Familiar comforts, as she considered them, are those best indulged in frequently.

…

The sun hung low, scattering intense colors across the Gensokyo sky and blazing through the windows of her living room. It was evening once again, the best time for one to engage in evening activities.

And so, with a fragrant cup of tea and a recently borrowed book on refined animation enchantments, she settled in for some light reading. Various dolls drifted nearby, cleaning up the remains of a simple dinner.

A sip here. A page turn there. It was what she did nearly every evening. It just felt… right.

She read until the brilliant orange light filtering in through her windows had faded to a soft twilight. Closing her book, she gazed out through one such window. Soon, the forest surrounding her would grow restless, teeming with youkai and other creatures going about their own nightly routines.

She, however, was not concerned. Some youkai she knew by name, and those she did not knew better than to disturb her idyllic little house in the woods. Few were foolish enough to cause trouble in the Forest of Dolls.

She was a youkai too, after all. Alice Margatroid, the magician who wielded magic that gleamed with every color of the rainbow.

…Were all those colors necessary? Perhaps not, but danmaku duels were a matter of spectacle above all else. Indeed, she had a reputation to uphold as the Seven-Colored Puppeteer.

…

The sound of something shifting within her fireplace drew Alice's attention. The once blazing fixture now hosted only a modest flame. In response, she dispatched two dolls to add another couple of logs to the fire.

More dolls were directed to close the shutters for the night. Yet more of them lit the candles scattered throughout the house.

Her dolls held no feelings and no wills of their own, no matter how much she wished otherwise. Alice's will was manifested through them, both consciously and subconsciously. They were an extension of her, and they would move without so much as a word.

Still, she gave a quiet "thank you" as they returned to their shelf.

The logs in the fireplace caught fire, returning the room to her desired level of coziness.

It was to be another peaceful night, alone, in the dollhouse she had built for herself. It was what she was used to. A certain doll floated up to her. Familiar.

"Hello Shanghai," Alice greeted before plucking the doll out of the air and setting it in her lap. She ran her fingers through Shanghai's hair, made from clippings of her own locks that were magically attuned to the doll's head.

Shanghai was her favorite. Her masterpiece. A doll that she had spent years agonizing over.

As Alice's skills in dollmaking and enchanting improved, so too did Shanghai. All that effort put towards stronger enchantments and ball joints and fabric and porcelain. As a result, almost nothing of the original doll remained, except for the eyes, the first things Alice had mastered.

Of course, all of her dolls were beautifully crafted, but Shanghai was on another level. She was incredibly complex and, at this point, nearly indestructible.

…

The blonde dollmaker gazed into the fire. Its familiar crackling filled the room.

…

There were times in which she would fall into a certain mood; a discouraging mix of loneliness and melancholy. Tonight, it seemed, was one of those times.

She sighed.

It filled her with a desire to wax poetic about her life.

About the lack of genuine connection her little doll family could provide. As much as she loved them, she was, in essence, talking to herself. Though, many of her attempts at friendship had fallen flat, anyways.

Socialization did not come naturally to her…

About the slow progress in achieving her greatest goal, a truly sapient doll. This branch of magic was notoriously difficult, and its secrets were jealously guarded by the few who had achieved it.

It had been years since she'd had a promising breakthrough…

About the general fear and distrust shown to her by both humans and youkai alike. She held no malice for them, yet they avoided her all the same. Even those lost within the Forest tended to refuse her offers of rest and refreshments.

They simply found her presence unnerving…

…

Nighttime could get quite lonely…

…

No, I'm not doing this again tonight.

She shook her head to clear those thoughts away. It was best not to curse a life as comfortable as her own, and it wasn't as though she was completely isolated. Between the gatherings (parties) at the Hakurei and Moriya shrines, academic discussions with Patchouli, and her 'neighbor' Marisa quite literally dropping in from time to time, she had glimpses of companionship in her life. Things really could be worse.

…

Still… she closed her eyes and allowed herself a small memory. One from many years ago. From another time. From another realm…

(Knock-Knock-Knock)

Alice's eyes shot open, and she felt a stab of anxiety.

