As he walked down the forest path Oscar wondered why he didn't go to Patch very often. He had always enjoyed his visits be it for business or pleasure, The sights on their own were gorgeous, a lush forest you could explore for days spanning most of the island, a cliff overlooking a fair amount of the land and city, and surrounded by a beautiful ocean. The scenery alone wasn't all there was, the population especially made it stand out as pleasant, not just in their hospitality but in their variety. You could find people from all walks of life, There were a fair amount of Atleasans looking to trade the expanse of the floating city for a far simpler way to live, Vacuans who grew tired of the harsh climate looking for a gentler way to live, and many Faunus looking for a more accepting community. Truly it was a melting pot in a way not even the larger kingdoms could accomplish. He assumed it was the comparatively tiny population, while still respectable as a territory much of the forest did have its share of lower-class Grimm that needed a steady supply of hunters to keep culled. Still, despite its faults, it was the perfect place to start over, perhaps even raise a family.
In fact, Oscar was looking to visit a family that had done just that.
The Taurus family as far as he could gather were known as a pleasant family who valued their privacy by all whom he'd asked. Terracotta was the patriarch, a secluded middle-aged man who rarely left his home if not for work or his family. Those who did know him described him as a reliable but stubborn old bull. Ember, his lover similarly kept to herself more often than not, though less than Terracotta. Being said to be a bit warmer than her lover though but similarly noted to have more of a temper. Ember was a woman Oscar had met briefly a lifetime ago, though he'd never forget her the woman. They had both gone by different names back then, been different people. Quite literally in his case. He doubted she'd be happy to see him after how things had been left at less than pleasant terms when they last met. But 18 years changed people. As did having children.
Their home was a simple one that didn't stand out from any other on the block, if one didn't know the history of its residents then it was just that. He approached the house, more cautiously than he typically would, phantom pains of cuts and burns from his last encounter with the woman played in his mind and a familiar sensation of power emanated from within it.
She was home.
Stepping onto the porch Oscar braced himself and knocked on the wood before stepping back. He waited a minute maybe two before the door opened, instead of being greeted by one of the pair he was met with a girl about half their age, lazily standing in the doorframe with her hands in her pockets. Glancing down at the cane he obviously didn't need with the sort of dismissive look only a teenager can give.
"Can I help you?"
Scarlet resembled her mother more so than her father, the deep amber eyes and general structure of her face were too close to say otherwise but her father's genes did have their own impact. Particularly with her deep red hair and bull horns protruding from the top of her scalp. Oscar relaxed a bit, not wanting to make her uncomfortable and extended his hand to shake.
"Hello young lady, my name is Oscar Pine, are your parents home?" Scarlet made an off-put face at the words 'young lady' but still shook his hand. She had a firm grip and her hands were calloused like so many fighters he had met in his life.
"What, are you like a salesman or something? Because I'll warn ya' right now my dad don't like spending money on stuff we actually need let alone junk." She didn't know who he was? That raised a few questions but nothing concerning at the moment.
"No, I'm an… old acquaintance of your parents. I was hoping to speak with them." Scarlet again made a face but now one of disbelief. Still, seemingly as if just to humor the man if nothing else she turned back and called out.
"Dad! There's a guy here, says he knows you!"
Unlike last time the response was immediate, footsteps closed in at a rapid pace, and after only a second Scarlet was pulled back with little more than a cry of protest from the girl. Immediately taking her place was the tall and lean frame of her father, tense and with his hand on a blade at his hip. Oscar didn't so much as flinch, even as the man's one good eye narrowed at him. Cool blue shifted from panicked to irritated as he relaxed ever so slightly. Behind him, his daughter now stomped her foot as she tried to pull him the same way he had her, failing to make her father so much as budge.
"What the hell Dad?" Ignoring his daughter's frustration Terracotta stepped back into his home motioning for Oscar to follow him.
"You should have told us you were coming." Oscar supposed he had a point but on the other hand the Taurus family was by all accounts a flight risk given their history. Had they misinterpreted the message they'd be halfway to Vacuo before he could show up.
