've become at least as big as the Bunbunmaru. Kind of takes up a lot of time."
>"Oh, I understand. Just this is the first time I've gotten to see myself outside of myself for awhile, and got to wondering, is all."
>_
-
>"Oh, I understand. Just this is the first time I've gotten to see myself outside of myself for awhile, and got to wondering, is all."
>_
>"Which of course means it's time to turn the question around." she says with a small grin.
-
>"Haven't even been bothering too much! Well, aside from maybe Ranka, but it's kind of cooled a little..."
-
>"Haven't even been bothering too much! Well, aside from maybe Ranka, but it's kind of cooled a little..."
>She laughs. "Now Ranka, now, that, we can ALL make a bit of time for. Take heart, my self. I had my turn with her, so there's a lotta hope for me." She laughs again at her own quip.
-
>"Maybe so. But I'll figure that out once I get back. But you, I'm surprised! But not that surprised, I guess, since I can understand getting lost in the job. Surprising you don't have a few folks after you, though, if we're kind of better known now."
-
>"Maybe so. But I'll figure that out once I get back. But you, I'm surprised! But not that surprised, I guess, since I can understand getting lost in the job. Surprising you don't have a few folks after you, though, if we're kind of better known now."
>"Ohhh, I never I didn't." she retorts. "Like I said, it ain't been a desert. Though, maybe I could've used a better word there."
-
>"Now you're just being coy."
>Finish drink, hold out cup for a refill.
-
>"Now you're just being coy."
>Finish drink, hold out cup for a refill.
>"Would I do that?" she asks more than a little coyly as she tops off your glass. "You're right, though, I have gotten a lot more attention than I did when I was your age. Even followed through on some of it. I just haven't been able to find the time for anything more than a few nights long. Probably not anyone you'd know, though, I don't think. Except for-" She pauses, then takes a rather long drink. "Well, except two. One you might like, the other.... Will probably surprise you."
-
>Have a drink. "Then surprise me!"
-
>Have a drink. "Then surprise me!"
>"Well...." she drawls, almost hesitantly. Then, instead of finishing her thought, she merely turns her eyes to one of the pictures on the wall. The one of Aya.
-
>"You know, I should be surprised by that, but I'm not as much as I should be given the way you were talking earlier."
-
>"You know, I should be surprised by that, but I'm not as much as I should be given the way you were talking earlier."
>"Where you come from, she's still the big dog in the news world, right? Still tangling up your wings whenever you try to get a scoop?"
-
>"No! ...Yes."
-
>"No! ...Yes."
>"Yeah, I remember that feeling, believe you me. But after the Harmony, she and I had a little... heart to heart. I didn't think much of it at the time, but a day or two after, I started to think. Like, maybe she got to be as good as she is for a reason. And maybe she really WAS better than me." She offers up a short chuckle. "And yeah, that one really choked me. Think I almost made myself sick when I said it out loud, and I damn sure couldn't say it to her for.... Lord, months after I admitted it myself. But that was part of the problem, too. I didn't realize just how old she was compared to me. And that she picked up a lot of wisdom to go with it. And that I, for all my skill and promise and cuter backside, really was still just a kid next to her."
>You are slightly glad you have a drink in hand as your counterpart speaks. There's a lot of what she's saying that doesn't sound all that good in your ears. Though there is a part of you, however small, that grudgingly admits, she may have a point.
-
>Drink.
>"I...guess she's not a hack. The restof that is just bunk, though. Except for the cuter backside part, that one just got proven yet again today."
-
>Drink.
>"I...guess she's not a hack. The restof that is just bunk, though. Except for the cuter backside part, that one just got proven yet again today."
>She smiles. "I'll be honest, I was actually expecting a more... loud objection there."
-
>"Eh, it's one thing to admit she's a worthy opponent."
>Smirk then have a sip.
>"But if it makes you feel better, just tell yourself I'm distracted by the cuter backside part. Might even be the case!"
-
>"Eh, it's one thing to admit she's a worthy opponent."
>Smirk then have a sip.
>"But if it makes you feel better, just tell yourself I'm distracted by the cuter backside part. Might even be the case!"
>She gives you a chuckle as you take another level out of your glass. That's really good stuff. And not too strong, either. Certainly not for a virile youth like yourself.
>"You've got all the promise in the world ahead of you, kiddo, and the tools to get there. Take it from me. But I wouldn't be the reporter I am if it wasn't for her. She may not have the same assets we do," she adds a cheeky little shake of her hips to her words, "But she's got a lot to teach. And a lot of it worth learning."
-
>Chuckle. "I suppose so. But I'm thinking it's best not to copy her too closely,"
>"So, since we are each other, and we've kinda been straying toward it...you are curious, right?"
-
>Chuckle. "I suppose so. But I'm thinking it's best not to copy her too closely,"
>"So, since we are each other, and we've kinda been straying toward it...you are curious, right?"
>"Amen to that, sister." she approves with a raised glass. "Gotta keep the Hatate flair."
>"I'm curious about a lotta things." she replies.
-
>Chuckle.
>"I figured you would. So am I, to be honest..."
-
>Chuckle.
>"I figured you would. So am I, to be honest..."
>She waits a moment, seemingly expecting you to go on, then the light of realization dawns in her eyes. "Wait a sec, you mean...." she trails off, her index finger flicking back and forth between herself and you.
-
>Laugh, then nod.
-
>Laugh, then nod.
>Your counterpart somehow manages to effectively pantomime with her free hand the idea you're hinting at, then looks at you a bit curiously.
-
>"You sure are working hard to be surprised here!"
-
>"You sure are working hard to be surprised here!"
>Her face stretches into something between a grin and a smile. "You sure you haven't hit that bottle a bit too hard?" she asks lightly, much more a joke than a question.
-
>Snicker.
>"I'll decline to comment on that one."
-
>Snicker.
>"I'll decline to comment on that one."
>"NOW who's being coy?" she asks lightly.
-
>"Oh, I just can't figure out ho much of it may be this stuff, and how much of it isn't."
-
>"Oh, I just can't figure out ho much of it may be this stuff, and how much of it isn't."
>"Well, it ain't just the bottle, I can tell ya that much. Y'see if it were, I wouldn't find the idea near as...." she pauses, trying her best to look like an intellectual, and finishes with "Intriguing."
-
>"Exactly!"
>Grin, then beckon for here to come over. "We can talk here, then. Oh, unless you know somewhere a bit more private?"
-
>"Exactly!"
>Grin, then beckon for here to come over. "We can talk here, then. Oh, unless you know somewhere a bit more private?"
>Hatatwin laughs as she pulls herself to her feet. "I'm the best reporter in Gensokyo. I know ALL the private places." she boasts.
-
>"Then show me what you got."
-
>"Then show me what you got."
>With a lascivious grin that says 'You asked for it.' very loudly, your other self flutters her wings and heads for the skylight. As you stand to follow, though, she pauses and looks down. "Did you wanna let your friends know your plans? We... could be gone a while."
-
>"We got a couple hours to spare as it is."
>Make with the following.
-
>"We got a couple hours to spare as it is."
>Make with the following.
>Hatatwin chuckles a throaty chuckle. "Don't you mean, to play with?"
>With that innuendo ringing in your ears- you have a nice voice- you consume the remaining mead in your glass before placing the empty container on the table, next to the slightly more than half empty bottle. It didn't seem like you had THAT much. But it was damn good mead, so it's okay. Settling that issue, you haul yourself to your feet and flutter up towards the skylight which your lovely doppelganger is opening. As you rise, though, your head swims dramatically and you stagger through the air. Your counterpart catches you to steady you, though it could be more accurately described as a mid-air crash. "Whoa-ho, easy there, girl. That stuff must've snuck up on ya."
-
>Are we feeling any more fuzzy-headed than before, or is this just physical impairment?
>"Bleh... Sorry."
>Try to get ourself flying correctly. If that fails, let our doppelganger lead us.
-
>Are we feeling any more fuzzy-headed than before, or is this just physical impairment?
>"Bleh... Sorry."
>Try to get ourself flying correctly. If that fails, let our doppelganger lead us.
>A little of column A, a little of column B. That mead appears to be rather like tequila. Relatively harmless until one stands up, then it strikes like a pissed off rattlesnake.
>Your counterpart chuckles a little. "You good to fly?"
>A little unsteady, you test your wings a little bit, sticking your head out the skylight as you do so. The warm spring wind blows across your cheeks and through your hair and you feel better straight away. Being in the breeze always makes a tengu feel better. Though it doesn't render you flight-perfect, so you grasp your twin's hand for a bit of support as she guides you through the air. Hehe, here's a thing you'd never thought you'd be doing- flying wing to wing with yourself. If Aya could see this... Although, the smell of cinders on the breeze sort of sours the mood of the morning flight. ... Cinders? Is something on fire? Glancing around, you see the source of the smell quite a ways behind you. The sky over the training fields is on fire. Funny that. Wait a second, since when does skies burn?
>Pondering that question occupies your mind until you feel a slight tug on your hand. "Earth to Hatate." your own voice drawls. "We're here."
-
>"Hey, is it just me, or is there some huge fire over around that training field?"
>Scruntize that direction.
-
>"Hey, is it just me, or is there some huge fire over around that training field?"
>Scruntize that direction.
>Squinting, narrowing your eyes as best as you can, you can make out flashes of red and blue in and around the pulsating flames. Danmaku? Yes, danmaku. Whos', you're not sure, but definitely danmaku.
>"Oh, that's just Honoka." your counterpart replies casually. "I'd know that spellcard from miles away, that's World in Flames. One of her best, too. Must've found someone tough to challenge."
-
>"That makes sense. Probably met Celes or something.
