Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)
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Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
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Night-Demons - The Portal Again
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] The night-demons seem resigned to their fate, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're done. Stick around in case something actually interesting happens.
You sigh to yourself and find a comfortable spot on the ground to sit down, seemingly uninterested in the conversation. At least, you hope you seem uninterested; on the other hand, just because the night-demons seem to be merely going through the motions rather than seriously trying to gain a master, doesn't mean they've actually given up. And their tactics, while crude, are about as effective as a huge club usually is. So, in the interests of keeping your allies alive, your clones sneak out, invisibly, and slither around to take up warding positions around the group and give you more angles to watch for lurking assassins.
"You seem to be under the impression that you cannot ever change. Have you tried? Would you be willing to try?" You trace malignant circles on the stone floor as the spokes-demon scratches its chin.
"Hmm … maybe. Would you be willing to … try … being our ruler, and guiding us through the change?" It almost seems interested, and when Verossa shrugs at Fate you stifle another sigh. They can't be that stupid, can they?
"… What would that entail?" Headless screeches at Fate's gullibility, and it takes a supreme effort for you to keep yourself from walking over to her and giving her a good slap.
"Well, first you would have to be known to be acceptable to us, of course. Power alone isn't sufficient; there must be malice. Or at least the willingness to commit malevolent acts, hehe!" The spokes-demon chuckles, and its cheery voice turns malignant and sibilant. "Kill everyone in this room, for example, and we would be willing to take you in and further your education so that you could rule us spectacularly. Or even just torture to death that whimpering half-breed behind you!" Fate and Alph both stiffen and glare at the spokes-demon - and they and everyone prepare to attack it. It laughs mirthlessly. "What, is it so difficult? You want us to try to change, but you are unwilling even to try to help us along!" It spits to the side and shakes its head. Fate and Hayate both hesitate, looking uncertain, and you sigh loudly.
Lurking green night-demons leap to the attack, and your clones intercept most of them; the three that your clones weren't in position for slam into shining green and orange shield spells that flash into existence, courtesy of Alph and Shamal, and are torn apart by transparent, green-glowing hounds that then turn to assault the spokes-demon. Fate herself flickers through the intervening space, Bardiche's glowing yellow scythe-blade sweeping through the bodyguards without resistance. The spectral hounds hurl themselves against the night-demons that begin to flood through the portal as Shamal sets up barriers limiting their ability to spread out. Alph walks over to you and pats your head, grinning at your confusion. "You didn't really think we'd fall for that, did you?" You don't say anything, largely because you're still so surprised that they didn't, and Alph's canine ears flatten against her skull. "You did!" You grumble and look away from her shocked expression.
"… Think of it as a commentary on your acting skills," you mumble.
"Alph!" Fate's call keeps you from having to say anything else, and you tap your crystalline leg as you watch Alph and Fate join Shamal in setting up barriers. Hayate, meanwhile, stands at the end of the magical corridor, with nothing between her and the portal except the spectral hounds and the night-demons. You shuffle back a bit as you remember just what kinds of magic Hayate is good at, and Verossa chuckles … even though he's farther away than you are. A ball of swirling white energy forms at the top of her staff as she raises it high - and then she swings it down, sending a beam of light coursing through the space between the barriers. It hits the portal and seems to simply pierce through, but as the beam fades and she steps back, the portal flickers and something makes your ears pop. Hayate chuckles nervously.
"Ehehe … whoopss~" Your clones catch her as she slips against the ground - and then the stone between her and the portal cracks and splits. "… Did I do that?" She starts giggling and shaking, and Shamal and Fate both rush over to her. You take the opportunity to look through the flickering portal, and it seems that something - either the spokes-demon's death or the attack on the portal - has turned the night-demons against each other. The corps of browns are fighting amongst themselves while the blues seem to be protecting the portal against the reds - although if that's what's actually happening, or if something else is going on, you can't be sure. An enormous, winged, red creature - dragon, mutant red, or something else - drops onto the battlefield from above, one wing shredded beyond recovery, and unleashes a torrent of flame against the battling browns, then sweeps it through the reds and against the blues. Alph is the only one able to throw up a defense - layered barriers across the mouth of the portal - and you and your clones drag as everyone out of the immediately affected area. Either the fire itself or the strain of transmitting so much power proves too much for the portal, however, and the stone bracings splinter, then shatter. Fate looks at the ruined portal for a moment before sighing.
