Chapter Fourteen
1.
Astrid knew it was coming, because she cannot deprive herself of her senses all the time. She didn't expect Yang's arm to fall off, only having been held on by aura.
"Yang," Astrid's voice is soft, yet firm. She does not touch the young woman having a panic attack and keeps her hands out and raised in surrender as red eyes glare unseeingly. "You're in the City of Mistral." She lists off the date and time, repeating until the red eyes focus on her. "I want you to tell me five things you can see in the room."
"T-the kitchen ta-table. You… Um, the stove… The… window… The c-chairs."
"What are four things you can touch?" Probably a bad question as it sets her off again. Astrid is calm, no sudden movements or tone inflictions. Once Yang can breathe evenly after hearing where she is, they start again. Yang utters five things she can see. She runs her hand over the kitchen table to help give four things she can touch.
"Three things you can hear."
"You. The frying pan. Me."
"Two things you can smell."
Yang bares her teeth as she shakes. Astrid softly smiles to match. "Eggs. Burning."
"One thing you can taste."
"Blood." Yang shudders.
"You did great," Astrid tells her. "Would you like me to get you a chair?"
"No- no I've got it." Yang picks up her fallen arm, dropping it on the table. Astrid slides her a deck of cards. "What's this for?"
"To pass the time while we wait for breakfast." Astrid slides the charred remains on a plate and starts again. "You ever play Golf?" She grabs some cups.
"…The sport?"
"No," Astrid slides over a glass of water, sipping her own. "There's a card game called Golf. I'll teach you, if you want." She tosses the next mixture on the frying pan.
"Yah, sure." Yang is still too pale. Still a bit shaky. She puts on a brave face as she takes out the cards, handing them over. Astrid shuffles and shows her an easy game of luck and numbers. The older woman makes sure not to believe in the heart of the cards too much, taking each loss gracefully.
By the time Oscar wakes up enough to come out, Yang is a master at the game. Astrid passes to losing torch to her cousin and finishes making breakfast.
It isn't going to be an easy day of teaching, that's for sure.
2.
"Um… Ms. Astrid?" Weiss nervously fidgets in the doorway. Said woman looks up from crunching numbers, amused. "I have a question about combustion."
Astrid straightens and motions her over. "Well, first, thank you for doing the work." Weiss' face twists, but it's true. She's the only one doing the physics homework. "Second, where are you having a problem?"
"It's more in the theory," Weiss shows her the page. Everything is done to specification – as expected of one of Sauron's tutored kids – with the questions about dust circled. "I can understand why an impact would activate dust bullets, but why does the math say the dust bullets activate inside the gun for these questions?"
Astrid lets out a harsh breath, taking a clean piece of paper. "Dust, as I'm sure you know, is a heavily researched phenomenon because of its ability to create natural forces from the energy contained inside of it. Atlas is a good example," she marks 'gravity' on the page, "since, by all accounts, the city should run out of the dust powering it one day. However, gravity dust is a renewable resource because it naturally stores the bonds that would otherwise be the gravitational forces between objects." She gives Weiss a look. "It's why that is your longest-lasting glyph.
"Other versions of dust," she draws the symbols, "are what are commonly used by the public because of their combustibility. They are used in bullets to give an extra oomph to the attack. Under perfect circumstances, the force of the bullet halting creates however small a gap for the dust to release and explode into the surroundings.
"Realistically, dust is a volatile substance and it's the too-sudden energy transfer that sets it off. Being fired from a gun actually lowers the effect of dust, unless it hits an immovable object close after it's release. The act of firing is most dangerous because of the initial energy and force transfer. If firing damages the bullet, dust will explode the gun. If the force causes a reaction inside the bullet, the dust will explode.
"For these questions," Astrid copies down Weiss' numbers, "there is too much dust or too high grade of dust for the bullets to make it out of the barrel. They both force a reaction inside the bullet, which blows up the gun."
Weiss looks to her paper thoughtfully. "Do Hunters and Huntress change their weapons depending on what grade of dust they use?"
"No," Astrid begins, long-suffering. "Aura is the ultimate life-hack. When they shoot, the gun and bullets are like clothing. They're repaired and unhurt until they reach another object, at which time the bullets have usually lost aura protection and will explode on impact."
"So, I don't have to worry about my teammates blowing themselves up?"
"At worst there will be a gun jam," Astrid makes a face. "You'll find weapons with any sort of dust or dust bullets will do that when aura isn't used to heal the damages."
"Thank you," Weiss smiles, relieved. Before she goes, she wonders, "What about gravity bullet misfires?"
