Oh? What's this? A new chapter? But I already put something else up today! Oh, yeah! RWBY VOLUME 3 IS HERE AND BACK IN A BIG, BAD WAY, BUT IN THE GOOD KINDA BAD WAY! Only an episode in, and I am already digging it! Sadly, its creator passed before he could see it. You know, fun fact: I started this story the day he died as something of a tribute to the man, the myth, the legend, Monty Oum, may his soul rest in peace. Days later, I put up the first two chapters, the prologue and the first true chapter, and I think that, sometimes, when I'm lacking creativity, Monty comes down and guides my hands to crank out that much-needed weekly chapter. I think he does that with everyone, guiding their hands and minds to create since he cannot. So, his vision lives on, and we keep moving forward.
But enough about that. Here's the newest chapter of Thorns, which is likely shorter than usual due to school-based distraction!
"Nice house."
The cane clicked against the concrete of the sidewalk subtly as its owner marveled at the massive mansion looming over him.
Roman Torchwick pulled a cigar from his jacket and lit it, taking a puff and blowing it back out with a whistle, making a smoke ring that seemed to encircle the front door.
"I hope someone civil is gonna be home," he said to himself with a chuckle, and he waltzed right up to the door. He used his cane to hit the knocker on the door three times.
After a moment, a blur appeared at the door, invisible through the smoked windows, but there was a peephole there, too. They were obviously peeking through it, inspecting him. And, hopefully, they recognized him.
The door opened a second later, revealing a tall, light-skinned girl who wore multiple sets of jewelry around her head. She had black hair and was dressed in black, lamellar-type armor. She had the ears of a cat swept back atop her head. Her eyes were blue and furious.
"Who in Dust's name are you?" The girl asked, speaking with barely suppressed rage.
"Hey, that's no way to treat your new houseguest," Roman smirked, letting his charisma do the talking.
"You have five seconds to explain why you're here before I put a crossbow bolt in you."
"Whoa, hold on a second there, kitty," Roman snarked, further enraging the girl at the door, "I came to discuss...business."
"Jet, who's there?"
Another female voice filtered in from inside.
"Just some asshole who seems to think he belongs here."
"Jet, please, show some restraint. I understand your rage, but that is no reason to be angry at a visitor."
"Yes, Mother," the girl known as Jet sighed, stepping away from the door, and at that point, another woman appeared. She was also a Faunus, with the same blue eyes as her daughter, as well as blue tattoos beneath her eyes and across her cheeks. She stood at the door and spoke.
"I apologize. My daughter Jet just came in from Vacuo's Hunters Academy and found out her stepfather left us. She has been irritable since the discovery. Please excuse her."
"Not a problem," Roman said, slipping smoothly back into his charismatic demeanor, even going as far as to kiss the back of the woman's hand, "Name's Caesar Octavius Burnside. It is good to make your acquaintance."
"My name is Sapphire Op—er, Sapphire Belladonna. My last name has been Opal until recently. I found out my husband was involved in some...let's say shady business I did not approve of, so I left him. I choose to be known by my maiden name."
"Fair maiden is more like it," Roman flirted, earning a smile of approval from Sapphire.
"Would you like to come inside, Mr. Burnside?" Sapphire inquired, holding the door open wide enough for two people to step through, "I do not own this manor, but it does belong to a friend, and she wouldn't mind having such a pleasant guest as yourself visit for a time."
"I think I will accept that offer, milady," Roman said, giving a bow despite his ribs being in pain, "And please, call me Caesar. It helps to speak with someone more easily when you refer to them informally."
Roman entered the manor, taking mind to make a show of tripping over a step to distract his hosts, one of whom seemed to be a trained Huntress, or at least in training. He stumbled and righted himself, leaning heavily on his cane.
"Sorry about that," he said, holding a hand against the door to balance himself, "I recently got in an exchange with a young pugilist after a disagreement with her friend over a fencing match. She was not a fan of my humble victory."
"Oh? Sounds like a couple of friends of mine. They are away at the moment, but they'll be back soon. Strange, the way young people have such passion for another person that they would sacrifice themselves to save the other. Or injure a third to protect them."
"Ah, young love," Roman faked a smile and mimicked a look that reflected reminiscence, shutting the door gently and following Sapphire to another room, Jet in tow. "What a wonder to behold, when young hearts learn more about their forming emotions and decide whom they would share them with."
They entered a large dining room, with an oblong wooden table that spanned nearly the entirety of the floor, and servants moved to and fro, setting and cleaning it. Three of them pulled chairs out, two on one side and one across from them. Sapphire and Jet sat down, and Roman perpendicular, at the head of the table. He nodded to nobody in particular.
"So, I understand this is the manor of Mistral's Champion?"
"Yes, it is. I was there that night that the King was nearly assassinated. Funny, isn't it, how that works out. My friend was there, with my youngest daughter, Peridot. Six years old, and I thought for almost a year that she was dead because she had been lost in one of my ex-husband's ploys for cheap muscle. I found out soon enough when she was there that my husband was lying, and I left him for it. That was after my friend had returned my daughter to me. That night, my friend returned my lost daughter to me, revealed the ill intent of my ex-husband, and stopped the assassination of one of the most powerful men in the world. All in one night!"
