[X] After introducing everyone, show them around and let them relax until the party. See which of your invited guests show up right before the party starts.
You clap your hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright, introductions! Everyone get into groups." Lutecia scrambles back to her mother and the rest of the Mid-Childans, and Sakuya, Koakuma, Patchouli, and Illyasviel coalesce around Remilia. Ilya stays where she is, near you, and Sella and Leysritt move to stand beside her - and then Remilia and the others appear next to her. Illyasviel even slings an arm around her shoulder and pulls her into a loose hug, and Ilya blushes. You smile and bow your head to Illyasviel - it's a very kind gesture on her part. As you move to stand between the two groups, you take a moment to study Ilya's new arm and leg, but nothing looks different from how they should, at least not from the short inspection you were able to give them. But she doesn't look uncomfortable, and you hope that Alice was well-rewarded for her work. You scan the assembled individuals - you know Meiling is at the gate, but who else -?
"Oh, Flan! You really did get me a present!" How did you forget Deis? As you turn to face her, you start to wonder how she knew you got her something - and then you see her appear right in front of Zest. Oh. Of course. "Well! You are a treat, I tell you. Simply marvelous! Come on, Handsome - give me a smile, won't you?" You're pretty sure you can imagine the smile she's giving him, based on his uncomfortable expression - and the similar expressions on Fate, Nanoha, and Vita. Megane looks quite unhappy, too, but it's Lutecia and Agito who look the most upset.
"Hey! You, scram! Beat it, he's not yours! Shoo!" Agito, diminutive as she is, flies between Zest and Deis and begins haranguing the sorceress, and Lutecia shuffles over to stand next to Zest as well, holding onto his arm with one hand. Deis chuckles throatily.
"Hmm … so he's taken, then?" Agito practically bobbles as she nods, and Lutecia's free hand finds her mother's as she nods vigorously. For their part, both Megane and Zest seem surprised at the question.
"Yes! Damn right he's taken! Absolutely not for you!" Deis barely succeeds at holding in her laughter, and Agito turns bright red as she realizes what she just did and how Zest and Megane are suspiciously silent - but Deis just pats her head patronizingly.
"Well, I prefer my men unattached to other women, so I guess he's safe from me. Although I won't mind some company, if you're interested!" She blows a kiss at Zest and walks over to stand behind Patchouli. You … probably should have warned them - or him, at least - before you came here. Oh well. You clear your throat.
"… Right, so that's Deis. She's a sorceress, and Ershin …." You look around the clearing again, searching for the animated suit of armor - and then you pause and cock your head to the side. Standing up in the armor is a little girl, with blonde hair and bright green eyes, and after several seconds she finally processes that you can see her, and she turns and dives into Ershin … leaving her bare feet waving in the air. You stare, utterly bewildered, as she finally rights herself, and then Ershin's head comes down and the armor spins around and dashes away. "Er, the animated suit of armor is called Ershin, but the girl … um, Remilia, who was that?" Your sister simply looks away at something else, as if she hadn't heard you - and so does Koakuma, and then Patchouli, and then the rest. Even Sella and Leysritt, although the former blushes slightly and looks down and away, and Leysritt just looks straight up. You harrumph disdainfully. "Fine, be that way!" You swivel your head, trying to figure out which group to start with - but Remilia is the host, so you really should start with her.
"I think you've all met her, except you, Megane, but this is my sister, Remilia." She curtsies. "She's the head of the family." There really isn't anything else you can say - not unless you want to gush about your sister, anyway - so you gesture at the next person in line. "And this is Sakuya Izayoi, Chief Maid and only human employed by the mansion. She also takes care of cooking, cleaning, and most of the miscellaneous work - if you want to know something about the mansion that doesn't have to deal with magic, she can probably answer you the best." She bows politely, and you consider letting Fate and Nanoha ask the questions they clearly have bubbling in their heads, but since you're pretty sure you know what they are, they're just going to have to wait. "This is Patchouli Knowledge, magician, librarian, and my sister's best friend. This library is her place, and she's usually down here instead of somewhere else. If you have any general questions, or questions about magic, she probably either knows the answer or can find the books you need." Koakuma gives you a pleading look as you shift your gaze to her - well, it won't hurt, probably. "That's her familiar and assistant. If you call out for help down here, she's probably the one who'll find you first - although I believe Deis is working down here, too, so you might see her." Deis nods as Koakuma waves cheerily. "Meiling is guarding the gate, so I'll introduce you later, but this is Illyasviel von Einzbern, Patchouli's apprentice. This is Illyasviel von Einzbern, my friend, and -"
"Er …." Well, you expected that, and you turn to let Fate know she can continue. Illyasviel smirks, but Ilya just smiles pleasantly. "Are … are you two sisters?" Illyasviel shakes her head.
"Nope!" Fate's eyes flick between the two of them, and then to the maids, but before she can say anything else, Ilya clears her throat.
"You could say that my servants and I are related, as we are basically clones of the same person, altered to achieve different goals -" Fate's expression locks up, "but Illyasviel and I are more correctly referred to as the same person." Illyasviel waves again and giggles as the Mid-Childans all stare, although just how confused they are varies, with Fate and Nanoha the least confused but most concerned.
"Don't worry, it's a bit complicated -" Ilya scowls at Illyasviel.
"It's not complicated. Mid-Childan mathematics has advanced enough to identify the possibility of many worlds; the fact that our universe has that as an actual, established fact verifiable through True Magic isn't difficult to understand. And if they can accept different Earths, such as our Earth, Flan's Earth, and their Earth, why should almost-identical people bother them?" Illyasviel stares at Ilya for a moment, and you think you see her eyes start to glaze before she just sighs and shakes her head. You clap your hands and dart up to Ilya.
