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Beta(s) :
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Requested by : Laurel
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Be me : *make up a random background NPC to fill a dialogue sequence out better*
Y'all : "New character? Time to theorize!"
Me : *sweating*
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The address Coco gave him was fifteen minutes of walking to get over two blocks, more towards the docks than the center of town. Not far enough for the streets to clear entirely, or for every store to lack bars on the windows, but enough that the homeless were kept further into the alleys, the bars over the windows were newer, and the street lacked quite as many potholes. The streets were ever so slightly wider, too, with wider walkways between taller buildings and a three-lane road, with the center dedicated to trucks and buses moving people and freight in bulk across the city.
Even as suffocating as the noise and smell and crowd was…
He still smiled, seeing everyone able to just… Be. Something in him, deep down inside, just felt fulfilled in a way on seeing it. Even with Mountain Glenn a ruined mausoleum only miles away, the people here lived and, to enough extent to matter to him, thrived.
But, now that he knew to look, there were differences between the people he had overlooked.
Peering through alleys, he saw more Faunus than Humans, many of whom were older and sported scars. Some in place of where horns or ears obviously would - should - have been, their counterpart still sitting where it ought. Most of the staff he saw peeking through windows were Faunus, too. But only the serving staff. Waiters, plate-takers, people stocking shelves in the stores. The few people he saw who were giving orders to them, managers he assumed, were all Human. As were the three cooks he saw step out into a wider access alley, sitting while Faunus unloaded a truck-full of food and drinks for, he assumed, later that night.
"How did I not notice…"
"You haven't spent very much time in the city." Guiding Light offered consolingly, "And… Did not know to look."
"I suppose…" He frowned behind his visor, "But… My job is to pay attention."
"To threats." Guiding Light argued, "You can't expect yourself to notice everything, including what you have no reason to look for."
"Even so…"
"Let's just get to Coco's place, hm?" Guiding Light suggested, "Perhaps some time with friends would do you well. Shake you out of our funk, hm?"
For a second, Cerulean considered arguing. But he knew that his little light had a point - he wasn't in top form, not right now. And given he was older, and thus - debatably - wiser, he opted to simply nod and turn. Moving on, to do as he suggested, and trying to ignore the downcast eyes around him.
He failed.
The spot Coco sent him to was a corner-store sort of place, with rows of shelves stocked bottom to top with comics, books, and, oddly, cutlery sets all wrapped up in plastic. All of it, with the picture of a horned Faunus with dark hair and wide, angled steer-horns right in the middle, holding up a hand with 'Steer's Stuff' hovering over it like a gift. It was garish, but the silver plates had a label that read 'Hunter Grade' on it. So whoever 'Steer' was, they must have known what they were doing. He even had snacks and tools on the shelves in the row behind the first one.
Past the shelves was a long counter-top, with a few cash registers at one end near an all-glass wall and a singular one at the other end, with a staircase leading up right beside it, curving in away from the wall. Above it was a flat wall with 'Steer's Steakhouse', with an arrow pointing to the small landing at the top of the stairs. A series of shelves with indivdiual bits of the larger sets he'd passed - a few forks, a few spoons, single plates, the like - split the two ends with an island of canned 'fruit preserves' a few feet in front of it.
A rug ran around the canned fruit display, splitting off to head to either end of the counter, and he followed it over towards the stairs.
"Uh-"
"Do you have a reservation?" The girl, barely a teenager with short, scraggly red hair and a pair of ram's horns curling around the side of her head, asked as he reached her.
"Uh, no? I-I didn't even know you... H-Had those, here." He answered, clearing his throat when a sudden spike of nervousness and… Something else he couldn't place, that crept up his spine when her green eyes narrowed. Ignoring it, and thinking back to Velvette's, he said, "I was told to come here by a friend. She may have called ahead."
"Her name?"
"Coco Adel."
"One minute." She nodded, leaning forward to type into the computer above the register. While she did, she asked, "You a Huntsman?"
