Ophelia had spent the rest of the day settling in. Sure, she was packing a few outfits thanks to her suit's PDD, but for the sake of blending in, she wanted some local outfits. So the next day, Coco, Weiss, Daisy, and Pyrrha were taking her out shopping. The Slayer wanted to come too, but Coco had told him this was a girls' trip, with no guys allowed, and everyone else was busy with one thing or another. However, Ophelia had offered a consolation. One thing she had brought with her on a Sentinel Disc was a system update for the FOD, complete with updates that would cause almost total restructuring. While he hadn't installed it yet, he was reading the notes so he knew what he was getting into, as well as programming automated attempts to contact Virgil Squad, as well as read up on the events of Earth and Argent D'Nur.
"So Ophelia, I have to ask, what are your fashion tastes?" Coco asks as they walk through town.
"I'm used to blending in. But easy to move in as well," Ophelia answers as they enter a store. "I'm not quite the fashionista like you are."
"Though that...what did you call it?" Coco asks, and Ophelia finishes, "Sentinel Scout Suit."
"Right, that. I thought I've seen sexy battle outfits, but yours…." Coco adds, trailing off. Ophelia just smirks.
"Enjoy that do you? You haven't seen what's under it. Maybe you will if you get lucky. Like muscles?" Ophelia asks as they browse the clothing racks, and Coco noticed she was making deliberate poses. The other girls turned tomato red at Ophelia's aggressive flirting.
"Do I enjoy...gods above, do I ever," Coco flirts back.
"Do we need to get you two a room?" Daisy asks with a huff of annoyance.
"Negative, Miss Daisy," Ophelia responds, regaining her composure as she pulls a few items she likes off the racks.
"Hold up. 'Miss' Daisy?" Weiss asks. "So what's so special about her she gets Miss, but the rest of us don't?"
Ophelia glances between them all, asking, "You don't know? I thought you all knew, if you've been around His Majesty this long."
"OK, 'His Majesty' I get, though there's clearly stories there," Coco asks. "But that doesn't answer the question."
"First off, I saw he still has the picture. Who among you have been in his personal room up there?" Ophelia asks, as she leads them to the changing rooms. Daisy responded positively, but nobody else did. "And did you see the cage?"
"Yes I did. Big guy has a soft heart, and had a pet rabbit," she answers. "But what's that got to do with….wait. Do you mean to tell me…."
"Her name was Daisy, yes," Ophelia answers as she enters one of the changing rooms.
"No wonder he's over protective of you," Pyrrha says with a soft smile. "He lost one Daisy, he doesn't want to lose another."
"You even LOOK like her. Well, if she was humanoid," Ophelia calls out from the changing room. "Same hair color."
"Also explains why he's eager to protect Velvy," Coco adds with a smile. "Lover of all bunnies. I'd hate to see what happens if he meets Cardin."
"Since you mention him," Ophelia says in between trying on clothes, "Pyrrha, was it? In order to win the boy you like, have you considered bringing him the heads of his enemies?"
"I-I can't do that!" Pyrrha stammers out. "Cardin's an asshole sure, but that doesn't mean he deserves to die!"
"Caltzo softies," Ophelia swears, as she comes out of the changing room. The clothes suited her well, mostly greens and grays. What Coco was quick to notice was visible biceps, and even a little stomach, with a pierced navel and toned abs visible through her shirt. "I see someone's enjoying the view. Given fashion tastes, I figured this was fitting."
"Coco, stop drooling," Weiss says with disgust as she checks the price tags, though she snuck a few glances herself.
"Wait, Ophelia….what does caltzo mean?" Daisy asks, picking up on that. "Why did you call Pyrrha a 'caltzo softie?'"
"You don't want to know," Ophelia answers as Weiss goes to the counter to pay. "And fine, if you're unwilling to kill, you should know how to take down. Maybe injure," she says to Pyrrha. "And WITHOUT weapons. Knowing how to fight without a weapon is a skill that you will NEVER be sorry you know, but will be sorry if you don't know. It'll let you save the knight, instead of the other way around."
"Hmmm, that sounds better," Pyrrha says as they walk out of the store, bags full of clothes.
"Now we need to get you sunglasses. Nothing suits blending in more," Coco says excitedly, looking over the top of hers.
"Not to mention a vehicle for my people's tech," Ophelia points out, seeing the device attached to the arm of Coco's. "A gift from His Majesty I take it?"
"Oh how right you are. He was messing with similar tech too, which got….interesting," Coco smirks. "A prototype for our favorite dog, which would let her examine wounds with just a glance. I got to mess with it, and thanks to some accidents….we've both seen each other. Well, seen through each other's clothes that is. Muscles galore…" Coco trails off, biting her lip. "Didn't say what he thought of me. Nor of Velvet, who was there at the time."
"Enjoyed the sight of His Majesty did you?" Ophelia asks, and Coco noticed she was wearing a poker face.
"Why, are you….interested?" Coco asks. "Naughty naughty. I wonder what your dad would think."
"Just be wary if you hug him," Weiss adds in. "He is—"
"Strong? I can imagine," Ophelia interrupts. "He IS our king for a reason. It's a reason why he's careful. Especially with an agopstel like you, as thin as you are," she says as she faces Weiss.
"A...what? Why do I feel you just insulted me?" Weiss asks, feeling her anger flair.
"Oh boy, learning Argentan with the new girl. I'd LOVE to learn how to swear. Wait...was 'caltzo' a swear word?" Coco asks as they walk into another shop, to pick out sunglasses for Ophelia.
"Now now, let's keep things civil," Pyrrha says nervously as they pick out a pair for Ophelia, dark enough to make sure nobody could see where she's looking. After another stop to get Ophelia her own Scroll, they stopped for lunch.