"Ah, Ilya! Your trip, did it go well?" She blinks, then stiffens and doesn't quite meet your eyes. You squeeze her hands. "It didn't, did it? Was it Patchouli? Did she do something weird?" Ilya shakes her head.
"N-no, Flan … Patchouli didn't do anything …." Your eyes flicker to the magician, who's staring fixedly ahead, expressionless, but Remilia interrupts you with a meaningful cough.
"Flandre, I promise that Patchouli didn't do anything untoward." She holds your gaze for a moment, then you nod. You can ask Ilya about it later, after all.
"- Right, Ilya is my friend, and a mage as well. Her servants are Sella and Leysritt." Ilya curtsies properly, then gives you a hopeful glance. On the one hand, Berserker is an important person to her, so you want her to show him off … on the other, he's a mindless living weapon good for little except intimidation. "… And Berserker." Ilya launches herself at you and hugs you as the massive hero appears beside you. The Mid-Childans' eyes all widen, and Satsuki squeaks nervously … and Deis gives off a thin, high-pitched squeal of delight. Although you really should make sure Ilya knows that most of these people can probably hurt Berserker. You pat Ilya on the head. "And, of course, Satsuki is my servant and my student. She's very cute, so try to avoid frightening her." Satsuki blushes and you squeeze her tightly. Then you walk over to the other group; everyone should know these people, but you might as well do things properly. "This is my friend Lutecia Alpine, and her mother Megane," you begin, hugging Lutecia. She smiles and waves, and Megane bows politely. "And Garyuu?" Lutecia grins and the insect youkai appears beside her - a poor match against Berserker, of course.
"And I came prepared, so once we get some space, I can show you Hakutenou!"
"Lulu!" Lutecia's grin hardly fades even with her mother's scolding; even your inquisitive stare yields nothing but an infectious giggle. You give her another squeeze before releasing her.
"And the fiery Unison Agito, and Sir Zest Grangeitz." Zest bows, and Agito agitatedly looks around, apparently still embarrassed about her outburst toward Deis, but she calms down a little when you pat her head. "They're all here as my guests, of course. And Enforcer Fate Testarossa, who until an hour and a half ago was my superior officer, and Nanoha Takamachi, who are going to do some relaxing and resting, and in their spare time will be seeing how good the mansion and Gensokyo are for that purpose. And the Knight of the Iron Hammer, Vita, who is here to make sure everything goes smoothly." You smile as warmly as you can at her, but the grumpy knight doesn't meet your eyes. On the other hand, she also isn't actively looking for threats or being hostile, so she's trying to meet you halfway. You hop away and look at the groups in turn. "So, are there any questions that can't wait until after everyone's gotten at least a little settled?" You look around, but there are no takers - and then your sister clears her throat and steps forward. What would she want to ask …?
"Not a question, so much as a gift - but immediately is the best time for this particular gift, considering the circumstances that brought her here." You know what she's talking about when she approaches Vita - whose injury at your hand is the main reason for her being here, and who had to be tricked into coming. Of course, like everyone else, you stare at Remilia as she holds out a small lump of fur. Vita's eyes are icily hostile. "Go on; pet it." Irritatedly, Vita reaches out and strokes the lump of fur - and the thing coos at her. She freezes, and Remilia grins victoriously as she holds the thing out. "Go on, hold it." Vita takes it from her and pets it again, but even as she clutches the cooing, purring thing, she backs away from Remilia and eyes her suspiciously.
"Okay, what is it and what's it doing to me?" Remilia shakes her head.
"It's called a triffid, and it's not doing anything. They're just … naturally soothing creatures. In the wild, they just eat and breed, but that one can't have offspring. Just don't let it eat itself to death, because it will - tribble, not triffid. It's a tribble. Triffids are something else entirely." You shrug expressively at the curious glances directed your way. "About the only things they don't like are pain and Klingons. Not sure why the latter is true, but if it screeches angrily at something, it probably thinks it's a Klingon." Vita seems to be only paying half-attention to your sister, but already she looks a lot more relaxed and peaceable. You give her a few more seconds before clearing your throat.
"Alright, everyone, make sure you have your things. Sakuya, to everyone's rooms, please?"
Everyone is impressed with their rooms, of course. Lutecia's room is closest to Ilya's, and closer to the stairs than Ilya's, which superficially means that she can get to your room faster - but doesn't take into account Ilya's workshop. On the third hand, Lulu can teleport, and you aren't sure which of those facts are known to both parties, or which ones are relevant. With that in mind, you carefully ignore it as you give everyone the short tour - the main gate, where everyone meets Meiling; the front hall, now sadly bereft of its gazebo - tales of which you impress upon Lulu, much to Ilya's enjoyment and Megane's exasperation; the dining hall; the ballroom and its associated areas for the party, which is full of fairies conducting last-minute preparations; the gardens; and, of course, your suite. Additionally, everyone is given a map like the one Satsuki had, that can give directions to a given location or individual.
Vita never releases her tribble throughout the tour.
But now that the sun is up, Satsuki is asleep, and the tour complete, you have most of a day before you need to get ready for the party. But who to spend it with, and how?
What do you do?
[ ] Spend time with Ilya and Lulu, making sure that they know you're both of their friends, and you'd like for them to be friends, too.
- [ ] In the bath, like civilized people.
- [ ] In the kitchen; it's a scientifically proven fact that smaller tummies hold more food than larger ones.
- [ ] In your room.
[ ] Talk with Ilya alone about her trip; something seems to have happened ….
[ ] Spend time with Nanoha, Fate, and Vita, talk about Gensokyo and what you have planned for their stay.
[ ] Skip to your guests arriving.
[ ] Other?