Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)
- Thread starter Entropy Judge
- Start date
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
Return
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Pretty good. Quality made up for the relatively low quantity.
Remilia Scarlet looked out over the city from the top of a titanic iron temple. She wondered, again, how Gensokyo would have reacted, had the Mansion been of similar stature … while the building was certainly large, and much of it was usable by entities that were significantly larger than humans, it was not designed to be considered excessive by a race that was commonly over six meters tall. Such an edifice would be visible from across the land, and the challenge would be unmistakable to all.
It would have been … interesting. And so different. She shrugged and took out the small ivory rod she'd taken with her when she left the Mansion. She hadn't been a complete fool, and once she'd calmed down she had spent a great deal of effort improving the tracking device - if she broke it, not only would it signal Patchouli as it was supposed to, but it would trigger a spell that should launch her back toward the Mansion without draining her personal reserves. At the worst, it would take her out of this world and into the void between existences, and from there … she could either enter another realm, or attempt to return to Gensokyo. She put the rod back, safely tucked away, and drew forth her great spear.
She hadn't ever had cause to draw it in Gensokyo. Many there knew of the wand Laevateinn, and knew of the mana-made facsimile she had made, but not even Patchouli or Meiling had seen her wield the weapon, made of the same strange, nearly indestructible material as her sister's wand. She glanced down at her prey, more than a hundred meters below her, and shook her head as they approached the spot she had decided to attack. She quickly checked the items she had decided to take back with her - the glowing, fist-sized stone of power for Patchouli, an apology; the magically explosive skulls, for her own study as well as Patchouli's; the small scrap of power-laden material that she knew held some important secret. And, once she was finished here, she would have her pick of great iron hammers to take back, a sardonic gift to some oni, perhaps. Or maybe she would decorate it as a tree, and tell everyone she was becoming a gardener. She stifled a laugh as the brutes reached the target area.
She took careful aim and hurled the spear, then leapt into the air, arcing forward until she was over the group and then hurling herself downward. The air howled as she plummeted, alerting the inhabitants to her arrival - but not her prey, for she reached them bare instants after her spear tore through the throat of the iron-clad giant, and the smaller brute she landed on exploded. Then she slammed into the bare earth, and the geyser of magic tore through the remaining members of the work party, splitting limbs and shattering their iron fetters. Now she laughed, derisive of the might these giants claimed. Firstborn of the world, mightier than any of the lesser races, perhaps - yet she could slaughter them, and they would fall at the hands of a mere mortal less than a millennium from now. She strode forward, the midnight spear flickering out of existence to appear in her hand once again.
She walked slowly, uncaringly, for the complex was massive enough that a running human would exhaust himself before reaching her destination. Besides, this will give them time to rouse themselves. Not that it will make any difference. She considered the only real challenge she'd faced so far, the great horde she'd fought two weeks ago. Tens of thousands of the lesser warriors, thousands of their greater kin, and almost a thousand pack-mages had been gathered against her. If she'd been a less puissant sorceress, or if she'd fought as her sister so often did, she would have lost, but she hadn't been considered one of the most dangerous threats on a continent simply because of brute strength. Flashing between mistform and physical body, she'd slipped through the throng of warriors and goaded the giants to throw their explosive skulls, killing their own kin in great numbers, before she would dash forward and take a leg or a head with her spear. Then she would disappear, seeking another target. Against the pack-mages, her great bat-form was invaluable, as their potent lightning strikes washed harmlessly against her. And while lesser than their warriors, the pack-mages were still greater than a man - which availed them nothing when she decided to close the distance. It had taken her time, and depleted her energy, but she had broken the might of the nightmare creatures. They would still harass and butcher humanity, but Man would survive, and in centuries, would bury their tormentors.
She hurled her spear once more, this time through the iron breastplate of a giant. Neither the thirty centimeters of iron, nor the stone-like body, nor the equally-thick backplate stymied the weapon, and then the slave-attendants were torn apart by a storm of crimson magic. Remilia examined the great weapon the giant had dropped, a hammer apparently crafted from a single massive piece of iron, nearly half the creature's six-meter height. With a sniff of disdain, she left it behind as she continued to the city's center.
