Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)
- Thread starter Entropy Judge
- Start date
- Location
- United States
[X] Let Ilya and Lulu tell you what to do.
[x] Walk around for a bit, let everyone know you're fine.
Piw piw piw
Piw piw piw
Shine on ya crazy girl.
[X] Walk around for a bit, let everyone know you're fine.
-[X] Go to the concert area.
Not really exclusive?
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.
There is a possibility that I won't be able to update tomorrow :/
There is a possibility that I won't be able to update tomorrow :/
[x] Walk around for a bit, let everyone know you're fine.
-[X] Go to the concert area.
-[X] Go to the concert area.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are locked.
Party XIII
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Let Ilya and Lulu tell you what to do.
You simply lie on the grass for a few moments until your friends have to pause for oxygen. "… Alright, how about I make things up to you by letting you two decide what we do next?" Ilya's expression is still clouded, and you reconsider her tirade. Lulu was more worried and upset, but Ilya … really sounded angry and scared. Well, she's seen what a Master Spark does, and even knowing that it isn't lethal might not have helped when her own senses tell her that it's capable of killing. Before you can say anything, though, her expression clears up a bit and she looks at Lulu.
"What do you think?" Lulu taps her lips thoughtfully.
"Hmm … well, I'd like to stay up here for a while longer, so having her give us a private performance isn't an option. Maybe we could ask the musicians to let Flan play something publicly?" You immediately regret your decision, but Ilya rejects the notion.
"No, that's too good for some of these people, and we shouldn't interrupt the concert. Maybe have her be our maid for a few hours so she doesn't get into trouble again?" Lulu studies you as you sit up and try to keep your expression clear.
"Now, that would be amazing …." You scowl at Tohsaka - the normal one, then the maid version for good measure - as she laughs at the image. Ilya's smile fades at the response, though, and Lulu shakes her head.
"No, that's no good, either. Hmm …." You sigh.
"You two …." Sakuya clears her throat as you start to mutter something, and everyone looks over at her all-too-innocent expression.
"Excuse me, but I do believe there is to be a dance later. While the first dance is specially reserved and cannot be changed, perhaps you could dictate Lady Flandre's partners for any further dances?" Ilya and Lulu look at Sakuya, then each other, then smile pleasantly as they turn to look at you.
"… I'm telling Remilia about you, Sakuya." She bows, somehow smiling expressionlessly.
"Of course, Lady Flandre."
"Of course, that's not until later. So, for now … inside?" Lulu looks over toward the concert for a long moment - her mother and Zest are still there, sitting together on the grass, and your clone identifies a number of familiar faces listening as well.
"… I think so, yes." She stands up and turns to face everyone else. "Excuse me, but Ilya and I will be heading inside for a short while. You are welcome to join us if you wish, but understand that we will be monopolizing Flan for ourselves." You pout exasperatedly at your friends, and they quite easily ignore you. Nanoha and Fate seem to be enjoying themselves at your expense, however - Nanoha is quite obviously laughing at you, although Fate seems to be holding it in a bit better. Vita, of course, is simply smirking maliciously, almost as much as Tohsaka. Ilya and Lulu arrange themselves at your sides, twining your arms in theirs, and walk you off toward the front entrance, the maids and Agito following. Of course, some people do see the procession, although most of them aren't stupid enough to gawk for very long. As you make your way through the entry hall, more people notice you, and Lulu and Ilya don't press you forward so much as provide steering, guiding you away from anyone who looks interesting to sit at a comfortably-appointed table. Then Sella produces a roll of red tape from somewhere, and Leysritt and Satsuki cordon off the table before stationing themselves at the sole entrance. You look pointedly at your friends, but Ilya returns it with a stern expression of her own.
