Touhouventure 8.Z

[18:49]	GM	[The evening passes with levity and chatter from the mountain goddesses, often derailing the subject of discussion as their divine interests are wont to do. Zeke really doesn’t get a lot of questions answered, and Sanae does not yet show up, so he’s forced to spend the night in the guest room with a still-confused head.]
[18:50]	GM	[Morning comes, and Zeke is woken by the rising sun…]
[18:51]	Zeke	holds out a sleepy hand to block the sun's rays coming in through the window.  He rolls onto his back and stares at the ceiling for a while, just letting his brain get back into sorts.
[18:56]	Shingy	is in the corner of the room, in orb form, and hasn't moved at all in several hours.
[18:58]	Zeke	"Unnnngh... Dawn of the Third Day... Umpteen hours remain."
[18:59]	Zeke	crawls out of his blanket and sleeping mat, massaging his feet. It's pretty uncomfortable to sleep in jeans, but you don't realize that until AFTER you've done it.
[18:59]	Shingy	shakes like an egg about to hatch, then levitates off the ground.
[18:59]	Shingy	"Good morning, Zeke. Sleep well?"
[18:59]	Zeke	"Woahwhah?!"
[19:00]	Zeke	flinches a little and spins his head around.
[19:00]	Zeke	"Oh. You. You do that."
[19:01]	Zeke	vaguely remembers being kind of creeped out by Shingokyu's... whatever it is that he or she or it does.
[19:01]	Zeke	"Yeah, pretty good. Real easy without all the buzzing in the ears from, like, cars and stuff."
[19:02]	Zeke	"You're not off the hook, by the way. We're still going to talk about that."
[19:06]	Zeke	crawls/walks/whatevers over to his bag. Maybe he'll wear his other clothes today.
[19:08]	Shingy	"Oh? Feel free. Though I suspect our hosts will want to see us first."
[19:11]	Zeke	pulls out his fancy hakama he was given by the Lunarians. He looks at the clothes and then looks back at the Shingy-orb.
[19:11]	Zeke	"Can you... Ummm... Hmmm... Gah, never mind."
[19:12]	Shingy	"Ah. You wish to change, without me watching."
[19:12]	Zeke	just takes the clothes out of the room to change. He was shown the bathroom last night; he knocks on the door out of habit.
[19:19]	Zeke	returns to the guest quarters and folks his old-world clothes back up. Now that he's got the time, he inspects his new revolver a little more thoroughly.
[19:20]	Shingy	"So... people in the outside world use those for defense?"
[19:21]	Zeke	nods as his spins the chamber and listens to it click.
[19:21]	Zeke	"These and things like these. Guns replaced swords as an army's primary weapon about, ehh... 150 years ago or so."
[19:22]	Zeke	"It's because you can attack from a range with high accuracy, but it doesn't take as much training as a bow to use."
[19:23]	Zeke	"Yeah... War has changed... But war never changes..."
[19:24]	Zeke	is satisfied with the make and condition of the gun. All things considered he swindled that muscle-man ten-fold over.
[19:24]	Shingy	"Sounds terrible. Perhaps the outside world needs the Hakurei system, to save it from itself."
[19:25]	Zeke	shrugs.
[19:25]	Zeke	"It'd take more than just one change to change the world."
[19:26]	Zeke	"What's the Hakurei system, anyways?"
[19:26]	Zeke	loads the revolver and flips the safety on. No holster, though... He puts it in the side-pocket of his backpack for now.
[19:28]	Shingy	"The spellcards. Before, youkai settled their disputes through full battle, which often ended in severe injury or death. Also, most humans could not adequately defend themselves from youkai by themselves, and thus formed armies to hunt them. Both of these threatened the existence of youkai."
[19:29]	Zeke	"Oh, riiiight, right, Keine mentioned that in passing, yeah."
[19:29]	Zeke	"That's the point where they said, 'It's easier if we just show you'."
[19:30]	Zeke	"Which... Yeah, no it wasn't."
[19:34]	Shingy	"Actually, I just realized. Once you actually have your magic unlocked, you can use your revolver to shoot danmaku instead of bullets. This means you don't have to worry about running out of the quite rare ammunition, or about learning traditional magic, or about youkai treating you as an actual threat to their existence."
