The Dating Sim: Remastered

I dunno if I wanna bring up the other world. Not while spending time together to get to know each other. I don't want it to seem like we're just using her foe info.

"So, about the other...  Ah, forget it.  There'll be time to talk about that with Somnis later.  And I want you to enjoy your first time at the beach!  You're losing your beachginity, Tia!"

"My what?"

"...Never mind."  Kiran rolls over to get a better look at her.  "So, how're you enjoying your time in the hu- er, the town so far?"

"Ssss, ssss, ssss..."  Her tongue flicks out a few times as she smiles.  "So warm.  So much sssssun.  It's been sssso long ssssincssse I vissssited, I forgot how marveloussssss the sun is."  She rolls off her blanket and snuggles into the sand.  "And thissssss sssssssand is ssssssssoooooo goooooood...  Sssssssssss..."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.  What about the rest of town?" Kiran asks.

Lamia and Kiran chat about the world for a bit.  She has a lot of questions that he tries to answer.  A lot of questions.  She's like a curious little kid or something.  But at least she's enjoying herself.

After much, much too short a time, Kiran looks at the angle of the sun and groans.  "Tia, I hate to say it, but we need to go get ready to meet up with Somnis."

A sad groan comes from under the thin layer of sand Lamia's covered herself with.  She shakes herself off, slithering free like a - well, like you'd expect.

The two hop on the bus for the ride home.  "We need to wash up - you can hop in the bath first if you want.  Yell if you need help.  Actually, just take Dogachu with you.  He knows how to operate everything, and it's been a while since he had a bath."

Dogachu is suddenly nowhere to be found...

While Lamia bathes, Kiran pulls out some of his older, baggier sweat clothes.  He cracks open the door and tosses them in.  She comes out with her hair still damp, dressed in...  Wow, she's still pretty cute dressed like that.

Somnis shows up and starts cooking - fish and steamed vegetables - while Kiran's in the shower.  As usual, she's making herself completely at home, and Dogachu is hanging around her like a small child.  It's still a pleasant surprise to come out to.

Lamia, seated at the table, greets him as he rounds the corner.  "Kiran!  I was just telling Somnis all about how you kidnapped me today!"

Somnis turns away from the stove, puts her hands on her hips, and stares Kiran down.  She raises a finger and wags it at him.  "You shouldn't do things like that!  I nearly had a heart attack before I saw your message.  But I guess at least she had more fun than if she were hanging around me catching up on homework all day..."

Somnis joins Lamia at the table.  "So...?" Lamia asks.

"Right, where do we begin..."

(A) Did you remember how you know each other?
(B) You left soul keys for me.  Where did you get soul keys?  What the butt is a soul key!?
(C) So you got turned to stone, huh?  How, uh... how'd you end up in that situation?
(D) Why didn't you tell me about this other world stuff...?
(E) So what exactly is L- Tia?
(F) About that bull guy I saw right before I turned into stone...  He was fighting everyone?
(G) Did you get your homework done, young lady?
(H) (flirt)

C Seems like the most pertinent question

Kiran plants his hands on his hips and wags his finger right back at Somnis.  "Did you get all your homework done, young lady?"

"Yes!  ...Almost."  Somnis admits.  "OK, fine.  I'm gonna finish the last bit after this."

Kiran gives her a suspicious glare as he slides into a chair.  "Mmmkay.  But you better not be letting your grades slip with all this otherworld stuff.  So... speaking of that...  How the heck did you end up in that situation?"

"Oh, that's easy," Somnis says.

"I'm kind of curious about this, too.  I don't hear from you for God only knows how long and suddenly you show up as a statue," Lamia says accusingly.

"Sorry, Tia.  I've been meaning to visit, really, but things keep coming up."

"Hm."  Lamia folds her arms.

"Reeaaaally," Somnis says.  "Anywaaaaay.  I saw some younger students found their way into the other world, so...  Y'know.  I started tailing them into the other world to make sure they didn't run into trouble.  But then they did!  I tried to protect them.  I managed to chase off the first gorgon sister easily enough, but, uh...  The second one kinda sucker-bit me from behind."

"Yeah, that would be why they were able to pretty much take over," Lamia nods.  "That and the fact they were pretty much designed to kill residents of the Soul Labyrinth.  Which they did.  A lot."

"I'm sorry, Tia.  If I'd checked in more often..."

Awkward silence.  Lamia's tongue flicks out.  "The fish is ready," she says.  "And I'm really hungry.  Really, really hungry."

