Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)
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Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
I've been thinking, and I don't think Clarisse will explain her reverence for albinism at this point - it wouldn't be that she doesn't want them to know, but that she would have to tell the story properly, which would require some preparation. If I do go that route, I will add a note at the end with the short version; Flan and Co. will just have to wait a few weeks for the full version. I probably won't ever write out the full version of the story; I'm not eloquent enough or focused enough to do it justice.
EDIT: Votes are locked.
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Long-Distance Conversation II
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[ ] Keep talking with Lulu.
- [ ] Try to coax Clarisse into talking a bit more.
- - [ ] Ask her to explain why Ilya's looks are special
"Ooh, that sounds like a story," you say brightly, and lean forward. "Could you tell us?" Even through the bubbles, you see her eyes sparkle, and for a moment she looks overjoyed - but then she slumps and shakes her head.
"Can not. Not now." You cock your head at her dejected tone and look at Lulu, but she just shrugs and looks down worriedly.
"Clarisse? Is something wrong?" Clarisse shakes her head.
"Is … it is a long tale. Great story, but must be told right. I need … need the right words." She rests her chin on the edge of the tub and Lulu strokes her hair, brushing away some of the bubbles. "I am sorry." You shake your head, but Ilya beats you to responding.
"It's okay, Clarisse. Although … Flan and I are planning to visit Lulu in a couple weeks. Do you know if you would be able to tell it properly by then?" Clarisse looks up, mouth slack, then nods jerkily. Her mouth works rapidly and her fingers dance until Lulu presses gently down on her head.
"Calm down, Clarisse. It's okay, just calm down." Ilya looks at you, but you just smile and pat her head as Lulu whispers soothingly to Clarisse.
"I … I am fine, Lutecia. Thank you." She looks up at the mirror solemnly. "I would be greatly honored to tell you the tale, Illyasviel von Einzbern. I shall work to learn the right words for you." Ilya smiles and bows her head.
"I look forward to hearing it, Clarisse Drugule." Clarisse's eyes widen, and she abruptly lunges forward, splashing Lulu and sending water everywhere as she reaches her arm toward the mirror. Halfway through, however, her eyes widen and she freezes - except Ilya reaches out as well, and places her hand on the mirror. Clarisse swallows, nods jerkily, and forces herself forward, placing her hand against Ilya's … and then collapses back into the bath, almost splashing the quickly-retreating Lulu.
"… Clarisse?" The head, mostly visible in the greatly-diminished bubbles, bobs up and down, and Lulu chuckles quietly before walking back over to her friend and patting her head. "Alright. We'll leave you alone for now." The head bobs again, and you and Ilya wave as the mirror withdraws.
"'Bye!"
"Until we meet again."
"… Well," Lulu says quietly after closing the door and collapsing onto her bed. "That's more words than she usually says together in such a short time. I think she spoke more to you than to Mama, and she was with us for several hours." Ilya giggles, earning a look from Lulu.
"Is she much of a fighter?" Lulu looks at you blankly, confused, and you nod toward the door. "Clarisse. She has a scar on her chest, doesn't look like it was properly taken care of." Lulu nods, and Ilya looks at you.
"She doesn't like fighting, and I'm not sure how good she is at it, but that's from surgery." You raise an eyebrow and Lulu spreads her hands helplessly before glancing at the door. "A relative of hers was dying, and they extracted his linker core and spliced it to hers. There's no evidence that it affects anything, but she said she's more powerful from it." You let the subject drop; she doesn't seem comfortable with it, and you can probably ask Clarisse later, anyway.
"So do you have any more friends we'll meet there?" Lulu thinks for a moment before shaking her head.
"What about enemies? Like that Isabel person." You grin as Lulu and Ilya both stare at you.
"Flan, Isabel isn't an enemy, and she's been properly punished for bringing Korosh here - not that she thinks I was involved, anyway. And I don't need you lecturing or attacking people I disagree with just because they disagree with me!" You tap your lips thoughtfully, then nod wisely, ignoring Lulu's suspicious look.
"I quite agree. However, just for my peace of mind, is there anyone you don't like, or who would benefit from mysterious happenings that I obviously had nothing to do with, on account of not being visibly there and, in fact, being visibly elsewhere?" Instead smiling at your cleverness, however, Lulu just sighs and shakes her head.
"Flan, please? Really, everyone here is a good person, and most of them don't know much about me - and that's fine, they don't need to know how amazing I really am." She smiles as she cuts you off, and you pout.
"Well, then," Ilya says, dragging the attention back to her, "why don't we talk about what we're going to do when we come by?" Lulu nods, relieved, and you tap your lips.
"Hmm … hotel, probably. You, me, Sella, Leysritt, Satsuki … maybe Kyouko or Illyasviel -"
"I heard my name again! You're talkin' about me like I'm not here, and I'm right here!" You sigh and look over the mirror at Kyouko. Illyasviel grins.
"Kyouko, a good servant is not noticed unless she is supposed to be, nor does she notice what isn't directed at her unless she is engaging in some form of spycraft." Lulu giggles, and you nod authoritatively. "I think I will bring Kyouko, and if things work out so Ilya can't participate, Kyouko can in her place. We'll get her a nice maid uniform she can fight in, and Meiling can teach her the lethal arts of mop-and-broom combat, Sakuya can train her in feather-duster parrying techniques and how best to use furniture polish offensively -" Ilya breaks into laughter and claps her hands, and Lulu covers her mouth as she rolls back and forth. Ah, your friends are so adorable ….
What do you do?
[ ] Skip to Candeloro.
- [ ] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
[ ] Other?
- [ ] Try to coax Clarisse into talking a bit more.
- - [ ] Ask her to explain why Ilya's looks are special
"Ooh, that sounds like a story," you say brightly, and lean forward. "Could you tell us?" Even through the bubbles, you see her eyes sparkle, and for a moment she looks overjoyed - but then she slumps and shakes her head.
