In truth, not much revision.

It's no compliment, I just lack creativity.


~•CMNE Dorm Room•~


Was that all an act?

Was all of that just a display of her abilities? It was just so seamless, so natural, she effortlessly slipped into an entirely different persona at the snap of a finger.

Well, anyhow, whether or not it was all indeed an act, by now whatever discomfort Emerald felt has long since diminished, as Cinder would actually continue that act long after that Jaune boy is gone. And unless she was one of those method actors, there was absolutely no point or reason why Cinder had to go on, and on, and on about how cute and charming this Jaune guy is.

From the moment they brought her food over, the second they sat down, as they ate their food, up until they got up to leave, and all the way during their walk back to their room. It was all just Jaune, Jaune, Jaune, Jaune, Jaune~! Oh, did you see this, did you see that, how he said her name, how he smiled at her, how they touched hands, how good he smelled?

Like, what? How was she supposed to know how he smelled?

It once got to a point where they even have to remind her to pause and take a breather, and to chew her food first lest she chokes on it.

She did.

Emerald sighed, sat atop her bed, one hand propping her chin, the other looking through her scroll, searching for one Jaune Arc and seeing what's there to see about the student; something important perhaps.

Due to Cinder's contacts, and a certain gentleman thief's help, they actually have access to Beacon's database through their scrolls, with details and documents ranging from basic mundane stuff - that's actually available to the public - to the more discreet confidential… deets.

That said, they don't really get to use it all that much for the purpose of their mission. Since most of it they already know, and the other stuff in there is just plain useless.

Far as she knows, this is more or less the first time anyone in the team even utilized the backdoor-tech-jargon-thingy… And she's using it to snoop through a student's personal info.

Cool. That's not creepy.

Well, to be fair, it's not like this Jaune dude would write down unnecessary inappropriate details about himself… she hopes… not, to be specific.

Plus, she's doing this for Cinder, so any second-hand embarrassment she experiences is totally worth it. Yep. That's what she's telling herself. Even though she's the only one - she really hopes - that even knows what she's currently doing, she just can't help but feel a little awkward looking through this guy's stuff.

She's done worse things by comparison, sure, but this is just weird. But, if Cinder's acting this way, it must be for a reason. It must be! And so! Like a knight in… a school uniform, she's going to brave through her admittedly mundane discomfort, and provide the damsel in… distress? With whatever help she can give her.

That said, there was not really a lot of useful information on there. Well, a lot of it would've been useful for their mission, if they don't already know about it, but absolutely none were helpful for this instance.

All she could find was his team composition, which they probably already know, or at least deduce with a quick survey. Next she found was their reported escapades, most recent is about a brawl in the women's shower room. Then their track record, fairly decent, rivalling team RWBY. And finally, she got his transcripts, which - as she's reading them - seem to just have the basics in terms of info.

On that note… he is seventeen years old. And she's sure Cinder's a few years older than that.

Emerald shifted her weight on the bed, now laying stomach down, still looking at her scroll, a pensive expression crossing her face.

Is Cinder into… minors? That's… concerning. Very concerning.

Then again, Cinder has done a lot more concerning and worse things - that she knows of - so this isn't really all that serious… by comparison. But then again, this is a lot more weird and creepy than simple murder and torture. But then again, he looks old enough to be legal… but then again, it's not like they're strangers to illegal things… but then again, from his transcripts, in a few weeks he will be legal… but then again-

"Ugh!" Emerald groaned, dropping her scroll, and flipping over to her back; covering her eyes with her forearm. "This is starting to get annoying." She mumbled under her breath.

"One-eighty-six… one-eighty-seven… one-eighty-nine…"

Speaking of annoying, sliding her eyes over to her partner at the other side of the room, Mercury is currently doing something both totally ridiculous and totally useless; looking like a complete idiot as well, what a talented man he is.

Pouting, Emerald listlessly watched him as he did his push-ups while reading a comic; effortlessly switching to one hand to turn a page once in a while. Uttering a ludicrously high number with each push. How he keeps track of numbers, and at the same time read, is a mystery Emerald has absolutely no interest in.

"Two-twelve… two-thirteen…" Page flip. "Two-fourteen… two-fifteen…"

Emerald rolled her eyes at that, being effectively done with him; which is what she always feels towards him, so nothing really changed. Tilting her head upwards, looking at the other occupant in the room, is yet another ridiculous sight, though not as annoying… for now.

