Puppeteer of the Forest

"Ah... hello. Have you come to visit, or did you perhaps get lost in the forest?" [CURRENTLY ON HIATUS] [Independent RP blog for Alice Margatroid. Please visit the rules page for more info.] [-No Artwork featured in this blog is mine unless specified as so. May be NSFW.-]

[romantic--children]

“Sometimes I wonder if I have bags under my eyes with all the time I spend up at night working on new dolls...”

She doesn’t bother to look in the mirror. It’s somewhere in the house, though...

[romantic--children]

*Steals Alice's gunpowder*

Alice isn’t sure if she should pursue. She’s got the know-how to create gunpowder herself... probably.

The real concern is what Seiga might do with it. 

[romantic--children]

wow my old rules page seemed so stuck-up and high-strung

toned that shit down man

[oarfishofthesky]

//What happened to reblogs?  And does anyone use the chat?

[romantic--children]

I think they like. Changed reblogs so that you can’t... what, change the previous post? You can add to it, but you can’t change what the other person wrote without of XKit.

[shichishi-chii]

I feel like it's my public duty to warn people about this.

Ooc: Especially anyone who rp’s with female muses that there is a god-modding, gary/mary sue rper who gose by the url jerrodkingofendenia, well he used to now he goes by the-prototypexthe-maiden. And let me tell you, do you ever have this fear of roleplaying with characters cause they’d be bad (plotwise, writing, and just uncreative severing no purpose other then to piss people off or force themselves onto other muses), the muns would be forceful even when you said no, and constantly try to push for ideas/threads that don’t make the least bit of sense? well that’s them, now normally I don’t do things like this but no one should have to suffer this.

I have a friend who’s had to deal with shit for to long and has even become an evidence page for all their misdeeds; check it out you’ll see what I mean.

http://multimuse-simulator.tumblr.com/tagged/jerrodkingofendenia

http://multimuse-simulator.tumblr.com/tagged/theprototypexthemaiden

If you can even stomach the first page I implore you to look through all the tags so you know this is absolutely someone you do not want to deal with. Block and report immediately if he ever attempts to talk to you. This is meant to be a place to escape and have fun, and it’s people like this that ruin what’s meant to be a happy experience. (also check out other tag’s to, this is not the first person he’s harassed)

[iceheartcd-deactivated20180530]

Reminiscing (@romantic--children)

[iceheartcd-deactivated20180530]

With a twinge of indignation, Yuuka became aware of the fact that she had not been listened to at all. Rudeness was certainly one thing, but utter disregard for her words – whether intentional or otherwise – well, that was another matter altogether. She was not used to being ignored or brushed off. Her hands remained perfectly still on her parasol’s handle as the girl in front of her stuttered and stumbled through her sentences, obviously unnerved by her presence.

Well, if you are going to be so high-strung, it would be a good opportunity to mess about a bit, mmm? 

Doll-girl.

She was silent for a moment after Alice had made her offer, then the youkai let out a small giggle. Almost too girlish to fit to the impression that this one had of her. Red eyes narrowed to slits, she spoke:

“Come now, Alice, stop stammering. Chin up, child! Your sisters and creator would be appalled to see you behaving like a beaten animal.” Instead of taking a seat, she crossed the floor to Alice with a few strides, and placed a hand on her shoulder. Cold fingers grasped the other firmly. Nails dug into the fabric of her clothes.

Yuuka cocked her head and examined the puppeteer. “Well? Collect yourself, girl. Acting so frightened is unbecoming of a young lady like you.”

For a few tense moments, she stood, eye-to-eye with the other, a small smile turning the corners of her lips upwards. If Alice was not in complete shock from the action, she would notice that even in winter, the youkai smelled of flowers and earth, just like the places of the world that she so favored.

Her words were, in any other context, meant to be encouraging, sure; but with this one it is good to not take sentences at face value. Not often does Yuuka express exactly what she means or exactly what she intends in her words alone.

Seconds ticked by in silence, and…

…Slowly, her iron grip lessened, until she removed her hand from the doll maker’s shoulder and allowed her arm to return to her side. 

As always, the youkai stood confidently, radiating nothing but a sense of certainty in herself. “I am not threatening you, so I would appreciate it if you stopped behaving as if I am going to dismember you and leave you for the scavengers. After all, I’d only have to do that if you forced my hand, hmm? I would hope you’d be smart enough to not let it come to that.”