"Can not. Not now." You cock your head at her dejected tone and look at Lulu, but she just shrugs and looks down worriedly.
"Clarisse? Is something wrong?" Clarisse shakes her head.
"Is … it is a long tale. Great story, but must be told right. I need … need the right words." She rests her chin on the edge of the tub and Lulu strokes her hair, brushing away some of the bubbles. "I am sorry." You shake your head, but Ilya beats you to responding.
"It's okay, Clarisse. Although … Flan and I are planning to visit Lulu in a couple weeks. Do you know if you would be able to tell it properly by then?" Clarisse looks up, mouth slack, then nods jerkily. Her mouth works rapidly and her fingers dance until Lulu presses gently down on her head.
"Calm down, Clarisse. It's okay, just calm down." Ilya looks at you, but you just smile and pat her head as Lulu whispers soothingly to Clarisse.
"I … I am fine, Lutecia. Thank you." She looks up at the mirror solemnly. "I would be greatly honored to tell you the tale, Illyasviel von Einzbern. I shall work to learn the right words for you." Ilya smiles and bows her head.
"I look forward to hearing it, Clarisse Drugule." Clarisse's eyes widen, and she abruptly lunges forward, splashing Lulu and sending water everywhere as she reaches her arm toward the mirror. Halfway through, however, her eyes widen and she freezes - except Ilya reaches out as well, and places her hand on the mirror. Clarisse swallows, nods jerkily, and forces herself forward, placing her hand against Ilya's … and then collapses back into the bath, almost splashing the quickly-retreating Lulu.
"… Clarisse?" The head, mostly visible in the greatly-diminished bubbles, bobs up and down, and Lulu chuckles quietly before walking back over to her friend and patting her head. "Alright. We'll leave you alone for now." The head bobs again, and you and Ilya wave as the mirror withdraws.
"'Bye!"
"Until we meet again."
"… Well," Lulu says quietly after closing the door and collapsing onto her bed. "That's more words than she usually says together in such a short time. I think she spoke more to you than to Mama, and she was with us for several hours." Ilya giggles, earning a look from Lulu.
"Is she much of a fighter?" Lulu looks at you blankly, confused, and you nod toward the door. "Clarisse. She has a scar on her chest, doesn't look like it was properly taken care of." Lulu nods, and Ilya looks at you.
"She doesn't like fighting, and I'm not sure how good she is at it, but that's from surgery." You raise an eyebrow and Lulu spreads her hands helplessly before glancing at the door. "A relative of hers was dying, and they extracted his linker core and spliced it to hers. There's no evidence that it affects anything, but she said she's more powerful from it." You let the subject drop; she doesn't seem comfortable with it, and you can probably ask Clarisse later, anyway.
"So do you have any more friends we'll meet there?" Lulu thinks for a moment before shaking her head.
"What about enemies? Like that Isabel person." You grin as Lulu and Ilya both stare at you.
"Flan, Isabel isn't an enemy, and she's been properly punished for bringing Korosh here - not that she thinks I was involved, anyway. And I don't need you lecturing or attacking people I disagree with just because they disagree with me!" You tap your lips thoughtfully, then nod wisely, ignoring Lulu's suspicious look.
"I quite agree. However, just for my peace of mind, is there anyone you don't like, or who would benefit from mysterious happenings that I obviously had nothing to do with, on account of not being visibly there and, in fact, being visibly elsewhere?" Instead smiling at your cleverness, however, Lulu just sighs and shakes her head.
"Flan, please? Really, everyone here is a good person, and most of them don't know much about me - and that's fine, they don't need to know how amazing I really am." She smiles as she cuts you off, and you pout.
"Well, then," Ilya says, dragging the attention back to her, "why don't we talk about what we're going to do when we come by?" Lulu nods, relieved, and you tap your lips.
"Hmm … hotel, probably. You, me, Sella, Leysritt, Satsuki … maybe Kyouko or Illyasviel -"
"I heard my name again! You're talkin' about me like I'm not here, and I'm right here!" You sigh and look over the mirror at Kyouko. Illyasviel grins.
"Kyouko, a good servant is not noticed unless she is supposed to be, nor does she notice what isn't directed at her unless she is engaging in some form of spycraft." Lulu giggles, and you nod authoritatively. "I think I will bring Kyouko, and if things work out so Ilya can't participate, Kyouko can in her place. We'll get her a nice maid uniform she can fight in, and Meiling can teach her the lethal arts of mop-and-broom combat, Sakuya can train her in feather-duster parrying techniques and how best to use furniture polish offensively -" Ilya breaks into laughter and claps her hands, and Lulu covers her mouth as she rolls back and forth. Ah, your friends are so adorable ….
What do you do?
[ ] Skip to Candeloro.
- [ ] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
[ ] Other?
About seven hundred years ago, the people of her world were divided into clans. And these clans were divided, and made war amongst themselves and against other clans. And because they were proud and viewed others with disdain, peace was difficult - even within a clan, only a clan of higher position could force two clans to sit down and talk peacefully, and that usually only by force. So any peace talks were, at best, strained, and 'trust' meant you had your sword in its sheath.
Except for one clan, which accepted outsiders, and was dispersed across the various lands, fitting themselves between the other clans. Those who were actually part of the original clan, and not outsiders, were frequently albino. This clan, dispersed and living in the marginal lands between other clans, could not hope to survive a war with another clan, and instead sought to end wars and conduct peaceful negotiations between warring clans. And because the other clans weren't stupid, and knew that peace meant more prosperity than endless war, allowed this clan to serve as intermediaries: each warring clan would speak with members from separate dispersed clans, explaining what they wanted for peace, and those members would then speak with each other and try to work out an agreement that would benefit both clans. They were, more often than not, fairly successful, and if they were able to let both sides keep their prestige they were paid well. And people lived, in more or less peace, for a long time.
