Past Thread:
>>6183798Archive: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Missval
General Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/5hFQZtc3
Character Sheet (Back to the good old days, for now): https://pastebin.com/xA4G6LMk
Twitter/X account for important announcements, contact and stuff: https://x.com/MissvalQM
Your name is Shelly Suzume. A member of the White Fang. You didn’t start out this way, and you certainly never expected to join them, but at least it’s temporary. Probably. Then again, you did receive an offer to lead one of its branches. The idea is… enticing, but it’s something you still need to think about, especially since that branch happens to be in one of the scummiest places imaginable.
Speaking of scum, you just witnessed one of the most… interesting meetings you’ve ever attended. You saw most of Kuchinashi’s underworld big shots with your own eyes. Then again, at this point, the entire city is the underworld. You probably left a good impression on them. Maybe.
Your boss, Taylor, just allied himself with the Black Sheep. That doesn’t exactly sit well with you, but, well… politics aren’t really your thing. Or at least, you haven’t had much reason to deal with them, yet. If you accept Taylor’s offer, that might change.
Oh! And also. You infiltrated a Black Sheep’s underground weird warehouse-gallery-tunnel thing. Nothing too bad here. Just a few bodies here and there. Poor souls, victims of… something.
And to top it all off with a golden brooch, you accidentally ran into (most likely) the two most dangerous people in all of Kuchinashi. Maybe even Mistral. Just skulking around, exploring the same warehouses as you.
---
“It would be best if we both left. We don’t really know what they’re capable of, and the fact that we know they’re exploring these things is valuable enough.” Taylor’s calm demeanor was getting on your nerves. Lately, a lot of things were getting on your nerves—lack of sleep, hunger, that sharp pain behind your left eye, the bleeding in your gums…
But it wasn’t his fault. He shouldn’t have to deal with that. You were stronger than this. A mighty Huntress. Still undefeated. Well… that fight with the black liquid thingie was dangerously close to a loss, but you liked to think of it as your victory. Even if, deep down, you knew it was at best a draw.
And the man who controlled that black liquid? The one who twisted flesh into puppets—rotten faces, severed limbs, all at his command? The one who almost took your life? He was right there. What if… you just did it anyway? A well-placed arrow to the back of his neck. Maybe some Dust for an explosion—break his aura, make sure he stays dead for good this time.
Damn. Violent thoughts again. Time to push them aside.
“Fine… It makes sense. I just want to point out that we have the element of surprise. Are you sure we shouldn’t-” Taylor cut you off before you could finish.
“No, we will not attack.” Taylor’s voice grew sterner. “Not now. I trust you as a capable fighter, and I’m being humble when I say that, but they have too many unknown factors. We need to learn more first. Now, let’s get out of here.”
Taylor’s hand pushed you forward, urging you to stand and leave your hiding spot. But what if this failed? What if they already knew you were here? Keeping your bow at the ready, you stepped out of the room, moving quietly, trusting in Taylor’s Semblance.
There, in the middle of the tunnels, a pair walked away from you, heading deeper and deeper underground. The first was a short girl draped in a white hood, her face concealed beneath a black veil. She reminded you of a priestess, or maybe a nurse, or a… bride? Her outfit was… cleaner than expected. A long white cloth covering her from head to toe. No dried blood anywhere, just a few torn spots here and there.
The man beside her was quite the opposite. Tall, lanky, and young. His face was hard to make out, and his clothes were strangely casual for someone with his reputation. If anything, he looked like any other city drifters. Exposed arms, torn clothes, filthy pants, almost like a beggar. But what caught your attention most was the staff he carried. Not a simple cane. It was taller than him, wrapped in chains, with a censer dangling from the top, spikes near the top almost like a flail.
And with every step he took, thick black liquid dripped from the censer. The droplets moved on their own, skittering across the ground like insects, trailing behind him.
You felt your skin shiver at the memory.
(1/?)
The girl stopped walking, her neck snapping to the side as if she had heard something. Fuck. Maybe they heard you both, even through Taylor’s Semblance? Fuck. Fuck no.
“What’s the matter, sweetie? Someone ahead of us?” The man turned to face her.
Oh. Now you recognized him. He was the same guy who gave you that piece of paper with the directions, way back on the day you met Rufus and that dumbass with the hat. But… his voice was different. Rougher. Harsher. Before, he barely seemed like an adult. Now, despite his age, he walked like an old man. Worn, tired.
The girl beside him didn’t respond. She kept scanning the area, searching for something. You wanted to move, to hide, but if she had already heard you, it was over. Bad timing. Really bad timing. You and Taylor had just stepped out of the room, standing right in plain sight.
Her face turned toward you. Just for an instant.
You caught a glimpse, flickers of white hair spilling from beneath her veil, a pair of glowing red orbs sweeping across the room. She locked eyes with you. And then…
She ignored you. Her gaze kept shifting, scanning the area. Cold beads of sweat were felt down your nape and back. Good. Taylor’s Semblance was still working. At least a little.
“Nah, I don’t think so, Pops. Caught a weird smell, that’s all.” Her face twisted slightly as she spoke, her expression barely visible beneath the sheer cloth covering it.
“Probably just the bodies rotting, dear. Want me to take a look?” The man replied, tapping his staff against the ground. More of the viscous liquid dripped from its dangling plate, scattering in front of him like a swarm of insects before curling around his feet.
“Nah.” The girl laughed, turning away and picking up her pace. “I don’t want you hogging all the fun. Calling dibs on the first one!” She ran ahead, giggling, leaving the man behind as he sighed and hurried after her.
As you watched them disappear deeper into the tunnel, you couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief. Maybe Taylor was right. Sneaking out was the smart move. Calling those two creepy was an understatement.
Taylor tilted his head toward the nearby exit, signaling for you to follow.
Fine. Let’s get out of here. At least now you knew this place existed. You could always come back later.
(2/?)
