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

[X] Go back up to the party.
- [X] Apologize to the Prismrivers for disrupting their concert.


"Will you be heading back up to the party, Lady Flandre?" You frown at the question; on the one hand, you don't want to seem to be leaving Ilya just to go have some fun, but on the other, you should at least apologize to the Prismrivers for interrupting their performance. You dig your toes into the floor and nod.

"At the very least, I should apologize to the Prismrivers. They're some of the few people in Gensokyo I'm pretty familiar with, and I messed up their performance when I went looking for my sister. I'm not sure if I'll stay up there for much else - Deis is probably up there, but I'm not sure if there's going to be anything else interesting." You clap your hands together and hop forward. "Ah! Do any of you need anything? Food, or drink? I can bring something when I come back." Sella shakes her head and she smiles lightly.

"Thank you, Lady Flandre, but that will not be necessary." She bows deeply and you pout before grinning and leaning over.

"Hmm. Not necessary … but would either of you - or Ilya - want or like to have something?" Sella's cheeks redden slightly and she starts to frown, as if about to lecture you, but then she sighs and shakes her head.

"I am sure that Lady Illyasviel would appreciate anything you brought back for her, Lady Flandre." You giggle.

"And you two would, too, of course." You hop back and spin in place, then curtsy. "Thank you, both of you, for taking care of Ilya." Then you grin and wave. Sella blinks and stares at you, and Leysritt tilts her head to the side. Before either can properly recover, however, you hop backwards and fly toward the stairs. No need to go through the gallery this time, although since there are food tables in there it might be better to go through when you leave to see if there's anything Ilya might like. No, you'll just go through the entry hall and then outside ….

"How much do you think Aya knows about everything?" You blink and slow down at Headless's question. "I mean, she gave you that look when you said Illyasviel was from the Outside World, and your sister said she might have something for her in the next couple days … which is when she was planning on getting Verossa back." You frown and slow down to land in the hallway. The Prismrivers' music is audible now, so they must have returned to their performance once things calmed down a little.

"Well, she must know something. Depending on what she's been up to since I left, she might have noticed that I wasn't here … but she might not know anything about the other worlds. If anyone else besides Yukari knows, it'd be her, though; she gets along well enough with Remilia that she might be willing to trust her with stuff." Headless sniffs pompously as you walk toward the doors leading to the entry hall.

"And having something for her when she's supposed to be leaving Gensokyo herself?" You shrug and Headless withdraws triumphantly. It's not really that big a deal, and she could be completely wrong about what your sister wants, so you let her be. Besides, you have to get ready for being in public. You take a breath and adjust your stride and posture, then tuck your wings behind you. No sense in going invisible - trying to talk to the sisters that way would only cause more problems. Instead you'll simply walk, unhurriedly and properly; it won't stop people from seeing you, but unless they see your wings or know who you are they won't immediately recognize you, and with a pleasant expression on your face they're likely as not to simply pass you over as another guest. It helps that your clones only wore your normal clothes, and the outfit you have on right now is different enough that people might not immediately associate it with them. With any luck, you'll be able to walk out to the concert and let them know you're there without too much fuss and spectacle.

You open the door to the entry hall and walk in. It doesn't go as well as you'd hoped, but people do react more slowly to your presence - shock and surprise radiate like waves behind you, rather than expanding from you - and when it becomes obvious that you aren't doing anything particular people seem to subside. The front doors are still open, although whether it's to prevent a repeat of your own action or because someone forgot to close them you don't know … but outside is a bit harder to conceal yourself, even without your parasol. You take it out anyway to shield yourself from the sun and walk toward the stage. People are gathered in small clumps, with relatively few people moving between them the way you are, so you're much more noticeable. Still, you walk confidently toward the stage where the Prismrivers are performing - the largest concentration of people on the yard, with only the fairies coming close - and make your way through the crowd until you're in the front row. With the parasol shielding you, most people can't tell who you are, after all. You hold your free hand in front of you, waiting for the right moment, and wave unobtrusively when Lyrica looks at you. She blinks, holding your gaze for a moment, then nods. You take a seat and settle down to wait for a break in the performance, enjoying the music. After a few more pieces by the sisters, however, two people tumble to the ground in front of you. The girl with grey-green hair giggles as the red-haired cat youkai tries to disentangle them.

"Hehe! Orin, it's your fault we fell down. You should just take it off!"

"Miss Satori said we should keep it on so you don't worry people." The girl sticks her tongue out unhappily.

"Because of that mean vampire. Oh!" She turns and looks at you for the first time, then lunges forward, tugging the cat with her. A strange amulet floats in front of her, with long tendrils looping around her back and down to her legs. "Aah~ You have pretty wings! Do you want to be my pet?" You blink as the cat pulls her back, obviously worried about the girl's request. A slender chain links the cat's right hand with the girl's left.

