Chapter 2: Jumping Off
Roman Torchwick was annoyed.
That wasn't unusual. Those who served under him might call annoyance his natural state. But he reserved a particular annoyance for Cinder Fall, an annoyance that was like a combination of having an itch you couldn't scratch, forgetting where you left your helicopter keys, and finding out you put on your bowler hat backwards the entire day. The woman in question sat across from him – lounged would be more appropriate – yawning and idly inspecting her nails. Emerald sat to her right, sneaking glances at the clock. Cinder wore a low-cut red dress most men would find entrancing, but which Roman found flamboyant; when she spoke, the low, sultry tones of her voice bore all the beauty of a bloody knife.
"So, Roman, why are we here? It surely wasn't to enjoy your atrocious fashion sense."
"We are here to discuss my new plan," he said, resisting the urge to point out the brand name sewn on his lapels. "You wanted to get rid of Beacon, yes? And rule over Vale? I suggest you pay close attention."
"You promised the same on that last White Fang job – "
"For the last time, my plan was perfect," Roman growled. "If those Faunus had any brain cells lurking behind their skulls, we would've gotten away with six tons of the stuff, clean, with nobody the wiser."
Cinder shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Roman, Roman, Roman, always the same excuses. I find a man who won't own up to his mistakes…distasteful."
"If I ever get a brain hemorrhage and decide to court you, I'll keep it in mind," Roman said. He felt the start of another headache coming. He would need another cigar when this was over. Really, Cinder was more trouble than she was worth – though she did have her uses, and undoubtedly he his uses to her. Their relationship was founded on the most solid foundation of all: mutual distrust. "Anyway, we're not here to discuss the past. We're here to discuss the future – our future, Vale's future."
"Proceed. I'd rather not spend more time in this eyesore of an office than necessary."
"That vase you're eyeing is worth sixty thousand Lien," Roman said testily. "The Nevermore statue next to it is worth eighty thousand, and the painting hanging on the mantle is worth at least one hundred and twenty thousand Lien." Cinder raised an eyebrow and went back to inspecting her nails. Two cigars. The finest museums of Remnant did not have a collection half as exclusive as his. After an especially tiring day of scheming (which today was shaping up to be), there was something soothing in leaning back in his chair with Bacharale's opera on the record-player, eyes closed, legs kicked up on his desk, knowing that he was surrounded by luxuries a commoner could work a hundred years for and never afford – doubly so because he had stolen every single one of them.
"We cannot quite start yet," he continued, "because for a plan of this caliber, you two are, should we say, insufficient. We are currently waiting for the other two members – speak of the devil."
The door slammed open.
"We're here!" Ruby announced, striding in with Neo at her side.
Only forty minutes late, Roman thought irately. Luckily, Cinder and Emerald had shown up thirty minutes late, so they were really only starting the meeting ten minutes late. Sometimes he wondered if he was the only person who knew what a watch was.
Ruby's eyes lit up. "Emerald! Cinder!" she said, giving them both hugs – one returned willingly, the other reluctantly. Emerald laughed, rubbing the younger girl's hair, while Cinder smiled briefly before her expression settled back to its I-know-more-than-you indifference. Neo gave Roman her patented smirk – hello, he had learned – and took a seat. The pink-haired girl was as much a mystery now as when he first laid eyes on her.
"About time you showed up," Roman said. "Surely a simple sabotage operation shouldn't be so difficult…" He stood up, cane pointed at the bandages at Ruby's side. "The train was supposed to be unguarded."
"Security was tighter than Mercury said it would be," Ruby said lightly.
"Really, now." Roman's eyes narrowed. "I think it's time he's due for a performance review."
"But it was no problem, Dad! Job went off without a hitch. You should've seen me!"
"I've already received the report. Twenty-four cars of Schnee Dust gone up in flames. Well done." He didn't mention the follow-up report of the crew members who arrived at the station ahead of the inferno, and who reported to the police that a red-haired girl wielding a scythe had led the attack alongside a girl wielding a parasol. Even those idiots in the Vale police force would be able to connect the dots. It was weakness that led to his silence – weakness, and stupidity. But later, he promised himself, looking at that face flushed with success. Clay can remain soft forever, but once hardened can never change shape.
He cleared his throat. "As I was saying, we are now finally gathered. Let me begin by saying that this plan will change the entire history of Vale – nay, of all of Remnant. Indeed, these next two hours will be so important that if a single word gets to Ozpin – "
"Enough with the dramatics," Cinder said with a wave of her hand. "I know how much you like your speeches, but try and cut it down to twenty minutes."
"It seems that some people just can't appreciate the finer points of the art of discourse. Very well. I shall be brief, though I wonder what can possibly be so urgent – "
"Salon appointment."
