Dog Days Quest Episode 107

>Who cares! Bring her up to speed and set off for adventure!

>Is Greta okay?
>What was that about?
>Bring her up to speed and set off for adventure!

"Huh? why are you already fully dressed?"

She ignores the question, instead pouting at the floor.
"Were you expecting me to be here?"
"No." She states, plainly and flatly. "I was looking for an excuse to leave."

You blink twice at her.
"I hate that maid so much." She states with no provocation.
"The maid? You mean Claire, right? Isn't she Greta's maid?"

"She is SO bossy and weird. She just randomly orders me to stay indoors, sometimes she comes back all huffy and upset."

You don't know much about whta she may be going through, but that may be just plain stress.

"-And worst of all, she spends all. night. talking to herself." Kayda grumbles. "Last night she spent almost two hours talking to no one! Just, spirits in the air!"
"What? Why?"

"Beats me!" Kayda turns to me, and I can see the hints of bags in her eyes, "She just stands in front of that stupid dresser and talks to herself in the mirror like a madwoman."

That...
"That doesn't sound healthy.."
"Well not for me, and I'm sure Greta isn't sleeping light either." She huffs, "Listen, for the next couple of nights, can I sleep in your room?"

"I'd love that!" You grab her hands, "It'll be a sleepover!"
"Yeah, with lots of sleep. I need it." Kayda's small fingers straighten her curls and disobediant locks. "So, what were we doing, today?"

You quickly bring her up to speed on your search for Charlotte.
Kayda unhelpfully points out that you maybe should be asking people, but you've already done that! You asked Alicot and it didn't help either!

So that just leaves one conclusion.
"-We're going to go to the Gallete embassy and find out just what Charlotte is up to!"
"I don't know, Louise. Maybe there's something there they don't want you getting involved with? Politics can be hard."

>No! I'm part of politics, too!
>You're right, but we should go look, anyway.
>Let's go ask some of the Gallete knights. They'll know what happened!
>Oh, I know! We'll sneak in! I know a secret way!
>Other?

>Let's go ask some of the Gallete knights. They'll know what happened!

>No! I'm part of politics, too!
>Oh, I know! We'll sneak in! I know a secret way!

>You're right, but we should go look, anyway.

The Veeky Forums decision making process, ladies and gentlemen. Being I'll instead vote to combine and

Good! This is what I was waiting for!

>You're right, but we should go look, anyway.
>Let's go ask some of the Gallete knights. They'll know what happened!

Writing!

You open your mouth to answer with a harsh critique of telling a princess she doesn't belong in politics!
But- strangely, you can't find the words to.

She's completely right.
Charlotte didn't even want you talking to the nobels of Gallete.

"..You're right."
"Oh, uh-" Kayda seems confused, "I didn't expect you to say that."

"But!-" you cut her off, "We should still go look, anyway."

"How are we going to do that without anyone noticing us?" Kayda visibly yawns.

"We can ask some of the Gallete knights! They would know. They're the ones that have been accompanying her to these stupid public events and stuff, anyway."

"Are you sure we can just, walk up and ask?"
"Of course! They're like, our friends and stuff." You smile, "Besides, I technically outrank them."

--

You push your way through the crowds of the mid-afternoon day.
Your hand pulls Kayda through the bustling crowds. She seems almost a little uneasy about being in such a public space.

She'll be fine, though! She can't be scared of everything forever.

"Oh! There it is! The embassy!" You feel almost a little giddy.

"Well that's-"

Kayda stops, her voice caught in her throat.

Kayda, the Embassy is not THAT impressive. It's just a humble chateau with its own wall, a small lake, and a quaint garden in the back. It's very pretty!

"Wow." Kayda seemingly gasps.
"Oh! There's someone!" You notice a tuft of blonde hair in the crowd that has gathered outside the building. Quickly, you flag it down.

-Then you grab hold of its tail! You grab a hold very tightly as to not let it go!

"OW! YOU-" Odelle yelps, but then turns around to notice you. Her face pales slightly. "Uhhh, Louise?! What are you doing here? I thought- I thought that you were at the castle-"

>I'm here now!
>Tell me everything!
>Wow, Antonin is a puffball! What happened to him?
>Let me in!
>Other?

