Yumetou

Its perfectly natural to be afraid in a situation like this. Why shouldn't you be? But it won't help you in the long run, and can get you into danger. The best thing to do is use your wits. Move carefully, and quietly. Grab anything you can use, and try to slip away. Before someone, or something notices you... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the frightened face of Oscar stole over the bodies around him, he let out a low breath of air. He had to be calm. There was no way he had just awakened at some site of a serial killer’s dumping ground, all while being completely unharmed. There had to be a sensible, logical explanation to things. Maybe this was a disturbed open-air graveyard, or even just a prank. With a newfound sense of confidence he prayed wasn’t just adrenaline, he cautiously stepped into the long grass. The blood red spider-lilies bobbing with his footfall. From beneath his foot, the sound of dried bone breaking sent a rush through him like cold water. Hopefully, that was not what he thought it was. The cape behind him shifted faintly in the breeze as he eased forward. Unsure what exactly he was looking for. These didn’t look like plastic, nor like any kind of prop… His gloves found a bone, probably from an arm, and raised it to his eyes. Blood turned to ice as he studdied it. A fresh gust of air rushed from the hills around him, making his cape billow in the wind. But he took no notice of the wind, nor felt any relief. Upon the bones were markings. Not those of any pen or tool, but distinctive teeth marks. Finding bones with bites from wild animals were not completely irrational, even if they were chilling. But the weren’t the marks of hungry dogs, or of any scavenger he knew of. In fact, they looked identical to the marks he would leave in a juicy apple. With fear reborn, he dropped the gnawed bone. Paranoia swirled in Oscar’s mind as he glanced from side to side. He could still see nothing, but he was certain he was being watched… The best thing to do then was to hide. His foot hit something with a thud. A moment’s glance confirmed the object was a bookbag. Quickly, he ducked down to sweep it on to one arm, before his eyes caught sight of something ahead of him. A large fallen branch, thick with dark leaves, nearly dark as sin. Even in his performer’s outfit, he would almost be undetectable behind that…Quietly, he slung his new bag over a shoulder before taking the branch. It was heavy enough to need two arms and a groan to lift. But the curve of the branch nicely obscured him as he stole forward. A slow, easy pace. The better not to draw attention to himself, Oscar hoped. For the next half hour, he scuttled along the side of the road. His shawl of leaves keeping him save from any prying eyes. The darkening sky around him hopefully meaning he would move unobstructed. Or so he thought. As he passed over yet another pile of old bones upon the grass, wishing the moon would light his way, the stage magician's ears thought they could hear something. Being a man often hired for children's parties, he would recognize the sound of a young girl's giggle anywhere. Fresh alarm filled his mind at the sound. This place was surely dangerous. He would have to help her. He would-- His thoughts were cut off as a small hand pulled at his cape. So unexpected was he at any touch which was not withered bones or ragweed the young man leaped into the air with a shout he hoped was more manly than what he heard. The branch crunched on the ground as he turned. A young lady in a black and white outfit smiled up at him. Looking absolutely thrilled as she swayed from side to side, her blond hair and ribbon bobbing with the motion. The premature dark sky around them was heavy with an unknown weight, one all the more unnerving at the unphased child grinning up at him. "Found you, Mister Man. What are you doing out here, all alone and defenseless?" = Negotiate with la creatura the strange girl. Maybe she can help you? = Nope, nopenopenope so much nope. Time for a tactical retreat with the help of some flares. = Its silly to think she could hurt you! She's a child, and less than half your height. Which means we can totally outrun her, which we should do. = Someone wandering Muenzuka notices their presence. (Rinnosuke: 2/6 chance, Nazrin 2/6, Komachi 1/6, Chen 1/6) = Oh look, she brought friends! Hello young ladies, can you tell me the way home? = Play dead. That's totally a reasonable reaction to meeting a small child.

Very.

