[X] Take a nap until it's time to start making the food.
Humming to yourself, you skip happily to your room. The piano will be fixed properly and soon, and tonight you'll be cooking - earlier than tonight, even. Tonight is Fate's little party, and you have to get food ready for it, so it's a good thing you're in a good mood. You giggle and flop into your coffin, but leave it open. True, it's bright out, even with the curtains closed, but you're amenable to interruptions that aren't stupid, and if someone needs to get to you in a hurry it's probably better if you don't accidentally smash their face in with the coffin's lid. It doesn't usually go over well ….
You wake up with good cheer unabated, and the first thing you do is take advantage of the coffin's blood supply. Among other things, you'll have to talk with Fate about getting a local supply … but that can wait. Sated for the moment, you spring out of the coffin and bounce out of the room, still humming to yourself as you make your way down to the kitchen. The dining area has been rearranged, with several rectangular tables with spots designated for the different foods, and the round dining tables removed. There aren't tables in here … are people supposed to carry their food with them? Hopefully that isn't the case. Shaking your head at the poor manners on display, you head into the kitchen and then the food storage area. All the supplies you requested are in their places, and there are even a few extra kinds of drinks, although nothing that looks particularly good … certainly not the 'bulk-production' tea set. You shudder and shake your head.
Well, you can fill in that river when you get to the bridge. Right now you have food to start preparing, so your clones slip out and you get to work. Most of it wouldn't even take that long even if you were doing it by yourself without help. As it is, you take your time, making sure that everything is perfect, all the little touches that say 'the cook poured her heart into this creation.' It's not true, of course, and most people don't appreciate that much effort, but they will be able to tell that more effort than normal has gone into the food ….
Some time later, as you're winding down and most of the 'cooking' has changed to 'make sure things don't catch fire,' the swell of voices catches your ear. "- look, I can get the door so -" A man's voice trails off with a sigh as the door swings open. You raise an eyebrow at Cinque as she pushes the door in and holds it open for whoever is following her. No longer wearing her white prisoner uniform, she's now dressed in a light green sundress. She has to see you, but she doesn't focus on you at all, instead turning back toward the entrance as an older man in the brown uniform walks in empty-handed, followed by Admiral Harlaown carrying a rather large, flat box. The man frowns and stares at your clones as you bow politely.
"Now, now, Genya - we've got to keep you fresh, so when your daughter sees you she doesn't think we're overworking you! Ah, Flandre - where should I put this?" You step away from the oven and fly over to her so you can look down into the box - a rectangular cake sits inside.
"If it needs to be kept cool, back in here." You guide her into the storage area and hold open a cooler for her.
"Thank you. Besides, Genya, I outrank you, so if I tell you to take it easy, you have to listen. Right?" She winks at him and he sighs and shakes his head. You skip around her and look up at the man.
"I'm sorry, have we met before? I don't remember your name, but you look kind of familiar." He grunts softly and nods.
"Ah, yes. We met briefly at the hospital, when you defeated the vampire. I am Major Genya Nakajima." You nod and step back to half-bow politely; with a place to work from, you can recall him speaking to you once. And, of course, the name isn't exactly subtle, either.
"A pleasure to meet you properly, Major. Ginga has been quite helpful -" You frown and break off as more voices approach. Cinque is already looking out the door, too.
"You just got out of the hospital, Fate! I can't let you work yourself too hard." The wolf-youkai - Fate's familiar.
"I'm fine, Alph. And I'm not asking to carry everything." They finally step into view and you see that the full-size familiar is carrying several large boxes. Fate looks around curiously as her mother quickly hurries out to meet her.
"Fate! You're here already!" She practically crashes into the younger woman and immediately steers her away from the kitchen. Alph glances back toward you, frowning, but follows the mages. "Have you picked out a room yet? I know, you can have the biggest, most comfortable room in the building!"
"M-Mother! What would I do with all that space …?" Genya sighs, relieved - right, Fate wasn't supposed to know about this party. Somehow.
"Who all is going to be coming, anyway? Hayate is coming, I heard …." You glance at Cinque, but she doesn't look like she knows for sure, either, and Genya nods.
"Hayate and Nanoha will both be here, fortunately. So will Erio and Caro and a few other RF6 staff workers. Some of her colleagues from work. Unfortunately, Teana and Subaru are working tonight, so they can't be here, and neither can Signum. All told, we managed to get about thirty people who could say they'd definitely be here, and a few more who would try to make it." He glances at Cinque. "Will you and your sisters be alright with that many people here?" She hesitates before nodding firmly.
"Yes. Wendi's making sure Nove gets changed, but we'll be fine. If you're sure you want us to be present." The major snorts.
"Of course we do. I know it will mean a lot to Ginga, especially." Cinque bows her head and Genya looks at you. "And you will, too, right?" Your mouth twists unhappily and you cross your wings in front of you. Most of these people probably know who you are already, so Patchouli's mask isn't going to work, and this is supposed to be for Fate … on the other hand, you could make Satsuki come down in her uniform without telling her about everything that's going on.
"Maybe a little. I don't know that I'll mingle, much, but I'll say hi, if nothing else. And there are probably a few people I could talk to about something." Hayate and Fate among them. For some reason, that seems to relieve him, as he relaxes and smiles.
As the afternoon progresses and evening starts falling, you keep an invisible clone on lookout duty to keep watch for people you know. Hayate and Nanoha, of course, neither in uniform. Shari. Interestingly, the Church makes an appearance - Schach, Verossa, and the leader all arrive together, and if Schach isn't obviously armed, it's not like Devices are intrusive objects. And your job is pretty much done, although you keep your clones in the kitchen to keep everything stocked. Now you just have to decide what you are going to do ….
What do you do?
[ ] Just make an appearance, congratulate Fate on her recovery, then bow out and let the humans have their party without your interference.
[ ] Talk to Fate.
- [ ] Ask to see if you can work as a training instructor.
- [ ] Ask to get started on missions soon.
[ ] Talk to Hayate.
- [ ] Ask her see if she can get Vita to come to Gensokyo.
[ ] Find a comfortable spot that's out of the way and try to not be the most amazing person in the room.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Despite Flan's thoughts earlier, unless you Write-In something specific, she is going to tell Satsuki about the party and leave clothing choice to her.