"… Well, Vita and Flandre were both on the other side. Maybe their Devices have enough information to let someone teleport through?" Your head jerks around to stare at Verossa from a humanly impossible angle.
"What?" Fate clears her throat and shakes her head when you turn back to her.
"Headquarters is interested in studying the effect they had on magic. As far as I know, there are no plans for allying with them - and we were instructed to eliminate the portal if containing them seemed too troublesome. It's just … frustrating, that we took steps to minimize damage to the portal itself, and then it collapses anyway."
"Well, let's get back to the ship and get some rest. Then we can get back to helping on Hroth."
You don't have much to do for the next day, as the night-demons appear to have vanished entirely - or all been killed off in the fighting. You do see Vivio a few more times; when she's in her child form she is merely uncomfortable around you. It's when she dons her adult Sankt-Kaiser mode that she's actually hostile, and Verossa attempts to explain that it has something to do with actions taken by one of the Numbers, rather than Vivio's own will, but you simply wave him away. She doesn't need to use her adult form, so regardless of the base fault, she is definitely to blame for creating a situation in which she's hostile to you. But between that, Satsuki's constantly sleeping condition, and the need to send Deed back to Mid-Childa for repair and healing - and Fate being instructed to return to Mid-Childa as well - you're going back. Alph made a few pointed remarks about your leg, and Satsuki seemed actually concerned about it, but it doesn't seem to be affecting you much. It doesn't even stay crystal when you transform into a bat, and returns to its crystal form when you turn back! Still … maybe they're right.
What do you do?
[ ] Keep the crystal leg. Maybe you can get Remilia and Patchouli to do something neat with it!
- [ ] See a Mid-Childan doctor about it.
- [ ] Time-skip:
- - [ ] Vacation for Satsuki.
- - [ ] Shopping!
- - - [ ] Bring Cinque to serve as a model.
- - - - [ ] … And Nove and Wendi.
[ ] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [ ] Let the Mid-Childans have it.
- [ ] Destroy it.
- [ ] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [ ] Time-skip:
- - - [ ] Vacation for Satsuki.
- - - [ ] Shopping!
- - - - [ ] Bring Cinque to serve as a model.
- - - - - [ ] … And Nove and Wendi.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: I figured an hour and a half earlier was better than 4+ hours late, especially with the vote distribution.
You sigh to yourself and find a comfortable spot on the ground to sit down, seemingly uninterested in the conversation. At least, you hope you seem uninterested; on the other hand, just because the night-demons seem to be merely going through the motions rather than seriously trying to gain a master, doesn't mean they've actually given up. And their tactics, while crude, are about as effective as a huge club usually is. So, in the interests of keeping your allies alive, your clones sneak out, invisibly, and slither around to take up warding positions around the group and give you more angles to watch for lurking assassins.
"You seem to be under the impression that you cannot ever change. Have you tried? Would you be willing to try?" You trace malignant circles on the stone floor as the spokes-demon scratches its chin.
"Hmm … maybe. Would you be willing to … try … being our ruler, and guiding us through the change?" It almost seems interested, and when Verossa shrugs at Fate you stifle another sigh. They can't be that stupid, can they?
"… What would that entail?" Headless screeches at Fate's gullibility, and it takes a supreme effort for you to keep yourself from walking over to her and giving her a good slap.
"Well, first you would have to be known to be acceptable to us, of course. Power alone isn't sufficient; there must be malice. Or at least the willingness to commit malevolent acts, hehe!" The spokes-demon chuckles, and its cheery voice turns malignant and sibilant. "Kill everyone in this room, for example, and we would be willing to take you in and further your education so that you could rule us spectacularly. Or even just torture to death that whimpering half-breed behind you!" Fate and Alph both stiffen and glare at the spokes-demon - and they and everyone prepare to attack it. It laughs mirthlessly. "What, is it so difficult? You want us to try to change, but you are unwilling even to try to help us along!" It spits to the side and shakes its head. Fate and Hayate both hesitate, looking uncertain, and you sigh loudly.