I divide child reality shows (as well as family youtube channels) into two categories. Those are 'boring and unnerving' and 'interesting but absolutely dangerous'. Most pageant or other child reality shows always feel kind of creepy. Maybe there is just something inherently abusive about profiting off your child. They're too young to understand what's really going on, and it gives these shows a weird vibe where you're wondering what's going on in the background. Then there is something like this masterpiece of television that goes 'Yeah we're dumping a bunch of children in the wilderness on their own, what of it?' No seriously, its a TV show where they dumped 40 children into a Western ghost town, filmed it, and then broadcast it. Its fascinating, its riveting, and you can feel your brain slam against your skull screaming 'What the FUCK?! Who approved this? Who would pay money to abandon children in the wilderness for a month?" Its a desert with nothing for miles. There are rattlesnakes, coyotes and scorpions out there. The only food and supplies are in the style of the 1800s and cooked by other children. There is one toilet and almost no water. Its hot with the sun overhead, so heatstroke is a constant threat, and its bitterly cold at night. The only adults around are the producers, cameramen and maybe a medic team. Kids are burning themselves trying to cook or accidentally drinking bleach. And somehow CBS signed off on this. Then again maybe I'm mentally adjusted enough that finding a crying child and asking to film them is weird to me.

I consider this completely canon and faithful to all characters involved.

Time for a serious question. Koakuma's personality is a little ambiguous. Zun holds she is malicious and petty like Devils tend to be. But the fans popularly consider her wholesome, kind and easily flustered. Which personality is more correct in your mind? Does she lean towards one or the other, or is she a little bit of both? Maybe a playful trickster who doesn't want to actually hurt anyone? A bully who was reformed through her devotion to Patchy? Or was she secretly the BBEG this whole time? Who is her favorite member of the SDM after Patchy? Why? Which other characters of the series do you think she would be good friends with? Why is Zun afraid of Koakuma's true power? We all know she would dominate if she were brought back. And why is Koakuma the coolest looking Touhou character whenever she has a gun?

Who is your favorite 2hu? Your least favorite? Why should they kiss?

I’m glad you enjoyed it Hikiko. :D Growing up in the 2000s, there weren’t really many yokai known even to diehard weebs. Which is a shame, because yokai are absolutely fascinating. They have a broad number of creatures, like goblins or fairies in Western nations. But unlike them, yokai haven’t been diluted by the passage of time and commercialization. Many yokai are amusing to read as well. For instance, the one with the extendable neck? Yeah, she's usually not hostile. She just does that so she can drink lamp oil from paper lanterns. Ahh, Tanuki. A pretty racy and distinctly Japanese option. Male Tanuki were known to beat their enemies to death with their testicles. One of my favorite Ghibli movies is Pom Poko, since they spend the whole movie trying to dance around what the ‘raccoon pouch’ is or why only male raccoons have it. Signs of male virility are pretty common among nature deities. But its usually consigned to horns or hair. A followup question for you all. Where would your Yokai live? Would you be aligned with any of the groups in Gensokyo? What would your Danmaku or spell cards be like? Would you be one a character who bars the final boss, or more of a loveable early stage menace? From what I can see of the Bitan, I am sure I would be forced to be an early stage boss. They must be strong swimmers and physically powerful, considering they live in the open ocean usually. But their size probably means I would have a larger hitbox and slower movements, especially on land. Not that I would be easy pickings. One could play on the dragon scales aspect and use that to make fast moving projectiles from the side or reflect attacks. If we presume Bitans have control over headaches and not simply their cures, that could be a fun way to complicate a battle without defaulting to 'more danmaku and hp'. The screen could shift in brightness or change colors, auras could form on the screen making targeting harder, or we could invert the map or controls. I mentioned the Bitan would probably be resigned to the Misty Lake and its waterways, and how lonely that would probably be. If lucky, I could go to the Human Village or Genbu. Maybe the Kappa would let me live with them. But in all probability, it'll probably be just Wakasagihime to distract me, who will either be a fast friend or an awkward acquaintance I am forced to hang around. Sure I could say hello to people on the shore or the SDM, but if they aren't right there I'm kind of stuck. Life would probably be pretty lonely, and aside from the Grassroots Youkai Network or the Kappa I don't see myself growing close to any groups. But hey maybe Remilia will wave to me one day, or Cirno will see me briefly crest the lake and spread rumors of a giant lake serpent.

