[X] Bar the door and play something soothing. A short nap will do wonders.
Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)
- Thread starter Entropy Judge
- Start date
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Random posting! Saw this ... uh, two days ago, now? Maybe?
Two favorite things about it:
1) I like that rendition of Highway to Heaven.
2) Koishi is just so ... adorably expressive.
Two favorite things about it:
1) I like that rendition of Highway to Heaven.
2) Koishi is just so ... adorably expressive.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are locked.
It's a Present!
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Bar the door and play something soothing. A short nap will do wonders.
Your clones slip out of the music room and into your bedroom for supplies. "Don't worry too much. If Patchouli said you can do it, then you're definitely capable of it!" Ilya snorts and crosses her arms.
"And if she'd said it was impossible, I suppose you'd say she was definitely wrong, right?" You shake your head.
"Nope. I mean, she makes mistakes, but the mistakes she makes are about people, not about their abilities. She wouldn't say that you were capable of doing it if you weren't." Lulu sits up when your clones float in. Two of them have a light blanket and some pillows ready, and as they dart toward the couch the third leans against the door to keep anyone from entering. You hop away from Ilya and Lulu as your clones spring into them, and by the time they're properly curled up for a gentle rest, you're sitting at the sweetest-sounding piano.
"Flan!" You smile and shake your head.
"It's just for a little bit." You see Lulu strongly consider sitting up, but she freezes when you start playing, and both she and Ilya relax when you start singing. By the third lullaby, they both look like they're asleep, and when you finish the fifth one of your clones hurries over to take your place at the piano while you walk over to the couch, still singing. You keep singing … and you hope that Ilya doesn't become a magician. If she does, she might sleep out of habit, but this sort of rest would be denied to her …. But it's her decision, and her life. Remilia will see that her life is extended, but she won't be able to give her a youkai's lifespan. And Lulu … if Ilya becomes a magician, poor Lulu will be left out.
"It's the first time you've ever really been close enough to someone to worry about them like this, isn't it?" You nod, mentally leaning back against Headless.
"Mm. You're tired, too, aren't you? But if Remilia and Patchouli couldn't get us separated …." Headless snorts, and you feel her shake her head.
"Not that your sister wants me gone anymore, remember? Apparently I'm responsible for you being less harmed by sunlight and running water, compared to her, so she wants us connected as long as possible." She sighs. "And it's not like I don't like you, or hate being alive, or anything like that … I just … feel worn." You pat her head, then lull yourself into a sleep deep enough to meet her. She looks surprised, and squirms awkwardly when you pick her up.
"Now, now, don't struggle. Come, let's go down to your room." Her cheeks flush and you giggle as you carry her down the stairs. Giltless, sitting at an easel in their parlor, looks up worriedly, but she smiles when she sees her sister unharmed, and you nod for her to follow you to Headless's room. You put them to bed and, as with your friends in the music room, sing them to sleep. And when they're resting peacefully, you brush their hair before turning around and walking out, waking up before you even reach the stairs ….
"You're finally awake. Silly sleepyheads!" Ilya sniffs and looks away imperiously, but her head jerks around and she blushes when Lulu just hauls herself around and throws her arms around your waist.
"Says the kidnapper," she says blearily, and you giggle and spread your arms as Ilya attempts to replicate the maneuver, only to fall against you. "Hey, Ilya … let's let her see it." Ilya doesn't react for a moment, then gathers her feet beneath her as you release her from your hug. She stands up only to immediately sit back down, and smoothes her white skirt, keeping her face expressionless, and Lulu looks between you unhappily.
"Can … can you play something?" You smile and nod, and Lulu lets go. You give Ilya a quick hug before turning to the pianos. The Moonlight Sonata is followed by Mozart's Rondo alla Turca, and then Ilya nods and Lulu leans over to hug her tightly. Ilya pats her head, and after you finish you walk over to them. Ilya shakes off whatever was bothering her, and they both smile as they grab your hands and pull you after them. You follow along dutifully, recalling your clones, and Ilya hesitates only for an instant before opening the door to her workshop and leading you in. You look around - there are some books on the shelves, and a few on a table, and some magic circles inscribed on the floor. In one corner that Ilya turns away from stands a golden-hilted sword - a memento of her time in Fuyuki with Patchouli, perhaps?
"Flan, come here, here!" Lulu pulls you after Ilya, and you look down to see six mirrors, three tiny hand mirrors that are no bigger than your palm and three half-body mirrors intended to hang on a wall. One set has a red and gold frame, another has purple and white, and the last purple and black, and you nod appreciatively. Of course, while they're excellently reflective, it's clear that that isn't the whole point. Ilya sighs.
"We'd asked Patchouli about it before, and she said she'd think about it. And then Illyasviel brought these last night and said they were from Patchouli and should work. But …." She sighs again, shoulders slumping - and Lulu sighs exasperatedly.
"They're for talking to each other, even if we can't meet in person. Mama, Zest, and Agito helped me make some basic Storage Devices, so they can save messages in case we're away. And the small ones are linked to the big ones, so we can talk while we're doing something else. And we have the network set up, but …." Now she makes the same defeated sigh that Ilya did, and you look around again. This time you notice the strange black 'cage' sitting against the wall. Ilya nods and picks it up to hand to you.
"It's supposed to put what's inside it in a separate dimensional area, and it's what Patchouli gave us to make sure the mirrors work. But we can't make that work." You nod and study the cage-like structure - it's just tall enough to hold the mirrors, with enough width and depth for them to fit easily, and the bars are quite widely-spaced, so it wasn't designed to hold things in. The whole thing, hinges and bars both, is made of a smooth black stone.
