Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Oldmansour on September 23, 2012, 11:48:49 AM
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>You are Remilia Scarlet, Mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, vampire extraordinaire, and the most charismatic and elegant person in Gensokyo. You are also Flandre Scarlet's big sister, a title that, privately of course, you hold more dear than all the others. And right now, you are mad.
>Fed up with Sakuya's prolonged and unexplained absence from the Mansion, you took matters into your fangs and set out to track her down. In the process, though, you encountered a fledgling vampire named Rei Oumi, a Gensokyoan human who had been turned only weeks ago. Impressed by her skills and attitude, you took her under your wing and continued your search for Sakuya. To this end, the rabbit of Eientei, Reisen Udongien, also pledged her assistance, while Wriggle tagged along to keep an eye on Rei. Youmu Konpaku took off on her own, determined to resolve the incident of this new vampire.
>Your search led to the Myoren Temple, but what you found there was not Sakuya, but rather, a kappa that had been possessed by a being claiming to be the incarnation of Envy, one of the seven deadly sins of catholic myth. From her, you learned that Sakuya had encountered the incarnation of Pride, and that the Sins were in league with the new vampire in Gensokyo, a woman called the Cobalt Countess. Although Envy assured you Sakuya was still human, you concluded that Pride and the Countess were holding her. And you want her back.
>After Envy sealed herself in a jeweled form, you met up with Reisen, who told you of her encounter, and defeat of, the Gluttony incarnation. Together with her, as well as Wriggle, Mystia and the possessec kappa's friend Kikomi, you traveled to the Hakurei shrine, and found a possessed Reimu doing battle with Youmu and Kogasa. You got involved in the battle, and eventually forced the incarnation of Sloth from Reimu's body.
>Anticipating a fierce battle with the Countess and her minions, and concerned for your sister, you returned home to gear yourself, with Reimu and Kogasa in tow. Youmu and the kappa had set off on their own. Finding Flandre fine, or at least as fine as she ever gets, and asking Patchouli to ward the mansion against the remaining Sins, you charged Wriggle with taking care of a termite problem in the mansion, and allowed Mystia to explore the mansion, this being her first time there. With Reimu and Kogasa gone, you and Reisen took off to track down the castle of the Cobalt Countess.
>A friendly Oracle and an unfriendly kappa pointed you in the right direction, which led to you and Reisen splitting up to investigate a branching river. Your path led you to a bridge, where you had a brief brawl with a wild youkai and befriended a young man with mixed blood named Koryu Daidouji, who promised to help any youkai in need of help, including you. You sensed a great deal of potential in him, and resolved to introduce him to Patchouli, after you settle your business with the Countess. Between her and Rei, Sakuya's fist act may need to be preparing rooms for them. After she whips the fairy maids back in line.
>Currently, you, Koryu, and a youkai bear who joined you after meeting the Guardian of a Warded Grove, are standing in a small Kappa village, where you hoped to learn the location of the Countesses' castle. However, the three of you, and perhaps the whole village, seem to have come under the influence of the Spirit of Wrath. You are presently trying to keep your growing anger under control, long enough to find the Spirit and put a stop to its machinations.
>Nod. "Alright. Here's hoping this works."
>By 'seal away', I meant the possibility of temporarily disabling it.
>Wait...Let's try the Smellingsalts we got from Reisen, another, stronger scent may be able to purge the effects.
>You fish the real bottle of youkai-strength smelling salts out of your pocket, prompting a curious look from Koryu. "What's that?"
>Identifying the contents for him, you bravely open the lid and wave the bottle under your nose. The scent was very, very strong at a distance. At point blank range, you gag despite yourself. Forgoing any pretense of charisma, you scrunch up your nose, drop the offending bottle as though it contained holy water, and press your hands to your nose, trying not to topple over. You vision swims as the smell pinballs through your system, and for a moment, you feel like your head is going to pop open from the smell.
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>Let's take a moment to pull ourself together.
>Did the rage abate any?
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>Let's take a moment to pull ourself together.
>Did the rage abate any?
>It takes a few moments to recuperate from that shock to your system. But it did seem to have one unforeseen side effect. Koryu's face no longer shows anger, but amusement. And the bear is no longer snarling.
>Ordinarily, that would annoy you, and even now, you feel a twinge of irritation at their amusement. But it's a small twinge at best. And while you still know you're angry, you can't really focus on it, nor feel it strongly. Can't feel much of anything, actually, with that kind of shock to your system. Those salts could wake the dead and make them dance the Charleston.
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>"I... would not recommend doing that."
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>"I... would not recommend doing that."
>Koryu's lips puff slightly, and then the young man laughs.
>After a few seconds, he pauses, and smiles at you. "Sorry, sorry. But... Hah, you should've seen your face!"
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>"Yes...Well...They were Youkai-Grade Smellingsalts after all...Aha! This could well be the key. Perhaps if we can make it accessible to all the village to force Wrath out. At least this served to dull me to the rage."
>Is the bottle busted, or otherwise void of it's contents now? If not, then let's pick it back up, recork it, and pass it off to Koryu.
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>"Yes...Well...They were Youkai-Grade Smellingsalts after all...Aha! This could well be the key. Perhaps if we can make it accessible to all the village to force Wrath out. At least this served to dull me to the rage."
>Is the bottle busted, or otherwise void of it's contents now? If not, then let's pick it back up, recork it, and pass it off to Koryu.
>Somewhat surprisingly, the bottle has remained completely intact, and the contents remain within. So you retrieve the bottle, weathering the smell for a moment until you (mercifully) put the top back on, and hand it to Koryu. He looks at almost like a human would eye a rattlesnake.
>"Maybe... If we fly over the village and dump it out. But that'd be a lot of ground to cover. And going from kappa to kappa would probably take a while. We'd need some kind of... distrubution system, or something. Like a giant-ass fan."
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>Fistpalm. "Or the fan of a Tengu! Shame one's not around right now though."
>"At any rate, I should strike while the iron's hot. Perhaps by employing the aura tendrils from a distance, and seeing who reacts the most violently to them."
>Let's send a veritable forest of the tendrils over to that gathering, and whoever reacts the most violently to them, we'll converge the tendrils on that one and drag them here. For that is likely the one who is possessed.
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>Fistpalm. "Or the fan of a Tengu! Shame one's not around right now though."
>"At any rate, I should strike while the iron's hot. Perhaps by employing the aura tendrils from a distance, and seeing who reacts the most violently to them."
>Let's send a veritable forest of the tendrils over to that gathering, and whoever reacts the most violently to them, we'll converge the tendrils on that one and drag them here. For that is likely the one who is possessed.
>Koryu and the bear take a couple steps backwards as you put your aura to good use, sending nearly two dozen thin tendrills out towards the center of town. While it's not currently in your line of sight, it shouldn't be too long before you get some results.
>The sound from the gathering, prior to your invading tentacles, was a sound of muted irritation. The conversations of a crowd, but a sullen, quiet crowd. That changes a bit as they witness twenty-two glowing scarlet tendrils fly out of a side street and over their heads. There is a uniform gasp from well over a hundred Kappa, and then a startled murmur after a brief pause.
>That pause, however, revealed another sound, one that had been hidden by the noise of the crowd. It's very distant, and very faint, but it sounds like a large rotating set of blades, like a massive fan, but one set more than a mile away.
>Somewhat surprisingly, after several seconds, not one of the people in the crowd out there opens fire on your tendrils. But there IS some kind of reaction to it. An unseen force acts upon your tendrils and pulls them in one direction, drawing them all to the east.
>In addition to this, one lone kappa takes to the air and comes into view, looking towards the source of the tendrils. That being you.
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>Cancel the tendrils, and start hovering. "Well, it looks like there's our target. There should be something like a fan to the east methinks, roughly a mile. You should be able to use the Youkai-Grade Smellingsalts there, while I'll keep our little friend here occupied."
>Let's take to the skies and make for that lone kappa!
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>Cancel the tendrils, and start hovering. "Well, it looks like there's our target. There should be something like a fan to the east methinks, roughly a mile. You should be able to use the Youkai-Grade Smellingsalts there, while I'll keep our little friend here occupied."
>Let's take to the skies and make for that lone kappa!
>Koryu nods shortly. "We'll check it out." He pats the bear, who doesn't seem entirely as receptive of the act as before, but doesn't growl at him. "Let's go, girl."
>The three of you take to the air, Koryu and the bear flying towards the east, while you travel northwards towards the airborne kappa. The blue-haired kappa sees you coming and seems, well, a bit nervous, if your honest. Her blue eyes show obvious apprehension. She turns slightly and waves down to another pair of Kappa on a nearby rooftop, working on an oblong rectangular piece of metal. Cupping her hands together on either side of her mouth, she yells down to them, "It's that vampire, the Scarlet Devil!"
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>And batswarm teleport to be right behind her, with our back to hers. But be ready to bat-a-port away if she flips out and attacks.
>"Oh come now, I'm simply passing through, and noted everyone was angrier than usual. So I decided to make sure that a Sin Spirit wasn't causing trouble here."
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>And batswarm teleport to be right behind her, with our back to hers. But be ready to bat-a-port away if she flips out and attacks.
>"Oh come now, I'm simply passing through, and noted everyone was angrier than usual. So I decided to make sure that a Sin Spirit wasn't causing trouble here."
>The twintailed kappa turns back towards you, and lets out a yelp as she suddenly finds you behind her, backpedaling in surprise. She then frowns and places her hands on her hips. "Well, don't surprise a girl like that, then. Smarten up."
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>Does she seem to be possessed at all?
>"Well, recently, there seems to be quite the fuss all over Gensokyo. Seven spirits that embody a Sin have been unsealed. Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride, and Sloth. Now, as everyone present has been feeling rather irritable and angry in this village, myself included, that can lead me to only one conclusion. That the Spirit of Wrath has shown up in this village, and possessed one of your number. The Spirit of Envy already possessed a kappa earlier tonight, but was driven out."
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>Does she seem to be possessed at all?
>"Well, recently, there seems to be quite the fuss all over Gensokyo. Seven spirits that embody a Sin have been unsealed. Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride, and Sloth. Now, as everyone present has been feeling rather irritable and angry in this village, myself included, that can lead me to only one conclusion. That the Spirit of Wrath has shown up in this village, and possessed one of your number. The Spirit of Envy already possessed a kappa earlier tonight, but was driven out."
>Well, she seems upset with you for surprising her, but not especially 'Wrath'-ful.
>The kappa presses her fingers to her lips thoughtfully. "Wrath... That might explain what my atmospheric contaminant sensor picked up." She starts to fly back down towards the other two kappa and their large metal object, and waves for you to follow her. "Come have a look at something."
>Koryu and the bear, you note, off to the east, are also descending towards a rooftop. Towards a bluish-green haired woman in an elegant red and black dress who seems to be spinning in place.
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>Well, let's go over, but keep an eye on our friends.
>"So, what exactly is it you wish for me to look at?"
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>Well, let's go over, but keep an eye on our friends.
>"So, what exactly is it you wish for me to look at?"
>"If I'm right, I think I know where this Wrath is. And it's not here in town."
>The spinning woman makes no aggressive move towards your companions, nor do they make any moves towards her. Seems they both still have control of themselves. For now.
>From up here, you have a better sense of the air flow and ambient sounds. The fan sound seems to be coming from the northwest, which is wear the breeze is blowing from. And where that smell seems to be coming from, too. Your nose has recovered enough to start, at least, to smell that floral scent again.
>One of the two grounded kappa seems vaguely familiar to you, the one with the long side-ponytail. You think she might have been one of the Kappa that installed the electricity to your mansion, though Sakuya dealt with them much more than you. The other kappa, with the green eyes and short black hair, is unknown to you.
>'Update me, Chiyo." the kappa that approached you asks of the black-haired one. Turning from a monitor attached to the side of the long metal object, the kappa called Chiyo hands your kappa a small handheld device.
>"See for yourself, boss."
>The twintailed kappa examines the display, glances at the larger monitor, then back to the small screen. She then beckons you closer. "Take a look at this."
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>Let's move closer and have a look then.
>"I've figured out the source of the Sin Spirits though, their leader, another vampire known as the Cobalt Countess, has apparently taken up refuge somewhere in the Waterfall Basin. I plan to apply a little 'Gensokyo Discipline'."
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>Let's move closer and have a look then.
>"I've figured out the source of the Sin Spirits though, their leader, another vampire known as the Cobalt Countess, has apparently taken up refuge somewhere in the Waterfall Basin. I plan to apply a little 'Gensokyo Discipline'."
>The screen seems to be showing a red oval-shaped object with short pulpy stalks. The thing seems to have an aura of energy around it. There are several numbers and shifting graph displays on the screen, but most of it means nothing to you.
>"Which waterfall?" the Kappa with the ponytail asks you. "There's a few around here."
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>Let's recall what we were told about this by the Oracle, and the Guardian.
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>Let's recall what we were told about this by the Oracle, and the Guardian.
>The Oracle was no more specific than 'Downstream from here. In the basin of the falls."
>The Guardian indicated that the kappa of this village would be more familiar with the waterfall in question than she was.
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>"You know of that cottage where the Oracle lives, yes? She had stated that it was downstream from there. I followed a river to reach this area, where I then found a Warded Grove, protected by the Forest Guardian, Baraki. She then suggested I make for this village, which brings us to the current time. The river I followed had a Bridge guarded by a Troll. Perhaps that can help narrow things down?"
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>"You know of that cottage where the Oracle lives, yes? She had stated that it was downstream from there. I followed a river to reach this area, where I then found a Warded Grove, protected by the Forest Guardian, Baraki. She then suggested I make for this village, which brings us to the current time. The river I followed had a Bridge guarded by a Troll. Perhaps that can help narrow things down?"
>"What Oracle?" the ponytailed Kappa asks you.
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>"She goes by the name of Kyrie. Long, Blonde hair, tends to speak in riddles. She shares that cottage with another Kappa like yourselves."
>Point towards where the river we followed is located.
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>"She goes by the name of Kyrie. Long, Blonde hair, tends to speak in riddles. She shares that cottage with another Kappa like yourselves."
>Point towards where the river we followed is located.
>The Kappa shakes her head. "Never heard of her."
>"Stay on target, Minamo." the twin-tailed Kappa snaps. "We got bigger problems." The ponytailed kappa sneers at her fellow Kappa, then turns and ducks behind the machine again.
>"What you're looking at here," the kappa in front of you points at the small screen. "is a spore of some kind. Or maybe a pollen. I'm a scientist, not a biologist. But my analysis shows it has an effect on a person's brain."
>"YOUR analysis, Nitori?" the Kappa named Chiyo asks in an irritated tone.
>"Okay, OUR analysis." Nitori snaps back. "The point is, these little bastards are what's making us all so pissed."
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>"Could it be that Wrath possessed some sort of Plant Youkai? Regardless, what we need to do is find the source of the spores, or whatever they may be, and 'discipline' it. If it truly is Possessed, then the Sin Spirit will leave the host when it's too damaged by danmaku to be of use. If one can then engineer some kind of containment method, then we can capture the Sin Spirit, and prevent it from fleeing to cause trouble at a later date."
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>"Could it be that Wrath possessed some sort of Plant Youkai? Regardless, what we need to do is find the source of the spores, or whatever they may be, and 'discipline' it. If it truly is Possessed, then the Sin Spirit will leave the host when it's too damaged by danmaku to be of use. If one can then engineer some kind of containment method, then we can capture the Sin Spirit, and prevent it from fleeing to cause trouble at a later date."
>"You seem to be the expert on these Sins." Nitori counters. "But that's kinda what we're doing here with this gizmo." She walks over to the metal object and pats it on the side. "I haven't- WE haven't named it yet, but when we get it working, it'll clean the air of these spores and contain them, until we can figure out a way to neutralize them for good."
>"Assuming Hina doesn't conk out on us first." Minamo muses darkly.
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>"Well, I am not entirely an expert, I've merely engaged in combat with two unfortunate souls who were possessed. One was possessed by Envy, she was a simple Kappa. She rests in the Myouren Temple for now as far as I know. She'll recover with enough bed rest. The second, possessed by Sloth, was none other than Reimu. Currently, she too seeks the lair of the Cobalt Countess. So thus, we can then assume that by finding the source of the spores, and defeating it, we can force the Sin to cease it's efforts. Does this device, by any chance, tell the direction they are coming from?"
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>"Well, I am not entirely an expert, I've merely engaged in combat with two unfortunate souls who were possessed. One was possessed by Envy, she was a simple Kappa. She rests in the Myouren Temple for now as far as I know. She'll recover with enough bed rest. The second, possessed by Sloth, was none other than Reimu. Currently, she too seeks the lair of the Cobalt Countess. So thus, we can then assume that by finding the source of the spores, and defeating it, we can force the Sin to cease it's efforts. Does this device, by any chance, tell the direction they are coming from?"
>Nitori starts, "Well this one- Wow, Reimu?" She cuts herself off. "How did one of those Sins take HER down?"
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>Shrug. "She's far too lazy, plain and simple. Sloth embodies laziness. It was a simple matter for her to possess Reimu as she is now."
>Chuckle. "Ironically, Sloth was the most cordial and polite of the three that have been encountered so far. Envy was a spiteful little woman, with a sharp tongue. And from what I've heard of Gluttony, who showed up in the Human Village, only thought about one thing. Devouring and consuming all things edible. It was from Sloth that I learned about the other sins. She stated that Wrath, Pride, and Greed in particular are the more dangerous ones. So far, I'm inclined to believe her on that matter, given how even I haven't escaped the effects."
>"But at any rate, as you were saying?"
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>Shrug. "She's far too lazy, plain and simple. Sloth embodies laziness. It was a simple matter for her to possess Reimu as she is now."
>Chuckle. "Ironically, Sloth was the most cordial and polite of the three that have been encountered so far. Envy was a spiteful little woman, with a sharp tongue. And from what I've heard of Gluttony, who showed up in the Human Village, only thought about one thing. Devouring and consuming all things edible. It was from Sloth that I learned about the other sins. She stated that Wrath, Pride, and Greed in particular are the more dangerous ones. So far, I'm inclined to believe her on that matter, given how even I haven't escaped the effects."
>"But at any rate, as you were saying?"
>"Saying? Oh, yeah, the spores." Nitori looks slightly annoyed at herself, but points to the smaller device in her hand. "This one did, yeah. They're blowing in on the wind, from the northwest."
>"And they're probably what's causing that blossom scent in the air." Minamo adds, followed by the sound of a tool being used. She continues after a moment. "Which is driving my nose crazy."
>Glancing across the way, you see Koryu and the bear lift off from the roof with the spinning woman, and heading your way.
>"I don't know WHAT the source is." Nitori continues. "But whatever it is, it's definitely coming from that way."
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>Nod. "Well, you wouldn't happen to have any way to block spores and pollen from getting into one's nose, would you? Because I feel we may need something like that the closer we get to the source. Approximately how far away do you suppose it is?"
>Let's keep cool until Koryu and the Bear arrive then.
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>Nod. "Well, you wouldn't happen to have any way to block spores and pollen from getting into one's nose, would you? Because I feel we may need something like that the closer we get to the source. Approximately how far away do you suppose it is?"
>Let's keep cool until Koryu and the Bear arrive then.
>Nitori shakes her head.
>"Wouldn't do you much good, either." Chiyo supplies as she takes a wrench to a pair of bolts. "As near as I can tell, these spores will affect you on contact with skin. They don't need to be inhaled. They just smell strong."
>"You might be able to get above them, though." Nitori offers. "We think they're heavier than air, if only just. As for how far, we're not sure. It can't be TOO far, but with the equipment we have, we can't tell for sure."
>Your companions join you only seconds after Nitori finishes her sentence, a somewhat cocky smirk on his face. "I just met a Goddess." he declares.
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>Nod, with an equally cocky smirk. "Well, Koryu, I've gotten a lead on what's causing the anger in the area. There's something to the northwest that's producing spores of some kind. Though these fine Kappa say they may be heavier than air, which means if we fly high enough, we can escape the effects. Any thoughts on what might be in that direction? Such as a forest, or some sort of garden?"
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>Nod, with an equally cocky smirk. "Well, Koryu, I've gotten a lead on what's causing the anger in the area. There's something to the northwest that's producing spores of some kind. Though these fine Kappa say they may be heavier than air, which means if we fly high enough, we can escape the effects. Any thoughts on what might be in that direction? Such as a forest, or some sort of garden?"
>The young man ponders that for a moment. "Northwest of here.... I think there's a swamp up that way. Well, not so much a swamp, more of a bog, really."
>"You were talking to Hina?" Nitori asks him, and Koryu nods in response. "How's she holding up."
>"She's holding. For now." The young man then turns back to you. "When you say spores, you mean like plant spores?"
>"What other kind of spores are there, human?" Minamo snaps at him. Both Koryu and the bear snarl in reply.
>All this pointless aggravation. Someone should shut them up.
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>"Everyone, just keep calm. Before I make you be calm."
>Sigh, and press a hand to our forehead. "These spores are making everyone angry. Koryu, why don't we take our friend and fly as high as we can, then make for that bog?"
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>"Everyone, just keep calm. Before I make you be calm."
>Sigh, and press a hand to our forehead. "These spores are making everyone angry. Koryu, why don't we take our friend and fly as high as we can, then make for that bog?"
>"Try it." Chiyo dares you, standing from her work. Minamo, now behind the rear of the machine, also stands.
>"Nobody talks to us that way. Not even a vampire." she declares proudly, hotly.
>Nitori, however, stretches out her arms and gestures them downwards, towards her fellow Kappa. "Put your energy to better use, and get this machine finished." She takes her own advice, and puts down the scanning device in her hand, and picks up a hammer from the roof. "If you want to fight her, do it once this problem's solved." Both kappa give you dirty looks, but they heed Nitori's words, and return to the machine.
>As well they should.
>Koryu, however, seems to have been lost in thought since you told him of the spores. "Do you think you can handle Wrath without me, Remilia?" he asks you. "I think I just might be able to help more here."
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>Nod. "Hopefully I can. I think I might be able to drag it up to where it's spores are useless with my Aura Tendrils. I'll see you again after a while, hopefully without Wrath's effects."
>Let's take flight, and go as high as we possibly can! Since Vampires don't require breath, we can go quite high.
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>Nod. "Hopefully I can. I think I might be able to drag it up to where it's spores are useless with my Aura Tendrils. I'll see you again after a while, hopefully without Wrath's effects."
>Let's take flight, and go as high as we possibly can! Since Vampires don't require breath, we can go quite high.
>"Take care of yourself." Koryu bids you as he dismounts the bear.
>"And be careful." Nitori cautions you. "The effects of the spores'll probably be stronger near the source."
>Taking your leave of the gathered people, you take off and fly right up into the air. The bear, you note, also takes off, taking a more direct route northwest.
>As high as you can go would probably take you outside Gensokyo's barrier. But you note that the smell fades as you get higher and higher, dissappearing altogether once you pass two hundred feet or so.
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>Alright, this is good. Most youkai can fly this high, correct? And certainly Reimu can.
>So let's make for the bog, and stop overhead.
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>Alright, this is good. Most youkai can fly this high, correct? And certainly Reimu can.
>So let's make for the bog, and stop overhead.
>Satisfied with your current height, you take off towards the bog spoken of by Koryu. In haste. Your anger actually grew as you flew farther up from the village, but stopped as you climbed higher and higher. The sooner you make someone suffer for daring to instill such unwanted rage within you, the better.
>It doesn't long for sights of interest to come into view in that direction.
>The first is a floating ball of darkness several dozen feet beneath you, flying casually in a northeasterly direction.
>The second is the sights of fires on the ground, and flashes of light in the air and on the ground. At least three humanoid shapes are fighting in the air above and around the bog, and there seems to be a vehicle of some sort on the water, discharging a mix of both bullets and lasers.
>The third is a very large.... THING, flying south from the bogland. It has to be at least ten feet tall, maybe more, a bulbous shape, growing more round and fat around the base of it. The top of it seems to be like a flower, but the petals are very pointy, almost more like fins than petals. A hazy cloud fills the air around it, and something seems to be whirling around under the base of it, though you can't see it from this distance.
>The time is now 2:00 AM.
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>First, let's send down a trio of aura tendrils to grab those three figures unawares, and drag them up here.
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>First, let's send down a trio of aura tendrils to grab those three figures unawares, and drag them up here.
>Currently all three figures are no more than fifteen or twenty feet off the ground. You are more than two hundred feet off the ground. Your aura cannot stretch that far.
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>Well then, let's goad them into flying a bit closer by launching one servant flier at each of them. But make sure they leave an obvious trail leading back to the source.
>...Perhaps Wrath possessed that plant creature...Let's try flinging a squad of Large Bat danmaku at it, and seeing how it reacts.
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>Well then, let's goad them into flying a bit closer by launching one servant flier at each of them. But make sure they leave an obvious trail leading back to the source.
>...Perhaps Wrath possessed that plant creature...Let's try flinging a squad of Large Bat danmaku at it, and seeing how it reacts.
>Opting to remain at this height, you unleash a bat for each one of the three, taking a better look at them as you do so. At least, as much as you can from this height. Your eyes are very good, but not that good. The one currently over the bog water, engaged in peppering the small vechicle with danmaku, has insectile wings sprouting from her back, beating furiously.
>The one closest to you, that being the one currently at the highest elevation, has an extremely long head of blonde hair, somehow wrapping around her body at her hip. Presently she is flying backwards and up, firing bursts of energy at the woman pursuing her. This one is shrouded in a long red cloak, with blue patterns emblazoned upon it, her hands put to use in throwing flaming energy at the blonde.
>At a distance of almost two hundred feet away, against highly mobile targets, a single shot of yours does not have the best of odds of striking its target. And indeed, both shots aimed at the cloaked woman and her blonde opponent go wide, and seemingly unnoticed by either.
>The winged one, however, you actually strike with your batmaku. Though this is probably due to her dodging a blast from the vechicle, which seems like a cross between one of those swamp-boats, and a boat-boat. With more armor. And gun emplacements.
>...Perhaps Wrath possessed that plant creature...Let's try flinging a squad of Large Bat danmaku at it, and seeing how it reacts.
>It certainly looks wrong, that's for sure, possessed or not. And since it's not only a much larger target, but moving much slower and moving in a straight line, you have no trouble whatsoever bombarding it with batmaku. The giant.... thing waves under the impact of your blasts, but remains in the air, neither slowing nor changing course.
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(Well, this is an interesting occurrence~)
>Well, let's bombard the plant until it stops emitting that haze. Odds are, it's the source of the spores.
>We'll bombard the boat too, just so they notice us.
-
>Well, let's bombard the plant until it stops emitting that haze. Odds are, it's the source of the spores.
>We'll bombard the boat too, just so they notice us.
>Intensifying your firepower, you focus your attention now on both the boat and the giant flying plant. The plant rocks and wavers under your fire, but it neither drops nor explodes, and the haze surrounding it fails to dissipate any. Although you do start to see the structure of the thing bend a bit in places, and traces of the floral scent cross your nose again.
>The boat, however, makes a much more nimble target, and it's driver seems to be more on the ball than the insect-winged youkai, as it turns almost on a dime 90 degrees and shoots away from your danmaku. Albeit not by much.
>The boat answers your fire with a tube mounted near the rear of the vessel. An object launches out of the tube, and detonates at about sixty feet or so in the air, into a blindingly bright flare of angry red light.
-
>Just the evidence we needed.
>"Well, strange plant, it's time to deal with you completely. Divine Lance - Spear the Gungnir!"
>Let's aim the lance at the plant, and add a scattershot of exploding orbs to the mix as well. That should be well within the allowances for this card.
-
>Just the evidence we needed.
>"Well, strange plant, it's time to deal with you completely. Divine Lance - Spear the Gungnir!"
>Let's aim the lance at the plant, and add a scattershot of exploding orbs to the mix as well. That should be well within the allowances for this card.
>You take aim at the large plant, but since you were looking at the flare sent up by the armored swamp-boat, your vision is temporarily impaired. And your head hurts quite a bit, too. You THINK you can still make out the plant well enough to take a shot at it, but you can't be 100% certain. Do you still wish to fire?
-
>Let's take a moment to pull ourselves together, then we'll fire.
-
>Let's take a moment to pull ourselves together, then we'll fire.
>Opting to ere on the side of caution (and in defiance of the growing rage within you), you press a hand to your eyes and give yourself a moment to let the blurryness and brightness pass. Damned boat with its damned flares. Wrath or not, you have a strong desire to rip the driver out of that scow and beat her with her own boat. Only a remarkable force of will prevents you from doing just that. You have another target to deal with first.
>Not wanting to let the flying plant get any furthur away, you conjure forth a giant glowing lance and hurl it towards the target, the polearm scattering danmaku along the way in an impressive display of crimson energy. The brilliant lance impales the mutated plant on its left side, towards the bottom. Never mind that you were aiming for dead center and missed, a clean hit is a clean hit.
>Gungnir penetrates the greenish lumpen hide of the thing and flies clear on out the other side, orb danmaku exploding both inside and outside the plant. The flying hulk of plantlife expands in places like a horrific balloon, a cloud of scarlet energy belching out the top of it, and then the whole thing explodes, raining a brackish goo and smoking shards of itself down over the ground beneath it. The smell of burning grass assaults your nose, even at this height. And the cast-off from the plant finally affords you a look at one of the things whirling around the bottom of it: a metallic blade. At least it LOOKS metallic.
>No gratitude tonight, though, as even as you watch the death throes of the mutant flower, the air around you fills with needle-shaped danmaku.
-
>Dodge (of course).
>How are the three strangers reacting?
-
>Dodge (of course).
>How are the three strangers reacting?
>Annoyed at the affrontery of one of the ones you're trying to help attacking you, you reverse through the air, but not before taking a glancing blow to your foot. You can't help but scowl.
>Looking down at the three flying youkai, the one with the insect wings seems to have been the one that attacked you, as she is presently rising through the air, flying right at you. Her right arm extended, she unleases a frontal cone of brownish-colored wedge danmaku.
>The youkai with the red cloak has found a new target, and is hurling fireballs towards the swamp-boat while a spread of oval-shaped danmaku fires out behind her towards the blonde. The blonde does not seem to care, though, and has her attention focused on the bug-winged youkai, chasing after her but not firing either at her or you.
>The boat, however, IS firing, but not at the cloaked youkai peppering her with fire. A trio of lasers blast out from the prow of the boat, two of them seemingly aimed at the bug youkai, and the left-most laser at you.
-
>Let's slip away from the laser, and just charge up a large orb that explodes on proximity.
>Once we've got it set, fling it at the boat with as much force as we can muster.
>Once we've done that, shape our aura into a set of four massive wings behind us, not unlike the ones from that one comic about giant machines and angels that Patche obtained.
-
>Let's slip away from the laser, and just charge up a large orb that explodes on proximity.
>Once we've got it set, fling it at the boat with as much force as we can muster.
>Once we've done that, shape our aura into a set of four massive wings behind us, not unlike the ones from that one comic about giant machines and angels that Patche obtained.
>You sideslip away from the laser easily enough, but ignoring the wedge-shaped danmaku was a bit of a mistake, as you end up eating a half dozen impacts to the torso as you charge that orb attack. They don't disrupt your focus or concentration, but they do make you very, very angry. Many more of those, and you might end up losing all control.
>Deciding to take it out on the armed boat, you hurl your Crimson Bomb down at the thing and empower your aura again. To remind everyone just who they're dealing with, and give them a sign how much pain you can bring.
>Before either your auraform takes shape, or your orb explodes, before any of the youkai can fire once more, the anger boiling in the pit of your stomach, the rage threatening to overwhelm you... fades. Vanishes as abruptly a unguarded book in from of Marisa. You are yourself again.
>Mostly. In the wake of that rage, you feel ill. Very ill, actually. You feel as though you're about to vomit. And judging by the looks on the bug youkai, and the blonde as well, they feel about the same way.
-
>Well, let's keep our composure as best we can, and float on down to them. Provided the boat isn't still firing.
-
>Well, let's keep our composure as best we can, and float on down to them. Provided the boat isn't still firing.
>The boat and its driver have other concerns than firing at you. Although the driver managed to avoid a direct strike from your Crimson Bomb, the boat wasn't fast enough to outrun the explosion of energy caused by the bomb's proximity trigger. Your blast actually brought the boat out of the water a few feet and sent it skipping sideways across the surface of the bog. When it comes to a rest, the hatch on top of the thing pops open, and a young woman with brown pigtails sticks her head out. And vomits over the side of her boat.
>You try to swallow to fight back the vomitous urge, but something foul is forcing its way out of your system, and it won't be denied.
>The bug youkai vomits, as well, just as you turn away from her. You'll be damned if you'll be face on when this happens. The pressure in your throat becomes too much, and an incredibly foul fluid forces its way out of your mouth. But this is not any kind of normal expectorate. This stuff looks a great deal like blood, except a slightly different shade of red. It even tastes a bit like blood, but blood that's been spoiled, ruined by age and contamination. And it reeks, like overripe fruit that's been burned and served on hot tar.
>Judging from the sound below you, the cloaked youkai as well as the blonde are also expelling the contents of their stomach.
>You make a note to gloss over this part of the story when you're telling it to Flandre later, although you take some comfort in the fact that whatever caused this in you affected the others, as well.
-
>"...Ugh. Well, that was something I'd rather not repeat. That plant must have been the source of it all, and just as well that I disposed of it."
>We should have a spare handkerchief to clean ourselves with. After all, no lady goes without at least two.
>Do any of them seem possessed? And we should keep tabs on the area just in case as well.
>For that matter, how's our hunger status?
-
>"...Ugh. Well, that was something I'd rather not repeat. That plant must have been the source of it all, and just as well that I disposed of it."
>We should have a spare handkerchief to clean ourselves with. After all, no lady goes without at least two.
>Do any of them seem possessed? And we should keep tabs on the area just in case as well.
>For that matter, how's our hunger status?
>After griping just a little, you produde a handkerchief and dap away the residual not-blood from your mouth. Rarely have you ever so devoutly wished for some mouthwash.
>Right now, all four of them seem only sick. You seem to have recovered your composure before the rest of them, both the bug and the blonde slowly floating back down to earth. Although the woman in the cloak seems to be pulling herself together.
>Despite the fact that this has been one of the more active nights you've had in quite some time, it hasn't taken a serious toll on your Hunger level. You are still Sated, albeit ever so slightly peckish.
-
>Let's float down to the one in the cloak then. "Well, tonight's filled with new faces, isn't it? I'll let you pull yourself together before responding, even though I'm rather pressed for time."
>Beat.
>If that plant was the source of the rage....Then that village will have quite the cleanup to deal with. Good thing Kappa are quite skilled with water control.
-
>Let's float down to the one in the cloak then. "Well, tonight's filled with new faces, isn't it? I'll let you pull yourself together before responding, even though I'm rather pressed for time."
>Beat.
>If that plant was the source of the rage....Then that village will have quite the cleanup to deal with. Good thing Kappa are quite skilled with water control.
>That one also was in the process of returning to ground level, so you orient yourself down and fly down, past the other two airborne youkai.
>With her hood pulled back, you now note the woman's long, somewhat curly reddish-brown hair and slightly ruddy complexion. She rubs her mouth with the back of her hand as you approach, and then looks up at you with her golden eyes. "Who are you?" she asks in an uncertain voice, before holding her head with her hand. "What were...." She looks up into the sky at the two descending youkai, and then back at you. "Were we fighting each other?"
-
>"I am Remilia Scarlet, the Scarlet Devil, and one of Gensokyo's few powerful Vampires. And until recently, you and your blonde-haired friend were engaging in what appeared to be a tag-team battle against that insect youkai over there, and that girl in the boat. And you are?"
-
>"I am Remilia Scarlet, the Scarlet Devil, and one of Gensokyo's few powerful Vampires. And until recently, you and your blonde-haired friend were engaging in what appeared to be a tag-team battle against that insect youkai over there, and that girl in the boat. And you are?"
>"Honoka." the cloaked youkai replies after a moment. She looks around the area, specifically, at the two small patches of flame burning on the ground. She frowns in surprise. "Dammit." she mutters, then closes her eyes and holds her hands in front of her belly, palms facing each other. Her bare left leg, capped by a red sandal with a similar blue flames design as her cloak, emerges from her shroud and taps the ground twice. The fires on the ground rise from the grass and flow in streams into the space between her palms.
>"But why?" she asks aloud, her eyes on the flame caught in her hands.
-
(A female version of Rubicante, respect man. I take it that blonde is the wind one, yes? This must mean the toher two, Earth and Water, are running around as well. :3)
>"I suspect you and the other three were being strongly affected by the Spirit of Wrath, one of the Seven Sin Spirits I've been tracking tonight. That plant beast I slew seemed to be playing host to it. Even I was feeling the effects myself, and since you and the other three were in such close proximity, you must have lost yourselves to the anger and rage."
-
>"I suspect you and the other three were being strongly affected by the Spirit of Wrath, one of the Seven Sin Spirits I've been tracking tonight. That plant beast I slew seemed to be playing host to it. Even I was feeling the effects myself, and since you and the other three were in such close proximity, you must have lost yourselves to the anger and rage."
>Honoka nods slightly. "That makes sense. My memories of the last... fifteen minutes or so are obscured by a red blur." She presses her hands together, and the flame goes out. That task complete, her arms and leg retreat back into her cloak. "Have there been other victims of this Wrath Spirit beyond ourselves?"
-
>"Let's think then. There was yourself, the other three, myself, an entire village of kappa, as well as a young man and a youkai bear who have been aiding me in my efforts."
>Sigh. "That makes four out of the seven now I suppose. First was Envy, who sealed herself. Then was Gluttony, who suffered the same fate as Envy. Sloth retreated to sleep until things blew over at my advice.- It can't be said that I don't have a concept of mercy after all.- And then was Wrath, possessing that plant. I know not if it survived the demise of it's host or not though. Which leaves Lust, Greed, and Pride."
-
>"Let's think then. There was yourself, the other three, myself, an entire village of kappa, as well as a young man and a youkai bear who have been aiding me in my efforts."
>Sigh. "That makes four out of the seven now I suppose. First was Envy, who sealed herself. Then was Gluttony, who suffered the same fate as Envy. Sloth retreated to sleep until things blew over at my advice.- It can't be said that I don't have a concept of mercy after all.- And then was Wrath, possessing that plant. I know not if it survived the demise of it's host or not though. Which leaves Lust, Greed, and Pride."
>"Then it is as well you destroyed that plant when you did."
>Honoka looks towards the remnants of the mutant plant. "Did you see anything escape the destruction of it?"
-
>Frown. "I was a mite distracted with the aftereffects. Shall we investigate the remains then? There should be a gem perhaps, provided that Wrath was knocked out in the doing."
-
>Frown. "I was a mite distracted with the aftereffects. Shall we investigate the remains then? There should be a gem perhaps, provided that Wrath was knocked out in the doing."
>The cloak-clad youkai spares a glance up at the blonde descending slowly towards the ground. "I should ensure her safety first. Both of them, actually. If they have been wounded by my hand, I will have to rectify that."
-
>Nod. "But of course. I think the only damage was on the insect's part, due to failing to dodge a warning shot I fired to get everyone's attention prior. And that girl in the boat likely got knocked silly by an earlier attack I used to vent a little."
-
>Nod. "But of course. I think the only damage was on the insect's part, due to failing to dodge a warning shot I fired to get everyone's attention prior. And that girl in the boat likely got knocked silly by an earlier attack I used to vent a little."
>"Yes.... Her." Honoka turns her eyes towards the braided brunette. "A very unorthodox manner of attack and transportation."
>The lovely blonde woman makes landfall at this point, her pale green eyes looking a bit bleary. She sports a long sleeved crop top with a tan yellow trim and cuffs. Her short skirt is the same color of tan yellow, and her shapely legs are sheathed in lace-topped thigh-highs.
>Like this, basically, the one on the right. Danbooru warning for potentially NSFW adds. (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/263641/2girls-adjusting_hair-ahoge-barbariccia-blonde_hai)
>"What happened, Hon?" the blonde asks Honoka in a rather melodious voice, marred, somewhat, by the strain of vomiting up that red stuff.
>"We seem to have been affected by a Rage youkai, of some sort." She then nods towards you. "And we have miss Scarlet here to thank for ridding us of its influence."
-
>Bow slightly. "Not any mere Rage Youkai, but a Sin Spirit, the very essence of that emotion. The spirit of Wrath was likely possessing that plant creature over there that I...'removed from the equation', so to speak. It was rather nice to let off some stress that had already accumulated prior to being affected."
>Gesture towards the plant's remains.
>"As for introductions, I am Remilia Scarlet, also known as the Scarlet Devil, one of Gensokyo's Elite Vampires. And you are?"
-
>Bow slightly. "Not any mere Rage Youkai, but a Sin Spirit, the very essence of that emotion. The spirit of Wrath was likely possessing that plant creature over there that I...'removed from the equation', so to speak. It was rather nice to let off some stress that had already accumulated prior to being affected."
>Gesture towards the plant's remains.
>"As for introductions, I am Remilia Scarlet, also known as the Scarlet Devil, one of Gensokyo's Elite Vampires. And you are?"
Here's a thought. Wouldn't Kainazzo be Nitori?
>"Ranka." She sizes you up, her eyes clearing. "Aren't you a little short for a vampire?"
-
>Death Glare.
-
>Death Glare.
>Honoka laughs as you give Ranka a very, very, pointed look. "Mind your manners, Val. She did just do us both a rather large favor."
>The blonde giggles in response, and gives you a wink. "No offense intended."
-
>Laugh.
>"None taken. I simply thought I'd amuse myself a bit. Tonight has been... stressful."
-
>"I don't suppose either of you know of the 'Cobalt Countess', do you? She's behind the Sin Spirits being released upon the world once more."
-
>Laugh.
>"None taken. I simply thought I'd amuse myself a bit. Tonight has been... stressful."
>"Among other things, it seems." Honoka observes.
>The rather beautiful blonde places a finger to her cheek, and gives you an appraising smile. "Welllll, I work a mean massage, if you're stressed."
>"I don't suppose either of you know of the 'Cobalt Countess', do you? She's behind the Sin Spirits being released upon the world once more."
>"I know of no one by that title." Honoka replies. "But I would not concern myself with her. I expect the red-white shall settle her affair soon enough, as she always does."
>"Where's the fun in that?" Ranka asks teasingly. "And she might have a nice house." She pauses, then asks you, "Does she?"
-
>Chuckle a little. "I can always vent my stress by taking it out on that countess, she's attempted to steal my prized Chief Maid you know, help like that is quite rare."
>Frown. "I plan to punish her rather severely for her transgressions. To that extent, I've been seeking out her domain directly. So I can't rely entirely on Hakurei, not when this matter involves one of my own aides. And thus, involves myself indirectly."
>"At any rate, I've discovered quite a bit of useful information in tracking down her domain. Somewhere around this area is a waterfall basin, near one of the many waterfalls in the area, that is where her lair can be found. I know not if it is a castle, mansion, or what have you. I suspect that it might be though, given her title."
-
>Chuckle a little. "I can always vent my stress by taking it out on that countess, she's attempted to steal my prized Chief Maid you know, help like that is quite rare."
>Frown. "I plan to punish her rather severely for her transgressions. To that extent, I've been seeking out her domain directly. So I can't rely entirely on Hakurei, not when this matter involves one of my own aides. And thus, involves myself indirectly."
>"At any rate, I've discovered quite a bit of useful information in tracking down her domain. Somewhere around this area is a waterfall basin, near one of the many waterfalls in the area, that is where her lair can be found. I know not if it is a castle, mansion, or what have you. I suspect that it might be though, given her title."
>Ranka slightly pouts. "That's not as much fun, either."
>At your mention of a water, Honoka holds her cloaked hand to her chin. "There IS a small castle downriver from here, built next to a lake at the bottom of a waterfall. And the walls and banners of it bear blue coloring and standards. But that Keep has been abandoned for decades or more."
-
>Smile somewhat. "Well, that's quite a bit of help. You see, she was sealed for roughly 200 years, and according to Oracle Kyrie, not meant to awaken once more for some time, someone acted against the threads of fate itself to unseal her prematurely. This would likely account for that keep seeming to be abandoned."
>Smirk a bit. "Well, I suppose I should tell this to a few others who were aiding me in this effort. But first, we should investigate the remains of that mutated plant."
-
>Smile somewhat. "Well, that's quite a bit of help. You see, she was sealed for roughly 200 years, and according to Oracle Kyrie, not meant to awaken once more for some time, someone acted against the threads of fate itself to unseal her prematurely. This would likely account for that keep seeming to be abandoned."
>Smirk a bit. "Well, I suppose I should tell this to a few others who were aiding me in this effort. But first, we should investigate the remains of that mutated plant."
>"Plant? What plant?" Ranka asks you.
>"The being that induced that rage in us may have been using some kind of flying plant as a means of transmitting anger." Honoka fills her friend in. "Miss Scarlet here suspects that this-"
>"Flying plant?" the blonde cuts her off. She turns her gaze towards the south, where the chunks and bits of flying flower lie still on the ground. "What did it look like when it was in one piece?"
-
>"It appeared to be some sort of bulbous manner of thing, with a set of spinning metallic blades underneath. The petals less resembled petals, more that they resembled fins."
-
>"It appeared to be some sort of bulbous manner of thing, with a set of spinning metallic blades underneath. The petals less resembled petals, more that they resembled fins."
>Ranka points off towards the north. "Kind of like that?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow, and look in the direction she pointed.
-
>Raise an eyebrow, and look in the direction she pointed.
>Off to the north, there is a dark form outlined against the sky, and below it, there are flashes of light. It's a bit of a ways away, but the form does seem rather close, almost identical, to the plant you destroyed mere minutes ago.
>"I don't suppose there were two Wrath spirits?" Honoka asks darkly.
-
>"....I don't know for certain. As far as I know, there should only be one. It's likely that these plants are merely acting as backup bodies. This one seems like it might be the biggest of the sort, so it might not fall after a single Gungnir like the last one."
>"You two should tend to those other two, get them up to 200 feet if possible, the spores have difficulty reaching that far."
-
>Head towards the battle.
-
>"....I don't know for certain. As far as I know, there should only be one. It's likely that these plants are merely acting as backup bodies. This one seems like it might be the biggest of the sort, so it might not fall after a single Gungnir like the last one."
>"You two should tend to those other two, get them up to 200 feet if possible, the spores have difficulty reaching that far."
>"Either that, or these plants are tools of the Wrath spirit." Honoka speculates. "Or perhaps creations of this Countess, if she is behind the spirit, as you say."
>"Navel-gaze later." Ranka admonishes her friend, the end of her hair pointing towards the woman in the boat. By this point, she seems to have recovered, and has moved her craft over to the shore of the bog. Of the bug youkai, there is no sign at all. "You go check on her, like I know you do. I'm going to make sure that bloated daisy doesn't do to anyone else what it did to us."
>Head towards the battle.
>"At least heed Miss Scarlet's advise, and stay at height."
>"What, and deny you the chance to spank me again?" Ranka teases the cloaked youkai with a pert little smirk.
>"Just go." Honoka intones, but softens the decree with a faint smile. Ranka laughs, and takes to the air after you.
>Blonde youkai in tow, you fly due north towards the second flying plant, and the lights of fighting around it. After only a minute or so, you note the lights starting to become a bit more concentrated, focused. Focused on the plant, no less, from the left and from the right.
>A bit less than a minute later, after a pair of what look like laser beams strike the thing, the side of mutant flower facing your right explodes outwards, and the thing heels over and takes a header towards the ground.
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Well, that was certainly out of left field. I do hope we won't have to deal with the same issue as earlier, when I slew the first."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Well, that was certainly out of left field. I do hope we won't have to deal with the same issue as earlier, when I slew the first."
>Ranka nods rather gracefully. "I could do without that part, myself, if you mean the... Well. The red stuff." She points towards the smoking plant falling from the sky. "Do you think that was the Hakurei did that?"
-
>Shrug. "She was never much for that type of shot though. Now the black-white and her puppeteer friend, that's another story."
>Let's go get a closer look at things with our new ally.
-
>Shrug. "She was never much for that type of shot though. Now the black-white and her puppeteer friend, that's another story."
>Let's go get a closer look at things with our new ally.
>"Black-white...." Ranka purses her lips in thought. "Ah, yes, that lovely blonde girl with the broom. And all the stars." She frowns slightly, rubbing her stomach almost unconsciously.
>The two of you fly north to investigate the goings on up ahead, but a less interesting and more annoying sight comes into view after a few minutes' flight. A river, likely a branch off the one you were following before. You'll need to find a bridge over it to reach the area where the second flower went down.
>There are a pair of figures flying south from there, generally in your direction.
-
>"Tch...I do despise a bridgeless river. But on a different note, it seems we have company."
>Indicate the two incoming figures.
-
>"Tch...I do despise a bridgeless river. But on a different note, it seems we have company."
>Indicate the two incoming figures.
>Ranka nods, then cups her hand next to her ear. "Youkai, by the sound of them. One of them's a cat, a tiger, I think, or maybe a lion. Big cat of some kind. Afraid I don't know the sound of the other one."
>They're not quite close enough at this range to determine any definite features, but you think one of them has large, somewhat floppy ears, like a rabbit, on their head.
-
>"Hmm...I suppose we'll have to wait for them then, it could be Reisen and Shou."
>As irritating as it is, we'll have to wait for a time, until they get here.
-
>"Hmm...I suppose we'll have to wait for them then, it could be Reisen and Shou."
>As irritating as it is, we'll have to wait for a time, until they get here.
>"Ohhh?" the blonde youkai drawls, curious. "More friends of yours?"
>You could fly forward for about another two or so minutes, but that would take you right up to the water's edge.
-
>Nod. "Somewhat. They're some of the group that's helping in my efforts to punish the Countess for daring to steal my Head Maid from me."
>Shrug. "Nevermind that they also have an investment in the matter themselves."
>Well, let's fly closer then, but stop just short of going up to the edge.
-
>Nod. "Somewhat. They're some of the group that's helping in my efforts to punish the Countess for daring to steal my Head Maid from me."
>Shrug. "Nevermind that they also have an investment in the matter themselves."
>Well, let's fly closer then, but stop just short of going up to the edge.
>Ranka gives you a friendly smile, albeit one that seems somehow slightly... naughty. "It's always nicer to have friends helping you out."
>Venturing a bit closer to the river's edge, you close the gap between you and the oncoming duo. The rabbit ears and the long hair make one of them pretty clear, and the other one seems to have a large hoop of cloth on her back, as well as a polearm weapon in her hand. Certainly seems to be Reisen and Shou, all right, at least among the folks you know.
>The blonde youkai next to you narrows her eyes in Reisen's direction. "Are those bunny ears?"
-
>Nod. "She's a Moon Rabbit you know. So far, it seems to be them."
>Nothing for it then, let's keep cool until they rejoin. But keep an eye on 'em just in case.
-
>Nod. "She's a Moon Rabbit you know. So far, it seems to be them."
>Nothing for it then, let's keep cool until they rejoin. But keep an eye on 'em just in case.
>Ranka licks her lips a little. "Oh, I do love bunnies." With no further adeiu, she flies out in front of you to intercept Reisen and Shou. This annoys you, but given the running water in front of you, there doesn't seem to be a great deal you can do about it.
>Reisen waves in your direction as she draws closer, then she and Shou exchange a word. The two fly a bit apart, the rabbit heading towards the blonde, while Shou travels in your direction. They both seem to be acting perfectly normal, at least which each other.
>"I wasn't expecting to see you out this way." Shou calls out to you as she starts to cross the water.
-
>Sigh. Hopefully she knows to mind herself. Just because we can't cross doesn't mean danmaku can't. There will be time for self-indulgence after things have been set right.
>"Well, Reisen did say I was in the region, yes? I ended up following my own leads I'd found, and ended up here."
>Fistpalm. "Oh, do keep an eye on those two, I picked up that blonde along the way, and she's been a bit suspicious when she found out about what Reisen is."
-
>Sigh. Hopefully she knows to mind herself. Just because we can't cross doesn't mean danmaku can't. There will be time for self-indulgence after things have been set right.
>"Well, Reisen did say I was in the region, yes? I ended up following my own leads I'd found, and ended up here."
>Fistpalm. "Oh, do keep an eye on those two, I picked up that blonde along the way, and she's been a bit suspicious when she found out about what Reisen is."
>Keeping a surreptitious eye on the long-haired blonde, you turn your attention to Shou.
>"Reisen did say that, yes." Shou replies, now on your side of the water. "But she wasn't sure how far you'd come after seperating."
>Shou glances back at Reisen and Ranka. The two of them are floating in front of each other, but nothing seems out of place, or overly enthusiastic. Yet. "Suspicious how?" Shou asks you.
-
>Sigh. "As if she might be possessed by, or might be Lust itself. At the very least, I suspect she'll be quite susceptible, if this is simply the norm for her."
>Fistpalm. "See about getting those two over on this side, would you? This way I can react quicker."
-
>Sigh. "As if she might be possessed by, or might be Lust itself. At the very least, I suspect she'll be quite susceptible, if this is simply the norm for her."
>Fistpalm. "See about getting those two over on this side, would you? This way I can react quicker."
>Shou's grip tightens just a bit on her polearm, but she doesn't immediately jet over to Reisen's side.
>Instead, she asks you first, "You wouldn't know if she'd had a bad reaction to a rather strange plant earlier tonight, would you?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Why do you ask? And what do you mean by 'bad reaction'?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Why do you ask? And what do you mean by 'bad reaction'?"
>"Because Reisen and I destroyed one a few minutes ago. It seemed to be spreading some kind of mist, or dust, that caused terrible anger in anyone around it, or downwind. From what you and Byakuren told us earlier, we suspected it was the work of the Wrath spirit. And we know there were more than one of them."
>She points at the blonde youkai chatting with Reisen. "If she was affected by that anger, if there was a plant... Come to think of it, I haven't told you what that plant looked like, did I?"
-
>"Let me guess. large, bulbous, spinning metallic blades on the bottom in place of roots, and fins in place of petals, no? I slew one myself earlier. I found her and a few others locked in a rather heated battle in the nearby vicinity of it. When I disposed of it, everyone ended up purging their systems of the spores the best way their bodies knew how."
>Make a slightly disgusted face. "By vomiting."
>Then sigh irritatedly. "Even I could not escape that, having been somewhat affected by the spores myself. But this just adds to my desire to punish the Countess and her underlings."
-
>"Let me guess. large, bulbous, spinning metallic blades on the bottom in place of roots, and fins in place of petals, no? I slew one myself earlier. I found her and a few others locked in a rather heated battle in the nearby vicinity of it. When I disposed of it, everyone ended up purging their systems of the spores the best way their bodies knew how."
>Make a slightly disgusted face. "By vomiting."
>Then sigh irritatedly. "Even I could not escape that, having been somewhat affected by the spores myself. But this just adds to my desire to punish the Countess and her underlings."
>Shou gives you an understanding look. "Yeah, that happened to us, too. And it wasn't just humanoids, even the animals were fighting each other in the area around that plant. And they vomited, as well." She shakes her head. "Nazrin would say, 'That was really revolting.', and I couldn't say it better myself."
>She points her spear back at Ranka. "But if that woman was affected by Wrath's flowers, I might think then that she hasn't been affected by Lust. I don't think one Sin would work against another, since they share the same master."
-
>Sigh. "Then this is normal for her. We'll have to make sure she doesn't encounter Lust then, things could get messy. And I don't just mean combat, if you know my meaning."
>"At any rate though, I've discovered some crucial information on locating the Countess and her lair. In the area, according to the blonde and her friends, there is an old Keep strewn with blue banners and standards. Until recently, it appeared to be abandoned. We've come to the mutual conclusion that this Keep is the place I seek."
>Then let out a slight growl of frustration. "But this accursed river bars my path! She's a clever girl she is, making her lair in a place where no other Vampire can travel easily."
-
>Sigh. "Then this is normal for her. We'll have to make sure she doesn't encounter Lust then, things could get messy. And I don't just mean combat, if you know my meaning."
>"At any rate though, I've discovered some crucial information on locating the Countess and her lair. In the area, according to the blonde and her friends, there is an old Keep strewn with blue banners and standards. Until recently, it appeared to be abandoned. We've come to the mutual conclusion that this Keep is the place I seek."
>Then let out a slight growl of frustration. "But this accursed river bars my path! She's a clever girl she is, making her lair in a place where no other Vampire can travel easily."
>Shou ponders that for a moment. "Well, if she's a vampire like you, she'd have to have left herself room to leave. Nobody builds themselves their own cage, after all. So if she can get out, it stands to reason that you, another vampire, could get in."
>"Did they say exactly where this Keep was?"
-
>Nod. "There should be a waterfall downriver, the Keep is there, at the foot of that waterfall. We should let everyone know that the target area has been found I suppose."
-
>Nod. "There should be a waterfall downriver, the Keep is there, at the foot of that waterfall. We should let everyone know that the target area has been found I suppose."
>"It will be good to know which waterfall. Evidently, Reisen found a mermaid a bit earlier who told her of no less than four waterfalls of different sizes not too far from here."
>As though beckoned, both Reisen and Ranka start to head towards you, the blonde seeming a touch more subdued than before.
-
>Gesture towards Ranka, then Shou. "Ranka, Shou here is wondering which waterfall in specific that the Abandoned Keep is at."
>Nod. "Once we reach the location, our next goal is to locate the entire group, and converge on the Keep. We'll strike in great number, and deliver swift punishment." Clench a fist in front of us for emphasis during the last part.
-
>Gesture towards Ranka, then Shou. "Ranka, Shou here is wondering which waterfall in specific that the Abandoned Keep is at."
>Nod. "Once we reach the location, our next goal is to locate the entire group, and converge on the Keep. We'll strike in great number, and deliver swift punishment." Clench a fist in front of us for emphasis during the last part.
>The youkai with the excaptionally long hair points due south, along the river where the kappa village lies. "That way. I think." She pouts ever so slightly. "Hon would know for sure. I don't pay too much attention to buildings, when I can help it."
>"Why's that?" Shou asks her.
>Ranka runs a hand through her hair. "I don't really care for being indoors. It's too confining."
-
(Ironic then, that her FF2/FF4 counterpart is fought inside one.)
>Chuckle a bit. "You're like the wind, aren't you? Never stays in one place for too long, or goes inside a building for long."
>Nod. "Well, at any rate, we'll have to locate her. You know her better than any of us, so you should have an easier time of it. Lead the way."
>Let's roll!
-
(Ironic then, that her FF2/FF4 counterpart is fought inside one.)
>Chuckle a bit. "You're like the wind, aren't you? Never stays in one place for too long, or goes inside a building for long."
>Nod. "Well, at any rate, we'll have to locate her. You know her better than any of us, so you should have an easier time of it. Lead the way."
>Let's roll!
That occured to me as well, aye. But I figured she made exceptions for seeing Kain.
>Ranka nods. "You got it, sweetie." she replies with a smile. "I'm just not myself unless I'm out in the open."
>"She's probably still back with that barge driver." Ranka theorizes. She moves up past the three of you, glancing behind her. "Follow me, then, pretty ladies."
>Not a lot of shame in this one, you muse quietly, as the blonde takes off back the way you came, the three of you following behind her.
>"We should probably keep an eye out for more of those flying plants." Reisen advises as you fly back. "If the Countess is behind their creation, then we'll probably see more of the things on our way there."
-
>Nod. "Indeed. I plan to eliminate them as they show up. Gungnir has quite a bit of range, and with my on-the-fly adaptation, can take them down in one pass. You should be able to see the work of my earlier skirmish as we fly, so I shall point it out when we get close. I think you'll be rather impressed."
>Let's keep going, and point out the wreckage when it's relevant.
-
>Nod. "Indeed. I plan to eliminate them as they show up. Gungnir has quite a bit of range, and with my on-the-fly adaptation, can take them down in one pass. You should be able to see the work of my earlier skirmish as we fly, so I shall point it out when we get close. I think you'll be rather impressed."
>Let's keep going, and point out the wreckage when it's relevant.
>The wreckage in question comes into view only a few moments later. Or rather, where it SHOULD have been. The hunks of plant-life that had been strewn across the ground below you are now gone, and there are small black char marks left in their place.
>The presence of Honoka in the air above gives mute testament to the source of the char. Presently, she is facing east, towards the Kappa village. She starts to fly in that direction, but Ranka calls out to her with a wave, making the cloaked youkai pause.
-
>"Well, she's rather thorough. Isn't she?"
>Perhaps it has some sort of reanimation ability that prompted this. Let's follow along.
-
>"Well, she's rather thorough. Isn't she?"
>Perhaps it has some sort of reanimation ability that prompted this. Let's follow along.
>"You have no idea." Ranka says slyly as she flies forwards.
>Honoka gives you a solemn nod as you approach. "I was not expecting you both back so soon. What happened to the other ragebloom?"
>"We actually took care of that." Reisen fills her in, indicating both herself and Shou.
>"'Ragebloom'?" Ranka asks her.
>"It seems as good a term as any for a warped plant spreading anger-inducing spores across Gensokyo."
-
>Nod wisely. "A rather fitting name, but am I correct in assuming that it has some sort of reanimation property then? I can't immediately think of any other reason as to why one would burn the remains otherwise. Aside from just being thorough and practical that is."
>"At any rate, since you seemed to be moving to fly to the Kappa Village, I take it you were going there to check on the villagers?"
-
>Nod wisely. "A rather fitting name, but am I correct in assuming that it has some sort of reanimation property then? I can't immediately think of any other reason as to why one would burn the remains otherwise. Aside from just being thorough and practical that is."
>"Simple prudence." Honoka answers. "I have known more than one individual who possess the ability to either put that plant back together, or grow their own, given a sample to work with. Even Rika- the young woman with the boat- might have found a way to integrate the plant into a new vehicle of hers. She's a very clever girl."
>"Good thinking." Reisen approves with a nod. "The last thing we need is any more of these things flying around. I'm Reisen, by the way. Reisen Udongein."
>"And I'm Shou Toramaru, servant of Bishamonten and Byakuren Hijiri."
>Honoka bows formally to the pair. "Honoka, Eternal Shroud of the Crimson Flame." She holds her hand out to Ranka. "I believe you've met my friend, Ranka Kitajima."
>The beautiful blonde's face drops slightly at the use of the word 'friend'.
>"At any rate, since you seemed to be moving to fly to the Kappa Village, I take it you were going there to check on the villagers?"
>"Indeed. The Kappa are surprisingly strong, and could do considerable damage when enraged, to themselves and their homes."
-
>Nod. "Sensible choice. I left an associate of mine there to help them out with a device of theirs, and was planning on picking him up as well. So we can all go there as a group. And I daresay more than a few of the villagers may be willing to join in."
>Didn't that bear follow us? Whatever happened to her?
-
>Nod. "Sensible choice. I left an associate of mine there to help them out with a device of theirs, and was planning on picking him up as well. So we can all go there as a group. And I daresay more than a few of the villagers may be willing to join in."
>Didn't that bear follow us? Whatever happened to her?
>Honoka glances about the gathered youkai. "Seems to me that we have power enough as it is."
>"Oh, come on, Hon, the more the merrier." Ranka chides, flitting over and around her friend. She pauses behind Honoka and takes up a prone position in the air, resting her hands and chin lightly atop Honoka's head. "Hon's a real stickler for fair fights."
>The bear and you did travel in the same direction, but she went straight northwest from the village, while you went straight up and then northwest. You haven't seen her since.
-
>Well, here's hoping she's okay. "Reisen, Shou, I don't suppose you two saw a bear engaging in any combat? One of the two others who ended up joining the group was a Youkai Bear."
>Glance over at Honoka. "Well, you can always find your own opponent, or even sit out some fights. I'm simply being practical myself. Besides, spellcard duels are rather fair as far as things go, and I daresay you'll get to enjoy a few more by the day's end."
>...This is sure to play havoc with whatever passes for a sleep schedule for us, is it not?
(It's been canonically shown she does indeed sleep. Though inside a coffin atop a bed.)
-
>Well, here's hoping she's okay. "Reisen, Shou, I don't suppose you two saw a bear engaging in any combat? One of the two others who ended up joining the group was a Youkai Bear."
>Glance over at Honoka. "Well, you can always find your own opponent, or even sit out some fights. I'm simply being practical myself. Besides, spellcard duels are rather fair as far as things go, and I daresay you'll get to enjoy a few more by the day's end."
>...This is sure to play havoc with whatever passes for a sleep schedule for us, is it not?
(It's been canonically shown she does indeed sleep. Though inside a coffin atop a bed.)
>Both youkai shake their head. "I haven't seen any bears at all." Shou provides.
>That draw a small bit of a grin from the thus-far rather serious faced youkai. "I have rather enjoyed the Red-white's combat system since its inception. If this is another one of those 'incidents' that she gets involved in, I would hope our paths will cross. I have longed to challenge her since our last encounter."
>Ranka rolls her eyes slightly at Honoka's sentiment, though Reisen and Shou laugh a little.
>Not too much. You're largely nocturnal as it is. This has been a more active night than the recent norm, though, so when you get back to your bed, you'll probably sleep well.
It's also cannonically stated, by her, on a couple occasions, that she doesn't sleep in a coffin. But that's one detail I'm prepared to leave up to you folks. Remilia does sleep, that's for sure. Whether she does so in a coffin or not, that's your call.
-
(And yet, the novels prove that she does sleep in a bed....Inside a coffin. So it's probably her way of screwing with loopholes, as she's oft to do.)
>"Well, we should encounter her again by the night's end, so it balances out. Besides, I'll be the one to take on the countess personally, I have something of a grudge after all."
>Nod. "At any rate, let's return to the village, and work from there. I do have to make sure that human is alright after all."
>Let's roll!
-
(And yet, the novels prove that she does sleep in a bed....Inside a coffin. So it's probably her way of screwing with loopholes, as she's oft to do.)
>"Well, we should encounter her again by the night's end, so it balances out. Besides, I'll be the one to take on the countess personally, I have something of a grudge after all."
>Nod. "At any rate, let's return to the village, and work from there. I do have to make sure that human is alright after all."
>Let's roll!
>"I'll not intervene in your personal issue." Honoka assures you.
>Ranka adds her agreement, "But I won't promise not to watch." she adds with a mischievous smirk. You can hear Shou facepalm slightly.
>The five of your set off back towards the kappa village. Along the way back, you note puddles of that reddish goop that you and the other puked up after the plant had been destroyed. Some volumes are small, while others appear to be as large as the ones the humanoids, like yourself, expelled. And there are injured animals that have gone into hiding as well, you can smell their blood. There don't appear to have been any fatalities among the wildlife, however. The bear's blood does not present itself to you, though, which you consider a good thing.