Looking around the house was nice if a bit lacking, not in anything major but far from upscale. Scarlet seemed to be telling the truth that her father was frugal. The girl in question huffed, though at this point Oscar didn't know if her frustration was due to the initial incident or because she had been ignored by the man. Regardless he refused to acknowledge it.
"Scarlet, go get your mother. Tell her we have a guest." Despite having a clear want to protest his command Scarlet sighed and did as she was told, heading upstairs to fetch her mother.
A heavy silence fell between them soon after. With Scarlet out of the room the need for pleasantries left with her. Oscar looked the older man up and down, he didn't appear to be outright hostile but it was clear that his relaxing earlier was little more than an act for his daughter. The man once again tense at his mere presence. Oscar on the other hand took a seat, not even pretending to be bothered by his hand once again inching closer to his blade. Instead, he let his thoughts drift to Scarlet. She seemed to be blindsided by his appearance despite her recent application to Beacon. She was just one of many to apply once they opened up applications for the new year and one with an endorsement from Signal. Her grades were average and there was a note on her temper, however she excelled in combat training. Yet that wasn't his reason for paying the girl a personal visit.
It was her parentage.
"You didn't tell her?"
"Would you?" Terracotta asked in return.
Oscar merely hummed his response, wordlessly conceding that the man had a point. Her parent's past and connection to him were… complicated.
A moment later his other half came back down the stairs, without Scarlet. Ember's face was cold and her stare was like that of a predator. The resemblance really was uncanny, save for the nose and a slight difference in the shape of her lips Scarlet looked like a younger version of her mother as a Faunus. Ember herself had certainly changed since they had last met, Looking far more reserved than the petulant young woman he'd had the displeasure of meeting years ago at Beacon, she now carried an air of maturity she had pretended to have back then, her looks had changed too, she didn't look any worse, just more mature, and now sporting an artificial left arm and what he assumed was a glass eye on the same side. Yet she hadn't changed that much.
Though to be fair he'd recognize Cinder Fall anywhere.
"Cinder." Oscar greeted coolly, seeing no reason to go by pseudonyms in private. 'Terracotta' didn't take kindly to the use of his not-wife's real name, grabbing ahold of his blade and drawing it just a few inches. Oscar once again not worried about his actions keeping all of his attention on Cinder. The woman in question just sighed raising her still human hand.
"It's fine Adam." Being referred to by his real name almost made the man seem disarmed, glancing over to Cinder he noticed she wasn't looking at him, his eye followed hers and landed on the stairs. That was right Scarlet was just upstairs, possibly about to come down the very next second. Not reacting verbally and instead shifting his jaw Adam retraced his weapon fully into Blush.
Scarlet returned from the top of the stairs a moment later, her eyes immediately drawn to her father's tense stance and hand slowly pulling away from his weapon, the girl was more than a little unnerved by the actions of her father. She had never seen her parents, especially him react quite like this. But as her mother seemed to have calmed the situation she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding in. Cinder motioned for her to come closer. Trying to act casual Scarlet put her hands into her pockets and stepped up beside the woman.
"Scarlet, Oscar is an old… acquaintance of mine. And last we met part of the administration for Beacon." Cinder explained causing Scarlet's casual demeanor to shatter as she realized this, suddenly standing straight while trying to look serious in hopes that she hadn't just made a bad first impression. Well worse than the one her dad had made for her at least. Something Oscar noticed right away, chuckling at.
"My role is a bit more hands-off than in the past, but yes. In fact, that's why I'm here." He was from Beacon? Well what was Dad freaking out over?
"Would you mind me having a word with Scarlet, alone?" Adam again reacted negatively but this time managed to reign himself in to just speaking sternly.
"Abso-"
"The backyard, where I can see." Cinder cut him off, crossing her arms as if daring the tan-skinned man to argue with her. Adam grimaced at his authority being undercut but said nothing seeming to concede.
