Team TRML
Exposition Two: Purple
One born in darkness will never see beauty in the light, but someone in the light will never see the dark.
"Roxo! Roxo get up," Nyx excitedly shook me by the head, "dad finally saved enough to send me to Beacon!"
"Wha-Really?" I stared at the blob of color that was his face, "Dad is this real?"
"You betcha'." He responded from the kitchen.
I decided to stand from the small cot I called a bed, but required extra help. Dusting off the torn rags of my school uniform, Nyx lent a hand for me to get to my feet. Familiar vibrations rebounded back into them, giving me an idea where I was in the house. I stammered in dizziness, having stood up too quickly.
"Alright Rox'?" Dad called again, "Here let me help you out."
"No, no I'm fine." I regained balance, "I-I just forget I'm blind sometimes."
"So sorry. After school today, we'll be dropping of your brother at the airport okay?"
"O-Oh, al-alright." I stared blankly his direction, "Today?"
"Yeah." Nyx said, still excited.
"Come eat breakfast you two, than go ahead to school." I stumbled into the stool next to Nyx and waited until he had finished. Before we could begin our journey to school, Dad stopped us to hand Nyx his lunch.
"Go get 'em one last day. Your mom would be proud." He said, and ushered us out of the door. Of course, classes went by in a blur, as they normally did. Unfortunately for me, four teachers had called for my answer and I had stuttered to the point of forgetting my answer. I shrank back into the corner like I always did when I was embarrassed and silently scribbled into my notebook. After endless close calls with lockers and pillars, I called a quits and sat at a nearby bench, crying in frustration.
"Roxo? You okay kid?" A passing teacher asked, but knew the answer through my expression.
I did not have the confidence to respond at the moment, both embarrassed that someone caught me sobbing and the irritation of being lost.
"Can't find your class again?" He sat beside me; I could feel his presence on the bench.
I nodded.
"C'mon kid. My classroom." His unbearably raspy voice and alcoholic breath was never more comforting than then. I wiped my tears away and accepted his hand, finding Nyx as fast as I could after his lesson. A shy twelve-year-old like myself at the time was too concerned with hiding behind his brother on the way home.
As I scribbled my homework into my notebook, Nyx's happiness was too distracting for me to work. When his alarm to leave finally sounded, he screamed, violently startling me and anyone else who heard it. Outside, Dad already had a cab hailed and next thing I knew, we were on the way to the airport.
I shyly hugged my knees in the car for the entire ride, unable to see the passing scenery. Finally at the grounds where the planes were parked, I was forced to say goodbye to my older brother, the best friend a child could ask for. I cried on his shoulder as he boarded the airship and had to be pried away from him. Before re-entering the taxi, Dad pointed out a familiar figure boarding another plane.
"Rox'. Isn't that your teacher, uhm, Mister Brawnen I think?" He turned my shoulders to face that general direction.
"I-I don't know Dad." I whimpered and peered up at him, "I can't see him."
"Well wanna say hi?"
"N-No thank y-you." I replied, although I did, deep inside.
"Are you sure? Son, what's the worst that could go wrong?"
"I-It might not b-be h-him."
"Gosh, you're so shy kid, let's go."
"B-But dad."
Too low to be heard, I was dragged towards him, forced to speak again. I hid behind my father's shoulder staring back at the car behind us.
"Hey. Aren't you Mister Branwen? Yeah, my son actually goes to your school." He began.
"Huh?" He turned around, red cape flowing with him, "Oh, you must be, uh, oh yes, Grimmsickle."
"Yeah, my oldest son is actually going off to Beacon before we saw you, but Roxo just wanted to say hi."
Brawnwen shot an uneasy smirk my way and wave.
"I'll be leavin' that small school actually now, goin' off to teach at Beacon too."
"Really? Well, could you say hello to my other son as well, Nyx."
"I'll do my best." He bowed mockingly and peered behind Dad, to me, "Hey Roxo."
"Say hi." Dad had to remind me, "C'mon, I know you can."
I hesitantly shook my hand at him.
"I hope to see you at Beacon too, you're a pretty cool kid."
I smiled and rocked onto my heels with that compliment, staring at the ground.
"Now if you don't mind me, I have to go now, but keep this." Branwen dropped a small pendant in my hands, a silver crow.
"Th-Thank you." I hugged him, much to his surprise, "Say hi to my brother at Beacon." I watched him leave as well, and headed back to the taxi with my old man.
