#reliberated

⠀⠀⠀But despite the inner turmoil, there's a sincere glimmer in silver eyes. She feels a lightness in her chest, almost like when she'd first started falling — but considerably nicer. Her steps quicken, and for a few perfect moments she can savor the innate joy of finding a familiar face. Until she takes notice of Blake's uneven walk, the way the corners of her eyes crease with winces she tries to pay no mind. Her expression falls, and her own steps falter. As dark brows knit with concern, Ruby can feel the weight in her voice — a delicate attempt to buoy her rising dread.

⠀⠀⠀❛ ⠀It's always something. … What happened ?⠀ ❜

⠀⠀⠀⠀"— Don't bother." The statement was swift, stern. The feline wasn't even bothering to stick to the shadows after a certain point, making it all the easier to pick up on her presence. An agitated breath follows, right hand resting on the hilt of his weapon out of habit. The left, after a tense moment of silence, moves up to carefully remove the mask that obscures half his face. Keeping a firm grip on it as the wind dashes along the wounded scar tissue, his back remains to the Belladonna woman as he continues to address her.

     ... This is rather odd. This realm, once again, has shown that its own reality is fickle to some degree. The city he has grown familiar with is now nowhere to be seen. In what felt like the blink of an eye, the hybrid now finds himself flung to some distant future— that’s what he can gather from a glance, at least. A city burning with neon, technology one would only find in some sort of science fiction movie now surrounding him all over... A quick glance shows that Vergil stands atop a towering structure, though there’s no clear indication for why he’s here. His attire may not have changed much, but he’s quick to notice the attachments of machinery to his head. It feels as though some sort of earpiece is set in his right ear, while an odd, semi-transparent visor flashes before his eyes.

     He barely has time to process the information before a stranger’s voice reaches his ear— as if resuming a conversation the man had no recollection of.

          ”Alright, Agent— the security should be shut down soon by our other operator. Once the lights are off, break in and tear up the factory the best you can. There’ll still be some resistance, but that should be easy pickings for you.”

     ... What?? That was utter nonsense— Is any of that suppose to mean something to him? Any reason for him to care? But before Vergil can protest or ask questions— the apparent signal he was told of was just now starting up. In this city of burning lights, the one he was standing on was swiftly going dark. ... Hm. As confusing as this may be, there doesn’t seem to be any point in standing around here. Guess he’ll have to ask questions later.

          “Fine— I’ll make this quick.”

⠀⠀⠀❛ ⠀Well well, fancy meeting you here !⠀ ❜⠀SHE⠀punctuates her greeting with a pair of finger guns that feel... wildly out-of-place in the otherwise enchanting garden, lit only by dim lanterns and many a firefly. But after a beat of silence, she can't even commit to her own joke. ⠀❛ ⠀Well— you know, after we got here. Together. … I kinda lost you once I found the food—⠀ ❜⠀

⠀⠀⠀Ruby somehow manages to force herself to stop rambling, rubbing at the back of her neck with a sheepish half-chuckle. It's hard to focus on saying anything coherent when Blake's standing there looking like she just popped out of a painting, cheeks slightly flushed — probably from dancing, if she had to guess. She picks up her heels that she'd abandoned near one of the garden's numerous flowerbeds, another laugh leaving her almost on impulse. ⠀❛ ⠀Eheh— needed a little break. I thought I'd be a bit better in these by now...⠀ ❜⠀

          And in hindsight, she probably should have checked the bookstore first. Hopefully Eto forgives the mess, because while she’d been content to merely bounce in place as she snuck up on quite possibly her favorite Faunus, her Semblance had other plans. 

     ❛   BlaaaAAAAKE—    ❜   The element of surprise in her voice turned into desperation really quickly— here’s hoping Blake’s reflexes are as quick as always, because this speeding bullet won’t (can’t) stop— !

     The darkness was finally dispelled. It was so dense, endless... an utter void of nothingness. Some time ago, Adam had simply gone to rest in the comfort of his own manor... yet was eventually greeted by the sheer magnitude of the void. Had only a minute passed? Months? Years? There was no way to tell... But with the dark finally gone, his consciousness has returned to the realm of Isola. According to this realm’s sense of time, only a few months had passed...

     Despite finally regaining a sense of awareness... it seems that sense of void had left somewhat of a mark on his soul. Adam went on to clean up and eat as usual, yet his mind was still disoriented from what had just happened. He eventually finished dressing himself and had taken a few steps outside his manor... only to end up sitting on the floor at the top of the steps, legs crossed with his weapon rested against his shoulder. This time, he had no mask or bandage to obscure his face... seems like the idea didn’t even cross his mind.

     He’s not sure how long he sat there in silence, with only the bustling noises of the Cotes Ward around him keeping the bull company. But eventually someone began to approach his territory... a familiar presence. Finally, a twinge of emotion swept through his body at that realization.

anonymous​​ SAID :

"Hey there, wannabe-hero. There's a very distinct lack of hero-ing going on in your life, maybe it's about time you fixed that. There's a chance that the big fancy jewelry store near the mall in Golden is about to be robbed, tonight at midnight... Sure would be a shame if a HERO stopped them, right?" ... That's all the note on her door says.

( unpromoted... and suspicious... ).

             ❛   Hmm... Seems kinda suspicious... ... Seems super suspicious.   ❜

        FIRSTLY   , who would bother to write a note when Scr--- uh, phones--- exist ?  Someone who specifically doesn’t want to be known, of course !  Anonymous sources are a thing... But why her ?  It’s not like she’s got some super-huge reputation in Spirale... At least, not that she’s aware of. There’s a perfectly good police force open to tips, not to mention the detective agency Sun and Neptune work for... So, once again --- why her ? And the fact that it was on her door, not the front door... That’s more than a little concerning.

        Call it a hunch... But this has to be from someone she knows --- specifically, someone with not-so-great intentions. Unfortunately, that list is bigger than it’s ever been. But something about the wording gets her the feeling that she might know who... 

        So, this was one of two things: a trap, or a weird sort of peace offering. Or... some third, super messed-up option she can’t readily think of. But it was probably a trap... and if it was a trap, one specifically aimed at her --- which it clearly was --- there was no way she’d get innocent people roped into it. That being said, she’s rifling around in her pockets until she finds her phone... 

             ❛   ... Hey, Blake ?  You free tonight ?   ❜

⠀⠀⠀All she knows is that this free food is delicious, she could eat it all night long, and maybe there actually is a limit to the word 'free' — because she can feel a pretty potent stink-eye being aimed at the back of her head. Ruby slowly turns on her heel to confirm the feeling, and spreads her arms in defense — which may or may not have caused a couple of iced brownies she'd been saving for later to tumble dejectedly across the ballroom floor. Hopefully no one steps on one.

⠀⠀⠀❛ ⠀Heyheyheyyy, c'maahn, I'm a little huntress—!⠀It's also my birthday, I'm a little birthday huntreeess— ❜⠀Her eyes land on Blake mid-sentence, and suddenly this encounter takes a complete back seat. With a single finger held up in an 'excuse me one second' sort of gesture to the less-than-convinced stranger, she promptly zips off in a brief flourish of petals.

⠀⠀⠀❛ ⠀Oh, I was looking for you ! I narrowed it down to nnnot the dessert table. ❜⠀