A lighthearted, slice-of-life story following one of four characters as they try to find out their mom's favorite food without her knowing.
What do you mean, all this time and we still don't know Mom's favorite food?! (Original Urban Fantasy Quest)
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Introduction
Thousands of millions of years ago, at the dawn of the universe and the split between mind and matter...
No, that isn't right.
Hundreds of years ago, as humanity discovered more and more ways to bridge the divide between the mundane and magical, the Usurped Mage rose from the depths of the imaginary world at the helm of an army, created by corrupting the eidolons of the imaginary world–
That's not right either.
Years ago, a cult formed in secret in the Republic of Astrella. Or maybe they had been there even before the Chaos Dragon Warvariel was slain.
Whenever they formed, as of late they had taken to kidnapping children. Preying on defenseless people left out on the streets and abandoned by the world they lived in, they sucked in many into their ranks. With the intention, of course, to have them corrupted by demonic energies so–
No! No no no no no! That might be true, but it's not right for this story!
Alright, so: Two weeks ago, we remembered that someone we all cared deeply about, someone who'd taken us under her wing, who broke into hell to save us, and had recently lost her livelihood and reputation, had a birthday coming up soon.
All our friends from the orphanage had agreed that we were going to throw a surprise party. As the ones who planned this party out, we had decided that we were going to cook her favorite food for it.
But... We found out something horrible the day before.
See...
"Wait. I've asked before! Her favorite food is caviar!"
"What? When I asked, she said she liked wishing fish filets you can find in mirage supermarkets."
"Don't look at me, I never asked."
"You're the cook here, Ashy! Do you know?"
"Um, I had... I thought she liked roc eggs..."
... It turns out, none of us actually knew what her favorite food was...
No, that isn't right.
Hundreds of years ago, as humanity discovered more and more ways to bridge the divide between the mundane and magical, the Usurped Mage rose from the depths of the imaginary world at the helm of an army, created by corrupting the eidolons of the imaginary world–
That's not right either.
Years ago, a cult formed in secret in the Republic of Astrella. Or maybe they had been there even before the Chaos Dragon Warvariel was slain.
Whenever they formed, as of late they had taken to kidnapping children. Preying on defenseless people left out on the streets and abandoned by the world they lived in, they sucked in many into their ranks. With the intention, of course, to have them corrupted by demonic energies so–
No! No no no no no! That might be true, but it's not right for this story!
Alright, so: Two weeks ago, we remembered that someone we all cared deeply about, someone who'd taken us under her wing, who broke into hell to save us, and had recently lost her livelihood and reputation, had a birthday coming up soon.
All our friends from the orphanage had agreed that we were going to throw a surprise party. As the ones who planned this party out, we had decided that we were going to cook her favorite food for it.
But... We found out something horrible the day before.
See...
"Wait. I've asked before! Her favorite food is caviar!"
"What? When I asked, she said she liked wishing fish filets you can find in mirage supermarkets."
"Don't look at me, I never asked."
"You're the cook here, Ashy! Do you know?"
"Um, I had... I thought she liked roc eggs..."
... It turns out, none of us actually knew what her favorite food was...
Hello, SV! While I've been a longtime reader of quests, here and elsewhere on the internet, this will really be the first time I'm really running a quest.
About the quest, this should be a relatively low-stakes, lighthearted slice-of-life story centering around these four characters running through a city to try and figure out what their adopted mom's favorite food is. It's designed to be fairly short for easing myself into the format, but the city is big and there are several ways to actually find the answer. And some characters who think they have the answer but don't.
Mechanics-wise, this is likely going to be relatively light, with creativity and ingenuity encouraged. If anything comes up, dice rolls will be done via an adjusted version of the PbtA system, but the most direct way to find the answer is designed to not require anything but the knowledge of where to go and who to talk to. Everything else is there to be fun! ... And so I can refine what kind of mechanics or narrative backings I want in the future.
Apologies in advance, though–I don't have experience on how to work the tools on the site, and I've never been good at learning from tutorials. As such, I might have some trouble with working things out at the start.
"The party's tomorrow! Why didn't we look into this earlier!?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't–
"That's okay, Ashy, don't blame yourself, you've been busy the last week."
"The solution is easy."
"How?"
"We just need to ask around and find what Miss Versalia's favorite food is. She's a social butterfly who's lived here her whole life. Any of us can do it."
"Still easier said than done, Annie."
"It shouldn't be too difficult since we know some of her friends and family. It would simply require us to explain why we need their silence on the matter."
"You really couldn't have said that in a more ominous way, could you?"
"What?"
"Huh, it is kind of easy once you put it that way. We have the whole day ahead of us too!"
"Er, not exactly…"
"Huh?"
"Well… Depending on what I need to cook, I'm going to need time to marinate or otherwise prepare the ingredients. And depending on what we need, I'll still need to fly to a store for them, so it'd be best if we can find out before 18:00 tonight."
"That's several hours off, at least."
"Viola aside, didn't everyone have plans today?"
"Hey! For your information, I'm streaming today!... Was planning to!''
"Ahem! Considering how easy it's supposed to be, it shouldn't be too hard for just one of us to go investigate, right? And of course, we could always just call someone else if we run into trouble."
"Then, who's going? First, at least?"
[] Ashy
An angel in human form, cinnamon roll, and nurse practitioner.
-
+ Can fly places instead of dealing with transportation
+ Divine powers of healing and light
+ Generally well-liked and trusted
+ Direct access toMomMiss Versalia's old workplace
- Least amount of time in the day
- Goodie two-shoes who dislikes conflict
Starting Time: 12:00
Starting Wealth: 8
-
Infinite Use
- Control Light
- Create, manipulate, and change light.
- Heal
- Hasten the natural healing abilities of living things.
- Barrier
- A translucent, shimming wall of mana that cannot be moved once placed.
- Plant Growth
- Encourage and hastens the growth of plants.
- Smiting Bolt
- Bright, arcing energy that burns the body and mentally forces someone to confront the guilt of their actions.
- Warding
- Prevent specified things from entering a certain area.
- Miracle
- The power to change the future, to make probabilities converge towards a single moment of your choosing... But... The consequences of it may not be something you can handle.
- Control Light
[] Lily
Freelancer, self-aware goth, and jack-of-all trades.
-
+ Tech savvy, Magic savvy
+ Mild shapeshifting powers
+ Knows the most spells
+ Most money to spend
- Hasn't slept in the last 24 hours
- Won't spend on anything extravagant or otherwise "waste" money
Starting time: 10:00
Starting Wealth: 10 -
Max 2 Total Uses
- Transformation: Demon of Iron Skin
- Iron-skinned, steel toothed monster, let vibrations be your sight, let heat wash over you and restore your weary limbs.
- Transformation: Demon of the Depths
- Your touch saps warmth and cannot be unbroken. Let your arms spread wide to beckon all into the bottomless abyss.
- Transformation: Demon of Thorns
- Let spires of gold show your majesty. Let your strength be known and prove to all your dominion. Your greatness will be hewn in the stones and marked by the sky.
- Transformation: Demon of Iron Skin
-
Max 6 Total Uses
- Barrier
- A translucent, shimming wall of mana that cannot be moved once placed.
