Considering the way she talked about it, Marisa struck Eric as the type to visit the Village as little as possible. Granted, all he really knew about her was that she and Alice were neighbors and that she had a big laser.
Still… The tone of her voice when she'd said the words 'city' or 'village' gave off a certain impression. Like there was some sort of resentment there.
For what reason? Well, it wasn't really any of his business, anyways.
But that was why, when he saw her again in the Village about a week after first meeting her, it came as a surprise.
…
The day had started off well.
It was after closing time at the Tradition's End. Eric had just finished stacking the last of the chairs onto the tables. He took a long, deep breath before releasing a happy sigh. All that was left to do was the sweeping, and his terrific employee had already started on it.
Business had been good today, and the café was closed tomorrow. All was right with the world.
He looked back over to his employee, the red hair and cape sticking out like a sore thumb amidst the relatively neutral and wood tones of the dining area.
Hiring Sekibanki had been one of the best decisions he'd ever made regarding Tradition's End. Right up there with making the operating hours flexible and utilizing magic to enhance the quality of the food and drink.
Not only was she a quick learner who could think on her feet, but she also seemed to have a little bit of a perfectionist streak.
"Hey, Sekibanki."
Her big blue bow and long red cape fluttered as she stood back up, a broom and dustpan in her hands. The floor was totally mess-free.
"Another great job today!" Eric augmented the statement by throwing out a big thumbs up.
"...Thanks, boss." Sekibanki said as she headed towards the supply closet to put up the broom.
"And, uh, you really don't have to call me that…" He... really wasn't all that comfortable with being in a position of authority yet.
"...Would you rather me call you master?" Her voice was completely deadpan, but there was a glint in her eyes.
"What? No! That's even worse!"
Sekibanki chuckled quietly. "You got it, boss."
…She was still pretty taciturn, but at least it seemed like she was growing more comfortable. Comfortable enough to crack a joke every once in a while, at least.
…
As he watched Sekibanki step out into the late afternoon sun, he couldn't help but wonder how she managed to keep wearing that big cloak when the late spring heat was beginning to resemble that of early summer.
"Have a safe walk home!" he waved.
She looked over her shoulder at him. "Yeah, you too," she said before walking away.
…but she knows I live in the café…
He couldn't see to be sure, but he just knew that she was snickering underneath that cape.
…
It was shortly afterward that Eric himself strolled out of the café.
His destination? Suzunaan. His goal? To check if they had any new grimoires in stock. Hopefully, he'd find one that detailed how to actually use magic in combat. One that outlined ways to increase his magical ability would have also been nice.
Witnessing Alice and Marisa's duel had inspired him. Or, at the very least, it made him even more aware of just how woefully unprepared he was for any sort of real fight.
Simply put, he was bad at making danmaku.
He had achieved flight, but if he flew for too long, he ended up winded.
His overall stamina in regards to magic was low.
The one thing that he considered himself adept at was the ability to generate a shield around himself. It had been the first spell that he had learned in Gensokyo, courtesy of the first grimoire he'd ever bought; The Best Defense is a Good Defense.
It worked well enough for repelling harassment from fairies, and it didn't take all that much effort to set up.
Throwing up his barrier and promptly running away had gotten him out of plenty of threatening situations over the years.
Although, if I had to fight someone strong and determined like Alice or Marisa, I wouldn't last long without some kind of return fire.
So, it was with that thought in mind that he sought to better his offensive capabilities. And that meant finding a new grimoire.
…
As Eric approached Suzunaan, he stopped in place. There was a person casually leaning against the side of the building, chowing down on an apple. A broom rested beside her. He was absolutely positive that he recognized that hat.
The hat's owner recognized him, too.
"Yo~ It's the city boy. Fancy meetin' you here, ze!" Marisa Kirisame tilted her head towards him with a lopsided grin.
"Hey, Marisa. I, uh… fancy meeting you here, too?" He'd fumbled his words a bit.
After her display of power the other day, Eric had to admit that he was kind of intimidated by her. It didn't help that he hadn't really known her long enough to get a read on her personality.
