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

[X] Plan Painting
- [X] Get your art supplies and make paintings of the more memorable moments the group had here in Gensokyo as souvenirs/presents.


You aren't clear about your precise intentions to Ilya and Lulu, although you do allow them to come with you, but after a quick discussion, they decide to give you some privacy. A little unfortunate, but they do have other people to talk to and be with. Remilia eyes you curiously, but all she does is tell you to make sure you're up for dinner. Perfect.

After changing into something more like you, you head into your studio. Well, Patchouli calls it that; you tend not to call it anything particular, but it does contain most of your artistic supplies. You get out the canvas, the really good human paints, your best brushes, and then sit down to consider what to paint. Individual scenes for each person? A series of scenes for everyone? One panoramic scene depicting everything, reproduced for everyone? Individual portraits for everyone - no, not that. Part of the best things about portraits is the sitting, after all, so people can experience the art being made in front of them. Your clones slip out, ready to do your bidding, and after a moment you nod.

Sayaka will get a picture of her frantically writing amid a pile of discarded papers and books - she was trying to write a short mystery story, so you direct the clone to add suggestions of that genre, of puzzles and mysteries. For Kyouko … even though she's going to be a servant, she is currently a guest, and after some consideration, you direct two clones to work on the strange cemetery, making sure to include Kyouko wearing the hat, after everyone has started enjoying themselves. You could have done her snowball-fight entrance on the rabbit-behemoth, but you'll probably want to do that one for Agito. For Madoka, you start working on the time you spent working on the puzzle games. For Homura and Mami, though … maybe Mami should get Kyouko's fight with Illyasviel? Or would that be too confrontational? Hmm … no, you'll have a clone work on her and Kyouko in the kitchen, with Kyouko devouring the dumplings as Mami looks on fondly. Maybe it's not exactly accurate to what happened, but no one else needs to know, and this way she can put it somewhere and people will smile and think it's nice. Homura, though … something with Madoka in it, of course. Yes, that night at the party, with her in the black and Madoka in the white, sitting peacefully in the middle of the maze.

As you work through Madoka's picture, showing the game between her team of Kyouko, Satsuki, and Lulu against Homura's team of Mami, Sayaka, and Ilya, you think about the Mid-Childans and what you should do for them. Agito … yes, Agito will get her and Kyouko atop the rabbit-behemoth, throwing snowballs down at you. Zest … hm, his duel with Byakuren, or him and the others playing that Mid-Childan game with Remilia? Megane will get a scene of her and Lutecia throwing snowballs toward Ilya's team, and Vita will get one of Remilia gifting the tribble to her. Lulu - Lulu will get one of you, her, and Ilya snuggling, you just have to decide which background to use: one of your three's bedrooms, the patio, your music room, or the snow-watching station. Nanoha and Fate, though …. Maybe in the garden? Or the galleries? Oh, one of them can get the game. That can be Nanoha's, and Fate's can be the mass costume party! Yes, that will do nicely ….

Madoka and her friends' paintings are nearly done, and you examine them critically - not that your clones have likely made any mistakes, but you do want to check for as much accuracy as you can, and also that the tone of the pictures fit the recipients. Nodding to yourself, you begin working on Lulu's picture, with the clones working on Megane, Zest, and Agito's pictures first. Zest, you decide, should get his duel with Byakuren, while Lulu's is going to show you all in the snow-watching room, with hot chocolate nearby and snow falling outside. Ilya even has that bit of chocolate on her cheek as you three snuggle under the blanket. That leaves Satsuki, Deis, and Illyasviel. Maybe they don't need paintings, since they're going to be staying here, but you already made some for Kyouko and Homura, so not making one for them would feel wrong. Besides, Deis presiding over your dressing-up time fits remarkably well, especially with the monk-robed Berserker, and Illyasviel's match against Kyouko was good fun - and if you don't do that, you'd probably put her in her maid outfit and all but guarantee she wouldn't put it anywhere visible. Satsuki, though … you have to choose the time she and Sakuya woke up you and Remilia - and you'll definitely do that one yourself!