"I am." He nodded, "Why?"
"Just curious." She shrugged, "My mom and dad were Hunters."
"Were…?"
She paused for the slightest moment before she nodded, pursed her lips, and said, "Yeah. Were."
"I see…"
"I always wondered…" She muttered, "What do you guys see in all that?"
"People out there need to be protected." He answered simply, the words flowing out of him like water down a river - naturally, and unstoppably. Shrugging, he added, "I can't leave them out to dry, so…"
"We have soldiers for that, though…"
"Soldiers follow orders." Cerulean growled, hand curling into a fist at his side until he caught the edge in his voice and forced the anger down. Quietly, he added, "Hunters follow duty. It's… Different."
"I guess…"
"Why do you ask-"
"Your room is room seven." She cut him off, avoiding his gaze as she grabbed a keycard to hand over. He frowned, but took to while she explained, "It's already been reserved, and steak skewers with potato are being fried now. Please, enjoy your stay."
"I suppose I will…" He lingered, though, for a moment. Part of him could tell that she was upset, and he could guess why, and he wanted to help.
But, before he could try, Guiding Light murmured, "Come on. We should go…"
He nodded in silent agreement and left, climbing the stairs quickly enough.
Upstairs, the smell of roasted meat, vegetables and simmering sauces caught his nose as he passed by an open-air kitchen, with a tall counter running along the landing side. Almost two dozen men and women, mostly Faunus, ran back and forth from cooking stations to refrigerators and trash disposal units as they worked, calling back to each other as they went. A few paid him respectful nods or playful salutes, but most ignored him as he made his way around the curve of the counter and towards a wide hall lined by heavy looking wooden doors, all painted black which looked rather good with the maroon carpeting and grey wall paint.
The near omnipresent Steer paintings, showing off everything from knives to burgers, was less appealing, but…
Well, he supposed someone had to like it, or else why would they put up so many of the pictures?
The rooms were open enough for a dozen people, with a low seating scheme that had him sitting more cross-legged than anything, but the table was far enough back to account for his armor. Whether that was unique or common fare, tailored to Hunters, he couldn't say - but he couch was comfortable. And had a small shelf running along the back of it where he could set his weapons and kit. In between a few pleasant looking potted plants.
His helmet joined it and, for once, he considered how he looked, using his Scroll's camera feature to check.
His hair had grown long in the weeks he'd been… Well, alive. When he awoke, it had been pretty short. But now it spilled down to his shoulders in a mess of light curls and tangles that his fingers caught on. Guiding Light helped with that, using some manner of Light beam to help uncurl them and humming while he turned his attention to his face. That he had little in the way of reference for, but however he had looked, now he wore a short, maybe half-inch long beard and moustache, with stubbly sideburns hidden under his long hair.
Even without a reference, he could tell he had bags under his eyes…
Still, he supposed he looked presentable enough.
A moment later, someone knocked at the door a second before it opened, and a woman with a long tail flicking behind her stepped in and knelt in a practiced, elegant sort of way to set a large bowl of steak and potato skewers out. Standing, she pointed at a button by the door and said, "If you need anything else, just ring. Now what sounds nice to drink?"
"Surprise me-"
"But no alcohol."
"-but no alcohol." He amended, smiling as warmly as he could. "Thank you."
His surprise turned out to be a cup of tea, with the pot left behind on a little hot-plate for him. Lemon and peppermint, she told him as he sipped at it, humming, "Not bad at all…"
"And good for you, too." His Ghost said as he reappeared, watching Cerulean recline in the seat and sip at the tea with one hand while he fingered his beard with the other. "If it bothers you…"
"It doesn't." He sighed, "I just…"
"Just what?"
"If I look different, how can I find out who I was?"
"Cerulean…" Guiding Light sighed, "We don't know when you died, or why. Much less even a start on where your old life began."