Sure, she'd been energetic and brash, but there'd also been glimpses of something else. He couldn't put his finger on it yet, so he didn't want to risk pushing the wrong buttons.
She popped herself off of the wall and strode up to him. With one smooth motion, she tilted up her hat and tossed the half eaten apple underneath it.
"Did… did you just throw that apple into your hat?" For some reason, that action had tripped him up more than he'd expected.
"Yeah! Want to see a magic trick?" Without waiting for him to answer, Marisa lifted her hat completely off of her head. There was no apple to be found.
"What? How?" He suspected that it was magic related.
Marisa chuckled. "You seriously don't know about dimensional storage? Where do you think Alice gets all those dolls from when she fights?"
Eric shrugged. He just… hadn't questioned it at the time.
"Well, keep it under wraps, okay? It's a magician's secret." If it was meant to sound serious, it failed thanks to Marisa's sly look and overly loud whisper.
Despite his minor apprehension, Eric laughed a little. "Alright, I gotcha. Um, do you keep a lot of stuff in your hat? Or is it just snacks?"
Marisa snorted. "I could probably fill a small shed with all the junk I've got floatin' around in here."
As if to demonstrate, she reached up into the hat and pulled out a plastic water bottle, one that likely originated on the Outside. She took a drink out of it before stating, "Probably the single most convenient spell I've ever cast."
"I'll bet! I'd love to learn how to do that." Such an enchantment would be useful in so many circumstances.
"Pfft! It ain't exactly easy. Took me years to get it right." She put a hand on her hip. "Besides, I bet a villager like you doesn't know the first thing about magic."
Okay, that was a little...hmm... "Hey, I know some things." Eric crossed his arms in slight indignation.
"Oh yeah? Duel me right now. Show me whatcha got!" Marisa stuck her hand out, and her broom flew into her grasp. A cute little star charm was attached to the end of the handle by a small metal ring.
Eric wilted a little, losing what attitude he'd had moments earlier. "I'd, uh, rather not."
"What? Afraid you'll lose, ze?" Marisa leaned in obnoxiously close.
"No, I know I'll lose. I just, uh, can't..."
"Can't what?" Marisa was persistent.
Eric sighed before continuing in a frustrated voice. "I can't make danmaku."
"Can't- wh- Huh? But that's so basic."
"Yeah, I know..." he mumbled. He was painfully aware.
"You really don't know anything, do you?"
Marisa's needling was grating on him. "I do! I can fly. I can defend myself. I can heal. I know some magic!"
"But ya can't use danmaku?"
"N- no. I don't know how."
Marisa scoffed. "Well look, ze. If you can't shoot nothin' back, then you're pretty much useless in a fight."
Useless… Yeah… That's...true.
"I know that. I know that my combat ability is worthless. I don't- I don't need someone I barely know telling me that, because I know. That's why I'm here."
"What, you think you're gonna learn danmaku from a book?"
"I don't know! I'm just- I'm trying… I'm trying to get better the only way I know how!"
There was a certain tension in the air as Marisa and Eric stared each other down. Marisa's expression slowly grew conflicted.
Eventually, she closed her eyes and sighed. "Ah... shit. Sorry about that."
Eric was… caught off guard by her shift in demeanor. "Wh- uh, what?"
"I didn't come here to start nothin'. I… shouldn't be giving you shit. You seem to know your flaws already. Sometimes I… forget how hard it is to first start learning magic."
"I, uh, yeah…" The heat of his irritation was quickly fading away.
"Look, ze. I had a… great teacher when I started out." Marisa looked downright wistful. "She put a lot of importance on fighting ability. I... owe a lot to her for what she taught me. For even giving a kid like me a chance..."
"It's… easy to forget that not everybody gets that kind of help."
It was as if her whole character had changed. This Marisa was far more mature than the one he'd seen just moments before.
Eric took a moment before he rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, uh, sorry about getting so riled up. It's just… I already know that I'm weaker than pretty much everyone else. It's… a bit of a sore point…"
"'Course. Nobody likes being called weak."
"Yeah... I mean, how could I ever help anybody if I can't even help myself?"
Marisa nodded solemnly. "So that's why you're here, ze?"
