“I think we should go out and look for him.” You said, raising your voice to be heard over the thunderous storm that was raging around the building you were in.

“What do you mean? Are ya out of your mind? He’s probably lurking out there somewhere under the rubble, and I’m not one to like walking head-first into traps like that.” Sora shot back, irritated.

“I think that… the rain is actually hurting him. Or at least it’s making things harder for it to come out and reach us. It’s made of something liquid, so it’s no surprise this violent storm is hindering its movements.” You tried to focus on your hearing, but the constant rumbling in the sky made it difficult to concentrate. Thy thunders far away almost resembled cannon fire.

Sora spat to the side. “You have a point. I saw some smoke coming from that weird jello-thing. Fair enough. I love that stupid idea of yours.” Sora said, her mood shifting suddenly to one of joy. Such an erratic behavior of the girl. She moved to step out of the building, but you stopped her.

“Just one more thing. My semblance isn’t working that well right now. The strong winds and the rain make it incredibly hard to control. On top of that, my hearing is impaired, loud noises and al that. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you out there as well as before if something happens. Please, take care?” You had to warn Sora about your current condition. It seemed both you and your enemy struggled against the harsh storm. Sora would likely have to take the lead this time.

“Are ya seriously chickening out? Alright, suit yourself princess. Let me take care of this one.” Sora stepped out of the building into the rain, the ground scattered with trash and shards of broken concrete.

“…I never said I wasn’t coming out.” You couldn’t let her taunt go unanswered. Was that a smirk on her face?

The cold sting from the downpour spread across your body, soaking you almost instantly. The deafening noise surrounding you from all sides dulled your hearing, leaving you with a vague feeling of being overwhelmed. You had relied too much on your enhanced hearing as of late; perhaps this was the perfect way to force you out of your comfort zone.

If only your enemy wasn’t a ruthless and violent psychopath, you might actually feel a bit more at ease with this training.

A forceful crash sounded to your left. Instinctively, you raised your sabers to block whatever it was. Luckily for you, it was just Sora, slamming the ground with her spinning chains to clear away the rubble. Pieces of wet trash and rotten meat scattered in all directions. You had to turn aside to avoid the fallout of such a distasteful maneuver.

“Is it really necessary to do that?” You called out as you approached Sora. She didn’t bother looking at you (Likely, she hadn’t heard). She just kept clearing the ground, a dome taking shape above her as her spinning chains deflected the rain partially.

(1/?)

Black liquid oozed towards her from some fragments of the rubble she had just destroyed. They moved quickly, but they lacked the strength to breach the defense Sora had with her spinning weapons. The liquid bounced off, cut apart into tiny pieces that scattered onto the ground, blending into the dirty swamp of trash on the concrete floor.

Something attacked you from behind. You knew, because your light-green Aura flared as it was damaged. You moved with the direction of the strike on instinct, using your Semblance to lighten your weight and propel yourself into a leap. As you turned around midair you saw small tendrils of shadows writhing right where you had just stood. The blow wasn’t particularly strong, but the fact that you had no way to safely predict the attacks made them a dangerous threat.

“Get yourself together, birdie, or I’m taking all the glory for this win!” Sora’s dome vanished as she extended both her chains towards the tendrils that just attacked you. They disappeared beneath some rocks, sizzling and moving as if they were snakes. But then, the daggers at the end of Sora’s chains erupted with a fiery explosion.

You had to cover yourself again with your arms, dazzled both by the strong sound of the explosion and the brightness of it. You managed to catch a glimpse of the shadowy snakes disintegrating, most likely due to their proximity from the blast.

You felt an adrenaline surge as you jumped towards your right side. You felt the graze of something that was trying to stab you from behind. More tendrils that tried to ambush you. This guy was a coward. He would never attack you fairly. You didn’t think of that in a demeaning manner (Maybe a tiny bit), but more as a strategic observation. He was only attacking you from your blind spots. This made them easier to predict, however it still felt quite unsettling.

Another dreadful sensation came from your left. You slashed in that direction, severing four tendrils just as they lunged towards you. The top-half of them still managed to touch your aura, igniting it faintly. The remaining parts retreated and hid into the ground again, pushed down by the rain as they lacked strength to stay up.

(2/?)

You wanted to jump into the air, use your arrows and attack from a distance. It felt far safer, but the rain would just push you down if you made yourself lighter. And if you made yourself heavier? Dodging with the same grace as before would become almost impossible. You were stuck, unable to damage the enemy as your slashes barely did anything to it.

Sora, on the other hand, was having quite a lot of fun, blasting away with constant explosions of fire by slamming her chains with now far heavier movements as she destroyed everything around her. Every now and them she managed to uncover some hiding place of the liquid darkness, obliterating it violently.

If you kept dodging and attacking in this manner then it would be just a matter of time before the enemy landed a hit on you again. You had to change something. And you had some ideas…

>Focus on using your Semblance to make the black liquid heavier. This would slow its movements, and it would help Sora indirectly, but it would also leave you open to attacks and unable to retaliate for a while. It would also drain your Aura more quickly.
>Scream to Sora to toss some dust vials. Maybe fire, or electricity or anything that might work. You weren’t particularly experienced with dust, but now was as good a time as any to learn.
> Maybe stalling was the right move. In the long run you would win this fight by clearing all the rubble. Help in this task by using your sabers and arrows to destroy hiding spots, forcing the liquid to retaliate.
>Other (Write-in)

>>6150935
>>Scream to Sora to toss some dust vials. Maybe fire, or electricity or anything that might work. You weren’t particularly experienced with dust, but now was as good a time as any to learn.

>>6150935
>Scream to Sora to toss some dust vials. Maybe fire, or electricity or anything that might work. You weren’t particularly experienced with dust, but now was as good a time as any to learn.

>>6150935
>Focus on using your Semblance to make the black liquid heavier. This would slow its movements, and it would help Sora indirectly, but it would also leave you open to attacks and unable to retaliate for a while. It would also drain your Aura more quickly.
Welcome back

>>6150935
>Scream to Sora to toss some dust vials. Maybe fire, or electricity or anything that might work. You weren’t particularly experienced with dust, but now was as good a time as any to learn.

Rolled 4 (1d4)

>>6151730

Thank you!

For everyone, gonna need (another) dice check. Dust stat is low so a high diff is expected. Best of three, DC varies depending on this dice result

1: Fire, DC 20, Crit 24
2: Electricity, DC 22, Crit 28
3: Ice, DC 22, Crit 26
4: Gravity, DC autopass, Crit 24

Rolled 7, 9, 9 = 25 (3d10)

>>6152884

Rolled 8, 7, 7 = 22 (3d10)

>>6152884

Rolled 5, 9, 4 = 18 (3d10)

>>6152884

>>6152884

The number of tendrils emerging from the ground increased drastically. Sure, they didn’t have too much force in them, but what began as just two or three had grown to nearly a dozen (Maybe even more). He was adapting to the rain, something that you weren’t able to do as easily.

You had to roll to escape a barrage of thrusts, lifting up your head after landing. You barely managed to slash at a few of them, leaping again to safety. The downpour and deafening explosions muddle your senses, leaving you largely disoriented. The tide of the battle was quickly turning against you. What about Sora? Maybe she was able to help you?

She was fine. Mostly. She was the main focus of the enemy, as at least three dozen shadowy whips kept trying to breach her spinning chains. She didn’t appear to be struggling much, but she wasn’t laughing now. She was fully concentrated, and that wasn’t a good sign. Sure, the explosions from her slams occasionally disintegrated the black liquid, but it would take time to fully eradicate that oozy substance, and time wasn’t something you had. Not now, with the enemy’s attacks growing increasingly aggressive.

He was going all in.

Your aura flared again as a grazing blow struck near the back of your leg. You jumped forward to evade the tendrils, but a net of darkness suddenly rose from the ground ahead of you. You jumped above it while spinning in the air as an emergency maneuve, narrowly avoiding it, only for countless spikes to erupt and elongate from the ground towards your flying body. You barely dodged them, deflecting some with your weapons. You felt a few of them hit your neck, your aura flaring again.

The force sent you hurtling toward Sora’s slashing dome. Hitting it would be absolutely disastrous for both of you. You lowered your weight on instinct with your Semblance, but the rain dragged you downward quite quickly.

The dark-haired girl saw you falling towards her. She stopped spinning her chains, and the countless tendrils surrounding her lunged, aiming to exploit her vulnerable state. Sora vanished in a blur as you felt something wrap you tightly around your waist. Sora had just used her Semblance to dash through the air and catch you, letting you both land a short distance away. You barely had a moment to react.

“I need some of your dust vials. Anything. We are in danger.” You said to Sora, steadying yourself beside her. She turned around, fixing her gaze o an advancing wall of black spikes that was getting closer each second.

“What?!” Sora shouted while glancing at you in confusion. Of course, she wasn’t able to hear you that well. Damnable rain.

“I said, dust! Vials! Now!” You screamed as loud as you could, extending your hand. You both were quickly illuminated as the sky erupted. Thunderstorms sure were awful when you were inside them.

(1/?)

Sora turned around to look at the wall of spikes as she moved her hand towards the inside of her jacket. She looked perplexed. She tossed you one vial without looking. You managed to catch it. It was small, barely bigger than a finger, and inside was dust of a blackish color. Was it wind dust? No, wind dust was green. Or maybe it was white? You couldn’t remember. You really needed to brush up on the basics.

Sora’s expression didn’t change. She looked confused. Scared? But why? No time for that. You snapped your weapon back into a bow, the twin sabers locking into place as you looked for an insertion tube. Where was the latch for the dust vials? How could you have forgotten something so important?

“It’s light.” Sora said out loud. You barely managed to hear her through the heavy downpour. A deafening thunderclap shook the air around you. It felt as if your entire being was shaking. Your weapon fell on the ground as a wave of nausea overcame you, instinctively covering your ears.

This is why you hated storms.

“W-what?” You stammered, dropping to your knees and quickly grabbing your bow again and searching for the vial compartment. It was near the middle, you were sure… There it was! Slightly above your right hand near the left side! No, both sides! You could insert multiple vials at once! How stupid of you to forget that.

“What do you mean light?” You shouted again, straining to be heard over the storm. You struggled to shove the vial of black dust into the compartment. The mechanism wouldn’t close. Maybe there was a button you could push? Another latch? A voice command? Fuck, you were getting desperate.

“Light! Light hurts him! After the lighting struck, the liquid started sizzling again as if it was burning!” Sora exclaimed proudly. You weren’t able to confirm that. You had to trust her on this one. This damn vial wasn’t fitting inside your bow. Was it stuck? Please, not now. Please.

Your disorientation got worse as Sora spun around, pulling you with her to with another dash. You heard the sound of concrete being crushed to your left. Did the tendrils attack again? The ringing in your ears from the thunder’s roar made all your thoughts feel wrong, muddled.

“Shit. No time!” Sora yelled, dropping you to the ground as she turned around while her chains started spinning in a protective arc. You couldn’t make sense of what was happening around you. You had to do something. Fuck it. Your bow couldn’t cut it. Maybe a lucky arrow would save both of your lives. You raised your bow, aiming just past the side of Sora’s nape into the shifting, misty darkness.

The vial sticking out from the left side of your bow twisted slightly, sliding smoothly into the weapon. It did so automatically when you aimed with your bow. Fucking mechanical parts. How shameful of you to forget how your own weapon worked.

(2/?)

File: SemblanceInteraction.png (713 KB, 831x590)

713 KB PNG

You loosed an arrow into the darkness.

You didn’t know where it would land, or what was behind it, or even what you hoped to hit.

There was no point grieving or falling into despair. You just had to trust. If this was the end, you would face it with dignity.

Time was moving slower. Maybe it was your adrenaline? You saw the light black-purple streak from your arrow fly towards the darkness.

It detonated just in front of Sora, hitting something that was encircling her. Encircling both of you. A relentless, plasma-like darkness that tried to engulf you. The black oozed spilled and writhed. Your arrow didn’t seem to hurt it. Its mass was immense, overwhelming both you and Sora.

It moved closer towards your sides. It was ready to strike. Sora was nowhere in sight. Dodging while on the ground was out of the question. If you were going to fall, might as well save Sora’s life. Was the arrow useless? Didn’t matter anymore.

Raising your hand, you tried to use your Semblance to lighten the oppressive black liquid. It would swallow you faster, sure, but maybe this would give your friend a few precious seconds to escape.

You felt your Aura pour out from you as you resigned to your death, closing your eyes. At least you were happy that you made a difference, however small. That was what you always wanted, right? To help others. To change the world for the better, to…

…

…

Why wasn’t the liquid hurting you?

You opened your eyes, feeling completely dumbfounded. Everything in front of you seemed blurry. The liquid was indeed surrounding you, yet it was as if it was petrified. Well, not exactly. It was moving, although barely. You reached out with your other hand, touching it. As your fingers made contact, you managed to push it aside effortlessly.

You saw Sora petrified while black liquid was held back, suspended in the air, forming what looked like a perfect curve. Some pieces of glass and rubble nearby were floating was well. Was time stopped? No. No it wasn’t. You could still hear the rain above you, yet it wasn’t falling. It diverted sideways, repelled by some invisible force shaping a dome around you.

