[ She says it easily, scooting a little bit so she can get comfortable. She can feel the chroma, but she genuinely has no idea how long this is supposed to take or anything. ]
Since we're stuck here anyway, I'll get this out of the way. I'm not going to cause anyone trouble unless they cause me trouble first. I know you're not going to trust that, but it's true.
[ It doesn't take her more than a second to figure out what he means.
She hesitates to answer him for a moment, because she's still.. in an odd place. ]
I thought that too. I can't tell you more than that. I'm- [ She pauses. Everything's so much more complicated now that she has her memories, not just Mercury's incorrect word that she's dead. but she also has a lot more memories than she would be able to back home in Remnant, and more to protect now. But she can't betray Cinder, either. ] In another world, I told Jaune everything I knew because I thought Cinder was dead. I know she's not now, so I can't do that.
[ She slumps down slightly, letting out a frustrated sigh. The only way to protect the people she's come to care about knowing that she has the intention of not returning to Remnant if they can avoid it is if Salem never finds out, or can never reach them. There is no way she and they won't be killed if she does. She thought she had it figured out, and then shortly after ended up here as if karmic retribution for opening her mouth. ]
[Cinder still being alive was... upsetting, but like so much here, not something he could do a damn thing about.
But from the sounds of it Emerald hadn't exactly gained anything from Cinder being alive, either. Complicated and messy, and the part about 'in another world' had him curious, but...]
I won't press if you don't want to talk about it.
[As for their time here, however long it intends to last:]
It's entirely your choice if you want to be friends while we're here.
[ She doesn't know. This is a weird area because Emerald really doesn't believe that someone could forgive someone for what she did. It's one thing to have others do it, and even if Jaune was.. understanding, she doesn't think that he trusts her. You can't be someone's friend if you don't trust them. She supposes she trusted Jaune eventually, but she doesn't know if that was the same for him. Nora she hung around sometimes too, and Neptune, and Oscar. ]
I am sorry about what I made Pyrrha do to the robot, and the Grimm getting in after that.
[ ...No one has managed to convince her to genuinely care about a bucket of bolts. That's probably not going to change. But she is sorry about what happened otherwise. Saying that is the best she can do in terms of an extended hand though. (Besides the.. literally extended, but there's the ulterior motive of chroma with that.) ]
Her name still made Ren's heart ache, though their grief had been passing in to something less painful as of late. Still, it made him go still as if he was waiting for something more to come.
He had often wondered if there was more to the situation at the festival than what they could see. Something had spooked Pyrrha, who had already been tense and closed off even before her one on one fight. They only learned about the latter half after her passing. The fight had remained a mystery.
[ Emerald doesn't really know what to say. She's had a lot of differences, and there are a lot of things she can and can't tell him. Hopefully it won't come down to it. ]
I'll also tell you that Tyrian's made it very clear to us that if Merc and I so much as think about leaving, he'll enjoy killing us.
[ But he can't say she betrayed them a second time if she's upfront about it. She turns his hand over to look at it as she talks, as if trying to concentrate on something else. ]
..That's inevitable if he shows up, so I may end up asking for your help. Sorry in advance for that too.
I know that, but it's not like I'd hold it against you for not helping an international terrorist. I've seen my wanted poster.
[ It's not like it's a secret, after all. Even if it still were, Ren of all people would know. She's an enemy, even if she doesn't necessarily feel that way here. ]
Great. In exchange, I'll.. point out anyone on Salem's side when they come in, as long as I know it. Cinder would fill Merc and I in on everything, Salem doesn't.
[ She hopes that counts for something. If she's pointing out other people, she's not betraying Cinder at all. Cinder's on her own right now, after all.
She raises their hands up a little as if to ask if he's done. ] Feeling better? If not I can give you a hug or something.
[ That's the best she can do, she thinks. Maybe she'll figure out better ways to help out later. It's for selfish reasons- if she wants herself to be safe knowing that she has the intention of not going back to Remnant, which means abandoning Salem's side, she has to make sure Salem's enemies win. Or are at least keeping her busy enough to keep her off Em's tail. It's as simple as that.
She straightens up then and finally lets him go. ]
Anything you want me to agree with? You're like, the easiest person I've had to try to win over so far.
She's not the only one who has had to do whatever it took to survive, and while he and Nora were on the better end of the Orphan Trauma Conga Line, it was still a difficult life that he understood well. She was being selfish for the sake of self preservation and he didn't see a damn thing wrong with wanting to live.]
... Pyrrha wasn't my first loss. My parents-- my whole village...
[It's still difficult to talk about, even after the years that have put distance between him and that awful night, but he doesn't want to drop sudden heavy emotions on her like that.]
I can't rightfully judge someone for just trying to survive when I had to do the same. What happened at Beacon hurts, but harming you really won't turn back the clock, and it would only leave me feeling hollow.
