Chatter bubbled above the gentle song of the band, some idle chat, some shameless flattery and some biting gossip. Mina kept an ear on each passing conversation as she weaved delicately through the guests who were draped with as much finery as the furnishings. She didn't look out of place, resplendent in gold and a wicked red tail brushing hands and turning heads. But she felt like a cat in a kennel. Back in Mistral, that marsh country with its tin houses and rotten river boats, a party meant a party, you know? Strong liquor, jazz and the kind of dancing that would give one of these socialites a coronary. Still, Mina didn't dwell on the colours of the past, better focus on the golds and silvers of the present.
These glittering people may not be the kind a Hunter needed during the perils of war but what about the peace time when the cost of training and funding Hunters started to look frivolous to an unthreatened public? Mina would do her part, spreading the good, honest word of Beacon. The other Hunters and Huntresses who had taken the job were scattered around the room. The Atlesian's she had accompanied already seemed to know each other well and paid her no mind.
Beside one of the roaring fires, Mina struck up a conversation with a portly human with pink cheeks and a mustache which extended far beyond the planes of his face. He was the owner of a large Dust depository in Vale, she had known. And now she also knew the name of his two cats and how he liked to collect candles which had been carved into the shape of mermaids. A hobby which, suprisingly enough, Mina found terribly fascinating. Her laugh rang pleasantly in the air as she played along to another one of his jokes.
"My dear, you must visit my factory one day," He said as their conversation drew to a close, "I am sure I can sort out some kind discount for your lot." Her lot being, of course, Ozpin.
"Why thank you, honey. That's ever so kind." She smiled, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm absolutely starved."
Mina made her way to the banquet table where lay delicacies so lavish each bite would cost her a weeks wage and nibbles so opulent they no longer even looked like food. She swore she had spied gold leaf sprinkled over the desserts. She thought about Daedalus picking up these tiny, gratuitous morsels with bemusement and bit back a laugh. She knew he had returned to Vale, much to her delight, but she had yet to see him, unable to convince him to act as security at the party that evning. It was far too frivolous an event for her friend and, besides, she couldn't begrudge him a good night fighting Grimm. Good luck Day! Mina tapped out quickly on her Scroll, Give them a hell of a show. She sent it to Daedalus with a smile, knowing a hell of a show was promised wherever Day was.
As Mina tucked her Scroll away, another fox faunus approached the table. She had caught Mina's, and every other eye that evening. Quite the woman with curves from here to Vacuo. "Carmine Amaranth, here to protect and serve." Mina introduced herself with a charming Mistral twang and an extended hand, "A pleasure to meet you."
Henri flexed her fingers experimentally, she felt good. Content almost. A life travelling through the stars with a group of highly dangerous convicts on highly dangerous missions had been her upbrining after all. She let her head fall back and eyes fall shut, letting the vibrations, the life of the ship settle her for a brief moment. Not too long however, I have to deal with my new friend.
She hadn't been on high alert (a mistake, she knows, amongst so many criminals) but it was difficult to miss the spectator, his tail clanging down the halls, his red eyes glinting out from the darkness. She hadn't paid him any mind whilst she'd been fixing her arm but his growing agitation was clear. He was the first Gorgas Henri had ever seen, she knew next to nothing about his species. Primitive technology, sprang to mind, perhaps? What was it that disturbed him about her? Was she like a mouse to the firghtened elephant? The thought made her giggle.
"Hello!" Henri called, gettting up to approach him slowly, "I'm Henri, it's nice to meet you without handcuffs on." She smiled widely and extended her mechanical hand upwards for him to shake, wondering if it would mean anything to the Gorgas.
The reptile paused as the 'ally' greeted him. Unsure of what to do other then to stand upright and stare at that mechanical arm she had just performed her craft on. Her voice was friendly, that much was true, but when the device came to his direction he backed up instinctively, with wild eyes.
"B-begone witch!" The Gorgas stuttered in his brutish voice as he presented his holy symbol infront of her. All the while muttering to himself several verses of prayer to his god that he had little faith to begin with beforehand, in his foreign tongue. He feared that this arm was more so a magic staff and that by touching it, he'd perhaps be turned into a gecko, or lizard soup.