Ahh, there's a series I haven't read in a long time. Even if I still watch the holiday specials. Touhou slapstick videos certainly evoke the same feelings I have when thinking of Peanuts. Its a more relaxed setting, where deadlines and drama can't touch you. Its a good experience. :)

Damn, I am impressed. You all caught I cynically expected people to pick the same 2-5 favorites of the anime community. I didn't expect to see an option so off the beaten track. What a cool Yokai. Of course. :) I didn't mean to call you out Nyoko. :D I know your interest in Nekomata is deeper than just 'stupid sexy cat'. But it was very fun reading why they interested you so. It really shows your interest and commitment not just to the creature, but the game's lore.

Its cool bruv. Its just really hard to run a game with only two people or less, and until someone else joins in, its not really worth investing in. When some of the old crowd comes back or new people show interest, we can continue. :)

Greetings, fellow traveler and valued customer! If you are reading this, you have been unwittingly transported to another world. A realm of mystery and magic, alien to the life you knew. Fortunately, you need not face your new life alone. I, Oscar Diggs IVth (esq.) have compiled my experiences in the world of Gensokyo into the Gensokyo Survival Guide in your very hands. Within its pages you can find a step-by-step guide for how to not only survive, but prosper in this land. So you’ve just been thrown through the barrier from our world into theirs. Chances are, you are now on a road sprinkled with strange flowers. You’re all alone, and there are skeletons in the underbrush. It’s important now to remember the first rule of living as an Outsider in Gensokyo. Don’t. Panic. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The sound of a scream cut through the leaves of the foliage overhead. Birds, startled by the unexpected noise, took to flight. Their cries protesting the roar of fear and surprise that echoed from below. Not that he could be blamed for screaming. It had, after all, been a very peaceful evening the night before. A long week of magic and showmanship, finally broken by the promise of sleep. A few pills to help him sleep, a glass of water, and a warm bed were his last memories. Yet as his eyes fluttered open, the space where a pillow was meant to be had been replaced by a ribcage. With newfound terror, the young man scrambled backwards. His bare hands and dress shoes grasping at the loam. Bright green eyes wide in terror stared at the skeletal remains in the grass. The red petals of blossoming flowers peered through the gaps in the ribs, giving it an ephemeral quality. It might have been peaceful, were it not for the…skeletons. “What the—where am…what in the…” Questions rose in the man’s mind, each passing by faster than he could articulate to no one in particular. Things such as ‘Where am I’, ‘How did I get here’ and ‘am I in Hell’ passed through his mind like the breeze through the glade. He knew there would be no answer, only the sound of the wind and the distant mocking laughter of crows. Gingerly, he eased himself up to his feet. The familiar fanning of his stage magician cape at least giving him a sense of comfort. The rest of his costume was just as he remembered before he lay down in bed. Even if his dress shirt could stand an ironing. His hands rose, running through his thick curly hair. Only then did he realize his hat was missing. Eyes flitted to either side, before falling on the top hat where it rested, beside the same skeleton he had awakened beside. …Well, it wasn’t like it was going to go get itself… Slowly he advanced upon the corpse. Half-expecting the skeletal figure to turn and wave him off. The thick grass shifted under his feet. The strange red blossoms a strange contrast to the gnawed bones that hindered them. But all the young man could see were those black pits, leering back at him silent and judging. Had those belonged to another person in the same situation as he? Was this to be his fate in this unnatural place? The skull shifted, his body freezing, as a centipede crawled free from the black pit. Too many legs scrambling over the bleached white skull… Palpable relief pulsed through him as the young man felt the felt beneath his fingers. Snatching the top hat away, as though the skeleton would snap at him. He could even allow himself a small laugh of triumph as his old friend returned to its perch over his orange locks. It was only then he glanced around him. He was standing on a path of disturbed soil, which terminated at a copse of trees. Dark branches extended overhead, like bolts of black lightning across the blue sky. Vibrant green grass was broken by splotches of blood-red spider lilies. Now and again, the grass and blossoms were broken by a glimpse of white. First only one, then another. A skull here, bones wrapped in faded rags there. The number grew with every glimpse of white, until the number was beyond count. The sound of a fresh scream cut through the leaves of the foliage overhead again. Echoing against a mountain which reached for the sky. No birds took flight or animals stirred at the sound. Silence fell upon Muenzuka like an oppressive shroud, as his lungs gave way. