"Hey, everything okay?" Emerald asked Royal when he came out.
"Yeah," Royal lied. "Just wanted to talk shop."
Emerald didn't believe him, but she didn't push for it.
"You down to join us? Vasilias and Xiao-Long want to blow off some steam and relax at the Deadly Club."
[That name can't be worse than Crow Bar.]
"I guess I could." Royal was happy for a distraction.
"Cool," Emerald said. "For a second I thought I'd have to say Cinder would be there for you to agree."
"Huh?" Royal gave her a look.
"I'm not stupid," Emerald said in a more conspiratorial voice. "But don't worry, I'm not gonna say anything--probably."
"Actually, Cap, that's not really it," Royal said. "But it's depressing to go home alone after a successful mission and just sit in front of a TV."
"Uh huh, okay." Emerald didn't buy it.
But she thought he seemed down. What had Raven said to him?
* * *
The Deadly Club--which was a pun, since it had the insignia of a real club (which Nora thought was awesome)--was a lot more innocent than the name implied.
Sure, people got a little rowdy sometimes, but it was near a base, and not at all the type of riff raff-filled pits that the Vacuo clubs usually were.
You could find most of the huntsmen who worked for Argus directly, and plenty who didn't, here on an average day of the week if they didn't have duty.
Normally, Yang would have invited Flower Power or Arkos, to join them, but of course they were all busy being new parents.
Neptune wished Sun was in town; Sun would have cheered them all right up.
But he was pleasantly surprised when Sun actually was in town, and so was Blake.
"Why didn't you guys tell us?" he said when they saw them inside.
"I thought we did," Sun said.
"I guess the message didn't go through while we were outside the cities," Neptune realized.
Service could always be spotty around the cliffs even with the Arena up.
"We asked if you wanted to meet us here," Blake said. "If you didn't get it, why are you here?"
"Oh, we're celebrating. We just got back. It was crazy," Neptune said. "Actually, it was pretty freaky. I'll tell you all about it later, but we're supposed to be taking our minds off it right now."
"Can't wait to hear it," Sun said. "We actually just saw Marrow, and he said that Robyn told him that you have a lead on that case we've been trying to crack finally."
"It's looking that way," Neptune said.
"That's great news," Blake said.
"Blake!" Yang finally spotted them. "Sun? For real?" She came to hug them. "I had no idea you were in town."
They started explaining again.
"What's new with you guys?" Neptune said. "Anything interesting going on in the Capital?"
"Not much," Sun said. "Which is probably for the best. Construction on the new shelter is going well, though. Illea sent us some pictures of it from Menagerie. Check this out."
He showed them on his scroll.
"Wow, that's almost done, huh?" Yang flipped through them. "I guess you didn't have to do that much to the outside."
"No, but the inside is actually almost done too," Blake said. "I'm really excited. We could start moving people in by next month, they think. The plumbing took the longest part. But would you believe? People have actually donated the other stuff, like extra beds, blankets, clothes. The word spread around Mistral. I never thought people would respond like that, but they really liked the idea. The Faunus in Mistral who've been doing well there gave a lot--but even humans did."
"Well, duh, some of us are way supportive of it." Yang frowned.
"I know, I know, but it's one thing to have people say that, it's another when they actually do something," Blake shrugged. "It's just new for me. I'm sure part of it is that Oscar wrote about it.... I guess he gets regular articles in the papers now."
"I always read his stuff," Neptune said. "I learn things, too, and I was there for some of it.... Oh, you know his book is about ready to be published. Do you think it's going to be weird to read about ourselves?"
"I just can't believe it took this long for the editing and contracting," Yang said. "It's the first book I might ever read because I actually wanted to and wasn't assigned. I know Ruby's got sneak peeks already. He just better not have made me look dumb."
"I do wonder just how brutally honest he'll be," Blake winced. "He promised that he wasn't going to make any of us look bad when he interviewed me, but hearing it outloud myself, I felt really embarrassed about a lot of what I said and did. We thought we had it together so much back then, and, looking back, I wonder how we didn't see it was a bad idea."
