Touhouventure 13.Z

[22:02]	GM-Mizi	[With Shingyoku going on separate ways (at least temporarily), Zeke set off with his new objective; talking to Keine the school teacher.]
[22:02]	GM-Mizi	intro up.
[22:04]	Zeke	makes his way through the growing morning crowds, seeking out Keine's schoolhouse with a purpose. He didn't have it a half-hour ago, but it just... came to him, like that. A moment of clarity.
[22:06]	Zeke	heads up to the front doors of the schoolhouse and first looks in a window. Has class started yet?
[22:06]	CAVEr	[You spot a familiar pagoda-like hat soon enough. She's in the yard, overseeing children.]
[22:07]	Zeke	nods and walks a little closer, but keeps a good distance. Far enough away to not disturb the children, but close enough that Keine will notice him before long.
[22:08]	CAVEr	"?"
[22:08]	CAVEr	turns.
[22:08]	Keine	"Oh, it's you. It's been a while."
[22:08]	Keine	sounds a little bit surprised.
[22:10]	Zeke	"Yeah, I know... G'morning."
[22:10]	Keine	"Good morning."
[22:10]	Keine	"If you are here, you probably need something from me, am I correct?"
[22:10]	Keine	smiles.
[22:10]	Zeke	smirks and shrugs.
[22:11]	Zeke	"Not wasting any time today, are we?"
[22:13]	Keine	"I doubt you would just drop by to say hi."
[22:13]	Keine	"And I have class soon, so..."
[22:13]	Zeke	fake-scowls.
[22:13]	Keine	gestures him towards teacher's office.
[22:13]	Zeke	"That is offensive. I am offended. Hurt, even."
[22:14]	Zeke	smiles afterwards, though, and heads in.
[22:14]	Keine	"My, my. That is not my intention."
[22:14]	Keine	"Maybe I could fix this with a good conversation over tea?"
[22:14]	Zeke	raises an eyebrow.
[22:15]	Zeke	"Thought you said you had class soon."
[22:16]	Keine	"Children always like more playtime. Especially in the morning."
[22:16]	Keine	"It doesn't hurt to spoil them a little."
[22:16]	Keine	sighs happily.
[22:17]	Zeke	"Well, it CAN... But if it's just a little... Yeah."
[22:18]	Keine	gestures him to take a seat while pouring two cups of piping hot mugisha (barley tea).
[22:19]	Zeke	is seated. He's going to have to get used to tea, apparently.
[22:20]	Keine	sit on the opposite side of the desk. Looking like a headmaster. Well, she sorta is.
[22:20]	Keine	"So, what can I help you with?"
[22:20]	Zeke	"Well, you didn't want me to beat around the bush, so I won't. Thanks for the tea, by the way."
[22:20]	Zeke	raises his cup politely to emphasize.
[22:21]	Zeke	"...I need to know where I can find Kasen Ibaraki."
[22:22]	AnUnknownWoman	She is not one commonly sought after.
[22:22]	Keine	"It's -Ibara Kasen-."
[22:22]	Keine	is interrupted, however.
[22:22]	Zeke	jerks his head around. THAT was a different voice. He catches it this time, for once.
[22:22]	Keine	"?"
[22:22]	AnUnknownWoman	stands in the doorway, hands folded into her large sleeves.
[22:23]	Keine	"Ran? What brings you here?"
[22:23]	Keine	stands up and get Ran another seat.
[22:24]	Zeke	quickly studies the new face. Hmm... Tails. Tails are not face.
[22:25]	AnUnknownWoman	Business.
[22:25]	Zeke	is respectful. This foxtail woman seems to know what she's doing.
[22:26]	AnUnknownWoman	's eyes flick to Zeke. Their off-human look is... off-human.
[22:26]	AnUnknownWoman	May I enter?
[22:26]	Zeke	cannot win stare-offs with these people, at least not yet. He looks downwards, supposedly in respect, but actually in discomfort.
[22:26]	Keine	"Everyone wants a piece of this new guy, huh."
[22:26]	Keine	"Sure. Come in."
[22:26]	Keine	"Guess I'll have to go get another cup."
[22:26]	Keine	does just that.
[22:27]	AnUnknownWoman	enters and stands beside the desk, raising one gloved hand from her sleeves.
[22:27]	AnUnknownWoman	My presence here shall not be long.
[22:28]	Keine	"Alright...?"
[22:28]	Keine	put the cup back into its place.
[22:30]	AnUnknownWoman	folds her arms back into her sleeves, moving nothing but her lips as she addresses the pair.
[22:32]	Zeke	keeps quiet; how could he know that HE is the business?
[22:37]	AnUnknownWoman	I presume you do not know why I am here?
[22:37]	Zeke	waits a few seconds before realizing he is the one being spoken to.
[22:37]	Zeke	"Hmm, oh, me? No, no ma'am, I do not."
[22:38]	Zeke	is supposed to know who this person is, if he wasn't busy being distracted by other "more important" things at the moment.
[22:38]	Keine	""Running Yukari's errands?"
[22:39]	Keine	"...regarding him, I suppose."
[22:39]	AnUnknownWoman	's eyes meet Keine's with a barely-perceptible short nod of affirmation.
[22:40]	AnUnknownWoman	I represent an individual of authority who has taken interest in your presence and activities here.
[22:41]	Zeke	perks up at the mention of "Yukari". Now HER name he remembers.
