Ch. 51 The Invincible Girl and Her Wolf pt. 2

Alabast let's Pyrrha go after a while. "The clay will dry out, won't it?"

Pyrrha let's him go and takes a step back. A beautiful smile on her face. "I think that would take more than a few minutes"

"Probably" Alabast looks at his piece of clay. "What do we do to it now?"

Pyrrha goes back to her side and picks it up. "Next we use the pottery wheel" She turns towards the wheels by the wall. "We should gets some water" She grabs a bowl with a sponge in it.

Alabast grabs his own bowl and they go towards a sink in the room and fill their bowls. Next Alabast goes over to watch as Pyrrha demonstrates how to use the wheel.

Pyrrha sits down and looks at the pottery wheel. There is a pedal to change the speed of the wheel by her foot. "First step is to…. place the clay in the center. Then lightly spin the wheel and tap it into the center"

Alabast crouches across from Pyrrha and watches her work.

Pyrrha firmly places the clay in the center and starts the wheel up. The clay spins slowly as she taps it with her palms to get to the center.

"Now that it is centered, you get your hands wet" Pyrrha dips her hands into the bowl of water. "Then speed the clay up and hold the clay from the sides and make sure not to apply too much pressure and don't use your fingers. As the clay begins to get round you can then begin to use your palms to shape the pot" Pyrrha brings her elbows into her hips as she leans closer to the pottery wheel.

Alabast get up and does what Pyrrha just did. And when he gets to the part where he sets his hands he looks over at Pyrrha. Her clay is getting pretty tall. But then she puts her hands near its top and forces it down over the next few seconds.

Alabast speeds his clay up and begins shaping the clay but for some reason it becomes lopsided. And so he stops spinning the wheel and looks back to Pyrrha.

Pyrrha is now left with the clay looking like a cake or pie. But then she digs her thumbs into its center as it spins. As the hole in its center grows, so does the height of the to be pot or vase or whatever.

Alabast decides to wait for Pyrrha since he's already messed up and doesn't want to mess it up more.

"Alabast" Pyrrha speaks up but doesn't look away from her clay. "Where did you grow up?"

Alabast gets up and goes back over to Pyrrha. He crouches down and watches as she works the clay. "I don't remember anything before I was 6… I think? Anyway. I was at the protest, I got attacked by some humans that carved my body. I was saved by Ghira. He was the current leader of the White Fang when it was still peaceful. He not only stopped the humans from doing more damage to my body l but he also brought me back to Kuo Kuana. And once I was there he unlocked my aura after my condition only got worse. After I had my aura unlocked I needed to train since I would attract Grimm. And so I spent many years training and living in Kuo Kuana. I didn't get to meet any other kids because I was training so often, but I found Blake there and was instantly captivated when I saw her. Anyway, as I grew up I was tasked with defending the Faunus at the peaceful protests until Ghira stepped down from the leader of the White Fang and Sienna Kahn took up the leader role for the organization. I would have left, but it's all I had known. And Blake decided to stay with the Fang so I did too. The White Fang then moved to a new spot outside of Kuo Kuana and began their not so peaceful protests. And that's basically it"

The clay continues to spin but Pyrrha's hands are no longer on it. Her hands are a few inches away from the clay. "Basically it? That's putting it lightly. I thought the White Fang viewed themselves as a big family?"

"You aren't wrong. The White Fang view the other members as their brothers and sisters. But I just never got into that. I was more concerned with training. And my extra Faunus traits didn't help me get included in anything" Alabast tail lightly moves over the floor behind him.

"I can understand your time being occupied by training. But I can't imagine how lonely you must have felt" Pyrrha can understand it a bit. She was deemed better than anybody else and felt separated from them. But Alabast didn't just feel separated from others, he truly was.

"Don't give me that, Ms. Invincible Girl. And besides, I'd go through it all again if it meant I get to be with you and the others" Alabast closes his eyes and genuinely smiles at Pyrrha.

"Oh Alabast!" Pyrrha uses her semblance to move the pottery wheel to the side and jumps onto Alabast. She leaps at him and grabs his face and kisses him.

Alabast isn't able to stay crouch's and falls backwards. He doesn't fight the kiss but he does use his semblance to not completely fall into his back. He creates a sort of beanbag shape to fall back and lean against.

"I thought we were trying to stay clean" Alabast says as he grabs her hands and she leans on his body, her knees providing a bit of support.

"Wishful thinking" Pyrrha wipes some clay on his nose.

"Fine" Alabast wipes some clay onto Pyrrha's cheek. "There. No more"

Pyrrha smirks and kisses him again while she smears them clay already on his face.

"Okay, maybe a little more" Alabast kisses her and lifts her chin, getting some clay on it in the process.

Pyrrha sits up. "Now no more"

Alabast sits up and lets the beanbag shaped Darkness disappear. "Fine. And I think I'm going to need a little help with my pottery"

Pyrrha looks over Alabast's shoulder and sees the misshapen clay tower. She grins. "I can help, but I'm gonna finish mine first"

"That's fine. I'll just watch how you do it until then" Alabast stands up and helps Pyrrha up as well.