"I know." He sighed, taking a long sip of his tea and sighing. "Maybe it's foolish…"
"Maybe, but if you're concerned I can look again…"
For a second, Cerulean considered the offer before he simply shook his head and reached for a steak skewer. "It doesn't matter, not in the face of… Everything else."
"If you're certain…"
"What would I even be looking for?" He sighed, nibbling at a potato and frowning. "A family long since mourned and moved on? I wouldn't even be their son anymore… Not really. I wouldn't remember them."
"This melancholy…" His Ghost hummed, "Mountain Glenn affected you that much?"
"I learned a lot there." He frowned, "That's all."
"I see…"
"Forget it." He shook it off, grabbing another skewer and tearing off a bite. "We need to get back to form."
"How do you suppose we do that?"
"We have time." Cerulean shrugged, "I'm sure you can find some interesting history to go over while we wait."
"Of course." Guiding Light chirped, bobbing up and spinning eagerly. "Oh, but what to choose, what to choose… Oh! Perhaps the Vytal signing and what lead up to it? The Vytal Festival is up and coming, after all, so it's quite appropriate."
"Start with what the Festival is," he smiled, "and go with it."
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"Just take it easy on him, he sounded… Tired." And upset, too, somehow, Coco didn't add. Though when she flicked a look over her shoulder, she could tell Fox got the message anyways.
Her emotions were running too strong, she guessed.
Ignoring his knowing little smirk, she turned to smile at the little redhead running register, leaning forward on an elbow and cocking a hip and drawing out a, "Hey there, sweetheart, got any good news for me?"
As always, the woman flushed to match her hair and stammered, "W-Welcome to Steer's, ma'am, pleasure to have you."
"Oh, I bet it is…" She smiled, winking and watching the girl punch her name into the store computer and chew on her lip.
"Coco, come on…" Velvet sighed, "Stop harassing the cashier."
Coco just rolled her eyes and straightened, sighing, "But she's adorable, Vel…"
"Down, Coco." Vel answered, snapping her fingers, "Be good."
"I'm pretty sure she'd prefer I be bad, Vel…" She smiled, happy to pass the time while the cashier punched her info in and got them checked in. Smiling when the woman flicked her - or at least her neck - a look Coco asked, "Isn't that right?"
"W-We gave you your usual room! Your friend is already there. H-Have a nice dinner!" She squeaked, finally breaking under Coco's flirtations just when she was starting to really lay it on.
Which, as ever, sucked.
But, also as ever, Coco just shrugged it off and moved on, turning to leave with a parting, "Extra skewers, please. And some of that potato soup Gregory makes. The one with all the cheese, she knows the one."
"That's a-"
"Special order." Coco rolled her eyes as they headed upstairs, "I know, it's fine."
"You know…" Yatsuhashi rumbled as they climbed the stairs, "If you think she's that, er, cute, you could just ask her out. I'm fairly certain she'd jump at the chance."
"If she could keep from having a panic attack." Coco sighed, shaking her head and feeling her thoughts turn towards… Very recent memories best left alone. Memories she shook off with a laugh, before Fox could sense them. "Nah. I tease, she gets flustered. It's fun. Besides, I'm.. Not in a rush to get into something. Not right now, at least, and not with someone like her."
"Someone who lost family to the life, you mean…"
"Yes, Fox." She frowned, "That."
"Ah…" She felt his discomfort as he realised what he'd said and no doubt grimaced behind her. "Ah…"
"Yeah. Ah." She rolled her eyes as they got to the room. "More importantly…"
Tugging the door open and barking a hello, she chuckled as Cerulean fumbled a steak-skewer and shot her a dirty look.
One she could actually see this time, with his helmet on the shelf behind him. Without it, he looked… Well, like your average mid-twenties blonde. Albeit one in heavy armor, with bags under his eyes and a desperate need of a shave. And a haircut.
Flopping onto the other end of the U shaped couch, she couldn't help but quip, "You need a bandanna or something, dude."