Who could be knocking on her door, in the Forest of Magic, at this time of night? Certainly not Marisa; she never knocked.

Alice quickly ran through scenarios in her head. It was most likely a youkai of the night, or perhaps a fairy looking to play a prank. She could simply ignore them. It would not be unusual for a dollmaker to be preoccupied, would it? Should she pretend to be asleep? Or… no. That could show weakness, something one should never show in Gensokyo.

She... she would open the door, but she would be prepared.

Half of the dolls on Alice's shelves snapped to attention. They arranged themselves, weapons in hand, throughout the house. Most were hidden from view, so as to capture the element of surprise in the event of a confrontation.

"One moment please," she called out.

Was she overthinking this? Well, better safe than sorry.

Shanghai floated at her side, lance in hand. Two more dolls flanked them from behind.

Alice took a moment to compose herself. She would keep it cool. No youkai would get the better of her.

She was ready to confront this unknown.

She moved to open the door…

~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~

Hmm… I didn't realize how far it would be when I decided to take this walk.

Eric shifted a basket from his right hand to his left, then gave his fingers a light stretch. The basket wasn't particularly heavy, but it made his hand kind of stiff after a while.

His journey had taken him deep within the Forest of Magic. The foliage was dense, with trees surrounding him and the forest canopy blocking out most of the already fading daylight. Every once in a while, a magical little wisp of light would fade in and out of existence. Stepping over roots and negotiating dips along the path, he took the time to appreciate his surroundings.

Well at least the scenery is nice. Guess there's a good reason they call it the Forest of Magic.

Indeed, the Forest held a special beauty. Centuries of old growth mixed with abundant free magic to create a unique landscape that was as captivating as it was treacherous. Especially in the dying light of dusk. The air felt heavier here, too.

Maybe I'll see one of those famous glowing mushrooms…

…

In truth, he didn't know exactly why he'd felt compelled to seek her out. It wasn't something he did often, or at all really. But, when he'd spotted her in the Village several days ago, something about her drew him in.

He wasn't sure how to explain it, but Eric had felt a strong connection from her. From just seeing her. It… wasn't something he'd ever felt before, and it was why he was determined to find her again.

He hadn't even worked up the courage to talk to her the first time…

…

His thoughts drifted as twilight took hold, and then that too began to fade. The stars in the sky were beginning to emerge as he spotted what should have been his destination in the distance.

It was a quaint little house, tucked away in the trees. It sat within a small clearing. A sort of wrought-iron fence surrounded the property, marking where settlement ended and forest began. A path ran through the tall gate entrance that was of a similar style. A tidy yard and seemingly well kept garden led up to the entrance of the house. There was an overhang above the porch to provide some shelter from the elements. A two-story tower accented the otherwise single story house.

Ah, there it is. At least I made it before it got too late. He then noticed that the shutters were closed. Or… maybe it is too late?

The half moon illuminated the porch as best it could.

Should I even try? …who the hell visits someone for the first time at night?

After a minute of indecisiveness, he shook his head. If he left now, then the whole trip would have been a waste. And he still wouldn't have managed to talk to her.

No, he could do this. The chimney was still producing a stream of smoke. Surely, she couldn't have gone to sleep already.

He gathered his courage, and… then… he… …knocked.

(Knock-Knock-Knock)

…

… … …? Um… … Did I knock hard enough? Would it be rude to knock a second time? …I'm probably disturbing her sleep or somethin-

"One moment please," came a voice from the other side of the door.

Oh, cool. She's still awake. A beat passed. Wait, what if she's the type to attack on sight?

He braced himself as the door slowly opened.

…

The first things that he noticed were her eyes. Those large, striking, piercing, glacier blue eyes. He didn't mean to stare, but damn. The second thing he noticed was a gleam of polished metal just off to the left. A small figure with the same eyes floated next to her, pointing a silvery lance directly at him.

That feeling was back. Welp, here goes nothing.