[ She genuinely means that, that's the weird thing. Though maybe it's more obvious in the way she talks now. Back at Beacon, her words were always clear, always had something of a peppy tone to them, as if she was a real optimist with a sassy streak. The way she's speaking to him now is more genuine. She really is sorry that he lost his parents. ]
Merc and I don't have parents either. For very different reasons. I never had anyone to lose until Cinder found me. I was living on the streets stealing for food back then.
[ This is what happens when your homeless kid finds Cinder instead of Ren. ]
[Beyond being emotionally in tune with himself and others, there was just something about other orphans with that sort of history that seems to make a connection easier.]
Nora was in a similar state when I met her. All the more reason why I don't feel I can judge your actions outside of the need to survival.
[ She sounds surprised. She didn't really get close to Nora, but she did come to like her in her own way. There weren't many people who would play rough with Emerald, but Nora was usually fine with it. ]
She's always so.. peppy.
[ Though she guesses maybe the reason she was able to accept that more than she once could have because she too had started to understand what it felt like to be happy, even if she was desperately clinging to those very few reasons. ]
[A nod, and a knowing smile. Anyone who knows Nora now would have trouble imagining it.]
I'm fairly certain unlocking her Semblance had something to do with that. Getting struck by lightning and surviving would probably change anyone.
But, yes, she was and orphan even before I was, and the first time I met her she was being bullied by some other children for having dirty, different clothes and stealing mouldy bread out of the trash to eat.
[ Ahahaha. Emerald gives him a smile. ] Migraine-inducing semblances aren't as fun as lightning.
[ At this point she doesn't really feel the need to hide it. Between what Yang saw and what everyone saw at Haven, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out. ]
Most people in that position don't have anyone to help with that kind of thing since it's hard to feel positive emotions like that. It's pretty surprising she didn't end up Grimm bait, but I'd guess you had something to do with that.
[ Otherwise she can't see them ever being as close as they appear to be. ]
I did what I could to keep her safe, but she took the reigns herself eventually. We both wanted to become strong enough to keep people [and themselves] safe.
That said, my Semblance is fairly... passive in comparison.
[He knows it. There are a lot of people with similar stories that were at Beacon, or even the other academies, saved by their determination to keep new generations from becoming orphans like them. Ren isn't so optimistic as to think that for every orphaned student at an academy, there wasn't three more on an unfortunate road like Emerald had been.]
We needed to find out who Ozpin was going to select as a potential maiden. Once everything was torn down, all Cinder would need to do was follow the most likely candidate to Ozpin, and Ozpin to Amber. The Magnets versus Robots thing was just a bonus from knowing it.
[ Emotional muting though.. ]
The world I was in before this was all about emotions. Magic was even tide to them. I wonder what muting them would've done...
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tdm overflow- ren
You're welcome.
[ She says it easily, scooting a little bit so she can get comfortable. She can feel the chroma, but she genuinely has no idea how long this is supposed to take or anything. ]
Since we're stuck here anyway, I'll get this out of the way. I'm not going to cause anyone trouble unless they cause me trouble first. I know you're not going to trust that, but it's true.
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I'll take your word for it. I don't want any trouble, either, and... well, I know we're not the only ones who suffered a loss.
[Again, not pity, but symapthy for her situation.]
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She hesitates to answer him for a moment, because she's still.. in an odd place. ]
I thought that too. I can't tell you more than that. I'm- [ She pauses. Everything's so much more complicated now that she has her memories, not just Mercury's incorrect word that she's dead. but she also has a lot more memories than she would be able to back home in Remnant, and more to protect now. But she can't betray Cinder, either. ] In another world, I told Jaune everything I knew because I thought Cinder was dead. I know she's not now, so I can't do that.
[ She slumps down slightly, letting out a frustrated sigh. The only way to protect the people she's come to care about knowing that she has the intention of not returning to Remnant if they can avoid it is if Salem never finds out, or can never reach them. There is no way she and they won't be killed if she does. She thought she had it figured out, and then shortly after ended up here as if karmic retribution for opening her mouth. ]
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But from the sounds of it Emerald hadn't exactly gained anything from Cinder being alive, either. Complicated and messy, and the part about 'in another world' had him curious, but...]
I won't press if you don't want to talk about it.
[As for their time here, however long it intends to last:]
It's entirely your choice if you want to be friends while we're here.
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I am sorry about what I made Pyrrha do to the robot, and the Grimm getting in after that.
[ ...No one has managed to convince her to genuinely care about a bucket of bolts. That's probably not going to change. But she is sorry about what happened otherwise. Saying that is the best she can do in terms of an extended hand though. (Besides the.. literally extended, but there's the ulterior motive of chroma with that.) ]
I know that doesn't help much.
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Her name still made Ren's heart ache, though their grief had been passing in to something less painful as of late. Still, it made him go still as if he was waiting for something more to come.
He had often wondered if there was more to the situation at the festival than what they could see. Something had spooked Pyrrha, who had already been tense and closed off even before her one on one fight. They only learned about the latter half after her passing. The fight had remained a mystery.
Well. Until now.
He finally let out a breath and shook his head.]
Getting angry won't bring them back...
