Utah Urban
Lets see... woke up in a strange place, with no idea where I am.
Is it sad that I'm getting used to this?
"Just woke up, boy?"
I looked at the old woman, she looked at me as she stood with her hand on a cane.
"How long was I out?"
"Mostly just a day or so, you helped out Taiyang's girls so they decided to have me help you out."
She picked up my pistol.
"Silenced 22 caliber pistol, 9 round magazine, looks like it was handmade and forged."
"It is."
She looked at the weapon.
"Qrow would say it's underpowered crap, but skill can overcome a lot."
She put the gun on the table next to me.
"So you need a place to live, I assume?"
I looked her in the eye.
"A 1000 lien a month, sound fair for rent?"
The woman blinked.
"What?"
"1000 lien a month, is that fair for rent?"
She stared at me, I pulled out my wallet and brought out the cards.
"I have the first month's rent right here."
She took the money and stared at it.
"Where did you get this money, boy?"
"Started out doing repairs, bought a scroll and then made a couple apps and sold them online."
"And why are you offering this?"
"You're about to give the 'my house, my rules' speech, right?"
She nodded her head.
"I'm a pretty independent person, comes from the way I was raised and what I've been through. I6ts going to be easier for me to rent and upgrade some barn you're not using than living underfoot."
She looked at me, took the lien and tapped her cane.
"Follow me."
I got my stuff and followed her, we walked through the farm until we got to a barn. It was falling apart, the roof had holes in it, and it was cold and dank.
"You have a choice: live under my rules or live in this barn."
I looked at the woman and bowed slightly.
"I thank you for your kindness. Mind if I fix this place up a bit?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Go ahead. I wouldn't want to intrude on your independence, stubborn boy."
And with that she left, I went inside the barn and looked around. I dropped my pack and my tools jingled. The roof had a hole int it, there wasn't any furniture nor bathroom or running water and the ground was earth.
"I can work with this."
I sat down alone in the barn, it was cold and I closed my eyes.
I saw the book in my mind's eye and tapped the king. I had picked 3 slots, aura, flight, poison. I picked up the poison one after killing one of those grim scorpion things, took a hundred kills to unlock. What it did was simple: it turned a grim's healing factor against it, making injuries worse. With beowolves it was often enough to kill them in a couple shots. Most grim however needed more than that to put them down.
I opened my eyes and looked at Minds.
"This isn't enough, I'm not enough... We need to go hunting."
I got up and stretched. Remaking candy crush was bringing in money, that was good, I could use that money to build this place up and get a proper workshop going on. It might take a while but I had what I needed to get started. I just needed to make it happen.
View in Thread
Dec 15, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
noirag92, Kekeli111, lazerwolf and 272 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
Qrow's been following me, shadowing me.
Most people in Remnant have been thankfully indifferent. If you're not a faunus, if you're not related to them or a friend or a threat... people tend to ignore you. Leave them alone and they leave you alone. Qrow though...he thinks. I haven't been around the girls, haven't bothered them or really interacted.
Instead I've been trying to set up a base, earn some lien, tinker and hunt grim. I don't have enough money, enough resources, enough knowledge or enough resources to pull off any of my plans. I should be under his radar. I mean, yeah I do plan on doing nefarious things to his family but that's years away and I haven't tipped my hand at all.
I carefully aim my pistol at the beowolf, my 22 was silenced, I could only fly high enough to get to tree level as I was tethered to Minds like Minds was tethered to me. 33 meters, 108 feet, that was my maximum height. It was above most houses but only let me stay up in the branches of the mature trees.
I calmly took a breath, aimed my pistol carefully, and fired. The pistol round was designed to penetrate armor, the wolf yelped as the round hit it. I smiled as the wound grew, my power turning its own regenerating powers against it. I had hit it in the head and I watched it vanish, turned into dust. I flew to the next branch of the next tree. I took aim again, waited, took my time. My pistol was silenced and barely gave off any noise, another round and another dead beowolf, I holstered my weapon. I had gotten enough kills tonight.
I flew quickly back to my home as I felt Qrow follow me. When I landed at my home I saw him at the door.
"Hunting Grim?"
"They need killing."
He folded his arms, standing in my way.
"True, but isn't it risky to go out alone?"
I shrugged.
"I'm the best person to go out there."
"Why?"
"Because I'm expendable. If something happened to you, Yang and Ruby would be sad, your friends would be sad, Taiyang would be sad. Your death would make the world a worse place. If something happened to me... well, no one would miss me."
The man looked me over.
"What about the people you do repairs for?"
"They're customers, they would just find another handyman who's more skilled."
"Your games? They have fans."
"They're basic skinnerbox tech designed to bilk money out of people through microtransations, there are better games on the app store."
He looked me over.
"I think you're hiding something."
"Everyone's hiding something."
He studied me and then nodded.
"You keep this up and you will end up dead."
"Or strong, I'm hoping for the later."
"I'm not betting on it, kid."
With that done, he walked away. I opened the door and searched my home for bugs but didn't find any so I searched my computer for spyware. After removing it, I sat down and meditated. Finally enough, enough kills for a queen, I smiled as I spent the essence and felt a piece in my hand. I looked up at my stand and I felt a sense of realization.
"This one is yours, isn't it?"
I put my hand open and my Stand took it, I smiled as I saw an image open and I took it in my mind's eye.
"It's a start."
View in Thread
Dec 15, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
noirag92, Kekeli111, xCanaan23 and 256 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
Yang invited me to her birthday party.
Which meant dealing with a pile of screaming children who would be all out to do stupid stuff that annoys people. That said I couldn't say no, not with Qrow watching me and not without insulting Yang, Ruby and her father.
I looked at the mirror and sighed.
"She's going to be smoking hot when she grows up, she's going to be smoking hot."
I splashed my face and put on a grin, it looked back so I switched to my default frown and picked up the box and walked with it to Taiyang's house. I kept myself from grimacing, barely, when the noise of children squabbling hit my ears as I tapped the button.
"Utah...."
Taiyang looked at me.
"Welcome."
I smiled.
"I brought a present um I hope Yang isn't too bothered that I had to make it."
He smiled back.
"I'm sure Yang will love it."
I walked inside and saw the happy children, they played games and bickered and Yang stood above them like a little queen. I stayed on the sidelines, taking some water and sipping it.
"UTAH!"
I coughed as I felt Yang hug me just a little too hard.
"Welcome to my party."
She let me go and I turned around.
"I um just want to thank you for helping protect me and my sister."
I shrugged.
"I hate grim."
She frowned.
"I um heard... I'm sorry that happened?"
I shrugged.
"It happens all the time to isolated families like mine, that's why people like your dad and uncle are so important."
With that done I had unlocked Yang's desire to brag about her father and uncle and tell me about how she wanted to become a huntress. I said the occasional thing to prod her to speak about it more, because as long as I was talking to the little princess the rest of the children would leave us be. It worked, eventually food was brought out and Yang opened her presents.