- Dispel
- Removes the effects of a lingering spell.
- Disregard
- Make others overlook you, ignore you, and forget you were even there.
- Enhance Senses
- Make your reflexes good enough to catch an arrow, make your hearing good enough to listen to the echolocation pulse of a bat. Only one effect can be active at a time.
- Fog
- Create a thick cloud of smoke that makes everything covered appear hazy and indistinct.
- Freeze
- Supercools something, freezing liquids and making ice congeal on solids. Wears off quickly.
- Heal
- Hasten the natural healing abilities of living things. Works less well on the magically resilient.
- Great Illusion
- Conjure the sight, sound, and feel of something.
- Melding
- Use solidified mana to repair an object.
- Teleport
- Transport you somewhere you know or can see.
- Warding
- Prevent specified things from entering a certain area.
- Barrier
[] Viola
(Self-proclaimed) Memelord, VTuber, and medium between worlds.
-
+ Quirkiness makes others more likely to be tolerant about things she does
+ Has the most free time in the day
+ Can commune with incorporeal spirits and elementals
+ Knows spells others haven't seen before
- Has l i t t l e m o n e y...
- Most affected by magic
Starting Time: 8:00
Starting Wealth: 4 -
Infinite Use:
- Entreat:
- Summons a spirit to chat. Costs at least 2 Wealth to use, since 99% of the time, you're only calling them because you want something.
- Talisman Seal
- Painted paper meant for stunning and dispelling spirits. They're handmade! Only works on beings without a body in the physical world, but you know they're the equivalent of a taser. Spirit taser.
- Disregard
- Make others overlook you, ignore you, and forget you were even there.
- Scry
- Look into a lens to watch events going on through any other lens.
- Speak Tongues
- Understand and speak in any other language.
- Project Self
- Detach your consciousness from your body to traverse the dream world as a spirit. You'll have to find your body to re-enter it.
- Teleport
- Transport you somewhere you know or can see.
- Invoke Great Dragon
- In the dream world, call the attention of a Great Dragon.
- Entreat:
[] Annie
Police detective who specializes in magical crime.
-
+ Intimidating presence, very few people would dare to cross
+ Most magically resilient
+ Good at getting herself into places
+ Least squeamish
- Most people treat with wariness or fear
- Extraordinarily blunt and straightforward
Starting Time: 10:00
Starting Wealth: 8 -
Unlimited Use:
- Quicksilver Tool
- A chunk of metal that can transform into a variety of simple tools, given a few minutes and access to the app that controls it. Currently in the form of an empty thermos.
- Cleansing Lighter
- A white flame that absorbs and burns any magical influence. Also affects spirits like actual fire does.
- Lie-Detecting Lens
- Gain an uncanny awareness of a person, including an intuitive understanding of when they are willingly lying.
- Magic-Detecting Lens
- Gain an uncanny awareness of the emotions and dreams in your surroundings, including an intuitive understanding of the magic imprints left by any spells cast.
- Dispelling Wand
- Removes the effects of a lingering spell.
- Warding Sand
- Prevent specified things from entering a certain area.
- Quicksilver Tool
Vote closed
8:00--At Home
Sorry! This took a lot longer to write and format than I thought it would.
"I'll go," you chirp, and then put down the box to focus on your cereal again, now with a new scattering of deliciously crunchy flakes floating on the milk to finish it off with.
"... You sure?" Lily of all people was staring at you in open disbelief. Everyone else just had regular disbelief. Or surprise. One or the other. Crunch.
Well, I'm not the one who caused a panic at the post office because my sleep-deprived self thought it was a good idea to get there by transforming into a horrific monstrosity during a thunderstorm. "Nope!" you say out loud, then finish the last of the cereal.
"Then why are you volunteering?" Lily demands. You answer by flashing a grin back at her, and she sighs, looking down and instead focusing on her mug of coffee. Her hand was still gripping the jug, now a little less than half-full.
"Give me a call if you run into trouble," Annie says instead, and to your surprise that she didn't have her "judgmental glare" look that she reserves for you. Just her usual stoic expression. I don't know if I like that better or worst.
"Thanks, I'll try to remember that."
"So, how are you going to do it?" Ashy suddenly asks. You blink and turn towards the laptop screen to see her wiping her mouth with a napkin. And also realize that you didn't have a plan, not exactly...
"Well…" You think for a moment, "I'll project myself and follow Mom around for a bit in the Dream World."
"Miss Versalia is a Full Dragonblood now," Lily immediately responds, "One of her heads will spot you if you try."
"She won't if I'm really sneaky."
"I wouldn't count on that," Annie says, and you give her the stink eye. "Though, if you use it to find a Dream-only friend of Miss Versalia's, that can work."
Lily grunts in response and pours herself another mug of coffee. The jug that she had been hogging was now only about a quarter full. Is she really going to finish the full jug?
"Would she have any? That we couldn't meet in just the physical, I mean," Ashy wonders aloud.
"Maybe?"
"Just go ask her grandpa. I can't imagine he wouldn't know what her favorite food is," Annie suggests.
"Sure, where would I find him? Or what's his phone number?" Huh. As far as you were aware, none of you really knew her actual family members that well.
"Great question," Annie smirks, and you shoot your nastiest glare at her.
"So!" Ashy exclaims, trying to get the conversation back in order, "We can try to talk to her friends or try to contact her grandpa or other family, right? Am I missing anything?" Save the fact that we only know her grandpa, in terms of family? Pretty sure we don't even know her brother's name... Nor her grandpa's, actually.
"I guess Viola's right," Annie offers, and you barely bite back a retort, "and we can try staking her out. I still think that'll be a horrible plan, though."
"If you're so smart, why don't you do it?" you scowl.
"You were the one who volunteered. And yes, Ashy. That should be all." Annie's expression had went smoothly back to her usual stoic, impassive one, even with your glare on her.
"Well, sounds like you have a good starting point," Lily manages, before a yawn escapes and she groans. "Don't count on me for a while, I need to finish my project." She blinks blearily as she finishes speaking, then downs the last of her current mug. Ashy's saying something, but you don't pay attention as you realize that if Lily gets a refill, there would only be half a cup left.
"Save some for me!" you protest, and she stops right as the coffee starts pouring.
Now with a mug of cream-and-sugar coffee in hand, you pan over the locations of interest on your GPS. Unfortunately, searching on the internet didn't seem to bring any fruitful results. You could…
[ ] Visit the Acrux Orphanage.
-[ ] Her grandpa had some connections with someone in this place, right?
-[ ] If you remember right, Suzanne works here now and in particular is fairly close to Mom.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the library…?
-[ ] Kiyoto might be there! Last you heard, he did become co-op buddies with her.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the emergency center Mom used to work at. Save Ashy some effort since she's already doing the legwork by cooking the dish.
-[ ] Maybe you can catch Wendy when she's headed in for the day?
-[ ] If you're really lucky, maybe you can find out more about her from Charlotte…
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head for the shopping center. Mom places great pride on her appearance, so she would likely have some friends to be found there.
-[ ] In fact, didn't Lily mention that she had a tailor she visited often there?
