Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)
- Thread starter Entropy Judge
- Start date
- Location
- Bowling Green
[X] Suggest moving the discussion elsewhere so Deis can get involved as well.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
- Location
- Thailand
[X] Suggest moving the discussion elsewhere so Deis can get involved as well.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Oh dear goodness I wasn't expecting it to do that.
Edit: Votes are not locked.
Edit: Votes are not locked.
Last edited:
- Location
- Earth
[X] Suggest moving the discussion elsewhere so Deis can get involved as well.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are locked.
I'm not sure if I'll keep using the Vote Tally, though. Thoughts?
I'm not sure if I'll keep using the Vote Tally, though. Thoughts?
Discussion Continued
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Suggest moving the discussion elsewhere so Deis can get involved as well.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
"Hm. I guess we're kind of stuck for now, then?" Tohsaka nods and Ilya stares at her plate. "Then why don't we continue in a bit when Deis can join us? She's probably thought of something we haven't." Tohsaka stares at you.
"Do you really think it'll actually help? It's not like we haven't been thinking about this, and we actually know something about the situation." You sniff disdainfully.
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think it would help; besides, the fact that Deis has a different magical background might help, because she can think of things that you might not be aware of or have discounted for one reason or another." Tohsaka sighs and shrugs.
"Fine. Where is she now, the garage?" You nod.
"Yes, but I was thinking of moving up to the study once breakfast is done. It's more comfortable up there, and easier to hold a discussion in." Tohsaka looks at you, then glances to your left and right. Neither Sella nor Ilya seem in the mood to finish what they have, and you cross your arms before giving Ilya a look. She brushes it off with remarkable ease.
"Thank you for the meal, Rin. It was very good." She waves off the compliment. You glance sidelong at Ilya, but she seems sincere, not just saying it for politeness's sake.
"Alright, alright; I'll get this cleared up and have Archer tell Deis, then meet you upstairs, okay?" She doesn't seem disappointed or upset by Ilya's reaction and simply nods.
"It was good; I look forward to your next creation," you say, wondering how well she handles Chinese cuisine. Sella bows her head. "However, if breakfast is done, then I will take Ilya and head upstairs." You tilt your head very slightly to the side, and Tohsaka nods again. Sella's chair slides back a moment before yours does, and you wonder how she's taking being the one served instead of being the one serving. You slip out of your own chair and move to lift Ilya as Tohsaka begins clearing the table. You titter quietly once you're a ways from the room and Ilya looks at you, confused. "You didn't eat everything," you say. She looks down and leans into you.
"I'm not very hungry right now." You crane your head to the side to get a better look at her. "I'm fine, Flan." She flinches a moment after saying that, but you smile and rub your head against hers.
"It's okay, Ilya." Being fussed over can be pretty stressful, and it's probably worse for her, because she had been stuck inside her home, unable to do what she wanted, and now, so soon after gaining relative freedom, she needs to be carried around her own home. She relaxes, nodding, her eyes closed. "Do you want me to take you to your room so you can get some rest?" She seems to consider the idea for a moment before shaking her head vigorously. You chuckle and carry her the rest of the way in silence.
"Why won't you let me see it?" You make sure Ilya is comfortable on the chair before grinning at her.
"Because it's not finished, of course! I mean, ideally no one is going to see it before it's finished, but I really don't want you to see it so it doesn't spoil your anticipation." She sighs and leans against the armrest as you move back to the painting.
"… Do you really think we can use the Grail?" You frown at Ilya, but she's looking at the floor, not at you. She sounds … almost defeated, like she's given up on winning.
"If I didn't think it was possible, I'd be making a different suggestion, Ilya. Maybe we won't think of a solution, and if that happens … well, we'll work something else out. But if I didn't think the Grail could be used, I wouldn't be trying to figure out how to do it." She keeps staring at the floor for a few seconds before nodding slowly. You almost fly over to hold her and ask what's wrong, but Ershin walks in, and when you glance back at her she's acting normally.
"Ooh, a portrait! Can I see?" You make a shooing motion at Deis as she leans forward from her perch on top of Ershin.
"No. Ilya gets to see it first, and only when it's finished. Then she gets to decide who else gets to see it." Deis snaps her fingers in disappointment, then flickers away, lying across the chair behind Ilya.
"Ah. So unfortunate. Well, Archer said there was going to be a discussion of some sort about how to go about our plans?" You nod as Ilya twists around in surprise. Deis blows a kiss at her before looking back at you. You give her a disapproving glance before returning to work on the portrait.
"Yes, how to make use of the Grail once we've dealt with Rider's Master - and, I suppose, how we're going to deal with her. Killing her would be a problem, since she's the Lesser Grail and her death would waste the energy accumulated until now. Getting her away from the Grail itself probably won't help unless we put her in a position where we can't use the Grail, either. And Rider's Master might not be able to do anything, either." You frown as Tohsaka walks in - but then, Archer is probably cleaning up in her place. He seems like he'd make a very nice wife.
"Which is important because if she is still conscious in there, she might be able to regain control over the Shadow. But she's probably gone, so it's just the Shadow controlling her body." Deis stares at Tohsaka, then at you, before sighing and shaking her head.
"Did you just arbitrarily dismiss the possibility of talking?" You blink and tilt your head to the side. "Yes, Flan, you're the only one who probably could, but it doesn't sound like any of you are actually entertaining the idea." She flickers so she's sitting on the chair's arm and glowers at you and Tohsaka, who has the grace to look chagrined. You smile triumphantly.
"See? I told you Deis would have an idea!" Deis snorts and Tohsaka rolls her eyes at you. "Although … neither the shadow-thing nor Rider's Master are likely to react very well to my presence, and I'm not sure I like the idea of leaving you all here, in case something goes wrong." Deis shrugs.
"Well, if we were going to try Archer's plan, we'd all end up going anyway, so there shouldn't be much harm in trying to talk. If it does come to a fight … if the girl's mind is gone and she's just being puppeted, I might be able to get in and take control. I'm not sure if that would actually do any good, but if I can block off the Shadow from the inside, or destroy whatever it was that connected her to the Grail, then we should have some more time to figure things out. At least, until our other problem decides that it wants to step in, too. I don't suppose any of you can think of a good way to get them to fight each other?" You shake your head glumly and Ilya wilts.
"… Can you disguise yourself?" You frown at Tohsaka. "I mean, if Arcueid really is someone who can fight you with a good chance of winning, she can probably do something to the Shadow. And we know that she's paying attention to the city and to the temple, so maybe if you made it so it seemed like the Shadow was attacking them and not you, she might get fed up enough to go after it."
"Except she'd probably kill it," Deis says.