---
Barely a few minutes had passed before something else happened. Well… calling it new wasn’t exactly right. You already knew the soldiers above had been taken down by those two psychopaths. But this? This you didn’t expect.
Stepping outside through the main door, you finally saw the aftermath of the battle between the soldiers and the Hunters. And the most obvious, most disturbing thing was… the soldiers had turned on each other. Their wounds, their final positions, the bullet holes riddling the walls, the scattered shell casings, it all pointed to one thing. They shot each other.
Why? Why would they do that?
“No. Not through there.” Taylor’s grip yanked you sideways, stopping you in your tracks. He pointed toward the ground near the entrance. A canister lay there, turquoise liquid leaking from its seams, a faint hiss escaping from within.
“Gas grenades,” he muttered. “Whatever made these guys lose their minds—it came from that. And that one. And that other one…” His hand kept pointing, again and again, to the scattered metal cylinders littering the ground, each oozing a liquid of different color.
That girl’s work. She didn’t even need to fight. The soldiers did all the dirty work for her. They inhaled the gas and… well… they killed each other. Awful. Truly awful.
“I wonder if our Aura protects us from that gas. It should, right? I mean, it’s technically harmful to our bodies, isn’t it?” Taylor’s absent-minded comment didn’t help. These men had families. Not all of them were bad people. And now, not only had they lost their lives, they had turned on each other because of… those two. To be shot down by the very people you once called friends… the thought made your stomach twist.
> These men deserved a proper burial. So did the civilians that thing, that monster with the black liquid, had butchered. Fuck. You had already left the bodies near the south of the city, completely unattended. That wouldn’t happen again. You had to do something to honor them. You hated this place.
> At least tell Taylor to call the Black Sheep and send them a message before leaving. Tell them what happened, that the two Hunters had slaughtered their men and infiltrated their underground tunnels. Fuck politics, fuck proper manners, you weren’t about to let those two monsters walk free.
> This was too much. Just too much. Walk away. Let the crime lords sort out their own damn problems. Head back to base. Rest. Take some medicine, eat, maybe another bath. Try to relax. Hell, maybe even sleeping pills. Yeah… you’d need them.
> Other (Write-in)
>>6218597>These men deserved a proper burial. So did the civilians that thing, that monster with the black liquid, had butchered. Fuck. You had already left the bodies near the south of the city, completely unattended. That wouldn’t happen again. You had to do something to honor them. You hated this place.
>>6218597>These men deserved a proper burial. So did the civilians that thing, that monster with the black liquid, had butchered. Fuck. You had already left the bodies near the south of the city, completely unattended. That wouldn’t happen again. You had to do something to honor them. You hated this place.
>>6218597>These men deserved a proper burial. So did the civilians that thing, that monster with the black liquid, had butchered. Fuck. You had already left the bodies near the south of the city, completely unattended. That wouldn’t happen again. You had to do something to honor them. You hated this place.
>>6218597“We need to do something.” You knelt in front of one of the bodies. His face was hidden beneath a metal mask and goggles. Lifeless. Three gunshot wounds marked his chest and stomach. You didn’t know who he was, but that didn’t matter. He was important to someone.
“Yeah, we do.” Taylor sighed, absently fiddling with the lighter in his pocket. “It’s been a long day. Let’s head back to-”
“No. We need to bury them.” You weren’t even looking at him, your gaze locked on the body in front of you. But you knew. You could feel his disapproval of this. His reluctance. “That’s the least we can do.”
Taylor was silent for a moment. Then, his voice came, low and firm. “What are you saying? We… can’t. We just can’t.” His Semblance was still active, his hand hovering near your shoulder.
“We can’t just leave them here to rot.” Your throat felt tighter. “They deserve better.” This was one of your possible futures. No, scratch that. This was definitely your future. Sooner or later, you would die too. And when that day came, you’d want someone, anyone, to make sure you weren’t just left behind. You weren’t spiritual. Not really. But this wasn’t about that. It was about principles. About respect. “They deserve a proper farewell.”
Taylor exhaled sharply. “I’m sure the Black Sheep already know what happened. Their soldiers will come and handle it.”
He wasn’t letting this go. And neither were you.
“Yeah, I’m aware of that.” You turned to face him, your skin burning with rage, though you fought to keep your expression stoic. You felt your eyes damp. “I’m also aware that most of the people who die here are discarded, thrown off a cliff or burned. And those are the lucky ones. That needs to change.”
Your eyes met his. His concerned expression slowly softened. You knew you could manipulate him into helping. Just a few words about his brother, his friend, and he’d easily bend. But no. You wouldn’t do that. As much as his indifference (and the entire city’s) sickened you, you refused to stoop that low.
Turning back to the body, you considered your options. How could you lift it? Maybe there was a shovel nearby? Unlikely.
“I’m not going to hold you here. If you want to go back to base, then go. I can handle this myself.” You felt his gaze still fixed on you as you inspected the body. Think, Shelly, think. How were you supposed to bury them? Damn it. The entire noble district was paved over. Maybe there were dirt patches nearby? Still, there were too many bodies. Another solution? One of these houses had to have cloth sheets—at least to cover them. You could use your Semblance to lift them, but… no. That felt wrong. Disrespectful.
Taylor’s hand still rested on your shoulder. That was distracting. “I thought you wanted to leave.” That… came out too sharp, too scornful. Your patience was running out. You’ll apologize later.
(1/?)
“I never said I was going to leave. Who’s going to make sure you aren’t ambushed?” His voice was soft. Pained.
He wanted to help? That was a… welcome surprise.
---
It was much harder than you expected. Your back throbbed, your eyes burned, and a dull buzz echoed through your skull.
But at least it was almost over. Just two more bodies.
The mansions here had beautiful outdoor gardens, overflowing with flowers. Burying the bodies wasn’t practical, but a makeshift altar and some white sheets… that would have to do. How long until someone returned and found them? You were too exhausted to care. Fuck the consequences. This was the right thing to do.
