Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)
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Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Not really sure what's intended with this vote. Most of the items Flan acquired on her trips were put away way back in Getting Food, so I'm not sure what 'cleaning up' is supposed to entail.
Also, Illya probably wouldn't want to come back to the mansion just to help Flan with her things, and Ilya would probably be jealous. And Flan is currently humming Ilya to sleep, anyway, so is the vote for waiting for Ilya to fall asleep and then hoping Patchouli will open the portal, or in the morning after breakfast?
Ilya and Illya are terribly confusing I keep thinking that 1 L is prisma and 2 Ls is heaven's feel. But the items would make decent story telling props. "This is the 58th Mami's soul, this hat makes you better at certain types of magic, and this is the soul of someone that thought I was a normal person because I wasn't a witch or a magical girl-oh! And this is Headless. Say hello Headless."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Ilya."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Ilya."
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
EDIT: Votes are locked.
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Not the Best Choice
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[ ] Skip to the theater.
You follow Koakuma as she guides you, Ilya, her maids, and Kyouko through the mansion to the theater. You shake your head at Kyouko's continued pleas to be allowed to watch, but despite how utterly cute she is in her maid uniform, you shall not be swayed! More to the point, you can't think of a way to get her in that Remilia wouldn't be able to detect and counter. Ilya sighs. "Kyouko, if it's any good, Flan will let you know and you'll be able to watch another performance." Kyouko finally quiets down as Koakuma halts by a modest door, marked by a sign: Scarlet Devil Mansion Theater. You nod at its simplicity and walk in, only to stop just inside the door, as the first thing you see is a food stand that looks remarkably similar to the one in the movie theater you and Satsuki went to. It even has popcorn, chocolate candy, and a machine that dispenses drinks … although that has a large sign hanging on it saying 'out of order.' Instead, there are juices, teas, and alcoholic drinks on a table by the hallway that leads deeper into the theater.
"Ah, take anything you feel like," Koakuma says, then follows her own advice, picking up two large chocolate bars and a large bag of popcorn. You watch as Ilya cautiously takes a bag as well, and then you all walk through the dark hallway. There aren't many seats, but they do look quite comfortable. Remilia looks back from farther down, four rows back from the stage, and waves.
"Flan! Illyasviel! Come on!" Ilya smiles at you and you bounce forward, flopping onto the chair next to your sister - and the armrests between your new seat and hers.
"Remi! What are we watching?" She pokes your nose lightly to make you sit up, and you look around. Patchouli, of course, is on her other side, but Deis is two rows ahead, and Koakuma hurries down the other aisle to sit next to her. Sakuya is adjusting something on the wall near the curtain, but it looks like her things are in the row behind yours. Ilya sits next to you, and Leysritt and Sella take the seats behind her.
"We don't know yet, Flan. We'll find out just before it starts. Also, rules for everyone: Quiet, please, and no interrupting. Also, don't throw any food or drinks onto the stage." You peer at the curtains blocking the stage and listen closely, then turn and give Remilia a look. "Why, Flan, what could possibly be on your mind?" You shake your head and flop back in your seat, leaning against Ilya, and your sister giggles. You rest your head against Ilya's shoulder as she tilts her head curiously.
"We aren't watching a performance. It's going to be a movie or something." Her eyes widen slightly.
"A movie? Hmm …."
"Well, it'll actually just be the first episode of an anime, not a full movie. Oh, it's starting!" You turn away from your sister as the curtain rises, revealing a shiny golden trash can on the stage in front of the screen. The lid opens slightly, but you can't see anything within.
"And the winner is … Smut." You glance at your sister, and she winces at the revelation. Patchouli sighs - and Koakuma and Deis laugh and slap their hands together. The trash can somehow bows, then vanishes, and then the screen is the only source of light. For several seconds, nothing happens … then the episode begins.
Your mouth falls open as you recognize the figure sleeping on the bed. Of course, Illya is cute, but her hair is a shade or two yellower than it really is, and her sleep-hair is far messier than Ilya's! You grin and lean against Ilya, but she barely reacts; instead, her focus is entirely on the screen. Your initial response to Shirou's appearance is confusion - but if this is depicting her life, then it's not so strange. Much better are the Sella and Leysritt of that household - a pretty Sella and a sassy Leysritt, and you look back at the maids. Leysritt, of course, is calm, but Sella blushes as the apparition scolds Shirou.
