Remilia Quest Dh?

[Hanzo K.]

>Facepalm. "Bollocks. I'd know that sound anywhere."
>Let's go in and see what's going on now.

[Oldmansour]

>Facepalm. "Bollocks. I'd know that sound anywhere."
>Let's go in and see what's going on now.

>"I'll take that as a yes?" Youmu asks.
>Celes throws open the door and allows Youmu, and you, to see for yourselves. The samurai nods. "So it is."

>It is indeed Meiling, and she is currently in the middle of one of her spellcards. Rainbow Sign: Rainbow Wind Chime. Not one of her strongest attacks, an agile or nimble opponent can usually handle it with comparatively little trouble. And Lust is proving to be agile indeed, sideslipping left and right between the gaps in Meiling multi-hued danmaku. In her wake, Lust leaves pink and red petal-shaped bullets, which spiral out in a crisscrossing pattern, complimenting the yellow arrowhead bullets she fires from her hands and wings.
>Perhaps more impressive than the spellcard duel raging is the gaping hole in the ceiling of the room. A ragged hole, the size of a grown man, mars the right side of the roof. The hole is vaguely human-shaped, almost like someone had been blown through the roof involuntarily. The unconscious form of Sabine, slumped in a chair, gives mute testament to the source of the hole, the youkai being attended to by Reisen and Honoka. The rest of the gathering have their eyes on the duel between Lust and Meiling. Apart from Reimu and Sloth, who are munching from a plate of biscuits.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "I see now why Sloth went for Reimu. They're remarkably similar, aside from being in different weight classes that is. Even one as powerful as myself was bested by Reimu, which was rather thrilling in a way. Lust seems to be the speedy and nimble sort. Interesting. We'll have to cut this short soon though, we need them to have as much energy as they can spare."
>Let's fly our way to Tsumiko. "How did this start? Hong jumping to conclusions again? Or did Lust misstep again, with a worse outcome than with myself?"

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "I see now why Sloth went for Reimu. They're remarkably similar, aside from being in different weight classes that is. Even one as powerful as myself was bested by Reimu, which was rather thrilling in a way. Lust seems to be the speedy and nimble sort. Interesting. We'll have to cut this short soon though, we need them to have as much energy as they can spare."
>Let's fly our way to Tsumiko. "How did this start? Hong jumping to conclusions again? Or did Lust misstep again, with a worse outcome than with myself?"

>Tsumiko jumps a little as you announce yourself after your relatively silent approach. She was rather engrossed by it. "Uh, well, no..." she sounds a bit out of sorts.
>"Perhaps I can explain." the Countess offers, as she offers you a seat with her hand.
>"She'll be fine." Reisen says to Eriza, standing up and away from Sabine. "She's just been knocked senseless. The worst I think she'll have is a headache when she comes to."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Well, they did agree to a more friendly match after all, it's no surprise that she would merely be knocked out. If I had to fight her, that's what I would've done. Indeed, I was rather close to doing so myself when I first met her."
>Let's take the seat Eriza indicated. "So, as you were saying about explaining this? If Tsumiko's plan is to work out, we need both of them to have as much energy as they can muster."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Well, they did agree to a more friendly match after all, it's no surprise that she would merely be knocked out. If I had to fight her, that's what I would've done. Indeed, I was rather close to doing so myself when I first met her."
>Let's take the seat Eriza indicated. "So, as you were saying about explaining this? If Tsumiko's plan is to work out, we need both of them to have as much energy as they can muster."

>"It was worth checking." Reisen replies. "It's been a long time since I've seen someone who wasn't the Princess get dropkicked through a stone ceiling."
>"Ah, Celes has informed you of the Keeper's idea. Excellent, that saves time." The Countess steeples her fingers as the battle rages above them. "Needless to say, we were all a bit surprised when Meiling and Sabine crashed through the ceiling. It was really an impressive sight. Your gate guard must be a fantastic fighter to best Sabine, especially in so grand and dramatic a fashion, and still be able to fight a danmaku battle afterwards."
>"As for the duel itself, that was Meiling's idea." she continues, gesturing towards the fighting pair, the health on Hong's card depleting rapidly. Not that it had much health in the first place. "After she declared herself to us, Tsumiko proposed her plan to her."
>"Lust believes that Meiling is attracted to Sakuya." Tsumiko informs you. "At least enough for the plan to work. How strongly, we won't know for sure until they merge, but it SHOULD be enough."
>Eriza nods. "Meiling, however, did not automatically agree to the idea. Taking into consideration everything that has transpired tonight, this is understandable. So she challenged Lust, to gauge her intentions for herself. And since Lust's normal form of a physical challenge didn't seem appropriate at this juncture, they settled on a spellcard duel."
>Honoka, sitting back down after completing her own exam of Sabine, points at your redheaded gate guard. "A warrior can understand the heart of another when they meet in battle. While it is true that Lust is no warrior, I believe Meiling will be able to see that Lust, and Tsumiko's desire to help are genuine."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Indeed. A good fight is just as serviceable as words in some situations. If this plan works out, we wont have to fall back on a more...'risky' gamble I thought of."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Indeed. A good fight is just as serviceable as words in some situations. If this plan works out, we wont have to fall back on a more...'risky' gamble I thought of."