She was a good kid, she looked at my present last.
"I um couldn't afford anything from the store so I had to build it... Sorry."
She gave me a look of understanding.
"It's ok."
She opened it and blinked.
"What is this?"
"A jetpack."
Yang bounced.
"It only has a half hour of power and you need lightning dust to power it and-"
"JETPACK!"
She went put it on, laughing like a mad woman, and zipped around. Her father stared at his daughter, then at me.
"You can make jetpacks?"
I looked him in the eye, the secret to bullshitting is to say the ridiculous with a straight face.
"Can't every one?"
"Um no..."
He sighed.
"YANG, COME DOWN HERE! WE NEED TO TALK."
"I'M FLYING! WHEE!"
With that done the children walked out of the party, eager to get home before dark. Not me though, I was encouraged to stay by Yang. With that done we ate leftover pizza, Qrow looked at Taiyang and then spoke.
"So...Utah, tell me about yourself?"
"I make things and hate Grim."
He nodded his head.
"So what about your family?"
"I really don't want to talk about it."
Yang smiled.
"Please?"
I sighed.
"There was this story dad told me about our family... If you really want to hear it, I will tell you the story."
She nodded with excitement and I spoke.
"Once upon a time there were two brother, gods who created this world, humanity lived besides their gods and one day a woman was locked up in a tower, her name was Salem."
Qrow frowned.
"So anyway her father had locked her up and a few men tried to liberate her, why I don't know but eventually someone succeded. His name was Ozma and the two of them fell deeply in love then he got sick and died. Distraught she went to the god of light to bring back her love. He said no so she went over to the god of darkness who, surprisingly enough, agreed."
I leaned back.
"The light god got ultra prissy and killed him and the dark one brought him back. This repeated itself until light said she went to him first which got the dark one angry and he killed her love as punishment. Salem got really angry and tried to fight the god of light who gave her immortality as a punishment."
Qrow was leaning in.
"I have no idea why it counts as a punishment but Salem clearly did not learn her lesson and decided to declare war on the gods. This ended about as well as expected. The gods obliterated her army and destroyed the human race, leaving her alone. They shattered the moon, declaring the world a remnant of what it was..."
"Is that how we got the name?"
I shrugged at Yang's question.
"Um... I don't know. So, alone and distraught, she wandered into the land of darkness and tried to kill herself. This didn't work very well because, you know, immortal so she was just corrupted into this weird human-grim form. She became a witch as humanity was brought back into the world."
I took a sip of the bad punch, the girls leaned in.
"At this point the gods gave her back Ozma which... you know if they had just done in the first place, it would have prevented this entire mess. He found her and they restarted their relationship and had four girls. Unfortunately um he found out she was you know crazy and realized he had to you know leave... So, taking his girls, he fled only for Salem to go crazy and try to kill them all. One of the girls, realizing that mom was nuts and on a murder spree, used her powers to fake her death and ran away. The bloodline of Salem the witch queen and Ozma flowed through her veins and she would in time have children and a lineage of her own, which would eventally lead to my families creation."
I looked at Qrow who was glaring at me, and a startled Taiyang.
"And my father told me: Son, one day your true power will awaken and you will bend even the grim to your will."
The spoon in Qrow's hands bent.
"And if you don't believe any of that, congratulations! Neither do I."
The frown went away, and Yang blinked.
"You don't believe it?"
I shrugged.
"I don't believe any of my father's fairy tales, like the rumors of 4 sacred objects crafted by the gods and given to Ozma or that Ozma is still around and just reincarnates after each death. Or that he blessed 4 maidens with magic powers who are still running around fighting grim."
Taiyang and Qrow looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"And that he's still gifting powers, like giving people the power to turn into crows or something. Like I said, complete nonsense."
"There might be some truth in it, right?"
I rolled my eyes.
"It's all a bunch of nonsense Yang, just something my father said to puff himself up and make our family to be more important than it is. I mean, I loved the man but seriously, a magic object that can summon someone named Jinn to answer 3 questions every hundred years? It's nonsense, something like that doesn't exist."
Qrow nodded his head.
"Well yeah, some people like their tall tales."
I shrugged.
"I know, right? He even told me that Professor Ozpin was one of Ozma's many reincartnations! I mean, really? Like anyone is supposed to believe that, right?"
Taiyang and Qrow laughed awkwardly.
"Um Utah? You want to go back home?"
I shrugged.
"Yeah it's dark, and thanks for inviting me to the party."
Taiyang motioned for Qrow to stay and he walked with me to my place.
"So what you said... You haven't told anyone else right?"
I shrugged.
"Of course not, it's complete nonsense sir. My father's memory is better served by just forgetting it happened at all."
I looked at the door.
"Mind telling Yang and Ruby not to repeat it? People probably assume my family is nuts already, no need to confirm it right?"
"Yes, yes, I will tell them both. Best to not repeat tall tales right?"
I shrugged.
"Agreed."
View in Thread
Dec 16, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
Kekeli111, xCanaan23, Luke Dragneel and 308 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
Was trolling Taiyang and Qrow a good idea?
In all likelihood the answer was probably no. I wasn't invited to their house after that, and though my financial situation slowly got better, I noticed that I was being slightly shunned by the local community. They still did business with me but they were less social. Which I should have expected, I wasn't one of the people after all and I was odd by local standards.
But as long as I had market access I was good, and even as odd jobs became more scarce my income from online ventures got better. Honestly it gave me more time to tinker, more time to hunt, and practice. It was around 6 months after the birthday party that I met him. I was aiming a new rifle at a beowolf. I carefully positioned myself on the tree, waiting and then took the shot then I moved and took more. There was a pack after all.
The rifle silenced the shots, both the old fashioned way and with a noise cancellation device, the rounds were armor piercing. I aimed carefully, missed and aimed again. I slowly picked them off, watching as the wounds grew and they died. I sighed as I put in another clip.
"Pretty good aim."
"A real Hunter's better."
One last one, breath in and hold the gun then carefully look down the scope... fire. Good, right through the bone plate, the creature fell and died. 20 grim. Not nearly enough. I breathed in and out, I managed to buy a bishop, Minds could fly properly now, I needed 700 more kills before I could pick up another bishop.
"Skill comes with time and training."
I looked up at the man and saw Ozpin standing on a branch.
"School year over?"
"Yes I heard about your father's um... stories."
I shrugged.
"He was a conspiracy theorist who wanted to be bigger than he was. Don't get me wrong, he was a good man who raised me best he could but I learned a long time ago to take his stories with all of the salt."
"So um you don't believe it?"
"Father said that one of your supposed reincarnations was the king of Vale, you know during the war."
I laughed, and Ozpin chuckled awkwardly.
"See? Ridiculous, right?"
"Yes... Nonsense. Anything else?"
"They told you the story, right?"
"Everything you told me."
"Well I guess my favorite stories about Ozma were the ones where Salem and him became false gods."
Ozpin blinked
"What?"
