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

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"But yes, her."

[Oldmansour]

>"That's not very nice."

>"But yes, her."

>"Ain't my nickname for her, but it's one she's earned, by all accounts. How the heck did a girl like you end up in her books?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"She helped me out, actually. Unfortunately, I had to tend to something and left her behind..."

[Oldmansour]

>"She helped me out, actually. Unfortunately, I had to tend to something and left her behind..."

>"Wait a sec, I just remembered. Last I heard, all four of that gang was still in jail. Extortion charge, or something."
>"Eagle released." Chie supplies the blonde. "Serving 'community service' at Metal Tiger shrine."
>"An ex-con workin' at a holy site?" Marissa asks with some degree of confusion.
>"The temple head is a generous person." Kiku says, not bothering to hide her disgust at the idea of Eagle working with her. As if you needed reminding. NOBODY seems to like that youkai.
>Marissa doesn't seem to share Kiku's disgust at the idea of someone as... dubious of character as Eagle is reputed to be working at a shrine, but she does seem very surprised at the thought.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hm. I wonder if Miss Yakumo would be willing to send someone to go find her?" Glance toward Kiku.

[Oldmansour]

>"Hm. I wonder if Miss Yakumo would be willing to send someone to go find her?" Glance toward Kiku.

>"I wouldn't know. I barely know the woman."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It would save us a trip, at least..."
>Do we have any idea what that Jewelry store's number is? If not, is our phone smart enough to find it?

[Oldmansour]

>"It would save us a trip, at least..."
>Do we have any idea what that Jewelry store's number is? If not, is our phone smart enough to find it?

>"Trip where?" Kiku asks.
>Presumably it would be listed, but you don't know it off the top of your head. And your phone isn't very smart at all. It's actually rather primitive, by modern teenage girl standards, as it is a phone, simply a phone. It can't play music, it doesn't have gps, it can't guide you to the nearest pizza joint with giant neon arrows, it doesn't get daily knock knock jokes, it can't scratch your nose from space with a satellite laser beam. It is a means of verbal long-distance communication, pure and simple. You've considered getting a more 'modern' one a time or two, but dismissed the notion as an unnecessary expenditure, a waste of money for the purpose of 'keeping up with the times'. Big money, too, the way those things are priced nowadays...

[Hello Purvis]

>We'll have to fix that. Can't be caught strapped for information due to holding onto a primitive old thing when issues are going done.
>"To find Eagle. I don't suppose anyone could get me the number for Yakumo Jewelers?"

[Oldmansour]

>We'll have to fix that. Can't be caught strapped for information due to holding onto a primitive old thing when issues are going done.
>"To find Eagle. I don't suppose anyone could get me the number for Yakumo Jewelers?"

>You make a note to reconsider the benefits of dropping several hundred dollars on a new piece of technology.
>Marissa raises her hand instantly, then retracts it slightly. "'zat where you left your partner?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.

>Marissa's face doesn't seem as automatically helpful as before. It's not hard to see she's not comfortable about your association with the Eagle.
>Lily, somewhat to your surprise, gives Marissa a nod. "Go ahead. Lotus can handle the Eagle."
>"EhHhHh...." Marissa emits, before letting out a breath. "A'ight. Goes against my better judgement, but..." She removes her arm from Chie's shoulders and produces her phone, which like yours is also an older model, and gives Lily a smile. "Always had trouble sayin' no to a girl with wings as pretty as the rest of her."
>Most of Lily's body flushes nicely.

[Hello Purvis]

>Accept the phone and check the listings on it for the appropriate number.

[Oldmansour]

>Accept the phone and check the listings on it for the appropriate number.

>"It's under D, Doubles." Marissa supplies as you browse her contacts.
>Kiku gives her a curious look. The blonde shrugs slightly. "Met the old man downtown once. We keep in touch."
>Sure enough, there are two entries the old oni you met at Yakumo's: one marked 'home', one marked 'work'.

[Hello Purvis]

>"He is a nice sort, isn't he?"
>Call the work number.

[Oldmansour]

>"He is a nice sort, isn't he?"
>Call the work number.