After a few centuries, however, something changed. Several clans combined - whether this was a joining of the clans, or a simple agreement, or if one clan somehow dominated the others, is not known - and their first targets were the dispersed clans, the peacemakers. They would kill the dispersed clans when they encountered them, then invade the larger clans and conquer them. And in this way, in a single lifetime, one man went from being the leader of a single clan to nearly the ruler of the world. Only a few clans remained to be conquered, and his armies had just finished eradicating the last of the dispersed clan.
Except for one. One wounded survivor, with hair like snow and eyes like cinnabar, made their way through inhospitable lands to one of the last free clans. There, dying, they gave up their linker core to a young warrior on the eve of the battle against the conqueror. And there, for the first time in two generations, the conquering army was thrown back. They came again, and while the defending clan was forced to flee, they were not destroyed.
The war continued for several years, and in the end the armies of conquest were destroyed. The young warrior who had accepted the sacrifice of peace had vanished - perhaps lost in some battle, unremarked except as one of the fallen, or perhaps unable to bear the loss of so much life, they simply walked away.
The clan histories remain divided on what happened after the war's end. One claims that those who had conquered all died, slain in the fighting. Another that there was no conquest, only slaughter, and armies fought at the end were all there ever had been. Still another says that, as all were guilty of allowing the war to start, all should share the blame - and thus the surviving people dispersed among each other, leaving their old clan and joining a new one. Another makes the same claim, but instead has every survivor drawing lots to join entirely new clans.
And now, all people live together, in clans that share the world between them. Not always living in peace, but working out their disputes themselves. Because only one clan was not raised anew following the war - the one clan that had no guilt. The clan of peacemakers, marked by red eyes and white hair, who sought peace and prosperity for everyone.
Except for one clan, which accepted outsiders, and was dispersed across the various lands, fitting themselves between the other clans. Those who were actually part of the original clan, and not outsiders, were frequently albino. This clan, dispersed and living in the marginal lands between other clans, could not hope to survive a war with another clan, and instead sought to end wars and conduct peaceful negotiations between warring clans. And because the other clans weren't stupid, and knew that peace meant more prosperity than endless war, allowed this clan to serve as intermediaries: each warring clan would speak with members from separate dispersed clans, explaining what they wanted for peace, and those members would then speak with each other and try to work out an agreement that would benefit both clans. They were, more often than not, fairly successful, and if they were able to let both sides keep their prestige they were paid well. And people lived, in more or less peace, for a long time.
After a few centuries, however, something changed. Several clans combined - whether this was a joining of the clans, or a simple agreement, or if one clan somehow dominated the others, is not known - and their first targets were the dispersed clans, the peacemakers. They would kill the dispersed clans when they encountered them, then invade the larger clans and conquer them. And in this way, in a single lifetime, one man went from being the leader of a single clan to nearly the ruler of the world. Only a few clans remained to be conquered, and his armies had just finished eradicating the last of the dispersed clan.
Except for one. One wounded survivor, with hair like snow and eyes like cinnabar, made their way through inhospitable lands to one of the last free clans. There, dying, they gave up their linker core to a young warrior on the eve of the battle against the conqueror. And there, for the first time in two generations, the conquering army was thrown back. They came again, and while the defending clan was forced to flee, they were not destroyed.
The war continued for several years, and in the end the armies of conquest were destroyed. The young warrior who had accepted the sacrifice of peace had vanished - perhaps lost in some battle, unremarked except as one of the fallen, or perhaps unable to bear the loss of so much life, they simply walked away.
The clan histories remain divided on what happened after the war's end. One claims that those who had conquered all died, slain in the fighting. Another that there was no conquest, only slaughter, and armies fought at the end were all there ever had been. Still another says that, as all were guilty of allowing the war to start, all should share the blame - and thus the surviving people dispersed among each other, leaving their old clan and joining a new one. Another makes the same claim, but instead has every survivor drawing lots to join entirely new clans.
And now, all people live together, in clans that share the world between them. Not always living in peace, but working out their disputes themselves. Because only one clan was not raised anew following the war - the one clan that had no guilt. The clan of peacemakers, marked by red eyes and white hair, who sought peace and prosperity for everyone.
[x] Skip to Candeloro.
- [x] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
- [x] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
EDIT: … Oops, there's a vote after this, isn't there? Well, it's the same, so - Votes are locked.
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- Location
- Germany
[x] Skip to Candeloro.
- [x] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
- [x] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
Seeing Candeloro
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[ ] Skip to Candeloro.
- [ ] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
"Are you sure you want to come?" Ilya nods as she studies the Grief Seed embedded in the pavilion's column.
"This is what kept you busy that last night, right? I'm very curious about what made it so interesting." You grin and shrug, looking around once again to make sure that Kyouko isn't snooping.
"Well, it's part of it. Some questions on the nature of Witches, and meeting one - sort of helped, I guess. And Sakuya said she'll be back tonight, with someone important, so I thought I'd check in and make sure everything's going well." After all, if Yuyuko is going to bring one of her superiors here, you should make sure Candeloro isn't sulking and knows she should be presentable. Ilya gives you a suspicious look and your grin widens. "Ah, this one is Candeloro, even if she looks like someone else. Don't agree to being her friend, she means something very specific by it." You ignore her piercing gaze and study the Grief Seed. So, how to activate it so you can get inside …? Homura did something with her Soul Gem - will you need her? But as you reach a finger to the Grief Seed to poke it, you feel the world warping and reach a hand back to Ilya. She takes it and you touch the Grief Seed.
