'It's not like I l-like you, or a-anything!'
x3
Patchundere?
More like "You're interesting, but I don't know how to approach you."
Patchouli seems like she's not very interested in people, thus stunting her social skills.
I like your Koa. She's sorta similar to gatau's Koa in Faith is for the Transient Family Budget.
And this caught my eye. I hope we get to find out....
Ah, happy to hear, ^^ Yes, bit of foreshadowing going on.
^_^ Ok, why is it that everyone on Shrinemaiden is better at writing stories then me? This is awesome! I always thought of Patchy as quiet with a slight cough, you seem to have normal tone, but Mega-FlareCough
Are, thanks. I guess it's because the library is very dusty, ^^
.....
It seems Koa and Patchouli has heard a lot about her from Remilia, and that they'd both been given strict orders to keep the entrance to the library locked and hidden, though Koakuma had sort-of-kinda forgotten about sealing the door after placing a temporary board outside it.
When she's sent on her way from the library, she's got a red book named ?Little Momo and the Time Thefts? resting in her arms. It's been a while since she had a ?modern? book to read, after all. Most of her books are from the turn of the century, after all it was around that time she last saw the world. Do cars still look the same? She wants them to look the same, they were really pretty. Remilia used to take her to the theater in the backseat of one, though they used the carrige for more formal occasions. Most of the time, Flandre wasn't invited to ?formal? things, lest she blew something up.
She hides the book under a sofa-cushion, close to the dining room before continueing on her treck. There's a door labeled ?kitchen?, she's not allowed to go in there- That's the servants place, after all. Though she can't see a ?servants only? sign, so it can't really be true, can it? Either way, it's not like she's technically violating any rules by just opening the door and having a little peek..
?Nananana Nanana Batman- Batman- Nanana...?
Oh, it's China. She's humming some sort of tune while working with, well, something. China's the gategaurd, right? She doesn't seem to be doing her job. Is she on her break?
Flandre decides she knows China, China is nice, so maybe China won't be mad or tell on her. She opens the door to find the kitchen is much more cozy than she'd expected, a large fireplace in the corner and lots of cupboards on the walls, along with a large white icebox in the corner. Last time she went into a kitchen(Sometime in the 1700's), it wasn't very nice at all, all rustling and black with soot and generally unpleasant.
China waves at her.
?Jaooo! Flandre!?
Flandre smiles and waves.
?Hi, China!?
China stands surprised for a few minutes. ?China? Ah'm Chinese, sure, but..? She's rapidly starting to look very confused. Flandre then realizes that she's somehow started thinking of the Chinese gatekeeper as ?China?, and never really caught her real name.
?Uh, sorry. It's just, I don't know your name..?
?Oh! It's Hong Meiling, but Ah guess you could call m' China if y' like. For some reason, evereh'one does..? And there she is looking confused and slightly flustered again. Flandre decides to shift the topic to something else, as she's seen her sister do when talking to higher-ups.
?Uhm, what's that?? She points to the weird white contraption that looks slightly like an ice-box, only it's got a glass door and a lot of weird cylinders in a a row near the top.
?Oh, that? That's a gas oven. Ain't it just the bee's knee's? Ye' don't even have ter use firewood ta warm it all' up!? Chi- Meiling's usual enthusiasm returns as she shows Flandre how to work the oven and she's making springrolls, would Flandre like to try? Flandre's eyes light up as she's taught all about the mysteries of cooking, and Meling is happy to explain everything to her. It's like playing with Remilia when she's in a good mood, only Remilia doesn't explain things?Fff, you're too young to understand? the same way Meiling does ?'Cause 'f Ah'd used onion flakes, the flavour would be shoot to he- heck.?. It's like one of the maids she used to know back when they lived in Paris, though that girl had to be fired when the war broke out.
