YAFKYU !nmVOHsTRd. 2008/06/26 (Thu) 16:05 No. 13606 [X] About Alice, carry her with you to the dining room
[X] "Where are the others? Why aren't you with them?"
But, before that, why is Mima here? Shouldn't she be with the others right now? If the preparations are already done, why is she strolling around the shrine, running into not-so-innocent guests minding their own business?
"Uh... So, where are the others? And why aren't you with them?"
"Oh? So you'd rather continue what were you doing without being disturbed?"
"That's not the point." you frown at her smirk "What I'm trying to say is, why aren't you getting drunk or something? I suppose everyone's already there, right?"
She puts her finger to her lips.
"Except one person, yes. Ah, and you are absent as well."
"Then, why are you here?"
"Oh, Reimu asked me to look for you. And this little princess here." she points at Alice "Anyways, what are you going to do with her?"
Now she asks... Well, you can't be leaving Alice here on her own, neither you can simply carry her to one of the bedrooms. Though it's Mima's fault, it would be simply rude to have her miss the party just because something like that happened. Therefore, making her attend even though she's asleep would be a polite thing to do.
Sighing, out of principle, rather than because of iritation, you grab a firm hold of Alice's limp body and stand up.
"Guess I'll have to take her along. Mima, you're coming with me, right?"
"Do you even have to ask?" she floats in front of you, flashing you a grin "Of course! I was just looking for you two, I don't want to miss the party!"
"I see."
You respond blankly and set off in the direction of the dining room.
Arriving in front of it's doors, you turn back to Mima.
"Mima, about what happened, please, no mention of it to anyone else."
"Oh?" she cocks her head to the side "Why not? If it's love she feels towards you, why hide it?"
"It's not love." you try to make your tone as serious as possible "It's... something else. I'm afraid you wouldn't believe even if I told you."
"Really." her smile disappears. She shrugs with resignation "Well, if you insist, I guess I can keep it a secret."
"Thanks."
Opening the door, you come inside, of course watching not to bump Alice's head or legs against the doorframe.
"Well, well. Prodigal son has returned." Reimu's voice is the first thing to greet you.
You decide to leave closing the door to Mima and look around the room. Of course, the center of it is the table, now overflowing with various snacks and drinks, most of them in green or brown bottles. Alcohol, no doubt. But you haven't bought any, so where... Hm, guess the miko has a stock of these somewhere in her house. It's not like it's surpising, many houses in the past had basements filled with countless shelves filled with bottles of various age and content... Or at least this kind of mental image comes to your mind when thinking about it. Well, it doesn't really matter where it came from, right?
At the table, four people are seated, three of them already known to you. Reimu, Suika and Marisa. The last one...
Staring at you with strange expression, not really happy nor overly hostile, an older woman with long, golden hair. This could be... Yukari Yakumo? Why is she staring at you in such an unsettling way..."
"Seriously, where have you been? We were waiti--" Reimu's sentence gets cut off in the middle as she turns to face you. "Alright, and WHY are you carrying Alice?"
Uh-oh. Right. While you told Mima not to tell them the truth, you totally forgot about a passable excuse. Shit.
"Um... She..."
You desperately try to form some plan in your thoughts, but to no avail. No ideas come to your mind when faced with Reimu's unnerved face. Found her sleeping in the corridor? No. They won't believe it. Or at least, Reimu won't, while the other two...
"She tripped on her own doll and hit herself on the head."
Mima floats forth, passing you, throwing this random excuse on the way. Tripped? On her own doll? No way they'd ever--
"Hahahahaha!" Marisa's loud laugh interrupts your train of thoughts, leaving you starin at her is suprisement. "That's so like her! That clumsy Alice!"
"R-Really?" Reimu still seems to be unconvinced.
"I can totally see that!" Marisa again speaks up "Remember that one time, when she made that giant doll and--"
"OH NO!" this time it's Reimu's turn to burst suddenly "If you want to tell THAT story yet again, then just shut up!"
"Awww." the witch makes an unsatisfied face "But it's really hilarious!"
"But inappopriate for... some of our guests. Nanaya." Reimu turns to you. "Put her down somewhere."
Nodding, you settle Alice's sleeping body under one of the walls. Then return to the table.
Reimu stands up.
"Nanaya, this is Yukari Yakumo." she points at the woman, still observing you with that strange expression "Though I suppose you already know that."
"Uh, maybe." you turn to Yukari "Pleased to meet you, my name is Nanaya - Seven Nights and I come from the outside world."
Ugh. That sounded rather dull. Still, you can't think of anything better under her disturbing gaze. Consternated silence continues on for a while before Yukari's face suddenly lightens up. She puts on a weak smile and nods.
"Yukari Yakumo. Pleasure's mine."
Uh. She may be smiling but her stare remains really unsettling...
"Yes, yes, introductions are over." Reim suddenly barges between you two "Now, I'll be having you do something else for me."
Now, that was kinda rude. Just when you wanted to politely ask Yukari what's wrong with you that makes her look at you like that, Reimu grabbed your shoulder and pulled you aside.
"Listen, Yuuka is still not here. Go to the front yard and wait for her, then when she comes, greet her and lead her here. She doesn't visit too often, so she might lose her way or something like that."
While it sounds unbelievable, to hear someone worry about Yuuka Kazami, she still is right. In some things. But, you wouldn't be yourself if you just obeyed her orders, right?
"Woah. I just arrived, while you were waiting for me and you're already throwing me out?"
She grins.
"Sharp as ever. But I have something to talk about with them, and I don't want you to hear it. So, go, would you kindly?"
[ ] "Miko chooses, slave obeys, huh? Alright."
[ ] "Isn't it host's responsibility to greet his guests?"
[ ] "Say, you really don't feel anything?"
[ ] "Hey, why are you keeping me out? I feel rejected!"
[ ] "Alright, but can I take someone else with me?" (specify)