[22:41]	Keine	is troubled.
[22:41]	Zeke	nods, quickly putting the basic pieces together.
[22:42]	Zeke	"I, understand, ma'am. How may I help you?"
[22:42]	Keine	"You know... that overly formal speech is discerning. You aren't always like this around me, Ran."
[22:43]	AnUnknownWoman	's tails swish once, breaking her stillness.
[22:43]	AnUnknownWoman	It is nothing negative, I assure you.
[22:44]	AnUnknownWoman	's eyes turn back to Zeke.
[22:44]	AnUnknownWoman	There are certain questions that must have answers, if you would come with me.
[22:45]	Zeke	senses something a little uncanny in her mannerisms.
[22:46]	Zeke	"I'm assuming it would be imprudent to say no at the moment, ma'am?"
[22:47]	AnUnknownWoman	It would be well appreciated if you did not refuse.
[22:47]	AnUnknownWoman	omits that he could request her departure.
[22:47]	Keine	sighs.
[22:47]	Keine	"Just return him safely when you are done, okay?"
[22:48]	Keine	prepares her class material.
[22:48]	AnUnknownWoman	He shall come to no harm.
[22:48]	Ever17YearsOld	No guarantees~
[22:48]	Zeke	curls his hand to his mouth, thinking. One does not turn down The Yukari; that much he knows.
[22:49]	Ever17YearsOld	's voice is a cheerful little lilting whisper on the wind. Also there is now a tangerine under Keine's hat.
[22:50]	Zeke	shifts his eyes. Another voice? These things just keep happening.
[22:50]	Zeke	"I shall comply, then."
[22:50]	Keine	"Well then. I leave him to your care."
[22:51]	Keine	nods a bit, then leave the room.
[22:51]	AnUnknownWoman	nods.
[22:51]	Keine	"if only they could stop being so pushy..."
[22:51]	AnUnknownWoman	We shall go, then.
[22:51]	Keine	lets out an inaudible grumbles.
[22:51]	AnUnknownWoman	We should have tea some other time.
[22:51]	Zeke	is inwardly nervous and suspicious; he JUST got done with that strange time mage, after all.
[22:54]	Zeke	prepares to follow this "Ran", and whatever it may entail. He's getting caught on all these wheels within wheels... He doesn't like it. It's too soon.
[22:55]	Ever17YearsOld	VWORP
[22:55]	Ever17YearsOld	〜8╼∎❚▇█ ʘ º ⊙ ゜ o ◉ ༠ ▇▆❚∎╾8〜
[22:55]	Zeke	!
[22:56]	Ever17YearsOld	[And the abyss yawns wide]
[22:56]	Zeke	loses his sense of REALITY.
[22:57]	Zeke	reflexively shuts his eyes and finds that it is pointless to do so.
[22:58]	Zeke	{"Well... get on with it, then!"}
[22:59]	Zeke	is not entirely sure if he ends up saying this out loud or not. It's... difficult to tell.
[22:59]	Ever17YearsOld	VWROP
[22:59]	Ever17YearsOld	〜8╼∎❚▇█ ʘ º ⊙ ゜ o ◉ ༠ ▇▆❚∎╾8〜
[23:00]	Ever17YearsOld	[And then everyone was deposited into Mayohiga.]
[23:01]	Ever17YearsOld	[Ran into the kitchen, next to a note on the counter that said "waffles plz", and Zeke face-first into Yukari's bosom.]
[23:02]	Ever17YearsOld	[Or grabbing her boobs. Either one, it doesn't matter. He is not getting out of clicheland so easily.]
[23:02]	Zeke	does not immediately perceive the existence of gravity; he just sort of lays there on the "pillow" for a while.
[23:02]	AnUnknownWoman	sighs, knowing what she is likely up to. Nevertheless, she gets to work.
[23:03]	Zeke	is trying to comprehend what just happened, reaching out for it like a dream fading from the waking world.
[23:04]	Ever17YearsOld	Oho~!
[23:04]	Ever17YearsOld	We've got a bold one, here~
[23:04]	Zeke	flexes his hand, making sure his nervous system is functioning properly.
[23:04]	Nekomata	"My turn!"
[23:04]	Nekomata	dives into Yukari's bosom as well.
[23:05]	Nekomata	"Pah!"
[23:05]	Ever17YearsOld	Now, Chen, wait your turn.
[23:06]	Zeke	shakes his head and blinks a few times, his dizziness fading as he returns more actively to the real world.
[23:06]	Ever17YearsOld	Hello!
[23:07]	Zeke	is currently facing up at the ceiling with the back of his head resting on two "cushions". His left arm is twisted behind him, grabbing some "stuffing".
[23:07]	Ever17YearsOld	You're /much/ more accommodating than your friend, you know~
[23:07]	Ever17YearsOld	smiles pleasantly.
[23:07]	Ever17YearsOld	I like that.
[23:07]	Zeke	cranes his head back a little more to see a pleasant blonde's upside-down face smiling at him.
[23:08]	Ever17YearsOld	Hi~
[23:08]	Zeke	suddenly pieces together where he is, quickly realizes he's screwed whatever he does, and rolls with it.
[23:08]	Ever17YearsOld	waits...
[23:08]	Zeke	"Ahoy. Happy to oblige~"
[23:08]	Zeke	tries to keep a straight face and mostly fails.