The older woman scoffs and turns back to calculating her business expenses. "If it misfires, the gun and nearby objects will be pulled together with force depending on how strong the gravitational pull in the dust was. I wouldn't suggest ever shooting one."
3.
Ozpin can't help but wonder how great of an actress Astrid is, because when they and Qrow discuss the upcoming plans it is like nothing has changed. Leonardo has agreed to meet with Qrow on the night of the full moon, and no one is to reveal Oscar and Ozpin are sharing a body.
Astrid and Qrow fight long and hard about that, and then she fights with Ozpin. Oscar is to be in control, and the cane left behind. No one outside the house is to know.
"Have you found something?" Ozpin finally asks, weary with the whole situation.
Astrid looks between them. "Just rumors, but I don't want to let anything leak if there are any surprises in store for us."
"Yah?" Qrow leans forward, interested. "Like what?"
"Hazel Rainart has been seen moving towards Mistral." She lets that sink in. "I'm hoping he doesn't stop by the headmaster's office the same day as us, but you never know."
That's a very strong hint. Ozpin wonders what she knows. "Alright. I will leave the cane behind."
Qrow startles, "Oz-"
"It's okay," he smiles at his friend. "It is just for one night."
He'll come up with a good apology soon, so Astrid will finally reveal what she's been nervous of.
4.
"Well, Astrid," Běi gives a wry smile. "It seems you've got caught up in a mess."
Astrid smiles easier, because Běi likes her. Most of the police force does. She brings good news and a friendly smile. Hazel Potter only deals in favours and blacklist work. "I'm not sure what's going on, but I'll take your word for it."
"Agent Cheshire told us you and a group are planning to visit Haven on the night of the full moon." Běi leads her to a strategy room, handing a folder of the information Hazel's given her. "The White Fang is planning an attack and we've been working to counter it. Cheshire reported you're dealing with Headmaster Lionheart and his… decisions to leave us defenceless. Any chance you can reschedule for an earlier time?"
"Sorry," Astrid shakes her head. "Qrow Branwen is the one with the appointment, and apparently this was the only day Lionheart wanted."
Captain Midori makes the same connection she does. "So, he's in on the attack." She swears.
5.
Nora yelps as she gets shocked while unplugging the electric mixer. It only hurts like a pinch because her semblance absorbs it.
"What's wrong?" Astrid turns from gathering her cooking supplies.
Nora looks at the woman, eyes wide. Looks to the outlet. Shakes her head and smiles. "Nothing! Got electrocuted is all."
The older woman's eyes widen, she nervously hovers, "Do you need anything?"
"It's all good!" Nora sends her a thumbs up, because it is. She's just unsure why her semblance is working. "Can't even feel it anymore! That was nothing compared to being struck by lightening!"
Astrid winces. "I can image."
Why does it work? Nora doesn't ask. Why does mine work and not theirs?
When Astrid focuses on her, aura and semblance both stop working. Like this, in reach of each to her doing mundane things, Nora can feel the low buzz against her skin, protecting her. It feels like the recovery period after losing all aura. It's there, but not to the extent it should be. She's been missing the feeling because she was expecting nothing to be there.
When Nora asks Ren later, he replies negative to ever feeling his aura active in close space with Astrid.
Nora can put two and two together, especially when it's in front of her. She doesn't ask, because it's a private subject between them, but it makes her wonder how other reincarnated affect each other.
Better yet, how does this effect Ospin?
6.
In Vacuo, the insurgents think taking advantage of Loulou Skywalker's long-stretch of absences is a good idea. Astrid does not let several years of hard work go to waste and, after securing a length of time to herself, crushes the worst of them in one go. Then comes picking off the small fry. Some of her network falls into tatters, but more begin praising her name as she travels across the sandy wastelands, freeing and settling people into newer, healthier lifestyles.
There may also be three less people Ozpin has claimed to keep away from. Many of their followers or lackies have been shifted around or hospitalized to keep an eye on their 'rehabilitation'. In between this, Loulou works with the Headmaster of Shade and surrounding schools to get them dust now that Atlas has firmly closed borders.
When the Headmaster of Shade asks what she wants in return, Loulou smiles – a little too sharp – and winks, a little too spiteful. "When Ozpin eventually makes his way back," the headmaster startles at the words, "no one tells him about the few of Salem's lackies… unfortunate demise."
The shock from the headmaster is almost funny. "You know about that?"
"You'd be surprised on what came out after the Fall of Beacon," Loulou finger guns, and the floating guns behind her shoot the people spying on them from roofs away. "And you need to remember, no giving away information."