"We're both selfish people, and while we don't mind sharing you with each other, neither of us have had much time with you recently. Although we probably wouldn't have gone this far if you didn't insist on enraging oni and getting yourself shot with giant lasers. So we're going to sit here for a while, enjoying ourselves and being superior to everyone stuck on the outside, and talk about fun things." On the one hand, you can't really bring yourself to blame them too much - Ilya especially must not have good memories of parties here - but on the other hand ….
"… Did you get Sakuya to help get this set up, or were you planning it when I was asleep earlier?" Ilya pouts and leans against you, and Lulu giggles.
"That is not an approved conversational topic … but, yes, Sakuya arranged this when I asked her about it." She cuddles up to your other side. "So, how long until this dance? And what kinds of dances will there be?" You shrug gently and Sella places a tray in front of the three of you - drinks for the three of you. Lulu snatches hers and inhales deeply, shuddering in delight, and Ilya titters at her chidingly.
"Hm, I don't know. I don't usually come to these parties, and I don't think we've had dances before. But the kinds … well, probably ballroom dances, to be honest. Maybe some Japanese dances, too?" Ilya peers across you, but then her expression turns from mischievous to curious.
"Is something wrong, Lulu?" She shakes her head.
"No, I was just thinking that … well, there probably won't be any dances Mama and Zest know, right?" You nod, and a sly grin crosses your face.
"You're probably right, but depending on the dance, they should be able to pick it up fairly quickly, especially with someone leading them … and it's not exactly rare to exchange partners …." Lulu frowns at you, not getting it, but Ilya chuckles.
"So, will you be teaching us, and we'll lead them to each other, or will you just have your clones bump them into each other?" Lulu's eyes widen as she sits up, and you nod.
"I had been thinking of using the clones, so they can pair together and then vanish, but if you two -" Lulu lunges forward, hands scrabbling to hug both you and Ilya, and you awkwardly pat her back. Ilya giggles, and you follow her gaze - Ershin is standing in front of a human food table, helmet slightly open, and a hand reaches out to snag a small plate and carry it inside. The helmet closes and Ershin withdraws. You glance at Lulu and shrug.
"She's a good girl, just a bit shy and uncertain about things." Ilya shakes her head as Deis sits down. "So, can I join the conversation, or is it private?" You trade glances with your friends.
"… Would you like to dance with Berserker later?" Deis stares at Ilya for a long moment, then starts considering the question seriously.
"Hmm … well, I was asked for later engagements with some nice young men, but maybe dancing with him will only make them more ardent? Hmm … I'll need to think about it …." Ilya giggles and you shake your head.
"So, have the guests lived up to your hopes?" Deis's eyes light up and she neatly describes her encounters. After finishing, she sighs happily.
"Such a shame that little Kurthnaga isn't as big as his father, and that his father is too attached to his own family. Ah, well. I'm sure the boy will grow into a fine man, and then …." Her grin is momentarily predatory, until she notices Lulu scowling. "Sorry, sorry."
What do you do?
[ ] Keep talking with Ilya and Lulu until the dances start.
- Try suggesting a topic?
[ ] See if you can persuade them to go see someone before the dances.
- [ ] The twins and their dates.
- [ ] That tengu who was talking with Aya and Hatate.
- [ ] Other?
You simply lie on the grass for a few moments until your friends have to pause for oxygen. "… Alright, how about I make things up to you by letting you two decide what we do next?" Ilya's expression is still clouded, and you reconsider her tirade. Lulu was more worried and upset, but Ilya … really sounded angry and scared. Well, she's seen what a Master Spark does, and even knowing that it isn't lethal might not have helped when her own senses tell her that it's capable of killing. Before you can say anything, though, her expression clears up a bit and she looks at Lulu.
"What do you think?" Lulu taps her lips thoughtfully.
"Hmm … well, I'd like to stay up here for a while longer, so having her give us a private performance isn't an option. Maybe we could ask the musicians to let Flan play something publicly?" You immediately regret your decision, but Ilya rejects the notion.