>"'Risky?'" Eriza asks.
>Celes, in a somewhat grave tone, informs her, "She asked for a silvered blade."
>Eriza, Tsumiko, Honoka, Reisen, and Reimu all turn their heads to look at you, every one of them stunned. Shou, however, merely looks a bit confused. "What does that mean?" she asks.
>Eriza is the first one to speak, but it is to you, "You would go that far for your friend?" she asks in a hushed tone.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Wouldn't you, were the roles reversed? Besides, sometimes to get the best result, you have to be willing to make a gamble. This is simply my biggest gamble yet."

[Oldmansour]

>"Wouldn't you, were the roles reversed? Besides, sometimes to get the best result, you have to be willing to make a gamble. This is simply my biggest gamble yet."

>The Cobalt Countess smiles. "Yes. I would indeed, without hesitation."
>"Let us hope it does not come to that." Celes adds, still seeming rather uncomfortable about the idea.

>As Celes introduces Youmu to the Countess, Lust breaks Rainbow Wind Chime, affording you your first good look at your guard since you arrived, as that card has the side effect of obscuring her body from view almost entirely. Much like Sabine, she doesn't have a great deal of external damage, apart from a cut over her left eye leaking blood down around her ocular orb. Her clothing is stained and torn in places and will require some maintenance.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "Impressive as always. Such is the quality of a good martial artist all the way from China. It's that stalwart resilience and ability that makes her such a prized gatekeeper. That, and other traits of hers that is. Dependable, but a bit simple and naive at times. Loves more action-oriented comics meant for young men of the outside world you know. I'm more partial to the ones that thrill, or make one think. The library here doesn't have any I suspect, but the one at my Mansion certainly has plenty. You should visit sometime to find the sort you enjoy."
>Pause thoughtfully. "Hmm...Perhaps Magical Girl...No, Romance...No, that can't be it....Ah, I think I know just the series. I might have to have it specially-ordered if it turns out I don't have it though. Yakumo is rather helpful in procuring outside world goods after all, and there's this interesting little secondhand shop that might stock them as well."
>Then sigh. "She'll need some work done on her clothing though, she's one of the public faces of the mansion after all."

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "Impressive as always. Such is the quality of a good martial artist all the way from China. It's that stalwart resilience and ability that makes her such a prized gatekeeper. That, and other traits of hers that is. Dependable, but a bit simple and naive at times. Loves more action-oriented comics meant for young men of the outside world you know. I'm more partial to the ones that thrill, or make one think. The library here doesn't have any I suspect, but the one at my Mansion certainly has plenty. You should visit sometime to find the sort you enjoy."
>Pause thoughtfully. "Hmm...Perhaps Magical Girl...No, Romance...No, that can't be it....Ah, I think I know just the series. I might have to have it specially-ordered if it turns out I don't have it though. Yakumo is rather helpful in procuring outside world goods after all, and there's this interesting little secondhand shop that might stock them as well."
>Then sigh. "She'll need some work done on her clothing though, she's one of the public faces of the mansion after all."

>The Countess and her followers exchange looks. "What are comic books?" Eriza asks you.

>"Have you seen enough?" Lust asks of Meiling, fluttering her eyelashes.
>Meiling wipes a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. "How'd you get to be that good at danmaku?"
>Lust giggles at Meiling's question. "Believe me, sweetheart, I'm a really fast learner."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"There's also the fact that, unless I'm mistaken, she's fresh, whereas you have already had what I understand was a rather spirited battle with Sabine, there."

