[X] Keep Remilia's outfit on.
- [X] Follow Ilya's instructions.
There's … probably nothing actually wrong with Ilya. If anything happened to her, it would be something Remilia did, and your sister isn't stupid. She knows that you know Ilya went to see her unsupervised, and she's also perfectly aware that you're not going to be able to communicate with her after today - if she wanted to do something that would have such an obvious effect, she would wait until after you're gone. Since - if she actually did do something - Ilya's change is obvious, then either your sister didn't do anything, or it's something that isn't a problem. At least, something that your sister thinks won't be a problem if she has to explain it to you. And you suppose that someone else could have done something to Ilya … but they would either need Remilia's help or be powerful enough to bypass the mansion's defenses. In any case, you probably don't need to do anything about Ilya's behavior.
"Mm … maybe. But this is what my sister gave me, and … I match her better this way. And this helps distinguish me from my clones." Ilya pouts and looks away. Leysritt cocks her head and looks past you at the oven.
"Hmph. Hm?" You titter to yourself and whirl around to open the oven. "Ooh! Are those cookies? What are they for?" You sigh and shake your head as you pull the baking tray out and look at the tirggel.
"It's a kind of biscuit, actually. I was making them for Patchouli, but they have pretty precise timing. These are overdone." You set the tray on a trivet and pick up one of the blackened biscuits with some tongs. Ilya gapes and you shrug before tossing the tirggel back onto the tray.
"But … but you're really good at cooking!" Ilya stares at you in shock; you shrug again and look down.
"They're just really picky, and since they're so thin and the oven is so hot, it's easy to make a mistake. Besides, they're just for Patchouli." You look up to see Ilya's shock turn to irritation. She shakes her finger at you angrily.
"No! Not 'just for Patchouli!' She apologized, didn't she? So you can't just give up, either!" You blink at her, but of course she didn't hear Patchouli say you always messed things up, and she hasn't had to live with the magician for a century, either. And it's not like you were going to 'give up,' either … but you force that down, too, and put on a smile.
"Of course, Head Maid Ilya." You curtsy and remove the oven mitts as you head back to the preparation area. Tirggel is really easy to make, after all …. Ilya giggles self-consciously at your use of her title, and looks back at the snacks you've already made.
"You made all these already?" You nod as you begin rolling out the dough.
"Yep. Everyone else except Satsuki, because she's asleep." Ilya's wheelchair rolls closer as you get the molds ready and finish preparing the dough, and then you feel her head against your back.
"… I'm sorry, Flan." Worried, you turn away from the tirggel and face Ilya, making sure she doesn't overbalance or fall over.
"What for?" She waves dejectedly at the counter behind you.
"You're upset because I'm making you do that over, aren't you? That - that's why you called me 'Head Maid,' right?" You cock your head and stare at her, and her unhappy expression turns to an embarrassed blush. "… Or, you're not upset? And you called me that because that's what I'm supposed to be right now?" You nod slowly, fighting to keep from smiling, and Ilya's blush brightens. "Ehm, um … oops?" You giggle, unable to stop the smile, and Ilya smiles as well as you hug her.
"Alright, now I have to let you go so I can make the tirggel, okay?" Ilya grumbles before letting you release her, but as you turn back to the counter you see her try to maneuver her chair to your side so she can keep an eye on what you're doing. Leysritt helps her get it in position as your clones put the treats in little baskets.
"What are those designs?" You hold one of the molds so she can see. Patchouli has a lot of different designs, but the ones you're using are variations on the 'library' concept - a small, closed-in area; soaring cylindrical tower-shelves with ladders that spin around them; great walls of bookshelves arrayed in ranks; something that looks like the interior fortifications of a city, until you realize that the 'walls' are bookshelves. Ilya sits back after you explain the molds to her. "Huh. How long does it take for the biscuits to cook?" You grin.
"Eighty to ninety seconds." You arrange the biscuits on the baking trays and carry them to the oven; a clone opens it and you quickly set them inside. "So, Head Maid Ilya, did you have specific duties you wanted me to perform?" She makes thinking sounds as her failure to respond drags on, and you start to say that it's okay if she doesn't, but then you realize that she's probably not saying anything so she doesn't distract you again. Indeed, once the trays are out of the oven and carefully set on trivets, she looks up.