>As the village comes into view, you make sure to adjust your course to take you over the dam stretched across the river, when you get there. The reek of that reddish vomit starts to waft across your nose, as well as what seems to be the fading scent of an electrical fire. There is a distinct lack of blood in the air, which is good. There does, however, seem to be a plume of black smoke rising from one of the rooftops. It seems to be the same roof where Nitori was working, and where you left Koryu.
>The time is now 2:17 AM.
-
>Sigh. "Of course things wouldn't be so easy. That roof with the smoke is where I left one of my earlier group."
>Let's check it out, perhaps we'll find information, or clues.
-
>Sigh. "Of course things wouldn't be so easy. That roof with the smoke is where I left one of my earlier group."
>Let's check it out, perhaps we'll find information, or clues.
>As you fly closer, you note a distinct lack of the reddish ooze on the streets below you. In fact, the only place that seems to have red vomit on it is that roof as well, and the walls of the building run red, like someone upended a giant bucket of the stuff on the roof.
>The crowd has dissipated as well, with only a handful of kappa still lingering in the town square, but the sight on the roof is an interesting one. Nitori, Chiyo and Minamo's machine is still there, by the looks of it, the back of it has blown out from the inside. Based on the pattern of the red liquid, it seems like the stuff exploded out of the machine and poured down over the side of the building.
>Minamo the kappa is still present, taking a welding torch to one side of the gaping wound in the machine. A trio of kappa are present as well, trying to mop up the viscous red sludge. Neither Koryu, Chiyo nor Nitori seems to be present, although, now that you're this close, you can detect a hint of Koryu's blood among the stench of the red vomit.
-
>Let's land near Minamo then.
>"So sorry to disturb you dear, but what happened to the young man I left here to aid you and the others? I can smell some of his blood amidst the stench of this...Well, I suppose one could call it 'Rage Essence'."
-
>Let's land near Minamo then.
>"So sorry to disturb you dear, but what happened to the young man I left here to aid you and the others? I can smell some of his blood amidst the stench of this...Well, I suppose one could call it 'Rage Essence'."
>The ponytailed kappa stops her welding, and lifts her goggles as she turns to face you. "Koryu? Nitori took him to the hospital."
>"What happened?" Reisen inquires."
>"Overtaxed his power. At least I'm pretty sure that's what it was, he wasn't too coherent after he pulled that stunt."
-
>Sigh, and facepalm. "That's at least the second time today he's done that...It's a wonder how a human like him has lived as long as he has, with such reckless use of a decidedly risky power as his."
-
>Sigh, and facepalm. "That's at least the second time today he's done that...It's a wonder how a human like him has lived as long as he has, with such reckless use of a decidedly risky power as his."
>"What did he do?" Shou asks the Kappa.
>"I don't know exactly HOW, but he managed to remove the spores from every person and creature in the village." She raps the machine with her knuckle. "This worked well enough at cleaning up the air, but it didn't suck up the spores that had already infected people. Doing that would've been- Messy. So Koryu decided to do it for us. Nitori tried to stop him, wanted to see if you got anywhere first, Remilia. But he wouldn't wait. He wanted to help all us Kappa, and Hina as well."
-
>Sigh. "And I take it the device couldn't handle such a sudden and massive influx?"
>"I do hope that he'll learn to not be so reckless, I'd hate for the world to lose a young man with as much potential as he has. It's a rather rare occurrence afterall, given that most with such an ability are female, like ourselves."
-
>Sigh. "And I take it the device couldn't handle such a sudden and massive influx?"
>"I do hope that he'll learn to not be so reckless, I'd hate for the world to lose a young man with as much potential as he has. It's a rather rare occurrence afterall, given that most with such an ability are female, like ourselves."
>"Guess again. We didn't expect the spores to change into liquid. Machine wasn't set up for that. As near as we can tell, the fluid washed into the filtration system, eventually down into one of the power cells, and then... Well, you see what happened." She waves her arm towards the blown out back of the machine, and the red ooze that flowed from it. A kappa with a sledgehammer flies up onto the roof, and walks over to the broken end of the machine.
>"I plan to turn this thing into a container for the ooze, as soon as I patch up this end of it." Minamo continues.
-
>Nod. "Sensible course of action. I managed to find the source of the spores as well. Misshapen and mutated plants that seem artificially created with the intent to spread anger and wrath throughout Gensokyo. We've taken to calling them 'Rageblooms'. The source of where they've been coming from has also been located for the most part, downriver from that bog is an Abandoned Keep at the foot of a waterfall. There lies the root of this whole fiasco."
>Sigh. "If only he had just waited, the spores would have purged themselves naturally. You see, by slaying the Rageblooms, their spores lose effect, and are purged from the body. Which, no-doubt you've already seen for yourself."
-
>Nod. "Sensible course of action. I managed to find the source of the spores as well. Misshapen and mutated plants that seem artificially created with the intent to spread anger and wrath throughout Gensokyo. We've taken to calling them 'Rageblooms'. The source of where they've been coming from has also been located for the most part, downriver from that bog is an Abandoned Keep at the foot of a waterfall. There lies the root of this whole fiasco."
>Sigh. "If only he had just waited, the spores would have purged themselves naturally. You see, by slaying the Rageblooms, their spores lose effect, and are purged from the body. Which, no-doubt you've already seen for yourself."
>Minamo shakes her head. "Koryu was the only one that did any purging here. We'd just assumed the spores became fluidic on their own once they hit a critical saturation point, or after being removed from a body for a long enough time."
-
>Nod. "Well, from my own experiences, as well as those of the others I brought with me, they seem to take on a fluid form after the demise of the source."
-
>Nod. "Well, from my own experiences, as well as those of the others I brought with me, they seem to take on a fluid form after the demise of the source."
>"That probably means there's some kind of magic involved." Reisen theorizes.
>"Obviously." Ranka chides her. "How d'you think a plant like that came about?"
>"In any case," Minamo cuts them off, "All the spores in this area were in our super-filter when you blew up their generator, Remilia."
>"How injured was the human?" Honoka asks suddenly.
>Minamo considers. "I really couldn't say for sure. But he seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness. And he was bleeding from his ears and nose, that's never a good sign."
>"Indeed not. Where was this hospital?"
>The kappa points her welding torch northeast, towards one of the larger buildings, painted white on the outside with a sky-blue roof. The term 'hospital' may be a bit generous, at it looks more like a large house than a full on hospital.
>"We should see to him." Honoka suggests to you. "Not only to praise his courage, should he be awake, but also, I may be able to aid in his healing, depending on the nature of his injuries."
-
>Nod. "Indeed. Let's be off to the hospital then."
>Let's roll!
-
>Nod. "Indeed. Let's be off to the hospital then."
>Let's roll!
>"If Nitori's still there, tell her to get back here, there's still a lot of work to do." Minamo adds as you and your crew take leave from her.
>Reisen drops back to speak with Honoka as you go, their conversation on the healing arts.
>Shou, meanwhile, pulls abreast with you. "This human's obviously an acquaintance of yours, Remilia. What is it about his ability that makes it so dangerous?"
-
>Sigh. "It has a tendency to overtax his body. Now, if he wasn't human, he would not have to worry so much. But, as it stands now, such an ability is far too dangerous for him to use so recklessly without proper training. Earlier, he used it on a river to figure out the location we've all been seeking, but it almost took his arm from him. I was able to save him thanks to this Demonfrost Glaive though, it freezes anything it cuts, which allowed me to free his arm easily enough."
>Let's keep rolling for the Hospital!
-
>Sigh. "It has a tendency to overtax his body. Now, if he wasn't human, he would not have to worry so much. But, as it stands now, such an ability is far too dangerous for him to use so recklessly without proper training. Earlier, he used it on a river to figure out the location we've all been seeking, but it almost took his arm from him. I was able to save him thanks to this Demonfrost Glaive though, it freezes anything it cuts, which allowed me to free his arm easily enough."
>Let's keep rolling for the Hospital!
>"That's an odd mix of uses." Shou replies. "Information from water, curing people of anger infections."
>"Maybe he's a mage in-potentia." Ranka speculates.
>Pondering Koryu's true potential, were he not limited by his mostly human blood, you fly over to the large house generously referred to as a hospital. It DOES have the red cross sign hanging outside the front door. And a rather imposing guard: The youkai bear is lying by the entrance to the hospital. A pair of kappa stand about fifteen or so feet away, a mixture of fear and curiousity on their faces.
-
>"Hmm...He may well have that potential, I've actually considered that possibility myself. Good thing I have a friend or two who can help him realize it."
>Let's head over to the bear, and give her a good pat. "Been keeping an eye on Koryu? Good form dear, good form. I've brought some people along who should be able to aid his recovery."
>Let's head on in with the others, provided our ursine friend doesn't try to stop us, even after this little revelation that we've got some people who can help him heal.
-
>"Hmm...He may well have that potential, I've actually considered that possibility myself. Good thing I have a friend or two who can help him realize it."
>Let's head over to the bear, and give her a good pat. "Been keeping an eye on Koryu? Good form dear, good form. I've brought some people along who should be able to aid his recovery."
>Let's head on in with the others, provided our ursine friend doesn't try to stop us, even after this little revelation that we've got some people who can help him heal.
>The bear growls as you lay your hand on her fur. She doesn't seem to welcome your touch as she did Koryu's. She doesn't attack you, which is good, but you get the impression she might if you touch her again. Best avoid that.
>Neither does she stop you from walking past you towards the door, though she does give your companions a rather piercing stare, her nose sniffing the air around them. Evidently, she finds nothing about them objectionable, either, and does not deter them,
>Shou, however, addresses you as cross the threshold of the door, "I'll continue downriver from here. I want to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible."
-
>"I will join you as soon as I am able."
-
>Sigh. "Though I would stick around if I were you, there's safety to be had in numbers. You know the dangers the Sin Spirits hold, and who knows how many more Rageblooms there are."
>"Besides, I won't be delaying here for too long, simply long enough to drop Reisen and Honoka off, and confirm his health status."
-
>"I will join you as soon as I am able."
>Sigh. "Though I would stick around if I were you, there's safety to be had in numbers. You know the dangers the Sin Spirits hold, and who knows how many more Rageblooms there are."
>"Besides, I won't be delaying here for too long, simply long enough to drop Reisen and Honoka off, and confirm his health status."
>Shou seems confused. "First you advocate strength in numbers, then you say you're planning on separating from some of your companions?"
-
>Sigh. "At least take someone with you as a backup then, it's safer that way."
-
>Sigh. "At least take someone with you as a backup then, it's safer that way."
>"She's got a point, Shou." Ranka advises her, tossing her hair back with her hand. "Why do something by yourself if you don't have to? Sure, you'd probably peachy, but, better safe than stuffed full of angry-juice again."
>The tiger youkai looks between her and you. "Perhaps you're both right." she concedes after a moment. "I will scan the skies, though, in the event there's any more of them in the area."
-
>"Also, I suggest flying at 200 feet, the spores didn't reach that high until I provoked the first Ragebloom. So my next action was to end it in one stroke. I suggest that if you find any others, you do the same, and don't hold back at all."
>Nod. "At any rate, take someone with you as backup. I leave it to you as to who you choose."
-
>"Also, I suggest flying at 200 feet, the spores didn't reach that high until I provoked the first Ragebloom. So my next action was to end it in one stroke. I suggest that if you find any others, you do the same, and don't hold back at all."
>Nod. "At any rate, take someone with you as backup. I leave it to you as to who you choose."
>"I'll keep you company, Shou." the blonde volunteers with a smile. "I don't do indoors, anyway."
>Shou gives the long-haired youkai a nod. "Very well."
>As Shou and Ranka take off to the skies, Reisen moves past you and into the white-walled infirmary.
>"Your friend is well versed in the medical arts." Honoka comments.
-
>Well, all we can do now is hope those two don't run into Lust. That could end rather...'badly'.
>"Of course, it's her job. Have you heard of a place called 'The Bamboo Forest of the Lost'? Inside there is a place I've been to, Eientei. In there, resides a talented Lunarian Doctor, Eirin Yagokoro. Reisen is her assistant."
>Smirk a bit. "So it stands to reason that to be the assistant to someone so skilled, one must also be highly skilled."
>Nod. "At any rate, let's go in and see to things, shall we? Personally, I'm praying that your friend does not encounter Lust. Her already flirtatious nature could become quite the weakness in that situation."
>Let's follow Reisen!
-
>Well, all we can do now is hope those two don't run into Lust. That could end rather...'badly'.
>"Of course, it's her job. Have you heard of a place called 'The Bamboo Forest of the Lost'? Inside there is a place I've been to, Eientei. In there, resides a talented Lunarian Doctor, Eirin Yagokoro. Reisen is her assistant."
>Smirk a bit. "So it stands to reason that to be the assistant to someone so skilled, one must also be highly skilled."
>Nod. "At any rate, let's go in and see to things, shall we? Personally, I'm praying that your friend does not encounter Lust. Her already flirtatious nature could become quite the weakness in that situation."
>Let's follow Reisen!
>The fire-aligned youkai nods. "I have desired to visit that place myself. I have heard rumors of one whose power over flame rivals my own, perhaps even surpasses mine, who is said to dwell there."
>Honoka's usually serious face becomes a shade grim as you both enter the hospital. "Yes. I have considered that myself." Her tone lightens as she continues, "But I do not fear for her safety. She is with Shou. That one has a great deal of skill, and power, I could tell, and a noble spirit. I have no qualms with trusting Ranka's back to her."
>The hospital is built on the inside as it is outside; like a sizable house. Certainly not in the league of your mansion, almost nothing in Gensokyo is, but large enough to have a foyer and a large staircase seperating top and ground floor. The walls are an antiseptic white color, and the smell of alcohol is in the air. It has the earmarks of a mansion that was converted to serve as a public medical center.
>The foyer is mostly empty, save a single kappa in a modest nurse's uniform, holding a glass jar. She is presently engaged with Reisen.
-
>Nod. "She should be sufficient enough to resist Lust's advances I would think. She hails from the Myouren Temple after all, those people generally disregard such things as desire."
>Then stroke our chin thoughtfully. "But yes...I recall someone like that. Mokou Fujiwara. Sometimes referred to as a Phoenix. I once had the pleasure of having a spellcard duel with her. Once I recover Sakuya, I'll be sure to have her help relate the tale, as she too was involved in said battle."
>Smile nostalgically. "She was quite the opponent. I think you'll find her to be more than adequate, even with the spellcard laws."
>"Ah, seems this was once a Mansion, not unlike my own. At least they have good sense to use a large building, that's a very good idea, given the possibility of having many injured at times."
>Let's head over to Reisen and the Kappa. "So, what is the situation?"
-
>Nod. "She should be sufficient enough to resist Lust's advances I would think. She hails from the Myouren Temple after all, those people generally disregard such things as desire."
>Then stroke our chin thoughtfully. "But yes...I recall someone like that. Mokou Fujiwara. Sometimes referred to as a Phoenix. I once had the pleasure of having a spellcard duel with her. Once I recover Sakuya, I'll be sure to have her help relate the tale, as she too was involved in said battle."
>Smile nostalgically. "She was quite the opponent. I think you'll find her to be more than adequate, even with the spellcard laws."
>"Ah, seems this was once a Mansion, not unlike my own. At least they have good sense to use a large building, that's a very good idea, given the possibility of having many injured at times."
>Let's head over to Reisen and the Kappa. "So, what is the situation?"
>The tall kappa, her blue hair tied into a bun, turns to face you, uttering a muffled 'kappa'. She is bespectacled, and is wearing a white mask over her mouth. "You are here to see the young man?" she asks of you, her voice slightly stuffed up.
-
>Nod. "Indeed. How is he holding up? I heard he overtaxed himself helping out this village."
-
>Nod. "Indeed. How is he holding up? I heard he overtaxed himself helping out this village."
>"Fortunately, it wasn't as bad as it seemed at first." the kappa replies. "We sedated him when upon arrival, but since then, he's been resting comfortably. He doesn't appear to have done any serious damage to himself, but we have some more tests to... to.. Ka-PPPA!" She tilts her head away from the three of you and sneezes loudly, her glasses popping up onto her forehead in the process.
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Have a cold, do you? Do hope you get that resolved."
>Nod. "At any rate, do make sure he's rested and recovered. You know of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, yes? Should his recovery take a while, I would like there to be a letter sent there upon his recovery. I've taken an interest in furthering his abilities."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Have a cold, do you? Do hope you get that resolved."
>Nod. "At any rate, do make sure he's rested and recovered. You know of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, yes? Should his recovery take a while, I would like there to be a letter sent there upon his recovery. I've taken an interest in furthering his abilities."
>The nurse sniffs. "Thank you."
>"Would that be the mansion by the misty lake?"
-
>Nod. "Indeed it is. Since, unlike we Youkai, he will likely take longer to recover, he will likely be out of commission for the rest of the incident I've been working to resolve. Which is why I'll want a letter sent to the mansion once he's mostly healed, so as to prepare to fetch him."
>Smirk a bit. "He has rare talent, something one doesn't often find, even during such long lives as we Youkai possess."
-
>Nod. "Indeed it is. Since, unlike we Youkai, he will likely take longer to recover, he will likely be out of commission for the rest of the incident I've been working to resolve. Which is why I'll want a letter sent to the mansion once he's mostly healed, so as to prepare to fetch him."
>Smirk a bit. "He has rare talent, something one doesn't often find, even during such long lives as we Youkai possess."
>"That shouldn't be a problem."
>"We might be able to help speed his recovery, as well." Reisen adds.
>"Reisen's medical knowledge precedes her." the nurse explains. She sniffs before continuing, "And she has told me of your powers, as well." she says in respect to Honoka.
>The cloaked youkai inclines her head. "Mere rudimentary magic. I make no claims on being a true healer. Nevertheless, I may be able to aid the human, depending on the nature of his condition."
>"And I have no problem.... Ka-PPA!" a sneeze interrupts her, followed by another one. Her glasses go up and down each time. After she recovers her composure, she continues, "No problem with any help either of you could offer. *sniff*"
>"Could you give us a few minutes to assess his condition, Remilia?" Reisen asks you. "I know you want to settle things with the Countess, but, I want to see if there's anything I can do."
-
>Nod. "Quite alright. Wouldn't feel right with myself if I left him in the lurch like this. Even a demon like myself has a manner of morals. After all, it's to be expected from Nobility. I have an interest in his current condition myself, so I'll follow along."
>Let's follow along!
-
>Nod. "Quite alright. Wouldn't feel right with myself if I left him in the lurch like this. Even a demon like myself has a manner of morals. After all, it's to be expected from Nobility. I have an interest in his current condition myself, so I'll follow along."
>Let's follow along!
>"Now wait a moment." the kappa states as firmly as she can manage with a badly stuffed up nose. "Reisen and this-"
>"It's all right, doctor." Reisen assures her. "Remilia is his friend. Well... friendly acquaintance, at least."
>The kappa considers this. "Very well. But I must insist you keep your voices down, all of you."
-
>Nod. "But of course."
>Let's shift to bat form and perch on Reisen's shoulder. "It's quieter this way after all."
-
>Nod. "But of course."
>Let's shift to bat form and perch on Reisen's shoulder. "It's quieter this way after all."
>Your transformation elicits a squawk of "Kappa!" from the nurse, and she adjusts her glasses as she regards you new form. "Uh... Yuh, Yes, it certainly is." She clears her throat to regain her composure, and ends up coughing a couple of times. She then gestures to the door on the west wall. "Koryu's in the second room on the right down that wing."
>Reisen thanks the doctor, and the three of you set off.
>"There's one thing I've been wondering, Remilia, before we go in to see him." Reisen asks you as she pauses outside the door to Koryu's room. "Koryu's family name. Is it Daidouji?"
-
>"Yes."
-
>"Yes."
>"Yeah, that's what I thought." Reisen replies, like she knew the answer before she asked.
>"The boy is known to you?" Honoka inquires.
>"Not directly. I never met him myself, but I know his family, especially his sister. They live in the village- So did he, until a few years ago." She rests her hand on the doorknob to his room. "I honestly didn't think he was still alive. No one in the village did, except his sister." She looks at you. "You've spoken with him. Has he been living out here, in the wilderness of Gensokyo, all that time?"
-
>Nod. "Apparently so. He's implied that he's been an itinerant wanderer, settling down wherever he feels is suitable for the time."
-
>Nod. "Apparently so. He's implied that he's been an itinerant wanderer, settling down wherever he feels is suitable for the time."
>"A human living on his own for many years?" Honoka says aloud, obviously amazed, and impressed.
>Reisen laughs very softly. "In retrospect, that may have been the best for him." she muses, before opening the door.
>Koryu's bed chamber is painted a dull mix of olive green and deep brown, eye-saving colors, if a bit dull. It narrows past the door, a flat wall on the left and a closet door on the right, before opening up within. Koryu's bed is next to the north wall, which has a window in it, curtain drawn, with a simple metal cushioned chair on either side, a small table on the west wall.
>Koryu himself seems to be sleeping comfortably, his right arm splayed next to his head, and he is snoring quietly. A kappa nurse, her long blue hair tied back in a ponytail with a green bow, is standing to his left, leaning by his ear.
-
>"Well, he seems rather fine now, no? Nothing a few days of bed rest won't fix methinks."
-
>"Well, he seems rather fine now, no? Nothing a few days of bed rest won't fix methinks."
>"That's what I'd like to see for myself." Reisen replies, her voice appropriately low, and walks forward.
>The Kappa straightens up as the rabbit and the cloak approach, her ample chest straining her modest nurse's garb. "Visitors?"
>"Healers, actually." Reisen replies. "I'm Rei-"
>"Sen Udongein?" the nurse interrupts, her voice raising despite herself. She then blushes a bit, and looks abashed.
>"I'd like to take a look at this young man myself, if you wouldn-" Reisen tries to press on, but the kappa cuts her off again.
>"Mind? No, no, of course not, go ahead."
>Reisen seems unfazed by being cut off twice, as near as you can tell, and turns her eye to you. "If you wouldn't mind, Remilia, I'd prefer having both arms free when I'm examining a patient."
-
>"But of course. "
>Let's hop off, and resume our usual form, but hovering slightly, so we don't cause any noise with our feet on the ground.
-
>"But of course. "
>Let's hop off, and resume our usual form, but hovering slightly, so we don't cause any noise with our feet on the ground.
>"Thank you."
>While Reisen's response to your shapeshift is unsurprised, the kappa is just as surprised as the last one was, squeaking out a noise of amazement and dropping the tool in her hand, before stabbing out with her hand and catching it on the second attempt.
>Reisen makes her doctor's bag reappear, and extracts a stethoscope from it. As she has a listen though it, Honoka asks the Kappa, "Have you found any injur-"
>"-ies of note? No, not so far." the nurse replies with a shake of her head. "He's got a few old injuries that seemed to have healed on their own, but, nothing we can find from today." She then gives you a curious look, and asks, with just a touch of trepedation, "Are you, possibly, maybe.... a vampire?"
-
>Wave a hand in a somewhat dismissive way. "But of course. I have no reason to cause a fuss though, there's bigger fish to fry, so to speak."
-
>Wave a hand in a somewhat dismissive way. "But of course. I have no reason to cause a fuss though, there's bigger fish to fry, so to speak."
>"Actually... I was wondering, well, how you got in here? I read that vampires couldn't enter buildings unless they were invited."
-
>Was that ever true since entering Gensokyo?
-
>Was that ever true since entering Gensokyo?
>Actually, yes, it is. But it only applies to private residences. Places like a hospital, or the Hakurei shrine, are open to the public, to anyone, and that includes vampires. This kappa's information may be incomplete.
-
>Shrug. "That only applies to private residences. Public places such as hospitals and the like are 'fair game', as one might put it."
-
>Shrug. "That only applies to private residences. Public places such as hospitals and the like are 'fair game', as one might put it."
>The kappa cuts you off at "-fair game. Book didn't mention that."
>Honoka finally asks the kappa, as Reisen examines Koryu's ear, "Why are you-"
>"-doing that?" the nurse winces. "It's a bad habit, I know. I'm sorry, I've been trying to stop, but, tonight's a bad night for it. I hope you're not too offended?" she asks in a tone that says she's taken her share of flak over it in the past.
-
>Sigh. "Can't say as though this has happened much in the past. But fine, I'll let it slide for the time."
-
>Sigh. "Can't say as though this has happened much in the past. But fine, I'll let it slide for the time."
>"I am not offended." Honoka concurs. "I am, however, curious."
>The nurse keeps her lips tightly shut until the both of you finish speaking. It seems to take a bit of effort. "It's my ability. I can hear the end of people's sentences when they're talking to me, before they finish."
>Reisen pries one of Koryu's eyes open, and examines it with her own naked eye. You hear her intake air sharply. "That might be a problem."
>"Problem? What problem?" the kappa asks her, obviously concerned, as Reisen lets the young man's eye shut. When she replies, it is not to the nurse, but to you, "You told me he did this before, pushing his powers too far. Did he bleed at the time?"
-
>Nod. "Yes, that he did. Has he lost too much blood?"
-
>Nod. "Yes, that he did. Has he lost too much blood?"
>The rabbit shakes her head. "Not that I can see. But there is an irregularity in his blood flow, in his optic nerves, specifically. It's off from a normal human, but I can't see an obvious sign why."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "So to summarize, there's something interfering?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "So to summarize, there's something interfering?"
>"Maybe? I've never seen anything like it in a human before. It isn't much to go by, but I'd almost think he WASN'T human, at least not completely, but I need time to do more tests."
-
>"Hmm....To be honest, his blood doesn't entirely smell human. I think he may possibly be descended from Youkai, or perhaps even gods. Given his connections to fluids and such, he could possibly be descended from a god who has water among their abilities. Or perhaps a water Youkai, only he knows for sure. So I agree with you, most likely, he isn't entirely human."
-
>"Hmm....To be honest, his blood doesn't entirely smell human. I think he may possibly be descended from Youkai, or perhaps even gods. Given his connections to fluids and such, he could possibly be descended from a god who has water among their abilities. Or perhaps a water Youkai, only he knows for sure. So I agree with you, most likely, he isn't entirely human."
>"Oh." Reisen breaths a sigh of relief. "Okay, then, that would likely explain that." She turns to the nurse. "False-"
>"-alarm, thank goodness." the kappa interrupts, even more relieved than Reisen. And unlike Reisen, her clothes do nothing to hide the heaving of her chest as she heaves a big sigh. You note Honoka's eyes bounce up and down in rhythm.
>"Probably, anyway. But I'd watch his eyes all the same, just in case. Other than that, though, I see nothing physically wrong with him that won't-"
>"-heal on its own, in time."
>She nods, then takes a step back and towards you. "I'm satisfied in my findings, and in the skill of the staff here. We can leave now."
-
(Come to think of it, Eientei wasn't a public place prior to the events of IN, and Remi went in just fine.)
>Nod. "Alright then, let's go after the others. We're entering the final stages from here on out. Are the both of you ready?"
-
(Come to think of it, Eientei wasn't a public place prior to the events of IN, and Remi went in just fine.)
>Nod. "Alright then, let's go after the others. We're entering the final stages from here on out. Are the both of you ready?"
I thought about that. And I have an explanation, if it ever comes up.
>Reisen merely nods.
>Honoka, however, is thinking. "Are exhaustion and physical strain his only symptoms, Reisen?"
>"He had to have burst a few blood vessels to have bled from his ears and nose, but that should heal in time."
>"Then I believe I can heal his injuries."
>Reisen shakes her head. "I'd rather let him heal naturally, before I'd want to use magic or medicine. No offense to you or your magic, but I think this is the best course of action."
>Honoka's mouth twists slightly. "What say you, Remilia?"
-
>Nod. "He'll be all the stronger for it, will he not? After all, the main strength of humans is not just their determination, but their ability to come back stronger after harsh training that often causes great bodily harm."
>"Besides, it will take some time to get everything in order for him once everything is resolved. And furthermore, he could stand to stay in one place for a while."
-
>Nod. "He'll be all the stronger for it, will he not? After all, the main strength of humans is not just their determination, but their ability to come back stronger after harsh training that often causes great bodily harm."
>"Besides, it will take some time to get everything in order for him once everything is resolved. And furthermore, he could stand to stay in one place for a while."
>Are you sure you're not thinking about Goku's people?
>"Plus, if there IS something wrong with his eye, can your magic fix that?" Reisen asks her.
>After a moment, Honoka replies, "It would depend on the nature of the injury. Without knowing more, I could not say for certain. And that would take time, time which we may not have." The cloaked youkai nods after a few seconds. "Perhaps you are right."
>While the three of you have discussed this matter, the kappa nurse has walked around Koryu's bed and approached you all. "There is one thing we've been wondering, since he arrived. Does the name 'Kohaku' mean anything to any of you? He's been whispering it since he arrived. Since he purged us of the spores, Nitori said."
>Reisen nods. "That's his sister's name." She looks upon the sleeping human with her red eyes. "He must be dreaming about her."
>Honoka adresses the nurse, "What of the ones that brought the-"
>"-male here? Nitori and Hina, you mean, they stepped up to the kitch- Uh.. Cafeteria, for a bite."
>"And neither of them showed any lingering symptoms of the exposure to the spores?"
>"No one has."
-
(I'm referring to how monks and martial artists used to train for durability. Training like that was not easy, and could often end very badly. Having Hong around means we'd know such things.)
>Sigh a little, in a relieved way. "Well, let's go and find them, so we can discern if they may wish to join the fray."
-
(I'm referring to how monks and martial artists used to train for durability. Training like that was not easy, and could often end very badly. Having Hong around means we'd know such things.)
>Sigh a little, in a relieved way. "Well, let's go and find them, so we can discern if they may wish to join the fray."
I sorta figured that myself. Still, it seemed an appropriate slash-line.
>"As you wish." Honoka answers.
>"I'll meet you outside in a few minutes." is what Reisen says. "I'd like to compare notes-"
>"-about the technology in use here with me?" the nurse interrupts her. "Sure, I'd be happy to."
-
>Nod. "Well, you two should be done by the time we finish our conversation with the other two, yes?"
>Let's float over to the door. "Shall we go and find the cafeteria?"
-
>Nod. "Well, you two should be done by the time we finish our conversation with the other two, yes?"
>Let's float over to the door. "Shall we go and find the cafeteria?"
>The kappa interrupts you at "-with the other two? Well, I-"
>"We can be, yes." This time, Reisen interrupts her. The kappa's face falls.
>The nurse points to her left. "It's up the stairs and to the right."
-
>Chuckle a little. "Don't worry, there will be more time after everything is resolved, yes?"
>Let's take Honoka and go where our little friend indicated.
-
>Chuckle a little. "Don't worry, there will be more time after everything is resolved, yes?"
>Let's take Honoka and go where our little friend indicated.
>"I hope so." Reisen answers, the nurse nodding in agreement.
>The four of you leave Koryu's room together, you and Honoka turning left while Reisen and the 'sizable' kappa nurse turn right, to have a chat.
>With your flaming comrade in tow, you return to the entrance foyer, and fly up to the second floor. There are three doors to the right of the stairs, but the larger double doors on the east wall of the building bear a drawing of a cucumber on them.
-
>Which door holds the scent of foodstuffs? For that is the door we shall enter.
-
>It's probably the cucumber door, so head through that one. Unless we smell it from somewhere else.
-
>Which door holds the scent of foodstuffs? For that is the door we shall enter.
>It's probably the cucumber door, so head through that one. Unless we smell it from somewhere else.
>Your nose detects the smell of fried vegatables and fish from the cucumber door, so that would appear to be the correct one. You push the door open with Honoka behind you.
>The cafeteria is almost as long as your banquet hall at home, but not quite as wide. The west side of it is dominated by the cafeteria offerings, staffed by a lone, rather homely-looking kappa female. A dozen or so kappa are clustered around a table in the middle of the cafeteria.
>Nitori and the lovely lady in the red and black dress are sitting in front of you, slightly to the left, a plate laden with cucumbers in front of Nitori, while Hina is contemplating a steaming bowl of what appears to be fish soup. The right shoulder of Nitori's shirt seems to have been stained with that red ooze, and there is a similar stain on her skirt.
-
>Well, let's float on over to 'em. "I heard about what Koryu did. Brave, yet foolish. A rare breed outside of fairies these days."
-
>Well, let's float on over to 'em. "I heard about what Koryu did. Brave, yet foolish. A rare breed outside of fairies these days."
>Nitori attacks a cucumber in her hand, and does her best to talk around her chewing. "Wuz's gusty's sumething Marisa'd try."
>Hina nods. "It seems to be human nature to be reckless."
>"His nature, at least." Nitori agrees. "I'm just glad he's gonna be okay. So, what brings you here?" she asks of you.
-
>"Well, firstly it was to check up on him, seeing as I left him here earlier. Secondly, I have information on the course of the spores. My friend here has dubbed them Rageblooms. They're large, misshapen bulbs that are almost a mockery of plant life in general really, they produce those spores in larger quantities in closer proximity. Though, as was predicted, the spores could not go much higher than 200 Feet. I can also tell you that removing the spores is far safer than the act he performed. All one need do is destroy the source Ragebloom, and the spores will vacate the body shortly after."
>Frown somewhat. "Though how the spores do so is rather unpleasant, even for one such as I."
>"And thirdly, I was pondering if either of you would want to come along? You see, we've essentially located the source of the Rageblooms. Downriver is a waterfall with an old, abandoned keep decorated with blue banners and the like. That is the lair of the culprit to this whole mess, the Cobalt Countess."
>Sigh. "That upstart thinks she can steal away my prized Chief Maid...I'll show her how unwise it is to draw the ire of the Scarlet Devil."
-
>"Well, firstly it was to check up on him, seeing as I left him here earlier. Secondly, I have information on the course of the spores. My friend here has dubbed them Rageblooms. They're large, misshapen bulbs that are almost a mockery of plant life in general really, they produce those spores in larger quantities in closer proximity. Though, as was predicted, the spores could not go much higher than 200 Feet. I can also tell you that removing the spores is far safer than the act he performed. All one need do is destroy the source Ragebloom, and the spores will vacate the body shortly after."
>Frown somewhat. "Though how the spores do so is rather unpleasant, even for one such as I."
>"As well, the remnants of the things should be destroyed, if any endure the plants demise." Honoka adds. "They seem to be aberrant plants, but they may still have the ability to spread pollen, or any other means plants have of reproducing. A plant like that has no business in this world."
>"And thirdly, I was pondering if either of you would want to come along? You see, we've essentially located the source of the Rageblooms. Downriver is a waterfall with an old, abandoned keep decorated with blue banners and the like. That is the lair of the culprit to this whole mess, the Cobalt Countess."
>Sigh. "That upstart thinks she can steal away my prized Chief Maid...I'll show her how unwise it is to draw the ire of the Scarlet Devil."
>Nitori shakes her head. "I still gotta fix up that filter once I'm done recharging here, and find some way to vacuum up all that crud that blew out of it. Assuming Chiyo can track down some of the parts we'll need."
>"And repair any of the damage the shrapnel from it caused?" Hina askes her politely, taking a sip of tea.
>"Priorities, Hina!" Nitori says defensively. "Nothin' important got it, and there's machines that need fixing."
>"But of course." the aqua-haired lady replies, setting down her tea and folding her hands in her lap before answering you. "I believe I will pass as well. I'm not one for conflict and confrontation. And I must still deal with the misfortune that's been visited upon others. If these flowers have brought misfortune to this place, they likely have done so in other places. If I am needed, then I shall go."
-
>Nod. "Very well then. I simply considered that you two might feel it necessary to get involved. Do be careful that you don't get Possessed by any Sin Spirits, that could end rather badly."
>Fistpalm. "Come to think of it, we've already dealt with four of them in a way. Envy and Gluttony sealed themselves, Sloth retreated for her own safety, and I suspect Wrath was vital to creating the Rageblooms. Which leaves Greed, Pride, and Lust."
-
>Nod. "Very well then. I simply considered that you two might feel it necessary to get involved. Do be careful that you don't get Possessed by any Sin Spirits, that could end rather badly."
>Fistpalm. "Come to think of it, we've already dealt with four of them in a way. Envy and Gluttony sealed themselves, Sloth retreated for her own safety, and I suspect Wrath was vital to creating the Rageblooms. Which leaves Greed, Pride, and Lust."
>"Got any idea what these last three look like?" Nitori asks.
-
>We can recall how Lust and Pride looked from our vision of them arguing over Reisen, yes?
-
>We can recall how Lust and Pride looked from our vision of them arguing over Reisen, yes?
>You have a clear memory of your future visions that you've made tonight, yes, although the two figures were... less defined than Reisen and Youmu were.
>In your vision, Pride appeared to be rather similar to Sakuya, looking almost like an elder sister of hers. Her hair was the same shade, but longer. Her face like Sakuya's, but with a few more years on her, adding a sense of experience and wisdom to her perfect elegance. Her eyes are brown, instead of grey, and she wears her hair in three braids, two on the side, one down her back, instead of Sakuya's traditional two. Pride also wears a maid uniform as well, though hers is black where Sakuya's is blue, and gold where Sakuya's is white. Pride's is also slightly less modest, her shorter skirt and black stockings showing more of her lovely legs than Sakuya does, She seems to have more cleavage than Sakuya herself, as well, as her somewhat low-cut uniform shows. She also eschews the maid cap, but dons a pair of white gloves, trimmed with gold at the wrists.
>By some standards, this might considered a more 'idealized' Sakuya. You would disagree, of course, as you like Sakuya fine just the way she is. But this image seems somehow false, to your vision. Your power was able to recognize Pride for who she really is, but you suspect this appearance is how she appears NOW, rather than her true form. How this could be is less certain, but it may be influence from the real Sakuya.
>Lust, however, is less ambiguous. Her golden tresses flow freely down her back, and her lovely eyes are a beautiful shade of blue. Her face could be the very face of beauty, with a body to match. Her voluptuous form is wrapped in a simple dress of pure white, a pair of red ribbons tied at the straps, a blue belt at her waist. Her slender, elegant arms bear golden bracelets at the wrists, and a silver anklet encircles both of her shapely legs, leaving her feet bare.
>She has the kind of body that enflames men and women alike. Very much worthy of the name of Lust.
-
>"Hmm...Well, according to the readings I've made for others that involve Pride and Lust, I can tell you what those two look like at the least."
>Nod. "Pride could well resemble an older, more charismatic version of Sakuya. I assume you know what my chief maid looks like, yes? I presume that is due to the possibility of Pride attempting to claim Sakuya as host, as the visions showed Pride as essentially a superior version of Sakuya."
>Laugh a little. "Which is a rather hard act to top if you ask me, given how Sakuya is not the Perfect and Elegant Maid for nothing."
>"Lust however, is far less ambiguous. Rather attractive really, more than worthy of the name. Long, gold hair. Simple, white dress. Quite voluptuous, and has rather nice blue eyes. Also seems to eschew footwear altogether in favor of a pair of silver anklets."
>Sigh. "I'll have to force Pride out of Sakuya if she really has been possessed."
-
>"Hmm...Well, according to the readings I've made for others that involve Pride and Lust, I can tell you what those two look like at the least."
>Nod. "Pride could well resemble an older, more charismatic version of Sakuya. I assume you know what my chief maid looks like, yes? I presume that is due to the possibility of Pride attempting to claim Sakuya as host, as the visions showed Pride as essentially a superior version of Sakuya."
>Laugh a little. "Which is a rather hard act to top if you ask me, given how Sakuya is not the Perfect and Elegant Maid for nothing."
>"Lust however, is far less ambiguous. Rather attractive really, more than worthy of the name. Long, gold hair. Simple, white dress. Quite voluptuous, and has rather nice blue eyes. Also seems to eschew footwear altogether in favor of a pair of silver anklets."
>Sigh. "I'll have to force Pride out of Sakuya if she really has been possessed."
>"I'm afraid I do not know what your maid looks like." Hina replies with a shake of her head. "I haven't yet had the pleasure."
>Nitori gives her a brief, rough description of Sakuya. "Never met her myself, but Minamo did. Polite sort, kinda cold, though." She takes another bite of her cucumber.
>Hina nods. "We'll keep our eyes open for women matching that description, then."
>Swallowing, Nitori adds, "By the way, thanks for takin' care of those flowers. I was getting pretty tired of being irritated at everything."
-
>Nod. "If you find any other Rageblooms, destroy them on sight. I plan to."
>Fistpalm. "Ah, also. Do keep an eye out for a woman in green and white with long red hair, she's my Gatekeeper who ran off to take matters into her own hands."
>Sigh. "And don't hesitate to punish her a little, she was supposed to stay at the Mansion to protect it."
-
>Nod. "If you find any other Rageblooms, destroy them on sight. I plan to."
>Fistpalm. "Ah, also. Do keep an eye out for a woman in green and white with long red hair, she's my Gatekeeper who ran off to take matters into her own hands."
>Sigh. "And don't hesitate to punish her a little, she was supposed to stay at the Mansion to protect it."
>"Maybe she figured Patchouli was protection enough." Nitori ventures a guess. "From what Marisa tells me, she's got enough magics to boil a few rivers."
>"Is it uncommon for your gatekeeper to do such a thing?" Honoka asks you.
-
>Does she usually run off half-cocked like she did?
>If not; "Not usually. If I find her, I'll make certain to personally punish her."
-
>Does she usually run off half-cocked like she did?
>If not; "Not usually. If I find her, I'll make certain to personally punish her."
>Almost never. And the rare times she did, she did so because she was chasing after something, or someone, she thought might be a threat. She takes her job rather seriously.
>Honoka nods, but somewhat cautiously. "Abandoning one's post may indeed warrant discipline. Though, perhaps, she felt she had little choice?"
>"What of that shrine maiden?" Hina asks you and Honoka. "Has she gotten involved yet?"
-
>"Ah, Reimu? Yes, she's one of the group working separately from my own little group. She was actually the victim of Sloth, believe it or not."
>Chuckle. "But with her lazy and careless attitude, it's not much of a surprise."
>"As for Hong leaving her post, it was to find Sakuya apparently."
>Sigh irritatedly. "She knew I had already departed to do just that. It reflects poorly on me, having an underling who thinks so little of me that she would run off to do what I had already been doing to begin with."
-
>"Ah, Reimu? Yes, she's one of the group working separately from my own little group. She was actually the victim of Sloth, believe it or not."
>Chuckle. "But with her lazy and careless attitude, it's not much of a surprise."
>"As for Hong leaving her post, it was to find Sakuya apparently."
>Sigh irritatedly. "She knew I had already departed to do just that. It reflects poorly on me, having an underling who thinks so little of me that she would run off to do what I had already been doing to begin with."
>"Not necessarily." Honoka counters. "Perhaps, in seeing you take action yourself, your associate deemed the situation dire, and felt it necessary to take steps herself."
>"Or maybe she was just really worried about Sakuya herself, and couldn't help herself." Nitori adds her theory. "I know what I'd do, if it was Marisa in trouble."
>"Oh, my. I've just had an unpleasant idea." Hina says in a concerned tone, pressing her hand to her chin. "Perhaps your gatekeeper was affected by one of these Sins, herself."
-
>Frown. "....That would indeed be a problem."
>Then let out a slight growl. "That just makes me want to punish that foolish Countess even more!"
>Let's let our aura flare up a bit, to show our displeasure at that.
-
>Frown. "....That would indeed be a problem."
>Then let out a slight growl. "That just makes me want to punish that foolish Countess even more!"
>Let's let our aura flare up a bit, to show our displeasure at that.
>Both Nitori and Hina lean backwards away from your show of temper, and several of the kappa clustered at the back table look over to see what the commotion is about.
>To her credit, Honoka stands her ground. "Remember, it is only speculation."
>Hina is quick to nod her agreement.
-
>Sigh, and let the aura die back down to it's usual faint level.
>"It's just so excessively frustrating is all. Put yourselves in my place for once, You've been the top of the line of your race for so long, only for this new upstart to show up and try to take away all that you've worked so hard for. Wouldn't you be frustrated too?"
>Let out another, smaller growl. "I know I shouldn't kill her, but there's nothing stopping me from making her wish I had. That countess is in for pain without end."
>Beat.
>Then smile a bit. "That is, unless she is but a pawn. In which case, I'll take out my anger and frustration on the one moving her~"
-
>Sigh, and let the aura die back down to it's usual faint level.
>"It's just so excessively frustrating is all. Put yourselves in my place for once, You've been the top of the line of your race for so long, only for this new upstart to show up and try to take away all that you've worked so hard for. Wouldn't you be frustrated too?"
>Let out another, smaller growl. "I know I shouldn't kill her, but there's nothing stopping me from making her wish I had. That countess is in for pain without end."
>Beat.
>Then smile a bit. "That is, unless she is but a pawn. In which case, I'll take out my anger and frustration on the one moving her~"
>"How many forces could manipulate a youkai as powerful as a vampire?" Honoka wonders aloud.
>"Yukari, for one." Nitori mutters.
>"The youkai of gaps?" Honoka asks her, which Nitori nods at. "But she is reputed to be the protector of Gensokyo. By all accounts, the Countess and these Sins have done nothing but bring chaos."
>"Maybe. But Yukari's an oddball. You can't put anything past her."
-
>"Hmm...Perhaps the Countess, and the Keeper of the Sins are not one and the same. According to what Kyrie, a local Oracle had to say, someone awakened her 200 Years too early. So perhaps whoever controls these sins aside from her, is the true culprit."
>Shrug. "Not that I mind if it is Yukari behind this entire mess either."
>Then smile in a way that shows how screwed the fool who dares to meddle with our household is. "For I shall simply knock her down as well if that may be the case."
>Beat.
>Then return to a normal, mildly cheerful expression. "Ah, my apologies if all that frightened you. It's in my nature as a Vampire you know, have to keep up appearances and all that."
>Chuckle a little. "Besides, this is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the show I shall put on when I finally confront the Countess~!"
>How long has it been since we left Reisen and that nurse to their devices?
-
>"Hmm...Perhaps the Countess, and the Keeper of the Sins are not one and the same. According to what Kyrie, a local Oracle had to say, someone awakened her 200 Years too early. So perhaps whoever controls these sins aside from her, is the true culprit."
>Shrug. "Not that I mind if it is Yukari behind this entire mess either."
>Then smile in a way that shows how screwed the fool who dares to meddle with our household is. "For I shall simply knock her down as well if that may be the case."
>Beat.
>Then return to a normal, mildly cheerful expression. "Ah, my apologies if all that frightened you. It's in my nature as a Vampire you know, have to keep up appearances and all that."
>Chuckle a little. "Besides, this is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the show I shall put on when I finally confront the Countess~!"
>How long has it been since we left Reisen and that nurse to their devices?
>The two seated before you do indeed seem a touch rattled at your display. Hina recovers a beat faster than Nitori. Honoka, again, seems completely unrattled. "I shall save some of my energy, then. If this Countess is not the only one with whom there is business to settle with tonight. However, I would not wish to battle the likes of Yukari Yakumo, myself, should she indeed be involved in this. As much as I enjoy a challenge, I have no shame in saying that that one is beyond me. Challenging her is a task I would leave in your hands, Scarlet Devil."
>About five minutes, give or take.
>The time is now 2:36 AM.
-
>Smirk a bit. "I have no issues with that, should she be the true culprit."
>Nod. "Well, I daresay we've tarried here long enough, who knows what Ranka could have gotten up to by now, hm? Let us go and retrieve Reisen, and catch up with them."
>Look to Nitori and Hina with a slight bow. "Well, we'll leave you to your meals and the like. Do keep safe now, would you?"
>Let's take Honoka and see if Reisen's where we left her.
-
>Smirk a bit. "I have no issues with that, should she be the true culprit."
>Nod. "Well, I daresay we've tarried here long enough, who knows what Ranka could have gotten up to by now, hm? Let us go and retrieve Reisen, and catch up with them."
>Look to Nitori and Hina with a slight bow. "Well, we'll leave you to your meals and the like. Do keep safe now, would you?"
>Let's take Honoka and see if Reisen's where we left her.
>"It was a pleasure meeting you both. And good luck to you." Hina says politely. Nitori merely nods, and returns her attention to the vegetables before her.
>As you re-enter the foyer, Reisen emerges from the west door almost simultaneously. She waves to you, and starts to head to the hospital exit.
-
>Smile a bit. "Well, right on time, hmm? Let's be off."
>Let's catch up with Reisen and get going. "Honoka, since you know the lay of the land better, and can locate Ranka easier than the rest of us, You'll be on lead for now. Alright?"
>We'll follow Honoka as she goes.
-
>Smile a bit. "Well, right on time, hmm? Let's be off."
>Let's catch up with Reisen and get going. "Honoka, since you know the lay of the land better, and can locate Ranka easier than the rest of us, You'll be on lead for now. Alright?"
>We'll follow Honoka as she goes.
>The cloaked youkai nods. "As you wish. You should be aware, though, that directly between this village and the Keep, there is another stream branching from the river. I do not recall if it is bridged, but between the five of us, I am sure it is something that can be overcome without too much trouble."
>Reisen perks one of her ears. "You said that glaive of yours froze things on impact, Remilia. Could it freeze enough water to make a bridge across a stream?"
-
>Nod. "I believe it should be capable of doing so, I merely hope that it can."
>We've not had trouble with crossing frozen rivers, have we?
-
>Nod. "I believe it should be capable of doing so, I merely hope that it can."
>We've not had trouble with crossing frozen rivers, have we?
>"If it cannot, Ranka should be able to provide a temporary bridge of sorts." Honoka informs you.
>Frozen rivers are just fine. So long as there is some form of solid, consistent bridge over running water, you can cross it there, whatever the bridge is made of. Well, unless it's made of frozen holy water, or something like that.
>Exiting the hospital, Honoka takes flight, you and Reisen right behind her. Shou remains in evidence in the air over the village, but Ranka is not in sight. Honoka does not seem surprised at that. "Where did she go?" Shou points her finger down towards a smaller street behind the hospital. The lovely blonde youkai is standing with a pair of Kappa, both of whom seem to be blushing furiously.
>Honoka lets out a long sigh, and presses her thumb and middle finger to the bridge of her nose.
>"In fairness, she DID ask if I had things in hand up here." Shou says in Ranka's defense.
>In a long-suffering voice, Honoka grumbles, "I'm sure." Lowering her hand, she assures you, "I'll handle it." Without further delay, Honoka drops down towards her friend.
>"Our companion seems to have a bit of a one track mind." Reisen comments to no one in particular.
-
>Sigh. "Indeed she does. I feel sorry for Honoka having to deal with that as much as she does. I'm actually worried that Lust might try to possess her, given how they rather closely resemble one another. Lust and Ranka I mean."
>Well, we still have a little time to use up, but not much. We'll wait because they're the only ones who can lead the way.
-
>Sigh. "Indeed she does. I feel sorry for Honoka having to deal with that as much as she does. I'm actually worried that Lust might try to possess her, given how they rather closely resemble one another. Lust and Ranka I mean."
>Well, we still have a little time to use up, but not much. We'll wait because they're the only ones who can lead the way.
>"Can we be sure she hasn't been possessed already?" Shou asks you.
-
>Shrug. "According to Honoka, that's how she always is. Besides, the Future Vision I had when I read Reisen's figure would have told me this I would think."
>"And I believe we would all be feeling it if she were possessed, Envy had a marked tendency to make everyone feel jealous of one thing or another, and the Rageblooms were indiscriminate in who they affected. Sloth likely couldn't do anything to anyone, because unlike Reimu, nobody else around had a reason to be slothful. Lust would likely be no different."
>Nod. "But I suppose there's no harm in checking their futures."
-
>Shrug. "According to Honoka, that's how she always is. Besides, the Future Vision I had when I read Reisen's figure would have told me this I would think."
>"And I believe we would all be feeling it if she were possessed, Envy had a marked tendency to make everyone feel jealous of one thing or another, and the Rageblooms were indiscriminate in who they affected. Sloth likely couldn't do anything to anyone, because unlike Reimu, nobody else around had a reason to be slothful. Lust would likely be no different."
>Nod. "But I suppose there's no harm in checking their futures."
>"I noticed the same thing with Gluttony, as well." Reisen adds. "Everyone around him seemed to be hungry, and it faded after Keine defeated him."
>Shou considers this. "So that means, if any or all of start to feel emotions that seem odd or off, there's a Sin around."
>Below you, Honoka has evidently decided to use a somewhat drastic measure to get her friend back on track, and raises her hand up, unleashing a tongue of flame from her open palm. The burning lash whips down and snaps behind Ranka, smacking her squarely on the back of her thigh, below her skirt. You can hear the blonde yelp from here as she jumps up into the air. The two blushing kappa scatter.
>Reisen winces in sympathy.
>Shou blinks, then scowls ever so slightly. "I suppose that's one way to get someone's attention."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Indeed it is. Perhaps I should hire her to help with discipline. As currently, only Sakuya can keep the fairy maids in check."
>Chuckle a little. "But yes, that is a fine way of telling when a Sin is around I suppose."
>Laugh a little! "I look forward to confronting the Countess though, for it shall quite possibly be the grandest battle I have ever had the pleasure of engaging in!"
>Smirk. "And of course, it's contractually required of me to 'chew the scenery', as performers would say. Being a Vampire and all has it's perks."
>Once those two goofballs rejoin us; "Well, shall we be off?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Indeed it is. Perhaps I should hire her to help with discipline. As currently, only Sakuya can keep the fairy maids in check."
>Chuckle a little. "But yes, that is a fine way of telling when a Sin is around I suppose."
>Laugh a little! "I look forward to confronting the Countess though, for it shall quite possibly be the grandest battle I have ever had the pleasure of engaging in!"
>Smirk. "And of course, it's contractually required of me to 'chew the scenery', as performers would say. Being a Vampire and all has it's perks."
>Once those two goofballs rejoin us; "Well, shall we be off?"
>Reisen and Shou exchange a look. You get the impression that neither one of those two have worked with someone quite like you before. The night will do them some good, then, to spend some time in the company of one such as yourself.
>Ranka and Honoka exchange a few words at street level, seemingly a bit heated. Then Honoka cracks a small smile, and something unspoken passes between them. Ranka smiles after a moment, and they speak to each other again, much more peaceably. The pair of them take off, rejoining you moments later.
>Honoka nods at your suggestion.
>"Sorry you had to see that." Ranka says to you all. "But they were cute." She glances somewhat coyly at Honoka. "Hon needs to keep me in line every now and then."
>You swear Honoka colors just a little.
>The time is now 2:41 AM.
-
>Chuckle a little. "Well, let's be on our way then, hm? Honoka, Ranka, since you two know the area better, you'll be on point. The rest of us will follow your lead. I should be able to use this Glaive of mine to create a bridge when we come to any rivers or streams."
>Let's roll!
-
>Chuckle a little. "Well, let's be on our way then, hm? Honoka, Ranka, since you two know the area better, you'll be on point. The rest of us will follow your lead. I should be able to use this Glaive of mine to create a bridge when we come to any rivers or streams."
>Let's roll!
>With your party gathered, you may now venture forth. And so you do, with Honoka in the lead. Ranka slips back to take up the rear position, Reisen in front of her, Shou flying abreast with you.
>"It should take us about 15 minutes to reach the stream I mentioned before." Honoka informs you.
>"Why IS running water such a problem for you vampires?" Ranka asks you.
-
(....Nice one Sour. xD)
>Refresh my memory, why can we not cross rivers and the like without a bridge again?
>"Just one of the many restrictions we Vampires must succumb to in exchange for eternal life and great power. Much like Oni and Roasted Beans I suppose."
>Let's keep going!
-
(....Nice one Sour. xD)
>Refresh my memory, why can we not cross rivers and the like without a bridge again?
>"Just one of the many restrictions we Vampires must succumb to in exchange for eternal life and great power. Much like Oni and Roasted Beans I suppose."
>Let's keep going!
>You're not 100% certain yourself. A number of vampires have theories, but to your knowledge, none of them have ever been definitively proven. Vampire hunters and the churches of the worlds have their own theories as well, but you haven't been privy to most of them, apart from the idea that running water is sacred, on account of Jesus being baptized in a river.
>"All of us have our weaknesses, Ranka." Honoka says.
>"If this Keep is near a lake, maybe we should try diverting the water into it." Shou offers.
>Reisen shakes her head. "That wouldn't do us any good. It would harm Remilia as much as the Countess."
>"Do not focus solely on the Countess, comrades." Honoka intones. "This vampire will almost certainly have her own servants and slaves attending her. She will be defended." She looks back at you, Shou and Reisen. "Apart from the Sins, have you any idea the forces she wields?"
-
>Have a thoughtful expression. "Well, given how she dared to attempt to steal underlings from another, in addition to being sealed until recently, I would assume that she does not have many servants. Although, if Rei was indeed turned by her, we may have more Vampires to deal with than just the Countess. As Rei implied that she wasn't the only one who was Turned."
>Glance at Reisen. "Tell me, do you know of anyone else, from the Village or otherwise, who has gone missing over the past few months aside from Rei? Because according to what I've gathered, she has only been unsealed for the recent two or three months. So if we know exactly how many people who have vanished mysteriously, we can estimate how many more foes we'll have to defeat."
>"As for her power, I can safely say that even during my time in the Outside World, I had never heard of one such as her. So I can only assume that her power likely lies in being merely skilled. Though I can't think that she must be that skilled or powerful, given she was sealed away."
>Shrug. "Of course, I could be wrong. This is all largely guesswork based on the facts that I've gathered thus far."
-
>Have a thoughtful expression. "Well, given how she dared to attempt to steal underlings from another, in addition to being sealed until recently, I would assume that she does not have many servants. Although, if Rei was indeed turned by her, we may have more Vampires to deal with than just the Countess. As Rei implied that she wasn't the only one who was Turned."
>Glance at Reisen. "Tell me, do you know of anyone else, from the Village or otherwise, who has gone missing over the past few months aside from Rei? Because according to what I've gathered, she has only been unsealed for the recent two or three months. So if we know exactly how many people who have vanished mysteriously, we can estimate how many more foes we'll have to defeat."
>"As for her power, I can safely say that even during my time in the Outside World, I had never heard of one such as her. So I can only assume that her power likely lies in being merely skilled. Though I can't think that she must be that skilled or powerful, given she was sealed away."
>Shrug. "Of course, I could be wrong. This is all largely guesswork based on the facts that I've gathered thus far."
>Reisen takes a moment. "Not that I know of. There was a young woman who got lost about a month or so ago, and ended up in the Bamboo Forest, but Mokou helped her find her way home. As a matter of fact, Rei wasn't even considered missing. At least, no one told me she was."
>Honoka nods in satisfaction. "So much the better then."
>"Fujiwara no Mokou?" Shou asks her. "We'd been told that she and the residents of Eientei were enemies."
>"She's the princesses' enemy, specifically. She feels she HAS to consider me an enemy, but it's only by association. As a matter of fact, she's taught me a few things about the medicinal properties of the plants in the Bamboo Forest." She smiles. "But don't tell her I said that."
>"We'll get to the facts once we arrive, certainly." Honoka says. "It would have been well to face a vampire with as much information as possible, but I suppose we should be content with what we have. Which reminds me." She glances behind her at Shou and then Reisen. "Do either of you possess silvered weapons, or the ability to create holy water?" Both women shake their heads in a negative. "Then we will have to make do."
>"Those weapons are effective against vampires?" Shou asks the cloaked youkai.
>"They are."
>"And how do you know about vampiric weaknesses?"
>Honoka's face darkens, before she turns her head back towards the land in front of her. "The Scarlet Devil is not the first vampire I've known. Though she is much better company."
-
>"Well, I shall tell you right now that if I myself am anything to go by, Crosses will be all but useless. I myself using several in my own attacks. Such as 'Red, the Nightless Castle', which is essentially a giant cross made entirely from my own energy. Among other sundry skills. Though I need a spellcard for that one, which I've neglected to bring along sadly."
>Chuckle a bit. "I have to say, this land does wonders for shifting around one's weaknesses. Of course, I can't see any reason to not exploit the Countess's own weaknesses, given how much her underlings have offended me."
>"You can always tell the worth of a leader by those who follow them. Constantly misbehaving underlings show that the leader is unfit to do so. Whereas properly disciplined and loyal ones prove that a leader's worth is high."
>Smirk. "Besides, while I do have honor of a sort, I also know how to fight smartly, which requires capitalizing on one's mistakes to wrest away the advantage."
>Laugh a bit, in our typically hammy way. "She may think she'll have the home-field advantage, but she is no different from any other culprit, like myself, that Princess, or any other high-caliber youkai."
>ETA to the Keep?
-
>"Well, I shall tell you right now that if I myself am anything to go by, Crosses will be all but useless. I myself using several in my own attacks. Such as 'Red, the Nightless Castle', which is essentially a giant cross made entirely from my own energy. Among other sundry skills. Though I need a spellcard for that one, which I've neglected to bring along sadly."
>Chuckle a bit. "I have to say, this land does wonders for shifting around one's weaknesses. Of course, I can't see any reason to not exploit the Countess's own weaknesses, given how much her underlings have offended me."
>"You can always tell the worth of a leader by those who follow them. Constantly misbehaving underlings show that the leader is unfit to do so. Whereas properly disciplined and loyal ones prove that a leader's worth is high."
>Smirk. "Besides, while I do have honor of a sort, I also know how to fight smartly, which requires capitalizing on one's mistakes to wrest away the advantage."
>Laugh a bit, in our typically hammy way. "She may think she'll have the home-field advantage, but she is no different from any other culprit, like myself, that Princess, or any other high-caliber youkai."
>ETA to the Keep?
>"Gensokyo does seem to have a penchant for these sort of incidents." Reisen says, letting your reference to Kaguya's incident slide.
>Shou nods. "Reimu even thought that WE were responsible for an incident, of sorts. I'm still not completely sure why we had to fight it out before settling things."
>"Such is the way in these times, it seems." Honoka says.
>Honoka did not mention a time to the Keep itself, but she did say it was about 15 minutes to the stream between the village and the Keep. You can see the stream she mentioned coming into view now, about five minutes away. It doesn't seem to be all that big, maybe three feet across, maybe four, but that's enough to prove to be an obstacle.
>Or at least, it would have, but you can see, about a quarter mile to your left that someone has set up a simple wooden bridge. It's not even as well put together as the bridge that brutish youkai was guarding, but it's a bridge enough.
-
>"Well, would you look at that? Somebody already left a bridge. I can only assume it was hastily made to allow those like myself to pass."
>Would it take too much time to fly over to, and across the bridge at a high speed?
-
>"Well, would you look at that? Somebody already left a bridge. I can only assume it was hastily made to allow those like myself to pass."
>Would it take too much time to fly over to, and across the bridge at a high speed?
>"Yes..." Honoka says cautiously. "It was not here when last I was this way, which would have been a month ago." She slows herself down. "We should be cautious. It may have been put up by one of the Countesses' minions."
>It would take less time than stopping and trying to freeze it with your glaive.
-
>"Well, I shall use the bridge then, and you four keep an eye out. we'll move on from there provided nothing happens. Even if it was made by a servant of the Countess, I know to not look a gift horse in the mouth. As the old proverb goes."
>Let's head for the bridge at max speed then, and then use the same rate of speed to fly across it. Provided nothing happens, we should be fine.
-
>"Well, I shall use the bridge then, and you four keep an eye out. we'll move on from there provided nothing happens. Even if it was made by a servant of the Countess, I know to not look a gift horse in the mouth. As the old proverb goes."
>Let's head for the bridge at max speed then, and then use the same rate of speed to fly across it. Provided nothing happens, we should be fine.
>The others slow up to match Honoka's pace as you change your course towards the rickety-looking bridge.
>At max speed, you can't completely prepare yourself to go on the defensive if the need arise, but you hope your speed will carry you through, as you fly towards the airspace over the wood and rope bridge.
>Which you cross completely without incident.
-
>Smirk a bit. "Nothing to it."
>Let's rejoin with the others now that we've crossed, and continue onward!
-
>Smirk a bit. "Nothing to it."
>Let's rejoin with the others now that we've crossed, and continue onward!
>Pleased by the lack of a trap or anything else from the enemy, you reunite with your comrades and continue flying south.
>After about nine minutes of flying over some rather nice grassland below you, the ground drops off ahead of you. You are approaching a cliff, it seems, and the river to your right flows down into the area below.
>"That's it." Honoka intones, her voice deadly serious. "The old Keep is just ahead, in that valley. Make your preparations, ladies. If the Countess is truly there, then battle will soon be upon us."
-
>Let's check the Glaive, make sure it's still in good condition. Then set our spellcards so we can have swift access to them at the drop of a frilly hat.
>And finally, let's make a set of four smaller wings out of our aura, and set one pair above our real ones, and the other pair below them.
>"Well then girls, are you ready?"
>After putting the Glaive away, fistpalm. "Ah, Ranka, before we press onward, I'll have to warn you about one of the Sin Spirits, Lust. She rather resembles you quite closely from what I saw of her via my power to look into one's fate."
-
>Let's check the Glaive, make sure it's still in good condition. Then set our spellcards so we can have swift access to them at the drop of a frilly hat.
>And finally, let's make a set of four smaller wings out of our aura, and set one pair above our real ones, and the other pair below them.
>"Well then girls, are you ready?"
>After putting the Glaive away, fistpalm. "Ah, Ranka, before we press onward, I'll have to warn you about one of the Sin Spirits, Lust. She rather resembles you quite closely from what I saw of her via my power to look into one's fate."
>Your weapon is in fine condition, and you adjust your cards to ideal comfort and accessibility. You note Shou rotate her spear arm, while Ranka seems content to give her hair a toss as you adjust your aura for Fallen Seraph mode.
>Ranka waves her hand before her face. "I don't believe in fate." she says dismissively.
-
>...What the hey, we'll add another two pairs of wings, for a total of Ten.
>"Well, do not say that I did not warn you. What I see is often the truth of what will happen. Besides, I was also noting a rather uncanny resemblance between you and she."
>Nod. "At any rate, I do believe we are all ready, no? Let's be off!"
>Time to make for the Final Dungeon!
-
>...What the hey, we'll add another two pairs of wings, for a total of Ten.
>"Well, do not say that I did not warn you. What I see is often the truth of what will happen. Besides, I was also noting a rather uncanny resemblance between you and she."
>Nod. "At any rate, I do believe we are all ready, no? Let's be off!"
>Time to make for the Final Dungeon!
>You upgrade your aura to Fallen Thrones.
>"Oh, please." Ranka places the back of her hand to her head, places her other hand on her hip, and strikes a fashion model-esque pose. "This flower of the wind is a unique breeze."
>"I'd listen to her anyway." Reisen advises Ranka. "Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes."
>The blonde flirt gives Reisen a wink. "If you're worried, honey, then you could always keep an eye on-"
>"Maybe you could save that 'till after the matter at hand is settled?" Honoka grumbles. Ranka pouts, but does keep her mouth closed.
>With the others giving you a wider berth since you played with your aura, you fly in in silence, and after only a few minutes more, you fly out over the top of the basin, and take in the sights below you.