-[ ] She gifted you some jewelry from her favorite jeweler before, and you're pretty sure she's friendly enough with the owner to have commissioned them.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Go to Cafe Canopus, maybe Drake knows some gossip that can help.
[ ] Visit her house! Maybe her grandfather is home?
Or… Wait, you have a better idea.
[ ] Write-in
Current Character
Infinite Use:
2 Uses:
- Entreat:
- Summons a spirit to chat. Costs at least 2 Wealth to use, since 99% of the time, you're only calling them because you want something.
- Talisman Seal
- Painted paper meant for stunning and dispelling spirits. They're handmade! Only works on beings without a body in the physical world, but you know they're the equivalent of a taser. Spirit taser.
- Disregard (3/3)
- Make others overlook you, ignore you, and forget you were even there.
- Scry (3/3)
- Look into a lens to watch events going on through any other lens.
- Speak Tongues (3/3)
- Understand and speak in any other language.
2 Uses:
- Project Self (2/2)
- Detach your consciousness from your body to traverse the dream world as a spirit. You'll have to find your body to re-enter it.
- Teleport (2/2)
- Transport you somewhere you know or can see.
- Invoke Great Dragon (1/1)
- In the dream world, call the attention of a Great Dragon.
- Wealth: 4
- Cellular Device
- Your phone!
Miss VersaliaMom's potential favorite foods:- Caviar
- Wish Filet
- Honey
- Roc Egg
- She likes meat!
- Miss Versalia is a Full Dragonblood now, meaning half of her now resides in the Dream World.
- As such, she requires more mana than usual in her diet to stay healthy.
Last edited:
8:15--Acrux Orphanage
The Orphanage itself was functionally surrounded by a mesh of bristling thorns, at least in the Dream World. Entrances abound through the ward, though, so really, the hostile-looking barrier was more or less just a quirk of the place you—
Goosebumps race down your spine when you reach out an impulsive hand to feel at the protective warding. Did they add something to it? It feels... Different. Though oddly enough, the unnerving sensation leaves as you pass the proverbial brambles to the orphanage proper. Wonder why they would mess with it if it's more about sending a message in the first place?
I'll poke it some other time. You turn your attention back to the Physical World just in time to see the last few children getting on the building's school bus. The kids already on the bus could be seen chatting through the open windows, and as the bus grumbles into motion, you see some waving to the chaperones standing at the curb. Luckily enough, Suzanne was among them, her braided hair and butterfly pins marking her out clearly, waving after the bus as it moves.
The ribbons on your hairclip flutter and your gaze is drawn to the flash of impossible colors swirling around the bus. Spirits of the orphanage, chasing after their playmates in the form of living ribbons, follow the bus as it leaves—Wait, I have something to do here!
"Suzanne!" you call out, tearing your attention from the spirits. Heads turn in surprise, her included. You wave, even as a flush of heat rises up to your face.
"Viola! I wasn't expecting you," Suzanne's eyes light up and she waves the others onward as she hurries toward you, focused on your hair and the absolutely awesome dye-job you got, "When did you dye your hair again?"
"Almost three weeks ago," you grin, and take a few steps into a sunbeam, gently tossing your hair to let the morning sunlight play through the iridescence, scintillating with a thousand tiny rainbows. And as testament to the job the hairstylist did, also leaving the faintest shimmer in the air too. Suzanne applauds appreciatively.
"Alright, then," Suzanne's grey eyes sparkle, and then leans forward, clasping her hands behind her back. Uh-oh. And thus, she asks the dreaded question, her voice fighting her as she tries to sound casual. "How much did it cost?"
You wince. Feeling vicious today? "Let's not talk about that."
"Alright, then," she chuckles and straightens up, smiling her same smile that failed her every "try not to laugh" challenge you've done with her. "What's with the visit, then? I have work to do, you know."
"So…" you trail off for a moment, trying to gather your thoughts, "You know the surprise party tomorrow?"
"The one for Miss Versalia, right? What about it?"
"Uh… So you know what we... We ran into... We… Kind of don't know what her favorite food is?" at Suzanne's incredulous expression, you hastily clarify, "As in, we got to comparing notes, and found out that all of us got different answers when we asked."
"Huh!" Suzanne rubs her chin, looking perplexed.
[] "So I was wondering if you happened to know what it could be."
[] "Why do you think she would give us all different answers?"
[] "Who should I ask about it, do you think?"
[] Write-in
Goosebumps race down your spine when you reach out an impulsive hand to feel at the protective warding. Did they add something to it? It feels... Different. Though oddly enough, the unnerving sensation leaves as you pass the proverbial brambles to the orphanage proper. Wonder why they would mess with it if it's more about sending a message in the first place?
I'll poke it some other time. You turn your attention back to the Physical World just in time to see the last few children getting on the building's school bus. The kids already on the bus could be seen chatting through the open windows, and as the bus grumbles into motion, you see some waving to the chaperones standing at the curb. Luckily enough, Suzanne was among them, her braided hair and butterfly pins marking her out clearly, waving after the bus as it moves.
The ribbons on your hairclip flutter and your gaze is drawn to the flash of impossible colors swirling around the bus. Spirits of the orphanage, chasing after their playmates in the form of living ribbons, follow the bus as it leaves—Wait, I have something to do here!
"Suzanne!" you call out, tearing your attention from the spirits. Heads turn in surprise, her included. You wave, even as a flush of heat rises up to your face.
"Viola! I wasn't expecting you," Suzanne's eyes light up and she waves the others onward as she hurries toward you, focused on your hair and the absolutely awesome dye-job you got, "When did you dye your hair again?"
"Almost three weeks ago," you grin, and take a few steps into a sunbeam, gently tossing your hair to let the morning sunlight play through the iridescence, scintillating with a thousand tiny rainbows. And as testament to the job the hairstylist did, also leaving the faintest shimmer in the air too. Suzanne applauds appreciatively.
"Alright, then," Suzanne's grey eyes sparkle, and then leans forward, clasping her hands behind her back. Uh-oh. And thus, she asks the dreaded question, her voice fighting her as she tries to sound casual. "How much did it cost?"
You wince. Feeling vicious today? "Let's not talk about that."
"Alright, then," she chuckles and straightens up, smiling her same smile that failed her every "try not to laugh" challenge you've done with her. "What's with the visit, then? I have work to do, you know."
"So…" you trail off for a moment, trying to gather your thoughts, "You know the surprise party tomorrow?"
"The one for Miss Versalia, right? What about it?"
"Uh… So you know what we... We ran into... We… Kind of don't know what her favorite food is?" at Suzanne's incredulous expression, you hastily clarify, "As in, we got to comparing notes, and found out that all of us got different answers when we asked."
"Huh!" Suzanne rubs her chin, looking perplexed.
[] "So I was wondering if you happened to know what it could be."
[] "Why do you think she would give us all different answers?"
[] "Who should I ask about it, do you think?"
[] Write-in
8:15--Acrux Orphanage 2
"So… It seems like it's something that she doesn't really want to tell anyone, for whatever reason…" you trail off as Suzanne tilts her head slightly, crossing her arms and tapping her cheek as she thinks.
"Yes… But she usually just says that out loud… Hmm…" Suzanne presses her lips together and opens her mouth, but before she could speak, someone calls her name from the orphanage.
