Remilia Quest Dh?

[Oldmansour]

>Focus. There's some power at work here.
>"Greetings. I am Remilia Scarlet."

>You close your eyes, partly, and try to reclaim control of yourself. You suspect the work of the Sins, likely Lust, but this doesn't feel like what you felt with Envy. When you felt flashes of jealousy in her presence, you knew they were unnatural, that you were feeling jealous of things you ordinarily wouldn't. It was easy to deal with those emotions, at least it was easy for someone like yourself. But this woman is different than that. You are far less certain that what you're feeling now is coming from an outside source.
>Still, you are still Remilia Scarlet. Slightly (slightly?) flustered though you may be, you're not about to show it, not if you have anything to say about it. And so, after taking a deep breath, you introduce yourself to the red eyed woman causing your heart to go slightly haywire.
>"I know." she says to you. Even her voice is a mixture of Reimu and Flandre's: the unspoken strength of Reimu that made even your acknowledge her as your stronger, the clear purity of Flandre, the voice of a girl that always wanted to see what life truly held beyond her own little world. Her knowledge of your identity brings a smile to your face, until you straighten it out again.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Focus.
>"And you would be...?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Keep it cool...She might look and sound like them, but she also isn't them. So push it off to the side for now and regain our composure!

[Oldmansour]

>Focus.
>"And you would be...?"

>Keep it cool...She might look and sound like them, but she also isn't them. So push it off to the side for now and regain our composure!

>The lovely woman giggles, a sound that makes the ends of your ears turn red. She then looks to her side for a moment, and then back at you. "I'm sorry. I look like because I thought it would make you happy. But I can stop, if you want."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Please do. It's... disturbing."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Not to mention rather...confusing."

[Oldmansour]

>"Please do. It's... disturbing."

>"Not to mention rather...confusing."

>The blonde nods. "I'd like to help you make sense of that confusion, but I've been told that can wait until later. But when the time is right, I'm very willing to help you understand those feelings."
>A pink aura surrounds the blonde as you ponder her offer, and her guise changes. Her skin tone becomes slightly darker, her wings retract, and her blonde hair grows longer. MUCH longer. When the change is complete, you find she looks almost identical to Ranka, except for her clothes. She is wearing what you can only describe as a bejeweled bikini, and a confidant smirk alights her face.
>On an impulse, you spare a glance at Honoka. Who seems to have stiffened slightly in her seat.

>A moderately tall woman in a white robe with blue designs scrawled upon it steps around the shape-changing female, hood up to conceal her hair. Her young face has a pink stripe painted under her right eye running down to her jawline. She seems apologetic. "I hope you're not too upset. Lust just wanted to see what you were like for herself in her own way."
>"This is Tsumiko." Celes introduces the robed woman. "The Keeper of the Seven Sins."
>"Well, two, at the moment." Tsumiko replies in a quiet voice.

[Hanzo K.]

>"I'll take an extended rain check on that, I'm quite fine with how I am currently."
>Look to Tsumiko. "So, I take it that means that Pride and the others are off on their own, yes? I can tell you that Envy and Gluttony are in the care of the Myouren Temple. I haven't the foggiest where Pride, Greed, and Wrath are though. I suspect that Wrath is somewhere near a Kappa Village I found recently though."
>Frown slightly. "Currently though, Pride is my first and foremost concern, as it's taken Sakuya from me. Good help is so hard to find, and she's been around for so long that she's essentially a friend."

[Oldmansour]

>"I'll take an extended rain check on that, I'm quite fine with how I am currently."
>Look to Tsumiko. "So, I take it that means that Pride and the others are off on their own, yes? I can tell you that Envy and Gluttony are in the care of the Myouren Temple. I haven't the foggiest where Pride, Greed, and Wrath are though. I suspect that Wrath is somewhere near a Kappa Village I found recently though."
>Frown slightly. "Currently though, Pride is my first and foremost concern, as it's taken Sakuya from me. Good help is so hard to find, and she's been around for so long that she's essentially a friend."

