A/N: Welcome to another installment of My Turn!
Wow, this story's really taking off, huh? 30 follows and 20 favs? And nine more reviews?!
Nein, nein, nein, nein, nein!
Sorry, needed to get that reference out of my system. But anyway, that's mind-blowing! It's a good thing I had low expectations because this was a SI/OC fic, otherwise I wouldn't be this pleasantly surprised.
Speaking of which, just to reiterate, the character in this story is still me. I just gave myself a new look (the cover image) for my "new life".
Just a small spoiler, I'm giving myself a new name this chapter.
With that out of the way, let's see what's up with this whole "adopting" business.
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.
"You know, kid, if you keep your mouth hanging open like that, you're liable to swallow a bug."
I close my mouth.
Now, I've heard my fair share of strange conditions…not really. I was, and probably still am, an antisocial person.
But…to adopt a child? Now that takes the cake!
I might actually have some second thoughts here. I know I had three nephews, but that doesn't mean I know how to take care of someone! My mom was the main caretaker, with me assisting when she had to go to a different part of the house and couldn't watch all of them.
"Um…I'm not sure if-."
Old Man Barton sighed. "It's okay. I didn't expect you to agree to it anyway."
I wave my hands frantically. "Now, hold on a minute! I didn't say no!"
"You didn't say yes, either."
…He's got me there.
I sigh. "Look…it's not that I wouldn't consider it. It's just…I don't know how to take care of a kid."
"You won't be doing it alone," Old Man Barton said with a smile. "I'll be there to help you. I may be old, but I can take care of a child if I wanted to."
"…So, why don't you?"
The old man was silent for a moment.
…
…
…
"I'm afraid they decided to establish an age limit for those who could adopt a child."
Oh.
"So the law thinks you're too old to raise a kid?"
"That's about the size of it."
Damn. Despite the fact the law's meant to protect you, it'll always find a way to screw with you. Like if you decide to engage in vigilantism. You do it for the right reasons, but the law makes you the bad guy in it….
Except for Batman. He's the only one that can be above the law.
Anyway, there's still some things bugging me.
"Can I ask why you want to take care of this child?"
"…The last farmhand was the kid's father."
Oh.
"During the time they were here, I bonded with them, especially the little girl. I was like the grandpa she never had. I would watch as she wandered around while her father worked the farm."
Wandered around…if that's all she did, I can infer that this little girl is probably a toddler. Maybe 2, 3 years tops.
"Grimm attacked the village some months back. The militia was able to drive them away…but there was one casualty."
"The girl's father," I said, figuring it out.
The old man nodded. "Right. After his death, she was taken to the orphanage since I was deemed too old to take care of her, and I couldn't adopt her myself. I can't stand it that she's there in the orphanage when I feel it's my responsibility to watch after her…."
"Which is where I come in," I said.
Old Man Barton nodded. "Right, if you adopt her and live here as my farmhand, I'll be able to help you take care of her and show you how it's done. Then when my time comes…I'll be entrusting her and this land…to you."
Once again, my mouth fell open.
Was…was he serious?"
"W-Wait a minute," I stuttered. "Y-You look like you've got some years left in you. Yeah! No way tha-."
"Son," the old man interrupted. "I'm old…way old. And working on a farm at my age tends to wear the heart down, you know?"
…
…
…
Wow.
This is…this is just….
"Why trust me?" I asked. "We just met."
The old man smiled. "I'm good at reading people, son. And let me tell you…you've got a good heart on you. And something's telling me your actually considering my condition."
Was I?
I'll admit, every time I watched my nephews, I couldn't help but dream of having kids of my own. A son or daughter directly of my blood.
Still…was this a wise decision?
I should probably point out something before I decide.
"Won't the orphanage realize what you're planning and try to deny me of adopting the little girl?"
Old Man Barton smiled. "That's the best part…they already know."
What?
"I know the people there, and they know I'm a good person to raise the girl. But the age limit rule has their hands tied. I spoke to them about my idea, and they agreed to it, provided I find a farmhand willing to do it."
Huh…so it all rested on me then.
Either I said yes and that little girl would come home…or I simply leave and forget this whole thing.
…
…
…
Oh, who am I kidding?
"Alright," I said. "I'll do it."
The old man narrowed his eyes. "You sure now? Think about this befo-."
"My mind's already made up," I interrupted. "I'll adopt her."
The old man had the largest grin I've ever seen as he shook my hand rapidly.
"Well, alright then! You're hired! Come with me. We need to get her out of that orphanage right away!"
With a surprising amount of energy, the old man dragged me off to wherever this orphanage was.
I sat in the waiting room as Old Man Barton spoke quickly to the people in charge of the orphanage.
