A/N Negotiations
Alt title: Return of the potato
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GideonBlackthorn: Leg locked just means she wrapped her legs around his waist and wouldn't let him pull away.
Kaykaykaykayan: I decide that
Samejake: Remember what I said about Atlesian women being repressed? That goes for Weiss too.
cassnova5424: Who said Weiss is fully awakened?
Anyumaaka: Oh yeah, if you look at it, Weiss treated the event like a competition almost. Over eager and pushing herself to do better than Ruby. Ruby got half way, Weiss shoves it in her throat, Ruby goes gentle and gradually works up, Weiss slams down and begs Cyril to keep going harder. And Weiss enjoyed it. She really is the freak of the three.
Devnikolus: I'm writing Ruby as an over eager and socially awkward teen with little to no supervision. Of course she'd be pushy. As for Neo? Well, just wait and see.
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-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
(Text)
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-Vale Upper Districts, Dîner Paradisiaque, 11/05, 6:30pm-
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Cyril Leon POV
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"Greetings Mr. Leon. I'm aware you're already familiar with my daughter, but allow me to introduce myself." The tall dapperly dressed man with a moustache says as he extends a gloved hand. "I am the proud head of Atlas's Military Research and Development. Arthur Watts, here with my daughter, Penny Watts. Pleasure to meet you."
'What, the actual fuck.' I think to myself as I take his hand in mine and give it a firm shake. Noticing the hand is much harder than normal. A prosthetic maybe?
"Cyril Leon, as you're already aware." I say with a smile.
"Quite so my boy." He smiles through his thick moustache as we separate from the handshake. "I've heard much of you, rest assured it's all good things!"
I don't believe that. If for nothing other than the fact that whole, nothing but good things, never happens.
"Well, I hope to hear more of you and yours tonight." Arthur says as he moves to take a seat.
Activating my semblance, I quickly glance around the room. Noting everyone's reactions to the man. Weiss is, poker faced and has her ears held back so I can't get a read on her. And Jacques is similarly poker faced, just with a slight smile. And Penny, is smiling as always.
Cutting it off, I allow my perception to return to normal.
"Young miss Schnee." Arthur says as he gets beside her. "A pleasure, I don't believe we've met since your concert at the Aribellium Amphitheatre. Some, two years ago I believe it has?"
"I would guess so." Weiss says cordially as I take my seat back. "It is one of my more popular and preferred venues."
"Well it is such a lovely place." Arthur says in return. "Though I wouldn't mind if they added some gold accents to the pillars outside. Yes I understand it's an artistic homage to Mantle's brutalist aesthetic from so many years ago, but they're just dreadful."
Now very curious. I slip my phone out of my pocket and glance down, using my semblance off and on to glance at my phone and search. While still maintaining my attention on the people at the table.
Okay I see what he means. The inside of the Aribellium Amphitheatre is gorgeous. The inside being a gorgeous domed theater with deep glittering blues and soft whites. Floral and ice fractal designs in the walls and architecture itself. Reminds me of pictures I've seen of golden age Russian interior design. The outside?
Looks like the Boston City Hall.
Discretely pocketing my phone, scroll! Fuck that gets annoying.
"I share in your sentiment." Weiss says with a smile. "Though I cannot deny the beauty of its symbolism."
"On that my dear, we'll have to disagree." He says simply as he moves to speak to Jacques, and Penny gives Weiss an eager wave as she follows close behind. "Jacques, terribly sorry for the late arrival. But I find the Valean traffic does not agree with me."
Jacques gives the man a professional and practiced smile as he stands and shakes his hand as well. A slight twitch in his eye as he greets the man.
"On that I fully understand." Jacques says curtly. "I trust the lab hasn't held you up too much in recent times."
"Not too terribly much, no." He says as they end their handshake. "Though I suppose that leads into a perfect segue of tonight's discussion." He looks to me as he takes his seat adjacent to Jacques. "I do believe that we have much to discuss. Jacques has informed me much of your claims."
Penny nods along eagerly as Arthur appears all too eager to get the meeting underway.
"Later." Jacques interrupts the man. "For now, let us order. And please, feel free to disregard the price."
A subtle way of saying I own this place, food's on me. Without actually saying it.
Why do I have a feeling I'm in a veritable shark tank right now?
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"Are you certain?" Jacques asks after I refused to order anything.