"Hmm … have you been applying the method to communicate through the mirrors before putting it inside the cage, and then trying to communicate?" They both nod, and you take out Loki before transforming into your bat form.
"Flan?" You squeak and wrap yourself around your Device.
"I mean, I suppose I could fit inside the cage in my normal form, but it's a bit easier this way, don't you think?" Lulu's mouth falls open in surprise, but Ilya still looks unhappy.
"We wanted it to be a surprise for you …." You uncurl from around Loki and float up to Ilya to nuzzle her cheek as Lulu embraces her from behind.
"I am surprised. And I'm delighted. But I'll worry if you stay cooped up in here too long, and if you make yourselves unhappy because you're stuck in a rut, then I'll be really sad. So let's work on it together, okay?" She takes a deep breath, then another, and finally nods firmly. You squeak and lick her cheek, then float around to Lulu and lick the tip of her nose. Now you're ready to help!
… But nearly two hours later, when Ilya and Lulu run out of ideas and lunchtime is approaching, they still haven't been able to contact you, either directly or through Loki or one of the mirrors. You fly out of the cage and return to your normal form, then study the mirrors for a bit. "… Patchouli made these, right?" Ilya nods glumly and you look around the room before finding a small bowl. You walk over and study it - clean, smooth, seemingly completely normal. "Do you need this?" They both look up, confused, and Ilya shakes her head.
"I don't think so. Is it important?" You smile and carry the bowl back to them.
"I was just thinking that if Patchouli made them, then they're pretty blank unless you've done something to them. But if they had a powerful contagion link, and maybe some sympathetic backup, that might be enough to let you fashion a communication channel." Lulu frowns as you pull several of your hairs out, and stiffens as you slice your hand open and let the blood drip into the bowl. Ilya stares for a moment, then nods.
"Sympathy means that two things that resemble each other have a link - basically, that I would be able to affect you with magic if I used a picture of you. It's really more of a focusing tool for the caster than something that creates a link itself, but it's still useful. Contagion, however, is the idea of using a link between a part of a thing and the thing itself. Flan's hair and blood are things of Flan's, so there's always a link between them. And by incorporating those into the mirrors, that creates a link between the mirrors that we can use to channel the communication spell through." She takes a breath, then carries the bowl to the table near the larger mirrors. Lulu stands next to her as red tracings flicker along Ilya's body, and as the pale-haired mage brushes your blood along the backs of the mirrors with her finger, the metal bubbles gently. Once it stops rippling Ilya nods and steps back, and Lulu does something that makes the mirrors glow gently for a moment. Then she shrugs and looks at you.
"Alright, we're ready." You nod and place your mirror inside the cage, then transform and slip inside. Lulu closes and activates the cage, and once again you're surrounded by the strange void between worlds, but separate from it. You turn and focus on the mirror. For a long time, nothing changes.
"…." You cock your little head and focus your eyes. Is the mirror becoming clouded, or is it just you? "-an?" You wish you had hands so you could clap them.
"Lulu! Ilya!" The fog in the mirror vanishes and outside the cage returns to Ilya's workshop, and you turn to see Lulu's smiling face as she opens the cage. You bolt out and transform as soon as you have space, catching Lulu in a swinging hug before alighting next to Ilya to catch her before she falls off the stool.
"It worked! You did it!" You snort and shake your head at Lulu's congratulations - all you did was provide knowledge, they were the ones who did something - and pat Ilya's cheeks as she leans against you. She smiles and shakes her head.
"I'm fine, Flan." She grins at Lulu. "It worked! Now we just need to focus and enhance everything, refine and reinforce -" Lulu nods as Ilya babbles. It seems like they're ready to keep going until they finish … but it is almost lunchtime, and they didn't exactly stuff themselves during breakfast.
What do you do?
[ ] Stay with them and let them work through lunch. Better to let them use their enthusiasm when it's still fresh.
[ ] Drag them upstairs and make sure they eat enough before letting them back downstairs. Better to restore energy before they get too low than to risk making a critical mistake because they couldn't concentrate.
[ ] Drag them upstairs for lunch and keep them away from the workshop until after dinner. It's all well and good to want to finish it now, but there's no harm in it waiting a few more hours while they remember what outside is like.
[ ] Other?
Your clones slip out of the music room and into your bedroom for supplies. "Don't worry too much. If Patchouli said you can do it, then you're definitely capable of it!" Ilya snorts and crosses her arms.
"And if she'd said it was impossible, I suppose you'd say she was definitely wrong, right?" You shake your head.
"Nope. I mean, she makes mistakes, but the mistakes she makes are about people, not about their abilities. She wouldn't say that you were capable of doing it if you weren't." Lulu sits up when your clones float in. Two of them have a light blanket and some pillows ready, and as they dart toward the couch the third leans against the door to keep anyone from entering. You hop away from Ilya and Lulu as your clones spring into them, and by the time they're properly curled up for a gentle rest, you're sitting at the sweetest-sounding piano.
"Flan!" You smile and shake your head.
"It's just for a little bit." You see Lulu strongly consider sitting up, but she freezes when you start playing, and both she and Ilya relax when you start singing. By the third lullaby, they both look like they're asleep, and when you finish the fifth one of your clones hurries over to take your place at the piano while you walk over to the couch, still singing. You keep singing … and you hope that Ilya doesn't become a magician. If she does, she might sleep out of habit, but this sort of rest would be denied to her …. But it's her decision, and her life. Remilia will see that her life is extended, but she won't be able to give her a youkai's lifespan. And Lulu … if Ilya becomes a magician, poor Lulu will be left out.