The sight being Cinder, pacing back and forth from one side of the room to the other. Earlier she just circled the entire premise, stepping over beds and once stepping on Mercury's back, who didn't even have the decency to falter.

Emerald pushed herself up to a sitting cross-legged position, watching her mistress with a progressively confused expression.

Cinder's expression, on the other hand, was a lot more diverse than hers. Intense panic, sudden calmness. Overflowing with hope, then overwhelmed with sorrow. Constantly fretting, and composing herself. It was a vicious loop that seemed to increase in speed with each cycle.

Incessantly frightening and reassuring herself with whatever it is that's been running through her mind ever since she walked past their dorm room doorway.

It was incredibly concerning.

Which Mercury pointedly ignored, another reason why he's so annoying.

Emerald watched Cinder's strange behavior with an exponentially worrying look. And as she listened in closely, she could almost hear Cinder's nonsensical mutterings in speeds that could make a certain cookie-munching, milk-drinking, scythe-wielding, red hood-wearing, huntress prodigy with a speed-type semblance jealous… by the name of Ruby Rose.

Emerald sighed. Originally she kept an eye on her, since this is obviously not normal, and even tried to get her to stop and relax for a second. Cinder's apt reply was to simply push past her, or bowl her over - once stepping on her - and continue on in her senseless pacing cycle. Didn't even seem to acknowledge her presence.

It has been hours now - actually half an hour - and Emerald has long since given up on that endeavour… after a shameful number of persistent attempts. And opted to instead… do what she was doing just minutes ago. Which also lasted for that amount of time. She's not proud of it.

Another sigh, and once again, Emerald's urge to help her mistress is rising.

"Two-sixty-seven… two-sixty-eight…" Page flip. "Two-sixty-nine, nice, two-seventy…" He's doing it completely one-handed now.

Well… whatever-number-she's-at time's the charm~!

Yeah, unlike Mercury, she didn't exactly bother to count how many times she tried to interrupt Cinder's ramblings.

Emerald gave out one last tired sigh, worry and frustration bubbling and rising closer and hotter to the surface.

She's only trying to help. That's all she wanted. She's not looking for a reward, or a favour, or whatever! She's just trying to help her mistress out in her time of unprecedented amount of distress.

Wanting to find out what's causing her so much anxiety. Wanting so much to ease that anxiety, and hopefully bring back the Cinder that they all know and love… respect. That they all know and respect. But! Instead of graciously accepting her help, she was ignored.

As if Emerald was below her - technically not incorrect, hierarchical-wise - but, no, that's not what this is about.

Emerald has never felt this ignored since… Never felt like a lesser person. Inferior. Wretched. Discarded, and most importantly… ignored.

It reminded her of herself.

On the streets, living as an urchin.

Barely living at all.

Not since then did she ever feel this ignored.

"Cinder!" She snapped.

Cinder immediately stopped, whipping her head to face Emerald in one swift motion.

Emerald jolted, her posture shrinking down.

Cinder stood up straighter, brows furrowed, intensely staring into Emerald's eyes. Luscious lips twisted to a devious grin, "Emerald~!" She cooed, sauntering towards the docile girl.

"Yes?" Emerald answered with a shaking voice, her body language incredibly tense. Mercury stifled his counting, lowering it to a whisper, his head pointed straight down without a hint of deviation.

"Dear dutiful Emerald. Ever so eager to please." Her voice slithering smoothly. "Ever so ready to meet my requests. Whatever… it… may… be."

Emerald straightened up at that, now paying close attention.

"And right now, I have a simple task for you to do. I'm sure you can do that, can't you, Emerald? All I want from you, is just your honest opinion on something quite…" Cinder stopped at the foot of Emerald's bed. "Important…" She stressed the word, leaning ever so subtly forward. "To me."

"O-of course. I'll answer it, the best I can." Emerald nodded quickly, sitting fully upright, and grabbing her scroll.

"Good…" Cinder smiled. "Good girl." She paused, subtly and silently taking a deep breath. "Emerald… What do you think of Jaune?"

Emerald mentally breathed out the stress that gripped her throat, not realising she was even holding down her breath. There was a second of silence as she secretly calmed her heart, and mentally wiped her brow. Although she was correct to do some preliminary info gathering, what she learned from his database is not really all that much, however it should - at the very least - satisfy Cinder's… curiousity? She hopes.