Lurking green night-demons leap to the attack, and your clones intercept most of them; the three that your clones weren't in position for slam into shining green and orange shield spells that flash into existence, courtesy of Alph and Shamal, and are torn apart by transparent, green-glowing hounds that then turn to assault the spokes-demon. Fate herself flickers through the intervening space, Bardiche's glowing yellow scythe-blade sweeping through the bodyguards without resistance. The spectral hounds hurl themselves against the night-demons that begin to flood through the portal as Shamal sets up barriers limiting their ability to spread out. Alph walks over to you and pats your head, grinning at your confusion. "You didn't really think we'd fall for that, did you?" You don't say anything, largely because you're still so surprised that they didn't, and Alph's canine ears flatten against her skull. "You did!" You grumble and look away from her shocked expression.
"… Think of it as a commentary on your acting skills," you mumble.
"Alph!" Fate's call keeps you from having to say anything else, and you tap your crystalline leg as you watch Alph and Fate join Shamal in setting up barriers. Hayate, meanwhile, stands at the end of the magical corridor, with nothing between her and the portal except the spectral hounds and the night-demons. You shuffle back a bit as you remember just what kinds of magic Hayate is good at, and Verossa chuckles … even though he's farther away than you are. A ball of swirling white energy forms at the top of her staff as she raises it high - and then she swings it down, sending a beam of light coursing through the space between the barriers. It hits the portal and seems to simply pierce through, but as the beam fades and she steps back, the portal flickers and something makes your ears pop. Hayate chuckles nervously.
"Ehehe … whoopss~" Your clones catch her as she slips against the ground - and then the stone between her and the portal cracks and splits. "… Did I do that?" She starts giggling and shaking, and Shamal and Fate both rush over to her. You take the opportunity to look through the flickering portal, and it seems that something - either the spokes-demon's death or the attack on the portal - has turned the night-demons against each other. The corps of browns are fighting amongst themselves while the blues seem to be protecting the portal against the reds - although if that's what's actually happening, or if something else is going on, you can't be sure. An enormous, winged, red creature - dragon, mutant red, or something else - drops onto the battlefield from above, one wing shredded beyond recovery, and unleashes a torrent of flame against the battling browns, then sweeps it through the reds and against the blues. Alph is the only one able to throw up a defense - layered barriers across the mouth of the portal - and you and your clones drag as everyone out of the immediately affected area. Either the fire itself or the strain of transmitting so much power proves too much for the portal, however, and the stone bracings splinter, then shatter. Fate looks at the ruined portal for a moment before sighing.
"… Well, Vita and Flandre were both on the other side. Maybe their Devices have enough information to let someone teleport through?" Your head jerks around to stare at Verossa from a humanly impossible angle.
"What?" Fate clears her throat and shakes her head when you turn back to her.
"Headquarters is interested in studying the effect they had on magic. As far as I know, there are no plans for allying with them - and we were instructed to eliminate the portal if containing them seemed too troublesome. It's just … frustrating, that we took steps to minimize damage to the portal itself, and then it collapses anyway."
"Well, let's get back to the ship and get some rest. Then we can get back to helping on Hroth."
You don't have much to do for the next day, as the night-demons appear to have vanished entirely - or all been killed off in the fighting. You do see Vivio a few more times; when she's in her child form she is merely uncomfortable around you. It's when she dons her adult Sankt-Kaiser mode that she's actually hostile, and Verossa attempts to explain that it has something to do with actions taken by one of the Numbers, rather than Vivio's own will, but you simply wave him away. She doesn't need to use her adult form, so regardless of the base fault, she is definitely to blame for creating a situation in which she's hostile to you. But between that, Satsuki's constantly sleeping condition, and the need to send Deed back to Mid-Childa for repair and healing - and Fate being instructed to return to Mid-Childa as well - you're going back. Alph made a few pointed remarks about your leg, and Satsuki seemed actually concerned about it, but it doesn't seem to be affecting you much. It doesn't even stay crystal when you transform into a bat, and returns to its crystal form when you turn back! Still … maybe they're right.