"Yeah, in the stories the two of them created a kingdom together and set themselves up as gods. I forgot most of the stories but I remember them being funny."
"How?"
"Salem would be the brash headstrong one, with poor Ozma running around trying to undo the latest disaster. It was funny."
Nice, more Grim! You think i'd run into more of them.
"Funny... how? Please explain?"
"Stories about foolish but headstrong people making mistakes and the other person trying to clean them up discreetly can be very funny. But, like I said, it didn't happen so don't get worked up about it."
Ursa! Good, aim, breath, fire, the round won't kill it even with a headshot but I don't need it to. I just need the grim to bleed, to get wounded, for its wounds to fester.
"Enjoying this?"
"Really don't like Grim."
I shouldered my weapon as the beast dusted.
"I got coffee at my place and I'm getting low on ammo, you in?"
"Sure."
He followed me as I flew back home, I kept my pistol out in case of any surprises. When I got back to my place Ozpin was next to me, he walked inside and I fixed some instant. He nodded, taking it.
"So you don't think there's truth in his words."
"None. Well the technical stuff like how to fix stuff but his stories were quite clearly nothing but bunk."
I sipped the bad coffee.
"So your little invisible friend?"
I looked at him.
"The one next to you?"
I shrugged.
"Weird semblance thing, I prefer not to talk about it."
Of course he could see my stand.
"And you can fly too?"
"Semblances are weird."
Ozpin studied me.
"You want to become a hunter?"
"I hate grim, hunters kill grim, it's a logical choice."
"It's not an easy life."
"Since when has life ever been easy?"
That earned me a grin.
"When you're old enough I will make sure you get into Signal."
He got up.
"And Beacon?"
"If you make it through Signal then I have no doubts that you will get into Beacon."
After that he shook my hand, said his goodbyes and left and I went back to tinkering. The more I hunted the better off I would be when the time came.
View in Thread
Dec 16, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
Kekeli111, xCanaan23, Hurrock and 291 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
When you give a small child a jetpack the first thing they want to do is use it.
And even with Taiyang limiting the pack's use, sooner or later it was going to break and it would need to be repaired. Yang was going to come over to my place sooner or later to have it fixed. Now I did a good job for obvious reasons, I wasn't ready yet to start the process of corrupting Taiyang's girls. I wanted to have the entire set ready before I did that. Because you never know what benefits there will be to such a thing and anyway I had time. Beacon didn't start until much later and the girls were very close.
So I focused on the plan: first the money, then the power then the women.
This world didn't have nearly as many apps and other things that we were used to. In some aspects they were ahead but in many they were woefully behind us. I could go into a tinker fugue and just work on online bits of programming, then sell the results on the app store. With the slow trickle of money I could afford to bring in better electronics and better equipment and work on tools to make better tools.
I breathed in.
Three edges, that's all I get. My aura, Rwby tinkering, and Minds. Three edges with which to build my new life.
"Hey are you in here?"
I shook myself, and looked at the forge I had been building.
"Yeah, sorry! Coming."
Remember she's going to grow up to be smoking hot.
I opened the door and smiled at Yang.
"You need help?"
She was in a sundress and looked adorable.
"Yeah my jetpack isn't working?"
I kept myself from cringing as she produced the broken device.
"I will work on it."
I went into another fugue, into the zone really.
"Hey."
I blinked.
"You're not listening to me."
I sighed.
"I'm sorry but it's a family thing: when we work on tech everything just kind, of you know, goes away. It's just you and the tech."
I looked at the Jetpack
"It's fixed. You need to clean it better though, some gunk got inside it."
"Oh good."
Yang looked at me.
"Are you all right?"
"In all honesty? No. But I am getting better."
She gave me a hug and I sat there awkwardly.
"Um..."
"Hugs make things better."
"Right."
I sighed.
"So what are you doing?"
"Trying to get a proper forge made."
"You're a blacksmith?"
"Um not really but I need a forge to make my armor."
"Armor?"
"Yeah."
"Can't you buy it?"
"No, in my family you're not a man until you make your own suit of armor. If you don't make it well, it doesn't count."
"Family thing?"
"No um clan thing. They don't exist anymore, Grim."
"Right... So the clan?"
Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit? Got it.
"Mandalorians, we prided ourselves on our armor and weapons, you know for all the good that did us."
I sighed at the jetpack.
"It's a poor first attempt."
"It's cool."
"No, it isnt. it's something the elders would shame me for, but you have to start somewhere."
I gave her back the jetpack.
"When I have a proper workshop maybe I can make you a decent one."
Yang hugged me.
"Thanks."
And then left. I looked at the open door and shut it. I couldn't go outside and play, there were tools to make tools to make and many other things to do.
View in Thread
Dec 17, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
Kekeli111, lazerwolf, xCanaan23 and 268 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
It's been 4 years since I arrived on Remnant. Normally I'm able to kill 20 Grim a day on average, mostly beowolves and those pig things with the occasional different creature in the mix. The problem with Patch is quite simple : there aren't enough Grim. The island has a school for hunters, has veteran hunters as teachers and it's always open season on Grim. The result is that there just are not enough of them or enough varieties.
Because yes, unlocking more powers meant fighting and killing more kinds of Grim. I discovered that in order to give a piece the power of flight I would have to kill a nevermore or another flight based Grim. damage reduction? That required an armored Grim and poison required that snake Grim thingy. It was for the most part a lonely existance, but every now and then Yang and Ruby would come and visit and would talk to me.
They were good girls and I had no doubts that, when the time came, I would gladly take them to be mine. However the problem came when I unlocked my final pawn.
"Would you like to update your set?"
….
In that moment I felt like screaming, it had taken me 4 fucking years of my life to complete my set and I just found out I was only half way finished unlocking them. I steadied myself and looked through my options, I could either double the number of pieces I had or strengthen the pieces I had.
"Fuck."
At this rate I would be 14 when I finally unlocked the whole set, and then it would take even longer to empower myself and my minions. The pace was quite simply put too slow... I looked at the armor I had forged and emailed some contacts I had made, then I put on my armor and walked over to the girl's place. As much as I hated leaving them, and potentially you know dying, it was important to do this.
After all this wasn't just about getting a harem, it was about making that harem stronger. Really everyone would be better off if I pulled this off, especially me. I knocked on the door and Taiyang looked down at me.
"Um."
"It's Utah, I need to speak to you and your daughters."
He looked at me.
"Um ok... they're playing outside but I will bring them in."
I took a seat at the table and took deep steady breaths while the two of them came in.
"Cool! who is it?"
"Utah's here, girls."
Yang smiled.
"Cool armor, who made it?"
"Me, I made it. Cultural thing, remember?"
"Right."
Yang smiled as I took off my helmet.
"Can you make me some armor?"
Ruby practically vibrated.
"Me too?"
The girls begged me and an evil idea came to me.
"You really need to ask your father for permission for that kind of thing, especially at our age."
They looked at their father and chorused.
"PLEASE, dad!"
Taiyang laughed.