You stood. You were able to move. It felt… weird. Liquidly, but you could do it. Your hearing was getting better, catching the sound of rain that no longer struck your skin. What was happening? Was this the work of the arrow? Was this your Semblance? Something external? Maybe you got help from somewhere or someone?

You tried to lower the ‘dosage’ of your Semblance on the liquid, restoring its normal weight. It started moving on its own again, lunging towards you. Fortunately, it barely had any speed, allowing you to make it lighter once more. It froze again mid-air. So, it was your Semblance? You made Sora’s weight normal again. She felt to her knees, clutching her chest and gasping frantically for air.

(3/?)

“Are you ok?” was all you managed to say. Speaking felt weirdly off. Slippery. Too smooth. Difficult to describe.

“I… couldn’t… breathe…” Sora said, her voice labored, as she looked around in confusion. The dome of rain shimmered above, the water surrounding it as if you were inside an invisible bubble inside an aquarium. Inside, the vast pools of black liquid kept frozen in place.

“Was it… because of him?” You talked again. Your throat felt ached, yet pleasant. Maybe the liquid tried to suffocate Sora? Odd. You thought of it as far crueler.

“No, dumbass! It was you! I couldn’t breathe because I couldn’t move! I wasn’t even able to blink! I felt like a fucking ghost! I almost passed out! Fuck… my heart…” Sora touched her own chest, grimacing in pain. Her eyes closed as she struggled for breath, but at least she was still conscious.

What had caused this? You made everything around you lighter. Sora, the dark liquid, everything nearby except for yourself.

…so, using your Semblance while inside this gravity pocket paralyzed everything? The enemy? The floating rubble? Sora’s lungs? How did it work? Would you be affected too if you made your own weight lighter? What if you made things heavier?

You had a moment to think. Maybe multiple. Maybe a half a minute? Maybe two? Maybe an hour? Only five seconds? You couldn’t tell. Either way, it was time to pick your priorities.

> Inspect Sora. Make sure she’s alright. You don’t really know the side effects of this strange interaction of your Semblance, and she didn’t seem well.
> Try to investigate more about what happened around you. Touch things, experiment with your Semblance while inside this bubble, the gravity field surrounding it, interact with the environment.
> Everything else could wait. Light wounded the enemy, and Sora likely still had some dust vials with her. Use them to ignite everything around you with maybe fire or another element. Make sure this madman feels his first defeat.
> Other (Write-in)

>>6154387
>> Everything else could wait. Light wounded the enemy, and Sora likely still had some dust vials with her. Use them to ignite everything around you with maybe fire or another element. Make sure this madman feels his first defeat.

>>6154387
>Inspect Sora. Make sure she’s alright. You don’t really know the side effects of this strange interaction of your Semblance, and she didn’t seem well.

>>6154387
> Inspect Sora. Make sure she’s alright. You don’t really know the side effects of this strange interaction of your Semblance, and she didn’t seem well.

>>6154387
> Inspect Sora. Make sure she’s alright. You don’t really know the side effects of this strange interaction of your Semblance, and she didn’t seem well.
Make sure she isn't dying

>>6154387

You hurried to Sora, helping her lie on the ground. Medicine wasn’t really your strong suit, but those first aid courses from a few years back had to count for something. Surely some of it would stick.

Her breathing was ragged and uneven. She wasn’t opening her eyes either, her face frozen in an expression of strained pain. You moved your hand towards her neck to check her pulse.

“What the… fuck are you doing?” Sora whispered, annoyed. Her pulse was faint. It was luck that you managed to feel it. Maybe you were doing things wrong? No. It was weak, and its rhythm felt disturbingly off.

“Making sure you are ok.” You replied, resting your head closer to her chest. You shifted your ear lower to her neck. This would give you a better assessment of her current condition. She tried to push you away, but she lacked the strength to do so.

You heard her heartrate with ease. It was slow. Too slow. It was slowly quickening up, yet it felt strange. “I can’t feel my fingers,” she whispered. You pulled back to meet her gaze, taking her left hand gently. Her fingers felt cold and wet. You did some light pressure on them.

“Are you sure you can’t feel them?” Panic began to set in. Whatever had happened was your fault. Gravity dust wasn’t supposed to be this dangerous. You never meant to hurt her. Could this have lasting effects? You wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself if that was the case.

“Ouch! Stop. Not so strong.” She yelped in pain, pulling her hand away from you. Her breathing got steadier as she blinked her eyes open. “I feel so fucking bad. Like I’m floating. What the fuck did you do, you crazy bitch?” Sora glared at you.

“I… I used my Semblance. I made you lighter so that you could move easier. So that you could escape. It didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m really, really sorry. Can... can I help you somehow? Is there anything you need-“ You stammered, feeling guilt tightening your chest. Sora cut you off with a sharp clicking sound from her tongue.

“Not now. And just when I thought that I knew you…” Sora pushed you away. Though still unsteady, she was stronger now. You let her go. “To think that a friend would pull this on me… and in cold blood, no less. Makes ya wonder, huh? Maybe I should think twice about hanging out with ya…” Sora turned around to give you her back. She stumbled to the side, almost falling. When you reached out to help, her furious glare made you stop.

“I’m serious, I didn’t mean to! I never would’ve done this if I had known what was going to happen. I panicked, I was trying to your life, but everything happened so fast, I never knew this would happen, and…” Sora’s expression couldn’t hide a grinning smile. Wasn’t she angry just moments ago? Was she… teasing you?

(1/?)

Sora burst out laughing, doubling over as she clutched her chest. “Oh fuck, it hurts.” She managed between laughs, wincing in pain while breaking into a coughing fit.

“You can be a real asshole sometimes, you know that?” You said to her, standing up angrily. Hurting someone unintentionally was an emotional weak spot for you, and she just fucking faked being offended. The fucking audacity. Your hands throbbed as you clenched them tightly.

Sora kept laughing and coughing. “Only sometimes? Guess I need to step up my game. Can’t let your righty-goodyness vibes rub off on me.”

“I was seriously worried about you. What were you thinking, faking that?” You stepped toward her, ready to press her further, but froze. The hand she coughed into was smeared with blood.

“Yeah, I know, I’m a bitch. But you? You can be a real monster sometimes, y’know? And I mean that as a compliment. That’s what I like about ya. Don’t worry, I forgive you, however now you owe me three favors.” A faint trail of blood slipped from her left nostril.

“…why three?” You felt fearful, weak, maybe not as guilty as before but still bad. You really disliked the idea that her internal wounds were caused by you. How had they even happened?

“First of all, because I came here to help ya. Second, because that dust vial you used was expensive as fuck. And third, because ya almost killed me.” Sora grinned faintly. “Don’t worry, I’ll try to not take too much advantage of it. Maybe I’ll make ya give me a stupid amount of money, or force ya to clean my room forever, or do whatever else strikes my fancy. Aye? Deal?” Sora wiped the blood from her nose once it reached her lip, wiping it away with the side of her jacket as her gaze shifted toward the swirling black ooze that was lingering around you while floating.

You were speechless.

“Now, care to do me the honors and burn this bitch up?” Sora pulled out two vials of red dust from withing her jacket. “I’d do so myself, but that would make it four favors in total.” She extended her bloodied hand, offering both vials. Her hand… no, her entire arm, was shaking.

You took the vials, sliding them into the side-latches of your bow. You morphed your weapon into a pair of dual sabers. Gears near each blade spun faintly, and the edges flared brightly into a searing orange-red. “I… fine. Let me clean this up. You just… rest. And again, I’m sorry for all that.”

Sora dropped onto the floor, leaning her head back with a loud sigh. “Stop saying sorry for everything. It makes ya look weak as fuck. Look, what happened, happened. You say sorry to me one more time and I’ll make sure y’regret it.”

(2/?)

You slashed through the pieces of floating black ooze inside the bubble. Each cut left a trail of reddish light, sparking small floating flames within its trail. The fiery light from your strikes quickly began to ‘boil’ the dark liquid. “Saying sorry isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength. Not everyone has the will to admit they regret something.”

“Take yer thumb outta your ass, sister. Preach that silly shit to somebody else. Doing that makes you look weak, and if people think you’re weak they’ll screw with ya.” Sora sprawled on the ground, hands behind her head, watching as you disintegrated the black ooze that was swirling around.

A thunderous light flashed from the sky again. You noticed faints trails of smoke rise from the shadowy remnants inside the bubble.

“To each their own, I suppose.” You sighed, eager to end the conversation. You two had very different views on how to handle things. Convincing her through words would be a waste of time. A few slashes here and there, and almost all the ooze caught inside the gravity field was nearly gone. Your aura flickered. Time was running out. What would happen when your Semblance failed? Would the enemy strike again? Was more of the liquid waiting beyond the bubble?

“Nah, fuck that. There you go again. Letting me win this argument. You gotta be meaner, less passive, more about fucking up others that don’t agree with ya. How the fuck does that work? In battle, you’re a damn monster, but outside of it, you’re all sugary pancakes with an annoying dose of holier-than-thou sprinkled on top. Its killed or be killed out there. You gotta stop being so soft.”

You didn’t had time to respond. Your Semblance would deactivate in probably less than a minute, and you had to exterminate the dangerous mass floating around. A cut here, a slash there, again, again, and done. No more black liquid in sight.

“…I guess me saving your life doesn’t count for one favor, right?” You asked, exhausted. Everything inside the bubble (Aside from some rubble here and there) was purged. But you couldn’t relax. Any attack from the outside could come at any moment, and your Semblance wouldn’t be able to help you this time.

Sora watched you take a combat stance, slowly rising to her feet as she shuffled towards your side, her daggers and chains clinking weakly against her legs. She was too drained to fight, maybe. You had to protect her. “Pffft. Yeah, right. Absolutely not, but nice try,” she said, spitting to the side and coughing lightly, smiling.

(3/?)

Your Aura flickered again before fading entirely. The rubble suspended in the gravity field around you began to drift slowly toward the floor, along with the water that had enveloped the dome. It looked like a wave falling in slow motion. Amusing, but frustrating.

You stood motionless for a few seconds, Sora behind you, your eyes scanning the darkness of the ruined neighborhood. The rain was gradually losing its intensity, yet it remained heavy and relentless. Without your Aura to shield you, every drop was a reminder of how exposed and vulnerable you were.

Yet no attacks came. What were just a few moments turned into almost half a minute of you both waiting under the slow-motion rain. The gravity bubble surrounding you continued to shrink each passing second.

>Search around for any lingering specks of black-liquid that may still be hiding. You had your fiery sabers, and they would give you a great advantage if another fight broke out. You had to defeat him completely, not giving him a chance to recover.
>The communication device the enemy used was probably nearby. You vaguely recalled where it had fallen. Go there and find it, try to know what the enemy Huntsman wanted to say about his defeat.
>That was it. You won. Now, time to head back, maybe find some nearby shelter to wait for the rain to stop. Your Aura was drained, and Sora was in no condition to fight. Pushing for more combat would be reckless. Survival came first.
>Other (Write in)

>>6155437
>Search around for any lingering specks of black-liquid that may still be hiding. You had your fiery sabers, and they would give you a great advantage if another fight broke out. You had to defeat him completely, not giving him a chance to recover.
We aren't safe until this thing is dead. Sora wanted us to be more ruthless. Follow her advice for once.

>>6155437
>>Search around for any lingering specks of black-liquid that may still be hiding. You had your fiery sabers, and they would give you a great advantage if another fight broke out. You had to defeat him completely, not giving him a chance to recover.

>>6155437
>Search around for any lingering specks of black-liquid that may still be hiding. You had your fiery sabers, and they would give you a great advantage if another fight broke out. You had to defeat him completely, not giving him a chance to recover.

>>6155437
>>Search around for any lingering specks of black-liquid that may still be hiding. You had your fiery sabers, and they would give you a great advantage if another fight broke out. You had to defeat him completely, not giving him a chance to recover.

>>6155437
>Focus increased from 3.5 to 4! Your Aura usage now surpasses the average Huntsman. Bigger reserves and improved efficiency are always welcome.
>Dust increased from 2 to 3! You can now handle all basic types of Dust with ease both in melee and ranged combat. Advanced types are usable but remain risky.
>New trait! Gravity Dust Affinity (Unrefined): Using gravity Dust together with your Semblance produces abnormal (and extremely dangerous!) results. It seems to amplify your Semblance exponentially, though the exact effects remain unpredictable.

“We need to split up”. You said, glancing around. Most of the battlefield was clear, but plenty of places still offered cover for the remaining liquid. A nearby house? Sewer drains? And… more corpses? You shuddered, the memory of them rushing back to your mind.

“What?” Sora shouted, her voice hoarse from the coughing. You were unsure if it was because of her current wounds or if she was catching a cold. You both had been under the cold rain for quite a while, after all.

“Never mind. Come with me.” You placed a hand gently on her shoulder, guiding her as you moved. You leaned closer so that she could hear you over the rain. “My hearing is still not what it was. Can you use your sight or something to help me spot him?”

