We have our title drop

[empress_without_a_throne]

1.

[When the DuskBird returns to Sakihama Base and is dispelled back into Mizuki's shadow, the woman's limping and wincing.  And also in strange, regal apparel.  Black silks with gold embroidery, necklaces, a sash... lots of fancy stuff she didn't go out in.  And Sara's standing there, looking shocked and running to her friend's side.]



Mizuki...!  My god, with what happened out there.  You and Ken and... and everyone!  Don't... scare me like that!  Please!



I'm fine, I'm fine... just got a little taste of what some of my predecessors had to deal with.  And believe me... I'm glad to see a Sara who ISN'T trying to kill me.

[So have a friendly hug... just a noisy one because, again, all that jewelry.]

2.



[Some time later though...]

[Video]

So... I was thinking...

... How do people feel about the word "Savior"?  Like the "Savior Team"... or "SolSavior".

Comments

[empress_without_a_throne]

I grew up around a lot of people who were willing to give me the benefit of the doubt. It's usually not something I bring out but SOMEONE-

[Cue death glare at Sarah.]

-Up and made a big stink and said it like first thing when I got here. The people who bring it up most are the ones being silly about it.

[caressthedarkness]

I...see...

No one here has tried to harm you because of that...?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Mizuki's been fortunate in that regard. Knowledge of the Great Black Void and its creations was never as widespread as, say, the kaiju or the UE, and many of the battles against it were done away from prying eyes. It's kept there from being a massive lineup of nutjobs cuing up to kill her.



Also, I'm open about it with people here because it'd be too much of a hassle to try to keep it under wraps. I'm not going to blab about it to the rest of the world, and if anyone on the street were to ask about, say... my ears?

Well, someone I met here just suggested I play the "cosplay" card.

[caressthedarkness]

You make a good point.

...Is that why that dress is necessary?

[empress_without_a_throne]

The dress is... more a by-product of drawing out my full strength. It'll change back to my normal clothes in a few hours.

[caressthedarkness]

That is a shame. For something that looks difficult to move in...it is incredibly fitting...

[Seta is now taking a good look at that dress while she can. From multiple different angles, no less.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Well it's not like the Abyss Empress should look bad when she does her grandstanding, right?



Like what you see?

[caressthedarkness]

[Nod.]

Madame...my teacher, said something similar.

"Looking good while you demolish the enemy is proof that you're someone of substance," or something along those lines...

She dons outfits like this one every day.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Then we'll have to compare them some time.