She couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun!
There were sweets and attractions everywhere, from cookies to popcorn to the sticky sweet sticks to the marshmallows wrapped in chocolate to the cookies to the-
"Rubes, you're drooling," Her sister pointed out the obvious. Oh, yeah. Her sister. HER SISTER WAS HERE TOO! Here with her on this wondrous tour through-
"Ruby. I said you're drooling."
The red-head glared up at the peasant that dared interrupt her speculations on her future spoils, "Duh! HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT'S AROUND US!?"
Her big sister sighed, "Ruby, you're drooling on me."
She only intensified her glare at her captor, who had an arm wrapped firmly around her, "Wellll… Maybe if somebody took their arm away from my mouth, then that somebody wouldn't be drooled on right now."
Yang just laughed (oh, the smells were making her mouth water), "And let you sneak off to a weapon's shop? I thought the idea was to enjoy the fair together."
"Exactly. We buy sugary treats, then sneak off to a weapon's shop."
"...Am I just a wallet for you to buy snacks?"
Ruby considered the unfair trade, her eyes on the cookie stand, "I'll allow one treat for you."
"Generous," Yang snorted, "We can split the costs, and you'll pay me back later."
"...but…...money."
"Sorry, you're going to have to speak up Rubes," The blonde rubbed her sleep-deprived eyes, "What was that?"
"...no lien."
"...Huh?"
"I DON'T HAVE ANY LIEN LEFT!"
"We just got our allowance-" Yang went silent, growing a smirk the red-head did not like, "Ohhh… So that's why you're… heavier…"
Hot. Her face was hot.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE! IT WASN'T LIKE I WANTED TO GIVE THE LIEN AWAY-"
"-But when the cookies call, they must be bought."
"RIGHT! …wait, NO! STUPID YANG!"
In a flash, she activated her semblance, and blurred away into the crowd.
Stupid Yang. Stupid Lien. Stupid faunus boy and his stupid tears.
But it didn't bother her too much. She couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun.
(And so much lien)
"GET BACK HERE RUBY! THAT'S MY WALLET!"
It flinched on reflex. The worst thing to happen to this king is to reveal it's nature as a thing.
An abominable creature worth less than nothing.
But the voice was not calling to the creature.
This pitiful thing was nothing but a drain.
But it must go on, it must continue it's punishment- forever a blight and forever paying it's reckoning.
It must eat.
It knows it's grimy, but it's hoodie is still new. It provides the illusion of this creature being anything but what it truly is.
And so the king strides out the dark alley. Looking for food fit to consume. Trying to ignore the decadent smells permeating all throughout.
He couldn't help but drool.
Corn. Grilled corn on a skewer.
It looked good.
And so it dragged it's feet over, glancing at the old woman running the stall. She wore an apron, stained with grease. Grease from the corn and meat all laid out on skewers. He couldn't remember the last time it had a hot meal. That didn't say much. These days were a complete haze for the thing. It liked the haze, safe in-
"-hild," The thing realized it was spoken to, "Are you going to buy something?"
It blinked, perplexed at the question.
"Hungry? Then fetch your parents if you want food. Right now, you're in front of other customers."
"S-sorry," The thing clear it's throat, "One of the corn skewers, please?"
"I'll hold on to one for you. Get your parents," The woman frowned.
Something was wrong.
The woman was studying the thing. Like she knew.
"I-I have money-"
"Take your hood off."
It flinched.
"What?"
"Hood. Off."
No.
Please.
But the woman grabbed it's illusion, and cast it off to reveal it's true form.
"Animal. A fucking animal."
The words came unbidden.
"I'm not an animal."
Glares and discontented murmuring rose behind him.
Some of those glares were on him. Hers was on him.
"Away with you, dirty creature."
…
It walked away. The thing disappeared into the crowd, where creature could not be distinguished from person.
…It wasn't an animal. Animals get punished.
It was just a thing.
FINALLY! She lost her.
Of course Ruby didn't really want to get away from Yang. She was counting on her older sister to find her.
After she spends her ill-gotten…
Her…
Stolen…
This… This was wrong. Wasn't it?
She'd gotten so caught up in the wonderful place, and she ignored the cruel trap it had laid for her. Ruby deflated, glancing over her shoulder, hoping to see her sister amongst the crowd.
…
She lost her…
She was so getting in trouble.
What was she thinking!? She wandered off alone, STOLE HER SISTER'S WALLET, and was now HOPELESSLY lost. The city fair was massive, they could spend hours-
Her scroll rang.
Oh yeah- she had a scroll.
She relaxed just a bit. The girl ignored the scroll for now, she could make a small detour for the cookie stand she'd been eying. Just a few cookies, and she could pay Yang back later.
After stuffing her face with a cookie or two, she'd called Yang and apologized. Both sisters agreed to meet up where they'd started their adventure. She popped another into her mouth, looking at the full bag. It was wonderful.
Yang's wallet was but a small sacrifice to pay for the delicious treats.
She closed her eyes, silently paying her respects to her fallen comrade.
Yang was going to be upset, but Ruby couldn't find it in herself to care. Not while she had the delicious treats in her hands.
…
So why were her hands empty?
They'd disappeared.
The still-warm treats had disappeared from her hands.