Another soft giggle passed her lips. As if that were a joke in good taste. 

As if the girl in front of her wasn’t already so blatantly scared to death.

Then, she turned, and walked silently to the table, wasting no movements as she slid into one of the wooden chairs. “I’d much appreciate something to drink, thank you. Have you anything warm?” Her elbows rested on the table’s surface, chin atop her laced fingers.

Oh, she had been a bit miffed that Alice had previously ignored her. But that was water under the bridge now; she had paid her back in kind. Nevermind that her form of retribution entailed further pushing the girl to the brink – that was a given.

Being ignored was not something easily stomached by the flower master, after all.

[romantic--children]

That was her second mistake. And it was already starting to bite her in the ass, what misfortune she was having today! 

She almost let out a cry of fear as Yuuka strode over to her and set her hand firmly on her shoulder. But she stifled it--whether she bit her tongue or choked on it, didn’t quite matter. Yuuka closing the distance between them was more  than enough to make her go silent.

She dared not to do anything as they stared at each other. The iron grip on her shoulder was warning enough to tell her not to do anything rash or hasty here--she had already done enough of that to warrant the consequences here. So that’s what Alice did. 

Nothing.

“I am not threatening you, so I would appreciate it if you stopped behaving as if I am going to dismember you and leave you for the scavengers.”

What? 

Did she hear that correctly? Did Yuuka just read her, and more importantly, tell her that everything she was worrying about was naught? 

Was she having auditory hallucinations?

And then the iron grip on her shoulder loosened. And Yuuka walked off to the table to take a seat, now taking the offer for a drink.

... what? 

But she had a drink to serve. There was no time to mull over that now.

She made an apologetic bow and spoke up. “R-Right! I’m sorry! I’ll go get something ready to drink right now!”

... she might have spoke up a little too loud. So she took a deep breath and straightened her dress out, trying to get her composure back.

“Um. Is... there anything in particular that... you would like, M-Miss... Kazami?”

Alice had to take another breath at that last bit. Some formalities would help, right? After all, Yuuka had a point. Sure, she had no certainty in whether or not she could hold her to her word, but... would she rather risk aggravating her further? Or shape up and potentially avoid a catastrophe? 

She’d have to try, at least.

[romantic--children]

"Ms Margatroid! Long time, no hear! What have you been up to?"

Alice shrugged.

“Nothing out of the ordinary, that’s for sure. Not unless prepping the household for the winter is interesting in any way. Or checking to see that my winter wear is still usable or needs fixing. So... nothing particularly new.”

[iceheartcd-deactivated20180530]

Reminiscing (@romantic--children)

[iceheartcd-deactivated20180530]

“Now, now, Margatroid.” Yuuka lifted the tip of her parasol from the ground and placed it against the closing door, preventing it from moving any further. Annoyance flickered in her eyes ever so briefly, though her smile was unwavering as she locked her gaze with the puppeteer’s.

“Is that truly how you treat guests, child? After I came such a long way to pay you a visit, as well.” Roughly, the youkai stepped past Alice, forcing the girl aside with her shoulder and passing through the narrow space in the doorway. Warm air rushed to meet her with the freezing outside temperatures still at her back, and once inside she turned to face the doll maker, still wearing her relaxed expression, parasol tip once again resting at her feet.

“Go on, then. Close the door. You are letting the cold in.” The parasol hung from her wrist as she pulled off her mittens, setting them down on a nearby table, and Yuuka briefly rubbed her hands together before removing the earmuffs as well.

Her hands traveled to her hair, smoothing it down before lifting her gaze to what surrounded her.

“…You’ve found yourself an excellent place. It is quite a secluded little clearing, mmm? The interior, as well, is quite cozy.” She took in the room, with its soft lighting and shelves lined with books and dolls, and upon seeing the tiny things in the shape of humans her smile settled into a slight smirk.

“I see you’ve made yourself some little friends, as well! How cute… You’ve gotten much better than when we last met. Although…” Yuuka’s still-wet boots clacked against the wooden floor as she strode across it to more closely inspect one of Alice’s creations, a delicate one with ball-jointed limbs and a carefully painted face. An unintelligible murmur passed her lips, too faint for the doll maker to hear.

Well, credit must be given where credit is due. The girl truly has become a more skillful craftswoman.

With her back now to Alice, she spoke clearly once again. “I wonder… Do you still have to read the spells as you cast them, or have you branded them into your mind by now?” The flower master reached out and briefly touched the doll’s dress, observing the quality of the fabric before spinning on her heel to face the one still standing dumbfounded in the doorway. 