"Sure girls, sure."
I expertly faked confusion.
"Are you... sure, sir?"
"Why not?"
I bit my lip.
"Well, sir, in my clan's culture if a man makes a suit of armor for a girl and they accept they're considered to be married."
Taiyang blinked.
"I like Yang and Ruby a lot but... you know, we're a little young for that and-"
"NO ARMOR!"
The girls turned beet red and I felt a sense of glee from that.
"So it doesn't work like that here?"
"No.."
Taiyang sighed.
"Glad we cleared that up early."
The girls sunk into their seats.
"Because I'm not against marrying either Yang or Ruby."
Taiyang glared at me.
"Aren't boy's your age supposed to think that girls are icky or something?"
"How could anyone find your girls icky, sir?"
Pride mixed with frustration as Taiyang sighed.
"You want to say something?"
I looked at the girls and didn't have to fake my sense of sadness.
"I have to go."
"Why?"
Ruby's lip quivered, and god she looked adorable.
"When a man in my clan finishes their suit of armor they're expected to go into the wilderness and fight Grim until they find their totem."
"Totem?"
"The sign or symbol that represents them, you're not considered a man until you finish your spirit quest."
Taiyang stared at me.
"That's stupid."
"It's my people's tradition."
"You're ten years old."
"There are people who were younger than me who went on their quests."
"And what happened to your clan?"
"They're dead."
Taiyang glared at me.
"Which means my people's traditions fall on my back all the stronger. If I do not do this I will be disrespecting the memory of my ancestors and family. I'm sorry but I need to go."
I got up.
"I'm sorry."
Yang and Ruby hugged me, their father alternated between pity and over-protectiveness and settled on pity.
"Come back to us."
"Don't get hurt."
I hugged my girls back, not that they knew that they would be my girls of course, but I hugged them all the same. Taiyang guided me to the front of his door and let me out, he studied me.
"Don't die out there, it will break Ruby's heart."
"I will try, sir."
And with that I went back to my place and got provisions and went to the docks. Mistral was filled to the brim with Grim, didn't ask too many questions and Pyrrha lived there. A part of me debated whether recruiting her was a good idea, she had liked Jaune in that original timeline and they could have been a good couple... But then I remembered that while he was nice Jaune was an idiot who just didn't get it and his actions could have led to her death.
If I recruited her I could make her stronger, give her a better chance of survival, and of course make her mine. I had the blond and brunette under my gaze, a redhead would complete the set nicely.
View in Thread
Dec 17, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
Kekeli111, lazerwolf, xCanaan23 and 261 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
"GRIM!"
The great thing and bad thing about sea travel is that Grim exist on the ocean too, not as much as on land but they exist.
"HUNTERS TO THE DECKS!"
I aimed my rifle and took pot shots.
"Sea Feilongs, hate 'em."
I would have thought it would be bigger, but being the size of a van was pretty big I guess. The ship's hunters and crew manned guns and anyone brave enough to volunteer was encouraged to do so.
"We're within sight of Mistral people, just keep it off the ship's tail."
I took another shot and smiled as it hit home, the rounds were not super powerful but well the creature wasn't going to heal from them and the poison effect meant its regeneration ability was turned against it. With each shot the creatures wounds got worse and worse, and I was glad that my helmet hid my vicious grin.
"It's not working."
I dropped my weapon and knelt down and activated the missile, the thing screamed forward and hit the creature just below its head. The wound opened up as the poison effect ripped the creature apart, it screamed as it turned into dust. The adults stared at me as I holstered my weapons.
"You wear a freaking missile on your back?"
I floated down to the hunter in question.
"Clan thing, we knew it was crazy but sometimes you needed that level of power to take down a grim."
I stared at the hunter, who laughed.
"Oh gods, kid, wish I had met your family."
My hand was shook a few times as the shore approached. I gathered my things and got off, flying to a nearby hotel that I had booked. They knew I was coming and gave me my room key, when I got inside I checked my scroll and smiled. I clicked the email and read it after some back and forth I got on the phone.
"You found her?"
"Yeah, wasn't easy. She's currently in prison, petty theft."
I thought about it.
"I take it paying some kind of fine will make it go away?"
"That's normally how it goes down."
"Can you give me her file?"
"Yeah, sending it."
I looked up the new email. Orphan, that was expected, was treated cruelly and abused, left and went to live on the streets, turned to crime to survive.
"Your payment is sent, I'm offering another one. Tell the girl she has clan that's been looking for her and wants her back home. I want her here in Argus."
"That's a bit of a trip."
"I'm paying for a train ride for both of you, first class. I want her here in Argus and I would prefer it if you were nice to her."
"She has a record."
"I know, but this is an asset I want in my hands."
I paused, my games had made a lot of money and I lived frugally for the most part.
"I will send you extra money as an expense account to bring her here on top of your fees. Bring her to me, money is no object."
I could hear the shock as the bounty hunter received their extra fee.
"This is a lot of money."
"And you will receive even more when she's in my custody."
"Consider it done."
I hung up the phone and looked at the red eyes, the green hair and the brown skin.
"Finally found you, Emerald Sustrai."
I smiled warmly under my helmet and wired over more money for the royal. Sweet, this was worth going to the 9s for. I then stretched out, it was of course time to hunt. It would take time to get Emerald into my custody, there were grim to kill and of course I also had to find Pyrrha as well.
Emerald Sustrai
The cop looked at me with disgust, they all did, I got up and looked at him.
The beating would come soon, or maybe exile or forced labor. If the last happened I would figure a way out of it.
"Your clan paid your fines, your bail and for all the damage you caused."
I froze.
"What?"
"Your clan has also sent someone to pick you up so you can go home."
I blinked.
"I don't have a clan, I don't have a family, and I don't have a home!"
The people at the orphanage had been very clear that I had been left on the doorstep, that nobody wanted me, that I was nothing, that I was a burden.
"Girl, do you really want to remain in this jail cell?"
My mouth was dry.
"No. I'm not in trouble?"
"All the damage you did was paid for, when you get back to your clan you better thank them."
He shook his head and undid the door, I walked slowly and my stomach rumbled from hunger. I looked up and saw a woman in armor.
"Emerald...it has taken some time to find you."
I stared at her.
"Whatever they said I did, I didn't do it."
The older woman laughed.
"Oh no you're not in trouble, your clan just wants you to go home."
I felt tears in my eyes, felt anger.
"Why didn't anyone come for me sooner! Why didn't they care about me before."
The woman got on her knee.
"Emerald, your clan has been searching for you for years, I know it's a lot to take in but they just want you to go home."
I wiped the tears away, I didn't have anywhere else to go except the streets, so why not try this out?
"Ok."
The woman took my hand and the people glared at me. I didn't like this town anyway, didn't like the people. We went to the train station and I prepared myself for cramped quarters, to be treated like garbage, instead the fat train master looked at me.
"Emerald..."
"Yes?"
"I will show you to your quarters."
I blinked.
"What?"