“I have a call.” Taylor’s voice drifted from behind you. He was sweating, even in the chill of night, his hands black with dirt as he arranged scattered flowers. “Hope you don’t mind if I take it?”
“It’s fine.” Your voice came out ragged. Damn. You really wanted water. A whole damn bottle. “We’re almost done, anyway.”
He turned, walking off slowly, pressing the Scroll to his ear. “Tay here. What’s up, C? Everything fine at base?”
Carmine? That made sense. It was way past midnight, and you hadn’t checked in. But was it really that urgent?
“No. Everything’s in order. Why do you ask?” Taylor kept his eyes on the wall as he spoke, his posture tense. He was on guard. Maybe it would be smart to listen in on that conversation… but would that count as invading his privacy? Yes, yes it would. But this was Carmine we were talking about. It’s not like she mattered to you, but… ugh.
“Yeah. Yes, she’s with me.” He turned to glance at you. “No, I… don’t think so.” His mouth moved silently, shaping words without sound. ‘Are you listening?’
You shook your head. It was the truth… but you wanted to. Mimicking his trick, you mouthed back. ‘Should I?’
He hesitated, glancing to the side, then shook his head. Damn. Fine. You’d respect his privacy.
“No. She isn’t listening,” he said, returning to his call.
Great. Now it’s going to be impossible to focus. At least there were only two bodies left. The sooner this was over, the sooner you could go back to bed. Time to hurry this up.
“Are… are you sure?” Taylor again. As fair a leader as he was, he was way too easy to push around. You’d call him out on that later. “Fine. Ready. Now, care to tell us what the matter is, C?”
You turned around again, catching the sight of the familiar digital screen flickering to life from Taylor’s scroll. Carmine’s green-tinted video feed filled the display. A videocall? With her? Fine…
(2/?)
She didn’t even try to hide her anger. Her eyes darted around, scanning the field of flowers and the sheet-covered bodies behind you.
“Okay, first of all, what the fuck are you two doing? Are you at a funeral or something?” Her voice grated on your nerves, loud and intrusive. You felt your jaw clench. You wouldn’t let her talk to you like that. But you also wouldn’t stoop to her level.
“No. We’re burying some corpses. These people died, and they deserve at least that much.” Your vision sharpened. The pain dulled. Adrenaline was a hell of a thing. Conflict always made your senses sharper, especially against someone as… detestable as her.
“I…” Her face twitched as her eyes locked onto yours. She was trying not to explode. “I can’t fucking believe it. What a stupid fucking idea. And you, Taylor? Why didn’t you tell her the same?”
Taylor stayed quiet, staring at the ground. You knew those two had a history. If he decided to side with her, you wouldn’t hold it against him. It would still sting, but you could deal with that.
“You know what? I don’t fucking care.” Carmine kept barking. “You two can fall head over heels for each other and do whatever stupid shit you want. I really don’t give a shit. Not even a little bit. Not at all.” Her voice cracked near the end. She turned away, her hands moving to her face, rubbing her eyes. It was obvious what she was doing. When she turned back, her expression had reset, hardened.
“That isn’t why I’m calling.” Her tone was serious again. “I want to talk about the meeting you had earlier.”
“It went… well.” Taylor finally spoke, still looking at the ground. There were no words that could explain how awkward and uncomfortable all of this felt. “We’re officially allies of the Black Sheep. They’re going to send us instructions on how to deal with—”
“Yes. I already know that. My question is, why?” For the first time in the entire call, she turned her attention fully to Taylor, still showing clear anger and disdain.
> Focus on the bodies. Would that be disrespectful to her? Yes. Good. That would be good. These people were more important than her. And even though she was technically your superior, you didn’t recognize her authority.
> Intervene. She avoided talking to you as much as she could, which meant that speaking up would only annoy her further. That alone made it tempting. But beyond that, it was also the proper thing to do as ‘comrades’ inside the White Fang. And if being proper happened to piss her off, all the better.
>Stay mostly silent. Watch her. Study the way she spoke, how she moved, the words she chose. She was unstable, but smart. And if she so much as tried to turn on Taylor, you’d step in. You weren’t about to let her trample over him.
> Other (Write in)
>>6220751>> Intervene. She avoided talking to you as much as she could, which meant that speaking up would only annoy her further. That alone made it tempting. But beyond that, it was also the proper thing to do as ‘comrades’ inside the White Fang. And if being proper happened to piss her off, all the better.
>>6220751>Focus on the bodies. Would that be disrespectful to her? Yes. Good. That would be good. These people were more important than her. And even though she was technically your superior, you didn’t recognize her authority.
>>6220751>Stay mostly silent. Watch her. Study the way she spoke, how she moved, the words she chose. She was unstable, but smart. And if she so much as tried to turn on Taylor, you’d step in. You weren’t about to let her trample over him.
>>6220751>>Stay mostly silent. Watch her. Study the way she spoke, how she moved, the words she chose. She was unstable, but smart. And if she so much as tried to turn on Taylor, you’d step in. You weren’t about to let her trample over him.
>>6220751>Stay mostly silent. Watch her. Study the way she spoke, how she moved, the words she chose. She was unstable, but smart. And if she so much as tried to turn on Taylor, you’d step in. You weren’t about to let her trample over him.
>>6220751Why? Was that her main reason for calling? Strange. You’d hoped to draw answers out of her, but maybe pressing too hard would only make her shut down further. Even now, her guard was up. That was understandable, with your presence visible on the call and all that.
And, unfortunately, dealing with corpses while listening to her voice so close to your ear would be far too distracting.
“What do you mean by ‘why,’ Carmine?” Taylor asked, his voice slightly confused. Interesting. You both thought of something similar. But he had the charm, after all. Best to let him take the lead. Of course, if she tried to cross a line, you’d be more than happy to step in and defend poor T.
“You’re not like this, Taylor. It doesn’t make sense.” Her posture was tense, rigid. Hard to read her properly, especially through the distortion of the call. “You know the Black Sheep will use us and toss us aside the moment we stop being useful to them, right? Why would you ever align with them?”