"And she doesn't seem to care about people dying, so long as it's not me doing the killing. It might work to get the Japanese to go after it, but I'm not sure how much good that will do against something that eats people for sustenance - it's not usually a good plan against vampires unless you have truly overwhelming numbers to throw at them, and Rider's Master was swallowing them up in groups. And I can't really do any disguises. Invisibility, sure - and I could drag someone down to the cave and make sure they know what's happening - but an actual disguise … can't do that." You turn back to the painting, making sure you have the right colors for Ilya's shirt.
What do you do?
[ ] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
- Any more ideas?
[ ] Try to talk to the Shadow.
- [ ] Be a bully.
- [ ] Be polite.
[ ] Try beating the Shadow until Deis can take over.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Opting to Talk or Fight will skip ahead to night; unless otherwise stated, talking will involve Flan going alone, fighting will have Ershin, Ilya, Rin, and Flan.
- [X] The study where you're painting Ilya's portrait.
"Hm. I guess we're kind of stuck for now, then?" Tohsaka nods and Ilya stares at her plate. "Then why don't we continue in a bit when Deis can join us? She's probably thought of something we haven't." Tohsaka stares at you.
"Do you really think it'll actually help? It's not like we haven't been thinking about this, and we actually know something about the situation." You sniff disdainfully.
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think it would help; besides, the fact that Deis has a different magical background might help, because she can think of things that you might not be aware of or have discounted for one reason or another." Tohsaka sighs and shrugs.
"Fine. Where is she now, the garage?" You nod.
"Yes, but I was thinking of moving up to the study once breakfast is done. It's more comfortable up there, and easier to hold a discussion in." Tohsaka looks at you, then glances to your left and right. Neither Sella nor Ilya seem in the mood to finish what they have, and you cross your arms before giving Ilya a look. She brushes it off with remarkable ease.
"Thank you for the meal, Rin. It was very good." She waves off the compliment. You glance sidelong at Ilya, but she seems sincere, not just saying it for politeness's sake.
"Alright, alright; I'll get this cleared up and have Archer tell Deis, then meet you upstairs, okay?" She doesn't seem disappointed or upset by Ilya's reaction and simply nods.
"It was good; I look forward to your next creation," you say, wondering how well she handles Chinese cuisine. Sella bows her head. "However, if breakfast is done, then I will take Ilya and head upstairs." You tilt your head very slightly to the side, and Tohsaka nods again. Sella's chair slides back a moment before yours does, and you wonder how she's taking being the one served instead of being the one serving. You slip out of your own chair and move to lift Ilya as Tohsaka begins clearing the table. You titter quietly once you're a ways from the room and Ilya looks at you, confused. "You didn't eat everything," you say. She looks down and leans into you.
"I'm not very hungry right now." You crane your head to the side to get a better look at her. "I'm fine, Flan." She flinches a moment after saying that, but you smile and rub your head against hers.
"It's okay, Ilya." Being fussed over can be pretty stressful, and it's probably worse for her, because she had been stuck inside her home, unable to do what she wanted, and now, so soon after gaining relative freedom, she needs to be carried around her own home. She relaxes, nodding, her eyes closed. "Do you want me to take you to your room so you can get some rest?" She seems to consider the idea for a moment before shaking her head vigorously. You chuckle and carry her the rest of the way in silence.
"Why won't you let me see it?" You make sure Ilya is comfortable on the chair before grinning at her.
"Because it's not finished, of course! I mean, ideally no one is going to see it before it's finished, but I really don't want you to see it so it doesn't spoil your anticipation." She sighs and leans against the armrest as you move back to the painting.
"… Do you really think we can use the Grail?" You frown at Ilya, but she's looking at the floor, not at you. She sounds … almost defeated, like she's given up on winning.
"If I didn't think it was possible, I'd be making a different suggestion, Ilya. Maybe we won't think of a solution, and if that happens … well, we'll work something else out. But if I didn't think the Grail could be used, I wouldn't be trying to figure out how to do it." She keeps staring at the floor for a few seconds before nodding slowly. You almost fly over to hold her and ask what's wrong, but Ershin walks in, and when you glance back at her she's acting normally.
"Ooh, a portrait! Can I see?" You make a shooing motion at Deis as she leans forward from her perch on top of Ershin.
"No. Ilya gets to see it first, and only when it's finished. Then she gets to decide who else gets to see it." Deis snaps her fingers in disappointment, then flickers away, lying across the chair behind Ilya.
"Ah. So unfortunate. Well, Archer said there was going to be a discussion of some sort about how to go about our plans?" You nod as Ilya twists around in surprise. Deis blows a kiss at her before looking back at you. You give her a disapproving glance before returning to work on the portrait.
"Yes, how to make use of the Grail once we've dealt with Rider's Master - and, I suppose, how we're going to deal with her. Killing her would be a problem, since she's the Lesser Grail and her death would waste the energy accumulated until now. Getting her away from the Grail itself probably won't help unless we put her in a position where we can't use the Grail, either. And Rider's Master might not be able to do anything, either." You frown as Tohsaka walks in - but then, Archer is probably cleaning up in her place. He seems like he'd make a very nice wife.
"Which is important because if she is still conscious in there, she might be able to regain control over the Shadow. But she's probably gone, so it's just the Shadow controlling her body." Deis stares at Tohsaka, then at you, before sighing and shaking her head.
"Did you just arbitrarily dismiss the possibility of talking?" You blink and tilt your head to the side. "Yes, Flan, you're the only one who probably could, but it doesn't sound like any of you are actually entertaining the idea." She flickers so she's sitting on the chair's arm and glowers at you and Tohsaka, who has the grace to look chagrined. You smile triumphantly.
"See? I told you Deis would have an idea!" Deis snorts and Tohsaka rolls her eyes at you. "Although … neither the shadow-thing nor Rider's Master are likely to react very well to my presence, and I'm not sure I like the idea of leaving you all here, in case something goes wrong." Deis shrugs.
"Well, if we were going to try Archer's plan, we'd all end up going anyway, so there shouldn't be much harm in trying to talk. If it does come to a fight … if the girl's mind is gone and she's just being puppeted, I might be able to get in and take control. I'm not sure if that would actually do any good, but if I can block off the Shadow from the inside, or destroy whatever it was that connected her to the Grail, then we should have some more time to figure things out. At least, until our other problem decides that it wants to step in, too. I don't suppose any of you can think of a good way to get them to fight each other?" You shake your head glumly and Ilya wilts.
"… Can you disguise yourself?" You frown at Tohsaka. "I mean, if Arcueid really is someone who can fight you with a good chance of winning, she can probably do something to the Shadow. And we know that she's paying attention to the city and to the temple, so maybe if you made it so it seemed like the Shadow was attacking them and not you, she might get fed up enough to go after it."
"Except she'd probably kill it," Deis says.