What do you do?
[ ] Keep the crystal leg. Maybe you can get Remilia and Patchouli to do something neat with it!
- [ ] See a Mid-Childan doctor about it.
- [ ] Time-skip:
- - [ ] Vacation for Satsuki.
- - [ ] Shopping!
- - - [ ] Bring Cinque to serve as a model.
- - - - [ ] … And Nove and Wendi.
[ ] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [ ] Let the Mid-Childans have it.
- [ ] Destroy it.
- [ ] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [ ] Time-skip:
- - - [ ] Vacation for Satsuki.
- - - [ ] Shopping!
- - - - [ ] Bring Cinque to serve as a model.
- - - - - [ ] … And Nove and Wendi.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: I figured an hour and a half earlier was better than 4+ hours late, especially with the vote distribution.
our crystal leg is the best leg evar, so fabulous!
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
So does anyone remember what Illya's replacement limbs are going to be? Because I want to give her the Crystal leg now.
I think she was going with Alice for it. So it IS a possible option, I suppose.
Anyway, shopping trip time? Or Satsuki time?
ultima333
Lazy Snug Youkai
[X] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
I hope we rip it off in front of some others so we can see the reaction
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
I hope we rip it off in front of some others so we can see the reaction
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
I'm not letting someone else have our crystal leg. Hm... I'm guessing Cinque is first choice for model because she's closest to Flandre in build?
[X] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
[X] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
[X] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
It's for gift clothes for Illya.
Anyway, Satsuki deserve some fun time. Then, after that, I hope there's no issue taking the Numbers out of the base.
On a side note, even if we have yet to see them again, saving Deed certainly is going to earn points with Cinque, at the very least. Probably with the others as well, but I'm sure that she is glad to not have lost another sister, at least.
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- Location
- Germany
[X] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Update will probably be at least five hours late tonight; the following update will be on Monday, not Sunday.
take your time, no pressure
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Tonight's update brought to you by everyone's favorite elegant magician.
... I wish I could do that
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Back to Mid-Childa
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Right, it was neat, but it is a bit distracting. Best to rip it off and let your leg go back to normal.
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
"Satsuki. Sa~atsuki. Can you wake up for a little bit?" Your servant opens one eye groggily and mumbles unintelligibly. You tap her nose. "We're teleporting back to Mid-Childa, now, and Fate says it's night-time over there, so you should be awake for the transfer." She grumbles until you poke her again, then rolls out of the bed, managing to get her feet under her only after she starts falling. You clap happily, but she just gives you a confused look, and you rather suspect she's not consciously thinking about what she's doing. "Come on, let's go!" She follows you through the ship to the infirmary where everyone else is waiting, waking up more fully along the way. Fate nods to you, then gives your leg a meaningful look.
"We'll be transferring to the medical center first, so they can look at Deed and the others who'll be coming back with us. Are you going to have them look at your leg before we head to Long Arch?" You pout, looking down at your crystalline leg, then shrug.
"Nah, I'll just take care of it here." Fate blinks, confused - and as you raise and twist your leg, her eyes widen in understanding, and Alph starts to lunge forward. Of course, before she can even get a good start, your other hand slashes down just above your knee, severing the lower part of your leg. Satsuki meeps in surprise, and several of the injured people in the room just stare at you as power flows through your body, regenerating your leg in seconds. Fate practically glares at you, teeth clenched, and you shrug as you examine the crystal limb. "One of the benefits of being a centuries-old inhuman monster that feeds on humans and is feared and despised by most, if not all, humans. Of course, most humans don't consider the drawbacks worth it, especially if they actually like going outside during the day." Your eyes meet Fate's, and she inhales deeply - but what you're paying attention to are the reactions of the injured. Some are crippled, some merely badly injured … but after your brief explanation, you don't sense the jealousy and covetousness that had been starting, and most of them start looking away, seemingly shamed. You put the leg away; you'll hang onto it, maybe find some use for it. Make for a boring story, though. Fate rubs the side of her head and sighs.