"I'm not hungry." I say once more.
"Cyril, you're insulting him by refusing." Weiss whispers.
I can see that. But from everything I've found, aura doesn't protect from disease and poison. It protects from hypothermia and hyperthermia oddly enough. Though it drains aura to do so. But poison, allergies, disease, no. More resistant? Yes, but not immune.
And I do not trust these high suited chuckle fucks further than I can throw them.
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Wait, scratch that. There's a balcony.
"I'm not forcing myself to do something I don't want to do. Just for someone else's feelings." I say firmly, earning an eye twitch from the man across from me.
"The boy deigns not to eat, why force him?" Arthur intercepts with a calm gesture to me as he addresses Jacques. "Besides, this just saves our dear chef the trouble of preparing more food."
"Fuck you!" I have to hold back a laugh at the chef yelling across the empty restaurant.
No one acknowledges the chef's words. Preferring instead to move on with our conversation.
"Hmm, very well." Jacques sighs as he gives the very nervous waitress his order.
"I shall not eat either." Penny says with a smile. "I apologize for any affront that may cause but I have a strict diet I must adhere to!"
Seeing that she didn't hiccup. I'm guessing she either does eat, considers energy her food, or just doesn't have that feature here. Assuming Watts is her creator this time around. There's no reason to assume she's built the same as canon.
After an awkward silence of Arthur finishing his food first. With Weiss and Jacques taking their time eating. Making the rest of us very uncomfortable throughout the ordeal.
Perhaps that's the point? Make us uncomfortable and impatient? I know Weiss is not normally this slow of an eater.
Maybe she's just matching Jacques's pace for whatever reason?
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"My compliments to the chef." Jacques says as the waitress takes his plate.
"Mine as well." Weiss says curtly.
The waitress takes all of our plates and heads off. Clearly uncomfortable being around so many high profile people. Leaving us to finally get to the root of the meeting.
"Now then, shall we begin discussions?" Jacques asks.
"Yes, I'm very interested in this natural energy, as I have been informed." Arthur says, his patience being stretched as he scoots forward and rubs his hands together.
"Well." I say, looking out the window at the setting sun. "It's a bit too late for one of them."
"How so?" Jacques asks as he looks to the horizon, looking for what I'm seeing.
"You remember when I said I could show you how to obtain energy from the sun?" I ask, meeting his curious gaze as we look back from the horizon.
"You also claimed to be able to extract power from a potato." He says with a scrutinizing glare, clearly still not believing me.
"If you pulled me from my work to speak of fantastical hypotheticals and parlor tricks." Arthur speaks up, losing his smile. "I assure you, I'll be quite cross young man."
"Hmm." I hum in thought.
"Don't." Weiss hisses at me.
"What?" I ask, looking back to her.
"I know what you're thinking, and don't." She says with a small glare.
"What is it?" Arthur asks with an appraising tone.
"It's nothing." Weiss says for me. "Back on topic, I can personally validate Cyril's claims of powering devices using sunlight. But that is not viewable now, as the sun is setting."
'Oh!' I finally get what she was saying. 'She thought I was going to get a potato.'
Well now I want to.
"One individual's assurance is hardly a convincing argument my dear." Arthur says and Jacques softly nods. "As a man of science, I need tangible evidence."
"I have other means of obtaining natural energy." I speak up as I lean down and grab the suitcase I brought with me, placing it on the table.
I open it and grab the pieces to the miniature wind turbine and put it together. Showing them the device has no dust in it at all. Standing up, I move outside to the balcony and strap the device to the railing. Attaching a switch and lightbulb to the battery. Being about twenty stories up, so it's decently windy. Making it perfect for this demonstration.
Setting it up, I keep the light switched off and head inside. Letting the battery accumulate energy.
"And what now?" Arthur asks poignantly.
"Now, we wait as the wind turns the turbines and generates electricity for us." I say. "It's not the most efficient form of generating energy. But its long term viability is not to be undermined."
Pulling out the big boy vocabulary for this. He should be honored. I only do that when I'm being sarcastic.
"So we are to allow ourselves to be beholden to nature's whims?" Arthur challenges with a raised brow.
"Are we not already?" I challenge back, earning a moment of silence from the man.