“I believed it was the best course of action. Why? Do you disagree?” Taylor gave a faint smirk. Curious. Just moments ago, he’d looked very unsettled. Was this a mask? Or was he similar to you in the sense that he liked combat, but more of the social type?
Carmine was silent for a few moments, as if thrown off balance. “No. Of course I don’t disagree. I just… I was convinced you wouldn’t side with them. You’ve always hated getting your hands dirty.” Her voice softened, even with you still listening in.
“And you’re right. I still don’t like doing that. Time hasn’t changed me much. Something specific bothering you, Carmie?” You felt like a witness to something more personal between the two of them. The way they spoke to each other, it was obvious they had story between them. But you already knew that.
“No. I’m not buying it. It doesn’t add up.” Her voice sharpened. She glanced at you. “And I know she didn’t influence you, because it would be incredibly stupid for her to want us allied with the very people she betrayed.”
Should you defend yourself? It wasn’t betrayal, at least not to you. Sure, they helped bring you into the city, in a roundabout way. But that was mostly Sora, and even she wasn’t entirely loyal to them. You never accepted their deal. You never pledged anything. Refusing to join them wasn’t betrayal.
“Carmine, did you honestly expect me to turn them down so we could fend for ourselves in this city? Maybe with the Spiders backing us?” Taylor’s tone was questioning.
“Well… yeah?” She said it like it was obvious. “You never liked doing crime, and she’s too much of a stuck-up ‘heroine’ to go along with it. None of this makes sense. And I hate when things don’t make sense.”
Was that… meant as an insult?
(1/?)
“My priority right now is the White Fang.” Taylor sighed. “Even if I have to make decisions I don’t fully agree with. That’s part of being a leader. Making the hard calls.”
Was that really his priority? If he was lying, he was damn good at it. You could’ve sworn he meant it back then when he told you he wanted to leave all of this behind. Unless… maybe he had lied to you, too?
“No. No, no, no,” Carmine snapped, her irritation rising. “I don’t fucking buy it. You were never loyal to us. The only reason you took Sienna’s task was because you couldn’t stand the thought of disappointing her. Just like you did with me.”
There it was. The first crack in her voice. She was rattled. Watching from the sidelines gave you the space to study her tone, her words. She resented Taylor’s loyalty to the White Fang. She carried a grudge. Obvious observations, maybe, but understanding her angle could still be useful.
“Are you questioning my loyalty to our cause, Carmine?” Taylor’s voice was rising in volume as well. He was getting angrier. “That’s bold. I’ve always done what I thought was best for all of us. And yeah, I live with regrets. Plenty of them. But that doesn’t give you the right to say I’m doing this out of selfish reasons like that one.”
“Of course it’s selfish! Can’t you see that?” Carmine was nearly shouting now, the tension thick between them. “You keep saying it’s for us, for our people, blah blah blah. No. Fuck no. You’re doing this because you need to feel better. You can’t stand disappointing others. That’s your real reason. It was never about what was best for us. It was about escaping the guilt of letting her down… of letting me down.”
Maybe… it was time to step in.
“I think we—” Your words were cut off by Taylor’s sudden outburst. You’d never seen him like this before.
“No. You don’t get to tell me why I’m doing this. You think you know me too well, but you don’t. Yeah, I hate letting people down, but who doesn’t? That’s why I’m doing this, even though I don’t want to. There’s nothing wrong with trying to fix things. I fucked up that day. I know that. I own it. And I agreed to work through it with you by taking on Sienna’s mission.”
Taylor was furious now. “You think I like being here? Away from my brother?”
The argument was getting too personal. A part of you was curious about their history, but you knew it wasn’t your place. It was clear they still cared for each other, in their own way. But those wounds? They hadn’t healed. Not yet.
> Intervene. Loudly, if needed. Infighting was a dead-end. Step in like an impartial judge and shut this down before it escalates.
> Back up Taylor. No matter what happened between them, he was your friend. Carmine wouldn’t like it, but that didn’t matter. Taylor’s wellbeing came first.
> Let it play out. You were tired, and this wasn’t your specialty. If you stepped in, you might only make things worse. Better to stay focused on the bodies.
> Other (Write-in)
>>6225771>> Back up Taylor. No matter what happened between them, he was your friend. Carmine wouldn’t like it, but that didn’t matter. Taylor’s wellbeing came first.
>>6225771>Back up Taylor. No matter what happened between them, he was your friend. Carmine wouldn’t like it, but that didn’t matter. Taylor’s wellbeing came first.
>>6225771>> Intervene. Loudly, if needed. Infighting was a dead-end. Step in like an impartial judge and shut this down before it escalates.
>>6225771> Back up Taylor. No matter what happened between them, he was your friend. Carmine wouldn’t like it, but that didn’t matter. Taylor’s wellbeing came first.
>>6225771“Oh, poor boy, all alone without his brother.” Carmine’s fake crying felt like mockery. “Well, guess what? I miss my brother. And my sister. And my parents. And my friends. You don’t see me bawling like some overly sensitive bitch.” Ah. So she went there. How devious.
Taylor’s stunned expression said it all. You couldn’t leave him to face this alone. If Carmine hated you even more after this, so be it.
“Losing your family doesn’t give you the right to treat Taylor like this, Carmine.” You stood up, arms crossed, stepping forward as her digital face turned to face you. You weren’t backing down. You wouldn’t.
“I’ve got a better idea,” she snapped. “Keep doing whatever dumb shit you were already doing and stay out of things that don’t concern you. Got it, Shelly?” Such fire in her voice, but you weren’t going to let her get under your skin. You were good at shutting your emotions off. At least, it made you feel better that you were.
“I’ll pass on that offer.” You moved closer to Tay, placing a hand on his shoulder. He wasn’t in any shape to deal with this anymore. “What you’re doing is wrong. And if no one else is going to say it, then I will. Your attitude? It’s a damn problem.”
