Neo Gensokyo Quest - Part 8

[Kilgamayan]

> "... Hey, wild question. Do you feel...weird at all?"

[Neovereign]

> "... Hey, wild question. Do you feel...weird at all?"

> "In what way?" You hear a different voice... Reisen's voice, as she looks at you in slight confusion. She seems to be in her human village disguise as well.
> "If you mean with the getup, well... It's not the best, but it's fine. Not really weird to walk around in. I'm not new to keeping a low profile."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> ...Where did Kosuzu go?
> ...Is Youmu around?

> "No, it's not that. You do look good in that, by the way. But I feel almost like someone's playing with my mind somehow. Ah, not to accuse you or anything, I know you wouldn't do that."

[Neovereign]

> ...Where did Kosuzu go?
> ...Is Youmu around?

> "No, it's not that. You do look good in that, by the way. But I feel almost like someone's playing with my mind somehow. Ah, not to accuse you or anything, I know you wouldn't do that."

> You look around... No Kosuzu in sight though.
> You don't see Youmu around.
> "Uh... R-Right." Reisen says. "At least, I don't think I'm doing anything like that... I feel like I'm supposed to be here for something, but I don't remember what... I mean, I assume I'm delivering something, but I've got no clue what I'm carrying on me right now, or who I'm heading for. Maybe I should go into the village and see if someone calls me out..."
> Reisen puts a hand on her chin and begins to continue into the village.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Go with her, grinning and wrapping an arm around her shoulder to lightly pull her closer to us.
> "Maybe you're heading for me~ Shall I call out for my beautiful bunny Reisen~?"

[Neovereign]

> Go with her, grinning and wrapping an arm around her shoulder to lightly pull her closer to us.
> "Maybe you're heading for me~ Shall I call out for my beautiful bunny Reisen~?"

> "Quit it... people are gonna think we're dating..." Reisen says, though pauses a bit. "...A-Are we? We met up in the village and are both in disguise without our usual wares. At least I haven't found any of mine on me..."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We certainly can be, if you want to. I'd definitely be happy to. I may already have one government-mandated girlfriend, but nothing about that mandate required exclusivity~"

[Neovereign]

> "We certainly can be, if you want to. I'd definitely be happy to. I may already have one government-mandated girlfriend, but nothing about that mandate required exclusivity~"

> "Government mandated?" Reisen questions.
> You feel her almost slip from your grasp a bit as you continue back into the village. By the time you notice such, you're staring at her across a table, and her hands are on her hat.
> "Like, forced int-" Reisen pauses, observing the new surroundings.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are we at a restaurant now? If not, where might we be?

> Chuckle.
> "No, nothing like that. Lord Tenma just took Hata and myself aide and basically told us we're dating now and left it at that. Neither of us have a problem with it at all, of course, it's just that the circumstances were pretty funny. But nothing is being required of us...certainly nothing either of us object to."

[Neovereign]

> Are we at a restaurant now? If not, where might we be?

> Chuckle.
> "No, nothing like that. Lord Tenma just took Hata and myself aide and basically told us we're dating now and left it at that. Neither of us have a problem with it at all, of course, it's just that the circumstances were pretty funny. But nothing is being required of us...certainly nothing either of us object to."

> It doesn't seem like one... if it is, it's open air, at least.  Maybe a café? Less a restaurant, more a quick stop.
> "Uh huh... it sounds like you've got a lot of freedom, huh?" Reisen questions, seemingly giving up on figuring out what's going on?
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Don't worry about the scene transition. Anyway, to answer your question, yes and no. No tengu really truly has freedom; the system keeps us all in check, thanks largely to those that seek to uphold it without even realizing how it shackles them. But Lord Tenma and Boss both know I'm the best they've ever had and ever will have for what I do, so I do get a fair amount of free reign. Knowing you, I imagine you're probably in a similar situation in Eientei."

[Neovereign]

> "Don't worry about the scene transition. Anyway, to answer your question, yes and no. No tengu really truly has freedom; the system keeps us all in check, thanks largely to those that seek to uphold it without even realizing how it shackles them. But Lord Tenma and Boss both know I'm the best they've ever had and ever will have for what I do, so I do get a fair amount of free reign. Knowing you, I imagine you're probably in a similar situation in Eientei."

> "Not really... Tewi has jurisdiction over the bunnies, the princess can order all of us around, and mas- er, Eirin only really listens to the princess. I've got no carrot in the hat, but everyone can boss me around as they please. I hardly ever see any of the others actually listen to orders and not relay it to me instead." Reisen complains. "I wouldn't say there's much of a system, but when you can just go to someone else and hand your duties off to them..."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That sounds like a different system that has you trapped and disrespects your talents, then. All the more reason we should date each other; I can support you better, and possibly even get you out of there if you decide you want or need it."

