Author Topic: Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 6 [COMPLETED] (Read 41724 times)

Oldmansour · « **Reply #480 on:** January 10, 2015, 03:45:46 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 03:27:18 AM

>"And what of an animal youkai who trusts a human?"

>"What does that have to do with this?"

DracoOmega · « **Reply #481 on:** January 10, 2015, 03:50:05 AM »

>"Would you distrust all of their convictions if they concerned the integrity of a human?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #482 on:** January 10, 2015, 04:02:08 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 03:50:05 AM

>"Would you distrust all of their convictions if they concerned the integrity of a human?"

>Satori smiles. "As a matter of fact, I would. And I haven't been wrong yet."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #483 on:** January 10, 2015, 04:11:01 AM »

>"Is that to say that you have not dealt with a single human in the last decades who you would consider a good and honest person?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #484 on:** January 10, 2015, 04:25:10 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 04:11:01 AM

>"Is that to say that you have not dealt with a single human in the last decades who you would consider a good and honest person?"

>"None that I would trust any farther than I can throw them." She taps her temple with her finger. "And if anyone would know if one can be trusted... Except, evidently, you two."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #485 on:** January 10, 2015, 05:34:56 AM »

>Frown
>"Then I am very sorry you have had the misfortune to meet with so few good and earnest people. I know that I have been fortunate to be surrounded by many, and I fear my world would be a far sadder place without them."

>"But if you will permit me a question on a slightly different topic. You know I said that I could sense the manipulation of memories you performed in the minds of others as a 'grey' within their hearts? Obscuring veils and twisting tendrils woven through parts of their psyche?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #486 on:** January 10, 2015, 05:54:44 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 05:34:56 AM

>Frown
>"Then I am very sorry you have had the misfortune to meet with so few good and earnest people. I know that I have been fortunate to be surrounded by many, and I fear my world would be a far sadder place without them."

>"But if you will permit me a question on a slightly different topic. You know I said that I could sense the manipulation of memories you performed in the minds of others as a 'grey' within their hearts? Obscuring veils and twisting tendrils woven through parts of their psyche?"

>"Your world would be a different place if you had the power that I do." Satori says, almost sympathetically. "Count your blessings, girl. Seeing what people hide behind their words is not always purely a blessing."

>"Yes, what of it?" she asks, pressing her hand against her head.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #487 on:** January 10, 2015, 06:05:28 AM »

>"When you touched me earlier, I saw something very reminiscent of that inside you, though even more intense and pervasive, like thorny black vines entangling you. Are you... aware of this?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #488 on:** January 10, 2015, 06:18:12 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 06:05:28 AM

>"When you touched me earlier, I saw something very reminiscent of that inside you, though even more intense and pervasive, like thorny black vines entangling you. Are you... aware of this?"

>"That may just be how you perceive my powers-" She stops suddenly, lowering her hand and looking over at you. "How could you perceive anything about my powers right now? That web is made of psychic fibers. You shouldn't be able to sense anything about me."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #489 on:** January 10, 2015, 06:29:36 AM »

>"I cannot read yours or anyone else's thoughts, and I never could. But I can see some trace of what I described, even now. I do not believe that is simply how I perceive your powers. It does not feel like a part of you that is supposed to be there, but something that does not belong, something external and malign. It... hurts a little, to look at."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #490 on:** January 10, 2015, 07:03:16 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 06:29:36 AM

>"I cannot read yours or anyone else's thoughts, and I never could. But I can see some trace of what I described, even now. I do not believe that is simply how I perceive your powers. It does not feel like a part of you that is supposed to be there, but something that does not belong, something external and malign. It... hurts a little, to look at."

>The shrine maiden lets out a disappointed sigh. "You can't really expect me to believe you."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #491 on:** January 10, 2015, 07:11:36 AM »

>"That splinter in your third eye; what is it?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #492 on:** January 10, 2015, 07:24:01 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 07:11:36 AM

>"That splinter in your third eye; what is it?"

>Satori looks at you for another moment, then looks down at the aforementioned appendage. "By the looks of things, a figment of your imagination." She cups her chin in thought as she looks back up at you. "I suppose the web could be interacting with your body in a way I can't account for." she suggests.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #493 on:** January 10, 2015, 07:33:20 AM »

>"I have seen it pulse darkly several times. The web of vines I spoke of stems from it. Whether you can see it or not, I am convinced that it is there, and that it is not supposed to be. I am... concerned for you, though perhaps you may also find that difficult to believe under the circumstances. But I swear it is true."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #494 on:** January 12, 2015, 01:06:50 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 10, 2015, 07:33:20 AM

>"I have seen it pulse darkly several times. The web of vines I spoke of stems from it. Whether you can see it or not, I am convinced that it is there, and that it is not supposed to be. I am... concerned for you, though perhaps you may also find that difficult to believe under the circumstances. But I swear it is true."