>"Guy's got more stories than most books, which I find impressive for a guy that never really talks about himself." Marissa comments. "Good company and bit of a mystery. Two traits I enjoy in my friends."
>Dialing the number you presume to be Yakumo's, the phone rings, and rings, and rings, before finally, at the start of the seventh ring, a familiar lilting Eire tone picks up. "Yakumo Jewelers."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hello, it's Lotus. Are things there proceeding well?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Hello, it's Lotus. Are things there proceeding well?"

>"Well, now, this is a surprise." the old man replies. "I surely was not expectin' t'hear from ye again tonight. Am I t'assume tha- Ach, but bugger me if ye didn't ask me a question first. Aye, we're gettin' the place put back together. May have to burn a bit o' the midnight oil, but, we'll be fit'n ready t'open tomorro bright 'n early."
>"And don't you worry none about the people that were here. They've been taken to hospital, but by reports, they're gonna make a full recovery after a rest."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's good. Would you be so kind as do me a favor, or arrange for it? When I sensed there was trouble in the store, I told a friend who was with me to leave and wait for me. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get back to her, and she isn't allowed to have a phone due to the terms of her probation. Would it be possible to send someone up there to check on her?"
>Where did we tell her to, anyways?

[Oldmansour]

>"That's good. Would you be so kind as do me a favor, or arrange for it? When I sensed there was trouble in the store, I told a friend who was with me to leave and wait for me. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get back to her, and she isn't allowed to have a phone due to the terms of her probation. Would it be possible to send someone up there to check on her?"
>Where did we tell her to, anyways?

>"Well, now, if this friend'a yours is around here, I'd be willin' t'check on her meself for ya. Least I could do. Just need to know who I'm lookin' for."
>You advised Eagle to wait for you at the bus stop nearest to Ran's before you parted ways.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I asked her to go to the nearest bus stop and wait. She's goes by the name Eagle, she is a beast youkai of that type."
>Add in some other good things to describe her, it's been awhile.
>"She won't recognize the name Lotus, I think, so just tell her that the person who asked her to stay there has called. And, if possible, give her a phone so I can make arrangements with her. If she is not there, that's fine too."

[Oldmansour]

>"I asked her to go to the nearest bus stop and wait. She's goes by the name Eagle, she is a beast youkai of that type."
>Add in some other good things to describe her, it's been awhile.
>"She won't recognize the name Lotus, I think, so just tell her that the person who asked her to stay there has called. And, if possible, give her a phone so I can make arrangements with her. If she is not there, that's fine too."

>"Eagle?" he asks you. "The famed Eagle of the Manari gang?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, you know her? That makes it a little easier."

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh, you know her? That makes it a little easier."

>"Ohhh, I knows her, all right. I'm just a wee bit surprised you do, as well. You didn'ae strike me as the type t'do business with her."
>You're actually getting a little tired of hearing that, honestly, but the old man does continue. Weirdly, though, he doesn't warn you to stay away from her, of that she's bad news. He merely says, in a quieter voice, "An old man's curious, now, t'see what'll become of THAT...."
>"If she still be around here, then I'll deliver yer message true enough." he continues without any pause. "And I'll do what I can to reconnect her with the person ye mentioned wanted t'get a hold of her. An' if she's not, then I'll call ye back an' let ye know."
>"Oh, by the by, how's an old man supposed to get ahold on ye, lassie?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Just call me at <our cell number>"

[Oldmansour]

>"Just call me at <our cell number>"

>You hear the sound of a pen scratching paper. "Got it."
>"Now then, fer me own question. I'm assumin' that that problem ye and the Metal miko went to take care of has been?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, things were taken care of with minimal problems."

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes, things were taken care of with minimal problems."

>"I never doubted ye fer a heartbeat." He pauses for a couple of seconds. "Don't let on I said this, but Ran 'erself was a mite worried about ye both, goin' from one battle to another."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's good to be thought of. I assume she has made it back, and things are in order there?"

[Oldmansour]

>"It's good to be thought of. I assume she has made it back, and things are in order there?"

>"Aye, she's a good woman that way. She came back a while back, been in her office the whole time, though. I'm good, but, I can't fix all the damage down here by meself in one night. Well, no, that's a lie, I could damn well do it, but Ran don't want me to. Says I should take it easy, so she's callin' in a couple extra hands." The oni's voice speaks volumes about how well he likes the idea of 'taking it easy'.