Do it yourself
Abnormalities are dangerous as a rule. Although Binah is curious how this interaction would go, it makes more sense to try something safer to begin with. "A different test should be made first." The other women look to her as she rises. Courage catches on immediately.
"You want her to awaken your aura?"
"Wait, what?" Before Binah can do much more than nod, Melanie is fully focussed on her. "What do you mean? You've got to have an aura. I mean, wasn't that glowy stuff you did your Semblance?" Either the resulting silence or Binah's cheshire grin tell her the answer. Melanie sighs. "Okay, so it was magic or something. But you're human, right? What's that got to do with Abnormalities?"
"Demonstrate the practice for us, regardless." There is no need to elaborate on the absence of aura. Perhaps it even exists in the City, but few if any souls would actually be able to shine there. Ash mouthes 'no aura' in sudden realisation, but Melanie simply scowls.
"Oh, fine. But you owe me one for this. Here, I need skin contact." Without further ado, Melanie reaches out. Binah offers her hand in response, which she clasps with both of hers. "Like I said, pretty easy. You just take your aura and push it in someone else. That's, like, basic control stuff." True to her words, a supple wave of white flows over her body; it is channeled over Melanie's arms before flowing into Binah. She can feel it, a foreign warmth spreading through her body. It prods and pokes, yet never tears. Reaching deeper and deeper until-
My, what do we have here? You are far from home, aren't you?
Glowing lines of a far more familiar light race along Melanie's arms and over her body; the younger woman locked up, staring breathlessly as her mind tries to resist the voice's allure. Binah faintly feels other impulses from the child, worry and wonder that belong to neither of them. Melanie's aura continues to flicker, fueling the light as something
other looks at the world from behind their eyes.
To think we meet at last, Binah. You are not there yet, but perhaps in time? Then again, you are already quite true to yourself, aren't you?
A faint giggle echoes through Binah's and Melanie's minds. Courage and Ash watch in wonder until Saffron appears with Miltia in her arms. The other twin's red aura gleams in various places as well.
Melanie slowly forces her fingers to unclench; when she lets go of Binah's hand however, a string of light follows. Binah herself can not help but chuckle at that. "So this is why the children of Remnant refer to it as the light of the soul. They are quite literal. Once more your purpose is for naught, Carmen."
Words echo through Melanie's mind, repeating Miltia's worried shouts as she shakes her sister. Both twins convulse in synch; Binah has the same urge, but refuses it. She holds to herself tightly. "You call it a first meeting, but I have known you for a long time." Even though Carmen was but a brain in a tank, forever spewing Cogito.
You have, haven't you? I have to thank you for helping to bring my dream to fruition. Even if it was against your will. Do you still hate Ayin, I wonder?
"Was it truly your dream and not an obsession? Can it be called even that when you lacked the strength to see it through?" Everyone except the insensate Malachites stares at Binah, none able to hear Carmen's voice. Her grin grows a fraction. "And yet even though you wish for all to be honest with themselves, you deluded yourself into believing in a greater purpose. I have to congratulate you on achieving apotheosis, at the least."
...that is not very nice of you. Despite her words, Carmen's voice remains playful.
I lead them into a kinder future, where all possess the strength to stand for themselves. No one needs to hide who they are any longer. Everyone can finally express themselves freely!
Melanie groans and Miltia whimpers, both held by Saffron. "What's going on?" she demands of Binah, but receives no answer. The band of light flashes, slowly dimming as it runs out of fuel.
Meanwhile, Binah decides to enjoy this conversation to the fullest. "Ayin completed the Seed and Angela offered it to the City. It is true you set these events into motion, but can that truly be enough to take credit for them? Are you content, plucking the fruits of their work after exiting the stage? To deny Angela her own conclusion in the final moment, even?"
I had to make sure she truly wanted it. A choice without conviction is but a whim.