“What’s wrong with you?! You don’t know anything! Everything would be better without you. Stay in your lane and stop getting in my way, you and that fake righteousness of yours. It’s exhausting.” If you were reading her right, then your hand on Taylor’s shoulder was a big part of what was setting her off.
“I don’t know what you think is going on,” you said, steadying your voice, “but from where I stand, you’re being cruel. To Taylor, our leader. You’re digging into personal wounds just to hurt him.”
Taylor stood silent, his gaze looking at the floor. He’d had enough of all this, the fighting, the grief. He needed peace. And you wouldn’t let him carry this weight alone. “I think it’s pretty clear why that’s not okay.”
A few tense seconds passed. Carmine bared her teeth, most likely trembling. If you had to guess, she was burning with anger, jealousy, resentment, every toxic emotion surging at once.
“Do you even know what happened between us? That bastard you’re trying to defend—” An opening. Time to take advantage of it.
“I know. I know what happened in that village. About your friend. His brother. Your family.” You met her eyes. “It was a tragedy.”
She flinched.
“It wasn’t your fault. And it wasn’t his, either. No one’s bringing the dead back. But digging up old wounds, twisting the knife, that’s not helping anyone. We don’t have to like each other. But I hate what happened to you. And… if it means anything, I’m sorry for your loss.”
(1/?)
Both of them were hyperventilating, but stayed silent for a while. Your words hung in the air. You couldn’t imagine anything she could say without making herself look worse. Maybe now she'd start behaving better. You hoped.
“Taylor. You had absolutely no right to tell her that story.” She ignored you, speaking only to Taylor. Her voice cracked. Just a little more...
“I disagree.” You forced yourself to keep a stoic face. Barely. You were tired, after all. “He was also hurt by what happened that day. And if telling me about it helped him heal, even a little, then it was the right choice.”
Her voice broke completely. She was starting to cry. Even with all her strength, she couldn’t hold it back. Damn. Now she was bawling. And despite how much you disliked her, that pain wasn’t fair. You actually felt bad for her.
“Taylor. You had no right. No fucking right.”
“I’m sorry.” Taylor covered his eyes with his left hand. Shit, he was breaking down too. You felt it, too. Not enough to cry, but damn… it hit you hard. Should you hug him? Say something? You had no idea how to handle this kind of thing. Sure, you’d comforted civilians before, offered some words to grieving families, but this felt different.
“It wasn’t your fault, Taylor.” Maybe something simple. Maybe it would help. “It wasn’t your fault either, Carmine. This world needs fixing. But if we work together-”
Click. The call ended. It appears that Carmine hung up.
Damn. Just when you maybe had a shot at fixing things.
Taylor was kneeling beside you, silently sobbing. You felt awful for him. But you’d done your best. Still... what could you do to make it better?
“Taylor… do you want me to…?” Hug you? Tell you it’s going to be okay? Say it wasn’t your fault? Something else? Why was it so damn hard to find the right thing to say?
“I’m… fine,” he whispered. “Just… give me a few minutes, and I’ll help you finish with the bodies.”
But he didn’t move. He just stared at the wall.
Poor guy.
> Hug him. He was heartbroken, wounded, tired, distressed. You’d do anything to make him feel better. To help him start healing.
> Sit beside him. Let him have his emotions. Just be there. Sometimes, knowing you’re not alone is enough.
> Finish the cleanup alone. Let him have space. Some people needed solitude to process grief, and you didn’t want to intrude when he was this vulnerable.
> Other (Write-in)
>>6228738>> Hug him. He was heartbroken, wounded, tired, distressed. You’d do anything to make him feel better. To help him start healing.
>>6228738>Hug him. He was heartbroken, wounded, tired, distressed. You’d do anything to make him feel better. To help him start healing.
>>6228738> Hug him. He was heartbroken, wounded, tired, distressed. You’d do anything to make him feel better. To help him start healing.
>>6231120Yep, good thing we are back
I'll pick up as soon as possible, post will most likely be tomorrow since I gotta start writing
Thank you all for keeping up it is greatly appreciated your support (Just being here, voting and enjoying the story is enough for me to like you)
So, without further ado, we're back in business!
>Writing
>>6228738He said he was fine, but you knew better. It didn’t take a genius to see he was having a very, very rough time. The guy was heartbroken. Sure, the bodies needed to be buried eventually, but the suffering of the living was far more important than the ones of the dead. Surely their spirits (If such things existed) would understand if they had to wait just a little longer.
You sat down besides Taylor, his eyes fixed on the same wall as before. He glanced in your direction but didn’t shift. He just needed time to process this.
“I said I’m fine. There’s no need to-” he started, his voice strained. But you cut him off. You knew he wasn’t. He didn’t need to pretend anymore. Not with you. Even the toughest people break when an ex tears into them like that.
“Shh. You need this.” You leaned in slightly, letting your leg rest against his. He shifted, clearly uneasy, but he didn’t pull away.
“No, I don’t. I just need some time. This… this isn’t necessary.” He kept his eyes on the wall, the light of the fractured moon catching the wetness in them. “I told you. I’m fine.”
“I never said you weren’t.” ...Yeah, that didn’t come out quite as cool as it sounded in your head. Oh well. “What just happened would’ve broken anyone. I can’t say I’ve ever been in your exact position, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to walk away and let you handle this alone.”
He rubbed at his eyes, looking away, almost sheepish. He even threw in a fake yawn so that he had more time to stop his tears, like that would fool you. His voice stayed steady, but his body betrayed him. “I’m just tired. That’s all. Today’s been… a lot. Tomorrow will be better. Trust me.”
As if you'd ever believe that lie.
“I should be the one saying that to you.” You gave a small laugh to ease the tension. “Let’s make a deal. Buy me a proper meal one of these days, and I’ll keep quiet about you being a softie when I talk with Sora.”
“I’m not a soft—” His protest was cut short as your arms wrapped around him. He fell silent instantly, his hands twitching, his shoulders stiff. His clothes were cold, but you could feel him slowly relaxing.
