First Snowfall (Open)

Very few can remember learning to walk, we take for granted the months to years it can take people to put right foot in front of left and vice versa. Some of us learn it fast, able to walk before we can talk, others can take a little... longer. This is especially the case for those with a couple... additional sets of legs. In all honesty there are few merits to having three extra sets... in fact, from the Arachnid Medic Charlotte's point of view, there were none. Rather than having nice, lean, two jointed legs; she was saddled with these huge, tri-jointed, black and white stripped pipe cleaners.

It had taken her four years to properly walk on these eight, hairy, stubby, tendrils and even at the ripe age of twenty one, she could still hardly keep from stumbling over herself. Even now as she walked down the street she couldn't help but brushing passed, nigh bashing into, people and lamp posts.

Perhaps it was for the best that she was feared, at least that way she wouldn't crush anyone walking toward her. But she couldn't help sighing when yet another strayed from her path... straight toward the nearest trashcan, over which he hung his head; looking quite green.

As common a sight as that was to her, she didn't think she'd ever get used to it. She'd been in this city for her entire remembered life, but still people were shocked to see her. It was almost as though she was an urban legend or a supposed myth. A story they'd tell to children to keep them in bed at night.

She sighed, slowing as she approached the city center. She knew she shouldn't let herself think these negative thoughts, but when every step reminds you how abnormal you were... it was difficult. She turned her mind to other things... the weather was nice today, the first snowfall had been last night. Winter was her favorite of the seasons, so this was a step in the right direction.

She continued to wander her way across the city, distracted by thoughts of that cold time until the growling of her stomach pulled her from those thoughts. She had burned so many calories in just walking from her home to here, let alone from her house to the school. She halted at the city fountain, lowering herself not onto the bench before the white stone fixture but next to it.

Pulling her bag from atop her thorax she removed a large metal container. Still warm to the touch. Opening it's top revealed no simple small lunch, rather an entire roast turkey was within. Steam still rising from the depths. She drew a carving knife from her bag as well as a long silver fork, she was certain that people were staring... but they would have been anyway.

It was around then that the skies opened once more, tiny white flakes falling from the sky.

She plunged the blade deep, the smell filling the air around her.

Aednat warily walked down the street, following the directions the nice lady had given her to the shuttle that would take her to the academy. A small, blue bird flitted into her hand, "I couldn't find the stop. we must've missed it." Artimis sighed in a decidedly feminine voice. The creature would have been disconcerting had it not been for the fact that it was made from Aednat's semblance. She dispelled the firebird and waited waited a few minutes before re summoning it at its largest, about the size of and hawk. Artimis then flew back into the sky, using her new size to search further. The kitsune faunus realized that people were staring at her. Most of them being male. A look of near panic flashed across her face as she tried to think of a way out of her predicament which was rapidly getting worse as some of them approached her. She tried to imagine they were all Atlas soldiers, or maybe members of of a human supremacy group. The scent of gourmet cooking filled the air and the people she thought were headed towards her walked past with side glances. Aednat shook from her stupor and turned to see what could've chased them off. In answer to an unspoken command, Artimis flew back and landed on her shoulder. She walked across the street to the plaza, trying do very hard to ignore the crowds, and saw an arachnid faunus all alone with with a clear berth being given be the humans and more than a handful of faunus. She walked up to her accidental savior, "Hello, I'm afraid I'm lost. where does the shuttle to Syne Academy launch from?" She was well aware of the people staring and could feel the fire running along her tails as her instincts told her to run and hide.

Already well into her meal, the sound of her silverware scraping against the container muted by the surrounding crowds. She had just raised a rather large cut to her mouth when she noticed a girl emerging from the sea of people, a faunus for certain. A rarer sort, having that many tails, but not one particularly new to her eyes... though perhaps this wasn't a mutual situation.

Flames flickered around her person, she looked quite frankly terrified... though why she would approach one she feared and ask for directions. Perhaps things weren't quite as crystal clear as Charlotte thought. There were a lot of eyes on the pair, though the spider faunus assumed that would be for the regular reason; people trying to understand quite how her body worked. That or simply being stunned by her appearance.

She blinked twice, realizing she'd lost herself in her own thoughts momentarily; "Oh, I'm sorry my dear. I don't take the shuttle, I tend to take the airship I'm afraid. The shuttle's cramped size isn't particularly accommodating for one with a body like mine."

