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

[x] Let the wolpertinger go - you're not Vita, after all!
- [X] Investigate!
- [X] Alice and her new dolls.


After hesitating for just a second, you let the wolpertinger plop off your lap and onto the floor. It starts to scurry away, then turns back and looks at you. You wave, and it bounds into the air, wings flapping - but, of course, it doesn't actually manage to fly in this situation. You giggle, and it looks around, startled, before darting away under a table.

"Do you think it got enough to eat?" You turn back and give Vita a strange look. "I mean, it's a carnivore, right?" You nod slowly as half the table tries to keep from laughing.

"Yes, Vita, but you're just a little bigger than its normal food, so I think you're safe." She glares at you.

"I know that! I was worried about U- about my new pet." You look at the lumpy mass of fur, still cradled in her arms, and smile mischievously.

"Like I said, Vita, you're just a little bigger than -" Nanoha finally laughs and Vita turns red. Still, her blue eyes soften as she glances at Nanoha, and then she turns even redder at your own smile and wink. "Anyway, there shouldn't be anything to worry about here. If you want to have seconds, or dessert, you can. The Prismrivers are outside, if you want to watch them. If you need anything, find Sakuya or myself - or, if you somehow can't, one of the fairy maids, who should be able to help find one of us. And a lot of people here are friendly, so don't feel too bad about talking to people! I'm going to go see Alice." You slip out of the chair and start walking toward the magician's last known position, shedding your clones as you do so. They will be your insurance, keeping an eye on everyone and hopefully letting you know about problems. Invisible, they float up well above even the tallest members of the crowd, establishing their positions. You aren't too surprised when Ilya catches up to you and wraps herself around one arm - but Lulu doesn't ….

"Flan, I'll come join you in a bit, but Zest has someone he wants to talk to, so Mama, Agito, and I are going to go with him, okay?" You nod, smiling.

"Of course, Lulu! Have fun!" Unhappiness dispelled, you search through your clones for the doll-user, and change your angle slightly to avoid a clump of youkai holding a drinking game. Alice is, not unusually, alone, apart from her dolls, although her two new ones seem to have … issues with each other. Hmm … did she model them after two people in particular?

"That was very abrupt," Ilya says suddenly, and you nod after a moment.

"Mm. I'm not that good at managing people, though. And it should be safe here - I can't think anyone would be stupid enough to try something, especially not after what happened last time." You lean into her, and she leans back.

"Now, now - it wasn't your fault, you know. Ah, Alice!" Ilya straightens and waves excitedly as the magician comes into view. Hew new dolls look at you as well - the silver-haired one stares shaprly at you from slitted red eyes, while the blonde looks at you curiously through blue ones.

"Illyasviel, Flandre. How are you doing?" Satsuki starts to dart forward to pull out a chair for you, but you wave her away; Ilya allows Sella to do the same for her, however, and the three servants all step back from the table.

"I'm fine. No pain, no odd sensations, no lack of sensation that I've noticed." Alice sighs, relieved.

"That's good. Like I said last time, I'd still like to do regular check-ups, but if everything feels right and you can still use your magic, there's probably nothing wrong." You bow deeply.

"Thank you, Alice, for helping Ilya. Patchouli and my sister should have compensated you appropriately, but if there's anything I can do, please let me know." You hear embarrassed sounds and look up at the suddenly-uncomfortable magician.

"Eh, um, it's fine. I mean, Patchouli already granted me almost completely free reign in the library, and I know about what's down there - and, of course, I was given these two children." She gestures at the dolls, who both scowl at her term for them. The silver-haired one recovers first and stares proudly at you.

"I am Suigintou, most perfect of all of Father's dolls." The blonde doll sniffs dismissively, and Suigintou fights to quash her outrage at the slight. "It is … a pleasure to meet you," she manages to finish, although her eyes linger on the crystals of your wings.

"Good evening. I'm Flandre Scarlet," you reply, not bothering to match her formal tone. You lean forward, staring at her face, and she leans back initially, but then straightens and meets your gaze. You giggle and she frowns, and then you turn to the other doll. "And you are …?"

"I am Shinku," she says simply, accepting your close observation more easily than Suigintou. She's certainly … softer than the other doll. A difference in age, perhaps, or just of style? And is Suigintou's severity a result of inexperience, or is she projecting that attitude for some reason?

"There's no need to study that worthless junk -"

"I'm not the one who's junk around here -" Shinku interrupts Suigintou, and the other doll's eyes blaze as feathery wings erupt from her back - but before either of them can do anything, rainbow lines of power twine around them and force them into their seats. Alice sighs and you turn back to her.

"They're good girls, really, but - well, they don't like each other. They're like … mmm … I was going to say Patchouli and Marisa, but that's not a very good fit." You snort and Ilya giggles.

"I think I get what you mean. So when are you going to make one like them?" Both dolls glare at you.

"That's impossible!" Suigintou nods in agreement.

"Indeed. No one can come close to our Father's skills. To even imagine it is absurd." Alice sighs.

