KINGDOM OF VACUO
ONE YEAR AGE
POV
As Vacuo is a large, sparse, unforgiving place. "If you can survive here, consider yourself welcome" As The adventurous or boastful interpret this as a challenges him just however only a fraction of them survive. And after millennia of people accepting the invitations, the very land has become just like the other Kingdoms as populous, powerful, respected and just very home for humans and faunus alike....with the old law still exists to this day now and as then In recent time though the very Remnant seem's to be divided and in declines in chaos after the fall of two kingdoms as Beacon's Fall severed communications to and from the majority of Vacuo....Thus, for the town of Umbra, word had yet to reach the community's ears of much else.... Consider this one night as seemingly quiet...the wind kicked up sand and dried grass as though the God of Darkness had sighed of boredom...as the very sun had just had then again snuck beneath the horizon...the shattered moon glowed its bluish white light overhead and...the very town's local businesses had closed, save for the single saloon filled with maybe a dozen or so patrons. Vacuan instruments played softly and just has oudist strumming, the percussionist slapping a rhythm with a naker, a pianist backing them, a soloist improvising on his ney with a relaxed, jazzy attitude and the single television was a playing the early evening local news showing a weather report and just more dust storms ! Who'd've thought now? A night like most any others., the bartender reckoned and a while they wiped clean another glass mug....As They lazily scanned the floor, occasionally glancing back at the one as who brought his family of five for a late meal as No surprises at all..
That is Good
Except for two customers sitting at the corners of the bar. We're they new here ? Barkeep didn't recognize them....not like the many others here and A man in a brownish-gold leather jacket and blue jeans....with a face as ugly as the camel parked out back And just a woman in a celadon sari with white trim and sleeve's flared out at the cuff and as just long enough to cover her whole arms as they had been talking for about an hour since they got here at dusk and not to the owner tending the bar except to order a single drink each not to either of the serving ladies not to the mistress of ill-repute who runs her symbiotic business on the other half of the saloon, not to anyone else but each others The weird man took another drink, a stinging whiskey on-the-rock's made with the fermented fruit of carpet cactus and It's started sweet on the tip of his tongue.. before But the moment he began slowly swallowing... the burn of the booze slid just a comfortably down his throat. Ah ! he thinks for a moment as the glass is set back down on the coaster, ice clanging during the fall. He opened his mouth but as then noticed something out of his periphery....He and she just sat close to the saloon's single restroom... A child, maybe nine years old, as shuffled by returning to his tired parents at the booth across the way as He extended his arm to stop the kid in his tracks..."Kid it might be in your very best interest to put those lien back where you found them" he suggested to the delinquent in a low authoritative tone and as He just wasn't trying to threaten but like a Semblance of magic it became a threat anyways The very man continued "My colleague here is not kind to pickpockets..." As he's said to the kid as then started darted his vision from his grasped hand to the woman next to Camel-Face She had adjusted the shoulder of her gown and as which lifted the sleeve of her left arm hanging down her side then child sense something....
The little child widened his eyes as Her left arm had a pattern of repeating lines and curves a like the scales of a badlands rattler, and they just extended to all her digits and More frightening were two of her fingernails then stark white and pointed sharp as opposed to the other three that were painted glittering gold and more reasonably shaped as the would-be thief did not want to imagine how venomous her fanged strike would be on his still young face....Shaken, he's put the colored bills back into Snake Lady's pockets. And as then ran back to his family's table"I thought you just loved kids Gene" she's snarked at him both chuckling softly and showing dissatisfactions..."Just need a little warming up to them, partner" he rebutted mirroring her snicker and giving a sly grin. "I wasn't lying, y'know." As then he said to her "But he doesn't deserve it. Not like who we're after" she said."Could be he's one of them" just Gene dryly joked. "Bandits recruit young. Moreso out here, beyond the City's watch." As she said to him as well faced towards the side "You know very we'll kids can changed over time You know Orora got out" Then she said to him "Luci too...." The woman shorted for a second, surprised. "Heh, Atlas ain't a tribe of bandits of there own I can understand why Too cold there" As then Gene swung back "...They do steal from the less powerful just with lawyers, business, and better dress sense." The two laughed in agreement and Then they resumed their last discussion"Luci did say he noticed more riders just beyond the hills now And as far as we know..., the stationed Huntsman is late returning from Shade....We can't let them raid this place. Sure as the sand in 'sandwich,' safety keeps Grimm away," Gene rotated in his stool and a then gestured to the saloon "These folks found special comfort the nomads don't got." As he said "I had a thought about that, actually," she interjected..towards him "wouldn't Luci take over as sheriff in Peri's absence now? As He is the ranking Huntsman and more local people here and since the fall now" As then there was silent between them both.
"Deepika as Lucius just ain't fond of...obligatory town meetings and trials with frontier folk He's comfortable with his dune roller and then teaching the occasional lesson at Penumbra." Gene gestured in the direction of the combat school just several miles from the town itself, closer to the coast of Topaz Bay Deepika asked in response "So we're just heroes passing through.... conveniently here when Sheriff Periwinkle ain't ?" As she said to him "Principles, Dee." As Gene was about to elaborate on his answer as the television suddenly switched away from the forecast to a girl in red. She's seemed anxious and initially unaware she was live. A recording ? Or a broadcast ? As Where is she ? What is this girl doing ? And then as Why is this important ?
