DH: Hey everybody! Dark habit here again.

This requires some backstory. As I have planned Dressed in DRAB, I came with ideas that were either pure crack for either it or Phoenix Rose, or I couldn't figure out a proper place to fit in with its pacing. As such, I'm taking inspiration from Emergence (which you guys should read if you haven't. F*cking awesome stuff.) *ahem*. The parts located within this story may not be cannon and will be disclaimed as such.

As well, other members of those involved with the Phoenix-verse (Team PHNX? Figure that out later.) may have their own asides to add to this. As such each chapter will have the author mentioned.

Diclaimer: RWBY and its characters are owned by Rooster Teeth.

Author: dark habit

Status: Semi-cannon

Time stamp: Sanctum Soldier; End of Y2C1: New Year, Same Games

The File Thief

Jason's POV

If I get caught, it won't be good, but I need to know why he is so strong...

Sure, that's the reason I tell myself, but part of me still doesn't trust Rex. I open the file.

What? Why is there black ink over his records?

Dracul Rex (Formerly Dracul Vánagandr)

Kingdom of Birth: Vacuo

Kingdom of Residence: Vale

Relations

Father: Vladimir Vánagandr (Retired Vale Corp Hunter/Deceased)

Mother: Vasilissa Vánagandr (Deceased)

Stepfather: Gorlois Rex (Deceased)

Stepmother: Igraine Rex (Deceased)

Sibling(s): Morgana Rex (Stepsister/Missing)

Vánagandr... So that is his birth name?

Psyche Profile

Of concerning stability. Standard analysis methods were quickly dismissed as he pointed out that since he knew they were testing him, he could fix his answers to whatever results we wanted. A more formal therapy session ensued.

Multiple subjects designed to cause emotional stimuli made no impression on him. Was placed on a watch to confirm potential sociopathic or apathetic mindsets.

Watch ended when [redacted]. When Subject was exposed to subjects pertaining to Morgana or [redacted] he displayed rapid flashes of negative emotions and quickly steered the topic away. Repeated attempts were met with verbal hostility, later physical methods and [redacted].

Analysis of his goals, pertaining to [redacted], Subject spoke with incredibly fatalistic tones. Sensing our concern, he quickly dismissed ideas of suicide, direct or by proxy. He affirms he has no desire to die, and simply accepts it. This combined with [redacted] has him labeled for potential of a martyr complex.

Given his hatred of the White Fang, I can believe that.

Abilities

Dracul has showcased proficiency with an bastardized mixture of sword and unarmed combat. When tested, he watches his opponent and often launches threats or scathing comments. When attacked, he quickly blocks and counters with reflexes that challenge all but the fastest opponents. Limited Aura manipulation skills.

note: fighting style draws vaugue similarities to members of [redacted]. Potential trainers?

Dracul is able to read people with unnerving accuracy after mere minutes of contact. By the end of his session, he analyzed his interviewer, pouncing upon her insecurities. She later stated that Dracul had come up to them later and apologized for his actions and affirmed she was a good person. This was further tested and similar results were reported by five other members of the staff.

I skim through his personal history but most of it was stuff Rex has already stated or implied, or it was blacked out to the point of being incoherent. However, the end of the file links to two other documents.

The first was a recommendation by Qrow Fields. He has a Hunter of that caliber vouching for him?

The second led directly to Azure's file. I was about to leave when I saw that the near eternity of her file was hidden.

Azure Raptor (Formally Azure ?)

Kingdom of Birth: Vacuo

Kingdom of Residence: None

Relations Unknown

Psyche Profile

Subject showcases heavy distrust of authority figures. When brought to the interviews, she insisted on sitting a far distance away from the examiner, with her back to the wall and eyes on the door. When interviewer drew close, Subject [redacted]. Subject to be disarmed and searched for later sessions.

Subject was confrontational from the start, and would often refuse to perform the tests.

Trust issues apparently extend to all people. Subject compared most people to monsters and remarked 'At least the Grimm are honest about going for your throat." Past emotional trauma presumed, but Subject won't confirm or deny.

Azure...

Abilities

Despite her slightly smaller size, Azure showcases incredible fitness. Speed and Agility tests place her in the 94th percentile of applicants, excluding those with Speed Semblances. Lacks much proficiency with weapons, relying on ingenuity and unusual tactics.

note: Came with locked Aura, awakened by examiner.

Azure has high-rating spacial awareness. When challenged on a test designed to be misleading, she predicted and avoided the trap. Recall is also far ahead of the curve, though not eidetic.

Apparently trained in deception. When pressed, Azure altered her voice multiple times, holding entire conversations without breaking tone, even when using 'male' voices. Also demonstrated enhanced disguise abilities, including near-perfect duplication of interviewer's appearance, height and clothing being the only tells. Capable of telling obvious lies with only minor raises in blood pressure and pulse rate.

The vast majority of her history was hidden to the point I question why it was even included, although a note was stated that she was a 'ghost of the system', meaning there are no files on her before coming to the Hunters, not even a birth certificate. Given she's stated she's lived her life as a 'nonperson' and she didn't officially exist, it wouldn't surprise me.

There were three files linked to her. The first was another recommendation by Qrow. The second linked back to Rex. The third however...

This file has been ordered sealed by Colonel Monty Oum

...Left too much to answer for.

What are they hiding and why does it involve Azure?

DH: The reason this chapter didn't make it into the story was it both was unwieldy and didn't fit thematically.

The names in Rex's profile:

Vánagandr: another name for the infamous Fenrir, of Norse mythos. It makes a good 'Faunus' family name.

Vladimir and Vasilissa: These come from the multiple 'Dracula' jokes me and the Commander have made about Rex. Vasilissa was the second wife of Vlad II, or Vlad Dracul.

Gorlois and Igraine: Morgana's name comes from the black witch Morgana le Fay. These two were her parents in the legends.

The sealed file at the end was the criminal record for Azure before she joined the Hunter Corp.

The next chapter of Sanctum Soldier is in the works, but I have an essay coming up, so it may take a while.