Team EMBR (RWBY oc)

Chapter 35: Warm Welcome

Rose's POV
It was almost impossible to not get lost as I wandered through the giant mansion. Fortunately, I wasn't going anywhere, I was just meandering wherever, looking at the art of the mansion in awe. I wouldn't mind living in this place long term if it didn't mean I had to stay with Mr Ewens.
    I stopped as I came back to the foyer and stared back up at the chandelier. It was much more elaborate than it looked at first glass. The light shone through the crystals so the light would refract through them, and the metal accents had elaborate engravings on them. Whoever designed it had to have been an absolute genius. I lost myself in examining it.
    "May I help you with anything?" I snapped back to reality and turned to the voice. One of the maids came out of nowhere and was standing in front of me, as if I was Mr Ewens himself. It made sense that he'd want to treat his guests well. It took me a few seconds to comprehend what she asked.
    "Oh, uhh, no" I said somewhat awkwardly as I gave her an appreciative smile, "no I'm fine. Thank you though."
     "Okay ma'am, but anything you need. Ask anyone and we can get it for you." She replied eagerly.
    "Okay. Thank you..." I said, and the maid walked off. It wasn't in any ill towards the maids, but I probably wouldn't ask them for very much. I just disliked the idea, I wanted to be independent.
     I turned back around after I watched her march off. I looked up at the giant marble staircase that stood in front of me. I figured I had nowhere better to go, so I matched up it and moved off to the balcony to the side.
     I leaned on the balcony railway and looked down into the foyer. This entire house was over the top extravagant. I doubted that he actually needed a foyer this big, but if it showed his power, why not have it.
    I wasn't quite sure where from, but I heard muffler voices. So, I activated my semblance. It didn't take long to realize they were coming from the door directly behind me. It sounded like it was Mr Ewens, and he was still talking with Bondi. I took a few steps back and leaned on the wall next to the door.
    "I can't believe you!" Bondi shouted, that wasn't hard to hear, "no "I'm so glad you're okay" or "welcome home"? You're just gonna sit her and ridicule me?"
     "I only say and do what is necessary..." Her dad said, surprisingly calmly, "and I find that it's necessary to show my displeasure with your actions."
    "Well then why don't I share my displeasure with your actions? How about that?" Bondi said angrily. I doubted Mr Ewens would like her any better when she's angry. Angry Bondi is scary Bondi.
     "Let's see...general neglect for me, for mom, anyone that's not yourself..."
     "Bondi..." he growled harshly.
     "You've hit mom and I during your drunken tirades, and don't even get me started on my 5th birthday..."
     "Bondi!" He shouted louder and I heard a loud slam. I assumed he slammed his fist onto whatever desk he was sitting at. He was probably see him standing up, standing face to face with Bondi, fuming, while Bondi just stood there with a smug grin. At least that's what I thought it would look like
     "Don't forget your place...don't forget who I am..." He said after a long pause, somewhat quietly, but the anger was still there.
    "I know exactly who you are...it doesn't scare me, it means nothing to me. To me you're nothing but a deadbeat dad."
     "Don't forget I can throw you out on the streets. Then I can finally get this stupid thorn out of my side."
     "And that would just go over wonderfully wouldn't it?" Bondi said sarcastically, "I can just see the headlines now! "Atlesian Councilman Huxley Ewens disowns own daughter! How would people react to that?"
     There was a defeated silence after she said that, "then if I can't throw you out. I'll keep you in. The servants will help see to that."
     "And putting me on house arrest will go much better?" She asked dumbfounded, "people will ask where I went..."
     Another defeated silence. For a councilman, he wasn't very smart.
     "I can't believe I ever thought you were fit to lead an army..." he finally said.
      "I can't believe you ever thought I wanted to..."
      "Well you'd be much better off if you cooperated..."
     "What's that supposed to mean!?" I heard the sound of another slam on the desk, just not nearly as loud this time.
     "Well look at you...if you had just listened to me when you were younger, you'd never have had to deal with the fall, but I guess that's what you get for deciding to be a huntress."
     "Really dad!" Bondi shouted, "people are dead. People with families who are mourning! And all you got from that was an "I told you so"? God you're insufferable..."
      "What did I tell you!?" Her dad shouted. I didn't even need my semblance to listen at this point, "I told you. You run off and become a huntress and it won't end well!"
    "Like leading your stupid army would end up any better! Waiting for you to send me somewhere while people get hurt and die!? At least this way I can help people all the time! Something you're too big of a coward to do!"
      "My god...where did we go wrong with you?" He asked, as if it wasn't his fault at all. Even though I could already tell it was.
     "Don't lump mom into this, she wasn't the
Problem, you're all of the problem. You went wrong everywhere." Bondi answered coldly, I could hear footsteps moving towards the door, "but I'm not having this talk anymore. Im done with you."
      I panicked and looked around for a way to hide or escape. I couldn't find a real one so I just swung down off the balcony to the ground floor. I kept my momentum going and rolled when I landed. Fortunately no maid or anyone saw that. I started walking back towards our guest rooms, but I still listened just in case. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I couldn't not do it. Besides, if Bondi needed help now I could help.
      "Get back here!" I heard Mr Ewens shout angrily and clearly. The door was open. Anyone nearby could've easily heard that. Next thing I heard was a door slamming. I hurried away so Bondi couldn't see me, I didn't know how she'd react in this state, and I didn't want to find out. I knew if she lashed out she wouldn't mean it, but still, I'd rather not experience that.
I made my way back to the guest rooms. I could feel the heat from Ember's room before I even turned the corner. She must've still had her door propped open from when I was in there. I poked my head around the corner and saw Ember and Hazel sitting on the foot of the bed embracing each other. Today must be bad for everyone. I wondered how Magnolia was with her parents.
Ember looked up at me, slightly teary eyed, and shook her head. I got the message. It wasn't the best time for me to go in there. So I just slid by and went into my room. I flopped onto my bed in boredom. With the CCT down, I could barely do anything. Everyone I could talk to was either an emotional mess or halfway across remnant.
I kicked Thorn up from the foot of the bed and into my hands. I sighed as I looked down at Thorn and saw the Rose I had painted along the side finally started to chip, and the string was getting loose. I would have to restring it too. Not to mention I was running low on arrows.
I set Thorn back down and sat up with a sigh. It was gonna be a long hour until the meal.