Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Topic started by: Neovereign on February 28, 2024, 01:47:21 AM
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> You are Myon, the phantom half of Youmu Konpaku.
> Well, you are Youmu Konpaku as well, but in order for others to differentiate when they mean something directly corresponding to Youmu's phantom half and Youmu's human half, they use Myon for the latter.
> Regardless, you are Youmu Konpaku, a special creature who is half human, half phantom. It’s fine enough to call yourself human. Although you’re a bit easily deceived and a tad sensitive, you’re honest, hardworking, diligent, and skilled! It’d be nice if people saw your better traits more often!
> However, you are also currently incapacitated, with no way to get up...
> Your phantom half is fine and able bodied, however.
> You aren't sure why this happened.
> You are currently on your way home from the human village. Or, were before this... you didn't really get that far. Kourindou is nearby, and you could turn back towards the village, too. There's also heading on, towards Misty Lake...
>_
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> Youmu is scared of ghosts right? Scare Youmu awake!
> Assuming nothing happens make a run for Kourindou.
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> Youmu is scared of ghosts right? Scare Youmu awake!
> Assuming nothing happens make a run for Kourindou.
> You try to scare your human half awake, but nothing you can do seems to get to her unconscious self.
> Not too mention Youmu isn't really scared of herself either.
> You float to Kourindou in spirit form, abandoning the human half to the wilds...
> Kourindou opens up easily, however, the shopkeeper is facedown on the desk.
> You can see a small spirit with his likeness floating above his body, confused.
>_
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> ???
> Give ourselves a quick look-over. Do we look the same as we usually do, including how large or small we normally are?
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> ???
> Give ourselves a quick look-over. Do we look the same as we usually do, including how large or small we normally are?
> You recall your previous appearance vs your current. You appear to be the same large size as usual. Wait, maybe a bit bigger? Not quite, but something is off.
> This spirit looking a bit like Rinnosuke tips you off at something you might not have noticed alone. Even though you've been in your usual featureless state and not actively trying to appear as such, you can see a bit of your physical body in your appearance.
>_
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> When we entered Kourindou, did we make physical contact with the door to open it, or did we phase through the door/wall?
> Do we seem to be the same size as under normal circumstances when we actively try to look like our human half?
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> When we entered Kourindou, did we make physical contact with the door to open it, or did we phase through the door/wall?
> Do we seem to be the same size as under normal circumstances when we actively try to look like our human half?
> You physically opened it. There's no seals, so you could just pass through it, but that'd be ruder than barging in like so.
> You seem larger. Thus, it doesn't seem like you're partway into taking Youmu's form.
>_
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> Try speaking: "Uh...?"
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> Try speaking: "Uh...?"
> Youmus voice - well, your voice, comes out. That's normally not supposed to happen, you think...
> "Huh?" The spirit above Rinnosuke questions. "Oh. Sorry, there's... a bit of an unexpected situation. I'm afraid we're not open right now due to that."
>_
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> We've never spoken before, have we?
> We've observed that Spirit Rinnosuke appears to be 'a small spirit', and that we seem to be larger than normal. Does that makes us larger than his spirit?
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> We've never spoken before, have we?
> We've observed that Spirit Rinnosuke appears to be 'a small spirit', and that we seem to be larger than normal. Does that makes us larger than his spirit?
> You aren't supposed to be able to.
> Very much so. Even if you were your usual size, you would still be larger. After all, your usual size is enough that you could possibly engulf a fairy entirely, if not some humans.
> You aren't sure if you're big enough now to engulf a human of his size though. Probably not a good idea to try anyways.
>_
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> Did our voice at least sound like our human half's voice?
> What were we doing at the Human Village, anyway?
> When we look at the spirits that float around the Netherworld, do we normally see formless blobs, or do we see humanoid shapes?
> "Y-yeah...uh, sorry for intruding. ...Are...are you...feeling okay, as you are?"
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> Is there anything in Kourindou that may help us raise our human half?
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> Did our voice at least sound like our human half's voice?
> What were we doing at the Human Village, anyway?
> When we look at the spirits that float around the Netherworld, do we normally see formless blobs, or do we see humanoid shapes?
> "Y-yeah...uh, sorry for intruding. ...Are...are you...feeling okay, as you are?"
> Is there anything in Kourindou that may help us raise our human half?
> Mostly.
> Getting out a bit. Checking out the village. It's not like you can't visit the most prominent place of humans in Gensokyo just to visit it instead of only when getting groceries after all.
> They're always formless.
> "I was feeling fine just earlier. I don't think this was a heart attack on that note, but am I really dead? Hm..." He seems... disappointed with this fate, rather than alarmed or worried.
> You look around, but... you're not sure what you should even be looking for. An elixir or something? You don't even see any liquids on display right now anyways.
>_
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> Do we know of Geidontei?
> Does Rinnosuke's spirit seem directly attached to his body?
> "Well...I'll get back to myself, I guess. Good luck to all of us."
> Exit the shop heading back to our human half. One we reach her, try engulfing her, so that we just have her with us for safety.
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> Do we know of Geidontei?
> Does Rinnosuke's spirit seem directly attached to his body?
> "Well...I'll get back to myself, I guess. Good luck to all of us."
> Exit the shop heading back to our human half. One we reach her, try engulfing her, so that we just have her with us for safety.
> You're not good with alcohol... You'd normally have no reason to even head to a bar thanks to that.
> You don't see any connection from him to it. It's not like you have any for Youmu and yourself either.
> "All of us?" Rinnosuke questions as you leave.
> You head back to where your human half should be left behind. Ah, good, she's still there.
> You try to cover her entirely... It looks like it'll work!
> You jolt awake in surprise, your phantom half shooting out of your personal space. You think that managed to get you up.
> Ugh, your human half's experiences don't seem to be of any use in finding any evidence as to what happened in the first place. It's not even something you've felt before.
> At the very least, maybe that means that this wasn't something of Lady Yuyuko's doing.
>_
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> ??!?!??!?
> Stand up and check our human half over to make sure it's okay (and the proper size).
> Is our phantom half back to its normal size?
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> ??!?!??!?
> Stand up and check our human half over to make sure it's okay (and the proper size).
> Is our phantom half back to its normal size?
> You examine yourself. Everything seems in order. Your swords are still present, so it doesn't look like anyone robbed you while you were out.
> In Myon's view, you seem a bit smaller than usual. Conversely, Myon is larger than normal. Maybe that's just Myon being larger alone, then...
> Unlike it previously noted, it doesn't appear to have any traits similar to you. Myon just looks a little larger than normal, nothing else.
>_
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> Does our phantom half feel any different, like something got mixed into us somehow?
> How much effort does it take for us to make our phantom half look like our human half?
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> Does our phantom half feel any different, like something got mixed into us somehow?
> How much effort does it take for us to make our phantom half look like our human half?
> That... might be it, if you had any way to describe it...
> It's not that difficult. What takes more effort is having it take on human movements. Of course, being a human yourself, you're used to moving like a human - but your phantom half has always been a phantom, and doing human movements on its own while you're doing other things is more difficult. Having it follow your previous actions is easier, though. Likewise, if you aren't doing much, it's easier for it to do more complex things.
> You could probably train yourself to get better at guiding your phantom half in human movements.
>_
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> Put in the effort needed to make our phantom half look like our human half, to see what happens.
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> We should probably go back to Kourindou and let Rinnosuke know how to return to his body. If it even works for Youkai?
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> Put in the effort needed to make our phantom half look like our human half, to see what happens.
> We should probably go back to Kourindou and let Rinnosuke know how to return to his body. If it even works for Youkai?
> You have Myon mimic your appearance. It goes the same as usual, though your phantom half is noticeably bigger all around. It's like you have an elder twin sister...
> You could try...
>_
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> Is she hot?
> Hmm. It might be possible that a small spirit human us came out of our human half, like what happened with Rinnosuke, but it got sucked into our phantom half somehow, which is how our phantom half ended up the way it did. Then maybe our spirit got put back in our human half when we engulfed ourselves.
> ...Does that mean we're three halves now...?
> Try saying "Hello" through our phantom half.
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> Is she hot?
> Hmm. It might be possible that a small spirit human us came out of our human half, like what happened with Rinnosuke, but it got sucked into our phantom half somehow, which is how our phantom half ended up the way it did. Then maybe our spirit got put back in our human half when we engulfed ourselves.
> ...Does that mean we're three halves now...?
> Try saying "Hello" through our phantom half.
> She looks pretty much like you. It's difficult to get yourself to try and come across that train of thought...
> You feel like you're confusing yourself.
> Your phantom half speaks the words you attempt. It can still do that like earlier... Just what happened to cause this. Did it reach the village too?
>_
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> We better investigate, the village sounds like a good place to start!
> Might as well let the shopkeeper know how we returned to our body! Having good credit with Kourindou never hurts!
> Return to the shop with our newfound body and announce "I found a way back! Try floating into your body and covering it."
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> Given our "phantom half is noticeably bigger all around", does that mean it is simply a consistently scaled-up version of our human half? Or are there some parts that increased proportionally more than others?
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> We better investigate, the village sounds like a good place to start!
> Might as well let the shopkeeper know how we returned to our body! Having good credit with Kourindou never hurts!
> Return to the shop with our newfound body and announce "I found a way back! Try floating into your body and covering it."
> Given our "phantom half is noticeably bigger all around", does that mean it is simply a consistently scaled-up version of our human half? Or are there some parts that increased proportionally more than others?
> You return to Kourindou, spotting the spirit trying to get into Rinnosuke's head.
> "Ah, good for you." He speaks, though looks at the body. "I'm afraid that might be a but difficult for me..."
> Compared to you, this sprit is much smaller than the body it probably came from... you don't think it could engulf it even if the body was curled into a perfect ball.
> It's certain area's, as if there's more of your human half than your phantom half.
> Supporting this thought, your phantom half feels warmer than usual. The inverse seems true for your human half.
>_
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> Can we sense temperature differences between Rinnosuke's body and his spirit?
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> Can we sense temperature differences between Rinnosuke's body and his spirit?
> Given neither of them are you, you can't at a distance like this.
>_
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> Explain "I may be able to help."
> Sit down somewhere (to avoid falling fall if we pass out) and try engulfing Rinnosuke's body with our phantom half.
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> Explain "I may be able to help."
> Sit down somewhere (to avoid falling fall if we pass out) and try engulfing Rinnosuke's body with our phantom half.
> You take a seat within Kourindou and have your phantom half head over to Rinnosuke's body in it's usual form.
> Unlike with your own body earlier, you are able to start actually engulfing it without suddenly being pushed away for some reason. Maybe it was a one-time thing?
> Though, you soon feel a sudden sharp sensation, like someone just grabbed you or shoved their hands in your shirt after being out in the cold for a while.
>_
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> "Ack!"
> Pull away, pull away!
> Make sure both our halves our okay, then make sure Rinnosuke's body and spirit are okay.
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> "Ack!"
> Pull away, pull away!
> Make sure both our halves our okay, then make sure Rinnosuke's body and spirit are okay.
> You carefully release Rinnosuke's body, wondering what happened.
> His spirit is still present, so you didn't absorb that or anything. Your own body and phantom half both look the same...
> There's another sensation... Like... you're on the cusp of figuring something out.
> "I don't think that helped..." The spirit speaks.
>_
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> Phantom half: "It hurt, if anything. Or not hurt, but was suddenly really uncomfortable."
> Adopt a thinkin expression with both halves.
> Human half: "...Would you be okay if I left you here for a bit? I still want to help, and I might have other ideas, but I don't want a repeat of that sensation."
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> Phantom half: "It hurt, if anything. Or not hurt, but was suddenly really uncomfortable."
> Adopt a thinkin expression with both halves.
> Human half: "...Would you be okay if I left you here for a bit? I still want to help, and I might have other ideas, but I don't want a repeat of that sensation."
> "That's fine. I'm probably safer in here than elsewhere. This place isn't frequented by dangerous individuals at least."
> The sensation grows a bit more, before suddenly forming in full in your head. Sheathes! They're sword sheathes!
> You... don't know why that came into your head, but the sensation is gone now.
> Today is a weird day.
>_
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> ???
> Have a look at our sword sheathes to see if anything is off about them.
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> ???
> Have a look at our sword sheathes to see if anything is off about them.
> You examine them, however, you don't note anything different than usual.
>_
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> Screw up our face in confusion for a moment, then shake our head.
> "Okay. I'll try to come back when I know more."
> Exit the store and hurry back to the human village. If we see anyone on the way, though, pause our travels and check on them.
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> Screw up our face in confusion for a moment, then shake our head.
> "Okay. I'll try to come back when I know more."
> Exit the store and hurry back to the human village. If we see anyone on the way, though, pause our travels and check on them.
> "Safe travels." Rinnosuke's spirit speaks, as you leave the store, closing the door behind you.
> You start for the Human village...
> Along the way, you can see newspapers sparsely littering the ground. It's not a lot, but it looks like people were just throwing them away after reading them for a while from the village. However, it doesn't look like it leads to the village, so much as somewhere off the path.
>_
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> Pick up one of the newspapers.
> Check it to see which paper it is.
> Then skim through it for anything unusual that might be of interest.
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> If it is a certain 'infamous' newspaper, head straight for the gossip section to check if any misinformation is being spread about Lady Yuyuko or us.
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> Pick up one of the newspapers.
> Check it to see which paper it is.
> Then skim through it for anything unusual that might be of interest.
> If it is a certain 'infamous' newspaper, head straight for the gossip section to check if any misinformation is being spread about Lady Yuyuko or us.
> It's Bunbunmaru. A bit expected...
> Well, maybe it could lead to some information about what's going on.