"No, that's too good for some of these people, and we shouldn't interrupt the concert. Maybe have her be our maid for a few hours so she doesn't get into trouble again?" Lulu studies you as you sit up and try to keep your expression clear.
"Now, that would be amazing …." You scowl at Tohsaka - the normal one, then the maid version for good measure - as she laughs at the image. Ilya's smile fades at the response, though, and Lulu shakes her head.
"No, that's no good, either. Hmm …." You sigh.
"You two …." Sakuya clears her throat as you start to mutter something, and everyone looks over at her all-too-innocent expression.
"Excuse me, but I do believe there is to be a dance later. While the first dance is specially reserved and cannot be changed, perhaps you could dictate Lady Flandre's partners for any further dances?" Ilya and Lulu look at Sakuya, then each other, then smile pleasantly as they turn to look at you.
"… I'm telling Remilia about you, Sakuya." She bows, somehow smiling expressionlessly.
"Of course, Lady Flandre."
"Of course, that's not until later. So, for now … inside?" Lulu looks over toward the concert for a long moment - her mother and Zest are still there, sitting together on the grass, and your clone identifies a number of familiar faces listening as well.
"… I think so, yes." She stands up and turns to face everyone else. "Excuse me, but Ilya and I will be heading inside for a short while. You are welcome to join us if you wish, but understand that we will be monopolizing Flan for ourselves." You pout exasperatedly at your friends, and they quite easily ignore you. Nanoha and Fate seem to be enjoying themselves at your expense, however - Nanoha is quite obviously laughing at you, although Fate seems to be holding it in a bit better. Vita, of course, is simply smirking maliciously, almost as much as Tohsaka. Ilya and Lulu arrange themselves at your sides, twining your arms in theirs, and walk you off toward the front entrance, the maids and Agito following. Of course, some people do see the procession, although most of them aren't stupid enough to gawk for very long. As you make your way through the entry hall, more people notice you, and Lulu and Ilya don't press you forward so much as provide steering, guiding you away from anyone who looks interesting to sit at a comfortably-appointed table. Then Sella produces a roll of red tape from somewhere, and Leysritt and Satsuki cordon off the table before stationing themselves at the sole entrance. You look pointedly at your friends, but Ilya returns it with a stern expression of her own.
"We're both selfish people, and while we don't mind sharing you with each other, neither of us have had much time with you recently. Although we probably wouldn't have gone this far if you didn't insist on enraging oni and getting yourself shot with giant lasers. So we're going to sit here for a while, enjoying ourselves and being superior to everyone stuck on the outside, and talk about fun things." On the one hand, you can't really bring yourself to blame them too much - Ilya especially must not have good memories of parties here - but on the other hand ….
"… Did you get Sakuya to help get this set up, or were you planning it when I was asleep earlier?" Ilya pouts and leans against you, and Lulu giggles.
"That is not an approved conversational topic … but, yes, Sakuya arranged this when I asked her about it." She cuddles up to your other side. "So, how long until this dance? And what kinds of dances will there be?" You shrug gently and Sella places a tray in front of the three of you - drinks for the three of you. Lulu snatches hers and inhales deeply, shuddering in delight, and Ilya titters at her chidingly.
"Hm, I don't know. I don't usually come to these parties, and I don't think we've had dances before. But the kinds … well, probably ballroom dances, to be honest. Maybe some Japanese dances, too?" Ilya peers across you, but then her expression turns from mischievous to curious.
"Is something wrong, Lulu?" She shakes her head.
"No, I was just thinking that … well, there probably won't be any dances Mama and Zest know, right?" You nod, and a sly grin crosses your face.
"You're probably right, but depending on the dance, they should be able to pick it up fairly quickly, especially with someone leading them … and it's not exactly rare to exchange partners …." Lulu frowns at you, not getting it, but Ilya chuckles.
"So, will you be teaching us, and we'll lead them to each other, or will you just have your clones bump them into each other?" Lulu's eyes widen as she sits up, and you nod.