>Lust runs her hand through her hair and gives it a toss, just as you've seen Ranka do this evening. "Suit yourself."
>Tsumiko's eyes light up as you mention Envy and Gluttony. "Are they all right? Are they acting up?"
>Shou informs her, "The Scarlet Devil here took care of Envy. And Gluttony was beaten in the human village. Both of them are sealed in jewels, and the head of our temple is keeping an eye on them."
>Celes introduces Shou and Reisen to Tsumiko, who seems rather relieved to hear that at least two of her Sins are accounted for. The Countess then adds, "Pride is currently in Sakuya's possession right now. Hopefully we'll figure out a way to rectify that now."
>"What do you mean, in Sakuya's possession?" Reisen asks. "Isn't it the other way around?"
>"That's what I was hoping I could get the chance to talk to you about." Tsumiko says to you as she takes a seat for herself across from Honoka, next to the Countess.
>The Countess folds her hands in front of her again. "Sakuya IS here, Scarlet Devil, and has been for three days. And if I could, I'd let her out right now, and be happy to send the two of you home together. But..." She winces. "She won't let me.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"What do you mean?"

[Oldmansour]

>"What do you mean?"

>"In your experience, whoever a Sin takes possession of is controlled by that Sin, yes?" Reisen and Shou nod, so she continues, "But that isn't what happened when Pride met Sakuya. Pride DID possess her, but Sakuya remained dominant."
>"In all the years I've been alive, this has never happened before." Tsumiko informs you, pulling back her hood and letting her lavender hair fall down her back. "As far as I can determine, Sakuya's pride in being your maid was more powerful than a minor incarnation of pride itself. She's managed to imprison Pride within her body and use its powers as well as her own. And she refuses to let Pride go."
>The Countess continues, "In my more optimistic moments, I'd hoped that speaking to you might convince her otherwise. She is your servant, your perfect servant. I'd go so far as to say that you are the most important person in her life. Being asked by us to release Pride meant nothing to her. Being asked, or even ordered, by you would be something else entirely."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Take me to her."

[Oldmansour]

>"Take me to her."

>"Of course. Celes?" The Countess asks her Steward. Tsumiko stands herself.
>"Your maid is in one of our VIP guest rooms." Celes informs you. "Down the hall and to the left. It didn't sit right with us to put her in a cell." She gestures towards the door. "If you'll follow me, please?"

[Sagus]

>"Your maid is in one of our VIP guest rooms." Celes informs you. "Down the hall and to the left. It didn't sit right with us to put her in a cell."

>"I appreciate that."

She gestures towards the door. "If you'll follow me, please?"

> Nod, get up from out seat and follow her.

[Oldmansour]

>"I appreciate that."
> Nod, get up from out seat and follow her.

>"It was the least we could do." Celes says as you and Tsumiko follow her out of the room. Lust, you note (with some relief) remains behind with the others. "She did actually come her to attack us, but it was due to her misunderstanding of the Countesses' intentions. And her own desire to protect you. She felt that destroying this new vampire before she became a threat to you was how she could best serve you. But we didn't want to be her enemies, any more than we want to be yours."
>"That reminds me." Tsumiko adds from behind you as you head down the corridor. You note that her stripe's pink color has changed to white. "It probably isn't likely, but, her powers are greater now. She has almost total control of Pride's powers, and Pride is one of the stronger Sins. If she becomes aggressive, she could seriously threaten you. Again, that probably won't happen, but if it DOES, you should know."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I appreciate the warning."

[Hanzo K.]

>"If words fail, then I'll simply have to knock a little sense into them. Sometimes a good sharp smack is what's needed at times. A man once said in one of the books I read back at the Mansion, 'When a man strays from the right path, a kind man needs the courage to raise his fist and correct him.' In summary, sometimes one needs to apply some 'corrective force'. I don't particularly like the idea of having to do it, but it is an option nonetheless."

[Oldmansour]

>"I appreciate the warning."

>"If words fail, then I'll simply have to knock a little sense into them. Sometimes a good sharp smack is what's needed at times. A man once said in one of the books I read back at the Mansion, 'When a man strays from the right path, a kind man needs the courage to raise his fist and correct him.' In summary, sometimes one needs to apply some 'corrective force'. I don't particularly like the idea of having to do it, but it is an option nonetheless."

>"I don't know if you'll be able to dislodge Pride that way, not with Sakuya." Tsumiko informs you. "When she came here she fought nearly all of us at once, and we couldn't knock Pride out of her."
>"On the other hand," Celes counters, "You of course would have skills and powers we do not, and you are at your full strength. And it may not even come to that. I would hope it doesn't." She stops in front of a dark green door that has a rosary wrapped around the doorknob. "This is her room."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Open the door.

[Oldmansour]

>Open the door.