>Wow, Antonin is a puffball! What happened to him?
>Stroke tail

>I'm here now, tell me everythi- Wow, Antonin is a puffball! What happened to him?

Second.

>I'm here now, tell me everythi- Wow, Antonin is a puffball! What happened to him?

Writing!

"Yes! I'm here now!" You chant, happily, "Tell me everythin-"

That's when you look past her shoulder, and past the squirming tail in your hand. To a small ball of fur which is laid out in a field tent.
"Wow, Antonin is a puffball!" You gawk, "What happened to him?"

He's like, REALLY STRONG. So this is a very strange turn of events.

"Wellllllllllll-" Odelle tries to pull her tail away, but you keep a firm grasp on the blonde strand. "-It's like, err. He, Grngm and then gnrmg."

"Huh? I didn't really get that last part."
"Yeah, you just kind of trailed off."

"Well- you see- When-" Odelle starts making lots of strange gestures with her hands.
Then her hands try to take her tail back. Silly Odelle! This belongs to you, for the time being.

"-When Antonin gets.. stubborn. He tends to not think things through. Then he just does them. Like- Um."

Oh! Finish the analogy! I love this game!

"-Like drinking juice just before bedtime?"
"No, no not quite like that." Odelle's hands start trying to fight for her tail, once more.

"-Or, how about training for hours and breaking all the target dummies in the castle?" Kayda pitches in!
"I'm- Not sure that would really apply to him." Odelle's hands are losing.

"Oh! How about- How about an author of silly feelgood books writing a six month storyline involving spycraft when he can't write mystery?" You clap your hands, "I know an author like that!"

"That's.. oddly specific, but no. That's not what it's like." You let Odelle win the tail battle, for now. "It's more like not learning from your mistakes. Like trying to stop an angry hero from crossing a bridge."

"Ohhh."
"Wow, he did that?" Kayda seems shocked, "That's... a lot of courage."

"Yeah, courage." Odelle kneads the stray tufts of hair back into place on her back appendage. "That's a way to put it, sure."

>"Oh! I have several more analogies!"
>"Can I go in and see Charlotte now?"
>"Okay! Bye!"
>"What's everyone else doing?"
>Other?

>I love this game!

Damn it.

>"Can I go in and see Charlotte now?" >"Okay! Bye!"

>"Can I go in and see Charlotte now?"
>"What's everyone else doing?"

>"Can I go in and see Charlotte now?"
>"Okay! Bye!"

>"Can I go in and see Charlotte now?"
>"Okay! Bye!"

Writing!

"Okay." You pretend to care about her excuses. Really, if she just calmed down; she would be one of Gallete's best knights. Truly, a knight to be remembered through the ages.

"So, can I go in and see Charlotte now?"

This causes her face to blush a reddish-hue.
"No! No no no no no, Charlotte is very busy with-"

You notice that her hand is making a stabbing motion.

"T-that's not what I mean." She takes back the stabbing motion, "What I'm saying is, she's having a very important conversation, and-"
"What Odelle means to say-" A green-haired knight steps up behind Odelle, ruffling her hair. "-Is that the princess is in the middle of very important talks with an enemy general. She'll come out and play when she's done."

"Oh! Felice!" You blink, "That sounds serious! Does she need any help?"
"No, Jack is in there with her right now. They'll come out in a few minutes." Felice lets go of Odelle's head.

Jack? Why is he helping YOUR princess?

"-What are they talking about?"

"Get that from them when they come out, even I don't know what it is."
"S-so yeah!" Odelle pats her hair back into place. "It shouldn't take long! Just, go to the bakery or something while we wait."

"Aren't you the least bit curious? Shouldn't you be overseeing it?" Kayda seems worried.
"No, Jack is in there and-"

Odelle uneasily glances toward the entrance.
"-and I rather not know his methods."

Well, in that case!

>Let's go to the pastry shop, now!
>Let's go get new clothes! We were interrupted the other day!
>..I'm still curious about what's happening, let's snoop some more!
>Oh! want to go to the shrine? I know someone there who could use a visit!
>Other?

