3) The friend you don't...

Hi guys it's me again!! Miss me? Who am I kidding nobody is reading yet, but no matter, here is the following of this chat gpt I.A story.

I must say, I don't know if it is becoming better, or if I know how to prompt it in a better direction now, but it does come out as less rushed and rough around the edge compared to the very first lines it wrote. It still lack a little something sometime, a sort of soul that a real author would know how to infuse in their story BUT, it does come out great some other time as well... so , meh, jury still out on that one. It still feels like I must reel in an ADHD kid but at least I know how to coax that one into doing his homework now... or something. Anyway here is the story:

Cardin trudged back to his dorm, feeling alone and isolated. As he walked, he couldn't help but think about the events of the day. He had messed up big time, and now he was paying the price for it. He had no friends, no allies, no one to turn to.

When he finally arrived at his dorm, he closed the door and slumped onto his bed. He felt like a complete failure. He had always been a bit of a bully, but he had never meant to hurt anyone like he had hurt Blake today. He felt ashamed and disgusted with himself.

After a few moments of wallowing in self-pity, Cardin decided to try and make things right. The rest of the day was free period so he had time anyway. He pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and began to write a letter of apology to Velvet and Blake. At first, his words were awkward and stilted. He wasn't used to expressing his emotions on paper, and he struggled to find the right words to say.

"Dear Blake,

I know I screwed up today, and I'm sorry. I never should have said what I did, and I can't imagine how it made you feel. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, even if it takes some time. You're a good person, and you don't deserve to be treated like that.

Sincerely, Cardin"

He read over the letter, feeling that it was a bit short and maybe not enough to express everything he was feeling. He took another deep breath and started to write again. To Velvet this time.

"Dear Velvet,

I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you. I know I've made fun of you in the past, and I can see now how wrong that was. You didn't deserve to be treated like that, and I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you. I hope you can forgive me, and that we can start fresh as friends.

Sincerely, Cardin"

He read over the second letter, feeling a bit better about it. He hoped that Velvet and Blake would be able to forgive him, but he knew that it was ultimately up to them.

As he wrote, something strange began to happen. He found that he was able to express himself more freely than he ever could in person.

Cardin crumpled up his first draft and tossed it into the trash can. He had to do better than that. He had to make it clear to Blake that he was truly sorry for what he had said in class.

He grabbed a fresh piece of paper and started writing again.

"Dear Blake,

I don't know if you'll even read this, but I have to try. I wanted to talk to you in person, but I know that you probably don't want to see my face right now. And to be honest, I'm not sure I would have been able to say everything I want to say without stumbling over my words.

I know that what I said in class today was unforgivable. I never meant to hurt you, and I'm not trying to make excuses for myself, but I just want you to know that I didn't mean it the way it came out. I know that doesn't make it okay, but it's the truth.

I was raised in a family that taught me to fear and hate faunus. I know that's no excuse either, but it's the reality of the situation. And for that, I am truly sorry.

I know that sorry doesn't fix everything, but I hope that someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I know I have a lot of work to do to prove that I can be a better person, but I am willing to do that work. I want to be a hunter, but more than that, I want to be someone that you and everyone else can respect.

I hope this letter finds you well, and I hope that someday we can be friends.

Sincerely, Cardin"

As he read over the letter, Cardin couldn't help but feel a weight lifted off his shoulders. He had been carrying around so much guilt and shame, and finally expressing his thoughts on paper felt like a huge step in the right direction. He sealed the letter in an envelope and wrote Blake's name on it, feeling a sense of hope and that things could get better. He realized that he didn't have to be the person he had always been. He could change, he could be better. He just had to try.

Looking at the letter he had written to Velvet he noted that while it wasn't bad, it wasn't good enough. He crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash, again, feeling a pang of guilt as he did so. He needed to do better with Velvet.

He picked up his pen and started to write, pouring his heart out onto the paper.

"Dear Velvet,

I'm not sure where to start. I know I've hurt you, both physically and emotionally, and I'm so sorry. I was raised to believe that faunus were inferior, but being here at Beacon has shown me that's not true. You're just as capable and deserving of respect as anyone else, and I was wrong to treat you the way I did.

