Hiya, Crimson here!
Just a quick update, my PM system isn't working to well, being for both sending and responding messages. So, my solution is that if you want to, you can contact me on black butler Amino. If you're on the app, of course.
Incase you didn't know, my profile name is JustAnotherSebastianFan, and I like to post random shit XD.
So, with that said...
ONWARDS!
"I'm nervous, Vanth." Kuro mumbled, looking herself over in the mirror.
She'd woken up with only a note on the nightstand saying that she'd meet him at the entrance of the main door within two hours.
That, and when she opened the door, Vanth was there, saying that she had been waiting to help her into an outfit of her choosing.
She honestly couldn't have cared less; the dress wasn't too bad. It was a rather lovely shade of dark blue, the skirt ending right under the knee, as well as short yet somehow elegant sleeves.
It was just short enough so that she could still run if it was needed, but also long enough not to make her look like every other succubus.
"Well, it c-can't be that bad." Vanth insisted, as she did her hair. Kuro couldn't help but think of her like a little sister that enjoyed braiding other's hair, "I'm sure t-that it'll be like any other date!"
"Would you believe me if I said I've never been on a date before?" Kuro mumbled.
"W-WHAT!?" Vanth squeaked, before clearing her throat, "Is t-that so?"
"I've never had much of an interest when it came to dating." Kuro stated, yawning, "Sure, there's a cute guy here and there, but usually I just accept that they're out of my league and move on."
"Surely y-you've gone and d-done something." Vanth insisted.
"You are aware that I'm Sloth, right?" Kuro asked, before grinning, "But, other than when Shax needed a job done and someone to disappear, I haven't really ever been on a date."
"Aww...O-okay." Vanth sighed, brushing her hair.
Kuro couldn't help but give her a look over her shoulder, "Why? Hoping I'd drop you some juicy details?"
"W-what! No!" Vanth exclaimed, only to look around, shaking her head, "Well...You are g-good at telling stories."
"Well, if I had anything to tell, I'd be happy to entertain." Kuro said, "So, are you done with my hair yet?"
"Almost got it." Vanth murmured. Kuro felt too more tugs from the back of her head, "Done!"
Kuro looked over to the mirror on her vanity, her hair had been twisted up on a rather fancy fashion, making it a lot shorter than usual, "Well, it doesn't look bad."
"I'm pleased to see that you're happy with it." Vanth said, sliding off of the bed, before bowing, "Is there anything else that I could do for you? Maybe I could get you a new pair of heels, possibly apply some make-up for you?"
"No, I got it from here, I assure you." Kuro sighed, stretching her arms out, before sighing, "Thanks for your time, Vanth."
Vanth nodded, sending her a small smile, "Don't worry about your date, you'll do great!" Vanth said, before exiting, closing the door behind her.
Kuro groaned, holding her forehead. She wondered if it was too late for her to back out at this point. She shook her head, no, she had promised him, and in all honesty, it would most likely bother her if she didn't.
Groaning, Kuro dusted off her dress, before making her way for the door.
"Someone looks more dressed up than usual."
Corvus scowled, "If you are only here to be a bother, then I suggest you leave, Aranea."
"I'm not being a bother, I'm simply making a comment." The spider demon sighed, fixing his glasses, "Do you plan to go out?"
"Why, as a matter of fact, I do." Corvus said, fixing his tie. Fancy was a major understatement. The coat he wore was one that had been just sent in that very morning. It was a nice obsidian black that looked purple under the hellish red sun, the crisp white shirt underneath making it look that much nicer. He had made sure that his dress pants had been ironed right before putting them on, his black tie as well.
He had made sure to have left a note before leaving the room and the still asleep Kuro, making sure that everything in the bedroom was ready for when she's awake, before going out to make sure that all of the preparations had been put into place.
"In that case, take your time." Aranea sighed, taking his glasses off, wiping the lenses, "You'll be happy to know that no one will be missing your presence."
"We both know that such a thing would be a lie." Corvus said, laughing rather cruelly, before looking up the stairs, "And there is my beautiful date."
The two watched, each with their own type of awe, as Kuro walked down the stairs.
Corvus had to admit, she was already a sort of diamond in the rough, but to see her dressed up in such a fashion made her really pop. Moments like these he couldn't imagine why she'd ever bother with casual hoodies and those disgusting ripped jeans of hers, it did little to make her stand out.
