Cosmos Quest (Naruto/Lupin III)

[Scia]

[x] The set design! The costuming! Aw, that stylistic decision where all the bad guys are dressed in red or gold to represent what sensing is like for people who don't have it? Awesome!

 

[overmind]

[X] So help you god, if it takes you the rest of your life, you will find a way to steal people's weapons from them while they're trying to use them on you.
[X] Get backstage and talk to the craftsmen who worked on the play; surely they'll have some insight!

 

[Guile]

That was really good, Furiko. I went: waaiiiit a second, this sounds like... yes I think... it is! And then I felt all clever, after. Neatly done.

[X] The set design! The costuming! Aw, that stylistic decision where all the bad guys are dressed in red or gold to represent what sensing is like for people who don't have it? Awesome!
who's supposed to be from an infiltration-focused clan, but who cares? It looked great!

Admittedly, stealing weapons while they're trying to stab you would be fantastic, but this just calls to me.

 

[MrGazzer]

[X] So help you god, if it takes you the rest of your life, you will find a way to steal people's weapons from them while they're trying to use them on you.
[X] Get backstage and talk to the craftsmen who worked on the play; surely they'll have some insight!

 

[FurikoMaru]

[X] Let's see what you can do. Take it away!

There is some token protest and questioning as to how you got backstage, but for the most part no one cares as long as you stay out of the way. The elderly stunt-master is just happy someone wants to talk to him instead of the actors for once. "Sure, kid, I'll show you a trick or two."

And does he. He throws around the burly rigger he ropes into helping like the guy's made of paper.

"You've gotta remember to watch the blade, not their hands - very important. The weapon can be in either hand. Once I met a fellow in the circus who could even hold knives between his toes, so watch out if your opponent is barefoot." He winks at you.

He shows you how to turn people's grips on kunai and swords against them, and even demonstrates a breakdown of how to break someone's arm or wrist to get them to let go. When he sets you loose on his 'lovely assistant Saburo', it's less than two minutes before he pronounces the lesson ended.

"Thanks for your time," you say, ducking your head. You're a little disappointed you couldn't learn anything more complicated, but hey, he's a busy guy and you have to get back to mom.

"Mm," he replies, looking at you for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally nodding, as if coming to a decision, he hands you a business card. "If you ever find ninja-ing doesn't agree with you, that's my address in the capital. I run a self-defense school for noblewomen and courtesans and their fathers are always complaining about all my assistants being male."

"... I didn't say I was a shinobi," you say.

He just laughs.

But then, he didn't say he was, either.

You grin.

"Thanks for the invite, jii-san. Maybe I'll stop in for a visit sometime." You run for the door. "Abayo!"

"Who're you calling jii-san?! My mental age is young!"

As you emerge back in the lobby, scanning the crowd for mom, you're surprised to suddenly feel her hand in yours. You barely have a moment to look up at her in surprise before she's dragging you (and, with her other hand, Ami) out of the theatre.

You shoot Ami an inquiring look, but she shakes her head.

Mom vetos a late-night soak when you suggest it, and sends the two of you to bed immediately after you fold your dresses and pack them away.

"What the hell happened when I was 'in the bathroom'?" you whisper when you and Ami are finally alone.

Ami sighs. "That lady, Oshibe-san, your mom called her, showed up and had a conversation with your mom."

"Oshibe... that was the name of that woman she and Kurioka talked about this morning."

"She said something about how the next game had been scheduled, and asked if she'd be sending a substitute."

You frown. "A game?"

"Yeah." Ami rolls onto her side to face you in the dark. "Is your mom always... like that when she's mad?"

You shudder reflexively. "You mean the yuki-onna routine? Yeah. Dad's the same way."

"I can't believe the lady just laughed it off," Ami says, sounding a little creeped out. "I wasn't even on the receiving end and I was nervous; normal civilian women don't usually give off killing intent like that."

Now you're worried.

"What did this Oshibe look like?" Blah. Why can't everyone be a sensor? Normal people's senses are always so unclear on whether someone's dangerous or not.

Ami gets what you mean. "She didn't look like a kunoichi; not even a genjutsu specialist would have arms that soft."

Which means she's either a really fucking good genjutsu specialist, she was under a henge (Ami isn't great with details, she might have missed it), or she's some new, non-shinobi type of dangerous person.

"Wait," Ami says, remembering something. "Her eyes were like yours."

"What? She was a Yamanaka?" The pupil-less eye thing is particular to the main line of the family; that narrows down the list of who she could be quite a bit.

Ami frowns, thinking back. "I don't think so... I mean, she didn't look like your family otherwise. Her hair was black, not blonde or red. And she was wearing it loose; I've never seen any Yamanaka wear their hair down."