It was all Henri could do to not burst into laughter at the reptiles genuine fear. What a strange creature he was, scared of her arm, of technology Henri supposed. Fasctinating. For a moment, she considered playing the affronted woman, maybe a few tears to sell it. But, in fact, she was strangely flattered to be called a witch when magic was so far from what she was.
It could do with having an ally who feared her and it would certainly be a first.
With all the drama she can muster, Henri thrusts her mechanical hand towards the Gorgas, palm open, "Do not be afriad! It's true, what I am, but I do not mean to harm you." She lets the charge in her arm build, causing it to glow slightly as if to say But I could, if I wanted to, all the while biting back a laugh.
Jackal slowly lowered his guard as she spoke out, putting away his religious item further back in his clutch. He watched carefully as she tried to assure him that she wasn't going to harm him, though at the same time confessing of her heresey.
He then nearly jumped back in fright at the sight of her arm or what he would thing would double as a magic wand or staff, glow up. He would raise his front two arms and pleaded passively. "O-ok, you won't harm me then right? I-I I won't tell a soul, honest, were supposed to be coworkers after all." He said, he wasn't entirely convinced this human of the dark arts would spare him, but he hoped by mentioning their current status together it would reason for her not to destroy or curse him.
"I-I'm not even that religious! Y-you don't have to worry about any exorcisms from me." This would have been a lie 30 years ago, before he was exiled. Now though, in truth he had lost faith in the gods he was raised to worship and respect. If they were real, they didn't deserve his praise.
The stuttering and fear in his voice was so at odds witht he Gorgas' gruff, daunting voice that it threw Henri off. It was difficult to consolidate this fearful creature with the one she had watched tear out a man's throat.
She eased off slightly, lowering her arm and letting the theatrics in her voice ebb, "Oh dear. Of course I won't harm you. I've no reason to, have I? I know it's hard to beleive because I'm, well, here but I'm not a bad..." She stiffled a giggle, "witch. We have to get by too, you know?" Finally, she lets some of the humour show, "I think we might get along. Please, what's your name?"
The Gorgas nodded as she reasoned with him, she had no reason to harm him at least. He was a bit taken back and being asked his name. It reminded him of what he originally came here for, to get to know his coworkers better. This made him a bit embarrassed, but he did well not to show it. "Jackal, I hail from the Westari clan."
It was noticeable how much calmer he became, no longer frightened of a monster with powers beyond his understanding. They were supposed to be teammates, and he had to treat her as an ally just as much as one that wasn't affiliated with the taboo.
"Yours?" He asked, his posture straightened.
"A fine clan, I'm sure." Henri smiled mildly at Jackal who seemed much more at ease. She couldn't helped but like the great beast, so different from the criminals she usually encountered. She had to wonder how many people, humans in particular, had ever spoken to him with anything other than anger or fear.
"I hail from..." She hesistates, "Well, no clan, really. Born in the stars. A nomad of sorts."
"Alert, the Gladius has arrived at its destination, the planet Glacies in the Zeta Orionis system. Please report to the bridge for debriefing." A female voice rang out from the intercom.
"Looks like that's our cue. Will you accompany me, Jackal of the Westari clan?" Henri grins up at Jackal.
For the first time in a while, in fact for at least 100 years, the Gorgas smiled. Or rather, tried to, as his saurian lips only revealed a monstrous grin instead. Still though he was about to respond, but they were interupted by the mystical voice from above.
He glanced up, before returning his look down to the girl. "I'd be happy too, Henri of the heavens." The beast nodded and followed her to the bridge, wherever that was. He was happy to have someone to follow so he wouldn't get lost on the ship.
--
After arriving at the bridge, and having their leader to debrief them on what little information they had on the planet, Jackal raised his monstrously big arm. "If it is too cold for you warm blooded creatures I doubt I will last 10 seconds out there, I'll remain in the ship."
"Oh, oh, pick me, pick me." Henri too raised her hand, bouncing on the balls of her feet, "I can be stealthy. Okay not stealthy but I work quite well in the cold." She taps her legs with a clang.