"Quite a tale, Sapphire," Roman said, smiling pleasantly, "But I'm not here to tell stories. I came here to propose."
"Oh? What about?"
"Simple. I need some assistance from your friends, and I have information they could use."
Suddenly, the chair beneath Jet squealed as she rose, slamming her hands on the table.
"I knew there was something off about you! You're Roman Torchwick!"
The Faunus drew what appeared to be a miniature crossbow and leveled it at him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Roman warned.
"Why shouldn't I put a bolt in your head right now?" Jet snarled, making her distrust clear.
"Because I have information for your friends, and I need help. But if that's not enough of a bargaining chip..."
Roman glanced lazily at Sapphire, who gasped as an arm suddenly closed around her neck, and a blade pressed against her throat.
"I also have my friend Neo here, too, who, in contrast to her friendly appearance, also loves the taste of blood."
Jet glared at Neopolitan, who just grinned maniacally.
"How in Dust did she get in here?"
"She snuck in behind me while I acted like I tripped. She turns invisible, you know."
Jet scowled and lowered her crossbow.
"Good. So, when will they be back? Soon, I hope, otherwise, I'm gonna need to speed them up."
"They will be back in a few hours. Three at least, maybe four."
"I can wait until then."
"You're a bastard," Jet growled.
"I'm a con man, honey," he said, crossing his legs, "And you're gonna be needing my help soon."
"What makes you say that?"
Roman smiled deviously.
"I know where they need to go."
The girl's eyes finally opened for the first time since Ruby started watching her.
Which was at least a couple of hours, Yang thought to herself, I was beginning to wonder if she was dead.
The girl was wearing a bloodstained shirt with the words "Atlas Security Force" printed on the sleeves, and the holster strapped to her leg suggested she had been armed recently, but Ren likely handled that problem. She didn't really seem to care that much when the door opened and Ruby entered the room.
"You're pretty tough for being made of plastic," Ruby hissed disdainfully at the girl.
Yang pursed her lips, feeling the bite of Ruby's statement though it wasn't directed at her. Old Ruby had never been so bitter, so venomous. But this was new Ruby. Old Ruby was concerned for others' feelings. Old Ruby was empathetic. New Ruby was apathetic.
"I think I could say the same about those things on your chest," the rogue retorted, referring to Ruby's newly large breasts, which, like Yang's, were natural, just large.
Also, like Yang, Ruby was offended enough that she used her metal hand and punched the other girl in her sternum.
A loud clang reverberated through the room, echoing off of her hand and the other girl's ribs. Ruby looked at her prosthetic hand in surprise and puzzlement.
"Oh, so they DID get my skeleton, after all."
"What is your name?"
"Emerald Sustrai. I figured you would remember it, since we used to interact so often for that first month."
"Oh, don't you know?" Ruby snarled with rage, "I lost my ability to maintain my long-term memory for two months after that incident on the train. So, no, I couldn't remember your name."
"Well, I remembered yours, Ruby Rose. Remembered it for the whole three months I spent getting my body ripped apart and put back together with metal bones and bionic muscles, all because Cinder wanted you more than—"
Yang was startled by the violent, unbridled fury that erupted from Ruby then, her eyes turning red as she kicked Emerald in the chest so hard it shattered the chair beneath her.
Yang leaned over the observation deck's desk to see into the small interrogation room closer as Ruby bent down and with one hand lifted Emerald by her throat and slammed her against the wall, choking her.
"You're going to blame me for this?! You took everything from me! Because of your need to impress Cinder, I have killed more men and women than all of the world's serial killers combined! Because of your selfish needs, my friend now lies six feet beneath the ground with a hole in her chest! Because of you, I lost everything, and my friends suffered just as much, and my sister even more! How dare you accuse me of being at fault for your problems!"
She threw Emerald down on the ground violently, the thief hacking and choking and gasping for air. Ruby turned and sauntered away, still shaking with rage.
"You're lucky I don't kill you now," Ruby hissed viscously as she exited the holding cell and closed the door behind her.
Yang rushed out of the observation room and found Ruby storming away, fists clenched, teeth gritted.
"Hey, are you okay?" Yang asked, almost regretting it instantly.
"She blamed me. She was the architect of my suffering. She's the reason that a cold machine beats instead of my heart. She's the reason so many people have died. She's the reason why so many GOOD people have died. And she has the AUDACITY to blame ME for HER problems!"
Ruby groaned and roared, her temper flaring, eyes turning red as she smashed her fist against the wall.
"She's winning, you know."
Ruby looked at Yang.
"If you let your anger get the better of you, then she wins. But if you can keep your cool, then you win. And I'm sure you've learned to keep your cool."
Ruby considered for a minute, then nodded in agreement. "You're right. She's trained to hit the weak spots. I'll keep my guard up next time. "
"Good. Don't kill her. She might be helpful, too, you know."
"Yeah, I know," Ruby said, smiling deviously, "I've got a plan to deal with her."
