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.

rain's insane. Let's

"Sure."

he already looked like he regretted

over their heads, both of them felt a chill run down

inside was holographic-depending on the angle, it

standing there,

of

up perfectly with the

umbrella felt disturbingly

was placed at an awkward spot too low to be comfortable, too

definitely done this on purpose to

"Didn't know Zion had such... flair for drama. My eyes need

"You hold

"You hold it."

"No, you."

a resigned sigh. "Fine, fine, I'll

handle with obvious reluctance, silently praying he wouldn't get some

both of them huddled as far from the middle as

watched from a window, laughing so hard he nearly

spun around, face snapping back to the perfect

"Yes, sir."

sat in the car, feeling stuffy with the rain

machine

much, she grabbed her umbrella and headed

scanned her card, but the machine kept flashing the same message, telling her to select again After a few tries, she was about to give up when a hand teached over her shoulder,

You're

at the glass and saw

Rupert.

of tobacco. It seemed like even

to look away and leaned in to finally