"It's the first time you've ever really been close enough to someone to worry about them like this, isn't it?" You nod, mentally leaning back against Headless.
"Mm. You're tired, too, aren't you? But if Remilia and Patchouli couldn't get us separated …." Headless snorts, and you feel her shake her head.
"Not that your sister wants me gone anymore, remember? Apparently I'm responsible for you being less harmed by sunlight and running water, compared to her, so she wants us connected as long as possible." She sighs. "And it's not like I don't like you, or hate being alive, or anything like that … I just … feel worn." You pat her head, then lull yourself into a sleep deep enough to meet her. She looks surprised, and squirms awkwardly when you pick her up.
"Now, now, don't struggle. Come, let's go down to your room." Her cheeks flush and you giggle as you carry her down the stairs. Giltless, sitting at an easel in their parlor, looks up worriedly, but she smiles when she sees her sister unharmed, and you nod for her to follow you to Headless's room. You put them to bed and, as with your friends in the music room, sing them to sleep. And when they're resting peacefully, you brush their hair before turning around and walking out, waking up before you even reach the stairs ….
"You're finally awake. Silly sleepyheads!" Ilya sniffs and looks away imperiously, but her head jerks around and she blushes when Lulu just hauls herself around and throws her arms around your waist.
"Says the kidnapper," she says blearily, and you giggle and spread your arms as Ilya attempts to replicate the maneuver, only to fall against you. "Hey, Ilya … let's let her see it." Ilya doesn't react for a moment, then gathers her feet beneath her as you release her from your hug. She stands up only to immediately sit back down, and smoothes her white skirt, keeping her face expressionless, and Lulu looks between you unhappily.
"Can … can you play something?" You smile and nod, and Lulu lets go. You give Ilya a quick hug before turning to the pianos. The Moonlight Sonata is followed by Mozart's Rondo alla Turca, and then Ilya nods and Lulu leans over to hug her tightly. Ilya pats her head, and after you finish you walk over to them. Ilya shakes off whatever was bothering her, and they both smile as they grab your hands and pull you after them. You follow along dutifully, recalling your clones, and Ilya hesitates only for an instant before opening the door to her workshop and leading you in. You look around - there are some books on the shelves, and a few on a table, and some magic circles inscribed on the floor. In one corner that Ilya turns away from stands a golden-hilted sword - a memento of her time in Fuyuki with Patchouli, perhaps?
"Flan, come here, here!" Lulu pulls you after Ilya, and you look down to see six mirrors, three tiny hand mirrors that are no bigger than your palm and three half-body mirrors intended to hang on a wall. One set has a red and gold frame, another has purple and white, and the last purple and black, and you nod appreciatively. Of course, while they're excellently reflective, it's clear that that isn't the whole point. Ilya sighs.
"We'd asked Patchouli about it before, and she said she'd think about it. And then Illyasviel brought these last night and said they were from Patchouli and should work. But …." She sighs again, shoulders slumping - and Lulu sighs exasperatedly.
"They're for talking to each other, even if we can't meet in person. Mama, Zest, and Agito helped me make some basic Storage Devices, so they can save messages in case we're away. And the small ones are linked to the big ones, so we can talk while we're doing something else. And we have the network set up, but …." Now she makes the same defeated sigh that Ilya did, and you look around again. This time you notice the strange black 'cage' sitting against the wall. Ilya nods and picks it up to hand to you.
"It's supposed to put what's inside it in a separate dimensional area, and it's what Patchouli gave us to make sure the mirrors work. But we can't make that work." You nod and study the cage-like structure - it's just tall enough to hold the mirrors, with enough width and depth for them to fit easily, and the bars are quite widely-spaced, so it wasn't designed to hold things in. The whole thing, hinges and bars both, is made of a smooth black stone.
"Hmm … have you been applying the method to communicate through the mirrors before putting it inside the cage, and then trying to communicate?" They both nod, and you take out Loki before transforming into your bat form.
"Flan?" You squeak and wrap yourself around your Device.
"I mean, I suppose I could fit inside the cage in my normal form, but it's a bit easier this way, don't you think?" Lulu's mouth falls open in surprise, but Ilya still looks unhappy.
"We wanted it to be a surprise for you …." You uncurl from around Loki and float up to Ilya to nuzzle her cheek as Lulu embraces her from behind.
"I am surprised. And I'm delighted. But I'll worry if you stay cooped up in here too long, and if you make yourselves unhappy because you're stuck in a rut, then I'll be really sad. So let's work on it together, okay?" She takes a deep breath, then another, and finally nods firmly. You squeak and lick her cheek, then float around to Lulu and lick the tip of her nose. Now you're ready to help!
… But nearly two hours later, when Ilya and Lulu run out of ideas and lunchtime is approaching, they still haven't been able to contact you, either directly or through Loki or one of the mirrors. You fly out of the cage and return to your normal form, then study the mirrors for a bit. "… Patchouli made these, right?" Ilya nods glumly and you look around the room before finding a small bowl. You walk over and study it - clean, smooth, seemingly completely normal. "Do you need this?" They both look up, confused, and Ilya shakes her head.
"I don't think so. Is it important?" You smile and carry the bowl back to them.
"I was just thinking that if Patchouli made them, then they're pretty blank unless you've done something to them. But if they had a powerful contagion link, and maybe some sympathetic backup, that might be enough to let you fashion a communication channel." Lulu frowns as you pull several of your hairs out, and stiffens as you slice your hand open and let the blood drip into the bowl. Ilya stares for a moment, then nods.
