User:NekoRex/Alice6

Alice_Margatroid seems quite happy to stay inside at the moment, as all it's done recently is continue snowing. She sits comfortably next to a roaring fireplace, vigorously repairing broken joints of some of her dolls. Marisa_Kirisame touches down at the doorstep of Alice's house after visiting the Hakurei Shrine today, casually letting herself back in. "Yo Alice, I'm back." she announces after coming through the door, leaving her broom not too far from the door. She's had a bit to drink, but not enough to be blatantly tipsy. Alice_Margatroid glances up when the door creaks open, watching Marisa closely, and quickly interjecting. 	Stomp the snow off your boots before you come in, it gets water everywhere. 	... But, yes, welcome back. 	I hope you had a nice time while you were out, I don't see any reason to go out in weather like this. 	"Ah, sure!" Marisa says, making sure to get rid of the snow. "I just went over to Reimu's place, had a few drinks, yelled at a few youkai, and saw some people impersonating the shrine maiden. It was a blast!" 	Some.. people impersonating the.. I'm not terribly surprised. Well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.. didn't get too tipsy, did you? *	Alice_Margatroid rolls her eyes, shaking her head a little. 	If you got too tipsy, I'll have to lock you in a closet again so you don't cause my house any damage. 	"Naw, naw, I'm fine. I think I'd know if i were drunk." 	"Probably would be a good idea not to do any research tonight, to be safe" Marisa continues, with a shrug. 	Yes.. if you were, I'd probably have to come and get you myself... 	Perhaps you should just go off to bed, then, unless you were going to read or something. 	"Hmm... that reminds me..." Marisa says, stopping a few steps in and putting her hand to her chin. You can almost see the gears turning. 	"Do you still, uh, wanna help me out with that series of spells? Ya know, the ones to make me not worry 'bout age." 	What? What is it-- 	Oh, yes, I suppose so.. *	Alice_Margatroid smiles slightly at the thought, as subtle as it is. 	"Ahha, alright. I never actually figured out the secret behind it, though." Marisa says, curious. "I always assumed my potion method would work. How long you reckon it takes ta do it all?" 	"Does it even work on other people?" <Alice_Margatroid>	Mmh.. "other people". What do you mean by that? <Alice_Margatroid>	I was a human once, so.. I'm not sure why you would ask that. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"I mean, I always thought it was somethin' ya had to research and do yourself. Not a one size fits all spell." *	Marisa_Kirisame seems a bit concerned. <Alice_Margatroid>	Then, yes, by your definition of other people, it does. You're right, though -- it's gradual and requires understanding of the self-care needed, as well as the process to prepare it properly. <Alice_Margatroid>	I'd be fine with helping you put it together and giving you an idea of how to tend to the process, but.. the process itself takes an upwards of a few years. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Few years? Sheesh, ha ha, I thought it'd take a few months, tops." Marisa laughs. "I'd almost feel bad I lost all my previous research if it didn't nearly kill me." <Alice_Margatroid>	Well, it's slowly becoming a different species entirely without causing harm to your own body.. it would have to be gradual, or else the sudden changes could cause you more harm than good. <Alice_Margatroid>	That old saying about the frog in a boiling pot, or something like that.. *	Alice_Margatroid fiddles with one of her broken dolls a bit, somewhat frustrated that she can't pop the ball joint out in her usual fashion to look at it and fix it better. She soon ends up just starting to dismantle the doll completely, although in a fashion where she can put it back together if needed. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Hmm, guess that's true." Marisa says, walking over to observe what Alice is doing. "What made ya wanna become a youkai in the first place? Just ta' have the benefits of long life?" <Alice_Margatroid>	That, and not having to be as afraid of youkai any more. <Alice_Margatroid>	I didn't like being so weak, even as a child. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Hmmm... come to think of it, I guess it's sorta ironic I wanna become a..," Marisa seems to noticably avoid trying to say it, "...Youkai. I don't really like most of the lot, ze. Not that I'm afraid of any youkai." Marisa explains, but then suddenly gets flustered when she realizes Alice techinially counts. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"I do have exceptions, of course! Ahaha." <Alice_Margatroid>	It's more of a "magician" than a youkai, really.. <Alice_Margatroid>	Youkai are made from human fear and beliefs, you know? It's maybe a catch-all term for supernatural here, but... <Alice_Margatroid>	A true witch, or a magician, or simply a human that doesn't get older. I don't think about it too much. