~•Who owns RWBY? Not me•~
This took longer cause of things that happened in life.
Sorry about that.
My sincerest apologies for the extra delay.
~•[Airship]•~
"Why? Why? Why? Why?" Those were the questions that plagued Cinder's head as she mentally wept. Though, considering the small, subtle orbs of water that were forming in the corner of her eyes, she might physically weep, too. And everything was going so well. "Please don't be true. Please don't be true. Please don't be true." Cinder prayed in her mind, as she closed her eyes. Her fists clenched tightly on her lap.
Jaune was oblivious to her plight, as he watched in amazement at the sights that behold him, as the Airship took to the skies. Like a child, he watched with a small smile on his lips, letting his eyes wander. But, if he was being honest with himself, the sight wasn't that great as to what he was expecting. He blamed Yang since she always teased him about it. "Darn it, Yang. Why do you gotta raise my expectations like that." But, he admits. He also blames himself for partly believing her. Hey! When you got your mind focused on not barfing your lunch out, you tend to lose concentration on your sight, so he doesn't really have the luxury to be gazing out the window. Especially since it, more or less, just hindered him, reminding him that he's high up in the sky in a flying metal deathtrap, and that didn't really do well to quell his stomach.
Plus. His eyes were also too busy marking down the nearest places to go number 3. He doesn't know if there even is a number 3, but right now number 3 is for puking. Well, not right now, but he's still going to mark down those places, just in case the pills come up short. "Wait, what's that over there?"
Cinder opened her eyes, willing a few of her tears away. She then took a quiet, and deep breath, scrunching her eyes a little as she bit her lip. Her gaze then darted throughout the ship, searching for any wary eyes. There's only one way to make sure. Wincing to what she was about to do, she lifted her left hand, and subtly slipped it, just slightly, behind her left side. Slowly going down her skirt, trying to feel for any fabric underneath. "Please be there. Please be there. Please be there." She begged as she closed her eyes, hoping that she would feel something, anything at all. "Please! I beg of you." Her vision becoming hazy. All her pleading, all her prayers, her desperate begging was all for naught, as she found, to her utter horror, no sign of any sort of clothing, other than the feeling of her skirt on the back of her hand. She couldn't stop her eyes watering. Yet she kept herself composed, not letting a single tear drop from her face. "It's over." She gave up hope, setting her gaze down, her hands lay lifeless on her skirt. Stricken with overwhelming sadness. "It's over..." She whispered to herself miserably. Defeat. That was what she felt. She never had the feeling before, and now that she has. She didn't like any part of it.
~•~
A few feet up across Cinder, Mercury and Emerald casually walked towards the backside of an advertisement board with a picture of Pumpkin Pete's cereal, being eaten by Pyrrha Nikos. They chatted with each other, an admittedly unnecessary ploy to keep themselves from being suspicious. They stopped behind the advertisement board, Emerald with her back to the board, and Mercury leaning in front of her. Acting as if they were just a couple of teens planning to hang out in Vale. Mercury slowly inched his way to the side of the board, as Emerald matched his pace, all the while keeping her gaze behind him. Making sure that they weren't being skeptical. Though, with the way Mercury leaned on her a little with his hand on the wall just beside her head, it still gave the image of a couple being intimate. In reality, Mercury was just trying to get a closer look on Cinder.
Subtly leaning to the side a little, Mercury didn't really expect what he'll see. What he saw made his eyes widen, a slight gasp escaping him. For he was met with a sad, sad sight. "Uh oh." Mercury whispered, his eyes showing a pigment of panic, and shock.
"Huh? What? What is it?" Emerald asked worriedly, her eyes darted around in panic for a split-second, then stopped and settled on looking into his eyes, before returning them towards the people behind him.
"Crap.. I think she found out." He answered quietly, and in slight mournfulness. Looking at her with sympathetic eyes.
Emerald's eyes widen, as she leaned to the side, seeing the scene for herself. Seeing Cinder look so forlorn, letting her teary eyes set their gaze to the ground, looking as if the world itself was broken... But, in a bad way.. N-not like their kind of a bad way, but more like a bad way, in a bad way, not the kind where it's in a good way for them. "This is not good. This is not good." She whispered worriedly, as she returned her gaze to Mercury.