>"Enough." Satori says firmly. "If you can concoct a story that fancy, then clearly my jack's web isn't strong enough." The miko narrows her eyes and the webbing keeping you in place glows with renewed intensity. The fog clouding your mind deepens. This is not a painful experience like the last time, but it is more than a little unsettling. At least it is when your mind adjusts enough to register unsettlement. "Let's stick to facts, shall we."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #495 on:** January 12, 2015, 03:07:01 AM »

>Steady now. We have to keep ourselves as coherent as we can manage.
>"Those are... facts. This... what are you doing... helps neither of us. What good is... is information... from someone too muddled to recall it?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #496 on:** January 12, 2015, 03:25:46 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 12, 2015, 03:07:01 AM

>Steady now. We have to keep ourselves as coherent as we can manage.
>"Those are... facts. This... what are you doing... helps neither of us. What good is... is information... from someone too muddled to recall it?"

>"Oh, please, young lady, if you were coherant enough to dream up that story before, you're still functional now." She pauses, tilting her head curiously. "Unless you had that story conceived before you arrived, which could mean you know more about me than you've said."
>"Which brings us back to the situation at hand. Now, tell me, what do you suppose I would have done had I been able to read your mind?"

DracoOmega · « **Reply #497 on:** January 12, 2015, 03:59:31 AM »

>"You would have seen that I was telling the truth. After that, I do not know."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #498 on:** January 12, 2015, 04:51:32 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 12, 2015, 03:59:31 AM

>"You would have seen that I was telling the truth. After that, I do not know."

>"If I had been able to read your mind, I would have removed the knowledge of me that you possess that you shouldn't, done the same to your companion, given you better memories for all parties concerned, and then sent you on your way. No harm done to any of us." Satori states simply.
>"Now, that is something I would still prefer to do." she continues, leaning forward and resting her arms on her legs. "But at the moment, I can't do that, not with your mind blocked to me. So, I'm going to make you an offer."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #499 on:** January 12, 2015, 04:53:10 AM »

>"And what is that?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #500 on:** January 12, 2015, 05:07:50 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 12, 2015, 04:53:10 AM

>"And what is that?"

>"Open your mind to me." Satori leans back in her chair. "If you do, I'll let you decide what memories you and your companion leave here with. I will assure my own security, and you and your friend can simply go on back to your lives, which I will know nothing about. I'm not interested in who you are, where you live, anything like that. Just what you know about me."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #501 on:** January 12, 2015, 05:12:48 AM »

>"I am not certain how. You being unable to see anything is not deliberate on my part. If anything, I want you to see, so that you can believe I have been telling you the truth."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #502 on:** January 12, 2015, 06:22:57 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 12, 2015, 05:12:48 AM

>"I am not certain how. You being unable to see anything is not deliberate on my part. If anything, I want you to see, so that you can believe I have been telling you the truth."

>Satori raises an eyebrow. "Now that's something I haven't heard in a very long time."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #503 on:** January 12, 2015, 06:38:51 AM »

>"If there is no other way that you will believe my words are truthful, I wish that I could show you what I saw. What I see."
>Maybe... we can? What if we try to focus as hard as we can on that image of Satori with the black vines woven through her being - keep that image and our concern about it singularly in mind as best our muddled cognition can manage. Can we try to... cast it forward, a little like we do when communicating telepathically, but an image and to the room in general rather than a specific person. But if Satori could sense something then, maybe she could sense something this time also?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #504 on:** January 12, 2015, 09:18:04 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 12, 2015, 06:38:51 AM

>Maybe... we can? What if we try to focus as hard as we can on that image of Satori with the black vines woven through her being - keep that image and our concern about it singularly in mind as best our muddled cognition can manage. Can we try to... cast it forward, a little like we do when communicating telepathically, but an image and to the room in general rather than a specific person. But if Satori could sense something then, maybe she could sense something this time also?

