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Maria von Hohenzollern 
[img] https://i.imgur.com/h2XQ7uz.png [/img] 
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[h2] 
Celestia Family Villa
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[@Lunarlors34] 
[@FamishedPants]
[@Spriggs27]
[@Letter Bee]


The first thing Maria noticed of the interjecting individual’s appearance was that it seemed rather peculiar, even for demihuman standards.Perhaps it wasn’t ill to say that the woman before Maria was stunning, her presence clearly demanding to any spectators around. The word “modesty” seemed completely lacking from this demihuman’s vocabulary 

Maria might have been a “beauty” by many standards, but it tended to come from the way she presented herself to others. Especially in her armour, which concealed her femininity, her regal-like appearance and demeanor seemed to display more to an appeal of image, rather than an appeal of appearance, and more slender a figure.Not to say that Maria didn’t have charm, but merely in comparison,  the taller, more well endowed Lizard before Maria clearly was blessed with certain curves Maria would by lying to say she didn’t have a bit of jealously over. 

[color=gold] “Well, you’re a crude one, aren’t you; skulking the scene like a wolf until now? If I were to have to guess, you must be this “Miss Zin Parallex.” [/color]

But would Maria have accepted an offer so lucidious as the one proposed by Zin? She couldn’t answer that herself, clearly flustered by the statement, yet trying to conceal this from others to a moderate success aside from a slight blush appearing upon her face. After all, Vesta was Maria’s greatest ally. The two had known one another since youth, and though they might have changed greatly since their childhood, the two still had an inseparable connection to one another that Maria would fight tooth and nail to preserve. Maria would have been nothing if not for Vesta’s encouragement. 

[color=gold] “O... Onee-san’’s business is her own. Though I consider her my dearest friend, in the end if she were to make a choice I would have to accept it. But if she asked I guess I woul-” [/color]

[color=gold] “....” [/color]

Trailing off for a moment, Maria realized the gravity of the question, stopping herself and getting more and more flustered 

[color=gold] “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH---” [/color]

Maria's scream trailed off as she closed her eyes,  and took a deep, calming breath, wishing to overcome her embarrassment. As she opened her eyes, she peered sharply at Zin.

… But in this moment, the air itself seemed to collapse in on itself, leaving nothing for the spectators to breath. A chill feeling like the embrace of thorns fills the courtyard. 

Maria was still the woman of “strength, beauty, and intellect” within her, however, something appeared to have been snapped, breaking the perception of the knightess as infallible. Her eyes still shone with the optimism expected of Maria, but there was still the fact Zin appeared to be an enemy. 

No, it was more than that. Maria felt almost humiliated by the other’s previous statement even before the provocation to fight, combined with a bit of jealousy over certain features the dragon-lady held before her. 

[color=gold] “Ha---- are you trying to tick me off, you oversized lizard? Who the hell do you think you are?”[/color]

As she said that, Maria grabbed the hilt of her sabre, parting it slightly from the sheath so that the dulled lower section of her blade could be visible, never really taking the blade out more than a few inches from the scabbard. 

Maria’s eyes seemed to dart from s left to right, ever vigilant in watching Zin’s motions. Whilst she had insulted Maria, it was clear by her tone that she utilizes her claws to fight. Perhaps that was the advantage that Demihumans tended to have upon normal humans; positioned to deal with threats without the human reliance of tools and weapons and the like. 

But if there were something that humanity had over the races, it was the elusive, yet ever-present “love”. 

[color=gold] “I’ll have you know I’ve slain monsters much scarier than you, so if you would like to prove you’re little ‘theory’ about my skills in battle, perhaps you would wish to test them out yourself, you fat chested, big-titted lizard?” [/color] 

The person before Maria had claimed to have never lost to Vesta, but even if this was the case, Maria, despite her best efforts, tended to fall towards provocation. However, even while being provoked, it was not like Maria to run into any situation without a plan. But considering the clearly hostile words said by Zin, it would likely take outside forces to intervene in order to stop any conflict that would arise.