"Well, he is the leader of his team - team JNPR - which consists of Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren, and Pyrrha Nikos; his partner. His skills are above average at best, though he has been significantly improving by the day, seeing his gradual rise in pointmarks in his spars. He has received written praise by Goodwitch herself for his natural leadership skills - or so it says in the document." She muttered her comment.

All the while Cinder's smile slowly faded with each new information yapping out of Emerald's mouth. Her eyes, once sparkling with devious delight, fell ever faintly. "Emerald." She said with a commanding tone, putting an immediate halt in Emerald's useless relay of unnecessary info.

"Y-yes, ma'am?"

"What do you think of Jaune… as a person?" Cinder fully leaned on the bedpost, waiting for her minion's answer with a wide unwavering stare.

Emerald, in response, tilted her head - eyebrow cocked, mouth ajar - and replied in a way that Cinder would certainly not be fond of. "Huh?"

Emerald's dopey daze was quick to dissipate once Cinder narrowed her eyes, pouted… cutely, and let out a low - almost childlike - growl. It took Emerald a second to process what she saw, and another more to realise what Cinder really meant.

On that, Emerald started to blank. Hastily trying to remember how he acted in their odd interaction. Even what he exactly looked like. Difficult, as they mostly focused on Cinder, and honestly how could they not when she started to act like a cute shy schoolgirl!?

Emerald, however, didn't survive on the streets by being slow, and by being stupid, and, most important of all… by being honest.

"Oh, y-yes! Well, um, I think he's a… guy." pause, "A nice guy, to be specific!" She quickly added. "Yup, he seems to be good. Mmm-hmm!" She nodded. Emerald teetered on the bed, eyes slowly circling around trying to think of more masterclass deception. "I also think he's blonde. And a dude. A blonde dude! And he was certainly… in the cafeteria when we met him."

"I was there." Mercury raised his hand. "I saw him." He helpfully added.

Both girls turned to look at him, their heads slowly bobbing up and down as he's still doing his push-ups. They continued to stare at him. Watching him with emotionless eyes. And to his credit, had the decency to wilt under their gaze, looking away awkwardly, and lowering his hand back down. Not on the ground, obviously.

Cinder suddenly whipped her head back to Emerald, who jolted in surprise. "I-is that it!?" Frustration dripping from those three words. "I mean, do you think he's cute? What do you think about his hair?" She leaned forward even more, basically tipping herself over the bedpost ."D-do you think I made a good impression?"

"Uh…"

"Do you think I came off a bit rude when I didn't look at him right away?" Crawling over the bedpost, and now sitting daintily next to Emerald.

"Um, Ci-"

Cinder gasped, mouth wide open, with both her hands slapping her cheeks. "Maybe he thinks I'm a huge klutz for bumping into him in the first place!?"

"Cin-"

"O-or maybe he thinks I'm an airhead since I told him I was distracted by my thoughts!?" She paused again with a gasp. "And It wasn't even a good thought, since the reason why I was so distracted is because all I was thinking of was what to eat~!"

"Wait, Cind-"

She gasped again, "What if he thinks I'm a glutton who only thinks about food!?" Her voice rising in tone, clutching a handful of her hair, and wailing side to side; panic was evidently gripping her quickly.

"Cinde-"

"He's probably only going out with me to Vale out of pity! That is if he hadn't already skipped kingdom, switched schools, and changed his identity to avoid going out with me…" She ended her pitiful spiel collapsing onto the bedpost, wrapping her arms around it, looking wistfully into the air with dampened eyes.

"Cinder…" Emerald calmly whispered.

"Mmm~! What am I to do~?" Cinder cried out, and whimpered like a puppy. "He probably hates me already, and thinks I'm weird, and stupid, and red haired, and drop dead gorgeous, and-"

Emerald stood up. "Cinder!" she shouted, narrowing her eyes.

That seemed to snap Cinder out of her melancholy.

"I believe that he looks fine; same with his hair. I think he was more worried about his first impressions on you than yours on him, and probably thought he was the one being rude bumping into you in the first place. He doesn't think you're a klutz, since he blamed himself first. He doesn't think you're an airhead, and thinking about what food you want to eat was just an excuse you made on the spot, since you were probably thinking about your nefarious plans, or something. He doesn't think you're a glutton, and I think he thinks that you're the one going out with him out of pity!" She paused, "And Finally!" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she was about to finish her rant.

