Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3

[Oldmansour]

>Certain? No, I am afraid I cannot say that; I am too new to my power and still too unfamiliar with the full extent of the threats that I face. But I am determined. If they wish to try and exploit my hope as a kind of weakness, I will do my best to ensure they find no purchase there; offering them another path does not mean I will tread lightly upon their present one. People are depending on me to keep them safe, whether they know it or not, and I will not let them down. One way or the other.

>Determination is a powerful trait. the Purpose admits in its dry tone. Though I do still wonder about the demon you imprisoned. Are you certain of the strength of its prison? It was able to penetrate the barrier between worlds, how can you be sure it won't-
>The dry voice is interrupted by the ringing of your cell phone. What is that? it asks.

[DracoOmega]

>That is my phone. I'll be a moment.
>Answer the phone

[Oldmansour]

>That is my phone. I'll be a moment.
>Answer the phone

>What is a phone?
>Kiku's voice comes across the line, "Hello, Byakuren?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, hello Kiku! How are things?"
>A non-magical means to communicate long-distance

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh, hello Kiku! How are things?"
>A non-magical means to communicate long-distance

>How convenient.
>"I'm sorry I missed your calls earlier. I almost never carry this phone except when I'm out of the temple. I only thought of it now."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, all the better that it merely be this, rather than something more ominous. How are you?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, all the better that it merely be this, rather than something more ominous. How are you?"

>"Still a touch fatigued. The gathering ran a bit longer than I'd anticipated. Plus I suspect some lingering from fatigue from the battle yesterday, that will pass in time."

[DracoOmega]

>"You adjusted to the aftermath of your new power much more readily than Lily did. I believe she slept until no more than an hour ago, and barely sounds awake yet; my own first time was perhaps even more draining. I am glad you seem to have avoided that."
>With a little smile in our voice: "So... I hope you enjoyed the party."

[Oldmansour]

>"You adjusted to the aftermath of your new power much more readily than Lily did. I believe she slept until no more than an hour ago, and barely sounds awake yet; my own first time was perhaps even more draining. I am glad you seem to have avoided that."
>With a little smile in our voice: "So... I hope you enjoyed the party."

>"I suspect that is due to the fact that I have years of experience fielding magical energies. It is also possible that I expended less 'light' energy than either of you. Both of you were tapping in to that resource for longer than I."
>Kiku hesitates ever so slightly. "It was... different. I've attended meetings and ceremonies with large numbers of people involved, but, that was the first 'party' I've ever been to. Let alone the first in my honor. I was... slightly uncertain how to react."

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm sure you managed okay. It was for you, after all, so simply being yourself would be all that was asked. Even if, perhaps, you had to take a little time to figure out quite what that was at the time."

[Oldmansour]

>"I'm sure you managed okay. It was for you, after all, so simply being yourself would be all that was asked. Even if, perhaps, you had to take a little time to figure out quite what that was at the time."

>"That's one way to put it."
>The door to your apartment opens and Rin re-enters, as Kiku continues, "I'm not what one would call the 'life of the party'. I've tried to maintain control over my surroundings for the whole of my youkai life. The thought of letting that go is... a hard one to adjust to."

[DracoOmega]

>Wave to Rin, then put a finger over our lips in a gesture of quiet and point at the phone.
>"I'm sure it must be. But those two states of being are not contradictory - there is a place for both."
>Presumably our cell phone makes enough noise that someone with Rin's hearing could overhear Kiku speaking without much difficulty, yes?

[Oldmansour]

>Wave to Rin, then put a finger over our lips in a gesture of quiet and point at the phone.
>"I'm sure it must be. But those two states of being are not contradictory - there is a place for both."
>Presumably our cell phone makes enough noise that someone with Rin's hearing could overhear Kiku speaking without much difficulty, yes?