[23:09]	Ever17YearsOld	chuckles. Somehow, she /leers/ with a chuckle
[23:09]	Nekomata	disentangles herself from Yukari.
[23:09]	Ever17YearsOld	Quite the bold one.
[23:09]	Nekomata	"So this is another human guy person?"
[23:09]	Ran	enters, plate of pancakes with sauce on hand. She facepalms with her spare arm.
[23:09]	Ever17YearsOld	Mm-hmm!
[23:09]	Ever17YearsOld	We had a twofer~
[23:09]	Ran	Yukari...
[23:10]	Zeke	"I'll just, uhh, move, now, okay?"
[23:10]	Zeke	"..."
[23:10]	Ever17YearsOld	Awww.
[23:10]	Ever17YearsOld	If you must.
[23:11]	Zeke	tries as gracefully as he can to wiggle away from the older woman and give her some space, but ends up getting tangled up with this little girl person he didn't exactly know was there.
[23:11]	Zeke	"Nnnft, gwah! Sorry, sorry!"
[23:13]	Nekomata	"Meow!"
[23:13]	Nekomata	scratches Zeke's legs out of panic!
[23:14]	Nekomata	leaps away with her feline-like finesse.
[23:14]	Ever17YearsOld	Chen!
[23:14]	Nekomata	"Ran-sama! he's dangerous!"
[23:14]	Zeke	keeps backwards-crawling away, trying to gain some space.
[23:14]	Ever17YearsOld	That's no way to treat a guest.
[23:14]	Ran	places the pancakes in front of Yukari and sits at the table.
[23:14]	Nekomata	"He's going to step on me!"
[23:14]	Ran	Chen, settle down.
[23:14]	Zeke	"Sorry, sorry, bad landing, it was my first time!"
[23:15]	Zeke	hates getting thrown into these things; he's really quite adaptable with the proper introduction to weirdness.
[23:15]	Ever17YearsOld	scoots over to Zeke.
[23:15]	Ran	addresses her almost dismissively.
[23:16]	Ever17YearsOld	I'm terribly sorry about that. When you let someone as lazy and shiftless as Ran raise their own shikigami, you get things like this happening.
[23:16]	Nekomata	hides behind fluffy tails curtain, peeking only her head out.
[23:16]	Ever17YearsOld	shakes her head.
[23:16]	Ever17YearsOld	So terrible.
[23:17]	Ran	deadpans.
[23:17]	Zeke	looks a little uncomfortable, though he puts a bold face on it. WHY did they have to catch him in a transition period, why?!
[23:17]	Zeke	"I, uhh, can't say I can sympathize, but I suppose so."
[23:17]	Ever17YearsOld	pats Zeke's scratched legs.
[23:17]	Ever17YearsOld	Which are no longer scratched.
[23:18]	Ever17YearsOld	Good as new~
[23:18]	Ran	Yukari, your pancakes will grow cold.
[23:19]	Ran	tries to separate her from him.
[23:19]	Ever17YearsOld	smiles and scoots back over to her food.
[23:19]	Zeke	looks down. Hey... Wait what? Oh... That's right. "The Yukari" is some kind of god, right?
[23:19]	Ever17YearsOld	Not likely~
[23:19]	Zeke	"Thank you."
[23:19]	Zeke	nods to her.
[23:19]	Ever17YearsOld	eats! Although instead of a knife, she uses a little gap instead.
[23:20]	Nekomata	scoots over to Yukari's side, wagging her tails.
[23:21]	Ran	continues the formalities.
[23:21]	Nekomata	"♫"
[23:21]	Ran	You have already met Yukari; you may refer to me as Ran and my protogee, Chen.
[23:22]	Zeke	nods, doing his best to catalog the names in his mind. Ran. Chen. Yukari.
[23:22]	Nekomata	"Pro-too-gay"?
[23:22]	Nekomata	cannot understand!
[23:22]	Zeke	can't help it.
[23:23]	Zeke	"Pro-TOH-jzshey. It means apprentice."
[23:24]	Zeke	really wouldn't know how to write out that stupid sound that word makes, but fortunately he doesn't have to write it out.
[23:24]	Ran	As he says, this is true.
[23:25]	Chen	"mm."
[23:25]	Chen	nods.
[23:27]	Ever17YearsOld	is eatin'
[23:27]	Ever17YearsOld	happily~
[23:27]	Zeke	"How may I help you, Madam Ran?"
[23:27]	Chen	is waiting to be fed. Expectantly.
[23:27]	Chen	drooooools.
[23:27]	Zeke	returns his focus to the "task at hand", whatever that may be.
[23:31]	Zeke	loses said focus. Look at that kitty. That's adorable~
[23:31]	Ran	Simply your answers to several questions.
[23:32]	Ever17YearsOld	"And they are: No, yes, no, no, not with you, yes, no, and only when she's really loaded."
[23:33]	Chen	"Hooooooh!"
[23:33]	Ever17YearsOld	is done. Elegance and speed in perfect synchronization!
[23:33]	Chen	"Yukari-sama is an oracle!"
[23:33]	Chen	claps.
[23:33]	Zeke	looks at The Yukari.
[23:33]	Chen	is still heavily salivating.
[23:33]	Zeke	"I wouldn't say she's REALLY loaded, right now, actually. Only normal loaded."
[23:34]	Zeke	"I don't know her well enough for her to be REALLY loaded. Not yet~"
[23:34]	Ever17YearsOld	...Ran, dear, go feed your cat.
