#// the rest are loaned or in rotation for seasonal affairs

[usagimen]

The late night thought the Kobayashi's wealth still stems from the kimonos each woman has procured throughout generations. That despite the testament of time, it is still a great moniker to them of success && what they strived for while sacrificing everything. Along with their cursed tools, each robe is guarded with utmost ferocity, including any jewels && accessories that go along with that particular outfit.

[ruffsficstuffplace]

The Viridian Vanguard (Part 25)

<I’m really very sorry we have to part ways like this, Ruby...> Varryn said as they bowed, all of their belongings in a sack on their back, and the Grove’s Tube station behind them.

<It’s alright, Varryn, we all knew it was much more likely to end like this than not,> Ruby said, bowing back.

<I really do wish that I could have lasted longer in the team’s service, Ruby!> Varryn said as they bent back up. <You’ve been an excellent leader, both within and outside of the walls of the Bastion, and a great friend beside; and to say that the credentials and the experience I’ve acquired in my relatively short time with all of you will be invaluable for the rest of my life will be a severe understatement!>

<Aww, thank you, Varryn!> Ruby replied, smiling now. <You’ve been a great team member and a wonderful friend, too. I’m sure we’d have had spent way more time and had a whole lot more stress trying to navigate, hunt, and trap in the wilds if we didn’t have your skills, not to mention your help with all the Big Game, like Grarr VII!>

The colour drained from Varryn’s face, particularly impressive due to the dark colour of their skin.

<Sorry.> Ruby whispered.

Varryn gulped down the lump that had formed in their throat, before awkwardly jerking a paw behind them. <I’m just going to be leaving now, Ruby… need to get settled in my new home, get my affairs here straightened out, before it’s back out to the wilds again!> they said, backpedaling to the Log that was awaiting them.

<Good luck with all that, Varryn!> Ruby cried, waving. <And if you ever need anything from us, don’t hesitate to call!>

<I won’t, thank you, Ruby!> Varryn shouted back, before they swiftly spun around, stuffed their sack of belongings as quickly as they could into the cargo hold, before diving in and strapping the belts in place all by themselves.

The two Tube technicians looked at each other, shrugged, and proceeded to shut the hatch on Varryn, before sending them out of Keeper’s Grove for the last time. Ruby stood where she was for a few moments, before she sighed, turned around, and went back to the house with her head hung.

As she stepped back into the living room, she found everyone still at the “command center,” a table set up with Ruby’s terminal, plus a handful of loaned units. Qrow was the first to look up from his screen, and waved at Ruby. “Welcome back, kiddo, got to say goodbye Varynn like you wanted?”

“Yep! Managed to screw it up, but hey, it’s not like we’ll probably be hearing or seeing from them any time soon!” Ruby said as she plunked herself down on her chair, and reactivated her terminal. “Thanks for the break, everyone, I really appreciate it.”

Penny bid farewell to whoever she was talking to, then smiled at Ruby. “You are welcome, Ruby, and please, think nothing of it! Proper closure is absolutely vital for mental and emotional health.”

Ruby nodded as she returned to her recently moved terminal, and resumed the search for Varryn’s replacement.

“… Thanks to filters, bots, and the Codex, it was easy to screen out almost all of the folks who were completely unqualified, or that we didn’t need as badly as a new wilderness expert, but there were still LOT of folks to screen, references to call up, and a couple of extra background checks to do.”

“I’m surprised that there’s actually so many Fae who want in on the Keeper Team,” Weiss said.

“It’s probably because of all the benefits!” Ruby replied. “The regular pay may be crap, and the job is difficult and dangerous, to say the least, but even if you only lasted a single season with us, that’s the same rep and credentials as you would have had if you spent a year—maybe two—only taking some of the highest risk jobs available in the Valley, nearly non-stop.

“And if you managed to help me put down a Soul Eater? Well, provided you could still fight and venture outside the walls after, the Roost and private contractors will pretty much let you set your own fee, among other things.”

“And if you haven’t had that distinction, and can’t continue working as a Watcher?”

“Then there’s hefty benefits you could live off of if you’re not too extravagant about living expenses, let alone the folks that’d love to employ a former Keeper Team member for the PR points. And if you end up getting killed in action, whoever’s your beneficiaries will be pretty much set for life, and if you don’t have any, you’ll get a fancy, permanent memorial at the Roost—for some, that’s all they really want or need.