“There’s nothing wrong with feeling like this,” you murmured. “You know what is wrong? Bottling it up. I won’t judge you.” You held him tighter. His head dropped to your shoulder. The trembling grew worse at first, then, gradually, it began to fade.
He didn’t speak again. His sobs rose a few times, but each time they quieted as you tightened your hug. Right now, nothing mattered more than making sure he was okay.
He’d calm down eventually. And honestly… this didn’t feel wrong at all. Helping someone when they needed it. This felt right. This was right.
---
If your sense of time was right, morning would come in just a few hours. Sleep would be a luxury tonight. At least there were no more academy classes on your schedule. You could sleep in as long as needed.
“Never realized how creepy these streets are at this hour,” you muttered, scanning the shadowy, empty streets of the lower districts. Taylor walked beside you, closer than usual. The main base was just around the corner now. You could even catch the faint static of radios flicking on and off from far away. Rooftop guards in position. You didn’t envy their jobs.
“To be fair, this city’s awful no matter the hour,” Taylor said with a faint smirk. He already seemed far better than he was a few hours ago. “Makes me miss Menagerie more than I ever thought I would.”
“Why? Was Menagerie that bad?” Just some small talk to pass the time. A few distant guards spotted you, rifles rising, then lowering once they recognized who you were. You heard the grinding of rusted metal as a fenced gate creaked open. The place was expanding, becoming more fortified by the day. It no longer looked like an orphanage, or even a warehouse. It was starting to resemble a legitimate base of operations.
“It had its ups and downs. It’s not that bad, really. But the place was always crowded, food was scarce, and pickpockets were everywhere. Still, at least people there tended to be friendlier.” A few guards near the gate waved as you approached, though one stepped forward to intercept. That was unusual. They usually let you through without issue.
Odd.
“Is something the matter?” Taylor asked the approaching guard. He no longer wore tattered rags or scavenged gear. Now he had an actual uniform, complete with some outdated but functional ballistic armor. It wasn’t high-grade, but it was still a step up.
“Yes, boss. Something happened recently. Might be better if we… uh… talked in private?” The guard glanced at you, clearly uneasy. He was probably new since you didn’t recognize him, and he likely didn’t know who you were either.
“She’s a high-ranking ally,” Taylor said, patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Paul was your name, right? You’ll get to know everyone soon enough. Just tell me, what happened? Is everyone okay?”
“Um…” The guard hesitated, eyes flicking toward you, silent for a few moments. “I… I think so. We haven’t been attacked, but something happened, and, well… I think the fewer people who know about it, the better.”
What a strange response. Sure, the guy was new, but Taylor had made it perfectly clear that you could be trusted. So why was he so hesitant?
> Keep quiet. Let Taylor press him for details. You wanted to know what this was about, and staying silent might get you more.
> Introduce yourself. Show the guy you weren’t just some edgy, silent type. Ask directly.
> Let it go for now. Whatever it was, Taylor would tell you later if it mattered. Besides, you had an urgent appointment with your bed.
> Other (Write in)
>>6232663>Introduce yourself. Show the guy you weren’t just some edgy, silent type. Ask directly
>>6232663>> Introduce yourself. Show the guy you weren’t just some edgy, silent type. Ask directly.
>>6232663>Introduce yourself. Show the guy you weren’t just some edgy, silent type. Ask directly.
>>6232663>Let it go for now. Whatever it was, Taylor would tell you later if it mattered. Besides, you had an urgent appointment with your bed.
>>6232663“In that case, we’re in luck, because we’re probably the best people to know about it. Wouldn’t want the others to misunderstand things, right?” The soldier glanced at you warily. “You can call me Susie. We haven’t met before. Pleasure to meet you.” A gentle smile. You extended your hand with friendly manners, polite and open.
But he didn’t take it. If anything, he pulled back further. Was he… scared of you? Did you say something wrong? Did your face twitch or shift without you realizing?
No. That couldn’t be it. Taylor looked just as confused as you felt. If anything, he seemed more offended by the reaction than you were.
“Paul. This is Susie, one of our top agents, both in skill and results. It’s disrespectful to leave her hanging like that.” Taylor’s tone was colder than usual. You weren’t used to hearing him speak like that. It made you uneasy. What a strange, unexpected shift.
Paul hesitated, then finally relented. He reached out and gave your hand a limp shake, barely a gesture. He looked deeply uncomfortable. “Yeah… I’ve heard about her.” He didn’t look you in the eye. His words were aimed at Taylor. “And… um… sorry for disrespecting you, miss.”
Huh?
“Paul, if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask what you’ve heard about me?” Being aggressive wouldn’t get you answers. You wanted to make a good first impression. Maybe the guy was just awkward? No… it didn’t feel like that. This felt like something else. Maybe he knew who you used to be?
“I’d… rather not say.” Still evasive. Like squeezing water from a stone. You could always let it go. Maybe he was just tired. You could offer him a drink later, or spar in private, figure out what his deal was. It didn’t have to end badly.
“Paul. That’s an order.” Taylor’s voice cut in, tense with anger. “I want to know what’s going on. Why are you acting like this with Susie? Do you have a story with her?” He glanced at you. You shook your head slowly, dismissing the implication. You didn’t know this guy. Didn’t recognize him at all.
“T, there’s no need to-” You were interrupted by the soldier in front of you. His tone was suddenly defensive.
“It’s just… I heard some things about her, sir. Unpleasant rumors, that’s all. Forgive me if I’ve been presumptuous. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
But he didn’t apologize to you. Not directly. Odd. A more hot-headed girl might’ve felt insulted. Luckily, curiosity was your dominant emotion right now.
He looked your way again. Maybe now he’d say something? No. Still silent. But there was something in his eyes, like he wanted to speak further, but only with Taylor. He was silently asking you to leave.
The audacity.
Hard not to chuckle. This was turning out to be more interesting than expected.