Emerald suddenly relaxed her body, "Come on? Seriously?" Donning a more playful expression, "Moved out of the kingdom, switched schools, and changed his identity, just to avoid going out on a date with you? You and I both know that that is just too ridiculous and far-fetched to even happen. Plus, he seems like the kind of guy that doesn't have an ounce of hate inside of him."

"But-"

"And lastly, your hair is black." Emerald finished, plopping back down on the bed, causing Cinder to bounce a little.

A moment of silence passed by; Cinder staring blankly at Emerald with a docile expression.

"I-it's not a date…" Cinder meekly rebuked, a small blush coming to her face.

"Uh-huh. Sure it's not." Emerald replied with a teasing tone. Leaning back, placing her hands behind her as support.

"It's not a date." Cinder stressed, adding a more stately tone, though her blush turns redder.

Emerald giggled at that, absolutely adoring this hidden personality that has emerged. Mentally thanking this Jaune guy for giving her the opportunity to witness Cinder Fall fret and fuss, flustered like a child with a blatant crush, and futilely denying said blatant crush with a flaming flushed face.

A second after, Emerald casted such thoughts away as Cinder promptly stood up, wordlessly culling any misconceived thoughts with the return of her assertive poise; eyes falling to a predatory gaze, and an expression that exhibits that of utter cunning.

Though the still deep scarlet hue on her cheeks does well to discredit her imposing guise.

"Well…" She turned away, ambling towards her desk, "Now that… that has concluded, let me begin by commending you for your laudable inclination to alleviate my professed perturbation, and-"

She looked back, noticing Emerald's lost gaze, and Mercury's curious stare.

"Congratulations. You did what I wanted without my say, and dealt with my - feigned - nervous misdemeanor…" Cinder amended, her unenthused voice dipped in tones of disappointment and crude acceptance.

Emerald tilted her head in confusion and undisguised doubt. Any concern of slighting her mistress gone out the window, now that she knows that it's totally not an act.

"So… That was a test?" She asked, making no effort to hide her teasing smile… and definitely not making any effort to hide the flash of her scroll's camera, nor the click indicating that a photo was just taken. "By the way, I'm using this as your contact photo." She shamelessly declared, fearlessly showing Cinder the photo in question.

Cinder's face was fully red at this point, turning away once again, expending much of her effort trying to calm her nerves.

"A-anyway! Yes. It was a test. A test that you, and you alone," Emerald beamed at that, "passed with flying colors." Cinder faced them once more, "Unlike some of you." Making a point of staying her sight on Mercury for a second longer, and expressing a soft disapproval. "And one of which is not even in the room." She sighed out, scrutinizing the empty bed decorated haphazardly with equally empty ice-cream containers.

"I did say he was there when I was there." Mercury half-heartedly defended.

"Yes, we know, we all were." Emerald retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, man, that's too bad… Anyway." Then he started doing clapping push-ups.

"That's not even the correct respon- Oh, never mind." Emerald relented, trying to ignore the living annoyance once more.

In truth, Cinder was none too nonplussed of his lacklustre disposition, while she herself was indifferent to his indifference. Despite his aloof nature, she trusts his instilled professionalism, and would not doubt that if it were a real test - not that it wasn't - he would perform estimably. More than Emerald would've done.

After all that's been said and done, and no more seemed fit to be added, the room quickly fell to a natural silence, as Cinder herself made no motion of continuing their conversation, to which she pointedly faced away from the two. Placing herself in front of her desk, she fetched her pocket mirror laid atop it, and proceeded to briefly inspect her appearance; hastily grooming any disorderly strand that marr the view of her beauty.

Closing the mirror with an audible snap, she set it down upon the desk, and made a brisk path towards her closet. Pulling the door open, and with noticeable haste rummaged through her packed clothing; grabbing a select few - few being all of them - Cinder brought her outfits by the handful and laid them out on her bed.

Starting with the classic, and her favourite, an alluring red dress embroidered with dust; its sultry appearance belying its deadly utility.

Next is a form-fitting, and modestly tantalizing black dress; fit for a prom or any formal occasion.

Placed beside it is a rather plain looking set of huntress-wear; a mishmash of store-bought attire, picked out by both Emerald and Mercury.

Second to last was her stealth suit, an even more form-fitting suit, and one that showcases ample cleavage; heavily tempting lecherous eyes well away from her face.

