KnownParadox
Not a sphere
- Location
- Canada
A Series Of Unfortunate Circumstances [RWBY SI] [AHOIAC AU]
Plot Twist! The one they're meeting is Weiss who went bonkers from guilt and is out to destroy Remnant! Even better, it's a family affair with Mama Willow also insane!
Chapter Twenty-Seven
- Location
- https://discord.gg/z9tBvbh
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The rest of the Apology-Date was pleasant enough. It became even more pleasant when our drinks arrived.
"I always wanted to study at Beacon," Snow said with a small smile. "But my mother didn't want me far from home."
"I guess she was worried?" I mused.
"More like paranoid something bad would happen to me if I wasn't constantly under her surveillance," Snow clicked her tongue against her teeth. Her cup of coffee was in her hands, and she took a little sip from it. "I understand her worries, but I am my own person in the end."
"I suppose that to a parent, a child will always remain a child," I said with a dry chuckle. "Though becoming a huntsman is normally not the safest of jobs, so while I can understand some worry, in the end won't the result be the same?"
Snow sighed, and shook her head. "She thinks I may end up finding a job behind a desk. I haven't dissuaded her of it, because...if I did, she'd probably just make sure I never graduate Atlas Academy to begin with."
I hissed at that. "Kind of a bad thing, isn't it?"
"You wouldn't know the end of it," Snow grumbled. "All of my friends, or potential friends, had to be vetted. Full background checks. I could never attend a party without a bodyguard, I could never go on a shopping trip without being watched-" she shuddered. "It feels like a cage. A cage I don't even know if I have the strength to break free from."
I took a sip of my mug of hot chocolate. "I suppose trying to tell her what you wished didn't go well?"
Snow snorted. "That's an understatement," she sighed, "But I don't want to vent all of this on a stranger. It's enough you've had to suffer me once."
I chuckled at that, "Now, now, I think it's fine. I guess it's got to be my face or something. Makes a lot of people relaxed. Even big bad Grimm think twice before trying to bite it off, you know?"
Snow had the hint of a smile on her lips. "Perhaps it's that. You do have a familiar face. It puts me at ease...have we met before?"
I grinned, "That's a nice flirting line, but I'm taken I'm afraid," I tapped at the ring on my hand. "And my wife would have my spine if I didn't make it very clear that she's my loving love-dove and the sole woman in my life."
Snow looked at the ring briefly, and then chuckled, if with a hint of bitterness to it. "I guess the best ones are always taken," she grinned next, "You must be older than I thought-why become a huntsman?"
"It was something I wanted to do," I said. "You can't protect anyone if you're weak," I added. "So you need to become strong, strong enough to take on the whole world if you need to."
"And your wife just let you go?" Snow asked.
I grinned. "Well, she's a Huntress herself, so..."
Snow smiled. "Oh, I see. That's romantic. She's in Beacon too?"
"Not yet," I answered. "She's originally from Mistral, like me. I managed to get accepted into Beacon, while she went to Haven. We'll meet soon enough, when the Haven students arrive. You're from Atlas, so how are you finding Vale?"
Snow sighed. "I suppose it's nice. I expected a bit more from Beacon, to be honest, but it's satisfactory-"
The small talk continued for half an hour more, until Snow's Scroll began to ring furiously. At that point she cringed, and paid for my own cup of hot chocolate. We parted amiably, even as I dimly realized that the figure of Emerald was sulking from the nearby dark alleyway. I grinned at her, and beckoned her closer.
Emerald neared like a happy puppy. The image was demeaning to her, and I knew it, but it was also the truth. She didn't feel like she deserved anything more than a kick, and so anything else given to her was a blissful gift.
"Hey Emmy, sit down and let me offer you something," I said with a smile. Emerald was primly sitting a second later. I hadn't even seen her sit down. There was just an after-image, and the next second she was with her hands on the table's surface, looking excitedly at the menu in front of her.
I smiled at that. "I-I can get anything I want?" she asked, carefully.
I gave her a nod.
Without hesitation, without blinking, without as much as feeling doubt, she pointed at a single thing on the menu with her eyes shining brightly like the strength of a thousand miniature suns.
I glanced at it, and then laughed amiably.
Family Ice-Cream Cup. Minimum Two People!
"Sure," I said. I made the order to the waiter, and then plopped my chin on the palm of my hand. "Everything all right? You were kind of agitated with your Scroll messages."
"I-I'm fine," Emerald said. "I...I was thinking of hitting a bookshop later on, just-just to see if there are some books there I haven't yet read."
I grinned at that. "That sounds nice. I've got the rest of the afternoon free, so I'll accompany you if you want-"
"Yes!" Emerald exclaimed, "Yes-Yes!" she attempted to make a yes that wasn't as excited as the first one, and failed twice before giving up on it. I chuckled once more. There was still a childish innocence to Emerald's interactions, which was however muddled when one thought about how easy she'd rip the neck of a human being out if asked to. An attack dog, nice and cuddly with its trainer, but lethal with anyone it had to be aimed at.