She puts her pottery wheel back in place and sits down and gets back to work. "Is there anything else you want to know about me?"

Alabast looks at Pyrrha. "How is your relationship with your parents? Do you dislike that they pushed you to become a Huntress?"

"What? No. I wanted to be a Huntress since I was young. I wished to help any and everyone in need. And my parents helped me get on the path to reach my goals. It's just that they changed a little over time. Until eventually they expected me to be perfect and the Invincible Girl. They still love and care about me. It's just that our relationship has become….. a bit strained" Pyrrha continues to work on her clay as it gets near completion. "Why do you ask? Did you find something on your dad?"

Alabast crouches down again and watches as the clay rises. "Not really. Just found out he's alive"

"That's excellent news!" Pyrrha chipperly says.

"Sure, but I also found out that his situation isn't…. ideal. And that I won't like it" Alabast sighs after saying that.

"Who told you this?" Pyrrha wonders who could have information on Alabast's dad.

Alabast closes his eyes. "It was an anonymous source. The information might be false. But the person who told me has no reason to lie. Anyway, it doesn't matter. He's somewhere I can't get to right now. Not that I know where he is. Next question"

Pyrrha can tell he wants to change the subject. "Yes. Uhm…. about the dance coming up. Are you thinking of going?"

Alabast doesn't look up. "I don't know. A dance is a bit different from going out clubbing. But if you girls want to go, I will. I planned on asking back in the dorm room earlier but the chance didn't really come. Do you want to go?"

"Is that you asking me out to the dance?" Pyrrha let's the pottery wheel slow down.

"Depends if you want to go or not" Alabast looks up at Pyrrha and moves his head to the side.

"I'd love to go to the dance with you" Pyrrha stands up and crouches next to Alabast. "And so will the others"

Alabast slightly smiles. "Thanks" He then looks at the vase or pot that she made. "And are you sure this is your first time doing this?"

"I'm sure" Pyrrha grabs Alabast's hands and pulls him over to his pottery wheel and sits him down. She then stands behind him. "It's much harder to make something than it is to destroy something"

Alabast nods. "It's easy to succumb to the darkness in your heart. It takes effort to make light and even more effort to keep that light going. That's not even talking about when the darkness threatens to swallow everything"

"That's why Ruby, Yang, Blake, Weiss, and myself are here for you. Just as much as you are there for us. Right?" Pyrrha says and moves the bowl of water for Alabast and herself.

After they get their hands wet Pyrrha puts her hands over Alabast's and helps him shape the clay.

Pyrrha helps move the clay down into its cake or pie shape. "When you feel down and like you can't keep going…"

Pyrrha moves Alabast's thumbs into the center of the clay and helps him expand the hole. "….like there is a hole in your chest…."

Alabast moves his hands along with Pyrrha's.

"…. or if you feel like you can't finish something on your own…"

Pyrrha helps him build the pot up and slowly let's go of his hands. "…. We will be there for you. And to help you. No matter how dark it gets"

Alabast finishes the vase and it doesn't look the best, but it's finished. He grabs her hand and kisses the back of it. "Thanks Pyrrha"

Pyrrha leans her head against Alabast's. "Any time"

They stay there for a few more minutes.

"Are you getting clay in my hair?" Alabast softly asks.

Pyrrha opens her eyes and moves off of Alabast's back. "Sorry~"

Alabast shakes his head. "It's fine. I think were past the point of trying to stay clay free. But I have a better question? What next?"

Pyrrha goes over to her pottery wheel and looks at it. "I'm not sure. I don't think we have to go out them in the kiln. Glaze them. And then put them back in the kiln. Thats would take a decent amount of time"

Alabast stands up. "Well, it's easier to destroy than it is to create right?"

Pyrrha looks over her shoulder. "We can put the clay in the recyclable clay"

Alabast and Pyrrha destroy the clay into a random blob and put them with the other clay that is being recycled outside the room. They head back in the room to wash the drying and dried clay off their faces.

After they get in the room Pyrrha jumps on Alabast's side. "Cheese!"

*Click!*

Pyrrha takes a photo of their faces but Alabast wasn't ready so he had his neutral face.

"If you wanted a photo you could have just asked" Alabast glances at the picture and is reminded why he doesn't like taking photos. He goes down to Pyrrha's height and wraps his arm around her her shoulders and looks forward at the scroll. "Only one photo" He gives a small smile and waits for Pyrrha to take the photo.

Pyrrha grins and looks at her scroll. She takes the photo and this one looks much better than the previous one. But they both are award winners to Pyrrha.

Alabast walks Pyrrha over towards the sink and begins cleaning her face after washing his hands. He rubs his thumb against her cheek to get the clay off, then he moves to her chin and cleans that off as well.

Now it's Pyrrha's turn. She gets her hands cleaned and then uses her index and middle finger to get the clay off of Alabast's cheeks.

Alabast moved his bangs out of the way so Pyrrha would have an easier time cleaning the clay off. She rubbed the clay off his nose which he had forgotten about.

After his face was relatively clean he grabbed a paper towel and wiped his face entirely.