"Yeah… I've only managed to learn magic from the grimoires I've found here. I... haven't relied on anyone else to teach me."
There was a pause as the air of tension melted away into one of understanding. He felt like he knew Marisa just a little bit better after that exchange. Hopefully, she could say the same.
Eventually, Eric spoke again, curious this time. "Why're you here?"
Marisa shrugged. "Just got a bit of advice from Kosuzu."
He raised an eyebrow. "Advice?"
Marisa waved it off. "It's just an investigation thing. Nothin' important. Sometimes, the little squirt knows somethin' I don't."
"Oh."
The conversation trailed off again for a minute. Marisa looked like she was thinking about something. Eventually, she broke the silence.
"By the way, I'm usually not this big of an asshole."
The sudden declaration surprised Eric. "Um… what?"
"I know you might not believe it, 'cause of how I acted today, and at Alice's. But, I ain't like that all the time, ze."
"Then… why were you?"
Marisa leaned back up against the wall. "Today, well, let's just say I have some disagreements with the way a lot of the Village thinks about magic."
Eric just nodded. He felt like it wasn't his place to press her on that. "And with Alice?"
There was a small snort. "I just wanted to fight her. Figured she'd want to if I made her mad enough."
"You... couldn't have just asked her?"
"Nah. She'd have just blown it off," she answered with a bit of a sigh.
Seeing Eric's questioning look, Marisa felt the need to elaborate. "See, she used to challenge me to duels all the time. The first few years I knew her, she had a big attitude, and she was a total battle junkie, ze. Always tryin' out new dolls or spell cards or strategies. She'd fight anything that moved, including me an' Reimu."
That… didn't sound like the Alice he knew. It felt like a total contrast to how she'd acted around him. Although...
Picturing Alice as a troublemaker who was constantly on the lookout for a good battle was kind of funny.
"You said 'used to'? What do you mean?"
"I don't know if ya noticed or not, but she's a total homebody now." She emphasized by rolling her eyes dramatically. At some point, she'd put away her water bottle. "I mean, she always had a little bit of that, but now… Well, this was the first time in months that we've actually fought."
Eric brought his hand to his chin in thought.
"See, I figured she was just losing interest in fighting, or maybe she had some sort of special research that she was absorbed in. But…" Marisa trailed off.
"Hmm?" Eric was invested.
A wry smile appeared on the witch's face. "Heh, she might get mad at me for telling you this, but she just seems sad. Like, some days that spark just isn't there. Look, I'm not sayin' it's obvious, but after knowing her for so many years, I can tell when something's up."
"So, you think maybe something's bothering her?"
"I… don't know for sure. What I do know is that the position for 'mopey shut-in magician' has already been filled by Patchy."
Eric tilted his head. "...who?"
"Patchouli. She's, uh..." She gestured vaguely. "...a mutual friend of mine and Alice's."
"Ah, another magician?" He hazarded a guess.
"Yep! She's fun to mess with too, ze."
There was another small lull in the conversation.
So, something's wrong with Alice? I wonder if she's lonely out there in the Forest... Or is it something else entirely?
As Eric pondered, Marisa spoke up again.
"Say, I've answered your questions, so how about you answer some of mine?"
Well, he didn't really have any reason to say 'no.' "Uh, sure!"
Marisa breathed in before staring him dead in the eye. "What's your deal with Alice?"
That was unexpected. And...direct. "I, um, we're friends?"
She seemed unsatisfiied with that answer. "Yeah, yeah I get that. But like, how did y'all meet? Why are you sticking around? What do you see in her?"
"Ah, um, okay…" It was a barrage of questions. "Let me answer one thing at a time."
Eric gave her a quick rundown of how he and Alice came to meet.
...
It was a story that Marisa seemed to find very amusing.
"Pfft! You've got some balls to try visiting a youkai in the Forest of Magic. 'Specially at night, ze!" She took another moment to think. "That, or you're just stupid."
She's just trying to get another reaction out of me.
"Oh yeah? Well I'm glad I was stupid enough to do it."
Marisa got that mischievous grin again. "'Glad', huh?" She shifted her stance slightly. "It's kinda funny, 'cause she usually ends up scaring people away."