[19:35]	Shingy	"Also, it means you can use whatever skills you already have with it."
[19:35]	Zeke	"Hoh, it that a fact...?"
[19:36]	Shingy	"It is. Sakuya, of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, throws her knives as danmaku, and several people, such as Nitori and Rikako, use weapons that make your revolver look like a sharpened rock."
[19:36]	Zeke	"Well, can't say I really have any 'skills' with it right now."
[19:37]	Zeke	"But, hang on hang on... Magic Unlocked? Run that by me again. That sounds... sketchy."
[19:40]	Shingy	"Basically, your mere presence here in Gensokyo is opening up your magic and senses like a morning glory in sunlight. You'll start to sense the uncanny, be able to tell a youkai from a human at a glance, and feel a lightness in your step that will soon lead to you taking flight."
[19:42]	Zeke	screws up his face, looking a strange sort of contemplative.
[19:43]	Zeke	"Seriously? Huh..."
[19:43]	Shingy	"Your own unique magical ability will form, and you'll be able to take part in the complex and wonderful interplay that is Gensokyo. From what I can see of your chi, it's already well on its way."
[19:44]	Zeke	, strangely, does not have an immediate look of elation on his face.
[19:45]	Zeke	"Weird... Fun, yeah, but... weird."
[19:45]	Zeke	"You say it just sort of happens, just from being here?"
[19:45]	GM-Mizi	[the smell of food wafts through the door opening...]
[19:46]	Shingy	"That's what I know, and have seen many times."
[19:46]	Zeke	"Huh..."
[19:46]	Zeke	thinks, smelling food but distracted by other thoughts right now.
[19:47]	Zeke	"So the ball's already rolling without me..."
[19:47]	Zeke	"Damn... I might have less time than I thought."
[19:48]	Zeke	"Although... Well, it MIGHT help me if I get lost, but..."
[19:48]	Zeke	is really just making sense to himself right now.
[19:48]	Shingy	"Less time do what?"
[19:48]	Zeke	looks up at Shingy. It's strangely easier to talk to himherit in orb form.
[19:48]	Zeke	"Oh, sorry. I guess, hmmm..."
[19:49]	Zeke	"I just... I don't want to get swept away in the current before I know how to swim, is a way of saying it."
[19:49]	Zeke	"But it's actually more like... I don't even want to step INTO the river until I know the current's there."
[19:50]	Shingy	"Your metaphor, while colorful, is inaccurate. You've already been in the river since the moment you came here. By learning magic, you are learning how to swim."
[19:51]	Zeke	"Well, okay... Let's go with the metaphor again then. What I'm saying is that I don't want to learn the backstroke if I might actually prefer the butterfly."
[19:52]	Shingy	"Are you talking about learning different magical styles?"
[19:52]	Zeke	wobbles his hand back and forth.
[19:53]	Zeke	"Ehh, kind-of-not-really? I just want to see what's out there for me TO learn, before choosing this or that."
[19:53]	Zeke	looks inward, scowling.
[19:53]	Zeke	"S'why I dropped out of college."
[19:54]	Zeke	"They tell you, 'Learn this, and be part of society'. They don't tell you WHY."
[19:54]	Zeke	"And all they teach you is crap."
[19:54]	Zeke	"Effing GYM class was more useful than 90% of anything they made me take."
[19:55]	Zeke	shrugs and sighs.
[19:55]	Zeke	"I bunged up a lot of things back there... I don't want to do it here too."
[19:56]	Shingy	"I'm not sure I understand. You were having a problem with what they were teaching you, or how?"
[19:56]	Zeke	counts on his fingers.
[19:57]	Zeke	"I didn't care about WHAT they were teaching, HOW they taught it wasn't making it any more exciting, and all the posers WHO taught it just looked at me like I didn't matter."
[19:58]	Zeke	"They never ONCE tell you where you're supposed to go to find anything you actually CARE about.  It's like, they expect you to just run into it by mistake."
[20:00]	Zeke	"Or, hell, I dunno... Maybe they just wanted the eighty grand."
[20:00]	Zeke	stands up.
[20:00]	Zeke	"Anyways, it's, a... It's a sore spot."