Yes, Satsuki's picture - Patchouli, Ilya, and Remilia - you will do those yourself. You could do Sakuya, Meiling, Koakuma, Sella, and Leysritt as well, but … you really aren't sure what to do for them, and you do have some time tonight to finish up if you can think of something. Patchouli's, really, is the most difficult for you to decide on, since you keep thinking about how little you two get along, but eventually you decide on the time the three of you stayed on the balcony through the night watching the snow fall. It was a good time. Ilya, on the other hand, gets the scene of her winning her race with Vita, with Berserker finishing his landing next the carriage as she holds on happily, and Lulu clings tightly, and Vita is only just beginning to materialize nearby. And for your sister … for Remilia, you and her watching the cherry blossoms fall in the garden of Hakugyokurou

---

You're almost finished with Satsuki's painting when someone knocks on your door, and it's Satsuki's own voice that calls you to dinner. You assign your clones to finish up the already-completed ones and to clean up, but after cleaning up yourself, Satsuki doesn't take you to the normal dining room, but the grand dining hall. Which, thanks to Sakuya and the various enchantments, isn't that much bigger than the one you normally use, but does come with some useful enchantments. Like the one for private conversations with anyone at the table, and the self-playing instruments, and the one that lets you draw food from the platters farther down onto your plate. Remilia smiles at the nervous expressions. "I simply felt that, as tonight would be our last as a group, that we should have a somewhat more elaborate setting," she says as the instruments begin to play at just the right volume for pleasant listening.

Ilya leans close to you and sniffs curiously. "Hmm … you weren't baking," she says suspiciously, and Lulu nods in agreement.

"And you weren't with Remilia or with your pianos. So what were you doing?" You smile angelically and start your meal properly, with some of the sweet delicacies from the far end of the table. Both Lulu and Ilya are surprised at their sudden appearance, and Lulu's eyes widen as she looks down the table at the group of foods with a significant honey presence. Of course, Megane clears her throat meaningfully, and Lulu sighs as her plate fills with "proper" food.

"I wonder," you say cryptically, and Ilya shakes her head. "Don't worry, Satsuki; if you want to ask me something, you just need to focus your spoken words on me." That was a piece of magic that Remilia and Patchouli had to spend quite a lot of time on, almost as much as the food-moving spell. There are simpler and easier versions that you used to have, but having to use the physical links made the food, especially, more frustrating.

"Um … um, I was if right here." You blink, confused, but before you can ask her to repeat herself, Sakuya leans next to her and whispers something. Satsuki turns red for a moment before nodding quickly, and a few seconds later, she repeats her question. "I was wondering if it was right for me to be here." Her words are more forcefully projected than she perhaps meant, but they were clear and intelligible, and you nod.

"Of course, Satsuki. If it wasn't right for you to be here, you wouldn't be here. We don't use this table often, but when we do, as you can see, even Sakuya sits and eats with us. So there's no problem with you being here." She blushes again and looks down at her plate, and Koakuma pats her shoulder.


What do you do?

[ ] Take interested people to the lake.

[ ] Hang out with Ilya and Lulu for a while.

[ ] Ask Remilia if fireworks or danmaku would be more acceptable.

[ ] Other?

[X] Take interested people to the lake.



You clap your hands excitedly, drawing everyone's attention. "Oh, that's right! Who wants to go to the lake?" Your question is met with curiosity.

"I wouldn't mind, Flandre-chan, but won't it be difficult to see? And I don't think everyone brought bathing suits …." You look hopefully at Remilia, who nods.

"Lighting, of course, will not be an issue, and we have bathing suits for everyone here, in multiple styles. Attire, as always, will not be a problem."

"... Do I want to know why you have several bathing suits suitable for me?" Vita glares at Remilia suspiciously, but your sister merely shrugs it off.

"You may as well ask why we have a cactuar outfit fitted for you." Then she sighs as Vita's expression grows more confused. "They are a species of animated cactus, extremely fast and capable of firing one thousand needles at an individual with near-perfect accuracy." Megane laughs quietly before nodding.

"I did see the lake once or twice, but if it's fine to swim in, I'd love to go!" Lulu nods eagerly as well, and both of them look at Zest. Agito snickers, but it's Deis who speaks next.

"Oh, I'd love to come, Flandre, but I have some things to do here that just cannot wait. Maybe if I had the help of a handsome and strong man I'd be able to take a swim with everyone before you come back …." She trails off meaningfully, and Zest sighs before bowing his head to Megane, who smiles thankfully at Deis. "Ah, well. If I don't make it, please make sure to tell me what happens." Ilya looks across the table at Illyasviel, but the other girl shakes her head.

"I'll stay here with Deis," she says, drawing a look of surprise from the sorceress, but her expression is perfectly neutral, hiding any plots she may have. Deis does pat her head, and Ilya giggles when Illyasviel blushes and scowls at Deis.

"Um, we'll all come, too," Madoka says nervously, but Sayaka pats her back cheerfully, and Homura gives you a discreet nod. Good, that's almost everyone … you turn a questioning look back toward Remilia, but she's watching Patchouli.

"Patchouli? Are you going to come?" The magician sighs at your question, and after a moment shakes her head. Remilia clucks her tongue once.