The switch to Tohsaka's point of view - with Ruby and Sapphire and Luvia - is a bit sudden and unforeseen, but it does show their unceasingly antagonistic attitudes quite well. And then it flips back! You stifle a chuckle at Sella's comment about anime being something for the rabble - after all, your sister approved of watching it! - and look back to see her covering her face as Leysritt awkwardly pats her head. She can't cover the blush entirely, however! And then comes a seen of utter comedy, and you have to admit that Tohsaka's appearance is rather improved by the cat ears and tail. But how to get them on Tohsaka to begin with, and to make it permanent? Could Patchouli do it? You sneak a glance past your sister at the magician, but Patchouli's thin-lipped expression makes it plain that something is bothering her - and then her lips quirk up, ever so slightly, as the Devices revoke Tohsaka and Luvia's Masterships and let them fall. Perhaps she was simply frustrated by their incompetence?
And then Illya takes her bath, and you understand why Remilia chose that label for this. The angles chosen, what's shown and what isn't shown - yes, that is certainly the correct term to use. And when Shirou enters, you have no choice but to bury your face in your hands, a decision shared by, of all people, Deis. Ilya, somewhat strangely, continues to not react, simply watching the screen and occasionally eating her popcorn. You lean against her shoulder and roll your head so you're looking at her, and she blinks, startled, and smiles quickly and awkwardly at you before returning her attention to the screen. You do smile slightly at the Shirou abuse, but Ruby's other antics are rather juvenile - although, admittedly, easily enough to capture Illya. Perhaps Ruby isn't a Device, but a youkai or fairy trapped within the stick? And, again strangely, Deis turns away from the screen during Illya's transformation, blushing and looking embarrassed.
And then, despite her advantages, Illya is taken out by Tohsaka. As the Device says, experience counts for a lot - and Illya's apparent lack of desire for conflict certainly didn't help - but it's still kind of embarrassing to watch. You shake your head, but as you turn a discreet eye on Ilya, her lips are pressed firmly together and she's firmly running her fingers along the edges of the bag. You turn to face her more squarely, a worried look on your face, but she doesn't notice. Koakuma claps as the episode comes to an end, but she's the only one who seems to have unabashedly enjoyed the whole thing.
"Doesn't seem to have gone over well, does it, Remi?"
"What, I should have swapped it for Vivid when I found out it had won?" Your sister's voice is bitter and resigned, and you have to wonder what she meant by 'Vivid,' but your attention turns more fully to Ilya as her shoulders droop. Her body is relaxed, but her eyes have a dead look to them, and she looks to her right - over you, toward Remilia.
What do you do?
[ ] Let Ilya talk to Remi. Your sister is probably the one best able to answer her, after all, and it's probably better to keep this out in the open.
[ ] Take Ilya somewhere private and talk to her there. You might not be as capable of answering her questions, but she already doesn't get along with Remi so well.
[ ] Other?
You follow Koakuma as she guides you, Ilya, her maids, and Kyouko through the mansion to the theater. You shake your head at Kyouko's continued pleas to be allowed to watch, but despite how utterly cute she is in her maid uniform, you shall not be swayed! More to the point, you can't think of a way to get her in that Remilia wouldn't be able to detect and counter. Ilya sighs. "Kyouko, if it's any good, Flan will let you know and you'll be able to watch another performance." Kyouko finally quiets down as Koakuma halts by a modest door, marked by a sign: Scarlet Devil Mansion Theater. You nod at its simplicity and walk in, only to stop just inside the door, as the first thing you see is a food stand that looks remarkably similar to the one in the movie theater you and Satsuki went to. It even has popcorn, chocolate candy, and a machine that dispenses drinks … although that has a large sign hanging on it saying 'out of order.' Instead, there are juices, teas, and alcoholic drinks on a table by the hallway that leads deeper into the theater.
"Ah, take anything you feel like," Koakuma says, then follows her own advice, picking up two large chocolate bars and a large bag of popcorn. You watch as Ilya cautiously takes a bag as well, and then you all walk through the dark hallway. There aren't many seats, but they do look quite comfortable. Remilia looks back from farther down, four rows back from the stage, and waves.