[20:01]	Zeke	"Goin' for a walk. Cool down for a bit."
[20:01]	Shingy	"Well, I may not understand precisely what you went through, but I want to say I will try to be a better teacher than you've had before, and walk with you as you try to find your purpose in life."
[20:01]	Zeke	"Coo'."
[20:01]	Zeke	says as he walks out the door.
[20:02]	[BNS]Sanae	is busily sweeping the floor outside the guest quarters.
[20:02]	Zeke	notices a blue-white-green.
[20:03]	[BNS]Sanae	hears someone open the guest door, and turns around in surprise.
[20:03]	Zeke	"Oh, woah!"
[20:03]	Zeke	"G'morning!"
[20:03]	Shingy	changes to male form and follows, stopping short when Zeke does.
[20:03]	[BNS]Sanae	...oh! Oh wow! It's you! Hi! I didn't even know you were here!
[20:04]	Zeke	"Well, yeah... They said you were out working. I got here yesterday evening."
[20:04]	[BNS]Sanae	I'm glad you found your way here! You didn't have any trouble after I dropped you off at the village?
[20:04]	Shingy	steps forward.
[20:04]	Shingy	"Greetings. We haven't met, but I know of your reputation. I am Shingyoku."
[20:04]	Kanako	"Ahh. Sorry, Sanae-chan. I thought you are still tired when you came back yesterday so I didn't told you."
[20:04]	Kanako	"And I sort of forgot to tell you this morning."
[20:04]	Zeke	looks around for the voice of that god-spirit-woman.
[20:04]	[BNS]Sanae	Ah-!
[20:04]	Kanako	is sitting on the Onbashira, as usual. No Suwako in sight.
[20:04]	[BNS]Sanae	turns to Kanako and bows.
[20:05]	[BNS]Sanae	It-it's no problem, Lady Kanako! I just wish I could have had breakfast ready for them!
[20:05]	Zeke	follows suit. He's eased up on the excessive formalities, though.
[20:06]	Zeke	"Oh, pssh, like I'm worth breakfast. No, no, it's fine."
[20:06]	[BNS]Sanae	turns back to Zeke and the other boy.
[20:06]	[BNS]Sanae	Well, it's all set in the main room, if you'd like to join us?
[20:07]	Zeke	"Sure, sure, sounds like a plan. Oh..."
[20:07]	Zeke	remembers something, and tries to fish something out of the deep hakama pockets.
[20:07]	Zeke	"I, uhh, hang on..."
[20:07]	Kanako	"Sanae-chan,"
[20:07]	Kanako	pft.
[20:07]	[BNS]Sanae	turns her head back.
[20:07]	[BNS]Sanae	Yes, Lady Kanako?
[20:08]	Kanako	"You need to check their futon for mysterious liquid stains, too. Who knows what happening in there."
[20:08]	Kanako	"Keep it too long and it'll stick."
[20:08]	Zeke	deadpans.
[20:08]	Zeke	"I'm going to not resent that, because I'm a stranger, but also I'm going to say no, I'm not that kind of ingrate."
[20:09]	Zeke	"Just the kind that talks like I'm talking right now. Ahh, found it."
[20:09]	[BNS]Sanae	Uhh... st-stain...?
[20:11]	Zeke	withdraws his wallet and pulls out the assorted Outside bills, offering them to Sanae.
[20:11]	Zeke	“You saved my life. I know they're worthless here, but… It’s all I really have. You said you came from the Outside once. Maybe they're not as worthless to you."
[20:11]	Zeke	bows his head in reverence.
[20:11]	Zeke	"Thank you. I mean that."
[20:12]	[BNS]Sanae	Oh, you don't need to do that. It's my job to protect humans from youkai!
[20:12]	[BNS]Sanae	scratches her head sheepishly and waves the money away.
[20:12]	Zeke	persists.
[20:12]	Zeke	"Please. Call it a donation if you want, then."
[20:13]	[BNS]Sanae	Hehe... very well. Our donation box is over there.
[20:13]	[BNS]Sanae	motions to the classical wooden box in front of the main shrine doorway.
[20:14]	Zeke	nods and reverently places the money inside.
