#callowed

“You’re welcome!”

Returning the smile much more brightly, and giggling at the way Tyrian had gotten to his feet, Penny fidgeted a little with the tray, finally folding down into a sit across from him with her own bowl. Her own serving of noodles was, again, much smaller, and not as seasoned. Left entirely plain, since the systems that let her consume food weren’t working quite right at the moment: they weren’t a top priority to fix. Cinder, and then Tyrian’s tail, were priorities.

“We didn’t know if you were hungry,” she informed him, once she was settled with her own little bowl.

She didn’t say, of course, that she had asked Hazel to show her how to make noodles so that she could bring some to Tyrian. Hazel had been making dinner for him and Emerald and Mercury and Cinder anyway, it just wasn’t noodles at first. But Tyrian didn’t need to know that. Nor did he need to know that the thought had only crossed her mind because she’d overheard her mother talking to Hazel, and saying that he didn’t know if Tyrian was eating properly.

Not quite the same, but close enough that her tic doesn’t sound.

      “Tyrian, darling, do sit still, won’t you?”

         The doctor’s lab at Salem’s fortress was almost unable to be told apart from that of any other Atlesian genius.  Seamless floors and walls, smooth metal counters, and a handful of hospital beds for any guests the doctor had to see to.  Granted, he would admit: most of his guests here were actual guests, more’s the pity.  Like his current guest, as it happened.

         The Atlesian raised a brow at the scorpion faunus, tutting softly as he worked.  It had been quite some time since he’d designed such a complex prosthetic, and he had no desire to disappoint when the final product was released.  Though, at this point the prosthetic tail was far from complete.  Simply getting the framework to comply with Tyrian’s demands of his tail was proving a challenge of programming, and while the good doctor did not at all shy from a good challenge...well.  Who knew how long Salem would give him to get this right?  It seemed a waste to do all this work merely to be snuffed out at her displeasure.

>:-)

She wasn’t used to waiting.  Normally, when Tock received her assignment, she was allowed to leave straight away.  But this time was different; this time, she was to have a partner, and not anyone of her tribe, either.  That had rankled; she honestly didn’t want a partner.  But she wasn’t stupid enough to protest against Salem, the only person whom Tock would ever admit was superior to her. 

So she waited, annoyed and grinding her steel teeth together once her song was done.  Thankfully, she didn’t have much longer to wait.

The person who appeared from the shadows that always seemed to fill every room of Salem’s fortress wasn’t like anyone Tock might have expected.  It wasn’t his makeup or his slender build that caught her attention, no.  She’d seen that many times, growing up on the streets of Vale.  No, it was his tail that made her grin, baring her steel fangs with amusement.  She wondered if it was venomous, too.

“So yore my new partner, eh?” she said in greeting, pulling her hook from the wall to stalk toward him. “Wot’s yore name?” 

Tyrian cocked an eyebrow her statement.

“Well, isn’t that poetic. I’m glad you’re finally gaining some clarity, girl. Just because there’s a void in your life doesn’t mean anyone can fill it. And certainly not her.” His voice dripped with venom at the mention of Cinder.

“Good for you. Not sure why it took you so long to figure out, she’s not exactly… subtle in her self-interest.”

bitter scoff, and gemstone resists curling in on herself like she has done ever since trapped in this ichor mausoleum, at the behest of a goddess who will keep her there until she pleases.   or sees fit to kill her once no longer useful.   that seemed to be a running theme in her life ; usefulness to those who gathered her like namesake, something pretty to be looked at.   then abandoned once the shine and glimmer left.    ❛  don’t kid yourself  --  i’m not the only one who was in the dark, tyrian.  ❜

Let Ruby Say Fuck

Okay, this was it. Tonight was the night Emerald was finally going to leave all of this behind, run away and start anew - away from Salem. Mercury would be following her in a few days, he had a plan, but it involved her getting out first.

The thief didn’t really have any belongings to pack, which was just as well. If she’d been carrying a heavy bag around, she was more likely to get caught. Emerald was surprised she had made it this far already, taking the route the others rarely wandered and sticking to the shadows, prepared to cloak herself with her semblance if need be. But she hadn’t met with any resistance - not yet. This was going a little too well... She was sure it wouldn’t last.

>:-)