In those brief seconds of catching Emerald by the wrist, Yin noticed quite a few things. Her hair was messy, unkempt and likely hadn't been washed in a while. Her skin was rough, her hands callous and there was dirt under her fingernails. She had bags under her eyes and her clothes were worn and a little dirty.
As far as street rats go, she could have looked worse. But what convinced Yin this Emerald hadn't joined Cinder yet was the sheer desperation in her ruby red eyes.
Thus she reached out and rested her hand on her head and said, "You've had it rough huh?"
The girl stared at Yin, completely in disbelief. There was something about her eyes that made Emerald feel seen. Like she saw deeper than the surface. Life had been hard, it toughened her up when she was faced with the cruel indifference in the world she lived in. It gave her strength of will to resist those people who sought to take from her, exploit and use her for all she was worth. It gave her the fearlessness to to anything to survive and cling to life.
But it definitely didn't prepare her when confronted with kindness.
Emerald tried to swallow the guilt, and sadness she was overcome with. It was just a simple acknowledgement and yet it brutally smashed through the walls she had erected around her heart.
"I.." Emerald bit her lip, torn between a decision to run away or enjoy the warmth of the hand on her head.
'I get it now. Of course Cinder's no master manipulator. With how consistently she failed and how pointless her motives were, her plans wouldn't have been that elaborate. She saw a vulnerable girl who could use illusions. A simple acknowledgement and some warmth and Emerald looks like she's about to sob. And to think, she tossed away someone so loyal... All she ever needed to do was throw the poor girl a bone. A compliment, assurance.. anything. And she still lost her. Salem must have been piss poor at teaching her about keeping her allies close.' Yin thought, gently rubbing the top of her head for a second before pulling her hand away.
"Hm? Who's this?" Qrow asked, bringing everyone's attention to the anxious Emerald.
She froze once more, seeing two kids, an older man, a rabbit Faunus woman and a blonde woman who looked just like the woman she tried to steal from. She wanted to run, she was about to, but she was held in place.
"A new friend. You don't mind if she comes along to our hotel, right?" Yin answered, giving Qrow a meaningful glance.
Qrow ran his hands through his slicked back hair and took a good look at Emerald. He saw much of the same things Yin had.
"Yeah, sure thing. We'll get enough rooms." Qrow nodded, his attention back on Yin as she placed her hand on Emerald's back and led her on.
While Jaune and Ruby didn't really catch on to why there was a new addition, they quickly introduced themselves. Shia, Yang and Qrow went along with it, curious as to where Emerald came from and why Yin decided to bring her along.
While Emerald could only awkwardly go along with their introductions as they walked over to a hotel nearby the station. She was soon bombarded with a few questions courtesy of Ruby and Jaune.
"What do you do in Vale? Oh! Your name's Emerald! I'm also named after a gem!" Ruby excitedly babbled on Emerald's right side.
"Oh how old are you? Are you also aiming to be a Huntsman?" On her left, Jaune inquired.
"E-Eh.. I.." Emerald stammered as they checked in. They all received two rooms, to share between themselves. Qrow quickly got Ruby and Jaune under control by the time they got to their rooms.
Emerald felt her shoulders untense as soon as Yin led her into her room, now that she was away from the two. Though now, she faced Yin, Yang and Shia. She was still quite confused, having faced that sort of reaction from someone she was trying to steal from. And now that they had her alone, she was sure they'd do whatever they wanted to her.
*Poff~*
Emerald was shaken away from her thoughts, having a white towel tossed into her face.
"You ought to take a shower. No offense, you just look like you need one." Yin stated as she took a seat on one of the double beds in her room.
"Pfft.. kinda hard not to when you phrase it like that, Sis~" Yang snickered, leaning beside the door.
"Tact is something my lovely Mistress seems to forget sometimes." Shia nodded, taking a seat on the chair near the window.
"Um.. okay. You're.. not gonna kill me as soon as I get out, right..? Or kidnap me?" Yin scoffed at the question.