[Oldmansour]

>"There's also the fact that, unless I'm mistaken, she's fresh, whereas you have already had what I understand was a rather spirited battle with Sabine, there."

>Meiling looks down at you, seemingly surprised. "Remilia?" She frowns in concern. "You've seen Sakuya, how is she is she okay?"
>Lust, you note, grins a very small grin with just a hint of triumph.

[Hanzo K.]

>Frown. "She's fallen into her own pride and overconfidence, and has convinced herself that by absorbing Pride, she'll be able to fix all our problems. What she doesn't realize is that while she thinks she'll become greater than she was before, we'll also lose both her and Pride. What will remain will be nothing but an impostor in her body. A twisted mockery of the original. Tsumiko and Lust believe that, with your help, they can disarm her long enough for myself to expel Pride from Sakuya's Body."

>Then glance back at Eriza. "Comic books are rather like books, but with images as well. They're like picture books in a way, but they're hardly for children most of the time. There's a rather nice series I enjoy where the man who is ostensibly the 'Hero', is also a Vampire. And, in his world's continuity, the strongest out of all of them. Rather handsome fellow really, Apparently he's just one of the many interpretations of the most infamous Vampire of all, Dracula. Loves a good fight, like most Vampires really. I'd be lying if I didn't say I took a few ideas from reading it."

[Oldmansour]

>Then glance back at Eriza. "Comic books are rather like books, but with images as well. They're like picture books in a way, but they're hardly for children most of the time. There's a rather nice series I enjoy where the man who is ostensibly the 'Hero', is also a Vampire. And, in his world's continuity, the strongest out of all of them. Rather handsome fellow really, Apparently he's just one of the many interpretations of the most infamous Vampire of all, Dracula. Loves a good fight, like most Vampires really. I'd be lying if I didn't say I took a few ideas from reading it."

>"Comics are big in the outside world, apparently." Reimu adds. "Marisa and Sanae're pretty big into em, too."
>"As is the Princess." Reisen chimes in.

>Frown. "She's fallen into her own pride and overconfidence, and has convinced herself that by absorbing Pride, she'll be able to fix all our problems. What she doesn't realize is that while she thinks she'll become greater than she was before, we'll also lose both her and Pride. What will remain will be nothing but an impostor in her body. A twisted mockery of the original. Tsumiko and Lust believe that, with your help, they can disarm her long enough for myself to expel Pride from Sakuya's Body."

>"It has the best chance of working without anyone, Sakuya included, getting badly hurt." Tsumiko adds to Meiling. "As we mentioned before, we do have other ideas, but every one of them carries great risk, or would take time we might not have."
>Meiling drops down from the air in a drop more than a controlled descent, then looks at you. "Is she right? Can you do that?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"You forget, she put her fate in my hands completely the moment she swore to serve me. It was something she herself did. If anyone can do it, it is I. You dare to doubt my power and ability, Hong? Currently, I am the only one who can split the two, but we need you and Lust to work together to distract her enough for me to succeed."

[Oldmansour]

>"You forget, she put her fate in my hands completely the moment she swore to serve me. It was something she herself did. If anyone can do it, it is I. You dare to doubt my power and ability, Hong? Currently, I am the only one who can split the two, but we need you and Lust to work together to distract her enough for me to succeed."

>Meiling winces. "Well, I didn't know. And I don't exactly how your power works intimately, it's not the sort of thing that comes up in conversation every day." she protests as Lust descends back to the floor behind her.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit. "And for good reason. 'The skillful hawk hides her claws', as I oft say. So, shall we begin preparations for the operation to save Sakuya from herself?"

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle a bit. "And for good reason. 'The skillful hawk hides her claws', as I oft say. So, shall we begin preparations for the operation to save Sakuya from herself?"

>Meiling, looking a touch nervous, looks back at Lust. "How does this work again?"
>"Put simply," Tsumiko informs her, "Lust's powers will augment your emotions. You'll be able to reach Sakuya's heart that way, and disrupt her pride enough to get her to loosen her grip on Pride long enough for Miss Scarlet to separate them both. And if you're worried, you will be in control the whole time. Lust will inhabit your body, but you will be the dominant psyche. Your body, your will, your drive. Just with Lust augmenting your powers and providing additional ones."
>"And... you'll leave once this is over?" Meiling asks Lust.
>The Sin gives her a smile. "If you want me to." she replies in a tone that leaves a great deal to the imagination.

