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Alice was walking with aim into the garden of the sun, a doll in her hands, albeit bald. Right in front of the beautiful sunflowers that give the garden it's name, she holds up the doll.
“No, that's not quite right. Definitively needs to be a bit darker, but to which extant?”
“Would it be better like this, then?”
A shadow had suddently apeared over Alice, the doll, and the sunflower. Alice did not need to look behind her to know who caused it.
“Not really Yuuka. By casting a shadow over the whole composition, the searched darker shade loses it's intent and contrast, making it overall far less impactfull compared to what I'm looking for.” Alice replied, wasting no time to talk to the flower youkai.
“I see. Oh well, this is better for her anyway that I give her light instead of shade at this time of day.” Retracting her parasol back to her, Yuuka couldn't help but be fascinated by how Alice was searching the right tone for her latest craft. “You've truly grown a lot since I've first met you, dollmaker.”
“Good for me. I was but a child back then, unsure of what I even wanted, seeing dolls only as mere toys. It's much different now.”
“Your dolls aren't the only toys who have much evolved. I remember that I saw you as nothing more than a cute maid back then. Oh funny it is that this time feels so far, yet so close?”
“Must be because while it has been a long time for me, for you it has barely been a dent on your lifespan.”
“Oh, are you calling me an old lady, dear Alice?”
“Of course I am. You've been around far longer than most in Gensokyo and Makai alike.”
“How rude the younglings can be, I must say. Although I guess that for an human, you're well past that already.”
“Think again Yuuka. I've become a magician more than twenty years ago already, so my standard is now that of a youkai. And even when compared to averages instead of old-imters, I can still grow and bloom.”
“Using flowery language like that, are you trying to charm me? Or perhaps appease me after those horrible insults? How could you call me an old lady not once but twice, Alice?”
“Because it's nothing short of the truth Yuuka. And if you hadn't acepted it years ago, you'd have already thrown empty threats of making me transition from lowly mage to compost. You've lost your edge. Not that you've ever used it other than to give haircuts to your garden.”
“Sure it is so, Alice. Sure it is so. Although you wouldn't believe what I did with Reimu and Marisa not long before encountering you.”
“You've unleashed a Master Spark on them. I would know, I used to date Marisa, and as much as she likes to say that only Mima and Reimu ever heard her respect, she always mumbled about you in envy when her favorite trinket lacked firepower.”
“Well, that's part of the story, but not all of it. Do you wish for me to count more of it alongside a cup of tea?”
“I would adore it, Yuuka.”
Turning around and offering her hand to Yuuka, Alice couldn't help but to see how rafined and elegant her face still is. In a blink, that hold was lost, her hand falling onto a table, to the side of a cup of tea.
Yuuka counted more and more to Alice, not just her first encounter with Gensokyo's heroines, but of before and after, many tales through the ages. The pupetter had first come for inspiration for her hairless doll, but what she found was a lady that in spite of her age kept on blossoming through the season.
The tea had long gone cold and the talk had only took a break as the sunset reached Yuuka's residence.
“Looks like you'll have to leave soon Alice. The forest of magic is pretty dangerous at dark after all, and I wouldn't want you to harm that pretty face of yours.”
“You could always teleport me there if you're so afraid. But now, I'm curious if it would be right.”
Going towards the sunflowers with her doll held high up again, Alice looked at how the colors were clashing admit the sunset, but couldn't do anything but sigh.
“The light deemed too low for the doll to contrast well with a darker gold. But how about now?”
Yuuka had once again gotten behind Alice, and let out a tiny light out of her parasol, akin to the sun yet shining only onto Alice and her craft, a gasp turning into a smile forming on her lips.
“You never cease to surprise me in the most delectable ways, Yuuka.” Taking out a pen and small piece of paper, she noted the shade and it's details.
“Why wouldn't I help one of Gensokyo's prettiest flowers to prosper? It's what I've loved doing for all of my years. So please, bloom again for me the next time I see you.”