The family Ice-Cream cup was a large serving of multiple scoops, with sprinkles and sugary treats all around them. There were a lot of childish animals made out of sugar, and it was pretty clear that it was meant for a family with a small child. Emerald didn't care about that. She had her ice-cream, the chocolate syrup and the strawberry syrup, and she was going to enjoy it with me. Her life was complete. Her paradise achieved. Her heaven within grasp.
I grabbed a spoonful with a sugar unicorn on it, and then pointed it in her direction. The fact she actually didn't hesitate a single instant before swallowing the offered spoonful told me all that I needed to know.
I rolled my eyes at the sight of childishly gleeful Emerald, who would probably be capable to annihilate an army of Dementors after this very simple act.
We didn't get to finish the ice-cream, though not for lack of trying, and after I paid we began to walk towards a nearby bookshop. There were more than a few we could have chosen, but we picked one that looked pretty much stocked and was part of some great big chain or something. "Oh look Emerald," I said with a grin, "They have the latest Princess Merciless on sale. And it comes with its very own action figurine."
Emerald glanced at the book I was pointing at. "I-I guess," she acquiesced, "But...I was thinking more about the Vulture collection."
I blinked at that, "Don't you already have one?" I frowned, "You jealousy guard it too, so-"
"I-I know, but there's a difference between a Collector's Edition and a Special Edition," Emerald mumbled back, "And-If I had to pick between the two, I'd go with the Vulture series. It's the first one you've read to me-"
My right hand came gently down on Emerald's head. Had anyone else done it, they would have lost their hand and their bowels in short order, together with most of their innards. In my case, it simply meant that Emerald.exe had stopped working, and Emerald_Cat_Goop.exe had begun operations in her stead. It was incredibly sad just how starved for affection the girl was. It bordered on the horrifying. There was no self-identity; everything she did, everything she wanted, it had to come through either Cinder or mine's approval. If I mentioned how I hated the Vulture series, she'd burn all books down in a flash much to Cinder's amusement.
It wasn't healthy. There also wasn't anything I could do but mitigate some of the worst stuff Cinder could get to when her own evil Villain side came up to play.
"I'll get you both," I said. "How does that sound?"
"Like Christmas," Emerald whispered.
I grinned. "Who knows, maybe I'm truly Santa Claus."
Emerald shook her head. "No," she said in a barely audible whisper. "You're better. You're real."
With the purchases done as promised, Emerald was truly a happy girl.
I could feel good about myself. "While we're at it," I mused, "How about we make Cinder happy too? So she won't have anything to disagree on later?"
Emerald blinked at that. "I-I would like that," the sudden realization that she'd have to bring my gift's back to the apartment she shared with Cinder made it clear that if the woman that was also my adorable wife wasn't appeased, then they'd burn again. Her poor heart probably wouldn't take it. A couple of hours later, I was sure I had everything in the bag.
Love-Dove, the apology-date with Miss Snow is over. Emerald performed admirably. I was thinking of buying her a gift, but before doing that I thought about buying you one. You still like green as a color, yes? -Shade.
Emerald did her job, and should not be spoiled for it, Shade. -Cinder.
I was thinking about getting matching necklaces for our High-Class appointment. A heart-shaped pendant with an emerald in it sounds great, doesn't it? -Shade.
You are either not reading what I am writing, or have already bought said pendant. -Cinder.
It's the latter. It's beautiful, though not as much as you. The only question remaining is whether you want Emerald or I to deliver it to you. -Shade.
What do you think? -Cinder.
That I'm currently outside the door, love-dove. -Shade.
Emerald could have had an Atlas uniform and a contingent of Atlas soldiers behind her, and Cinder wouldn't have cared. The apartment's door opened to reveal her glancing at me on one knee with a beautiful -and quite pricey- jewelry-store fancy bauble. A gaudy heart-shaped necklace with an emerald inside, a thin string of silver and gold departing as the heart was half made of silver, and half made of gold.
"Emerald," Cinder said curtly, "Take Mercury and disappear for the reminder of the night."
I knew I had her.
"Y-yes Cinder!" Emerald hastily obliged, dragging Mercury out as the two hit the ground faster than anyone could blink or bid them goodbye.
Then I was grabbed in turn, and pulled inside the apartment.
The next morning I caught the bullhead just in time for the morning lessons...
...but not fast enough to participate in the Food Wars to end all Food Wars.
The rest of the Apology-Date was pleasant enough. It became even more pleasant when our drinks arrived.
"I always wanted to study at Beacon," Snow said with a small smile. "But my mother didn't want me far from home."
"I guess she was worried?" I mused.
"More like paranoid something bad would happen to me if I wasn't constantly under her surveillance," Snow clicked her tongue against her teeth. Her cup of coffee was in her hands, and she took a little sip from it. "I understand her worries, but I am my own person in the end."
"I suppose that to a parent, a child will always remain a child," I said with a dry chuckle. "Though becoming a huntsman is normally not the safest of jobs, so while I can understand some worry, in the end won't the result be the same?"
