Magical Lotus, Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2

[Hello Purvis]

Sweet catch, Guy. I completely forgot about that.

>"And what can you do about it?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And what can you do about it?"

>"At the moment? Nothin'."

[Hello Purvis]

>"And with a few moments?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And with a few moments?"

>"Pr'aps I should've been more specific. I can't do nothin' yet, because, nobody's actually asked me to." She pauses, scratching one foot with the other. "Are you asking for my services?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I'm certainly considering it. If I do ask for your services, what could you do?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I'm certainly considering it. If I do ask for your services, what could you do?"

>The Eagle offers you a somewhat amused smirk. "Oh, come now. Y'don't expect a girl to reveal her trade secrets, do ya? 'f I told every Tom, Dick and Dyke that came down m'pipe how I do what I do, people'd try t'do it themselves, and I'd lose all me business."
>"Now, I'll grant ya, tracking down a missing piece of jewelery isn't my usual fare, but, I'd have a couple ideas how to go about it, and I'm certainly willing to give it a bash."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, you seem to have the advantage of them, then. What would you like in turn?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, you seem to have the advantage of them, then. What would you like in turn?"

>She places one of her mottled brown wings under her chin in a thoughful gesture, somewhat mirroring Lily. You wonder now if that gesture is shared by all winged humanoids.
>"Well, since I've enjoyed this little chat of ours, and since this is our first transaction, I'll make ya a deal. Part of the payment, I'll take now. But I'll only accept the other part if I can deliver the goods. If I can't, then I'll just chaulk up time spent as experience gained in a different field, and you owes me nothin' else. Sound fair t'you?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"So far, so good."

[Oldmansour]

>"So far, so good."

>The Eagle takes another moment to consider, before lowering her wing. "One picture. Of you and me sitting side by side."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I presume this comes with the assurances that you'll do nothing untoward with it?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I presume this comes with the assurances that you'll do nothing untoward with it?"

>"But of course. Matter of fact- and this goes against my usual policy- but, if you'd like, I'll tell ya xactly why I wants that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Please."

[Oldmansour]

>"Please."

>She sits back, spinning her flute idly as she elaborates. "To make a long story short, I've a number of acquantainses, some of em even friends, that'd never believe the Morning Star of Mayoiga would be caught within 50 feet of someone like me, if she could help it. Much less be willing to be seen in the same picture with someone like you. She's too upstanding, and I'm just scum." She stops spinning her instrument to give you an even look. "I admit, there's a part of this that's me tryin' to rebuild my reputation. Help me be welcome in a place like Yakumo's, without security hawking my every move. Having proof that someone like you's willin' to at least give me a shot's a decent start."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, well, I'd be happy to do that free of charge. And what is the other thing you're asking for?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Ah, well, I'd be happy to do that free of charge. And what is the other thing you're asking for?"

>The Eagle seems pleased to hear yor acceptance. And at your next question, she simply points her flute at your hair.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Very well, then. But, I have a condition. Lily and I will accompany you during the search."
>After all, we've had one heirloom-like item become a problem, with a second one on the horizon.

[Oldmansour]

>"Very well, then. But, I have a condition. Lily and I will accompany you during the search."
>After all, we've had one heirloom-like item become a problem, with a second one on the horizon.

>The Eagle casually folds her arms across her rather diminutive chest. "Now, what'd I just tell ya about me lettin' folks know how I does my business?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's okay, we're not folks. If that were the case, you wouldn't want a picture with me, would you?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"There is a reason I don't want you to go alone. Don't repeat what I'm about to tell you, all right?"
>Assuming she agrees: "I think someone may have taken the ring. I don't know who this individual is, although we have encountered each other before. I do know that you likely will not be able to protect yourself against this individual, but I know how to, and Lily can help me. I can't tell you any more than that, though."

[Hello Purvis]

>"There is a reason I don't want you to go alone. Don't repeat what I'm about to tell you, all right?"
>Assuming she agrees: "I think someone may have taken the ring. I don't know who this individual is, although we have encountered each other before. I do know that you likely will not be able to protect yourself against this individual, but I know how to, and Lily can help me. I can't tell you any more than that, though."

