Magical Lotus, Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2

[Hello Purvis]

"It's hard to find something that does not exist. So, now that you can talk a bit more freely?"

[Oldmansour]

"It's hard to find something that does not exist. So, now that you can talk a bit more freely?"

>"I'll spare you a lot of the details, but, to make a long story short, the last cell phone I had wasn't.... shall we say, quite legal. As a result, someone shoehorned this particular clause into my plea bargain, and it was deemed appropriate by a judge. Until my community service is up, I'm barred from using cellular phones, except in the event of a life-threatening situation, or otherwise justifyable extenuating circumstance."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I am surprised you haven't played chicken with them in some regards, claiming that take-out food is a life-saving call and the like."

[Oldmansour]

>"I am surprised you haven't played chicken with them in some regards, claiming that take-out food is a life-saving call and the like."

>"I actually know someone who'd try that and mean it. But the name of the game is knowing the system, and its players. I know what I can and can't get away with."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"Any other parole quirks I should know about?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.
>"Any other parole quirks I should know about?"

>"I suppose you count having to play at the police new years' social."

[Hello Purvis]

>Cackle. We haven't had a good cackle in awhile.
>"Now that really is just exploitative."

[Oldmansour]

>Cackle. We haven't had a good cackle in awhile.
>"Now that really is just exploitative."

>It HAS been quite some time since your last cackle, and you relish this one. Marissa would be proud.
>Eagle for her part merely smirks quietly. "The justice system of Yamato, at work."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You must have done some pretty bad things to get all of that put on your shoulders."
>Shrug.
>"You'd think having a run-in with the principal would be bad enough."

[Oldmansour]

>"You must have done some pretty bad things to get all of that put on your shoulders."
>Shrug.
>"You'd think having a run-in with the principal would be bad enough."

>"Doin' books for a miko, couple free concerts, no cell phone bills... Sure beats prison time. Although, compared to goin' another round with old man Unzan, I'd have a long look at jail time."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"I can imagine."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.
>"I can imagine."

>She tilts her head over her shoulder, having a glance at the bus schedule on the inside of the hut, then nods, before looking back at you.
>"So, you'd heard about our little run in with the old man, did ya? I'm curious, which version'd you hear?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Which version did we hear?
>If it's the version where they all got their asses kicked, say, "The version where you were all given a thorough defeat. I would often be inclined to question that, but in this case..."

[Oldmansour]

>Which version did we hear?
>If it's the version where they all got their asses kicked, say, "The version where you were all given a thorough defeat. I would often be inclined to question that, but in this case..."

>They attended school at their leisure, up until principal Unzan challenged them all to a 4 on 1 wrestling match, and won. After that, they at least tried to clean their act up a little.

>That version. Which definitely qualifies as getting their asses kicked.
>"Yeah, even I wouldn't have bet on us up against him. Of course, Bear and 'hawk jumped at the chance, Bear especially, she thought she could wrestle the moon out of orbit. Until the old man damn near suplexed her INTO orbit. It went into a bit of a dive for us after that."
>"Still I'm a little surprised, I'dve expected at least a few more rumors about our... confrontation, with the old man to have circulated by now. There's a few different versions, but the true story still's the most popular version. Myself, I like the version where Unzan and the faculty challenged us four to a hockey game, and he threw Bear into the top row of the stands."

[Hanzo K.]

>"It would have been quite a sight if that version was the real one."

[Oldmansour]

>"It would have been quite a sight if that version was the real one."

>"Id've sold tickets to that one, no matter which side won. There was also the bike race story, and the pink dress showdown, but frankly, those ain't as good."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I would imagine that tickets to any of those events, as well as the real one, would have sold well."
>BUS! >=[

[Oldmansour]

>"I would imagine that tickets to any of those events, as well as the real one, would have sold well."
>BUS! >=[

>"Something I've kept in mind for the next time this happens."
>Bus schedules being what they are, there's still a bit of time before the next one arrives, which you spend alternating between idle conversation with the winged youkai and sorting out your thoughts over everything that's happened so far today, not the least which being your current companion. Thus far, you've not had all that much reason to think she's as bad as people have been warning you about; you've seen enough to believe she's on the crafty side, but perhaps may be the victim of a somewhat exaggerated reputation. She seems to have accepted the justice meted out to her, and still be willing to joke about it, as opposed to being bitter and trying to weasel her way around her conditions. That's gotta be a plus.
>After a few minutes, however, you note an odd noise around you, a kind of high pitched wheezing whine. It takes a moment to track down the source: despite the fact that his eyes are open, the old man seems to have fallen asleep. Eagle chuckles at the sound and skill displayed, and you decide to let the old codger sleep for the time being.