[20:15]	Kanako	"You should pray, too, while you are at it."
[20:15]	Kanako	"God will surely listen to you!"
[20:15]	Kanako	, AKA GOD(dess), who is sitting right there.
[20:16]	Zeke	looks at the donation box, and back to Kanako, squinting his eyes skeptically.
[20:16]	Zeke	"How, does, that...?"
[20:17]	Zeke	is suddenly struck by the strangeness of being able to see the entity you're praying to.
[20:17]	[BNS]Sanae	giggles at the joke, then heads back into the main room.
[20:17]	[BNS]Sanae	I'm going to get the table ready for additional guests then!
[20:17]	Zeke	"...Gensokyo is a very odd place, Lady Kanako."
[20:18]	Zeke	says it like it's a fact everyone already knows anyways.
[20:19]	Zeke	"May I be excused?"
[20:19]	Kanako	"Indeed."
[20:20]	Kanako	"Have fun with Sanae, okay? I'm gonna stay here a bit longer."
[20:20]	Zeke	bows to her and heads inside. Sanae's the reason he came here in the first place, after all.
[20:23]	Shingy	follows Zeke, as he's the reason the construct came along.
[20:23]	Zeke	tries to help Sanae set the table and bring out food from the kitchen.
[20:59]	[BNS]Sanae	is busily grabbing 2 additional plates when she sees Zeke coming.
[20:59]	[BNS]Sanae	Oh, hi! Just go ahead and have a seat on either of the sides!
[21:00]	Zeke	"I can help, if it helps. I don't want to be no freeloader."
[21:01]	[BNS]Sanae	Nah, it's ok! Almost done anyway!
[21:02]	Zeke	"Mhmm."
[21:02]	Zeke	has a seat.
[21:05]	Kanako	comes in.
[21:05]	Kanako	"Ahhhhh. The smell of breakfast invigorates me!"
[21:07]	Zeke	does not ask if gods can eat; it's obvious that they can if they choose to, because they're gods.
[21:07]	[BNS]Sanae	takes a seat opposite Zeke and begins to prepare a dish for Kanako.
[21:09]	Zeke	"I hope you weren't working too late, Ms. Sanae? I'm sorry, I've forgotten your last name."
[21:10]	[BNS]Sanae	Not at all. And it's Kochiya.
[21:10]	[BNS]Sanae	puts the plate down in front of Kanako, then prepares a dish for Zeke.
[21:11]	Kanako	"Our Sanae is a hard-working miko, unlike the one down below."
[21:12]	Kanako	"I daresay that she is better than that no good red-white in every aspect. Manners, personality, kindness, usefulness..."
[21:12]	Zeke	nods.
[21:12]	Kanako	"And even more shapely, to boot."
[21:12]	Kanako	hm, hm!
[21:12]	[BNS]Sanae	L-Lady Kanako-! You don't need to flatter me like that!
[21:12]	[BNS]Sanae	blushes just a little as she hands Zeke his plate.
[21:13]	Zeke	"Thank you, again."
[21:13]	Zeke	"And flattery is really just a matter of opinion, isn't it?"
[21:14]	Zeke	"I mean, only those who's opinions you care about can flatter you at all, wouldn't you say?"
[21:14]	Kanako	"No, really, Sanae. It's important to show your superior side if you want to win faith and goodwill from people."
[21:16]	Zeke	"There is that."
[21:16]	Kanako	, after putting some blessings of the god of mountains and rivers (AKA shoyu), starts digging in.
[21:16]	Zeke	"But, I mean, if she saved some loser like me, I'd say she's doing all right, mmm?"
[21:16]	Shingy	"I have to admit, she does have many aspects in which she is superior to Reimu. But if anyone ever tells her that, I will have to seal them away for a thousand years."
[21:17]	Zeke	"Huh... Is this Reimu really all that bad? Everyone I've met doesn't exactly have a high opinion of her."
[21:18]	Kanako	"I know, right? That violent, shoot-first-ask-later Miko..."
[21:18]	Kanako	grumbles.
[21:18]	Zeke	"Though maybe it's not my place to ask..."
[21:20]	Zeke	begins to eat instead.