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Hm, I suppose you're right." Marisa agrees. <Alice_Margatroid>	I guess you could say that, maybe, if you lived long enough and enough people believed things, then maybe you would become a youkai.. but it's not anything to worry about. *	Alice_Margatroid shakes her head, finally finding the culprit for the problem with the doll -- a bit of plant material that long-since got lodged in the joint in question. After cleaning this out thoroughly, she starts to piece the doll back together, occasionally glancing back up to Marisa. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Hmmm..." Marisa mumbles, thinking again, observing Alice with interest. "I guess if you're gonna help me out with those spells, we're gonna be spending a lot more time together, right?" *	Alice_Margatroid tilts her head slightly at this sudden question. <Alice_Margatroid>	I... guess? Why are you asking that out of nowhere? <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Ah, no reason." Marisa says with a smile. It seemed like a bit of a warm smile, but could it just be an elaborate joke? <Alice_Margatroid>	.. You don't ask questions for "no reason", though. There's always some reason, be it stupid or worthwhile. <Alice_Margatroid>	Yes, though, I guess you're right. If you have a problem with that, well.. I don't know if I can help you.. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Hm? When did I say I had a problem with it? I'd almost think you'd have more of a problem with it them me." Marisa says, playing up an innocent tone. "It's my life we're screwing with, not yours, you know." <Alice_Margatroid>	I... nothing. If you had some problem with it for.. some reason.. it's-- it's nothing, really. I was just concerned. *	Alice_Margatroid closes her eyes and turns back to her desk, a little angry at herself now for getting herself into this corner. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Concerned about what?" Marisa says, curious, but mentally frowning that Alice seemed a little mad. <Alice_Margatroid>	Concerned that you'd .. not want to put up with me for the whole thing, I guess. <Alice_Margatroid>	I think far too much into things. Don't pay it too much mind.. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Mmm? Concerned I wouldn't like you for it? It's hard to think that about someone who saved my life, ya know." (And also offered to help extend it) <Alice_Margatroid>	.. As I said, I think too much at times. Overanalysis. <Alice_Margatroid>	It's what happens when you spend your life away from everyone else for a long time, I think.. <Alice_Margatroid>	I'm glad you.. like me, though. I get overattached to things far too easily.. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Awww..." Marisa says, smiling. "Ya know, I told Reimu a secret when I was over there today." <Alice_Margatroid>	If it's a secret, why are you telling me that you told someone it? <Alice_Margatroid>	Isn't it a bit.. well, against the idea of secrets to tell me that a secret exists? *	Alice_Margatroid perks up a bit when she finds an excuse to get off a bit of an embarrassed mood, latching on perhaps a bit aggressively to hyperbole and logical goofiness. It certainly helps her shake off the unusual mood for the moment, at least. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Heh heh, you're overthinking it again. I was gonna offer to tell you." <Alice_Margatroid>	You.. were? Is it such an important secret that I'd need to know? <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Uh... I guess?" Marisa says, scratching her cheek in thought, not really expecting it. *	Alice_Margatroid gives Marisa an expectant look, nodding her hand and outreaching her hand slightly to further the notion. <Alice_Margatroid>	If it is, then..? <Marisa_Kirisame>	"It's not like a trade secret or anything..." Marisa says, before snapping out of her spacing. "Bah, now you're making me overthink it. Hold still and I'll tell ya." <Alice_Margatroid>	Why should I hold still? <Alice_Margatroid>	That doesn't make so much in the way of sense... <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Shhh." Marisa says, holding one finger out. She whips her head around the room, as if there might be someone hiding who could overhear. <Marisa_Kirisame>	Seemingly satisfied that nobody can overhear them, she gets up close to Alice's ear, to whisper, "I think it's real cute when you blush." *	Alice_Margatroid really has no idea what she's going to be told, seeing as Marisa's just the sort who would make up some crazy secret and never say she was lying.. when it warrants getting so close as to whisper into the ear, she grows a little skeptical, but this answer leaves her, quite frankly, a little overwhelmed in terms of expectations. <Alice_Margatroid>	... I.. I, well... I'm... not sure what I should say to that, really.. *	Alice_Margatroid makes a soft huffing noise, putting her hands up to cover most of her face. <Alice_Margatroid>	Damn it, Marisa. Of course