The Talk

Celica spent the night in Vale, she informed everything that happened on the ship to Professor Goodwitch and left the matter in her hands, Celica restocked on Dust and checked on her parent's place before opening up a portal and stepping out at the docks of Menagerie, the portal closed behind her and she asked a local if they knew where the passengers and crew of the ship attacked were staying.

The person she asked had no idea but when she was about to turn around she heard a familiar voice behind her saying they were gone. Celica turned around finding Sylvia staring back at her with an older woman by her side, Sylvia looked at Celica not knowing why she was there even though she did send the message. Before they could talk though Sylvia's Mum introduced herself which got Celica to introduce herself awkwardly.

Celica never imagined she'd meet Sylvia's Mum like this and out of everything that happened she had no idea how'd she react, she felt no hateful glare from Sylvia's Mum, she was nice and well mannered as she invited Celica to come to her house so they could converse with refreshments and in privacy of their home. Celica looked at Sylvia, it was her turn to not want to be embarrassed by her Mum but most importantly she didn't want to upset Celica.

Sylvia thought back to just before the Fall of Beacon, earlier that day they had spent the day with Celica's parents and they gave Celica a hard time on her embarrassing stories but most importantly they called her a keeper and now here she was perhaps moments away from breaking her heart. Sylvia gave in and the three walked to Sylvia's place as they discussed that a few people stayed back but the ship that rescued everyone left for Mistral when it was deemed safe but the other Huntsman wasn't allowed on board.

Apparently he didn't take the news all to well and punched an Officer which has landed him in a bit of trouble but both Sylvia and Celica knew that wasn't the topic they needed to discuss as her Mum served them some tea with biscuits then said she was going to go talk to the neighbour and left before either Celica or Sylvia could object or try keep her around so they could put off the conversation just a little more.

With Sylvia's Mum gone the house was silent, Celica sipped at her tea and Sylvia nibbled on a biscuit as they both didn't really want to look at each other until Celica took a deep breath and just said she was first upset and annoyed at Sylvia's request to leave her alone. Sylvia stopped eating the biscuit and looked at Celica worried but surprisingly Celica was calm as she continued saying the time apart she had also been thinking about their possible future.

Sylvia and Celica both looked at each other, staring into one another's eyes they both knew what was going to be said. At the same time Celica said they should be friends and Sylvia said she didn't think there was an us anymore. This surprised both girls as they stared at each other in silence first then Celica let out a little chuckle which got Sylvia curious, Celica replied it was funny that it was the first thing they both could agree on.

It got Sylvia to nod along and find it a little amusing, Sylvia looked down feeling guilty once again but Celica stood up and came to her side of the table, she reached under Sylvia's chin, gently lifting her chin up so Sylvia could meet her eyes, Celica then stated that they had a good try and a good run, she was thankful for helping her with her social anxiety but she winked and said that she knew she wanted Ilia, Celica kissed Sylvia on the lips one last time.

Celica pulled away and was confident that both her and Sylvia would be ok as Celica said go get her and also to thank her Mum for the hospitality and tea as she opened up a portal, Sylvia quickly sprang up and hugged Celica thanking her and apologizing once more. Celica apologized to and said she could visit her in Vale anytime, this time they both pulled apart and both of their hearts ached but they didn't show it as Celica smiled once more at Sylvia then stepped into the portal with it disappearing a second later.

As soon as the portal disappeared Sylvia sunk to the floor crying into her hands, Celica had taken it so well and it was official, officially they weren't together and they had both given up on trying to make things work, Sylvia wiped her tears and got up, yes she was upset but at least now she could look forward to the future not knowing what it was going to bring but her thoughts quickly changed to Ilia, however there was something different when Sylvia thought of her now.

It must've been the feeling that she didn't need to feel guilty about liking Ilia and when her Mum returned she was shocked to find out Celica had already left, her Mum spoke with her and was supportive on whatever her daughter decided, the week following Celica's leave and for Sylvia to return to Mistral took forever, Sylvia was grateful and happy to see her Mum but she did want to get back to Mistral and see Ilia, she was constantly thinking about her.

Eventually it got to the day she had to depart and head back to Mistral, she said goodbye to her Mum and started the trip to Mistral wishing she had Celica's semblance to portal everywhere, thinking of that had a strange feeling brush over Sylvia, she thought of Celica and wondered what she was doing, how she was doing, she put on a brave smile when she left, Sylvia thought to herself that perhaps she should check in on Celica when she got the chance.

Arriving in Menagerie she headed straight to the house she stayed at, putting her things in her room then knocking on Ilia's door, Ilia opened up and was happy to see Sylvia as she asked how she had been as the two went for a drink to catch up, while the two chatted Ilia was talking about the highlights of the week while Sylvia was eager and happy to listen with her head resting on her hand as her arm was on the table.