"Hello! Sorry to bother you so late, but I was hoping to meet you. You see, I live in the Village. I saw you in town recently, but didn't get a chance to say hi. I asked around, and they told me you lived here in the Forest. My name is Eric. Nice to meet you!"

With that, he put out his right hand for a handshake.

…

A moment passed, then several moments. The woman was silent, and her expression was unreadable. Was she… sizing him up? Perhaps she was thinking of the best way to kick his ass for showing up uninvited? Uh-oh. Was this a mistake?

Then, slowly, the small floating one lowered her lance and met his handshake with a very small hand.

The woman spoke. "I am Alice Margatroid, the Seven-Colored Puppeteer. And this," she gestured to the smaller being, "is Shanghai. Well met, Eric from the Village." Her voice was cool and measured, betraying little emotion.

As he shook the little one's hand, he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

Ok, whew. Good start.

"Alice and Shanghai… it'll be hard to tell the two of you apart." His grin widened with his attempt at a joke. "Oh, I also have this!" He held the basket out to her. "It's a gift."

~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~

Alice was… surprised by who stood on the other side of the door. It was not someone she was acquainted with, nor was it a terrible monster looking to ambush her. No, it was just… some guy. A villager, or rather a villager who wore an outsider's jacket, from the look of it. No powerful aura. No radiating malice. No unusual features.

Well, maybe the low ponytail he had tied his brown hair into could count as unusual. Long hair was rather uncommon in the Village. Or the glasses he wore. From what she could recall, very few people wore glasses anymore.

Kappa engineered contacts were all the rage, apparently.

But, she got the strangest feeling when she looked at him. Like she was meant to be speaking to him. It was a sensation not entirely unlike the connection she shared with her dolls.

Although it was different, It didn't necessarily feel… malevolent.

Still, she remained on guard as he spoke.

It... struck her as odd that he would show up after the sun had set. Most villagers were terrified of the dark, or rather, what lurked in the dark.

And there was the fact that he had sought her, a youkai, specifically. To her, that seemed… rather foolhardy. Did he have no regard for his own safety?

"-name is Eric. Nice to meet you!" With that, he stuck his hand out for a handshake. Such an action was bold, reckless even, considering he was being held at lancepoint by Shanghai.

…

How was Alice supposed to respond to that?

It would be simplest to drive him away, to make him regret ever coming to the Forest of Magic.

But… no. Alice was cautious, not cruel.

If he was as sincere as his words… then she would be making an enemy out of a potential acquaintance. And she did not doubt his sincerity. One of the things she prided herself in was her ability to see through things like illusions, lies, and deceit.

Shanghai lowered her lance, her master's will manifesting clearly. Her small hand moved to meet the human's handshake.

Alice spoke, keeping as neutral of a tone as she could. "I am Alice Margatroid, the Seven-Colored Puppeteer. And this is Shanghai. Well met, Eric from the village."

The man smiled, seemingly pleased by the interaction. "Alice and Shanghai… it'll be hard to tell the two of you apart." For a moment, his grin grew a little wider, and that led Alice to wonder. Was that an attempt at humor?

Before she could question it aloud, he spoke again. "Oh, I also have this!" He quickly brought his basket up and held it out. "It's a gift."

Alice eyed the basket suspiciously. It was woven from what appeared to be bamboo, and looked rather plain. However, there could have been any number of unpleasant or dangerous things in there. She had been given 'gifts' before that turned out to be quite… disruptive.

Mostly by Marisa, mind you.

Perhaps sensing her hesitation, Eric quickly added, "It's nothing bad, I promise!" He moved to open the basket's lid. "It's just a few tarts and bread rolls."

One glance inside confirmed that there were, in fact, baked goods at the bottom of the basket. Alice ran a quick magical scan for poisons, psychoactives, and anything else that she could think of. After a minute, she was satisfied that the food wasn't tainted.

She accepted the basket and handed it over to the two dolls floating behind her. Turning her attention back to the man in her doorway, she said, "Thank you. But I must ask… why?"

