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

[X] Go back to Ilya and Lulu and take a nap.


You smile, then cock your head to the side and close your eyes. Is there anything else you want to discuss with them …? Nothing comes to mind, and you shrug. "Then I suppose I'll see you tonight, then. If you need anything, one of Patchouli's assistants or Sakuya should be able to help you if you can't find or contact me, and if you go upstairs one of the fairy maids should be able to get you to Sakuya … eventually, anyway." They should have already heard that during the tour, of course, but there's no harm in reminding them.

"Yeah, yeah, go … hehehe~" Vita's grumbling turns to a gurgled cooing noise as her tribble … wiggles against her cheek. You glance at Nanoha and Fate, but Nanoha seems more amused by it than anything else. Without a real response, you shrug and fly into the air, cruising through the library to get back to your friends. … That's a good thought. You have Remilia, and now you have friends, too. People you wish could be family … too bad Remilia's only friend is Patchouli - maybe she can make some more, too? After all, if you could make friends, surely your sister can! You sneak into Ilya's suite and creep into her room; it's just as you left it, with the two girls sleeping together. But how to join them? If you cuddle one, you'll make the other one feel left out, and if you flop on top of them, you'll probably wake them up prematurely. So the only workable solution is to be on the bottom … you climb into the bed from the foot, squirming through the thick blankets, twisting so you're on your back and your wings aren't going to inconvenience anyone. And then, slowly and carefully, you slide yourself between and beneath your friends.

Mission accomplished successfully, you allow yourself a breath of relief, and then carefully nuzzle Ilya and Lulu in turn before letting slumber take you.

---

Giggling wakes you, and the second thing you notice is that you're alone in the bed. Pouting, you tilt your head to look at Ilya and Lulu. "And if Illyasviel says she wants to teach you any dances, you should probably say 'no'. Either she didn't get a sense of shame, or that familiar dragged it out of her." Lulu giggles, and your annoyance fades; they're getting along, after all. "Oh, look who's finally awake!" You sit up - then grin as Ilya and Lulu bound from the table and back onto the bed, as if trying to tackle you. Easily resisting them, you poke their foreheads.

"Boop, boop!" Ilya tries to keep from laughing, but Lulu giggles. You lean forward and hug them, pulling them back onto the bed with you. Once they calm down, you look at them. "So, what did I miss?"

"Not much, really - we've only been awake about twenty minutes, and a lot of that was picking out what dress Ilya is going to wear tonight." You pout again, unhappy that you missed that … and you don't know what Lulu is going to wear, either …. Ah, that's right!

"I don't suppose any of these will fit with your super surprise dress that I didn't get to help pick out?" You take out the case with Ilya's presents and hold it out to her. Lulu looks on curiously, and as Ilya opens the case they both stare appreciatively. And when you see the first signs of jealousy on Lulu's face, you poke her side. "And your present is back on Mid-Childa, at Long Arch." She frowns at that - but then her eyes widen and her mouth works soundlessly for a moment.

"You - you mean - I can - your - it's -" For a few seconds, she forgets to breathe, and you aren't quite sure if she knows what she's getting, but you smile and nod anyway.

"Uh-huh! The piano there -" Lulu tears away and bolts through the suite.

"MAMAAA~!" Well, that's definitely a cry of joy, at least, and you shake your head. Ilya looks at you.

"… A piano?" You nod.

"I started teaching her, but it seems that for some reason they're almost impossible to find on Mid-Childa. I managed to find one and got it rebuilt." Ilya nods, then leans into you.

"It's a good gift for her. And thank you for the presents. I think something fits the dress I decided on …." She smiles mischievously, almost catlike, and you look away, acting miffed. Then Lulu comes running back and dives into you - if Ilya hadn't rolled out of the way, she'd probably have been hit by an elbow or knee - and you spend almost a minute getting Lulu to calm down as Ilya tries to keep from bursting into laughter.

"Th-thank you, Flan! I - I …." You wipe Lulu's eyes and give her a hug. Ilya taps her lips thoughtfully.

"… Hmm …. Maybe you should play something for us, since you slept so late," she says, and you start to stick your tongue out - but she does have something of a point. According to a tall floor clock, you really only have a couple hours before the party starts … although you could be fashionably late. Lulu tugs your arm.

"Could you?" Her eyes sparkle and you smile before nodding. She makes a high-pitched delighted sound - not exactly a squeal, but something - and Ilya laughs.