> A quick skim shows there's nothing about you or Lady Yuyuko, nor the netherworld at all. Just little tidbits like cute accessories on pets, or rumors on how to live longer.
> There is something about spirits, but it's only something about spirits and dolls. An event of sorts in the village. Seems you would've already missed it anyways.
>_
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> Check the date and time on that event, sure we might've already missed it but double check it wasn't earlier today when all our troubles began?
> Might as well hold onto this, perhaps something will become relevant later on once we learn more about what's going on. If all else fails it'll make an excellent projectile.
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> Pocket the paper, and then follow the trail of papers. It's unusual enough to be worth looking into.
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> Check the date and time on that event, sure we might've already missed it but double check it wasn't earlier today when all our troubles began?
> Might as well hold onto this, perhaps something will become relevant later on once we learn more about what's going on. If all else fails it'll make an excellent projectile.
> Pocket the paper, and then follow the trail of papers. It's unusual enough to be worth looking into.
> It seems like it was earlier today, but well before you even got to the village.
> Even so, that does still make it possible that this was the cause, or maybe worth looking into...
> You pocket the newspaper and follow the rest of the trail, away from the village.
> The trail fails to continue after a bit. All that you see left nearby is something black in the grass beside a tree. Well, a few black things.
>_
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> Do the black things appear to be clothes or otherwise part of a person?
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> Do the black things appear to be clothes or otherwise part of a person?
> It might be hair?
> Ah, no, it's feathers.
>_
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> Frown.
> Hurry over to the tree and look around for Aya, who might've been mid-air when this spirit thing happened and crash-landed.
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> Frown.
> Hurry over to the tree and look around for Aya, who might've been mid-air when this spirit thing happened and crash-landed.
> You hurry to the tree, finding more feathers, and a bag filled with newspapers.
> However, there's no Aya... Not in the tree or around...
>_
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> Any signs of a body getting dragged somewhere, maybe?
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> Any signs of a body getting dragged somewhere, maybe?
> You try to look for any traces of such...
> The grass does look smushed in one direction. In fact, looking this way, you can see bushes being bothered.
>_
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> Follow that trail! There'll be no abductions on our watch!
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> Follow that trail! There'll be no abductions on our watch!
> You follow the trail, coming across Aya Shameimaru, lying in the bush...
> Next to her is a similar case to Rinnosuke - a spirit with similar traits to the being beside it.
> There are also a few crows placing leaves and branches atop her body...
> You're not close enough that they've noticed you yet, you believe. Even the birds are preoccupied in their work.
>_
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> If we can see and hear with our phantom half, then send our human half back to the bag full of newspapers, and gently approach Aya and the crows with our phantom half.
> If we cannot see and hear with our phantom half, then send our phantom half back to the bag full of newspapers, and gently approach Aya and the crows with our human half.
> Whichever half approaches them: "Miss Shameimaru?"
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> If we can see and hear with our phantom half, then send our human half back to the bag full of newspapers, and gently approach Aya and the crows with our phantom half.
> If we cannot see and hear with our phantom half, then send our phantom half back to the bag full of newspapers, and gently approach Aya and the crows with our human half.
> Whichever half approaches them: "Miss Shameimaru?"
> You can - thus you have your human half collect the newspapers and bag.
> You then have your phantom half approach Aya and address her.
> The crows jump in alarm, and as does the spirit.
> "Huh!? Crap, I didn't hide enough!"
> You feel wind picking up. A pretty strong breeze trying to blow you back. Not enough to do more than start pushing you away slightly - but still enough to know its Aya's doing and not natural winds.
>_
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> "Ah, please wait! I'm here to try to help!"
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> "Ah, please wait! I'm here to try to help!"
> "Huh? Really now." The spirit stops. "And how will you help, exactly? How do you even know what this is?"
>_
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> "Huh? Really now." The spirit stops. "And how will you help, exactly? How do you even know what this is?"
>_
> Suggest "Try floating into your body as a spirit!"
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> "Or, if that doesn't work, I can try it for you. Since, well..."
> Gesture up and down at ourselves.
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> Suggest "Try floating into your body as a spirit!"
> "Or, if that doesn't work, I can try it for you. Since, well..."
> Gesture up and down at ourselves.
> "I've tried that already." The spirit pokes itself against Aya's body. "It just doesn't work. I hope this is just a dream. How could something like this happen to an innocent maiden like myself?"
> The spirit looks you up and down.
> "Right, you are half human half phantom. I guess this thing doesn't really bother you. I think it's gotten to other people too, so this might be an incident..." She speaks. "Even if it's just around the Human Village."
>_
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> "I mean, it does kinda bother me a little? I shouldn't really be able to see or hear or speak with this half of me, and this half of me shouldn't be this large."
> Blink.
> "Well, maybe bother is the wrong word, because those are definitely all good things. But I was affected, and still kinda am, I guess. I can tell you that Mister Shopkeeper is also affected, so it's probably happening everywhere else. I was actually headed to the human village to check on them before I came across your crash site."
> Look to Aya's body, then back at her spirit.
> "So...I, uh, 'fixed' myself by engulfing my human half with my phantom half. If you want, I can try something similar with this half of me and you. I can't say for sure what'll happen, if anything, but I'm willing to try."
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> "I mean, it does kinda bother me a little? I shouldn't really be able to see or hear or speak with this half of me, and this half of me shouldn't be this large."
> Blink.
> "Well, maybe bother is the wrong word, because those are definitely all good things. But I was affected, and still kinda am, I guess. I can tell you that Mister Shopkeeper is also affected, so it's probably happening everywhere else. I was actually headed to the human village to check on them before I came across your crash site."
> Look to Aya's body, then back at her spirit.
> "So...I, uh, 'fixed' myself by engulfing my human half with my phantom half. If you want, I can try something similar with this half of me and you. I can't say for sure what'll happen, if anything, but I'm willing to try."
> "I'd rather not have my body eaten... But maybe it's better for a phantom to try and move it than something worse. I can't exactly move myself very fast like this."
>_
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> Frown a bit.
> "I'm not going to eat your body...but if you're concerned about it, I could try engulfing your spirit instead?"
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> Frown a bit.
> "I'm not going to eat your body...but if you're concerned about it, I could try engulfing your spirit instead?"
> "Neither of those sound like they'll really help. From what I recall, your phantom half can imitate your shape and movements, but you don't have the greatest track record of putting things back where they belong..."
>_
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> Has our human half joined up yet?
> Frown a bit.
> "I'm literally bringing your bag back to you right now."
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> Has our human half joined up yet?
> Frown a bit.
> "I'm literally bringing your bag back to you right now."
> Yes.
> "Mm, that's nice and all, but I do recall you being tough to part with the nature of spring itself. Not to mention with the yama. Do you have better examples of the opposite?"
>_
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> Wait what thing with the Yama did we not return properly?
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> Wait what thing with the Yama did we not return properly?
> You don't think you've run into her much. Unless Aya is talking about something to do with killing people? Or maybe spirits. You think you got nagged on something about that before...
>_
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> "Hey, Lady Yuyuko wanted the spring. I can't go against that. As for the yama, I don't know what you're talking about..."
> Lay the news bag next to Aya's body.
> "Look. Even if I can't necessarily put you back into yourself, I can at least bring you - both parts of you - with me so that you're not completely defenseless."
-
> "Hey, Lady Yuyuko wanted the spring. I can't go against that. As for the yama, I don't know what you're talking about..."
> Lay the news bag next to Aya's body.
> "Look. Even if I can't necessarily put you back into yourself, I can at least bring you - both parts of you - with me so that you're not completely defenseless."
> You set the bag down.
> Aya sighs.
> "I guess that's better than this for now..."
>_
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> Nod (with both halves).
> "Alright. Tell me if you need me to stop for some reason, of course."
> Float our phantom half (still shaped like a larger version of our human half) over to the tengu's prone body, descend upon her like we're lying on top her her, and engulf her.
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> Nod (with both halves).
> "Alright. Tell me if you need me to stop for some reason, of course."
> Float our phantom half (still shaped like a larger version of our human half) over to the tengu's prone body, descend upon her like we're lying on top her her, and engulf her.
> You try with your phantom half first, trying to engulf Aya's body.
> Like before with Rinnosuke, you feel that same sensation, though aren't pushed away like with his or your own body. Instead, you're able to lift Aya up.
> Though, she's heavy... You can't do this for long.
> "Trying to go back in while you're doing that doesn't seem to work..." Aya comments.
>_
-
> We'll probably have a strange thought momentarily, then...
> "Hmm...hold still for a moment, then, please."
> Try rotating our phantom half to a standing position, to see if it's easier to hold her that way.
> Whether the above works or not, float toward Aya's spirit and engulf that too.
-
> We'll probably have a strange thought momentarily, then...
> "Hmm...hold still for a moment, then, please."
> Try rotating our phantom half to a standing position, to see if it's easier to hold her that way.
> Whether the above works or not, float toward Aya's spirit and engulf that too.
> You stand back up and try to engulf Aya's spirit.
> You only seem to push against it and push it away.
> "Mhm... no dice..." She comments.
>_
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> Is Aya's spirit directly connected to her body in a visible fashion?
> How much 'open' space remains inside our phantom half while Aya's body is there?
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> Is Aya's spirit directly connected to her body in a visible fashion?
> How much 'open' space remains inside our phantom half while Aya's body is there?
> No.
> Not much at all. You couldn't even squeeze a fairy in.
>_
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> Do we possess enough control over the shape and malleability of our phantom half that we could cram our phantom half into Aya's mouth, down her throat, and spread ourselves throughout her body?
> "Hmm..."
> Using whatever control over our innards we think we might halve, try moving and molding our phantom half innards around Aya's body in order to move it around so it curls up inside us to make more space.
> Also, try moving our human half into Aya's spirit, to see if they'll combine somehow.
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> Do we possess enough control over the shape and malleability of our phantom half that we could cram our phantom half into Aya's mouth, down her throat, and spread ourselves throughout her body?
> "Hmm..."
> Using whatever control over our innards we think we might halve, try moving and molding our phantom half innards around Aya's body in order to move it around so it curls up inside us to make more space.
> Also, try moving our human half into Aya's spirit, to see if they'll combine somehow.
> You believe you could. You're not sure why you would want to though. You suppose if such a situation came up like someone choking, you'd be able to save them directly with it...
> You shift your phantom half awkwardly, pushing Aya around until she... takes up less space. It's not exactly the best curl up, but you've got her more extreme limbs closer to herself without breaking anything. You hope these don't strain her later. There's still no room for a fairy, given your phantom half is still in the shape of yourself. If it were in it's usual shape, you think the open space could fit such a size.
> "I'd like if you don't end up making my body feel terrible when I get back into it..." Aya comments.
> You try to push against Aya's spirit, but nothing gets it into you.
> "Aren't we trying to get me back into my body, not yours?" Aya questions. "Hm, this is unfair."
>_
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> Is Aya's spirit small enough that we could entirely enclose her within the space created by us linking our human half hands and fingers together?
-
> Is Aya's spirit small enough that we could entirely enclose her within the space created by us linking our human half hands and fingers together?
> No. You'd say she's about the size of your head.
>_
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> Hmm, what about if she curled herself up into a ball?
-
> Hmm, what about if she curled herself up into a ball?
> The spirit is mostly a head, similar to Rinnosuke's. You think his somehow had glasses.
>_
-
> Frown a bit.
> "That's how I got back in myself...I was hoping it would work for you too, or at least give you a body to work with again. Okay, new plan."
> Gently lower Aya's body down, out of our phantom half, and onto the ground, resting.
> "Okay. This next part is going to be a bit embarrassing, so please don't tell anyone about it..."
> Take Aya's spirit form in hand, pull the bottom of our shirt out forward, and gently tuck Aya's spirit up inside our shirt from below. Pin the bottom of our shirt to our stomach once she's in to keep her within.
> Then have our phantom half engulf our human half again.
-
> Frown a bit.
> "That's how I got back in myself...I was hoping it would work for you too, or at least give you a body to work with again. Okay, new plan."
> Gently lower Aya's body down, out of our phantom half, and onto the ground, resting.
> "Okay. This next part is going to be a bit embarrassing, so please don't tell anyone about it..."
> Take Aya's spirit form in hand, pull the bottom of our shirt out forward, and gently tuck Aya's spirit up inside our shirt from below. Pin the bottom of our shirt to our stomach once she's in to keep her within.
> Then have our phantom half engulf our human half again.
> You have your phantom half set Aya's body back onto the ground.
> "Well you're already half a phantom anyways." Aya says. "And what's embarrass-"
> You stuff her spirit under your shirt. Your outfit isn't that loose, so it seems like she'll stay there without slipping out.
> But... It's really cold. Like you shoved a bunch of snow onto you. Well, a bit more bearable than such at least.
> "A-..." Aya pauses in surprise. "I... hope you're doing this in mind with somewhere safe to set me later, and not planning on toting me and my body around like this..."
>_
-
> Human half: "Ideally not. My hope is what's next is actual progress."
> Fully engulf our human half (with Aya's spirit under our shirt) with our phantom half.
-
> Human half: "Ideally not. My hope is what's next is actual progress."
> Fully engulf our human half (with Aya's spirit under our shirt) with our phantom half.
> You try to have your phantom half engulf yourself. Given its larger than you, it starts to work - unlike when you woke yourself up.
> However, your shirt struggles a bit, before Aya's spirit ultimately squishes out from within it, as if repelled by your own phantom half.
> "Ah." She stops herself before she hits the ground or the bushes. "Um... Maybe try holding onto me?