Aranea, on the other hand, was in awe of the same yet different reason. While he liked how she looked, it seemed so...odd for her. It was like trying to put a pretty pink dress on himself. While the clothing looked good and he himself wasn't bad on the eyes, putting the two together didn't look natural. It was the same thing with her.
The moment she got down to the last step, Corvus reached out to hold her hand, "You look lovely, Kitten."
"Whatever," Kuro groaned, and yet, Aranea could see that she was holding a bit of that amusing sarcasm back. He couldn't help but wonder why, yet at the same time, it wasn't his place to ask, "What do you have planned for today?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Corvus insisted, shooting Aranea a sly smirk, before walking out, a hand over the small of Kuro's back, "Now, if you'll excuse us."
The spider demon watched the two leave, before sighing, putting his glasses back on, fixing them. He then walked away, he wanted nothing to do with the Crow, and he was sure that, even if it was a game, he wouldn't allow anyone to hurt his prize.
As long as Kuro was safe, Aranea really couldn't ask for more.
...At least, that's what he thought at first.
The moment they stepped out of the castle, Kuro could already feel the stares and looks she was getting. Or no, it was Corvus that got them at first, the eyes would slowly but surely travel from the highly esteemed prince of Pride down to her.
She didn't want to think of what they thought of her, much less want to know.
She took her eyes off of all of the rich demons, the women wearing fancy yet slutty dresses with the men looking on better, to look at all the even fancier buildings that outlined the roads before them.
It was nothing like the Rift, the only similarity being the red sun above them. The buildings looked like they were a hellish version of Panem from The Hunger Games, something she wanted to point out only to shake her head.
If no one in the Rift knew what she was talking about, she doubted that a bunch of privileged soul suckers would know them either.
Walking past the buildings, she couldn't help but stop and stare at not only to buildings, but also the other demons from time to time. After maybe the third time of her stopping out of nowhere, Corvus sighed, "Is there something you'd like to look at?"
"Hmm?" Kuro asked, taking one last look at the building, before walking on, "No, it's just that this place is so...different then the Rift."
"I can understand that, but I'd assume that you would have grown use to it at this point." Corvus stated, eyeing the others around them that would cast him winks and kisses, "Being how you do have a fairly good vantage point from our room."
"There's a difference between watching from afar and being in the action, you know." Kuro murmured, half of her mind drifting off to all the odd things from behind those windows. From what she could see, there were no fights inside of any of the stores, no secret dealings of Amarix or other spiced-up medication, no nothing from the Rift.
It felt a bit too safe for hell.
"I guess you do have a point." She heard Corvus murmur, before walking up to a rather fancy building, opening the door, "After you."
Giving him an odd look, Kuro walked into the establishment, only to gag slightly.
EVERYTHING was pink. It was an unhealthy overdose of the color, and she was pretty sure her allergy to pink was beginning to act up.
"Are you alright?" Corvus asked behind her, closing the door.
"I'm just not use to all of this...Ugh." Kuro mumbled, rubbing her eyes to get a better look at the place. It looked as if someone had gone back into ancient Rome, brought it down here, and then went pink crazy.
The spiral columns looked rather elegant, to the point where Kuro wanted to ask if she could put some authentic chips into it. The chairs and tables looked to be made of the same material as their bed, not to mention all of the damn tapestries.
She couldn't help but wonder if the nobles down here got off to all this old fancy shit, since it was the only decor she's yet to see around here.
"Good morning to you, Prince Crow!" Said a chip voice from above Kuro. Looking up, a fairly well-dressed man stood, clad in a suit and coat of a darker shade of pink, "As requested, the restaurant has been cleared out as to avoid onlookers! We've also set up out best table for the two of you. If you'd be so kind as to follow me!"
Once her head was a bit clearer, she followed the waiter deep into the restaurant, walking into the back of the place, before it opened up into a smaller private room.
Still pink, it seemed to be reserved for expensive dates or simply for two people. The table had been adorned with a white tablecloth, the only thing that wasn't the same nauseating shade, which held a single candle and a vase with two roses, both looking fake.
Ever since Arc had taken her to the garden, the roses used as decoration no longer looked perfect. Sure, she'd seen flowers on the surface, but even than it would be for a fleeting moment.
She took a seat, looking around, searching for something that wasn't pink. Noticing, Corvus cleared his throat, gaining Kuro's attention, "Is there something wrong, Kitten?"
"Nah, it's just...This pink is giving me a headache." Kuro said, laughing lightly. It was just so...Damn girly, it was going to make her puke rainbows.