>After precisely 17 minutes have passed, the city bus pulls up, disgorging a middle aged man in a suit, and then a pair of young women in the traditional red and white miko robes, shrine maidens of one of the other shrines in town.
>Eagle picks up her guitar case and climbs aboard, stopping to exchange a word with the driver.

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow her on. Try to overhear what she's saying discreetly. Handle the fares.

[Oldmansour]

>Follow her on. Try to overhear what she's saying discreetly. Handle the fares.

>Mounting the stairs up into the bus, you produce a couple bits and deposit them into the change receptacle, and open an ear to what Eagle, wings folded in to accommodate the small space, and the bus driver are saying. This doesn't prove hard, as Eagle isn't exactly trying to keep the conversation.
>"You're due, Hol." she states simply to the man with the dark blue hair and the dark sunglasses sitting in the drivers' seat, wearing a sharp grin. He produces a brown envelope and hands it to the youkai.

[Hello Purvis]

>Have a seat. And once a seat is had, ask, "Would I be upset if I learned what that was about?"

[Oldmansour]

>Have a seat. And once a seat is had, ask, "Would I be upset if I learned what that was about?"

>Ignoring the somewhat unsettling expression on the driver's face, you select a seat for yourself towards the end of the bus, on one of the benches along the side, taking into account Eagle's wingspan. Other passengers include a bored looking teenage boy, a teenage girl sitting on a male teenagers lap, and a pair of elderly women in the back.
>"My regards to the lucky ladies." Eagle notes to the driver she called 'Hol', and follows after you, plopping down in the seat two seats away from you, and opens the envelope, producing a handful of bills. "I doubt it." she replies, counting out an amount that you'd estimate at around $1000, give or take fifty bucks. "I introduced him to his wife. TWO of his wives, actually. I may not look like it, but I used to be a fairly decent matchmaker. And love's a lucrative business."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Impressive. How many matches have you made? And how many have held together?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Impressive. How many matches have you made? And how many have held together?"

>Eagle counts out the money again, then replaces it in the envelope and pockets it. "Well, it's been a while since I've had a customer for that particular skill of mine; most folks don't want a con setting them up, yknow. But before that... Depending on how you score polygamy, anywhere between 9 and 14. Check that, 10 to 15, I'd forgot one."
>"As for the ones that've stuck together, I'm not honestly sure. Once my business with the couple's concluded, the rest is, to put it delicately, their business. Well, okay, that's not ENTIRELY true, I have done some work for a couple of my lovebirds- I'm ALWAYS open for more work- and they still seem happy enough. I only know of two of my fix-ups that didn't last; one of which involved a couple that were a little too career oriented to stay together- bit of a miscalculation on my part, I admit- and the other one's a bit more... complicated."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's good that you're doing well for yourself. Have you ever considered going into social work? It seems you have a knack for it."

[Oldmansour]

>"It's good that you're doing well for yourself. Have you ever considered going into social work? It seems you have a knack for it."

>"I prefer the freelance style. I'm not really one for bosses and rulebooks, outside of me and my own. Besides, it means fewer hands in my pockets." She pulls her harmonica out of another pocket and twirls it idly. "I do what I can for the people that can pay me, in money or otherwise. It's a simple life, but it works for me." She flashes you a quick smile. "And it's never boring."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I would feel very bad for the person who would consider our day thus far boring."

[Oldmansour]

>"I would feel very bad for the person who would consider our day thus far boring."

>She chuckles, her wings rustling with amusement. "Any day that sees one of the Manari having a chat with the Morning Star is a heluva day, in'n'of itself. Everythin' else is pure gravy."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'd consider it the least impressive part, really. But I don't think I could say no to gravy in any event."

[Oldmansour]

>"I'd consider it the least impressive part, really. But I don't think I could say no to gravy in any event."

>"You'n me both, Byakuren." Her face twists slightly. "Now I've gone 'n made myself hungry." she mutters, producing a small rice cake from one of her jacket's breast pockets, practically inhaling the little treat. Then she leans forward, resting her elbows on her legs, and her chin on her folded hands. "Well, now you'll be wanting to know just what I've had in mind for this little civil duty you've undertaken." she poses.