> You notice her spirit's shape actually got squished. Not smaller, but more stretched. At least before returning to normal after she stopped herself from hitting the ground. Perhaps she can change her shape similar to your phantom half? Though, that doesn't help with curling up since she's already mostly spherical.
>_
-
> ...?
> "Uh, sure..."
> Gently pick Aya's spirit up again with our human half.
> "...I noticed something during that, which has given me a new idea...please let me know if this feels unpleasant."
> Try squishing Aya's spirit our hands, to reshape it to be longer and flatter.
-
> ...?
> "Uh, sure..."
> Gently pick Aya's spirit up again with our human half.
> "...I noticed something during that, which has given me a new idea...please let me know if this feels unpleasant."
> Try squishing Aya's spirit our hands, to reshape it to be longer and flatter.
> You pick up Aya's spirit and try to squish it length-wise.
> It's a bit resistant, but nothing like an actual body.
> "Uun... This is a bit unpleasant. I feel like clay, or dough." Aya comments.
> The form sticks, but it's slowly going back to it's spherical shape. Though, not as instantly as earlier.
>_
-
> Give a slight smile.
> "Welcome to half my world. Now, let's see here..."
> Reshape Aya's spirit so it's long and thin.
> Then have our phantom half 'open' its 'mouth', and try having our human half push Aya's spirit inside the open mouth.
-
> Give a slight smile.
> "Welcome to half my world. Now, let's see here..."
> Reshape Aya's spirit so it's long and thin.
> Then have our phantom half 'open' its 'mouth', and try having our human half push Aya's spirit inside the open mouth.
> You further flatten out Aya's spirit, to her displeasure, and try to push the spirit into your phantom half's mouth.
> It'd fit... but it's still being repelled by your half spirit. Each attempt just slips her out the sides of your hands as you push.
>_
-
> Hmm...
> Pass Aya's spirit off from our human half to our phantom half, to see if our phantom half can hold her, or if she's just automatically repelled.
> If our phantom half is capable of holding her, then flatten her out to be long and thin again. Then press our phantom half's arms together with the flatted spirit pinned in between them, and try to merge our phantom half's arms together around the flattened spirit.
-
> Hmm...
> Pass Aya's spirit off from our human half to our phantom half, to see if our phantom half can hold her, or if she's just automatically repelled.
> If our phantom half is capable of holding her, then flatten her out to be long and thin again. Then press our phantom half's arms together with the flatted spirit pinned in between them, and try to merge our phantom half's arms together around the flattened spirit.
> You hand the spirit over.
> You do appear to be able to hold her. Shaping her is much more difficult, however. It's like it's getting repelled from too much force.
>_
-
> Pass her back to our human half to shape her as desired, then.
> Then pass per back to our phantom half and try the arm-merge thing described previously.
-
> Pass her back to our human half to shape her as desired, then.
> Then pass per back to our phantom half and try the arm-merge thing described previously.
> You pass Aya's spirit around to shape it again, and try to squish her into your phantom half's arms using them again.
> Unfortunately, the force starts to shape her again, aiding in slipping her away from the limbs like a bar of soap.
> "If you can make your arms or hands big enough, maybe you can make it so I won't slip away?" Aya suggests, despite the discomfort.
>_
-
> "Maybe...but I think I might have a different idea."
> Let Aya's spirit return to normal form.
> Then, while holding it securely with our human half, have our phantom half extend a hand to it, and try to pass through it, so that it is engulfing us rather than the other way around.
-
> "Maybe...but I think I might have a different idea."
> Let Aya's spirit return to normal form.
> Then, while holding it securely with our human half, have our phantom half extend a hand to it, and try to pass through it, so that it is engulfing us rather than the other way around.
> You hold Aya's spirit in place and try to pass through it with your phantom half.
> Surprisingly, it works. Though it isn't clear which is engulfing which...
> "Wait, what was different this time?" Aya questions.
>_
-
> Human half: "Perspective. Now this is something we can worth with."
> Use our human half to begin stretching Aya's spirit out very tall and wide, like a sheet.
> As Aya's spirit's surface area grows, enter more and more of her with our phantom half, letting her engulf. Ideally, the ultimate result is that Aya is stretched large enough that our phantom half can exist entirely within her spirit, with her face lining up with ours.
-
> Human half: "Perspective. Now this is something we can worth with."
> Use our human half to begin stretching Aya's spirit out very tall and wide, like a sheet.
> As Aya's spirit's surface area grows, enter more and more of her with our phantom half, letting her engulf. Ideally, the ultimate result is that Aya is stretched large enough that our phantom half can exist entirely within her spirit, with her face lining up with ours.
> You start to stretch Aya's spirit out thinly, though you can't do so after a point.
> That point is unfortunately well before being able to fit even half of your phantom half into... Maybe you need something better at stretching or pressing things to be paper thin.
> "I don't think I like what you're trying to do anymore..." Aya speaks. "I'm not a newspaper."
>_
-
> Sigh.
> "Sorry. Really thought I had something there, where if your spirit were large enough, you could take your body into yourself and be reunited with it."
-
> Sigh.
> "Sorry. Really thought I had something there, where if your spirit were large enough, you could take your body into yourself and be reunited with it."
> "I think your phantom's the only phantom anywhere as large as someone's body..."
>_
-
> "Well, still."
> "...I can...try putting you inside my human half...?"
-
> "Well, still."
> "...I can...try putting you inside my human half...?"
> "Do you have an idea for getting me to my own body after?"
>_
-
> "...Actually, come to think of it, I do. Please trust me for a moment; I'll be trusting you in the same way."
> Using our human half, reshape Aya's spirit into a form that we can put into our mouth, much like last time.
> However, this time, take and hold a breath, open our human half's mouth, and put her inside. The goal is to get her all the way inside so that we can close our mouth with her trapped inside without swallowing her down.
> If we are able to do this, then fully engulf our human half with our phantom half again, and open our human half's mouth and retrieve Aya once we're fully inside ourselves.
-
> "...Actually, come to think of it, I do. Please trust me for a moment; I'll be trusting you in the same way."
> Using our human half, reshape Aya's spirit into a form that we can put into our mouth, much like last time.
> However, this time, take and hold a breath, open our human half's mouth, and put her inside. The goal is to get her all the way inside so that we can close our mouth with her trapped inside without swallowing her down.
> If we are able to do this, then fully engulf our human half with our phantom half again, and open our human half's mouth and retrieve Aya once we're fully inside ourselves.
> You reshape Aya's spirit and... eat it. Or at least, hold it in your mouth. Again, it's cold...
> You then have your phantom half engulf your human half again, and let Aya's spirit out.
> It seems to have worked? She's inside now, with no apparent issues.
> "I... well, it worked I guess..." Aya says, a bit at a loss for words.
>_
-
> Release our human half from our phantom half without also releasing Aya's spirit. If it looks like our exit is going to allow her to exit, stop our exit.
> Whatever happens with the above, close our eyes and try to get a sense of how having Aya's spirit inside our phantom half feels.
-
> Release our human half from our phantom half without also releasing Aya's spirit. If it looks like our exit is going to allow her to exit, stop our exit.
> Whatever happens with the above, close our eyes and try to get a sense of how having Aya's spirit inside our phantom half feels.
> You leave your phantom half.
> It feels a bit weird. There's a bit of some sensation with your swords as well. Or maybe your hands, though that could just be the cold from touching and holding that spirit so much.
>_
-
> Does Aya's spirit feel similar to our phantom half?
> If so, does she feel integrable with our phantom half, so that she becomes a part of us?
> A sensation with our swords...didn't we get some sort of sensation from earlier with Rinnosuke, where we suddenly thought about our sheathes?
> Phantom half: "How does this feel for you?"
-
> Does Aya's spirit feel similar to our phantom half?
> If so, does she feel integrable with our phantom half, so that she becomes a part of us?
> A sensation with our swords...didn't we get some sort of sensation from earlier with Rinnosuke, where we suddenly thought about our sheathes?
> Phantom half: "How does this feel for you?"
> It's different.
> You believe you did before.
> "It's not as uncomfortable as being stretched and molded like bread, at least."
>_
-
> "Well, that's good, at least. Do you feel like you can move around of your own accord? How's the ambience?"
> Engulf Aya's body fully back into our phantom half.
-
> "Well, that's good, at least. Do you feel like you can move around of your own accord? How's the ambience?"
> Engulf Aya's body fully back into our phantom half.
> You put Aya's body into your phantom half as well.
> "Still can't get back into myself, it seems..." Aya comments, trying to do so.
>_
-
> Is she still as heavy as before?
> Do we get any supernatural feelings from her body that we could interact with?
> Are we capable of making our phantom half's 'skin' opaque, so that people outside cannot see into it?
> Comparing to when we first engulfed her body, has our phantom half grown in size at all from also taking in her spirit?
-
> Is she still as heavy as before?
> Do we get any supernatural feelings from her body that we could interact with?
> Are we capable of making our phantom half's 'skin' opaque, so that people outside cannot see into it?
> Comparing to when we first engulfed her body, has our phantom half grown in size at all from also taking in her spirit?
> Yep.
> Nothing you notice.
> That depends on the art- You're not sure if trying such will do anything bad to what's inside it...
> No.
>_
-
> How large is Aya's body compared to our human half?
> "Now that you know your spirit can squish, why not try re-entering the old-fashioned way?"
-
> How large is Aya's body compared to our human half?
> "Now that you know your spirit can squish, why not try re-entering the old-fashioned way?"
> She's bigger than you are.
> "I've tried possessing it like I'm haunting it or something. That doesn't work." Aya responds. "And just trying to go back in like I belong there hasn't yet, either."
>_
-
> Human half: "Hrm. Well, I'm still happy to bring you with me as I investigate. Maybe we'll get some ideas along the way."
> While our human half is speaking, have our phantom half reposition Aya's body so her limbs are more or less within our corresponding limbs (arms in arms, legs in legs, head in head, etc).
-
> Human half: "Hrm. Well, I'm still happy to bring you with me as I investigate. Maybe we'll get some ideas along the way."
> While our human half is speaking, have our phantom half reposition Aya's body so her limbs are more or less within our corresponding limbs (arms in arms, legs in legs, head in head, etc).
> "Uh, investigate where?" Aya questions, as you move her body.
>_
-
> Adopt a thinking expression with our human half while looking at our phantom half's legs.
> Phantom half: "My first idea was to check on the Human Village, since who can say how hard they've been hit."
> If we can do so while keeping our 'grip' on Aya's body, float our phantom half up so its feet are level with our human half's head.
-
> Adopt a thinking expression with our human half while looking at our phantom half's legs.
> Phantom half: "My first idea was to check on the Human Village, since who can say how hard they've been hit."
> If we can do so while keeping our 'grip' on Aya's body, float our phantom half up so its feet are level with our human half's head.
> It's hard to float her higher. Again, this tengu isn't exactly light, even with it's soul or spirit outside of itself.
> "Could we possibly not go somewhere public with you toting around my unconscious body like this?"
>_
-
> Given her spirit has been very malleable, how rigid or malleable has Aya's body felt within us?
> Use our human half to assist our phantom half getting Aya's body in the air to head height by lifting ourselves (and Aya) with our arms.
> Phantom half: "Oh. I guess that's fair. Is there somewhere else you'd prefer to go?'
-
> Given her spirit has been very malleable, how rigid or malleable has Aya's body felt within us?
> Use our human half to assist our phantom half getting Aya's body in the air to head height by lifting ourselves (and Aya) with our arms.
> Phantom half: "Oh. I guess that's fair. Is there somewhere else you'd prefer to go?'
> It's felt like a normal body, not really malleable at all compared to a spirit.
> "Hm... The Hakurei Shrine should be a safe enough place."
> You try to help, but it doesn't help much. It's still an entire body.
> You end up stumbling and falling under her weight and the poor footing this forest offers.
> "For this kid to be the one to find me like this..." Aya sighs.
>_
-
> Let out a pathetic "Myo~n..." as we hit the ground.
> Get our human half into a sitting position.
> "Mmmmm...this might be more difficult than I thought..."
> Lie our phantom half down face up with legs toward our human half.
-
> Let out a pathetic "Myo~n..." as we hit the ground.
> Get our human half into a sitting position.
> "Mmmmm...this might be more difficult than I thought..."
> Lie our phantom half down face up with legs toward our human half.
> You sit down in slight deflation, and have your phantom half lie down.
> "Weren't you carrying me just fine earlier? I'm not that heavy." Aya reminds you, seemingly oblivious so far.
>_
-
> Actually, reposition our human half so we're lying on our stomach facing toward our phantom half.
> Is Aya's spirit able to see our human half from her current position, that we can tell?
> Phantom half: "I think I tried to lift you too high for myself that time, yeah..."
> Take hold of our phantom half's legs with our human half, open our human half's mouth, and try to (gently) pull our phantom half's legs into it (with Aya's body presumably going along for the ride).
-
> Actually, reposition our human half so we're lying on our stomach facing toward our phantom half.
> Is Aya's spirit able to see our human half from her current position, that we can tell?
> Phantom half: "I think I tried to lift you too high for myself that time, yeah..."
> Take hold of our phantom half's legs with our human half, open our human half's mouth, and try to (gently) pull our phantom half's legs into it (with Aya's body presumably going along for the ride).
> You lie down as well.
> You can't see her spirit from here, but your phantom half can see you, so you're not sure. Maybe she can, being a bit above her own body.
> It's... the view is blocked... Was she seriously prepared for this sort of occasion...?
> You can't fit both of your phantom half's legs in your mouth.
>_
-
> Are they not malleable enough for us to squish them together?
-
> Are they not malleable enough for us to squish them together?
> Not with Aya's body in them.
>_
-
> And we have now actively tried this and it didn't work?
-
> And we have now actively tried this and it didn't work?
