Hey, long time no see. Welcome to another chapter!
I'm currently listening to a shit ton of Johnny Cash and playing TF2 right now if explains how I'm doing
Raidentensho: I'm a be honest here cheif, had no idea what you were talking about so I looked it up. Yeah though about an axe but decided against it.
Artemis-ArcherOfCrimson: Thank you! Honestly it's how most of my conversations with people I know go.
Guest1&2: Since I'm going to assume your the same person, what are you on? And where can I get some?
"Whoever coined the phrase 'a man's got to play the hand that was dealt him' was most certainly one piss-poor bluffer"~ Jeannette Walls
(3 Months Later)
I'm currently sitting at Joe's bar watching the Tv he has hanging above the liquor. So I found out where in the timeline I was placed...if a 13 year old Pyrrha has anything to say about. She's currently fighting in the first of her four wins, and as the pure, honest soul I am...I bet all my money on her to win. Literally all the lien I could get I through on her.
I sip the Parnold Almer I got from Joe, because I'm not looking to get drunk right now. Of course it's on my tab as I can't pay right now. It's also pretty funny how many items were ripped straight from our world, Coka-Cala, Bepsi, Anta, you get the point. Everyone in the town got together to get on this game.
Im the only person on Remnant who put all their money on Pyrrha, the person she's fighting is some hot shot guy who I didn't care to remember. I see Joe walking over with the jug of beer he just served someone.
"You know Coal I still don't know why you bet all money on that Pyrrha chick." He filled my glass and looked at the tv seeing her fight, "She's good and all but the other guy is better."
"Oh really?" I raise an eyebrow. "I think so, her semblance is a game changer."
"How do you know her semblance?"
"Oh-uhhh-" shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit, "-I'm good at poker?"
"You know, one day you're going to have to answer a question where that won't answer it."
"I'll burn that bridge when I get to it." Or shoot them...modern problems require modern solutions.
"Good luck to you then, refill?"
"Yes please...more debt is great thank you." He gave me a deadpan look, "No seriously more please." I push my glass towards him.
He started to fill it up, "How's that shotgun you got from Billy treating you?"
"Frontier Justice?, absolutely perfect!" The other order that wasn't finished last time I went was my shotgun Frontier Justice...and if you're wondering where I got the idea for it, it would be TF2.
"Yeah the gun looked really nice, was it only a shotgun, or does it transform into something?"
"Nah just a shotgun, no need for that complicated shit." It's true though, the more complicated you make your weapon. The more maintenance you have to do on it so it works properly.
He nods after filling my glass leaving to serve some other people. Mhmmmm ice tea and lemonade a match made in heaven. I wonder how Amber is doing-
...
"QROW IM GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU ABSOLUTE ASSHOLE!"
"HOW WOULD I KNOW YPU WANTED TO SEE COAL- SHIT IM SORRY, IM SORRY STOP ROASTING ME ALIVE!"
...
-It's been a while since I last saw her. Oh well, not like she's killing Qrow by using her maiden powers right? Yeah she's too nice for that. She would't hurt a fly...maybe...
...
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH! THINK YOU OVERCOOKED MY ARM AMBER AHHHHHH!"
"STOP YELLING QROW AND DIE QUIETER!"
"AHHHHHHHH!"
...
Oh would you look at that Pyrrha is going to the finals, I mean it's not like I knew it would happen or anything...It's not cheating I swear!
I take another sip before heading to the pool table to play by myself. I set everything up and I take the break shot and begin nocking the balls into the hole one by one. I'm humming Folsom Prison Blues to myself. Before I shoot the black ball into the back right pocket.
Playing by yourself is boring if you didn't know, it really makes you feel alone. I set the balls up again until I hear someone walk up to me. I swear if it's another person from the main cast I will go on a murdering spree.
"Want a player 2?" A sigh escapes me as I turn and see a women with red hair and green eyes.
"Sure better than playing by myself at any rate." She grabs a cue and begins to chalk it up. She walks back over to me where the white ball is and reaches her hand out.
"Athena Nikos." Oh Shit...well I mean she's not part of the main cast...I guess.
I reach out and grab her hand, "Coal Black." She takes a shot breaking the balls, but not making any into a hole.
"So your the one who put 20,000 lien onto my little sister." She walks a little closer in her...form fitting clothes. Jeans and a white t-shirt never seemed like a better fit.
"I mean 15-1 odds seemed like a good idea, though the debt I'm in right now would say otherwise."
"How did you get in debt?"
"I'm the dumbass who put all his money on your little sister, and forgot I needed money to pay for anything else." Now she's laughing.
I take a shot getting the solid seven in. "If I may ask, why did you put yourself into this position by betting on my sister?"
"I'm a poker player. Call intuition I guess?" Ha! More like knowledge of the future.
"Well regardless, my family and my sister would like to invite you to the championship game, if you would care to join?"
"Know this is confusing. Why invite me?" I'm being serious, I did the betting thing purely for selfish reasons.
"Because you gave my sister more of a drive to win, and seeing you there cheering her on would make her day." Alright sounds reasonable I guess.
"When's the game?"