“I’ll try. Rain is fucking me up too somewhat, so don’t ya expect miracles.” Sora said while kneeling on the floor, her gaze scanning the are with full concentration.

Might as well play “bodyguard” while she scouted. Leaving her alone was asking for trouble, and at least you had some ranged options to keep you both covered. With your bow drawn, you charged it using the last remnants of fire Dust, enough for maybe just under a dozen standard shots.

Sora was completely focused. You couldn’t help but admire how she could switch to serious mode even when in the thick of danger. She was in critical condition, Aura almost depleted, most likely exhausted, under the rain and with an unknown number of internal injuries weighing her down. And she kept pushing on regardless. Sure, she was a rascal at heart, but when it mattered most you knew you could rely on her.

“I think I found him…” She narrowed her eyes, gazing towards a nearby street close to your right. You raised your bow, aiming in that direction. You felt that it was possible to overload an arrow with Dust for a much larger explosion, should you need that amount of firepower.

“Should I shoot?” You tried to focus your sight, but it was no use. Details in that direction remained blurry at best. The rain started to get calmer with each passing second, but even with a clear sky you knew spotting such a cunning enemy would be quite an achievement.

(1/?)

Sora’s left hand hovered beside her, preparing to give a signal. You were ready to fire. Maybe an overcharged arrow was overkill? You pressed a button near your index and middle fingers, adjusting the Dust levels of each shot. Cool feature. Maybe a mid-charged arrow would suffice.

“Nah. I don’t think that’s him. Or maybe it was. I’m not sure, and I’m not dumb enough to get any closer”. Sora’s hand lowered slowly. Was she doubting herself? She had an amazing eyesight. Maybe you could lend a hand.

You let loose an arrow, angling it slightly upward. It struck the top of an electricity pole, sparking a small fiery explosion. The burst of light dissipated the darkness for just a brief moment.

Sora stayed quite for a few seconds. Trying to find anything suspicious by sight alone was futile, at least for you. The fire and embers were quickly snuffed out by the rain. “Not sure if it was him. Maybe he was retreating, y’know? Shadows can easily make ya look at things that weren’t there, so take it with a grain of salt or whatever. Now can we please get away from this damn rain?” Sora stretched as she stood, her back arching slightly. You noticed she was nearly a full head taller than you. Oddly intimidating.

“Fine. Do you want to find shelter until de rain calms, or head straight toward…” Your words were cut off by a vibration near your utility belt. You both felt it and heard it. You felt a chilling sensation move behind your back, creeping toward your neck. If this sensation was the black liquid, then you were likely done for.

Seconds later, you felt it vibrate again. This time, it was clear that it was your Scroll. The rush of adrenaline from the fight, combined with the storm barely calming down had masked its constant buzzing, apparently.

You reached for your pouch, pulling out your Scroll and opening it. Inside, a barrage of messages filled the screen. At least fifty notifications, maybe more. All from various white Fang contacts. Most were from Taylor, along with several missed calls.

Poor guy, worrying about you so much.

“Sora, find us a place for basic shelter. I need to update T on our situation.” You pushed some buttons, calling directly.

“Put the little puppy on speaker. I don’t wanna be left out.” Sora walked beside you, her pace slow. Nearby, there was a bar with most of its windows still intact and a (mostly) solid roof. It would do.

“Thank god you finally answered. What happened? Are you okay? Comms have been acting strangely because to the climate.” Taylor’s voice came through with faint static, but it was mostly clear. He sounded distraught, and with good reason. Knowing someone was genuinely concerned for your wellbeing felt… nice. “Hey there, T, don’t worry. I’m…”

(2/?)

Something warm and musky engulfed your head completely from behind. It was black, rough, and had the worn texture of old leather. Sora’s jacket? You fought to pull it off, but before you could, she wrapped her arms tightly around you from behind, pinning you in place.

“Aye aye, cap’. Its me, Susie the damn birdie. I found a stash of seeds and I couldn’t help myself. Sorry for being so irresponsible cap, this sorry dumbass will pay ya back by doing all of Sora’s chores forever! And don’t ya dare say no or I’m gonna cry like the little princess I am!” Sora’s voice rang out in a mocking tone, drowning out your words.

You thrashed harder, but she tightened her grip. She wasn’t letting go on her antics. You knew you could overpower her if you wanted. Maybe the usual ‘you’ would have held back, but if she wanted you to be ruthless, then so be it.

As you tried to break free from her grip, you heard Taylor sigh on the other end of the call “I see, Sora’s with you. Is she also alright?”

You tugged at the jacket on your head, but she yanked it tighter, refusing to let go. Maybe you could use your Semblance… no, your Aura was empty. Fine, rough and violent, then. Maybe that would make her stop. Her giggling only irritated you more. Maybe a kick to the shin? No, too harsh. She was injured. Then again, maybe she deserved it a little…

“Are you two seriously messing around right now? Well, it doesn’t matter. At least you both are alive. A silver lining I’m not going to spoil. S, let me be direct. Plenty has gone wrong while you’ve been gone. I’m need you both here, ASAP. Relaxation isn’t a luxury we can afford right now. Tay’s voice carried a hint of relief despite the urgency.

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll both go right at once. Don’t fret, Taytay.” Sora said, her voice light. You had to let go of your Scroll to get a better grip on her. By grabbing her left wrist and pushing against her, you managed to free half your head from her jacket. Just in time to see her press the “end call” button on your Scroll.

“What are you…” You muttered, but she cut you off.

“Before you say anything, I say we deserve some rest. We both almost died today. Whatever happened back there, I say Tay has it under control. Lets wait for the rain to stop first, aye? I don’t want anyone thinking they have me at their peck and call. Shitty pun intended.” Sora grabbed a nearby table, dragging it closer to another, sprawling across both while using her jacket as a makeshift pillow.

(3/?)

> Maybe she had a point right there. You narrowly escaped death just minutes ago, and you didn’t want the White Fang thinking they could pull your strings that easily. Freedom was something you valued. Rest, even for a short while, sounded appealing before returning to base.
> Persuade Sora that whatever happened was clearly significant. Tay sounded worried, and leaving him alone to handle… whatever situation he was dealing with didn’t sit right with you.
> Staying idle didn’t feel right either. Sora had endured an intense fight. Tell her that she could rest while you kept watch. It wasn’t that you expected trouble, but… well, yeah, you did. Just a bit. You would rest when you had a chance, but not for now.
> Other (Write in)

>>6157260
>Maybe she had a point right there. You narrowly escaped death just minutes ago, and you didn’t want the White Fang thinking they could pull your strings that easily. Freedom was something you valued. Rest, even for a short while, sounded appealing before returning to base.

>>6157260
>Staying idle didn’t feel right either. Sora had endured an intense fight. Tell her that she could rest while you kept watch. It wasn’t that you expected trouble, but… well, yeah, you did. Just a bit. You would rest when you had a chance, but not for now.

>>6157260
>Staying idle didn’t feel right either. Sora had endured an intense fight. Tell her that she could rest while you kept watch. It wasn’t that you expected trouble, but… well, yeah, you did. Just a bit. You would rest when you had a chance, but not for now.

>>6157260
>Persuade Sora that whatever happened was clearly significant. Tay sounded worried, and leaving him alone to handle… whatever situation he was dealing with didn’t sit right with you.

>>6157260
>> Staying idle didn’t feel right either. Sora had endured an intense fight. Tell her that she could rest while you kept watch. It wasn’t that you expected trouble, but… well, yeah, you did. Just a bit. You would rest when you had a chance, but not for now.

>>6157260

You dragged a nearby chair closer to the corner of the room. The chill in the air was barely tolerable. While Aura regulated temperatures on its own, it wasn’t perfect, and yours was too weak to shield you from the windy drafts that slipped in through the partially collapsed roof and broken windows.

“You go rest. I’ll make sure no one sneaks up on us.” You took a look around. Maybe there was something you could use to cover yourself? Some discarded clothing? At the far end of the room, you spotted a jacket. Blood streaks trailed out from the room, and just beyond them, a disembodied hand. No. You weren’t desperate enough to wear a dead person’s clothes. Best to look for something else.

“Are ya kidding me? What’s the point of staying here if you aren’t relaxing?” Sora blurted, turning her head towards your side while sprawled across both tables. How could the cold not bother her? Maybe her Aura wasn’t as depleted as yours.

“I feel more relaxed knowing some creepy dark thing isn’t going to sneak up on us. Besides, you need to rest. You look awful.” Your eyes drifted to the nearby sofas. Maybe you could tear off some of the leather? It looked like a mix of leather and cotton. No, too much work. That would have to be a last resort. Was there anything else nearby you could use to cover yourself?

“And I should spit on your face, dumbass. Rest, we earned it. Stop being so stuck up.” She turned away from you. The droplets of heavy rain falling behind you resonated against the wall. It made for a soothing rhythm. Rain was always nicer when you weren’t standing directly under it.

“I’m honoring your request, but on my own terms. If you want me to be less obedient in general then that also applies to you.” Near the center of the room, under a few tables, a stack of newspapers caught your eye. The top sheets looked damp. Maybe the ones underneath were dry enough to use as makeshift blankets? Were you really that desperate? Would you stoop so low as to wrap yourself in newspaper?

“Fucking princess. Fine, do whatever you want. Wake me up if something happens.” Sora’s body relaxed. You should’ve felt good about winning the argument. But stuck up? A princess?

Darn it all. You grabbed the newspapers to cover yourself, fueled by spite and anger. They were powerful motivators. Was Sora right to call you a princess? No. You’d prove her wrong. She might excel at plenty of things, but she wasn’t always right.

-------

(1/?)

-------

It had been almost three hours. Your scroll still had some charge left. It was designed to last for long stretches. Once your Aura stabilized enough to shield you from the cold you decided to discard the crumpled newspaper you had been using as a blanket. The heavy rain had eased into a drizzle, which was a welcome relief. You almost nodded off once or twice, but staying awake while keeping watch was easier than expected. True, you barely had any time to rest, and a few stray noises startled you now and then, but they were probably just rats scurrying around.

You reopened the conversation you had with Taylor on your scroll. He had messaged you, quite worried about your absence. You decided to tell him the truth, at least the version that suited your situation. Both you and Sora were in bad shape. Returning to base in the rain would leave you vulnerable to an ambush, and you needed to focus on helping her recover. None of that was a lie. Taylor took it well enough, though the tone of his words hinted at a trace of disappointment.

You had plenty of time to think. And the more you did, the more Sora’s words began to make sense You were getting too invested in the White Fang. Too nice, too obedient. You had joined out of a sense of obligation, determined to help them. But somewhere along the way, you’d become their ideal follower. Sure, Taylor was a fair boss, and you felt a twinge of guilt whenever you disobeyed him. Yet deep down, you couldn’t see yourself staying with the White Fang forever. What would your friends think? Your teachers? Your family, sif you ever saw them again? Still, the idea of using the White Fang as a stepping stone felt dishonest, a betrayal of your own values and ideals.

Maybe you could help them long enough to settle the moral debt you felt you owed? Would they let you leave? Taylor might, with enough persuasion. Maybe Sora wanted to get out, too? What was her motivation for being involved? She didn’t seem to hate humans. Sure, she insulted them sometimes, but she was equally a dick to everyone. You’d have to ask her about it sometime. And Tay? Maybe you could convince him to leave with you both? Or were his ties to the organization too deep? He was fair, and if he hated humans, he hid it well.

An incoming call. Speak of the devil. Tay was calling. The notification sound startled Sora. She groianed, curling up into a ball as she muttered complaints, trying to fall back asleep. You glanced at her, and then answered the call.

“Hey? Is something wrong?” You asked him. You’d already explained your situation to him, and he rarely called unless it was urgent.

“Look. I’ll be blunt. I need your help with something. Just you. Is Sora there with you?” Tay’s voice crackled through your scroll.

(2/?)

“Yes, I’m here, fuckwad.” Sora cut in, her voice groggy and irritated. “I was trying to sleep and you woke me up. What’s so fucking important that you had to call?” Sora’s annoyed voice answered for you.

“Two things.” Tay’s voice was smooth and calm, as always. “First, we have a meeting. Tonight. The top dogs of all the city’s faction were kind enough to send us an invitation for an emergency meeting near the city square. This is the first time this has happened, and I wanted you, Susie, to come with me as my second.”

A meeting with the city’s leaders? And in just an hour? You were still exhausted, barely recovering from your watch.

“And… should we expect a fight? What do they want from us? And why me as a second? What about Carmine? Isn’t she, you know, higher up in the hierarchy and all that?”

“That was the original plan, yes. It’s… complicated. Look, don’t stress over it. Everything’s been handled. Sort off. She won’t be coming with us.” Tay hesitated, his tone becoming slower and more careful. “And… don’t take this personally, Sora, but I think your skills and talents are better suited for other tasks. I didn’t want to trouble you with boring diplomatic affairs. You should not come with us.”

“Yer goddamn right. I want to take my vacation days. And I want to come along. We both need a break from of all this almost-dying nonsense.” Sora’s voice sounded steadier as she sat on the table, stretching and letting out a yawn.