"And she doesn't seem to care about people dying, so long as it's not me doing the killing. It might work to get the Japanese to go after it, but I'm not sure how much good that will do against something that eats people for sustenance - it's not usually a good plan against vampires unless you have truly overwhelming numbers to throw at them, and Rider's Master was swallowing them up in groups. And I can't really do any disguises. Invisibility, sure - and I could drag someone down to the cave and make sure they know what's happening - but an actual disguise … can't do that." You turn back to the painting, making sure you have the right colors for Ilya's shirt.
What do you do?
[ ] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
- Any more ideas?
[ ] Try to talk to the Shadow.
- [ ] Be a bully.
- [ ] Be polite.
[ ] Try beating the Shadow until Deis can take over.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Opting to Talk or Fight will skip ahead to night; unless otherwise stated, talking will involve Flan going alone, fighting will have Ershin, Ilya, Rin, and Flan.
HymnOfRagnarok
Let's Rock
I do not like the idea of Deis getting into the Shadow...I like Deis and don't want to lose her to corruption.
If we talk to the Shadow, I don't think being polite is going to cut it. Sakura is too insane for that right now.
Being a bully, surprisingly, might work. It's heartless considering Sakura came from a very abusive home, but seeing as we proved that we can absolutely survive her at her worst and eat her from the inside, we are an extremely credible threat, and one she will likely fear.
Of course if it goes wrong, it's gonna go wrong either really fast or right at the finish line, I think. Sakura will want a permanent solution to Flan as well.
If we talk to the Shadow, I don't think being polite is going to cut it. Sakura is too insane for that right now.
Being a bully, surprisingly, might work. It's heartless considering Sakura came from a very abusive home, but seeing as we proved that we can absolutely survive her at her worst and eat her from the inside, we are an extremely credible threat, and one she will likely fear.
Of course if it goes wrong, it's gonna go wrong either really fast or right at the finish line, I think. Sakura will want a permanent solution to Flan as well.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
- Location
- Thailand
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
4
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
4
- Location
- Bowling Green
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are locked.
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
5
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
5
Breakdown
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Finish the portrait before talking any more - you can't do all their thinking for them!
"Anyway, I'm going to finish this, so you all should talk some more about what's to be done."
"What?" You glance at Tohsaka, raising an eyebrow at her sharp tone. "You're the one who decided to have this meeting, and now you're going to finish a painting instead of participating?" You nod pointedly.
"Yes. You see, Tohsaka, right now there are only a few options that I'm aware of - attempt to parley with the shadow-thing, or skip straight to fighting, and then to either reduce all obstacles to nothing or attempt to take down Rider's Master non-lethally. In any of those scenarios, I am going to be the primary instrument of decision - neither Berserker nor Archer can fight effectively without risking the same fate that befell Saber and Sasaki, and if Caster was unable to fight it effectively then I doubt either you or Ilya can. Deis may be able to, but she still requires time to prepare her attacks. So if you have any thoughts or desires about how to proceed, figure them out. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to be a little busy." Tohsaka collapses into a chair by a window. Deis's expression is unreadable, and Ilya is looking away from you. You return to your work, but despite your suggestion, no one says anything. You look up occasionally, but Tohsaka simply leans against her fist, staring at the doorway, and Ilya keeps her head down dejectedly. She's certainly been acting a little strange today, but she's probably tired. She shouldn't have been out last night, and she probably shouldn't be moving around as much today as she has been, even if she's mostly been carried around. You stare at the portrait - it cuts off above the knees, so you can't see her missing leg, but the pinned-up sleeve is plainly visible. She doesn't look like she's suffering or in pain ….
You stare at the painting for a while, trying to figure out if anything is missing or different, but if there is it eludes you. Shaking your head, you return to your brush. Perhaps it will come to you; maybe you're imagining it. All you have to finish is the background - the chair, wall, windows, and part of the ceiling - and then you'll be able to present it to Ilya. At least the ceiling isn't the ceiling isn't full of designs like it is in the hallways! But finally you nod to yourself, satisfied with your work. Nothing is in the wrong place, and the only things in the picture are things that should be there. It is - if not perfect - right. You pick up the easel and carry it closer to Ilya.
"Ilya? Ilya~" You scoot around the easel and lean close, looking up at her. "Your portrait is ready!" She blinks and nods slowly.
"Thank you, Flan." She doesn't move and you tilt your head.
"What's wrong, Ilya?" She stays with her head down for a moment before slowly raising it and shaking her head.
"I'm fine, Flan." She tries to smile but it doesn't clear her eyes, and she looks past you to the easel. You drift back and, without taking your eyes off her, turn the easel around so she can see the portrait. She looks at it for a while. "Why are you doing this? Asking us what we want, as if it matters? We can't do anything." You shake your head.
"That's not true, Ilya."
"Then what can I do?! Look at me! I can't do anything, Berserker can't save me …." She wipes her eyes, but you wait until she's looking at you, focused on you, before responding.
"You can affect whether Emiya lives or dies. If the shadow-thing isn't stopped soon, then Archer's 'Cleaners' will come, won't they? Do you think they'll neglect him, especially with how close he is to Rider's Master? I don't care about him - I neither dislike him nor feel affection for him. You're also responsible for Tohsaka still being alive." You hear her shift unhappily and shake your head again, keeping your eyes on Ilya. "I don't just mean that if you hadn't made an alliance with her that I'd probably have found a good excuse to do something to her. When Rider's Master tried to kill herself, Emiya was there, right? And she had her Servant carry him away - but if Tohsaka had been there, do you think she would have gotten the same treatment? I don't really get it, but Rider's Master doesn't seem to like her, even went after her instead of her Servant once, so I think that if Tohsaka had been there, she would have died. And, of course, you've made me happy, Ilya. I don't have many friends, after all. You've helped me several times, like after you beat Caster - and I don't think that fight would changed at all if you had been like you are now - or last night, or when you noticed that I was unhappy and asked me if I needed anything, or after I got you hurt and you still said you were my friend." You stare down at the floor as Ilya starts rubbing her eyes. Ilya's done much more for you than you have for her. All you've done is distract her with cooking lessons, let her get hurt - a surprising gust of wind shoves you from behind, interrupting your thoughts, and you look up as you catch yourself. Ilya stares at you, eyes full of tears, and you push yourself against her, holding her close as she starts crying. You stroke her hair, and out of the corner of your eye see Deis chivvying a stunned Tohsaka out of the room.
"… I'm sorry, Flan." You help Ilya sit up and help wipe her face. "I … I'm a noble, I should be able to control myself better than this …." You titter quietly as she shivers.
"Didn't I tell you, Ilya? I'm a noble, too - we gave up the legal title, but you don't erase three centuries of nobility simply by doing that." The reassurance doesn't seem to work, however. "Ilya, what do you want? I don't know how to help." She leans against you again, shivering, and you wrap your arms around her.