> Yes. Myon's legs squeeze, until they get to Aya's own.
>_
-
> Drat.
> Stand back up with our human half, then do the same with our phantom half.
> "I suppose we can walk there."
-
> Drat.
> Stand back up with our human half, then do the same with our phantom half.
> "I suppose we can walk there."
> You stand back up in defeat.
> "I'm in no rush, as long as we're headed there first."
>_
-
> Grab Aya's news bag with our human half.
> Then set off toward the Hakurei Shrine on foot.
> "I wonder if Reimu fell victim to this too."
-
> Grab Aya's news bag with our human half.
> Then set off toward the Hakurei Shrine on foot.
> "I wonder if Reimu fell victim to this too."
> You take Aya's bag and start for the Hakurei Shrine.
> "How many people have you seen like this so far? It doesn't sound like just me."
>_
-
> "Mister Shopkeeper. And myself, before I fixed myself."
-
> Ponder the types of incidents we could get away with if Reimu has been affected! Has Miss Yuyuko desired anything extraordinary lately?
-
> "Mister Shopkeeper. And myself, before I fixed myself."
> Ponder the types of incidents we could get away with if Reimu has been affected! Has Miss Yuyuko desired anything extraordinary lately?
> "And you didn't take too long getting to me. Maybe it was only in a certain area. Hopefully."
> She's been content. Though, there's other people that would get in the way of certain goals anyways, like Marisa.
>_
-
> How does having an entire person inside us feel, anyway? Aside from heavy.
> In how much detail can we feel Aya's body, anyway?
> Human half: "Hopefully. Though I wouldn't mind carrying both you and Reimu around if it came to that."
> "Oh, by the way, can you try to get out of me? I'm curious if you can."
-
> How does having an entire person inside us feel, anyway? Aside from heavy.
> In how much detail can we feel Aya's body, anyway?
> Human half: "Hopefully. Though I wouldn't mind carrying both you and Reimu around if it came to that."
> "Oh, by the way, can you try to get out of me? I'm curious if you can."
> You aren't sure how to describe it. It's definitely not pleasant, at least. You'd like if you could get to the shrine sooner and place her down already.
> Not that much. You don't think you would be able to identify her as Aya if you were blinded then had her removed and replaced back in.
> "Is it really smart to do that now?" Aya asks.
>_
-
> How attractive is Aya?
> "Well, it's easy enough to get you back in if we need to, now that we know what to do. But you don't have to if you don't want to."
-
> How attractive is Aya?
> "Well, it's easy enough to get you back in if we need to, now that we know what to do. But you don't have to if you don't want to."
> "I'll try when we get there.
> You think she beats you out... It's nothing you'd lose focus on your goal for, at least.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Sure."
> Keep on traveling, feel-checking from time to time if Aya's body or spirit feel like they're changing somehow as a result of being inside us.
-
> Nod.
> "Sure."
> Keep on traveling, feel-checking from time to time if Aya's body or spirit feel like they're changing somehow as a result of being inside us.
> You continue on to the Hakurei Shrine, nothing feeling weird along the way....
> You can see Reimu outside, though Marisa is here, too. They're both with their actual bodies...
> "Then why did you leave her there?" Reimu questions.
> "I didn't. She's on her way. It'll just take a bit." Marisa says.
> "You didn't offer her a ride?"
> "Well I think she wanted to gather herself at home first. I could've waited for her, but aren't you glad I got here before you ended up like that too?"
> "Hm... speaking of..." Reimu looks your way.
> "Ah, good, its not a global thing yet. There's still a chance for whoever did this to get done in." Aya comments.
>_
-
> "So this is happening elsewhere?"
-
> "So this is happening elsewhere?"
> "Oh? Youmu? And Aya?" Marisa questions.
> "In the-... right..." Aya sighs.
> "Is she dead? No wait, is this the thing that happened to Alice? Ah, did you find her near the Human village?"
> "Was sorta close to it before I had to make that crash landing."
> "I just found Alice's dolls carrying her unconscious body from the village while I was out earlier. Could be a youkai attack on the village."
> "Did you check on the humans themselves?" Reimu asks.
> "Ah..."
>_
-
> Human half: "That was the next step. It happened to me, but I fixed myself. It also happened to Mister Shopkeeper, but he seemed fine with being left by himself."
> Walk our phantom half up next to Reimu so she can inspect if she wishes.
> Human half: "So...what is it, anyway?"
-
> Human half: "That was the next step. It happened to me, but I fixed myself. It also happened to Mister Shopkeeper, but he seemed fine with being left by himself."
> Walk our phantom half up next to Reimu so she can inspect if she wishes.
> Human half: "So...what is it, anyway?"
> You approach Reimu.
> "So, I can crash here for a bit and keep my body safe, right?" Aya asks.
> "Rinnosuke doesn't get in people's way much." Marisa comments. "Interesting. Did you come here right after that happened?"
> "We could wait for Alice to arrive and tell us what happened."
> "Ah, she couldn't really communicate with me. Or at least, I had to with her dolls instead. They said she was like a little ghost of herself, but I only saw her body. Probably means Aya's ghost is here too."
> "Oh great, so they won't hear or see a thing I do, huh..." Aya laments.
>_
-
> Could we fit Reimu inside our phantom half, given Aya's body is in there? If not all of her, how much of her might we be able to get in there?
> Give Aya's spirit a sympathetic look, then look back to Reimu.
> "She, uh...she is. And she's not thrilled that you can't see or hear her."
-
> Could we fit Reimu inside our phantom half, given Aya's body is in there? If not all of her, how much is her might we be able to get in there?
> Give Aya's spirit a sympathetic look, then look back to Reimu.
> "She, uh...she is. And she's not thrilled that you can't see or hear her."
> Just an arm or two with this space left... a head or other larger area part wouldn't work.
> "Oh? And you can?" Marisa asks. "Must be a benefit of having one foot in the grave already."
> "I can tell she's in your phantom half, but not as much specific without focusing on it." Reimu says.
> "So I'm just being ignored in the end." Aya further laments.
> "Must be rough being an early victim of this. I'd offer some snacks, but..."
> Aya sighs.
> "What did I do to get picked first like this?"
>_
-
> Reach into our phantom half with a human half arm and gently pat Aya's body's back.
> "Sorry...we'll fix it as quickly as we can, okay?"
> Look back to Reimu.
> "How can you tell she's in there, anyway?"
> Alter our phantom half so it's back in its normal orbular form, and manipulate Aya's body to curl it up so it takes up less space. Reassess how much space is available in there is this is done.
-
> Reach into our phantom half with a human half arm and gently pat Aya's body's back.
> "Sorry...we'll fix it as quickly as we can, okay?"
> Look back to Reimu.
> "How can you tell she's in there, anyway?"
> Alter our phantom half so it's back in its normal orbular form, and manipulate Aya's body to curl it up so it takes up less space. Reassess how much space is available in there is this is done.
> "You get used to noticing immaterial things when you have a profession like this." Reimu answers.
> You return your phantom half to it's usual form, trying to curl up Aya's body within - though, it's not working well. It doesn't seem to rest in a very curled up state.
> "I don't think you should be playing with a reporter's body like that. Or anyone's." Marisa comments.
> Aya moves towards the end of your Phantom half, slipping out suddenly.
> "Yeah, you should just leave her with me..." Reimu seems to agree.
> "I'd joke about being worried on what you plan on doing to me when we're alone, but I'll just settle for being in reliable hands..." Aya comments.
>_
-
> Frown a bit at Aya's spirit.
> "Fine. See if I do anything nice for you again."
-
> Frown at Aya's spirit.
> "Fine. See if I do anything nice for you again."
> "Hey, I've seen you crash your phantom half into people to fight. It was either I get jumbled around like a toy in a jar, or I'm defended by someone with half as much fighting power as your usual fighter."
> "She's got a good point there." Reimu points out.
> "So Aya fell to this?" You hear another voice from behind, you think Alice's? "Anyone else?"
>_
-
> Have a look at the newcomer.
-
> Have a look at the newcomer.
> You turn to see.
> It is indeed Alice. Though, she's not a spirit like Marisa claimed. She's all good and well...
> "Look at you, taking your sweet time to get here. I guess that has to do with how you're in one piece now?" Marisa questions.
> "Mm. I'd rather we figure out who's doing this instead of trying to fix everyone that ends up like that." Alice comments.
> "And here I was, about to ask for her put me back to normal, too..." Aya sighs.
> "That depends on how you ended up like this." Alice comments, approaching Aya and your phantom half. "What's the use of doing it if you're just going to get caught again?"
> "Um..."
> "You wouldn't sit still if you're fine and able either, would you?"
> "Ugh, I get it..."
>_
-
> "Do you know how it happened, then?"
> If Alice makes to interact with our phantom half somehow, allow it. Engulf her (or whatever of her we can take) if she appears to be going for Aya's body specifically.
-
> "Do you know how it happened, then?"
> If Alice makes to interact with our phantom half somehow, allow it. Engulf her (or whatever of her we can take) if she appears to be going for Aya's body specifically.
> "I'm afraid not. One moment, I'm fine and doing a performance in the Human Village, the next, everyone's down and I'm floating outside my body. I want to say it was a bit familiar, however, I don't remember feeling anything that could've affected someone this strongly. And not so many people at once."
> "Hey, so that means the Human Village is in danger since they might just float away in a panic." Aya speaks. "You should send me to help. I'm fast-"
> "Can you even see the other spirits when you're in your body?" Alice asks. "Actually, could this be the work of your mistress?" Alice turns to you.
> You're sure it isn't. Not just in defense of Lady Yuyuko, but also because it's something different, and she wasn't even around you when you lost consciousness - unless she followed you secretly... either way, it doesn't feel like her abilities.
>_
-
> "If it is, then it's news to me that she can do this. For however much present company believes me when I say that."
> "Anyway, do you need me to do a runner to the Human Village and corral them?"
-
> "If it is, then it's news to me that she can do this. For however much present company believes me when I say that."
> "Anyway, do you need me to do a runner to the Human Village and corral them?"
> "I doubt your phantom half can hold that many people. We should just hope someone there keeps the village calm and in place." Alice says. "If not, then it's too late to try anything and they'd have just flown out everywhere by now."
>_
-
> "Bodies, no, but spirits? Probably. You'd be surprised how malleable they are."
-
> "Bodies, no, but spirits? Probably. You'd be surprised how malleable they are."
> "Again, those souls are probably scattered all about Gensokyo by now." Alice says.
> "I suppose it doesn't hurt to go check." Marisa comments. "At least, for one of you that won't get got by that."
>_
-
> "Well, I did get got, but I fixed myself really easily. And even if it's unwise to try collecting spirits of victims, if this incident is localized to being near the Human Village, shouldn't we be investigating that area for whoever did it?"
-
> "Well, I did get got, but I fixed myself really easily. And even if it's unwise to try collecting spirits of victims, if this incident is localized to being near the Human Village, shouldn't we be investigating that area for whoever did it?"
> "That would help, yes." Reimu agrees.
>_
-
> Change our phantom half back to a human-half shape.
> "Alright, I'll take care of that, then."
-
> Change our phantom half back to a human-half shape.
> "Alright, I'll take care of that, then."
> You return your phantom half to humanoid form.
> "Leaving Aya and anyone else you find in Reimu's care should be good." Alice comments. "Sorry if that's annoy-"
> "No, I'm in agreement to it. The Hakurei Shrine being a safe haven would be good after all." Reimu says.
>_
-
> Glance over at our phantom half with our human half, then look back at the speakers with a slightly sheepish look.
> "I'll, uh, do my best...I don't suppose anyone here knows how I might be able to grow my phantom half even bigger than it already has?"
-
> Glance over at our phantom half with our human half, then look back at the speakers with a slightly sheepish look.
> "I'll, uh, do my best...I don't suppose anyone here knows how I might be able to grow my phantom half even bigger than it already has?"
> "I might have an idea or two." Alice says.
>_
-
> "It'd be appreciated. I don't mind bringing people here, but doing it one at a time would slow me way down."
-
> "It'd be appreciated. I don't mind bringing people here, but doing it one at a time would slow me way down."
> Alice... doesn't respond? Seems she's just waiting?
>_
-
> ...
> Shuffle in place awkwardly while looking around.
-
> ...
> Shuffle in place awkwardly while looking around.
> Alice crosses her arms.
> "Um...?" Aya questions.
>_
-
> Check on Aya's spirit. Is it changing somehow?
> If not, look back to Alice.
> "...Oh, um...are you waiting for this?"
> Engulf as much of Alice as we can with our phantom half.
-
> Check on Aya's spirit. Is it changing somehow?
> If not, look back to Alice.
> "...Oh, um...are you waiting for this?"
> Engulf as much of Alice as we can with our phantom half.
> You don't think so.
> You-... You feel a bit scared to try, honestly. Alice herself isn't that scary, but it's like being asked to toss, no, throw an egg at Yuyuko's face. There's a chance she'll catch it and thank you, but also that it'll just break over her face and... You'd rather not imagine.
> "Are you really that hung up on keeping hold of Aya? I think she's just waiting for that." Reimu comments.
>_
-
> Blink.
> "Oh. Whoops."
> Gently set Aya's body down on the floor and let go of her.
-
> Blink.
> "Oh. Whoops."
> Gently set Aya's body down on the floor and let go of her.
> You remove Aya's body from Myon and set her down.
> "Mostly a please, but whatever..." Alice sighs. "It seems like you already made your phantom half a bit bigger than it usually is. Though... I think that's because you've got a part of your human spirit in it. I'm pretty sure your phantom was your uh, spirit, but I guess something else must've tried to make your human form part of it? Can you do that any further, or undo that?"
