F R E E D O M

“Ohhhh, of course I know of it! Who in Hive City wouldn’t be familiar with the city famous Dressed to KIll, huh? Ihihi!” Battler chuckles amused. “Considering that they’re already pretty successful money wise, I’m assuming that you wish to provide protection for them and any other comrades you might have in the city, right?”

Which wouldn’t be surprising at all. The fame of the store also makes it so any attack against it becomes relevant in the news soon enough. Extra costs with security might not be inside of the shop’s current budget, however, not to count out of workplace dangers. Good thing that the Ushiromiya’s do have the needed money to cover such a demand.

“Alright, I’ll go for the final condition, then.” Battler clears his throat. “Are you willing to swear loyalty to the Ushiromiya family and fellow Pieces, and to showcase it in your clothing and by helping them in times of crisis? And since Dressed to Kill is a business under your circle, you think they’d be willing to put a portrait of Beatrice anywhere in the shop?”

      “That is precisely correct, Ushiromiya-san. Though previously my ability to provide those resources would have been considerable, I have not even a portion of my previous influence here. I do not believe it would be difficult for me to amass it by... means I have used prior, but to be honest, those means were for an end which has already been met. I have no desire to resort to such methods again.”            It would be, in her opinion, akin to becoming no better than Ragyo if she did. 

      Exquisitely chosen gifts, as usual. The robe and slippers are set daintily in place where she will certainly be using them shortly, and the teacup is brought up to her face, nose sniffing carefully at the box of tea.           Her preferred blend to be certain, and the cup a near perfect match for her favorite as well.

It had become a ritual to let the cats out every morning. All of them at one point knew their home to be the outdoors. To deprive them of such a freedom would be unwise of Blake to strip them of that. Over time they knew where their new home was now; where they were fed, and where they kept warm during winter nights. It took some time of course, but in the end, the faunus had become more confident in both their memory and loyalty.

Today, it seems, she merely forgot to shut the door. Much too tired for her own good, it startled her when she heard a knock at the door with a verbal concern to follow. 

“Mm… It’s fine.” She opens the door a bit wider, peering down the the feline for a moment before looking up to the woman before her. Her own feline ears flicker with mere interest, a tired smile to follow.

“It’s just part of his morning routine. He usually comes back around lunchtime, but it looks to me he found a new friend instead.”

      Caught off guard momentarily by the motion from the top of the young woman’s head, Satsuki does her best not to stare (she comes from a world of living clothing, after all) and instead nods in acknowledgement to the information. Though she is slightly concerned by the open door and the brunette’s rumpled appearance, she doesn’t consider it her place to voice those concerns. Not just yet, at least. She intends to do so before she departs, if only for her own peace of mind. Leaving such a breach of her security unaddressed would not sit well with her, in the long run.            Her explanation is reassuring though, and Satsuki is glad that the feline that she’d thought escaped was simply out to start a daily routine and not something more dangerous. 

Battler isn’t used to it either, but without his demon butler that usually handles that stuff, he has to find other means. “Why, I mean any being that has surpassed human limitations and has become able to use magic! You’re just looking at one of them, ihihi!”

To showcase his point, he snaps his fingers, making a cloud of golden butterflies to manifest out of thin air. They fly and surround Satsuki’s wooden sword, turning it into a metal one with ease. It’s by no means a match to her usual weapon back in her world, but it’s definitely an improvement. “You can also call male ones like me sorcerers, the term you choose to pick doesn’t mean thaaat much.”

Once listening to her explanation, Battler nods in approval. “I see. Personal disagreements can’t be avoided on the long run of life, but as long as you’re working around it and it isn’t bringing bigger problems, I have no problem with it. Alright then, next point. You have any sort of establishment under your possession or wish to open one?”

      “Fascinating,” she murmurs, fingers running over the metal of the newly-remade blade, mindful of the edge as she tests it carefully. Both the feat at hand and Battler himself are suddenly far more worthy of her interest-- in all honesty, she’d had doubts about just how he was going to make good on his promises. Those doubts, however, are currently being abated by the display of power. “It’s certainly an achievement, in that case, to be able to ascend to such a power.”            Power that she hopes she can direct for her benefit in the future.           “But it is as you say-- conflict is simply a part of human nature. Challenging those who challenge one’s beliefs or the things we hold dear is par for the course. I do endeavor not to let things like that escalate unnecessarily, however.”           Of course, if she deemed it ‘necessary’, she’d certainly wage war on the city in its entirely, should the issue arise. 

Send me a "♦" for the first word my muse thinks of when your muse ismentioned.

Send me a "♦" for the first word my muse thinks of when your muse is mentioned.

     Lips shaping into a pleased smile, Louis gently tugged the gloved appendage, releasing contact once she’d been safely incorporated into to their small huddle.  

❝Welcome, Lady Kiryuin! We’re glad to have you on our side.❞

     Words that rang truer than ever the moment her sangfroid appeared to melt under the hot flames of competitive spirit! Yes, Louis was glad they’d recruited the woman first, because the prospect of facing her as an enemy was a terrifying one indeed! From the manner in which their visages blanched after her warning, the opposition agreed.

     Smothering a faint chuckle into his closed fist, he peered over Satsuki’s shoulder, grin somewhat sheepish. 

❝Ahm, miss Kiryuin? Please go easy on our rivals…We don’t want to scare them away too soon!❞

     An then on cue, the countdown from ten began.

      If there was something Satsuki shared with her younger sister, it was an internal ferocity that tended to show itself at unexpected moments. Coupled with her own desire to be the best and her refusal to lose at things she participated in, it made her a dangerous person to go up against... and a slightly unnerving one. Her attention is dragged from their opponents by the pink-haired man’s words, and Satsuki starts, as if only just realizing the extent of her intensity.