Flandre's Quest (Touhou) World - (Madness Quest)

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Take a walk outside.
- [X] Make that a flight.


Abruptly furious, you simply spin on your heel and stomp away from the magician and her familiar, throwing yourself forward into the air once you reach the end of the platform. You zoom through the library toward the stairs, then up them and down the hallway. Not even bothering to land, you simply slam yourself into the door and smash it open. Meiling is gone from her post already … how strange, for a mansion owned by a vampire, that it still goes quiet at night, instead of lighting up with activity as you'd expect. You consider heading back to the forest and trying to find something to fight you, but simply walking around on the ground isn't likely to get you very far. No, you want something a bit stronger … and that means flying. Not to mention the fact that you'll be able to fly just a bit faster than you can walk.

Once you're past the gate you hurtle straight up. Angry as you are, there are still things you shouldn't do, like buzz around Youkai Mountain like a hornet, or make passes over the Human Village. Nothing that would cause problems or start an incident. Even if it would be more fun to see how many tengu you can take down before they run away. Picking a direction doesn't take long, of course, and then you're flying through the air, ponytail whipping behind you … fruitlessly. Long minutes pass as you fly high and low, buzzing over the trees of a forest or flying high into the sky. Nothing comes out to play. It's as though all of Gensokyo is sleeping, despite night being youkai time – when you look around, you can't even see any evidence of activity.

This isn't what you wanted – you wanted something to clear your head, not a riddle! Snarling almost silently, you fly up and then just head straight in one direction, barely paying attention to where you go. All you know for sure is that you're quickly flying over mountains, the forests and fields of Gensokyo far away as the air screams around you. You fly on and on, expecting to slam into the Barrier any moment now … but when you finally slow to a halt, hands clenching in frustration, it's like you never moved. There are mountains below you, and before you, but when you turn around, Gensokyo is before you. If you weren't so irritated, maybe you'd be amused. But you are angry, furious with Patchouli for being an uppity, spiteful hag. You tremble angrily and shut your eyes, wishing that Remilia were here. Sure, she takes Patchouli's side far too often, but she understands you. Slowly, you open your eyes and try to calm down. You look down at Gensokyo, then turn back to the mountains ….

You focus on the new thing – a youkai! It's just a single youkai, floating in the air, turned so that she can keep an eye on you without looking directly at you. A savage grin splits your face as something you can vent on appears … and then you actually look at the youkai. Long, pale dress with a darker front; 'two-tailed' hat; hands held inside voluminous sleeves; and, of course, the nine fluffy tails that wave behind her, evidence of her nervousness. Ran Yakumo. Your eyes narrow. The first thing that crosses your mind – that Patchouli is working with Yukari – is discarded almost instantly. There are better ways for those two to work together to deal with you for this to be a coordinated plan. On the other hand … the hag's power and their sorceries would nicely explain why, in practically-crowded Gensokyo, you managed to fly about without running into anyone. Your fingers curl into claws and your faded grin changes to a snarl.

Wouldn't she be a nice distraction? Yes, yes … at least until you managed to catch her, and then the little fox would be in trouble, she would. You drift sideways, moving so she has to see you, but she simply keeps turning slightly, avoiding meeting you directly. Your cooling temper flares again.


What do you do?

[ ] Attack her.

[ ] Just go down to a forest and start destroying things.

[ ] Head back to the mansion.
- [ ] Find somewhere you can be alone.

[ ] Other?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Head back to the mansion.
- [X] Find somewhere you can be alone.
- [X] Try not to sulk
- [X] Sulk


… Just as quickly as it flares, your temper dies again. If Ran is here, that means the Yakumos are paying attention. If you do anything – attack Ran, calm yourself by breaking some trees, anything – then they'll go to the mansion and demand to see Remilia. And she won't be there, so things will get even worse – and when she does come back, they'll complain about her not keeping you under control, and they'll use that to gain advantage over her. Just like always, you'd be making trouble for her.

So, instead of doing something enjoyable, you simply turn back for Gensokyo and fly. The Yakumo fox doesn't acknowledge your exit in any noticeable fashion, not even so much as a glance. Once you can, you orient yourself for the mansion and head home. Before descending to the gate you turn invisible; after all, you want to be alone. No sense giving anyone a trail to follow until you get somewhere safe. As far as that goes …. You sigh. Can't go down in the library, that's Patchouli's place. The mansion itself is more or less off-limits, too, because there's fairy nests all over the place, and you don't know Sakuya's cleaning schedule; too much of a chance that you'll be found out and have to explain things or drive away fairies. That means … somewhere outside, where you'll be at risk from any rain, unlikely as it seems right now …. Then you clasp your hands and smile. The tennis court! Out of the way, unused, safe from the weather, safe if anyone comes in … yes, it'll do nicely.

You fly, silent and unseen, over the mansion and into the inner courtyard, then make your way to the old building. Which side, old or new? It doesn't really matter … but … you'd like to go back to the old days, so old it is. You slip in quietly, shutting the door only after making sure no one else is inside, then hide inside the gallery before letting yourself become visible again. Then you just … sit, trying to relax. You won't get angry, won't get mad. You won't let yourself get worked up over Patchouli's aggravating nature, or how unfair the world is, or how you've been reduced to hiding away in some dusty, out-of-the-way corner of your own home ….

Naturally, you fail, your temper bubbling dangerously as you recall Patchouli's insults. You sit in the corner, stiff and tense, wings quivering and twitching as you sulk. It's not your fault, the way things are turning out! If Patchouli were reasonable, instead of a malicious hag of a witch, there wouldn't have almost been an incident, and you would be happily making sure Ilya was comfortable or making preparations for making sure she stays safe in a world that Patchouli has already told you is more dangerous than the one she knew! But no, that feeble-bodied magician, the one who can't beat the most dangerous opponent of the War, wants you to stay away, even though you did beat him despite having been ambushed and badly injured! How stupid is she?!

Of course, you can't sulk forever, and soon enough your rage falls away. The almost-incident wouldn't have been a problem if you didn't have a reputation for uncontrolled violence, if you weren't a problem. Even Patchouli isn't wholly a problem; you caused trouble for your sister long before she had even been born, after all. And Remilia … just took it and dealt with it. You hug yourself as memories and imagination both spring into play, scenes of Remilia defending you against her social peers despite your clearly being in the wrong. Some of it, you're sure, is because you're family, her sister … but there's so much more, so much that that can't be the only reason. Remilia has always protected you, helped you, dealt with your problems when you couldn't handle them – sometimes when you weren't even aware of them! 'Family' can't possibly cover all of it. No, if ever you doubted that your sister loved you, her constant assistance would smash that doubt, remove it even more thoroughly than you can destroy something that exists. And how do you repay her? By causing her more trouble! It would be so much easier for her, simpler, safer … if she would just lock you up. But she doesn't. She lets you do what you want, helps the people you brought back without any consideration ….

So why does Patchouli make everything harder for you?! Isn't she Remilia's friend? You shiver and snarl through the tears that blur your vision. She's the one who prides herself on considering all the variables, on doing things for non-emotional reasons, yet she creates a situation that could easily have made things far more troublesome for your sister! She insults and provokes you, tries to force you to follow her will simply because she's 'better' than you ….

---

Hours pass as you switch back and forth between anger and self-loathing. You hug yourself fitfully as the night goes on, unable to sleep or even get some rest. When Headless tries to break your cycle of remorse, you snarl at her and push her away, adding yet more fuel to the flames of self-reproach. It's only when dawn comes, sunlight streaming through the door, that you snap to full awareness – and only after that that the source of light makes an impact on you. Someone opened the door.

It closes again, however, and a number of dull red lights flicker into existence. You don't move, don't even become invisible or change your form, too worried about being caught to do anything like that … and after a minute, you hear the sound of a tennis ball hitting the far side of the court. And again, and again. Finally, after several minutes, you hear a sigh.