Oscar had no objections following the young woman out back. Cinder stayed watching from the doorway, letting out a shaky breath as soon as they were out of earshot. She watched the interaction closely, while she didn't think Oscar was the type of man to attack her daughter out of spite that didn't mean she trusted him, not by a long shot. Adam similarly stood ready to act the moment Pine made a move he didn't like.
Scarlet was, well mostly confused. What did this guy want with her? The fact that he was from Beacon calmed her nerves a bit but raised several questions in its place. She hadn't been told anything about a member of staff personally coming to visit her. Was there something wrong with her application? Ah crap was this about the fights she had gotten into? As Scarlet tried to wrack her brain to figure out a reason for the visit Oscar had apparently stopped as she now bumped right into him. Stumbling over her own words getting a chuckle from the man.
"You can relax Miss Taurus, despite what your parents may think I don't bite."
"Am I that obvious?"
"To me, but I happen to be good at reading people." He said taking a seat on the grass and motioning for her to do the same which she did, plopping down on the grass next to him rather casually.
"Sooo… what did'ja wanna talk about?"
"I'd just like to ask you a few questions, and I'd rather have your honest answer, not what you think your parents want to hear." Oscar said crossing his legs on the grass. Scarlet nods similarly getting comfortable, leaning back and using one of her arms as support.
"So Young La- Scarlet, why do you want to be a huntress?"
"Why not?" She scoffed before quickly remembering who it was she was talking to.
"S-sorry, what I mean is, I already know how to fight. I like it, hell I'm good at it. Better than anything else I've ever tried to do. Why shouldn't I do some good with it you know?" Oscar listened, nodding along with her but also giving the impression that he was looking deeper at her than she was seeing.
"You didn't learn to fight in order to become a huntress?"
"Mom and Dad wanted me to know how to defend myself from the start, talked about how I'd have to be ready in case anyone ever tried to hurt me. Like they didn't force me kicking and screaming through it, but they made it pretty clear it's something I was gonna learn whether I liked it or not."
Again, Oscar nodded, expecting as much from her parents, really given their histories it was a necessity, there was no shortage of people who would like to get even with Adam and Cinder for their pasts, and as unfortunate as it was not everyone was above targeting their daughter over a desire for revenge.
"And just what is being a huntress in your eyes?"
This time she took a moment to think, almost giving another 'no duh' answer but stopping herself and thinking it over for a moment longer before answering.
"Well they're heroes right? Not like The Hunts-Man obviously, they answer to people and stuff but they go out and help people who need it. People who aren't strong enough to defend themselves from Grimm and Criminals."
"And that's a hero to you?"
"Yeah." Scarlet answered, more confidently this time.
Oscar smiled, the girl seemed to have her head on straight, an actual accomplishment considering who raised her. Taking a look back at said couple they weren't even pretending to be doing anything more than watching the two of them. On one hand he supposed it was natural to be protective of their child, on the other hand it just didn't track in his mind, Adam alone was hard to separate from the image of a bloodthirsty terrorist but Cinder? The woman who had once carried Grimm within her for nothing more than her own selfish lust for strength? If he wasn't watching it happen before him he wouldn't believe it. He was pleasantly surprised to say the least.
Standing back up Oscar helped the girl up who gave him a confused look.
"Is that it? You didn't come all this way just to ask me like two questions did you?"
"I never said it would be an interrogation did I?" He said giving her a small smile as they returned over to the house.
Cinder shifted from her spot against the doorway, raising an eyebrow at the man. Once again not looking the least bit bothered by the stares of her parents.
"I would like to have a quick sparring session with Scarlet. If that's okay with the two of you of course."
Scarlet's eyes lit up in surprise looking back up at the man a growing smile at the idea of sparring with him.
"Wait, you wanna fight me? That's why you're here?"
"An old friend of mine has a saying, It more or less goes that you can figure out more about someone by trading blows with them than through words. And I happen to agree."
The girl's Mother and Father traded a glance clearly neither of them were thrilled with the idea, but after a few back and forth facial twitches that Oscar assumed meant something to the pair Adam sighed and looked over to them.
