Boundary 01 ][ gap between familiarity and awkwardness ][ Text

[phantasmgap]

So it appears that I myself have been spirited away. Poetic justice has quite the odd way of working, does it not? Those that often greet 'new feathers' - is that the correct usage, if I may inquire? - may rest at ease; I have already located the guide that has been set up by a helpful citizen here and spent most of the night perusing it

Comments

[Written]

[floralphantasm]

I never would have expected the one that dabbles in gaps to rear their head here. However I would dare to say that even those from Gensokyo on occasion would find your activities disruptive. The wings are not unlike toxicodendron radicans, with a purpose for nothing more but 'enhancing' aesthetics and forever threatening to suffocate the flora it spouts around.

[Written]

[phantasmgap]

Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, Helianthus supernae. I am glad that I am so disruptive and unusual. Perhaps it was merely my power these creatures were interested in, and not my persona, yes? There is no way to say short of an intense interrogation, and unfortunately we appear to be incredibly short on shameless, obtrusive paparazzi tengu.

I cannot imagine any variety of toxicodendron being pleasant to look at in any person's imagination... I would liken them, instead, to ranunculus ficaria. Just as suffocating, but at least they are pretty enough if you have the brains of an ice fairy.

[Written]

[floralphantasm]

There really is no need for such an interrogation and by conjuncture any incompetent, meddlesome tengu. Power and demand go together hand in hand after all. Why launch an interrogation when you can be launching others should they decide not to comply by answering simple questions?

Quite the contrary, providing the scenery and atmosphere have been set and the toxicodendron is presented in the correct light, such as below the shadow of a human's chin.

[Written]

[phantasmgap]

So too go power and eccentricity. After you grow strong enough, the world is not painted in the same colors as it was when you were weak. It could simply be that they do this because they feel that collecting the greatest number of 'toys' makes them superior. Or perhaps this is some sort of twisted 'preserve', allowing them to keep the ones that they deem 'interesting' safe. A tengu would have no such place in either mindset.

Ah, once again you forget the simplest rule, Kazami. Treat them with veiled hostility and they will seek to harm you. Treat them with obfuscating warmth and they will come back for more. The best defense your garden could have is very possibly a shikigami - someone else with which to push the rabble away.

[Written]

[floralphantasm]

Either explanation would be satisfactory then. After all, any procedure featuring a tengu would require twice the effort for only half the outcome to be expected from making use of tengu journalists.

I assure you, when I do decide to squander my time amongst the human populous I am not so direct with my approach at all times. A shikigami might be an interesting investment, a shame I have found no one here fitting for such a position. If only Elly were here to disperse the daily hoi polloi.

[Written]

[phantasmgap]

Ah, but that makes it roughly as effective as us dealing with one another, would it not, Yuuka?

There is certainly potential that I have seen even in this very post. The question, now, is more 'could I still create an effective shikigami contract with my reduced abilities'.

[Written]

[floralphantasm]

Although in a situation wherein we both dealt with one another, it would surely be great deal more interesting than reading the convoluted swill certain journalists would consider apt as tea time reading material.

I would see no harm in at least trying to form such a contract, lest not for yourself. And who exactly has taken your fancy? Should it not bother you that I visit this individual first, I would like to meet them. After all, anyone found interesting by the gap youkai could always come and frequent the flowers.

[Written]

[phantasmgap]

I never spoke of the entertainment value, simply of its utility, Yuuka.

Ah, flattery is very much not your style, you realize. You and I have different qualities we find interesting. After all, I'm certain that you would not extend that same hospitality to the Hakurei miko. Regardless, you appear to have met this individual already.

[Written]

[floralphantasm]

What matters of it's use if isn't even worth my time in the first place? Without the buffs of entertainment value and originality, what other merits would be held~?

Flattery, perhaps not. But when has socialising of any form ever been within my style? And in my time here I have met many individuals. I would ask for a hint, though I doubt you of all people would grant me such a thing.

[Written]

[phantasmgap]

It would certainly be easier for someone of... less importance to look into why we have ended up here. Someone with wings that weren't fatal to pluck.

You seem to be socializing just fine here. I see nary a pitchfork nor a youkai exterminator... and certainly no row of human heads on pikes. It appears survival instincts allow even you to do things that would otherwise make you sick.

[Written]

[floralphantasm]

Implying that were someone to rip free the tengu's wings she would not die. Providing you were at the correct altitude and enough grievous harm was dealt to her to ensure flight was incapable, the removal of her wings would surely end with some form of demise. Of course, merely causing the tengu enough harm would suffice to restrict flight, so the removal of her wings would only be an entertaining bonus. After all, the very idea of a wingless tengu is fairly amusing.

Of all worlds I could have been taken away to, I ended up landed in a place where I can pass nary a day without being hassled by some wretch. Were I to dispose of one bothersome human, the rest would retaliate in droves. Sadly, the humans here are a great deal more boisterous than what I am used to. For now, I shall guise my actions under the excuse of 'biding my time'.

[Written]

[phantasmgap]

Implying that tengu are on the whole at least smarter than fairies, and would not do things such as sit idly by and let a dionaea muscipula devour them in sadistic glee.

Perhaps this world has its advantages. There are lessons I believe need to be taught, after all.