"I wonder if I'll be allowed to teach anyone how to play? Or if, maybe, Lady Remilia will start using this place again? It's kind of boring, just playing by myself." Your eyes widen slightly at Koakuma's wishful tone of voice. You didn't know she played, or did anything besides help Patchouli with the library, really. Maybe you should see about playing with her? Of course, she'll probably beat you – you never were all that good at it, and the need to bounce and bank shots means that you're not really able to use your greater physical abilities, which levels the playing field quite a lot. Koakuma sighs again. "Well, now that Lady Remilia's back, things will hopefully calm down a bit. And I'll probably get some more free time, too!" Your blood chills and you swallow nervously; Remilia's back, and she probably not only saw Patchouli, but she also didn't see you! That's … that's not going to make a good impression. Koakuma hits a few more balls down the court. "Well, time to go to sleep, I guess. Big day soon." The door opens and closes, and you wait a few minutes to give her some time to get away before you carefully slip out of the gallery. Of course, the court is empty ….


What do you do?

[ ] Go see Remilia.
- Bring up anything in particular?

[ ] Head to the office and see if you can find anything useful. Maybe you'll be able to make up for lost good-will by trying to get back on track?

[ ] Go to sleep. After the night you've had, you just don't feel well.

[ ] Other?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Go to sleep. After the night you've had, you just don't feel well.


You try to think about what to do … go see your sister and explain things, let her determine the conversation, or perhaps try to act like nothing untoward happened? Or maybe you should try to get some work done? But when you try to actually think about anything, your stomach tightens and you can't help but remember the past few hours, can't stop yourself from thinking that you'll make things worse. And the sun's coming up, so Remilia's probably going to sleep anyway, if she isn't already asleep. At least … at least with her back, Patchouli should behave herself. You shiver and make yourself invisible before peeking out the door. The courtyard is empty, as usual, and you dash across it into the mansion, then make your way back to the library, moving as quickly as you dare. It's still far slower than you could move, especially with all the care you take to make sure you aren't going to run into a fairy maid.

Once you're into the library you can move a little faster, flying past the bookshelves rather carelessly. Maybe Patchouli's upstairs? In any case, you reach your room without running into the magician or her familiar, and sigh, relieved, as you open the door. You jerk to a halt for a moment when you see Ilya on your bed, then remember that, yes, you offered your room to her last night. How … how could you have forgotten? Leysritt is on the bed, too, on Ilya's other side, and Sella is kneeling against it, slumped forward with her hands holding Ilya's. You hope she's not going to wake up uncomfortable because of it … but you can't really do anything to help her, can you? Instead, you quietly lay your coffin on the floor and slip inside. Lid closed, and comfortably embraced by the darkness, you allow yourself to slip into unconsciousness.

---

You wake up, wondering if you heard someone tapping on the lid of your coffin. It doesn't repeat itself, however, and you sigh, relaxing into the thick cushioning. How long has it been? You give up after a few seconds - you weren't keeping track of things very well, and without being sure of when you actually went to sleep, you wouldn't be able to know what time it is now. All the same, you can't help but feel some humiliation, for feeling like you had to sneak around your own home, avoiding even the common servants as though they were enemies who would sound an alarm if they caught you. At least you feel much better now. You open the coffin and poke your head out, but Ilya and her servants are gone - not exactly a surprise, of course. Their need to eat aside, there isn't that much to do in your room.

When you get up, you find two new items on your desk - the first is a covered tray that proves to have some snacks for you, along with a cup of blood. A little odd; usually you simply get blood-infused tea, but … well, maybe Remilia was being perceptive. The other is a small box with a red domino mask inside. You put it on - it doesn't need any fastening to stay on your face, even if you shake your head - but nothing feels different, and when you look in a mirror nothing seems to have changed. It could be nothing more than what it seems, but there's probably something special about it. It's not like Remilia to give something so seemingly ordinary without there being a trick of some kind. You should probably ask her about it … a little later. You set the mask back in the box and leave it on your desk.

You slip out of your room and hurry toward the laboratory area, but Ilya isn't there, and when you zoom through the library to the places she's been to with Patchouli, you still don't find her. A little worried - you didn't see the magician, and she didn't growl at you for disturbing her work, so if you're really unlucky they may have left already! - you rush upstairs to the dining room, but you still don't find them! Growing ever more nervous, you hurtle past fairy maids and throw yourself outside, intending to sweep through the gardens and the forest - but once you're out in the evening sun you wrench yourself to a halt. Over by the gate … red and white. Turning invisible, you approach, not wanting to interrupt anything important. Sakuya is by Sella and Ilya, and all three are watching Meiling and Leysritt duel … at least, they're watching Leysritt attempt to hit Meiling, but her halberd is warded off without any issue by Meiling's staff. It looks like she's just testing Leysritt to see how good she is.

"So Flan's leaving before us?" You shift your attention to Ilya.

"I understand that to be Milady's intention, yes. She will take Lady Flandre to Mid-Childa, and after she returns Patchouli will take you on your trip." You frown; you can understand not wanting to leave the mansion without at least one of them here to keep things under control, but is it better for you to leave earlier? … Well, it probably doesn't really matter, not unless one trip or another takes longer than expected ….

"I'll get to see her before she leaves, right?" Sakuya bows as you scowl - of course you're going to see Ilya before you leave!

"I do not see why you wouldn't. She will be leaving soon - tomorrow, I think - but once she's awake I expect that she will try to spend time with you." You nod. And you do … but since you know what the 'official schedule' is now, maybe you should see your sister first? If you want to make any changes, it'll be easier to do that now than later, after all.


What do you do?

[ ] Spend time with Ilya.
- [ ] Stay and watch Leysritt.
- [ ] See about taking her down to the lake for a bit.

[ ] Go see Remilia.

[ ] Other?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Spend time with Ilya.
- [X] Stay and watch Leysritt.


You'd like to see your sister, but if Sakuya is here watching over Ilya, then Remilia's probably doing something important. … Or she just told Sakuya to take care of Ilya. Or maybe she's just not here! You clamp down on that train of thought and shake your head. Anyway. You take a breath and retreat a little; no sense making it obvious you were eavesdropping. A glance back reveals the door still hanging open. You could go back and close it, but what's going to happen? Someone is going to sneak in? That would be funny. You settle yourself, smooth out your clothes, and drop your invisibility as you start walking forward. Quietly, of course.

"Who's winning?" Ilya jumps a little at your question, and Sella half-spins toward you. Sakuya, of course, doesn't seem to have been surprised. It takes a lot to startle her. Ilya looks back and you wave, smiling, then hurry forward and gently throw yourself against the wheelchair, loosely wrapping your arms around her in a careless hug. "And good evening, Ilya." She leans back, pressing her head against you, and pats your hand.

"Good evening, Flan. And I don't think anyone's winning … but if she wanted to, I think Meiling could have by now." You giggle and nuzzle the side of her head. You watch them spar for another minute. Leysritt is definitely far stronger, faster, and tougher than a normal human - maybe even physically stronger than Meiling if she's not enhancing herself! - but she doesn't have anywhere near the gardener's skill. Even you can track her movements and plan counters for them, which always slows you down. You watch as the halberd comes crashing down in a massive overhead swing, but Meiling is already skipping sideways before it reaches her, and her staff makes a half-circle strike against the halberd's haft, forcing it deeper into the earth. Leysritt takes a moment to free it, but instead of striking, Meiling backs away and holds her staff in a high guard position.

"Hmm … have you cheered Leysritt on yet?" Sakuya carefully looks away, Sella frowns, and Ilya looks adorably confused.

"Cheer …?" You titter quietly and tap her nose.

"Yes, cheer! So she knows you're watching and hoping she does well!" Ilya hunches her shoulders and picks at her skirt.