>Let's take a moment to test the wind, and see if we can tell who it is. Or at least make sure it isn't something that gives us reason to worry.
>Assuming we get no red flags: "Now, where were we?"
>Where are we, anyways?
-
>"That makes sense. Probably met Celes or something.
>Let's take a moment to test the wind, and see if we can tell who it is. Or at least make sure it isn't something that gives us reason to worry.
>Assuming we get no red flags: "Now, where were we?"
>Where are we, anyways?
>Taking a moment to draw in a focusing breath, you turn your senses to the wind. Ohh, never done that when you're this drunk before, that feels interesting. You can feel yourself next to yourself... Focus, Hatate, focus. You turn your attention outward. That's definately Honoka, she registers like a strong hot breath across your face. As for her opponent, you think you can detect three of them, and one of them is most certainly Momiji. That would explain the numbers. Momicchi's good, but she's no match for Honoka alone, not from what you saw. The other two seem to be Tengu, though Celes is not far away, likely observing the spectacle. You'd indulge your own curiousity, if you weren't about to indulge other things.
>You've landed. When did that happen? Probably when you were watching fire. You find yourself on the second floor of a building you don't immediately recognize, standing outside a rather ornate white painted door, with a red heart-shaped doorknob. You're not sure if that's romantic or just plain cheesy.
>"I think you're gonna like this place. Oh, but first." Taking her hand away from the door, she turns and, with a surprising amount of grace, scoops you off the ground into her arms. If your slightly hazy memory serves, they call this a bridal carry. "My lady." your counterpart with some sense of drama and a big smile.
-
>Grin back. "Mmm."
>Have we ever actually done this kind of thing before with anyone, or have we been carried thus far by bravado?
-
>Grin back. "Mmm."
>Have we ever actually done this kind of thing before with anyone, or have we been carried thus far by bravado?
>This would be your first.
-
>Put our arms around her neck.
>"So where is this?"
-
>Put our arms around her neck.
>"So where is this?"
>"We are on the second floor of a bridal shop." Hatatwin explains as she pushes the door open. "I got to talking with the owner once, and she said she made up this room up here for new couples who couldn't wait."
>Taking your eyes off your counterpart, you take a glance around the room. Nice little place you've got here, largely white with occasional spots and lines of red and pink where it is tasteful. The biggest feature though has to be the big bed in the west side of the room, easily large enough to accommodate three, possibly four. You stifle a giggle at the thought of the stories this place could tell.
-
>"Bet she makes some good money here."
>Snuggle up a bit closer.
-
>"Bet she makes some good money here."
>Snuggle up a bit closer.
>"Good customer service gets rewarded." your counterpart replies, sounding very much like a Long-nose on a good day. "Even built this room out of cork for privacy. Soundproof."
>As you snuggle up with your counterpart, her throaty voice sends a thrill down your back as she she breathes, "Let's test that, shall we?"
-
>Try not to sound too giddy.
>"Yeah."
-
>Try not to sound too giddy.
>"Yeah."
>Before your imagination runs away with you entirely, you take the offensive, trying to take your counterpart off guard. You stretch your neck up and kiss her, hard, the sensation of your own lips pressing against yours. Distantly, you think to yourself, 'My first kiss, even. And it's with ME.' But that thought will register in your conscious mind later, as that part of your mind is very occupied at the moment. Hatatwin may have been a bit surprised by your preemptive attack, but she quickly regains the offensive. Before you even realize it your conterpart, or rather, partner, has doffed you of half of your attire, and liberates you from the other half after she lays you down on the soft satin sheets. The simple fact is, the other Hatate has more than a little more experience than you in this field, and it shows. In fact, she shows you all of it, proving that jounalism is, by far, not the only thing to which she-you apply a tremendous amount of passion.
>After all is said and done, you find yourself basking in the wake of the experience. The new experience. You wonder if it's always that good, if you'll be that good yourself one day. Of course you will, you already are, and you've just seen the proof of it. Sorting out the pronouns at the moment however is a bit beyond you. Between your exertions and the effects of the alcohol, you find yourself very sleepy. More content than you've ever been in your life, but very ready for a nap. Especially as your partner remains by your side, and is still very warm, and the thought of dozing off while having a bit of a post-coital snuggle is an oh-so pleasant one. You think you still had some work to do with someone else, but surely that can wait, right?
-
>"We're definitely doing that again."
>Snuggle up to her and drift off. "Wake me in an hour..."
-
>"We're definitely doing that again."
>Snuggle up to her and drift off. "Wake me in an hour..."
>Ah it'd be nice to be so outgoing even in the Outer Gensokyo, not robbing off this moment...
>...Not forgetting this,or that' d mean I'm really gonna get carried 'way.
>"Those":quickly set up a ten-minute alarm clock on your cell whilst making up your mind about snooping on Honoka's initiative.
Not forgetting this or that' d mean I'm gonna get carried 'way I might be over-cautios ,I might be not ; statement translates to keep our wits about losing sight of the objective and being prepared,however moderately interesting this is proving.
8) I wish Saint Holidays to all that are taking part in any shape in this thread :)
-
>Ah it'd be nice to be so outgoing even in the Outer Gensokyo, not robbing off this moment...
>...Not forgetting this,or that' d mean I'm really gonna get carried 'way.
>Before you nod off, you try to keep in mind your primary goal to find a way home.
>"We're definitely doing that again."
>Snuggle up to her and drift off. "Wake me in an hour..."
>"Those":quickly set up a ten-minute alarm clock on your cell whilst making up your mind about snooping on Honoka's initiative.
>Hatatwin nods as she gently runs her surprisingly skilled fingers through your hair as you cuddle up next to her. With her promise to wake you, there is no need to fumble with your device. You think she starts to say something, but sleep claims you before she gets more than a couple of syllables into it.
>Just as you asked, you feel someone gently shake you to wakefulness a bit later. Though you sort of wish they hadn't. Far too many things ache, your legs, hips, even your wings. To say nothing of the headache that hits you when the sun hits your eyes.
-
>"Uuuugh. What?"
-
>"Uuuugh. What?"
>"Tried to warn you." your own voice says softly, but still too loud for your tastes. "An hour wasn't going to be long enough to sleep that off."
-
>"Oh... Right. Got any water? And maybe a curse that'll make the winemaker get this instead?"
-
>"Oh... Right. Got any water? And maybe a curse that'll make the winemaker get this instead?"
>She chuckles, and you immediately wish she hadn't. "None that works." she answers. As you hear her move off the bed, she continues, "You really should get some more sleep. Works for me." she adds as you hear the sound of water pouring into a glass, which doesn't so any favors to your head.
-
>"Still need to drink something..."
>Assuming we get the water, get to rehydratin'.
-
>"Still need to drink something..."
>Assuming we get the water, get to rehydratin'.
>"Here you go, honey." your counterpart says as she helps you, rather gingerly, sit up and drink.
-
>Chug it down. Unless it tastes weird.
-
>Chug it down. Unless it tastes weird.
>You've got a case of the cottomouth, which you do after having a drink or two more than you should. The water itself tastes just fine, so you make it disappear very quickly. It helps the sourness in your mouth and the aching in your throat.
-
>"More, please."
>Let's have a redankulous amount; liquor dries one out bad, and we need to replenish it.
-
>"More, please."
>Let's have a redankulous amount; liquor dries one out bad, and we need to replenish it.
>"Take it slow now, girl." your counterpart advises. "You don't wanna make yourself sick. That costs extra." she quips, handing you a refilled glass, and then another once you polish that off. Some of the aches around your body have already started to fade, mostly the ones not caused by imbibing a bottle and a bit of mead. After all, you did have, to quote the vernacular, a very vigorous workout.
-
>Lay back down. Or against our counterpart, whichever is easiest.
>"Just gimme a few minutes..."
-
>Lay back down. Or against our counterpart, whichever is easiest.
>"Just gimme a few minutes..."
>Hatatwin guides your still-aching head back down to the softness of your pillow. "Wise choice." she says softly.
-
>Take a few minutes, let's let that water do its job.
-
>Recall your thinking for Hatatwin when you feel better."Ah it'd be nice to be so outgoing even in the Outer Gensokyo, no way that having had robbed off this moment...
>After a few minutes."I am a twensy bit hang up on Honoka...Better say I am hang up about the situation around her feet...Orrr curious".
-
>Take a few minutes, let's let that water do its job.
>Recall your thinking for Hatatwin when you feel better."Ah it'd be nice to be so outgoing even in the Outer Gensokyo, no way that having had robbed off this moment...
>After a few minutes."I am a twensy bit hang up on Honoka...Better say I am hang up about the situation around her feet...Orrr curious".
>Your counterpart giggles. "Oh, what have I started." she says with an amused grin. "it's nice to dream big, girl, but Honoka's only got eyes on one girl, and I'm afraid that ain't either of us."
>"You hungry?" she asks a little while later as your various aches work on their dissipation.
-
>"Wouldn't say no..."
-
>"Wouldn't say no..."
>"Well, you just relax then, I'll take care of that." She stands and makes for the exit, but pauses and glances back over her shoulder. "You still like coffee, right?"
-
>"Yeah. You know how to do it."
-
>"Yeah. You know how to do it."
>Your counterpart gives you a jaunty salute and then makes her exit, leaving you time to recuperate. It takes her somewhere around twenty minutes to return, carrying a hefty wooden tray. By this point, you are by and large functional again, with only a dull ache in your temples and some lingering soreness in your hips as a testament to your earlier activities. The smell of fresh french toast topped with syrup, cinnamon and powdered sugar alone helps alleviate those aches even more, and you see the dish is accompanied by steaming coffee, a plate of sausages, hashbrowns and eggs over easy. Enough for the both of you.
>"Breakfast in bed." Hatatwin announces.