"Ah, so that's an issue for you…" Corvus murmured, before snapping his fingers. In a flash, that same waiter came right back.
"What can I do for you?" He asked, placing the menu's down, as well as two cups of hell's red-tinted water.
"Well, this color isn't doing any favors for my fiancée." Corvus said, pulling that last word for as long as it could naturally go. It made Kuro cringe a bit, "If you'd be so kind as to fix that problem."
"Oh...Yes, yes, of course." The waiter said, before rushing off, "Just a moment."
Kuro couldn't help but give Corvus the eyebrow, sipping the blood water. Even the water tasted more expensive than what she was worth. Just what were they gonna do, repaint the whole place?
The waiter rushed back in, whispering something to Corvus, who nodded, getting up, "Just for you, darling." He said, peeking a quick kiss to Kuro's cheek, before covering her eyes.
She was so tempted to sock him right then and there, once for the unwanted kiss and another for covering her eyes, but as quickly as he'd covered them, he took his hands away.
The pink had been replaced with a deep shade of red, with black designs snaking up and down the walls. Kuro couldn't lie, "It's beautiful." She murmured, dazed, only to snap out of it, "Hold up, did you just order them to repaint the room?"
"Only the best for you." Corvus sighed, looking over the room once more, "It's a nice blood color, and yet, it's sending chills down my spine...Maybe I should have it changed again-."
"Please don't." Kuro sighed, looking the menu over. She really didn't want to fight over something like this, but it didn't matter if he was a royal, this was...a bit much.
Everything on the menu was in French. Turning the menu upside down, she gave a small whine, cursing. She'd learned German and a bit of Japanese, but never had the chance to pick up French.
Not that she really had the time, from what she understood in her time up there, the French were the enemy. So, the only interaction she would get was from when they held the men in the prisons.
"Is there another problem, Kitten?" Corvus asked, setting his menu down to give her his attention.
She was tempted to say something, only to shake her head, "Nah, it's fine."
Giving her an odd look, he shook his head, "You're not a good liar." Corvus murmured, before snapping his fingers once again.
The same poor waiter rushed back in, "What can I do for you, my Prince?"
"I don't think that my beloved can find anything she likes on the menu." Corvus sighed, making Kuro cringe. This wasn't going where she thought it was going, right?
The waiter only bowed, "We can have that changed, my Prince." He said, before whipping out two completely different menus, "Instead of French, the chef has made a separate menu for our Japanese cuisine."
"Is that what you'd like, Kitten?" Corvus asked, as the waiter swapped out the menus.
"No no, this is great, really!" Kuro said, hoping that he'd stop. Really, this was beginning to get embarrassing and a bit childish, to a point.
The two quickly ordered from the menu, Kuro doing so quickly so that Corvus wouldn't have a chance to do something else stupid, like changing the tablecloth to a different shade of white.
Once the waiter ran off to get the meals, Corvus looked to the table, "Kuro."
"Hmm?" She murmured, having been absentmindedly fiddling with her fork, "What's up?"
"I feel that, even if we are meant to be together in the future, we do not know much of anything about each other." Corvus sighed, "I was wondering if you'd answer a few of my questions. About your time on the surface."
"Oh, okay." Kuro murmured, a bit curious as to what he might ask. She had nothing to hide when it came to what had happened and what she'd done up there, it was her life in the Rift she'd sworn to tell no one about.
None but those she could trust, like Vanth.
"Is it safe to assume that you obtained your nickname from up there?" Corvus asked, his full attention making Kuro feel a bit off. She liked it more when no one noticed her around, "And if so, how did you get that name?"
"I was working with someone the mortals called 'Adolf Hitler'." Kuro said, "With my help, he became dictator of the Nazi party in Germany."
"But where did you get a Japanese name?" Corvus asked. To this, Kuro wanted to question him right back. Any decent demon knew that small talk would normally get you nowhere, it would be used to attain information to later use as any type of blackmail. With that said, none of this would be relevant to anything that Corvus would want.
"I got it when I was briefly assigned to Hiroshima, since the Japanese were on the side of the Germans." Kuro muttered, a small grin on her face, "The contract name he gave me was Adaliz Jaeger, but there was a…slip up when we went for the visit."
"Oh?" Corvus asked.
"I won't go into it, but it was...bad, to say the least. We had traitors, and I was ordered to take care of them in my own...special fashion. Those who witnessed vowed to say nothing, but they gave me a nickname. 'Aku no kuroi chi', the black blood of evil."