"Sympathy means that two things that resemble each other have a link - basically, that I would be able to affect you with magic if I used a picture of you. It's really more of a focusing tool for the caster than something that creates a link itself, but it's still useful. Contagion, however, is the idea of using a link between a part of a thing and the thing itself. Flan's hair and blood are things of Flan's, so there's always a link between them. And by incorporating those into the mirrors, that creates a link between the mirrors that we can use to channel the communication spell through." She takes a breath, then carries the bowl to the table near the larger mirrors. Lulu stands next to her as red tracings flicker along Ilya's body, and as the pale-haired mage brushes your blood along the backs of the mirrors with her finger, the metal bubbles gently. Once it stops rippling Ilya nods and steps back, and Lulu does something that makes the mirrors glow gently for a moment. Then she shrugs and looks at you.
"Alright, we're ready." You nod and place your mirror inside the cage, then transform and slip inside. Lulu closes and activates the cage, and once again you're surrounded by the strange void between worlds, but separate from it. You turn and focus on the mirror. For a long time, nothing changes.
"…." You cock your little head and focus your eyes. Is the mirror becoming clouded, or is it just you? "-an?" You wish you had hands so you could clap them.
"Lulu! Ilya!" The fog in the mirror vanishes and outside the cage returns to Ilya's workshop, and you turn to see Lulu's smiling face as she opens the cage. You bolt out and transform as soon as you have space, catching Lulu in a swinging hug before alighting next to Ilya to catch her before she falls off the stool.
"It worked! You did it!" You snort and shake your head at Lulu's congratulations - all you did was provide knowledge, they were the ones who did something - and pat Ilya's cheeks as she leans against you. She smiles and shakes her head.
"I'm fine, Flan." She grins at Lulu. "It worked! Now we just need to focus and enhance everything, refine and reinforce -" Lulu nods as Ilya babbles. It seems like they're ready to keep going until they finish … but it is almost lunchtime, and they didn't exactly stuff themselves during breakfast.
What do you do?
[ ] Stay with them and let them work through lunch. Better to let them use their enthusiasm when it's still fresh.
[ ] Drag them upstairs and make sure they eat enough before letting them back downstairs. Better to restore energy before they get too low than to risk making a critical mistake because they couldn't concentrate.
[ ] Drag them upstairs for lunch and keep them away from the workshop until after dinner. It's all well and good to want to finish it now, but there's no harm in it waiting a few more hours while they remember what outside is like.
[ ] Other?
- Location
- Germany
[x] Stay with them and let them work through lunch. Better to let them use their enthusiasm when it's still fresh.
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
While it's impolite not to join the others at lunch, we're Flan. It's basically expected of us by most of our guests
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
While it's impolite not to join the others at lunch, we're Flan. It's basically expected of us by most of our guests
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[x] Stay with them and let them work through lunch. Better to let them use their enthusiasm when it's still fresh.
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
Its often hard to remember that Flan is a pretty good mage compared to Remilia huh?
Lulu, I suspect, won't think of it that way either, but shes genuinely very young and won't be considering lifespans for a long while yet.
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
Its often hard to remember that Flan is a pretty good mage compared to Remilia huh?
Flan is probably overthinking it I think. Ilya already lives a lot like a Magician, with a mentality already close to a youkai(particularly with being older than she looks and acts). She also has negligible human attachments to be concerned with.
Lulu, I suspect, won't think of it that way either, but shes genuinely very young and won't be considering lifespans for a long while yet.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
... Except that Flan isn't a mage at all, as she can't use magic.
More like the logic behind the magic. Rather than actually magicking
[x] Stay with them and let them work through lunch. Better to let them use their enthusiasm when it's still fresh.
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
[x] Stay with them and let them work through lunch. Better to let them use their enthusiasm when it's still fresh.
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
-[x] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
EDIT: Ten minutes to go ... but I'm falling asleep
. Votes are locked.
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Mirror-Making
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Stay with them and let them work through lunch. Better to let them use their enthusiasm when it's still fresh.
- [X] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
You set Ilya on her feet and carefully slip your clones out of the workroom. Ilya frowns at the door, then at you, but Lulu doesn't notice, and her excited chatter draws Ilya's attention back to her, and they quickly make their plans for the day's work. Refining the connections, strengthening the mirrors, improving the spells, and the like. Making it so they can be used rather than are simply available and useable. You perch on a stool and watch them, smiling, but after a few minutes Lulu looks up and, noticing you, blushes slightly.
"We're just going to be working, Flan, so you don't need to stay here and watch if you want to do something else." Lulu's blush deepens at Ilya's comment, and you grin. So she was worried about making you upset? You shrug.
"I don't really mind. Just because I'm not a magician doesn't mean I can't follow along. If you want me to leave, though -" Lulu shakes her head quickly, and Ilya sighs and smiles before gently shaking her head. You clap your hands together. "Oh, yes - if you're planning on staying here all afternoon, should I bring something to eat?" Lulu starts to look excited, but Ilya shakes her head sharply.
"No. No food or drinks, no eating or drinking, in the workroom." Lulu slumps a little, and Ilya's expression softens as she turns to the other mage and pats her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but a place like this needs to have a certain atmosphere, certain qualities. It just can't be a place where people can eat." Lulu pouts.
"Not even snacks?"