She couldn't have dropped it (She'd know. SHE'D KNOW!).
Somebody took it. They took her precious. Her cookies.
The thief must still be in the area, so she whipped her head around this way and that. Her cookies. WHERE!? WHERE WAS THE ONE WHO DARED-
There.
The alley.
She could smell them.
Her precious cookies in the hands of a thief.
She was a red blur. Her presence warned of a future warrior. Promising destruction to the damn thief who dared take her precious cookies away from her. She followed the scent, ready to bring justice to…
Brown eyes met silver.
Familiar brown eyes. Wait.
The alley filled with the air of danger.
"You again."
The silver-haired faunus from last night glared back at her. Holding her bag of cookies. She could smell it.
"What do you want, kid?"
Her right eye twitched.
"You stole from me," It wasn't a question. It was understanding. Understanding that let him know she was aware of his crimes.
"No shit."
"LANGUAGE!"
Ruby grabbed the bag, attempting to pull it away from him. And once the sacred treats were back in her grasp, she calmed down. And blinked. He offered no resistance. The silver-haired wolf faunus was still glaring at her, but there was something else in those eyes. Eyes that looked past her into the damp concrete to her back.
He was scared. Trembling where he sat on the concrete floor.
"...it me?"
Ruby leaned forward with a frown.
"I asked if you're gonna hit me," he repeated, glaring at the girl.
…Huh-?
She didn't have time to respond. Not with the roar that echoed through this dark place. She had to be brave (her huntress training had just begun, but she needed to remember what little she could). Not just for herself, but for-
Ruby realized how familiar that noise sounded. And how strange it wasn't coming from her. She risked a glance back at the faunus curled on the ground. He no longer was glaring at her, but at the ground. Face red as the bright streaks in her hair. Ears flattened against his head. And his eyes had that accursed look, tears welling up.
And for a minute, neither moved a muscle.
…
…What was she even doing? She sighed and plopped down next to the boy, glumbly pressing the bag to his chest.
"...Wha-?"
"Eat…" She glared at the thief, "I spent all of Yang's allowance on that, so you better be thankful."
He glared back, but took out a cookie and ate. Ruby barely managed to fight back the pain as she saw him devour the cookies. They were flying into his-
"D-Don't eat so fast!" Ruby grabbed his shoulder, "You're- You're going to get a tummy ache!"
The wolf glared at her, but slowed down nonetheless. The cookies from the bag disappeared at a somewhat slower rate.
"...I'm not giving you any cookies."
She could not hold herself back from the insult, "AND I DON'T WANT ANY!"
Of course she was lying. But she wouldn't give this asshole the satisfaction of showing how much each piece of the precious chocolate filled dough disappearing-
A half-eaten cookie filled her view.
"You're drooling. Eat, and be happy."
The red-head glared at the insulting offering, but only hesitated for a second. Insult or not, a cookie could not be wasted…
She glanced over at the thief. She didn't know what to say, so she decided to start simple.
"I-I'm… I'm Ruby Rose-"
"That's nice," the thief cut her off, not even sparing a glance.
"You're…" She took a deep breath and tried again, "You're now supposed to say your name."
…She felt her anger rise again. It wasn't just that he was silent.
He was still glaring at her. Rudely. Like she hadn't sacrificed her cookies-
"-yn… Wy… Wynion. Just Wynion."
She blinked once more.
"My name," He growled.
And in a flash, he was gone. Dashing out the alleyway, the boy she just fed disappeared.
She didn't have long to dwell on their little meeting. Because the air was thick with a danger much scarier than her.
"...Ruby." Yang's voice was ice, "When we get home, we're having a… chat."
She could only laugh nervously.
So you're a new reader.
What do you need to know?
Honestly? Nothing.
But if that answer does not satisfy, then I can provide you with two points of information. Firstly, we're in Ruby's first year at school.
Not Beacon. Signal.
Secondly, our protagonist Wynion (Welsh for Silver), is a half self insert. I know. You're groaning in pain having 'nam flashbacks to the last SI-OC to assault your mind.
When I say self insert, I don't mean he's me. His personality is somewhat based on me, as are his priorities. But he is not me, and I think it's already obvious that this isn't wish-fulfillment. If that's not obvious now... Hehe...
Oh right. Third thing. This isn't angst. I may enjoy torturing Wynnie, but you won't be witnessing a horror show. All the time. There's going to be sweet fluffy things in here. It's been light so far, but we'll be going darker. And I get to reuse a joke for all the new people here. And it's my favorite!
Not the: "Rated T for suicide" one. The other one.
I'm a simple man. Maybe not particularly funny or creative, but leave me alone. Let me have my fun.
Those of you from before may notice... No. You do notice how differently I express myself. Somewhat less intense joyful excitement.
Was I faking it?
Yes, but much much less than you think. Only a few chapters or so had no actual feelings of genuine excitement from me. I was, and still am an excitable person. It's why my A/N's are so long. I ramble with enthusiasm.
Anyways, no. Wynion does not do puppy eyes on purpose this time around.
Yet.
Something slipped my mind again...
Fuck it, I'm going to edit the final product like anyways.
Oh right. Forgot the 'drifting off to sleep listening to the radio/tv broadcast' segment. Do that later.