She could see the residents long before she reached the small plateau, many hundreds of the bestial, three-meter slaves, a score of the iron-encased warriors, and eight giants without armor or weapons, but radiating powerful auras of magic. She disregarded the massive steps and simply floated up to the waiting army, and they drew nearer, the slaves trying to block the flanks while the mages blocked the path forward. One stepped before the others and spoke in a slow, deep, rumbling voice that seemed to grind against her very bones. She let him continue for thirty seconds in his strange tongue before she flourished her spear and sent a pulse of power through it - the resulting beam carved through the speaker, a massive channel that destroyed his left leg and cut through half the depth of his torso. Remilia glared, eyes narrowed, as the corpse fell. It was supposed to cut through him. Where did I miscalculate …? As she stood in thought, the slaves and warriors surged forward, but the giants were far too slow to be a threat, encased in iron as they were, and the slaves died with each cut of the great spear.
The surprise was total. She registered the flying hammer an instant too late, and her own incredulity at the event left her unable to react even if she had seen the giant throw it. All that saved her was the fact that the hammer didn't hit her directly. Instead, it passed over her, and when the head struck the iron of the platform, the long handle dropped onto her. She exploded into blood and mist, and for several seconds the plateau was silent. Then the iron warrior stepped forward, sending the slaves flying as he kicked them out of the way, and bent down to pick up his hammer. The black spear sheared through his arm, then a leg, and Remilia darted beneath him, enraged, and lunged for the assembled mages and warriors. At least one of them was waiting, and a geyser of earth and fire erupted in front of her, but it was far too little.
Flames scorched her flesh, and rock and broken iron gouged her side, but scarlet chains led by gleaming daggers leapt forward, piercing the weak points of the warriors' armor and destroying their insides. The blade swept with ease through the stony bodies of the mages, and a powerful open-handed strike blew apart one's skull, leaving the headless body to crumble to dust. As the last giant finally fell to the iron platform, Remilia turned to the assembled slaves. They stared around dazedly, and she could see the magic that had been holding them enthralled begin to dissolve. She concentrated, and the spell that would draw the energy of spilled blood to her flared into existence on the iron plateau … and mere seconds after that, brilliant waves of bloody daggers tore through them, followed by a sweeping arc of huge spherical bullets launched like cannonballs, and as the blood of hundreds fell upon the platform, power flowed into her.
As the spell faded, Remilia descended to the hammer that had shattered her body. It was truly massive, a solid piece of iron, fully seven meters from the base of the haft to the top of the head, which itself was ludicrously oversized. She looked at it for several long moments, then threw her head back and laughed. When she finally calmed down, she set about crafting the spell to create a portal back to the library, and waited for just the right moment before setting it loose. The hammer dropped through the portal, and after a moment, Remilia followed, gently floating down into the library.
It would have been … interesting. And so different. She shrugged and took out the small ivory rod she'd taken with her when she left the Mansion. She hadn't been a complete fool, and once she'd calmed down she had spent a great deal of effort improving the tracking device - if she broke it, not only would it signal Patchouli as it was supposed to, but it would trigger a spell that should launch her back toward the Mansion without draining her personal reserves. At the worst, it would take her out of this world and into the void between existences, and from there … she could either enter another realm, or attempt to return to Gensokyo. She put the rod back, safely tucked away, and drew forth her great spear.
She hadn't ever had cause to draw it in Gensokyo. Many there knew of the wand Laevateinn, and knew of the mana-made facsimile she had made, but not even Patchouli or Meiling had seen her wield the weapon, made of the same strange, nearly indestructible material as her sister's wand. She glanced down at her prey, more than a hundred meters below her, and shook her head as they approached the spot she had decided to attack. She quickly checked the items she had decided to take back with her - the glowing, fist-sized stone of power for Patchouli, an apology; the magically explosive skulls, for her own study as well as Patchouli's; the small scrap of power-laden material that she knew held some important secret. And, once she was finished here, she would have her pick of great iron hammers to take back, a sardonic gift to some oni, perhaps. Or maybe she would decorate it as a tree, and tell everyone she was becoming a gardener. She stifled a laugh as the brutes reached the target area.
She took careful aim and hurled the spear, then leapt into the air, arcing forward until she was over the group and then hurling herself downward. The air howled as she plummeted, alerting the inhabitants to her arrival - but not her prey, for she reached them bare instants after her spear tore through the throat of the iron-clad giant, and the smaller brute she landed on exploded. Then she slammed into the bare earth, and the geyser of magic tore through the remaining members of the work party, splitting limbs and shattering their iron fetters. Now she laughed, derisive of the might these giants claimed. Firstborn of the world, mightier than any of the lesser races, perhaps - yet she could slaughter them, and they would fall at the hands of a mere mortal less than a millennium from now. She strode forward, the midnight spear flickering out of existence to appear in her hand once again.
