P a r a n o i a

Weird thing to be thanked for, she thought. But it was kinda nice. And then, flailing. Oh Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, why are you flailing.

"… Ah… ah, I get it. So they’re other ships then… a-and I figured as much, for the Admiral of yours. I’ve heard the term before… I was in the military as well, and I’ve studied on others. … We never had a need for Admirals though, because we didn’t need to use ships." … That was enough on the Lunar War.

At Tenryuu’s comment towards ears and such, Reisen coughs, trying to hide some of the embarrassment on her face at that sudden comment, “… Cute? Huh… I guess that’s a word for it…” People sure do find rabbits cute more often here than in Gensokyo. Considering they’re only really treated as food or the occasional pet… “That sounds nice, by the way! … Your sister’s here too? That’s… er… unfortunate, and great, I guess.”

Something else, though…?

"Ah— yes! Right now I work for Dr. Hannibal Lecter in his psychiatric office. However, I also normally work for my master… who isn’t here." Well she didn’t know how wrong she was. “I also help take care of my Master’s companion. She’s a princess.” A princess whose name probably shouldn’t be mentioned. … Even if this girl was a robot, she’d know about the whole story that humans had about Kaguya-hime… that might blow her cover!

Scratching her cheek nervously, she smiled, a more genuine display of pleasure then upon her features, before she chuckled. Her face lit up at the mention of Admiral and military, however. “Ahah… Yeah, they are ships as well. There are lots of them, you see. You were in the military as well? That’s really cool! You don’t look like it but that’s cool!”

At the slight fluster the rabbit displayed, Tenryuu kept smiling, but with her unknowing slightly teaseful nature, she poked at Reisen’s cheek. “Heheh, of course it is. Yeah, Tatsuta’s here. I don’t know why we’re here though… It’s not really a weird place but… It feels weird without having to follow someone’s commands.”

She pondered, albeit heavily at the thought of the Admiral’s well-being.

She didn't look like one of those, did she? ... No, no. She'd seen hookers. This girl was definitely not a hooker. With that face though... this was kind if depressing. ... With an pause following, Reisen coughs.

"... Yeah, most people say I don't look it," she mutters, blinking. Did she really not look like she was made for combat...? ... Well, the ears didn't really help. She dressed more like a college student of some sort, really... or an intern, maybe. "I guess it is cool, though."

Apathetic reply, but regardless, she kept a medium smile-- it growing slightly awkward as her cheek's poked. "Aah... er, well, you were chosen at random. ... You'll get used to it, though. I mean, that's how I felt the first few weeks here, so I went out to get a job."

She was so ingrained to serve someone, she couldn't help it. ... Actually, it was kind of sad.

"Uh, and I don’t know who Tatsuta is… or Admiral, actually. … Or Shimakaze." Were they all ships too? Aside from ‘Admiral’, of course. … Admiral who? Was he just…? No, no.

That’d be lunacy.

"And they’re… uh… these ears…" … There another pause. “… They’re… just accessories. A-and ignore my last name, I just… really like bunnies…” After hiding her name and identity for so long, it began to feel lame. … Maybe she should just come out with her full name already, and claim to be a youkai rabbit, or… something. … Ah well. “But, uh… yeah, I do think you’re nice. We got off to a wrong start, but, you’re definitely pretty nice! … Which is a good thing, a good thing!”

She scratches her cheek.

Tenryuu immediately flailed at the mention of how the rabbit did not know of any of the people she mentioned, realizing that she had been rambling on her own selfishly, without the consideration of others. “Tatsuta is my sister! A-and Shimakaze is a friend, they’re both fleets. Like me. Admiral is our Admiral…”

It felt as though she might have failed the Admiral, however.

"Oh, then they’re really cool accessories. You like bunnies so much to add it to your name? That’s so cute!" she exclaimed, with surprise on her face, vibrant and akin to that of a child’s curiosity. However, she still could not perceive the lie she was trying to implement, but Tenryuu was a child at heart. "I-if you think I’m pretty nice then, someday you should meet my sister! She makes good food, even though we essentially drink… Something else but… I’m sure she’ll like you!"