"I thought you said you didn't need to eat?" Kiran asks.

"Not in my true form, I don't.  Maybe my stomach's in my legs...?"

"You do clearly have a slightly different anatomy..."

After dinner, the three flop down on the couch to continue the conversation.  Lamia and Kiran sit side-by-side, and Somnis flops out to lay across the two of them.  Dogachu lays down beside the couch.

(A) Did you remember how you know each other?
(B) You left soul keys for me. Where did you get soul keys? What the butt is a soul key!?
(C) So someone was trying to... like... take over the soul labyrinth or something?
(D) Why didn't you tell me about this other world stuff...?
(E) So what exactly is L- Tia?
(F) About that bull guy I saw right before I turned into stone... He was fighting everyone?
(G) Does the name 'Mercia' mean anything to you two?
(H) Bored now. Let's play a video game.  You two can even double-team me.

This exactly.

"OK, I've got a question for each of you, then a question for both of you."

"Oh, me first!" Somnis says.

"Alright.  It's actually a multi-part question.  So...  You left some soul keys for me.  Where did you get soul keys?  Also, what even is a soul key?"

"I didn't leave you any soul keys..." Somnis says.  "But I can make them.  Even if it's really hard."

"What do you mean you didn't leave me any keys?  You knew I'd come for you!"

"But you already have a key.  I knew what it was the moment I saw it.  I told you to keep it with you, remember?"

Kiran opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again.  "OK, true.  But in the mall.  You left me a note.  And two keys.  Saying you knew I'd probably bring Buttons and Natsu- oh my God I forgot those two were coming to the mall to help you.  ...I guess that's fine, I heard from them earlier today, but kinda weird they didn't - not what we're talking about.  But you left me a note and some extra keys."

Somnis folds her arms.  "No, I didn't."

"I know your handwriting!"

"I wouldn't leave something like that laying around!  It's dangerous."

Lamia, stuck under Somnis as things start to get heated, awkwardly does her tongue thing a few times.

"Dangerous...  What even is a soul key, anyway?"

"Oh!  That's easy," Somnis says.  "It's a magical catalyst.  It kinda, like... amplifies your soul.  Puts it into a physical form.  Like armor and a weapon and a spellbook all rolled into one!"

"My... soul.  Ugh.  Alright, let's leave that for now.  Tia, your question.  I saw some bull guy right before I turned to stone.  What's his deal?"

"Asterius?  He's kind of like me, but... different.  If my job is to oversee the Soul Labyrinth, it's his job to protect it," Lamia says.

"Uh... huh...?"

"Tia's what we call a Guardian!  She's got this cool thing called a guardian soul that makes her really strong and smart and stuff," Somnis explains.  "Asterius is a Beast.  He's also got a really special soul.  But...  Well, not that he's not smarter than you'd expect.  It's just that he's kind of...  How do I put this?  He has a one-track mind."

Lamia thinks.  "It's more like he's bound to obey his nature.  He mindlessly attacks any outsider who enters the soul labyrinth.  Over and over.  He must've fought the gorgon sisters and died two dozen times.  But so long as his soul's intact, he'll keep coming back."

"Like... a ghost?  Zombie?" Kiran asks.  "A ghost-zombie?"

"...Yes, Kiran.  Like a ghost zombie," Somnis pats him on the head.

"OK.  Last question.  For now," Kiran begins.  "Does the name 'Mercia' mean anything to you?"

Lamia nearly tosses Somnis into the floor as she jolts up.  Her hand wraps around Kiran's throat.  "Where did you hear that name!?" she demands.

"Um...  I...  I don't... I don't actually know," Kiran admits.

"What is that supposed to mean!?" Lamia demands.  She's furious.

Somnis calmly takes Lamia's wrist and pulls it away from Kiran.  She holds Lamia's hand and strokes it gently.  "Who is she, Lamia?"

"One of the other guardians.  That...  That...  That ***** is the one that made the Gorgon sisters!"

Somnis continues to pat Lamia's hand as the room falls silent.  "Do you know why?"

"...No.  She just appeared one day, asked Mother to hand over the Soul Soul, then... killed her when she refused."

Somnis sits up and gives Lamia a hug.  "...Hey, Kiran.  Your turn.  Truth or dare?"

(A) Truth?
(B) Dare!
(C) Somnis, this isn't the time for games...

B Dare always Dare

Lamia = Dracia

Power Magical and Passive