It may just have been the cold air, or the intimidated flames along the girl's tails, but she couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling. Lowering her fork she bowed her head before rising and smiling to the girl. "If you'd like, you can sit with me till I finish my meal and I'll walk you to the landing pad. It's on my path to the library after all, I'd be happy to accompany you. There's the bench just there if you want to-

She turned to the bench only to find it was covered in an inch or two of snow. Well, she had a back-up on her being at all times. Perhaps it would even help to comfort the poor girl.

Turning slightly to allow better access she smiled once more, "Well, you're probably able to melt that snow; but if you'd rather then you can rest on my thorax. It's been used for similar purposes before."

Aednat smiled shyly and bowed slightly, "thank you very much. What, ah, is your name? I'm Aednat and this is my familiar, Artimis." the firebird gave a look of mild distrust before flying off again, circling the two women, "sorry about that. Artimis isn't very trusting." She lightly stepped onto the back of the spider faunus and sat down. She closed her eyes and focused for a minute until she was reasonably mellow again, her flames subduing until they were just enough to melt the snow that fell. another useful trick for a semblance that didn't work properly. When she opened her eyes, Aednat sighed with relief that not as many people were staring. She instinctively reached and tapped the hilt of Rage before reaching into her sack and pulling out a sealed letter and a small meat pie. waving a flame over it, it heated back up to her preferred temperature while she examined the letter again.

"Ah, pardon my rudeness. My name is Charlotte Monochrome, a Medical Major at Syne academy. While I specialise in physical wounds, I am practiced in dealing with disease of the body and mind. I have little to no real combat experience however." She gently bowed her head once more to the girl, relaxing her thorax so as to soften it for the girl. While there were vital organs housed within her lower half, the thick layers of fur, fat and exoskeleton kept them safe while providing a soft and bouncy seat. Almost like a beanbag chair.

She couldn't help but worry slightly as the burning bird took off and there was a brief increase in temperature, but the smell of food behind her quickly dispelled any notion that the girl was attempting to burn her. It was hard trusting her with the look she'd been giving the spider woman, though Charlotte decided polite conversation was the best route to overcome this stigma.

"Pray tell, if it's not prying too much, why are you going to the Academy yourself? I don't believe I've seen you up there before, are you a new student? Are you new to Bellemuse to or?" She asked before raising her chicken cut to her mouth, Charlotte had always been a rather good chef but she believed that she had outdone herself this time. She knew however that she would have to continue practicing this meal before the holidays. After all, she could only provide her best for her mother upon the visit... one of the few times per year she was allowed to have visitors.

Aednat sat silent for a minute; trying to think of a way to explain she herself didn't understand,  "I believe the simple answer would be that I'm supposed to deliver this letter to the headmistress of Syne Academy.  or at least take it to where it can be delivered to them."  She finished her small pie and cupped her chin in her hand while putting the dish and letter away, "I suppose the other half of that answer would be I want to start fresh. go where no one knows who I am and remake my life, my be have my semblance fixed." Her voice trailed off as she looked up at Artimis,  closely watching them. It hit her when she said that. "fixing" her semblance would also mean she would lose her dear companion.

Charlotte swallowed her bite and paused for inflection, "A letter? How curious, but I shan't pry. It shouldn't be difficult to get it to the headmistress. Getting her to read it, let alone write a response however... well... she is quite a busy woman after all. Running the academy and defending the island is quite the task, I don't envy her."

She cut another slice of meat, weaving the blade around the bone matter like a scalpel in  a delicate operation... not that she often had to use such a tool with her semblance and proficiency.

She smiled slightly, "Wanting a fresh start in life is understandable, I'm sure many come to the academy with such a purpose. Although... when it comes to having a semblance fixed as you say, I'd assume the only way to do such would be to adapt yourself and learn. Practice and gain better control, I got that from my years of treating patience... with lives on the line you're forced to learn and adapt quickly. With hunters or martial artists, or even civilians who unlock their aura on accident, I suppose they have a much harder time learning to control it than a surgeon. Practice is less effective than being thrown in head first."

She placed the cut in her mouth, watching the fiery bird as it circled overhead turning the snow to water as it fell. It was a rather strange thing, the girl was looking up at it... almost as if she were keeping an eye on it, as if she weren't controlling it. For an alternate personality to manifest as part of a semblance, was that possible? Charlotte had heard of such happening to people's hands, developing personalities of there own and acting out of the ordinary. It was known as Alien hand syndrome and could even lead to the hand attacking the rest of the body. She supposed this might be observable in semblances. Still, even in body parts it was rare. This must be something extremely out of the ordinary. She chewed, reflecting on the situation.