>..I'm still curious about what's happening, let's snoop some more!

>..I'm still curious about what's happening, let's snoop some more!

>Oh! want to go to the shrine? I know someone there who could use a visit!

>Oh! want to go to the shrine? I know someone there who could use a visit!

>Let's go to the pastry shop, now!
>Let's go get new clothes! We were interrupted the other day!
>Oh! want to go to the shrine? I know someone there who could use a visit!
>Have a small party!

>Let's go to the pastry shop, now!
>Let's go get new clothes! We were interrupted the other day!
All the shops!

>SHOPS
>SHRINE

Combination!

>Let's go to the pastry shop, now!
>Let's go get new clothes! We were interrupted the other day!
>Oh! want to go to the shrine? I know someone there who could use a visit!
>Have a small party!

Writing!

Wait what the fuck?

Clothes! Cake!

I meant more since when is there more than two to three people in these threads?

It varies. Personally I tend to miss all save for the last post maybe, since they run right when I'm sleeping, but this one seems to hae shifted in schedule a bit.

Back
That was weird.

Next post almost done.

"Hmph." You cross your arms, "I guess so."
"We'll let you know if something changes, Louise. Don't you worry." Felice gives you a quick hug before setting off. Her sights trained on the fluffball in the tent.

You turn to Kayda. She's still standing dumbstruck.
"So, is that it? Can I go back to your room and go to bed?"

"What? No! The day is just starting!"
"It's the afternoon, Louise. It will be dark in two hours."

"That's why we have to make the most of it!"
"But I'm so tire-"

"C'mon! I know exactly what will cheer you up!"
"Noooooo-"

--

"Okay, you're right." Kayda takes another bite of cake, "I feel better."
"See?! Sweets cure everything!"

"I don't know if that's really-"
"Come on! Have this, it's a poundcake!"

"Is it really good to have sugar this late before bed?"
"What do you mean bed? Bedtime isn't for another few hours!"

"..Your bedtime isn't until like, nine o'clock at night?"
"Bedtime? Nine? I go to bed when I'm tired. So I guess about eight o'clock."

The waitress brings over a big box, filled with sweets. This is going to a special person.

"..Uh, is that normal?"
"I don't know, why?"
"My bedtime is at sundown."

>Cont.

The clothing store is filled with such cute dresses and sturdy adventuring gear.
You already have plenty of cute dresses of your own. You're more interested in something that would be perfectly fine to get dirty.

Kayda, on the other hand, is admiring what appears to be some kind of ballroom gown.

"-So, you're saying that you spend all your time inside, and then go to bed after the sun sets?"
"That's kinda it, yeah." Kayda runs her finger along the silken hem.

"That does it, then." You take a well-pressed blouse from a shelf. "-Every day from now on, I'm going to come to your room and drag you out."

"But-" Kayda is snapped out of her daydreaming, "The maid, orders-"
"Maid tries to stop me? I'll strip her naked and leave her on the training field." You huff. "It's awful that you're not allowed to go out when you want. Greta is just fine in Biscotti castle."

"What about the other day when-"
"-When nothing happened. If your Maid cares so much about protecting her all the time, let her hire her own bodyguard. It's not like you're getting paid for this." You cross your arms.

Then, just before Kayda can say something, you grab a folded nightgown off the shelf and throw it at her.
"Heads up."
"Eek!"

>Cont.

It's a good thing you have heroic strength and endurance. Carrying these packages at the speed you're carrying them at would probably ruin any normal-sized adult.

Thankfully, you found someone to take you almost all the way to the shrine. The carriage stops at a fork in the road, one of which continues all the way to Bruschetta after a week or so of travel.
Waving goodbye, you and Kayda make your way up the rocky path to the quaint and serene marker on the hill. Your arms carry boxes and packages of which would be a stretch for any normal man.

Keiko is outside the shrine. She gathers sticks and refuse into her hands, and then drops it into a pile of branches.
Strangely, her face doesn't seem very happy.

That is, until her head snaps your way. She almost appears to be crying with joy when she leaps down the path, and almost tackles you with all the presents!

