Trivia's first impression of Ryuko was powerful, sexy, enigmatic. Her first impression of her crew? Nerdy, chaotic, overly enthusiastic and somewhat horny. She learned this not ten minutes after meeting them. Nora really wanted to pick her up, due to her size and the rest scrambled to stop her. Then Shia and Emerald introduced themselves as part of Yin's crew. Then, after wrangling Nora, Ren introduced himself, only to bite his tongue when Yin came out of the bathroom in nothing but a white towel.
"Oh NO!! Ren! Fearless Boobies are your weakness! REEEEEN!!" Nora cradled Ren in her arms and wept dramatically, as if she had just watched her brother take a flaming fist through his chest.
"NO-RAAGH! Sthtop sthaking me..!" Ren grunted, his body being shaken and rocked by the ginger girl.
"You guys are being extra weird in front of Neo. Quit it. Shia, start dinner while I get dressed and dry my hair. We'll need to grab better red hair dye later too.." Yin ordered, flicking the staring rabbit girl in the head before going to her room.
(°ロ°) 'Wh-What is going on..!? Who is that black haired girl!? Ryuko went to shower.. She is Ryuko!? Ryuko is her!? And these people are so.. so weird..' Neo's eyes scanned the room, as wide as saucers as she observed this strange group of mostly women.
Though a part of her was startled, an even larger part felt amused and grateful. Surrounded by her parents, mean girls and people who looked at her like a tool all her life had taken its toll. To see and be part of a group as vibrant as this was a huge breath of fresh air. Though she was still a bit hesitant to interact with them. She wasn't used to socializing when it wasn't with egotistical 'nobility' or bullies.
Neo took a deep breath and took a step forward, singling out Emerald, who seemed to be pretty new herself. Neo poked the girl's shoulder and grabbed her attention.
"Ah? Oh, um.. Neo, right? Sorry. Everyone gets kinda carried away. Again, I'm Emerald. I can tell you were a bit overwhelmed when Yin had introduced you to us." Emerald greeted, holding out her hand to Neo.
Neo felt a smirk make its way onto her face as she nodded and shook Emerald's hand.
(￣▽￣)ノ 'Hehe.. Yeah I was pretty shocked. I was expecting sexy spies, hitmen and maybe some Mistralian themed thugs..'
Emerald tilted her head in confusion. Though Neo smiled, so she figured her greeting was a success.
'Oops. I forget nobody really understands what I'm thinking... Wait, how did Ryuko have a conversation with me? Wait, who is Yin!?' ( : ౦ . ౦ : )
She took her scroll out to ask Emerald, but felt a hand pat the top of her head as soon as she started typing away.
"Neo is mute, Em. Don't mistake her silence for ignoring you if she doesn't answer you verbally." Yin said, towel around her neck.
Looking at her now, Neo started to connect the dots. Her eye color was different, but she had the same intensity and pupil shape as Ryuko. Only her personality and appearance was very different.
"Ah, must have been a surprise huh? Ryuko is an alias, a persona I'm using to take over Vale's criminal underworld. My real name is Yin Xiaolong Branwen. We'll be operating in the Branwen PMC base temporarily. Until we take over at Junior's place." Yin explained, amused at the comically surprised expression Neo was giving her.
It was understandable though. Given how she went from a seductive redhead in expensive-looking and stylish clothing, to a calm and cool ravenette in a cropped white shirt and blue jeans. The vibe was completely different.
(・_・;) 'That's one hell of a whiplash you gave me.. Wait! Back to my concern! How can you.. read me so well!?' (￢_￢)
Yin snorted in amusement and took her hand off Neo's head after she tried to unsuccessfully swat it away.
"My eyes are special. No illusion can trick them and I can see through.. well, a lot. But that's only part of it. I'd tell you more but I need to make sure Shia hasn't just put pizza bagels in the oven. Can't serve our bewest member slop after all." Yin explained before tossing her damp towel at Nora's still weeping face.
"Get a room or stop suffocating poor Ren in your tits. He's starting to really die." Yin chortled as she walked by.
