User blog comment:Jkphantom9/RWBY clip on Lazer Team Livestream/@comment-10390252-20140622203241

Okay, so two obvious conclusions:

1) Somehow, Emerald and Mercury have got into Beacon as legitimate contestents in the tournament;

2) Emerald is having a very, very hard time not blowing their cover to Ruby, even though Ruby clearly doesn't have the slightest suspicion she's a black hat.

Some thoughts/speculation too:

1) I think Mercury is older than Pyrrha, possibly in his early 20s. Right now, he's testing her, seeing what she can do. I'm pretty sure he's better than her in terms of raw skill but he seems a bit overconfident and that could negate his advantages;

2) Ruby and Emerald seem to know each othe; I wonder if Ruby is trying ot make friends with her and that's making Emerald's job of keeping her cover intact a lot harder - she never expected to have to deal with a hyperactive kid who asks far too many questions;

3) Based on her body language, Emerald shares some of my concerns that Mercury is showboating when he should be pushing his advantages and finishing the bout now;

4) Mercury seems to use a similar jitsu to Melanie; it might be a distinct fighting form in Remnant;

5) I don't think Pyrrha has used her Semblance yet; that's the joker that could decide the bout;

6) I believe we'll learn a lot about Mercury's character and nature by how he responds to the outcome of the bout - is he methodical, stern and professional, or is he a bratty punk?