>Despite your brief hesitation at touching a holy object like that rosary (old instincts do die hard, after all) you turn the handle and look into the room beyond.
>It's really a very nice room, spacious, with a large window in the north wall that looks out at the waterfall beyond. The carpet is colored a pattern of light and dark green to compliment the dark blue of the curtains and the lighter blue of the walls. A large four-poster bed dominates the northeast corner of the room with a fine oak chest at the foot of it, a closet on the west wall next to a tall maple dresser that has a silver-framed ornate mirror hanging next to it. A piece of artwork decorates the south wall, depicting old ruins in a grassy field, a lone horseman approaching the ancient structure.
>Sitting at a tigerwood desk with her back to you is Sakuya, sharpening one of her knives by the sound of it, nine others arranged perfectly next to her, awaiting their turn. Immediately as the door opens, your maid stands, turns and bows formally to you, all in one perfectly fluid motion. "Good evening, ojou-sama. I am pleased to see you." Her voice is even more polished, more clear than it usually is.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"And I, you."
>"You've been gone for quite some time; I was starting to get worried. And then I discovered these Sin Spirits, and thought that one might have taken you."
>Chuckle.
>"I understand, however, that you turned the tables on Pride rather nicely."

[Oldmansour]

>"And I, you."
>"You've been gone for quite some time; I was starting to get worried. And then I discovered these Sin Spirits, and thought that one might have taken you."
>Chuckle.
>"I understand, however, that you turned the tables on Pride rather nicely."

>"Indeed I have." Sakuya replies, raising her head. Her eyes seem clearer, sharper, her face slightly younger, stronger. Her stance is more confidant than it was, if that's possible. Everything about her seems more... perfect. Despite yourself, you feel proud of Sakuya. She already was the perfect most elegant maid, and now she looks the part even more so. It will almost be a shame to separate her from Pride. Almost.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I must ask, though: why did you remain here? Why did you not return?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Shake it off. It may be Sakuya, but not the Sakuya we know and treasure.

[Oldmansour]

>Shake it off. It may be Sakuya, but not the Sakuya we know and treasure.

>"I must ask, though: why did you remain here? Why did you not return?"

>As you remind yourself that Sakuya isn't quite herself, she bows again. "I deeply apologize if my prolonged absence has caused you undue consternation, ojou-sama. I would have returned long ago, but I have not, as yet, managed to completely consume the spirit of Pride. But I assure you, it is only a matter of time."

[Hanzo K.]

>"No need to. You were fine as you were. Let Pride loose, I've already arranged things with these people."
>And wouldn't doing so simply make her no-longer human to begin with? After all, remaining human was a bit of a point for not just that irksome black-white, but her as well.

[Oldmansour]

>"No need to. You were fine as you were."
>And wouldn't doing so simply make her no-longer human to begin with? After all, remaining human was a bit of a point for not just that irksome black-white, but her as well.

>"With respect, ojou-sama, I must disagree. While it is true, I was effective in my role before, once I have completely consumed Pride and added its power to my own, I shall be even better."
>Strictly speaking, you're not sure WHAT it would do to her. In all your years, in every case of possession you've heard of, the host has never overwhelmed the spirit as much as Sakuya seems to have, let alone be in a position to 'consume' the spirit. But you are quite certain that whatever it would make her, she wouldn't be the same as she was before, and that doesn't sit well with you at all.

[Hanzo K.]

>Frown, and stare at her like she actually made a mistake for once. "Release Pride. And that wasn't a request, Sakuya. You were already more than sufficient before this mess."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Even if you remain in control, what you are doing will no doubt change you in some way, and I don't want that."

[Oldmansour]

>Frown, and stare at her like she actually made a mistake for once. "Release Pride. And that wasn't a request, Sakuya."

>"I realize that you may be upset at the moment, ojou-sama, and disobeying you causes me no joy. But I assure you, we will both be better served once I am at my ultimate. There are numerous benefits to this course of action, and not only to ourselves."

>"Even if you remain in control, what you are doing will no doubt change you in some way, and I don't want that."

>Sakuya nods, like she had anticipated this. "I do understand, ojou-sama. The prospect of your maid changing could not be anything other than an unpleasant one for you. But, if I may be bold as to ask, has my judgement ever let you down before?" She smiles that smile of hers, that look that no one else in all the world has. "You have ever trusted me when I made decisions I believed would be beneficial to you. Please, trust me in this decision as well."