AN: Welcome back to the story. This chapter gets a little weird in format as it shows the same time frame from Azure's POV followed by Rex's.
(Anything like this denotes a result of Rex's Semblance)
Disclaimer: Still don't own RWBY. Song used is Ruthless by Tre-Dot
Chapter 3: Next Stop, Vale!
Azure's POV
I guess announcing that I was leaving the Kingdom was counterproductive. Its been three weeks since I had killed Willow, and the increased Hunter presence from the act had only just died down. I had planned on leaving on the first boat out, but I couldn't risk getting detected. However, the latest passenger vessel will suit my purposes well enough.
Now I just need to get my ticket. Oh well, let me see what I got here.
I yell out, "Someone stole my ticket!"
Slipping into the crowd before anyone looks my way, I examine the people waiting to board. Most people look for whoever just screamed, before looking to make sure they weren't also a victim as well. I focus on a single man who pulled out his ticket and then simply placed it into his back pocket. He is the easiest mark I could see.
Time to make my move. I worm my way through the crowd and reach him. I tap him on his shoulder and snatch the ticket from his pocket while he looks for whoever touched him. Next time use your front pockets!
I casually stroll to the back of the line, watching for people who are too attentive. I notice a Wolf Faunus wearing a purple jacket staring at me. He was one of the few people who hadn't reached for their ticket.
Note to self, this one is dangerous. Avoid.
I watch with a hint of guilt as the man I just stole from reaches the front of the line, only to be guided off because he didn't have his ticket. Still, I wasn't going to let that stop me. I make my way to 'my' cabin and let out a sigh of relief.
Still, that Wolf. He knows I stole my way on, and he's not going to fall for my tricks. 7 days with a known threat in a confined area. This isn't going to be fun.
Surprisingly, the week passed by without much incident. A couple of times each day we would near each other. I could tell by his glare that he was sizing me up as a potential threat. I made a point of sending a smouldering look that suggested I was far more confident than I actually felt. Otherwise we didn't interact. I was more than grateful when we finally reached Vale's port. as I got set to leave the ship. I noticed him heading my way. Deciding that a confrontation is not something I looked forward to, I hop the railing of the ship to land on the dock, wincing as I take the landing.
Dashing off I end finding a small alley to catch my breath. I really hope that guy isn't going to be a problem. Probably not, we have an entire city to work with.
A man walks into the same alley and gives a dark smile as he notices me. I quickly question drawing one of my weapons but decide to play with him.
"Give me your money or I'll take it off your corpse."
Really, that's your threat? That is just sad. Mentally rolling my eyes, I take out my wallet and walk over to him, stumbling on the uneven ground and catching myself on him. He takes my wallet and pushes me away.
I flip off his retreating figure before opening his wallet. Like I would ever trip. I take his Lien and place it my boot, along with the rest of my cash. Now to find a cheap restaurant and decent motel.
Robber's POV
Heheh, that was too easy.
Deciding I was clear of any pursuit, I open up my latest victim's wallet. However, the only thing that was in it was piece of paper.
'Nice try, idiot. Don't mess with the best in the game. Thanks for the stuff.' After that was a picture of a knife.
What? I reach into my pocket only to realize that my wallet was missing. DAMN IT!
I wander around searching for a new mark, finally deciding on a Faunus who looked like a tourist.
Rex's POV
(Uh, my feet are killing me.)
(Why did I let me boss talk me into this position?)
I start to massage my temples to alleviate my budding headache. Ever since my Aura awakened, I keep hearing random things from other people. It took a day before I realized they were the others' thoughts. I've been trying to filter out the dumb stuff, but there are about 80 people in range of my new semblance and the sheer number is starting to hurt. Still, the extra awareness might be useful later on.
(Now I just need to get my ticket. Oh well, let me see what I got here.)
"Someone stole my ticket!"
The voice came from roughly the same area as the thought, so I glance in the direction. I don't see anything. Still, I'm not worried that anyone will steal mine. I keep it wrapped around my pistol. Anyone who tried to grab would realize I'm packing heat and back off.
(Time to make my move.)
I quickly glance over to where the thought came from, and I caught a cloaked figure walking towards someone in line. Whoever it was, they easily stole the man's ticket. (Next time use your front pockets!)
I watch as they slink off, and our gazes meet. (Note to self, this one is dangerous. Avoid.)
I agree, this thief is talented and needs to be watched.
Once I boarded I headed to my cabin and took out my sword and some books I bought while getting my affairs in order. I start swinging my blade, practicing the sets described in the book. I need to get stronger if I am going to beat them.
I stare at the creature in front of me. It looks like some unholy mixture of man and animal.