"See that wasn't so bad." He joked, and I smiled back at him in response. Home without Nyx now both seemed easier and harder for the both of us, one less mouth to feed with Dad's meager wage, and the loss of our oldest child. Two whole passed until visitation was allowed. Now fourteen, I was more excited to see my brother again and was even more enthusiastic to tell him how well I was doing with my education. I could barely contain myself on the train ride to the visitation office at Beacon.
"Hello," My dad calmly spoke to the attendee as I wandered the near empty hall. Straying far enough to tune out their conversation, I sensed a familiar body in the room.
"Is that…no way." I lazily walked toward the figure, "Mister Branwen?"
"Hmm?" His still raspy voice came with a flush of relief, "Roxo? How'd you recognize me kid? I thought you were blind."
"I-I d-don't know, it's like I recognized your vibrations in the ground."
"Can you now? That must be your semblance then."
"Oh, c-cool." I shrugged, unable to come up with any other remarks, "I guess."
"God, you've grown since I last saw ya'. What are you doing here kiddo?"
"M-My dad and I are here, because, uhm, oh yeah, we're visiting my brother."
"Cool, have you thou—
"Crow." Another voice called from the other end of the corridor.
"Listen kid, I've got to go, but I'll see you around."
"Crow!"
"I'm coming Glynda!"
Then he left me, lost in the long hallway. Long after he left did I bashfully wave back. I panicked, but realized I wasn't too far from Dad. I slightly stumbled to walk near him, but anchored myself on his shoulder.
"What do you mean he is not here?" I could feel his anger radiating.
"I'm sorry sir, but your son, Nyx, was expelled last year. Did you receive the notice?"
"No we actually don't even get mail."
"That's too bad Mister Grimmsickle, our sincerest apologies. The most we can do is give you a train pass back to your area."
"Alright." Dad sighed, "Thank you for your help."
I followed him out of the building, clueless. Noticing his attitude falling, I twiddled my thumbs and decided to ask what the problem was.
"So…Dad, what happened, will we see Nyx again?" I said.
"Sorry Roxo, but Nyx isn't here anymore."
"Wh-What do you mean?"
"He took our money and bounced!" He shouted and I stumbled backwards in fear. Trembling, I struggled to keep up with his pace. I kept my distance for the rest of the walk, and remained hushed on the train, as did he. I was fighting back the tears from streaming down my face and I could tell Dad was as well. With a low whimper and one tear escaping, I failed and began to bawl on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry son," He ran a hand up and down my back, "I, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
"I-It's okay." I said in between hiccups, I'm more upset at Nyx right now.
"I'm worried about Nyx too, but don't worry about him, it's not your fault."
I shifted from his shoulder and buried my face in my hands. I wanted to stop crying, but the tears would not stop falling. My whining did not slow until we were near the slums of Vale.
"Son, Rox'. Please, stop crying, I know it's hard, but…I can't think of a reason."
"I-I c-can't," I only sobbed more, "I-It's a-all I know how to d-do. I'm too sensitive, I'm too shy at school, the teachers don't e-even wanna call on me."
"Well, they should have a reason to, your doing so well in school right now."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'll tell you when we get home."
Our stroll home was filled with laughter instead of sobs and snivels. I do not know how he could always do it, but Dad always found a way to bring smiles everywhere he went. The following year I was graduating primary school and would move onto higher education. Now, at fifteen years, I was working harder than ever. I saved enough money for proper glasses, although they were well over ten diopters in strength and I was legally blind. Nonetheless, I could actually read now and write neater. Another year passed and I was debating whether or not to go to Beacon.
"Roxo," Dad opened the garage door where I was welding, "you come rest now. It's already midnight."
"I can't, I'm almost done with my project," I shouted over the screams of burning metal and pulled the mask back down, "and the final draft of my essay contest is due tomorrow."
"Are you sure?" He said, "Can I get you anything then, water?"
"I'd appreciate that."
Five minutes later, I had emptied six plastic bottles of water and Dad was fast asleep. Red-eyed and messy-haired, the next morning called for coffee and plenty of sugar. I kissed Dad on the forehead before leaving, and stopped by the local library to check my e-mail. I grinned maniacally at the confirmation and did my best to avoid drawing attention to myself. I printed out the certificate and bounded home excitedly.
"Dad! DAD! DAD!" I shouted and slammed the door, "Dad! Wake UP!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa what happened kid? Is the stove on fire again?" He said.