"What Cyril means to say, is that every form of energy has its downsides." Weiss takes over after an awkward pause. "But this is virtually endless. And there is something to be said for the chance to step away from dust and its dangers. Particularly in mining, transport, and refining."
Jacques remains silent. Seemingly impartial in the discussion between me, Weiss and Arthur.
"I believe I shall wait until I see the results for myself." Arthur says curtly, not happy at having to wait even longer.
"Cyril, why did you not set the device up beforehand?" Jacques asks, finally joining the conversation. "We could've avoided the wait and had the demonstration as soon as we were done eating."
'I didn't think of it.' I think to myself.
"You were so insistent on eating first, I felt it would be rude to change the topic." I throw him under the bus.
"I see. Well, while we await for the demonstration to begin." Jacques says, changing the topic immediately. Which, seems suspicious that he wouldn't try to challenge my statement and save face. "Perhaps we can fill the time with idle conversation? Talking in good company does make time move faster."
'That'd be true, if this were good company.' I think as I look to the white haired man.
"Ooh! I would love to socialize!" Penny says after clapping, ever the cheerful one.
"I suppose there'd be no harm in it." Arthur sighs as he adjusts his tie. "If we must wait regardless."
'Is he genuinely this impatient, or is this some ploy?' I can't help but wonder. 'Is he hoping to get under my skin by being arrogant and getting me upset? Like hoping that I'll let a few things slip? I, fuck I do not have a head for politics.'
Best to just ignore his attitude for now. And hope that this is just a ploy. Otherwise I'll be surely tempted to get a potato.
"That's right." Jacques says as he rests his elbows on the table. "You are a huntress in training just as well as Weiss and Cyril, are you not?"
"I am!" Penny says with a nod. "In fact, I've already acquainted myself with Weiss and Cyril. I first met Cyril thirty four days ago when I assisted in apprehending a fleeing group of armed robbers! And I first met Weiss along with the rest of Team Silver nine days ago."
"That's an impressive memory." Jacques compliments with an appraising nod.
"Thank you!" She nods with a smile. "I received it from my father."
I genuinely struggle not to say anything. Knowing what I know and how Penny is an android. Gynoid? Robot.
"Great minds are inherited after all." Arthur says with a smile.
"Quite so." Jacques nods with the man. Even Weiss nods, though a bit stiffer and practiced. "Speaking of, Cyril, what of your father and mother? I imagine they were great people."
"They were." I agree. "My father was in the military back home, and mother was a medic."
"An honorable background it would seem." Arthur says in a tone that sounds all too smug. "Which of them had silver eyes? If you don't mind me asking."
'Fuck.' I think to myself as I, haven't really kept track of what I've said on this matter.
Activating my semblance, I close my eyes to give myself time to think.
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Weiss Schnee POV
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"Cyril's parentage is not the concern." I speak up, hoping to get us away from the topic.
I don't mind Cyril's abandonment and lack of a legacy. But Watts and father are staunchly traditional. And, I don't want him facing that kind of scrutiny.
It's already obvious he's out of his element. No need to tack on Atlesian prejudice.
"I'm merely curious to the man I'm to be dealing with, miss Schnee." Watts explains innocently enough. "It's not as though he's of a criminal background. Even humble beginnings are-"
"Neither." Cyril speaks up.
"Excuse me?" Watts says, irritated at being interrupted.
"Neither of my parents had silver eyes." Cyril says as he crosses his arms. "My mother had blue eyes, and my father had brown eyes."
"I don't appreciate being lied to, boy." Watts sneers, and I feel father's irritation rise as well.
Looking to the two, I see father is looking at Watts as his irritation rises.
'What?' I think to myself as I figure his irritation is aimed at Watts and not Cyril.
"Father." Penny speaks up. "I believe I must correct you, as Friend Cyril shows no indication of being dishonest."
Penny's interjection aside. Watts seems to take the information with a heavy amount of contemplation.
"My biological father left when I was young nearly a decade ago." Cyril says with a low tone. Though he's void of any hostility. "Let's leave it at that."
'What had to have happened, for you to not be upset over being abandoned so young?' I think sympathetically as a small part of me speaks up. 'It could be attachment issues. He could see the abandonment as a betrayal and he simply washed his hands of the man. He could attach easily, and detach just as easily. Something to look out for.'