Curious, and a little worried and...has Gene turned to the bartender, commanding "Turn it up !"Now that the whole saloon could hear the very patrons turned their eyes and ears just like Gene and Deepika as had now As then The girl on the TV was Ruby Rose. She's was broadcasting the new to inform everyone's in the four Kingdoms about someone named Salem....the witch who originated all creatures of Grimm's and as is now laying siege to Atlas...and ancient Relics from long-forgotten god's just were the only possible way to just stop her. The Huntsman Gene and Huntress Deepika were in disbelief has mighty Atlas in need of help, the steely general Ironwood now just with someone to be distrusted Maidens with actual Magic, a possible end to Remnant as we know it and then just as Ruby was about to rally her viewers with news of Amity's return to the sky… static...As with this surprise came a flash flood of worry among the seated saloon customers...
As then Looks between theirs friends and loved ones Murmurs of discontent as barkeep shut off the screen looked at his clientele, then to the seated Huntsman and Huntress with arms in a motions of What should we do? One man stood up from a table. The sound of his chair scraping across the floor quieted about half the noise of stifled panic. In an elevated voice and he silenced the rest "Here is what's we get for staying in place ! And Working a land that refuses to give back ! Digging deeper and a deeper for even less water and Dust over the years now ! That Umbra was a mistake! Sundertown was a mistake ! The City was a colossal mistake! Beacon fell ! Now Atlas is falling ! For all we know Mistral is gone too...! What's to stop us from— " "Now, everyone now calm down," As Gene stood up from the bar with the same vocal authority as with the junior pickpocket " As the last things we need is riled up townsfolk running for the hills. You can guess what this… malcontent brings upon everyone here" As The Huntsman was talking to the entire bar this times and then emphasizing the word "malcontent" as he's just returned attention to the doomsayer pacing around's. "The strong saunter on and survive," As the unknown man retorted " As Those who's stay only just feed the monsters." He turned to face Gene... "Vac' got by this way long before Huntsmen." Gene took a long inhale through his nose before countering.. "Before the very Academies there's we're still folk's willing and able to protect those who couldn't themselves now there are know as heroes and league..." As Gene motioned his jacket away from his side as revealing the handle of a large survival knife. "And not for the money." The man reached his hand for the revolver on his hip holster as defensively like a dog barking at a cat and..Gene isn't phased in the slightest...Evading the man's notice as Deepika appeared behind him to grasp his arm. Just as he turned with a startle, as she swung him around and flipped him, the final flourish being to slam him to the floor on his shoulders and neck and as The pistol couldn't even leave the pouch...His table mates three of them there were – got up to protest. Unlike the first man, the others could draw their firearms. The tallest of them shouted "Step back, woman ! We don't want to make things worse for everyone here !" As He said.
"Worse?!" Deepika shouted back. "Nah ! Now thing's are getting good !" She widened her stance, ready to attack with extended palms as Simultaneously, Gene grasped the handle of his knife. Guess the quiet night is over.....The first move flashed thrice from the trio's guns toward Deepika, but just with grace she ducked, dodged, and zigzagged a path to her first target now... A palm strike to his spleen. A swing of the elbow from her other arm into his ribs as he then tried to as pistol-whip but missed and faltered forward towards her has before he knew it, as she's already strafed to his weak side and rushed him down in a tackle...A roll forwards out of it she continued her alacrity with more punches and swipes and has deftly evading even more rounds from their shooters a the entire saloon was deafened and stunned by all the gunfire as while two of the men were tangled with the slithering snake woman, Gene just confidently strode towards the third hand staying on his blade... around With only slight leans, he's was merely grazed by this man's bullets a brief shimmers of light showing that his Aura remained strong. Unlike Deepika.....Gene was more a straightforward brawler, as shown by his free arm delivering blow after blow to his chest, stomach, and face.... As Punch, right hook, punch, another, uppercut as then has he was reeling,
As Gene then just unsheathed the knife directly into a backslash tearing the man's chaps and a just cutting his thigh... A quick turn of the blade and Gene swiped across again and...just hitting the shooter's gun hand disarming him with one last strike to the gut....Gene's opponent keeled over...Deepika just as followed up by tripping one of her foes with a low arm sweep, then with a strong open palm forced him onto Gene's very defeated rival like a tornado wind and...As for the final ne'er-do-well still upright he's turned to try his luck on the ugly Huntsman and the luck didn't show, as Gene kicked him back into a grapple from the Huntress and flipping him over her back, and as his head landing on the hardwood now as the bandits wobbled theirs way from laying on their stomachs as to crawling on theirs hands and knees shaking their concussed heads and favoring their injuries The two victors panted, an easy respite from then roughing up ruffians who wanted to signal the desert Grimm by inciting as the people into despair and the four men, once their senses returned enough to see the man and woman just unscathed as scrambled out through the swinging saloon doors as The last man shouted towards them "You're all just as delaying the inevitable !!!" As he's said a scurried like a wounded coyote....the galloping of horses could be heard beyond the saloon's walls amid the whispers of the night's breeze and It's took a few beats before the townsfolk emerged from under and behind the tables and chairs..., all sighing with relief and applauding the two saviors standing in the middle of the scene....The last to pop back up was the barkeep has sweat falling down over their's face like the curtains of a play's just opening act has Although smiling in renewed security they chided Gene and Deepika "As now look at all the extra work we gotta do in the mornin'!" As he's said.... Gene wiped the blood from his knife using the inside of his leather jacket and then quickly sheathed it just
Deepika gave her arms one full rotation and a before adjusting her body to a relaxed standing mode...and then exhaling the last of her retributive aggression as then as gene reached into his jean pocket pulling out several bills of cash. "How much ?" he just turned to Barkeep, implying a willingness to help as Except he didn't hear what they said...Deepika whispered in his ear, "There's a problem." He's leaned toward her, still trying to pay attentions to Barkeep's list of demands..