The interior is much the same as the last time; white sky and grass, with jet black clouds. Orchards of apple trees flank the gravel pathway you find yourself on, tended by maids, and Ilya shudders and leans against you. "I'm fine, Flan, just …." You frown and look around, making sure none of the maid familiars get any stupid ideas, but they don't even seem to have noticed you yet. "I think you just don't notice it, because of how you are, but the … the amount of power here is almost as much as you use when you're serious. It's just spread out so much - and when I entered, I was still receptive to the mansion. I had to close that off, but ... it tried to push into me, all that weight of power, and I wasn't expecting it." Your shoulders rise and your eyes narrow as you start to look toward the center of Candeloro's labyrinth, but Ilya shakes her head. "It's just the way it is here, I think."
"... We'll still have Patchouli check you over when she gets out of Time Out," you say, and Ilya nods, smiling. You relax and let out a breath. "Well, then, let's go see Candeloro." You lead Ilya down the path, and a bell sounds in the distance. You explain a bit about the familiars and Candeloro's peculiarities to Ilya as you walk, and then a small horde of familiars bound toward you from the surrounding orchards. Rather than try to annoy you, however, they line the path you're following - an honor guard. You grin and Ilya smiles, and you continue down the path until you reach the rainbow bridge, where a set of new familiars greet you: they're still the same old pink- and red-haired familiars, arms and legs bound, but instead of maid outfits, the red ones are dressed in an approximation of Youmu's outfit, and the pink ones resemble Yuyuko's. They bow as gracefully as they're able and lead you to the cottage doors, opening them for you. Inside -
"Flandre! You came back! You are my friend!" Candeloro, wearing an outfit that resembles Mami's school uniform, hops down from her chair and claps her hands excitedly. "Ah, but where are Yuyuko and Youmu?" You nod to the excited-looking Witch.
"Good afternoon, Candeloro. Yuyuko will be here tonight, with the guest she said she wanted to talk to. I wanted to warn you, to make sure you were well enough to meet them." She nods and smiles happily, then finally turns a curious look toward Ilya. "This is my friend, Illyasviel von Einzbern. She was curious about you, since my coming here meant I wasn't able to spend as much time with her." Ilya curtsies as Candeloro claps, and then the Witch turns and bounds into a pile of presents, tossing some aside and gracefully stepping around others. Finally she finds one that she likes and picks it up, and a familiar hops very carefully through the presents to take it from her, then returns to present it to Ilya. It is, in fact, another black tea set like the one you received, and Ilya bows after she finishes examining it.
"Thank you for the gift, Candeloro. It is very beautiful." The Witch beams happily and claps her hands, then makes a single graceful hop back to the table.
"Come, come, take your seats! Let's have a small party, right now!" Ilya smiles and, with the assistance of several familiars that allow themselves to be used as steps, sits across from Candeloro. You fly up and sit next to Ilya, and more familiars pour tea and set small slices of cake before the three of you. Naturally, you first speak of inconsequential things - the weather, and Candeloro's clothes, and your and Ilya's clothes, and the familiars' new clothes, and what flavors of cake go with different kinds of tea. "... And Homura is still alive, isn't she?" You sigh at the explicit menace in Candeloro's voice and nod.
"Yes, and she is going to stay that way. She's a maid in the mansion, now." Candeloro's face twists in fury and her familiars tremble, but after a moment the Witch brings herself back under control.
"I see. That … I still think you should have let me kill her, but if you want to keep her, I - I suppose I should let you. You are my friend, after all." You maintain a carefully neutral expression as you nod blandly. Burying your anger really is the wiser move here, at least for now.
"Thank you, Candeloro. You have no idea how much that means to me." She smiles widely, happily and you sip from your teacup as Ilya uses her cake as a distraction to keep from laughing. You look at the familiars against the walls. Hmm ….
What do you do?
[ ] Keep talking with Candeloro.
- [ ] Ask how she feels about Kyouko.
- [ ] Ask her if she'd be willing to leave the labyrinth occasionally.
[ ] Stay with Candeloro until Yuyuko arrives.
[ ] Excuse yourself and Ilya once it's polite.
[ ] Other?
- [ ] Bring Ilya if she wants to come.
"Are you sure you want to come?" Ilya nods as she studies the Grief Seed embedded in the pavilion's column.
"This is what kept you busy that last night, right? I'm very curious about what made it so interesting." You grin and shrug, looking around once again to make sure that Kyouko isn't snooping.
"Well, it's part of it. Some questions on the nature of Witches, and meeting one - sort of helped, I guess. And Sakuya said she'll be back tonight, with someone important, so I thought I'd check in and make sure everything's going well." After all, if Yuyuko is going to bring one of her superiors here, you should make sure Candeloro isn't sulking and knows she should be presentable. Ilya gives you a suspicious look and your grin widens. "Ah, this one is Candeloro, even if she looks like someone else. Don't agree to being her friend, she means something very specific by it." You ignore her piercing gaze and study the Grief Seed. So, how to activate it so you can get inside …? Homura did something with her Soul Gem - will you need her? But as you reach a finger to the Grief Seed to poke it, you feel the world warping and reach a hand back to Ilya. She takes it and you touch the Grief Seed.
The interior is much the same as the last time; white sky and grass, with jet black clouds. Orchards of apple trees flank the gravel pathway you find yourself on, tended by maids, and Ilya shudders and leans against you. "I'm fine, Flan, just …." You frown and look around, making sure none of the maid familiars get any stupid ideas, but they don't even seem to have noticed you yet. "I think you just don't notice it, because of how you are, but the … the amount of power here is almost as much as you use when you're serious. It's just spread out so much - and when I entered, I was still receptive to the mansion. I had to close that off, but ... it tried to push into me, all that weight of power, and I wasn't expecting it." Your shoulders rise and your eyes narrow as you start to look toward the center of Candeloro's labyrinth, but Ilya shakes her head. "It's just the way it is here, I think."
