Madness: DxD

Incident: Entertainment

Snow drifted past the gothic archways of the Gremory estate, dusting the obsidian balcony outside my quarters in a soft, quiet white.

Inside, the room was warm. I stood bare-chested in front of the full-length vanity mirror, assessing the inventory of my own flesh. Yet, the muscular density was immaculate. Tone, definition, power. A masterpiece of violence. I tilted my head, admiring the sheer structural integrity of a torso built to endure against impossible odds.

A heartbeat later, my skin twitched. My hearing picked up the micro-vibrations of footsteps approaching down the hallway, heavy silk rustling against velvet, followed by a sharp, polite rap on the polished mahogany door.

Y/N: Come in.

The door swung open. Venelana stepped over the threshold, a serene, aristocratic smile on her lips, which instantly vanished the moment her eyes locked onto me. The color drained from her face, only to be replaced by a furious, fiery crimson that rushed straight to her cheeks. She froze, clutching her hands against her chest.

Venelana: Y/N?! What... what in the world are you doing?! Why are you unclothed?! Explain yourself this instant!

Y/N: You assigned me this room, Venelana. What I do behind a closed door with my own upper body is entirely my business.

Venelana: That is... that isn't the point! You should at least have the decency to cover yourself when welcoming a lady!

She lost her footing on the high-society composure she usually wore like armor. Her eyes darted wildly, utterly abandoning my face. I watched her gaze sink, anchoring firmly onto the contours of my chest and the low ride of my trousers. She opened her mouth, but what came out was a string of breathless, disjointed stammers.

Y/N: My eyes are up here, Venelana. You're staring at my sternum like it owes you money.

Venelana: I-I am not staring at your chest! I am simply... avoiding your face! Yes! Your eyes are utterly terrifying to look at, glowing white in the dim light like some monstrous predator in the dark! It is quite unsettling!

Y/N: Right. You need something?

Venelana: I... well, the thing is... your chest... I mean, the message! The reason I came here! It's just that... the way your skin tightens when you breath, it's terribly distracting, and if you keep standing there looking so... robust... my mind is going to start wandering into... deeply inappropriate, highly immoral territories...

Y/N: You're stringing words together like a stroke victim. Put a leash on your thoughts and spit it out.

I turned my back on her, reaching for my armored shirt, shoulder holster, and coat hanging from the rack. I pulled the dark fabric over my head, strapping the harness tight across my chest and wrapping my bandanna and goggles securely into place.

As soon as the broad expanse of skin was hidden beneath Kevlar and cotton, Venelana puffed out her cheeks, letting out a heavy pout. She took a sharp breath, smoothing down her dress with trembling hands as she desperately forced her formal demeanor back into place.

Venelana: Ahem. Now that you have rendered yourself decent... I came to inform you that Serafall Leviathan has requested an audience with you. She is currently waiting in the main hall.

Legend: Serafall? Wonderfull.

I grabbed my revolver, checking the action and motioned for the door.

Legend: Lead the way.

We stepped out into the vaulted corridors of the estate, our boots clicking against the polished stone floor. Cold draft slithered through the open arcades, carrying the scent of pine and ozone. Venelana walked half a step behind me, her eyes burning holes into the back of my coat. I could practically hear the gears grinding in her head, self-flagellating over her momentary lapse in dignity.