"I had been thinking of using the clones, so they can pair together and then vanish, but if you two -" Lulu lunges forward, hands scrabbling to hug both you and Ilya, and you awkwardly pat her back. Ilya giggles, and you follow her gaze - Ershin is standing in front of a human food table, helmet slightly open, and a hand reaches out to snag a small plate and carry it inside. The helmet closes and Ershin withdraws. You glance at Lulu and shrug.
"She's a good girl, just a bit shy and uncertain about things." Ilya shakes her head as Deis sits down. "So, can I join the conversation, or is it private?" You trade glances with your friends.
"… Would you like to dance with Berserker later?" Deis stares at Ilya for a long moment, then starts considering the question seriously.
"Hmm … well, I was asked for later engagements with some nice young men, but maybe dancing with him will only make them more ardent? Hmm … I'll need to think about it …." Ilya giggles and you shake your head.
"So, have the guests lived up to your hopes?" Deis's eyes light up and she neatly describes her encounters. After finishing, she sighs happily.
"Such a shame that little Kurthnaga isn't as big as his father, and that his father is too attached to his own family. Ah, well. I'm sure the boy will grow into a fine man, and then …." Her grin is momentarily predatory, until she notices Lulu scowling. "Sorry, sorry."
What do you do?
[ ] Keep talking with Ilya and Lulu until the dances start.
- Try suggesting a topic?
[ ] See if you can persuade them to go see someone before the dances.
- [ ] The twins and their dates.
- [ ] That tengu who was talking with Aya and Hatate.
- [ ] Other?
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Right, so ... I'm not going to update tomorrow 
Next Update will be on Wednesday sometime (primarily based on how long I have to stay at work -_-)
Next Update will be on Wednesday sometime (primarily based on how long I have to stay at work -_-)Letting them lead is the default, no qualifier or subvote needed.
Ilya already knows about what Flan's been up to, and most of what Lulu would be told would be about her time in BoF and in Fate (the latter is notable for Flan getting into at least three 'could have been lethal' fights, not counting the fight against Bazett in Prism), since she already knows the earlier stuff. Not saying you can't talk about Flan's trips, just that some clarification on what you want Flan to discuss would help.
[X] Keep talking with Ilya and Lulu until the dances start.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are locked.
Party XIV
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Keep talking with Ilya and Lulu until the dances start.
"Alright, what do you want to talk about?" Ilya sticks her tongue out at you as you heap the responsibility of conversation topics on her and Lulu.
"Actually … what kind of dance will you do with your sister?" You stare at Lulu, blinking in confusion, and she looks away nervously as her cheeks redden. "I mean, the first dance is reserved, right? So it should be you and your sister - since you're the hosts, I mean …." You frown and look away for a moment, thinking about your sister, then shake your head.
"It probably won't be us. It might be a performance of some kind, either by one person or a group, but if it's a special partner dance then Megane and Zest are more likely - even Tohsaka and Archer would have better odds. That's not the sort of thing Remilia does." She might take the lead in a group dance, if it's the kind of dance that has leaders, but she doesn't showcase herself in that particular way, taking advantage of her position as hostess to make people pay attention to her. That's an unconfident approach, used by people who aren't self-assured, and that's definitely not your sister - she's always confident and has a solid grasp of the situation and her options. You look up from your musings to see your friends watching you carefully. You mock-scowl at them, and Lulu laughs softly.
"Mm, well, if you and Remilia won't be dancing … I would like to see Mama and Zest dance, just the two of them. What about you, Ilya?" Lulu leans against you, resting her chin on your shoulder as she waits for Ilya to respond. Eventually, the other mage simply shrugs.
"I suppose there isn't anyone I would particularly want to see. Someone who can dance well, I guess." Lulu pouts at Ilya, then looks suspiciously at her, and you look over to see the white-haired mage smiling slyly. "Of course, if you asked who I would want to dance with - why, that would be Flan, of course." Lulu fumes, cheeks reddening.