“Of course, there are some folks that are just using it as a stepping stone for their careers—‘High Honour Hopefuls,’ we call them. After all, nothing pleases supporters, and looks damn good on a public service record than helping keep Avalon from getting overrun by near-unstoppable monsters!

“Uncle Qrow really doesn’t like it when we get them, though...”

“Fucking hell, Penny, I thought you said you could screen out every single last one of these suck-ups!” Qrow griped as he angrily pressed the “reject” button, so hard his talon scratched the stone of the terminal underneath.

“I only said ‘Most of them,’ and I’m certain that your chronicle data will be concurrent with my own,” Penny replied coolly. “It’s not any fault of mine that some of them are able to avoid detection relying heavily on word and pattern recognition algorithms.”

“Heh, guess they wouldn’t be Honours if they couldn’t, huh?” Nora said playfully.

Qrow side-eyed her, before shaking his head.

“How many of them have you seen so far, Uncle Qrow?” Ruby asked.

“One, and that’s already one too many...” Qrow grumbled, before he sighed then started to shut down his terminal. “You know what? I’ve had enough of screening hopefuls today, I’m clocking out.”

“We have been screening for several hours with just the bare minimum of breaks, it would indeed be wise to end now and resume tomorrow morning, to avoid unnecessary error and impaired judgment due to fatigue,” Penny said.

“Great, now it’s Mender’s orders, too!” Qrow said as he got up and stretched his legs. “Time for dinner—who’s turn was it, again?”

“I think it was Varryn’s, actually!” Ruby said as she and the others began to shut down their terminals, too.

“It was indeed!” Penny said. “So, with him gone, that means it’s Qrow on dinner duty, myself with dishes, and Ruby to attend to Zwei.”

Qrow paused for a moment, before he happy look on his face disappeared. “Ah, shit, you’re right...” he mumbled, before he dejectedly marched into the kitchen, pulling his flask out of his pocket as he did.

“We’ll help,” Ren said, as he and Nora got up, and followed him.

“And just so you know, I am starving after all that work, so it’s gonna be a total crumb-pocalypse tonight!” Nora said, chuckling.

“Please remember to pace yourself so you don’t end up with indigestion!” Penny called after them, waving, before she turned to Ruby. “Would you like some assistance with Zwei, Ruby? I was thinking of contacting some more character references before I stop completely myself, but I am willing to provide an extra hand and/or company, should you need or want it.”

“Nah, I’m good!” Ruby said as she pulled her cloak back on her shoulders and turned the hood up. “Besides, I wouldn’t mind some alone time with Zwei, he’s probably been so bored and lonely all day!” she said before she made for the door.

“If that’s what you wish, Ruby!” Penny said. “Don’t hesitate to call if you change your mind!”

“I won’t!” Ruby said, before she stepped out of the house and shut the door behind her, stood on the edge of the rail and yelled, “Zwei! We’re all done for today! We can go play now!”

She smiled as she leaned on the railing, gazing out at the overgrowth down below, waiting for Zwei to rip a new straight line through them in his rush. “Heh, he’ll probably leap all the way to the balcony and take me back down with him,” she thought, smiling.

The smile disappeared when she five minutes later, she didn’t see, hear, nor smell him. “Zwei!” Ruby called out again. “Zwei! Shift’s over today! Uncle Qrow’s already getting dinner! I’ll make sure you get an extra serving tonight if you get back here within a minute! Counting down: 60… 59… 58...”

She peered out at the swamp, trying to notice anything off, closed her eyes and counted silently, skipped a few as she sniffed and tried to get even the vaguest whiff of Zwei’s powerful, unmistakable smell.

“… 3… 2… 1… 0!” Ruby cried. “Times up, Zwei! Maybe I’ll consider still giving those extra servings to you if you come back right now…!”

The door opened, Penny peered out. “Has Zwei still not returned, Ruby?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s really weird...” Ruby said, still looking out. “He’s never strayed that deep into the swamp without us, hasn’t he?”

“No, based on my own Chronicle, Qrow’s, and the previous chroniclers,” Penny replied.

Ruby turned around, the worry clear on her face. “Do you think he’s okay?”

“Most likely!” Penny said, smiling as she stepped out of the house and towards Ruby. “He’s an incredibly powerful, durable, and intelligent dog! That aside, it’s highly probable that he’s found an incredibly comfortable, secluded spot and fell asleep there, and it just so happens that he can’t hear you.