"What do we do?" Mercury asked in a bit of a hurry, looking back at Cinder. An uncharacteristic worry, and panic in his eyes.
Emerald went silent, looking down as she tried to think of something to snap Cinder out of her plight. However, from the way her eyes slowly started to move more rapidly, it doesn't seam like she had any.
"Em, what do we do!?" He seethed as a whisper, trying not to garner attention, as he looked back at Emerald.
"I.. I don't know." She answered, agitated. "I've never seen Cinder this sad before." She said, a bit distressed. "Heck! I've never even seen Cinder sad." She added, as she placed her hand on her forehead. She leaned over again to look at Cinder. Her mind still coming up blank with any ideas. She scanned the scene, looking for anything that might help.
Mercury sighed, frustrated. He began to pace behind the board trying to think of ways on how to get Cinder's confidence back. All the while trying to process what the heck is happening. "Just who the heck is this guy?" He thought as he took a second to look at Jaune behind the board. Mercury has never seen Cinder distressed. Never. So it was really surprising, shocking, and downright panic inducing when he saw her like that. He soon stops his pacing as he hears Emerald sigh. He turned to look at her curiously as she grabs her scroll.
"No other choice." She answered for him. "So much for being stealthy." She muttered, tapping her fingers on the screen.
~•~
"I failed you... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Jaune. You don't deserve someone like me... Someone.. Someone who doesn't even wear underwear!" Cinder then mentally bawled melodramatically with her eyes shut tight, an image of chibi-Cinder crying, while leaning on a post, in her mind. "You.. Deserve.. So much mooorrrrreeeee!" The chibi-Cinder now facing-flat on the floor while pounding her fist on the ground. "Whhhyyyy!? Seriously, why!? Where did my underwear go? Why only me? I don't see any other girls with no panties on! Why me? What did I do to deserve this!?" She mentally sobbed, and whined with a meek tone, "Why is the world against me? I didn't do anything wrong? I'm just going out to Vale with my good soon-to-be guy-friend, Jaune." She tried to reason with the world. "I didn't *sniffle* even kill, or *sniffle* threaten anyone *sniffle* during all of this." She mentally cried out, in between snivels. Afterwards the chibi-Cinder went on a bawling fit. Chibi-Cinder then tearfully looked up to the sky, seeing an image of Jaune in the skies, with large, beautiful, pure white, aura wings, with hair that shines like a golden sun. He looked at her with piercing, sky blue eyes filled with nothing, but kindness and hope, and the promise of- BZZT-BZZT -T-the promise of unending- BZZT-BZZT.
"Alright." Her eyes opened. A subtle scowl forming on her lips. "What the heck is that noise, and why does it keep interrupting my daydreami- I-I mean, my contemplation." Cinder thought, slightly annoyed, as she goes for her pocket. "Bad enough, that my whole life is practically ruined, especially my chances of being Jaune's- f-friend, that is coincidentally also a female. Now even my daydrea- my contemplation is ruined, too. Ugh! This is totally the worst day in my entire life! The only way this will get any worse, is if Jaune knows I don't have an underwear on." She shivered for the thought of it actually happening, her mouth and eyes scrunching shut as she does.
She subtly opens her scroll, making sure Jaune isn't looking. Thankfully, he was too focused on a bunch of people who kept giving odd stares at something out of his, and her, view. She looks back to her scroll, giving it a curious hum. "Two messages from Minty? Uuuuuuuggggghhhhhhhhhh..." She groaned. Her head leaning back. She brought her head back to address the message. "What does She want? I'm already having the worst day ever. Now this? Ugh... She'll probably nag me, like before." She mentally sighed, as she rolled her eyes in real life. "Just so you know, I'm blaming you... Listening to Jazz music I don't even like. Probably the reason why I forgot my underwear, too." She opened the message.
[Cinder.]
[Cinder, pick up.]
[What?]
[Cinder!]
[Okay. Look, I don't know how you'd feel about this, but me and Merc followed you to your, so called, not-date to make sure that nothing goes wrong, and, well... I'm guessing you already know...]
[Yes, I know Minty. What's your point.]
[Minty?]
[Nevermind.]
[Look. The point is, we have your underwear.]
[What?]
[We have your underwear.]