"I, see." Watts says slowly, uncertainty filling his every word. "Well, the matter of nurture does have its points. Besides, I feel we've waited long enough."
"It would seem so." Cyril says as he gets up.
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Cyril Leon POV
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"There are no dust components in the device!" Penny says cheerfully after Arthur demanded I tear the turbine apart to show him how it works.
"Remarkable!" Arthur says as he inspects the inside of the generator. "I must apologize for any and all offense my earlier tone may have conveyed my good sir!"
'Oh now you're nice to me?' I think bitterly, and I'm immediately brought from my mood as I feel Weiss's tail wrap around my thigh.
Remembering that she senses negativity, I calm myself down and feel her tail slip away.
"It's fine." I lie.
"Magnets and copper." He starts talking to himself. "Who would've thought the answer to be so close? Right under our noses and we didn't see it! How did you come up with this my boy?"
"I didn't. And I couldn't tell you who did because I don't know." I answer plainly.
Arthur looks to me curiously. Almost in pure disbelief as he scoffs at my words.
"And how not?" He gestures to the device on the table. "One does not simply, invent a new revolutionary form of energy without a lead up!"
"I mean, that's how we got metal." I shrug. "At some point, someone decided to throw a rock into a campfire without knowing what would happen."
Arthur looks absolutely scandalized at my answer. But nonetheless doesn't challenge it.
"Where did you say you were from again?" He asks.
"No where you'd find on a map." I give my go to response.
At some point that's not going to fly. I just know it. And quite frankly? I've no clue what I'm going to do when I get to that point.
"I, understand that." He says
'You really don't.' I almost laugh to myself morosely.
"But, if there is anything remaining of your home." Arthur continues, and I feel my patience running thin. "Then surely-"
"I'm all you'll find." I cut him off with a glare, hoping to get him to drop the matter. "Trust me when I say that."
He takes a deep breath. Irritated at being cut off once more.
"I suppose, we should discuss where to go from here." Jacques moves the meeting along. "Cyril is already leasing the intellectual property to the SDC. And with Weiss as his signing witness and financial advisor, I believe we can start the talks now."
Fuuuuuck me!
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"And the Atlesian military will maintain priority access to any breakthroughs in innovation on the aforementioned products and their usage." Arthur says as he reads out the contract. "I trust this should be an agreeable compromise to a noncompeting seller clause."
I want to be, literally anywhere else right now. Because all I got out of the last thirty minutes, is that Watts wanted sole buyer's to the tech for the Atlesian military. And Weiss stamped that shit out like it was a spider.
"This priority lasts ten years." Weiss points out. "And its royalty fee is paid on a yearly basis."
I'm not even sure what royalty means. I'm just having Weiss take charge here. We have a system in place. When it's something I need to address, she taps my leg with her tail. When I have no clue what's going on, I softly tap my foot three times. She can hear it easily, the others? Not so much.
"A yearly payment of twenty million is more than fair." Arthur says.
Weiss taps my leg.
"But it leaves no room for adjustment." I point out. "On either side. Ten years is a long time, and a lot can happen in that time."
She taps my leg again, letting me know I said enough.
"I suggest a monthly payment." Weiss says. "To be determined now, and be adjusted yearly as needed."
"Yearly?" Arthur scoffs. "My dear, that is far too short of a timeframe to hold any substance."
"And ten years is too long to hold any security." Weiss counters.
My head hurts.
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"And sign here." Weiss says.
Doing so, for the eighth time in the last ten minutes. I let out a breath through my nose as Weiss signs as the witness to the corporate agreement. Now, officially allowing joint research and development rights between the SDC and the Atlesian Military to be done on my patents and ideas. I get any and all final say as to what products are made with my renewable energy source engines and generators, in exchange I get a hybrid royalty rate. Basically, I get about twenty five thousand lien a month for the rights and access to my tech from the military, on top of a five percent royalty payment on any products and two percent royalty on energy production through the SDC. To be adjusted and renegotiated every three years.
There's more to it. Like how I'm not allowed to share the information of how this stuff works with anyone outside this table. And a bit more that boils down to, don't sell this to anyone else or you'll get sued.
And all that was the last two hours. Would've been thirty minutes if I didn't make them read out everything to me. And then have Weiss explain to me what it meant.
Fuck it, I'm too exhausted to explain it further.