"Flan! Illyasviel! Come on!" Ilya smiles at you and you bounce forward, flopping onto the chair next to your sister - and the armrests between your new seat and hers.
"Remi! What are we watching?" She pokes your nose lightly to make you sit up, and you look around. Patchouli, of course, is on her other side, but Deis is two rows ahead, and Koakuma hurries down the other aisle to sit next to her. Sakuya is adjusting something on the wall near the curtain, but it looks like her things are in the row behind yours. Ilya sits next to you, and Leysritt and Sella take the seats behind her.
"We don't know yet, Flan. We'll find out just before it starts. Also, rules for everyone: Quiet, please, and no interrupting. Also, don't throw any food or drinks onto the stage." You peer at the curtains blocking the stage and listen closely, then turn and give Remilia a look. "Why, Flan, what could possibly be on your mind?" You shake your head and flop back in your seat, leaning against Ilya, and your sister giggles. You rest your head against Ilya's shoulder as she tilts her head curiously.
"We aren't watching a performance. It's going to be a movie or something." Her eyes widen slightly.
"A movie? Hmm …."
"Well, it'll actually just be the first episode of an anime, not a full movie. Oh, it's starting!" You turn away from your sister as the curtain rises, revealing a shiny golden trash can on the stage in front of the screen. The lid opens slightly, but you can't see anything within.
"And the winner is … Smut." You glance at your sister, and she winces at the revelation. Patchouli sighs - and Koakuma and Deis laugh and slap their hands together. The trash can somehow bows, then vanishes, and then the screen is the only source of light. For several seconds, nothing happens … then the episode begins.
Your mouth falls open as you recognize the figure sleeping on the bed. Of course, Illya is cute, but her hair is a shade or two yellower than it really is, and her sleep-hair is far messier than Ilya's! You grin and lean against Ilya, but she barely reacts; instead, her focus is entirely on the screen. Your initial response to Shirou's appearance is confusion - but if this is depicting her life, then it's not so strange. Much better are the Sella and Leysritt of that household - a pretty Sella and a sassy Leysritt, and you look back at the maids. Leysritt, of course, is calm, but Sella blushes as the apparition scolds Shirou.
The switch to Tohsaka's point of view - with Ruby and Sapphire and Luvia - is a bit sudden and unforeseen, but it does show their unceasingly antagonistic attitudes quite well. And then it flips back! You stifle a chuckle at Sella's comment about anime being something for the rabble - after all, your sister approved of watching it! - and look back to see her covering her face as Leysritt awkwardly pats her head. She can't cover the blush entirely, however! And then comes a seen of utter comedy, and you have to admit that Tohsaka's appearance is rather improved by the cat ears and tail. But how to get them on Tohsaka to begin with, and to make it permanent? Could Patchouli do it? You sneak a glance past your sister at the magician, but Patchouli's thin-lipped expression makes it plain that something is bothering her - and then her lips quirk up, ever so slightly, as the Devices revoke Tohsaka and Luvia's Masterships and let them fall. Perhaps she was simply frustrated by their incompetence?
And then Illya takes her bath, and you understand why Remilia chose that label for this. The angles chosen, what's shown and what isn't shown - yes, that is certainly the correct term to use. And when Shirou enters, you have no choice but to bury your face in your hands, a decision shared by, of all people, Deis. Ilya, somewhat strangely, continues to not react, simply watching the screen and occasionally eating her popcorn. You lean against her shoulder and roll your head so you're looking at her, and she blinks, startled, and smiles quickly and awkwardly at you before returning her attention to the screen. You do smile slightly at the Shirou abuse, but Ruby's other antics are rather juvenile - although, admittedly, easily enough to capture Illya. Perhaps Ruby isn't a Device, but a youkai or fairy trapped within the stick? And, again strangely, Deis turns away from the screen during Illya's transformation, blushing and looking embarrassed.