"...And where is your name in that?" Corvus asked, puzzled.
Kuro snickered lightly, "Black is Kuro and evil is Akuhei, hence the name I go by, obviously." She said, about to go on, only to be interrupted when the waiter came back.
All the food here, whether made within the castle or i just another fancy eatery, all had that light blue glow, as if to prove that it was either made from a soul or they really did just like that light color.
After serving, the waiter bowed, before rushing out quickly, as if he didn't want any other stupid changes to be made at the moment, not that she could blame him, "What about you?"
"Whatever do you mean by that?" Corvus asked, picking at his food.
"Surely you've worked a contract before," Kuro asked, the smell coming from the table intoxicating, "Right?"
"While a contract to a human isn't necessary for me, I've been under short service to humans before." Corvus said, looking rather bored, "As I'm sure you've noticed, us nobility aren't required to take up something as insignificant as a contract to stay alive and well."
"I've been meaning to ask about that," Kuro said, at this point just hoping to keep a conversation going that didn't include him trying to flirt, "What is it with all the...the soul food around here? Do we have a secret farm of humans I don't know about?"
"Nonsense, it's much simpler than that." Corvus insisted, "While in the Rift, I'm sure that you go onto contract for your own meals, we have some people that are part of a, special team if you will. They are able to enter special short-term contracts, that's how we have enough."
"Huh," Kuro murmured, "What's a short-term contract?"
"Just a contract that is normally something so simple that it could be done in a matter of hours, to the point where it seems as if two or more could be taken on at once." Corvus explained, only to find her still confused, "Are you still lost?"
"You know it." Kuro mumbled, "You nobles are so odd."
"Some humans," Corvus went on, ignoring what little comment she had made, "The poor and simple ones, they want the simplest of things. Not that I could blame them, some are at the point of death, others simply don't want to be alive anymore. I'm sure that, if I were anything like them, I might grow a bit empathy and possibly pity for them."
"Well, at least it explains where all of this is from." Kuro murmured, looking over the now cleaned plate before her, "But that wasn't my original question."
Corvus wiped his mouth with a napkin, nodding, "Ah, I apologize, I once worked under a rather...short man, in France. I believe his name was Napoleon Bonaparte. He had me under the name of Sévère Archambault."
"Well, that certainly sounds fancy." Kuro murmured, sipping the last of her water, before looking around, "So…I don't mean to rush this along, but...Is there anything else for the two of us to do here, or…?"
Confused, Corvus gave her a look, before it seemed to click in his mind, as he stood up, "Oh, of course, after all, we have so much more to do today."
Kuro nodded, standing from her seat, before looking at the table, "Oh shoot, how much was all of-?"
"Don't worry about it." Corvus said, interrupting her with a small smile, before gently grabbing her arm, "Come now, there's a lot to see and even more that can be done."
Umm...Okay." Kuro murmured, looking back over to the table, before following him out.
Right before they left the room, she took one last look, locking eyes with the waiter who had just walked in, only to do a double take for a moment.
Was it just her, or was he giving her a rather nasty look?
...Nah, she hadn't done anything wrong yet.
...Right?
Corvus lead her through the many streets of what looked to be a shopping district, with many others walking around, in and out of multiple shops. But, what got to her was the fact that, even with all of the other demons around them, there was always a straight path for them.
It was as if they all wanted to steer clear of the couple.
But no, that wasn't right, there was the occasional female, each looking more revealing then the last. But, with each one, Corvus would only smile before walking on, ignoring them.
Kuro couldn't help but snicker, only to notice how, when she turned around, they'd give her rather dirty and nasty looks, just like that waiter.
"Kitten? Hello?"
Kuro shook her head, chuckling awkwardly, "Ah, sorry about that, I'm just...thinking."
Corvus gave her a look, only to shrug it off, "Is there any shop that you'd like to look at, Dearest?"
Once again ignoring the pet name, she looked around, only to cringe a bit. It was like being in a different reality, it looked so similar but so different from the Rift, it was starting to really fuck with her.
Looking through the shop windows, most of it were just shopping stores with dresses that were either much too fancy or much too...revealing. One shop she had to do a double take, as a demon walked out with...Is that a human?
"I thought that we don't have humans down here." Kuro muttered, watching the human get walked away, wearing nothing but a loincloth and a collar attached to the leash the demon used.
"Ah, those are the worst of the worst." Corvus murmured, the two watching, one looking much more appalled then the other, "My father recently had the issue of Limbo being over populated, as well as a lot of the nobles going hungry and moving to the Rift in search of a better life."