He scowled a bit, confused, until she gestured at her hair and he pursed his lips, "A bandana would get warm under my helmet…"
"Eh, fashion is suffering sometimes, Cerulean." She shrugged, leaning back as Fox and Yatsuhashi stepped passed her and she very courteously stared at the ceiling when Velvet did the same, easing down beside her and scrunching up a bit when Coco wrapped an arm around her. "So, everyone knows everyone but Vel here. Vel, this is Cerulean, resident bacon saver."
"Bacon saver…?" Cerulean blinked, cocking his head after a half-second like he often did and then nodding. "Ah, I get it."
"Right…" Coco muttered, taking a cold steak skewer he'd left for them and gnawing at it hungrily. Cold or not, the seasoning choices were spectacular - and the steak was tender. Shrugging, she said, "I gave everyone the short version, but… Do you want to talk about what happened?"
"If I don't…?"
"Then don't." Coco shrugged, flicking Velvet a look when… Confusion echoed through Fox's link from her. She felt Coco's worry and shook her head, not looking her way. Ignoring it, then, she turned and shrugged, smiling warmly, "If you just want to hang then we can just hang, Cerulean. Blow off steam. Fuck knows I've needed those days before…"
"I…" A long few seconds passed and he nodded and sighed. "No, I should at least… Explain. But it could be dangerous. To you all."
"How so?" Yats asked lowly, crossing his powerful arms, barely constrained by the uniforms they'd all worn out.
"I was working for Atlas." He answered in brief, "As you know. They are… I don't know what they'll do."
"We're Huntsmen and Huntresses." Fox offered gently, "We can handle ourselves."
"And know what we signed up for, becoming that." Coco added, feeling the certainty wash over her from the other three, tinged by Velvet's odd confusion all the while. Finally more concerned and curious than anything, she turned and asked, "Hey, Vel, anything to add here?"
"N-No, I just…" She flicked Coco a look, then frowned when Coco just raised an eyebrow. Finally she turned and asked, "What was your name again?"
"Cerulean."
"Just… Cerulean?" Velvet pressed, "That's it?"
"Mhm." His brows furrowed, "Why?"
"I just…" Confusion, disbelief, and a frustration Coco couldn't understand echoed in the back of her mind before it left and Velvet sighed tiredly. "Nevermind. You just… Reminded me of someone, was all. Don't worry about it."
"Someone?" He asked, "Who?"
"Old friend of a friend." She shook it off, her confusion dying out almost completely now as images of the dead first year flickered across Fox's Semblance. He was too young, though. Clean shaven, and very dead. But…
Similar enough Coco could see why Velvet was so confused - they were almost one to one.
But the dead didn't come back…
"Anyway," Coco cut in, before the awkwardness could set in, "whatever happened, we wanna know, Cerulean."
"Yeah." Fox agreed, "We're in."
"We owe that much." Yats added, "And more."
"I… Only did my job."
"Nah, your job was killing Grimm." Coco shrugged, "Not saving not-quite damsels in distress."
"...Alright." He sighed quietly, turning as the door opened and a waitress came to drop off their food. Once she was gone, he refilled his tea and started to talk, "I… Didn't know what they were planning, when we went down there. We ran into some White Fang, and I disabled them. I was ready to move, but…"
"No survivors." Velvet guessed, dark emotions reaching Coco across the link, "Right?"
"Right." Cerulean nodded, "Another came- Told me there were more than just soldiers. More they'd kill. River, she… Said they soldiers, and 'good soldiers followed orders', and… She told me they'd get the kids out, but- One of her soldiers shot me, and I shot him, and- I didn't mean to kill them, but-"
"You defended yourself." Coco argued quietly, "That's all."
"...I'm meant to protect people." He said, "Not kill them."
"Sometimes, those are the same." Velvet argued, "You saved the kids."
"I never saw them." He snapped, hand curling into a fist while Coco hugged Velvet into her side, rubbing her arm to ease the spike of fear and anxiety that echoed out of her, warring with the comforting thoughts and emotions the others sent her way. "What… What if there weren't any kids?"