"... We'll still have Patchouli check you over when she gets out of Time Out," you say, and Ilya nods, smiling. You relax and let out a breath. "Well, then, let's go see Candeloro." You lead Ilya down the path, and a bell sounds in the distance. You explain a bit about the familiars and Candeloro's peculiarities to Ilya as you walk, and then a small horde of familiars bound toward you from the surrounding orchards. Rather than try to annoy you, however, they line the path you're following - an honor guard. You grin and Ilya smiles, and you continue down the path until you reach the rainbow bridge, where a set of new familiars greet you: they're still the same old pink- and red-haired familiars, arms and legs bound, but instead of maid outfits, the red ones are dressed in an approximation of Youmu's outfit, and the pink ones resemble Yuyuko's. They bow as gracefully as they're able and lead you to the cottage doors, opening them for you. Inside -
"Flandre! You came back! You are my friend!" Candeloro, wearing an outfit that resembles Mami's school uniform, hops down from her chair and claps her hands excitedly. "Ah, but where are Yuyuko and Youmu?" You nod to the excited-looking Witch.
"Good afternoon, Candeloro. Yuyuko will be here tonight, with the guest she said she wanted to talk to. I wanted to warn you, to make sure you were well enough to meet them." She nods and smiles happily, then finally turns a curious look toward Ilya. "This is my friend, Illyasviel von Einzbern. She was curious about you, since my coming here meant I wasn't able to spend as much time with her." Ilya curtsies as Candeloro claps, and then the Witch turns and bounds into a pile of presents, tossing some aside and gracefully stepping around others. Finally she finds one that she likes and picks it up, and a familiar hops very carefully through the presents to take it from her, then returns to present it to Ilya. It is, in fact, another black tea set like the one you received, and Ilya bows after she finishes examining it.
"Thank you for the gift, Candeloro. It is very beautiful." The Witch beams happily and claps her hands, then makes a single graceful hop back to the table.
"Come, come, take your seats! Let's have a small party, right now!" Ilya smiles and, with the assistance of several familiars that allow themselves to be used as steps, sits across from Candeloro. You fly up and sit next to Ilya, and more familiars pour tea and set small slices of cake before the three of you. Naturally, you first speak of inconsequential things - the weather, and Candeloro's clothes, and your and Ilya's clothes, and the familiars' new clothes, and what flavors of cake go with different kinds of tea. "... And Homura is still alive, isn't she?" You sigh at the explicit menace in Candeloro's voice and nod.
"Yes, and she is going to stay that way. She's a maid in the mansion, now." Candeloro's face twists in fury and her familiars tremble, but after a moment the Witch brings herself back under control.
"I see. That … I still think you should have let me kill her, but if you want to keep her, I - I suppose I should let you. You are my friend, after all." You maintain a carefully neutral expression as you nod blandly. Burying your anger really is the wiser move here, at least for now.
"Thank you, Candeloro. You have no idea how much that means to me." She smiles widely, happily and you sip from your teacup as Ilya uses her cake as a distraction to keep from laughing. You look at the familiars against the walls. Hmm ….
What do you do?
[ ] Keep talking with Candeloro.
- [ ] Ask how she feels about Kyouko.
- [ ] Ask her if she'd be willing to leave the labyrinth occasionally.
[ ] Stay with Candeloro until Yuyuko arrives.
[ ] Excuse yourself and Ilya once it's polite.
[ ] Other?
[x] Stay with Candeloro until Yuyuko arrives.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
EDIT: Votes are locked.
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Yuyuko Arrives
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[ ] Stay with Candeloro until Yuyuko arrives.
Sakuya knows where to take Yuyuko when she gets here, so staying with Candeloro isn't a problem. And if it keeps her happier, well, maybe whoever Yuyuko's guest is will have a bit of an easier time. You continue talking with Candeloro, staying away from potentially problematic topics, like friends. Instead, you talk about birthdays and parties and presents, argue over the superiority of different kinds of tea, trade cake recipes (not that Candeloro knows many that you don't already know, but you don't let her know that), and discuss color palettes for each other. And then the tea party is - temporarily - adjourned, and Candeloro gushingly ushers you and Ilya to the side of the room and reveals part two of her entertainment plans: dressing up.
The Witch is not a superb tailor, but she does take your advice and suggestions to heart, and she works quickly to fix any major flaws you find. Her own wardrobe is modestly expansive, and she waits worriedly as Ilya tries on the first of her outfits. It doesn't fit particularly well, and Candeloro gnashes her teeth as the other garments she had planned for Ilya dance into the air, ribbons weaving into and around them relentlessly. Your own outfit isn't much better in terms of fitting, but that's mostly because of your wings, and Candeloro apologizes profusely when her mistake is revealed. As she refits your and Ilya's outfits, she shows off her own - nervously at first, and some of her combinations are either too drab or garish, but as she learns what you and Ilya find more appealing her confidence grows. And, of course, once your own outfits are ready and fit properly, she relaxes and seems to enjoy herself a bit more.
You're on the third round of tea parties - after the second, Candeloro not only presented you and Ilya with dolls of her, but also gifted some of her familiars with special outfits - when Candeloro stiffens and a bell rings out. Her familiars start to scatter, but then she relaxes again. Then she leaps back, abandoning her more human form to assume her stranger form as her familiars arm themselves or crowd around to shield her. You smile lightly and turn your head, and indeed you see Sakuya with Yuyuko and Youmu, along with two others. You vaguely recall the green-haired one from the party, one of the people who intervened with Yuuka, but her red-haired scythe-bearing companion is completely unfamiliar to you. "Lady Flandre, may I present Lady Yuyuko, her servant Youmu, and her guest: Shiki Eiki, supreme judge of Gensokyo, also with her attendant, Onozuka Komachi." Yuyuko curtsies gracefully, but Eiki - who resembles her portrait in the Chronicles only somewhat - merely looks around, studying Ilya intently before giving you only a brief glance, and finally turning her attention to Candeloro. You nod at Sakuya.