"KAYDA! LOUISE!" She tightly hugs the two of you, "It's so good to see you! Are you okay?"
"It's fine, it's fine." You gently nudge her, "We went to the bakery! Let's go in and eat!"

That's when you notice something that feels sort-of important.
"Where's the, uh, big shrine maiden lady. Atsuko. Yeah! Where's Atsuko?"

"She." Keiko seems upset. "There was like this weird girl here earlier. She has some kind of head problems, so Atsuko took her over to the castle after Jack left. So I guess I'll be alone tonight."

"No you're not!" You set the boxes down, and take out a nightgown from one of the packages. "Sleepover party! Just us girls! Isn't it great?"

The look on Keiko's face at this moment cannot really be described. It's a mix between happiness, relief, and- Oh. Those are tears welling up in her eyes.

>Keiko? Are you okay?!
>Let's just go eat.
>Hey! Stop! Let me show you a magic trick!
>Ask more about this 'strange person with head problems'.
>I-I think we should just go to bed, worry about this there!
>Other?

Geez it's late

Quick poll:
Continue through until Saturday, or try to wrap it up tonight?

I'm perfectly fine continuing Saturday morning until I hit a stopping point if it is okay with anyone who wants to keep the thread alive.

I'm pretty tired don't know about the other guys.

>Hey! Stop! Let me show you a magic trick!

Continue.

Kind of a split

How about this, I'll write one more post that hopefully wraps up for the night. And if the thread survives, we'll continue the cuteventures in the morning.

Sound good?

Eh, I'm still catching up so if your regular players and you are fine continuing then that works

>Hey! Stop! Let me show you a magic trick!
and then
>Ask more about this 'strange person with head problems'.

sounds good to me

>Hey! Stop! Let me show you a magic trick!
>Ask more about this 'strange person with head problems'.

Writing last post of the night!

Oh no! Tears are welling up in Keiko's eyes!
She quickly dampens them with her sleeve, but you can see them continuing to form even afterwards!

"T-thank you two so much for coming to stay with me. I really, really-"
Even Kayda seems to be frowning!

You have to act, fast! This might ruin the whole slumber party if it starts with tears and crying!

"Hey! Hey Keiko! Look!"

She sniffles, but gives you her attention!

With a wave, you bring your barrier ring to your face.
Feeling as if you're gripping a pole, you quickly swing it and feel a massive weight in your hands!

Within an instant, you've summoned your axe!

That never gets old!

Kayda jumps back, emitting a tiny 'eek'.
On the other hand, Keiko couldn't be happier!

"Wow! That's so cool! How did you do that?!"
"Aligot showed me, apparently I could keep my axe in the ring the whole time!" You spin the axe around for effect, "Axel's so dumb, he probably didn't know!"

"That's really impressive, do you think I could do that with my rifle?" Kayda blinks.
"I don't see why not!"

"Could it work with, like, anything?!" Keiko's eyes light up, thank god. "Could you put lots of bombs inside and just throw them at anything?"
"I don't know, I'd have to ask."

Oh, there's something else you want to ask about.
"Tell me more about this 'girl with head problems', please?"

Keiko sighs, and bites her lip. "Jack brought back this girl from who-knows-where. She has some head problem, and they've been busy all day trying to fix her." She crosses her arms.
"Well, that's good, right?" Kayda seems to miss the point.

"Yeah, well. I was just upset that I'd have to spend the night alone but-"

"But now you have us, so get happy!" You grab Keiko by the arm, and then reach into the pastry box. "Now, have a cupcake."
"I'm not sure that-"

"Have. A. Cupcake."

For some reason, the way you phrased that didn't ease her fears at all!

>Thread Pause

Okay, thread pause until morning. If we fall-off, then we'll continue Tuesday.

Thanks for everyone who participated. See you in the morning.

bloody evil cupcakes

thanks for running

Cupcakes are basically satan.

Screw you guys, cupcakes are awesome.

bump

bump

I got roped into something today, but I'll write another couple of posts as to maybe keep the thread alive until I get back.

Didn't work out, got to go. I'll be back later.

If thread isn't up when I get back; I'll just take this post and continue Tuesday.

Bump

"You're right."