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= What next, dear reader? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From afar, the distant Kami of Gensokyo watch their new arrival with passive interest. Though human arrivals are not uncommon, the amusements of Kami are few in the Land the Gods Loved. Your hands cannot control the movements of fate, though its strings can be pulled in your favor. Which will you pull, to help or hinder our hero, in his quest to master Gensokyo? Welcome to my first piece of fan fiction work in over fifteen years. I've had little chance to practice my writing over the past ten years, and felt that muscle was in need of scratching. But it seemed dull to introduce a character you should all just care about. So instead I have made it a CYOA, or Choose Your Own Adventure. After each entry, you will have the chance to influence the events of the story, and what I write next. At the bottom of each post will be a legend with indications showing what might happen next. Just click the Like button at the bottom of the post and choose the one which most interests you. means he uses his wits and intelligence to solve a situation. Whether that is fooling a hungry Yokai with his parlor tricks, or deciphering a code. means attempting to solve a problem through diplomacy or bartering. Cajoling the merchant with a joke, or greeting the genocidal shrine maiden with a friendly wave. By far Oscar's best skill. means Oscar uses his occult knowledge, spells or stage performance to solve a problem. While good for impressing humans, fairies or low level Yokai, he will be stomped in a Danmaku fight. means attempting to solve a problem through intrigue, stealth or subterfuge. Our hero creeps up to a window and peers inside, or slips a message into the pocket of a friend. means facing a problem using strength, violence or intimidation. Threatening the hungry Yokai with a curse, or climbing the surface of a rock wall. means good luck. Oscar's miserable life is suddenly met with an unexpected boon. A monster pursuing him upsets a group of faeries, or the night guard sneezes loudly, letting him sneak by unseen. means a complication. A challenge facing Oscar suddenly has a spike in difficulty, be that from a monster appearing, or something happening in the environment to make his life more difficult. means taking a break. Relax to recuperate, restore your magic or dress an injury. These choices may have specific consequences, or be left ambiguous to intrigue you. There may also be a random check after the choice, showing the likelihood of a specific outcome. For instance, after the 'Someone overheard his scream' option, there is a chance he will be found by different characters. He might be found by Rinnosuke, Nazrin, Komachi or Chen. The chance of each character will be listed after the option in parenthesis. If there is a tie between two options, then we will have both at the same time. But beware. The winning option will have a cooldown after each post, where it is not available for the next post. No worries though, it will be back the week after! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= With that explanation out of the way, what happens next? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= = While looking for supplies, our hero tries to examine the bodies. Maybe something about them can tell him what happened or why they are here. = Looking through the fallen's bags, our hero collects any money he can find. Bills may be burned or buy transportation, and coins could be used to distract or even as a weapon. = While scouring through the bodies here, our hero finds a grimoire! This strange book won't help now, but maybe it will come in handy later. And there's no harm in reading through it. = Anything could be watching from the trees. Maybe by pulling up a bush, our hero can use it to avoid being spotted by predators. = It would be easier to find a way out of here from a vantage point. Maybe climbing a tree will help our hero find a way back home. = Someone wandering Muenzuka overheard his scream, and comes to investigate the sound. (Rinnosuke: 2/6 chance, Nazrin 2/6, Komachi 1/6, Chen 1/6) = Something heard our hero, and recognizes the sound as very tasty... = Lie back and take a rest. This is surely just a dream, maybe sleeping will end it...