[21:20]	[BNS]Sanae	She's not that bad, you know! Sure, she's a little lazy... and bossy... and impulsive... and violent... but she's pretty nice anyways!
[21:21]	Shingy	"Also, she is responsible for the continued existence of Gensokyo."
[21:21]	Zeke	"Oh, one of THOSE people."
[21:22]	Zeke	out of the blue recalls the Lunarian doctor saying something about Reimu, actually. "Same shrine maiden, different shrine." He makes a note to ask some neutral parties about their opinions of Sanae later.
[21:23]	Kanako	"So, remember, young man;"
[21:23]	Kanako	shifts into better position and lean over to Zeke.
[21:24]	Kanako	"If you have problem, come to US, not HER."
[21:24]	Zeke	"Noted, my Lady. Noted."
[21:24]	Zeke	says it in a friendly way, but phrases it so that he's not actually committing to anything.
[21:25]	Zeke	"Ahh, not to push too hard... Well, okay, I guess I am, so never mind, but..."
[21:26]	Zeke	"Speaking of problems, ummm, how to say it..."
[21:26]	Zeke	focuses on Sanae as he continues talking.
[21:26]	Zeke	"I guess I should tell you why I came to visit."
[21:27]	Zeke	"Without going into it too deep, I'm staying here. In Gensokyo. I want to live here. I don't want to go back."
[21:28]	Zeke	"But, I mean... It's just like moving to a new country with nothing but the clothes on your back, isn't it?"
[21:28]	[BNS]Sanae	Not really... it's actually not that hard to make a living in Gensokyo. Things are really simple here!
[21:29]	Zeke	wobbles his head, not so sure.
[21:29]	[BNS]Sanae	A lot simpler than they were back in the real world, actually.
[21:29]	Zeke	"Well, simple for you, maybe... You've been here already. But, that's what I mean."
[21:29]	Zeke	motions to Sanae.
[21:30]	Zeke	"You were an Outsider once, coming into a strange land, right? I mean, what did YOU do? How did YOU survive?"
[21:30]	Zeke	"You obviously have, that's for sure~"
[21:30]	[BNS]Sanae	I used to have worries about common sense and such like you're having. Things got a lot easier after I stopped worrying about all that.
[21:30]	Zeke	raises an eyebrow.
[21:31]	Kanako	"Advice passing down from generations to generations. Best take heed, young man."
[21:31]	Zeke	"You can't just... IGNORE, common sense. I mean, this is a real place, isn't it?"
[21:31]	Zeke	holds up his breakfast plate
[21:32]	Zeke	"This is real food, right? And a real table? And I was really bitten by a real cannibal?"
[21:32]	[BNS]Sanae	It's hard at first. It'll get easier as you practice.
[21:32]	Zeke	isn't convinced.
[21:32]	Zeke	"That's easy to say."
[21:32]	[BNS]Sanae	Also, that wasn't a cannibal, that was a youkai.
[21:32]	Zeke	"Oh. Okay. Well, that makes more sense now."
[21:33]	Zeke	"In the stories they always had fur, and not exactly nice dresses."
[21:33]	Zeke	"Still had the red eyes, though."
[21:33]	Kanako	"Well, god doesn't sit and have breakfast with you."
[21:33]	Kanako	"So... yeah."
[21:33]	Kanako	finishes hers.
[21:34]	Zeke	isn't really sure how to respond to that.
[21:34]	[BNS]Sanae	That's you worrying about common sense again.
[21:34]	[BNS]Sanae	Stop that.
[21:34]	Zeke	massages his temple.
[21:34]	Zeke	"I, can't just... NOT."
[21:34]	[BNS]Sanae	You totally can.
[21:35]	Kanako	"Sanaeeeeee. I'm gonna do the dishes, okay?"
[21:35]	Kanako	put her stuff in the sink.
[21:35]	[BNS]Sanae	Lady Kanako, you don't have to do that! I'll take care of it later!
[21:35]	Zeke	cannot allow a god to do mundane work! Right?!
[21:35]	Zeke	"And if she doesn't, I will! I mean, I'm not paying rent; gotta do SOMETHING."
[21:35]	Kanako	"Hmm."
[21:36]	Kanako	thinks.
[21:36]	Kanako	"Alright."
[21:36]	Zeke	nods.