Weird thing to be thanked for, she thought. But it was kinda nice. And then, flailing. Oh Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, why are you flailing.

"... Ah... ah, I get it. So they're other ships then... a-and I figured as much, for the Admiral of yours. I've heard the term before... I was in the military as well, and I've studied on others. ... We never had a need for Admirals though, because we didn't need to use ships." ... That was enough on the Lunar War.

At Tenryuu's comment towards ears and such, Reisen coughs, trying to hide some of the embarrassment on her face at that sudden comment, "... Cute? Huh... I guess that's a word for it..." People sure do find rabbits cute more often here than in Gensokyo. Considering they're only really treated as food or the occasional pet... "That sounds nice, by the way! ... Your sister's here too? That's... er... unfortunate, and great, I guess."

Something else, though...?

"Ah-- yes! Right now I work for Dr. Hannibal Lecter in his psychiatric office. However, I also normally work for my master... who isn't here." Well she didn't know how wrong she was. "I also help take care of my Master's companion. She's a princess." A princess whose name probably shouldn't be mentioned. ... Even if this girl was a robot, she'd know about the whole story that humans had about Kaguya-hime... that might blow her cover!

Even if she was… well… technically an Earthling. Being made by Earthlings makes you an Earthling, right? … Maybe…? She had the same confusion when it came to Sera. At any rate, Reisen pauses as the other smiles.

"… Tenryuu… I’m not familiar with too many naval ships, but, it’s nice to meet you. … Er, well, and as for my my name, i-it’s… not that special. But… thanks!"

"I’m actually really plain, though!"

She listened as the other responded to her introduction and comment regarding her moniker, but Tenryuu could almost begin — about the kindergarten of kids she had to babysit. And enthusiasm begin to wash over her. “I know lots about naval ships! I teach some kid ships about these things, heheh. You could join someday, if you want.”

She soon realized the Akatsuki class wasn’t around, however.

"Uh, and I don't know who Tatsuta is... or Admiral, actually. ... Or Shimakaze." Were they all ships too? Aside from 'Admiral', of course. ... Admiral who? Was he just...? No, no.

That'd be lunacy.

"And they're... uh... these ears..." ... There another pause. "... They're... just accessories. A-and ignore my last name, I just... really like bunnies..." After hiding her name and identity for so long, it began to feel lame. ... Maybe she should just come out with her full name already, and claim to be a youkai rabbit, or... something. ... Ah well. "But, uh... yeah, I do think you're nice. We got off to a wrong start, but, you're definitely pretty nice! ... Which is a good thing, a good thing!"

She scratches her cheek.

What… was that. With the ears and the— the— she was a SHIP?! … Alright. Youkai were one thing. Personifications of other people’s fears? Sure. She bought it.

Personifications of ships? Like, metal ships? The kind you… cross… oceans with, and so on? Fight in wars in? Frigates? Fleets? This took the cake! And she barely knew anything about maritime fighting!

"…………"

Reisen rubs her temples.

"You’re a… okay… okay. Ship or not, you still look like a person and talk like a person. I’m plenty sure you’re a person. … That being said, a lot of the people I know aren’t particularly normal, so ironically, that makes you normal too."

Sure, that made sense.

Sure. … Reisen was getting a headache from her own damn words.

"I actually… Just wanted to be useful, that’s all…" slightly flustered, she could still muster out words, in determination. She hardly noted the slight disbelief the other could possibly have hinted in her words. Tenryuu was straightforward, and naive, very much like that. "I thought by being scary I could scare away enemies and maybe then I wouldn’t have to kill…"

Even if she was... well... technically an Earthling. Being made by Earthlings makes you an Earthling, right? ... Maybe...? She had the same confusion when it came to Sera. At any rate, Reisen pauses as the other smiles.