Snow sighed, and shook her head. "She thinks I may end up finding a job behind a desk. I haven't dissuaded her of it, because...if I did, she'd probably just make sure I never graduate Atlas Academy to begin with."
I hissed at that. "Kind of a bad thing, isn't it?"
"You wouldn't know the end of it," Snow grumbled. "All of my friends, or potential friends, had to be vetted. Full background checks. I could never attend a party without a bodyguard, I could never go on a shopping trip without being watched-" she shuddered. "It feels like a cage. A cage I don't even know if I have the strength to break free from."
I took a sip of my mug of hot chocolate. "I suppose trying to tell her what you wished didn't go well?"
Snow snorted. "That's an understatement," she sighed, "But I don't want to vent all of this on a stranger. It's enough you've had to suffer me once."
I chuckled at that, "Now, now, I think it's fine. I guess it's got to be my face or something. Makes a lot of people relaxed. Even big bad Grimm think twice before trying to bite it off, you know?"
Snow had the hint of a smile on her lips. "Perhaps it's that. You do have a familiar face. It puts me at ease...have we met before?"
I grinned, "That's a nice flirting line, but I'm taken I'm afraid," I tapped at the ring on my hand. "And my wife would have my spine if I didn't make it very clear that she's my loving love-dove and the sole woman in my life."
Snow looked at the ring briefly, and then chuckled, if with a hint of bitterness to it. "I guess the best ones are always taken," she grinned next, "You must be older than I thought-why become a huntsman?"
"It was something I wanted to do," I said. "You can't protect anyone if you're weak," I added. "So you need to become strong, strong enough to take on the whole world if you need to."
"And your wife just let you go?" Snow asked.
I grinned. "Well, she's a Huntress herself, so..."
Snow smiled. "Oh, I see. That's romantic. She's in Beacon too?"
"Not yet," I answered. "She's originally from Mistral, like me. I managed to get accepted into Beacon, while she went to Haven. We'll meet soon enough, when the Haven students arrive. You're from Atlas, so how are you finding Vale?"
Snow sighed. "I suppose it's nice. I expected a bit more from Beacon, to be honest, but it's satisfactory-"
The small talk continued for half an hour more, until Snow's Scroll began to ring furiously. At that point she cringed, and paid for my own cup of hot chocolate. We parted amiably, even as I dimly realized that the figure of Emerald was sulking from the nearby dark alleyway. I grinned at her, and beckoned her closer.
Emerald neared like a happy puppy. The image was demeaning to her, and I knew it, but it was also the truth. She didn't feel like she deserved anything more than a kick, and so anything else given to her was a blissful gift.
"Hey Emmy, sit down and let me offer you something," I said with a smile. Emerald was primly sitting a second later. I hadn't even seen her sit down. There was just an after-image, and the next second she was with her hands on the table's surface, looking excitedly at the menu in front of her.
I smiled at that. "I-I can get anything I want?" she asked, carefully.
I gave her a nod.
Without hesitation, without blinking, without as much as feeling doubt, she pointed at a single thing on the menu with her eyes shining brightly like the strength of a thousand miniature suns.
I glanced at it, and then laughed amiably.
Family Ice-Cream Cup. Minimum Two People!
"Sure," I said. I made the order to the waiter, and then plopped my chin on the palm of my hand. "Everything all right? You were kind of agitated with your Scroll messages."
"I-I'm fine," Emerald said. "I...I was thinking of hitting a bookshop later on, just-just to see if there are some books there I haven't yet read."
I grinned at that. "That sounds nice. I've got the rest of the afternoon free, so I'll accompany you if you want-"
"Yes!" Emerald exclaimed, "Yes-Yes!" she attempted to make a yes that wasn't as excited as the first one, and failed twice before giving up on it. I chuckled once more. There was still a childish innocence to Emerald's interactions, which was however muddled when one thought about how easy she'd rip the neck of a human being out if asked to. An attack dog, nice and cuddly with its trainer, but lethal with anyone it had to be aimed at.
The family Ice-Cream cup was a large serving of multiple scoops, with sprinkles and sugary treats all around them. There were a lot of childish animals made out of sugar, and it was pretty clear that it was meant for a family with a small child. Emerald didn't care about that. She had her ice-cream, the chocolate syrup and the strawberry syrup, and she was going to enjoy it with me. Her life was complete. Her paradise achieved. Her heaven within grasp.
I grabbed a spoonful with a sugar unicorn on it, and then pointed it in her direction. The fact she actually didn't hesitate a single instant before swallowing the offered spoonful told me all that I needed to know.
I rolled my eyes at the sight of childishly gleeful Emerald, who would probably be capable to annihilate an army of Dementors after this very simple act.
We didn't get to finish the ice-cream, though not for lack of trying, and after I paid we began to walk towards a nearby bookshop. There were more than a few we could have chosen, but we picked one that looked pretty much stocked and was part of some great big chain or something. "Oh look Emerald," I said with a grin, "They have the latest Princess Merciless on sale. And it comes with its very own action figurine."
Emerald glanced at the book I was pointing at. "I-I guess," she acquiesced, "But...I was thinking more about the Vulture collection."
