"So who did Rias end up asking?" Azazel asked as he jerked his control, trying to get his character on the screen to move like he wanted despite this console not using motion controls. "You?"

"Heck no!" Ryuko countered with a laugh, holding her controller perfectly still as her fingers flew over the buttons, mightily resisting the urge to let her Fibers expand her hands functions beyond human biological limitations. Fingers moving so fast the joints popped was one thing, but sprouting extra fingers for all the buttons took all the fun and challenge out of it. "I've got no style whatsoever! When i didn't have Senketsu, I wore whatever was clean and didn't give a shit how it looked. With Senketsu, I don't wear anything else."

"Speaking of, just because you can keep me clean magically now doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good wash," Senketsu pointed out somewhat playfully. "It's like a spa trip for me...as long as Mrs. Mankanshoku doesn't use too much starch."

"Yeah, yeah..." Ryuko allowed ruefully. "Anyway, she asked Satsuki, thinking she might actually know what she was talking about."

"Did she?" Azazel asked curiously.

"No, but her butler does," Ryuko explained with a laugh. "Took her well in hand after school..."

Mitsuzo Soroi calmly took measurements as Rias stood before him in only her undergarments, seemingly completely unaffected by his subject as he worked. "I must say, I am surprised and pleased to receive this request," he observed with a soft smile. "I haven't been able to work these particular skills for many years. So what is the occasion? I understand you have an...engagement?"

"Yes," Rias allowed with a smile. "I have a date tonight, and...I'm having trouble figuring out what sort of outfit to wear..."

"Surely you have your own tastes for such attire?" he gently probed as he made some notations, a slight raised eyebrow at some of the numbers.

"Unfortunately, my date in question is a...healthy, young, male, and..." She trailed off after offering the emphasis on each word.

"Worried he might take liberties if the outfit is too forward?" Mitsuzo asked carefully, a slight frown on his face.

"Oh, nothing like that!" Rias hastened to assure him. "Though he does have a bit of a self-esteem problem, so I'm worried if the outfit is too forward or risque, he might...well, not survive it," she allowed awkwardly.

"Ah," Mitsuzo allowed, a laugh audible in his voice even if his expression didn't show it. "But on the other hand, too far in the other direction and he might think it is a pity date, which is not the message you want?"

"Absolutely not!" Rias confirmed firmly. "He's...he's the first young man to approach me as Rias, not the Gremory heiress. Even...even if nothing comes of this in terms of a relationship, I do want anyone who might see it to know this is what I want in courtship." She hesitated a moment. "Though with the good Ryuko and Asia have said of him, not to mention my own judgements...I wouldn't be averse to it becoming more if the date goes well...but it does need to go well..."

"I believe this is exactly what you are looking for," Mitsuzo declared calmly as he presented a pile of clothes for her.

Blinking in surprise, Rias looked over the outfit. A wine-red, back-tie halter top would give a deep visible cleavage as well as leaving her arms bare, though the dark blue jacket would give coverage over her arms so it didn't look too exposed unless she decided to go for that. The pleated black skirt would go just about to her knees, but flare easily if she wanted it to, and the dark stockings stopped just below her knees, exposing just a bit of zettai ryoiki without actually being scandalous. The open top heels were just high enough to emphasize her legs, but were actually lower than those of the school uniform shoes. Overall, it was an outfit that could be sexy if she wanted it to be, casual if that was her goal, and could adjust easily to fit any date setting that Issei might have selected. "It...it's perfect!" she marveled in awe.

"Then you'd best get dressed," Mitsuzo offered with a warm smile. "Wouldn't do to keep him waiting, would it?"

"Sounds like he knows what he's doing," Azazel observed with a grin, a bit more calmly handling his controller now that they'd switched to a cooperative game.

"He does," Ryuko allowed. "Still, I wish all the wheeling and dealing between the 'families' for the operation we've got going hadn't involved calling in 'favors' to cover things..."

"Oh?" Azazel inquired, his eyebrows rising as his grin widened. "Why, what happened?"

Ryuko sighed as she did her best to dispel the irritation a certain memory brought with it. "A certain new student was enrolled...ostensibly to add greater numbers to the defenses the school could have, but honestly? I could have done without him...especially since he insisted on coming around to introduce himself to every class in the school to 'be well known to the students'..."

Ryuko frowned as the 'new student' she'd been hearing rumors about ever since she left Gasper to Nonon entered the classroom. All she knew was that he was an upperclassman, apparently seen as a pretty boy, and was going out of his way to meet everyone and ingratiate himself with the student body while minding his manners. So far he'd apparently only done the upper class and the other class of her year, and she really wasn't looking forward to whatever happened when the girls in class started swooning. Still, she thought as she raised her head to look as he entered, she could give him a chance-

"Ryuko-sama, I have found you!"