"Um … well, no. But she wanted to do this, so …." You make a questioning noise and lean around so you can see her more clearly and her face starts going red. "I mean, I asked her if she wanted to see if Meiling could teach her anything, and she said yes, and that's practically jumping up and down for Leys!" You watch her for a few more seconds after her hushed explanation, then nod and settle back down. Ilya relaxes.

"… Well, if you're not going to, I will."

"Eh?" Ilya's expression, looking positively doomed, fills you with glee as you clear your throat.

"Go on, Leys! You can do it!" Ilya turns a beautiful scarlet color as her voice comes from your mouth, and Sella looks astonished, too. Leysritt doesn't seem to react, but Meiling's eyes dart toward you for an instant. "Come on, Leys, show her what you can really do!" It's hard to tell if your words have any effect, especially since Ilya frantically slaps her hand over your mouth

"Flan! Please?" More than simply embarrassed, she actually looks a little worried, and you tilt your head in confusion. She hunches her shoulders again. "It's … I … I don't know how to do things like that. It's … weird." You frown and she lowers her head. You tighten your hug and nuzzle her again.

"It's fine, Ilya. If it really bothers you, I won't do it again … although I do think it would help." You watch Leysritt resume her offensive. It doesn't seem to have done much for her, at least from your perspective … but you can see that Meiling is putting more strength behind her counters, whipping the staff in wider arcs and making stiffer thrusts. Still, she's still holding back a lot, and don't think the homunculus can beat her.

---

They continue sparring until the light is too dim for human eyes to see, but even that seems to be little more than a break, as Sakuya sets a small table with drinks and treats. Ilya seems to have recovered from her embarrassment, and she has no problem congratulating Leysritt on her continuing combat, although she is a little stiff and formal. Oh, well. You lean forward and look at Meiling. "So, what do you think of Leysritt, Meiling?" She takes a long sip of her tea before leaning back. Ilya and Sella both watch her intently, although Leysritt seems less interested.

"Well … she's certainly quite strong, and she knows how to use that weapon. But she is … stiff. As though she learned how to fight by rote drill and not by actually practicing against a skilled opponent." She looks at Sella and Ilya, questioning her guess. Ilya frowns down at the table.

"Homunculi are created with the necessary knowledge to fulfill their roles already present in their minds, so of course Leysritt knows how to use her weapon, just as all Einzbern combat homunculi do. And she has had combat experience - wolves, spirits, and failed creations are all used to test combat homunculi."

"But rote weapon drills would be sufficient against those, right?" Sella nods at Meiling's interruption and the youkai rubs her chin. After a few seconds she shrugs and smiles. "It shouldn't take too long to get her to loosen up a bit, I think." She takes another drink from her teacup, and Ilya looks at you.

"Hey, Flan? You can beat Meiling, right?" You wiggle your shoulders and smile.

"Sort of … I mean, I'm a lot stronger and faster than she is, so in a real fight I'd definitely win. But in terms of skill she's way better than me." You're even pretty sure she's better than Remilia, at least with most weapons, but you don't need to say that. Meiling smiles and bows at you.

"Thank you, Lady Flandre." You nod back and drink some of your own tea. Ilya has had a fairly restful day - another checkup by Patchouli, another walk through the gardens - and through the forest, too, which does have walnuts - and then the sparring match. Considering that Patchouli is going to be taking her to a war zone, some rest and relaxation seems like a good idea, especially after her recent stresses.


What do you do?

[ ] Stay with Ilya for a while longer.
- [ ] Play some games.
- [ ] Keep watching Leysritt spar.
- - [ ] See if Meiling can teach Sella.
- [ ] Take Ilya to the lake.

[ ] Excuse yourself and go see Remilia.

[ ] Other?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Excuse yourself and go see Remilia.


You look at Ilya. "Um … are you going to stay out here a while longer?" She blinks, confused, and looks worriedly at you.

"Do you have something you want to do?" Maybe that's why Sakuya is with her – she seems lost without someone to help her along. Of course, that's only reasonable, since her life until recently has been based around the Grail War, and she doesn't know what to do apart from that ….

"Well … my sister came back earlier, and I haven't seen her yet. It's … I …." You trail off, uncertain as to how you should clarify what you want to do, but Ilya relaxes and smiles.

"Oh. Mm, I think we'll be out here for a little longer, at least." She leans forward, careful due to her instability, and you lean toward her too. She gives you a hug before settling back with your help. "If we aren't – well, maybe you'll have to look for us!" You smile back and bow your head.

"Maybe I will. I'll see you soon, Ilya." You hop back, wave at everyone, and turn to head into the mansion. Before you actually get anywhere, however, you turn back to Sakuya. "Um, is she in her room?" The maid bows politely.

"That is where she was when I left her, yes." Your head bobs again and you take off. Sakuya didn't quite say 'yes,' of course, but there's only so much you can do about that. You zoom through the mansion, electing to be more polite and enter through the door instead of through her window … but when you reach her suite, the door doesn't open. It isn't locked, it simply … doesn't move when you try to open it. Frowning, you stare at it for a moment. Does she not want to see you? Finally, you simply knock on the door. It doesn't open, but something appears 'next to you' – it looks like a young girl with long white hair and dark eyes, almost black. You turn to look at it, then drift to your left and to your right. It doesn't move in response to your movements, but no matter how you change your orientation it is always facing you directly, seeming to stand off to your left.

"Are you looking for the Lady?" You blink; you didn't hear a voice, but you can certainly remember hearing the words being said. How very peculiar …. You clear your throat.

"I'm trying to find my sister, Remilia." It finally moves, blinking once and tilting its head slightly – then it vanishes. You try the door again, but it remains stuck. After a moment, however, a red arrow appears in the corner of your eye. Unlike the apparition, this does move in response to your turning. Interested, you follow its directions back into the mansion, until it finally vanishes after pointing you toward a particular door. Well, your sister should be here … hopefully. Probably. You shake yourself and walk up to it, wondering if you should knock – but it's just a random room, right? If it's locked, you'll knock. And to your relief, the door does open.

Your sister is sitting across a large padded chair, knees on one arm and arms stretching down the other side. Patchouli is sitting properly in another chair, and you feel foolish for not connecting her 'disappearance' with your sister's return. Both are rather disheveled, hats on the floor among other debris, and near a curtained window – oddly, because you're certain this is an interior room – are a black violin-like instrument and a long, black, rune-etched sword, the latter imprisoned within an intricate magic circle. Before you can say anything, however, Remilia bounces from her chair and wraps you up in a hug.

"Oh, Flandre! I'm sorry I missed you before, but I wasn't feeling well and someone insisted I take a bath to relax." You reflexively return the hug, mind scattered by the preemptive apology for not seeing each other immediately and the rather more concerning idea that your sister wasn't feeling well. She disengages and grabs your shoulders, looking serious. "Speaking of that, as your sister and a dispenser of wisdom, may I give you some life advice?" You blink. She seems to be serious about getting an answer.

"Um … yes?" Patchouli sighs as Remilia lets you go and clasps her hands together.

"If, in the course of your endeavors, you find yourself proceeding with a plan that has, as the only acceptable outcome, the requirement that you suplex a dragon, rethink that plan. It's probably not as good an idea as it seems." You stare at your sister and she flashes a grin, throwing her hands up as she walks back to her chair. "Oh, it's not that bad – the ground broke my fall, and of course I had a great big dragon blocking the sun – but there are probably better options available in your case." She hops back into the chair, again curling across it rather than sitting properly, and you take a moment to watch her carefully before curling up in a chair of your own. You fish around for something else to say, because while there's probably a story behind that, it can wait. Hopefully.

"Right … I'll keep that in mind." Remilia grins. "Um, I also wanted to thank you for your present." The grin vanishes, replaced by a puzzled frown.

"Present?" Your own expression turns to worry.