>At the moment, you're not even completely certain you can manage telepathy at this point, let alone a twist on the usual formula. But in thinking on it, you feel that you could do this. The image of those thorny vines is vivid in your mind, so you have no trouble focusing on that despite the mental static. Projecting that outward in a short range telepathic burst should be possible.
>The danger would be, you're not sure of the full range of Satori's telepathic abilities. In using a general broadcast, rather than a tight-beam transmission, she may be able to find a way to backtrack along it into your mind in general. To use an analogy, you may well end up opening your front door at least a crack in order to make Satori hear you. Depending on how good she is, she may be able to get her foot in that door before it closes again. Especially given your current debilitated state, you might not be able to muster enough focus to keep her out if she finds a way past the defenses you have up now.

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 12, 2015, 06:38:51 AM

>"If there is no other way that you will believe my words are truthful, I wish that I could show you what I saw. What I see."

>Satori seems to consider that for a moment. "No." she says quietly. "No, I've come too far. I can't risk.... There is no one who knows as much as you do about me, except my jack, and that is because I control her. I can't let you keep that knowledge, not if I can't control you. And I can't, since you're human, not the same way I control a beast youkai. This can only end one way, but for right now, it's up to you how we get there. Either open your mind to me, completely.... Or I'll have to force it open."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #505 on:** January 12, 2015, 10:08:45 AM »

>"If that is the course you are committed to, I still ask that you listen to my words about what I've seen in you - for your sake, not mine. I have fought demons and youma and abominations, seen the touch of their power on the hearts of others, seen it change them in ways they did not even realize had happened. This is no figment of my imagination. We both know I am at your mercy here; if I speak false, you have nothing to lose but a few moments of your time. But if I speak true, far more is at stake - to you, and to your plans for a better world. Please, let me try to show you."

>Focus on that image of the thorny vines within Satori, how wrong they felt, our genuine concern for her, and project it out in one mental burst. Perhaps if we're quick and she doesn't know exactly what to expect, the proverbial door will be closed again before she can do anything about it. Assuming this even works at all.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #506 on:** January 14, 2015, 05:49:04 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 12, 2015, 10:08:45 AM

>"If that is the course you are committed to, I still ask that you listen to my words about what I've seen in you - for your sake, not mine. I have fought demons and youma and abominations, seen the touch of their power on the hearts of others, seen it change them in ways they did not even realize had happened. This is no figment of my imagination. We both know I am at your mercy here; if I speak false, you have nothing to lose but a few moments of your time. But if I speak true, far more is at stake - to you, and to your plans for a better world. Please, let me try to show you."

>Focus on that image of the thorny vines within Satori, how wrong they felt, our genuine concern for her, and project it out in one mental burst. Perhaps if we're quick and she doesn't know exactly what to expect, the proverbial door will be closed again before she can do anything about it. Assuming this even works at all.

>As you speak, Satori and the green-haired woman exchange a look. Satori jerks her head back over her shoulder and the other woman nods, then turns and heads to your left.
>You have to wait until you finish your plea before drawing in your will for this attempt. With your mind as clouded as it is, you're not sure you can do both at the same time. The miko sighs again and lowers her head. "I suppose I'll have to take that as a refusal. A shame. But, I do what I must." As the woman talks, you gather in all the focus you can, all the willpower you can, and press it into a single thought, a torpedo of psychic energy. Or perhaps in this case, a grenade, as you manage to throw it out in Satori's general direction, just not from your mind to hers.

>"Just remember," Satori continues. "I gave you the-" Abruptly, as you throw your thought out into the air, she stops. And what's more interesting, the splinter in her mind's eye pulses again, as do the thorns in her body. The jiggling of the thorny vines coincides with the shrine maiden looking... slightly sickened. She places a hand to her stomach. Unfortunately, she then narrows her eyes at you. "And you claimed to have no psychic powers."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #507 on:** January 14, 2015, 05:57:16 AM »

>"None like you. I cannot read thoughts or change memories. I just tried thinking very loudly, so that maybe you might hear me. You saw it, didn't you? What I can see inside you."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #508 on:** January 14, 2015, 06:30:13 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on January 14, 2015, 05:57:16 AM

>"None like you. I cannot read thoughts or change memories. I just tried thinking very loudly, so that maybe you might hear me. You saw it, didn't you? What I can see inside you."

>"I saw what you projected." Satori replies. "I have to give you credit. Your mind is stronger than I ever dreamed."

DracoOmega · « **Reply #509 on:** January 14, 2015, 06:44:13 AM »

>"I saw how you reacted when you saw it. You know that it is not right or natural or something that belongs inside you. And whatever it is, it is real."