[Intro — whispered, close, dangerous] Play at the Lotus Table Roll the Dice, bet more then you got. I'm Lotus I settle the score. [Verse 1 — low, smoky, controlled] I was born where the lanterns burn gold, Silk on the walls, but the blood run cold, Mama said, “Girl, keep your hands real clean,” But dirty coin make a prettier queen. I learned numbers before I learned prayer, Watched men lose crowns in a velvet chair, One little smile, one little lie, One little debt make a big man cry. Kirei face, but the knife stay near, Say my name and the room go clear, Black lotus ink on my shoulder blade, Every petal is a promise made. [Pre-Chorus — tense, rising] They say luck is heaven’s game, I say luck know my name. They say, “Sarai, bow your head,” I bow once— Then I count the dead. [Chorus — powerful, elegant, dangerous] Lotus, lotus, blooming in the rain, Pretty little flower with a root full of pain. Roll, roll, baby, let the red dice fall, House take a finger when the debt come call. Lotus, lotus, black beneath the skin, Smile like silk, but I was born to win. Iron bars, stone walls, still they know my name— I brought my table to the prison game. [Verse 2 — sharper, yakuza swagger] I kept books for the ghost-eyed men, Marked every debt with a golden pen, Noble boys came with their father’s pride, Left with no rings and no place to hide. One boss said, “Daughter, you serve the clan,” One rat sold me to a Bluecoat man, Told them my knives, told them my game, Told them my lover, told them my name. So I smiled when the cuffs came tight, “Arigatou, darling, you chose your night.” I did not scream, I did not run, Lotus don’t wilt when she lose the sun. [Pre-Chorus 2 — colder, controlled fury] They said Ironhook break strong bone, But I make stone feel like home. They locked the gate, they turned the key, Baka fools— The cage learned me. [Chorus — bigger, with backing chants] Lotus, lotus, blooming in the rain, Pretty little flower with a root full of pain. Roll, roll, baby, let the red dice fall, House take a finger when the debt come call. Lotus, lotus, black beneath the skin, Smile like silk, but I was born to win. Iron bars, stone walls, still they know my name— I brought my table to the prison game. [Bridge — slow, intimate, threatening] Come sit down, tomodachi, No need to shake. Hands on the table, Let me see what you stake. Coin? Blood? Secret? Name? Ah… Now we play a better game. Snake eyes whisper, lanterns sway, Some men pray when the dice don’t obey, I hear chains sing soft and low, Debts grow roots where the lotus grow. [Breakdown — rhythmic, prison-chain percussion] Click-clack, dice on wood, Pay me bad, pay me good. Click-clack, knees on stone, Nobody leave my table alone. Hai, hai, count it twice, Gold is warm, but blood is nice. Hai, hai, don’t be late, Luck is love— And love is fate. [Verse 3 — dangerous, triumphant] Now in the yard they lower their eyes, Guards walk soft when my dice arise, Girls bring whispers, boys bring blades, I make kings out of prison shades. Silkshade came with a shadow grin, Death on her coat, red fire skin, I saw her cloak move before the throw, And I thought, “Mm… that one knows.” Maybe I help her, maybe I test, Maybe her ghost want to sit with the best, But if she walks through my lotus door, She leave with less— Or she leave with more. [Final Chorus — full power, cinematic] Lotus, lotus, blooming in the rain, Pretty little flower with a root full of pain. Roll, roll, baby, let the red dice fall, House take a finger when the debt come call. Lotus, lotus, black beneath the skin, Smile like silk, but I was born to win. Iron bars, stone walls, still they know my name— I brought my table to the prison game. Lotus, lotus, never pure, never tame, I lost my freedom, but I kept my flame. Bow real low when the black dice fall— The flower got thorns, and she owns you all. [Outro — whispered, amused] Mou ichido. One more roll. Don’t worry, darling… The house is patient. The lotus always blooms.