"Are you done saying hi to your friend?" the voice calls out. Suzanne's eyes widen and you both turn to see someone with a mass of feathery, curly hair—Hey, is that a medium pinned to their uniform? "There's still work to be done right now, you know!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry," Suzanne apologizes, her voice wilting as she cringes and you feel your fists curl up, "I'll be right over!"
"Hey!—You open your mouth and start to shout, but Suzanne steps into your line of sight and holds her hands up, a placating plea on her face.
"Alright, alright," on their part, Feathers-For-Hair leans back and sigh, crossing their arms with a crabby expression, "Just… Just finish faster."
At Suzanne's pleading expression, you huff and bite back the static-tinged words on your tongue. "What's their problem?" you grumble instead.
"Viola, I'm on the clock right now…"
"Come on, we haven't even been chatting for five minutes!"
"It's just... Just..." Suzanne bites her lip, then shakes her head, "Just… Don't worry about it. What do you need?"
"Fine," you acquiesce, "I don't want to get you into trouble. Do you have any ideas on who I should talk to about this?"
"Your best bet is probably going to be Theodore or Mr. Julius," Suzanne begins.
"Theodore?" you blink. The name sounds familiar...
"Um... Her brother."
"She has a... Chaos take me, she has a brother!"
"You never met him," Suzanne smiles at last as she continues, "Her family is my first bet for who you should talk to, but maybe some of her other friends around town would know too. Probably only her closest friends, though. I don't think Ms. Wendy would know what it is."
"Wendy's known her since they were kids, though!"
"They're not that close on a personal level," Suzanne taps her cheek again, eyes darting to the Orphanage, "And um… Who else…"
"Then, any of her personal friends that you know about?"
"Um, there's Richard, but all I know about him is that they met when shopping, they go hiking together, and he's a necromancer. Um…" Suzanne checks her phone, biting her lip as she looks at the time, "And I know she's friends with her tailor, Mary. She lives near Fountainpoint Circle, but I think she's working today."
Feathers-For-Hair over there was starting to look impatient, so you bite down the other questions you had and just give Suzanne a nod and a smile as you chirp: "Great! Thanks for the info, that helps a lot."
"It did?"
"Yes," you state firmly.
"If you say so," she didn't look convinced, but gives you an awkward smile regardless. "I'll be getting back to work now. Won't want to keep Strigi waiting."
With a wave, she hurries back into the Orphanage, leaving you to plan out what to do next.
[ ] Visit the Acrux Orphanage.
-[ ] Her grandpa had some connections with someone in this place, right?
-[ ] If you remember right, Suzanne works here now and in particular is fairly close to Mom.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the library…?
-[ ] Kiyoto might be there! Last you heard, he did become co-op buddies with her.
-[ ] Maybe this "Richard" person is one of the necromancers working here.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the emergency center Mom used to work at. Save Ashy some effort since she's already doing the legwork by cooking the dish.
-[ ] Maybe you can catch Wendy? She still might know something.
--[ ] Maybe she might know Theodore?
-[ ] If you're really lucky, maybe you can find out more about her from Charlotte…
-[ ] Would the necromancer she's friends with work here…?
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head for the shopping center. Mom places great pride on her appearance, so she would likely have some friends to be found there.
-[ ] Maybe the tailor Lily mentioned is Mary?
-[ ] She gifted you some jewelry from her favorite jeweler before, and you're pretty sure she's friendly enough with the owner to have commissioned them.
-[ ] Maybe someone would know the necromancer she's friends with if you ask around, since she's met him when shopping.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Go to Cafe Canopus, maybe Drake knows some gossip that can help.
[ ] Head to Fountainpoint Circle, see if Mary is at home right now. (Takes 30 minutes to arrive)
[ ] Visit her house! Maybe her grandfather is home?
"Yes… But she usually just says that out loud… Hmm…" Suzanne presses her lips together and opens her mouth, but before she could speak, someone calls her name from the orphanage.
"Are you done saying hi to your friend?" the voice calls out. Suzanne's eyes widen and you both turn to see someone with a mass of feathery, curly hair—Hey, is that a medium pinned to their uniform? "There's still work to be done right now, you know!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry," Suzanne apologizes, her voice wilting as she cringes and you feel your fists curl up, "I'll be right over!"
"Hey!—You open your mouth and start to shout, but Suzanne steps into your line of sight and holds her hands up, a placating plea on her face.
"Alright, alright," on their part, Feathers-For-Hair leans back and sigh, crossing their arms with a crabby expression, "Just… Just finish faster."
At Suzanne's pleading expression, you huff and bite back the static-tinged words on your tongue. "What's their problem?" you grumble instead.
"Viola, I'm on the clock right now…"
"Come on, we haven't even been chatting for five minutes!"
"It's just... Just..." Suzanne bites her lip, then shakes her head, "Just… Don't worry about it. What do you need?"
"Fine," you acquiesce, "I don't want to get you into trouble. Do you have any ideas on who I should talk to about this?"
"Your best bet is probably going to be Theodore or Mr. Julius," Suzanne begins.
"Theodore?" you blink. The name sounds familiar...
"Um... Her brother."
"She has a... Chaos take me, she has a brother!"
"You never met him," Suzanne smiles at last as she continues, "Her family is my first bet for who you should talk to, but maybe some of her other friends around town would know too. Probably only her closest friends, though. I don't think Ms. Wendy would know what it is."
"Wendy's known her since they were kids, though!"
"They're not that close on a personal level," Suzanne taps her cheek again, eyes darting to the Orphanage, "And um… Who else…"
"Then, any of her personal friends that you know about?"
"Um, there's Richard, but all I know about him is that they met when shopping, they go hiking together, and he's a necromancer. Um…" Suzanne checks her phone, biting her lip as she looks at the time, "And I know she's friends with her tailor, Mary. She lives near Fountainpoint Circle, but I think she's working today."
Feathers-For-Hair over there was starting to look impatient, so you bite down the other questions you had and just give Suzanne a nod and a smile as you chirp: "Great! Thanks for the info, that helps a lot."
"It did?"
"Yes," you state firmly.
"If you say so," she didn't look convinced, but gives you an awkward smile regardless. "I'll be getting back to work now. Won't want to keep Strigi waiting."
With a wave, she hurries back into the Orphanage, leaving you to plan out what to do next.
[ ] Visit the Acrux Orphanage.
-[ ] Her grandpa had some connections with someone in this place, right?
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the library…?
-[ ] Kiyoto might be there! Last you heard, he did become co-op buddies with her.
-[ ] Maybe this "Richard" person is one of the necromancers working here.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the emergency center Mom used to work at. Save Ashy some effort since she's already doing the legwork by cooking the dish.
-[ ] Maybe you can catch Wendy? She still might know something.
--[ ] Maybe she might know Theodore?
-[ ] If you're really lucky, maybe you can find out more about her from Charlotte…
-[ ] Would the necromancer she's friends with work here…?
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head for the shopping center. Mom places great pride on her appearance, so she would likely have some friends to be found there.
-[ ] Maybe the tailor Lily mentioned is Mary?