"Koishi! No, that's rude! Um, I'm sorry, Koishi doesn't think things through before she tries to do them. Ah …." Her eyes widen and she goes a little pale. Her mouth works for a moment. "Ah, I'm sorry for interrupting you, Miss Scarlet." You shrug.

"Hey! Then you're supposed to be my friend, right?" You turn back to the girl.

"This is our first meeting, right? And we don't actually know anything about each other, right?" She pouts and you shrug again. "I have something I have to do when the Prismrivers finish. If you want to wait here, I don't mind." She seems to consider it for a moment before shaking her head and trying to spin around, only to be caught by her minder.

"Nope! Sounds boring. Come on, Orin!" The cat sketches a hasty bow as she's pulled away by the girl. As they leave you put them out of your mind and pay attention to the music. They aren't pieces you've heard before, and are very … bouncy, not as formal as the pieces you prefer. They're still very good, of course, and you lean back and close your eyes as you try to match keys with Lyrica's notes throughout the performance.

"… Alright, everyone, we're going to take a short break. Don't worry, nothing's happened to us!" Merlin's voice echoes throughout the yard and you open your eyes and stand up. The sisters hop off the stage and walk toward you. You bow.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your performance earlier. Something … happened … and I needed to get my sister. I hope I didn't cause too many problems." Lunasa shakes her head before Lyrica can say anything, making the youngest sister scowl.

"No, it wasn't too bad. It had something to do with the new shrine maiden leaving all of a sudden?" You nod and a rare smile appears on her face for a moment. "Well, surprises are a good thing on occasion, and if it's cleared up I don't see any problems." Merlin excitedly claps her hands.

"No, no, wait! You're sorry, right? Really, really sorry?" You narrow your eyes at her as you nod. "Then you can make it up by performing with us!" She nods proudly, but her sisters seem shocked.

"Wha-? I mean, she can play the piano very well, but she can't play the same as I do, so it'll be too different!" You frown at Lyrica, but Merlin shakes her head, keeping the attention on her.

"No, she won't play an instrument. You can sing, right? So sing along with our performance!" Now Lunasa shakes her head.

"Except that our music doesn't have lyrics, and trying to ad-lib a song wouldn't sound good. And anything that she knows the words to probably doesn't have our combination of instruments, right?" She gives you a pointed look and you frown, trying to remember all the songs you know.

"I … don't think I know any." It wouldn't be too difficult to change the instrumental portions, at least not for them … but that's not what Lunasa wants, and she nods victoriously.

"Well, then we can write something and she can sing it later!" Merlin's sisters glare at her as she looks smugly at you. If they do, you certainly could … eventually, at some point. Probably. If the other two agree to it ….


What do you do?

[ ] Agree with Merlin to accompany one of their performances later. Then -
- [ ] Wasn't there a strange cat youkai that you met earlier? What happened to her?
- [ ] See if there's anything Ilya might like that you can bring back.
- [ ] See if you can find Deis and see what she's up to.
- [ ] Wander around the party for a bit, just to see who's here and what's happening.
- - [ ] Invisibly.

[ ] Apologize to Merlin, but it probably wouldn't work out. Maybe that songbird you remember hearing about …? Then -
- [ ] Wasn't there a strange cat youkai that you met earlier? What happened to her?
- [ ] See if there's anything Ilya might like that you can bring back.
- [ ] See if you can find Deis and see what she's up to.
- [ ] Wander around the party for a bit, just to see who's here and what's happening.
- - [ ] Invisibly.

[ ] Other?

[X] Agree with Merlin to accompany one of their performances later. Then -
- [X] See if you can find Deis and see what she's up to.


"I think that would work splendidly." Merlin beams as her sisters turn their ineffectual glares on you. "I'd love it, in fact, and I'm sure everyone else would as well. Although I'm not sure when I'll be free to practice and finally accompany you." Merlin jumps happily and spins around excitedly. Lunasa sighs irritatedly and turns away, shaking her head as she heads back up to the stage. "You aren't a fan either, Lyrica?" The youngest Prismriver frowns, then shrugs and adopts a neutral expression as Merlin follows Lunasa back to the stage.

"I'm not sure, really. It would have been nice if she'd consulted us beforehand, and I'm not sure we'll be able to write a song instead of an instrumental piece. I'll … have to think about it, I think. Anyway, we'll send a notice when we have it ready - or if Lunasa convinces Merlin to drop the idea, or Merlin forgets about it." You grin and nod at the poltergeist.