"That seems counter-productive." Kuro murmured.
"So, the solution was to take these damned from their punishments and sold to demons for whatever they see fit." Corvus went on.
"Why would anyone want a human for anything?" Kuro asked, confused.
"They have more than one purpose." Corvus defended, "This is just how the inner part of hell works. Here, humans go from being pets to being cattle. They could be used in labor or killed for sport."
"So, do the nobles not take on contracts?" Kuro asked, trying to ignore how unsettling it was to see a human like that, especially down here. It was just so...out of place.
"While it is an option, it is not a necessity for us nobles to do." Corvus cleared up.
Kuro couldn't help but think of how different the Rift would be if something like this were an option. There would be much fewer starving demons on the streets. There would be less demons at the bar, going on and on about their shit experiences from up above.
"Culture shock" wasn't even beginning to cover it.
She was finally snapped out of it when something in the window caught her eye. She stopped, causing Corvus to do the same, watching her with an amused yet lost look, "Kitten?"
"...It's beautiful." Was all she murmured, before walking in, ignoring Corvus when he tried to get her attention.
For the few seconds that she'd left Corvus behind her, she stood there in the doorway, enchanted.
There were so many shiny things in here.
She'd never seen a store like this, one that was filled with so many bright and shimmering colors.
"Welcome to Arioch's jewelry," A voice to the side said, "We hold only the best gems, stones and crystals hell has to offer."
She didn't really bother to pay the demon any attention, as she walked over to one of the various displays. The dim room really did well to bring out the shine in each and every diamond, a bright color of light that she just couldn't look away.
She heard the door open and close from behind her, most likely Corvus, who began to trade formalities with the owner, she assumed, "I do apologize, she's from the Rift."
"As if that much wasn't obvious."
While it bothered her in the back of her head, she couldn't rip her gaze away from the gemstones.
They were easily beautiful.
"See one that you like?"
As per usual, Corvus' voice was enough to snap her out of it, as she whipped around to give him a slightly annoyed look, "Yeh, all of them." She joked, nearly pressing her face to the glass, "We don't have anything like this in the Rift. If we did, it would have been raided centuries ago. Maybe even farther back."
"Oh?" Corvus asked, before reaching out to hold her hand, inspecting it, "Then, pray tell, where did you get this old thing?"
"Hey, don't touch!" She nearly shouted, ripping her hand away, "Don't rub the good luck off with your rich people hands!"
"...I beg a pardon?"
"I've had it for as long as I could remember." Kuro murmured, rubbing the gem three times as if it were a ritual, "It's my good luck charm."
"The ruby is a bit dull to be good luck, don't you think?" Corvus pointed out, before snapping his fingers, "Mr. Arioch, a word?"
"How can I be of service, Prince Crow?" The demon asked, appearing at their side in an instant.
"I'd like to see your finest selection of rings." Corvus said. Kuro winced slightly, his tone sounded more like an order then a request.
Either way, she didn't like it.
Within seconds, the jeweler returned back to their side, holding a tray of expensive looking rocks.
Kuro had a fairly very hard time pulling her eyes off of the radiant gleam they were giving off. Corvus seemed to notice it as well, "Any catch your eye, Kitten?"
"Honestly?" All of them." Kuro murmured. She couldn't help it, she loved shiny. Shiny was good, especially for a cat.
"Then that is what we'll be leaving with." Corvus concluded, a shit eating smile on his face.
"Wait, huh?" Kuro asked, a bit confused.
"You like all of them, do you not?" Corvus asked, looking over another display as the owner walked into a back room, the tray of expensive rings with him, "That's what we'll be getting today."
"That's a bit much, don't you think?" Kuro said, a bit apprehensive, "I mean, even if you're royal, that's gotta make some sort of dent in your wallet-."
"I assure you when I say that money isn't an issue." Corvus interrupted, insistent on the fact.
"But still, think about it." Kuro said, for once trying to talk some sense without being manipulative, "I'll probably never get the chance to use all of those, and after some time, they'll all look like my ring or worse. It's not worth it."
"Why are you so stubborn on everything?" Corvus sighed, shaking his head, "Could you just allow me to go out of my way to try and do something nice for you?"
Kuro was ready to go out on him, only to stop. It was her fault that this was even happening in the first place, so, maybe it was for the best that she'd decided to step down, "...Fine."
Corvus let out a deep sigh of relief, "Thank you." He muttered, just as Arioch walked back in, a fancy black box in hand.