I blinked at that, "Don't you already have one?" I frowned, "You jealousy guard it too, so-"
"I-I know, but there's a difference between a Collector's Edition and a Special Edition," Emerald mumbled back, "And-If I had to pick between the two, I'd go with the Vulture series. It's the first one you've read to me-"
My right hand came gently down on Emerald's head. Had anyone else done it, they would have lost their hand and their bowels in short order, together with most of their innards. In my case, it simply meant that Emerald.exe had stopped working, and Emerald_Cat_Goop.exe had begun operations in her stead. It was incredibly sad just how starved for affection the girl was. It bordered on the horrifying. There was no self-identity; everything she did, everything she wanted, it had to come through either Cinder or mine's approval. If I mentioned how I hated the Vulture series, she'd burn all books down in a flash much to Cinder's amusement.
It wasn't healthy. There also wasn't anything I could do but mitigate some of the worst stuff Cinder could get to when her own evil Villain side came up to play.
"I'll get you both," I said. "How does that sound?"
"Like Christmas," Emerald whispered.
I grinned. "Who knows, maybe I'm truly Santa Claus."
Emerald shook her head. "No," she said in a barely audible whisper. "You're better. You're real."
With the purchases done as promised, Emerald was truly a happy girl.
I could feel good about myself. "While we're at it," I mused, "How about we make Cinder happy too? So she won't have anything to disagree on later?"
Emerald blinked at that. "I-I would like that," the sudden realization that she'd have to bring my gift's back to the apartment she shared with Cinder made it clear that if the woman that was also my adorable wife wasn't appeased, then they'd burn again. Her poor heart probably wouldn't take it. A couple of hours later, I was sure I had everything in the bag.
Love-Dove, the apology-date with Miss Snow is over. Emerald performed admirably. I was thinking of buying her a gift, but before doing that I thought about buying you one. You still like green as a color, yes? -Shade.
Emerald did her job, and should not be spoiled for it, Shade. -Cinder.
I was thinking about getting matching necklaces for our High-Class appointment. A heart-shaped pendant with an emerald in it sounds great, doesn't it? -Shade.
You are either not reading what I am writing, or have already bought said pendant. -Cinder.
It's the latter. It's beautiful, though not as much as you. The only question remaining is whether you want Emerald or I to deliver it to you. -Shade.
What do you think? -Cinder.
That I'm currently outside the door, love-dove. -Shade.
Emerald could have had an Atlas uniform and a contingent of Atlas soldiers behind her, and Cinder wouldn't have cared. The apartment's door opened to reveal her glancing at me on one knee with a beautiful -and quite pricey- jewelry-store fancy bauble. A gaudy heart-shaped necklace with an emerald inside, a thin string of silver and gold departing as the heart was half made of silver, and half made of gold.
"Emerald," Cinder said curtly, "Take Mercury and disappear for the reminder of the night."
I knew I had her.
"Y-yes Cinder!" Emerald hastily obliged, dragging Mercury out as the two hit the ground faster than anyone could blink or bid them goodbye.
Then I was grabbed in turn, and pulled inside the apartment.
The next morning I caught the bullhead just in time for the morning lessons...
...but not fast enough to participate in the Food Wars to end all Food Wars.
- Location
- Just passing through.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
...Shade, you realize that your teammates don't know that Cinder is in the city, right?
For them, you when out to an "apology" date and didn't came back until the next morning.
Any rumors that come from this, you deserve them.
- Location
- https://discord.gg/z9tBvbh
A quick notice I forgot to add to the end of the previous chapter.
My trustworthy Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard 3000 for the past months had the 2/" key a bit hard to press. Now it's added the 'N' button to it. I might end up having to change it. In the meantime, if you catch any missing 'N's, you know where they're coming from.
(Also, writing speed goes down due to heat levels and general annoyance at own keyboard).
My trustworthy Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard 3000 for the past months had the 2/" key a bit hard to press. Now it's added the 'N' button to it. I might end up having to change it. In the meantime, if you catch any missing 'N's, you know where they're coming from.
(Also, writing speed goes down due to heat levels and general annoyance at own keyboard).
- Location
- Somewhere else
Had a similar problem with my keyboard before I replaced it. For a while I had to copypaste the letters that were giving me trouble.
Zuzak
Insufficient Velocity of words
For iffy keyboard keys, clean it. Even if you have never spilled anything on it... you might have suppressed the memory. Keyboard does not need coffee, rum or redacted.
Another cause might be simple use... aprox 370k+ words since April on three fics. Wow.
Yeah, that's probably it.
Good news is it looks from pictures to be a type with removable keys.
search youtube for cleaning methods.
I mean to be helpful. I have worn out keyboards, usually via liquids, before and cleaning them has helped some of them work again.
Another cause might be simple use... aprox 370k+ words since April on three fics. Wow.
Yeah, that's probably it.
Good news is it looks from pictures to be a type with removable keys.
search youtube for cleaning methods.
I mean to be helpful. I have worn out keyboards, usually via liquids, before and cleaning them has helped some of them work again.