[YOU TOOK IT!?]
[No!]
[You left it on the floor after you ran out of the bathroom.]
[Cinder?]
[So it was my incompetence that sabotaged my not-date with Jaune..]
[What?]
[Of course not. You were just too excited about going out with Jaune.]
[Don't try to deny the truth from me, Minty. I know you're just trying to cheer me up, but my stupidity cannot go on without punishment.]
[My ruined not-date shall suffice.]
[I just hope Jaune will find another worthy woman that deserves to be in his presence.]
[Cinder.]
[Minty. You're the most loyal subject I could ever have. I just hope you find someone that will deserve the same loyalty you have given me.]
[See this as your dept, repaid.]
[Look at the cereal.]
[What?]
[Look up.]
Cinder did as she was told. With tear stricken eyes, she pulled her gaze off her scroll, and towards the Pumpkin Pete advertisement in front of her. Seeing Emerald leaning sideways from behind it, waving at her with a smile, scroll in hand. "Minty..." She whispered to herself. Just behind Emerald, came Mercury, bending her a bit forward, leaning on her as he took a peek as to what was happening, eliciting an annoyed look from Emerald. "Leggy..." Cinder smiled as she wiped away the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. "To think, that they came all the way over here to make sure I don't mess up on my not-date." She thought with sincerity. Leggy and Minty's appearance filled Cinder with hope. Hope, that this not-date may not be the end of her world.
Jaune, in the mean time, was leaning dangerously low to the left from his seat, as he tried to see what people's been staring at for the past couple minutes. He soon stops, however, when his hand slipped and sent him barreling towards the floor. Luckily, though, he managed to put his foot forward and quickly steadied his balance, sitting up straight, stiff as a board, then suddenly leaning back nonchalantly, acting like nothing ever happened. He whistled suspiciously as he subtly surveyed the area if anyone saw his slip up. Fortunately, it seems people's attention was split up between that thing that was out of his view, whatever that was, and, what seems to be.. two couple being frisky behind an advertisement board... If the image of a bent over woman and a dude leaning on, said, woman from behind, was correct.. Jaune stared in shock for a second. "Jeez. I understand that he wants to show his girlfriend how much he loves her, but come on, man! Get a room for that kind of stuff. At the very least be more subtle about it." Jaune thought, as he looked away awkwardly. Uncomfortable at the boldness of the couple. Though, he does have this odd feeling that he is being watched. He shakes it off as just paranoia.
He glanced at Cinder, checking if she's done messaging, who ever it is, on her scroll. BZZT-BZZT. Guess not.
He wanted to chat with her again, especially since after they became a bit more comfortable with each other before the ride. But before he could talk, however, her scroll buzzed, and he decided to keep quiet to let her converse in peace. Guess it was his fault, since he spent the first minute, or so, ogling out the window like a derpy dog.
Cinder glanced down on her scroll as it relayed a new message from Minty.
[Don't worry, Cinder. Your not-date's not ruined yet.]
[Thank you, Minty.]
[Thank you, so much.]
[Don't thank us, just yet. We still haven't given you your underwear.]
[Minty? You would go through all that trouble just for me?]
[Of course.]
[Now, go focus on your, definitely, not-date, while you let us worry about everything else.]
[You just act natural, as if you do have an underwear on.]
[I don't know how I could thank you enough for this.]
[We'll settle on the rewards once you're done with your not-date, and back at the dorm with the happiest, and brightest smile on your face.]
[Okay. Alright.]
[Just, thank you so much.]
[Yeah. Okay.]
[Now, why don't you put your attention back to your not-date. He's starting to look uncomfortable.]
With that last message, Cinder couldn't help but mentally slap her forehead. She was so focused on her own problems, she didn't even think about what Jaune's thinking, when she's been ignoring him, in favor for putting all her attention on her stupid mistake. Acting like not wearing her underwear is more important than Jaune's feelings, and social comfort. Seriously! How can she be more self-centered? She mentally slapped her forehead again. Okay, from now on, she'll put all her attention on Jaune. No matter what! She'll have to thank Minty for that, too.
Okay! Every moment of this not-date shall solely be focused on Jaune, and nothing else. It's the least she can do after being so undeserving of his presence because of her indecency, and, adding even more insult to injury, ignore him, when she was the one who invited him out here.