"Oooh! You cheater! I want to dance with her!" Ilya laughs as Lulu clutches your arm possessively, and you shake your head before reaching over to pat her head.
"Now, now, you two. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for me to dance with both of you. Besides, didn't Sakuya suggest that you two decide who my partners are? I don't mind if you pick each other." Lulu's blush spreads and Ilya smiles happily.
"Teach us, you mean. I don't know about Lulu, but while I've had a little practice with Leys, I'm hardly knowledgeable about courtly dances." Lulu nods energetically.
"Yes, you'll have to teach us properly!" You giggle and pat their heads.
"Of course, of course. I'll make sure you two can dance to whatever music they play - as long as I know the proper dance, of course. If I don't, I'll just have to guess and watch everyone else." Deis shakes her head. "What? If you want me to teach you, you'll have to take it up with these two. My body is not my own right now." She laughs and shakes her head again.
"Oh, thank you, but no. If I want someone to teach me how to dance, I'll find someone a little closer to my height. I was just wondering who's wrapped around whose fingers with you three." Almost simultaneously, Ilya and Lulu stick their tongues out at Deis, and she pretends to recoil. "Oh, no! Tongues! I must avaunt!" She makes a minor production of mock-flight, and you frown as she withdraws - she seems to be acting a bit odd. Not completely strangely, but different enough from her normal attitude to be noticeable. Maybe she just ate or drank something weird? A pair of hands press against your cheeks and force you to look toward their owner.
"Anyway~" Ilya begins, "we don't know when the dance will start, so talking about it too much isn't good." You wait expectantly for her to continue, and after a moment she lets you go and giggles. You sigh and shake your head, then look at Lulu.
Time flows smoothly after that, and Lulu and Ilya try to hold each other to relatively innocuous topics, mostly pertaining to what you'll be doing with them apart from the visits. Apart from a slightly heavier focus on Lulu, since she'll be leaving and Ilya won't, you manage to keep from being pinned down too much on specifics. Cooking and music are both definitely on the list, though. And, while neither of them seem happy about discussing her, they do agree that you should make sure Homura gets invited along with everyone else to go see Gensokyo; she might decline some areas, or entirely, but she did come ….
You're in the middle of one of the more defining gazebo stories - the one about their fiendish love for pudding - when Sakuya suddenly leads a squad of fairy maids through the entry hall and into the ballroom. You glance at your friends, then hop out of the chair and scoot - at a reasonable human speed! - past the maids and after the procession. Lulu chases after, catching up easily, and although your clone sees Ilya pouting a bit, after a moment she raises her nose and walks haughtily after you, the maids following her. You slip into the ballroom and nudge Aya to the side so everyone can stand by you. The fairy maids are engaged in moving the tables to the sides of the room, out of the way, along with setting up some kind of marking tape on the two sides without furniture. You see Patchouli up on the balcony, Koakuma standing next to her … but her guest isn't anywhere to be seen. Still down in the library? People start funneling in, alerted to something going on, and the fairy maids begin making sure that no one crosses a certain point.
"Oh. Brace yourselves; might want to close your eyes, or at least look away." Sakuya's about to do something, and after a few seconds she claps twice. With the second clap comes a vertiginous wave as the interior dimensions of the ballroom expand, and Lulu wobbles, grabbing onto your shoulder for support. Ilya seems fine, or at least stable, as do most of the assembled guests … although you do get some amusement from the fact that both Tohsakas and Luvia wobble unsteadily. Then Patchouli does something, and the marked-off areas against the wall are furnished with tiered seating areas. You scamper toward the nearest one and find a good spot. As the assembled guests make their way to their preferred seating areas, Sakuya walks into the crowd and talks to … Bazett? You frown and watch them speak, wondering if you should move a clone closer to listen, but Bazett follows Sakuya back into the dancing area. There she waits for several long moments.