"We can't have you slumming it with the riff raff, come on."
I felt confused as I moved through the poorer sections of the train to the richer sections, until I was in a trainroom that seemed opulent beyond belief. The man showed me the shower, my private bedroom, and gave me a magazine so I could pick out clothes for myself. The meals were... well, I was used to eating out of the garbage so eating food that nicely prepared was insane. It was like my world had turned on its head.
For two weeks I lived like a princess. When I got to Argos I was taken to a hotel by the strange woman and the people nodded.
"He's waiting for you in the royal suite."
Someone was waiting for me? Me? No one ever waited for me before, I felt nervous and scared and excited. I went into an elevator and rode it up until I was brought to a room that was fancier than anything I had ever seen before. A boy sat at a table, dressed in armor, his face covered by a helmet.
"Thank you Miss Argent, your fee and a bonus is waiting for you downstairs."
"Thank you."
With that the woman left, the door closed and we were alone. He motioned for me to take a seat and I did so. I felt self-conscious as the masked man stared at me in silence. My every insecurity blared out at me and I wondered if this was some kind of joke or horrible prank.
"Do you know what this armor means, Miss Sustrai?"
I shook my head, it was just armor. It was weird armor but just armor.
"Your ancestor, Mandalore Sustrai, invented this style of armor. your ancestor founded the clan, the city, and our sacred code. I have searched the world for a survivor of his lineage but I never dared hope I would find it."
His voice cracked.
"Is it true that they told you nothing of our people's ways?"
I suddenly did something very stupid.
"I think you have the wrong person, I'm no one special. I'm nothing."
"You have the founder's eyes, you have his green hair, you have his brown skin, you have his name..."
The man in armor paused.
"Do you have his semblance too? The ability to create illusions?"
I froze like a statue.
"I haven't told anyone about that."
He took off his helmet, his hair was blond, his eyes a vivid green he was crying.
"I have searched so long for another survivor."
He went over and hugged me, nobody hugged me. I hugged him back, needing that touch. Somebody wanted me, someone had been looking for me, I broke down then and started crying. When the tears stopped I looked at him.
"I...I'm not alone?"
"No."
"What happened to our people?"
I had a people. I didn't know I had a people.
"Grim, destroyed out entire city, we were forced to scatter across the world. You're the first survivor I found, maybe the only one."
I felt anger, lots of towns had that fate, stupid grim ruined everything. I sat down again, unable to deal with the emotions.
"It's ok, you're with your people now."
"What happens now?"
"I came here on a vision quest, I have to finish that but once I do that we will return to my home in Patch. We will have a separate room built for you."
"I get my own room? You would build a room for me?"
"You're a direct descendent of Mandalore, of course I would."
I felt shocked.
"But...this stealing has to stop."
"I only do that to survive."
"I know but it's beneath you Emerald, it goes against our code. If you need some thing I will try to provide it but please don't steal anymore."
I took a breath.
"Fine...what is the code?"
I felt curious, I had a people now and I wanted to know more about them.
"The four principles are thus: Strength is life, for the strong have the right to rule. Honor is life, for with no honor one may as well be dead. Loyalty is life, for without one's clan one has no purpose. Loyalty is life, for without one's clan one has no purpose."
He looked at me.
"Then there are the five actions: wear armor, defend yourself and your family, raise your children as Madalorians, contribute to the clan's welfare, when called upon by the mandalor or leader of the people rally to his cause."
I blinked.
"We were a warrior people who fought against the Grim, the enemies of man."
It was a lot to take in.
"So now what?"
"For now please rest here, you have journeyed a long way and need time to rest."
He hugged me and kissed my forehead, I blushed and my heart beat faster.
"Welcome back Emerald, we missed you."
Why couldn't I stop crying?
View in Thread
Dec 18, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
Kekeli111, lazerwolf, xCanaan23 and 274 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
Argus was everything I ever wanted.
I expected to find Pyrrha, that was a given, but Emerald was an unexpected treat. I mean sure I put out 300,000 lien to find her but I didn't expect that to actually pan out. The best part though was the Grim, the area beween the city walls and the raised train was filled with Grim and it didn't take a lot of money to convince people to tell me the best hunting spots. My day would start with breakfast with Emerald.
She would ask about our people, or me, or Patch and I would state that I was young when our people were wiped out and that our city had been in decline for awhile before the Grim ended it. I just told her I tried to retain what parts of our culture that I remembered the best I could. Then I went and hunted while Emerald enjoyed the hotel's perks. Argus was fantastic, in Patch I had to search all day for Grim and on average was only able to kill maybe 20 a day. Here in Argus I could kill 500 a day easily as most of the hunters focused on the sea Grim that threatened the harbor. The lesser grim, the wolves and boars and bears outside the walls, were mostly neglected.
I had bought a chain gun just to keep up with the slaughter, the ammo cost was huge but my bank account could handle it and permits were relatively easy to get. In the two weeks between Emerald's discovery and her arrival I had killed enough Grim to unlock a black king and queen. In the week since she arrived, I had managed to earn a black rook and some extra energy. I took a deep breath, I had another conversation with Emerald coming. She was starting to get Antsy, starting to get worried and paranoid. It was time.
I took deep breaths.
"All right."
I summoned the black King.
"Combine."
I placed it on my heart and gritted my teeth. It hurt, the pain was agonizing but then it passed, my eyes opened and I panted.
"Sucked."
I closed my eyes. color options, purple, my king changed color and I felt power...
"Options."
Increase my power of command? I saw 7 options, Pawn, Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Grim... Yeah, I took that. I looked at Minds.
"Your turn."
I placed the queen piece inside of my stand and then blinked as the piece was kicked out. And then I understood.
"You're me and I'm you, the king is complete so you can no longer be a queen."
My stand nodded and I stared at the queen and willed the purple queen back to the ether then I improved one of my rooks and I understood.
I had controlled 3 improvement slots and that number just went up to 14. The improved rook had 7 improvement slots, up from 2, that would be under the rook's control. I put some of my Grim kills into the rook slot and sighed.
"One absolute command?"
Whatever. I fell asleep and then woke up, I walked over to Emerald's room and knocked.
"Getting dressed."
She looked at me and smiled.
"Breakfast will be up soon."
I called room service and let Emerald eat, when she was almost finished I looked at her.
"I was able to find one of our people's caches, hidden outside the city."
Emerald froze.
"What?"
I brought out the rook.
"Your family's symbol, it's a device that makes you stronger. They're rare and hard to make but you deserve this more than me."
Emerald blinked.
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. After we eat I will activate it for you."
She ate her pancakes carefully, obviously nervous. When she was finished I placed the rook on her hand and watched as it went into her skin. Emerald teared up and I suddenly felt a connection, her eyes went blank as my control asserted itself.
"Get up."
She did so, I practiced a few other commands but it felt unsatisfying. I sighed and looked at her, one absolute command.
"Emerald, you love me."
I snapped my fingers, Emerald blushed as she looked at me.
"Do you feel different?"