Eric looked somewhat bashful as he rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, well I figured it would be a polite thing to do. Y'know, kind of like a housewarming gift or something."

He… wasn't wrong about that. But that wasn't really what her question was about. What was his angle here?

"I mean, why did you come here?"

"Wha- I, uh, just wanted to meet you? To say hi?" He seemed taken off guard.

"Saying hello hardly seems to justify a trek through a forest filled with youkai at night."

"I… it-" He looked decidedly less confident now. "It's going to sound really lame if I say it out loud…"

Alice maintained a deadpan expression.

"Okay… don't laugh, but… I saw you in the Village like a week ago, and when I did, I felt something."

She raised an eyebrow at that.

"It's nothing weird! It's just, I felt like I had to talk to you. I needed to say hi. It was like, I could feel a connection in an instant."

She raised both eyebrows. So he could feel it too?

"But… I didn't get a chance to do it then. I finally had the time to come out here today, but I guess I left too late, and the sun went down. So now I'm showing up to your house in the dark like a big weirdo for no good reason. I just wanted to make a good impression and maybe be friends or-" He was starting to speak a little too fast, so he caught himself. "Uh… sorry…"

Eric looked incredibly self-conscious now. For some reason, Alice actually felt kind of bad about it. She was never great at cheering others up, but she wanted to try.

Awkwardly, Shanghai reached her little arm out and patted the man on the head.

"...You can feel it too, then?" Her voice was quieter than she intended.

Eric, quite frankly, looked stunned. "Wha- huh? You feel something too!?"

"How peculiar…"

Despite knowing a vampire who literally had the ability to manipulate fate, Alice had never put much stock into the concept. Fate had never done her any favors before…

However, she was also well aware of the rumors; of what fate supposedly felt like. It was like a tug on your soul. If that's what this was, she decided that it was an accurate description.

"D- do you know what it means?" His voice was unsure.

Alice answered honestly. "Not for certain." She took another moment. "Regardless, speculation would get us nowhere."

"Ah, right." He appeared slightly more relaxed now, perhaps knowing that he isn't alone in this strangeness.

They were quiet for a minute.

"Do…" she fumbled for a conversation topic. "Do you bake often, then?" Smooth…

"I do." He straightened up a little. "I make stuff like that pretty regularly. I, uh, run a café in the village, so it comes with the territory."

"Oh? A café?"

His confidence returned as he continued. "Yeah. You should stop by sometime. Tradition's End is the best place to enjoy a nice coffee. I guarantee it!"

Hmm, it had been a while since Alice had eaten at any sort of restaurant in the Human Village. Her retinue of dolls tended to draw attention wherever she went, and some proprietors did not appreciate that.

"You would invite a youkai to your place of business?"

"Sure, I would," he said. "Some of my regulars are youkai who live in the village. Plus," he continued, "there's that Buddhist youkai temple at the edge of town, and they're pretty swell too. There's even a few 'wild' youkai who stop in occasionally."

He coughed lightly into his sleeve. "Um, I mean, I'm not going to refuse someone because they're a youkai."

"I… will consider it," she replied. "I do visit the village on occasion for supplies, but I don't tend to linger."

"Great! I'll... give you a discount for your first visit. Half off!"

A beat passed. Their conversation was in a much less awkward state now.

He glanced over at Shanghai. "So, I've got to ask. What's up with these little… sprites(?) that you have with you."

"Sprites?" That was a new one. She'd never heard her dolls referred to as such before. "I believe you are mistaken. They are my dolls."

Shanghai held one hand up and flexed it a few times, as if to show off her ball joints.

Eric eyebrows raised. "Dolls? Really? They're way more lifelike than any dolls I've ever seen."

"I am a dollmaker by trade. It would be an insult to my craft if I wasn't any good at it."

"Huh." He brought a hand up to his chin in a thinking motion. "So, are all of your dolls this well-made?"

