[Video]

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[A teenage girl of clearly Japanese descent, dressed in an odd red and white outfit with detached sleeves, glares grumpily at the screen.]

Is this thing actually working? Can I actually talk to other people with this weird device? Jeez, this is the sort of thing a Kappa would go crazy over probably.

[She sighs.]

If anyone can actually hear me with this thing, would someone like to explain what the hell is going on? More importantly, could someone give me an idea about where to start looking for the person responsible for bringing me here so I can punish them properly? The sooner I get home, the sooner I can get back to tending to my shrine.

Comments

[unbroken_chain]

"Hi! My name's Kotoha, and if you just hold on a second I can send a pamphlet explaining everything to you."

Oh hey look a flashing icon has popped up in the COMP display.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[Reimu blinks and then clicks the icon and looks at the pamphlet. She mostly skims it, though it's not really that long. At this moment, there's only one piece of information in the whole thing she actually cares about.]

Philmon? Is that the name of that weird guy in the butterfly mask?

[She doesn't really remember the dream she had before arriving much at all, except for a vague memory of seeing a guy in a butterfly mask, but that hadn't really been much to go on.]

[unbroken_chain]

"Philemon, yeah. There's some theories as to why he's doing this, but nothing concrete. Anything else you'd like to know?"

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

Is there any way I'd be able to find this guy?

[Yeah, Reimu is a liiiiittle single minded sometimes.]

[unbroken_chain]

"According to the latest scientific knowledge, only if you can physically enter the deepest part of human consciousness where all minds are linked."

Slight pause.

"At best, I'm pretty sure we can only access the like the top quarter of that world. Sorry."

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[Reimu makes a face at that. Ugh, stupid cowardly gods. At least Kanako made herself easy to find.]

Ugh, fine. Is there at least a way to get home?

[unbroken_chain]

"Yeah! I went back home for a while last month to deal with a minor incident in Nimbasa."

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[Oh hey, what do you know. You're actually being useful in her view for the first time since this conversation started Kotoha. She perks up at this.]

Ah? So how'd you do that then?

[unbroken_chain]

"The Shining Trapzohedron sent me and some other Visitors back. I think it's in the MAGI building, which is generally off-limits, but I know the current director, so if you really want to see it I can ask her."

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

Yes, thank you, that would be helpful.

[Well, looks like things aren't as bad as she thought. The miko is coming down from her grump now.]

(( *snort* well of course I can't just have her leave now. >.> But it's the thought that counts.))

[unbroken_chain]

"Okay then. I can't make any promises, but I'll drop you a line once I've gotten a reply. Any other questions?"

[greyerrant]

What would you like to start with? And... it may be difficult to punish the person responsible. Because to some extent, you must have wanted to come here in order to be here.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[Okay, what?]

Wanted to come here? Why would you think I would want to come to this weird place?

[greyerrant]

I can't say. Only you can figure out why you decided to do something.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[The face in her icon is definitely the face she is making right now.]

You certainly are helpful, aren't you?

[greyerrant]

Your sarcasm is noted. I apologize, I was not made for explaining strange metaphysical things like this.

[eyewillprotect]

Kappa...?

...I'm afraid I can't tell you where the person behind all of this is. He's... very difficult to reach. In fact, I'm not even sure if it's possible.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

Yeah, they like tinkering around with Outside World technology.

Is that so? Well it would be at least worth a try anyway, unless you know any way I could get home.

[eyewillprotect]

...Outside World?

[You are losing her here, and fast.]

...I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[Sorry, Reimu isn't really that good about explaining things.]

The world outside of Gensoukyo. Though come to think of it, this is probably not anything they have out there, from what Sanae told me, unless things have changed since she moved.

[And she makes a face at that.]

Are you sure?

[She sighs. Of course it couldn't be that easy. She'll actually have to do work.]

Ah, well. I guess I'll have to go and find it myself.

[eyewillprotect]

I'm sorry, but... could you explain to me what Gensoukyo is? I've never heard that word before.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[She tilts her head to one side for a moment]

It's where I come from.

[she shrugs]

... It's a place where youkai and some humans live, since most of them can't live in the Outside World anymore.

[eyewillprotect]

[Ah...]

You come from a world with real youkai?

[cirquedeignis]

[A Kappa...? And from how this girl's dressed, Zio figures it's a world he's not familiar with.]

Can hear you just fine from here. The guy earlier said something about it, but you must have said you wanted to come here in the weird dream with butterfly mask.

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

Well, I sure don't remember saying yes to being dragged away from my shrine to this weird place. All I remember before waking up here was seeing some guy in a butterfly mask.

[cirquedeignis]

[Don't remember? Zio puts a hand to his chin in thought for a moment.]

...Do you remember if you had any conversation with the guy?

[paradiseshrinemaiden]

[She thinks about this.]

No, I don't think I remember talking to him... It was kinda vague.

[She shakes her head, frowning.]

[cirquedeignis]

[He gives a blank look for a moment, unsure how to answer it at first. If she doesn't remember, then what else should he ask?]

That makes it helpful. [He gives a pause, thinking over for another moment.]

...I know we're brought here because we're "needed," so might as well stay and make yourself useful until you can figure out a way back?