"What ?" As he's asked her as Deepika patted herself down and pulled all her pockets inside out "My scroll. It must have slipped out some where And..I don't see it on the floor...." As she said to him as then Gene just stare at her and raised a single finger to the bartender and then signaling that their conversation be paused for the moment. Then he turned his head to her, "One of them swiped it ?" As he's asked her "Check yours" she implored him as Gene done as she said, the first screen as showing the status of all four member's of Team GOLD Gene's Aura is in the green, Orora's and Lucius' signal's at two of five bar's but otherwise just as nominal, and then Deepika's…Signal Lost just as now Gene repeated his last phrase, has a statement rather than a question now... "One of them swiped it."
The Huntsman and Huntress just as exchanged look brainstorming. After several moments, theirs worried looks begat brightened eye's..." So it An opportunity" Deepika said finally and trun toward him "I say Team meeting." Gene wanted to squash this scarab before it could lay eggs.... now "Yes" as Deepika concurred. "But first, drinks." Gene nodded. Then looked around the saloon with a reassuring smile has We're here for y'all he expressed to the folk.....I hope everything's is fine in the end and if there are god's please help us....' as he thought as he was looking forward towards the people's around here and maybe a miracle they need
ONE YEAR LATER
PRESENT
POV
Oscar.
As Oscar rolls over on his bed and then mostly trying to still asleep and then immediately now go'wayyy…
Oscar !
shhhhhh it my sleepy time you go play with someone else I will love my garden now and then we dearm~'
No. Oscar Wake up !!
As The feelings of being mentally poked surfaces him from sleep as he blinks, slowly, heavily, and cracks an eye and The hour is late enough to be early and early enough to be obscene Night still covers the view from the room's balcony now and the rest of the team lie's sprawled around him and as dead asleep themselves as Oscar frowns, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and as staring at the star map on the ceiling of the Vacuan Embassy room that's team E.N.R.O had set up camp in now and it was one the safest place in the city and then Academy 'What ? ' As he said him Not here, Oz urge's toward's Oscar cannot hear the urgency in his demeanor but he does feel its and slight blip of darker green against the whole.... just Oscar rises to his feet immediately all that sleepiness is just gone "Is it's an attack ? Here ? Now ?" he's hisses low enough not to wake the rest.....No. Do not worry about that But here Oz just hesitates Just…not here, he settles on. Oscar sighs....As They creep past their companions into the night as the soft chirping of the pit-pit bugs surrounds them...As The nightingale of the Governor's garden hasn't woken yet and leaving the frigid hours of deep night undisturbed by any others sounds and the very broken moon has nearing its fullness, shines brightly down on the sands as reflecting the sun absent ray's onto now cold white sandstone....now It's reflections glimmers back at him as broken though it is, from the very depths of the hidden as nook they arrive in now..
As Their destination is a small garden that Oscar had found while exploring by himself one day, and Oz had remembered building it though it had been many long years beyond count before and as It had been built at the intersection of two waterways and surrounded on all sides by deep shadowed pillars as and Oscar had found the gentle bubble of the fountain and as where they met enchanting and then as From the other side, he's had glimpsed a young peasant-turned-architect sketch ideas and then plans and maps for well's and then aqueducts, and then win the king's favor with his cleverness and humble nature as This garden, Oscar just remembers from a memory not quite his own but just had been a special place....hidden from the main thoroughfares and only allowing in those who looked for it.....A tiny grassy oasis in the desert city as Oscar could've stayed here's forever....here as Bright green amusement and an olive pride snake through just the memory That must have been six hundred years ago.
You built the hydraulic system for Vacuo! Oscar lights up. Suddenly he feels the urge to do mathematics he doesn't even know. That's so cool. How has it stood for so long? How did it survive the wars ? Please tell me everything he asked him Oz hesitates again, and it brings Oscar back to the moments at hand As The very telling of tale now is why's I wished to wake you, actually. As Oz said to him "Oh."Yes. I, well…Viridian apprehension colors them both. It's sloshes between them like the fountain water. Oscar lets it seep in and then gently prods, "As long as there's no more bomb shell's....?" As Oscar said to him Oz seems to startle, and then a flood of sickly guilt washes between them both.....Oscar winces "Sorry" He said 'No, no, I-just worry Oscar' As Ozpin said to him as Oscar feels him take the equivalent of a deep breath. 'Tonight, I am…leave some advice for you and important information to you ' As Ozpin said to him The last traces of sleep flee their system now as Oscar just does not answer the shock instantly.... AsHe lets it wash over him and leave it's dregs at the bottom of the fountain and just then searches his mind, their mind as for the context-and-response.....It comes to him as they are merge.. together but has both of them are afraid and affected by this but then again what can they do in the end as in is inevitable of there fate's now 'Yes.' As Oz is still braced for something mentally Anger, maybe. Denial. Withering scorn and a Oscar reminds himself that the wizard has done this many times and a behaviors are based on patterns and as nothing exists in a vacuum.