"Um no but."
She vanished.
"I can turn invisible!"
I smiled warmly at her. It worked, all of it worked! I had my rook, now I just had to claim my queen.
View in Thread
Dec 18, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
xCanaan23, kickass, Luke Dragneel and 253 others like this.
Threadmarks: Pyrrha Nikkos
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Pyrrha Nikkos
My semblance had just been unlocked and I was trying to learn how to master it when I met him.
I was in a beach cave at the time, practicing with cans and other pieces of metal.
"Pretty impressive semblance."
I stumbled and turned around. The boy was wearing armor, he took it off and sat down.
"I am... um, trying to train."
I wasn't good with people, never was.
"Doing all right, but I know of a way you can get stronger."
He held out a purple object.
"What is that?"
"The creation of a lost civilization. Getting to their vaults was a pain, so many Grim."
He shuddered.
"But if you're looking for a way to fight the Grim? there really is no better weapon."
He tossed the little object in the air and I stared at it.
"I'm willing to give it to you if you want."
A part of me thought I should say no, another part thought he was just pretending, and another part of me thought it was a good idea. I sided with the nonsense part.
"Sure, I guess."
I held out my hand and he pressed the purple thing into it and then I felt power and fell to my knees. My eyes widened as I felt my aura grow stronger, I panted as it hit me and I looked at the boy.
"It's... real?"
"Yes, not very many of those were created. One fewer now, I guess."
"Why?"
"Because you have the power to make a difference, I think. I want to see where you take this."
He looked at me and helped me get up.
"I will be going to Beacon eventually, I expect to see you there Pyrrha."
And then he put on his helmet and turned his back on me.
"Who are you?"
"Lets say there was a prisoner who lived in a cave, ok? He's lived there his entire life, he looks at the shadows projected by the light coming into the cave and thinks they're real but one day he escapes. He goes to the blinding light of the world outside the cave and then comes back. Would the other prisoners believe what he told them of the outside world?"
I blinked.
"None of that actually tells me who you are."
"Maybe so... If you want answers you will find them in Beacon."
With that he left the cave and I watched him fly away using his jetpack, my heart beat a little faster and I blushed.
"Ok, the jetpack is pretty cool."
I went back to training, and it was easier. I had so much more aura to work with, so much more power. With this I could improve things, with this I could make a difference. I swore that I wouldn't waste this gift.
View in Thread
Dec 19, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
lazerwolf, xCanaan23, Luke Dragneel and 211 others like this.
Threadmarks: Ozpin
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Ozpin
"What's Mandalore?"
I frowned and looked through the books.
"Mandalore? Is that supposed to mean something to me?"
Qrow sounded irritated.
"Well apparently Utah's been searching for survivors and says his people are from there."
I continued looking through the books.
"Its real name is manazore Minor mountain village that existed 300 years ago, never numbered more than 5,000 people. They specialized in dust armor name was most likely corrupted with time."
"Big deal?"
"Um... No, dust forged armor was abandoned because it's both expensive and time consuming, and not necessarily better than factory made armor while costing ten times the price. They weren't even really that good."
"Oh."
He sounded pretty disappointed.
"So it's gone?"
"Yes but small mountain towns vanish all of the time, you know that. So you have been following our little Utah, what else have you found out?"
"Well he found a girl, an orphan with a criminal record and the old story of abuse and mistreatment. Apparently he's been looking for her for a while, says her ancestor founded Mandolore."
I shrugged.
"That might be the case but that doesn't make her special. Everyone's related to someone who founded some obscure village or town, most of them don't make it past the ten year mark."
Qrow sighed.
"I know. So, your opinion on him?"
I thought about it and decided to be honest.
"He said his father was a conspiracy theorist who played his lineage to be greater than it was. I'm of the opinion that Utah's assessment of his father's character is correct."
"But he was right on a bunch of stuff."
"Yes but he was wrong on a few other things. There have been conspiracy therorists who have been close to the truth of things before and some will likely be close to the truth again in the future."
"So you don't think he's related to Salem?"
I bit my lip.
"No."
"And his powers?"
"He has some kind of invisible projection, beyond that we don't know. I think he has the potential to be a great hunter. Might be worth bringing him into the inner circle some day but right now I simply want to watch him."
"And the girl?"
"Let him bring her to Patch, I doubt she's as special as he thinks she is but having a home and someone to look after her is better than living on the streets."
"Is he a threat?"
"To Grimm, yes. To people? Well we have been watching him for years now and the boy has proven to be relatively harmless. If he was dangerous and unstable he would have done something by now."
"You realize he lives next door to my nieces, right?"
"And their interactions with him have been a good thing. The boy might be smart but he needs someone to keep him on the ground as it were, and your nieces do a good job of that. Has he done anything new lately?"
"No he's just been hunting Grim like crazy, blew through a bunch of money on ammo in Mistral. It looks like he will be returning to Patch once the Summer's over, he bought a ticket."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, he drew the symbol for Pi on his armor... Don't know why."
"He did say he was on a spirit quest of some kind, he possibly succeeded."
"Well woopiedo. Can I go home now?"
"Yes, I will have someone else take over watching the boy."
I looked at his file, the boy was powerful and smart but I think I can finally at long last rule out that he was related to me and Salem. It felt like a relief in some ways and made me sad in others but I had other children, other descendents. While one always misses their first children... my heart had long since healed and moved on.
View in Thread
Dec 19, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
xCanaan23, Luke Dragneel, Beto and 234 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
Overall I would call this summer a win.
I managed to snag Emerald, managed to corrupt Pyrrha, finally upgraded all of my pieces and, generally speaking, had a pretty good time. Sure I missed Ruby and Yang but we were coming home soon.
"So um....Patch?"
Emerald looked nervous.
"It's an island in the kingdom of Vale."
"Near Mandalore?"
"Honestly I have no idea where Mandalore is, it's something mom told me about."
"Really? What was she like?"
"Wore armor a lot, pretty quiet, hated Grim. Father was a conspiracy theorist who believed in crazy stuff. Things were all right until the Grim attacked."
Emerald frowned.
"I'm um sorry."
She blushed as she leaned into me.
"So... what next?"
"Did you pass your general education test?"
Emerald blinked.
"Um... no."
"Then you have to go to school until you do."
I paused.
"Once you turn 12 you can join Signal with me. Do you know how to use your aura?"
"I can make illusions but um other than that?"
She shrugged.
"It's something I can teach you along with blacksmithing, electronics, programming."
She stared at me.
"And you learned that from your parents?"
"Yes. You will need to know these things to make your own armor."
She looked at my suit.
"Can't you just make me one?"
"In our culture asking someone to make you a suit of armor is a proposal, if they make the suit of armor said proposal is accepted and the two are considered married in the eyes of the clan."
I was glad my helmet hid my exasperation as Emerald blushed.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
Emerald shrunk into herself and looked away.
"Well forget it then."
"I will teach you how to make your own armor, your own jetpack and weapons."