"Not even snacks." Lulu sighs theatrically and you chuckle as they examine the mirrors once more, looking for even the slightest bit of erosion or change in their magical makeup. Ilya's requirement seems a bit strange to you - but then, you're most familiar with Remilia's workrooms, which featured blood quite heavily anyway. And while she may not have allowed feeding during a working, she didn't mind it before or after. Of course, Remilia is also a very powerful magician, a vampire, and uses a different system of magic than Ilya does, so it's not really so weird after all. Still, you prepared for this, and your clones have their instructions: sandwiches, salads, dumplings, and other modest fare that will keep for a few hours.
And so you watch your friends work magic in their own ways. Ilya uses the magic circles inscribed in the stone floor, lighting the room with red from the tracings on her body and silvery-green from the circles, chanting quietly. Lulu merely clasps her hands and conjures a purple triangle beneath her feet, and gently, silently, lays her hands upon the mirrors. Ilya sometimes shakes her head and begins her work anew, carefully working on the same mirror several times before becoming satisfied. Lulu never repeats her work, but sometimes spends more time studying the mirror before casting her spells. They make several passes - Ilya leads, and Lulu follows, first the large mirrors, then the small, then alternating one way, and then alternating the other.
And then, nearly four hours after starting, Ilya steps back and nods to herself. Lulu slowly lowers herself to the floor. "Are they finished?" Ilya shakes her head and looks back at you.
"No. We're done for today, but they aren't finished. We'll work on them again tomorrow -" Two stomachs gurgle in unison, and you giggle. Ilya looks slightly embarrassed, but even past her covering hands you can see that Lulu's face is quite red. You float over and pick her up.
"Well, food might not be allowed in here, but there should be something in the library." Ilya nods, dignity mostly recovered - she only looks envious about Lulu being carried now - and leads you out of the sealed workshop. Your clones succeeded in the task you set them, and a small table is near the door with some covered trays and stands with more food. The three of you sit down, and you smile amusedly as Ilya oh-so-carefully takes small portions that she proceeds to eat with ruthless efficiency before getting more, while Lulu simply starts with a huge portion and chomps her way through. Your clones return to you and you shuffle through their memories.
"You have to work on it again tomorrow? Will you be getting up before breakfast or waiting until we get back?" They stop eating, and a look of realization spreads across Lulu's face. Ilya just looks uncomfortable. "I'll be going, and Ilya you really should, just so you get more of an idea about what it's like outside the mansion." Ilya looks down at her plate.
"W-We could say we got sick -" Ilya shakes her head almost as quickly as you do.
"Apart from being a lie, Patchouli and my sister would probably realize that you did something - assuming they didn't just make sure you weren't able to do anything by barring you from the workshop or taking away your Device." Ilya leans forward, pushing her plate out of the way and resting her elbows on the table.
"… After, Lulu?" Lulu nods.
"There wouldn't be anything wrong with leaving it later, after all. We just wouldn't want to try using it too early." You lean forward and pat your friends' heads. Lulu ducks her head slightly, embarrassed, but Ilya sticks her tongue out at you. Then she sits up.
"Will we get into trouble for not saying anything about skipping lunch?" You shake your head.
"No, no, especially since I was with you. And Sakuya saw my clones in the kitchen. You might get asked what you were doing during dinner, or maybe lightly teased, but you won't get in trouble." Lulu sighs in relief. You look up and stretch. "So did you have plans for the rest of the day, or are you just going to nap until dinner?" Lulu looks guiltily at you.
"Well, we didn't really think it would take us this long to finish, so we had thought about going for a walk, but …." Ilya nods.
"Now it's a bit late for that, isn't it? I did want to go down to the lake, but by now it would probably be better to wait until after dinner for that." You ponder the idea for a moment, then nod in vague agreement. It all depends on the circumstances and just what she wants to do, but it probably would be better to wait, especially since then you can bring Satsuki!
"I could play some more music for you," you say, and Lulu nods interestedly. Or ….
What do you do?
[ ] Play some music.
[ ] Skip to the Forest of Magic.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: My mind is literally blanking on other things to do.
- [X] Send out a clone to either make snacks or get Sakuya to prepare a small tray. That way, once their enthusiasm no longer overshadows their hunger, you have something ready.
You set Ilya on her feet and carefully slip your clones out of the workroom. Ilya frowns at the door, then at you, but Lulu doesn't notice, and her excited chatter draws Ilya's attention back to her, and they quickly make their plans for the day's work. Refining the connections, strengthening the mirrors, improving the spells, and the like. Making it so they can be used rather than are simply available and useable. You perch on a stool and watch them, smiling, but after a few minutes Lulu looks up and, noticing you, blushes slightly.
"We're just going to be working, Flan, so you don't need to stay here and watch if you want to do something else." Lulu's blush deepens at Ilya's comment, and you grin. So she was worried about making you upset? You shrug.
"I don't really mind. Just because I'm not a magician doesn't mean I can't follow along. If you want me to leave, though -" Lulu shakes her head quickly, and Ilya sighs and smiles before gently shaking her head. You clap your hands together. "Oh, yes - if you're planning on staying here all afternoon, should I bring something to eat?" Lulu starts to look excited, but Ilya shakes her head sharply.
"No. No food or drinks, no eating or drinking, in the workroom." Lulu slumps a little, and Ilya's expression softens as she turns to the other mage and pats her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but a place like this needs to have a certain atmosphere, certain qualities. It just can't be a place where people can eat." Lulu pouts.
"Not even snacks?"