"Ah! Fearless Leader's moist towel! Wait, Renny no!!"
-♡-♧-♡-♧-♡-♧-♡-
*Ring!* *Ring!*
A scroll buzzed twice within a luxurious Vale hotel room. Picking up her scroll, Carmilla Chrollo looked at the caller ID and answered. She had currently been immersed in a massage provided to her by an eager subordinate, a young man with silver hair who left her room as soon as she gave him a particular glare. She answered as soon as he left the room, sitting up on the massage chair yet remaining unclothed.
"Ma'am. We found her." The words from one of her spies made a grin blossom on her face.
"About time. Give me an address." Carmilla demanded, folding one leg over the other.
There was a brief pause before the operator answered, "Just an address? Ah.. Nevermind. Uptown Vale, Branwen PMC Vale HQ. 53 Kingston Steet."
Carmilla smirked, hearing the fear in her operator's voice put her in a good mood. They had been taught not to openly question her. And the penalties for doing so varied, depending on the mood she had that day.
*Click*
Carmilla hung up and stretched with a small yawn escaping her lips.
"Branwen PMC. That Bandit bitch wouldn't come to Vale.. Not with Ozpin here. But the description fits her to a tee. Mercury dear? Get me all information about Raven Branwen, will you?" Carmilla called out to the subordinate that was massaging her earlier.
"Branwen? That Bandit clan? I'll see what I can do. My relatives ought to know something." Mercury replied, still outside the door.
Carmilla walked over to the door with a haughty, lust-filled expression as she opened the door, her hands snaking around Mercury's chest.
"Mm~ Do so while continuing my massage. I'm not in a huge hurry right now and you got me all worked up with these hands..~" Carmilla said, practically purring.
Most men who didn't know Carmilla would have immediately and excitedly jumped to fulfill her request. But despite her attractiveness, Mercury wasn't particularly aroused. In fact, the very act of touching Carmilla scared the hell out of him. The things he had seen her do gave him a very understandable fear for the woman.
"As you wish." Mercury suppressed his apprehension and resumed his massage while sending out a message to over a dozen members of the Black family.
He had hoped anyone would respond soon. The fear of making a mistake or going too fast made his heart palpitate. He had been Carmilla's servant for over seven months but he wasn't out of danger.
The last men who served under her had died in horriffic circumstances. Drowned, bled out, lit on fire, torn apart by heavy machinery and so much more. And if that weren't enough, the unlucky women under her suffered more. They weren't allowed to die.
"Mmm~ That's enough foreplay. Get to work, Mercury." Carmilla demanded, raising her hips in an obvious display of her desire.
A shudder ran through Mercury but he dedicated all of his focus and skill into pleasing the woman before him while internally praying for his safety.
-Twenty minutes later-
*Ring!* *Ring!* *Ring!*
Carmilla answered her phone, clearly irritated.
"I'm in- the middle of something.. What is it?" She asked, her voice taking on a strange tone in the middle of her sentence.
"Sorry, Carmilla. I do have something of interest for you. I heard you were in Vale so I thought you might benefit." A distinct female voice replied, not even surprised or flustered by the erotic breathing from Carmilla.
"Mm~? Oh if it isn't Cinder. Hold on, let me get comfortable." Carmilla sat up, hooking her leg around Mercury's head and driving his face further into her lower lips, putting him in a very awkward position. Though he never complained and continued to please the woman.
"Ah~! Much better. I have to thank you again for gifting such a talented young man to me." Carmilla cooed, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
Cinder crimped her lips on the other end of the line but collected herself before she ended up venting her frustration.
"Funny you say that. You should know of the thief who recently made waves in Vale, no?" Cinder asked.
Carmilla laughed, "Haha~ A thief? Please, I have better things keeping my attention, Cinder."
"Really? Even if that thief is an ex-member of the Spiders? Lil Miss didn't authorize his little trip to Vale. She's speculating he's there to make a name for himself. He's skilled." Cinder stated, confident she would get Carmilla's interest.
Indeed she did.
"You mean Roman. Roman Torchwick? I stand corrected, that is interesting. Tell me, what are you looking to do?" Cinder smirked.
