While they were venturing around the area, Velvet ordered the group to converse with some of the townsfolk they encounter in order to catch up on the latest news as she settled some business with Eizen. Most of what they had heard ranged from random chatter to gossip that was completely off the mark as per usual.
Although, Rokurou noticed that something felt off. He just didn't know what; it was on the tip of his tongue. The swordsman looked around. Other than the funny costumes that Velvet had chosen for them, he just couldn't really tell until Magilou accidentally triggered one of Teresa's fans to go completely delusional.
"That's it!" The swordsman— wearing a black and grey outfit that seemed more suited for the summer— had an epiphany, quickly turning around to face Eleanor. The group's attention suddenly shifted to Rokurou, completely ignoring the Teresa fan that continued to gush about his 'beautiful ice queen' despite the lack of attention he received from them.
"W-what?" The exorcist couldn't help but clutch her chest and step backwards with Rokurou's sudden exclamation.
"You're what's wrong!" The swordsman said rather happily, as if he had made an astonishing discovery.
"Excuse me!?" Eleanor snapped back.
"Er, no, I mean, you aren't what's wrong. I mean, something felt off as soon as we got off the ship. I just thought that it must be your costume… How do you even see in that thing?" Rokurou asked as he crouched down, looking for some sort of way that Eleanor could see through the costume.
"I should be asking you that, Rokurou! You have hair covered over both of your eyes!" The exorcist replied, staring down at the crouched swordsman.
"I'm used to it." Rokurou simply answered back as he crossed his arms.
"Well, I guess I wasn't the only one who felt that something was different…" Laphicet, in a costume that looked like it had come straight out of a fairytale, had muttered. "Eleanor, are you okay?" The malak asked as he looked up towards the exorcist, concern riddled in his expression. The bunny ears on his head shifted when he moved to tilt his head.
"I'm fine, Laphice-" Before Eleanor was able to answer the malak's question, Magilou chimed in.
"Ohoho~ I was about to call you out on that too, Eleanor!" Magilou joined in on the conversation as she had finally managed to shush the gushing Teresa fan with one of her artes. Bienfu looked absolutely terrified as he witnessed the Teresa fan suddenly collapse, while the rest of the group didn't seem to notice what had happened.
"So, my dear exorcist, what has been bothering you so? You've been awwwfully silent today~" The witch teased as she invaded Eleanor's personal space. Magilou was donned in a rather strange attire. It was what she liked to call the 'The Menagerie's Mistress Costume.'
"Preetty sure it's the costume." Rokurou said casually as he shrugged. Laphicet tilted his head as he waited for the exorcist's response.
"While I do agree that this costume is quite bothersome, I'm completely fine. Perhaps I'm just not used to walking around in such a thing." Eleanor said in a such a way that made her sound like she was giving a mission report to the Abbey. Rokurou silently thought of how strange it would be if a normin were to be that stiff.
"Told ya," The swordsman said. Before they could end their conversation, however, the witch protested.
"Nonsense! Eleanor, don't hide your feelings like that, because that's totally Velvet's thing…" Magilou exclaimed, her face scrunched up in mock-concern.
"But don't worry dear, because I know what's been bothering you this whole time!" The witch raised her arm to emphasize her point. Eleanor knew that this was going to lead to nowhere, but something inside of her wanted to entertain the witch's antics anyway.
"Then tell me, Miss Magilou, what has been bothering me this whole time?" The exorcist played along with the witch. A shit-eating grin spread so quickly on Magilou's face that Eleanor had begun to regret her decision.
"Men!" The witch quickly exclaimed before continuing, leaving no time for the exorcist to react. "Besides Teresa and the Lord of Calamity being the usual talk of the town, you're always in the spotlight yourself!" Magilou crossed her hands on top of her chest. "Countless men from across the world have been asking for your hand in marriage, Eleanor!" The witch had suddenly grabbed both of Eleanor's hands as she spoke, her eyes shimmering passionately as she did. The exorcist's eyes widened in response from what she had just heard, but the costume had hidden her expression from view. Both Rokurou and Laphicet were both silent, eager to hear more.
"You always decline them, or find a way to avoid the question, but I can see it in your eyes!" Magilou closed her eyes and paused her monologue for a brief moment, breathing deeply as she did. Eleanor did not like where this was going. The witch tightened her grip on the exorcist's hands.
"You want to love, and you want somebody to love you in return!" Magilou said dramatically as she released her hold. Eleanor's eyes felt like they were about to pop out of her skull. Rokurou's eyes widened as well, and Laphicet had let out an audible gasp.
"However!" The witch continued, "Something is stopping you from accepting these men into your heart, correct?"
"No, Magilou please sto-" Eleanor desperately wanted Magilou to just stop talking. This was going way too far for her liking, and to the exorcist's dismay, both of the guys seemed to be buying it.
"Indeed! The Lord of Calamity, has you trapped! In fact, the costume she forced on you is proof that she wants-"
"Magilou!" A threatening voice echoed. A frightening presence loomed behind the witch and in a fraction of a moment, Eleanor swore she saw a genuine look of fear flash on Magilou's face. The exorcist silently thanked the Empyreans for Velvet's arrival.
"Ah, Velvet! We were just talking about you!" Magilou said enthusiastically as she twirled around to face the therion. Any traces of fear that the witch might've had completely vanished as she continued her little act.
Eizen and Velvet stood side by side, the former relieved of the ridiculous dog tail, but not of the halo that still floated atop his head. The bangs covering his face were messily brushed away from his face, putting his forehead on display. His face was also framed with a pair of glasses. As for his clothing, Eizen seemed to be wearing clothes that a butler would wear.
Velvet however, was dressed in what could only be described by the exorcist as pirate clothes, that was in, of course, in her usual red and black palette. Her current apparel was less revealing than her usual outfit, but it still accentuated her body all the same. In addition, her hair was tied up into a rather messy ponytail.
"Weren't you supposed to talk to people around town and not amongst yourselves?" Velvet said impatiently as she waited for an explanation.
"Well we were doing that, but Eleanor here is feeling so upset about having to wear such a costume! Velvet, I know you're jealous-"
"Jealous?" The therion interrupted the witch as she rested her hand on her hip. Her body language was evident; she was challenging the witch. Magilou's mischievous grin had soon reappeared.
"Well, this can't be good. What's Magilou going on about this time?" Eizen muttered in a low voice as he approached the rest of the group.
Eleanor sighed, no longer wanting to be a part of Magilou's antics while Laphicet simply stayed silent for the exorcist's sake, as he felt that her mood wasn't getting any better at all.
"Just see for yourself." Was Rokurou's simple reply to the pirate. Eizen redirected his gaze to the pair who had been staring each other down. Magilou was the first to break eye contact as she fluttered her eyelids slowly, making Velvet feel even more irritated.
"Yes, of course. Why else would you make Eleanor wear a normin costume, of all things? Clearly, it's not the attention of men that you want," The witch said as she twirled around the therion, stopping at Velvet's side to whisper in her ear, "It's Eleanor that you want to keep aaallllll to yourself~"