Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: 日巫子 on February 04, 2011, 04:13:46 AM
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> You are Mizuhashi Parsee, and the surface is a mess. But it's okay, you're going to fix it!
> You've lived Underground for almost your entire life, but you've finally taken a trip to the surface for various reasons. An earthquake happened, Hell's Moon is missing, Koishi's missing, Yuugi's the only Deva underground, and you suddenly got the urge to figure out what happened to that comatose girl's hat.
> You've found out that Komeiji Koishi, Satori's little sister, has been missing for quite some time. You've met up with Yuugi and got important information about Konngara, one of the Devas who left for the surface. You've visited the Palace of the Earth Spirits and formally accepted the task of finding Koishi. You've found out from Utsuho that the nuclear reactor has stopped working, and that a mysterious "snake lady" hasn't visited for months. When you got to the surface, you at least found out that Hell's Moon went and flipped its shit, perma-killing fairies and possibly taking out the legendary red-white and black-white. You've met Cirno, an ice fairy(?), leader of fairies, and friend. You've been chased from the lake mansion. You've gone to the Human Village and met Mokou, Keine, and Keine's wife Minoriko. You've run all over the place getting information about Koishi. You've been to Kourindou and got some cool stuff. You've traveled to the Bamboo Forest with Mokou and Cirno in search of Koishi. You've broken Tewi and an insane Reisen, and returned Eientei to Kaguya and Eirin. You've found Koishi and, with Mokou's aid, returned her safely to Satori. Orin has given you a mouse. Utsuho is really excited that Koishi has finally returned. Mokou got drunk and got into a fight with Yuugi, and has made you promise not to breath a word to Keine. The mouse has been revealed to be Nazrin, who is now traveling with you despite her wishes. You've met a gradient-haired woman who runs the Myouren Temple. You've discovered that the comatose girl is actually a goddess from Youkai Mountain. You've been to the Hakurei Shrine and met Konngara, and there you discovered Reimu's less-than-desirable condition and what Hell's Moon really is. You have resolved to make Eirin get her ass over to the Hakurei Shrine, so she can give Reimu some real medical attention. You and Nazrin have experienced shenanigans during your ascent up Youkai Mountain: the curse goddess Hina really wants your misfortune, and the kappa Nitori has agreed to showing you the way to the Moriya Shrine as an apology for feeling up your ears. You've met a strange umbrella girl at the Moriya Shrine, as well as Kochiya Sanae, a wind priestess with lots of energy. You've met Yasaka, or "Kanako-sama", another goddess who resides at the Moriya Shrine.
> Right now, you're questioning Yasaka about the earthquake and the hibernating Suwako.
Inventory:
> Foreign-looking dress (currently worn)
> Scarf (currently worn)
> x1 newspaper fragment
> It has a missing ad for Komeiji Koishi on it. You'd better hang onto this for reference.
> x6 spellcards
> Taken from the comatose surface world girl. Copying down the characters written on them would have been a pain, so you took them with you.
> According to Tokiko, the cards are named "Long-Arm and Long-Leg", "Moreya's Iron Ring", "Jade of the Horrid River", "Frog is Eaten by Snake due to Croak", "Native Myth vs Central Myth", and "Mishaguji-sama".
> x1 chair
> Souvenir from the lake mansion's gate.
> x1 bottle of spring
> It's a sealed bottled with a pretty flower inside. It's a one-use item that doubles as an attack--a strong gust of wind--and a way of being able to produce flowers.
> x1 seeing stone
> A triangular stone with a circle inscribed in it. If you hold it up to your eye, you can see things that are normally invisible.
> x1 compass
> Borrowed from Kourindou for the purpose of navigating through the Bamboo Forest.
> x3 mochi balls
> Mooched off the rabbits after the whole Bamboo Forest Incident was solved.
> ☼3000
> Part of the reward you got for getting Koishi home safely.
> x1 Eye-shaped orb
> The "secret" reward that came with the ☼3000. It glows with the same energy as that golden chain from Kourindou.
> Nazrin
> As much as she doesn't like it...:\
> x12 stones
> They're not magical or anything, but that doesn't mean you can't throw them at people.
Quests:
> Learn more about Konngara
>While Yuugi did give me a good amount of information about her, there might be some more information about her that might prove useful in the near future. You've recently learned that Konngara might have something to do with Hell's Moon. She was also trying to find a "Hakurei Shrine" for some reason.
You found Konngara at the Hakurei Shrine, and learned from her that Reimu is still alive but in critical condition, and that there's a girl named "Kikuri" in Hell's Moon. You still don't know what Kikuri is doing on the surface, though.
> And the hat...?
> The comatose girl is from the surface world, but you didn't find a hat with her clothes. This bothers you enough to want to take matters into your own hands. The lady at the Myouren Temple told you that she's from the Moriya Shrine at the top of Youkai Mountain.
> Immaterial and Missing Suika
> You've learned that Suika must still be alive, but she has been 'gapped.' You don't know what that means, but you figure that Yuugi would want to know. You think this is "Yakumo"'s fault.
> Red Shrine Maiden Needs Healing Badly.
> You've found out where Reimu was, but she's barely alive thanks to Kikuri. You want Eirin to come to the shrine so she can use her magical healing powers on her, since 'Yakumo' isn't doing enough.
Jealousy gauge: (Capacity: 8/9)
> _
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>Actually, we're the earthquakes really recent, and much of the Kikuri stuff happened months ago? Otherwise things would be more fixed up by now.
>"How the hell did she get down there while asleep, then?"
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>Actually, we're the earthquakes really recent, and much of the Kikuri stuff happened months ago? Otherwise things would be more fixed up by now.
>"How the hell did she get down there while asleep, then?"
> The earthquakes happened a week after Kikuri disappeared, which was months ago.
> "She was hibernating in the shrine's premises. I'm going to assume she rolled off the top of the mountain and fell down a rabbit hole. As you can see, we were a bit occupied." Yasaka gestures to the sky.
> _
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> "Rolled down the... and she slept through all that?!"
> "Why are you doing... well, this? It makes it he-... difficult to travel around when you got wind blowin' you around everywhere."
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>Holy crap, deities are dumb! No wonder oni tended to give them a hard time...
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> "Rolled down the... and she slept through all that?!"
> "Why are you doing... well, this? It makes it he-... difficult to travel around when you got wind blowin' you around everywhere."
> "But she was hibernating..." Sanae says.
> "I've been using this wind to blow the fake moon out of the sky," Yasaka says.
>Holy crap, deities are dumb! No wonder oni tended to give them a hard time...
> What kind of deities are these people?!
> _
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>"Has it worked?"
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So that everyone's on the same page, what do we want to ask Kanako and Sanae about, now that we're here?
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We should ask for:
-The moon (which we are doing now)
-about stopping the winds
-About getting their asses down to underground hospital themselves and take their sleepy luggage.
-About Suika's whereabouts.
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We could also ask about the nuclear reactor not working, if we guess that Kanako is the "snake lady" Utsuho mentioned who hasn't visited for months. We've seen enough to at least be vaguely reminded of that.
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>"Has it worked?"
> "It's lower than it was last month, so somewhat."
> _
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> "So, if you do blow it down, where would it land?"
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> "So, if you do blow it down, where would it land?"
> "There are some uninhabited mountains towards the west. It shouldn't be a problem if it lands there."
> _
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> "What's to keep Kikuri from coming back up and blowing stuff up again?"
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> "What's to keep Kikuri from coming back up and blowing stuff up again?"
> Yasaka raises an eyebrow at you. "Kikuri...?"
> Sanae looks from you to Yasaka.
> _
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> "Er, yeah. That's her name, 'pparantly."
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> "Er, yeah. That's her name, 'pparantly."
> You can barely hear Yasaka sighing over the roar of the wind, but you do see her rub her temples with one hand.
> Sanae looks like a lightbulb has gone off over her head.
> _
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> "So, um, what's keeping her from going back up and blasting everything, unless you're gonna keep the wind going?"
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> "So, um, what's keeping her from going back up and blasting everything, unless you're gonna keep the wind going?"
> "I was going to keep some wind going to pin her down."
> _
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> "Pin her down until...?"
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> "Pin her down until...?"
> "...Until we find that exorcist who lived around here."
> _
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> "Exorcist? Are you talking about the red-white, or someone else? What can they do on a moon, anyways?"
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> "Exorcist? Are you talking about the red-white, or someone else? What can they do on a moon, anyways?"
> "No, not her..." Yasaka frowns and shakes her head. "It's someone else. They specialized in sealing, I imagine they'd be skilled enough to do something with the moon."
> _
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> "Yeah, good luck with that, I can't imagine how anyone can seal her up even more than she already is."
OH GOD SOMEONE SHUT ME UP ALREADY.
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> "Yeah, good luck with that, I can't imagine how anyone can seal her up even more than she already is."
> Yasaka doesn't say anything.
> "She's...not sealed enough?" Sanae asks, but she sounds hesitant.
> _
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> Er... okay, too much said.
> "So, um, I guess you're not going to stop the winds any time soon. Well, at least send her," gesturing at Sanae, "to pick up your goddess: she's kind of taking up space and no one knows what to do with her."
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> Er... okay, too much said.
> "So, um, I guess you're not going to stop the winds any time soon. Well, at least send her," gesturing at Sanae, "to pick up your goddess: she's kind of taking up space and no one knows what to do with her."
> Oops.
> Sanae fidgets and glances at Yasaka. "So...."
> Yasaka sighs. "Just be careful down there." She then turns to you.
> "No, I'm not."
> _
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> "Actually... did you guys even get attacked? It looks pretty nice up here, but the other shrine got devastated."
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> "Actually... did you guys even get attacked? It looks pretty nice up here, but the other shrine got devastated."
> "We wouldn't let our shrine end up in the same state," Yasaka says.
> _
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> "Huh, I guess it's easier when you have gods hanging around: the red-white would be dead if one of the oni wasn't keeping the moon from attacking her again, and even then..."
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> "Huh, I guess it's easier when you have gods hanging around: the red-white would be dead if one of the oni wasn't keeping the moon from attacking her again, and even then..."
> Sanae's eyes bug out of her head. "Wh-what...?"
> Yasaka glares at you.
> Maybe you said too much...
> _
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Okay, someone take over because I can't shut the hell up. D:
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You already said too much.
>"Well a lotta happened... Youw illing to pick up your little blond friend then?"
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>"Well a lotta happened... Youw illing to pick up your little blond friend then?"
> Sanae nods. "Of course I am!"
> _
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> Consider taking Sanae there ourself. If anything happened to her, we might be blamed (justly or unjustly).
> And maybe we'd get a reward like we did with Koishi? (This shrine obviously isn't as well-off as the Palace of the Earth Spirits, but still...)
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> Well, it couldn't be too much trouble going with her down to the reactor entrance: it's on our way to the bamboo forest, anyways.
> We should probably leave soon: they've been isolated for so long that they probably don't know anything else, they aren't going to stop the wind, and some strange force keeps making us say things that we shouldn't be telling them :V
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Wait. there's much more to ask.
>"So... are you a "snake lady"? You know about the reactor down there?" point underground.
>"It's down. You might know what's up with it?"
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> Consider taking Sanae there ourself. If anything happened to her, we might be blamed (justly or unjustly).
> And maybe we'd get a reward like we did with Koishi? (This shrine obviously isn't as well-off as the Palace of the Earth Spirits, but still...)
> Letting that girl walk into a city full of oni by herself would be a bad idea, and Yasaka might get mad.
> Maybe you'll get something cool for helping Sanae bring back that comatose girl. That would be cool.
> Well, it couldn't be too much trouble going with her down to the reactor entrance: it's on our way to the bamboo forest, anyways.
> We should probably leave soon: they've been isolated for so long that they probably don't know anything else, they aren't going to stop the wind, and some strange force keeps making us say things that we shouldn't be telling them :V
> You consider taking Sanae to the reactor entrance on your way to the bamboo forest.
> Well, their feelings on the situation definitely seem to be different from Konngara's.
>"So... are you a "snake lady"? You know about the reactor down there?" point underground.
>"It's down. You might know what's up with it?"
> Yasaka's expression softens. "So you've met her..."
> "I shut it down. The Underground needn't be more involved than it already is."
> _
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Okay, I vote no for taking Sanae ourselves to get Suwako: we have enough to do as it is, Sanae seems like she wants to get Suwako as soon as possible while, for us, getting Eirin over to Reimu's probably a bit more urgent, and since they seem to know Utsuho and her people she can just get Utsuho or Rin as an escort.
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> It was getting kinda cold without the reactor wasn't it?
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> It was getting kinda cold without the reactor wasn't it?
> Yes, yes it was.
> _
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>"You know, I think you shut it down too much. It's been getting chilly down there."
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> Did the underground ever have a heating problem before the reactor, or is this a new thing?
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>"You know, I think you shut it down too much. It's been getting chilly down there."
> "You're going to have to be patient for the time being," Yasaka says.
> Did the underground ever have a heating problem before the reactor, or is this a new thing?
> It's not new. Before, the Hell of Blazing Fires was used to heat the place if it got too cold, but even that shrunk to a size that couldn't support the entire place. The reactor did a good job of fixing that.
> _
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>"That's easy for you to say, you don't actually have to deal with it! How'd you like it if I told you that you have to be patient with our moon, huh? I know I could be doing a lot better things with my time rather than fixing all this up."
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>
"And, uh, by the way, be patient while we try to deal with this whole moon mess."
> Actually, there's a thought: why not see if Yasaka can take care of Reimu after the doctor stabilizes her? That'll free Konngara up to try to figure out what's wrong with Kikuri, and Yasaka certainly seems capable of preventing Kikuri from murderlizing the shrine maiden.
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>"That's easy for you to say, you don't actually have to deal with it! How'd you like it if I told you that you have to be patient with our moon, huh? I know I could be doing a lot better things with my time rather than fixing all this up."
> "The moon and the reactor are two entirely different things. The reactor can wait. The moon cannot. What is a shut down reactor compared to what 'your' moon has done here?" Kanako stares you down with snake-like eyes.
> "And, uh, by the way, be patient while we try to deal with this whole moon mess."
> Actually, there's a thought: why not see if Yasaka can take care of Reimu after the doctor stabilizes her? That'll free Konngara up to try to figure out what's wrong with Kikuri, and Yasaka certainly seems capable of preventing Kikuri from murderlizing the shrine maiden.
> "Whatever man."
> You get the idea of having Yasaka take care of Reimu so Konngara isn't stuck at the shrine.
> _
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>"Hey! Don't act like we're not important just because we're from underground! And I actually have been working on the moon problem, I'll have you know, and I've not even heard a single thank you for telling you who she was or an apology for what a pain in the ass it is to get up here so I could tell you where you goddess rolled off to! I don't see where you get off telling us our problems aren't important!"
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Wow Parsee is bipolar :V Then again, makes sense: she's a creature of emotion, after all.
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Yep. Calm Parsee isn't a thing that lasts much of the time.
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>"Hey! Don't act like we're not important just because we're from underground! And I actually have been working on the moon problem, I'll have you know, and I've not even heard a single thank you for telling you who she was or an apology for what a pain in the ass it is to get up here so I could tell you where you goddess rolled off to! I don't see where you get off telling us our problems aren't important!"
> Silence.
> Sanae's jaw drops. "Y-you can't just talk that way to--"
> "Quiet."
> Sanae stops herself as Yasaka holds her hand up again, but she still looks mad.
> "First off, for informing Sanae and I of Suwako's current location, you have our gratitude. However, I cannot account for how difficult it may have been to reach the top of the mountain. That would fall under whoever or whatever caused whatever plights you may have had. Do not think for a second that I don't care about what happens in the Underground. The reason I shut of the reactor was so the girl running it would be kept safely out of the way, uninvolved, and unable to interfere. She is also still needed to keep the reactor going once I restart it. If no one is running the reactor, then nothing will stop the Hell of Blazing Fires from freezing over. And we cannot have that."
> Yasaka's voice sounds very dangerous.
> _
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Hmmm. Does rage or cowardice win out? Because there's some nice openings to exploit in that.
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So, what do you think, Purv? Should we obey that little voice in our head that says "OH GOD PLEASE DON'T PISS HER OFF" and back off, or should we go full tilt and get our ass handed to us by a goddess of war?
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You know what? The last few months have been stressful, a few of our only friends are in the hospital, Yuugi's been so busy with the aftermath of the earthquake and Konngara's disappearance that she hasn't been able to relax much, our bridge is in ruins, and these guys up here have had their heads so far up their asses that they've gotten less done in the last few months than we have on our own (plus Cirno, Mokou, and kinda Nazrin) in a single week, and they still can't get their shit in gear.
Fuck it. Turn on the hashihime juice full powa: it's fucking GO TIME.
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I concur!
>Meet them snake eyes.
>"And you sure got a whole lot done, didn't you? You just messed up the underground, didn't even know who you were fighting until I came up here and told you, lost your other goddess, and in general didn't get shit done. While on the other hand, I've been helping put the bamboo forest back together, reuniting families, finding out what happened to the Red White, and in general making the world a better place while you've just been making it impossible to go anywhere. And who was it that asked you to tamper with the underground again? Maybe we should come up here and kick out your fires for a few months? Oh, and your welcome for helping out the surface since you can't do it!"
>Cross arms.
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>Meet them snake eyes.
>"And you sure got a whole lot done, didn't you? You just messed up the underground, didn't even know who you were fighting until I came up here and told you, lost your other goddess, and in general didn't get shit done. While on the other hand, I've been helping put the bamboo forest back together, reuniting families, finding out what happened to the Red White, and in general making the world a better place while you've just been making it impossible to go anywhere. And who was it that asked you to tamper with the underground again? Maybe we should come up here and kick out your fires for a few months? Oh, and your welcome for helping out the surface since you can't do it!"
>Cross arms.
> You stare right back at Yasaka and deliver your tirade.
> Sanae is completely silent.
> If looks could kill, Yasaka would have done so ten times over. She hovers down to your level, puts a hand on her knee, and leans forward so that you are face to face with her. All four of the onabashira on her back are pointing at you.
> She replies in a deadly whisper. "And what is it that you want me to do?"
> _
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> "Do something useful. Your making it windy so that Kikuri crashes to the ground, big fucking whoop. All you did is make it a pain in the ass to travel and made an ice fairy happy. She's lower in the sky? How long will it take to make her crash? Weeks? Months? A year? The underground'll freeze over by then, and then you'll have a buncha pissed off oni an' such coming up. You have so much power up here, why not get everyone together and use it, not like that half assed thing that red white and that black white did that has Reimu in a coma and the other girl probably dead?"
Purv, you want to add anything?
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>"And if you can't do anything, what about her? What're you keeping her up here for while you're sitting on your big windy duff?"
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> "Do something useful. Your making it windy so that Kikuri crashes to the ground, big fucking whoop. All you did is make it a pain in the ass to travel and made an ice fairy happy. She's lower in the sky? How long will it take to make her crash? Weeks? Months? A year? The underground'll freeze over by then, and then you'll have a buncha pissed off oni an' such coming up. You have so much power up here, why not get everyone together and use it, not like that half assed thing that red white and that black white did that has Reimu in a coma and the other girl probably dead?"
>"And if you can't do anything, what about her? What're you keeping her up here for while you're sitting on your big windy duff?"
> Yasaka puts a hand on your head, but not in a friendly way. She has a tight grip.
> "I stop the wind, send Sanae underground, send out whatever tengu are left, and then restart the reactor and bring Utsuho up here," she says curtly. "The reason Sanae is up here is because her ability has been sapped so badly by Kikuri that if she's not within my proximity she can't even fly."
> Sanae averts her gaze.
> _
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> ... Wow, that worked? Damn, we're good.
> "That's a start, at least. Though, if your maiden's so weak right now, she prolly won't wanna go down underground alone."
> "... Can you let go? That's starting to hurt."
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>"Wait, why do you have to bring Utsuho up here?"
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> ... Wow, that worked? Damn, we're good.
> "That's a start, at least. Though, if your maiden's so weak right now, she prolly won't wanna go down underground alone."
> "... Can you let go? That's starting to hurt."
> She looks like she wants to kill you right now, but it worked.
> "Then you can show her the way."
> She waits a few moments before letting go of your head.
>"Wait, why do you have to bring Utsuho up here?"
> "I'm not the only one with a lot of power. Utsuho can easily substitute for the lack of youkai on this mountain, if needed."
> _
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>"When I get done with some other things. Hey Sanae, you don't mind hanging around the village or something, do you?"
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>"When I get done with some other things. Hey Sanae, you don't mind hanging around the village or something, do you?"
> "N-not at all," she half-squeaks.
> _
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> "And before you ask, it's because I need to get a doctor to Reimu first."
Hey, alternate idea for Project: Get Reimu Somewhere Else So That Konngara Can Do Shit. Take her down to the Palace, so that Satori can take care of her. Who knows, it could lead to something else... :3
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> "And before you ask, it's because I need to get a doctor to Reimu first."
> "Yeah..." Sanae nods.
> The wind is starting to slow down.
> _
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It's better underground anyways. We go for it.
>"So, what have you observed about Kikuri, anyways?"
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>"So, what have you observed about Kikuri, anyways?"
> "She's sapping mana," Yasaka says as the wind slowly dies down. You see Hina on the ground, pointing at the sky excitedly. "Faith, too. I can feel it."
> _
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>"Huh!"
>Do we really know what that means?
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>"Huh!"
>Do we really know what that means?
> You make a surprised sound. Sanae raises an eyebrow at you.
> Not really. Faith is for the deities.
> _
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> "Huh, that's probably something useful for Konngara to know..."
> "Anyways, here's my idea: I'm gonna get Eirin, the doctor in the bamboo forest, to at least heal up Reimu enough to move her out of the shrine. We can take her down to the underground to protect her, and that'll free up Konngara, the deva who's been protecting her. She knows alot about Kikuri, so having her be able to go around without getting the red-white killed should help."
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> "Huh, that's probably something useful for Konngara to know..."
> "Anyways, here's my idea: I'm gonna get Eirin, the doctor in the bamboo forest, to at least heal up Reimu enough to move her out of the shrine. We can take her down to the underground to protect her, and that'll free up Konngara, the deva who's been protecting her. She knows alot about Kikuri, so having her be able to go around without getting the red-white killed should help."
> "I see."
> The wind has stopped. It's strangely quiet without the sound of it roaring in the air. Sanae has already started to descend to the ground.
> _
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>"And make sure things are good around the forest and stuff. Anyways, see you later."
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> Speaking of the forest, would they already know about the black-white falling in there, or should we tell them about it?
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>"And make sure things are good around the forest and stuff. Anyways, see you later."
> Before you go, Yasaka interrupts you.
> "One more thing...Don't think you can get away with talking to me like you just did more than once." She pats you on the shoulder a little too hard, you think, and then goes to hover near Hina.
> Speaking of the forest, would they already know about the black-white falling in there, or should we tell them about it?
> You don't know.
> _
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> Let's just make tracks out of here before she decides that she wants to kill us after all.
> ... Aw, crap, we're going to have to carry Sanae, aren't we?
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> Let's just make tracks out of here before she decides that she wants to kill us after all.
> ... Aw, crap, we're going to have to carry Sanae, aren't we?
> You don't want to make her mad again.
> Unless she has a brilliant idea.
> _
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> Well, if Nazrin's strong enough, we could take turns carrying Sanae.
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> "All right, uh, Sanae, is it? How soon can you be ready to go?"
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What no, we aren't letting her get away with that.
>"Don't worry, I'll just take care of the things you couldn't, instead."
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> Well, if Nazrin's strong enough, we could take turns carrying Sanae.
> Nazrin is much smaller than Sanae, though...
> "All right, uh, Sanae, is it? How soon can you be ready to go?"
> "Just lemme get a few stuff!" She dashes back into the shrine.
>"Don't worry, I'll just take care of the things you couldn't, instead."
> "Suit yourself."
> _
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> Check hunger and tiredness. Can we make it to the Human Village while carrying Sanae?
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>Or at least get her off the mountain?
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> Check hunger and tiredness. Can we make it to the Human Village while carrying Sanae?
>Or at least get her off the mountain?
> Hunger: You're sort of hungry.
> Fatigue: You think you can keep going for a while longer, but you're starting to feel tired. You could at least carry Sanae off the mountain, though.
> Sanae reappears wearing longer pants and a jacket.
> "Kogasa! Umbrella mode!" she calls out. The umbrella girl moans.
> "Ughhh! No way!"
> _
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> How much strength would eating our mochi balls replenish?
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> "'Umbrella Mode'? You're not going to try to fly on her, are you?"
> Well, that'd take a load off our hands.
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>"In fact, you have my blessings on that."
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> How much strength would eating our mochi balls replenish?
> Well, you wouldn't be hungry anymore.
> "'Umbrella Mode'? You're not going to try to fly on her, are you?"
> Well, that'd take a load off our hands.
>"In fact, you have my blessings on that."
> You express your support for Sanae using the umbrella girl to fly.
> You won't have to carry Sanae if the umbrella girl agrees to this, after all.
> "See, I need to fly," Sanae says as she approaches the umbrella girl. "It's for the greater good! Please?"
> "...Okay, fine." The umbrella girl glares at Sanae before crouching on the ground and closing the umbrella on herself. Sanae picks up the umbrella and reopens it, but the umbrella girl isn't there.
> "Now I'm ready!"
> _
-
>"Fine then, let's go"
>Weirdest party ever.
>Eat the mocchi balls. We're hungry....
-
>"Fine then, let's go"
>Weirdest party ever.
>Eat the mocchi balls. We're hungry....
> Nazrin stands up and follows you and Sanae out of the shrine. It's a weird ensemble, but it's better than nothing.
> You eat the mochi balls. You're not hungry anymore!
> _
-
> "Hey, will we still need to avoid the tengu, now that you're with us?"
-
> "Hey, will we still need to avoid the tengu, now that you're with us?"
> "As long as we don't land in their village we can just fly right over them!"
> _
-
> "Well, okay. Let's go."
> Start flying to the Human Village.
-
> "Well, okay. Let's go."
> Start flying to the Human Village.
> The three of you fly down the mountain with no incident, and soon you're gliding over the fields that surround the village.
> Now that the wind has stopped, the sky looks very still.
> _
-
> "Man, it's so much better now that we can fly around!"
> Yawn. How tired are we at this point?
> "Let's hurry up and find Mokou. Can you track her, Nazrin?"
-
> "Man, it's so much better now that we can fly around!"
> Yawn. How tired are we at this point?
> "Let's hurry up and find Mokou. Can you track her, Nazrin?"
> "Yeah, I feel so freee!" Sanae says.
> You're feeling kind of tired now.
> Nazrin nods. "'Kay." She holds up her dowsing rods and flies ahead.
> _
-
> Follow Nazrin, and try not to crash.
-
> Resolve to get some rest while Underground.
-
> Follow Nazrin, and try not to crash.
> You and Sanae follow Nazrin into a field. Sanae crash-lands, much to the chagrin of the umbrella she's holding.
> Nazrin sprints off, holding her dowsing rods in front of her. You can see Mokou strolling up ahead in the distance.
> Resolve to get some rest while Underground.
> You've been running around all day, so you resolve to go get some sleep next time you're Underground.
> _
-
> Make a beeline for Mokou.
-
> Make a beeline for Mokou.
> You make a beeline for Mokou, and Sanae follows close behind, waving the umbrella.
> Mokou waves at you, but she falters when she sees Sanae.
> "Yo...Nice umbrella there." She squints a little.
> _
-
> "Hey, sorry to get you to do other stuff right after you got back, but we need to go back to Eientei. We found the red-white, but she's in a pretty bad state. She needs that doctor."
-
> "Hey, sorry to get you to do other stuff right after you got back, but we need to go back to Eientei. We found the red-white, but she's in a pretty bad state. She needs that doctor."
> "Eh, going back to Eientei is no problem," Mokou says. "I'd better get a move on if the red-white's in that bad of a condition, though."
> She turns and starts to sprint off.
> _
-
> "... Uh... should we come with you?"
-
> "... Uh... should we come with you?"
> No time for questions!
> Go after her.
-
> "... Uh... should we come with you?"
> No time for questions!
> Go after her.
> You decide not to waste time questioning her, so you run after her instead. Nazrin and Sanae follow suit.
> You end up following Mokou through the village, and after clearing that, you soon reach the bamboo forest. Mokou pauses and turns to the three of you.
> "Oh yeah, you can still get lost in here, so stick close," Mokou says.
> _
-
> "Wait, is it gonna be three days later when we get out again?"
-
> "Wait, is it gonna be three days later when we get out again?"
> "No." Mokou waves her hand dismissively. "That won't happen anymore."
> _
-
> "Well, then, let's go."
> And we're walking, and walking.
> "Hey, Mokou, do you know if anyone's had their mana or energy or whatever drained by the moon?"
-
> "Well, then, let's go."
> And we're walking, and walking.
> "Hey, Mokou, do you know if anyone's had their mana or energy or whatever drained by the moon?"
> As the four of you walk through the bamboo forest, you as Mokou about anyone having their mana drained.
> "Hm...Maybe Kaguya, but that wouldn't make much of a difference."
> _
-
> "Huh. Did she regain it or something?"
Wow, we STILL haven't got that Kaguya and Mokou are immortals. :D
-
> "Huh. Did she regain it or something?"
> "Like I care."
> You see rabbit youkai carrying bamboo dart past.
> "We're almost there," Mokou says.
> _
-
> Hm... if we didn't know better, Mokou is acting a bit... tsun tsun... for the princess. Either that, or she really hates her guts.
> Follow Mokou.
-
> Hm... if we didn't know better, Mokou is acting a bit... tsun tsun... for the princess. Either that, or she really hates her guts.
> Follow Mokou.
> Whether or not Mokou is tsundere for Kaguya or just plain hates her is hard to tell.
> You follow Mokou into the clearing. The rabbits have made amazing progress on rebuilding Eientei, you note. They're starting to build past the skeleton of the building.
> You see Tewi leading a group of rabbits carrying a bamboo ladder.
> _
-
> Shout to Tewi. "Hey, where's the doc?"
-
> Shout to Tewi. "Hey, where's the doc?"
> Tewi glances in your direction. "Around back!" she shouts. Then to the rabbits: "Hey, heys, watch that ladder."
> _
-
>Let's go to that direction then. What does our party consist of now, by the way?
-
>Let's go to that direction then. What does our party consist of now, by the way?
> You head in the direction Tewi indicated.
> Right now, the 'party' consists of you, Nazrin, Mokou, Sanae, and Kogasa (who is in umbrella form).
> When reach the back of Eientei, you see Eirin has tilted Reisen's head back and is applying eyedrops. She sets the bottle down and starts to wrap bandages around Reisen's eyes. Kaguya is curled up nearby, asleep.
> Eirin looks up. "Oh? You're back."
> _
-
> "Yeah. I went by the red-white's place, and she needs a doctor. Badly."
> Explain as best as we can what we saw without throwing up.
> "The only thing that's keepin' her alive is whatever that Yakumo guy's doing to her, but it ain't healing her, either."
-
> "Yeah. I went by the red-white's place, and she needs a doctor. Badly."
> Explain as best as we can what we saw without throwing up.
> "The only thing that's keepin' her alive is whatever that Yakumo guy's doing to her, but it ain't healing her, either."
> You explain to Eirin what happened to Reimu. Just describing her situation makes you feel a little nauseous. Sanae's expression grows more and more horrified as you talk.
> Eirin finishes bandaging Reisen's eyes. "Kaguya."
> Kaguya rolls over and moans. "Mnhh?"
> "I'm putting you in charge of Udonge for the time being, can you do that?"
> "Mmmyes..."
> Eirin hands off the eyedrops to Reisen. She picks up her medical bag and rises to her feet.
> "Well, I can't leave a patient waiting."
> _
-
> "Thanks." Let's a go.
> How's Nazrin looking? She's no good to us if she's gonna drop off the face of the earth.
-
> "Thanks." Let's a go.
> How's Nazrin looking? She's no good to us if she's gonna drop off the face of the earth.
> Nazrin has been waving her dowsing rods around. She looks kind of antsy.
> You, Nazrin, Mokou, Eirin, and Sanae (who is carrying Umbrella!Kogasa) start to head out of the forest. You can't help but wonder if all these people are going to attract attention once you reach the village. The rabbits are certainly making a racket over it.
> _
-
Hey, should we drop Nazrin off at the temple? I want to ask Mokou to come with us to the shrine, so that we (and by we, I mostly mean Mokou and maybe Konngara, since she'll still need to keep Kikuri from attacking Reimu) can move Reimu after Eirin has her stablized.
-
Hey, should we drop Nazrin off at the temple? I want to ask Mokou to come with us to the shrine, so that we (and by we, I mostly mean Mokou and maybe Konngara, since she'll still need to keep Kikuri from attacking Reimu) can move Reimu after Eirin has her stablized.
We could always ask her if she wants to stay at the temple. Doesn't matter to me much.
-
We could always ask her if she wants to stay at the temple. Doesn't matter to me much.
I ask because I tried to lose her there, but we ended up with her still with us. Not sure if anyone still wants her around.
-
Well, I'm guessing Nazrin's around as hungry as we were before we ate the mochi balls (unless mouse metabolism is radically different from ours).
I guess the question is whether feeding her (and keeping her safe) is worth it.
If we do take her back to the temple, maybe we could get them to give us something in exchange for her.
-
Except Eirin won't want to take any stops: we either tell Nazrin to scram when we pass through the village, or we drag her along.
-
How did this text adventure get so popular?
>Quests
-
>Quests
> Quests:
> Learn more about Konngara
>While Yuugi did give me a good amount of information about her, there might be some more information about her that might prove useful in the near future. You've recently learned that Konngara might have something to do with Hell's Moon. She was also trying to find a "Hakurei Shrine" for some reason.
You found Konngara at the Hakurei Shrine, and learned from her that Reimu is still alive but in critical condition, and that there's a girl named "Kikuri" in Hell's Moon. You still don't know what Kikuri is doing on the surface, though.
