"Good MOOOOOOOOOOORNIN' MR. ZIP-ZIP-ZIP!"

Cinder was very quickly reacquainted with the waking world. The scroll currently playing its musical alarm, then, was very quickly reacquainted with the wall.

Ashes to Ashes.

It may have been a silly thing to think first thing in the morning, but most habits you kept from childhood were. Cinder honestly wasn't quite sure why that one had remained, of all things. She hadn't been 'Ashes' to anyone in decades, but still she could hear her mother waking her up every morning to start chores. Her life was certainly less predictable these days, maybe that's why she still woke to the same song her father would belt out to shake the sleep from his family over breakfast. Familiarity was a powerful drug.

Still, the routine demanded Cinder Fall rise. Even if she was reluctant to leave her little haven of comfort, certain needs demanded attention. Slipping from her downy elysium, Cinder nearly toppled to the ground. Right. Arm first. Then pee. Then reminisce. Priorities Cinder, priorities.

As she made her way through the daily rituals, Cinder's mental train didn't seem to circle back to the thoughts of her childhood. Instead swapping tracks to mundane things like trying to remember which shampoo would work better with the rain outside. Or how her bookshelf seemed both far too empty, but somehow full of the only things she felt belonged in a location of such prestige.

She flipped the interlink to local updates and warnings, a habit born from being trapped in a small town where knowing of a possible bandit raid could save your life. Since coming to Vale, it was mostly weather and fluff stories from what she'd seen. A few passing mentions of Grimm attacks along the borders let her know she was still living on remnant and not some strange world where inner demons never became outer demons.

The Grimm, unlike bandits, had long since lost their teeth to Cinder; even once she lost her own proverbial teeth. The lessons of control and intimidation remained ingrained into her habits, and thus the Grimm remained beneath her heel. Though knowing if the local market would be closed due to attack or not was still an important thing to know. Good habits die just as hard as strange ones.

As she listened to the reports and warnings, Cinder worked her way around the kitchen. It wouldn't do to start today with something as drab as a bowl of cereal after all; maybe an old Mistrali dish? She was in a Memory Lane-type mood after all. No, she'd have plenty of time to remember that life later. Maybe something a bit more Vacuan, something simple but exotic.

Let's see… Rice, plantains, eggs, do I have any- ah yes! It's not Rill's backwater chorizo, but sausage is sausage in this case. All I need now is a good pepper sauce, maybe Deathstalker? She took a whiff. Ugh, too spicy for breakfast.

"You'd think I'd be used to actually having ingredients available again. Sweet Maide-... Am I swearing by myself when I say that?" That damned tiny town had been lacking in so many departments. What food had been available was either picked earlier that day, fresh but repetitive in its flavor; or canned the point you may as well just add enough salt that you'd be lucky to have a tongue the next morning. Exotic in that town boiled down to the occasional trade with a neighboring town's crop, nothing like a well-traveled woman might crave.

The morning went rather slow from that point for Cinder's liking, Sundays were rarely exciting, even without plans to look forward to, or rain to prevent them. The only thing left on her agenda was working out, and with the storm outside it was clearly time to snuggle up with a blanket in the window and drink tea instead.

Truly, Cinder Fall was a woman tortured by her inner demons.

Eventually, after long enough that both options had run their course, something akin to jitters set in. Not that Cinder was nervous, no. she merely… wanted to ensure she looked her best. *That* was why she had double checked her available outfits, weather allowing, no other reason. Her hair was also toyed with several more times; to hide the eyepatch, or show it off, maybe treat it casually? I could look into a bionic, maybe? I've already got the arm to worry about in the mornings, who knows what an eye would nee- her scroll buzzed with a message, interrupting the thought process.

Gems: Lobby

Ever the expressive one, Emerald. Still, it was an attribute Cinder once appreciated in her followers; back when she had followers. Neo had been quite good for that, at least. Still, these days the lack of fluff left something to be desired. With coat, purse, keys, and scroll all accounted for, Cinder began the trip down from her floor.

Maybe I should get a pet. Something living to fill the place with some life. They probably wouldn't let me keep a Seer, even if I could find one. Maybe a bird.

She had never been one for animal companionship before, but still her current home felt empty; something to consider, she supposed.