"If Scarlet is okay with it then a light match is fine." He said shooting a glance at the girl in question, already knowing her answer.
His daughter nodded ecstatically. He wanted to see what she was capable of? Well she was more than happy to give him a demonstration, all but running over and grabbing her swords. Nearly setting them incorrectly on her sides. The moment she was ready the pair headed back outside taking their places across from each other in the yard.
Oscar stood ready, deciding to be sporting and let his younger opponent strike first, watching the girl's stance as she stood straight up carefully placing one foot behind the other and pointing a sword at him in a way that almost seemed… practiced? He smirked in amusement at that, playing along and similarly straightening his back, resting one arm behind his back and resting on his cane. A pose he had adopted from a previous life.
"Don't you know it's rude to keep a guest waiting?" He asked teasingly, hoping to spark a reaction from the girl, and that it did. Her eyes narrowed with focus as she kicked off her backfoot rushing in with one blade pointed his way as a feint, however he saw how she readied her other weapon to swing. He easily sidestepped the false blow and parried the real strike aimed for his midsection with a simple swipe of his cane. However he noticed the young woman's strike held more strength than he had expected from her, nearly throwing him off balance. He'd adjust his expectations.
Scarlet, undeterred by the apparent ease at which he stopped her blow jumped back expecting him to counter, however the huntsmen simply stood still, remaining in a casual stance even as she circled him. She stared back for a moment, a bit confused but quickly growing impatient and soon closing the distance once again. This time striking out with a probing offense testing his reactions to different blows, though failing to press him in any way. To most her blades would be moving like a blur of red and silver, yet even as Wilt 2 and Bleed cut through the air and clashed with his cane he seemed to consistently be a step ahead of her. With a twirl of his cane the man managed to position it under her swords and with a single arm forced them up exposing her. Rather than take the opportunity to hit her exposed gut he aimed a thrust down at her leg, dropping her to one knee. Scarlet swore as she caught herself, looking up just in time to block a downward strike with her swords.
Oscar looked down at the Faunus as she tried to push him back with no luck, seeming to overpower and keep her pinned with ease.
"Do you concede? There's no shame in admitting defeat."
Those words seemed to spark something in Scarlet who looked up with a chuckle.
"I'm just getting started, old man!"
As if meant as a punctuation to her words a red liquid traveled up the edges of her blades. With Wilt 2 it would have been near impossible to tell for anyone not as close as him, however Bleed's curved edge now shined in a crimson contrast with the rest of the weapon. In hindsight he didn't think the semblance gave her any boosts to speak of but in the moment she seemed to push him back with far greater ease. Perhaps he had simply grown complacent?
From the sidelines, her parents watched closely, Cinder allowing a small smirk to grace her lips at the sight of her daughter pushing the far more experienced hunter onto the back foot with her flurry of blows. Adam on the other hand kept a more neutral Perhaps it was simply due to his more critical eye as the one who primarily trained her but Adam couldn't help but notice that this wasn't the advantage Scarlet's smirk suggested it to be. While true that she now had him on the defensive Oscar wasn't struggling to keep up in the slightest, simply not having the opportunity to react to her yet. A theory that was proven when she swung her arm back for a power blow only to have it stopped dead in its tracks by Oscar's wrist meeting her own mid swing. Now open the girl couldn't react to the strike to her jaw fast enough, getting rocked and stumbling back. Barely managing to catch herself Scarlet launched herself at him once more, determined to get back on even footing.
She never got the chance.
Sticking his foot in front of hers the more experienced man effortlessly tripped her up, following up with a strong thrust of his weapon that made her aura flash from the blow as well as knocking his opponent off of her feet and onto her back. Landing with a thud and dropping Bleed Scarlet rolled over and growled, looking back up at the man.