"Not even snacks." Lulu sighs theatrically and you chuckle as they examine the mirrors once more, looking for even the slightest bit of erosion or change in their magical makeup. Ilya's requirement seems a bit strange to you - but then, you're most familiar with Remilia's workrooms, which featured blood quite heavily anyway. And while she may not have allowed feeding during a working, she didn't mind it before or after. Of course, Remilia is also a very powerful magician, a vampire, and uses a different system of magic than Ilya does, so it's not really so weird after all. Still, you prepared for this, and your clones have their instructions: sandwiches, salads, dumplings, and other modest fare that will keep for a few hours.
And so you watch your friends work magic in their own ways. Ilya uses the magic circles inscribed in the stone floor, lighting the room with red from the tracings on her body and silvery-green from the circles, chanting quietly. Lulu merely clasps her hands and conjures a purple triangle beneath her feet, and gently, silently, lays her hands upon the mirrors. Ilya sometimes shakes her head and begins her work anew, carefully working on the same mirror several times before becoming satisfied. Lulu never repeats her work, but sometimes spends more time studying the mirror before casting her spells. They make several passes - Ilya leads, and Lulu follows, first the large mirrors, then the small, then alternating one way, and then alternating the other.
And then, nearly four hours after starting, Ilya steps back and nods to herself. Lulu slowly lowers herself to the floor. "Are they finished?" Ilya shakes her head and looks back at you.
"No. We're done for today, but they aren't finished. We'll work on them again tomorrow -" Two stomachs gurgle in unison, and you giggle. Ilya looks slightly embarrassed, but even past her covering hands you can see that Lulu's face is quite red. You float over and pick her up.
"Well, food might not be allowed in here, but there should be something in the library." Ilya nods, dignity mostly recovered - she only looks envious about Lulu being carried now - and leads you out of the sealed workshop. Your clones succeeded in the task you set them, and a small table is near the door with some covered trays and stands with more food. The three of you sit down, and you smile amusedly as Ilya oh-so-carefully takes small portions that she proceeds to eat with ruthless efficiency before getting more, while Lulu simply starts with a huge portion and chomps her way through. Your clones return to you and you shuffle through their memories.
"You have to work on it again tomorrow? Will you be getting up before breakfast or waiting until we get back?" They stop eating, and a look of realization spreads across Lulu's face. Ilya just looks uncomfortable. "I'll be going, and Ilya you really should, just so you get more of an idea about what it's like outside the mansion." Ilya looks down at her plate.
"W-We could say we got sick -" Ilya shakes her head almost as quickly as you do.
"Apart from being a lie, Patchouli and my sister would probably realize that you did something - assuming they didn't just make sure you weren't able to do anything by barring you from the workshop or taking away your Device." Ilya leans forward, pushing her plate out of the way and resting her elbows on the table.
"… After, Lulu?" Lulu nods.
"There wouldn't be anything wrong with leaving it later, after all. We just wouldn't want to try using it too early." You lean forward and pat your friends' heads. Lulu ducks her head slightly, embarrassed, but Ilya sticks her tongue out at you. Then she sits up.
"Will we get into trouble for not saying anything about skipping lunch?" You shake your head.
"No, no, especially since I was with you. And Sakuya saw my clones in the kitchen. You might get asked what you were doing during dinner, or maybe lightly teased, but you won't get in trouble." Lulu sighs in relief. You look up and stretch. "So did you have plans for the rest of the day, or are you just going to nap until dinner?" Lulu looks guiltily at you.
"Well, we didn't really think it would take us this long to finish, so we had thought about going for a walk, but …." Ilya nods.
"Now it's a bit late for that, isn't it? I did want to go down to the lake, but by now it would probably be better to wait until after dinner for that." You ponder the idea for a moment, then nod in vague agreement. It all depends on the circumstances and just what she wants to do, but it probably would be better to wait, especially since then you can bring Satsuki!
"I could play some more music for you," you say, and Lulu nods interestedly. Or ….
What do you do?
[ ] Play some music.
[ ] Skip to the Forest of Magic.
[ ] Other?
DM Note: My mind is literally blanking on other things to do.
- Location
- Germany
Can't think of anything else either, so I'll just vote for the minor timeskip.
[x] Skip to the Forest of Magic.
[x] Skip to the Forest of Magic.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
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The Forest of Magic
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[X] Skip to the Forest of Magic.
"You're really sure you want to come?" Kyouko sighs exaggeratedly and nods.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure! What, I'm not a guest anymore?"
"I was just thinking about you and Mami." Her exasperation fades, replaced for a moment by sorrow before she shakes her head and smiles.
"Oh. No, we … we're good. I mean, I'd prefer that she come along to see this stupid plumber's graveyard thing, but since I am going to be here for a while and she isn't, I can understand why she didn't want to come." Remilia, sitting on top of the carriage, shakes her head. Then Berserker leaps down from the roof, landing next to the carriage. On his shoulders hang Ilya and Lulu. Ilya hops down on her own as Vita materializes nearby, and you help Lulu pry her fingers loose.
"What?! Bullshit! You - no, that's not possible!" Ilya smirks at Vita.
"Berserker is a Hero. Just because it's impossible doesn't mean he can't do it. Now, pay up!" Vita scowls as she removes her Barrier Jacket, then grudgingly hands over the tribble.
"Only as long as we're in the same area! If we separate, you have to give it back!" Ilya nods primly and scurries over to show off her prize to you and Lulu.
"Besides, I think I'm starting to like the little runt. She's got good taste." You pause from patting Ilya's head and look back at Kyouko.
"More people here are shorter than you than taller, Kyouko." She grins and produces an apple.