>_
-
> "Oh, that? Uh, well, after my human half got knocked out and I was just my phantom half, I engulfed myself to see if that would fix my human half. I guess that changed me? I thought I was feeling a bit off-balance..."
> "Anyway, I guess I could try that again and see if it changes anything."
-
> "Oh, that? Uh, well, after my human half got knocked out and I was just my phantom half, I engulfed myself to see if that would fix my human half. I guess that changed me? I thought I was feeling a bit off-balance..."
> "Anyway, I guess I could try that again and see if it changes anything."
> Alice shrugs, having her dolls carry Aya off into Reimu's shrine.
> The Tengu's spirit follows the dolls and her body worriedly.
>_
-
> Hmm. If we hugged Alice with our human half, would that bring us close enough to engulf both bodies with our phantom half?
-
> Hmm. If we hugged Alice with our human half, would that bring us close enough to engulf both bodies with our phantom half?
> You think so?
>_
-
> "Oh, and...I promise this isn't judgmental, it's just logistical, but will you be doing anything to me yourself that will need physical contact?"
-
> "Oh, and...I promise this isn't judgmental, it's just logistical, but will you be doing anything to me yourself that will need physical contact?"
> "No. I mean, it's concerning your phantom half. Why would anything physical be done, especially by someone else?"
>_
-
> "I didn't know if any of your ideas involved you using magic on me or something."
-
> "I didn't know if any of your ideas involved you using magic on me or something."
> "An idea might."
>_
-
> Do we know if it is possible for someone to breathe while their head is within our phantom half?
> "...Then, may I hug you for this process?"
-
> Do we know if it is possible for someone to breathe while their head is within our phantom half?
> "...Then, may I hug you for this process?"
> You don't know.
> "...I could give you a doll, if you want." Alice responds.
>_
-
> "...No, that's okay. If you don't want to yourself, then I'm fine. Thank you for the offer, though."
-
> "...No, that's okay. If you don't want to yourself, then I'm fine. Thank you for the offer, though."
> "So, are you going to try your thing again?" Alice questions. "With your spirit."
>_
-
> "That was why I was asking for that hug, and if you had plans that involved physical contact. We can do that and phantom engulfing at the same time."
> Hover our phantom half into the air, above head level.
-
> "That was why I was asking for that hug, and if you had plans that involved physical contact. We can do that and phantom engulfing at the same time."
> Hover our phantom half into the air, above head level.
> "I thought you'd use your own, not mine."
>_
-
> "I thought we could use both."
> Hover our phantom half over our human half.
-
> "I thought we could use both."
> Hover our phantom half over our human half.
> You float above yourself.
> "Use someone else. Like Marisa."
> "Huh? Why me?" Marisa questions.
> "Because Reimu is Reimu, I can fix this issue, and Aya isn't in great condition."
> "Mrr... fine." Marisa walks over, arms behind her head. "So what experiment are you working on, Youmu? Give this test subject some insight at least."
>_
-
> "Trying to make my phantom half larger, so I can rescue more people if I need to. It got bigger once when I woke my human half back up, we're seeing if it'll happen again."
> Open our human half arms in an expecting-a-hug pose.
-
> "Trying to make my phantom half larger, so I can rescue more people if I need to. It got bigger once when I woke my human half back up, we're seeing if it'll happen again."
> Open our human half arms in an expecting-a-hug pose.
> "Well, just don't kill me. Or cripple me, if you can help it." Marisa hugs you.
> "A-Ahem, you should be fine. She already did part of this to herself, apparently." Alice comments.
>_
-
> Nod slightly and return the hug.
> Lower our phantom half onto Marisa and our human half to fully engulf them both.
-
> Nod slightly and return the hug.
> Lower our phantom half onto Marisa and our human half to fully engulf them both.
> You hold onto Marisa and try to engulf the both of you.
> Again, your phantom half is pushed away when trying to engulf yourself...
>_
-
> Try pushing our human half into our phantom half, then.
-
> Try pushing our human half into our phantom half, then.
> The same thing happens - your half phantom is pushed away.
> Maybe you could trick it and try to pass through your human half like with Aya?
>_
-
> Hmm...
> How does Marisa's body compare to our human half?
> Is there anything immediately around we could 'hide' inside, like a box or something, even just partially?
-
> Hmm...
> How does Marisa's body compare to our human half?
> Is there anything immediately around we could 'hide' inside, like a box or something, even just partially?
> She's about your height. And similar sizes too. Maybe bigger in some places...
> There's Reimu's donation box. And the two buildings here, such as the shrine.
>_
-
> "...Would you mind putting your hat on me for a moment?"
> Lift our phantom half up a bit to make room.
-
> "...Would you mind putting your hat on me for a moment?"
> Lift our phantom half up a bit to make room.
> "Mm... I would mind." Marisa comments, holding onto her hat with a hand.
>_
-
> "'Kay. In that case, I don't think this is going to work, short of us hiding in the donation box or something. I can't actually engulf myself anymore, for some reason."
-
> "'Kay. In that case, I don't think this is going to work, short of us hiding in the donation box or something. I can't actually engulf myself anymore, for some reason."
> "Maybe it's because you're already inside your phantom? In a way. And can't engulf yourself twice?" Alice theorizes. "I could try and undo that for you and see if that helps."
>_
-
> "Please, if you're willing."
> Float Myon over to Alice.
-
> "Please, if you're willing."
> Float Myon over to Alice.
> You start to float Myon over Alice's way.
> "I need you both to close your eyes and not peek, though." Alice adds.
> Both? Ah, you suppose Reimu went inside.
>_
-
> Can we see out of Myon while she's not human-shaped?
> Nod with Youmu and close her eyes.
-
> Can we see out of Myon while she's not human-shaped?
> Nod with Youmu and close her eyes.
> Yes.
> You close your eyes.
> "Not peeking, right?" Alice questions.
> "Yes, yes, I'm not peeking. I know better." Marisa speaks.
>_
-
> Youmu: "My eyes are closed."
-
> Youmu: "My eyes are closed."
> "Alright, Reimu, don't come out yet."
> "Hm?" You hear Reimu question.
> Alice retrieves a book, seemingly starting to open it.
> There's an incredible force of magic...
> Magic that you should not witness.
> Magic that possesses the power to create. True creation. And more. So much more.
> You can't know of this, especially not more. You won't be able to go back. But it's already being used on you. You can't just ignore these feelings. Something, anything needs to be done!
> ...
> "Okay... You can open them now." Alice says.
> "You do some sort of trick? I kinda felt something." Marisa asks.
> "That's a secret."
> "First Reimu has her cheats, and now you, huh. I'm being left behind."
> There was a bit of a tingle, but you feel fine otherwise. You seem a bit bigger than Marisa now, though her sizes more match yours now, you think.
> Strangely, though, you don't feel your phantom half much.
> What's more, it's no longer floating. It's kinda just lying limp on the ground...
>_
-
> "...Um..."
> Walk over to Myon and pick her up.
-
> "...Um..."
> Walk over to Myon and pick her up.
> You pick up your phantom half.
> You do feel it a bit, but there's something wrong.
> "Ah. Is it dead? Alice, what did you do?" Marisa questions.
> "Nothing. This was fine with myself. You sure you didn't do anything?"
> "I'm not stupid enough to act out during your experiments. Half of them are about dolls exploding violently, and the serious bits aren't for joking around."
>_
-
> Adopt a dawning look of realization.
> "...Oh. ...I closed my eyes, but my phantom half didn't have any eyes to close..."
-
> Adopt a dawning look of realization.
> "...Oh. ...I closed my eyes, but my phantom half didn't have any eyes to close..."
> Alice facepalms.
> "That's why I said no peeking either. I'm not sure what sort of effects it could have on others, but I'm sure being exposed to the ultimate magic wouldn't be good."
> "The ultimate magic? Ooh, is that your grimoire?" Marisa questions.
> "No. It's just a diluted form for less use like now." Alice clears her throat. "Anyways, what I was trying worked, but this is your mess to figure out now." She crosses her arms. "I'm not trying anything else with you if I can't trust you with these sorts of things."
> "You sure that's not a bit harsh?"
> "I gave proper warning with the information I knew of and even asked again just in case. And it's not... dead, from what I can tell. Just incapacitated. Or confused. Or maybe just lost. That phantom half will be fine eventually, I believe." Alice still sounds annoyed.
>_
-
> "..."
> Carry Myon out of the Hakurei Shrine with a defeated look.
-
> "..."
> Carry Myon out of the Hakurei Shrine with a defeated look.
> You're not inside the Shrine itself.
>_
-
> Take flight and begin the trip back to the Human Village, then.
-
> Take flight and begin the trip back to the Human Village, then.
> You start off fo-
> "Hey, don't you have a sword that can get rid of confusion?" Marisa questions before you leave.
>_
-
> Oh, right, that.
> Have we ever stabbed ourselves before in that fashion?
-
> Oh, right, that.
> Have we ever stabbed ourselves before in that fashion?
> You haven't.
>_
-
> Do we know how we would possibly cut the confusion away from our phantom half without simply stabbing ourselves?
-
> Do we know how we would possibly cut the confusion away from our phantom half without simply stabbing ourselves?
> You can do that with just a cut. It doesn't have to be anything deep. You probably wouldn't even need to draw blood. ...not that your phantom half can bleed.
>_
-
> "..."
> Set Myon down on the ground.
> Then use Hakurouken to cut her confusion.
-
> "..."
> Set Myon down on the ground.
> Then use Hakurouken to cut her confusion.
> You set Myon down, and carefully attempt to cut away at any confusion.
> Ah, too deep! No, wait, you didn't cut yourself that bad. Ah, it was just feeling Myon again.
> Your phantom half begins floating again. Still, that wasn't a pleasant sting / shock. On Myon's end, it felt like you were stuck in some sort of maze and something about tea, you think... Hopefully that was it and-
> "Hopefully there's no lingering effects from that..." Alice speaks.
> "So uh, how would you have fixed Aya, or anyone else for that matter with that trick of yours if that sort of thing happens from them witnessing it?" Marisa asks.
> "This was a different case from my own." Alice answers. "Her spirit should be all in herself now, and her phantom's in itself, too. Not one in the other like earlier. See?" Alice gestures. "Her phantom half isn't as large as before."
>_
-
> Reform Myon so she looks like Youmu, as we usually do. Compare the two to see if there are any obvious differences in size and shape.
> Then have Myon turn to Alice and bow apologetically.
> Myon, if she can: "Thank you for your help, and apologies for letting you down."
-
> Reform Myon so she looks like Youmu, as we usually do. Compare the two to see if there are any obvious differences in size and shape.
> Then have Myon turn to Alice and bow apologetically.
> Myon, if she can: "Thank you for your help, and apologies for letting you down."
> You have your phantom half take your shape and compare the two of you.
> You look similar again... Neither are bigger than the other.
> You bow, but it doesn't seem like you can speak anymore. And here you were hoping it was a latent ability you just had to realize... Would've been tremendously useful in fights and reconnaissance.
>_
-
> Human half: "...Thanks. ...And...sorry."
-
> Human half: "...Thanks. ...And...sorry."
> "Well, that's better than how a lot of people act." Alice responds. "Just be more careful with instructions."
> "Hey Alice, if you're not doing anything, why don't you go out with her?" Marisa suggests. "Since you can undo this, for yourself at least, and Youmu can too."
> "Well, it sounds like a good way to corner the culprit." Reimu agrees, peering out from the shrine.
>_
-
> "If you wish."
-
> "If you wish."
> "I suppose I would like to get back at them for ruining the show." Alice considers. "Alright."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Are you ready, or do you need a moment to prepare?"
-
> Nod.
> "Are you ready, or do you need a moment to prepare?"
> "I'm all ready." Alice answers.
>_
-
> "Alright."
> Take flight and head back in the direction of the Human Village.
-
> "Alright."
> Take flight and head back in the direction of the Human Village.
> You fly off for the Human Village, with Myon and Alice in tow.
> As you approach, you notice a strange sight. There are indeed human souls out and about, but they're only in the village... moreover, they seem packed more densly deeper in the village.
> there aren't many bodies lying around either. Compared to the spirits at least, there's more of them and less of bodies.
> That still confirms that the village got got...
>_
-
> Point out the concentration deeper into town.
> "Look. That's kinda weird."
-
> Point out the concentration deeper into town.
> "Look. That's kinda weird."
> "Mm. I wonder..." Alice heads onwards. "They're collected pretty well."
> You can hear a commotion deeper in as well.
>_
-
> Frown a bit.
> Quietly: "I can hear something else going on in that direction, too."
-
> Frown a bit.
> Quietly: "I can hear something else going on in that direction, too."
> "Then let's investigate." Alice continues, starting to lose you their the crowd of spirits. Though they seem headed somewhere now.
> You feel like Myon is being tugged on towards that way, too.
>_
-
> Does she feel like she's being mentally compelled, or physically dragged?
-
> Does she feel like she's being mentally compelled, or physically dragged?
> Only physically. Like the wind blowing her, rather than someone pulling her.
>_
-
> If Myon is not presently humanoid-shaped, make her so.
> Then grab one of Myon's hands with one of Youmu's hands, and hurry after Alice.
> Quietly: "Wait! Something is pulling my phantom half!"
-
> If Myon is not presently humanoid-shaped, make her so.
> Then grab one of Myon's hands with one of Youmu's hands, and hurry after Alice.
> Quietly: "Wait! Something is pulling my phantom half!"
> You follow after Alice, soon coming upon an answer to that consideration.
> It's that zombie girl. She's pulling spirits towards her. Though only a certain distance.
> And... Toyosomething Miko, was it? She's speaking to the spirits crowded around.