She walked slowly, uncaringly, for the complex was massive enough that a running human would exhaust himself before reaching her destination. Besides, this will give them time to rouse themselves. Not that it will make any difference. She considered the only real challenge she'd faced so far, the great horde she'd fought two weeks ago. Tens of thousands of the lesser warriors, thousands of their greater kin, and almost a thousand pack-mages had been gathered against her. If she'd been a less puissant sorceress, or if she'd fought as her sister so often did, she would have lost, but she hadn't been considered one of the most dangerous threats on a continent simply because of brute strength. Flashing between mistform and physical body, she'd slipped through the throng of warriors and goaded the giants to throw their explosive skulls, killing their own kin in great numbers, before she would dash forward and take a leg or a head with her spear. Then she would disappear, seeking another target. Against the pack-mages, her great bat-form was invaluable, as their potent lightning strikes washed harmlessly against her. And while lesser than their warriors, the pack-mages were still greater than a man - which availed them nothing when she decided to close the distance. It had taken her time, and depleted her energy, but she had broken the might of the nightmare creatures. They would still harass and butcher humanity, but Man would survive, and in centuries, would bury their tormentors.
She hurled her spear once more, this time through the iron breastplate of a giant. Neither the thirty centimeters of iron, nor the stone-like body, nor the equally-thick backplate stymied the weapon, and then the slave-attendants were torn apart by a storm of crimson magic. Remilia examined the great weapon the giant had dropped, a hammer apparently crafted from a single massive piece of iron, nearly half the creature's six-meter height. With a sniff of disdain, she left it behind as she continued to the city's center.
She could see the residents long before she reached the small plateau, many hundreds of the bestial, three-meter slaves, a score of the iron-encased warriors, and eight giants without armor or weapons, but radiating powerful auras of magic. She disregarded the massive steps and simply floated up to the waiting army, and they drew nearer, the slaves trying to block the flanks while the mages blocked the path forward. One stepped before the others and spoke in a slow, deep, rumbling voice that seemed to grind against her very bones. She let him continue for thirty seconds in his strange tongue before she flourished her spear and sent a pulse of power through it - the resulting beam carved through the speaker, a massive channel that destroyed his left leg and cut through half the depth of his torso. Remilia glared, eyes narrowed, as the corpse fell. It was supposed to cut through him. Where did I miscalculate …? As she stood in thought, the slaves and warriors surged forward, but the giants were far too slow to be a threat, encased in iron as they were, and the slaves died with each cut of the great spear.
The surprise was total. She registered the flying hammer an instant too late, and her own incredulity at the event left her unable to react even if she had seen the giant throw it. All that saved her was the fact that the hammer didn't hit her directly. Instead, it passed over her, and when the head struck the iron of the platform, the long handle dropped onto her. She exploded into blood and mist, and for several seconds the plateau was silent. Then the iron warrior stepped forward, sending the slaves flying as he kicked them out of the way, and bent down to pick up his hammer. The black spear sheared through his arm, then a leg, and Remilia darted beneath him, enraged, and lunged for the assembled mages and warriors. At least one of them was waiting, and a geyser of earth and fire erupted in front of her, but it was far too little.
Flames scorched her flesh, and rock and broken iron gouged her side, but scarlet chains led by gleaming daggers leapt forward, piercing the weak points of the warriors' armor and destroying their insides. The blade swept with ease through the stony bodies of the mages, and a powerful open-handed strike blew apart one's skull, leaving the headless body to crumble to dust. As the last giant finally fell to the iron platform, Remilia turned to the assembled slaves. They stared around dazedly, and she could see the magic that had been holding them enthralled begin to dissolve. She concentrated, and the spell that would draw the energy of spilled blood to her flared into existence on the iron plateau … and mere seconds after that, brilliant waves of bloody daggers tore through them, followed by a sweeping arc of huge spherical bullets launched like cannonballs, and as the blood of hundreds fell upon the platform, power flowed into her.