“Shall we go look for him?” she added, putting a hand on Ruby’s shoulder and gesturing out to the swamp.

“Please,” Ruby said, heading to the boat-elevator.

“I will inform the others that we’ll be searching for Zwei, then will join you post-haste,” Penny said.

Soon, the both of them were wandering deep into the swamps surrounding Keeper’s Grove, beams of light shooting out of Penny’s unblinking eyes; her ears slowly rotating around her head like radar dishes; her mouth open and her hands cupped around it, and her tail in Ruby’s hand and leading up to her mouth as she used her like a megaphone.

“Zwei!” Ruby called out, her voice booming and echoing off the trees as they hopped and walked on the giant roots. “Zwei! Where are you?! I’m really worried, boy!”

After yet another minute of silence, Ruby whined and let go of Penny’s tail. “He’s not answering or anything! Do you think something bad happened? Should we call the others?!”

“It is extremely concerning, but I urge you to please remain calm, Ruby,” Penny said as she put her hands off her mouth, shut off the spotlights in her eyes before she faced Ruby. “I’m going to contact them now, so we can get the equipment and the heads for a proper search.”

It was then that something fell from high up above, and noisily plopped into the water, followed by some leaves and branches that had been messily cut apart, likely by accident. Ruby and Penny both looked above, into the thick branches and leaves obscuring whatever was above, before turning to the water where the object had landed.

They shared a look with each other, before Penny reached in, and pulled out a black breakneck, now covered in swamp muck and dripping with water. She reactivated the lights in her eyes, Ruby frowned as she examined the weapon.

“This is Celestian made…” she muttered.

“Indeed,” Penny said, before she contacted the others back at the house. “Sorry to interrupt your dinner, everyone, but it appears that Zwei has found an intruder, possibly still armed and dangerous. Please prepare accordingly, bring the necessary detaining equipment, and alert the Roost.”

Qrow sighed. “And of course it’s right as I sit down and got my plate ready… alright, got your location, got a visual and any info for us?”

“No visual, and two things: there’s a good chance they’re from Celestion, and down a primary weapon,” Ruby said, holding up the breakneck for the others.

“Oooh, a possible assassination attempt!” Nora chimed in, her mouth obviously full of cookies. “Isn’t this exciting, Ren?! I mean, it’s not great obviously, but we get to check this off our milestone list of being with the Keepers!”

“I suppose so, Nora,” Ren said. “ETA 25 minutes—you want us to bring anything else alongside your gear, Ruby?”

“Yeah: dinner to go,” Ruby added. “Something tells me this is going to be a LONG night...”

Note: The Watchers, Seekers, Weavers, Makers, and the rest of the Orders are free to make recommendations for replacements and additions to the Keeper’s team, but aside from the most basic litmus tests, all the screening, interviewing, and hiring is done by the Keepers themselves, usually (but not always) with the help of the current and/or recently retired members.

This is because the Keeper Team has historically had a LOT of questionable hires, who turned out to be incredibly great assets, such as Abner.

[cervamater]

A good deal. {ShibiYosh}

Thief AU meets Gang AU. A smol gift for @aburamechan /@tenefix because I love the dorklord and the tiny tyrant. Hope you enjoy! 💓

Air was soft and crispy on his face as he watched outside his office, nature was still frozen but close to blossoming, he was toying with one of the few pens within grasp in the meanwhile. His back was turned on a student of his: an efficient boy gifted with a clever mind and an incredible talent; a great addition to his group, he was proud. “Should I put this over here, Shibi-san?” he was referring to a pile of papers containing his newest work, a market survey the leader had asked for some time prior. Not a thing pertaining to the Head Professor of Sciences, for sure, but that was perfectly convenient to his second nature. “That would be lovely, Muta-kun, thank you. Please, make sure to close the door when you leave.” The older man saw the bow Muta offered to him reflected on the window glass, then the younger man went out of his office and left him alone. A peace that was unlikely to last, just like weather during such a fleeting season. “You should definitely find some other things to do” she stated, he didn’t need to look at her to tell she was standing arms-crossed on his threshold, one foot further forward than the other. Obviously, Muta didn’t even notice her sneaking in… her ability to blend in with shadows was upsetting. However, it was not like someone like her would ever go unnoticed in a sunny day. “Staring moodily outside doesn’t make you any attractive.” “It is not supposed to enrapture poor hearts” he corrected her with a sigh, resigned to go though her visit. “It’s only purpose is relaxation for a busy mind. But I guess you already know plenty of double lives, don’t you?” She smiled down at him as he sat into his expensive swivel chair, his arms were placed on rests by his side. “What do you want, Yoshino?” She puckered her lips out in a pretend of offense. “So rude and straightforward. Couldn’t I be here to visit an old friend of mine?” He glared at her from beneath his shades, unimpressed. “No, not you.” That reply pulled a smirk out of her, one finger tapping against her cheek while the rest of them wrapped around her chin loosely. A malicious attitude about her and the way those plump, red-coated lips were curved up: troubles were incoming. And he was already neck-deep into them.