"Yup! Catch!" Good deed done for the day, she scampers into the carriage as Sakuya opens it. You shake your head and quarter the apple, sharing it with Ilya, Lulu, and - after she finishes calming down the frustrated knight - Agito. Then the four of you trail after the other Mid-Childans into the carriage, and Remilia enters last. Kyouko, naturally, takes the most comfortable chair for herself.
"Wow. So you guys use this a lot?" You chuckle and shake your head as you hop onto a couch.
"Oh, no, we do not use this. If we wish to travel about Gensokyo, we normally fly." Kyouko stares at your sister, then glances at you. You grin.
"Everyone who's anything in Gensokyo can fly. You'll have to learn, too. Ilya can teach you!" Lulu's mouth drops open and she turns to Ilya.
"You can fly?!" Ilya blushes and cuddles the tribble against her chest.
"Eh, not … really. The librarian said it was … more like dog-paddling." Vita guffaws, at least until Nanoha gently swats her head, and you suppress a giggle of your own. If Koakuma described Ilya's attempts at flight as 'dog-paddling' then it was probably not particularly successful. Lulu seems to understand, too, and after a moment of staring intently at Ilya, she smiles and hugs her. You look up at Agito, but she just spreads her hands uncomprehendingly. Megane, too, only shakes her head.
Sakuya drives the carriage off, contrary to your previous excursions, but Remilia just nods and waves for everyone to follow her. "We will exit the Forest of Magic near the Kourindou Item Shop - and with any fortune, the proprietor will not be there. But it is a useful place to leave a carriage for the day. And this is the Forest of Magic." You can feel the change in the air even before you get under the dense canopy. It's a weak charge of magic, but so pervasive ….
"It really does feel different in here." Fate nods in agreement with Nanoha. Vita just huffs quietly and scans the surroundings, wary for any interference. It's a little rude of her, but - she does worry about Nanoha, and part of the trick used to get her to come involved her thinking she'd be the one to make sure Nanoha didn't get hurt, so you'll let her off the hook for today. You glance back at Kyouko and she hurries to catch up.
"Uh, are there any … like, living trees? Anything that'll just - schkrik! - and shove a great big tree branch at you?" You float up and pat her head.
"Probably not. Even if one did exist, though, we're on a path and Remilia and I are here." Remilia nods.
"Indeed. There are several youkai deeper in the forest that could animate tree branches to some degree, but they are civilized and would only do such a thing in defense. And I shall tell you when we near your goal, so do be patient for now." Kyouko scratches her left elbow before nodding and moving forward - closer to the middle of the path and the group.
You and Remilia talk about the forest - you haven't been here before, not like this, but you recognize a lot of the plants, and after a short while some smaller forest animals overcome their nervousness. Surprisingly, they don't fear you much, but their favorite people are Kyouko, Vita, and Zest, who seems unable to convince a squirrel to leave his hair, much to Megane's amusement, and his shame is forever memorialized by several photographs. However, you do see Remilia occasionally narrow her eyes at something in the trees or deeper in the forest, and you're pretty sure Sakuya did something at least once. You consider trying to keep a watch of your own - it's a bit annoying that Remilia is doing this on her own without telling you what's going on - but since it looks like she's keeping an eye out for something specific, it's probably not worth it, so you just tuck the fact away and keep chattering with your friends.
Eventually the path branches, splitting into four: one paved in yellow bricks, one wild and poorly maintained, one neatly trimmed, and the last seems to be a continuation of the initial path. "That way lies the Emerald City," an unfamiliar voice calls out from above.
"And that way lies the Lost Woods, from which no one returns." But that voice you know, and when you look up at Archer, you recognize the red-clad doll standing next to him. Of course, she only comes up to his knee, so the appearance is more comical than anything else.
"My, my - if it is not the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodsman!" Archer merely smirks annoyingly at Remilia's remark, but Shinku huffs and looks away. Remilia looks to the left-most path - the yellow-bricked one. "And since we have no business with her, I think we shall not take the path that leads to the Garden of the Sun." You frown and look down the path, which doesn't lead toward where you remember the Garden of the Sun to be … but it's not like the mansion has a monopoly on twisting space. "But at the same time, I have no wish to hear that insistent piping."
"What about the other two paths?" Archer twitches at Fate's question, and the doll actually frowns down at the neater path. Then Archer snorts and shakes his head.
"One leads to Alice-chan and the other to Marisa-chan?"
What do you do?
[ ] Stay and talk with Archer and Shinku for a bit.
- About?
[ ] Follow the path to Alice's house.
[ ] Follow the path to Marisa's house.
[ ] Take the third path.
DM Note: Kourindou will probably be closed, as I'm not confident in my ability to portray Rinnosuke properly.
"You're really sure you want to come?" Kyouko sighs exaggeratedly and nods.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure! What, I'm not a guest anymore?"
"I was just thinking about you and Mami." Her exasperation fades, replaced for a moment by sorrow before she shakes her head and smiles.
"Oh. No, we … we're good. I mean, I'd prefer that she come along to see this stupid plumber's graveyard thing, but since I am going to be here for a while and she isn't, I can understand why she didn't want to come." Remilia, sitting on top of the carriage, shakes her head. Then Berserker leaps down from the roof, landing next to the carriage. On his shoulders hang Ilya and Lulu. Ilya hops down on her own as Vita materializes nearby, and you help Lulu pry her fingers loose.
"What?! Bullshit! You - no, that's not possible!" Ilya smirks at Vita.
"Berserker is a Hero. Just because it's impossible doesn't mean he can't do it. Now, pay up!" Vita scowls as she removes her Barrier Jacket, then grudgingly hands over the tribble.