"In my room? There was a little box, with a red mask …?" Remilia maintains her ignorant look and your worry balloons – what if it was from Yukari, and by putting it on you've somehow let her in to do -! You twitch at Patchouli's cough, and the magician gives you an embarrassed look.

"Ah, that was from me. It's an … apology. For my behavior yesterday." You blink at the explanation. It was from Patchouli? "It's a … well, it's a mask. While you're wearing it, people who don't already know you won't be able to recognize you, and no one will see the mask, either. People who already know who you are will still recognize you, of course. I thought that, since you'll be spending time in a world where non-humans are a … quite miniscule minority, having something that keeps your own nature hidden would be a useful asset. So you can go out without people staring at your wings, for example. It doesn't block any of your weaknesses, of course, and if you spend any reasonable amount of power you'll shut it down." That's … actually very handy. You bow your head.

"Thank you, Patchouli." You see Remilia silently clapping her hands, a small grin on her face. Of course she knew what it was all about. Patchouli sits back and adjusts the book on her lap.


What do you do?

[ ] Talk about wanting to go with Ilya.
- [ ] Lessened restrictions.
- [ ] Going on your own.

[ ] Talk about Patchouli's plan for what's going to happen in Fuyuki.

[ ] Other?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Talk about Patchouli's plan for what's going to happen in Fuyuki.


Patchouli taps her book, as if considering whether to open it up, and Remilia drapes her wings over herself like a blanket. You swallow; it seems that they're willing to let you say what you want instead of continuing whatever they were doing. "Um … if it's not too much of a problem, though …." You hesitate, eyes flicking toward your sister before settling again on the magician. "Could you explain more about how you're going to keep Ilya safe? It … I know more about what could happen to her, and that's what bothers me." Patchouli cocks her head to the side before nodding slowly.

"Yes, and not knowing my plans - and your own mainly superficial knowledge of my abilities - makes it difficult to trust me when I say that I can keep her safe. Then …." She looks at Remilia before waving her hand. The far side of the room fades into a black void, one with seven individuals - two of which you recognize - standing apart from each other. Across the corner are images of Ilya, her servants, Berserker, Patchouli, and Koakuma. "The first thing to keep in mind is that while Illyasviel will not be fully healed, and therefore will not be able to utilize her own magic with any effectiveness, we will be entering an active Holy Grail War, which means that she will be able to use Berserker because the Grail will help support his existence. I will limit the amount of mana she can provide him so she does not damage her circuits, but even so weakened most enemy Servants will have difficulty fighting him. Second, her own servants are capable of slowing down most Servants when they cooperate - Leysritt is capable of contesting Servants on a physical level even without Sella's assistance, although against a proper Servant it would only be a matter of time before they fell. And my own familiar is, through her own physical and magical abilities, able to fight as well as a weaker Servant. Before I catalog my specific preparations, I will explain the various threats to us." She gestures again and one of the individuals moves across the other corner to stand opposite her own illusion - then multiplies to form dozens of people, all dark-skinned and wearing similar skull-masks as the original. And with them stands a younger priest … but your hands curl into claws and your eyes narrow as you stare at him.

"Servant Assassin, commanded by Kotomine Kirei. Effective enough as spies, but since I know to look for them and know where some are to begin with, I can neutralize them. As a group, they weaken to such an extent that they are barely more capable than humans, and even were they to reform, my familiar could deal with them without issue. The priest is somewhat dangerous, but either Leysritt or my familiar can deal with him as well. Of course, given our goal, we should never actually engage with them beyond making it clear that their presence is unwelcome." The group vanishes and the 'core' Assassin returns to the other wall. He is replaced by a tall man in what could have been rich robes … but it all seems off. Standing beside him is what seems to be a perfectly ordinary human. Patcholi scowls. "The … Caster … of this War. A former knight, completely unsuited to the magical arts and merely a counterfeit Caster. Strong, but unable to utilize his power effectively. His 'magic' is due solely to the tome he carries, which allows him to summon entities. He has an obsession with Saber but will otherwise leave us alone. His Master is nothing more than a common murderer." The Servant returns to his wall, the Master vanishes, and they are replaced by a lean man, almost pretty, carrying two spears. Beside him stand a blond man who can only be described as 'noble' and a beautiful red-haired woman.

"Lancer." You remember the Lancer you fought - Cú Chulainn. How does this man compare?

"Yes, Lancer. The first real threat, although Berserker can withstand him indefinitely if needed. His spears are cursed and need no particular activation, he is skilled enough to fight both the homunculi and my familiar and almost certainly win, and he has enough Magic Resistance that I would need to actually dedicate spell-work to him. However, between Berserker and his Master …. His Master is a proper mage, arrogant, rather intelligent, believing he is perfectly correct in all things, and possessing all the right blind spots. He is also more likely than anyone else to actually side with us in the event of a multi-sided conflict, but in the event that he does not I can overwhelm his defenses and kill him. Or, possibly, use him to force Lancer to fight alongside us. The Servant will not like it, of course, but …," she smirks and shakes her head, "the poor man seems doomed tragedy. And the woman can be used against the Master, or simply killed to render him less effective, as she provides much of the power they have to use to fuel the Servant." The Servant returns to the wall, the humans disappear, and they are replaced by an armored figure cloaked in darkness. Beside him stands a ruined human, a disgusting wreck of a man. "Berserker and his Matou Master. Another actual threat, although mitigated by the fact that his Master simply cannot maintain his Servant for long periods of combat. And, of course, he cannot defeat Illyasviel's Berserker without unleashing his Noble Phantasm, which will strain his Master to death. Vulnerable to magic, but fast, powerful, and incredibly skilled with weapons. However … his Master is obsessed with defeating Archer's Master, so as long as those two are present, he will almost certainly not be a direct threat to us." She pauses and takes several breaths.

"So … Assassin and Caster won't interfere, and even if they do interfere, Sella, Leysritt, and Koakuma can deal with them. But why would Lancer's Master side with you?"

"Because Patchouli is a magician." You glance at your sister. She grins and shrugs. "She will introduce herself as such, and El-Melloi is certainly capable of recognizing how much power she can throw around. He will, naturally - and correctly - assume that someone that powerful, not a Servant but openly revealing herself in a Grail War, is not interested in obtaining the Grail. She is, therefore, an enemy to him only if he makes one of her." You nod at the reasoning. It's quite sensible … if they have a good understanding of his character. But since it's your sister making the argument, they're probably right.

"Yes … and Berserker's Master is so blinded by his hate that he will focus all his efforts on defeating Archer. Were it not for the potential drawbacks - and the fact that Archer would defeat Berserker in almost any open combat anyway - I would arm Berserker myself and assist him against Archer." You cock your head curiously at Patchouli's remark and she shrugs. "One of Berserker's abilities is that he can 'own' anything he grasps that he recognizes as a weapon. The problem is that, as the owner, he can make full use of its abilities … and anything that would be useful against Archer would be equally useful against me. And because he is the owner, retrieving it would be … somewhat difficult." Again, a sensible argument, and you nod. Another breath - you glance at the black sword within the magic circles, because usually Patchouli doesn't get this tired just from talking - and Berserker moves back to the far wall as his Master vanishes. Taking their place is a huge man, nearly as massive as Ilya's Berserker … and a tiny boy with less presence than Ilya. At least, tiny compared to his Servant. Remilia snickers.

"Ah, the only other reasonable Master in the Grail War, after El-Melloi. Imagine Marisa with less talent and experience, and worse people-skills, and you have Waver Velvet. I can almost forgive him being English." Patchouli sighs. "Oh, come on, Pache! Give me one good reason to believe that the English are not the lowest form of creature that qualifies as a human being." Patchouli sighs and shakes her head.