"Of course, of course. I did mean it, though, about wanting to sing along with you." She looks a little embarrassed by that and shrugs helplessly.

"Well … we'll see, I guess. Anyway, we have to get back to our music." You wave as she hurries back to the stage. The sisters have a short, fairly lively conversation, then ready their instruments. Lyrica takes the lead this time, although she has to run through the introduction a second time before the other two join in. Hopefully no one else noticed - stories of solo acts are one thing, but a rumor of an actual break-up would be devastating. You listen to the piece, and part of the next, then shake your head - there are other things you have to do!

You rule out the ballroom as a location for Deis - she does like food, but without being able to taste or even smell it, she probably won't go where most of it is. Which leaves the entry hall and somewhere outside … or she could still be in the library. You didn't pass her when you took Ilya downstairs, after all. Of course, she could have left before that little incident occurred. You ponder for a moment before shrugging and walking toward the gate; outside is the largest area, but it should still be easier to find Ershin with people more spread out than it would inside. Meiling bows as you approach; you nod back and hop up onto one of the stone posts.

"Lady Flandre? Are you looking for someone?" You nod and continue looking around.

"Yeah; a short little suit of armor, maybe with an illusion of a woman sitting or standing near it."

"No one like that has come through the gate," Meiling says, and you chuckle.

"Well, she wouldn't have to - oh. Who's that she's with?" Meiling floats up next to you and looks where you point.

"Ah, that would be the satori Komeiji Satori." You blink and narrow your eyes at Meiling, but she looks completely serious as she frowns at the distant figures. You look where they had come from, but not much is in that direction, just some of the gardens and the danmaku dueling area. You probably would have noticed if there had been one, but it's possible you missed something; the girl certainly looks like someone beat her a few times.

"Well, I'm going, then. See you later, Meiling!" You hop down and start walking toward them. Meiling squawks and scrambles after you, reaching down to grab your shoulder. You frown at her, but she still looks quite worried.

"Lady Flandre, that youkai - she reads minds. Instinctively. She can't help it, but if you go near her …." She trails off and you smile at her and remove her hand from your shoulder.

"Thank you, Meiling. I'll be careful." You walk more deliberately as you continue toward Ershin. You don't exactly like the idea of someone sifting through your thoughts, but if Deis is with her, she probably can't learn anything that would threaten your family; some embarrassing things, depending on how deep she can go, and maybe some things you would kill her for knowing, but one of the big advantages of staying cooped up in the basement without involving yourself in Remilia's plans is that you don't know those plans. Headless's presence fills your mind and Verossa crosses your mind; she did block him, so maybe she can do something about this youkai, too. You send a warm, comforting feeling toward her.

You study the youkai as you move closer; she has a strange eye-amulet that hovers in front of her chest, a vaguely familiar device that tugs at the corner of your memories quite annoyingly. She doesn't look merely exhausted and beaten; she looks almost sick. Deis appears beside Ershin and the group halts as your path more clearly intercepts theirs, and the youkai winces and tries to draw away from you. You stop a couple meters from them and stare at the amulet; it blinks back at you.

"It's not nice to stare like that, Flan, particularly with what your sister did." You tilt your head and look at Deis. "You can tell she looks sick, right? Your sister's doing, because Satori can read minds; some kind of filter that distorts and corrupts incoming thoughts."

"In a … horrifying manner. Can you please not think of my third eye?" You giggle.

"Maybe you shouldn't read minds if it's going to cause you problems." The youkai glowers at you for a moment before blanching and almost doubling over as you and Headless think very hard about mutilating her eye in exciting ways. Your malevolent grin fades to neutrality and you look at Deis. "So why are you with her? Did Remilia ask you to take her somewhere?" Deis gives you a hard look before sighing and shaking her head.

"She's heading down to the library to meet with Patchouli, and I volunteered to help. I figure I can shield her visible presence so that people don't - well, do what you just did. I don't suppose you'd be willing to help?" You frown and glance at the youkai, then at Ershin.

"Why don't you just stick her inside Ershin? Might be a bit uncomfortable -" You break off as Deis shakes her head.

"Please, Flan. That's the first thing I thought of, but it … uh, it's a bad idea." The youkai nods. "Something about the combination of spells magnifies and multiplies any thoughts she senses." Hm. You could help, in a number of ways, but if Remilia didn't offer even though she has to know why the youkai is here, maybe you shouldn't. The youkai mind-reader shudders and tries massaging her temples … you frown and stare at her.

"When you try to read my mind, what do you get?" She simply shakes her head and Deis and Ershin both move closer to her. You have Headless retreat and clear your throat. "Is anything different now?" The youkai stiffens, preparing for the worst, but nods as you stare at her.