And then, despite her advantages, Illya is taken out by Tohsaka. As the Device says, experience counts for a lot - and Illya's apparent lack of desire for conflict certainly didn't help - but it's still kind of embarrassing to watch. You shake your head, but as you turn a discreet eye on Ilya, her lips are pressed firmly together and she's firmly running her fingers along the edges of the bag. You turn to face her more squarely, a worried look on your face, but she doesn't notice. Koakuma claps as the episode comes to an end, but she's the only one who seems to have unabashedly enjoyed the whole thing.
"Doesn't seem to have gone over well, does it, Remi?"
"What, I should have swapped it for Vivid when I found out it had won?" Your sister's voice is bitter and resigned, and you have to wonder what she meant by 'Vivid,' but your attention turns more fully to Ilya as her shoulders droop. Her body is relaxed, but her eyes have a dead look to them, and she looks to her right - over you, toward Remilia.
What do you do?
[ ] Let Ilya talk to Remi. Your sister is probably the one best able to answer her, after all, and it's probably better to keep this out in the open.
[ ] Take Ilya somewhere private and talk to her there. You might not be as capable of answering her questions, but she already doesn't get along with Remi so well.
[ ] Other?
Whose idea was it to show Ilya a show starring Illya, who she knows is a parallel version of her, after we already had that whole thing with Sanae accusing Ilya of being fictional?
[x] Take Ilya somewhere private and talk to her there. You might not be as capable of answering her questions, but she already doesn't get along with Remi so well.
[x] Take Ilya somewhere private and talk to her there. You might not be as capable of answering her questions, but she already doesn't get along with Remi so well.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
You were half right; you guessed wrong for 'Best Character'.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Let Ilya talk to Remi. Your sister is probably the one best able to answer her, after all, and it's probably better to keep this out in the open.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are locked.
Quarantine Breached
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[ ] Let Ilya talk to Remi. Your sister is probably the one best able to answer her, after all, and it's probably better to keep this out in the open.
You hesitate, not sure if you should interfere, then let yourself relax so it's not as obvious you're staying out of Ilya's way. "Remilia?" Her voice isn't cold, exactly, but it does have that tense quality that always signifies trouble. Remilia notices it, too, and makes a point of turning to face Ilya. "Did you have any hand in the creation of this 'anime'?" You frown, wondering if something didn't match up with what she learned from Illya or Illyasviel. Your sister, however, seems to understand what she means.
"Hm? Oh, no, I had nothing to do with it. I simply chanced upon it and decided to include it - although you can thank Patchouli's familiar for the other volumes." You worry about the confident smile Remilia has.
"Then, did you provide access between worlds to the creators, or otherwise enable the transfer of information?" Patchouli is looking at the screen, motionless, but her familiar and Deis are both watching unhappily.
"I did not - and, to forestall your presumed next series of questions, to the best of my knowledge the creators have no belief in magic, no knowledge of its existence, and are unaware of Illyasviel von Einzbern as an existing person." Her smile doesn't change, and Ilya stomps to her feet, glaring furiously.
"Then Sanae was right! You made me, didn't you?" You blink and almost speak out, but Remilia just waves her hand dismissively.
"Again, incorrect. I -"
"Liar!" You stiffen and press yourself into the seat as Remilia lowers her hand and rises to her feet to face Ilya.
"Do not interrupt me, child. As I was going to say, I did not create you, and any entity that I did create would not worry about whether it was created for a purpose or not." You look worriedly at Ilya; that can't be all it is. She wouldn't be so upset if that was the only thing bothering her ….
"You said I was a real person, but that's false, since 'I' came from some stupid game! And since I'm not acting the way you want me to, you're trying to get rid of me! That's why you abandoned me during the Fourth Heaven's Feel! Flan likes me, but I'm not following your script, so you left me to die!"
… What.
You tilt your head in confusion - wasn't Ilya supposed to go with Patchouli? But the magician refuses to meet your eyes, embarrassed. Koakuma and Deis can't look at you, either, and of course Ilya and Remilia are staring at each other -
"Child, had I wished your death Gilgamesh would have slain you. Or are you going to claim that the Serpent's trick was simply a fluke of chance that happened to occur when that Servant sent Gram through your heart?" You blink slowly; Remilia doesn't deny Ilya's accusation, which - could mean several things, but given Ilya's terrified expression and the sigils glowing even through her clothes, it most likely just means that Remilia is admitting to leaving Ilya behind for … some reason. "Or Berserker would have materialized a fraction too slowly, and your father's bullet would have killed your mother, and you would have gone insane," you twitch, "with grief. Or something else entirely; regardless, do not presume to blame your suicidal tendencies on me." Ilya trembles furiously.