> And the hat...?
> The comatose girl is from the surface world, but you didn't find a hat with her clothes. This bothers you enough to want to take matters into your own hands. The lady at the Myouren Temple told you that she's from the Moriya Shrine at the top of Youkai Mountain.
> Immaterial and Missing Suika
> You've learned that Suika must still be alive, but she has been 'gapped.' You don't know what that means, but you figure that Yuugi would want to know. You think this is "Yakumo"'s fault.
> Red Shrine Maiden Needs Healing Badly.
> You've found out where Reimu was, but she's barely alive thanks to Kikuri. You want Eirin to come to the shrine so she can use her magical healing powers on her, since 'Yakumo' isn't doing enough.
> _
-
Why is Sanae even following us? She was supposed to wait at the village til we got the big stuff done =[
Also don't forget to drop in on Kourindou.
>Take a quick peek at Reisen's Aura.
-
>Take a quick peek at Reisen's Aura.
> Right before you leave, you check Reisen's Aura. The black stuff that was covering it is almost completely gone now.
> _
-
Well, no reason not to drag her along: the entrance to the reactor and the shrine are really close to each other. And dammit, we'll keep Nazrin along until she starts bitching again.
> And we're hustling, and we're hustling. Is Mokou going to continue on to the Hakurei Shrine with us?
-
> And we're hustling, and we're hustling. Is Mokou going to continue on to the Hakurei Shrine with us?
> You're soon out of the bamboo forest and making your way across the fields. It doesn't take long for you to reach the village again.
> "Well, now that you've got your doctor I'll be going," Mokou says. She she starts to saunter off with her hands in her pockets.
> Sanae pulls the umbrella's tongue. "I guess I'll wait here while you go to the shrine...?"
> _
-
> To Sanae: "Yeah, that's probably a good idea..."
> Should we ask Mokou to come along...? She's been helpful already, but we don't want to impose on her too much...
-
Mokou's got her own deal. We'll leave her alone so she won't balk when we need her.
>"Seeya Mokou, and thanks! You're a pal!"
>"Nod to Sanae. "Yeah, go look around, help people out, do the whole miko thing. We'll be back in good time."
>Hakurei Shrineward!
>Along the way, ask Eirin, "How have things been in the bamboo? Reisen seems way better now."
-
Blitzer, i guess it's because it's interesting, there's lots to do, the plot is complex, the Quest-maker is replying fast and lots.
Himiko's plain awesome.
I'm a moron in-training but my Ran quest is slowly picking up, I'm proud.
The quest is a great success when there's lots to do and keep the players busy, give them a target.
-
> To Sanae: "Yeah, that's probably a good idea..."
> Should we ask Mokou to come along...? She's been helpful already, but we don't want to impose on her too much...
>"Seeya Mokou, and thanks! You're a pal!"
>"Nod to Sanae. "Yeah, go look around, help people out, do the whole miko thing. We'll be back in good time."
>Hakurei Shrineward!
>Along the way, ask Eirin, "How have things been in the bamboo? Reisen seems way better now."
> Mokou gives you a thumbs up.
> "Alright!" Sanae's eyes are sparkling again. "Uhm, I've only been to the village a few times but I'll do my best~" She turns on her heels and skips off to the village.
> You, Eirin, and Nazrin head through the village and towards the shrine. Nazrin has her dowsing rods propped up on her shoulders, and is being very quiet.
> You ask Eirin how the bamboo forest has been.
> "Yes, Udonge has been recovering quite nicely," she says. "She was quite lucid after she woke up, but she didn't remember anything that happened. Breaking it to her was...uncomfortable."
> "Well, the rabbits are more organized now, so Eientei shouldn't take that long to rebuild."
> The three of you are now walking through the forest. You can see the shrine stairs up ahead.
> _
-
> "Ah, I guess she isn't usually a crazy, psychopathic murderer most of the time... Anyways, we're here. The shrine's just up these stairs."
-
>"Good to hear. Oh, by the way, miss doctor... Who is that Yakumo guy I hear all the time? Some kind of big fish around?"
-
> "Ah, I guess she isn't usually a crazy, psychopathic murderer most of the time... Anyways, we're here. The shrine's just up these stairs."
> "She's actually quite docile," Eirin says.
> The three of you have finally reached the stairs.
>"Good to hear. Oh, by the way, miss doctor... Who is that Yakumo guy I hear all the time? Some kind of big fish around?"
> Eirin frowns. "Ohhh. Yakumo Yukari. A youkai whose ability is the manipulation of all boundaries. I don't even know where to start with that woman."
> _
-
>"Any short description and a little fast story maybe?"
>Informatioooon, whoo!
-
>"Any short description and a little fast story maybe?"
>Informatioooon, whoo!
> "Hm...Yakumo is a nocturnal youkai who helps maintain the Great Hakurei Border that seperates Gensokyo from the Outside World, so she's in close cohorts with Reimu. You're right about her being one of the big fish: she's extremely powerful and someone to tread very lightly around."
> "She also hibernates every winter, and has a shikigami who has a shikigami."
> _
-
>"So there's a good chance she'd be asleep thanks to the weather being all weird. Great."
-
>"So there's a good chance she'd be asleep thanks to the weather being all weird. Great."
> "Unfortunately. Shall we see Reimu?" Eirin doesn't even wait for a response, and starts walking up the stairs on her own. Nazrin doesn't budge.
> _
-
> "You're staying down here again?"
> Climb up behind Eirin.
-
> To Nazrin: "Trust me, you don't wanna see this."
-
> "You're staying down here again?"
> Climb up behind Eirin.
> To Nazrin: "Trust me, you don't wanna see this."
> Nazrin nods. "Yeah..."
> You follow Eirin up the stairs. After a few minutes of climbing, you reach the shrine again.
> Konngara is sitting on the roof again. She doesn't say anything when she sees you and Eirin.
> Eirin stares right back at Konngara.
> _
-
> "Hey, Konngara. I brought the doctor to see Reimu."
-
> "Hey, Konngara. I brought the doctor to see Reimu."
> Konngara grabs her sword and jumps off the roof again. "Yeah. Thanks for bringing her."
> She says to Eirin, "This way," and starts walking towards the back of the shrine. Eirin readies her medical bag and follows.
> _
-
> Follow, but try to not look at Reimu's body.
-
>And hope to whatever gods the underground acknowledges that we can't hear it, either.
-
> Follow, but try to not look at Reimu's body.
>And hope to whatever gods the underground acknowledges that we can't hear it, either.
> You follow Eirin and Konngara behind the shrine, but you're careful not to look at Reimu's body.
> Eirin takes one look at Reimu and whispers something, but you can't hear it.
> She turns to Konngara. "You do realize that whatever divine intervention is going on here isn't enough, right?"
> "I know...I should probably try bringing her up here." Well, Reimu is out in the middle of a sinkhole in a lake.
> Konngara leans her sword against the shrine and hovers over the water. The eyes in the dark, empty space swerve to look at her, purple tendrils in the lake move to form a protective cage around Reimu. Konngara curses and starts to move the tendrils out of the way.
> _
-
> "So... what do you think, doc?"
-
> "So... what do you think, doc?"
> Eirin narrows her eyes. "It's a miracle that girl is still alive." She kneels on the ground and opens her medical bag. "It's a good thing I kept this stocked."
> _
-
> "What is it? Some sort of magic potion that heals people?"
> Try to peek into her bag.
-
> "What is it? Some sort of magic potion that heals people?"
> Try to peek into her bag.
> Out of curiosity, you try to get a look at the medical bag's contents. There's a towel, rolls of bandages, bottles, at least three spools of suture thread, bottles of who knows what, small plastic boxes labeled "sedatives", "needles", etc...there's also a paper bag labeled "Margatroid".
> "If only it could be that simple. Different people need different medicine."
> Meanwhile, Konngara has managed to pick up Reimu and is now flying backwards with her in her arms. The purple tendrils are still clustered around the wound on Reimu's chest.
> _
-
> "Will she be all right, taking her out of the, uh, thing?"
-
> "Will she be all right, taking her out of the, uh, thing?"
> "She's still under Yakumo's influence; she should be good," Konngara says.
> Eirin spreads the towel out on the ground. "Okay, you can put her here."
> As Konngara lays Reimu on the towel, Eirin starts to take out, among other things, the suture thread.
> "Alright, anyone who's squeamish look away now," Eirin says.
> Oh.
> _
-
> Hasty retreat into the remains of the shrine.
> Might be a good time for a nap. Look for some bedding.
-
In between those two actions above...
>Glance back out of curiosity.
-
> Hasty retreat into the remains of the shrine.
> Might be a good time for a nap. Look for some bedding.
>Glance back out of curiosity.
> Fff-
> You run into the remains of the shrine so you don't have to witness the medical procedure...
> ...but you glance back out of curiosity. Eirin has threaded a needle with suture thread and is okay nevermind.
> You look around for something to sleep on. It's mostly collapsed walls and the like, but after some searching you find half a futon under the debris.
> _
-
> Clear away some of the debris and prepare to tuck in.
> ... When was the last time we had a bath? Or changed our clothes, for that matter?
-
>Isn't there anything else of note inside this knocked up shrine? ?_?
(Yeah, I'm so wanting someone to draw how we first see Reimu in this (from the previous thread) at some point. Who wants to draw it? :P )
-
>Actually, let's not sleep. Because Nazrin's waiting on us. And Sanae.
-
> Clear away some of the debris and prepare to tuck in.
> ... When was the last time we had a bath? Or changed our clothes, for that matter?
> You clear the debris off the futon.
> Come to think of it, you haven't had the chance to do that since this incident started. You'll have to do that next time you're at home.
>Isn't there anything else of note inside this knocked up shrine? ?_?
> If there is, it's buried and too much of a pain to get at.
>Actually, let's not sleep. Because Nazrin's waiting on us. And Sanae.
> You're kind of tired, but you decide not to sleep right now. Nazrin and Sanae are waiting for you, after all.
> _
-
Gr, fine.
> Poke around in the ruins of the shrine. Without collapsing it on top of us, of course.
-
> Poke around in the ruins of the shrine. Without collapsing it on top of us, of course.
> You poke around the ruins of the shrine. There's a gohei that has been snapped in half, what you think are the remains of a broom, and some colorful glass shards on the floor. You see more smashed dishes nearby.
> There's a smashed photo frame. Among the remains of it is a photo. Reimu, Sanae, and the black-white are there. There's also a serious-looking young woman you've never seen before with silver hair and a frilly dress.
> There's nothing else interesting in the shrine.
> _
-
> Take the photo and look at it closer. Take it out of the frame and look at the back.
-
>Let's not rifle through the Red-White's things lest she decide to destroy us a second time.
-
>
We could tidy up a bit. That would give us an excuse for rifling through things.
Edit: > Okay yeah that would be stupid. Definitely get a better look at that photo though.
-
> Okay, fine, but I still at least want to take another look at that picture: might give us a heads up on who might come down to cause trouble.
-
> Take the photo and look at it closer. Take it out of the frame and look at the back.
>Let's not rifle through the Red-White's things lest she decide to destroy us a second time.
> Okay, fine, but I still at least want to take another look at that picture: might give us a heads up on who might come down to cause trouble.
> They all look so happy in this photo; even the silver-haired young woman has a small smile.
> You look at the back of the photo. "射命丸124" is scribbled on the back, which you assume means the year. You don't know whose name that is, though.
> This photo was taken last year.
> We could tidy up a bit. That would give us an excuse for rifling through things.
> You wonder if you should clean up the place a bit...if you can even do it.
> _
-
All right... now what? No point in going down until we at least know how much time Eirin needs, and Purv doesn't want to nap...
-
> Take to the roof of the shrine and check out the view.
-
No point in hanging out at all. There's nothing we can do to assist Eirin, we're not a doctor, and she's going to need time to do her work.
Best thing would be to link up with Nazrin, go to Kourindou or meet up with Cirno, and come back.
-
Hm, point.
> Go down to meet up with Nazrin, and head to Kourindou.
-
> Before we leave, ask Eirin how soon she thinks she'll be done. We need to know how soon to come back, after all.
-
> Take to the roof of the shrine and check out the view.
> You go to the roof of the shrine.
> Wow...the view is breathtaking. You can see so much of Gensokyo from up here.
> Kikuri hovering there in the sky makes the view seem more foreboding, though.
> Go down to meet up with Nazrin, and head to Kourindou.
> Before we leave, ask Eirin how soon she thinks she'll be done. We need to know how soon to come back, after all.
> You decide to go to Kourindou with Nazrin. That compass needs to be returned, after all.
> Before you head out, you ask Eirin how much time she's going to need.
> She doesn't even move from where she's sitting. You see lots of magic seals around her.
> "Two or so hours, tops."
> You head down the stairs, where Nazrin is still sitting.
> When she hears you walking down the steps, she turns to look at you. "What happened up there?" she asks.
> _
-
>"Surgery is nasty. I don't wanna talk about it."
>Kourindou-ward!
-
>"Surgery is nasty. I don't wanna talk about it."
>Kourindou-ward!
> Nazrin makes a face. "Uuh."
> You and Nazrin head towards Kourindou. Since you can fly now, it doesn't take much time to get there.
> The outside of the store is messy as ever. You see Tokiko rumaging through the junk outside for some reason. She doesn't take notice of you or Nazrin.
> _
-
>Be reminded if you have any business here.
>If not, look through the stuff to see if there's anything interesting. I(f you have business here and it was the aforementioned looking through things, do so.)
-
>Be reminded if you have any business here.
>If not, look through the stuff to see if there's anything interesting. I(f you have business here and it was the aforementioned looking through things, do so.)
> You're here to return that compass, so you won't be accused of shoplifting.
> _
-
> "Lose something? I'll trade you a mouse that can find anything for something good!" It's been a while since we've trolled Nazrin, hasn't it?
-
> "Lose something? I'll trade you a mouse that can find anything for something good!" It's been a while since we've trolled Nazrin, hasn't it?
> Tokiko looks up. "I, um, I'm looking for bugs..." She looks at Nazrin. "She can find stuff? But I don't want to trade my books..."
> Nothing like trolling Nazrin.
> "No! No more being handed around!" Nazrin cries. "Don't even think about it!"
> _
-
> Smile innocently. "Ah, oh well. Anyways, is that glasses guy in? Came back to return the compass."
-
> Smile innocently. "Ah, oh well. Anyways, is that glasses guy in? Came back to return the compass."
> "Ohhh...Yes, he is." Tokiko reaches into a jar. "Yeek!" She flings away a beetle. "Oh, no." She runs after it.
> Nazrin is unamused. "Why is she looking for beetles?"
> _
-
> "She could be hungry. Let's go in, you might find something interesting."
> Walk in.
-
> "She could be hungry. Let's go in, you might find something interesting."
> Walk in.
> Well, she is a bird...
> You and Nazrin walk in the store. It's still cluttered, but the shopkeeper is actually up and about, cleaning the shop. The place looks more orderly than it did when you were here last.
> "Welcome," he says as he stacks some boxes on top of each other.
> _
-
> "Hey, I brought back your compass, so call off the debt collectors." Hand Kourin the compass.
> Look around. What does he have stocked?
-
> "Hey, I brought back your compass, so call off the debt collectors." Hand Kourin the compass.
> Look around. What does he have stocked?
> You hand the shopkeeper the compass.
> "No need for debt collectors now."
Kourindou's Inventory:
> Green beret
> It's a worn out green hat with some frills along the edges. Who did this belong to?
> Golden chain
> A chain that lets off sparks every now and then, but it's really only long enough to make a bracelet at most.
> Book - "Little Red Riding Hood"
> What language is this...?
> Bottle of soot
> It's not a bottle of Koishi, but it is very pretty. It also seems to have soot in it.
> Extending Arm
> It has a metal claw on it. You'd hate to be on the recieving end of that.
> Knife
> A knife with dried blood on it. That certainly isn't shady.
> "Pocky Box"
> A small cardboard box bearing a picture of some weird biscuit-looking things and the word "Glico".
> Strange plastic contraption
> A clunky, rectangular thing with buttons labelled with letters like "A" and "B" and arrows...
> Wicker basket
> Self-explanatory.
> Tea set
> A tea set on display in a nice basket. Unfortunately, there's a note on it that says "reserved".
> Camera
> It looks rather different from the cameras you've seen in your lifetime.
> Towel
> An inconspicuous, fluffy white towel.
> The eye-shaped orb in your pocket is sending off sparks.
> _
-
> Huh, haven't we seen that extending arm recently...?
> "Hey, Kourin, I think I found a piece of that chain." Bring out the orb.
-
> Huh, haven't we seen that extending arm recently...?
> "Hey, Kourin, I think I found a piece of that chain." Bring out the orb.
> Nitori had one similiar to that.
> You show Kourin the orb.
> "Hm?" He looks over at it with interest. "What--"
> The golden chain flies off the shelf and attaches itself to the golden orb. The whole thing lets off bolts of electricity and shocks you. Ow.
> _
-
> "H-hey! Your chain stole my orb! Eye! Thing!"
> "Oh, and it shocked me, too."
> Bring out the handy dandy seeing stone and check it out.
-
> "H-hey! Your chain stole my orb! Eye! Thing!"
> "Oh, and it shocked me, too."
> Bring out the handy dandy seeing stone and check it out.
> "I can see that." He seems disturbed by what just happened, though.
> You check the chain/orb combination with the stone. It's releasing powerful golden sparks. There are also strange wisps of the same color coming from it.
> _
-
> "You, um, you know what things do, right? Well, are you getting a better idea of what this thing is?"
> "Also, can I have it, since it's now attached to my thing?"
-
> "You, um, you know what things do, right? Well, are you getting a better idea of what this thing is?"
> "Also, can I have it, since it's now attached to my thing?"
> "Didn't I already say I wasn't able to tell what its purpose was?" He sighs. "Well...it doesn't look like it's going to come apart any time soon, so yes."
> Lame. At least you get to keep it.
> _
-
> Does it seem to be complete now, or does it look like there should be more pieces?
> Will it make us good at children's card games?
-
> Better question: can we get it without shocking ourselves?
-
>"Oh, Kourin, did ya know that the red-white was almost killed by the moon? The black-white was shot down too and no idea where she lies, but the red's all messy"
>Also if it's pickable, examine our orb thing.
-
> Does it seem to be complete now, or does it look like there should be more pieces?
> Will it make us good at children's card games?
> A single chain attached to an orb would be kind of weird. It looks like there are still more pieces.
> Gotta catch 'em all first dood
> Better question: can we get it without shocking ourselves?
> Maybe if you wrap it in something.
>"Oh, Kourin, did ya know that the red-white was almost killed by the moon? The black-white was shot down too and no idea where she lies, but the red's all messy"
>Also if it's pickable, examine our orb thing.
> Kourin drops the box he's carrying. He immediately runs to the back of the store and returns five seconds later with...fried tofu?
> He runs out of the store. Tokiko enters the store shortly after, staring at the beetle she's holding and drooling.
> "Why'd he...run out like that? What was he holding?"
> "Fried tofu," Nazrin says. She's over by a bookcase, but you suspect she ran there when the orb let off all those sparks.
> You try picking up the orb. It doesn't shock you this time.
> The eye looks like it's moving a little...
> _
-
>Poke it in the eye.
>Imagine how Satori would react to us poking her 3rd eye.
>Also try to remember to ask Satori about the eye/chain next time you see her
-
>After we will receive an inevitable shok, search for a proper container or anything to wrap this up.
>If there's nothing in view, ask Tokiko for something that would help us carry this thing around.
My personal mission to have someone save Marisa (or confirm her death) has been accomplished.
-
>Poke it in the eye.
>Imagine how Satori would react to us poking her 3rd eye.
>Also try to remember to ask Satori about the eye/chain next time you see her
> Poke poke poke.
> Satori would probably be in a lot of pain if you did this to her.
> You make note to ask Satori about this the next time you see her.
>After we will receive an inevitable shok, search for a proper container or anything to wrap this up.
>If there's nothing in view, ask Tokiko for something that would help us carry this thing around.
> You are inevitably shocked. Ow!
> You look around for something to wrap this in, but since you can't immediately find anything, you ask Tokiko for something.
> "Okay..." She runs to the counter and rumages around. She comes back holding a shiny silver paper.
> "This is from the...the Outside...I think." She hands it off to you.
> _
-
> "... I don't think that'll help."
> Seems like it'll only shock us when we screw around, so we'll put it away.
> Is that box Kourin dropped still around?
-
> "... I don't think that'll help."
> Seems like it'll only shock us when we screw around, so we'll put it away.
> Is that box Kourin dropped still around?
> "Oh." Tokiko puts the silver paper back.
> You decide to keep the orb/chain thing in your pocket for now.
> The box Kourin dropped is still on the ground.
> _
-
>Examine that box. Or it's just an empty box?
-
>Examine that box. Or it's just an empty box?
> It's filled with little flower pots. The box is lined with...some strange plastic...so none of them broke when Kourin dropped the box.
> _
-
> Take a look outside the shop to see if we can determine where Rinnosuke went.
-
> Take a look outside the shop to see if we can determine where Rinnosuke went.
> You head outside the shop. The place is surrounded by forest, so it's safe to say that he went in there.
> He doesn't seem like a combatant type, yet he ran off with food...is he going to be okay?
> Nazrin steps outside. "Any idea where he went?"
> _
-
> "Seems like he went into the forest... Kinda flipped when I mentioned the black-white eh?"
-
>"Wanna follow him?"
-
> "Seems like he went into the forest... Kinda flipped when I mentioned the black-white eh?"
> "I wonder if he was close to her?" Nazrin wonders.
>"Wanna follow him?"
> "I can find him later."
> _
-
>Examine our chained orb. It was mentioned it moves. what might it react to?
-
>Examine our chained orb. It was mentioned it moves. what might it react to?
> You take a look at the chained orb again. By the looks of it it's some sort of magical artifact, so it'll probably react to magic.
> It seems quite lucid, actually: it keeps looking back and forth at you and Nazrin.
> At that moment, you see the beetle Tokiko was holding earlier fly out the door and into the forest. Tokiko bursts out of the shop in hot pursuit.
> "Waaaiiit!" But it's too late. The beetle is already out of sight. Tokiko slows down, stops running, and looks ahead in despair.
> _
-
> "You should've spent less time drooling at it and more time eating it."
> "Speaking of which, do you have anything to eat 'round here? I mean, I've eaten a bug or two in my time, but it's not my favorite, and Nazrin prefers birdseed or, assuming that it's cheap, cheese."
-
> "You should've spent less time drooling at it and more time eating it."
> "Speaking of which, do you have anything to eat 'round here? I mean, I've eaten a bug or two in my time, but it's not my favorite, and Nazrin prefers birdseed or, assuming that it's cheap, cheese."
> "I w-wanted to but I couldn't," Tokiko whines. "We don't need to eat very often, but we keep a stock of food..."
> Nazrin looks appalled. "At least eat that, then!"
> "Beetles are a delicacy!"
> _
-
>"Fried chi- ah....! fried fish is too!"
>Do we have other business here? I doubt.
-
> "Your own fault. So, you said you have food? What will it take to get at that...?"
I'm halfway tempted to try to scam Tokiko using the stones we have, but that would just be cruel.
-
Doh, all we told Rinnosuke was that Marisa got shot down; we didn't tell him she landed somewhere in the forest.
Anyway...
> "Are beetles really that hard to find in a forest?"
Incidentally, Tokiko is reminding me of Timon & Pumbaa at the moment :V
-
>"Fried chi- ah....! fried fish is too!"
>Do we have other business here? I doubt.
> Tokiko doesn't catch your slip up.
> "Fried fish...I guess..."
> Not really.
> "Your own fault. So, you said you have food? What will it take to get at that...?"
> "But but but the sparrow said...!" Tokiko's wings fan out. "Y-you can't!"
> "Are beetles really that hard to find in a forest?"
> "They hide..."
> _
-
> "Sparrow? Why the hell can a little bird tell me what I can or can't eat?"
-
> "Sparrow? Why the hell can a little bird tell me what I can or can't eat?"
> "Because...I'm supposed to send them to the edge of the forest...she said," Tokiko says in dismal.
> _
-
> "... You know, I'm sure that you bird types like to stick together with your kind, but really, you're letting a little sparrow boss you around?"
-
> "... You know, I'm sure that you bird types like to stick together with your kind, but really, you're letting a little sparrow boss you around?"
> Tokiko fidgets.
> "S-she said it was important..."
> "How so?" Nazrin asks.
> Tokiko shrugs. "She didn't say."
> _
-
>"Be a woman and don't let anyone order you around as they please. Maybe that Shop guy is fine, but other youkai aren't!"
-
> "What is it that the sparrow wants, anyways?"
-
>"Be a woman and don't let anyone order you around as they please. Maybe that Shop guy is fine, but other youkai aren't!"
> "What is it that the sparrow wants, anyways?"
> You tell Tokiko to stand up for herself.
> "I'll try..."
> "She said to look for bugs and send them to the outskirts of the Forest of Magic, but she didn't say why..."
> _
-
> "Huh, and the only food you have are bugs? Kourin doesn't eat bugs, does he?"
-
> "Huh, and the only food you have are bugs? Kourin doesn't eat bugs, does he?"
> "No, I just prefer them...Rinnosuke doesn't eat bugs." Tokiko makes a face. "That'd be really weird if he did."
> _
-
> "Okay, and I'm guessing you're not willing to sell his food? Where can we go to find some food, then?"
-
>Don't sparrows eat mice? Another chance to troll Nazrin!
-
> "Okay, and I'm guessing you're not willing to sell his food? Where can we go to find some food, then?"
> Tokiko flaps her wings in thought. "Ummm, there are fish and stuff in the rivers...and, berries and mushrooms in the forest, and...we buy food from the village."
>Don't sparrows eat mice? Another chance to troll Nazrin!
> Yessss
> You'll have to be careful Nazrin isn't actually eaten, though.
> _
-
> Eh, we might as well go to the village to get something to eat, then.
-
> Can we pay for food with ☼ aboveground, though?
-
> Eh, we might as well go to the village to get something to eat, then.
> You figure the village would have food.
> Can we pay for food with ☼ aboveground, though?
> ....Good question. You're not sure. It wouldn't hurt to try, at least.
> _
-
> Make a mental note to ask what currency is accepted before we eat anywhere. We don't want to end up washing dishes.
-
> "Okay, so we're off to the village. Be sure to stand up for yourself against that birdie."
> Leave, and head to the village.
> "So, any good places to eat, Nazrin? The only place I know is the dusty tea shop."
-
> Make a mental note to ask what currency is accepted before we eat anywhere. We don't want to end up washing dishes.
> You make a note to ask what currency is used before you try buying anything.
> "Okay, so we're off to the village. Be sure to stand up for yourself against that birdie."
> Leave, and head to the village.
> "So, any good places to eat, Nazrin? The only place I know is the dusty tea shop."
> Tokiko nods. "I'll do my best..."
> You and Nazrin leave for the village.
> "There's a place near the temple that has good food," Nazrin says.
> _
-
> "Really? What kind of food?"
> And we're walking, and we're walking.
-
>"How close to the temple is it?"
-
Where's the Reimu Burger?
>"Ya think they will accept my currency there, Nazrin?"
-
> Show Nazrin some of our currency.
-
> "Really? What kind of food?"
> And we're walking, and we're walking.
> "Yakitori."
> You and Nazrin reach the village. You see Sanae and the umbrella girl carrying baskets.
>"How close to the temple is it?"
> "Close enough. Two, three minutes away."
>"Ya think they will accept my currency there, Nazrin?"
> Show Nazrin some of our currency.
> You show Nazrin some of your currency and ask if it would be accepted. Nazrin stares at it blankly.
> "...What kind of money was that again? We use ?..."
> _
-
> "Never heard of that. Wonder if they'll accept it, or at least barter. I have a mouse or a chair that I could use..."
-
> "Never heard of that. Wonder if they'll accept it, or at least barter. I have a mouse or a chair that I could use..."
> "No! No, no, only use the chair!"
> _
-
> She's so excitable, it's almost cute. Let's get going to this yakitori place.
-
> She's so excitable, it's almost cute. Let's get going to this yakitori place.
> Hee heee.
> You head over the yakitori place. It's a small stand with some humans and youkai loitering around it.
> It's currently being manned by a fairy with braided hair and a purple dress. Actually, she looks out of place.
> _
-
> All right, let's go get some chicken.
-
> All right, let's go get some chicken.
> You head up to the stand to buy some yakitori.
> The fairy smiles widely. "Welcome! Would you like to buy some yakitori? It's only ?1.35!"
> You have a feeling that while her enthusiasm is real, she had to rehearse those lines.
> _
-
> Aw, dammit, it's a fairy: trying to get her to figure out conversion is going to take forever.
> "Hey, I'll trade you for yakitori, instead."
> Wonder if she'll take rocks.
-
> Aw, dammit, it's a fairy: trying to get her to figure out conversion is going to take forever.
> "Hey, I'll trade you for yakitori, instead."
> Wonder if she'll take rocks.
> They're not very smart to begin with.
> You suggest that she and you trade instead. She looks confused.
> "But...people have only ever bought yakitori with ?," she says.
> You wonder if she'd take rocks.
> _
-
>"I have these nice rocks in exchange"
-
>"I have these nice rocks in exchange"
> "What's so special about a bunch of rocks?"
> _
-
>Important consideration: Does the food look and smell proper, if there's faeries making it?
-
>Important consideration: Does the food look and smell proper, if there's faeries making it?
> Before you do anything else, you quickly look to see if the food looks edible.
> It doesn't look like the best thing ever, but it at least looks and smells edible.
> _
-
This empress has no clothes on.
>"Are you telling me that you, of all people, need to ask me why these rocks are special?"
-
>"Are you telling me that you, of all people, need to ask me why these rocks are special?"
> The fairy tilts her head to the side. "Huh? Why are they special?" She looks excited.
> _
-
>"Wow. That's...kind of humiliating. Because, you're a faerie, right? You should just have to look at them at tell. I mean, you can see it, right?"
>Hold out a rock.
-
>"Wow. That's...kind of humiliating. Because, you're a faerie, right? You should just have to look at them at tell. I mean, you can see it, right?"
>Hold out a rock.
> "R-really?!" The faerie leans over the counter to look at the rock in your hand. "I...I just can't tell! But now that you mention it, they're things that are always overlooked, right?"
> _
-
>"...There's not any other faeries around, right?"
>Glance about furtively.
>"Because you really don't want them to overhear you not seeing how fabulous this rock is. You would never, ever live it down. And missing the chance to get it just for some yakitori? Yeek..."
-
>"...There's not any other faeries around, right?"
>Glance about furtively.
>"Because you really don't want them to overhear you not seeing how fabulous this rock is. You would never, ever live it down. And missing the chance to get it just for some yakitori? Yeek..."
> "No, there aren't..."
> You tell the faerie how amazing the rock is.
> "T-then~" She produces two yakitori sticks. "These for that rock! Hurry and trade it!"
> _
-
>Hand it over.
>"And the best part is? If someone else doesn't get why this is rock is so special? Well, you'll know all about them, won't you?"
>Make sure she gives enough chickens for Nazrin to eat well, too.
-
>Hand it over.
>"And the best part is? If someone else doesn't get why this is rock is so special? Well, you'll know all about them, won't you?"
>Make sure she gives enough chickens for Nazrin to eat well, too.
> You hand over the rock. In exchange, the faerie gives you the yakitori.
> Obtained: x2 yakitori
> "Yeah! Thank you so much!" The faerie pockets the rock, looking beside herself with pleasure.
> _
-
>Give Nazrin one, and dig in.
>"See you later!"
>Is town, or Cirno's Secret Fortress closer by.
-
> We're currently in town, so it's a bit closer by.
> Wander away from the yakitori stand, just in case the fairy somehow wises up.
Wow, that's kind of sad that it worked.
-
Is that really sad? We're talking fairies, here.
>Recall ancestrally if you have business anywhere else.
-
> Well, if we're going to finally meet up with Cirno, we'd better do that before picking up Sanae and going Underground?Cirno's hideout is a secret hideout after all.
-
>Eat ups the yakitori with Nazrin
>Do we see Sanae from here?
-
>Give Nazrin one, and dig in.
>"See you later!"
>Is town, or Cirno's Secret Fortress closer by.
> We're currently in town, so it's a bit closer by.
> Wander away from the yakitori stand, just in case the fairy somehow wises up.
> You and Nazrin wander away from the yakitori stand as you eat, in case the faerie realizes what just happened. After getting a faerie to trade food for a rock, you're not sure you can take them seriously anymore.
> Speaking of faeries!
> You're sure Cirno is smarter than that.
> You're currently in town, so it's closer than Cirno's hideout.
> Well, if we're going to finally meet up with Cirno, we'd better do that before picking up Sanae and going Underground—Cirno's hideout is a secret hideout after all.
> You decide to meet with Cirno before heading Underground.
>Eat ups the yakitori with Nazrin
>Do we see Sanae from here?
> You eat the yakitori.
> You can see Sanae walking away from the temple with the umbrella girl.
> _
-
>Walk to Sanae.
>"Oi, miko. Before we go to the Underground, I wanted to pay a friend a visit, so please wait"
-
Well, we're going to check on Reimu first to see if she can be moved before going underground, anyways, but we can easily take Sanae with us for that.
-
>Walk to Sanae.
>"Oi, miko. Before we go to the Underground, I wanted to pay a friend a visit, so please wait"
> You walk over to Sanae and the umbrella girl.
> "Someone from the surface? Who is it?"
> _
-
>"An ice fairy. yea, from the surface"
>What's closer? Hakurei Shrine or Cirno hideout?
-
>"An ice fairy. yea, from the surface"
>What's closer? Hakurei Shrine or Cirno hideout?
> Sanae's expression darkens. "Oh, no..."
> Cirno's hideout. You believe it took you less time to go from the lake mansion to the village than the village to the shrine.