"As I was saying, this plan will require the four of you to act as a team. I chose you four because – "
"No way!" Ruby clapped her hands together. "It's been ages since I worked with you guys!"
"Not since that Dust shop robbery," Emerald said.
"That was what, two years ago? How time flies!"
Neo held up three fingers, pointed down.
"Really, only three months? I guess time doesn't fly," Ruby said thoughtfully. She turned to Roman, eyes sparkling. "So what'll we be doing?"
"I was just getting to that," Roman said, wondering if it might not be easier to send out e-mails instead. Four pairs of eyes turned to him – one excited, one indifferent, one bored, one curious. They were a perennially belated bunch, who didn't recognize genius when they saw it, who wouldn't know fashion or taste if it smacked them in the head, who despite being some of the most powerful warriors of their age still struggled with basic tasks like eating cookies and talking – but he wouldn't trust the job to anyone else.
"You will infiltrate the Vytal Festival."
Nobody would call Yang a patient person. She wouldn't even call herself a patient person, preferring to say the word "patient" in the same tone she would use to describe her obnoxious, white-haired teammate. Who, coincidentally, was currently trying the reserves of Yang's patience. The two of them stood in front of their dorm room, Yang with her hands on her hips, Weiss with her arms crossed. Blake leaned against the wall, watching them impassively, while Jaune was trying to sink into the floor. It was eight o'clock in the evening. After a day of training, Yang had wanted nothing more than to shower and hit the bed. Weiss had other plans.
"For the last time, I'm going to participate in the second stage," Yang said. "It was a team decision."
"A team decision you made behind my back," Weiss snapped. "I demand a re-vote."
Yang threw up her hands in frustration. So what if she had decided to hold the vote, unannounced, while Weiss was in the middle of class? It was precisely to avoid this kind of situation that she did. Not like the outcome would've changed.
"Fine," she said. "All in favor of me, raise your hand – "
"Not so fast! You've already made your case. I still have to make mine." Weiss turned to her other teammates, smiling pleasantly. "I know we've had our differences in the past, but the Vytal tournament is too important to be arguing over trifles. We'll be facing the strongest Huntsmen and Huntresses of our generation. The doubles round will require intelligence, tact, resourcefulness, self-control, and the ability to remain calm under pressure – the very qualities that I exemplify and which are so sorely lacking in this woman next to me – "
"Oh, that is it!" Yang growled. "You want to do this the hard way? You and me. Practice arena. Tomorrow morning. Winner joins."
"See what I mean? Do you want this angry ogre representing us in the doubles – "
"Okay, that's enough. Everybody just take a deep breath," Jaune said, holding up his hands placatingly. "There's no need to fight between teammates. We'll do a re-vote. All in favor of Yang, raise your hand."
Yang raised her hand, shooting Weiss a defiant look.
"And for Weiss?"
Weiss raised her hand, smiling smugly, then turned to Jaune. "What are you waiting for? Raise your hand!"
"I'm the…uh…arbiter. I'll remain neutral. What about you, Blake? Who would you rather have as a partner?"
The black-haired girl gazed from Yang to Weiss with unblinking gold eyes. She had been chosen as a participant solely because neither Yang nor Weiss would pair up with each other. Truth be told, Yang wasn't entirely comfortable partnering up with Blake either – the two of them had exchanged less than a dozen words since the start of the term. Yang knew nothing about her save her name and that she had a penchant for fish – yet another one of their failings as a team. Three students at the top of their grade should not be ranked so low on the team standings, Glynda was fond of telling them. The most grating thing to realize was that part of it was probably her own fault.
(But most of it was Weiss's.)
"Makes no difference," Blake said, and entered the dorm room, closing the door behind her.
"And we're back to square one," Jaune said with a sigh. "I tried."
"This shouldn't even be an argument," Yang said. "I'm the team captain. Whatever I say, goes."
"Ah, I see a fundamental assumption has been wrongly made," Weiss said, "because clearly I am team captain."
"That's what I hate most about you. Just because you're the Schnee heiress cruising on your daddy's money, you think that – "
"I simply believe a team captain should remain calm and collected at all times," Weiss said. Her voice had turned to ice, fingers white on the hilt of her rapier. "There's no need to wait until tomorrow morning. I think it's best we settle this now."
"We're in the middle of the hallway!" Jaune said. "Look, we're all tired right now. Why don't we forget about this and talk it over in the morning? Sound good? Great." He rubbed the back of his head, staring at the floor. "Besides, I thought I was team captain since, you know, Ozpin appointed me. My name is the first letter of our team name."
Yang and Weiss turned to him at the same time. Slowly, they turned back to each other.
"Nine o'clock tomorrow," Yang said. "Winner participates in doubles with Blake."
"And becomes team captain."
Doubles indeed, Yang thought. It'll be a miracle if they ever get past the group stage.