-[ ] She gifted you some jewelry from her favorite jeweler before, and you're pretty sure she's friendly enough with the owner to have commissioned them.
-[ ] Maybe someone would know the necromancer she's friends with if you ask around, since she's met him when shopping.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Go to Cafe Canopus, maybe Drake knows some gossip that can help.
[ ] Head to Fountainpoint Circle, see if Mary is at home right now. (Takes 30 minutes to arrive)
[ ] Visit her house! Maybe her grandfather is home?
Last edited:
Weldon and Co.--8:30
My bad, apparently I forgot to close voting earlier. Thank you for stopping by, @Altom!
It took some asking around, but you eventually found yourself pulling open a door to Weldon and Co. Tailoring (humanoid-specialist tailoring services), a business tucked between a restaurant with an outdoor arrangement and an antique store, guarded by wards. Your ribbons didn't react as you peek into the antique store's windows, so you wonder if this one actually employed antimagic measures for non-mundanes instead of leaving things to buyer's discretion.
A woody other-scent that leaves an impression of a pine forest swirls in the air as you enter the store. As you do, you catch the last bit of conversation between a black-haired man behind the front counter and a person with short hair in an odd color best described as "grey-like."
"... So just bring it back if that doesn't work out," he finishes. The nervous person gives their thanks and hugs their bundle of clothes with a deathgrip as they leave, and the secretary turns his attention towards you, boasting an award-winning smile as he says: "Welcome to Weldon and Company, how can I help you?"
"I'm looking for someone named Mary. I would like to speak with her about a matter regarding Mi--Versalia Sunrose," you say, hastily adding, "I'll be quick. It shouldn't take more than five minutes."
The man's eyebrows did their best impression of a startled bird. "About Versalia? What for?"
He knows her, then? "I'm a... Friend of hers, and I wanted to talk to someone else who might know her better. It's for her birthday, you see."
"Is that soon?" His tone and smile both warms."Of course. I'll let Mary know. Please, feel free to sit down while you wait."
You watch as he stands up, showing off a suit so crisp it would crackle if you bumped into him, and then head through a doorway leading to the back of the building.
As he disappears behind a door, you glance around the waiting area. Some people towards the back were flitting among racks of coat hangers and black bags that presumably contained outfits. There were a row of stiff-backed chairs against the wall, one other person waiting on them, and some informational posters had been hung on the walls about various fashion-related subjects nearby. Not many in at this time in the morning, it looks like. In general, the place was sparsely decorated, without so much as—Oh. Wait, there's the customary ward. Good hiding place! You take a seat next to it and pull out your phone as you wait.
You were reading over Annie and Lily arguing over if "honey" was an acceptable suggestion for the former to add to the doc when an "excuse me" catches your attention.
"You wanted to speak with me, yes?" a brown-haired woman with blue eyes, an easy smile, and plain clothes stood over you, her arms crossed lightly.
"Are you Mary?" you ask, standing and stuffing your phone into a back pocket as you did.
"I am," she says, and makes an amazed "hm!" sound from the back of her throat. "Jarrar was right, you have great hair."
"Thanks!" A woman of culture!
"Of course," she smiles, a twinkle glinting in her eyes before her expression turns serious. "So what about Versalia did you want to talk to me about? Is she alright?"
"Er... I don't know. I mean, I haven't really talked to her since the thing last month." Though I don't usually talk with her often as Ashy or Suzanne or someone does in the first place, I guess...
"Oh." For a brief moment, her face twists with worry. Maybe I should have asked more about that during breakfast... Just as quickly, her composure returns as she clears her throat, then says: "Excuse me for that, you were the one who had something to ask me. What is it?"
"It's not a problem. We're trying to figure out her favorite food right now..."
[ ] "Do you happen to know what it might be? I heard from Suzanne that you might know something about it."
[ ] "And we have some, er, guesses already. Do you what she doesn't like?"
[ ] "Do you know how we would be able to contact…
-[ ] … Her brother?"
-[ ] … Her grandfather?"
[ ] Write-In
Oh, right…
[ ] Mention the surprise party?
It took some asking around, but you eventually found yourself pulling open a door to Weldon and Co. Tailoring (humanoid-specialist tailoring services), a business tucked between a restaurant with an outdoor arrangement and an antique store, guarded by wards. Your ribbons didn't react as you peek into the antique store's windows, so you wonder if this one actually employed antimagic measures for non-mundanes instead of leaving things to buyer's discretion.
A woody other-scent that leaves an impression of a pine forest swirls in the air as you enter the store. As you do, you catch the last bit of conversation between a black-haired man behind the front counter and a person with short hair in an odd color best described as "grey-like."
"... So just bring it back if that doesn't work out," he finishes. The nervous person gives their thanks and hugs their bundle of clothes with a deathgrip as they leave, and the secretary turns his attention towards you, boasting an award-winning smile as he says: "Welcome to Weldon and Company, how can I help you?"
"I'm looking for someone named Mary. I would like to speak with her about a matter regarding Mi--Versalia Sunrose," you say, hastily adding, "I'll be quick. It shouldn't take more than five minutes."
The man's eyebrows did their best impression of a startled bird. "About Versalia? What for?"
He knows her, then? "I'm a... Friend of hers, and I wanted to talk to someone else who might know her better. It's for her birthday, you see."
"Is that soon?" His tone and smile both warms."Of course. I'll let Mary know. Please, feel free to sit down while you wait."
You watch as he stands up, showing off a suit so crisp it would crackle if you bumped into him, and then head through a doorway leading to the back of the building.
As he disappears behind a door, you glance around the waiting area. Some people towards the back were flitting among racks of coat hangers and black bags that presumably contained outfits. There were a row of stiff-backed chairs against the wall, one other person waiting on them, and some informational posters had been hung on the walls about various fashion-related subjects nearby. Not many in at this time in the morning, it looks like. In general, the place was sparsely decorated, without so much as—Oh. Wait, there's the customary ward. Good hiding place! You take a seat next to it and pull out your phone as you wait.
You were reading over Annie and Lily arguing over if "honey" was an acceptable suggestion for the former to add to the doc when an "excuse me" catches your attention.
"You wanted to speak with me, yes?" a brown-haired woman with blue eyes, an easy smile, and plain clothes stood over you, her arms crossed lightly.
"Are you Mary?" you ask, standing and stuffing your phone into a back pocket as you did.
"I am," she says, and makes an amazed "hm!" sound from the back of her throat. "Jarrar was right, you have great hair."
"Thanks!" A woman of culture!
"Of course," she smiles, a twinkle glinting in her eyes before her expression turns serious. "So what about Versalia did you want to talk to me about? Is she alright?"
"Er... I don't know. I mean, I haven't really talked to her since the thing last month." Though I don't usually talk with her often as Ashy or Suzanne or someone does in the first place, I guess...
"Oh." For a brief moment, her face twists with worry. Maybe I should have asked more about that during breakfast... Just as quickly, her composure returns as she clears her throat, then says: "Excuse me for that, you were the one who had something to ask me. What is it?"
"It's not a problem. We're trying to figure out her favorite food right now..."
[ ] "Do you happen to know what it might be? I heard from Suzanne that you might know something about it."
[ ] "And we have some, er, guesses already. Do you what she doesn't like?"