Everything has a cost, after all. At least in Vacuo, people say what they mean.
7.
Leader has joined forces with Arthur Watts, Cinder Fall, Emerald Sustrai, and Mercury Black.
Attack on Haven at full moon. Only Leader and her protégé going.
Camp moving next week. I want out.
Astrid clicks her tongue in annoyance. The plan was to blindfold her while in Haven, but if Raven Branwen is going to be there-
She replies back as Hazel: Can get you out personally the day after attack. Else, sneak away when Leader is gone. Will set you up with new I.D.
That makes it bird-wen and her protégé, Cinder and possibly three or four others if Salem's known Mistral forces will be converging, the White Fang, possible Grimm, and the headmaster. All of this against a hunter, six trainees, and possibly a police force and Menagerie merger.
The plan is that Astrid will wear a blindfold, Oscar helping her along.
That plan is going down the garbage shoot as soon as the opposing team arrives. The only issue Astrid can foresee would be her semblance not halting any magic, and even then the answer is gun. Maybe the police force can lend her some tranquilizers, she'll have to make a note of the request.
A knock on the wall has her look up, blinking at Yang in the entryway. "Hey, practice over?"
"No, I-" Yang's fist clench. "I want you to train me."
Astrid blinks again, because she was neve expecting this to happen. "I mean," her eyes drift to the robotic arm, "if you're sure? We only have a few days."
"I'm sure," Yang forces a smile. "I can't rely on it forever. I-… don't want to feel lost if it drops off in the middle of a battle."
"Atlas tech only does that around me," Astrid smiles slightly in return, turning off her scrolls and hiding them away. "Are you ready now?"
"Yep."
"Then let's head to the sparring mats. We'll go slow, but intensive. It'll be the most passive aggressive training you've ever had."
That startles a laugh. Progress.
8.
The body-sharing is a learning curve for everyone involved. Even for Ozpin, though he acts as though it is just a part of life.
Nothing can prepare one for reincarnation, and two of the housemates understand this more than anyone here. A third listens and supports, while a fourth attempts to understand something that are lullaby echoes in the mind of.
Yang and Weiss have just started their learning curve of who is Oscar and who is Ozpin.
Jaune has stopped trying to differentiate the two from the moment Oscar beat him in a spar.
Qrow pretends that nothing has changed.
It is a learning curve because everything is different, and trust has shifted in the room. There is Team JNR, Team RWY, Ozpin and Qrow, and Oscar and Astrid. There is Yang with unresolved parental issues and only stays to protect Ruby, maybe Weiss too as they've been seen more together. Weiss, who was running from the pressures and abusive, manipulative, family to her older sister only to be caught up in this drama. She stays for her team, because she can't run away from them too.
There is Team JNR, only there because they want answers for their dead teammate. Only staying they feel responsible for stopping this because she can not.
Qrow and Ozpin, both who've been fighting for so long, invested so much, they can't stop.
Oscar, who's caught in the middle.
And Astrid. A woman with too many faces and too many plans. The person who's watched this crazy show only being held together by the plan of going for the Spring Maiden. She wants to believe in the best, but this whole thing is a time bomb slowly ticking down. This is a bag of mixed personalities and barely anything in common.
She helps teach them how to survive, but they are still in-training. Oscar is her priority. Not Yang's trust issues, Weiss' fear, Ruby's naivete, Jaune's anger, Nora and Ren feeling lost, Qrow's loneliness, or Ozpin's need to have control over the situation.
So, two days before they go to meet Leonardo, she sits down with her cousin, "If it all goes wrong, will you let me get you out of there?"
"What… do you mean?" Oscar looks so innocently confused, reminding her he's still a child.
"If this whole Spring Maiden or relic business gets too much for us to handle, we leave. Are you alright with that?"
It starts a fight; Astrid keeps calm and siting with her hands folded the whole time. Oscar paces, Ozpin comes out a few times, but in the end neither wants to abandon the group. Astrid agrees with their wishes.
She knows they'll hate her when she eventually goes back on her word and drags them away from the fight.
(The hardest of the learning curve, is when it's more Ozpin than Oscar at night. He calls out in his sleep, and Astrid wakes moments after. She hears names of people he's never mentioned, and on the worst nights he begs for the unknowns to stop.
It's hard knowing that he may call her name one day.)
9.
"Hey, Weiss," Astrid smiles a bit shyly, "Mind coming with me for a second?"
Team RWY share hesitant looks. Weiss nods and gets off the ground, "Sure."