- Location
- Russia
Is there Christmas on Remnant?
i Have been thinking a little about this, and i think. Weiss is a little broken. Maybe you could help me with this?
-Let see she likes coffee, and have strong opinions about people that prefer other stuff, just like her brother.
-She disguises herself, with Dark hair, trying to look like her brother.
-She goes for the first brother look alike, that she found out, and i would not be surprised if she keeps following him.
-She lies (lol), and disguise herself as shade.
Sorry, i have to point this all lot.
Now things move a lot, and the omake of the kindergarten, actually puts me at ease that maybe the one they will be meeting will be Willow, that turned into Villany after losing wren.
-Let see she likes coffee, and have strong opinions about people that prefer other stuff, just like her brother.
-She disguises herself, with Dark hair, trying to look like her brother.
-She goes for the first brother look alike, that she found out, and i would not be surprised if she keeps following him.
-She lies (lol), and disguise herself as shade.
Sorry, i have to point this all lot.
Now things move a lot, and the omake of the kindergarten, actually puts me at ease that maybe the one they will be meeting will be Willow, that turned into Villany after losing wren.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
- Location
- https://discord.gg/z9tBvbh
Chapter Twenty-Eight
There was some glancing my way, and myself being puzzled by it all. "So," Yang was the one to break the uncomfortable awkwardness that had somehow spread through our team throughout the day, "You came back the next day. Apology date went on for so long you missed the last Bullhead, or..."
"I've got a rented apartment in Vale," I said, "The Haven students arrived yesterday. I met my Love-Dove in Vale, and since it would be a bit too crass to put a sock out of our room's door," I let my words hang in the air.
"Yeah, duh. Why would you put a sock outside a door?" Jaune said, not really understanding where I was going with my words.
I looked at him, and then I looked up at Yang. "Oh no, I'm not explaining this to him," Yang said, both hands raised in surrender. "You missed punishment with Goodwitch by skipping breakfast. You owe us one."
"For...not getting involved in a food fight?" I pointed out.
"We lost because you weren't there to fight for the glory of the Blondie Kingdom!" Yang yelled back, sounding honestly offended. "You were too busy being a good husband!"
"How could you, Shade. We believed in you," Blake added, sounding sarcastic. The fact was, I had the distinct feeling she sounded sarcastic towards Yang's exaggeration of despair rather than my apparent betrayal. "Make it up for us by teaching Jaune the flowers and the bees."
"I know what the flowers and the bees are!" Jaune grumbled back. "I'm not that dense. Am I?" he then looked at me for confirmation.
I didn't give him an answer to that particular question. "Did I miss anything else?" I asked.
"Not much," Blake shrugged. "We wanted to go look for White Fang activity in Vale today after the lessons, that is if you're available and not already busy showing Beacon to your wife."
I chuckled, "She'll probably be sick of me after we spent yesterday attached by the hip, as the saying goes," I wriggled my eyebrows.
"Why? Was there an accident with glue or something?" Jaune asked, once more.
I watched Yang leave the room without another word, Blake following her swiftly.
I left too, leaving a befuddled Jaune Arc behind.
If Cinder knew what I was going to do, she'd probably tell me not to. Thus, I'd do it all the same and claim ignorance. She hadn't told me we were working with the White Fang anyway, so if their operations were just a bit dismantled, it wouldn't hurt anyone in the long run.
Thus it was with a heavy heart in my chest that I ended up walking once more through the streets of Vale with Blake by my side. While Yang and Jaune went for a certain famous Club, I'd follow the cat-faunus as we went through some of the seediest parts of the city.
"They're holding a recruitment rally in a warehouse in the industrial sector," Blake muttered, "We should be able to get in if you do as I say," she looked up at me. "Not all Faunus traits are easy to discern at first sight. Some just have extendable nails, or can change the color of their skin." When we reached the industrial sector, she placed a hesitant had over her bow, and then removed it. "This way, we won't be noticed too much."
Her cat ears flicked a bit to the right and to the left, probably feeling free for the first time in years.
"They do look cute," I said. "Pity you want to keep them hidden."
"It's not want, it's have to," Blake muttered back. "I don't want to be judged by what I am, but by what I do."
"Really? Because from where I'm standing, the only one who gets to decide what Blake Belladonna wears on her head is Blake Belladonna herself," I retorted with a chuckle. "And if someone's so worthless they judge people by something like their race, then do you really want to be worth something in their opinions?" I turned thoughtful. "I'd rather be despised by worthless people, than fake being someone I'm not, just so they'd all be my friends."
The irony wasn't lost on me.
It was lost on Blake, who smiled quietly to herself at that. "You make everything sound so simple and clear, you know-I-" she stopped, glancing at a graffiti nearby depicting a white fang symbol. "We're close," she whispered.
We were, indeed, close. With Blake by my side the bouncer didn't even both trying to uncover my Faunus heritage. He just handed us two white fang masks and as we put them on, a small part of me died. It died screaming.
It died ranting.
It died demanding the price of blood to be paid in full.