Ryuko felt her entire body stiffen as she shot to her feet, sending her desk across the class as she stared into those dark blue eyes under the messy blonde hair. "Riser!" she snapped out angrily. "What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious, my dear Ryuko-sama?" he declared warmly. "I have come to join you here at this school so I may know you more and thus court you!"

As several of those present started squealing, Ryuko slammed her hand down on a nearby desk hard enough to crack it. "And I told you I'm taken!"

Riser took several steps towards her, but still kept a respectful distance. "And as I told you, I have no objection to sharing or being shared," he purred eagerly. "I am sure I am more than enough man for all involved, and if it is what I must do, then gladly will I also court your girlfriend..." His eyes briefly trailed over to Asia before returning to Ryuko. "And your little puppy, too..."

As Asia briefly blushed brightly, Mako tilted her head in confusion. "Ryuko-chan, why does he want to court Guts-kun?" she asked aloud, causing many of those present - who knew by now about Mako's pet and his tendencies - to burst into laughter.

"I know not who this Guts is, but if his permission I must seek to court you then gladly will I do so!" Riser declared dramatically.

"I kicked your ass once," Ryuko snarled angrily. "Keep this up, I won't hesitate to do it again..."

"Oh yes please, Ryuko-sama!" Riser declared, his voice taking on tones bordering the ecstatic. "Show me the fire inside you that rivals - nay, dwarfs - that of the legendary Phoenix! Show me the scouring light that has won my love!" He spread his arms wide, his head rocked back and his eyes closed, a position that could easily be interpreted as 'hug me' or 'whip me', no one certain anymore which he meant.

Ryuko growled as she rubbed her head. "Yare yare..." she grumbled. "Look, the position of my significant other is taken, got it?"

"If it is your will that you be my Mistress-"

"Pet is taken too!" Mako declared petulantly as she hugged a blushing Asia from behind, causing several members of the class to let out shocked gasps.

"Gladly will I debase myself further for you, Ryuko-sama-"

"No!" Ryuko snapped out, her tone warring between anger and revulsion. "No whipping boys or boot lickers! That's just gross!"

Riser hesitated, then looked up with a new fire in his eyes. "Oh?" he asked, his tone now turning towards the dangerous. "Then it is your will that the only place in your heart I can take is that of a conqueror?" To those with supernatural senses, his aura and magic began to build, and it was noticeably stronger than it had been during the Rating Game. "I have trained myself to be worthy of you, Ryuko-sama, but if that is what you desire...?"

Ryuko rubbed her temples with both hands. "...you know what? Fine!" she finally snapped out. "If you ever actually manage to best me in a fair fight, then I'll talk to Mako about whether or not she's willing to make room for you. But lay off the courting unless that happens, got it?"

"Verily!" Riser declared as he took a dramatic stance. "This I so swear, I shall prove myself worthy of courting you by conquering you in battle as you have declared, and the battle shall be one of legend! Look well upon this day, my schoolmates, for you have witnessed the birth of the Legend that shall be known throughout time as the Crimson Fire of Kuoh High!"

Elsewhere in reality, a certain wanna-be samurai sneezed and looked around, certain he was being mocked despite having heard no one speak.

"It's not that funny!" Ryuko snapped irritably as Azazel rolled back and forth on the floor laughing, the controllers briefly sitting forgotten as he struggled to catch his breath.

"Yes it is!" Azazel countered as he kicked his feet.

"It...kinda is," Ddraig pointed out. "I mean, I've had a few dramatic hosts, and so has the White One, but that kinda takes the cake! I can't decide if I should train for Riser's next challenge or stock up on popcorn."

Ryuko growled and pouted, crossing her arms across her chest petulantly. "Keep laughing and I won't tell you anything about the operation..."

Azazel immediately stopped laughing and sat back up. "Sorry," he apologized contritely. "I don't mean to upset you. It's just - and I mean no insult in saying this - your stories of things going on in your life have been the most amusing things I've encountered in centuries."

Ryuko gave him a flat eyed gaze. Eventually, she spoke again. "And how else am I supposed to take that you find me amusing?"

"Not you, your antics," Azazel clarified. "Seriously, someone should make a story or a TV show about it."

Rolling her eyes, Ryuko turned back to the TV. "It's your turn."

"Right," Azazel confirmed, taking his controller and making the man in green roll a dice. "So...the operation?"

Ryuko sighed as she readied herself to talk about it. "Guess this is a part you really should know..." she allowed ruefully.