> _
-
> "Somethin' wrong?"
-
> "Somethin' wrong?"
> "I fought a fairy like that once!" Sanae says. "She was surprisingly strong."
> _
-
>...So Sanae also agrees that Cirno is strong; maybe bringing her to the underground would be more interesting than we first thought.
>Sarcastic tone go!
>"Oh really... So you're losing to fairies now? Some shrine maiden."
-
>...So Sanae also agrees that Cirno is strong; maybe bringing her to the underground would be more interesting than we first thought.
>Sarcastic tone go!
>"Oh really... So you're losing to fairies now? Some shrine maiden."
> You wonder how that would turn out.
> Sanae looks put off. "I beat up an alien before, though, so that makes up for it."
> _
-
>Perhaps it's wise not to anger this miko. The last time we did so... paruparu...
>"An alien?"
-
>Perhaps it's wise not to anger this miko. The last time we did so... paruparu...
>"An alien?"
> Mikos are scary when they're upset...paruparuparu
> "Yup." Sanae reaches down the front of her shirt and pulls out a photo. "I keep this photo of me and her on person at all times."
> It's a photo of shrine maiden Sanae and a girl with black hair, a black dress, and very strange wings. She also has an antennae of hair coming out of her head, which is very distracting. Sanae has her arm around the girl and is smiling brightly at the camera. The black-haired girl seems more photo-shy, but she is smiling as well. There are little flying saucers in the background.
> Nazrin gawks. "Just where do you keep that?!"
> _
-
>Given we're a sealed Youkai, and Nue probably was too, do we recognize this person?
-
>"More importantly, is she even legal?"
>"There was an alien invasion?" Point at the flying saucers at the background.
-
>Given we're a sealed Youkai, and Nue probably was too, do we recognize this person?
> The girl looks familiar, but at the same time you don't know who she is. It must be that hair antennae. So distracting...
>"More importantly, is she even legal?"
>"There was an alien invasion?" Point at the flying saucers at the background.
> "Yeah!" Sanae pauses. "I'm pretty sure she is. And there were lots of UFOs. It was mainly a huge flying ship, though. I went and beat up the people on it; it was the first incident I solved. That's a long story for another time, though." She sounds so proud of herself.
> "I wasn't even on the ship and you beat me up," Kogasa laments.
> _
-
>"Huh. Must've missed that one. Anyways, We're gonna go see Cirno first. She's been a pal."
-
>"Huh. Must've missed that one. Anyways, We're gonna go see Cirno first. She's been a pal."
> You decide that you're going to go see Cirno.
> "Do we still stay here?" Kogasa asks.
> _
-
> "We're only gonna be gone for a little while. I'll swing back in an hour or two."
-
> Perhaps Nazrin should wait here too? We probably shouldn't bring a guest to a secret hideout.
-
>Yeah, leave the great mouse detective behind.
-
If it wouldn't be out of character, we could say we're leaving Nazrin behind so she can take a break. That way it won't seem suspicious, plus it'll help keep morale up.
-
> "We're only gonna be gone for a little while. I'll swing back in an hour or two."
> Kogasa nods. "Okay."
> Sanae doesn't answer because she is too busy putting the photo back in her shirt.
> Perhaps Nazrin should wait here too? We probably shouldn't bring a guest to a secret hideout.
>Yeah, leave the great mouse detective behind.
> It's a secret hideout; you should probably leave Nazrin behind.
> _
-
> "Hey, Nazrin, why don't you stay here and take a break or something. Go play with that cat of yours."
-
> "Hey, Nazrin, why don't you stay here and take a break or something. Go play with that cat of yours."
> Nazrin's ears perk up. "R-really?"
> She turns, hesitates, then makes a beeline for the temple.
> _
-
>There she goes....
>Let's make our way to the Cirno place
-
>There she goes....
>Let's make our way to the Cirno place
> They grow up so fast She looks really excited to be going to the temple.
> You say goodbye to Sanae and Kogasa and head over to the lake mansion. You basically follow the cold: as you get closer to the lake, it gets colder. Soon, you see snow blanketing the ground and trees again, and the lake comes into view.
> The snowman Cirno was making when you first met her stands alone on the lakeshore. You see the lake mansion itself, still foreboding as ever.
> There's a fairy with mint green hair standing near the lake mansion, bundled up against the cold. She looks around frequently, as if watching for someone.
> _
-
>Approach her.
>Hi, uh.... You seen Cirno?"
-
>Approach her.
>Hi, uh.... You seen Cirno?"
> You fly over to her. Her wings flap when she sees you, but she doesn't make any move to run away.
> She blinks, and then she makes a surprised "oh!" when you mention Cirno.
> "Um, are you that Mizuhashi person Cirno-chan mentioned?"
> _
-
> "Yeah. Don't tell me she had you waiting for me..."
> Hug self. We'd forgotten how cold it can get around here.
-
> "Yeah. Don't tell me she had you waiting for me..."
> Hug self. We'd forgotten how cold it can get around here.
> "Naw, she wouldn't have me wait in this weather; I just come out periodically."
> Brrr....It's so cold.
> The fairy seems to notice how cold you are. "So let's get outta the cold! We gotta sneak past the mansion, though."
> She turns and skips past the gate. She's right on the mansion grounds; is that really being sneaky?
> _
-
> ... All right, we'll just follow, then.
> Keep an eye for the mansion jerks.
-
> ... All right, we'll just follow, then.
> Keep an eye for the mansion jerks.
> She knows Cirno, this can't be that bad.
> As you cross the mansion's property, you keep watch for the jerks you ran into the last time.
> The fairy rounds the corner, where you first went. The cellar door has been repaired, but it looks as if it has been hastily done. There are also seals around the edge that give off a glowing light.
> The fairy pushes aside some bushes that are at a safe distance from the cellar door. "Don't let those things fool you: we jacked a lotta stuff from their basement. Dark as death though, let me tell you." She finishes kicking aside the bushes to reveal a very large rabbit hole. "Here it is! We just slide down here."
> _
-
> "Huh, underground. I can deal with this."
> Down the rabbit hole, and through the looking glass that the fairies had accidentally put in front of the entrance. Ouch.
-
Tell me Alice's there + eientei rabbits :derp:
-
> "Huh, underground. I can deal with this."
> Down the rabbit hole, and through the looking glass that the fairies had accidentally put in front of the entrance. Ouch.
> The fairy has already slid down the rabbit hole. You go after her and get cut by the glass ow and find yourself sliding down a tunnel. It twists and turns, and you can't help but think it's fun. You're soon sent tumbling out of the tunnel and onto some moss.
> You instantly get the familiar feeling of being in a cave, because you are. There's glowing moss on the walls, on the floor, on alcoves and grey stalagmites and stalactites. Fairies are scattered about here and there. The cave ceiling stretches high above you to form some sort of strange dome.
> You see Cirno sitting on the ground in a patch of snow, covered in...tuna? A lot of fish, at least. Star is also nearby, still wearing Kaguya's clothes. She's sitting with a bunch of other fairies. They're all giggling about something, but they're tightly packed so you can't see what all the fuss is about. The mint green-haired fairy has flown up towards the ceiling.
> "Oh! Parsee!" Cirno waves, and the fish on her head slides down her face and onto her lap.
> _
-
> "Pretty neat hideout you have, Cirno. I really like that entrance."
> "What's with the fish? Having a fry?"
-
> "Pretty neat hideout you have, Cirno. I really like that entrance."
> "What's with the fish? Having a fry?"
> "Thank you very much!" Cirno pretends to curtsy, only to spill more fish. "I'm keeping the fish cold!"
> Nearby, Star the the fairies she is with squeal with joy and excitement.
> _
-
> "... All right, why are you keeping the fish cold?"
-
> "... All right, why are you keeping the fish cold?"
> "So they won't rot, of course! We were keeping them in a block of ice, but since everyone says I'm so much better at keeping it cold I offered my hand in assistants."
> Cirno has to speak up to make herself heard about the other fairies. She finally turns to them and say, "You've been noisy for a while now!"
> The fairies quiet down a bit. "Hee heeee, sorry boss," they say, but they continue to chatter and giggle amongst themselves.
> _
-
> "... Hey, uh, Cirno? I think they're just making fun of you." It is rather silly.
-
> "... Hey, uh, Cirno? I think they're just making fun of you." It is rather silly.
> "Forget that! This is waaay better than some smelly tuna!" one of the fairies proclaims. Her companions shush her loudly.
> "It's not Cirno, we swear," Star says, and smiles sheepishly.
> _
-
> "Oh? What's so funny, then?"
-
>Murmur"... Little bitch"
>Make Star jealous of Cirno's powers.
>Also "Cirno, you can just keep those fishies in a block of snow, they won't rot. Don't let yourself fooled by those fairies"
This one person we gotta protect a bit here.
-
> "Oh? What's so funny, then?"
> Star scoots to the side so you can see. In the middle of the ring of fairies is a doll wearing red clothes and a red headband with two insect-like antennae coming out of it. Her hair sways as she twirls around dizzily.
> Cirno sees the doll and frowns. "Hey! I thought I told you to stop bringing in those creepy things from the forest!"
> "But it's so cute," Star pouts.
>Murmur"... Little bitch"
>Make Star jealous of Cirno's powers.
>Also "Cirno, you can just keep those fishies in a block of snow, they won't rot. Don't let yourself fooled by those fairies"
> You mutter under your breath and make Star jealous of Cirno's powers.
> Cirno regains her cool by grinning. "Weeell, it's not like they forced me~" She takes the fish off her body and freezes it all in a block of ice. Star grits her teeth.
> "Yeah, like you'd appreciate something this cute!" she snaps.
> Cirno blinks in surprise. "And I'm telling you that thing is creepy!"
> _
-
> "A doll?" Walk up and poke it.
-
> "A doll?" Walk up and poke it.
> The doll makes you curious, so naturally, you decide to poke it.
> It falls on its back, struggles weakly on the ground, then floats back up as if controlled by strings.
> The fairies are enraptured by this.
> _
-
> Pick it up and look at it. Does the headband come off.
> "Weird. It kind of reminds me of something... hm..."
> ... Peek under its skirt.
-
> Pick it up and look at it. Does the headband come off.
> "Weird. It kind of reminds me of something... hm..."
> ... Peek under its skirt.
> You pick up the doll. It's obvious that it was crafted by hand, given the amazing amount of detail put into it. Yes, the headband can come off.
> Somehow, it's familiar...
> ...So you peek under its skirt. Obviously. When you do this, the doll struggles, but its efforts are useless. Its only a doll, after all.
> The doll is wearing frilly white bloomers.
> "What does it remind you of?" Cirno asks.
> _
-
> "Hm... don't remember. Must not be that important. Whoever made it went down to every last detail, though, even the undies."
> Put the doll back down.
-
> "Hm... don't remember. Must not be that important. Whoever made it went down to every last detail, though, even the undies."
> Put the doll back down.
> Everyone giggles immaturely at this.
> You put the doll back down.
> "We go out into the Forest of Magic looking for fairies and then people bring those things back!" Cirno explains. "I keep telling them not to, but noooo."
> "You're just jealous that you've never found any!" Star says.
> "Am not!"
> "Are too!"
> _
-
> "Wait... There're more of these things?"
-
> "Wait... There're more of these things?"
> "Yes!" Cirno says.
> "We find them in the forest," Star adds.
> "Sometimes they'll have different outfits--"
> "Seven kinds of dolls--"
> "This is the first one we've found that doesn't look like the rest, though," Star notes. "It's a little taller than the rest, too."
> _
-
> "Huh, that's pretty weird. Can I see the others? I can't imagine someone making these dolls and just leaving them in the forest. Not unless it's the Fairy Claus."
-
> "Huh, that's pretty weird. Can I see the others? I can't imagine someone making these dolls and just leaving them in the forest. Not unless it's the Fairy Claus."
> "That would be so cool. I'll go get them!" one fairy says. She stands up and flutters away, reappearing two minutes later with her arms full of dolls. She dumps them on the ground.
> The first has dark brown hair and wears a red dress. The second has red hair and wears an orange dress. The third has brown hair and wears a yellow dress. The fourth has light brown hair and wears a green dress. The fifth has blonde hair and wears a powder blue dress. The sixth one has black hair and a lavender dress. The final one has white hair tipped in light brown and wears a white dress.
> _
-
>Do they move on their own?
-
>Do they move on their own?
> No, they just lay there in a heap like the silly toys they are.
> _
-
>"Who would make such things..."
>Let the fairies keep'em... it's not like they'll explode or anything.
>Observe the moving doll.
>"Hey, dolly, so you can move, huh... can you write maybe?"
-
> Mock fight with the white dress one and the blue dress one.
-
>"Who would make such things..."
>Let the fairies keep'em... it's not like they'll explode or anything.
>Observe the moving doll.
>"Hey, dolly, so you can move, huh... can you write maybe?"
> You wonder why someone would make all these dolls.
> In any case, the fairies can have them.
> You look at the moving doll and ask it if it can write.
> It wobbles, and then jerks its head forward. A nod?
> Mock fight with the white dress one and the blue dress one.
> You mock fight with the white dress and blue dress dolls.
> The fairies must love playing with these things all the time.
> _
-
> "Huh, really?" Wow, this thing can actually think. Weird.
> "Hey, do you guys have some paper and something to write with?"
-
>"Hey, doll, write your name if you have one. So I can call you something other than doll."
-
> We probably don't need that newspaper fragment anymore, so if there's any room on it we could have the doll write on that.
-
It' a cave. is the ground dirt? Cause if it is, the doll can write with just a stick.
-
> "Huh, really?" Wow, this thing can actually think. Weird.
> "Hey, do you guys have some paper and something to write with?"
> Dolls aren't normally sentient...are they?
> The fairies look around at each other. "Um...no..."
>"Hey, doll, write your name if you have one. So I can call you something other than doll."
> We probably don't need that newspaper fragment anymore, so if there's any room on it we could have the doll write on that.
> The doll's head jerks forward again, and she starts to shuffle around in the dirt.
> If the doll needs something to write on, she can just use the newspaper fragment.
> _
-
>Does it look like she's writing? Let's see what she does.
-
> Would using the seeing stone attract unwanted attention from the fairies?
> If not, check all eight dolls with the seeing stone.
-
>Does it look like she's writing? Let's see what she does.
> You observe what she's doing. She's...she's forming letters?
> After some difficulties, she produces a single name in the dirt.
> It says 'Hourai'.
> Would using the seeing stone attract unwanted attention from the fairies?
> If not, check all eight dolls with the seeing stone.
> Nazrin is the only one who's actually noticed the stone, so probably not.
> You check the dolls with the seeing stone...nothing.
> The moving doll has a tiny, blue-white aura.
> _
-
>"So your name is Hourai, little doll?"
-
>"So, are you supposed to be doing something, or were you lost or abandoned or something like that?"
-
>"So your name is Hourai, little doll?"
> Another nod.
>"So, are you supposed to be doing something, or were you lost or abandoned or something like that?"
> Hourai scuffles along the dirt again.
> 'Errands'.
> Cirno is looking over your shoulder at Hourai. "It's like she's sentient or something!"
> _
-
> "Have you finished those errands? (http://errandserrandserrands.ytmnd.com/)"
-
> "Have you finished those errands? (http://errandserrandserrands.ytmnd.com/)"
> Hourai shakes her head from side to side.
> _
-
>"What were you supposed to do?"
-
>To the faeries: "Hey, when'd you find this, again?"
-
>"What were you supposed to do?"
> More shuffling.
> 'DelivEr leTteR to Patchy...pIckup MediCation.'
>To the faeries: "Hey, when'd you find this, again?"
> "We found it today," Star says. "Who's 'Patchy'?"
> _
-
>Do we know or know of a Patchy?
>Or someone that would make dolls like this?
-
(http://i54.tinypic.com/91jwna.jpg)
(I couldn't resist.)
-
>Do we know or know of a Patchy?
>Or someone that would make dolls like this?
> You don't know anyone with that name.
> You don't know anyone who makes dolls, either.
> Hourai continues to shuffle around.
> 'nEed to pickup meDication bUt were where is it'.
> _
-
>"So how were you supposed to pick it up if you didn't have a clue where it is?"
-
>"So how were you supposed to pick it up if you didn't have a clue where it is?"
> 'manau mau manualLy bUildiNg tracking abilities'
> _
-
>"So what building was it supposed to be?"
-
>"So she just said, "Hey, I need medicine. Go find this place and don't screw it up!", huh? Who thought that was a bright idea and told you to do that?"
-
> "Hey, wait, you said you had a letter? Can I see it?"
-
> "This medication you're supposed to pick up, is it urgently needed?"
-
>"So what building was it supposed to be?"
> 'Scarlet Devil Mansion'
>"So she just said, "Hey, I need medicine. Go find this place and don't screw it up!", huh? Who thought that was a bright idea and told you to do that?"
> 'you'Re wrOng..iT's traiNing.'
> Must be like military training.
> "Hey, wait, you said you had a letter? Can I see it?"
> Hourai reaches into her dress, pulls out a sealed envelope, and hands it off to you.
> "She had a letter on her?" one of the fairies asks.
> "This medication you're supposed to pick up, is it urgently needed?"
> Hourai nods.
> _
-
> "Hey, do any of you guys know where this 'Scarlet Devil Mansion' is?"
> Open the letter and look inside. If Hourai protests, tell her, "Hey, if this is pretty urgent, it's better that someone helps you get to where you need to be quickly, right?"
-
> "Hey, do any of you guys know where this 'Scarlet Devil Mansion' is?"
> Open the letter and look inside. If Hourai protests, tell her, "Hey, if this is pretty urgent, it's better that someone helps you get to where you need to be quickly, right?"
> The fairies talk amongst themselves, but Cirno suddenly gets the expression of someone who has remembered something.
> "That's...the mansion right next to the hideout!" she cries.
> You open the letter. Hourai panics and flies up to snatch the letter back, but she floats back down to the ground when you talk to her.
> Inside is a very neatly-written letter. How formal.
Dearest Patchouli,
It has not been more than a week since I have sent my last letter, but I would still request the status of yours, your assistant?s, and their well being. I know that you are frail of health and you have a bloodthirsty monster running amok in your library, so this is but one matter of grave importance.
The second matter I would like to address is that the shell that I have been painstakingly been working on for the past four months has finally been completed. With that out of the way, I can begin my next projects, and hopefully there will be less of a rush for you to contact Mother. As you reminded me in your last letter, you are still rewriting several important tomes and dealing with a mysterious shortage of candles.
On the subject of shortages, I am seeing a rapid decline of dolls from London fleet, and only the London fleet. All of my dolls are wired so that they may find their way home with no troubles, and yet only 46% of the London fleet is accounted for. At this point I must conclude that this is theft. Given their purpose of scouting, searching, and reconnaissance missions, I cannot help but be perplexed by this situation. A certain someone seems to think that planting copious amounts of flowers in my front yard is a sufficient replacement for the missing dolls, but it just gives the other fleets more work to do. That certain someone also gave me a lovely golden bracelet. But I digress.
A strange man turned up at my door earlier, asking about Marisa. Regretfully, I had to tell the truth.
I am sending Hourai to deliver this to you, but I will have to send her back later to pick up your reply. I am killing two birds with one stone by training her to be as skillful as the London fleet in searching while sending her to pick up my medication at the same time. I do not regret this decision; I can go a few more nights without sleep.
Hourai knows the way to your library, and has been instructed to go there first thing, you needn't worry about her failing to deliver the letter.
Yours truly,
Alice Margatroid
> _
-
> "Huh. Interesting."
> To the fairies: "So, that mansion right next to the hideout is the Scarlet Devil one? That doesn't sound at all foreboding."
> To Hourai: "You hear that, Hourai? Just get one of these guys to show you their door. Or what's left of it, I guess."
> Hm... someone's stealing dolls... "Hey, Hourai, do these dolls look familiar?"
-
> Crap. Weren't we chased out of there earlier?
> Count our spell cards just in case.
-
> Hey, we don't need to do anything. Hourai can get inside on her own.
-
> "Huh. Interesting."
> To the fairies: "So, that mansion right next to the hideout is the Scarlet Devil one? That doesn't sound at all foreboding."
> To Hourai: "You hear that, Hourai? Just get one of these guys to show you their door. Or what's left of it, I guess."
> Hm... someone's stealing dolls... "Hey, Hourai, do these dolls look familiar?"
> Looks like you've gotten a lot of information from someone else's letter.
> There's a loud chorus of agreement when you ask if the Scarlet Devil Mansion is really next to the hideout.
> You tell Hourai the good news, and she nods slowly. You then ask her about the dolls that the fairies have brought out, and she seems to perk up. She shuffles around in the dirt near them.
> 'Tibet' is written next to the red doll, 'Holland' is written next to the orange doll, 'France' is written next to the gold doll, 'London' is written next to the green doll, 'Russia' is written next to the blue doll, 'Kyoto' is written next to the purple doll, and 'Orleans' is written next to the white doll. It looks like she has these names ground into her memory, the way she writes them.
> Crap. Weren't we chased out of there earlier?
> Count our spell cards just in case.
> Yes, and that was because you kicked in both of their doors and hawked a bottle of wine. Or they were just in a bad mood that day, it's hard to tell.
Spellcards:
> Green-eyed Monster
> Bullets that actively chase the target and leave a trail.
> Shiro's Ashes
> Aimed bubbles that leave a trail of flowers. They disappear when they turn red.
> Large Box and Small Box
> Summons a mirror of yourself to shoot bullets alongside you. If the mirror is hit, she shoots more bullets.
> Midnight Anathema Ritual
> A stream of nails that send out more bullets that scatter around.
> Hey, we don't need to do anything. Hourai can get inside on her own.
> Well, good point. The bloodthirsty monster this 'Alice' person mentioned leaves you suspicious, though.
> _
-
> "Huh, so these green ones are the ones going missing...? Did you guys find any more of the green ones in the forest?"
> Fold up the letter and give it back to Hourai.
> To the fairies: "How about you guys help out Hourai, here? Maybe you might get a reward if you do."
> How long has it been since we left Reimu's shrine?
-
> "Huh, so these green ones are the ones going missing...? Did you guys find any more of the green ones in the forest?"
> Fold up the letter and give it back to Hourai.
> To the fairies: "How about you guys help out Hourai, here? Maybe you might get a reward if you do."
> How long has it been since we left Reimu's shrine?
> You ask the fairies if they found any more green ones in the forest. You get a lot of fairies shouting "no" in response.
> Hourai is eager to take the letter back.
> Cirno grins. "We just help Hourai get into the mansion, right? We steal provisions from there all the time so sneaking something in is a piece of cake."
> When she mentions cake, the fairies start chortling.
> An hour and forty minutes, you think. Traveling around can really eat up time.
> _
-
> "Okay, so will you guys sneak Hourai in there? I know that they have some good wine, too."
-
> "Okay, so will you guys sneak Hourai in there? I know that they have some good wine, too."
> "Yeah!" The way the fairies are acting right now remind you of Eientei's rabbits. They're all chattering excitedly and flying around; invading the Scarlet Devil Mansion must be fun for them.
> Cirno rises to her feet and cups her hands to her mouth. "EVERYONE BE QUIET!" she shouts, and the fairies settle down.
> "We'll arrange a party to sneak this Hourai doll into the mansion, and steal some stuff from their storeroom while we're at it. We'll send in one person to sneak in the doll, and some others to do the stealing. That way we can cause a di...di..diversity and get some cool stuff while we're at it!"
> The fairies can't help but start to chatter again. The mint green-haired fairy raises her hand.
> "Leave the sneaking to me!"
> Star flutters her wings. "Stealing is child's play for me!"
> _
-
> "Okay, you guys have fun doing that. As for me, I should be going."
> We should swing by the village to pick up Sanae and her umbrella, and maybe Nazrin, if she won't be a bother. Then again, trolling Nazrin's it's own reward.
-
> "Okay, you guys have fun doing that. As for me, I should be going."
> We should swing by the village to pick up Sanae and her umbrella, and maybe Nazrin, if she won't be a bother. Then again, trolling Nazrin's it's own reward.
> The mint green-haired fairy grins. "Oh, we will."
> "Good luck with wherever you're going!" Cirno says. "We'll be sure to tell you all about the heist next time we see you."
> You should probably drop by the village to get Sanae, the umbrella girl, and probably Nazrin, you think. Trolling Nazrin is its own reward if you bring her along after all.
> _
-
> Let's get out of here.
> "... Um, is the slide the only way in?"
> If they tell us an alternate route, take it, other wise, leave the hideout, and head back to the village.
-
> Let's get out of here.
> "... Um, is the slide the only way in?"
> If they tell us an alternate route, take it, other wise, leave the hideout, and head back to the village.
> Time to leave!
> "You can just fly back out," Cirno says.
> You take Cirno's advice and fly back out, and head towards the village. You reach it without any incident and head on in.
> You see Sanae standing outside the temple with the umbrella girl, eating...good god, what is that? It looks like some sort of ghastly eel.
> _
-
> Land next to Sanae. "Good god, what is that? It looks like some sort of ghastly eel!"
-
> Land next to Sanae. "Good god, what is that? It looks like some sort of ghastly eel!"
> "It's a grilled lamprey." Sanae happily bites the head off of it. It makes a sickening crunch, but she seems to enjoy it. The umbrella girl looks like she wants to look away, but can't.
> _
-
> "Gee, I bet that bird girl at Kourin's has better taste..."
> "Hey, have you heard about anyone named 'Alice' or 'Marisa', per chance?"
Also, are you sure lamprey is served with the head still on? I mean, ew.
-
> "Gee, I bet that bird girl at Kourin's has better taste..."
> "Hey, have you heard about anyone named 'Alice' or 'Marisa', per chance?"
> "Hey, it was a bird girl who sold this to me," Sanae says.
> You ask her if she knows an 'Alice' or 'Marisa'. Sanae nearly drops her food.
> "Of course I do! There's Kirisame Marisa, who was there during the alien invasion, and when Kanako-sama first came to the mountain. I'm sure she mentioned someone named 'Alice' a few times. Her neighbor?"
> The umbrella girl shudders. "She was there during the 'alien invasion', all right..."
> _
-
> "Huh. Hm... Well, I just heard those names, and I was just wondering who they were. What'd she do at the alien invasion?"
> Look around. Anything interesting?
-
> "Huh. Hm... Well, I just heard those names, and I was just wondering who they were. What'd she do at the alien invasion?"
> Look around. Anything interesting?
> "Oh. Ummm, Marisa went on the ship and got into some fights, shot lazers and stole stuff."
> Nothing interesting you can see at the moment.
> _
-
> "Huh, sounds like stuff that Reimu and the black-white would do."
-
> "Huh, sounds like stuff that Reimu and the black-white would do."
> "Marisa wore black and white..."
> _
-
> "Wait... wore a ridiculous lookin' hat, flew around on a broom, that sorta thing?"
-
> "Wait... wore a ridiculous lookin' hat, flew around on a broom, that sorta thing?"
> Sanae nods. "Yeah!"
> "Did she shoot lazers at you?" the umbrella girl asks.
> _
-
> "Among other things..."
> Rub temple. Mutter to self, "So, that kind of explains where she is... and that guy in the letter..."
> "Anyways, gotta go collect my wayward mouse, then off to see the shrine maider. Er, the less lively one. You should probably come with: the entrance to the reactor's right near there."
> Go inside the temple.
Guys, I don't really want to try very hard to get Nazrin back: she's helpful, yeah, and fun to troll, but she's also much less willing to work for or with us than others. (Mind you, part of that's kind of my fault...)
-
> "Among other things..."
> Rub temple. Mutter to self, "So, that kind of explains where she is... and that guy in the letter..."
> "Anyways, gotta go collect my wayward mouse, then off to see the shrine maider. Er, the less lively one. You should probably come with: the entrance to the reactor's right near there."
> Go inside the temple.
> The umbrella girl has an understanding look. "Ohhh."
> The letter is starting to make a litle more sense.
> You decide to go get Nazrin.
> "Awright, we'll be coming with you!" Sanae finishes off her meal and follows you into the temple, half-dragging the umbrella girl behind her.
> There aren't as many people in the temple now. There were way more people on the streets, anyway. You don't immediately see Nazrin.
> _
-
> Look around. Anyone here look important?
> Idly, to Sanae. "So, you're always draggin' her along, always holdin' hands, and she's staying at your place... are you two an item?" Bet that would be nice, only with Yuugi instead of some weird umbrella.
-
> Look around. Anyone here look important?
> Idly, to Sanae. "So, you're always draggin' her along, always holdin' hands, and she's staying at your place... are you two an item?" Bet that would be nice, only with Yuugi instead of some weird umbrella.
> You see the girl with the manly cloud again.
> You ask Sanae about her and the umbrella girl.
> "Come to think of it...Kogasa, what do you think?"
> Kogasa quickly covers her face with her umbrella.
> _
-
>Cackle a true cackle in response.
-
What a twist!
> You see the girl with the manly cloud again.
> So, anyone around here that looks important?
> Walk up to the cloud and his girl, still giggling.
> "Sorry, but have you seen a mouse around here? Might be with a cat."
-
>Cackle a true cackle in response.
> You cackle. The girl with the manly cloud looks over at you curiously.
> Kogasa peeks out from under her umbrella to stick her tongue out at you, then ducks back under it.
> So, anyone around here that looks important?
> Walk up to the cloud and his girl, still giggling.
> "Sorry, but have you seen a mouse around here? Might be with a cat."
> You walk up the cloud and the girl, and between giggles ask if they've seen a mouse (read: Nazrin) around the temple.
> The girl whispers to the cloud, then says, "Nazrin? That way...she's with Toramaru-san right now." She points to the room where you first met Kaguya.
> _
-
> Thank her, and head that way. Try to control giggles.
-
> Thank her, and head that way. Try to control giggles.
> You thank her and head towards the room while trying to control your laughter. Sanae sprints after you. Kogasa, still holding the umbrella to her face, stumbles blindly after the two of you.
> When you enter the room, you see that there are less people. You see Nazrin sitting with the cat woman and a few humans.
> _
-
>"Nothing to be ashamed of, Umbrellas. A shrine maiden's quite a catch!"
>Probably.
-
> Does it look like they're having a meeting? We can wait for a bit for them to get
down done.
> When it looks like they're winding up, or if Nazrin or Shou come talk to us, "Hey, Nazrin, ready to head out again?"
On Purvis's comment:
> Well, judging by those things on her chest, she's a hell of a catch... n-not that we're jealous! We have Yuugi's, anyways!
-
>"Nothing to be ashamed of, Umbrellas. A shrine maiden's quite a catch!"
>Probably.
> "Urameshiyaaa," Kogasa mumbles. You're not quite sure what she means by that.
> Pfft.
> Nazrin briefly glances over at you, Sanae, and Kogasa, but doesn't move from where she's sitting.
> Does it look like they're having a meeting? We can wait for a bit for them to get down done.
> When it looks like they're winding up, or if Nazrin or Shou come talk to us, "Hey, Nazrin, ready to head out again?"
> Well, judging by those things on her chest, she's a hell of a catch... n-not that we're jealous! We have Yuugi's, anyways!
> yureru mawaru fureru setsuna~i kimochi!
> It looks more like they're talking casually, but whatever.
> After a few minutes, the group breaks up. Nazrin stands up and wanders over to you.
> You ask her if she's ready to head out.
> "Hmm....yeah."
> You're not jealous you're not jealous you're not jealous...
> _
-
> "Whoa, wait, you're just going to leave without giving her a proper goodbye?"
> When Nazrin displays her inevitable confusion, put an arm around her shoulder conspiratorially. "You know, at a place like this, that Shou girl's got to be a catch. I bet that cloud's girl and the purple-brown lady are trying to get their claws right in her, you hear me?"
> Influence jealousy in Nazrin about those harpies being with Shou!
> "Now, the proper way to let them (and Shou, for that matter) that you mean business, you gotta 'say' goodbye, kinda like I did to Yuugi when we left her place." Slight blush at that.
-
> "Whoa, wait, you're just going to leave without giving her a proper goodbye?"
> When Nazrin displays her inevitable confusion, put an arm around her shoulder conspiratorially. "You know, at a place like this, that Shou girl's got to be a catch. I bet that cloud's girl and the purple-brown lady are trying to get their claws right in her, you hear me?"
> Influence jealousy in Nazrin about those harpies being with Shou!
> "Now, the proper way to let them (and Shou, for that matter) that you mean business, you gotta 'say' goodbye, kinda like I did to Yuugi when we left her place." Slight blush at that.
> Oh ho ho.
> You ask Nazrin if she's really going to leave without saying goodbye to her.
> Nazrin is understandably confused. "Wh-wh-wha--"
> As you furthur explain to Nazrin the dangers of the cloud's girl and the youchrist gradient-haired lady getting their hands on Shou, her tail swishes back and forth in confusion.
> "I-uh, well, that's--"
> And then you inflict jealousy on her. You blush when you remember saying goodbye to Yuugi.
> Nazrin gulps. "Iiii, well, um, I l-like her, but t-the way y-y-you put iit..." she whispers, her cheeks flushing red. "Uuuhhh..." She puts her hands to her face, then breaks away from your hold and walks over to Shou.
> "Oh? What is it, Nazrin? Your face is all red," Shou says. Nazrin mutters something.
> Shou starts to ask something, but Nazrin grabs her by the front of the shirt and pulls her down to her level. She kisses Shou on the forehead, releases the front of her shirt, and then sprints away and hides behind you.
> _
-
>Dance, puppets, dance!
>"See Umbrellas? You could learn a thing or three from that."
-
> Just as planned! (Keikaku Parsee!)
> Grin merrily at Shou. "Bye now!"
> Retreat out of the temple, grinning all the way.
Aw man, Parsee's a hell of a shipper: we got Sanae/Kogasa and Nazrin/Shou. Why don't we get Reimu down to the underground for a Satori/Reimu hat trick.
-
>Whilst leaving, after all of that, picture self kissing Yuugi in your head... And try not to blush.