Keiko's voice echoes inside the empty shrine. Her hands wrapped around a tiny pastry.
"Cupcakes make everything better."

Kayda gets to work sorting the outfits contained in the boxes. While you try to keep Keiko's spirits high.

"See? You're just too high-strung, everything is très bien!"

"Thanks for coming by to see me."
"We're always happy to see you! So tell me-"

You stand up, and grab Keiko by the shoulders.
"What's happening? Why are you so sad all of the sudden? You're usually so happy, and spry!"

"It's just-" Keiko takes the last bite of her tasty sweet. "-everyone has been so busy with stuff that I don't understand, and most of the time everyone is away from the shrine."

"It's important stuff." Kayda flips through one of the boxes, "-I'm still conflicted on some of it, but it's important."
"Yeah, there's a reason everyone has been away from the Shrine."

"Well, I don't like it." Keiko crosses her arms.

"Think about it this way! Trouble is always finding Jack. So isn't it best if he's away from the shrine when trouble finds him?"
"I don't know."

Silence.
Kayda keeps setting the outfits out, while you try to think of a proper response to that.

What do you even say to that? It seems so, depressing.

"Is it really that big of a deal if you spend a few days alone?" Kayda finally breaks the silence! Yes! "I used to spend weeks at a time alone on missions."
No! That's even more depressing!

"Well, it- Yes. It is."
"Why?"

Keiko seems to blush, and keeps her eyes away from mine.
"..If I tell you, you promise not to tell anyone, right? ESPECIALLY not Jack." Keiko kneads her dress in her fists.
"I promise!"
"..is it that bad?"

"..I'm afraid of the dark."

>Okay?
>That's fine!
>We're gonna help you cure that!
>So?
>Jack would probably laugh.
>Other?

>That's fine!
>We're gonna help you cure that!

>Jack would probably laugh.

>Okay?
>So?

>We're gonna help you cure that!

No way this could go horribly wrong.

At worse we turn her into a hikikomori.

>We're gonna help you cure that!

Great idea!

Writing!

Holy crap the thread survived.

That's fine, since small hikki foxes are still cute.

"So?"
"So! That's really embarrassing!" Keiko blushes, "I don't want Suki thinking that I can't be by myself! I'm a big girl!"

"Is that why you just called her 'Suki'?" Kayda helpfully points out.
"W- I didn't say that!" Keiko's face is even redder than before.

"Keiko! This is important!" You grab her shoulder, "A girl shouldn't have to live in fear of her own home! How do you sleep at night?"
"I.. grab onto Jack or Atsuko and don't let go."

That's not a solution!
You stand up, and pout.
"We're gonna fix that!"

"You are?"
"We are?!" Kayda blinks, "How?"

"We are! We can't leave our friend afraid of her own home!"
"I-it's fine, Louise. I'll get over it. I promise."

"That's why, we're going to take a trip out into the woods tonight!"
"No! No! It's fine Louise!" Keiko is waving her hands wildly, at this point. "It's fine! No trip! Just- Just sleep!"

"Same here! Just sleep!"

"How else are you going to get over your fear, other than facing them?" You reach behind you, and grab one of the clothing store boxes. "Besides, I already got this nice adventuring outfit. I might as well try it out!"

"Where are we even going to go at night?" Kayda shifts in her seat, "I mean, there's just woods, and- more woods."

"Don't you worry about that!" You proudly proclaim.

>"We're going adventuring!"
>"We're going swimming!"
>"We're gonna go hunt some monsters!"
>"We're going camping!"
>"Catch some bugs!"
>"Catch some fish!"
>"Chase some ghosts!"
>Other great late-night activity?!

>"I.. grab onto Jack or Atsuko and don't let go."
Hhhhhnnng.

>"We're going adventuring!"
>"We're actually going to chase some ghosts, but don't tell her that!"

>"We're going adventuring!"

>"We're going adventuring!"

>Camp fire and tell spooky stories!

This is adorable

Go for adventure!

>"We're going adventuring!"
Writing!

hope the power stays on!
Next post almost done!

"We're going adventuring!"

"Adventurning?!" Keiko squeaks, "In the middle of the night?!"