"Well, if that's everything …?" She looks around, making sure that the dozen extra wounded are all within the circle, meets Carim's sedately smiling face, and holds Bardiche in front of her. She starts chanting, the magic circle grows beneath your feet - and then, with a crack like thunder, there's a rough sensation of movement before you find yourself standing atop a building on Mid-Childa. A swarm of doctors rush forward to assist the wounded; the one helping Deed looks vaguely familiar - perhaps you saw her at Fate's party? Fate leans against Alph, and you wonder just how much more taxing it is to teleport a bunch of people than to teleport just the caster. Then you look down and realize that the magic circle is actually still there - she's chaining teleports. And when the last of the wounded are on their way inside, and one of the doctors nods, the circle flares again and you're in the entry hall of Long Arch. Fate promptly starts to fall over, and Alph catches her. Ginga and the others give her a worried look as Alph adjusts her grip on her master to carry her.
"She's fine, just tired," the familiar says, then turns her worried expression back on you and Satsuki. You smile and wave her away.
"Shoo, shoo; get her to bed," you say, and she gratefully starts moving. "Fate's fine, just tired. Deed will live, too, although she lost an eye trying to keep the night-demons from the Sankt-Kaiser." All four cyborgs give relieved sighs.
"Did … how did …?" Ginga tries to work out the right way to ask her question, and you shake your head.
"Last I saw, confirmed civilian death toll was in the low ten-thousands, around a hundred Bureau troops, and another hundred-some Church Knights. Carim, Verossa, and Schach all suffered some degree of injury, although none of them should need any major surgery or the like. Fate's fine, just tired. Vita's on bed-rest and restricted to light duty for at least a couple months." You think back to your last meeting with the little knight, where she apologized again for not telling you everything about Satsuki right away and said that she didn't hold you too responsible for what happened. Which, when you asked Hayate about it afterward, mainly meant that she wasn't going to say anything against you if anyone opened up any conduct-related inquiries … and you haven't heard anything about Vivio recanting her desire to have that letter sent, so you probably will have to deal with that sometime in the future.
"Um … is Vivio alright?" You blink and focus on Wendi, a little confused by the concern in her voice, then shrug.
"Yes, she's fine." Cinque winces at the bluntness of your tone. "Anyway, come, let's sit down if we're going to talk more right now." You start walking toward the cafeteria, but pause and half-turn, leaving the choice up to the cyborgs.
"Well … we did have a cake ready …." Wendi looks up the stairs nervously, as if worried that merely mentioning dessert will wake the Enforcer and send her barreling through the building. Satsuki, on the other hand, looks very interested.
"A cake?" Ginga chuckles and you shrug.
"Well, then, I guess we'll have some cake and you can tell us a bit more about what happened." Satsuki claps her hands quietly and you make your way to the cafeteria. Once pieces are served - a chocolate-vanilla-and-something-not-found-on-Earth cake that is more delicious than it has any right to be - and Alph called - literally stuck in bed due to her master's crushing grip, although apparently nothing is wrong and she just does this sometimes - you and Satsuki tell your stories.
Two days later, you finally approach Fate in her office. "Come in," she calls out after your knock, and you enter, making extra sure that Alph isn't there. You know you saw her leave to do some shopping, but with teleporters, it's hard to be absolutely certain where they are. "… Is something wrong, Flandre?" You shake your head and move quickly, hopping into the chair across from Fate. Wouldn't do for her to think you're jealous of Alph or anything ….
"… Do you think it would be possible to get Satsuki some time off?" Fate blinks and cocks her head, dismissing the screen she was working on to look at you more closely.
"She - I mean, she's your servant, and not very affiliated with us, so …?" You sigh and shake your head.
"Right, but there's not a lot that I can do for her - and most of what I do would need your authorization, anyway. But more to the point …." You scratch the side of your head. "Look, a year ago, Satsuki was a perfectly normal girl, with friends and family, going to school, without any idea that vampires and magic were real in her world, let alone that other worlds existed. And now she's the servant of a malevolent vampire who's trying to teach her how to survive and is temporarily employed by a benevolent, heroic organization. And we just prevented a world from being overrun by evil goblins. She … she should be allowed to see some normalcy, don't you think?" Fate stares at you for a moment.