"Only as long as we're in the same area! If we separate, you have to give it back!" Ilya nods primly and scurries over to show off her prize to you and Lulu.
"Besides, I think I'm starting to like the little runt. She's got good taste." You pause from patting Ilya's head and look back at Kyouko.
"More people here are shorter than you than taller, Kyouko." She grins and produces an apple.
"Yup! Catch!" Good deed done for the day, she scampers into the carriage as Sakuya opens it. You shake your head and quarter the apple, sharing it with Ilya, Lulu, and - after she finishes calming down the frustrated knight - Agito. Then the four of you trail after the other Mid-Childans into the carriage, and Remilia enters last. Kyouko, naturally, takes the most comfortable chair for herself.
"Wow. So you guys use this a lot?" You chuckle and shake your head as you hop onto a couch.
"Oh, no, we do not use this. If we wish to travel about Gensokyo, we normally fly." Kyouko stares at your sister, then glances at you. You grin.
"Everyone who's anything in Gensokyo can fly. You'll have to learn, too. Ilya can teach you!" Lulu's mouth drops open and she turns to Ilya.
"You can fly?!" Ilya blushes and cuddles the tribble against her chest.
"Eh, not … really. The librarian said it was … more like dog-paddling." Vita guffaws, at least until Nanoha gently swats her head, and you suppress a giggle of your own. If Koakuma described Ilya's attempts at flight as 'dog-paddling' then it was probably not particularly successful. Lulu seems to understand, too, and after a moment of staring intently at Ilya, she smiles and hugs her. You look up at Agito, but she just spreads her hands uncomprehendingly. Megane, too, only shakes her head.
Sakuya drives the carriage off, contrary to your previous excursions, but Remilia just nods and waves for everyone to follow her. "We will exit the Forest of Magic near the Kourindou Item Shop - and with any fortune, the proprietor will not be there. But it is a useful place to leave a carriage for the day. And this is the Forest of Magic." You can feel the change in the air even before you get under the dense canopy. It's a weak charge of magic, but so pervasive ….
"It really does feel different in here." Fate nods in agreement with Nanoha. Vita just huffs quietly and scans the surroundings, wary for any interference. It's a little rude of her, but - she does worry about Nanoha, and part of the trick used to get her to come involved her thinking she'd be the one to make sure Nanoha didn't get hurt, so you'll let her off the hook for today. You glance back at Kyouko and she hurries to catch up.
"Uh, are there any … like, living trees? Anything that'll just - schkrik! - and shove a great big tree branch at you?" You float up and pat her head.
"Probably not. Even if one did exist, though, we're on a path and Remilia and I are here." Remilia nods.
"Indeed. There are several youkai deeper in the forest that could animate tree branches to some degree, but they are civilized and would only do such a thing in defense. And I shall tell you when we near your goal, so do be patient for now." Kyouko scratches her left elbow before nodding and moving forward - closer to the middle of the path and the group.
You and Remilia talk about the forest - you haven't been here before, not like this, but you recognize a lot of the plants, and after a short while some smaller forest animals overcome their nervousness. Surprisingly, they don't fear you much, but their favorite people are Kyouko, Vita, and Zest, who seems unable to convince a squirrel to leave his hair, much to Megane's amusement, and his shame is forever memorialized by several photographs. However, you do see Remilia occasionally narrow her eyes at something in the trees or deeper in the forest, and you're pretty sure Sakuya did something at least once. You consider trying to keep a watch of your own - it's a bit annoying that Remilia is doing this on her own without telling you what's going on - but since it looks like she's keeping an eye out for something specific, it's probably not worth it, so you just tuck the fact away and keep chattering with your friends.
Eventually the path branches, splitting into four: one paved in yellow bricks, one wild and poorly maintained, one neatly trimmed, and the last seems to be a continuation of the initial path. "That way lies the Emerald City," an unfamiliar voice calls out from above.
"And that way lies the Lost Woods, from which no one returns." But that voice you know, and when you look up at Archer, you recognize the red-clad doll standing next to him. Of course, she only comes up to his knee, so the appearance is more comical than anything else.
"My, my - if it is not the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodsman!" Archer merely smirks annoyingly at Remilia's remark, but Shinku huffs and looks away. Remilia looks to the left-most path - the yellow-bricked one. "And since we have no business with her, I think we shall not take the path that leads to the Garden of the Sun." You frown and look down the path, which doesn't lead toward where you remember the Garden of the Sun to be … but it's not like the mansion has a monopoly on twisting space. "But at the same time, I have no wish to hear that insistent piping."
"What about the other two paths?" Archer twitches at Fate's question, and the doll actually frowns down at the neater path. Then Archer snorts and shakes his head.
"One leads to Alice-chan and the other to Marisa-chan?"
What do you do?
[ ] Stay and talk with Archer and Shinku for a bit.
- About?
[ ] Follow the path to Alice's house.
[ ] Follow the path to Marisa's house.
[ ] Take the third path.
DM Note: Kourindou will probably be closed, as I'm not confident in my ability to portray Rinnosuke properly.
Okibruez
(Verified Mid-Boss)
- Location
- Dreams
That's not how you spell Seija. Or Flandre.
Also they've met Alice in a more private setting but I'm not sure they've really been exposed to the sheer mischief of the Black-White.
[X] Follow the path to Marisa's house.
[X] Follow the path to Marisa's house.
- Location
- Voidbetweenstars
[x] Take the third path.
Fire bird lady?
Fire bird lady?
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.