"... Tenryuu... I'm not familiar with too many naval ships, but, it's nice to meet you. ... Er, well, and as for my my name, i-it's... not that special. But... thanks!"

"I'm actually really plain, though!"

"I don’t need to be shot! Nobody needs that!"

Reisen begins rubbing her temples.

"I was saying I could!" It would only take her forever to realize that it wasn’t so simple to be scary, and that she was hardly there. She wasn’t quite as strong as she liked to see herself as, however. Merely agile. "… I’m not a normal person though… I-I’m not really all that scary too but I’m actually a ship…"

What... was that. With the ears and the-- the-- she was a SHIP?! ... Alright. Youkai were one thing. Personifications of other people's fears? Sure. She bought it.

Personifications of ships? Like, metal ships? The kind you... cross... oceans with, and so on? Fight in wars in? Frigates? Fleets? This took the cake! And she barely knew anything about maritime fighting!

"............"

Reisen rubs her temples.

"You're a... okay... okay. Ship or not, you still look like a person and talk like a person. I'm plenty sure you're a person. ... That being said, a lot of the people I know aren't particularly normal, so ironically, that makes you normal too."

Sure, that made sense.

Sure. ... Reisen was getting a headache from her own damn words.

"I can offer you information for a good psychiatrist. I feel like you might possibly, oh I don't know, need one? It's just a hunch, don't get mad! I'm kind of a semi-professional."

Advertising the place she worked at to this kind of person was... in hindsight, probably a horrible idea.

Yarne had already managed to get himself into trouble. While the appearances of others were just as strange, the taguel managed to get a lot of unnecessary attention to him. Trying to form a temporary alliance due to his cowardice, he just wanted to survive.. And work on discovering more about this Hive City. New technology. A lot of stuff he didn’t understand! And if that wasn’t stressful enough, he’d ended up speaking to the ‘wrong crowd’ which soon resulted in a chase. A short one but.. Spooky, nevertheless. 

Yes, somewhere in his head he knew that he could have fought them.. But there was always the chance, wasn’t there?! One slip up and he could be dead! Not just wounded or anything.. Dead.

Fortunately, in his panic, Yarne had resorted to transforming. That enough was enough to startle his attackers and send them running but he hadn’t even noticed. He never even thought that people here would be frightened by an oversized rabbit, really.. So he bounded off in the opposite direction and, heart racing, had leaped through the streets and the like until he’d ended up in the green sector.  

“Whew..”

A moment to relax.. But he didn’t transform just yet! Even with the few stares, there weren’t as many people around so he just allowed himself a few minutes to calm down. Standing upright to view his surroundings with careful eyes, sniffing the air as his ears moved about, Yarne sat back before going onto all fours again moments after…

Not really expecting a new threat right away.

"Bunny!"

“Huh?”

Just as he turned to see what that was, a hoard of children had already made their way to him. “H-Hey..! What are you?!..” There were small hands tugging at his fur as kids tried to pull themselves onto him. That’s just it too.. They were just kids..! He knew right away he’d have to be careful going about this. “Uuu..— Stop..!” Moving back onto his hind legs again, Yarne wiggled uncomfortably as he tried to maneuver around these kids…! Shouldn’t a litter have a guardian somewhere? With this in mind, he frantically searched for some adult who might have been with this bunch of children, shuffling a bit in an attempt to herd them along with him.

That was, until one pulled his ear a bit too hard.

“Oww..!”

Tugging his ear free, Yarne shook his head quickly before just giving up and calling out to the closest person, paws reaching desperately in their direction.

“Please! Help me..!”

To help, or not to...? Well, who was it that even needed help anywa--

"Huh?!"

... That was definitely a rabbit who had just cried for help, there. A larger than usual rabbit. Actually, there were a lot of strange things about that rabbit-- the fact that it was wearing clothes was another.