>"What of you, Scarlet Devil?" the Countess asks. "Do you require anything before making this attempt?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Let's have Youmu and Reimu ready, too. In case Meiling and I are not enough, they should be able to assist."
>"Other than that, I'm ready."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "Lust, I've already had one of my charges think having one of the Sin Spirits remain was a good thing, I don't need another one falling into it too."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "Lust, I've already had one of my charges think having one of the Sin Spirits remain was a good thing, I don't need another one falling into it too."

>Lust gives you a wink. "You haven't seen us on a good day."
>"Besides," she adds in a somewhat more serious tone, "voluntary combinations are a completely different animal than possession. What you've seen tonight has been the latter. The former, now that's something else."
>"Different how?" Meiling asks.
>"Well like the Keeper said before, you'd be the one in the driver seat, I'd be the... co-pilot, would be a decent word. It isn't just one being controlling another, it's two beings becoming one. It-"
>"All right, Lust, let us not get carried away." The Countess interjects calmly, with a tolerant smile on her face.

>"Let's have Youmu and Reimu ready, too. In case Meiling and I are not enough, they should be able to assist."
>"Other than that, I'm ready."

>"Look at it this way, China." Reimu offers. "It isn't going be the weirdest thing that's happened to you in Gensokyo."
>The Chinese youkai manages a weary smile. "Yeah, that might be true." She sighs, takes a more measured breath, then turns back to Lust. "Okay, let's-" And is promptly interrupted by the Sin Spirit kissing her, very firmly, on the lips. Meiling makes a very surprised noise as her eyes widen, but she relaxes after a moment. A faint pink glow surrounds Lust as her body becomes translucent, ghostly, and the Sin Spirit drifts forward, disappearing as her form occupies the same space as Meiling's.
>Instantly, you feel a surge in power from the merged form of Lust and Meiling. However there is no outward change, no reaction right away, but after a moment, the yellow on Meiling's outfit turns a cherry blossom pink, and white stripes appear on her white undershirt. Her black ribbons in her hair change to a pale red, her qipao repairs itself wherever it was damaged (and draws just a bit tighter on her body, you note) and the few visible wounds on her body draw closed and fade away. Your gate guard tilts her head back just a touch, takes a breath, and a pair of white feathery wings burst from her back, sending a shower of pink-tipped white feathers out behind her.

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. "Don't get too used to the 'upgrade' now, as I'll personally see to it that it's temporary. Understood? I'm not particularly fond of the idea, but it's one of the only shots we have at saving Sakuya from herself."
>Rise from our seat. "So let's get this over with. And yes Lust, I'll expect you out of there as soon as Sakuya's saved. No if's, ands, or buts."

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "Don't get too used to the 'upgrade' now, as I'll personally see to it that it's temporary. Understood? I'm not particularly fond of the idea, but it's one of the only shots we have at saving Sakuya from herself."
>Rise from our seat. "So let's get this over with. And yes Lust, I'll expect you out of there as soon as Sakuya's saved. No if's, ands, or buts."

>Meiling takes a long breath in and out, then turns to face you, a massive smile on her face. Her eyes, you note, while same color, are more vivid, more full of life than even normal, and the kanji on her hat now reads 'Passion'.
>"Don't worry, Remilia." she says in a voice as full of life as her eyes. "We understand. I want Sakuya back, and Lust wants her Keeper whole. So try to relax." She looks down at her hands, her fingernails now sporting a faint rouge tint, and flexes her hands into fists.
>"How do you feel?" Tsumiko asks her, the stripe on her face now grey.
>Meiling aims her smile at her. "It isn't what I thought it would be like at all. With Lust, I thought... Well, you can imagine what I was thinking. But it doesn't feel that way at all."
>"That's because you didn't want it to." Tsumiko says, looking somewhat relieved. "Intent makes a great deal of difference in this area. You fused with Lust with a purpose in mind, not just for pleasure."

>Reimu reaches across the table with her gohei and bonks Sloth on the head. "Why couldn't you be like that."
>Sloth merely shrugs. "Don't wanna."

