Like when he was a youngster on a shopping trip with his mum. Or when he was older and shopping with his mum and sister. He was dragged through the racks; trying on anything the enigmatic reaper desired him to wear.
But with no end in sight.
Though say what you will about Lucifers many vices propensities to annoy everyone around him. He knew what appealed to the otherwise, fractious reaper.
"Ah I see you have enthralled yourself with our midnight wyvern range. Quite the eye Mr. Mayuzumi."
Mister Hidori returned; accompanying him was a robot dressed in matching three piece. A bulky single glass eye scanned over the area with a red light. A smooth dark-blue sheen that bounced off the blinding lights of the store.
"Nothing but the best for my beloved; I believe he has his heart set on this magnificent armour." Lucifer pulled off the rack a muted black leather jacket. Matching elevated boots and black gloves to blend in with any shadow.
This fit called to Eren; a perfect low-key fit for a low-key reaper.
"Ah, the 'Midnight hunter.' Crafted from the hide of incredibly rare Midnight wyvern. A rare and vicious monster that requires many defeats to curate this magnificent piece. Its natural resistance to all elements as well as its natural stealth abilities makes this a perfect piece of gear for one who stalks the night." Mr. Hidori tone shifted to his salesman slink. A big bargain incoming
"I think we found the one my dear. How much?"
"100,000 credits." Here they relied on that Eosar currency, the ranker's currency. The Yen held no sway here; but for simplicities sake it would exchange to around 23,652,751 JPY or for those that like those big round numbers 150,000 USD.
"Let's just take this and go."
As soon as Eren opened his mouth he received a dour look. How can a commoner such as he even dares look at such exquisite craft? It would be wasted on someone of such a lower standing.
"Are you sure, you can afford it? A man of your class and level… The gates you clear would require lesser gear, no?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Taking a few quick steps towards the snotty salesman.
"We do our research here; to match our clients with their needs. You are not but a C-ranked warrior, a surprise that you managed to get above 100 levels but I must reserve this vital gear for dignified rankers that this was crafted for."
Why his level or rank had anything to do with anything was at the back of his mind. What really began to piss him off was the way his eyes looked down upon him.
"I suppose my initial assessment was correct; however, you do commence where you're from, I can assure you here we have greater standards."
Now Eren was getting really riled up… What would this uppity prick know about him?
Apparently, a lot as Hidori picked up on his bristling twitch.
"It seems you need a lesson in etiquette; allow me to inform you in the simplest terms you can stomach. Up here, rankers build themselves off their ranks and levels, down there is no rules or standards to uphold. You are a dirty barbarian walking barefoot in our paradise."
For lack of a better term. This man was a fucking cunt. An honest cunt to so rudely inform Eren of his standing on the ladder of all things.
But a cunt was still a cunt no matter how you rolled it.
Regardless, Eren was priming for the same outcome. To send that big mouth of his through the back of his throat.
It wasn't until a slender finger wrapped around his shoulders stopped any plans of violence. Lucifer of all things; was the peacemaker today.
"I know exactly what you are thinking, Eren. I know he has class issues but I would ask that you allow me to handle it."
This ward really was unlike any other. Candid upper-class dragons looking to protect their treasures from the commoners. But most concerning of all was the peace-seeking reaper.
Lucifer would have burnt this place for making such blunt statements to his precious.
"Allow me to deal with issue. I suggest you continue to browse.
Eren took his advice; marching off to the weapons nearby.
The robot began to follow along too. That giant red eye watching him closely.
"What the fuck are you looking at?" A blunt question from an annoyed reaper.
---
Through racks of swords and staffs, maces and glaives. Even those guns though very few in number, were interesting to wander through.
It wouldn't have surprised Eren if these were shown off on some runway to a bunch of rich bastards with nothing better to do than buy way overpriced gear that will never even be used.
Anything to keep the class divide and the poorer rankers from getting 'too' strong.
"You would let him treat us like the lowly worms of the Earth?"
That ring illusion now emerged to conduct its manipulative song and dance. Eren gave no retort, in fact he chose not to acknowledge the mirror where his copy grinned at him.
"Your predecessor would have burned this all to the ground… People like these; a time where only those above had the powers of freedom… The ones who placed themselves in the same realm were the worst of them all."
A glance to the mirror to his left, his reflection tracing through the weaponries in its realm.
"We don't live in that world anymore. You can't hold people to the same standards from a different world."
The visage smirked; tilting his head over to the conversing salesman and Lucifer.
"That is what they looked like. The way they cast down lower upon the lesser, sending constructs to do there biding. Different skin for the same end."
That robot programmed to match the snootiness of Hidori, for a mechanical object it did give off the same demeaning feeling.
Tension in Eren's neck as that single eye supervised his every move.
The more Eren's visage spoke, it almost alleviated the pain that burned within.