I want you to know that I admire your strength and determination. You've faced so much adversity, yet you continue to fight and strive to be the best you can be. You deserve so much more than the way I've treated you, and I'm ashamed of myself for not realizing that sooner.

I know I have a lot of work to do to make things right, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I want to be a better person, not just for myself, but for you and for everyone else I've hurt in the past. I know I can't erase my mistakes, but I hope that with time and effort, I can earn your forgiveness if not your trust.

I don't expect you to forgive me right away, but I hope that someday you can see that I'm trying to change.

Sincerely, Cardin Winchester"

Cardin knew that the road to redemption would be long and difficult, but he was willing to take it one step at a time. He folded the letter, sealed it in an envelope, and addressed it to Velvet, feeling a sense of relief and closure.

He knew that there was still a lot of work to be done, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was on the right path.

He would have to to deliver them to his classmates now, but he was already feeling much better about the future.

He could earn back the respect of his classmates if not that of his team.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Cardin made his way down the hallway towards the dorms of team RWBY. He clutched the envelope containing his letter to Blake tightly in his hand, feeling a mixture of nerves and apprehension. He didn't really want to face them, but he knew he needed to deliver the letter and make things right.

As he approached the door, he could hear voices and laughter coming from inside. He paused for a moment, considering whether to turn back and come back later. But he knew that he had to do this now, before he lost his nerve.

Cardin took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He raised his hand to knock on the door, but before he could, he heard a voice from inside. It was Yang's voice, and she sounded angry.

He hesitated, wondering if he really shouldn't turn back instead, but then he heard Blake's voice too, softer and more hesitant. Cardin's heart sank. He didn't want to face Yang's wrath, but he couldn't just leave the letter without giving it to Blake.

He knocked on the door. After a few moments, he heard footsteps approaching and the door swung open. It was Yang, and she did not look pleased to see him.

"What do you want, Cardin?" she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

Cardin took a step back, hesitating slightly. "I'm just here to deliver a letter," he said, holding out the envelope.

Yang eyed him suspiciously. "And what makes you think we want anything from you? After what you did to Blake, you have a lot of nerve coming here."

Cardin flinched at the mention of Blake's name. "I know I messed up," he said, his voice low. "And I can't take back what I did. So please, just take the letter."

Yang hesitated, eyeing the envelope warily. "What's in it?" she asked.

"Just... my apology," Cardin said, feeling a little silly.

"You better not be playing any games, Winchester. If this is some kind of prank, I swear--"

"It's not a prank," Cardin defended hastily. "I know it doesn't make up for everything, but..."

Yang snatched the envelope from him and tore it open, pulling out the letter inside. She eyed it quickly, her expression softening slightly as she did so.

"I still don't trust you," she said, handing the empty envelope back to Cardin. "But I'll make sure Blake gets this."

Cardin breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he whispered, so low he could barely hear himself.

"But don't think this means we're cool with you now," Yang warned, before turning and disappearing back into the room.

Cardin stood awkwardly in the doorway for a moment, unsure whether to leave or wait for Blake's response.

As he finally decided to turn and leave, he heard Yang call out to him. "And Cardin?" she said, leaning on the doorway. "If you ever hurt Blake again, I won't hesitate to come after you myself."

Cardin nodded, feeling a shiver run down his spine. He knew that he had a long way to go to earn back their trust, but this was a start.

One letter delivered one more to go.

____________________________________________________________

As Yang opened the door, Team RWBY couldn't help but overhear her conversation with Cardin. Ruby was practically bouncing with excitement at the thought of something interesting happening, while Weiss rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath about "that brute." Blake, as usual, remained silent, but her cat ears perked up at the mention of a letter.

After Yang took the letter from Cardin, she shut the door in his face and turned to face her team. "So, what do you think that was all about?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

Weiss rolled her eyes. "I can't imagine what possible reason he could have for coming here, other than to further disgrace himself."

"I don't know, but I'm dying to find out," Ruby said, grinning from ear to ear.

Weiss scoffed. "I'm sure it's nothing but some half-hearted attempt at an apology from that Neanderthal."

Blake spoke up for the first time. "Maybe, but we should give him the benefit of the doubt. People can change, sometime you know." She was proof of that herself afterall.