"Bien entendu!" You jump to your feet. "You can't conquer your fear of darkness unless you're in darkness, can you?"

"I-I'm not sure it works that way!"

"Of course it does, just watch! We're gonna go out and conquer your fears!"
"Uh! Um!"
"But first- cakes."

Your hand grabs one of the boxes, filled with assorted pastries and sweets. Kayda still seems confused, and Keiko's eyes are still fixed on you.

"But! The night is scary, Louise!" Keiko insists. "There's monsters, and bugs, and spiders! and- and-"

"Keiiko, Cupcake."

"But-"

"Have. A. Cupcake."

--

"You got an outfit for me, too?" Keiko sets her shrine maiden dress down, and slowly grabs the folded-up linens.
"Yep! I wasn't going to buy myself an adventuring outfit without getting you one, too! All I ever see you wear is a shrine maiden-"

You notice something strange about your friend as she takes the cloth from you.

"-Where's your underwear?"
"Hmm?"
"Your underwear, that you wear under your shrine maiden outfit."
"I don't wear any."

That's-
"Why not?!"
"I just, I spend all day in that outfit anyway, so why does it matter?"
"Don't you have other clothes?"

"I have a ceremonial dress."

"No, I mean-"

Your hand meets your face, and Kayda takes over.
"L-let's just worry about one problem at a time! Louise, where were you thinking of going?"

>The lake!
>How about the place where Jack was summoned?
>Let's just wander around!
>Uh, not sure. Know any good places?
>Other?

>Uh, not sure. Know any good places?
Details like that are left for other people!

>Let's just wander around!
>Pick a direction and got the opposite way

>Uh, not sure. Know any good places?
I'm betting Kayda knows some neat spots.

>Uh, not sure. Know any good places?

Writing!
Tonight is way slower than last night, what happened?

people falling asleep, i guess?
i just woke up

I guess so, I'm falling asleep myself.

Writing continues.

Folks, this will be the last post of the night again. I'm sorry, I had lots of plans today and didn't think it would run so late.

"Uh-"

"Oh! Let me write a message for Jack or Atsuko if they come back. Hang on, I left some paper in the-"
Keiko cuts herself off as she steps out the door.

"-Kayda!"
"Mm?"
"I'm not sure of any place, do you know any good places?"

"Around here?"

She opens her mouth to respond, but then gets a glimmer of realization.

"-Well there is this weird, creepy building near the coastline. I was asked to look into it but-"

Kayda seems nervous, all of the sudden.
"..It was scary. So I just said nothing was there and left."

"You didn't go near it, because it was scary?"
"No! Louise! You don't understand! It was REALLY SCARY!"

"Scary how?"

"It's-" Kayda tries to find the right words to describe it. "-It's a huge, stone building on the coast. It's kinda far away, though."

"I say we go! If we leave before the sun sets completely, we can get there just as it's getting dark!"

"Louise, please. Are you really serious about this?"
"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I?"
"Because she's not a hero, Louise. She could seriously get hurt. We don't have anything to fear, but-"

"I think you're underestimating her just a little." You wave off Kayda. "She's lived in this shrine all by herself for who-knows-how-long. Surely she can handle herself when it comes to-"

"Hey." Kayda interrupts me.
"Hmm?"

"Isn't that her shrine maiden outfit?"

You look over to the discarded cloth, laying on the floor.

"Okay?"

"And.. isn't that the outfit you bought her? Still folded up?"

The two objects swirl in your mind, and you realize a serious problem.

"KEIKO!" You jump up, "YOU FORGOT SOMETHING! COME BACK!"

>Thread End

Thanks for the thread everyone. Sorry it didn't get further.

But hey! we get to have another thread like this!

Now, on Tuesday, I'm not sure what is going to happen that day. It may get moved to Friday again. I think, even though I got interrupted today, the Friday thread itself worked out great. Good speed and posting.

Which is what I think I might try to do: Move the threads to the weekend so we can have more like this. But that won't happen until I can decide if that's a good idea or not.

For now, I will see you on Tuesday. Thanks for everyone who participated this weekend!

thanks for running

So Keiko is going out in the buff?

Thanks for running! Just go at whatever pace you feel comfortable with!