Questions
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Head back to the mansion.
- [X] Find someplace comfortable and answer any questions about Gensokyo they have.
You shake your head and, after a glance at Ilya, push the fairy after her friend. "Go on," you growl, and she bobs her head before bowing to you and to Ilya.
"Th-thank you!" She turns and rushes away, displaying the same surprising speed as when she picked up the newspaper when you were here before. You sigh and shake your head again.
"Shall we head back to the mansion, then?" Ilya looks around for a moment before starting to nod, but then she tilts her head and looks at you.
"Do you think you could carry us back? I know we aren't in a rush, really, but …." You smile and bow your head, ignoring Satsuki's quiet whimpering. Your clones slip away from you, one going for Sella and another for Leysritt as you pick up Ilya and make sure she's comfortable. Satsuki gives a relieved sigh as your third clone looks back at her and then at the wheelchair, but before she can say anything, it puts her in the wheelchair and carries the two of them together. Ilya giggles at your servant's muted wail of despair, but you almost have your clone set her down anyway; only the fact that flying will be a lot faster than anything except a dead run from Satsuki stays your hand. Still, you are merciful - once you're over the ridge, the clone lets her down and stays with her as she recovers. Sella and Leysritt are set down at the gate itself, but you keep carrying Ilya despite Sella's mild frown. You consider the mansion as you wait for them to catch up, trying to pick out the most comfortable location to have a talk, eventually settling on a corner room overlooking the gardens; it's not much different from the study you would have chats with Ilya in at her castle, at least in general terms. The specifics, of course, are a bit different. You gently bop her nose and twitches back before giving you a confused look.
"You're not sleepy, right?" You grin and she shakes her head slowly.
"No … I've been getting a lot of rest lately, actually, thanks to a certain layabout." You giggle at the friendly rebuke and stick your tongue out before squeezing Ilya tightly. She squeaks cutely and Satsuki finally gets close enough that you can open the gate and hold it open for her without getting annoyed. She quickly scurries through and hunches her shoulders sheepishly. Your free clones dance around her and pat her head, trying to cheer her up, then scoot her along so she follows your lead back to the mansion.
Once inside, however, you stop and stare at the scene. There is an oddly-familiar hat on the floor just a few meters in, and - much stranger - a yellow-and-green gazebo stands in the middle of the entry hall. Ilya slowly turns her head and leans back so she can look at you and still keep an eye on the intruding structure. "I don't know, either, Ilya. But I think we're going to have to pass on having a midnight pudding snack." A clone picks up the hat - a simple, broad-brimmed black hat with a yellow ribbon - and hangs it on a hook on the gazebo. After a moment the hat slithers up the gazebo until it sits perched on top. You nod and make a thoughtful sound before turning and heading toward your chosen destination - whatever it's doing here, Remilia either knows about it or had a hand in its appearance. Satsuki moans and covers her eyes; she doesn't even complain when a clone picks her up! The last clone heads for the kitchen, seeking supplies.
"Um, Flan? Where are we going?" You giggle at Ilya's confusion and nuzzle her cheek.
"Somewhere comfortable, of course," you reply cryptically; she gives you look before shaking her head and leaning into you. Only a few minutes later you're at your destination, and you curl up next to Ilya on a thick-cushioned couch with a good view of the gardens as your clones vanish back into the mansion to gather supplies. You motion for Satsuki, Sella, and Leysritt to sit down, and after a pointed stare and a few meaningfully-cleared throats, they take their seats as well. "Now, does anyone have any questions about Gensokyo? I figure that now's a good time to ask, considering what just happened." After a few seconds, Satsuki starts raising a hand and you look at her.
"Um, does … that … happen a lot?" You frown and look up at the ceiling for a moment.
"It depends on what you mean by 'a lot,' I suppose. I don't think Reimu usually goes out hunting youkai that are just doing youkai things, but dealing with youkai that disrupt the Human Village is one of her duties. But since nearly all youkai need humans, and disrupting the humans too much upsets the balance and probably means bad things for youkai, the village itself is normally off-limits. So unless someone's starting an Incident - which doesn't happen often, maybe once or twice a year, I think, and they've only started in the last six or seven years - then Reimu is only supposed to go after problem youkai that haven't been caught by other youkai. And Incidents aren't like that at all - danmaku and Spell Cards are quite different from extermination." Satsuki, after seeming to brighten, frowns at your last statement.
"But … you said fairies can't die? So …." You nod and smile as one of your clones brings back the first provender - a small basket with some good red wine - and begins pouring servings for everyone.
"Fairies can die, it's just very difficult. Unless you're a magician, probably. So 'exterminating' a fairy means something quite different from exterminating other youkai." Satsuki still looks unhappy, but she stares at the floor instead of continuing her questions.
"Does Reimu ever lose?" You frown again at Sella's question.
"I don't know about danmaku and Incidents - she's definitely really good at them - but she won't lose when she goes exterminating. Gensokyo needs a shrine maiden, and she is Genskoyo's shrine maiden, so she won't lose. She could lose, but she won't."
"… Hypothetically, if she did lose, what would happen?" Your frown darkens a little, but Sella simply waits for your answer.