"Here you are, Prince Crow." He said formally, before bowing to Kuro, "My lady."
"Ah, thank you Mr. Arioch." Corvus murmured, before offering Kuro his arm, "Now, shall we be off?"
Kuro was stuck in a small daze, maybe from all the shiny rocks, before shaking her head, "Yeah, yeah okay." She murmured, taking his arm.
Right at the doorway, she was ready to turn around to thank the owner, only to be met with a steely irritated glare. She swore, with the look he had, he looked just like the waiter.
"Kitten? Is something wrong?"
"Huh?" Kuro murmured, before shaking her head, "No, my bad, I was just...thinking."
She didn't want to turn around again as they both walked out. This whole date thing wasn't going to end well.
The stares were really starting to get to her.
She'd try to look away, not wanting to start a fight here and now, especially in a dress and in noble streets, but that want and need to tell people off was slowly rising in her chest.
But, to her amusement and slight amazement Corvus did all he could to take her mind off of it, intentionally or not she didn't know. They had gone into many shops, Kuro looking around like an amazed child.
She couldn't help but notice that Corvus was very attentive, even if he used that to buy her everything she had an interest in. If he caught her looking at a display in a window or a set of something (usually shiny) for much too long, he'd have it bagged and ready to take back to the castle.
There was a point where there were so many bags that, because he wouldn't allow Kuro to carry anything, he had a nearby squadron of guards to take care of it.
Yet another thing that she'd noticed, there were guards stationed all over the place. It was similar to how it was when she was in Germany, just not as obvious and over-leering.
Finally, the two had stopped at some cafe-looking building, the two of them sitting down on an outside table.
Kuro couldn't help but sip happily at her smoothie, it was damn good. But, just like it had been breaking her down the whole day, the irritated stares of the shop keepers and some others who'd walk by we're making her question just how bloodthirsty she was at the moment.
With that thought, she couldn't help but feel like she was going into killing withdrawal, it was getting really bad with how these people seemed to just want to throw down.
She didn't need a weapon to take a rich bitch down.
"It is quite difficult to keep your attention, isn't it?"
Kuro shook her head, giving Corvus a sheepish grin, "Sorry about it, I just...notice everything."
"I'm pretty sure that something like that is what humans would call 'a mental condition'." Corvus said, looking like he just wanted conversation.
She couldn't blame him, she'd probably want the same on a date, "Call it what you will, whatever it is, it's kept me alive and going up till now."
"If I may ask, how was life for you in the Rift?" Corvus asked.
"Well...It was tough." Kuro said, hoping not to give away anything that would be seen as "illegal" to a rich person, "Started out in the slums, can't remember anything before that. I won't lie, I did a lot of...stealing in those days."
"Is that how you got the ring?" Corvus asked.
"No. At least, I don't think so." Kuro murmured, rubbing the ruby, "I've had this just as long, maybe longer."
"And yet you have no jeweler in the Rift." Corvus pointed out.
To this, Kuro shrugged, taking another sip, "If it gives me a headache to try and think back, so I don't care much to try and figure it out."
"...You are strangely detached when it comes to certain matters." Corvus stated.
Kuro shrugged, "In all fairness, I prefer the term 'apathetic'." Kuro corrected, part of her mind keeping up the conversation, while the other half took in the surroundings.
She could hear two women to her side and their walking by conversation, catching words like "Tramp" and "Gold Digger".
No way they were talking about her, right?
"Call it what you would." Corvus murmured, before reaching out to hold her hand, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles.
To this, Kuro chuckled awkwardly, before slowing pulling her hand back, "Look, I just started to warm up to you, so let's try to stay away from underhanded insults, yes?"
Corvus looked confused, as if he didn't know exactly what was wrong, before someone's hands slammed down on the table the two sat at.
Kuro boredly looked up from her drink, meeting eyes with a rather familiar succubus, "Oh, what's good snake slut?"
"How long are you planning to pretend!?" Andras shouted at her, scoffing. Kuro hadn't seen her since that hellish night, and in no way was that a pun.
"Well that's no way for you to greet an old pal." Kuro murmured, taking another sip of her drink.
"Can it, kitty cat." Andras scowled.
Corvus cleared his throat, trying to look as irritated yet gentlemanly as possible, "I do apologize, but I'll have to ask you to leave. You're interrupting our date."
"Don't get me wrong, Prince Crow," Andras said, her tone and voice taking to a much more girly feel, "But someone like HER doesn't deserve you!"