Emerald was waiting for her, dressed for a day spent around the rain, not that it was surprising. She was sitting on one of the pleather chairs for waiting guests, and rose to greet Cinder. Those shoulders told a definite story of strength and confidence. Her face, told a more complex story

however. She stood… almost exactly as she had all those years ago; professional, and restrained. Now though, it wasn't fear which kept her at a distance, but something more disciplined; like a knight or a guard might stand near their charge.

"I can honestly say I wasn't expecting a pickup. What's the occasion?"

"M-Weiss, lent me a company car. Said 'leaving your date to walk through the rain alone is a terrible way to begin, or in this case rekindle, a relationship.'" Emerald seemed to shift uncomfortably at the explanation. Maybe something to do with flaunting her power to me?

"That's, kind of her, I suppose. Reminds me the time we spent in… Atlas actually. I really shouldn't be surprised by that." the two women began to move out of the lobby as they continued talking. Only stopping to give a polite nod to the doorwoman before Cinder stopped in her tracks.

"Schnee lent you… a limousine? For a lunch date."

"Rose-Schnee. And it's also not a limo; this is the towncar. You've seen the limo. Don't you remember from last wee- Right, you probably don't remember much with the amount you drank." Cinder really couldn't deny that, she remembered the class that day, then… Belladonna? After that the next clear memory was waking up for a lovely eggs benedict with lox and chives. There was a distinct shock of mortified embarrassment somewhere in there, but she thought that was from who made the breakfast.

"No, I can't say I do remember a limo, but I apparently had a wonderful time with some delicious company regardless." Emerald turned beet red at that.

"R-right. I-uhh… let's get going then. Shall we?" Really, Emerald, flustered by just mentioning having a good night with someone? Were you always this prudish?

As they approached the car, a driver stepped out to cover them with an umbrella and lead them to the door. As they climbed in Cinder couldn't help but be somewhat put off by the whole event again.

"No offense, dear. But why does Schnee's lent company car have a driver? Last I checked you were certified in nearly every major pilot, driver, and operator's license available."

"Rose-Schnee. She's very particular about it outside of the office. And technically most of those I never actually passed the test for, you just had Watts give me those certifications to let us get through checkpoints with less issue. I'm also, if I remember correctly: an EMT, Forewoman, professional Boxer, database security specialist. Forgetting my more mundane covers, I also hold degrees in: psychology, anesthesiology, pulviology, reproductive endocrinology, and art history. And that's not even getting into the military-level clearances I apparently had."

She did have a point, no matter how well certified you were legally, it didn't actually mean you knew how to- "Did you say Art History? And I'm not sure I remember any plans involving endocrinology, let alone reproductive endocrinology."

"Oh. Right, no. Those two I actually earned. Along with the nurse-level certification in pulviology. The classes made up my, err, probationary sentence. Like how you help Ruby teach a class, I had to show my ability to work within the rules for a while. After my period was up, I figured I may as well finish the degree as far as I could since it was all being paid for anyway, and I was apparently good enough to make it though a doctorate. The endocrinology I finished right before they got Mercury, and was mostly so I could use the pulviology certification."

Cinder was deeply disturbed that apparently Emerald had the capacity to earn any degree, let alone two. PhDs at that!

Outside of the academies, very few Huntesses or Huntsmen, ever really thought about higher education. The lifestyle didn't exactly allow for study breaks. Not to mention the differences in skill sets were massive; daily combat didn't translate into writing ability, or much of anything outside of sports. Hunters were restricted in that regard as well; only certain competitions allowed aura-wielders to enter, and usually only within their own divisions.

"Does that mean I should be calling you Doctor Sustrai? And what possible use could dust work have with pregnancy? Medical application somehow, right?" Dustcraft, so far as pulviology was concerned, was far removed from the practical, relatively large-scale use in combat. It was certainly a study path most any decently practiced Hunter could attain some form of respect in, but that didn't explain the crossover.

Emerald seemed to become more comfortable as the conversation, and the rainy city blocks, passed. She nodded almost casually to the question. "Basically. Most less-than-standard medical procedures require at least one certified pulviologist in case a complication comes up, but that particular combination is used in, well, to make babies. A single one in particular, in my case, but they don't exactly offer single-use educations."

What.

"As for calling me Doctor: only if you call Ruby 'Doctor Rose.' She founded the formal study of 'thaumatology', magic, as far as academia is concerned. But she's also got a few doctorates in various weaponry-related fields, and honoraries on top of that."