"… They sent that Tohno girl as a messenger, didn't they? And she did this without any warning, and had a bodyguard as powerful as a Servant. If she was just their warning, what are they going to bring when they actually want to fight me?" She tries to wriggle away from you and sit up, but you hug her tightly. "I couldn't beat one of them - how can I fight a group?"
"And do you want to, and what will you do if you don't? I think I get it." You let her sit up. "Well, the first thing is that while she may have been a 'messenger,' that doesn't mean she was just a messenger. And messengers want to overawe the people they're talking to, especially if they're making unpalatable demands like she did, but she showed up with one other person of note and a group of normal humans. If she had easy access to more people like Kishima, then even what little she likely knew about the Grail War would have been a good reason for her to bring more. Instead, it was simply the two of them, and Berserker would have beaten them both if he hadn't withdrawn to keep you safe." You lean your forehead against Ilya's to help reassure her. "Which doesn't mean your wrong to be concerned about what they may have in reserve, because we don't know what they have. Maybe there aren't any more like Kishima, maybe there are whole families; maybe he was weak, average, or strong. But there are so many possibilities that simply worrying is going to make you sick, Ilya." She nods weakly.
"I'm sorry, Flan. It's just …." She leans back and looks at her stump. You hug her again before she starts crying.
"… Would it be easier if I just destroyed the Grail so there was only one thing to worry about?" You ask the question quietly, but Ilya just slumps against you, tears soaking into your clothes again.
"I don't know. I don't know." You stroke her hair until she calms down, but maybe some rest would be better for her.
What do you do?
[ ] Take her to her room to sleep.
- [ ] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
- [ ] Try to talk to the Shadow.
- - [ ] Be a bully. - - [ ] Be polite.
[ ] Take her to Leysritt's room and tell Sella what happened.
- [ ] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
- [ ] Try to talk to the Shadow
- - [ ] Be a bully.
- - [ ] Be polite.
[ ] Other?
"Anyway, I'm going to finish this, so you all should talk some more about what's to be done."
"What?" You glance at Tohsaka, raising an eyebrow at her sharp tone. "You're the one who decided to have this meeting, and now you're going to finish a painting instead of participating?" You nod pointedly.
"Yes. You see, Tohsaka, right now there are only a few options that I'm aware of - attempt to parley with the shadow-thing, or skip straight to fighting, and then to either reduce all obstacles to nothing or attempt to take down Rider's Master non-lethally. In any of those scenarios, I am going to be the primary instrument of decision - neither Berserker nor Archer can fight effectively without risking the same fate that befell Saber and Sasaki, and if Caster was unable to fight it effectively then I doubt either you or Ilya can. Deis may be able to, but she still requires time to prepare her attacks. So if you have any thoughts or desires about how to proceed, figure them out. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to be a little busy." Tohsaka collapses into a chair by a window. Deis's expression is unreadable, and Ilya is looking away from you. You return to your work, but despite your suggestion, no one says anything. You look up occasionally, but Tohsaka simply leans against her fist, staring at the doorway, and Ilya keeps her head down dejectedly. She's certainly been acting a little strange today, but she's probably tired. She shouldn't have been out last night, and she probably shouldn't be moving around as much today as she has been, even if she's mostly been carried around. You stare at the portrait - it cuts off above the knees, so you can't see her missing leg, but the pinned-up sleeve is plainly visible. She doesn't look like she's suffering or in pain ….
You stare at the painting for a while, trying to figure out if anything is missing or different, but if there is it eludes you. Shaking your head, you return to your brush. Perhaps it will come to you; maybe you're imagining it. All you have to finish is the background - the chair, wall, windows, and part of the ceiling - and then you'll be able to present it to Ilya. At least the ceiling isn't the ceiling isn't full of designs like it is in the hallways! But finally you nod to yourself, satisfied with your work. Nothing is in the wrong place, and the only things in the picture are things that should be there. It is - if not perfect - right. You pick up the easel and carry it closer to Ilya.
"Ilya? Ilya~" You scoot around the easel and lean close, looking up at her. "Your portrait is ready!" She blinks and nods slowly.
"Thank you, Flan." She doesn't move and you tilt your head.
"What's wrong, Ilya?" She stays with her head down for a moment before slowly raising it and shaking her head.
"I'm fine, Flan." She tries to smile but it doesn't clear her eyes, and she looks past you to the easel. You drift back and, without taking your eyes off her, turn the easel around so she can see the portrait. She looks at it for a while. "Why are you doing this? Asking us what we want, as if it matters? We can't do anything." You shake your head.
"That's not true, Ilya."
"Then what can I do?! Look at me! I can't do anything, Berserker can't save me …." She wipes her eyes, but you wait until she's looking at you, focused on you, before responding.
"You can affect whether Emiya lives or dies. If the shadow-thing isn't stopped soon, then Archer's 'Cleaners' will come, won't they? Do you think they'll neglect him, especially with how close he is to Rider's Master? I don't care about him - I neither dislike him nor feel affection for him. You're also responsible for Tohsaka still being alive." You hear her shift unhappily and shake your head again, keeping your eyes on Ilya. "I don't just mean that if you hadn't made an alliance with her that I'd probably have found a good excuse to do something to her. When Rider's Master tried to kill herself, Emiya was there, right? And she had her Servant carry him away - but if Tohsaka had been there, do you think she would have gotten the same treatment? I don't really get it, but Rider's Master doesn't seem to like her, even went after her instead of her Servant once, so I think that if Tohsaka had been there, she would have died. And, of course, you've made me happy, Ilya. I don't have many friends, after all. You've helped me several times, like after you beat Caster - and I don't think that fight would changed at all if you had been like you are now - or last night, or when you noticed that I was unhappy and asked me if I needed anything, or after I got you hurt and you still said you were my friend." You stare down at the floor as Ilya starts rubbing her eyes. Ilya's done much more for you than you have for her. All you've done is distract her with cooking lessons, let her get hurt - a surprising gust of wind shoves you from behind, interrupting your thoughts, and you look up as you catch yourself. Ilya stares at you, eyes full of tears, and you push yourself against her, holding her close as she starts crying. You stroke her hair, and out of the corner of your eye see Deis chivvying a stunned Tohsaka out of the room.
"… I'm sorry, Flan." You help Ilya sit up and help wipe her face. "I … I'm a noble, I should be able to control myself better than this …." You titter quietly as she shivers.
"Didn't I tell you, Ilya? I'm a noble, too - we gave up the legal title, but you don't erase three centuries of nobility simply by doing that." The reassurance doesn't seem to work, however. "Ilya, what do you want? I don't know how to help." She leans against you again, shivering, and you wrap your arms around her.
"… They sent that Tohno girl as a messenger, didn't they? And she did this without any warning, and had a bodyguard as powerful as a Servant. If she was just their warning, what are they going to bring when they actually want to fight me?" She tries to wriggle away from you and sit up, but you hug her tightly. "I couldn't beat one of them - how can I fight a group?"