Note:

Aednat shuddered when when she realized Charlotte had heard her, "I suppose. All the same, with what happened, I'm not sure what would have to happen." She watched Artimis fly down and rest on her shoulder. The firebird quickly doused it's flames to a cool heat and started preening Aednat's hair, "all is well mistress." Aednat stroked the bird. She struggled to make a connection between the horror she had endured at the hands of people she had trusted and the beautiful creature she could call upon. Her semblance had been on the verge of manifesting when she was forced through a series of "experiments" that had completely altered the nature of her power, "maybe fixing isn't the right word for what I'm looking for." She tucked her feet under her body and rubbed the surface she sat on, a most unusual texture for sure.

"With what little knowledge you've given me I believe accepting or coming to terms would most probably be a better term than fixing, I say that though, hypocritically, I struggle to accept even my basic natural body," Charlotte inflected before consuming some more of the chicken.

She swallowed, "Take this meal for example, I'm still not used to how many calories this body consumes. I still feel embarrassed in public, eating so much food, but otherwise I'll pass out walking across the city. I still feel sad when grown men fear me, never full accepting that they are the problem not me..." She proceeded to regrettably mumble, almost inaudibly, as the girl prodded at her back, "Feel jealous of beach girls and their nice legs..."

She shook her head and smiled, "Still still, your problem seems to be a whole lot more dangerous and potentially hyperbolic than my own. Also treatable, that's a positive for sure. Focus on yourself deary~ Work on yourself till you feel truly comfortable, then put yourself out there~ That's what's most important in life, self improvement so as to put your best foot forward."

She cut off another slice, attempting to eat faster though she found the meat was still far too hot. Swallowing she said, "I'm sorry it's taking me so long, I could just give you directions if you're in a rush."

Note:

Aednat smiled sadly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rush you." she stepped down and watched as Artimis flew off again. She was always anxious when the bird wasn't right with her, "I have a terrible sense of direction. I think I'd be safer if I waited." She let her mind's eye reach to Artimis and survey the area. Not surprisingly, there was a wide berth around the two faunus women as people warily looked at them. Aednat was surprised that Ms. Monochrome had admitted her jealousy to a complete stranger. She twiste her tails together giving the impression that they were one giant tail, "Artimis wouldn't hurt me though..." she couldn't hide the uncertainty in her voice. She turned to Ms. Monochrome, "This place looks surprisingly peaceful. Has Whitr Fang not made itself known here?" A blatently loaded question and poorly worded for her purpose. After all, it's not like anyone from back home could've survived and be able to recognize her....could they?

"No no no, you're not rushing me dear~ I'm more afraid I'm holding you back was all, nothing to worry about. If you're fine with waiting then please do~ It's totally fine with me~" Charlotte gently smiled, cutting deeper into her meal. Despite her kind words and attempts to deter the idea, she still felt like she was weighing the girl down.

She paused slightly at her White Fang question before shrugging and slightly shaking her head, "Not that I know of. I doubt they would approach me though, I'd hardly be of any use for their activities due to my medical vows; to protect life. If not how cumbersome my body is. Perhaps not the best thing to be talking about so openly in public though, I'm quite unsure on who's listening."

Charlotte chewed on another slice of the meat, deep in thought. Besides her mother she hadn't heard from any members in quite some time. It was indeed curious, perhaps activities in the area truly had come to a stop. She swallowed, feeling herself near total fullness.

"Shouldn't be too long now, I've got to overeat a little just to be safe of course. If I were to pass out in the airship, who knows where I might end up." She smiled.

Aednat stared blankly for a moment before realizing what Ms. Monochrome meant, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something controversial." She tapped Rage's hilt out of habit and untwisted her tails. She had assumed that White Fang was the ultimate terrorist group, but if people here had casual passing knowledge and didn't act like there was a threat, they must not be doing much. She closed her mind's eye and turned to see an old book store, "do you mind if I pop in there for a moment?" She didn't want to seem rude,  but an opportunity to find books on summons were rare and she had already found two through careful searching in other stores that sold old books. Sadly, they were devoted to different elementals. She scampered across and was inside in an instant. The place smelled like paper and she closed her eyes to enjoy it a moment before realizing that there was a bit of a time limit. She went straight to the back shelves where the really valuable books were kept and efficiently searched until she found one that held promise. A quick examination of the color told her the book was devoted to fire based semblance. trembling with excitement, she opened it and jumped for joy. Aednat raced to the clerk and payed for the treasure. The entire process had taken all of three minutes, "Sorry about that, I really like old books." She held up the one she had bought and then reverently put it in her satchel.