Just an observation but everyone's characters so far, aside from mine, are afraid of tight spaces. Better hope we never have to fight in a tunnel or something, the team will be a mess XD
People say Mina is a looker, in a before-her-time kind of way. Long neck and red lips to match that red hair that falls around her ears in whatever way it damn well chooses. Her skin looks like it has never seen the sun, regardless of how long she spends in it, and her eyes are... probably brown. Without a bright light, they may as well be black holes.
She doesn't wear armour, per say, as she doesn't intend on getting hit. Her day to day is a short gold dress which clinches at the waist and falls in folds at the bottom, the sleeves come over her shoulder like a shawl. This area, and over her breast bone, is lined with a thin mesh to protect from piercing attacks. Ultimately, it is meant to keep her light on her feet. And, just for style the dress has an absurd feather collar. She loves it. She also wears long black boots which go above the knee and a black leather jacket to set the look off. This too adds a decent layer of protection.
Her Faunus feature, like the rest of her family, is a big, red fox tail.
Personality:
What would you say you're like, Mina?
Calm. Brave, I'd hope. Oh, and an absolute sweetheart, honey. A doll.
So it isn't true that your siblings call you ruthless?
I hold my hands up, I won't let anyone step on me, or my family. But I do try to see the best in everyone. Try and take pity or mercy, whatever you want to call it.
You're being far too easy on yourself. I've heard you're a bit of a liar.
If you want to call a bit of tactical flattery lying then go for it. I never said I was a angel-
Well, you kind of did-
No I think you're twisting my words, honey.
Ok... So what are your faults then?
They say I've got a bit of a bite sometimes. A sting in my words.
I don't know Mina, you seem pretty friendly.
Why thank you. I'm not a deliberately unkind to anyone, in fact, I try to have something good to say about everyone. But I won't go out of my way to please anyone who thinks they can cross me. I can't stand rudeness. My father taught me that.
So you might say you've got two faces?
Maybe, honey. Maybe. But they're both very real.
So what inspired you to become a Hunter?
I don't want to save the world. It's just not a realistic goal, is it? But I want to do what's best by my family, make them proud, protect them and make up for what misery Garnet will undoubtedly bring on the world. If I can help people along the way then that's just a bonus.
What really scares you Mina?
Oh, I don't think I'll be answering that.
Family: Her family being hurt or worse.
Exposed: large exposed areas, mainly in battle. It puts her on edge.
Innocence lost: The harm of those who are truly defenseless.
Ethics: A realist but not a pessimist.
Mina knows there is dark in the world but it is diminished by those sparks of pure, bright light. She understands that not everyone has a "good" side, but she knows most have a pain and a life and a mind like her own- it makes them easier to understand and easier to forgive. Even those who have feared her kind. However, she cannot tolerate those who look past the "lesser" or "weaker", human and faunus alike.
Mina's world view is not black and white. Every situation is different, determined by many factors. She is ready to be challenged on her views which can make her loyalties falter at times. Other's opinions can often cast doubt on her own. She considers this a good thing, personal growth. She can, and has, done unsavory things to achieve what she needs to, including lie ("tactical flattery, honey"). But ultimately, she does consider herself to be "good". Whatever that means.
History:
Mina was born into a big family, the second eldest of six. Mistral, her home, has a bad rep. Swamps full of low lives and thugs, they say. Mina thinks this is an unfair assessment. Sure enough, it was a rough place to grow up. Her father worked incredibly hard to keep their family fed after her mother's death some years earlier and the swamp town she grew up in had its share of unsavory characters, not to mention no real infrastructure to speak of. But, she was happy. She would learn to fight with her brothers, dance with her sisters and play a mean hand of cards with the men in town (where she first learnt to lie). She often took care of her four younger siblings when her father was working.