"That's enough!" Cinder called out to the pair stepping forward putting a stop to the match. Oscar didn't pay her words any mind, still watching her daughter closely, Scarlet looked over at her mom in shock. Then she looked back at the stranger who had just trounced her in less time than it took her to eat breakfast and snarled, her grip tightening on the crimson sword. He tenses, and for a split second he's staring down the Fall Maiden in Beacon's basement readying himself to block a retaliatory strike from the girl as she gritted her teeth in spite. Then he's back in the family backyard and Scarlet eyes soften, she lets go of her blade, letting her head drop back to the ground and groaning in defeat. Oscar relaxed, a small, more genuine smile on his face as he retracted and secured his cane at his belt before holding his hand out for her helping the girl up.
"Well I must say, you did rather well young lady."
"Seriously? You kicked my ass. And in like five minutes."
"Miss Taurus, with all due respect you applied to Beacon just a few months ago and I've been a huntsman for over a decade. Were you expecting any other result?"
She pursed her lips, knowing that he was right but still feeling as though she had gone down too easily. Collecting her blades as Cinder and Adam approached, her father walking up and ignoring her protests as he looked her over for cuts and bruises. Cinder's eyes on the other hand stayed on Oscar. Scarlet still couldn't tell why she looked at him like he was some Grimm sitting in human skin. So she instead asked what to her was a far more pressing matter.
"Did I at least pass? Did I put up enough of a fight?" She asked, a hopeful tinge to her voice.
"Your skills weren't being tested today young lady."
She still hated being called that but her curiosity over the last statement was stronger than the way it irked her to be called that. What was he testing her for then? Now that she thought about it he had mentioned something about the fight helping him know her better, not that it had made any sense to her and really there was one pressing question in the front of her mind at the moment.
"That… doesn't really answer my question, am I in?
For once the look on Adam and Cinder's faces was less barely hidden disdain and more genuine curiosity. Such a reaction was only natural he assumed, it was their daughter's future after all.
"If the headmistress sees the same thing I saw in you? Then I'd say your odds are very high."
Days turned to weeks, which eventually turned to months and sooner than she had been ready for the day Cinder had expected came along with a message from her Scroll. Scarlet had been accepted into Beacon. While Cinder had no doubts after the visit Adam had gotten himself worked up over the visit, she had expected this of course. Scarlet was the one thing that man could get himself worked up over so easily. It was adorable in her eyes, he along with Mercury worked day and night thinning the Grimm's numbers around Vale and he did that with the steely confidence that had first sparked her attraction to the man. But one thing going wrong with Scarlet, be it anything from a cut to a cold and he'd get unnaturally anxious. So the idea that the visit had ruined her chances and possibly because of him no less had had the man barely able to focus on anything but said visit.
So when she ran up to her mother and father proudly showing off the acceptance message it was as though Adam had just learned how to breathe again. Pride in the girl's accomplishment almost immediately replaced his worry. Of course, they had to celebrate. Nothing huge but something to show their pride in the girl. And with their eldest similarly being accepted the Black family was more than happy to have their friends over to celebrate together.
But even as the night Cinder couldn't shake the sinking feeling in her gut. Choosing to try and drown it with Emerald's wine.
Even after all these weeks Cinder felt a certain unease after Osc- Ozpin stopped by. He could use whatever meatsuit he wanted but she recognized that tone and stance. She wondered if any of the new identity even remained, not that it really mattered, she still wouldn't trust him. Still, it was something she found herself thinking about. That was wrong, She shouldn't have thought twice about Ozpin's newest host. While for the most part, she found herself liking the life she and Adam had made for themselves things like that irked her to no end. She had grown soft ever since Scarlet's birth, hell probably before that, unable to simply disregard people the way she'd done in the past. Some would say it was an improvement, her changing for the better, to Cinder it was a weakness.
Dragging her from her thoughts was a smaller, softer hand coming to rest on her own.
"Hey, are you still thinking about it?"
Case in point, Emerald. Despite her friend's reassurance that the past was just that Cinder's chest tightened with regret when she looked at the woman now. Remembering how she had used and abused the girl all those years ago.
"He spoke to my daughter, Emerald, used my real name in our home where she could have heard. It's not something I'm happy about." The older woman muttered before sipping from her glass. Trying to follow her friend's example for once and not look to the past.