"I could have done that as soon as I caught you. I wouldn't do that." Yin replied. While that wasn't exactly true, she certainly wouldn't try to kill this Emerald. But an Emerald who worked for Cinder? There wouldn't be a body left to send back.
Emerald bit her lip and slowly nodded, going into the bathroom with a mix of complicated emotions stirring within her.
"Sooo..." Yang drawled, looking at Yin with a raised brow.
"I didn't suddenly become a philanthropist or someone who adopts at random. She's got a gift and knowledge. But.." Yin paused, folding her arms.
"But..?" Shia hummed in anticipation.
"I feel she deserves better. She's probably used to having to pickpocket. She also probably doesn't even have a place to live. Her clothes are dirty, a bit too baggy for her. So, I have a proposition to her. I'm not doing this to pity her, mind you." Though she added that bit at the end, Yang and Shia both cooed.
""Awww..""
"Oh shut up."
Emerald heard their conversation from the other side of the bathroom door. She was hit with relief, excitement and warmth. Relief at not being ambushed, extorted or kidnapped by them. Excitement at the prospect of an offer, to be useful to somebody. And warmth from being acknowledged again, of her sympathy. Some people despised being pitied, but to Emerald, who had rarely, if ever known sympathy, it meant a lot.
Feeling lighter, she turned on the shower and got to work scrubbing off the dirt and sweat that caked her skin.
Yin nodded as soon as she heard the shower head go off. She gave both Yang and Shia an appreciative nod. Both had taken a strategic spot in case Emerald tried to run out on them. She wouldn't let Cinder get her hands on her.
After ten minutes, Emerald came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around herself. She had a flushed face and looked around awkwardly for somewhere to sit. Yin smiled and pat the space next to her, where a set of clothing were laid out.
"Here. I have some clothes for you too. The leotard's stretchy, so it ought to fit." Yin stated.
Emerald nodded gratefully, scooping up the clothes and quickly changing in the bathroom again before returning. She was wearing Yin's black jeans, boots, leotard and white half jacket that only went down to her waist. Yin noted she was skinnier than she ought to be and decided to call room service while she made her proposal.
"Um.. th-thanks for the clothes." Emerald said before sitting on the bed beside Yin.
"Don't worry about it. It's not like I only ever wore one set of clothes, ever.." Yin replied, smirking as Yang flinched.
"Well I... Nah, that's fair. At least I wear more now. Now to get Ruby on board.." Yang muttered the last part.
"These are yours?" Emerald squirmed, feeling extra conscious of the comfortable leotard clinging to her form.
"Yeah but they're washed, don't worry. Now, onto why I brought you here.." Yin folded her hands together and rested her chin on top of them, giving Emerald a particularly interested smile.
"I want you to join me as I work in Vale. Your skills, semblance and knowledge will be incredibly beneficial to me. Of course, I'll pay you, house you, feed you and teach you if you choose to accept. If not? You're free to walk out and do as you were doing before." Yin kept her future 'work' vague but judging by how Emerald's eyes gleamed when she was told how useful she would be, and how incredible the benefits were, she could tell she was already on board.
"Is.. Is this real? Can I actually.." Emerald muttered, then took a shaky breath and looked into Yin's eyes.
"I agree. Whatever you want. However you need me. Just don't.. take it back or.. or-" Emerald cut herself off as she felt Yin stroke her head once more.
"I wouldn't do something so cruel. But be warned. If you accept this, you must realize that you're mine now. Do you still accept?" Looking into her serpentine eyes and hearing the possessive tone in her voice made a pleasant tingle run up her spine.
"Yes, Mistress..!" Emerald didn't hesitate anymore, even going as far as to bow her head, pushing her head further into Yin's palm.
"Oh a sister!" Shia gasped in excitement before clapping. Then she came to a realization.
'No.. her virginity..! What if the new blood tries to take it before me!?' Shia gaped in horror before her cheeks were pinched.
