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I know it's just the translated version of a Japanese fan's username, but the Rabbit Doubt 'reference' made me smile (maybe because it reminds me of BBL.) As did Hiyoko bludgeoning things with a dull sword. And Yuuya's 'must-have fashion accessory'. It keeps being said, but seriously, this game 
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Jul 8, 2014 11:16
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idonotlikepeas posted:It's probably worth mentioning that the Bamboo Pole and Copper Sword are both weapons from Dragon Quest. (Upgrading from the former to the latter is something you end up doing very near the beginning of most games in that series.) In particular, the Bamboo Pole is universally the weakest weapon you can find in any Dragon Quest game. The Copper Sword is only barely better, and requires a decent amount of time grinding on Slimes for 2 golds a battle to get in the early games, but it's still an upgrade so a lot of people end up grinding it out.
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Jul 9, 2014 11:25
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  Hello, and welcome back, everybirdie! With all that bonus material out of the way, it’s time to begin Chapter 3!  We must not miss the train. We cross the glowing river. We follow the obsidian map into the world of shadows. The music stops.   It’s almost the end of the year. And Nageki just came out to me.  What do you-- I only ever see him in the library, but I just thought he was a shut-in! I never expected this. I’ve seen a thousand wonders in my time, but even I’m a little surprised… Of course, he’s still Nageki. It’s not like we can’t be together anymore! No matter who or what he is, he’s still my friend. This won’t change anything.  What are you talking about? I can be friends with a ghost if I want!After I said that, Nageki just turned away from me to continue reading, ending our conversation. I think he was happy to hear that, though. Eventually, the bell rang, and I left for class.    Half-days always remind you that it’s the end of the semester, huh? Indeed. There is perhaps a week left? Aww, that’s so lonely… I want to stay in class 2-3 a little longer. Coooo! (Okosan feels lonely, too! Okosan does not want to be thrown out of this classroom!) Hmph! Why not repeat a year, if you want to stay that much?Repeating a year in high school would be a little much… You don’t mind, Sakuya? You don’t feel sad that we might all split up at the end of the year? I guess I’m one of the weak, then. I hope we’ll all be in the same class again next year! With Mr. Nanaki! Hmm, hmm. Well… I hope I see you all in the spring, too.The year is almost over. Meaning I’m almost through at the library, too… I should be heading over there about now.  As I turned to leave for library duty though, Mr. Nanaki stopped me. Huh? We’re not done? Sorry… I forgot to tell you all something. Umm… They’ll be opening the school the night after tomorrow! Opening the school? At night? Is it some sort of school-wide bravery challenge…? A grand tournament of guts to close the year! Perfect to make the blood boil and the flesh crawl! Think of the memories we’ll make! I-I don’t want to make those memories! The astronomy club?Meaning-- The astronomy club used to do a lot of serious observation, but after a while their activities devolved into bonfire mixer parties. After a long and circuitous tale they turned into a cult and worshipped the bonfire as a god, and the student council had to enact punitary measures. If you want to hear more about their story, go buy that thing and listen to it! You know the thing? The one that isn’t out in English. Will people even know what to buy from that description, Goon? It didn’t sound very stealthy to me.A true samurai is never stealthy! I realized we got off-track there, so I turned back to Mr. Nanaki. So the astronomy club has started having activities again? That’s right. Though, the bonfires are still banned. You don’t need to be a member of the astronomy club to come. Everyone’s welcome.A total lunar eclipse? That sounds exciting! Who knows when another one will happen? I think I’ll go! Maybe I should tell Nageki about it too; I bet he’d enjoy something simple like this.   It’s a total lunar eclipse, Miss Lourde. Not a “radical” lunar eclipse.Nageki’s stare is like the frigid wind of a Siberian winter night. Have you ever seen one, Nageki? Perhaps. I may have, or I may not have. I do not remember.I suppose he did only just realize that he’s dead a few days ago. His memory must still be foggy. They’re opening the school at night the day after tomorrow so we can see it! Want to watch it with me, Nageki? We could have a moon-viewing party in the library! The moon’s going to be eclipsed. I’m not sure how much of a moon-viewing party that would be. Oh… yes… It is going to be open, after all. But can you get out of here? If it’s to the roof, then yes. The music stops. What, really!? Aren’t you trapped in here!? To the chemistry lab directly underneath us, for example.Mobility: vertical only! That’s amazing! I’ll have to train my legs so that one day I can move like that, too!Nageki stared at me, head tilted in confusion. It was just a joke… Umm… So, you’ll be able to join us on the roof? Yup. Yay! That’s amazing, Nageki! Really? I’m not sure I see what good it does us. Just think about it! We can go sunbathing on the roof during lunch breaks, and stuff! Aah, I’m getting excited already… I suppose so. But you’re always taking naps on the library windowsill anyway, so I don’t think it will be all that different.Geez, Nageki! Isn’t a change of scene supposed to be romantic!? Anyway, let’s watch the eclipse together! If you want to? Yay! Yaaaaaay! …You’re awfully enthusiastic.Of course I am! Aaah, I can’t wait! I can’t wait!
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Jul 9, 2014 15:30
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Was it ever explained why he can only move upwards? Just a weird ghost thing?
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Jul 9, 2014 19:45
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ViggyNash posted:Was it ever explained why he can only move upwards? Just a weird ghost thing? Unless he was like that when he was alive it'd pretty much have to be. Ghosts being tied to the spot of their demise is a common supernatural thing. Since he died several floors below in the secret lab, for all we know he can only move up from the spot as sort of an ascending to heaven metaphor. If he'd died in the library, he might only be able to go to the roof and up from there.