They're just about done with the springrolls when the bell chimes for dinner and Flandre must go. Won't Meiling come? No, she's part of the staff. She eat's in the kitchen. Flandre is a bit sad to say farewell, but then remembers that her sister is waiting for her, and she has grown rather hungry.
The small dining room stands vacant, and instead Sakya appears to guide Flandre down to the dining hall. Is dining still a formal event, she wonders? She doesn't exactly own much clothing, just a nightgown and a dress that always sits neatly folded on her chair when she wakes up in the ?mornings?.
The dining hall is fantastic.
She gasps at the large, near unfathomable length of the table and the many paintings on the walls. Sure, it's not like she hasn't seen things like this before, but- Was it really this big? And, oh- Look, it's soup! Real soup, a whole bowl on each plate. Flandre licks her chops before noticing her sister and the other geust at the table, why, that's Patchouli!
?Good evening, Flandre.? Remilia smiles. ?I would introduce you to my comrade here, but I see you've already met.? Patchouli nods. Flandre freezes, hoping she didn't tell Remilia about threatening her with ?kyu?.
They sit down to eat. Even though Flandre is slightly uncomfortable, she tries her best to forget that while eating the delicious cucumber soup. It tastes slightly of mint and she briefly ponders if the oven would be able to explode, before completely ruling out the theory. She's distracted by her sister's voice- ?I heard you were on your best behavior today.? and Flandre tries her hardest to believe there is no hint of malice in her voice. She's been good, hasn't she? She didn't kyu, she didn't kyu..
?Un. I don't see why you keep talking about her as if she's insane.? Patchouli's voice doesn't seem as raspy now, and now that Flandre thinks of it, she hasn't coughed once during the entire meal. Is the library just dusty? Either way, her voice is still very deadpan, and Flandre has no idea if she's sincere or sarcastic. Please be sincere, please be sincere..
?I must say she lacks manners, though.? She wink rather clumsily at Flandre. Whew, this might mean it's sincere.. She ignores the remark about her manners. It's not like she has to leave a good impression on any aristocracy, and she can't see how manners would help her in the situation she is in now. Slurp, slurp, now the fresh cucumber has formed a little island and the mint leaves have turned into indian canoes going back and forth..
Remilia sighs.
?Yes, I must admit she hasn't picked up a terrible lot of manners living down there-Flandre, stop playing with your food, but to tell the truth, I didn't think there was any need for them back then...? Her voice trails off, and Flandre realizes that her sister has just made a mistake.
Well, that's strange. That's not very much like her at all. Usually, she plans everything in the slightest of detail and seems to always be in control, like she knows it all because she's older.
?Don't worry. She's a kid. Were you interested in learning manners at her age?? Patchouli remarks, making Remilia swallow.
Yes, wasn't she the one who used to take her little sister's hand and run away from the tutors? ?W-well, I was thinking of the role we played in society and all, and besides-? She regains her confidence ?We're two different people, and as you can see, I've just recently started evaluating the theory that she might not be as unstable as we previously thought.? In other words, she'd given up because she never thought Flandre would be sane again.
Patchouli nods in response. Putting up with a stubborn kid who thinks she's grown up isn't that easy at times, but Remilia is one of the few people who'll try to understand her and brush of all the mistakes she makes while trying to communicate.
Dinner consists of pot-roast, and some sort of spicy Mexican dish-It must be Mexican, since there was beans in it, after all. Beans and tomatoes are Mexican food, she's learnt that through an old cookbook Remilia accidentally brought up. Dessert is tea and the best ice cream she's ever had, and then Sakuya takes her back to her room.
This time, she's actually happy to go. Sakuya isn't holding her wrist, and she's got a nice new book to read along with a snack to eat, spring rolls courtesy of China(What was her name again? It started with a H..). When she reaches her room, Sakuya nods, tells her goodnight, and Flandre would start reading the book only she's exhausted and just a little nap turns into a long night of good sleep.
....
AND WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE FIRST STORY ARC!
Don't worry, there will be more to come-I've got a few things planned, X3