"Like a … a tour of the city, or something?" You nod vigorously.
"Or museums, or parks, or something. Ginga and the prisoners are fine, and Alph is a good influence for her, but it's hard to tell if she's happy cooped up with so few people around. The only places I know are all associated with the Bureau, except for the Church's Cathedral, and I'm not even sure where that is, so it's not like I can show her around the city." Fate nods for a moment, and starts to bring up a screen, then looks at you.
"Do you think she would rather visit Earth, given the opportunity?" You very carefully control yourself; you'd hoped Fate wouldn't bring it up. You're pretty certain you know what Satsuki would go to Earth for, and if this Earth is normal, then it might not end well. Instead you shake your head gently.
"Earth is, I think, too normal for her right now. She would have to hide who and what she is, and while the culture might be more familiar to her, it wouldn't be new. Mid-Childa would be something new for her, without being too far outside her comfort zone. Besides …." You sigh uncomfortably and Fate frowns. "Look, I'm a malevolent, evil, centuries-old vampire. Satsuki isn't; she was born human and still holds a generally human mindset. I like her anyway, and I'm not determined to really change her personality - I want her able to survive on her own, without having to starve herself until she goes berserk from hunger. And Gensokyo might be a good place for her to learn that … but I think she also might like to come here after she finishes serving me." Fate's eyes widen and you nod. "She's a good person, she gets along with you and some other influential individuals, and I'm pretty sure she approves of the Bureau's mission. And she would be accepted here. So …." You trail off unhappily, but Fate just gapes at you, shocked, and you scowl and cross your arms angrily. "What? You think I can't care about someone else?" It takes her a moment to force words through moving lips, and she shakes her head.
"N-no, I just … you've put a lot of thought into her well-being," she finishes, and you snort derisively. Wisely, she drops the subject and clears her expression. "Ah, it'll take me a couple days to get it set up, but it shouldn't be a problem. And if you change your mind about visiting Earth, it won't be a problem, either." Still glowering, you nod and rise from the chair.
What do you do?
[ ] Actually, Earth might be a good idea after all ….
[ ] Go along with Satsuki on her little tour. You're one of the few people she knows, after all, and most of the others can't come with her for one reason or another.
- Any particular sights or type of location to visit?
[ ] Sneak along on Satsuki's tour. No need for her to know you're there.
[ ] Let her go alone with her guide; if you're there, she'll probably feel pressured to do things 'properly.'
[ ] What are you thinking? It's Satsuki's vacation - let her decide!
DM Note: So, now that the quest is finally starting to wind down, there's a sort of question I've been wondering about. Problem is, by asking it I'll probably be spoiling a 'surprise' I have planned for a bit down the road. Now, this is me, so odds are I'll fumble the 'surprise' or otherwise handle it poorly, so maybe people won't care about being spoiled on it. Anyway, question for everyone - should I bring up this particular question now, or leave it alone?
- [X] Keep it; maybe you can do something with it.
- - [X] Time-skip:
- - - [X] Vacation for Satsuki.
"Satsuki. Sa~atsuki. Can you wake up for a little bit?" Your servant opens one eye groggily and mumbles unintelligibly. You tap her nose. "We're teleporting back to Mid-Childa, now, and Fate says it's night-time over there, so you should be awake for the transfer." She grumbles until you poke her again, then rolls out of the bed, managing to get her feet under her only after she starts falling. You clap happily, but she just gives you a confused look, and you rather suspect she's not consciously thinking about what she's doing. "Come on, let's go!" She follows you through the ship to the infirmary where everyone else is waiting, waking up more fully along the way. Fate nods to you, then gives your leg a meaningful look.
"We'll be transferring to the medical center first, so they can look at Deed and the others who'll be coming back with us. Are you going to have them look at your leg before we head to Long Arch?" You pout, looking down at your crystalline leg, then shrug.
