Schnee Snippets #1: âWhat is the nature of Wulfric and Emeraldâs relationship? Is she, his servant?â
âAbsolutely ridiculous! How could you even think that?!â Wulfric Schnee practically shouted as he shot up from his desk.
âEmerald is not a servant or a pet! She is my partner! My equal in every way!â The white-haired man continued to shout while making his way around the desk he'd been sitting at.
âI do not put my life above hers. She is magnificent, really.â Wulfricâs voice lowered as he began to reminisce. Memories of his dark skinned partner coming back to him.
âEmerald is just as strong as me. That is why she is apart of my team. Strength like hers is rare, and it is my job to cultivate it.â He continued to elaborate while his mind flash backed to the day theyâd met.
âExcuse me, Miss. Just how did you do thatâŚ?â A sixteen-year-old Wulfric Schnee asked this question as he stopped down an alleyway on mantleâs streets.
The young boy looked down said alleyway and saw the young woman heâd been chasing.
An exotic girl with dark skin and long green hair. Her crimson red eyes darted between the wall behind her and the nicely dressed boy walking towards her.
Panicking, the girl reached for her weapons that lay across her lower back, but Wulfric was quick to stop her.
âAta, ata, ata!â He chided her while removing his right hand that had been neatly folded behind his back. Holding his palm forward to stop her.
âWe wouldnât want them to hear you, now would we?â Wulfric then asked as they both heard the sound of guards approaching. The Schnee boys' personal security detail that heâd managed to slip just before finding this girl.
âWhat do you want?!â The girl then shouted at the boy in front of her. Making sure not to be too loud as to alert the guards.
âWell, for starters, Iâd like my wallet back.â Wulfric confidently replied while pointing at the satchel around her waist. The thief protectively putting a hand over her loot. âIt belonged to my father, and Iâd hate for it to be stolen.â
âI didnât steal anything! Just leave me alone!â She fired back at him with even more rage.
âAnd I already asked you my next question⌠Just how did you do that?â Wulfric repeated his original question to which the thief grew confused.
âSleight of hand, patience, deception.â The white-haired boy began to explain while removing a single ring on his left hand. Fiddling with it for a bit before slipping it from his right hand into the palm of his left.
âStealing is an art form; I know quite well.â Wulfric then open his left palm only to reveal the ring was gone. Until he held up his other hand and showed that it was now on his right finger. The dark-skinned girl rolling her eyes at this.
âBut you didnât do that.â He continued, nonetheless.
âYou looked me right in the eye when we passed you by. Even smiled at me. Then, it was gone, and so were you.â
âSo, howâd you do itâŚ?â Wulfric finished his little speech while gazing down at the girl in front of him. The two now face to face.
âWha⌠IâŚâ The thief then stuttered for a moment as she had no idea what to say.
âExcuse me, dear.â Wulfric then cut her off as he quickly grabbed her shoulders and spun the both of them against a nearby dumpster. Wulfric pushing against her to keep the both of them hidden. Emerald finally noticing that more guards had just run past the alleyway.
âSorry about that.â He quickly apologized after they separated. Emerald still being at a loss for words, but one question did come to her mind.
âWhat do you really want from me?â Wulfric simply chuckled at her question.
âWell, can we start with a name?â He then asked back while extending a hand towards the green-haired girl.
âI feel like we got off on the wrong foot, MissâŚâ The boyâs statement trailed off as he continued to patiently wait.
âEmerald.â The thief washed her hands of all this. Throwing caution to the wind.
âEmerald Sustrai.â Still, she wouldnât shake his hand which he uncomfortably lowered.
âWell, Emerald. I take it you already know who I am.â The white-haired boy then confidently stated without a hint of arrogance. Emerald simply nodding in response.
âIâd say we have, maybe, thirty minutes till they find us⌠Letâs talk.â
âAnd I will always value her strength.â The now adult Wulfric Schnee finished his speech as his flashback ended.
Then, as if on cue, the rhythmic sound of knocking was heard.
"Thank you, sir." The woman he'd been praising just a few moments ago walking into his office.
Emeral Sustrai had changed a lot since she'd met Wulfric Schnee. The young thief no longer needing to steal for food and clothes meant she'd learned proper etiquette and discipline from her adoptive family. Though, Jacques Schnee had been disapproving when his second oldest had come home with a brand-new stray on his arm. The old man's opinion hardly mattered now.
Emerald now carried herself with a level of refinement. She stood up straight and walked single file towards the Schnee man. Gone were her old (skimpier) clothes. Instead, she wore a traditional white Atlas military uniform and a white hat on top of her green hair. Said green hair was elegantly pulled into a long braid running down her spine.
"I've just finished the inspection you asked for." After striding towards Wulfric's desk. Emerald set down the files she'd brought him, records of the workers in his mines.
"Thank you, Ms. Sustrai." Wulfric responded in a professional tone. picking up the records and beginning to read his partners reports.
"Of course, sir." Emerald responded once more with his professional title. The dark-skinned girl bowing before turning to leave.
The interaction being what anyone would expect from an executive and his subordinate. Though they thought of each other as partner, Wulfric and Emerald had to keep the illusion of being just a CEO and a dutiful assistant. However, they were behind closed doors now, which meant Wulfric wasn't going to let her leave that easily.
"Emerald." The white-haired man called as he once more rose from his desk.
"Yes." Emerald began while opening up the door to exit.
Only to have the door quickly slammed shut beside her. Her "boss" trapping her with his body.
"Emerald, you do know how special you are to me...?" He then asked while glaring down at her. A single gloved hand moving up to cup the quivering girl's chin. "Right?"
"Of course, sir." Emerald replied in a startled voice. Much to Wulfric's dissapointment.
"Emerald... It's just us."
His words were accompanied by the distinct metalic sound of the door locking beside her.
"There's no need for formalities, Em." Wulfric continued his assault by wrapping a single arm around her waist. Pulling the woman towards him till their hips met. Emerald only chuckling in response.
"I see, Wulf." Emerald finally dropped her professional demeanor as she leaned into the man before her. Wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I haven't been very appreciative of you, Em." Wulfric explained while reaching up and combing a hand through her green hair. Knocking her hat off in the process.
"I apologize for that." He continued while guiding her towards his desk.
"Please, allow me to make it up to you."