you have to tell me something like that.. I'm just going to end up blushing more when I think about it, and..! *	Marisa_Kirisame steps back to let out a big laugh, getting exactly the reaction she was hoping for, and finding it hilarious. *	Alice_Margatroid just looks back through her fingers, posture quite tense as she's quite confused as to why she's being laughed at. It almost started to bubble into anger from her own confusion. <Alice_Margatroid>	Why-- why are you laughing?! What's so funny? <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Ahahaha, your reaction, it's just too... hahaha... cute. I'm just.... fff-fff-fff, i really did mean it though." <Marisa_Kirisame>	"You're just.... hehehe... too easy to tease, Alice." *	Alice_Margatroid honestly can't stop looking quite pink at all of this, her brow and nose both a bit wrinkled as well. Grinding her teeth together, she just closes her eyes. <Alice_Margatroid>	Well, if you were the one being cute, I wouldn't laugh at you. Unless it was some funny situation.. Hmph. <Alice_Margatroid>	... That's no fault of my own! <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Ah," Marisa says, recovering, "Don't take it so seriously... heh heh... if you want, I'll give ya a hug if it'll make ya feel better or somethin'" <Alice_Margatroid>	I... I guess that would be okay. It sounds kind of nice, I think. *	Alice_Margatroid stands up, a little shakily, and looks to Marisa, watching with some anxiety about her posture. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Really? Alright." Marisa says, straightening up from her doubled over posture and extending her arms. *	Alice_Margatroid steps over, slowly, before awkwardly fitting herself into Marisa's arms, loosely looping her own arms around the witch's middle. She doesn't really make eye contact, gently leaning her head against Marisa's cheek, breathing heavily a few times to try and calm her nerves. It's.. surprisingly soothing to her. <Alice_Margatroid>	Uhm.. thank you. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Mm? No problem, Alice." Marisa says, wrapping her arms around Alice in a soft hug. Marisa thinks to herself that this is pretty nice, and smiles warmly to herself. <Alice_Margatroid>	... I do like you, you know. Like that.. I-- I'm sorry it's taken so long to become clear. <Alice_Margatroid>	I just.. don't like getting attached to people. I don't like trusting people much. It's not easy for me, and I've always been too concerned that you'll just do something stupid and die. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Ah, I always figured ya liked me, to be honest." Marisa says. "I mean, I could lie, but I'm a terrible liar, haha." <Marisa_Kirisame>	"I understand" Marisa says in response to the trust issue. "It's okay." Marisa reassures. "You really should have more confidence in me, though. I'm Marisa Kirisame, haha. I must be tough if it's gotta take me to kill, well, me." <Alice_Margatroid>	I know. I have always had.. some faith in you, else I wouldn't leave the house to follow you places. <Alice_Margatroid>	"Some faith", at least... I just never wanted to grow close to anyone reckless like that. I've just felt that it's become my job to make sure you don't do anything too risky, because nobody else would. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Oh, sorry for worryin' ya so hard, haha." Marisa says, sounding a bit embarassed. "I guess I can't help being reckless, with my youkai blastin' and magic. I guess I just have too much fun with it. I'm glad you've always been around to help me out though. Really glad." <Alice_Margatroid>	... Well.. I'm glad you're glad. I don't want all of this to be in vain, it.. it just feels like I would be careless if I let someone who I cared about go. <Alice_Margatroid>	I guess I could congratulate you, you're the first human I've cared about for.. decades. The last ones I thought much about were the old couple who took me in when I came here, and I moved out of the village when I was about twenty... <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Ah..." Marisa says, not sure how to react after that last bit. "I guess I'm mighty lucky then." <Alice_Margatroid>	I'm sorry, that.. probably sounds a bit weird. But it's just a sort of statement how you've become.. important to me. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Ah, don't worry about it then. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." Marisa reassures. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"Ya mean a lot to me too, Alice, even if I'm not too obvious about it. I guess that's the real secret, ahaha." <Alice_Margatroid>	Well.. at least we know now, right? Even if I can't promise I'll make it super obvious in the future, either, I still.. well, you know. <Marisa_Kirisame>	"I understand." *	Alice_Margatroid closes her eyes, sighing softly. <Alice_Margatroid>	Thank you, Marisa. *	Marisa_Kirisame lets Alice continue the hug for as long as she wants, looking back at her and smiling.