"I've tried, and you keep dismissing my arguments. I particularly enjoyed 'I'm too busy to read your fifteen-hundred page essay on why my arguments are wrong, so you're wrong.'" Your sister giggles and Patchouli fights back a smile before coughing for several seconds. She turns back to you. "But … that's not here or there. Rider is … sort of a threat. On his own, without his Noble Phantasm or his chariot, Leysritt or my familiar could fight defensively against him. Of course, he's Rider, so those circumstances are … not particularly likely. However, is Master is poor, although they fit well together, so he cannot freely use all his abilities, and he is vulnerable to magic - and, as Remilia stated, his Master is quite weak for a mage. Mostly, however … he is not a danger because he is honorable. He is a conqueror, and he would throw himself at Berserker without hesitation, simply for the sake of having fought against such a mighty hero … but we will know where the other stands, and he will not force the issue against us. In this case, under these conditions, he will not be a problem." The giant Servant and his diminutive Master leave the wall, to be replaced by Saber, a scruffy-looking man in a dark suit, and an elegant, beautiful woman - Ilya's mother, no doubt. You smile and lean forward interestedly - at least until Remilia scoffs and turns away. You frown and sit back up, looking at your sister, but Patchouli clears her throat and minutely shakes her head. Something you shouldn't ask about? Why not? "Saber and her Master, Emiya Kiritsugu, and the Grail's Vessel, Irisviel von Einzbern. Obviously they should not be opposing us in any fashion whatsoever, but for the sake of completion - Saber will be crippled and unable to defeat Berserker at all, although she retains the skill to defeat our other frontline combatants, and of course her direct magic resistance is as impressive as ever. Her Master has some skill at magic, but is no match for me, and I do not need to fear his trump card. His wife is more of a threat magically, but still far below me." You frown as she dismisses the images from the wall - there is definitely something very strange going on there, something they don't seem to want you to know about. In any case, they are replaced by Archer - Gilgamesh - and an elegant, refined man in red. Tohsaka's father. "And Archer, the real danger in the war. His Master is nothing special, merely a reasonably talented fire mage, but the Servant …. If he truly wished to, he could end the War on the first night, unstoppably crushing every other Servant and Master. Even were I to unleash everything I plan to bring with me, I would rate my chances in a direct conflict against an unrestrained Archer as no better than 'possible.' If I am forced to fight him, it becomes a gamble - if he uses his Gate of Babylon, I can respond in kind only for a little while, and my one hope is that the novelty of the weapons I oppose him with is enough to cause him to halt; if he uses Ea, however, I can - possibly - ablate, redirect, possibly even absorb the attack. The theory is sound, although whether it holds up in practice is something that I cannot foresee. Of course, I should be able to brute force a defensive attack to negate it, if I am not otherwise occupied." She coughs and takes another breath. "Of course, he will almost certainly restrain himself quite thoroughly, so that shouldn't be a problem." Still, you scowl.

"You aren't making it easy for me to trust you, Patchouli." She starts to glare at you, but your sister clears her throat meaningfully. Patchouli lets out her breath and you force yourself to relax. "Sorry. It's just …." The magician nods and the images vanish, replaced by an overhead view of what looks like a warehouse area of some kind. Five Servants are visible - all except Caster and Assassin - along with Irisviel and … Waver.

"If everything goes right, we will arrive at this point in time, during the first battle of the Fourth Holy Grail War. Early enough for them to still do something if they can be convinced of the need, and also early enough that others are still scouting everyone's positions. I had considered masquerading as a Caster, linking myself to the Grail and creating a façade of Servanthood, but that is potentially dangerous enough that I dismissed the idea. It would assist me because of the confusion, but it would also cause unnecessary friction with the Servants and Masters. In any case … I will be in the open and attempt to make contact with the Einzberns, Illyasviel and the others will be hidden. If he searches, I believe that Archer will be able to find them, but even if he does he is as likely to be amused and curious as he is to be moved to action, particularly if he realizes who and what Illyasviel is. So, in the unlikely event that combat between Archer and my group occurs, at least one other Servant - Berserker - will side with me, and possibly Saber and Lancer, depending on how the battle goes. Rider, I think, will hold back, and Caster and Assassin will remain as observers. Afterward, assuming that we have not been forced to retreat back here, I will take Illyasviel to meet her parents, they will talk, and hopefully we will have returned before a day has passed." You blink, then frown and lean forward.

"Wait, you aren't planning to really do anything with the Grail?" She shakes her head.

"That is not my intention, nor have I promised Illyasviel anything other than the opportunity to speak with her parents. That is … one of the reasons my requirements were so strict. I do not intend to get into any unnecessary trouble, and interfering materially in the Grail War qualifies. Thus, keeping you tightly under control - and, in the event that we are drawn into it, keeping you under control so as to avoid any future unpleasantness. For example, Illyasviel does not fully understand the nature of your ability, but if she were to realize how easy it is for you to use, then having you with me and free to act as you wish would create trouble for me. I know you think you can withstand her charm …."

"But she is your friend, and you want to help her." You glower at your sister - but she's probably right. Maybe.

"Well, then why don't you visit at some other time, then? Like before the Grail War starts?" Patchouli nods and sighs.

"Something I had considered, but I still prefer the risk of having to deal with Archer instead of the certainty of having to blast my way through the Einzbern fortress before meeting with her parents. Moreover - Illyasviel is injured, her Magic Circuits incomplete and damaged. Recall how she collapsed after you destroyed the Grail in her world? Taking her to a time when the Grail is inactive will force her to maintain Berserker on her own - something she can do but which will certainly strain her." You slump back as worry presses on you. Strain, she says … but where with most people that simply means that, with Ilya it means 'could kill.' That … your halting train of thought is derailed completely as slender arms hug you from behind, as great wings wrap themselves around you.

"She will be fine, Flandre. She has time, time enough for this. To visit her parents, to return and have us help her however she chooses. You will see her again." Your sister's voice, right by your ear, not comforting or promising, but speaking a simple fact, as if reading from a book. That is comforting, and you nod.


What do you do?

[ ] See if you can still come along.
- [ ] With Patchouli's full restrictions.
- [ ] With lessened restrictions.
- [ ] On your own.

[ ] Change the subject!
- [ ] Ask Remilia why she didn't seem to like hearing about Saber and her Master.
- [ ] Ask about the black sword.
- Other?

[ ] Thank them for the explanation and leave.
- [ ] See how Ilya is doing.
- [ ] Music practice.
- [ ] Go cook something.

[ ] Other?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] See if you can still come along.
- [X] With Patchouli's full restrictions.
- - [X] If you are allowed to go, change the subject and ask about the black sword.


You bring your hands up to cover Remilia's, but instead of leaning into her you break her hug apart and step forward before spinning around, bringing her hands together within your own. "Thank you, Remilia, but …." Her slight smile fades away, leaving her expressionlessly watching you as you fight for the right words. "… Please, can I go with Patchouli and Ilya? I know you have a plan set up, and you always have good reasons for doing things a particular way, but … Ilya's going to meet her parents, and even after you helped her out, she seems more comfortable with me around. I - I want her to feel as safe and comfortable as she can when she meets them." You swallow nervously and squeeze your sister's hands slightly. "I'll even go along with Patchouli's rules, just the way they are. I just … I want everything to go right for Ilya …." The room is deathly silent for a moment - then Remilia gently pulls her hands away from you and takes a step back. You fight your hunching shoulders, determined not to throw a fit as your sister sighs.

"I … you are an adult, after all. I can hardly order you to follow my instructions, and if this will make you happy, I won't object." Her voice is carefully neutral, but you disregard that for the moment as you launch yourself forward and swing her around in a flying hug.

"Thank you, thankyouthankyou!" You set her down and hop back, smiling as you wipe your eyes.

"And I suppose that if the worst happens, you should be there." You cock your head.

"Eh? You don't think Patchouli can keep Ilya safe from Archer?" You try to keep any trace of superiority or mockery out of your voice as you look past your sister at the magician. She stares at Remilia, looking almost betrayed, then glares viciously at you.