"This coming Sunday, two days from now."
"I will need to clear it with my boss, but I would love to go. Though he may make me act as a 'sponsor' " I say sponsor in air quotes showing her I was joking around.
She started laughing harder than earlier, our game of pool completely out of mind. "Sounds like you and your boss are close."
"S'what happened when you leave to men with axes in the woods."
"Sounds fun."
"It is until Grimm show up, then it's like an action movie."
"You've fought Grimm? Are you an ex huntsman?" Ex huntsman who do you think I am? I was an ex psychology, and engineering student.
"Nah, just a guy with a a few guns in the wrong place at the wrong time." Maybe not the wrong place but definitely the wrong time. "Though a few did manage to get me, me and Adam were alright."
"Adam?"
"My boss."
She finally took a shot missing the pocket with her stripe, and hitting mine in. "Are you a huntress" I ask as I finally take notice of the sword hanging on her hip.
"Yup just graduated from Haven!"
"Good for you, never been to a combat school what's it like?"
"Grueling, rough and mind breaking." I look at her curiously as if to ask why she stayed. "But they knew what it was like and were very lax on what you could do outside of school hours."
"Sounds...fun?"
"Let's go with that. But I do know that Beacon Academy students have more fun, due to the curriculum there." I nod as I hit another ball in, then miss the next shot.
I sigh as I shake my head. "Yeah combat training would have helped three months ago."
"What happens three months ago?"
"It was when me and Adam were attacked." I roll my left shoulder thinking about the aching pain I had for 3 weeks after.
I looked at her as she looked down at her watch and sighed. "Well Coal it was nice meeting you, here's my number for you to call if you so happen to get your boss to let you come to the tournament."
I nod and grab the paper as hastily wrote on and put it in my pocket. "Likewise, take care Athena."
"You too Coal." She calls back as she leaves the bar. I sigh and rack the cues and head back to the bar.
"Hey Coal how come all the hot chicks like you?"
"Yeah man what kind of cologne you wearing to attract them?"
"HaHa very funny Flynt, fuck you too Darian." I slide back into my seat my glass still full from when I left it.
"Yeah Coal how do you manage to get them to come near you?" Joe asks as he walks over to me.
"What do you guys mean all the hot chicks, Athena was the only one who approached me."
"What about the on girl who helped Qrow get you to our town, what was here name, Amber?" How, what?
"How do you know her?"
"Qrow told me, and said something along the lines of 'way out of his league'" Fuck you too Qrow.
I get up and begin to leave "Joe just put this shit on my tab, I'm going to fucking bed."
"It's 12:30"
"I know."
(2 days later)
Its too early. I have no more coffee. And I have no way of contacting Athena. You ever get a girls number, but wash your pants forgetting it? Then you feel like a dick because you can't call her? Yeah that's what I'm going through right now.
Thankfully Adam has a landline that's hooked up to our mini CCT tower that can barely get to vale, so I can call someone in Mistrial. In my opinion it's too complicated and needs a huge upgrade.
I punch in the number that was giving and hit call, dreaming about coffee while I wait.
"Hello?"
Sounds like Athena, but just to be sure, "Hi this is Coal Black, I'm calling for a Athena Nikos, she there?"
"I'm right here." I hear her say through laughter. "Your boss letting you join us for the finals?"
"Yeap, though I gotta ask how formal are we dressing for this?"
"Pretty formal, think of casual Friday at an office job."
"Alright sounds good. But here's the important part. How am I going to get there?"
"We have a bullhead going to your village to pick you up I'll be on it to pick you up. Give us an hour and we'll be there."
"Alright see you in an hour."
Click
Well, time to get dressed I guess...what to wear what to wear. I have an idea and it's perfect!
...
I see the bullhead land in an open field, and the bay door opens revealing Athena very well dressed. Casual Friday my ass, good thing I dressed well. I'm currently wearing a grey plaid suit, with a red and black vest and a black button up underneath the vest. I'm wearing a cowboy hat, a gift from Adam when I got injured, it looks a lot like Arthur Morgan's hat.
"Well don't you look nice." I say as I walk up to her. She's currently wearing a very nice red dress, that is more form fitting than what she wore when I saw her Friday. Is an hourglass shape normal? Because the little guy seems to like it.
"As do you, I didn't think you had anything nice to wear considering."
"Considering I live out on the frontier?"
"Yes." Well at least she's honest.
"I though it was casual Friday?" Like seriously if this is casual then I don't want to see someone dressing up.
"There's been a...slight change in plans. My parents want to meet you over lunch at a very nice place, too get to know the only guy who bet on my sister." Great meeting the parents, every boys worst nightmare. And I'm not even dating Athena!
"That's alright, I haven't eaten yet either so lunch sounds good" I nod along, feeling Sequoia that's hidden in my vest. And hidden very well it is, she hasn't noticed it, and hopefully no one will.
"Good good, we're eating at a fancy diner in Vale, its called 'Johns' I believe." Ha! Service With A Smile reference.
"Honestly if they serve coffee, I think I will be good. Haven't had my caffeine fix yet."
