As they sailed across the vast sea aboard the Van Eltia, Velvet had decided to look through the boatload of items that they had managed to gather on their journey. As she did this, she had also managed to convince everyone to wear whatever random thing she had handed out to them.

Eleanor, however, couldn't help but wonder why the therion insisted on making them wear such ridiculous things. She also wondered how on earth she had gotten— of all people— Eizen to agree to wearing what looked to be a halo floating atop his head, along with a ridiculous tail on his behind. How was the halo even floating? Where did the tail even attach to, to stay in that position? Eleanor just couldn't comprehend the situation, and why Velvet thought Rokurou needed more bangs when he had the other half of his face already covered with hair to begin with.

When the exorcist inquired what on earth she was doing however, the therion simply told her that it was a tactic to distract the enemy. While the response was straightforward, Eleanor couldn't help but ponder on Velvet's blunt answer. The exorcist silently watched the therion, who was still busy handing out accessories, as she thought. Why would we need a distraction? Eleanor wondered. Their 'team' wasn't the best in terms of their coordination in general, but one couldn't deny that they were formidable despite this. Besides, Velvet's outfit was enough of a distraction, the exorcist thought as she recalled their previous battles. Vevlet's revealing outfit not only served as a distraction to the enemy, but also to her allies... Well to her, at the very least.

"But aren't you enough of a distraction?" Eleanor accidentally blurted out. Emerald eyes widened at the realization of what she had just done, and almost immediately she slapped her hand over her mouth.

"What was that?" The therion asked, a devious smirk plastered on her face. Velvet stepped closer, striding towards Eleanor. The exorcist's face quickly reddened as Velvet's smug expression seemed to be coming closer at an alarming rate. The exorcist, with all the willpower that she could muster in that moment, managed to look away from the bewitching therion as she stepped back in an attempt to move away from Velvet. Her attempt was in vain, however, as her back had only met a wall. Velvet rested her bandaged arm above Eleanor's head, waiting for an answer. The exorcist could see all of the minute details on Velvet's face with how close they were. If the exorcist moved even the slightest bit forward, they'd lock lips. Eleanor felt like combusting right then and there.

When no response was heard, Velvet pressed on. "I don't think I understand what you meant by that." Eleanor seemed to be more interested in the wooden floorboards of the ship instead of the therion, so she slowly raised the exorcist's chin with her free hand before continuing. "Tell me, what do you find so distracting about me?" The therion asked slowly, her voice tantalizing to Eleanor's ears. The exorcist couldn't stand Velvet being so, so-

Eleanor wished she could just die right then and there. But she had to come up with something, or Velvet might not let her go. With weak knees and her mind swimming, the exorcist attempted to muster a reply.

"Uh, I y-your- um-" With the exorcist's mouth refusing to form coherent words, Velvet suddenly stepped away from the exorcist with a slightly pinkish hue on her cheeks. Or perhaps, Eleanor had just imagined that it was there. She couldn't tell because as soon as the therion stepped back, Velvet— seemingly out of nowhere— shoved a large object towards her.

"What the-" Instinctively, Eleanor had grabbed onto whatever was handed to her. Once the exorcist was finally able to take a proper look at the object, she discovered that it was one of the many normin suits that they had found on their journey. It was in the color blue. Of course. Eleanor thought to herself as she let out a sigh. If anything, the sudden change of topic, if that was the appropriate word for it, was quite a relief for the exorcist.

"Wear that." Velvet simply said before leaving her. The exorcist couldn't even get a single word in with how fast the therion vanished from view. It was as if Magilou decided to do another magic trick. Eleanor, still dazed and flushed red from what had just happened, swiftly headed back to her room.

As soon as the exorcist arrived at her destination, she had made sure the door was completely shut before quickly launching herself towards the bed. Covering her face with a pillow, she screamed.

"I'm such a dork!"

"Eleanor, the pure and sweet exorcist, has not only betrayed the Abbey, but has also fallen for the Lord of Calamity herself! How scandalous! If word of this gets out, what will our sweet exorcist do?!"

Little did Eleanor know that her voice was loud enough to be heard from the main deck of the ship. Magilou clutched her chest with one hand, while the other hand was stretched upwards as she continued doing her usual theatrics.

"Now pay up!" The witch quickly spun towards Eizen and grinned as she held out her hand towards him, waiting for the gald that the pirate now owed her.

"Bieeeeeeen! How could this be?! Madam Eleanor couldn't possibly be in love with someone as callous as Velvet!" Bienfu butted into their conversation. "Although," the normin suddenly continued, "Velvet is wife material but-" Before he could get any further with his rambling, Bienfu had realized that Magilou was staring directly at him, evil intentions written all over her face.

"Oh Bienfu, I don't think I asked for your opinion~" The witch said as she approached Bienfu. As she pulled him closer, Magilou whispered something that made the normin yell and run away with tears streaming down his eyes.

"Hmph. I don't think her scream was related to Velvet. Whatever Velvet gave Eleanor to wear must look ridiculous for her to be that loud." Eizen protested, unfazed by what had transpired just moments ago. He emphasized his point by pointing at the halo that was still magically floating atop his head. The pirate was obviously bothered by the accessory, but made no move to remove it. Magilou withdrew her outstretched arm, resting a hand on her waist as she rolled her eyes.

"Of course it was related to Velvet! Buuut-" The witch's enthusiasm was suddenly replaced with a loud sigh as she continued, "Of course you wouldn't understand." Magilou's shoulders dropped as she spoke. Her wide grin from just moments ago turned upside down.

"What does dork even mean?" Rokurou interjected as he approached the pair.

"That as well. And besides, that wasn't much evidence to begin with." Eizen added.

"Urgh… You guys don't even know what dork means, what century do you live in?!" Magilou replied rather dejectedly at the two. She had perked up quickly, however, and continued.

"Since I'm feeling especially magnanimous today, Magilou the great will find more evidence! The forbidden love between human and daemon will unfold right in front of your eyes!" The witch grinned once more, turning around to face the horizon.

"By the way," She added, "I'm raising our bet to fifty thousand gald." Magilou said confidently without looking back.

"Fine by me."