“Vacation days…? What are you…? You know what, fine. I’ll see what I can do. But this meeting is crucial. Susie, can we meet halfway? I need to go over some important details with you before we arrive. We can’t afford to mess up our first meeting with them.”

“Uhm… sure. Sure, Tay, we can do that. We’ll both head straight to base right away.” You shot a sharp look at Sora, who responded with another yawn and a baffled expression, as if she was saying ‘what?’. “And what about that second thing you wanted to tell us?” You asked.

“How would you feel with a promotion?”

The quiet that inundated the room was suffocating.

“Promotion? But why? You mean… I’d be Sora’s rank or something?” Confusion clouded your thoughts, and your heart raced with anxiety. You’d just considered quitting, and now Taylor was talking about promoting you?

“Not exactly. Look. I think it was a mistake to bring this up now. Its just that… there’s a lot on my mind. I apologize. We’ll discuss this further when we meet. Sora, please head back to base. That’s an order.” With that, the call abruptly ended. Tay’s uncharacteristic lack of courtesy left you unsettled.

(3/?)

“What the fuck is that guy thinking? Giving me orders? And promoting you while ignoring me? He knows damn well he can’t boss me around. I’m giving him a black eye. You know what? Let’s go meet him. I want answers. The fucking balls of this dude…” Sora was ready for a fight, fired up and brimming with energy. However, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. This wasn’t like Tay at all. Was everything all right?

>Tell Sora that both of you could go meet him. You both deserved answers, and your bond with her was more important than whatever White Fang nonsense this might be.
>Suggest that Sora accompany you, but to stay sneaky. You didn’t want to betray Tay’s trust in you. You’d speak with him alone, and Sora could handle whatever information she managed to gather.
>Things felt off. Tay was acting way out of character. Maybe it was best to go alone. Tell Sora that you should respect his wishes. Maybe he wanted her back at base because something was happening?
>Other (Write in)

>>6161193
>>Things felt off. Tay was acting way out of character. Maybe it was best to go alone. Tell Sora that you should respect his wishes. Maybe he wanted her back at base because something was happening?

>>6161193
>Suggest that Sora accompany you, but to stay sneaky. You didn’t want to betray Tay’s trust in you. You’d speak with him alone, and Sora could handle whatever information she managed to gather.

>>6161193
>>Things felt off. Tay was acting way out of character. Maybe it was best to go alone. Tell Sora that you should respect his wishes. Maybe he wanted her back at base because something was happening?

>>6161193
>Things felt off. Tay was acting way out of character. Maybe it was best to go alone. Tell Sora that you should respect his wishes. Maybe he wanted her back at base because something was happening?

>>6161193
>Suggest that Sora accompany you, but to stay sneaky. You didn’t want to betray Tay’s trust in you. You’d speak with him alone, and Sora could handle whatever information she managed to gather.

>>6161193

“Something feels off, Sora. Maybe we should just do what he wants.” You stood up, stretching and taking deep breaths. Good way to calm your nerves and to test how your body felt. It didn’t feel quite right. Tingling sensations prickled through you, accompanied by pain, fatigue and a slight headache. But you could still move well enough. A few days of rest might be enough to recover from all this.

“No, fuck that. I wanna know too.” Sora swung her weapon toward a nearby window, shattering it with a sharp crash. She was frustrated, you could tell.

“Let me speak with him alone first. If I find anything interesting, I’ll fill you in later. Besides, maybe something bad happened at base, and he wants you to handle it” A small white lie mixed with speculation. A bit manipulative on your part, sure, but this was for the best. Tay’s trust wasn’t something you wanted to break.

Sora groaned dramatically. “Fiiiine. But now you owe me… how many favors?” She started tapping her fingers one by one, counting.

“We’ll settle how many favors I owe once all this is over. If anything important happens, send me a message, alright?” You said, while Sora started heading towards the door with her back turned to you. She flipped you off with one hand while giving a thumbs-up with the other. You couldn’t help but chuckle.

Now it was time to head to where Tay wanted to meet. There was no umbrella nearby, and the rain was still going on. Bad luck.

-----

While walking through the damp streets of the warehouse district you couldn’t help but shiver at least a little. You had to do a fair amount of mental gymnastics to think that it was because of the cold, but lying to yourself wasn’t one of your strong suits. You were nervous, both because of this talk and thanks to the constant feeling of being watched. A little bit of paranoia? Normal, maybe. You escaped with your life just hours ago, after all. It would probably pass on its own.

In the middle of the street, you spotted a figure. A man wearing a White Fang mask that obscured his eyes, dressed in a long green robe and formal pants. He held an umbrella, and a dog sat calmly at his feet. He was struggling to light a cigarette, flicking his lighter repeatedly. You approached him openly. As you drew closer, Tay lifted his face to glance at you, giving a faint smile, returning to his persistent attempts to light the cigarette in his hand.

“I tried to hurry, but, well… a lot happened.” You approached him as he pulled an umbrella from behind his back, the unlit cigarette still hanging from his mouth. He extended the umbrella toward you. You gladly took it.

“I brought another one. The umbrella, I mean. I thought Sora would be with you.” He fumbled with the cigarette, failing repeatedly to light it, until he finally gave up, tossing it onto the wet ground. His smile remained intact. Weird.

(1/?)

“I thought this was something serious, so I told her to follow orders and head back to base. Do you want me to call her?” Was that a laugh he was holding back? Reading him was always difficult. You were certain he’d been more nervous during the call.

“Nah, that’s fine. Its just that… it’s nice to see Sora listen to you. She’s not easy to keep in line. It makes what I’m about to say a little easier.” His eyes locked onto yours, a rare smile flickering across his face. You felt slightly unnerved. You adjusted your umbrella on your crossed arms, waiting for him to continue.

“I think I’m about to get sacked. I’ve got a strong suspicion.” He glanced at you, turning north. “Let’s head to the noble district. Don’t worry, the meeting’s still a few hours away. Plenty of time to hit a bathhouse. Word is, they’re almost better than the ones in Menagerie. Can you believe that?”

You followed him closely. “A bathhouse? You’re not suggesting we-” You felt your cheeks heat up, but he cut you off. “I’m going to be blunt here. You smell like shit. Pardon the language. Don’t get any funny ideas.”

“I wasn’t thinking-” He interrupted you again. All this getting talked over was starting to get on your nerves. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. But seriously, you reek. Did your fight take place in the sewers or something?”

“…Far worse. Please, let’s not talk about that. What do you mean you’re getting sacked? And what about this meeting? What’s going on, Taylor?” You had on your mind plenty of theories, trying to piece it all together, though many options were too awful to dwell on.

“I’ll cut to the chase. Higher-ups are really disappointed in me because of the region’s recent developments. These attacks have only made things worse. What you did back there in the meeting bought me some time with Sienna, but Adam and Carmine are… unhappy. The later one specially so. She’s livid that I overruled her by bringing you here instead of her.”

It seemed Taylor had issues with authority, and you could somewhat relate. “So… why did you do that? I mean, I’m still pretty new here, especially compared to her. Wasn’t she your second-in-command or something?”

“Carmine and I have a history. We’re in the same boat. We were sent to Kuchinashi as a test. The higher-ups want to see if we’re cut out to lead in more important places, like Vacuo or Vale. That’s why we’re stuck working in this dump of a city. Do you want one?” Tay extended his hand, offering you a cigarette. You thought about it for a while, but you decided to shook your head. He shrugged, placing it in his mouth and trying to light it again.

(2/?)

File: Hopper.jpg (387 KB, 946x830)

387 KB JPG

“So… is this like a competition to prove who’s more fit to lead? Is that why you don’t want her gaining power?” If Carmine ever took control, you were certain she’d exile you from the White Fang at best. At worst, she’d order a hit on you. That’s how deep her hatred for you ran.

“Partially. Sienna believes I have what it takes. I just need to toughen up. Adam, on the other hand, has put his money on Carmine. He admires her… intensity when it comes to our cause. But there’s another reason for the bad blood between us”.

“And that reason is…?” You let your hang in the air, prompting him to continue.

“She’s my ex. Damn, twice in a row? This is really not my day.” Tay flicked his unlit cigarette again toward the side road.

They were in a relationship? What?

“This is fucked up in more ways than one.” You whispered, the thought tumbling out. So Taylor was Sienna’s protégé, and Carmine was Adam’s? And that redhaired bitch was Tay’s ex? And they had both been put in a competition for a higher spot in the White Fang?

“I know. We were supposed to work together, but things between us have been falling apart, especially since you arrived. And no, it wasn’t your fault. It was bound to happen. But I have a plan. Sienna may not have shown it, but I know her. She was moved by what you said to her back there. You empathized with her, offered to seek justice for her aunt, walking straight into the lion’s den. You gave her words of comfort. She has a positive impression of you.” Figures began to appear in the distance. Civilians, hiding near dumpsters and peeking from behind windows. They retreated as you both drew closer.

A plan? What could he possibly be plotting? You were involved, that much was clear. He mentioned being dismissed, that Sienna had a good impression of you, and he even offered you a promotion. Everything seemed to be falling into place. Was he really about to say…?

“Shelly. I want you to replace me. Maybe not now, but certainly in the future. You have what it takes to be a great leader, and I’m tired. Tired and beaten down. I could vouch for you, and I think Sienna would really listen to me.”

>Being a leader was something you already had experience with. If you gained more power and prestige, you could help plenty of people within the White Fang. Maybe even change some of their more extreme viewpoints in the future. Make a name for yourself in history. Be open to the idea.
>You felt flattered, but rising through the ranks this quickly? And inside the White Fang, nonetheless? Carmine would certainly oppose it. Adam would most likely be displeased. And if word got out to your friends… Show reluctance to the idea, but not entirely closed to it.
>Fuck that. You were done being a lackey of the White Fang. If you wanted to help Faunus, you could do so on your own terms, humans included. Besides, you had bigger priorities, like finding that scientist who messed with your head. Tell Tay your plan. That he should leave with you. Take Sora and go somewhere. Somewhere with more freedom.
>Other (Write in)

>>6163657
>Write in
>"So, what happens to you, after all is said and done? Do you intend to leave the White Fang entirely, or would you still want to stick around, in a non-leadership role?"

>>6163660
>>You felt flattered, but rising through the ranks this quickly? And inside the White Fang, nonetheless? Carmine would certainly oppose it. Adam would most likely be displeased. And if word got out to your friends… Show reluctance to the idea, but not entirely closed to it.

>>6163660
>Being a leader was something you already had experience with. If you gained more power and prestige, you could help plenty of people within the White Fang. Maybe even change some of their more extreme viewpoints in the future. Make a name for yourself in history. Be open to the idea.

>>6163792
+1

>>6163660
>Write in
>"So, what happens to you, after all is said and done? Do you intend to leave the White Fang entirely, or would you still want to stick around, in a non-leadership role?"
>You felt flattered, but rising through the ranks this quickly? And inside the White Fang, nonetheless? Carmine would certainly oppose it. Adam would most likely be displeased. And if word got out to your friends… Show reluctance to the idea, but not entirely closed to it.

>>6163660

You couldn’t help but slow your pace. Taylor matched your speed. You felt… astonished. He wanted you to have his position? This soon? You’d only known him for a month and a half, at most. It didn’t make much sense. Did he really trust you that much? Maybe he truly believed you had what it took to be a low-ranking leader in the White Fang? It felt good, to have someone put so much faith in you, but it also felt strange.

And what would happen to him if you said yes?

“Tay… I’m flattered, but giving you an answer on the spot isn’t easy. Besides, what happens to you if I agree? Would they demote you? Send you somewhere else?” You had to ask. Another thought crossed your mind. What if they just got rid of him? Loyalty in the White Fang wasn’t exactly clear or well-defined.

“It depends.” He fell silent for an uncomfortably long moment before continuing. “I think I could work with you if my words manage to reach Sienna. Or maybe, to avoid a conflict of interest, she’d send me somewhere else. I have a younger brother in Menagerie and a cousin in Vale. I… miss them. Would you be okay with me staying here?” His voice cracked slightly at the end. This conversation was difficult for him.

“I mean… we get along pretty well, if that’s what you’re asking. But I also don’t want to keep you from reconnecting with your family. What matters most to you? Why do you want to stay? What’s holding you back from reaching out?” You chose your words carefully.

Tay kept quite for a while, staring ahead as if lost in thought. Yet, despite that, he never answered your question. Maybe he was weighing in the pros and cons? Struggling to decide? Or was he afraid his answer might make things awkward between you?

This felt like a good moment to ask the question that had been lingering in your mind.

“Taylor, why did you join the White Fang?” You raised your voice slightly, just enough to be heard over the growing sound of the civilians as the streets grew busier You. You were close to the middle district.

Taylor stayed silent for a while. Was he ignoring you? No, at least not intentionally. His expression was distant, as if he was having too many thoughts at once.

“I joined the White Fang because of my older brother. There are three of us in the family. My parents aren’t in the picture. Mother died at sea, and Father passed away from sickness. Big bro couldn’t handle that, so he joined a raid on a convoy carrying medicine. I went with him. We manage to steal some medication, and by some miracle, we saved our little brother’s life.” His voice was calm, but you could tell he was opening up to you.

“That’s… good news, right?” You said, encouraging him to go on.