>The waterfall basin is a rather nice looking place, the waterfall to your right tumbling at least forty feet down into the clear lake below, but your attention is, understandably, drawn to the sizable building tucked into the southwest corner of the basin. It is a tall structure, at least three stories high. It's exterior is dark blue and black stone, with patches of a very dark, rich green on exposed areas of the roof. Just as Honoka said, each wall is decorated with a blue standard, with a crest emblazoned upon it, though you're a bit too far away to make out the detailing on the crest. It has a rectangular base, but parts of the structure rise above the others, with one tall tower of slate grey brick rising at least four stories high. The openings at the top shows that it is a bell tower. There seems to be at least one gap in the structure, indicating an open courtyard just to the right of the middle of the structure.
>The air around the place is cold, uninviting. It has the feel of an abandoned castle, deserted for many years, but it wasn't the most inviting of structures even when it was populated. It's placement is in a well defensible location, with the basin cliffs being almost sheer to its back. There are no lights to be seen from your current vantage point.
>Despite the defensibility of the location, multiple points of entrance present themselves. The left side of the structure has an extension built on to it, connected to the main Keep by an open walkway with a wooden roof. Slightly apart from the main compound is a covered stairwell leading down into the ground, possibly a separate wine or vegetable cellar, or who knows what. You vampires being a sneaky lot.
>The main door of the Cobalt Keep actually hangs open right now, but it is not empty. A humanoid form sits on her haunches on the ground smack in the middle of the entrance, her eyes on the lake before her. Flanking her on either side are a pair of dogs. Large dogs. One seems to be a golden retriever, but the other one is a breed you don't immediately recognize.
>The reason she has her eyes on the lake is plain to see. There are a pair of humanoid figures standing on the water's surface, both in martial arts fighting stances, squaring off against each other. One of them wears an oriental-style pant and shirt combination, the light blue trousers, edged with with white, are slit up higher than her knee, showing off her toned, fit legs. Her red shirt is sleeveless, edged with gold, and her arms are raised in a stance that seems vaguely familiar, but you can't quite place it at the moment. She compliments her shirt with a large gold ribbon belted at her waist, trailing like a scarf down below her butt, and her shirt has a square 'window' cut into it over her breasts, with a small red ribbon under it. Her shortish black hair has a braid wrapped on the back of her head, and she has a black headband with a kanji stitched into it. Her hands are half-covered by gauntlet-style fingerless handwraps, orange on one hand, black on the other, both with a kanji on the back.
>Her opponent, grim faced and very serious, is Meiling.
>The time is now 2:59 AM.
-
>"Most impressive, Clearly the Countess is also a Woman of Wealth and Taste. Much like myself."
>Let's see about floating near the gate, but out of reach of anything the dogs might pull. "Impressive show, no? That woman in green with the red hair happens to be my Gatekeeper you know. I was hoping to find her soon."
-
>"Most impressive, Clearly the Countess is also a Woman of Wealth and Taste. Much like myself."
>Let's see about floating near the gate, but out of reach of anything the dogs might pull. "Impressive show, no? That woman in green with the red hair happens to be my Gatekeeper you know. I was hoping to find her soon."
>"You think the other one works for the Countess?" Reisen asks aloud as you start to fly down towards the Keep entrance.
>"We should assume." Honoka answers. "But that bodes well
>Before she can speak farther, the woman in red and blue charges, her feet making barely a ripple as she dashes across the surface of the water. Meiling slides her right foot backwards in anticipation, as her opponent lunges forward, leading with her knee. Hong slides to the side and uses her right arm to ward the driving knee to the side, but as she does, her opponents right hand flashes forward, almost faster than even your eyes can track. Your Gatekeeper's left arm, however, is just as fast, and she raises her forearm to block the blow, ducking down and sweeping her leg in a circle to take her opponents' ankle out. The woman doesn't even try to evade the strike, merely plants her left leg upon the water's surface. Meiling's leg sweep connects, but although her opponents leg quivers, it does not give. Instead, she drives her left elbow down towards Meiling's exposed knee, but the redhead rolls away, hopping back up and coming up ready.
>Now you recognize the other woman's stance. It is Muay Thai kickboxing, a vicious and lethal form of martial arts. Even if she wins, Meiling's going to rack up at least a few bruises, if that woman's as strong as you think she is.
>The guard at the gate takes no hostile action, but her dogs both turn their attention to you and your companions as you fly towards them. With a closer look, you think the larger dog with the grey and brown coat is actually a husky, a close relative of the wolf. The woman keeps her eyes on the fight on the lake, but you see her nose twitch as you approach.
>"It's rare to see that kind of fight nowadays." Ranka says, her own eyes drawn to the attractive women sparring on the water's surface.
>"Maybe the Countesses' woman doesn't know danmaku." Shou suggests.
-
>"Well, I never expected someone to know Muay Thai. Seems that no matter who wins, the winner will come out almost as battered and broken as the loser. Hong was never one for Danmaku herself though, Martial Arts is where her true strength lies. She's a very competent fighter, as proven by the rather impressive show we see before us."
>Laugh a bit, but add a slight echo our voice. "I must say, the Countess may well be an equal to myself, if she has one as skilled as the one in blue on her payroll."
>Let's spare some attention towards this gatekeeper here though, see if we can't discern anything interesting about her.
-
>"Well, I never expected someone to know Muay Thai. Seems that no matter who wins, the winner will come out almost as battered and broken as the loser. Hong was never one for Danmaku herself though, Martial Arts is where her true strength lies. She's a very competent fighter, as proven by the rather impressive show we see before us."
>Laugh a bit, but add a slight echo our voice. "I must say, the Countess may well be an equal to myself, if she has one as skilled as the one in blue on her payroll."
>Let's spare some attention towards this gatekeeper here though, see if we can't discern anything interesting about her.
>Reisen's eyes appraise the two warriors. "Do you think she'll need help?"
>Both Honoka and Shou reply in unison, "No." The two share a look of brief surprise, before Shou nods slightly to Honoka. The cloaked youkai continues, "It would not be right to intervene. Not unless one or the other were hopelessly outmatched."
>"Plus, if that woman with the dogs was willing to let the two of them fight it out, then any of us getting involved could make the whole thing turn into a brawl. Maybe draw out more guards from the Keep, if there's more watching." Shou adds.
>The Cobalt gatekeeper sports a dark purple cap atop her head of light green hair, neatly combed and styled. She wears a long blue and white tabard over a black shirt, with a green and purple diamond pattern on its short sleeves. The tabard has what seems to be a crest on it, but in her current pose, you can't make out the details of it. Her legs are bare, topped by a blue skirt that matches her tabard. She also has a brown and red leather bracelet on her right wrist, which upon a closer look is actually a dog collar, complete with a metal chain that wraps around her waist, and her fingernails are painted gold.
>And if that weren't distinctive enough, her right hand, resting atop her right knee, is missing it's pinky finger.
-
>Nod. "Indeed, it's just practical to play it this way. Let's keep an eye on things for the time being. I'll intervene personally if need be, I have a technique in mind for just that situation even."
>Let's turn our attentions back to the fight, but see what we can pick up from this strange woman's scent.
-
>Nod. "Indeed, it's just practical to play it this way. Let's keep an eye on things for the time being. I'll intervene personally if need be, I have a technique in mind for just that situation even."
>Let's turn our attentions back to the fight, but see what we can pick up from this strange woman's scent.
>Reisen seems a bit unhappy. "All right."
>"I know how you feel, sweetheart." Ranka says, placing her hand deftly on Reisen's shoulder. "I don't much like watching two pretty girls beat each other up, either."
>And beat each other up they do, as they part from each other again as you turn your head back towards them, having exchanged another flurry of blows. They separate to about seven feet, and Meiling stomps her foot down on the water's surface. She sends a burst of ki into the water, and a vertical wall rises up in front of her. She stretches her hands out to her side, palms out, and declares, "Aqua Palm!" before spinning in place and striking the wall with both palms. The side facing her opponent undulates and begins discharging fist-sized nodules of water in the shape of Hong's open palm.
>Her opponent narrows her eyes and clenches her fists tighter. Reddish fluid starts to flow from between her clenched fingers, and even from here, you can smell the caustic-ness of it. She cocks her arms back to her side and then drives them both forward, and snake-headed shaped bursts of acid fly from her flashing fists to the cry of "Viper Fire!" The watery palms and striking acidic snakeheads collide in mid flight, the two martial artists matching their opponent shot for shot.
>Nearly. One snake head and one water palm evade each other, and streak towards their target. The kickboxer cocks her leg straight and snaps it forward as the palm draws close, splattering it into inert droplets with a frighteningly fast strike. Meiling exhales in the half second she has to prepare, and drives her right palm forward, dispelling the acidform snake head. Her hand literally steams under the caustic impact, but the face she levels at her opponent is as grim as it was before. "You won't stop me." she says flatly to her opponent
>"You can't beat me." the kickboxer responds, every bit as serious as the chinese girl.
>The guard's scent is ambiguous at the moment, flavored by dog hair and dried meat. You can't determine if she's human or youkai. The other humanoid, the one fighting Meiling, is a youkai. She has to be, no human can fight Meiling hand-to-hand on her level. It's just not possible. This guard, though, you can't be sure.
>Her dogs, on the other hand, are a different story. They don't smell quite natural. Well, the retriever doesn't, anyway, as you've never been close enough to a husky to smell one before. The big golden dog, though, smells somehow stronger, and yet thinner, as well, than a normal dog. It may be a youkai itself, and you wouldn't be too surprised if the husky was, too.
>"That doesn't mean we should be totally idle." Honoka counters, as she drops down to the ground, about fifteen feet away from the gatekeeper. Curiously, Shou is right behind her.
>"You are the protector of this Keep?" Honoka asks the guard.
>"I am their leader, yes." the gatekeeper replies in a somewhat youngish sounding voice. Based on her face, height and voice, if she's a human, she must be no more than 18.
>The cloaked youkai nods. "My name is Honoka." It is the tone of one formally introducing themselves to someone they expect to fight.
>The gatekeeper sighs ever-so-slightly and rises, giving you a good look at the crest on her tabard. It depicts a large white lamb with blood trailing from its eye, standing atop a blue lake with a dark blue moon reflected in it. The dogs flanking her fall silent, but they tense up slightly. "I'm Yuzuriha Kawamura."
-
>Hmm...Interesting emblem. Have we ever seen anything of the sort before?
>Raise an eyebrow. "Well, since you've introduced yourself, I suppose I should as well, it's only polite. I am Remilia Scarlet, you might have already heard of one known as 'The Scarlet Devil'. I am she."
>"But I must say, it's been quite some time since I've found someone capable of matching her in hand-to-hand combat short of myself."
-
>Hmm...Interesting emblem. Have we ever seen anything of the sort before?
>Raise an eyebrow. "Well, since you've introduced yourself, I suppose I should as well, it's only polite. I am Remilia Scarlet, you might have already heard of one known as 'The Scarlet Devil'. I am she."
>"But I must say, it's been quite some time since I've found someone capable of matching her in hand-to-hand combat short of myself."
>A number of nobles, human and non, incorporated a moon and/or a lake into their crest, but the lamb is a new one. Especially a lamb weeping blood. And now that you look really close, you can see the outline of a sickle in the moon. It seems to be aimed at the neck of the weeping lamb.
>Yuzuriha's face shows obvious relief when you mention your name and title, even as Meiling and the kickboxer charge at each other again. "The Scarlet Devil. We'd been hoping you'd arrive."
-
>Sigh a little, and regard her with a single eye. "Yes, well, I take it this is the domain of the Cobalt Countess, no? I have a bit of a grievance with her and those Sin Spirits. It's rather poor form to steal someone else's prized help after all, and Sakuya happens to be mine, and nobody else's."
-
>Sigh a little, and regard her with a single eye. "Yes, well, I take it this is the domain of the Cobalt Countess, no? I have a bit of a grievance with her and those Sin Spirits. It's rather poor form to steal someone else's prized help after all, and Sakuya happens to be mine, and nobody else's."
>Yuzuriha nods. "We know. That's why we were hoping you'd arrive. Well, the Countess was hoping. Rei, though, was singing a different tune."
>"Rei's here?" Reisen asks her.
>The guard nods again. "She came home a few hours ago. And, I got to be honest, Remilia. From what Rei and Sakuya have said, we were thinking you were a bit taller."
>You hear Ranka giggle behind you.
-
>Chuckle a little. "I'm rather impressed by Rei's ability, it isn't every day you find a youngling capable of emulating the techniques of one 500 years her elder."
>"I assume she was hoping I wouldn't be coming here, correct? So sorry to disappoint her, but I can't leave my much-valued Head Maid in such a situation. It reflects rather poorly on me as a leader you know."
>Glance back at Hong and the other girl. "Do you suppose we should stop those two for the time being? They can easily resume their fight later on, and in a much more welcoming venue."
-
>Chuckle a little. "I'm rather impressed by Rei's ability, it isn't every day you find a youngling capable of emulating the techniques of one 500 years her elder."
>"I assume she was hoping I wouldn't be coming here, correct? So sorry to disappoint her, but I can't leave my much-valued Head Maid in such a situation. It reflects rather poorly on me as a leader you know."
>Glance back at Hong and the other girl. "Do you suppose we should stop those two for the time being? They can easily resume their fight later on, and in a much more welcoming venue."
>"So that's what she can do?" Yuzuriha asks you.
>"She was afraid you meant harm to the Countess." Her two dogs growl at that as she herself looks between you and the other four of your companions. "And despite the Countesses' hopes, I think she may have been right."
>Yuzuriha shakes her head. "Sabine never stops a fight once she starts. And that woman, Hong, was a lot more hostile than you've been, once we told her that Sakuya was here. She would have fought all four of us, if Sabine hadn't drawn her off."
>"Is she always like that?" Shou asks you.
-
>"Hong's rather protective, it's what makes her such a useful Gatekeeper. As for what Rei's particular ability as a Youkai is, I am not entirely certain, I'm rather interested in it myself. Her skill at learning things quickly is what I was referring to."
>Smirk a bit. "I won't hesitate to enjoy a little fisticuffs if it's needed, but I didn't get to where I am simply though violence alone. Nobility has to be able to resolve such things diplomatically of course."
>Laugh a little. "Besides, I've already given another my word that she won't die. It would play havoc with the tapestry of fate you know, her dying at this point in time. She was actually not fated to be unsealed for another 200 years, and somebody preempted that somehow. Given just what my own ability involves, I pay a bit more attention to fate than most others."
>Sigh. "But I suppose you won't let us pass without a fight, will you? At least Danmaku is non-lethal, which I rather enjoy. Even a Human can recover from the damage incurred in a Spellcard Duel rather easily, So those like the Countess and Myself will also be back on our feet rather quickly. I suppose it's good that I arrived before Hakurei and the others did then, she has a bit of a grudge you know, Sloth managed to possess her, as you likely already know. She won't forget that anytime soon, nor does she forgive easily."
-
>"Hong's rather protective, it's what makes her such a useful Gatekeeper."
>Smirk a bit. "I won't hesitate to enjoy a little fisticuffs if it's needed, but I didn't get to where I am simply though violence alone. Nobility has to be able to resolve such things diplomatically of course."
>Laugh a little. "Besides, I've already given another my word that she won't die. It would play havoc with the tapestry of fate you know, her dying at this point in time. She was actually not fated to be unsealed for another 200 years, and somebody preempted that somehow. Given just what my own ability involves, I pay a bit more attention to fate than most others."
>Sigh. "But I suppose you won't let us pass without a fight, will you? At least Danmaku is non-lethal, which I rather enjoy. Even a Human can recover from the damage incurred in a Spellcard Duel rather easily, So those like the Countess and Myself will also be back on our feet rather quickly. I suppose it's good that I arrived before Hakurei and the others did then, she has a bit of a grudge you know, Sloth managed to possess her, as you likely already know. She won't forget that anytime soon, nor does she forgive easily."
>Yuzuriha shakes her head. "I'm afraid you're wrong. On a few things, Scarlet-san."
>"For one, I don't know where you got 200 years from. From what we've been told, our seal was due to expire in about two months."
>"But it broke prematurely?" Shou asks her.
>"It did. And I don't know how."
>"For another," she continues, "the Hakurei and her servant beat you here. And so did that samurai ghost and her kappa friend."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "And what are they doing currently? I assume they're raising a fuss as we speak, no?"
>"At any rate, this is a rather deep enigma. I'll need to discuss this with everyone, the Countess included."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "And what are they doing currently? I assume they're raising a fuss as we speak, no?"
>"At any rate, this is a rather deep enigma. I'll need to discuss this with everyone, the Countess included."
>"Couldn't tell you. The gate is my responsibility. But since I haven't been summoned inside, I guess things haven't gone completely insane."
>"And that's where I have my problem." The retriever to her right points its nose at Meiling. "Your servant vowed to tear this Keep apart, and us with it. You've already you've got a problem with the Countess, and I know what happens when vampires fight each other. And since you've shown up with this many servants in tow, what else can I think but that you mean us all harm?"
>"We're not her servants." Reisen says to her. "We all have our reasons for coming here. I wanted to find out how Rei was turned into a vampire."
>"I, and the one I serve, wanted to get to the bottom of the Sin Spirits plaguing Gensokyo." Shou adds.
>"As do I." Honoka says.
>Ranka, however, replies very casually, with a toss of her hair. "I followed the pretty girls."
>Despite yourself, you strike your forehead with your palm. As does Reisen, Shou, Honoka AND Yuzuriha. A five-way simultaneous facepalm. Even Yuzuriha's dogs seem to stagger.
>Yuzuriha recovers after a moment. "And yet, you... uh...." She smiles an uncertain smile. "I... lost my train of thought, there."
-
>Sigh. "That's Hong for you, she tends to get a little carried away at times. I recall when she attacked a giant catfish, thinking it was some avatar of a god of destruction. Poor girl tends to let her imagination run wild with her."
>"Besides, I'd rather get all this over and done with as quickly as possible. If that requires a Spellcard Duel, then so be it. I care not either way. As long as the Countess knows her bounds, I can let things slide with an apology, and the return of my maid in her proper condition. I'm surprisingly not averse to resolving things like civilized people you know."
-
>Sigh. "That's Hong for you, she tends to get a little carried away at times. I recall when she attacked a giant catfish, thinking it was some avatar of a god of destruction. Poor girl tends to let her imagination run wild with her."
>"Besides, I'd rather get all this over and done with as quickly as possible. If that requires a Spellcard Duel, then so be it. I care not either way. As long as the Countess knows her bounds, I can let things slide with an apology, and the return of my maid in her proper condition. I'm surprisingly not averse to resolving things like civilized people you know."
>Yuzuriha looks between her two dogs, who return her look.
>"Let me ask you something." Shou asks her as Meiling and Sabine exchange another flurry of blows, the two having moved onto dry land now. "If Reimu got here first, that means she fought you, right?"
>Both of her dogs snarl, but Yuzuriha merely says, "She did."
>"And Youmu, too?" Yuzuriha nods.
>"Typical." Reisen says with a slight shake of her head, setting her lengthy hair swaying.
>"Then if Remilia here really wanted to, don't you think she would have run you over already?"
>Yuzuriha lowers her eyelids and sighs. "Truth...."
>"Shou. Shou Toramaru." the lancer offers.
>"Toramaru-san. Even at my full power, I couldn't stop a determined vampire. But I'd try anyway. Although...." she trails off, idly toying with the chain binding her wrist and waist.
>"Yes?" Reisen prods her.
>"'The word of a vampire given over blood is sacrosanct.' That's what Celes and Shizuka told me." She has a bit of trouble pronouncing the word 'sacrosanct', but you understand her.
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "I take it that they too are either Vampires, or knowledgeable on Vampire Matters, no?"
>Come to think of it, with how close we're cutting it, running over her isn't a half bad option. We'll keep that in mind if she delays too much.
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "I take it that they too are either Vampires, or knowledgeable on Vampire Matters, no?"
>Come to think of it, with how close we're cutting it, running over her isn't a half bad option. We'll keep that in mind if she delays too much.
>She nods and smiles. "They've been with the Countess for longer than me, and they're both a lot smarter than me, too."
>"What did you mean, 'The word of a vampire given over blood is sacrosanct.'?" Reisen asks her.
>"She means," Honoka answers for her. "That among vampires, blood is central to their way of life, their very existence. Any vampire that gives his word and accompanies it by spilling his own blood would sooner die than break that word. That's what you're asking, isn't it?"
>Yuzuriha seems a bit shocked. "How did..?"
>"I have lived long, and seen much." Honoka answers in a midnight voice. She says to you, "That's what she wants from you, Remilia. Your word in blood."
-
>"So, you want me to give my word that I won't bring harm to her, correct?"
-
>"So, you want me to give my word that I won't bring harm to her, correct?"
>"Under any circumstances."
-
>Fix her with a stare that would make even the bravest of souls quiver. And while we're at it, double the wings for a total of 20.
>"Listen, I'm quite pressed for time, and while I am not averse to resolving things civilly, I do not enter into such binding contracts so easily. It takes one far greater than a mere gatekeeper to press me into such a thing."
-
>Fix her with a stare that would make even the bravest of souls quiver. And while we're at it, double the wings for a total of 20.
>"Listen, I'm quite pressed for time, and while I am not averse to resolving things civilly, I do not enter into such binding contracts so easily. It takes one far greater than a mere gatekeeper to press me into such a thing."
>Your back's going to be very cramped... Actually, it's pretty cramped back there as it is with 20 wings. Any more than this would be ranging into the realm of the silly.
>Yuzuriha sighs, a sound of resignation. "Yeah. That's what I thought." She tilts her neck to the side and rotates it, stepping forward. She gestures with her left hand, and the two dogs lift off from the ground in flight, flying around the back of her and changing sides, the husky on her right, the retriever on her left. She gestures again, and the large front door of the keep creaks and slams shut, and you hear the sounds of locking from the other side.
>"Then you do it the hard way."
>"This isn't necessary-" Shou starts, but the gatekeeper cuts her off.
>"Yes it is. The vampire made her choice, and I made mine ages ago. Rei was right about you, Remilia. Now I'll see for myself if I can still beat Envy."
-
>"You are but a mere obstacle, a buzzing fly that I shall crush. I was going to resolve things civilly, but then you had to intend to force a binding contract on me, despite the fact that I have already given my word that I would not kill the Countess. That is as if one were to take those precious dogs you so treasure, and rip out all their fangs. Not a particularly pleasant thought, is it?"
>Let's take to the skies once more! "Now, show me what the Hound of the Cobalt Countess can do!"
-
>"You are but a mere obstacle, a buzzing fly that I shall crush. I was going to resolve things civilly, but then you had to intend to force a binding contract on me, despite the fact that I have already given my word that I would not kill the Countess. That is as if one were to take those precious dogs you so treasure, and rip out all their fangs. Not a particularly pleasant thought, is it?"
>Let's take to the skies once more! "Now, show me what the Hound of the Cobalt Countess can do!"
>"You're just as pompous as the vampires on the outside. I can see where that china girl gets her aggression from." She and her mutts follow you into the air. "I'd have given you an escort to her personally, but your ego's obviously too big. You'll enter the demesne of the Cobalt Countess over my broken body!"
>Her dogs barking loudly, she raises her hand and points it at you, her canine companions opening their mouths, but as she starts to unleash danmaku, a wall of fire flashes into life between you and her. Her dogs yelp and recoil, and Yuzuriha stops dead in her tracks. Even you blanch a little at the sudden an unexpected inferno.
>Honoka, on the ground, has her left arm outstretched, flame dancing in her open palm. She looks Yuzuriha dead in her violet eyes and declares, "No."
>Lowering her arm, the flame vanishes, and Honoka turns to look at you. "I cannot allow you to do this. She would be weaker than you at the best of times, and she has been beaten twice before tonight. It is uncivilized and unfair of you to fight her."
-
>Sigh. "You too would see me bound against my will? I do not enter into such contracts easily."
-
>Sigh. "You too would see me bound like a commoner?"
>Even Yuzuriha doesn't seem entirely happy for the interference, though she does appear to be as much confused as upset. "This is my duty, Honoka."
>"And you perform it with honor. And I will see the same honor extended to you." Returning her eyes to you, Honoka continues, "I have seen vampires trod upon the weak before, and been helpless to stop it. Not this time, not while I have the power to prevent it. I do not ask that you betray your own nature, but I cannot betray mine, either."
>"Hear me, Mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I will not interfere again. This duel is personal, between an invader and a defender, I have no right to get personally involved unless asked. However, I can and will ensure that it is as fair as I can make it. Know this, before you fight this person."
-
>Shrug, and return to the 6-wing configuration. "I already intended to use spellcards, so the interference was entirely unneeded."
-
>Shrug, and return to the 6-wing configuration. "I already intended to use spellcards, so the interference was entirely unneeded."
>"Honoka's a fanatic about fair fights." Ranka chimes in, rubbing the back of her head. "Whether she's involved in them herself or not."
>"It is who I am." Honoka replies, deadly serious. She starts to raise her hand again, but Yuzuriha holds up her own first.
>It is you who she talks to, though, when she says, "You're okay with this? With Honoka-san helping me?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "So you intend to ask her to lend her support?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "So you intend to ask her to lend her support?"
>"Well, no, but, she said something about 'making it fair.'"
-
>Look to Honoka with a questioning expression. "And do you intend for that, Honoka? To support one who serves my current foe?"
>Glance back to Yuzuriha. "Well, she is only my current foe until things are resolved at least."
-
>Look to Honoka with a questioning expression. "And do you intend for that, Honoka? To support one who serves my current foe?"
>Glance back to Yuzuriha. "Well, she is only my current foe until things are resolved at least."
>"You'll remember I told you I possess healing powers. That is because I am a youkai of flame. But the flame is a source of energy as much as it is destruction." She looks up at Yuzuriha. "By sharing my energy with you, I can restore the energy you've lost this night, repair the damage caused by those that have fought you before-"
>"Look out!" Ranka shouts suddenly, as a blur of blue and red flies just in front of Honoka, missing her by a handful of hairs width. The form of Sabine careens past, crashing into the closed gate of the Keep, with Meiling right behind her. The chinese youkai drives her knee into Sabine's sternum with tremendous force, driving the kickboxers' breath from her body and the spittle from her mouth. Meiling follows this massive impact with a palm slap towards Sabine's face, but the youkai brings her right arm up to block it in the nick of time. Nearly simultaneously, she lashes out with her left elbow, catching Meiling with a glancing blow beneath her chin, but forcing the redhead to back up a step. This gives Sabine an opening, as a surge of electricity lances out from her outstretched elbow and blasts Meiling in the chest. Her opponent stunned, Sabine unleashes another terrifyingly fast kick, striking Meiling in her unprotected temple. Your gatekeeper staggers sideways as you wince in sympathy. That strike almost hurt YOU, looking at it.
>Amazingly, Meiling recovers her balance before the kickboxer lowers her leg, and uses the momentum of that strike to launch a counter attack. She spins clockwise and brings her right leg up in a rising savate kick, catching Sabine flush in the jaw and knocking her back a step. Meiling then reverses her body rotation and spins her leg around, her right heel striking Sabine in the side of her head in a flawless roundhouse motion. The kickboxer staggers to the side, and Meiling is quick to follow.
>"Someone should stop those two, before they REALLY get hurt!" Ranka cries.
>"You're right." Yuzuriha breathes. "But nothing can stop Sabine once she gets going. And Meiling said that..." She trails off, and looks back at you. "You came here for Sakuya, too, like she did, right?"
-
>Nod. "Indeed I did, I'll force her to stop for now. My primary goal is to recover Sakuya after all."
>Let's float over with the full 10-wing configuration. "Hong, that's enough. You will stop this fight this instant. You are already in enough trouble as it is, running off and leaving your duties untended while I was taking care of locating Sakuya."
-
>Nod. "Indeed I did, I'll force her to stop for now. My primary goal is to recover Sakuya after all."
>Let's float over with the full 10-wing configuration. "Hong, that's enough. You will stop this fight this instant. You are already in enough trouble as it is, running off and leaving your duties untended while I was taking care of locating Sakuya."
>"Good luck with Sabine.." Yuzuriha mutters.
>Re-adding four more wings, you disengage from the cobalt gatekeeper to deal with your own.
>Meiling uses both arms to block another snake-like jab from the kickboxer, and then sends a front kick at her opponent. Sabine raises her leg and takes the kick on her shin, before hopping up and sending her left leg forward. Meiling skips backwards, warding off the strike with her right palm.
>She spares only a glance back at you as you approach. "That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I've got this one pinned down, you can take the other one."
>Sabine raises her hands in her fighting stance again, and fits you with a dirty look. "Butt out, vampire. This is a private duel."
-
>Facepalm. "Hong, I really do mean it. Do I need to punish both of you?"
>Flare up to the 20-wing configuration again.
-
>Facepalm. "Hong, I really do mean it. Do I need to punish both of you?"
>Flare up to the 20-wing configuration again.
>Despite your attention-drawing efforts, both combatants remain focused on each other. Meiling does glance in your direction, but considering the look on Sabine's face, she is not intimidated by you at all.
>In fact, the instant Meiling glances at you, Sabine lunges forward in a blur of red an blue, her fist wrapped in lightning. Hong focuses her ki into her forearms and crosses them in front of her, getting them in place to block the kickboxer's punch, but only barely.
>Sabine shoots you a dirty smirk. "Wait your turn, will ya? China and me're just getting started."
-
>Alright, that does it. Kid gloves are off. Drop the aurawings entirely for an extremely focused aura, one strong enough to damage the very ground we walk upon with even the lightest of steps.
>Then, stride carefully, meticulously, and methodically towards them. "Do not say that I did not warn you. I think a little punishment is in order."
>Once we're within 10 paces, rocket forwards to grab the both of them!
-
>Alright, that does it. Kid gloves are off. Drop the aurawings entirely for an extremely focused aura, one strong enough to damage the very ground we walk upon with even the lightest of steps.
>Then, stride carefully, meticulously, and methodically towards them. "Do not say that I did not warn you. I think a little punishment is in order."
>Once we're within 10 paces, rocket forwards to grab the both of them!
>Enough is enough.
>With a demonstration of the speed that belies your somewhat slim frame, you jet forward between the two fighters as Sabine advances on Meiling again.
>Your burst of speed catches both fighters off guard, and you snag the both of them by the front of their shirts.
>"Oh, you must be one of those impatient vampires." Sabine sneers at you.
-
>Let's surround Sabine with a blazing aura that's fierce enough to cause harm to her by her merely being in contact with it.
>"Actually, you'll find that I am of the sort who does not tolerate fools, or those who taunt one stronger than them."
>Then, we'll stare at Hong with a mixture of disappointment and anger. "You heard my order, and did not stand down when I ordered it. So that's twice you've disobeyed me. I'm quite disappointed with you right now."
>Then, we'll fling Hong back to the others.
-
>Let's surround Sabine with a blazing aura that's fierce enough to cause harm to her by her merely being in contact with it.
>"Actually, you'll find that I am of the sort who does not tolerate fools, or those who taunt one stronger than them."
>Then, we'll stare at Hong with a mixture of disappointment and anger. "You heard my order, and did not stand down when I ordered it. So that's twice you've disobeyed me. I'm quite disappointed with you right now."
>Then, we'll fling Hong back to the others.
>The kickboxer flinches. But only just.
>Launching Meiling yields a brief yell from the Chinese girl, as you apply perhaps a touch more force than you'd intended. Or perhaps not, as you are annoyed. Ranka extends her hand and the air swirls around Meiling, slowing her flight until she gets her feet under her. Reisen floats slightly to her left and catches Meiling, the breeze ruffling their hair and clothes. Shou, though, seems to be missing from the group.
>"Thanks." Hong says to Reisen, who nods as your gatekeeper returns her attention to you. "What did you want me to do that time, stand there and take her strike?" she demands.
>"Probably." Sabine agrees with her opponent. "Why else would she leave herself so wide open? Not a big fan of defense?" she asks of you.
-
>"Actually, Hong, I intended for you to fall back and cease the battle. It's simply common sense. You two can have a more appropriate battle after all this is resolved. I've got a plan for that."
>Let's ramp up the Aura a few levels. We'll keep cranking it up until either she starts screaming, or she starts showing quite obvious harm. "And as for you...I'll deal with you first, I believe I've found one more arrogant than myself even. Tell me, how you ever hear the phrase 'bullying a dragon'? Well, if I so chose, I could easily push my Aura to the point where it boils the very blood that flows within you, ensuring a most gruesome demise. But, I choose not to, because I am a merciful individual. So I'll settle for merely causing enough harm to incapacitate. You can easily be healed later, when you aren't being an annoyance."
>Of course, once that happens, we'll level it off at that specific point, and drag her back to the gate, and then slam her into the ground in a way where her back will hit first.
-
>"Actually, Hong, I intended for you to fall back and cease the battle. It's simply common sense. You two can have a more appropriate battle after all this is resolved. I've got a plan for that."
>Let's ramp up the Aura a few levels. We'll keep cranking it up until either she starts screaming, or she starts showing quite obvious harm. "And as for you...I'll deal with you first, I believe I've found one more arrogant than myself even. Tell me, how you ever hear the phrase 'bullying a dragon'? Well, if I so chose, I could easily push my Aura to the point where it boils the very blood that flows within you, ensuring a most gruesome demise. But, I choose not to, because I am a merciful individual. So I'll settle for merely causing enough harm to incapacitate. You can easily be healed later, when you aren't being an annoyance."
>Of course, once that happens, we'll level it off at that specific point, and drag her back to the gate, and then slam her into the ground in a way where her back will hit first.
>"You okay, by the way?" Reisen asks your gatekeeper.
>"Yeah, I'm fine." Meiling levels a bit of a scowl at Sabine. "But she does have a wicked kick."
>Despite the pain you know you're inflicting on her, the kickboxer actually grins. "Like this?" Your eyes detect the movement of her leg, but in this position, your reflexes aren't fast enough to react in time. The kickboxer's ankle strikes the arm your hold her with, and although your aura diffuses some of the impact, she still strikes you with enough force to break your grip on her shirt.
>Leaping backwards, putting about three feet between you and her, she fixes her gaze on you again. "You misjudge me, vampire. I'm not as stupid as I look. I could tell your power the minute you touched me. I know you're out of my weight class. But don't think for a second I'll be packed off easily. Not by you, not by anyone."
>She points behind you, to Meiling. "But she's the one I want, not you. You want to get into the Keep, fine. Take it up with Yuzu. That one and I aren't finished yet."
-
>"You'll have to fight her later then. I was specifically asked to put a stop to the battle."
>Let's fly back to the others, and land in front of Yuzuriha. "Stubborn one, isn't she? Would you mind too terribly much if I push her to the point where she can't fight any further? Because that appears to be the only way to put some sense into her. We can always have her tended to after the fact, given that we have two medics with us after all."
-
>"You'll have to fight her later then. I was specifically asked to put a stop to the battle."
>Let's fly back to the others, and land in front of Yuzuriha. "Stubborn one, isn't she? Would you mind too terribly much if I push her to the point where she can't fight any further? Because that appears to be the only way to put some sense into her. We can always have her tended to after the fact, given that we have two medics with us after all."
>Yuzuriha herself, and her dogs, have also landed, and so you flit back over to her. She looks between you and Sabine, then shakes her head. "It really is, too. She's not that bad, normally, but, once she gets the taste of a fight, she practically becomes someone else."
>"The soul of battle." Meiling says, her eyes meeting Sabine's. She seems calmer now than she did before, her face still very serious, but lacking the grim determination it did before. "Let me fight her, Remilia. Please. You can settle things with the Countess, I'll handle her."
-
>Sigh. "I had planned to make your fight with her a spectator event after all this, but fine."
>Look to Yuzuriha. "Well, you needn't worry about the Countess overmuch. I never intended to kill her to begin with, and Danmaku is inherently non-lethal, so that is another added bonus."
>Grin slightly. "Besides, it's been far too long since I've seen a Vampire aside from my own sister who is worthy of a title, I'm rather interested in seeing her strength and skill. As she is the one who turned Rei, who herself has much potential, I have high expectations. If she's worn out from engaging with the others, then Honoka and Reisen can easily tend to her."
-
>Sigh. "I had planned to make your fight with her a spectator event after all this, but fine."
>Look to Yuzuriha. "Well, you needn't worry about the Countess overmuch. I never intended to kill her to begin with, and Danmaku is inherently non-lethal, so that is another added bonus."
>Grin slightly. "Besides, it's been far too long since I've seen a Vampire aside from my own sister who is worthy of a title, I'm rather interested in seeing her strength and skill. As she is the one who turned Rei, who herself has much potential, I have high expectations. If she's worn out from engaging with the others, then Honoka and Reisen can easily tend to her."
>"No worries about that." Sabine assures you, still looking at Meiling. "This ain't gonna be the last time your fist crosses with mine."
>A faint grin crosses Meiling's face. "I don't doubt it. And now that Remilia's here, I don't need to worry about going through you." Meiling drops down into her fighting stance. "I can just beat you."
>"Say that after you win, China." Sabine taunts, raising her fists again.
>"This danmaku stuff is still pretty new to us." Yuzuriha admits. "It'll take a bit of getting used to. Plus, we haven't had the best of relationships with other vampires in the past, either here or in the outside world. Before just then, I would have hard a hard time believing you without Blood, but, now..."
>"Because she tried to stop Meiling and Sabine from fighting?" Reisen asks her.
>The Cobalt gatekeeper nods. "And that you didn't try to cave her skull in for striking you. I'm still not SURE, old instincts die hard, but... I want to believe." She extends her arm out and snaps her finger, and the burnished wood gate into the Keep's exterior courtyard swings open again. "Rei didn't have a choice but to be afraid of you. I do."
-
>"Well, it was rather tempting. Given how much she's taunted me, but I suppose I'll settle things with her later, when everyone's had a chance to rest and recover."
>Nod. "At any rate, who all will accompany me inside? With Hong and Sabine out here enjoying themselves, someone will have to keep an eye on them and tend to both when all is said and done. And don't worry, since you all are Youkai, you'll pick up Danmaku as if you'd known it all your life. Rei in particular, despite being freshly-turned, has a better grasp of it than most younger youkai that I've known. And, as I said earlier, she copied my Servant Flier technique, which, while one of my weaker ones, is still no small feat for a youngling such as she."
>Let's ham it up with a laugh, and resume the 10-wing auraform! "I haven't found very many with such potential, and tonight, I find two with great potential! It seems Gensokyo will be quite lively in the years to come, wouldn't you all agree?"
-
>"Well, it was rather tempting. Given how much she's taunted me, but I suppose I'll settle things with her later, when everyone's had a chance to rest and recover."
>Nod. "At any rate, who all will accompany me inside? With Hong and Sabine out here enjoying themselves, someone will have to keep an eye on them and tend to both when all is said and done. And don't worry, since you all are Youkai, you'll pick up Danmaku as if you'd known it all your life. Rei in particular, despite being freshly-turned, has a better grasp of it than most younger youkai that I've known. And, as I said earlier, she copied my Servant Flier technique, which, while one of my weaker ones, is still no small feat for a youngling such as she."
>Let's ham it up with a laugh, and resume the 10-wing auraform! "I haven't found very many with such potential, and tonight, I find two with great potential! It seems Gensokyo will be quite lively in the years to come, wouldn't you all agree?"
>"Anytime you're ready. I haven't fought a vampire in too long."
>"Actually, we got you covered there." Sabine informs you. "Standard practice for everyone that lives at the Keep. We're all trained in first aid. Matter of fact, Yuzu here's been patching me up for ages. No one knows my body like she does."
>After a brief breath of wind, Meiling, Reisen and Yuzuriha blush. Ranka giggles.
>"I certainly hope so." Ranka says archly, giving Yuzuriha a look. The cobalt guard's blush deepens.
-
>Nod. "Very well then. I'll enter with the rest. Reisen, you should stay out here to tend to Hong, you can rejoin us afterwards."
-
>Nod. "Very well then. I'll enter with the rest. Reisen, you should stay out here to tend to Hong, you can rejoin us afterwards."
>The rabbit of Eientei looks between Meiling and Sabine, then gives you a nod. "I can do that. And I can tell anyone else that comes along to investigate that there's lots of folks in the process of doing just that."
-
>"Indeed."
>Look to Shou and Honoka. "Alright, let's go."
>But before heading in, look to Hong with a confident expression. "Make sure you win."
>And then head in with Shou and Honoka at the full 20-wing configuration. We have to look presentable and sufficiently awe-inspiring after all!
-
>"Indeed."
>Look to Shou and Honoka. "Alright, let's go."
>But before heading in, look to Hong with a confident expression. "Make sure you win."
>And then head in with Shou and Honoka at the full 20-wing configuration. We have to look presentable and sufficiently awe-inspiring after all!
>Shou is presently absent.
-
>Sigh. "Now where did Shou get to?"
-
>Sigh. "Now where did Shou get to?"
>Yuzuriha and Reisen point towards the extention built into the left side of the Keep. "She went in through the stables." Reisen informs you. "While you were breaking up the fight here."
-
>Facepalm. "Let's hope she'll be alright then."
>Let's look to Honoka and Ranka. "Well, shall we be off?"
>Let's resume the 20-wing auraform, and head on in!
-
>Facepalm. "Let's hope she'll be alright then."
>Let's look to Honoka and Ranka. "Well, shall we be off?"
>Let's resume the 20-wing auraform, and head on in!
>Yuzuriha stands aside to allow you entrance to the courtyard beyond the gate, as Meiling and Sabine approach each other again, Sabine once more taking the initiative and charging forward.
>"A moment, please." Honoka asks of you as Ranka floats over to fall in to your left. She extends her hand towards the cobalt gatekeeper, and a pale golden glow surrounds the nine-fingered woman and the two dogs flanking her. Her eyes flutter and she flexes her arms, spreading them out from her. The golden retriever looks around curiously, while the husky howls. Four more canine howls answer this one from the keep.
>"I restore you, gatekeeper, and your pack." the cloaked youkai declares, lowering her hand. "If another challenges you this night, then you may fight them at your best."
>Yuzuriha looks at her hands, then bows to Honoka. "You have my gratitude." she says in a strangely formal tone.
>Her task complete, Honoka falls in behind you, both her and the blonde at a fair distance, considering your aura, and you fly through the gate, into the Keep courtyard.
>The courtyard is actually not entirely dissimilar to your own: spacious and well groomed, the walk to the mansion's main door lined with small saplings. Possibly maples, transplanted from the forest growing south from the lip of the cliff top. The interior of the wall surrounding the keep has been dug, indicating the makings of a garden, though only a handful of flowers are present here and there.
>The main doors are rather understated, if you're honest. Cut from what you'd guess is oak and treated to stand the test of time, the double doors can be opened inwards via the large bronze handle on either one.
>"This is where I find my own way." Ranka informs you.
>Honoka gives her a solemn look. "At least try not to invite too much trouble."
>"Hon, get with the times." Ranka pouts, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward. "Inviting trouble is how folks say hello."
-
>Sigh. "Just try not to get possessed, would you?"
>"I must admit though, this is a rather nice, if simple, lair. The makings of a garden, some maple trees, and a rather nice, if understated, set of doors leading into the keep itself. Oak if I'm not mistaken. The countess has good taste, hopefully she's someone I can get along with. It's been many years since I've encountered a vampire who isn't my own little sister."
>Beat.
>"Well, excluding Rei of course. But she's still a youngling, so she does not quite count."
>Let's head on in and see what's going on.
-
>Sigh. "Just try not to get possessed, would you?"
>"I must admit though, this is a rather nice, if simple, lair. The makings of a garden, some maple trees, and a rather nice, if understated, set of doors leading into the keep itself. Oak if I'm not mistaken. The countess has good taste, hopefully she's someone I can get along with. It's been many years since I've encountered a vampire who isn't my own little sister."
>Beat.
>"Well, excluding Rei of course. But she's still a youngling, so she does not quite count."
>Let's head on in and see what's going on.
>"Hee he." Ranka giggles, and winks at you. "It depends on how nicely they ask." With a whimsical little laugh, the blonde youkai takes off into the sky.
>"Do not concern yourself too much with her, Remilia." Honoka says after Ranka leaves. "Despite how she appears, she knows when to take things seriously."
>The doors open into a simple yet fairly spacious entry chamber, with another door ten feet away. The scent of dust still lingers in the somewhat stale air. A pair of brooms sit in the northwest corner. The east and west wall sport uncushioned wooden benches. With nothing of particular interest in this chamber, you and Honoka continue through the north exit.
>You emerge into a long corridor, extending to the east and west. The wall in front of you has a marble pedestal set into the wall, but no decoration sits atop it. The corridor is carpeted by a deep blue rug, but one that shows great signs of age and dust. The windows along the corridor are bereft of curtains, all except one down the west wing, red in color, which is tattered and badly faded. There are three more pedestals down both sides of the corridor, all of which are empty. The walls show similar signs of age, as though the place had been unkept for decades. Which, if Honoka is correct, is entirely true.
>"It would seem we have a choice to make." the cloaked youaki notes.
-
>Sigh. "It's a shame how unkept this place is. I can see why she wanted to steal Sakuya away from me now. I'll have to send some of my Fairy Maids along to aid in restorations. I know a particularly competent one who can head up those efforts."
>Let's use our hearing to inspect each corridor in turn.
-
>Sigh. "It's a shame how unkept this place is. I can see why she wanted to steal Sakuya away from me now. I'll have to send some of my Fairy Maids along to aid in restorations. I know a particularly competent one who can head up those efforts."
>Let's use our hearing to inspect each corridor in turn.
>"The place has been open to the elements for many years." Honoka replies. "I am surprised the place is in as good a shape as it is. The grounds outside were less treated than they are now when last I was this way."
>"As a matter of fact, I am more surprised that one or more bodies did not claim this Keep as their own, but that may have had something to do with the nature of the seal on the Countess and her ilk."
>You think you hear music coming from down the left corridors. Subdued and muffled, like from the other side of a heavy door, but music.
>The right corridor offers.... SOME kind of sound, but it is very quiet, either distant or muffled, or both. Even your keen ears cannot make out any details about it, other than it appears to be intermittent.
>Your nose detects something as well from down the right corridor. A bitter scent and pungent, not unlike certain medicinal remedies.
-
>"Hmm...According to my rather good hearing, there is some sort of highly muffled and intermittent sound coming from the rightmost corridor. Also, a rather pungent smell not unlike certain medicines. The leftmost corridor seems to have something akin to music, albeit muffled."
>Would we be able to stand the smell coming from the right corridor as we draw closer to the source?
-
>"Hmm...According to my rather good hearing, there is some sort of highly muffled and intermittent sound coming from the rightmost corridor. Also, a rather pungent smell not unlike certain medicines. The leftmost corridor seems to have something akin to music, albeit muffled."
>Would we be able to stand the smell coming from the right corridor as we draw closer to the source?
>"Music seems innocuous enough, although we should not discount the possibility the Countess may possess a magical musician."
>More than likely. If it was the sort of scent that would bother your nose, you probably would have a sense of it, even as muted as it is. You have no such sense at the moment.
-
>"Hmm...Indeed. I myself have a fondness for the more traditional instruments, Violin, Pipe Organ, those two...I really should have Sakuya clean out the Pipe Organ sometime, it's been sitting untouched for far too long."
>Can we tell what instrument is being played?
-
>"Hmm...Indeed. I myself have a fondness for the more traditional instruments, Violin, Pipe Organ, those two...I really should have Sakuya clean out the Pipe Organ sometime, it's been sitting untouched for far too long."
>Can we tell what instrument is being played?
>"What is a pipe organ?"
>A string instrument of some kind. Most likely a violin, but it could also be a cello or viola.
-
>"A rather large and grandiose instrument based on the Piano. Old castles and mansions such as this sometimes have one hidden away in a less-used room. But the music we are dealing with is, if I'm not mistaken, from a String Instrument. Cello, or possibly Viola. Good instruments those."
>Hmm..."So, which path should we inspect first? The path that smells of medicine? or the one that holds music?"
>Is the hall short enough that we can send a bat down it to investigate?
-
>"A rather large and grandiose instrument based on the Piano. Old castles and mansions such as this sometimes have one hidden away in a less-used room. But the music we are dealing with is, if I'm not mistaken, from a String Instrument. Cello, or possibly Viola. Good instruments those."
>Hmm..."So, which path should we inspect first? The path that smells of medicine? or the one that holds music?"
>Is the hall short enough that we can send a bat down it to investigate?
>"Those, I am familiar with. Though I admit, I have never really been one for music."
>"Perhaps both." Honoka suggests. "It may be more efficient to split up, at least for now."
>Both branches are, yes.
-
>"Perhaps, but let me do something first, so as to avoid potential mishaps."
>Let's send a bat-scout down the hallway that smells of medicine first, and see what's up.
-
>"Perhaps, but let me do something first, so as to avoid potential mishaps."
>Let's send a bat-scout down the hallway that smells of medicine first, and see what's up.
>"Very well."
>Sending one of your bats down the right-hand hallway yields some clarification on the scent. It smells like new ointment and an herbal poultice, the kind of scents that would come from a naturalists' place. It is coming from a door about two thirds of the way down the hall. There is a second room, closer to you, but it appears to be nothing more than an unoccupied, unfurnished chamber, apart from a small bronze pot on the floor.
>The hall has a large opening 30 feet down from the second door, revealing a large staircase leading up to the second floor of the keep.
>There does appear to be a faint sound coming from the room smelling of medicine. It's quite faint, but you'd guess it is the sound of a human sleeping.
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>"...Yes, it seems that is the room being used as a medical hall. It smells of fresh ointment, and an herbal poultice. It seems that room has somebody sleeping inside. About 30 or so feet from that door, is a large opening that leads to a staircase leading higher. You should be safe going down that hallway."
>Call the bat back, and send it down the other hall now.
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>"...Yes, it seems that is the room being used as a medical hall. It smells of fresh ointment, and an herbal poultice. It seems that room has somebody sleeping inside. About 30 or so feet from that door, is a large opening that leads to a staircase leading higher. You should be safe going down that hallway."
>Call the bat back, and send it down the other hall now.
>"Probably one of the Countesses', especially if the Hakurei is here as well."
>Sending the bat down the other hall reveals an identical construction to the right hand wing. The door closest to you is closed this time, and shows signs of thin danmaku strikes. Much like Reimu's.
>The music stops as the bat reaches the first door, but it continues a moment later, this time with a different instrument. This one is definitely a cello, playing a piece by... Bach, you think. It is coming from the second room, but this door is a bit wider than the others in the hallway, and made of thicker wood. Since the sound of music is still rather muted, you would guess that the room was soundproofed at one point, but that it has faded over time.
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>"...Strange, a piece by Bach being played. They have good taste, I must say. Personally, I've been more fond of his Organ and Piano works. Particularly Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. It's one of the classic pieces that's to be expected of those like myself."
>Nod. "I think you should be fine taking that hallway where the injured person is. Perhaps you can even help them along their recovery if you deem it necessary. I'll take the path with the music. If I am fortunate, It may well be the countess herself. Those of nobility tend to be quite versed in the musical arts after all."
>"Stay safe now, alright?" Let's take the hall that has the music playing. And keep our wits about us, ready to ward off any controlling effects that could possibly arise.
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>"...Strange, a piece by Bach being played. They have good taste, I must say. Personally, I've been more fond of his Organ and Piano works. Particularly Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. It's one of the classic pieces that's to be expected of those like myself."
>Nod. "I think you should be fine taking that hallway where the injured person is. Perhaps you can even help them along their recovery if you deem it necessary. I'll take the path with the music. If I am fortunate, It may well be the countess herself. Those of nobility tend to be quite versed in the musical arts after all."
>"Stay safe now, alright?" Let's take the hall that has the music playing. And keep our wits about us, ready to ward off any controlling effects that could possibly arise.
>"Is that a musician from the outside world?"
>"Nobility must be a different bend from the nobles found in this world." Honoka says, a touch darkly.
>Satisfied in your batscout, you float down the left hand hallway while Honoka travels down the right. You keep your guard up, not only for your immediate surroundings, but also in case anything untowards comes from Honoka's side.
>The cello music becomes more distinct as you head towards the door. It is indeed Bach, one of his cello suites. Suite number one, if your educated ears do not fail you. Music is the only thing that seems to be populating this hall, as neither fairy nor orb nor emotional disturbance attack you, and by the sounds of it, Honoka is likewise unmolested. The player continues playing as you float up to the thicker of the two doors.
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>Can we smell anything from within the chamber where the music is coming from?
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>Can we smell anything from within the chamber where the music is coming from?
>You detect hints of rosin from the room in front you, and the very faint hint of brass and bronze.
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>Interesting. Seems that must be the music room then. We'll look into that later.
>Let's head for the stairs and go up to the next floor, sending a bat to scout ahead as we go.
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>Interesting. Seems that must be the music room then. We'll look into that later.
>Let's head for the stairs and go up to the next floor, sending a bat to scout ahead as we go.
>Making a note of the location of the music room, you leave it alone for now and climb the stairs down the hall, Bach's piece following you.
>The second floor before you is another long hallway, branching left and right at the end of it. There is a small statue at the end of the hall, perhaps the size of a bust, but you can't make out the details at this distance. Both sides of the hall are lined with doors, most shut, but a few hang open. Hooks hang from the walls in places, the kind to hang art from, but each stands empty and dusty. The carpet here seems even more faded than the one on the first floor. The walls show flecks and traces of blue, white and green paint in places. Obviously the stone walls were painted at some point, but this too has faded with time. A pair of candelabra light the hall, one about twenty feet in front of you on the right, one about 80 feet down on your left, both made of tarnished brass.
>From a peg in the wall halfway down the hall on the right side, there hangs the tattered top part of a banner, little more than a shred of white cloth. The door next to this piece of fabric is flanked on either side by a suit of ornamental armor, both painted a moderate shade of blue, both resting their hands on broadswords.
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>Interesting...Let's investigate that door then, and keep on guard for any ambushes or traps.
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>Interesting...Let's investigate that door then, and keep on guard for any ambushes or traps.
>You stroll down the hall, keeping your senses tuned for anything potentially threatening.
>Nothing pops out at you from around the corners or out of the open rooms, but as you close to within ten feet of the door in question, the two suits of armor move. Raising their swords up, they cross their blades in front of the door.
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>Walk under the blades. If they drop down, grab them and rip them out of the statues' hands.
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>Walk under the blades. If they drop down, grab them and rip them out of the statues' hands.
>When you close to five feet of the armor suits, their lowered visors start to glow, and they discharge blue and red circular danmaku in a criss-crossing circle outwards.
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>Bat-cloud. Reform in front of one of them and strike with the ice spear. If freezing it doesn't work, rip its sword out of its hand and cut its head off. Then repeat whichever worked on the second statue.
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>Bat-cloud. Reform in front of one of them and strike with the ice spear. If freezing it doesn't work, rip its sword out of its hand and cut its head off. Then repeat whichever worked on the second statue.
>Evading their bullets via your swarm form, you resolidify yourself in front of the closest knight, the one that fired the red bullets, and swing at it with your enchanted glaive. Belying its cumbersome appearance, the armor brings its sword down to cross with yours, blocking your strike. The armor shakes under the impact of a vampire's blow, but it holds together. It's visor also begins to glow with red light, while its partner shows a blue glow.
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>Raise an eyebrow, and pull away to a safer distance.
>"Oh-ho? A trap, hm? Well, there must be something quite important in there then."
>Let's gauge their next actions, and react accordingly.
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>Raise an eyebrow, and pull away to a safer distance.
>"Oh-ho? A trap, hm? Well, there must be something quite important in there then."
>Let's gauge their next actions, and react accordingly.
>Their circular bullets past, you flit backwards out of melee range.
>The guard armor pair fire a triple laser blast from their visors, red lasers from the one in front of you, blue from the other. The lasers are relatively slow, and fly in a triangular spread outwards.
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>Slip to the side, and flick a spread of Crystal Shots at the visors.
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>Slip to the side, and flick a spread of Crystal Shots at the visors.
>Slip to your left or right?
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>Whichever side seems the least likely to be a potential trap.
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>Whichever side seems the least likely to be a potential trap.
>Sideslipping to your right, between the middle and right laser of the armor, you fire a spread of crystals at the visors of both knights. Both of your shots impact against the helms of the armored figures, but their sturdy metal helmets hold solid. Their glow of energy, though, lowers in its intensity, and they do not return fire yet.
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>Interesting...Let's fire some more, and keep firing until the glow ceases.
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>Interesting...Let's fire some more, and keep firing until the glow ceases.
>Maintaining your position, you fling another barrage of crystals at the pair of armor suits. They return fire after taking another burst each, another pattern of circle-spreading danmaku spinning in opposite directions of each other. The bullets seem a bit faster than the first time they employed this pattern.
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>Slip through the gaps and cream a statue in the head.
Also, fitting music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGHOOBAyzQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGHOOBAyzQ)
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>Slip through the gaps and cream a statue in the head.
>Cream it with what?
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>The glaive.
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>Slip through the gaps and cream a statue in the head.
>The criss-crossing pattern of danmaku is somewhat impressive, but nothing you can't handle with a touch of care. And after exercising that care, you swing your glaive again, towards the nearest blue armor. This time, the armored figure can't raise its sword in time, and your enchanted weapon connects with its helmet.
>Your strike takes the figures' helmet clean off, after caving in its side. The armor is empty, moving on its own, evidently.
>And taking its head off does not render it immediately inert. The headless armor thrusts its sword towards your exposed flank, while the other armor unleashes a pair of parallel lines of wedge-shaped danmaku.
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>Grab the sword, dropping the glaive if necessary, wrench it from the statue's grip, and use it to block the incoming danmaku. If any of these steps can't be done in time or otherwise doesn't work, batcloud.
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>Grab the sword, dropping the glaive if necessary, wrench it from the statue's grip, and use it to block the incoming danmaku. If any of these steps can't be done in time or otherwise doesn't work, batcloud.
>It only take one hand to grab a sword in this fashion, so you lash out with your left hand and grab the sword by its blade before it strikes you. And yes, while this is impressive to see- assuming there was anyone around to observe- it hurts. Obviously. As strong and as tough as you are, grabbing a naked blade still hurts. Especially since the blade digs into your hand even more as you wrench it sideways in an attempt to disarm the mobile armor before you.
>There is an upside to having this cold steel cutting into your flesh, though. Your attempt to pull it away from the armor is successful, if not quite in the way you'd envisioned. The armor's entire arm comes off with a sound of tearing metal. While this is a satisfying sight, the dislodged plate arm flies forward and smacks you in the forehead. The impact of that steel, while not painful, is not enough to distract you for a moment, and some of the other suit's danmaku pummels you before you put your stolen gear between you and it.
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>Move to the side, away from the damaged statue, and throw the sword into the intact statue.
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>Move to the side, away from the damaged statue, and throw the sword into the intact statue.
>As you put some distance between yourself and the disarmed suit of armor, you release the grip on your sword and grab it again, by the hilt, this time, and hurl it, armored arm and all, at the second suit. As best as you can, with a deep, bleeding gouge in your hand, anyway.
>The broadsword is not a weapon that can easily be thrown, and this is not something yo do very often as it is. Combine these facts with the wound in your hand, and the fact that there's a giant metallic arm dangling from it, and your aim is not true, despite the tremendous force you hurl the sword with.
>The blade dips down to the left as soon as it leaves your hand, and flies past the thigh-guard of the second suit of armor, imbedding itself in the stone floor of the hallway with a uniquely terrible sound of metal piercing rock, followed by the clattering of empty plate mail as the armored arm is dislodged by the impact and falls to the floor, inert.
>The closest armor discharges more danmaku towards you, this time larger red spheres, in a narrow cone in front of it, while the more distant suit replays the trio of lasers it used earlier.
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>Stupid animated statues. Any proper living beings would be trembling in awe after see us calmly catch the blade like that.
>Avoid getting trapped in the cone. Skirt around the outside, being careful to avoid the lasers, and, using the glaive, cut through the damaged statue straight down the center. Cut the damn thing in half.
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>Stupid animated statues. Any proper living beings would be trembling in awe after see us calmly catch the blade like that.
>Avoid getting trapped in the cone. Skirt around the outside, being careful to avoid the lasers, and, using the glaive, cut through the damaged statue straight down the center. Cut the damn thing in half.
>Dueling with magically-mobile objects does have its disadvantages.
>The larger danmaku, coupled with its partners lasers, actually makes a rather good combination. The cone spreads enough to cover a respectable area of effect, yet narrow enough to make evading them rather tricky. While the lasers are close enough to its edges, and long enough, to prevent circumventing the trap altogether, and the one in the middle adds a layer of difficulty to evading the cone. You have to admit, whoever made these two knew their danmaku.
>As good a pair as they are, however, you're still that much better. Staying close to the 'edge' created by the right laser, you graze your way past the red circular bullets and close in on the already damaged armor. In a great overhead swing, you strike the armor atop the aperture where its helm used to be. The gaps and exposed areas of the armor emit a burst of purple magical energy, and the armor collapses to the ground in a tremendous clatter, and with a sizable gash sliced in the front of its breastplate.
>The space behind the visor of the second knight turns red, and it raises its sword. The animated armor launches a line of blue dagger-shaped bullets, followed by a red line after it.
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>Dodge to the side and move in, remaining alert for any attempts to redirect the fire. Stay away from the red line, as well, and keep aware of anything it or the daggers might do.
>If we reach the statue without incident, cut its head off, then repeat the vertical slash that appeared to finish off the first one. Stay alert for any counter attempts from the statue.
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>Dodge to the side and move in, remaining alert for any attempts to redirect the fire. Stay away from the red line, as well, and keep aware of anything it or the daggers might do.
>If we reach the statue without incident, cut its head off, then repeat the vertical slash that appeared to finish off the first one. Stay alert for any counter attempts from the statue.
>The blades travel fast, and their paths scissor at a point, but the corridor is wide enough to allow you to stay out of the paths of both, fly around them both, and swing your polearm at the helmet of the armor. The broadsword of the armor raises, and crashes against your glaive with the song of steel on steel.
>Following its parry of your glaive, the armor brings its sword down towards your shoulder in an overhead slash.
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>Dash to the side and cut its head off before it can pull out of its attack to again parry ours.
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I leave for the night, and you get us injured prematurely. Nice one man. :V
>And after that, just bombard it with Servant Flier until it gives in, unless the initial strike is enough to put an end to it that is.
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Yeah, because a cut in her hand (even a fairly nasty one) is really going to slow Remilia down. She heals fast, anyways. Besides, it worked, didn't it?
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It's still damage nonetheless though. We do have to look our best after all.
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>Dash to the side and cut its head off before it can pull out of its attack to again parry ours.
>And after that, just bombard it with Servant Flier until it gives in, unless the initial strike is enough to put an end to it that is.
>Sideslipping to your left to evade the armor's sword, the weapon falls through the empty air where once you were.
>Your weapon is much more effective, as your second slash strikes the armor in the temple of its helmet, shearing it clear of the armor beneath it. Much like the first one, this suit continues moving after its decapitation, and swings its sword in a backhand slash, catching you across the belly and leaving a thin, abrated cut.
>Cut by an animated suit of plate mail. You can hear Sakuya chide you for that already.
>Not wanting to get any more nicks on yourself, or your swanky clothes, you put some distance between yourself and the armor again, and employ danamku yourself again. And unlike yourself, the armor doesn't seem to have any dodging skill to speak of, and you have no trouble pasting the thing with your shots, while its return fire, another ring of bullets but made of the larger type, while impressive for an enchanted suit of armor, is nothing you can't graze between and around, maintaining your fire.
>After the armor absorbs half a dozen shots, its gaps and chinks emit the same light the first suit did, and the thing collapses to the floor, its remaining bullets fading.
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And here I was thinking danmaku wouldn't work (which is why I went for the physical approach in the first place).
>Dust ourselves off and head through the door, keeping alert for any other surprises.
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>Dust ourselves off and head through the door, keeping alert for any other surprises.
>Taking a moment to collect yourself and straighten out your skirt, you place your glaive back in its holster and, using your uncut hand, you turn the handle of the formerly guarded door and enter into.
>The chamber beyond, with wood panels on the wall, painted white with a divided blue section below, is very spacious. Probably because there's almost nothing in it. The area to your right is a side chamber, with a large cast iron bathtub and a large vanity and mirror. Both show signs of recent dusting and cleaning.
>The main chamber has a window in the north wall, with a view opening onto the roof of the Keep below, and the lovely night sky above. The window has no curtains. The carpet here is in better condition than the ones out in the hall, save the patches of space where the sunlight has been stronger and faded the color, and is colored a cranberry red and brown.
>The only other object in the room, standing in the northeast corner of the room, is a coffin. And one of the more colorful ones you've ever seen in your entire life. The body of the coffin is painted a vibrant pink, while the top is a bright shade of purple. The corners are glit with gold, and green ivy-like decorations spiral across the top and the bottom of the lid. A large ruby-red heart is painted in the middle of the coffin's lid, with what seems to be a ruby set in the middle.
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>How odd. Perhaps the Countess also has someone similar to Flan in her life as well?
>Or, it could be Rei's for all we know. We'll inquire about this later. We can just have Patchy replace the armors with something more efficient, like a Golem! Golems were always far more efficient than animated armors after all. You'd never see one of our stature stoop to using something so basic.
>But regardless, now that we've sated our curiosity about this particular room, we'll move on and keep seeking out the closest thing to a throne room we can find.
>Ah, but, being a lady as we are, we'll make sure to close the door as well, and shuffle the armors out of the path.
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>How odd. Perhaps the Countess also has someone similar to Flan in her life as well?
>Or, it could be Rei's for all we know. We'll inquire about this later. We can just have Patchy replace the armors with something more efficient, like a Golem! Golems were always far more efficient than animated armors after all. You'd never see one of our stature stoop to using something so basic.
>But regardless, now that we've sated our curiosity about this particular room, we'll move on and keep seeking out the closest thing to a throne room we can find.
>Ah, but, being a lady as we are, we'll make sure to close the door as well, and shuffle the armors out of the path.
>If she does, she keeps her in a more public place than you keep Flan. Although your sister would probably like the colors on this here coffin.
>While an animated suit of armor is somewhat expected, and not incredibly hard to create, crafting a spell that not only lets a suit move but also fire danmaku, and relatively strong danmaku, is rather impressive.
>Content to leave the coffin where it is, you exit this room and shut the door behind you, drawing your glaive to use as a makeshift broom to shove the inert armor pieces out of the way of the door. As you do so, however, your ears detect the sound of a body flying through the air from the stairs you came up, traveling towards you.
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>Raise an eyebrow, and wait patiently. If they're aiming to attack us with a tackle, we'll just drop the glaive for a moment, catch them off balance, and shove them into the wall with our uninjured hand.
>Speaking of which, how long will it take for us to heal from that?
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>Raise an eyebrow, and wait patiently. If they're aiming to attack us with a tackle, we'll just drop the glaive for a moment, catch them off balance, and shove them into the wall with our uninjured hand.