"It's not all bad," Neptune said. "There's still things I look back on now and think, 'I'm shocked we got that right.' Especially you girls."
"I'm trying to learn to just take it as it happens," Yang said. "Like with everything else. Mistakes were made, but we still won."
"Yeah, that's what I keep telling her," Sun said. "But Blake cares more about people's opinions than I do."
"I can't help it," Blake shrugged. "So is it just you two?"
"We're waiting for--Oh, there they are." Neptune waved over Mercury and Cinder. Neither of them were looking the least bit happy to be here.
"Are you serious? They came together?" Blake said.
"Huh? Oh, no, not together," Yang said. "I think they just arrived at the same time. They wanted to discuss the mission. Of course those two would be downers when the whole point was to stop thinking about it."
"I thought it went well," Sun said.
"It did, but we saw the weirdest s---," Neptune said. "Like I said, later. I'm trying to block it out right now."
"I'm getting that Sunrise now," Yang said.
"That is non-alcoholic, right?" Blake said.
"Yeah," Yang said, like, "What else would you expect?"
"Then maybe I'll get one too," Blake said. "I am a little sick of bananas."
"I didn't just hear that." Sun was offended.
"I think they have banana smoothies here," Neptune said. "But they're terrible knockoffs compared to Vacuo's, you know. They just aren't fresh."
"I know, man, but if you can't do any better..." Sun shrugged.
"So how's it going with Neptune?" Blake took advantage of being away from the guys to immediately ask Yang.
"Actually, really well," Yang said, sipping her Sunrise. "It's funny, isn't it? I was kinda worried I wouldn't be good at this because of my parents. But I don't know--he's hard to fight with."
"He is pretty laid back," Blake said. "But I was worried about it too, and I have great parents. I just thought I could never live up to that example after all the terrible decisions I made in the past."
"I'm sure they made stupid choices when they were our age too." Yang sipped again complacently.
"That's what they told me," Blake said. "But they just seem so much wiser than me.... But it's been going well.... I mean, I won't lie and say Sun and I haven't fought at all. But nothing that serious.... I feel like after the stuff we've seen, I couldn't really work up enough anger over stupid things to really resent anyone."
"Yeah, I agree," Yang said. "Sometimes we do argue about the dumbest stuff, but then I think, 'Is this really that important?' Thinking about what we've dealt with...and it suddenly just doesn't seem that worth it. Dad says that if we have kds, we'll fight about serious stuff more often."
"Hmm, actually my mom told me that too," Blake said. "She said her and my father fought the most over parenting stuff. But that was because they care, you know? Not because they didn't like each other. It's just they have different ways of seeing things. And since I'm a girl, you know, my mom feels like she understands stuff better. But actually, I have a lot in common with my dad too."
Yang shrugged. "Well, same. I can't say my mom has given me any relationship advice though... not that I'd take it anyway. It's kind of trial and error for me. But you know what? I'm okay with that because it's more my style. Who wants to be predictable?"
"I could stand a little bit of predictability," Blake muttered into her drink. "Do you think you will have kids?"
"Oh...eventually, I guess," Yang said. "But with the job...well, it'd be a lot right now. And...I think about Summer sometimes. I wouldn't want to put any kid through that."
"I'm not sure we get that choice," Blake said. "I mean, I want to be there for my kids, if I have any...but the dangers aren't just going to go away. Still, the others seem so happy. I never really thought about having a family before. Sun says he's down for it...but I think he has the easy part."
"My dad would say that's not true," Yang said. "I do worry though.... I mean, if we have issues, I don't want it to ruin my kids' lives."
"Did it ruin yours though?" Blake said. "Again, my parents are great, but I still have doubts. Maybe it's us."
"Maybe," Yang said. "And no, it didn't ruin my life...but it could have."
"I think you have to choose to keep improving no matter who your family is," Blake said. "I mean...case in point." She nodded toward Mercury, who was in a corner talking to Cinder.