With that settled, Cinder then took a deep breath, put on her poker face with subtle happiness radiating off of her, and with satisfied, determined eyes, she turned to Jaune with a small smile. She apologized for the call, and for ignoring him, to which he said that it was alright, and that he understands. Which she was grateful for. She expected of such thing to come from her Jaune. But, she wished he was bit more miffed about it. She truly doesn't deserve his presence. Soon after, they started small conversations.
-Shakapow!-
-Scene break-
In the far distance, which is actually just near the other side of the room, a, very conspicuous, cardboard bush with real leaves taped, and glued, at the front, sat beside a column near a vending machine. Peering over the bush were black binoculars, with cat ears on top. Through the scopes were golden, cat-like eyes. Eyes that stared with intense concentration. Blake tried to focus on Jaune and the girl's faces, trying to read their lips, trying to interpret what they're saying. Key word being, "Try" since her company is being so annoying, loud, and obnoxious, and pretty much the reason why people kept staring at them... Definitely the reason why people were staring at them.
"RRRRAAAHHH! Give me my cookie, you stupid tin-can!" Ruby screamed as she aimed her Baby's sights.
"Ruby, you dolt! Stop threatening the vending machine!" Weiss hollered at her. Stepping in front of Ruby's path.
"But, Weiss!" She lowered Crescent Rose as she whined at Weiss. "This stupid, mean, stupid, cookie-jailing robot, just ate my Lien, and didn't even give me my cookie!" She took aim again with fire in her eyes. She clicked her tongue, her eyes narrowing. "Come on!" She started twirling Crescent Rose.
"Ruby?" Weiss called out. Worry evident in her tone.
"Give me my cookie!" Crescent Rose started to unfold. People quickly walked away from the direction of the vending machine.
"Ruby?" Weiss's voice was more frantic. Taking a step back.
Slamming down her scythe, Ruby was all too prepared for battle. Her eyes, blazing with fury and adorableness, stared through the scope with impeccable concentration. "I Paid For It!" She growled through gritted teeth. Her finger at the trigger, and her sights on the target. Ruby slowed her breathing, exhaling slowly through her parted lips.
"Ruby!?" Weiss, now a bit more panicked, called out. Eyes wide and knees bent, as she prepares to dive away.
"Woah! Woah! Woah!" Luckily, Yang came along to push her sight away, "Weiss is right, Ruby." She smiled. While Weiss gave a sigh of relief.
"Wuh?" Ruby stared at her sister. Dumbfounded.
"Hmph. Thank you, Yang. At least someone's being reasonable." Weiss complimented her, being proud of her maturity. She blinked, then stared at Yang. "Wait.. What?"
"Yeah, Ruby." Yang turned to face the vending machine. Sauntering as she does. "Don't just go and threaten random vending machines by yourself." She smirked. "That's what big sisters are for." She cocked her fists. Take note, that Ember Celica is not deployed.
"WAH!?"
"Oooohhhhh, no." Ruby saw her mistake.
"Keeping cookies from my baby sister, will ya?" Yang warned the vending machine menacingly, as she took a combat stance.
"Rrriiight.. I forgot.." Ruby said dumbly, scratching her cheek. Alas, Ruby's mistake was that in her, justified, vengeance against the vending machine, she forgot her sister was here. And seeing what happened to a measly pickle jar when it wouldn't budge for her little sister. Who knows what'll happen to big a vending machine that dared to defy Ruby her cookies. And Yang was just going easy on the pickle jar.
Yang took off in a sprint, jumping before she could reach the machine. "TAAAAAKEEE THAT!" She started with a prolonged, powerful right jab. "AND THIS!" She spun as she gave it a mean left hook. "And that.." She kicked it, lacking any effort. "AAAANNDDDD THIS!" She finished it off with a mighty haymaker. She continued on beating up the poor, yet seemingly indestructible, vending machine. Visible shockwaves coming with each punch.
"Oh, great." Ruby grumbled with a disappointed tone, face-palming. While Weiss growled in annoyance.
"Oh! Still standing, eh?" Yang smiled as she got knocked back, after one of her more powerful punches' energy, forced her to slide back a few feet. She reared back, preparing another assault.