Finally, what she's currently wearing, her student uniform… stolen directly from some poor girl's locker back in Haven; curiously, it came with black lace lingerie - freshly cleaned. She's currently wearing them as well.

Emerald and Mercury were both quick to point to each other when Cinder made her discovery known, however considering how it was folded and stored underneath the clothing, it could be presumed that it was done for safe-keeping, and neither were really at fault. Still, they spent a considerable hour accusing the other.

Cinder then took a step back, surveying disappointedly at her meagre options, a ponderous look nestling upon her face; an arm crossing below her chest, a hand settling lightly to her chin. She glanced at a nearby standing mirror, looked back at all her clothing, then back again to the mirror, to her clothes, the mirror, the clothes, again, repeat, another loop.

Her tall, statuesque posture, slouching and shrinking as if trying to collapse into herself. Luscious lips curling and quivering, her brows scrunched, her foot restlessly tapping; she drew a lock of hair and began to twirl and slither it between her fingers. Amber eyes, once narrow and intense, slowly widening to a teary dampness.

Whispering and muttering nonsense to herself, serving well to torment her mind.

Emerald sighed, closing her scroll and setting it down onto the mattress, and leaned back onto her pillows, preparing herself for yet another string of questions. Especially seeing how Cinder is giving her side glances.

"Emerald…" Cinder called out, just above a whisper. Voice heavily laced with anxiety.

"Hmm?" Emerald tilted her head, and leaned forward. "Yes, my mistress? Is there something you need?"

"W-well…" She cleared her throat, raising her voice, "E-Emerald, I have anothe- uh, dear dutifu- um, ever so eage- I have a task for you to- c-can you do this? Can't you?"

"Do… what?"

"Emerald!" Cinder whined.

"Yup? Whatever it may be, you say?"

"Emerald!"

Emerald leaned forward, waiting for an actual sentence.

Cinder fidgeted, picking at the hems of her skirt. "Emerald… Let's say that a certain girl is… No, no, um… Say a hypothetical girl is about to go out with a hypothetical guy…"

Emerald opened her mouth.

"Not like a date!"

"Doubt it, but go on."

"Say that this hypothetical girl is going out with this hypothetical guy to… uh, have a nice day together! And this girl really… really… likes this hypothetical guy, and because she likes this guy so very-very much, she really, really, really, really-really does not want to make a bad impression on him."

"Okay."

"What should this hypothetical girl wear?" She asked wearily, gesturing to herself and to her clothes.

Emerald fell to a silence, taking a fair amount of precious seconds to carefully consider all the options presented. Even thought about lending some of her clothes, though it might be a bit too skimpy. Then, suddenly, an image of Cinder in Mercury's clothes dug into her imagination.

Then out of absolutely nowhere! Mercury… in her clothing. She flinched, scrunching her eyes shut, immediately shaking the images - oh gosh, the images - out of her mind.

After purging the last of those… things… Emerald then opened her eyes.

"So, do you have an answer?" Cinder asked, uncomfortably suddenly so close to her face. Emerald gently pushed her away, then looked to her partner - oh gosh, the images - for a second opinion.

"Mercury, what do you think?" She quickly asked while switching her gaze to the other side of the room; shaking her head, and lightly hitting her forehead with her knuckles.

Mercury paused and stared at Cinder for a second. He nodded sagely, "I don't know."

"Wow! Thanks for the help." Emerald rolled her eyes, sighing.

"Alright, fine, she looks good."

"Okay, perv, no need to get that excited."

"Look who's talking; do they feel nice and soft?"

Emerald looked down, noticing the hand she used to push Cinder away, cupped nicely around her breast.

She instinctively squeezed. "Yes… Jealous?"

"I don't want your hands anywhere on me"

"I was talking about me, dumbass."

"Um…" Cinder timidly raised a finger.

"Oh… right." Emerald removed her hand. "Sorry."

"So… What should I wear again?" Cinder politely asked.

"Well…" Emerald tilted her head, looking Cinder up and down, "You know what… seeing how it's just for a first date."

"It's not a date." Cinder quickly corrected.

"And it's not like you're going anywhere special, or really should, because it is just the first date-"

"It's not a date."

"I'd say it'll be more than fine just going out like this."

Cinder looked down at herself, "Like what?"

"Like this," Emerald gestured to her uniform. "Just wear your uniform. I don't think he'll care."

"What? That he doesn't care about me?" Cinder worriedly asked, voice breaking.