-
>"Oh man, we're the best!"
>Let's breakfast it up!
-
>"Oh man, we're the best!"
>Let's breakfast it up!
>"And don't you forget it." Hatatwin replies, pleased, and partakes herself. Mmm, carbs. A hot, healthy meal is just what the doctor ordered after a rather active afternoon.
-
>How're we feeling afterward?
>"So...um, did you enjoy it?"
-
>How're we feeling afterward?
>"So...um, did you enjoy it?"
>Much improved.
>Your counterpart gives you a grin and replies, "Oh yeah, I could eat french toast all day."
-
>What's a French?
>Snort.
>"That's not what I meant!"
-
>What's a French?
>Snort.
>"That's not what I meant!"
>She laughs a boisterous laugh. "Face was worth it, though." Then she grins. "Among other faces."
-
French Toast could easily be something our Hatate hasn't heard of but the other Hatate has.
-
Shhhhh
>"I'll make your face!"
>Laugh.
>"Seriously, though?"
-
Shhhhh
>"I'll make your face!"
>Laugh.
>"Seriously, though?"
>Your counterpart joins you in your laugh. Afterwards though, she puts on her serious smile. "Yes, love, I most certainly did. That was one of those really genuine once-in-a-lifetime experiences, for the both of us."
-
>"Yeah. But, I suppose we need to get a move on."
-
>"Yeah. But, I suppose we need to get a move on."
>"On to the next conquest so soon?" she asks, her smile arching into a grin.
-
>"Can't keep the others waiting."
-
>"Can't keep the others waiting."
>"A few minutes might not hurt, though." she says lightly, running her fingers across your head. "Tidy up a bit, ne?"
-
>"Well, yeah. That was implied."
>Tidy up a bit.
-
>"Well, yeah. That was implied."
>Tidy up a bit.
>Hatatwin nods and leaves you to your tasks, starting with a quick shower. You hadn't realized until you stood up quite how much you had sweat. After you finish that up, you return to the main room to find that your partner has gathered up your clothing and inventory from wherever it had landed earlier and laid them out for you. Judging them to still be in good shape, you redress yourself and run a comb through your hair. It'll finish drying in the wind once you get back to business.
-
>Once our doppelganger is ready, let's move out to where we said we were going to meet up with the others.
-
>Once our doppelganger is ready, let's move out to where we said we were going to meet up with the others.
>Your counterpart appears to have tidied herself up while you were sleeping it off, so you find yourself ready to depart for the Moriya temple in short order.
>Your passage out of Tengu territory is mostly uneventful, interrupted only once by a Dai-tengu who flies up from the ground, speaks with your counterpart about some processing and production matters pertaining to her paper, then departs again. Evidently the taller Tengu works for Hatatwin in her paper, which takes you a little aback. Even knowing all that you know about this world, seeing a Dai-tengu employed by a Crow Tengu is very jarring. Once again, your doppelganger assures you that you'll get used to it in time. You simply hope you won't have to be around long enough to have to be.
>The landscape beyond the Tengu borders appears largely unchanged from your world, and you and Hatatwin spend the trip engaged in a little good-natured fencing as to which one of you had run the best story in your time. This proves to be a little one-sided, as you and she have by and large the same resume, having shared experiences up until the Night of Rage. So your jousting quickly becomes reminiscing about some of the better stories you've run. By mutual unspoken agreement, neither one of you mention the fact that Aya had beaten you to the punch on every one of those.
>She does make a bit of a detour though instead of heading directly to the Moriya temple, citing something about a turf dispute between Kanako and one of the local gods, some kind of territorial thunder goddess with a bad attitude. Incidents are not common, but since you have somewhere to be, both of you decide not to risk a potentially lengthy delay, especially if there's no story to be gained by it.
>Your new course takes you close to that human village called Windia near the temple you've heard talk of today. It doesn't appear to be as large as the human village down below, but it seems to be large enough to support a couple hundred humans at least. There's only two roads leading two and from town, such as they are, a feet-beaten path leading up from the lower parts of the mountain, and another one heading towards the temple itself. Right now, only one of them is occupied, by a somewhat short feline youkai beating a hasty retreat from town, carrying a thick sack slung on her shoulders and a couple of pieces of jewelry in her teeth. A quartet of humans is trying to give chase to the cat, accompanied by a woman clad in pink and white clothing flying overhead.
>"Ah, bollocks." Hatatwin sighs as she observes this. "You'd best go on to the temple ahead of me, sis. I gotta deal with this."
-
>"What's going on?"
-
>"What's going on?"
>"That turf war I mentioned hits the town every now and then." She points to the youkai leading the parade out of town. "That thief raids Windia every now and then, tries to make Sanae and Kanako look bad for not being there to stop her. And since I'm on their side... You go on, I'll catch up."
-
>"Okay, I'll leave it up to you. Make us look good!"
>Continue on toward our goal.
-
>"Okay, I'll leave it up to you. Make us look good!"
>Continue on toward our goal.
>"Always do." Hatatwin says confidently, pulling out her cameraphone and breaking off, heading down towards the ground, leaving you to proceed on alone.
>The Moriya Temple appears to be largely the same as in your world, though it does have a few additions in this place. The beaten trail leading from Windia village is bordered by tall metal poles at regular intervals, each pole connected by a thick cable. These cables lead to a boxy structure some distance to the west of the main temple. There's another new building as well next to temple, smaller than the temple itself.
>One of the patron Goddesses of the temple, Kanako Yasaka, stands on the shrine's veranda, speaking with a somewhat familiar figure, a very animated one. It takes you a moment to recall, but the way she jabs her finger at Kanako connects your memory. It's that producer you met earlier today, Dahlia D. de la Vega.
-
>"Huh."
>Look around fromt eh air for a bit, and see if we can find Celes or our Momiji.
-
>"Huh."
>Look around fromt eh air for a bit, and see if we can find Celes or our Momiji.
>A bit of searching reveals no obvious sign of either of your two partners in adventure. Either you've arrived here ahead of them, or they're inside one of the buildings.
-
>Let's land and have a look around for either them or someone who it looks like we could ask.
-
>Let's land and have a look around for either them or someone who it looks like we could ask.
>Leaving the Moriya goddess to her guest, you set your feet on the ground and look about for someone to grill.
>It doesn't take you long to track down Suwako. The frog goddess is relaxing on an overgrown lily pad out on the lake behind the shrine, seemingly doing little more than watching the clouds roll by.
-
>Are we on speaking terms with Suwako back home?
-
>Are we on speaking terms with Suwako back home?
>You are. You find the frog Goddess is the type who's always good for a laugh.
-
>"Hey!"
>Approach Suwako. "Hey, I need to ask you something real quick. Is Momiji around here? Or I supopse for you, it'd be someone who looks like her?"
-
>"Hey!"
>Approach Suwako. "Hey, I need to ask you something real quick. Is Momiji around here? Or I supopse for you, it'd be someone who looks like her?"
>Idly waving her hand in the direction of the temple, Suwako laconically drawls, "Inside with Sanae and the horse and the blood doll."
-
>"Thanks! Oh, and, um, you heard about the two of us, right? About the doubles thing?"
-
>"Thanks! Oh, and, um, you heard about the two of us, right? About the doubles thing?"
>"Eh, it's all good." Suwako says with a yawn. "Just follow the same rule as the other one, and we'll be all right."
-
>Do we know about this rule? If not, inquire.
-
>Do we know about this rule? If not, inquire.
>Not specifically, so you ask.
>"You can sneak pics of Sanae, but me or Kanako screen 'em after."
-
>"Got it."
>There's no way we actually do that.
>Head inside.
-
>"Got it."
>There's no way we actually do that.
>Head inside.
>Of course not. Though Sanae is a handsome lady...
>But that aside, you enter into the temple through the back entrance, giving Dahlia a wide berth.
>You find your companions in what Sanae calls the temples 'rec room', where she keeps her TV and game consoles. Neither are in use at the moment, as the occupants all have other things occupying their hands. Sitting around the table located in the northeast section of the room are Celes and Momiji, as well as, to your surprise, Ranka. Celes has her saber unsheathed and seems to be pantomiming some kind of sword technique to Momiji. Sanae is standing in front of a mirror, taking a comb and brush to the hair of a pink winged youkai whom you don't immediately recognize.
-
>"Sorry if I kept you waiting, guys. Something came up."
-
>"Sorry if I kept you waiting, guys. Something came up."
>"Quite all right." Celes replies, sheathing her blade. "We actually arrived here somewhat earlier than anticipated."
-
>"Anything big happen?"
-
>"Anything big happen?"
>"Well, before coming up here," Celes explains, "we met and spoke with Aya." Darting her eyes pointedly at Sanae and the other woman in the room, she continues, "Much of what she had to say was a great deal like what we spoke to Marisa about."
-
>"Huh, where'd you find her at? And what was the stuff that didn't sound like Marisa?"
-
>"Huh, where'd you find her at? And what was the stuff that didn't sound like Marisa?"
>"At Twilight's, actually." Momiji replies, citing the name of a lounge which, in your world at least, caters exclusively to Dai-tengu clientele. "Apparently she sings there every now and then."
>"She gave us a fair amount of background information in this- timeline." Celes says, hesitation for a moment before using that word. "May I assume you spoke with your counterpart about similar matters?"
-
>"Yup. And sorting out some personal business. So, what do you guys think, is she one of ours?"
-
>"Yup. And sorting out some personal business. So, what do you guys think, is she one of ours?"
>With confidence, Momiji replies, "Definitely. The wind doesn't lie, and she feels just like she ours. ... Mostly." she adds with a frown.
-
>"Mostly?"
-
>"Mostly?"
>"It WAS her, but there was something odd about the wind around her. It was like she wasn't.... all there."