"Thank you, Sakuya. You may return to your duties." She bows and vanishes; curiously, you don't feel that strange sensation you do when she stops time near you elsewhere. Is she just being more careful, has she improved, or is it due to the nature of Candeloro's realm? … You'll probably have to ask Remi or Patchouli. You bow to Yuyuko before curtsying to Eiki. "Yuyuko, welcome. Grand Judge of Paradise, I humbly greet you." Her gaze twitches back to you and she quirks an eyebrow - score one for you! - then nods a greeting.
"Flandre Scarlet, good evening." Her voice is … pleasing, not at all what you'd expected it to be. Your eyes narrow as she turns her gaze back to Ilya, but she shakes her head and looks back at Candeloro. "Candeloro, Yuyuko has asked that I examine you to determine your place in Gensokyo." Her hands turn and a small mirror appears, and you shift sideways to stand in front of Ilya. Even if she isn't pointing it at her …. Candeloro shifts uncomfortably, and although her familiars continue to carry their weapons, they lower them and step aside. The Witch seems to look pleadingly, first at you and then at Yuyuko, and the ghost princess giggles.
"Youmu, if you please?" Eiki frowns as Youmu draws her sword and hurries up to the Witch, and after a short apology, the gardener gently stabs Candeloro. A moment after the blade is withdrawn, Candeloro fidgetingly returns to her human form. Once she's comfortable, she shoos her familiars back to the sides of the room and scurries down to Eiki. You manage to turn your laugh into a hacking cough as the Witch holds the Yama's hands.
"Oh, I remember! Yuyuko said you'd be my friend!" Perhaps fortunately, you can't see Eiki's face, but you do see the mortified expression on Youmu's, and a grin on Yuyuko's. Komachi finds an empty spot against the wall and takes a seat, setting the scythe blade-down on the floor and leaning it against the wall.
What do you do?
[ ] Just hang back with Ilya for now.
[ ] Talk with Yuyuko.
- About?
[ ] Talk with Komachi.
- About?
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Leaving is not an option at this point.
Sakuya knows where to take Yuyuko when she gets here, so staying with Candeloro isn't a problem. And if it keeps her happier, well, maybe whoever Yuyuko's guest is will have a bit of an easier time. You continue talking with Candeloro, staying away from potentially problematic topics, like friends. Instead, you talk about birthdays and parties and presents, argue over the superiority of different kinds of tea, trade cake recipes (not that Candeloro knows many that you don't already know, but you don't let her know that), and discuss color palettes for each other. And then the tea party is - temporarily - adjourned, and Candeloro gushingly ushers you and Ilya to the side of the room and reveals part two of her entertainment plans: dressing up.
The Witch is not a superb tailor, but she does take your advice and suggestions to heart, and she works quickly to fix any major flaws you find. Her own wardrobe is modestly expansive, and she waits worriedly as Ilya tries on the first of her outfits. It doesn't fit particularly well, and Candeloro gnashes her teeth as the other garments she had planned for Ilya dance into the air, ribbons weaving into and around them relentlessly. Your own outfit isn't much better in terms of fitting, but that's mostly because of your wings, and Candeloro apologizes profusely when her mistake is revealed. As she refits your and Ilya's outfits, she shows off her own - nervously at first, and some of her combinations are either too drab or garish, but as she learns what you and Ilya find more appealing her confidence grows. And, of course, once your own outfits are ready and fit properly, she relaxes and seems to enjoy herself a bit more.
You're on the third round of tea parties - after the second, Candeloro not only presented you and Ilya with dolls of her, but also gifted some of her familiars with special outfits - when Candeloro stiffens and a bell rings out. Her familiars start to scatter, but then she relaxes again. Then she leaps back, abandoning her more human form to assume her stranger form as her familiars arm themselves or crowd around to shield her. You smile lightly and turn your head, and indeed you see Sakuya with Yuyuko and Youmu, along with two others. You vaguely recall the green-haired one from the party, one of the people who intervened with Yuuka, but her red-haired scythe-bearing companion is completely unfamiliar to you. "Lady Flandre, may I present Lady Yuyuko, her servant Youmu, and her guest: Shiki Eiki, supreme judge of Gensokyo, also with her attendant, Onozuka Komachi." Yuyuko curtsies gracefully, but Eiki - who resembles her portrait in the Chronicles only somewhat - merely looks around, studying Ilya intently before giving you only a brief glance, and finally turning her attention to Candeloro. You nod at Sakuya.
"Thank you, Sakuya. You may return to your duties." She bows and vanishes; curiously, you don't feel that strange sensation you do when she stops time near you elsewhere. Is she just being more careful, has she improved, or is it due to the nature of Candeloro's realm? … You'll probably have to ask Remi or Patchouli. You bow to Yuyuko before curtsying to Eiki. "Yuyuko, welcome. Grand Judge of Paradise, I humbly greet you." Her gaze twitches back to you and she quirks an eyebrow - score one for you! - then nods a greeting.
"Flandre Scarlet, good evening." Her voice is … pleasing, not at all what you'd expected it to be. Your eyes narrow as she turns her gaze back to Ilya, but she shakes her head and looks back at Candeloro. "Candeloro, Yuyuko has asked that I examine you to determine your place in Gensokyo." Her hands turn and a small mirror appears, and you shift sideways to stand in front of Ilya. Even if she isn't pointing it at her …. Candeloro shifts uncomfortably, and although her familiars continue to carry their weapons, they lower them and step aside. The Witch seems to look pleadingly, first at you and then at Yuyuko, and the ghost princess giggles.
"Youmu, if you please?" Eiki frowns as Youmu draws her sword and hurries up to the Witch, and after a short apology, the gardener gently stabs Candeloro. A moment after the blade is withdrawn, Candeloro fidgetingly returns to her human form. Once she's comfortable, she shoos her familiars back to the sides of the room and scurries down to Eiki. You manage to turn your laugh into a hacking cough as the Witch holds the Yama's hands.