As the spell faded, Remilia descended to the hammer that had shattered her body. It was truly massive, a solid piece of iron, fully seven meters from the base of the haft to the top of the head, which itself was ludicrously oversized. She looked at it for several long moments, then threw her head back and laughed. When she finally calmed down, she set about crafting the spell to create a portal back to the library, and waited for just the right moment before setting it loose. The hammer dropped through the portal, and after a moment, Remilia followed, gently floating down into the library.
Well, at least Remilia's having fun
Alright, no rush to get some kills then,
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
"So I killed a hundred thousand horrific gribblies in two months. How did your trip go?"Well, at least Remilia's having fun
"
"[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] About the finer things in life.
1
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
1
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] About the finer things in life.
1
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
1
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] About the finer things in life.
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] About the finer things in life.
"I got a new dress! And my own pet magician!"
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are closed.
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] About the finer things in life.
2
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
3
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] About the finer things in life.
2
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
3
Alike and Not Alike
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Talk with Lutecia ...
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
You clap your hands together, startling Lutecia and Agito out of their stillness. "Well, you two should go off to bed now." Lutecia frowns and shakes her head.
"We're alright," she begins, and Agito sighs, but you're having none of it.
"No, no, you're tired, I can tell. Here, I'll show you." You tilt your head up, open your mouth wide, and take a deep breath. After a few seconds of staring quizzically at you, Lutecia yawns, and you nod your head sagely. "See? You just yawned. That means you're tired, and so you should go up to your room, with your nice soft bed, and your warm blankets, and your comfortable pillow -" Lutecia yawns again, then ducks her head, trying to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks. Agito chuckles, and you step forward to hug Lutecia, and you whisper into her ear, "Go on, don't worry. I'll be here when you wake up." You separate, and she nods before quietly turning and heading for the door to the rest of the house. You stifle a giggle as she yawns again before opening the door. Agito turns to look at you as she slips through the door after Lutecia, and you're pretty sure she winked at you.
You give them a few minutes to get upstairs, then head into the kitchen and make some tea. Cup in hand, you return to the main room. What to do in the mean-time? You don't really have anything planned, so you simply summon a set of bullets and have them dance away in the darkness ....
You glance at the door to Homura's room as it opens. You noticed the noise and light some time ago, of course, but people waking up is no reason for you to stop. As she steps into the main room, Homura looks at the dancing lights - but then she shakes her head and glowers at you. You raise an eyebrow, and the bullets shift their orbit in response to the change in your attention. You frown and the bullets stumble in their routine.
"I thought you said you wouldn't do anything like that," Homura says, and your frown deepens.
"When did I say I wouldn't dance bullets? I don't think it's ever come up," you say, and Homura sighs exasperatedly.
"Long ago, I made it a habit to watch the news when I wake up. Last night, someone went to a funeral with a large number of Yakuza in attendance and slaughtered several hundred people, in addition to causing severe damage to the building's lower structure." You smile lightly.
"Oh? There's someone else in the city who likes killing people? I simply went out for a walk last night ...." Homura stares at you for several seconds before snorting and heading to the kitchen. Your smile turns to a wicked grin as she passes you. "Oh, and Homura? If I had done that, don't you think it would be better to be grateful that I restricted myself to the undesirable elements of society, and in a manner that could be explained as the doing of humans, instead of attacking common humans in the open, as would be within my purview?" The bullets halt their dance and adjust their positions, and Homura meets your eyes, holds your gaze, for several seconds before turning away. She sweeps her hand through her hair, pulling a small cluster of strands in front of her and worrying it. You dismiss the bullets and turn on the lights.
When Homura, Madoka, and Mami enter the room on their way to school, they see you studying the images. Mami bows her head, and Madoka waves; you respond to both gestures with a polite bow of your own, and Homura nods politely as well. You catch her eye and hold it for a moment, until she nods her head again, and you bow again. You really wish you understood her better. Of course, since she doesn't seem to understand her own nature very well, it's not likely that you would.
"Hmm, how about Louise? She used to be one of our servants, and she would play with me sometimes." She was a little stupid, true, but she wasn't afraid of you ... okay, she was very stupid, and you accidentally killed her in a game of tag, but she doesn't need to know that.
"Mmm ... it sounds too much like Lutecia." You sigh. "Why can't I have a name like Headless?"
"You can, you'll just have to wait longer. We'd known each other for a while when I told her what her name would be. That's why I suggested you let Headless name you, because she knows you better and can figure out what suits you best." You feel the uncertainty drifting around inside your head, but your attention is drawn to the opening door. Agito is first through, and Lutecia carries a tray with several cups of tea and some snacks. "Well, you think about it, okay?" You feel more than hear her response as you shift your attention to the magician and .... You look at them, studying, and Lutecia looks back curiously.