Got to remember the main shipping here, ze. XD
-
>Dance, puppets, dance!
>"See Umbrellas? You could learn a thing or three from that."
> This is just too fun.
> Kogasa is actually watching very intently. She glances at Sanae every now and then. Sanae herself looks very amused.
> Shou stands there for a moment, and then, as if it has sunk in, she smiles.
> Just as planned! (Keikaku Parsee!)
> Grin merrily at Shou. "Bye now!"
> Retreat out of the temple, grinning all the way.
> Keikaku Doori paruparu
> Shou smiles and waves. "Goodbye."
> You, Sanae, Nazrin, and Kogasa retreat from the temple, never looking back okay maybe that's being a little dramatic.
> "Okay, so we're heading to Reimu's place now!" Sanae says, stretching her arms.
>Whilst leaving, after all of that, picture self kissing Yuugi in your head... And try not to blush.
> a;slkdjf
> _
-
>"Yeah, hopefully she'll be ready to move by then. Hey, while I'm thinking of it, what do you guys know about Yakumo? That one youkai with the gaps and stuff?"
>Toward Hakureistan!
-
>Toward Hakureistan!
> We're taking the youkai to Hakurei!
> Glance at Nazrin. How's she doing?
-
>If she's still red, pat her head.
>"Don't worry; at least she knows now. Maybe you might end up further than others."
>Glance and smirk at Kogasa.
-
>"Yeah, hopefully she'll be ready to move by then. Hey, while I'm thinking of it, what do you guys know about Yakumo? That one youkai with the gaps and stuff?"
>Toward Hakureistan!
> Hopefully.
> You ask the others about 'Yakumo'.
> "Who's that?" Kogasa asks. Nazrin simply shakes her head.
> Sanae, however, seems to have an idea. "A gap youkai? I saw a lady like that at Reimu's place, once. While Reimu's back was turned, she stole her snacks."
> The four of you head towards the Hakurei Shrine.
> We're taking the youkai to Hakurei!
> Glance at Nazrin. How's she doing?
>If she's still red, pat her head.
>"Don't worry; at least she knows now. Maybe you might end up further than others."
>Glance and smirk at Kogasa.
> You're all youkai, going to save Reimu. After some walking, you can see the shrine's stairs ahead.
> You look over at Nazrin. She's still red, so you pat her on the head and console her.
> Nazrin shrinks into her capelet. "Mmgh."
> You smirk at Kogasa, who sticks her tongue out at you for the third time today, only this time she pulls down her eyelid as well. "Blehhh."
> _
-
> "'Lady'? Huh, and for some reason, I was thinking Yakumo was a guy..."
> "All right, let's all go up." Start floating up the stairs.
-
> "'Lady'? Huh, and for some reason, I was thinking Yakumo was a guy..."
> "All right, let's all go up." Start floating up the stairs.
> Sanae tries and fails not to snort. "Wa ha ha ha! Everyone who knows of her knows she's a lady!" She manages to calm herself before the four of you start flying up the stairs.
> When you reach the top of the stairs, you can hear Eirin and Konngara's voices. So can Sanae. She arches an eyebrow, but nevertheless trots up to the donation box and drops in a few coins and bills. Nazrin stares wide-eyed at the shrine itself, and Kogasa moves her umbrella from her face. She twirls around and surveys the area, unfazed by the damaged shrine.
> Sanae also looks around at the shrine, and frowns at what she sees.
> _
-
> "Yeah, Kikuri had an issue with Reimu. Gimme a sec to see how she's doing."
> Walk to where we hear Eirin and Konngara.
-
>"Not impressed, I take it?"
>Wander round to the... scene. And brace yourself for the reactions of your party.
-
>Head for the talkers, first. They know whether or not Lil ReiRei can be moved.
-
> "Yeah, Kikuri had an issue with Reimu. Gimme a sec to see how she's doing."
> Walk to where we hear Eirin and Konngara.
> "Hm..." Sanae isn't very pleased, either way.
> Their voices are coming from behind the shrine, so you head that way.
>"Not impressed, I take it?"
>Wander round to the... scene. And brace yourself for the reactions of your party.
>Head for the talkers, first. They know whether or not Lil ReiRei can be moved.
> Kogasa shrugs.
> The four of you reach the back of the shrine. Reimu has been bandaged up, so that you no longer see any of her wounds. She's still very obviously in a coma, but she looks more alive than the last time you saw her. Eirin is wadding up a pair of bloodstained medical gloves and making small talk with Konngara, whose sword has been stuck in the ground next to her.
> Sanae stiffens and goes strangely quiet, her eyes fixed on Reimu. Kogasa doesn't as much as blink. It's only when Nazrin squeaks in terror that Eirin and Konngara notice the four of you.
> "Hm?" Konngara glances at Sanae.
> "Hello there," Eirin says with a small sigh. "It should be safe to move her, now."
> Sanae makes a choking sound, like she's trying to say something.
> _
-
> "All right. Um, Konngara, we'll need your help for this one... My plan is..."
> Dramatic silence.
> "... to move Reimu to the Palace of the Earth Spirits."
-
>Put a reassuring hand on Nazrin's shoulder.
-
> "All right. Um, Konngara, we'll need your help for this one... My plan is..."
> Dramatic silence.
> "... to move Reimu to the Palace of the Earth Spirits."
> Konngara glances at you.
> "Spit it out already!"
> You tell her of your plan to move Reimu to the Palace of the Earth Spirits.
> "...To Satorin's place, huh." She pauses. "No objections."
> Eirin stuffs her gloves in the medical bag. "So there's someone down there to take care of her?"
>Put a reassuring hand on Nazrin's shoulder.
> You put a hand on Nazrin's shoulder. She quickly averts her gaze from Reimu.
> "E-excuse me," Sanae blurts. "Um, uh...a-are--" She taps her hairline. Eirin picks up on this.
> "Oh."
> _
-
> "... Satorin?"
> "Anyways, I haven't" informed Satori that we're even doing this "confirmed the details with Satori, but she'll be happy to take care of her. She and her pets like her."
> Pause.
> "She and her pets are okay with her."
> Pause.
> "... Reimu feeds Satori's cat."
> "... Anyways, so we'll need to figure out how to move her without hurting her."
> Look at Sanae confusedly. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Wow, I just realized how completely I misinterpreted what the deal with Reimu's forehead was. I thought it was just a tendril from Yukari's thing.
-
>"Well, they probably can't do big stuff, but they can change bandages and things. Um...were you able to do much?"
-
> "... Satorin?"
> "Anyways, I haven't" informed Satori that we're even doing this "confirmed the details with Satori, but she'll be happy to take care of her. She and her pets like her."
> Pause.
> "She and her pets are okay with her."
> Pause.
> "... Reimu feeds Satori's cat."
> "... Anyways, so we'll need to figure out how to move her without hurting her."
> Look at Sanae confusedly. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
>"Well, they probably can't do big stuff, but they can change bandages and things. Um...were you able to do much?"
> "Well, she's sort of a kid." Just how old is Konngara, anyway?
> You let Konngara know that Satori doesn't even know what you're doing right now you haven't confirmed the details with Satori, but it's fine because she and her pets like Reimu...are okay with...well, Reimu feeds Satori's cat, that's really all you know.
> "Well. Okay. We'd have to be really careful," Konngara muses.
> "I don't think the stitches will come apart," Eirin says stiffly. "I was able to close and disinfect her wounds, and then I covered it up with bandages. I ended up casting a lot of spells to make it work. Also...It looks like Yakumo was more help than I anticipated."
> You ask Sanae what she's talking about, anyway.
> Sanae swallows. "On her head...It looks like she has h-horns, almost..." she mutters.
> _
-
> Oh crap, we forgot about that. Take another look.
> "Yeah, I forgot. Well, in my defense, she was... yeah." Shivver.
> "So what's up with those, doc?"
-
>How oni-like do they look?
-
One night and I already see Parsee spreading delicious lesbianism all over Gensokyo, creating more bizarre teams and a Oni Reimu....
>Look at Kikuri from here as well.
-
One night and I already see Parsee spreading delicious lesbianism all over Gensokyo, creating more bizarre teams and a Oni Reimu....
Parsee's not spreading it, she's just making people realize what's been in front of their faces the entire time (though, since we're trying to hook up Reimu and Satori...), and VISIONNERZ did an Oni Reimu first (and that was something truly terrifying). The bizarre teams, I can't deny: she currently has Nazrin, Sanae (with Kogasa equipped), and Konngara, with Eirin as a guest member and Reimu as a key item.
Oh, speaking of key items, when Himiko gets done with the next batch, let's ask Konngara and Eirin about the eye and chain: Konngara's been around the block a few times, and Eirin's pretty smart.
-
> Oh crap, we forgot about that. Take another look.
> "Yeah, I forgot. Well, in my defense, she was... yeah." Shivver.
> "So what's up with those, doc?"
> Oh. You look at her head again. You weren't sure what they were last time, but those are definitely horns.
> You ask Eirin about them, since Reimu isn't supposed to have those.
> "You have Yakumo to thank for those," Eirin says. "It looks like she messed with some boundaries to change her into a youkai that could actually withstand those injuries. It made the surgery a lot easier."
>How oni-like do they look?
> Pretty oni-like. Two short, pointy horns.
> ...That's terrifying.
>Look at Kikuri from here as well.
> Kikuri hasn't moved a budge from her position in the sky.
> _
-
>"Wait, people can DO that?! Does that mean she could...like...make someone into a celestial? Or a devil?"
>Ponder how we'd look in celestial raiments.
>_
-
>"Wait, people can DO that?! Does that mean she could...like...make someone into a celestial? Or a devil?"
>Ponder how we'd look in celestial raiments.
> "Well, Celestials are a bit of a special case," Eirin says. "They're former humans who gained immortality or reached Nirvana; I don't think Yakumo would interfere with that. But I wouldn't put it past her to turn someone into a devil. Though the results might be..." She trails off. "Hmm."
> "Is she able to make gods?" Sanae asks.
> "Gods?" Konngara raises an eyebrow. "Good question."
> They wear those shawls, right? You could use it as a parachute.
> _
-
>"Okay this Yakumo person is now much to scary to ever ever mess with. She can keep Suika."
>"Hey Konngara, think you could carry her? Or would that get in the way of the whole keeping Kikuri from blasting her deal?"
-
>"Okay this Yakumo person is now much to scary to ever ever mess with. She can keep Suika."
>"Hey Konngara, think you could carry her? Or would that get in the way of the whole keeping Kikuri from blasting her deal?"
> You don't want to mess with this Yakumo person. Or meet her. Ever.
> No one tries to contradict you when you make this known, which kind of scares you.
> "It's fine, I can carry her," Konngara says.
> _
-
>"Good. Thanks. Let's get going."
>Nod to Eirin. "And thanks for helping out. Hope things in the forest stay better for you."
-
>"Good. Thanks. Let's get going."
>Nod to Eirin. "And thanks for helping out. Hope things in the forest stay better for you."
> "Right then." Konngara gingerly picks up Reimu and rises to her feet.
> You thank Eirin for helping.
> "You're welcome. Make sure Reimu stays safe." She turns, then pauses. "Oh, and Konngara? You really should come over for tea after this is over. The princess has expressed her delight in the idea of meeting you."
> "'Kay."
> After Eirin leaves, Nazrin's ears flicker. "So...we're going back underground?"
> _
-
>"Yep. Gotta put Reimu someplace safer than this."
>Let Konngara take the lead, hang back and wait for a moment where we can get to Kogasa without Sanae being too close to overhear.
>_
-
>"Yep. Gotta put Reimu someplace safer than this."
>Let Konngara take the lead, hang back and wait for a moment where we can get to Kogasa without Sanae being too close to overhear.
> You all leave the shrine. Konngara watches Kikuri warily, as if she expects her to start shooting, but nothing happens.
> Sanae is walking next to Konngara and bombarding her with questions. "You're an oni? Cool! Oni kidnap people, right? Will I get kidnapped when I go underground? Kanako-sama's been underground before but she never let me because she says it's dangerous. But now I can go 'cause Suwako-sama's down there! Hey, what kind of place is the Underground?"
> Nazrin sighs at Sanae's enthusiasm. Meanwhile, you and Kogasa are at the back of the group.
> _
-
>If we can do it without alerting Sanae, nudge Nazrin and whisper, "Follow my lead."
>Fall into step with Kogasa, "You know, you really missed your chance with Sanae back there, while we were in town. You could have totally swept you off you feet. Then Nazrin upstaged you. Now you'll have to do something even more dramatic, or it's going to look like you aren't trying."
-
> We don't need to involve Nazrin in our shenanigans. However, we will say the previous in a low tone, so that only Kogasa can hear.
Well, Reimu as an oni miko... personally, I think Suika's the cuter oni miko, but let's just roll with it.
-
>Nazrin's been good, she deserves a reward. And this one is free.
-
> We don't know how strong she is in the Troll, or general
superfudge subterfuge, for that matter. She can spectate, but probably not best if she participates, less our maniacal plans be disrupted.
-
>If we can do it without alerting Sanae, nudge Nazrin and whisper, "Follow my lead."
>Fall into step with Kogasa, "You know, you really missed your chance with Sanae back there, while we were in town. You could have totally swept you off you feet. Then Nazrin upstaged you. Now you'll have to do something even more dramatic, or it's going to look like you aren't trying."
> We don't need to involve Nazrin in our shenanigans. However, we will say the previous in a low tone, so that only Kogasa can hear.
>Nazrin's been good, she deserves a reward. And this one is free.
> We don't know how strong she is in the Troll, or general superfudge subterfuge, for that matter. She can spectate, but probably not best if she participates, less our maniacal plans be disrupted.
> You consider involving Nazrin in your chenanigans shenanigans, but decide against it. Given how she easily falls prey to trolling, you wonder if she would be good at doing it herself.
> You fall in step with Kogasa and tell her how she could have swept Sanae off her feet, but failed. Kogasa half-heartedly sticks her tongue out at you.
> "...She doesn't think of me that way, I don't think." Kogasa shields her face with her umbrella and glances ahead at Sanae, who is pretending to slay invisible dragons with Konngara's sword ("Stop that."). "It's not me she keeps a photo of in her shirt. And then there's the one who took the photo..."
> _
-
> "Well, no wonder she doesn't think of you that way, what with how wishy washy and hesitant you are."
> "She keeps a picture of some alien on her, right? Well, obviously it's because the alien's interesting. If you want her attention, you got to be interesting and bold, not meek and quiet like you are now. Come on, you gotta surprise her."
Hm... now that I'm thinking of it... Kogasa's problem right now is that Sanae's kind of seeing her like a tool, right?
-
Like a mere tool or just a friend at most. And we all know Kogasa would love to be trapped with her in one room, with a comfy bed and bottle of lotion and....
And have tea.
-
> "Well, no wonder she doesn't think of you that way, what with how wishy washy and hesitant you are."
> "She keeps a picture of some alien on her, right? Well, obviously it's because the alien's interesting. If you want her attention, you got to be interesting and bold, not meek and quiet like you are now. Come on, you gotta surprise her."
> "No, she just likes the tengu reporter better," Kogasa pouts.
> "Surprising people is my raison d'?tre," she says, sounding more confident but keeping her voice down. "It's scary when you're in the dark about whether or not your feelings will even be reciprocated, but you can't tell me how to do my job!" She closes her umbrella and jabs you in the stomach with it. "Hyah!"
> Well, she definitely seems to be in a better mood.
> _
-
>"The tengu.... Now, I don't think that's true, you know. She might like you more. Well, she's here with you now, not the tengu, nor the alien"
>Let's tickle her in return
-
"It's scary when you're in the dark about whether or not your feelings will even be reciprocated,
> Ooh, ouch, she kind of hit a nerve, there. What does Yuugi think of us, anyways? She doesn't stop us from hanging onto her, and she wasn't angry when we blushblush... but is that because she likes us back, or if she's just that friendly with everyone...? worryworry
> "Well, I'm not sure what you surprising wrinkly grapes has anything to do with it, but why don'cha take that chance? Remember when I asked you guys back at the temple whether or not you guys were an item? She didn't deny anything, so obviously there's something there. You just gotta be confident in yourself, or something."
> Hm... dare we? Put some jealousy in Kogasa of our self confidence.
Really, this oddball creature that we've created called "Parsee" fascinates me. A really self serving bitch who thrives on manipulating others to amuse herself and has a habit of torturing herself about things that don't really matter all that much, yet somehow is driven to do something that resembles "the right thing".
-
>"The tengu.... Now, I don't think that's true, you know. She might like you more. Well, she's here with you now, not the tengu, nor the alien"
>Let's tickle her in return
> "Yeah? Just wait 'till you see 'em togeth~ kyahahaa!" Kogasa is cut off by you tickling her. She flails around and nearly hits you with her umbrella.
> Ooh, ouch, she kind of hit a nerve, there. What does Yuugi think of us, anyways? She doesn't stop us from hanging onto us, and she wasn't angry when we blushblush... but is that because she likes us back, or if she's just that friendly with everyone...? worryworry
> "Well, I'm not sure what you surprising wrinkly grapes has anything to do with it, but why don'cha take that chance? Remember when I asked you guys back at the temple whether or not you guys were an item? She didn't deny anything, so obviously there's something there. You just gotta be confident in yourself, or something."
> Hm... dare we? Put some jealousy in Kogasa of our self confidence.
> She probably wondered that when she first met you; you spent a lot of time letting your jealousy flare out of control even though she visited the bridge every day...come to think of it you haven't really seen how she acts around other people as much except Mokou but they weren't around each other long enough and you can't even tell what she thinks of you asdkfj;alskjdfl;ka panicpanicpanicpanic
> "It's not raisins, it's raison d'?tre! It means 'reason or existence'," Kogasa says between giggles. "Why do you exist?"
> That's a pretty broad question. You decide to make Kogasa jealous of your self confidence. You have self confidence?
> You continue to tickle Kogasa, but she ends up whacking you in the head. Konngara and Sanae glance back at the two of you.
> You're in the Forest of Magic now. "So, where's the entrance to the Underground?" Konngara asks you.
> _
-
> "This way." Take the lead and show them to the entrance to the reactor.
-
> "This way." Take the lead and show them to the entrance to the reactor.
> You lead everyone to the reactor's entrance. When you all reach it, Nazrin blinks back into a mouse and hides in your pocket. Sanae props the sword on her shoulder.
> "So...Suwako-sama's down here." Her voice is dripping with excitement.
> Kogasa frowns. "Aww, it's too narrow to parachute down there with my umbrella."
> _
-
> To Kogasa: "You can still float without the umbrella, right?"
> If that's a yes, idea! "Well, why don't you carry Sanae down, then?"
> To Konngara: "You can get through here all right while carrying Reimu, right?"
-
> To Kogasa: "You can still float without the umbrella, right?"
> If that's a yes, idea! "Well, why don't you carry Sanae down, then?"
> To Konngara: "You can get through here all right while carrying Reimu, right?"
> "Yes."
> You suggest that Kogasa carry Sanae down. Kogasa nods. "I can do that." She grabs Sanae, who yelps in surprise and nearly drops the sword.
> "Here we gooo!" There's a rush of wind as Kogasa flies down the hole with Sanae in tow.
> Konngara nods. "Yeah."
> _
-
> Give a thumbs up to Kogasa. Atta girl.
> And we're floating, and we're floating.
-
> Give a thumbs up to Kogasa. Atta girl.
> And we're floating, and we're floating.
> You give Kogasa a thumbs up, but you don't think she can see it now...
> Konngara goes in after them, albeit slower. You follow suit.
> As you leave the surface behind and go furthur underground, you can't help but think how strange it was that you were on top of a mountain a few hours ago.
> The first thing you notice when you enter the reactor is that the lights are on. You hear whirrs and clicking of various machines, but above all, you hear Utsuho's triumphant laughter towards the bottom of the chasm. Sanae looks pretty happy herself to be in the reactor.
> _
-
> Float further in, to where we can see that crazy bird brain.
> "Hey, Utsuho? What's so funny?"
-
> Float further in, to where we can see that crazy bird brain.
> "Hey, Utsuho? What's so funny?"
> When you float furthur in, you see Utsuho on the platform at the bottom of the chute. At the center is what looks like a small sun, suspended in place by a few metallic claws and oww it's too bright how can she stand that. Utsuho herself has a huge rod encasing her right arm and a slab of concrete encasing her right foot. There is also a cape draped over her wings.
> Utsuho looks up at you and grins. "The reactor's working again!" She throws her arms in the air. "If this has happened, then it's only a matter of time before the snake lady comes!" She sounds overjoyed.
> _
-
>"Well, for now you'll just have to make do with her miko over there."
>Point at Sanae.
>Let us move on before it gets any brighter.
-
> "Yeah, I talked Yasaka into starting the reactor back up, and I think she's actually gonna wanna talk to you."
> "Hey, Satori's at the palace, right?"
> "By the way, will it be safe to continue travelling through here, now that the reactor's running?"
-
>"Well, for now you'll just have to make do with her miko over there."
>Point at Sanae.
>Let us move on before it gets any brighter.
> You point out Sanae, who has run over to the railing to get a better look. Utsuho sees her and cries out.
> "It's you!"
> Sanae points right back at her. "It's you?!"
> It's really bright, so you all start to move on. Kogasa has to drag Sanae away from the railing.
> "Yeah, I talked Yasaka into starting the reactor back up, and I think she's actually gonna wanna talk to you."
> "Hey, Satori's at the palace, right?"
> "By the way, will it be safe to continue travelling through here, now that the reactor's running?"
> "Really?!" Utsuho squeals. She has forgotten about Sanae already. "Miss Satori's always at the Palace! And don't worry about the reactor. I keep the temperature stable throughout the day and turn it off at night, and there's automatic maintenance and defense mechanisms built into the walls so there shouldn't be any problem."
> She's pretty into this.
> _
-
> "All right, well, have fun with the 'snake lady' and your reactor."
> And we're walking, and we're walking.
-
> "All right, well, have fun with the 'snake lady' and your reactor."
> And we're walking, and we're walking.
> Utsuho has stopped paying attention.
> You all walk out of the reactor, leaving Utsuho to her own business, and you soon find yourselves in the garden again. Konngara looks up at the Palace but doesn't say anything.
> There are more rabbits than usual in the garden. When you reach the area just outside the Palace, you see Koishi sitting on the ground, wearing a clean dress and her hat, and holding a rabbit. Her third eye is completely closed at this point, and it looks like her ankle has healed.
> When she sees the entire group, she smiles blankly, probably in confusion.
> "I recognize you, too!" Sanae says. "You're the girl who made a pilgrimage to the shrine!"
> _
-
> Okay, think REALLY loudly "Please just follow my lead please follow my lead please follow my lead!"
> "Erm, Satori, this is Sanae and Kogasa, from one of those shrines up there. And you already know Konngara, apparantly. Is, um, is there somewhere we can put Reimu? She's worn out, and this is probably the safest place for her from the moon."
Shit, ignore everything I wrote.
-
> "Hey, Koishi. Where'd you get all the rabbits?"
> "So, where's your sister? We have to talk to her about some important stuff."
-
> "Hey, Koishi. Where'd you get all the rabbits?"
> "So, where's your sister? We have to talk to her about some important stuff."
> "Onee-chan gave them to me~!" she says. "Onee-chan is in the house." She stands and gestures at the Palace.
> She calls that a house? It's huge!
> _
-
> "That's nice of her." Let's go in.
> As soon as we're in sight of Satori, start thinking really loudly: "Please don't question it and follow my lead!"
-
> "That's nice of her." Let's go in.
> As soon as we're in sight of Satori, start thinking really loudly: "Please don't question it and follow my lead!"
> You all head into the Palace while Koishi returns to playing with her rabbits. You don't see Satori when you walk in, but you do see animals wandering around. There're snakes wound around the chairs in the center of the room, and cats...you recognize the black cat from your first visit, or Orin.
> Orin is padding across the floor when she sees Konngara, and then Reimu. She meows loudly and blinks into human form. She then runs down the hallway, screaming.
> "Miss Satori!" she shouts, waving her arms. "Miss Satoriiii!"
> _
-
> Mutter: "Oh, hey, Nazrin, it's your cat away from Shou."
> Louder. "So, uh, I'm going to assume that that's an invitation to go in." Follow that cat.
-
> Mutter: "Oh, hey, Nazrin, it's your cat away from Shou."
> Louder. "So, uh, I'm going to assume that that's an invitation to go in." Follow that cat.
> You feel Nazrin shudder in your pocket.
> You and Konngara start to follow Orin. Kogasa is distracted: she has knelt down next to one of the chairs and is petting a snake. Sanae lingers back and forth, as if unsure whether she should follow you or stay with Kogasa.
> _
-
> "You guys can wait here, play with the animals. It's probably gonna get a little boring." And awkward, if they figure out that we're pretty much making this up as we go along.
> Regardless, keep following Orin.
-
> "You guys can wait here, play with the animals. It's probably gonna get a little boring." And awkward, if they figure out that we're pretty much making this up as we go along.
> Regardless, keep following Orin.
> Sanae nods and goes over to sit next to Kogasa.
> You and Konngara continue to follow Orin. She's really fast, and soon you lose sight of her. You hear a door being thrown open, and Orin's panicked voice echoing through the hall.
> You hear Satori saying something, but it's drowned out by Orin's footsteps again. You soon see Orin running back towards you, half-dragging Satori by the hand. Orin lets go of Satori's hand when the two of them come closer, and they slow to a halt. There is a very long silence.
> Satori's third eye reels in its socket. She stares in disbelief at Konngara, and then her gaze moves to Reimu. She looks absolutely horrified.
> _
-
> "Hey, do you have a room ready for Reimu?"
> Think loudly: "Don't say anything, just get a room. I'll explain while we go."
> When Satori starts leading us somewhere, start thinking about how Reimu got this way.
-
> "Hey, do you have a room ready for Reimu?"
> Think loudly: "Don't say anything, just get a room. I'll explain while we go."
> When Satori starts leading us somewhere, start thinking about how Reimu got this way.
> "What....why...." Satori's third eye shudders. "That's..."
> Konngara looks guilty. In all fairness, she probably saw what happened to Reimu.
> "Orin." Orin's ears perk up.
> "Huh?"
> "Go prepare one of the guests rooms on the second floor."
> "Y-yes ma'am!" Orin runs off. Satori starts to walk after her, and you and Konngara follow. You start to think about what happened to Reimu, but Satori cuts you off.
> "You needn't explain twice."
> _
-
>"So our moon, I mean Kikuri's up there still. Without the winds anymore though and with the red white safe here"
-
> Thinking: "Also, sorry about not letting you know beforehand, but can you not tell anyone that you weren't informed?"
-
>"So our moon, I mean Kikuri's up there still. Without the winds anymore though and with the red white safe here"
> "I see."
> You, Konngara, and Satori follow Orin up a set of stairs. Here, there are less animals.
> Thinking: "Also, sorry about not letting you know beforehand, but can you not tell anyone that you weren't informed?"
> "And why is that?"
> _
-
> Thinking. "I might have led them to believe that you already knew and were going with my plan. I mean, I thought it was better if things got done quickly and Reimu was made safe rather than run around back and forth uselessly."
> Not that we hadn't done our fair share of that...
-
> Thinking. "I might have led them to believe that you already knew and were going with my plan. I mean, I thought it was better if things got done quickly and Reimu was made safe rather than run around back and forth uselessly."
> Not that we hadn't done our fair share of that...
> "It's not like I would have said no," Satori says cooly.
> Well...
> _
-
> Out loud: "Well, that's good. Thanks for all your help."
> Keep following Satori.
> "Did you get from Konngara about the... changes... that Yakumo made to save Reimu?"
-
I think you've measured Parsee the wrong way. Rather, she does have a good sense of right and wrong, just she's also prone to being emotional and impulse. Kind of a side effect of being fairly jealous of others. As such, she wants to do the right thing, but also wants to be sure everyone knows she's not to be taken lightly. And...she gets washed away with her own emotions sometimes. Manipulation really is just a side effect of jealousy; it's harder to be jealous of people you're playing like a fiddle. Part of the reason why things have gone as well as they have with Nazrin, it's hard to be jealous of a victim. And the justification for it, aside from feeling good, is that she's doing the right thing or at least harmless things.
>"Because that is pretty freaky if you ask me..."
-
> Out loud: "Well, that's good. Thanks for all your help."
> Keep following Satori.
> "Did you get from Konngara about the... changes... that Yakumo made to save Reimu?"
>"Because that is pretty freaky if you ask me..."
> Satori doesn't say anything.
> You're now walking down a long hallway. Halfway down, Orin abruptly halts and opens one of the doors.
> "Yes. I wonder about that..." Satori eyes Konngara suspiciously before walking into the room. "Here we are."
> The guest room is empty enough that you know it's not anyone's bedroom, but it's very nicely furnished. Everything is very clean. A few ravens caw loudly and fly out of the room.
> Satori walks up to Konngara and holds out her arms. "Thank you, but I will take it from here."
> Konngara hands Reimu off to Satori. As Satori carries Reimu over to the guest bed, you notice that Satori's third eye's veins have tangled around Reimu, like Koishi did to Mokou.
> "I'm not very familiar with Yakumo, but this gives me insight on her powers," Satori says as she sets Reimu on the bed. "I only wonder if it's temporary or permanent."
> _
-
> "So, is that vein wrapping thing a reflex or something? Koishi did it to Mokou when Mokou was carryin' her."
> "When she wakes up, dunno how long that'll take, she's probably gonna freak about the horns."
Hm, yeah, that sounds right, Purv. One of my failings as a writer is that I can't do characterization very well, since I tend to miss nuances like that.
-
>"So you should be ready to blame Yakumo first thing."
-
>
"And then comfort her with your love!"
-
> "So, is that vein wrapping thing a reflex or something? Koishi did it to Mokou when Mokou was carryin' her."
> "When she wakes up, dunno how long that'll take, she's probably gonna freak about the horns."
> You ask Satori about the vein wrapping thing.
> "That is...well...."
> Is Satori blushing?
> "She rather did like being human," Satori notes.
>"So you should be ready to blame Yakumo first thing."
> "True. I can't imagine that the transition from human to youkai is painless."
> "And then comfort her with your love!"
> dokidokidoki
> _
-
> Troll senses are tingling! But that can wait until we talk about Important Stuff.
> "Will she be all right for now, because there's a couple of things that's been botherin' me, and I figure that it wouldn't hurt to have Sanae and Kogasa listen in."
So, discussion topics:
1. Kanako's recent activities (restarting the reactor, recruiting Utsuho)
2. Figuring out what's going on with Kikuri, and what Konngara knows
3. The eye and chain
4. Marisa at Alice's house
-
>"Especially given that..."
>Gesture toward the bandages and such.
>"It's really nice of you to take her in, it'll free up a lot of problems. The two of you are kinda friends, right? It'll be good for her to have that kind of thing around anyways."
Also be sure to ask if any of her pets have seen where Yuugi is. She kinda needs to know about Konngara.
-
Hell, let's take it one step further: freakin' drag Konngara to where Yuugi is.
-
Hell no we aren't giving that hussy any opportunities.
It'd probably do Yuugi's heart a lot of good.
-
> Troll senses are tingling! But that can wait until we talk about Important Stuff.
> "Will she be all right for now, because there's a couple of things that's been botherin' me, and I figure that it wouldn't hurt to have Sanae and Kogasa listen in."
>"Especially given that..."
>Gesture toward the bandages and such.
>"It's really nice of you to take her in, it'll free up a lot of problems. The two of you are kinda friends, right? It'll be good for her to have that kind of thing around anyways."
> You must troll!
> But not now.
> "I'm sure she'll be all right," Satori says. She looks at Reimu.
> "Yes, we are. She comes over for tea every now and then."
> It would probably be better for Reimu to be around one of her friends when she wakes up, anyway.
> "Well, we can discuss those things you're worried about downstairs." Satori turns to face the door. "Orin, you don't have to hide out there like some kind of spy."
> _
-
>"Wait, what?"
>Glare toward the door!
-
> "Trying to be like a mouse, huh?"
-
>"Wait, what?"
>Glare toward the door!
> You glare towards the door! Orin is peeking out from behind the doorway with the look of a child who got caught stealing from the cookie jar.
> "Hahaha..." she laughs nervously.
> "Trying to be like a mouse, huh?"
> "You've got it wrong, sis. Cats're sneaky no matter what."
> _
-
>Shake fist in her general direction.
>"Why I oughta!"
>Leave it at that.
>"Hey, Satori, have any of your pets seen where Yuugi is, lately? Kinda want to find her."
-
> Let Satori lead us out of the bedroom.
-
>Shake fist in her general direction.
>"Why I oughta!"
>Leave it at that.
>"Hey, Satori, have any of your pets seen where Yuugi is, lately? Kinda want to find her."
> Orin laughs and scampers away.
> You ask Satori if any of her pets have seen Yuugi.
> "Hm...No, she's probably out in the city."
> Let Satori lead us out of the bedroom.
> You and Konngara follow Satori out of the bedroom and back to the first floor. You immediately see Sanae with a snake casually draped across her shoulders like a scarf. There's a smaller one around her wrist. There are also more rabbits in the room now. Kogasa looks worried.
> "What if it strangles you?"
> "These are Kanako-sama's! They won't hurt me!"
> Konngara walks up to Sanae and takes her sword from here. "I'm taking this back."
> "Aw, man..."
> _
-
Looking over the discussion topics suggested, there actually isn't much to discuss here. Konngara's already filled us in on Kikuri, Satori knew about the reactor the moment we thought about it. We could show Konngara the eye thing and ask Sanae about Marisa, if we haven't already.
Did we ask the Moriyas about Marisa and Alice, Himiko?
Edit: Seems we didn't.
>"Hey, Sanae, just been thinking. You have any idea where the Black White is?"
-
All four of the discussion topics I included, I think, are actually kind of important, mostly for Konngara's sake.