Once again, her eyes locked with Alice’s. Unblinking. Her smile was gentle.

“Well? Shall we sit down? I did not come here just to stand and watch you react in shock simply because you were expecting another at your door. Now that we have established that I am not whoever you were expecting,” she gestured to a simple wooden table with four chairs set around it.

“Come, Margatroid, let us talk and catch up. It is cold and slippery outside, and I am quite sick of walking around.”

Hands folded, fingers laced, atop the handle of her parasol, which still stood upright on the floor, it was evident that she was inviting Alice to take a seat first.

[romantic--children]

Of course that wouldn’t work. How would it?

Yuuka was here for a reason. Why else would she go through the effort of finding her? There was a reason for this visit, and she could only assume it was for some... number of reasons that could very well be a threat to her own life. 

And her first mistake was attempting to back out of even greeting her.

Alice winced as she was pushed aside, watching as Yuuka let herself in of her own accord. This was some semblance of forced entry, she was sure of it. But she was in here now, so she would have to tread carefully... very carefully. After all, her life was at stake here.

She reluctantly closed the door, watching Yuuka’s movements as she removed her mittens and earmuffs, before taking a look around. What commentary Yuuka did make about her house flew over her head--she was busy trying to formulate a plan for what to do next. 

What would she do? What could she do? Her first mistake already was being rude and not greeting Yuuka properly--she couldn’t let herself do something like that again. Would she just have to play along? Would she just have to put on a farce until she had an opportunity to--

“Huh? O-Oh, right. Of course. Uhm... w-would you like me to get y-you something to drink? Since i-it’s cold outside a-and all...”

She didn’t get a chance to finish her train of thought. But it was par for the course--Yuuka wouldn’t just stand there and let her mull over a number of scenarios in her head. But now wasn’t the time anymore. 

Just keep cool, Alice. Don’t let her see your composure falling apart.

“Feel free t-to take a seat in the m-meantime.”

She tried her best to put on another smile and gestured at one of the chairs. 

You just have to keep cool. You’ll think of a solution to get out of this predicament. Just keep cool, Alice.

[romantic--children]

Holy shit, I’ve been gone so long.

A bunch of new blogs following me from like. Whenever long ago, christ.

Well, if you were hoping for some activity... well, yeah! There’s still some to be had around here. Just a little.... well, slow right now. Still, feel free to shoot asks or anything of the like, I’ll get to them when I can.

Thanks, and have a good day!

[iceheartcd-deactivated20180530]

Reminiscing (@romantic--children)

It was winter in Gensokyo.

Yuuka Kazami had never enjoyed the season of winter as much as she did the rest of the year. The absence of color was not ideal, the temperatures seemed to affect her level of energy, sapping her strength.

Her boots crunched in the snow on the forest’s floor, and even though her hands were gloved and a coat was wrapped tightly around her, the bitterly cold air still numbed her face. Her breath, briefly visible, dissipated into the air around her in moments, and snowflakes fluttered onto her opened parasol.

Everywhere she looked, the land was blanketed in white. Most of the flowers of autumn had already vanished, and even the majority of the forest creatures had elected to stay inside. One would think she of all people would appreciate it all, and one would be wrong in that assumption.

…Certainly, there was still life flourishing in the harshness of winter, and even as she walked she saw small flowers peeking out of bushes and berries hanging from trees. Those splashes coloration against grays and whites brought a smile to her face, of but it was still entirely too bleak for her taste. Too quiet, too frigid. Most trees had already shed most of their leaves, yet the most stubborn still clung to their branches, the only hint that there had ever been any foliage on those now-bare branches to begin with.

The only sounds around her were the occasional noise of an animal, startled by her passing, and the rhythm of her own footsteps in the snow.

However, Yuuka was not just walking about in the cold for no reason; the youkai would much rather be in the comfort and silence of her own mansion right now. No, on this winter day, with a steel-colored sky, she had a destination in mind. A goal.

On a freezing day like this, she was reminded of the icefields of another realm. While their inhabitants would be none too happy to see her – nor would she venture into its depths once again, especially in this dreadful cold – she felt compelled by those memories to visit a certain someone. Someone who had been an interesting distraction, once. Someone who she had not seen in… well, it was difficult to count the years, but she figured it had been at least a good few. Someone who was sure to still be entertaining. A little fun, maybe some catching up, was worth an unpleasant journey. Or that was what she had chosen to believe when she set out for the Forest of Magic, anyways.

