Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 3

[Hello Purvis]

>Send to Kiku: "Don't worry, it won't hurt anyone anymore by the time I'm done with it. But, right now it can tell us a lot about the enemy and how they think."
>"That may be so, so I ask you to share your observations."

[Oldmansour]

>Send to Kiku: "Don't worry, it won't hurt anyone anymore by the time I'm done with it. But, right now it can tell us a lot about the enemy and how they think."
>"That may be so, so I ask you to share your observations."

>Kiku's head jerks slightly in surprise, glances about for a second, then settles her look on you. She seems to concentrate, then frowns, and says aloud, in a tone that leaves little to the imagination, "I advise you to hurry."
>The demon pauses. "You have power enough to be a threat. Air was a fool and dismissed you, and will again, but I will not."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's not what I asked of you, Champion of Water. You say that questioning our nature as those who kneel is a weakness. Why is it so?"



Alright, going to cut the questioning short. Or at least this round of questioning.  I would like to put forth a permutation on our previous suggestion: I think the best way to open its mind a little is to make it experience powerlessness. I believe, given its beaten state, that we may be able to put a proper seal on it, based off of Karmic Touch, that will short-circuit any magic it tries. On top of this, we may be able to set it up to give it a good paralyzin' zat if it tries to enact violence against another being or meet with a demon.  If possible, maybe, maybe set this curse up to rob it of physical power as well, to fuel these other effects.

Now, if we made this now and forever, it wouldn't be very useful, nor would it do much to really drive any lessons home. And it would just make us seem a bit cruel in its eyes. So, it would need a release clause. That clause would be: When Kiku and it's other victim forgives it.

The hopeful result would be: It's reasonably free to live, but at the same time, it can't really do anything harmful. And, it would have to move toward reconciliation if it ever wanted to get back to its prime state again; I don't think it's really equipped to trick Kiku AND the other victim into it. The important part of this being it'd not be able to just ignore Terran society, and would have to make at least some effort to fit in, especially if it wants to regain its power. In short, we make it have to learn. And we'd have access to it if needs be.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Then tell me."

[Oldmansour]

>"That's not what I asked of you, Champion of Water. You say that questioning our nature as those who kneel is a weakness. Why is it so?"

>"Then tell me."

>The demon pauses again, its vile eyes blink once, slowly. "It will make no difference in the end." it finally decides. "You're the same now as you were when we were cast out, just as we are. Speaking will change nothing. Even my death means nothing, in the end."
>"On the contrary, devil." Kiku growls. "Your death brings us one step closer to a safe world. And one step closer to wiping your scum off the face of this planet once and for all!"

[Hello Purvis]

>"You don't know, do you? You don't actually know how us ignoring this nature you've proclaimed for us is actually a weakness. You think it is, but you can't actually quantify it, can you?"

[Oldmansour]

>"You don't know, do you? You don't actually know how us ignoring this nature you've proclaimed for us is actually a weakness. You think it is, but you can't actually quantify it, can you?"

>You detect a distinct note of smugness in its sibilant voice when the demon says, "Believe that if you wish."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Setting that aside, what would you do if you were allowed to be here?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Setting that aside, what would you do if you were allowed to be here?"

>"Is even that not obvious to you?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I want to hear it from you."

[Oldmansour]

>"I want to hear it from you."

>"I am what I am. Whether I have your... 'permission', or not."

[Hello Purvis]

>"And yet, you don't know what you're ultimately trying to carry out, and only know why you're doing it because it's instinctual. How will that make things any better for you?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And yet, you don't know what you're ultimately trying to carry out, and only know why you're doing it because it's instinctual. How will that make things any better for you?"

>"What we are 'carrying out' is the continuation of our existence. But keep questioning. Your confusion only makes us stronger."
>"You're playing right into its hands, Lotus." Chrysanthemum accuses you. "Don't you get it? That's what it does! It gets in your head and warps you, corrupts you, makes you doubt, and snares you at your weakest."

[Hanzo K.]

Well Purvis, looks like this is as far as you'll go.

[Hello Purvis]

You really are cheering for me to fail, aren't you?

>"Don't worry, it's not really making me doubt anything that I didn't already doubt. But let's move on."
>"You mentioned another, Air I believe? Where is it?"

[Hanzo K.]

Be realistic big guy, it's already been set this guy's gonna have to go.
The best we can do is pray for it to be reborn on a remotely hospitable Naraka, and work off it's karma that way.

[Oldmansour]

>"Don't worry, it's not really making me doubt anything that I didn't already doubt. But let's move on."
>"You mentioned another, Air I believe? Where is it?"

>Your assurance seems to do little to convince the miko magical girl.
>The demon does not answer your question.
>"TALK, devil." Chrysanthemum threatens it, gesturing with her hand- now sporting claws to fit her tiger nature- "And I may end you swiftly."
>"No death you could give instills fear in me."

[Hello Purvis]

You do realize how immensely and insanely out of character it would be to kill it, I hope? It is very much not a thing Byakuren would do. If you have a problem with the suggestions I've made thus far, please feel free to come up with better ones that are in character.

>"It expects death, Chrysanthemum. What it fears, I think, is failure."
>What are our senses telling us about this thing. presently? Can we discern some good ins to help our abilities take hold?

[Hanzo K.]

Who said anything about us being the one to do the deed? because right now Kiku's pretty much locked herself into that route already.

[Hello Purvis]

Because being party to a murder is pretty much the same thing.