"And with that, we have an agreement." Arthur sighs after signing. This being the third revision of the contracts.
"If you'll excuse me." Weiss says as she gets up. "I shall return."
She then heads off, her heels clicking on the tiles as she makes her way to the bathroom. And, with her gone. I smile as I decide to let the intrusive thoughts win.
"Excuse me!" I raise my hand to the tired looking waitress, jolting her wide awake. "Can I get two raw potatoes from the kitchen?"
She nods and goes off to the kitchen. Her own heels being heavier than Weiss's.
"Hungry now?" Jacques chuckles. "I don't blame you lad, we've been at this for a while."
"two hours and forty eight minutes." Penny helpfully points out.
"Oh, I'm not hungry." I smile as the plate is brought out and I reach into my suitcase. "I'm just showing you I'm a man of my word."
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-8 minutes later-
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Weiss Schnee POV
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Stepping back into the dining room. I'm drawn to the spectacle being made at the table. And I feel part of me boil over as I see Cyril leaning against the wall. Suitcase at his side, one arm held under the other as he eats a potato and smirks at the others.
On the table, a light bulb, plugged into a potato. Watts is running his hands through his hair as Penny is writing things down furiously on a piece of paper. While father is looking off into the distance, a thousand yard stare being reflected in the window as he gazes out into Vale's night sky.
"Cyril!" I shout as I make my way over to the belligerent, mischief minded man. "What did I say? Now look what you've done!"
He looks back to me with an easy going smirk. One that causes my chest to burn in frustration at his lackadaisical attitude.
"In my defense, I genuinely didn't think of this until you said something about it earlier." He says with a shrug as he takes a bite out of his potato. Only for Penny to shoot up and snatch the tuber from him and place it on the table, taking one rod out of the other, and sticking it into the bitten potato.
I am not sticking around to solve this.
Walking forward. I grab Cyril's hand and pull, leading him to stand behind me.
"Well father, Head Researcher Watts, Penny, I wish you all a pleasant night." I say with a practiced bow. "But the hours draw long, and we must return to Beacon before our team begins to worry about us."
I then turn around and begin walking away towards the elevator. Lightly slapping my tail against Cyril's leg to keep his attention.
He grabs his suitcase and begins following me to the elevator as the table loses their collective minds over the potato battery. I press the button on the elevator, and Cyril turns around.
"And Mr. Schnee!" He calls out to my father.
Looking back, I see the shell shocked man look to us with a haunting stare.
"Next time you doubt my words, remember the potato." Cyril says as the elevator opens and he walks in with the most aggravating smirk ever.
I try to say something. But Cyril puts a hand on my back. Guiding us into the enclosed space. I can't very well push away from him. That'd send a message that we don't agree. And that'd undermine our entire stance here.
The door closes as the music starts. And Cyril turns me to face him. His confident smirk not lost as he brings his hands up to my head. Closing my eyes as I await whatever he plans to do.
"Here." He says as he gently removes the hair clips holding my ears down. Letting me flick and stretch the sore appendages. "Much better." He says as he kisses my forehead, making me feel, warm as my chest tightens.
He runs his hands through my hair. Further getting those knots and kinks out of my sore ears as I lean against him and allow him to touch me so familiarly as long as he continues his service.
"I hate those hair clips." He says softly from above me as I inhale his sent and feel safe.
"Hold me." I order him, and he obeys.
I let out a sigh as I relax. And grab onto his chest to keep from slipping in my heels. As perfectly as I have come accustomed to them. It is still better to be safe.
Looking up to the kind, warm eyes of the white haired man. I lean up and pull him down for a kiss. One that he doesn't let me pull away from as he takes his time. His warm, safe arms holding me firm as we lean back, before I'm forced to lean up more and more before he lets me breathe.
'I wonder what it would take to convince him to settle immediately after Beacon.' A small part of me wonders. 'Just, keep him in Atlas. It'd probably be easier to convince him than Ruby.'
"Weiss." He says softly. "The door's open. We gotta go."
Snapping my eyes open, I look behind me to see the building's lobby. Thankfully no one is looking our way as I manage to escape his grasp.
"You're incorrigible." I admonish the man as I fix my hair and step out of the elevator.
"Me?" He laughs. "I'm not the one who shoved the other against the elevator wall."
"Stop spreading such slander." I demand with a pointed look back to him. "Especially in public. Do you want rumors to be spread?"
