Patchwork !!DkZ2EyAJHl 2008/07/25 (Fri) 01:52 No. 8755 ▼ File 121695074027.jpg - (221.97KB, 538x500 , komachi068.jpg)
[X] Decline their offer, but try and set up some other time to visit them.
***
You stay silent and mull the offer over for a bit. This is tough. The Prismrivers are all fun to be around, and if you stay then you could probably take up Lunasa on that suggestion of casual sex. A very tempting prospect indeed. But, still...
"I think I'll have to turn you down this time, sorry. Yuyuko seemed pretty eager to see me back, and she is providing me with a home, so it would be pretty rude if I didn't get back to her on schedule."
"Yes," Youmu's hesitation drains away, "yes, it would be best if we were to proceed as planned. It is only fair to Miss Yuyuko."
Lunasa raises an eyebrow, but maintains her amused smile, evidently only mildly surprised by your response. Merlin sighs and shrugs, looking only a little disappointed. Lyrica looks genuinely downcast by your response, kicking at the ground in disappointment. You can't help but feel a little down yourself when you see her like that.
"I'd love to come by and see you all again some time, though. Is there any time that I could come ba--"
"Any time!" Lyrica interrupts you, and attracts the attention of the others. She fidgets a bit under their stares and blushes. "I mean, unless we've got a performance to hold, then there's always one of us here, so..." She stutters slightly, but still sounds eager.
"You may want to come over and see us after noon though, lover. We like to sleep in. Of course, if you do come earlier, you can just slip into bed with me while waiting for all of us to get up." Merlin gives you a sly smile and a wink. Lunasa rolls her eyes, and Lyrica growls a little.
"If you ever want something from me," Lunasa smiles, "I'm up much earlier than these layabouts. Feel free to come by any time, and there should always be someone here to greet you."
"Alright then. I'll definitely try and make time to come see you all."
Thanking them for their hospitality again, you and Youmu give them one last bow and take your leave. You take a look back as you go to see the doors of the mansion swinging shut of their own volition. Out here in the middle of nowhere and looking as though it were falling apart, the mansion seems almost lonely. You resolve to come back when you have the time.
---
You and Youmu travel for roughly half an hour before it occurs to you to take a look at the sun and try to guess the time. There have been a few interesting sights along the way to draw your attention, and you've queried Youmu about them from time to time, though most of the sights fall outside the route you're traveling. It really is easy to lose track of time, hearing all about strange places like that vampire mansion in the lake to the south of the Prismriver home, or the magical forest.
Before your thoughts stray too far, you have the presence of mind to note that it's probably close to eleven right now. Youmu seemed to think that you had more than enough time to get to... Higan, was it? If you're really going to be there before noon, then you must be getting close, at least.
"Say, Youmu, mind if I ask how much longer until we get to where we're going?"
"It is not too much farther. We should be nearing the edge of... there!"
Far ahead, you can see an enormous river, edged by spider lilies. There's a light mist over the entire area, but the vibrant red of the lilies and the glittering surface of the water cut through it all the same.
"That's Higan?"
Youmu shakes her head. "The Sanzu River. I am greatly discouraged to go beyond it, and so I must leave it to a death god to carry you across. Naturally, the death god of Gensokyo is that slacker," Youmu scowls, "which is one of the reasons I so wished to hurry. I am not confident in her ability to bear you across in a timely manner."
Slacker? That's what she and Ran said when Komachi showed up at the party, so that must mean...
"Yo!"
As the two of you draw close to the river, a relaxed voice drifts up to greet you, just loud enough to be heard. Standing at the riverbank, leaning lazily against her scythe as it juts out of the ground, is Komachi. She looks sort of sleepy right now, her eyes drooping a little, and she yawns as she gives the two of you a weak wave.
Youmu touches down a fair distance away from Komachi, and you end up landing slightly ahead of her. She seems to be in a bad mood at the moment, and doesn't spare Komachi much of a glance. Instead, Myon floats up to you and nudges your hand.
"Hold out your hand."
You do so, and Myon swirls around it for a moment, before a small box is deposited in your hand.
"I prepared some extra food for you, in the event that you wish to eat at all during your stay."
"Oh? Thanks, Youmu." While your thoughts wander down the slightly disturbing path that she's encouraging you to eat something that's been inside of her in a very real sense, you decide not to voice that sentiment.
Youmu nods to you and strolls over to a large rock, sitting down atop it and withdrawing a somewhat larger box from Myon. Evidently, this is the lunch she prepared for herself. A small bottle of what looks like tea follows, and you suppose that must be the tea she made at the Prismriver mansion. Idly you note that the box in your hands is chilly... maybe she keeps this stuff in Myon to keep it cool?
"Slacker," Youmu starts opening her box of food, and addresses Komachi without bothering to look up, "make certain that you are swift with him. It would not do if you were to cause him to be late."
"Take it easy, Youmu." You turn your head and see Komachi grinning sleepily. "I ain't that slow."
All you hear is a grunt in reply, and you decide that hanging around Youmu any longer when she's in this mood would be unwise. You head over to Komachi, who straightens up... a bit; she's still slouched over. You're about to say something when she reaches out and snatches you into a chokehold of sorts, although it's mostly her impressive bust that cuts off air flow instead of her arm. She reaches down and ruffles your hair a bit with her free hand.
"Come on, stud! Let's get goin' before little miss sunshine over there kills my mood."
You struggle to reply as she drags you over to a... very unimpressive wooden boat, and snatches up her scythe in the process. Once she's gotten herself situated at the front of the boat she lets you go, and you fall onto your butt painfully. She shoves off almost immediately, using her scythe as a pole to propel the boat over.
As you drift away from the shore, you take one last look back at Youmu. She glances up from her meal and gives you a small nod, before she goes back to eating slowly.
---
It's about ten minutes into the boat ride that you understand why Youmu was so worried about Komachi going slowly. She's taken a seat at the head of the boat, turned to face you, and prods the water with her scythe to push the boat along only occasionally. Seated across from her, you've yet to say anything, as she looks so sleepy that you're unsure she would register what you said.
The slow pace doesn't bother you much, but you wish Komachi were a little more active.
[ ] Try and make conversation.
[ ] Offer her some of the lunch Youmu made.
[ ] "Slowmachi, why are you so slow?"
[ ] Do nothing.