(1/?)

“My younger brother lost the ability to move his legs. The disease was too hard on his nerves. At least he’s alive. But big bro and I got too entangled with the White Fang to walk away.” Taylor stopped at a merchant’s stall and grabbed a glass of dark brown liquid, leaving a pair of Lien cards in payment. He handed one glass to you as you continued walking together. “I tried everything to stay with my younger brother, to take care of him. But the White Fang wouldn’t allow it They said they couldn’t ‘waste’ an asset like me. So, I made a deal with a friend. She’d look after my brother while I stuck by my older one.”

You took a sip from the glass. It was grainy, fruit. A blend of flavors you couldn’t quite place. Drinking it felt odd, but it wasn’t unpleasant. At least it was alcohol-free.

“So, I went around Mistral with my big bro doing missions. We both were good at it. Met some great friends, too. There was this girl, called Carmine. I got close to her, and, well, one thing led to another. She was sweet and kind back then. Smart, too. Anyway, I’m rambling. Sorry, I don’t want to bore you with unnecessary details.” The rain finally stopped, and Tay folded his umbrella. You did the same.

“They are not boring. Really. Don’t worry about it. If it helps you feel better, I’m here to listen.” You meant it. Letting him talk about his problems not only helped you understand him more but also made you feel like you could genuinely help. Conversations like this mattered.

“It was a bad day to get a mission. There was this village. Not too far from here, actually. A few days west from Kuchinashi. That’s where most of Carmine’s family lived. They were farmers, mostly. Then the Grimm came out of nowhere. I went there with Carmine and my big bro. Sander his name, by the way. Everything went to hell fast. A massive fire broke out, a generator exploded, and a horde of Grimm like I’d never seen before swarmed the place. It was pure chaos, and in the end, I had to make a choice.”

“What choice, Tay?” He kept his gaze fixed ahead, stoic and calm, his eyes almost hollow.

“Carmine’s family ran off to hide in an ore mine along with some other villagers. A lot of Grimm followed them. Carmine wasn’t much of a fighter, so she begged me to go after them. Pleaded. I was on my way when… well, Sander got surrounded There were so many Grimm. Almost a dozen, maybe more, and they weren’t small ones. Beowolves, Beringels, Goliaths… you name it. He was strong, but not strong enough to take on that many. I had to choose: help him or go to the mine to protect Carmine’s family. You can guess where this is going. Even when I went after him, I couldn’t save my brother. He… died fighting. I managed to escape the village, but by then, the mine and the entire village were gone.”

(2/?)

“I’m… really sorry to hear that, Tay. I’m truly sorry.” It sucked so much that he had to live with that kind of pain. It wasn’t his fault, you thought, not really.

“The reason as for why I’m in the White Fang? I’ve thought about it a lot. I think it’s guilt. Guilt because I let my brother die. Guilt because I failed Carmine’s family. After that, I just couldn’t turn my back on them. I had to atone, somehow. There are still a few things I haven’t told you, but… let’s leave it there for now”.

The two of you walked silently through the commercial district. The streets were emptier than usual, and the air felt… off. People looked uneasy, likely shake by the citywide attacks. All thanks to that psychopath and whoever else was involved.

And now, knowing why Tay had joined the White Fang, you couldn’t shake that gloomy feeling. His situation was awful, and it weighed heavily on you too.

“So, because of guilt, you’re unsure as to what to do after I take your rank? Hypothetically speaking, of course. That’s still something I need to think about.”

“Pretty much. I’m confused. I’m tired, running on fumes. I just can’t see myself helping the White Fang anymore, at least not as a leader. I see the way Carmine looks at me. She’s full of resentment, and I can’t even blame her. And my younger brother? I don’t think he understands why I had to leave him behind. Maybe he resents me even more than she does.”

It has been a long time since someone had opened up to you so deeply. What could you say to him? Was there even a right answer?

>Encourage him to stay with the White Fang. His situation was rough, but you knew you could support him. He needed someone to have his back, someone to help him when things spiraled out of control. Whether he remained leader or stepped down, what truly mattered was having someone by his side.
>Maybe letting go of the past and reconnecting with his family was the better path. The White Fang had nothing positive left to offer him. Suggest that returning to Menagerie to reunite with his younger brother might be his best option.
>He carried a heavy burden. Maybe a fresh start was exactly what he needed. Share your idea of leaving the White Fang to carve your own path, and invite him to join you and Sora.
>As much as you wanted to guide him… this was a choice he had to make for himself. Let him know that no matter what he decides, you’ll stand by him.
>Other (Write in)

>>6165904
>>He carried a heavy burden. Maybe a fresh start was exactly what he needed. Share your idea of leaving the White Fang to carve your own path, and invite him to join you and Sora.

>>6165904
>He carried a heavy burden. Maybe a fresh start was exactly what he needed. Share your idea of leaving the White Fang to carve your own path, and invite him to join you and Sora

>>6165904
>As much as you wanted to guide him… this was a choice he had to make for himself. Let him know that no matter what he decides, you’ll stand by him.

>>6165904
>He carried a heavy burden. Maybe a fresh start was exactly what he needed. Share your idea of leaving the White Fang to carve your own path, and invite him to join you and Sora.

>>6165904

After careful consideration, you decided what to say to him. “You need to rest. Let go of your burdens.”

“I don’t know if I deserve to be free of them. Do you believe in a higher power? Maybe whatever higher power exists wants me to suffer, to bear the brunt of this pain, to…” You cut him off. That kind of rambling was unhealthy.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I’ve heard you, Taylor. Hopper. Maybe there’s a third way, something that could help ease your struggles.”

He laughed dryly. “Oh, I’ve spent years considering my options, and I’ve never thought of a different way. But if you believe you’ve found one, then I’m all ears.”

“What if… you left the White Fang and joined me instead?” There was no easy way to say it. Staying would bring him pain; leaving would leave him haunted by regret. At least this way, you could offer a chance to resolve both of his problems… or so you hoped.

He turned to face you, his expression puzzled and far from amused. A bad sign.

“I’ve… thought about it.” You continued talking. “…and… I don’t see myself staying in the White Fang long-term. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in helping. But if you leave, my reasons to stay would pretty much disappear. All the hatred for humans, the chaos within… it’s exhausting. I’ve been considering going solo eventually. Sora feels the same, and-“

He cut you off. “Are you saying you’re leaving? Right now? Seriously?” His voice carried a mix of confusion and annoyance. You had to tread carefully from here.

“No. I’m not leaving. Its just that… let me be blunt. I want to help others, but on my own terms. Faunus and humans alike, especially those that can’t help themselves. I’m grateful for everything you and the White Fang have given me. Shelter, purpose, friendship. But, if the White Fang strays from its path, then… I can’t see myself following blindly.” Tay’s sour expression shifted forward as you approached a set of long stairs climbing toward the noble district. A squad of guards, turrets and floating drones stood near the gate, blocking your way.

“Don’t make a sound. Just walk normally and let me think.” Tay placed a hand on your shoulder, and suddenly your senses shifted. Voices became muffled, the wind’s whisper amplified. As you neared the gates, some of the turrets and drones began blinking and emitting an erratic alarm that alternated between bursts of sound and tense silence.

(1/?)

The guards didn’t seem to mind (Or even notice) your presence. Instead, their attention was fixed on the electronic devices nearby. “These pieces of junk are failing again. Didn’t they double-check them before deployment?” One of the male guards grumbled. Behind you, a female voice responded. “No, they triple-checked them. Stay sharp, we may have trouble soon.” With that, the patrol was left behind as you entered the noble district, far quieter compared to the bustling market you’d left moments ago.

Tay lifted his hand from your shoulder, your senses returning to normal. You whispered to him. “So that’s how you knocked out Carmine the day we met, right? That’s your Semblance?” Your gaze darted around, taking in the advanced and elegant buildings surrounding you both. Quite the pretty place, devoid of trash and ruined buildings.

Tay didn’t answer right away. He kept walking, eyes fixed ahead while avoiding your gaze. “If you want to leave, feel free. I don’t want you doing anything you don’t want to. Take Sora with you if you’d like. I’ll handle things myself.” His voice felt tight, controlled, brimming with a hidden anger.

“I don’t want to leave you behind. I want you to come with us.” You tried to make your voice soft and firm. “Maybe not now, but if the stars align, then the three of us could leave together. Forge our own path. Do what we think is right, free of chains. I know it’s not an easy choice for you, not with what happened to you, but… I don’t want to lose you.”

“I… still have a debt to pay.” Tay turned towards the alleyways. Barely anyone was outside in the streets, yet most of the buildings had working electricity and looked far cleaner than usual. The sky was quickly turning dark due to the hours and the heavy clouds above. Something about the scene felt creepy.

“Then we’ll help you find a way to atone. I want you to truly be free, not just from those who judge you, but from yourself. I don’t want to bore you, so… If you don’t want to accept, that’s fine. Whatever path you choose, I still want to help you.” You felt this was the right way to express it. Tay had never forced anything on you. It felt only fair to offer him the same freedom.

“I’ll… think about it. We’ve arrived.” You stopped in front of a large building of wood and stone, more elegant than most in the area. A wide wooden arch framed the entrance, adorned with unknown symbols inked on parchment. Soft blue and yellow lights glowed along its walls. An electronic screen near the door displayed ‘Rika’s Bathhouse’, its text flickering slightly from time to time.

(2/?)

“We have a few hours before the meeting, and the location is close by. There’s no rush, so take your time.” Tay said to you. The two of you walked towards the doors, pushing them open. Inside, the space felt far cozier and warmer. A pristine wooden floor, paper walls and shelves adorned with tea sets, paintings, incense burners and intricate sculptures surrounded the place. The air carried the faint scent of sand.

A woman with a white eye-patch in a maid outfit stood near a desk, her gaze wary as she watched you both. In the corner, an elderly couple sat quietly, talking almost in whispers while laughing softly and holding each other’s hand. Cute.

“Do you want me to pay?” You had to ask. The place looked expensive, but you didn’t want to seem like you were taking advantage, even if it was his idea.

“No, don’t worry. I’ll take care of-“ Tay began, his tone softening before being sharply interrupted by the female attendant’s voice.

“Place is closed. You both, get out.” Her angry tone caught you off guard. If looks could kill…

“Place looks open. And I made a reservation earlier.” Tay responded, a stern expression settling on his face. You stayed silent, watching him deal with this.

“Yeah, place is open for customers. Not for dirty animals. Now get out, both of you, or I’ll call the guards.” Her voice dripped hostility.

“I can pay extra. Lien is not a problem for us.” Tay sighed, holding up a pair of red-bordered cards.

“I don’t want your stolen money. Oh gods, the stink… Now you’ve ruined my establishment. Get out, now. Don’t make me repeat myself.” The attendant stood, moving her hand closer to the desk while holding her nose with the other. The elderly couple sat there, bewildered and watching in silence.

First time someone hated you so much just because of the feathers behind your head. You couldn’t decide if you felt anger, confusion or amusement.

>Let Taylor handle the situation. You weren’t very experienced with these kinds of people, and besides, you didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.
>If Sora were here, then she’d probably trash the place at least. You weren’t like her, but you knew her way of doing things sometimes worked. You could tell the attendant in a firm (and aggressive) manner that treating two experienced Huntsmen this way would be disastrous for all those paintings and vases.
>Even though the patrol guards wouldn’t really be an issue if they showed up, you still wanted to avoid causing too much of a scene. Try to persuade the hostess, or at least calm her down enough to make her see reason.
>You could always just… leave and find somewhere else. There was nothing stopping you. Knowing when to pick your battles was a useful skill.
>Other (Write in)

>>6167909
>>Let Taylor handle the situation. You weren’t very experienced with these kinds of people, and besides, you didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

>>6167909
>You could always just… leave and find somewhere else. There was nothing stopping you. Knowing when to pick your battles was a useful skill.

>>6167909
>Let Taylor handle the situation. You weren’t very experienced with these kinds of people, and besides, you didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

>>6167909
>You could always just… leave and find somewhere else. There was nothing stopping you. Knowing when to pick your battles was a useful skill.

>>6167909
>You could always just… leave and find somewhere else. There was nothing stopping you. Knowing when to pick your battles was a useful skill.

>>6165904

“There’s no point in arguing. Let’s find another place, one with better manners and hospitality.” You declared, loud enough for everyone to hear. Tay stood silently at your side, his mouth opening as if to speak but no words coming out.

“Good. Now please ge-“ The attendant began frantically, but you cut her off mid-sentence.

“If you tell us to leave one more time, I’ll make sure this business shuts down. Peacefully or otherwise. And you better refund my friend’s money. It’s bad enough your service is this atrocious, but stealing from customers? Once the other nobles hear about your schemes, I doubt they’ll ever return.” Your voice grew heated, but you reined in your emotions, keeping your tone controlled.

You turned away, facing the exit door with Tay following close behind. As you opened it, the barrel of a gun was suddenly aimed directly at your face. What? The guards were already here? Had the girl triggered an alarm when you stayed? It all happened too fast. Was this an ambush, or…?