"What?" Agito disrupts your concentration as she pops into her full-sized form.
"Hm? Oh, I was just making comparisons in my head," you say before snatching a thin cookie from the tray.
"Comparisons? Between you and us?" Lutecia asks, and you shake your head.
"Um-um. You two, and Patchouli and Koakuma." She tries to tilt her head as she drinks her tea, but Agito puts a hand up to keep her upright. "Hehe. Hm ... well, I told you that Patchouli was my sister's friend, a magician, right? Well, she's ... a little taller than you, I think - it's hard to tell, because she hardly ever dresses properly - and her eyes are purple, and her hair's a lot longer, but you could probably be mistaken for her if you were just sitting there. Oh! Do you like books?" They stare at you, confused.
"Books?" You nod slowly, and Agito sighs. "Uh ... kinda, I guess? I mean, they're important, sure, you can learn a lot from them, but ...." She frowns.
"Hmm. See, Koakuma is Patchouli's familiar, but she usually just helps out in the library. You and her look kinda alike, too ... well, you don't have headwings, and her hair is longer, and she wears a covering black dress ... and you look meaner, too." Agito sputters and glares at you as you sip your tea, but breaks down and shakes her head when Lutecia laughs softly.
"... What kind of name is 'Koakuma'?" You shrug.
"It's just what she's called. Patchouli probably knows what her real name is, and Remilia might, but I've never heard them say it. ... Of course, I don't think I've heard either of them call her 'Koakuma,' either, so ...." You frown. They must have, since you know that's what she's called, but you can't remember when. Shaking your head, you continue. "Anyway, it works because it describes what she is - she's a lesser devil." Agito sits up straight.
"... Are you comparing me to an evil creature?" You think about it for a moment, then shrug again.
"I guess most devils are considered to be evil by humans, but I don't know about Koakuma; she just handles the books and helps Patchouli." Agito sulks, and you tilt your head as you look at her. Should you apologize? She'll probably be offended, but ....
"You said Patchouli is a magician?" You turn to Lutecia and nod.
"Uh-huh. She's the one who made the portals, remember?"
"Is she a better mage than I am?" You giggle.
"Oh, definitely. More knowledgeable, for certain, and a lot more powerful, too." She deflates a little, and you poke her forehead, startling her. "Oh, don't get like that. How about this - when we get to the Mansion, I'll ask Patchouli to list her spells and power, and when you're ...." You try to think. You know Patchouli's definitely over a century, but she's probably well under two. You don't think she's even a hundred fifty yet, but .... "When you're a hundred twenty, we'll ask Patchouli for that list, and we can see how well you match up against her." Lutecia stares at you.
"What? But you said she looks like Lulu! If she's that old, she should be old and wrinkly!" You blink at Agito's outburst and shake your head.
"Yes, because she's a magician." Agito gestures wildly with her hands, mouth open, and you shake your head more firmly. "A magician is someone who practices magic. So my sister, Remilia, is a magician, and she's a vampire. And the forest witch, Marisa, is a magician, and she's human. But Patchouli is the other kind of magician, a being whose body is a magical furnace. She won't get old, she doesn't need to eat or sleep. Unless she's doing something else, she's free to practice her magic and study. In terms of magic, humans simply can't compete fairly with older magicians." You shrug. "That's just the way it is." Agito slumps and shakes her head while Lutecia looks down at her tea.
"Can ... can she bring the dead back to life?" Agito sucks her breath in and pales.
"She certainly has the knowledge to perform necromancy, though I don't think she has, since my sister doesn't like it. Bringing a dead person back is tricky, but she and my sister definitely can." You lean forward, put a finger under Lutecia's chin, and raise her head, forcing her to look into your eyes. "But they won't have to. Because we're going to get back to your world, and your mother is going to be fine, not dead." She nods faintly, and you smile and look to the side, at a worried Agito. Lutecia draws back and holds out her arms, and the fairy hugs her.
What do you do?
[ ] Take a nap.
[ ] Wait for them to finish, then keep talking.
- About what?
[ ] Go see what Saya is doing.
[ ] Other?
- [X] Later, after you send her to sleep some more.