I still can't believe I'm doing this. I mean, I have no intention of backing out, but this is a huge responsibility here!
Taking care of a little girl…that's not something I imagined myself doing for several years. What's more, what if I messed up and she got hurt on my watch? The guilt alone would kill me!
"Hey kid, get over here."
I was startled out of my thoughts by Old Man Barton. I stood up and shuffled towards him and the owner of the orphanage.
The owner was a middle-aged woman with grayish-blonde hair and hazel eyes. If I were honest, she looked good for her age.
"So," she began. "You intend to adopt Miss Scarlatina?"
I nod. "Yes. Yes, I do."
…
…
…
My mind finally catches up to what she said.
"Hold up…did you say Scarlatina?"
"That's right."
…No. There's no way.
Velvet's supposed to be 15 right now. And considering I met the Fall Maiden and Qrow Branwen, both of whose appearances were just like in the show, Velvet had to be a teenager right now.
So what the hell is up with this?!
Only way to know is to roll with it and meet the girl.
"So, how does this work?" I asked. "I have to go through a background check or something?"
I really hope that wasn't the case. How exactly was I going to explain that there was no information regarding me on this planet?
"Not necessarily," the woman began. "Out here, we tend to be a bit more…lenient, in regards to official matters such as this."
…Seriously, I feel like all this luck I'm experiencing is going to run out and something bad, other than the events of Volume 3, is going to happen.
"We've got your occupation, address, as well as any other relevant information provided to us by Barton here."
I look at the old man, who smiles in response.
"All that's left is your name for our records."
Oh…well, that's simple, I guess….
Only my name isn't really what one would consider "normal" on Remnant….
Well, I got a new life and new look…maybe I oughta get a new name as well.
But what?
…
…
…
Wait.
My OCs! Specifically, the Idiot.
See, his name is Jason Jones, but I sort of came up with an alternate name for him that technically coincides with the naming rule on Remnant.
And now I was going to use it for myself.
"My name…is Colt Remington."
I suddenly felt the need to get a revolver as a weapon now.
The woman nodded as she pulled out a clipboard. "Alright, if you would just sign here, here and here."
I did as such, signing my new name on each line pointed out to me.
The woman checked the paper to make sure everything was in order.
She nodded. "Well, that's all there is to it. I'll bring Miss Scarlatina out."
The woman left, disappearing behind a door that led to the back.
Scarlatina…that still bugs me.
"Hey, uh, Barton?"
The old man chuckled. "Call me Cole."
Cole…Coal…alright then.
"Cole," I began. "Does…is there something I should know about the girl? Like, any family other than her late father?"
Seriously, if I just adopted Velvet Scaratina, I'm going to lose it.
Cole was silent. "…Have you heard of the Scarlatina's before?"
I tilted my head. "So, there are others."
The old man sighed. "Yeah…it's a long and sad story. Perhaps I can explain when we get back to the farm."
Fair enough.
The door to the back reopens, and I turn to find the woman from before back.
"Here she is." She looks down behind her. "Say hello, sweetie."
From behind the woman's legs, a little head peaks out…a very familiar head.
A little girl who looked 3-4 years old steps out in full view. She had long brown hair and brown eyes, and was currently wearing a little purple dress that made me think of Little Orphan Annie if she wore purple instead of red.
But what caught my attention…was the pair of bunny ears drooped down a bit.
Bunny ears very much similar to Velvet's.
The little girl fidgeted a bit. "H-Hewo. My name ish Violet Scarlatina. Itsh a pweashure to meet yu."
Okay, I can now confirm that this is not Velvet.
However…I am essentially adopting a mini Velvet.
…
…
…
OHMYGODSHESSOADORABLEIJUSTWANNAHUGHERANDTELLHEREVERYTHINGWILLBEALRIGHT!
Seriously! I know Ruby's supposed to be the most adorable, and Nora, Neo, Neon, and Velvet are close (not really) competitors, not to mention Zwei the Corgi, who's a ball of adorableness in his own right.
However…this little girl standing before me is the most adorable person I've ever met! A mini Velvet!
Did I mention she's adorable?
I want to hug her, but common sense holds me back. I might freak her out if I do that. So instead, I simply get on one knee and smile kindly at the girl.
"Hello, Velv- Violet." Damn it, get your act together! "It's nice to meet you. I'm Colt. Colt Remington."
Violet fidgeted some more, but didn't seem to be shying away.
I slowly hold out my hand towards her, beckoning her to take it.
She hesitates for a moment…before taking my hand.
It was really funny and adorable how her little hand disappeared in my own.
"Ready to go home?" Cole asked
Violet looks up to the old man and lets out a small smile.