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Jul 9, 2014 21:43
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ChorpSaway posted:It’s almost the end of the year. And Nageki just came out to me.  YES! I knew it! It's yaoi time!  quote:… Of course, he’s still Nageki. It’s not like we can’t be together anymore! I remember when I liked a boy and then he told me he was gay and I had the exact same thoughts.Don't worry Nageki, Lorde's got your back! We'll talk to Sakuya together and-- quote:What are you talking about? I can be friends with a ghost if I want! Oh... ...Oh...  But seriously this thread is great. Jenner fucked around with this message at 07:53 on Jul 10, 2014 |
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Jul 10, 2014 07:29
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Huh. I wonder if Nageki's going to go to the moon.
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Jul 11, 2014 07:22
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  Please be aware! This episode contains spoilers for “The Inugami Clan”, by Yokomizo Seishi.  If you are reading it or plan to read it, you may want to wait until after that to play this game. Otherwise, enjoy the ride!   I’m not sure it’s exactly a moon-viewing party… But I am glad it’s clear. The weather report said it might get cloudy, after all. It’s cold up here, so make sure to stay warm, everyone! I see you even brought a blanket, sir! Yes, this blanket always helps me relax… Zzz. Wake up, you fool! Aren’t you supposed to be the chaperone?Looks like the regular crew is all here. Meeting up in the school at night like this is so exciting! And of course, the most excited of all was--  Coo, cooo? (Can you feel your bestial inner selves calling, Goon, Nageki?) My bestial inner self? I don’t think I have one. I can, Okosan! My hunter-gatherer blood boils! Looking at you I almost wonder if there ever really was a time when humans ruled the earth, Miss Lourde. Coo, cooo! (Okosan thinks Goon is probably not a human!)NO!! I am a human! …Hey. That conversation just reminded me. Can the others even see him? Okosan doesn’t seem to be having any trouble… I’ve heard that animals can see ghosts, so maybe the same is true of older breeds? What about Ryouta?  …Indeed.He can see him just fine. Maybe Ryouta and I are attuned with the paranormal? Sakuya…  Is there… really someone there? Yup! You can’t see him? A kind of skinny mourning dove? I am not surprised. Most birds haven’t paid any attention to me until now. I am not sure I believe it. Is this a joke? No! Though if it were I bet you’d fall for it completely! Wha… Do you mean to mock me, filthy mongrel!? Aaah! Geez, don’t fight, you two!Doves aren’t usually nocturnal, are they? Why do they all have so much energy?   Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!!!Aaagh, these two have too much energy, as well!  I had hoped they would calm down once Christmas was past, but… it would seem that they become excited in response to any sort of special event. Doctor! You’re here to see the eclipse, too? Merry Christmas! (It’s hide-and-seek! Mr. Moon is playing hide-and-seek!)Well, everyone seems to be having fun! Mmmm… It’s almost midnight. Look at the sky, everyone. It should start soon! Nageki, Nageki! It’s starting! You don’t need to shout. I can hear you perfectly well. You’ll bother the neighbors.OH!!! It’s the middle of the night! I forgot! Umm… Nageki? Can I sit next to you? I sat down next to him, and rested a bit on his wing. I can’t tell if his feathers are warm, or cold. I can barely even tell that I’m touching them at all… It could be just my imagination. But, sitting here gazing at the night sky, he looks happier than usual. Seeing his face makes me feel warm inside… This must all be my imagination. The eclipse is starting.I could barely hear Nageki. I tried to open my eyes but the force was too great. I didn’t want to miss the eclipse; it’s the reason we’re here in the first place. But I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I was slowly… falling… 
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Jul 11, 2014 14:35
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Huh... Well that was sudden.
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Jul 11, 2014 17:10
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 I could feel my consciously slowly returning to me. I could feel light hitting my eyes. Did the stars get that bright? I could no longer feel the cold night air hitting me. All I could feel was the occasional bump. I heard the sound of wheels grinding against rails. A familiar sound… Finally, my eyes opened.  I can see no one else on the train. It is very quiet. Is this… the last train? It’s dark outside.I look up, and address the dove leaning his head out the window opposite. Don’t stick your head out too far, Nageki! It looks so strange outside… What are those lights flowing by? Are we next to a river? I think so. The river of stars, that is. The river of stars? The Milky Way. Those are stars you see. Oh, so that’s it? I see blue stars, and green ones, and all colors… There are indeed a great variety. Nageki takes a black planisphere out from somewhere, and points at it. We’re here, near Cygnus. Cygnus… Is that a constellation? That’s right. Maybe you know it as the Swan. Oh, yes! Yes! I know that one!So Cygnus is the Swan? I never knew!  You know a lot, Nageki. I was always told that every hunter-gatherer needs to be able to find Polaris, but other than that I don’t know any of them. If we passed its tail, and are nearing the head… we must be traveling from north to south. It’s still the third semester, after all. ……It was then that it hit me. …Wait, Nageki… When did we get onto this train? Who knows? Where are we going? I don’t know. And the train is going through outer space!? …It would seem so. Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what do I do!? We’re finally on a date in outer space, and… I forgot my spacesuit! What will happen if I go into a vacuum without a spacesuit on!? Will I explode!? Close it, Nageki! Before we explode! Calm down, Miss Lourde. It’s all right. A dream…?That’s right. Nageki can move vertically, but he still can’t leave the school. There’s no way we could be on a train together. On top of that, we’re on a train through the cosmos breathing in space air. Of course it’s a dream. Ummm… What were we doing…? Astronomy. Oh… right!We were watching the eclipse on the roof with everyone. Does this mean… we fell asleep in the middle of the eclipse? Perhaps. Oh! Yes! I gave myself a slight pinch and waited for the sensation to hit me. …… Hmmm… It… doesn’t hurt. It feels kind of… unsatisfying. I feel the same as always. But if you don’t feel normal, this must be a dream. I see… That’s too bad. Going on a trip with you would be so much fun, but it’s just a dream… He continues staring out the window at the pale stars. He seems more open than usual. I guess he’s right. We should enjoy ourselves, even if it is just a dream! The train speakers crackled, and an unfamiliar voice began to speak. Announcer: We will be checking tickets now. Please have them ready as the conductor comes by.  