"Why should I take this? Some people need to be taught they can't walk all over us."
Now Eren and the visage were one in the same. "Good. At least you're beginning to see what I see… For how much the world change…"
The rings visage looked over to the bickering Lucifer and Mr. Hidori.
"…The more they remain as they always have."
For the moment that Eren and the ring were one in the same, the pain vanished, that cloudy veil was broken through.
'Maybe they need to learn-'
Before those thoughts could lead him down a very dark road. The firm metal grip of the robot latched onto Eren's.
Having absent mindedly reached for one of the swords on the shelves.
"No." It was only a moment… Or was it longer than that? Eren had lost himself, only for the same condescension that pushed him down the road to invertedly save him.
Eren released the grip of the red blade.
The visage lost a bit of its grin as the merge was broken. "It would be so much easier if you allowed me to help you."
Enough of the emotional influencing, Eren headed back to Lucifer and Hatori. He must have been lost for a decent amount of time as they both waited patiently at the counter.
"Find anything of worth?"
"Not really. Let's just go; I'm sick of this place."
A subtle snicker from the salesman aimed to sneak past the pair. But nothing escapes a reapers eye.
"Listen you limp dicked prick. I should burn this store down with you in it. Would that be enough to teach you to respect your customers."
"Eren? There is no need for those vulgarities-"
"It is quite alright Mr. Mayuzumi. Allow me to handle this, again."
Turning to the reaper in white.
"You argue for equal treatment when you bring but nothing but lowly convictions. You are nothing but a black blemish amongst our white walls. The sooner you realise this, then maybe you can fix all… This."
A circular wave over the entirety of Eren's form. Before dismissing him entirely.
"Now I hope you enjoy this purchase Mr. Mayuzumi, as this will be only exception I will allow for the commoners-"
*THUMP*
A sudden punch to the side of Hidori's face rocked the snobby man. Clutching his left cheek, as he fell to the right.
"EREN?!"
For once even Lucifer was stunned by the sudden outburst of violence.
But for Eren… He leaped over the counter. Standing over the top of the man who sought himself better than he.
'Do it... Make him fear daring to ever speak to you in such a manner.'
A sinister whisper from a nearby class cabinet. Eren's eyes briefly shot to the mirror and saw a dark figure with white iris looking back.
"You should've just sold us the gear..." A more threatening tone, Eren pulled his own arm back ready to put a hole in this man's chest.
Finally, this high and mighty obsequious man was brought down a few levels. Getting to where Eren wanted him. There was fear as he watched a monster appear above him.
Once again, the robot latched on. Firmer this time; to the point of breaking the wrist, such was its strength.
*SHRZZZZKT*
But it never stood much of a chance. Cut down the middle with Eren's free left hand. His whip arm.
"P-Please I'm sorry."
Like watching the worms wiggle underfoot. There was no pain as he was readying his boot to split the bug all over the floor.
'Again. Hurt him more-'
"EREN!" Lucifer broke Eren's trance. Pulling him off the downed man.
"There is no need for violence." Lucifer spoke with a worry to his eyes.
Eren's fists unclenched as the anger began to subside. The visage disappearing from his ear as Lucifer took over.
Hidori lay on the ground; clutching a swollen cheek and black and blue marks that were beginning to form.
"As you can see, Mr. Mayuzumi, this is why we don't allow those types of people in here. Nothing more than a barbarian. Not for such a time have I encountered such a vile creature." Remarkable that despite the outward condition of his face, those sneering undertones returned to him as he rose back to his feet.
"Mr. Hidori. Please forgive me and my friend. Allow us to make it right."
A cloth from his pocket; tenderly wiping away any blood that dared drip onto his three-piece.
Eyes wandering around the damage this creature had done.
"I should have you thrown back out into the wastes from whence you came… But we above that in many ways; and I wouldn't want to lose such a valued customer as yourself Mr. Mayuzumi."
"Of course, Mr. Hidori. Name it."
A different breed it was up here. From sudden terror back to bartering. Eren had to control that loathing lest he put the mask on.
"Pay for the damages; double prices for the apparel and the robot. But I will keep this Midnight wyvern… Clearly that friend of yours is far too bestial to appraise such an item."
Lucifer nodded; turning to his former ward.
"Eren, please go wait outside. I will handle this." Lucifer gave a commanding tone. Eren didn't argue, only nodded, and headed out of the shop.
That sick feeling; that knot in your stomach after you do something so terrible. It felt like an eternity since Eren had to feel that. Worse when it came from one of the few he respected.
He let the words of some spectre get into his head; it could've costed everything they had built up. But Lucifer was able to clean up Eren's mess.
Eren's fists clenched once more. This time in anger at himself. He couldn't be so weak.
He needed to do something to stop this growing detestation to everything.