>Speaking of which, how long will it take for us to heal from that?
>There's a bit of distance between you and the stairs. 25 feet, at least. But tackling the person involved proves to be unnecessary one way or the other, as a pair of rabbit ears appear first, followed shortly by the young lady they're attached to: Reisen. The red-eyed rabbit pauses when she sees you standing between a pair of collapsed and scattered armor pieces, and then smiles faintly. "I guess you've been busy?"
>To heal completely, at least an hour, maybe more. And that's assuming the sword wasn't enchanted in some way, as magical weapons deal more damage to your vampiric body. You dug your hand into that sword pretty well.
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>Shrug. "Animated Armors, annoying things those. Though I must admit, it was a stroke of genius to enchant them with relatively powerful danmaku ability. Not unlike some of Patche's Trap Books really."
>Perhaps we should look into obtaining something like these for our own mansion. We certainly have plenty of stray suits of armor scattered about the halls.
>Nod, then finish moving the armor parts out of the way, taking care to leave the door accessible as well. "So, what did you find?"
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>Shrug. "Animated Armors, annoying things those. Though I must admit, it was a stroke of genius to enchant them with relatively powerful danmaku ability. Not unlike some of Patche's Trap Books really."
>Perhaps we should look into obtaining something like these for our own mansion. We certainly have plenty of stray suits of armor scattered about the halls.
>Nod, then finish moving the armor parts out of the way, taking care to leave the door accessible as well. "So, what did you find?"
>"Reimu and Youmu probably didn't come this way, then. If they were still up and running when you got here." Reisen speculates.
>Indeed you do. And between you and Patchy and Koakuma, enchanting a few to ward off intruders shouldn't be too hard.
>"Well, Meiling and Sabine are still fighting outside, but the tone of the fight's a lot different now. They're not trying to maim each other any more. Well, not as MUCH, anyway." she adds as an afterthought, and with a slight wince. "And Sabine was right about Yuzuriha, the girl's a competent field medic. We talked while the fight was going on. I don't think she's ready for major surgeries or anything, but provided those two brawlers don't do any severe damage to each other, Yuzuriha should be able to look after them both. So, I came on in here, heard what sounded like fighting and, well, here I am." She points to the room you just exited. "I gather those armor things were standing outside this one. What were they guarding?"
>"And where'd Honoka go?"
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>"We split up not too long ago actually. There was another hall in the floor below that split into two, there were stairs at the end of both, so she took one, I took the other."
>"And as for what was in there, It was what appeared to be a private room. Complete with coffin for a vampiric occupant no less. I suspect that it might be Rei's room, or perhaps that the Countess also has a younger sibling. because I can tell you right away that Flan would love the colors this one's in."
>Perhaps we should get her an updated one once she's been remedied. To commemorate the matter being finally brought to a close after all these centuries.
>Nod. "And Ranka also split from us prior, I warned her about encountering Lust, as things would be rather...'messy', if she were to be possessed by that particular Sin Spirit."
>"At any rate, were there any other stairs up? because once we find the closest thing to a throne room, I suspect we'll have found the COuntess.
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>Perhaps we should get her an updated one once she's been remedied. To commemorate the matter being finally brought to a close after all these centuries.
>Flandre actually does not possess a coffin. At least, not one she uses. You gave her one once, a few hundred years ago, but she didn't really like it, to put it mildly. Said it 'kept out the dark and the light. It was like being in the bad sleep.'. As a matter of fact, the one day she spent in it, she awoke in the grips of a terrible nightmare. It took you hours to calm her down.
>Seeing her so badly shaken has become one of your own nightmares. Not one you've had for several decades, but the memory of that night has not faded.
>"We split up not too long ago actually. There was another hall in the floor below that split into two, there were stairs at the end of both, so she took one, I took the other."
>"And as for what was in there, It was what appeared to be a private room. Complete with coffin for a vampiric occupant no less. I suspect that it might be Rei's room, or perhaps that the Countess also has a younger sibling. because I can tell you right away that Flan would love the colors this one's in."
>Nod. "And Ranka also split from us prior, I warned her about encountering Lust, as things would be rather...'messy', if she were to be possessed by that particular Sin Spirit."
>"At any rate, were there any other stairs up? because once we find the closest thing to a throne room, I suspect we'll have found the COuntess.
>"I didn't see any, but I was mostly following the sounds." She points back down behind her down the stairs. "The hallway keeps going down there, makes a right turn past these stairs. There could be another flight of stairs that way, or, for all I know, down this hall. Have you explored this one yet?"
>She pauses then. "Wait a second, a coffin? Was it occupied?"
-
>"Given that it's night, it's not likely. Though given how close it is to dawn, it may well be. A true 'Schrodinger's Cat', as it were. I opted to not look, so as to be polite."
-
>"The Countess is not likely in it. She's supposedly expecting me, remember?"
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>"Given that it's night, it's not likely. Though given how close it is to dawn, it may well be. A true 'Schrodinger's Cat', as it were. I opted to not look, so as to be polite."
>Reisen nods. "Sounds reasonable."
>"The Countess is not likely in it. She's supposedly expecting me, remember?"
>"That is true, but, this IS Gensokyo." She pauses, winces slightly, then lowers her voice before adding, "If she's like the Princess, she might have decided to take a nap before meeting a guest."
-
>"I find that unlikely, but if we find the throne room empty, perhaps it may be worth returning here."
>Let's move on.
-
>Let's move on.
>Which direction would you like to go?
-
>WHat are the options?
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>WHat are the options?
>Reisen mentioned another corridor on the first floor down the stairs to your left.
>There are many other room in this corridor, some open, some with closed doors.
>The corridor you stand in continues north, branching east and west.
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>"Well, we could investigate that other corridor then. It might lead to a higher floor than this one after all. Old keeps and castles sometimes had their floors partitioned in an impassable way in the event of invasions. Thus necessitating alternate entrances to the upper levels. This may well have been one of the many dead-end paths old keeps possess that are generally meant for residential or storage purposes."
>"Did you investigate any of that branched path though?"
-
>"Well, we could investigate that other corridor then. It might lead to a higher floor than this one after all. Old keeps and castles sometimes had their floors partitioned in an impassable way in the event of invasions. Thus necessitating alternate entrances to the upper levels. This may well have been one of the many dead-end paths old keeps possess that are generally meant for residential or storage purposes."
>"Did you investigate any of that branched path though?"
>"Not yet I haven't, no."
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>"Well then, let's inspect that first, as it is closest. Shall we?"
>Since we've moved the armors out of the way for the most part, let's move on to the branched part of the corridor, and then send a bat-scout down the left branch as far as we can to see what's there.
-
>"Well then, let's inspect that first, as it is closest. Shall we?"
>Since we've moved the armors out of the way for the most part, let's move on to the branched part of the corridor, and then send a bat-scout down the left branch as far as we can to see what's there.
>"Sure." Reisen cracks a grin. "This place can't be as bad as Eientei, one way or the other."
>With the bits of armor pushed aside to your satisfaction, you put your glaive away again and set off towards the end of the corridor, with Reisen in tow. The lunar rabbit takes the left side of the hallway, sweeping the open rooms briefly as she goes. She reports nothing.
>At about 8 feet away from the branch in the corridor, you resume your swarm form and send one bat down the left hand branch. Just as you predicted earlier, this area ends in a dead end about 15 feet away, a beautiful marble statue of a swan resting atop a marble column stands at the end of the corridor. The wall is decorated- No, painted. A rather talented hand has painted a lovely tapestry upon the wall, a large white unicorn standing before a forested stream, a small rainbow formed at her hooves and bluebirds flying over her head.
>There is one door on the left side of this branch, and one on the right, directly across from each other. These doors are a bit bigger than the ones you've passed by, with a more pronounced frame of a dark wood.
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>"Hmmm...I do believe we've found a rather important spot. There's a pair of doors that have a higher quality to them down this hall. I would be willing to guess that we've found the place we're looking for. You take the door on the right, I'll take the one on the left."
>Let's make for those doors, and see what's on the other side!
-
>"Hmmm...I do believe we've found a rather important spot. There's a pair of doors that have a higher quality to them down this hall. I would be willing to guess that we've found the place we're looking for. You take the door on the right, I'll take the one on the left."
>Let's make for those doors, and see what's on the other side!
>Pulling yourself back together, you take the left side of the corridor, keeping an eye on the statue, in case it's been enchanted like those suits of armor was. But it neither moves nor fires any form of projectile, so you are unmolested in your approach to the door. Testing the door, you detect no traps, nor is it locked, so you swing it wide and look inside.
>It is a library. Smaller scale than Patchy's, but there's only to be expected, Patchy's library is one of a kind. The area before you hosts several rows of bookcases, spread fairly wide apart. The walls are paneled wood, colored an eye-saving combination of subdued orange, brown and dull green, with blue carpeting. The air is musty and thick with the smell of old books competing with the odor of dust.
>Although there is no one immediately in sight, you can hear the sound of quiet humming coming from your left.
-
>Investigate.
-
>Investigate.
>Curious, you step into the library and follow the voice. The ceiling in here's a lot lower than in Patchouli's, and the bookcases are rather tall, so you opt to stay on the ground for now. It wouldn't do to whack your head off the roof if someone tries to ambush you.
>The singer has a pretty hum, but as you close in, you note that it's a rather high frequency sound, probably beyond the range of human hearing, which means you're probably dealing with a non-human of some sort. You keep your guard up.
>The row of bookcases before you extends a couple dozen or so to the east, before opening out into an area with several long tables and chairs. The humming girl is seated at one of them, a book open in front of her and a small stack of three more to her right. Her thick light brown hair falls down below her shoulders, and is kept back by a gold colored hairband. A star-shaped earring is in her left ear, which is the side facing you. This part of her appearance is normal enough, but the rest is a bit outlandish. She sports sharp metallic shoulder pads in the same shade as her hairband. She wears low-cut white dress with a golden hem, with yellow spikes, for lack of a better term, over her hips and groin. Her arms are wrapped in detached sleeves of brown and blue cloth from her elbows to her wrists. Upon both of her forearms is a large metallic gold six-pointed stars, with a red gemstone in the center, more wristguards than bracelets.
>There is a microphone next to her left arm, which is currently supporting her head as she reads, humming to herself, her head bobbing slightly, perfectly in tune.
-
>"Hello, there."
-
>"Hello, there."
>"Mmm hm- Hm?" the girl starts, and looks over at you with her pretty blue eyes. She's a young looking thing, and a pretty one, too.
>She seems curious as she looks upon you. "Hi." she says at last, her voice clear as a bell. "You're new around here." she observes.
-
>Be wary of any... emotional irregularities.
>"This is my first visit."
>"I'm looking for the mistress of this place, the Cobalt Countess. Do you know where I might find her?"
-
>Be wary of any... emotional irregularities.
>"This is my first visit."
>"I'm looking for the mistress of this place, the Cobalt Countess. Do you know where I might find her?"
>Keeping a close eye on your emotions, you address the brunette with the sweet voice.
>"The countess? I'm not sure myself. I haven't seen much of her since her and her people woke up. I don't think she's been very well since then, not from what Nyx tells me."
-
>"My business with her is related to this. Where do you think she would most likely be?"
-
>"My business with her is related to this. Where do you think she would most likely be?"
>"'This?'" she asks, blinking her eyes and tilting her head slightly. "What do you mean?"
-
>"What you said about her not being well since awakening."
-
>"What you said about her not being well since awakening."
>"Oh? Are you a doctor?" she asks curiously.
-
>"No, but I may have a clue as to the reason why she is unwell. I was told something, something I need to discuss with the Countess in person."
-
>"No, but I may have a clue as to the reason why she is unwell. I was told something, something I need to discuss with the Countess in person."
>"Sounds important." the young woman says. "Can I help?" she pauses, then giggles. "Oh, right, that's what you're asking. Sorry, let me try that again." She pauses for a moment, considering her words, then tries "Is there something I can do to help?"
-
>"You can act as a guide for me. I'm afraid my lack of familiarity with this structure is making it difficult to locate the Countess. You, I would assume, are more familiar with the layout, and may also have an idea of places she's more likely to be."
-
>"You can act as a guide for me. I'm afraid my lack of familiarity with this structure is making it difficult to locate the Countess. You, I would assume, are more familiar with the layout, and may also have an idea of places she's more likely to be."
>The young lady utters a somewhat shy laugh. "Not... as much as you might think. I've sorta been holding off on the grand tour, until they all get back on their feet, get the place cleaned up... But, I can show you around the parts I HAVE seen, that should be dandy."
>She then snaps her fingers and her eyes pop open a little. "Oh! We could ask Nyx, she'd know for sure!"
-
>"Can you take me to Nyx, then?"
-
>"Can you take me to Nyx, then?"
>"Sure. She's probably in the infirmary."
>The brunette stands, giving you a better look at her. The front of her dress features and upside-down star colored blue, and her legs are wrapped in brown thighhigh stockings, styled with a yellow star trailed by a long ribbon print. Her neck, you note, is devoid of fang marks.
>She picks up her microphone, and sticks her right hand out to you. "I'm Hoshi, by the way. Hoshi Minakata."
-
>Take her hand.
>"Remilia Scarlet."
-
>Take her hand.
>"Remilia Scarlet."
>You exchange a friendly handshake with the brunette. She doesn't seem to recognize your name, or show intimidation at standing so close to a being as powerful as yourself.
>She does, however, look a bit curious after you release her small hand. "Are you really a demon?"
-
>"I am a vampire."
-
>"I am a vampire."
>"Oh." Looking at your wings, she says "But you have wings like Nyx, and she's a demon." She pauses a moment to consider, her face twisting up slightly on the left. "Yours are bigger, though, that might be the difference."
-
>"I suppose Vampires and Demons are somewhat related. One of my own associates has a demon for a familiar, and her wings are quite similar."
>Sigh. "I must admit though, this library pales in comparison to hers on the matter of size. Perhaps I shall investigate this library at a later date to see if there is anything Patche doesn't have."
>Interesting name though, 'Nyx'. Didn't one of Patchouli's books mention a goddess by a similar name?
-
>"I suppose Vampires and Demons are somewhat related. One of my own associates has a demon for a familiar, and her wings are quite similar."
>Sigh. "I must admit though, this library pales in comparison to hers on the matter of size. Perhaps I shall investigate this library at a later date to see if there is anything Patche doesn't have."
>Interesting name though, 'Nyx'. Didn't one of Patchouli's books mention a goddess by a similar name?
>"But the countess doesn't have wings." Hoshi ponders aloud.
>"Patche is a... familiar of yours?" she asks you.
>As best as you can recall from what you've read, the name 'Nyx' refers to a primordial goddess from Greek mythology. Accounts seem to differ on exactly what her role was, but she is stated to be the Goddess of night in most versions, and the mother of other gods, including Hypnos and Thanos, among others.
>From the direction of the door you entered, you hear Reisen let out a surprised yelp. "What are you doing with that thing?"
>"Relax." a breathy female voice answers. "It's just a sedative."
>"Who carries sedatives in needles that big?!"
-
>"No, she's a friend. She's the one with the familiar."
>Then sigh. "Excuse me for a moment."
>Let's go see what's going on.
-
>"No, she's a friend. She's the one with the familiar."
>Then sigh. "Excuse me for a moment."
>Let's go see what's going on.
>"Ah, sorry."
>The brunette looks curious as well. "Just a sec, I'll go with you, that was Nyx's voice."
>She tags along behind you as you head back towards the door you came in through, and back out into the hallway. The pair of voices are coming from the right hand doorway, which is partially closed. There are flashes of light playing over the corner in various colors, but no sound other than Reisen and, if Hoshi is correct, this Nyx of hers.
>"Not a fan of needles?" the voice identified as Nyx asks Reisen as you travel.
>"Not unless I have to be!" Reisen declares firmly. "And what's the big idea anyway?"
>"Well, aren't you an intruder?"
-
>Once we arrive: "You are Nyx, I assume. Don't worry; Reisen here and I mean you no harm."
-
>Once we arrive: "You are Nyx, I assume. Don't worry; Reisen here and I mean you no harm."
>Pulling the door open, you look into the room beyond.
>This appears to be another part of the library, but it's roomier than the part you were just in. This would seem to be more of a communal area, with several tables of varying lengths in evidence, and the scent of dust isn't quite as strong on this side. There are also large windows on the wall to your right, four, to be precise, with long black curtains still intact, if a bit tattered at the hem. The closest bookcases are a relatively safe distance from the windows, and the potential degradation that comes from exposure to sunlight.
>The sources of flashing light are coming from outside those windows, and now that you have a better look, the color patterns would seem to indicate the use of danmaku.
>Reisen is standing 12 feet to your northwest, facing the door, and the woman standing in front of her. She wears a pure white nurse's uniform, very form fitting, with matching thigh-high boots, accented by a lacy black garterbelt. She sports a black tail from just above her shapely derriere, ending in a spade-like growth, and has bat-like wings sprouting from her shoulder blades. Her short blue hair is topped by a nurses cap. Most notably, though, is the enormous syringe she carries in her hands, currently pointed at Reisen and filled with a pale purple fluid. It looks for all the world like the kind of thing you'd see in an old cartoon, the bloody thing is nearly as tall as its wielder.
>She has the scent of a demon, which you easily recognize at this range. And she spares a glance behind her as you address her, then looks back at the lunar rabbit. And then you hear her swallow, and her body stiffen. Distinct signs of fear.
>Behind you, Hoshi stops short in her tracks. "Reisen?" she asks, her voice notable darker than it was before.
-
>"Well, that's interesting. And unexpected. How is it that you know Reisen, Hoshi?"
-
>"Well, that's interesting. And unexpected. How is it that you know Reisen, Hoshi?"
>The brunette does not answer right away, so you look behind you to see why. The pretty young girl's eyes seem empty, glazed over.
>"Who's that?" Reisen asks in your direction.
>With you half-turned to examine Hoshi, you hear a rush of wind to your right. Your experience tells you that Nyx is rushing you.
-
>Blast the syringe out of Nyx's hands.
-
>Blast the syringe out of Nyx's hands.
>Raising your hand as you glance back to confirm your assumption- and it is correct- you send a burst of scarlet energy not at the demon, but at the medical weapon she wields. And with good timing, the nurse demon's a quick one.
>Your aim is true, and Nyx's syringe flies from her hand with a startled yelp from its wielder. It hits the ground and rolls towards Reisen, who simply hops over it.
>The busty demon in the sleeveless outfit with the dark purple eyes shakes her right hand, looks back at her now distant weapon, and shrugs. "Was worth a shot." she mutters to no one in particular.
>"Why did you do that, Nyx?" Hoshi asks her, stepping forward, all trace of emptyness gone from her eyes.
>The demoness doesn't answer right away, but gives Hoshi a critical look over, especially her neck, and when she speaks, it is to you, not Hoshi. "You haven't bit her yet. Why haven't you bit her yet?"
-
>"I have no need to, because I have this. I suppose one could consider it a 'Packed Lunch', so to speak." Let's show off that little vial we have for emergencies, then re-stash it.
>"So, as you seem to be the resident medical expert, perhaps you can inform me on things. She informed me that the Countess was in rather poor health." Gesture towards Hoshi.
>"I might be able to shed some light on things, but I can't bring a conclusion around without all the information."
-
>"I have no need to, because I have this. I suppose one could consider it a 'Packed Lunch', so to speak." Let's show off that little vial we have for emergencies, then re-stash it.
>"So, as you seem to be the resident medical expert, perhaps you can inform me on things. She informed me that the Countess was in rather poor health." Gesture towards Hoshi.
>"I might be able to shed some light on things, but I can't bring a conclusion around without all the information."
>"Sensible approach." Nyx concedes.
>The demoness frowns at Hoshi. "You really shouldn't be talking to strange vampires. It's not safe, for you or for us."
>"Sorry. I didn't know she WAS a vampire." Hoshi reaches out and takes a hold of one of your wings, pointing at it. "All the other vampires I've seen didn't have wings. I thought she was one of you."
>"Vampires and demons are completely different." Nyx huffs and Hoshi releases your wing. Good for her, too.
>"How?"
>Nyx opens her mouth again, but Reisen cuts her off. "Perhaps we should leave the biology for later?"
>The blue haired demon sighs, then nods. "Yes, we should." she returns her look to you. "If you're this far in, you must have beaten Yuzuriha. What have you done with her?"
-
>"Actually, I was able to talk my way past her. She's currently overseeing a match between my own gatekeeper, and the woman known as Sabine. Quite an impressive fighter that one, a good opponent for Hong really."
>Then sigh. "Such a spirited girl though, Sabine. I was rather close to roasting her alive with my own energy if she didn't calm down. Glad to see that she had at least some sense though, and backed down so that the fight would become more of a match to see who is the better fighter, instead of an out and out bloodbath. Which was a smart choice on her part." Let's let a little energy gather around our right hand for emphasis.
>Then disperse it with an idle motion. "I did tell you earlier though, before you blanked out on us. Was that Nyx's power in effect perhaps?"
-
>"Actually, I was able to talk my way past her. She's currently overseeing a match between my own gatekeeper, and the woman known as Sabine. Quite an impressive fighter that one, a good opponent for Hong really."
>Then sigh. "Such a spirited girl though, Sabine. I was rather close to roasting her alive with my own energy if she didn't calm down. Glad to see that she had at least some sense though, and backed down so that the fight would become more of a match to see who is the better fighter, instead of an out and out bloodbath. Which was a smart choice on her part." Let's let a little energy gather around our right hand for emphasis.
>Then disperse it with an idle motion. "I did tell you earlier though, before you blanked out on us. Was that Nyx's power in effect perhaps?"
>"It's true." Reisen adds. "Well, mostly true, anyway. Yuzuriha was about to fight Remilia here, but one of our companions intervened on your gatekeeper's behalf. Wanted the fight to be more fair if it came down to it."
>Nyx's eyebrows twist in surprise. "A vampire's companion said that?"
>Reisen nods, then gives the demoness a slightly sympathetic looks. "I'm starting to think you people haven't had good experiences with other vampires, have you?"
>Nyx merely shakes her head, slowly. She gestures towards you as you expound upon your encounter with the kickboxer. "The 'roasting alive' part, they've been dealing with for centuries, long before they liberated me." She stretches out her hand and gestures with two fingers. The large syringe fades out of existence, then reappears in her hand, but she lowers the point of it towards the ground and holds it only in one hand. How it stays in her hand is a bit of a mystery, but at least she isn't threatening anyone with it. For now at least. "That's partly why we came here."
>Hoshi nods. "Yes, but, you told me you were a vampire after I told you about the Countess.... Wait, blank out?" she seems very confused. "I don't remember blanking out?"
>"I haven't done anything to her." Nyx protests. "Well, not today, anyway, unless you count making supper." She places her free hand on her hip and pouts. "Which wasn't fair, either, since Sei's the one that caught it, why'd I have to clean it? I hate cleaning fish, it's all... fishy."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Yes, when Nyx was going after Reisen, and was about to strike at myself as well, you were like a puppet whose strings held no command. You came back around right after I disarmed Nyx."
>"Hmm...Liberated you, you say? Interesting...I've come across a book with some rather interesting contents, one of the interesting features was your name, Nyx. If I'm not mistaken, that was the name of an old Goddess, Primordial even. Now, the more likely scenario is that you were originally a nameless demon, and the one who summoned you chose that name for some reason or another."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "Yes, when Nyx was going after Reisen, and was about to strike at myself as well, you were like a puppet whose strings held no command. You came back around right after I disarmed Nyx."
>"Hmm...Liberated you, you say? Interesting...I've come across a book with some rather interesting contents, one of the interesting features was your name, Nyx. If I'm not mistaken, that was the name of an old Goddess, Primordial even. Now, the more likely scenario is that you were originally a nameless demon, and the one who summoned you chose that name for some reason or another."
>"I don't remember that at all." Hoshi says, seeming even more confused.
>"I didn't notice, either, but, whatever it was had nothing to do with me." Nyx assures you.
>"I was NOT nameless!" Nyx huffs. She then turns and stomps to her left, towards the windows and the flashing lights of danmaku. "Even HERE, I get this..."
>Despite herself, Reisen grins. "You seem to have touched a nerve, Remilia."
-
>"Apologies. There's a demon in my own home who was nameless before being summoned."
-
>"Apologies. There's a demon in my own home who was nameless before being summoned."
>"Well, she must be a low ranking demon, indeed." the nurse harrumphs.
-
>"That much is true. My librarian likely knows more; she's the one who summoned the demon."
>"In any evert, however, I apologize for offending you."
-
>"That much is true. My librarian likely knows more; she's the one who summoned the demon."
>"In any evert, however, I apologize for offending you."
>Nyx stammers for a moment, turning her head and looking at you rather confusedly. "You... really ARE a vampire of a different kind, aren't you?"
>Hoshi gives the demon a nod. "She's a good girl."
>"How'd you arrive at that?" Nyx asks her.
>"We shook hands." Hoshi says with a bright, somewhat naive, smile.
>Both Nyx and Reisen give the star-themed girl about the same look: bafflement. Reisen, however, smiles after a moment. "It'd be nice if things were always that simple."
>"Things are as simple as people want to make them." Hoshi counters.
>Nyx ponders that for a moment, then lets herself smile for a second before asking you, "I guess you're not with that mad kappa that barged in her earlier, either?" sounding much less offended than she did before.
-
>Did we know anything about Nitori (or any other kappa)?
-
>Did we know anything about Nitori (or any other kappa)?
>You do. In fact, the kappa she's referring to is almost certainly Kikomi, the angry kappa who left the Hakurei shrine with Youmu earlier tonight.
-
>"I do believe I've met the kappa you're referring to, but no, I'm not with her. Although she may think otherwise. She's rather angry with the Countess, and when she learned that I also have business with the Countess, concluded that I was also angry with her."
-
>"Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little cross, given how those Sin Spirits of hers have caused quite a lot of trouble, in addition to stealing one of my own who I had sent out to find something. Good help is rather hard to find, and she's rather like family in a way."
>Chuckle a bit. "I haven't found anyone able to make sweets like Sakuya can in all my 500 years. That, and she's the only one who can keep everything running like clockwork."
-
>"I do believe I've met the kappa you're referring to, but no, I'm not with her. Although she may think otherwise. She's rather angry with the Countess, and when she learned that I also have business with the Countess, concluded that I was also angry with her."
>"Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little cross, given how those Sin Spirits of hers have caused quite a lot of trouble, in addition to stealing one of my own who I had sent out to find something. Good help is rather hard to find, and she's rather like family in a way."
>Chuckle a bit. "I haven't found anyone able to make sweets like Sakuya can in all my 500 years. That, and she's the only one who can keep everything running like clockwork."
>"The Sins don't belong to the Countess." Nyx informs you. "Not anymore than I do. They belong to the priest, and she's been wondering where the rest of them went after they ran away."
>"Sakuya... You must be the Scarlet Devil, then." Nyx's face seems a bit resigned as she turns back towards the windows. "I'd been thinking you'd be coming in shooting first."
-
>Chuckle a bit. "Well, that's one way to resolve things, as Danmaku is rather fun after all. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how good an opponent the Countess is in that regard once she's recovered. And yes, I suppose you were expecting someone taller to be the 'Scarlet Devil'?"
>Nod. "So, how many of them have been 'brought back home' then? I encountered Sloth in the process of possessing Hakurei earlier on in the night, and she was surprisingly more amicable than the previous two I had encountered and heard of. Envy was rather spirited, but all too easy to discipline and force out of the Kappa she had possessed. Gluttony, unfortunately, I didn't get to witness in action, but was also forced out of the human it has chosen to possess. Currently their Gems are being help at the Myouren Temple, for safekeeping. I suspect at least Envy's woken back up already. Poor girl accidentally trapped herself in the gem when she tried to recall back here while stuck in a binding field. She was the first one that was encountered after all, and this was before I had the information I do now. I suspect that Gluttony merely fell asleep to preserve energy. And I encountered something that could have had Wrath's effects, though I didn't encounter Wrath directly."
-
>Chuckle a bit. "Well, that's one way to resolve things, as Danmaku is rather fun after all. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how good an opponent the Countess is in that regard once she's recovered. And yes, I suppose you were expecting someone taller to be the 'Scarlet Devil'?"
>Nod. "So, how many of them have been 'brought back home' then? I encountered Sloth in the process of possessing Hakurei earlier on in the night, and she was surprisingly more amicable than the previous two I had encountered and heard of. Envy was rather spirited, but all too easy to discipline and force out of the Kappa she had possessed. Gluttony, unfortunately, I didn't get to witness in action, but was also forced out of the human it has chosen to possess. Currently their Gems are being help at the Myouren Temple, for safekeeping. I suspect at least Envy's woken back up already. Poor girl accidentally trapped herself in the gem when she tried to recall back here while stuck in a binding field. She was the first one that was encountered after all, and this was before I had the information I do now. I suspect that Gluttony merely fell asleep to preserve energy. And I encountered something that could have had Wrath's effects, though I didn't encounter Wrath directly."
>"Danmaku isn't exactly what I was thinking of..." Nyx muses, then gives you a small smile, curled at the ends. "Taller? No. I've known all kinds of creatures big and small who had a whole lot of power. But I was expecting someone with a bigger chest."
>You rein in your flash of temper, as best as you can. Little demon hit a sore nerve.
>"You should tell the Keeper all of that, she'd love to know what happened to them all out there." Nyx is interrupted by the noise of what sounds like danmaku impacting on the windows, accompanied by the flashing of green and brown light. "I saw Sloth come back in a couple of hours ago." With a brief snicker, she adds, "Probably taking a nap by now...." She trails off, then turns back to look at you. "Did you say 'Hakurei'? As in the exorcists Hakureis?"
>"Are they bad?" Hoshi asks her.
>"If you're not human." Nyx adds, fear plain in her voice. "How in all the hells did Sloth overshadow a Hakurei?"
-
>"Reimu's lazy. I think she was asleep at the time."
-
>"Reimu's lazy. I think she was asleep at the time."
>The blue-haired demon looks positively stunned. "You must be joking."
-
>"No. She's extremely talented-I don't think she's ever lost to anyone-but she's also extremely lazy. I have no difficulty at all believing she could sleep through a posession."
>"Hoshi here said that you would know where to find the Countess. Could you take me to her, please?"
-
>"No. She's extremely talented-I don't think she's ever lost to anyone-but she's also extremely lazy. I have no difficulty at all believing she could sleep through a posession."
>Nyx remains still for a moment more, then facedives, just like you'd see in one of Patchy's manga.
>Reisen shakes her head. "Only in Gensokyo..." she mutters.
>"Why were the Hakurei's bad if you're not human?" Hoshi asks as Nyx collects herself.
>"The Hakureis have the job of defending humans from non-humans." Reisen informs her. "Or humans from other humans, sometimes. Just about everyone with power in Gensokyo has gotten into it with that shrine maiden, including me and Remilia. And we usually lose."
>Nyx pulls herself off the floor, rubbing her head. "Things aren't the same as they used to be, if the both of you aren't scared of her."
>Reisen nods in understanding. "The shrine maiden that's there now is powerful, like Remilia said, but she's a good woman. She may be lazy, but she's good at what she does, and Gensokyo's really a better place for it, even for youkai."
>"Hoshi here said that you would know where to find the Countess. Could you take me to her, please?"
>"Ordinarily, that'd be up to Celes, not me, especially when there's another vampire involved. But, this isn't a normal night, and you aren't a nor-"
>The rest of her sentence is drowned out by a massive boom, almost like a cannon firing, and an accompanying flash of white and red light. Hoshi and Reisen yell out in surprise, Reisen's ears flattening out. Unperturbed, Nyx continues, pointing with her tail at the windows behind her. "The Countess is probably in her meeting room, if she's not fighting one of the others that got here before you. But to get there, we have to go through the courtyard, and that, as you can tell, is occupied. You might have to duck once or twice."
>"Just duck? What was that bang?" Reisen asks.
>Nyx half-shrugs. "Oh, that's just Leraije. She's got the loudest danmaku of any of us."
-
>"What is she that her danmaku would be so loud?"
-
>"What is she that her danmaku would be so loud?"
>"She's our cannoneer."
>"You have cannons?" Reisen asks.
>Nyx nods, with a saucy little smirk. "You were lucky you didn't try to fly an army in here. And she's a sharpshooter on top if it, too." She flicks her tail up and takes a hold of it in her left hand. "Actually, I'm sort of surprised she didn't try to shoot you down on your way in, considering, y'know, vampire, and all..."
>She shrugs again. "Whatever, her call. She likes the sound of firearms just as much as firing them herself, and she made sure to use that in her danmaku. Whoever's fighting her up there's getting a real ear full."
>"If she's a gunner, that would give her an edge at danmaku." Reisen says. "She must be good."
>"Mmmmmm... Yeah, she's good all right, but Celes is better. Leraije's all bang, not much pop."
-
>"We'll have to be careful, then. Lead the way, please, Nyx."
-
>Chuckle slightly as we go. "And here I assumed that my own little group was quite the eccentric lot. Seems I've been outdone."
>It might be interesting to have a Danmaku Tournament after all this. Cobalt Keep against Scarlet Mansion.
>Hmm....Maybe Soccer would be a better pick actually.
-
>"You wanna take the long way 'round, or the short way?" Nyx asks you.
-
>"How dangerous is the short way likely to be?"
-
>"How dangerous is the short way likely to be?"
>"Depends on how long it takes them to finish." She points to the window again. "Like I said, we got to go through there to get to the Countess' meeting room. Take the longer way, one of the two couples might have finished. Take the short way, you'll probably need to keep your head down."
>"I'll stay here, though, I was reading a book." Hoshi says.
>"Could you do me a favor and have a look in at out patient, first?"
>"Sure." The brunette gives you a smile. "It was nice meeting you, Remilia."
-
>"We'll take the short way. I'd rather get this done with."
-
>"We'll take the short way. I'd rather get this done with."
>"Suit yourself. But you might want to have earplugs handy."
>Bidding a polite farewell to the helpful brunette, Nyx leads you and Reisen out of the library, and back the way you came.
>"You mentioned a patient?" Reisen asks the demon.
>Nyx nods. "Young girl who came down the river a couple of days ago. She had a high fever and seemed physically exhausted. Near as we can tell, she got into Gensokyo by accident, or maybe wandered in here, we're not sure. She hasn't been real lucid."
>"Has her fever broken?"
>"This morning, yes. But she's spent most of the day asleep, which is probably for the best. Oh, I almost forgot." she says suddenly, stopping in the fork in the corridor you reached before. "Before we go out there, I'm ordered to tell you that one of the ones having a danmaku duel is our resident samurai, Sei. And she really, really hates it when people butt in on her duels, so, just saying for your own sake as much as hers, keep your bullets in your pants."
-
>"Certainly."
>"Oh, I should probably tell you something, as well. While searching this place for the Countess, I ended up activating two enchanted statues, which proceeded to attack me, and I had to destroy them to protect myself. I do apologize for this, but I didn't feel as though I had any choice."
>"And yes, I did enter the room beyond them out of curiosity. When I saw that it contained a coffin, however, I left immediately, leaving it undisturbed. I would not want my place of rest disturbed, and I pay others the same courtesy."
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>"Certainly."
>"Oh, I should probably tell you something, as well. While searching this place for the Countess, I ended up activating two enchanted statues, which proceeded to attack me, and I had to destroy them to protect myself. I do apologize for this, but I didn't feel as though I had any choice."
>"And yes, I did enter the room beyond them out of curiosity. When I saw that it contained a coffin, however, I left immediately, leaving it undisturbed. I would not want my place of rest disturbed, and I pay others the same courtesy."
>"So you're the one that knocked those down." Nyx says. "But to tell you the truth, I didn't even know they were there. Celes must have put them there to guard that coffin. That or keep folks out, I don't know. Guess she never planned on that folks being another vampire."
>"Does it belong to the Countess?" Reisen asks.
>The demon laughs. "Oh, noooooo, nono. That cute little pink thing belongs to a vampire we found asleep here when we were unsealed. One who had that pretty little girl back there chained up for a snack when she woke up." She adds, with a little lick of the lips, "Can't say I blame her, either..."
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>Raise an eyebrow. "Interesting. You all woke up earlier than the seal was set to wear off, yes? Perhaps she is behind it all. I've heard of similar events occurring, some young would-be ruler takes up residence in a seemingly-abandoned fortress or castle, only to inadvertently unseal the former occupants. Given how she had a 'snack' ready and waiting, it stands to reason that's likely the case. Personally, I prefer sweets myself. They're one of the things that almost every girl enjoys after all, and Sakuya is easily one of the best at making them."
>"Ah, as for that medical area, I had sent someone I know to be rather good with healing arts to investigate that hallway. She can actually transfer energy in order to restore lost vitality! Isn't it impressive? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we returned to find the mystery girl fully conscious and fit for moving about."
>Then chuckle. "Come to think of it, that Half-Ghost is also a sword-user. I suspect a match between her and Sei would be a quite exciting show! We should hurry then, I would rather not miss things!"
>Let's get going, and be ready to block our ears in an elegant and charismatic manner!
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>Raise an eyebrow. "Interesting. You all woke up earlier than the seal was set to wear off, yes? Perhaps she is behind it all. I've heard of similar events occurring, some young would-be ruler takes up residence in a seemingly-abandoned fortress or castle, only to inadvertently unseal the former occupants. Given how she had a 'snack' ready and waiting, it stands to reason that's likely the case. Personally, I prefer sweets myself. They're one of the things that almost every girl enjoys after all, and Sakuya is easily one of the best at making them."
>"Ah, as for that medical area, I had sent someone I know to be rather good with healing arts to investigate that hallway. She can actually transfer energy in order to restore lost vitality! Isn't it impressive? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we returned to find the mystery girl fully conscious and fit for moving about."
>Then chuckle. "Come to think of it, that Half-Ghost is also a sword-user. I suspect a match between her and Sei would be a quite exciting show! We should hurry then, I would rather not miss things!"
>"Celes figured she'd been living here, too. She had a little love nest built in the chapel. But she has to be a heavy sleeper, or something, since she's been in that coffin every since we woke up. She figured it was best to leave here there, till we all got back to full power."
>"We seem to have been invaded by healers." Nyx remarks with a smirk in Reisen's direction. The lunar rabbit draws in her breath, but evidently opts to say nothing.
>The demoness leads you down the right-hand branch, which has several windows set into the left wall but no wooden doors, all those doors are on the right side. A small sculpture of a baby dragon rests atop a column halfway down the left hand side of the hall way. There are four sliding glass doors along the left well, and Nyx leads you through the closest one, leading you out onto a little balcony, currently devoid of furniture.
>Let's get going, and be ready to block our ears in an elegant and charismatic manner!
>The courtyard below you is a rather sizable one, larger than you'd have guessed from your approach. A large granite fountain stands in the middle of the grassy area, topped by a marble statue of an unclad angelic figure, one that is amazingly life-like, her hands resting upon her slim hips, standing at attention. Water flows from her open mouth, cascading down her finely sculpted form, into the dish where her feet rest. The fountain is surrounded by a small field of white and blue flowers, and the east and west side of the garden are lined with leafless trees, possibly cherry trees. There are italian-style columns lining the walls, creating a promenade around the courtyard, and there is a balcony like the one you are on on the north side of the area. The roof overlooking the courtyard is decorated with a small statue of a dragon on each cardinal direction, all glaring down into the courtyard as though preparing to unleash their fiery breath upon those who walk beneath them.
>The courtyard is currently lit by the flying bullets before you. Just above you flies Youmu, who swings her sword at her airborne opponent, sending a massive burst of red and blue danmaku out in every direction, save for directly at her foe, only to follow a second later with a cross-crossing stream of dagger-shaped danmaku in the middle of the 'gap' between bullets. You recognize this attack from Sakuya's description of it. It's a mean little attack. Then again, she described nearly every one of Youmu's attacks as mean. The girl's talented in the field of danmaku.
>And evidently, so is her opponent. The woman slides to the right of the daggers, into the path of the red and blue bullets, finding a gap to slip between and flying forward, giving you a better look at the girl. She wears a variant on a miko's uniform, detached white sleeves bordered with cobalt blue, and a somewhat thin blue vest over her sarashi. How bold. A white ribbon holds her long black hair back in a long ponytail. The blue of her hakama matches the trim on her sleeves and a white belt encircles her wait, tied in a bow in front of her. And her ears seem to be pointed, as well, and she has one katana belted to her left hip, the other one in her hand. This would be Sei, then.
>Above them flies Ranka, who seems to be dancing around the top of the tallest tower of the structure, rising out from the northwest to loom down above the courtyard. The reason for this is quick in coming as a trio of yellow lasers blast out from the opening of the tower at the flirtatious blonde. With a loud blast, streams of large green spheres fly down into the gaps between the lasers. Ranka weaves in and out between the emerald colored danmaku as best she can, grazing with the best of 'em, and returns fire with a curved wave of golden bubble shaped danmaku. You think you hear her laugh.
>Leaning against one of the columns along the east promenade of the courtyard is Honoka, her eyes trained on the ongoings above her. And she is not alone either. Standing next to her is a short girl with wavy light blue hair holding a trumpet. She wears a pink and white uniform with blue and black trim, and her hat has a sun decorating the top of it. That would be one of the poltergeist musicians Sakuya encountered during her investigation into the long winter a few years ago. Prismriver, you believe their family name was, though the first name of this one eludes you at the moment. While Honoka stands impassive, this girl wears a big smile.
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>We can inquire as to her presence here later. For now, follow Nyx through the courtyard, being sure to watch for stray shots.
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>We can inquire as to her presence here later. For now, follow Nyx through the courtyard, being sure to watch for stray shots.
>Nyx does not drop down right away. She rests her hands on the balcony bannister and leans forward to watch the show herself. She flicks her tail between Ranka and Honoka. "Are they your friends?"
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>Nod. "The blonde is Ranka, I've deduced that she's rather like the wind. She's also an incessant flirt. Seems she hasn't run into Lust yet, which is ostensibly a good thing. The one in the red cloak is Honoka, the one I mentioned earlier who can heal via energy transfer. Was the girl standing next to her the one you found?"
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>Nod. "The blonde is Ranka, I've deduced that she's rather like the wind. She's also an incessant flirt. Seems she hasn't run into Lust yet, which is ostensibly a good thing. The one in the red cloak is Honoka, the one I mentioned earlier who can heal via energy transfer. Was the girl standing next to her the one you found?"
>Nyx licks her lips. "An 'incessant' flirt, Lust's type, and a delicious body? You have nice friends."
>You're not sure she heard the rest of your words, staring as intently as she is at Ranka's ass. Reisen had the same thought as you, evidently, as she clears her throat, breaking Nyx's concentration, and repeats your question, "The girl standing next to Honoka, is that the one your found?"
>"Oh, her, no, that poor dear is human. That girl down there's Merlin Prismriver, part of a traveling band of musicia-"
>Nyx is cut off by another cannon-blast discharge of danmaku from above, a quartet of huge red bullets flying out from the tower in the four cardinal directions. These bullets leave yellow and green smaller danmaku in their wake. Ranka seemed a bit stunned by the sound, and eats one of the large bullets head on. That had to do some damage.
>"... Musicians." Nyx finishes, after wincing slightly in sympathy for the hit Ranka just took. "They offered to do a show for us new arrivals, and the Countess thought that was a good idea."
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>Let's wince a bit ourselves. "Indeed. They're rather good really. I suspect that the Bach piece I heard earlier while making my way around was one of the others then."
>"Well, they're more like associates though, I only just met them today in my efforts to find this place, and clean up some of the wayward Sin Spirits."
>Sigh. "Speaking of which, has anyone seen Wrath? Because on the way here, we encountered a pair of plants that were spreading spores that induced rage in those who merely touched them. When the plants where destroyed, the afflicted would expel the spores as a liquid. It's a rather messy business really, as what goes down, sometimes must go up. If you understand my meaning."
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>Let's wince a bit ourselves. "Indeed. They're rather good really. I suspect that the Bach piece I heard earlier while making my way around was one of the others then."
>"Actually, that was me." Nyx corrects you.
>"You play the cello?" Reisen asks.
>The demon nods. "I had a talent for it my previous owner didn't appreciate, but now I can show it off."
>"Well, they're more like associates though, I only just met them today in my efforts to find this place, and clean up some of the wayward Sin Spirits."
>Sigh. "Speaking of which, has anyone seen Wrath? Because on the way here, we encountered a pair of plants that were spreading spores that induced rage in those who merely touched them. When the plants where destroyed, the afflicted would expel the spores as a liquid. It's a rather messy business really, as what goes down, sometimes must go up. If you understand my meaning."
>"Every skinship starts somewhere." Nyx says with a wink. Ranka would LOVE this one, you think to yourself.
>"Not as far as I know. But I can tell you this, Wrath wouldn't have made something like that on her own, not on purpose. Too complicated. Priest could tell you more, but, I doubt Wrath would be behind that, it can't focus enough to make something like a hate plague, or whatever you want to call it."
>"What about accidentally?" Reisen says. "Envy made people jealous and Gluttony made people hungry just by being near them. Wrath might have had a similar effect, just more profound, on those plants."
>"I guess so, maybe." Nyx shrugs.
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>"Well, at any rate, it seems things are getting more and more tangled, wouldn't you say? Because I was told recently that those of this keep were not meant to awaken for quite a few more years, but Yuzuriha said otherwise. All in all, a very strange and hectic day."
>Let's continue watching the chaos for a little while longer.
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>"Well, at any rate, it seems things are getting more and more tangled, wouldn't you say? Because I was told recently that those of this keep were not meant to awaken for quite a few more years, but Yuzuriha said otherwise. All in all, a very strange and hectic day."
>Let's continue watching the chaos for a little while longer.
>"That's what Celes told me, too. Who told you years?"
>"An oracle, if Remilia's right about her race." Reisen answers. "She claimed to be able to see the future."
>"Well, was she right about anything else?"
>"She seemed to know what she was talking about."
>"Might need to work on her dates, then."
>"Deva Realm Sword "Seven Sins"!" Youmu yells, producing one of her spellcards as she sideslips a torrent of small circular bullets. She flies back and to her left, drawing both her katanas. You see a small grin on the face of her opponent as the half-ghost swings her longer blade down. Seven lines of arrowhead danmaku, each line a different color of the rainbow, manifest around Youmu, pointing in every direction, and blast out, littering the field with prismatic bullets. Sei remains mobile but doesn't move quickly, studying the waves of incoming fire for open spots. If this is the first time she's seen a Konpaku spellcard, though, you know she's in for a surprise, as Sakuya told you all about her time dilation ability. Right on time, everything slows down all of a sudden for the two combatants, but to her credit, Sei does not outwardly show surprise. Her movements show it, though, and they seem jerkier than they did before as she passes through a gap between two bursts of bullets, only for time to speed up again as she does, and she is pummeled by green and light blue arrowheads.
>Ranka, too, it seems, decides to step up her game a bit, as she produces a spellcard of her own, seemingly pulling the thing out of her voluminous blonde hair. Perhaps getting clobbered by that large red shot ruffled her feathers.
>"Tropical Depression: Coconut Cyclone!" Raising both hands over her head, white and blue petals, combined with large brown circles, begin to gather in her open palms and then shoot out again in rapid-fire pulses, shrapnel-like petals followed by slightly slower brown orbs, all the while power gathers in her hands, crackling with blue electricity and white light. This power pulses once, and light blue needle-like raindrop shaped danmaku cascades out, all of this power focused on the tower in front of her. At least, as focused as you think she can manage, given that she seems to be channeling a storm in her hands. If her opponent is limited to the space inside that tower, she's doomed.
>Excitement at the show above her evident, the Prismriver standing next to Honoka takes flight, letting her instrument float around her, but Honoka reaches out and takes her hand, stopping her before she can interject herself into either of the matches going on above. Merlin, instead of seeming upset by this, merely says something to Honoka, her words lost amidst the sound of bullets flying above, then backs away from the cloaked youkai a bit. Honoka initially shakes her head, then pauses, and looks up in your direction. Whatever she sees evidently satisfies her, as she turns back towards Merlin and nods once, saying something that sounds like, as best as you can tell, "Hit me with everything". Sounds like they're gonna go at it themselves. Sakuya told you that the three Prismrivers together were quite skilled, but not so much one on one. It should be interesting to see what Honoka does against that kind of foe, if she's stronger than Merlin, being miss 'fair fight' that she is.
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>Chuckle a bit. "Well, seems Sei's gotten her first experience with a Konpaku Spellcard. nasty little tricks those, they slow down time randomly. Nothing like Sakuya's full-stop."
>Then sigh. "And I feel sorry for your friend in the tower, If they have only the room in there to maneuver, then they are doomed to lose against that card."
>"And as for the Oracle, given what my own special ability deals with, I can tell she knew what she was talking about."
>Smirk slightly. "Let's just say that there isn't much difference between a genuine Oracle, and myself. Though I can safely say that I can do what an Oracle cannot."
>Then gesture towards Honoka and Merlin. "Seems those two are going to go at it as well. I wonder how Honoka will fight, given how she is all for 'fair fights'. She'll probably lower her own output to better match Merlin, as a solo Prismriver is not particularly powerful. They draw their true power from their teamwork."
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>Chuckle a bit. "Well, seems Sei's gotten her first experience with a Konpaku Spellcard. nasty little tricks those, they slow down time randomly. Nothing like Sakuya's full-stop."
>Then sigh. "And I feel sorry for your friend in the tower, If they have only the room in there to maneuver, then they are doomed to lose against that card."
>"And as for the Oracle, given what my own special ability deals with, I can tell she knew what she was talking about."
>Smirk slightly. "Let's just say that there isn't much difference between a genuine Oracle, and myself. Though I can safely say that I can do what an Oracle cannot."
>Then gesture towards Honoka and Merlin. "Seems those two are going to go at it as well. I wonder how Honoka will fight, given how she is all for 'fair fights'. She'll probably lower her own output to better match Merlin, as a solo Prismriver is not particularly powerful. They draw their true power from their teamwork."
>"She's holding back, though." Reisen observes. "Youmu's got a lot stronger spellcards in her bag than that one."
>Nyx snickers. "Getting Leraije out of there's not easy. I've tried. Gonna be fun to watch how long it takes that attack to do it, if it works at all."
>"I get the feeling she's done that a lot." Reisen says as Honoka rises off the ground as well. "She must be strong, too, since she put herself between you and Yuzuriha the way she did."
>Sei proves to be a rather adaptable sort, as the next wave of multicolored arrowheads from Youmu fail to touch her as she finds a gap during the time dilation and then weaves around the red shot that might have hit her on the other side, then produces a spellcard of her own. You hear Nyx suck air through her teeth as she does so, looking a touch alarmed.
>"Dark Fire: Chaos Flame Edge."
>A ring of purple and black flames surround the blue-clad samurai, bound by beams of sickly green light to her body. You can sense right away that this power is tainted, somehow. It has an aura of evil about it that undead such as yourself can recognize. The flames weaken the flying arrowheads of Youmu's, but do not dispel them altogether, as Sei sheathes her katana, placing instead her left hand upon the blade. In a flash, she pulls the blade backhanded from its sheathe and swings it forward, sending a black slash of energy tinged with purple flames forward and scattering the flames around her, turning them into purple, red and black danmaku that jet out in random directions.
>"You should duck now." Nyx says, more to Reisen than you. "That power doesn't agree with living mortals." And despite the time dilation affecting Sei's shots as well, there are several shots of that flame shrapnel heading towards the three of you.
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>We're not in the 'in danger' category, then. No need to do anything more than whatever Nyx does.
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>We're not in the 'in danger' category, then. No need to do anything more than whatever Nyx does.
>The demoness in question takes her hands away from the railing and stands up straight. If anything, she makes herself a better target. That's curious.
>"Isn't it just danmaku?" Reisen asks she narrows her eyes, watching the handful of shots threatening her.
>"Sei uses a different source for some of her spellcards." Nyx answers.
>Only one shot is really a threat to Reisen, so she takes the simple precaution of taking a big step to her left. As for yourself, while you're curious as to what makes this danmaku different beyond its aura, you're pragmatic enough not to invite impacts when you've got a potentially massive fight ahead of you. So you content yourself with watching what effect they'll have on Nyx while keeping yourself out of the line of fire.
>You are somewhat disappointed when Nyx shows no outward sign of anything when she is hit by a single shot. Perhaps it takes more than one shot to provoke a reaction from this danmaku.
>While Sei and Youmu's spellcards exchange fire, Ranka's spellcard enters another phase, as the two crackling orbs cease discharging all bullets, leaving only the ones still active menacing her opponent. This lasts only for a moment, as the blonde pitches one of her weather orbs towards Leraije's tower, then the other. The opening of the tower erupts with blasts of lightning, bursts of wind, flashes of light and squalls of more raindrop bullets. It's like a pair of storm clouds exploded in there. Propelled by a lightning bolt, a black haired humanoid figure clad in a purple jumpsuit comes flying out of the near side of the tower, a cascade of bullets following her out from all four sides of the tower. You detect Ranka's saucy little smirk from here.
>Merlin takes the initiative against her cloaked foe, sending out first a line of wedge bullets, following it a second later by a pair of concentric circular patterned bullets, four layers deep with red circle bullets, augmented by a pair of wavy light blue lasers from the middle of both circles, and a small cone of arrowheads in front of her. That's an impressive looking attack. Honoka takes flight and banks far to her right, finding a gap in the circles on their right edge that's free of the lasers, but she does not return fire. Her arms are still within her cloak, even as Merlin unleashes another pair of circular waves.
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>Raise an eyebrow. "Not returning fire, hm? Honoka? Interesting."
>Then gesture towards Ranka and Leraje's fight. "Seems I was right in thinking that she would see the sense in exiting that tower. There's something to be said for a vantage point, yes, but sometimes one requires mobility as well. And you really need that against a card like Ranka's."
>Then let's look back to Sei and Youmu's battle. "That 'Evil Power' is a mite intriguing, what could it be that she is drawing on?"
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>Raise an eyebrow. "Not returning fire, hm? Honoka? Interesting."
>Then gesture towards Ranka and Leraje's fight. "Seems I was right in thinking that she would see the sense in exiting that tower. There's something to be said for a vantage point, yes, but sometimes one requires mobility as well. And you really need that against a card like Ranka's."
>Then let's look back to Sei and Youmu's battle. "That 'Evil Power' is a mite intriguing, what could it be that she is drawing on?"
>"Maybe she wants to see how good Merlin is first?" Reisen wonders aloud.
>Nyx snickers. "Looks to me that Leraije got blown out of there."
>"Y'know, I'm really not sure." Nyx admits, watching Sei reform her ring of black flames as Youmu flies to starboard and unleashes another rainbow barrage. "It doesn't show in all her spellcards, but whenever she uses ones like that, or her magic, it reeks of evil. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was cursed by a powerful demon, or maybe several weak ones ganged up on her, pooled their efforts into cursing her. It happens sometimes to do-gooders who make a name for themselves."
>"Does it make her danmaku more harmful?" Reisen asks her.
>"Not for everyone, it depends on who she's firing at. I don't know about that other samurai, what is she?"
>"She's a half-ghost?"
>Nyx blinks in surprise. "She's half dead? How does that work?"
>Reisen shrugs helplessly. "I really don't know."
>Nyx shakes her head, then looks up at the purple clothed cannoneer above, righting herself after riding Ranka's lightning. "Anyway, if's she a ghost... Part ghost... Whatever. Sei's danmaku'll probably be just like the normal stuff to her. You too, Remilia, since you're a vampire. But I wouldn't let yourself get hit, bunnygirl, if you can help it."
>"It's...." Reisen sighs, her shoulders sagging. "Never mind..."
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>"Hmm...I might know two people who can discern the nature of it. One of which is a close friend of mine. You remember that demon I mentioned earlier, and how she's a Familiar? The person who summoned her is a rather accomplished magician."
>Smirk a bit. "It goes without saying that she is easily one of the 'solvers' of the Mansion. If there is something that neither I nor Sakuya can resolve, she has the answers. As they say, 'Knowledge is Power'."
>Then sigh irritatedly. "Pride still has Sakuya possessed, doesn't it? I'll need to find either Reimu, or this 'Priest' you speak of, and force Pride out. I would like to have a few 'words' with Pride. Without it possessing someone."
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>"Hmm...I might know two people who can discern the nature of it. One of which is a close friend of mine. You remember that demon I mentioned earlier, and how she's a Familiar? The person who summoned her is a rather accomplished magician."
>Smirk a bit. "It goes without saying that she is easily one of the 'solvers' of the Mansion. If there is something that neither I nor Sakuya can resolve, she has the answers. As they say, 'Knowledge is Power'."
>Then sigh irritatedly. "Pride still has Sakuya possessed, doesn't it? I'll need to find either Reimu, or this 'Priest' you speak of, and force Pride out. I would like to have a few 'words' with Pride. Without it possessing someone."
>"Celes or the Countess'll probably be able to tell you- Better yet, ask Yuzu." she corrects herself with a smile. "Two of them are awwwwwful tight."
>As you mention Pride, the demon chuckles a little and starts to say something, but her words are drowned out by Leraije's spellcard declaration.
>"Flare Gun: Battlefield Illuminate!"
>Her yell even drowns out Youmu and and Sei's fire for a moment. She's almost as loud as that Kyouko girl at the Myoren temple. A large red flare discharges from her hand as Ranka begins reforming her storm orbs again, and an outward curved wave of large sphere danmaku curls outward from the left as Leraije raises her hands. Her left hand launches large orange cannonballs while her right hand blasts out a trio of large blue bullet-shaped bullets in three directions that then split off into dozens of smaller bullets that pinball around towards Ranka. Each wave of spheres and cannonballs is accompanied by a huge boom.
>Cringing a little, Nyx glances behind her to her tail, and the tip of her tail glows with green light. She waves her tail in the air behind her, tracing out a sequence of letters in the air, accompanied by a swaying of her hips. After a moment, she traces out, 'You'll have to shout.'
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>Groan and facepalm. Our expression can easily show what we mean to say in response to this new development.
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>Groan and facepalm. Our expression can easily show what we mean to say in response to this new development.
>Indeed it can. Once you lower your hand, of course.
>Reisen, shouting as advised, says, "I can try and fix this!" You note her ears are rolled up and flat.
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>Nod towards her, and shape our aura so it forms the words 'Do it.'
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>Nod towards her, and shape our aura so it forms the words 'Do it.'
>Reisen nods at your creative application of your aura, and turns to look at the dueling women high above. Her eyes glow red for a moment and she presses two fingers against her temple just behind her eyes. The noise of Leraije's danmaku fades instantly. You can still here Sei's flame crackling, Youmu's bullets firing, Merlin's lasers discharging, everything else going on, but Leraije's noise is gone. Youmu and Sei seem a bit surprised, and this is reflected in a temporary slacking in their rates of fire.
>"How did... What'd you do?" Nyx inquires.
>"I cancelled out the soundwaves of her danmaku beyond a radius of thirty feet. I could have made it narrower, but I don't if Ranka wanted to hear the shots fired or not."
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>Smirk slightly. "A nice little application of her power over Waves, no?"
>"As I was saying before your trigger-happy friend cut in, Pride will be getting a little 'gift', so to speak. For being so 'brave' in attempting to steal Sakuya."
>Let's let our aura speak for itself as we say this.
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>Smirk slightly. "A nice little application of her power over Waves, no?"
>"As I was saying before your trigger-happy friend cut in, Pride will be getting a little 'gift', so to speak. For being so 'brave' in attempting to steal Sakuya."
>Let's let our aura speak for itself as we say this.
>You were not aware Reisen had power over waves.
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>Smirk slightly. "A nice little power, no?"
>"As I was saying before your trigger-happy friend cut in, Pride will be getting a little 'gift', so to speak. For being so 'brave' in attempting to steal Sakuya."
>Let's let our aura speak for itself as we say this.
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>Smirk slightly. "A nice little power, no?"
>"As I was saying before your trigger-happy friend cut in, Pride will be getting a little 'gift', so to speak. For being so 'brave' in attempting to steal Sakuya."
>Let's let our aura speak for itself as we say this.
>"Very impressive." Nyx agrees.
>Reisen seems somewhat shy. "It comes in handy, now and then."
>Nyx does seem a bit impressed by the sight of your aura. You don't think she does 'awed', but impressed is good enough. "Stuck up twat could use a gift or two."
>Under another barrage of tainted fire from Sei, Youmu's spellcard breaks. The samurai half-ghost floats motionless for a moment, then holds her katana out before her and launches a barrage of dagger-shaped danmaku followed by an eight-way pulsing of spheres.
>Stray fire from Sei's flaming shrapnel travels towards Honoka and Merlin, Honoka still refraining from returning fire, even as Merlin adds a quintet of cone-spreading wedges to her criss-crossing circular shot. The cloaked youkai flies in and around Merlin's shots like a pro, but she's going to be at this duel a long time if that's all she's going to do. And it seems that she's finally seen enough herself as, during an interval in Merlin's fire, Honoka extends all four limbs out of her cloak and sets herself on fire. More specifically, large fireballs cover her body from head to toe. This 'burning man' flies out in front of her, then separates into its component flames. These smaller flames separate again into dozens of shots, half of which fly out in a 180 arc in front of Honoka, the other half gather and fly towards Merlin directly.
-
>Let's let a hint of evilness slip into the smirk. "Oh yes, I quite look forward to that~"
>Then laugh slightly, and return to our usual. "I'm a rather benevolent sort, but I don't tolerate things such as that. Good help is so hard to find, and I'm rather fond of having her around. You wouldn't believe how efficient she is. And, she's a skilled chef. Even those who have no need to eat, like Magicians, will gladly partake of her cooking."
-
>Let's let a hint of evilness slip into the smirk. "Oh yes, I quite look forward to that~"
>Then laugh slightly, and return to our usual. "I'm a rather benevolent sort, but I don't tolerate things such as that. Good help is so hard to find, and I'm rather fond of having her around. You wouldn't believe how efficient she is. And, she's a skilled chef. Even those who have no need to eat, like Magicians, will gladly partake of her cooking."
>"Since when do magicians not have to eat?"
>"Magician-type youkai." Reisen says. Nyx still looks confused.
>Amidst the cacophony of bullets, lasers, lightning and flames, two figures walk out into the courtyard from the western promenade. The trailing figure is Shou, and the one in the lead is a striking figure clad in a European-style rider's ensemble, calf-high leather boots covering her white leggings. She sports a blood red jacket with dark blue needlework around the seams, a pair of white gloves and a somewhat short riding cap. Her purple hair is short, and her eyes are a pale shade of green. The Countesses' crest is finely stitched over her left breast. Dangling from a black leather belt at her waist are a leather riding crop, and a sheathed saber. Both show faint signs of battle.
>Meanwhile, Merlin has altered her attack pattern, after taking one too many hits from Honoka's seeking flames. She fires a clockwise-seeking ring of lasers around her, interspersed with red circle bullets, followed by a counter-clockwise laser ring with bullet streams. If anything, though, this attack looks less impressive than her first technique, with more obvious gaps for Honoka to take advantage of. She proved capable of handling Merlin's first attack, this one shouldn't even take as long as the first.
>"Human era Sword "Approching Disillusion"!
>Youmu employs another of the spellcards Sakuya told you about, flying towards Sei for a moment, then back up and away from her, as waves of petal-shaped start to rise from behind Sei. The large circular danmaku lines will be coming very soon.
-
>Indicate the person Shou's with.
>"That wouldn't be the Countess, would it?"
-
>Indicate the person Shou's with.
>"That wouldn't be the Countess, would it?"
>Nyx shakes her head. "That would be Celes, Steward of the keep. Countesses' right hand flunky." She points with her tail to Shou. "Don't know her."
>"She came here with us." Reisen informs her. "Her name is Shou, and she's an envoy from the Myoren temple. That's a temple devoted to peaceful human-youkai interaction, in case you were worried."
-
>"For the most part at least. She's quite a capable fighter herself, and from what I understand of them, they rather dislike it when relations go sour."
>Fistpalm. "Ah, before we progress any further on that line, I have a music-related question for you, Nyx. You know how to play Air with the G String, yes? I'll need you to play that while I'm...Ah, 'Disciplining' Pride. I'll also need you to cancel out the sounds of said 'disciplining', Reisen. Normally I wouldn't bother with that sort of thing, but I'm feeling lively enough to go that extra mile."
>Smirk. "After all, I like to make such things an art form in and of themselves."
-
>"For the most part at least. She's quite a capable fighter herself, and from what I understand of them, they rather dislike it when relations go sour."
>Fistpalm. "Ah, before we progress any further on that line, I have a music-related question for you, Nyx. You know how to play Air with the G String, yes? I'll need you to play that while I'm...Ah, 'Disciplining' Pride. I'll also need you to cancel out the sounds of said 'disciplining', Reisen. Normally I wouldn't bother with that sort of thing, but I'm feeling lively enough to go that extra mile."
>Smirk. "After all, I like to make such things an art form in and of themselves."
>"They weren't here before." Nyx says.
>"They're new arrivals, only been here for a year or so." Reisen informs her. "But they've had a pretty big impact since they arrived."
>"Air, air, air....." Nyx thinks aloud, her tail swishing in thought. "Ah yes, that Bach piece." After a moment's thought, she grins. "You sure know how to pique a demon's curiousity." She seems rather impressed by the idea.
>Reisen, however, does not seem quite as interested as the demonic nurse. "I'll pass, thanks."
-
>Sigh. "Such a pity. It would've had a better effect. Unless of course, there's someone else who can cancel out sound in a specific area."
-
>Sigh. "Such a pity. It would've had a better effect. Unless of course, there's someone else who can cancel out sound in a specific area."
>Nyx points her tail towards the bullet-firing Leraije above. "Leraije can drown out pretty much anything you can think of." she offers. "And she's a demon like me, to boot."
-
>"Well, I was looking for something in the breed of muting the sound completely. Similar in effect to what Reisen did by limiting the noise's area."
>Smirk. "It's no fun if I can't hear 'it', after all. It makes it too boring otherwise, like punching a tree."
>Come to think of it, shouldn't Patchouli have a spell that does that? Goodness knows she needs some quiet time every now and again, what with the fairies, Flandre, and Marisa invading every now and again.
-
>"Well, I was looking for something in the breed of muting the sound completely. Similar in effect to what Reisen did by limiting the noise's area."
>Smirk. "It's no fun if I can't hear 'it', after all. It makes it too boring otherwise, like punching a tree."
>Come to think of it, shouldn't Patchouli have a spell that does that? Goodness knows she needs some quiet time every now and again, what with the fairies, Flandre, and Marisa invading every now and again.
>"There's always the dungeons, for a quiet place." Nyx suggests. "Isn't quite the same, I know, but, you'd have your privacy down there."