>Rin nods in understanding as she heads for the cabinet in the kitchen. She points down to the floor, an indication that she plans to return to Minoriko's room.
>"My life has taught me different. .. HAD taught me different. I have a great deal of thinking to do over the next while."
>Your phone is not a loud one, nor do you have the volume currently very high. Rin's hearing, however, is quite acute. Without any other kind of noise in the room to cover the phone sounds, you strongly suspect she can hear Kiku, though you're not entirely certain how much detail she can overhear.

[DracoOmega]

>Try to reach out to Kiku via our ring telepathy: If you can hear this, a friend just walked in. Keep to safe topics for a moment.

[Oldmansour]

>Try to reach out to Kiku via our ring telepathy: If you can hear this, a friend just walked in. Keep to safe topics for a moment.

>Kiku makes a quite sound of agreement.
>"You sound less fatigued yourself." she continues, quietly.

[DracoOmega]

>"Still a fair bit, I'm afraid. It was a very long day yesterday and I didn't get quite enough sleep on the other end of it - I had an exam in the morning. But nothing a little lounging about can't cure, I expect. Or perhaps a short nap."
>Are you still unable to reply in this manner, then?

[Oldmansour]

>"Still a fair bit, I'm afraid. It was a very long day yesterday and I didn't get quite enough sleep on the other end of it - I had an exam in the morning. But nothing a little lounging about can't cure, I expect. Or perhaps a short nap."
>Are you still unable to reply in this manner, then?

>"A sound idea, when one has the opportunity for it."
>Rin retrieves what she came down here for- ginger and green onions, by the looks of it- and departs again.
>After a moment's pause, you hear I do not know. I have yet to try since we parted.

[DracoOmega]

>I heard that! Excellent.

[Oldmansour]

>I heard that! Excellent.

>"You heard me?" she asks aloud, then repeats the question telepathically.

[DracoOmega]

>"I did indeed. So I guess it may have just taken some acclimatizing?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I did indeed. So I guess it may have just taken some acclimatizing?"

>"It may. Curious. I wonder what's changed?"

[DracoOmega]

>I am not certain. Perhaps it may have something to do with being in the presence of the Metal Tiger? In any case, if we are to discuss more serious matters, then I believe this is the means by which we should do that.
>Have there been any developments on your end, regarding the issue at the shrine?

[Oldmansour]

>I am not certain. Perhaps it may have something to do with being in the presence of the Metal Tiger? In any case, if we are to discuss more serious matters, then I believe this is the means by which we should do that.
>Have there been any developments on your end, regarding the issue at the shrine?

>I will try. But this method feels awkward to me, yet.
>There have been no new developments that I am aware of. But I admit, I have yet to examine and explore just yet. I have been studying the sleep wards you mentioned last night. I felt it wise to be prepared if I encountered that during my investigation.


Updates are gonna be a bit more sporadic over the next couple of weeks, troops. Christmas hours start at work tonight.

[DracoOmega]

>Prudence does seem the best course of action here, yes. And I am glad that nothing else obviously ominous has occurred. Is there anything I could do to assist your investigation from the outside?

[Oldmansour]

>Prudence does seem the best course of action here, yes. And I am glad that nothing else obviously ominous has occurred. Is there anything I could do to assist your investigation from the outside?

>Actually...  I wouldn't call it ominous, but there WAS something odd that happened when I was delivering my report to Komeji-sama.

[DracoOmega]

>Oh? What happened?

[Oldmansour]

>Oh? What happened?

>In brief, I told her only part of the story. Needless to say, I kept your name out of it. But the odd thing was, Komeji-sama believed me. Now, deception is not part of my nature, and even skilled liers have been defeated by her perceptiveness. Yet, she seemed completely unaware of my omissions. I would not have thought it possible.

[DracoOmega]

>Perhaps we have the Tiger to thank for this? It would be nice to believe so.
>What exactly did you tell her?

[GuyYouMetOnline]

...What are you talking about? We never met with Satori.

[Hanzo K.]

Kiku was the one who met with her. That's who Draco's referring to.