And here I thought I had wasted my life in that tiny hellhole… what a relief I'm not some ultra-wealthy discoverer of an entire branch of science!

"So aside from your life being perfect, what do you do with your days now? You work with, since I'm not calling her Rose-Schnee, Weiss I know. But aside from being detained by the security team on my last visit, my experience with the SDC is probably outdated."

"Oh. I technically run security. Mostly in name, my lieutenants do everything aside from sit at my desk and make sure Ruby doesn't get into Weiss' office."

"Of all the uses for a doctorate. You watch a door. "

Emerald started laughing, hysterically. Once she calmed down, she looked at Cinder's bewildered face with something close to mischief.

"In my defence, the door is only one point of entry. And if I remember correctly, Ruby hasn't gotten past me more than a handful of times since I started; which is more than either of us can say about before."

Oh...I said that out loud. Grimm take me. Cinder's face erupted into a beet-red blush. Emerald just started cracking up again, and just like the night at the gym the laughter was honestly infectious.

After they had both calmed down from the serious case of the giggles, a new question came to Cinder's mind, luckily not just her mouth this time.

"So, Ruby's still gotten past you then? I'd tell you about my years of education on the workings of book clubs and failed attempts at gardening, but your day-to-day seems much more entertaining." That earned another blush from Emerald.

"Well, I'm sure it wasn't that bad-" her sentence was cut short by nothing short of a death glare from Cinder.

"Would you like me to start with the baby pictures, or the corn gossip?" Cinder could literally taste bile just joking about repeating her torture.

"Right. Let's not do that… ever. But the last time Ruby got past me wa-... Oh no." Emerald suddenly fell quiet as she stared past Cinder.

Quickly glancing behind her with a rush of panic, Cinder didn't see anything that would constitute that kind of reaction. Looking back at the well-muscled woman proved that it was more of a thousand-yard stare than actually focusing on anything.

"The car. That's why she said I should use it! Damned by sourdough of all things."

"What?" Emerald wasn't making any sense now. Bread? Car? What does this have to do with Ruby?

Emerald seemed to recover from her shellshock at the question. "The last time Ruby got past me, it started a war. That was yesterday, so this is probably the first prank."

"Weiss' idea of a prank is… a fancy not-limo? She is aware that most people aren't going to be embarrassed when they pull up in a shorter limo than someone else, right?"

"A much as I want to say 'yes' to that… let's just say that's not the problem. She got Yang on her side for now."

Cinder suddenly had a flashback to a time she stumbled into a den of Grimm unarmed.

"Xiao Long is involved?"

"Almost definitely."

"How bad does it get?"

"Remember back at Beacon?"

"The Snow Maiden?" That earned a nod.

"Now imagine if Mercury had near-infinite lien and at least another decade of experience."

"We're dead, aren't we?"

"We'll wish we were. If it's any consolation; it might just be directed at me."

The car then pulled to a stop, with the driver coming around to open the door once more. "Deer in the headlights" didn't begin to describe the looks on their two faces. Then the driver began speaking in a loud, clear voice that could only come a formally trained crier, on a busy city street. During the lunch rush.

"Announcing the arrival of Doctor Emerald of House Sustrai, The Thief, Lady-knight of house Rose-Schnee… " he continued on as Emerald squared her shoulders and stepped out of the car. A look of dread replaced by a practiced neutrality. Leaving Cinder alone in the car, at least until the Crier/Driver was finished; she was many things, but rude wasn't one of them. He reached the end of Emerald's list, and Cinder thought herself safe.

"Accompanying her on this date: Miss Ash "Cinder Fall" of House Vermillion, Maiden of the Glass Wastes, Former Fall Maiden… "

Cinder Fall wanted nothing but to wake up from this nightmare.

And possibly to murder someone. Or at least prank them back.

Probably Xiao Long.

Dust to dust, you blonde devil. If the Thief doesn't get you, then the Butcher must.

A/N:
Is it my life goal to torture Cinder with harmless public humiliation?

Maybe.

Did I base this entire chapter off of an old camp song from my childhood?

Absolutely.

Did Cinder make Tipico for breakfast?

Mmmm... Tipico.

What is "pulviology"?

The study of dust.

Do I live for feedback and comments?

Take a guess!