Unfortunately, the present had its own set of issues. Ozpin taking an interest in her daughter was something that didn't sit right with her, Logically she knew it was just the man being cautious, Cinder's crimes hadn't been forgotten of course. Her daughter attending his, or if his words about a headmistress were true what used to be his school would be a reason to make sure the girl didn't take after them in that way. But the fact that he liked her was almost as worrying, Scarlet had potential, something Cinder was immensely proud of. But she didn't want him of all people to see it.
"It wasn't that bad was it?" The former thief asked, trying to ease her worries. It didn't work as Cinder growled back.
"He judged her, the only reason he was there was to see if she was like us."
"She's not, you both made sure of that. We knew this was gonna happen, ever since her and Jet decided to become hunters we knew they'd have it harder because of us. But they're standing on their own now. We gotta trust that we did right with them." Cinder didn't respond to that, instead looking over at their children. Emerald's gaze followed her own, her son and Scarlet's best friend Jet sat next to her. The pair along with Emerald and Mercury's daughter simply enjoying the day as they normally would.
Over on the couch sat the three younger figures, Scarlet recanting the story of Oscar's visit as she saw it to the other teenagers in the house. The youngest and smallest of them Lupin sat on Scarlet's lap, despite being arguably too old for such a position neither girl seemed to mind as she rested her head against the older teens soft chest and played her game. She was unmistakably Emerald's daughter, skin only a shade or two lighter than her own and a face that could have been a mirror to the past, unlike Scarlet who at least somewhat resembled Adam the strongest trait from her father was her silver hair.
"So… he just left after that?" Asked the boy currently sitting beside them. As to be expected unlike his sister Jet had a stronger resemblance to his father though having her green hair which he currently had tied up in a neat bun.
"Well yeah, he said he wanted to test me and he did. Not much else to say."
"I've just never seen you that excited telling a story where you got your ass kicked." Jet teased
"I mean you're pretty excited whenever you talk about Scar kicking your ass." His sister countered with the same snark she had similarly gained from her father. Before Jet could counter
"Hey! Language you two, just because we're celebrating doesn't mean I won't shove a bar of soap in your mouths." The siblings both shrunk a bit in embarrassment over being reprimanded in front of their friend who snickered
"I mean he kicked my A-Butt," Scarlet quickly corrected herself so as to not incur her Godmother's wrath. "and I still got in! That has to mean something!"
That you're a better woman than I. Cinder thought to herself, a smile gracing her lips before downing the rest of her glass and motioning to Emerald to come with her to check on their other halves in the kitchen while she got more.
The two men stood around the oven, more or less just watching over the pizza as it cooked. Just 'shooting the shit' as Mercury liked to say, with a mouth like his Emerald figured she probably should be grateful her kids didn't have worse vocabularies than they already did.
"I'm just saying man, pizza? They could get that any time. Why not something like a steak or some home cooked salmon?"
"You asked teenagers what they wanted to eat and are surprised they wanted the stereotypical teenager meal?"
"I just figure we shoulda given them better taste, truly we have failed." The ex-Assassin proclaimed melodramatically, actually going as far as to tilt his head back and rest his hand on his forehead as though he may faint.
Adam didn't give the man a reaction, instead glancing down at the oven once more and checking to make sure nothing had burnt. Had Adam been told that not only would he regularly be in the presence of Mercury Black but that the frankly childish man would be one of his closest if not his best friends? Well, truth be told the old bull wouldn't have a clue how he'd react to that, laugh probably? Followed by his fist or if he had been in a particularly bad mood his old sword to the gut. He cringed at the reminder of how he had been before his daughter, choosing not to dwell on it he looked over to Cinder and Emerald already having heard them approach.
"Hey boys, talking about anything interesting?"
"Just keeping my buddy entertained while the grub finishes up."
"I'd call it torment personally." Adam's retort earned an uncharacteristically hearty laugh from Cinder
"If you think he's bad now imagine living with him when he was nineteen." She drawls setting down her mostly empty wine glass.