It died, but it did not stay dead.
My arms were crossed and my fingers squeezed tightly against my arms as we came to a halt in a crowd of filth, in a crowd of monsters, of animals that held no other purpose but that of being brought to the swift merciless justice of my blade. Disillusioned? Innocent until guilty? Perhaps some were. Amidst their broken corpses, I doubted I would give much of a damn in distinguishing the hardcore believers from the first-timers.
But even so, I held myself at bay. Not everyone was like those that had tortured me. Not everyone was like those that had kicked me. That had hit me. That had-how could I know? Maybe they were there. In this very same room as me, there was filth, that filth that thought it funny to periodically come down into a dark cell and beat the crap out of a teenager. Any normal teenager would have broken after a year. I hadn't, because I wasn't a normal teenager back then.
But it still didn't make it fine. The mask was making me claustrophobic. I couldn't-wouldn't-I had to get some air.
"So, as you've no doubt heard-" Roman Torchwick was on stage. When had he arrived? I was too much out of it to keep my mind firmly on the objective, but I had to. By my side, I could see Blake tense. "We've had a pretty successful run. You keep following me, and we'll keep showing those in power who's the boss-" his voice hazily left the corners of my mind.
My stomach was twisting and knotting. I wanted out.
I couldn't stay in the warehouse, not unless I screamed. I needed to scream. I needed to scream and make my way out. I wanted to scream. Scream. Scream. I had to-
I couldn't-my fingers itched-I-I didn't-but I wanted to. But I also didn't.
I took a few shaky breaths, even as Roman unveiled the Prototype Paladin.
"Taken from Atlas' latest mech assembly line, fresh off their industry and-"
I heard a beep.
Everyone heard it. The masked terrorists looked at one another as if their Scrolls had been responsible for it.
It was a strange thing. It was the beeping sound similar to that of a car activating. The Prototype Paladin beeped once. It beeped twice. And then it stood up and opened fire, unleashing a volley of machine gun and rocket-missile salvo that had me barely capable of moving backwards to avoid immediate dismemberment by excessive firepower while Blake's clone took the brunt of an assault aimed at her.
Most of the people in the warehouse did not fare well. They did not fare well at all.
This wasn't what Torchwick had planned, and it was pretty clear by how he was running away with Neopolitan aiding him. Meanwhile, Blake and I found refuge behind a crate. I removed my mask, gasping for air.
"What's going on!?" Blake screamed, her knuckles white as I could see the puddles of blood become a veritable lake across the warehouse's floor. "The-" there was the sound of metal hitting the ground harshly. The paladin was on the move.
"It must have activated its security system!" I yelled back at her, "We have to go for the exit."
Somebody screamed, and I winced as I knew what Blake was going to say. She was going to say that the White Fang didn't deserve this. She was going to say that we had to save them. She was going to-She was rushing towards the exit, without even glancing back.
I actually hesitated briefly before following behind her. The White Fang knew what they had signed up for, and if they hadn't, then it was no skin off my teeth.
Still, to think that someone would do the smart thing and install a Kill-Terrorist protocol on the Paladins...why hadn't that been done in canon? And if it had been done, then why hadn't it bee done now?
I was the only variable that had changed everything. Perhaps mother dearest had insisted on installing some kind of backup program meant to kill White Fang personnel on sight. It was a bit ruthless, but I wouldn't put it past her. Seeing how Penny was far less of a Person-Android and far more of a Bodyguard-Android, maybe she had poured some funding in seeking out how to best have her vengeance on the White Fang.
We were out of the industrial sector and on our way back to a more civilized part of Vale when a few police cars came strolling past us in a hurry, headed for the gunshots no doubts.
A resounding explosion, and the warehouse we had left behind catching up in smoke though, told me that nobody would know what had happened but us, and the few terrified survivors that might have escaped in the confusion.
"That was terrifying," Blake whispered.
"The Prototype was rigged," I muttered.
"It was," Blake mumbled, "But-they should have noticed. Did they have no one check their programming? There are some Faunus that work for the White Fang that are good with computers and Scrolls-they should have had them check."
I took a deeper breath once we were fully back in the main street of Vale, "Give Yang and Jaune a call before they get worried," I said. "I'll make a call of my own. My wife will kill me if she thinks I was involved in the explosion."
I needed to talk to the one person who knew more than me on the matter.
Cinder, what do you mean it was expected?
Cinder, I don't want a warehouse full of bodies as an anniversary gift! Nobody wants that!
There was some glancing my way, and myself being puzzled by it all. "So," Yang was the one to break the uncomfortable awkwardness that had somehow spread through our team throughout the day, "You came back the next day. Apology date went on for so long you missed the last Bullhead, or..."
"I've got a rented apartment in Vale," I said, "The Haven students arrived yesterday. I met my Love-Dove in Vale, and since it would be a bit too crass to put a sock out of our room's door," I let my words hang in the air.
"Yeah, duh. Why would you put a sock outside a door?" Jaune said, not really understanding where I was going with my words.