"Come on, let's take the short way down," she says, and Lulu looks between you confusedly. Then, when Ilya leads you to the shortcut to her workroom, Lulu gasps delightedly. The workroom itself seems to confuse her, and she pouts adorably when she realizes just how easily Ilya can reach your room … and then she stares in awe at your piano collection.

"… Each of these is made for slightly different sounds, made of different materials. And each one is paired with a violin that my sister has. If anything happens to that violin, I destroy the associated piano." It's been too long since you've played together, though … maybe, since she wrote that piece …. Ilya takes Lulu to the couch in the middle of the room, and you sit at the gentlest piano and play a short piece - Liebestraum No. 3, by Franz Liszt. You don't sing the poem it was written for, of course. But when you finish, both Ilya and Lulu applaud quietly. … You'll have to remember to get some copies of good music for Lulu, as well. You float up and fly through the room to hug your friends once more.

"… So, what are you going to wear?" Ilya and Lulu look at you expectantly. Do you really want them to see your wardrobe? The party could be half-over by the time you pick out a dress!


What do you do?

[ ] Send them up to get changed; you'll meet them in front of your room.
- [ ] A black dress.
- [ ] A red dress.

[ ] Let them help pick out a dress.


DM Note: I'm not particularly interested in going too in-depth on what they're wearing (… I don't think I've found any 'formal' pictures for Lutecia at all …), so I'm not going to give you guys a set of pictures to vote on. That said, if someone wants a particular dress to be used, feel free to upload it. Remember, formal wear.

After dresses are picked and people get changed, we'll be seeing who accepted invitations.

[X] Let them help pick out a dress.


You mull it over for a moment, then sigh. "I don't know, really. I'd planned on just finding something that I liked and putting it on, but if you two want to help -"

"Yes!" Lulu's eyes sparkle and Ilya nods in agreement. You shrug and send your clones ahead to start getting dresses out.

"Alright, let's go." Lulu rubs her hands eagerly, a devious grin on her face, and you can't help but think back to the time you let Caster and Deis dress you up. At least this time they'll be your clothes, and not whatever they can think of, but …. You peek into Satsuki's room, but of course she's still asleep, a fresh uniform hanging on the wall near the door. Then you lead the way into your room and the growing collection of dresses on the bed.

"Uwaah~" Ilya shakes her head at Lulu's awe, and you nod in satisfaction, then have two of the clones stop gathering dresses - since you're not going to bother with informal wear, or with any of the dresses for other sizes, you should have plenty to get started, even with three of you showing off dresses for Ilya and Lulu.

"So, I suppose we should get started?" Your friends sit in chairs as you and your clones start getting changed. As time goes on, you start refining your choices in accordance with your friends' suggestions, but a few things come to light - perhaps the most important being that neither of them really have any idea about fashion itself, although they do have fairly good eyes for color coordination … even if that is still generally based on a single dominant color with two or three supporters. Differences in fabric don't matter much to them, either, although Ilya is better at recognizing the differences. Well, that's something you'll be able to teach Ilya ….

"Don't forget to let them help pick out jewelry," Headless says, snickering. You do the mental equivalent of pushing her down a flight of stairs, then throw a chair after her, and she and Giltless laugh merrily. They seem to be enjoying this almost as much as Ilya and Lulu, at least. And your friends are trying to help, and they are taking your own thoughts into consideration … but they are making it more complicated than it needs to be ….

A swift series of knocks interrupts a spirited discussion about whether the black dress with Tahitian pearl embroidery is superior to a blazing scarlet dress with black opal embroidery, and Deis sticks her head in. "Alright, you two - head upstairs and get dressed. We've got half an hour until party time, and we still have to see if Flan's other guests are going to show up." They hesitate, then Ilya grabs Lulu's arm and starts pulling her away.

"Pick something we like, okay?" You nod at Lulu's parting call, and when Deis gives you a thumb's up you sigh and shake your head.

"… I should have picked out the best from the start, I think," you mutter, then look through the twenty-odd dresses that fill the 'like' pile.

"Well, they don't have bad taste, at least," Deis says as she closes the door behind her. You glance at her as your clones cart the unwanted garments back into the wardrobe.

"I'm glad it looks as good on you as I thought it would." Deis grins and spreads her arms - then makes a face at one of the dresses.

"Pearls, really? Don't you know what they are?" You nod.

"More or less." She makes a disgusted sound and shakes her head, and you pick up one of the well-received dresses - a relatively simple black dress with cuffs and a choker assembly. Deis nods and you sigh. "Were you sent, or was this your idea?" She shrugs.