"Are you seriously going to destroy a vending machine, just because a bunch of cookies got stuck!?" Weiss screamed at her. Throwing her arms to her sides with tightened fists, as she glared at her.
"A bunch of cookies, that my baby sister paid for." Yang reasoned, as Weiss glared at her, frowning as she crossed her arms. "Well, at first I just wanted to hit it just enough to knock those cookies down... and also a couple of chips." She said the last part faintly.
"Well, you don't need to be so extreme about it!" Ruby shouted. Loosely holding Crescent Rose.
"Look who's talking, Miss: I'm gonna shoot my cookies out with high-powered Dust cartridges." Yang retorted with a victorious smile. "At least I was only using my fists." She smirked.
"They were aura infused punches!" Weiss screamed at her. "How is that any better!?" Unfolding her arms as her fingers curled like talons..
"Yeah, Sis? How is that any better?" Ruby restated. A smug look on her face.
That look was wiped off once Weiss pointed a finger at her. "What are you gloating about?" An irritated pout taking its place on Ruby's face. "Yours weren't any better, either." Weiss brought her arms to the side. "In fact, it was much worse!"
"Ha!" Yang pointed at Ruby. Eliciting a glare from the Rose.
"And what are you laughing about?" Weiss turned to face Yang. "You're not out of this yet. You're the older sister! You're supposed to be the responsible one, and yet-" Whatever Weiss was going to say next was interrupted as they heard a noise coming from the vending machine. The sound being the clamor of plastic crunching.
Ruby quickly zoomed in front of the machine, pressing her face to the glass. "Oh, hey! The cookies fell down! Yeah! You can stop now, Yang!" Ruby said, as she went to grab her cookies, and then boastfully showing it to Yang so that she won't cause anymore trouble. "See! No need to destroy this vending machine in front of everyone... And potentially embarrassing me.. in front of everyone..." She mumbled the last part. "I could do that on my own, thank you very much." She muttered. Ruby was mentally overjoyed and victorious. Joyful because she get her well deserved cookies, and also a little worried as she's also hoping that Yang won't try and beat up the vending machine again, even though it deserved it for keeping her cookies away from her. She began tearing the packet open, eating the helpless cookies inside.
Yang gasped. "Oh!" She remarked. "We-he-he-hell," She said laughing, "Looks like someone got a bit scared from mama-Yang's punches." She eyed the vending machine victoriously. "Ha! That'll teach you not to mess with my baby-sister. Maybe next time you won't pick on the wrong girl to keep cookies from." She mocked it, pointing to the vending machine, acting like she was just dealing with a bully. She turned away with a flick, walking away from the vending machine triumphantly. "There you go, Ruby!" Yang happily ruffled Ruby's hair, getting an irritated look from her. "I scared the vending machine so much, that it pooped your cookies out." She spoke with a proud tone. Afterwards she walked back towards the bush. Happy that she, once again, solved her baby sister's problem. "Yang Xiao Long, you are a great sister." She praised herself. Oblivious to the fact that she just ruined Ruby's image of her cookies, and is now spitting some of them out on a trash bin.
"Aww... Does that mean we're done beating up the vending machine?" Nora lamented. Holding her hammer up high preparing to strike, with Ren holding her arms back, visibly struggling. Weiss whipped her head around, staring at Nora with a stunned expression.
"Yes, Nora! We're done. Put the hammer down, now!" Weiss quickly shouted. Worried that Nora might hit it through the ship.
"Okay!" To which Nora happily agreed to. Which is where Weiss realized her fault, and widened her eyes.
"No, wait!" Ren shouted. Putting more strain into holding her arms back. "Nora... Put Magnhild down, slowly, on the ground, without.. damaging.. anything.." He restated more specifically. His labored effort audible through his voice.
"Hmm..." She pondered over it, lowering Magnhild a bit as she put her finger to her chin, inadvertently pulling Ren closer, looking for any upside to doing that.
"Are you seriously considering it!?" Weiss shrieked at her.