The conductor appears without a sound. I never felt him coming! He’s as good as the doctor! …Umm… Wait, have I met you somewhere before? Could be. I see too many people every day to know.I really feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before. Maybe it’s just a coincidence? Anyway, tickets, please. Tickets…? You mean we need to pay to ride the train even though it’s a dream…!? Wow! You get a free ride, Nageki? I don’t remember getting this anywhere… Of course not. The Scorpion Flame is a treasure passed down only to the chosen ones. …All right.I looked over the planisphere is Nageki’s wings, and it certainly seemed special. It is a far cry from what a middle-schooler might use in a science fair project. It looks antique, and valuable. The stars aren’t printed on the surface, and instead glitter almost with their own light. Are those real gemstones? And you, miss? You don’t have a planisphere, do you? I need to pay a fare, too!? Of course you do. Only the one with the planisphere gets on for free.Aaagh! What a financially troubling dream! Wh-what do I do…? Do I have anything I could use as a ticket? I rummaged through my skirt pockets, desperately hoping for anything paper-like that I could use.  …What… is that? It’s…the fortune I drew at the temple on New Year’s… You’ve been holding onto it for a while. Aah, that’s a ticket for the green car.It is!? You can stay here if you want, but you could move to the celebrity car. See you around.What a convenient dream! And so Nageki and I passed the time on the train, looking at all the different stars we drove by while Nageki explained each of them to me. Who would’ve thought that there were this many important stars in space? Eventually, the announcer came over the speakers again.  So there are traffic signals in outer space? It would seem so. Though, one would think that with so much room they could arrange it so that the train would never have to stop.Yeah. Oh! Nageki, Nageki! There’s a station! We aren’t really trying to get anywhere, anyway. Want to get off? A station…? Didn’t they just say we were stopping to wait for signals? But there’s a platform and everything. Look, it says “Southern Cross Line – The King’s Station.” Let’s get off! Our minds made up, we both stepped off the train, not knowing what sorts of adventures would await us.
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Jul 12, 2014 14:05
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ViggyNash posted:Huh... Well that was sudden. Yeah, the transition from that scene to the next isn't particularly good, as it just fades to black and back and then tries to fill in the context later. I tried to do something at least a little more reasonable and I think it does a better scene-to-scene transition, but it's not great with a break between like I usually do for updates, hence an early update to finish off that particular bit.
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Jul 12, 2014 14:08
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Night on the Galactic Railroad is a neat movie and everyone should watch it.
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Jul 12, 2014 17:29
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Ah, star railroad. Those are always pretty sweet.
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Jul 13, 2014 04:16
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  Wooow! It’s wonderful! It’s like we’re in a fairy tale! What a pretty town, Nageki! I’m getting excited already! Indeed. It’s almost like we’re dreaming.We are! We can look around a little, right? Let’s see what there is to see and then get back on the train. It’s not like we’re headed anywhere in particular, after all! !?I turn around, and the station is indeed gone. The aged platform has disappeared, leaving only the palely glowing tracks running off into the distance. Hmm… Maybe this is like that thing in adventure games where we can’t leave until we’ve completed some more events? Who knows? We can’t leave this star for now, anyway.In that case, we’ll just have to see its sights until it’s sorry! Where do you want to go, Nageki? We don’t have a map, so should we just wander around? I don’t think the planisphere will help us find our way around this star… So I get to be his escort? Leave it to me! Umm, my hunter-gatherer instincts are telling me-- Excuse me… We are addressed by a somewhat vague-looking dove. He must be a local? This is the Holiday Star? That’s right. The Holiday Star. A happy name. Very happy, indeed. We celebrate our holiday, which never ends. This is a happy star. We’re meeting the king already!? What a forward king he must be! Is that palace in the distance where he lives? Yes, it is. If you head straight for the light atop its tower you will be there before you know it.The citizen then left us, off to do whatever he was doing before he stopped for us. He seemed really friendly! Getting invited to see the king as soon as we arrive is definitely VIP treatment! Let’s go! The music stops. We eventually reached the palace, and it was truly a sight to behold.  The palace was impressive from the outside, but it’s even more kingly on the inside. The citizen we talked to earlier said the king would be in here, but-- Suddenly, a loud fanfare blared through the halls, and a loud voice boomed over it.  His Royal Highness, the King!  Did he just announce himself? Maybe that’s how they do things around here. The crowned bird sets himself down on his magnificent throne. He doesn’t quite seem dignified, or maybe he seems a little humble, or--at any rate, he’s a very forward king. You are the king? Yes. The King is the king of this star.He’s very assertive, in an extremely plain way. The King asked, are you from the outside? You have a very nice planisphere. Yes, we’re from Littledove Hachiman City--from St. Pigeonation’s. This? That’s so rude! How can you ask for someone’s things as soon as you meet them? Are you a selfish character, Mr. King? -sniff- That was too harsh, Miss Lourde. You’ve made The King sad.He’s kind of a wimpy king. You can’t have this, though. I was told not to give it to anyone. I’m sorry. The King does not mind. The King is not crying. Request? The King and his people are troubled. Troubled by the new restaurant at the edge of the Crystal Forest. I would think that restaurants opening at a tourist draw would be perfectly normal… Birds who go into the new restaurant don’t come out. They go in, but never come out. Once they go in, they don’t come back out. Those who come out can’t go in. Do you understand? So people are disappearing inside the restaurant?Well, this got creepy awfully quickly.  I guess wandering travelers will always get asked to run errands if they talk to the king, no matter where and when they are! What do you think, Nageki? Should we accept? We don’t have other plans. This could kill some time.An investigation which smacks of intrigue and danger “could kill some time”? You’re awfully bold, Nageki! I like the cut of your jib. Understood, Mr. King! Leave it to us!And so we left on our royal mission! Who knows what awaits us at the mysterious forest restaurant?