Was that an Earth rabbit...? Ah, no matter. Even if that guy probably wasn't a lunar rabbit, he was a rabbit... probably. As such, instead of standing there, thinking about what to do...

"Hey, hey...!" Jogging forward towards the crowd a bit, Reisen inhaled-- proceeding to smile awkwardly. "What luck! You all found my pet rabbit!"

Promptly pulling Yarne towards herself with relative ease and swatting away the hands of the children, she goes on to say, "Thank you all so much! I don't have a reward, but at least you got to pet him! ... So yeah."

Flatly ending her half-assed praise as the kids stared at her with some frowns (and some awe at her own rabbit ears), as quickly as she had approached them,  she was already making her way away from the group as quickly as she could-- pushing Yarne along with her.

And as soon as they're far enough away, she finally stops.

"I don't need to be shot! Nobody needs that!"

Reisen begins rubbing her temples.

"For the last time, no! I don’t have any treats, and I don’t have any tricks either! No, you want a trick? Why don’t you stare into my eyes and—"

She paused.

"For the last time, no! I don't have any treats, and I don't have any tricks either! No, you want a trick? Why don't you stare into my eyes and--"

She paused.

"Ah, no, I know. I know of at least a few other witches— three of which whom aren’t human. One of them’s still a human, however. … I can’t say I’m the expert on witches or magicians or what say you, though. I don’t use magic, myself. Actually, two of ‘em are here in the city…"

She had no need when she knew how to use a gun and could drive people insane. Wasn’t that enough? But, she did have some magic energy within her. Enough to use danmaku, at least…

[ Which comes out as an oxymoron, considering her current nature. Even so, she’s not lying about her hostile sentiments towards those creatures. Strictly speaking, she still has humanity in her— and it’s even more accentuated in here with the ridicolously little amount of magic she’s got left. Other than displaying a few golden butterflies, she can’t do much else. ]

That was... also surprising, but it was slightly hilarious, really. Witches not liking other witches? ... Well, seems like her little chess game wasn't exactly fun, anyways.

"Ah... alright then, Ushiromiya-san." Might as well continue with the formalities, she mused. "... Anyways! Hope you enjoy your stay here. It uh, was nice meeting you. Maybe we'll meet again, or something. Considering I've been here longer, I'm willing to give you any advice or anything if you're ever feeling lost. So, yeah!"

Reisen’s ears stood on end as she gawked— surprised at the sudden revelation. … She used to be human until she became a magician. She was just like that puppeteer, then! She almost didn’t even realize she practically gave away the fact that she herself wasn’t a human.

"You can say that I am no longer human. I used to be, but I was obligated to give up my humanity at one point of my life."

[ Fooled? She almost wants to smile at that remark, but her lips won’t twitch. ]

"Ah, no, I know. I know of at least a few other witches-- three of which whom aren't human. One of them's still a human, however. ... I can't say I'm the expert on witches or magicians or what say you, though. I don't use magic, myself. Actually, two of 'em are here in the city..."

She had no need when she knew how to use a gun and could drive people insane. Wasn't that enough? But, she did have some magic energy within her. Enough to use danmaku, at least...

"I’ve been here a good while now, so I’ve seen a lot of it, yes. … And I guess I’m used to some pretty crazy things going on, as well. Not this outrageous, but… ah, it could get pretty hectic back at home." From the rabbits acting up to Tewi’s pranks and the antics of various youkai buzzing about, daily life in Gensokyo was always full of intrigue.

… For those who didn’t happen to live average lives, anyways. For the humans, they just had to worry about being eaten.

[ That “someone” was her brother— who wasn’t aware of her true identity until the very end… but haha, no, she won’t tell the whole story to a person she barely knows. ]

Reisen's ears stood on end as she gawked-- surprised at the sudden revelation. ... She used to be human until she became a magician. She was just like that puppeteer, then! She almost didn't even realize she practically gave away the fact that she herself wasn't a human.