>NONE FOR YOU
>"Sounds delightful!"
>Sit back. Maybe idly play with drawing on our power a bit, to get a bit more accustomed to doing it. Don't actually do anything with it; just let it fade. Invocation practice is the key.
>As your Rin heads to the kitchen, you lie back on your bed and relax for a little while. As Rin predicted, however, it is not long before Marissa returns to your apartment, asking Rin if she is ready to depart? Your slave replies, in rather vague terms, that circumstances have demanded your attention elsewhere tonight, and that her presense has been requested by you. Naturally, Marissa is a bit curious about this change in plans, but you, like Rin before you, try to explain without actually explaining your itenerary for this evening. Your close friend, knowing you as she does, does not pry. She simply smiles and accepts what you are saying. There is no doubt in your mind she suspects something more than what you say, but she won't ask. She respects you enough not to pry, she's said as much before. The look of concern in her eyes, though, brings a pang of guilt upon you. On an impulse, you glance down at your ring to see if its color has changed in Marissa's presence, but it is the same as always. You can't help but be a little dissappointed.
>Marissa departs shortly thereafter that, leaving to take Rin's place at Koa's. Your Rin, less one mouth to feed for the moment, takes the expedient option of heating up a batch of Eire style stew that she'd made a couple days ago. The vegetables don't quite hold the same volume of flavor after a day or two of refrigeration, but it hits the spot all the same.
>Electing to walk down to the park, you and Rin depart from your apartment leaving yourself plenty of time to make your appointment and some to spare. The way your life has gone lately, an unexpected delay along the way would hardly be a surprise. The snow has started falling, you find as you leave, wet flakes filtering down from the dull grey sky, whisked about by fitful rises of the easterly wind. Not the most pleasant of conditions, but more in the nature of an inconvenience than an obstacle. Rin does bring along an umbrella for you, thoughtful lass that she is. You being who you are, of course, insist on sharing the tool between you both. As she, rather futilely, tries to argue the point, you hear another voice. It is Kiku, reaching out to your mind's ear.
Lotus?