"Which one?" Yang joked.
"I meant Merc, but yeah, I guess her too. Do we know anything about her family?" Blake asked.
"Just bits and pieces. I think Emerald knows more," Yang said. "Or Shine, but she's always so tight lipped about spilling--privacy and all that."
"Well, I'm glad. At least we know she doesn't tell people our embarrassing secrets," Blake said.
"Sure...although, I've been hearing that there could be someone else who's getting a little closer to Fall," Yang said significantly.
"Who?" Blake said. "Wait, don't tell me. Is it that pilot? Because I got that vibe when we flew to Vacuo with them. Sun did too."
"Right on it," Yang said. "I mean, I wasn't sure at first, but I totally see the way the guy keeps looking at her."
"Isn't that totally weird?" Blake said. "I mean...not that I should talk. But Sun and I are both Faunus, and that makes it easier to overlook stuff. I mean...an Atlesian pilot? After what happened?"
"I won't say it's not weird, but people are weird like that," Yang said. "I don't know. She probably doesn't really like him--she doesn't like anyone. But I guess, begrudgingly, I have to admit she's not...ugly."
"Very not ugly," Blake agreed. "But looks don't matter much when you're crazy."
[Oh, how I wish that were really true in real life.]
"To some people..." Yang said. "He's pretty cute too. Though a little too old fashioned military-looking for my taste."
"Yeah, you kinda went for alternative," Blake joked. "I think he's cute. But that doesn't mean anything. Does she even like men?"
"I think so," Yang said. "I dunno. The way she used to dress, you'd think--but it's bizarre to think about. I'm not sure I support the idea of her being with anyone."
"I don't know about it either," Blake said. "Still...well, there's no reason to not support her being happy now I guess...since we've put the past behind us."
"I try to, but it's still weird to me," Yang frowned. "I don't want to hurt her anymore, but she's still a b----. I can't say I like her."
"Maybe she's a b---- because she doesn't know how to act either," Blake said. "I used to be a jerk a lot without meaning to because I was so in my own head. We should probably give her a chance to change."
"I know that Emerald sees good in her, and Shine thinks she's changing," Yang said. "But they're like that with everyone."
"But usually they're right. I mean...we're in the same room with her and no one is bleeding--that's not something I'd ever have thought would happen," Blake said. "I guess our emotions haven't caught up with reality yet. Objectively, there's no reason to be worried about it."
"She is helpful now," Yang said. "With the Grimm. Irony, right?"
"She was pretty good at knowing them before--she's just not one anymore," Blake said. "But it is strange--oh, there's Emerald."
Emerald walked in with Royal and nodded at them.
"They seem close too," Blake said.
"I think they're just good friends," Yang said. "But she is shopping around, if you know what I mean."
"I really thought she and Mercury might patch things up," Blake said. "Eventually. Does he seem a little different?"
"Not different enough." Yang might like Mercury better than she used to, but she didn't think he was very easy to get along with still.
"But he went to that house. He's been better, right?" Blake said. "He listened to you?"
"And that's great, but Emerald is like up here--" Yang held her hand above her head. "--with progress being a good guy now. And he's like...here."
She lowered her hand to her knee.
"I think you have to think of where they're coming from though," Blake said. "Maybe for him, he's up here." She lifted her hand to her shoulder. "When you think what he had to work with."
"Maybe, but isn't that her still lowering the bar?" Yang said.
"I don't know, Yang. Not everyone is the same. Maybe to her.... I don't know if she still likes him, but at least at first, it had to be the same thing. You know, he does have his good points."
"Other than he's not as chicken as he was before, and he's a good fighter, I don't know that much good about him," Yang said.
"Really?" Blake said. "He's honest. And protective. Which is okay in the right moment, you know. And as much as he annoyed us, once he was on our side, he never failed to do what he had to do to help. Even if he didn't like it at first. Considering where he started, that's big. And now, well, I might want to slap him sometimes, but I could easily see him doing anything I needed if I really needed it. And we're not even that good of friends. So that says something."