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Jul 15, 2014 14:58
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... What? This is just plain bizarre, even for Hatoful's standards.
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Jul 15, 2014 19:12
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This update presented by Shaft.
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Jul 15, 2014 19:49
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Tarezax posted:This update presented by Shaft. Come to think of it, this segment did get awfully Madoka in a hurry, didn't it? 
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Jul 15, 2014 19:56
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Did Moa draw this part or hire someone else? It's beautiful!
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Jul 15, 2014 23:24
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Nageki isn't that bold. I mean he's dead, what's the worst they can do to him?
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Jul 16, 2014 01:41
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Giant Boy Detective posted:Did Moa draw this part or hire someone else? It's beautiful! I'm almost positive Hato Moa did all of the artwork herself for the game. She's a reallygood artist imo. (warning: the scrap section has a number of Holiday Star spoilers scattered throughout)
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Jul 16, 2014 04:31
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KataraniSword posted:Come to think of it, this segment did get awfully Madoka in a hurry, didn't it? No one's lost their head yet, so we're not yet in Madoka territory.
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Jul 16, 2014 04:54
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ViggyNash posted:No one's lost their head yet, so we're not yet in Madoka territory. Yet. Considering how the last game had stuff like Shuu's story mode and BBL, it would not surprise me if at least one of these stories ends up like that. Though until now they've been pretty calm and heartwarming...but I never know what will come next in Hatoful Boyfriend. I expect nothing, because I know none of my expectations will never be even remotely as weird as this game requires.
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Jul 16, 2014 05:20
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Man, things are getting fairy-tale as all get-out around here.
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Jul 16, 2014 05:29
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  We’ve been walking, following The King’s somewhat inexact directions, for about half an hour. Is this the “Crystal Forest” The King mentioned? There do appear to be crystals.Of course, with everything in the kingdom as sparkly as it is, this forest really doesn’t stand out at all…  !?G-g-g-g-geez! He startled me! Doesn’t anyone here know how to make their presence known beforehand!? Not only that, but the citizen was gone as quickly as he appeared. No proper goodbye, just a quick scare and you’re gone!? Ugh… Well, anyways. If this is the Crystal Forest, then the restaurant should be nearby…Once again I was interrupted in the middle of my thoughts, but this time it was by a set of voices I recognized. Happy New Year! Happy New Year!  Happy New Year! !?!? Happy New Year! (Miru and Kaku are hungry!) W-w-w-wait! Miru, Kaku! What’s wrong!? Did you suddenly turn into New Year’s characters? You do realize New Year’s Day is over already too, right!? …… Merry Christmas… (Miru and Kaku felt lonely because everyone forgot about Christmas…) Merry Christmas! (But Christmas will always live on in Miru and Kaku’s hearts!)Oh, good. I would really be a little much for them to suddenly change themes that soon after being introduced… …Do you know those white things? Oh, right! You’ve never met them! They’re Miru and Kaku. They’re… white things! That look kind of like doves, but aren’t! How vague. Well, I don’t really know just what they are yet either, to be honest… It’s fine. I’m Nageki. Nice to meet you two. Merry Christmas! (Nageki! Nageki! Nice to meet you!) Anyway, I hadn’t expected to see even you two in this dream. What are you doing? Are you still looking for trees? Merry Christmas… (No… Miru and Kaku have a terrible problem. Miru and Kaku are hungry!) No! Wait! …Too late.Miru and Kaku vanish deep into the forest. The music stops. This must be another one of those flags! After them!  Following their tracks, we were eventually led to a strange building at the edge of the forest.  This… is the restaurant Miru and Kaku were headed for, then? The sign says… “Chateau Chukar”?I have a terrible feeling about this. That name can’t be a coincidence… or maybe it’s just my imagination. Well, if this is the restaurant The King was talking about, we need to investigate…Nageki looks at me, as if asking what we should do next. March straight in the front door, of course! Nageki and I burst in dramtically, prepared for whatever would greet us on the other side.  It… doesn’t look like a restaurant. A passage, a door, and a sign. It’s a little plain.Maybe they’re closed? The signpost says-- “This shop has many orders. Please be patient.” …Huh? Does that mean there are a lot of customers, so we might have to wait?There isn’t anywhere for a queue, though. What do we do, Nageki? What if it’s reservation-only!? Oh, right! Let’s keep going.  Another door, another sign, and… Miru and Kaku in a bucket. Merry Christmas! (Warm and steamy! Warm and steamy!) What are you two doing? Taking a bath? Look, Miss Lourde.Nageki points at the sign. “Please clean yourselves here.” How sanitary! This restaurant must cater to celebrities. …So we may hope. Merry Christmas! (Next room! Next room! Yaaay!)Miru and Kaku, looking a little glossier than usual, head through the door. Nageki and I followed right behind.  There’s another sign as well.“Please rub this cream into your hands, feet, and face. From the tips of your feathers all the way into your skin.” Cream? Before eating? I’ve never been to a high-class restaurant before. Do celebrities always put on moisturizer before eating?  They’re covered in it!  Merry Christmas! (On to the next room, with excitement and dampness! Yaaay!)They run through the door, still covered in the cream. Oh, dear, they’re leaving footprints…  “All those orders must have been hard to follow. What a pity.” …So then that one that said there were a lot of orders didn’t mean orders to the restaurant, but-- Orders from the restaurant, yes.I’m not taking instructions from some greasy diner! I do what I want! “This is the last order. Please rub this salt all over your bodies.” Salt? On top of the cream???Celebrities do some pretty weird stuff! This would be torture if you had a papercut or something.  