"Okay then" he's just says out loud "but Tonight's is it just that necessary ?" As Oscar asked him now 'It has been three years, Oscar. ' As he said to him "Is that a long time ?" As he said to him 'To me ? No. But In this matter ? Hard to say as Merging is…complicated and I never liked it oscar ' As Ozpin said to him.... " As will you become me ?" A strange sort of calm descend's on Oscar. It is foreign to him as It casts the secluded oasis of the courtyard into a sterile equation. This is it The last night (His last night. Oh.) and The other way arounds, I believe, Oz interrupts gently, and Oscar is able to breathe again and A distant piece of his mind notes Oz's position is still braced for impact. If he was corporeal, he would not meet his eyes... I will become part of you...as for a moment the world stills as Oscar could swear the pit-pit bugs stop their dance and the fountain stops its playful song and just the wind stops tickling their face. His face Oh. And as then, "When?" he asks, out loud and a bit hoarse....Imminently. The longer it is drawn out, the more painful it will be,... Oz says. I know it's sudden, but- "No." As Oscar replies, to him and the numbness falls away. He tries to pour reassurance through to the other side of his mind. "I think I've felt it for a while. I think I knew." Oz hums a dull note, forest dark. Most likely you have. My…host usually starts picks up on it before I can. "So what will happen to me?" Oscar asks. He traces the contours of the broken moon in the pool's reflection. He should have asked this earlier and The moon does not smile down on him and It's has no face....My memories, Oz begins, and...Oscar is so relieved to sense the lack of fear that had seeped over earlier....You will remember what I keep, and just then you must decide what to do with them..... "I'm not getting overwritten ?" As Oscar just confirms.....Like I said, more of the other way just around..... Oz reassures. I become part of you. A lens through which you see, perhaps. As You will have my memories..and our task..the task Right almost forgot
Oscar cannot describe the feeling he experiences at this moment. He's knows he will spend the rest of his life here in this quiet garden in the dead of night as in some sense as He will walk out and leave something behind. Impending doom, he feels as The inevitable curse he's was given and the grief that comes with it. Despair at an impossible task held off by the hope of his companions....I'll miss you, he thinks desperately. He clutches the cold stone bench on either side of his knees and pretended it's his predecessor's hands Oz Ozpin laughs and has the very emerald sorrow that's accompanies it does not diminish the faint silver joy. They twine together in an endless loop, an ouroboros that undulates dark and light together Are you ready?
"Do I have a choice ?"
"I need to hear you say it," as Ozpin uses their mouth, their vocal folds, to say it out loud. Important as For a moment Oscar can see through to the other side, the deep black on silver like stars in the night 'just Please Oscar And as he knows that Oz will not do this unless he chooses to Oscar takes a deep breath. He stands up. He squares his shoulders He concentrates on the burble of the fountain and as then the moon's broken reflection and as the way the shadows of the building come together. He's presses against the mirror to the other side of his mind and sees his reflection in it, one last time and before He nod then they both can begin.
It's is very hard to explain the merge if one has never experienced it before. In a feeling it is looking up from underwater to see the sky, or watching as heatwaves warp the shape of familiar pavement.., or squinting in the brightness of the sun as Oscar will later recall the memory of each soul telling him their story, but it took no time's at all as the stars do not wheel overhead but they become more ancient the more he hears as The very sharp corners of Vacuan architecture seem as to changed from sandstones to brilliant quartz and back as the winds and that breeze his face softly no longer blow but caress as the world just change but he stays the same and It spins on and on but he doesn't move. They and he become they-and-he become him. Just one, but many too as It is impossible but ecstatic and chaotic all at the same time as They are an orchestra clamoring and here a they reach harmony and finally play one tune...now As Ozma is the first to go as his aquamarine floating around Oscar's very head until it sinks into his chest and He remembers the tower, the woman, dying and returning, but this time he is on the other side and It's is him now and the teal waves and scepter and sickness and a ozma croons a sea green lullaby to him and then settles in the back of his mind forever, never to speak again and as That's is just the beginning Azure comes next, sapphire and silver and four daughter's...then an old man and a beggar and a man with a crippled foot. A man who gave up drinking for hot chocolate and as then another man who had a wife and child and gave up himself for them. Another man who saw four sisters and was moved, so moved that he trusted them with a few of his broken pieces... On and on they come and as a rainbow of colors and a deluge of tales and as Hundreds of souls and there stories, all part of him now. It does not hurt, but it feels like it is killing him and The weight of so many souls is crushing, but what truly wears him down is their grief.
The defender of Mistral in the very Second Grim War steps forth. He carries a bow and quiver and his eyes speak of seeing many deaths as Save everyone you can, even those who do not deserve it, he says, and then retreats in a shower of lily pink and peach now it was then the playwright of the Isle of Wenceslos, long lost to the waves and the tides, steps forth. His beard is long and the weathered lines of his face are longer, and his eyes are forever damp and He's touches two fingers to Oscar's forehead Speak the truth with love, he says, and washes aways in translucent sea foam green now The architect of Vacuo steps forth. He's is one of the few to smile without shadow, and as he just grasps a shoulder and laughs. Beware the bottom of wells, he says, and steps back in a swirl of indigo and white sandstone as The engineer of Atlas steps forth. He makes no motion to touch Oscar but nods. Do not fear beauty, but grow it when you can, he says, and is covered by blinding snow and has pale blue ice now..