Binah's grin widens. The connection between her and Melanie grows ever weaker, but Carmen's attention was roused. "Ayin could confidently speak these words to me. Gebura and Roland could, as could Angela. From you however, they are but hypocrisy. And yet you claim to be true to yourself." This time, a flicker of annoyance and anger bites pleasantly into her brain. Both twins shriek in unison, clasping their heads. Binah's cheshire grin grows. "Come then, Carmen."
The anger cuts off. A momentary flash of uncertainty follows, then the light fades out entirely. Carmen is gone. Melanie and Miltia collapse against Saffron, who holds each with one arm. Now that the foreign presences are gone, Binah can properly take stock of the situation: Ash, Courage, and Sable all look to her while Saffron tends to the twins.
"Who were you talking to?" Courage inquires once it becomes clear Binah is attentive. Her book lies forgotten. "And what happened, exactly?"
"The Distortion has a voice," is all Binah tells her. Courage's head tilts, but she accepts the explanation. Ash does not get to ask for details, seeing that Binah's attention wanders to the local women. "Poor Melanie drew her attention." She reaches out, gently clasping the sweat-soaked woman's face. "I wonder, does she speak to you still?"
"Noooo," Melanie groans, eyes closed. "What
was that?"
"What happened to the other one," is Ash's question. "Miltia, I think?" She glances between the twins, having asked Binah's next question for her. "If it could hit several people, why not us?"
Not even Courage has an answer for her. Binah mulls over it for a time, only for Miltia to hug her sister tight. The faint echoes and doubly foreign sensations she felt earlier belonged to someone else. Add this to their uncanny synchronicity and only one answer remains. "A Semblance, then. Your minds are connected and so what befalls one also affects the other."
"Ugh, fuck you. Yes. Happy, now?" Miltia finally manages to glare at Binah. "We share some surface thoughts, feelings, and our aura. What
the fuck did you just let into our heads?! What happened here?"
"Tried to activate her aura," Melanie mutters. She begins to rub her temples while Miltia stares in befuddlement. "That, whatever that was, was not supposed to happen."
"No shit."
"Did your aura activate?" Ash asks next. Binah arches a brow at her and wordlessly drags a nail over the back of her hand. The ensuing trickle of blood answers her question. Not that the extra power is needed; if anything, this makes another good data point. Aura and E.G.O are somehow connected. Melanie stimulated the light in Binah's soul with her aura, which attracted Carmen's attention.
While Courage mends the minor wound, Saffron helps the twins into one of the booths. Ash pours them tea, having grown somewhat proficient with the process by now. "This makes no sense," Melanie mutters. "It shouldn't have happened. I did it right. So why did this happen? And why didn't your aura activate? Everyone has it, even animals. Unless you have no soul."
Miltia, equally confused, squints at Binah. "You'd tell us if you're some crazy infiltrator Grimm, right?" Her sister cuffs her head to no effect. Next, Miltia glances to Saffron. "Then again, with all the other shit going on, I guess that's one more mystery on the pile. Guess you aren't gonna tell us?"
"Ash could figure it out on her own," is all Binah says to that. The twins accept the challenge warily and utterly fail to draw the correct conclusion.
Rumour of lights shining over Forever Fall that fateful day begins to spread. Curiously, the White Fang is quiet. Were it not for Roman warning her, she could have only suspected that they investigate Love. Binah is curious how the matter will develop and leaves it be for now. Either way, the loss of Adam Taurus is dearly felt; raids grow less frequent without his combat prowess, but common crimes within city limits increase; his moderating influence on the extremist elements is now gone.
While Love calls daily, it takes until the following weekend for her and Anemone to come back to Vale for a visit. Saturday is the last day of preparation before the Nirvana's grand opening. In truth, no large advertisement campaign was made. Binah sees no need. The staff is still present and startled when Love bursts in. "I'm here!" she cheers before pulling in a large, broad-shouldered man by the hand. "Come on, come on!"
"Stop pulling already, geez." He still follows despite his words; Binah finds in him a young man with brown hair and sharp features. Exasperated by Love's antics and perhaps even flustered. Behind them enters a pair of young women, one of which Binah already knows. A familiar blonde, striding in confidently but without recognition. Saffron is out as per usual. Next to her walks a redhead equally as tall, carefully smooth motions announcing her skill to the world. She remains on guard and some of the clerks whisper. Their attention makes her subtly speed up.