- - [X] How she and Agito sort of remind you of Patchouli and Koakuma.
You clap your hands together, startling Lutecia and Agito out of their stillness. "Well, you two should go off to bed now." Lutecia frowns and shakes her head.
"We're alright," she begins, and Agito sighs, but you're having none of it.
"No, no, you're tired, I can tell. Here, I'll show you." You tilt your head up, open your mouth wide, and take a deep breath. After a few seconds of staring quizzically at you, Lutecia yawns, and you nod your head sagely. "See? You just yawned. That means you're tired, and so you should go up to your room, with your nice soft bed, and your warm blankets, and your comfortable pillow -" Lutecia yawns again, then ducks her head, trying to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks. Agito chuckles, and you step forward to hug Lutecia, and you whisper into her ear, "Go on, don't worry. I'll be here when you wake up." You separate, and she nods before quietly turning and heading for the door to the rest of the house. You stifle a giggle as she yawns again before opening the door. Agito turns to look at you as she slips through the door after Lutecia, and you're pretty sure she winked at you.
You give them a few minutes to get upstairs, then head into the kitchen and make some tea. Cup in hand, you return to the main room. What to do in the mean-time? You don't really have anything planned, so you simply summon a set of bullets and have them dance away in the darkness ....
You glance at the door to Homura's room as it opens. You noticed the noise and light some time ago, of course, but people waking up is no reason for you to stop. As she steps into the main room, Homura looks at the dancing lights - but then she shakes her head and glowers at you. You raise an eyebrow, and the bullets shift their orbit in response to the change in your attention. You frown and the bullets stumble in their routine.
"I thought you said you wouldn't do anything like that," Homura says, and your frown deepens.
"When did I say I wouldn't dance bullets? I don't think it's ever come up," you say, and Homura sighs exasperatedly.
"Long ago, I made it a habit to watch the news when I wake up. Last night, someone went to a funeral with a large number of Yakuza in attendance and slaughtered several hundred people, in addition to causing severe damage to the building's lower structure." You smile lightly.
"Oh? There's someone else in the city who likes killing people? I simply went out for a walk last night ...." Homura stares at you for several seconds before snorting and heading to the kitchen. Your smile turns to a wicked grin as she passes you. "Oh, and Homura? If I had done that, don't you think it would be better to be grateful that I restricted myself to the undesirable elements of society, and in a manner that could be explained as the doing of humans, instead of attacking common humans in the open, as would be within my purview?" The bullets halt their dance and adjust their positions, and Homura meets your eyes, holds your gaze, for several seconds before turning away. She sweeps her hand through her hair, pulling a small cluster of strands in front of her and worrying it. You dismiss the bullets and turn on the lights.
When Homura, Madoka, and Mami enter the room on their way to school, they see you studying the images. Mami bows her head, and Madoka waves; you respond to both gestures with a polite bow of your own, and Homura nods politely as well. You catch her eye and hold it for a moment, until she nods her head again, and you bow again. You really wish you understood her better. Of course, since she doesn't seem to understand her own nature very well, it's not likely that you would.
"Hmm, how about Louise? She used to be one of our servants, and she would play with me sometimes." She was a little stupid, true, but she wasn't afraid of you ... okay, she was very stupid, and you accidentally killed her in a game of tag, but she doesn't need to know that.
"Mmm ... it sounds too much like Lutecia." You sigh. "Why can't I have a name like Headless?"
"You can, you'll just have to wait longer. We'd known each other for a while when I told her what her name would be. That's why I suggested you let Headless name you, because she knows you better and can figure out what suits you best." You feel the uncertainty drifting around inside your head, but your attention is drawn to the opening door. Agito is first through, and Lutecia carries a tray with several cups of tea and some snacks. "Well, you think about it, okay?" You feel more than hear her response as you shift your attention to the magician and .... You look at them, studying, and Lutecia looks back curiously.
"What?" Agito disrupts your concentration as she pops into her full-sized form.
"Hm? Oh, I was just making comparisons in my head," you say before snatching a thin cookie from the tray.
"Comparisons? Between you and us?" Lutecia asks, and you shake your head.
"Um-um. You two, and Patchouli and Koakuma." She tries to tilt her head as she drinks her tea, but Agito puts a hand up to keep her upright. "Hehe. Hm ... well, I told you that Patchouli was my sister's friend, a magician, right? Well, she's ... a little taller than you, I think - it's hard to tell, because she hardly ever dresses properly - and her eyes are purple, and her hair's a lot longer, but you could probably be mistaken for her if you were just sitting there. Oh! Do you like books?" They stare at you, confused.