For once he didn't use the opportunity for a quip, instead looking over at the near empty glass and raising an eyebrow, even compared to Emerald's glass or Adam's beer it was low, and she did seem more, floaty? Was that the word? Whatever, it was just a nicer word for drunk anyway. Setting his water to the side Mercury watched as his old boss placed her arms around her not-husband in a more affectionate display than she'd typically let others see. Yup, she was drunk, or at least tipsy.
"So, something on your mind Cindy? You normally pace yourself better."
Pursing her lips at the nickname she knew for a fact she had told him not to use, the woman's more playful attitude vanished almost immediately. Replaced with a familiar and more thoughtful scowl as her mind went back to it. Ozpin, talking to Scarlet, seeming to take an actual interest in her. Just as he did with Ruby. That thought caused her chest to tighten, the thought of her child being Ozpin's newest project sparked a familiar fire within her. One that typically resulted in bloodshed whenever the Maiden felt it.
Emerald, almost as if sensing Cinder's inner anger coming to the front decides to speak for her in hopes that perhaps she'd be able to just get it off of her chest.
"Well, she's a bit upse-"
"Not now."
Her voice was cold and commanding as she snapped. Emerald froze for a moment, taken back to her first year with the woman when she had an iron grip on her and her future husband. Cinder's face fell almost immediately upon seeing the effect she had on her friend, that was… unlike her, or at least it was now. She couldn't remember the last time she had used that tone, let alone with someone she actually cared for. Sighing remorsefully Cinder untangled herself from Adam and put her glass in the sink.
It was the alcohol, it had to be, she wouldn't just fall back into her old habits that easily otherwise. Taking a deep breath Cinder calmed herself, her hand clenching tightly as she put on a more calm face.
"Sorry, this just isn't the time for it. I want to celebrate our children getting into Beacon, not working myself up over my past mistakes." If the faces of Emerald Mercury and especially Adam were anything to go by she had grown rather rusty lying, or maybe they just knew her better now after so many years.
Thankfully before she could be pressed the oven went off, her cheesy savior having finished cooking the woman quickly opened the oven and using her cybernetic hand pulled out the dish and offering to get it ready while they went to fetch the kids. Sharing a brief look Adam just nodded at the pair. He'd have a word with her, he just needed a moment alone. Reluctantly they granted it to him, leaving the room silent save for the crust being cut apart by Cinder. Taking a step closer Adam stood beside her, not quite in her space, but close enough for his presence to be felt.
"So, are you going to tell me what that was actually about?"
Cinder didn't respond at first, still trying to distract herself with the meal before her. Deep baked and covered in an ungodly amount of cheese, just the way her daughter liked it. The daughter Ozpin spoke to. She sighed and placed the circular blade down on the counter, there was no getting around it she supposed, even thinking about the stupid pizza she couldn't get her mind off of it.
"What if he tries to recruit her?" Fear wasn't an emotion the mother of his child showed often, but now it was unmistakable. Adam understood why of course, it wasn't a possibility he was even remotely comfortable with. He paused thinking his words over but only really seeing one solution.
"If it comes down to that? We tell her the truth."
"The truth?" She scoffed, turning to face him with a hand on her hip. "That her parents were killers, monsters, terrorists?"
"We'll cross that road once we get to it, but can you honestly say that her joining an unwinnable war is a preferable alternative to knowing our history?"
It wasn't, but she couldn't bury the feeling of guilt that came with setting her on that path in life, even if deep down she knew there was only one real choice to be made. Before Cinder could respond rapid footsteps made their way down the hall before stopping at the doorframe.
"The foods done?" Scarlet's excited voice called out, her eyes immediately honing in on the food, her mouth watering at the site of the freshly made meal. Seeing the girl Cinder assumed she'd be more worried but she felt a strange calm, it made no sense, this was her daughter. The daughter she watched with pride as she practiced and sparred, the girl who wanted to become a huntress not for strength or her own personal gain but because it was what she thought was right.
