Touhouventure 2.5

[17:33] <GM-Momi> [After arriving at "Eientei", Yagokoro Eirin went off with the injured partner Zeke to tend to his bite wound, leaving Kai standing there dumbfounded without anyone to attend to. The rabbit girls are minding their own business, frolicking and playing and whatnot. Now Kai feels like he's being ignored somehow...]
[17:34] * Kai contents himself with looking around in amazement. He soliloquizes to himself.
[17:35] <Kai> . o O (Man, this is crazy...)
[17:35] <Kai> . o O (I never imagined I'd ever be anywhere like this.)
[17:37] <GM-Momi> [Alas, no one respond to his words.]
[17:38] * Kai thinks to ask one of the residents about a possible tour of the place, but stops himself. They all seem busy in one way or another...
[17:39] * Kai works up his courage after a minute.
[17:42] <GM-Momi> [Kai walks around, looking for anyone who doesn't look busy. He wanders with not destination in mind, admiring the architecture and the atmosphere all the while. After a couple of turns, he appears at the place he recognized (after his japan traveling experience kicks in) as the Zen garden. Near the exquisite stone garden, at the balcony, is a maiden with long black hair in a long Kimono. Her image gives off the tranquil aura, matching the serene atmosphere of the garden.]
[17:50] * Kai stops in place.
[17:51] * Kai . o O ( Wow, beautiful... )
[17:51] * Kai looks around, impressed.
[17:51] * Kai . o O ( Definitely nicer than my oba-chan's garden, but I can see the similarity. This is the real thing. )
[17:51] <GM-Momi> [She sits there sipping her tea, unaware of your presence.]
[17:54] * Kai figures it would be a bad idea to just sit and stare. He takes a step forward.
[17:54] <Kai> Hello?
[17:54] * Kai . o O ( She also doesn't look like a rabbit... )
[17:54] <Maiden> "...mn?"
[17:54] * Maiden stirs, snapping out of her own world.
[17:55] <Maiden> "Oh my, someone I've never seen before."
[17:56] <Maiden> "The reason you are here and unharmed... you must be a guest invited by Eirin or Reisen."
[17:56] * Maiden smiles.
[17:56] <Maiden> "Welcome."
[17:57] * Kai does a slight bow.
[17:57] <Kai> Thank you.
[17:57] <Kai> My name is Kai; pleased to meet you.
[17:58] <Maiden> "Aren't you polite, Kai-san? Fufu... It would be rude for me not to give you my name in return."
[17:59] * Maiden put her teacup asides and stand up, showing her royal grace.
[18:00] <Maiden> "Kaguya Houraisan, the mistress of this manor and the princess of the moon."
[18:01] <Maiden> "I hope you find my place to your liking."
[18:01] * Kai can't help but crack a smile. o O ( ... Princess of the Moon? )
[18:02] <Kai> It's wonderful. The closest I've ever seen was in my oba-chan's house, which was based off of an old emperor's castle.
[18:03] * Kai specifically uses the Japanese term. No reason to change what to call her now, and maybe it'll test why everyone seems to speak English?
[18:05] <Kaguya> "I don't recall anything resembles an old castle around here, let alone in Japanese style. If you do possess one, I should know you."
[18:06] * Kaguya hides her face behind her fan. Only her eyes peeking off its edge, showing cautiousness.
[18:06] <Kaguya> "Might I inquire who you are?"
[18:08] <Kai> I'm an outsider. Ms. Eirin invited me here, and is currently healing my friend, I think. [18:09] <Kaguya> "Outsider?"
[18:09] * Kaguya can't hide the voice of excitement and curiosity.
[18:09] <Kaguya> "As in, outside of Gensokyo?"
[18:10] * Kai nods.
[18:10] <Kai> My friend Zeke and I got lost in a forest on the outside and somehow wound up here.
[18:12] <Kai> A young lady by the name of Sanae rescued us from a "youkai".
[18:12] * Kai pronounces the quote marks still, being new. Not overly so, however.
[18:13] <Kaguya> "You seem at ease. Aren't you... afraid?"
[18:13] * Kaguya put her fan away.
[18:14] * Kai maintains his smile.
[18:14] <Kai> Yeah, well, a little.
[18:15] <Kai> Less so now that my friend isn't being eaten.
[18:15] <Kai> Plus, this place is amazing; I've never seen anything like it.