"What the hell are you?"
"I...You"
I examine him more closely. He does have a similar build, but he has claws instead of fingers and his face is obscured by a mask. "What are you here for?"
"Whole...Once...More...You...Resist"
"I am whole."
"Would...Not...Be...If...You...Were...Must...Make...Whole"
The creature lunges at me. I get ready to meet him with my blade when-
I wake up panting. Damn. Another nightmare.
I sit up and begin to meditate to calm my nerves. When I feel tranquil, I look at the clock. 5:18, no point going back to sleep.
I start looking through my stuff. I end up pulling out the White Fang mask I found next to me after Morgana's kidnapping. A burning inferno builds in my chest and I toss it at the wall. I go up to it and noticed a hairline crack over one of the eyes. I get ready to crush it beneath my heel, only to stop when I remember my dream. That gives me an idea...
Minus a few intense stare-downs with the thief, the trip was pleasant. As the boat pulled into port, I wait near the side of the ship, looking over the passengers. I sight the thief and make a move to confront them. Unfortunately, they notice me and jump over the railing, hitting the dock and runing off.
(Did that girl just jump?)
(Is that man okay?)
(Must be a stowaway.)
Knowing I won't catch someone like that, I wait to get off the ship and begin to wander the city. I am surprised at how different the architecture is from back home.
(He looks like a good target.)
Without breaking my stride, I begin to look for whoever thought that. Spotting a suspicious man, I walk into an alley and prepare for a fight.
"Ah, good, give me your Lien and I'll let you leave this alley."
"Not really interested. Hope you can back it up tough guy."
The end has begun now... (begun now)
But I love it, (I love it)
It's my kind of world... (my world)
A lot of y'all scared (uh huh)
I can see y'all scared... (scared to death!)
Survival of the fittest... (uh huh)
Will it be you (uh ha!)
No hopes and no dreams I'm useless
No cares and no fears I'm useless
No hopes and no dreams I'm useless
I'm useless 'cuz I'm Ruthless!
The man charges and slashes a knife at my cheek. I don't even make a move to block it, letting the impact smack my face sideways. I turn back, my bored expression showing just how screwed he was.
(He's a damn Unlock! This isn't my day.)
I grab his arm and slam my other palm into his elbow, feeling the bone give. As he grasps his arm in pain, I grab him by the collar and take my pistol out of my jacket and place the barrel under his chin.
"Please, don't kill me. I'm harmless!"
"I need information. Who can I go to that knows the criminal world, preferably someone I can get work near?"
"Junior! Guy knows everything. Owns a club. I tell you where it is!"
After getting the location of the bar, I slam the gun into his jaw, knocking him out.
Junior huh. At least I have a lead.
WN:
First off, you can see the difference in how Azure and Rex operate. Rex will take the straight approach, while Azure will definitely go outside the box. Azure will never get into a straight confrontation if she can help it. Rex, however is more suited for fights, and will encourage that outcome.
Second, Rex's Semblance and Aura! The body is designed for limited adaption to protect itself. Losing Morgana on top of everything else Rex went through was so traumatic that his soul started tearing itself apart. In response, his Aura awakened itself to stave off the damage. This is not a cure, merely a holding tactic, as the dream suggested. Rex's Semblance is telepathy, a multi-faceted ability that has several applications. What you saw was Application 1, scanning. This is his "neutral" usage, as he can't exactly turn it off, much as we could stop our ability to see or hear. Sensory Semblances suck that way. I'll cover the rest as they arrive
Third, the books. One of them is swordplay, the second is unarmed combat, and the third describes finer aura control. I am only bringing them up because it will make a return.
Fourth, Unlock is nothing more than an underworld slang term for a person with an awakened Aura who is not openly associated with the Hunter Organization. The people who fall under this category include mercenaries, bodyguards, bounty-hunters, and of course, plenty of criminals.
Fifth- WARDROBES! Rex wears a purple jacket over a gold tshirt as his casual/combat wear. Why? it denotes him as a tough guy, but he has a good heart underneath all that darkness. Plus, gold is the 'color' of royalty in the western world, while purple is so in some eastern ones. This actually qualifies Rex (king) in the Color Rule! Azure, due to being a thief and needing to disguise herself, has no official outfit, but the cloak is definitively one of her more recognizable 'working uniforms'.
Finally, you may have noticed that Rex and Azure have just met, and the meeting was essentially, 'I don't like this guy.' All I'm going to say is, What have you seen that would imply that they would be friends when they first met? Azure would categorize Rex as a threat, while Rex would only view Azure as a threat that may be useful.
No OCs this time.
