“…f I make it there in time, I might just get my hands on that sauvignon blanc before it sells out.” Wess muttered to herself, hurrying out of the Flash-Rail in the direction of the HyperMall, before lifting her gaze and daydreaming. “Oh, cracking open that bottle with Julia would just be heavenly…”

She happily stared up into the sky as she walked, before accidentally bumping into someone and nearly falling over.

“Oh, apologies.” Wess said, turning around to see a group of people taking up a good amount of space out on the street, playing obnoxiously loud music, before heading back in the direction of the mall.

“What’s the rush, money bags?” One of them called out, lazily standing up. “Rich daddy callin’ you back to Mareau?”

Wess felt her spine crawl, as him and his group started laughing to themselves.

“Honestly, clowns like this…” Wess groaned, grabbing for her forehead, as she begrudgingly turned back around.

“Hey, Miss Money’s giving us attention.” He said, before shrugging back to her. “Call me Top-D.”

“I shan’t.” Wess quickly replied, just as they started turning up their music even louder, drawing the attention of plenty of people passing by, before Wess needed to cover her ears.

“What’s wrong?!” Top-D smirked. “I thought you Northerners liked the arts?!”

They turned it back down, as Wess folded her arms while a crowd gathered.

“First, I’ve yet to hear any, second, you’re hardly worth my valuable, important time, so I’ll be taking my leave.”

Wess went to exit again, only for Top-D to step in front of her.

“Hold on. You don’t challenge me like that.” Top-D replied, just as one of his friends pulled out a microphone for him. “You wanna show me some art? Wanna prove something? Put your literal money where your mouth is.”

His friend held out a microphone for Wess, as she stared down at it.

Top-D, as well as most of the crowd, expected her to refuse it outright and keep walking away in shame, only for her to snatch it from his hand.

“It seems you need to be taught a lesson.” Wess said, folding her arms, before waiting. “Go on, impress me.”

Top-D shrugged his shoulders, before pointing back to his friend handling the boombox, as they switched to better music for a rap battle.

Top-D cracked his knuckles, before waiting for the beat to kick in.

-------

“…Look who’s made herself known, it’s the money home grown, a no go, Whilit knows you’re a long way from home.”

“Dressed like a porcelain doll, sit you back on the shelf, like the royal family’s keeping you all to themselves.”

“Diamonds are unbreakable? They’re shakeable, you’re shook. A socialite with her nose stuck in a fancy book.”

“I mean, just look, compared to you, I’m the finest rapping crook. Stealing victories, and tons of admiration fuelled looks.”

-------

Light cheering rang out from the onlookers, with Top-D visibly proud of himself, as Wess stood motionless in response.

“Well, missie?”

“…I’m sorry, you’re finished?” Wess asked, as Top-D looked offended.

He tipped his head to the side. “What, you think you can do better?”

Wess responded by pointing back at the person controlling the music, as they obliged and changed the track, upping the tempo slightly.

Wess nodded her head along to it, before taking up the mic.

-------

“…Excuse me, D? May I ask a question? Okay, if not, let me give a suggestion.”

“I think you need help with your presentation, because at this point, there’s no fixing this situation.”

She took a beat.

“First thought, I’m hardly rich, save for brains and brawn, I come from lavish, but it’s tragic as you stumble like a newborn.”

“Second, this whole look. Wannabe gauche from this vantage. You’re clearly well off too, so don’t pretend you’re disadvantaged.”

“Third critique, your rhymes are weak, shelf and selves is a miss, your voice has as much strength as when the wind carries piss.”

“Learn to dress to impress, and invest in some common sense. You’re somewhat tense and need rest, when facing the obvious best.”

“But your only rest is in peace, as you persist with vocal cysts. I insist you listen to this, as your wardrobe needs a fix.”

“Are those clothes from your floor? No, the stains are too recent. The colour matching’s decent, but not for an outfit malfeasance.”

“Oh goodie, another fault! A hoodie on an adult! Who’s fault is this visual assault as crusty as asphalt?”

“It’s this asshole, bothering a Venator going about business. But I guess I’ll just sit back, as you struggle to find disses.”

-------

The crowd rang out with applause, as Top-D’s group stayed silent in shock, with a quiet acknowledgement for her skill washing over them, as well as a realisation that they might’ve made a mistake.

Top-D was at a loss for words, hardly expecting her to match him and his skill, only to grit his teeth and point to his friend again and kick up the music more.

-------

“Alright, you’ve got skills, I guess I’ll give you that. Still doesn’t change the fact that your lyrics are wack.”

“Said you’re a Venator, right? From Team Hardly-Compete? They’re known for showboating and finding words they can eat.”

“I guess they’re eating their own, considering you’re weighing them down. The princess clown for out of town with the painted-on frown.”

“What’s wrong? I guess your parents had to go and cut you off. Let me guess, they didn’t like their daughter trying to run off?”

“Join the circus, perhaps? Fight some Wailing on the side? Nevermind, we all know she’s rather go run and hide.”

“Look deep inside, and tell me that’s untrue, cause there’s virtually no Venator material in you.”

“I may not have a team, but I’ve a whole damn crew, and I know it’s hard to admit when we’re better than you.”

“Try counting to one two. Take a breath, take a seat, let’s see if last round’s something you can repeat.”

-------

Getting more cheering, he dropped his mic right after, only for his other friend to catch it to stop it from hitting the ground, as Top-D glared at him right before he ducked away.

Wess kept her gaze focused throughout, before slowly lifting the mic to her lips, picking right up after him.

-------

“It’s Team Valiant, as one of many corrections, so witness this dissection, of poor pacing and inflection.”

“Your rhyming got worse, between the first and second verse, their use is gross and perverse, and should driving in a hearse.”

“If you ask me, you need a manager. Someone to manage that lip, and prevent anymore shit lyrics that might slip.”

“The clown analogy’s finished, you’ve used as much as you can, I think it’s fair to say, we know you’re not an educated man.”

“I’ve the brains of a rocket scientist, with a pocket wine list. Meanwhile, you’re on the cheap end of the whine list.”

“That’s whine with an ‘h,’ since I know you can’t spell, oh well, it’s a hard sell, knowing full well you won’t own up to that smell.”

“It’s the reek of defeat, or perhaps your unwashed feet? Maybe the back end of that seat? It’s the only thing of yours that’s not weak.”

“Oh, is it time already? I caught believe it, silly me. You can stop talking. This battle’s just become a soliloquy.”

-------

Giving everyone a moment to take it in, Wess politely handed her microphone back to the group, before facing Top-D again.

She gave him a subtle smile, before taking her leave proper, leaving him slack-jawed in complete shock of just how badly he was played.

The crowd cheered for her as she left, completely ignoring Top-D, as he stumbled back over to his friends, before one of them whistled while looking back at Wess.

“She fucking got you so bad.”

“Shut up…” Top-D groaned.

“Hey, Wess?” Julia called out, as Wess lifted her head from Julia’s couch.

“Yes?”

Julia stared down at her tablet. “What’s this about a…rap battle in Detu City?”

Wess’ face flushed, as Julia kept reading. “I got a message on Activ from someone named ‘Topher Dickens’ asking for a…‘rematch with the cranky noble girl.’”

“…w-well, here’s the thing…” Wess let out, before Julia lifted her tablet.

“This sounds so cool.” Julia admitted, smiling back at Wess. “You want me to be your hype girl for the rematch?”

Wess blinked, thinking for a second, before getting up and kissing Julia’s cheek.

“You absolute angel.”