"Oh, I remember! Yuyuko said you'd be my friend!" Perhaps fortunately, you can't see Eiki's face, but you do see the mortified expression on Youmu's, and a grin on Yuyuko's. Komachi finds an empty spot against the wall and takes a seat, setting the scythe blade-down on the floor and leaning it against the wall.
What do you do?
[ ] Just hang back with Ilya for now.
[ ] Talk with Yuyuko.
- About?
[ ] Talk with Komachi.
- About?
[ ] Other?
DM Note: Leaving is not an option at this point.
[x] Talk with Komachi
-[x] Your surprise that she's here. You may have never really met her but, from what your sister, Patchouli, Sakuya and even Meiling have told you, you were under the impression that she would have used the opportunity of her boss being out and about to take a good nap.
-[x] Your surprise that she's here. You may have never really met her but, from what your sister, Patchouli, Sakuya and even Meiling have told you, you were under the impression that she would have used the opportunity of her boss being out and about to take a good nap.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
Votes are not locked.
Should the 'talk with Komachi about her slacker nature' vote win, I will probably do away with specifics of Flan's information source.
Should the 'talk with Komachi about her slacker nature' vote win, I will probably do away with specifics of Flan's information source.
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[x] Just hang back with Ilya for now.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to get the update out tonight. Probably tomorrow morning.
EDIT: Votes are locked.
[x] Just hang back with Ilya for now.
4
[x] Talk with Komachi
-[x] Your surprise that she's here. You may have never really met her but, from what your sister, Patchouli, Sakuya and even Meiling have told you, you were under the impression that she would have used the opportunity of her boss being out and about to take a good nap.
1
EDIT: Votes are locked.
[x] Just hang back with Ilya for now.
4
[x] Talk with Komachi
-[x] Your surprise that she's here. You may have never really met her but, from what your sister, Patchouli, Sakuya and even Meiling have told you, you were under the impression that she would have used the opportunity of her boss being out and about to take a good nap.
1
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With a Whimper, Not a Bang
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
[ ] Just hang back with Ilya for now.
As Candeloro starts chattering to Eiki and pulls her toward her familiars, you carefully lead Ilya in the other direction, toward a couple of boxes that are just the right height for chairs. Ilya smiles and leans against you. "You don't like Candeloro much, do you, Flan?" You keep your expression from twisting too much as you consider the highly-animated Witch.
"She is … immaturely selfish," you begin, ignoring Ilya's sardonic look. "She simply assumes that the world works according to her desires and whims, doesn't even consider that others might not consider her point of view valid. For example, take me -"
"Gladly," Ilya murmurs as she hugs you. You stick your tongue out at the interruption but wrap your wings around her.
"I'm incredibly selfish. I want certain things, and I want them a certain way. But - I don't just assume that that is enough to make it so. I'll work to make things go a certain way, and I fully recognize that sometimes things just don't work out. She, on the other hand … it's hard to tell how much is that she's young and stupid, and how much is - some other problem." Ilya frowns at you, but you just shake your head. "People who come into her labyrinth without the intent to kill her are her 'friends' - and her friends don't leave her labyrinth and instead stay with her their entire lives, having tea parties and opening presents and trying on clothes." You stop talking for a moment, not sure whether you're phrasing things correctly, and look around. In the brief amount of time you and Ilya have spoken, Komachi appears to have dozed off, and Youmu tucks a doubled-up sheet around her. Familiars stream in, bringing more presents and clothes, and clearing away the old dishes to replace them with new ones. Yuyuko sits at the table, smiling happily, and eats and drinks whatever snacks are placed before her.
"Hm. So the problem is deciding whether or not she is going to change, because what she wants to do right now isn't something you want to do as frequently as she wants it?" You nod and fall back, pulling Ilya so she's laying across you. Candeloro still seems to be chattering at Eiki, who does seem to be paying attention - but you also see that she now has a short wooden sword-like object as well as the mirror, and you reconsider what you remember from the Chronicle. A Rod of Remorse, then?
"And she expects that her friends won't leave her - she sulked when we said we had to leave last time. And if it's just that she's young and stupid, then she can be taught differently and I won't have as many problems with her. But if she's like some youkai, then she might not grow anymore - like fairies, who are extremely difficult to change and who only stay changed if you keep reinforcing that behavior. That's part of why we're so strict and fear-inducing with the fairy maids, you know. Sure, Sakuya tries to only take in the best applicants, but even then, they are fairies. Left on their own for a week, they'd go back to being just like any other fairy in Gensokyo." You stroke Ilya's hair as she contemplates your words.
"Hmm … I see your problem. This place is her territory, after all - either things go according to her will, or someone is intruding, with no middle ground. And she probably doesn't want to leave, either. So teaching her a proper lifestyle would be difficult unless you want to drag her out of here - can she leave this place?" You shrug.
"I think so; it should be possible, anyway. She did say that she didn't let her familiars leave on their own, and that they rarely got to leave, anyway." Ilya nods adjusts her position, cuddling against you drowsily.
"Hmm. Well, you keep thinking about that. I'm going to take a nap with my wonderful Flan." You smile and pat her head, and she giggles gently. Yes, you'll think about what to do. You have time, after all, and wonderful friends, a wonderful sister, and who knows how many worlds to, eventually, play with. But for now … for now, this is good.
As Candeloro starts chattering to Eiki and pulls her toward her familiars, you carefully lead Ilya in the other direction, toward a couple of boxes that are just the right height for chairs. Ilya smiles and leans against you. "You don't like Candeloro much, do you, Flan?" You keep your expression from twisting too much as you consider the highly-animated Witch.
"She is … immaturely selfish," you begin, ignoring Ilya's sardonic look. "She simply assumes that the world works according to her desires and whims, doesn't even consider that others might not consider her point of view valid. For example, take me -"
"Gladly," Ilya murmurs as she hugs you. You stick your tongue out at the interruption but wrap your wings around her.