“Elaborate,” Taylor said, just as you were about to turn away and let them talk alone, a perfect excuse to finally get some sleep. But fine. What were a few more minutes? Besides, the mystery was too interesting to ignore.
Paul sighed. “About an hour ago, Miss Carmine and a few other veterans called an emergency meeting in the courtyard, gathering most of us guards and a few others to make an announcement.” His eyes flicked between you and Taylor. “They said this branch of the White Fang is close to dissolving because of… leadership issues.”
“Those are lies,” Taylor snapped. There it was, his temper breaking through again. Not surprising, really. Today had already pushed him hard. And now this?
Was this a… mutiny? No... It felt too calm for that.
“Miss Carmine said you’d say that.” Paul looked genuinely disappointed. “She also said she found out she was about to be dismissed, ‘voted out’ or something like that. She… um… suspects Miss Susie’s behind it all. She sounded... betrayed. Hurt.”
…
...What?
You and Taylor exchanged confused glances. Clearly, he was just as blindsided as you.
“She said a lot more,” Paul continued, “but those were the main things, I guess. She cried, said she’d miss the children. Said she was hurt by how you turned your back on her… I suppose her words got to me, sir. That’s why it’s… hard to hide what I’m feeling. My apologies, sir.”
Geez. Where do you even begin?
Taylor stormed off toward the main compound, leaving you alone with Paul.
“Where are you going?” you asked, quickly following. He wasn’t in the right state of mind to confront her.
“Sir! Miss Carmine isn’t here.” Paul called out. Taylor halted mid-step, turning sharply. You stopped too.
“She left after the speech,” Paul continued, “along with quite a few others. I think most of them felt… hurt by your actions. No… disrespect intended, sir.”
Taylor spun back, brushing past you hard enough that your shoulder jolted. He marched toward Paul, grabbed him by the collar, and shoved him down. His fangs bared, his expression filled with fury.
“My actions?! Everything she said was a lie! How dare you think I’d stab her in the back like that?!” Paul dropped his weapon, gripping Taylor’s arms but unable to break free.
You stepped in, grabbing Taylor’s shoulder. You could break his hold easily. But it felt wrong. He needed to stop on his own. This was already a disaster. Around you, Faunus guards had paused, watching, uncertain.
“Taylor, stop. Let him go. Whatever happened, this isn’t the way to handle it.” You tried again. Still holding back. You didn’t want to escalate things. But some guards were beginning to raise their weapons ever so slightly, trading worried glances. They weren’t sure as to what should they do.
And when Taylor ignored you completely, on the edge of lashing out at Paul…
You didn’t know what to do either.
> Try reasoning again. He was emotionally unstable, but maybe he would be willing to hear you out one last time. If he started thrashing Paul… even you weren’t sure how things would end.
> Break the hold discreetly. A hard grip on the right pressure point, a small twist, enough pain to snap him back without looking like a hit. Risky. But better than letting him lose control publicly or hitting him directly.
> Forget subtlety. What he was doing was wrong. Assaulting a subordinate, especially one who was misled, was unacceptable. Use your full strength to break these two apart. It would be fast and effective… but very public. You’d look like the violent one here.
> Other (Write-in)
>>6235990>Try reasoning again. He was emotionally unstable, but maybe he would be willing to hear you out one last time. If he started thrashing Paul… even you weren’t sure how things would end
>>6235990>Try reasoning again. He was emotionally unstable, but maybe he would be willing to hear you out one last time. If he started thrashing Paul… even you weren’t sure how things would end.
>>6235990>Try reasoning again. He was emotionally unstable, but maybe he would be willing to hear you out one last time. If he started thrashing Paul… even you weren’t sure how things would end.
Gonna need a dice throw.
Best of 3, 3d10, DC 22
Rolled 3, 6, 5 = 14 (3d10)
>>6238224
Rolled 9, 10, 5 = 24 (3d10)
>>6238224
Rolled 10, 2, 6 = 18 (3d10)
>>6238224
>>6238224“If you do anything stupid,” you said, grabbing his shoulder to hold him back, “then I can’t promise I’ll come back once I leave. Got it?” A bit manipulative on your part—but if he wouldn’t listen to reason, maybe emotion would get through.
He didn’t resist as much now. Just slightly. Your words had landed where they needed to.
Time for the follow-up.
“Look at yourself. Look at everyone around us. Yeah, this guy misspoke. He screwed up. But seriously? You’re doing this in public?” You gestured with a sharp flick of your hand, some nearby guards already watching. “You think I want to stay somewhere where our boss acts like this? Because I don’t.”
Taylor began to calm down.
What you’d said wasn’t exactly a lie. A little truth always made an argument hit harder. You knew he wasn’t a bad guy, just a guy with a bit too much on his shoulders. And to be fair to him, he was holding up better than most would in his position.
But no. What he needed right now was a firm voice and a stronger grip.
A few heavy seconds passed. Then, finally, Taylor released the guard. Paul dropped backward, pale and trembling, but unharmed. The tension lingered.
“I’m… sorry,” Taylor whispered, but you weren’t sure if it was meant for you or for Paul. He turned away, exhausted, making his way toward the main building. You stopped him in his tracks.
“Paul. I know you’re new here, but trust me when I say this…” You glanced around, your words reaching not just him, but the surrounding onlookers. “…things aren’t always as easy to explain as they seem. Whatever Carmine said or did during that speech, it probably came from a place of pain. We’ll speak to her and resolve this matter peacefully.”
You knew she had lied. And knowing Carmine, the stunt was likely calculated, to fracture morale, undermine loyalty. But pointing fingers in her absence would only make you look petty. You wouldn’t stoop to her level.
“Today’s been rough for all of us. Whatever Carmine said, we’ll address it in the morning. Right now, everyone’s feeling stressed, disappointed, exhausted, or some combination of all of the above. For now, just keep doing your jobs.”
You extended a hand to Paul. He hesitated, then accepted it, standing with your help.