I looked at him, and then I looked up at Yang. "Oh no, I'm not explaining this to him," Yang said, both hands raised in surrender. "You missed punishment with Goodwitch by skipping breakfast. You owe us one."
"For...not getting involved in a food fight?" I pointed out.
"We lost because you weren't there to fight for the glory of the Blondie Kingdom!" Yang yelled back, sounding honestly offended. "You were too busy being a good husband!"
"How could you, Shade. We believed in you," Blake added, sounding sarcastic. The fact was, I had the distinct feeling she sounded sarcastic towards Yang's exaggeration of despair rather than my apparent betrayal. "Make it up for us by teaching Jaune the flowers and the bees."
"I know what the flowers and the bees are!" Jaune grumbled back. "I'm not that dense. Am I?" he then looked at me for confirmation.
I didn't give him an answer to that particular question. "Did I miss anything else?" I asked.
"Not much," Blake shrugged. "We wanted to go look for White Fang activity in Vale today after the lessons, that is if you're available and not already busy showing Beacon to your wife."
I chuckled, "She'll probably be sick of me after we spent yesterday attached by the hip, as the saying goes," I wriggled my eyebrows.
"Why? Was there an accident with glue or something?" Jaune asked, once more.
I watched Yang leave the room without another word, Blake following her swiftly.
I left too, leaving a befuddled Jaune Arc behind.
If Cinder knew what I was going to do, she'd probably tell me not to. Thus, I'd do it all the same and claim ignorance. She hadn't told me we were working with the White Fang anyway, so if their operations were just a bit dismantled, it wouldn't hurt anyone in the long run.
Thus it was with a heavy heart in my chest that I ended up walking once more through the streets of Vale with Blake by my side. While Yang and Jaune went for a certain famous Club, I'd follow the cat-faunus as we went through some of the seediest parts of the city.
"They're holding a recruitment rally in a warehouse in the industrial sector," Blake muttered, "We should be able to get in if you do as I say," she looked up at me. "Not all Faunus traits are easy to discern at first sight. Some just have extendable nails, or can change the color of their skin." When we reached the industrial sector, she placed a hesitant had over her bow, and then removed it. "This way, we won't be noticed too much."
Her cat ears flicked a bit to the right and to the left, probably feeling free for the first time in years.
"They do look cute," I said. "Pity you want to keep them hidden."
"It's not want, it's have to," Blake muttered back. "I don't want to be judged by what I am, but by what I do."
"Really? Because from where I'm standing, the only one who gets to decide what Blake Belladonna wears on her head is Blake Belladonna herself," I retorted with a chuckle. "And if someone's so worthless they judge people by something like their race, then do you really want to be worth something in their opinions?" I turned thoughtful. "I'd rather be despised by worthless people, than fake being someone I'm not, just so they'd all be my friends."
The irony wasn't lost on me.
It was lost on Blake, who smiled quietly to herself at that. "You make everything sound so simple and clear, you know-I-" she stopped, glancing at a graffiti nearby depicting a white fang symbol. "We're close," she whispered.
We were, indeed, close. With Blake by my side the bouncer didn't even both trying to uncover my Faunus heritage. He just handed us two white fang masks and as we put them on, a small part of me died. It died screaming.
It died ranting.
It died demanding the price of blood to be paid in full.
It died, but it did not stay dead.
My arms were crossed and my fingers squeezed tightly against my arms as we came to a halt in a crowd of filth, in a crowd of monsters, of animals that held no other purpose but that of being brought to the swift merciless justice of my blade. Disillusioned? Innocent until guilty? Perhaps some were. Amidst their broken corpses, I doubted I would give much of a damn in distinguishing the hardcore believers from the first-timers.
But even so, I held myself at bay. Not everyone was like those that had tortured me. Not everyone was like those that had kicked me. That had hit me. That had-how could I know? Maybe they were there. In this very same room as me, there was filth, that filth that thought it funny to periodically come down into a dark cell and beat the crap out of a teenager. Any normal teenager would have broken after a year. I hadn't, because I wasn't a normal teenager back then.
But it still didn't make it fine. The mask was making me claustrophobic. I couldn't-wouldn't-I had to get some air.
"So, as you've no doubt heard-" Roman Torchwick was on stage. When had he arrived? I was too much out of it to keep my mind firmly on the objective, but I had to. By my side, I could see Blake tense. "We've had a pretty successful run. You keep following me, and we'll keep showing those in power who's the boss-" his voice hazily left the corners of my mind.
My stomach was twisting and knotting. I wanted out.
I couldn't stay in the warehouse, not unless I screamed. I needed to scream. I needed to scream and make my way out. I wanted to scream. Scream. Scream. I had to-
I couldn't-my fingers itched-I-I didn't-but I wanted to. But I also didn't.
I took a few shaky breaths, even as Roman unveiled the Prototype Paladin.
"Taken from Atlas' latest mech assembly line, fresh off their industry and-"
I heard a beep.
Everyone heard it. The masked terrorists looked at one another as if their Scrolls had been responsible for it.