Emerald froze.
"Did you say jetpack?"
"Yes."
"You're going to teach me how to make jetpacks?"
"It's a standard part of our armor, of course I'm going to teach you how to make them."
"Cool."
She smiled.
"I um...thanks Utah. It's more than I ever dreamed of, you know?"
"Really?"
"All my life I've been told that I was nothing, that I was worthless. Finding out my family did cool stuff, was important... that means the world to me."
We sailed closer to the island.
"I will sleep on the couch."
"What?"
"I only have one bed, Emerald. Until I find another place on Patch it's what I have."
Emerald looked guilty.
"You don't have to do that."
"You're clan, we have to look after each other."
I stared into the distance and nodded my head.
"Well, want to fly there?"
Emerald smiled.
"Really?"
"I would have to hold you in my arms but-"
"I'm in."
I got Emerald in a bridal carry and flew onwards to Patch as she smiled and cheered. As entrances go... I think I did a decent job.
View in Thread
Dec 20, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
xCanaan23, Beto, Grell23 and 229 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
Emerald looked at the house.
"It's smaller than I thought."
I shrugged.
"I've been trying to get ahold of the old cannery as a new base of operations but it's been a pain."
Emerald blinked.
"Cannery?"
"Yeah, Patch is by the sea so they used to can Tuna here."
"Why did they stop?"
"The capital offered the company a subsidy to move, Patch was upset about it so they built Signal as a way to keep them happy."
"So the jobs equaled out?"
"No, the cannery employed a lot more people but people put safety above money so Patch thought it was fair. In Patch's defense it worked, finding Grim to hunt on the island can be a pain in the butt."
Emerald nodded her head as she sat down on a couch.
"So why is it so hard to get the cannery?"
I shrugged.
"It's actually not, the property only cost 400,000 lien so I bought it over a year ago. The problem is getting everything fixed and upgraded for our use."
"How difficult can that be?"
"The buildings covers 4 and a half acres, and the total property covers 10 acres. That's admittedly ideal for our purposes."
6 more years until I get two more points.
"The problem is the price of labor, materials, everything else essentially, and we have to do our own power and water because it's no longer attached to the grid."
I paused.
"That's about 5 million lien in renovation costs."
Emerald stared at me.
"That's a huge amount of money."
"And I don't really have it. I mean, I make around 100,000 lien a month through videogame microtransactions and various apps, so mainly I've just been having the walls reinforced and the area built up best I can while trying to get damaged or used robots from the Schnee corporation to fix up."
Emerald was silent.
"You make over a million lien a year?"
"Um yes..."
She stared at me.
"And you want to be a hunter?"
"I really hate Grim."
Emerald took a deep breath.
"So what's the plan?"
"Well now that you're here... Get you into school, teach you how to make armor, get some of the buildings operational, and move in."
I paused. My entire tech tree was dust related, I could recreate programs from home but nothing outside it for now.
"And why do we need that much land and stuff?"
"Recreate the clan mostly, it's to hold future family members safely."
Emerald nodded.
"So plans?"
"For right now just go to school, learn some things and make friends."
I smiled.
"I will introduce you to our neighbours."
Yang was a nice girl and I was sure Emerald would like her.
View in Thread
Dec 20, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
xCanaan23, Beto, Myrddin Emrys and 233 others like this.
Threadmarks: Juane Arc
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Jaune Arc
I sighed, my feet hurt.
"The ribbons are so cuuuute!"
I hated this. The dress up, being outnumbered, the constant dancing... don't get me wrong, I loved my sisters but sometimes I just wanted to escape the estrogen. I sighed as I removed the ribbons, the make up and scrubbed the crap off of my nails. Pink sparkle just looked tacky.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
"I wish I was tougher."
My family had Legendary heroes in it, famous huntsmen and me... I was nothing. I shook myself and went to my scroll, another round of Candy Crush would make it better. I held my scroll up and it went fuzzy.
"Oh, come on!"
"Are you really happy with your life?"
I dropped the scroll and backed off.
"What?"
"Are you really happy with your life? As it is I mean?"
"Um are you alive?"
…..
"No Jaune I'm a magic scroll here to grant you three wishes."
"Really?"
"God damn it... Jaune, I'm just someone talking to you by using your scroll's wifi."
"What's a wifi?"
"It's the thing that makes computers work together. Look, just be honest: are you happy with your life?"
"Um not really?"
"What do you want Jaune?"
"To be a hunter."
"Good, I can work with that. Jaune, being a hunter is a lot of work. Are you willing to do it?"
"Of course!"
"Great I'm going to email you a bunch of books on how the whole hunting thing works and aura and."
"What's Aura?"
The silence returned.
"Um excuse me?"
"What's aura?"
I heard breathing.
"You're kidding me... This is basic knowledge, you should know this stuff."
"I don't?"
"Aura is the light of your soul, it's the thing that protects hunters and makes them better at killing Grimm. As a hunter your job is to know about this stuff. Everything you need to know is in the email, it's marked hunter stuff. Got it?"
"Um yes, why are you helping me?"
"Your family has connections that I eventually want to use."
"oh...so um."
"What is it?"
"I just kind of thought you picked me because I was special or something."
"Is anyone really special?"
"I guess that's a good point."
"The important thing is that you know this stuff. If you do well enough on the written exam you can get into Beacon even if you fail everything else."
"So... study hard?"
"Yes, or get a hunter to teach you as apprenticeships are a thing."
"My parents are very protective."
"Tell you what, read the books I sent you. After a year I will give you a test and if you pass it I will unlock your aura."
"And that's?"
"It will give you super powers."
"Cool."
With that my game of Candy crtush returned, I clicked it off and saw an email. I saved the books to the hardrive and started reading. If I worked hard enough, they would have to make me a hunter.
View in Thread
Last edited: Dec 20, 2019
Dec 20, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
xCanaan23, Beto, Vagabond and 212 others like this.
Threadmarks: Emerald
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Emerald
I woke up the next day to the smell of food, I groaned as I woke up and then thankfully noticed that it wasn't a dream. I wasn't on the streets and the bed felt nice but my stomach rumbled. I got up and went to a table, Utah put food on the table and I stared at it.
"What is this?"
"Mandalorian food."
"Um..."
I stared at it.
"Breakfast burrito, hashbrowns and fruit, there's a bottle of ketchup next to you."
"Whats a burrito?"
He continued cooking.
"You're hungry, eat."
I took a bite and blinked, it was really good.
"You slept in, the neighbours will be here soon."
I felt self-conscious.
"I need to get dressed."
"You're already dressed."
"In something nice."
I remembered I only had three sets of clothing and sighed.
"Nicer I guess."
There was a knock at the door.
"It's open!"
Two girls walked in and I tried to smile.
"Utah!"
The smaller one hugged him and my fork bent in my hand, for some reason.
"Ruby, breakfast will be served soon."
"But it's hugging time, not breakfast time."
"Table."
"Awww."
She sat down next to a blond girl.
