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[tengugrandshogi]

[The wolf tengu's back. Status: Still unemployed.]

Hello again. I've had a bit of time to get a feel for what this place is like. Most of the people I've met have been very kind - thanks in particular to miss Amagi in that regard.

Since this seems to be mainly a human world, I was wondering - would any of the youkai or other magically-inclined types be interested in meeting? It would be nice to know who else there is aside from Aya and myself.

Oh, and as long as I'm talking, is anyone here a shogi player? I play myself, and I've always been interested to see how much the human world version of the game has changed from the one I know.

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[infinitejustice]

I wish I could answer, but...well, I have no idea what a "youkai" is.

[He's making an effort to at least look politely confused.]

[tengugrandshogi]

[So that's how different the outside world is, then.]

Youkai are... well, there are humans, who aren't inherently magical creatures, and then there are youkai that are. Have you heard of tengu? Kappa? Oni? [Wait maybe he's a foreigner... do they have tengu overseas?] ...Vampires or ghosts? Those are like youkai, too.

[infinitejustice]

[...Well. Shit.

After spending nearly a month here, Athrun has learned to just deal with the fact that supernatural creatures sometimes exist here. But he has met one vampire...but he's not sure if he should say that.]

...Okay. I think I understand now. Is there...any kind of personality you want to see in these people?

[tengugrandshogi]

Kind of personality? Well, I hadn't thought about it in those terms, but I guess I'd like to meet people who are honest and dependable, rather than trouble-making types.

[infinitejustice]

[That's the answer Athrun had been hoping to hear. He feels no qualms about bringing up what he encountered now.]

I ask because I did meet a vampire. However, he was...unpleasant. I don't want to say he was a trouble-maker, but it wouldn't surprise me if he is.

[The tone of his voice further indicates his irritation with the man.]

[tengugrandshogi]

I don't want to make broad, sweeping statements about one race or another, but vampires at least do have a reputation for being dangerous.

[infinitejustice]

Considering their diet consists primarily of human blood, it'd be hard to have a reputation as anything else.

More than anything, it was his intelligence that concerned me.

[tengugrandshogi]

Concerned because he was too smart, or not smart enough?

[infinitejustice]

The former. Not only that, but he was extremely perceptive. Perhaps dangerously so.

[tengugrandshogi]

People like that can be very dangerous if they want to be. We'd both better keep our guard up.

[infinitejustice]

Indeed. Unfortunately, I didn't get his name, nor did I find out what he does. But I do know that he has long hair, as well as a mustache and a goatee. And the way he dressed...it made me think of an Enlightenment-era European.

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[sizedoesntmatter]

Oh, you play shogi? [He smiled slightly, he was glad there were poeple who did play the game at least.]

[tengugrandshogi]

Yes! It's become quite popular with the kappa, so I often pass the time playing with them... although, I think our version of the game has changed somewhat over the years.

[sizedoesntmatter]

What is your version of the game then, if you don't mind me asking?

[tengugrandshogi]

Tengu Grand Shogi has gotten a big complicated over the years. The board's gotten bigger, new pieces have been added... I'd be happy to teach it to you, if you have a few weeks free.

[sizedoesntmatter]

Well, I have a game shop to run really. But we could learn a bit at a time or something like that.

[tengugrandshogi]

In exchange, would you be willing to teach me how to play human shogi?

[sizedoesntmatter]

Sure, that should be easy enough really.

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[firefandance]

You are very welcome. I hope that I'll be able to help you more though.

But... [She hasn't exactly been open about being magically inclined at the moment. There was a reason for that though.] If you do hold a meeting, would you want it to be at the inn?

[tengugrandshogi]

Oh! I wouldn't want to impose on your hospitality any more than I already have. If it would be a problem, I'd gladly hold it elsewhere.

[firefandance]

I wouldn't mind at all. Part of being an inn is to cater for the customer after all. Besides if people use our inn for team building, I think it could be used for meetings. We have large enough dining rooms after all.

So long as they like sitting the way we did back home, of course.

[tengugrandshogi]

Oh! Well, that's very kind of you. Even if nobody has responded so far...

[firefandance]

Really? No one has replied.

[tengugrandshogi]

They probably have more important things to be doing.

[firefandance]

Well if they are or not, I'll keep an ear out. I'm sure there will be someone eventually.

[Video] I know I'm late but...:)

[melodiouspacifist]

I'm not sure what you mean by youkai. I'd say I'm magically-inclined though. I've got an affinity for water.

[He creates a little music note out of water on the palm of his hand to show her.]

That what you mean?

[tengugrandshogi]

[Momiji peers at the note. Just like the kappa, really.]

Well, that's definitely magic. Are you a human, or something else?

[melodiouspacifist]

[He shakes his head a little.]

Not really. I look it and my Other was human, but I'm a Nobody.

[tengugrandshogi]

[Sounds complicated, but you don't get by in Gensokyo without being able to just roll about it.]

Well, it sounds close enough. Did you live with other Nobodies, or with humans?

[melodiouspacifist]

[It is complicated, it's really better not to ask too many details.]

Since I became a Nobody, just Nobodies. We lived in our own world in this huge, white, boring castle. [He sighs softly.]

A world without sunshine. I'm not sure if I miss it or not. Probably not.

[tengugrandshogi]

So you became a Nobody, instead of being one from the start? I guess that's not too different from ghosts or some magicians...

[melodiouspacifist]

I'm not really sure. I'm sort of separate from who I was, but also sort of the same.

[He pauses to think about it.]

Okay. When I was human, I was normal but then I lost my heart and this...what I am now, this replica of what I was then, appeared after I disappeared and I continued living on as Nobody, looking for my lost heart.

[tengugrandshogi]

I'm a little lost.

[melodiouspacifist]

You're telling me. I don't even get it. The guy who explained it to me goes on and on and never takes a breath. I tuned most of it out.

I guess the basic is this, I'm not human because I don't have a heart and I have a cool element.