"You - you hate me! Hate me, because Flan likes me, and you want her for yourself! So you - you're pushing Lulu away, and you're trying to get rid of me -!"
"Spare me your paranoid delusions, child. I suppose Patchouli will have to see what's wrong with you now …." You close your eyes; Remilia is being careless and deliberately hurtful, even if Ilya probably is exaggerating or misreading the situation. Whatever the case is, however, listening to them snarl at each other is getting annoying ….
What do you do?
[ ] Go see Candeloro and let them sort it out themselves; Patchouli and Deis will make sure nothing too serious happens.
[ ] Lock Ilya and Remi together in a small closet until they can be civil to each other. It worked for you and Pache!
[ ] Crack their heads and make them make sense.
You hesitate, not sure if you should interfere, then let yourself relax so it's not as obvious you're staying out of Ilya's way. "Remilia?" Her voice isn't cold, exactly, but it does have that tense quality that always signifies trouble. Remilia notices it, too, and makes a point of turning to face Ilya. "Did you have any hand in the creation of this 'anime'?" You frown, wondering if something didn't match up with what she learned from Illya or Illyasviel. Your sister, however, seems to understand what she means.
"Hm? Oh, no, I had nothing to do with it. I simply chanced upon it and decided to include it - although you can thank Patchouli's familiar for the other volumes." You worry about the confident smile Remilia has.
"Then, did you provide access between worlds to the creators, or otherwise enable the transfer of information?" Patchouli is looking at the screen, motionless, but her familiar and Deis are both watching unhappily.
"I did not - and, to forestall your presumed next series of questions, to the best of my knowledge the creators have no belief in magic, no knowledge of its existence, and are unaware of Illyasviel von Einzbern as an existing person." Her smile doesn't change, and Ilya stomps to her feet, glaring furiously.
"Then Sanae was right! You made me, didn't you?" You blink and almost speak out, but Remilia just waves her hand dismissively.
"Again, incorrect. I -"
"Liar!" You stiffen and press yourself into the seat as Remilia lowers her hand and rises to her feet to face Ilya.
"Do not interrupt me, child. As I was going to say, I did not create you, and any entity that I did create would not worry about whether it was created for a purpose or not." You look worriedly at Ilya; that can't be all it is. She wouldn't be so upset if that was the only thing bothering her ….
"You said I was a real person, but that's false, since 'I' came from some stupid game! And since I'm not acting the way you want me to, you're trying to get rid of me! That's why you abandoned me during the Fourth Heaven's Feel! Flan likes me, but I'm not following your script, so you left me to die!"
… What.
You tilt your head in confusion - wasn't Ilya supposed to go with Patchouli? But the magician refuses to meet your eyes, embarrassed. Koakuma and Deis can't look at you, either, and of course Ilya and Remilia are staring at each other -
"Child, had I wished your death Gilgamesh would have slain you. Or are you going to claim that the Serpent's trick was simply a fluke of chance that happened to occur when that Servant sent Gram through your heart?" You blink slowly; Remilia doesn't deny Ilya's accusation, which - could mean several things, but given Ilya's terrified expression and the sigils glowing even through her clothes, it most likely just means that Remilia is admitting to leaving Ilya behind for … some reason. "Or Berserker would have materialized a fraction too slowly, and your father's bullet would have killed your mother, and you would have gone insane," you twitch, "with grief. Or something else entirely; regardless, do not presume to blame your suicidal tendencies on me." Ilya trembles furiously.
"You - you hate me! Hate me, because Flan likes me, and you want her for yourself! So you - you're pushing Lulu away, and you're trying to get rid of me -!"
"Spare me your paranoid delusions, child. I suppose Patchouli will have to see what's wrong with you now …." You close your eyes; Remilia is being careless and deliberately hurtful, even if Ilya probably is exaggerating or misreading the situation. Whatever the case is, however, listening to them snarl at each other is getting annoying ….
What do you do?