"Hm? Oh, Gilgamesh. Yes, I guess you can be an insurance against him if Pache's plans aren't sufficient." You frown - if Archer isn't the worst case, what is? Even Patchouli didn't consider anything else a terribly dangerous threat …. Remilia shakes her head and moves more naturally. "Although, since you'll be traveling with Patchouli and under her restrictions, I should think that you'll need her permission, too. What do you say, Pache?" She spins to face the still-glowering magician and leans forward at the waist, arms behind her back. You try to smile politely at Patchouli as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. You've had this conversation, you know what she'll say …. She opens her eyes, and while she still looks angry, she doesn't look furious anymore.

"Very well. You remember my rules, I believe? That you will obey my commands, that you will remain silent and out of the way unless necessary, that you will avoid collateral damage and interference in the lives of humans, and that your servant will remain here. Additionally, you must acquire Illyasviel's acceptance. And -" her lips tighten as you frown "- and, Flandre, I need a guarantee that you aren't simply agreeing to follow my terms, something beyond your word. Either you will agree to a punishment for breaking any of the conditions - you may choose one, but I will determine if it is suitable, and if it isn't then I will substitute it for one of my own decision - or you may subject yourself to a geas -"

"Patchouli." Even as you stiffen, outraged, Remilia scolds the magician … but it is merely a scolding. Why isn't she as furious as you are? Why is she letting Patchouli get away with that? After a brief glance at your sister, Patchouli looks back at you and continues speaking.

"… regarding the second and third conditions. The fourth requires no force, because it simply is, and despite what is no doubt going through your mind, I am not so foolish as to think I can get away with a geas for your obedience. Besides, you would fight that." She closes her eyes and takes a breath before leaning back in her chair as you fight down the urge to stomp and snarl and shriek. "You are therefore, pending the completion of the prerequisite actions, granted permission to accompany us. You have until we leave to complete the required tasks, which will be … Remilia?" You grind your teeth at her nonchalant attitude, but your sister flaps her wings once and cocks her head to the side.

"Might as well do it soon. Tomorrow." Patchouli nods.

"We will leave at noon tomorrow. I do expect that you will have obtained Illyasviel's permission before she reaches the portals, although you may withdraw at any time." You scowl at her indifference, then huff in frustration.

"Fine. … and thank you." Patchouli's head … maybe twitches, but it's hard to tell if she understood what you said. You know your sister did, though, and she's the one you really should be thanking. She turns back around and stretches, seeming as if the just-finished conversation had never happened.

"Have you anything else you wish to ask of us, Flandre?" You frown, wondering just how far you can push your luck … but there is one thing. You turn to look at the imprisoned sword.

"Um, what's with the sword and all that?" Remilia's face lights up and she springs forward, tugging you with her as she bounds for the magic circle.

"Ah, that? That's just a little demon we captured for a little bit of experimenting." You frown - it's a sword, not a demon! Remilia taps at the edge of the magic circle, her nail clinking against the air and sounding as though she were tapping crystal. "Hello, little Mournblade! How are feeling?" You look at the sword - huge, broad-bladed, black, and etched with unfamiliar runes - and then take out Laevateinn. Your sister laughs. "Ah, you see the similarities? Truthfully, I'm not sure if they're actually related or if it just seems that way - but that's what the experiments are for!" The sword seems to glow with a strange black light and Remilia sighs. "Oh, calm down, calm down. You'll be fine, and then we'll toss you back where we found you so you can do your thing, okay? Really, it almost might have been better to take the other one …." You give your sister an odd look as the glow fades away, then glance at the covered window.

"And … isn't this an interior room?" She looks up.

"Hm? Oh, that! Yes, it's not really there, but I figured that doing this properly, without any trails or traces that can be followed, and actively confusing anyone who might have been watching at that exact moment - well, there are some things in the realms this thing came from that I don't want finding Gensokyo. Not until after Reimu's dead, anyway. After that, bets are off." You sigh as Remilia stares at the covered window. Nothing like an ominous statement like that to clarify everything ….

"So … what are you going to do if you do learn what you want from the … Mournblade?" Remilia grins.

"Oh, I don't know, make a few weapons myself. I think Berserker could use a nice big mace, don't you? Or maybe some armor? I don't know, really! But it could be fun …." She leans down, closer to the sword. "But all that depends on us studying you, doesn't it? Yes, and I think I'll bide my time a bit until I'm sure I can trust you. So do be a good demon, hm?" She waggles her finger at it, then springs upright and hops back. She turns to Patchouli. "And everything else is taken care of?" The magician nods.

"Sakuya will be confused, no doubt -" Remilia waves her concern away.

"She'll get over it, and I've got a surprise for her that'll keep her busy, too." She claps her hands twice and waves at the two of you. "Now, out, out. Pache, get everything dealt with before you leave, okay?" The magician nods and sighs as your sister herds you out of the room - and when you turn around after hearing the door shut, you find yourself alone with your sister … just inside a balcony overlooking the back yard. Remilia walks out and slumps over the railing, wings falling bonelessly to sag on the floor. "You should probably get your own business taken care of, too, Flandre." You hesitate; that wasn't quite a dismissal … but she is right, and if nothing else you should probably make sure that Ilya knows that the schedule has been adjusted, and she'll probably be going to bed soon. On the other hand, she … probably isn't very happy right now, so maybe you should stay with her?


What do you do?

[ ] Stay with Remilia.
- Do anything in particular?

[ ] Go back to Ilya.
- [ ] Ask her if she'll let you come with her to see her parents.

[ ] Other?


DM Note: I'm not sure how I want to handle voting on going with Ilya. On the one hand, it's something that should get some discussion - accept the geas or try to figure out a worthwhile 'punishment' or drop it altogether - so I'm hesitant to simply make it part of the normal vote, but if there is a strong shift back to letting Patchouli handle it on her own, then Flan deciding that sooner is for the better. I guess a write-in, maybe?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Go back to Illya.
- [X] Ask her if she'll let you come with her to see her parents.
- - [X] Offer, not ask. It's her trip, we just want to be there for our friend.


Well, if Remilia wanted you here, she'd ask, wouldn't she? She always lets you know when she wants you to do something, after all. You hop forward and wrap your arms around your sister, pulling her back a little as you hug her. "Yeah, I should talk to Ilya. Thank you, Remilia. Would you like a souvenir?" She laughs quietly, a simple huff of air.

"The only souvenir I might want isn't something I could reasonably expect you to get for me … but thank you, Flandre." She leans into your hug and her wings perk up, no longer rubbery twists of flesh hanging from her shoulders. "Now, go on, shoo." You snort in amusement and skip back, but before you leave you do have one more question.

"Oh, and should I tell Sakuya? You said you had something to keep her busy, right? Should I give her a hint about that or do you want to keep it a real surprise?" She chuckles darkly and shakes her head.

"No, no, please don't say anything, Flandre. I'd like to have her unadulterated response to myself." You snicker and bow your head. "Ah, but do please ask her to return to her normal duties."

"Yep! Then I'm off. See you tomorrow!" She raises a hand in acknowledgment and you wave before hopping off the balcony and flying up over the mansion. Ilya said she should be outside for a while, after all … but when the front yard comes into view you don't see her. Hmm. Where, oh where, could your little friend be? You drop to the yard and slip back into the mansion. She's more likely to be inside than out, and there are at least a couple places you can check before you really have to start seeking her out. Of course, she happens to be in the first place you look – the dining room. The layout is different from its usual setup, though. Instead of a long table forming the centerpiece of the room, there are several small round tables and the middle of the room is taken up by a slowly-shifting, almost-oozing crystalline mass. It rather reminds you of the mana crystal Caster made.

"Lady Flandre." Sakuya bows when you poke your head in, disrupting your plan of sneaking up behind Ilya and surprise-hugging her. Of course, you could have turned invisible, but ….