“Fair enough” the woman clicked her tongue with a soft sound, “are you up for some business talking, mr. Big Shot?” Shibi shifted a little to adjust on his seat, then crossed his long legs, head held high so that he could hear her better. “I am always up for business talking.” Yoshino seemed enticed by his sharp answer because the wavy hem of her scandalously short miniskirt bounced twice as she reached the large, rotating blackboard. “You know what Keitaro rubies are, right?” Of course he did. One of Japan’s greatest treasures, Keitaro rubies were, formally, a Crown’s belonging: a handful of tiny, round, perfect gemstones with a beautiful roseate tint. Truth be honest, they weren’t exactly rubies, but pink sapphires; a deceptive mistake made by their discoverer, Sasaki Keitaro, that history never healed over. Still, that wasn’t the point. “Yes, I do.” “Well then” she started with shrill and bright voice, “in a few days, the famous Keitaro rubies will be moved from the underground vault they are currently locked into to a new display case in Kanto,  at Tokyo National Museum. Something like this has never happened once in four decades. It’s needless to say not even such an amazing artist of deceit as me could rob a super-protected building like that one.” She had the most adorable sparkle in her hazel orbs as she talked about robbing one of the most prized Japanese collection. “And what’s your solution?” he questioned her, his digits intertwined on the lucid, cherry wooden desk. “Stealing them right before they get locked away the second time” she explained with a gleaming beam, “I’ve studied all the blueprints I could get my hands on and even made some by myself when I visited the structure, and then I made sure to reveal all the possible routes for armoured vans to travel from and to TNM. Security would be impossible to breach during the transfer and once the rubies will be positioned under that glass shield I will have 0 chances to bring them with me. The only way I have to snatch those astonishing rosy stones out of their filthy hands is in the brief span between delivery and custody.” By the time she was done talking her cheeks were crimson in color, she was so flushed that her eyes looked like two honey-brown topaz fragments. So unbelievably cute. He sprawled into his chair, plastic squeaking as the backrest was stretched backward. The man pondered her with a smug-ish expression on his face, he loved keeping her on the edge like that, that puppy look she gave him while she was silently pleading for a little appreciation. “But you do need my help, nonetheless” he reminded her with an amused chuckle. That elicited a gasp out of Yoshino, the woman realizing all of a sudden she still had to actually get him to accept any deal. “Yes” the thief replied with decision. She walked on her black, velvety, high-heeled court shoes up to his luxury desk and leaned against it. “A particular kind of help, truth to be told: a loan.” Shibi was puzzled. It was unlikely of that fierce woman to ask for something so venal: one thing was alluring him for jewels, a different one was requesting money.  Of course, that was no problem for him, he had plenty of financial means but still he didn’t like seeing them wasted into incautious projects. “And what amount shall I be up to lend you?”  he played along, turning a chip to the left. He was wearing a smirk, but she didn’t let that intimidate her. “Ten thousand-ish” she shrugged, trying to make it sound like a trifle. It wasn’t exactly so and both were aware of it. “Cash, I suppose.” “Most definitely, yes.” The Aburame shook his head in an incredulous gesture. “That’s folly and you know it. I will never do this.” “Oh, you would never?” she played with some bangs on her face, now it was her turn to be playful and jest with him, “not even if I told you this little investment of yours would get you to make five times as much?” “I’m all ears.” “Oh, now you are all ears, aren’t ya?” she teased him as she lifted her weight on lean arms to sit on his desk. “What a money-grabber you are, big boss.” “Without money I couldn’t buy you those lovely jewelry pieces you are exhibiting in this very moment” he retorted with no rush, dragging his chair closer to the desk. He could feel the warmth her body was radiating although their skins were so distant from one another. That made him smile for a single instant, before he would suffocate it mercilessly. “That’s true, mr. Big Shot. Money buys jewels, but jewels definitely can buy money.” “Speaking of which” Shibi urged her back to business affairs, “you were about to tell me how could my… investment… return me such a great amount.” “It’s easy” Yoshino didn’t sound very interested in sharing details, “I need that loan to get more advanced equipment for the heist. Now, if I really get to rob the rubies, there’s no way I can keep them for myself, unfortunately. I already