“Please, step aside.” The guard said in a flat, robotic tone, shifting the barrel slightly to gesture towards the wall. A false alarm. The voice confirmed advanced tech, reminding you of some patrol androids you’d seen before at an Atlas parade. But no, this wasn’t a machine. It was just a person in advanced armor.

“We were just leaving, so don’t worry.” You eyed the guard carefully, considering whether to push past him, but then you noticed the others. At least five more stood behind him. A full squad. What were they doing here?

“Is something the matter? Or has this place so enraptured you, captain, that even your senses have surrendered to its beauty?” A jovial male voiced called from outside, its informal tone immediately distinguishing it from the monotone tone of the captain.

“N-no. I mean, yes, sir. The place is beautiful. Just a pair of civilians in the way. Let’s advance.” The captain’s voice faltered as he stumbled forward, weapons drawn. Behind him, a line of guards marched in step, their batons crackling with electric pulses. What was happening?

“You two.” The captain addressed the elderly couple still seated inside. “I’m going to ask you two to leave as well. Please, step aside. Apologies for the lack of courtesy.”

“This is nonsense. I haven’t broken any laws, and this is a respectable establishment that will not tolerate any kind of…” the attendants angry voice faltered as a smiling man stepped inside. You managed to see him up close, with your back being against the nearby wall.

He was tall and lanky, with a gilded bandana covering his eyes. Was he blind? Long golden robes adorned with an excess of jewelry draped his form. He was overflowing with wealth. He was handsome, too. Most likely a noble. Unfortunately, your knowledge of the notable figures from this district was lacking.

(1/?)

File: LankyNoble.png (838 KB, 560x537)

838 KB PNG

“Forgive me for the sudden intrusion, my lady.” His tone was almost theatrical. “You see, I find myself in an unfortunate position. A most precious treasure of mine has… departed this world, and I desired to see it off in an establishment as exquisite as this one. Worry not about payment. Such things are beneath the significance of this moment.” He turned, gesturing for a pair of young children to enter behind him. They carried something draped in pristine white silk, almost as long as an arm. You couldn’t really pick out what that thing was due to the sheets covering it.

“I’m afraid, Sir, but I’ll have to de…” the maid began, only to fall silent mid-sentence as the noble snapped his fingers. Her expression turned blank, her eyes distant, as though she were in a daze.

“My sincerest apologies, miss. The last thing I intend is to cause you distress. If it pleases you, allow me to pass. Should that be impossible, I’ll gracefully take my leave. May your night be serene.” The man turned to go, his tone polite. The maid cried out an answer.

“N-no! It’s no bother. Please, don’t worry about it. There’s no problem.” Her voice trembled, and her expression betraying a flicker of… fear?

“That’s odd.” Taylor whispered in your ear.

“He’s a noble. Probably a well-known one. Look at the security he has. Don’t expect a fair treatment from the maid. Let’s just leave.” You felt the need to explain your theory to him. The children passed in front of you, and you walked towards the open door, ready to leave. The noble’s voice rang out from behind you.

“My dear citizens, I must offer my apologies for encroaching upon your space uninvited, but tell me. What is this? Why do you flee so soon? Has some unpleasantness turned your evening sour? What is it that so quickly darkness your hearts?” His tone was polite. Overly so. His expression radiated happiness, yet something about him felt off. There was an air about him that made you feel uneasy. You couldn’t quite pinpoint for the why.

“Not at all, sir. We simply found the treatment our kind received here to be… less than kind. I shouldn’t trouble you in the slightest. Now, if you’ll excuse us…” You turned towards the door again, signaling Tay to follow.

“Nonsense! Inconceivable! This place rivals the gates of heaven in beauty and grace. How could such a refined and elegant establishment harbor such behavior? My young lady, what do you have to say about such an accusation?” The noble’s attention shifted to the woman at the front. You resisted the urge to groan. You wanted nothing more than to get away from here.

“Well… you see… I didn’t want to, you know, have the standards of this place lowered by their kind…” The attendant stammered with unease. The noble scoffed with disdain.

(2/?)

“Unbelievable! In this day and age, no less! My esteemed lady and her dear companion,” the noble addressed you again as you were nearly out the door. “Permit me to atone for this grievous situation by inviting you to join me in an act of mourning. Is there a better remedy for sorrow than the finest wine from a most gracious stranger? What do you say?”

So pushy. Ugh.

“I’d love to say yes, my most esteemed… royalty.” Tay interjected. “But unfortunately, our schedule is already quite demanding. I’m flattered by your generosity, but I’m afraid we must decline. No offense intended.” At least Taylor was on the same wavelength as you. Maybe he was creeped out by the man as well.

The man snapped his fingers. “Such a pitiable state of affairs, though hardly unexpected. Yet, I would not dream of meddling in your affairs. They must surely carry a greater weight than mine. You see, I am here to pay my respects to a dear friend of mine, stolen from us by a vile criminal. I do believe that the more souls who gather, the closer he may come to peace. But, alas, I digress. Do carry on and enjoy your evening!” The noble turned away, finally allowing you to leave. You sighed in relief.

As you took a few steps forward, you realized Taylor hadn’t followed.

“I’m… sorry for your loss. I don’t think it’d hurt if we stayed, at least for a little while. What do you think?” Taylor’s voice was directed at you. What? Didn’t he want to leave just a moment ago?

>Fine, if Taylor wanted to stay, he surely had a good reason. You relented and stepped inside. Quietly, you asked him what was on his mind, what his plan was. Maybe Taylor had noticed something you hadn’t.
>Insist to Taylor to find another place for you both You didn’t want to be around the blindfolded noble, even though you were eager to finally have a decent place to rest.
>A ceremony, the man had said? You stayed alert, though maybe it was your paranoia taking too strong a hold. Carefully, ask for Taylor for more details about the ceremony and why he wanted you to go with them.
>Other (Write in)

>>6170979
>Fine, if Taylor wanted to stay, he surely had a good reason. You relented and stepped inside. Quietly, you asked him what was on his mind, what his plan was. Maybe Taylor had noticed something you hadn’t.

>>6170979
>>Fine, if Taylor wanted to stay, he surely had a good reason. You relented and stepped inside. Quietly, you asked him what was on his mind, what his plan was. Maybe Taylor had noticed something you hadn’t.

>>6170979
>Fine, if Taylor wanted to stay, he surely had a good reason. You relented and stepped inside. Quietly, you asked him what was on his mind, what his plan was. Maybe Taylor had noticed something you hadn’t.

>>6170979

Both of them were waiting for your answer. In the background, some of the guards whispered amongst themselves, likely just as bewildered as you felt. The nobleman smiled warmly, while Taylor shot you a worried glance.

“A change of heart, perhaps? Marvelous! I have always believed that beneath the hardened hearts of this city’s people, there remains a flicker of hope, a shred of empathy.” The man clapped his hands together with enthusiasm. Maybe it was a good idea to follow him. After all, he didn’t seem that bad. Maybe it was just paranoia clouding your judgement. After all, hadn’t you already agreed to Tay’s plan?

No. Your paranoia was spot on. You’d agree to enter, but only because you couldn’t leave Tay to face this alone. Guard up, as always. No matter how exhausting it was.

“I… suppose there’s nothing wrong with indulging your request, kind sir.” You had to search through your vocabulary to find words that seemed as… ostentatious as the style the man’s style of speech. “I’ll gladly accompany you for a while, as long as our activity is not to be interrupted further down the line. Isn’t that right, friend?” You locked eyes with Taylor, narrowing yours slightly. You weren’t exactly happy with him.

“That’s… of course.” Tay abruptly said. How weird. He seemed so out of his element right here and now. Not the usual reaction you got from the witty man that he usually was.

“It won’t be long. I have a most important meeting with certain… esteemed individuals in just a few hours.” Perhaps, I could even offer my services to assist you? While I don’t typically indulge in the trivialities of mundane matters, this particular endeavor might warrant a rare exception.”

That seemed like a good idea. Letting him help you out. A noble of his stature would surely be an asset in the negotiation. His influence in the city was undeniable, and…

No, wait. On second thought, it was a bad idea. It was a terrible idea. Your head throbbed. Most likely the exhaustion. All you wanted was to get inside and rest. Funerals were usually quiet; maybe that would give you some calm.

“We’ll gladly let you assist us, but I’m afraid that our venture is-” Tay began, his voice calm and methodical, as always. You had to stop him. That was a horrible idea. You decided to cut in.

“Our venture is something far too private for your tastes and far too dangerous for someone in your position. I’ll discuss this with my friend later in private, and we’ll provide you with a well-considered answer after the… ceremony.” You had to talk over Taylor. Whatever his plans were, you were certain that revealing the meeting with Kuchinashi’s criminal elite to a stranger was an awful idea.

(1/?)

The nobleman turned his head slightly, touching his forehead as if lost in thought. His face remained expressionless. Was that a flicker of discomfort? A soft smile soon returned as he addressed you both. “Curious indeed. Very well. Let’s step inside. I wouldn’t want my… special guests to suffer the forgotten cold outside, now would I?” He clapped twice again. “Miss Rika, I believe? Would you be so kind as to prepare our guests, make them presentable, and ensure they are ready for the privilege of joining us?”

“I’d… gladly do so, my lord. Please, step inside, and I apologize for my earlier behavior.” You could swear you heard the cracking of teeth grinding together. Her frown was impossible to miss. She was loathing every second of this. You wouldn’t stoop so low as to take pleasure in her discomfort. You were better than that. Still, it was hard to keep the smile off your face.

---

The room assailed your senses in many pleasant ways. The hot waters really soothed your muscles, the aroma of perfumes wasn’t too overpowering, the bells and metal rods that jingled on their own due to the vapor of the sauna were an unexpected surprise, and to top it all off, the oils that the employees insisted on applying to your skin smelled delightful.

“Miss, we must insist. It would be better if you didn’t use your towel. We assure you, we are professionals, we know exactly what we’re doing.” One of the half-naked boys said in a soothing voice while the other busied himself with the expensive oil bottles.

“And I appreciate your dedication, but you have to understand why I’m not comfortable doing this.” You hugged your legs tighter, the soft warmth of the towel brushing against your fingertips.

“Miss, it’s just procedure… we’ll get in trouble if we skip it.” The scantily clad boys recoiled slightly, exchanging nervous glances. They were just doing their jobs. It wasn’t their fault. But that didn’t mean that you were going to show yourself freely.

“Then let’s just pretend you did your job. No offense, but I’d prefer you left me alone. Please, don’t make me repeat myself a second time.” They were silenced by your glare. One sighed, and the man with the oily hands began heading for the door.

“Very well, miss. Oh, and… my friend here thinks your eyes are pretty.” He followed his companion, shutting the door behind them. Their muffled bickering was easy to hear as they walked away.

Now that you didn’t have distractions you could finally process what had happened. For obvious reasons Taylor had gone to a different section of the building, leaving you with only a brief chance to ask what he was thinking, what his plan was.

(2/?)

Why had he stayed so quiet? He just stared ahead, almost as if ignoring you on purpose. For a moment you wondered if he was in some sort of trance, but then he reassured you. If anything bad happened, he’d have your back. That was… very in character of him. After that, you were separated.

And the noble? He just kept talking, and talking, and talking. About how much he missed his friend, the future of the city, the ‘impermanence of life’, how he’d look out for everyone. It wasn’t that you disliked him, but you still didn’t trust him. Then again, at this point, you trusted almost no one by default.

You felt rested. Privacy, at last. What a relief. You stood up from the hot wooden bench, heading towards your locker in the corner of the room where your clothes and equipment were stored. Everything was in its place. Nothing stolen. Good. You took out your Scroll and sent a message to Taylor.

S: Where are you? We need to talk.

You needed answers. You had to get on the same page, work as a team. In an hour, you had a critical meeting to attend, and instead, you were stuck waiting for this seemingly pointless funeral. If it were up to you, you’d wrap this up now and prepare. Arriving early would make you look good.

T: In the other wing, close to the events room, 6B I think is the room number. I’m sorry for what happened. I can explain.

>Use the Scroll to talk to him. Leaving now, when you finally had the chance to rest, would feel like a waste. Take time to recover, and once you understand his motives, urge him to leave with you.
>You were a Huntress. One of the few in Remnant with skills most could only dream of having. Sneak through the building and talk about this face-to-face with Taylor. Being separated could make both of you vulnerable. Oh, and remind him to put on some clothes. You’d like to avoid an awkward scene.
>Resting felt like a luxury you couldn’t afford right now. Staying felt… forced, but leaving didn’t feel right, either. Not yet. Tell him you’ll talk with him later and shift your focus on investigating the building and the nobleman. You just had to make sure to not get caught while doing so.
>Other (Write in)

>>6172012
>Other (Write in)
Why don't we rest a bit and ask him to see us instead?

>>6172012
>>Use the Scroll to talk to him. Leaving now, when you finally had the chance to rest, would feel like a waste. Take time to recover, and once you understand his motives, urge him to leave with you.

>>6172012
>Use the Scroll to talk to him. Leaving now, when you finally had the chance to rest, would feel like a waste.
Ask him who this nobleman is and why he matters

>>6172012
>>Use the Scroll to talk to him. Leaving now, when you finally had the chance to rest, would feel like a waste. Take time to recover, and once you understand his motives, urge him to leave with you.

