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

[X] Have her tell you what kind of game she wants to play, and you'll find some that seems appropriate and copy down the rules for her.


You think about the issue for a moment. You can't really teach her the language quickly, and even if you could she won't use it past these couple months. And while you could have her think it over and get back to you, she'll probably feel like she failed you. No real good options, but …. "Alright, what kind of games do you want to play? You give me some starting points, and I'll go through the games they have and copy the rules for ones that it seems you might like." Her mouth drops open.

"Eh …! B- but Flandre-sama …." You shake your head and float up so you're at eye-level.

"Satsuki, part of why I wanted to know about the games is so that if I ever go on a mission and I can't take you with me, you might be able to play something to pass the time away. I can teach you some other things you can do - magic squares and rebuses, for example - but these games will let you play with other people if I'm not around. And, frankly, they'll probably accept you more easily if I'm not around, because I make them nervous. So unless you categorically state that you don't want to play any games, it'll be easier for both of us if you tell me now." She stares at you for a moment, then nods jerkily. Instead of replying immediately, however, she looks down at the floor for a moment.

"I … I want to play team games. Or cooperative ones. Something like that storm-around-the-city game is fine. Or just games that aren't about fighting something, like games where you try to get the most money but you aren't really attacking other players. I … I haven't played many board games. There was one I played a few times with a friend. It was just … you spun a little dial in the middle of the board, and you advanced so many squares. And you just went from school to retirement, trying to do as well as you could …." You watch her for a moment, then pat her on the shoulder and sit her in one of the chairs. You aren't sure if it's her own nature, or if it's a result of that Church woman's meddling, but she's really not a predator.

"… You know you still have to learn how to fight, even if you don't want to actually do it, Satsuki." She blinks and stares at you, then smiles and nods.

"I know, Flandre-sama. And … I will fight, if I have to. To help protect you. I just … don't want to hurt people." You nod back. Perhaps she'd be better off staying in Mid-Childa than she would be going back to her world. She certainly seems to have a similar ideology to some of them … but that can be something you bring up later. Right now you have a large collection of games to examine. Your clones slip out, startling Satsuki, and set to work as you sit at the table across from her and take out a pencil and some paper. "Um … will I be in your way if I stay here? Or do you want me to leave?" You smile at her and shake your head.

"You can stay if you like, Satsuki. I don't know if I'll finish before you need to go to sleep - it depends on how complicated the games are - so if you want to do something else now would be a good time." You float up and reach across the table to pat her head endearingly. "But I don't mind if you stay. I might even be able to ask you some questions about whether a particular game suits you or not." She smiles, blushing lightly.

"Thank you, Flandre-sama."

---

In the end, Satsuki does retire to her room before you finish, although you do have a nice little collection of game rules for her to look at by the time dawn arrives. Some economic games with varying degrees of cooperation, including one that is nothing more than purchasing works of art with the goal of ending the game with the largest fortune. Another that sets each player as the ruler of a civilization, each of which have their own - not necessarily mutually exclusive - victory conditions to achieve over the course of the game. An exploration game where players 'create' the map as they go along. You also write down the extensive rules for both Gigant and Stormwrack, as well as a few other conquest and strategy games - they force the player to think in different ways, and even if Satsuki doesn't want to be a warlord herself, knowing how to think like one is useful for planning around them. And when you finish with the rules, you set the selected games at the bottom of the closet in their own section and organize the other games in much the same manner as they had been when you began. You stretch - then squirm uncomfortably. Your last day without a piano … but what should you do?


What do you do?

[ ] Just sleep until Satsuki wakes up. Fate isn't here and you did your report already, so you don't have anything you need to do.

[ ] See if Nove wants to talk to you about whatever's bothering her.

[ ] Wendi said they have a news channel … maybe there's something interesting?

[ ] Other?

[X] Wendi said they have a news channel … maybe there's something interesting?


Well … Wendi did say that there was a news channel. Maybe there'll be something interesting on? You send a clone up to Satsuki's room with the rules while you make your way to the other room. No one is there, but the terminal Wendi was using to play the game is still there. You poke around it and find a row of buttons on the side - the most important one is 'Power,' of course, and pushing it makes the blank screen turn black. Pressing the 'Channel +' button changes something … and after a few more presses, you're rewarded with a young man talking about the weather. Unfortunately, the coastal region is supposed to have scattered thunderstorms. You glower at the screen as the reporter switches the view to an older woman who talks about traffic patterns and areas under reconstruction. Surely those are of interest to someone … but not you, and you're about to press the button again when the screen cuts immediately to another location.

"Ah, that's enough of those old reruns," the man sitting at a desk says. He has bright green eyes and inky black hair, and the charming smile of a sycophant. "For those of you who haven't been fortunate enough to see me before, my name is Korosh Manta. For my longtime fans, I bid you all a hearty welcome back. I've managed to wrangle the feisty Miss Auris Gaiz back here for another interview, and this time I've made some coffee. Won't you come in, Miss Gaiz?" A familiar woman in a blue uniform walks into his office, scowling.

