in4apounding | Winter Non-Maiden

Winter Non-Maiden

[You might think this kind of thing would start with a threatening message, maybe some photos of loved ones being targeted as an incentive, telling Ruby to come to a private location alone. That would certainly be the smarter way to go about things, especially considering how the more direct approach had gone.]

[But nope. As Ruby's going about her day, as soon as she's reasonably alone, a bolt of Dust-powered laser fire is streaking out of the sky above her and cracking into the the ground at her feet with a sharp explosion.]

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[If Ruby had of been paying attention she might have been able to jump out of the way or speed out of the way with the use of her semblance. Unfortunately preoccupied with a lovely box of freshly baked cookies from a nice little baker down in mantle.

The explosion catches her off guard and she's sent skittering across the ground only coming to a halt when she hits the side of a building. Her silver eyes dart around trying to get a view over what ever the heck just hit her.]

Wh-What even was that?

[Yeah, another shot arcs down from above like lightning, sparking off the ground immediately in front of Ruby. If she tracks the path upward, she'll spot a dark-clothed figure. Pretty easily, they're not trying to hide; in fact, the figure gives a surprisingly cheerful wave from their perch before making a slashing gesture with one hand, summoning another quick bolt shooting down at Ruby.]

[Ruby's better prepared for the second shot. Using her semblance to dodge out of the way and whip over to a better vantage point to track the shot. Why did the blasts of energy look so familiar to her?

She catches the cheerful wave and just feels dumbfounded. Was this another person who worked for Salem? Did she just have a thing for hiring people like Tyrian? Either way there are a people on the streets and that doesn't make this a safe place for them to fight. It seemed like she was specifically being targeted which made things simpler. She just had to get out of here.

She spotted a nearby alley way and when the next shot came by she used her semblance to shoot down it. A trail of rose petals should make it easy for whoever was chasing her to know exactly which way she had went.]

[Ruby actually manages to get a pretty good distance; to a nice little deserted area between a few buildings, too sparse and empty to really be called a courtyard. It's then that her pursuer leaps from above with an acrobatic flip, landing with a weirdly solid grace in a three-point pose.]

[Clad in dark body-armor, a face-mask and visor concealing most of her features.]

Salutations, Ruby Rose! I've been SO looking forward to meeting you.

[The voice is probably a little familiar, though, even muffled by the mask.]

[Ruby is thankful for any distance she managed to put between herself and anyone else that could get hurt from whatever the heck this was. She hadn't expected to lose her attacker. Her semblance did paint a trail to wherever she was heading. If was being targeted her attacker probably knew that.

So she stands her grand when the dark armored figure lands in front of her. The muffling of the mask stops her from getting it right away. But it's the way she says it that gets Ruby on edge. She hadn't had someone greet her like that in ages.

She draws Crescent Rose and holds it ready.]

Yeah. You have a real weird way of showing it.

Just who are you anyways?

Oh, do I? I kind of thought if I just showed up and said I was supposed to kill you you probably wouldn't want to fight. Should I have done that? Miss Salem only said to go after you, that seems like it might've gotten other people involved.

[She is so disappointed in herself. She snaps to attention as Ruby asks who she is, though.]

You're right, I've been rude! I'm so sorry.

I'm called P.E.N.N.Y., it's a pleasure to meet you!

[Oh and there's Salem's name. Yeah. she figured that's what was going on here.

Still this had to be her strangest minion yet. ...But there was something awfully familiar about her.]

I guess when you put it that way it makes sense, but it's still really rude. You could have gotten other people involved the way you did it anyways.

[She moves into a more defensive position then makes a face as P.E.N.N.Y. introduces herself.

At first she's confused but it shifts to shock then to a little sad.]

That's not funny! You don't get to just use my friends name like that.

Not after what Salem did to her.

[She suddenly feels like she's lost track of the conversation.]

Why would that be funny? That's just what I'm called. The Doctor said it stands for Prototype Emulation Neuro- something. It was kind of long.

Did you have a friend called the same thing? That would be kind of a weird thing to call a human, but I'm sorry for whatever happened? Oh! But the good news is, you won't have to be upset much longer!

[dot dot dot]

Unless I lose, I guess, I know you're really strong. But I'm still combat ready!

[Ruby doesn't know how they did it. This felt like more than a carbon copy of Penny. If Salem had someone who could hack into Atlas technology like she did at Beacon. It was possible she could have found Penny and rebuilt her into this.

She doesn't have much time to play around with the thought as it looks like P.E.N.N.Y is about ready to throw down.]

My friend wasn't a human. I think she was you. I don't want to fight you.

[Still she's holding her scythe like she's ready for a fight. Her heart sinks further when she says P.E.N.N.Y. repeats a familiar phrase.]

Please, we can just talk this out.

Hmmm no? No, I'm almost certain I'd remember meeting someone like you.

[This assassination has taken a turn she wasn't prepared for.]

...is there anything I could do to MAKE you want to fight? It's not gonna be fun otherwise.

[Ow. Ow. Ow. That got her right in the heart.]

Not... Even a little?

[She looks less like she wants to fight than she did a moment ago. Way to go P.E.N.N.Y.]

Maybe. You could come with me for a bit? We can see if we can jog your memory. Then we can think about that?

[This is a long shot that's probably going to back fire on her.]

Not even a little, sorry. You ARE very exceptional, and it would've been nice if you'd come with Mister Tyrian willingly, but- no, I'm CERTAIN I'd remember meeting you.

[She squints suspiciously behind the tinted visor. Is this a trick? It seems like it could be a trick.]

I am VERY sorry, I really don't have any memories to jog. But- I suppose we could try? If it will make you feel better.

[P.E.N.N.Y. thinks for a second, arms folded.]

If we try this and it doesn't work, do you promise to actually fight?

Well Mister Tyrian didn't really ask as nicely as he could have.

[She frowns a little deeper knowing that it really seemed that she wasn't remembered. She held on to the hope that her idea would work.

She offered P.E.N.N.Y. her hand.]

It would make me feel a whole lot better. Yes.

And yeah. If this doesn't do anything. Then sure, we'll fight it out.

Really? He usually seems so cheerful about everything.

[That's the same as being nice right.]

Hm. All right. As long as this isn't some kind of trick to escape or take me off guard, that would be really rude.

[She takes the offered hand and keeps pace with Ruby.]

What do you want to try?

Yeah. He's kind of a total jerk once you get to know him.

[P.E.N.N.Y may or may not know him better than Ruby but she's going to stand by that.]

I promise I'm not trying to escape. I think you'll want to see this.

[Ruby's going to lead her toward Atlas Academy. She's going to try and keep them out of sight of anyone in the military but has something there she wants to show her.]

I have some pictures. I want to show them to you and see if they'll help at all. Maybe then you'll understand what I'm saying.

Maybe you don't know him well enough, maybe that's the problem.

[yeah, no, he's definitely an asshole, Penny just has him currently filed as "ally, maybe friend" which may or may not be actually her idea]

[She tugs her face mask down as Ruby leads her; it's definitely the same face Ruby remembers underneath, if there was any doubt left.]

Okay? I'll look at them, but. Please don't get your hopes up. I've got a VERY good memory, just because I've got nuts and bolts instead of squishy gray matter doesn't mean it could just be- erased, or whatever you think happened.

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Winter Non-Maiden

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