[23:34]	Ever17YearsOld	looks at Zeke strangely.
[23:35]	Ever17YearsOld	I was talking about the answers to /your/ questions.
[23:35]	Ran	takes a deep breath.
[23:35]	Ran	I shall return shortly.
[23:35]	Ran	Chen, come.
[23:35]	Ever17YearsOld	But you didn't ask the right ones, so the moment has passed.
[23:35]	Ever17YearsOld	Such is life.
[23:36]	Chen	"okaaaay!"
[23:36]	Ran	exits to the kitchen again.
[23:36]	Chen	follows Ran.
[23:36]	Chen	"I'll play with you later, mister!"
[23:37]	Zeke	nods at the catgirl, but says nothing.
[23:37]	Ever17YearsOld	shrugs, then falls through a gap. It seems largely unnecessary, because the only result it as is depositing her turned abut 90 degrees forward. Another gap deposits a pillow under her head before it hits the table.
[23:37]	Ever17YearsOld	Mmmf.
[23:38]	Zeke	waits for a bit until Ran and Chen have officially left. Meanwhile, he watches The Yukari think with Portals.
[23:38]	Ever17YearsOld	Her cleared plate is not in attendance, so presumable it went out along with her.
[23:38]	Zeke	"...That's a practical application, ma'am."
[23:40]	Zeke	"I can respect that."
[23:41]	Zeke	tries to relax, but finds it difficult to do so at the moment. He's just saying what he always says to try and make him "feel at home."
[23:41]	Zeke	"Ma'am, I hope you don't mind, but can I ask you a rather frank question?"
[23:42]	Ran	quickly puts several cans of tuna through an automated can opener and throws together a basic sandwich for Chen.
[23:43]	Ever17YearsOld	Mm?
[23:44]	Ever17YearsOld	Sure~
[23:44]	Zeke	leans forwards, resting his arms on his knees.
[23:44]	Chen	meows happily.
[23:44]	Zeke	"How deep am I in already?"
[23:46]	Ever17YearsOld	raises a golden eyebrow.
[23:46]	Ever17YearsOld	...Ohhh, right.
[23:46]	Ever17YearsOld	You're the one that thinks too much.
[23:47]	Ran	re-enters the room, having left Chen to eat in the kitchen. She sits back down at the table.
[23:48]	Ever17YearsOld	You've got a darling little mind there, but you let it run on, and on, and on~
[23:48]	Zeke	does not respond to that. It'd only make matters worse.
[23:48]	Ever17YearsOld	You keep that up, and you'll convince yourself that you're crazier than you really are, see?
[23:49]	Ever17YearsOld	There is no deep.
[23:49]	Ever17YearsOld	There are no plots.
[23:49]	Ever17YearsOld	...Not at the moment, anyway.
[23:49]	Zeke	just sort of deadpans at her.
[23:50]	Ever17YearsOld	closes her eyes.
[23:50]	Zeke	"...Okay."
[23:50]	Ever17YearsOld	You're here in Gensokyo. Enjoy it. Don't live it, enjoy it
[23:50]	Ever17YearsOld	cracks an eye.
[23:51]	Ever17YearsOld	...Unless you get eaten.
[23:51]	Ever17YearsOld	You don't have to enjoy that part.
[23:51]	Ran	clears her throat.
[23:51]	Zeke	breaks his deadpan stare and stares at her properly.
[23:51]	Chen	is now back in the room, completely satisfied.
[23:51]	Zeke	"Don't talk like him."
[23:52]	Chen	sits in Ran's laps and be a good girl.
[23:52]	Zeke	"He doesn't understand. Don't talk like him."
[23:52]	Ever17YearsOld	chuckles.
[23:52]	Zeke	shakes his head and returns his focus to Ran.
[23:52]	Ever17YearsOld	Your friend?
[23:52]	Ran	Kai?
[23:53]	Zeke	nods somberly.
[23:53]	Zeke	"It's a... personal matter."
[23:53]	Ever17YearsOld	He was booooring.
[23:53]	Ever17YearsOld	Polite, and meant well, but stiff as a board.
[23:53]	Ever17YearsOld	You can roll with things a little.
[23:53]	Ever17YearsOld	I like that~
[23:54]	Zeke	nods.
[23:54]	Ever17YearsOld	sits up, and opens her eyes.
[23:54]	Zeke	"Thank you, thank you, I do my best."
[23:54]	Ever17YearsOld	And because of that, I'll tell you a little something.
[23:55]	Ever17YearsOld	Specifically, don't dismiss what I said a moment ago.
[23:56]	Ever17YearsOld	After all, I am the /best/ qualified person in Gensokyo to give that sort of advice.
[23:56]	Ever17YearsOld	winks.
[23:56]	Zeke	focuses back in on Yukari. Her voice seems a little more trustworthy just now.
[23:57]	Zeke	"I apologize, I apologize. I'm a little nervous right now; just had my first job interview in a while. Kind of takes it out of you. But I'm cool, I'm cool."
[23:59]	Ever17YearsOld	Good to hear~
[23:59]	Zeke	is not cool (THIS IS WHY WE HATE SILVER-AGE SUPERMAN).
[23:59]	Ever17YearsOld	opens a gap to poke him on the nose. Oreki Houtarou would be so in love.