Music begins - you hear a harp and a violin, and then a piping instrument as a figure launches itself off the balcony where Patchouli is standing. Bazett seems to notice it as well and spins, and you clap as you recognize the handsome man who lands behind her, smirking. Bazett whirls back around and her jaw drops. Lancer, dressed in a suit trimmed with red and yellow, bows deeply, then springs into motion, a wild dance in time with the music, his feat audibly drumming the wooden floor. Bazett shakes herself and joins in. You lean forward, smiling, but whatever they're dancing isn't something you know - it seems improvised, and if you're not mistaken, they're adjusting their steps and movements to fit each other better. After a minute of what you can only call courting, they seem to fit each other perfectly, and you're pretty sure you can see the story they're weaving with their movements, nothing at all wasted. The music slows a little, then a bit more, and they end with Bazett reaching out for Lancer as he backs away, bowing. You look up at Patchouli; she meets your eyes somehow and shakes her head. You pout and look down at the motionless pair and start clapping. The applause spreads from your position, not overwhelming - most of the observers probably didn't figure out what was going on - and Lancer and Bazett straighten up. They shake hands, and then Lancer tousles her hair before stepping back and fading away into wisps and motes of blue and gold. Bazett wipes her eyes before turning and walking up to the seating area, looking happy. The unseen musicians start up again, this time playing something a little more familiar, and several people you're pretty sure shouldn't have known how to waltz head out to the dance floor. Lulu stands up and looks at you hopefully. Ilya sticks her tongue out at you. Ah, friends ….
You sit down as Ilya and Lulu sip their drinks, momentarily free. Between teaching them, they also had you dance with Nanoha and, after a bit of wheedling with Tohsaka, Archer. You're pretty sure that Tohsaka's counterpart finally recognized him at some point, based on her expression toward the original, which can't make up its mind to be furious or gleeful and as a result looks entirely too much like Tohsaka. The Servant is a very fast learner, and you see him and Tohsaka dancing later on. At some point Deis managed to wrangle a dance out of the bald man, and later with Hidetsugu, and the twins of course dance with their dates. You watch the dancers on the stage right now - mostly tengu, along with the remaining oni, led by Yuyuko and Yukari - as they perform an elegant group dance. So the discussion must be over by now, although it takes two of your clones searching both inside and out to find your sister, sitting by herself on a balcony like a gargoyle and idly drinking. You look around - Meiling is inside, too, so perhaps she's keeping an eye on the gate and the guests outside? You stretch as Lulu and Ilya watch the performance below.
What do you do?
[ ] Wait for them to ask you to dance again.
[ ] Find someone to talk to.
- Who?
[ ] Ask Ilya and Lulu to let you choose who to dance with for a bit.
- Who?
[ ] Other?
DM Note: You. Yes, you! You know who you are … stop reading my mind!
"Alright, what do you want to talk about?" Ilya sticks her tongue out at you as you heap the responsibility of conversation topics on her and Lulu.
"Actually … what kind of dance will you do with your sister?" You stare at Lulu, blinking in confusion, and she looks away nervously as her cheeks redden. "I mean, the first dance is reserved, right? So it should be you and your sister - since you're the hosts, I mean …." You frown and look away for a moment, thinking about your sister, then shake your head.
"It probably won't be us. It might be a performance of some kind, either by one person or a group, but if it's a special partner dance then Megane and Zest are more likely - even Tohsaka and Archer would have better odds. That's not the sort of thing Remilia does." She might take the lead in a group dance, if it's the kind of dance that has leaders, but she doesn't showcase herself in that particular way, taking advantage of her position as hostess to make people pay attention to her. That's an unconfident approach, used by people who aren't self-assured, and that's definitely not your sister - she's always confident and has a solid grasp of the situation and her options. You look up from your musings to see your friends watching you carefully. You mock-scowl at them, and Lulu laughs softly.