A small house, located within a clearing in the densely packed trees. That was where she had arrived, and where her trek through the snow ended.

It looked almost new, the youkai noticed, with a small twinge of appreciation for the apparent cleanliness of the magician who lived here. Even having only seen it once, she remembered its blue roof and white walls. Light poured out of its windows, and as she stepped onto the covered porch, she closed her parasol, tying the ribbon that held it shut into a neat bow. 

It was then that the Flower Master of the Four Seasons, who at the moment had absolutely no desire to spend any more time outside in this current season – or anywhere else cold, for that matter – gave the door a few sharp raps with her knuckles.

Then, she rested the tip of her parasol against the ground, and waited with a smile for the one she had come here to visit.

[romantic--children]

What’s that? A knock on the door? In this weather?

She looked away from the book she had been engrossed in and stared at the door. Who could possibly want to visit her during this time of the year? It’s cold outside, and trekking through the Forest of Magic was already tough enough as it was.

... well, unless you were some few specific individuals who had no problem traversing it, or just flying over it. Which really narrowed down the possible options. So surely, it’d be a familiar face that she’d be happy to see right? 

Well, that’s what she was thinking anyway. After running that train of thought for a bit through her head, it seemed like a logical enough answer to justify going to the door. Even if it was just Marisa waiting to cause some mischief... or share notes.

So with a smile, she set her book down and walked over to the door. Having somebody visiting her during the winter? Now that was sure to bring her joy.

... until she found out who was on the other side, at least. She foolishly decided that she wouldn’t have a doll or two see who the visitor was from the window, or the peephole, and instead just open the door herself. What could possibly go wrong with that?

Click! 

The lock retracted into the door, and she turned the doorknob, opening the door.

“Hey! I wasn’t expecting you over, what’s the...”

She froze.

This was not at all who she was expecting at her front door. Her entire body stiffened, and her smile cracked. She took a few slow blinks and a deep breath.

“... whoops, s-sorry! I’m k-kind of in the middle of s-some research, so I c-can’t have any v-v-visitors over. M-Maybe next time? Ahaha...” she said in a slow voice. It was slow and calculated, but nowhere near stable... or believable for that matter.

All while she was saying that, she was slowly closing the door and taking small steps back.

How did she manage to find her home? She thought that she’d be safe deep inside the forest. And yet, here she was. Yuuka Kazami. Standing at her front porch.

How.

[romantic--children]

“What a coincidence...”

[wintrydragontrap]

“I’m actually quite scared of the idea of going back out there… but it’ll be worth it, right?”

All these questions took the boy off-guard. He found it hard to keep track; she’s asking a lot at once here. “I-I just really like the dolls… they are rather cute. I mean, I might show off a little, but I wouldn’t want to hurt people if that’s what you’re asking–”

[romantic--children]

Well... he had the right idea. Right idea of why she was asking those kinds of questions anyway. 

She’d have to take his word for it. But it’d probably be fine, right?

“Okay then, good. That’s just my main concern. But if you won’t, then.”

She shrugged and tilted her head, trying to signify some sort of verbal “OK” before nodding a few times.

“... though that’s also because I haven’t actually taken up anybody as an apprentice or something of the sort...” she’d mumble under her breath after. It was something she preferred to keep a secret.

“... as for getting to and from here, I assume you will be alright then? I could go back with you, if you’d like.” 

To some extent, anyway. She would rather keep her exposure to populated areas at a minimum.

[hashihiime]

Down, you lot. If you throw the first stone with ill intent, expect to be harshly pelted in return.

That forbidden scrollery chapter addresses EXACTLY why Reimu killed the new-born youkai, reading it in full would be advised. Her extermination had nothing to do with the fact that he’s a new-born, and everything to do with the fact that humans are not allowed to become youkai in Gensokyo. A human willingly turning into a youkai canonically upsets the balance of Gensokyo, and that sort must be exterminated in order to preserve that precious balance.

Reimu does not take sides. She is not on the side of humans, and she is also not on the side of youkai. She exists and operates purely for the good of Gensokyo, and if that means killing a human or a newborn youkai who disobeyed the rules, by all means she will do it.

Reimu does what she needs to do as the Hakurei shrine maiden and the protector of the barrier, nothing more, nothing less.