[00:00]	Ran	This aside, we would appreciate it if you would answer several questions.
[00:01]	Ever17YearsOld	We would?
[00:01]	Ever17YearsOld	We would?
[00:01]	Ever17YearsOld	Oh.
[00:01]	Ever17YearsOld	We would~
[00:01]	Zeke	"Of course, of course; fire away, ma'am."
[00:01]	Chen	nyaas. She has to voice something, but nothing meaningful comes to mind.
[00:02]	Ran	First, describe your journey before you were aware that such was not 'normal'. Where were you bound?
[00:03]	Zeke	hates job interviews. But everybody does, and he's a people person. So at least he's got that going for him.
[00:04]	Ever17YearsOld	scratches Chen between the ears while she listens to the questioning.
[00:05]	Zeke	"Well, myself and Kai, the fellow I was sharing an apartment with, wanted to see the wilder parts of the Japanese countryside. Do some hiking, see some forests, sightseeing things."
[00:05]	Ever17YearsOld	pipes up before Ran can go on.
[00:06]	Ever17YearsOld	Where were you planning to go after this?
[00:06]	Ever17YearsOld	...Had you not fallen into my little wonderland, that is.
[00:09]	Ran	watches Yukari, and lest the question slide.
[00:09]	Zeke	"Afterwards? Hmm... Well, I was planning on heading to Thailand, I suppose. Or maybe Hong Kong. I was on a tour or the world, myself, but I hadn't really planned it out."
[00:10]	Zeke	"I was just looking to sample different cultures, find some interesting life experiences."
[00:11]	Ran	lowers her head barely, taking his answer an affirmation of Kai's description of him as a "lost soul" of sorts.
[00:12]	Ran	Did you have any particular thoughts while hiking?
[00:13]	Zeke	takes a while to recall, putting on a good thinking pose; interviewers like that, right?
[00:15]	Zeke	"WHILE hiking. Mmm... Well, nothing out of the ordinary. My mind tends to wander a lot, but I can't recall anything particular."
[00:15]	Ever17YearsOld	hums in thought.
[00:15]	Zeke	"I was hoping that I'd find something ON the hike to make me think of something particular, though. A sort of inspiration through nature, I suppose."
[00:16]	Zeke	"And I did, in a way. But that's the point when things actually changed."
[00:17]	Ran	leans forward ever so slightly.
[00:17]	Ran	Please describe further.
[00:18]	Zeke	"Well, I mean, once I realized that magic was real, EVERYTHING changed for me. Though, I didn't realize it until I was probably already inside your Barrier."
[00:18]	Ever17YearsOld	leaaans over to the side, a little.
[00:19]	Zeke	"But I couldn't tell you when that was, or where. It got dark gradually, the trees got bigger gradually... You don't really pay attention to gradual changes until it's too late."
[00:19]	Zeke	"Just like the fable of the frog in the pot."
[00:20]	Zeke	"But I wouldn't expect to have been able to find this place any other way. Unless you know of evidence to the contrary?"
[00:20]	Zeke	remembers that interviewers like it when you ask THEM questions. It shows you care about the company.
[00:23]	Ran	No, we do not.
[00:24]	Zeke	nods. That's why he's here, after all. To fill in the blanks.
[00:25]	Ever17YearsOld	snrrrks.
[00:26]	Zeke	"In any case, realizing that--"
[00:26]	Zeke	looks at Yukari, but tries not to pause too much.
[00:26]	Ever17YearsOld	...Oh. I mean, of course we don't~
[00:27]	Zeke	"I actually would like to know, how did other Outsiders get into Gensokyo? I'm as curious about this as you are; maybe a third opinion could help."
[00:29]	Ran	This is the only time anyone has entered Gensokyo in this manner.
[00:30]	Ever17YearsOld	Weeell, not quite.
[00:30]	Ever17YearsOld	But it's rare enough that it might as well be~
[00:31]	Ever17YearsOld	Mostly the only things that come from the Outside are... things.
[00:32]	Ran	lets Yukari explain.
[00:32]	Ever17YearsOld	That half-breed hunk in the forest ends up with most of those.
[00:33]	Zeke	nods, adding his critique of said hunk.
[00:34]	Zeke	"It's a shame he doesn't catalog better; there's a lot of value wasting away in that building."
[00:34]	Ever17YearsOld	Getting people that way is pretty rare, but not totally unknown. You and your friend are the fourth and fifth to make it in that way, and the second and third to do so and stay alive long enough to be found.
[00:34]	Ever17YearsOld	As for how other Outsiders get in here, well
[00:35]	Ever17YearsOld	Usually they sort of politely barge their way in here.
[00:35]	Ever17YearsOld	sighs.
[00:36]	Zeke	"Mmm, yes, I've heard a lot of Gensokyo employs that methodology. A little counter-productive, but it does get the job done."
[00:36]	Ever17YearsOld	Then they cause trouble, and Reimu --or sometimes, Kirisame's daughter-- goes and sorts things out.
[00:37]	Ever17YearsOld	Asses are kicked, problems are solved, then we all drink tea. Or sake~
[00:37]	Ran	This is how the Scarlet Devil Mansion announced its existence here, for example.
[00:37]	Ever17YearsOld	Mm-hmm~
[00:38]	Zeke	"Just another day in the life of, right?"
[00:38]	Zeke	"Makes a guy like me wonder how he can ever fit in."