"Mm, well, if you and Remilia won't be dancing … I would like to see Mama and Zest dance, just the two of them. What about you, Ilya?" Lulu leans against you, resting her chin on your shoulder as she waits for Ilya to respond. Eventually, the other mage simply shrugs.
"I suppose there isn't anyone I would particularly want to see. Someone who can dance well, I guess." Lulu pouts at Ilya, then looks suspiciously at her, and you look over to see the white-haired mage smiling slyly. "Of course, if you asked who I would want to dance with - why, that would be Flan, of course." Lulu fumes, cheeks reddening.
"Oooh! You cheater! I want to dance with her!" Ilya laughs as Lulu clutches your arm possessively, and you shake your head before reaching over to pat her head.
"Now, now, you two. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for me to dance with both of you. Besides, didn't Sakuya suggest that you two decide who my partners are? I don't mind if you pick each other." Lulu's blush spreads and Ilya smiles happily.
"Teach us, you mean. I don't know about Lulu, but while I've had a little practice with Leys, I'm hardly knowledgeable about courtly dances." Lulu nods energetically.
"Yes, you'll have to teach us properly!" You giggle and pat their heads.
"Of course, of course. I'll make sure you two can dance to whatever music they play - as long as I know the proper dance, of course. If I don't, I'll just have to guess and watch everyone else." Deis shakes her head. "What? If you want me to teach you, you'll have to take it up with these two. My body is not my own right now." She laughs and shakes her head again.
"Oh, thank you, but no. If I want someone to teach me how to dance, I'll find someone a little closer to my height. I was just wondering who's wrapped around whose fingers with you three." Almost simultaneously, Ilya and Lulu stick their tongues out at Deis, and she pretends to recoil. "Oh, no! Tongues! I must avaunt!" She makes a minor production of mock-flight, and you frown as she withdraws - she seems to be acting a bit odd. Not completely strangely, but different enough from her normal attitude to be noticeable. Maybe she just ate or drank something weird? A pair of hands press against your cheeks and force you to look toward their owner.
"Anyway~" Ilya begins, "we don't know when the dance will start, so talking about it too much isn't good." You wait expectantly for her to continue, and after a moment she lets you go and giggles. You sigh and shake your head, then look at Lulu.
Time flows smoothly after that, and Lulu and Ilya try to hold each other to relatively innocuous topics, mostly pertaining to what you'll be doing with them apart from the visits. Apart from a slightly heavier focus on Lulu, since she'll be leaving and Ilya won't, you manage to keep from being pinned down too much on specifics. Cooking and music are both definitely on the list, though. And, while neither of them seem happy about discussing her, they do agree that you should make sure Homura gets invited along with everyone else to go see Gensokyo; she might decline some areas, or entirely, but she did come ….
You're in the middle of one of the more defining gazebo stories - the one about their fiendish love for pudding - when Sakuya suddenly leads a squad of fairy maids through the entry hall and into the ballroom. You glance at your friends, then hop out of the chair and scoot - at a reasonable human speed! - past the maids and after the procession. Lulu chases after, catching up easily, and although your clone sees Ilya pouting a bit, after a moment she raises her nose and walks haughtily after you, the maids following her. You slip into the ballroom and nudge Aya to the side so everyone can stand by you. The fairy maids are engaged in moving the tables to the sides of the room, out of the way, along with setting up some kind of marking tape on the two sides without furniture. You see Patchouli up on the balcony, Koakuma standing next to her … but her guest isn't anywhere to be seen. Still down in the library? People start funneling in, alerted to something going on, and the fairy maids begin making sure that no one crosses a certain point.