"Fine, but if we meet an Australian dolphin shark, I reserve the right to call you immediately." Patchouli glares at Remilia, but you're too busy smiling at everyone else to pay much attention to the magician's response. "Alright, after dinner we shall visit the lake, enjoying the water under a clear sky under the light of stars and moon. First, however, it is still dinner, so please pace yourself accordingly."

---

"Oh, everyone is so cute! Gah, I just want to keep everyone!" Vita blushes even more darkly and scowls at Deis as she plays with the knight's hair, but with Fate and Nanoha laughing good-naturedly, she can hardly take any real action against the sorceress. Despite her proclamations, however, Deis spends precious little time admiring Zest's impressive physique, much to Lulu's relief. Probably the most embarrassed person is Sella, however, especially with both Ilya and Illyasviel prowling around her and comparing her to Leysritt. Illyasviel once again refuses the chance to come to the lake, and the party sets forth as Meiling promises to keep watch at the gate until everyone returns.

As Remilia said, the night is clear and bright, and the crescent moon above seems to shed even more light than usual, lighting up the lake quite beautifully. You run up to the water's edge and stand in it with just your feet covered, but all you feel is a slight tingle, so you wade out more deeply as orbs of bright red and green station themselves farther out, cordoning nearly a quarter of the lake. "The lights mark the boundary of tonight's excursion. If you want to proceed farther, please ask me or Sakuya." Your sister wades into the water after you, moving slowly but not curiously so - the movements of one who is unused to swimming in a lake, rather than one who fears the water. You wait for her to catch up to you, then pounce on her with a grin - but, of course, she's too quick for you, hopping to the side and using her wings to scull farther from the shore.

"I bet we can catch her together," you hear Lulu say, and look back to see her, Ilya, and Agito all backing you up. You clap your hands happily and turn back to Remilia. Tonight you'll definitely win!

---

You totally would have won, except Kyouko decided to interfere on Remilia's side, and then Sayaka and Mami came to help her. And when Ilya called in Sella and Leysritt, Fate decided to help Remilia, too! And when Megane and Nanoha came in on your side, Madoka and Homura sided with Remilia! Then Sakuya came over and whispered something to Fate and Nanoha, and the two of them disengaged and swam toward Vita, and you couldn't hear much except some wailing about Hayate's orders. But then Remilia calls a truce, and more normal water sports begin - racing, laps, and some swimming lessons. Lulu is a much better swimmer than she used to be, and you grin as she moves from teaching Ilya some of the Mid-Childan styles to being taught better form by her mother and Zest.

"Is something happening?" You glance at Vita, but she's looking past you, toward the middle of the lake - or, more likely, the far bank. You frown at the bursts of danmaku, and as you focus the situation becomes even more confusing. If no one's playing a trick on you, fairies are attacking the lake! You look around for Remilia, and she drifts back to the shallower area you're in. She smiles at your questioning glance.

"Fairies are picking a fight with someone. She's a rather peaceful girl, but quite capable of fighting back." Fate and Nanoha look at the distant lights concernedly.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" You scowl at Fate's question, but Remilia just smiles and shakes her head.

"Why? The fairies, even so relatively numerous as they are tonight, are incapable of defeating that girl, while she is quite able to drive them off even by herself." She waves her hand, and after a moment the air shimmers, granting you an aerial view of the skirmish. The fairies, at least forty of them, are firing their danmaku at the lake's surface - rather ineffectually, as their bullets don't seem to be passing far beneath the surface of the water. Even so, only a few seconds after Remilia's scrying bubble activates, a wave of danmaku answers them, shooting out from the lake. You aren't the only one to gasp as the blue-haired mermaid leaps out of the water, scattering the fairies with magic and her physical presence. You look at the fairies, but you don't see the ice fairy or the three intelligent ones. "As you can see, there's nothing to worry about." Still, Fate and Nanoha don't look convinced.


What do you do?

[ ] Try to convince them that this is normal in Gensokyo, and that fairies really aren't a threat to anyone. They should know better by now, but ….

[ ] If they're bothering your guests, you should do something about them:
- [ ] Scatter the fairies, then introduce yourself to the mermaid and ask her to come meet everyone.
- [ ] Scatter the fairies, then wish the mermaid a peaceful rest of the night and return to your guests.
- [ ] Capture any fairies who might possibly know what they're doing and interrogate them, then return to your guests.
- - [ ] If the mermaid asks, let her come meet everyone.
- [ ] Scatter the fairies, then harangue the mermaid for being unable to properly deal with fairies.

[ ] Just watch the fight.

[ ] Other?