"Please please, enjoy yourself~ Don't worry yourself so much about me, I'll finish my meal. You go have fun deary~" Charlotte smiled and nodded, cutting deep into her meal. She smiled and waved as the girl walked off, polite as she could, before letting out a deep sigh.

She still had so much of this meal to go, not only did she burn calories quickly but being so polite and mannerly she could hardly rush a meal... but when duty called duty called. She swallowed, turning away from the crowds and toward the fountain, before really digging in. Ripping and tearing with blade, fork and teeth. Taking in great mouthfuls of meat and gravy, struggling to chew even. But she felt she had to, she couldn't waste any more of this girl's time.

What had been three minutes had felt more like ten seconds, for when the girl returned Charlotte found herself quite unable to accept her apology... mouth full of holiday food. Gradually she chewed and swallowed before dabbing at her mouth with a napkin, letting out a satisfied sigh. She had eaten enough such that she would likely be able to get the girl to her destination as well as get to her own.

She stretched, slowly rising, "I told you, I told you~ It's fine dear. Nothing to worry about, now let's get you to this airship then~" She resealed her leftovers, placing the container in her bag, before beginning to walk. Cutting through the crowd as the two made their way downtown.

Aednat was surprised at how hard people tried to avoid Ms. Monochrome.  The looks ranged from disbelief to flat out disgust. There were also a couple looks of sympathy, but Aednat's ability to judge people was basically nonexistent so she wasn't sure what they were feeling sympathetic about. She tried to memorize the path so she could find the book store again once she got settled in at the academy. A number of looks were directed at her tails, which made her twist them and appear as one, "I guess humans are the same everywhere. they hate us for being superior and deny us the right to simply be." She softly spoke the words that had been drilled into her head back in Atlas. She tried hard to think of at least one good memory that wasn't suspect as she followed the larger faunus.

Eyes scanned the crowd before them, while not all were indeed disgusted by her; the girl behind her most certainly wasn't used to this kind of attention. Charlotte found it likely she'd focus on the bad in the city as opposed to the good, perhaps this wasn't the best way to become acquainted with the city... if only she had been able to find a better guide. Still, it was much too late now.

The airship pad wasn't too far from the town's center, just a couple lefts and rights and they were practically there. The low thrumming of a ship overhead as they approached very nearly surprising Charlotte. Still, had to keep a stiff upper lip. This was a first impression after all, she couldn't afford to show any more weakness than she already had.

She could feel the meal, already digesting within her. Energy was filling her, but despite this her legs still ached. She really wasn't designed nor used to this kind of movement yet, having spent so many years avoiding these journeys doing them daily like this was rather... intense. She could feel herself heating up quite a lot, despite the cold weather.

As the automatic doors to the landing area opened, Charlotte attempted to get out of the way, allowing her companion to pass. "I suppose this is where we part ways then... it has been a pleasure to meet you Miss Aednat. If you go to the desk you should be able to get a ticket, from there it's just the flight up to the academy. I hope to see you there at some point." She bowed slightly and smiled, ready to see her new friend off.

Aednat bowed, "Thank you very much. I hope we run into each other again soon." She walked up to the counter, "one ticket for Syne Academy please." the woman behind the counter smiled and accepted the money, handing her the ticket. Aednat looked at the directory and followed the directions to the airship that would take her to the her to new life. As she made her way to one of of the lounges on the ship, she was bumped about and almost lost the letter, "That was too close" She breathed, not realizing how near the man who had almost knocked her over was. She found an empty chair and sat down. The hard part of her journey was over now.

The ship lifted off with little fanfare as Aednat and others watched out the windows to see Bellmuse from the sky. She looked to her left and saw a single mountain rising high above the island, and on top was Syne. She watched in awe as ships took off and landed at her new home.

"Indeed, safe travels to you~ Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get to the headmistress soon. See you again soon~" With a wave and a smile Charlotte wandered off, back in the approximate direction of her intended final location.

Her intended destination was Skylight Forrest, looking to simply relax among the environment... although with the snow still falling perhaps today hadn't been the best of days for this excursion. There wouldn't be many birds, certainly no insects and likely not even many mammals. She sighed, continuing to cut through the crowds.

Still, she had made something of the day by helping a poor girl, not wasted a wander through the city to a desolate forest. She smiled as her ship flew overhead, or at least what she assumed to be the girl's ship. Still, she reached the end of the city in only around half an hour longer. Arriving she took a seat at the base of a tree, enjoying some time alone among the undergrowth.

-Exit-