krisslanza !l6ZeLPD4F6 2010/05/02 (Sun) 15:13 No. 117141 ▼ File 127281323795.jpg - (382.62KB, 1378x981 , aau56.jpg)
[X] See how Marisa and Alice are doing
[x] Take the time later today to ask Yukari to help you with finding some special materials; unique woods, and such. With Christmas coming up you're going to need presents, and... wouldn't it be nice to give Reimu and Yuuka something that you made yourself?
-[x] Like a little wooden flower, or something like that for Yuuka?
-[x] And a little wooden wealth charm for Reimu?
-[x] ... maybe Yukari deserves something special too, if she helps you out with this.
--[x] How about a locket? You can put in a message to thank her or something like that.
Yukari tapped her fan against the table, “Christmas presents? Well, I guess it is around that time isn't it~? Reina so thoughtful, thinking of her lovely friends! And no, no she just won't go buy any old thing, she wants to make it herself!” she laughs, a wide grin on her face, “What do you think Ran?”
“I'm sure I can think of something Lady Yukari. Though I will admit, I haven't really ever thought of materials before... this is a bit outside my usual line of thinking.”
“Er, well I can just use what I have at home you know...” you say nervously, rubbing the back of your neck.
The gap youkai lightly taps you on the forehead with her fan, “No, no! That simply won't do! You wanted something special to work with, and Gensokyo will provide! Don't think you'll trouble poor Ran, I'm sure she relishes the idea of getting to do something besides cook or something.”
The shikigami chuckled, she gestured down the hallway, “Well then, how about we get started now? I believe I recall a book in the library that should have what we're looking for.”
After your time out with Reimu and Yuuka, and after some lunch at the Yakumo household, you had started to think of the upcoming Christmas. Considering your past experiences with Christmas had been mostly solo experiences, and had crushed the common childhood dream that Santa Claus existed (not that you thought that he was real of course!), this would be your first time having actual friends to spend it with.
This meant you would need gifts to give. Sure, you could just buy something down in the village perhaps, but on the other hand you had started to pick up some good skill at crafting little objects, so why not make something handmade? A gift from the heart was better then the gift bought with a roll of money after all... or so you thought anyway. You had considered just using your normal stocks back at home, but it seemed Yukari wasn't going to have any of that, still perhaps working with something new wouldn't be all bad.
The shikigami had covered the desk in the room with various books, some rather small and others looking big enough to be used to crush someone's skull with. Ran hummed to herself as she read through bits of the books, jotting down some notes in an odd shorthand on a notepad.
“Alright, that should do it. Now then, let me get you a map...” stated the shikigami, gathering up the books and placing them away before placing a map on the desk, “I suppose unsurprisingly, most of what I found is from the Forest of Magic. There's some up on the Youkai Mountain as well, as well as some in the Underground but... I wouldn't recommend that.”
Peering at the map, you notice Ran has circled several locations in the Forest of Magic, there are a few on the mountain, and then some odd, lonely circles out in the middle of nowhere. Glancing to the notepad, you can make out Ran's shorthand but it's just incomprehensible gibberish to you.
“Even I can't make it out. I do believe it is truly a writing of her own.” comments Valeria,
“Well, I'm not even sure what all these circles really mean Ran...”
The shikigami chuckled, “Ah, right of course... my apologies. I'm a bit too used to working with Lady Yukari.” she grabbed her notepad and flipped the page, scribbling furiously, “I forgot you do not know my shorthand. My apologies.”
Ran handed the notepad back to you, the new page now filled with readable words. You note the circles on the map are numbered, and her notes identify what each circle represents. Each circle seems to be a particular grove of trees, or at least a location a type of tree is to be found in. Some of the woods in the list, such as yew or ebony, you've heard of before. However, some are completely new to you, and if you had to guess sound almost mythological, such as Yggdrasil or Jievaras.
“Some of these sound familiar to me but...” you point a finger to Yggdrasil, “isn't this a tree from some sort of mythology?”
“Norse religion actually. Yggdrasil is the world tree.”
Ran chuckles and smiles coyly, “While it isn't the same tree of the legends, you must keep in mind that Gensokyo works in mysterious ways. Things you could only imagine, or only exist in writing in your world, are very much real here. From what I've heard the wood of that tree has magical effects, I believe it is very long-lasting and durable as well. It isn't used very often however, not so much out of rarity, but due to its location in the Forest of Magic. Rather deep in as well, and I believe you require special tools to cut it down.”
Well guess Gensokyo does work in mysterious ways. You could probably get that on a t-shirt or something...
“I don't even really know what to pick, haha... I have some ideas in mind so I don't need a lot of wood. I'm only thinking of making some small objects but... these new things sound interesting but I'm not sure how good of a decoration they would make...”
“Normal wood would be rather simple, easy to work with but... considering the kind of friends you have and if you want them to keep it for a long period of time...” the shikigami rubs her chin thoughtfully, “who were you thinking of making gifts for?”
“Uhm, well that is ah... something for Reimu and Yuuka I think and uhm... w-well, Yukari too I guess for all she's done for me.” you mumble quietly, your face a bit blush.
“Awwww, how flattering~.” said Yukari teasingly,
Jumping in surprise, you land on the floor with a thud. The youkai stands over you, her fan probably strategically placed to hide the grin she was sporting, she offers you a hand and pulls you to your feet.
“Did you really have to eavesdrop? I mean, you know you'd probably read all this in the grimoire tonight anyway.” you ask with a sigh.