The seeker of the Lamp steps forth and He too pats a shoulder. Be cautious with the truth, but do not hoard it, he says, and fades in violet and rich loam The king of Vale steps forth as He's carries bright maille and a spear and he drips dark sanguine red from his hands. One of these he places on Oscar's head. Make times of peace, my son, he says, and joins the horde in pale jade and gold boys as well they're moved away and A huntsman of the Red Sand Sea steps forth. He holds the strap of a shield slung across his back and as his very eye's have a lonely set to them As Cherish your companions, he says and as is gone with grey smoke and white ash....And then there is just one left. Oscar turns, and as he's can finally see the voice in his head clearly and as for the first time there are no barriers or distortions or misdirections. The mirror in his mind is gone as Ozpin sits next to him in the hidden garden in Vacuo as dark green and black and silver headed and Oscar misses him already.....They sit there for a long while, and neither speaks. The fountain plays on and the moon slowly slips past the horizon, broken pieces and all It's leaves the sky darker and the stars brighter against the blackness in its wake..." As How do you go on like this ?" As Oscar just manages arounds the immovable weight of memorie's and living and dying and fighting in vains the hopeless war and the grief of missing those out of reach and as Everyone's dies in time's and how do you do it ? Really, how ? As Ozpin considers this as Just when Oscar loses hope that he will answer, the man sighs. He looks upward, towards the night sky....."This answer will be of little comfort to you," he warns. "I watch the sky. See ?" As The stars just glimmer brilliantly just as against the backdrop of the heavens." As There is beauty beyond the reach of evil," he continues "As Though in time, even the stars will fade. But their beauty lights the way." As he said...
As He turns once more to meet his successor's eyes and says, "It is a bitter medicine and But as it is worth fighting for, and worth not forgetting, though it cannot take away our sorrow." Oscar can fully see through to the other side now. He looks into the professor's eyes and sees grief and love and silver joy and as emerald magic. Sage green wisdom, the offspring of hope and suffering as interweaves the core of this multifaceted creature, and for the first time Oscar finds it in himself to feel pride in his inheritance In a legacy of getting up every times to hold back a tide that's will always wash them away and it is his now and this is his very legacy now "You are the best of us all, Oscar," As Ozpin says and in its Oscar can hear just countless echoes of the same word's passed down to each successive Oz, a hundred times in a hundred different languages for a thousand years. His own mahogany-burnt-orange is part of that.. It laces in to join the chorus...."I'm ready now," Oscar says.... "I think...." As Ozpin smiles and reaches to clasp his hands, but Oscar embraces him. He swears he's can feel warm breath ghosting on his hair as the most recent soul fades into the collective..
"Goodbye," he's tells the empty garden. It is just him now 'you will not be alone', he remembers now as he just looked up at the skyline one again as He sits vigil there and just through the deep predawn dark has the nightingale wakes and begin his song as until the sun rises. The stars fade out, overshadowed by a brighter light that far eclipses theirs radiance and Beyond the circles of the world, it paint's the sky in lovely hues of gold and pink and blue as The night turns to morning, and the world turns on and...Bitter medicine, yes, but beautiful.... As the equations make sense now as he realizes. The hydrological engineering mathematics about the waterways in this very fountain—its makes sense as What's had before been strange numbers in fractal pieces now falls into places. The pressure, the flow rate, the fluid mechanics: they make sense. The two waterways meet and come together as He knows something new... Is he's someone else ?No. They are part of him now.....The reflection of the sunrise in the fountain is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen He's turns back towards it for one last glimpse before he's leaves that quiet place and as The others will be wondering where they- he is. He's should show them the sunrise anyway now and he should go back sleep
CHANGING LOCATION
TWO WEEKS LATER
POV
They were already seated when the silence settled in. The explanation had been given The words had been spoken Whatever needed to be said—had been said. Now, there was only what came after as Angelica sat across from them and a both hands wrapped loosely around a porcelain cup. The tea inside had long since stopped steaming, but she's still brought it to her lips out of habit and a taking a slow measured sip as if the motion itself gave her something to hold onto now as she just didn't look at them right away....Didn't rush to respond as the very room held that pause with her as well Scarlet sat still, his posture straighter than usual, hands resting lightly against his knees as he tried not to shift too much in his seat as This wasn't a place for movement as Even the smallest adjustment felt like it might draw too much attention and like it might break something fragile and that's hadn't fully settled yet So instead—He looked....The very walls we're lined with photographs as Not arranged with any real symmetry but placed over times, moments added where space had allowed and a some frames slightly tilted, others overlapping just enough to suggest as they had been moved more than once as They weren't decorations.
They were memories and Mathew appeared in all of them and In one, he stood just outside the home, arm slung around Angelica's shoulders and both of them squinting slightly into the sunlight. In another, he was mid-laugh as head turned away from the camera as if whoever had just taken the picture had caught him off guard. There were smaller ones too—quiet moments, softer ones and Sitting at the same table they were at now. Cups of tea between them. Nothing remarkable.