"Wait…is it?" I quickly sniffed the air, "No, that's not it."
"Then what is it Roxo?"
"I got a scholarship to BEACON!" I beamed, "They gave me one hundred percent as well as extra money for my spending."
"Wow, that's great kiddo!" He smiled and jumped out of bed, "See, all that hard work paid off."
"Yeah," my adrenaline finally cooled, "it really did."
"Your mom would be proud," he pointed me over to her portrait, "can finally buy her a proper house of gold."
"In due time father."
"When are you leaving?"
"Soonest flight out."
"Great, go get showered and clean then I'll meet you downstairs."
I quickly raced in and out of the bathroom and stopped by the garage for a moment. There it stood, the most important part of the rest of this journey; my weapon, respectively named Grimmsickle. I slowly picked up the light steel, and ran a finger across the flat side of the blade, all the way across the pickaxe-like scythe. Drawing my finger closer to the edge, I felt the serrated teeth all pointing downwards and felt a great deal of pride wash over myself, well deserved pride. Folding it back into a more compact form, I strapped it to my back and met Dad outside.
"You ready?" He said, opening the door of the car for me. I nodded in agreement and we headed toward the airport.
"Any last words before I leave, Dad?" I opened the door again, letting my long legs stretch out.
"I just can't believe you're six feet tall now, son," He remarked, "I'm gonna miss you."
"I know, I'll be sure to write to you, since we actually have a mailbox now."
"I'd like that."
"Well, I have to leave," I straightened out my vest and tie, both purple, "Be sure to visit."
I waved back to him again as I boarded the airship. Throwing my glasses into my small string bag, I sat in the corner, away from anyone else. I straddled the seat and stared at the passing colors and blurbs that were the small cities. Staring in the area I had grown up in, I smiled down, almost letting a tear down my cheek.
"Initiates this way." The crowd was guided into a small amphitheater. On the stage, headmaster Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch stood behind the microphone.
"I'll keep this brief." Ozpin began a speech, "You have travelled here today in search of knowledge. To hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your lives to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge will only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." (Actual quote by Ozpin, Volume 1, chapter 3)
And then he left, What a strange speech.
Now Glynda was behind the mic, "You will gather at the ballroom tonight, tomorrow your initiation begins, be ready. You are dismissed."
I stared blankly around at the other students, unsure where the ballroom actually was. Following the diminishing crowd to the large hall, I assumed we were staying here for the night, until our actual dorms were ready.
I wonder what team I'll join. I pondered, glancing at each of my peers in the room. I felt several vibrations my way. Allowing the shorter male figure to sneak closer to me, I turned around before he could try to scare me.
"W-Way to pick on the blind kid as-asshole." I said, standing up to look down at him, ignoring his apologies. I pushed my way past him once we landed, as well as another hundred kids and into a corner by the window.
The application form for Beacon had not said anything about an initiation, but I was more than exhilarated to test the Grimmsickle for the first time. Both intimidated by the surrounding boys and timid around the girls in the room, I settled in a corner with my bag and blanket, gazing out at the starry night alone.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" A feminine voice said behind me.
"O-Oh, y-yeah it is." I sat up again to speak to her formally.
"I'm Magnolia, but call me Mag."
"O-Okay, I'm Roxo."
"Cool," She pulled on her collar, "I'm sorry about my brother earlier."
"W-Why would you be?"
"He was the one who tried to scare you. 'The one picking on the blind kid.'"
I could sense her bite back a phrase, but recognized her good intentions through my, What was it? Oh yes, semblance.
Dissatisfied by only hearing her, I placed the inch thick glasses on my face again, blinking to adjust to them.
"You dared him to didn't you?" I said.
"Uh-Uhm…yeah it was my fault."
"I-It's okay r-really, my brother used to do that to me too. I understand."
"Oh, figures," Mag unhinged two gauntlets from her wrists, "I'm pretty pumped for tomorrow though, Beacon's website said nothing about an initiation."
"Same, but I'm a little nervous though. Aren't you?"
"Yeah, I guess I am too, I've never even thought of seeing Grimm before this."
"Neither have I."
"Well, I don't really have any friends here yet, so mind if I crash here tonight?"
"N-Not at all."
And like that, she was the first acquaintance I had made at Beacon academy. Finally dozing into a suitable amount of shut-eye, I dreamed of how I would fare against the Grimm Initiation tomorrow.
