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

[X] Agree to her request.


You consider her request as you take a drink of your tea - green, not black, which is a shame - but she probably isn't being completely unreasonable. And if she does start taking too long, you can always just go on ahead, or make her use her time-stopping ability. "Alright," you respond, and Homura's shoulders visibly droop as she relaxes. "Try to keep it short, though - I don't want to miss the flower viewing." She doesn't nod, but you do hear the relief in her mind-voice.

"Thank you, Lady Flandre." Hm. So she probably isn't planning on asking for her life back … you shrug and set the matter aside. You're going to find out what her request is fairly soon, after all, so there's not much point in guessing.

Agito looks at you. "Of course, you're biased, since we're talking about your home." You grin.

"Of course I'm biased. But that doesn't make me wrong. Would you say that Lulu is ten times snugglier than Vita?" The Unison Device glances down the table at the surly knight.

"Not out loud," she says quietly, and both Ilya and Lulu giggle as you preen.

"Well, then! The fact of my bias existing has therefore been proven to not have any effect on the quality of my arguments, so the fact that I'm defending my home's superiority in almost every way possible doesn't make me wrong." Agito scowls at you, but Ilya frowns quizzically.

"In what ways are your home not superior?" You nod happily.

"Well, the mansion isn't as good at being made in Asian styles, and it's not nearly as good at being a fairly small home that a single individual can keep clean and maintained while still performing other duties without the benefit of time manipulation." Agito presses her hand against her face as your friends stifle their laughter. "Really, a lot of the advantages the mansion possesses are the result of my sister's manipulations, rather than inherent to the building itself, so the argument is somewhat flawed, anyway, unless this building has been extensively modified and had those changes maintained. If you use the original mansion's plans, the balance of power would definitely shift." Lulu leans forward.

"Do you still have them? Can I see them when we get back?" Her eyes sparkle and dance, and you smile as you nod, and she rubs her hands together gleefully. Too bad she's on the other side of the table - but maybe that was by design …. Well, you can always make up for it after the trip. Ilya, too. Yes, when you're back at the mansion, You can use your clones to kidnap the three of you, and mercilessly snuggle you all together! No one will ever see it coming! Agito shakes her head, and Lulu looks at her curiously.

"All three of you have the same look on your face," Agito says, "and I'm pretty sure that just one of you with that expression is something to worry about." You, Ilya, and Lulu all look at each other for a moment, then grin identically and stare at Agito.

---

Homura manages to disentangle herself from Madoka faster than you do from Ilya and Lulu, and Remilia prods Yukari and Yuyuko into continuing without the two of you. You wait for a few moments before turning to Homura, but she still seems to be having trouble just saying what she wants. After a minute, she rubs one hand against her eyes. "I - I'm sorry. It's just … our differences in perspective, and your opinions, so you won't feel as strongly about this, and -" You lean forward and grab Homura's arm. She stiffens, and you pull her closer, studying her eyes.

"… Well, your eyes are clear, at least. But I didn't bring any Grief Seeds, so if that's what this is about, I'm really not the person you should be stalling to." She stares at you, then sags, letting you guide her into a post so she doesn't just sit on the floor.

"… Grief Seeds are what this is about, actually," she begins. "I … I'm going to send some back with Mami and Sayaka, of course, but … you know what they are, right?" You cock your head.

"Grief Seeds? They're something that comes from Witches, right?" A pained expression flashes across Homura's face.

"Grief Seeds are … they're like Soul Gems, like the soul of a Witch. And Witches are matured forms of Magical Girls. So in every Grief Seed is the soul of a human." She falls silent, hesitating, and although you're pretty sure you know what she's going to ask, you let her work through it herself. "… Kyouko and I, we won't need Grief Seeds here. And Patchouli - doesn't seem to like them, anyway. So I could send all of them with Sayaka, but … what would happen to them here? If they died, would they get to come here, as humans, and - and not have to suffer? Or would they go to Hell, damned because of that …." Her hands clench and tremble, and you wait for her to relax them.