"Oh. Brace yourselves; might want to close your eyes, or at least look away." Sakuya's about to do something, and after a few seconds she claps twice. With the second clap comes a vertiginous wave as the interior dimensions of the ballroom expand, and Lulu wobbles, grabbing onto your shoulder for support. Ilya seems fine, or at least stable, as do most of the assembled guests … although you do get some amusement from the fact that both Tohsakas and Luvia wobble unsteadily. Then Patchouli does something, and the marked-off areas against the wall are furnished with tiered seating areas. You scamper toward the nearest one and find a good spot. As the assembled guests make their way to their preferred seating areas, Sakuya walks into the crowd and talks to … Bazett? You frown and watch them speak, wondering if you should move a clone closer to listen, but Bazett follows Sakuya back into the dancing area. There she waits for several long moments.
Music begins - you hear a harp and a violin, and then a piping instrument as a figure launches itself off the balcony where Patchouli is standing. Bazett seems to notice it as well and spins, and you clap as you recognize the handsome man who lands behind her, smirking. Bazett whirls back around and her jaw drops. Lancer, dressed in a suit trimmed with red and yellow, bows deeply, then springs into motion, a wild dance in time with the music, his feat audibly drumming the wooden floor. Bazett shakes herself and joins in. You lean forward, smiling, but whatever they're dancing isn't something you know - it seems improvised, and if you're not mistaken, they're adjusting their steps and movements to fit each other better. After a minute of what you can only call courting, they seem to fit each other perfectly, and you're pretty sure you can see the story they're weaving with their movements, nothing at all wasted. The music slows a little, then a bit more, and they end with Bazett reaching out for Lancer as he backs away, bowing. You look up at Patchouli; she meets your eyes somehow and shakes her head. You pout and look down at the motionless pair and start clapping. The applause spreads from your position, not overwhelming - most of the observers probably didn't figure out what was going on - and Lancer and Bazett straighten up. They shake hands, and then Lancer tousles her hair before stepping back and fading away into wisps and motes of blue and gold. Bazett wipes her eyes before turning and walking up to the seating area, looking happy. The unseen musicians start up again, this time playing something a little more familiar, and several people you're pretty sure shouldn't have known how to waltz head out to the dance floor. Lulu stands up and looks at you hopefully. Ilya sticks her tongue out at you. Ah, friends ….
You sit down as Ilya and Lulu sip their drinks, momentarily free. Between teaching them, they also had you dance with Nanoha and, after a bit of wheedling with Tohsaka, Archer. You're pretty sure that Tohsaka's counterpart finally recognized him at some point, based on her expression toward the original, which can't make up its mind to be furious or gleeful and as a result looks entirely too much like Tohsaka. The Servant is a very fast learner, and you see him and Tohsaka dancing later on. At some point Deis managed to wrangle a dance out of the bald man, and later with Hidetsugu, and the twins of course dance with their dates. You watch the dancers on the stage right now - mostly tengu, along with the remaining oni, led by Yuyuko and Yukari - as they perform an elegant group dance. So the discussion must be over by now, although it takes two of your clones searching both inside and out to find your sister, sitting by herself on a balcony like a gargoyle and idly drinking. You look around - Meiling is inside, too, so perhaps she's keeping an eye on the gate and the guests outside? You stretch as Lulu and Ilya watch the performance below.
What do you do?
[ ] Wait for them to ask you to dance again.
[ ] Find someone to talk to.
- Who?
[ ] Ask Ilya and Lulu to let you choose who to dance with for a bit.
- Who?
[ ] Other?
DM Note: You. Yes, you! You know who you are … stop reading my mind!
- Location
- Germany
[X] Wait for them to ask you to dance again.
-[X] During the next lull, if Remilia seems sufficiently relaxed, go up and hug her
I don't know whether it's a good idea, but is seems like something Flan would do.
-[X] During the next lull, if Remilia seems sufficiently relaxed, go up and hug her
I don't know whether it's a good idea, but is seems like something Flan would do.
[X] Wait for them to ask you to dance again.
Not at a formal event.
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
No need to wonder, Deis, it's obviously mutual.
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Of course those two kept looking when told not to.
Bazett's over the moon to dance and flirt with her idol.
Nicely done.
So...tsundereface?