[ ] Go see Candeloro and let them sort it out themselves; Patchouli and Deis will make sure nothing too serious happens.
[ ] Lock Ilya and Remi together in a small closet until they can be civil to each other. It worked for you and Pache!
[ ] Crack their heads and make them make sense.
I'm not sure if pointing out to Ilya that those were people in the same situation as her parents but not actually her parents would be a good idea or a bad idea but I know saying that in front of Homura would be a terrible idea. Especially if we draw the comparison between what we did with what she does. So many Madokas to save, so little time.
[x] Crack their heads and make them make sense.
This is a horrible idea. I hope Ilya can survive it.
[x] Crack their heads and make them make sense.
This is a horrible idea. I hope Ilya can survive it.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
EDIT: Votes are locked.
Last edited:
Getting Some Answers
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[ ] Crack their heads and make them make sense.
You let your breath out; Illyasaviel is definitely overreacting, but Remilia should know better. "Headless? A moment of your time, please?" You stand abruptly as a surge of joy comes from within you.
"YES." Your friend and your sister finally notice you, and your wing snaps out to strike Ilya in the forehead. You don't hit her very hard, but it definitely hurts, and you see Sakuya appear behind her to keep her from falling to the ground. Meanwhile, "YES," you turn to your sister, "YES," reach forward to grip the back of her head, "YES," and slam your forehead into hers. You hold back - a little - but the sound of bones crunching as your skulls crack echoes in the theater, and Headless giggles hysterically in your mind. Unlike Ilya, Remi doesn't fall; she doesn't flinch or stagger, or react at all, not even to heal the ruptured skin.
"You two … everyone, it seems, has been keeping at least something important from me. Your argument does not make sense. I want explanations, and I want them clear and immediate." You turn your head to glower at everyone in the room; Ilya nods and shudders in Sella's arms, and Remi nods once. "- Patchouli. You were supposed to take Ilya to see her parents." The magician takes a long breath and nods.
"I overtaxed my body during - during our trip to that world," she begins, gesturing at the screen. "Under normal circumstances, it would not affect me much, but it would have affected my timing, my reflexes, and my judgment, and going with Illyasviel to a Grail War, particularly one in which Gilgamesh is a Servant, would have risked her life to an excessive degree." You hold her gaze for a moment, then nod and focus your attention on your sister.
"Did you leave Ilya during the Grail War?" Blood still flows from the gash in her skull, and she nods.
"I did." Your eyes narrow at the lack of a defense, and your wings stiffen into angles.
"Why did you do that, Remilia?"
"The agreement had been to let her meet with her parents, not to let her participate in a Grail War. She requested my assistance, and when I refused, she demanded to stay and said that if I wanted to go I should leave without her." You turn enough to look at Ilya through the corner of your eye, and she huddles closer against Sella … but she does nod. You turn back to Remilia.
"And the 'Serpent's trick' you mentioned?" Remilia smiles.
"Michael Roa Valdamjong was a Church researcher turned into a Dead Apostle, following which he implemented a plan to let him reincarnate into different bodies. After the apparent death of one of these bodies, his soul left - and after a short period, the body revived, with the personality of the original owner. It was under the effects of the Serpent's trick; the world was convinced that she was he, and therefore she could not die while he existed. I modified the trick slightly, using the fact that precisely the same Illyasviel existed in two separate locations to achieve the same end. Gilgamesh probably has some artifact in his vault that would let him override it, but it is not an obvious thing, and it afforded Illyasviel almost complete safety, as unless Illyasviel-within-Castle-Einzbern died first, she would be restored to normal following any injury." You stare at Remilia for several seconds. She's not lying, you're sure, but that doesn't mean she's right. She … probably is, but you still aren't happy about her leaving Ilya behind. Finally, you turn around.
"Ilya, why did you call my sister a liar?" She turns a slack-jawed and stunned expression toward you, but it's only after Sella shakes her shoulders gently that awareness returns to her eyes and she starts to respond.
"She … Flan, back during the party - she said I was a real person. But … but if I'm made-up, if I'm just … something she made to be a friend for you, then …." You sigh.