Yang rolled her eyes. "Not Cardin, trust me. He's probably just trying to save face after what happened. And I can't believe you're the one defending him after what he did to you."

"But what if he's really sorry?" Ruby asked, her eyes wide with hope.

Weiss snorted. "Please, like he's capable of genuine remorse. He's just a bully who got what was coming to him."

Blake shook her head. "I don't know, guys."

"We should at least read the letter and see what he has to say!" Interjected Ruby.

Yang sighed. "Fine, I'll read it. But I'm not getting my hopes up." She made her way over to the couch, her teammates gathering around her to see what it said.

As she read the letter out loud, they listened intently, their expressions ranging from skeptical to hopeful. When she finished, there was a moment of silence as they all processed what they had just heard.

"Well?" Ruby was the first to speak up, her eyes shining with curiosity. "Do you think he could have changed? Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all?"

Yang shrugged. "I don't know. It sounds like he's actually sorry, but who knows if he means it."

Weiss shook her head. "I'm not buying it. He's just trying to make himself look better."

Blake remained silent, lost in thought. Finally, she spoke up. "I think we should at least give him a chance to prove himself."

Yang sighed. "I guess you have a point. But if he even thinks about pulling any of his old crap, I'm kicking him out of here so fast he won't know what hit him."

"Maybe he is being genui… genuinui… maybe he is telling the truth?" Ruby smiled.

Yang scoffed, "Are you kidding me, sis? He's been a thorn in our side since day one."

"But people do change," Ruby argued optimistically. "Maybe he's just going through a tough time and needs our help."

Weiss rolled her eyes at Ruby's naive outlook. "I highly doubt that, Ruby. Cardin Winchester is a brute with no regard for anyone but himself. He probably just wants something from Blake, or worse, he's up to his old bullying tactics again."

"You don't know that!"

Blake remained silent, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against her bed. She was torn between giving Cardin the benefit of the doubt and being cautious after all that he had put her and Velvet through.

Yang noticed Blake's hesitation and turned to her, "What do you think, Blake? Do you trust him?"

"I don't know," Blake admitted, "I think we should wait before making any judgments."

Weiss scoffed, "Well, I for one don't want anything to do with that cretin. He's not worth our time or attention."

"But we should at least give him a chance, Weiss. Maybe he's reaching out for help." Ruby defended.

"Or maybe someone has a crush on him," teased Yang, causing Ruby to turn bright red and stutter in embarrassment.

Yang chuckled as Ruby turned bright red, "Aww, is little Ruby Rose in love with the big bad boy Cardin Winchester?"

Ruby stammered, "Wh-what? N-No! I just think we shouldn't be so quick to judge him. And besides, he was just delivering a letter to Blake!"

Weiss scoffed, "And you actually believe he has good intentions? Please, Ruby, don't be so naive."

Ruby frowned at Weiss, "I'm not being naive! I just believe in giving people second chances."

Yang smirked, "Second chances? What about third, fourth, and fifth chances?"

Ruby sighed, "I know, I know, but maybe he's just going through a tough time or something is all I'm saying."

Weiss rolled her eyes, "Oh please, spare us the sympathy for the devil routine. He's a bully and a jerk, plain and simple."

Blake finally spoke up, "I agree with Ruby that we shouldn't be so quick to judge people, but at the same time, we should still be cautious of him."

Ruby smiled at Blake, grateful for her support, "Thank you, Blake. I just want us to be a team that gives people the benefit of the doubt."

Yang smirked, "Well, if you're not in love with Cardin, then why are you blushing so much?"

Ruby's face turned even redder, "I-I'm not blushing! And even if I was, which I am not! It's not because I like him. You're just being mean."

Yang laughed, "Okay, okay, I'll stop. But you have to admit, it's pretty funny."

"And a little sad." Weiss added. "Poor Cardin, even Ruby doesn't have a crush on him."

Ruby groaned, "Guys, stop! I'm not in love with him. And what does that mean 'even me'?"

"They grow up so fast" sniffed Yang as she wiped an imaginary tear.

"Stop teasing me!!!"

Blake smiled at the bickering, glad to see her team in good spirits despite everything that had happened. She knew they would figure things out together, and she was content to wait and see how things played out.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cardin trudged up the stairs to the rooftop, feeling the weight of the day's events bearing down on him. The guilt and shame from "his" past life still clung to him like a shroud, and the reminder of his own cowardice made him feel sick to his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to escape from it all, to forget the horrors of "his" previous existence and move on with his new life in Remnant.