"Books?" You nod slowly, and Agito sighs. "Uh ... kinda, I guess? I mean, they're important, sure, you can learn a lot from them, but ...." She frowns.
"Hmm. See, Koakuma is Patchouli's familiar, but she usually just helps out in the library. You and her look kinda alike, too ... well, you don't have headwings, and her hair is longer, and she wears a covering black dress ... and you look meaner, too." Agito sputters and glares at you as you sip your tea, but breaks down and shakes her head when Lutecia laughs softly.
"... What kind of name is 'Koakuma'?" You shrug.
"It's just what she's called. Patchouli probably knows what her real name is, and Remilia might, but I've never heard them say it. ... Of course, I don't think I've heard either of them call her 'Koakuma,' either, so ...." You frown. They must have, since you know that's what she's called, but you can't remember when. Shaking your head, you continue. "Anyway, it works because it describes what she is - she's a lesser devil." Agito sits up straight.
"... Are you comparing me to an evil creature?" You think about it for a moment, then shrug again.
"I guess most devils are considered to be evil by humans, but I don't know about Koakuma; she just handles the books and helps Patchouli." Agito sulks, and you tilt your head as you look at her. Should you apologize? She'll probably be offended, but ....
"You said Patchouli is a magician?" You turn to Lutecia and nod.
"Uh-huh. She's the one who made the portals, remember?"
"Is she a better mage than I am?" You giggle.
"Oh, definitely. More knowledgeable, for certain, and a lot more powerful, too." She deflates a little, and you poke her forehead, startling her. "Oh, don't get like that. How about this - when we get to the Mansion, I'll ask Patchouli to list her spells and power, and when you're ...." You try to think. You know Patchouli's definitely over a century, but she's probably well under two. You don't think she's even a hundred fifty yet, but .... "When you're a hundred twenty, we'll ask Patchouli for that list, and we can see how well you match up against her." Lutecia stares at you.
"What? But you said she looks like Lulu! If she's that old, she should be old and wrinkly!" You blink at Agito's outburst and shake your head.
"Yes, because she's a magician." Agito gestures wildly with her hands, mouth open, and you shake your head more firmly. "A magician is someone who practices magic. So my sister, Remilia, is a magician, and she's a vampire. And the forest witch, Marisa, is a magician, and she's human. But Patchouli is the other kind of magician, a being whose body is a magical furnace. She won't get old, she doesn't need to eat or sleep. Unless she's doing something else, she's free to practice her magic and study. In terms of magic, humans simply can't compete fairly with older magicians." You shrug. "That's just the way it is." Agito slumps and shakes her head while Lutecia looks down at her tea.
"Can ... can she bring the dead back to life?" Agito sucks her breath in and pales.
"She certainly has the knowledge to perform necromancy, though I don't think she has, since my sister doesn't like it. Bringing a dead person back is tricky, but she and my sister definitely can." You lean forward, put a finger under Lutecia's chin, and raise her head, forcing her to look into your eyes. "But they won't have to. Because we're going to get back to your world, and your mother is going to be fine, not dead." She nods faintly, and you smile and look to the side, at a worried Agito. Lutecia draws back and holds out her arms, and the fairy hugs her.
What do you do?
[ ] Take a nap.
[ ] Wait for them to finish, then keep talking.
- About what?
[ ] Go see what Saya is doing.
[ ] Other?
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
~1030.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Vampires do need some downtime occasionally, and it's easier to hold longer conversations with Headless that way. Age/Experience and how well-fed a vampire is dictates how much they need to sleep, especially if they're out in sunlight - an under-50 vampire with an irregular supply of blood would need to sleep a lot more frequently than Flan does, probably spending most of the daylight hours asleep. Similarly, Remilia needs to sleep less than Flan does, because of her greater energy control (though they both tend to sleep more frequently than they need to, simply out of habit).
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Current Tally is two votes for
[X] Take a nap.
So I've been doing a bit of thinking RE: Magical Girl Companions, and I'm sure some of you have been wondering whether Flan will be able to install Oriko as Jarl of Whiterun, or whether Sayaka will be able to duel Archer while discussing whose philosophy of heroism is better-grounded, or if Mami will finally find some friends who'll never leave her as she leads a WAAAGH! against the Imperium. ... Okay, maybe not that last one. Anyway, an approximate likelihood of being able to gain and keep MGs follows:
Also: Could I get a 1d20 roll, please?