"What? About how you can't control yourself?" He scoffs as he crosses his arms with a smile.
"Excuse you?" I exclaim, utterly offended at his blatant exaggerations.
"Right right." He holds his hands up in surrender. "I forgot, I'm the one who takes advantage of you."
'At least he can be honest.' I think to myself.
"Hmph, while I don't appreciate your tone." I tell him. "I'm glad we can agree on this."
I huff and turn from the dramatic man. Making my way to our rented limo. Ready to head back to our dorm and turn in for the night.
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This is where the threesome is placed
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-Beacon, SLBR Dorm, 11/07, 7am-
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Cyril Leon POV
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Waking up, I'm starkly aware of a weight on my chest. And soreness of my thighs.
Looking down, I see Weiss laying on my chest. Dead asleep and blissfully unaware of the world around her. Naked as the day she was born.
Looking over, I see Ruby clung to my arm. Asleep as well and also naked. Her breasts cradling my arm as she uses my shoulder as a pillow.
"Rmm." Weiss shifts and sits up on me, before wincing. "Owww!" She whines. "Why am I so sore?"
"Hmm?" Ruby opens her eyes and shifts to lean up. Propping herself up on one arm while rubbing the sleep out of her eye. "Good morning."
"Morning." I say with a groan as I try to scoot up.
And end up pushing Weiss over on accident as she falls back. Landing on her back on my bed, legs still spread wide on either side of mine. And somehow still half asleep.
Of course, the sight doesn't do me any good as I just pop a boner. Something Ruby takes as an invitation to initiate a handjob.
"You're insatiable." I accuse.
"I like having fun with the people I like." She blushes with a shy smile. "I-is this too soon? I'm not pushing you to do too much am I?"
'Only a little bit.' I think to myself as Ruby pauses her handjob.
Don't get me wrong, I'm as ready as the next guy. But fuck if last night didn't take a decent bit out of me. I'm surprised my thighs aren't bruised with how hard Weiss was pushing back.
"Mno more." Weiss groans as she sits up and takes Ruby's hand, moving it off my cock and scooting up on me to sit in my lap. Pressing my cock down to hotdog between her thighs and buttcheeks, the head poking out behind her and against her tail as she lays against me. "Sleep." She says before laying her head on my shoulder and, going back to sleep as she sits naked in my lap.
"Hmm." Ruby hums in thought. "You still owe me for cleaning up."
"I'll pay you back later." I offer as I hold Weiss and follow her example.
"Hmm." Weiss hums in my arms as I run my fingers through her hair. Before she pushes up, and almost drunkenly reaches back for the blanket.
She throws it over us, and Ruby snuggles up under it with us, getting her own nap in.
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-8:30am-
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Cyril Leon POV
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"You okay there Weiss?" Blake asks as the girl walks out of the bathroom in just a towel.
Ruby already got a shower and took the dirty sheets and blankets to the laundry room. Where she currently is, while Blake came back from apparently having slept in the library.
"I am perfectly fine." Weiss says with an unconvincing blush.
"You're limping." Blake says as Weiss goes through her dresser.
"I just slipped is all." Weiss says as she sets out her clothes and starts getting dressed. In the open.
"Uh huh, and just how many times did you slip in a row?" Blake snickers as Weiss winces while putting her underwear on. Her tail hiding anything, juicy from view.
"We didn't keep track." I say with a smirk as Weiss nearly trips as she gets dressed. And Blake actually laughs.
"Th-th-that has nothing to do with this!" Weiss squeaks as her tail frizzes up and her ears splay back.
"What do you mean?" I smirk as I rest my head on my chin. "We're only trying to think of how bad you slipped. Must have been a hard fall for you to be limping afterwards."
Blake's laughter sizzles out. Apparently not liking the more blatant allusion I'm making.
Weiss, doesn't deign to dignify us with a response. Instead choosing to ignore us as she continues to get dressed, while I take no shame in ogling her.
She's slim, but she does have some curve to her. And her perfect, unblemished skin makes what curves she has stand out.
"And just what are you looking at?" She glares at me over her shoulder as she covers her chest.
"Nothing I didn't see more of last night." I say before smiling. "And nothing I don't like."
"Hmph!" She huffs and looks away. But glancing at the mirror on her vanity, I see a soft smile as she gets dressed. One she quickly schools.