[00:39]	Ever17YearsOld	It helps if you're not a teetotaler, Mr. Pike~
[00:39]	Zeke	"If the price is right, Ms. Yukari~"
[00:40]	Zeke	nods his head and half-winks at her. See, SHE'S on the level. He can deal with these sorts of people.
[00:40]	Ever17YearsOld	tilts her head.
[00:41]	Ever17YearsOld	Price?
[00:42]	Ever17YearsOld	isn't quite sure what to make of that non sequitur
[00:42]	Ran	shifts to sit back. o O ( Zeke is unusually cooperative with her... )
[00:42]	Zeke	's reference has failed to trigger! Abort, abort!
[00:43]	Zeke	"Ahh, well, what I mean is, I'm willing to try a lot of new things, provided the situation calls for it. I've unfortunately been placed into a lot of situations lately where it DOESN'T call for it, but that's to be expected."
[00:46]	Zeke	"I'm doing my best to get my feet on the ground, but... Well, I guess a lot of folks have their own tricks to remove said ground at a moment's notice, mmm~?"
[00:49]	Ever17YearsOld	...Oh...
[00:49]	Ever17YearsOld	sighs, sounding a little disappointed.
[00:50]	Ever17YearsOld	I thought you were done with that.
[00:51]	Zeke	looks a little offended, but amusingly so, as if that's a silly thing for Yukari to assume.
[00:52]	Ever17YearsOld	Shameimaru will write ridiculous things about you, and if you go to work for the vampire-- the one in the mansion, that is-- then she'll play games with you.
[00:52]	Ever17YearsOld	But that's about it.
[00:52]	Ever17YearsOld	thinks for a moment, then smiles.
[00:52]	Ever17YearsOld	And then there's me, of course.
[00:53]	Ever17YearsOld	But doing what I do is my /job,/ after all~
[00:53]	Zeke	"I already nipped Shameimaru in the bud, ma'am. Gave her competitor the scoop first~"
[00:53]	Zeke	smiles pleasantly.
[00:53]	Zeke	"So I got that goin' for me. Which is nice."
[00:54]	Zeke	"And who said I was working for the vampire?"
[00:54]	Ever17YearsOld	grins.
[00:54]	Zeke	doesn't bother wondering how she knew. She's The Yukari.
[00:54]	Ever17YearsOld	I said /if./
[00:55]	Zeke	"So she likes games, does she? That's more than her H.R. scout would tell me, and she was the one giving the interview."
[00:56]	Ever17YearsOld	snickers.
[00:56]	Ever17YearsOld	" 'HR Scout'? Oh my. I don't know if she'd take that as a compliment or an insult."
[00:57]	Ever17YearsOld	Coincidences happen, Mr. Pike. She was shopping, you were job-hunting. She also happens to be observant.
[00:57]	Ever17YearsOld	...Usually.
[00:57]	Zeke	produces Silverhair's business card.
[00:58]	Zeke	"Well, her job description is surprisingly absent, so I'm going with H.R. Scout."
[00:58]	Ever17YearsOld	...
[00:58]	Ran	fills in.
[00:58]	Ran	She is the Head Maid of the Scarlet Devil Manor.
[00:59]	Ever17YearsOld	Did the headdress and apron not make that clear?
[00:59]	Ever17YearsOld	seriouses up.
[00:59]	Ever17YearsOld	...Do... do they not have maids in America, Mr. Pike?
[00:59]	Chen	"It's common!"
[00:59]	Ever17YearsOld	shakes her head sadly.
[00:59]	Ever17YearsOld	What a terrible fate.
[01:00]	Zeke	shrugs.
[01:00]	Zeke	"I'm not in a very good position to judge people on their appearances in a country such as this, ma'am."
[01:01]	Zeke	"And if a maid in America dresses like that, it means they're 'up to something'."
[01:01]	Ever17YearsOld	's custom maid outfit for Ran is still being worked on at Alice's. Shit will be INTENSELY cash once it's done. Oh yes.
[01:02]	Ever17YearsOld	has kept this a secret from Ran, of course. Giving her time to prepare would be completely missing the point.
[01:02]	Ever17YearsOld	That's not judging. That's using your eyes.
[01:02]	Ever17YearsOld	If it looks like a witch?
[01:02]	Ever17YearsOld	It's a witch.
[01:03]	Ever17YearsOld	If it looks like a miko?
[01:03]	Ever17YearsOld	It's a miko.
[01:03]	Ever17YearsOld	If it looks like a child?
[01:03]	Ever17YearsOld	...Well, it depends on where you are.
[01:03]	Zeke	raises a finger.
[01:03]	Zeke	"Ahh, yes, but what does it MEAN?"
[01:04]	Zeke	"Witch" is a word I used to use to describe a fable that doesn't exist in the real world.
[01:04]	Zeke	"But now that they DO exist, I can't just assume the same word means the same thing it used to."
[01:04]	Ran	returns with tea, no one quite sure when she left.
[01:05]	Ever17YearsOld	raises an eyebrow.
[01:05]	Chen	does not drink tea immediately. She waits for it to cool down.
[01:06]	Zeke	"I told Miss Kochiya that I can't just let go of my common sense because things LOOK different."
[01:06]	Ever17YearsOld	...Kirisame's daughter wears black, and has a large, pointy hat. She lives in a cottage-- ah, thank you~ --alone in the woods. She brews potions in a big, black, cast iron cauldron. She casts magical spells. She flies on a broom.