>"I suspect it is the nature of this world." Celes adds. "The longer any of us stay here, the more strongly we become attached to it."
-
>"Right. Were you able to find anything that seemed like a memory hole?"
-
>"Right. Were you able to find anything that seemed like a memory hole?"
>"She didn't seem to remember that book we found either." Momiji replies. "Not even after we jogged her memory."
>Celes nods. "I believe that she has been affected more profoundly than Marisa has." With a wistful smile, she continues, "Aya now has everything she ever wanted. Just as Marisa claimed. And I suspect that Alice and Ran would say the same thing if we asked."
>"There, all done." Sanae says with a big smile as she admires her handiwork, having styled the winged youkai's long hair into braided twintails.
>"Between what we have observed," Celes carries on, "and the fact that my divinations ring is active again, I believe I now know for certain where we are, and why. But I'd like more time to confirm my theory." With another pointed look in Sanae's direction, she adds "In the event I'm wrong."
-
>"Okay, what do you need to do?"
-
>"Okay, what do you need to do?"
>"I'd like to take some scans in other locations, to confirm the same findings I've got here on Youkai Mountain. And since I have secured a faster means of transport, you shouldn't have to worry about me keeping up with you and Momiji."
-
>"That shouldn't be a problem."
-
>"That shouldn't be a problem."
>"And on that note, Ranka wishes to accompany us during our time here." The gorgeous blonde nods at Celes' statement. "Provided you have no objections, of course."
-
>Shrug.
>"I could think of worse things."
>Look at Ranka and say, "Any reason in particular?"
-
>Shrug.
>"I could think of worse things."
>Look at Ranka and say, "Any reason in particular?"
>"You're.... different." she answers, looking at you with curiosity.
-
>"That's not surprising. What'd they tell you?"
-
>"That's not surprising. What'd they tell you?"
>"It's not what they said, it's what they are. What YOU are. You're just... I don't how, or why, but you three, you're different. And you make me feel different. I want to know why. I want to stay with you until I know."
-
>"No no, I mean, what did they tell you about our goals and stuff?"
-
>"No no, I mean, what did they tell you about our goals and stuff?"
>"You mean like how you girls want to get home but you're not sure how yet?"
-
>"Yeah, and anything like that. Just so I know how up to speed you are."
-
>"Yeah, and anything like that. Just so I know how up to speed you are."
>"I don't know if I can help you all with that. I kind of want to, but... I don't know if I... should?"
-
>"Why not?"
-
>"Why not?"
>"I don't know." Ranka says helplessly. "It doesn't make sense to me yet."
-
>"Heh, welcome to the club. Anyways, sure, I don't mind if you're gonna tag along."
>Look to the others. "I was meaning to say, once she finishes dealing with a thing, my other self is gonna be coming too."
-
>"Heh, welcome to the club. Anyways, sure, I don't mind if you're gonna tag along."
>Look to the others. "I was meaning to say, once she finishes dealing with a thing, my other self is gonna be coming too."
>"Thanks."
>Momiji laughs at your announcement. "Couldn't resist the story, right?"
-
>"Among other things. She's helping out with some trouble over around the new village."
-
>"Among other things. She's helping out with some trouble over around the new village."
>"Yeah, that one was a bit of a surprise." Momiji says, resting her head on her hand and elbow on the table. "Never dreamed there'd be a human village anywhere on the Mountain, let alone this high up."
>"There's more than just humans there." Sanae interjects with her hands on her hips. "Youkai and gods and demigods and half-youkai-"
>Momiji winces under Sanae's faint scolding. "Okay, good point, I stand corrected."
-
>"Same thing in the end, though. Just something we'd have to get used to. So, did Aya have anything useful to say?"
-
>"Same thing in the end, though. Just something we'd have to get used to. So, did Aya have anything useful to say?"
>"All information is useful." Celes counters.
-
>Groan.
>"You know what I mean, geez!"
-
>Groan.
>"You know what I mean, geez!"
>"I was being serious." the purple-haired steward says. "Everything Aya said was important, not only in helping me gain more information about where we are and how we got here, but in providing necessary information for us if we must stay here for a protracted period of time."
-
>"Well, give me the good parts version, then."
-
>"Well, give me the good parts version, then."
>"She provided further confirmation regarding the essential abandonment of the caste-based structure that your people had been using for centuries in favor of a more... I hesitate to use the word 'communistic' but it serves better than 'capitalistic'. She also described an incident she called the Grand Harmony which, among other things, was the start of this shift in social pattern. Did you receive this information from your counterpart?"
-
>"Yeah. I imagine it doesn't mean much to you, but it's kind of a big deal."
-
>"Yeah. I imagine it doesn't mean much to you, but it's kind of a big deal."
>"No doubt. I have lived through times of societal upheaval in the outside world. It is good that the same level of violence was not visited upon your people." says with some sympathy. "I understand the outcome may be disconcerting to you, but believe me, Hatate, things could have been far, far worse."
-
>"I suppose if I were a more of a pessimist, I could believe that."
-
>"I suppose if I were a more of a pessimist, I could believe that."
>"How do you mean?"
-
>"This doesn't happen with tengu, you see? We don't do this kind of thing, rebellions and mass exiles and stuff. You talk about how it could be worse, but its pretty much already beyond worse."
-
>"This doesn't happen with tengu, you see? We don't do this kind of thing, rebellions and mass exiles and stuff. You talk about how it could be worse, but its pretty much already beyond worse."
>"On the other hand, you could have arrived in this world and found your home a smoldering ruin. From what Aya and the other tengu have said, this has probably been the least violent short-term shift in a society that I am aware of, and I have lived for centuries. And if I may speak pragmatically." she adds in a more somber tone. "Since it is very likely we will be here for some time, it's probably best that you make peace with this change. I don't believe there is any quick or easy way back to where we came from."
-
>"We could have come here and found everything we know and loved dead, and no evidence anything was wrong with us being here. But we didn't. So what's the point of what-ifs like that? Don't worry, though. I'll deal with it as much as I can. So, the question I have is, do you think we can knock some sense into Aya and get her to remember who she is?"
-
>"We could have come here and found everything we know and loved dead, and no evidence anything was wrong with us being here. But we didn't. So what's the point of what-ifs like that? Don't worry, though. I'll deal with it as much as I can. So, the question I have is, do you think we can knock some sense into Aya and get her to remember who she is?"
>Celes and Momiji exchange a look, and both women shake their heads. "I think Aya is very happy here." Celes replies. "I think that she has no reason to ever want to leave."
>"I have to agree." Momiji adds. "I've known Aya for a very, very long time, and I don't think I've ever heard her sound more content. She really does seem to think she has everything she ever wanted."
-
>"Sounds like we'd have to make her uncomfortable, then."
-
>"Sounds like we'd have to make her uncomfortable, then."
>"Why would you want to do that?" Sanae demands. "If someone's happy, what's the point in bringing them down?"
-
>"Because being happy in a lie just blows up in your face sooner or later. Or because knowing the truth makes you happier in the end."
-
>"Because being happy in a lie just blows up in your face sooner or later. Or because knowing the truth makes you happier in the end."
>"A lie?" Sanae asks, rather dangerously. Celes gives you a sharp shake of her head.
-
>"It's complicated."
-
>"It's complicated."
>Sanae looks at you hard for a moment, and you notice that the winged youkai has half turned in her seat and also seems to be giving you the eye. The woman has a rosy red spiral horn growing from her forehead, the kind you'd see on a unicorn. But both them seem relax a little when Ranka says, "She's just not used to this world yet." to the other two women.
-
>"Sorta. Like I said, it's complicated."
-
>"Sorta. Like I said, it's complicated."
>"Though perhaps I can help allay some of that complication." Celes says diplomatically. "If you wouldn't mind, Sanae, Ranka, I'd like to have a moment alone with my tengu comrades. There are still matters we must discuss."
>"'Discuss'?" Ranka asks with a familiar grin. Now she looks like the Ranka you know and lust. Love. Like?
>"Yes, Ranka, discuss." Celes replies while Momiji chuckles. "If you please."
>"Sure, sure. Come on Sanae." Ranka levels her eyes at the shrine maiden as she stands.
>The two women take the winged horned youkai with them, leaving you alone with with your fellow travellers. "I didn't want to say this in front of them, Hatate, but between what we observed with Aya and Marisa, and what my ring has detected, I am now almost completely certain where we are, and why this world is the way it is. Though there are some mysteries I can't explain yet."
-
>"Go on?"
-
>"Go on?"
>"I fear that my first suspicion was correct." Celes says darkly. "We have all been caught in a trap left behind by the Ebon Regal, and-"
>A tremor runs through the shrine's floor as Celes mentions at the name, and the wind howls a furious, black sound. It is as though the world itself tremors and screams at the sound.
>"Okay, that I was not expecting." the Keep's steward remarks. "But it serves to further confirm my theory."
>She is interrupted again before she can explain further, this time by Ranka, sprinting back into the room, her eyes panicked. "You can't say that name. None of you!"
-
>"Why not?"
-
>"Why not?"
>That makes Ranka pause. "I... I'm not sure."
>"I think I understand, Ranka." Celes tells her.
>"No, it's different for you, I... She's afraid of that name."
>"She?" Momiji asks.
>"I don't know. I can't explain, it doesn't make sense to me. But you CAN'T say that name."
-
>"I won't say it, but you gotta tell me what's going on."
-
>"I won't say it, but you gotta tell me what's going on."
>The wind spirit looks at you with a pained expression. "I can't, I don't know."
>"It's all right, Ranka." Celes says, trying to calm her. "None of us will say it. It was a mistake for me to do it in the first place. After all these years, I should have known better." The blonde spirit seems to realx a little, though she still seems perplexed. "Now please, Ranka, our conversation is not finished." She pauses briefly, then says "You can tell Sanae and the others that I won't say it again. I suspect they will be wondering."
