[X] Stay and listen to the rest of the songs.
- [X] Make Satsuki sing something.
You sit next to Satsuki as singers come and go. Lindy finishes and turns the stage over to Genya, who after a bit of cajoling finally sings an English song about love to uproarious applause. Verossa takes over from him and drags Hayate to the stage to croon a terrible serenade at her. When they finally drag him away from her, someone you don't know takes the stage and does … something. There are definitely words, and background music, although you don't recognize the language. About half the song, however, is taken up by the strange man shrieking. It's nothing you haven't heard before, but hearing it from someone who
isn't dying horribly - or at least in a
great deal of pain - is disconcerting. Most everyone else seems to agree that the … song … isn't particularly enjoyable, and even the singer is quite hoarse after relinquishing the stage. After a few minutes of polite chatter and people making sure their ears work, Carim gets ready to sing. A ballad, in Belkan, about a young man wanting to prove himself. You slip away while Satsuki is distracted and get her another piece of cake. When you slide it toward her she stares at you for a long moment before smiling happily and taking it.
"… So what are you going to sing? Oh, keep eating - I didn't get you the cake to bribe you into singing, I got it for you because you wanted more but you'd let your wants be overruled if it meant someone else would get more." Admonished, she nods and returns to eating the cake, although more slowly than before.
"I … I have to sing something?" You start to nod, then arrest the motion.
"I would greatly like for you to sing something. It would be good for you, too - and it's not like you could be worse than some of the singers here." She studies her fork intently.
"I'll be the worst singer here, though …." You clear your throat and pointedly look at the screamer. Satsuki blushes and drops her head.
"Would you like me to get the kids to sing something? They're younger than you, so they haven't had as much practice as you have." Red-faced, she jerks up, waving her fork and drawing the attention of a few people paying less attention to Carim.
"N-no, that's … it's alright, Flandre-sama. I just …." You grin and lean toward her.
"Want to know a secret? Imagine everyone covered in
really spicy mustard." That snaps her out of her little depression, and she stares incredulously at you.
"Er … isn't it supposed to be 'imagine them in their underwear,' or something?" You sigh; she has enough confidence problems as it is.
"Of course not; the idea is to make the
unappealing. You don't like really spicy mustard, do you?" She shakes her head quickly and you smile. "Alright. … Are you going to sing?" She looks down at what's left of her second piece of cake before squaring her shoulders and straightening.
"I … I am. And I know what I want to sing, too." You nod, ignoring the slight stammer in her voice.
"Alright, that's good, Satsuki. Do you want to see about getting background music -?" Her head twitches more than nods, and you reach out to pat her arm before looking to see who's least busy at the moment. "Alright. I'll get … Hayate, I think. I'll be right back." Nanoha is busy talking with Fate about something, but Hayate looks to merely be scolding Verossa … or trying to, anyway. He frowns slightly when you approach, and Hayate turns around, smiling when she sees you.
"Flandre! Everything seems to be going well." You nod - certainly, it does seem that way.
"Indeed. Might you be able to do me a favor?" She cocks her head to the side, curious. "Satsuki is planning to sing something, but she would be more comfortable with accompanying music. Could you come talk to her about what she needs?" She nods quickly.
"Of course!" She turns and reaches up to chuck Verossa under the chin. "I'll be right back," she says, then walks quickly to Satsuki. You cock your head slightly to the side.
"Coming along?" He shakes his head and smiles.
"No, thank you." You nod politely and turn away, returning to your servant.
"… Oh, that's a good song! Let's see about getting some music … there!" Hayate spends a few moments doing something on a screen, and Satsuki looks at her hopefully.
"Really? Thank you, Hayate-san! Thank you!" Hayate blushes and rubs her head self-consciously. Carim finishes her ballad and is replaced by, oddly enough, Schach … who starts singing something vibrantly upbeat and bouncy. Hayate seems just as surprised as you are … in fact, so does just about everyone except Carim and Verossa. She just isn't very
good at it, noticeably straining to keep up with the music and only barely keeping herself from tripping over the words. Carim claps happily and hugs her bodyguard when she finishes, eliciting more and louder applause than the song had and making Schach blush brightly. Carim keeps them in the stage area, seeming to enjoy toying with her subordinate - then gently pulls Satsuki out of the crowd to take Schach's place before withdrawing.
Satsuki looks around, nervousness growing, as the simple Japanese music begins playing. You scuttle forward, making sure she sees you, and smile as reassuringly as you can. She tries to smile back, then closes her eyes. And when the music reaches the right part, she starts to sing. It's a simple song, uncomplicated and direct, and if Satsuki isn't an amazing singer, she doesn't need to be to celebrate cherry blossoms. And when the music stops and she stands there, frozen, you aren't the only one clapping for her. Her face reddens and she bows before slinking off the stage. You slip through the people and catch her arm, guiding her inside to sit down away from the larger group of people.
"Thank you, Satsuki. You did very well." She looks up at you, blinking back tears, and you smile and pat her arm reassuringly before sliding next to her and rubbing your head against her cheek like a cat. A tiny laugh escapes her throat. You glance carefully around the room, then send an invisible clone out onto the balcony … but it looks like Genya is missing, now, too, along with his daughter. Did he just go to rest, or are they together?
What do you do?
[ ] Stay at the party.
- [ ] Release Satsuki for the night.
- [ ] Talk to:
- - [ ] Fate, about helping teach.
- - [ ] Fate, about missions.
- - [ ] The kids, about what they do.
- - [ ] The kids, about the dragon.
[ ] Leave the party.
- [ ] Release Satsuki for the night.
- [ ] See if you can find Ginga and the Numbers.
- - [ ] Sneakily.
- - [ ] Openly.
- - [ ] Bring cake.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: And now all of you know (if you didn't before) that Satsuki's VA also did Euphemia Li Britannia. And Kakurine, somehow. Satsuki's
song.
