Cinderworks
Colors. Light crashing down on the mesmerized faces of the crowd. The thundering sound of explosions. The built up anticipation for even greater works of art, drawn with the night sky as their canvas.
Fireworks also reminded her of the smell of burned flesh. Screams of horror. The cries of a child in the furnace. Despite it. Or was it because of it? To this day, she still couldn't help but be fascinated by the dancing sparks. After all they were…
"So pretty!"
Cinder glanced at the little girl cloaked of red that sat beside her on Beacon's dorm roof. The opening of the tournament was celebrated by proper festivities.
She smirked.
Ruby. Fate had this strange way of making them cross paths.
She let her gaze back to the sky and spoke softly, her words lost in the cacophony.
"They are."
Ruby stared at her intently.
"Have we met before? You seem familiar somehow."
She smiled and spoke of honeyed words.
"Of course we did silly girl. We crossed each other in the hallway remember?"
"O-oh. Hum. Sorry."
There was a pause. A short but distinct pause.
Light from above tainted the air with red.
Ruby continued.
"So… hum… You like fireworks too?"
"I find them visually appealing yes. But do tell, what do you like about fireworks?"
"I… guess I never really thought about it."
Cinder kept following the lightshow.
Ruby continued.
"Well… Fireworks are made of Dust producing light and color…"
Cinder squinted slightly, but let the little girl go on.
"…and those are things everyone can understand and enjoy. I suppose it wouldn't be wrong to say that fireworks are something we can all share. As far as light can reach. Whether you're human or faunus."
Cinder smirked.
"How ironic. I too like fireworks for something they share with humanity."
Ruby was staring at her again. Her silver eyes tinted with green.
"What is it?"
Cinder's smile grew wider.
"Ephemerality. You can never truly capture its glory without being there to witness it. Fireworks burn through themselves in an instant and before you know it… there's nothing left."
Ruby looked puzzled, then went back to the show.
"Yeah… Maybe I just like them cause they are pretty after all…"