As he emerged onto the rooftop, he was met with a stunning view of the city bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The orange and pink hues of the sky provided a momentary reprieve from his troubled thoughts, and he breathed in the cool, refreshing breeze that flowed across the rooftop.

But the serenity of the moment was short-lived, as memories of his deeds flooded back to him, making him feel as though he was drowning in a sea of regret. He was tempted to just give up, to surrender to the overwhelming feelings of guilt and self-loathing. But he knew that he couldn't keep running from his past forever, that he needed to face his demons and try to make amends.

With a deep breath, Cardin closed his eyes and focusing on the present moment, trying to block out the memories of his past. He was determined to move forward, to become a better person and make up for the harm he had caused. But he knew that it wouldn't be easy, that the road ahead was fraught with challenges and obstacles.

Still, he felt a glimmer of hope flicker within him, a spark of light amidst the darkness. Perhaps he could find redemption in this new world, perhaps he could become a hero instead of a villain.

Cardin heard a sound taking him away from his musing and turned his attention to the source. He saw Jaune Arc, practicing his swordsmanship on the rooftop. Cardin approached him slowly, trying to maintain a friendly façade, walking with a confident swagger, his eyes scanning the boy up and down. He could see the fear in Jaune's eyes. He smiled, hoping it would appear reassuring, but it only made Jaune feel even more uneasy.

"What do we have here, Jauney Boy?" Cardin drawled, his voice laced with curiosity. "All alone and practicing your sword swings?"

Jaune's grip tightened on his sword, ready to defend himself if necessary. He gulped audibly, feeling the weight of Cardin's gaze on him. He had hoped to train in peace, away from any potential bullies. But here was Cardin, just as intimidating and threatening as ever. Cardin noticed the tension in Jaune's body and so decided to change tactics.

As Cardin towered over him, Jaune braced himself for the worst. But to his surprise, Cardin didn't lay a hand on him. Instead, he spoke in a softer tone, almost as if trying to make amends, although it still came out as a low growl.

"Hey, I'm not here to fight, just wanted to see what you're up to," Cardin said, still trying to appear friendly.

Jaune relaxed a bit, but he still didn't trust Cardin. He knew that Cardin had tormented this faunus girl in the cafeteria as well as Blake in class, and he couldn't shake off that feeling of unease.

Cardin noticed the hesitation in Jaune's eyes and decided to take a chance. "Look, I know we've had our differences in the past, but what do you say we start fresh?"

Jaune's heart sank as Cardin's smile turned into a predatory grin. He knew that this was too good to be true, and Cardin wouldn't let him go so easily.

But then, Cardin leaned in closer and whispered, "I know your secret, Jauny Boy. I know how you cheated your way into Beacon with a fake transcript."

Jaune's eyes widened with fear and disbelief. How did Cardin find out? He thought he had covered his tracks well enough, but it seemed that Cardin was more observant than he had anticipated.

"What do you want from me?" Jaune asked, his voice trembling with fear and anger.

Cardin's grin widened even further. "Relax, Jauney boy. I'm not going to ask for anything crazy. All I want is for us to be friends."

Jaune's brain couldn't process what he had just heard and had to momentarily shut down . He was expecting Cardin to demand something outrageous, but instead, he was offering friendship? It was like a punchline to a bad joke.

"I...uh...what?" was all Jaune could manage to say.

Cardin chuckled at Jaune's confusion. "I know right? It's a lot to take in, but think about it. We could have each other's backs, train together, and I could even help you with your studies. We could be unstoppable. Our battle would be legendary!"

Jaune was still reeling from the shock of it all, 'legendary battle whaaat?', but as he looked into Cardin's eyes, he saw something different. For the first time, Cardin didn't really seem like a bully, but rather a person who might genuinely be seeking friendship.

Jaune took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Are you actually serious right now?"

"Very," replied Cardin.

"Okay," Jaune said, "Sure, let's give it a shot," he replied, cautiously, a tentative smile forming on his face. "Let's be friends?"

This definitely didn't feel like selling his soul to the devil... right?