>"Yeah." Ranka says with a grateful nod. "Okay, I can do that, that makes sense." The wind spirit leaves again, her excessively lengthy hair taking a few seconds to follow her.
>"Now that," Celes starts, pointing after Ranka. "Is one of the mysteries I can't explain. Ranka's not like all the others here, but I am at a loss to explain why. But the other people are all constructs of that Book. We are all of us caught up in a trap that the previous owner of the Keep created. And they will have been programmed with the task of getting us to accept staying here, being happy here."
-
>"A trap. Then it's not a parallel world."
-
>"A trap. Then it's not a parallel world."
>"I'm afraid not." Celes replies sadly. "And that is why we must be careful of what we say around this worlds' residents. If this construct is like others I am familiar with, they will be programmed to neutralize what they perceive as threats to the integrity of this world."
>"Do you think that's why everyone seems to have the same attitude towards this 'psycho Sakuya' we've heard about?" Momiji asks her.
>The steward nods. "I suspect that, for whatever reason, she is immune to the psychological manipulations of this world. This may be because she isn't from OUR world, but I can't be certain. But I do believe we should try to find her. She's been here longer than us and has managed to survive both the passive and the active powers of this construct. She may be able to help us find our own way out, if that's even possible."
-
>"What about scouting the castle? Everyone here avoids it, and talks it up as some horrible place."
-
>"What about scouting the castle? Everyone here avoids it, and talks it up as some horrible place."
>"Yes." Celes agrees with a nod. "I had my suspicions about that, but now I'm sure. If there is a way out of this place- and I must stress, there's no guarantee of that. Not many of his traps have escape hatches. But those that do have them placed in a location those trapped within would not want to look. Somewhere horrible, sometimes related to traumas or nightmares. Or in this case, the memory of whatever poor soul he used to make this book. If a way out is anywhere to be found, I am sure it will be there."
>"You think that's why this other Sakuya tried to get in there?" Momiji asks her.
>"Without question. She would know how a trap like this works. She is a vampire hunter in her timeline, and familiar with his works. Incidentally, since 'other Sakuya' could be a bit cumbersome, she goes by the name 'Dio'."
-
>"So, how do you know this is a trap and not just someplace different? I mean, it's still kind of a leap of logic to just say that's how it is, you know? Not that I don't think you're onto something, just I wanna know if there's anything solid to it."
-
>"So, how do you know this is a trap and not just someplace different? I mean, it's still kind of a leap of logic to just say that's how it is, you know? Not that I don't think you're onto something, just I wanna know if there's anything solid to it."
>"Not if you've been working with and around these things for centuries. The Keep is littered with objects like this. But if you want something more concrete, as it were, now that my divination ring is working again, it has detected the surrounding presence of power I know to be his. And I read the same power from Sanae and the others we've encountered. Only we three, and Aya as it was working at the time, definitively scan as 'real'."
>"But I have to admit," she adds, adjusting her cap, "there are some things I can't explain yet. For instance, if this world gave Aya and Marisa everything they wanted, and likely did the same for Alice and Ran, why haven't we received the same treatment? None of us has had our dreams inexplicably come true- quite the opposite in your own case, it would appear, Hatate. And that, I am at a loss to explain."
-
>"Maybe they already set the trap off, and it doesn't work anymore? Or maybe there's too many of us at once, and it can't deal with all three of us? I mean, I can't figure you got anything you've wanted either. Oh, and I can kinda back it up, too. Everyone's wind here feels...not really all that much there. It's off, and that does kind suggest there's something wrong with everyone else"
>Did we get a feel of Ranka's winds? What was she like?
>"And if everyone's setting your ring off, what does Ranka do since you said she's weird?"
-
>"Maybe they already set the trap off, and it doesn't work anymore? Or maybe there's too many of us at once, and it can't deal with all three of us? I mean, I can't figure you got anything you've wanted either. Oh, and I can kinda back it up, too. Everyone's wind here feels...not really all that much there. It's off, and that does kind suggest there's something wrong with everyone else"
>Did we get a feel of Ranka's winds? What was she like?
>"And if everyone's setting your ring off, what does Ranka do since you said she's weird?"
>"Momiji said much the same thing to me." Celes says, to which Momiji nods.
>"But her senses are better than mine like that, since she's a Crow Tengu. I wasn't sure about it, but now we can be."
>The last time you checked, she felt very much the same as the other people of this realm.
>"It isn't what my ring says about her, it's what I've observed in her behavior. She has a curiosity about us that isn't reflected in other people."
>"And she seems willing to help us try and find a way home." Momiji adds. "Everyone else we've asked about that's just tried to tell us that this world is a nice place and we should stay a while longer. Even Aya."
-
>"But not the other me. She wants to come back with us."
-
>"But not the other me. She wants to come back with us."
>"She didn't try to sell you on this place at all?"
-
>"Kinda? She tried to tell me it wasn't so bad. But she wasn't really trying to lure me here."
>"I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I don't think she's all that fake?"
-
>"Kinda? She tried to tell me it wasn't so bad. But she wasn't really trying to lure me here."
>"I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I don't think she's all that fake?"
>"If I'm right, she isn't entirely fake, per se. Tell me, apart from the apparent disagreement between you and her over the circumstances of your people, did she seem at all similar to you? Apart from physical characteristics, obviously."
-
>"Yeah, enough so. But that's to be expected, right? Not like anyone we know isn't real hasn't been like themselves either."
-
>"Yeah, enough so. But that's to be expected, right? Not like anyone we know isn't real hasn't been like themselves either."
>Celes frowns thoughtfully. "Yes. Perhaps that was a bit of a pointless question. Let me put it another way, and, forgive me if this sounds odd. Did your counterpart act in a way that you feel is consistent with how Aya sees you?"
-
>"...I have no idea."
>Frown.
>"I don't...think so? Then again, it's hard to tell what someone else thinks of you like that, you know?"
-
>"...I have no idea."
>Frown.
>"I don't...think so? Then again, it's hard to tell what someone else thinks of you like that, you know?"
>"What exactly are you getting at?" Momiji asks her.
>"I have a theory as to the nature of this world and its inhabitants. Hatate, from what you learned before you came to the Keep, would you agree with my assumption that Marisa and Alice were drawn into this book first?"
-
>"Sure, assuming nobody was trapped in the book before Marisa acquired it."
-
>"Sure, assuming nobody was trapped in the book before Marisa acquired it."
>"True. I believe that when Marisa and Alice were pulled into the book, it generated a world for them to inhabit based on their greatest desires. The Gensokyo that they most wanted to live in. That is why there are so many familiar faces here. Everyone here would have been as Marisa and Alice imagined them to be, or rather, how they wanted them to be. And then later, when Aya and Ran were pulled in here, the book adjusted the world to fit their desires. That I expect is why your counterpart seems real to you, Hatate. She's real to Aya."
-
>"But that would imply the book could further alter this world to fit our desires, if it hasn't already."
-
>"But that would imply the book could further alter this world to fit our desires, if it hasn't already."
>"That's one of the things I can't explain." Celes admits. "Why we three haven't been affected. It may be a gradual process, but that would be rare among his traps. The best explanation I can speculate towards is one you mentioned yourself a few moments ago. The book may have reached its capacity. It might not be able to adjust its world to accommodate more than four minds. Its characters can react to us, convince us to accept this world and abandon ours, but it might not be able to affect our minds directly." She shakes her head. "But I can't say that for sure. I've never encountered one of his traps that had drawn in more than it was empowered to hold."
>"Could the power of the people involved have something to do with it?" Momiji asks her.
>"It is possible. He has trapped beings of enormous power before, and often, but I don't know of any individual item that held four people such as the ones we know to be here. Especially since one of them is Ran Yakumo. Not only is her power extreme, but her connection to Yukari-sama is profound. The book may be stretched to its limits to keep her trapped, and have no more energy to use on us."
-
>"I guess the real question is, what do we do about it? Think we might be able to get Ran to snap out of it?"
-
>"I guess the real question is, what do we do about it? Think we might be able to get Ran to snap out of it?"
>"That would be risky. With her power on our side, our chances of finding our own way out would improve significantly. But on the other hand, if we break her free of the book's influence, that influence might be turned on us. We would risk suffering the same effects that Marisa and the others are under."
-
>"Yeah, but we know it's coming, so it won't work, right?"
-
>"Yeah, but we know it's coming, so it won't work, right?"
>Celes smiles ruefully. "If you know you're about to be hit by a runaway train, does that automatically mean you won't get hurt by it?"
>"You're right in that, since we'd be aware of the influence, we could potentially be able to resist it. But this book had the power to entrap and entrance Ran Yakumo, in addition to three other beings of great power and will. Are you willing to bet that your will is stronger than theirs?"
-
>"Maybe. But I sure know it's coming a lot more than she did, I'll bet."
-
>"Maybe. But I sure know it's coming a lot more than she did, I'll bet."
>"You're probably right there."
-
>"So. Either we talk down someone, or we go look into your old castle. Unless you got any other ideas?"
-
>"So. Either we talk down someone, or we go look into your old castle. Unless you got any other ideas?"
>"I do, as a matter of fact. Do you recall that barber in the human village Reimu and Marisa mentioned?"
-
>"Sorta."
>Not really.
-
>"Sorta."
>Not really.
>"Both Reimu and Marisa mentioned a barber named Liluye in the village. Marisa told us that Liluye had said that Marisa was not of this world, in addition to other forms of strange behavoir. She may be like Ranka, somehow different from all the other constructs of this world. Or, she's like us. Someone from Gensokyo that was trapped in the book, yet somehow resisted its influence, at least enough to recognize Marisa as being different. I would like to speak with her before attempting to investigate the Keep itself."