"Did they even try and argue there weren't?" Yatsuhashi asked, arms crossed and eyes closed as he thought.
"No…"
"Then they expected to find them." Fox finished for his friend, "Which is why they attacked you. They expected them… And had orders to kill everyone anyways."
"Fucking Atlas." Coco swore, "I swear, every damn time I hear about them I want to shoot someone."
"Coco…"
"What?" She flicked Velvet a look, and then Cerulean. He was frowning, eyes narrow and boring into the floor. Grimacing, she muttered, "Shit, uh… Sorry."
"It's fine." He sighed, shrugging limply, "So… Now you know, so if you want to leave, I get it."
"When I was young, I discovered my Semblance." Yatsuhashi interrupted the quiet that started to stretch on, where Coco didn't know what to say. Eyes opening finally, he met Cerulean's gaze when he looked up. "I can erase memories. I… Did not take this power seriously, when I discovered it. And, one day… I erased my family's memory of my sister."
"Yats…"
"It's okay." Yatsuhashi reassured her, smiling for Coco's benefit and going on. "I cared for my sister for days. Waiting for my Semblance to fade."
"I spent a few years in a Fang camp." Velvet added meekly, "I was too young to do anything, and this was… Before any of the bad stuff, but…"
"Our point is, everyone fucks up." Coco offered for them, when Velvet couldn't continue. "A killer enjoys doing that kind of thing. It isn't an accident. So just… Keep moving forward."
"Just like that?"
"If it weighs on you," Yatsuhashi asked, "simply serve others. It's how I… Well, cope."
"I see." He frowned, thinking for a moment before he nodded and sighed. "I suppose you're right. It's just… All fresh."
"Like our steak?" Coco asked, gesturing at the cooling skewers meaningfully and hoping her segue would lighten the room. When it did, she smiled, grabbed a bowl of her soup, and leaned back. "We;re all caught up, so how about we eat and catch up on some not as rough stuff? Like Vel's crush."
"Oh my gods, Coco, I was not staring at Nikos' legs!"
Cerulean snorted and Coco saw him lean back, listening to Velvet castegate Coco while he ate. Which she supposed was better than she'd expected, even if he wasn't quite as bright as she'd hoped.
Still a win, though, she supposed.
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Qrow turned as the door to the security office opened and he closed and muted the room-feed. The fat bastard that swaggered in smirked as Qrow stood, fishing a few hundred Lien out of his pocket, and rumbled, "Time's up. Was it worth it?"
"Yeah." Qrow nodded, thinking for a second and tapping his Scroll further down into his pocket. He had the feed he'd been watching recorded to it, so… He added four hundred more and said, "Lose the recordings' audio for the last few hours, yeah?"
"That could get me in some serious trouble, you know…" The guard smirked, taking the Lien and holding his hand out expectantly, "Awful, awful lot…"
"Highway robber." Qrow sighed, rolling his eyes and adding another two hundred. "Happy?"
"Not at all!" He scoffed, sauntering away and sighing, "Can't believe I was muted for the last four hours… The paperwork will be a bitch."
"Right." Qrow sighed, turning and leaving without another word until he was outside, where he swore under his breath, "Fuck me, Jimmy…"
More, he couldn't get Cerulean's face out of his memory. Not now the little rabbit had put the thought in his head. He looked so familiar…
Finally, he blinked, "No fuckin' way."
Yanking his Scroll out, he opened it-
Just in time for it to die.
"Of course I forgot to charge it…" He snapped, turning into an alley to climb to the roof. "Just my frickin' luck."
He'd just have to report to Oz in person - but at least he had a shortcut that was nice enough… Until he heard thunder rumble and snarled.
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Ebuc :
Canon magic is clearly in play, given Qrow's crow. The minutiae would be spoilers - and shall have to wait.
Metaphysical God of Heroes :
Truuuue