>Patchy, to your knowledge, has tried a time or two to create a zone of silence spell, or something to that effect. But she's never been able to get the execution quite right. Either it ends up muting the area she's in as well, which she says is a distraction and an irritant, or it interferes with spellcasting in the area. Some mages use such techniques, you know, when they have other skills to offset their impeded casting, such as hand to hand combat. This being Patchouli, however....
>She does have a soundproof chamber in the northern part of the library, though, which she uses for conducting very sensitive experiments, or when she's suffering from migraines.
>Shou and the woman called Celes exchange words after taking in the triple battles going on in front of and above them, then head towards the northern side of the courtyard.
-
>Hmm...Well, the Soundproof Room's no good, as that would entail the other sin spirits entering as well, and we can't have Lust, Wrath, or the others get too close to Flan after all. Who knows what will happen!
>Sigh. "I prefer to make a show of things like that. I was thinking about how having no sound but Air would heighten the impact of it all."
-
>Hmm...Well, the Soundproof Room's no good, as that would entail the other sin spirits entering as well, and we can't have Lust, Wrath, or the others get too close to Flan after all. Who knows what will happen!
>Sigh. "I prefer to make a show of things like that. I was thinking about how having no sound but Air would heighten the impact of it all."
>Nyx nods in agreement. "It's your classic harmony of dissonance. Or whatever they call that in Gensokyo."
>"Yeah." Reisen says in a quiet voice. "I know all about it." With no further warning, she takes flight and drops down to the courtyard floor beneath her, and glides towards Shou and Celes.
>"What's her problem?" Nyx asks you.
-
>Shrug. "I haven't the foggiest. Let's follow her, shall we?"
>Let's follow after her.
-
>Shrug. "I haven't the foggiest. Let's follow her, shall we?"
>Let's follow after her.
>"Keep your head down." she advises as she takes off, beating her wings, yourself not far behind.
>This proves to be sound advice, between Merlin's multi-directional lasers, Youmu's streams of red circles and Sei's flaming shrapnel. Fortunately, Ranka and Leraije's danmaku don't stray that far off their own height.
>You and the demoness pause once each to avoid being struck by Merlin's lasers en route to Shou and Celes. During this interval, you watch Honoka evade the spherical danmaku between Merlin's lasers with relative ease and then rakes her hand back and forth, conjuring forth two erratic lines of fireball danmaku and sending them forth. There is no pattern to these bullets, but they move only at moderate speed and have relatively obvious gaps to use. Obvious to you, at least, but it seems Merlin didn't miss them either, at least one of them, and passes between two shots before discharging more lasers. Seems to be her thing.
>Ahead of you, Shou and Celes turn to see Reisen approaching them. Shou gives Reisen a nod, but Celes eyes are drawn beyond the lunar rabbit. Towards you. Her green eyes narrow and she springs forward past Reisen and grips her saber.
>Nyx holds up her right arm and waves her hand. "Whoa, hold on, Celes, she's not an invader."
>The green-eyed woman does not remove her hand. "Declare yourself, vampire." she demands of you.
-
>Smirk slightly. "I am Remilia Scarlet, the 'Scarlet Devil'. I came to reclaim Sakuya for the most part, though I've found other interesting matters in the process."
-
>Smirk slightly. "I am Remilia Scarlet, the 'Scarlet Devil'. I came to reclaim Sakuya for the most part, though I've found other interesting matters in the process."
>Celes' hand tightens around her saber, and then relaxes within a second. "The Countess has awaited you."
>"Then why are you so on guard?" Reisen asks her.
>"Because as her oldest servant, and Steward of her Keep, her safety is my responsibility above all others." The way she says it is virtually identical to what Sakuya to say is she was in the woman's position. "And we did not know enough of the Scarlet Devil to tell how she would arrive, or what her mood would be."
-
>Smirk a bit. "Well, at first I was rather cross with all of you for having inconvenienced my plans. But I'll settle for taking it out on just Pride for now."
>Add an edge of gleeful malice to the smirk. "I've already got just the punishment in mind for Pride having...'borrowed' My own second-in-command."
>Then laugh a bit. "Oh, but don't worry, you'll still have Pride around. It's no fun going that far, better to leave them alive to remember it, you know?"
-
>Smirk a bit. "Well, at first I was rather cross with all of you for having inconvenienced my plans. But I'll settle for taking it out on just Pride for now."
>Add an edge of gleeful malice to the smirk. "I've already got just the punishment in mind for Pride having...'borrowed' My own second-in-command."
>Then laugh a bit. "Oh, but don't worry, you'll still have Pride around. It's no fun going that far, better to leave them alive to remember it, you know?"
>Celes hmmms thoughtfully, briefly, and you note her grip on her sword relax almost completely, now resting on the holt more than a combat grip. "And once you get Sakuya back, and settle up the score with Pride, that will be the end of it?"
>"Think preacher'll go for it?" Nyx asks her.
>"She may. But then, she may not have to. Is she still in the chapel?" Nyx nods. "You should inform her that the Scarlet Devil has arrived, and that I am escorting her, and some of her companions, to the Countess."
>"You are?"
>Celes looks at you with a glimmer of hope in her eye. "I hope so."
-
>"I've also heard some conflicting information regarding the seal this keep and it's inhabitants are under. In addition to the fact that the Countess has been a mite under the weather, which I suspect is related in some way to the conflicting information. A matter involving fate is of great interest to one with such abilities as I, you know."
>Kyrie said that they weren't due up to unseal for another 200 years, yes? How long did Yuzuriha(Or whoever else it was) say was left when we told her about this mess?
-
>"I've also heard some conflicting information regarding the seal this keep and it's inhabitants are under. In addition to the fact that the Countess has been a mite under the weather, which I suspect is related in some way to the conflicting information. A matter involving fate is of great interest to one with such abilities as I, you know."
>Kyrie said that they weren't due up to unseal for another 200 years, yes? How long did Yuzuriha(Or whoever else it was) say was left when we told her about this mess?
>Celes looks around at the ongoing danmaku battles above and behind you. "Perhaps we should go inside before we discuss that further?"
>Kyrie did not mention anything in terms of specific numbers. She used the phrases 'years to come' and 'some years', but did not elaborate on her own, and you did not inquire for more specifics. Yuzuriha, however, said that the seal was set to expire in two months.
-
>Nod. "Indeed. Let's go find the Countess to discuss this matter with all the important actors in this performance then, hmm?"
>Let's go!
-
>Nod. "Indeed. Let's go find the Countess to discuss this matter with all the important actors in this performance then, hmm?"
>Let's go!
>Celes leads the way north, towards an open alcove along the promenade.
>Reisen falls in next to Celes. "You two exchanged some fire?" she asks her.
>"Only a little. She wanted to see what I was capable of before taking me to see the Countess."
>"Do you think she'll do that for me, or Remilia?"
>"Maybe for you, but I doubt for Remilia. I got the impression she knows what a vampire is capable of plenty enough."
>The area beyond the alcove extends east and west again, and is even more sparsely decorated than the areas you've been before.
>Seeing your eye note this, Celes smiles a touch apologetically. "The Keep was open to looters and theives for quite some time." she informs you as she leads you down the western corridor, away from the quieting sounds of danmaku-fu. "We've only starting to put the place back together the past few days, and the Countess wanted the guest quarters taken care of first."
-
>Smirk slightly. "Quite alright. Truth be told, my own abode is in a bit of a state due to Sakuya's absence. Fairy Maids are so hard to control you know, and Sakuya's the only one I know who can manage that."
>Then chuckle a bit. "Perhaps when all this is wrapped up, and the Countess has recovered, I'll have a few sparring matches with her. I'm rather interested in seeing what she's capable of, given how Rei has much potential. oOu know, she actually managed to make a close copy of one of my own techniques, Servant Flier. The mere fact that a two-month-old fledgling could copy a technique used by one such as I, whose legend began in the 16th Century, is quite impressive."
>We'll keep following along.
-
>Smirk slightly. "Quite alright. Truth be told, my own abode is in a bit of a state due to Sakuya's absence. Fairy Maids are so hard to control you know, and Sakuya's the only one I know who can manage that."
>Then chuckle a bit. "Perhaps when all this is wrapped up, and the Countess has recovered, I'll have a few sparring matches with her. I'm rather interested in seeing what she's capable of, given how Rei has much potential. oOu know, she actually managed to make a close copy of one of my own techniques, Servant Flier. The mere fact that a two-month-old fledgling could copy a technique used by one such as I, whose legend began in the 16th Century, is quite impressive."
>We'll keep following along.
>"Thank you for the advice." Celes says with a nod. "After we're all back to our old selves, we probably might need some help getting the Keep ship-shape again. If we look for some Fairy help, I'll know what we're in for."
>From outside, you hear Leraije's voice yell "Guns of the Sky: Lightning Cannon!" followed closely by Ranka's voice saying, "Freedom: Whimsical Wind!"
>Reisen winces faintly and shoots you a slightly abashed look. "I silenced her danmaku, not her voice." she explains.
>When she finishes, the Steward of the Keep pauses and turns. "Are you a servant of the Scarlet Devil?"
>Reisen shakes her head. "I serve Eirin Yakogoro and Princess Kaguya. and my name is Reisen Udongein."
>"Ms. Toramaru mentioned your name." she says, drawing a nod from Shou. "You are here to see Rei?"
>"And find out how she became a vampire, and what will happen to her now. Remilia's told me that the early days of a new vampire's life are chaotic, at best."
>"The Countess will be able to tell you more." She turns to you and adds, before turning back around and continuing down the hall, the four of you following behind her. "It might interest you to know that the Countess is also impressed by the young lady. I did not, however, know that Rei was capable of mimicking the technique of an elder vampire. We knew she was a quick study, but that's beyond what I had assumed."
-
>Nod. "Indeed, I've taken quite an interest in her abilities thanks to that, and I feel that she needs additional teaching to truly grasp her full power."
>Then fistpalm. "You know, you are rather like Sakuya, so there is a good chance that any you recruit might obey you."
>"At any rate though, it seems that we're nearing the truth of the matter. And since this is Gensokyo, I have a feeling that Rei's life will be a fair sight better than most new Vampires. Particularly with both the Countess and myself providing education and training."
>Let's continue onwards!
-
>Nod. "Indeed, I've taken quite an interest in her abilities thanks to that, and I feel that she needs additional teaching to truly grasp her full power."
>Then fistpalm. "You know, you are rather like Sakuya, so there is a good chance that any you recruit might obey you."
>"At any rate though, it seems that we're nearing the truth of the matter. And since this is Gensokyo, I have a feeling that Rei's life will be a fair sight better than most new Vampires. Particularly with both the Countess and myself providing education and training."
>Let's continue onwards!
>"I would agree with you there. And I'd wager that it won't take her all that long, either."
>The green eyed woman blinks. "I am?" She doesn't seem entirely sure how to take that.
>Reisen evidently picks up on that cue. "That's quite the compliment coming from her."
>"Ah... Well, thank you."
>The corridor ends ahead of you and turns right, leading to another corridor and a flight of stairs to the left leading up. Nyx flits up into the air, "The chapel's upstairs, so, I'll be seein' you folks later." She flies on past you all, but as she passes Reisen, her tail slithers up and brushes the lunar rabbits derriere. Reisen stiffens ever so slightly, prompting a devilish little giggle from Nyx as she flies up the stairs.
>"My apologies." Celes offers Reisen. "She is a succubus..."
>Reisen shakes her head slightly, sighing quietly. "Believe me when I say, I've had worse."
>"We do try to keep her on her best behavior with guests, but, things aren't normal yet."
>"That's all right, don't worry about it."
>From the courtyard behind you, you hear a pair of sounds which catch your ear, beyond the continuing sounds of danmaku. One is the sound of a thick cloak fluttering in flight, which probably means Honoka is following you. The other sounds, for all the world, like energy-charged flesh hitting flesh, a sound you're rather familiar with between yourself and Meiling.
-
>Sigh. "Looks like Gensokyo's going get a lot noisier...Between Her, Ranka, Lust, and the other Sin Spirits."
>Then shrug. "But a Succubus entering a Chapel. There's something ironic about that."
>One has to wonder, no?
>Then chuckle a bit. "It would appear that things back in the courtyard have gotten noisier. Perhaps Honoka has already finished her battle? Let's wait a short while to make sure."
>Let's wait for roughly two minutes.
-
>Sigh. "Looks like Gensokyo's going get a lot noisier...Between Her, Ranka, Lust, and the other Sin Spirits."
>Then shrug. "But a Succubus entering a Chapel. There's something ironic about that."
>One has to wonder, no?
>Then chuckle a bit. "It would appear that things back in the courtyard have gotten noisier. Perhaps Honoka has already finished her battle? Let's wait a short while to make sure."
>Let's wait for roughly two minutes.
>Celes offers you a wry smile. "Perhaps you could consider it an opportunity to invest in thicker walls?" she suggests dryly.
>"Is that unusual?" Reisen asks about Nyx in the chapel.
>"Traditionally speaking, the undead and demonkind are unable to enter holy ground, such as a church or a chapel, or other consecrated places." Celes informs her. "But our chapel hasn't been that for centuries."
>Shou frowns. "Your temple was unhallowed?"
>"Chapel, Ms. Toramaru." Celes corrects her politely. "There's a difference. But, yes. As a matter of fact, this entire Keep was once unholy ground. We spent a great deal of time working on undoing that status before we were sealed." She reaches out and lightly touches the bare wall to her left, looking at her fingers after. "Setsuka and Tsumiko tell me there's something about Gensokyo that helps in that process, as well."
>"I'd agree there. I can't sense a thing."
>"You can detect unholy auras?" Reisen asks her.
>"I'm a devotee of Bishamonten." Shou answers by way of explanation. "One of His gifts to me was a sense for unhallowed things or places. But it's not strong, not like a true priest, but if this place was still defiled, I'd think I could sense it while standing in the middle of it."
>"It is also possible that an Eastern God might not sense the vileness caused by a Western source." Celes postulates.
>As the three of them speculate, Honoka does indeed float into view, and by the looks of her, Merlin never landed a shot on her. Honoka glances back and forth and heads in your direction. She is not alone, however, as she is followed by a blonde girl wearing clothes similar to Merlin's, but colored black, with white and red trim, and while Merlin carried a horn, this one has a violin floating next to her. That would be the leader of the Prismrivers, Lunasa, you believe her name was.
-
>Chuckle a bit, and nod towards Lunasa and Honoka. "Yet another of the Prismrivers. Seems they've scattered throughout the keep."
>Then laugh a bit. "Although the whole business about demons and the like being unable to enter temples and the like doesn't hold much water in Gensokyo, given how I was able to be on the premises of the Myouren Temple, and I often go visit the Hakurei Shrine, to make she she's not being too lazy."
>Smirk. "After all, she's one of the few who have managed to defeat me. I won't stand for her getting too lax after all, given that matter. I have my pride to keep after all."
-
>Chuckle a bit, and nod towards Lunasa and Honoka. "Yet another of the Prismrivers. Seems they've scattered throughout the keep."
>Then laugh a bit. "Although the whole business about demons and the like being unable to enter temples and the like doesn't hold much water in Gensokyo, given how I was able to be on the premises of the Myouren Temple, and I often go visit the Hakurei Shrine, to make she she's not being too lazy."
>Smirk. "After all, she's one of the few who have managed to defeat me. I won't stand for her getting too lax after all, given that matter. I have my pride to keep after all."
>"Honoka couldn't have beaten Merlin that quickly." Reisen says. "They're not that weak individually."
>Celes nods. "There's a number of rules that hold true in the outside world that don't here, just as I'd wager there's a number of rules that apply here that don't in the outside. Gensokyo is a strange and wondrous place."
>"I've yet to meet a vampire that didn't." Celes says dryly with a faint smirk.
>The Steward's smirk drops off her face as Honoka draws close. "Scarlet Flame." she breathes.
>Honoka's nods grimly. "Dragon Rider." she says by way of greeting. The air between the two noticeably drops in temperature.
-
>"Well, this is interesting. Judging from the sharp drop in temperature, Would I be correct in assuming there's a bit of bad blood between you two?"
>Chuckle a bit. "Then again, Honoka did demonstrate a rather surprising knowledge of Vampire lore, so I suppose it shouldn't come as much of a surprise."
-
>"Well, this is interesting. Judging from the sharp drop in temperature, Would I be correct in assuming there's a bit of bad blood between you two?"
>Chuckle a bit. "Then again, Honoka did demonstrate a rather surprising knowledge of Vampire lore, so I suppose it shouldn't come as much of a surprise."
>"I wouldn't say 'bad blood' precisely, Scarlet Devil." Honoka replies. "The Dragon Rider and I met once, centuries ago. And she attacked me."
>You and the others give the Steward a look, and the hint of a scowl tugs at her lip. "What that abbreviated line fails to mention is that Honoka here was working for the Red Tide at the time."
>You think on that name for a moment, then your memory kicks in. About a year or so ago, Patchouli acquired an old, somewhat damaged, book detailing a few of the more notable vampires in Gensokyo's past. The Red Tide was a vampire that dwelt in Gensokyo up until about 125 years ago, her true name lost. If the book ever contained it, it was unrecoverable. She was one of those vampires that specialized in controlling and dominating other living beings, and she had sorcery to match the mesmeric power of her eyes. She had a vast army of servants and slaves, both humans and youkai, and used that army to spread her power across the northwestern part of Gensokyo. Among her most notable servants were a quartet of powerful youkai, each bearing the power of one of the four Greek elements- earth, air, fire and water. According to Patchy's research, all of those four had great power, but not power enough to resist the influence of the Red Tide.
>The tome Patchy found told of how the Red Tide terrorized a quarter of Gensokyo, conflicting with both vampires and non-vampires, until one night when her ambition grew too great. She attempted to expand her territory to include the home of one Yuuka Kazami. The book did not tell of the meeting between the two, at least not in any surviving page, but the Red Tide was never seen again in Gensokyo after that night. Considering the reputation surrounding Yuuka Kazami, it isn't hard for one to figure out what happened to the over-ambitious vampire.
>"Enslaved, you mean." Honoka counters.
>"When a vampire like her's involved, it amounts to the same thing." Celes glances between you and her. "Does this vampire hold you now?"
>Rather than answer her question directly, Honoka's expression actually lightens slightly. "Time has changed you, Dragon Rider. A century ago, you'd have accused us both of that, instead of asking. But to answer, no. No vampire holds control over me now, not since my former owner was destroyed."
-
>Shrug. "I don't bother with such things, it isn't my forte either. Though she does at least consider what I suggest at times, such as before, when we split up for a time."
>Grin slightly. "But to think that I've been traveling with two of her former underlings. It's rather amusing really."
>Nod. "At any rate though, there will be time to catch up on things later. I'm rather pressed for time, so I'd like to recover Sakuya as soon as I can."
-
>Shrug. "I don't bother with such things, it isn't my forte either. Though she does at least consider what I suggest at times, such as before, when we split up for a time."
>Grin slightly. "But to think that I've been traveling with two of her former underlings. It's rather amusing really."
>Nod. "At any rate though, there will be time to catch up on things later. I'm rather pressed for time, so I'd like to recover Sakuya as soon as I can."
>"One." Honoka corrects you. "I assume you are thinking Ranka was the air spirit she'd bound. She was not." Wisps of flame escape her eyes. "As a matter of fact, it was Ranka's elder sister, or at least, that is how they regarded each other. But as you say, that is a story that can wait for another time."
>"So why ARE you here?" Celes demands.
>"Come now, Rider. If I was an enemy of yours, you would have known of my presence here long before seeing me here. I am here for the same reason Shou is, because of the activities of the Sin Spirits. And no, I'm not here to destroy them, or the ones behind them, if that's what you're worried about. I simply wish to investigate the matter myself."
>The Steward does not looks nearly comfortable with the presence of Honoka, but Reisen steps forward and says, "Celes-san, if Honoka was under the influence of another vampire, then one of us would have detected it by now, either Remilia, Shou or myself. And none of us have."
>The green eyed woman exhales, and rubs her right temple briefly. Reisen offers her a sympathetic smile. "And Remilia has a good point. The sooner we see the Countess and get to the bottom of this matter, and settle the outstanding issue of Izayoi-san, the sooner we can all be on our way."
>Celes sighs again, then turns and heads down the hallway before her, waving you on behind her.
>"Well spoken, Reisen." Honoka commends the lunar rabbit as the group of you follow behind Celes. "I hadn't expected to see her here, and I was expecting her to try and force me out, if not worse."
>Reisen shakes her head. "I believe Celes-san is a reasonable person. But I also think she's got something else on her mind. Probably Reimu, if she's still here."
>"And you, Lunasa?" Celes calls back from her lead position. "Why were you with the Scarlet Flame?"
>"I was not." the dour-looking Prismriver replies in a somewhat dull voice. "I just wanted to check with the Countess on a liability issue."
>"Liability?"
>Lunasa nods. "We came here to perform, not start firing danmaku in a courtyard. I want to hear where the Countess stands on Merlin acting like a fool."
>"Have you heard of this Red Tide vampire?" Shou asks you.
-
>Nod. "She was spoken of in a book. Apparently she had been quite the ambitious sort. Too ambitious even. Her last attempted conquest was a lovely little place called 'The Garden of The Sun'. I assume you know of the Garden's most infamous occupant, Yuuka Kazami? Well, suffice it to say that Red Tide has become a bit of a cautionary tale so to speak."
>Chuckle in a slightly grim way. "Nobody ever really knows what happened to her. None but Kazami that is. Though it doesn't take an expert to figure out what likely did, considering the evidence."
>Then smirk in our usual sort of way, and continue onwards!
-
>Nod. "She was spoken of in a book. Apparently she had been quite the ambitious sort. Too ambitious even. Her last attempted conquest was a lovely little place called 'The Garden of The Sun'. I assume you know of the Garden's most infamous occupant, Yuuka Kazami? Well, suffice it to say that Red Tide has become a bit of a cautionary tale so to speak."
>Chuckle in a slightly grim way. "Nobody ever really knows what happened to her. None but Kazami that is. Though it doesn't take an expert to figure out what likely did, considering the evidence."
>Then smirk in our usual sort of way, and continue onwards!
>"Gensokyo was a different place, centuries ago." Honoka adds grimly. "A vampire like her will not be missed."
>"Did you finish your fight with Merlin?" Reisen asks her.
>The youkai of flame shakes her head, then glances back at Lunasa, who says in her dull voice, "I didn't want my sister to exchange any more fire until I cleared it with the Countess. After that, you can fight her as much as you want."
>"Actually, Lunasa, I would rather challenge all three of you. Fighting with Merlin, I discern that your true power comes from your teamwork. I would enjoy seeing what the Prismrivers are truly capable of."
>Your merry troupe continues northwards for a time, following Celes as she turns east, then north, then east again. The hallways are sparse here and undecorated, save for one heavy urn resting below an empty tapestry hook. Grecian style, by the looks of it, depicting a rugged man wielding an axe, confronting a snarling pack of wolves.
>Celes' course takes you to a large open chamber, with a rather dark interior. The distant walls are lined with black velvet curtains accented by blue ropes. The carpet here is much nicer than places you've seen elsewhere, a lush purple bordered by gold check trim. The carpet leads to a dull grey wall with a mural painted in the middle of it. The mural depicts an armored female knight mounted atop a green dragon, her long silver hair flowing in the breeze. The artwork is astonishingly lifelike, seeming almost as though the lance wielding woman and her wyrm companion would fly out of the wall and over your head. On either side of this wall is a staircase spiraling up and behind the wall.
>The lighting in this room is odd, subdued, coming from a large overhanging chandelier, and a very expensive one at that. Sapphires and amethysts dangle along with the glass crystal, as well as black onyx or opal. The candles are lit with blue and purple flames.
>Under the mural is a magic circle traced in white and blue. You've seen more than your fair share of them in your time, but this one's purpose isn't immediately obvious to you. Celes pauses for a moment, her gaze lingering upon the lovely knight and her impressive mount, her expression unreadable.
>Beyond the subdued, unorthodox lighting of the place, there is something off about this room. You didn't sense it on teh way in, but now you can detect a faint sense of.... wrongness. Something in the air lingers like a bad memory. A vestige of something wrong that happened in this place.
-
>"....Does anybody else feel that there is something....'off', about this place? Almost like the lingering of a bad memory."
-
>"....Does anybody else feel that there is something....'off', about this place? Almost like the lingering of a bad memory."
>Every person in the room nods, with the exception of Celes. If anything, she looks almost sad. "This room was frequented by the previous owner of this castle." she says, her voice edged with an old pain. "Certain areas of the keep are more unhallowed than others, and this is one of them. It bears the weight of many of his sins."
>"Who was he?" Reisen asks.
>"A monster." Celes intones. She then spares a look back, the faintest hint of a grin on her face. "Perhaps that word doesn't mean quite the same thing in Gensokyo as it does in the outside. But he was tyrant, a vile example of vampires. Even now, his evil taints his old dominion, and lingers in this place, despite all of our efforts. We've lived here for almost 200 years, and it's been in Gensokyo for another hundred and twenty years, and STILL his evil lingers."
>As composed as you fancy yourself, you feel a shudder run down your arms. There haven't been a large number of vampires whose actions would leave such a profound taint upon the world within your lifetime. Whoever lived here before the Countess must have been a truly black soul. And you're not alone in your shuddering either, as you see the hair on Reisen's ears standing on end slightly, and Shou looks rather uncomfortable. Honoka looks even grimmer than normal, her eyes smoldering with heat. Only Lunasa doesn't look out of sorts in any way.
-
>"Surprising, I must admit. I do not know of very many who could truly desecrate a place to this extent, he must truly have had a soul as black as pitch. No, even blacker still."
>Sigh slightly. "I suppose it is a good thing he was long gone before I arrived, things might have gotten...Shall we say, 'violent'? Someone with that black a soul doesn't deserve to be called 'Vampire'. We have honor and an image to uphold after all, being largely of the aristocracy. Myself included. We may do evil-seeming deeds from time to time, but we still have morals of a sort."
-
>"Surprising, I must admit. I do not know of very many who could truly desecrate a place to this extent, he must truly have had a soul as black as pitch. No, even blacker still."
>Sigh slightly. "I suppose it is a good thing he was long gone before I arrived, things might have gotten...Shall we say, 'violent'? Someone with that black a soul doesn't deserve to be called 'Vampire'. We have honor and an image to uphold after all, being largely of the aristocracy. Myself included. We may do evil-seeming deeds from time to time, but we still have morals of a sort."
>"Some do." Celes agrees, nodding slowly. "Of course, he would have said he was only doing what he had a right to do."
>Reisen opens her mouth, then closes it again, her expression a mystery. Honoka places her hand on the rabbit's shoulder.
>"He had the power to back up that claim, too." Celes adds, her eyes returning to the mural. She grips her upper right arm tightly. "Even with all the help we had that night, sometimes I wake up and still wonder how we ever won..."
>Lunasa steps forward, her face still framing that faint frown, and asks, "Precisely why did we come this way, then? I'd assume there was more than one way to get to the Countess' throne room."
>Celes shakes her head, the Prismriver breaking her out of her reverie. "The layout of this place is not as straightforward as it looks from the outside. But this room does have a shortcut, which is why we came this way." She points to the circle inscribed on the ground beneath the flying dragon knight. "That is a teleportation circle. It took us a while to figure out how they operated, but they provide us with quick access to critical areas of the Keep." She includes the two stairways in her gesture. "Those lead to the corridors that take us, the long way, to the throne room and other areas, but it's a bit of a walk, even if you know where you're going. It is easier for us to simply teleport, but we can go the long way, if you'd rather."
-
>"And are these teleports safe? Specifically, for those not of the keep, such as yourselves. If they are, then I see no reason to not use them."
-
>"And are these teleports safe? Specifically, for those not of the keep, such as yourselves. If they are, then I see no reason to not use them."
>"It depends on who activates them. I wouldn't try them with Sabine or Yuzuriha, if I were you, but I can activate them safely. But I can only take two of you at a time, the circles were designed to transport individuals, not groups."
-
>Nod. "Very well then. Honoka and I shall take the first trip, we'll wait for you to return with Lunasa and Reisen afterwards."
>Let's go! "Oh, and keep an eye out for Lust, remember what I revealed to you earlier?"
-
>Nod. "Very well then. Honoka and I shall take the first trip, we'll wait for you to return with Lunasa and Reisen afterwards."
>Let's go! "Oh, and keep an eye out for Lust, remember what I revealed to you earlier?"
>Shou does not seem to mind that you forgot to include her.
>Honoka and Reisen exchange a look, and the rabbit nods ever so slightly. Honoka removes her hand from Reisen's shoulder and moves to join you as the three of you walk forwards.
>Disturbingly, the light from the candles overhead almost seems to follow you. You shake your head. Probably no more than a trick of the light. Plus it's been some time since you last stood in a place like this. It can play tricks on the best of people, even one such as yourself.
>"What do you mean by that?" Celes asks you as she takes position at the 'top' of the circle. It's not wide, by any stretch.
-
>D'oh. Knew we were forgetting someone.
>Smirk a bit. "Let's just say that fate and the future do not hold as many mysteries for I as they do for most. Reisen and a few others already know what I mean by that."
-
>D'oh. Knew we were forgetting someone.
>Smirk a bit. "Let's just say that fate and the future do not hold as many mysteries for I as they do for most. Reisen and a few others already know what I mean by that."
>"I see." Celes says, sounding only 99% convinced of it as you step into the circle. It's going to be a tight fit, getting the three of you in here. And it seems Celes has the same conclusion. "A little closer, please, Miss Honoka."
>The flame youkai's cloak takes up a decent amount of room, but she nods easily to Celes. She inhales deeply, and her cloak pulls in tighter to her body as she does. "Is that better?"
>"Handy little trick." Reisen says, her eyes alternating between your group and the mural you're standing under.
>Her profile now smaller, Honoka steps closer to you and Celes. You note that her cloak actually feels cooler now than it did before. It's a bit cramped, but fortunately it should be a quick trip. Celes raises her right hand in front of her chest, and speaks two words in a language you don't recognize immediately, but it sounds Slavic. The circle glows with white magical light for a moment, and the spell activates.
>The trip is indeed quick, and moments later, you find yourself standing outside a rather ornate set of large, armored double doors to your left. A pair of frail humans stand outside, and they snap to attention the moment you appear, their loose fitting armor clattering as they do so. You sneer. Pathetic. If this is the best that village could do in tribute, you'll need to visit a lesson upon them sooner than you'd expected to. Maybe you should start with one these two...
>You feel a wave of heat wash across your face, snapping you back to attention. Honoka is standing in front of you, Celes standing just behind her, a look of concern upon her face. Honoka says something, but the words are in that Slavic tongue, foreign to you.
-
>"Is that normal?"
-
>"Is that normal?"
>Celes says something, but the words are a jumbled mix of languages, the sound almost painful. You shake your head and collect your thoughts.
>"What is wrong here, Rider?" Honoka asks Celes, her words finally clear to you.
>Celes does not answer right away, merely looks at you more closely. "Her eyes are clearing." She then bows, clearly apologetic. "I'm very sorry, Miss Scarlet. No vampire other than the Countess has used the circles since we took over here. I had no idea his lingering taint might affect you like that. Had I thought, I would have warned you, taken precautions, something."
>"Are you all right?" Honoka asks you. "You seemed to be seeing things that weren't there, muttering something in a language I've never heard before."
-
>"I'm fine."
>"It was... a memory of his, I think. It has cleared. I think I may take the long way back once I'm done here, though."
-
>"I'm fine."
>"It was... a memory of his, I think. It has cleared. I think I may take the long way back once I'm done here, though."
>"Good to hear." Honoka says, standing back from you and offering you her hand up. Taking stock of yourself, you find that you are now sitting down. You hadn't even noticed.
>"I can respect that." Celes nods. "Now that I know the potential is there, though, I'll mention it to the Countess. One of us here should be able to prevent it from happening again."
-
>"That would be a good idea."
>Wait while she brings the others.
-
>"That would be a good idea."
>Wait while she brings the others.
>Celes pulls the glove off her right hand. She has a ring on each of her fingers, and a very faint scar running from the middle of the back of her hand down past her wrist, disappearing into her sleeve. Each ring has a different colored gemstone set as its centerpiece. She touches the white gemstone on her ring finger, causing it to glow faintly, then activates the magic circle again, blinking out in the middle of the column of light that fades after her passing.
>"I may not have been unaffected, myself." Honoka informs you. "For a moment, I felt as though I were completely immobilized. I could not move even a finger. It could have been a consequence of the magic, but I have my doubts now, after what you experienced."
>Moments later, Celes returns, with Reisen and Lunasa in tow.
-
>"There was something about a village offering tribute, and him being displeased with the amount or somesuch."
>Sigh a bit. "Really now, I haven't needed to do anything like that for quite some time, if at all. Though he did seem to be considering making an example of a soldier of some kind. All clad in noisy armor. Likely a mere foot soldier from the look of things."
>Sigh again. "Strange really, considering as I was considering punishing Pride for his or her hubris in attempting to steal away Sakuya to use as a host."
>Shrug. "I may still do that though, depending on how things flow. Nothing physically lasting though, I have my pride to keep after all."
-
>"There was something about a village offering tribute, and him being displeased with the amount or somesuch."
>Sigh a bit. "Really now, I haven't needed to do anything like that for quite some time, if at all. Though he did seem to be considering making an example of a soldier of some kind. All clad in noisy armor. Likely a mere foot soldier from the look of things."
>Sigh again. "Strange really, considering as I was considering punishing Pride for his or her hubris in attempting to steal away Sakuya to use as a host."
>Shrug. "I may still do that though, depending on how things flow. Nothing physically lasting though, I have my pride to keep after all."
>Celes vanishes again as you speak on your experience, Lunasa and Reisen seemingly unperturbed by the teleport, although Reisen does look a bit concerned. "Celes told us you'd had some problems."
>"You could say that." Honoka replies dryly. As she brings the pair up to speed, you take the time to look around, see how the place you're sitting lines up with what you saw. The basic layout is the same, but there is carpet now, a comfortable one yet an understated design. There are still double doors to your left, but the ones here now are of a very different design. These are lacquered wood, stout and sturdy but far less imposing than heavy black iron. There are no guards, but a pair of life-sized statues flank the doorway. To the left is another angelic figure similar to the one on the fountain in the courtyard, but this one has a sword belted to her hip, though otherwise unclad, and is cast in a very fine white stone. The right statue is an eight-foot tall dragon standing on its hind legs, cast in a black rock of some kind. The pair are amazingly lifelike, exquisite detail on the angels' feathers, her expression of defiant pride, the imperfections and battle damage on the dragon's hide and the look of simmering rage in its eyes.
>There is also, you now notice, the very faint hint of blood in the air. Rei's blood, you're sure of it. It seems to be coming from down the hallway to your right.
-
>"I smell a rather familiar blood-scent. Rei's if I';m not mistaken. I was hoping to find her before the Countess, so that we could all discuss the matter of her training and education together."
>Let's float off in that direction then!
-
>"I smell a rather familiar blood-scent. Rei's if I';m not mistaken. I was hoping to find her before the Countess, so that we could all discuss the matter of her training and education together."
>Let's float off in that direction then!
>As you float in thatways direction, after pulling yourself up from the floor, Reisen calls after you, "I'm not sure that's a good idea, Remilia!"
-
>Sigh. "Well, I suppose we can look into that later then. Let's continue onward to the Countess then, hm?"
>Let's float back to the others and continue on!
-
>Sigh. "Well, I suppose we can look into that later then. Let's continue onward to the Countess then, hm?"
>Let's float back to the others and continue on!
>"Sorry." Reisen says somewhat apologetically. "But considering how Rei's emotions were all over the place before, she might attack you if she saw you here. At least without the Countess to tell her different."
>"Unless she met the Hakurei prior to our arrival." Honoka intones, stroking her chin once with her cloaked hand. "That has a tendency to take the fight out of a body."
>As you rejoin the other three, Celes and Shou teleport in, Shou's expression one of profound irritation. Reisen, noting this, asks her, "Something bothering you?"
>"Something in that room back there..." Shou starts, the touch of a snarl in her voice. "There's something there that isn't right. Beyond what we felt, or, maybe part of it, I don't know. But SOMETHING." She sighs. "I wish Hijiri was here, she could figure it out."
>"Perhaps you could ask the Countess about it." Honoka suggests. "It seems we are all of us about to get our answers."
>Celes looks around at the faces before her. "I can see you are all ready to meet the Countess. But before that, there is one thing I must inform you of, Scarlet Devil." Her voice is formal, but quite polite. "I mean this neither as a threat nor a warning, merely as something I feel I should inform you of. You know, by now, that most of us here have not recovered our full power. I have. And I am very well versed in combating vampires, if I have to. I do not know if I will have to or not this night. I merely wished you to know that, should anger take the best of us, you will find more than you think in Celes D'Arquien. Nothing personal, but we have yet to meet a vampire who did not mean us at least some harm. Centuries of experience has yielded certain instincts in us, and the Countesses' safety is my personal responsibility."
-
>"How things go depends entirely on her. I do fully intend to punish Pride personally though, that will not change regardless of what happens."
>Let's let a scarlet auraflame form around a hand, then crush it out for emphasis.
>"Well, shall we?"
>Let's go, and keep our wits about us!
-
>"How things go depends entirely on her. I do fully intend to punish Pride personally though, that will not change regardless of what happens."
>Let's let a scarlet auraflame form around a hand, then crush it out for emphasis.
>"Well, shall we?"
>Let's go, and keep our wits about us!
>Your emphasis is not lost on Celes, judging by her face. Nevertheless, she nods, satisfied, for now. She turns and places her hands upon the silver ringed handle on the door to your right. It may be an effect of this place, but you think, for a moment, the angel's eyes move to follow her. None of the others seem to note this. Probably just you, then.
>The large oak door swings inward, and the first thing that comes into your field of view is.... an eggplant purple umbrella, top down and concealing its holder. The umbrella then flies up, and Kogasa is revealed, sticking both her tongue, and her umbrella's tongue, out their their respective mouths as she yells, "BOOOoooOOoo!"
-
>"......."
>Aura to maximum, just to give her a scare.
-
>"......."
>Aura to maximum, just to give her a scare.
>For the first time in several decades, you find yourself speechless. So you let your power aura do the speaking for you.
>While most of the others appear similarly dumbstruck, Lunasa steps forward. "Boo to you, too. Now please move, you're blocking the way."
>Kogasa wilts slightly, then perks up a bit. "I still got ya." She turns to her right and practically skips away. "Reimu, Reimu, I got 'em!"
>Shou laughs, at last. "That little..." she says with a smile.
>"My... My apologies." Celes manages after a moment. "I... I was not expecting that."
-
>"...Remind me to throw that little annoyance as far as I can after all this, would you? I daresay it would be quite cathartic. Not to say that punishing Pride won't be either though. Well, let's continue inward, yes?"
>Let's keep going on in with the rest, but cut the aura to a mere ten percent.
-
>"...Remind me to throw that little annoyance as far as I can after all this, would you? I daresay it would be quite cathartic. Not to say that punishing Pride won't be either though. Well, let's continue inward, yes?"
>Let's keep going on in with the rest, but cut the aura to a mere ten percent.
>"Oh, she's all right." Shou says pleasantly. "But more to the point, if she's in that kind of mood, and Reimu's in there, that means the fighting's over, at least as far as Reimu's concerned."
>"That would be disappointing." Honoka says. "Challenging her again would be a wonderful thing."
>"Perhaps you and Merlin could fight her together." Lunasa drones as she moves past the two of them, walking into the throne room next to you.
>As far as throne rooms go, this has got to be about the most understated one you've ever seen in your life. It's a big room, certainly, but it has almost none of the opulence one would expect from a throne room. The walls and ceiling are a mixture of grey and white, the mortar inlaid painted a light blue. The 'throne' is more of a 'chair', and it rests upon the floor, rather than on a raised pedestal as you've seen elsewhere. The walls are supported by white marble columns, each with detailed carvings upon them. The room is brightly lit by lamps hanging from the columns and overhanging chandeliers, all well made, but nowhere near as expensive as the ones you've seen before. The room is partly covered by a large circular carpet, cobalt blue, centered around the chair serving as a throne, with a path leading to the door you entered from.
>There is another door on the back wall, to your left, and large windows on the right side of the room, each drawn with a cranberry red shade. Two more astonishingly life-like statues stand on the inside of the doors as well, similarly cut from white and black stone. The one on your right, the white statue, is a gorgeous female warrior, armored with a midriff-exposing set of half-plate and carrying a halberd, the butt of which rests upon the floor. To your left is a handsome male clad in full plate, resting his hands on a broadsword that has the tip resting on the floor, his cape in mid-billow.
>Twenty feet in front of you, on your left, is a simple wooden table, with three wood chairs, two of which are occupied. Reimu sits with her back to you, and Kogasa stands next to her, evidently quite happy at, in her mind, surprising the lot of you. But it is the one sitting across from her that you focus on. This is clearly the Cobalt Countess. Her longish brown hair is drawn up in an old style bun at the back of her head, and her face has the bearing of nobility. And yet, it is a muted nobility, an echo of a life that she hasn't known for a very long time. Her clothing is likewise understated, a respectable blue jacket with puffed out shoulders, her emblem stitched over her left breast. She compliments this with a long old-fashioned yet respectable skirt, colored white and grey, dark blue running down the left and right side with yellow flowers running up and down these stripes and across the hemline. Her one concession to wealth is a gold necklace, with three large gemstones at even intervals, a pair of dark green jewels flanking a black stone.
>"My lady." Celes announces as she enters before you, announcing the presence of new guests, as it proper.
>Or at least, you suspect she would, if the Countess had not held up her hand to silence her, her eyes locking with yours. There is no challenge, no contest of will, in her gaze. "Is this the Scarlet Devil?" she asks.
>"Yes, my lady." Celes answers, barely missing a beat.
>The Countess nods, and rises to her feet. She walks around the table and comes to stand 6 feet in front of you. Despite the lack of aggression or challenge in her gait, you tense. You're still not quite sure what to expect from her at this point. So it is to your genuine surprise when she folds her hands in front of her skirt, and lowers her head. "I humbly apologize to you, and your friends. I accept full responsibility for the Sin Spirits escaping, and all that they have done. And especially for what they have done to your servant, I deeply apologize."
-
>Raise an eyebrow, and wave it off. "Don't worry about that, I do intend to personally punish Pride though. The others haven't caused me very much trouble short of Envy, but she was....How does one say this....Lacking in the power needed to be a genuine danger. So she was little more than a mere warm-up."
>Then smirk slightly. "Worry not though, I have no intent to actually kill Pride. That would be doing things the easy and cheap way. As a Vampire whose legend dates back to the 16th Century, I have my own pride and honor to uphold after all."
>Then frown slightly. "On the other hand, if pride's used her body for...'untoward things', then that just means the punishment will be all the more severe. Not death though, as I stated it to be too easy a thing mere moments ago."
-
>Raise an eyebrow, and wave it off. "Don't worry about that, I do intend to personally punish Pride though. The others haven't caused me very much trouble short of Envy, but she was....How does one say this....Lacking in the power needed to be a genuine danger. So she was little more than a mere warm-up."
>Then smirk slightly. "Worry not though, I have no intent to actually kill Pride. That would be doing things the easy and cheap way. As a Vampire whose legend dates back to the 16th Century, I have my own pride and honor to uphold after all."
>Then frown slightly. "On the other hand, if pride's used her body for...'untoward things', then that just means the punishment will be all the more severe. Not death though, as I stated it to be too easy a thing mere moments ago."
>The Countess winces slightly. "I'm afraid the situation is a bit more complicated than you might realize." She looks at Celes. "Have you told her yet?"
>The steward shakes her head. "I felt it best to let you or Tsumiko explain the situation."
>"I understand. Go and get some chairs for our new guests, and ask Rei to prepare some more tea."
>"Perhaps a larger table, as well." Celes adds. "I'll ask Sloth to aid me."
>As the steward departs, the Countess looks around at the others while Reimu calls out to you, glancing over her shoulder, "Did you pass that gardener and kappa on the way in?"
-
>"No, I only saw Youmu on the way in."
>We may as well find a seat when they're prepared then. "Ah yes, once things are resolved, I was also hoping to talk about Rei."
>Smirk slightly. "I haven't seen a youngling with as much potential as she has in quite some time. She was even capable of creating a flawed copy of one of my own techniques, Servant Flier. But we'll discuss her later."
>Then return to the usual serious expression. "....So, would you care to explain things then?"
-
>"No, I only saw Youmu on the way in."
>"She'll get here eventually." Reimu says with a verbal shrug.
>We may as well find a seat when they're prepared then. "Ah yes, once things are resolved, I was also hoping to talk about Rei."
>Smirk slightly. "I haven't seen a youngling with as much potential as she has in quite some time. She was even capable of creating a flawed copy of one of my own techniques, Servant Flier. But we'll discuss her later."
>Then return to the usual serious expression. "....So, would you care to explain things then?"
>The only unoccupied seats at present are the one that the Countess vacated, and her throne. It would be improper to usurp another vampire's seat without being invited to do so, so you decide, for the moment, to remain standing, until Celes returns with the indicated furniture.
>"Rei's actually the reason I came here myself." Reisen says to the Countess. "I'm Reisen, Reisen Udongein."
>The Countess nods. "I'm afraid she's a bit of a complicated answer, as well. As Scarlet Devil said, though, it would probably be best to leave that for now."
>"I'd prefer to settle my issue first." Lunasa cuts in. "Since I don't think it will take as long."
>The Countess looks in your direction, considering something, then nods. "As you wish." You being delayed annoys you, but you rein in your temper. No sense in losing it now, when you're this close to answer. Unless Lunasa takes TOO long, then...
>The elder Prismriver explains the situation with Merlin from earlier, and her concerns about liability issues. Sakuya said that her music was rather melancholy, and that her personality seemed to echo that, from her impression. Your own impression lines up with that very neatly. She's a very dour person. Ghost. Whatever. As she is doing this, Reisen excuses herself, and informs you that she is going to help Celes in bringing in more chairs.
>The Countess, however, merely shakes her head at Lunasa once the Prismriver is finished. "Youthful exuberance is a music these halls have no known for far too long. I won't hold you to blame for any accidents of that sort."
>While that discussion is going on, Shou comes to stand next to you. "Do you sense anything about this room?" she asks you.
-
>Do we?
-
>Do we?
>You divert your attention away from the Countess to probe the atmosphere of this room. The result is a bit of a mix of sensations. There IS a similar sense to what you felt back in that dark room before, but it's much more muted here, covered by a different aura. A quiet sensation. It is like two different psychic scents of two different vampires, but the Countesses scent, the quiet one, is much more pronounced. That said, however, the other vampire's scent is stronger in some places than others. This vampire obviously spent a great deal of time in this room, marking it as its own, but its scent seems to be gathered mostly at the entrance, around the two statues.
>The overall sensation is a little jarring, but not as noticeable as what you felt before. In fact, it's entirely possible you might not have noticed anything out of place, had Shou not asked.
-
>Nod. "To be honest. Had you not asked, I wouldn't have."
>"It would seem that this too was 'his' room. Although, the traces left by the Countess are stronger."
-
>Nod. "To be honest. Had you not asked, I wouldn't have."
>"It would seem that this too was 'his' room. Although, the traces left by the Countess are stronger."
>"Probably because she's been here for so long." Shou speculates. "'Marked her territory', if you'll forgive the analogy." She sighs again. "Hijiri would make sense of this in a minute."
>"If all goes well, you may be able to invite her here once this meeting is done." Honoka suggests.
>"Count on it." Shou says with a nod.
>At this point, the door opens again, and Sloth enters in, lugging a heavy elm table on her own, balanced well enough to accommodate the pair of chairs atop it. Celes and Reisen enter behind her, each carrying a trio of wooden chairs. The trio make short work of setting up the long table next to the one already in place. Well, mostly duo, as Sloth doesn't do a great deal once she plunks the table down. No great surprise there.
>"Thank you, ladies." The Countess says as she sits down at this new table. "Celes, you should mention to Rei that the Scarlet Devil is here, and that she does not need to worry. I don't believe this will end in violence, at least not as far as I go."
>Celes nods. "I'll tell her, but I can't promise she'll believe me without hearing it from you." The others sit down as Celes leaves, you joining her at the longer table along with Reisen and Shou, while Honoka takes a seat across from Reimu.
>Lunasa, however, takes her leave. "I have to tell Merlin the news, and get her back to practice."
>The Countess folds her hands on the table in front of her as she faces you. "Now, then, to the business at hand. If I may ask, though, I would ask your patience for a little while longer, until Tsumiko arrives. She is the Keeper of the Sin Spirits. I had hoped that the three of us, together, might be able to work together to solve the problem here."
-
>Nod, and take a seat as well if we haven't already. Across from the Countess of course. "Quite alright, it gives us a chance to discuss other matters. Such as Rei's training and education."
>Smirk. "As I stated before, she was capable of producing a somewhat flawed copy of one of my own danmaku techniques. That in and of itself is quite impressive really! As such, I have this idea to put forward. Once she has learned what she can from you, she stays at my own abode to further her training and education."
>Smile slightly, in a proud way. "I do not exaggerate when I say that within my mansion's walls lies the largest library of magical and non-magical tomes ever known to man or youkai alike. Even the one here pales in comparison!"
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>Nod, and take a seat as well if we haven't already. Across from the Countess of course. "Quite alright, it gives us a chance to discuss other matters. Such as Rei's training and education."
>Smirk. "As I stated before, she was capable of producing a somewhat flawed copy of one of my own danmaku techniques. That in and of itself is quite impressive really! As such, I have this idea to put forward. Once she has learned what she can from you, she stays at my own abode to further her training and education."
>Smile slightly, in a proud way. "I do not exaggerate when I say that within my mansion's walls lies the largest library of magical and non-magical tomes ever known to man or youkai alike. Even the one here pales in comparison!"
>The Countess smiles a patient smile. "I might have expected that. Rei told me about you, as well. If I may be frank, Scarlet Devil, she's scared of you."
>"Yeah, she does that to folks." Reimu adds laconically, giving Sloth the stink-eye.
>The Countess, not missing a beat due to Reimu's interruption, continues, "Obviously part of that fear is due to her neophyte nature. That is only natural. But your interrogation, shall we say, of Envy at the temple of the Myoren, left a rather profound impression on the poor girl. I am not sure she wishes to spend any time at your home. I mean no slight at that." She assures you, diplomatically. "I merely wished you to know the fact."
-
> Chuckle a bit. "Well, it's part of our nature as vampires to be fearsome in all aspects of our existence, after all. By the end of her time with you, Rei should already be used to it, no?"
> Shrugs. "If not, it would be a good idea to send her to me anyway. A true vampire should never be bound by fear. It simply wouldn't do for her to be afraid of me just because of a little display of my, ah, 'interrogation skills'". Smirk a bit. "After all, creatures of the night like us shouldn't be wary of a little violence, yes?"
(hey, does the Countess have bat wings like Remilia? You didn't mention during her description, but I'm just wondering if you plan on making it a common trait for older vampires or something just Remilia has)
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>Then shrug. "After all, younglings like her hold the potential for all sorts, not just our own race."
(It was stated earlier that she doesn't. Our wings got us mistaken for a demon like Koa.)
-
> Chuckle a bit. "Well, it's part of our nature as vampires to be fearsome in all aspects of our existence, after all. By the end of her time with you, Rei should already be used to it, no?"
> Shrugs. "If not, it would be a good idea to send her to me anyway. A true vampire should never be bound by fear. It simply wouldn't do for her to be afraid of me just because of a little display of my, ah, 'interrogation skills'". Smirk a bit. "After all, creatures of the night like us shouldn't be wary of a little violence, yes?"
>Then shrug. "After all, younglings like her hold the potential for all sorts, not just our own race."
>"I'm sorry, the end of her time here?" she asks. She then shakes her head once. "That notwithstanding, you do raise a good point. As a matter of fact, that is one of the things I had been hoping to find when I came here, that vampires would not be a source of fear, to others or to our own kind."
>Celes reenters at this point, a concerned look upon her face. "I'm afraid I was right, m'lady, Rei was NOT happy about the Scarlet Devil being here, but, I believe she will abide your judgement that she is not here as an enemy. Though you may need to tell her that yourself."
>The Countess nods. "Thank you, Celes." She then regards Sloth and asks politely, "Would you go back to her and aid her in bringing out the tea?"
>"Mmuh." the Sin verbally grunts, rising slowly and trudging back towards the exit. She might be lazy, but at least she listens, unlike your own fairy servants.
>"Getting back to the issue of Rei." the Countess continues, returning to the point at hand. "As we both know, for now, she is still little more than a newborn. Her emotions are not stable. So for the time being, it would be in her best interests to remain here. I'm sure it occured to you that she shouldn't have been out in the world at all, at this point." She frowns a little, despite herself. "Which I'm afraid was another mistake on my part."
>"Do not blame yourself, m'lady." Celes interjects. "None of us noticed she was gone until it was too late."
>"But her status was still my responsibility." the Countess counters. "And it still us. But after that, once she has acclamated herself to our world, then I would feel comfortable giving her the choice of spending some time at your home, Scarlet Devil."
(hey, does the Countess have bat wings like Remilia? You didn't mention during her description, but I'm just wondering if you plan on making it a common trait for older vampires or something just Remilia has)
That's a perfeclty valid question. If you'd like, you can ask it as a command, and I'll give you the whole story.
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>Nod. "Yes, I had noted that. Young vampires are notoriously unstable for the first few years or so."
>Frown slightly. "After all, they were the most commonly-claimed victims of Hunters...And people called us monsters."
>Let out a short, derisive bark of laughter, with hardly any mirth to it. "In our eyes, they were the real monsters."
>Then soften back up a bit. "But at least here, in this land of magic, we can be free. That, is what makes Gensokyo a haven to even those such as we."
>"In time, Rei will acclimate, and be ready to learn proper Vampire Etiquette, among other things."
>Smirk slightly. "After all, I may resemble a child, but I know a thing or two about behaving as befits one of my status."
-
That's a perfectly valid question. If you'd like, you can ask it as a command, and I'll give you the whole story.
(Ah, great! I'll make the question assuming that Remilia sees the wings as being common to elders; if this is not the case I'll change it)
>"Well, with this particular topic resolved, I would like to ask you something that I hope is not too personal. I can see from your servants and estate that you are, like me, a vampire of high class, age, and power. However, you seem to lack some of the signs that would show your status in our society". Spread our wings as far as we can without hitting anyone or anything. "More specifically, you seem to lack wings. Did something happen to them?"
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>Only say that if having wings is normal for vampires. If it's not: why do we have wings?
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>Nod. "Yes, I had noted that. Young vampires are notoriously unstable for the first few years or so."
>Frown slightly. "After all, they were the most commonly-claimed victims of Hunters...And people called us monsters."
>Let out a short, derisive bark of laughter, with hardly any mirth to it. "In our eyes, they were the real monsters."
>The Countess lets out a long breath. "Many of us were deserved of the title of monster, Scarlet Devil." She spreads her arms wide. "We sit in one such example. Once this Keep was a monument to the vileness of but one of our kind. And there were many more like it." Celes takes a step forward, seemingly about to say something, but her mistress silences her with one hand.
>"Is that true?" Kogasa asks her, looking rather disturbed at the thought. "Did people really used to hunt vampires?"
>The Countess nods. "'Better to strangle evil in the cradle, than let it fester and grow', they used to say of those hunts. I spent many centuries on the outside. I cannot say, and mean it, that they were wrong in doing so. Being a vampire is not a guarantee that one will be evil. But when a vampire makes that choice, the evil we are capable of is the stuff of mankind's blackest nightmares." She gives Reimu a look. "But things are not the same here as they are on the outside. If they were, I do not believe I would be here to speak on the matter."
>Then soften back up a bit. "But at least here, in this land of magic, we can be free. That, is what makes Gensokyo a haven to even those such as we."
>"At least NOW." Honoka adds darkly. "Even so recently as a hundred years ago, to mention the name 'vampire' was to conjure terror."
>"You seem somehow familiar to me." The Countess says thoughtfully.
>"She is the Scarlet Flame." Celes answers. "One of the more powerful slaves of the Red Tide, when we were awake before."
>The Countess lowers her head. "I see. Then you too have suffered at the hands of my kind."
>"But no longer. She who held me is no more, and those like her have all but faded from this land."
>"And when folks like grey-hair here start making trouble, fixing it falls into my lap." Reimu grumps. You twitch slightly. 'Grey-hair'....
>The Countess, however, manages a small smile. "Then times have changed. Good. That's what I was hoping to find when I awoke. The fact that it is earlier than expected makes it even better."
>"In time, Rei will acclimate, and be ready to learn proper Vampire Etiquette, among other things."
>Smirk slightly. "After all, I may resemble a child, but I know a thing or two about behaving as befits one of my status."
>"Of that I am sure." the Countess says with a peaceful little smile. "But until that time comes, when Rei grows into her new life, she is my responsibility, totally. If she one day chooses to spend time learning under you, then I'll certainly give her leave to do so. In fact, I'm quite certain there are things you and yours could teach her that she couldn't here. Not the least of which being recent Gensokyo history. After all, by some definitions, we are but new arrivals here."
(Ah, great! I'll make the question assuming that Remilia sees the wings as being common to elders; if this is not the case I'll change it)
>"Well, with this particular topic resolved, I would like to ask you something that I hope is not too personal. I can see from your servants and estate that you are, like me, a vampire of high class, age, and power. However, you seem to lack some of the signs that would show your status in our society". Spread our wings as far as we can without hitting anyone or anything. "More specifically, you seem to lack wings. Did something happen to them?"
>Only say that if having wings is normal for vampires. If it's not: why do we have wings?
Never a bad idea to address a curiousity.
>A vampire having wings is indeed quite normal. Not every vampire has the same wing shape, of course, you and your sister's wings are about as different as night and day. And while not every vampire does have wings, this is the exception, not the rule. Rei had no wings, but they do not always sprout upon transformation. To your knowledge, it came sometimes take as much as a decade for a vampire to sprout wings.
>Some vampires hide their wings, for varying reasons, but for a vampire bearing the title of 'Countess', concealing her wings, especially when in the presence of another vampire or a spellcaster like Reimu, let alone both, would be very odd indeed.
>Celes' face falls flat as you inquire into the Countesses' wings, but the Countess gives her a very slight shake of the head. To you, she says, with an even expression, "When I was turned, my wings sprouted right away. They were not too dissimilar to yours, as a matter of fact, though with a bit more fur. But my... sire," she says the word with a hint of bitterness "decided that I would serve him better without them. So he tore them off. And seared the area with holy water to ensure they would never grow back."
>"That's horrible!" Kogasa cries. Shou's face mirrors the sentiment. Honoka and Reisen, however, do not seem entirely shocked. Nor are you, sadly. Some sires go to great lengths to 'mark' their progeny.
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>Sigh. "Well, at least in this world, flight is still quite accessible even to those not normally capable of it."
>Chuckle. After all, that bear could fly as well! "Also, it's not grey. It's just a very light purple."
>Then fistpalm. "I just had a thought. You can control and shape your vampiric aura, yes? If so, then I see nothing stopping you from making approximations of your old wings. Short of old trauma that is."
>Smirk slightly. "I myself do such a thing when I feel the need to be even more awe-inspiring than usual. This six-wing configuration is not my default form, I simply like it for things such as this. After all, being vampires, we have to have at least some measure of showmanship. One might say that it's 'In The Blood'."
>Then laugh a bit more, in the honest and mirthful way.
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>Sigh. "Well, at least in this world, flight is still quite accessible even to those not normally capable of it."
>Chuckle. After all, that bear could fly as well! "Also, it's not grey. It's just a very light purple."
>Then fistpalm. "I just had a thought. You can control and shape your vampiric aura, yes? If so, then I see nothing stopping you from making approximations of your old wings. Short of old trauma that is."
>Smirk slightly. "I myself do such a thing when I feel the need to be even more awe-inspiring than usual. This six-wing configuration is not my default form, I simply like it for things such as this. After all, being vampires, we have to have at least some measure of showmanship. One might say that it's 'In The Blood'."
>Then laugh a bit more, in the honest and mirthful way.
>Reimu grunts. "Sorry."
>The Countess nods. "It's true, I do have that power. And yes, there was a time when I was traumatized by it, as you suggest. But that was a very long time ago. That pain may be a part of who I am, but it does not define me or restrict me anymore."
>"And you'll find the Countess is a much more understated vampire than any other." Celes says, with a measure of pride in her voice. "Grandiose gestures and shows of power aren't part of her." As she extolls on her mistresses humble nature, you hear the sound of the teleportation circle activate. "Excuse me, that will be Tsumiko." Celes pardons herself and exits the room to meet this Keeper.
>"If I may return to the issue of Rei." Reisen says once Celes is gone. "I'd like to know why you turned her."
>Kogasa, still looking somewhat disturbed at the Countesses description of what happens to her wings, asks you, "Is becoming a vampire bad?"
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>"Some people see it as that, and for a time even I did. But I warmed up to it quite nicely, becoming the person I am now. Those were my unstable years to begin with, so you have to take them with a grain of salt."
>Nod. "At any rate, it won't be much longer until my own affairs are settled I suppose."
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>"Some people see it as that, and for a time even I did. But I warmed up to it quite nicely, becoming the person I am now. Those were my unstable years to begin with, so you have to take them with a grain of salt."
>Nod. "At any rate, it won't be much longer until my own affairs are settled I suppose."
>Kogasa ponders that. "I don't think it should be that bad. There's all kinds of surprises when you become something new." she says with a smile.
>The Countess looks guilty at Reisen's question. "I realize how this is going to sound, but I didn't mean to. You know by now that the seal upon us all was broken prematurely. That caused a dramatic shock to all our systems, but I was hit worse than anyone, due to the nature of my own seal. When I awoke, I was weak, damaged, my mind was hazy and addled. I wasn't myself. I knew I needed blood to recover, and I smelled a human nearby." She pauses, looking away from Reisen's red eyes. "I don't even remember biting her. Celes informed me later that I had passed out after drinking from her."
>She turns her gaze towards you and Reisen. "You have to understand. When I awoke so suddenly, over a century's worth of thirst assaulted me all at once. Instinct was all my mind was capable of acting on. I couldn't control myself."
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>Nod. "Yes, that does tend to happen. I suppose our 'sleeping friend' in an earlier room will likely have the same issue if she too ended up sealed."
>"Ah yes, about that seal. There are a few strange and conflicting stories I've come across regarding that. An Oracle that Reisen and myself met prior to locating this place, a woman by the name of Kyrie, said that the seal was not meant to break for many more years. But according to some of your own followers, the time was a scant two months."
>Steeple our fingers in front of our face in a manner similar to that strange fellow with the shiny glasses did in that one manga we came across. I believe his name was Ikari or something of the like? Quite a clever man really, shame he was only human. "You can understand that I find it rather hard to believe either side of things. I have also heard that you've been rather under the weather of late, which I can only assume to be connected to the seal's premature breaking, in addition to your accumulated hunger."
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>Nod. "Yes, that does tend to happen. I suppose our 'sleeping friend' in an earlier room will likely have the same issue if she too ended up sealed."
>"'Sleeping...?'" The Countess wonders, then nods in realization. "You mean that pink coffin in the guest rooms?"
>"Ah yes, about that seal. There are a few strange and conflicting stories I've come across regarding that. An Oracle that Reisen and myself met prior to locating this place, a woman by the name of Kyrie, said that the seal was not meant to break for many more years. But according to some of your own followers, the time was a scant two months."
>Steeple our fingers in front of our face in a manner similar to that strange fellow with the shiny glasses did in that one manga we came across. I believe his name was Ikari or something of the like? Quite a clever man really, shame he was only human. "You can understand that I find it rather hard to believe either side of things. I have also heard that you've been rather under the weather of late, which I can only assume to be connected to the seal's premature breaking, in addition to your accumulated hunger."
>"It's true, I am not yet at my full strength."
>"She's still got some moves, though." Reimu informs you. "Give her some time, she'll be as good at danmaku as you, Remi."
>"As for the difference in seals, the explanation for that is that I was to sleep for longer than my friends." She gestures towards the door. "Celes and the others were due to awaken in a matter of months, as you say. But I was not to wake for another fifteen years. And the reason for that is that, my friends were to judge the current state of Gensokyo, to see if the times had changed as I had hoped." She cups one hand in another and rests her chin atop them. "When we first came to Gensokyo, we sought nothing more than a peaceful life away from the outside, but Gensokyo was not ready to accept us. So we were made to sleep, until such time as we could find what we sought, and not disrupt Gensokyo."
>She closes her eyes and sighs. "And yet, disrupt Gensokyo is exactly what we have done. And at the moment, we have not the power to set it right ourselves. It will not be long before we are visited by she who sealed us, and we will be judged accordingly." She regards Reimu with the look of one resigned to her fate. "You may be willing to overlook our transgressions and leave us as we are, but I don't believe the same will be said of Yakumo."
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>Shrug. "Well, this time it was unintentional, as has been the case for many newcomers of late."
>Does it seem that Gensokyo is ready for them? "Personally speaking, I would say that once the Sin Spirits that are causing trouble are reined in, things should theoretically be fine. I would think that if one can seal their possession abilities, things should be fine on that end as well. No-doubt Yakumo, or even Hakurei, can perform such a feat if she feels up to the task."
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>"I don't think you have to worry about Yukari. I don't know how she used to be, but these days, she lets Reimu handle any trouble that occurs. She's rather lazy."
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>"I don't think you have to worry about Yukari. I don't know how she used to be, but these days, she lets Reimu handle any trouble that occurs. She's rather lazy."
>"You know of Yakumo?" she asks you, sounding surprised.
>Reisen nods. "Most everyone in Gensokyo does."
>"And Remi's right, too." Reimu grumbles. "For someone who's supposed to watch over Gensokyo's borders and its people, she makes me and that kitsune of hers do pretty much everything. Or tricks someone else into doing her dirty work."
>Shrug. "Well, this time it was unintentional, as has been the case for many newcomers of late."
>Does it seem that Gensokyo is ready for them?
>"Personally speaking, I would say that once the Sin Spirits that are causing trouble are reined in, things should theoretically be fine. I would think that if one can seal their possession abilities, things should be fine on that end as well. No-doubt Yakumo, or even Hakurei, can perform such a feat if she feels up to the task."
>Shou nods her agreement. "Does seem to be a recurring trend."
>In your judgement, you would say that, taking into consideration the circumstances surrounding their arrival, their sealing, their subsequent unsealing, the fact that this incident seems to have been an accident, and the personalities of everyone you've met, they should have no more problem finding acceptance in Gensokyo than you have, though there may be one or two more rough patches ahead. In fact, you'd probably have welcomed them yourself by now, were it not for the outstanding issue of Sakuya.
>"Actually, Tsumiko has that ability now." The Countess informs you. "The problem is that she hasn't recovered enough of her strength to locate the ones still at large in the world. If we could find them, we could reign them in ourselves. But we cannot find them on our own yet, nor did we think anyone would help us before condemning us."