"Awwwwaah..?" Shia groaned in pain, just now realizing Yin was grabbing her face. She then saw the redness on her face, along with Yang's and Emerald's.
"You just announced your thoughts, horny rabbit. I need you to teach Em here the situation while I grab Qrow. And don't corrupt her.." Yin warned, but Shia looked at Emerald's stunned yet flushed face, she knew the task was pretty much impossible.
"I'll.. try!" Shia swore.
Yin snorted and gave her a light smack upside the butt, "Good girl. C'mon Yang."
Shia had to bite down a particularly lewd reaction and waved the sisters off as they walked out. As soon as they left, she heard Emerald mutter something to the effect of "Lucky.." and groaned to herself.
"So.." Yang coughed, somewhat used to how Shia and her sister sometimes flirted. She often wanted to do the same but it only ever came out awkwardly. It's an issue she's only ever had with Yin. When flirting with other people, she was a natural. But all that confidence goes out the window when she looked into her sister's eyes.
"Do I get one too?" Yang asked, referring to the spank Yin teased Shia with.
Yin raised her brow and glanced at Yang. "Your own Emerald..? You could probably get a few people following you like that. You're more than pretty enough to get anyone you want. Unless they're very gay."
Yin then entered Qrow's room he was sharing with Ruby and Jaune.
"Not exaaactly what I was referring to but I love how genuine her compliments are.." Yang sighed and followed her in.
The two, upon entering were witness to both Jaune and Ruby laughing and pointing at Qrow, who was doing his best to ignore them with several servings of whiskey. They were both on their scrolls, reading something as they keeled over in laughter.
"What's.. up? You guys look like you're having fun." Yin asked with a slight smirk on her face.
Curious, Yang leaned over to take a look. She was not disappointed.
"Pfff- Sis! Come look! There's a whole sub thread from the stream just roasting Uncle Qrow!" Yang informed in between laughs.
Yin grinned and leaned over to take a look.
[Post: Who tf is that guy who stopped the stream? I just wanna talk to him.
[LStar_334: Hiya ❤️]
[Ivory_Rouge: Lmao. Dude is really upset he stopped the big tiddy waifu fight. Ngl though, they definitely knew how to throw hands]
[Yuna_Uzumaki(CakeLover)(CultivationMaster): Indeed! A crime punishable by death in my books. Or at least getting thoroughly bu-cakked 😒]
[StinkyFard(OriginalPoster): Nah bro I want him dead. 😭🙏. Unc looked like the kinda guy you see at Hooters refusing to leave at closing time.]
[P_J_Sch: Lol yeah. Guy looks like the type of dude you see at a Denny's at 4am]
[camo: Oof. Actually I think I recognized him. Isn't he from Patch? Represent! I know this really hot blonde from there..]
[Makotobut_diff: Oh yeah! The mf is a Huntsman. Maybe that was a training session or sum? Anyway.. BlackxBlonde when? We gyat names?]
[StinkyFard(Replying to Makotobut_diff): My bruzzah.. 😭]
[GameMakerFreya: Hm? I smell Yuri in here.]
[Holy_Suzuki: Bro we lost the plot. Keep roasting that old ahh man!]
[Shurasik: Unc looks like he'd say 'Music was so much better back in MY day' and then proceeds to play the most obscure, middest rock of his day.]
[Von_Krieg: Lmao. Dude is just existing and gets hate. But yea. Old hipster lookin' ass]
Quite a few of the comments made Yin start to cackle. Seeing as this was something she know her Mother would love, she sent the thread link to Qrow. The thread's picture being Qrow's face with an unflattering angle aimed at his nose and eyes only made it funnier.
The final nail in the coffin had to be when Raven joined the thread and posted a few pictures of Qrow, where, at several points in his life had been vomited on or shit on by birds.
Of course, their Uncle had been too drunk by now to even care about his image at this point. Or about their upcoming meeting with Ozpin.
[AN: Stones? Feed me 'em pweaaaase]