> Though, she's only a soul herself...
> that girl that the zombie follows is also present.
>_
-
> Are the zombie and her master spirits?
> "...Oh."
> She's probably preaching crowd control of some kind. Let's get closer and listen in.
-
> Are the zombie and her master spirits?
> "...Oh."
> She's probably preaching crowd control of some kind. Let's get closer and listen in.
> No.
> You approach, as Alice continues to do so too.
> Myon stops being pulled in as well.
> "know you're very distressed about the situation, especially with the uncertainty of what may happen to your bodies, but please remain relatively calm and don't worry." Miko speaks.
> "Your bodies all seem to be fine, just... asleep, you could say." The zombie's master explains. "I don't think you'll catch any sickness or such while this is going on. Though, maybe you'll get skinny from not eating and-"
> "We still have more room in the temple." Byakuren shows up on stage, heading next to Miko. "In a few minutes, you'll all be safe and sound in there. We'll do our best to make sure you're all alright, so please don't go flying out and away from the village before this is over."
> "I'm sure there's people already looking into this - in fact." Miko glances down towards you and Alice. "Miss Puppeteer, is that you?"
>_
-
> Is Byakuren a spirit, or does she have her physical body?
> Give Miko a neutral face of displeasure.
> "We are here to investigate this incident, yes."
-
> Is Byakuren a spirit, or does she have her physical body?
> Give Miko a neutral face of displeasure.
> "We are here to investigate this incident, yes."
> She's in her full body. The only one not like such is Miko.
> "Mm, please excuse me." Miko explains. "My query was meant for miss Margatroid's current condition, contrary to her previous one."
> "I was performing at the village just earlier today when this happened, and I was affected too, if that's what you're asking." Alice speaks up, to which Miko nods.
> "And how have you managed to recover so quickly?" Miko asks, to which the audience also seems to wonder, given they're pausing and slowing down in their leading to elsewhere.
> "Let's say it's thanks to how I can weave life into my dolls." Alice answers.
>_
-
> Blink.
> "Oh."
> "...Uh, well...I don't suppose any of you have any theories as to what happened?"
-
> Blink.
> "Oh."
> "...Uh, well...I don't suppose any of you have any theories as to what happened?"
> "We-"
> "This probably isn't the place to discuss that sort of thing, at least not right now." Byakuren speaks.
> "Why not? The good people deserve to know the plans we have to fix this, don't they?" the zombie master comments.
> "Seiga, we don't have any-"
> "We don't have the leisure to explain them to everyone here." Alice interrupts hastily. "We just came from the Hakurei Shrine, and though we are investigating this issue, there's the consideration that this is something between life and death caused by someone or something. If that's the case, getting too happy over a surefire plan and knowing you'll have nothing to worry about might cause people to leave this world with no regrets - even if by accident."
> This seems to worry the people...'s spirits around slightly.
>_
-
> "Mmm. Let me alter the question slightly, then, because those details are probably going to be lost on me anyway. Do you happen to have any ideas who might have caused this, or where it might have started?"
-
> "Mmm. Let me alter the question slightly, then, because those details are probably going to be lost on me anyway. Do you happen to have any ideas who might have caused this, or where it might have started?"
> "We think it started here." Miko says.
> "Yoshika dear hasn't managed to pull any others from outside the village. Except for a couple in the direction of that lake." Seiga says.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "Anywhere you think you can rule out, to make searching easier?"
-
> Nod.
> "Anywhere you think you can rule out, to make searching easier?"
> Miko shakes her head, while Seiga gives a shrug.
> "I haven't noticed this happen to anymore people in the village, so maybe it's safe now, at least." Hijiri says.
>_
-
> "Which means either this was a one-and-done, or the culprit is on the move."
-
> "Which means either this was a one-and-done, or the culprit is on the move."
> "We'll hold the fort here if you plan on investigating further." Miko says.
> "If you say miss puppeteer managed to fix herself from how you are now, why not ask her to do so for you, too." Seiga questions.
> "If you wouldn't mind." Miko speaks.
>_
-
> Look away in slight embarrassment.
> "If she tells you not to look, she means it. Don't look. ...And don't ask me how I know."
-
> Look away in slight embarrassment.
> "If she tells you not to look, she means it. Don't look. ...And don't ask me how I know."
> "Hm?" Miko questions.
> "Well, it's something I've only done twice now. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it here and now anyways..." Alice glances around.
>_
-
> "Oh. Should we bring her with us, then?"
-
> "Oh. Should we bring her with us, then?"
> "If you'd like to try it." Alice looks over to Miko.
> Miko nods.
> "Then lets. Where should we head?" Alice asks.
>_
-
> How does Myon compare in size to Miko's body?
> Float down to where Miko is while waiting for her to answer the question.
-
> How does Myon compare in size to Miko's body?
> Float down to where Miko is while waiting for her to answer the question.
> Myon is big enough to carry her still. Though there'd be less room than with Aya previously. Maybe because she shrank back to usual size.
> "Well, we could just head outside the village I'm sure." Miko suggests.
> "That'll do." Alice gestures, her dolls lifting Miko's body carefully, before starting for the way you came.
>_
-
> To Miko's spirit: "Would you like me to carry this half of you?"
-
> To Miko's spirit: "Would you like me to carry this half of you?"
> "I'm alright. It doesn't seem tiring to just move around like this." Miko follows Alice.
>_
-
> Follow!
-
> Follow!
> You follow Alice out of the village.
> "Alright." She stops once you're a good deal away from view. "Let's maybe try a bit less this time."
> The puppeteer gestures towards Miko, while the spirit looms over her body.
> You think you can see strings coming from Alice's hands, to Miko's body and soul.
> Miko seems to have no complaints, and you don't feel anything weird happening to you either. Though it still feels like a lot is put into those strings.
> ... intrusive thoughts make you want to try cutting them, to see how resistant they are like this.
>_
-
> No! No no no! Do not interfere in whatever this is! We already messed up big-time once and made a total ass of ourselves, do not do it again.
> Close our eyes and cover them with our hands, both halves of us.
-
> No! No no no! Do not interfere in whatever this is! We already messed up big-time once and made a total ass of ourselves, do not do it again.
> Close our eyes and cover them with our hands, both halves of us.
> You close your eyes and cover your face. You try with your phantom half as well.
> After a few moments of silence, Miko finally speaks up.
> "That wasn't so bad. And you say this was your third time doing this now?"
> "Yes. I think I've got it down now." Alice responds. "Seems it was just a matter of breaking it out."
> "You're quite impressive."
>_
-
> "Can I look now?"
-
> "Can I look now?"
> "Yes. I didn't say you couldn't." Alice says.
>_
-
> "I'm not taking any more chances."
> Uncover and open our eyes with both halves.
-
> "I'm not taking any more chances."
> Uncover and open our eyes with both halves.
> "You shouldn't have to. I probably won't have to do it that way anymore." Alice says, as you uncover your vision.
> Indeed, Miko is back in her body.
>_
-
> "Oh, okay."
> Frown a bit.
> "I wish I could figure out how to do that for others. The most I could do was get both Aya's spirit and her body inside my phantom half, and that didn't do anything to either of us."
-
> "Oh, okay."
> Frown a bit.
> "I wish I could figure out how to do that for others. The most I could do was get both Aya's spirit and her body inside my phantom half, and that didn't do anything to either of us."
> "Some people are better at things than others." Miko shrugs. "And some have other ways of accomplishing things, too."
>_
-
> "I suppose. Anyway, shall we?"
-
> "I suppose. Anyway, shall we?"
> "We still don't have any leads on where else we should go." Miko speaks.
>_
-
> "We could try the lake?"
-
> "We could try the lake?"
> "I guess it's close enough. And we know the Hakurei Shrine is fine, so that should be a good place to check instead." Alice agrees.
>_
-
> "Works."
> Head in the direction of the lake.
> "Miss Miko, you dabble in divine spirits, right? Do you have any ideas how I might be able to interact with people's spirits with my phantom half?"
-
> "Works."
> Head in the direction of the lake.
> "Miss Miko, you dabble in divine spirits, right? Do you have any ideas how I might be able to interact with people's spirits with my phantom half?"
> You start for the lake, the two following along.
> "In what ways do you mean?"
>_
-
> "I'm not really sure. It's admittedly an open-ended question, but that's because it's an open-ended matter for me. I guess my goal in putting Aya's spirit and body into my phantom was to see if being in there would get them to recombine. Or if her spirit being in my phantom would combine her with my phantom and give her a replacement body, I guess."
-
> "I'm not really sure. It's admittedly an open-ended question, but that's because it's an open-ended matter for me. I guess my goal in putting Aya's spirit and body into my phantom was to see if being in there would get them to recombine. Or if her spirit being in my phantom would combine her with my phantom and give her a replacement body, I guess."
> "Perhaps you would need someone who doesn't feel as independent. Though if you could find a spirit or such that is like that and doesn't want to remain a spirit or return to their body, who knows if they'll simply pass on in a few moments instead of be susceptible to such outcomes?"
>_
-
> "...I guess I didn't just directly ask her if she wanted to try joining with my phantom to use it as a temporary body."
-
> "...I guess I didn't just directly ask her if she wanted to try joining with my phantom to use it as a temporary body."
> "Did you at least feel anything weird from her being inside you?"
>_
-
> "A little something when her body went in, and a little something when I got her spirit in, which was a lot more difficult. Something related to my swords both times. I'm not really sure how to describe it."
-
> "A little something when her body went in, and a little something when I got her spirit in, which was a lot more difficult. Something related to my swords both times. I'm not really sure how to describe it."
> "Maybe that's where you got a connection, if any?"
>_
-
> "Through my swords, you mean?"
-
> "Through my swords, you mean?"
> Miko nods.
>_
-
> What supernatural properties do our swords have?
-
> What supernatural properties do our swords have?
> Dispelling confusion and, well, being impressive in a few ways. Humans shouldn't be able to handle something like this.
>_
-
> "Huh...I have no idea why they might be able to, with what I know about them..."
-
> "Huh...I have no idea why they might be able to, with what I know about them..."
> "Well what did you find out with them?" Miko questions.
>_
-
> "For this incident? Nothing."
> "...Well, there was the time my phantom came into contact with Mister Shopkeeper's body, and after getting a strange sensation and pulling away, I had a thought form about how 'they're sword sheathes'. Almost like it was someone else's thought about what I had with me that got suddenly planted into my head. I have no idea why it happened."
-
> "For this incident? Nothing."
> "...Well, there was the time my phantom came into contact with Mister Shopkeeper's body, and after getting a strange sensation and pulling away, I had a thought form about how 'they're sword sheathes'. Almost like it was someone else's thought about what I had with me that got suddenly planted into my head. I have no idea why it happened."
> "I suppose I'd be able to help better if I could witness such a thing.
> You've already passed by Kourindou though. You can see the lake and it's mist up ahead. Though, given the fairies flying about, maybe this place wasn't hit?
>_
-
> Gesture at the fairies.
> "Looks like things are okay over here, at least."
> "Anyway, I'd be happy to demonstrate if we come across someone that's been separated. Or we could even try on you, if you're willing and Alice can re-separate you."
-
> Gesture at the fairies.
> "Looks like things are okay over here, at least."
> "Anyway, I'd be happy to demonstrate if we come across someone that's been separated. Or we could even try on you, if you're willing and Alice can re-separate you."
> "I certainly wouldn't want allegations that I'm the culprit to arise if I know how to do such." Alice argues.
> "Excuse me but, are you two seeing this?" Miko questions, heading ahead.
> "Hm?" Alice questions.
> She continues a bit further, before gesturing ahead.
> You... can't see back here. Thanks to the mist...
>_
-
> Move forward to where she is and re-look.
-
> Move forward to where she is and re-look.
> You follow along and squint.
> ...
> Some fairies are struggling to hold something in their arms.
> Every few seconds, one of them drops to the floor, and another comes to take their place in hold-
> Ah, their spirits are coming out, too!
> The fairies are countering this by... taking out the fairies that fall. Though, those spirits are starting to attack the fairies back.
> With the struggle, you can see what's in the fairy's arms. It's a cat. A black cat, with two tails, and a weird ribbon on it's head. You think weird because it looks very strangely colored.
>_
-
> How large or small is the cat? Could we carry it ourselves?
> "...Huh. That's...unexpected."
> "...Should we involve ourselves?"
-
> How large or small is the cat? Could we carry it ourselves?
> "...Huh. That's...unexpected."
> "...Should we involve ourselves?"
> It's a cat sized cat. Not kitten, but cat. You could easily carry it in one arm.
> "If I'm not mistaken, that's that Kasha from the underworld." Alice comments. "What's she doing up here?"
> "You've encountered it before?" Miko asks.
> "Yes, well, not exactly. But that is her, I believe. She has a humanoid form too, and can control spirits. I suppose she's our culprit, or at least-"
> "A likely candidate. Worth getting involved with either way, no?" Miko looks to you.
>_
-
> Does the cat have a visible spirit?
-
> Does the cat have a visible spirit?
> It does not.
>_
-
> Do we know of this person?
> "Sounds good enough to me."
> Begin walking toward the fairies with the cat.
-
> Do we know of this person?
> "Sounds good enough to me."
> Begin walking toward the fairies with the cat.
> You do not. You don't think you've met her before either.
> You approach the scene.
> "I don't think all of this is worth holding onto this stupid cat." A fairy argues.
> "I don't wanna just lose though!"
> "How do we win if it just keeps making us fall asleep?" Another fairy questions.
> "We should tire it out! There's plenty of us!"
>_
-
> "Pardon us, but what is happening here?"
-
> "Pardon us, but what is happening here?"