>"But if that does come, then we will need help getting in there. Ran would be invaluable for that purpose. Therefore this is what I propose. You move the fastest of us three, Hatate. Try to find Ran. If you can, and if you think you can bring her back to her senses without risking a confrontation, then do so. I regret that I can't really offer much in the way of advise on how to acheive this, since I have no idea what her desires would be, what this world could offer her that she didn't already have."
>"And while you're doing that, Momiji and I will visit this barber to learn what we can from her. And hopefully, while we're there, learn Dio's whereabouts. Her help is something we can count on, that is one thing I am certain of."
>With a sarsonic smile, she adds, "I propose this since I find it hard to believe you would like my other proposal."
-
>"If you're gonna say things like that, then you might as well just say it."
-
>"If you're gonna say things like that, then you might as well just say it."
>"The alternative is do nothing, and wait for Patchouli and Setsuka to find a way to save us."
-
>"Oh yeah, that's probably not a good idea."
-
>"Oh yeah, that's probably not a good idea."
>"It might actually be the safer option." Celes replies. "You see, this place may be a trap, a construct of magic and desire, but it's still dangerous. The people here will be programmed to remove things that it deems could threaten the book's hold over people's minds. It's a self-correcting system, their reactions to Dio is proof of that. And we can still be killed. I don't believe we'll age, but we can be ended. Assuming this is one of his traps that allows its victims to die and stay dead."
>"You really think that sitting here in this trap and letting this book do whatever it's doing to us, and to Aya and the others, is the safer choice?" Momiji demands, not looking too happy about the prospect.
>"In these circumstances, yes. Patchouli has wisdom, power and skills that no one else does. Combined with Setsuka's knowledge of his traps, in addition to all the other beings of considerable and variable power and knowledge known and befriended by them, they may already be close to finding a way to free us."
-
>"Well, even if they do come, we'd still probably have to shake the others loose anyways."
>"You know, that brings up a very good question. If they kill us, we probably die. What happens if we killed them?"
-
>"Well, even if they do come, we'd still probably have to shake the others loose anyways."
>"You know, that brings up a very good question. If they kill us, we probably die. What happens if we killed them?"
>Celes opens her mouth to reply, but Momiji yells, "Hatate!", cutting the steward off. "How could you ask that?" The old soldier seems rather mortified at the idea.
-
>"Because it's a valid question. Not like I'm planning on doing it, geez."
-
>"Because it's a valid question. Not like I'm planning on doing it, geez."
>"It is a fair question." Celes agrees diplomatically. "There is no harm in asking about any eventuality. To answer your question, Hatate, I can't be entirely certain. Some traps of his were designed to revive a soul after death, to prolong its torment. Quite a lot of them, frankly. But others were designed to be a test of survival, and death was permanent. In such cases the soul of the deceased was completely at his mercy, to corrupt and pervert and use however he saw fit. But since he is gone, that means the soul would simply be freed upon release from its trap, to go on to whatever afterlife awaited it."
>"And... if it was never freed?" Momiji asks after swallowing audibly.
>"Again, it depends on the nature of the trap. But most often, the soul remains in a state of waking stasis, not living nor dead. Suspended between life and death. Sometimes for centuries." Celes finishes after a pause.
-
>"So you're saying they have souls even if they aren't real?"
-
>"Or possibly, some of them have souls and some don't?"
-
>"So you're saying they have souls even if they aren't real?"
>"Or possibly, some of them have souls and some don't?"
>"Oh, you meant the constructs of this world? I'm sorry, I thought you were referring to Aya and the others."
-
>"What? No! No! What kind of person do you think I am?"
-
>"What? No! No! What kind of person do you think I am?"
>"A curious one." Celes replies matter of factly. "And it IS still a fair question. I and my fellow Cobalts have sometimes been attacked by those who we tried to save that had been cursed by him, and with great fervor. There's no reason to think the same can't happen here."
-
>"Well, that's not an option. Sorry Momiji, if that's what you thought I meant. I meant the people that are made by this place."
-
>"Well, that's not an option. Sorry Momiji, if that's what you thought I meant. I meant the people that are made by this place."
>Momiji smiles and shakes her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, too. I should have known better."
>"The people created by the book are a very different story." Celes informs you. "They are no more alive and possessed of a soul than a dream. The only souls within this book are we that have been trapped, and the soul of whatever poor being he used to make this book. But that doesn't mean we can destroy them with impunity. The book will register abnormal deaths among its characters and marshal its defenses accordingly. We could strike down one only to invite the attention of a dozen more."
>"Can the book regenerate dead... 'characters?'" Momiji asks, hesitating before using the word.
>"I would assume not, in this case. This world seemed based on the premise of giving those pulled within their deepest desires, and keeping them trapped in that illusion. A person returning from the dead would be too unbelievable to keep their minds subdued in fantasy, unless of course their desire WAS to see someone returned to life."
-
>"So...is there any way to hide what we're doing from the book at all?"
-
>"So...is there any way to hide what we're doing from the book at all?"
>"Not completely, I don't think. But, I am operating under the assumption that its awareness, the parts that aren't focused on Ran, Aya, Marisa and Alice, is focused through the eyes and ears of its characters. If we are not observed by someone, then we should be able to operate outside of the book's awareness."
-
>"Does that mean we could trick it, and maybe try to get it to mess itself up?"
-
>"Does that mean we could trick it, and maybe try to get it to mess itself up?"
>"You mean something like, catching it in a logic bind?"
-
>"Or just make it think we're gonna do one thing, then do the other. Or make it think we want something we really don't."
-
>"Or just make it think we're gonna do one thing, then do the other. Or make it think we want something we really don't."
>Celes presses her thumb to her lower lip. "It could be possible." she says after a moment's thought. "If we assume we haven't been bespelled by the book due to it being taxed to its limit holding the people it has, then we can assume it can't probe our minds to learn what we desire. In which case, deception could be possible."
>"But what if the book CAN read us?" Momiji counters. "What if it just doesn't have the power to react to what it sees in our minds?"
>"Mmm. You may have a point. I really don't know." she concedes at last.
-
>"If it can read us, then it doesn't matter anyways, we'd have no way to outsmart it. We'd just have to do more than it can deal with at once."
-
>"If it can read us, then it doesn't matter anyways, we'd have no way to outsmart it. We'd just have to do more than it can deal with at once."
>"How do we do that?" asks Momiji.
-
>"If we're lucky, we're already doing that just by being more people than it can handle. Otherwise, well...wonder how it'd handle if we decided to start burning everything down, for instance?"
-
>"If we're lucky, we're already doing that just by being more people than it can handle. Otherwise, well...wonder how it'd handle if we decided to start burning everything down, for instance?"
>"Optimistically, we'd just attract the Hakurei's attention." Celes says. "An event like that would probably be interpreted as an incident, at least initially."
>"That's probably enough." Momiji adds with a frown. "Just how strong do you think these book-people are?"
>"As strong as Aya and the others believe them to be, I would say."
>"That's strong enough. I know Aya well enough to know that, the way she thinks about Reimu, she could take the three of us by herself."
-
>"Yeah. It seems like it'd be a hard war to win. We'd have to be in too many places at once, and I dunno if three would be enough."
-
>"Yeah. It seems like it'd be a hard war to win. We'd have to be in too many places at once, and I dunno if three would be enough."
>Celes glances at the rings on her left hand. "Plus, I would hesitate towards anything that would damage the fabric of this world too dramatically. We could end up destroying the book itself in the process, and that would be extremely bad."
-
>"I assume that means we don't get to go free. Good to know!"
-
>"I assume that means we don't get to go free. Good to know!"
>"You assume correctly." Celes says with a wry smile.
>Momiji, however, keeps the keep's steward a curious look. "That's happened before, hasn't it, Celes?"
>"Yes. It has."
>"Is that why you're still stuck on us not being able to help ourselves?"
>"In part." Celes admits, adjusting her cap. "All my experience tells me to have faith in my comrades and friends. If no one knew we were in here, that would be a different scenario, but Patchouli was there, and so was Sabine. I'm not saying I'm not willing to help if either of you has a good idea on how we can get out and save the others. That's why I suggested that course of action before. I'm simply not convinced it will work."
-
>"I still think if there's a way out, it's at Cobalt Keep, which is why no one wants us to go there, and why it's got all that weirdness around it; the book is trying to defend it."
-
>"I still think if there's a way out, it's at Cobalt Keep, which is why no one wants us to go there, and why it's got all that weirdness around it; the book is trying to defend it."
>"Could there be some kind of exit there, Celes?" Momiji asks the rider.
>"Highly unlikely, but not impossible. It's far more likely that the Keep is where we might find the soul that he used to make this book. The 'core' of the world, to put it in a word."
-
>"So, what can we do to that?"
-
hack the planet
-
hack the planet
>You have to hotwire the nukes first. As one does.
>"So, what can we do to that?"
>"I don't know. Each 'core', for want of a better word, is different, there's no one solution for dealing with them."
-
>"Mmm. I was hoping we could use it to take this place apart in a a less bad way than what you said before."
-
>"Mmm. I was hoping we could use it to take this place apart in a a less bad way than what you said before."
>"It is possible. But I wouldn't be able to tell you how without knowing more about it. Ideally, knowing who it was before he turned them into this book, we always use that a starting point if we can. But I don't know how to get that information from inside."
-
>"I guess we couldn't just ask if we could find 'em?"
-
>"I guess we couldn't just ask if we could find 'em?"
>"They wouldn't remember right away." Celes says sadly. "They never do. That's why we have to remind them."