contacted a potential purchaser who is going to pay me a hella big load for those lovely gems. I get you a thirty percent.” “But what if you didn’t manage to steal Keitaro rubies, mh?” the professor wondered, lacing both his hands together before his mouth. “I lose my ten thousand and you will probably end up in shackles. Those lovely wrists… I can’t imagine how terribly damaged they would become.” “You worry about my wrists, big boss?” the woman taunted him with a sly grin, stretching her arms up to show more of her ridiculous body. That dried his mouth, so he swallowed quietly to wet his tongue. “You should be more  worried about the information I’ve got my hands on. I mean… your little organization would not be pleased if one of its most valued collaborator got banged up, mh?” “Are you threatening me, miss?” he motioned a ‘no’ with his head, “not nice. Behave, mistress, that is not the way a lady is supposed to talk.” She smiled mischievously like a cat would for a share more of food, a second later she was straddling him, sitting on his lap, white arms encircling his neck as she bit down her lower lip, too close to his face. The man held his breath: he was not expecting such a move, but he had to admit it was typical of his company. “Then stop being a jinx and just tell me yes already, big boss” she was almost speaking on his lips, she was that close, “I don’t have all day for you, you know.” “I am no bird of ill omen” he replied with a sharp attitude, forcing himself not to get his fingers driven on her hips as his instinct was suggesting him. “I am rather being pragmatic. Very pragmatic.” “Yeah, I know” she whispered back with a foxy grimace, burying her face into his neck. “But I know you are tempted as well. Making this much of money without moving a single finger must be so winsome for a man who has always been lusting after power.” “I do not lust after power nor money, you know it better than most” the other responded firmly, his eyes shutting as he felt the lightest kiss pressed against his crazily pulsing jugular. She was not playing fair, not at all. “I do what I must for the sake of my clan.” “Isn’t this favorable enough for you, big boss?” and now she was nibbling at his earlobe. Damn it, how could she be so cruel in making fun of his male nature? “I get to do all the dirty work and you just have to sit in your chair, minding your business and waiting for me to come back with a suitcase full of bills. Everyone wins.” “It’s risky” his voice had become incredibly low and hoarse, but he still succeeded in keeping his self-control. A quality to appreciate in a man. “Do not tell me you can’t see it.” “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” she moved from one ear to the other while gently murmuring her most beloved saying, a mantra for her life, “don’t you agree, big boss?” Shibi sighed, exasperated. “Fine, fine, you win. But I want something in return.” The woman straightened her back to listen to him, her arms came loose as she moved them down his thorax. She had to like the fresh feeling of his cotton shirt, because she erupted into an enticed laugh --- or maybe she was just joyful because she had won. Again. “A pledge from you” he clarified, “pawn something to me. This loan is not going to be free, you know: I demand interests on it.” “What interests?” Yoshino didn’t seem to like the new arrangement. Good. “Come on, big shot, it’s already pretty flattering for you, I can’t give you anything more. It’s business, you taught me.” “I don’t have economical aims, if that’s what you were suggesting” he said, “I know for personal experience once you have acquired what you want, you disappear, and I can’t find you for my life. I want you to stay a little more with me.” “Oh, that’s so sentimental” she pretended to be sulky, but he could feel the way she was tugging at the ends of his jacket to pull him closer. “You are definitely losing your mind on me, big boss. It’s praising.” “Perhaps that’s true” he ran his digits along the magnificent curve of her dove-like neck, grazing it with his smooth fingertips. She moaned with her lips clenched as she tried to arch away from his touch, but eventually she was still there, still with him. She could not escape. She would not escape. “Perhaps I’m getting sentimental over you tiny, wicked, little woman. This only means I have one more unwanted desire to satisfy.” The thief raised her hands to his mouth, pressing her fingers against it to steal a kiss. He watched closely the way she squirmed as he kept brushing her neck up and down, his lips disclosing a little for the attention she was drawing from him. She was lost in bliss, her cheeks were getting pink again as well as all her skin: it was time to make his move. A single movement of his nails against the clip of her necklace and it fell off her chest. It took him an instant to pocket it discreetly. When Yoshino realized he