"N-no, about what you wear." Emerald confusedly affirmed. "Just wear what you're wearing right now, and maybe take a shower first before you go, and you're all well and good."

"A-are you sure?"

"Yup."

"Absolutely sure?"

"Yeah."

"Surely sure?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely surely sure-sure?"

Emerald stared.

Cinder stared back. "I-I mean, are you absolutely certainly surely sure, because what if he actually wears something casual, and I arrive to meet him still in my uniform, and he'll think that I don't actually care, and he thinks it was all a prank, and I break his heart, then he runs off to Vale, bumps into Winter Schnee, and then it turns out they were betrothed, and now that she found him she's going to take him away from me and-"

"Cinder!" Emerald desperately shouted, shaking Cinder's shoulders, having been shouting her name halfway through the spiel, "What are you talking about!? Half of them don't even make any sense."

"But what if he is married to Winter Schnee, and then he becomes heir to the Schnee Dust Company, and they make lots of babies, hold all the dust hostage, and then depose Ironwood as general, take over Atlas, launch an attack on Vale, conquer it, then the other kingdoms, subjugate all the citizens, taking all the women, especially the both of us, as part of his harem- no, wait, I think I'm okay with that." Cinder suddenly stopped to think about it.

Emerald stared.

Just stared

She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, began a retort, and immediately fell silent.

Eventually, Emerald settled for a long and tired sigh, letting her head fall down to her hand, massaging the migraine she's suddenly having. Who knows why she has a migraine! It's a mystery for surely sure-sure!

Emerald gave a low growl. "Cinder… Just… just go take a shower." She forced a smile, "Just go take a shower, and relax… calm down, cool your head, and by the time you're done taking that shower, you'll be so refreshed, and good and ready to leave just in time for your cute little date-"

"It's not a date!" Cinder screamed.

"Your not-date, whatever! Call it an appointment, a meeting, your cult assembly, whatever! Just! Go! Take! A… Shower."

Cinder looked down to the floor, fidgeting. "Mmmm… Alright. Fine." Cinder walked towards the bathroom with a pout.

"And while you're in there don't think of anything else! Forget any of your stupid scenarios about what's going to happen with Jaune, and just focus on the smooth jazz."

Cinder turned to face Emerald, "But I don't like smooth jazz." Cinder whined.

Emerald glared, stomped her foot, pointing angrily to the bathroom. "Get!"

Cinder continued with a few more steps. "Mmm… But-"

"Ap-pap-pap!" Emerald wagged her finger.

"But Emerald!" Cinder whined once more, hugging the door frame. "I don't like smooth jazz." She said quietly.

Emerald faintly groaned, rolling her eyes.

"I bet Jaune doesn't like smooth jazz, he probably hates it… No, wait! What if he loves it, and actually had it playing during his honeymoon with Winte-"

"Cinder." Emerald called with a commanding tone.

Cinder flinched, and avoided her gaze, teetering nervously.

"What did I say~?" She asked with her arms crossed. "Look at me when I'm talking to you."

Cinder timidly looked up, "Go to the bathroom, and don't think of anything else… Except for the smooth jazz." She mumbled.

"And what are you doing right now?" Emerald asked with a raised eyebrow.

Cinder sighed in frustration, "Not in the bathroom, not not-thinking about Jaune and what kinds of positions he and Winter are doing, and not not-worrying about our not-date… And not listening to smooth jazz."

"Right…" Emerald stared unamused. "So why don't you, go over there, and fix that." Emerald points respectively.

Cinder pouted again, this time with annoyance. "Oh, I'll fix something alright." Cinder grumbled, walking inside the bathroom. "Don't forget I'm the one who took you in!" Cinder shouted just before she slammed the door shut.

"What was that?!"

"Bite me!"

"Oh! One more quip like that and you are grounded, young lady!" Emerald warned.

"I'm going to put you in the ground, younger lady!" Cinder rebuked.

Emerald huffed away in annoyance, but not before kicking the door, cracking the wood. "I swear… Got herself a date and suddenly she thinks she can talk back like that." Emerald complained with her arms crossed.

"I think you forgot our placement in this relationsh-"

"IT'S NOT A DATE!" Cinder shrieked.

"It is a date and you know it!" Emerald shouted back.

"Well, how should you know! You haven't even gone out on a date before!"

"You don't know that! I was poor! I was desperate! I could've gone out on a date just for the money!"