"And do you want to, and what will you do if you don't? I think I get it." You let her sit up. "Well, the first thing is that while she may have been a 'messenger,' that doesn't mean she was just a messenger. And messengers want to overawe the people they're talking to, especially if they're making unpalatable demands like she did, but she showed up with one other person of note and a group of normal humans. If she had easy access to more people like Kishima, then even what little she likely knew about the Grail War would have been a good reason for her to bring more. Instead, it was simply the two of them, and Berserker would have beaten them both if he hadn't withdrawn to keep you safe." You lean your forehead against Ilya's to help reassure her. "Which doesn't mean your wrong to be concerned about what they may have in reserve, because we don't know what they have. Maybe there aren't any more like Kishima, maybe there are whole families; maybe he was weak, average, or strong. But there are so many possibilities that simply worrying is going to make you sick, Ilya." She nods weakly.
"I'm sorry, Flan. It's just …." She leans back and looks at her stump. You hug her again before she starts crying.
"… Would it be easier if I just destroyed the Grail so there was only one thing to worry about?" You ask the question quietly, but Ilya just slumps against you, tears soaking into your clothes again.
"I don't know. I don't know." You stroke her hair until she calms down, but maybe some rest would be better for her.
What do you do?
[ ] Take her to her room to sleep.
- [ ] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
- [ ] Try to talk to the Shadow.
- - [ ] Be a bully. - - [ ] Be polite.
[ ] Take her to Leysritt's room and tell Sella what happened.
- [ ] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
- [ ] Try to talk to the Shadow
- - [ ] Be a bully.
- - [ ] Be polite.
[ ] Other?
- Location
- Thailand
[X] Take her to Leysritt's room and tell Sella what happened.
-[X] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
--[X] See if they have any ideas yet or if you're going to go with your default plans.
-[X] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
--[X] See if they have any ideas yet or if you're going to go with your default plans.
Hunt
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Which one is the default?
This (or something like it, anyway) has been bouncing around my head for a few months, it's just been hard to write omakes for some reason. I can sound them out in my head just fine, I just ... can't really get motivated to write them. It's very upsetting.
Remilia lounged on a divan in the hotel suite, idly kicking her feet to some half-remembered tune. She wondered where her targets were, how Flan was doing, how the Americans were taking the loss of one of their aircraft carriers … most of what she wondered she could find out with a little effort, of course. She could ask Patchouli, once she returned, how Flan was, but since the magician hadn't given her any bad news, it was unlikely that there was anything particularly important going on. Of course, her dear friend sometimes had different ideas on what was important to act upon and what simply needed a watching eye. Something tugged at her attention and she sat up, grinning. Her guests were finally arriving! Her wings fell behind her, their presence hidden for the moment, and she watched the door. Then the approaching group halted, apparently sensing her presence, and she called out, "Come in!" Several moments passed before the door opened.
The first through the door was the American, dressed as a naval officer, followed by the boy in the white suit. After him, the other blond, and then the bearded man and the girl came in together. They spread out to confront her, a pack facing down an alpha predator, and she cheerfully ignored the hostility radiating from the three. "What are you doing in my room?" Remilia raised an eyebrow at the girl's outburst.
"Diva." The man who had entered alongside her placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her, but she continued glaring. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" One of the two not radiating hostility, he watched her calmly.
"My name … you wouldn't recognize it - wait. Let me …." Remilia cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowing to mere slits, then shook her head and smiled. "Yes, you wouldn't recognize it and you won't find any reference to it anywhere, so it's pointless to give it to you. Once my business here is finished, we shouldn't ever meet again. As for that business - well, I'm here to take the Schiff. I have a use for them, you see." Eyebrows raised and turned toward the leader.
"Unfortunately, I do not believe any of us know where the Schiff are, so you have wasted your time." Remilia threw back her head and laughed.
"Oh! Hehe, oh, Amshel you dear young boy. Haven't you learned to use your head for more than supporting that charming little beard you've been growing? I didn't come here because I needed help finding them. No, I came here because coming here is the easiest way to keep them alive." She finally looked at the girl. "And you had best stop trying to cow me with such a pitiful method, or I'll tear off your hair and rename you Raven." At the threat, the officer transformed in a hulking, armored brute, and the arm of the boy in the suit changed into a gleaming blue crystalline blade. They charged, and Remilia's right wing snapped across in front of her to shield her left side from the blade while her left wing crossed below it to wall off the brute's charge. Their momentum spent fruitlessly on her unyielding defense, they leaped back. Her wings calmly unfolded and shrank back to their more manageable size, and a cup appeared in her hand. "I should only need a liter. Or we can go on like this - it's your choice." Diva looked at the cup, then at Amshel, and stepped back. Remilia sighed. "Oh, well. I suppose I should get a little bit of exercise every once in a while."
"Blech." Remilia spat to try and rid her mouth of the foul taste, then looked down at the shocked Diva. "You're an idiot, you know. Oh, not for this - you couldn't have imagined what you were getting into, picking a fight with me. No, I'm talking about this little vendetta that's going on. Heh. Of course, I'm hardly the person to go to for advice on that sort of thing, but when even I can tell that something has to give, you know that it's bad. You're just lucky you won't meet my sister; she'd probably tie your arms together and stick you in a barrel." She looked around at the ruin they'd made of the top floor of the hotel, at the slowly rising forms of Diva's guardians, and shook her head. "Well, like I said earlier, I have some Schiff to collect." She bowed and grinned mockingly, then vanished into a horde of bats that flew off into the night.
The first through the door was the American, dressed as a naval officer, followed by the boy in the white suit. After him, the other blond, and then the bearded man and the girl came in together. They spread out to confront her, a pack facing down an alpha predator, and she cheerfully ignored the hostility radiating from the three. "What are you doing in my room?" Remilia raised an eyebrow at the girl's outburst.
"Diva." The man who had entered alongside her placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her, but she continued glaring. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" One of the two not radiating hostility, he watched her calmly.
"My name … you wouldn't recognize it - wait. Let me …." Remilia cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowing to mere slits, then shook her head and smiled. "Yes, you wouldn't recognize it and you won't find any reference to it anywhere, so it's pointless to give it to you. Once my business here is finished, we shouldn't ever meet again. As for that business - well, I'm here to take the Schiff. I have a use for them, you see." Eyebrows raised and turned toward the leader.
"Unfortunately, I do not believe any of us know where the Schiff are, so you have wasted your time." Remilia threw back her head and laughed.