“Well, I wasn't really eavesdropping per se... I can more or less hear what Ran hears sometimes. So in a way, speaking with her is like speaking with me! And to answer, yes I could. But seeing the reaction in-person is so much more amusing~.”
The shikigami leaned over to whisper in your ear, “She's lieing. Actually she can only hear what we talk about when she has a gap nearby.”
Yukari made a pouting face, “Awww, don't ruin the mystery Ran! Always have to ruin my fun, hmph.”
“I apologize Lady Yukari, but I think she might appreciate the knowledge if she ever wanted to talk about something...” she paused and frowned slightly, “although I suppose you'd figure out when you decided to check up on her story. Well, guess she really can't keep secrets from you for long.”
“Nope, not at all. Sometimes I think she understands me more then I know myself. It's a little unsettling really...”
“I keep all the juicy bits to myself, honest!” the youkai laughed, snapping her fan shut, “Well, with the knowledge of what you want to make... I think I have the perfect ideas! Let's see, we'll need some things to get them but... I think I can have them for you in a day or so. Might be a bit rushed to finish in time but... I know you can do it! I doubt there's a craftswoman in Gensokyo better then you in your art.”
Blushing slightly, you look away from Yukari, “I-I'm not that good, really... I guess I just happen to have a rare skill or something is all.”
“Don't sell yourself short now, I've spoken to Lady Remilia about this and from I can tell you really are quite skilled. I would think even in the outside world you would likely rank rather high. In Gensokyo however, you are without peer. At least in the restoring aspect, maybe less so in the actual making but... I'm sure you'll progress very nicely.” stated Ran matter-of-factly,
“Of course she will! Now then, I think it's time for good girls to go to bed while I get some preparations set up. In the morning, would you bring Reina to the forest Ran? You'll need to borrow some things from Marisa, and you can just leave Reina there until you're done.”
The shikigami cocked her head to the side, “Of course Lady Yukari. But what's stopping you from just getting it now?”
“Oh, well you know. I just thought she'd like to see her friend! I'm not about to interrupt Marisa's sleep over something so trivial.” said Yukari, waving her hand dismissively,
“Very well, come along then Reina. Would you like a bath before you go to bed?”
~
The smoke rising from the chimney of Marisa's house signaled she was home, or so you hoped anyway. Leaving a fireplace going with no one home, especially with all the clutter in that house, seemed like an invitation to disaster. Ran had knocked on the door but when there wasn't a response, she tested the door knob and the door swung open. Shrugging, she invited herself inside and you followed. There wasn't a sign of Marisa on the ground floor, but Ran seemed to know what she was looking for, quickly rummaging through the various piles in the room before gathering up some various tools and bottles.
“Just wait here, I will be back to bring you home when I'm finished. I don't think it'll take too long.”
Rubbing your gloved hands together, you glance outside, “Are you sure you don't want me coming with you? I feel a little guilty having you go out of your way to do this...”
“Don't worry about it at all. Besides, no offense, but bringing you along would only invite more trouble. It might be winter, but the Forest of Magic still has some dangers. I would not wish to place you in harm's way. Do not worry about me, there's hardly anything here even remotely capable of harming a hair on my head.”
You smile and nod your head, “Alright, I guess I'd prefer to not become youkai food. Thank you Ran.”
The shikigami smiled and waved before heading out, quietly closing the door behind her. Marisa's house seemed largely the same as last time, perhaps there were more objects in the piles then before, but the overall look seemed the same. Wandering around the first floor yields no sign of Marisa, or any life, your curiosity roused you decided to head upstairs.
The upstairs seems noticeably cleaner then the downstairs, at least there seems to be piles of junk littering the hallways. Most of the doors are closed, but you do however find one that is opened a bit. Heading down the hallway, you cautiously peer into the room. It looks like a bedroom, though you still notice some junk littered about (does Marisa keep any part of this house clean?).
Not too long after you notice the junk, you also notice the room isn't empty. And you also notice some of that 'junk' is actually not junk but rather shoes, socks, and a large black hat. Then on the bed is Marisa and Alice, looking a bit disheveled and seeming to be busy engaging in the fine art of lip-locking. It's a bit too much for you to take, but you can't really say anything other then stare in surprise.
The puppeteer's eye opens a bit, and then widens in horror when she spots you, she shrieks and pushes Marisa off her, whom lands on the ground with a thud. Alice scrambles off the bed and begins to rapidly adjust her dress.
“Reina! H-haven't you ever heard of knocking!?” exclaimed the puppeteer in anger.
The witch laughs, “Awwww, come on don't be like that Alice. I already knew someone came on inside, I just didn't think I'd tell ya.”
“W-what!" That's something important you're supposed to tell me! You don't just have people waltz on inside and don't let me know!” snapped Alice,
Marisa laughed again, getting to her feet and dusting herself off, “No need ta get all embarrassed. What brings ya here anyway Reina? I haven't seen ya in a while, aside from the magic lessons from time to time.”
The black-white attempts to put her arm around Alice, but the puppeteer rejects the advance and seems quite annoyed at her girlfriend's casual attitude towards your walking in. Marisa sighs and shrugs, she plops down on the bed instead as Alice seems interested in making herself look presentable.
- - -
W-what!"
[ ] Wait, they were kissing but the disheveled and... w-what!"
[ ] Act like you saw nothing and converse (write-in)
[ ] Other (write-in)
Words cannot describe how much I hate myself over how long this took. And even with it finally out of the way, I couldn't even think up nice default options.