I need to start bullying her more. Get real reactions out of her.
Something tells me she'd like it.
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-Vale city, 11/08, 10am-
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Stepping out of the store and looking around. I take a deep breath. Enjoying the clean air that is so prevalent in this world. There really is no comparison to how fresh the air feels here when compared to earth. It feels, lighter but, fuller somehow.
Or it could just be my good mood.
Ruby is out collecting more materials for smithing. Turns out her appraisal is coming up soon. And she's hoping to obtain master certification before she's seventeen and become the youngest to obtain the rank in Vale's history. Having failed to be the youngest to get journeyman certification.
Weiss is spending the day with Blake in the training room. So, I figured this would be a good time to explore the city. Seeing as this place is truly massive. Like I said before, the cities collectively hold eighty percent of Remnant's population.
Vale isn't the largest by any means on paper. The largest city belongs to Mistral. The most densely populated belongs to Mantle. But it is the most culturally diverse.
Regardless, sometimes it's nice to just walk down the street and enjoy the day. Especially with how clean the city is. And quiet. Despite all the traffic, almost no one is honking. This place is basically New York, without the rats and noise.
So… nothing like New York.
"Wonder if that sushi place is open." I say out loud.
Pulling out my scroll, I look up the nearest sushi place. Hell, if I'm in a good mood after eating I'll bring back some takeout for the team.
It's as I'm typing into my scroll that a small child runs by and snatches my the device from my hand.
"Hey!" I shout as I immediately run after the pint sized thief. "Thief!"
A bunch of people look up and at us as the brown haired kid ducks into an alley. A few of the bystanders pulling out their own scrolls and dialing as I chase after the little shit.
I get into the alleyway and, upon not seeing them. Feel a growing pit in my stomach form as I realize how familiar this scene is.
"Fuck." I curse as I turn around to leave, only to come face to face with a red and black portal of all things.
I jump back as an armored red hand reaches out to grab me. Unsheathing my axes, I activate my semblance and look around. Before catching the hint of white in the top left of my vision, just out of view of my head.
I can move my eyes normally when using my sharingan, but not my head. By my perception anyway.
Leaning forward, I briefly cut off my semblance as I duck and look behind me. Seeing Neo whiff on a roundhouse kick to my head.
Rolling forward and to the side as I dodge a black booted stomp to the face. I look up to see the Grimm inspired mask of Raven of all people.
"I thought he was in training." She says as she steps out of the portal. "Those aren't the reflexes of a novice."
'Because I'm not going off of reflex.' I think to myself.
Looking back at Neo, she just shrugs before twirling her parasol onto her shoulder.
"Well this is different from canon." I mutter to myself.
Last time these two were seen together, they were fighting. Now they seem to be on the same side. The one against me.
For whatever fuck me reason.
Seeing Neo smirk, I move towards her and sidestep to place myself against the wall of the alley. Hearing a sharp whiff as I turn to see Raven slashing where I was.
Raven to my left, Neo to my right.
"I knew today was going too well." I sigh, earning a silent giggle from Neo.
Using my semblance, I look between the two. Assuming Raven has the maiden's powers, then I'm fucked on every level.
Because I have a murderous psychotic magic wielding bandit queen on one side. And a murderous sociopathic illusion spamming, Neo on the other.
"Don't suppose we can talk this out?" I ask as I cut off my semblance, only to blink and dodge to the side as Neo appears in front of me and slashes at my head.
Like, teleporting fast. One second she was at my right, next her parasol was halfway to my head.
"Woah!" I exclaim as I duck to the right and aim my left axe at her gut and fire, only to watch her shatter as I feel a sharp pain in my jaw before my gaze turns to the sky.
I should've seen that one coming. That's on me. But damn if dealing with illusionists isn't annoying as fuck!
"I tried!" I shout before pulling on my magic and petalling around Neo to stand behind her and fire my left axe at the back of her head. This one actually hitting.
I'm not as fast as Ruby while petalling. She disperses and moves fast, I just disperse. But it's enough to throw people off their game.
I disperse immediately as Raven dashes forward and slashes at my neck. A slash that sends a wave of red energy that I feel as it hits my petals and disperses.
"What!?" Raven exclaims before I capitalize on her confusion and aim at her exposed thigh and fire. "Fuck!" She curses as she takes a knee.
