𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚

𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐗 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 ––

''𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 — 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭.''

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇, 𝗺𝘆 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄.

→ 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘢𝘳/𝘔𝘝𝘙𝘗
→ 𝘕𝘰𝘯-𝘓𝘦𝘸𝘥
→ 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴/𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬
→✒️𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘦 (21+)

"𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨!"

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

"Are you sure? That's an unhealthy habit, Chris. I'll always lend an ear if you need me to, you know. There's no shame in it—you're free to ask me anytime."

[Yukine Chris @ChrisphonyXV]

"Absolutely not. I can work on it at home."

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

Ah, I see...

You should probably have that maybe, did you want to talk about it?

[Yukine Chris @ChrisphonyXV]

It means I have no self control.

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

Chris, what is this supposed to mean?

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

Bursts in, several tote bags full of new clothes handing from each of her arms.

Bargain hunt successful!

"I hope Shirabe and Kirika like some of these... I tried to match their styles as best as I could from memory."

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

|| Kaneko get arcsys to make a Symphogear fighting game and I will buy it I promise

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

|| I'm around (lurking in the shadows), and uhh quick interest update: I've been getting into Guilty Gear! And I like it! It's fun!!

This will translate into muse somehow (just trust the process)

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

- wallet to yourself now, okay? I'm treating you here—and don't even try to convince me otherwise, I've already made up my mind!"

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

"Hm? Oh, no, you don't actually have to buy anything for me...!" Maria waves her hands in front of her as if to dissuade any ideas to the contrary.

It's not as if she wouldn't like it if she bought her a coffee... but she's not going to come out and say that.

"Keep that +

[Asagami Fujino @BendingEyes]

"I think that would be lovely, Maria."

Not a single ounce of trickery in her voice, simply what sounded more like relief, or perhaps joy at having someone who can lead the way for her.

"And fear not, I do have money if you need it. I'm hardly the type to leave home without-

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

|| Maria, about to get shanked by the heroic spirit of king gilgamesh in the street:

"And another thing: those shoes are 𝗻𝗼𝘁 your color!"

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

- words of her chant.

She doesn't even need to think of them. They flood from her lips like it's second nature.

"𝘚𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯 ——— ..."

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

The air grows thin. In seconds, a suffocating atmosphere engulfs her as the shadow of the man before her lengthens.

The sight of his silhouette against the light radiating from behind him is like staring into an eclipse.

She has to avert her eyes.
If she stares long enough, +

[𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 ノ 𝐓𝐘𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓 @KINGOVERHEROES]

‍⠀
‍⠀
His presence grew suffocating as he slowly turned to face them, golden radiance shining to reveal the disgust etched across his expression.

Soon would that same golden light begin to shine brighter, gates manifesting behind his form.
‍⠀
‍⠀

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

- from, it doesn't change her next course of action.

And really, there's only one thing she can do in this situation anyway. It isn't even a question.

If he attacks, there's really only one way to defend herself. As if to preempt that inevitability, she begins to mouth the +

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

- someone you've only just locked eyes with on the street? What are you, some kind of armored delinquent?!"

She shakes her head...

"Someone like you," and jabs a finger at him furiously. "...Ought to seriously readjust their attitude!"

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

"Crimes...?" Maria murmurs. She thinks to retort but stops just short of mouthing the words.

She pauses as the air between them grows subtly colder.

She should probably stop here, right? Nothing good can come from riling up someone so quick to jump to threats.

...And yet, +

[𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 ノ 𝐓𝐘𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓 @KINGOVERHEROES]

‍⠀
‍⠀
〝 And soon you'll lose the ability to do such things yourself. Go on, keep adding onto your crimes. 〞
‍⠀
‍⠀

[𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙫𝙚 @ArmOfSilver]

- something about being called a 'mongrel' just ticks her off to no end. Any other insult she might've been able to walk away from, but that?

She can't let that stand.
Crossing her arms, she stares daggers at the man in gold.

"Frightening, aren't we? Honestly; threatening +