"Why am I not surprised at wanting a burger?" Daisy asks. "I mean, warrior culture and all that? Yeah….it's only the 'caltzo softies' that avoid meat right?" She asks, even as she gets a chicken salad sandwich.
Ophelia answers with the slightest smile. "Have us figured out already, Miss Daisy?" She asks, as she stars to eat. "But I suppose I shouldn't be too harsh. His Majesty is also a softie at heart."
"Because of...the other Daisy?" This Daisy asks.
"And beyond. He has never harmed an innocent. Even when he first came to us, when my people made him fight at the arena in Sentinel Prime, sure, he defeated everyone else, with JUST his fists. But he only knocked them out, REFUSING to kill them. When he took the throne, that was one of his commands, with HARSH punishments for those who broke it," Ophelia continues. "So not wanting to kill a bully...is understandable, from one perspective. But you should still learn how to deal with them, especially if you want to win that blond over," she tells Pyrrha.
"OK, while we're here, I have to ask….what's an agopstel?" Weiss asks. "I'm still unsure if I should be mad or not."
"You've had it easy, haven't you?" Ophelia asks. "Rich family, you grew up with anything you wanted? This is probably more of a hobby for you? I mean, your family has the monopoly on this world's most valuable resource. You've never truly tasted hardship, have you?"
"You think it's easy to be a Schnee?" Weiss asks angrily. "Oh sure, we're rich. At what cost? At my father who only married my mother for my grandfather's money and company, enslaving the faunus because he's a racist pig? A father who CLEARLY doesn't love my mother otherwise? Now the only love my mother finds is at the bottom of a bottle. The main parental figure the three of us had was Klein, our butler. I came here, to get away from all that! So don't you dare say I had it easy!" Weiss continues angrily, but also with tears beginning to form.
"Caltzo Maykrs, I'm sorry," Ophelia apologizes, going over to Weiss and kneeling. "I'm guessing His Majesty doesn't know, does he?" Weiss shakes her head. "That would be either very good, or very bad. If He knew…..there is a good chance you'd be down one parent. If He was feeling merciful. If He is not….your father will WISH He would finish him. Even I can't predict exactly what His Majesty would do, nor would I say if I could. You should not have to visualize those things. There is also no chance he would allow you to bear witness either," Ophelia continues.
"I-I understand, but even if my father….that wouldn't solve all the issues!" Weiss adds as Ophelia hugs her. It was strong, stronger than most people, but still not as strong as the Slayer's.
"As for the company? He would do something. Not sure what, but something. And as for your mother? He would likely take care of her. Get her sober. Beyond that…I'm not sure," Ophelia responds.
"Thanks," Weiss answers. "Who knew someone from a warrior world could be so caring?" She asks with the slightest smile. "I thought you'd be a hard-ass."
"So we've learned that you can be a softy inside and still be strong. Blame His Majesty," Ophelia says as she breaks the hug. "Especially me, being a mix of the planet that adopted Him, and as well as the planet He was born on."
"You know, at first I thought it was odd to think of him as 'His Majesty,' Weiss admits. "But now, I kind of like it," she continues with a slight smile.
"Would this be a result of parental issues?" Ophelia asks. "Be advised, in private He was never fond of the title. Still isn't from what I've heard. This tends to happen to those who were born low. So, the opposite of you," Ophelia says with the ghost of a smile. "That, and Earth had done away with monarchies for centuries by the time he came to us. Only one really remained, and even that particular monarchy left the burden of ruling to others."
"Why am I not surprised?" Pyrrha asks. "That he doesn't like the title?"
"I also have to ask," Daisy chimes in as they finish lunch. "Isn't that a bit much for him? I get wanting to kill all Grimm here, but a racist man?"
"It's in His blood," Ophelia explains as they leave. "His Majesty is not the first of his line to be a hero. Indeed, His grandfather has been a Slayer as well, but of aliens, not demons. But his great great grandfather lived on Earth during an age when the most notorious racist held power, power which threatened to consume the planet. This ancestor of His was captured in one of their strongest bases, Castle Wolfenstein, but not for long. He broke free, grabbed weapons, and single handedly killed every last Nazi in the castle, including Hitler himself, the leader of it all. An entire army, occupying an entire castle, and yet he could not be stopped."
"OK, so I knew about...His Majesty's accomplishments," Coco chuckles, trying out the title. "But his family? Holy shit, I never expected he'd have a PEDIGREE of heroism."
"No wonder he didn't care about the fact I'm a celebrity when he learned," Pyrrha chimes in. "So I'm on a cereal box, Mystral champion, among many other roles. Everyone that isn't Jaune idolizes me. But next to...him—"
"You're nothing special?" Daisy asks.
"You don't have a planet calling you Queen," Weiss says to Pyrrha as they continue shopping for Ophelia.
"It's worse on Earth. Sure, they're willing to name Him King, at least in an honorary role. But He's been seen as a religious figure, by many," Ophelia continues. "The exact role varies depending on who you ask. I won't explain them all, as you lack the context to understand. But there's one group that believe He's a full on god." This draws all the girls attention. "And even my own world isn't FULLY united. There's some who argue that since He DID break some of our most sacred laws, He shouldn't be king. Many are also upset at my father for his role as the Betrayer, even though he did lead the Battle of Immora."
"Politics are everywhere, huh?" Daisy laughs.
"Yeah, pretty much," Ophelia answers, as they head back to Fiye Weapons. "It was nice to get to know you all, and to walk around town. Though what I really need to do is scout the wilderness, and keep looking for signs of my squad. They should be out there, but I have no idea where. And when I say out there, I mean ANYWHERE on this planet."