She'd have to make her own choices from this point. And Cinder would have to trust she'd make the right ones.
Scarlet yawned at her spot on the bench, not used to waking up so early in the day. In hindsight it probably would have been smarter to leave Patch the day before they would be starting Beacon rather than the day of, it was currently the asscrack of dawn and she'd been up for an hour already just so she and Jet could make the first boat.
This day was one she had mixed feelings about. On the one hand, she was ecstatic. This had been the only thing she had wanted to do for as long as she could remember. And now she was going to be taught by some of the greatest Huntsmen and Huntresses in the world! But on the other hand, she was leaving everything she had known behind. The girl had only been off of patch a handful of times in her life. She wasn't scared, that would just be silly, dropping into a new environment and being allowed more freedom in how she spent her free time was one of the best things about this! But she was also saying goodbye to her Mother and Father for months. She'd have Jet of course so it's not as if she'd be all alone but it wasn't the same. It might have helped if they had bothered to see her off at least!
Dad she sort of understood, he and Mercury had been mandated to clear out a hive that had been growing on the outskirts of town. A few Beowolves were ignorable. Twenty or so? Not so much. But her mom didn't have that excuse, she just didn't come with her. She tried to ignore it, she had still seen her off but it just felt different not having her around to wait. Then again she supposed it was better than being fretted over in every little detail like Jet currently was.
"Do you have your weapon?" The former thief asked, straightening the boy's yellow jacket to a fault as he rolled his eyes at what to him was just a silly question.
"Right here on my hip Mom."
"Your Scroll? You remembered to charge it?"
"Had it plugged in all night."
"Underwear?" Jet sighed and was about to turn away when his mother leaned in, stealing a peck on the cheek from the boy who immediately went red.
"Mom!." The teen exclaimed pulling back just a bit as Scarlet just watched with a chuckle. It was always funny to her to see the difference between her family and Jet's, She wouldn't go as far as to say she was jealous of the more affectionate Emerald, her mom didn't need to smother her with kisses or worry about every fray on her black top and matching skirt to know she loved and worried about her.
Looking over Emerald gave Scarlet a smile and motioned for the young Faunus to come closer, which Scarlet didn't hesitate to do so, immediately upon getting into her spot next to her friend her godmother pulled the two of them into a tight embrace to which Scarlet returned immediately, Jet following soon after if a bit less enthusiastically. After a moment Emerald took a step back before turning to her goddaughter.
"You'll take care of my baby boy?" Without hesitation nodded and placed her arm around the boy in question's shoulder, forcing him down a little as she pressed their heads together.
"Of course, You know I've got his back."
"Really filling me with confidence here guys." Jet said, although he didn't seem to mind the attention from his friend.
"Would it help if I told you to keep my daughter safe?" A fourth voice suddenly got their attention and they turned to see Cinder standing just a few feet away. She smiled with amusement at their surprised expressions
"I'll keep her out of trouble, at least as much as possible."
"Good, because I wasn't asking." The woman's stern tone caused Jet to straighten up almost immediately, almost as though he had been given an order. The Mistralian cracked a small smile which grew to a full-on grin as Scarlet groaned about being able to take care of herself.
"So, what made you change your mind?" Scarlet asked, a hand falling onto her hip as she tried to act casual.
"Honestly? It just felt wrong not to see you off."
Before another word could be spoken the horn of the boat sounded off, signaling the passengers that it was time to board. Emerald quickly pushed Jet towards the bags, telling him to hurry and stealing one more kiss from the boy, though this one was met with far less resistance.
"Goodbye Mom, I love ya'." Scarlet sighed, happy that Cinder had shown up even if it was only for the last minute.
"Wait." Scarlet turned, ready to remind her Mother that there really was no more time when suddenly she was pulled into a tight hug. "I'm proud of you, in more ways than you could ever know."
All too soon the embrace ended and without time to linger Scarlet grabbed her baggage and made her way to the ramp along with Jet, leaving Emerald and Cinder to see them off.