"It's like that. Which makes studying them easier, I guess, but they do have a point. I really don't understand some of what their maker -"

"Rozen," the dolls interrupt harshly, and Alice nods.

"Rozen did. As for making dolls like them …." She glances at Suigintou and shrugs. "Well, it wouldn't be impossible to make something that looks like them, but creating free dolls like them is beyond me. So I'll keep learning and studying, and maybe I'll get something close, someday." The dolls sniff disdainfully in unison, and their almost perfectly synchronized timing makes you wonder if they're closer than they want anyone to think. More importantly, though, Alice has a superior look on her face - the one that says she won't stop after getting 'close' and will keep going until she can do better.

You keep chatting with her - Patchouli mentioned the trip to the Forest of Magic, so she'll meet you when you visit to help - and switch part of your attention to the clones. Zest and Lulu's family are talking with the two beauties, and you fight to keep the surprise off your face when you see not only Zest and Megane bowing to the white-haired woman, but Lulu skipping forward to wrap her arms around the woman's waist in a hug. The white-haired woman seems perplexed, and the black-haired woman laughs. Nanoha, Fate, and Vita are, of course, talking with Reimu, along with the Chronicler. It's only with slight surprise that you find Deis still at the table, still eating heartily - but Tohsaka's continued presence does surprise you. Illya's group is in the entry hall, and the perky little girl is having a conversation with, oddly enough, Sanae and the ancestor with the frog hat. Illyasviel seems to have made her way to a corner, apparently keeping an eye on Illya's group.


What do you do?

[ ] Keep talking with Alice.
- About?

[ ] Go out to the Concert with Ilya.
- [ ] Try to talk to Merlin about that performance.
- Bring anyone else?

[ ] Join another group.
- [ ] Lulu's Group.
- [ ] Nanoha's Group.
- [ ] Illya's Group.

[ ] Investigate!
- [ ] Aya and her new friend.
- [ ] Verossa and his hangers-on.
- [ ] The twins and their dates.

[ ] Other?

[X] Join another group.
- [X] Lulu's Group.
- [X] Ask why Zest, Megane, Lulu showing great respect toward the White Haired Beauty?


You chat with Alice for a few more minutes, watching the dolls watch each other and their surroundings, and keeping an eye on the general state of the party. Remilia said she would handle hostess duties, so you shouldn't need to do any of that, but it's still a good idea to keep an eye on developing issues so you can intervene if any of your guests start getting near them. But it doesn't look like anything's happening, so after a little more talk you rise from the table. "Alice, once again - thank you for all your help. If there is something I can do or help with, please let me know." You curtsy, ducking your head, and straighten to see Alice blushing again.

"L-like I said, it's fine." She almost looks like she wants to say something else, but just shakes her head, and you smile and nod your head.

"Very well. Please enjoy the rest of the party." Ilya slides off her chair as well, nodding politely.

"Er- um, actually, do you know if Marisa is here yet?" You frown at Alice's question and scan the party areas through your clones, but you don't see the familiar black-and-white and shake your head.

"I don't see her - but then, I don't see Patchouli and her friend, either, and I know they were up here. It's possible Marisa arrived and is attempting to visit the library, or she's just hiding somewhere I can't see her. Should I try to notify you if I see her?" Alice sighs and shakes her head.

"No, no. I'm just … missing a few things, and I wondered if she might have any idea what happened to them," she says, and you nod in understanding. Of course, Marisa might not have taken them … and she might also be training as a shrine maiden, too. A vampire shrine maiden!

"Well - if I see her, I'll let you know. Please enjoy yourself." You curtsy again, and Alice bows without rising, then waves back to Ilya. Ilya drapes herself around your arm once more as you meander through the ballroom. It's not particularly crowded, but there are enough people in the way that you can't see Lulu's group from your current position. "Are you enjoying yourself, Ilya? Anything you want to do?" She sighs contentedly.

"Hmm … nothing that should interrupt the party. Especially since you have other guests." You look at her through the corner of your eye and discreetly move your finger up to poke her cheek, but she laughs and shakes her head, then walks on her own. "No, I'm not being jealous right now. It's just that there are so many things to do, and the mansion is so big, that if I did want you to do something, you would have to neglect your other guests and Lulu." You smile at the familiarity in her voice; you don't know what you would do if they didn't get along. On the heels of her remark, however, you finally do see Lulu and her family … and the retreating forms of the pair they were talking to. From your clone's perspective, it looks like they're heading for the other white-haired girl, who is now sitting at a table, talking to a woman with long silvery hair.

"Flan! Ilya!" Lulu waves, then runs forward and throws herself between the two of you, arms looping around your necks. Of course, you catch the brunt of her weight so she doesn't knock Ilya down, and she nuzzles each of you in turn.

"Lutecia! You could have hurt someone." Megane frowns at her daughter's antics, but Ilya returns the hug, draping herself over Lulu and shaking her head.