Though I suspect we can lure Kiku into being in favor of binding it just by turning its own boasts against it.

[Hanzo K.]

Eh, doesn't look like she's willing to talk it out anymore. So you may as well just settle in and let it happen.

[Hello Purvis]

I don't think Byakuren would "settle on" letting someone being killed in her presence. Particularly someone who is somewhat incapacitated and unable to fight back. So it would be a good idea to help defuse that situation, which I would welcome some assistance on brainstorming there.

[Oldmansour]

>"It expects death, Chrysanthemum. What it fears, I think, is failure."
>What are our senses telling us about this thing. presently? Can we discern some good ins to help our abilities take hold?

>A small glob of spittle flies from the youkai mouth as she replies, "It should be fearing ME."

>There is an aura of power around the demon, different from that which you sensed around natives to your world. Focusing on it, however, is almost a sickening experience. It is as though the world itself is corrupted by the presence of this demon. It's nowhere near on the same level as that ooze you tangled with before, but the sensations are not entirely dissimilar. The aura, however, seems reduced in intensity somehow. Probably a result of the pounding you three subjected it to.
>Now that there's no crisis going on, apart from perhaps Kiku exploding into violence in moments, you finally notice the smell in the air. The salt water behind you perfumes the air, obviously, but the swampy smell is stronger here than ever. Coming from the demon itself, though whether this is because of its aura, or its presence, or some aspect of its biology, you cannot determine.
>Obviously, the demon is wounded. Whatever natural resistances it has would likely be compromised as well, but your othersight offers you no specific insight into that area. Unlike a youma, there is no Dark Core to detect, no shield of black energy to see. Obviously your powers can affect it, but it's hard to determine how far that extends beyond combat.

[Hello Purvis]

>Send a message to Kiku: "Then, let us give it a reason to regret its lack of foresight. I feel, however, that killing it won't do much to dissuade its kin, or to truly teach it anything. After all, they aren't really smart enough to do so. So instead, I propose we lay a seal on it; one that takes its physical and magical power from it and leaves it to taste helplessness. One that forces it to the sidelines, while it has to learn what the world is really about. A seal that we tie to a lock that it can never pry open: your forgiveness. Does this sound appealing? Between you, Lily, and I, I am certain it is within our power."

[Oldmansour]

>Send a message to Kiku: "Then, let us give it a reason to regret its lack of foresight. I feel, however, that killing it won't do much to dissuade its kin, or to truly teach it anything. After all, they aren't really smart enough to do so. So instead, I propose we lay a seal on it; one that takes its physical and magical power from it and leaves it to taste helplessness. One that forces it to the sidelines, while it has to learn what the world is really about. A seal that we tie to a lock that it can never pry open: your forgiveness. Does this sound appealing? Between you, Lily, and I, I am certain it is within our power."

>With obvious effort, Chrysanthemum does seem to consider your suggestion. The thought of not destroying this evil creature obviously does NOT sit well with her at all. However, the idea of leaving it 'helpless' does seem at least somewhat appealing to her. Enough to defuse her? Maybe, maybe not. But at least she isn't making good on her threat, at least not right now. Evil though this demon may be, the idea of killing it in, essentially, cold blood, is not something you're prepared to let happen. No matter how angry Kiku may be.
>After several long seconds, Chrysanthemum responds out loud, still lacking the ability to return your thoughts. "The risk is too great. We don't know enough about the power of the other five to guarantee it would last to our conditions."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

As has been stated before, Purvis, your interpretation of Byakuren, especially this AU Byakuren, differs significantly from that of Hanzo and myself. Trying to avoid killing is one thing, but refusing to do it or allow it in any circumstance is quite another. Whether or not the seal thing works here, killing is undoubtedly going to be necessary at some point. And by my own interpretation of Byakuren, I think that she would, however reluctantly, accept this, given how much worse the alternative would be. Sometimes there aren't good solutions, just less-bad ones, and I'm pretty sure Byakuren's intelligent and rational enough to realize this, as much as she might wish it were not the case.


In summary, try the seal thing, but if it doesn't work (which I'm sure will happen at some point, even if it doesn't happen here), killing is going to be necessary, whether Byakuren likes it or not.
 
>Purpose, would a seal such as I propose work? And if it does, would there be any way for this demon to regain its power?

[Oldmansour]

>Purpose, would a seal such as I propose work? And if it does, would there be any way for this demon to regain its power?

>The Purpose again fails to reply to your inquiries. Much like Kiku, you have a sense that it heard you, but it does not, or cannot, respond in kind.

[Hanzo K.]

Yeah, we may as well sit back and pray that the poor guy can work off his karma in another life.
Maybe he'll return as a proper snake.

[Hello Purvis]

I am not sure how you can have an interpretation of Byakuren that looks at a creature who has claimed to have been exiled and is presently unable to defend itself and think her reaction is going to be: "Yep, let's kill it."  It is pretty much in the exact same position that youkai were in canon when she started to do her thing; it's making the exact same arguments that youkai used to  make: "It's my nature to do this, so it's right!" Depending on what side of the bed she woke up on, Akyu would tell you that they still do that, heh.



>What has Lily been up to? She was vocal for awhile, then seemed to fade away.

[Hanzo K.]

It's less encouraging it, and more reluctantly going along.
Besides, this Byakuren was not sealed, and Youkai have a much better lot in life.
And notably, this thing is not a Youkai.