1. Kanako's recent activities (restarting the reactor, recruiting Utsuho): We still need to make sure that Satori knows this (she only knows information that we're thinking about), and it would probably be a good idea for Konngara to make contact with Kanako, since Kanako's been the most active in trying to do something about Kikuri.
2. Figuring out what's going on with Kikuri, and what Konngara knows: Mostly recapping information, but Satori might be able to draw out more information that we didn't get from Konngara. Plus, if Utsuho's going up there, Satori'll want to have an idea of what she's capable of. In addition, we've just found out that Kikuri is capable of draining mana (Sanae and a little for Kaguya); we should check to see if Konngara knew that was something Kikuri was capable of.
3. The eye and chain: Don't think we'll get very much information about this: Satori didn't know much about the eye, and I think we've asked Konngara before. Still, couldn't hurt to try.
4. Marisa at Alice's house: Should be obvious why we want to bring this up. Marisa's one of the big hitters Parsee knows of, and we know that she's a friend of Sanae. We'll eventually want someone to make contact with Alice to see what's going on, because whatever was in the letter didn't sound good at all.
-
>Take out the eye on a chain and show to people around us. This includes Konngara
>"Hey, anyone knows what this thing here is?" wave it a bit.
-
> Don't hold the Millenium Eye too close to anyone, lest it zap them.
-
>"Hey, Sanae, just been thinking. You have any idea where the Black White is?"
> Sanae shakes her head. "No."
>Take out the eye on a chain and show to people around us. This includes Konngara
>"Hey, anyone knows what this thing here is?" wave it a bit.
> Don't hold the Millenium Eye too close to anyone, lest it zap them.
> You wave around the eye on a chain and ask what it is.
> The eye looks around at everyone in the room. Konngara notices this.
> "It's moving around on its own. Maybe it's sentient."
> _
-
> "The eye I got from Satori, and when I brought it near a chain that Kourin had, it jumped outta my hands and joined to it. No offense, but I figured you might know more, Satori."
-
> "The eye I got from Satori, and when I brought it near a chain that Kourin had, it jumped outta my hands and joined to it. No offense, but I figured you might know more, Satori."
> Satori stares intently at the eye.
> "I never remembered anything like it being here in the first place."
> The eye wriggles in its socket. Satori squints at it.
> "...Thoughts?"
> Kogasa's eyes bug out of her head. "What?!"
> _
-
> "Yeah, you gave it to me as a reward when me and Mokou brought back Koishi. It was in with the box."
-
>"Oi, eye? You understand what I'm saying? Move twice up a bit if you do"
-
> "Are you picking anything up from it, Satori?"
-
> "Yeah, you gave it to me as a reward when me and Mokou brought back Koishi. It was in with the box."
> "No, I mean I hadn't known of it before I found it on the house."
>"Oi, eye? You understand what I'm saying? Move twice up a bit if you do"
> The eye shudders, tries to move up, and lets off a few sparks.
> "Are you picking anything up from it, Satori?"
> Satori frowns. "It's so garbled..."
> _
-
> "Huh... weird. You want it for a while?"
> Try to find a chair free of snakes.
-
> "Huh... weird. You want it for a while?"
> Try to find a chair free of snakes.
> Satori nods. "Perhaps I will get something more from it.
> Sanae has managed to distract the snakes from the chairs, so you take a seat.
> _
-
> Hand it over to Satori, being mindful of sparks.
> "All right, now that's taken care of, that goddess Yasaka agreed to restart the reactor, but she's gonna wanna do something with Utsuho. You might want to get with her, Konngara, since she's pretty much the only person other 'n us who's actually trying to do something about Kikuri."
-
> Hand it over to Satori, being mindful of sparks.
> "All right, now that's taken care of, that goddess Yasaka agreed to restart the reactor, but she's gonna wanna do something with Utsuho. You might want to get with her, Konngara, since she's pretty much the only person other 'n us who's actually trying to do something about Kikuri."
> You hand over the eye/chain to Satori. When she touches it, it lets off sparks again. She winces, but puts it in her pocket anyway.
> You then inform Satori and Konngara about Yasaka's plans.
> Satori's third eye stares you down. It then moves to Sanae.
> "She seems quite ready to use Okuu to her own convenience, doesn't she?" Satori says. She doesn't look happy at all.
> Sanae drags her attention away from the snakes. "What? What did Kanako-sama do?"
> Konngara glances at Sanae. "....Oh?" She mutters something inaudible under her breath.
> _
-
> "Yeah, thought you might wanted to know 'bout that, especially since Utsuho ain't too bright."
> "Let's see... oh, yeah. Konngara, you know anything about Kikuri draining mana? Sanae can't do much cause of Kikuri draining her mana, and the princess was affected too, from what I heard."
-
> "Yeah, thought you might wanted to know 'bout that, especially since Utsuho ain't too bright."
> "Let's see... oh, yeah. Konngara, you know anything about Kikuri draining mana? Sanae can't do much cause of Kikuri draining her mana, and the princess was affected too, from what I heard."
> "I'll go have a talk with Okuu, then, before she does anything rash."
> "Hm..." Konngara pauses for a bit. Satori's third eye stares at her this time. "She uses this crystal ball."
> _
-
> "... A crystal ball? While in the moon?"
> What the heck is Konngara's deal with not explaining anything? Jeez, that's annoying, having to press her on every single detail just to get information.
> If there's any rabbits in here, pick one up and pet it.
-
> "... A crystal ball? While in the moon?"
> What the heck is Konngara's deal with not explaining anything? Jeez, that's annoying, having to press her on every single detail just to get information.
> If there's any rabbits in here, pick one up and pet it.
> "Yup."
> She's so uninformative. Or a quiet person, at least.
> There's a rabbit nearby, so you pick it up and pet it. It's so soft. Kogasa has moved away from the snakes and is going after the rabbits, but they scamper away from her.
> _
-
> GRAH! If there was a table to flip we'd so flip it, but we're gonna pet this bunny instead.
> "... So, anything you wanna share with the rest of the class?"
-
> GRAH! If there was a table to flip we'd so flip it, but we're gonna pet this bunny instead.
> "... So, anything you wanna share with the rest of the class?"
> "Don't do it," Satori says. Oh yeah, she can still read your mind. At least this rabbit is nice and soft.
> You prompt Konngara to share more information.
> "She can see long distance, so unless she hasn't been paying attention she's probably seen you already."
> "That's kind of creepy..." Sanae says.
> _
-
> "And that mana draining thing?"
> Fine, if Konngara isn't going to be helpful, might as well go to another topic. "So, I think I know where the black-white is, or at least know who knows where she is. Someone named Alice knows what happened to her after she tried to attack Kikuri."
-
> "And that mana draining thing?"
> Fine, if Konngara isn't going to be helpful, might as well go to another topic. "So, I think I know where the black-white is, or at least know who knows where she is. Someone named Alice knows what happened to her after she tried to attack Kikuri."
> "There isn't much to it..."
> You tell everyone about the black-white and 'Alice,' but you get blank stares in response.
> "'Alice', huh," Satori muses. "The black-white mentioned someone with that name. Is she a dollmaker?"
> _
-
> "Yeah. Cute little things. She even has one that moves on her own, though it's not the brightest."
> "So, turns out that they got a goddess in the hospital, which is why Sanae and Kogasa are here. I'm not planning on going back up to the surface, not until tomorrow at the earliest, though, so..." Maybe Satori would be kind enough to offer them a place to stay?
> How is our place? Is it big enough to accomodate three people? Heck, is it still intact?
-
> "Yeah. Cute little things. She even has one that moves on her own, though it's not the brightest."
> "So, turns out that they got a goddess in the hospital, which is why Sanae and Kogasa are here. I'm not planning on going back up to the surface, not until tomorrow at the earliest, though, so..." Maybe Satori would be kind enough to offer them a place to stay?
> How is our place? Is it big enough to accomodate three people? Heck, is it still intact?
> Satori chuckles at the mention of the dolls. "Oh, I see. I wouldn't mind."
> Mind reader, definitely.
> Kogasa is on the far end of the room now, having finally caught a rabbit. Sanae is still crouched next to the snakes, but it looks like she's been paying attention to the entire conversation.
> Your house is still intact. It's small, but you think it would be able to fit at most that many people. Speaking of your house, you really need to take a bath and get a change of clothes...
> _
-
> "So, how about we wait 'till tomorrow before picking up your lost belongings, Sanae?"
> "But first..." Turn to Konngara. "Me 'n you are gonna go see Yuugi, before you up 'n vanish again."
-
> "So, how about we wait 'till tomorrow before picking up your lost belongings, Sanae?"
> "But first..." Turn to Konngara. "Me 'n you are gonna go see Yuugi, before you up 'n vanish again."
> Sanae jumps to her feet in a sudden flare of enthusiasm.
> "No way! I can't just wait until tomorrow!"
> Satori tries to reason with her. "Do you really want to go into a city of oni by yourself..." She corrects herself. "...I mean, even if you're with the karakasa?"
> Konngara doesn't say anything when you mention Yuugi, but you see Satori smirking in your peripheral vision.
> _
-
> "Sanae, I'm dead tired, hungry, and haven't had a change of clothes in almost a week. I can't take you to the hospital and drag around Konngara at the same time. Besides, that goddess of yours ain't even gonna wake up until next year, right? What's one day?"
> That said, put the bunny down, stand up, and start pushing Konngara to the door. "Thanks for everything, Satori!"
> On the way out, bump into Kogasa. "Hey hey, tonight's your chance. Go get 'er!" Thumbs up, and pull Konngara out the door.
-
>Before that, think out so that Satori could read "Oi, leave intimate parts of my brain alone, paruparuparu"
-
>Before that, think out so that Satori could read "Oi, leave intimate parts of my brain alone, paruparuparu"
> Satori looks away, but her third eye is still fixed on Konngara.
> "Sanae, I'm dead tired, hungry, and haven't had a change of clothes in almost a week. I can't take you to the hospital and drag around Konngara at the same time. Besides, that goddess of yours ain't even gonna wake up until next year, right? What's one day?"
> That said, put the bunny down, stand up, and start pushing Konngara to the door. "Thanks for everything, Satori!"
> On the way out, bump into Kogasa. "Hey hey, tonight's your chance. Go get 'er!" Thumbs up, and pull Konngara out the door.
> Sanae pouts. "Mmgh, fine."
> Konngara mutters something about being dragged around, but you don't catch it.
> You put the rabbit down, and it scampers away. You then start pushing Konngara towards the exit while saying goodbye to Satori.
> "Goodbye, now," she says while waving.
> "See ya, Satorin," Konngara calls out nochalantly. Satori's third eye pops a vein.
> You bump into Kogasa and tell her to get it.
> "Geez, I'm gonna show you," Kogasa says, and sticks her tongue out. You push Konngara out the door.
> Once you're outside of the Palace, Konngara turns to you. "You seriously haven't changed clothes?"
> _
-
> "Hey, I've been running all over the place. Besides, three of those days I'm not even sure was actually three days. Crazy rabbit magic..."
> Start flying to Yuugi's place with Konngara in tow. Chances are if she's not there, she'll have left a note like last time.
> "Besides, you've been at Reimu's place for the last few months. When did you have time to do laundry?"
-
> "Hey, I've been running all over the place. Besides, three of those days I'm not even sure was actually three days. Crazy rabbit magic..."
> Start flying to Yuugi's place with Konngara in tow. Chances are if she's not there, she'll have left a note like last time.
> "Besides, you've been at Reimu's place for the last few months. When did you have time to do laundry?"
> "Good point..."
> You and Konngara start flying to Yuugi's place. As you fly, you ask her about what she did for laundry.
> "There was a well. Come to think of it...I should probably check to see how many of my clothes survived the collapsing of my own house."
> _
-
> And we're flying, and we're flying...
> "So, you spent that entire time just sitting on that shrine?"
-
> And we're flying, and we're flying...
> "So, you spent that entire time just sitting on that shrine?"
> The two of you continue to fly, and eventually reach the area of the city where Yuugi lives.
> "Yeah. I thought I was going to go crazy after a few months."
> _
-
> "Then you should be glad that I came along and got things fixed."
> Fly to Yuugi's place. Knock on her door, even if there's a note there.
-
> "Then you should be glad that I came along and got things fixed."
> Fly to Yuugi's place. Knock on her door, even if there's a note there.
> "Uh-huh."
> You and Konngara finally reach Yuugi's place. There's a note on the door.
> rolling mooks
> You knock anyway, but no one answers.
> "I wonder who's acting up this time?"
> _
-
> How hard would it be to hunt down Yuugi in the city? She's gotta be causing a ruckus.
-
> How hard would it be to hunt down Yuugi in the city? She's gotta be causing a ruckus.
> The whole city is a ruckus. It can't be that easy, can it?
> Konngara is mumbling to herself again while staring at the note.
> _
-
> "Something on your mind?"
> Try the door to see if it's locked.
-
>Damn it, speak up will you.
>"This could take some time... Maybe we should ask around..."
-
> "Something on your mind?"
> Try the door to see if it's locked.
> "Before I left, we were having problems with people smuggling opium into the city. I hope that still isn't a problem."
> The door isn't locked. This is the Ancient City; no one locks their door.
>Damn it, speak up will you.
>"This could take some time... Maybe we should ask around..."
> Talk audibly dammit!
> "I suppose..."
> _
-
So, guys, search for Yuugi, or wait at her place?
-
Hmm, I'm up for either. In fact, how about hi-jacking the kitchen and surprising her with food for her return...
Of course, you'll have something better in mind, knowing you. Anyway, I'm up for whatever you think is best. ^^
-
To be frank, I have nothing, besides paruparu-ing when Yuugi inevitably focuses her attention on Konngara. Besides, I'll be busy for the next few hours,and won't be able to participate, anyways. So, the helm is yours.
-
> Head inside and look around.
-
> Head inside and look around.
> You and Konngara head inside. It's as cluttered as ever, but there's no one here.
> Konngara looks around. "This place got messy," she observes.
> _
-
> Make a bee line for the kitchen and take inventory on available ingredients.
-
> Make a bee line for the kitchen and take inventory on available ingredients.
> You immediately head for the kitchen.
> There's lettuce, carrots, rice, tuna, some meat you can't recognize, noodles, etc...including the ingredients you used to cook last time. There's also a lot of alcohol.
> _
-
>Contemplate stealing the tub.
>Ponder if we could get Konngara to nab us a change of clothes.
-
>Contemplate stealing the tub.
>Ponder if we could get Konngara to nab us a change of clothes.
> You really do need to take a bath...
> Maybe Konngara can get you a change of clothes, but where from?
> _
-
>"Hey Konngara, make a deal with you. You run up to my house while I get cleaned up and get me a change of clothes, I'll make you dinner."
-
>"Hey Konngara, make a deal with you. You run up to my house while I get cleaned up and get me a change of clothes, I'll make you dinner."
> Konngara nods and starts for the door.
> _
-
>"You're a pal!"
>Let her leave, find a spare bathrobe, and get cleaned up. Then contemplate what would be best to feed two oni and an under-appreciated hero with the ingredients we have.
-
> We could probably do some sort of lettuce wrap meal.
While Parsee's in the bath would be the perfect time for Yuugi to come back :3
-
Accurate and precise description of the tub scene, please, Himiko!
By the way what do we need Konngara for still?
-
>Does the mystery meat look safe for consumption?
-
>"You're a pal!"
>Let her leave, find a spare bathrobe, and get cleaned up. Then contemplate what would be best to feed two oni and an under-appreciated hero with the ingredients we have.
> She's already out the door, so she doesn't hear you. She must really want food.
> You go find a spare bathrobe and head for the bath. Come to think of it, what the heck are you going to feed them?
> It's a nice bath, and you feel much cleaner now.
> While you're drying your hair, you hear someone walk into the house and go in the kitchen.
> We could probably do some sort of lettuce wrap meal.
> Probably. It sounds nice enough.
>Does the mystery meat look safe for consumption?
> Yes, you just can't tell what it is.
> _
-
>Call out, "Lo!"
>Get properly robed, if we're not already.
-
>Call out, "Lo!"
>Get properly robed, if we're not already.
> "Eh?" It's Yuugi's voice. "Parsee, you were here?"
> You cover yourself with the bathrobe. You hear the front door open again, and then something is dropped outside the bathroom door.
> "Got the clothes--"
> She stops mid-sentence.
> Oh.
> _
-
>What, we got a robe, this hain't nothin'. Heck, it's probably longer than what we tend to normally wear.
>"Thanks! I'll get on dinner in a little bit."
>Collect clothes, back to finish drying.
-
>What, we got a robe, this hain't nothin'. Heck, it's probably longer than what we tend to normally wear.
>"Thanks! I'll get on dinner in a little bit."
>Collect clothes, back to finish drying.
> It actually is long, and the sleeves go past your hands.
> Konngara doesn't say anything.
> You get the clothes. The dress is similiar to what you were wearing before, but more oriented for cold weather. Then again, all your dresses are similiar in some way. As you go back to drying, you hear footsteps, more silence, and then a loud thud. You hear both of them hissing in pain.
> "Tsk..."
> "Ow..."
> "Why the hell'd you just up and disappear without telling anyone where you were goin', huh?!"
> "You think I'd be able to take my time in a situation like that?!"
> They're yelling at each other...
> _
-
>Dress up, go out. Let them say something to themselves, it'll make them feel better.
>Listen being obviously in front of them.
>Yell "STOP!" if their quarrel starts getting worse.
-
>Contemplate lettuce wraps in the meantime. Start on them if things look like they're not going to get violent.
-
>Dress up, go out. Let them say something to themselves, it'll make them feel better.
>Listen being obviously in front of them.
>Yell "STOP!" if their quarrel starts getting worse.
>Contemplate lettuce wraps in the meantime. Start on them if things look like they're not going to get violent.
> You get dressed and head out of the bathroom. If they have something to say to each other, they can say it. In the meantime, you hang off to the side and listen to them scream at each other. It looks like it's progressed to the point where Konngara's told Yuugi about Kikuri.
> Hm...Lettuce wraps really would be the way to go. They'd be easy to prepare...
> "--Komeiji-san has enough shit to deal with without you avoidin' her! She's been worried sick that you started hatin' her power, too--"
> "It's not something that I can just go and tell people--"
> "You talk like you can't trust us--"
> "It's not that I don't trust you, it's that the whole situation is so delicate--"
> "Yeah, 'cause when Suika was in a 'delicate' situation she totally hid it from us!"
> "That wasn't a matter of life and death!"
> "But we're youkai! We're oni! Or did you forget how hard it is to permanently kill youkai?!"
> "Way harder than massacring a village of humans, sure--"
> Yuugi grabs the collar of Konngara's shirt, and Konngara unsheathes her sword. It's at this moment where you yell "STOP!" out of fear that they're going to start punching each other again. They look over at you.
> "...Probably shouldn't get into a fight with you standin' right over there..." Yuugi says, and forces a weak smile. Konngara scowls at you.
> _
-
>"Yeah really. I am not going to try to hold down supper over the smell of blood, and neither are you!"
-
>"Yeah really. I am not going to try to hold down supper over the smell of blood, and neither are you!"
> "Fine." Konngara pushes Yuugi away from her and sheathes her sword.
> Yuugi sighs and rubs her temples.
> You see Nazrin in mouse form scamper across the floor and hide under the coffee table.
> _
-
>"Yuugi, help me out with these rolls, please?"
-
>Prepare the food then.
>Have some for Nazrin too.
-
>"Yuugi, help me out with these rolls, please?"
> "'Kay."
>Prepare the food then.
>Have some for Nazrin too.
> You head into the kitchen with Yuugi and start to set out the ingredients you'll use.
> As you cook, Yuugi says nothing.
> When you bring out the food, you see that while Nazrin is still hiding under the table, she is in person form this time. Konngara still looks completely unamused.
> This is so awkward.
> _
-
>Before we bring out that food, we are most certainly not letting Yuugi get away with saying nothing. >=[
>Quietly: "What was that about? The villages part and stuff?"
-
>Before we bring out that food, we are most certainly not letting Yuugi get away with saying nothing. >=[
>Quietly: "What was that about? The villages part and stuff?"
> You drag Yuugi back to the kitchen and ask her about what Konngara said.
> Yuugi frowns and stares at the sink. She counts on her fingers, then says,
> "That was over 600 years ago," she says. "During a period where humans and oni were starting to get sick of each other."
> _
-
>"And were you talking about you, or her?"
-
>"And were you talking about you, or her?"
> "Me. She was the one who brought it up." She drums her fingers on the counter.
> _
-
>"Well...since you cut that shit out, no one cares anymore."
-
>"Well...since you cut that shit out, no one cares anymore."
> Yuugi nods. "Still don't like thinking about it."
> _
-
>Hug her!
>Yuugi most certainly needs a hug now :ohdear:
-
>Hug her!
>Yuugi most certainly needs a hug now :ohdear:
> You give Yuugi a hug. She really needs one right now.
> Yuugi says nothing and wraps her arms around you.
> _
-
>"Now is now and it's gonna be better. let's eat."
>Serve the food. Let the bitch guest eat some too.
-
>Oh she'll get her's in good time.
>Enjoy dinner. We do technically owe her one for getting our clothes, so we'll not say or do anything. Yet. Unless she starts some.
-
>"Now is now and it's gonna be better. let's eat."
>Serve the food. Let the bitch guest eat some too.
> Yuugi shakes her head as if to clear it. "Okay, then!"
> The food turned out well, so you set it out on the table. Konngara doesn't get any--
>Oh she'll get her's in good time.
>Enjoy dinner. We do technically owe her one for getting our clothes, so we'll not say or do anything. Yet. Unless she starts some.
> --well you did say you'd make her dinner if she got your clothes. Oh well.
> The four of you eat dinner in silence. Konngara still doesn't say anything. Nazrin eats a lot.
> If Konngara does anything you're gonna punch her.
> _
-
> Eat sulkily. Gr... trying to make Yuugi happy and lighten up and stupid Konngara goes and ruins it all...
> Should we make more? Nazrin's eating a lot for a mousey, and we were really hungry, ourselves.
-
>No, we shouldn't get our own pet fat and lazy.
-
> Eat sulkily. Gr... trying to make Yuugi happy and lighten up and stupid Konngara goes and ruins it all...
> Should we make more? Nazrin's eating a lot for a mousey, and we were really hungry, ourselves.
> You sulk as you eat. Agh, you were hoping to put Yuugi in a good mood but then she and Konngara started yelling at each other...
> The food's all gone now. You wonder if you should make more.
>No, we shouldn't get our own pet fat and lazy.
> ...No, you don't want Nazrin to get fat.
> _
-
>Gauge time and tiredness.
>"Anything happen while I was away, Yuugi?"
-
>Gauge time and tiredness.
>"Anything happen while I was away, Yuugi?"
> It's been about thirty minutes to forty-five minutes to an hour since you left the Palace. You feel kind of tired.
> "I've been rollin' mooks," Yuugi says. "Drugs're still a huuuge problem towards the center of the city, so I've been trying to stamp out hideouts and stuff 'fore the tunnel connecting to the other city is reopened."
> "Are there still problems with opium down there?" Konngara asks.
> "Yeah, but not as much as last year."
> "Better than nothing."
> _
-
>What do we know about opium difficulties around here?
>"Good news for us is that we found Reimu. She's recuperating with Satori now. Um...weird stuff happened to her."
-
> "Apparantly, some chick named Yakumo turned her into an oni. Kept her from dyin', but..."
This should be able to give us a roundabout way of cooling tension between Yuugi and Konngara: Yuugi would calm down if she knew that Konngara had absolutely no choice but to stay topside, but Konngara's too quiet to tell her, and we're too mad at Konngara to tell Yuugi ourselves.
-
>What do we know about opium difficulties around here?
>"Good news for us is that we found Reimu. She's recuperating with Satori now. Um...weird stuff happened to her."
> Not a lot, but you heard it stinks up the place.
> "The shrine maiden..." Yuugi looks mildly interested. "What happened?"
> "Apparantly, some chick named Yakumo turned her into an oni. Kept her from dyin', but..."
> You tell Yuugi about what happened to Reimu.
> "If she died, the Great Border'd come crashing down..." Yuugi muses. "I don't really have anything to say about it, but 's important she stays alive."
> _
-
>"The doctor at Eientei seems to have done good work on her, and it'll be better for her down here anyways away from all that open air."
-
> "The Great Border?" Have we heard of that before?
> "I wonder why Kikuri was so adamant on tryin' to kill her, then? She woulda kept blasting at Reimu if Konngara didn't keep her from doing it."
-
>"The doctor at Eientei seems to have done good work on her, and it'll be better for her down here anyways away from all that open air."
> "Hmm, 's that right."
> "The Great Border?" Have we heard of that before?
> "I wonder why Kikuri was so adamant on tryin' to kill her, then? She woulda kept blasting at Reimu if Konngara didn't keep her from doing it."
> The Great Border surrounds Gensokyo, you've heard.
> "Yeah, keeps Gensokyo seperated from the Outside World."
> You wonder why Kikuri was trying to kill Reimu. Konngara finally speaks up.
> "...The Great Border has a lot of mana, doesn't it?"
> _
-
>"I suppose it would. Kanako said something about her taking up mana and faith, anyways."
-
>"I suppose it would. Kanako said something about her taking up mana and faith, anyways."
> Konngara closes her eyes in meditation, and then they snap open.
> "I get it now."
> "Get what?" Yuugi asks.
> "If Reimu were out of the picture, there'd be nothing stopping her from getting the Border..."
> _
-
> Look obviously puzzled.
-
>"I don't get it, wouldn't that border falling be just as bad for her as everyone else?"
-
> Look obviously puzzled.
> ...You're lost.
>"I don't get it, wouldn't that border falling be just as bad for her as everyone else?"
> "You think she'd realize that," says Konngara.
> _
-
> "Then why's she doing it?"
-
>"Oh well, not like she's had half an ounce of sense so far. So, we pretty much completely screwed up that plan, anyways."
-
> "Then why's she doing it?"
>"Oh well, not like she's had half an ounce of sense so far. So, we pretty much completely screwed up that plan, anyways."
> "Putting herself in that position wasn't very smart in the first place."
> Nazrin isn't paying attention at all.
> _
-
>What is Nazrin paying attention to?
>Quests
>"Hey, Konngara, have you actually been there, on the moon that is?"
-
>What is Nazrin paying attention to?
>Quests
>"Hey, Konngara, have you actually been there, on the moon that is?"
> A mouse. When did it get in here?
Quests:
> Learn more about Konngara
>While Yuugi did give me a good amount of information about her, there might be some more information about her that might prove useful in the near future. You've recently learned that Konngara might have something to do with Hell's Moon. She was also trying to find a "Hakurei Shrine" for some reason.
You found Konngara at the Hakurei Shrine, and learned from her that Reimu is still alive but in critical condition, and that there's a girl named "Kikuri" in Hell's Moon. You still don't know what Kikuri is doing on the surface, though.
> And the hat...?
> The comatose girl is from the surface world, but you didn't find a hat with her clothes. This bothers you enough to want to take matters into your own hands. The lady at the Myouren Temple told you that she's from the Moriya Shrine at the top of Youkai Mountain.
Sanae and Kogasa have come underground with you to retrieve the girl, who is the goddess 'Suwako-sama'.
> Immaterial and Missing Suika
> You've learned that Suika must still be alive, but she has been 'gapped.' You don't know what that means, but you figure that Yuugi would want to know.
> Red Shrine Maiden Needs Healing Badly.
> You've found out where Reimu was, but she's barely alive thanks to Kikuri. You want Eirin to come to the shrine so she can use her magical healing powers on her, since 'Yakumo' isn't doing enough.
Now that Eirin has used her magical healing powers on Reimu, you've decided to bring Reimu to the Palace of the Earth Spirits so that Satori can take care of her and Konngara can leave the shrine.
> Konngara nods.
> _
-
>"What's it like? Kikuri's stuck inside, right?"
-
> "So, now that you can move without worryin' 'bout Reimu, you gonna go back up to talk to Kikuri or something?"
-
>"What's it like? Kikuri's stuck inside, right?"
> "Like a giant glass ball, only it doesn't shatter. Kikuri stays on the bottom most of the time."
> "So, now that you can move without worryin' 'bout Reimu, you gonna go back up to talk to Kikuri or something?"
> "Yeah. You should try talking to her sometime, too."
> _
-
> "And have her blast the hell out of me or drain me?" Sounds like a terrible idea.
-
> "And have her blast the hell out of me or drain me?" Sounds like a terrible idea.
> "Hm...maybe later, in that case."
> _
-
> "Say, if Kikuri saw us bring Reimu down here, you don't think she'd come back down here after her, do you?"
-
> "Say, if Kikuri saw us bring Reimu down here, you don't think she'd come back down here after her, do you?"
> "I don't think she'd go all the way back here just to get at her..."
> _
-
>"Mind you, I suppose I'm going to have to go up there sooner or later. So...How big is it? Is it hollow? Are there, I dunno, like stairs and floors and stuff?"
-
>"Mind you, I suppose I'm going to have to go up there sooner or later. So...How big is it? Is it hollow? Are there, I dunno, like stairs and floors and stuff?"
> "It's completely hollow. It can change size, too, although from a distance you can't really tell."
> _
-
> "Huh. Well, I guess if she hasn't settled her shit down I'll need to give her what for, like I did with Yasaka. But I swear, if she tries shootin' me, I'm gonna blame you!"
-
> "Huh. Well, I guess if she hasn't settled her shit down I'll need to give her what for, like I did with Yasaka. But I swear, if she tries shootin' me, I'm gonna blame you!"
> "You and her," Konngara gestures to Yuugi, who grins. "You'd better have something planned out, though. I'm not going to promise that she won't shoot you."
> _
-
> Look at Yuugi. "Well, Yuugi? You want to give a moon girl a piece of your mind as well?"
-
> Look at Yuugi. "Well, Yuugi? You want to give a moon girl a piece of your mind as well?"
> "Yeah, sounds like she'd put up a good fight," Yuugi says, grinning.
> _
-
> Grin at Yuugi.
> To Konngara: "So, if we do go after Kikuri, what d'ya recommend? I'm not saying that we're gonna beat up your friend, but..."
-
> Grin at Yuugi.
> To Konngara: "So, if we do go after Kikuri, what d'ya recommend? I'm not saying that we're gonna beat up your friend, but..."
> You grin at Yuugi. She grins right back.
> "...It'll probably end in fighting, right? In that case, aim to wear her down rather than defeat her outright. Or just try to get her to talk."
> You wonder if Konngara has fought Kikuri before.
> _
-
> "So, no weaknesses? Just danmaku 'till she gives up?"
-
> "So, no weaknesses? Just danmaku 'till she gives up?"
> "Not physically...Yeah, just do that."
> _
-
> "Wow, awesome plan. Blast away with danmaku until she cries. Glad we had this talk." At least we got Yuugi.
-
>Remember to label Konngara as the most useless among the devas of the mountain
-
> Yes, even more useless that the one that we're not even sure exists.
-
> "Wow, awesome plan. Blast away with danmaku until she cries. Glad we had this talk." At least we got Yuugi.
>Remember to label Konngara as the most useless among the devas of the mountain
> Yes, even more useless that the one that we're not even sure exists.
> This sucks.
> You don't even know if the fourth one exists.
> "It sounds easy, doesn't it?"
> _
-
> Rest head on table. "I'm too tired to try to figure it out. I should get to bed."
-
> Rest head on table. "I'm too tired to try to figure it out. I should get to bed."
> Yuugi stands up. "There're blankets and stuff laying around..." She picks on up off the floor and drapes it over your shoulders. Nazrin reaches for one as well and curls up under it.
> _
-
> Fume about Yuugi not inviting us for snuggling.
> Drift off to sleep.
-
>Where does Yuugi sleep?
-
> Fume about Yuugi not inviting us for snuggling.
> Drift off to sleep.
> You fume about Yuugi not--nevermind, she's curled up next to you now.
> It's been a long day, so you drift off to sleep.
>Where does Yuugi sleep?
> As you fall asleep, you ask yourself where Yuugi sleeps. She has her own room, you think.
> You have a very strange dream again. The fluffy-winged girl returns and battles you with a thousand Hourai dolls. When you think you've won, she turns into a snake and eats you. The snake then gets punched out by a girl in a maid dress. The red-white, who only has one horn for some reason, is nearby being strangled by Satori's third eye. Satori is nearby, frantically trying to cut the veins away with Koishi's hat, but is frightened by a fusion of Kogasa, Sanae, and Kogasa's umbrella. Konngara appears and dumps a jar of beads on the fusion's head, making it melt and split back up into seperate Kogasas, Sanaes, and umbrellas. The area morphs into an empty purple space filled with eyes and you briefly see Suika chasing a girl with braids, and then you find yourself in the Ancient City. It is completely empty except for thousands of those eye-shaped orbs and chains. You get tangled in them and electrocuted, and then jump through a window to find yourself getting sucked into an overwhelming, burning vortex. The vortex is being created by Utsuho who turns into a girl who looks like the image of the woman on Hell's Moon who saps your jealousy powers and you find yourself falling down a well until you shatter into a thousand little pieces and get strangled by your mirror and everything gets darkandyoucan'trememberwhatyouarewhatisthisalksj;dlkajd
> You awake in a cold sweat. The lights are off, and everyone is asleep. Yuugi has an arm around you and looks like she's having a much more peaceful dream.
> _
-
> Cling onto Yuugi.
> Try to remember the dream.
-
> Cling onto Yuugi.
> Try to remember the dream.
> You cling to Yuugi and bury your face in her shoulder. You'd rather have dreams about kappas instead of what just happened.
> The dream comes to you in bits and pieces, but you eventually manage to put everything in order. You feel like there's someone missing from the dream, though...
> _
-
> Try to recall any details about that damn fluffy winged girl.
-
>Wait a sec, Yuugi wasn't...
>Try to stretch a little but don't wake the Yuugi.
-
>Scary dream....