She nods as she sits down in a seat. I sit across from her. Sadly that's the most of that conversation as we sit in silence on the way there.
...
I'm going to be honest with you chiefs. This...this is it. Vale is actually a very good looking city. The city life is like New York City, yet no one is a dick to you.
Me and Athena walk up to the restaurant called John's. I walk up to the door to open it but she put a hand in front of me to get me to stop.
"So I have to be some what honest. My parents think you're my date to the finals."
Excuse me what? "Why do you need a date for a game?"
"Have you ever been apart of the family of a Mistrial Tournament finalist? It's conserved to be an honor to even participate." I nod along listening, but not really. "And as family of a finalist we're supposed to look nice to represent the finalist."
"And where do I fit in all this?" I'm genuinely curious. And what did she mean by 'date'?
"Since you were the only one who bet on my sister, my family though you should be my date to the game."
"Man that hit like a semi truck." And I know what that feels like...not good. At all, actually the worst feeling I've ever felt.
"I'm sorry...I'm just-"
"No I got you just one second." Alright deep breathe in. Deep breathe out. I run my hand through my hair under my hat. "Alright I'm good let's head inside shall we?"
"You're not mad?"
"Nah, not worth getting mad over something that simple. Would rather save it for when I actually need it." That's true...no need to get mad if it's not that bad. I mean I got a date with a supermodel is how I'm taking it.
"Alright-okay...that's good, that's good." Is she panicking?
"You good?"
"No-yes, yes I am thank you we should head inside." I opened the door for her and she walked in. She checked in with the waiter dude while I looked around the diner.
She tapped my shoulder and I followed her as we went over to where I assume her parents were. We sat down in front of them side by side.
"Hello my name is Jupiter Nikos, and this is my wife Minerva Nikos." The big man sitting in front of me said. Now the dude doesn't look anything like Athena or Pyrrha, guess they took after the Mom.
"Hi, my name's Coal you know my last name. It's very nice to meet you, Athena been telling me all about you on the way here."?
"Has she know? What has she been saying about us?"
"That you're hard to impress, and she wants to make you proud." Athena gave me a look of astonish.
"Has she know. Now tell me how close are you to my daughter where she would tell that much?"
"Alright I kinda lied she didn't tell me anything." They looked at me weirdly. "But that's what I'm good at. I learn through body language and they way people speak. It's also how I found out your daughters semblance."
"Now how did you-"
"I mean someone missing every crucial swing means either their really bad." I give them a look as it begins to set in. "Or the other person is manipulating them somehow."
He got really close and whispered "You can't tell anyone about her semblance it's crucial no one knows!"
"Why do you think I bet on her." He nods and leans back.
"I like you. I like you a lot, you're not afraid to speak your mind even when you know you shouldn't." He nods to Athena and his wife. "I approve."
What? His wife started laughing, while Athena flushed red. I'm confused, what did I miss.
"Am I missing something?"
"NO!" Everyone one in the restaurant turned towards her outburst. "No you missed nothing important"
Alright I'll just take her word, oh look the waiters finally here. "Ladies gentlemen how may I help today?" He asked politely.
"Do you have coffee? Espresso?" He nods. "Can I get a double shot of espresso then."
"How about everyone else" he asked as I stopped paying attention coffee on my mind.
...
So I'm currently sitting in the booth made for the families of the finalists, it gives the people in it a perfect view of the field. Pyrrha won which is good means that, the 20,000 dollars I put in? Yeah make it 300,000 now.
I swear I can now grab fistfuls of lien it's great! Everyone is currently celebrating Athena and Pyrrha are currently talking when I walk up to them
"Ladies." I look at Pyrrha as a green out line surrounds her smile...weird.
"Hello mister..." She drawled obviously looking for my name but there was a sense of disdain in her voice that she's hiding behind her smile
I got to answer her but I was interrupted by Athena "That's Coal the guy I was talking about."
"Oh! It so nice to meet you. Athena said so much about you!" Her mood switched real quick...weird.
"As you. I have to congratulate you on your win looked like a hard fought battle." She nodded, I turned towards Athena. "I'm sorry to ask but I need to head back to my town. Got work tomorrow and such." She nodded.
"Yeah, t-that sounds like a good idea." She grabbed my hand and began pulling me towards the bullhead she has set fro my village. Of course she said goodbye to everyone. She stopped me before I could go on.
"I just want to say thank you for everything."
"I didn't do anything important."
"No but you gave my sister something to drive for, and gave me a day that I would Remember for awhile."
"All I did was talk back to your father, that's nothing too much." I'm still confused about what happened at the diner.
"You did a lot for me regardless and I want to thank you." She walked close and gave me a kiss on the lips.
"Wha-wha-wha." has stopped working commence reboot?
...
I snapped back into reality when the bullhead landed and I walked out and it flew away leaving me alone outside the gates.
What the actual fuck just happened...
Now if you can't tell, in real life I'm shit when it come to picking up people's feelings. Like I can understand everything I need, but the moment I think someone might like me, I completely forget everything.
Make sure to review what I should change and follow and favorite. Makes me feel warm inside.
See you next chapter!