Reimu Quest (Part 2)

[Kilgamayan]

Yeah, let's get this show on the road.

> Head down under.

[日巫子]

> Head down under.

> You dive down into the tunnel.  It's so deep that for a while you just let yourself fall.  Halfway down you catch yourself and float the rest of the way down.  The late afternoon sunlight fades out as you go deeper and deeper into the tunnel, but your eyes quickly adjust to the gloom.  Something clatters against the wall to your left, followed by a quiet giggle.  To anyone else you'd appear to be completely alone, but you have others with you in your sleeves.  Kasen offers no conversation for you, and you wonder if she's really okay being stuffed into your inventory like this.
> By the time you near the bridge, the sound of rushing water has gotten substantially quieter since the last time you were here.

> _

[Kilgamayan]

> That's good!
> Keep on toward the bridge. Anyone on it?

[日巫子]

> That's good!
> Keep on toward the bridge. Anyone on it?

> This is a good sign.
> You keep going until you reach the bridge.  Parsee and the girl in the towel are still on the bridge, but this time they've got a basket between them.  The girl in the towel is devouring what appears to be bread rolls at an alarming rate.
> Under the bridge, you notice the water level has dropped.  It was once only a few feet below the bottom of the bridge, but now it's lowered enough that you can see a boarded up door built into the bedrock.

> _

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wow, Parsee, that water level is looking a lot better."

[日巫子]

> "Wow, Parsee, that water level is looking a lot better."

> Parsee's ears flicker.  She looks up and swallows her mouth of food before speaking.
> "Hey, look who's back."  She stands up and waves at you.  "Yeah, it's like a miracle, isn't it.  How fast that problem was solved."

> _

[O4rfish]

>"Did you see which way Okuu went?

[日巫子]

>"Did you see which way Okuu went?

> "...You sent her off with Yuugi, remember?"  Parsee frowns a little.  "They made a drain for all the water, stopped back here to check on us, and then went that way."
> She jerks her thumb over her shoulder, in the direction of the city.  "I'm gonna assume she took Okuu back to the Palace."

> _

[Kilgamayan]

If other people can address Parsee, that'd be appreciated. I can't do the necessary rereading while at work to have a proper full conversation about this subject.

(Just don't talk about our passengers.)

[O4rfish]

>"Oh, thank you. I was worried about her; she was so sad about what happened to the reactor. Well, I'll see you later."
Yeah, I'm not really sure how to talk in a Reimu voice. Lemme try that again.
>"Thanks. Stay outta trouble, alright?"
>Fly, palaceward.

[日巫子]

>"Thanks. Stay outta trouble, alright?"
>Fly, palaceward.

> "I should be telling you that," Parsee half-shouts as you fly away from the bridge.
> Flying over the city is, to say the least, an interesting experience.  There's still water flowing from the ceiling: that much has stayed the same.  On the ground, though, it's a different story.  The streets below are riddled with canals, built to catch the water as it falls and redirect it to a remote part of the city.  It's the submerged area of the city you passed on your first trip here today, or at least you think it is.  You're having difficulty recognizing it.  Most of it has been blown away, and instead of a burgeoning underground ocean, there is now a whirlpool, taking water and debris with it into the depths of the earth.
> The Palace is in sight.  You're at the front door in minutes, attracting the attention of a shiba inu that bounds up to you with its tongue lolling in typical dog fashion.

> _

[O4rfish]

>Interrogate the dog.
>"Who's a cute little doggie? Are you a cute little doggie? What's your name? Is it Moemiji?"

[FinnKaenbyou]

>Curse our inability to maintain rationality in the presence of cute animals.
>Internally blame Satori for this new response.
>Don't feel all that bad about it.

[日巫子]

>Interrogate the dog.
>"Who's a cute little doggie? Are you a cute little doggie? What's your name? Is it Moemiji?"

> You completely lose your dignity at the sight of this adorable little scamp.
> The dog wags its tail and barks.  Kasen reaches her arm out of your sleeve to pet it.

>Curse our inability to maintain rationality in the presence of cute animals.
>Internally blame Satori for this new response.
>Don't feel all that bad about it.

> This is what you get for spending so much time around someone whose house is full of pets.  This is all Satori's fault.
> ...Not that you're mad.  Especially not when the shiba inu has such a goofy grin on its face.
> The shiba bounces back and forth before bolting through the open door.

> _

[O4rfish]

>Follow.
>"Satori?"

[日巫子]

>Follow.
>"Satori?"