"It would have been fine. Leys would have caught us if we were going to fall." You look back at the silent maids; Leysritt bows politely, Sella somehow manages to maintain her composure, and Satsuki blushes and tries to keep from fidgeting. Did Sakuya teach her something, somehow, or is she just combining the training she got from Alph with her natural abilities to move so quietly? … You'll have to watch her next sparring session with Meiling. You turn back and look at Zest.

"Oh, who was that woman you were talking to? With the white hair?" Megane frowns, surprised, and Zest looks a bit uncomfortable.

"Ah, that was Doctor - Yagokoro, was it? She healed Zest when he was here before, even fixed the problems that were introduced by the cloning process!" Lulu hops back, keeping her back to her mother and Zest, and looks meaningfully at Ilya. You frown, craning to the side to try and see around Megane as you try to remember the name.

"Eirin Yagokoro?" Zest nods at Ilya's question - and you remember her now. The Chronicle really doesn't do her justice - you probably couldn't paint a worthwhile portrait of her, and definitely not the girl who must be Kaguya Houraisan. On the other hand ….

"Lunarians, huh?" Zest nods minutely at your murmured question - well, he probably knows that Remilia isn't too fond of them, and that the feeling is mutual. Now, should you try to talk to them? After all, Patchouli did sort of recommend them despite the potential problems …. "Was there anything you wanted to see right now?" You change the subject - the Lunarians are talking with that white-haired girl, so you probably shouldn't interrupt them. Later, perhaps?

"Have they started any spell card duels yet? Or are those off-limits for tonight?" You glance at Ilya as Lulu clasps her hands in wonder.

"Ooh! Can we? If they are, I mean! I used that one you made for me, and it was really beautiful, and I showed Mama the recording and -" Megane's hand settles gently on Lulu's shoulder, silencing her, and you smile. Your third clone, settled on the entry like an invisible gargoyle, looks away from the gate, toward the area usually set aside for danmaku battles, but it's empty right now - and, after all, neither Patchouli nor Remilia are free to handle the set up and barriers. You shake your head sadly.

"Nothing seems to be going on, and it doesn't look like anything is going to happen any time soon," you say, and Lulu deflates - at least until Ilya steps forward and pokes her fingers into Lulu's cheeks, drawing them back and forcing a smile. "I'll keep an eye out, though, and let you know if something starts." Megane and Lulu both nod.

"In the meantime, shall we look over the desserts?" You look at the responses to Megane's suggestion, and with no objections, you descend as a group upon the back tables. Lulu, of course, is quite interested in the honey-based and -flavored sweets, and after she explains her introduction to honey to Ilya, Ilya shakes her head. Megane, on the other hand, seems to enjoy the names and presentation of the desserts more than anything else - the plethora of cakes with silly Italian names makes her smile, although she isn't above laughing at the shapes the sweets make, like hearts and bats and little faces.

"Excuse me," an unfamiliar voice says, and you nod to the short, horned youkai and make space for her. "No, um, I - I want to ask for your help." You frown at the interruption of your good time and let Agito snatch a small cupcake from your hand as you turn to the youkai. She doesn't flinch from your glare, however, and after staring at her for a moment, your own eyes widen. It's not often you see an oni look worried, after all … not that you've seen many oni at all. And she's dressed quite nicely for once, too. Your eyes narrow.

"What do you want, Suika?" She winces before looking around.

"… Look, it's - there are other oni, here, right? They want my gourd, and they look like they're willing to fight for it." Your initial response is, of course, to handle it herself - there aren't that many oni, and you're well aware of how powerful she should be. Of course, there's also the issue with having a dozen or so oni brawling near the mansion - and she is a guest …. Before you can respond, however, Suika is shoved aside by Reimu.

"Oy! What the hell does your sister think she's doing?!" Your glare intensifies, but of course she's Reimu, and she pulls you over and points toward the entrance. The first surprise is that Remilia is, in fact, here, not talking things over with the powers of Gensokyo - and you don't see any of the others. Remilia is also wearing a different dress, now, a red gown instead of the black to match yours. The third surprise, and the one that Reimu seems incensed about, is the person she's talking garrulously with - light lavender hair done up with a yellow bow, and wearing a not-quite-formal red dress, with a peace-bonded sword at her side. Before you can ask Reimu what the problem is, however, an outraged shriek pierces the air: the white-haired girl the Lunarians went to talk to. You sigh.


What do you do?

[ ] Let Remilia handle the Lunarians, if there's anything wrong.
- [ ] Ask Suika if she has anyone who can be her champion in a duel. You really shouldn't, but it's quick, simple, and effective.
- [ ] Ask Sakuya to find the oni Chieftain and bring him up here so you can get matters settled.
- [ ] Deal with the other oni yourself.
- - [ ] Permanently, if they're reluctant to leave Suika alone.

[ ] Send Suika to your sister while you see if there's anything you need to handle with the Lunarians.

[ ] Go talk to Remilia.

[ ] Really, you shouldn't be dealing with any of this. Take Ilya and Lulu and the others outside.
- [ ] Listen to the concert.

[ ] Other?