"…Yes."
I watch as Cole tucked Violet into her room. I wish I could've tucked her in, but she knew the old man more, and I needed to earn her favor and trust before I could even think of doing stuff like this.
The old man turns off the light as Violet sleeps. He tiptoes out of the room and quietly closes the door.
"She's asleep?"
He nods. "Yes."
The old man and I walk downstairs and step out into the front porch, where he and I take seats on two rocking chairs.
"…So, about Violet's family."
Cole sighed, knowing he'd have to explain.
"Right, well…Violet's father and herself used to live in Vale with her mother and older sister, Velvet Scarlatina."
I knew it! Mini Velvet!
Wait, stop that. This is serious.
"But the parents had a…falling out. The father was a law attorney and lost his job. They got into an argument about it that got out of control when it really shouldn't have. They filed for a divorce…and the father was given custody of Violet."
Divorce, huh?
I know the feeling….
No. Don't think about that.
"But the father wasn't done there. With his knowledge of the law, he went though some loops and wound up building up a bunch of legal jargon that I still don't understand today."
Cole turned to me. "To put it simply, Violet's father made it so that custody of her could ever go back to her mother, not even in the event of his death."
…What?
"That's…that's-."
"Despicable?"
I nodded.
"Well, I don't condone what he did, but I think he regretted doing it later, but he was too stubborn to try to fix it. Anger can make people do things without thinking."
I've seen that happen before. In real life and television.
"But he loved his daughter and only wanted what's best for her, I can guarantee you that."
I don't doubt it.
I sigh. "So, she can't go back to live with the family still alive?"
Cole shook his head in the negative.
"Is there anything to stop me from at least letting them see her?"
Cole shrugged. "You're welcome to try, but…this farm can't run with only me around."
Right…farms needed to be tended to at all times. That much I knew.
"Am I able to contact them?"
"The father tried, but they apparently moved to a different part of Vale. And the cities a big place. And no one else will try, since we're trying to live away from the Kingdoms."
So, I couldn't leave the farm with only one person to run it, and I had no idea where the Scarlatina's lived currently. And no one else could deliver a message.
"Do they know where we are?"
"The father never told them. Again, he was angry."
Goddamn it.
"So…Violet's never gonna see the rest of her family again?"
"I didn't say that," the old man said. "I think she will. Just give it time. Patience is a virtue, after all."
Truer words have never been spoken.
"…Does she remember her mother or sister?"
"…She's remembers she has them, but…not what they look like."
Damn.
Hopefully she'll recognize them if I'm ever able to take her to see them.
I sigh. "Alright then…I just hope I don't mess this up."
Cole pat my shoulder. "Don't worry. She'll warm up to you, maybe even call you her dad someday."
I smiled a little. I hoped that day would come soon.
I was…actually looking forward to raising Violet like she were my own child.
"Now," Cole boomed. "Best get yourself some shuteye. You and I are waking up at dawn to get some work on the farm done."
I winced.
At dawn? Seriously?
I sighed. "Right, guess I should."
I stumbled up the stairs to the room I was given. Not caring about anything else, I fell on my bed, intent on getting as much sleep as possible for the coming dawn.
One thing I knew for sure…I was going to be sore by the end of tomorrow.
A/N: Well…it's official. I'm a daddy…and the kid is Velvet's younger sister!
What a twist!
Violet Scarlatina is basically a mini Velvet with a purple color scheme in clothing, hence being named Violet.
And if anyone questions why she was named Violet when there's nothing purple about her…here's a legitimate excuse. When she was born, she was wrapped in a purple towel, and the parents thought it was a good color on her. End of story.
Anyway, I've now stated my new name on Remnant: Colt Remington….
Yeah, now I need to have a revolver as a weapon. Not sure if it should be a regular gun or a hybrid weapon. Then again…what could a revolver transform into?
Now…remember when I said I was gonna have those three years till canon put together in one chapter? Well, that's what's coming up next! It'll probably be the longest chapter of this story, maybe around 5000 words, not including A/N's and the disclaimer.
Also…I may or may not have another RWBY character appear in that chapter. Still haven't decided if I can fit that character into it, so don't hold me to it.
Still not sure about who to pair myself with. It's hard to choose between Amber, Winter, and Neo, with Coco and Velvet as (debatable) possibilities. Guess it depends on where my writing (and my new life) takes me.
Tomorrow will be the last day I update daily…unless I miss the deadline for whatever reason or I suddenly feel more motivated to keep writing for daily updates. At some point, I will at least not update this story for one day to rest my mind.
If you liked this and want to see where this goes, be sure to follow and fav. Leave a review to tell me what you thought.
See you all tomorrow!
LATERS!