>"Well, you were wrong about that." Shou declares, coming to her feet. "We of the Myoren Temple are promised to help youkai. But even if we weren't, I know that our temple head, Byrakuren, would want to help you, and so do I."
>"And so do I." adds Reisen.
>"Me too!" Kogasa pronounces, then sticks her tongue out slightly. "But I've never hunted a Sin before."
>As the Countess processes this sudden and unexpected declaration of aid offered her, Celes reenters the throne room, and you feel a slight surge in anticipation. She's supposed to have this Tsumiko in tow, and you've been wanting to have words with her for some time. The woman that enters behind Celes, however, is not quite what you were expecting. The blonde woman with the bright red eyes takes your breath away to behold her. She looks, for all the world, like a combination of the best aspects of Reimu and Flandre. Her short blonde hair is tied with two tubes like Reimu's, and she has a very long ponytail tied on the left side of her head. A lovely black ribbon is tied around her delicate throat. Her clothes almost mirror Reimu's, complete with her trademarked detached sleeves, but the skirt is a bit shorter, displaying just a hint of the legs it conceals. Her sleeves are also a light purple, and have little hearts stitched around the top and bottom. She even has Flandre's wings, though her crystals seem brighter, thicker, than your sisters, and they have alternative symbols set deep in them; a heart, a diamond, a club and a spade. Four of a Kind.
>There is another woman that enters alongside this one, but frankly, you can't seem to take your eyes off the winged beauty. Something about her makes your pulse race. Which is very impressive, considering you're not supposed to HAVE a pulse.
-
>That... can't just be a coincidence, can it?
>Say softly to whoever's nearest us: "This may sound like a strange question, but can you describe her to me? I want to be sure you're seeing the same thing I am."
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>That... can't just be a coincidence, can it?
>Say softly to whoever's nearest us: "This may sound like a strange question, but can you describe her to me? I want to be sure you're seeing the same thing I am."
>Reisen is sitting next to you, so you lean over and whisper your question to her. The lunar rabbit replies, "This might sound weird, but, she looks like sort of like Reimu with blonde hair and really weird wings."
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>"It isn't just me, then. In additions to Reimu, she looks a great deal like my sister. Enough that I have to wonder why."
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>"It isn't just me, then. In additions to Reimu, she looks a great deal like my sister. Enough that I have to wonder why."
>Wonder though you may, you can't say you don't enjoy the sight. Some people have accused you of being childish in more ways than appearance, but to see this gorgeous being before you is dredging up feelings you haven't felt in... Well, you really can't remember when.
>The beautiful girl turns her light red eyes upon you, and smiles in your direction. You think you feel your heart skip a beat.
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>Focus. There's some power at work here.
>"Greetings. I am Remilia Scarlet."
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>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.
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>Focus.
>"And you would be...?"
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>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!
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>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."
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>"Please do. It's... disturbing."
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>"Not to mention rather...confusing."
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>"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.
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>"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."
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>"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.
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>"What do you mean?"
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>"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."
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>"Take me to her."
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>"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?"
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>"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.
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>"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."
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>"I appreciate the warning."
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>"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."
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>"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."
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>Open the door.
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>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.
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>"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."
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>"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.
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>"I must ask, though: why did you remain here? Why did you not return?"
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>Shake it off. It may be Sakuya, but not the Sakuya we know and treasure.
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>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."
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>"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.
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>"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.
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>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."
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>"Even if you remain in control, what you are doing will no doubt change you in some way, and I don't want that."
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>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."
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>"...Sakuya. This is the only time your judgement has ever been flawed. Cease this foolishness now....."
>Look away with an expression of anger, turmoil, and regret. "...Before I have to make you."
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>"Unfortunately, there are other considerations. Most notably, after how upset I was at the thought that someone might have taken you, I don't want to do the same and take someone away from another. Or allow one of mine to do so."
>"It's also worth considering that I desire cordial relations with the Cobalt Countess and her people. If you consume Pride, you will greatly sour that relationship."
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>"Unfortunately, there are other considerations. Most notably, after how upset I was at the thought that someone might have taken you, I don't want to do the same and take someone away from another. Or allow one of mine to do so."
>"It's also worth considering that I desire cordial relations with the Cobalt Countess and her people. If you consume Pride, you will greatly sour that relationship."
>Sakuya smiles at your words. "Your heart has always been grander than others have accredited you. It has been my pride to see that shine, and I am proud to see it now."
>"That is indeed a note worth considering." Sakuya admits. "However, I believe it will pass. They may be upset for a time, but it will not endure. In fact, I believe there are many in this Keep who would thank me. You see, the spirit of Pride is not well liked among its peers. I know that there is more than one that would be quite happy to see it gone. This favor I do for them may even aid the relationship between yourself and they."
>"...Sakuya. This is the only time your judgement has ever been flawed. Cease this foolishness now....."
>Look away with an expression of anger, turmoil, and regret. "...Before I have to make you."
>Sakuya smiles, a knowing, tolerant smile. "Ojou-sama, I'm very sorry, but you can't. No one in this world knows my power better than you do. Under normal circumstances, I am nearly your equal in might. Now that I have Pride's power under my command, I am stronger than you. I am stronger than anyone in Gensokyo. And I shall become even more powerful once Pride has been completely subsumed. And I shall do this for you." she finishes with a fluid bow. "I desire nothing more than to be the pinnacle of perfection. I demand nothing less from myself, and you, as the perfect master, deserve no less."
>"And, ojou-sama..." She rises, and her eyes bore into yours. "Once I consume Pride, its agelessness will be mine. Which means that I will never leave you."
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>The others are still here, right?
>"Well, let us ask them."
>Turn to face them.
>"What would your feelings be were Sakuya to fully consume Pride?"
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>The others are still here, right?
>"Well, let us ask them."
>Turn to face them.
>"What would your feelings be were Sakuya to fully consume Pride?"
>They are, and have been observing.
>Celes appears troubled. "Your servant does actually have a point to consider, from my perspective as Steward. Of the Seven Sins, Pride and Wrath have always been the most disruptive." She spares a glance at Tsumiko. "That isn't to say you haven't done your job as their Keeper, but you know better than anyone what those two are like. Lust knows her boundaries and when and where to have her fun. Pride and Wrath do not."
>Tsumiko seems troubled by her colleagues words, and pulls her hood up slowly. The gesture makes her seem vulnerable, somehow. "Being free of any of the Sins is something I've..." she trails off, then walks a few steps away from you, contemplating.
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>Turn back to Sakuya.
>"Personally, I have no objections to you keeping Pride. And as for the other concerns, well, it seems as though this may be less complicated than I thought. Let's let Tsumiko consider the idea."
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>Drain the parser dry if he doesn't update soon.
>Has anything Sakuya has said or done during this conversation been out-of-character for her?
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> "Ah, but, Sakuya..." Look her in the eyes. "You were always so very adamant about keeping your mortality. I'm hurt that you'd rather achieve agelessness this way instead of letting me turn you!" Wait for her reaction, and laugh a bit if she takes it seriously.
> Remember Yakumo's role in the story. "Oh, I do wonder what Yukari will say about this. She was the one that sealed these folk in the first place."
> Shrug, then smirk. "Not that the old hag's opinion matters, of course. We'll certainly best her if we need to!"
> Let's play along for now. Words are not working on her, and trying to violently remove Pride from her could do real damage to Sakuya, seeing how close the spirit is to fusing with her. As hateful as it is to depend on that hag, maybe Yukari will be able to separate them with no drawbacks. Let's just try and distract her to slow the absortion process down...
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>"Personally, I have no objections to you keeping Pride. And as for the other concerns, well, it seems as though this may be less complicated than I thought. Let's let Tsumiko consider the idea."
>BELAY!
We're gonna make sure she's her usual self dammit.
> Shrug, then smirk. "Not that the old hag's opinion matters, of course. We'll certainly best her if we need to!"
>Also Belay.
>Did Sakuya say anything about that vial of prepared blood when she gave it to us? Like say, specifying the individual source?
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(I still think we should cater to her pride, maybe that'll make Pride stronger and harder to be absorved. If not, it could at least avoid a unnecessary confrontation with her)
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Ooooor it'll make her hasten, which nobody but GYMO seems to want.
The way I see it, if it does come to a fight, that'll force her to split her focus two ways. Absorbing Pride, and fighting us.
And if we can somehow knock her out, or get some of her blood, we can have Pride removed by either having Tsumiko pull Pride free, or use her blood to force an alteration to her fate that says she'll release Pride.
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I'd rather she keep Pride (and yes, I've taken possible mental alterations into account; I was thinking of taking a trip underground to see Satori), but it doesn't look like you guys will accept that.
Nobody else ever wants the fun optons.
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Damn right I won't accept it. It might sound fun on paper man, but what you deem fun can often be different from what others find 'fun'.
Also, it's damn OOC to just sit and let Sakuya throw away her mortality like that. I won't let you let her do that.
That might fly in some other quest or what have you, but not with me.
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It's just that, what if Sakuya actually IS stronger than Remilia now? I we get knocked out, who knows what'll happen. It might just be the boost she needs to finish eating Pride up.
I wouldn't mind terribly having Sakuya actually suceed in absorbing Pride; it could lead to an interesting route. She succeeds at it, changes drastically, and we would have to team up with the Countess's group to find a way to fix the situation.
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No. No. Just No. Nonononononono. I am against that. Very, very against that.
Interesting perhaps, but no. I'll take it to PMs.
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Eh, well. I'm just not seeing we solving this with words or violence against Sakuya. Unless Pride is actually far weaker than it seems and Sakuya's talk was all empty boosting caused by a much increased pride in herself.
> *wait warmly for Sourfang to continue story*
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There's other means. If that blood in the vial is from who I suspect...Then we've had the key to resolving this all along.
After all, you aren't often given a completely useless item, outside of clothing in Z-Machines, but even those end up important too. And given how the description listed it as "Specially-Prepared by Sakuya", I have a hunch that what's in there isn't just the blood of some average joe. But rather, a means of 'nudging' certain 'threads' in the correct direction.
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I was more thinking along the lines of determining what changes this is even having to Sakuya, and if her mind is unaffected (which the visit to Satori would tell us), just let her do it (and if the blood is indeed Sakuya's, we could influence her fate to help her mind remain unchanged).
As for the other two options, I'd prefer Hanzo's over yours, Sagus.
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I still do NOT want her absorbing Pride. There's an old saying. "You can't improve upon perfection".
So I won't permit her going through with it. What's I've been getting at with what I've said to her is that she does not need to change.
Absorbing Pride can't be changed by a simple "Oh hey, let's just remove the mental effects with Satori's help!" It doesn't work that way.
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I was more thinking along the lines of determining what changes this is even having to Sakuya, and if her mind is unaffected (which the visit to Satori would tell us), just let her do it (and if the blood is indeed Sakuya's, we could influence her fate to help her mind remain unchanged).
I do not see the problem with this. If her mind IS unaffected, then what would it matter? I shall back GYMO and say it's fine for Sakuya to absorb Pride if possible without severe complications.
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You too man?
No. no. If she does this man, she loses what we saw in her. That proud, HUMAN spirit.
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Eh... er...
I'm not seeing it. What would be special about a human spirit? Is it in fact established that she'll lose it? That's why we need to investigate.
If there are no ill effects at all, then it won't cause harm in any way, now would it? We can always decide to deny it when we know more.
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It would also cause problems in keeping cordial relations with the Cobalt House.
Imagine it this way.
Noble A: "Oh hey, Noble B. How's things? I brought my Chief X along today."
Noble B: "...The one who ate one of my servants..Yes.."
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Which is exactly why we are going to listen to Tsumiko and the Countess to see what it means to them. Only then can we discard the possibility and not a moment sooner. Makes no sense to discount because of causes that might not even exist.
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It still doesn't sit right with me. For reasons I've detailed in that PM I sent you.
Hell, I've sent just about everyone something of the like.
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At the very least, let's see what Tsumiko's opinion of the whole thing is. If she says 'no', the rest doesn't really matter anyways.
>Give Tsumiko time to consider the idea, and wait to hear what she says.
EDIT: You know, we may not even need Satori to know if there's an effect on Sakuya's mind. Reading Sakuya's fate may tell us what we want to know.
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Regardless of what she says though, I'm not about to roll over and let Sakuya absorb Pride.
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It may simply come down to a vote.
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Well, here's my vote.
NO.
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We'll let Tsumiko voice her opinion of the idea, then vote (so update please, Sour. I think this issue is at a halt until you do).
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>Has anything Sakuya has said or done during this conversation been out-of-character for her?
>On the surface, she seems pretty much like Sakuya. But she's been a bit too formal, too polite. Sakuya always addresses you properly, but never quite THIS properly. She's almost TOO formal, as though she takes measured pride in every statement, every syllable chosen to convey herself as the ultimate maid of Remilia Scarlet. She was never so exacting.
> "Ah, but, Sakuya..." Look her in the eyes. "You were always so very adamant about keeping your mortality. I'm hurt that you'd rather achieve agelessness this way instead of letting me turn you!" Wait for her reaction, and laugh a bit if she takes it seriously.
> Remember Yakumo's role in the story. "Oh, I do wonder what Yukari will say about this. She was the one that sealed these folk in the first place."
> Let's play along for now. Words are not working on her, and trying to violently remove Pride from her could do real damage to Sakuya, seeing how close the spirit is to fusing with her. As hateful as it is to depend on that hag, maybe Yukari will be able to separate them with no drawbacks. Let's just try and distract her to slow the absortion process down...
>She does in fact take it seriously. Her sense of humor never WAS all that good, though Meiling tries. Usually gets knifed for her efforts, but she tries. Pride may have improved her in some ways, but her sense of humor doesn't seem to have been one of them.
>"Defying the passage of time upon my body in this way will not inhibit my ability to serve while the sun shines."
>"Taking into consideration the previous examples Yukari Yakumo has set, I would not expect her to say a great deal."
>Give Tsumiko time to consider the idea, and wait to hear what she says.
>The cowled youth paces back and forth as she ponders the issue. Dread, hope, excitement... Many emotions play across the young girl's face as she considers the possibility of being rid of Pride.
>Sakuya, however, interrupts her reverie. "You speak, ojou-sama, as though they had a choice in the matter. It is a testament to your generosity that you would consider the possibility, but neither they, nor you, have any control over the matter. Pride is fading, as we speak. I will not relinquish it, and none of you have the power to force it out of me. It is my recommendation, my lady, that you return to the mansion before sunrise. I shall return quite soon, and my service to you can resume, in ways better than I have ever achieved before."
Updates are going to be a bit more sporadic over the next couple of weeks, folks. Christmas hours start at work tonight, that'll take a lot of good out of Sour.
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>"I fear that what you are doing may have some detrimental effect on you, either now or at a later date. Of course, there is a way to know if this will happen. Allow me to read your fate, Sakuya. We will see what effects there might be."
>"And I do still want to hear your opinion on the matter, Tsumiko."
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"Even if I may be powerless to change those effects, it can not hurt to know."
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>Don't say that part. We'll address that issue if it comes up.
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Ah, but has it not already? She already said that we have no choice or power in the matter.
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She was talking about getting her to release Pride (and I think she was thinking of this in a combat sense). I'm talking about effects retaining Pride may have on her, and whether or not we can avoid any that may arise through manipulating her fate.
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We are not letting Sakuya absorb Pride. Bottom line.
>Stride over to her and deliver a sharp slap. "You as you have been is perfect enough. You do not need to do this."
Trust me, I know what I'm doing.
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GYMO: fair enough, go on ahead.
Hanzo: I don't doubt your skill at being in character, but at the end of the day your opinion is just that, an opinion. And so far you haven't (to me anyway) satisfactorily proven it to be superior to the opinion of two (three?) other people combined. Besides, it's information! We aren't locking ourselves into anything quite yet. I see no reason to go on the aggressive without knowing anything.
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It's not aggression entirely, I'm trying to slap some sense into her.
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You're outvoted for the time being, Hanzo. Thus:
>Stride over to her and deliver a sharp slap. "You as you have been is perfect enough. You do not need to do this."
>Don't do this yet.
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It's not aggression entirely, I'm trying to slap some sense into her.
Okay, maybe not entirely motivated out of aggression, but it makes it quite clear that we think the idea is nonsensical - which is only your opinion. And I am still not saying it's wrong - we just can't know yet. For that we need to ask questions first and shoot (or not) later.
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While I'm against her absorbing Pride, I agree with the others that it's best not to provoke her with violence yet. I don't see Sakuya responding well to a slap, specially not with the way she's now.
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>Did Sakuya say anything about that vial of prepared blood when she gave it to us? Like say, specifying the individual source?
>Every once in a while, Sakuya used to outsource her blood bank, to borrow the expression. But she's almost never done that since you arrived in Genoskyo. You are 99% certain the blood in the vial is hers.
>"I fear that what you are doing may have some detrimental effect on you, either now or at a later date. Of course, there is a way to know if this will happen. Allow me to read your fate, Sakuya. We will see what effects there might be."
>"And I do still want to hear your opinion on the matter, Tsumiko."
>Sakuya bows in obedience. "As you command, ojou-sama." She straightens and continues, "But permit me to give you a cautionary word. You will have to adjust your powers to compensate for the fact that I am changing. I suggest you examine the fate of 'your head maid' rather than 'Sakuya Izayoi'.
>The Keeper of the Sins lets out a long contemplative sigh, then raises her hand to her chest, the stripe on her eye changing color to pink. A coil of pink light emerges from her body, resolving itself into the figure of Lust to stand before Tsumiko.
>"Is this really what I want?" Tsumiko asks the Sin standing before her. "I mean, would we all really be better off if Pride faded like-"
>Lust quiets her Keeper by placing her finger gently over Tsumiko's lips, smiling a kind smile. "You know the question you really need to ask yourself. I can say it, if you desire, but you know what I would say."
>Tsumiko exhales once, shortly, a small smile slowly appearing on her face. "Yeah. I know. I know." she repeats for emphasis, before raising her head, taking a breath, and addressing you, "Not like this. Even if I wanted to be free of Pride- of ANY of the Sins- I wouldn't do it at the expense of someone else. If we don't separate Pride from Sakuya, they'll BOTH be gone. The woman you know will cease to exist. I don't know who or what would be left in her place, but the woman you know as Sakuya Izayoi would be gone. I can't let that happen, I couldn't live with myself if I let that happen."
>Lust looks upon her Keeper with a proud face as Celes lays her hand comfortingly on Tsumiko's shoulder. "Perhaps we should return to the Countess." Celes suggests. "We had hoped that hearing your command would change Sakuya's mind. Obviously, that's not gone well. We need a new plan. We've had ideas of our own for how to seperate the two, but most of them carry risk. And we didn't want to take those risks without speaking to you about them first."
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Well, there you have it. GM proof that it's not a good thing. (Tsumiko's spoken against letting Sakuya absorb Pride. And I have info from Sour himself that also says it's a bad thing.)
>Well, let's pull out the vial and see if she reacts to it. If it's an alarmed or surprised one, then we know it's hers.
>And if that works, we'll use the whole thing in an effort to find the fate of our treasured Head Maid, and then alter it so she expels Pride within the minute!
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>"Go, then. I will stay here."
>Once they leave: "Now that they're gone, let's proceed with examining your fate."
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>"Go, then. I will stay here."
>Once they leave: "Now that they're gone, let's proceed with examining your fate."
>Tsumiko and Celes exchange a quick look. After a quick nod from the Steward, Tsumiko heads back the way you came. Lust takes a long look at Sakuya before following her Keeper.
Celes, however, remains, though she does back a few steps away from you. Taking into account her title, she probably considers the safety of the Keep guests hers, and will stick around just in case Sakuya gets aggressive. So be it. You've had an audience before, and this one seems willing to give you your space to work.
>Sakuya inclines her head just the right way. "I await your examination, ojou-sama."
>Well, let's pull out the vial and see if she reacts to it. If it's an alarmed or surprised one, then we know it's hers.
>And if that works, we'll use the whole thing in an effort to find the fate of our treasured Head Maid, and then alter it so she expels Pride within the minute!
>Sakuya does not react at all to the sight of your emergency blood supply. You are now certain it is hers.
>And with little further ado, you clutch the thing tightly in your hands and focus your powers over fate like they've never been focused before. Sakuya may be possessed, but she was right in that her fate isn't where it should be. It, like her, is changing, but you aren't about to let that stop you.
>After what seems like a very long time, you finally discover the line of fate belonging to the person in front of you. And just as well, too, you were starting to get a headache, which is odd. But then again, you've never tried to read the fate of someone who is, for all intents and purposes, two people at once. And this lifeline is very strange to behold, as well. It is hazy, a dull jumble of subdued colors overlapping and intertwining each other, camouflaged against a background of swirling mists.
>As you touch this line of fate, you flinch and wince, as the touch produces a queer kind of shock that runs up your arm. You ignore it, and start pushing on the lifeline. It feels as though you've got a grip around a live electrical wire that has barbs wrapped around it. And only only that, it resists your efforts to change its course. The blood in the vial begins to boil as you focus your pained efforts through it.
>"Ojou-sama, I must insist you stop trying to change my fate." Sakuya says suddenly, her concern for you obvious. "You will only injure yourself if you persist."
-
>"Sorry, but I can't afford to stop, otherwise I'll lose the you that is important."
>Keep pressing onward! It isn't in our nature to let something like pain stop us when those important to us are on the line!
>Re-split the two fates! We might like subtlety now, but there's a time and a place for that!
-
>"Sorry, but I can't afford to stop, otherwise I'll lose the you that is important."
>Keep pressing onward! It isn't in our nature to let something like pain stop us when those important to us are on the line!
>Re-split the two fates! We might like subtlety now, but there's a time and a place for that!
>This may be a unique kind of pain, but it's nothing compared to the thought of losing the Sakuya you hold dear. So you endure and bear down upon the lifeline before you.
>The strand of fate stubbornly resists your efforts. Not only can you sense the strange distortion caused by the mixture of the two beings fates, but you can feel Sakuya's will fighting you. The same pride that caused her to overwhelm an incarnation of pride itself is now fighting your efforts to separate her from that Sin.
>"I beg, you, ojou-sama, stop what you're doing." Sakuya says urgently, falling to her knees in supplication. "You will permanently damage yourself if you do not stop."
-
>"Only if you keep resisting me. Any harm that comes to me from this will be your doing, not mine."
>Don't stop.
-
>Keep pushing! Separate the two fates, it's not in our nature to give up like this!
>"The only way to make me stop, is to give up on absorbing Pride."
-
>"Only if you keep resisting me. Any harm that comes to me from this will be your doing, not mine."
>Don't stop.
>Keep pushing! Separate the two fates, it's not in our nature to give up like this!
>"The only way to make me stop, is to give up on absorbing Pride."
>Sakuya returns to her feet, regret on her face. "You are mistaken, ojou-sama." she says quietly, and raises her hand. The blood in the vial, which had been bubbling and boiling, suddenly stills. The blood turns darker and coagulates fully into a solid form. But it doesn't stop, and starts to vanish. In the span of no more than three seconds, the blood vanishes completely. Your link to Sakuya's fate severs, your material focus now gone.
>"What just happened?" Celes demands.
>"I accelerated the aging of the blood in that vial, until it was indistinguishable from the dust of the air." Sakuya inclines her head to you again. "I apologize, ojou-sama, for taking so long to complete the process. Next time will take only one second."
-
>"Sakuya. I order you to cease this at once. I cannot consider you my most loyal and trusted servant anymore if you continue."
>What sort of hold do we have on her?
-
>"Sakuya. I order you to cease this at once. I cannot consider you my most loyal and trusted servant anymore if you continue."
>What sort of hold do we have on her?
>"Ojou-sama, I humbly suggest you sit down for a while. I know that exerting that kind of effort with your powers is quite harmful to you. I can see the ache in your body."
>Define 'hold'.
-
>"It's your own doing, Sakuya. Before absorbing Pride, you never would have resisted me in such a manner. You would never have dreamed of disobeying me. Now, you are disobeying me. This alone prooves that you are changing, that you are no longer my Sakuya. If you truly wish to serve me, return yourself to your previous state, because as you are now, I have no desire to have you as a servant. I want my Sakuya, not the person who stands before me now."
-
>"It's your own doing, Sakuya. Before absorbing Pride, you never would have resisted me in such a manner. You would never have dreamed of disobeying me. Now, you are disobeying me. This alone prooves that you are changing, that you are no longer my Sakuya. If you truly wish to serve me, return yourself to your previous state, because as you are now, I have no desire to have you as a servant. I want my Sakuya, not the person who stands before me now."
>Sakuya smiles at you, a knowing, tolerant smile. "Ojou-sama, I truly understand how you feel. I understand the anguish you are feeling now, and for that, I am sorry. But you are not presently thinking rationally. Your emotions are clouding your judgements. In all the years I have served you, has my judgement ever failed you? Have I ever made a decision that I felt was in your best interests, and been wrong? Each time I have gone against your will, I have done so reluctantly, but I have always done so with your best interests at heart. I realize fully that the idea of this situation is hard for you to take, truly, I do. But you will see that I am correct. And I shall fill your days with service beyond even what I dreamed was possible. There shall be nothing I cannot do for you."
>"And," she adds, "nothing I cannot do for your sister."
-
>Right, then. Talking to her isn't working. Time to change the game.
>Approach her.
>"I'm afraid you've given me cause to doubt your loyalty. In addition to your disobediance, you came perilously close to threatening me earlier. I will have to ask for proof that you will continue to serve me loyally."
>"What you need to do is quite simple. You must merely make no attempt to resist what I am about to do."
>Once we've reached her, bite her and drink. Don't take enough to harm her, though.
>As we drink, use the blood of hers that is now within us as a catalyst for our fate manipulation (if we can't do that, then let some stain our clothing like what gave us our title of 'Scarlet Devil', and use that instead. But try to use the blood we drink first). Having her blood within us may act as an aid in such an endevour. And even if it doesn't, using blood that's within us prevents Sakuya from destroying it like she did the blood in the vial. It's also blood taken since Pride's posession attempt, and thus likely has a stronger connection to Sakuya as she is now than the old blood did.
>Manipulate fate to seperate Pride from Sakuya.
>Another possibility is that Pride will be able to use the connection of our drinking from Sakuya to escape from her into us. If this happens, let Pride into us. We take enough pride in what we are to defeat it ourselves and force it out of us if it refuses to leave us willingly.
-
Only problem is, we've been told by a Sin Spirit that they can't seem to get into a Vampire.
-
Well, then I guess that possibility isn't what'll happen.
-
I just hope this works.
-
>Right, then. Talking to her isn't working. Time to change the game.
>Approach her.
>"I'm afraid you've given me cause to doubt your loyalty. In addition to your disobediance, you came perilously close to threatening me earlier. I will have to ask for proof that you will continue to serve me loyally."
>"What you need to do is quite simple. You must merely make no attempt to resist what I am about to do."
>Once we've reached her, bite her and drink. Don't take enough to harm her, though.
>As we drink, use the blood of hers that is now within us as a catalyst for our fate manipulation (if we can't do that, then let some stain our clothing like what gave us our title of 'Scarlet Devil', and use that instead. But try to use the blood we drink first). Having her blood within us may act as an aid in such an endevour. And even if it doesn't, using blood that's within us prevents Sakuya from destroying it like she did the blood in the vial. It's also blood taken since Pride's posession attempt, and thus likely has a stronger connection to Sakuya as she is now than the old blood did.
>Manipulate fate to seperate Pride from Sakuya.
>Another possibility is that Pride will be able to use the connection of our drinking from Sakuya to escape from her into us. If this happens, let Pride into us. We take enough pride in what we are to defeat it ourselves and force it out of us if it refuses to leave us willingly.
>Sakuya looks wounded, for a moment. "I did not deserve that, ojou-sama. But I forgive you. I understand, you are upset. Emotional. But you will understand."
>Although she speaks, she makes no movement as you approach her. Not even as you bring your fangs to bear upon her. The sensation seems almost nostalgic, it's been many years since last you drank straight from the vein. But this is for a good cause- No, the best of causes. So you sink your fangs into Sakuya's jugular vein.
>Or... at least try to. But her skin resists your teeth. In fact, her skin feels as hard as a rock. And you can't hear her breathing anymore. You pull your head back and look at her. She is standing as still as though she were cast in stone. Her eyes are unblinking, her hair unmoving, you can't even detect a twitch in her muscles. Even her smell has vanished. As though she were frozen in time.
-
>Take a couple steps back.
>If time resumes for her: "That, unfortunately, counts as resisting me. I do understand the reflexive desire to protect one's self from harm, though, so I am willing to give you a second chance."
-
>Take a couple steps back.
>If time resumes for her: "That, unfortunately, counts as resisting me. I do understand the reflexive desire to protect one's self from harm, though, so I am willing to give you a second chance."
>Your maid remains, unfortunately, frozen. You hope that means she isn't making any more progress at absorbing Pride, but on the other hand, your making progress with her just got harder.
-
>Has anything interfered with her time-manipulation abilities in the past?
>Does her pocketwatch have any connection to her abilities?
-
>Has anything interfered with her time-manipulation abilities in the past?
>Does her pocketwatch have any connection to her abilities?
>Other time-manipulators, for one, either through magic or natural talent. She also doesn't have full control in times of great exhaustion or injury. A particle known as a 'tachyon' can also disrupt her powers, it's been speculated according to some writings on the outside world, but where you'd get those is beyond you. She had speculated that Eirin, with her sealing powers, may have been able to, but she never demonstrated the ability during your confrontation with her.
>As far as you understand, her pocketwatch acts as a sort of focus and/or amplifier for her powers. It grants her a level of refinement over her powers she doesn't have on her own, and reduces the strain it puts on her body.
-
>A trip to Eientei may be in order, then. First, however...
>Attempt to take the pocketwatch out of her pocket (or wherever she keeps it). If we succeed at doing so, examine the pocketwatch closely.
-
>A trip to Eientei may be in order, then. First, however...
>Attempt to take the pocketwatch out of her pocket (or wherever she keeps it). If we succeed at doing so, examine the pocketwatch closely.
>Speculating about recruiting Eirin, you reach into her top pocket, when she keeps her silver pocketwatch. and attempt to pry it loose. It, like the rest of her, is stuck in time, and resists your most tenacious efforts.
-
>Turn to Celes.
>"This could be a problem."
-
>"I don't suppose you know anyone who can also interfere with the flow of time?"
-
>Turn to Celes.
>"This could be a problem."
>The Steward steps into the room and looks Sakuya up and down. "What did she do?"
>"I don't suppose you know anyone who can also interfere with the flow of time?"
>"The flow of time?" she asks, obviously puzzled.
-
>"Sakuya's unique ability is that she can stop, slow, and accelerate the flow of time. It seems that in her muddled state of mind, she froze herself in time. We'll need another time manipulator, or something called a 'tachyon', to pull her and pride free."
-
>"Sakuya's unique ability is that she can stop, slow, and accelerate the flow of time. It seems that in her muddled state of mind, she froze herself in time. We'll need another time manipulator, or something called a 'tachyon', to pull her and pride free."
>Celes, however, does not seem convinced of that. "I find it hard to believe she'd do that, not without a way to restore herself. You heard her devotion, and I can tell you it was genuine, if a bit.. extreme." She walks up to stand in front of Sakuya, looking into her frozen eyes. "I think she froze herself so you wouldn't try to hurt yourself anymore. Or force her to fight you anymore."
-
>Sigh in an irritated way. "Such a troublesome girl...I only wanted her to remain as she is, not this foolish bid to gain more power. 'You cannot improve upon perfection', as they say."
-
>Sigh in an irritated way. "Such a troublesome girl...I only wanted her to remain as she is, not this foolish bid to gain more power. 'You cannot improve upon perfection', as they say."
>"It isn't all her fault." Celes says, giving Sakuya a pat on the shoulder. "I think you were right when you said she and I had a lot in common. I saw how she looked at you. I know I've looked at the Countess that way myself, so I can guess into her mind. She probably WAS content with who, and what, she was, but Pride's presence took her nature and turned it up to the utmost level. In her mind, I think she's completely convinced that this is what's best for you, that what her new powers and station could offer you is far more important than the person she was."
>Celes steps away from Sakuya, a small smile on her face, and turns her eyes to look at you. "I may not have the right to ask this, but, try not to be too upset with her once we get her back to normal. She really does believe she's doing this for you. At least, that's what I think."
-
>Nod with a slight smile. "Of course. All I wanted to do afterwards was a light slap, nothing too serious. Just a little something to remind her that I was terribly worried about her."
>Pause.
>"Do you think Tsumiko could extract Pride with her like this?"
-
>Nod with a slight smile. "Of course. All I wanted to do afterwards was a light slap, nothing too serious. Just a little something to remind her that I was terribly worried about her."
>Pause.
>"Do you think Tsumiko could extract Pride with her like this?"
>"She knows." Celes ventures to say. "Of that I am sure."
>"That, I am less sure of." she says as she turns to look at Sakuya again. "I have never encountered a being frozen in time before. At least, not like this, and not by their own will. But it might be worth a try. If Pride is not frozen as Sakuya herself is, it might be possible."
-
>Nod. "Well, shall we try then? If that doesn't work, I have a backup plan. Would you mind fetching her and the others for me? I'll remain here and monitor Sakuya's condition, as her employer should."
-
>"In case Tsumiko cannot do anything, be sure to bring Reimu as well. As a shrine maiden, she may well be able to exorcise Pride. This would be against Sakuya's will instead of against the possessing spirit's will, as is the norm, but it may still work. I'm not sure why the idea did not occur to me sooner."
Yeah, not sure why it took me so long to think of that one.
-
I covered that with the 'and the others' part though. Reimu is meant to be included in that.
-
>Nod. "Well, shall we try then? If that doesn't work, I have a backup plan. Would you mind fetching her and the others for me? I'll remain here and monitor Sakuya's condition, as her employer should."
>"In case Tsumiko cannot do anything, be sure to bring Reimu as well. As a shrine maiden, she may well be able to exorcise Pride. This would be against Sakuya's will instead of against the possessing spirit's will, as is the norm, but it may still work. I'm not sure why the idea did not occur to me sooner."
>"The Countess and the others may have come up with another idea, as well." Celes offers. "I shall bring Reimu and the others." She offers you a short, measured bow and departs, leaving you alone with the frozen form of your maid.
>Her features now seem to lack the subtle changes you noticed before, as though, in unhinging herself from time, she restored herself to her previous form. You wish that were true. Having a moment completely to yourself, which you've really lacked for nearly the whole of the evening, you try to settle your mind and emotions. This is not an easy prospect. Sakuya has, on rare occasion, gone against your orders before, but never anything like this. There was a moment there when you felt she was slipping away from you, and that thought makes you very angry, but also very disturbed. If you're honest with yourself, this silver-haired human may be the most important person in your life who doesn't share your last name. It isn't the emotion of 'love', but she's much more than just a friend and employee. And come hell or high water, if it takes Reimu, Eirin, the Countess and her minions or all of the above and more beyond, you will have your Sakuya BACK.
>A few minutes later, it is not Reimu, Tsumiko or even Celes that looks around the door into the room, but Reisen. "The others will be along in a minute or two." she explains as you give her a puzzled frown. "The Countess wanted a word with Tsumiko-san and Reimu." Reisen walks into the room slowly, looking Sakuya up and down. "I thought I might be able to do something, like I did for that man back in the village possessed by Gluttony. But with Sakuya-san like this, I don't even think my powers can reach her. How long can she stay like this?"
-
>Do we know?
-
>Do we know?
>You do not. Sakuya has never demonstrated this ability before.
-
>"I'm not certain, to be honest. She has never done this before. Troublesome..."
>Up to what slowing of time is she usually capable?
-
>"There are two ways we could force her out of this though. Either find another Time Manipulator, which I believe the princess you serve could fall under. Or, obtain a 'Tachyon' to momentarily put her power 'on the fritz', as it were."
(That bit about Kaguya is a reference to IN itself, and how she uses her own power to return time to it's normal flow.)
-
>"I'm not certain, to be honest. She has never done this before. Troublesome..."
>Up to what slowing of time is she usually capable?
>Sakuya is capable of slowing time, up to and including freezing time completely, in an area around her, either in an isolated location, or locations, or in the whole of that area of effect. Some people believe that she can most faster than time, but this is merely the impression she creates. While she DOES have the ability to speed up time as well, she doesn't employ it as often as slowing time.
>"Well, hopefully it won't last forever." Reisen says, trying to sound supportive.
>"There are two ways we could force her out of this though. Either find another Time Manipulator, which I believe the princess you serve could fall under. Or, obtain a 'Tachyon' to momentarily put her power 'on the fritz', as it were."
>"What is a 'tachyon'?"
-
>"I don't really know."
-
>"I was hoping you knew. I've heard it's some kind of Particle. I believe Eirin might know."
-
>"I don't really know."
>"I was hoping you knew. I've heard it's some kind of Particle. I believe Eirin might know."
>Reisen frowns a moment in concentration. "It's ringing a small bell, but... Well, master will know." She raises her eyebrow. "Were you thinking about asking Master, or the Princess, for help with Sakuya-san?"
-
>"The thought had occured to me, yes."
-
>"The thought had occured to me, yes."
>The lunar rabbit doesn't seem too enthusiastic about the idea. After a moment's hesitation, she says simply, "Hopefully it won't come to that."
-
>"What do you mean?"
-
>"I don't usually have to rely on them, but we may have no other choice in the matter. You know how determined I am after all, we've been on this journey together for a while now after all."
-
>"What do you mean?"
>"Well..." Reisen looks a touch nervous, but continues, "I don't know that Master will want to help you, or Sakuya-san."
>"I don't usually have to rely on them, but we may have no other choice in the matter. You know how determined I am after all, we've been on this journey together for a while now after all."
>"Oh, I know." Reisen assures you. "But the problem is, the last time you and Sakuya-san crossed Master's path, you were invading Eientei. It was largely all a misunderstanding, yes, but, the fact remains. Master has a long memory. I'm not saying she's holding a grudge, but she doesn't forget that sort of thing."
-
>"If she doesn't want to help, I will just have to change her mind. Peacefully, if possible, but I won't hesitate to persuade her through combat if I must. I will have Sakuya back, no matter what I must do to achieve this."
-
>"If she doesn't want to help, I will just have to change her mind. Peacefully, if possible, but I won't hesitate to persuade her through combat if I must. I will have Sakuya back, no matter what I must do to achieve this."
>"You can try." Reisen cautions you. It isn't a threat, the way she says it, more like an 'I wouldn't reccomend it."
>At this point, however, Reimu pokes her head into the room. "Huh." she grunts, entering and walking past you, right up to Sakuya. "That's a new trick."
-
>"She is frozen in time. It may take another with time-related powers to undo this."
>"I don't know why I didn't think of this until now, but as a shrine maiden, I would assume you are able to exorcise posessing spirits, are you not? You may well be able to expel Pride in that manner, even if it's Sakuya who'd be resisting this instead of the posessing spirit like I would imagine is usually the case. I'm not sure if you can do anything while she's frozen in time, though, but I suppose it's worth a try. You can always try again once she's unfrozen if it doesn't work."
-
>"She is frozen in time. It may take another with time-related powers to undo this."
>"I don't know why I didn't think of this until now, but as a shrine maiden, I would assume you are able to exorcise posessing spirits, are you not? You may well be able to expel Pride in that manner, even if it's Sakuya who'd be resisting this instead of the posessing spirit like I would imagine is usually the case. I'm not sure if you can do anything while she's frozen in time, though, but I suppose it's worth a try. You can always try again once she's unfrozen if it doesn't work."
>"Yeah, maybe." Reimu mutters, standing back from Sakuya and folding her arms across her chest.
>She nods shortly. "Your basic exorcism, yeah, no problem. These Sins're a bit different than what you'd get in Gensokyo, but that isn't exactly weird for me. Exorcising someone that's stuck in time, though..." She shakes her head slightly, but seems to be considering it. "Give me a minute on that one."
-
>"Certianly."
-
>"Hopefully you can pull it off. After all, you're one of the few who could best me, so that counts for quite a lot."
-
>"Certianly."
>"Hopefully you can pull it off. After all, you're one of the few who could best me, so that counts for quite a lot."
>"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Reimu says as she extends her right arm out towards Sakuya, then pulls it back in, folding her left fist into her right palm and raising two fingers up, chanting a shinto chant quietly. The area between Reimu and Sakuya glows with a faint white light, but you swear you can hear the ghost of a snarl echo throughout the room, a black hiss. Sakuya, however, remains completely unchanged.
>You note Tsumiko and Celes return to the doorway, but they remain outside, letting Reimu work her magic.
>After nearly three whole minutes, Reimu evidently finishes her spell, and lowers her arms. "I got bad news, maybe good news, and more bad news."
-
>"Let's hear it."
-
>"Let's hear it."
>"The bad news is, I can't do anything with her with her locked in that state. Honestly, my magic couldn't even FIND her, and I was looking right at her. She's about the same as a statue right now."
-
>"And the rest of the news?"
-
>"And the rest of the news?"
>"The good news is, there's an outside chance I can channel a time god to snap her out of it. But I wouldn't recommend it, really. There's a lot of things that can go wrong with that sort of power, and I mean a lot." she adds with a wince. "And I kinda hate doing it anyway."
>"Which brings me to the more bad news. Even if I WANTED to, and I don't, I couldn't. There's something unholy about this place. The whole Keep is stained with the evil of a dark being."
-
>"So in order to free her from herself, we need to move her from this place. Or remove the taint in at least this room, yes?"
>"...That must be what the growl was earlier. Remnants of the former owner."
-
>"So in order to free her from herself, we need to move her from this place. Or remove the taint in at least this room, yes?"
>"...That must be what the growl was earlier. Remnants of the former owner."
>"What growl?" Reisen asks.
>"I heard it, too." Reimu says, looking somewhat more serious than normal too. "Something in this place reacted to my magic, didn't like what I was doing. Still doesn't like that I'm hear, actually." She glances sideways at you. "Kinda felt like you, Remi. Like a vampire, I mean, but one that's a lot more vile than you. Or was."
-
>Sigh. "Even I'm not that evil. Selfish to a point, yes. Temperamental, yes. But I know to limit myself, the former owner clearly didn't. From what I understand, he threw himself headlong into all manner of evil doings and deeds. I believe Celes or the Countess would be able to educate you further on that matter."
-
>Sigh. "Even I'm not that evil. Selfish to a point, yes. Temperamental, yes. But I know to limit myself, the former owner clearly didn't. From what I understand, he threw himself headlong into all manner of evil doings and deeds. I believe Celes or the Countess would be able to educate you further on that matter."
>"Indeed." Celes intones. "But perhaps that can wait for a moment." She turns to her companion. "Tsumiko?"
>The hooded woman cautiously enters the room, examining Sakuya with a wary eye. "Tell me, Miss Scarlet, could she do this before today? Freeze herself in time like this?"
-
>"Not to my knowledge. I suspect she's drawing on Pride's power to pull it off. And for all we know, she could be being influenced by the remnants of the former occupant of this keep."
-
>"Not to my knowledge. I suspect she's drawing on Pride's power to pull it off. And for all we know, she could be being influenced by the remnants of the former occupant of this keep."
>She shakes her head, shaking loose a strand of hair which falls in front of her eye. She blows it out of the way before she explains, "This is the result of her fusion with Pride. A Sin has the potential to augment the powers of someone it bonds with, rather than simply possesses. It only makes sense that it would work in reverse, too."
>"Besides," Celes intones, "If the previous owner had an active hand in this, at least one of us would be screaming by now. And Sakuya would be worse than simply frozen in time."
>Walking past Reimu, she lays her hand on Sakuya's shoulder and closes her eyes in concentration. She frowns, and tries her forehead. She sighs, a frustrated sound, then backs away, blowing once more at the errant lock of hair. "It's no use. Whatever she did froze herself and Pride. I can't sense my Sin."
-
>Sigh. "It's as I thought then. We have no choice but to find another who can alter Time's Flow. I know of only one other who can. Kaguya Houraisan. But the odds of her helping might not be very good."
-
>"Regardless, though, I am going to try."
Unless anyone else has any more business here at the time:
>Pick Sakuya up.
>"Come with me, please, Reimu. I'll need to to perform the exorcism once Sakuya is unfrozen."
\>"Tsumiko, you may come as well."
>"Lead us out, if you would, please, Celes."
-
>Sigh. "It's as I thought then. We have no choice but to find another who can alter Time's Flow. I know of only one other who can. Kaguya Houraisan. But the odds of her helping might not be very good."
>"No kidding." Reimu agrees. "You'll never get her out of Eientei."
>"Who is this Miss Houraisan?" Tsumiko asks.
>"She a Lunarian princess." Reisen informs her. "At least she used to be, but she's been living on Earth for some time now. She likes it better here."
>"She's also a total shut-in with a pain in the ass doctor for a bodyguard." Reimu grumbles.
>"Regardless, though, I am going to try."
Unless anyone else has any more business here at the time:
>Pick Sakuya up.
>"Come with me, please, Reimu. I'll need to to perform the exorcism once Sakuya is unfrozen."
>"Tsumiko, you may come as well."
>"Lead us out, if you would, please, Celes."
>As you take a hold of Sakuya, you wonder if her being frozen like this will keep her rooted in place as well. But you find that lifting her from the floor is no harder than normal.
>Tsumiko, however, looks worried. "I don't think you should take her out of this room, Miss Scarlet. I placed a spell on this room that keeps Sakuya from leaving while Pride's still within her. I don't know what taking her out when she's in this state will do to her, and if the spell rips Pride out of her, both of them will be seriously damaged."
>"It may not even have to come to that." Celes counters, looking thoughtful. "Remilia-san, would you mind if I spoke to you out here for a moment, please?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow, then set Sakuya back down on the nearest bed and go with Celes.
>"What is it you wished to speak of?"
-
>Raise an eyebrow, then set Sakuya back down on the nearest bed and go with Celes.
>"What is it you wished to speak of?"
>"All of you, actually." Celes calls after you join her in the hallway. "I believe it to be important."
>After Reisen, Tsumiko and Reimu have joined you in the corridor, Celes closes the door and looks around at you all. "If you'll follow me, please?" she asks as she heads back down the way you came first.
-
>Raise an eyebrow and follow along!
-
>Raise an eyebrow and follow along!
>The five of you backtrack towards the throne room of the Countess, Reimu and Tsumiko conversing along the way about their respective magics.
>"As a servant myself, I believe I understand why Sakuya did that." Celes informs you as you go, keeping her voice down. "She wanted to avoid a confrontation between you and her, Remilia. And she didn't want to give up Pride, so the only way she could do that was lock herself in that moment in time." She stops just outside the large doors of the throne room. "But she would not have done so for a long period of time. She believes that absorbing Pride is the best thing for her to do, but she wouldn't let herself stay frozen if that would arrest the process." She regards Tsumiko and Reimu. "Has it?"
>The two magic users exchange a look and a nod, and Tsumiko replies, "We think so."
>"I propose, then," Celes continues, "that Sakuya will unfreeze herself when she believes the threat of an imminent confrontation with you, Remilia, has passed."
>"That's why you asked us to leave the room." Reisen guesses. "So that Sakuya-san would believe it was safe to unfreeze herself."
>The rider nods. "And if I am correct, that leaves us with only the original problem."
-
>"Hmmm....That troublesome girl....I'll have to keep a tighter leash on her for a few years to avert a repeat performance. I should start examining her fate regularly as well, once a month even. I understand she's convinced herself that I would want this, but you all know how I feel about this mess."
>Nod. "So, she should have unfrozen herself by now then, no? That would mean that it should be a simple matter for Tsumiko to force Sakuya and Pride apart, then contain Pride for safekeeping while Sakuya is re-educated on her folly."
>Sigh. "You know, I can't help but recall the tale of Red Tide when I think of this mess. Her pride and hubris led her to her likely demise at the hands of Kazami, while Sakuya's will lead to her ceasing to exist as she should. I should have her read that book on Red Tide after I have her back."
-
>"Hmmm....That troublesome girl....I'll have to keep a tighter leash on her for a few years to avert a repeat performance. I should start examining her fate regularly as well, once a month even. I understand she's convinced herself that I would want this, but you all know how I feel about this mess."
>Nod. "So, she should have unfrozen herself by now then, no? That would mean that it should be a simple matter for Tsumiko to force Sakuya and Pride apart, then contain Pride for safekeeping while Sakuya is re-educated on her folly."
>"Well, Miss Scarlet that's actually something I wanted to talk to you about..." Tsumiko starts, looking a bit nervous.
>"It isn't that simple, Remilia." Celes steps in. "If it was, we would have done it days ago. But there's a complication, and the Countess didn't want to take a risk of that magnitude without speaking to you about it first. Which is why I came back this way, she wanted to speak to you again before we tried removing her or removing Pride."
>"So did I." Tsumiko says quietly.
>Sigh. "You know, I can't help but recall the tale of Red Tide when I think of this mess. Her pride and hubris led her to her likely demise at the hands of Kazami, while Sakuya's will lead to her ceasing to exist as she should. I should have her read that book on Red Tide after I have her back."
>"It's a lesson a lot of people would have been better off learning." Reisen agrees.
>Reimu shrugs. "I dunno. There's a lot of people here in Gensokyo that get by proud as anything."
>"True, but, most of them scale it back a bit after you beat them up." Reisen's words are punctuated by what sounds like distant thunder from outside.
>Reimu twists her face in a quick scowl. "Wish they'd learn sooner. Do me a favor."
-
>"...What's the complication?"
-
>"...What's the complication?"
>Tsumiko looks a bit apologetic as she explains, "I think I could rip Pride out of her now. But if I did, both Pride and Sakuya would be seriously, seriously hurt. The way they are right now, with Pride partially absorbed by her, it would be like tearing someone in half to separate them by force."
>"You can understand why we didn't want to try that right away." Celes offers.
>The Keeper continues, "I was hoping that seeing you might convince Sakuya to let Pride go, or at least disrupt her hold enough to let me seperate them without doing too much damage. But that didn't happen, obviously."
-
>Sigh. "If Yukari was here, it would be a trivial matter for her to split the two. Because at this point, I think Sakuya's too lost in her own hubris to listen to me."
-
>Sigh. "If Yukari was here, it would be a trivial matter for her to split the two. Because at this point, I think Sakuya's too lost in her own hubris to listen to me."
>"That doesn't mean we don't have any ideas." Tsumiko says quickly. "What we need is a way to get Sakuya to at loosen her grip on Pride at least a little. Then I can get Pride out of her."
>"And if she can't, I can." Reimu says confidently.
>"And we may, and I emphasize may, have a way to do that." Celes says. "But we didn't know enough about Sakuya to try it."
-
>"Hmm...What's your idea? I know her well enough that I can provide feedback on it."
-
>"Hmm...What's your idea? I know her well enough that I can provide feedback on it."
>Celes gestures towards the throne room door. "Let us step inside for a moment. The Countess should hear this, and so should Lust."
>"Lust?" Reisen asks. "What does she have to do with anything?"
>"Lust might be able to reach Sakuya in a way that none of us can right now." Tsumiko answers. "Enough to let us separate Pride from her without harming either of them."
-
>Sigh. "Quite frankly, Lust irritates me. She used elements of my own little sister in her little 'show' earlier. I'll have you know I don't go for that sort of thing. Even Vampires have standards after all, and that was quite a big taboo."
>Well, let's go in then.
-
>"However, if it will get me Sakuya back, I'm willing to give it a try."
-
>Sigh. "Quite frankly, Lust irritates me. She used elements of my own little sister in her little 'show' earlier. I'll have you know I don't go for that sort of thing. Even Vampires have standards after all."
>Well, let's go in then.
>"However, if it will get me Sakuya back, I'm willing to give it a try."
>Celes and Tsumiko exchange a look like they're not sure they quite know what you mean by 'standards'. But neither of them say anything about it, and they simply enter the throne room, the rest of you following behind, though Reimu does comment as she walks next to you, "These Sins're nothing but trouble."
>Lust has changed her appearance again, it seems. Instead of emulating Ranka's appearance, she now appears as a brown-haired woman with golden eyes in a shimmering rainbow-colored gown. She still sits next to Honoka, who seems much less distracted now than when you left.
>There is a new addition to the gathered individuals as well. Rei is here now, in mid-flight near the ceiling, as is Kogasa. The two seem to be gearing up for a danmaku battle, which would compliment nicely with the sounds of thunder overhead, which somehow seem to be drawing closer.
>The Countess, conversing with Shou, notes your arrival, and gives you a sympathetic look. "I wish it could have gone the easy way, but it seems we now have to explore other options."
-
>"Yes."
>"I'm told you may have a plan."
-
>"...I was hoping she would be a bit more obedient, but she's convinced that she's doing it in my best interests. Despite my telling her otherwise."
-
>"...I was hoping she would be a bit more obedient, but she's convinced that she's doing it in my best interests. Despite my telling her otherwise."
>"That was my hope as well. Her loyalty to you was obvious from the moment we met her. But Pride seems to have altered her thinking too much."
>"Yes."
>"I'm told you may have a plan."
>The Countess nods. "While you were speaking with Sakuya, we were discussing ideas in the event things didn't work out as smoothly as we all would have preferred. I presume that Tsumiko informed you of the difficulty of separating the two of them by force?"
-
>Nod. "Yes, she said that it would harm both of them quite a bit if it wasn't done properly."
-
>Nod. "Yes, she said that it would harm both of them quite a bit if it wasn't done properly."
>"Celes also mentioned that you displayed a unique power of your own. Would you mind sharing some of the details with us? I realize that Sakuya defeated your effort, but your power may give us an option if used in combination with one of ours."
-
>Smirk a bit. "Ah yes, my 'Trump Card'. Fate Manipulation. With a bit of a person, and their permission, I can look into someone's fate, and adjust it if they so desire. If I have simply a hair, I can do so with full permission. But upon the more unwilling, I need a much more concrete catalyst, such as a finger, a bit of bone, or their blood. Which is why I tried to use Sakuya's blood earlier to force a 'Fated Split'. Thus ensuring the two would separate as decreed by fate itself."
-
>Smirk a bit. "Ah yes, my 'Trump Card'. Fate Manipulation. With a bit of a person, and their permission, I can look into someone's fate, and adjust it if they so desire. If I have simply a hair, I can do so with full permission. But upon the more unwilling, I need a much more concrete catalyst, such as a finger, a bit of bone, or their blood. Which is why I tried to use Sakuya's blood earlier to force a 'Fated Split'. Thus ensuring the two would separate as decreed by fate itself."
>The Countess leans forward, templing her fingers. "Then, you have the ability to see her fate as separate from the fate of Pride? What I mean is, is we are able to loosen Sakuya's grip on Pride, you would be able to force the two of them apart?"
-
>"At the moment of my examining them, they appeared to be merging together, so I daresay that time is quite limited. I should be able to if I can get some of her blood though. The pain I felt when trying to force them apart on my own was nothing in comparison to the irritation and annoyance I have right now. So yes, I believe I can do so."
-
>"At the moment of my examining them, they appeared to be merging together, so I daresay that time is quite limited. I should be able to if I can get some of her blood though. The pain I felt when trying to force them apart on my own was nothing in comparison to the irritation and annoyance I have right now. So yes, I believe I can do so."
>"Could you do it without her blood? She will undoubtedly refuse if we ask for more of her blood, and I hesitate about trying to take it by force."
-
>Sigh. "Then I would need an actual part of her, and I rather like having my prized Chief Maid intact you know. There are other 'fluids' that could be used, but I rather dislike using them. The best option I can think of, would be to get her off-guard so I could drain a little from her. By containing it within myself, she'll be unable to accelerate it's aging without also harming myself. And from there, I should be able to catalyze it to force the split via fate. I think that if I had something of Pride's, I could also alter that end of their fate as well. to make it a mutual split."
>What all would we need to force someone's fate to change?
>"Although, I believe Reisen here might be able to help as well. She was able to force Gluttony out of it's host safely somehow, so she may well be capable of providing me the opening I need."
-
>Sigh. "Then I would need an actual part of her, and I rather like having my prized Chief Maid intact you know. There are other 'fluids' that could be used, but I rather dislike using them. The best option I can think of, would be to get her off-guard so I could drain a little from her. By containing it within myself, she'll be unable to accelerate it's aging without also harming myself. And from there, I should be able to catalyze it to force the split via fate. I think that if I had something of Pride's, I could also alter that end of their fate as well. to make it a mutual split."
>What all would we need to force someone's fate to change?
>It should be noted that, Sakuya is a bit of an exception to that rule. She has put her fate completely in your hands, sworn herself to you as her maid. That was true long before Pride crossed her path. While your power over her is stronger when you have an external focus, and it much less draining on you, you technically do not need it. All you really need is contact to ensure the change will stick. Distance makes the process a bit dodgy, but it can still be done. That she was able to resist that change currently is an anomaly, but considering her force of will when she is convinced of something, and the interference caused by Pride, this makes some sense.
-
>"Hmm...although, if we can somehow set things in our favor, I should be able to manage it with mere contact as well, as she put her fate entirely in my hands when she swore to serve me."
>Pause for a moment, and let a dawning look of realization. "And that means that as this is not meant for her due to myself not desiring it, it will not come to be. I shall make certain of it."
>Smirk. "I have a responsibility to protect those who serve me after all."
-
>"Hmm...although, if we can somehow set things in our favor, I should be able to manage it with mere contact as well, as she put her fate entirely in my hands when she swore to serve me."
>Pause for a moment, and let a dawning look of realization. "And that means that as this is not meant for her due to myself not desiring it, it will not come to be. I shall make certain of it."
>Smirk. "I have a responsibility to protect those who serve me after all."
>The Countess seems pleased at that, and she looks over at Tsumiko, who has once more removed her hood. "Do you think her power will be less harmful than yours when it comes to separating them?"
>"I really don't know, Eriza. But she might be able to reach Miss Izayoi more easily than I can reach Pride right now. That might be all we need, if we can get some separation between the two of them."
>"If you'll excuse me," Celes says, "I'll return to see if Sakuya has unfrozen yet."
-
>Fistpalm. "Ah, that reminds me about the most basic of things I forgot to do. Ask for your name."
>Nod. "I think that if Tsumiko and I work together on our respective charges though, we should be able to succeed. An inch on Sakuya's end will provide an inch on Pride's, which will summarily return another on Sakuya's, and so on. It's a foregone conclusion one might say."
>Gesture towards Lust. "I take it that's her natural form?"
-
>Fistpalm. "Ah, that reminds me about the most basic of things I forgot to do. Ask for your name."
>The Countess smiles politely. "Quite all right. You've had other things on your mind." She rises from her seat and offers you a slight bow. "Erizabet Teregduri." Her smile becomes a bit self-conscious. "It's a bit of a mouthful, I know. Informally, I'm called Eriza. I prefer it, actually, I like the sound of it better than my full name."
>Nod. "I think that if Tsumiko and I work together on our respective charges though, we should be able to succeed. An inch on Sakuya's end will provide an inch on Pride's, which will summarily return another on Sakuya's, and so on. It's a foregone conclusion one might say."
>Gesture towards Lust. "I take it that's her natural form?"
>"I admire your confidence, Scarlet Devil, but in my experience, a 'foregone conclusion' is anything but." The Countess counters, sitting back down. "I prefer to hedge my bets as much as possible, especially when one of my friends is involved." She smiles a quiet, knowing smile. "We share that responsibility, it seems."
>Tsumiko shakes her head, but Lust raises her head and answers your question for herself. "Not exactly." she says, her voice as different as her new form. She comes to her feet and takes to wing. "Unlike the other Sins, I don't really have a natural form, at least not a humanoid one. I can take nearly any shape, as long as it is pleasing or desirable to someone around me, or someone desires me to look like that shape."
>The Keeper nods in confirmation of the Sin's report, the stripe on her face turning pink again. "Her shapechanging powers are a bit more complicated than that, but that's the basics of them."
-
>Nod. "Well, I just wanted to let you know that your little stunt earlier involved elements of my younger sister. I do not approve of that at all. While I do love her, it's not that way. Keep that in mind."
>Then look back to Eriza. "Either way though, I'm confident that we can succeed in getting the two apart. I'll have to keep a much closer eye on Sakuya in the future though. I would really rather not have to deal with a situation like this again with another sort of spirit. Perhaps I'll have Reimu and Patche make her possession-immune as we are."
-
>Nod. "Well, I just wanted to let you know that your little stunt earlier involved elements of my younger sister. I do not approve of that at all. While I do love her, it's not that way. Keep that in mind."
>Then look back to Eriza. "Either way though, I'm confident that we can succeed in getting the two apart. I'll have to keep a much closer eye on Sakuya in the future though. I would really rather not have to deal with a situation like this again with another sort of spirit. Perhaps I'll have Reimu and Patche make her possession-immune as we are."
>To your surprise, Lust smiles gently and nods. "I know. I felt that. I didn't mean to offend, but I can feel your attachment to your sister. How important she is to you. I may be 'Lust', but I have a sense of more than just physical desire."
>"That's one of the things that sets Lust apart from most of the others." Tsumiko informs you. "She is more than simply her title. She's closer to a self-actualized being than nearly all the other Sins." The Sin in question lands next to her Keeper. "And that ability of hers to sense people's attachment is part of our plan to loosen Miss Izayoi's grip on Pride."
-
>"Ah. That would work I would think. she is rather attached to me in a way. Perhaps by working off that, we can sever her connection to Pride."
-
>"Ah. That would work I would think. she is rather attached to me in a way. Perhaps by working off that, we can sever her connection."
>Lust shakes her head. "Tried that already. I don't have enough strength on my own to disrupt her grip. And besides..." She shrugs slightly and smiles somewhat apologetically. "No offense, Remilia, but the connection between you and her isn't the sort of bond I can use. She's devoted to you, yes, but she doesn't love you, not in a physical sense. I may be more than simply 'Lust', but the devotion she feels towards you isn't the kind of devotion I can use to shake her."
>She flutters her wings and stretches out her arms, a slightly sensual motion even in its casualness, as the thunder grows even louder. "But that doesn't mean I can't shake her at all. We just need to outsource. So what we, and by that I mean I, need to know, is.... Does Sakuya have anyone she loves? They way her emotions are tangled right now, I can't sense anything like that."
>"I apologize if this is a personal question for her or you." The Countess adds, beckoning to Rei to come down. "But it may be our best chance to get them both back unharmed."
-
>Hmm...Is there?
-
>Hmm...Is there?
>You've discussed the issue with her once your twice. Sakuya is a consummate professional. She has no time in her life for that kind of affection. She says it would only distract her.
>Truth to tell, that attitude of hers concerned you a little, if you're honest with yourself. Sakuya IS the perfect maid, but she's also a rather cold hearted person. You'd prefer if she was able to form friendly relationships with people outside of the Mansion, and while you're not looking to set her up any time soon, you wouldn't object to the idea of there being someone significant in her life, one day. As long as it doesn't get in the way of her duties, of course. She's still your head maid, after all.
>That said, however.... If there's anyone that MIGHT hold something close to that place, it might be Meiling. Sakuya finds a way to spend time with the redhead at least once a day beyond the usual duties. Granted, the gatekeeper NEEDS keeping an eye on now and then, but Sakuya always takes on the duty herself, rather than send one of the lesser servants. Sakuya is constantly pestering her about maintaining her duties, but there are times you've wondered if this is purely a professional gesture. And on at least one occasion, during a blazing hot summer day, you observed Sakuya bringing Meiling inside while she was asleep, so Meiling wouldn't get sunstroke. Sakuya is not what you would consider a 'kind-hearted' person, and you're quite sure she would not have done the same for anyone else.
>Of course, this is a long way from slinking off into closets together, and could very well just be simple gestures of friendship. But it might be worth mentioning. You're hardly an expert when it comes to lust by itself, let alone it's personification, but that might be enough for her.
-
>"Hmm...Well, she does care for Hong, the Gatekeeper. It seems to be mostly professional though. Taking her in sometimes during the summer to save her from sunstroke and the like. The girl does need someone to keep an eye on her, and Sakuya seems to prefer doing it herself. It's likely just gestures of friendship, but that should suffice yes?"
-
>"There might be something deeper there, but I am not sure."
-
>"Hmm...Well, she does care for Hong, the Gatekeeper. It seems to be mostly professional though. Taking her in sometimes during the summer to save her from sunstroke and the like. The girl does need someone to keep an eye on her, and Sakuya seems to prefer doing it herself. It's likely just gestures of friendship, but that should suffice yes?"
>"There might be something deeper there, but I am not sure."
>Lust slowly runs a finger along her cheek in thought, then steals a glance at her Keeper. Tsumiko nods briefly. "Conference." The Sin spirit dissolves into a cloud of pink energy, which slithers forward and enters Tsumiko's body, the stripe on her face flashing pink as Lust enters her.
>Honoka seems surprised for a moment, then rights her face. "I assume that the two communicate better when in... contact with each other?" she asks the Countess.
>"Indeed. In this way, Tsumiko can have a true 'heart to heart' with the Sins."
>The Keeper in question looks at Reimu. "I think I'll need Sloth back as well. I'd like her input."
>Hakurei shrugs. "Yeah, fine, gimme a sec." she drawls before heading towards the southwest corner of the room. Where a giant ying yang orb rests, two bare feet sticking out from under it, an anklet wrapped around one of her legs. Reimu's brand of justice in action, it would seem.
>Celes returns as Reimu stops in front of the orb. "Sakuya has indeed returned to normal." she relays to you.
-
>"Tch, I'll need to startle her again to buy us some time. Was she still intent on keeping up with her foolishness?"
-
>"Tch, I'll need to startle her again to buy us some time. Was she still intent on keeping up with her foolishness?"
>"I would assume so. She didn't say directly. But she did have a rather strange message she wanted me to convey to you."
-
>"And that would be?"
-
>"And that would be?"
>Celes looks somewhat perplexed as she relates, "She said, 'Tell ojou-sama that, I can make imouto-sama whole.'"
-
>"!"
>No, we can't be swayed. We've already got another option.
>"...No, I can't be swayed. There's another option for that matter I plan on looking into."
>Let's beeline straight for Sakuya!
-
>"!"
>No, we can't be swayed. We've already got another option.
>"...No, I can't be swayed. There's another option for that matter I plan on looking into."
>Let's beeline straight for Sakuya!
>Now that, you were not prepared for. The idea of Flandre being cured, and cured by Sakuya's hands, no less...
>But, no. No, not this way. It wouldn't really be Sakuya. Even IF that version of her COULD cure Flandre, you'd still have lost your Sakuya. And neither you nor your beloved little sister are willing to pay that price, you know her well enough to say that. There has to be a better way, one that lets you get everything you want.
>Celes can't hide her curiousity into your statement, but she doesn't get the chance to comment on it before you dash past her, giving the Steward barely any time to get out of the way. Credit to her reflexes, she does manage to evade you, but only by a matter of millimeters.