> "Cat!" The fairies all speak in... explanation.
> One of the spirits manages to take the chance to attack the vulnerable holder of the cat, making her release it.
> The cat jumps off towards the ground, but the fairies are quick to fly after it.
>_
-
> Try to have our phantom half run for this cat to catch it!
-
> Try to have our phantom half run for this cat to catch it!
> You send your phantom half after the cat. The fairies almost make it, though once the cat hits the ground, it rushes off at a higher speed than the fairies can keep up.
> You, however, are another case, and your phantom half easily catches up to and grabs-
> Ah, the cat evaded you...
> E-Even with keeping pace, it seems like the cat is one step ahead of every movement you make to catch it. How did the fairies catch it in the first place when you can't?
> Then again, you feel like you're screwing up every time you go to grab it.
> Alice and Miko head for the cat to catch up
>_
-
> How far apart can our halves be?
-
> How far apart can our halves be?
> You haven't tested before. It's usually a bad idea to go far from one of your halves, since it means you have to pay attention to both of your bodies and the area around at the same time.
>_
-
> Chase after the cat with our human half as well, then, trying to keep our human on one side of it and our phantom on the other to restrict its movements.
-
> Chase after the cat with our human half as well, then, trying to keep our human on one side of it and our phantom on the other to restrict its movements.
> You follow the two after the cat, outspeeding both of them, though the dolls Alice is starting to send do keep up a little.
> You've got the cat sandwiched in position between you and your phantom half now.
>_
-
> Prepare our human half to Receive Cat.
> Then bank toward the cat with our phantom half with the goal of driving it toward our human half, which we can then use to scoop it up.
-
> Prepare our human half to Receive Cat.
> Then bank toward the cat with our phantom half with the goal of driving it toward our human half, which we can then use to scoop it up.
> Your phantom half dives a bit lower than you intend, with the cat jumping into the air, then using Myon as a footstool to break for the opposite direction.
> A good plan, if not for Alice's dolls immediately converging on it like beasts.
> By the time Myon bounces off the ground, the cat is strung up in place by multiple dolls and strings, with Alice and Miko starting to slow down as they catch up.
>_
-
> Have our human help our phantom back up as we all gather together.
-
> Have our human help our phantom back up as we all gather together.
> You link back up with the others.
> "Alright Orin, don't try anything funny. Your trick of the day won't work on me." Alice warns.
> The cat shakes it's head, and Alice soon falls to the gro-
> Ah, some of her dolls catch her, and she quickly recovers before you can see much of her spirit leave.
> The dolls retaliate by spraying the cat's face with water, causing it to cry out in discomfort and struggle.
> "That's strange." Miko notes.
>_
-
> Human: "What is it?"
> Move our phantom half to the cat and fully engulf it, taking in whatever dolls and strings that are along the way so that they can keep the cat secured.
-
> Human: "What is it?"
> Move our phantom half to the cat and fully engulf it, taking in whatever dolls and strings that are along the way so that they can keep the cat secured.
> You try to engulf the cat, but it seems like you're kept firmly at bay from it. Likely by the cat itself.
> "It doesn't seem like it's doing this on purpose." Miko speaks. "At least, it doesn't want to."
>_
-
> Back off from the cat, then.
> "I see...a shame it can't talk to us and tell us what's wrong."
-
> Back off from the cat, then.
> "I see...a shame it can't talk to us and tell us what's wrong."
> You back away.
> "Then just turn back into a form that can speak." Alice says.
> The cat meows.
> "You sure are making this harder than it has to be for us." Alice sighs.
>_
-
> Frown a bit in concern.
> "If there's information you can provide on this matter, we'd appreciate it."
-
> Frown a bit in concern.
> "If there's information you can provide on this matter, we'd appreciate it."
> "Maybe it can't?" Miko considers.
> "What a pain. Then-"
> Alice is interrupted by the spirit thing happening again. Though she recovers, she's notably annoyed.
> "What do we do with her, then?" Alice frowns.
>_
-
> Do we know of any mind readers?
-
> Do we know of any mind readers?
> You believe you do. A pink haired one, from the underground. You remember her name being Satori.
>_
-
> "We could bring her to a mind-reader, maybe?"
-
> "We could bring her to a mind-reader, maybe?"
> "Her master is a mind reader." Alice explains. "Satori Komeiji. And the underground isn't exactly open to anyone waltzing in from the surface."
> "If it's for an incident, we could just sneak there for a moment." Miko suggests.
>_
-
> What are the fairies up to at the moment? Consider both those that are all together and those whose spirits are separated from their bodies.
> Shrug.
> "We could also just tell Reimu about this and ask permission."
-
> What are the fairies up to at the moment? Consider both those that are all together and those whose spirits are separated from their bodies.
> Shrug.
> "We could also just tell Reimu about this and ask permission."
> None of them followed you for long. There's no more spirit fairies lying about, as it seems they've resurrected from their comrades finishing them off. The mist makes it difficult to see if they're arguing, talking, or going back to playing or something else.
> "It'll be quicker and easier if we just pop in for a moment to ask miss Satori about this."
>_
-
> "Alright. I'm fine with that, then. How do we get there?"
-
> "Alright. I'm fine with that, then. How do we get there?"
> "Just take my hand. It seems some people have trouble understanding it if I try to explain." Miko scratches her head.
> Alice shrugs and does so. Her dolls grab onto her hand, still holding the cat closely.
> One of the dolls seems like it's threatening the cat...
>_
-
> "Uh, is that doll threatening the cat...?"
> Take Miko's other hand.
-
> "Uh, is that doll threatening the cat...?"
> Take Miko's other hand.
> "They'll be fine." Alice comments.
> You take Miko's hand, and she pulls the two of you aside. Mostly towards the tr-
> You suddenly have the sensation of falling, and realize you are.
> Below you is a large structure, and terrain that doesn't look like the surface.
> "Before we-... Ah." Alice blinks, interrupted as she were from the swiftness of the action.
> You... have no clue how they suddenly vanished. It's like they went straight through the ground... Your poor phantom half was left behind...
>_
-
Youmu:
> "Uh."
Myon:
> Try taking on a humanoid form. If we can, land with our feet on the ground and look around.
-
Youmu:
> "Uh."
Myon:
> Try taking on a humanoid form. If we can, land with our feet on the ground and look around.
> "We weren't all ready yet, Miko." Alice speaks in annoyance.
> "What else could you need to prepare yourself for?" Miko sighs, floating down with the two of you. "The faster this goes, the less trouble we have."
> "Miss Youmu's other body, for example."
> "Ah." Miko speaks blankly as you all land...
> You take on Youmu's form and land, as much as something perpetually floating can.
> The fairies haven't decided to approach and investigate about the cat and your group yet. It seems like they didn't care much.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "It's fine. Myon's fine, I can tell. ...This is actually fortuitous in a way, I wasn't sure how far apart Youmu and Myon could safely be, but they're both fine so far. I guess the only problem might be is if Youmu's spirit gets removed from her body, Myon won't be able to catch it? But we can cross that bridge when we come to it."
> "So where are we going?"
Myon:
> Try running back to the Human Village. If it gets to be difficult to run, take to flying instead.
> While traveling, try speaking: "Hello? Can I do this?"
-
Youmu:
> "It's fine. Myon's fine, I can tell. ...This is actually fortuitous in a way, I wasn't sure how far apart Youmu and Myon could safely be, but they're both fine so far. I guess the only problem might be is if Youmu's spirit gets removed from her body, Myon won't be able to catch it? But we can cross that bridge when we come to it."
> "So where are we going?"
Myon:
> Try running back to the Human Village. If it gets to be difficult to run, take to flying instead.
> While traveling, try speaking: "Hello? Can I do this?"
> "I believe this is the place." Alice turns around, heading to the large structure behind you.
> "Ah, nice and convenient. I had hoped this was where we needed to be."
> The cat struggles, but Alice makes sure to have her dolls further away from herself.
> You start back for the village.
> It doesn't seem like you're able to speak. Unfortunate, but maybe you can fix that with Alice or something. Maybe even in your own attempts with your human half.
>_
-
Youmu:
> Follow along! ...Keeping a safe distance from the cat.
> In fact, get close to Miko.
> Quietly: "Once we have a little time, would you be willing to try becoming a part of Myon, or at least supervising someone else doing it?"
Myon:
> Bah, we'll get to that later. Onward back to the village, then.
-
Youmu:
> Follow along! ...Keeping a safe distance from the cat.
> In fact, get close to Miko.
> Quietly: "Once we have a little time, would you be willing to try becoming a part of Myon, or at least supervising someone else doing it?"
Myon:
> Bah, we'll get to that later. Onward back to the village, then.
> "Ah, that's right. We didn't find anyone incapacitated in such a way." Miko says. "Didn't you say there were others still like that?"
> Alice boldly enters, and you follow...
> You can already spot someone down the hall though. You think it's your pink haired target.
> You focus on just getting to the village, picking up the pace. It's in sight already, at least.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "I thought the people in the village were like that."
> Give the distant figure a wave.
Myon:
> Have a look for spirits as we approach.
-
Youmu:
> "I thought the people in the village were like that."
> Give the distant figure a wave.
Myon:
> Have a look for spirits as we approach.
> You wave as she notices your group.
> "They were, but we're you really going to cause a scene taking one of them like that?" Miko questions.
> "Miss Satori, right? Pardon our-" Alice gets cut off as the girl approaches.
> "Yes yes, I didn't notice you even left Orin. What trouble did you get into?"
> The cat meows.
> "I see. I wonder why. Is it this unsightly accessory?" She approaches the cat, poking at the ribbon.
> You check around, but they don't seem to be outside the village.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "You didn't put that on? Should we remove it?"
Myon:
> Head back to where we recall them being collected together, then.
-
Youmu:
> "You didn't put that on? Should we remove it?"
Myon:
> Head back to where we recall them being collected together, then.
> "If you can. Orin doesn't seem to protest against that idea."
> Satori tugs at the ribbon a bit.
> "Doesn't seem like it'll come off easily."
> You start back for that stage Miko and her friends were situated at.
> Though as you arrive, you don't see anyone here. Even bodies aren't present.
>_
-
Youmu:
> Does the ribbon look like it could simply be untied?
Myon:
> Were there bodies here previously when we first left?
-
Youmu:
> Does the ribbon look like it could simply be untied?
Myon:
> Were there bodies here previously when we first left?
> It's design implies that either its tied really tightly, or doesn't have a way to tie it in the first place. You could still give it a try.
> Yes.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "I could try to cut it off."
Myon:
> Do we know where the Myouren Temple is? If so, head for that. If not, continue onward back to the Hakurei Shrine.
-
Youmu:
> "I could try to cut it off."
Myon:
> Do we know where the Myouren Temple is? If so, head for that. If not, continue onward back to the Hakurei Shrine.
> "With scissors, right? Surely you don't intend to brandish a sword against one of my pets." Satori questions.
> You think you can find it.
> You start to wander into he direction you recall it should be. You're a bit off in your memory of the village, but the crowd near the temple helps pinpoint it.
> The crowd is filled with normal people. As in, they have their bodies and all.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "...I can put them together and make them like scissors...?"
Myon:
> Oh! That's fortuitous.
> Let's let them be, then, and head to Reimu's pad.
-
Youmu:
> "...I can put them together and make them like scissors...?"
Myon:
> Oh! That's fortuitous.
> Let's let them be, then, and head to Reimu's pad.
> Satori glares at you...
> "You won't get off easy if you hurt her." She warns, stepping away from the cat.
> You don't see many familiar faces compared to the bodies from before, but you're sure everything is fine, and continue towards the shrine.
>_
-
Youmu:
> Have a look at the ribbon. Consider our ability to cut it off without hitting the cat in the process.
-
Youmu:
> Have a look at the ribbon. Consider our ability to cut it off without hitting the cat in the process.
> If it's just a regular, albeit weirdly colored ribbon, you should have no problem.
> "It doesn't seem to be just that." Satori suddenly speaks. "Else Orin would've tore it off herself."
> "You sure her claws are that sharp?" Miko questions.
> "Hm, that may be right. She might just be overconfident of herself."
>_
-
Youmu:
> "What else might be there to it?"
-
Youmu:
> "What else might be there to it?"
> "I don't know." Satori states. "Could be a seal, hence Orin not returning to human form yet. Though, i wonder who put it on her..."
>_
-
Youmu:
> Look to our traveling companions.
> "That's more your skill sets than mine."
-
Youmu:
> Look to our traveling companions.
> "That's more your skill sets than mine."
> "Neither of us are Barrier maidens or the sort." Alice retorts.
> Your phantom half arrives at the shrine of one, however. If only you could teleport her her with it.
> Well, convincing her to come anyways via charades would be difficult, since you can't talk.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "Myon just arrived at the shrine of one, if you think she can help."
Myon:
> Head inside, stopping if we run into someone along the way.
-
Youmu:
> "Myon just arrived at the shrine of one, if you think she can help."
Myon:
> Head inside, stopping if we run into someone along the way.
> "Who?" Alice questions.
> "I'm not sure it even is a seal actually." Miko says.
> You head into the shrine.
> Reimu, Marisa, and Aya are still here - the lattermost still in the and condition.
> Your mistress and Yukari are also here, to your surprise.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "Oh, uh, my phantom half. Ah, Mistress and Lady Yakumo are there too...when did they arrive?"
Myon:
> Are they normal, or spirits with unconscious bodies?
> Wave frantically to get their attention.
-
Youmu:
> "Oh, uh, my phantom half. Ah, Mistress and Lady Yakumo are there too...when did they arrive?"
Myon:
> Are they normal, or spirits with unconscious bodies?
> Wave frantically to get their attention.