Alice reached over to stroke Shanghai's hair as she explained, "Not quite. Shanghai is a special case. A proof of concept, if you will. She is… the pinnacle of what I can create as a dollmaker and magician." Her voice had taken on a softer tone, like a loving mother talking about her child. "That is to say, she is my masterpiece."

She looked away from Shanghai and back to Eric. "However, all of my dolls are expertly crafted and among the finest in Gensokyo."

The man looked rather impressed. "I believe it. They almost look like real people," he enthused. Eric considered Shanghai for another moment. "Also, they float."

Such a simple observation, and yet for some reason it made Alice smile. "Yes, they do float. Any magician worth her spells can imbue something with a flying enchantment. The difficult part is getting it to coexist with all the other enchantments."

"...Other enchantments?" he inquired.

"Yes," she explained further. "To put it simply, body movement, magical shielding, danmaku firing, etc. all require specific enchantments. But, all that magic tends to interfere with itself, so you must also include insulating wards. And that is without even considering how the material itself interacts with magic or how to layer the enchantments effectively."

"Wow that's… really cool actually. I don't know much about the technical aspects of magic, but it sounds really complex."

"It is quite delicate work. But it allows me to create something truly unique."

"Um, you mentioned a danmaku firing enchantment. What's that about? You use them for duels?"

Ah, another good question. It had been a long while since she'd spoken at length about her dolls to anyone not named Marisa or Patchouli. "Precisely! They serve to multiply my own firepower as well as to catch opponents off guard with odd angles of attack. In a pinch they can also act as an impromptu shield. Also, by relying on their preexisting enchantments for danmaku, I can conserve my own energy reserves, allowing me a 'second wind' so to speak."

He was leaning against her door frame now, arms crossed and posture relaxed. "They sound like little walking powerhouses. Or, floating powerhouses? Anyways, it seems like you put a whole lot into what you do. Definitely respect that."

Alice swelled with pride. She worked hard on her dolls, and, to a similar extent, her fighting style. Although she was not necessarily trying to impress anyone, it felt… nice to have someone appreciate her effort. A little extra confirmation that she was not simply wasting her time. Even if it was coming from someone who was still basically a stranger.

Before the conversation could continue, Alice's other dolls returned with the basket, now empty. "I had them store the food for later," she said.

Eric took the basket handle in his right hand. "Alright then. Hope it suits your taste!"

A bit of a sly tone found its way into Alice's voice. "Be warned. If it's any good, then I'll... demand that you make me more."

…why did I say it like that?

He chuckled. "Hey, you make it sound like that'd be a bad thing!"

After a beat, Eric glanced behind himself. Twilight had truly faded now. The only light came from the half moon and the stars.

"Um, I should probably go now. It's getting pretty late and it's a bit of a walk back." He turned back towards Alice and bowed lightly. "Thank you for entertaining my presence tonight. It was nice to meet you. Hopefully I'll see you around town."

…wait what? Alice had been distracted with their conversation, so she had not really considered the deepening night.

It was a bad idea. A human, walking alone in the Forest of Magic, in the dark of night. That wasn't just risky; it was downright suicidal. "You're planning to walk back to the village?"

"Um, yeah? It's a nice night after all. And I've gotta open the café in the morning."

"Are you not considering the risks? The youkai who stalk the night?" Alice questioned.

"Well yeah, but if any of them bother me I should be able to handle it."

If they "bother" you? They would do more than "bother" you. You would be their next meal! She had to fight the urge to grab him by the shoulders and shake him silly. That sort of recklessness was something that really got under her skin.

Alice had just made a new acquaintance, one that was, at least so far, pleasant to talk to. She was not going to let him go get himself killed. "You cannot be serious."

"No really, I'll be fine, I think. I've dealt with youkai before. I don't want to inconvenience you more than I already have. Please don't worry about it," he said apologetically.

Worry… why…am I so worried? "These are not your Village youkai. Given the chance, any one of the youkai in this forest would gladly take your life."

He nodded his head. "I understand. But," He leaned in and spoke again, quieter this time. "I'll let you in on a little secret." He looked around before continuing. "I dabble in magic, too."