Her village was almost entirely populated by Faunus so her family was rarely exposed to the discrimination so common to other areas of Remnant. But the peace wasn't to last. Slowly, as the area became more populated with humans, the level of mistrust and hatred directed towards her and her family. When they travelled to bigger cities, Mina would notice the signs, "No Faunus" and "Humans only". They weren't new, they had always been there but her father had protected his children from it. She was old enough to see it now. One summer, a band of Faunus calling themselves the White Fang traveled through her populated villages of Mistral. They told tales of the injustice done to her kind, the rising discrimination and even violence. It moved her, of course it did, but it moved someone else in her family more.
Her eldest brother, Garnet, had always had the dream of becoming a Hunter. The opportunities at Haven, Mistral's own academy, were fewer for those of their kind so instead he sought a place at Beacon. Mina remembers watching him train, day and night, to gain acceptance into the prestigious academy. Often she would train with him, to keep him motivated. However, after the White Fang's arrival, Garnet no longer seemed interested in Beacon, in becoming a Hunter or protecting the realm. Instead he was inspired to hatred and justice against humans. He left for the White Fang, shortly after receiving an acceptance letter from Beacon.
Mina's father, a kind hearted man, could not condone Garnet's joining what was clearly a terrorist group and disowned his son. His weapon, which was meant to be passed to Garnet, instead was given to her. It made her think; the Faunus in her village, almost a city now, had fallen on tough times. If she could become a Huntress she could provide for her family. Well, good thing there was still an Amaranth enrolled at Beacon.
Mina attended in her brother's place. Through clever words, and half truths, it took Ozpin... days to notice that she was not the brother who had been accepted to Beacon. However, he didn't send her away. Seeing potential, Ozpin allowed Mina to continue at Beacon, with an extra foundation year to catch up with her peers.
She hasn't heard from her brother since starting at Beacon.
Initially, Mina struggled at Beacon. Not with the academic or training- she, like many students, excelled as a fighter- but with the personal. The story that she had stolen her brother's place, lied her way into Beacon, quickly spread through the students. And although Ozpin had no tolerance for discrimination against Faunus, even other Faunus were wary of her sub-species. Sly, they said, that fox. . Mina supposed the rumours were not unfounded, she was a liar, sometimes, but it was never cruel and never to hurt anyone. Still, she was often avoided, especially when it became known that her brother had joined the White Fang.
At the end of her first year, the Vytal Festival came to Beacon. The campus became vibrant and buzzing with students from the four corners of Remnant. It was one student hailing from Shade that caught her eye. He cut quite the imposing figure, standing a good foot above her and with two mighty tusks protruding from his face. Mina expected a brute but what she got when she approached him... a kind soul. He wasn't taking part in the combat at the festival, in fact, he avoided combat where it wasn't necessary. Here is someone, Mina thought, who she would never have to lie to because they would always accept or forgive.
The two became fast friends and stayed in contact once the festival concluded. The following year, Daedalus returned to Beacon as part of an exchange program with Shade and their friendship grew. He complimented Mina both in battle, where they often stood defensively together, and as a friend, where he would often soften her and she would strengthen him. The odd pair are close friends to this day.
Miscellaneous: Garnet Amaranth is, at this point, quite a high ranking member of the White Fang.
Semblance: Second Face
Mina can make a copy of herself which does not have it's own free will aside from being able to move where Mina mentally directs it. The copy cannot speak but Mina can see through it's eyes and hear what it hears if she is concentrating on that alone. In battle, it will mirror her attacks. The copy itself has Mina's shape and look but is just slightly... darker. A shadow, almost.
Weapon: A large energy-gun with one long barrel that can morph into an absurdly large double handed longsword. This harnesses the same energy and creates a sword with a blue energy blade. Mina drags it behind her and it gives off sparks but it's actually not very heavy due to the blade not being made of metal. When the sword is swung down to the ground it emits a beam of energy which can knock her opponents back.
It's not quite her style but it is a family weapon, upgraded for modern demands.
Combat Style:Mina's style is largely defensive in nature. She doesn't dart around, she holds her ground, choosing tactical point where opponents can only really reach her from one side. At a distance she will use her energy-gun, with little to no precision, to take out large areas or the beam from her sword to knock opponents back. There is little room for hand to hand combat when wielding a two handed sword so when an enemy does approach Mina is quick to block direct hits, using the sword as a shield, before bringing it down down for a powerful, and surprisingly quick, blow.