"I'm going to inspect the mansion before giving any actual orders as head maid … but I don't know the layout! So you're going to give me a tour, and then we'll have a break to eat and make sure everyone gets their treats." You probably should have expected something like that, to be honest. You have your clones clean up the kitchen as you put the snacks and prepared food away in a cupboard, along with a note saying that anyone who gets into it unauthorized will have to wear humiliating outfits for a very long time … or be slow-tortured for several years if they're a fairy. The fairy maids don't usually get into things, but you like making sure they don't. And then you take Ilya on her tour.
She already knows where several things are, of course, but there's still so much to show her. You want to start from the entry hall, but she makes you check to see if the gazebo is still there before she goes inside. It is, of course … still enmaided … and so is Ershin, also enmaided. And the armor seems to be talking to the gazebo, and then you carefully back out, close the door silently, and agree with Ilya that the entry hall is off-limits. Of course, it's easy enough to go around, and you make your starting point the ballroom-gallery room past the entry hall. Ilya nods at the squad of fairy maids that's in the room as they sweep and mop the floor, halting only long enough in their endeavors to identify you as proper residents. They must be better-trained … or else your sister is making all the maids work. Nah, that would make her a monster. You laugh to yourself, only shaking your head at Ilya's questioning glance. The tour goes smoothly from there, although you spend an disproportionately long amount of time in the galleries as Ilya tries to guess which paintings you did, or gaze in awe at certain elaborate and identifiable pieces of armor. You point out the stairway that leads up to the clock tower, and explain where Remilia's room is, but by the time you get to the interior courtyard it's obvious that Ilya is either very bored or getting tired. And you're only mostly done with the first floor!
"Alright, I think we should break to have a snack now. Don't you think so, Head Maid Ilya?" She pouts at you and your perfectly innocent expression.
"You don't need to keep calling me that, you know." You float up and lean over to wrap your arm around her neck in an awkward hug.
"But if I don't, I'll want to snuggle you and play with your tail and cuddle you! And that's bad and wrong and improper behavior, so I have to keep reminding myself of your station." Ilya blushes and you nuzzle her cheek. "But since it's just the three of us, maybe I can get away with it for a little bit." She leans into you and sighs contentedly.
"… Anyway, is there an easy way to get everyone together for the meal?" You pull away and think for a moment.
"My sister can probably do something, if we can find her. Otherwise I can just send my clones to get everyone." You take a second to check in on them, but they're still making themselves useful, having moved into the hallways after cleaning the dining room. A shame you're going to use it so soon after that, but … well, everyone who's going to be there is going to be a maid. Surely someone can make sure it gets clean!
"Then let's go find her," Ilya commands, and the hunt is on! And over almost immediately, as hallmarks of your sister's presence are quickly visible: broomsticks dancing along the floor and bats with cloths wiping down windows. She is actually doing manual work herself, cleaning and polishing the silver and humming to herself. "Remilia!" She looks up at Ilya's call, as if she weren't already aware of your presence.
"Ah, Head Maid Illyasviel. What can I do for you?" Ilya nods happily at the work getting done.
"I think it's time for a snack break. Will you call everyone together to the dining room?" Your sister's eyes twinkle mischievously for a moment.
"Everyone~ …? Hehe! No, no, I know what you mean - just the important people in the mansion, right? Hmm - okay, done!" Ilya bows her head.
"Thank you, Remilia. Come, let's go make sure everything is ready." Ilya manages to guide you back to a hallway she recognizes without too much difficulty; you glance at your sister, but if she did anything to help she isn't letting you know. Your clones bring the food as you and Remilia start setting the table. The four of you, Sella, Patchouli, Koakuma, Deis, Illyasviel, Meiling. You look at the table with mixed feelings; it's not often that you eat together with so many people, and considering how well you and Patchouli get along … memories of ruined social events stir. Remilia pokes your nose and smiles. Well, hopefully she isn't just being overconfident.
What do you do?
[ ] Try to keep your head down; if you don't say anything, you can't ruin anything.
[ ] Try to get people talking about what they've been doing as maids.
[ ] Other?