[01:07]	Zeke	"Well, okay, yes, but that's HER. One person. Coincidences happen."
[01:08]	Ran	takes her own cup after offering Zeke one and sits.
[01:08]	Zeke	"Am I NOT allowed to not judge a book by it's cover? That's all I'm saying."
[01:08]	Ran	Regardless of all of this, the Border is still paramount.
[01:08]	Ever17YearsOld	Hmm?
[01:08]	Ever17YearsOld	Oh!
[01:09]	Zeke	"Thank you, Ran, yes. This, also, is true."
[01:09]	Zeke	takes the tea, but he is not a teatotaller.
[01:09]	Ever17YearsOld	My advice would be to listen to others more, and yourself a little less. Until you get situated, anyway.
[01:10]	Ever17YearsOld	stands up.
[01:10]	Ever17YearsOld	It'll save you trouble in the long run.
[01:11]	Zeke	keeps his thoughts on that statement to himself.
[01:11]	Ever17YearsOld	flicks something in the air, making a very tiny little 'vwp' sound.
[01:11]	Zeke	"Thank you, ma'am."
[01:11]	Chen	sips. Oh, okay. It's lukewarm now. Safe!
[01:12]	Ever17YearsOld	Ran, ask him the rest of the questions, and then see him back to the schoolmistress.
[01:12]	Ever17YearsOld	turns to Chen.
[01:12]	Ever17YearsOld	Chen, no scratching him unless he starts getting uppity.
[01:13]	Ran	nods.
[01:13]	Ever17YearsOld	Or unless you're really, /really/ bored.
[01:13]	Ever17YearsOld	But then apologize afterward.
[01:13]	Zeke	"I don't mind. I probably deserve it."
[01:13]	Ever17YearsOld	turns to Zeke.
[01:13]	Ran	merely glances at Chen to remind her of Ran's own teachings.
[01:14]	=-=	Ever17YearsOld is now known as RansTeachings
[01:14]	RansTeachings	[ "Remember, go for the eyes, Chen." ]
[01:14]	=-=	RansTeachings is now known as Ever17YearsOld
[01:15]	Ever17YearsOld	I'm off to get my Beauty maintenance sleep~
[01:15]	Chen	"!"
[01:15]	Ever17YearsOld	is already as beautiful as possible. So now she has to sleep in order to stay that way.
[01:16]	Ever17YearsOld	ta-ta~
[01:16]	Chen	perks up. Hunter instinct awaken!
[01:16]	Ever17YearsOld	And Mr. Pike?
[01:16]	Chen	"Yukari-sama. I'm really, really bored right now."
[01:16]	Chen	"Can I?"
[01:16]	Zeke	"Yes?"
[01:16]	Ran	You may not, Chen.
[01:17]	Zeke	isn't sure whether to eye Chen or Yukari right now...
[01:17]	Chen	"Aww."
[01:17]	Chen	"But my claw is itchy..."
[01:17]	Ever17YearsOld	You must absolutely, positively remember to... to never... to never, EVER...
[01:17]	Ever17YearsOld	trails off, blinking.
[01:18]	Ever17YearsOld	...something.
[01:18]	Ever17YearsOld	It probably wasn't important.
[01:18]	Zeke	"I won't worry about it, then."
[01:19]	Ever17YearsOld	Oh, you should.
[01:19]	Ever17YearsOld	Ah!
[01:19]	Ever17YearsOld	looks very serious.
[01:19]	Ever17YearsOld	Watch out for stobor.
[01:20]	Ever17YearsOld	falls forward into a large gap.
[01:20]	Ever17YearsOld	VWORP
[01:20]	Ever17YearsOld	〜8╼∎❚▇█ ʘ º ⊙ ゜ o ◉ ༠ ▇▆❚∎╾8〜
[01:21]	Ever17YearsOld	Hello bed!
[01:21]	Chen	nyaaaaas.
[01:21]	Ever17YearsOld	VWROP.
[01:21]	Chen	is bored. Lots of talk, not enough play.
[01:22]	Zeke	watches The Yukari disappear into what is neither a blue nor an orange portal.
[01:22]	Zeke	nods contemplatively.
[01:23]	Zeke	"...Yup. That sounds about right."
[01:23]	Ran	My apologies for the diversion.
[01:24]	Zeke	returns his focus to Ran.
[01:24]	Zeke	"No, no, the fault is mine; I'm sorry. Did you have any more questions you wanted my views on?"
[01:27]	Ran	Only several.
[01:29]	Ran	What in particular do you seek in Gensokyo?
[01:30]	Zeke	doesn't need to think long about this one.
[01:31]	Zeke	"...Belonging. I am looking for the place where I belong. Not just the place where I WANT to be, but the place where I am NEEDED to be."
[01:32]	Ran	I see.
[01:32]	Ran	leaves little delay to the next. There will be more time for questions in the future, by all likelihood.
[01:32]	Ran	Next, how would you describe your relations with Kai?
[01:35]	Zeke	"My relations? Well, I would have to say he's like your college roommate at the beginning of your first semester. You don't really know him, but supposedly the questionnaire you filled out has paired you with a like-minded person, but later on you find out he's a Mormon or he leaves the Discovery Channel on at night because it's ambient noise and helps him sleep."
[01:36]	Zeke	then expounds.