Anemone follows those four, walking almost side by side with a petite and equally pale woman in white and light blue. Her snowy hair falls in an intentionally asymmetric sidetail while she carefully analyzes the entire establishment. The pair following them could not be more different, a short redhead talking a mile a minute, mostly directed at the black-haired man by her side.
"It seems you were successful," Binah greets the returning magical girls. Sable tweets a greeting of his own while Courage inclines her head without looking up. "Congratulations are in order. At the same time, we may run a small test for tomorrow." Binah motions for the staff. "Prepare to serve our guests."
Several affirmations sound and the team clears out the tearoom. Love giggles and twirls around. "It looks even better now," she praises before motioning for her companions. "Anyway, here's my team. I'm leader, too! This is Cardin, and Yang, and Pyrrha." All three offer their own greetings. The now named Yang still does not recognise Binah, meaning she never spotted her that day.
While Love ushers her team to the nearest table, Anemone reaches as well with a smile. "I can not say I was made leader like Love, but I am not unhappy with what I got. Binah, Courage, meet Weiss Schnee, Nora Valkyrie, and Lie Ren. We form team SNGR, or Songbird."
"We're LCYN, that's Lacewing!" Love adds cheerfully. Nora already waves from behind Anemone while Ren offers a nod.
Meanwhile, Weiss steps forward and drops a small curtsy. "A pleasure. I already heard quite a bit of you, Madame Gale." She frowns at the sight of Courage still reading instead of paying attention, but refrains from commenting. "Thank you for having us today."
A layer of fake politeness, so ingrained it may as well be second nature. Curious. "Weiss Schnee," Binah muses idly. "How intriguing for an Atlesean heiress to aspire for Beacon. Is it the academy's prestige that drew you like moth to flame, or perhaps something entirely different?" Weiss twitches ever so faintly with the last part, then tries to play over the tell with indignation.
"
Excuse me?"
"Nevermind that," Anemone interrupts before Binah can poke her more. "Where is Ash?"
Courage answers her: "Training. She said she is meeting her friend after, so it will be a while."
Meanwhile, Weiss huffs and takes a seat; with everyone placed, menus are swiftly offered and studied. Binah spends the time sizing up all the new faces, but disregards most as uninteresting. Weiss remains the most intriguing, if only because she knows to hide her thoughts and feelings better.
"Why do you wear a blindfold?" Nora asks of Courage after foisting her menu on Ren. "Or is that book in braille?" She leans far over to peek, but fails to reach. Ren pulls her back.
Well aware that Love will pipe up, Courage does not even bother to respond. Her sister remains predictable in that regard: "She just likes it, I think. Her eyes work fine." Love then pauses. "And even I don't know how she sees through that thing." Nora's mouth clicks shut, her next question pre-empted.
"Weird flex," Cardin comments. "But okay." He then frowns back at the menu. "I've got no clue what any of this is. You got a recommendation?"
Once they all sorted out their orders, Nora continues to bother Courage: "Hey, can you take off the blindfold? I wanna know what's under it." Weiss rolls her eyes at the other table, mouthing something Binah can not discern; though her understanding is perfect, the motions remain alien. Meanwhile, Courage went back to staring at Nora; the redhead's puppy dog eyes remain as ineffective as Love's are.
Nonetheless, Courage nods. She reaches up and removes the gauze binding that is a part of her E.G.O.; it is placed on her book as an impromptu bookmark, then she blinks at the room. Even Binah's attention strays; she never saw Courage's eyes before and is not disappointed. Her crimson pupils aside, each eyeball bears three distinct, red dots within her scleras. They almost glow, only adding to Courage's piercing stare.
"Huh." Cardin seems mostly nonplussed, though he nudges Love with a grin. "You didn't say one of them's an animal." His attempt at levity falls flat, though only Binah realises that he cringes at that. Or perhaps it is Courage's full attention that quiets the boy.