[X] Take a nap.
So I've been doing a bit of thinking RE: Magical Girl Companions, and I'm sure some of you have been wondering whether Flan will be able to install Oriko as Jarl of Whiterun, or whether Sayaka will be able to duel Archer while discussing whose philosophy of heroism is better-grounded, or if Mami will finally find some friends who'll never leave her as she leads a WAAAGH! against the Imperium. ... Okay, maybe not that last one. Anyway, an approximate likelihood of being able to gain and keep MGs follows:
Kirika: Not happening. She embarrassed and humiliated Flan, and she is going to kill her as soon as she gets the chance.
Oriko: Theoretically possible, but it would require blindsiding her and dragging her along through the portal, and then making sure she stays with the group and doesn't Witch or anything.
Homura: Not as difficult as Oriko, but that isn't saying much. Like her, Homura would have to be kidnapped; you can't convince her to leave. And once through, you're probably going to have some difficulty keeping her from doing something everyone will regret.
Mami/Madoka: Very unlikely to be able to convince them to come along, and if they'll have some ... difficulty ... adapting to traveling with Flan.
Sayaka: She is going to be pretty difficult to convince, although it can be easier than with M&M (she has a couple points you can make that would make it a lot easier, but you'll have to figure those out yourself ). So long as you don't kidnap or otherwise forcibly coerce her, she'll be fairly low-maintenance.
Yuma: There are two big hurdles with Yuma. First, she's with K/O, so they'd need to be dealt with ... without her dying or considering Flan an enemy. Second, Flan would have to consider her a worthwhile endeavor - which she doesn't at the moment. Of course, her mindset would make her pretty easy to keep around if she did come with.
Kyouko: Pretty easy to convince, as long as Flan doesn't screw things up horribly somehow. She does, of course, have some major maintenance issues thanks to the condition of her Soul Gem.
Oriko: Theoretically possible, but it would require blindsiding her and dragging her along through the portal, and then making sure she stays with the group and doesn't Witch or anything.
Homura: Not as difficult as Oriko, but that isn't saying much. Like her, Homura would have to be kidnapped; you can't convince her to leave. And once through, you're probably going to have some difficulty keeping her from doing something everyone will regret.
Mami/Madoka: Very unlikely to be able to convince them to come along, and if they'll have some ... difficulty ... adapting to traveling with Flan.
Sayaka: She is going to be pretty difficult to convince, although it can be easier than with M&M (she has a couple points you can make that would make it a lot easier, but you'll have to figure those out yourself
). So long as you don't kidnap or otherwise forcibly coerce her, she'll be fairly low-maintenance.Yuma: There are two big hurdles with Yuma. First, she's with K/O, so they'd need to be dealt with ... without her dying or considering Flan an enemy. Second, Flan would have to consider her a worthwhile endeavor - which she doesn't at the moment. Of course, her mindset would make her pretty easy to keep around if she did come with.
Kyouko: Pretty easy to convince, as long as Flan doesn't screw things up horribly somehow. She does, of course, have some major maintenance issues thanks to the condition of her Soul Gem.
Also: Could I get a 1d20 roll, please?
Doctor Akemi
Homura Akemi's Time Lord counterpart.
- Location
- inside TARDIS in time stream
I'll do it!
edit also
I must've missed something... when did it happen?
Last edited:
[X] Take a nap.
I must've missed something... when did it happen?
Kirika was the one who beat Flandre using some underhanded but working tactics - she used slow time on her and destroyed her umbrella during rain - this weakened Flandre enough for Kirika to be able to steal Flandre's prisoner, Yuma coincidently. Flandre didn't took this well. It is probably possible to persuade her to only destroy Kirika' body and stole/capture her Soul in formal duel (This will help with Oriko who predicted Kirika's death by Flandre by now, and is really unhappy with it).
She just wants Madoka.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Madoka contracted, which is a huge issue for her, and why you wouldn't be able to convince her to come. She still believes Madoka can be saved and Walpurgisnacht can be defeated. And, to be honest, she doesn't trust Flan a whole lot; Kyouko, at least, has a few handles that she can use to manipulate her, but Flan doesn't, so she's a danger.