>Don't say this just yet.

The less we have to tip our hand,the better.

[Oldmansour]

>"That's okay, we're not folks. If that were the case, you wouldn't want a picture with me, would you?"

>The Eagle lets out a small sigh. "Look, I like ya well enough. And your rep speaks for itself. But lemme be blunt. I ain't lookin' for company on this job, and I don't need any help. This Eagle flies solo, or with her Sisters. Which you ain't."
>"Now, I hope you don't take that the wrong way. It ain't personal, and I'd really hate for us to get off on the wrong talon. But, I gotta do things my way. Alls I ask is a little trust. I'll get the job done. And if I can't, well, no more skin off your beak. But, if you're gonna insist-which I might add is a bad way to start off a business relationship with someone like me- then I'd need a minute to consider. I MIGHT, and I emphasize MIGHT, be willin', but it'll cost ya somethin' extra, that's fer sure. I don't break m'rules on the first date, certainly not for free, anyway."

>"There is a reason I don't want you to go alone. Don't repeat what I'm about to tell you, all right?"
>Assuming she agrees: "I think someone may have taken the ring. I don't know who this individual is, although we have encountered each other before. I do know that you likely will not be able to protect yourself against this individual, but I know how to, and Lily can help me. I can't tell you any more than that, though."

>Don't say this just yet.

>You consider telling the Eagle a little more about your situation, then reconsider. With individuals like the Eagle, it's best to play your cards closer to the vest.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"All right, then. How about this: go ahead and search your own way, and if you find the ring just lying somewhere or anything like that, then that's great. But I think someone else-I don't know who-may be after it, so if it's in someone else's posession, don't try to get it back. Instead, come to me immediately. Is that acceptable?"

[Oldmansour]

>"All right, then. How about this: go ahead and search your own way, and if you find the ring just lying somewhere or anything like that, then that's great. But I think someone else-I don't know who-may be after it, so if it's in someone else's posession, don't try to get it back. Instead, come to me immediately. Is that acceptable?"

>She quirks an eyebrow. "Think ya mean 'pendant', there, pretty. But that sounds pretty fair. 'f it turns up in someone else's hands, I'll give ya a call, let you know in whose. An' then, you can decide how you wanna get it back to it's right proper owner." She gives her flute an idle spin. "You've had some run-ins yerself with a rough crowd, ain'cha? Before me, I mean. You thinkin' I might run into somethin'... someONE, that's dangerous?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I have enough to leave myself with a strong suspicion of the likelihood, and not enough to comfortably rule it out, which is why I must insist upon coming. I would respect your methods otherwise."

[Oldmansour]

>"I have enough to leave myself with a strong suspicion of the likelihood, and not enough to comfortably rule it out, which is why I must insist upon coming. I would respect your methods otherwise."

>She chuckles shortly, then collects herself. "Lemme just get somethin' straight here. You think this job is dangerous enough that you fear my safety, and yet you think that, somehow, YOU, Byakuren Hijiri, can offer me more security than I have on my own? Need I remind you who I am, and the crew I run with?" Her expression doesn't change outwardly, and yet, somehow becomes a little less endowned with humor. "That's almost insulting, yknow."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I say that, knowing those things. I mean not insult by it. In turn, I ask you if you have any reason to believe I'm being dishonest, knowing of me as you do?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I say that, knowing those things. I mean not insult by it. In turn, I ask you if you have any reason to believe I'm being dishonest, knowing of me as you do?"

>"Oh, I believe ya when you say you think there's some potential for danger involved here, don't get me wrong. I mean, between the two of us, even I'd bet on me bein' the liar here." she grins. "But what could you possibly be involved in that you think me and my Sisters can't handle?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Going into details would be...difficult, shall we say?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"It's a long story, and you probably wouldn't believe it anyways. Let's just say it involves magic items. It is the one I have that would protect me and enable me to protect you. And no, you can't use one; they are, as I understand it, usable only by the ones they're attuned to, and I don't have one that's attuned to you."
>"Also, I would ask that you not repeat any of what I've said to you to anyone else."