"Pfffft! Relax, Weiss-cream! I was only joking..." She teased, "Mostly." She mumbled. Weiss sighed in relief at that. Unknowingly dodging a headache, and Nora unintentionally saving herself from hearing damage, out of Weiss's shrilled rebuke. Ren, along with Weiss, started berating her, about how she shouldn't attack random vending machines for no reason. It's not her fault that hitting things are fun. Plus, snacks come out when she hits it. It's practically begging her to smash it.
Back with the date-peepers, mainly consisting of Blake and Pyrrha. Yang joining them after she dealt with Ruby's problem, and Ruby joining after she's, mostly, done glaring at Yang for grossing out vending machine cookies for her.
"So, how's the lovebirds? They finally talking?" Yang asked Blake, coming up right beside her. Leaning on her right shoulder, earning a glare.
"Don't call them that!" Pyrrha hissed at her, a bit too harshly, and almost instantaneously. "I-it's not official." She reasoned. Blushing in embarrassment, as she looked away. "S-so, let's not.. jump to conclusions, just yet." She giggled nervously, trying not to sound like a jealou- I mean, 'Concerned' friend. "I-it's just that- It would be weird... if we call them a couple.. even though they just met... I-I mean! Wouldn't it be weird if we saw you with a stranger, and suddenly advancing it to you two dating? It would be weird for me. Wouldn't it be, for you?" She explained quickly with a tense smile.
Yang stared at her for a second of silence. "Riiight... Totally understandable." Yang teased with a mischievous smile, as she stared at Pyrrha with a knowing, and doubtful look. Pyrrha darted her eyes in panic, but ultimately settles on staring back at Yang, not backing down, even as a bead of sweat rolled off her forehead. Ruby switched her gaze between the two, as Blake shifts her shoulder uncomfortably, the weight of Yang making it ache. Yang was the first to break eye contact. "Well, how are they doing, anyways?" She finally said, directed at Blake, taking her attention towards Blake. Laying off of Pyrrha, for now. She'll tease her later on, when she's more cornered. Pyrrha wiped the sweat off her forehead, sighing in relief.
"Well, I didn't really catch most of it." No thanks to their precarious spot. "But, they are still talking." She informed them. Ignoring Pyrrha's subtle quick glare towards the girl, Sunder? Was it? "Though, I did notice that she looked kinda uncomfortable for the first minute, or so. Just something I thought I should share."
"Nnnn-no, not really." Yang replied bluntly, shaking her head.
"But, did Jaune look uncomfortable?" Pyrrha asked with that, 'Concerned Friend' tone.
"No. He just stared out the window." Blake bluntly answered. "He also almost fell off his seat. But, I'd rather not give Pyrrha a heart-attack."
"Oh, okay... But, does he look, okay? No signs of air sickness, or face turning green?" She asked with a polite smile.
"Yup." Blake plainly replied. Pyrrha sighed in thanks, and in frustration towards her straightforward answers. The shattering sound of glass and metal was faintly heard, along with a shrilled, 'No!' and a maniacal laughter.
"See, mom. Jaune's Fiiine." Yang teased. Earning a peeved look from Pyrrha, and making Ruby giggle. "You should know. I bet you've seen how Fine he is, up close and.. personal." She added an eyebrow wiggle, and a mischievous smile to enunciate what she meant.
Pyrrha slightly blushed. "W-what do you mean by that, Yang?"
A smirk fell upon Yang's lips, "I don't know, Pyrrha. What do I mean by that?" Yang countered. Tilting her head just a bit.
Pyrrha was caught off guard by the question. Finding herself unable to answer the question. "U-uh... Um... I-I didn't- I mean- H-he's.. um..." Fortunately for Pyrrha, Weiss finally arrived, with an irritated scowl plastered on her face. Walking along beside her, was Ren with his palm to his slow shaking head, and of course, with Ren, there's Nora, skipping happily with her arms filled with snacks.
"Haha! Bow down, ye peasants! For your merciful Queen has provided you provisions!" Nora shouted gleefully. Throwing the snacks up into the air, effectively showering them with the snacks. She smirked pridefully with her eyes closed. Bringing her hand to the side, her palm opened upwards as a bag of chips landed square on her hand. Opening it with a puff, and sat down where she stood, her legs crossed, munching happily. Ignoring everyone's bewildered faces covered in all sorts of snacks. Though, Ruby was unaffected, and just grabs the chocolate milk juice box that miraculously landed, perfectly, on her head, and just drinks from its straw. While Blake takes the fish flavored chips beside her.