> You follow the shiba inu into the house, calling for Satori as you go.  Your voice echoes along the walls before fading out.  The shiba inu runs too far ahead of you to catch up and disappears around a corner.  You're left in the corridor leading to the kitchen.
> A few moments pass and Satori's reply finally echoes back.
> "I'll be right there!"

> _

[O4rfish]

>"There's a few people I'd like you to meet! In here is fine?"

[日巫子]

>"There's a few people I'd like you to meet! In here is fine?"

> A door near the end of the hall opens, and Satori steps out.  She's wearing an apron over her clothes, but she has got flour on herself anyway.
> "I was just....oh, my."  Her mouth is set in a thin line.  The veins of her third eye quiver.
> The shiba inu trots out behind her and wanders away, caught up in blissful doggy ignorance.
> "How about coming into the kitchen for a bit?" Satori suggests.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we know that expression, given mind reading and all?
>"No problem."
>Head inside.

[日巫子]

>Do we know that expression, given mind reading and all?
>"No problem."
>Head inside.

> It's a half contemplative, half troubled expression.
> You follow Satori into the kitchen.  There's a mixing bowl, whisk, rolling pin, and other utensils resting in the sink.  A crumpled up rag lays on the counter, abandoned in the middle of wiping the flour off it.  One of the dark wooden cabinets is open, revealing a half-empty bag of chocolate chips and some cylindrical containers.  Against the wall on the other side of the room, the oven emits a warm glow.
> On top of all this, there's the usual clutter of the Komeiji residence's kitchen, thanks to the abundance of flat surfaces.  There's a silver tea set, with jars of tea leaves.  Dog-earred recipe books rest nearby.  Dishes fill the drying rack.  There are even some bags of assorted pet food in one corner, which you assume are the ones too big to fit anywhere else.
> Satori takes off her apron and folds it over the nearest stool.
> "Where do I even begin...?" she mumbles.  "...the poor dolphin, being carried around like that.  Would you let Miss Ibaraki out of your sleeve?"

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"Sure, that's no problem."
>Hold open sleeve, "You can come out now, Kasen!"

[O4rfish]

>"Who's a cute little recipe book? You are! Yes, you are!"

[日巫子]

>"Sure, that's no problem."
>Hold open sleeve, "You can come out now, Kasen!"

> You hold your sleeve out, and Kasen comes out seconds later.  She folds her hands in front of her, letting her gaze flicker around the kitchen.  While she's fidgeting with the bandages on her arm, Satori extends a hand towards her.
> "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ibaraki Kasen."
> Kasen cracks a nervous smile and reaches over to shake her hand.  "Likewise..."
> Satori keeps a hold on Kasen's hand for a few moments before releasing her.  "It's rare to meet someone else who can speak to animals.  You have quite some interesting pets, too.  You should bring them with you next time."
> Kasen draws her hands to her chest.  "Maybe.  Right now's a bit--"
> "I understand," says Satori, cutting her off.
> "Um, I--"
> Satori speaks before she can finish her sentence.  "Of course."
> Kasen doesn't try to say anything else after this, but judging by the look on her face she's not used to being interrupted.

>"Who's a cute little recipe book? You are! Yes, you are!"

> Satori looks at you with concern.  "Is the stress getting to you?"

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Have a good cackle. It's not often we get to see Kasen flustered.

[日巫子]

>Have a good cackle. It's not often we get to see Kasen flustered.

> You express your delight at the situation.  Kasen glares at you.
> "Hey!"  At this, Satori covers her mouth with her hand and chuckles.
> "What...!"  Kasen looks on at the two of you in dismay.

> _

[O4rfish]

>"Sorry, I didn't bring you down here just to laugh at you."
>We also needed her to carry the Dauphin. And ... was there another reason too?

[Kilgamayan]

> She wanted to meet a fellow animal-talker.

> Turn to Satori.
> "This time she came down to meet you. Next time, you have to go up to meet her. Fair's fair."

[日巫子]

>"Sorry, I didn't bring you down here just to laugh at you."
>We also needed her to carry the Dauphin. And ... was there another reason too?

> She wanted to meet a fellow animal-talker.

> Turn to Satori.
> "This time she came down to meet you. Next time, you have to go up to meet her. Fair's fair."

> Kasen sighs.
> You mull over your thoughts.  Satori watches you with a close eye and offers a small smile.
> "I suppose it's only fair..." she says.  "Would the same go for the other girl in your sleeve?"

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"I suppose I could introduce you to Sanae. Although she's really not very talkative right now."
>Can Satori read the minds of unconscious/sleeping folks?

[O4rfish]

>"Unless you meant Squeaky? and I think it would be difficult for her to travel between up there and down here very often."