"It would depend on how badly she lost, I suppose. It's very likely that even if she was just beaten, no one would know about or remember it happening, and the perpetrator would disappear. And no one would know, but everyone would know, that it happened because of what happened to Reimu. If something actually happened to her … it would probably happen a lot more openly and then they'd have to find a new shrine maiden." Ilya frowns fiercely, wrapping her head around the subject, and you twist around so you're leaning against the arm of the couch, then pull her against you. "Youkai need conflict, but even setting aside Reimu's strength and skill as a shrine maiden, they aren't allowed to beat her. So youkai get upset because they can't be youkai, and Reimu gets bored because no one fights her except for weaklings she can beat anyway. And that's where the Spell Cards and danmaku come in. Youkai can cause problems - even potentially lethal ones like my sister's mist or the long winter - and they get cleared up by humans in an actual contest." You shrug and take a drink. Your other clones slip in carrying light snacks: cheese, fruits, vegetables, and the like.
"Umm … Flandre-sama? How many people - I mean, how many humans are there in Gensokyo?" You tilt your head, thinking, then shrug again and smile.
"Not many. Most humans are in the Human Village, and it's not that big. Some, mainly magicians and other people with power, live alone in other places - there are a few in the Forest of Magic, I think. I know Marisa lives there … anyway, maybe two thousand humans? Maybe a bit lower." Satsuki shifts uncomfortably.
"So … so that's where we get our food from? Blood, I mean." You chuckle and shake your head.
"Nope! We don't take blood from people living in Gensokyo - in fact, we don't take blood at all. We have a contract and everything; the youkai of Gensokyo are responsible for providing us with humans to feed on, and since the Human Village is off-limits, they mostly get them from the outside world, either people who have wandered in by accident or snatching them away." Of course, that makes Yukari one of your major suppliers, but anything she tries will certainly be detected by someone before it becomes a problem. And Remilia never seemed to think it would be a problem, anyway.
You spend a few hours chatting about the workings of Gensokyo - Incidents and their resolutions, inter-youkai relations, what people do, and other subjects - before everyone starts winding down. Then Ilya stretches and cranes her head back to look at you. "Um, Flan? We're going back to the library, right? We can … um, we don't have to go through the entry hall, right?" Hmm … well, you can, of course … but how upset will Ilya get if you don't?
What do you do?
[ ] Offer to take her on a tour of the mansion.
[ ] See if Remilia knows about the gazebo and can do something about it.
[ ] Not today!
- [ ] See if you can get Ilya to go under the gazebo.
[ ] Go around the entry hall.
[ ] Other?
- [X] Find someplace comfortable and answer any questions about Gensokyo they have.
You shake your head and, after a glance at Ilya, push the fairy after her friend. "Go on," you growl, and she bobs her head before bowing to you and to Ilya.
"Th-thank you!" She turns and rushes away, displaying the same surprising speed as when she picked up the newspaper when you were here before. You sigh and shake your head again.
"Shall we head back to the mansion, then?" Ilya looks around for a moment before starting to nod, but then she tilts her head and looks at you.
"Do you think you could carry us back? I know we aren't in a rush, really, but …." You smile and bow your head, ignoring Satsuki's quiet whimpering. Your clones slip away from you, one going for Sella and another for Leysritt as you pick up Ilya and make sure she's comfortable. Satsuki gives a relieved sigh as your third clone looks back at her and then at the wheelchair, but before she can say anything, it puts her in the wheelchair and carries the two of them together. Ilya giggles at your servant's muted wail of despair, but you almost have your clone set her down anyway; only the fact that flying will be a lot faster than anything except a dead run from Satsuki stays your hand. Still, you are merciful - once you're over the ridge, the clone lets her down and stays with her as she recovers. Sella and Leysritt are set down at the gate itself, but you keep carrying Ilya despite Sella's mild frown. You consider the mansion as you wait for them to catch up, trying to pick out the most comfortable location to have a talk, eventually settling on a corner room overlooking the gardens; it's not much different from the study you would have chats with Ilya in at her castle, at least in general terms. The specifics, of course, are a bit different. You gently bop her nose and twitches back before giving you a confused look.
"You're not sleepy, right?" You grin and she shakes her head slowly.
"No … I've been getting a lot of rest lately, actually, thanks to a certain layabout." You giggle at the friendly rebuke and stick your tongue out before squeezing Ilya tightly. She squeaks cutely and Satsuki finally gets close enough that you can open the gate and hold it open for her without getting annoyed. She quickly scurries through and hunches her shoulders sheepishly. Your free clones dance around her and pat her head, trying to cheer her up, then scoot her along so she follows your lead back to the mansion.
Once inside, however, you stop and stare at the scene. There is an oddly-familiar hat on the floor just a few meters in, and - much stranger - a yellow-and-green gazebo stands in the middle of the entry hall. Ilya slowly turns her head and leans back so she can look at you and still keep an eye on the intruding structure. "I don't know, either, Ilya. But I think we're going to have to pass on having a midnight pudding snack." A clone picks up the hat - a simple, broad-brimmed black hat with a yellow ribbon - and hangs it on a hook on the gazebo. After a moment the hat slithers up the gazebo until it sits perched on top. You nod and make a thoughtful sound before turning and heading toward your chosen destination - whatever it's doing here, Remilia either knows about it or had a hand in its appearance. Satsuki moans and covers her eyes; she doesn't even complain when a clone picks her up! The last clone heads for the kitchen, seeking supplies.
