Emmara leaned against the window of Beacon's library, her camera clutched tightly in her hands. She'd been staring at the textbooks sprawled across the table for over a few hours, trying to keep her focus on the dense material. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting. It was hard to concentrate when Tira's teasing was still fresh in her mind; her sister's relentless jokes about how much time Emmara was spending with Alexia, her photos, and even the way she dressed had been non-stop all morning.

"Maybe I'm too sensitive," Emmara thought, her cheeks still pink from the latest quip about her supposed 'secret crush.' She closed her notebook with a sigh and slid it into her bag. The quiet library felt stifling, and she needed fresh air, something to clear her mind before she exploded from embarrassment.

"I'll just go into town for a little bit," she decided, pushing her chair back and making her way out. She didn't tell her sister where she was going—she didn't need the questions, the looks, the inevitable smirk.

Emmara made her way down to Vale, wandering through the bustling streets, her camera hanging from her neck. She snapped a few photos of storefronts, capturing the bright displays and colorful crowds. Photography always had a calming effect on her, letting her see the world through a lens where everything felt distant and less intimidating. She adjusted the aperture, focusing on a group of birds perched on a lamppost, and snapped the shutter. The click of her camera was a familiar comfort.

As she looked away she heard the same birds making panicked sounds, she looked back in time to see them flying away as a raven landed on the lamppost. Its dark, sleek feathers had a glossy sheen, but there was something different about this bird, it had red eyes. The bird seeming to sense Emmara's gaze turned to look at her, its deep, almost hoarse "Kraa" as it stared at her with its piercing red eyes that stood out vividly from its dark plumage giving the bird an ominous and intimidating look.
Despite the feeling of unease from making eye contact with the bird, Emmara raised her camera and took a picture. As the shutter clicked Emmara saw the bird lean forward, getting the feeling it knew what a camera was and was posing for the picture.

She continued walking, pausing to capture moments that caught her eye—a child chasing a balloon, a street vendor arranging flowers, the sun casting shadows through the buildings. Each shot brought a small smile to her face, a brief reprieve from the overwhelming world around her.

Emmara was lining up another shot when a voice interrupted her concentration.

"If you're going to take pictures of strangers, you might as well take one of someone worth looking at, don't you think?"

Emmara jumped, her finger slipping off the shutter button as she turned to face the source of the voice. A tall man dressed in a sharp white suit and a bowler hat stood before her, twirling a cane with a sly, knowing smile. His vibrant orange hair and confident demeanor made him stand out, as if he was used to being the center of attention.

"W-who, me?" Emmara stammered, taken aback by the sudden appearance of this dapper stranger.

The man tipped his hat slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Who else? I'm talking to the cute girl with the camera." He leaned in slightly, inspecting her lens. "That's a nice piece of equipment you've got there. Got any room for a devilishly handsome rogue in your gallery?"

Emmara's cheeks flared a bright red. "I-I… um… I didn't mean… I wasn't trying to… I just… like taking pictures…"

The man chuckled, enjoying her flustered reaction. "Relax, doll. I'm just messing with you. But really, wouldn't you like a shot of me? I promise I'm much more photogenic than a bunch of pigeons."

Emmara hesitated but couldn't deny the charisma of the stranger. He had a certain allure, an effortless charm that was hard to ignore. Slowly, she raised her camera and, with a small nod from him, snapped a picture. He struck a pose, tipping his hat and giving a sly wink to the camera.

"Perfect," he said, straightening up. "See? Now you've got something a little more dashing in your collection."

Emmara lowered the camera, glancing at the picture she'd taken. "It… it turned out good," she admitted quietly, still flustered.

He leaned against the railing nearby, twirling his cane as if this meeting was just a pleasant coincidence. "You've got a good eye. Not many people stop to appreciate what's right in front of them these days."

Emmara looked up at him, her nerves starting to settle slightly. "Thank you… I just… I really like capturing things that stand out, you know? Things that have a… unique aesthetic."

His smile widened, catching the faint praise in her words. "Oh, I get it. And here I thought you were just taking pictures of pretty faces." He gave her a wink, and Emmara's blush returned with a vengeance.