> "My, you've probably missed some big talks huh?" Miko questions. "I wonder how well get back there before they leave..."
> All but Aya are fine and able bodied. Well, Yuyuko is a ghost, so...
> You wave about in a panic.
> "Oh, she's back." Aya comments, to which only Reimu looks over.
> "Hm, only the phantom half?" She questions. "Did something happen to Alice?"
> This subsequently catches Marisa's attention.
> "I'm sure Alice is fine. She fixed herself up before."
> "Then why come alone? And like this?" Reimu questions.
> "And after all that, she finally figured out we were joking." Yukari states.
> "Hmhm~ doesn't it sound like she's growing steadily?" Yuyuko questions. "My Youmu would've still fret about in such a state."
> Yukari chuckles in response.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "...Well, time for Charades, I guess..."
Myon:
> Point at our mouth with a hand.
> Then use that hand to make a 'talking' motion, and shake our head.
> Stop the talking motion, hold a hand flat with palm up in front of us, and then use our other hand to pantomime writing on our first hand with a quizzical look.
-
Youmu:
> "...Well, time for Charades, I guess..."
Myon:
> Point at our mouth with a hand.
> Then use that hand to make a 'talking' motion, and shake our head.
> Stop the talking motion, hold a hand flat with palm up in front of us, and then use our other hand to pantomime writing on our first hand with a quizzical look.
> "You aren't going to just take us back there like before?" Alice asks.
> "I suppose I could..." Miko says.
> "Oh, she can't talk." Marisa says.
> "Well, there's Aya's notebook..." Reimu looks over.
> "No way. She saved me, sure, but I've got things to write in there."
>_
-
Youmu:
> "How easily could you get us back here?"
Myon:
> Look frazzled, then shift to a thinking expression, then shift to an 'aha!' expression.
> Point straight downward, jabbing our fingers several times for emphasis.
> Then put our open hands behind our head and wiggle them a bit to imitate animal ears.
> Repeat both these motions for emphasis.
-
Youmu:
> "How easily could you get us back here?"
Myon:
> Look frazzled, then shift to a thinking expression, then shift to an 'aha!' expression.
> Point straight downward, jabbing our fingers several times for emphasis.
> Then put our open hands behind our head and wiggle them a bit to imitate animal ears.
> Repeat both these motions for emphasis.
> "With more accuracy than earlier now." Miko says.
> "That was already pretty accurate with where we wanted to go, even though you didn't know." Alice says.
> "She did, though." Satori says.
> "Hm..." Marisa thinks.
> "No, Yukari didn't bring her subordinate with her." Reimu answers
> "Oh? We you perhaps hoping to see her again?" Yukari leans over to see you.
> "I didn't expect her to have athing for her, but with how she insists on being respectful to her, maybe she does~" Yuyuko considers, chuckling slightly alongside Yukari.
>_
-
Myon:
> Look uncertain, then wiggle a hand in a "sorta" motion.
> Go back to pointing downward emphatically. Get lower to the ground as we're able - if we end up touching the floor with our pointing, that's okay. (Not like we're tangible enough to jam our finger!)
Youmu:
> "I'm ready to stop making a fool of myself back at the shrine any time, then."
> Hold out a hand to take it for traveling.
-
Myon:
> Look uncertain, then wiggle a hand in a "sorta" motion.
> Go back to pointing downward emphatically. Get lower to the ground as we're able - if we end up touching the floor with our pointing, that's okay. (Not like we're tangible enough to jam our finger!)
Youmu:
> "I'm ready to stop making a fool of myself back at the shrine any time, then."
> Hold out a hand to take it for traveling.
> "Oh I got it. They got captured by that little mouse girl. Nazrin, right?" Marisa questions.
> You hold out your hand.
> The same hand holding happens.
> "Let me know when she's all better." Satori comments, before Miko pulls you under again. Are you going to another underground?
> No. You're suddenly at the Hakurei Shrine's grounds.you. You wonder how she does this.
>_
-
Myon:
> Look suddenly surprised, then shake our head and point out the door.
Youmu:
> Head on inside!
-
Myon:
> Look suddenly surprised, then shake our head and point out the door.
Youmu:
> Head on inside!
> You gesture to the door and make your appearance.
> "Oh, Miko?" Reimu thinks. "I guess that is something that's always in the ground and has that sort of animal ear-like style..."
> "Ooh, that was a tricky one..." Marisa agrees.
> "We found who we believe to be the troublemaker, but solving it is another thing." Alice speaks up to Reimu, bringing the cat closer.
> The cat, carried by the dolls, and Satori, are still outside.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "I actually meant a cat underground. Sorry."
> Drape a comforting arm around Myon's shoulders.
Myon:
> Look downcast at our failure.
-
Youmu:
> "I actually meant a cat underground. Sorry."
> Drape a comforting arm around Myon's shoulders.
Myon:
> Look downcast at our failure.
> "Of course, we were only down there for a minute at most." Miko adds. "Things lined up well, and all we have to do is get this cat to stop doing her thing."
> "Isn't that Orin? What's she got keeping you from making her stop?" Marisa asks.
> "She doesn't actually seem to be able to. Thus, I'm keeping her away from others in hopes that it prevents more accidents.
> Yukari and Yuyuko are still musing about like no one else exists...
>_
-
Youmu:
> "There's a ribbon on her that apparently she didn't put there and can't remove on her own. I could just cut it off, but there's no guarantee that doing so would actually fix the problem."
Myon:
> Can we hear what Mistress and Lady Yukari are saying?
-
Youmu:
> "There's a ribbon on her that apparently she didn't put there and can't remove on her own. I could just cut it off, but there's no guarantee that doing so would actually fix the problem."
Myon:
> Can we hear what Mistress and Lady Yukari are saying?
> They're talking about Charades more. Something about Ran as well.
> "It doesn't look sealed on there." Reimu notes.
> One of the dolls tries to tug it off, to no success.
> "Must be magic then." Marisa says. "Where did she get it?"
> "It seems she doesn't know." Satori answers. "That it was just on her recently."
> "What about places she's been?"
> Satori looks over at the cat again, and answers for her: "Just the village today. Around the time someone was doing a performance."
> "So this did start with the village, then." Alice comments. "I guess we caught it early. But finishing this up... hm."
> "You can take your time, right? There's no rush since the trouble has been caught." Marisa says.
> "What about where she got the ribbon from? Why is it keeping her from turning back into a human if it's not a seal?" Reimu questions.
> "Right. Someone else could be causing trouble, and we have not clue who." Satori says.
> "I doubt anyone remembers everyone who was at the vil-"
> "I'm a bit confused." Aya suddenly interjects, floating into the room. "Why did I get got too if I was only flying near the village?"
> "Well, it was a massive amount of the villagers caught too. Maybe it was a large radius." Miko says. "Though she's not doing much now."
> "Right. And the entire Misty Lake wasn't subject either when we found her there, only a handful of fairies close to her." Alice adds on.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "Who was performing? Maybe they might know something. Or even just be able to tell us if they were affected or not."
> "Also, it definitely seemed like the ribbon kept trying to detach Alice from herself, even if it hasn't happened in a bit."
Myon:
> Try to inch-float a little closer to be able to hear that side conversation better.
-
Youmu:
> "Who was performing? Maybe they might know something. Or even just be able to tell us if they were affected or not."
> "Also, it definitely seemed like the ribbon kept trying to detach Alice from herself, even if it hasn't happened in a bit."
Myon:
> Try to inch-float a little closer to be able to hear that side conversation better.
> "That would be me." Alice answers. "It was a doll show. And that's why I stopped getting so close."
> "Perhaps the cat got some control over it now?" Miko suggests.
> "Oh right, Orin could do that. She was able to control the spirits that were around that palace in the underground." Marisa explains. "But if she could just pull spirits out of people, that'd make fights a lot easier for her."
> "She can't normally." Satori answers. "Which means this ribbon is changing that."
> "Maybe it's something from Kourindou? I know some weird stuff pops up there sometimes." Marisa suggests.
> "I guess that's close to the Human Village... we could ask him if he's seen either this cat or the ribbon. Otherwise, there's no leads." Aya speaks.
> "So, we could ask Rinnos-"
> "Aya just suggested that." Miko speaks.
> "O-Oh, she came back out? Didn't think she'd want to leave her body for long."
> "I'd like to get back but everyone keeps declining or ignoring me..."
> You mosey over more.
> "Even with her tails, she can't express things in Charades much better than anyone else." Yukari comments.
> "Hmhm, maybe we should have a game night. I wonder how it'd be planned." Yuyuko responds.
> "Ah, I'm sure that'd be nice for Ran's shikigami. I hear she hasn't had the chance to play with one of her friends thanks to getting in trouble with Ran. Rin, another cat, I believe."
> "Oh, won't she rebel at this age with that treatment?"
> "It'll be a lesson to Ran if she does. But she probably has Chen close enough to be a good girl."
>_
-
Youmu:
> Look to Aya.
> "Yeah, we probably should put you into something where you can at least be seen and communicate with everyone else."
-
Youmu:
> Look to Aya.
> "Yeah, we probably should put you into something where you can at least be seen and communicate with everyone else."
> "I suppose it's alright since the cause is in our grasp now." Alice heads to Aya. "And your body?"
> "Back in here." Aya heads back where she came out through...
>_
-
Myon:
> Follow Aya's spirit.
Youmu:
> Look back to Reimu.
> "So what should we do? Should I just cut it off?"
-
Myon:
> Follow Aya's spirit.
Youmu:
> Look back to Reimu.
> "So what should we do? Should I just cut it off?"
> You leave the two ladies and follow the other two.
> Aya's body is laid down on some comfort. At least she seems cozy.
> "Go for it." Reimu suggests.
> "Hey..."
> "With your abilities, you should be able to tell she's no slouch with those swords." Reimu snaps back. "Quit whining."
> Satori seems a bit taken aback, but breathes out in acceptance.
> "Or you could have Miko try. I hear she's had experience with swords, too." Reimu suggests. "If that'd make you feel better."
> "It's fine. Go ahead." Satori says.
> "We should probably wait for the puppeteer to return before we do anything so close to her dolls..." Miko adds.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "We can move somewhere more open if we need."
Myon:
> Float close to Aya's body (head side) and watch to see what the other two do.
-
Youmu:
> "We can move somewhere more open if we need."
Myon:
> Float close to Aya's body (head side) and watch to see what the other two do.
> "Do you need?" Reimu questions.
> You get closer to Aya and watch.
> "Hm..." Alice readies.
> You watch as she hooks Aya's spirit with some strings, guiding it to her body. It looks really simple. You're not sure why they can't just return themselves if it's this easy.
> Though, now that you're this close and watching so intently, you can feel something... interesting. You can't out your finger on it, but it should be the missing link to whatever trick let's Alice fix people where they can't themselves.
> ...
> Your curiosity wants you to physically interrupt it, at least to get a feeling for it yourself. But you've made Alice annoyed with your lack of being careful before. Then again, she didn't seem to stay upset. Maybe you can get off with it again...
>_
-
> Is Youmu within reasonable raised-voice talking distance with Alice and Myon?
-
> Is Youmu within reasonable raised-voice talking distance with Alice and Myon?
> Yes.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "I shouldn't."
> Look over to where Alice went and raise our voice slightly.
> "Alice, what exactly is it you're doing? Something feels really interesting."
Myon:
> Adopt a very curious look, looking back and forth between Alice and Aya's spirit.
> Partially extend a half-pointing hand in the direction of Aya's spirit, but do not actually physically interfere.
-
Youmu:
> "I shouldn't."
> Look over to where Alice went and raise our voice slightly.
> "Alice, what exactly is it you're doing? Something feels really interesting."
Myon:
> Adopt a very curious look, looking back and forth between Alice and Aya's spirit.
> Partially extend a half-pointing hand in the direction of Aya's spirit, but do not actually physically interfere.
> Alice doesn't answer.
> You move your hand a bit, but keep the intrusive thoughts at bay.
> Aya's spirit does finally get into her own body with the help of Alice, and moments later, she's up and awake.
> "Ahh. Finally. How I've missed you, body." The tengu stretches. "That was a good crash landing, all things considered. Nothing's broken."
> "Well, you are a youkai..." Alice comments.
>_
-
> What would happen if Myon physically went inside Aya, such as through her mouth or ear or something?
-
> What would happen if Myon physically went inside Aya, such as through her mouth or ear or something?
> You would probably just pass through. You don't think it can occupy the same space as something that's actually physical. That, or possession. If it were that easy to keep hold of a phantom...
>_
-
> Consider the same question, but with the idea that Myon would be respecting the physical boundaries of Aya's body and not passing through them, but rather reshaping herself as needed to fit inside. Would Myon simply exist inside Aya but separate from her, or would they incorporate somehow?
-
> Consider the same question, but with the idea that Myon would be respecting the physical boundaries of Aya's body and not passing through them, but rather reshaping herself as needed to fit inside. Would Myon simply exist inside Aya but separate from her, or would they incorporate somehow?
> You could probably fit inside as long as you don't push against any walls, you believe. Though as soon as you end up doing that too much, your body, or spirit in this case, would have no choice but to pass through.
> In a way, you wouldn't really be held inside at that point, since too much moving without you mimicking it well enough to keep up and not move against any walls further would have you pushed out / through.
>_
-
> So Myon is not capable of making herself corporeal enough that she'd simply be moved along with Aya's body in those circumstances?
-
> So Myon is not capable of making herself corporeal enough that she'd simply be moved along with Aya's body in those circumstances?
> Correct. You wonder if you could get any better as a half-human half-phantom, or if this much is already better than an actual phantom could manage.
>_
-
Youmu:
> "So what was that?"