[undyingsunflower]

She’d be damned. Yuuka would give this woman a standing ovation for, well, standing. After all the flower being had put her through, and Alice was standing in front of her with fear leaking with her tears and her words. This terror that tingled the tip of Yuuka’s nose and lit her tongue like a sour fruit. It was the only sensation she felt, and she unconsciously latched onto it - feeling, fidgeting, fingering this foreign sensation that she missed like a held breath -

Yuuka found the pads of her blackened, infected fingers lightly upon Alice’s tear-stained cheek. The claws formed by thorns, they too brushed every so delicately next to her hair, one of them resting upon her ear. While Alice would feel the oddly cool touch upon her skin, Yuuka would feel nothing, despite being able to practically taste Margatroid’s fear. Not the heat of her face, not the wet of her tears. It was the most awful sorts of disconnect, one that she still wasn’t used to if only because she rarely had such contact with people. Why was she touching her? Yuuka found herself questioning her actions, yet she did not draw back. No, just as Alice found herself frozen in fear, Yuuka found herself frozen in a mix of confusion, joy, anger, longing.

These were not good emotions to find herself dwelling on. She really would kill the youkai if she desired to truly taste the peak of her fear.

Yuuka gave a scoff, a forced huff of air, straightening her back and pulling her wings back. She then pulled her hands away, but she didn’t lower them. Instead, the flower being drew them straight back, thorn-claws splayed in the air as she took a single step backwards. A rigid pose, a tense pose.

She then lunged her whole upper body forward and sprung out her arms at all joints. Yet the air did not whistle with the claws slicing through it. No, not even as her wings flared back to balance her did the air become disturbed. The move was sudden, sharp and with all of her force behind it. And as her claws passed through Alice’s body, hands crossing right over one another as her claws curled, her whole body gave a sharp shimmer, flickering straight out of existence itself for just a moment- 

And thus no harm truly came to the youkai. 

[romantic--children]

She’d eventually come to realize that. But emphasis on eventually; with her current state, she was much more likely to pass out on the spot. With her vision obscured by her arms, she could only imagine what sort of fiendish tool Yuuka procured to end her life. Would she be strangled? Stabbed, impaled upon numerous sharp vines? Ripped apart from her limbs? 

But she’d find out soon enough, that was certain. She was only moments away from her impending doom, and all she was doing was sobbing, crying uncontrollably--at this point she couldn’t even call out for Shinki, much less anyone else. 

And sure enough, she’d feel something--the unusually cool touch of one of Yuuka’s claws against her ear, which would be more than enough to give her the idea that it was happening right now. 

She’d brace herself, her entire body tensing up in anticipation for the ensuing strike that would end her life. 

It never came.

Or rather, that’s how it seemed to her. Alice was hysterical, no doubt--the crying, sobbing, screaming and tears were all that were coming out of her, but in between all of that, where was the killing blow? Where was the searing pain, the sudden cut-off of her voice, replaced with strangled choking or perhaps even complete silence? Where was the point where she would no longer be conscious? Where was the point where she could no longer hear herself? Where was the point when she inevitably realized that she had finally perished? 

Where was all of that? 

Eventually, she’d come to actually move her arms away from her face, clearing her view to reveal what was before her eyes--nothing had changed. Yuuka was still there, all in her hideous glory, watching down upon her.

But then... what happened? 

[romantic--children]

one of these days.

one of these days i’ll be back.

[romantic--children]

So I’m trying to get the new 2hu fighter (ULiL was it?) to run. Except, it can’t. I’ve already patched it, and my laptop is already in Japanese locale, but it won’t run. I’ve tried messing with compatibility settings as well, but nothing seems to work.

Does anyone have any ideas? I really don’t want to assume that it’s not working solely because it’s of Windows 8.1.

[slashersmirk-deactivated2015100]

Where did you get your copy of the game from? Unless it’s from the very discs themselves, it might just be a bad download link.

[romantic--children]

I picked up the game from a download provided by... mistressofphantasm I think. Pre-patched when I last checked the Skype log. Everyone I know seems to be running it just fine.

[romantic--children]

subconsciouseyes replied to your post:So I’m trying to get the new 2hu fighter (ULiL was...

Is it saying anything, like an error or what? If not (since Im no expert or anything), I’d wait for moriyashrine version, even if I’d also wanna get to it as soon as I can

No error. The blue circle that indicates something is loading pops up next to the mouse for about... half a second? And then disappears.