"I think it would depend. First, on whether or not they would be judged as humans or as youkai, and then on how much their other existence affects their sentencing. If they're judged as youkai, for example, and their lives as humans and Magical Girls are disregarded, then they probably would just get reborn as a youkai." You pause and cock your head, listening, and Homura takes your silence as an indication to continue.

"I thought so. I - I wanted to ask you to help me talk to - to someone in charge -" She breaks off at your quiet hiss, startled, and you turn to face the hall. A few seconds later, Reimu and Marisa walk in, followed by Tohsaka. Reimu seems upset to have missed the food.

"Ah, have they started the flower-viewing yet?" Marisa dashes toward you and you shrug before gesturing out the door.

"Maybe, or maybe they just started. How did you know there was a flower-viewing?"

Reimu shakes her head. "How could we not know?" She glances at Homura, then frowns at you, and you sigh.

"We're just talking, nothing bad is happening." She nods and walks past you, although Marisa waits for Tohsaka. As they walk out the door, however, you clear your throat. "Tohsaka, where is Archer? We're having a private conversation, and I'd feel better knowing where he is." She frowns at you, then looks over her shoulder, and the red-clad Servant fades into view. Reimu rubs her shoulders irritatedly and walks a bit faster, and you nod your head to the young mage as Marisa pulls her arm and drags her to the distant cherry blossom trees. Archer frowns at you, then at Homura, and you stare pointedly at him, not-exactly-smiling, until he turns and follows Tohsaka. Once they're out of hearing range, you turn back to Homura. "I'm sorry about that. You wanted me to help you talk to someone?" She stares up at you, then nods.

"Someone who would know what would happen to them. So - so if they wouldn't get to rest peacefully, if they were just going to be tormented, then it … wouldn't it be better to just send them all with Sayaka, so she can keep fighting to help people? But if they can rest here in the Netherworld, should I let them be judged?" She takes a deep breath, trying not to cry, and you think about what she's saying. Probably, she's thinking about redemption; she hasn't always been a nice person, so from a human perspective, she might go to Hell. That doesn't actually seem to bother her too much, though, so you aren't sure. She does seem to want those Grief Seeds - the Witches inside them, anyway - to be 'saved' if possible … which it may not be, even if they do get judged as humans. And she brought it up now because … she doesn't have much time left before Madoka, Mami, and Sayaka go back to their home and she and Kyouko start their term as servants in the mansion, and also because she probably just didn't know. And Yuyuko probably would have a good idea about what would happen to the Witches, from experience if nothing else ….


What do you do?

[ ] Agree to help her talk to someone.
- [ ] Ask Yuyuko.
- [ ] Ask Yukari.
- [ ] Ask Remilia.
- - [ ] After you get back to the mansion.
- [ ] Ask Patchouli when you get back to the mansion.

[ ] Refuse to help her.
- [ ] But suggest she talk to Remilia.
- [ ] Point out that Magical Girls vary, because they're human, so their judgments would vary just as much, and it's possible that every Witch she carries could be sent to Hell, so she should just send them all with Sayaka and Mami.
- [ ] If she's interested, you can annihilate a Grief Seed or Witch, meaning they won't get an afterlife and will simply be obliterated.

[ ] Other?

[X] Agree to help her talk to someone.
- [X] Ask Yuyuko.


You nod. "Yes, I think I can help with that," you say thoughtfully, and you tilt your head and narrow your eyes as you consider your options. It would have to be someone from Gensokyo, so that removes the rest of your guests. Marisa wouldn't know, and has a guest to look after already. Reimu … might know, but she also might not, and she takes a hard stance against people turning themselves into youkai. Maybe she could perform an exorcism, or the relevant local rites, but she might also just decide to exterminate them. And she'd want to be paid, which wouldn't be a real problem, but would be irritating. That leaves youkai. You would normally suggest your sister, but if Homura came to you and not her, then she must not trust Remilia as much, or else just doesn't want to deal with her for some other reason. That leaves Yukari, who should know and can probably work to get Homura what she wants, but who is opposed to Remilia so you'd rather not give her any potential leverage … and Yuyuko. She is an acquaintance of Yukari's, apparently, but ….

