[X] Thank Aya for the offer and take Ilya to see Alice.
You shake your head, clearing it of distracting thoughts. Lulu isn't here, and Ilya is, so you have to focus on her. You smile at Aya but shake your head. "Thank you, but I think we'll be heading down for some business. Are you ready?" Ilya leans back and glances nervously over the railing.
"Can't she come up here?" You titter softly and tap her nose.
"That wouldn't be polite, Ilya. If you really want me to go bring her up here I can, but don't you think it would make a better impression if we go to her?" She takes a breath as she considers it, then nods slowly. "Don't worry, we'll all be right with you, right? And since that's true, the only people in this room who could possibly be a problem would be Aya and Reimu, and they won't do anything. So stay calm and be your usual charming self!" She chuckles and visibly relaxes. You grin at her before turning and bowing to Aya. "Thank you again. I hope you have a good time, and maybe stop in some time so we can get an interview set up."
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Aya. And - Hatate?" Ilya nods politely to the tengu as Leysritt takes hold of the wheelchair. Both tengu bow back to her.
"Yep! See you later, Einzbern-san," Aya says with a wave before gently holding back the other tengu with her free hand. You take Ilya along the gallery to the nearer set of stairs.
"Why don't you like the other girl?" You sigh and shake your head.
"I'm only judging her on the article I mentioned, which was certainly researched to some degree, but was also stupid and made assumptions and almost certainly didn't ask people's permissions. Either that girl is an idiot, or she wrote it intending to attract attention, and it can be hard to tell the difference sometimes. And if my sister is making Aya escort her whenever she comes here, that means that she doesn't like her at all, which is a perfectly good reason for me to not like her all on its own." You fall silent as you approach the stairs and float over the railing as Leysritt guides the chair down the stairs.
Most people don't notice your little caravan - only having side-staircases at the corner helps with avoiding attention, after all - but you keep an eye on the crowded room as your friend descends. Some people seem surprised, others interested, but the majority of people who see you go back to their own matters quickly. One of the few who reacts oddly is the blue-dressed shrine maiden standing with Reimu - she seems excited and points in your direction. Reimu pushes her arm down, but whatever the other shrine maiden says is enough to make her look back in your direction as well. Still, she holds the other shrine maiden back when she starts walking toward you. A very strange reaction, especially since most of the other people who notice you either seem to recognize you and go back to what they're doing, or don't recognize you and go back to what they're doing. Ilya reaches the bottom of the stairs and you descend as the two shrine maidens enter the beginnings of a spirited discussion.
"So is anything interesting happening?" You shrug and pat Ilya's head as you start walking toward Alice's table.
"Maybe. That Sanae shrine maiden seemed excited about us coming down for some reason. It shouldn't be anything to worry about, but maybe I'll go see what's got her so excited once you and Alice have been properly introduced." Ilya gives you an unhappy look at that but doesn't say anything. Well … maybe you can stay. You pat her head again and she squirms before smoothing her hair unnecessarily. You grin and hurry forward as you approach Alice's table. Some more people are noticing you now - some because they're paying attention to Alice and others just because you're entering their lines of sight - but you ignore them and press forward. A pair of red-haired dolls advance toward you, and you stop just in front of them. "Alice Margatroid?" Ilya slows to a halt a few steps behind you and Alice turns her head to glance at you. You nod and approach the table as the dolls float aside, waving Ilya forward as well. A black-bound tome, wrapped with pale red ribbons, sits on the table next to the magician.
"You must be Flandre Scarlet. I don't believe we've ever met." You nod again and take a seat as the magician's golden eyes study your wings. You raise one, displaying the gems, and lower it when she glances at Ilya before turning her attention back to you.
"We haven't, although I've seen you in the library with Patchouli. This is Illyasviel von Einzbern. Ilya, this is Alice Margatroid." Alice studies Ilya.
"Good afternoon, Alice. I - Patchouli seemed to think you were one of the better options for helping me." Ilya holds the magician's gaze admirably and Alice nods thoughtfully before taking a note from a blonde doll hovering at her shoulder. She slides it toward you. It's a letter from your sister, asking her to consider taking a job that would test her skills as a puppet-master and artificer, and that she would be compensated quite handsomely for her assistance. You slide it over to Ilya; she winces after reading it but nods.
"… You aren't human, are you? Any of you?" You raise your eyebrows; Ilya's eyes widen as well, but she nods in assent.
"My servants are homunculi, artificially created humans; I was born of a homunculus mother and human father." Alice frowns and raises her cup to her lips, keeping her eyes locked on Ilya. "I was injured when my father was attacked by a rival magician. He did not think he could take care of me himself, so he tried sending me after Lady Remilia and Lady Flandre, hoping that since she used to rule over the lands his family is from, she would agree to help. I … I suppose that she has." Alice glances at you before sighing.
"Creating a mechanical graft is not something that would be particularly difficult, nor do I see why Patchouli could not arrange something on her own." You try not to frown or glare - you aren't supposed to be Ilya's friend, at least not right now. Besides, Alice is interested, or else she would have just refused to help. Ilya looks down unhappily.
"Lady Illyasviel, perhaps you should show Miss Margatroid your magic." Everyone looks up at Sella, and Ilya nods in agreement.
"Yes. Alice." Alice turns her attention back to Ilya, and red traceries begin forming on her face, glowing faintly, spreading down her neck and becoming visible on her left arm. Alice frowns and leans forward as Ilya continues the effect for several more seconds. You look around the room, but no one seems to care that much about the little display except some fairies who quickly scurry back into the crowd. "I'm sorry. My magic … it is bound up in those crests, and they extended through my arm and leg. The attack that crippled me also disrupted them, and while Patchouli is working on restoring them, but she seems to be having trouble with the scale and level of detail required." Alice nods.
"So I would be asked not simply to create the replacement limbs, but also to make sure they connect to your - crests, you said? And it isn't so much that Patchouli is unable to do the work herself as that she either does not want to take the time away from her own pursuits to take the time to do it properly, or there is another complicating factor beyond the integration of flesh and whatever is chosen to replace it and she wants assistance so she can concentrate on one factor at a time." She leans forward and laces her fingers together, staring at Ilya. "Admittedly, I've never worked with a living subject before -" A flash of light draws your attention away from Alice for a moment. You look around, then up at Aya. She waves, holding her camera with her other hand, then points at something in the crowd. You glance in the direction she's pointing, but whatever she wants you to see is blocked by the people. Unless that's what she wanted you to see, but that'd be weird even for her.
What do you do?
[ ] Aya's being weird. Stay with Ilya and keep up with the conversation.
[ ] Politely excuse yourself and go see what has Aya riled.
[ ] Stay here, but keep an eye out for trouble.
[ ] Other?