Mina uses her semblance when her opponent's defense is strong or they are simply too fast. Often she will produce her copy directly behind her opponent so when she goes to strike them, another blow will come down from the opposite direction.
Miscellaneous: Mina's tail is excellent for balancing and agility but also a very easy target. It's one of the reason she keeps her back covered in combat.
Non-Combat skills: It's already been mentioned once or twice but Mina is quite the spinner. She can tell any tale, flatter any fool and soothe any worry. She's also quite the dancer and can play a great game of poker.
Deficiencies: She is normally quite a calm person, you very rarely see her angry and insults to herself will be met with a smile. But her family and friends are a sore point. Threats or comments taken towards them can send her into a rage.
People say Mina is a looker, in a before-her-time kind of way. Long neck and red lips to match that red hair that falls around her ears in whatever way it damn well chooses. Her skin looks like it has never seen the sun, regardless of how long she spends in it, and her eyes are... probably brown. Without a bright light, they may as well be black holes.
She doesn't wear armour, per say, as she doesn't intend on getting hit. Her day to day is a short gold dress which clinches at the waist and falls in folds at the bottom, the sleeves come over her shoulder like a shawl. This area, and over her breast bone, is lined with a thin mesh to protect from piercing attacks. Ultimately, it is meant to keep her light on her feet. And, just for style the dress has an absurd feather collar. She loves it. She also wears long black boots which go above the knee and a black leather jacket to set the look off. This too adds a decent layer of protection.
Her Faunus feature, like the rest of her family, is a big, red fox tail.
Personality:
What would you say you're like, Mina?
Calm. Brave, I'd hope. Oh, and an absolute sweetheart, honey. A doll.
So it isn't true that your siblings call you ruthless?
I hold my hands up, I won't let anyone step on me, or my family. But I do try to see the best in everyone. Try and take pity or mercy, whatever you want to call it.
You're being far too easy on yourself. I've heard you're a bit of a liar.
If you want to call a bit of tactical flattery lying then go for it. I never said I was a angel-
Well, you kind of did-
No I think you're twisting my words, honey.
Ok... So what are your faults then?
They say I've got a bit of a bite sometimes. A sting in my words.
I don't know Mina, you seem pretty friendly.
Why thank you. I'm not a deliberately unkind to anyone, in fact, I try to have something good to say about everyone. But I won't go out of my way to please anyone who thinks they can cross me. I can't stand rudeness. My father taught me that.
So you might say you've got two faces?
Maybe, honey. Maybe. But they're both very real.
So what inspired you to become a Hunter?
I don't want to save the world. It's just not a realistic goal, is it? But I want to do what's best by my family, make them proud. If I can help people along the way then that's just a bonus.
What really scares you Mina?
Oh, I don't think I'll be answering that.
Family: Her family being hurt or worse.
Exposed: large exposed areas, mainly in battle. It puts her on edge.
Innocence lost: The harm of those who are truly defenseless.
Ethics: A realist but not a pessimist.
Mina knows there is dark in the world but it is diminished by those sparks of pure, bright light. She understands that not everyone has a "good" side, but she knows most have a pain and a life and a mind like her own- it makes them easier to understand and easier to forgive. Even those who have feared her kind. However, she cannot tolerate those who look past the "lesser" or "weaker", human and faunus alike.
Mina's world view is not black and white. Every situation is different, determined by many factors. She is ready to be challenged on her views which can make her loyalties falter at times. Other's opinions can often cast doubt on her own. She considers this a good thing, personal growth. She can, and has, done unsavory things to achieve what she needs to, including lie ("tactical flattery, honey"). But ultimately, she does consider herself to be "good". Whatever that means.
History:
Mina was born into a big family, the second eldest of six. Mistral, her home, has a bad rep. Swamps full of low lives and thugs, they say. Mina thinks this is an unfair assessment. Sure enough, it was a rough place to grow up. Her father worked incredibly hard to keep their family fed after her mother's death some years earlier and the swamp town she grew up in had its share of unsavory characters, not to mention no real infrastructure to speak of. But, she was happy. She would learn to fight with her brothers, dance with her sisters and play a mean hand of cards with the men in town (where she first learnt to lie). She often took care of her four younger siblings when her father was working.