"First, you're remembering incorrectly. Remilia did not say you were a real person." Ilya blinks up at you and you nod. "What she said is that you are as real as I am, or she is, or Alice is." Ilya's eyes widen and she starts trembling. "So if you aren't real, then I'm not real - and if I'm real, you're real. If you want to believe that you're a figment of imagination, something created from a fictional world that doesn't properly exist, that's fine - but that would mean that I'm a figment of imagination, something created from a fictional world that doesn't properly exist. And if you believe that I'm real, that I properly exist, then you have to believe that you're real, that you properly exist." She stares at you, mouth opening and closing helplessly, and you lean forward to pat her head gently. Patchouli clears her throat meaningfully, and you turn back around to see her and Remilia being expressive at each other. Finally, your sister reaches forward and flicks Patchouli's forehead before turning back to you, smiling tightly.
"Philosophical difference. It's not important right now," she says, and no amount of staring gets her to say anything further.
"… Do you hate Ilya?" She takes a deep breath, and there's a sudden silence behind you. Then Remilia exhales slowly and opens her eyes.
"I do not hate her." You look into her eyes, clear and red and so dangerous for most people to sink into - and you believe her. She does not hate Ilya … but that doesn't explain the thought she needed to put into her response. You turn away.
"Ilya, do you hate my sister?"
"No. I don't like her, but I don't hate her." You turn again - "Maybe you shouldn't have stood between them," - and Remilia is grinning at you. … And of course you can't stretch her cheeks without making Ilya think you aren't taking this seriously! And she knows it!
What do you do?
[ ] Take Ilya and go comfort her.
- [ ] Skip to seeing Candeloro.
[ ] Work on getting Ilya more cooperative with Remi.
- [ ] Skip to seeing Candeloro.
[ ] Continue the discussion.
- [ ] What 'philosophical difference?'
- [ ] Other?
DM Note: I'm ... *makes weighing gesture* about this. I can get it right in my head, I can visualize it pretty well - I'm just awful at putting it down. And Relationshipping is hard for me, anyway, so that's not helping, either :/
You let your breath out; Illyasaviel is definitely overreacting, but Remilia should know better. "Headless? A moment of your time, please?" You stand abruptly as a surge of joy comes from within you.
"YES." Your friend and your sister finally notice you, and your wing snaps out to strike Ilya in the forehead. You don't hit her very hard, but it definitely hurts, and you see Sakuya appear behind her to keep her from falling to the ground. Meanwhile, "YES," you turn to your sister, "YES," reach forward to grip the back of her head, "YES," and slam your forehead into hers. You hold back - a little - but the sound of bones crunching as your skulls crack echoes in the theater, and Headless giggles hysterically in your mind. Unlike Ilya, Remi doesn't fall; she doesn't flinch or stagger, or react at all, not even to heal the ruptured skin.
"You two … everyone, it seems, has been keeping at least something important from me. Your argument does not make sense. I want explanations, and I want them clear and immediate." You turn your head to glower at everyone in the room; Ilya nods and shudders in Sella's arms, and Remi nods once. "- Patchouli. You were supposed to take Ilya to see her parents." The magician takes a long breath and nods.
"I overtaxed my body during - during our trip to that world," she begins, gesturing at the screen. "Under normal circumstances, it would not affect me much, but it would have affected my timing, my reflexes, and my judgment, and going with Illyasviel to a Grail War, particularly one in which Gilgamesh is a Servant, would have risked her life to an excessive degree." You hold her gaze for a moment, then nod and focus your attention on your sister.
"Did you leave Ilya during the Grail War?" Blood still flows from the gash in her skull, and she nods.
"I did." Your eyes narrow at the lack of a defense, and your wings stiffen into angles.
"Why did you do that, Remilia?"
"The agreement had been to let her meet with her parents, not to let her participate in a Grail War. She requested my assistance, and when I refused, she demanded to stay and said that if I wanted to go I should leave without her." You turn enough to look at Ilya through the corner of your eye, and she huddles closer against Sella … but she does nod. You turn back to Remilia.
"And the 'Serpent's trick' you mentioned?" Remilia smiles.