And somehow—Everythings. Scarlet's gaze lingered there a second longer than it's should have and Then moved and Sage sat besides him, quieter than usual, though not withdrawn. There was a steadiness to him—grounded and present in a way that didn't demand attention but held the space together regardless. His hands as rested loosely against the table, his posture relaxed without being's careless as Angelica just set her cup down has the sound was soft. Still, it carried.. "…He always said this job would catch up to him one day," she said as Her voice didn't waver. That made it harder to hear Scarlet's attention shifted back to her, his expression tightening just slightly "but He's didn't deserve that," he said to her, the words quiet, but firm and Angelica gave a faint and a almost distant smile. "No," she agreed. "He didn't."Her gaze drifted as just slightly toward the wall toward one of the photograph Scarlet had been lookings at moments earlier as Her voice and very eyes lingered there as not focusing so much as remembering."…But he had a job to do," she added. "We all did.... I just figured he'd hurt himself on the job as Sewer maintenance here wasn't exactly his calling, but he was just happy to work as To provide."
Scarlet swallowed He didn't have a response for that.
"He made a difference," Sage said, calm and certain and just "That's doesn't end just because he's gone." As then Angelica's eyes lowered again and her hand returning to the cup; not to drink this time, just to hold it. For a moment, she said nothing then, she's looked up as She looked at both the young men across from her "…And you ?" As she asked. "You're both still out there trying your best, right ?" As It wasn't a question. Not really....Sage met her gaze, steady as ever. "We are." As he said and Angelica nodded slowly and just looked at her side "You should be careful," she's said. "Both of you." As she's said as Her eyes shifted then finally landing on Scarlet There was something more present in her expression now. Not grief—not entirely. Concern....."He talked about the work you've all been doing," she continued. "Said you were… reckless, but also important and.....the only reason we can sleep at night as things are now." As Scarlet just blinked now... "…That sounds like him," As he said admitted quietly.
A faint breath of something almost a laugh—escaped her, though it didn't fully form "He didn't mean it as an insult," she said.... " As He's said you cared too much to think twice sometimes" As Scarlet just then looked down briefly and his jaw tightening just a fraction just now "…Yeah," he said That sounded right too..as she just studied him for a moment longer, as then leaned back slightly in her chair, her hand still resting against the cup."…Take care of your team," she said. "As He just believed in you. In all of you." As Scarlet nodded once "I will." As The words just came easier this time. Because this time—He meant them and The silence returned, but it wasn't as hollow as before. It's settled differently now, shaped by what had been said rather than what hadn't.....Scarlet's eyes drifted once more, slower this time, more deliberate as the photographs. The moments and as the life that had been built here. And then—Something else. Another face and A man standing beside Mathew in one of the frames, both of them caught mid-conversation as theirs expressions open familiar Comfortable as Scarlet's brow furrowed slightly.... now "…Who is that man ?" As he just asked carefully, pointing at one of theirs many pictures now..
As Angelica just followed his gaze and then her very own expression changed as just slightly as her eyes settled on the picture he had drawn attention to now "Wait Him ?" she responded. "That's Alec, I believe."
Scarlet nodded and his eye's lingering just a second longer before he looked away....Something settled in his chest as Not fully formed. Not yet. But enough to notice as just Enough to follow....Sage shifted beside him, subtle but intentional—a then quiet reminder of where they we're "…They seem happy." he said, his very voice softer now She nodded in response. "Yes, I forget how they met exactly, but they we're close..." "I'm glad he had close friends." Scarlet retorted. "Can never have too many and Did he's also work in sewer maintenance ?" As Angelica raised an eyebrow for a moment at the younger boy before thinking about his question Alec had come into their life a while ago, but she wasn't sure how they'd met initially "No," As She finally answered. "I don't think so. He's did something else. Sorry, I don't recall..." Sage studied Scarlet over as he heard her answer He's wasn't sure what he was just getting at, but he's knew his partner wouldn't ask pointless questions has especially to a recent widow just without good reasons now as Scarlet just sighed in response. "I see." As he said to him "Any particular reason?" She asked now. "No, no," He waved her off. "Just looked familiar, I guess." As she said Before she could press further as just scarlet stood from his seat. Sage, as if reactionary just began to do the same "I'm sorry again, Angelica." Scarlet stated, "I'll be back to check in on you and as please keep me posted on his services." As he said to her "Of course." She said as responded with a weak smile... "Don't you and Nolan be strangers now as And if you hear who did this—.."
"You'll be our first stop." Sage intervened as with that, Scarlet gave her small nod as before heading toward their front door has just Sage followed with a bow and in which the older woman met again with that's same weak smile and then It's was all she could muster up currently, and he's understood that....The pair exited together in silence, as closing the door gently behind them Sage sighed to himself as Scarlet kept a steady pace out of his neighbor's front yard and just into the streets of Vacuo city. As It continued to bustle, further proof that life continues despite who's just leaves this place....Scarlet just stood there's momentarily before reaching into his pocket and retrieving something's a then Sage just approached him and as watched just he searched for something.... else " as What was that about?" He offered Scarlet didn't answer at first as he found what he had been looking for. A piece of paper. A list. He scanned it over once; his eyes searching for something and Until he found it as He turned towards Sage and looked him in the face as Sage noticed how focused he was has Intensity brimming from his eyes Scarlet was like Neptune most of the time. He's could handle himself as needed on the battlefield, but as he was more of the goofball type. So, seeing him like this was a bit more concerning now "Look." He's insisted, showing him the list Sage took it from his partner and glanced it over has well and It's was the names of the recently deceased as The people who they had been tasked with alerting next of kin and as That's when he noticed something...."You see it, too right ?" As Sage looked up at him has Scarlet handed over a file as He opened it quickly and sure enough, he's had come to the same conclusion as his partner "That is strange."