>Meiling looks back at her new wings. "The wings are a bit much, though, that wasn't my idea." She pauses. "Yes, they ARE cool and very pretty, but Sakuya might not like them." The wings dissolve into a shower of feathers. It seems that the two are getting along rather well, and that Meiling is indeed in the driver's seat, as Lust claimed. That's a bit of a relief. You had some trepidation about this idea, after all.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Alright then, shall we get this overwith then? I'd rather put an end to all these Sin Spirit dealings sooner rather than later. No offense, but they haven't given me a particularly gleaming impression of themselves, aside from perhaps Sloth, who's been rather cavalier and accepting about things after having been disciplined in the Typical Gensokyo Way. As long as this gets results and doesn't cause things that'll interfere with everyone's duties down the road, I'll have to deal with it."
>Let's get moving already.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Alright then, shall we get this overwith then? I'd rather put an end to all these Sin Spirit dealings sooner rather than later. No offense, but they haven't given me a particularly gleaming impression of themselves, aside from perhaps Sloth, who's been rather cavalier and accepting about things after having been disciplined in the Typical Gensokyo Way. As long as this gets results and doesn't cause things that'll interfere with everyone's duties down the road, I'll have to deal with it."
>Let's get moving already.

>The Countess gives Sloth a tolerant smile. "At least you made a good impression on someone during your time out."
>Sloth shrugs. "I had my fun, I went home."
>Reimu bonks her once more. "Well, don't do it again." Sloth takes the thumping in stride.

>Meiling tilts her head up and turns her eyes in the direction of the throne room doors. Somehow you have a feeling she is looking at Sakuya. "Yes." she says firmly. "I want her back." She actually beats you to the door as Tsumiko falls in behind you, Reimu standing at last.
>"Slow down, you two." Tsumiko calls to Meiling, before she gets too far ahead of you. "I have a suggestion that might help our chances here." Meiling does indeed slow, but she doesn't stop in her stride down the corridor. "Miss Remilia, I think you should talk to her first. She'll respond with her pride to you. We get her emotions going one way, so that when Lust and Meiling make themselves known to her, it will have a more dramatic effect."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "Clever idea. I wonder if you'll be moreso once Greed is brought back to you?"
>Come to think of it, who do we know of that would be the most likely to get grabbed by Greed? Wasn't there something about Marisa not showing up for the longest time ever? Given her larcenous attitude towards Patchouli's books, that wouldn't be surprising if Greed possessed her.
>Let's pick up the pace to get ahead of Hong/Lust. "Tsumiko had a suggestion we'll use to put her off balance. I'll go in first and get her to flare up her pride, then when she's good and flared up, you and Lust come into play."

[Oldmansour]

>Come to think of it, who do we know of that would be the most likely to get grabbed by Greed? Wasn't there something about Marisa not showing up for the longest time ever? Given her larcenous attitude towards Patchouli's books, that wouldn't be surprising if Greed possessed her.

>It has indeed been an uncharacteristically long time since Marisa last visited the Mansion, for any reason, legitimate or otherwise. Not that Patchy's been complaining too loudly about it. It has been the better part of four months. The Sins have only been active for two weeks, tops, but knowing Marisa as you do, you wouldn't be at all surprised if Greed gravitated towards her.

>Smirk a bit. "Clever idea. I wonder if you'll be moreso once Greed is brought back to you?"
>Let's pick up the pace to get ahead of Hong/Lust. "Tsumiko had a suggestion we'll use to put her off balance. I'll go in first and get her to flare up her pride, then when she's good and flared up, you and Lust come into play."

>Tsumiko lowers her head slightly. "I am... incomplete without the Sins. Since they broke loose, I've felt like... half a person, almost. As much grief as they've caused, I want them back. I won't be whole without them. Sins though they may be, they're mine to bear."
>Meiling slows again, letting you catch her about 8 feet away from Sakuya's room. She tenses just a hair, then nods. "That's a good idea. We might need all the edge we can get to get through to her." She places a hand gently on your shoulder. "Just be careful for yourself, too. I'll be ready for the right moment."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Mmh. This had best work, otherwise I may have to fall back on a gamble that I don't particularly want to use. It hurts me to have to force a sadistic choice on her like it will, but it's my only other option. She'll have to choose between the power Pride could grant, and lose the mansion in return. Or, give up Pride, and return to how things were prior."
>Stare in a serious way. "The cost of the former however, is far, far greater than it seems. I don't want to go through with it, but she'll have to learn that if she wants that power, she had best be prepared to lose everything she's ever known in the past. Such power must always come at a cost, I know this fact quite well myself."
>Let's make for the room! Hopefully we aren't late..