"Reliability isn't the most romantic quality in someone, though," Yang said. "I guess for a coworker, yes."
"I think it can be romantic," Blake said. "One of my favorite things about Sun is that he always has my back, and I didn't ask him to--he just does. I just see Emerald's hesitancy to dump the guy a little more clearly. I know why she did it, but it is hard to find people like that. It must be hard to replace."
"Hmm, that is kind of sweet." Yang leaned on her real hand. "But it's what she wants, you know. Not really for us to tell her."
"Yeah, but I hope she's not pushing herself too fast to get over it," Blake mused. "Been there.... It doesn't work."
"Maybe you should talk to her then," Yang said.
"I don't think she'd want to hear from me. We're not that close," Blake said.
"I think you've bonded over this project thing. Why not?" Yang said. "Just try."
"I don't know..."
"I think you could." Yang shrugged, and then dropped the subject.
* * *
"That's all I really know," Cinder told Mercury.
"That wasn't as much as I hoped." Mercury rubbed his head. "How is it happening?"
"I'm not sure knowing the answer to that is a good idea." Cinder rubbed her left arm like she always did when thinking of Grimm. "Shine has written about it, and she thinks it's best not to get into details like how it happens. We just need to stop it."
"If they keep mutating, how can we?" Mercury said.
"We have to adapt with it," Cinder said. "That's all we can do."
Mercury sat back and sighed. "Well...this is ironic, isn't it? Never in a million years would I have thought we'd be sitting here talking about how to stop Grimm."
"We have reasons to." Cinder folded her arms and leaned on the table. "But even I'm getting tired of talking about it. It's exhausting."
"True," Mercury said. "But if we pretend we're still talking about it, maybe the others won't make us join their 'party'." He made a face.
"It wouldn't kill you to learn to lighten up." Cinder raised an eyebrow.
"Coming from you?" Mercury said. "Miss Gloom and Doom? Thanks, but I don't really like to throw down unless it's a real fight."
"The difference is I won't be living here long enough for it to matter." Cinder gestured. "But you're stuck here."
"One place is as good as another," Mercury shrugged. "But I don't really care."
Cinder rolled her eyes.
* * *
Emerald and Royal sat down at a different table.
"You could go," Royal said.
"I don't want to make it weird for Mercury, but you don't have to hang with me," Emerald said.
"It wouldn't be very nice to just ditch," Royal said, but he looked preoccupied.
"You sure you don't want to talk about whatever it was?" Emerald fiddled with a menu.
"I'm not even sure you don't already know," Royal said. "Has Raven said anything to you about promoting me?"
"Hmm? Oh...well, I think she's thought about it, but not like she told me she was gonna or anything," Emerald said. "Isn't that good though?"
"Not really. I kind of like where I am," Royal said.
Emerald shrugged.
"What?" Royal said.
"Nothing," she said. "I guess if you're happy."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just...do you really want to just be a pilot the rest of your life?" Emerald said. "I mean, you probably can't be--it's too strenuous. A backup job would be good. One thing leads to another."
"So I can get a backup job that requires less authority," Royal said.
"I know, but we do need more leaders. I mean, I didn't even feel ready to be a team captain, but we didn't have options." Emerald shrugged. "I've only really started to feel more confident the last year and a half. You've been in this longer than me. You're older. Why shouldn't you lead a team?"
"I don't want the responsibility," Royal said.
"You think you're that bad at it?" Emerald said.
"I don't know. I just don't want it," Royal said.
"Why?" Emerald said.
Royal shrugged. He didn't seem to want to explain.
Emerald glanced towards Cinder. She had the oddest feeling she'd know the reason. Weird.... Why did it seem like they knew each other so well even after a short time?
She liked Royal, but the guy was kind of an enigma to her still.
"It's hard for me to help if I don't know what's really going on..." she said aloud. "But I guess if you really don't want to, you shouldn't have to. It just doesn't sound like you to be so hesitant."
