Ok I finally got this intermission segment done so here's what your tasks are for now....! (Also special thanks to not-a-pirate for proofreading and correcting the daialouge)
As the game proceeded, Suika?s fort survived yet another year. The undead continued to amass on the land her duplicates had settled upon and called home, but despite the losses incurred she continued to improve the fort, growing it to become more impressive than ever.
?How?s that?? Suika boasted cheerfully, taking a swig from her gourd.
Alice peered closer into the interior fort, and upon noticing that a good number of items have been placed to where they rightfully belong, save for the worn out clothing that the mini-suikas refused to contain in bins, smiled in satisfaction.
?Well, at least it?s better than Marisa?s house, I?ll say that much.?
?Hey, I already told you I?m a busy person, I have things to do, and they?re far more important than placing my clothes neatly in containers, ze!? Marisa retorted indignantly.
?Not having your clothes neatly in containers is one thing, having everything strewn about the room is another,? Alice muttered, ?in any case, if a drunk oni can manage her belongings, I think you can do the same.?
?But I...?
?I?m coming along to your house later on, Marisa, so don?t you forget,? Alice gave Marisa a final threatening glance before leaving, her dolls floating behind her.
Marisa gave an exasperated sigh and slumped over the wood floor, ?Sometimes I wish I didn?t have to be bothered by such small matters,? she grumbled before sitting back up, ?Well, I don?t need to worry about it now, so I?ll just keep watching this game of yours.?
?Fine by me,? Suika replied with a giggle.
At that time, Reimu and Yukari had stepped out of the shrine and continued their conversation there.
?Reimu, I hope you have been keeping the newcomers in Gensokyo in check. They might have settled down and cooperated for now, but you would do good to take precautions.? Yukari murmured with a flourish of her fan. Reimu, however, payed little attention to the warning, merely waving her head in dismissal,
?Yeah well, I?ll do it when I feel like it. I?m sure everyone knows how to get along with each other anyway.?
Yukari said nothing, merely looking ahead at the steps of the shrine. Two people came up then, a silver haired woman in a maid outfit, accompanying what seemed like a child dressed in an elaborate pink dress. Bat wings sprouted from her back, which flapped occasionally as she walked. Over her head was a parasol, held by the maid.
?Milady, was it necessary for us to come here?? The maid asked with a slight raise of an eyebrow.
?Sakuya, it?s been long since I?ve payed a visit. I think it?s a good enough time to do so now.?
?As you wish,? Sakuya nodded, and said no more.
The girl looked up then, and upon seeing the familiar face of Reimu, waved.
?Good day to you Reimu, It?s been awhile.? A smile tugged on her lips, as though delighted to see the shrine maiden.
?Same to you, Remilia,? Reimu nodded, returning the smile. A smile that seemed to expect something.
?I just wanted to meet with an old friend of mine,? Remilia replied.
?Ah,? Reimu nodded again, albeit seemingly slightly depressed. That emotion was instantly replaced by a badly disguised expression of ecstasy, when Sakuya proceeded to insert a few notes into the donation box. With big hearted gestures she invited Remilia inside, all of her vigor revived.
Remilia graciously stepped up, glancing the area with a satisfied grin. Her eyes settled upon Suika, bent over what seemed like a miniature piece of land. She gestured for Sakuya to follow her, and approached the oni with renewed curiousity.
?What is this?? She asked, sitting herself next to Marisa.
?Yo, Remilia,? Marisa grinned, ?Suika?s playing this game Yukari challenged her to, wanna watch??
?Oh?? Remilia leaned forward for a better glimpse of the playing field, ?what kind of game is it, exactly??
?A game where you can have fun!? Suika raised her arms wide with enthusiasm.
?Hmm?? Remilia tilted her head as she examined the field further, a confused look spreading on her face as she saw the mini suikas running about, ?They all look like you...what are you doing??
?It?s a survival game, Remilia,? Marisa explained, ?she has to make a fort and have her suikas survive.?
?Like a stronghold of some sort??
?Yeah, I guess,? Marisa gave a little shrug.
?Interesting,? A smile started to play on the vampire?s lips as she examined the fort further, stopping when she spotted a lone Suika isolated in its own room, ?Who?s that??
?A vampire,? Marisa put it bluntly, ?Suika?s got it under lock and key, no way anyone?s getting their blood drained here.?
Remilia?s features darkened, ??It?? You shouldn?t be treating her like trash. Give her a better living space, have her lend a hand, even.?
Suika tilted her head in vexation, ?what if she bites someone??
?Then she bites someone,? Remillia shrugged, ?listen, vampires deserve a much luxurious life style. I want you to give that vampire a room fit for royalty, as good as my mansion itself!?
Marisa cupped her mouth with one hand and rotated a finger around her temple at Remilia?s demand, but Suika was interested, ?so you want me to free it??
?You can take precautions if you want, but I don?t want her to be living like trash, got it?? Remilia gave an impatient frown, ?Sakuya has something to say too,?
Sakuya said nothing, merely giving her master a questioning look. If she had been taken aback by the sudden call, she did not show it.
?Take a look yourself, I?m sure you can find a part in the fort that requires work.? Remilia insisted.
Sakuya peered in, her eyes flickering between the various levels of the fort. At last she settled on the dining room, an engraved space, sparsely populated with stone tables and chairs. Suitable, and most definitely satisfying for the suikas themselves, but Sakuya thought differently.
?If I may, I believe that the dining room might require far more furniture. Decorations too, It looks almost bland without them.? She suggested, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
?How many, Sakuya??
?At least fifty, milady,? Sakuya replied, ?seventy would be ideal, however.?
Remilia puffed her chest with a prideful smirk, ?I knew you?d notice it, Sakuya, as expected of my head maid.?
Her gaze shifted to Reimu then, ?Well Reimu, I think it?s been quite awhile since we?ve had a chat...?
Reimu gave a troubled look, but upon remembering the donation generously given by Sakuya, nodded with almost unbelievable enthusiasm and invited the two inside, almost a little too hastily.
Yukari only gave a wry smile at Reimu?s response, and proceeded to sit herself beside Marisa.
?Are you finding the game...amusing?? She directed her question at Marisa, who grinned,
?It sure looks fun!?
?Good to hear,? She nodded, satisfied with the answer, ?I have been doing this for quite some time. Every year, actually. It is...a way to keep herself in check.?
Marisa raised her eyebrows, gesturing for Yukari to explain in detail.
?As a mountain oni, she has to be able to recall her basic instincts, and use them as she had back in the past. This game is a way for her to do so.?
?And, she?s doing fine??
Yukari only smiled, ?We?ll see. The long term is more important, after all.?
?Oh?? Marisa grinned, ?What goals you have in mind??
?Survive, and build an impressive fortress, that is all.?
Marisa frowned at that. It seemed simple, almost too simple, ?That doesn?t seem too hard.?
Yukari closed her eyes, ?Is it? We shall see. This game is not...fun without a reason, you know??
NEW CHALLENGE!
Sakuya's request - Adequate dining: Rebuild the dining room to hold a total of 50-70 table and chairs (in other words at least 50 tables and 50 chairs minimum) Objective must be completed before the end of the year
Remilia's Request - Vampire luxuries:Put your vampire in a room more suitable for his nobility. The room must be of "Grand Quality" (Bonus: Make the vampire into a noble for bonus approval from Remi) Condtion must be completed in 2 years.
Also after looking through the what you have done. Despite not having the clothes in bins (I realized they are worn therfore won't be put in bins) I'm going to mark your challenge a success!
Wymar, you still have to complete the aboveground fort quest and now the dining room quest before the end of the year.