"Adjutant Gaiz, Mister Manta." She pulls a chair out - farther away from the desk than is really polite - and sits down.

"So cold, Adjutant Gaiz! Surely you'd like some coffee to warm you up?" He holds up a pot of the detestable liquid, but Auris simply sighs.

"I'd rather drink raw sewage. Mister Manta, I was woken up several hours ago with the information that you wanted an interview about something important, so why don't we get it over with so I can get on with my day and you can continue putrefying." You giggle, and Korosh shrugs with a sly smile.

"Alright, let's get down to it. An informant of mine told me that the Bureau has finally managed to capture the individual responsible for the attacks on the Sankt-Kaiser Church. Ah!" Auris glares sharply at him and he puts a hand over his heart melodramatically. You raise your eyebrows and lean forward. That was very fast.

"… That is partially true. The individuals responsible for the attacks have been captured, but the one who sent them has not yet been apprehended. Hopefully he isn't of low enough class as to be paying attention to this." Korosh chuckles and leans forward, resting his chin on interlaced fingers.

"I don't suppose I'll be allowed to interview - ah, them any time soon?" Auris snorts.

"Probably not, although perhaps the one will be willing to talk after being tortured by an afternoon with you. The other …." Her eyes narrow as she trails off, then she shakes her head. "The other is a minor, and an exceptional case besides. You certainly won't be allowed to speak with that one." Korosh snaps his fingers, as if displeased, then shrugs.

"Well, perhaps I can be allowed to speak with the … brave individuals who fought to protect the wonderful Church?" Your hackles rise at the blatant sarcasm in his voice, but Auris just smirks.

"Perhaps you can, but I can't give you permission. I don't even know who went on the mission. Maybe your … informant can tell you." Korosh stares at her for a moment, then shrugs and smiles cheerfully.

"Well, maybe it will happen. But since I have you here, perhaps you can indulge my other curiosity?" He snaps his fingers and an image appears on the wall behind him and Auris. It's an image of you - if you're remembering correctly, the night you dealt with the vampire at the hospital. "Many sources tell me that Miss Scarlet has returned to us. Some say that she's even been on a mission already! What can you tell me about that, hm?" He leans forward eagerly, and Auris glowers at your image before sighing.

"Yes, she is. Beyond that, I can't tell you - we're unrelated, after all." Korosh chuckles.

"Oh? Why tell you at all, then?" Auris sets her shoulders.

"Because I was going to speak with you, and everyone knows you're obsessed with her. It is, quite frankly, rather disturbing." Korosh spreads his hands and smiles disarmingly.

"Disturbing? That I, a known agent for The Truth, am interested in an individual who has been sequestered away from outsiders by the Bureau, who has fought some of the best the Bureau has to offer and has fought some truly heinous criminals? And I'm sure everyone wants to know just what happened in that hospital that night!" You tap your lips thoughtfully as Auris scowls at Korosh. On the one hand, he does seem interested in you … on the other, he seems to enjoy poking at the Bureau, and you are working for them right now. It's too bad you can't introduce him to Aya …. "Certainly, she has nothing on your charming figure, Miss Gaiz." Auris stiffens, then shoots to her feet, takes the few steps necessary to reach the desk, and backhands Korosh before stalking out of the office. Korosh chuckles and rubs his cheek. "Ahh … I suppose I deserved that. Anyway! Miss Flandre Scarlet, if you happen to be watching this particular broadcast, I'd like to skip the whole 'chain of command' thing and offer you an invitation to come in and have an interview. Any time you're free, I'll be ready to meet you. I'm sure you'll have legions of adoring fans by the time we finish." He sighs. "Of course, I will also be continuing to try things officially, just in case you haven't been provided with the basic necessities, like access to my show. In any case, everyone - as my guest has quite uncharmingly left the show, I suppose I shall have to bid you all a safe day, protected - as always - by our so-wonderful guardians at the Bureau." He stands up and gives a sweeping bow, and the screen goes back to more useful news - at least, useful for normal people.

You go back to considering Korosh and his offer as some reporter or other drones on about flight availability to different worlds. He certainly seems interested in you, for some reason, and seems to have done as much research as he could. But that doesn't mean you should encourage him - his attitude toward the Bureau is no better than that of the pirates, and he's actually benefiting from the Bureau! Perhaps he thinks the Bureau is 'using' you and wants to try and paint them in a worse light with your help? Maybe you should simply ignore him - if the Bureau is willing to let you talk to him officially, they'll let you know about him ….


What do you do?

[ ] Ask Ginga about Korosh.

[ ] Forget about him.
- [ ] Go to sleep.

[ ] Other?