"Trust me, this tracks." Royal picked up a menu. "I guess I should order.... Should we go join the others?"
"Uh..." Emerald looked. "Blake and Yang seem to be having fun catching up. I'm sure they have old team stuff to talk about. I'd just make it weird."
She really wasn't that comfortable hanging out with them still. There were members of the old team she clicked with better than others. Yang and Blake were both people she just...well, it felt weird. Honestly Blake was just awkward anyway, and Yang could still be...overbearing in some ways.
Sun and Neptune were all right, but they were already talking to some other guys.
"I think they're all busy," Emerald finished.
"Gotcha." Royal nodded.
"I'm surprised Merc and Cinder are even talking," Emerald changed the subject. "They usually avoid each other. I guess that's progress."
"It's just as well--we all have to work together," Royal mused. "Even if it's awkward."
"It's also just awkward for me," Emerald said. "I think Merc is fine."
Royal gave her a dubious look. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, I mean, this stuff never bothers him as much as me. Sometimes I envy it," she shrugged.
"My gosh, Sustrai, sometimes you are really in your head for someone who's supposed to be the smart, perceptive one," Royal said.
"You think I'm wrong?"
"Heck yeah, I think you're wrong. I think Black is pretty awkward. I see why now. It's harder to blame him once you know. Actually, I get now why you cut him so much slack."
"Really? Thank you. Finally someone does," Emerald said. "It's just different when you know the truth."
"Not that I'm one to cut people slack just because they've had a hard life..." Royal said.
"Uh...aren't you?" Emerald said. "I can't help but notice you're getting along with Cinder pretty well.... I mean, it's great for her, really, having any friend who can just treat her normal--I sound like her mother, but it's just...the others are still kinda weird about it. I guess they can't help it."
"I think I know why they can't help it, but it can't affect me the same way," Royal said. "Actually Cinder is kinda cool, once you get used to her."
"Kind of," Emerald agreed. "In a terrifying way. But I didn't mind that so much when I first knew her. It pays to be scary when you do what we did. Now it's not the same. I still like her though. They think I'm nutty for that."
"Why do you still like her?" Royal asked. "I think I know by now it's not blind affection. You're smarter than that."
"I'm not so sure I am, but I think...I don't know, I guess I like people who just give less of a crap than I do about what other people think about them," Emerald said. "I worry too much about it. I don't want to be a jerk or anything, just to spite all these 'good guys'...but I do get a little where it comes from. People can make you feel like such an outsider or like trash, when you have a past. I feel like I take it from them when I shouldn't.... I got so mad at Mercury for saying that, but he was right. He and Cinder are a little tougher. They always were."
"I'm not sure it's not tough just to still be affected by how people treat you. It's pretty normal," Royal mused. "But I see your point. They are tough. I get the idea--it's because they had to be, being alone. All of you are like that. I do envy it a little. When your life is comparatively easy, you never really know what you're actually made of. Getting kicked to the curb is what tests your mettle."
"It's not a test I like." Emerald leaned on her hand. "But it made us what we are. It's not that weird for me to envy them some of that toughness. They have resolve. Cinder especially. I mean, she might have been crazy, but her tenacity--she could be so fearless, even willing to defy Salem while she was working for her, sort of. I envied that because Salem scared the crap out of me. Even if it was mad, there's something about that you have to like."
"Mmm." Royal didn't argue. "I take it not much intimidates her. Not even Victoria Kanap."
"Oh, her," Emerald grimaced. "That was so awful. I mean, at the time Cinder wasn't on my list of favorite people, but she was a picnic compared to Kanap. I'd rather someone just try to choke me out than turn me into a freak."
"So how is it that Xiao Long is still more spooked?" Royal wondered.
"It's...well, Yang comes from a nice family and place, not perfect, but nice." Emerald gestured. "Cinder, Merc, and I grew up in hell. Sure, we hated the creepy Grimm and other freaky stuff we saw on the dark side--but it wasn't really new. Just different shades of the same thing. It doesn't shock you as much anymore.... Even the bandits are the same. I've seen crap like that on the streets. If you don't have a good Semblance and good reflexes...well, you're an easy target."