"Flan! You're finished talking with your sister already?" You harrumph lightly and slide a chair closer to her before sitting down. Sella and Leysritt are standing attentively against the wall, and Satsuki is trying to match their easy grace. Your eyes narrow slightly … but at least this way Sakuya can teach her more, at least when she isn't doing whatever it is your sister has planned for her. Your hand snakes out and snatches a steaming dumpling from the plate on the table – Sakuya's cooking is so delicious!

"What do you mean, 'already'? We talked about some pretty important things, like using the ground to break your fall and keeping dragons above you in case you don't have a parasol!" Ilya starts to nod before what you said sinks in, and then her eyes narrow as she stares suspiciously at you. You shrug and take another bite of the dumpling, sighing delightedly, then look up at Sakuya. "Oh, and Remilia did say you could return to your normal duties." She bows.

"Thank you, Lady Flandre." … She doesn't move, though. Maybe it's because this is the dining room and taking care of the food is part of her normal job? Or is she training Satsuki in something? Ilya shakes her head.

"Um, anyway, did you talk about anything else? - I don't mean to pry, or anything, but … um, I'm not really sure what your sister's like, still. I haven't seen her much, after all, and she's doing so much for me …." You lean over and nuzzle her gently. She's such a good girl.

"We talked about a few things, but … mm, well, the schedule is changing a bit." Ilya tilts her head curiously. "You'll be leaving tomorrow at noon, and I'll go to Mid-Childa after you get back." She blinks, taking in your announcement, then clenches her fist and brings it against her chest and starts taking shuddering breaths. You start to reach out, worried, but she smiles tightly and shakes her head.

"I'm … I'm fine, Flan. Just … just a little nervous. Excited …." Her mouth works silently for a moment before she ducks her head. And that is a perfect opening. You reach out again, setting your hand comfortingly on her shoulder.

"Ilya, do you want me to come with you?" You wait until she looks at you to speak, so you see her pretty red eyes widen. "Since you'll be leaving first, I can come with you if you want me to." She stares at you for a moment, then her head turns so she's looking at the table.

"You … want to come with me?" You press your lips together as you try to figure out what she means, whether she's happy or upset or just still a little confused.

"If you want me to, Ilya. This is your trip, after all – your chance to see your parents. If you want me to stay back, I can and it won't bother me. I just want to make sure you're okay." You sigh and look down. "And I'll still have to clear it with Patchouli anyway, and I'll be following her rules, so unless you specifically want me to do something I'll probably be out of the way."

"So you'll be there … just in case?" You give a one-shouldered shrug.

"Well – if it'll make you feel better, yes. But if you'll feel better without me there – if my being there will make you think about the things that can go wrong, because I'll only do something if things are going wrong – then it's fine." She ducks her head more, her hair covering her face from your sight.

"What about your sister?" You nod.

"She knows – it's … I asked, when we were talking, if it would be okay if I went with you. That's why the schedule changed. So if you want me to come along, it won't be a problem." After a moment she looks up, smiling nervously.

"Th- … thank you, Flan. I … I would like it if you came along with us. It would make me feel better." A smile splits your face and you lunge toward her, wrapping her in a hug. She awkwardly pats your back and you release her. "Thank you."

"Well, since you'll be leaving tomorrow, is there anything you want to do before then?" Her mouth opens, then closes, and she shakes her head to clear it.

"Um, I think I should just get some sleep. I'm sorry, but …." You nod happily.

"Do you want to sleep in my bed again?" She blushes brightly and nods after a moment. You giggle.


What do you do?

[ ] Go to sleep as well.
- [ ] Coffin.
- [ ] Bed.
- - [ ] Extra-snuggly bat form!

[ ] Stay up for now.
- [ ] See how Satsuki's doing.
- [ ] Walk around the gardens.

[ ] Other?


DM Note: As alluded to last time, Patchouli is Busy right now and will not be available until morning.

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Go to sleep as well.
- [X] Bed.
- - [X] Extra-snuggly bat form!


"Then let's get some rest, and then tomorrow we can check in with Patchouli to see if there's anything you need to do." You lean over and hug her gently. "I'll catch up before you get to the library, don't worry." She smiles and heads out, followed by her servants. You look at Satsuki as she fidgets nervously.

"Umm … so we're going back to Fuyuki?" You shake your head.

"You're not; Patchouli specifically said she wouldn't take you." She almost looks relieved, and then a little terrified. You turn to Sakuya. "We shouldn't be gone long, but you can still show her things, right?" She smiles at you and bows, and you grin at Satsuki.

"Of course, Lady Flandre. Right now, however, I believe it is time for you to train with Meiling. Come along, Satsuki." You giggle at Satsuki's expression.

"Good luck, Satsuki!" You pat your maid on the head as she heads toward the door, then you turn into a bat and fly out past her. You circle around the door, waiting for them to come out, then squeak happily at them. Sakuya bows again, and Satsuki follows suit, and you click at them before flying after Ilya. You weave between Sella and Leysritt to plop gently on Ilya's head.

"Lady Illyasviel!"

"Ah – oh, wait …." She reaches up and pats your back before giggling. "That's you, Flan, isn't it?" You squeak and she laughs again. "So it's true that bats get tangled up in your hair, huh?" You chitter indignantly and drape your wings along the side of her head – you have much more control over yourself than that! After a few seconds, however, you clamber down onto her shoulder. You're a little too big for her to be comfortable with you riding on her head, at least right now, so her lap is a much better place. Especially since … you trill happily as she gently scratches the base of your ear. You have no idea why it feels so good, but it does. "Oh, Flan."

The trip through the library is uneventful, of course. Koakuma is probably helping Patchouli with whatever business she has to take care of. You chitter happily, laughing, as Ilya and Sella argue about sleeping arrangements – Ilya insisting that both her servants sleep in the bed with her, Sella trying to give the bed to just you and Ilya. Of course, you know who's going to win, and the bed is large enough for three people anyway. Ilya sleeps between her servants and you plop yourself onto her chest, another layer of insulation against the cooler air of your room – your room does get fresh air, somehow, but it's still quite cool compared to the library. As Ilya lays there, you listen to her pulse and her heartbeat, the two almost perfectly synchronized … and both just a little fast for someone trying to go to sleep. You nuzzle her neck and reach up to stroke her cheek with your claw.

"Thank you, Flan." She brushes the fur on your head and back, eventually falling asleep. You let yourself succumb to quiet oblivion shortly afterward.

---

You wake up before anyone else and change back into your normal form, then change your clothes. You try to figure out what time it is – you are on a bit of a schedule, after all – then shrug and send your clones out to the lab area. Ilya and her servants could probably use a change of clothing as well, and maybe a bath before that? Or should you see Patchouli about things first? You reactivate the lights, not brightly but enough that they'll be able to see when they wake up. And then you take the mask with you. Maybe you and Patchouli won't ever get along, but you're going to make use of this. It should give you even more of a surprise edge against people, if nothing else.

Your clones slip back into the room with sets of clothing – Sella's white and blue dress, Leysritt's white and black, and Ilya's usual purple shirt and white skirt. You look over to see Leysritt staring quietly at you; you smile and wave back as your clones hang the clothes against the wardrobe, then sit down at your desk. How, exactly, will you deal with Patchouli's other condition? The geas is insulting, demeaning, and completely against your wishes … but it shouldn't be anything too difficult to go along with them, so it should only be a backup. And the punishment – it's hard to pick something that's agreeable without being excessive. Sure, you could go overboard, but then you'd really be hurting yourself, and Patchouli would probably accept it. You could probably just let her pick something, but ….

"Flan?" You turn around at Ilya's question.

"I'm here, Ilya. Is something wrong?" She sits up and looks around.

"No, I'm fine … did you get those?" You glance at the clothes and nod.