"Michael Roa Valdamjong was a Church researcher turned into a Dead Apostle, following which he implemented a plan to let him reincarnate into different bodies. After the apparent death of one of these bodies, his soul left - and after a short period, the body revived, with the personality of the original owner. It was under the effects of the Serpent's trick; the world was convinced that she was he, and therefore she could not die while he existed. I modified the trick slightly, using the fact that precisely the same Illyasviel existed in two separate locations to achieve the same end. Gilgamesh probably has some artifact in his vault that would let him override it, but it is not an obvious thing, and it afforded Illyasviel almost complete safety, as unless Illyasviel-within-Castle-Einzbern died first, she would be restored to normal following any injury." You stare at Remilia for several seconds. She's not lying, you're sure, but that doesn't mean she's right. She … probably is, but you still aren't happy about her leaving Ilya behind. Finally, you turn around.
"Ilya, why did you call my sister a liar?" She turns a slack-jawed and stunned expression toward you, but it's only after Sella shakes her shoulders gently that awareness returns to her eyes and she starts to respond.
"She … Flan, back during the party - she said I was a real person. But … but if I'm made-up, if I'm just … something she made to be a friend for you, then …." You sigh.
"First, you're remembering incorrectly. Remilia did not say you were a real person." Ilya blinks up at you and you nod. "What she said is that you are as real as I am, or she is, or Alice is." Ilya's eyes widen and she starts trembling. "So if you aren't real, then I'm not real - and if I'm real, you're real. If you want to believe that you're a figment of imagination, something created from a fictional world that doesn't properly exist, that's fine - but that would mean that I'm a figment of imagination, something created from a fictional world that doesn't properly exist. And if you believe that I'm real, that I properly exist, then you have to believe that you're real, that you properly exist." She stares at you, mouth opening and closing helplessly, and you lean forward to pat her head gently. Patchouli clears her throat meaningfully, and you turn back around to see her and Remilia being expressive at each other. Finally, your sister reaches forward and flicks Patchouli's forehead before turning back to you, smiling tightly.
"Philosophical difference. It's not important right now," she says, and no amount of staring gets her to say anything further.
"… Do you hate Ilya?" She takes a deep breath, and there's a sudden silence behind you. Then Remilia exhales slowly and opens her eyes.
"I do not hate her." You look into her eyes, clear and red and so dangerous for most people to sink into - and you believe her. She does not hate Ilya … but that doesn't explain the thought she needed to put into her response. You turn away.
"Ilya, do you hate my sister?"
"No. I don't like her, but I don't hate her." You turn again - "Maybe you shouldn't have stood between them," - and Remilia is grinning at you. … And of course you can't stretch her cheeks without making Ilya think you aren't taking this seriously! And she knows it!
What do you do?
[ ] Take Ilya and go comfort her.
- [ ] Skip to seeing Candeloro.
[ ] Work on getting Ilya more cooperative with Remi.
- [ ] Skip to seeing Candeloro.
[ ] Continue the discussion.
- [ ] What 'philosophical difference?'
- [ ] Other?
DM Note: I'm ... *makes weighing gesture* about this. I can get it right in my head, I can visualize it pretty well - I'm just awful at putting it down. And Relationshipping is hard for me, anyway, so that's not helping, either :/
[X] Continue the discussion.
-[X] What 'philosophical difference?'
--[X] Ilya IS aware that for many beings in Gensokyo, they only exist at all because a story was once told about them, right? And that they now live in Gensokyo because they couldn't continue to be people rather than stories.
--[X] Not unlike Berserker really.
-[X] What 'philosophical difference?'
--[X] Ilya IS aware that for many beings in Gensokyo, they only exist at all because a story was once told about them, right? And that they now live in Gensokyo because they couldn't continue to be people rather than stories.
--[X] Not unlike Berserker really.
[X] Continue the discussion.
-[X] What 'philosophical difference?'
--[X] Ilya IS aware that for many beings in Gensokyo, they only exist at all because a story was once told about them, right? And that they now live in Gensokyo because they couldn't continue to be people rather than stories.
--[X] Not unlike Berserker really.
-[X] What 'philosophical difference?'
--[X] Ilya IS aware that for many beings in Gensokyo, they only exist at all because a story was once told about them, right? And that they now live in Gensokyo because they couldn't continue to be people rather than stories.
--[X] Not unlike Berserker really.