[Neovereign]

> "That sounds like a different system that has you trapped and disrespects your talents, then. All the more reason we should date each other; I can support you better, and possibly even get you out of there if you decide you want or need it."

> "I've already got my moments of freedom. Next step is just lightening the loads and trying some other things to make my time better." Reisen explains.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Be that as it may, I would still support you as I'm able."

[Neovereign]

> "Be that as it may, I would still support you as I'm able."

> Reisen nods a bit.
> "...So, did we end up ordering anything?"
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "Beats me. I don't know how we got here. Honestly, I think you and I are probably dreaming at the moment, so I haven't thought very hard about it. You can probably have ordered something already if you, in the now moment, want to have previously ordered something."

[Neovereign]

> Shrug.
> "Beats me. I don't know how we got here. Honestly, I think you and I are probably dreaming at the moment, so I haven't thought very hard about it. You can probably have ordered something already if you, in the now moment, want to have previously ordered something."

> "Actually..." Reisen starts. "I've been tossing the idea that this could be a dream in the air... But despite such thoughts and things definitely being different and odd from reality, there's no manipulation I can do in regards to it. We could be our dream selves right now, in the dream world, but that makes me wonder if Doremy's up to something..."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Maybe she knows how hard you and I have been working and wanted to reward us with alone time with some pretty ladies like each other."
> Look around.
> "Hey, Doremy, how're you doing?"

[Neovereign]

> "Maybe she knows how hard you and I have been working and wanted to reward us with alone time with some pretty ladies like each other."
> Look around.
> "Hey, Doremy, how're you doing?"

> ...
> "Guess she isn't listening in? I doubt we're the most important people to snoop on anyways."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Shame. Oh well, that just means no one's watching us. Which means we can do this."
> Reach across the table to behind Reisen's head and neck, pull her toward us while we lean ourselves forward, and give her a big kiss.

[Neovereign]

> "Shame. Oh well, that just means no one's watching us. Which means we can do this."
> Reach across the table to behind Reisen's head and neck, pull her toward us while we lean ourselves forward, and give her a big kiss.

> You reach behind Reisen's head, avoiding her ears, and pull her in across the table.
> She seems surprised, and her expression is softer than the troubled one she had before.
> By quite a bit. Actually, is this still Reisen...? Her whole face seems off.
> ...You... think it is, just, not the Reisen you were just with... peripheral vision implies not much changes happened like outside the village, but this isn't the exact spot you were just at.
> Aand her face is starting to fill with alarm...
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> ...Is it the other Reisen? The one we used as a club?

[Neovereign]

> ...Is it the other Reisen? The one we used as a club?

> You believe so.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let her go and pull back ourselves with a concerned look.
> "...Okay, didn't expect that to happen. For the record, you were someone else, like, three seconds ago."
> Glance around to get a better idea of where we are.

[Neovereign]

> Let her go and pull back ourselves with a concerned look.
> "...Okay, didn't expect that to happen. For the record, you were someone else, like, three seconds ago."
> Glance around to get a better idea of where we are.

> "Y-You again?" The bunny girl steps back. "Where did lady- ah. A dream, this must be a dream."
> You still seem to be in the village, but standing up somewhere. Another café? Is it not the same one? A different time of day?
> The original Reisen doesn't seem to be around... it seems like just you two are here.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That's my guess too. Though, given who's come before you from my perspective, that bodes well for you."
> "So, uh, hey. I'm sorry for what I did to you. I should have handled that situation way better, and you didn't deserve to be treated that way."

[Neovereign]

> "That's my guess too. Though, given who's come before you from my perspective, that bodes well for you."
> "So, uh, hey. I'm sorry for what I did to you. I should have handled that situation way better, and you didn't deserve to be treated that way."

> "What do you mean bodes well?" She questions, holding her head almost defensively.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's been people I like a lot. I've been hoping for a while to get to talk to you and apologize to you; I want to make it up to you and be on better terms with you."
> Wave a hand dismissively.
> "Not the kissing thing, though. That was meant for someone else. You don't need to worry about that. ...Unless you enjoyed it? I'd certainly be down for that if you did."

[Neovereign]

> "It's been people I like a lot. I've been hoping for a while to get to talk to you and apologize to you; I want to make it up to you and be on better terms with you."
> Wave a hand dismissively.
> "Not the kissing thing, though. That was meant for someone else. You don't need to worry about that. ...Unless you enjoyed it? I'd certainly be down for that if you did."

> "I-Im fine. I don't need an apology." The bunny claims, getting ready, and...
> Jumping into thin air.
> She reappears a few feet to the side in the next moment, faceplanting...
>_