"How so?" Eric couldn't fathom what that meant. When they'd first met, talking to her had felt… right.
Marisa shrugged. "Dunno. 'Prolly the dolls."
"H- Why? The dolls are cute!" He realized his mistake when he saw Marisa's grin widen, so he tried to walk it back. "I mean… They aren't that bad!"
Was Marisa going to let that slide? Absolutely not. "Oooh~ They're 'cute', huh? I betcha think she's cuter!"
"N-"
...Why was his first instinct to try and deny it? Should he even be trying to deny it?
Alice was cute. Her whole aesthetic was cute, right down to the adorable little hairband. Her fluffy, golden blonde hair that framed her delicate face. Her keen, glacier blue eyes. The darling ribbons and frills that accented her outfit, an outfit that complimented her slender, graceful form. And of course the boots, because she did live out in the middle of the woods, after all. It all worked together make something distinctly Alice.
...He'd told her once that he found her cute, and that had been nerve-wracking enough. As mortifying as it was to admit it to anybody else, well, perhaps it was better to simply own up to it.
Eric did look away in embarrassment. "S-so what if I do?"
Marisa looked quite pleased with herself. "I knew it!"
Then, she sobered a little. "Look, ze. I'll tell you this straight up. She's one of my best friends, so I gotta look out for her. ...What's your plan here?"
"...My plan?"
"Yeah. Your intentions. With Alice." She took on a much more serious look once again. "And be honest. 'Cause if you aren't, I've got a Master Spark with your name on it."
…
What was he doing here?
He'd been so caught up with seeking her out and getting to know her that he hadn't really thought that far ahead.
Was... he aiming for developing a romantic relationship with her? Was that something he wanted? Was that something she wanted? What would happen if it didn't work out?
Alice... didn't seem like the type to treat relationships lightly. Eric... wasn't either, as a matter of fact.
He just didn't know how this was all supposed to go. He... Well, he didn't really have any good points of reference.
"I… To be honest… I don't know. I… really don't." A beat passed. "Alice... There's… something that draws me to her that I can't explain."
He moved his hands vaguely before continuing. "Like, I've known her for less than two weeks, and I'm already looking forward to the next time I get to see her. I visited her again two days ago, and I'm planning to do it tomorrow, too."
He slowly folded into himself as he continued. "I… like spending time with her. I like talking to her. I just… like her."
"I think you've made that part pretty obvious, ya dork." Marisa punched him lightly on the arm. "The real question is, 'What are you gonna do about it?'"
He straightened back up a bit. "I'm… not sure. I don't know if I even should do something about it."
There was one thing that he knew for certain, however.
"The only thing I know for sure is that I want to see her happy. In any way that I can."
Marisa held her gaze on him before closing her eyes and nodding sagely. "Good answer, ze. My witch's intuition tells me that you'll be a good influence."
Eric rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Ah, thanks…"
Marisa's trademark smile was back. "Whatever you do, ya better not let her get lonely, okay? And if you ever make her cry… Well, I betcha can guess where I'd shove this broom!"
He wouldn't even dare dream of it.
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
Among the notable residents of Gensokyo, there were few who held any sort of interest in dolls. Even fewer were those who had amassed a collection.
There was only one who could boast all of this, and had deep enough pockets to justify employing a dollmaker.
…
The vampire sisters of the Scarlet Devil Mansion actually did possess quite the collection of dolls. Most of them were antiques, and they were all crafted by the finest makers in Europe.
These dolls, as was the case with anything old, required routine upkeep. While Sakuya was a maid of many, many talents... dollmaking was not one of them.
As such, the task of maintaining this assortment was regularly delegated to someone else. Namely, one Alice Margatroid. She was the only one that was trusted to care for their dolls, and she was compensated generously as a result.
Only she was capable of returning a doll to its proper condition after an unfortunate breakage.
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
Alice counted herself lucky that her skills were in demand. Granted, the demand came from only one client, but it was better than nothing. It was much better, as a matter of fact.
