Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia clapped along, grinning. "Honestly, you didn't have to say the second part."

...

After Orson passed Rupert's message along to Chris, he casually mentioned

Rupert's current state.

As soon as Chris heard, he handed off the event to someone else.

"I'll go with you to check on him."

"Yeah."

The two of them walked outside. The rain was still coming down in buckets.

Orson pulled out an umbrella.

Chris raised an eyebrow. “Orson, always prepared. Classic you."

"A friend gave it to me—"

With a sharp click, the automatic umbrella snapped open. Both of them stared at the inside of the umbrella and blurted out at the same time:

"Shit."

"Shit. Actually, an enemy gave it to me," Orson growled.

Chris squinted up. "Zion's still salty about you decking him at that party? You sure you wanna use this thing?"

The inside of the umbrella was plastered with a full-body print of Zion, looking way too smug for anyone's comfort.

Orson took a deep breath to steady himself, trying to channel his professional composure.

Let's

"Sure."

already looked like he regretted

soon as they raised the umbrella over their heads, both of them felt

was holographic-depending on the

standing there, but the second they

one of Zion wildly swinging a

lined up perfectly with the umbrella

umbrella felt disturbingly like holding Zion's

make it worse, the handle itself was placed at an awkward spot too low to be comfortable, too high

had definitely done this on purpose

had such... flair

scowled. "You hold

"You hold it."

"No, you."

out a resigned sigh.

with obvious reluctance, silently praying

far from the middle as possible,

window, laughing so hard

name, he spun around, face snapping back to the perfect

"Yes, sir."

the car, feeling stuffy with the rain pounding outside. She

machine under the awning

she grabbed her umbrella and headed

to select again After a few tries, she was about to give up when a hand teached over

out. You're

Sylvia. She glanced up at the glass and saw the reflection

Rupert.

heavy with the faint scent of tobacco. It seemed like even the wind couldn't clear the tension he

and leaned in to finally read