[X] Find a comfortable spot that's out of the way and try to not be the most amazing person in the room.
"You're sure you want to wear that?" Satsuki hesitates and looks down at her crisp red maid uniform, then nods.
"… Yes. I think." She hunches her shoulders. "I'm … I'm only special, only here, because I'm your servant, right? So it's better to make it clear that I'm your servant from the beginning, instead of having people keep wondering why this ordinary girl who doesn't know anyone is here at this important person's party." You fight back a sigh; you have got to find out how to make her more confident. Getting her a sparring partner could do that, but before you do that you should make sure you know what your schedule is going to be like. On the other hand … you know she's capable of so much more than she thinks she is, so maybe just throw her off the deep end? Go on a mission, give her an important job that she has to do alone, and when she pulls through - confidence boost! That's for later, though; for now … well, she can field the inevitable barrage of questions people will have about a girl in a maid uniform, especially one who isn't actively involved in serving or cleaning. Get her used to talking to people, too. You take one more unnecessary look at your own outfit, but of course not even a hair is out of place.
"Alright, let's go. We can't miss everything, after all." You walk out of your room and Satsuki follows behind, trying to emulate your walk - smooth and unhurried, yet somehow managing a rapid pace. By the time you're halfway to the stairs, however, she gives up and just focuses on keeping up. You hide a grin. When you reach the dining area, it is, of course, empty - everyone is outside on the balcony right now. Through the closed doors, you can hear some of the applause beginning as Nanoha finishes her song. And now, if what you overheard is correct, they should be trying to get Fate to sing. Satsuki hurries after you as you slip out the farther door. You surprise Ginga, but once she realizes who you are she smiles, and her father nods as well. Nove and Wendi frown at you suspiciously, but Cinque simply glances at you and nods a greeting before turning back to the not-quite-a-show. Finally, after a bit of prompting from her friends and mother, Fate stands up and starts to sing.
… She really is quite good, and when she finally lowers the microphone you clap just as appreciatively as everyone else. "Now, would anyone else like to sing?" You can feel several sets of eyes on you, but you studiously ignore them - it's not your time to shine, after all. "Mother, come on, you sing!" And, as if planned, Alph pushes the admiral up next to her daughter. Red-faced, she tries to refuse, but she doesn't last very long, and Fate smiles victoriously as she returns to her seat.
"Alright, alright. … Everyone, I'd like to point out that while I am an Admiral, I would never abuse my power in a situation like this. Anyone who gets transferred to kitchen duty after tonight must have irritated someone else." She gets a few chuckles, but considering the situation, most people would probably appreciate a relatively safe position like that. And then she starts singing something mildly bawdy and Fate looks like she wants to interfere. You shake your head and pat Ginga on the shoulder before slipping back inside. You have to get the most comfortable spot, after all. One of your clones prepares a plate of food for you, more to deflect annoying questions than anything else. Satsuki stands behind and to the side of you.
Other people start wandering in as well as the admiral's song winds down, including the two kids and the dragon. And, as you expected, Satsuki gets far more curious looks than you do … although, to be fair, you are keeping your wings tucked behind you where no one can see them without looking closely. The children hang back for a moment, and the boy's glances at you make you wonder how much you're factoring into their discussion, but they don't approach you even after they get some food. Ginga and her charges also give you a few looks before settling down in a different corner. The first person to approach you is, strangely enough, the head of the Church. Schach and Verossa stand well away, giving you a small measure of privacy.
"Hello, Flandre Scarlet. Do you mind if I sit with you for a moment?" You bow your head in assent.
"Please, go ahead."
"Thank you. I don't believe we've ever been formally introduced; my name is Carim Gracia. I would first like to thank you and your sister for rescuing my brother. It was … very distressing for me to have him vanish like that." You glance at Verossa before nodding.
"I'll tell my sister when I see her. She did all the work, after all." Carim nods, but her expression grows more troubled, not less.
"Thank you. Umm … this may sound like an odd question, and I apologize if I'm being too forward, but does your sister have access to any particularly effective information-gathering abilities?" You blink and cock your head. Carim frowns and shakes her head. "No, I mean … when she spoke with Chrono, she said a particular phrase that holds a special meaning, and she said it in a way that that implies she knew we knew that meaning." You nod slowly and consider what you want to say and how.
"… My sister is certainly better at divination than most humans, and better even than a lot of youkai that specialize in that field. She could have just tried to find a phrase that would have gotten your attention without knowing what it meant to you." She stares at you for a moment before shaking her head quickly, and takes a moment to visibly gather herself.
"I'm sorry. I just … wasn't expecting that. You say that divination … prophecy … is something done in your world?" You nod again.
"Yep. Usually not too far in advance, but it depends on the person doing it and what they're trying to find out, how specific they want to be - things like that. It also tends to be pretty dangerous for humans - things man is too dumb to understand, things like that." Carim frowns and looks down at the table, seeming to ignore your little joke. Does Carim's question mean they have diviners of their own, or is it such a discredited field here that no one can take it seriously, but Remilia said something so specific that they have to take into account the idea that accurate divinations might be possible? As you wait for Carim to recover, Shari walks in and looks around, then starts walking toward you purposefully. Schach and Verossa intercept her, but whatever she says is enough to let her continue.
"Er, I'm sorry for interrupting, but Flandre has a call from Meister Sabiu." Carim shakes herself and smiles weakly as you look up excitedly.
"Ah, I'm sorry - please, go talk to the Meister. Thank you for your time." You nod quickly and follow Shari out into the hallway. She calls up a screen and Juliet appears.
"Juliet! What happened?" The Meister looks a bit frazzled and shakes her head.
"I'm … not entirely sure, Flan. I mean, I can sort of explain what happened, but the how and why are bit more unclear." You tilt your head, curious, and she sighs. "Alright, so I finished the examination on Loki, and I can sort of see what's happening to it. It really looks like something is … invading. And I can't be entirely certain without some more detailed tests, but based on Loki's reactions and how it's changing …." She looks distinctly uncomfortable.
"The architecture is starting to resemble that of a Unison Device, or at least the shell of one. Which shouldn't be possible, because of the requirements for a Unison Device and because of how your Device was made." You look up at Shari and Juliet nods.
"Yes. So something is … changing your Device to try and make it something like a Unison Device. At least, that's what it looks like. And … well, I did say that it seemed to be trying to protect itself against you, right? So however this is happening, it seems to be using your power." You frown. It's certainly not something you've done, and you don't even know how to do it anyway! And the latter explanation applies to Headless, as well - and you're pretty sure that she wouldn't try something as major as this without your explicit permission, anyway, because making even a minor mistake could cost you Loki. Which means … you shudder and squeeze your shoulders. Headless's comforting presence wraps around you.
"For what it's worth, neither of us have noticed anything odd going on between you and the Device. So whatever's going on worries us, too." The reassurance that Headless wasn't involved is comforting, but the fact that you don't know what is going on isn't.
What do you do?
[ ] Ask Juliet to try and fix the changes.
[ ] Leave Loki alone and see what happens.
[ ] Ask Juliet if she can accelerate the process in any way ….
- [ ] And if it would be at all possible to get another Device, pretty please?
[ ] Return to the party.
- [ ] Continue trying to not be the most amazing person in the room.
- [ ] Talk to someone.
- - Who, and about what?
[ ] Leave the party.
- [ ] Teach Satsuki.
- - [ ] Politics.
- - [ ] Etiquette.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Asking to accelerate the changes, and especially getting another Device, is going to make them ask questions about why and what's going on. If you want to pick those options and actually succeed, please include answers.
They're trying to socialise Flandre!