>It takes you somewhat less than two seconds to make the end of the hallway.... Right at the same time Youmu flies out from the right hand turn, just as you're about to make your left turn. Neither one of you even has enough opportunity to help before you crash into each other with a resounding *thud*. Youmu is not as soft as she is rumored to be.
-
>"Gah?!" Let's get back up and set her back on her feet too.
>Wait, what do we know about her? If she has an ability that could prove useful...!
-
>Can't she, like, cut through ghosts or something? Maybe that'll work on spirits. Ask her about it!
-
>"Gah?!" Let's get back up and set her back on her feet too.
>Wait, what do we know about her? If she has an ability that could prove useful...!
>Pulling yourself off the floor, you look down upon Youmu. She definitely got the worst of that exchange, as people often do when they bodycheck a vampire, accidentally or no. She is splayed against the wall of the corridor, looking like the impact knocked her silly. You give her a moment before hauling her back to her feet. You may have a use for her...
>You recall what you've seen her do, and what Sakuya has said of her abilities and skills. You know she has some form of time dilation ability herself, though as far as you know, she can only use it within the context of a danmaku battle. Patchy nicknamed it 'bullet time', for some reason. She's also a beast at danmaku, and her hand to hand skills are very, very good, which is rare for Gensokyo, but those abilities might not be all that useful in this context.
>Can't she, like, cut through ghosts or something? Maybe that'll work on spirits. Ask her about it!
>You believe that one of her swords has the ability to slay phantoms. And the other one is able to 'slash through human confusion', though you admit to not being entirely sure what that means.
>However, when you were confronting the Sloth-possessed Reimu earlier, Youmu claimed to be able to slash the Sin out of Reimu. To be fair, she didn't say she could do so without harming the shrine maiden. You did ask, but Sloth interrupted the conversation before Youmu could answer. So you take the opportunity to ask her again, now that you're alone.
>Youmu, for her part, seems merely confused. "I see I was beaten here. You've already defeated this Countess."
-
>"Actually, it turns out that she was not hostile. The Sin Spirits were acting on their own. And one of them... well, Pride tried to take Sakuya, and though this failed, I am still in danger of losing Sakuya."
>Explain the Sakuya/Pride situation.
>"You said earlier than you could cut Sloth from Reimu. Could you cut Pride from Sakuya? Quickly enough that Sakuya could not react, of course, as her time manipulation would allow her to escape."
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>"Actually, it turns out that she was not hostile. The Sin Spirits were acting on their own. And one of them... well, Pride tried to take Sakuya, and though this failed, I am still in danger of losing Sakuya."
>Explain the Sakuya/Pride situation.
>"You said earlier than you could cut Sloth from Reimu. Could you cut Pride from Sakuya? Quickly enough that Sakuya could not react, of course, as her time manipulation would allow her to escape."
>"Is that so?" Youmu replies. "What's the problem?"
>You start to fill in the blanks for the Netherworld gardener, but Celes's voice interrupts you as she calls out, "What happened?" The Keeper herself makes her way down the corridor. Her eyes fall upon Youmu. "Another servant of yours?" she asks you.
>Youmu steps forward. "I am the servant of Yuyuko-sama, and my name is Youmu Konpaku." she declares, somewhat indignantly.
>"Ah, my apologies." Celes answers with a small bow. "I am Celes d'Arquien, steward of the Keep."
>"Is it true what Scarlet-san said, that the Sins were causing trouble on their own?"
>"It is as she said." Celes confirms. "Due to an unfortunate accident, six of the seven Sins escaped from their Keeper. We've been trying to track them down ourselves, but our attempts thus far have failed. Hakurei-san told us of your efforts to remove Sloth from her. We appreciate your efforts, and apologize for any trouble or injury you incurred." she adds with another bow.
>Youmu seems a bit confused at that. "Ah, well, no, I wasn't hurt..."
>"Well, good." Celes says formally, then turns her look to you. "Tsumiko would like to speak with you again. She and Lust have come to a conclusion."
>"Lust?" Youmu asks.
-
>"One of the Seven Sin Spirits. Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, Pride, Lust, and Greed. Quite troublesome fellows really."
>Look to Celes. "Bring them, and anyone else that's needed to the room then, we don't have the time to spare quibbling about. Each second wasted is another second closer to losing both Sakuya and Pride. And if Youmu here can cut Pride free without seriously harming either Sakuya or Pride, then we'll be fine."
-
>"One of the Seven Sin Spirits. Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, Pride, Lust, and Greed. Quite troublesome fellows really."
>Look to Celes. "Bring them, and anyone else that's needed to the room then, we don't have the time to spare quibbling about. Each second wasted is another second closer to losing both Sakuya and Pride. And if Youmu here can cut Pride free without seriously harming either Sakuya or Pride, then we'll be fine."
>"I know that." Youmu protests. "But I didn't think you'd be working with one of them."
>Celes looks a touch confused. "You intend to discuss your battle plans in front of the person you're trying to get the better of?"
-
>"My plan is to startle her back into stopping her time, in order to provide us with more time. If she's frozen in time again, we'll have the opportunity to discuss the matter further. We can't give her any more time to absorb Pride."
-
>"My plan is to startle her back into stopping her time, in order to provide us with more time. If she's frozen in time again, we'll have the opportunity to discuss the matter further. We can't give her any more time to absorb Pride."
>"Good idea. I hope it works, as well."
-
>"Let me get Sakuya frozen again before you enter."
>Let's go back to Sakuya.
>"I'm dissapointed, Sakuya. Freezing yourself in time like that most certainly counts as resisting me. I'm afraid you failed the test. I do, however, understand the reflexive desire to protect one's self or those one cares about, so I'm willing to put your failure down to reflex and give you a second chance."
-
>"Let me get Sakuya frozen again before you enter."
>Let's go back to Sakuya.
>"I'm dissapointed, Sakuya. Freezing yourself in time like that most certainly counts as resisting me. I'm afraid you failed the test. I do, however, understand the reflexive desire to protect one's self or those one cares about, so I'm willing to put your failure down to reflex and give you a second chance."
>"Good luck." As you take your leave of her, Celes says to Youmu, "If you wish, I can inform you of what's been happening here."
>Returning to Sakuya's room, you find her seated again, and once again, she rises, bows and greets you in one smooth, elegant motion.
>"Ojou-sama, may I ask you a question?"
-
>"If it entails allowing you to absorb Pride, then you know I will refuse. You know that healing Flandre is important, but it doesn't matter if I lose you in the process. For absorbing Pride shall void our contract, and I shall no-longer consider you my maid."
>"Besides, I have located information on another method that will not require you to absorb Pride."
-
>"If it entails allowing you to absorb Pride, then you know I will refuse. You know that healing Flandre is important, but it doesn't matter if I lose you in the process. For absorbing Pride shall void our contract, and I shall no-longer consider you my maid."
>"Besides, I have located information on another method that will not require you to absorb Pride."
>"A guaranteed method?"
-
>"I would rather bank on an unsure method, than lose you to this foolery."
>Let's draw closer to her, and try to lay a hand on her so we can start the contact-based Fate Alteration.
-
>"I would rather bank on an unsure method, than lose you to this foolery."
>Let's draw closer to her, and try to lay a hand on her so we can start the contact-based Fate Alteration.
>"No, ojou-sama. You are the fool. Your selfishness will cost your sister her only guaranteed opportunity to be whole again. I had hoped you would see past your own selfishness, but it seems I was mistaken."
>As you step towards her, Sakuya's stance changes ever so slightly, like you've seen her do many times before. She's ready to fight you. "And if you will not accept that I am correct, then I will fight you for her sake. I will not harm you terribly, ojou-sama, but I am stronger than you now. I can stop you."
-
>"...Sakuya, I didn't want to do this, but you are the misguided one. Did you really think Flan would want to be whole this way? At the cost of losing the maid that everyone of the mansion cares for? I know her far better than even you. You cannot say that you are fighting for her sake as you are now. As her older sister, I won't accept that."
>Let's pick up the pace and try to get her in a hold that won't allow any retaliation.
-
>"...Sakuya, I didn't want to do this, but you are the misguided one. Did you really think Flan would want to be whole this way? At the cost of losing the maid that everyone of the mansion cares for? I know her far better than even you. You cannot say that you are fighting for her sake as you are now. As her older sister, I won't accept that."
>Let's pick up the pace and try to get her in a hold that won't allow any retaliation.
>"Even accepting that 'Sakuya Izayoi' would be gone, she would have her sister, and you would have yours. That is all that matters. That is how I can serve you both best. Her pain has gone on far too long, and so has yours. I will be the one to end it. Only I can."
>Moving from a walk to a sprint, you approach Sakuya even faster. And a moment later, you find yourself back where you started with a dull ache in your stomach, like you'd been kicked hard. To your eye, Sakuya hasn't moved.
-
>"Only you can? Don't make me laugh. You think you can do all this yourself? Do you not recall the Endless Night Incident? We had to work together for that."
>Let's cast out a net of Maximum-Strength Aura Chains in an effort to encase her in them. Once we've got her, we'll reel her in.
>"You think that by doing this, you'll end my pain? You're wrong. You're only magnifying it."
-
>"If Flandre is healed at this cost, I will have lost far more than I'll have gained. Perhaps Flandre is not whole, but I still have her, and she has me. And we both have you. Were you to carry through with this plan, we would no longer have you. The woman standing before me now is not my Sakuya. She would never think to strike me. You are not her. Not even making my sister whole is worth losing her. She, too, is family to me."
-
>"Only you can? Don't make me laugh. You think you can do all this yourself? Do you not recall the Endless Night Incident? We had to work together for that."
>Let's cast out a net of Maximum-Strength Aura Chains in an effort to encase her in them. Once we've got her, we'll reel her in.
>"You think that by doing this, you'll end my pain? You're wrong. You're only magnifying it."
>"Of course I recall. And I was proud to have fought by your side. Nor have I forgotten my failure to resolve the Long Winter incident on my own. But my powers have grown by magnitudes since then."
>Sakuya spins herself in a circle as your chains draw in on her, twirling into a knife-edged whirlwind surrounded by dark blue energy. With the sound of clashing metal on metal, your chains bounce off of the bladed wind and energy surrounding Sakuya.
>"Only because you cannot see the end." she counters, a dagger of energy flying out of her spin and breaking the window behind her and to her right. "You may not believe I understand how you feel. I do. I simply don't believe there is a way I can convince you of this."
>"If Flandre is healed at this cost, I will have lost far more than I'll have gained. Perhaps Flandre is not whole, but I still have her, and she has me. And we both have you. Were you to carry through with this plan, we would no longer have you. The woman standing before me now is not my Sakuya. She would never think to strike me. You are not her. Not even making my sister whole is worth losing her. She, too, is family to me."
>Ceasing her spin, Sakuya now has a dagger held loosely in her right hand. "But you will gain so much more than I ever was."
>"What is happening here?" Celes' voice calls as she comes running down the hall, stopping just outside the door, Youmu in tow.
-
>Move to block the window!
>"You think I'll gain from this?! Sakuya, do you realize that if you continue as you are, I will end the contract here and now, and seal you away from the mansion for all eternity. Do you really think I want to do that? Right now, as you are, you are a threat to the mansion."
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>Move to block the window!
>"You think I'll gain from this?! Sakuya, do you realize that if you continue as you are, I will end the contract here and now, and seal you away from the mansion for all eternity. Do you really think I want to do that? Right now, as you are, you are a threat to the mansion."
>Sakuya makes no move to stop you as you place yourself between her and the window. She does, however, back away from you, more towards the southeast corner of the room.
>"I am a threat?" Sakuya asks incredulously. "Are you even more foolish than I thought? Please don't tell me that I had misjudged you in that capacity, ojou-sama. Your naivety is part of your charm, but I truly did not believe you were a fool."
>"Enough, both of you." Celes declares. "Fighting like this won't get you anywhere, and there are objects in that room that must not be damaged."
-
>"Hmph. I am quite serious, Sakuya. You might be driven by loyalty, but that in and of itself has become a danger. You've grown too proud. Do you recall that book we read? The one that contained the tale of the Vampire known as Red Tide? Right now, you are becoming far too much like her for my comfort. If you continue on, you will meet the same sad fate as she."
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>"Hmph. I am quite serious, Sakuya. You might be driven by loyalty, but that in and of itself has become a danger. You've grown too proud. Do you recall that book we read? The one that contained the tale of the Vampire known as Red Tide? Right now, you are becoming far too much like her for my comfort. If you continue on, you will meet the same sad fate as she."
>Sakuya closes her eyes and breaths out slowly before opening them again. "There are two prominent differences between that vampire and I, ojou-sama."
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>"But also one dangerously vast similarity. Both she and you were proud. Dangerously so."
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>"But also one dangerously vast similarity. Both she and you were proud. Dangerously so."
>"I do not dispute that. But she had no cause beyond her own selfish desire for power and control. I have no such desire. I desire only to serve."
>"And I am also not such a fool. She challenged one who was beyond her. That is not a mistake I would have made before, let alone one I would make now."
-
>"Examine those words once more. 'a desire for power'. That is exactly what you have shown to me. You are convinced that by absorbing Pride, you will become more powerful. You are doing exactly as Red Tide did. forcing others into your own control for the sake of power."
-
>"Examine those words once more. 'a desire for power'. That is exactly what you have shown to me. You are convinced that by absorbing Pride, you will become more powerful. You are doing exactly as Red Tide did. forcing others into your own control for the sake of power."
>"You truly don't understand. The power I will claim is not for my own sake, as hers was. As so many others have done. You have enemies, ojou-sama. There are beings in this world who are beyond you, beyond us, beyond the power of all in the Scarlet Devil Manor. As I will be, there will be nothing and no one would could touch you. I will be able to protect you from Yakumo herself. Even death will not touch us."
-
>"But I don't want that. Not like this. Listen to me Sakuya, by doing this, you aren't alleviating my pain at all."
>Look away with a sad and disappointed look. "...You're only making it worse."
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>"But I don't want that. Not like this. Listen to me Sakuya, by doing this, you aren't alleviating my pain at all."
>Look away with a sad and disappointed look. "...You're only making it worse."
>Sakuya's eyes show the regret she feels, and she replies in a heavy voice, "I take no joy this night, ojou-sama. I have done all that I can to alleviate your worries, but I accept that there was only so much I could do. All I can ask is that you have faith in me, ojou-sama. Everything will be all right in the end. You have had faith in me for all the years I have served you. Have faith in me now."
-
>"...It's impossible to do that when you're throwing away what made you so important."
-
>"...It's impossible to do that when you're throwing away what made you so important."
>"Whatever you fear may be lost, ojou-sama, I promise you will be made up in the gains, tenfold and more. Trust me in this, as you do in all things."
-
>"I trust Sakuya, but you have proven repeatedly that you are not her. You, I do not trust. And I do not want you. I want Sakuya."
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>"I trust Sakuya, but you have proven repeatedly that you are not her. You, I do not trust. And I do not want you. I want Sakuya."
>Sakuya smiles, almost a smirk, one that tells her supreme confidence but not arrogance. A fine distinction. "Is it truly so hard for you to accept that I know better than you do now? I always did, and now I am more than I was."
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>"It's not that. You are, quite simply, no-longer Sakuya. Just some creature masquerading as her, using her body as your own."
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>"It's not that. You are, quite simply, no-longer Sakuya. Just some creature masquerading as her, using her body as your own."
>"Now, you know better than that, ojou-sama." Sakuya says tolerantly. "If that was true, then would you sense my fate within me now?"
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>"That is a simple question, with a simple answer. The true Sakuya is being imprisoned within her own body. You, are not the true Sakuya."
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>"That is a simple question, with a simple answer. The true Sakuya is being imprisoned within her own body. You, are not the true Sakuya."
>A worried look crosses Sakuya's face. "You genuinely believe that?"
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>"It is not just what I believe. But what I know. The Sakuya I see before me, is one who is becoming someone who she was never fated to be. I hold Sakuya's fate in the palm of my hand. That is the oath she gave when she swore to serve me. The fact that you refuse my efforts to restore her to her true self proves it."
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>"It is not just what I believe. But what I know. The Sakuya I see before me, is one who is becoming someone who she was never fated to be. I hold Sakuya's fate in the palm of my hand. That is the oath she gave when she swore to serve me. The fact that you refuse my efforts to restore her to her true self proves it."
>Sakuya sighs and shakes her hand. "I had known you were prone to flights of fancy, even exaggeration. But I had not thought you capable of such delusion."
-
>Sigh. "Oh, it's no flight of fancy, or delusion. It is cold, hard, fact. Everything that has been presented to me fits as such."
>Let's let our aura start to flare. "However, it's clear you won't listen to reason."
>Look towards Celes. "Tell Tsumiko that it should be alright as long as they both come out of it themselves."
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>Sigh. "Oh, it's no flight of fancy, or delusion. It is cold, hard, fact. Everything that has been presented to me fits as such."
>Let's let our aura start to flare. "However, it's clear you won't listen to reason."
>Look towards Celes. "Tell Tsumiko that it should be alright as long as they both come out of it themselves."
>"I believe you could make anything fit your own definition of fact, ojou-sama." Sakuya says sadly. "You disappoint me. I realize you can be childish, but I expected better from you. It is you, I see, who will not listen to reason, though that, at least, does not surprise me."
>"What do you intend to do, Remilia?" the Steward asks you.
-
>"Whatever plan those two cooked up should suffice. I'm simply going to entertain her for a moment."
>Let's slowly stride towards Sakuya while keeping a nice little net of chains blocking her escape. "You're only making this harder on me."
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>"Whatever plan those two cooked up should suffice. I'm simply going to entertain her for a moment."
>Let's slowly stride towards Sakuya while keeping a nice little net of chains blocking her escape. "You're only making this harder on me."
>Celes looks between you and Sakuya. "We have no conclusion. You have information we need."
>"No, ojou-sama, you are making this harder on yourself." Sakuya counters, knives appearing in her hands again. And yet, she smiles at you. "But fear not. I forgive you."
-
>Who all is with us currently aside from Celes and 'Pride-Sakuya'?
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>Who all is with us currently aside from Celes and 'Pride-Sakuya'?
>Youmu is standing to Celes' left, and slightly behind her.
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>What sort of power over Sakuya do we have aside from our Absolute Control of her Fate that she cannot resist? Such as a Devil's Contract.
>To be more precise, is there a way we can command her to forcibly cease her actions in a way that she knows we're deathly serious?
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>What sort of power over Sakuya do we have aside from our Absolute Control of her Fate that she cannot resist? Such as a Devil's Contract.
>To be more precise, is there a way we can command her to forcibly cease her actions in a way that she knows we're deathly serious?
>You have no such contract with Sakuya. It really was never necessary for anything, especially when factoring in her devotion to you and your devotion to her.
>Considering everything you've done and said so far, you would say that Sakuya knows how serious you are. She just seems convinced that she knows better than you do.
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>Stubborn girl. We'll have to fix that contract matter later. Her antics have caused us no end of grief after all, we certainly don't want a repeat after all.
>Perhaps having her read from that one book, the 'Evil Overlord List', will help re-educate her. After all, there was a passage about 'not consuming an energy field larger than one's head'. Pride would certainly qualify for that, being able to take a full human form.
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>Stubborn girl. We'll have to fix that contract matter later. Her antics have caused us no end of grief after all, we certainly don't want a repeat after all.
>Perhaps having her read from that one book, the 'Evil Overlord List', will help re-educate her. After all, there was a passage about 'not consuming an energy field larger than one's head'. Pride would certainly qualify for that, being able to take a full human form.
>You make a note, but a cautious ones. Demon Contracts are a tricky bit of business. If not worded properly and precisely, they can do as much harm as good, if not more, to the people involved.
>You've never actually read a book by that name. Perhaps Patchy would have a copy, or the Countess. Her library's no match for Patchy's, but it's not too shabby.
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>We'll be sure to take quite a lot of time to get all the details set. But if it forbids her from attempting to absorb a foreign power without our permission, then that's a good baseline to work with.
>One of the two would likely have something of the sort. We'll have to look into that.
>Hmm...Sakuya's clearly not listening to reason, and she's more than willing to strike us to get her way. So how can we go about delaying her long enough to finish formulating the plan...
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>We'll be sure to take quite a lot of time to get all the details set. But if it forbids her from attempting to absorb a foreign power without our permission, then that's a good baseline to work with.
>One of the two would likely have something of the sort. We'll have to look into that.
>Hmm...Sakuya's clearly not listening to reason, and she's more than willing to strike us to get her way. So how can we go about delaying her long enough to finish formulating the plan...
>Making some mental notes about future plans is all well and good, but a plan for present would be even better.
-
>Hmm...How would we be able to startle Sakuya into timefreezing herself again?
-
>Hmm...How would we be able to startle Sakuya into timefreezing herself again?
>That's a good question.
-
>Well, what do we know of that scares her enough to do something?
>Perhaps putting our own life at risk somehow would work. That might even get her to give up on this entirely.
-
>Well, what do we know of that scares her enough to do something?
>Perhaps putting our own life at risk somehow would work. That might even get her to give up on this entirely.
>Sakuya's fears.... That's a toughie. The girl's a tough nut to crack, even tougher in her current state, you would venture to guess. There's a number of things she doesn't like, of course, or would be uncomfortable with, but in terms of fear, the only thing you can think of that might get her attention now would be your own safety. Yours or Flandre's. Although she is your servant, she considers the safety of both you and your sister her personal responsibility.
-
>What are we mortally weak to that Celes or Youmu could fetch easily enough that Sakuya would know what we mean by if we call for it?
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>What are we mortally weak to that Celes or Youmu could fetch easily enough that Sakuya would know what we mean by if we call for it?
>If Youmu's swords are as sharp as they are reputed to be, they could conceivably kill you.
>Other than that, a silver blade could conceivably destroy you.
-
>Let's step across the threshold of the door we know Sakuya won't be able to cross. "Celes, Youmu, a word?"
>Once they're out safely; "Find me a Silver Knife." Be sure to look at 'Pride-Sakuya' in a meaningful enough way that she'll realize what we're aiming at.
-
>Let's step across the threshold of the door we know Sakuya won't be able to cross. "Celes, Youmu, a word?"
>Once they're out safely; "Find me a Silver Knife." Be sure to look at 'Pride-Sakuya' in a meaningful enough way that she'll realize what we're aiming at.
>Withdrawing your chains from the door, you step outside the room to speak to the two servants outside.
>Youmu blinks. "What would you want-"
>The normally polite, formal Celes interrupts her abruptly, "Scarlet Devil, tell me you are not planning to do what I believe you are."
-
>Step further away from the door, enough so that 'Pride-Sakuya' won't hear, beckoning them to follow.
>Once we've reached a safe enough distance; "It's a ploy to scare her out of this foolishness. Since she's incapable of leaving that room, I'll give her a false ultimatum. Gain that power, and lose the one who she strives to serve forever. Or give up on her folly, and remain with me. I'll need that knife to show her I mean business."
-
>Step further away from the door, enough so that 'Pride-Sakuya' won't hear, beckoning them to follow.
>Once we've reached a safe enough distance; "It's a ploy to scare her out of this foolishness. Since she's incapable of leaving that room, I'll give her a false ultimatum. Gain that power, and lose the one who she strives to serve forever. Or give up on her folly, and remain with me. I'll need that knife to show her I mean business."
>Celes closes the door behind you as you walk down the corridor a bit. Now that you're away from Sakuya and can turn your senses to other things, you think you can hear danmaku coming from the opposite direction, towards the throne room.
>Youmu seems a bit taken aback by the severity of your plan, but Celes merely nods. "I expected that, actually. That is why I reacted the way I did, to lend credence to your ploy." She keeps her voice low as she explains her reaction. You find yourself impressed by the woman. "It is a very bold move, but are you certain she will believe you? It's a plan that could work, yes, but not if Sakuya doesn't believe you would ever go that far."
-
>"I'm banking on that, and her overprotective nature. Why do you think I gave her that look earlier, and made sure to request it while in earshot?"
>What sort of effect does silver have on us anyhow?
-
>"I'm banking on that, and her overprotective nature. Why do you think I gave her that look earlier, and made sure to request it while in earshot?"
>What sort of effect does silver have on us anyhow?
>Silvered weapons effectively serve to impede your regenerative powers. As a vampire, your capacity for healing and recovery are truly astonishing, the stuff of legends. A wound inflicted by a silvered weapon, however, has about the same effect a normal weapon would have on a human. A cut that might normally take you seconds to recover from could take hours, if not days, to heal fully if inflicted by a silvered weapon.
>Wordlessly, Celes reaches into her coat and pulls out a sheathed hunting knife. "The blade is gilded with silver." She does not hand it over right away, however. "I feel I must point out, however, that I am uncomfortable with this idea. Not that it wouldn't work, but if things go wrong, you could end up badly hurt, or worse."
-
>"If it'll get Sakuya back to how she was, I'll bear with it."
>Pause for a moment. "Ah, before we use my little gamble, what did Tsumiko and Lust think of? It never hurts to have more than one way to skin the proverbial cat after all."
-
>"If it'll get Sakuya back to how she was, I'll bear with it."
>Pause for a moment. "Ah, before we use my little gamble, what did Tsumiko and Lust think of? It never hurts to have more than one way to skin the proverbial cat after all."
>"The Keeper and the Sins arrived at the conclusion that they needed more information." Celes informs you. "If this Meiling had feelings for Sakuya, then it's possible they could work with her. They were hoping you would know."
>"And even if she did, the sort of work we mean is a bit of a sticky question to ask, considering everything that's happened."
-
>"Hmm...The old matchmaker routine, hm? I suppose it could work. Let me think a moment."
>What do we know of how Meiling feels about the mansion's residents? Flan and ourselves included.
-
>"Hmm...The old matchmaker routine, hm? I suppose it could work. Let me think a moment."
>What do we know of how Meiling feels about the mansion's residents? Flan and ourselves included.
>Meling Hong's Relationship Status:
>Remilia Scarlet - Meiling's loyalty to you is unquestionable. She may not be the sort of person that Sakuya is, but once she gives her word, she damn well keeps it. She's a somewhat simple person, compared to the other residents, but she has a strong spirit and a bright personality, very outgoing and friendly. She's also one of the few people you know that can hang with you in physical challenges. You consider her a friend, and she considers you the same.
>Flandre Scarlet - While Meiling is somewhat scared of your sister (and who isn't?) Meiling also treats her like she's a person, not a harbinger of chaos and destruction. Meiling brings Flan's food to her from time to time, reads to her, plays with her. And while Flan has injured her at times, it's never been badly, and Meiling hasn't let that affect her affection for Flan. If Flandre was healed and whole, you wouldn't be surprised if Meiling turned out to be one of her best friends, and you know the gate guard is quite fond of her as well.
>Patchouli Knowledge - Patchy and Hong are friendly with each other, but they're not especially close. Their relationship is very good, just not great. The same goes for Koakuma as well.
>Sakuya Izayoi - Contrary to popular belief, Meiling and Sakuya do in fact get along reasonably well. You would say that Sakuya considers her a friend easily enough. Now Meiling, on the other hand, may carry a bit of a torch for Sakuya. In some of her efforts in the kitchen, and her gardening projects, Meiling has been said to have mused, "I hope Sakuya-san likes this" or words to that extent. You yourself have tried to get Sakuya to 'warm up' in terms of her relationships, but Meiling has done so as well, and rather frequently. You've never heard her openly express that sort of attraction towards your head maid, but you have heard enough to make you wonder.
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>Nod. "Yes, I believe it might work, given how the rumors among the staff imply Meiling has a bit of a thing for Sakuya. You know, she sometimes wonders if Sakuya would like something or not. Quite amusing really, I've tried to get Sakuya to warm up to her more really. So this plan could work out without me having to resort to my gamble."
-
>Nod. "Yes, I believe it might work, given how the rumors among the staff imply Meiling has a bit of a thing for Sakuya. You know, she sometimes wonders if Sakuya would like something or not. Quite amusing really, I've tried to get Sakuya to warm up to her more really. So this plan could work out without me having to resort to my gamble."
>"I think that would be the course of action. Especially since, if it works, nobody needs to get hurt at all, assuming it all works well. If Lust and Meiling can disrupt Sakuya's grip on Pride, you can use your power and control over Sakuya to split the two of them apart. And once they're separated, Tsumiko can recall Pride before he tries anything else."
>"But do you think Meiling would agree to being inhabited by Lust?" Celes asks.
>"Inhabited?" Youmu inquires of her. "You mean possessed?"
>"No, I mean inhabited. There's a difference." Celes looks between you and the samurai. "Tsumiko could explain it better than I, but Lust wouldn't be possessing Meiling. 'Possession' implies overriding control, which is what you saw with the likes of Envy and Sloth and Gluttony. And what Pride tried to do with Sakuya. However, with Meiling's consent, Lust would enter her body and use her power to amplify the bond of affection between Meiling and Sakuya. It would be cooperation, not control. Two beings sharing one body for a common goal."
-
>"Well, the best way to find out would be to ask her. Knowing how she is, she'll likely agree if it means getting back the Sakuya we all care about."
>Nod. "Also, I'll be sure to give Pride a good punch later on when all of this has blown over. He's the one who started this mess by trying to take Sakuya."
>And then give Celes an aside glance. "It's better than what Flan would do, I can say that for certain. He'll at least survive a hit from me."
-
>"Well, the best way to find out would be to ask her. Knowing how she is, she'll likely agree if it means getting back the Sakuya we all care about."
>Nod. "Also, I'll be sure to give Pride a good punch later on when all of this has blown over. He's the one who started this mess by trying to take Sakuya."
>And then give Celes an aside glance. "It's better than what Flan would do, I can say that for certain. He'll at least survive a hit from me."
>"Very well. Where would Meiling be right now?"
-
>"She was having a rather spirited-though friendly-match with your own guard when I last saw her."
-
>"I must say, that Sabine woman is a mite impressive herself. I wouldn't mind testing her out myself sometime."
>Fistpalm. "after a while, once everyone's recovered and gotten their affairs in order from all this mess, I was considering having a little tournament between the Mansion and the Keep. For fun's sake, and seeing how everyone stacks up against their counterpart from the other house."
>Smile slightly. "After all, it never hurts to know the strength of your allies. And a little exhibition tournament is the perfect way to not only do that, but integrate you of the Keep with the others of Gensokyo. I myself have little parties and open houses every so often, because what's the point of having wealth and prestige if you don't show it off every now and again, hmm? Besides, it's fun. I daresay this keep could have quite a few enjoyable times in that regard. And who knows? Maybe it will even help cleanse this place of the former owner's influence."
-
>"She was having a rather spirited-though friendly-match with your own guard when I last saw her."
>"Then she'll be somewhere outside."
>"I must say, that Sabine woman is a mite impressive herself. I wouldn't mind testing her out myself sometime."
>Fistpalm. "after a while, once everyone's recovered and gotten their affairs in order from all this mess, I was considering having a little tournament between the Mansion and the Keep. For fun's sake, and seeing how everyone stacks up against their counterpart from the other house."
>Smile slightly. "After all, it never hurts to know the strength of your allies. And a little exhibition tournament is the perfect way to not only do that, but integrate you of the Keep with the others of Gensokyo. I myself have little parties and open houses every so often, because what's the point of having wealth and prestige if you don't show it off every now and again, hmm? Besides, it's fun. I daresay this keep could have quite a few enjoyable times in that regard. And who knows? Maybe it will even help cleanse this place of the former owner's influence."
>"She can be somewhat simple, at times, but her skills are unquestionable."
>"I think that would be an excellent idea. And it would help us acclamate to Gensokyo, as well. We are a bit out of date."
>"Oh, and about Meiling." Celes adds. "Is she the type to abandon a fight in the middle? In Sabine's case, it normally takes something quite drastic to get her to stop a fight she's involved in."
-
>"Not usually, most people here enjoy a good scrap when they can get one. And the fact that everyone uses danmaku most of the time means that a good fistfight is a breath of fresh air to her. Danmaku isn't her strong point you know, much better at hand-to-hand. But I'm confident enough that if she hears it's to save Sakuya, she'll drop what she's doing and come running. That protective nature of hers makes her such an excellent gatekeeper you know, even if she's a tad simple at times herself. I loan her some outside-world comics every now and again you know, mostly the action sort geared towards young men. I myself prefer the ones that get you to thinking. Like this one about a human who found this book that could kill whomever's name is written in it. Lovely read that one, quite thrilling."
(It is canon that Remi loans Hong manga at times you know.)
-
>"Not usually, most people here enjoy a good scrap when they can get one. And the fact that everyone uses danmaku most of the time means that a good fistfight is a breath of fresh air to her. Danmaku isn't her strong point you know, much better at hand-to-hand. But I'm confident enough that if she hears it's to save Sakuya, she'll drop what she's doing and come running. That protective nature of hers makes her such an excellent gatekeeper you know, even if she's a tad simple at times herself. I loan her some outside-world comics every now and again you know, mostly the action sort geared towards young men. I myself prefer the ones that get you to thinking. Like this one about a human who found this book that could kill whomever's name is written in it. Lovely read that one, quite thrilling."
>Celes gestures towards the silvered knife in her hand. "Will you still be needing this, then?" she asks cautiously.
-
>"Keep it on hand as a backup in case this plan fails. If it does, we'll have to fall back on my little gamble. Shall we go fetch Hong?"
>Let's go!
-
>Let's go!
>Go where?
-
>To the place we last saw Hong at, the Main Gate!
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>"Keep it on hand as a backup in case this plan fails. If it does, we'll have to fall back on my little gamble. Shall we go fetch Hong?"
>To the place we last saw Hong at, the Main Gate!
>"I always keep it on hand." Celes replies, sounding just a touch relieved.
>You inform Celes and Youmu where you last saw Meiling. Before she sets off, Celes asks you, "Would you mind if I investigate the throne room quickly before we return to the gate? I recognize the sound of Lust's danmaku from the throne room, but not who she is battling."
-
>"...Perhaps I should see as well. We can't have her out of commission before the plan's enacted after all."
>Let's go with her then!
-
>"...Perhaps I should see as well. We can't have her out of commission before the plan's enacted after all."
>Let's go with her then!
>"A fair point."
>The three of you make your way back towards the throne room, at a decent pace, and you recognize the sound of the other danmaku pattern, now that you focus. It is Meiling's. That's a mixed blessing. It saves you having to look for her, and it means she probably got the better of Sabine. On the other hand, if she's dueling Lust now, that could take away energy both of them might need later.
>Just outside the door, Youmu asks, "I think I recognize that sound, is that China?"
-
>Facepalm. "Bollocks. I'd know that sound anywhere."
>Let's go in and see what's going on now.
-
>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.
-
>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?"
-
>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."
-
>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."
-
>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."
-
>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."
-
>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.
-
>"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."
-
>"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.
-
>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."
-
>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."
-
>"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."
-
>"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.
-
>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."
-
>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?"
-
>"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."
-
>"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.
-
>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?"
-
>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?"
-
>"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."
-
>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."
-
>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.
-
>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."
-
>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.
-
>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.
-
>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."
-
>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."
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>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."
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>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..
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>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..
>Meiling hesitates. "Please don't push her TOO hard, Remilia. We just need her a little off-balance, not too far. Well, hopefully, anyway."
>Leaving Meiling and the otehrs behind, you reenter Sakuya's room. She is currently lying down upon the bed, her arms behind head, staring at the ceiling. The window has been repaired, showing no sign of damage.
-
>Raise an eyebrow. Magic certainly has it's uses. Perhaps we could benefit from putting a similar spell on the Mansion then. After repairs of course. We'll have to ask how they did it.
>"Well, still not given up on that folly of yours?"
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>Raise an eyebrow. Magic certainly has it's uses. Perhaps we could benefit from putting a similar spell on the Mansion then. After repairs of course. We'll have to ask how they did it.
>"Well, still not given up on that folly of yours?"
>"I have been contemplating my present situation."
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>"And what conclusion have you reached? Will you forsake everything for power? Or give up on that power to reclaim the important things you've already had?"
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>"And what conclusion have you reached? Will you forsake everything for power? Or give up on that power to reclaim the important things you've already had?"
>"At the moment, I have reached no conclusion. I have not had sufficient time yet to consider all the possibilities and consequences of what I am becoming, and the role that I felt was mine."
-
>How does she sound? Contemplative? Is there any unease, any regret or hesitation in her voice?
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>How does she sound? Contemplative? Is there any unease, any regret or hesitation in her voice?
>Her voice is very hard to read. Very measured, precise, formal. The clipped, practiced tones of a very dutiful person speaking with another.
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>Come to think of it, did she ever speak this formally prior to Pride's influence?
>"In my opinion, you don't need to absorb Pride to refine yourself. The main thing Humans have going for them is that while they start off poor at something, they can grow far superior at it with sufficient practice. And you yourself were already skilled enough that you have no need for Pride's augmentation. If anything, it would actually weaken you in a way. It would essentially lock you in one spot, stagnant, and unchanging....Just as I ended up when I became a Vampire."
-
>Come to think of it, did she ever speak this formally prior to Pride's influence?
>"In my opinion, you don't need to absorb Pride to refine yourself. The main thing Humans have going for them is that while they start off poor at something, they can grow far superior at it with sufficient practice. And you yourself were already skilled enough that you have no need for Pride's augmentation. If anything, it would actually weaken you in a way. It would essentially lock you in one spot, stagnant, and unchanging....Just as I ended up when I became a Vampire."
>Only on excessively formal moments, such as when you were entertaining especially prim and proper guests.
>"You have never expressed regret at your present life status before." Sakuya observes.
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>"Well, I am using it as a comparison. As a Vampire, I'm stuck as I am. Merging completely with Pride would do the exact same thing to you, except you would no-longer be the Sakuya that everyone cares about. You wouldn't even be the you that you are now. You, and Pride, would completely cease to be. No soul to recall, nothing, only the memories within the hearts and minds of those who knew you. What would replace you two, I know not. But, that would not be anyone I would allow contact with Flandre, or the Mansion."
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>"Well, I am using it as a comparison. As a Vampire, I'm stuck as I am. Merging completely with Pride would do the exact same thing to you, except you would no-longer be the Sakuya that everyone cares about. You wouldn't even be the you that you are now. You, and Pride, would completely cease to be. No soul to recall, nothing, only the memories within the hearts and minds of those who knew you. What would replace you two, I know not. But, that would not be anyone I would allow contact with Flandre, or the Mansion."
>Sakuya rises to a standing position. "The uncertainty you must be facing is not unknown to me. From your perspective, what is happening to me is, indeed, not unlike what occurs when a human becomes a vampire. However, I am still Sakuya Izayoi. The Countess and her servants would have told you by now, my pride in my role as your servant is what allowed me to overcome Pride's possession of me. That hasn't changed since I overcame Pride. It won't change once I absorb the Sin completely." Sakuya smiles. "I'm still Remilia Scarlet's perfect servant, and you are still the perfect master, despite what has transpired here tonight. I say, without hesitation, that you were proud of me before. You will be even more proud of me once this process is complete. I ask only your patience, and your faith in me."
-
>This should be the right time for Hong to cut in, yes?
>"For now, you are. But once you fully absorb Pride, I will no-longer consider you Sakuya, or even my servant. So you can understand that I have no faith in you as of current."
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>This should be the right time for Hong to cut in, yes?
>"For now, you are. But once you fully absorb Pride, I will no-longer consider you Sakuya, or even my servant. So you can understand that I have no faith in you as of current."
>Seems like it to you.
>"I do understand, and I had hoped that you would be able to overcome your selfish nature to see things from my perspective. To overcome your short-sightedness to see that all that would be gained would far outweigh anything that might have been lost." Despite the only slight change in the tone of her voice, you have the distinct impression that she is disappointed in you. She opens her mouth to speak again, but the first syllable comes out as a strangled sound, and her eyes drift to the doorframe behind you.
-
>"Ah, yes, Meiling is here as well."
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>"Ah, yes, Meiling is here as well."
>"Meiling?" Sakuya says, her voice finally sounding a bit less measured and practiced.
>Sure enough, Hong has chosen this moment to make her presence felt, her body now framing the door, her vivid eyes fixed gently on Sakuya's face in a gaze full of naked adoration. "Yes, Sakuya-san. It's me." She tilts her head just a touch, lowering her eyelids. "I've been worried about you."
>"You seem... different." Sakuya's eyes look Meiling up and down. Then do so again. You can sense the power growing in the air, flowing from Meiling. It is a force unlike anything you've ever felt before. You wouldn't call it any form of attack, at least not any kind you can identify.
>Meiling gives Sakuya a slow nod, before taking a step forward. "I'm not really 'different', but I have changed a little. You see, Sakuya-san, for a long time, I was afraid. Afraid of what I really felt, afraid that it was wrong, that it was unwelcome, that it would only bring chaos to the mansion." Her gentle, loving smile shadows, a bittersweet twinge. "That I would only get hurt. But more than that, I was afraid that YOU would get hurt, Sakuya-san."
>"What are you talking about?" Sakuya demands as Meiling takes another step forward. Sakuya takes a half-step backwards. You're not sure she even realizes that she did. Her eyes haven't moved from Meiling once.
>"I know how you feel, Sakuya-san. About more than you think I do. I always thought that, if I told you what I really wanted to, what I've wanted to for years, that it would make you feel awkward. That it would hurt how you do your job, and I know how much it means to you. But right now, Sakuya-san, I'm not afraid." Meiling says confidently, pressing forward, her loving gaze pinning Sakuya in place. For the first time in a very long time, your maid seems... flustered. Nervous. Maybe even scared. She's a calm and collected person normally, and has been even more so tonight, but that seems to be unraveling now. On an impulse, you pull in your focus to analyze Sakuya's line of fate. It's working. The bond between Sakuya and Pride is fluctuating. Not only from the external force of Meiling and Lust's efforts, but it seems to be pulsating from the inside as well. Whether this is the work of Pride or Sakuya herself, or maybe even both, you can't tell.
>"I don't want to hide the truth from you anymore, or lie to myself." Meiling presses on. A gentle and warm aura of pink light surrounds her. Sakuya takes a sharp breath and tenses her legs, like one about to bolt, but she can't seem to finish the motion. Just in case, you ease back a little and put yourself between Sakuya and the door, just in case she tries to make a run for it, should she break her near-paralysis.
>The red-headed youkai stops right in front of Sakuya. "I'm only sorry that it's come to this here, instead of home, but I hope you'll forgive me for that." The skin under her eyes flushes. "Honestly, I can think of a lot of places I'd rather have said this than a stranger's guest room, but..."
>Sakuya's mouth works for a moment before she manages to blurt out, "Say what?"
>Hong's response is not with words. She reaches slowly out and takes Sakuya's left hand in hers. Your maid responds with an expression you haven't seen on her in a very, very long time: she blushes. And not just a little touch of pink, her whole face flushes red, practically glowing in color.
>Your senses register a large disruption upon Sakuya's fate line. The connection between Sakuya and Pride is being assaulted from two sides and from within, and cracks are appearing between the two beings' fates. And Sakuya herself seems almost oblivious to your presence; Meiling has her attention completely diverted from you. The time is now!
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>Alright, let's act now! Cleave the two fates apart! Cut Pride's Fate free of Sakuya's!
>...And while we're at it, let's look through the rest of her fate to cut down anything similar that would be deemed unfavorable.
>And to strengthen that, let's re-tie Sakuya's fate to the rest of the Mansion's residents. She's our maid, not some cheap village bike, and we'll be damned if some outside force tries to rob her from us again!
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>Alright, let's act now! Cleave the two fates apart! Cut Pride's Fate free of Sakuya's!
>With Meiling grasping Sakuya's left hand, you lunge forward and take a hold of her right. Physical contact affords you a clearer look at the fates in question. Meiling's love opened a crack between Sakuya and Pride, a form of attack Sakuya had not anticipated. Was not capable of dealing with. And that crack is the crack you can exploit.
>Metaphysically jamming your fingers into the gap between Sakuya and Pride, you work to pry the two of them apart. Despite the fluctuations up and down the line of fate, the mixture of the two resists your efforts stubbornly. It's still Sakuya, and she's still convinced she knows better than you. The sensation is like trying to crush a handful of diamond in your bare hands. The strain is horrendous, and you feel beads of sweat trickle down your forehead from the effort. Even with Meiling working from the other side, you think, for one fleeting moment, that even all of this won't be enough, so stuck together the two beings are.
>But you are Remilia Scarlet. The being you are trying to save is Sakuya Izayoi. There is no room for doubt. There is no time for hesitation. 'Determination' isn't quite the right word, as that implies the possibility of failure. You are certain, beyond any and all doubt, that you will succeed. You will have your Sakuya back.
>With a herculean effort, a strained cry escapes your body, as the connection between Sakuya and Pride weakens. Loosens. Tears. And finally, with a physical sound not unlike the tearing of rock, collapses completely.
>Sakuya herself stumbles and falls forward, into Meiling's arms, her eyes closed and her body unmoving. From out of her body, grasped in your hand, you pull the physical form of Pride, looking as it did in your vision: an 'idealized' Sakuya. Not only have you separated their fates, you have physically separated them, as well. Pride, like the real Sakuya, is unmoving, seemingly unconscious, and you have to catch her still form before she falls over and hits the ground.
>Meiling looks back towards the door and cries, "Tsumiko, now!"
>From behind you, you sense a surge in power and the Keeper's voice calls, "Pride, Return!" The false Sakuya in your arms glows a deep blue before her whole body transmogrifies into blue energy, the sensation very strange against your skin. The Sin's energy leaps forward out of your grip, and flies into the outstretched hand of Tsumiko the Keeper. The stripe on her face turns a matching royal blue.
>...And while we're at it, let's look through the rest of her fate to cut down anything similar that would be deemed unfavorable.
>And to strengthen that, let's re-tie Sakuya's fate to the rest of the Mansion's residents. She's our maid, not some cheap village bike, and we'll be damned if some outside force tries to rob her from us again!
>The dramatic separation of Sakuya and Pride has left your maid's fateline somewhat unstable at the moment. It is almost impossible to see her future at the moment, even for one as skilled as you. And while you CAN alter it, given its current instability, any alteration you make has the potential to have unforeseen side-effects.
>Do you wish to proceed?
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>We'll hold off on shoring it up until later then, when it's stabilized.
>"Phew....That was rather taxing, I must admit. But we managed it."
>Beat.
>"Ah, you can get out of Hong now, Lust. I think we've had more than enough people getting possessed or inhabited for quite some time. I can certainly say that I've had enough of it."
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>We'll hold off on shoring it up until later then, when it's stabilized.
>"Phew....That was rather taxing, I must admit. But we managed it."
>Beat.
>"Ah, you can get out of Hong now, Lust. I think we've had more than enough people getting possessed or inhabited for quite some time. I can certainly say that I've had enough of it."
>Meiling holds the still form of Sakuya securely in her arms. Without taking her eyes off her, Meiling says to you, "It's interesting that you issue that command before asking about Sakuya at all."
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>"I'm just tired of dealing with all this, alright? How is she anyhow?"
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>"Besides, her fate extends well into the future, so I know she'll be fine."
>Even if it's unstable at the moment, the fact that she still has a fate prooves that much.
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>"I'm just tired of dealing with all this, alright? How is she anyhow?"
>"Besides, her fate extends well into the future, so I know she'll be fine."
>Even if it's unstable at the moment, the fact that she still has a fate prooves that much.
>"You should be happy, Remilia." Meiling counters, smiling easily, looking fondly down at the maid in her grasp. "It worked. Neither one of us was sure it would, but... here she is. Safe and sound."
>Looking Sakuya up and down would seem to confirm that statement. Sakuya's hair has fallen out of its braids, hanging loose, and seems just a bit longer than normal, but there is no wounds you can detect at all. Considering the strain put on her being by the days leading up to tonight, and everything that's happened tonight, you would not be at all surprised if she woke up with the worst headache of her life, but at least she'll wake up as herself, not some abomination fusion between Sakuya and something else.
>"Looks like you didn't need me after all." Reimu's voice comes from behind Tsumiko, as the miko herself walks up to stand just behind ther Keeper. "Next time I get a possession incident, you three can handle it for me."
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>Sigh in that relieved, but worn-out way. "This was a last-ditch method though. But at least it worked."
>Let's pull ourselves back up to our feet if we aren't on them. "Now then. Your job in this little matter has ended, Lust. Hong and I can handle things just fine from here. So if you would?"
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>Sigh in that relieved, but worn-out way. "This was a last-ditch method though. But at least it worked."
>Let's pull ourselves back up to our feet if we aren't on them. "Now then. Your job in this little matter has ended, Lust. Hong and I can handle things just fine from here. So if you would?"
>You have remained standing, though you do feel a touch on the fatigued side. You're glad that worked, as you'd hate to have to do it again.
>"She's right, Lust." Hong says out loud. "They'll all be all right now."
>The feathered wings that Meiling sprouted when Lust went inside her appear once more, and beat but once, now shimmering with pink and blue twinkling lights, preceding the form of the Sin spirit Lust departing Meiling, in a somewhat less 'intimate' manner than she inhabited her. Her own appearance has changed again, now appearing as a beautiful green eyed woman with long silver hair, a braid tied halfway down her back, clad in a navel-baring ensemble consisting of a blue crop-top and a long white, blue and pink skirt.
>Despite the loss of her supporting spirit, Meiling doesn't slump like the kappa at the Myoren temple did, remaining composed and upright, keeping her grip on Sakuya. She does, however, turn her head towards Lust, the hint of a blush under her eyes. "Thank you." she says quietly.
>Lust nods gently, her green eyes sparkling. "You take care of her now, sweetie."
>"You know I will." Meiling says confidently, hoisting Sakuya's sleeping form into what it called the 'princess carry'.
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>"Well done, Meiling. And Lust, I am grateful for your aid."
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>"Well done, Meiling. And Lust, I am grateful for your aid."
>Meiling simply smiles at your praise, while Lust nods in your direction, saying "Any time, Miss Scarlet. I live to help. And I'm happy that Miss Izayoi is back to her old self, as well. But, you might want to give her a day or two off. I'd guess this separation put a lot of strain on her, even if it doesn't show."
>"You sure don't act like a 'Sin'." Reimu comments dryly.
>Tsumiko, the stripe on her face turning from blue to white, says, "I told you, Lust is different than most of the others. She and Greed are a lot closer to a self-actualized entity than the other four."
>"Four?"
>"Wrath's an exception." Tsumiko says, mentioning that Sin in a tone slightly hushed. "It stands apart from the other six in nearly all things." The Keeper shakes her head, as if to banish that thought, and asks you, "If you don't mind me asking, Miss Scarlet, what did she mean about your sister? She said something about 'making imouto-sama whole'?"
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>"...Let's just say that Rei's not the only unstable one. I had sent Sakuya out to find a means to remedy that, which is how she got into this mess. This time I'll personally take care of it. Sakuya's stubborn insistence didn't exactly go over well you know, and I'd like to avoid a repeat performance of this mess. We got lucky this time."
>Then sigh. "I might also have a guess as to where Greed might be, by the way. In the Forest of Magic resides a young magic-user called Marisa Kirisame. She's well-known for her fondness for casual theft, and penchant for blowing things up. So if there's anyone aside from Reimu that Greed would gravitate towards, it's her. I haven't seen her for about four months, but I wouldn't put it past Greed to be drawn to her."
>"As for Wrath, I might have a hunch on that, but I'm not certain. I might be able to deduce it easier by checking your fate, and using that to locate Wrath's. From there, I should be able to follow it to the current and see if my hunch is correct."
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>"...Let's just say that Rei's not the only unstable one. I had sent Sakuya out to find a means to remedy that, which is how she got into this mess. This time I'll personally take care of it. Sakuya's stubborn insistence didn't exactly go over well you know, and I'd like to avoid a repeat performance of this mess. We got lucky this time."
>The Keeper blows at the lock of hair that falls into her eyes. "Well, she wasn't wrong. A Sin can increase someone's power by magnitudes, depending on the nature of the fusion. Now that this problem is solved, it's possible that one of my Sins could help your sister. I'm willing to try, at least, once I get Greed and Wrath back. And if I can't, the Countess would be willing to try, I know for sure."
>Then sigh. "I might also have a guess as to where Greed might be, by the way. In the Forest of Magic resides a young magic-user called Marisa Kirisame. She's well-known for her fondness for casual theft, and penchant for blowing things up. So if there's anyone aside from Reimu that Greed would gravitate towards, it's her. I haven't seen her for about four months, but I wouldn't put it past Greed to be drawn to her."
>"As for Wrath, I might have a hunch on that, but I'm not certain. I might be able to deduce it easier by checking your fate, and using that to locate Wrath's. From there, I should be able to follow it to the current and see if my hunch is correct."
>"Whaddya mean, aside from me?" Reimu asks.
>"You DO sort of have a reputation." Meiling replies cautiously.
>Reimu folds her arms across her chest. "Greedy my ass."
>"I appreciate that, Miss Scarlet, but I don't think you'll have much luck at reading my fate."
>Lust adds, "The Keeper's fate is tied up with seven other beings. We cause interference. A scryer visited us about two hundred years ago, and trying to read the Keeper's future kinda messed with his head."
>"Regardless, I should be able to find those two on my own, once Gluttony and Envy are returned to me. And Miss Toramaru said she would attend to that, once she saw this incident resolved."
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>"I think you'll understand that I'd rather not have the Sin Spirits meddling with her, they've already done enough as it is. Besides, her issue is no matter of power or spirit, but of the mind. I already have a lead as it is to begin with. I have Sakuya's earlier efforts to thank for that."
>Nod. "About that fate thing though, I was not intending to use Tsumiko's future, but rather, her past. Find the 'now', then work back to when the sins split away. Then locate Wrath's thread, and then use that to find Wrath's 'Now'. Besides, I am far superior to any mere fortune-teller. I can affect the very threads themselves. That, Sin and Sin-Keeper, is how I broke Pride free. Incidentally, once Pride's recovered, I intend to give Pride at least one good punch, on principle you understand. Nothing lethal I can assure you, I just have to keep up my principles. Pride did cause quite a lot of trouble for all of us after all, and I doubt this experience will be enough to teach Pride a lesson."
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>"I think you'll understand that I'd rather not have the Sin Spirits meddling with her, they've already done enough as it is. Besides, her issue is no matter of power or spirit, but of the mind. I already have a lead as it is to begin with. I have Sakuya's earlier efforts to thank for that."
>Nod. "About that fate thing though, I was not intending to use Tsumiko's future, but rather, her past. Find the 'now', then work back to when the sins split away. Then locate Wrath's thread, and then use that to find Wrath's 'Now'. Besides, I am far superior to any mere fortune-teller. I can affect the very threads themselves. That, Sin and Sin-Keeper, is how I broke Pride free. Incidentally, once Pride's recovered, I intend to give Pride at least one good punch, on principle you understand. Nothing lethal I can assure you, I just have to keep up my principles. Pride did cause quite a lot of trouble for all of us after all, and I doubt this experience will be enough to teach Pride a lesson."
>"I do understand." Tsumiko replies, though she does look a bit disappointed. "After everything that's happened, I would like to make amends to the people the loose Sins affected, though."
>"It wasn't your fault what happened, Tsumiko." Lust says quickly.
>"Just don't let it happen again." Reimu adds.
>"I wouldn't be sure of that, Miss Scarlet." Tsumiko says about Pride. "Nothing like this has ever happened to any of the Sins. Pride's been beaten before, but never like this. And Miss Izayoi's efforts did a lot of damage to Pride. I'll have to put him to sleep for a while to help him recover; right now, I wouldn't even want to channel his power, let alone materialize him."
>"He did ask me to pass on a message to you, though. If you wanted to hear it."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "I'll hear it. Also, if you really do wish to make amends for their trouble-making ways, then you should instead find those who Envy and Gluttony Possessed. And be sure to make it up to those that Greed and Wrath may have Possessed as well."
>Who do we know of that would be a good candidate for Wrath to attempt to Possess?
>Then smirk a bit. "Although, if you know what magic it was that restored the broken window, then by all means, I'd be willing to accept that as a means of making amends. I can't tell you how often the Mansion gets damaged between Marisa's intrusions, and my own little sister's...'moods'. So having a magic to restore damages such as that would be quite useful."
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>Raise an eyebrow. "I'll hear it. Also, if you really do wish to make amends for their trouble-making ways, then you should instead find those who Envy and Gluttony Possessed. And be sure to make it up to those that Greed and Wrath may have Possessed as well."
>He wanted me to tell you, 'You should be proud of your servant, Remilia. She's a better and stronger woman than you know.'"
>Who do we know of that would be a good candidate for Wrath to attempt to Possess?
>Despite a lot of powerful people nursing a lot of old grudges in Gensokyo, there's not a lot of people who you would consider truly the 'angry' sort, at least not that would go well with this Wrath.
>Except maybe two. Those immortals, Fujiyama no Mokou and Kaguya Houraisan. They've despised each other for hundreds, if not thousands of years. You believe they've been killing each other every other day for the past century straight. From your experience, neither one of them would be particularly angry as a rule, but that sort of grudge, that enmity, could very well be attractive to Wrath. You're just not sure which one would be the angriest of the two.
>Then smirk a bit. "Although, if you know what magic it was that restored the broken window, then by all means, I'd be willing to accept that as a means of making amends. I can't tell you how often the Mansion gets damaged between Marisa's intrusions, and my own little sister's...'moods'. So having a magic to restore damages such as that would be quite useful."
>"Uh..."
>"I can answer that." Celes' voice comes from the hallway. Reimu steps furthur into the room to allow the Steward to enter. "Sakuya herself did that. I asked her when I checked on her status before. She reversed the window's time to before it was broken."
>"Didn't know she could do that." Reimu admits.
-
>"Hm. She wouldn't have been able to do that normally methinks. Not without intense exertion that is. I assume it was thanks to the boost in power she had from attempting to absorb Pride."
>Nod. "Tell me, would Wrath, by any chance, be drawn to a long-standing grudge? Such as, perchance, one that could very well have lasted for a thousand years?"
>Fistpalm. "Ah yes, I had almost forgotten. But I think you shall need to seal their possession ability, that's the only thing that I could see that would cause issue with you and the others becoming unsealed. Not many people take kindly to being possessed after all. Yourself being the exception, as they were born from you to begin with. Perhaps they could take up jobs relating to their specialties even. I daresay that Pride could benefit from taking up Winemaking really, the Keep's gardens would be quite conducive to that methinks. Magic could also help in that regard."
>Beat.
>"Ah, that gives me another idea. Tsumiko, could I borrow you and Lust for a bit? I want to run an idea past you two that I've been wondering on the answer to for a while now."
>Let's make for the door, and motion for the two to follow us with a slight smile. "Let's leave Hong and Sakuya to themselves for a while, hm?"
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>"Hm. She wouldn't have been able to do that normally methinks. Not without intense exertion that is. I assume it was thanks to the boost in power she had from attempting to absorb Pride."
>Nod. "Tell me, would Wrath, by any chance, be drawn to a long-standing grudge? Such as, perchance, one that could very well have lasted for a thousand years?"
>"I would think so." Tsumiko agrees. "If we hadn't been able to get the two of them apart, there's no telling how much power over time she would have had."
>"It's certainly possible."
>"You thinking about the princess and Mokou?" Reimu asks. "Makes sense, they've hated each other for ages."
>Fistpalm. "Ah yes, I had almost forgotten. But I think you shall need to seal their possession ability, that's the only thing that I could see that would cause issue with you and the others becoming unsealed. Not many people take kindly to being possessed after all. Yourself being the exception, as they were born from you to begin with. Perhaps they could take up jobs relating to their specialties even. I daresay that Pride could benefit from taking up Winemaking really, the Keep's gardens would be quite conducive to that methinks. Magic could also help in that regard."
>Lust and Tsumiko exchange a look. "Miss Scarlet, the Sins weren't born from me."
>Beat.
>"Ah, that gives me another idea. Tsumiko, could I borrow you and Lust for a bit? I want to run an idea past you two that I've been wondering on the answer to for a while now."
>Let's make for the door, and motion for the two to follow us with a slight smile. "Let's leave Hong and Sakuya to themselves for a while, hm?"
>"Sure." Reimu and Celes depart the room first, while Meiling turns towards the door as well. Somewhat surprisingly, she seems unrattled by your tease.
>"I'll take her home, Remi." Meiling informs you.
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>Raise an eyebrow. "Strange. The way you spoke, I had assumed they were."
>Then nod to Reimu. "Yes, those are who I was thinking of. It's hard to tell which one Wrath would be more drawn to though. But if either of them is just as stubborn as Sakuya, then we might have a problem on our hands."
>Pass a smile back to Hong, an honest one this time. "Keep an eye on her now, you hear? And have Patche give her a look-over as well, she might have some residual energies from Pride that I think she can use to further her own studies. I plan to have Patche weave a spell to prevent things from possessing her again, and have that same spell applied to Patche, Koa, and yourself as well. I don't want a repeat of this little incident at all, from any sort of source. Oh, and make sure she stays in bed, my orders."
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>Raise an eyebrow. "Strange. The way you spoke, I had assumed they were."
>Then nod to Reimu. "Yes, those are who I was thinking of. It's hard to tell which one Wrath would be more drawn to though. But if either of them is just as stubborn as Sakuya, then we might have a problem on our hands."
>Tsumiko shakes her head, and her hair falls into her eyes again. "I'd be more than willing to tell you how I came to be what I am, but it is a lengthy story."
>"That'd be an incident right there. But it probably wouldn't be Mokou. If it were, then we'd probably see the fire from here, and Yukari would already have gapped me back."
>Pass a smile back to Hong, an honest one this time. "Keep an eye on her now, you hear? And have Patche give her a look-over as well, she might have some residual energies from Pride that I think she can use to further her own studies. I plan to have Patche weave a spell to prevent things from possessing her again, and have that same spell applied to Patche, Koa, and yourself as well. I don't want a repeat of this little incident at all, from any sort of source. Oh, and make sure she stays in bed, my orders."
>"Understood, Remilia. I'll take care of her."
>"Knowing her, though, she's going to ask about you when she wakes up, so how long do you think you'll be here?"
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>Look to Hong. "I shouldn't be too long, I do plan to get back by sunrise after all. I just have a few small things to do here anyways, mostly concerning setting things up for the SIns, and arranging things with Eriza involving Rei's future. The girl copied my Servant Flier technique after all, it isn't every day you find a youngling like her who can mimic an Elder after all."
>Then gesture towards Tsumiko and Lust. "In private, if you would? I have a little idea that needs looking into, and I think you two have the right skills for the job."
>Let's make our way to a nearby side-room.
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>Look to Hong. "I shouldn't be too long, I do plan to get back by sunrise after all. I just have a few small things to do here anyways, mostly concerning setting things up for the SIns, and arranging things with Eriza involving Rei's future. The girl copied my Servant Flier technique after all, it isn't every day you find a youngling like her who can mimic an Elder after all."
>"If you wanted to be home by sunrise, perhaps you'd best leave soon." Celes advises. "It won't be long before sunrise as it is. Alternatively, if you wished to stay longer, that can easily be arranged. In the meantime, Hong-san, I can escort you to the nearest exit. I trust you'd rather depart in a less dramatic manner than you arrived."
>"That's a good idea. And Meiling is fine." she adds as she falls in next to Celes. "Remilia's about the only one that calls me Hong."
>Then gesture towards Tsumiko and Lust. "In private, if you would? I have a little idea that needs looking into, and I think you two have the right skills for the job."
>Let's make our way to a nearby side-room.
>"This should be interesting." Lust says sideways tone as you, her and Tsumiko leave the room, walk down the hall, and enter into a room on the left, one furnished rather like the one Sakuya was in, though with different artwork. This one features a japanese style shrine with a dancing miko on the south wall, and a geisha playing a koto on the east wall. This room has no window.
>"So what's on your mind, Miss Scarlet?" Lust asks you.
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>Smirk slightly, and close the door.
>After making sure there's no eavesdroppers; "I have a plan for a little trick to pull on Reimu. Recall what you did with me earlier. I think it would be both amusing and interesting to see her 'Ideal'."
>Chuckle slightly. "How amusing though, that this room has a Miko for decoration, and we're discussing one. Irony? Or perhaps Fate."
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>Smirk slightly, and close the door.
>After making sure there's no eavesdroppers; "I have a plan for a little trick to pull on Reimu. Recall what you did with me earlier. I think it would be both amusing and interesting to see her 'Ideal'."
>Chuckle slightly. "How amusing though, that this room has a Miko for decoration, and we're discussing one. Irony? Or perhaps Fate."
>While Lust grins, Tsumiko merely gasps. "You want to prank a Hakurei? Are you crazy? She'll bury us all."
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>Smirk a bit. "Well, not necessarily prank, per se, merely see what her 'Ideal' is. And maybe see what her reaction to seeing it would be. She's a stubborn and irascible one you know, I think it would be nice to see her all red and flustered for a change."
>Look from side to side in a slightly exaggerated way. "Don't say I told you this, but if anyone registers at least six out of the seven sins, it's her."
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>Smirk a bit. "Well, not necessarily prank, per se, merely see what her 'Ideal' is. And maybe see what her reaction to seeing it would be. She's a stubborn and irascible one you know, I think it would be nice to see her all red and flustered for a change."
>Look from side to side in a slightly exaggerated way. "Don't say I told you this, but if anyone registers at least six out of the seven sins, it's her."
>"Besides, you shouldn't worry that much about her." Lust says to her Keeper. "This Hakurei beat all of us, but we're all still here. The worst she did was wallop Sloth with that huge ball of hers. Times have changed since we first got here. I don't think we need to be really afraid of her."
>"Maybe, but she's still a Hakurei, and all that power..."
>"I think you ought to loosen up, girl." Lust says with a grin.
>Tsumiko winces, then sighs quietly. "You know what could happen, right?" she asks you.
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>Chuckle slightly. "Well, she won't kill us, that much is for sure. She's relatively easygoing after an Incident's been resolved. In fact, shortly after my own little Incident was brought to a close by her, I visited her at the Shrine. In fact, even people who have caused potentially dangerous incidents have been let off rather easily. There was a ghost who stole spring to unseal a certain dangerous cherry tree. That was resolved partially by Hakurei, partially by Kirisame, and partially by my own chief maid. So I know the outcome of that one due to her reports. Said ghost is still very much around and not sealed."
>Smirk. "Besides, Yakumo pesters her all the time, she needs to be pestered by someone else for a change. Mix things up as it were. Girl's too serious and grumpy as it is, she could do with getting flustered a bit."
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>Chuckle slightly. "Well, she won't kill us, that much is for sure. She's relatively easygoing after an Incident's been resolved. In fact, shortly after my own little Incident was brought to a close by her, I visited her at the Shrine. In fact, even people who have caused potentially dangerous incidents have been let off rather easily. There was a ghost who stole spring to unseal a certain dangerous cherry tree. That was resolved partially by Hakurei, partially by Kirisame, and partially by my own chief maid. So I know the outcome of that one due to her reports. Said ghost is still very much around and not sealed."