"What's next?" He asks.

Pyrrha grabs his hand as they walk out of the pottery room and go to exit the art building. "How good are you at cooking?"

——————

Pyrrha and Alabast walked back to the dorm hand in hand.

"So….." Pyrrha looks at a tree. "Blake has some traits like a cat personality wise. So do you ever have the urge to chase squirrels?"

"Yes Pyrrha. Every time I see a squirrel I take off running until I catch it" Alabast sarcastically responds.

"Sorry" Pyrrha looks to the side. "I was just trying to think if some Faunus' actions are driven by their Faunus traits. Like if a bat Faunus acts like a bat. Or if a sloth Faunus is slow and lazy"

"It's fine. And it might be true for some people more than others. It's also like how a Semblance might impact a person personality. It's really hit or miss. Like, the whim of some higher being on whether it does or doesn't matter" Alabast explains. He himself doesn't know and he's asked himself this question many wines when he was younger. But he never found any concrete evidence. Each person is different, like how a parent can have a different trait than their parent.

A Faunus could have a tail as their trait. But then their kid might have ears, horns, or also a tail. It's just a random gene. But the animal stays the same. And when two different animal trait parents have a kid….. well that's also up to chance on which animal the kid will take after. Maybe the girls take after the mother and the boys take after the father more? But even that can't be proven.

"Sorry" Pyrrha squeezes his hand.

"You've already apologized. And I did chase squirrels around when I was a kid. But it was more like aura training than anything" Alabast admits.

Pyrrha gives him a smile. They continue to talk about random things as they walk back. And once they do, instead of going to their room Pyrrha leads him to the kitchen.

Pyrrha let's his hand go and opens the fridge and takes out some ingredients. "Wanna guess what we're making? It's one of your favorite food"

Alabast thinks. He used to cook for himself, but he was limited on what he would be able to make. And before that when he was in Kuo Kuana he got the short end of the stick since he was with the adults when he was training and they were given some not so great food. Although Kuo Kuana was a paradise compared to the desert storms of Menagerie. "Uhmmm…. meat?" He shrugs his shoulders.

"Close enough" Pyrrha takes out beef and some other ingredients and then places hamburger buns on the counter top. "Hamburgers"

Pyrrha remembers that Alabast loves the food at the cafeteria. He said it was some of the best tasting food he's had so she assumes that he hasn't had much variety. And she remembers Alabast saying his favorite food is hamburgers.

"I see I'm not the only one to remember some things from the past only mentioned a few times" Alabast grabs a potato. "We're making them from scratch?"

"Yes. I think cooking together is also something normal. And of course I remember, it's your favorite food after all" Pyrrha slightly blushes as she turns around and gets a cutting board and pan out.

"Well, I hope I can leave the cooking to you. I can prep, cooking is where my skill falters" Alabast says as he grabs a knife.

"That's alright. I was taught how to cook when I was training, it was an activity me and my mother were able to do together that wasn't awkward. She said: 'You must be able to cook for your future. Not only if you get stuck in the wilderness when on a mission but also to cook for your husband in the future'. After a few years of helping her out with cooking and I think my skill is decent enough" Pyrrha states.

Alabast wonders if there are any decent parents alive in Remnant. It seems like nobody has two parents that unconditionally loves them and are still alive. Except for Jaune, but he kinda ditched them. Obviously there are, but it seems rare judging by the people he has met. "I look forward to seeing your skills then"

Alabast begins cutting the various vegetables. The potatoes were the hardest since he tried making them into the french fry shape. In the end he just used his semblance and was able to instantly get the results he wanted.

Pyrrha began cooking the beef and bacon after watching Alabast for a minute. She is confident in her cooking skills but still worries if Alabast will like it or not.

After Pyrrha is finished cooking Alabast has been done with the vegetables for a while. And the fries are about to be done soon as well.

They prepare their plates and grab something to drink. Both decide to drink water, Alabast doesn't drink pop and juice wouldn't really go with the burger and fries.

Alabast brings Pyrrha into his shadow and they go onto the rooftop where they usually go to get some privacy. It's the one that overlooks the courtyard and has a gorgeous view of the Beacon tower and the sky.

"Thank you Pyrrha. For everything" Alabast says while he holds the plate in his hands as he stands next to Pyrrha and looks at the Beacon tower.

"You haven't even tasted it yet, and I should also be thanking you" Pyrrha goes and sits on the ground near the edge of the roof.

Alabast sits next to her and takes a bite of the burger. He remembers his crappy attempts at making one of these in the past. And none of them could hold a candle to this. "Are you sure you want to be a Huntress? Because I think you'd make a great chef as well"

"I'm sure" Pyrrha blushes. "I'm glad you like it" She nibbles on a fry.

"Like it? That's an understatement. I think you just ruined my tastebuds" Alabast takes another bite.

The two finish their meal and watch the sun set.

Pyrrha and Alabast lean on each other as they enjoy each other's presence and talk about random things. Like what they think Port will talk about in the next class and other random things.

They stay on the roof until it gets dark and then they walk back to their dorm room and get ready for class the next morning.