"Oh! Hehe, oh, Amshel you dear young boy. Haven't you learned to use your head for more than supporting that charming little beard you've been growing? I didn't come here because I needed help finding them. No, I came here because coming here is the easiest way to keep them alive." She finally looked at the girl. "And you had best stop trying to cow me with such a pitiful method, or I'll tear off your hair and rename you Raven." At the threat, the officer transformed in a hulking, armored brute, and the arm of the boy in the suit changed into a gleaming blue crystalline blade. They charged, and Remilia's right wing snapped across in front of her to shield her left side from the blade while her left wing crossed below it to wall off the brute's charge. Their momentum spent fruitlessly on her unyielding defense, they leaped back. Her wings calmly unfolded and shrank back to their more manageable size, and a cup appeared in her hand. "I should only need a liter. Or we can go on like this - it's your choice." Diva looked at the cup, then at Amshel, and stepped back. Remilia sighed. "Oh, well. I suppose I should get a little bit of exercise every once in a while."
"Blech." Remilia spat to try and rid her mouth of the foul taste, then looked down at the shocked Diva. "You're an idiot, you know. Oh, not for this - you couldn't have imagined what you were getting into, picking a fight with me. No, I'm talking about this little vendetta that's going on. Heh. Of course, I'm hardly the person to go to for advice on that sort of thing, but when even I can tell that something has to give, you know that it's bad. You're just lucky you won't meet my sister; she'd probably tie your arms together and stick you in a barrel." She looked around at the ruin they'd made of the top floor of the hotel, at the slowly rising forms of Diva's guardians, and shook her head. "Well, like I said earlier, I have some Schiff to collect." She bowed and grinned mockingly, then vanished into a horde of bats that flew off into the night.
The ones we mentioned already, go in and try to talk to it, then smash them all if it won't talk?
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.
[X] Take her to Leysritt's room and tell Sella what happened.
-[X] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
--[X] See if they have any ideas yet or if you're going to go with your default plans.
3
EDIT: Votes are locked.
[X] Take her to Leysritt's room and tell Sella what happened.
-[X] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
--[X] See if they have any ideas yet or if you're going to go with your default plans.
3
EDIT: Votes are locked.
Last edited:
Making Plans
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Take her to Leysritt's room and tell Sella what happened.
-[X] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
--[X] See if they have any ideas yet or if you're going to go with your default plans.
You gently slip one arm under Ilya's knee and bring the other down from her head to her back, pulling her closer to you, and her arm crawls around your neck. "There, there, Ilya. Let's make you more comfortable, okay?" You float up with her in your arms, cradling her as carefully as you can, and start flying out of the room. As you cross the threshold a thought strikes you and your clones slip back in to carry the portrait as well. Having it nearby can't possibly hurt, and if she wants to look at it she won't need to be moved. You hum quietly and swirl slowly through the halls, a soothing dance, and Ilya rests her head against your shoulder.
Leysritt's door is closed, but not locked, and when your clone opens it she turns her head to look at it. Your clone raises a finger to its lips and slips in before you; when she sees you and Ilya, Leysritt tries to get up. She almost falls off the bed before your clone gets to her and pushes her back on, then slides her back and holds the blanket up so you can set Ilya down. "Flan?" You titter quietly when she doesn't let go.
"Ilya, you need to rest. Please let me go."
"I don't want to be alone." You nuzzle her as her grip tightens, but as you lay her on the bed you pull her hand away from you.
"I wouldn't do that to you, Ilya," you say, and look meaningfully at Leysritt. Ilya stares, confused at first, as if she doesn't recognize her servant, and Leysritt reaches out to her. Ilya's eyes fill with tears again, and you make sure she's comfortably ensconced against Leysritt before tucking the blanket around her chin. "Now, be good and don't do anything silly, okay? You either." Leysritt nods sharply, an exaggerated jerk of her head, and you float back and away, curtsying in the air. "I'll check in on you in a bit."
"Flan! Um … could you move the portrait so I can see it?" You nod and your clones take it from the corner and put it by the foot of the bed, angled so she can see it clearly and easily. "Thank you, Flan." You smile and bow before following your clones out of the room, making sure to close the doors behind you. Your clones dash away, looking for Sella, and you drift toward the nearest stairway. One of your clones spots her in the courtyard garden, however, and you simply move through a window and over the roof to reach her. She freezes and stares at you.
"Ilya had a … breakdown of sorts," you begin, and you hold up your hands as Sella's eyes widen. "Because of how much is going on, and what Tohno did to her, and what else the Japanese may have when they get involved. She's with Leysritt right now, and I told her to get some rest, but she was shivering earlier, and seemed to have a bit of a fever this morning. I don't know if something's wrong or if it's just how her body's reacting to the stress on it, but you might be able to do something about it, and you definitely need to know." She stares at you for a moment before taking a deep breath and nodding, relaxing a little.
"Thank you, Lady Flandre." She frowns at the flowering bushes, and you smile a bit. It's easy to tell what she's thinking.
"I did tell her that I'd check in when I had some time, so if you want you can finish up here before seeing if there's anything wrong, then get back to your work. Unless Deis and Tohsaka have managed more in the past hour than in the past week, it shouldn't be too long that we keep talking." She stares at you again, then shakes herself and bows.
"Yes, Lady Flandre. Thank you, again. I -" She breaks off and you shake your head.
"Ilya's my friend, Sella. Of course I want to help her." She bows again and you float back. "Anyway, I should get back to Deis and Tohsaka. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know, okay?" You wave and dart away. The sooner you leave, the sooner she can finish with the plants and see Ilya, after all. And it seems like she's having trouble figuring out how to treat you.
You start walking when you get inside, away from the sun, and your clones rejoin you as you head up to where Tohsaka and Deis are. Part of you really wants to go have a discussion with Arcueid - no doubt part of why Ilya's not feeling well is because she had to go out last night, and then Saber was there, too. You're pretty sure you'd bet on Heracles beating King Arthur, but then again, you can't remember any stories involving Arthur shooting laser beams from his sword … or him being a woman. And considering how powerful the blasts she was using against you were, it's entirely possible she could have killed Ilya accidentally if Berserker had come out to fight her. On the other hand, if something does happen to you, Ilya will probably feel guilty for it, and she'll definitely be in a worse situation, so it probably isn't a good idea no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise.
Deis and Tohsaka look at you as you walk into the study. "… Tohsaka, do you know anything about what the Japanese can use if they attack?" She shrugs.
"Not really. They have mages of their own, but I don't know what else they have, or how good their mages are. And I don't really know where to go to find out - there's almost certainly information in the Clock Tower, but we can't exactly go to London, apply for admittance, look it up, and come back, and expect to find anything worth coming back to." You scowl and drag a chair over to the table she's sitting at.
"You're not worried, though, right?" You glance at Deis and shake your head.
"Worried, no. But depending on what they have and how much of it they're willing to expend, a fight may not be the wisest option to take." Tohsaka stares at you, surprised. "Surely you're not that stupid, Tohsaka, to think that I believe myself all-powerful and inviolable? Moreover, we have no idea how Tohno attacked Ilya, nor if that is a widespread manner of attack or how to defend against it. It's quite possible that even if they can't kill Deis or myself, they can kill Ilya, and that is something I would rather not happen." She nods and drinks some of her tea.