"I'm sorry," Homura says suddenly, quietly, and you straighten up and reach over to shake her shoulder before she can descend into self-pity.

"I was just thinking of who we could talk to that might be able to help you, Homura. Now, stand up and let's not keep everyone else wondering what we're doing." You grab her arm and pull her upright, catching her when she stumbles, and smile. She returns it shakily, and you start walking through the garden toward the cherry blossom trees. "Would you like to talk to her right now, or after the flowers have fallen?"

"If it isn't too much trouble, could it be after?" You nod again.

"And do you want to talk to her alone, or with me, and do you want me to explain what it's about before you see her?" She's quiet for a long time, only responding when you're actually almost where the group is.

"I-I'd … can you explain things first, and then come with us in case I can't explain things properly?" You smile and pull her forward so she's in front of you, then push her gently toward her friends.

"Of course, Homura. Now, go; Madoka is probably worried about you." She stops after a few steps, then nods and continues. You look at the group, and while Lulu is easy to find, sitting next to Megane, it takes you a moment before you recognize Ilya, sitting on Megane's other side, leaning against her. You'd thought she would be sitting by herself, or maybe near Remilia …. Your sister, of course, is sitting a little apart from the others, with Sakuya dutifully holding a parasol over her, and farther down are Yukari and Yuyuko, attended by Youmu. Deis is sitting next to Reimu, of all people, and Illyasviel is shuffling as close to Tohsaka and Archer as they'll let her. You glance at your friends, but the way they're positioned would make it hard for you to join them without displacing someone … which is probably part of the point. Smiling to yourself, you skirt around the group and flop across Remilia's lap. Just because Homura doesn't want to trust your sister just yet doesn't mean you can't ask her for help.

"Hm. That sounded like a flop of exhaustion. Did something happen?" You wiggle back, digging your shoulders into her, and she chuckles.

"More work," you say lightly, and her prickling fingers turn gentle. "Is there any way I could speak with Yuyuko privately without interrupting anything?" The cherry blossoms on one tree start to fall slowly and elegantly, sprinkling to the ground.

"Hmm … that I can do, I think," Remilia replies, then tilts your head up and plants a kiss on your forehead. She nuzzles you a bit more, and out of the corner of your eye you see Lulu smiling happily at you before she pulls Ilya onto her mother's lap and snuggles with her. "There, that should work," your sister murmurs. "Go ahead and think to her."

"Thank you," you whisper back, and kiss her cheek before nuzzling against her chin. "Princess Yuyuko?"

"Oh, this is so strange," her airy mental voice replies. "And so useful! Do you always do this?" The urge to shake your head isn't very strong, but it is difficult to keep from scowling at her. Instead, you relax against Remilia and watch the cherry blossoms continue to fall as the wind picks up and dances them around.

"I don't, and I think Remilia and Patchouli prefer to talk face-to-face." Much as you want to ignore the pleasantries and just get to business, you really should try to keep her in as good a mood as possible, so you keep your irritation and impatience hidden.

"It's so useful, though! I could tease Youmu without anyone noticing … oops, um, please don't let her know that, I didn't mean to let you hear it." Contrary to her usual obfuscating personality, she really does seem to have a hard time masking her true thoughts telepathically … or she's bluffing. She could be bluffing.

"Don't let who know what?"

"… I'm not sure how to respond to that," she says, and you have to fight to keep the amusement off your face, since she really does sound like she isn't sure if you heard that first part. "Anyway, Remilia said you wanted to ask me something …?" You sigh to yourself in relief.