-
>"So they remember nothing at all, huh? Weird. So where do the memories go?"
-
>"So they remember nothing at all, huh? Weird. So where do the memories go?"
>"That depends on the person, and how long they've been transformed. Sometimes their memories have been sealed and remain intact, and can resurface once we remind them of they were. Sometimes the memories have faded over the centuries. Sometimes they've simply been destroyed by his power. And sometimes, the poor soul is completely insane, and there's no way to know how much, if anything, they remember of their old lives."
-
>"And I guess it's not that easy to just take these things apart, otherwise you would've done it."
-
>"And I guess it's not that easy to just take these things apart, otherwise you would've done it."
>"Destroying them isn't always hard. Saving the people inside, and the people they used to be, is another matter."
-
>"That's what I meant. So, I guess the only way we're gonna find out is to go there."
-
>"That's what I meant. So, I guess the only way we're gonna find out is to go there."
>"Unaided, we'd just get turned away like Dio did. And likely earn the suspicion if not outright enmity of this world's residents in the process. I would need to speak with Dio to find out what the Keep's defenses were like before I go near there."
-
>"Mmm. Where was she seen last? I heard she roams."
-
>"Mmm. Where was she seen last? I heard she roams."
>"She would have to. The whole world is after her. She would need to find safe haven somewhere virtually uninhabited, or with someone she could trust. Which is why I plan to ask that barber Liluye about her. If there's a soul in this world who might not take her as an automatic threat, I hope it would be her. With a bit of luck, we'll find them both in the same place."
-
>"Right then."
-
>"Right then."
>"But even then, we'll need as much force as we can muster to gain entry into the Keep. I know more than one secret way in, but I cannot believe they wouldn't be guarded. If all we can get to help is Dio, then so be it, but did you still want to try and get through to Ran? You have as good a chance as either Momiji or I, and you'll be able to catch up with her faster than either of us."
-
>"I might be able to get Ran, and I bet I can get Aya, if she's our Aya. Because she needs a proper shaming."
-
>"I might be able to get Ran, and I bet I can get Aya, if she's our Aya. Because she needs a proper shaming."
>"If you're going to go talk to Aya, she said she'd be at Twilight's." Momiji informs you.
-
>Nod.
>"I might need you to back me up for that one, then."
-
>Nod.
>"I might need you to back me up for that one, then."
>Momiji and Celes exchange a look, and the steward gives her a nod. "Just keep in mind what we discussed before."
>"Like I could forget." she says with a smile, then nods at you. "Sure, I can try. Didn't get very far the first time, but maybe two tengu'll have better luck."
>"Just remember." Celes adds. "From Aya's perspective, you'll be trying to convince her to give up everything she's ever wanted. It won't be easy."
-
>"Right then. I'll need to talk with Momiji alone to arrange some things, if we're going to do that."
>_
-
>"Right then. I'll need to talk with Momiji alone to arrange some things, if we're going to do that."
>_
>"Certainly." Celes comes to her feet. "I will be outside with my steed. Assuming Sanae hasn't decided to fiddle with her wardrobe as well." The steward then departs.
-
>Chuckle, and let Celes go.
>Look around to make sure we're not in any danger of being eavesdropped upon.
>Assuming it's clear. "Okay, I want you to be honest with me. What do you think of this place?"
-
>Chuckle, and let Celes go.
>Look around to make sure we're not in any danger of being eavesdropped upon.
>Assuming it's clear. "Okay, I want you to be honest with me. What do you think of this place?"
>You appear to be in the clear, once Celes' footfalls fade away down the hall the way Sanae and Ranka went.
>"You know at first, I was curious about it." Momiji replies, sitting back down. "I mean after we figured out we weren't in our future. I'm an open minded girl, seeing a world like this, so different from ours, made me curious. Now, though?" The white wolf takes her head. "If Celes is right, then tengu society the way it is here is what Aya wants more than anything else in the world. I've known that woman for a very long time, we've been friends almost as long. I had no idea she wanted anything like this. The idea makes me very uncomfortable."
-
>"I agree completely. These aren't tengu, they're just youkai. Our ancestors would die of shame again if they heard about some of the things that happened here. You did hear about the Dai-tengu, right?"
-
>"I agree completely. These aren't tengu, they're just youkai. Our ancestors would die of shame again if they heard about some of the things that happened here. You did hear about the Dai-tengu, right?"
>"You mean the ones send underground so the Oni could keep an eye on them? Yeah, Aya told us about that."
-
>"Bet she was proud of it, too. What'd you say?"
-
>"Bet she was proud of it, too. What'd you say?"
>"She wasn't really proud of that part." Momiji says thoughtfully. "She was proud that she'd had a hand in changing things for the better, in her mind. She was proud of what our people had achieved and become now that they had the freedom to do it, so she said. But she wasn't proud of the fact that some tengu had to be removed from the Mountain, that was one thing she regretted about this revolution. Well, a little. But she was actually the one who made sure that every Dai Tengu down there gets a fair chance to come back. That part made me happy to hear."
-
>"It's not really a choice though, is it? It's either break the tradition they cared enough to fight for, or be cut off from the mountain forever. Not much different than taking their families hostage til they give in, really. She might as well just executed them, the effect's about the same."
-
>"It's not really a choice though, is it? It's either break the tradition they cared enough to fight for, or be cut off from the mountain forever. Not much different than taking their families hostage til they give in, really. She might as well just executed them, the effect's about the same."
>"Aya didn't have much good to say about those traditions. She claimed that all of our traditions only served to stifle us as a species, and to keep the Dai-tengu in power. To make sure that no one ever questioned that power."
-
>"That's what she says, but it sure doesn't justify what happened. And I think that's going to be our way to get through to her. She's not dealt with actual tengu for awhile, so she's let herself go and thinks all this is okay in the end because no one's told her different. So, we need to remind her of it, make her feel guilty about it. Then, wake her up. She'll want it all to be fake then, because it'll make her feel a bit better if it's all just a dream."
-
>"That's what she says, but it sure doesn't justify what happened. And I think that's going to be our way to get through to her. She's not dealt with actual tengu for awhile, so she's let herself go and thinks all this is okay in the end because no one's told her different. So, we need to remind her of it, make her feel guilty about it. Then, wake her up. She'll want it all to be fake then, because it'll make her feel a bit better if it's all just a dream."
>"So, your plan is to... shame and guilt her into waking up?"
-
>"I can't think of any other way to make her want to leave, if this really gave her everything. Not to mention she kinda has it coming."
-
>"I can't think of any other way to make her want to leave, if this really gave her everything. Not to mention she kinda has it coming."
>Momiji's ears droop as she lowers her head. "I can't say I really like the idea of doing that to Aya. I mean I get it, we need to save her. I just don't really like the idea of being... well, cruel, to do it. Not to Aya."
-
>Frown.
>"Well, the cruelty is second to the honesty. I dunno, maybe I'm just mad at this whole thing, and I just want the one other person who matters to admit it's screwed up..."
-
>Frown.
>"Well, the cruelty is second to the honesty. I dunno, maybe I'm just mad at this whole thing, and I just want the one other person who matters to admit it's screwed up..."
>"No... You're probably right, it's the better of the two options. If Celes is right, the alternative would be we'd have to beat her back to her senses." She chuckles suddenly. "Never thought I'd find myself saying something like that."
-
>"I suppose I ought to say I'm not looking foward to doing it either, but I dunno. I think I am because I wasn't looking forward to Aya turning into such an embarrassment. But the important thing is, you'll back me up, right?"
-
>"I suppose I ought to say I'm not looking foward to doing it either, but I dunno. I think I am because I wasn't looking forward to Aya turning into such an embarrassment. But the important thing is, you'll back me up, right?"
>Momiji's smile hardens just a bit, an expression you've come to call her game face. "I may not be as upset as you are, but I want to save Aya just as much, maybe more. I'm with you, Hatate."
-
>"Good. Because I might have to cut deep. Maybe even deeper than I mean to. But we can't have her knowing if I need to go beyond that point, right?"
>_
-
>"Good. Because I might have to cut deep. Maybe even deeper than I mean to. But we can't have her knowing if I need to go beyond that point, right?"
>_
>"Still the better choice, assuming we don't just provoke her into attacking us. I don't like our odds if it came to that, either with blades or bullets."
-
>"What? No! There's no way she could take you in a real fight, let alone the both of us. Especially if blades get involved!"
-
>"What? No! There's no way she could take you in a real fight, let alone the both of us. Especially if blades get involved!"
>"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Momiji replies modestly. "But the simple fact is, I couldn't hit her if she didn't want to let me. She's faster than most Dai Tengu I've known, and she handles the wind better than a lot of them too. Handles a combat fan like a pro, too. She really IS a prodigy." She chuckles quietly. "A couple of White Wolf shoguns over the years tried to recruit her to do some Ranger training before they tried to get anyone else. Only reason she refused is because she said she was under Dai Tengu orders for other duties."
>"But I doubt it'll come to a real fight anyway. Trapped in a fantasy or not, she's still Aya, and we're still her friends. At worst, I expect a serious danmaku duel."
-
>"Well if it came to that real blows, she can't be in two places at once. And if it comes to danmaku, well, I have my camera. There's no way she'll let that pass. And I've got her before."
-
>"Well if it came to that real blows, she can't be in two places at once. And if it comes to danmaku, well, I have my camera. There's no way she'll let that pass. And I've got her before."
>Momiji's smile turns into a grin. "Hasn't she got you before too?"
-
>"Yeah but that was ages ago."
>"Anyways, I think we're gonna have to get her away from others, too. Because if Celes is right about all this, there's a good chance that it'll try to back her up. So, we need to make sure there aren't any people around to do that."
-
>"Yeah but that was ages ago."