"So, do you want to try switching to them? We may be able to learn something by spying on their people at the temple." You frown.
"I do remember seeing a monk putting up some charms when I went back there to look for Laevateinn," you say. "I don't think I remember feeling any magic, but it did feel different, so maybe there's something to that. I don't suppose you two had any thoughts about what to do regarding the shadow-thing?" Deis chuckles.
"Not really, no. Options are pretty limited - try talking first or go in fighting. Our problem there is much the same as with the Japanese. We don't really know what we're dealing with in either situation, although interfering with the Shadow shouldn't get Arcueid all bothered and angry, so if we're voting on which one to tackle first, I say we deal with that." Tohsaka nods.
"Yeah. The Shadow is more dangerous, and if we can get it dealt with then maybe some actual negotiations can happen." She sighs and leans against the table.
"Worried about your position?" Tohsaka snorts at Deis.
"No, just wondering how much worse things can get. I mean, the Grail War is supposed to be supervised by the Church, and one of their top agents was killed by a vampire. I'm surprised they haven't sent someone to see what's going on." Deis raises an eyebrow and you shrug in response.
"Would that be a problem?" She shrugs.
"Maybe? They might decide that Sakura is a bigger problem than you are, and certainly if the Association sends any enforcers they're going to want to put her down as a heretic who's broken the Association's rules. Which is another reason I'd like to deal with her first, if possible - dealing with her should be my responsibility." She stares down at the table.
"Alright, so we deal with the Grail first. Go in fighting, or try to talk? The biggest problem with trying to talk first that I can see is that, while you may be able to use Ilya's scrying system to keep an eye on me - if it can get into the cavern - I won't be able to do the same to keep an eye on you." Tohsaka shakes herself and raises a hand.
"I can probably put together a familiar that can go with you. It won't last very long or be good for much, but it should be enough to warn you about something happening. Or I could send Archer with you; even if something blocks our connection in the cavern itself, he should be able to stay outside, and hurry in to let you know if something happens." You glance at Deis, but she just spreads her arms.
"If we can get a scrying connection, I can try casting a spell through it, but that's going to depend on how stable the connection is. I don't know if Illyasviel's up to it, but maybe you could try making some kind of connection to something you're going to wear and her setup, sort of like Caster and her gem?" You shake your head.
"Not anytime soon, anyway - she's resting and I want to make sure she gets as much rest as she can. Losing that much of her body and blood is going to have a weird impact on her body, even if she can act relatively normally." Tohsaka scowls unhappily and you tilt your head.
"No, it's just that there's probably something in one of my father's old books that could help. But most of them are back at my house, and I don't know which one is most likely to have something useful."
"Want someone to go get them?" She shakes her head and you nod. "Then, in the event that it does talk to me, how do you think I should present myself?" She frowns, confused. "It's undoubtedly afraid of me, considering what I've done to it and to the Servants it's claimed. I can use that, threaten it and force its submission and possible cooperation through fear - or I can try to be polite and see if a mutual agreement can be made. But I'm not a terribly patient person, and if it's too afraid of me when I'm trying to be polite, I might snap at it and it may decide to fight." You hold your hands up like a scale. "I don't expect you to know much about the shadow-thing, but if Rider's Master has any say in what happens …." She nods and looks down at the table again, thinking.
"I … I don't think being polite will help. If Sakura is aware and has anything to say, and if she still remembers everything, she's going to know that I have to kill her because of what she's done and how she's involved innocent people. If you're polite, she probably isn't going to trust you." She takes a steadying breath. "If you threaten her, she might fight back. Shinji used to hit her, until Emiya-kun stood up to him, and he was one of the people found at the hospital. … But like you said, she'll probably be afraid of you for what you've done when she's tried to fight you." You nod and sit back in the chair.
What do you do?
[ ] Stay and talk some more.
- [ ] Ask Tohsaka why she isn't suggesting trying to kill Rider's Master.
- [ ] Ask them if they have any specific suggestions on how to deal with the shadow-thing.
[ ] Go check in on Ilya.
- [ ] Stay for a while.
- - Anything to do? (Read a book, make another portrait, etc.)
[ ] Take a quick nap.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Current plan for dealing with the Shadow is "Talk if possible." No decision has yet been made as to manners.
-[X] Talk to Tohsaka and Deis about what to do.
--[X] See if they have any ideas yet or if you're going to go with your default plans.
You gently slip one arm under Ilya's knee and bring the other down from her head to her back, pulling her closer to you, and her arm crawls around your neck. "There, there, Ilya. Let's make you more comfortable, okay?" You float up with her in your arms, cradling her as carefully as you can, and start flying out of the room. As you cross the threshold a thought strikes you and your clones slip back in to carry the portrait as well. Having it nearby can't possibly hurt, and if she wants to look at it she won't need to be moved. You hum quietly and swirl slowly through the halls, a soothing dance, and Ilya rests her head against your shoulder.
Leysritt's door is closed, but not locked, and when your clone opens it she turns her head to look at it. Your clone raises a finger to its lips and slips in before you; when she sees you and Ilya, Leysritt tries to get up. She almost falls off the bed before your clone gets to her and pushes her back on, then slides her back and holds the blanket up so you can set Ilya down. "Flan?" You titter quietly when she doesn't let go.
"Ilya, you need to rest. Please let me go."
"I don't want to be alone." You nuzzle her as her grip tightens, but as you lay her on the bed you pull her hand away from you.
"I wouldn't do that to you, Ilya," you say, and look meaningfully at Leysritt. Ilya stares, confused at first, as if she doesn't recognize her servant, and Leysritt reaches out to her. Ilya's eyes fill with tears again, and you make sure she's comfortably ensconced against Leysritt before tucking the blanket around her chin. "Now, be good and don't do anything silly, okay? You either." Leysritt nods sharply, an exaggerated jerk of her head, and you float back and away, curtsying in the air. "I'll check in on you in a bit."
"Flan! Um … could you move the portrait so I can see it?" You nod and your clones take it from the corner and put it by the foot of the bed, angled so she can see it clearly and easily. "Thank you, Flan." You smile and bow before following your clones out of the room, making sure to close the doors behind you. Your clones dash away, looking for Sella, and you drift toward the nearest stairway. One of your clones spots her in the courtyard garden, however, and you simply move through a window and over the roof to reach her. She freezes and stares at you.
"Ilya had a … breakdown of sorts," you begin, and you hold up your hands as Sella's eyes widen. "Because of how much is going on, and what Tohno did to her, and what else the Japanese may have when they get involved. She's with Leysritt right now, and I told her to get some rest, but she was shivering earlier, and seemed to have a bit of a fever this morning. I don't know if something's wrong or if it's just how her body's reacting to the stress on it, but you might be able to do something about it, and you definitely need to know." She stares at you for a moment before taking a deep breath and nodding, relaxing a little.
