[X] Take Ilya to meet Aya - she'll have to do it sooner or later.
You wait for a moment as Ilya looks at the image Deis is showing. It's obvious that she wants to go to Alice right away, but … well, it's probably not the best idea. "I think it would be best to see Aya first." She whips her head around to stare at you and you raise your hands placatingly. "Yes, I know you want to see Alice, and we will. But you're going to have to meet her sooner or later, and this is a good time because it's in the middle of an event. You don't have to do an interview right now, after all -"
"Interview?" You nod as her eyes widen nervously.
"You don't have to do it now, but it's going to happen - you too, Deis - and you can at least get introduced to her so you know what she's like. More importantly, though, she's up in the gallery, and that's a more private area so people won't notice us right away so we can see if anyone's moved around or if something interesting happens." That stops her objection before it can really start and she pouts at you. You smile innocently and she sighs before looking up at Sella. The servant considers the matter.
"Lady Flandre does have a point. An observation post would allow us to dictate the terms of a meeting, perhaps invite someone up to meet us instead of moving down to meet her. As a noble, others should be coming to you, after all." Ilya nods quickly and takes a deep breath.
"Yes … alright, Flan, we'll go up to the gallery, and if this Aya is still there, you can introduce us before we meet Alice." You smile and give her a sweeping bow.
"Yup! Then you'll come up when you're ready, Deis?" She nods, a small smile on her lips. "Thank you, Koakuma, for your help." The familiar devil smiles brightly and bows her head.
"My pleasure, Lady Flandre." You wave and begin withdrawing with Ilya.
"Shall we take our time, let everyone get set up, or do you want to hurry and get their quickly?" She scowls and leans back in her wheelchair as Leysritt pushes it along. You float in front of her, flying backwards, and stick your tongue out at her. She giggles and shakes her head.
"Hmm … if we hurry, you're going to fly us there, right?" You smile and shrug - you will, of course, and she smiles back. "In that case … sure, why not?" Your smile widens and your clones slip out. One each for Sella and Leysritt, you take the wheelchair, and the fourth goes ahead to make sure the path is clear. Ilya leans forward as you pick up speed, and her hair streams into your face. Fortunately, you don't need to see, yourself, in order to guide the wheelchair to the stairs, and after a few minutes of flight you reach the stairs and slow down, warping into the hallway when you get close enough. "That is fun, isn't it?" You reach forward and pat her head.
"You're going to learn how to fly while you're here, aren't you? Once you learn how I can teach you about flying and getting used to it."
"I'd like to, but -"
"Flight is quite difficult, especially free flight instead of utilizing attraction between two locations or being repelled by the earth." You scowl at that.
"Well, that doesn't matter. If Marisa can learn to fly, you can learn to fly, understand? I won't allow you to selfishly not learn to fly." For some reason, Ilya laughs at that. Music starts playing as you reach the second floor and set down Leysritt and Sella, and you stop to listen for a moment before walking around to face Ilya and make sure she isn't disarranged from the flight.
"The Prismrivers must be here … sounds like Merlin is in the lead again." Ilya frowns at you, confused, and you shake your head. "Poltergeist musicians. It just means that the party is well and truly 'begun.' Now, take a deep breath. I'm here, Sella and Leysritt are here, and Berserker is here, too, right? Don't be nervous." She nods and you flash a grin before standing up and leading the way to the gallery, your clones rejoining you. Sella opens the door for you and you nod politely. You walk up to the railing and look out over the party. There are the rabbit youkai, definitely either guarding the table or keeping track of who's eating from it, and the shrine maidens, and Alice is still there. A few more fairies … but it hasn't been that long since you left the basement, so it's natural that things haven't changed much. And no one's looking up here, although you hear the clack of strange tengu shoes on the floor as Aya approaches. Ilya's chair rolls up next to you and Sella steps forward, not quite interposing herself between Ilya and the approaching tengu.
"Well, well, Flandre. It's been a while, hasn't it? You don't usually come out for these things." You turn as if noticing Aya for the first time and smile. She's still wearing a simple white shirt and black skirt, with her fan tucked into a belt - and, as always, she has her notebook open and pen ready. Neither she nor the other tengu have their wings out. "And you came with a guest?"