"N-no, it's not like that!" she blurted out, waving her hands in a panic. "I mean… you're not ugly! I just… I didn't mean… oh, no, I didn't mean to say that either…"

The stranger laughed, finding her flustered honesty entertaining. "Easy there, sweetheart. I'm not offended. Besides, it's nice to know someone out here still appreciates the finer things in life. I'm Roman by the way" he held his hand out, "And you are?"

Emmara looked at his hand, "E-Emmara" she said, holding her hand out to shake his.

"Emmara huh?" he questioned, as he took her hand and brought it to his lips, "And here I was thinking your name was Angel" he added, kissing her hand, causing Emmara's face to glow even brighter.

"I uh I…My name…" she gently pulled her hand from Roman's and pulled her hood over her head, trying to hide her face, which only served to entertain him more.

"You're really are quite the shy one aren't you?" he asked with a laugh, placing a finger under her chin and tilting her head up to face him, "Might want to be careful, some guys find that irresistible."

Before Emmara could respond, a silent figure appeared beside Roman—a petite woman with mismatched eyes, one brown and the other pink, and short, half-pink, half-brown hair styled in a short bob with long bangs framing her face. She wore a white, tailored waistcoat with pink accents over a brown corset, along with brown pants and white knee-high boots that had brown heels. She carried a parasol with an elegant design, alternating panels of black and soft pink fabric, creating a striking visual contrast. The parasol's canopy is broad and gracefully curved, exuding a delicate and classy vibe, reminiscent of a classic, vintage umbrella. It has a slim, elegant handle easily resting in her hand.

She glanced at Emmara with a curious expression, her eyes flicking to the camera around the shy girl's neck. She gave a small, impish smile and pointed at herself, tilting her head in a playful gesture that seemed to ask, "What about me?"

Emmara blinked, surprised but charmed by the sudden appearance of the woman who looked like she'd stepped out of a vintage doll collection. "Oh, um… do you… want me to take your picture too?"

The woman nodded eagerly, her smile widening as she posed with her parasol, shifting from coy to coquettish with each subtle movement. Emmara couldn't help but blush and smile at the sight; the girl's presence was whimsical and almost theatrical, like a silent film star who thrived on attention.

Emmara raised her camera and snapped a few shots, capturing her elegant yet mischievous demeanor. When she glanced at the preview screen, she couldn't help but admire the composition. "You both… you both have really great aesthetics. For the camera, I mean! Not that… not that you're unattractive! I mean, you're both… you look… I'm sorry."

Roman leaned back, thoroughly amused by Emmara's flustered attempt to clarify her compliment. "No need to apologize, sweetheart. A compliment's a compliment, even if it's wrapped in a bit of nervous rambling. Right Neo?" He glanced at the other girl, who gave a playful nod, silently enjoying Emmara's awkward but sincere praise.

"This is my associate, Neo," Roman said, gesturing to the girl, "Neo, this is Emmara, photography enthusiast and candidate for cutest girl in Vale."

Emmara's blush returned and she looked away, "Wh-what?" she froze for a moment, "N-n-no! I'm…I'm just a Beacon student that likes taking pictures."

For a moment, Roman's thoughts turned inward. He hadn't planned on spending time around a Beacon student—let alone one as harmless as Emmara—but her naivety was refreshing. Either she didn't know who he was or she didn't see him as a threat; she just saw a pair of interesting strangers. It was almost disarming.

"So, tell me," Roman said, shifting his stance and resting on his cane. "What's a girl like you doing out here all alone? Shouldn't you be back at Beacon studying how to be the next big hero?"

Emmara froze at the mention of Beacon, her instincts screaming at her that she had said too much. She quickly tried to backtrack. "Oh, I'm just… I was just taking a break. My sister and teammates are back at school, and I… I needed to clear my head."

"Your sister?" Roman asked, "Family trouble?" his question accompanied by a chuckle.

Once more Emmara shook her head, "No, she just. Tira likes to tease me a lot, she says I'm cuter when I blush and get flustered."