>Kiss Yuugi in her sleep discretely :3 and try sleep again.
-
> Try to recall any details about that damn fluffy winged girl.
> She had dusty blonde hair with a red ribbon in it, a light-colored dress...the details slip your mind.
>Wait a sec, Yuugi wasn't...
>Try to stretch a little but don't wake the Yuugi.
> You don't think it was Yuugi who was missing.
> You stretch a little, but you're careful not to wake her up.
>Scary dream....
>Kiss Yuugi in her sleep discretely :3 and try sleep again.
> That was really horrible.
> Before trying to go back to sleep, you kiss Yuugi.
> ...blushblushblush
> You close your eyes and try to go back to sleep. Even after a few moments, you're still not asleep. You feel Yuugi stir a little.
> "..nn?"
> _
-
> Wait to see if she wakes up.
> Hrm... blonde hair... red ribbon... why does that sound familiar...? Have we met her before...?
-
>If she does open an eye at least...
>"You ok?" (whisper whisper)
-
> Wait to see if she wakes up.
> Hrm... blonde hair... red ribbon... why does that sound familiar...? Have we met her before...?
>If she does open an eye at least...
>"You ok?" (whisper whisper)
> Yuugi opens an eye, but she looks half-asleep. She pulls you closer to her.
> "Yea...wha'swrong?" she mutters quietly.
> You think you met someone with similiar features before...but where?
> _
-
> "Keep having weird dreams. The last one was really scary."
> Snuggle snuggle <3
-
>Any closer and we may as well just kiss...
>Blushu~. ><
-
> "Keep having weird dreams. The last one was really scary."
> Snuggle snuggle <3
> "Wonder why...try goin' back t' sleep..." Yuugi rubs your back and sighs sleepily.
>Any closer and we may as well just kiss...
>Blushu~. ><
> She's so close paruparuparu
> You let yourself drift off.
> There's another dream. Nitori is sitting on the ground, sobbing about something while a girl in a maid dress with hair tinted aqua cries with her while pouring water over her head with a watering can.
> _
-
> Suddenly those pills of Eirin's sound really tempting.
-
>Oh yea. Good idea. We can ask her about these nightmares later.
-
> Suddenly those pills of Eirin's sound really tempting.
>Oh yea. Good idea. We can ask her about these nightmares later.
> Those pills are sounding really tempting right now...
> You'll have to ask Eirin about these nightmares later.
> You feel really groggy when you wake up, as if you haven't had enough sleep. You hear Yuugi and Konngara's voices out in the hall, but it doesn't sound like they're arguing.
> _
-
>Well at least that's better than before.
>Try to get up without making too much noise.
-
>Eavesdrop
-
> Is Nazrin still sleeping?
-
>Well at least that's better than before.
>Try to get up without making too much noise.
> Better than waking up with a nightmare fresh in your mind. Well, you can still remember the nightmare, but...
> You manage to get up without making a lot of noise.
>Eavesdrop
> They're definitely having a civil conversation...better than having to listen to them scream at each other. You hide behind the doorway and eavesdrop.
> "...don't have to deal with it, I'll finish rebuilding."
> "'Cause it's your house?"
> "I learned my lesson last time. It won't collapse again."
> "Can't say the same about the center o' the city, though."
> "How bad is it?"
> "If a human or some non-oni went in there they'd be ripped apart."
> "Considering who used to be in charge of it, that's pretty damn funny." Konngara doesn't sound amused when she says this, though.
> "You have a sword, wanna go shank 'em?"
> "Later, I still have to go deal with Kikuri."
> "Speakin' of that incident...when the red-white came to the city for the first time I never caught 'er name, but Parsee said she was 'Reimu', right?"
> "Yeah, 's what Hashihime-chan called her."
> "That name's kind of familiar." Yuugi pauses. "Wait, wasn't that--"
> "Yeah."
> Awkward silence followed by inaudible muttering.
> "But about Kikuri...There's no way I can see things ending well for her, I hate to say it. She's gone off the deep end."
> "I see...Well, you at least gotta try. Just follow your heart."
> "Yuugi..."
> "What?"
> "...That was corny..."
> There's another pause, and then you hear them stiffling their laughter.
> Is Nazrin still sleeping?
> No, she's awake and watching you eavesdrop.
> _
-
> Let's... just cook some breakfast. Nothing big or fancy.
-
> Let's... just cook some breakfast. Nothing big or fancy.
> They haven't seen each other in months. Best to let them catch up.
> You go into the kitchen to make breakfast. You make rice and grill some of the tuna, which should be simple enough.
> _
-
> "... So, do you know if anyone at your temple tried anything on Kikuri?"
> Wait for the two to come back in.
-
> "... So, do you know if anyone at your temple tried anything on Kikuri?"
> Wait for the two to come back in.
> Nazrin shrugs. "I don't know."
> You wait for Yuugi and Konngara to come back in. They do so after a few minutes, but they're still talking. It's mostly small talk at this point; they seem to have gotten all the important topics out of the way. It's kind of boring to listen to.
> _
-
> "So, um, Yuugi? Are you still busy dealing with mooks down here, or do you want to take a shot at Kikuri...?"
-
> "So, um, Yuugi? Are you still busy dealing with mooks down here, or do you want to take a shot at Kikuri...?"
> "Hm?" Yuugi looks over at you. "Still gotta roll mooks down here. Not that I don't wanna see Kikuri..."
> At least she's to the point about it.
> _
-
> "All right, just checking. I gotta get Yasaka's other goddess back to her, anyways."
> Finish breakfast, and clear the plates.
-
> "All right, just checking. I gotta get Yasaka's other goddess back to her, anyways."
> Finish breakfast, and clear the plates.
> The four of you finish eating. Nazrin helps you clear the plates, although you wonder if she's doing it out of sheer boredom.
> _
-
> "We should probably be going... are you also leaving, Konngara?"
-
> "We should probably be going... are you also leaving, Konngara?"
> Konngara nods.
> Yuugi is tying her hair in a ponytail. "I gotta get goin', too." She ruffles your hair and runs out the door. "See ya guys!"
> _
-
>Hug Yuugi for a goodbye.
>"Bye"
>And off we go to pick up Sanae and Kogasa.
>"C'mon, Nazrin"
-
>Add in a proper goodbye kiss, too. Claims have to be aggressively defended.
-
>Hug Yuugi for a goodbye.
>"Bye"
>And off we go to pick up Sanae and Kogasa.
>"C'mon, Nazrin"
>Add in a proper goodbye kiss, too. Claims have to be aggressively defended.
> Before Yuugi heads out the door, you latch around her waist.
> "Ah, see ya..." You give her another kiss on the cheek, and...she's blushing?
> She runs out the door.
> Time to get Sanae and Kogasa! You call out Nazrin, and she turns into a mouse again and jumps into your pocket.
> Konngara is already walking out.
> _
-
>Follow that oni!
>Once a suitable distance is gained: "So, what was the deal with that argument last night?"
>Non-judgmental voice, we're trying to be fair, and we've had time to simmer down.
-
>Follow that oni!
>Once a suitable distance is gained: "So, what was the deal with that argument last night?"
>Non-judgmental voice, we're trying to be fair, and we've had time to simmer down.
> You follow Konngara out into the streets. You notice that people are giving her wide berth even when she isn't near them.
> "She got mad because I was hiding stuff from her and Satorin," says Konngara.
> _
-
>Nod.
>"Well, that's understandable. I guess it was stuff that didn't seem important enough to share until now?"
-
>Nod.
>"Well, that's understandable. I guess it was stuff that didn't seem important enough to share until now?"
> "Hm...yeah."
> There's a long silence, and then she asks, "That girl with the green hair...she's from the mountain, right?"
> _
-
>"Yeah. I don't know what her deal is, but there's a shrine up there. I guess people have moved on since you all left it?"
-
>"Yeah. I don't know what her deal is, but there's a shrine up there. I guess people have moved on since you all left it?"
> "Looks like it...We don't care so much about the mountain anymore, but it's interesting to see what's become of it."
> You can see the Palace in the distance ahead now.
> _
-
>"If it makes you feel better, the place is such a pain in the butt to get to that no one probably goes there, anyways."
>Head toward the Palace.
-
>"If it makes you feel better, the place is such a pain in the butt to get to that no one probably goes there, anyways."
>Head toward the Palace.
> "It's at the peak, isn't it."
> The two of you head towards the Palace. There are animals as usual, but this time, there's a strange absence of snakes.
> _
-
>Yea. I wonder if they get any donations at all... That Myourensen place at the village is placed better"
>Raise an eyebrow in absence of snakes. Any people around?
-
>Yea. I wonder if they get any donations at all... That Myourensen place at the village is placed better"
>Raise an eyebrow in absence of snakes. Any people around?
> "The tengu never had any trouble getting up there."
> There's no one in the front yard.
> Why aren't there any snakes?
> _
-
>Head inside.
-
>Head inside.
> You head inside. Koishi is sitting under a table, reading something.
> _
-
>"Lo Koishi. Where's the miko and her friend at? They run off with all your snakes?"
-
>"Lo Koishi. Where's the miko and her friend at? They run off with all your snakes?"
> Koishi jumps, startled, and hits her head off the table.
> "Gwah! Onee-chaaan's mad because Okuu's gone. She's talking to the green-blue~" Koishi says as she flips through the book. "There was an umbrella out there." She gestures to the courtyard where the garden is.
> "Why's Okuu gone?" Konngara asks.
> "...Dunno." Koishi seems to deflate.
> _
-
>"Oh damn it, if that dumb goddess took her, I swear I'm going to show her what it's like when I'm really mad!"
>Head for the courtyard.
-
>"Oh damn it, if that dumb goddess took her, I swear I'm going to show her what it's like when I'm really mad!"
>Head for the courtyard.
> "Are you going to pick a fight with her?" asks Konngara as the two of you head out to the courtyard. Koishi returns to her book.
> There are animals out here"URAMESHIYAAAAA!"
> Kogasa leaps out of one of the bushes. Konngara is completely unamused.
> _
-
>"No, I'll just give her a piece of my mind until she chokes on it-hey, I'm talking here Kogasa."
-
>"No, I'll just give her a piece of my mind until she chokes on it-hey, I'm talking here Kogasa."
> Kogasa looks like she's about to cry. "I...Why can't I surprise anyone?!"
> Konngara ignores Kogasa and says, "Good luck with that."
> _
-
>"Yeah. Hopefully it's not going to come to that."
-
>"Yeah. Hopefully it's not going to come to that."
> Kogasa twirls her umbrella. "What? What are you planning?"
> _
-
>"Probably nothing."
>Grin toward her.
>"So...did you take advantage of having Sanae all to yourself last night?"
-
>"Probably nothing."
>Grin toward her.
>"So...did you take advantage of have Sanae all to yourself last night?"
> You grin at Kogasa and ask her about Sanae. She blushes faintly, then nods.
> _
-
> Wider grin. "Aaand?"
-
> Wider grin. "Aaand?"
> Kogasa sticks her tongue out at you. "I, uh, told her how I feel..." She covers her face with her umbrella, but you can still see her triumphant smile.
> "I really surprised her."
> _
-
>"Bet she smiled like a madwoman, afterward. Eh?"
-
>"Bet she smiled like a madwoman, afterward. Eh?"
> Kogasa nods. Konngara gives her a thumbs up.
> _
-
> Pat Kogasa on the shoulder. "Atta girl."
> "So, do you know where Satori and Sanae are?"
I'm a bit surprised that Konngara's sticking with us. Will we tell her that it's all right to go off on her own when we take Sanae and Kogasa to the hospital?
-
I'd prefer to have an oni escort, what with a hyuman along.
>"See, it's like I was going to tell you yesterday, maybe she has a picture of that alien with her, but she keeps you around in the flesh."
>Look for the Blue Green.
-
> Pat Kogasa on the shoulder. "Atta girl."
> "So, do you know where Satori and Sanae are?"
> You pat Kogasa on the shoulder. She completely obscures her face with her umbrella.
> "They're at the reactor," Kogasa says.
>"See, it's like I was going to tell you yesterday, maybe she has a picture of that alien with her, but she keeps you around in the flesh."
>Look for the Blue Green.
> Kogasa peeks out from under her umbrella. "Hee."
> You and Konngara head off towards the reactor. Kogasa disappears into the bushes, but you have the feeling that she's following you.
> _
-
> To Konngara: "So, what's your plans, then?"
> And we're walking, and we're walking...
-
> To Konngara: "So, what's your plans, then?"
> And we're walking, and we're walking...
> As you walk, you as Konngara what her plans are.
> "I'm making it up as I go at this point."
> Wow, she must be really confident.
> You soon reach the entrance of the reactor. It still seems to be on.
> _
-
> To be fair, that's what we've been doing the entire time.
> "I mean, are you going back up to the surface while I go pick up Yasaka's goddess?"
> Look around for Satori and Sanae.
-
> To be fair, that's what we've been doing the entire time.
> "I mean, are you going back up to the surface while I go pick up Yasaka's goddess?"
> Look around for Satori and Sanae.
> And it's been working, too.
> Konngara shrugs. "Well, the wind's stopped up there. I could try..." She trails off. "This means I'll be able to talk to Kikuri in person."
> Once you enter the reactor, you see...kappa. There are kappa running the reactor in place of Utsuho. You don't see Nitori among them, though.
> Up ahead, you see Satori talking to Sanae, and...not another arguement.
> "--can tell your goddess that Okuu is not a tool she can borrow at her own convenience!"
> "She made the decision on her own!"
> "But she made the decision in the first place!"
> "Kanako-sama doesn't do anything bad to her! Utsuho likes her!"
> "That doesn't change the fact that she's being used!"
> "How was I supposed to know she was going to be picked up during the night?!"
> _
-
> "Yeah, now that you don't have to keep an eye on Reimu, you could try talking sense into her. Just, um..." What did Yuugi say? Oh yeah! "Just follow your heart."
> ... God, that sounds lame. Did Yuugi really say that?
> Walk up to Satori and Sanae. "Yasaka being a jerk again?"
-
>"So what'd she want Utsuho for, exactly?"
-
> "Yeah, now that you don't have to keep an eye on Reimu, you could try talking sense into her. Just, um..." What did Yuugi say? Oh yeah! "Just follow your heart."
> ... God, that sounds lame. Did Yuugi really say that?
> Walk up to Satori and Sanae. "Yasaka being a jerk again?"
> Konngara nods and mutters something to herself about joking.
> Yuugi has beat people to a pulp with a smile on her face. You wouldn't put it past her to say something weird like that.
> You walk up to Satori and Sanae and ask if it's Yasaka again. The stop bickering and look at you.
> "Kanako-sama's not a jerk!"
> "That goddess of Sanae's has taken Okuu to the surface, even after I told her that building a reactor was as far as she could go as far as meddling with her wellbeing." All three of Satori's eyes are cold.
>"So what'd she want Utsuho for, exactly?"
> "The kappa said--" Sanae gestures to a random kappa. "--that she was needed for something important, but they didn't get the details."
> _
-
>"Why isn't Utsuho allowed past the reactor?"
-
>"Why isn't Utsuho allowed past the reactor?"
> Sanae butts in before Satori can say anything. "She thinks Kanako-sama's gonna use her for another one of her weird projects or something."
> _
-
>Nod.
>"Yeah, probably. So, did Utsuho even have time to come back and tell you, Satori?"
-
>Nod.
>"Yeah, probably. So, did Utsuho even have time to come back and tell you, Satori?"
> You nod in understanding.
> "No. When I came into the reactor this morning to check on her, she was already gone." Satori glares at a random kappa, who scurries away from her.
> _
-
> "Wow, that's a pretty jerk move. Does Yasaka make a habit of pissing off everyone, Sanae?"
> We should definitely not troll Satori about Reimu and the eye vein thing until she's had a chance to cool off.
-
>"Yeah, we're going to have to have words with her, aren't we Sanae?"
-
> "Wow, that's a pretty jerk move. Does Yasaka make a habit of pissing off everyone, Sanae?"
> We should definitely not troll Satori about Reimu and the eye vein thing until she's had a chance to cool off.
> "No!" Sanae's eyes flash.
> You'll troll later; Satori looks really pissed off right now.
>"Yeah, we're going to have to have words with her, aren't we Sanae?"
> "About Utsuho?! Kanako-sama doesn't treat her badly at all!"
> Konngara is watching Sanae carefully.
> _
-
> "Still doesn't excuse her for not even asking Satori if she could borrow Utsuho; I bet she wouldn't've even known that Yasaka took Kanako if I hadn't given her a heads up, or if those kappa didn't overhear 'em."
> "It's kinda like if I took you to bust up some mooks without tellin' Yasaka, you know? I bet Yasaka would be real pissed if I did that."
-
> "Still doesn't excuse her for not even asking Satori if she could borrow Utsuho; I bet she wouldn't've even known that Yasaka took Kanako if I hadn't given her a heads up, or if those kappa didn't overhear 'em."
> "It's kinda like if I took you to bust up some mooks without tellin' Yasaka, you know? I bet Yasaka would be real pissed if I did that."
> "She'd care because I can't use my powers right now, and it's not like Utsuho was kidnapped," Sanae pouts. "I..."
> Satori smirks.
> "She wouldn't just..." Sanae looks around the reactor. "Forget it!"
> _
-
>"We'll find out when we take your other goddess back there. And if it was, then I'm sure you'll help me in giving her a proper dressing down."
-
> Smug smug.
> To Satori: "I'll talk to Yasaka, but I can't really promise anything... I'm pretty sure she wanted to beat the crap out of me the last time I talked her into something."
Eh, now that I think of it, the second line doesn't really work.
-
>"We'll find out when we take your other goddess back there. And if it was, then I'm sure you'll help me in giving her a proper dressing down."
> "But...Kanako-sama's really important to me," Sanae says.
> Konngara speaks up after spending the whole conversation saying nothing. "Then standing up to her should be easy."
> Smug smug.
> You feel really smug right now.
> At this moment, Kogasa comes up behind Sanae and covers her eyes.
> "Guess--"
> "It's Kogasa!"
> "Nooo..." Kogasa grapples Sanae around the waist and grinds her head into her back.
> _
-
> ... The downside of hooking up Sanae and Kogasa: it makes us miss Yuugi. paruparu
> "Well, you'll have plenty of time thinkin' 'bout that while we're getting that goddess of yours. You ready?"
-
> ... The downside of hooking up Sanae and Kogasa: it makes us miss Yuugi. paruparu
> "Well, you'll have plenty of time thinkin' 'bout that while we're getting that goddess of yours. You ready?"
> paruparuparuparu
> Sanae's eyes light up. "Yes! Suwako-sama rescue mission is a go!" She pumps both fists in the air. "Wa ha ha ha!"
> Satori looks kind of scared.
> _
-
> Startled. "O... okay. Let's get a move on, then."
> To Konngara: "So, is this where we split ways, or are you gonna stick with us for a bit longer?"
-
>"Because it'd really be nice to have you along with her in the city."
>Jerk a thumb toward Sanae.
-
> Startled. "O... okay. Let's get a move on, then."
> To Konngara: "So, is this where we split ways, or are you gonna stick with us for a bit longer?"
>"Because it'd really be nice to have you along with her in the city."
>Jerk a thumb toward Sanae.
> You weren't expecting her to get so excited all of the sudden.
> Sanae grabs Kogasa's hand and starts to run out of the reactor with her. "Wa ha ha ha ha!"
> Konngara watches Sanae go. "...She's gonna get kidnapped if she just goes running into the city like that." She starts to run after her.
> _
-
>I really like how Sanae can be easily trolled and change her mood in a glimpse of an eye. Dumb miko is dumb
>When we get a move on anyway, no our way say to Sanae "So... It doesn't seem fair, ya know. We nurse your goddess for free, make a crusade to your place like nice neighbors and you kidnap our pets.... That's what that Moriya religion's all about?"
-
>Replace pets with people; we're irate now.
-
> We've probably antagonized Sanae enough for now: let's not troll her any more until after we're out of the dangerous city.
-
>I really like how Sanae can be easily trolled and change her mood in a glimpse of an eye. Dumb miko is dumb
>When we get a move on anyway, no our way say to Sanae "So... It doesn't seem fair, ya know. We nurse your goddess for free, make a crusade to your place like nice neighbors and you kidnap our pets.... That's what that Moriya religion's all about?"
>Replace pets with people; we're irate now.
> Greenhorn!
> You run after the others. Konngara has already caught up to Sanae and Kogasa.
> "You don't know what horrible things could happen to you if you just run in there," you hear her say in a deadpan voice.
> Sanae stops running. "Like what?"
> "You'd get kidnapped and never see the surface again."
> "...fine, I'll walk."
> You catch up to them. On the way to the city, you as Sanae what the Moriya Shrine's deal is.
> "There's no way she was kidnapped," says Sanae.
> We've probably antagonized Sanae enough for now: let's not troll her any more until after we're out of the dangerous city.
> She looked unsure there back at the reactor...maybe you should wait until there aren't oni every five feet to troll her again.
> _
-
> "Well, whatever. Let's just get to the hospital."
> And we're walking, and we're walking...
-
> "Well, whatever. Let's just get to the hospital."
> And we're walking, and we're walking...
> The four of you continue on to the hospital. As you walk, you see a few oni try and approach Sanae, but Konngara's presence drives them off.
> Eventually, you make it to the hospital with little incident. Sanae looks up at the looming building in awe. Even when you all walk into the hospital she looks impressed by everything. She starts pointing out various medical devices she recognizes. It helps pass the time, at least.
> When you reach the room Suwako is in, Sanae is stopped by a random oni.
> "Hey, you look pretty strong. You a human?"
> "Eh? Y-yes, why...?" Sanae asks. Kogasa moves to stand in front of her.
> "On the other side 'o town there's a contest goin' on, a feat o' strengh if ya wi--" The oni is cut off when he suddenly starts to float up towards the ceiling. He doesn't even have any time to react when he comes plummeting to the ground again. He actually cracks the linoleum when he lands. Konngara glares at him and says in a dangerous voice,
> "Dibs."
> Sanae is even more confused now, as the oni scrambles to his feet and runs for his life. "What? What?"
> _
-
> "It's best not to ask. Good think Konngara was here." Though, will Konngara saying that she has dibs have any lasting effects...?
> Go into the room. Is Kisume and Yamame still here?
-
>Oh well, if Yasaka has dibs on Utsuho, Konngara having dibs on Sanae is only fair. They can hash it out.
-
> True enough. Might make Kogasa sad, though.
-
> "It's best not to ask. Good think Konngara was here." Though, will Konngara saying that she has dibs have any lasting effects...?
> Go into the room. Is Kisume and Yamame still here?
>Oh well, if Yasaka has dibs on Utsuho, Konngara having dibs on Sanae is only fair. They can hash it out.
> True enough. Might make Kogasa sad, though.
> "Yeah, good thing." Sanae smiles unsuspectingly. She's so na?ve.
> It probably will have some sort of effect. Either way, Konngara having dibs on Sanae levels out the playing field if Yasaka has dibs on Utsuho. Kogasa might have something to say about this, though...
> You go into the room. Suwako is right where you left her. Kisume and Yamame are still there, but they look much better than the last time you saw them. Yamame's arm isn't so heavily bandaged anymore. A nurse is talking with them. She looks kind of familiar...wait...Wasn't she the one who gave you directions to the hospital, once?
> Sanae sees the hibernating Suwako and runs over to her. "Finally!" The nurse glances at Sanae in curiosity. Kogasa folds up her umbrella and walks over to stand next to Sanae.
> "Woww, she's really knocked out."
> _
-
> "Oh, hey, it's Rin number one. We brought the owners of the abovegrounder."
-
>"Apparently she's just hibernating, so nothing to worry about."
-
> "Oh, hey, it's Rin number one. We brought the owners of the abovegrounder."
>"Apparently she's just hibernating, so nothing to worry about."
> Rin looks over at you. "Whoa, long time no see."
> You explain to her the situation at hand. She frowns a little. "How were you able to...?"
> "You were able to figure out who that was?!" Yamame asks. She looks really excited by all the commotion. On the other hand, Kisume is cowering in her bucket.
> Quest completed: And the hat...?
> "She's hooked up to an IV," Sanae says. "I don't think that's even necessary."
> _
-
> "Oh, yeah, before I forget." Hand Sanae the spellcards.
I'm pretty sure we never got around to doing that. If we did, then IGNOOOOORE MEEEEE.
> "So, who do we need to beat up to get her outta here?"
-
> "Oh, yeah, before I forget." Hand Sanae the spellcards.
> "So, who do we need to beat up to get her outta here?"
> You hand over the spellcards to Sanae. That's one less thing to worry about.
> As Sanae retrieves Suwako's clothes from under the hospital bed, you ask who you have to beat up to get Suwako out of the hospital. Rin raises an eyebrow at you.
> "As a nurse, I can't just let you waltz right in and take a patient, although I'm not starting any fights inside the hospital."
> "You wanna fight?" Konngara asks, and starts to unsheathe her sword. Rin gives a start.
> "Are you crazy? Put that away!"
> _
-
> "Okay, well, she's not a patient any more. Can we take her now?"
> What does Rin look like, again?
-
> "Okay, well, she's not a patient any more. Can we take her now?"
> What does Rin look like, again?
> Rin sighs. "Okay, fine."
> Konngara sheathes her sword.
> White-blonde hair, red ribbon, red eyes, wears red and white...another red-white?!
> _
-
Satsuki xd
>"Who's carrying the little goddess?"
-
>"Who's carrying the little goddess?"
> Sanae raises her hand. "I'll do it!"
> "Don't pick her up while she's still attached the IV." Rin walks over to Suwako's bed.
> While they're getting Suwako ready to go, Yamame says, "Kisume and I are being discharged today!"
> _
-
>"Oh! Good to hear" smile.
>They are our neighbors still and they're not asses... so "Maybe after this little mess is over, let's have some tea" after I'll marry Yuugi blushu
-
>"Oh! Good to hear" smile.
>They are our neighbors still and they're not asses... so "Maybe after this little mess is over, let's have some tea" after I'll marry Yuugi blushu
> Yamame grins widely. Even Kisume pokes her head out of her bucket and imitates Yamame's smile.
> There's nothing wrong with these guys, so you invite them for tea once the incident has been solved.
> "Sounds great!"
> _
-
> Consider Rin for a bit. Her hair color's a bit off, but that ribbon... if she had fluffy wings, could she be...?
-
> Consider Rin for a bit. Her hair color's a bit off, but that ribbon... if she had fluffy wings, could she be...?
> You observe Rin. Her hair color is a bit off, but she has the same ribbon as the fluffy-winged girl...
> No, you've got to be overthinking things.
> _
-
> Shake head.
> When Suwako's ready to go, give Yamame and Kisume a wave. "See you guys later!"
> To Rin: "Thanks for the help! You're a real pal."
> Exit, pursued by bear.
-
> Shake head.
> When Suwako's ready to go, give Yamame and Kisume a wave. "See you guys later!"
> To Rin: "Thanks for the help! You're a real pal."
> Exit, pursued by bear.
> You shake your head. She's just a nurse.
> Sanae is carrying Suwako, so it looks like it's time to go. You wave goodbye to Yamame and Kisume, and thank Rin.
> "...Huh." Rin nods, and then goes off, presumably to tend to other patients.
> Mokou high-kicks bears before breakfast!
> You, Konngara, Kogasa, and Sanae (who is carrying Suwako) head out of the hospital.
> _
-
>"So, Sanae, guess we'll lead you out now"
>Exit ahoy.
-
>"So, Sanae, guess we'll lead you out now"
>Exit ahoy.
> "Okay."
> You all start towards the Palace again. There are oni that try to approach Sanae, but you notice that there are a few less than before. You pass through the city with little incident and reach the Palace. There's no one in the front yard, but after you walk through the house and towards the courtyard you see Satori and Koishi out there.
> _
-
>"Hello Satori, hello Koishi. Anything new happen?"
-
>"Hello Satori, hello Koishi. Anything new happen?"
> You ask Satori and Koishi if anything new has happened.
> "Nothing as of late," Satori replies. "I haven't found out anything about the orb, either..." Her third eye stares down Konngara. "Hm..."
> _
-
>Recall this orb, because this player hasn't followed Parsee Quest all the way.
-
Okay, real quick recap on the orb: way early on, we had found a chain at Kourins that would periodically spark magic, but Kourin couldn't figure anything out about it. Later, as part of a reward from Satori we recieved a metal orb, not dissimilar to an eye, that Satori thought was vaguely interesting and gave to us. When we returned to Kourin's and brought out the orb the two snapped together and seemed to display odd characteristics, as well as looking suspiciously like a satori's third eye. Taking the orb/chain back to Satori, Satori was able to hear very muffled thoughts from it, and we left it with her overnight to see if she knew anything else about it.
Whew.
> "Hm, maybe you should hold onto it for now, see if you can figure something out. I bet you could use a hobby, 'side from keeping pets 'n taking care of Reimu."
> Hm... speaking of Reimu, Satori seems to have cooled off. Troll time!
> "So, Satori, you never explained what was up with the whole vein wrapping thing."
-
> "Hm, maybe you should hold onto it for now, see if you can figure something out. I bet you could use a hobby, 'side from keeping pets 'n taking care of Reimu."
> Hm... speaking of Reimu, Satori seems to have cooled off. Troll time!
> "So, Satori, you never explained what was up with the whole vein wrapping thing."
> "Well, I suppose..."
> Good heavens, just look at the time!
> Satori scowls a little.
> When you ask Satori about the vein-wrapping thing, Koishi smiles widely. "Onee-chan, you didn't explain something so important~?"
> "Wha--"
> Sanae and Kogasa have stopped paying attention, although Konngara is watching nearby. Satori looks like she's trying to keep a cool head.
> _
-
>Don't cackle in our thoughts. Don't cackle in our thoughts. Don't cackle in our thoughts.
-
> "'Something so important'? Koishi, just what do you mean?"
-
>Don't cackle in our thoughts. Don't cackle in our thoughts. Don't cackle in our thoughts.
> Don't cackle, don't cackle--dammit.
> Satori looks at you disapprovingly.
> "'Something so important'? Koishi, just what do you mean?"
> Koishi strikes a pose with her arms in the air. "It's how we show our love, of course!"
> "Koishi, why don't you go play with your rabbits or something?" suggests Satori.
> Ohhh, is she blushing?
> _
-
>"So, what does that say about your thoughts on Mokou?"
-
> "Or your thoughts on Reimu, hmmm?" Troll face, since we're not fooling Satori at all.
-
>"So, what does that say about your thoughts on Mokou?"
> Satori immediately tries to defuse the situation. "Koishi does that to everyone."
> "Or your thoughts on Reimu, hmmm?" Troll face, since we're not fooling Satori at all.
> She's definitely blushing. "W-we get along, of course..."
> She seems so calm and collected, but then you brought up Reimu. Her third eye twitches as if angry at you for it.
> _
-
>Schadenfreude
>"Don't you worry, I'll definitely help you out when things are a lot less crazy go nuts."
-
> "Besides, don't you think that this is a perfect opportunity? Just imagine," insert shoujo bubbles here, "a satori princess, caring for the 'noble' shrine maiden. A forbidden love!"
Okay, too much? I can remove it if it is.
-
>Schadenfreude
>"Don't you worry, I'll definitely help you out when things are a lot less crazy go nuts."
> "Besides, don't you think that this is a perfect opportunity? Just imagine," insert shoujo bubbles here, "a satori princess, caring for the 'noble' shrine maiden. A forbidden love!"
> Hina is going to have a field day.
> "It's none of your business, so please stay out of it!" Satori snaps.
> _
-
>"Ah, you're prefer Koishi's assistance? I can respect that."
>"Do keep me filled in, Koishi dear."
-
>Satori's too cool to troll. I'd leave her alone. Until Reimu wakes up :3
-
>"Ah, you're prefer Koishi's assistance? I can respect that."
>"Do keep me filled in, Koishi dear."
> "Leave it to me!" Koishi says, and skips off into the bushes. Satori starts to run after her, but falters.
> "Koishi--!" She turns to you. "I'll deal with it myself!"
>Satori's too cool to troll. I'd leave her alone. Until Reimu wakes up :3
> You decide to wait until Reimu wakes up to keep trolling Satori. Satori just sighs.
> _
-
> "Well, we're off, then. Hope you have good luck with Reimu." Gather the party, and head off to the reactor.
-
> "Well, we're off, then. Hope you have good luck with Reimu." Gather the party, and head off to the reactor.
> You say goodbye to Satori and head off towards the reactor with the rest of the group.
> As you walk to the reactor, you notice that Konngara glances at Sanae every now and then like she's planning something. Sanae doesn't notice because she's talking with Kogasa and has her hands full with Suwako.
> The kappa are still in the reactor. They start to chatter excitedly when they see Suwako.
> _
-
> Nudge Konngara to get her attention. Glance at Sanae, then raise an eyebrow at Konngara.
> Head to the exit.
-
> Nudge Konngara to get her attention. Glance at Sanae, then raise an eyebrow at Konngara.
> Head to the exit.
> Konngara's attention is jolted, but when you glance at Sanae, she seems to understand what you're trying to get at. She puts a finger to her lips in a shushing motion and narrows her eyes.
> You all head for the exit and travel back up the tunnel with no incident.
> When you've all made it to the surface, you notice that it's colder than usual. Well, it is almost winter...maybe it'll start snowing up here, too.
> Nazrin stays in your pocket.
> _
-
> Whew, good thinking of Konngara to get winter clothes for us.
> Hm... wonder what Konngara's up to. Does it have anything to do with what happened back at the hospital...?
> Eh, oh well. Let's get this goddess back to the shrine. And we're flying, and we're flying...
-
>Before we depart, look around for Cirno. In case she's the one making it colder.
-
> Whew, good thinking of Konngara to get winter clothes for us.
> Hm... wonder what Konngara's up to. Does it have anything to do with what happened back at the hospital...?
> Eh, oh well. Let's get this goddess back to the shrine. And we're flying, and we're flying...