"There's a connection between them" As Scarlet said his voice quieter now, more focused. " As Two victims that knew one another and there must be it...." As he said to Sage lowered the file slightly, his eyes moving once more across the names before handing it back.. The noise of the city carried around them and distant voices, footsteps, the steady rhythm of life continuing as if nothing had changed and But as something had and then Sage glanced towards Scarlet, studying him for a moment before speaking..."What do you want to do?" As Scarlet folded the very paper carefully as his movements slower now, more intentional as His gaze drifted briefly back toward the house as they had just left, lingering only a second before returning to the list in his hands as he tapped the paper lightly against his palm, thinking as he spoke. "I'll start with Alec as See what I can find—where he works, who he knows, how far this goes." His eyes lifted again as sharper now. "If Mathew knew him, and as he's just connected to this somehow, then that's our thread" As he said as Sage crossed his arms loosely, considering "Then I'll follow the rest," he said. "When I notify the families, I'll start asking questions See if any of them overlap—friends, jobs, routines. Anything that lines up." Scarlet gave a small nod as the plan settling between them now "It's not much," Sage just added now "No," As Scarlet just agreed. "But it's something." As the wind just shifted, carrying a thin wave of sand just across the street has people passed by without a second glance to anyone else, it was just another day in Vacuo.....To them—It was a starting point...."We regroup later..," As Scarlet said.... "Pull Sun and Neptune in once and... we have something solid." As Sage allowed himself just a faint knowing look "As Assuming Sun doesn't get dragged into another 'lesson' first." As he's said to him Scarlet huffed quietly, just short of a laugh... "We'll find him..."
As He folded the paper once more and slipped it back into his pocket his expression settling into something more focused—less weighed down and more driven as they're didn't linger and just there wasn't a reasons to and Sage turned first, already moving back into the flow of the city, awhile Scarlet followed a step behind, his eye's scanning the streets not has a passerby and
But as someone looking for answers And then just as somewhere in the back of his mind—A name had just already begun to take shape and just Alec and as The docking platform hadn't quieted....If anything, it's had settled into a different kind of tension—as less frantic, more focused and Workers moved again, slower than before, though their attentions still drifted toward the airship that's now sat anchored just at the edge of the platform and The music had faded, but its presence's lingered and like an echo that hadn't quite decided to leave....At the center of it all stood Piper and Relaxed. Unbothered....Team GOLD remained just a few steps away, their formation loose but intentional but just as.
Neptune folded his arms, still nodding like he'd made a solid point. "I've got stage presence !" As he said...
As he just sighed. Deeply. "..…I just got off desk duty."
She glanced over again,.. an easy grin settling back into place. "Yeah," she said. "And already branching out." He just didn't respond. He just kept walking, her joining him at his side as But, for the first times since leavings Amity, and as there's was the faintest hint of something lighter in his expression and things now...
CHANGING LOCATION
VACUO DORM
POV
As Emerald just lays on her bed in the dorm room in.. Vacuo as that she shares with Nora, Ren, and Oscar. Oscar lays asleep on his bed as snoring softly....with his face just smushed into his pillow. And as Nora and Ren are out somewhere around Shade, Emerald isn't sure if they're together or just Not together....together.
Whatever.... now as It's relatively late Oscar's snoring being proof of that as emerald's decisions throughout the day had lead her to this moment and as she's had promised to not lie or steal anymore and as but what was one bottle of rum ? And...she's feels guilty about it....obviously but has the impulsive want to get drunk had overtaken the guilt at least for the moments and
She's definitely drank more as than she should have, she had bought a standard sized bottle and just she's drunk about 1/4th of the bottle, to maybe 1/3rd. She's just decides not to think too much about it, letting her mind wonder instead as she was remembering about her cinder as then she heard a story about jaune and cinder had something between's them and that was a shock new now has Cinder never told anything about him or about her life now as The bottle just sits on the nightstand beside her bed as she trails her fingertips across the skin of her stomach sending goosebumps across her body. She shudders and moves a hand to the more sensitive skin my her hips. As she does this, she tries to remember her and what led her to getting drunk....in the first place now as it all started with her.
As awhile walking through the city with Robyn, Fiona and Nora on a simple patrol, if it could be called that. Fiona and Nora had been going on about something that's Emerald wasn't really paying attentions to, but Robyn nodded along every once in a while...and then awhile the four of them turn down a road as Emerald catches a familiar looking head as duck out of a small shop and into an alleyway and as She freezes as she watches the messy but styled silver hair now as She just not sure if it was him and She's should have said something....But no words from her mouth came into existence....As she squeezes her eyes shut and nods when Fiona ask her if she's okay as she said she was fine as they all move on with there very patrol now as they was nothing to do As emerald just ends up going back to Shade early, stating that as she wasn't feeling good which wasn't really a lie since she had suddenly started feeling nauseous....Ever since that's moment she can't keep him off her mind....As She thinks of his last touch before he left her skin feels warm where his hands had last been months ago...She's thinks about the way he just looked at her before the airship and as he was shoved into took off as She feels the weight of the portable's screwdriver heavier.....has than normal in her pocket.....Throughout that week she's chose to keep her distance from Ren and Each time they were around each other, as she noticed him looking at her with a look in his eye that Emerald couldn't explain. A look that she didn't want to think about So here she is now, drunk in her bed and letting her mind picture her friend, if she could still call him that as Were they ever even friend's to begin with ? Emerald doesn't want to think about it and just has doesn't want to think about him Because as thinking of him makes her chest hurt and then She pictures his smooth skin, his silver hair he spends too long styling each morning and his very gray eyes focused as while doing minor repairs on his legs The more she thinks of him, the more tears pour from her eye's now as she's just hadn't noticed them..