had stopped massaging her, she fluttered her eyes open, confused: “w-wha…?” She had to be feeling way lighter without her golden lace because she immediately reached for her throat and pulled an angry face as soon as she got aware her small diamond was missing. “You’re such a bastard, Shibi” he spat at him, she tried to sound menacing but her voice was still trembling, as much as her hands, “that’s not fair. Give it back.” “I’ve just played your very same game” he retorted with a smirk, “do you think you are the only one who knows how to seduce masterfully? You sure are a good tease, but I am as well. Haven’t I showed you enough?” She gritted her teeth, frustrated for both having been outsmarted and having not been satisfied, more than likely. Seconds after she grabbed his jaw and kissed him with force, her tongue working its way inside his warm, dampened entrance. She seized his shoulders in a frenzy, soughing in the moment he clung to her hips and pulled her closer. Her knees pressed against his sides as she stood on them, she took advantage of her momentarily taller posture to get a better position. He emitted a rough sound from the back of his throat when she captured his lips into a small bite, his hands slowly slid down her body into a sensual stroke, she giggled in excitement as she felt his touch under her miniskirt squeezing handful of her body, then gliding down her thighs. One last smooch and she was back away from him, an enthusiastic grin triumphed on her porcelain visage. No genius needed to tell she was way less frustrated right then… at least, Shibi could tell. She was still teasing him, enticing him, beguiling him with her lovecraft and he was a fiend for that talent of hers. He could pretend not to be a man with whoever he wanted to, but not with her. Her smell, the texture of her skin, the sensation of her smooth, silky hair pressed against his chest when she slept hugging him… a constant reminder he had fallen for the one who loved the shadows, and was loved by them in return. “Next Tuesday, 8 o’clock, that French restaurant in Ginza” he offered to her with little to no voice, “I will return you your necklace.” “Next Tuesday?” Yoshino’s voice was just as husky, “on Valentine’s day? Oh my, you’re so lame, big boss.” An insistent knock on his door. He has completely forgotten he was still at work, there still was a world around them and he still had a long list of meeting from that moment to that night. “Yes or no?” he pressured her, holding her tighter, “I demand an answer.” “Meet me there” she laughed obnoxiously, robbing another kiss, “I want my necklace back. And another one.” “Do not be worried about that” he smirked as he let her go, “I will make sure to surprise you. It’s my nature.” “I’m coming in, Shibs!” Kumoko’s voice. Ah, that little pest! But at least she had helped him to rip a date off the thief’s secured lips. He owed her plenty that time. “Shoo” he chased her away with a rare, full smile… Yoshino pecked him again. She couldn’t resist him when he smiled like that. “Go, go” he whispered inaudibly, he was so irritated but he knew she could not be caught there in that moment, “we’ll have time for this. Plethora of time.” Her hazel eyes looked dithering as she moved her gaze back and forth between him and the door, but eventually she just unlatched herself from him. “Plethora?” “Plethora” he confirmed, kissing one of her knuckles like a real gentleman. That made her smile. “Ready or not, here I come!” Kumoko burst out, slamming the door open. She seemed deluded: the only thing she could see was that nerd professor sitting in his pricey, bossy chair reading some paperwork with his shirt creased. She was sure she had heard a woman’s voice! “Kumoko. I’m sorry, I haven’t heard you calling, I was focused on other task. Did you want anything from me?” “Oh, damn it all, Shibs!” the bulky girl crossed her arms into a vexed pose, “were is she hiding?” “She?” Shibi sounded confused. “I regret to tell you this, but you are misleading me.” “She, she!” Kumoko exploded with rage, “there was a woman here, I can smell her perfume on you and… fuck, you have lipstick on that stupid face of yours! Tell me where she is, I want to know her!” “Regrettably enough, I am still disoriented about what you are insinuating” the man commented. He stood up and observed his own reflex on the window: Kumoko was right, his clothes were a mess and Yoshino’s red lipstick was on his neck, on his mouth, everywhere eyes could scope. He killed a smirk springing on his face. “If there really was a woman here, do you think she could just… vanish like this? None can blend in with shadows.” Kumoko munched the inside of her cheek. She hated it when he was right. “Yeah, that’s true.” ‘None but the Shadow Mistress’ that thought made him laugh. He had signed a life-long sentence which would send him straight to Hell. Nonetheless, Hell was so damn good.