[21:36]	Kanako	"You do that, then, young man."
[21:36]	Kanako	"I'm sure you have much to chat with Sanae-chan, so I will leave you two--- three, be."
[21:36]	[BNS]Sanae	erks. She wants to say that Zeke doesn't have to, but what Lady Kanako says, goes.
[21:36]	Kanako	almost forgot that Shingyoku is there.
[21:37]	Zeke	"Much obliged for the opportunity, mi'Lady."
[21:38]	Kanako	"Hm. You seems to be a decent young man, you know?"
[21:38]	Kanako	cross her arms, looking satisfied.
[21:38]	Zeke	"I try."
[21:38]	Kanako	put her hand on his head and ruffles a bit.
[21:39]	Kanako	"I give you my blessing."
[21:40]	Kanako	[Zeke feels an energy of some sort being transferred from Kanako to him. He feels a bit stronger and tougher.]
[21:41]	Kanako	"Alright. You guys have fun. I'll be outside, governing the land and whatnot."
[21:41]	Kanako	waves, and go outside.
[21:41]	Zeke	had been magiced! It feels pretty nice.
[21:42]	Zeke	gets back to the discussion at hand.
[21:43]	Zeke	"No, Ms. Kochiya. I can't."
[21:43]	Zeke	"Common sense is all I've got here. No magic, no money. Just sense."
[21:44]	[BNS]Sanae	That's not true. You totally have magic. I can feel it.
[21:44]	[BNS]Sanae	You just don't know how to use it.
[21:46]	Zeke	"Well, okay, fine, I'll give you that, I guess? But I can't just pretend like this is a dream and nothing matters."
[21:51]	Zeke	"I mean, bottom line, if I die, I'm dead. So I need to have enough common sense to NOT do that dying thing, at least."
[21:51]	[BNS]Sanae	Well... yeah. But other than that, you really shouldn't worry about it.
[21:51]	[BNS]Sanae	I guess the important thing is this.
[21:51]	[BNS]Sanae	In Gensokyo, anything is possible!
[21:52]	Zeke	chuckles just a little.
[21:53]	Zeke	"Heh, well, yeah, I mean, it's a land of legend. Anything can happen in a legend."
[21:53]	[BNS]Sanae	So, THAT'S why you need to stop worrying about common sense.
[21:53]	[BNS]Sanae	It doesn't work the same way here.
[21:54]	Zeke	taps the table absentmindedly. He thinks that maybe they're just not on the same page.
[21:55]	Zeke	"But... Hmm, okay, let me put it like this."
[21:55]	Zeke	"That youkai-bitey-girl, right? She's magic. And I'm FINE with that. I ACCEPT that as a thing that is real."
[21:56]	Zeke	"That's not me rejecting common sense, that's me rejecting what the Old World told me was REAL."
[21:57]	Zeke	"If I didn't have the common sense to defend myself, I'd've been dead before you got to me. Understand?"
[21:57]	Zeke	"I mean, even magic has to have RULES, right? You can't just say I win forever game over."
[21:58]	[BNS]Sanae	You're the one who's new here, and you're trying to explain to me how things work? Isn't there something a little backwards about that?
[21:58]	[BNS]Sanae	grins at Zeke.
[21:58]	Zeke	's cheeks get a little red.
[21:58]	Zeke	"Damn... Okay, point, point."
[21:58]	[BNS]Sanae	giggles.
[22:00]	Zeke	"But, well, okay, let's try it your way. How do YOU think I should survive? What do YOU think would be a good thing for a guy like me to do?"
[22:00]	[BNS]Sanae	thinks for a moment.
[22:00]	[BNS]Sanae	...well, the first thing you should do is learn magic.
[22:03]	Zeke	sighs.
[22:03]	Zeke	"You too, huh?"
[22:03]	[BNS]Sanae	It's important!
[22:05]	Zeke	looks down at his near-empty plate, thinking...
[22:06]	Zeke	mumbles, but he's not really trying to hide it.
[22:06]	Zeke	"...Just... Kinda wanted to hold on to my humanity, s'all... My normality..."
[22:07]	[BNS]Sanae	Just because you know how to use magic doesn't make you any less human. Look at me, after all!