"Nah, I'll just take care of it here." Fate blinks, confused - and as you raise and twist your leg, her eyes widen in understanding, and Alph starts to lunge forward. Of course, before she can even get a good start, your other hand slashes down just above your knee, severing the lower part of your leg. Satsuki meeps in surprise, and several of the injured people in the room just stare at you as power flows through your body, regenerating your leg in seconds. Fate practically glares at you, teeth clenched, and you shrug as you examine the crystal limb. "One of the benefits of being a centuries-old inhuman monster that feeds on humans and is feared and despised by most, if not all, humans. Of course, most humans don't consider the drawbacks worth it, especially if they actually like going outside during the day." Your eyes meet Fate's, and she inhales deeply - but what you're paying attention to are the reactions of the injured. Some are crippled, some merely badly injured … but after your brief explanation, you don't sense the jealousy and covetousness that had been starting, and most of them start looking away, seemingly shamed. You put the leg away; you'll hang onto it, maybe find some use for it. Make for a boring story, though. Fate rubs the side of her head and sighs.
"Well, if that's everything …?" She looks around, making sure that the dozen extra wounded are all within the circle, meets Carim's sedately smiling face, and holds Bardiche in front of her. She starts chanting, the magic circle grows beneath your feet - and then, with a crack like thunder, there's a rough sensation of movement before you find yourself standing atop a building on Mid-Childa. A swarm of doctors rush forward to assist the wounded; the one helping Deed looks vaguely familiar - perhaps you saw her at Fate's party? Fate leans against Alph, and you wonder just how much more taxing it is to teleport a bunch of people than to teleport just the caster. Then you look down and realize that the magic circle is actually still there - she's chaining teleports. And when the last of the wounded are on their way inside, and one of the doctors nods, the circle flares again and you're in the entry hall of Long Arch. Fate promptly starts to fall over, and Alph catches her. Ginga and the others give her a worried look as Alph adjusts her grip on her master to carry her.
"She's fine, just tired," the familiar says, then turns her worried expression back on you and Satsuki. You smile and wave her away.
"Shoo, shoo; get her to bed," you say, and she gratefully starts moving. "Fate's fine, just tired. Deed will live, too, although she lost an eye trying to keep the night-demons from the Sankt-Kaiser." All four cyborgs give relieved sighs.
"Did … how did …?" Ginga tries to work out the right way to ask her question, and you shake your head.
"Last I saw, confirmed civilian death toll was in the low ten-thousands, around a hundred Bureau troops, and another hundred-some Church Knights. Carim, Verossa, and Schach all suffered some degree of injury, although none of them should need any major surgery or the like. Fate's fine, just tired. Vita's on bed-rest and restricted to light duty for at least a couple months." You think back to your last meeting with the little knight, where she apologized again for not telling you everything about Satsuki right away and said that she didn't hold you too responsible for what happened. Which, when you asked Hayate about it afterward, mainly meant that she wasn't going to say anything against you if anyone opened up any conduct-related inquiries … and you haven't heard anything about Vivio recanting her desire to have that letter sent, so you probably will have to deal with that sometime in the future.
"Um … is Vivio alright?" You blink and focus on Wendi, a little confused by the concern in her voice, then shrug.
"Yes, she's fine." Cinque winces at the bluntness of your tone. "Anyway, come, let's sit down if we're going to talk more right now." You start walking toward the cafeteria, but pause and half-turn, leaving the choice up to the cyborgs.
"Well … we did have a cake ready …." Wendi looks up the stairs nervously, as if worried that merely mentioning dessert will wake the Enforcer and send her barreling through the building. Satsuki, on the other hand, looks very interested.
"A cake?" Ginga chuckles and you shrug.
"Well, then, I guess we'll have some cake and you can tell us a bit more about what happened." Satsuki claps her hands quietly and you make your way to the cafeteria. Once pieces are served - a chocolate-vanilla-and-something-not-found-on-Earth cake that is more delicious than it has any right to be - and Alph called - literally stuck in bed due to her master's crushing grip, although apparently nothing is wrong and she just does this sometimes - you and Satsuki tell your stories.
Two days later, you finally approach Fate in her office. "Come in," she calls out after your knock, and you enter, making extra sure that Alph isn't there. You know you saw her leave to do some shopping, but with teleporters, it's hard to be absolutely certain where they are. "… Is something wrong, Flandre?" You shake your head and move quickly, hopping into the chair across from Fate. Wouldn't do for her to think you're jealous of Alph or anything ….