Are you two okay!? Cream, salt, and tears… I almost feel bad for the floor.It is in a rather sorry state now.  Merry Christmas… Merry Christmas! (But that was the last one!) They go into the next room, leaving a trail of salt and sadness. The janitor will probably have a nervous breakdown…  The music stops. Huh? There’s more written on it.“We are so sorry for all that. You did very well. Now, go ahead. We’ll be so happy to have you for dinner.” Well, that ended on an awfully polite note! It says they’ll be happy to have us, see? Polysemy is a terrible thing.Nageki stares at my coldly. St-stop it! You’ll leave a hole! You are reading “have you” to mean “have you over”, yes? I… suppose so? What else would it mean?  WHAT!!! Oh, no! Thanks for the explanation! Now we need to hurry!Just as before, Nageki and I burst through the door, ready for the encounter ahead.  Comin’ through!The passage from the entrance leads straight into the kitchen!? This is a bit much! That wasn’t the main problem though, as I looked to the large pot in the room.   Merry Christmas! (Ow! Ow!)They’re being boiled! A-are you two okay!? Merry Christmas…! (This bath is too hot! Can’t they turn it down a little?) …It looks like we’re in time. Wait just a minute, you two! I’ll have the temperature down in no time, and then you can enjoy your bath! My, you are noisy. Are you with them?Another bird entered the scene. Of course it was him…! The music stops. I knew it would be you! Does your cruelty know no bounds even in dreams, doctor!? Why can’t you at least be nice while I’m asleep!?  I guess so, but… Now, then… It is not yet your turn. May I ask you to be quiet while you wait? Also, it would appear that you have not followed all the instructions. Please return to the entrance and start over. He has a knife, Miss Lourde. Let’s get out of here. Humans who’d be scared of a butter knife like that died out long ago! Don’t worry, Nageki! I can handle this! Thinking about my different attack options, I thought about how each possibility might play out in my head. Take this! Right Golden Lightning Spiral Kick!Unfortunately, as my leg came down, the doctor quickly stepped out of the way. My attack landed right where the doctor had previously been, a huge hole left in the floor. The music stops. …Not only do you not follow the orders, but you also damage my hardwood floor?He dodged it…!? Miss Lourde, watch out!   Well that certainly wasn’t gonna work. What else could I do… …Wait a minute! The doctor’s weak on his other side, isn’t he? So maybe I’ll… Take this! Legendary Left Tempest Uppercut! Gah! Hahaha! I knew you were weak on your right side, Doctor! Know your enemy and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles, eh? We’ll be taking Miru and Kaku back now. And you’re closing this restaurant! You’ve been making The King worry, you know! Hohoho… Very well. I shall defer to your impressive physique. Don’t worry. I shall spend some time coming up with a new way of harvesting ingredients.He’s not even trying to hide the fact that he’s aiming to be back open soon… Make sure you get permission from The King when you reopen, okay?I didn’t hear the doctor’s answer as we left the restaurant, but I’m sure we’re not finished with him just yet. For now, though, the victory is ours.  Yup! Are you okay, Miru, Kaku? Merry Christmas! (Miru and Kaku are warm and steamy!) Merry Christmas! (And Miru and Kaku got to eat the vegetables from the bath!) They’re still a little on the rare side. That’s good. Merry Christmas! (Miru and Kaku are going to go burn off some calories now! Yaaay!)Some people just never slow down…  Aaah, I’m so hungry… And to be hungry is to be sad…As Miru and Kaku ran off, a strange new bird appeared at the front of the restaurant, looking a little worse for wear.   Wait, no, don’t go in! Hmm? What’s wrong? You can’t go in here. It’s closed right now. Wh-what!? No… And I thought I would finally get to eat some corn… The King thought this restaurant was suspicious… You aren’t from around here, are you? A journey…? Did you come here on the train, sir? Yes, that’s right. I’d never seen this star before, so I decided to look around. Aaah, journeys are wonderful! So many things to see! …But being hungry is terrible. It makes me so sad. I suppose I’ll keep looking for food, then. Goodbye.Nageki and I watch the migrant wander back into the forest. If he’d been five minutes earlier, he might’ve ended up on a spit…  Definitely! What do we do now? We’re without a goal again. We should… probably go report to The King. He must still be worried.Aah, of course! Let’s go back to the palace now, then. We’ll be walking more… Is that okay with you, Nageki? Yes. I like walking with you.He’s so quiet that I hadn’t realized! I’m glad he’s enjoying himself, anyway. Come to think of it, being able to go on a journey and walk around outside like this must be like a dream come true for him. (It is a dream, after all!) Hmmm… Wouldn’t it be nice if this dream lasted forever, Nageki? I know, I know… But until then, I want to keep walking around with you, Miss Lourde. Me too! For now we can walk back to The King’s palace.Suddenly, I heard a familiar fanfare echoing through the trees. The King said, that will not be necessary. You appear out of nowhere just like your citizens, Mr. King! Your Majesty. We defeated the owner of the restaurant. The restaurant is closed now, so there’s nothing more to worry about. You’re welcome! The King would like to reward you. Please accept The King’s gift. The King pulled a small gem out of his royal garb and handed it to me. Waaah, what a pretty gem! What kind is it? A garnet. The names comes from the French word for “pomegranate”. It… looks a little bit like a pomegranate, I guess? You must be having an awful lot of trouble, for how peaceful this planet seems. Umm… What do you think, Nageki? We don’t have anything else to do, do we? I’ll let you decide.Well… Heroes are supposed to complete the quests set before them, right? What is your next request, Mr. King? The flowers in the garden are going to be blown away. Blown away? Is there a typhoon coming? What kind of garden is this!? The King is very scared. The King is crying. Even I would be a little unsettled if my garden was going to explode. Let’s help him, Miss Lourde. Leave it to us, Mr. King!We certainly can’t let an explosion go off in this peaceful land! We headed back to the town square to begin our search.
