And So the Talking Stopped
Neo arrived at 5:30, when the hall opened for dinner. She was feeling more like a student very day; all that was missing was actually going to class. She kept an eye on the door - Ruby always entered through the main door - and opened Grim Defense to Vale's Volleys on her scroll. Good evening. Good evening. Stay alert. Don't miss her.
New level: Vacuo Violation. Ruby usually came in with her team around 5:50, so any minute now. What would Cinder think if she saw? What was Cinder planning with team RWBY?
Neo would simply have to make things clear. Ruby was off-limits. She was claimed. Any plans Cinder had with the girl couldn't be worth Neo's bad side. Neo didn't want to see Cinder's bad side either, but it would be enough of a pain on both ends that Cinder would budge. The rest of RWBY... well. Neo wouldn't pick that battle unless they really impressed her.
Or unless I can speak to them. New level: Mistral Massacre. But finding one was crazy enough. What would be the odds there would be another person at Beacon to hear her? A person willing to accept her, to support her, without demanding favors, asking questions, forcing...
Game over. ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀɪᴍᴍ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀʀᴜɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄɪᴛʏ. ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄɪᴛʏ ғᴏʀ ᴀɪᴅ? (1 ʟɪᴇɴ) ᴘʀᴇss ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍɪᴇs ɪɴᴛᴏ sᴇʀᴠɪᴄᴇ? (0.50 ʟɪᴇɴ)
Where was that girl? The hall was beginning to empty.
Neo was used to severing ties with others. But in most cases, she was the one doing the severing. Of the ties, of the others. They used her, and took what they wanted. It was typical, really. Should've expected it. Find someone that doesn't demand - it just means you're the one demanding. Power flows one way or the other. Of course Ruby would decide Neo wasn't worth the effort. Of course she would. Neo'd decided plenty of people weren't worth her time. In the past, Neo had decided she wasn't worth her own time. It was the logical choice. Why would anyone care?
There must be a reason.
Of course there is. There's always a reason. You should've helped more, you should've run faster, you shouldn't have worn what you wore. Reasons are cheap. All that matters is the result. Something had happened, or an epiphany had been reached. One way or another, a decision had been made, and Ruby hadn't come. There's always a decision.
Neo leaned back and closed her eyes; they'd gone pink anyway. Nobody had to see. Polly's eyes were silver. Always had been, unless anybody checked the footage. And why would they?
No, nobody had to see what was happening with Neo's eyes.
She stayed until the mess hall closed. Neo had always been stubborn.