"Yes, one of my guests has a concern about the fate of certain dead entities," you begin, and fill her in on what you know about Magical Girls and Witches, about Soul Gems and Grief Seeds, and what her concern about the dead Witches is. Even after you finish, she remains quiet for a while, just watching the cherry blossoms fall with a smile on her face.

"… That does explain some things," she finally says, and leans back, stretching, before falling against Yukari in a manner kin to your fall onto Remilia. Yukari looks somewhat scandalized, but there isn't much she can do when Yuyuko wraps her arms around the youkai's waist. "I won't talk to her right away, I'm afraid. If she could be available … around midnight, I think? With at least a couple of these Grief Seeds, and I will need to examine her Soul Gem as well." Despite yourself, you frown. "I don't think I'll be able to talk to Shiki, but there are some records I want to look up." That, on the other hand, is a very reasonable explanation, and you radiate warm gratitude through your connection, followed by amusement at her surprise.

"Thank you, Princess Yuyuko. I'll let her know, and we'll be ready for you when you come." She responds in kind, and the connection fades. "Thank you, Remilia." You start to continue, to tell her about Yuyuko coming, but she taps your nose with her finger.

"You are my dear sister Flandre, after all. Now, let us set aside thoughts of work and watch these myriad lives fall and stain the ground with their passing." Well, it can wait for a little while ….

---

As the last of the flowers flutters to the ground, finishing the tapestry of pink and white, the others applaud. Yukari, with Yuyuko still wrapped around her, gives your sister a questioning look, and Remilia shrugs. Yukari spreads her arms helplessly, and Remilia nods before starting to climb to her feet. Sakuya helps fix your kimonos, then you go over to Ilya and Lulu and fix their and Megane's outfits. "Thank you, Flandre," she says, echoed by the younger mages, and you smile and bow your head.

"Of course! After all, it was my own actions that lead to this state of affairs." You look meaningfully at Lulu, who smiles widely and without shame - at least until Ilya steps in and pulls her cheeks, at which point she attempts to return the attack. You share a bemused look with Megane, and in the background Tohsaka stares at Ilya with her mouth hanging open uselessly. Even Archer looks stunned, and Illyasviel looks disgusted - and then Ilya and Lulu release each other and step back, smiling beatifically. You look at them for a moment, then shake your head.

As Yuyuko begins a farewell speech, Homura reaches into your mind. "Flandre? When should we go see her?"

"She said she wanted to look up some things, and possibly speak with someone else about the subject - she won't tell anyone any specifics - so we won't be able to talk to her right now. She said she'll visit the mansion around midnight." Homura is quiet long enough that you sneak a glance at her, but she seems fine.

"… Yes, that makes sense. Thank you, Flandre."

During the short walk back to the entrance of Hakugyokurou, Fate and Nanoha monopolize Yuyuko, asking her questions about the amount of contact between Gensokyo and the Netherworld, and travel between them, and Yuyuko responds amiably. Fate glances at you a few times, but never says anything. When you reach the stairs, Reimu sighs and starts walking down them, while Marisa helps Tohsaka onto her broomstick. Archer vanishes at some point, and the broomstick leaps forward, easily passing Reimu. And then Reimu falls into a hole in the ground, and Yukari laughs happily. Now that the visit is over, you have no compunctions about flopping on top of Ilya and Lulu, and Yukari again uses her power to transport you out of the Netherworld and into Gensokyo.


What do you do?

[ ] Hang out with Ilya and Lulu until dinner.

[ ] Spoil everyone's appetite for dinner by making snacks and things.

[ ] Other?


DM Note: I'm running out of things to do >.> There will be an option to do things after dinner, of which one choice will be to take anyone who wants to go down to the lake. Everyone will be returning to their worlds tomorrow afternoonish.


ALSO, starting Monday my schedule is going to be changing and I'll be gone during the day. So updates are going to be pushed back again, I'm just not sure when to; probably somewhere in the 8-10 slot, but it'll be shaky for the next couple weeks.