Kuro wasn't sure what to feel. No doubt that, with everyone watching, she was slowly but surely becoming embarrassed. But, at the same time, if she ignored the onlookers, it was becoming a bit funny as well. Not only because this hot shot that helped to get her into this mess is willing to go out of her way to try and screw her up, but it was also a chance to see how Corvus would react.
Part of her really wanted to know how bad of a reaction she could get.
"I don't believe that we asked for your opinion." Corvus said, seeming to try and kindly usher Andras away.
"You and I both know the fucked-up angle you're trying to play, Tempter." Andras growled, seeming to ignore Corvus for just a moment, "Trying to take advantage of our prince like this, have you no shame?"
To this, Kuro sat there, confused, "...Huh?"
Andras scoffed, slowly getting louder, "You think that we don't see you, a shallow cheap Rifter, with our beloved prince of the future?"
Kuro wasn't an idiot, she knew that she was trying to attract a crowd and make a scene. The cat demon lazily looked around at those who had gathered, "Do you all have nothing better to do with your spoiled rich lives?"
"No, you don't, you're not about to go off on us!" Andras shouted, "You should feel ashamed for taking the heart of a prince for personal gain!"
"Well you should be ashamed of yourself for being such a hoe." Kuro yawned right back, "Oh, that's right, my bad. I forgot that that's the only thing girls are around here for."
"How...How dare you, like, make fun of us!" Andras shouted, clearly beginning to panic. In all honesty, it was fun to watch her slowly break under all the pressure of a crowd. Especially when it was one you called, you had to deliver if you promised a show, "We, unlike you, have a little something called class!"
"Well, if being classy meant looking like I'm trying to have knee-flaps, then I'll pass." Kuro said, a small smirk on her face.
All the while, Andras gave her a look, "...Knee-flaps?"
"...Really? You don't get that term?" Kuro asked, before cracking up, "Try look between your legs when you get home."
Just like that, Andras' face went hell-sun red, "Listen here, you manipulative two-faced bitch of a slut-."
That seemed to be the breaking point for a certain Crow demon.
A strong down gust made Kuro look up, eyes locking with the slightly irritated demon. His two black feathered wings had sent down the strong gust, pushing Andras back.
Kuro laughed awkwardly, giving Corvus a weak smile, "Bird brain? You okay? Seriously, it's cool, I can take a few insults- hey!"
Her speech was halted when two arms picked her up, tossing her over an all too familiar shoulder, "Listen well, each and every one of you! I don't plan to repeat this, so pay attention!"
"Hey, calm it down up there?" Kuro murmured, a sort of dead expression on her face. Fuck, this isn't really funny anymore, "Come on, dude; we really don't have to-."
"This woman is your newest princess, and I expect the demons under my father's rule to treat her in such a way!" Corvus shouted, "How despicable, to think that my father's top demons would assume chivalry to be dead. How utterly shameful."
"Look, you're not bad with your words and all, but you really shouldn't-."
"And YOU." Corvus scowled, giving Andras a look. The succubus gulped, backing up a bit, "How dare you speak to my beloved in such a tone. It's foul, disgusting; just like the scum you are."
"Come on man, you can come up with better-."
Kuro yelped, as Corvus suddenly took off, straight up into the sky. Once again, Kuro's insides threatened to become outsides, as Corvus flew off, taking her with him, "DAMN IT, WARN ME BEFORE YOU PULL SOME SHIT LIKE THAT!"
Corvus said nothing back, as he took her back to the castle. Kuro could only sigh, trying not to look down at the ground. It really did help the damn height problem. She was having a hard time reading him, especially when she couldn't see his face and expression.
Was he irritated? If she were in his position, there would be a slight chance that she'd be mad, but at the same time, it wasn't like anyone insulted him directly.
Surely, he couldn't get this worked up just because some basic bitch was trying to throw down with her, right?
...But then again...Whatever was left of Winter was gone now thanks to the Prince…
She didn't have time to complete the thought, when Corvus finally touched down on their balcony. He nearly ripped the door open, his grip leaving indents in the stainless steel, before placing her down on the bed.
Confused, Kuro looked up, only to watch as Corvus made his way for the door, "...Corvus?" Kuro said, her voice sounding a lot lighter than normal.
Her only answer was Corvus stopping, standing right next to the door, "I, umm, just wanted to say thank you. For the date." Kuro said, suddenly sheepish.