>"Anyways, I think we're gonna have to get her away from others, too. Because if Celes is right about all this, there's a good chance that it'll try to back her up. So, we need to make sure there aren't any people around to do that."
>The white haired wolf has a quiet chuckle.
>"I was thinking the same thing myself. I don't like the idea of fighting my way out of Twilight's anymore than Iike fighting Aya. The only problem with that might be if she can communicate with the people of this world on the winds. If she feels especially threatened by us, she may be able to call in reinforcements from some distance away. Not to mention that it would identify us as threats to the book, then we'd get the same treatment this Dio would."
-
>Is there any way to interfere with that that we know of?
-
>Is there any way to interfere with that that we know of?
>A more powerful wind user can interfere with the wind use of another. Or someone possessing skills in the field of interference. Some crow tengu specialize in that in the event of emergencies. At times, the presense of a disruptive or powerful wind spirit or divinity can interrupt comuncations through the wind, someone like Kanako or Ranka, for example.
-
>"You think we could get Ranka to do interference?"
-
>"You think we could get Ranka to do interference?"
>"Ranka?" Momiji says with surprise, then she smiles. "That's a good idea. She'd probably be able to, at least long enough for us to talk to Aya." Then she leans back, her smile fading. "But that's still a risk. She's a product of the book herself, even if she is somehow different."
-
>"Yeah, but if she's gonna be following us, then that's going to bite us in the butt sooner or later anyways. So we might as well gamble in a way where she's useful if we win."
-
>"Yeah, but if she's gonna be following us, then that's going to bite us in the butt sooner or later anyways. So we might as well gamble in a way where she's useful if we win."
>"Yeah. Use the resources you have available." She barks out a laugh. "I should be used to that after all these years of Dai tengu budgets. But yeah, it's not like we have too many other options."
-
>"Got any good ideas where we should lure her to?"
-
>"Got any good ideas where we should lure her to?"
>"Well if we're going to ask Ranka to help, we probably shouldn't try to bring Aya anywhere too indoors." Then she laughs again. "'Too indoors'. Bet you've never used that one in your paper."
>"Here's an idea, though, Twilight's has a number of private boxes on its top floor for its V.I.P's, which Aya is there now. And I think they've all got sky-doors as well. The should give us privacy to talk and keep Ranka comfortable. Plus, she'd only have to block the wind flowing out of two exits, the door and the roof."
-
>Do we think she could do this well enough that Aya wouldn't notice it's being done?
>"Could work. A bit too close to others if things go bad, but I suppose it's easier than luring her out to the middle of a forest or something."
>_
-
>Do we think she could do this well enough that Aya wouldn't notice it's being done?
>"Could work. A bit too close to others if things go bad, but I suppose it's easier than luring her out to the middle of a forest or something."
>_
>You don't know Ranka well enough to know if she can pull off that level of subtelty.
>"Well, maybe not." Momiji says. "What if you told her about some kind of story you heard about in some out of the way valley on the mountain, or field down around the Bamboo Forest? She's still a journalist, if not as devoted to the job as she is in our world. She might be willing to follow your lead where you wanted."
-
>"I dunno. Giving a rival help like that is kinda suspicious of itself."
-
>"I dunno. Giving a rival help like that is kinda suspicious of itself."
>Momiji points out, "But you're not rivals in this world. Well, her and the other Hatate."
-
>"Yeah, but she'll figure out the difference soon enough, I think."
-
>"Yeah, but she'll figure out the difference soon enough, I think."
>"For sure. But if she was willing to work with one Hatate, why not the other?"
-
>"Mmm, maybe. So, you know any good spots out there?"
-
>"Mmm, maybe. So, you know any good spots out there?"
>"I can think of one right off the bat. There was a small hot spring Aya used to visit, but it dried up a few decades ago. It's in Kappa territory, but it was real out of the way. Aya and I pretty much used to be the only ones who ever went there, as far as we could tell."
-
>"Oh good, it's really easy to come up with kappa being up to something."
>"We'll have to leave Celes behind for a bit, though. Think she could run on ahead and meet us near the human village?"
-
>"Oh good, it's really easy to come up with kappa being up to something."
>"We'll have to leave Celes behind for a bit, though. Think she could run on ahead and meet us near the human village?"
>Momicchi nods. "A universal constant, that."
>"I don't think that'll be a problem. And by the time we meet up with her, she'll definitely have more information to share. She's very capable."
-
>"Right, then let's get this set up."
-
>"Right, then let's get this set up."
>"Right." Momiji stands. "I'll tell Celes about the change in plans."
-
>"Okay, and I'll try to get Ranka to do the thing for us."
-
>"Okay, and I'll try to get Ranka to do the thing for us."
>With a nod of affirmation, Momiji heads towards the door Ranka and Celes exited out of before.
-
>Follow out, and head toward Ranka.
-
>Follow out, and head toward Ranka.
>The room at the end of the hallway yields Celes and Sanae engaged in conversation. The wind priestess informs you that Ranka headed outside, having been indoors for long enough. Leaving Momiji behind, you head on out to find Ranka. The blonde is presently floating above the Moriya temple, chatting idly with Kanako. For once, she doesn't appear to be flirting, and she waves when she sees you emerge from the shrine.
-
>Wave back, and motion for her to join us.
-
>Wave back, and motion for her to join us.
>Kanako gives Ranka a little nod, and the blonde spirit descends down to meet you.
-
>"Sorry to interrupt, but I am wondering if you could do us a big favor? Me and Momiji need to lead Aya somewhere to have a private talk, and I was wondering if you could stir up the winds to keep it private it. We don't want her calling for any help if she gets the wrong idea."
-
>"Sorry to interrupt, but I am wondering if you could do us a big favor? Me and Momiji need to lead Aya somewhere to have a private talk, and I was wondering if you could stir up the winds to keep it private it. We don't want her calling for any help if she gets the wrong idea."
>"You want me to block her calls for troops?"
-
>"Yeah. Or just trying to tell people what we're saying. It's, uh, kinda personal?"
-
>"Yeah. Or just trying to tell people what we're saying. It's, uh, kinda personal?"
>"I can do that." she says with some confidence.
-
>"Great! Can you make sure she doesn't see you, too?"
-
>"Great! Can you make sure she doesn't see you, too?"
>"Sure. Got a big rock I can hide behind?"
-
>"Uh...maybe not. I was hoping you could do the turn into wind thing."
-
>"Uh...maybe not. I was hoping you could do the turn into wind thing."
>"I can't hide from her that way anymore. She was the first tengu free enough to feel me."
>The blonde then tilts her head to the side. "Except... she isn't really free, is she?"
-
>Shake head.
>"Tossing aside tradition and doing whatever pops into your head isn't freedom. Some people just think it is."
-
>Shake head.
>"Tossing aside tradition and doing whatever pops into your head isn't freedom. Some people just think it is."
>"That's not what I meant." Ranka says, raising her face to look up at the sky. "Something has a hold of her, something I can't name. She's free here, but at the same time I, I think she's caged by... something."
-
>"Go on."
-
>"Go on."
>"With what?"
-
>"With what you were saying."
-
>"With what you were saying."
>Ranka pouts. The expression would make her look quite adorable, if you didn't know she was being very serious. And a little nonsensical. "You tell me what it is I'm sensing. This all started when I saw you."
-
>"Wait, how'd you start sensing weird things in Aya when you saw me?"
-
>"Wait, how'd you start sensing weird things in Aya when you saw me?"
>"I haven't felt right since I saw you. Things have starting feeling, looking, different."
-
>Nod.
>"Like how?"
-
>Nod.
>"Like how?"
>The wind spirit's face scrunches in deep thought, as she struggles with an idea that may be beyond her. Eventually, though, her face calms. "Like the world's a stage. And everyone's just an actor. And you were someone who walked across the stage that wasn't."
-
>Nod.
>"Does that include you, too? And what about other me?"
-
>Nod.
>"Does that include you, too? And what about other me?"
>"I don't know yet." Ranka says quietly. The wind spirit brings her arms up under her breasts, as though to embrace herself. She seems scared as she says, with a tremor in her voice, "I don't know if I know anything anymore."
-
>"Well, I'm sure it'll make sense soon. For now, it's just important we get this done with Aya."
-
>"Well, I'm sure it'll make sense soon. For now, it's just important we get this done with Aya."
>The blonde bombshell takes a steadying breath, succeeding in mostly settling herself. "Okay. I'll try."
-
>"Uh, one more thing. If you could try to not listen in, that'd be great. A lot of it is going to be personal and. uh, kind of embarrassing."
-
>"Uh, one more thing. If you could try to not listen in, that'd be great. A lot of it is going to be personal and. uh, kind of embarrassing."
>At that question, Ranka smirks. "Now if I can't hear you and Aya, how am I supposed to know when to start interfering with the winds around her?"
-
>"Just start when we get there?"
-
>"Just start when we get there?"
>"I don't know if I can hide that kind of long disruption from her. She's always been good at reading the winds, one of the best tengu I've ever seen at it. Even if she's not from this world, she's still Aya."
-
>Sigh.
>"Okay. Well. If things get heated. And, um, try not to pay too much mind to what I say? Because there's probably gonna be some big exaggerations. Like, real big. It might get nasty."
-
>Sigh.
>"Okay. Well. If things get heated. And, um, try not to pay too much mind to what I say? Because there's probably gonna be some big exaggerations. Like, real big. It might get nasty."
>"Are we talking the violent kind of rolling in the dirt kind of nasty?" Ranka asks, sounding concerned.
-
>"....Maybe. But I am thinking maybe just a step before that."
-
>"....Maybe. But I am thinking maybe just a step before that."
>"You're still too soft." Aya purrs into your ear just before she shanks you. Momiji swears revenge.