Oh! I can help here, I got my start on Moriya with a cafe. I hope the tea you like is one I've tasted, because that's the only illusion I can cast--I mean the only kind I know how to make.

I know I headlined the Original Characters Anonymous with a character I had a name, backstory and lore for. But Hope Black I never actually set up any spellcards for. Which is odd; the ttrpg I made her for is meant to imitate a bullethell. But I never got far enough to plan that out. I have an idea she would throw her wood hatchets during the fight. These would manifest as two spinning axes, which could either spin forward or bounce against the 'screen' for some more chaos. She might also make small flowers blossom on the screen, making numerous small danmaku sprout across the screen. Illusionary Nirvana didn't have any spellcards planned for it. Mostly because magic is meant to be fading in this setting, with simple projectiles still being very impressive. Sanguine Rose didn't have any kind of magic attacks. If she had a set, they would be focused on short-range attacks with big damage. Very direct. No focus on beauty or complex death mages, just sword+face=dead. Probably gaining speed and power every time an ally of hers is killed on the screen, befitting her 'vampiric' powers. Oscar Diggs would be an interesting character to design in a Touhou game. He's definitely Stage 1 material, despite being the leader of Otherworldly Ventures. His attacks would be focused less on damage and more on disorienting the players. Throwing a lot of attacks at the player with only a few being dangerous. I had a scene in mind where a fake Yukari would confront him. He would proclaim his magical prowess by shooting fireworks from his sleeves to disorient the crowd. Something like that, where he shoots fast-moving corkscrews or sparkles would be interesting. Maybe firing danmaku in seven colors, but only one is dangerous at a given time, which he cycles through. He's a Wizard of Oz reference, so having a giant flaming head spellcard would be fitting. There is also Agappa-chan, a character I barely got to introduce, but had fun ideas for. She's a one-eyed yokai girl in a raincoat. The best shot in Gensokyo, she uses the best firearms Otherworldly Ventures can find. Which sounds impressive, until you remember even in IN they are struggling to scrounge enough ammo for a single gun. She would be focused on attacking from a distance, probably cycling through several weapons. Her spellcards would be boring though, especially since she is designed for a game where magic is fading. They would have to be focused on imitating firearms. Burst fire option, a strong long range attack, maybe something like flashbang or frag grenades. Very dry. Probably paired with her boss, letting Oscar distract the player while she focuses on damage.

Yokai, the spirits and monsters of ancient Japan, and natives of distant Gensokyo. Unlike many other cultures, Yokai have mostly remained the same over time in Japanese culture. With natures, personalities and origins which have mostly been preserved. Because of this, its fairly easy to select a monster, spirit or lesser god which somehow ties to you in your everyday life. Whether that is your job, hometown, your faith or hobbies. I was originally going to make this a 'choose which yokai you would be' thread. But knowing weebs, 90% of the choices will be the really famous ones. Kitsune, Oni, Yuki-onna. And part of the charm of Touhou is how the series can introduce more obscure Yokai and legends to the limelight. Instead, I thought I would make this a challenge. Go to your favorite resource for yokai (I would recommend yokai.com myself) and search up a Yokai who somehow relates to your life. Whether its your job, where you life, etc. Pick the one that seems to relate to you the most, or is the most interesting. Tell us about them, and how they relate to your life. How would you be turned into one, and how would you feel about fitting in and living life as a Yokai in Gensokyo. To start: I work as a nurse, usually dealing with headaches or more serious brain disorders. You would not think something so specific could have a Yokai associated with it. But that's where you're wrong. The Bitan is a beast with a mysterious name. Almost nothing is known of its origins, diet or lifestyle. They are flabby, large beasts more like underwater cattle than anything else. Their bodies are coated in dragon-like scales with fins. Their tails are split in two, and they have horns and beards like dragons. Nothing is recorded of their natural behavior. But according to the people of Taketomi Island, drawing the image of one and hanging it upon your wall is said to cute headaches instantly. As proof, the people of the island point to how headaches are so rare on their island. It was first recorded in 1832 during a survey of the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) and was said to be a lowly maid transformed as a sign of an ancient king's holiness. Living as a fat cow-fish-man in Gensokyo is sure to have its barriers. Especially if I would be confined to the Misty Lake and the surrounding waterways. Hopefully there would be a way to the Human Village or Genbu, so I could work as a physician. I imagine I could sell statuettes, engravings and paintings of myself to Yokai and Humans to cure various ailments. But it would be pretty boring with only Wakasagihime and maybe Nitori to talk to. And I doubt she is into fatties. Life is as cruel in Gensokyo as it is in the Outside World.

Welcome Cris! Its nice to meet you. :) Feel free to explore the forum or say hi in the chatbox. We can't wait to get to know you better.

2hu is just the meme answer by fans who are embarrassed at liking things.

OH Its my 12th favorite 2hu character hi! I hope you make a lot of friends and enjoy your time on the Shrine. Its a cozy, if occasionally slow place. So far everyone here and (mostly) on the Discord have been very kind, and even laugh at my jokes. If you need anything don't be afraid to reach out. Have fun, wholesome succubus!