>Smirk. "Besides, Yakumo pesters her all the time, she needs to be pestered by someone else for a change. Mix things up as it were. Girl's too serious and grumpy as it is, she could do with getting flustered a bit."
>"Well, honey, there's flustered, and then there's flustered." Lust says, leaning on Tsumiko's back and resting her ample bosom atop her Keeper's head. Tsumiko seems only mildly uncomfortable at the position.
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>"True, I'm talking about the embarrassed babbling, red-in-the-face sort."
>Smirk a bit. "It would be rather amusing to see the normally stoic and grouchy Reimu behave like that for a change."
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>"True, I'm talking about the embarrassed babbling, red-in-the-face sort."
>Smirk a bit. "It would be rather amusing to see the normally stoic and grouchy Reimu behave like that for a change."
>Lust clucks her tongue and pouts ever so slightly. "Oh, I can do much better than that."
>Tsumiko smiles, almost apologetically. "She IS still Lust, after all."
>"And I do love what I am." Lust adds with aplomb.
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>Chuckle, and keep smirking slightly. "We don't want to overdo it, do we?"
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>Chuckle, and keep smirking slightly. "We don't want to overdo it, do we?"
>"We don't?"
>"Perhaps not on the first date, Lust?" Tsumiko suggests.
>The Sin pouts again. "But she's a delicious miko."
>"You can't eat her." Tsumiko says firmly.
>Lust laughs a gay little laugh, then removes her breasts from her Keeper's head. "But seriously, I do enjoy that sort of thing, as long as it doesn't cause any harm. And I think it'll be worth a bit of a thrashing, if she's the sort that does that when she gets embarrassed."
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>Sigh. "I don't know if there even will be another 'date'. But a little joke at her expense is worth it."
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>Sigh. "I don't know if there even will be another 'date'. But a little joke at her expense is worth it."
>"Hey, we're here to stay now." Lust says confidently. "And this Hakurei's a lot cuter than the one we met. And a lot more... permissive. And I mean that in the normal sense, seeing as how, as you've said, trouble-makers get off relatively easy nowaways. Two centuries ago, none of us would still be here after meeting a Hakurei, after an incident like this. Plus it was fun watching her drop that big ol' orb on Sloth's head. I like that type."
>"Don't suppose you have anyone else you'd like me to... Joke with? After we're done with dear miss Reimu, of course."
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>"No, Reimu will be enough, as there's already been quite enough Sin Spirit related trouble of late. This is merely the proverbial keystone in the arch."
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>"No, Reimu will be enough, as there's already been quite enough Sin Spirit related trouble of late. This is merely the proverbial keystone in the arch."
>"Well, that just leaves the one question." Lust answers which a positively cat-like grin. "When and where?"
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>"Hmm...That is a good question. How about at the Hakurei Shrine? I'll be able to give you a specific time once I've found out how long Sakuya will be in recovery."
>Sakuya certainly wouldn't want to miss out on seeing Reimu all a-fluster, would she?
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It's my first time posting in the Party Games section so I'm a bit excited and hoping my reply flows well with the story.Let's see....
>Once the business with Lust and Tsumiko is taken care of and we have rejoined the others ,shouldn't we restock our blood supply and take a replacement for the pulverized blood in vial?
>After all sundering those two fates was rather taxing,satisfying but still taxing ,besides with sunrise approaching and both Greed and Wrath still on the loose it's better to be safe than sorry.
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>"Hmm...That is a good question. How about at the Hakurei Shrine? I'll be able to give you a specific time once I've found out how long Sakuya will be in recovery."
>Sakuya certainly wouldn't want to miss out on seeing Reimu all a-fluster, would she?
>"I'll be waiting with baited breath."
>This sort of avenue is really more of your field of entertainment than Sakuya's. Then again, Sakuya isn't big on entertainment in general. She really can be a bit of a stick in the mud.
It's my first time posting in the Party Games section so I'm a bit excited and hoping my reply flows well with the story.Let's see....
>Once the business with Lust and Tsumiko is taken care of and we have rejoined the others ,shouldn't we restock our blood supply and take a replacement for the pulverized blood in vial?
>After all sundering those two fates was rather taxing,satisfying but still taxing ,besides with sunrise approaching and both Greed and Wrath still on the loose it's better to be safe than sorry.
>In human terminology, you have a very efficient digestive system. There are times when you can go months between consuming blood, depending on your stress and activity level. Even after a night like this, you have yet to hunger, and while you probably COULD drink, it wouldn't be very much, perhaps only as much as... half a shot glass, if not less.
>As for your emergency back-up blood, Sakuya usually takes care of that as soon as you exhaust your current dose. Depending on her health when she wakes up, this may require outsourcing a little, but you're confidant she has something in mind for that. She may be a bit stodgy at times, but she's very thorough, especially when it comes to you.
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>Hmm...What do we know of Yukari to know if she would find this amusing or not?
>Well, we likely haven't found the sort of entertainment she likes yet. Perhaps Opera, or something of the sort. Perhaps Der Freisch?tz would be a good choice.
>Ah, but who would play the leading roles of Caspar, Max, Agatha, the 'Hermit', and Samiel? Well, given how Samiel was a demon, perhaps we could fill that role. After all, being nobility means we have to know how to perform well!
>Hmm...What sort of love triangles do we know of? We might be able to use that somehow to make the performance better, and maybe even bring a little resolution.
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>Hmm...What do we know of Yukari to know if she would find this amusing or not?
>Well, we likely haven't found the sort of entertainment she likes yet. Perhaps Opera, or something of the sort. Perhaps Der Freisch?tz would be a good choice.
>Ah, but who would play the leading roles of Caspar, Max, Agatha, the 'Hermit', and Samiel? Well, given how Samiel was a demon, perhaps we could fill that role. After all, being nobility means we have to know how to perform well!
>Hmm...What sort of love triangles do we know of? We might be able to use that somehow to make the performance better, and maybe even bring a little resolution.
>From what you know about Yukari, this would very much be up her alley. How you could contact her, you're not sure, but if she's as big a spy/irritant as Reimu's claimed, she may already know about your plan.
>A Gensokyo-styled opera. That might be worth selling tickets for, provided you can drum up some extra actors. Not the sort of thing you'd rope your fairies into. Apart from perhaps that Rainy Stars girl, she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders.
>Reputedly, Marisa is remarkably popular with the ladies, so you wouldn't be entirely surprised if she was the first point in a love triangle. Or two. You are reasonably sure there's one fixture on her right side already, and that's that dollmaker Margatroid who lives in the forest of magic. As for who'd be on the left side, that, you're less sure of. You know Patchouli could, and probably would, be attracted to Marisa, if the witch would just stop breaking into the library and pilfering her books. You're not sure just how far, on either side, Patchy's emotions range in the area.
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>Fistpalm. "I just had a brilliant idea for something to do while Sakuya's recovering! I'll need to discuss it with Eriza and perhaps Celes as well though, as they might even find it worth participating in if it's intriguing enough."
>What better way to get them integrated than to rope those of this keep into the performance? Aside from the Invitational Tourney that is. After all, Nyx is rather good with a Cello, and we'll need that for the music!
>Let's make for the door. "Are you two going to just stand around? Let's be off!"
>Let's make for the throne room again!
>And, on the off chance that we do end up having to spend the day here, we've found the perfect room to use. Windowless, fine taste in decor, everything a girl of wealth and taste could ask for!
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>Fistpalm. "I just had a brilliant idea for something to do while Sakuya's recovering! I'll need to discuss it with Eriza and perhaps Celes as well though, as they might even find it worth participating in if it's intriguing enough."
>What better way to get them integrated than to rope those of this keep into the performance? Aside from the Invitational Tourney that is. After all, Nyx is rather good with a Cello, and we'll need that for the music!
>Let's make for the door. "Are you two going to just stand around? Let's be off!"
>Let's make for the throne room again!
>And, on the off chance that we do end up having to spend the day here, we've found the perfect room to use. Windowless, fine taste in decor, everything a girl of wealth and taste could ask for!
>By jove, you seem to have stumbled upon an idea. This being Gensokyo, any opera may inevitably end up involving danmaku, but you'll cross that bridge when you get there. And then of course there's the giant octopus who will try and drop a 10 ton weight atop Celes, but that's just icing on the cake.
>As you remark on the Countess' VIP room, you make your way back towards the throne room. And meet Rei on her way back there, as well, carrying an expensive looking silver tray laden with half a dozen empty tea cups and pot with steam coming out of the spout, and wearing a pink and white apron over her clothes.
>She instantly freezes when she lays eyes upon you.
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>Nod towards her with a relatively relaxed and jovial smile. "Rei...Ah! Seeing you gave me another brilliant idea! I was on my way to the Throne Room to discuss an idea I had with Eriza and Celes, and I think you might be perfect for a certain role! I trust you know how to sing, yes? You'll need to be able to for my plan to work out properly."
>We may well have found the 'Agatha'. Which means we'll need to cast Reisen as either Max or Caspar. But who will be the opposite number?
>Then laugh. "Don't worry yourself, things have gotten rather smooth by now, as I have no issues with Eriza....Though I can't entirely say the same for some of the Sin Spirits, but that's 'par for the course', as they say in the outside world."
>Let's move on for the throne room with Rei in tow!
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>Nod towards her with a relatively relaxed and jovial smile. "Rei...Ah! Seeing you gave me another brilliant idea! I was on my way to the Throne Room to discuss an idea I had with Eriza and Celes, and I think you might be perfect for a certain role! I trust you know how to sing, yes? You'll need to be able to for my plan to work out properly."
>We may well have found the 'Agatha'. Which means we'll need to cast Reisen as either Max or Caspar. But who will be the opposite number?
>Then laugh. "Don't worry yourself, things have gotten rather smooth by now, as I have no issues with Eriza....Though I can't entirely say the same for some of the Sin Spirits, but that's 'par for the course', as they say in the outside world."
>Let's move on for the throne room with Rei in tow!
>Your disarming repartee does little to make the fledgling look any more comfortable. You can imagine what she must be feeling. The Countess probably told her, at the least, not to do anything to you, but considering her extreme emotional state, it's probably hard for her to accept that when she has the idea that you could be a threat to Eriza.
>"It's true, Rei. Our plan to get Pride out of Sakuya worked, and now she's on her way home. I'd say she made out better than Pride did, Pride will be a while recovering from this one."
>This also doesn't do much to make Rei look less tense, but then Lust, indicating the fledgling's tray, remarks, "Maybe you'd best take that to the Countess?" That jolts Rei out of her locked position, and she actually proceeds you into the throne room.
>The throne room is much livelier than when you were here last. Leraije, Ranka, Nyx and that samurai Sei are all present now, joining Shou, Reisen, Eriza, Youmu and Honoka. Youmu and Sei are speaking quietly with each other, though you note Sei is giving Honoka a long look. The flame youkai, currently in midair, is alternating between returning that look and speaking with Ranka, who is floating in front of her. Seeing the blonde indoors is a bit of a surprise.
>Reisen is still seated at the table, conversing with Shou, Leraije, Nyx and the Countess. Needless to say, Leraije's voice is the loudest in the room, her hands gesticulating grandly as she describes her battle with Ranka to the Countess.. Rei is presently distributing tea to the Countess and those around her. Reimu and Kogasa are no longer in evidence.
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>Stride on in with that sort of satisfied air one can only get from having finally resolved something, then find a seat near Eriza, taking whatever one she indicates.
>"It worked. And, I had yet another brilliant idea for integrating this keep into Gensokyo. Tell me Eriza, are you familiar with with Germanic Operas? Specifically, Der Freisch?tz."
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>Stride on in with that sort of satisfied air one can only get from having finally resolved something, then find a seat near Eriza, taking whatever one she indicates.
>"It worked. And, I had yet another brilliant idea for integrating this keep into Gensokyo. Tell me Eriza, are you familiar with with Germanic Operas? Specifically, Der Freisch?tz."
>The Countess doesn't note your presence before Nyx does, who jerks her head towards you to the Countess. "They're back, boss." The three of them, Eriza, Shou and Leraije, all turn to look your way. The Countess beckons you towards the empty seat in front of her, and you sit yourself down.
>After you inquire about Eriza's knowledge of the opera genre, Nyx, Shou and Leraije burst out laughing, while Eriza and Tsumiko chuckle.
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>Chuckle slightly. "I'll take that as a yes."
>"At any rate, I hit upon an idea that one could feasibly accomplish even in your currently-diminished condition. I haven't really opened up Gensokyo to 'Proper Opera' just yet, largely due to so few people not knowing much of it. But as nearly all of you from the Keep hail from the West, just as I do, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity."
>Smirk. "You might think that since the opera's most common subtitle is 'Magic Bullet Shooter', that it's nothing unusual for Gensokyo. But that tale is quite a different bird."
>Then look to Leraje slightly. "As she's familiar with the the marksman's arts, I daresay she knows it all too well."
>In combat, or at rest, she seems to be the loudest one of a group no matter what, hm? Almost like a Fairy.
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>Chuckle slightly. "I'll take that as a yes."
>Eriza presses two fingers to her lower lip, stilling her laughter. "Not exactly, Remilia. You... Well, you surprised us."
>Nyx, still giggling, says, "You came here hell-bent on rescuing your maid, and now that it's done, you immediately move on to another project?"
>"We had expected you to return to your home with Sakuya-san, or at least discuss the matter further with us, at least in terms of prospective compensation from me." The Countess expounds.
>"Maybe gloat a little about your victory." Nyx adds with a smirk.
>"Maybe she's just passionate about opera?" Leraije remarks, before laughing again, prompting an answering giggle from the demon Nyx. The cannoneer doesn't seem to be loud on purpose, merely possessing the sort of voice that naturally projects itself, like an actor's.
>"At any rate, I hit upon an idea that one could feasibly accomplish even in your currently-diminished condition. I haven't really opened up Gensokyo to 'Proper Opera' just yet, largely due to so few people not knowing much of it. But as nearly all of you from the Keep hail from the West, just as I do, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity."
>Smirk. "You might think that since the opera's most common subtitle is 'Magic Bullet Shooter', that it's nothing unusual for Gensokyo. But that tale is quite a different bird."
>Then look to Leraje slightly. "As she's familiar with the the marksman's arts, I daresay she knows it all too well."
>In combat, or at rest, she seems to be the loudest one of a group no matter what, hm? Almost like a Fairy.
>"We'll leave that for now, ladies." Eriza tells the both of them. "If the Scarlet Devil wishes to discuss matters of the arts now, that is her prerogative." The Countess then adjusts herself in hear seat and leads forward. "May I presume that you are proposing you and your friends join with me and mine to perform a European-styled Opera, here in Gensokyo?"
>"What's an opera?" Shou asks.
>Nyx supplies, "It's a bunch of twiggy men and overweight women in horny helmets screaming at the top of their lungs for hours on end."
>Leraije, somewhat surprisingly, slaps the demon upside the head.
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>Smirk slightly. "Among other people. You see, I know of a few people who would fit the roles quite admirably. And not just members of our houses. You see, Der Freisch?tz is, at it's root, a love triangle in a way. Agathe, the pure heroine. Max, the misguided and wayward hero. And Caspar, Max's rival, and later nemesis. I can think of at least two to three people suited for these roles. And they're in this very room. Rei is the one best-suited out of all of us to play the role of Agathe, being what amounts to pure and innocent as far as Vampires go. Logically, due to their relations, Reisen is best suited for the role of Max or Caspar. I myself will claim the role of Samael, the 'Black Huntsman', and the devil responsible for the Seven Magic Bullets. Nyx might qualify for that role, as it's the sole speaking role, but I would rather make certain that it's done properly."
>Smile slightly. "Sakuya never was one for entertainment after all, but I never really tried showing her Opera."
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I can't help but twitch just a little when I read all that - is it really appropriate? As inexperienced as I am, enlisting half the house in an opera (including Rei, who appears to be anything but comfortable around us) would not be on my mind directly following upon the rescue of perhaps our second-most loved person in the world...
I shan't call to suspend this command, but it seems just... eh, iffy.
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It's for Sakuya's sake to begin with. Something for her to enjoy watching once she's recovered enough to be awake.
The way I see it, the reason why she isn't much for entertainment, is because we haven't found the sort she enjoys.
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Ah, I see...
Go on ahead.
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>Smirk slightly. "Among other people. You see, I know of a few people who would fit the roles quite admirably. And not just members of our houses. You see, Der Freisch?tz is, at it's root, a love triangle in a way. Agathe, the pure heroine. Max, the misguided and wayward hero. And Caspar, Max's rival, and later nemesis. I can think of at least two to three people suited for these roles. And they're in this very room. Rei is the one best-suited out of all of us to play the role of Agathe, being what amounts to pure and innocent as far as Vampires go. Logically, due to their relations, Reisen is best suited for the role of Max or Caspar. I myself will claim the role of Samael, the 'Black Huntsman', and the devil responsible for the Seven Magic Bullets. Nyx might qualify for that role, as it's the sole speaking role, but I would rather make certain that it's done properly."
>Smile slightly. "Sakuya never was one for entertainment after all, but I never really tried showing her Opera."
>Rei blanches visibly as you mention her name. She draws a bit closer to Eriza, and does nothing to disguise the move.
>Reisen, while not uncomfortable, does not look enthusiastic about your suggestion. "I don't think so, Remilia. I'm not much of an actor, or singer, much less both. Plus... I actually don't even know what an opera is."
>Nyz and Leraije exchange another look. "Definitely passionate." the cannoneer remarks, and Nyx nods deeply. Now that you're closer to Leraije, you can see she's a rather fetching lass. Her long black hair is finely textured, and hangs over part of the right side of her well defined face, concealing one of her rich green eyes. Her short-sleeved purple body suit is rather form fitting, despite its understated exterior, and fits around a very shapely form. A simple cord of pink and white pearls decorate her neck, and a pair of emerald-studded silver bracelets encircle both wrists. She isn't your type, the green-painted fingernails are a turnoff for you, but you can see her turning some heads here and there. When she's not shouting or blasting danmaku, of course.
>"Knows her operas, too." Nyx replies, clearly amused. The demon gives you a smirk. "You always like this? One mission down, move on to the next one? Or is opera a special case?"
>That draws a chuckle from Shou, Leraije and Reisen. Even Rei cracks a smile.
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>Chuckle slightly. "Opera's little more than singing spiritedly in a way really, even a child could do it. But I suppose you could say that I do like moving from one goal to the next. What better way to get the Keep integrated quicker, without needing to wait for Eriza to recover much? Opera's a low-exertion task after all, you simply need to be able to sing."
>Let's size up those present, and see their potential for roles.
>"Opera is, simply put, telling a story via song. That sort of thing is common throughout the outside world, in the form of Chinese Opera, and various Oral Traditions. In fact, it is from those roots that what is now known as Modern Opera sprouted."
>Smirk a bit. "A lady like myself would simply have to know these things after all. I'm sure you know how it is, Eriza?"
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>Let's size up those present, and see their potential for roles.
>Your ability to gauge the acting potential is rather limited by the fact that you've never seen any of them act before. But your intuition has seldom let you down before (not often, anyway) so you let that guide your impressions. Leraije certainly has a good acting voice- at least, she'd have no trouble making herself heard. And she seemed animated in her description of her duel with Ranka. There might be an actor lurking in that one.
>Nyx has a pleasant enough voice, but that by no means she could make a good actor or singer. She does have musical talent, at least with instruments, so even if she isn't the sort to be on stage, she would do well in an orchestra.
>As much as you'd like to be able to work with Rei, if you're honest with yourself, you doubt she has the focus and emotional control for any sort of stage work right now. You know she would definately try, if Eriza ordered her too, but that doesn't mean it would be a successful experiment. Especially when you consider that proximity to you is plainly causing her a great deal of discomfort.
>Youmu is a bit too stiff, too serious, to be an actor, nor can you really picture her as a singer. The other samurai, the Countess' Sei, is likely cut from the same bolt of cloth, so that probably rules her out as well. Likewise with Honoka. She has a passion for fair fights, but how you could turn that to the stage, that baffles you.
>Ranka has potential, you think, if you can get her to stay still and focused long enough. Opera, though, might not be her forte, you have to admit. She strikes you more as the 'pop idol' type than the 'opera' type. Still, it may be worth investigating.
>Reisen.... now she has potential. Despite her claim, you have the impression that she has a perfectly lovely singing voice. But she is somewhat modest, so getting her involved in an opera might take a bit of work on your part. Perhaps you could go through Eirin. Dealing with that Lunarian wouldn't be your first choice, but considering Reisen's evident loyalty to her Master, Reisen would go along with it if Eirin ordered her to.
>Shou herself may or may not have the opera in her, but her presence does remind you of something Byakuren said when you were at the Myoren temple before. That organization seems to have made it their mission to help all youkai however they can. That would certainly include helping Eriza and her crew acclimate to Gensokyo. They'd certainly see the value in a show of this sort.
>Chuckle slightly. "Opera's little more than singing spiritedly in a way really, even a child could do it. But I suppose you could say that I do like moving from one goal to the next. What better way to get the Keep integrated quicker, without needing to wait for Eriza to recover much? Opera's a low-exertion task after all, you simply need to be able to sing."
>"Opera is, simply put, telling a story via song. That sort of thing is common throughout the outside world, in the form of Chinese Opera, and various Oral Traditions. In fact, it is from those roots that what is now known as Modern Opera sprouted."
>Smirk a bit. "A lady like myself would simply have to know these things after all. I'm sure you know how it is, Eriza?"
>"Sing and act, and dance, as I recall." Eriza adds. "Depending on the show, of course. And operatic singing is a bit more demanding than your average English ballad, let us be fair, Remilia."
>Eriza smiles somewhat wistfully. "The opera was always more of my husband's interest, and my sire's, as well. I haven't seen an opera myself since... I believe it was 1797, when I saw a production of The Barber of Seville. A friend of mine was one of the performers."
>"It was 1795, Countess." Sei corrects absently, the first words you've actually heard her say. "When we were in Sofia."
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>"Hmm...Interesting. From what my intuition tells me, quite a few of those present may well have what it takes."
>Look to Reisen with a slight smirk. "Despite what you say, I am fairly certain you have what it takes, my intuition hardly ever lies after all. You should be more confident in that regard dear, this could be your 'big break', so to say."
>Nod. "Let's see, You, Youmu, are a mite too stiff and serious for it, sad to say. Sei might well have the same problem, but Leraje could very well hold the potential. Honoka is a wildcard really, I can't quite read her properly. Shou however, I can certainly read, and she seems to have that spark. And I daresay helping out with a production like this falls within their goals of helping others, no?"
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>"Hmm...Interesting. From what my intuition tells me, quite a few of those present may well have what it takes."
>Look to Reisen with a slight smirk. "Despite what you say, I am fairly certain you have what it takes, my intuition hardly ever lies after all. You should be more confident in that regard dear, this could be your 'big break', so to say."
>Nod. "Let's see, You, Youmu, are a mite too stiff and serious for it, sad to say. Sei might well have the same problem, but Leraje could very well hold the potential. Honoka is a wildcard really, I can't quite read her properly. Shou however, I can certainly read, and she seems to have that spark. And I daresay helping out with a production like this falls within their goals of helping others, no?"
>"If I may, Remilia." Eriza interjects. "If you're proposing an idea such as this, I assume that you have a suitable venue for a show of this nature?"
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>Our ballroom should be sufficient, yes? It might need a few..modifications, though.
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>Our ballroom should be sufficient, yes? It might need a few..modifications, though.
>Not only do you have a ballroom, you have a functional theater, capable of seating 125 individuals. It hasn't been used in some years, but you're sure Sakuya has kept it in decent shape.
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>"Indeed I do own more than a simple ballroom in Scarlet Devil Mansion. A whole theater has been long waiting to be used for such a purpose! We just have to wait for Sakuya to recover and we're ready to set it up. And do not worry,Eriza,Gensokyo is devoid of opera so nobody would expect nothing of a professional performance but for us pouring our best efforts.Glance around the room for a bit : "By the way has anyone seen where Reimu and her umbrella friend have gone?I had half an idea to include them in our spectacle too.Especially Reimu,that poor dear needs to loosen up a bit and be more....lively "*grin*
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Here man, lemme fix that.
>"Indeed I do own more than a simple ballroom in Scarlet Devil Mansion. A whole theater has been long waiting to be used for such a purpose! We just have to wait for Sakuya to recover and we're ready to set it up. And do not worry, Eriza, Gensokyo is devoid of opera so nobody would expect nothing of a professional performance. But for us pouring our best efforts."
>Glance around the room for a bit : "By the way, has anyone seen where Reimu and her umbrella friend have gone? I had half an idea to include them in our little show too. Especially Reimu,that poor dear needs to loosen up a bit and be more....lively." Smirk.
Flows a bit better now, doesn't it?
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>"Indeed I do own more than a simple ballroom in Scarlet Devil Mansion. A whole theater has been long waiting to be used for such a purpose! We just have to wait for Sakuya to recover and we're ready to set it up. And do not worry,Eriza,Gensokyo is devoid of opera so nobody would expect nothing of a professional performance but for us pouring our best efforts.
>The Countess laughs quietly. "Well, it seems you've your heart set on the matter." She folds her hands and brings her joined fingers up to rest under her chin, then glances over her shoulder. "Sei?"
>The blue clad samurai glances over, then bows formally to Youmu, before backing up a step, turning, then walking towards you.
>The Countess continues, "Sei is far more versed than opera than I am, Remilia. If you're looking for a performer, or for someone to help you put this show on, Sei is the best of all of us for that goal."
>Sei moves up to stand to Eriza's left side, then bows to you, her hand resting comfortably atop her daisho. "I am Sei Senoue. As the Countess has said, I am well versed in most forms of oriental theater, and many forms practiced in Europe, Russia and the middle east. Though I admit, I am not as familiar with German opera as I am with English theater or Spanish operas. Still, I am at least somewhat familiar with the production you speak of."
>Glance around the room for a bit : "By the way has anyone seen where Reimu and her umbrella friend have gone?I had half an idea to include them in our spectacle too.Especially Reimu,that poor dear needs to loosen up a bit and be more....lively "*grin*
>Reisen informs you, "Reimu and Kogasa left while you were speaking with Tsumiko. She said she wanted to find the other two Sins before dawn, if she could."
>The Countess nods. "I informed her that Tsumiko would be able to track them, once Envy and Gluttony were restored to her, but Reimu did not want to wait. She said, 'I'm not about to leave the two of them out there. Just be a bigger headache later.'" Eriza does a very good impression of Reimu's voice. A being of less sensitive hearing might be fooled.
>"Which reminds me." Shou says, standing up. "I should be going to attend to that now. Now that Sakuya's been freed, Hijiri will want to know about this." The tiger youkai turns to you and adds, "I'm glad things worked out for you, Scarlet-san."
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>Well, we found a use for the old Theater, rescued Sakuya from herself, and even made a few possible friends. Today's gone rather well, all things considered.
>Nod towards Shou. "I'm rather glad she's safe as well. I can only hope she hasn't become rebellious from this little incident, she was rather intent on absorbing Pride after all. She did intend on helping with a little long-standing quest of mine with that, but such help is more harm than good. No point in losing more than you gain, it would have become a Pyrrhic Victory."
>Then look back to Sei, and bow slightly. Have to always be polite after all. "Remilia Scarlet, though I believe you already know who I am. You'll find that the Voile Library, located at my mansion, is filled with many useful manuscripts on these matters. Among others. I daresay that if one loves to read, it is akin to heaven on earth."
>Smirk slightly. "I have a special fondness for Germanic and Nordic myths, legends, and fables you know. So it's obvious that I would choose something of that nature, being something I know rather well."
>Come to think of it, Voile's rather like that one library we read about, the fabled 'Great Library of Alexandria', isn't it? It has almost every single manuscript in existence.
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Here man, lemme fix that.
Flows a bit better now, doesn't it?
Thanks a bunch! It really does show all my attention was focused on text so I forgot a > command detail :derp:
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Thanks a bunch! It really does show all my attention was focused on text so I forgot a > command detail :derp:
It'll become almost automatic, with more experience. I have to stop myself sometimes from adding >'s when I'm writing stories outside of this fourm.
>Well, we found a use for the old Theater, rescued Sakuya from herself, and even made a few possible friends. Today's gone rather well, all things considered.
>Nod towards Shou. "I'm rather glad she's safe as well. I can only hope she hasn't become rebellious from this little incident, she was rather intent on absorbing Pride after all. She did intend on helping with a little long-standing quest of mine with that, but such help is more harm than good. No point in losing more than you gain, it would have become a Pyrrhic Victory."
>All in all, this has been one of the most interesting days you've had since that Celestial decided to throw her weight around a few years ago.
>"I don't think you have to worry too much about her, Miss Scarlet." Tsumiko says. "Sakuya may have been the one dominating Pride, but she was still influenced by him. I couldn't say how profound that influence was, but there was some, for certain. Now that they're both back where they should be, that shouldn't be a problem anymore."
>Lust takes a step towards Shou. "I'll be happy to take you back to the entrance, Toramaru-san."
>Shou smiles at her. "Thanks, but that's necessary." The tiger youkai points towards the gaping hole in the ceiling. "I'll take the same exit Reimu and Kogasa did."
>The Sin pouts. "I bet you don't want my company."
>As Nyx and Leraije chuckle, Shou looks a touch flustered, but Tsumiko is the next one to speak, "Lust, what have I told you about teasing monks?"
>The winged Sin merely laughs. "I couldn't help it, Keeper. She's cute."
>Rather admirably, Shou composes herself, thanks Lust for the compliment, and takes to flight, departing through the vaguely Sabine-shaped hole in the ceiling.
>Then look back to Sei, and bow slightly. Have to always be polite after all. "Remilia Scarlet, though I believe you already know who I am. You'll find that the Voile Library, located at my mansion, is filled with many useful manuscripts on these matters. Among others. I daresay that if one loves to read, it is akin to heaven on earth."
>Smirk slightly. "I have a special fondness for Germanic and Nordic myths, legends, and fables you know. So it's obvious that I would choose something of that nature, being something I know rather well."
>Come to think of it, Voile's rather like that one library we read about, the fabled 'Great Library of Alexandria', isn't it? It has almost every single manuscript in existence.
>"Obvious, indeed." the samurai agrees, as the other samurai, namely Youmu, walks over and takes a seat next to Reisen. "I presume that these manuscripts are in Japanese? I have not spoken German in over one hundred years. Well, I suppose it would be two hundred years now."
>You suspect Alexander the Great would drool over the resources to be found in Patchy's demesne.
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It'll become almost automatic, with more experience. I have to stop myself sometimes from adding >'s when I'm writing stories outside of this fourm.
True true.Picking up habits.
＞Check time until dawn and wheter the nightsky is clear or not.
＞Ponder about how residents of the mansion are holding up,particularly Patchouli and Flandre.Flandre....
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>Nod to Sei. "Most of them, though some are in other languages as well. Some still in use, others not. But Patche can easily translate them, she actually lives in that library you know. Quite dedicated to books she is. I daresay it has even surpassed that mythical library of old, the Great Library of Alexandria."
>Then look back to Tsumiko. "Well, you can be assured that I'll be keeping a much closer eye on her. And a tighter leash."
>Smirk somewhat, and chuckle a bit. "'Leash', I really know how to pick my words don't I? You know, some people call her 'The Dog of the Scarlet Devil', but she's no dog. But rather, a Wolf. And one that is rarely ever lacking in fangs at that. If there's something amiss in Gensokyo that I deem worthy of involving myself in, I'll usually dispatch her to handle it for me. But now I realize that I'll have to be doing things myself for a while, at least until I can ensure she won't ever go on another power trip again. Besides, she's already brought me rather useful news on a solution to something, despite what she may have thought. It seems my next destination after a little recovery and the like will be the Underground."
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＞Check time until dawn and wheter the nightsky is clear or not.
＞Ponder about how residents of the mansion are holding up,particularly Patchouli and Flandre.Flandre....
>The time is now 5:25 AM.
>You take a moment to think about your friends and family back at the mansion. While it feels like a long time, you really haven't been gone all that long. Patchouli has gone much longer than this without seeing you in person, and you did stop in to meet them both before heading out to find the Countess. Knowing Patchy, she probably finished work on that barrier spell you asked her to complete, and the Koakuma would have sent her to bed. Or at least tried to. And Flan is... Well, you know better than to try and predict what she's up to at any point. But you know she hasn't gotten out, or you'd likely be able to hear the explosions from here.
>Although, you do wonder about those Rageblooms that were flying around. Flandre's pretty securely insulated against nearly all forms of airborne contaminants, but the library isn't. And Patchouli's substandard immume system is the stuff of legend. If one of those flowers had got near the mansion, there's a decent chance Patchy would have been affected. Although perhaps not, since the spores were at least somewhat magical, or at least unnatural, and that's something right up Patchouli's alley.
>Nod to Sei. "Most of them, though some are in other languages as well. Some still in use, others not. But Patche can easily translate them, she actually lives in that library you know. Quite dedicated to books she is. I daresay it has even surpassed that mythical library of old, the Great Library of Alexandria."
>Then look back to Tsumiko. "Well, you can be assured that I'll be keeping a much closer eye on her. And a tighter leash."
>Smirk somewhat, and chuckle a bit. "'Leash', I really know how to pick my words don't I? You know, some people call her 'The Dog of the Scarlet Devil', but she's no dog. But rather, a Wolf. And one that is rarely ever lacking in fangs at that. If there's something amiss in Gensokyo that I deem worthy of involving myself in, I'll usually dispatch her to handle it for me. But now I realize that I'll have to be doing things myself for a while, at least until I can ensure she won't ever go on another power trip again. Besides, she's already brought me rather useful news on a solution to something, despite what she may have thought. It seems my next destination after a little recovery and the like will be the Underground."
>"Your mansion must be quite large, then." Sei grants.
>"Gensokyo has an underground?" Tsumiko asks.
>Reisen nods. "It's mostly Oni that dwell down there, as well as a number of youkai who were once deemed too dangerous to live on the surface and were sealed away. There was a bit of an incident almost two years ago now, though, and people sometimes go back and forth between the surface and the underworld. Not very often, though. The Underworld is still a dangerous place."
>Sei's face goes flat. "Oni."
>"Not the ones you once fought." Youmu assures her quickly. "I have met one myself. She is a friend of Reimu-san, as well."
>That draws a quirk of an eyebrow from the taller samurai. "An Oni befriending an Exorcist?"
>Reisen smiles at her. "Gensokyo's really changed since you first got here. I think you'll be hearing that a lot."
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>Let's have a good and warm laugh. "Indeed, Gensokyo is quite a nice place. Nowadays, Exorcisms are a mere formality for the most part, problems are actually resolved via the Spellcard System."
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>Let's have a good and warm laugh. "Indeed, Gensokyo is quite a nice place. Nowadays, Exorcisms are a mere formality for the most part, problems are actually resolved via the Spellcard System."
>"Except, it seems, in situations such as this." Sei says, glancing at Tsumiko, who lowers her head slightly.
>Eriza rebukes the samurai, though not harshly, "An unfortunate accident wrought by another unfortunate accident. And resolved, with only two outstanding issues that will be handled in due course."
>At this juncture, Celes reenters the throne room, and informs you, "Meiling has departed and is en route back to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Sakuya was showing some signs of coming around, but Yuzuriha predicted it would be a little while yet before she regains consciousness."
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>Nod. "I'll be sure to keep an eye on her."
>If we go at full speed, we should make it home by sunrise, yes?
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>If unable to reach the Mansion before sunrise be sure to take up Eriza's offer of hospitality and ,to be on the safe side, ask to relay a message of your lodging to Patchouli.
>This way you can also check on the possible threat of approaching Rageblooms and eventually devisedcountermeasusers.
>About magical studies,there was that young human with magical potential who is currently recovering at the Kappas' Hospital.When he's healed he will surely be delighted at your invitation of tutoring under Patchy in the Voile libray.
>Yes, this should prove an interesting and amusing experience for both Patchy and yourself.
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>What, exactly, does sunlight do to us? It can't be that bad, given that we've felt it safe enough to simply use an umbrella.
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>Nod. "I'll be sure to keep an eye on her."
>If we go at full speed, we should make it home by sunrise, yes?
>Assuming no stops, you should be able to make it home with ten or fifteen minutes to spare before the sun crests the horizon. Though you would be cutting it fairly close.
>If unable to reach the Mansion before sunrise be sure to take up Eriza's offer of hospitality and ,to be on the safe side, ask to relay a message of your lodging to Patchouli.
>This way you can also check on the possible threat of approaching Rageblooms and eventually devisedcountermeasusers.
>About magical studies,there was that young human with magical potential who is currently recovering at the Kappas' Hospital.When he's healed he will surely be delighted at your invitation of tutoring under Patchy in the Voile libray.
>Yes, this should prove an interesting and amusing experience for both Patchy and yourself.
>Remaining at the Cobalt Keep for the day is also an option, and from what you've seen, Eriza would be happy to relay a message to the Mansion, should you desire her to do so.
>Ah, yes, young Koryu. That one has some potential. Having him at the Mansion would be an interesting thing for all parties concerned. You genuinely can't recall the last time there was a male in Patchy's library at all, that'll be something to see in and of itself. You just don't see all that many men in Gensokyo.
>What, exactly, does sunlight do to us? It can't be that bad, given that we've felt it safe enough to simply use an umbrella.
>The belief that sunlight is deadly to a vampire is a true one. But unlike what some television shows or manga would have you believe, the touch of the sun does not cause instant immolation in vampires, at least not in any vampire older than a fledgling. First contact with direct sunlight causes you great discomfort, and quickly grows into pain. Sunlight IS toxic to you, but it's only direct sunlight. Days that have very dense cloud cover, or a sufficiently thick parasol, are able to keep you from experiencing the effects of direct sunlight.
>It takes about a minute for direct exposure to sunlight to become painful to you, and then it starts to burn. Sunlight burns can take even longer to heal than wounds inflicted from silver, depending on the level of exposure. Both for your pride and for your survival instincts, sunlight is something you'd choose to avoid if you had any choice in the matter at all.
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Well you guys, I think we'll stay at the keep until nightfall, then return home after that. Even with a possible 10-15 minutes to spare, it's not worth risking it.
>"I think that even though I should be able to make it back home with a little time to spare, I won't risk it. Besides, I already know what room I'll stay in either way, it's a rather suitable one for someone like myself. No windows. So it seems I shall be accepting your kind offer. Celes, would you be so kind as to deliver a message to my friend Patchouli as to what's happened, and that I'll be staying here for the day? If she happens to have been affected by the spores spread by the Rageblooms, please go easy on her. Her physical health is not the greatest."
>Pause. "Ah, and could you make sure to bring the texts for Der Freisch?tz as well? Tell her that I've requested them, and that I'm planning an Opera. And I would like my coffin as well, if you can find the help to carry it."
>What do we have on our person that she can use as an item to identify her as a messenger of ours for the time?
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Well you guys, I think we'll stay at the keep until nightfall, then return home after that. Even with a possible 10-15 minutes to spare, it's not worth risking it.
I concur.
> Among other choices consider sending off your empty vial of blood ,in case it's recognizable enough, as it's useless to you right now.
> Looks like the Cobalt Keep will be hosting a cadre of vampires between yourself,Eriza,Rei and even that sleepyhead snuggled up in her pink coffin. Remarks about that particular guest.
>Since Sakuya went so far ahead you can venture the guess that the entrance to the Underground must not be that far.
A funny scenario : If rei is on edge before a friendly Remilia, it's a garantuee she will fly off her rocket :] when her captor wakes up to collect her would-be snack.
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>"I think that even though I should be able to make it back home with a little time to spare, I won't risk it. Besides, I already know what room I'll stay in either way, it's a rather suitable one for someone like myself. No windows. So it seems I shall be accepting your kind offer. Celes, would you be so kind as to deliver a message to my friend Patchouli as to what's happened, and that I'll be staying here for the day? If she happens to have been affected by the spores spread by the Rageblooms, please go easy on her. Her physical health is not the greatest."
>Pause. "Ah, and could you make sure to bring the texts for Der Freisch?tz as well? Tell her that I've requested them, and that I'm planning an Opera. And I would like my coffin as well, if you can find the help to carry it."
>What do we have on our person that she can use as an item to identify her as a messenger of ours for the time?
>Among the items you currently possess, there is your uniquely embroidered handkerchief, your glaive, your hat and your signet ring. You could also pen a short note. Anyone at the mansion would recognize both your handwriting and your seal.
>Celes clears her throat, and glances at the samurai Sei before looking at you. "If that is your wish, then we can certainly oblige. However, if I may be so bold, I would strongly reccomend that you return to your home, for Sakuya's sake. It's entirely possible she will regain consciouness sooner rather than later. If she does, and you were not there, I believe she would be rather distraught. I speak as one servant, on behalf of another."
> Among other choices consider sending off your empty vial of blood ,in case it's recognizable enough, as it's useless to you right now.
> Looks like the Cobalt Keep will be hosting a cadre of vampires between yourself,Eriza,Rei and even that sleepyhead snuggled up in her pink coffin. Remarks about that particular guest.
>Since Sakuya went so far ahead you can venture the guess that the entrance to the Underground must not be that far.
>While it may be empty now, it hardly takes up any inventory space, and you never know when you might need a vial of something. Still, if you wanted to send it back to the Mansion, you can always ask Eriza's messanger.
>What sort of remarks?
>Speculating about the entrance of the Underworld, you wonder if it might be very close to here. On the other hand, the Myorens seemed to have knowledge of the Underworld as well, and they didn't seem to know anything about this Keep or its residents. But then again, there could be more than one entrance to this Underworld, you're not sure. Though if there is an entrance near here, that would be convenient indeed.
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>"Perhaps you are right."
>Could we produce a localized version of the Scarlet Mist and keep it above us as we travel, as protection from the sun?
> If not: "Do you have an umbrella I could borrow, by any chance?"
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>"Perhaps you are right."
>Could we produce a localized version of the Scarlet Mist and keep it above us as we travel, as protection from the sun?
> If not: "Do you have an umbrella I could borrow, by any chance?"
>"It is your choice, of course. But as your maid was not here to speak, as a servant myself, I feel that I can speak for her, in this case at least."
>Production of the Scarlet Mist required specialized reagents to generate. You could substitute blood for the missing chemicals and magics, but the resulting Mist would be more lethal to non-vampires than the one you created before.
>"Of course." Celes replies.
>"I would still like to accompany you, as well." Sei volunteers. "I have some limited magic, and can generate fields of darkness, if the need arises. And I would like to see those manuscripts you spoke of, as well."
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>"It sounds like we have the contingencies covered, then."
>Once we get the umbrella, let's head out.
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>Nod. "Very well then, if you have a love of books, then you will certainly not be left wanting. Voile is quite vast, despite how small my mansion may seem on the outside. I trust you've heard of the fabled Library of Alexandria, yes? It is on par with that legendary repository of texts, tomes, manuscripts, and the like. One might say that Patchouli is addicted to collecting them."
>"I would also advise against attempting to enter the Basement Area, unless you feel that your danmaku abilities are good enough to defeat someone of Reimu's level. Let's just say that only one person outside the mansion ever goes down there often, and she's one of the few who have managed to best me. Well, now that I've said that, let's be off."
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>Nod. "Very well then, if you have a love of books, then you will certainly not be left wanting. Voile is quite vast, despite how small my mansion may seem on the outside. I trust you've heard of the fabled Library of Alexandria, yes? It is on par with that legendary repository of texts, tomes, manuscripts, and the like. One might say that Patchouli is addicted to collecting them."
>"I would also advise against attempting to enter the Basement Area, unless you feel that your danmaku abilities are good enough to defeat someone of Reimu's level. Let's just say that only one person outside the mansion ever goes down there often, and she's one of the few who have managed to best me. Well, now that I've said that, let's be off."
>"Excuse me, I'll fetch that parasol." Celes says as Sei listens to your warnings about Flandre's little zone of the Mansion and the size of Patchouli's realm. You are certain the samurai takes you seriously.
>The Countess Eriza stands, and walks over to stand in front of you, her gait formal and properly noble. "I am glad to have met you, Remilia. It was my pleasure to have you as my guest, and my relief that both you and your servant are leaving us whole and intact." She extends her hand towards you, and you shake it firmly. "The Scarlet Devil and her friends are welcome in the Keep of the Cobalt Countess."
>Behind her, Nyx smirks her agreement, while Leraije grins and nods.
>"It sounds like we have the contingencies covered, then."
>Once we get the umbrella, let's head out.
>"Before you leave, however, I feel I must ask." the Countess says as Celes returns with the parasol, a formal yet modest green and white affair. "I realize that your personal involvement with the Sins has ended, now that Pride and Sakuya have been separated, but if we locate Greed or Wrath before the Hakurei does, did you wish to be informed?"
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> I too am glad to have met you,Eriza.To be fair I was expecting to deal with a lot more trouble when I first heard of the Cobalt Countess and The Keeper.It's wonderful things didn't get out of hand or became messy *smirk*
>Likewise anyone from the Cobalt Keep will be welcome in the Mansion of the Scarlet Devil*smile*. In fact, I had a few ideas to let our two households better socialize between themselves.However those plans will have to wait until the current predicament is completely sorted out to be realized.
>True,the Scarlet Devil Mansion shouldn't have any more reasons to be directly involved but it's also true that Gensokyo as a whole could still suffer some destabilization from Wrath and Greed . And,besides, I promised myself I would get to the bottom of this and that means every last one Sin Spirit will be dealt with.So yes,Eriza,I would really appreciate it if I could be kept up to date.
>If all has been taken care of,let's begin the journey back home!
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Time for Hanzo's Repair Shop to open for business again!
>" I too am glad to have met you, Eriza. To be fair I was expecting to deal with a lot more trouble when I first heard of the Cobalt Countess and The Keeper. It's wonderful that things didn't get out of hand or became messy." Smirk slightly.
>"Likewise, anyone from the Cobalt Keep will be welcome in the Mansion of the Scarlet Devil. In fact, I had a few ideas to let our two households better socialize between themselves. However, those plans will have to wait until the current predicament is completely sorted out to be realized."
>"True, the Scarlet Devil Mansion shouldn't have any more reasons to be directly involved but it's also true that Gensokyo as a whole could still suffer some destabilization from Wrath and Greed . And,besides, I promised myself I would get to the bottom of this and that means every last one Sin Spirit will be dealt with. So yes, Eriza, I would really appreciate it if I could be kept up to date."
>If all has been taken care of,let's begin the journey back home!
>"Though the Sins will need to be on a much tighter leash while they visit, if at all. And perhaps sometime, I'd like to look at Rei's fate. A girl with ability like hers is quite rare, so her fate will likely be quite interesting to see."
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> I too am glad to have met you,Eriza.To be fair I was expecting to deal with a lot more trouble when I first heard of the Cobalt Countess and The Keeper.It's wonderful things didn't get out of hand or became messy *smirk*
>Likewise anyone from the Cobalt Keep will be welcome in the Mansion of the Scarlet Devil*smile*. In fact, I had a few ideas to let our two households better socialize between themselves.However those plans will have to wait until the current predicament is completely sorted out to be realized.
>True,the Scarlet Devil Mansion shouldn't have any more reasons to be directly involved but it's also true that Gensokyo as a whole could still suffer some destabilization from Wrath and Greed . And,besides, I promised myself I would get to the bottom of this and that means every last one Sin Spirit will be dealt with.So yes,Eriza,I would really appreciate it if I could be kept up to date.
>"I had feared, myself, how things would develop once you reached us. I am happy things worked out as they have."
>"I understand. I'll have one of my friends inform you as soon as there's any developments."
>"Though the Sins will need to be on a much tighter leash while they visit, if at all. And perhaps sometime, I'd like to look at Rei's fate. A girl with ability like hers is quite rare, so her fate will likely be quite interesting to see."
>Your mention of her name draws a confused scowl from the fledgling.
>"We can discuss that at another time, I believe." the Countess suggests.
>"Oh, we'll be on our best behavior." Lust assures you. Despite the fact that she helped you extricate Pride from Sakuya, and left Meiling once the job was done, you can't help but wonder if Lust is 100% sincere. She IS Lust, after all, and her 'best behavior' may not jive completely with yours. But that's a worry for another day.
>If all has been taken care of,let's begin the journey back home!
>With your goodbyes said to Eriza and her people, and secure in the knowledge that you can return here again to settle anything that might remain outstanding, you and Sei take to flight, departing the Keep through the Sabine-made hole in the roof. By the looks of the blue and purple colors of the eastern sky, you should be able to make it home without relying on either Sei's magic or her borrowed parasol. Though perhaps only by a matter of minutes.
>There are also lights coming from the main gate of the Keep, the flashes of danmaku. But you don't have time for more than a cursory evaluation as you fly overhead in the direction of the SDM. Yuzuriha is floating just in front of the gate, the two dogs flanking her when you met her in midair to either side of her. All three are exchanging fire with a white haired woman in a midriff-exposing swimsuit of green and black, with what seems for all the world like a helicopter rotor attached to a piece of material connected to her green and yellow shoulder pads. An interesting looking woman, and you wonder what she's doing here, and why she'd dueling with Yuzuriha.
>On the other hand, you don't really have time to stop and investigate an idle curiousity, and if she's using danmaku, which she is, she must not mean any harm to Eriza or her people. And even if she did. Youmu and Reisen are still there as well. You don't see the need to worry about your new friends, and the curiousty can always be satisfied later.
>Admirably, Sei does a remarkable job at keeping pact with your flight speed. She also clearly understands your desire to reach your home before sunrise, so she does not distract you or slow you both with idle conversation. You do, however, spare a moment to probe her for any sign of that tainted power that covered her danmaku that you saw when she was dueling Youmu. But you can't seem to detect it when it is not being used.
>Your course takes you rather near to the Kappa village where you left Koryu recovering from the injuries he suffered purging the kappas of their hate-inducing spores. Do you wish to stop and check on his recovery?
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>We don't really have the time for it, sadly. As much as we'd like to, we'll have to save it for later.
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>We don't really have the time for it, sadly. As much as we'd like to, we'll have to save it for later.
>Koryu seemed to be in good hands, and you've arranged to have your invitation to your mansion delivered to him. And you can always come back tomorrow night and see him, if he's still there. So you opt to let the mixed-blood male lie for now, and focus your speed on returning to your home.
>For some people, finding their way back home from strange territory, without retracing their steps completely, could be very difficult. But vampires possess a kind of homing instinct for their coffin (those that have one) and their home (which the vast majority of vampires have) so you are able to set a ballistic course towards the Scarlet Devil Mansion and be completely confidant that you are going the right way. That'll shave a bit of time off the return trip. Not a tremendous amount, but every little bit helps.
>As you and Sei swing past the southeastern edge of the Warded Grove where you met the Guardian and that youkai bear, the samurai points off to the east. Following her hand, you spy the ruined frame of a Ragebloom lying in a small depression of rocky grassland between a river and a lake. The top half of the thing has been sheared off at an angle. Some miles to the southwest of this one lies another Ragebloom in a field of tall grass, this one seemingly intact but slightly deflated as it rests upon the ground.
>"Are those not the spore-spreading plants you spoke of before?" Sei asks you.
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>"Yes, they are indeed. The Kappa dubbed them Rageblooms, so I can only hope Patchouli is alright seeing as she has rather poor health. Occupational hazard of being a Magician of the alchemist variety you know."
>Let's pick up the pace, but be careful not to lose our little friend here.
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>"Yes, they are indeed. The Kappa dubbed them Rageblooms, so I can only hope Patchouli is alright seeing as she has rather poor health. Occupational hazard of being a Magician of the alchemist variety you know."
>Let's pick up the pace, but be careful not to lose our little friend here.
>It was actually Honoka who coined the term, after she incinerated the remains of the first one, the one you destroyed.
>That notwithstanding, you accelerate once more, but keep a watch on the skies as well, in case any more of the things are still loose and flying through the air. Given the effects they have, but also considering the power of the beings of Gensokyo, you merely hope there weren't too many of the bloody things. Some people could cause some massive damage when enraged, but whatever their source, Reimu will likely get to the bottom of it before nightfall. She has uncanny luck at that sort of thing. And of course if she doesn't, this is one case where you wouldn't mind finishing the job.
>Only once are you and Sei delayed on your way back to your home, a dozen white-clad farirys led by a large redheaded fairy in a gaudy green dress that rise out of a copse of trees on your way towards the Misty Lake. You yourself make short work of the small fries with a barrage of crimson droplet danmaku, while Sei dispatches the big one with a burst of crescent blade-shaped bullets, a delay barely worth mentioning. Sei mentions that fariys, at least, have not changed much since the Cobalt crew's arrival a hundred and twenty years ago.
>Apart from that very minor speedbump, you and Sei make very good time back towards the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Given the level of light in the eastern sky, you should have ten or fifteen minutes to spare. All in all, you and Sei locate seven of the bloody Rageblooms before the SDM comes into view, each of them destroyed in varying forms. The one closest to your house being on the southwestern side of the Misty Lake. Fortunately, the smell of red vomit doesn't permeate the air, that stuff smelled foul. That Ragebloom is half frozen, testament to the power of the ice fairy of the lake.
>Said fairy herself, the ice fairy Cirno, is in the air on the northwest side of the lake, seemingly holding conference with a handful of blue and purple-clad fairys. She could prove to be a bit of an obstacle. On the one hand, she knows your power. On the other hand, she's none too bright, and quite convinced she's the strongest in Gensokyo, and always looking for a chance to prove it. To say you could beat her would be stating the obvious, but it would take time.
>The time is now 6:12 AM.
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>"It's almost as if the Rageblooms were attempting to reach my home. Strange. Also, I made a slight mistake, it was Honoka who named them."
>Let's skirt slightly around them. We don't really have the time to be dealing with overambitious fairies after all.
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>"It's almost as if the Rageblooms were attempting to reach my home. Strange. Also, I made a slight mistake, it was Honoka who named them."
>Let's skirt slightly around them. We don't really have the time to be dealing with overambitious fairies after all.
>"I did not notice a pattern myself."
>Informing Sei that you've no desire to deal with Cirno at the moment, and rightly so, you and the samurai circle a bit wider around the lake, and drop your altitude a bit as well to hopefully fly under her radar.
>Unfortunately, Cirno does see you as you travel, and yells, "Hey! You! Vampire!" while pointing in your direction. "I got a bone to pick with you!"
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>Sigh. "Can it wait? I'm quite pressed for time. I'll have more time later, once night falls once more."
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>Sigh. "Can it wait? I'm quite pressed for time. I'll have more time later, once night falls once more."
>The tomboyish ice fairy flits over in your direction, her expression serious, but the look is almost comical on her face. "No it can't! What'd you do with China? I went to visit her earlier tonight, but she was gone!"
>"'China?'" Sei asks quietly.
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>Look to Sei. "She's talking about Hong, China is a nickname many call her by."
>Then look back to Cirno. "She was busy with other matters, she should be back now though. She had a headstart on me you know."
>What do we know of Hong's relationship and interactions with Cirno?
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>Look to Sei. "She's talking about Hong, China is a nickname many call her by."
>Then look back to Cirno. "She was busy with other matters, she should be back now though. She had a headstart on me you know."
>What do we know of Hong's relationship and interactions with Cirno?
>Sei nods. "A simple nickname, but not inappropriate."
>Cirno shakes her head defiantly. "No way! She's the Gate Guard, and that Gate's still there. She'd never leave that behind."
>Meiling and the little fairy are friends. Cirno's proximity to the mansion makes contact between her and your home inevitable, which could have been problematic is she was sour on you. Fairys can be very difficult to live around sometimes, especially when they have the power that Cirno has. But despite her reputation of being a bonehead, she really is much like a child, a simple young girl who's a fair bit bigger than her britches. And Meiling is very good with kids, even when they come in fairy form. You've spied Hong trying to teach her the basics of martial arts a time or two, but you sincerely doubt Cirno has the focus to stick with it for very long.
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>"Well, it was a rather serious matter. She isn't completely tied to the gate after all, just as you aren't tied to the lake. I had Patchouli work on erecting a barrier in her absence as well. Something to do her job while she and I were away after all."
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>"Sakuya went missing, you see. Rather a serious matter. Hong and I both went in search of her. Hong should have returned by now, though I do not know if she has yet taken up her post. She may be rather loathe to leave Sakuya alone right now, but once I return, she should be back at the gate quite promptly."
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>"Well, it was a rather serious matter. She isn't completely tied to the gate after all, just as you aren't tied to the lake. I had Patchouli work on erecting a barrier in her absence as well. Something to do her job while she and I were away after all."
>"Hah!' Cirno laughs. "You can't tie people to lakes. They're water."
>"Unless the water's frozen." Sei mutters.
>Cirno's cheeks puff in a pout. "Well, it isn't! And if this is serious, then China needs my help. Where'd she go?"
>"Sakuya went missing, you see. Rather a serious matter. Hong and I both went in search of her. Hong should have returned by now, though I do not know if she has yet taken up her post. She may be rather loathe to leave Sakuya alone right now, but once I return, she should be back at the gate quite promptly."
>"Well, she'd better." Cirno insists, folding her arms. "I don't like the new girl. She looks mean."
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>New girl? Could she be referring to Sei?
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>New girl? Could she be referring to Sei?
>It's not impossible. Although Sei hardly looks mean to your eyes. Serious, yes, but hardly mean.
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>Well, we'll find out when we get home. Let's bid farewell to Cirno and keep moving.
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>"I'll be sure to tell Hong you were looking for her. Until next time I suppose."
>Hong always did have a soft-spot for kids after all, didn't she?
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>"I'll be sure to tell Hong you were looking for her. Until next time I suppose."
>Hong always did have a soft-spot for kids after all, didn't she?
>Well, we'll find out when we get home. Let's bid farewell to Cirno and keep moving.
>Meiling gets along well with most children, especially the tomboys and the rough-housers. She's been that way for at least as long as you've known her. You've never said this to her in person, you just know she'd get super-embarassed, but you have often thought that she'd make a good mother.
>And evidently her children would have Cirno, at least, for a playmate. You're a bit on the fence if that's a good thing or not.
>But that's a concern for another day. You can toy with thoughts of Meiling's future once you're safely at home, and safe from the sun. So you and Sei take your leave of the ice fairy, who lets you off while still muttering about how someone can be a gate guard without their gate. She may not be as stupid as your basic fairy, but that by no means means she's overly bright.
>As the SDM starts to appear on the horizon, Sei asks you, "I've been referred to as many things in Gensokyo, but a fairy calling my looks 'mean' is new. I question if she was referring to me or one of your newer employees. Did you hire a replacement for your Hong-san?"
>The time is now 6:18 AM.
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>"I did not, but it's possible Patchy assigned the duty to someone else in my absence. We should hurry, as the sun's nearing closer and closer."
>Let's get there and see for ourselves, quicker!
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>"I did not, but it's possible Patchy assigned the duty to someone else in my absence. We should hurry, as the sun's nearing closer and closer."
>Let's get there and see for ourselves, quicker!
>Sei nods. "It would seem a practical thing to have done."
>A few minutes more flight brings your fine home fully into view. And sure enough, there is a stranger standing before the front gate. It's a thick-bodied woman, decked out in yellow, black and orange, and her arms are folded across her chest. Even from here, you can sense a faint aura of intimidation from this unexpected gate guard. It's not hard to tell why a fairy called her 'mean'.
>There is also, somewhat more worryingly, evidence of some trouble having gone down in your absence. Stuck into the ground, about fifteen feet away from the western side of the wall surrounding your home, is one of the metal blade-like protrusions that extended from the bottom of a Ragebloom. The rest of the thing is nowhere in sight. Some of the windows on that side of the mansion have also been shattered.
>The time is now 6:21 AM.
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>"...Interesting. Remind me to discuss things with Patchouli when we find her."
>Let's head over. "I assume Patchouli assigned you as a temporary guard?"
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>"...Interesting. Remind me to discuss things with Patchouli when we find her."
>Let's head over. "I assume Patchouli assigned you as a temporary guard?"
>"I shall." Sei says seriously.
>The woman standing guard is quite tall, complimenting her dark color scheme and muscular body to create a rather intimidating form. She sports a long thick yellow skirt with black trim around the hip and edges, and a black and orange floral design on the lower right side. A black shirt with puffed sleeves, yellow colored puffs, covers her upper torso, the sleeves ending in wristbands colored orange with a black stripe. A pair of thick, angular insectile wings sprout from her back, and a gold circlet encircles her head, a circular red gemstone affixed in the middle of her forehead. Somewhat surprisingly, she also has a flower in her short blonde and black striped hair, a primrose, if you're not mistaken.
>She regards your approach evenly with her dark red eyes, and answers your question with a brief shake of her head. "The familiar, and my sister, dragooned me into it." she replies in a gruff, almost masculine, voice.
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>Insect Wings...Must be somehow connected to Wriggle. "Ah, the Firefly Youkai I tasked with dealing with the termites? Wriggle, was it? Interesting."
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>Insect Wings...Must be somehow connected to Wriggle. "Ah, the Firefly Youkai I tasked with dealing with the termites? Wriggle, was it? Interesting."
>The tall youkai snorts derisively. "That wimp got in over her head. If we hadn't come along when we did, she'd have ended up in that termite's harem. She was lucky my sister felt sorry for her."
>"One has the impression there's a tale to tell here." Sei interjects. "Might I suggest that we discuss the matter indoors?"
>"Ah, yeah, you're allergic to the sun, aren't you." the insect youkai says to you, almost hiding the sneer in her voice.
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>Harem..? There certainly is a story there. "It comes with the job description after all, not that I let it get in my way. But anyhow, let's go in. Things should be fine on the safety end of things, now that I've returned."
>One has to wonder just how many quirks the firefly's family has. It must be a large one though, given how many insects there are in the world.
>Let's head in!
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>Harem..? There certainly is a story there. "It comes with the job description after all, not that I let it get in my way. But anyhow, let's go in. Things should be fine on the safety end of things, now that I've returned."
>One has to wonder just how many quirks the firefly's family has. It must be a large one though, given how many insects there are in the world.
>Let's head in!
>To your knowledge, Wriggle has never claimed to have siblings. But then again, given that insects often have a hive mind of a sort, perhaps that translates as 'familial' instincts among insectile youkai.
>The thick bodied bug nods curtly and pushes the broad gates open for you. She may be brusque, but at least she has that much basic courtesy.
>"You'll want to see that sick human of yours first, I suppose." she says as you cross the front garden towards the front door.
>"What do you mean, sick?" Sei asks her. "She seemed mostly fine when she and Hong-san departed the Cobalt Keep."
>"Well, she isn't fine now." the insect asserts. "Sour stomach and a headache, at least. Kept muttering something about 'not right, not normal', something like that."
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>"I'll be sure to do that then. Sei, I'll show you to the library after I've done that."
>We should be able to home in on her by scent yes? Let's do that.
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>"I'll be sure to do that then. Sei, I'll show you to the library after I've done that."
>We should be able to home in on her by scent yes? Let's do that.
>The samurai nods politely. "Of course."
>You would be able to find Sakuya's scent if your nose was completely non-functional, you know it that well. Now granted, her scent has seeped into just about every nook and cranny of the Mansion, but for someone with as keen a nose as you, picking out her recent passing is child's play. You can even smell Meiling's concern along the trail, as well.
>And the bug youkai also supplies, "Redhead took the human to the human's room."
>Makes sense, that. You set off for Sakuya's room.
>Along the way, Sei introduces herself to your temporary gate guard. The youkai answers that her name is Haridoku, but doesn't offer much else in the way of personal details. You hope that her sister is more personable. Sakuya being sick, after everything else that's happened tonight, is not the way you wanted to end the evening, and you don't enjoy the thought of two rude insect youkai making things worse.
>With Sei and Haridoku in tow, you make good time to Sakuya's chambers. Your head maid has one of the largest rooms in the mansion, and the best of furnishings. Only the best for those that serve you as well as she does. Presently the maid herself is lying atop the sheets of her canopied four-poster bed, moaning, with both hands on her head. Meiling is standing near the foot of her bed, while another girl stands near Sakuya's head. This one also sports insectoid wings, four of them, and has shoulder length light brown hair, kept out of her eyes by a light purple headband just in front of her antennae, and a pair of black and yellow striped hair tubes on either side of her face. She wears a floor length yellow skirt with a black frilly belt, black wristbands, a yellow, white and black crop top. The overall effect is reminiscent of a honeybee, and you suspect that this could be the 'sister' Haridoku spoke of.
>This one, however, doesn't project nearly the same air of approachability that the larger bug youkai does. The white and yellow flower in her hair accentuates her young, open and soft facial features, though right now, those features are showing concern from the sick human lying on the bed.
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>Hm...upset stomach, and a headache. It's almost like she has a hangover, isn't it?
>Let's walk over. "How is she?"
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>Hm...upset stomach, and a headache. It's almost like she has a hangover, isn't it?
>Let's walk over. "How is she?"
>Forcefully separating her fate from Pride's may well have given her hangover-like symptoms. You've never had to do anything like that before, so a headache and an upset tummy isn't entirely surprising. There was bound to be a side effect or two.
>Meiling, plainly concerned, shakes her head. "She woke up not long before I got her home, starting saying that something didn't feel right, that something was coming."
>The winged youkai adds, "What that something is, we haven't been able to figure." Glancing at you, she turns fully to you and bows slightly. "I see you met my sister. I hope she didn't offend you too much."
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>Shrug slightly. "Not the most standoffish person I've met, believe me."
>Let's check on her pulse and the like. The usual things one does when examining someone's condition. "If her fate wasn't so uncertain, I could see what she might be referring to.."
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>Shrug slightly. "Not the most standoffish person I've met, believe me."
>Let's check on her pulse and the like. The usual things one does when examining someone's condition. "If her fate wasn't so uncertain, I could see what she might be referring to.."
>The youkai smiles in obvious relief. "Glad to hear it. Her name is Haridoku, by the way, in case she didn't introduce herself. And my name is Amitsu."
>Reaching out to check Sakuya's wrist for her pulse, the human's hand flashes up and grabs your outstretched hand firmly, looking up at you with.... Dear lord. There's panic in her eyes.
>"Ojou-sama...." she gasps, breathing heavily, "Something's... wrong..."
>She isn't kidding. Now that you're in contact with her, you can sense what the matter is. The instability in her fate line that you sensed back at the Keep has intensified. You've never felt anything like it before.
>From the past of her timeline, you sense something... coming. Two somethings, actually. What you'd describe as 'bubbles' in the pipeline have appeared, and are rushing from the past up towards the present. This is very new, but you have the distinct feeling that something drastic will happen, should those bubbles intersect with Sakuya's 'present'.
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>How fast are they going, and can we stop them?
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>How fast are they going, and can we stop them?
>Fast enough to get to the end of another thread. And another joke missed. Shame, that.