"… Do you think it would be possible to get Satsuki some time off?" Fate blinks and cocks her head, dismissing the screen she was working on to look at you more closely.
"She - I mean, she's your servant, and not very affiliated with us, so …?" You sigh and shake your head.
"Right, but there's not a lot that I can do for her - and most of what I do would need your authorization, anyway. But more to the point …." You scratch the side of your head. "Look, a year ago, Satsuki was a perfectly normal girl, with friends and family, going to school, without any idea that vampires and magic were real in her world, let alone that other worlds existed. And now she's the servant of a malevolent vampire who's trying to teach her how to survive and is temporarily employed by a benevolent, heroic organization. And we just prevented a world from being overrun by evil goblins. She … she should be allowed to see some normalcy, don't you think?" Fate stares at you for a moment.
"Like a … a tour of the city, or something?" You nod vigorously.
"Or museums, or parks, or something. Ginga and the prisoners are fine, and Alph is a good influence for her, but it's hard to tell if she's happy cooped up with so few people around. The only places I know are all associated with the Bureau, except for the Church's Cathedral, and I'm not even sure where that is, so it's not like I can show her around the city." Fate nods for a moment, and starts to bring up a screen, then looks at you.
"Do you think she would rather visit Earth, given the opportunity?" You very carefully control yourself; you'd hoped Fate wouldn't bring it up. You're pretty certain you know what Satsuki would go to Earth for, and if this Earth is normal, then it might not end well. Instead you shake your head gently.
"Earth is, I think, too normal for her right now. She would have to hide who and what she is, and while the culture might be more familiar to her, it wouldn't be new. Mid-Childa would be something new for her, without being too far outside her comfort zone. Besides …." You sigh uncomfortably and Fate frowns. "Look, I'm a malevolent, evil, centuries-old vampire. Satsuki isn't; she was born human and still holds a generally human mindset. I like her anyway, and I'm not determined to really change her personality - I want her able to survive on her own, without having to starve herself until she goes berserk from hunger. And Gensokyo might be a good place for her to learn that … but I think she also might like to come here after she finishes serving me." Fate's eyes widen and you nod. "She's a good person, she gets along with you and some other influential individuals, and I'm pretty sure she approves of the Bureau's mission. And she would be accepted here. So …." You trail off unhappily, but Fate just gapes at you, shocked, and you scowl and cross your arms angrily. "What? You think I can't care about someone else?" It takes her a moment to force words through moving lips, and she shakes her head.
"N-no, I just … you've put a lot of thought into her well-being," she finishes, and you snort derisively. Wisely, she drops the subject and clears her expression. "Ah, it'll take me a couple days to get it set up, but it shouldn't be a problem. And if you change your mind about visiting Earth, it won't be a problem, either." Still glowering, you nod and rise from the chair.
What do you do?
[ ] Actually, Earth might be a good idea after all ….
[ ] Go along with Satsuki on her little tour. You're one of the few people she knows, after all, and most of the others can't come with her for one reason or another.
- Any particular sights or type of location to visit?
[ ] Sneak along on Satsuki's tour. No need for her to know you're there.
[ ] Let her go alone with her guide; if you're there, she'll probably feel pressured to do things 'properly.'
[ ] What are you thinking? It's Satsuki's vacation - let her decide!
DM Note: So, now that the quest is finally starting to wind down, there's a sort of question I've been wondering about. Problem is, by asking it I'll probably be spoiling a 'surprise' I have planned for a bit down the road. Now, this is me, so odds are I'll fumble the 'surprise' or otherwise handle it poorly, so maybe people won't care about being spoiled on it. Anyway, question for everyone - should I bring up this particular question now, or leave it alone?
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
Honestly, it's probably less the caring and more the level of thought. Your Flandre is very easy to underestimate, because she's an intelligent, centuries old immortal, but she's childish and lazy and completely sure of her own power so she rarely bothers putting that much thought into things. But she can if she thinks she needs to.
Do we have any idea what it is about? Something to dow ith Flandre? Or something like a sequel? You already pondered here having Aya do some multiverse exploring herself as a sequel.