Snippet 151

Run the Jaded Jewels

Genre: Adventure/Humor

Pairs: Jaded (Mercury/Emerald)

Parody: RWBY/Sonic for Hire

AU-Type: Canon-eqsue AU (Between V2-V3)

Tags: Fall of Beacon never happened, Cinder's plan fails, Emerald and Mercury have standards, New Life, New Struggles, Cinder screwed up, Loose lips sink ships, And Then What?

It is said that everyone has standards, even evil. Mercury and Emerald were perfectly down for throwing Vale into chaos, and the plan was set. Cinder decided to celebrate with drinking, and she happened to buy the same brand of booze that was a favorite of Marcus Black. Mercury adamantly refused to drink, and Emerald decided not to drink as well given that she makes rather disturbed illusions while under the influence. So, Cinder drank it all, and drunk Cinder was…entertain until she started telling stories.

Mercury and Emerald never saw eye to eye on most things, but they had on Cinder while she was spilling stories. Cinder was clearly mental. She revealed bits of her past torturing animals, burning things, and killing random people for little to no reason. Then she revealed what she did her parents. Emerald had a swig of the booze just to keep the bile down and Mercury was holding her to ensure she did not puke. And then Cinder got to Salem. By the time Cinder was passed out drunk, Emerald was crying.

"By the gods, what have we done?" Mercury said in pure horror.

At that point, they were at a crossroad and they decided to have standards. Thus, they immediately ratted her out to Ozpin giving him the evidence he needed to deal with her. All they asked in exchange is to walk away with their freedom. They did not want to ask for anything more out of not wanting to risk Ozpin welching on them.

That had been a week ago to which Emerald and Mercury laid low. From what they heard, Cinder was arrested on a multitude of crimes. They knew she most likely was killed for the Maiden powers or worse, but they did not care. Good riddance, they thought. The question at the moment was, now what?

"Mercury, what are we going to do now?" Emerald asked as they ate their convienece store submarine sandwiches. "We can't exactly stay with Vale."

"I don't even know. Cinder brought us together, and now she's gone. And we've been hiding out in one of the old bases we used." Mercury said finishing off his sandwich. "But…I have an idea."

Mercury moved some stuff aside to reveal a duffel bag which had a few stacks of lien, several dust crystals, and a few bags of weed.

"Remember this bag? Roman gave it to Cinder as a peace offering…and she shoved it aside and tried to burn him. Well, it's going to be our ticket out of here. If you'll come." Mercury explained.

"Not like I have anywhere else. I'm stuck with you, and you're stuck with me." Emerald said with a sigh. "For better or worse, I'm with you. Where to?"

"Patch. It's small, no one asks questions, and it's not a major city." Mercury said gathering his things. "We should get to the docks, early."

Emerald began packing up before realizing they forgot about Roman and the White Fang.

"You think Roman or the White Fang will be after us?" Emerald asked concerned.

"From what I hear, Roman got a pardon for helping to gut the White Fang. Ironwood offered him a great sum to speak and he did. But we got the information to Ozpin first…but they still had to honor the deal." Mercury said bitterly. "And as for the Fang, I don't even know. We definitely shouldn't stay in Vale."

As Emerald and Mercury arrived on the docks early, they sat waiting for the ferry. Little did they know, someone was planning a surprise for them.

[Cues: GTA San Andreas OST – C.R.A.S.H. Theme]

Several cars came up to the docks as a familiar duo in much more luxurious clothing.

"Emerald and Mercury, how good it is to see you…without Cinder." Roman said twirling his cane.

"Look, we don't any beef with you. We just want to leave." Mercury said getting in front of Emerald.

Neo chuckled drinking in their vurnability as Roman took off his hat.

"But I can't let you do that. You think I'll just let you disrespect me and walk away. No, you owe me considering I could have ensured you ended up in dirt." Roman said coldly. "So, you won't be leaving until I say so."

Neo took a pair of keys at them with Roman saying that's their new apartment.

"Now, don't try to leave town…or else." Roman said with a laugh. "The address is wrapped around on the key. See ya around."

Roman left with his posse leaving Emerald and Mercury inwardly shaken and outwardly fuming. They wanted to run, but they did want to take any chances. Thus, they were stuck in Vale at least with an apartment. The apartment…completely sucked. The walls cracked and the furnishing was old. The saving mercy was the bed and the hot water. They still the care package which Mercury and Emerald knew they had to protect.

They knew they had to keep on surviving. It was the only thing they could do.

(A/N: An inverse to The Living Dream, where while it's not a complete nightmare, it's not too pleasant. No, they have to actually work for a better ending and it's a long road.)