[ ] "Do you know how we would be able to contact…
-[ ] … Her brother?"
-[ ] … Her grandfather?"
[ ] Write-In
Oh, right…
[ ] Mention the surprise party?
Weldon and Co.--8:30 2
Sorry for the delay, this was oddly hard to write.
"So do you happen to know what it might be? I heard from Suzanne that you might know something about it."
"Hm, is Suzanne the mousy young woman who likes butterflies?"
"Yes! Do you know her?"
"No, Versalia pointed her here for a small favor once. Speaking of, her favorite food, huh?" Mary smiles wrily, "Funny you say that. I don't think I ever learned what it is."
Your face falls.
"But! What I can tell you," she continues, "is that whatever it is, it's something meat based."
"What do you mean?" A faint inkling of a memory starts to ripple in your mind.
"When I asked if there was anything she would like to have, whenever I've invited her for dinner, her only request is ever—and I quote: "Anything with meat in it.""
An old lesson from your "Evolution of Spellcasting" class finally surfaces. It was suddenly seeing your sphinx professor have an excited face as they stopped lecturing and really started to discuss the subject they had been researching for centuries instead. Specifically, why carnivorous or omnivorous animals tend to develop magical abilities more often. With that memory turning in your mind, you ask: "Does it have to be meat? Or just any kind of... Animal product, I suppose?"
"Hm… Now that you mention it," Mary muses, "I think Versalia's fine with just eggs. She won't turn down a good omelette."
"Makes sense, makes sense," you run your fingers over your phone, letting the new information sink in. I never thought about it, but even an Unawakened Dragonblood would probably need the extra mana. And I should probably let Ashy know whenever I get a chance.
"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?" at Mary's question, you snap out of your current train of thought to one that had been at the back of your mind ever since she had asked about Miss Versalia.
Well, the more the merrier, as they say. "Yeah," you nod, "Some of us are throwing her a surprise party for her tomorrow at 6 in the evening. Feel free to come!"
"Hm, a surprise party at 6?" Mary's expression turns bemused, and she looks over you again, "Who do you mean by "us?"
"Oh, we're, um... People Miss Versalia's given a helping hand a lot in the past..." you say vaguely. A flash of lightning seemed to jump in Mary's eyes, though, and her tone turned astonished as she asks:
"Are you also one of the girls from that cult she's found? The one all those years back?"
"I…" You trail off to stare at her for a minute, your mind finally blanking. On her part, Mary slaps a hand over her mouth, mortified.
"Oh, oh no, I'm sorry, that was inappropriate of me."
"Yeah, yeah! We were, you're right," you hurriedly say, feeling the awkward tension starting to cloud the atmosphere, "Just... Not something I expect to hear, you know. Just kind of getting brought up all of a sudden. Who knew Mom was so good at finding cults to forbidden power, right?" You laugh lightheartedly, or try to anyway. Mary's expression was uncomfortably apologetic, and awkwardness still hung around you both like a cloud.
"Knowing her, she probably runs headfirst into that kind of business," Mary chuckles, voice strained, then falls into an awkward silence.
... Ah, whatever, social propriety can suck it. You take a deep breath, then gently clarify: "I've personally moved on from what happened with the cult stuff now, just to be clear. Not everyone else has, but I want to let you know I'm not offended or anything, just honestly surprised since..." You shrug, "... Since it's not something I expect getting brought up. At least, I've never met anyone who ran around asking people "hey, have you ever been in a cult?" I don't know about you, though."
Mary relaxes, then chuckles and shakes her head, "No, I can't say I have."
"So, see you at the party tomorrow?" You offer again, and Mary smiles warmly.
"I'll try."
All in all, not a bad result, if you did say so yourself.
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: guess what i found
[DukeGremory]: Relevant information?
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: just lemme tell you how i'm feelin
Storm-Seer-Xinyai is typing...
[DukeGremory]: Please don't just copypaste the Rickroll again
[419-12-21-17]: Get to the point.
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: she likes meat
[DukeGremory]: I'm with Annie, no jokes please
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: im not!!!!!!!
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: her fav is prob smth w/innate mana
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: so meat
[DukeGremory]: … Honey isn't a meat, Annie
419-12-21-17 is typing…
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: tell Ashy <3
[419-12-21-17]: Honey is created by bees, and as a part of that process, they suck nectar up into their abdomens to regurgitate it later. Therefore, honey collects mana because it passes through the body of a living, magic-capable creature.
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: TMI ewww
[DukeGremory] is typing...
You leave them to their arguing as you contemplate what to do next.
[ ] Visit the Acrux Orphanage.
-[ ] Her grandpa had some connections with someone in this place, right?
-[ ] If you remember right, Suzanne works here now and in particular is fairly close to Mom.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the library…?
-[ ] Kiyoto might be there! Last you heard, he did become co-op buddies with her.
-[ ] Maybe this "Richard" person is one of the necromancers working here.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the emergency center Mom used to work at. Save Ashy some effort since she's already doing the legwork by cooking the dish.
-[ ] Maybe you can catch Wendy? She still might know something.
--[ ] Maybe she might know Theodore?
-[ ] If you're really lucky, maybe you can find out more about her from Charlotte…
-[ ] Would the necromancer she's friends with work here…?
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head for the shopping center. Mom places great pride on her appearance, so she would likely have some friends to be found there. (Low time penalty)
-[ ] Maybe the tailor Lily mentioned is Mary?
-[ ] She gifted you some jewelry from her favorite jeweler before, and you're pretty sure she's friendly enough with the owner to have commissioned them.
-[ ] Maybe someone would know the necromancer she's friends with if you ask around, since she's met him when shopping.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Go to Cafe Canopus, maybe Drake knows some gossip that can help.
[ ] Head to Fountainpoint Circle, see if Mary is at home right now. (Takes 30 minutes to arrive)
[ ] Visit her house! Maybe her grandfather is home? (Takes 30 minutes to arrive)
[ ] You've got enough information now! You'll just have to tell everyone what it is.
Or wait... You have an idea...
[ ] Write-in
"So do you happen to know what it might be? I heard from Suzanne that you might know something about it."
"Hm, is Suzanne the mousy young woman who likes butterflies?"
"Yes! Do you know her?"
"No, Versalia pointed her here for a small favor once. Speaking of, her favorite food, huh?" Mary smiles wrily, "Funny you say that. I don't think I ever learned what it is."
Your face falls.
"But! What I can tell you," she continues, "is that whatever it is, it's something meat based."
"What do you mean?" A faint inkling of a memory starts to ripple in your mind.
"When I asked if there was anything she would like to have, whenever I've invited her for dinner, her only request is ever—and I quote: "Anything with meat in it.""
An old lesson from your "Evolution of Spellcasting" class finally surfaces. It was suddenly seeing your sphinx professor have an excited face as they stopped lecturing and really started to discuss the subject they had been researching for centuries instead. Specifically, why carnivorous or omnivorous animals tend to develop magical abilities more often. With that memory turning in your mind, you ask: "Does it have to be meat? Or just any kind of... Animal product, I suppose?"
"Hm… Now that you mention it," Mary muses, "I think Versalia's fine with just eggs. She won't turn down a good omelette."