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Jul 17, 2014 15:00
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The artwork in this chapter is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm glad we're finally in my favourite part of Holistar
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Jul 17, 2014 15:26
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I have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on but I love every minute of it. This LP
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Jul 17, 2014 16:13
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"Thank you for investigating the restaurant that eats birds. Can you now stop my garden from exploding?" I've said "This game..." more times than I can count now.
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Jul 17, 2014 16:21
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The artwork for this section is fantastic, they really got the watercolour fairytale painting style down perfectly here.
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Jul 17, 2014 21:47
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Yeah, this is definitely a dream. Right from one thing to another. I wonder who the mad bomber is.
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Jul 18, 2014 05:18
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Archenteron posted:Have... have we done it? Have we finally achieved Peak I... I may have been wrong
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Jul 18, 2014 06:17
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Archenteron posted:I... I may have been wrong The  rabbit hole has no bottom, my friend. Gaze not into the hato, lest it gazes back into coo.
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Jul 18, 2014 09:45
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I wasn't expecting the Wildcat Cafe from Breath of Fire 2 to turn up in Goon's dream.
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Jul 18, 2014 19:09
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 Where do you think this explosive garden is, exactly? Who knows? I don’t see anything likely here. Maybe it’s on the outskirts of the town?And this time we might not know it even if we see it… We should have gotten The King to show us the way. However, the fleeing crowd of citizens gave us a clue as to where we needed to go. The flowers blew up! Nageki, look! A crowd of panicking citizens trying to run away from something, like rats from a burning sewer pipe! That analogy is a little bit mean, Miss Lourde. …We’ll probably find the garden if we go towards whatever they’re running from.And so we quickly headed towards wherever the citizens were leaving, unsure of what we would find.   What is this lunacy!? Do you mean to tell me blowing up gardens is common practice on this barbaric star!? Sakuya!Huh? Didn’t something like this happen a few weeks ago? But I didn’t know Sakuya was going to be here, too! It’s a nice garden… aside from the holes. And poor Sakuya! He gets to be the bombing victim even in dreamland… Oh, so he’s hosting a tea party here? Geez, he should have invited me, too! (Though I’m not a celebrity.) Do you know who did this? I haven’t the slightest. There has been no suspicious activity. The garden blew up by itself. So… Timebombs, set before everyone got here?That’s some awfully meticulous terrorism for a fairy-tale world! Have you already made enemies who would want to ruin your name on this planet, Sakuya? I have barely been here for a few hours. How could I possibly have made enemies!?I think Sakuya’s snobby, aristocratic attitude could make him all kinds of enemies within the space of a single conversation, but then again… none of the people here seem particularly short-tempered. If it’s not someone settling a grudge, then who? And why? Hmmm. Maybe they have some other, far deeper motive that we’re just--My thoughts were cut short as another large explosion rang through the garden. The music stops. Wah! What! What!? Confound it! More explosions!? Miss Lourde, get down!Nageki tackled me to the ground as something flew past us, causing an even larger explosion than before. ……  Grrrr… Show yourselves, terrorists! Cowards! That’s right! Come out and fight us like men! …Wait. Someone’s coming through.Nothing could have prepared me for the bird that walked out of the large hole. The music stops.   Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Yuuya!? Salutations, mon amie! So you’re here, too? This is no time for “salutations”! You! You insufferable mongrel! What have you done to my beautiful garden!? Oh…… Looks like I blew most of it up. Sorry, Sakuya! “Looks like”? What do you mean, “looks like”!? Sorry, sorry. I had a little trouble finding the entrance, you see. There’s a gate right over there. Yeah, Yuuya! Why did you have to do all this? Ahaha… I guess that’s what happens when you enjoy your job too much. Stop laughing, you fiend! Anyway, I’m so happy to see you! As your brother I do worry about how you’re doing, even in dream--Suddenly, as Yuuya was walking forward, he just vanished from sight!  The music stops. Wha……!? H-he disappeared!? …He just fell. Into the hole. Y-Yuuya! Are you all right!?There’s no reply. It’s just a hole. What was that all about?  I wonder where he went… It looks like a rabbit hole. So maybe he’s in Wonderland? Can you hear me, Sakazaki!? I want you to sit down there in the dark and think about what you’ve done!Then Sakuya stomped off into his fairy tale mansion, fuming over recent experiences. It looks like the exploding garden was just Yuuya engaging in a little accidental terrorism while trying to find the entrance. Do you think that’s all, Nageki? Yes! Quest complete! On to the next one! The music stops.  