>>6172012

S: I’m in room 2A, I think. Feel free to come and explain to me why you did what you did.

You wouldn’t waste valuable rest time fixing this for him. Was that a bit self-centered? Maybe, but Sora would approve. After all, he was the one who stepped out of line. You’d hear him out (fairly, of course), but you weren’t about to go out of your way to find his room. Making a lady come looking for you? Now that was bad manners.

T: Uh… are you sure? I could come over, but if someone catches us, I don’t think they’ll be thrilled about a man and a woman sharing the same sauna, you know??

He had a point. It would certainly cause an uproar. He had his Semblance, sure, but getting caught was a risk you weren’t entirely comfortable with.

S: Fine. Then explain it to me. You know what I’m talking about.

Is this what it felt like to scold a child? How strange. You couldn’t help but chuckle.

T: I know. It was a hunch. I don’t know, I thought it was a good idea at the time. His story about losing a friend really got to me. I’m sorry if making a snap decision upset you.

Stress was clearly taking its toll on him. A few weeks ago, he’d been holding up well, but now he was slipping more often. Fine, he made a mistake, and at least he somewhat apologized for it. Maybe stepping down wasn’t such a bad idea for him after all. But would you take his place? That was a thought to revisit later, when things were in a better state.

S: I get it. Don’t worry. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again. We need to work as a team. Are you feeling alright? Have the maids taken care of you well enough?

T: Hahaha. That’s sarcasm, by the way. I don’t know. I feel weird. I can’t really think straight and the bath isn’t helping much. At least Truth loves it.

S: Truth?

T: My dog. He’s splashing around like crazy. I think the servants liked him a lot more than they like me

The self-loathing was hard to miss. And it made you feel uncomfortable. He was struggling, and reading him like this felt unsettling.

S: Don’t say stuff like that. You’re cool to hang out with. So, how’d you even manage to sneak him in? If you knew the trouble I had getting my weapons through... I had to argue four times just to keep them.

T: I’m easy to ignore. A true magician never reveals his secrets.

What a dumbass. He nearly made you laugh out loud. It was incredibly easy to forget he was even there, that’s true. His Semblance wasn’t about being invisible or silent. It was something far more subtle. It made people unconsciously push him to the back of their minds, like an overlooked detail in the background. A handy skill, especially since he could extend its effect to others. Only cameras and electronics could have a fair chance of catching him. Thanks to that, he and his pet were practically always together.

(1/?)

S: That won’t work well. I don’t want to be the one leading the negotiations that are coming up soon. Btw, who was that nobleman? Do you know him?

T: Nope, first time meeting him. I’ll admit, he creeped me out at first, but there’s something about him that… How can I put it? He made me trust him, somehow. Maybe I saw a bit of myself in his shoes?

S: Ah, a crush. I get it. Go for it, I don’t judge.

T: I’m not like that and you know it. Probably not smart to mock someone who could sneak up on you while you sleep.
T: Ok that came out way creepier than intended. My bad.

Despite how much of a ‘social butterfly’ he seemed to be while indoors, his awkwardness in unfamiliar situations always made you laugh. For the first time in a while, you found yourself empathizing with Carmine, at least a little. Now you understood why she used to like him.

S: Don’t worry. Now, should we leave? I’m sure you can use your magic trick to sneak us out easily. Besides, showing up early to the meeting would look good on us.

T: Fine. Let me get ready. I’ll meet you in the hallway. Just stay out of sight, and I’ll find you. Don’t freak out if you feel a hand on your shoulder or something.

Leaving already? You barely had time to try the skin oils, and the water was perfect. Now you found yourself torn between staying for a little longer and heading out.

S: I’ll… try to rest for a bit first. I almost died today, remember?

T: Yeah, and the noble will probably send someone to check our rooms soon. Just get dressed and stay where you are. I’ll come to you. We wouldn’t want to cause a scene, right? Who knows… maybe I’m already in your room.

Heat crept up your cheeks, a blush you couldn’t entirely blame on the sauna’s almost scalding waters. You glanced around, half-expecting a sudden movement. The door stayed perfectly still as you texted, and the room was empty. You were almost sure he wasn’t here.

S: Dumbass

T: You owed me that one.

>Put your equipment on and rest in the corner of the room. Wait for Tay to arrive, then leave as soon as possible. You’d miss the noble’s ceremony, but you had a more pressing meeting to attend.
>Taylor would have his Semblance active. Maybe you could find him first. It would be difficult, and there was a chance some servants might catch you, but what better way to train your perception than against someone with such a unique Semblance?
>You wouldn’t make things easy for him. He said he would find you, right? Then there was no harm in you searching the place while he looked for you. Information was important, after all.
>Other (Write in)

>>6173961
>Other (Write in)
Lock the door and continue bathing. It's our last and best chance to rest for a while. He wouldn't dare disturb a lady would he?

>>6174290
+1

>>6174290
+1
Let's play

>>6173961

You could outside and find him first. Follow orders like an obedient lackey, or maybe act more like a scout, an investigator. There was so much you could do.

You gaze shifted to the tray holding at leasta dozen bottles of oils, perfumes and fragrances in misty, shimmering hues. Would you really let them go to waste? Would you ever have another chance like this one? Was there truly any harm in staying and resting a little bit longer?

Rising from the sauna, you instinctively cluthed your towel, keeping it firmly in place as you approached the door. There was no electronic lock,just a simple mechanical one. It looked slightly rusted, but sturdy enough to deter any sane person from trying to force it.

With a click of the latch the door was secured. Now you had guaranteed privacy. Sure, if Taylor dared to come here you wouldn’t be able to notice him. But you would notice the clanking of the metal bolt moving.

Finally, some damn privacy. Some damn rest. Putting your life on the line daily was exhausting, and the endless cycle of following orders was burning you out. If you were going to face death again (Which, let’s face it, was the eventual fate of all Huntsmen), then you would at least do so knowing that you had truly lived. And this? This definitely was one of the papers inside the bucket.

Tossing the towel aside, you immersed yourself again into the hot, steaming waters of the pool at the center of the room. Your Scroll was set to the side, just in case. And, finally, the main event. You inspected the first bottle. It was a brownish-reddish hue, quite bulky and crafted from a thick glass. ‘Whisper of the Desert’, was its name. A blend of daisy seeds from Vacuo, aromatic medicinal frost-leaves from Atlas and a touch of crystal-plumbs harvested from a tundra near Arrowfell. Fancy.

---

A warm watery snake danced between your fingers. It slid through them, curling up your arm and towards your back. A second one grazed your toes. It felt almost as if ghostly hands, crafted from pure comfort, were massaging the sides of your neck. How did they do this? A water heater beneath the building? You had no plumbing knowledge to speak of, but one thing you were absolutely sure of was that floating here, surrendering to the chaotic whims of the currents, was the closest thing to heaven you’d ever known. Did heaven exist at all? Well, if it did, it had serious competition in terms of comfort. This place was a dream condensed into reality. What a pretty thought. Maybe you should try poetry someday.

(1/?)

No one touched the door of the room again. It appears they got tired of trying after the third attempt. You knew why they were calling. The noble’s ceremony was starting. Oh, well, sucks for them. Did you take advantage of him, maybe even a tiny bit? Yeah, you probably did. It didn’t feel entirely right, but you were allowed to do your own thing now and then. No one would mind. You have to bring Sora here sometime. She would love it, maybe. Or she would tear the owner’s head off. That would be… less than ideal. Perhaps it was better if she didn’t know you’d been here at all.

You heard the latch of the door being fiddled with again. Were the servants growing impatient? No, they wouldn’t dare enter a closed room frequently visited by nobles. What if they opened the door to a truly evil and fearsome figure from Kuchinashi? One of Black Sheep crime lords, perhaps? They surely frequented this place. And if they didn’t? Thinking clearly was impossible when you were this relaxed. Letting your mind drift without a care in the world felt liberating.

Rattle rattle rattle. The latch jiggled more forcefully as the seconds dragged on. So irritating. How much time had passed? A few minutes? Maybe an hour? Two weeks? A full year? Three lifetimes? How does time feel as a dead person? Rattle rattle rattle. The damn sound persisted. Was it time to wake up? Maybe you wanted to stay a shadow, drifting through eternity as a wind carrying a leaf. A leaf that came from a tree that grew nowhere. And from nowhere, nothing came, yet everything was still here, just like you. Just like hope. Just like happiness. And death. Rattle rattle rattle. What a damn annoying sound.

“Who is it?!” You called out, annoyed, as you stood up from the waters. The rattling of the latch stopped abruptly. No words came through. You were sure there was no whispering, either, your hearing would easily catch anything like that. It was too quiet. You saw your Scroll near the edge of the pool glow softly. A message notification. It had to be Tay.

Poor guy. If only he knew what he was missing by staying outside. Too much of a gentleman to step into a lady’s private room. You could imagine how uncomfortable he felt just by being in the women’s wing. Too much of a ‘rules are rules’ kinda guy. At least he was a gentleman, letting you have your privacy.

43 minutes ago:
T: I’m here, where are you?
T: Are you in your room? Answer me when you can.
T: Fine. Let me find you then.
T: I’ve searched the entire building. I haven’t seen you. Please tell me you didn’t leave.
T: Literally the only room I haven’t checkedis yours. Are you in there? It’s locked.
T: I was there when you ignored the servants. Are you seriously still in there?

46 seconds ago:
T: Just heard your voice inside, yeah its me. Can you please open?

It was hard to not laugh while reading all of this. How cute.

(2/?)

S: Yeah,. lemme put myu clothew son

Typing with wet, wrinkled fingers was horrible. But oh, it didn’t matter, didn’t matter at all. You felt reborn. Were you smiling? You almost never smiled on your own. That’s a good sign. Truly a rejuvenating experience. Four starts out of five, if only the owner wasn’t such a piece of work.

After a few minutes of slipping into freshly cleaned robes and holstering your weapons, you were ready to head out. What of your old, smelly ones? Whatever, let Tay figure it out. This was his idea, after all.

You opened up the door to your room, and there he was. Tay, looking more annoyed than you’d ever seen him. Frowning from ear to ear. You couldn’t help it. You laughed again.

“Not funny.” He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.

“Oh, come on. Think of it this way. I was doing you a favor.” You said, noticing a strange feeling beneath your tongue. A tingling of some sorts. It made you smile, then chuckle. You couldn’t stop yourself. The feeling had taken over completely.

“What do you mean a favor? I thought something bad happened to you. This isn’t like you.” Such a fatal expression. It really suited him. So that’s how he made others fall in line.

“Think about it! You looked around, found out everything was fine, and while you waited, I’m sure you got to enjoy the parade of pretty ladies. See that, heartbreaker?” You punched his shoulder lightly, trying to ease up the tension.

He didn’t stop frowning.

“Are… are you high?” Now he looked confused. Quick, you had to convince him that you totally weren’t high.

“Nope. I’m not.” You put on your bestest smile, the one that melted hearts, the one that made you stand out in the Academy, the one that you’ve practiced all your life. And by ‘all your life’ you meant just a few seconds ago. After all, you were reborn.

Taylor sighed. You chuckled again. It wasn’t like you could control it.

“And to think I expected you to be a good influence on Sora’s rebellious attitude. Look like it was the other way around. Come on. If we hurry, we might still make it to the meeting in time.”

(3/?)

>An excellent idea, my dear and brilliant gentleman. However, it would be far more fun and strategic to maybe arrive a bit late, watch them from a distance, study them before making an entrance. First impressions matter, and you wanted a heroic first impression.
>Of course! Let’s go. In fact, if we can still make it on time by running, why not fly! Nothing your Semblance couldn’t handle. And take Frownyface with you. Make sure he enjoys the ride. And make sure he pays the fare. You aren’t a free-flying service, after all.
>Maybe take a detour first? Showing up empty-handed when you would be surrounded by the most dangerous, unknowenest, shadiest and most likely scummiest people in Remant wouldn’t look good at all. Go and find some sweets! Yeah, sweets. Get a double portion for you. You loved sweets. Yeahhh. Sweets.
> Other (Write in)

>>6175516
>>An excellent idea, my dear and brilliant gentleman. However, it would be far more fun and strategic to maybe arrive a bit late, watch them from a distance, study them before making an entrance. First impressions matter, and you wanted a heroic first impression.
That was funny

>>6175516
>>An excellent idea, my dear and brilliant gentleman. However, it would be far more fun and strategic to maybe arrive a bit late, watch them from a distance, study them before making an entrance. First impressions matter, and you wanted a heroic first impression.

>>6175516
>Of course! Let’s go. In fact, if we can still make it on time by running, why not fly! Nothing your Semblance couldn’t handle. And take Frownyface with you. Make sure he enjoys the ride. And make sure he pays the fare. You aren’t a free-flying service, after all.

>>6175516
>Of course! Let’s go. In fact, if we can still make it on time by running, why not fly! Nothing your Semblance couldn’t handle. And take Frownyface with you. Make sure he enjoys the ride. And make sure he pays the fare. You aren’t a free-flying service, after all.