Charlie horses are a bitch. And you can bruise with aura. Aura is a damage resistant forcefield. Not a damage negating shield of invincibility.
Just ask Weiss.
Raven recovers from the pain absurdly fast as she slashes up at me. Going from my right to my left. My semblance activating on instinct as I lean back and to my left to narrowly avoid the hit.
Seeing Neo jump over Raven and extend a heel to deliver a flying kick. One I intercept by reaching up and grabbing her ankle. Hulk slamming her into the concrete behind me as I turn to the right, once again placing Raven on my left, and Neo on my right.
"Wanna try again?" I ask with a growl in my voice.
Neo just turns around and shatters before reappearing in the same spot, giving me a wink as I see Raven move in the corner of my eye.
The problem here, is even with my semblance. These two are much faster than me. So the best I can do is dodge before I think of something. Any shout I do will have to catch them both or I'll have effectively crippled my aura in this fight.
Unless.
Turning into petals, I move behind Raven and reform. Causing her to turn around and face me.
"Wuld!" I shout and dash forward with my axe out, catching her by the neck in the hook of my axe and charging into Neo.
Where I get clotheslined by her parasol. The world becoming a blur of grey, black, red and blue as I ragdoll. Turning into petals halfway through to avoid just rolling. Watching as Raven skids and rolls to a landing pose as she looks to me.
Looking behind me, and in front of me quickly. I realize the odds of me winning this fight are, rather slim. Raven looks inconvenienced at worst. And Neo looks to be having fun as she taps her foot with a smile.
'Wait, why are you trying to win?' A small part of me asks. 'Your goal should be survive! Escape you dumbass!'
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Bonus
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-Five years before the first war of freedom, Anima-
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Alexander Arc: age 15: POV
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"This is nice, ya know?" I speak to the coach driver. "Finally doing it! Out seeing the world!"
"Not much to see kid." The coachman says. "Much of the land 'round here looks the same."
"Yeah." I say as I move to the front and rest my arms on the ledge. "But beyond that! Think of the lands, the people, the sights! I hear, far to the east are the Mistralian mountains where the capital is! And to the west, is a sea that has a giant island on the other end of it called Santias."
"Sanus." The coachman sounds.
"Bless you good sir." I say for him.
"What? No I, never mind." The man shakes his head.
Ignoring that.
"Speaking of, what's your name?" I ask as I extend a hand to the brown haired man. "Name's Alexander."
"You got a last name?" He asks.
"A what?" I ask, not sure as to whether I heard him or not.
"From the farms, aren't you?" He asks, turning back to see me and eyeing my dress.
"I, perhaps." I say softly.
"Goes a way to describe you." He sighs before shaking my hand. "Well Alexanded, I'm Marmac, Winchester."
"Nice to meet you Marmac Winchester!" I say with a smile. "Name's got an awful length to it! Your parents want something memorable like mine?"
"No." He shakes his head. "I'm just Marmac, I'm from Winchester." He says.
"Why add the land of your roots?" I ask curiously.
"Cause after setting out as a coach driver, I've met seventeen other Marmac's." He says. "Figured I'd need some way to make me more, easy to pick out in the puddle of Marmacs."
"One two three." I start counting on fingers to get to seventeen, and realize I have to count twice. "Gosh, I sure hope I'd not meet any more Alexanders."
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-16 years later-
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"We named her after you, Alexus Drewer." The antelope horned mother says with happy tears in her eyes as she holds her infant. "We'd hope the spirits would pull those with likened names to each other. So that you may one day save her!"
"Thank you!" The snake eyed father cries as his shackles are released. "Thanks to you, she can live a life never knowing this pain!"
"She's adorable." I say as I rub the infants head, feeling the nubs on her growing horns.
'The world works in mysterious and complicated ways.' I think to myself as I remember that day so many years ago. 'Still weird.'
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A/N
After this I writing for Zamaina, then Kitsu.
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Summer is currently going through the readjustment program for Hunters. So she'll be out of the picture for a little bit. Then she'll be back.
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More comments! I want them all! Every one of them! Especially speculation, I love speculative comments.
Fuel me my NOOBIANS!
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Find me in my channel, newb's-grotto, on the discord.
Link to the discord: discord .gg/DarkWolfShiro