She leads the young woman to the kitchen, coffee and tea already poured. "Have a seat."
"What's… this about?" Weiss is tense
Astrid only smiles from her own seat. "I have a few friends in Atlas who I stay in contact with, normally to brag about our students." Weiss blinks, surprised. "Sauron has been worried since your father started trying to tell people you've stepped down from the family business for your health. Your brother has told her that you've actually been missing, and that's why no one's seen you."
"My…" Weiss looks conflicted, not knowing whether to be pleased or panicking. She fists a hand in front of her chest, shaking slightly. "He…"
Astrid takes a sip. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I've let Sauron know that you're safe, and she's offered to begin a smear campaign on your father for hiding your disappearance while also illegally claiming you've taken yourself out of the line of secession."
Eyes glisten, "W-what?"
"Since you have been missing before he started claiming your denouncement, any documents that say they've been signed by you are forged. No lawyer would dare go up against Sauron's ironclad proof that you have not been in the kingdom before the processed dates, and Sauron has enough clout that, if you waltzed into Atlas at the end of the month, you could become the new owner of the Schnee Dust Company the moment you stepped foot on any SDC property.
Weiss silently gasps for breath, tears falling slowly as she blinks. The girl takes Astrid's offered napkin. "Why would she do that?"
"You're one of her best students," only a few above Whitely. "She may not have been impressed you chose Beacon, but Sauron is d**n proud of everything you've survived. She wants to make sure you have something good to come home to, if you want the heiress title. It's your choice whether to keep it our not."
There's a moment, of Weiss crying and trying hard not to blow her noise in company. The young woman hasn't told her team the extent of her home life, and she truly does not want to. It hurts a bit, to hear Whitely is fighting for her in his own quiet way and the last thing she did... But it is more than uplifting to hear one of the biggest political players in Atlas has her back.
After her father last hit her was the straw that broke. Weiss no longer cares to ever be near him again. With puffy eyes – because her aura won't heal it here – Weiss pulls together and meets Astrid's gaze. "I want it. I don't want him to take this away from me."
Astrid – Sauron – grins full of teeth across the table as she hands a tissue. "He won't."
It is not Astrid's priority that Weiss fears everything in this house is her only lifeline. Still, the young woman has earned her sympathy and help, even if through just being a decent person. Astrid is still not sure of the details that changed Weiss from who she was in the first season to now, but this young woman is someone she'd like to see go far.
Maybe, it's also partly because Whitely has expressed he does not what to be heir. He wants his father's approval, but even he can see when the broken ties of his family have passed the point of no return.
So begins the rumors in Atlas about a missing heiress, a cruel father, and the question of inheritance. All started at the push of a button, and about 100+ contacts.
Because if the borders are closed, and the manor staff have not seen the young woman in some time, where is Weiss Schnee?
(For those outside of Atlas, Weiss Schnee is and always will be heiress of the Schnee Dust Company. Rumor is, she's vowed to change the company for the better.)
10.
Captain Běi Midori looks at the young woman, face hard. "The White Fang has already swarmed into the lower levels, so we don't think they're trying to hide their presence. The ones I need you to keep an eye out for are from Menagerie. They've been slowly integrated into the top levels, so they'll be in ready position to make a stand against the Fang when the time comes." She hands Astrid an earpiece. "We won't be able to do anything until the White Fang are subdued but remember there is backup around the school."
"Thank you." Astrid smiles nervously.
"Someone will be listening for you to give the word."
"Really," Astrid emphasizes a bit more, "thank you. I'll do my best to explain everything once it's over."
"Just catch the perpetrators," Captain Midori has lost too many friends in her life. "And don't do anything stupid."
A/N: Even the calm before the storm is never truly peaceful.
Thank you, xenocanaan, for your review! I know what you mean about Yang. A part of me wants to believe it's because she met Raven, but that is still a lot of trust to put into the bird-lady she just met vs. little cute boy Ozpin. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, Blaise Welshman, for your review! A little more filler… Almost the end of Volume 5. Thank you again for your review, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, TrilbyBard, for your review! Agreed, so much angst… I am glad to hear the story's working! The not-so-sneaky Over Powered (semblance) trope has been the one I'm most worried about, and it's nice to hear the bits of it haven't taken away from the story. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you so much for your review!
Thank you, RandomShtScinceWhenever, for your review! I'm worried about how much we don't see Oscar protesting in cannon. Him in Volume 6 was a bit painful to watch. Ozpin also really needs time to recover... Maybe even a few lifetimes. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thanks for reading! I hope everyone has a fantastic day