The Scarlet Devil Mansion had an absolutely exquisite collection of dolls. So many different makers, so many different styles, and ages that ranged from several decades to several centuries old.
So, when their head maid periodically requested her assistance in caring for them, she accepted every time. There was no better opportunity to work with such a treasure trove.
That, and their patronage almost single handedly funded her lifestyle.
…
It was after another job well done that Alice found herself in the company of the Lady of the manor. Remilia Scarlet had 'invited' her to a little tea party.
Well, it was more like 'strongly suggested'. It… probably wouldn't have been a great idea to refuse her.
Alice knew that there was more than tea in Remilia's cup.
…
She wouldn't have described their relationship as close. It was more of a business oriented acquaintanceship.
But, that did mean that she was at least somewhat familiar with Remilia's mannerisms.
As such, Alice was not particularly surprised when the other youkai practically dominated the conversation.
…
It was after a small rant on the recent lack of cloudy days that the vampire gave her a knowing look. Alice could only imagine what she was thinking.
"I can see the question upon your lips. Come, speak your mind."
She… did have a question, but… did she dare ask? There likely wouldn't be a better opportunity… but…
Remilia would probably tease her endlessly about it.
…
Alice wanted to know. No… she needed to know.
"What… What does fate feel like?"
Remilia's grin only widened.
"Ohoho~ Now that is quite the question. You are well to ask about that which I hold dominion." Remilia was positively smug. "Now, how shall I simplify the universal enigma for you?"
She took a sip of her blood-infused tea before continuing. "As it is, all of creation is tangled, bound together in a web. When one point is altered, so too are all points to which it is tethered."
"...Everything is connected, yes?" It was a concept that Alice was familiar with.
"Such a... bland way to put it…" Remilia looked mildly dejected.
She recovered quickly, however. "I take it you've experienced a tugging sensation? At the core of your being, perhaps? One that draws you towards a certain something?" Remilia leaned in closer. "A certain…someone?"
Alice did not respond, but her expression said everything.
"As I suspected~ You are lucky. Typically, one cannot feel the pull of their own fate." Then, she fanned herself dramatically. "The fact that I can is quite the burden, truly."
Alice's brows furrowed. "Are… Are you just showing off?"
"I would never stoop so low." A beat passed before she moved on. "Perhaps Fate thinks you need a little encouragement. One that is quite scarlet in nature."
"Y- Wh- What exactly are you suggesting?"
"...I'm quite disappointed. For a seamstress, you understand surprisingly little about the weave of fate."
"S- …can you please stop being so vague and mysterious?" Alice was beginning to regret her decision.
"Ufufu~ There's no need to wrinkle that pretty face of yours. Such a look is unbecoming for a young maiden."
"...I'm leaving." With one smooth motion, she stood up from her chair and turned to face the door.
"Y- hey! Hey wait!" Remilia's royal countenance faltered briefly.
Alice ceased her movement and turned back to the vampire. "All I ask is that you explain less cryptically."
"Fine~" Remila sighed. "I'm merely surprised that you haven't figured it out yourself. Strings are your specialty, are they not?"
The magician just crossed her arms.
Remilia sighed again before fixing her gaze firmly on Alice. "The Red Thread of Fate. I trust you are familiar with it?"
"The… story?" She was quite aware of the tale. And… the meaning behind it. "Are… Are you implying that the Thread is a real phenomenon?"
Remilia giggled. "What I am confirming is that you and a certain young man are bound by that very same thread. How wonderful. Not everyone is so fortunate."
"Are… are you positive that is what you see?" She was taken aback, her voice a mix of disbelief... and hope. She had to be sure. Remilia… she wouldn't lie about something like that, right?
"Ufufu, how could I manipulate that which I could not see? My talent is quite versatile." Absolute confidence radiated out of her. "You two are truly meant to be."
'Truly meant to be.' Those words echoed within her mind. Alice found that she herself had no words to respond with. She brought a hand to her cheek, feeling the warmth of the blush that spread across it.
Remilia's grin widened, delighted at rendering the puppeteer speechless. Oh it was such a wonderful sight.
That also seemed to be the right time to end their little tea party. "Ah, I suppose we've dallied here long enough. Sakuya shall arrange your payment and see you out."