Its not helped by the fact that Reimu is a lazy wastrel. We get some insight into the god and what it wants in the early game. But its virtually untouched on in subsequent games. We don't even know the god's domain or personality. Part of the reason is its simply not really relevant to the story. While seemingly the source of Reimu's power and training, it doesn't take an active role. One reason why I thought this would be fun to speculate on. :) Looking at the lore, I think the character who most fits the role of the Kami is Yukari. She is clearly a woman of immense power (I mean she is so strong she enslaved a powerful yokai as her minion, who in turn enslaved another yokai). She is repeatedly at the center of Gensokyo's formation and history prior to Reimu's rise to power, and has a vested interest in Reimu's success and power. She also is very protective of Gensokyo. If my memory serves, she imposed the Spell Card rules after Remilia's arrival. She also banned eating human flesh, and humbled the youkai in a pointless war when they had plans to spread outside Gensokyo. It also fits the implication she is a human who became a youkai. If she could grow from a human to a youkai, why not a youkai to a kami? Humans have become both in Shinto after all, and her deeds would qualify her for the rank of Kami...that is, if anyone worshipped her. In my fanon though? Its Mima. And not just because I have a fascination with the major character turned baby's-first-piece-of-obscure-touhou-lore. Mima has a very significant place in early Touhou lore, being both Reimu's most persistent antagonist and unwitting ally. Its also the period where we had the most information on the Kami. Portrayed as a forgotten god angry at Reimu for being forgotten. A sentiment which describes Mima to a tee. Angry Kami can become 'evil spirits' like Mima, especially when they are forgotten or unhonored. Mima is also clearly a powerful being, with an interest in keeping Reimu alive against her other enemies, and while sadistic never pushes her torments of Reimu too far. She seems to lack a long-term goal outside of being seen as a god and keeping Reimu's attention, yet gladly fights demons and monsters alongside her supposed sworn enemy. For my final proposal, I would suggest ‘the meta option’, my Reddit tier fan theory. That the Kami of the shrine is...you. The player. Think about it. The Kami is a figure who is unknown to Reimu, one whose name and nature she does not even know. Simultaneously, that Kami empowers her, giving her abilities to fight youkai. These all could be applied to the player. The 4th wall is never broached to the best of my knowledge. Reimu has no idea of your presence, despite the fact that without you she is powerless. Its a story you have no place in, but without you is impossible. I'll take my karma and gold now.

I'm glad I could give you a positive influence like that. :) I will say, relish your youth while you can. Not because I am nostalgic for my youth or it has some innate purity, but because when you get older, its very hard to find time for yourself. In between taking care of yourself and starting a family, its difficult to learn new skills, and harder to keep an eye on your health. If you have an interest in gaming or art, your teens and early twenties are the best time to jump in. You can learn a skill at any age, if you invest your mind and will into it. But again, finding that time is harder than you'd think. That sounds fun. :) I have a similar idea that crossed my mind. I had an idea of making it a fan fiction, or perhaps an animated series, following the adventures of people dropped into Gensokyo. I thought it would be more action focused. I would really love to make a young man who appeals to Eastern audiences. I think there is still a market for extreme fight scenes. One the MCU has shrunk away from. No one has quite matched Monty Oum's work, in the first three seasons of RWBY and before it. I think Gensokyo would lend itself to that kind of setting well.

Wow. :) I am genuinely surprised the RP idea still has your attention Nyoko. I'm genuinely touched. As sorry as I am to say it, I was just downcast. That and busy with life. I wouldn't say I expected my games to take off, but Dreamy Café puttered out faster than I expected. Illusionary Nirvana seemed to have a lot of interest, but had trouble holding it. Its very hard to run a game with only two people, and didn't expect more to take their place. Since it didn't hold as much interest as I thought, and many people playing the characters vanished, I thought it would be best to just let it let it fade. I certainly didn't want to lead you both on. That said, if more players appear or want to join, I'll probably continue the game at some point. The Discord is also much more active, so I was considering seeing if a Discord game would have more popularity.

In all likelihood? Yeah, it'll probably never really be touched upon. Its too late in the series to realistically broach it, and wouldn't add much value to the lore at this point. But hey, that's the boring answer. So let's try something else. Answer the question, or the klepto-witch gets it.