"Makes sense, makes sense," you run your fingers over your phone, letting the new information sink in. I never thought about it, but even an Unawakened Dragonblood would probably need the extra mana. And I should probably let Ashy know whenever I get a chance.
"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?" at Mary's question, you snap out of your current train of thought to one that had been at the back of your mind ever since she had asked about Miss Versalia.
Well, the more the merrier, as they say. "Yeah," you nod, "Some of us are throwing her a surprise party for her tomorrow at 6 in the evening. Feel free to come!"
"Hm, a surprise party at 6?" Mary's expression turns bemused, and she looks over you again, "Who do you mean by "us?"
"Oh, we're, um... People Miss Versalia's given a helping hand a lot in the past..." you say vaguely. A flash of lightning seemed to jump in Mary's eyes, though, and her tone turned astonished as she asks:
"Are you also one of the girls from that cult she's found? The one all those years back?"
"I…" You trail off to stare at her for a minute, your mind finally blanking. On her part, Mary slaps a hand over her mouth, mortified.
"Oh, oh no, I'm sorry, that was inappropriate of me."
"Yeah, yeah! We were, you're right," you hurriedly say, feeling the awkward tension starting to cloud the atmosphere, "Just... Not something I expect to hear, you know. Just kind of getting brought up all of a sudden. Who knew Mom was so good at finding cults to forbidden power, right?" You laugh lightheartedly, or try to anyway. Mary's expression was uncomfortably apologetic, and awkwardness still hung around you both like a cloud.
"Knowing her, she probably runs headfirst into that kind of business," Mary chuckles, voice strained, then falls into an awkward silence.
... Ah, whatever, social propriety can suck it. You take a deep breath, then gently clarify: "I've personally moved on from what happened with the cult stuff now, just to be clear. Not everyone else has, but I want to let you know I'm not offended or anything, just honestly surprised since..." You shrug, "... Since it's not something I expect getting brought up. At least, I've never met anyone who ran around asking people "hey, have you ever been in a cult?" I don't know about you, though."
Mary relaxes, then chuckles and shakes her head, "No, I can't say I have."
"So, see you at the party tomorrow?" You offer again, and Mary smiles warmly.
"I'll try."
All in all, not a bad result, if you did say so yourself.
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: guess what i found
[DukeGremory]: Relevant information?
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: just lemme tell you how i'm feelin
Storm-Seer-Xinyai is typing...
[DukeGremory]: Please don't just copypaste the Rickroll again
[419-12-21-17]: Get to the point.
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: she likes meat
[DukeGremory]: I'm with Annie, no jokes please
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: im not!!!!!!!
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: her fav is prob smth w/innate mana
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: so meat
[DukeGremory]: … Honey isn't a meat, Annie
419-12-21-17 is typing…
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: tell Ashy <3
[419-12-21-17]: Honey is created by bees, and as a part of that process, they suck nectar up into their abdomens to regurgitate it later. Therefore, honey collects mana because it passes through the body of a living, magic-capable creature.
[Storm-Seer-Xinyai]: TMI ewww
[DukeGremory] is typing...
You leave them to their arguing as you contemplate what to do next.
[ ] Visit the Acrux Orphanage.
-[ ] Her grandpa had some connections with someone in this place, right?
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the library…?
-[ ] Kiyoto might be there! Last you heard, he did become co-op buddies with her.
-[ ] Maybe this "Richard" person is one of the necromancers working here.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head to the emergency center Mom used to work at. Save Ashy some effort since she's already doing the legwork by cooking the dish.
-[ ] Maybe you can catch Wendy? She still might know something.
--[ ] Maybe she might know Theodore?
-[ ] If you're really lucky, maybe you can find out more about her from Charlotte…
-[ ] Would the necromancer she's friends with work here…?
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Head for the shopping center. Mom places great pride on her appearance, so she would likely have some friends to be found there. (Low time penalty)
-[ ] She gifted you some jewelry from her favorite jeweler before, and you're pretty sure she's friendly enough with the owner to have commissioned them.
-[ ] Maybe someone would know the necromancer she's friends with if you ask around, since she's met him when shopping.
-[ ] Take some time, look around! You might get lucky.
[ ] Go to Cafe Canopus, maybe Drake knows some gossip that can help.
[ ] Visit her house! Maybe her grandfather is home? (Takes 30 minutes to arrive)
[ ] You've got enough information now! You'll just have to tell everyone what it is.
Or wait... You have an idea...
[ ] Write-in
Last edited:
8:40--Funi Jewelry
A quick question to Garrar and a jaunt across a block found you staring into the windows of an intimidatingly fancy store, filled with dozens of display cases of jewelry. The details were hard to pick out in the dim lights from just pressing your face to the windows, but you do notice that most pieces didn't seem to actually use gems, instead formed primarily by fanciful swirls of precious metal. That's a good sign! I definitely remember her wearing jewelry like that.
Oddly, there doesn't seem to be any magic used in the store itself, barring the usual building wardings against teleportation, rogue spirits, and such. Not even an anti-theft ward around the display cases. Part of you starts wondering if some of the wares are cursed, or if they have connections with some sort of bloc of secret magicians or something.
Speaking of the dim lights. You try the door to find it locked, and peer inside. Most of the store seemed to be closed, but there was a security guard with short blonde hair and glasses sitting behind a desk, tapping away on a computer. Maybe they're part of the secret cabal of super security agents? You dismiss that train of thought for later, then rap on the glass a few times to get their attention. They look up, mouth pressed to a thin line. Like Annie's expression, whenever she's internally contemplating if it would be worth the jail time to defenestrate you.
They point to the closed door, and you try it again--Wait. Oh. Store hours are from 10:00-22:00 today.
Hm.
[ ] Might as well as come back later, then. Where to go next…?
- [ ] Write-in
[ ] Tap on the glass until the security guard actually comes to talk with you. They'll give in eventually, right?
[ ] Write-in
Oddly, there doesn't seem to be any magic used in the store itself, barring the usual building wardings against teleportation, rogue spirits, and such. Not even an anti-theft ward around the display cases. Part of you starts wondering if some of the wares are cursed, or if they have connections with some sort of bloc of secret magicians or something.
Speaking of the dim lights. You try the door to find it locked, and peer inside. Most of the store seemed to be closed, but there was a security guard with short blonde hair and glasses sitting behind a desk, tapping away on a computer. Maybe they're part of the secret cabal of super security agents? You dismiss that train of thought for later, then rap on the glass a few times to get their attention. They look up, mouth pressed to a thin line. Like Annie's expression, whenever she's internally contemplating if it would be worth the jail time to defenestrate you.
They point to the closed door, and you try it again--Wait. Oh. Store hours are from 10:00-22:00 today.
Hm.
[ ] Might as well as come back later, then. Where to go next…?
- [ ] Write-in
[ ] Tap on the glass until the security guard actually comes to talk with you. They'll give in eventually, right?
[ ] Write-in
8:55--Kaitos Library
Excuse me for the late update, the last week had gotten more hectic than I was anticipating. ^^;
Who else might know, who else... You step back from the glass, thinking, and your mind drifts to your friend Kiyoto. You had introduced him to Mom because they both enjoyed similar action games, and… Last you heard, they got along splendidly?