"So....who are you?"
"Emerald."
"Hi! This is my sister Ruby, as for me I try to start my day off with a Yang."
She smiled.
"Because that's my name."
"Right..."
"So who are you? Ooh ooh food."
The two girls devoured the food and I ate as well, the orphanage had been horrible but they did teach basic table manners.
"This is great! What is it?"
"Mandalorian food."
He paused.
"This is Emerald, she's a member of my clan. It took a lot of effort to find her so can the two of you show her around?"
"Yep."
They continued their show of demolishing the food and then both of them burped loudly. With that done they got up and showed me around the island. They talked about their father, their home, their family and I just got madder and madder. They had everything I ever wanted, grew up with everything I wanted.
"So what do you think?"
"You've lived a good life Yang."
"Are you green with jealousy?"
"Yang!"
Her sister folded her arms and Yang sighed.
"Sorry about that... I went too far with that one, I know you and your clan went through a rough time. Lots of people have been but you know."
"Grimm suck."
"Yeah, they do."
The two girls hugged me and it felt nice, I got home late and it was odd to think of that place as home but it was. Utah looked at me.
"How was it?"
"It... was nice."
He hugged me.
"Good."
And let me inside. I ate dinner and we showered and then got to bed but I tossed and turned. I got up and went to the couch and snuck in. When he put his arms around me and held me close I felt safe. For the first time in a long time I felt safe and protected, life made sense then.
At long last, I was happy.
View in Thread
Dec 20, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
xCanaan23, Beto, Grell23 and 244 others like this.
Threadmarks: Utah
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Utah
16 pieces. I had ordered the renovation of one of the cannery's buildings, to convert it into a house. The property was large enough to be made into a miniature village, complete with walls which had already been reinforced.
"Thinking about something?"
I stared up at the ceiling.
"Just the renovations, it's cheaper to get one of the smaller buildings fixed up than the whole thing. Also lets see the armor."
Emerald brought out the armor she made, it wasn't that great but it was functional.
"It's a good first attempt."
"It looks horrible."
Emerald looked away.
"It's functional, which means it's a successful first attempt."
I walked around Emerald, studying the armor.
"The leg guards protect the lower legs, I see you went for Lorica Segmentata armor. Why?"
"It seemed simple enough to make."
The tunic is just studded leather, enough to provide minimal protection but not much.
"Beside that can you explain your reason for chosing this as your first armor?"
"I wanted something simple to make that was easy to move around in, I like being able to move around."
"Mobility fighter, then? Lots of people are like that, but I haven't seen you really fight."
"I can turn invisible and create illusions, that's important."
"Then does this armor suit you?"
She blinked.
"What?"
"Armor is a deeply personal thing in our culture, just because my armor suits me and my style of fighting it doesn't mean it suits you."
I looked at her.
"Try to sneak around in your armor."
She took careful steps but the armor rustled and clanged and she cringed.
"Jump kick."
She jumped up and kicked and landed awkwardly.
"This doesn't work, does it?"
"Finding out what doesn't work, and what does, is a part of the process of learning. Doing this taught you the basics of armor making."
"But it's not as good as your armor."
"My mother had me at the forge at a very young age and I didn't get this good all at once, your first attempt was much better than mine was."
Emerald smiled.
"Really?"
"The breastplate came out cracked, total disaster but I learned a lot."
I patted her on the head.
"Now join the girls, it's a school day."
"Can I wear the armor?"
"Of course."
I watched as the door opened and Yang and Ruby picked Emerald up, I closed the door and went back to work. I had 16 pieces, pawns were for manipulation. I had my heart set on a team with Ruby, Yang and Pyrrha but I had 4 more usable pieces. I could create a new team.
On the one hand I really wanted a bunny girl, on the other Weiss's family had useful resources and connections. But on the other other hand, bunny girl... Or maybe I should keep the harem small to avoid detection. If I screwed my entire team people would notice but things like that had happened before. The more I expanded my harem, the bigger the risk of getting caught and the more resources would be needed to support it all.
I continued working, thinking about the matter and pondering it. I was committed to Ruby and Yang as choices and their father would soon not be home, then I could start putting my plans in motion.
View in Thread
Last edited: Dec 21, 2019
Dec 21, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply
xCanaan23, Beto, Grell23 and 206 others like this.
Threadmarks: Yang
View in Thread

ChericoWell worn.
Yang
I sat down next to Utah, dad was off doing hunter stuff.
"Signal."
"Doesn't accept anyone until they turn 12."
I looked at the school and Ruby sighed.
"Too far away."
I looked into the distance, Utah spoke.
"You guys activated your auras yet?"
The two of us rolled our eyes.
"Of course."
"Semblances?" stupid question
"Get stronger when I get hit." "Move really fast like zoom."
I nodded my head and then froze. He was holdind out his hand, showing two glowing things.
"Found a cache, of my peoples stuff. Anti-Grimm weapons."
I stared at it.
"What does it do?"
"Lots of things but right now? They're capable of tripling your aura."
I stared at them with hunger in my eyes.
"Triple?"
"Yes, but they're things of the clan, I would only be willing to share them with family."
I shook myself.
"Oh."
"I consider you and Ruby to be family."
I felt touched as he handed one to me.
"Really?"
"Yes but I need you to keep this secret. There are only so many and once I'm out I'm out of them forever, because the secret to making them was lost."
I stared at the small glowing thing in my hand, I could almost taste the power.
"What else?"
"These are special, supposed to be filled with some kind of light energy that damages Grimm. We considered things like this to be sacred so I want you to understand how important this is."
"I'm in."
I blinked as Ruby spoke.
"Rubes... We don't know if this is safe."
"I trust Utah, he's our friend."
Ruby held out her hand.
"I'm sorry but this will hurt."
My sister nodded her head and he placed the glowing thing into her hand, Ruby winced and cried but didn't scream. She wiped the tears away.
"You all right?"
"Yeah I-"
Her eyes glowed with light and she lifted into the air briefly and then landed.
"Ruby?"
"Power, so much power, its amazing, so much power."
She panted on the ground.
"So much power."
I studied the little thing in his hand.
"It's up to you."
I held open my hand, and gritted my teeth. At first it hurt, it hurt a lot, but then I felt the power. I felt my aura expand, my hair glowed with power and I laughed as I hugged Utah.
"Thanks, I know how much this meant to you."
He smiled.
"Yeah but, like I said, I consider you clan."
I smiled back.
"If there is any way I can thank you just tell me, ok?"
He waved me off.
"Maybe later. Up for hunting some Grimm?"
"Dad wouldn't allow it."
"I have guns."
I paused and looked at Ruby. I shrugged.
"Well... as long as we don't go too deep in the forest we should be fine."
That day I felt something change in our relationship with Utah. At the moment I brushed it off but, looking back on it, I think that's when he became more than the friend next door to me.
View in Thread
Dec 21, 2019Report
Like+ Quote
View in Thread
Dec 17, 2019Report
Like+ QuoteReply