Roman hummed playfully, "Well I think she's on to something. What do you think Neo?" the girl who had not spoken a word since appearing tilted her head and looked Emmara up and down before nodding with a smile, "Well there you go" Roman continued, "You're cute Angel, better get used to it."

Emmara continued to blush, "That's…not my name" she shyly hugged her camera to her chest.

"Maybe not," Roman admitted, "But I think everyone would agree it should be."

Roman's casual demeanor didn't change, but there was a flicker of something sharper in his eyes, a guardedness that he expertly hid beneath his smile. "So, Beacon, huh? Well, that explains the camera. Not many people can afford that kind of tech. I bet you're top of your class."

Emmara shook her head. "Oh, no… I'm not really… I mean, my grades are good, but I'm not that great at fighting. My sister, she's the one who's good at everything. I just like… observing."

Neo's expression softened slightly, a hint of empathy in her mismatched eyes. Roman noticed but kept his focus on Emmara, nodding as if considering her words. "You know, observation is half the battle. Knowing what you're up against, seeing things others miss… it's a valuable skill, doll."

Emmara smiled shyly, appreciating the encouragement. "Thank you. I guess I just feel like… I'm not as strong as the others. But I want to help."

Roman's smirk returned. "Trust me, sweetheart, strength comes in many forms. And you never know when a good eye might come in handy." He tipped his hat again, his playful tone masking the careful calculations running through his mind.

Emmara spent the rest of the afternoon with Roman and Neo, snapping pictures and chatting about whatever came to mind. She found herself laughing more than she expected, the two strangers' easy banter and unspoken bond making her feel at ease.

Roman, for his part, found it amusing to entertain this Beacon student, treating it as a harmless distraction. Neo enjoyed playing the silent enigma, posing dramatically whenever Emmara pointed the camera in her direction.

Emmara checked the photo on her camera and then asked Neo, "You haven't said anything since you showed up. Is everything okay?"

Neo smiled and opened her mouth, pointing at her throat, it took Emmara a few seconds to register the gesture.

"Oh you're…I'm sorry" she said looking away, but Neo just smiled again shrugging her shoulders.

As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the street, Emmara realized it was getting late. She checked her scroll and let out a small gasp. "Oh no, I need to get back! My sister's probably wondering where I am."

Roman gave a mock pout. "Leaving already? And here I thought we were becoming fast friends."

Emmara's face flushed. "I'm sorry, I really enjoyed this. It was… different. I don't get to talk to people like this very often."

Roman nodded, maintaining his roguish charm. "No worries, doll. It was a pleasure meeting you. Keep that camera ready—you never know when you'll find something worth capturing."

Neo waved her parasol in a playful goodbye, and Emmara returned the gesture with a shy wave of her own. She hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly. "Maybe um…next time I'm in town we could…"

"Have a lunch date?" Roman cut in, "I'd love to Angel, but…don't you think I'm a little old for you?"

Emmara froze once more, her face returning to a bright red color, "A d-d-date? N-no I didn't mean…"

Roman smirked again, "I'm only teasing you Angel, if we meet again we'll hang out some more. Now you better get back, the trouble makers start coming out at night. Stay out of trouble, and keep that eye sharp."

As Emmara hurried back toward Beacon, her camera filled with new pictures and her heart lighter than it had been all day, Roman and Neo watched her go. Roman's smile faded slightly, his thoughts already shifting back to his usual cunning mindset.

"She's a funny little one," Roman mused aloud, turning to Neo. "A Beacon student who's more interested in pictures than fighting. Makes you wonder what she's really doing there."

Neo shrugged, her expression unreadable. Roman chuckled, tipping his hat in the direction Emmara had gone. "Still, as fun as our jobs are, it was kind of nice to be seen as something other than a criminal, even if it's just for a little while."

Neo nodded, her mischievous grin returning as she spun her parasol. Roman looked at the fading sunlight, feeling the weight of his usual schemes slowly creeping back. But today had been different, a brief escape from the usual game.

Neo looked at Roman with a glint in her eyes and Roman shook his head, "No, we can't kidnap her and keep her at our hideout" he said shutting Neo down, "We'll save that for later if we need it."