Neither he nor Taylor met each other’s eyes. That was expected. It would take time to mend the fractures in trust that were now forming.
You walked alongside Taylor, leaving the guards behind. A few of them continued watching you. Some approached Paul, clearly ready to question him about what happened.
A hard week was sure to follow.
---
Nothing much passed between you and Taylor as you walked through the building. He stayed quiet for most of it. You tried to reassure him that everything would be fine, but the way he moved, his slouched shoulders, the drag in his steps, it was clear he had some very rough days ahead.
You parted ways once you reached his office. There was… tension. The goodbye lingered a little longer than usual. Nothing happened, aside from a hug. He stepped inside and locked the door behind him as you turned and made your way back to the quarters you shared with Sora.
The room was quiet. Sora lay on the top bunk, her silhouette barely visible in the dark. Had she been there when Carmine gave her speech? Fuck, whatever. You were too tired to think straight.
And waking Sora mid-sleep? Like poking a tiger. Something only a total dumbass with no sense of survival would attempt.
You dropped onto your pillow, hoping for real rest. Your sabers rested at your side. Their weight didn’t bother you. You’d never had trouble sleeping before. But now? It would only take moments. Just a few precious hours to finally let go.
“Birdie? That you?” Sora’s faint whispers came through her sheets.
“Yup.” Cold. Direct. You didn’t have the energy for anything more.
“Everything okay? You get into a fight?” Seriously? That’s what she was worried about?
“Yeah, but it wasn’t as bad as the one we had this morning.” Silence followed. Maybe… one more question wouldn’t hurt. “Were you here when Carmine gave her speech?”
“Yeah. Was what she said the truth?” There was confusion in her voice.
“Obviously not. I’d never stab her in the back like that. Sure, I don’t like her, but I’m not into that sneaky shit.” Would she believe you?
“Oh…” Another pause. Was she doubting you? “What a shame. I was ready to hit you for doing it without asking for my help.”
“You can’t say that about our allies, Sora. We’re supposed to be working together and all that.” Even so, you felt oddly relieved. She was willing to go that far with you.
“Fuck that. You’re my friend. She’s just a colleague. One of those matters more than the other.” She sounded annoyed.
But that only made you feel warm. Cared for.
“Thanks, Sora. You’re a… pretty great friend.”
“Shut the fuck up. Don’t say lame and gay shit like that unless you want me to punch your teeth down your throat.” She started laughing and coughing at once. You couldn’t help but smile. She wore her emotions on her sleeve. No, she wasn’t the kindest person in the world, but with you, at least, she was honest.
Allies and friends you could trust were a rare thing these days.
---
Rumors and debates about loyalty, treason, and what was truly right or wrong were the main topic of conversations over the following days among the branch members. The atmosphere was tense, heavy, gloomy.
Taylor had grown distant, worn down, and perpetually tired. People didn’t defy him outright, but they no longer looked up to him either. With your sharpened hearing, you often caught whispers behind his back. Some defended him, others condemned him. His loyalty was put in question. And so was yours.
You tried to keep things steady, but the cracks were showing. New recruits occasionally ignored your direct orders. Fortunately, your reputation still held weight, and a few loyal members stood by you. They said they would help you clear your name, choosing to believe your words over the well-fabricated evidence Carmine left behind, things like faked logs, audio, forged notes, etc.
Then there was Sora. She’d become distant too, but in an odd way. Not angry. Not cold. Just… absent. She didn’t seem upset with you, and when you spoke, she insisted everything was fine. And she sounded sincere. You knew she was a liar, but when she told you things were “fine between us,” you couldn’t find a trace of deceit. Weird. Maybe she’d tell you with time.
You had a mission with the Black Sheep soon. There was too much to do and not nearly enough time. With enough effort, maybe you could repair the damage Carmine had done, but not all at once. You needed to prioritize.
Choose two (First ones to reach 3 votes are picked):
> Focus on the leadership of the White Fang. Sienna and Adam would quickly take notice of Carmine’s lies. Taylor claimed he could handle them, but you weren’t about to leave him to face that alone.
> Focus on your reputations. Taylor didn’t have the energy to fight back against the rumors from the falsified evidence. That responsibility had fallen on you. Others were helping, but your direct involvement could help speed up things.
> Focus on diplomacy with the Black Sheep and the Spiders. Taylor believed he could manage it, but you knew better. Strengthening ties beyond the White Fang could protect you in the long run, and it would grant you experience in dealing with diplomatic affairs.
> Focus on yourself and the White Fang members. Many were walking out, and more would surely follow. Even if you couldn’t stop them all from leaving, you could prepare the loyal few for what was coming. Training was limited with Sora unavailable most of the time, but any improvement you could get mattered.
> Other (Write in)
>>6240284> Focus on the leadership of the White Fang. Sienna and Adam would quickly take notice of Carmine’s lies. Taylor claimed he could handle them, but you weren’t about to leave him to face that alone.> Focus on yourself and the White Fang members. Many were walking out, and more would surely follow. Even if you couldn’t stop them all from leaving, you could prepare the loyal few for what was coming. Training was limited with Sora unavailable most of the time, but any improvement you could get mattered.
>>6240284> Focus on the leadership of the White Fang. Sienna and Adam would quickly take notice of Carmine’s lies. Taylor claimed he could handle them, but you weren’t about to leave him to face that alone.> Focus on your reputations. Taylor didn’t have the energy to fight back against the rumors from the falsified evidence. That responsibility had fallen on you. Others were helping, but your direct involvement could help speed up things.
Gonna fish out for more votes as I promote the qst on the general, if no more votes come then I'll pick the ones that have the most people on 'em
Pristine! Big updated incoming, most likely including a new thread to soar back up to the top pages. Another cool surprise is coming. Gonna update on y'all soon
Sorry for the delay, things IRL happened, but we're back in business with a NEW THREAD
>>6249603>>6249603>>6249603Also I'll updated the Character Sheets soon enough. Cool and fun info in the pastebin.