"I see," Royal said uncomfortably. "I'm...sorry."
"It's cool. It's not your fault," Emerald said. "That's why I was massively grateful to Cinder at first.... Before she went totally bonkers later, she was still loads better than the people who just walked by me. I thought. I guess I did have a rose-colored view of her. Mercury could see it. But after you go all that time with nothing, anything seems better.... Hmm, there's a verse about that. 'A full soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.'"
"That's true," Royal said. "People who have a lot are really picky. And selfish."
"I was selfish too," Emerald said. "But I thought she was great. I didn't even care that she was rough and harsh. I didn't have any tender feelings to hurt. Eventually, I figured out that Mercury was the one who actually cared...and Hazel too. Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to earn their loyalty when I was so blind after someone who didn't deserve mine."
"Maybe they just liked that you were capable of still caring about anyone. It sounds like not many people in that ring were," Royal mused.
"Maybe. I felt like an idiot," Emerald said. She laughed weakly. "Merc always said I was one."
"But he's wrong, you know," Royal said seriously. "I'm not saying that, at the time, Cinder deserved your loyalty, but you saw something in her that must have paid off. And even if that wasn't true, it's not idiotic to care about people. I knew so many people who didn't care about anyone but themselves when I was growing up. It's disgusting. People who had all the benefits of life and no one to make them hard and bitter. I'm telling you, comfort does not make people more compassionate. Less, usually."
"I guess it doesn't." Emerald leaned on her hand. "But poverty doesn't make you compassionate either. It's a choice. The fact is, nothing you go through makes you one thing or another. Maybe suffering opens your eyes to what it feels like to be in pain, but only you can decide that that extends to other people. Or you can try to spread pain so that we all suffer the same. We all were doing that--till it hurt us too much to keep doing it. I think sometimes how stupid we all were for it to take us nearly getting destroyed ourselves to realize what we were doing was wrong. Why couldn't we just stop on our own?"
"If I knew the answer to that, I'd be a better man too," Royal said. "I don't know what it is that makes people have real regrets, Sustrai. But I'm glad that something does. It seems like, rich or poor, good or bad history, none of us are just automatically good people. It's still a choice.... Maybe it's stupid to ask why we didn't make it earlier. It sure looks like few people ever make it at all."
"I just want to make sure other people don't make the mistake I did," Emerald said. "That they don't have to. That's partly why I wanted to start the Guardians thing. Maybe if someone had stopped me before.... I mean, I'm not sorry, in a way. I met my real friends because of what happened. But I did so much damage.... Sometimes I'm really surprised you don't resent me for it."
"Nah," Royal said. "I can hold a grudge, trust me. But I don't think Atlas was your fault. That was when you switched sides, right?"
"I helped knock the tower back down first..." Emerald winced. "That was all, but it was still bad."
"Still less bad than Watts," Royal said. "And he's not even sorry. I have plenty of resentment to direct at people other than you. I guess I should let it go. It'd be easier if the b-----d was at all sorry."
"He's not that kind of guy who's ever sorry," Emerald said. "All he cares about is results. Sometimes he's scarier to me than Cinder ever was. The calculating people are the worst--other than the totally psychotic ones."
"That's funny, someone who's either all cold, hard reason--or never cold, hard reason--are both equally unsettling," Royal said.
"Yeah, that's one way to put it," Emerald said.
"Hazel was the one who got Cinder into Salem's camp," Royal changed the subject. "But he helped you get out of it."
"Technically, he helped her get out of it too," Emerald said. "I actually don't know that much about it. He was always nice to me. I didn't notice at first, but he's softer on kids. I think he felt bad." She shrugged. "I've never had a dad, but I guess he's the closest thing to it I've had. I mean, a dad protects you, right?"
"He should." Royal looked kind of gloomy there, for some reason. "I think in a way you're lucky to have someone who cares that much. Even if they're weird."