Weiss adds to his commentary in her own way: "I did not expect you to be a faunus, either. Though I will be the first to admit that your family situation is... unusual, from what I heard." To her credit, she does not even flinch upon becoming the focus of Courage's gaze.
"This is an incorrect classification," she says. "I am not a faunus." Left unsaid is that she is also not human. Anemone hides a smile over having noticed the little deception while Love simply nods. Meanwhile, Nora oohs and aahs.
"Doesn't really matter," Yang adds with a grin. Flickers of flame crest her golden mane and her eyes turn a similar shade of glowing red. "Finally someone else in the awesome eyes club!" She holds out a hand for Courage to high-five, only to be nailed with a disapproving frown.
"No fire inside the building."
"Oh, err, sorry." Yang returns to normal, hand still held up. Love slides out of her chair and pokes Courage until she touches her palm to it. Yang huffs. "You're a pretty serious kid, aren't you?"
"She is our age," Anemone adds with barely suppressed mirth. Yang almost falls out of her chair.
"Wait, seriously? Brothers, you're tiny! And I thought Ruby was small! Oh, that's my little sister."
Another piece to the puzzle. Ruby Rose did mention once that her sister's weapon was stolen. With her father resembling Yang quite a lot, this makes it certain the two are related. Binah does not comment beyond a faint smirk. She watches the various students sample their tea and biscuits and listens to the ensuing conversations. It seems Cardin refuses to call Love by name out of embarassment, not wanting anyone to assume they are an item. Pyrrha remains reserved, closing herself off unless Love talks to her. Weiss is similar, though she reluctantly strikes up a conversation with Courage about the book she is reading.
It takes the better part of an hour to notice the faint, azure sheen layered over every single member of Anemone's team. Binah already realised Ash was blessed some time ago, but this makes it certain there are far more than just them.
All in all, the test run is a success. Much as expected, the 'grand' opening on the following Sunday goes off well. Nobody yet possesses the courage to sit at Binah's table, offering her more opportunities to observe. The only exception is Weiss, who returns with Anemone and exchanges book recommendations with Courage.
The heiress soon becomes a repeat customer. Although she does seem to appreciate the tea Binah's staff prepares, it is plain to see what truly draws her back; the calm discussions she has with Courage. Both of them are reserved and can debate without letting their personal feelings affect them. Courage does not even notice the slight upturn of her lips whenever Weiss enters; how curious.
Likewise, Ash slowly becomes proficient in the art of battle as her weapon nears completion. She is no great prodigy, but neither is she hopeless. The fact she practices hard helps facilitate her growth. Frequent spars and strain on her aura improve her reserves and efficiency as well.
Yet as Saffron begins to suffer migraines again, the great irony reveals itself. Love is completely fine; her occasional excursions beyond the walls to kill Grimm keep her happy. Erstwhile the easiest to break, she has become the most stable unless Binah went to poke her issues with a stick. Or someone else does; the White Fang continues moving in the background. One of the more extreme subgroups is dismantled by police, with assistance from an incidentally present Peter Port.
Beacon's staff seems to roam Vale more of late; the deputy headmistress is an infrequent guest at the Nirvana as well. Meanwhile, Melanie and Milita both watch Binah with some wariness, though not outright hostility. From context clues, Binah reasons they revealed the truth to at least Junior.
Two weeks after Love and Anemone came to introduce their teams, Binah decides to make use of the quiet. Several interesting projects have piled up, it is time to start on that backlog. But what to do, and whom to involve?
-Identified the Malachite Twins' Semblance:
Melanie and Miltia have limited twin-to-twin telepathy, boost each other's senses, and may even share aura between each other; them fighting together notably improves the threat they represent
-Character Sheet Unlocked: Weiss Schnee
[] Investigate the golden light
[] Test awakening an Abnormality's aura
-[] write-in which Abnormality and who the guinea pig is
[] Nip the White Fang problem in the bud
[] write-in another subject of interest?