"Technically not a date if it's fake~!"

Emerald growled like a rabid dog "Just take the damn shower so you can go to your definitely not, not-date!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"FINE!"

"FIIINE!" Emerald shouted with a growl. Taking deep breaths, feeling worn out from all the screaming.

"It's-not-a-date." Heard faintly through the door.

Emerald turned around to go sit on her bed, pausing midway having caught Mercury staring at her, watching in confusion, upside down, his feet up in the air as he did hand-stand push-ups.

"What?" She seethed.

"Were you a prostitute?" Mercury asked, pointing at her with a deadpan stare. Now doing one-handed hand-stand push-ups.

Emerald huffed and crossed her arms, "No." She said as a matter of fact. "But I was willing to go do things for money." She stated as she went on to sit on her bed with her legs crossed. "Probably would have had more dates than her too." She quietly mumbled.

"Would not!" Cinder shouted.

"I don't hear smooth jazz being played!" Emerald warned. She was met with silence. A second later… she was still met with silence. Emerald raised an eyebrow.

"Um… I forgot my scroll." Cinder reasoned through the door.

"Ugh, fine. Nevermind then. Just take a shower." Emerald relented, the sounds of the shower starting soon after.

"Probably could just pass it over, or slide it underneath the door." Mercury mumbled.

The room then gradually fell back to a natural silence, bar the faint sounds of the shower, the tapping of Emerald's finger on her scroll, and Mercury's counting.

"One… thousand." Pleased with the number, Mercury - in one swift motion - swung his legs down in a wide sweeping motion, using his sturdy arms to swing himself up and onto his bed, landing gracefully in a prime lounging position.

Leaning over the bed to grab the comic book off the floor, he then set out to finish it, by tossing it over to Neo's bed; knocking a few containers off. Either ignoring, or wholly failing to notice Emerald's look of utter disdain at his unnecessary display of acrobatics.

Mercury, apparently already having finished the comic book, then decided to just play games on his scroll.

Yet just as his thumb hovers over a game icon, something in the corner of his eye caught his interest, something of rather crucial detail.

"Hey." He was met with silence. "Hey, Em."

"Hmm, what?" She actually just didn't hear him.

"What time is their date again?"

"This afternoon. Why?"

Mercury showed her his scroll, "Few minutes left before date time~!" He half-sang, a finger pointing towards the scroll's clock. Without hesitation, Emerald swiftly jumped off of her bed, lunging towards the bathroom.

"Cinder, quick, get dressed! You'll be late for your da-" Emerald's warning was cut short as Cinder kicked the door down, fully dressed in her uniform, a wisp of flame trailing from the door hinges.

Reflexes kicked in, and Emerald managed to roll away to the side, fully evading the slightly singed door launching towards her.

Kicking their room door open, Cinder sprinted towards Beacon's Skyport piers, running with such ferocity as to cause small craters on the floor, tearing through the hallways with reckless abandon; she ran so swiftly that at times it seemed she was hovering. Amber eyes burning intensely with determination… and also just burning in general, perhaps with some kind of ancient power.

"Well… she's excited." Mercury said, after a few seconds of silence, while Emerald started to pick herself up, and also the door.

"I'm kinda worried, though." She replied, trying to put the door back, fidgeting with the placement. "Do you think we should follow her and make sure that the date goes well?" Giving up on fixing the door, she decided to just settle and lay it against the wall.

"Hmm, nah." He answered without consideration.

Noticing the small embers on the door frame, Emerald idly entered the bathroom to quickly smother them with a wet towel before any fire alarm goes off.

"She's a big girl, she can handle herself." Mercury continued.

As Emerald goes to pick up a towel off a rack, her attention is immediately pulled down to the floor, centering on a peculiar and concerning sight, laying plainly for all to see.

"It's just a simple date, after all. What could possibly go wrong?" Emerald merely answers him by dangling the peculiar object in her hand, showing it to Mercury with a deadpan stare. "She's heading to the Skyport, correct?"

"Yup." She nodded, pocketing the object, sprinting out the door, closely followed by Mercury.


~•~


AN: Minor changes, major changes.

CMNE is pronounced Carmine.


TL;DW: Cinder's behaviour is due to never having a proper childhood, nor finding anyone that pierced her stone-cold heart. Jaune brings out that sweet, shy child in her. Still dangerous, but now with the mind of a little girl with a huge crush.