"Thank you, Lady Flandre." She frowns at the flowering bushes, and you smile a bit. It's easy to tell what she's thinking.
"I did tell her that I'd check in when I had some time, so if you want you can finish up here before seeing if there's anything wrong, then get back to your work. Unless Deis and Tohsaka have managed more in the past hour than in the past week, it shouldn't be too long that we keep talking." She stares at you again, then shakes herself and bows.
"Yes, Lady Flandre. Thank you, again. I -" She breaks off and you shake your head.
"Ilya's my friend, Sella. Of course I want to help her." She bows again and you float back. "Anyway, I should get back to Deis and Tohsaka. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know, okay?" You wave and dart away. The sooner you leave, the sooner she can finish with the plants and see Ilya, after all. And it seems like she's having trouble figuring out how to treat you.
You start walking when you get inside, away from the sun, and your clones rejoin you as you head up to where Tohsaka and Deis are. Part of you really wants to go have a discussion with Arcueid - no doubt part of why Ilya's not feeling well is because she had to go out last night, and then Saber was there, too. You're pretty sure you'd bet on Heracles beating King Arthur, but then again, you can't remember any stories involving Arthur shooting laser beams from his sword … or him being a woman. And considering how powerful the blasts she was using against you were, it's entirely possible she could have killed Ilya accidentally if Berserker had come out to fight her. On the other hand, if something does happen to you, Ilya will probably feel guilty for it, and she'll definitely be in a worse situation, so it probably isn't a good idea no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise.
Deis and Tohsaka look at you as you walk into the study. "… Tohsaka, do you know anything about what the Japanese can use if they attack?" She shrugs.
"Not really. They have mages of their own, but I don't know what else they have, or how good their mages are. And I don't really know where to go to find out - there's almost certainly information in the Clock Tower, but we can't exactly go to London, apply for admittance, look it up, and come back, and expect to find anything worth coming back to." You scowl and drag a chair over to the table she's sitting at.
"You're not worried, though, right?" You glance at Deis and shake your head.
"Worried, no. But depending on what they have and how much of it they're willing to expend, a fight may not be the wisest option to take." Tohsaka stares at you, surprised. "Surely you're not that stupid, Tohsaka, to think that I believe myself all-powerful and inviolable? Moreover, we have no idea how Tohno attacked Ilya, nor if that is a widespread manner of attack or how to defend against it. It's quite possible that even if they can't kill Deis or myself, they can kill Ilya, and that is something I would rather not happen." She nods and drinks some of her tea.
"So, do you want to try switching to them? We may be able to learn something by spying on their people at the temple." You frown.
"I do remember seeing a monk putting up some charms when I went back there to look for Laevateinn," you say. "I don't think I remember feeling any magic, but it did feel different, so maybe there's something to that. I don't suppose you two had any thoughts about what to do regarding the shadow-thing?" Deis chuckles.
"Not really, no. Options are pretty limited - try talking first or go in fighting. Our problem there is much the same as with the Japanese. We don't really know what we're dealing with in either situation, although interfering with the Shadow shouldn't get Arcueid all bothered and angry, so if we're voting on which one to tackle first, I say we deal with that." Tohsaka nods.
"Yeah. The Shadow is more dangerous, and if we can get it dealt with then maybe some actual negotiations can happen." She sighs and leans against the table.
"Worried about your position?" Tohsaka snorts at Deis.
"No, just wondering how much worse things can get. I mean, the Grail War is supposed to be supervised by the Church, and one of their top agents was killed by a vampire. I'm surprised they haven't sent someone to see what's going on." Deis raises an eyebrow and you shrug in response.
"Would that be a problem?" She shrugs.
"Maybe? They might decide that Sakura is a bigger problem than you are, and certainly if the Association sends any enforcers they're going to want to put her down as a heretic who's broken the Association's rules. Which is another reason I'd like to deal with her first, if possible - dealing with her should be my responsibility." She stares down at the table.
"Alright, so we deal with the Grail first. Go in fighting, or try to talk? The biggest problem with trying to talk first that I can see is that, while you may be able to use Ilya's scrying system to keep an eye on me - if it can get into the cavern - I won't be able to do the same to keep an eye on you." Tohsaka shakes herself and raises a hand.
"I can probably put together a familiar that can go with you. It won't last very long or be good for much, but it should be enough to warn you about something happening. Or I could send Archer with you; even if something blocks our connection in the cavern itself, he should be able to stay outside, and hurry in to let you know if something happens." You glance at Deis, but she just spreads her arms.
"If we can get a scrying connection, I can try casting a spell through it, but that's going to depend on how stable the connection is. I don't know if Illyasviel's up to it, but maybe you could try making some kind of connection to something you're going to wear and her setup, sort of like Caster and her gem?" You shake your head.
"Not anytime soon, anyway - she's resting and I want to make sure she gets as much rest as she can. Losing that much of her body and blood is going to have a weird impact on her body, even if she can act relatively normally." Tohsaka scowls unhappily and you tilt your head.
"No, it's just that there's probably something in one of my father's old books that could help. But most of them are back at my house, and I don't know which one is most likely to have something useful."
"Want someone to go get them?" She shakes her head and you nod. "Then, in the event that it does talk to me, how do you think I should present myself?" She frowns, confused. "It's undoubtedly afraid of me, considering what I've done to it and to the Servants it's claimed. I can use that, threaten it and force its submission and possible cooperation through fear - or I can try to be polite and see if a mutual agreement can be made. But I'm not a terribly patient person, and if it's too afraid of me when I'm trying to be polite, I might snap at it and it may decide to fight." You hold your hands up like a scale. "I don't expect you to know much about the shadow-thing, but if Rider's Master has any say in what happens …." She nods and looks down at the table again, thinking.
"I … I don't think being polite will help. If Sakura is aware and has anything to say, and if she still remembers everything, she's going to know that I have to kill her because of what she's done and how she's involved innocent people. If you're polite, she probably isn't going to trust you." She takes a steadying breath. "If you threaten her, she might fight back. Shinji used to hit her, until Emiya-kun stood up to him, and he was one of the people found at the hospital. … But like you said, she'll probably be afraid of you for what you've done when she's tried to fight you." You nod and sit back in the chair.
What do you do?
[ ] Stay and talk some more.
- [ ] Ask Tohsaka why she isn't suggesting trying to kill Rider's Master.
- [ ] Ask them if they have any specific suggestions on how to deal with the shadow-thing.
[ ] Go check in on Ilya.
- [ ] Stay for a while.
- - Anything to do? (Read a book, make another portrait, etc.)
[ ] Take a quick nap.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Current plan for dealing with the Shadow is "Talk if possible." No decision has yet been made as to manners.