>>6175516
>>Of course! Let’s go. In fact, if we can still make it on time by running, why not fly! Nothing your Semblance couldn’t handle. And take Frownyface with you. Make sure he enjoys the ride. And make sure he pays the fare. You aren’t a free-flying service, after all.

>>6175514

“No. I refuse.” You said with a pout, all for dramatic effect. You strode out of the room, heading to the exit. Just a few turns here and there and you’d be at the entrance. You heard some distant chanting in some place from within the building. Probably the nobleman. A hand touched your shoulder, and the sounds surrounding you faded as if you were a ghost.

“What do you mean you refuse? Come on, don’t make this harder on both of us.” Tay’s voice murmured near your ear. The servants in the main hall ignored you as you walked away, mostly distracted by the doors opening and closing on their own.

“I meant I refuse to be on time.” The cold air of the streets of Kuchinashi hit you like a slap in the face. You missed the warm from the sauna. “I want to arrive early! Behold, a new and magnificent power I have unlocked. The skies shall bow before me, the sun shall be my new guardian and the moon my new companion!”

You lightened yourself with your Semblance. Your sense of balance felt… funny, but you still managed to float a little bit by jumping. Slowly, you began to descend again. Unacceptable. You couldn’t let Taylor down, would you? By pouring more Aura into your Semblance you managed to drastically slow down your fall.

Not enough. You wanted to fly. You had to think of something. You had to do something soon. “Come on, Tay, climb up! I’ll be the pilot and you’ll give directions!”

Tay sighed for the thousandth time today. Probably a new record. He climbed on, hands on your shoulders, hugging you from behind. You felt… strange. Embarrassed. You hadn’t thought of this. He was… warm. It felt nice. No, push those thoughts away. This was practical. Nothing else.

“So, uh… when do we actually get to fly?” Tay’s voice tickled your ear. You were still on the ground. Even when both of you weighted closer to a handful of feathers you had no real way to propel yourself upwards. Yeah, you could just jump, but that wouldn’t be enough on its own. And using your arrows would have a… high risk of collateral damage. How would you be able to fly? Blowing some air from your mouth? No, too embarrassing of a motion. You had to think of something…

“Hey, Tay, flap your wings if you want us to fly! That’s the price you gotta pay if you want for us to arrive early.” You thought of doing it yourself, but you refused to. A sparrow Faunus, flapping to fly? To embarrassing. Absolutely not.

“Is this really necessary?” Tay groaned, lifting one hand to awkwardly mimic a wing flap. You barely moved.

“It is if you want to get there without paying for broken windows.” Come on. You really didn’t want to move your arms. Tay could do so for you. Please, let him get it right. Please.

“Ughhh…” Taylor muttered, a dog’s snoot poking out of his robes and tickling you. After a few awkward tries, his rhythmic flapping began working. Slowly, painfully slowly. But indeed, you were ascending.

(1/?)

“Maybe faster?” You urged him, barely a few feet above the ground. A loud gunshot cracked behind you. You jolted upward, glancing back to see Tay holding a classic handgun with smoke trailing from its barrel.

“Let the nobles wonder why there’s a bullet in the middle of the street. That’s their problem, not mine.” He said, firing again whenever the speed of your ascent became awkwardly slow.

---

A few minutes passed since you were in the air, looking down at the city as neon lights sprawled below. Quite a few zones of the city were completely in the dark. A lovely sight. Tay stopped shooting from time to time, letting the wind carry you with a glide as the body heat from your companion fought off the chill.

“You’ve been quiet for a while. Everything okay?” Tay’s voice broke through your thoughts.

“Y-yeah… I guess... only a little tired, and hungry. And with a little headache.” You felt disoriented, but you didn’t know the real reason why. Maybe because this was your first time being so high up in the air? It was scary, for sure. So many things could go wrong. What if Grimm attacked you while up here? How would you defend yourselves? And if your Aura reserves depleted? Then what? Surely a fall to the death would follow. You started to get nervous. Very nervous.

“Did you take drugs while in the sauna? Did they give you something to eat? Or why were you acting like that back there?” Tay asked.

Oh, yeah, you acted strange. What could have possibly done it? Oh, sure, the oils. Nearly a dozen of strong oils, perfumes and fragrances, using all of them at once in an enclosed and humid space, plus sleeping there for quite a while. No wonder everything felt weird.

“It was the oils. I used them all at once. I guess you’re not supposed to do that?” You chucked nervously.

“How would I know? I was born in Menagerie. Bathing in private alone was a luxury I never thought I would get. Oils, perfumes, attendants and all that is just beyond me. There, you see that building?” Tay’s index finger was seen at your side, pointing to a ruined skyscraper, its top floors mostly crumbled.

“Eerie place. Are we on time?” You asked, counting how many floors the building had. Close to twenty? No, more than that. Maybe thirty. You would arrive there in probably a few minutes at your current gliding speed.

“Yeah, maybe even early. Who would’ve thought, we actually did it.” He sounded proud.

“Can you see someone up there? Or are they going to be in the basement or something like that?”.

“I’m sorry.” He let out a small laugh. “I don’t have Sora’s eyes. The meeting’s on the 22nd floor, near that hole in the wall. We can either land on the roof and work our way down or go straight in. Your call.”

(2/?)

>Arriving at the top of the building would give you a good opportunity to eavesdrop. Sure, you’d most likely have to give some explanations as to why you arrived from the top of the building instead of the bottom, but from a reconnaissance perspective that was the best choice.
>A direct and bold entrance was the better choice. Show them you’re not afraid to arrive head on. Skulking around was nice and sneaky and all, but you felt that some of the crime lords would perceive that as weakness or cowardice.
>You had no idea. Let Tay decide. You had better things to think about, like what to actually say or do once you were in the meeting. You had to be on guard, specially when in the presence of that scum.
>Other (Write in)

>>6177006
>Arriving at the top of the building would give you a good opportunity to eavesdrop. Sure, you’d most likely have to give some explanations as to why you arrived from the top of the building instead of the bottom, but from a reconnaissance perspective that was the best choice.

>>6177006
>A direct and bold entrance was the better choice. Show them you’re not afraid to arrive head on. Skulking around was nice and sneaky and all, but you felt that some of the crime lords would perceive that as weakness or cowardice.

>>6177006
>A direct and bold entrance was the better choice. Show them you’re not afraid to arrive head on. Skulking around was nice and sneaky and all, but you felt that some of the crime lords would perceive that as weakness or cowardice.

>>6177006
>A direct and bold entrance was the better choice. Show them you’re not afraid to arrive head on. Skulking around was nice and sneaky and all, but you felt that some of the crime lords would perceive that as weakness or cowardice.

>>6177006

“Let’s go straight in. It would be risky if they catch us skulking around in the shadows. They’re crime lords, right? I don’t take they’ll take it kindly to us snooping around without their knowledge.” The air currents were noisy, made it nearly impossible to discern what was happening from a distance by sound alone.

“Fair. Oh, that reminds me. Stay still and don’t worry. This will take only a second.” You felt something shift behind you. Taylor was fiddling with something. A solid object pressed against your forehead. You almost flinched but stayed still, trusting him. He slid down a mask. Oh, true. You had left yours back at the sauna. What if they find it? They’ll know you’re a White Fang agent. Would that harm you in the future?

“My bad, I think I left mine back there at the…” You began with the explanation, but were quickly interrupted.

“I’ve got plenty to spare. Think you’re the first agent to carelessly leave her things behind without thinking of the consequences for our organization?” His tone held a mix of sarcasm and amusement.

“Are we talking about…” You had a suspicion about who the irresponsible agent was.

“Yes. We are talking about her. She nearly loses three masks a week. Care to make our landing smoother? Unlike you, I’m not used to flying.”

“Oh, right.” You slowly adjusted your weight to normal. Same for him. Normally, when you used your Semblance on someone else, the Aura drain felt harsher. This time that wasn’t the case. Maybe because he was a willing target? Or maybe you were getting stronger? Something to test in the future.

As you neared the hole in the building, you saw what looked like an abandoned concrete floor. There was hardly any decoration, mostly cracked pillars, ruined walls and metal cables protruding from the remnants of what seemed like the floor. A strong stench of mold and dampness assaulted your nostrils. It wasn’t… that bad. A little creepy. At least it contrasted nicely with the still lit city behind you.

After landing safely, making sure your speed matched your weight, you touched down on the floor with Taylor at your back. When he released his embrace, it felt… nostalgic. The many rooms appeared empty, save for the constant sound of falling droplets of water.

“Are you sure it’s here? I don’t see anyone.” You spoke aloud. Taylor, with his White Fang mask on, looked around quietly, just as confused. This didn’t bode well.

(1/?)

File: MalachiteTwins.png (383 KB, 599x334)

383 KB PNG

“That’s because you’re nearly the first one to arrive, darling.” A female voice echoed from behind a pillar. You flinched, quickly turning to locate the source. A girl, slightly younger than you, stepped out from behind a pillar. She had very light skin, long black hair, and an air of nobility in the way she spoke. A snobbish tone, in fact. Her attire accentuated that, it being that of a modified gala dress in white with cyan and lilac accents, combining the style of a royal princess with military undertones. It was tucked out and shortened in certain places, mostly the skirt and the exposed shoulders. An oversized flower hairpin rested beside her head. And on top of all that? A fur scarf that was… almost tinted white? Greenish? An in-between? It wasn’t… pretty.

“By the way… a kimono really doesn’t suit you. And utility belts are sooo old-school. Do they have you wear that as punishment? Or is the White Fang simply that inept when it comes to fashion?” A second voice, nearly identical to the first, came from behind you. From behind a broken concrete wall another girl emerged, almost identical in appearance. Maybe a little bit shorter. Her dress was black and red, and instead of opting for a militaristic style, hers was more focused on an absurd number of belts, buckles and metal spike in embarrassing places, all of this while showing too much skin. You had to avert your look out of second-hand embarrassment.

“Simplicity is part of the charm.” You wouldn’t step so low as to verbally defend your fashion choice with the pair of spoiled brats. Besides, it was obvious which one of the three didn’t look bad. And also, you weren’t exactly sure who they were.

“The Spiders, I take it? I expected more people to be here. What about the Wave? Or the Hana guild? And the Black Sheep? They sent the invitation, after all.” Tay interjected, smoothly changing the subject. Good move.

“Oh, handsome, if only you knew… don’t worry. They’ll arrive soon. Some of our agents already confirmed the presence of two important figures getting close. And, well… there’s that freak over there.” The girl in white gestured behind her, toward the continuation of the floor. It was too dark to see, the windows barely letting in any light.

“I… heard… that.” A raspy, hollow voice came from within the darkness. It sounded almost like it was spoken through a gas mask. Deep and robotic. No, mechanical was the better word. Guttural, as if someone was struggling to speak through a filter. You felt the hairs behind your nape stand up just by the creepy factor.

(2/?)

“And who might the gentleman be?” Taylor asked aloud, taking the lead. Right, he was the one to talk while you were there to support him. That was the plan. You were just so used to being the one in charge. Maybe you could speak up more as time went on? Being seen as his equal, rather than his subordinate? Would he agree on that? Most likely. No way to ask him now. Professional appearances and all that.

“Bayfor.” The same guttural voice responded from within the darkness. There was no follow-up. Was that hostility? Indifference? Maybe he was just… shy? A faint sound of metal scraping against metal was heard from that room, almost as if multiple heavy blades were moving and touching the concrete. You were certain only you could hear it.

“He’s like, the mascot of-” The girl in black began, but was interrupted by a loud, mechanical roar from the same… person? Creature?

“GUARDIAN!” If the glasses from the broken room hadn’t already shattered, you were sure they would have vibrated from the sheer force of the sound. It startled you, making you reel from its loudness. Loud, unannounced noises always rattled you.

“Fine… the guardian of Lady Victoria. She’s one of the Black Sheep representatives. I’m not sure why one of her pets… I mean, guardians, is here instead of her.” The girl with the white dress spoke with clear annoyance.

“Mistress wants to ensure… place is secure for her… arrival…” The raspy voice answered. Whatever or whoever this was, speaking seemed panful for him. Or it. You glanced at Tay, who just shrugged. It seemed you’d have to wait. But what if this was a trap? What if that figure was plotting to kill you? What if the girls were lying and planning to backstab you?

Too much paranoia. You had to actively push those thoughts aside. Don’t let the pressure get to you.

>The Spider apparently had a… positive relationship with the White Fang. At least, that’s what Taylor had told you a few weeks ago. Even if these two brats were insufferable, they were, formally speaking, your… allies? Talk to them a little bit more. Probe for additional information.
>Whatever that guy “Bayfor” was, it intrigued you. It also scared you, but your curiosity kept pushing you forward. Besides, he was apparently aligned with the Black Sheep family. The very first ones to try recruiting you. Maybe some small talk with him would… clear up some doubts?
>Staying quiet and playing the stoic bodyguard could work well for both of you. The brats were failing by being so insufferable, and the other guy was… well, maybe he was intimidating, but hiding wasn’t the right way to present yourself. Whatever happens, your goal was to make the Taylor, and by extension, the White Fang, look professional.
>Other (Write-in)