[18:15] <Kaguya> "Oh my! how rude of me! I can't let you stand there all day, can I?"
[18:15] * Kaguya pats the space besides her.
[18:15] * Kai is caught a little off guard by the suddenness.
[18:15] <Kaguya> "Take a seat. Have some tea. You must be tired."
[18:16] <Kai> Oh.
[18:16] <Kai> Thank you very much.
[18:16] * Kai sits, seiza-style. It's only appropriate, no?
[18:18] <Kaguya> "Coming from the outside world, you must think this place is old-fashioned."
[18:18] <Kaguya> "Which indeed we are."
[18:19] * Kaguya presents Kai with a handmade teacup with emerald-green-colored tea inside. the aroma is enticing.
[18:20] <Kaguya> "The border has cut this place out of the normal plane for quite some time, so the technology has stopped."
[18:20] <Kaguya> "But, old fashioned things have their own charm, don't you think?"
[18:21] * Kai offer another slight bow and sips the tea.
[18:21] <Kai> Without a doubt.
[18:27] * Kaguya shifts around a bit. She seems... curious.
[18:28] <Kai> Say...
[18:28] <Kai> May I ask you a question?
[18:30] <Kaguya> "What is it?"
[18:31] <Kai> You titled yourself "Princess of the moon".
[18:31] <Kai> What does that entail?
[18:33] * Kaguya stifle a laugh.
[18:33] <Kaguya> "As the name implies. Literally."
[18:34] <Kaguya> "I assume you are not well-versed about Japanese lore, seeing that you are not one."
[18:34] * Kai 's incredulity gives way to suspicion.
[18:36] <Kaguya> "Kaguya-hime. Fujiwara family. Elixir of life."
[18:36] <Kaguya> "Rings any bell?"
[18:37] * Kai shakes his head. o O ( "Elixir of life"? Things keep on getting more interesting... )
[18:37] <Kai> I know a little bit, but not much.
[18:39] * Kaguya sighs, but not in disappointment.
[18:40] <Kaguya> Should I entertain you a bit by telling you my 'tale', then?
[18:42] <Kai> I would love to hear it.
[18:44] * Kaguya then begins telling her 'story'. It's nothing different than in the outside world's folklore of '竹取物語' (the tale of the bamboo cutter). It's pretty surreal, yet you think this is not the exact truth, somehow. Some part is omitted from the story.
[18:45] <Kaguya> "...and that's how Mt. Fuji got its name."
[18:48] <Kaguya> "How was it? a tale of sole refuge from the moon that manages to trouble all the people around her..."
[18:48] <Kaguya> "...Haha. It's already a long time ago I forgot most of it."
[18:51] <Kai> That's all amazing!
[18:51] * Kai sits back a moment, excited, but blown away by her story.
[18:52] * Kai is still just a bit incredulous, however.
[18:52] <Kai> ... So immortality is real?
[18:52] <Kai> And people live on the moon?
[18:54] <Kaguya> "You are in the land where a folklore character drinks tea with you, Mr.Kai. I'd say that's a very believable claim you just made."
[18:54] * Kaguya giggles
[18:58] * Kai only remains calm due to being overloaded.
[18:59] * Kai . o O ( Space travel /IS/ a thing | Immortality is real | You're having tea with an ancient japanese princess from the /moon/ | Colonization of space is possible | ... )
[19:00] * Kai . o O ( ... Cute giggle, too. )
[19:00] * Kai settles for laughing a bit.
[19:00] * Kai would be smoking just a bit, were he a robot.
[19:01] <Kaguya> "Too much information to tackle at once, maybe?"
06[19:04] * Kai is silent for a moment.
[19:04] <Kai> ... Yeah, I think so.
[19:04] <Kai> I only just arrived today, and I learn that not only are several of my dreams are completely possible, several of them are possible /now/.
[19:05] <Kai> I've always wanted to travel through space, and see colonies pop up on other worlds. Maybe even live in one, myself.
[19:06] <Kai> I can build robots and write AI, but it's a long jump to those kinds of things...
[19:06] * Kai rattles on, not realizing Kaguya may not know those terms.
[19:07] <Kaguya> "You would be a good conversation partner with Eirin, though robotics are not her strong point."
[19:07] * Kaguya however, understands.
[19:10] * Kai 's brain catches up to his mouth.
[19:10] <Kai> You know about robots and AI?