"Patchouli was grumbling about needing you for your guests, but I don't think she realized I was around since she was poking around with the portals." You quickly get dressed with your clones' help, then walk with Deis through the library to the portal area, two sets of heels clicking on the wooden floor. You raise an eyebrow as you reach it - Remilia is wearing a dress to match yours, although with gloves instead of cuffs, and when she winks at you, you can't help but wonder if she planned it that way or if she just peeked at what you were wearing and decided to wear it on a whim. Patchouli, too, is wearing a black dress -

"Hey, how come Deis gets to dress up and I have to wear a uniform?" Deis snickers at Illyasviel's complaint - she's wearing an outfit very similar to Koakuma's.

"Because I have a figure, dear," she says mockingly.

"Because that dress was a gift from Flandre, and because she begged me to let her wear it," your sister counters, and Deis blushes brightly. You lean into her, smiling, and she tries to ignore Illyasviel's snickering. "… And here comes the competition." You and Deis turn around to see Fate and Nanoha walking toward you - Nanoha is wearing a white and pink two-piece dress with a gauzy pink shawl, and Fate's is purple with a similar shawl.

"You've got them beat in the hair department, though," you say, and Deis snorts. Vita trails after them, still carrying her new pet, and you look to see your sister grinning - she's never going to set that thing down, apparently. Vita's dress looks a bit like her Barrier Jacket, but you see Graf Eisen hanging from a chain around her neck, so it's probably a normal dress - she looks rather nice with her hair down and a decent expression on her face, though.

"How synced are we, Pache?"

"Whenever." Despite her disinterested tone, Patchouli looks quite absorbed in whatever magic she's doing, and Koakuma is watching intently as well.

"Let us wait until everyone is here, then." Remilia winks at you. "By the way, Flandre - do you want to host the party tonight? You won't be able to be with your friends as much, of course, and I've got things set up, but if you do want to, the option's there. Let me know later, okay?" You blink at the whispered message - you hadn't even thought about it. And if you can't be with your friends ….

"See, Leys - plenty of time!" Ilya strides into the portal area, wearing one of the dresses she'd been given for the last party - purple and white, with a darker belt and choker, and white gloves … and the gold tiara that you got her. She nods approvingly at your dress. Sakuya and Satsuki follow after Sella and Leysritt, all in maid uniforms - and a gleam of purple light announces a successful teleportation by Lulu. She runs ahead of the others to catch Ilya's arm and pull her into you. Zest is wearing a midnight blue formal suit, and Agito - in her taller form - is wearing something that looks a lot like one of Meiling's outfits, only purple. You're not sure it qualifies as formal … but Remilia doesn't say anything, so either she has permission or it's within the bounds your sister set. Lulu and Megane are wearing similar dresses, although Lulu's is dark purple with burgundy highlights and her mother's is pale lavender with blue accents.

"Alright. Pache, let us see if anyone has knocked, okay?" Your guests from Mid-Childa frown at that, except for Lulu - and one of the portals blazes to life. Out of it steps not someone you personally invited, but the woman you fought - Bazett. Still wearing her suit, including gloves, but this time she also has a cylindrical container slung over one shoulder. After looking around at everyone, she nods once and steps to the side, clearing the portal. Following behind her the unpleasant blonde girl - Luvia? - wearing a blue evening gown … and after her come Tohsaka, face bright red and staring at the floor, and Miyu, and the old butler. And then comes Illya, wearing a cute pink dress … but your eyes return to Tohsaka. Ilya does what you can't and bursts out laughing at the sight of the twin-tailed girl dressed in a maid uniform, and even Illyasviel snickers maliciously. Fate stares at Illya, then at Ilya, then at Illyasviel, then turns her frantic expression to Nanoha, who just pulls her close and pats her back reassuringly. Vita, too, seems distracted by the newcomers, hand held well above her tribble as she stares at the triplets - but she simply sighs and shakes her head.

"Um, hello again. Thank you for having me - us, I mean!" Illya curtsies inexpertly to you and to Remilia; you incline your head.

"Of course, Illyasviel von Einzbern. I did allow you to bring bodyguards if you wished. However -" your sister's voice hardens slightly as she turns to Bazett, "I believe I was clear about the dress code? That is not a woman's formal dress." Zest frowns, but Megane must be saying something telepathically, because he relaxes after looking at her.

"I'm on duty, but if you'd prefer I leave …." Your sister snaps her fingers and the portal vanishes, and Bazett glowers at her.