Her village was almost entirely populated by Faunus so her family was rarely exposed to the discrimination so common to other areas of Remnant. But the peace wasn't to last. Slowly, as the area became more populated with humans, the level of mistrust and hatred directed towards her and her family. When they travelled to bigger cities, Mina would notice the signs, "No Faunus" and "Humans only". They weren't new, they had always been there but her father had protected his children from it. She was old enough to see it now. One summer, a band of Faunus calling themselves the White Fang traveled through her populated villages of Mistral. They told tales of the injustice done to her kind, the rising discrimination and even violence. It moved her, of course it did, but it moved someone else in her family more.
Her eldest brother, Garnet, had always had the dream of becoming a Hunter. The opportunities at Haven, Mistral's own academy, were fewer for those of their kind so instead he sought a place at Beacon. Mina remembers watching him train, day and night, to gain acceptance into the prestigious academy. Often she would train with him, to keep him motivated. However, after the White Fang's arrival, Garnet no longer seemed interested in Beacon, in becoming a Hunter or protecting the realm. Instead he was inspired to hatred and justice against humans. He left for the White Fang, shortly after receiving an acceptance letter from Beacon.
Mina's father, a kind hearted man, could not condone Garnet's joining what was clearly a terrorist group and disowned his son. His weapon, which was meant to be passed to Garnet, instead was given to her. It made her think; the Faunus in her village, almost a city now, had fallen on tough times. If she could become a Huntress she could provide for her family. Well, good thing there was still an Amaranth enrolled at Beacon.
Mina attended in her brother's place. Through clever words, and half truths, it took Ozpin... days to notice that she was not the brother who had been accepted to Beacon. However, he didn't send her away. Seeing potential, Ozpin allowed Mina to continue at Beacon, with an extra foundation year to catch up with her peers.
She hasn't heard from her brother since starting at Beacon.
Miscellaneous: Garnet Amaranth is, at this point, quite a high ranking member of the White Fang.
Semblance: Second Face
Mina can make a copy of herself which does not have it's own free will aside from being able to move where Mina mentally directs it. The copy cannot speak but Mina can see through it's eyes and hear what it hears if she is concentrating on that alone. In battle, it will mirror her attacks. The copy itself has Mina's shape and look but is just slightly... darker. A shadow, almost.
Weapon: A large energy-gun with one long barrel that can morph into an absurdly large double handed longsword. This harnesses the same energy and creates a sword with a blue energy blade. Mina drags it behind her and it gives off sparks. It's not quite her style but it is a family weapon, upgraded for modern demands.
Combat Style: Mine's style is largely defensive in nature. She doesn't dart around, she holds her ground, choosing tactical point where opponents can only really reach her from one side. At a distance she will use her energy-gun, with little to no precision, to take out large areas. There is little room for hand to hand combat when wielding a two handed sword so when an enemy does approach Mina is quick to block direct hits, using the sword as a shield, before bringing it down down for a powerful, and surprisingly quick, blow.
Mina uses her semblance when her opponent's defense is strong or they are simply too fast. Often she will produce her copy directly behind her opponent so when she goes to strike them, another blow will come down from the opposite direction.
Miscellaneous: Mina's tail is excellent for balancing and agility but also a very easy target. It's one of the reason she keeps her back covered in combat.
Non-Combat skills: It's already been mentioned once or twice but Mina is quite the spinner. She can tell any tale, flatter any fool and soothe any worry. She's also quite the dancer and can play a great game of poker.
Deficiencies: Not turning a blind eye. She doesn't consider herself any kind of hero but if there is someone in need she would drop almost anything which can be a liability. No one can save everyone but she'll damn well try which can cause her to rush into situations.
She is normally quite a calm person, you very rarely see her angry. But her family and friends are a sore point. Threats or comments taken towards them can send her into a rage.