We’ve been here for a while now. Time does always pass strangely in dreams… Really? You can have a dream that seems like it lasts for months in a single ten-minute nap, after all, right? I don’t know. I don’t usually remember my dreams. Oh! Do ghosts dream at all? Is that so? Hello again! Is this the right way to the tea party? Mr. Migrant! To tell the truth I prefer rice cookies and coffee, but any food sounds good right now! Unfortunately, the tea party is cancelled. Whaaat!? The garden got targeted by a terrorist attack. I think it was for celebrities anyway, so a guest as ratty as you would probably have gotten thrown out! Cheer up, mister. Common people like us are indominable! The cruel upper classes can tread on us and grind us into the dirt, but we’ll always spring back up like weeds! …It’s not much, but here. Oh?Nageki hands the migrant three sugar cubes. I picked them up in the Milky Way. They were mixed in with the stars. I’ve heard that diamonds and sugar cubes float through the Milky Way along with the stars. These must be some of those. Are you sure? Yes. They’re not much, but maybe they’ll be enough for now? The self-styled migrant jauntily flutters away. The music stops. …He’s always just a little bit off. I bet whenever he goes to the store the thing he’s looking for is sold out!I hadn’t realized there were sugar cubes floating in the Milky Way, though! If I’d known I would have looked for them while we were on the train. Where to next? As if waiting for Nageki to say those words, a loud fanfare sounded through the town square. That’s The King’s cue. His Royal Highness, The King! The bird who was blowing up the garden fell down a hole and disappeared. Though, there are a lot of holes in the garden now… The King is relieved. People who disturb the peace are scary.Huh? What just happened to The King’s head? Did I imagine that? ????? It is time for The King’s reward. Please accept The King’s jewel. Aaah, it’s so pretty! And blue! What’s it called? Lapis lazuli.He really does know everything.  Fire away, highness! Don’t you think you should word yourself more carefully, Miss Lourde? Since you’re getting to play the heroine for once. Should I? The King is very troubled. It looks like it might rain, so The King is in a terrible position. Rain? Have you considered an umbrella, sir? It has never rained here since the kingdom was created. Mt. Pudding…?I know who we’ll meet there already! Mt. Pudding is a tall, tall mountain. The clouds at its peak might slip off, and slide down, and come to The King’s palace. And will it be a problem if the palace gets wet? It looks sturdy enough. It would probably be just fine in a storm, never mind a little rain… The King is troubled. If The King’s palace gets wet… …… ……… H-he had another head just now, didn’t he!? But he looks normal now… I think? It must have been my imagination. Why would you start crying just because it’s raining? The hero in a J-Pop song or a shoujo manga might do something like that. Maybe The King is a delicate maiden at heart? Don’t worry, your highness! I will protect your fragile heart from the cruel weather! To Mt. Pudding!
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Jul 19, 2014 16:33
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The King and the mysterious migrant are both proving to be very interesting characters.
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Jul 19, 2014 23:33
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Still all kinds of worried about that randomly-sprouting second head, the constant color shifting (above and beyond the traditional "stress = blue head" bit), and the cycle of gems so far. No top-tier precious stones, but rather popular mid-range ones. If the third one is green (agate? jade? peridot?) it would be the start of a lot of common color cycles, too. Ah, Hatoful. Keep being... whatever precisely it is that you are.
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Jul 20, 2014 13:42
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  It is even more pudding than its name had led me to imagine. Looking at it, it… well… I can’t think of any name other than “Mt. Pudding”. Coo, coooooo! Calm down, San! Going berserk now won’t fix anything! Okosan! I knew we’d see him here! I thought Okosan would be here, but I hadn’t quite expected you, Ryouta! So it would seem. I see… I guess you two are together even in this dream, then? We arrived on the same train! We’re a dynamic duo, on a quest for The King. What about you? I… guess I’m a Votaress of Pudding.And the role comes with a new costume! This time he gets to be a nun! So that means Okosan is-- Incidentally, what does he need those things on his back for? Aren’t gods supposed to be calm and composed? Coo, coooooo! (It is not the time for being calm! The rain is coming!) Weather usually changes quickly in the mountains, so if we wait it should be clear again eventually… Coooooo! (Waiting is not an option! Okosan’s pudding will be rendered gooey!) Sounds like the rain would be a problem for you too, Okosan. The King said rain has never fallen here, so there must be something behind it. It might not go away even if we wait. You’re never going to get rid of rain clouds by flapping at them, San! And if the clouds get blown down the mountain The King will be sad. We need to think of another way. The clouds are coming from the summit… Let’s climb the mountain and see what’s up there, Nageki! All right.And so Nageki and I slowly began our descent up Mt. Pudding. The music stops.  Aaaah! That was more of a climb than I had expected. By the time we reached the top of the mountain, the clouds had made the sky dark and it had begun to rain. I never realized pudding was this hard to climb up! I suppose it is very slippery. Are you doing okay, Nageki? You didn’t get tired? Not at all. I flew.This… this is the true separator of birds and men! Well, we’re at the top… And there’s something suspicious right over there. A bird was caught headfirst in the caramel pudding top! It’s like in The Inugami Clan! N-Nageki! What do we do!? This isn’t a fairy tale, it’s a murder mystery! It’s Sukekiyo! The corpse upside down in the water was a diversion by the real culprit. People get it mixed up all the time, but Inugami Sukekiyo wasn’t the man in the white mask or the corpse in the water.So this is what the spoiler warning was for! But even with a warning it’s bad form to go telling people the answers to puzzles in mysteries, Nageki! Don’t do that! Anyway, if he stays stuck in the caramel for too long, he’ll suffocate. Let’s help him. Right! You take one leg, I’ll take the other!It took quite a bit of pulling and tugging, but eventually the bird was free of his caramel prison.  