She hadn't noticed the tears at first but now a they're impossible to ignore has a sob wracks as through her body and out of her mouth...as what is she doing with her life till now At the sudden sob she slaps one of her hands against her mouth and looks over to Oscar. To her luck, he's still asleep. She tries to let out a sigh of relief now but instead comes another sob as this one muffled....She wraps her arms around her middle and rolls over in her bed to smush her face into her pillow as an attempt to muffle her sobs She feels like a child. As these tears are just similar to the ones that just fell from her eyes as she laid in bed each night at age ten waiting for her mother to come home That was before she's had to live on the streets and fending for herself just Before Cinder and Before Mercury before...every thing and still as She doesn't know how long she lays there crying into her pillow.....It just could have been a minute it could have been twenty and maybe an hour. She doubts it's been an hour, she considers checking the clock on her bedside table but she knows that she doesn't remember what's time it had been before she stared crying. She checks anyway as It's nearly 10:30 P.M..,so where are Nora and Ren ? Emerald feels like they should be getting back soon, but instead there's no signs of them as Emerald just roll back over in bed and she looks over to Oscar, who's still snoring away..
She swallows the lump in her throat and takes a deep breath has resting her head back against her pillow. In that moment, as she spots something in the corner of her eye on the other side of the room and as with that, Emerald immediately a sits up as quickly as possible and reaches for her Thief's Respite on the side of the mattress in the pocket built into the sheets as Before she can wrap her fingers around the grip of one of her weapons, her mind processes what she's seeing. But not completely. Before she realizes it, one word slip's from her lips."Mercury ?" As she could blinked at him.
She blinks at him as he gives her a smile as stepping closer. She's looks him up and down, she can't stop a small smile from tugging at her lips at the very sight of him....but she had others concern as well "Mercury,... what are you doing here ?" As those words leave her mouth, she starts to notice that he doesn't quite look right and as his hair is too light and too short his very cargo pants don't have the small bleach stain on the pocket And the main give away, his eyes, these aren't the eyes she's spent hours staring at and As she just takes this in and processes it, slowly, the things she's noticed that's were wrong has change to be closer to what's correct was Mercury isn't standing across the room, as Emerald started to realizes now...That's not Mercury..Instead, its a hallucination that she made by using her semblance on herself just without realizing it at first Maybe she's more drunk then she's realizes, she definitely is. She focuses on him, changing small details about him until she's satisfied as She bites her very lip, unable to make his eyes look the way they do in reality.... now as Emerald tells herself that it's good enough and as stops fidgeting with his appearance or rather her perception of him and She bites her lip for a moment, and brings him closer to her and She hears, technically her brain thinks she's hears his very voice speaking to her as he's just takes a step now"Hey Em just Long time no see, yeah ?" As he's said to her and then Emerald just then can't control a the very shiver as that's runs through her body as She pulls her legs under herself so she's sitting crisscross. Mercury sits on the edge of the bed but a the mattress doesn't dip under him now "I can't believe you'd get drunk..," his voice says, it's not deep enough, causing Emerald's just eyebrows to furrow, "without me ?" As he told her.
As Voices have always been a bit difficult for Emerald and they're not exactly the easiest for her to practice.
She focuses on Mercury's lips, making them move as Mercury's voice enters her head as making it look like he's speaking to her "Didja miss me ?" As he's said to her "Is that even a question ?" As she can't hold back a scoff as Emerald wipes her any wetness away from her waterline wanting to look presentable to him. She only realizes how stupid that is has she just wipes her very hands on her thighs to dry them off now "Yeah, I guess you're right,... saying since you got drunk all by yourself... And why ? All because you missed me that much ?" As Mercury speaks as a pang of pain thrums though Emerald's head and as Mercury appearances wavers and she grabs onto her head. She knows she can't keep this up for much longer. She'll definitely be dealing with this headache on top of the one she'll be getting from her hangover now Emerald takes a deep breath and removes her hand from her head, looking back to Mercury, who's face has an expression that's resembles worry and She doesn't have the energy to change how he looks...."You should go to sleep, Em.. While Tyrian is still away. I'll watch over you,..." As he said to her has Emerald can't help but make a face of disgust at the mention of the scorpion faunus...She's nods tiredly, not wanting to argue with him and as she lays back down..nuzzling her face into the cool pillow.
"Good night, Merc," But she's just not awake long as enough to hear a response to her muffled words. Not just long enough to see him fade away from the room Not long enough to hear the voices of Nora and Ren just outside in the hallway as Not long enough to hear the dorm room door open and before sleeping herself
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TO BE CONTINUED