"He's about to hit a bank. An informant told me when and which bank." Cinder calmly informed without giving too much away.
Carmilla clicked her tongue in annoyance. It was obvious to her what Cinder wanted.
"Does Salem lack in resources that much? You should put in a two weeks notice and just work for us."
The pleasure in Carmilla's voice faded away, replaced with a chilling, near emotionless tone. She pushed Mercury off her with her foot and stood up, walking over to the window looking down on Vale's Uptown district.
"Salem's a dead end, Cinder. The council would welcome a woman like you."
Cinder felt oddly satisfied with that declaration. But she knew what Salem was capable of and being essentially a field agent suited her just fine.
"I'm flattered. But I only need one thing." Cinder answered.
"Mhmhmhm..~ Power, yes. I'll have it sent over after you tell me about Roman." Carmilla shed her cold, emotionless demeanor and chuckled.
"Good. First Bank of Vale. Today in two hours. I hope you'll have fun wrangling him. I know you enjoy that part the most." Cinder added before hanging up.
"She knows me so well~ Mercury, get the car ready." Carmilla ordered, slipping on her clothes once more.
-♧-♡-♧-♡-♧-♡-♧-
"Do you have eyes inside?" Ryuko asked, holding her scroll up to her ear while Neo laid her head on her lap.
They were inside a muscle car, one chosen for its speed. Considering what they were about to do, they'll likely need it.
"Yes. I'm in line. I know you wanted me on payroll officially but is now really the time..? We're about to recruit someone.." Emerald whispered back.
"Ahaha~ Well we're already here, right? Might as well get this out of the way. We should have enough time." Ryuko smiled and played with Neo's pink and brown hair.
She then heard Emerald sigh through tye reciever before replying, "Okay.. I'll do all this and let you know when he shows."
*Click*
Neo poked Ryuko's cheek and gave her a particular look that screamed 'Why aren't I going all official too?'
"Because Emerald's been seen with Yin. If she's seen hanging around Ryuko.. There will eventually be questions. If all goes well, the underworld and surface world of Vale will only identify you, me and Roman working together. Yin and her group won't have any affiliation with the criminal scene~" Ryuko explained.
(≧◡≦) 'Ah! I get it now, boss lady.' Her expression seemed to say, before she rubbed her chin and gave her a questioning look next.
σ(￣,￣〃) 'But.. Couldn't you take all of Vale? I mean.. I still don't really believe you're a Dragon but you got skills that pay the bills. So why bother with this? You could just take it all over easy.' Seeing her doubt, Ryuko chortled.
"If I had still been arrogant, I would have tried just that. But until I know the capability of my enemies, I won't go acting so brazen. Besides..~" Ryuko leaned close, her red locks dangling in front of Neo's face. "This is so much more fun.."
Neo felt a shudder run down her spine and did her best to ignore what feeling caused the reaction. Ryuko just smiled and held out an open hand.
"Now, I worked hard last night forging better, more iconic weapons for us. Those huge, unwieldy revolvers don't suit the persona. So I made them more compact without sacrificing too much power. And for you? I made this. I call it 'Hush'." Ryuko said while handing Neo a pink and white gradient umbrella.
(°ロ°) ! Neo sat up straight and inspected the umbrella, and with a keen eye, she saw a trigger mechanism that, once pulled, made a blade extend at the tip. The material itself was durable and flexible enough to work as a shield and glider if she wanted it to.
Neo looked at Ryuko and dove into her lap to hug her.
(つ✧ω✧)つ 'Boss Lady, I love love love it~! I am yours forever if you give me a lifetime supply of ice cream next..'
"Cheeky little thing~ Well, I'm happy you like it. Fits you perfectly. Ah, I believe I just spotted our flamboyant ginger recruit. Show starts soon. Get ready." Ryuko said, spotting a well dressed man in white with a bowler's cap strut into the bank entrance.
[AN: Sorry about the schedule. In return for stones, let me know what you wanna say when I pick some of ya'll to appear during a stream next chapter!]