"I'm incredibly selfish. I want certain things, and I want them a certain way. But - I don't just assume that that is enough to make it so. I'll work to make things go a certain way, and I fully recognize that sometimes things just don't work out. She, on the other hand … it's hard to tell how much is that she's young and stupid, and how much is - some other problem." Ilya frowns at you, but you just shake your head. "People who come into her labyrinth without the intent to kill her are her 'friends' - and her friends don't leave her labyrinth and instead stay with her their entire lives, having tea parties and opening presents and trying on clothes." You stop talking for a moment, not sure whether you're phrasing things correctly, and look around. In the brief amount of time you and Ilya have spoken, Komachi appears to have dozed off, and Youmu tucks a doubled-up sheet around her. Familiars stream in, bringing more presents and clothes, and clearing away the old dishes to replace them with new ones. Yuyuko sits at the table, smiling happily, and eats and drinks whatever snacks are placed before her.
"Hm. So the problem is deciding whether or not she is going to change, because what she wants to do right now isn't something you want to do as frequently as she wants it?" You nod and fall back, pulling Ilya so she's laying across you. Candeloro still seems to be chattering at Eiki, who does seem to be paying attention - but you also see that she now has a short wooden sword-like object as well as the mirror, and you reconsider what you remember from the Chronicle. A Rod of Remorse, then?
"And she expects that her friends won't leave her - she sulked when we said we had to leave last time. And if it's just that she's young and stupid, then she can be taught differently and I won't have as many problems with her. But if she's like some youkai, then she might not grow anymore - like fairies, who are extremely difficult to change and who only stay changed if you keep reinforcing that behavior. That's part of why we're so strict and fear-inducing with the fairy maids, you know. Sure, Sakuya tries to only take in the best applicants, but even then, they are fairies. Left on their own for a week, they'd go back to being just like any other fairy in Gensokyo." You stroke Ilya's hair as she contemplates your words.
"Hmm … I see your problem. This place is her territory, after all - either things go according to her will, or someone is intruding, with no middle ground. And she probably doesn't want to leave, either. So teaching her a proper lifestyle would be difficult unless you want to drag her out of here - can she leave this place?" You shrug.
"I think so; it should be possible, anyway. She did say that she didn't let her familiars leave on their own, and that they rarely got to leave, anyway." Ilya nods adjusts her position, cuddling against you drowsily.
"Hmm. Well, you keep thinking about that. I'm going to take a nap with my wonderful Flan." You smile and pat her head, and she giggles gently. Yes, you'll think about what to do. You have time, after all, and wonderful friends, a wonderful sister, and who knows how many worlds to, eventually, play with. But for now … for now, this is good.
Entropy Judge
Recurring Bouts of Misanthropy
So ... this is incredibly unsatisfying for me, and I'm sure part of it is accumulated stress and things that have been happening and general dissatisfaction with my current situations, but -
Flandre's Quest is officially over.
I hadn't intended quite so abrupt an end as the last update, but ... I'm not sure how to actually end it suitably. So - a quiet ending, I guess?
The thread will stay open, of course, and I'll try to answer questions - why I did bone-headed decision X, whether some particular part was an original plan or me going crazy or a result of thread shenanigans, under what circumstances Flan could beat Remi in a fight. I may possibly answer with 'I have no idea' or something like that, though. I may put in some omakes or things like that, or 'knowledge/informational' posts about things if people want to know something that's more in-depth than can be conveyed in a briefer reply.
Tengu Reporter Quest ... will go up sometime soon. I'd like to give myself a week to unwind, but I start freaking out if I'm not doing something, so I may do something stupid and start it tomorrow. :/ Regardless, I'll make a note here with a link in case anyone wants to see how that goes. If it hasn't gone up in a couple weeks, feel free to poke me and see what's taking so long.
... It's been a long and sometimes bumpy four and a half years, hasn't it? I'd like to thank everyone for being part of this. If you Rated a post in the thread, if you Replied in the thread - thank you. Whether you just showed up once, stayed for a while before leaving, or you've been here from the beginning - thank you. I'd thank everyone personally, but I know I'd miss someone somewhere (probably lots of someones, really), so I'm not going to actually make a list. But thank you all, anyway. (Seriously, any post - if you haven't yet, go back and give this guy a Like or something.)
... I don't even know how to end this post
Flandre's Quest is officially over.
I hadn't intended quite so abrupt an end as the last update, but ... I'm not sure how to actually end it suitably. So - a quiet ending, I guess?
The thread will stay open, of course, and I'll try to answer questions - why I did bone-headed decision X, whether some particular part was an original plan or me going crazy or a result of thread shenanigans, under what circumstances Flan could beat Remi in a fight. I may possibly answer with 'I have no idea' or something like that, though. I may put in some omakes or things like that, or 'knowledge/informational' posts about things if people want to know something that's more in-depth than can be conveyed in a briefer reply.
Tengu Reporter Quest ... will go up sometime soon. I'd like to give myself a week to unwind, but I start freaking out if I'm not doing something, so I may do something stupid and start it tomorrow. :/ Regardless, I'll make a note here with a link in case anyone wants to see how that goes. If it hasn't gone up in a couple weeks, feel free to poke me and see what's taking so long.
... It's been a long and sometimes bumpy four and a half years, hasn't it? I'd like to thank everyone for being part of this. If you Rated a post in the thread, if you Replied in the thread - thank you. Whether you just showed up once, stayed for a while before leaving, or you've been here from the beginning - thank you. I'd thank everyone personally, but I know I'd miss someone somewhere (probably lots of someones, really), so I'm not going to actually make a list. But thank you all, anyway. (Seriously, any post - if you haven't yet, go back and give this guy a Like or something.)
... I don't even know how to end this post