[22:08]	Zeke	looks.
[22:09]	Zeke	"It could be a clever deception. A ruse of some sort!"
[22:09]	[BNS]Sanae	rolls her eyes.
[22:09]	[BNS]Sanae	Now you're being silly about it.
[22:11]	[BNS]Sanae	...know what. I'll prove it to you.
[22:11]	Zeke	was being sarcastic, but okay...?
[22:11]	[BNS]Sanae	reaches into the folds of her robes and pulls out her gohei!
[22:12]	[BNS]Sanae	Ok... now stay still...
[22:12]	Zeke	watches the gohei.
[22:12]	[BNS]Sanae	raises the gohei into the air and begins to summon magic circles around her.
[22:12]	Zeke	"If you're planning on hitting me with that..."
[22:13]	Zeke	wasn't really planning on finishing that anyways.
[22:14]	[BNS]Sanae	HI-YAH!
[22:14]	[BNS]Sanae	whaps Zeke over the head with the Gohei and the interior of the shrine explodes with a flash of light!
[22:15]	Zeke	is blinded! And hit!
[22:16]	[BNS]Sanae	is still standing there when the light fades, though Zeke is probably still blinded. Though, by some /miracle/, he finds himself with a sudden and fulfilling understanding. ZEKE KNOWS HOW TO 'DO' MAGIC... but whether he has any to muster is another question.
[22:17]	Zeke	shouts out a knee-jerk reaction before he realizes any of this.
[22:18]	Zeke	"WHY WOULD YOU DO SUCH A THING?!"
[22:18]	[BNS]Sanae	Because sometimes it takes a miracle to get some people to believe.
[22:18]	[BNS]Sanae	stashes her gohei away and waits for the boy to calm down.
[22:19]	Zeke	rubs his head where he got whacked.
[22:20]	Zeke	"You could've warned me..."
[22:21]	[BNS]Sanae	If I warned you, it might not have worked.
[22:22]	Zeke	settles down, and begins coming to strange realizations...
[22:22]	Zeke	"Huh..."
[22:22]	Zeke	"My horrid common sense interfering with your magic, is it?"
[22:23]	[BNS]Sanae	Told ya.
[22:23]	Zeke	"This is where I'm supposed to say 'I do not believe in fairies'."
[22:23]	Zeke	"But I'm not going to say that."
[22:24]	Zeke	"Though, I haven't seen one yet."
[22:24]	Zeke	"Maybe that means it's working?"
[22:24]	[BNS]Sanae	You probably will.
[22:24]	[BNS]Sanae	They're really, really common.
[22:24]	[BNS]Sanae	Like, you know mosquitoes and flies? /That/ common.
[22:25]	Zeke	"Must not've been looking up."
[22:26]	Zeke	"Thanks... I, guess? I'm, assuming this is a good thing?"
[22:26]	Zeke	"It feels like it should be a good thing."
[22:28]	[BNS]Sanae	Yeah, it's a good thing. Now you know how to do magic.
[22:28]	[BNS]Sanae	Now we just gotta teach you some.
[22:29]	Zeke	"You make it sound like it's only going to take a week."
[22:29]	Zeke	"Because that would actually be incredibly... lame."
[22:30]	[BNS]Sanae	I don't think you can learn magic that quick. I'm of divine parentage, and it took me a while...
[22:30]	Zeke	"GOOD."
[22:30]	Zeke	huffs.
[22:30]	Zeke	"So SICK and TIRED of training montages and 'Fighting Spirit'."
[22:33]	[BNS]Sanae	What training montages?
[22:33]	[BNS]Sanae	tilts her head.
[22:33]	Zeke	"Outsider joke."
[22:33]	Zeke	"I'm not going to bother explaining them."
[22:37]	Shingy	"But isn't Sanae an outsider as well?"
[22:38]	Zeke	"Not all Outsiders know all the same things, Shingyoku.  I'm just weird."
[22:38]	GM-Mizi	[And that's the power of Sanae, miracle maker! Now Kai and Zeke, both exposed to the magic affinity, will have to find their own way to survive in this bizarre land that is Gensokyo!]
[22:38]	GM-Mizi	[Next time, in "Touhouventure"!]