>Before we depart, look around for Cirno. In case she's the one making it colder.
> Yeah, you think you would've frozen otherwise.
> ....It does. She said 'dibs', the most powerful force in the universe 'dibs'.
> You'll worry about that later. You need to take this hibernating goddess to the shrine.
> Before you leave, you look around to see if it's Cirno making it cold. You don't see her in the vincity, so it's probably just the weather.
> You fly for a few hours, and at one point see something with flaming wings in the sky, but the ascension up the mountain is very uneventful. It's strangely empty; you don't even see Hina in that one forest.
> When you all reach the shrine stairs, however, that's a completely different story. There are tengu and kappa on the stairs, and presumably the shrine as well. Sanae grabs Kogasa's hand and sprints up the shrine steps while holding Suwako with one arm. The tengu see this, and you find out that they are even more chatty than the kappa.
> At the sight of Konngara, however, the tengu outright fly into the trees overhead, panicked. The kappa are more discrete about avoiding her.
> _
-
> Scoff at the tengu. "Wusses."
> Follow Sanae.
-
>Prepare self to be disappointed in Yasaka all over again.
-
> Were we ever impressed by Yasaka? Other than that one time when we were a bit worried that she was going to crush our head?
-
>Make a mental note to get her by the throat if she tries that again.
-
> Scoff at the tengu. "Wusses."
> Follow Sanae.
> Your skirt flutters a little, for some reason.
> You follow Sanae up the stairs. There are even more kappa and tengu on the shrine's premises; you wonder if Yasaka somehow managed to get all of them in the same place. Nitori is there, too. She's crouched on the ground next to an onabashira and sobbing. Hina is sitting next to her, patting her on the back. You also notice that there are a lot more onabashira in the ground in front of and behind the shrine.
> Yasaka is sitting on the shrine's roof--is that some sort of habit around here?--and talking to a group of tengu, who then go speeding off down the mountain.
> "Kanako-sama! I found Suwako-sama!" Sanae calls out. Kanako looks down at her and smiles.
> "Oh? That's good!"
>Prepare self to be disappointed in Yasaka all over again.
> This is gonna suck. You prepare yourself for disappointment.
> Were we ever impressed by Yasaka? Other than that one time when we were a bit worried that she was going to crush our head?
> No, that was fear. It's amazing how those two can overlap.
>Make a mental note to get her by the throat if she tries that again.
> You make a note to yourself to try choking her, but part of you is afraid that she really will crush you.
> _
-
>Approach Nitori.
>"What's wrong?"
-
>Look around while inquisiting Nitori. Any sign of Utsuho?
-
> Hey, we found Suwako. Sanae had better not be trying to take too much credit!
Whoops, never mind, I interpreted things too literally.
-
>Approach Nitori.
>"What's wrong?"
> You approach Nitori and ask her what's wrong.
> Between hiccups, she says, "...M-my e-e-extending arm...I-I finally rebuilt it...the river...I-I already lost m-my backpaaack..." She dissolves into sobs again, and Hina puts an arm around her shoulders.
>Look around while inquisiting Nitori. Any sign of Utsuho?
> You glance around to see if Utsuho is here. It's so packed that it's hard to tell, though...You don't think she's out front, at least.
> _
-
>"That's rough. Hey, I'll talk to you on the way out."
>Follow Sanae into the shrine.
-
>
Walk up to Yasaka. "Hey, I see that you got a lotta birds 'round here now. So why didja take Satori's without asking her?"
Actually, we should wait a bit before confronting Yasaka. Gather our nerves, yanno?
-
>"That's rough. Hey, I'll talk to you on the way out."
>Follow Sanae into the shrine.
> Nitori buries her face in her knees and nods.
> You follow Sanae into the shrine, but Konngara stays outside to talk to a tengu who didn't run away from her for once.
> The interior of the shrine is pretty nice and clean, although there's some clutter here and there: a few bulky magazines, a strange flat device with a pair of cords coming out of it...Kogasa picks one of the magazines off the floor and starts to idly leaf through it.
> Sanae has tucked Suwako into a futon in another room, and has set next to her what is frankly the most terrifying hat you've ever seen in your life. It's a tall, wide-brimmed brown hat with a pair of goggly eyes on top.
> _
-
> "Ew, what the heck kinda monster is that?!"
> Making warding signs against it.
-
> Avoid making eye contact with the hat. At all costs.
-
>"And where's Utsuho? I need to make sure that thing didn't eat her!"
-
> "Ew, what the heck kinda monster is that?!"
> Making warding signs against it.
> Sanae disapproves of you making warding signs at the hat, and frowns.
> "It's not a monster! It's Pyonta-kun!"
> ...That thing has a name?
> Avoid making eye contact with the hat. At all costs.
> You avert your gaze from the hat and never look back.
>"And where's Utsuho? I need to make sure that thing didn't eat her!"
> "I don't know..." Sanae glances around the house. "If she were in the house I would've heard her. Maybe she's in the back yard?"
> "Also, Pyonta-kun is a gentlemen hat!"
> _
-
>"Let's go check the backyard. We need to make sure things are good for Satori. Hey, speaking of Satori, what'd you do with all the snakes there, anyways?"
-
>"Let's go check the backyard. We need to make sure things are good for Satori. Hey, speaking of Satori, what'd you do with all the snakes there, anyways?"
> "Oh, those all started to leave the Palace after a few hours," Sanae says as she starts towards the backyard. "I find them under the porch sometimes! I think they hide there in their free time."
> _
-
>"Wonder why they'd leave a nice warm place like the Palace of the Earth Spirits? That's not suspicious at all."
>Follow that shrine maiden.
-
>"Wonder why they'd leave a nice warm place like the Palace of the Earth Spirits? That's not suspicious at all."
>Follow that shrine maiden.
> "It's warm underneath the porch too, you know!"
> ...No comment. What does this girl do in her spare time?
> You follow Sanae out to the back of the house. The backyard is a well-kept clearing surrounded by trees. There's a small pond out there that's been frozen by the cold.
> You see Utsuho standing in the center of the yard with her arms outstretched. She's still wearing the cape, arm cannon, and concrete shoe. Her back is to you, so she doesn't notice you or Sanae. In fact, she's completely distracted by the danmaku she summons every few seconds. One stream is in a column of fire, and she calls out, "Onabashiraaa~" Another stream looks like eyes, then fireworks, then bubbles. She giggles.
> _
-
> "Oi, Utsuho! Whaddya doin'?"
-
> "Oi, Utsuho! Whaddya doin'?"
> Utsuho squeals and jumps, startled. The danmaku around her bursts into sparks and disappears. When she wheels around to face you, you notice that the gem on her chest is really glowing.
> "I'm making danmaku! I wanted to show everyone out front how cool it was but then they all got scared and snake lady said not to do it in the middle of a crowd--oh yeah! Snake lady finally came to visit me!"
> _
-
> "That's great, but why're you up here? Satori's worried, 'cause you left without telling her."
-
> "That's great, but why're you up here? Satori's worried, 'cause you left without telling her."
> "When snake lady visited me, she asked me if I wanted to go the surface." Utsuho then feigns a voice that sounds nothing like Yasaka's. "She said, 'you are destined for great things, here's your chance to defeat a threat to Gensokyo itseeeelf!'" She pauses, looking confused. "...Or something. Ah. Tell Satori-sama?"
> _
-
>"Think maybe you could skip home for supper?"
-
> Frown. "Why should I clear up your messes? Satori's worried sick, and mad at 'snake-lady' because you left without even saying goodbye."
-
>Observe how amusing this circus-like place looks now with all those people.
-
>"Think maybe you could skip home for supper?"
> "No! Not yet! I haven't shot down the moon yet!" Utsuho cries. "Snake lady said she'd give me more power so I could do it, and I'm still charging! No!" She shoots out some danmaku in anger, but it flies harmlessly into the air and dissipates.
> Frown. "Why should I clear up your messes? Satori's worried sick, and mad at 'snake-lady' because you left without even saying goodbye."
> "It's fine! We can just tell her where I am." She seems more calm now. Smiling, even. "And I've never been to the surface before in my life; this is really cool!"
>Observe how amusing this circus-like place looks now with all those people.
> Heh heh heh.
> _
-
>"Blow up the moon...."
>Wait, she can't do that!
-
> And even if blowing up Hell's Moon was okay, she'd probably shoot too hard and end up blowing up the surface moon too.
-
>"There's a person in there, you know? Good friend of Konngara's."
-
>"Blow up the moon...."
>Wait, she can't do that!
> If she does that, she's going to kill Kikuri.
> And even if blowing up Hell's Moon was okay, she'd probably shoot too hard and end up blowing up the surface moon too.
> That cannon of hers doesn't make you optimistic about this...
> During the awkward silence, you see more tengu flying out into the mountains.
>"There's a person in there, you know? Good friend of Konngara's."
> Utsuho looks at the sky. "...There's someone in there? They're threatening Gensokyo? It's their fault? It's still okay?"
> _
-
>Sigh
>Talking with Yasaka might be inevitable after all.
>Approach our least friendly woman here.
-
>Sigh
>Talking with Yasaka might be inevitable after all.
>Approach our least friendly woman here.
> You sigh. You're going to have to talk with Yasaka again, aren't you?
> Sanae follows you onto the shrine's roof. "Wait, where are you going?"
> Yasaka turns her head to the side when she hears Sanae's voice.
> _
-
Okay, now's the appropriate time.
> Walk up to Yasaka. "Hey, I see that you got a lotta birds 'round here now. So why didja take Satori's without asking her?"
-
> Walk up to Yasaka. "Hey, I see that you got a lotta birds 'round here now. So why didja take Satori's without asking her?"
> You walk up to Yasaka and ask her why she took Utsuho when she has all these other birds.
> "Utsuho is the only one with her ability."
> _
-
> "And it was so important that you couldn't just swing by for a few seconds and tell Satori, 'Oh, hey, I'm borrowing your pet for a little while to fight a giant moon'?"
Ooh, I think I know what Konngara's plan is, now...
-
>"So you wish to blow up that moon? Wait, we have a plan of our own we were going to undertake after we made you a favor of bringing your goddess over here"
-
> "And it was so important that you couldn't just swing by for a few seconds and tell Satori, 'Oh, hey, I'm borrowing your pet for a little while to fight a giant moon'?"
> "It wouldn't have made a difference whether or not I asked her," Yasaka says.
>"So you wish to blow up that moon? Wait, we have a plan of our own we were going to undertake after we made you a favor of bringing your goddess over here"
> "Oh? And what would that be?"
> _
-
Aw, man, Smoku, we DON'T have a plan. Not really, anyways. Oh well, let's go with this...
> "Konngara, here, knows Kikuri the best. Now that she doesn't have to keep her from blasting Reimu, we can" probably "get up to Kikuri and figure out what the hell is going on with her. There's no need to use Utsuho on her yet."
> Recall what oni do with humans, as far as kidnapping and dibs and all that goes.
-
> "Konngara, here, knows Kikuri the best. Now that she doesn't have to keep her from blasting Reimu, we can" probably "get up to Kikuri and figure out what the hell is going on with her. There's no need to use Utusho on her yet."
> Recall what oni do with humans, as far as kidnapping and dibs and all that goes.
> Yasaka eyes you. "I'm still keeping Utsuho up here, so if that goes wrong..."
> If an oni calls dibs on a human, they're basically the only ones allowed to touch them. You don't know much else.
> _
-
> "Right, right. Kinda rude of you, though, taking someone else's pet without asking. What if someone decided to take Sanae here for a while, huh?"
-
> "Right, right. Kinda rude of you, though, taking someone else's pet without asking. What if someone decided to take Sanae here for a while, huh?"
> Sanae blinks. "What?"
> "This has nothing to do with her," Yasaka says cooly, but you can tell she's starting to get mad again.
> _
-
This was the right thing to do, man.
>Uh-oh.
>"Fine! Fine. So please prolong your little plan, I'll come and report if my plan fails"
>Murmur: "I ain't donatin' to your shrine though ever"....
-
No, no, Smoku, we can afford to press her some. No sense in backing down until she's ready to smash our head in.
> "Yeah, you get upset. Just like Satori is right now."
-
My intuition says she's gonna snap faster this time and it'll be worse so better keep it a little more polite... well. Proceed.
-
>Uh-oh.
>"Fine! Fine. So please prolong your little plan, I'll come and report if my plan fails"
>Murmur: "I ain't donatin' to your shrine though ever"....
> "Yeah, you get upset. Just like Satori is right now."
> Mentioning Sanae hit a nerve.
> You goad Yasaka on some more, but she doesn't do much more than drum her fingers on her knee.
> Sanae looks at Yasaka for a little bit, then climbs back down the roof.
> _
-
See? And I don't want Parsee ending up killed by a raging goddess. (We can't follow my personal no-enemy philosophy, but this is Parsee here)
>Get down of that roof and out of her sight.
>What's Konngara doing?
-
Okay, fine. ::sulk sulk::
Not really mad
-
>Get down of that roof and out of her sight.
>What's Konngara doing?
> You get off the roof. An onabashira flies over your head and crash-lands in the yard. Utsuho yells something and runs after it.
> You look around at the front of the shrine to see what Konngara's doing. She's still talking with that tengu.
> Sanae has already walked back into the shrine for some reason.
> _
-
So, guessing by that onbashira, Kanako's a bit peeved.
> Huh, where did Kogasa pop off to?
> Waltz over to Konngara.
-
> Huh, where did Kogasa pop off to?
> Waltz over to Konngara.
> She's still in the shrine, reading those comics that were on the floor.
> You head over to where Konngara is. She's holding a conversation with a tengu...or at least trying to. The tengu is cowed and hiding behind another tengu, a young woman with wolf ears, a scimitar, and a shield. No wonder, she looks ready to fight at the drop of a hat.
> _
-
> Wait, who's ready to fight: Konngara, or the doggy?
> Either way... "Wow, people ready to throw down at a drop of a hat; it's almost like we never left Old Hell."
-
> Wait, who's ready to fight: Konngara, or the doggy?
> Either way... "Wow, people ready to throw down at a drop of a hat; it's almost like we never left Old Hell."
> The wolf girl.
> Konngara glances at you. "Really? These guys look ready to run at the drop of a hat. Well..." She looks at the wolf girl, who narrows her eyes.
> _
-
> "Yeah, birds tend to fly off. Puppies, though, they're braver, so I guess that's kinda of a plus."
> Hm... would Koishi or Satori like a dog or a wolf?
-
> "Yeah, birds tend to fly off. Puppies, though, they're braver, so I guess that's kinda of a plus."
> Hm... would Koishi or Satori like a dog or a wolf?
> "I'm a wolf." The wolf girl's voice is cut and dried.
> You saw a few dogs at the Palace, but they strike you as cat people.
> _
-
> "Hm, yeah, you do look like one, I guess. So, Konngara, whatcha talkin' 'bout?"
> Does the tengu look interesting?
-
> "Hm, yeah, you do look like one, I guess. So, Konngara, whatcha talkin' 'bout?"
> Does the tengu look interesting?
> "I was asking them if they were taking good care of the mountain."
> The tengu hiding behind the wolf girl just looks like a generic tengu.
> _
-
> "And this is how they react? Rude, just like the goddesses 'round here."
> "So, Yasaka isn't gonna let Utsuho go back, and she's planning on having Utsuho blow up Kikuri."
-
> "And this is how they react? Rude, just like the goddesses 'round here."
> "So, Yasaka isn't gonna let Utsuho go back, and she's planning on having Utsuho blow up Kikuri."
> Konngara opens her mouth to say something, but then you tell her about Yasaka's plan to have Utsuho blow up Kikuri. She has a very scary expression right now.
> "...Is she?"
> _
-
> "Yeah, so if we wanna get Kikuri outta this mess, we have to move fast. Either that, or somehow force Yasaka to wait."
-
> "Yeah, so if we wanna get Kikuri outta this mess, we have to move fast. Either that, or somehow force Yasaka to wait."
> Konngara looks towards the shrine.
> "...Make her wait, huh..."
> The wolf girl raises an eyebrow suspiciously.
> _
-
Yeah, this seems to be progressing just as I expect it to.
> Oh boy, she's going to do what we're expecting her to do, isn't she?
> Turn to the wolf. "So, er, wolf person. What's Yasaka expecting to do with all these tengu and kappa, anyways?"
-
> Oh boy, she's going to do what we're expecting her to do, isn't she?
> Turn to the wolf. "So, er, wolf person. What's Yasaka expecting to do with all these tengu and kappa, anyways?"
> Ohhh man.
> You ask the wolf girl why Yasaka has all these tengu and kappa up here.
> "We've only just gathered all of the tengu and kappa here. She hasn't given the kappa instructions yet, but we're being sent out to scout..." When she says 'we', she must be referring to the tengu.
> _
-
> "Scout? For what? The moon's right there, it's not like you need to go anywhere to find it."
> If Konngara starts to make her move, distract the wolf girl with questions.
-
>"Yeah, and she already pretty much kidnapped Utsuho and left her owner completely distraught. I don't really see what's there for you to do. She's already tricked Utsuho into committing murder anyways. What's she scouting for? People who probably don't want moon bits raining down on them?"
-
>"Yeah, and she already pretty much kidnapped Utsuho and left her owner completely distraught. I don't really see what's there for you to do. She's already tricked Utsuho into committing murder anyways. What's she scouting for? People who probably don't want moon bits raining down on them?"
> "Scout? For what? The moon's right there, it's not like you need to go anywhere to find it."
> If Konngara starts to make her move, distract the wolf girl with questions.
> Konngara doesn't say anything.
> You as the wolf girl why the tengu are out scouting.
> "We're looking for other survivors, taking scope," the wolf girl says. "The mountains closest to us were also inhabited."
> While the wolf girl is explaining, Sanae comes out of the shrine. She's wearing shrine maiden clothes now. Well, she spent the night at the Palace, if Satori lent her clothes she probably wasn't allowed to keep them.
> Konngara walks up to her. "Well, it doesn't look like your goddess is going to be returning Utsuho any time soon."
> "Well..." Sanae fidgets.
> "...Those clothes?"
> "'Cause I'm a shrine maiden!" Sanae seems happier to talk about that.
> _
-
> "Hasn't it been a couple of months? What took so long to look for survivors?"
-
> "Hasn't it been a couple of months? What took so long to look for survivors?"
> The wolf girl averts her gaze. "We've been...disorganized..."
> _
-
>"Yeah, really. Was Queen Moonblaster over there spending the whole time doing that windy thing?"
-
>"Yeah, really. Was Queen Moonblaster over there spending the whole time doing that windy thing?"
> "She tried contacting us a few times, but we didn't want anyone from outside the Tengu establishment..." She doesn't seem to like talking about this.
> During the awkward silence that follows, you hear a few tengu squawk and jump into the air, and see the top of Kogasa's umbrella.
> _
-
> Glance over at Kogasa, see what that was all about.
> Also glance at Konngara.
> "Well, what changed? You guys got here in a hurry as soon as Yasaka decided to stop screwing around."
-
> Glance over at Kogasa, see what that was all about.
> Also glance at Konngara.
> "Well, what changed? You guys got here in a hurry as soon as Yasaka decided to stop screwing around."
> It looks like Kogasa just scared a bunch of tengu by jumping out at them.
> Sanae is still talking to Konngara, most likely about the alien invasion judging by how wildly she's moving her arms. Konngara says something and nods in Kogasa's direction. Sanae nods and continues to talk
> "Ha...That's none of your concern," the wolf girl says cooly. Her tone sounds more business-like than flat-out rude, though.
> _
-
> Damn it, if Konngara's going to kidnap Sanae, why doesn't she hurry up and do it?
> "Fair enough. So what's the kappa doing here, then? Yasaka wants something built?"
-
> Damn it, if Konngara's going to kidnap Sanae, why doesn't she hurry up and do it?
> "Fair enough. So what's the kappa doing here, then? Yasaka wants something built?"
> Because she's right where Yasaka can see her.
> "Well, they are known for their skills in that field..."
> Huh? Where'd Konngara and Sanae go?
> You see Kogasa run past you at full speed and fly off the shrine steps.
> _
-
> Ah, looks like she made her move. Let's wait a bit: this wolf seems like one of the few competent people here, so the longer we can keep her distracted, the better.
> "So, what are they gonna do, make a giant catapult to fire rocks at the moon or something?"
-
> Ah, looks like she made her move. Let's wait a bit: this wolf seems like one of the few competent people here, so the longer we can keep her distracted, the better.
> "So, what are they gonna do, make a giant catapult to fire rocks at the moon or something?"
> It's about time. Yasaka is holding some sort of sealing amulet and talking with a small group of tengu, so she hasn't noticed anything.
> "Reconstruction around the mountain, I imagine. Everyone got hit pretty hard. I heard she was going to send some kappa to the Human Village as well."
> _
-
> "For rebuilding? Will the humans be okay with that? Plus, it looks like the humans were doing well on their own last I saw them."
> Hm... we should probably leave soon... we could stop to chat with Nitori, but if we don't want to deal with Yasaka, might be good to get going.
-
> "For rebuilding? Will the humans be okay with that? Plus, it looks like the humans were doing well on their own last I saw them."
> Hm... we should probably leave soon... we could stop to chat with Nitori, but if we don't want to deal with Yasaka, might be good to get going.
> "Well, kappa like humans...I don't think it should be a problem, although they're timid around non-youkai." The wolf girl glances at Nitori, concerned.
> You think that leaving once you've talked with Nitori is a good idea. Better not let Yasaka know about what Konngara plans to do.
> _
-
> "Doesn't really mean that humans like kappa, but I guess it's a start. It's been nice talkin' with ya. Good luck."
> Walk over to Nitori. She still moping?
> "Hey, ya pervy kappa." Try to sound like we're joking with her.
> "Ya know, I found an arm that looks just like yours at Kourin's shop."
-
> "Doesn't really mean that humans like kappa, but I guess it's a start. It's been nice talkin' with ya. Good luck."
> Walk over to Nitori. She still moping?
> "Hey, ya pervy kappa." Try to sound like we're joking with her.
> "Ya know, I found an arm that looks just like yours at Kourin's shop."
> "I suppose."
> You bid the wolf girl farewell and walk over to Nitori. She's still cowering behind the onabashira, but she seems a bit calmer. Hina is still sitting with her.
> She looks up when you greet her, and laughs a little. Looks like she has a decent sense of humor at least.
> "R-really? The original?!" She jumps to her feet. "Is the rest of my backpack there, too?"
> _
-
> "Dunno, I didn't see a backpack. If you want, I can take you to the shop." It'll give us a really good excuse to vamoose.
-
> "Dunno, I didn't see a backpack. If you want, I can take you to the shop." It'll give us a really good excuse to vamoose.
> "Aw..." Nitori seems to wilt. "I-I wouldn't mind going there to see it for myself, though."
> Good excuse to get out of here.
> _
-
> "Well, c'mon, then. No sense in sitting around when you can go see yourself." Pull her to her feet.
-
> "Well, c'mon, then. No sense in sitting around when you can go see yourself." Pull her to her feet.
> You pull Nitori to her feet. Hina grins.
> "Tell me if you see anyone suffering, so I can take their misfortune," she tells Nitori.
> "Okay."
> _
-
> Man, what a creep.
> "Okay then, let's get going." And we're walking casually, and we're walking casually...
-
> Man, what a creep.
> "Okay then, let's get going." And we're walking casually, and we're walking casually...
> It's Schadenfreude!
> You and Nitori walk out of the shrine. It takes everything you have not to run out at full speed, but you make it out without any disruptions.
> As you descend the mountain, Nitori takes a cucumber out of her pocket and starts eating it. You're not surprised.
> _
-
> "So, do kappa really drink cucumber flavored beer?"
> Keep an eye out for anyone following us.
> "So what's this about you losing a backpack?"
-
> "So, do kappa really drink cucumber flavored beer?"
> Keep an eye out for anyone following us.
> "So what's this about you losing a backpack?"
> Nitori nearly chokes on her food. "H-how did that get out?"
> There's no one following you, as far as you can tell.
> Nitori looks down. "During the huge commotion..." Kikuri attacking? "...I dropped my backpack in a field, but it was gone when I went back later to get it...I had Outside World stuff in there," she laments. Her eyes well up.
> _
-
> "I thought that kappa drinking cucumber flavored beer was pretty common knowledge. Heck, most of us thought it was a joke."
> Would Yuugi drink cucumber flavored beer? It sounds a bit nasty, but oni drink weird stuff sometimes.
> "Your arm thingy was with your backpack, right? If that's the case, there's a good chance Kourin has it."
> And we're walking, and we're walking...
-
> "I thought that kappa drinking cucumber flavored beer was pretty common knowledge. Heck, most of us thought it was a joke."
> Would Yuugi drink cucumber flavored beer? It sounds a bit nasty, but oni drink weird stuff sometimes.
> "Your arm thingy was with your backpack, right? If that's the case, there's a good chance Kourin has it."
> And we're walking, and we're walking...
> "I-it is a common drink, but we weren't betting on it being so well-known...we were going to sell it around Gensokyo, too...this isn't good at all."
> It depends how drunk it would get her.
> "Maybe..."
> After a while of walking, you and Nitori finally reach Kourindou. The trees are rustling, and at the same time you hear voices coming from inside the shop.
> _
-
> Ask Nitori while entering: "But wouldn't it be better to sell a drink that everyone knows about than one that no one knows what it is?"
> Look around. Who's here?
-
>Take stock of what's here, too.
-
> Ask Nitori while entering: "But wouldn't it be better to sell a drink that everyone knows about than one that no one knows what it is?"
> Look around. Who's here?
> "But everyone would be surprised and drink it out of curiosity," Nitori says.
> The first thing you notice is that Kourin is back. There's a girl with brown clothes and sparrow wings tweeting at him. Tokiko is hiding behind Kourin.
> "But what I'm saying is that while it's okay to eat a few bugs--I mean, we birds have to eat, too--you've eaten way too many of them. They were Wriggle's friends, you know!"
> "L-l-like you said, birds need to eat, too!"
>Take stock of what's here, too.
Kourindou's Inventory:
> Green beret
> It's a worn out green hat with some frills along the edges. Who did this belong to?
> Book - "Little Red Riding Hood"
> What language is this...?
> Bottle of soot
> It's not a bottle of Koishi, but it is very pretty. It also seems to have soot in it.
> Extending Arm
> It has a metal claw on it. You'd hate to be on the recieving end of that.
> Knife
> A knife with dried blood on it. That certainly isn't shady.
> "Pocky Box"
> A small cardboard box bearing a picture of some weird biscuit-looking things and the word "Glico".
> Strange plastic contraption
> A clunky, rectangular thing with buttons labelled with letters like "A" and "B" and arrows...
> Wicker basket
> Self-explanatory.
> Tea set
> A tea set on display in a nice basket. Unfortunately, there's a note on it that says "reserved".
> Camera
> It looks rather different from the cameras you've seen in your lifetime.
> Towel
> An inconspicuous, fluffy white towel.
> Nitori points to the Extending Arm. "There it is! It's a miracle!"
> _
-
>Let's see what's up with Rinnosuke and that talk.
>Let Nitori do here whatever she wants. We made our escape nicely.
Parsee's in love with an alcoholic woman... sounds sad, actually ;(
-
>"Hey, how much for this arm thing?"
No no. Parsee is in love with a Dwarf Fortress Dwarf.
-
> "So, you find that black-white?"
-
>Let's see what's up with Rinnosuke and that talk.
>Let Nitori do here whatever she wants. We made our escape nicely.
> Rinnosuke looks over at you. "Welcome to Kourindou," he says, but he seems more preoccupied with the fact that he's being used as a shield by a frightened ibis. The sparrow looks like she's really scaring Tokiko.
> Nitori can do whatever she wants. Actually, she has already made her way over to the strange-looking boxes at one corner of the store.
>"Hey, how much for this arm thing?"
> "Whatever item is good enough to trade for it," Rinnosuke says.
> "So, you find that black-white?"
> His eyes widen for a second. "Actually--Both of you be quiet!"
> "Yes and no. It's...complicated."
> Nitori is paying really close attention all of the sudden. She looks just as worried as Rinnosuke.
> _
-
>
"Where did you go? To the doll maker's place?"
> "How? What happened to her?"
> Inventory.
> Put our hand in our pocket and pet Nazrin. "Hey, it's kinda warm out here, you wanna come out now?"
-
> "Where did you go? To the doll maker's place?"
> "How? What happened to her?"
> Inventory.
> Put our hand in our pocket and pet Nazrin. "Hey, it's kinda warm out here, you wanna come out now?"
> "She..." Rinnosuke looks over at Nitori. "She didn't..." He looks like he doesn't know how to put it gently.
> Nitori stands up. "W-what happened to Marisa...?"
Inventory:
> Foreign-looking dress (currently worn)
> Scarf (currently worn)
> x1 newspaper fragment
> It has a missing ad for Komeiji Koishi on it.
> x1 chair
> Souvenir from the lake mansion's gate.
> x1 bottle of spring
> It's a sealed bottled with a pretty flower inside. It's a one-use item that doubles as an attack--a strong gust of wind--and a way of being able to produce flowers.
> x1 seeing stone
> A triangular stone with a circle inscribed in it. If you hold it up to your eye, you can see things that are normally invisible.
> ☼3000
> Part of the reward you got for getting Koishi home safely.
> Nazrin
> Carrying around a mouse youkai in your pocket like a boss.
> x11 stones
> They're not magical or anything, but that doesn't mean you can't throw them at people.
> Nazrin jumps out of your pocket and blinks into her person form. The sparrow stares at her, wide-eyed. Nazrin looks away.
> _
-
> Be quiet and listen.
-
> Be quiet and listen.
> You stay quiet. So does everybody else.
> "Marisa...didn't make it....." Kourin says with difficulty.
> Nitori stares at him blankly.
> "What?"
> Kourin gives her an apologetic look.
> Nitori's eyes well up, and she chokes back sobs before covering her face with her arm.
> _
-
> ... Shit.
> Put a hand on Nitori's shoulder.
-
> ... Shit.
> Put a hand on Nitori's shoulder.
> Oh.
> You put a hand on Nitori's shoulder. Her shoulders heave as she continues to sob.
> The sparrow girl and Tokiko look at each other in guilt, then look away.
> _
-
> "Is, um, is there a private room I can take her?"
> Man, she must've really cared for the black-white...
-
> "Is, um, is there a private room I can take her?"
> Man, she must've really cared for the black-white...
> Kourin points towards the door Tokiko had been hiding behind the first time you came to Kourindou.
> You wouldn't've guessed, but they must have been really close for Nitori to cry like this.
> _
-
> Nod in thanks, and lead her through the door.
> Look around, see if there's somewhere she can lie down or sit. If there isn't, whip out the chair.
Man, now I feel sad. ;_; Though, I think there's something that Kourin isn't adding...
-
> Nod in thanks, and lead her through the door.
> Look around, see if there's somewhere she can lie down or sit. If there isn't, whip out the chair.
> You nod to Kourin and lead Nitori through the door.
> This room is a bit cluttered, and definitely looks more private than the front of the shop: you see a stove, potted plants on the windows, even some futons folded up in one corner. There's also a small heater set up against one of the walls. A few crates are here, too, so you and Nitori take a seat on those.
> _
-
> Give Nitori a shoulder to cry on. We don't know Marisa, but we would be sad if one of our friends died.
> Except Yuugi: Yuugi wouldn't let anything kill her, even if it killed her.
-
Yuugi's unkillable.
>"So, uhm.... you did a funeral?" ask him
Bummer,
>Let Nitori cry out, ask Kourin later.
-
Kourin's not in the room with us, Smoku.
-
> Give Nitori a shoulder to cry on. We don't know Marisa, but we would be sad if one of our friends died.
> Except Yuugi: Yuugi wouldn't let anything kill her, even if it killed her.
> You let Nitori cry on your shoulder. She hiccups and clings to you, trying to cry quietly.
> If one of your friends died you'd have the same reaction.
> ...Yuugi is unkillable, though.
> _
-
> Uh, crap. What else are we supossed to do?!
-
> Uh, crap. What else are we supossed to do?!
> You don't know; you've never really had anyone cry on you like this.
> _
-
> Um... what did Yuugi do with us on our jealousy rages? Maybe that would work...
-
> Um... what did Yuugi do with us on our jealousy rages? Maybe that would work...
> She hugged you until you calmed down. She spoke in Vietnamese if it was particularly bad. You'd only be able to focus on the sound of her voice, then.
> ...You don't know any Vietnamese.
> _
-
> We'll improvise. Hug her and... dunno. Hum?
-
>... and talk more like a sane person. She doesn't love us, it won't work that way.
>Yuugi loves us?? paru paru... no,there's no time for that!
>"Don't cry, sweetie.... I'm with you...." Geez it's so hard to comfort someone we don't know too well...
-
> Well, Hina knows her well...and if emotional suffering counts as misfortune, taking her to Hina would be a very good idea.
> ...Except that that'd mean going back to the mountain and risking running into Yasaka.
> Also, remember to visit the fairies' hideout later and find out what happened with Hourai's letter. If Marisa died because it didn't get delivered (or delivered in time)...
-
> The letter wasn't the problem: the letter actually might have mentioned Kourin visiting Alice, if memory serves.
-
> We'll improvise. Hug her and... dunno. Hum?
>... and talk more like a sane person. She doesn't love us, it won't work that way.
>Yuugi loves us?? paru paru... no,there's no time for that!
>"Don't cry, sweetie.... I'm with you...." Geez it's so hard to comfort someone we don't know too well...
> paruparuparu no no no no time, you have to comfort the grieving kappa.
> You're not sure what to do, so you hug Nitori and try to comfort her.
> ...You're not very good at this, but her sobs are quieting, at least.
> Well, Hina knows her well...and if emotional suffering counts as misfortune, taking her to Hina would be a very good idea.
> ...Except that that'd mean going back to the mountain and risking running into Yasaka.