"Could she have been a Branch House Hyuuga?" Your mind is trending in a direction that you'd really wish it'd cut out until all hope is definitely lost.

She snorts. "I think I'd have remembered seeing a green-eyed Hyuuga around town."

Aaaand there goes your last hope; there're lots of normal dark-eyed people who seem not to have pupils, but aside from the Hyuuga, you and your dad, you've never met anyone with light-coloured pupil-less eyes.

Except for Mom.

"Did she say anything else?" you ask.

Ami makes noises to the effect that she did, but Ami doesn't remember the specifics. "They used a lot of metaphors and stuff," she says, embarrassed. "It was over my head a bit."

You sigh.

Well. You were the one who was so curious about why your mother was banished. Looks like the mystery's brought itself to you.

In the morning, you

[X] Go about the day as normal. It's really unlikely Mom's going to want to talk about this now and you'll just spoil the rest of your vacation. (Skip to next set of options)

[X] Talk to Mom before breakfast.

[X] Talk to Mom after dinner.

What's on tap for this fine Saturday?

[X] It's the peak day of the market! Let's go check it out!

[X] Der Kestle! Maybe there's a dungeon with traps you can test!

 

[Guile]

(x) Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a goof place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.
(x) Market time. Keep an eye out for goods exotic to Konoha. Exotic teas, fine ornaments, cool woodblocks, Kabuki face paint, who knows?

 

[R.A.G.]

[X] Talk to Mom before breakfast.

 

[hunter09]

(x) Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a goof place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.
(x) Market time. Keep an eye out for goods exotic to Konoha. Exotic teas, fine ornaments, cool woodblocks, Kabuki face paint, who knows?

 

[Redon]

[X] Talk to Mom before breakfast.
[X] Market time. Keep an eye out for goods exotic to Konoha. Exotic teas, fine ornaments, cool woodblocks, Kabuki face paint, who knows?

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

*ducks in, grumbling about site not loading for him*

Don't know why, went to sleep two nights ago, next time I came on I got nothing. Oh well.

(x) Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a goof place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.
(x) Market time. Keep an eye out for goods exotic to Konoha. Exotic teas, fine ornaments, cool woodblocks, Kabuki face paint, who knows?

 

[Scia]

[X] Talk to Mom before breakfast.
[X] It's the peak day of the market! Let's go check it out!

 

[crazyfoxdemon]

(x) Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a goof place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.

[X] Der Kestle! Maybe there's a dungeon with traps you can test!

Because really, who doesn't love climbing all over buildings looking for secrets?

 

[FurikoMaru]

[Nope] Go about the day as normal. It's really unlikely Mom's going to want to talk about this now and you'll just spoil the rest of your vacation. (Skip to next set of options)

[3] Talk to Mom before breakfast.

[Nuh-uh] Talk to Mom after dinner.

[4] Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a goof place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.



[5] It's the peak day of the market! Let's go check it out!

[1] Der Kestle! Maybe there's a dungeon with traps you can test!

 

[Jans]

[X]Talk to Mom before breakfast.
[X]Der Kestle! Maybe there's a dungeon with traps you can test!

ToT Why does everyone keep voting us away from the shinies???

 

[Jiven]

[X] Talk to Mom before breakfast.
[X] Der Kestle! Maybe there's a dungeon with traps you can test!

 

[FurikoMaru]

[5] Talk to Mom before breakfast.

[4] Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a good place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.



[5] It's the peak day of the market! Let's go check it out!

[3] Der Kestle! Maybe there's a dungeon with traps you can test!

 

[Scia]

hmh changing to
[x] Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a good place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.

 

[Selias]

[X] Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a good place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.
[X] It's the peak day of the market! Let's go check it out!

 

[Malcolmo]

[X] Does mom relax in the bath? Maybe that's a good place to catch her. Later rather than earlier anyway.
[X] Der Kestle! Maybe there's a dungeon with traps you can test!

 

[FurikoMaru]

[X] One Jump Ahead

"AC-ME SUR-PLUS, YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL FIND~!"

"THEY'RE FRESH, MY FISH, THEY'RE FRESH!"

"DON'T LISTEN TO THAT CROOK, I'VE GOT BOOMERANG FISH~! GUARANTEED FRESH! THROW THE FISH AWAY! AND IT COMES BACK TO ME!"

"WHO'D EAT THAT, YOU FRAUD?!"

"TWO-FOR-ONE T-SHIRTS, EVERY SIZE!"

"What the hell is that smell?!"

*strummastrummastrumma* "... and as the road comes up to meet my feet~ I think of you, again, my love..."