She smiled and nodded along to Ilia's story before Ilia asked what Sylvia had gotten up to in Menagerie, Sylvia said she hung out with her Mum, helped out on the border protection but got into the story of her running into Celica and how the two saved the entire crew and passengers of a ship working together. Ilia was impressed but didn't expect Sylvia to go on at how Celica showed up the next day and how they ended things.

Ilia was surprised, she asked Sylvia wasn't she in love with Celica? Sylvia looked down and away a little guilty nodding and said yes but with everything that had happened between them and how they both couldn't compromise and after the time apart they both decided to end things and just be friends. Ilia nodded along, she wasn't too surprised but she figured they could figure it out, both of them just had to try.

Soon enough the girls looked at the time as they figured they should head back and get some sleep to be well rested for the next day, arriving back home Ilia put her hand on Sylvia's shoulder telling her if she needed to talk to just say so and then went to her room and headed to bed. Sylvia did the same and laid on her bed giddy with a smile on her face as she replayed the last words Ilia said to her before going to bed then thinking did she miss an opportunity? Was Ilia inviting her back to her room?

Sylvia shook her head and tried to stop thinking on her words, she tried to get some sleep but throughout the night she had weird dreams, dreaming she was back in Beacon with Luca and Arthur but instead of Celica it was Ilia and the four got along well all being faunus that Luca and Arthur didn't need to join the White Fang. Her dream switched around as Ilia was the one guiding her through her social anxiety.

From there the dream got more weird, Celica showed up yelling at her and in pain, Ilia hated her for some reason and slapped her while she looked in the mirror seeing herself in a White Fang attire with Luca and Arthur dressed the same by her side, Celica's face appeared smiling before the Fall of Beacon but then quickly turned into her menacing unkept hair and burnt eye but then the face turned into Ilia's with unkept hair and a burnt eye saying she shouldn't give up.

With that view Sylvia shot up awake and panting after letting out a squeal, she looked around the room, by herself nothing seemed out of the ordinary, she got up and washed her face, she found her forehead sweating, wondering why to have all these dreams now, was she nervous about asking Ilia out, on her way back to her room she noticed Ilia's light on, it was late but Sylvia lightly knocked on Ilia's door.

There was no answer so Sylvia tried opening the door to see if Ilia was ok, she peered her head in, the light was on but Ilia had fallen asleep laying on her bed book by her head, Sylvia knew Ilia was alright and usually she would turn the light off and leave but instead she found herself step quietly into the room and shutting the door. She turned the light off cause she could see in the dark and picked up the book and put it on her desk and looked at Ilia sleeping.

She had done the same with Celica whilst back in Beacon, whenever she couldn't sleep she'd just look at the one she loved to calm herself down but this felt off, Sylvia couldn't be in love with Ilia but that wasn't the feeling that was wrong, Sylvia took a final look and got up and left going back to her room, she sat on her bed and figured that perhaps she felt wrong as it wasn't Beacon's dorm room, she was in Ilia's room uninvited.

Sylvia finally went to sleep figuring she should ask Ilia out the next day somehow getting it into her mind that Ilia must've been reading the book waiting for her to make a move and knock on her door. Sylvia was a little sluggish out of bed next day but seeing Ilia perked her up as she asked how she was and Ilia was fine but a little confused saying she couldn't remember going to bed the night before but when she woke up her light was off and her book was on the desk.

Sylvia shrugged and just said maybe she was super tired which Ilia brought while Sylvia yelled at herself in her mind knowing she should've told Ilia the truth. Ilia then asked if she had been thinking of Celica but instead Sylvia thought she asked if she was thinking of her and said yes, you've been on my mind all the time recently. Ilia looked a little confused and asked if Sylvia was ok, Sylvia nodded and just said she slept like crap last night and got Ilia to repeat the question.

Sylvia went red in the face embarrassed and just nodded yes, she had thought of Celica and all but she wanted Ilia now, at least she thought she did and then figured to go for it as she asked Ilia if she'd want to meet her for lunch today. Ilia nodded and told her to get some rest, perhaps to even take a nap beforehand as they got up and Ilia went to work while Sylvia was going to have the day off as she gathered a picnic basket and went out to buy some nice food.

Ilia met up with Sylvia on time thinking they were going to a diner but then saw Sylvia with a nice dress on holding a picnic basket and blanket. Sylvia just smiled and said she'd like to change up the menu so they headed to a nice spot that was secluded with a nice view and laid out the blanket and sat, they got plates full and drinks poured as they talked and ate at the same time.

Sylvia laid on her side as Ilia just leant back and put her hands behind her as the two girls kept talking, Ilia then asked what got into Sylvia's mind about having a picnic. Sylvia sat up, shrugged and just said this and within a second she had straddled Ilia's lap and kissed Ilia, Ilia was surprised she moved her arms forgetting they were her supports as she fell back while Sylvia followed and continued the kiss.