She waited for him to say something, but when the silence became a bit much, she went on, "I've never really been on a real date, going out with someone, before." She rambled, for once a bit at a loss for words, causing a whole lot of unnecessary words, "So, umm, thanks for all of that, I guess, right?"
Corvus turned to look at her, giving her a small smile, "I'm glad." Was all he said, before leaving out the door, closing it with little to no sound.
Kuro groaned, falling back on the bed while holding her head. There was too much going on, she just needed a small break, she just needed a tiny bit of shut eye.
And so, within seconds, Kuro was out cold on the bed, the worry for Corvus and the Rift drifting away, at least for a moment.
"Heard of the news?"
"There's a whole lot of it, you're gonna have to be more specific."
"The stuff on the new princess."
This caught Shax's ear, as he continued to wipe down the table, remaining aloof.
Kuro would be proud.
"Yeah, I heard a bit. Heard that she became public."
"Oh, so it's official?"
"Oh, you bet. And you can guess how the nobility are reacting."
"Ah yes, they're gonna be willing to spill blood when a 'Tempter' is new royalty."
"Not that it'll be any worse for us, have you seen the guard increase? Whoever's in charge up there, they seem to have a problem with us."
Shax made a mental note to have Vale send this information to Kuro in any way that he could.
"Yeh, but have you heard the word around? The casuals here are calling her a traitor."
"Well, I don't blame them. Same would be said for a noble to suddenly join and try to rally us in the Rift."
"Royal status really doesn't do much for you now, does it?"
Shax sighed, watching as Vale came down from upstairs, the two making brief eye contact before Vale went to sit next to the two chatting, listening in much closer.
"I heard that, because the Rifter was with a prince, they didn't have to pay for anything."
"So, you heard about it too? I heard it's because the prince is an arrogant fool."
"Either way, the nobles seem as irritated as us."
"You think that, because of all of this, someone start a war?"
Vale and Shax both stiffened up, just a tiny bit, a single eye twitch and nothing more.
"Honestly? It looks like it. As long as that Rifter is within the castle walls, there will be little to nothing that the nobility won't do to get her out."
"And they can't do much because of the prince. So that means we're gonna have a whole lot of animosity between us and them."
Shax was done listening to this. He gave Vale a look, before walking off into the back, closing the door to the kitchen behind him.
He walked into his safe room, after making sure that no one was hiding around, before locking himself in with only the smell of old paper and scrolls.
To think that Kuro, the laziest of them all, was going to start a war just by being there.
"Of all the times to become lazy, a hell of a time you decided now." Shax sighed, before sitting in a corner, pulling up an old leather-bound book.
Wow this took forever.
A short story I know that no one cares for, the laptop I was working on crashed, and it took the whole chapter down with it. So, of course, the entire thing was wiped. This was suppose to be updated maybe a week later, but of course it takes me maybe a bit less then a month.
So, umm, yeah, sorry.
Oh, before people get mad because hell is different from what the bible told you, this is just my iteration.
I like to idea of being able to change the ideas and apply a different sort of light on something everyone knows and has a decent idea about. It's kinda like what Rick Riordan did with Greek myths. Just for simplicity, I decided to kinda base hell off of my other iteration of London, just tweeked here and there.
So, sorry if I somehow offended anyone with this idea of hell in my head, please don't flame.
Amy: You know what this fanfiction could use.
Erin: You're going to tell us even if we don't want to hear it, don't you?
Amy: Needs more actions scenes.
Erin: I called that shit. Miu, you owe me $20.
Miu: B-but I didn't b-b-bet.
Erin: Too bad. Pay up.
Kuro: You know what this author's notes need?
Erin: Aww crap, another Amy.
Kuro: Less OC time. You guys are so loud, this is the only time I get to take a damn nap.
Lilith: I can agree to that.
Kuro: See? I got the cold heartless one on my side. I want a fucking medal.
Erin: How about a nap instead?
Kuro:...I'll take that.
Me:...You know, looking back, this whole OC in the author's note thing has changed so much.
Amy: That happens when you create a million OC's.
Lilith: These aren't many of us, and two of us are cut.
Katrina: Just because I don't have my story still going on doesn't mean I'm forgotten.
Amy: No one is going to forget your shit story any time soon know-it-all.
Me: Alright, Imma end it now before we get a fight in here. Also, I doubt that anyone really reads this part anyway.
So, I hope that you all enjoyed, I live and breathe for reviews, and I hope to please you all with the next chapter!
Till then, bai bai!