"Um, Flan? Where are we going?" You giggle at Ilya's confusion and nuzzle her cheek.
"Somewhere comfortable, of course," you reply cryptically; she gives you look before shaking her head and leaning into you. Only a few minutes later you're at your destination, and you curl up next to Ilya on a thick-cushioned couch with a good view of the gardens as your clones vanish back into the mansion to gather supplies. You motion for Satsuki, Sella, and Leysritt to sit down, and after a pointed stare and a few meaningfully-cleared throats, they take their seats as well. "Now, does anyone have any questions about Gensokyo? I figure that now's a good time to ask, considering what just happened." After a few seconds, Satsuki starts raising a hand and you look at her.
"Um, does … that … happen a lot?" You frown and look up at the ceiling for a moment.
"It depends on what you mean by 'a lot,' I suppose. I don't think Reimu usually goes out hunting youkai that are just doing youkai things, but dealing with youkai that disrupt the Human Village is one of her duties. But since nearly all youkai need humans, and disrupting the humans too much upsets the balance and probably means bad things for youkai, the village itself is normally off-limits. So unless someone's starting an Incident - which doesn't happen often, maybe once or twice a year, I think, and they've only started in the last six or seven years - then Reimu is only supposed to go after problem youkai that haven't been caught by other youkai. And Incidents aren't like that at all - danmaku and Spell Cards are quite different from extermination." Satsuki, after seeming to brighten, frowns at your last statement.
"But … you said fairies can't die? So …." You nod and smile as one of your clones brings back the first provender - a small basket with some good red wine - and begins pouring servings for everyone.
"Fairies can die, it's just very difficult. Unless you're a magician, probably. So 'exterminating' a fairy means something quite different from exterminating other youkai." Satsuki still looks unhappy, but she stares at the floor instead of continuing her questions.
"Does Reimu ever lose?" You frown again at Sella's question.
"I don't know about danmaku and Incidents - she's definitely really good at them - but she won't lose when she goes exterminating. Gensokyo needs a shrine maiden, and she is Genskoyo's shrine maiden, so she won't lose. She could lose, but she won't."
"… Hypothetically, if she did lose, what would happen?" Your frown darkens a little, but Sella simply waits for your answer.
"It would depend on how badly she lost, I suppose. It's very likely that even if she was just beaten, no one would know about or remember it happening, and the perpetrator would disappear. And no one would know, but everyone would know, that it happened because of what happened to Reimu. If something actually happened to her … it would probably happen a lot more openly and then they'd have to find a new shrine maiden." Ilya frowns fiercely, wrapping her head around the subject, and you twist around so you're leaning against the arm of the couch, then pull her against you. "Youkai need conflict, but even setting aside Reimu's strength and skill as a shrine maiden, they aren't allowed to beat her. So youkai get upset because they can't be youkai, and Reimu gets bored because no one fights her except for weaklings she can beat anyway. And that's where the Spell Cards and danmaku come in. Youkai can cause problems - even potentially lethal ones like my sister's mist or the long winter - and they get cleared up by humans in an actual contest." You shrug and take a drink. Your other clones slip in carrying light snacks: cheese, fruits, vegetables, and the like.
"Umm … Flandre-sama? How many people - I mean, how many humans are there in Gensokyo?" You tilt your head, thinking, then shrug again and smile.
"Not many. Most humans are in the Human Village, and it's not that big. Some, mainly magicians and other people with power, live alone in other places - there are a few in the Forest of Magic, I think. I know Marisa lives there … anyway, maybe two thousand humans? Maybe a bit lower." Satsuki shifts uncomfortably.
"So … so that's where we get our food from? Blood, I mean." You chuckle and shake your head.
"Nope! We don't take blood from people living in Gensokyo - in fact, we don't take blood at all. We have a contract and everything; the youkai of Gensokyo are responsible for providing us with humans to feed on, and since the Human Village is off-limits, they mostly get them from the outside world, either people who have wandered in by accident or snatching them away." Of course, that makes Yukari one of your major suppliers, but anything she tries will certainly be detected by someone before it becomes a problem. And Remilia never seemed to think it would be a problem, anyway.
You spend a few hours chatting about the workings of Gensokyo - Incidents and their resolutions, inter-youkai relations, what people do, and other subjects - before everyone starts winding down. Then Ilya stretches and cranes her head back to look at you. "Um, Flan? We're going back to the library, right? We can … um, we don't have to go through the entry hall, right?" Hmm … well, you can, of course … but how upset will Ilya get if you don't?
What do you do?
[ ] Offer to take her on a tour of the mansion.
[ ] See if Remilia knows about the gazebo and can do something about it.
[ ] Not today!
- [ ] See if you can get Ilya to go under the gazebo.
[ ] Go around the entry hall.
[ ] Other?