[19:12] * Kaguya just smiles and sips her tea, not giving an answer.
[19:17] * Kai mirrors her.
[19:18] <Kai> Wait, right, the moon.
[19:18] * Kai chuckles, covering for his slip-up.
[19:22] <Kaguya> "But I'm not longing for home anymore."
[19:22] <Kaguya> "I like it here. Better than up there, at least."
[19:22] <Kai> Really?
[19:25] <Kaguya> "Really."
[19:25] <Kaguya> "If you experience it more, I'm sure you will grow to like the place as much as I do."
[19:26] <Kai> I really think I will; it's lovely already.
[19:26] * Kaguya put down the empty teacup.
[19:28] <Kaguya> "Why don't you tell me about where you are from?"
[19:28] <Kaguya> "I, too, would like to know about your world."
[19:29] * Kaguya focuses on Kai instead of looking at the garden like she did throughout the conversation.
[19:30] * Kai smiles.
[19:30] <Kai> What do you want to know?
[19:31] * Kai already considers the various plans to establish fledgling outposts on the moon and mars. The moon especially, now.
[19:31] <Kaguya> "Like your birthplace. Your occupation. Your goal."
[19:31] <Kaguya> "Your... life."
[19:33] <Kai> I guess you've told me yours, so it's only fair that I share mine.
[19:34] <Kai> Stop me if I ever mention anything that you don't know or recognize. Ok?
[19:36] <Kaguya> "You will explain it to me anyway, I'm sure."
[19:38] <Kai> Sure, no problem.
[19:38] <Kai> Starting at the beginning, I was born in the state of Kansas, part of the United States. There's nothing really special about that, but my mom did wind up raising me on her own.
[19:40] <Kaguya> "..."
[19:40] * Kaguya let him continue.
[19:43] * Kai continues on for a time, describing his many different interests in musical, literary, scientific, and other fields, along with little details like several childhood friends, his education, and the happy family he has now. He occasionally jumps forwards and backwards in chronology.
[19:44] * Kaguya listens, curious yet quiet. She doesn't ask, and let Kai continues at his pace. 06[19:47] * Kai spends a good deal of time discussing several computer and video game matters as well, a tiny bit on his one past relationship (which lasted a while, but didn't go too far), and a tiny piece of everything.
[19:48] * Kai includes a little notice regarding the USA's plan for a moon base, and that it was put on hold.]
[19:48] * Kai and a little bit on his ambitions to help the world.
[19:48] * Kai finally finishes.
[19:49] * Kaguya seems to be very eager when she hears about video games.
[19:49] <Kaguya> "S-So, you are a sage."
[19:49] <Kaguya> "Am I correct?"
[19:52] * Kai laughs.
[19:53] <Kai> I might dabble in philosophy and want to help the world, but I'm no sage.
[19:53] <Kai> I'm just a computer science student.
[19:57] <Kai> Definitely not royalty, at that.
[19:57] * Kai tips his teacup towards Kaguya.
[19:58] <Kaguya> "A royalty with a plot of land as small as this? I'd prefer being a computer science student."
[19:58] * Kaguya tips her cup (which now filled with hot sake for some reason) towards Kai.
[20:00] <Kaguya> Anyway, you must be tired from the journey. I will have them prepare a bath for you. Relax and unwind, then make yourself presentable.
[20:01] <Kaguya> "We haven't met 'officially' yet, so I assume Eirin will make you and your friend meet me again in a more proper manner."
[20:01] * Kaguya shrugs jokingly.
[20:01] <Kaguya> "Such is the way of the royalty."
[20:01] * Kai chuckles.
[20:01] <Kai> Shall I bow as deeply and as melodramatically as possible?
[20:02] <Kai> I can't quite touch my toes without bending my knees, but...
[20:02] <Kaguya> "Why, it would be fun to watch!"
[20:02] * Kaguya laughs.
[20:04] <Kai> I'll have to make it as ridiculous as possible, then.
[20:05] * Kaguya waves.
[20:05] <Kaguya> "Until then."
[20:06] * Kai does a bow with a slightly ridiculous flourish. As practice, of course.
[20:07] <Kaguya> "You are doing very well for a first timer."
[20:07] * Kaguya giggles.
[20:08] * Kai laughs and walks off.
[20:08] <Kai> Glad I've got talent!
[20:08] * Kai . o O ( ... She is really, really nice. )