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[ Emerald doesn't really know what to say. She's had a lot of differences, and there are a lot of things she can and can't tell him. Hopefully it won't come down to it. ]
I'll also tell you that Tyrian's made it very clear to us that if Merc and I so much as think about leaving, he'll enjoy killing us.
[ But he can't say she betrayed them a second time if she's upfront about it. She turns his hand over to look at it as she talks, as if trying to concentrate on something else. ]
..That's inevitable if he shows up, so I may end up asking for your help. Sorry in advance for that too.
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That man was so unhinged it was a wonder he didn't physically break apart.
He legitimately creeped Ren out.
If he shows up here...]
I went to Beacon so I could help people. That doesn't stop just because I've been dragged away from Remnant.
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[ It's not like it's a secret, after all. Even if it still were, Ren of all people would know. She's an enemy, even if she doesn't necessarily feel that way here. ]
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[He's being a little sassy now. He doesn't want to tease too much, but he can't help the tiny smirk that appears.]
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[ She rolls her eyes, but she appreciates the sass. ]
I'll have you know I haven't even stolen anything for months.
[ A brief pause, then- ]
I stole a zucchini off someone's barbecue. But otherwise, totally clean.
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They probably didn't miss it.
[But, on a more serious note-]
If you're ever in trouble, I'll help.
[End of story. Her past doesn't matter here.
Most of theirs don't, really.]
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[ She hopes that counts for something. If she's pointing out other people, she's not betraying Cinder at all. Cinder's on her own right now, after all.
She raises their hands up a little as if to ask if he's done. ] Feeling better? If not I can give you a hug or something.
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[Somehow he's not surprised that Salem doesn't go around divulging everything to her lackies.]
No, this is fine. Thank you for helping me. I do feel better now.
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She straightens up then and finally lets him go. ]
Anything you want me to agree with? You're like, the easiest person I've had to try to win over so far.
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She's not the only one who has had to do whatever it took to survive, and while he and Nora were on the better end of the Orphan Trauma Conga Line, it was still a difficult life that he understood well. She was being selfish for the sake of self preservation and he didn't see a damn thing wrong with wanting to live.]
... Pyrrha wasn't my first loss. My parents-- my whole village...
[It's still difficult to talk about, even after the years that have put distance between him and that awful night, but he doesn't want to drop sudden heavy emotions on her like that.]
I can't rightfully judge someone for just trying to survive when I had to do the same. What happened at Beacon hurts, but harming you really won't turn back the clock, and it would only leave me feeling hollow.
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[ She genuinely means that, that's the weird thing. Though maybe it's more obvious in the way she talks now. Back at Beacon, her words were always clear, always had something of a peppy tone to them, as if she was a real optimist with a sassy streak. The way she's speaking to him now is more genuine. She really is sorry that he lost his parents. ]
Merc and I don't have parents either. For very different reasons. I never had anyone to lose until Cinder found me. I was living on the streets stealing for food back then.
[ This is what happens when your homeless kid finds Cinder instead of Ren. ]
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[Beyond being emotionally in tune with himself and others, there was just something about other orphans with that sort of history that seems to make a connection easier.]
Nora was in a similar state when I met her. All the more reason why I don't feel I can judge your actions outside of the need to survival.
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[ She sounds surprised. She didn't really get close to Nora, but she did come to like her in her own way. There weren't many people who would play rough with Emerald, but Nora was usually fine with it. ]
She's always so.. peppy.
[ Though she guesses maybe the reason she was able to accept that more than she once could have because she too had started to understand what it felt like to be happy, even if she was desperately clinging to those very few reasons. ]
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I'm fairly certain unlocking her Semblance had something to do with that. Getting struck by lightning and surviving would probably change anyone.
But, yes, she was and orphan even before I was, and the first time I met her she was being bullied by some other children for having dirty, different clothes and stealing mouldy bread out of the trash to eat.
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[ Ahahaha. Emerald gives him a smile. ] Migraine-inducing semblances aren't as fun as lightning.
[ At this point she doesn't really feel the need to hide it. Between what Yang saw and what everyone saw at Haven, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out. ]
Most people in that position don't have anyone to help with that kind of thing since it's hard to feel positive emotions like that. It's pretty surprising she didn't end up Grimm bait, but I'd guess you had something to do with that.
[ Otherwise she can't see them ever being as close as they appear to be. ]
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I did what I could to keep her safe, but she took the reigns herself eventually. We both wanted to become strong enough to keep people [and themselves] safe.
That said, my Semblance is fairly... passive in comparison.
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[ Ren, without parents, managed to take care of Nora, and somehow they both managed to make it. ]
What is it? We really only catalogued the girls at Beacon.
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[He knows it. There are a lot of people with similar stories that were at Beacon, or even the other academies, saved by their determination to keep new generations from becoming orphans like them. Ren isn't so optimistic as to think that for every orphaned student at an academy, there wasn't three more on an unfortunate road like Emerald had been.]
Emotional muting. Why only the girls?
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[ Emotional muting though.. ]
The world I was in before this was all about emotions. Magic was even tide to them. I wonder what muting them would've done...
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