"Yup! I didn't know if you'd want to see Patchouli first, get clean, or have something to eat, but this way we can make fewer stopovers." Her head droops.

"Thank you, Flan." You tsk quietly and fly over to her – oh, Sella's awake, too. Silly servants.

"Ilya, it's fine. Really! If you don't want me to do something, just tell me, but don't feel bad because I go out of my way to try and make things easier for you, okay?" She makes a face and you reach out to pull her cheeks apart. She makes a funny sound as you stretch her cheeks, and her hand leaps up to try and push you away. You dart back and she pouts at you. "Hehe! You're adorable, Ilya." She blushes and you giggle.

"Ah, Lady Illyasviel, Lady Flandre." Ilya's blush deepens as Sella 'wakes up.' The servant probably isn't fooling anyone and now Ilya's embarrassed to learn that she was being observed.

"So, what'll it be? Food, bath, or Patchouli?" Ilya's blush starts fading as you try to distract her with 'work.'

"Umm … Patchouli, I guess. We should see if there's anything we need to do as early as possible." You plaster a smile on your face; you aren't exactly thrilled to be seeing Patchouli again, and she'll likely be as nasty as she usually is, but you can't very well leave Ilya to face the magician on her own. Especially since it would be rather rude. You help Ilya into the wheelchair as her servants arrange themselves, then you all set out for the portal area – if Patchouli isn't there, you'll use your clones to look for her.

"B-but Milady …!" Your eyes widen; it's not often that you hear Sakuya complaining. Especially whining. When you enter the portal area you stop, staring at the chief maid.

"Sakuya, you're going. You're going to enjoy yourself." Your sister looks normal, but instead of her usual outfit, Sakuya is wearing a dark skirt and a tan jacket. The backpack and handbag make her look like a kid, too, and you suppress a giggle.

"But … why? And why do I have to wear this?" Remilia sighs.

"Because that's the uniform where you're going. I'm letting you bring one of your normal sets of clothing, but you're only to wear it if you're actually engaged as a maid … or, I suppose, if you get into a fight. By the way, don't die. I mean it, I'd hate to lose you." Sakuya blushes and hunches her shoulders. "Anyway, it'll be a good learning experience for you. You can fight alongside an angel. Or learn air guitar. Maybe take up fishing? Whatever you want to do." Sakuya stands in front of one of the portals but doesn't make a move to enter.

"… Milady –" Whatever she was about to say is cut off as your sister darts behind her and gives her a 'push,' kicking her forward into the portal. You suppose that's one way of keeping her busy … but what will Satsuki do?

"Have fun! Don't forget to pass your classes!" She brushes her hands together and turns away from the portal, finally seeming to notice you. "Oh? You're a bit early, you know." You nod.

"We were looking for Patchouli, to see if we'd need to do anything else before we go." Remilia briefly cocks an eyebrow at that, then shrugs.

"Pretty sure she's making sure she has everything she's planning on bringing. I don't think anything has changed as far as other preparations – if she hasn't told you by now, you probably don't have anything you need to particularly do. Her familiar will be around in a bit to make sure the portal is set and to tune the emergency return tokens. Breakfast is up in the dining room." Ilya glances at you and your sister nods before transforming into a swarm of bats and flying away. That's … odd behavior from her. But if Sakuya is gone, that means that her magic is going to be what's keeping the mansion expanded, so she's probably more than a bit busy.


What do you do?

[ ] Go see Patchouli yourself while Ilya and her servants head up to get ready.
- [ ] Accept the geas.
- [ ] Let Patchouli pick a punishment.
- [ ] Offer your own punishment. (Write-in)

[ ] Head up and get ready to leave.

[ ] Other?

 

[Entropy Judge]

[X] Go see Patchouli yourself while Ilya and her servants head up to get ready.
- [X] Accept the geas.


You frown at the few bats that hang around, wondering what is going on that you don't know about - well, things that affect you that you don't know about and probably should - then shrug. You rest your head on top of Ilya's and give her a little hug. "Well, if Remilia said that Patchouli would have told you if there was anything you needed to do, and she hasn't sent anything to you, there shouldn't be anything you need to do." Ilya nods a bit through your hug.

"Yesss~ …." You giggle at her drawn-out response and let her go, sliding around so you're crouching, mid-air, in front of her. "So you think we should go up and get something to eat and get ready, don't you?" You rock your head from one side to the other before shrugging.

"Well, you shouldn't need to see her if my sister is right, so there isn't any reason for you to see her. I do have something I need to see her about, but it should be quick, and I can make sure there isn't anything you need to do while you get ready. And then I can catch up to you!" Ilya pouts, but you stand firm - if everything goes well, you won't need to do anything that Patchouli might not like, so you don't need to worry Ilya by explaining your deal with Patchouli. She finally looks around the moderately untidy area and sighs, defeated. You giggle and hop forward, touching her nose with yours. "Of course, I'll take you all to the stairs, first." Ilya smiles and leans forward, going cheek-to-cheek with you for a moment. Your clones slip out, two taking Ilya's servants while you carefully take control of her chair while the third clone begins looking for Patchouli. You set them down a bit away from the base of the stairs and wait until they get themselves sorted out, you and your clones all waving until they blink out of existence. You wait another few seconds and then your clones leap away, zooming through the library to look for the magician while you turn and begin walking toward the portal area. Maybe you'll find Koakuma and you can just ask her where Patchouli is ….

One of your clones finds her before you get to the portal area, however, and settles down to stare at her as you take to the air yourself and hurtle toward the magician's location. Your other clones race to meet up with you, and when you land on the strange projected 'balcony' of black marble they return to you. Patchouli doesn't look up immediately, instead keeping her face to her book. So much for doing any 'work.'

"Well?" You roll your eyes at her eventual question. It's not like you can tell when she's paying attention to you, after all!

"I'll let you geas me." That gets her attention - she stops moving, then slowly puts the page she was turning back down and turns to look at you. You shrug. "It's just to make sure I stay out of the way and don't attack people unrelated to the Grail War, right? Stuff that I don't think I'd need to do, and which shouldn't be an issue anyway." Which isn't to say that you aren't really upset about it, but you can stand having something like that put on you for a day or two if it means you can be there for Ilya. Patchouli nods and her hand makes a short sideways chopping motion - barely enough to qualify as a gesture. The stone in front of you ripples and begins forming a complicated magic circle. You see off-center circles and irregular shapes as well as inscriptions. You frown at Patchouli as the circle solidifies.

"I'm modifying a typical geas structure for this. You will be able to break it with enough effort, but if you do, then after a three-minute grace period in which I can reset the geas if I think it's warranted, you'll be sent back here." Your eyes widen and you nod. That's surprisingly fair of her. You step into the circle and she begins to chant, words tumbling over themselves to escape her lips. The circle begins glowing along the inscribed lines as well - red, blue, green, yellow, and silver - and your skin starts to tingle as magic builds up within the circle's hemisphere. Patchouli's voice starts to rise above a mumble, reaching a 'shouted' climax barely above your own normal speaking tone … and the prickling feeling gradually fades along with the inscribed circle.

Nothing feels different for you, though.

"Um … it worked, right?" Patchouli glowers at you before nodding and turning back to her book. "Oh. Then, one - uh, two questions. First, is there anything Ilya needs to do before we leave?" She shakes her head.

"No, she simply needs to come along. I'll make sure everything is ready for her to be able to call Berserker before we leave." You nod, satisfied.

"Then … uh, what would you have picked for a punishment if I'd wanted to do that and couldn't come up with something that would satisfy you?" She makes a short sound - at first you think she's having a coughing fit, but then you recognize it as a laugh.

"Not something I would tell you. Oh, it wouldn't hurt you, but it's not something you would have liked." You frown; that still leaves an awful lot of things she could get around to doing …. Oh, well.


What do you do?

[ ] Skip to entering the portal.

[ ] Do something before leaving.
- Write-in.