Alice's composure shattered as she asked incredulously, "What!? You practice magic?" He did not strike her as magically gifted.

Upon closer inspection, however, she found that his magical presence was a bit greater than that of an average human. Not on the level of a youkai, or even a fairy for that matter, but noticeable enough if you looked very closely.

It was still light-years away from humans like Marisa or Reimu, though.

"It's true! I can make a really good defensive barrier." He looked a little sheepish as he added, "Even though I'm not very good at danmaku…"

So, he was not completely helpless. That was… at least slightly reassuring. Still, it did not quite sit right with Alice to let this human wander the Forest at night alone. Should she just escort him herself? She wasn't exactly in the mood for an excursion, but-

She had an idea.

She gestured to her side, and Shanghai drifted forward. "Shanghai shall escort you through the Forest, then."

"What?" The man did a double-take.

"She is powerful in her own right and can protect you should the need arise. Although…" she trailed off. "Most youkai in this forest should recognize one of my dolls. That should dissuade them from causing trouble in the first place."

Eric blinked. "Wow! I've never had a bodyguard before!" He tempered his enthusiasm a bit. "Um, as much as I appreciate it, I don't mean to impose. Seriously, I can manage on my own if it's a hassle for you."

Alice was firm. "Nonsense. I will fly into town tomorrow to collect Shanghai. I need more supplies anyway. What was the name of your café again?"

"Tradition's End. It's on the north side of the village. There's a big sign, so it's hard to miss."

Alice nodded and turned to Shanghai. "Remain vigilant and protect him."

Shanghai nodded. Her master's will was clear.

Eric and Alice bid each other farewell, and soon Alice was sitting back on her couch. Once again, she stared at the burning logs in her fireplace. Tonight had been a surprising departure from what she had come to expect. She sighed as she melted into the overstuffed cushions.

That's enough interaction for one night.

~~~~~~Author's Notes~~~~~~

Hi there! Long time reader, first time writer here. This is my first fanfiction, so I do hope I'm starting out on the right foot.

This fic started out as a one/two-shot based on the idea 'What would happen if Alice had one of her dolls escort someone to the village, and that led to them getting to know each other?' Well, one thing led to another, and now there are several ideas that I want to incorporate into a single story.

I might have also been inspired by the likes of SKOOLATOON and UnmovingGreatLibrary. SKOOLATOON's FREAKIN' GENSOKYO may be absurd and unhinged, but I think they actually do a good job writing the established Touhou characters, their dialogue reads like actual people talking, and I love how easy it is to visualize exactly what is happening, even down to the facial expressions. And UnmovingGreatLibrary... Just... everything about their works. Especially The Dollmaker's Daughter. They are like the writer I aspire to be.

The OC is a blatant self-insert. OOPS. For real though, I think the concept of an Outsider who has lived in Gensokyo long enough to integrate into their world and have pre-established relationships with some characters (as opposed to one who is a fresh arrival) is one that doesn't get done enough. Just don't expect him to be overpowered or absurdly goofy or anything.

Also, I'm aiming to write the characters as people instead of static caricatures. Just like in real life, everyone has their own insecurities and are at various points in their own character arcs.

Having said that, sometimes Touhou lore and characterization is vague at best, so expect some interpretations that may or may not deviate from common fanon.

I personally think that spoken dialogue (and mixing it in with actions and expressions) is one of my weak points, and I'm working on it. (This chapter had like 4 revisions on that front)

I already have several chapters written. I want to try and post weekly. Or every other week if it catches up to my writing.

Final note: This fic is rated T mainly for the reason that I want to show, on occasion, that youkai can be absolutely terrifying and that serious injury is a real and present threat in Gensokyo. It's not necessarily for lewd circumstances. I'm... not exactly opposed to including somewhat suggestive content, but I've not found a good place to incorporate anything like that yet. It wouldn't be explicit anyways. Let's keep it PG-13 in this fic y'all.

Thank you for reading! Have a nice day!