It was a strange thing. It was the beeping sound similar to that of a car activating. The Prototype Paladin beeped once. It beeped twice. And then it stood up and opened fire, unleashing a volley of machine gun and rocket-missile salvo that had me barely capable of moving backwards to avoid immediate dismemberment by excessive firepower while Blake's clone took the brunt of an assault aimed at her.
Most of the people in the warehouse did not fare well. They did not fare well at all.
This wasn't what Torchwick had planned, and it was pretty clear by how he was running away with Neopolitan aiding him. Meanwhile, Blake and I found refuge behind a crate. I removed my mask, gasping for air.
"What's going on!?" Blake screamed, her knuckles white as I could see the puddles of blood become a veritable lake across the warehouse's floor. "The-" there was the sound of metal hitting the ground harshly. The paladin was on the move.
"It must have activated its security system!" I yelled back at her, "We have to go for the exit."
Somebody screamed, and I winced as I knew what Blake was going to say. She was going to say that the White Fang didn't deserve this. She was going to say that we had to save them. She was going to-She was rushing towards the exit, without even glancing back.
I actually hesitated briefly before following behind her. The White Fang knew what they had signed up for, and if they hadn't, then it was no skin off my teeth.
Still, to think that someone would do the smart thing and install a Kill-Terrorist protocol on the Paladins...why hadn't that been done in canon? And if it had been done, then why hadn't it bee done now?
I was the only variable that had changed everything. Perhaps mother dearest had insisted on installing some kind of backup program meant to kill White Fang personnel on sight. It was a bit ruthless, but I wouldn't put it past her. Seeing how Penny was far less of a Person-Android and far more of a Bodyguard-Android, maybe she had poured some funding in seeking out how to best have her vengeance on the White Fang.
We were out of the industrial sector and on our way back to a more civilized part of Vale when a few police cars came strolling past us in a hurry, headed for the gunshots no doubts.
A resounding explosion, and the warehouse we had left behind catching up in smoke though, told me that nobody would know what had happened but us, and the few terrified survivors that might have escaped in the confusion.
"That was terrifying," Blake whispered.
"The Prototype was rigged," I muttered.
"It was," Blake mumbled, "But-they should have noticed. Did they have no one check their programming? There are some Faunus that work for the White Fang that are good with computers and Scrolls-they should have had them check."
I took a deeper breath once we were fully back in the main street of Vale, "Give Yang and Jaune a call before they get worried," I said. "I'll make a call of my own. My wife will kill me if she thinks I was involved in the explosion."
I needed to talk to the one person who knew more than me on the matter.
Cinder, what do you mean it was expected?
Cinder, I don't want a warehouse full of bodies as an anniversary gift! Nobody wants that!
If my guess from this is correct, then Cinder knows.
- Location
- Portugal
love-dove knows, oh boy
Are you sure? It was a toughtfull gift.
Are you sure? It was a toughtfull gift.
- Location
- Earth
Does Cinder know that Shade was captured by the White Fang?
LordOfPears12
Cat girl headpatter
- Location
- Land of pizza,pasta and lasagna.
They spent a couple years together there's a high chance she knows.
I think she considers the white fang as an expendable asset.
- Location
- Argentina
The guy has a scar with their simbol on his hand and unless he does hip dancing with her with gloves, i doubt it's hard to miss.
- Location
- United States
I think she's pieced it together. She did nurse him back to health, so she's probably seen his hand. He also admitted he was afraid of the White Fang finding him to Salem, but I can't remember if Cinder was still conscious at that point. Still, even if she wasn't, I wouldn't be surprised if Salem passed that info on.
EDIT - Looks like a bunch of people answered all at once.
LordOfPears12
Cat girl headpatter
- Location
- Land of pizza,pasta and lasagna.
Don't lie Wren.
Bun, bun really knows Wren's needs in detail
Me, first one.
- Location
- earth's dirty crust
But wren, it's not just a warehouse full o fb bodies! It's a warehouse filled with white fangs bodies!
Yes I know the difference is small or somewhat superficial especially to someone who have morals. It's a bunch of people that willingly, if unknowingly, advocate for violence. Mercy and nonlethal shutdown is a privilege at that point, not a basic right.
On a less morbid note, this event is rigged as it is to get willow schnee approval I guess.
Yes I know the difference is small or somewhat superficial especially to someone who have morals. It's a bunch of people that willingly, if unknowingly, advocate for violence. Mercy and nonlethal shutdown is a privilege at that point, not a basic right.
On a less morbid note, this event is rigged as it is to get willow schnee approval I guess.
I knew it! Cinder is actually working with Mama Willow who went insane with trying to kill all White Fang and possibly all faunus! Cinder's manipulating both sides with Torchwick w/ White Fang and Willow w/ Schnee Industries!
Considering that Cinder met him soon after the Whitefang published their final hostage video of him, it would not have been at all difficult for her to check out why her special someone was found with a whitefang mask.
Isolation while working with Salem could keep her in the dark for a while, but after that, she was pretty much guaranteed to figure it out.
Isolation while working with Salem could keep her in the dark for a while, but after that, she was pretty much guaranteed to figure it out.