"It is … not as violent." You hop back and spin around. Deis is still glowering at you, but the guests can't see this area, at least not well enough to really figure out if anything interesting is going on. If you want to help her, you have a pretty good chance of not being noticed.


What do you do?

[ ] Help Deis and the youkai.
- [ ] Go to the library and let Patchouli know someone wants to meet her.
- [ ] Guide them through another entrance until they're only a straight shot from the library.
- [ ] Use your clones to make sure they get through the entry hall without being bothered too much.

[ ] Don't help them.
- [ ] See if there's anything Ilya might like that you can bring back.
- [ ] Wander around the party for a bit, just to see who else is here and what's happening.
- - [ ] Invisibly.

[ ] Other?

[X] Help Deis and the youkai.
- [X] Guide them through another entrance until they're only a straight shot from the library.


You stare at the youkai for another moment, then shrug. "I'll help you." Deis's illusion sags, relieved, and smiles at you, and the youkai gives you a surprised look. "I'm helping you for two major reasons. The first is that Deis is my friend and I like her; the second is that there's already been one major interruption of this party, and one of the guests clawing her eyes out in front of everyone would be another. Even if no one else likes you, it's bad form." The youkai nods, but Deis frowns and crosses her arms.

"Maybe if your sister hadn't put her little curse on Satori, it wouldn't be a problem." You inhale deeply at her stern tone and shake your head.

"As the host of the party, my sister has an obligation to protect her guests. If her reading minds is easy enough and reflexive enough that even with this 'curse' on her, she still does it, then it's likely that nothing short of cutting off the ability completely would stop it. Remilia is an excellent magician, but she can't do everything, especially if she's busy with other things and can't prepare things in advance. And she seems stressed and irritable over things lately. But that's not very relevant right now." Your clones slip out, and two of them grab Ershin and the youkai while the third darts upward in search of an open balcony. "In the interests of not having you claw your eyes out in front of everyone, we aren't going to use the main entrance. Right, there we go." Your clone finds an open third-floor balcony - probably left open by a fairy maid - and your clones lift your charges toward it. You could probably let the youkai fly under her own power, but it's easier this way. You turn as you rise after them and wave at Meiling. She waves back after a moment and you hurry after Deis and the youkai. Once you're all inside your clones scamper out of the room, an unused office, and begin looking around for a useable route to the library.

"Thank you, Flan. You're a huge help." You shake your head and smile at Deis, then perk up and start walking as one of your clones finds a staircase. It's not a major one, but it goes down and it's still big enough that Ershin shouldn't have any trouble with it.

"Found the stairs. Come on!" You lead them down two stories, getting slightly impatient with the youkai as she moves slowly and carefully, then head away from the entry hall in search of a cross-corridor you can use to sweep behind it and the ballroom - preferably without having to go all the way around the mansion. You turn around to walk backwards and frown at the youkai.

"Is something else wrong?" You shrug and continue your examination.

"I don't know. Something about you seems familiar, like I've met you before, but that's not the case." She sighs and nods.

"You met my sister, Koishi. She should have been with Orin, one of my pets." Your mind seems to clear - you remember the cat youkai, and now you remember someone else with her. How did you forget that there were two people? "My sister … she didn't like the hatred and fear that others feel for us, so she sealed her ability to read minds. As a result, she is without consciousness, and others have a hard time remembering her." You frown at the youkai some more, then spin around and continue walking normally. A youkai that willingly changed its own existence is … weird. That she was able to do it is amazing, but that she wanted it and made the attempt …. That just isn't right.

You think about the youkai's sister as you lead them around the ballroom, but can't quite come to a decision - whether she should be pitied for her current existence, feared in case her ability returns, ignored and shunned, killed, or something else. Patchouli probably has some ideas … is that why this youkai is going to meet her? You come to a halt as you reach the front of the mansion on the other side of the entry - to one side, returning to the party, and to the other, the basement and the library.

"Thank you again, Flan. Really, you've been a huge help." Deis smiles at you and the youkai bows her head politely. You nod, still partially caught up in your thoughts, and look back to the entry hall. Is there anything else you want to do up here, or do you just want to head back down to rest?


What do you do?

[ ] Stay up at the party.
- [ ] See if there's anything you think Ilya might like that you can bring back.
- [ ] Just wander around and see who all is here and if anything interesting is happening.

[ ] Go back to the basement.
- [ ] Go ahead to make sure Patchouli knows she's getting a visitor.
- - [ ] Stay and see what happens.
- - [ ] Head back to your room and take a nap.
- [ ] Just make sure the youkai stays away from Ilya.
- [ ] Head back to your room for a nap.

[ ] Other?