"I know," Emerald said. "I have a lot now." She picked up a water glass and sipped.
"And I think, honestly, your time with Cinder paid off," Royal remarked. "I can tell she appreciates it. I'm sure she'd never say it outright, not her, but at least she talks to you. I can tell she's more comfortable with you than the others. So who's to say you were wrong?"
"Well, I had to learn to stand up to her first," Emerald shrugged. "I'd say we're more friends now than whatever we were before. If you could call it that.... But thanks.... It's actually nice to hear it looks that way to anyone else. Even if you're really, really optimistic about it."
"I guess that's what I do." Royal sipped his own water.
"Mind if I ask something personal?" Emerald said.
"I asked you plenty, so go ahead," Royal shrugged.
"I think I've heard you say you've dated around, and you have friends, but you don't seem to have that many people you're really close to," Emerald observed. "Why? I mean, you're so easy for people to like."
"Everyone says that." Royal didn't look flattered by it. "I guess it's true. I'm charming, you know?" He smiled weakly. "My old man made sure I knew all about politeness and respect. And I like people, so that made it easier--not exactly an introvert...but people tend to just see that. I don't think they look much deeper. The short answer is that I'm not close to that many because I don't feel like they really know me that well."
"No?" Emerald said. "That's sad."
"I kinda envy you guys a little," Royal said. "I mean, not the suffering part, but you have people who know the worst stuff you did, and they still like you. That's real friendship."
"It's really not so bad to know it. I don't have to feel inferior to them," Emerald said. "I guess that's how it is for them too. Maybe people think you're too good for them."
"Too good? Or too spoiled?" Royal said. "My family fortune is gone, which I don't care about... but not everyone knows that. Some people still treat me like I'm the kid with the silver spoon. I get a little tired of it. Like how the Schnees still get flack for the SDC even though it's been revamped. People just don't let an image go. I guess they feel better about themselves when they can look down on you for something, regardless of whether it's true or not."
"Or they're just stubborn as heck," Emerald shrugged. "Is that why you're not...like, married or anything yet? Sorry, I just think it's odd for someone who's successful and, well, I mean, you're not ugly either, so it's unusual."
"Oh, I know," Royal said. "I've tried, but I just can't.... Well, it just always goes nowhere. I don't know why."
"Really?" Emerald said.
"I mean, I'm nice to them," Royal said. "And usually they're nice back. I guess I wonder if it's just because they want to impress me, or if they just like me because I'm always nice, but what would it be like if I did anything wrong?"
"I think anyone who really liked you would be willing to forgive you for that," Emerald said.
"That's what I'm not sure about," Royal said. "It's pathetic, right? But I've never gotten past it. It was even worse before Atlas fell. My family tried to set me up with girls. They were just gold diggers."
"Ugh, that's so lame." Emerald rolled her eyes. "I hate people like that."
"They're pretty common," Royal said. "I guess I see why people would want a rich person--if you're just going to go by material stuff. But you have to be able to live with them, and let's just say I couldn't picture that."
"Rich girls can be kinda b----s," Emerald said. "At least...some of them. Weiss is okay."
"That's why I looked up to Winter. She really just said screw the system and left it," Royal said. "Most of the people in the elite class thought she was crazy, but I thought she just had a clue.... Of course...I now know even she had her dark moments."
"Hmm?" Emerald was puzzled.
"Just that Maiden business..." Royal said. "I still have a hard time picturing all of them being willing to do the things they did."
"Desperation does weird things to people--I would know," Emerald said. "Don't be too hard on her. She's actually awesome. And one of the few people who treated me like a normal person."
"I get that, but she's not perfect. No one is," Royal said. "I guess even our heroes can let us down."
"I think I've just learned not to make anyone your idol," Emerald said. "It's fine to copy what you like about them, but don't assume they have no flaws. I learned it the hard way...but still."
"Yeah--want to order actual food?" Royal asked.
"Sure," Emerald agreed.