Touhou - Revolution in Retrospect (IC)

[Ascension]

In the midst of all this drastic change and crisis throughout the mansion, Patchouli has been doing what she does best: shutting it all out, retreating deeper into her library, into her books. She'd like to tell herself that this is just what she always does whenever trouble is afoot in Gensokyo, but that isn't really true. There's... well, there was that incident with that troublesome oni. That one got her out of the house for a little while. And then that other time, when that same oni stole the scarlet mists and then hid behind the gods in Heaven to try to escape justice. And then she gave the black-white advice when she went underground... which led to another oni...

But no, even without any oni involved, she would normally be at Remilia's side during such a black mood and dire crisis, offering her friend some comfort, or assistance, or at least a novel diversion to distract from the vampire's gloom. But should she? Would Remi do the same for her? Or is that just another way in which their friendship is unequal?

So, with such thoughts in mind, she's been here instead, sulking with her books, desultorily flipping through page after page, not really focusing on any of them.

And then Koakuma had the gall to interrupt!

She slams shut the heavy grimoire she'd been leafing through as dramatically as she can and shoots a glare at her assistant... but that brief flash of anger softens to resignation almost instantly, then acceptance. She knows the Little Devil full well enough to know that overenthusiasm is just her nature.

"Did she find our silver ratcatcher?" the librarian asks, without much curiosity, "Or are cats not suited to chase their own kind?"