A quick glance at the time and usual traffic had you catching a bus to the library, hoping that Kiyoto would still be on his morning walk by the time you arrive.
Though apparently, you didn't need to worry.
"Thousand heavens!" Kiyoto's swear rang more in your mind than your ears, which... While not a great sign, did mean that he was still here, "is there a single groundskeeper around who isn't a skeleton?"
"I'm not a skeleton nor a groundskeeper, do I still count?" you call out.
There was a pause, and then the pruned bushrows shake as a large fox leaps out, leaving flickering afterimages in blue as he settles on the ornamental fence in front of you, tilting his head as he asks in your mind: "Viola? What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you," you reply, narrowing your eyes, "Did something happen?" in particular, his medium was missing from around his neck. He isn't the careless type, how did he lose that?
"You don't have to worry about that," he punctuates the statement with a weird, bark-like sound that you guessed was annoyance or a equivalent of a scowl. "One of the shikigami stole my bell."
Ah. A mildly more difficult shikigami wrangling session than usual. "Not a good sign for them... Is it?"
"Maybe. She learned to mimic human mannerisms faster than most of the others I've coached before," Kiyoto flicks his tail as he muses, "Though... She also tends to… What's that one phrase? Put her foot in her mouth? Bite off more than she could chew? One of the two."
"Huh, who is it?" Mentally, you run through the shikigami you knew he was working with at the moment. There was his old friend Hana, a toad who called himself Buster, a sibling pair of some kind of fish...
"Dora. The, uh… Lynx, I think they're called?"
"Wait," you blink, "is she the one who ended up having the police called on her because she tried to strike out on her own and was seen eating birds raw at the park?"
He laughs. "Ah, so you've heard about that!"
"Yeah, I heard about the incident from Annie."
"It's a lesson for next time," Kiyoto does what you think is a shrug, then focuses on you, fixing you with a piercing gaze from eyes positively glowing with power, and you feel a shiver run up your spine in spite of yourself, under his truth-unveiling stare. "But that's enough about me, you said you wanted to talk, right?" He realizes what he might be doing and breaks his gaze, turning his head to look to the side instead.
"Sort of. As in, it's about Miss Versalia," you say, and immediately see him tense, his mana suddenly becoming sharper and his afterimages more solid, rustling the bushes behind him as his tail lashed. "Nothing bad!" You hastily amend, "She's fine! Or well, nothing else has happened. She's still depressed, from what I know." Whoa, just how close are they? I thought they just met about two months ago!
"Ah..." he droops and slumps down on the fence, resting his head on his paws, "She's been trying to hide how much she's been hurt. I've only gotten my information on what happened from the news, but last time we've played Mythblade together, I think I accidentally called her right after she had been crying. Though she claimed she just caught ill."
"Yeah… Even now, all I can think is how she always tries to keep a smile on her face for us, as long as I've known her…" you sigh and sit down next to him, and then feel something leathery and warm press against the back of your hand. "But that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Yes?" his ears perk up, and he raises his head, shifting his paw off you.
"You see, I'm trying to find out her favorite food…
[ ] "Do you happen to know anyone we can talk to for figuring that out?"
[ ] "By any chance, would you know what it is? Or at least what it isn't?"
[ ] "She's… I think she might have been lying to us about what it is.
- [ ] Can you confirm that for us?"
- [ ] What's… Your opinion on that? Do you know why she would?"
Also:
[ ] "Do you want some help with finding your shikigami?" Besides, I know how much he treasures his bell.
Who else might know, who else... You step back from the glass, thinking, and your mind drifts to your friend Kiyoto. You had introduced him to Mom because they both enjoyed similar action games, and… Last you heard, they got along splendidly?
A quick glance at the time and usual traffic had you catching a bus to the library, hoping that Kiyoto would still be on his morning walk by the time you arrive.
Though apparently, you didn't need to worry.
"Thousand heavens!" Kiyoto's swear rang more in your mind than your ears, which... While not a great sign, did mean that he was still here, "is there a single groundskeeper around who isn't a skeleton?"
"I'm not a skeleton nor a groundskeeper, do I still count?" you call out.
There was a pause, and then the pruned bushrows shake as a large fox leaps out, leaving flickering afterimages in blue as he settles on the ornamental fence in front of you, tilting his head as he asks in your mind: "Viola? What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you," you reply, narrowing your eyes, "Did something happen?" in particular, his medium was missing from around his neck. He isn't the careless type, how did he lose that?
"You don't have to worry about that," he punctuates the statement with a weird, bark-like sound that you guessed was annoyance or a equivalent of a scowl. "One of the shikigami stole my bell."
Ah. A mildly more difficult shikigami wrangling session than usual. "Not a good sign for them... Is it?"
"Maybe. She learned to mimic human mannerisms faster than most of the others I've coached before," Kiyoto flicks his tail as he muses, "Though... She also tends to… What's that one phrase? Put her foot in her mouth? Bite off more than she could chew? One of the two."
"Huh, who is it?" Mentally, you run through the shikigami you knew he was working with at the moment. There was his old friend Hana, a toad who called himself Buster, a sibling pair of some kind of fish...
"Dora. The, uh… Lynx, I think they're called?"
"Wait," you blink, "is she the one who ended up having the police called on her because she tried to strike out on her own and was seen eating birds raw at the park?"
He laughs. "Ah, so you've heard about that!"
"Yeah, I heard about the incident from Annie."
"It's a lesson for next time," Kiyoto does what you think is a shrug, then focuses on you, fixing you with a piercing gaze from eyes positively glowing with power, and you feel a shiver run up your spine in spite of yourself, under his truth-unveiling stare. "But that's enough about me, you said you wanted to talk, right?" He realizes what he might be doing and breaks his gaze, turning his head to look to the side instead.
"Sort of. As in, it's about Miss Versalia," you say, and immediately see him tense, his mana suddenly becoming sharper and his afterimages more solid, rustling the bushes behind him as his tail lashed. "Nothing bad!" You hastily amend, "She's fine! Or well, nothing else has happened. She's still depressed, from what I know." Whoa, just how close are they? I thought they just met about two months ago!
"Ah..." he droops and slumps down on the fence, resting his head on his paws, "She's been trying to hide how much she's been hurt. I've only gotten my information on what happened from the news, but last time we've played Mythblade together, I think I accidentally called her right after she had been crying. Though she claimed she just caught ill."
"Yeah… Even now, all I can think is how she always tries to keep a smile on her face for us, as long as I've known her…" you sigh and sit down next to him, and then feel something leathery and warm press against the back of your hand. "But that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Yes?" his ears perk up, and he raises his head, shifting his paw off you.
"You see, I'm trying to find out her favorite food…
[ ] "Do you happen to know anyone we can talk to for figuring that out?"
[ ] "By any chance, would you know what it is? Or at least what it isn't?"
[ ] "She's… I think she might have been lying to us about what it is.
- [ ] Can you confirm that for us?"
- [ ] What's… Your opinion on that? Do you know why she would?"
Also:
[ ] "Do you want some help with finding your shikigami?" Besides, I know how much he treasures his bell.
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