"Aya. Babysitting? Or is she a new recruit?" You conspicuously examine the newcomer as both tengu grimace unhappily. In comparison to Aya's short black hair, hers is long and brown, and reminds you of Tohsaka. Her skirt is checkered black and purple, her shirt pinkish, and she's holding - of all things - what looks like a cell phone. She holds it up, it clicks, and she nods satisfiedly.
"This is Hatate - Himekaidou Hatate. Ah, Remilia asked me to escort her if she ever came here." You blink as you recognize the name, and then you turn a flat stare to the other reporter. Meiling did say that two tengu had been here the night Remilia was upset about something. Has she been such a nuisance that she can't be on the mansion grounds without Aya there to make sure she doesn't do something that Remilia will take offense at?
"I can introduce myself, Aya. Ahem. My name is Hatate, and I'm the reporter for the Kakashi Spirit News, a -"
"You wrote that article from a few months ago, making up relationships for people, right?" Initially irritated by your interruption, she beams with pride.
"Yes! What did you think of it?" You hold her gaze as she stares at you excitedly, waiting for your response - and you deliberately turn away from her back to Aya.
"Anyway, Aya, let me introduce you. Ilya, this is Aya Shameimaru, reporter for the Buchubuchu Bunbun Newspaper. Aya, this is Illyasviel von Einzbern, from the outside world." Aya's expression shifts rapidly - concern over your attitude toward Hatate, mock-irritation over your mangling of her newspaper's name, and a knowing look at you when you describe Ilya as being from the outside world. How much does she know? Then she steps forward - not too closely - and bows her head to Ilya.
"Hello, Einzbern-san. I'm Aya, from the Bunbunmaru Newspaper. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Ilya looks up nervously, then at you. You clear your throat.
"No article, no interviews. Not right now, anyway." Aya nods and her notebook and pen vanish, almost magically, and holds up her empty hands.
"Hatate, put it away." There's a slight edge to her voice, and you glance at the other tengu - she grinds her teeth and huffs angrily, but the cell phone flips shut and vanishes into a pocket as well. "So you're from Germany, then? I traveled a bit when I was younger, about Flandre's age." You're even more surprised than Ilya is that she guessed her origin based on her name, and Aya smiles.
"Um, yes. I haven't been in Gensokyo long, but it seems like a wonderful place." Aya nods and Sella finally relents, stepping completely out of the way.
"What brought you here? Or was it -?" She gestures at Ilya's missing limbs and your friend nods. "Hmm … probably not after the kappa, and if you wanted to see Eirin you'd have gone to the bamboo forest … Alice?" You clear your throat meaningfully and she shakes her head and waves her hands. "Sorry, sorry. Bad habit of mine. Hm, but if you're from the outside world, maybe you'd be comfortable talking with Sanae?" You and Ilya both tilt your heads questioningly and she points at the shrine maidens. "Flandre knows Reimu, but the other miko there is Kochiya Sanae. She came here - oh, three years ago, now? But she's still getting used to Gensokyo, too, so if you feel like you need someone who's more knowledgeable about the outside world as it is now, instead of a few hundred years ago, she should be a good choice. Of course, Remilia doesn't like the Moriya Shrine much." Maybe you should have been more interested in what happened in Gensokyo apart from what Remilia offered?
"Is that why Reimu's with her? Another escort?" Aya laughs and shakes her head.
"No, I don't think so. I think it's just that she's still unsure of how she should treat youkai and she's looking for advice. From Reimu." She chuckles and glances at Ilya. "In any case, are you just going to watch from here? I could explain who people are, probably better than Flandre can." Ilya looks tempted … but she also looks nervous, and every moment you don't go to see Alice is a moment she could decide to leave. You could take Aya up on her offer, but if Alice leaves you'd have to hurry to catch her. Maybe some food would calm Ilya down so she isn't as tense when she meets Alice? And you could meet the rabbits and see what's up with their table. And while Sanae might be someone Ilya could relate to … probably not, because of how old-fashioned her family was. She might have existed in the modern world, but she didn't live in it. Lutecia, on the other hand ….
What do you do?
[ ] Thank Aya for the offer and take Ilya to see Alice.
[ ] Decline Aya's offer, but have Ilya wait up here while you go get Alice.
[ ] Take Ilya to get some food and see the rabbits and their table.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Updates should return to their normal schedule.
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