Thursday, February 5, 2009


Loading User Commands:
[X] Don't omit the dreams, but refuse to specify; it hurts you too much to think about.
[X] You don't know, but all evidence points to yourself.
[X] Drink your tea.
[X] Have a biscuit.

---

"Were you expecting me?" asks Grey. He takes care not to put emotion into his words.

"Perhaps one could see it that way," Remilia says, staring deeply at the dregs of her tea cup. "I didn't know that you would come to me tonight, and at this exact moment."

The vampire pauses to pour herself more tea. When she looks up at him, her eyes are clear and determined.

"But I believed in this possibility, however unlikely it seemed," whispers Remilia.

"I-I see," he manages. He doesn't understand it, but her words are heavy. Somehow, he feels that the vampire is being uncharacteristically serious.

He takes another sip of his tea, and is pleasantly surprised. Its distinct flavor is unmistakable; this is Earl Grey tea. Somehow, he feels like this isn't a coincidence. In fact, there are several other events that can't possibly be attributed to random chance alone.

"Do you believe in Fate?" asks Remilia suddenly.

"What?"

"Do you believe that all events are pre-determined, and that there is no way to change events that are destined to occur?" she continues.

"..."

The vampire calmly replaces her cup on the table. Without warning, she stands up and slams her hand upon the table. He almost drops his tea in surprise. The floor rumbles slightly with the impact, and Grey suddenly becomes aware of her vampiric strength. He looks up at her in shock. The vampire's teeth glints in the moonlight as she smiles proudly.

"Let me tell you a secret, Grey," says Remilia.

"A-a secret?" he repeats uneasily.

"Fate doesn't exist," she whispers.

Grey says nothing in reply, suddenly aware of the power of this girl's will. Her eyes blaze a fiery red that threatens to burn anything and everything that dares stand in her way. Slowly, she takes a seat. After a few moments, she sips her tea contentedly, as if nothing happened. He manages to take a biscuit and munch on it absent-mindedly as he tries to calm himself down.

"At least, not in that way. Your presence here is proof of that," says Remilia. "I only wish that I realized this earlier."

He sees in her eyes a deep sorrow when she says those words. Full of regret, and sadness. But when she turns back to him, her eyes are full of determination.

"What did you discover during your investigation?" she asks, her tone completely businesslike.

...

Grey described everything that happened. He began his tale from the beginning, when he first arrived in the Voile Library, up to the events that led to his visit this evening. Almost everything, at least. When he got to the part about his unusual dreams, he simply said that he remembered doing some unforgivable things to the inhabitants of the Mansion.

Thankfully, the vampire did not ask for the details. In fact, she didn't seem surprised about any of the events. Even the youkai attacks and the incident at the clock tower failed to perturb her. Somehow, he had the feeling that everything he said only confirmed information that she already knew or suspected.

Upon finishing his story, Remilia only gave him a thoughtful nod. They sat together for a few minutes in silence. Finally, he could bear it no longer.

"What do you think we should do?" he asks politely.

For a moment, Remilia pauses. She examines her tea cup closely before she replies.

"We should have dinner," says the vampire with an enigmatic smile.

...

Dinner was mostly uneventful. Patchouli and Koakuma weren't present. Seems like they usually dine at the Voile Library. Remilia ate calmly as she complained about the laziness of the shrine maiden and the black and white witch. Those two were apparently in charge of resolving most of the incidents in Gensokyo. Sakuya stood behind her Mistress, serving her as was appropriate. There was only one thing odd about the scene.

Flandre was at her seat, chatting energetically with her elder sister. From bits and pieces of her dialogue, it seems that she discovered something interesting while walking around the basement, but Remilia simply shrugged it off.

"If they bother you, why don't you just destroy them?" says Remilia. What? She shouldn't encourage Flandre to destroy things so easily!

"Eh? You aren't listening," whines Flandre. "I said that I tried that already. They just keep coming back. Weird, smelly things."

"Well, as long as they don't come upstairs, then it's fine," replies Remilia. "I can count on you for that, can't I?"

"But it's a bother!" cries Flandre. "And they smell really really weird!"

Remilia dismisses her with a wave. For a moment, Flandre looks like she is about to throw a tantrum, but in the end she simply stays silent and finishes her food. Perhaps the older sister has some control over the younger one, despite their difference in power.

Nothing else unusual was discussed over dinner. After saying, "Good night," to Remilia and Sakuya, he decided to walk Flandre back to her room in the basement. After all, it was unusual that the little sister come upstairs on her own. And personally, he did find this girl pretty cute, in a strange and insane manner.

"You're a nice guy," says Flandre. "Well, g'night then."

As Grey heads back to his room, he wonders about what exactly could have bothered her. She seemed to be pretty agitated until Remilia calmed her down. Perhaps he can ask her about it at some point.

But that will have to wait for the morning. It has been a long, tiring day.

Grey stares longingly at his bed.

[ ] Explore the mansion.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Go to sleep.
[ ] Custom

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