"T-thanks.. Nora." Pyrrha politely said. Flicking a stray bag off of Yang's hat, as Yang opens up the one between her cleavage. Ren is shaking his head even more, a hand to his hip. Frustration steaming through Weiss's head, but she ultimately sighs, breathing her stress out, giving up. Settling on sitting beside Blake and Yang, taking a handful of chips from Yang's bag, and eats them one by one with her other hand. Giving a quick glare at Yang's wink, concerning her hands-free bag holder.
"You're welcome~!" Nora sang. She goes on to hum an unknown, yet familiar tune. Slowly tilting her head from side to side, in sync with the tune in her head.
The Date-Peepers sat there. They sat in silence. Excluding the sounds of Pyrrha silently growling whenever the girl giggled with Jaune, and the sounds of crunching chips, slurping straws, plastic bags being ruffled, and the static of electricity, bouncing from wire to wire from the smashed hole of the vending machine. Off to the side, a familiar old man was nonchalantly walking away with a smile on his face. Counting the handful of Lien he got from that young pale lady, in consideration for the damaged utility.
Nora was then faintly heard mumbling a part of the lyrics. "Boo boo boo boo boo boo boo boo boo boo boop. When I want to say I lov-" She then eats a chip, garbling what she was about to say. Whatever it is, it's lost in between the crunching noises of crushed chips. Ruby also joined in humming the unknown tune. Murmuring through her straw.
[Vale ETA: 5 minutes]
Back with the other Date-Peepers. Which we will call as Date-Stalkers, to differentiate the two. After Emerald sent her message, and did a fist-pump, and also a celebratory hug that lasted only a second with a confused Mercury, she quickly delve into her mind, stashing all of her previous contingency plans into her scroll, and replacing it with contingency plans for Cinder's Awkward Date.
She doesn't care how hard Cinder denies it, but this is definitely a date, and she's going to make sure that nothing bad will happen to it. Cinder would be so proud of her, and her plans. And she would probably be annoyed that she called it a date. But, it doesn't matter! Mamma Em's gonna take care of things, and she's gonna do a great- no. A Wonderful job at it.
"So... Mind telling me what exactly happened?" Mercury asked, catching Emerald's attention. Not really knowing what happened in their message. "Is everything cool, or is the world still ending..." She opened her mouth to speak, "But, you know, not in our way."
"Everything's... Cool." Emerald answered, after a brief pause of confusion. "Cinder's alright now. And, by the sight of fire in her eyes, it looks like she won't be panicking for a while." She said, in relief. "Now all we have to do is follow her throughout her date, and take care of anything that might intrude on Cinder's date."
"Cinder's not-date." He joked.
"Yeah. Whatever." She replied, rolling her eyes.
"Okay. I'm game. But, are we still going to give her back her underwear?" He asked. Leaning back.
"Well, of course. Duh~" She answered, as if she was just asked a dumb question. "But, we'll have to prioritize that as a number two. Our number one priority right now is to just make sure that this ship is smooth sailing." She nodded her head in content.
"I think that's the captain's job." He replied.
She ignored him, "Though, if we do see an opening, we'll give it to her." She peaked again at Cinder and Jaune, to see if things were still alright. Both of them were looking out the window, twisting their bodies in a way where they would be facing each other. They were admiring the view of Vale as the ship is nearing its destination, while Jaune was telling her something. Possibly about his experiences in Vale. Emerald couldn't hear what it was, but it made Cinder giggle, which was so adorable. In her opinion. Other than that, everything else was still going smoothly. Though, she did notice Cinder easing her hand closely to Jaune's, and giving him side glances. She was blushing hard, too. Unfortunately, Jaune moved his hand before she could even touch him. Emerald shook her head, trying not to cringe, "Tsk tsk tsk. Still too early for that, Cinder." she mumbled in dismay. Who knew Cinder would make such a rookie mistake on the first date.
"Want some?" Mercury offered.
"Oh, sure." She accepted. Taking a few, and popping it in her mouth. As it landed on her tongue, she stopped and considered, "Wait.. Where'd you get these?"