Sakuya Izayoi blinked into existence beside the table, holding a large pouch of money.
"Miss Margatroid, we appreciate your continued service to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Allow me to escort you," the silver-haired maid declared with a bow.
On her way through the door, Alice could hear Remilia remark, "Do take care!" before the vampire snickered again.
…
The Red Thread of Fate. A famous story… and a real phenomenon, apparently.
To those it entangled, it promised partnership. It promised love. It promised a life shared together as soulmates.
Remilia had not specified with whom Alice was connected.
Alice, however, had a pretty good idea.
What Eric had mentioned the first night he had shown up at her door… The sensation she'd felt when she saw him… It made sense now.
So… why did she feel conflicted?
On one hand, it was wonderful. It was wonderful to know that she was meant to be with someone. It was wonderful to know that the 'someone' was right there in front of her.
It felt as though she had waited far too long.
On the other hand, it was frightening. It was frightening to consider the implications of predestination. It was frightening to have foreknowledge that something more would inevitably blossom between her and somebody else.
It was all happening far too fast.
…
But...
…It was alright. It didn't have to happen all at once.
There was no need to rush things…
Right?
~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~
The sun was setting on yet another day.
Another day in this youkai dominated hell.
…
Even now, his disciples were hard at work.
Preaching in the streets, emboldening existing sympathizers, planting seeds within the minds of those yet to be convinced…
Within the people of this village, there was… an undercurrent.
How was it that only he could see it? The agitation. The dissatisfaction. The… potential.
There was potential in frustration. All that frustration with nowhere to go.
He could direct it. He could focus it.
He would take that resentment and shape it into a movement. He would take that movement and grow it into a revolution. He would take that revolution and bring a new order to their world.
It was high time that things changed around here.
…
…Until then, they would continue to build. Much like a snowball atop a mountain, eventually they would grow to be an avalanche.
And when that time came…
…they would bury all in their way.
~~~~~~Author's Notes~~~~~~
Yo~ I wasn't completely confident in this chapter, but here it is! I had some ideas that I really wanted to touch on before anything big starts to happen. Apologies if this ends up feeling like a filler chapter.
Hoooo boy! The scene between Eric and Marisa went on for WAY longer than I had originally intended. There's a couple ideas that are gonna have to wait.
Sekibanki's totally the type to turn into a little jokester if she was comfortable enough around you. I wonder when her friends will show up?
Marisa... is a complex bite. More complex than she seems at first. I tried to do my best to show that, but I think I'd struggle if I had to write too much of her.
Remilia is very fun to write dialogue for. Like, she knows way more than she really should about things. And she likes to mess with people about it. And give very roundabout answers. I think Alice would do a good job at getting her to cut to the chase.
Did you know that Alice hasn't been a playable character since Hisotensoku? Back in 2009!? And she hasn't even had a cameo since Hopeless Masquerade? Back in 2013!?
This was my interpretation of why she was seemingly everywhere during the earlier Windows era of Touhou, but then just faded out of the spotlight. Like, she WAS fighting every chance she could. Now... she's just kinda not.
...Yeah, I might be a little heavy handed with the Red Thread stuff, but hey, it's Touhou. All myths are real to some extent.
And I just really like the idea. Shameless self-indulgence is fun sometimes.
Thanks for reading. Have a good day!
~~~~~~Reviews~~~~~~
HakaseFanFic64: I really appreciate your frequent reviews! On one hand, I don't want to overwhelm myself with trying to include too many relationships and whatnot. On the other hand, I do want to want to try to include enough relationships and character history so that it's not too shallow. Only time will tell what I can manage~
Samuel9919: Thank you for reviewing! Surprise, surprise, Alice is my favorite overall character in Touhou, too! Also, I'm glad Eric is coming across well enough so far. I'm definitely aware of the pitfalls of having an OC main character (and a self-insert one at that), and I'm trying to avoid those within reason.
fajar867: It's kinda funny that your review came in right as I sat down to do a final edit of this chapter. The update is here!
thewanderer14: Thank you! Here's a new chapter to continue reading, lol.