Alice Quest - The Seven-Colored Puppeteer's Week v3

[Neovereign]

>"We'll leave you to it, then. Please give Shizuha my regards, and have a fruitful day."
>Heehee, fruitful!
>Do we think we can get to Hyakugyokurou and back before early evening? If so, let's head out that way.

> "You two, too."  Minoriko waves.
> "And she let you get away with it too..." Marisa murmurs.
> You do believe so.
> You start towards Hakugyokurou.
> As usual it's still available for access and nothing's been done about it...
> "You'd think this would be faster with a larger body..." Marisa remarks.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"The netherworld is a weird place, I suppose."
>What does the area look like? Let's proceed toward the manor, regardless.

[Neovereign]

>"The netherworld is a weird place, I suppose."
>What does the area look like? Let's proceed toward the manor, regardless.

> Marisa nods.
> You're heading up a long staircase. There's a fairy rolling down them towards you. A couple are flying after her. She seems to regret this decision...
> You proceed onwards until you reach the top and approach the manor's front.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Poor faerie, we probably could have stopped that...
>Approach the manor.  Ideally Youmu will be around somewhere out here.
>What does the manor look like?

[Neovereign]

>Poor faerie, we probably could have stopped that...
>Approach the manor.  Ideally Youmu will be around somewhere out here.
>What does the manor look like?

> Such a thought hadn't crossed your mind until you reached where you needed to be. The trip felt a bit shorter than normal, so maybe it'll feel better to take your time a bit more next time.
> You can see part of the garden from here. Youmu also seems to busy over there. Only natural lights can be noticed right now. There are a few other 'residents' or visitors, but this place still looks a bit empty, if, even, dead.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, there she is!"
>Approach Youmu. No doubt we'll get her attention quickly, and seeing her reaction will be fun.

[Neovereign]

>"Ah, there she is!"
>Approach Youmu. No doubt we'll get her attention quickly, and seeing her reaction will be fun.

> You approach.
> Still far, and you can't really get much closer without flying or strolling through her progress...
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's try to step over and around her garden to get as close as we can. If trampling is simply unavoidable, walk along the edge and get as close as we can.

[Neovereign]

>Let's try to step over and around her garden to get as close as we can. If trampling is simply unavoidable, walk along the edge and get as close as we can.

> You proceed carefully towards Youmu.
> She doesn't seem to notice you in her general direction yet... You could just wait for her to get to a higher spot on her current work though...
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's just get as close as we can. Surely she'll notice the shadow falling over her. And if not, we can kneel down and tap her on the shoulder.

[Neovereign]

>Let's just get as close as we can. Surely she'll notice the shadow falling over her. And if not, we can kneel down and tap her on the shoulder.

> You loom towards Youmu.
> As the gardener's eyes rise to you, her expression shifts, and she jumps back with a brief shriek.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Grin.
>"Hello, Youmu! Busy?"

[Neovereign]

>Grin.
>"Hello, Youmu! Busy?"

> "Y-Yes ma'am. I-I mean, Alice!?" Youmu questions.
> Marisa chuckles along with Hourai.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, you seem flustered."

[Neovereign]

>"Ah, you seem flustered."

> "How did you get that size?" Youmu throws away her other question.
> "Magic." Marisa says.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"I might have had a growth spurt or three, lately~"

[Neovereign]

>"I might have had a growth spurt or three, lately~"

> "That doesn't seem natural for a growth spurt."
> "It does if it happens thrice, right?"
> "That's still not natural..."
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Chuckle. "Well, I might have had a hand in causing them~ You're not jealous, are you?"

[Neovereign]

>Chuckle. "Well, I might have had a hand in causing them~ You're not jealous, are you?"

> "No." Youmu denies.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"I mean, I might be able to help you too, once we're done here."
>"But let's get down to business first, might we speak with you and Miss Yuyuko about a mutually beneficial exchange?"

[Neovereign]

>"I mean, I might be able to help you too, once we're done here."
>"But let's get down to business first, might we speak with you and Miss Yuyuko about a mutually beneficial exchange?"

> "...What do you mean?"
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"It would be easiest to explain to both of you at the same time. Could we meet with her to do that?"

[Neovereign]

>"It would be easiest to explain to both of you at the same time. Could we meet with her to do that?"

> "...I'll see." Youmu turns.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright. If Miss Yuyuko has questions, just tell her it'll be a lot of fun, and we'll explain more."

[Neovereign]

>"Alright. If Miss Yuyuko has questions, just tell her it'll be a lot of fun, and we'll explain more."

> Youmu nods, leaving her work to head into the manor.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Quietly. "I think she's jealous."

[Neovereign]

>Quietly. "I think she's jealous."

> "She seemed pretty interested in the offer♪" Marisa replies.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"Might have to delay a trip back, then~"
>Wait for Youmu to come back.

[Neovereign]

>"Might have to delay a trip back, then~"
>Wait for Youmu to come back.

> You wait.
> The gardener reappears with her master.
> "Oho, you've grown~" Yuyuko speaks as she floats alongside Youmu's phantom half.
>_

[Hello Purvis]

>"A little! Thank you for coming to see us."
>Gingerly make our way from the garden proper and into a place designed for people to stand.