[01:36]	Zeke	"We're not that close. I roomed with him for two weeks. That's really all there is to it."
[01:38]	Ran	nods.
[01:39]	Ran	... I think that shall be all for now.
[01:40]	Zeke	nods as well.
[01:41]	Zeke	"I hope you sort all this out; I'd like to know as much as the next person."
[01:42]	Chen	"You gonna let him go now, Ran-sama?"
[01:42]	Chen	asks.
[01:42]	Ran	I am, Chen.
[01:44]	Chen	"But I haven't got to play with him yet!"
[01:44]	Chen	pout.
[01:46]	Zeke	"I'm not really in any hurry, miss."
[01:46]	Zeke	says to Chen.
[01:46]	Zeke	"Well, I AM, but I could play a bit, I suppose."
[01:48]	Ran	Would you mind staying for perhaps an hour, then?
[01:48]	Zeke	nods.
[01:49]	Zeke	"Oh, certainly. If you wouldn't mind dropping me off somewhere afterwards."
[01:49]	Chen	"Yay!"
[01:49]	Ran	We can return you to the village.
[01:49]	Ran	Be sure to play nice.
[01:49]	Chen	jumps onto Zeke!
[01:50]	Ran	addresses both of them, Chen more sternly.
[01:50]	Zeke	"Oounft!"
[01:50]	Chen	sort of entangles Zeke.
[01:50]	Zeke	tries to balance Chen while still talking to Ran.
[01:50]	Chen	ends up on his back somehow, piggyback style.
[01:50]	Zeke	"Ac-actually, woah! I was wondering if you could drop me off somewhere else."
[01:52]	Ran	stands, tilting her head just barely.
[01:54]	Zeke	waits for a response, but getting none, he continues, though he's actually looking around his shoulders to see where Chen is.
[01:54]	Chen	"Let's go on an adventure! Yay!"
[01:54]	Chen	bounces up and down on his back.
[01:54]	Zeke	"Just a sec, Miss Chen, just a sec!"
[01:54]	Chen	"eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh?"
[01:55]	Zeke	"Kasen Ibaraki."
[01:55]	Zeke	"I need to speak with Kasen Ibaraki. Please."
[01:56]	Zeke	looks back at Ran. His eyes show a strange deep sincerity; this is not a joke.
[01:57]	Ran	What for, exactly?
[01:58]	Zeke	looks away, almost bashful to admit it to such a proper person as Ran.
[01:58]	Zeke	"...dragons."
[01:58]	Zeke	sighs.
[01:58]	Zeke	"I just... I need to see one. Just one. Just once. That's all I ask."
[01:59]	Ran	almost seems taken aback... almost.
[02:00]	Zeke	"I just need to KNOW they're real. The rest... the rest won't matter after that."
[02:01]	Ran	The last time a dragon was seen was before the rise of the Great Barrier.
[02:02]	Zeke	nods, still looking at the ground.
[02:03]	Zeke	"They said there was a rumor Kasen Ibaraki knew of one."
[02:04]	Ran	I do not know how true such rumors may be, nor do I know her exact location, except that it is far from other civilization.
[02:04]	Ran	To drop you blindly would place you in peril.
[02:07]	Zeke	"I know, ma'am, I know... I'm not asking for a miracle. Just a chance. If there's anything you could do, I would appreciate it."
[02:09]	Ran	If you could reunite with Shingyoku for protection you could perhaps resume your search.
[02:09]	Ran	drops names without mention of them in the conversation previous.
[02:10]	Zeke	sighs again, randomly walking around the room with Chen in tow so that at least someone is having a slightly good time here.
[02:12]	Zeke	"No, no... Never mind. Forget it for now. I shouldn't have asked; I knew it wasn't going to be easy and I don't deserve to have it handed to me."
[02:13]	Zeke	"Damn it all... I can't afford to go off adventuring into the wild in pursuit of a dream, but I can't afford NOT to..."
[02:16]	Zeke	"Where's the line... where's the damn lane...?"
[02:16]	Ran	offers a tidbit of enigmatic advice.
[02:17]	Ran	You will perhaps find the answer in time.
[02:17]	Chen	"Hey hey, can we go now?"
[02:17]	Chen	tailwags.
[02:18]	Zeke	"We can has go now~"
[02:19]	Zeke	heads outside, trying to put the gloominess behind him for the time being.
[02:21]	Chen	"Yay! Let's run to the hill!"
[02:21]	Chen	"Run for your life!"
[02:22]	Chen	really means it, since as soon as Zeke steps out of the house, horde of cats are gathering outside. They are waiting for Chen's signal.
[02:22]	Ran	Chen, play nice.
[02:22]	Ran	reiterates herself.
[02:22]	Zeke	looks around him at the horde.
[02:23]	Zeke	"Well, I can certainly try."
[02:24]	Zeke	makes sure his shoes are tied tightly and starts off at a slow trot, eventually picking up speed as he gets used to the weight on his shoulders.
[02:25]	Chen	whistles.
[02:25]	Chen	's cat underlings chases Zeke around like a hungry zerglings!
[02:26]	Chen	"Gotta go fast! Ahahahahaha!"
[02:29]	GM-mizi	[Getting dog(cat?)piled by Chen and her crew wouldn't be so bad as a way to pass time... and also to occupy Zeke's mind and replace his trouble. What path would he take? what's the borderline of sanity and insanity? ...see it next time on Touhouventure.]