Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)

[X] Take them both up to the ship.


"… Yes, be useful. Contact the Avesta and tell them that I have two prisoners, and one of them needs medical attention for a number of long-term injuries that are the approximate cause of her currently dying. So, three of us to go up - four if you want to come." Sein stares at you for a moment before shaking herself.

"Uh, one prisoner needs the hospital, one other prisoner, and us. Right, be right back!" She doesn't bother using the gaping hole of the door, instead using her power to phase through the wall. You pull off Tool's mask and pick her up. Her hood falls away, revealing short, scraggly blonde hair - further evidence of the lack of care that Carmilla and her 'family' have for the girl.

"Should be a bit easier to breathe now." Her expression is difficult to read, but she seems confused at your attitude - and worried as you carry her closer to Carmilla. The woman thrashes futilely one last time before reverting to her human form and snarling at you as you set Tool down.

"When my husband comes to rescue me, I am going to tear out your heart!" You sigh and shake your head.

"You know, you've been doing something that has become very annoying - I can see why that poor man sent you on a death-mission. He must have wanted to be rid of a nuisance like you." Carmilla screeches and tries to thrash again, but even with one of your clones moving behind you to help take off your shirt, she's easily held down. Still, only after one of the clones presses her face into the mud and holds it there does she calm, and when she's finally let up to breathe and spit out the mud she frowns at you, confused at your smile. "You see, you keep trying to make threats, but you're really quite bad at them. For example -" your clone shoves its hands into your back and rips your heart out; you don't even flinch, and Carmilla's eyes go wide as the organ is presented to her, "- this isn't exactly something that I find convincing as a threat." You turn around to let her look at the hole in your back, to prove that it's really not bothering you, then face her again and sit down. It's mostly a bluff on your part, of course - you can survive without your heart for a time, but if you aren't prepared it definitely hurts, and not having a heart means you have to expend more energy recreating the effect of one. As your body regenerates the damage, you take the organ from your clone and inhale deeply. "Gesegnete Mahlzeit!" You bite deeply into it and grin as Carmilla turns green and begins heaving. Not that you actually consume your heart - it fades away, dispersing into mana and returning to you. Tool seems … more confused than anything else. Certainly, she isn't sick like Carmilla, but considering what she's probably been through, you aren't that surprised.

"… What … what are you?!" Finally done emptying her stomach, Carmilla stares at you in horror as you calmly replace your shirt. Once dressed, you stand up and lean down to stroke her hair. You begin to speak, your voice sweet.

"Poor, poor child. Did your parents never warn you of the monster under the bed? Of the terror in the closet? Of the horror in the basement? Those are but lesser beings - I am a nightmare of humanity, dear, sweet child. I am a monster gazed upon with awe and fear, with the power to snuff out human lives by the hundred. I am the highest class of devil, unmatchable by mortal hands. Close your eyes, human. Look deep within yourself. There, that darkness? Do you see the darkness that you carry within yourself?" Carmilla nods tremblingly, and you grin malevolently as you move your mouth next to her ear. Your voice changes from sweet and gentle to something daemoniac. "I am infinitely worse." She jumps, or tries to, and you giggle, full of malice, as she whimpers impotently.

Tool, for better or for worse, seems completely unaffected, and simply stares at you.

"Umm … sorry for the interruption." You turn to look at Sein, and she swallows nervously several times before continuing. You also see, peeking out of the church, several of the villagers, and they seem positively delighted when you wave to them. "Uh, they'll teleport us up as soon as you're ready." Her eyes flick from you to Tool and back. Carmilla apparently holds no interest for her. You shrug and sit on the woman's back, holding her arms with your left hand, and dismiss your clones. A few seconds later, a silver circle appears on the ground beneath you, and with a flash of light you vanish from the planet, reappearing aboard the Avesta. You glance at the people around you - a pair of technicians move to lift Tool onto a wheeled bed, the captain frowns at you and your captive, and Fate stares brokenly at Tool. When she sees Fate, Tool's eyes widen and she makes the first sound you remember hearing out of her - a raspy moan. She weakly tries to reach out to Fate, and Fate … buckles, barely holding back tears. The captain nudges her.

"Go with her, Enforcer." Fate stumbles after the bed as the technicians wheel it away, and the captain turns toward you and Carmilla.

"This one, I believe, is the one more responsible for the deaths. I don't know how much you saw of the fight, but she transformed herself into some kind of monster with enhanced strength and toughness. That girl seems only capable of magic, although she is very strong. But unless you have something else in mind, I'll take this one to a jail cell. … You do have cells aboard, right?" The captain stares at you for a moment before looking down at the mud-and-vomit-stained woman, then nods.

"Yes, we do. And even if she is a prisoner, even if she is responsible for dozens, or even hundreds of deaths, she will be treated with consideration. Is that understood?" She holds your gaze for several moments until you sigh and stand up.

"Perfectly." You take a few steps toward the guards the captain motions you toward, then turn and look back at Carmilla. "Heel." Terrified, she flops around, following you, and you stare disdainfully at the furious captain. "Understand, Captain, that she insulted my sister. However, after … due consideration, I have elected to not remove every square centimeter of skin from her body before turning her over to your interrogators. I have considered, Captain, and I'll take her to her kennel, and chain her up if need be, but I'll not be gentle, as you would not be gentle with a rabid wolf that hunted your people." The captain's eyes blaze furiously, but she simply swallows any retort she might have wanted to make and stomps away. You turn back to the guards and gesture for them to lead you to the jail.

You snort and shake your head at her 'cell.' It's not small, and it has a bed and a sheltered convenience as well as a wash-sink. All it needs is a place to cook food and it would be superior to much of humanity's dwellings over the course of their existence. Carmilla scurries inside as soon as you move away from the door, and once it's locked one of the guards clears his throat. "Er, you don't need to keep watch anymore. She shouldn't be able to use magic in there, and even if she could, the barrier around the room is rated for S-rank threats." He and his partner look at you nervously, obviously not wanting to arouse your anger - and you shrug. If they don't need you, they don't need you.

"Very well. Take care of yourselves." You bow politely, turn around, and start walking toward your room. You could just take a nap or something - you'll probably be heading back to Mid-Childa soon, and that's half the day in transit. Or … you're probably supposed to make a report. And maybe you should get Loki looked at? Tool's attack did break through its defense and shut it down, after all.


What do you do?

[ ] Go to sleep.

[ ] See if someone on the ship can make sure Loki is alright.

[ ] See if you're supposed to do a report.

[ ] Other?