Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 4 (Complete)

[Hello Purvis]

>"I've had a drink already and have things I need to do tomorrow.  May I take a rain check?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Smile. "After all, a girl has to know her limits. No offense intended though."

[Oldmansour]

>"I've had a drink already and have things I need to do tomorrow.  May I take a rain check?"

>Smile. "After all, a girl has to know her limits. No offense intended though."

>Eagle nods. "None at all taken. It's just a little tradition of mine."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Understandable. Perhaps another night then?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Understandable. Perhaps another night then?"

>"Absolutely."
>About a minute and a half later, Stephanie returns, and places before you your dessert; a generously sized slice of cheesecake topped with about eight fresh cherries is cherry sauce. Followed shortly by a trio of steaming mugs of black tea, and a platter of small plastic milk creamers, some fresh milk, some cream. Sugar is on your left near the wall.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's doctor up the tea how we usually do when having it with cream.
>Once we've got it set how we like it, let's cool it down a bit, and get to enjoying the dessert!

[Oldmansour]

>Let's doctor up the tea how we usually do when having it with cream.
>Once we've got it set how we like it, let's cool it down a bit, and get to enjoying the dessert!

>It's been quite some time since you had black tea, but if memory serves, one cream and three sugar packets should do. Kiku passes you the requested sugar as you stir in the cream.
>"I'll have your other slice in a cooling bag for when you're ready to leave, Morning Star." Stephanie informs you before she leaves your table again.
>You give your tea a couple puffs of breath, then set it down and turn your attention to your cheesecake before you. It is, perhaps, a bit sweeter than you'd like, but the cherries are fresh and tasty.
>Lily, you note, takes twice as much sugar in her tea, while Kiku adds none, simply drinking it black.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hmm...It's a bit sweeter than I'm used to, but it's still quite nice."
>Rin should enjoy it quite a bit then. She always has been one for sweets after all.
>Let's cool down the tea a bit more, and see how it meshes with the aftertaste of the cheesecake.

[Oldmansour]

>"Hmm...It's a bit sweeter than I'm used to, but it's still quite nice."
>Rin should enjoy it quite a bit then. She always has been one for sweets after all.
>Let's cool down the tea a bit more, and see how it meshes with the aftertaste of the cheesecake.

>Lily nods slightly, the motion carrying through her arms. "Andrei likes his cakes sweet, and it shows."
>Setting down your fork, you heft your tea mug again and have a sip. Black tea's a bit different than what you're used to, but it's not bad. A bit on the weak side, though. And it could do with another sugar packet.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's add another one then. "Tea's a bit on the weak side. Not bad, but not quite strong enough for my usual."
>Nod. "But overall, I think Rin will definitely like the cake."

[Oldmansour]

>Let's add another one then. "Tea's a bit on the weak side. Not bad, but not quite strong enough for my usual."
>Nod. "But overall, I think Rin will definitely like the cake."

>Lily passes you another sugar packet.
>From the next table over, Lynx comments, "A common thing for restaurant black tea. It's never quite so good as you get at home."
>Even though the tea is a touch weak, the bitterness of it offsets the slightly excessive sweetness of the cake. It works well.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod, and use the sugar packet. "Yes..And to be honest, I don't normally drink Black Tea myself, I'm more of a Green Tea sort of person really."
>It should be a good combo now with that last packet.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod, and use the sugar packet. "Yes..And to be honest, I don't normally drink Black Tea myself, I'm more of a Green Tea sort of person really."
>It should be a good combo now with that last packet.

>"You might try a dash of cinnamon, next time." Lynx advises. "It goes well with black tea."
>You stir in the extra sugar, and take an experimental sip. Much better.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smile a bit. "I'll have to remember to try that then."
>Let's enjoy the tea and cheesecake!

[Oldmansour]

>Smile a bit. "I'll have to remember to try that then."
>Let's enjoy the tea and cheesecake!

>Lynx smiles back, the tufts of hair on her ears twitching slightly. "Cinnamon goes with everything." she says rather confidently. Both of her companions snicker quietly, and the Lynx is quick to point her tail at them both. "And not one word out of you. Eggplant doesn't count."
>With your tea sweetened to your liking, you tuck back into your dessert. It really is a fine way to cap off the meal.
>You finish your cheesecake about the same time Kiku finishes her own supper, and lean back a bit, feeling rather pleasant, if a bit logy.

[Hanzo K.]

>Alright, note to self; Eggplant and Cinnamon probably don't mix too well. We'll have find out how exactly she tried though. Perhaps a rice stir-fry with cinnamon and other spices, with lightly fried eggplant mixed in.
>But not today though, that's for another meeting.

[Oldmansour]

>Alright, note to self; Eggplant and Cinnamon probably don't mix too well. We'll have find out how exactly she tried though. Perhaps a rice stir-fry with cinnamon and other spices, with lightly fried eggplant mixed in.
>But not today though, that's for another meeting.

>In your experience, eggplant doesn't mix well with much, though you've never heard of anyone trying it with cinnamon before, either. Perhaps Lynx and Minoriko could exchange notes, figure out a way to make the stuff edible.
>But again, for later.
>Lily sighs contentedly. "That's the way to end a long day."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Shall we be on our way, then?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Shall we be on our way, then?"

>Lily's feather rustle a little. "Do we have to move?" she asks half-halfheartedly.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smile slghtly. "Sad but true. We can't stay here all night after all."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile slghtly. "Sad but true. We can't stay here all night after all."

>Lily groans lightly, but nods. "Bed sounds nice..."
>"How does one go about settling a bill here, Lily?" Kiku asks her, dabbing her lips with her napkin.
>"Well, Stephanie'll bring out our bill, when she comes back. Or you can wait at the register over where we came in." She grins. "I suggest the not-moving-just-yet choice."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I agree."
>Wait! But do try to catch Stephanie's eye.
>Thinking on it, what kind of living expenses and income do we tend to have?

[Oldmansour]

>Thinking on it, what kind of living expenses and income do we tend to have?

>In general, or specifics?

>"I agree."
>Wait! But do try to catch Stephanie's eye.

>Nothing wrong with taking a minute or two to digest and take it easy after a fine meal. So you content to keep a look out for Szenska's waitress.
>"Headin' home now, then, Byakuren?" Eagle inquires.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Here in a little while, yes."

[Oldmansour]

>"Here in a little while, yes."

>"In that case, we oughta settle up the last couple bits of our deal now."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That we should."

Okay, for reals, we need to exploit the shit out of this.

[Hanzo K.]

:wat:
And here you get on my case for being ooc.

[Oldmansour]

>"That we should."

>"Lynx." Eagle starts shortly, as both girls come to their feet, Lynx producing her camera again.
>The Eagle moves to stand behind and to the side of your booth, and sweeps her arm out. "M'lady."

[Hello Purvis]

>Stand up, and wave for Dragonhawk to join in.

[Oldmansour]

>Stand up, and wave for Dragonhawk to join in.

>You come to your feet and step out of the booth, Eagle moving to stand alongside you. She starts to fling her left arm over your shoulder, then hesitates, nodding back towards her arm. "Y'don't mind, do you?"