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

umbrella over their heads,

inside was holographic-depending

just standing there, but the second

of Zion wildly

It lined up perfectly

holding the umbrella felt disturbingly like holding Zion's

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

this on

know Zion had such... flair for drama. My eyes

scowled. "You hold

"You hold it."

"No, you."

let out a resigned sigh. "Fine, fine,

with obvious reluctance, silently praying he wouldn't get

of them huddled as far from the

laughing so hard

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

"Yes, sir."

stuffy with

machine under the

grabbed her umbrella and

message, telling her to select again After a few tries, she was about to give up when

out. You're

glass and saw

Rupert.

of tobacco. It seemed like even the wind couldn't clear the tension

forced herself to look away and leaned in to finally read the