"The Red girl, or whatever her name is, dropped a few when she came passing by. Said that it was too many for them to carry." He casually said, snacking on the bag of peanuts.
"Too many?" She rhetorically asked. Though, Mercury still answered her by shrugging.
"She also gave us these."
"What.. are these?"
"She said that it'll help us."
"How is this- Never mind." She glanced out the window behind Mercury, as he soon followed her gaze, seeing the ship closing in in Vale. She briefly looked back at Cinder, and seeing her and Jaune standing up and heading their way. "Come on. Let's move to a better place." She started to walk towards the exit, with Mercury by her side.
Jaune and Cinder coming in a few seconds late, and at the far back, was a cardboard bush with multi coloured eyes, stealthily closing by. With even more added stealth from the clearly audible crunches, and slurping straws.
[Attention all passengers. We have arrived in Vale.] The overhead speakers informed.
"Well.. Here goes nothing." Cinder, Jaune, Yang and Emerald simultaneously thought, as they neared the ship's doors. "This may not turn out so bad." They went on to think.
And it probably will be. Probably.
~•~
Author's stuff:
I'm sorry. I most ungratefully apologize for putting this on an unnecessary hiatus.
The end of New Year became the continuation of English classes, and it asked for more of my attention.
Adding to that, was a couple of writer's block. Which deftly delayed, and frustrated me.
I could only work on patches of the story, so I could focus more of my time on my English exercises, instead of the usual of, "Do it till your hungry, then take a break to exercise, take a dinner, eat bath, and sleep." I had trouble sleeping for a while too.
I'm sorry if this isn't what you've expected, and if this chapter was inferior to the others, more so than what it usually is.
Explanation for Cinder's OOC mental breakdown:
Since this will probably asked.
She is head over heals over Jaune. Which, as we've discussed, reverted her back to when she wasn't a scheming femme fatale, and to when she was just an innocent little girl that has this crush on a boy in her school. And so, she sees her status as not being decent to be the worst possible scenario that could've happen to her, and sees it as the end of her happiness, that she went and embarrassed herself in front of the only boy that could steal her heart, and shower it with love.
Cheesy, but I prefer Parmesan on my pizza, and spaghetti. Spizzaghetti.
She sees it as the most embarrassing, and shameful thing that she could have ever done in front her crush, and would've gone into a pit of depression if Emerald hadn't interjected.
Expect Chapter 5 to take a while. I've got a few free weeks, and I'll try to finish, at least, half of it by the end of those weeks.
Ending was a bit off. But, it'll do it, for now. I'll edit later on when I find a better replacement.
PM me quotes, sentences, or flecks of dialogue or narration that has some grammar mistakes on them, or just put it on your review, and I'll go and fix it. Be specific about it. It'll be easier for me to find them.
Also, anyone got a better title for this chapter, that relates to something in this chapter, PM me. What I have doesn't really give me the same feeling as the others did.
Anyway, I'm gone. I'll just go and flop on my bed.
~•~
What the heck, Yome! It took you a whole god damn year to give us this crap? ~Unnamed friend*
Update: Hey~!
You know, when I said that chapter 5 will take a while to complete.
Turns out, I was right. It's already at 6,000+ words, and it's still not enough for what's supposed to happen in that chapter.
So, yeah. Expect Chapter 5 to take more, than, 'A while.'"
I'm guessing the chapter will end somewhere near 10k, and considering how little time I have on writing it, it will probably be posted..
maybe.. a few more weeks. Depending on how much time I got in the next few days. Yeah, 'A few more weeks.' isn't really much of an estimate. But, it is very approximate because I still don't know how my brain will do.
Don't worry. I'll pour more of my focus on Ch. 5.
Though, the constant writer's block every morning will definitely put a damper on writing it. Forgetting words be damned!
It would often times go away near night time, so that sucks too. Considering how I need to sleep early for my classes.
Anyway, I'm really sorry for the wait.
Making up conversations is, kinda, easy for me, but what goes in between is a bit more difficult, especially when I still haven't imagined what's going to happen.
Again, I'm really, incredibly, pathetically sorry for the delay.
~•~
Writer's block, and forgetting words, sucks a**! Sucks a lot of air. Probably because my brain isn't getting a lot of oxygen.
Edit: Edited stuff... That's about sums it up.