"Oh, dear, the portal is closed, and it will not open until Illyasviel has to return. So, you are stuck here - and you are not going to wear that." Patchouli sighs as Bazett shifts into a fighting stance, and Nanoha and Fate look at you expectantly. "Sakuya, you have something for her to wear, do you not?" The chief maid bows and walks toward Bazett, and as the red-haired woman shifts her wait - she stumbles on her new high heels, matching the beautiful pure white dress she's wearing. Sakuya holds her clothes, shoes and gloves sitting on top of the neatly folded suit, and Bazett's face glows brightly.

"I apologize if they are of a different style than you are used to, but your former accoutrements do not fit your current dress, therefore I have replaced them as well. You will, of course, receive them at the end of the entertainment." Bazett's mouth works helplessly, and the only person in her party not gaping at her sudden change in wardrobe is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the butler.

"Good. Now, Pache? Anyone else?" Another portal flares into life, and Tohsaka and Archer step through. Archer, of course, is wearing his usual outfit, but Tohsaka is wearing a long red and black dress with wide sleeves, with her hair done in a slightly different style. Her eyes widen as she looks around at all the books in the library, and Archer's eyes narrow as he looks around as well - and then Tohsaka freezes as she looks at her enmaided self. Now you grin, especially when the other Tohsaka looks up to see herself staring at her.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho-ack!" Luvia begins some kind of terrible villainous laugh, but Tohsaka simply shoves her aside as she marches up to her alternate self.

"What is this?! What are you doing dressed like this? And for that sausage-haired, no-sense-of-shame hussy?!"

"Don't you judge me! You don't know what I've been through!"

"Oh, like it was so much worse than what happened to me? Do you really want to go there?!"

"It wasn't my fault!" Tohsaka seems to be winning against her maid self, and you have somehow managed to control yourself, so you turn your attention to Archer while everyone else is watching Tohsaka verbally abuse her other self. Of course, now that he's here, something clicks - you know what Ilya looks like, of course, and Illyasviel appears to have used Archer as her template for existence, so -

No.

No. No!

Your head whips around to your sister, who is conveniently looking away 'innocently', like a cat. And so is Patchouli. And Illyasviel has a wide grin on her face and pumps her fist in the air when she figures it out, and only Koakuma's hand on top of her head keeps her from shouting triumphantly … and Ilya smiles sadly and pats your shoulder sympathetically. Your sister claps her hands authoritatively, drawing everyone's attention.

"Alright, enough of that - if you wish to continue, I intend to sell tickets, and neither of you will see any profits from that gold mine." The Tohsakas pale and separate, and you notice Archer staring warily at Ilya … but he doesn't seem to have noticed Illyasviel, so that means you can still ask him that. "However, I would like to thank you for reminding me of something - Illyasviel, Sapphire: I will not tolerate the Kaleidostick Ruby's shenanigans interfering with this party. Should it come to light that such shenanigans have occurred, I will, of course, punish the offender until I am satisfied. Before that occurs, however, I will vent my anger by punishing those that you two care about first." Illya, Miyu, Luvia, both Tohsakas - even Fate and the other Mid-Childans - all glare unhappily at Remilia, but after a few seconds Illya nods. You can't see either Device, and neither one says anything, but Remilia nods, so she must be satisfied. "Good. Pache?" The magician does something again, and you wait for several long moments - but eventually she simply shakes her head.

"No other reactions, Remilia." You let your head slump forward. Homura must have decided to not come.

"… I am sorry, Flandre." You shake your head - it's not your sister's fault.

"I guess I didn't make the best impression on Homura." Lulu and Agito's eyes widen in surprise, and Lulu leans against you supportively. After a few moments, you shake your head. No sense letting one declined invitation spoil the entire evening, after all.


What do you do?

[ ] [Archer] Ask him.
[ ] [Archer] Don't ask him.

[ ] [Host] Be the host.
[ ] [Host] Don't be the host.

[ ] [Party] Stay in the library for a bit and let everyone see the youkai first. Point out the important ones when you see them.
[ ] [Party] Take everyone upstairs for food.
[ ] [Party] Separate.
- [ ] [Party] Go with your friends.
- [ ] [Party] Go with Illya and her group.
- [ ] [Party] Go with the Mid-Childans.

[ ] Other?


DM Note: Okay, I think that's how you do Task voting? And I think it's the simplest way of separating the vote choices … although I could just be not sure what the other two specifically do. Anyway, for the choices on Archer and Host, ties (or a complete lack of responses for those votes) will result in declining.