> Also, remember to visit the fairies' hideout later and find out what happened with Hourai's letter. If Marisa died because it didn't get delivered (or delivered in time)...
> You wonder if you should take Nitori to Hina. She could take her misfortune, but...you'd have to go all the way back to the mountain and Yasaka is there...
> You make a note to yourself to go back to the fairies' hideout, so you can find out if the delivery was successful.
> Oh, no...
> The letter wasn't the problem: the letter actually might have mentioned Kourin visiting Alice, if memory serves.
> No, you remember that Marisa was shot down almost immediately during Kikuri's initial attack. The letter was important because it possibly implied that Kourin visited that Alice girl.
> _
-
> And we're... comforting, and we're comforting...
> When she settles down: "Hey, you feelin' better?"
> Look around to see if there's anything we could use as a handkerchief or tissue or something.
-
> And we're... comforting, and we're comforting...
> When she settles down: "Hey, you feelin' better?"
> Look around to see if there's anything we could use as a handkerchief or tissue or something.
> Girls are comforting...
> Eventually, Nitori stops crying. You ask her if she's feeling better, and she nods without saying anything.
> You look around for a handkerchief or something. You see a small cardboard tissue box, and hand that to Nitori. She takes a tissue and blows her nose on it, then uses another to mop her eyes, which tears are still leaking from.
> _
-
> "So, uh, sorry about asking Kourin about her. I didn't know that you two were close."
-
> "So, uh, sorry about asking Kourin about her. I didn't know that you two were close."
> Nitori looks down. "...Yeah. We were."
> "I g-gave her my key...I wonder if she had it when..."
> _
-
> "Your key? To what, your house?"
> If she says yes, then: woah, they were that close? Guess the human/kappa relationship really improved since the last time we paid attention.
> Hm... giving Yuugi the key to our place wouldn't mean anything, what with us not having locks on our door, but...
-
> "Your key? To what, your house?"
> If she says yes, then: woah, they were that close? Guess the human/kappa relationship really improved since the last time we paid attention.
> Hm... giving Yuugi the key to our place wouldn't mean anything, what with us not having locks on our door, but...
> Nitori shakes her head. "It was something I had ever since I was little."
> Either way, human/kappa relations have must have gotten better over time.
> The gesture alone would be a pretty strong sign of trust.
> _
-
> Consider installing a lock on our door so we can give a key to Yuugi.
-
> Consider installing a lock on our door so we can give a key to Yuugi.
> You consider putting a lock on your door for that reason.
> Sounds like a plan, at least.
> _
-
> Or maybe just give her a key and say it's a key to our heart: it's dorky sounding, but Yuugi likes that kinda stuff and oh stop blushing this is totally the wrong time~! >~<
> "Do you want to be left alone for a little while, or do you want me to stay here?"
> We should ask Kourin for more details.
-
> Or maybe just give her a key and say it's a key to our heart: it's dorky sounding, but Yuugi likes that kinda stuff and oh stop blushing this is totally the wrong time~! >~<
> "Do you want to be left alone for a little while, or do you want me to stay here?"
> We should ask Kourin for more details.
> Wrong time wrong time you'll worry about that later paruparuparu
> Nitori nods. "I...need some time alone, I think..."
> You consider asking Kourin for more details.
> _
-
> "All right." Leave quietly.
> Make sure none of the birds has eaten our mouse.
> Walk away from the door before asking Kourin in a low tone: "So, what did you find out?"
-
> "All right." Leave quietly.
> Make sure none of the birds has eaten our mouse.
> Walk away from the door before asking Kourin in a low tone: "So, what did you find out?"
> You let Nitori alone and return to the front of the shop.
> Back at the front of the store, Nazrin is distracting herself by looking at a box of knick-knacks. The sparrow hasn't eaten her, thankfully. Neither has Tokiko.
> You ask Kourin what happened.
> "A puppeteer who lives in the forest has made a grave for her, but...she seemed like she was hiding something."
> _
-
> "This puppeteer... her name's Alice, right?"
-
> "This puppeteer... her name's Alice, right?"
> "How did you know her name?"
> _
-
> "I found a puppet a day or two ago that said it belonged to someone named Alice. But that's not really important; maybe if I go over to her place, I can shake out the truth from her."
-
> "I found a puppet a day or two ago that said it belonged to someone named Alice. But that's not really important; maybe if I go over to her place, I can shake out the truth from her."
> "Hm...As soon as she told me about Marisa, she turned me away from the door."
> _
-
> "Then I'll kick down the door. She might have more information on Kikuri, and we'll need that information right quick. Plus, if she's holdin' out something about Marisa..."
Holy crap Parsee really is becoming a shrine maiden.
-
> "Then I'll kick down the door. She might have more information on Kikuri, and we'll need that information right quick. Plus, if she's holdin' out something about Marisa..."
> "...I see." Kourin disappears into the back room and returns seconds later holding a plate of fried tofu. "In that case, you're going to need this to get there."
> ...What?
> _
-
> "... No thanks, I had a good breakfast."
-
> "... No thanks, I had a good breakfast."
> Kourin shakes his head. "No, you take this outside."
> _
-
> Take the fried tofu.
> "And do what... exactly...?"
-
> Take the fried tofu.
> "And do what... exactly...?"
> You hold the plate of fried tofu.
> "Take it outside and wait for a little bit. It'll be worth it."
> Nazrin has wandered over. "Tofu...?"
> "You can't touch it."
> _
-
> Look at Kourin. Is he trying to hold back a grin or something?
> Sigh. "Hey, Naz, you might wanna hop back in my pocket."
> To Kourin: "If a giant bird eats us, we're haunting you! Oh, and take care of Nitori."
> Go outside with the tofu.
-
> Look at Kourin. Is he trying to hold back a grin or something?
> Sigh. "Hey, Naz, you might wanna hop back in my pocket."
> To Kourin: "If a giant bird eats us, we're haunting you! Oh, and take care of Nitori."
> Go outside with the tofu.
> No, he looks dead serious.
> Nazrin gazes at the tofu longingly, but blinks back into a mouse and hops in your pocket.
> "It's not a bird. And I will."
> You head outside with the tofu. It's very quiet. Then the trees in front of you rustle, and what bursts out of the foliage is something you never thought you would see in your lifetime.
> It's a giant, golden fox. Or rather, a kitsune, easily matching the size of the shop. Nine long, majestic tails that wave and fan out in the air. Sharp golden eyes, fur that looks like silk.
> It walks over to you and sniffs your hair. After what feels like an eternity, it eats the fried tofu right off the plate. Ohhhhh shit, he wasn't kidding when he said it would be worth it.
> _
-
> Wow~, so pretty~. Man, people on the surface are so lucky to have things like this.
> ... So, um, do we ride it...?
-
> Wow~, so pretty~. Man, people on the surface are so lucky to have things like this.
> ... So, um, do we ride it...?
> The surface has some wonderful things.
> You're not entirely sure what to do now.
> 'I'm sure you didn't bring that fried tofu out for no reason.'
> Did the kitsune just talk?
> While its--her--jaw moves slightly, it doesn't quite match up with her words.
> _
-
> "Habja kawhadya ma-"
> Shut the hell up and get mouth working properly.
> "Um, we need to feel that fur get to the puppeteer's house to that oh man I'm so jealous we can talk to her oh I wanna ride Iwannaride~."
> Put hands over mouth until we can speak properly.
-
> "Habja kawhadya ma-"
> Shut the hell up and get mouth working properly.
> "Um, we need to feel that fur get to the puppeteer's house to that oh man I'm so jealous we can talk to her oh I wanna ride Iwannaride~."
> Put hands over mouth until we can speak properly.
> Your speech dissolves into gibberish, but you quickly stop yourself.
> You try to speak to the kitsune again, but end up putting your hands over your mouth.
> The kitsune watches you struggle with your words.
> 'So that is why.'
> She leans over and grabs you by the scruff of your neck. You start to panic, but then she tosses you on her back. You barely have any time to react before she takes off into the trees.
> _
-
> Wheee~! Hold on tight!
> ... Put head against fur.
> ... Imagine Yuugi riding on a kitsune.
-
> Wheee~! Hold on tight!
> ... Put head against fur.
> ... Imagine Yuugi riding on a kitsune.
> Kyaaa, you're riding a kitsune~
> You put your head against the kitsune's fur. Her fur is probably the softest thing you've ever felt in your life.
> ...That would be badass.
> _
-
> Imagine riding on a kitsune in Yuugi's arm on a moonlit night.
> Shake self out of fantasies.
-
>Wonder why we even need a kitsune to get to Alice's house
Also, new voice says hi.
-
> Who cares?! It's a kitsune~!
Old voice says welcome, and have fun.
-
>It's still weird. Is this going to be another screwed-up forest?
-
>Ponder how a mook like Rinnosuke is hooked up with haus-sized foxes, anyways.
>But not too hard. WHEEEEE!
-
You know, I personlly don't feel sad about Kanako blowing up the moon anymore, but Parsee ain't attached to Marisa that much ;.;
-
I'm gonna wait til we're done punching Alice first befor emaking judgments there.
-
> Imagine riding on a kitsune in Yuugi's arm on a moonlit night.
> Shake self out of fantasies.
> Later, later, you'll fantasize later...
>Wonder why we even need a kitsune to get to Alice's house
>It's still weird. Is this going to be another screwed-up forest?
> You wonder why you even need a kitsune to get to Alice's house. Maybe she's the only one who knows the way?
> You've walked through this place before without any problems, it shouldn't be that bad.
>Ponder how a mook like Rinnosuke is hooked up with haus-sized foxes, anyways.
>But not too hard. WHEEEEE!
> You wonder how Rinnosuke even knows this house-sized fox. Must be all the fried tofu.
> Who cares about that, though. Kyaa~
> The fox runs through a clearing, and you catch a glimpse of a completely wrecked house before you're in the trees again. It's not long before you reach another clearing, one with a house that is still intact. There are dolls everywhere, hammering the roof, patrolling, tending to a huge garden in the front yard...At the sight of the kitsune, the dolls start to take up defensive positions.
> _
-
>Does the Kitsune slow down?
-
>Does the Kitsune slow down?
> She has actually stopped. That's why the dolls are panicking.
> _
-
>"That...was one of the top thing best things I've ever done...holy crap."
-
>"That...was one of the top thing best things I've ever done...holy crap."
> This was so worth it.
> 'Your excitement may be short-lived,' the kitsune warns. The dolls have aligned themselves around the house. The front door opens, and a taller doll holding a spear walks out. She shuts the door behind her and starts to grow, until she is the same size as the kitsune.
> The dolls start firing lazers at you.
> _
-
>"Gyah!"
>Hide behind the Kitsune. Should this prove impractical, dodge right!
-
>"Gyah!"
>Hide behind the Kitsune. Should this prove impractical, dodge right!
> You panic and hide behind the kitsune. You manage to dodge the lazers this way, but the kitsune and the house-sized doll are now jumping at each other. Looks like you'll have to take out the smaller dolls first.
> _
-
>Go right and pepper them with whatever kinds of normal danmaku we can! Try to circle around, so they have to shift ranks to keep all their fire on us, and thus are distracted.
-
>Go right and pepper them with whatever kinds of normal danmaku we can! Try to circle around, so they have to shift ranks to keep all their fire on us, and thus are distracted.
> You go right and send off rings of danmaku. Most of the dolls manage to slip through the gaps, but some get caught and explode into nothing.
> They try to shift around while firing at you as you circle them, and more get caught in the crossfire. The air is soon filled with the sound of little explosions.
> The kitsune and giant doll are duking it out at a safe distance from the house.
> The dolls then line up on the ground and start shooting pellet-sized bullets at you.
> _
-
>Keep circling rightward, try to cut off some of them with the edge of the house.
>Fire if we don't feel pressured, but prioritize keeping away.
>If the edge of the house gets int eh way of our rightward circle, back away.
-
>Check spellcards
-
>Not that a bunch of dolls would need a spellcard. But if Kitsune needs a hand afterward...
-
>Or if something nastier attacks us. Always be ready.
-
>Keep circling rightward, try to cut off some of them with the edge of the house.
>Fire if we don't feel pressured, but prioritize keeping away.
>If the edge of the house gets int eh way of our rightward circle, back away.
> You circle to the right, causing some of the dolls to crash into the house. The ones that don't explode actually get back up, and in response you shoot at them. You almost crash into the house itself, so you back away. The dolls are starting to form little clusters.
>Check spellcards
Spellcards
> Green-eyed Monster
> Bullets that actively chase the target and leave a trail.
> Shiro's Ashes
> Aimed bubbles that leave a trail of flowers. They disappear when they turn red.
> Large Box and Small Box
> Summons a mirror of yourself to shoot bullets alongside you. If the mirror is hit, she shoots more bullets.
> Midnight Anathema Ritual
> A stream of nails that send out more bullets that scatter around.
>Not that a bunch of dolls would need a spellcard. But if Kitsune needs a hand afterward...
>Or if something nastier attacks us. Always be ready.
> You don't want to waste precious energy on a spellcard, but Kitsune may need help.
> Or something worse will come after you.
> The dolls start to come after you in clusters. When one of the groups gets close, it explodes.
> _
-
> Fire at the clusters. If there are two or more clusters grouped together, fire at them to try to get more than one cluster to explode.
> Circle around the dolls to try to confuse them into grouping together more.
-
> Fire at the clusters. If there are two or more clusters grouped together, fire at them to try to get more than one cluster to explode.
> Circle around the dolls to try to confuse them into grouping together more.
> You fire at two clusters that are close together. They explode, and the garden below is showered with flaming debris.
> The dolls that don't get hit charge at you, leaving behind a trail of prickly-looking yellow danmaku. You circle around them and lead three groups into each other. They explode en masse, and part of the house's roof caves in. Almost immediately, a fleet of dolls swarm the roof with little hammers and planks of wood.
> _
-
> "Holy crap!" Get away from the house, we don't want Alice to kill herself with her own stupid dolls.
> Fire away. How many dolls are left?
> Glance at Kitsune. How's she doing?
-
> "Holy crap!" Get away from the house, we don't want Alice to kill herself with her own stupid dolls.
> Fire away. How many dolls are left?
> Glance at Kitsune. How's she doing?
> Whooaaa, this Alice person is going to kill herself!
> You start blasting whatever dolls that are left. There are ones still moving on the ground, trying to move towards the fallen dolls, but they are quickly blown to pieces. You're almost out of dolls to blast.
> Kitsune has ripped the house-sized doll to pieces. She tears off one of the legs and crushes it in her jaws. The doll, in its dying throes, tries to lift an arm, but falls limp.
> The dolls that survived being destroyed are now trying to stamp out small flames that have sprung up from the burning debris. The end up catching on fire and shriveling up themselves, though. They're getting desperate.
> _
-
> If they continue to attack, pick them off. If they don't, then leave them alone.
> Applaud the kitsune.
-
>Assuming they don't keep after us, approach the Kitsune.
-
> If they continue to attack, pick them off. If they don't, then leave them alone.
> Applaud the kitsune.
>Assuming they don't keep after us, approach the Kitsune.
> They don't attack you anymore, so you let them be.
> Kitsune looks up when you applaud her.
> 'Thank you, she says, 'But it is not yet over. The one controlling these dolls won't be so willing to come out now.'
> _
-
>"Well, that's okay, I can go in. Good work with the big one, by the way."
-
> "Let's go knock."
> Walk up to the door and apply our skills learned in the the basement of the Scarlet Devil Mansion: blast that sucker down!
-
>Naw, just give it a good swift kick.
-
>"Well, that's okay, I can go in. Good work with the big one, by the way."
> Kitsune nods.
> "Let's go knock."
> Walk up to the door and apply our skills learned in the the basement of the Scarlet Devil Mansion: blast that sucker down!
>Naw, just give it a good swift kick.
> Kitsune watches you walk up to the door, but she doesn't follow. She's too big to fit in there, anyway.
> You apply foot to door, but it doesn't do more than budge. There must be something barricading it.
> _
-
>"Hey! You should probably open that before I blow it up!"
>Does Kitsune seem like she's going to hang around, or is she looking like she's about to walk off.
-
>"Hey! You should probably open that before I blow it up!"
>Does Kitsune seem like she's going to hang around, or is she looking like she's about to walk off.
> No answer.
> Kitsune's sitting there, watching you try to break in. It doesn't look like she'll be going anywhere right now.
> _
-
> All right, now we blast in.
-
> All right, now we blast in.
> You apply danmaku to door. It shatters into a million pieces. You see that it was a swarm of dolls barricading it, and they somehow manage to tumble backwards before they explode. They scurry under furniture, behind bookshelves, in the rafters...It's dark in here, but that's not a problem for you. The interior of the house is Victorian style, and very beautiful. Alice must be very ladylike.
> _
-
> Walk in, brushing splinters of wood off our dress.
> "Hello?"
> Keep eye out for sneaky dolls sneaking up sneakily.
-
>"I did warn you. And I really hope you aren't gonna try to blow those things up inside, we don't want to ruin the interior more than necessary."
>Walk inside, look around, be ready to dodge doll antics or back out the door as needs be.
-
> Walk in, brushing splinters of wood off our dress.
> "Hello?"
> Keep eye out for sneaky dolls sneaking up sneakily.
> You walk into the house while brushing the remains of the door off your dress.
> No one answers when you call out.
> You can see the dolls scurrying back and forth between hiding places.
>"I did warn you. And I really hope you aren't gonna try to blow those things up inside, we don't want to ruin the interior more than necessary."
>Walk inside, look around, be ready to dodge doll antics or back out the door as needs be.
> You call out again, but you're greeted with silence.
> You take a look around. It really is a nice house, but now that you take a closer look, there's a sewing machine in the foyer, and baskets filled with fabrics, threads, and whatever else on the shelves. There's a sewing mannequin set up near one of the windows, and...
> On the sewing mannequin is an elaborate black and white dress. The detail that has been given to the collar, hem, and sleeves is absurd. It has a necklace, too, a black leather cord with a golden key on it.
> _
-
> Walk up to the sewing mannequin and examine the dress. The key in particular.
-
>Nab the key if there's no obvious threats about it.
-
> Walk up to the sewing mannequin and examine the dress. The key in particular.
> You step closer to the sewing mannequin. There's something familiar about that dress, but you have a nagging feeling that it's missing something.
> It's an old-fashioned gold key. It's lost some of its luster, but still a nice accessory to the dress.
>Nab the key if there's no obvious threats about it.
> Obtained: x1 gold key
> _
-
>"Hey, Nazrin. Help me have a look around here?"
>Are there any other rooms? Go have a look in the nearest one.
-
> Hm... if Alice won't answer, then maybe...
> "Hey, Hourai! Are you here?"
-
>Is there a second floor? If so, go look upstairs.
-
>"Hey, Nazrin. Help me have a look around here?"
>Are there any other rooms? Go have a look in the nearest one.
> Nazrin jumps out of your pocket and blinks into person form. "What am I supposed to look for in here?"
> There's a kitchen nearby, so you check that out. There's barely any food at all in the cupboard.
> Hm... if Alice won't answer, then maybe...
> "Hey, Hourai! Are you here?"
> Maybe calling Hourai will work.
> When you call for Hourai, she doesn't answer either.
>Is there a second floor? If so, go look upstairs.
> Judging by the outside, there was definitely a second floor. You start to look around for a set of stairs. When you try opening one door, you find that it's locked. You also hear rapid footsteps.
> The stairs are probably behind this door.
> _
-
> "You met the black-white before, right? Try to see if you can find anything belongin' to her or something..."
> Where did the footsteps come from?
> "Hey, Nazrin, can ya open locks?"
-
>"Also, you missed the best thing ever with that ride, oh man. You better hope Kitsune gives us a ride back."
-
> "You met the black-white before, right? Try to see if you can find anything belongin' to her or something..."
> Where did the footsteps come from?
> "Hey, Nazrin, can ya open locks?"
> "I'll try." Nazrin waves her dowsing rods around and bumps into the door. "Ow, they led me right into it..." She rubs her nose.
> They came from inside the door you just tried to open.
> Nazrin's ears flick. "It shouldn't be that hard."
>"Also, you missed the best thing ever with that ride, oh man. You better hope Kitsune gives us a ride back."
> Nazrin pouts. "No fair. She better."
> _
-
>"Take it down, then. And what do you mean "She's better"?"
-
>"Take it down, then. And what do you mean "She's better"?"
> "'Kay then." Nazrin kneels down by the door and starts picking at the lock.
> "I meant, she'd better give us a ride. Because I missed it the first time."
> _
-
> "Oh, yeah. It'd be awesome if she did. Maybe Alice has some tofu we could gank..."
-
>Ponder what we know about frying tofu. We're gonna need a supply of it...
>Look around, are there any other interesting trinkets here?
-
> "Oh, yeah. It'd be awesome if she did. Maybe Alice has some tofu we could gank..."
> "We should check the kitchen after this, then."
>Ponder what we know about frying tofu. We're gonna need a supply of it...
>Look around, are there any other interesting trinkets here?
> As far as you know, you roll it in gluten-free flour and fry it. You think.
> There are some photo frames on a table across from the door.
> _
-
> Look at the photo frames.
-
>Any photos in them?
-
> Look at the photo frames.
>Any photos in them?
> There are five photo frames here, with photos in all of them. One of them contains a picture of Marisa, who has on her signature grin and is flashing a peace sign at the camera. Standing next to her is a frail-looking girl with blonde hair, green eyes, and a blue dress with a capelet. The second is of three young girls: one is a redhead with purple witches' clothing, waving a childish magic wand around enthusiastically. Another has purple-black hair drawn into a ponytail and wearing a traditional shrine maiden's clothing, complete with a gohei and prayer beads around her wrist. The third resembles the blonde girl from the first photo. She's even clutching the same book to her chest timidly, but it's covered in purification seals.
> The third photo is of a tall blonde woman in a maid's dress, smiling and posing with at least three swords in her hands. There's something written on it, but you can't recognize the language.
> The fourth photo looks like it has been torn apart and taped back together. It's a picture of a green-haired woman wearing red and holding an umbrella. There's an expansive field in the background filled with sunflowers.
> There's a woman in the last photo, as well. She has long, lavender hair that spills down past her waist, and dark blue eyes. She is clad in all red, complete with a few red beads in her hair. She has a hair antennae on the side of her head, too. And six demonic-looking wings.
> _
-
> Weird collection of pictures, there.
> Check again to see that none of the dolls are being sneaky.
> Check to see how Nazrin's doing.
-
>"Huh."
>Can we see any other instances of writing like the one in sunflower picture about?
-
> Weird collection of pictures, there.
> Check again to see that none of the dolls are being sneaky.
> Check to see how Nazrin's doing.
> She must have led an...interesting life.
> You can't see the dolls anymore. Maybe they just gave up and decided to hide.
> Nazrin is still picking at the lock when the door slowly swings open.
> "Got it!"
>"Huh."
>Can we see any other instances of writing like the one in sunflower picture about?
> The only picture with writing on it is the one with woman holding all those swords.
> _
-
>"Good work!"
>Up those stairs.
-
> We'll worry about that picture later. Let's go ask Alice about her shenanigans.
-
>Ready spellcard 'Shiro's Ashes'.
>"Alice? Are you there?"
-
>"Good work!"
>Up those stairs.
> You and Nazrin head into the room. It's dark, only lit by a few lanterns. Doll parts lay in boxes; there's a chisel here, wood shavings all over the floor, a barrel that is plastered in seals, something covered with a sheet in the corner...and shelves filled with dolls, finished and unfinished. It's a workshop.
> The stairs are narrow and steep. They give way to the second floor, which seems very nice. There's short hallway and a few doors. It's really bare in here.
> As you and Nazrin reach the second floor, you swear you saw the door at the end of the hallway slam shut.
> We'll worry about that picture later. Let's go ask Alice about her shenanigans.
> Those pictures can wait, since you've almost found Alice.
>Ready spellcard 'Shiro's Ashes'.
>"Alice? Are you there?"
> You ready 'Shiro's Ashes' and call out to Alice. As usual, there's no response.
> _
-
> Go to the door that just slammed shut. Knock on it.
> "Alice, stop being an idiot and come out, already."
-
>"If you actually are Alice!"
-
> Go to the door that just slammed shut. Knock on it.
> "Alice, stop being an idiot and come out, already."
> You knock on the door that was slammed shut and call Alice.
> You hear a girl's voice call out, "Shanghai!", and you hear something knock into the door. An electric current goes through the doorknob seconds later.
>"If you actually are Alice!"
> "Are you stupid or something?" the girl's voice calls out again.
> _
-
> "So you're Alice, then? Jeez, so rude to your houseguests..."
-
>"You sure don't like having working doors, do you?"
>Blast that mammajamma!
-
> "So you're Alice, then? Jeez, so rude to your houseguests..."
>"You sure don't like having working doors, do you?"
>Blast that mammajamma!
> "You're on to talk, you trespasser!"
> You comment on the fact that you've had trouble with every single door in this house, and then blast the one in front of you away.
> The door collapses into debris, revealing a small bedroom. A doll that looks rather similiar to Hourai drops among the wreckage. The electric current that was attached to her snakes back to the corner of the room.
> There's a frail-looking girl with blonde hair and green eyes backed up against the corner of the room. She's wearing a red headband, a capelet, and a blue dress...she looks identical to the girl who was in the photo with Marisa in it. She even has that heavy-looking tome, except it's bound tightly with belts and seals, and chained to her waist and wrists. The electric current has returned to a golden chain around her left wrist. In her right hand she clutches a black and white witch hat.
> ...Isn't that Marisa's hat?
> The Hourai look-alike doll grabs her tiny spear and flees under the bed.
> "Shanghai!"
> _
-
>"You wanna join all the rest of them what got blown up or ripped apart, be my guest little dolly. But frankly, I got sink of breaking things a little while ago."
>"So. Alice. Let's talk."
-
> Clothesline her if she starts up shit.
-
>"You wanna join all the rest of them what got blown up or ripped apart, be my guest little dolly. But frankly, I got sink of breaking things a little while ago."
>"So. Alice. Let's talk."
> The doll doesn't come back out from under the bed. Looks like you've got the floor.
> Alice shrinks into her capelet as if trying to hide. "Tsk...G-get outta my house."
> Clothesline her if she starts up shit.
> If she tries to run, you're clotheslining her.
> _
-
>"No. Instead, we're gonna talk and maybe I won't help myself to some things on the way out to make all this worth my time. Have a seat, get comfortable, then tell me everything you know about this moon incident."
-
> "And then you'll tell me about that electric gold chain you got there."
-
>"No. Instead, we're gonna talk and maybe I won't help myself to some things on the way out to make all this worth my time. Have a seat, get comfortable, then tell me everything you know about this moon incident."
> "Like hell I will! Shanghai!"
> "And then you'll tell me about that electric gold chain you got there."
> "Shanghai, come on..." Alice is practically pleading now, but the doll doesn't come back out from under the bed. Nazrin steps into the room over the rubble and looks at Alice curiously.
> Alice slides to the floor and tries picking at the bindings and lock on the tome, but she can't seem to get it open.
> "H-how did you know who Hourai and I were?"
> _
-
> Walk in front of Alice and kneel in front of her. Put a hand on top of the book to keep her from opening it.
> "I met Hourai when she got lost trying to get your medicine yesterday. And I found out about you from Kourin. Now, calm the hell down, 'cause I don't intend on fighting you, not 'less you keep this shit up."
-
>"And you don't want any of me right now, I assure you."
-
Out of curiosity, Purv, are you doing those typos on purpose? Because you have some pretty odd ones there.
-
I'm dyslexic =[
-
> Walk in front of Alice and kneel in front of her. Put a hand on top of the book to keep her from opening it.
> "I met Hourai when she got lost trying to get your medicine yesterday. And I found out about you from Kourin. Now, calm the hell down, 'cause I don't intend on fighting you, not 'less you keep this shit up."
>"And you don't want any of me right now, I assume you."
> Alice shrinks back when you kneel in front of her, and withdraws her hand from the book.
> "Shouldn't have even opened the door for that shopkeeper," Alice seethes. "Y-you even know about my medica--You read the letter, didn't you?"
> She looks away. "Wh-what--?" She clutches the hat in her hands a little tighter.
> _
-
> "Yeah, I read the letter, to see if I could help Hourai. And if that medicine's some kinda 'anti-super-bitch' medicine, then you really need another doctor."
> "Now, are ya calm enough to answer my questions?"
-
Hm.... this made me thinking about death in gensokyo and how would it affect Marisa.... gonna deliberate on this in the random questions at Touhou Addict center. proceed.
-
> "Yeah, I read the letter, to see if I could help Hourai. And if that medicine's some kinda 'anti-super-bitch' medicine, then you really need another doctor."
> "Now, are ya calm enough to answer my questions?"
> Alice narrows her eyes at you. "It's not that kind of m-medicine."
> She doesn't say anything after that, but looks away again and nods once.
> _
-
>"Good. So... what are you up to here?"
-
>"And, tell me about what went down during the moon thing. I've been working on it, but I need all the information you have."
-
>"Good. So... what are you up to here?"
> "I-I've been working on a project."
>"And, tell me about what went down during the moon thing. I've been working on it, but I need all the information you have."
> You ask her about the moon incident. She stiffens.
> "It's a long s-story. It starts after the red-white was..." Alice trails off. "M-Marisa was really furious, so she tried to shoot down the moon, but, she got sh-shot down instead. She was really hurt. I tried to get to her, but then we came across this little youkai girl that Marisa played with a lot. R-rumia or something. She has--had--a charm in her hair. Marisa pulled the charm out, but th-th-then--" She gulps. "Rumia ch-changed and, instead of going after the moon, w-went after M-m-marisa."
> It's amazing she can keep such a calm expression while talking about this. She looks dead tired, though.
> "If I hadn't o-opened my grimoire, she would've killed me too. I managed to chase her off, but then a gap opened, and everything went black. When I woke up, my grimoire was sealed..." Alice rattles the chains on her wrists.
> _
-
>"You mean like Yakumo's gaps?"
-
>"You mean like Yakumo's gaps?"
> Alice's eyes widen. "You know who that is...?"
> _
-
> "Yeah, she's been a right pain in my rear for a while... and I haven't even met her yet!"
> Examine the chains on her arms, the golden one that shot sparks in particular.
> "So this 'Rumia' killed Marisa, then? What happened after that?"
-
>"Well, kinda a pain. She saved Reimu, at least. And vanished Suika somewhere."
-
>"And why did I need to ride a kitsune to get here? Because that was awesome."
-
> "Yeah, she's been a right pain in my rear for a while... and I haven't even met her yet!"
> Examine the chains on her arms, the golden one that shot sparks in particular.
> "So this 'Rumia' killed Marisa, then? What happened after that?"
> "That's not a surprise..."
>"Well, kinda a pain. She saved Reimu, at least. And vanished Suika somewhere."
> "R-reimu's alive?! And she did something with that oni...?"
>"And why did I need to ride a kitsune to get here? Because that was awesome."
> Alice shakes her head. "I don't know, the kitsune is always in the forest these days."
> She has full-blown manacles on her wrists with chains attached to them. The chains extend, constrict her waist, and branch out to connect to the bindings on the grimoire. The golden chain around her wrist, however, looks more like a piece of jewelry than anything.
> Alice nods. She clutches the witch hat to her chest. "She went after me...so I opened my grimoire. There was an overflowing light..." She closes her eyes. "Rumia i-is a youkai of darkness; light is like poison to her, so she fled. After I woke up after Yakumo appeared, I took Marisa's body and ran back here."
> _
-
>"So there's... no hope for the black-white.... What is your project now then?"
-
>Frown. There really was some hope Yukari had did something there.
-
>"So there's... no hope for the black-white.... What is your project now then?"
> Alice says nothing. Her eyes flicker open again. "Wrong."
> "My project i-is reviving her. There is still hope."
>Frown. There really was some hope Yukari had did something there.
> You frown. Was Marisa not as important or something?
> _
-
> "Reviving her? Is that even possi-"
> Wait.
> "... You have a doll dress downstairs that looks like Marisa's. With Nitori's key on it."
-
> "Reviving her? Is that even possi-"
> Wait.
> "... You have a doll dress downstairs that looks like Marisa's. With Nitori's key on it."
> There's no way--
> The dress.
> "I'm very good at sewing."
> _
-
>"Explain."
-
>"You... are gonna turn her into a doll?"
>A Parsee-style guess.
-
> That Hourai could think for herself pretty damn well, and "Shanghai" ain't obeyin' her commands. Marisa's not the first person she's turned into a doll, is she...?
-
>"You... are gonna turn her into a doll?"
>A Parsee-style guess.
> Alice drums her fingers on the grimoire and nods.
> It must be the only explanation!
>"Explain."
> "Even though I'm all chained up, I'm still able to use some magic, so I was able keep my dolls moving while I worked on the body. After sending out some scouts I discovered that one a magician I am acquainted with was still alive; I correspond with her. She said that Rumia is there...but, she might be able to contact M-Mother. Mother knows someone who knows someone who can find Marisa's soul. It's better than nothing; I was able to preserve her body using magic beforeburyingher..." She starts to tremble.
> That Hourai could think for herself pretty damn well, and "Shanghai" ain't obeyin' her commands. Marisa's not the first person she's turned into a doll, is she...?
> You have to wonder.
> _
-
> "Oh, so that's the monster that the mansion had."
> Let's try to keep her from crying: one person sobbing on us is enough for today.
> "How can your mom help you get... uh, Marisa's soul?"
-
>"Is there anything else you're going need for this?"
-
> "Oh, so that's the monster that the mansion had."
> Let's try to keep her from crying: one person sobbing on us is enough for today.
> "How can your mom help you get... uh, Marisa's soul?"
> "Y-you were at the mansion...?"
> You try to be reassuring. Nitori crying on you was enough.
> "I-I'm not sure..."
>"Is there anything else you're going need for this?"
> "Your kidney!" Alice shouts as she tries to shank you, but you get her first.
> _