*twang-twang-twang* "... but the girls in the city they look so pretty..."

*noodling to stall for time and draw in more revenue* -_- "Why do you have to come here every day? This is supposed to be my corner!"

*twing-twitta-twang-twang-ting-tong-twang* "Is an uncle not allowed to look out for his nephew?" ^_^

*slightly more desperate noodling* "You're stealing my business!" >_<

*elegant flourishes* "Oh, I don't see how that could be; what kind of lady shopper would prefer a broken-down old man like me to a strapping lad like you?"

./////. "W-would you like some oolong, sensei? On the house."

^_^ "Why thank you, my dear; I was just considering taking a break." *takes the cup* "Please give your mother my warmest regards."

^///^ *runs back down the street, hugging her tray*

*watches all this go down* "... fuck my life." -_-

~doodly-doo-doodoo-doodoo-doodoo-doodoo-doo-doo-doo~ :3

;D ;D ;D "ICE CREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAM~!"

"EVERY LIQUOR YOUR TONGUE CRAVES, AND TODAY ONLY WE'RE HOSTING A FREE TASTING!"

"THE SICKEST LIGHTNING COUNTRY BEATS, THE SMOOTHEST WATER COUNTRY THRUMS, THE COOLEST ROLL WIND HAS TO OFFER! YOU JACKASS, YOU DUMBASS! THE AOI BROTHERS' NEW SINGLE DROPS TOMORROW ON CASSETTE AND 45, SO BE HERE OR BE SQUARE!"

"SAPPHIRE NECKLACES 100 RYO! YOU WON'T FIND A BETTER PRICE FOR GENUINE BEAR COUNTRY SAPPHIRES! TREAT THE WIFE, TREAT SOMEBODY ELSE'S WIFE..."

"HELP! HELP! SOMEONE STOLE MY WALLET!"

"WELL THEN YOU NEED A REPLACEMENT! I'VE GOT GENUINE RIVER COUNTRY LEATHER, FUNNY ANIMAL ONES FOR THE KIDS, AND ONES WITH SCENIC VIEWS OF TANZAKU GAI AND ALL THE LADIES OF THE TOKONATSU PALACE ON 'EM!"

"I never want to leave," you declare, arms and back loaded down with bags and parcels, stomach full with the snacks of three continents, and still staring hungrily at the stalls, hunting for your next bargain.

"We should have come here to get our dresses," Ami muses aloud as she pokes her head around a corner into the sea of silk that is Dyer's Alley.

"... perhaps we should sit down and rest for a moment?" Mom suggests weakly, fingers pressed against her temple.

The three of you find a cafe that isn't too crowded and head up to the rooftop patio to have a beverage and take a load off.

"We should head back to the hotel in another hour or so," Mom says, shading her eyes to examine the position of the sun. "The parade will come through once it gets dark and the streets will be impassable."

"We can't stay to watch?" Ami asks, disappointed.

"It says in the guidebook the parade's the official kick-off of the traditional Iron Stomach competition," you point out. "So yeah, we can stay, if you wanna see a bunch of old guys throwing up and a bunch of young guys drunk out of their heads."

"Ugh," Ami says. "Never mind, I could watch that at home."

=

You're finishing up your sweep of the antique shops on the far side of the market when something catches your eye.

[X] A sealed scroll.

[X] A ring.

[X] A brooch.

 

[Guile]

[X] Whatever is the blingiest.

 

[Balatro Philologus]

[X] A sealed scroll.
also

*strummastrummastrumma* "... and as the road comes up to meet my feet~ I think of you, again, my love..."

*twang-twang-twang* "... but the girls in the city they look so pretty..."

Click to shrink...

Iroh is still best uncle. ;D

 

[Jans]

[X] A brooch.

 

[Hymn of Ragnarok]

What size is the ring?

 

[FurikoMaru]

Too big for you, but big enough for your Mom.

 

[Redon]

[X] A sealed scroll.

Knowledge!~

 

[EnderofWorlds]

[X] Only one? Fuck that, take them all.

 

[FurikoMaru]

[X] Only one? Fuck that, take them all.

Click to shrink...

Sadly, this time ya can't do that. They're each in different shops and they each represent a different route. Picking an object collapses the waveform and determines which shop you were in at the end of your shopping excursion, and from there what happens.

 

[EnderofWorlds]

Sadly, this time ya can't do that. They're each in different shops and they each represent a different route. Picking an object collapses the waveform and determines which shop you were in at the end of your shopping excursion, and from there what happens.

Click to shrink...

Then we have to thieve harder...

 

[FurikoMaru]

Then we have to thieve harder...

Click to shrink...

Yeah, you're not antiquing with your mum hardcore enough.