Wow, he’s covered in caramel! He’s like a walking ant trap! Umm… We’ve been bumping into people who were at the observation so far, so… You’re Mr. Nanaki… right? No, that’s not right. I’m Nemo. Nemo? So your name is… Nemo? Yes. Yes, that’s right. I’m Nemo, and I’ve lost something. …… Hey, Nageki… Don’t you think the rain’s getting a little heavier? Definitely. And more clouds are gathering. Aaah… Where should I look…? I think I dropped it in this swamp… I look, and I look, and I don’t find it. And now I feel sad. How poetic! Well, think about where we are. There’s no need to think realistically.So to get rid of the clouds maybe we need to solve Nemo’s problem? Well, it’s worth a shot, if nothing else. Maybe we can help two people then! What are you looking for, Mr. Nemo? We’ll help you find it! You will? Really? That’s so nice of you… Y-your name…!? Hence “Nemo”.How do you lose your own name…? I just told you, Miss Lourde. Logical thought will get us nowhere. What does your name look like? Ummm… I wonder what it does look like?I’ll ask the questions here, bub! I don’t know. I can’t see anything. Because your eyes are full of caramel? I ate them, you see.WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! If a bird eats its own beak it will die, but if it eats its eyes it will be fine. N-Nageki…! Every time Sukekiyo here opens his mouth he does terrible, terrible things to our fairy tale atmosphere! Everything he says is way too surreal! Not really. The macabre is a long-standing tradition in fairy tales, after all. Hmm… But we can’t see anything through this caramel sauce…Do I just so happen to be carrying any convenient tools perfectly suited to the job? Umm… I checked my pockets, hoping to find something convenient, like I did on the train. Nageki, I have a pond-fishing set with me! …You keep one of those on your person? Doesn’t your tummy ever get the rumblies that only raw pond smelt can cure? No.No one ever understands me… Waaaah! Anyway, maybe we can catch Mr. Nemo’s name with this!And so Nageki and I sat down and cast our lines, in search of a name. The music stops.  ……… ………… I’ve got something! I’ve got something! That’s impressive, Miss Lourde. What is it? Hang on, I’ll have it up in a second… ha! Look! An Early Alice! A strawberry in the pudding…? Mr. Nemo! Your name is Early Alice! Oh, well.I guess there’s nothing for it. Catch, release, and try again!  ……… ………… A bite! This is a big one! It’s certainly pulling quite hard. Here, let me help you. Please do! Grrraaaaaggghhh! We got it! This is… Everbearing Alexandria! Mr. Nemo, Mr. Nemo! Your name is Everbearing Alexandria! Beggars can’t be choosers, Mr. Nemo! Geez, how stubborn can you get!?  Just what is Mr. Nemo’s name? I guess we’re not finding it… Don’t start feeling down, Mr. Nemo! You’ll make the rain worse! We might not find it, at this rate. Maybe we should give you a new one? A new name for Mr. Nemo? Would that solve the problem? What? That’s all we needed to do!? A new name, a new name… How about Late Lucy? Early Rosie? I told you, I’m not a strawberry…Oh, no! I got stuck in strawberry mode by accident! Umm… hmm… I can’t think of anything… What about you, Nageki? You’re leaving something that important to me? It was your idea, right? You can probably come up with a better one than I could, anyway. Hmmm…  Hitori? That’s an odd name. I can’t remember well, but I think… a long time ago, when I was alive, someone very important to me was named Hitori. Are you sure you want to give me a name that precious to you? I don’t mind. I can’t remember, anyway… You might as well have it. Hitori, Hitori… Hitori. Mmm.As Nemo thought over his new name, the rain began to dissipate, and eventually stopped entirely.  I can’t see you, but I can tell that you are the two most wonderful birds I have ever met. I won’t ever forget this.I’m not a bird! I wonder how I can thank you… Do I have anything…? Oh. Here, let me give you this. Please take it.He pulled a small stone from his pocket and clumsily handed it to Nageki.  Aaah! Another pretty stone! It’s a topaz. I feel very sunny and warm now. I always have to take a nap in the forest when I feel like this…The thoroughly caramelized Hitori (nee Nemo) happily leaves the mountain. The rain has stopped. The King and the guardian deity won’t have to worry about it now. The King is probably shaking and crying in his castle right about now. Let’s go give him the good news!Nageki and I slowly made our way back to The King’s castle. The music stops.  We’re not exactly going into a friend’s house, Miss Lourde. Shouldn’t you be a little more decorous? Should I? I’m already thinking of The King as a friend, though… You must have an awful lot of friends.The King seemed to hear us though, as his typical fanfare rang through the castle walls. His Royal Highness, The King! I knew it! Don’t worry, your majesty! The rain’s all gone now, so it’s okay! Is it truly so? Take a look outside, sir. The King is relieved. The King was afraid the fire would go out.The fire? That must be the light we saw earlier. Thanks to you two, The King’s land is now peaceful once more. The King has no more troubles. Even though you’re out of troubles? The King… really wants that planisphere. Mine? No. I was told not to give it away, no matter what. -sniff- Puppy eyes won’t help, your majesty! No means no! One of the stars…?The stars are represented by gemstone shards. We could probably pull one out… What do you want to do, Nageki? …Even a single star is still part of the planisphere. What do you think, Miss Lourde? I suppose that’s true… but The King has been giving us gems this entire time, so just one would be fine, right? That’s reasonable enough. The King asked, will you give The King a star from the planisphere? All right, I will. Pick one.  The King was very grateful. Thank you, guests from away. You’re welcome. I guess we’re really done with The King’s requests now, Nageki!
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Jul 21, 2014 15:03
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As soon as the king mentioned fire I wondered if he was going to try to roast them over a spit by the end of this.
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Jul 21, 2014 15:41
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Something tells me Goon has only watched Disney movies, while Nageki has read the original fairy tales. Also very nice foreshadowing with Goon thinking Nemo was Mr. Nanaki...and then Nageki gives him said bird's original name. That said, that just turned sad all of a sudden, Nageki really can't remember the one bird that mattered to him before. Also also there's no way in hell giving a star to the king won't have catastrophic consequences later.
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Jul 21, 2014 15:44
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Something about that song "Daybreak" I find just really moving when combined with all this. It reminds me of being a kid, being read stories by my parents 
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Jul 21, 2014 15:46
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| # ? May 31, 2024 15:03 |
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ChorpSaway posted:
Aww jeez
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Jul 21, 2014 16:40
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