Chapter 2

This was a bad idea. Why do I ever agree to things? I have an internal panic attack as I sail over the land. Currently, hugging the corner of the airship filled with people I try to appear weird and threatening so nobody will approach me.

I'm holding the weapon that Ozpin managed to get me, a spiked bat that doubles as a hand cannon. I figured I'd go for function over form. You don't need much skill to club something to death, and I know the basics of handling a gun from growing up in the south of the US. The weapon itself doesn't have a name, because I didn't name it which Ozpin told me to do. It felt weird, and I'm lazy, so whatever.

Despite my fear of crowds, I have partook in some people watching. There's a smorgasbord of folks here. From faunus to humans to a few folks with robot parts. It seems that both first years and returning students are on the ship as I spot both team CFVY and the atomic blonde herself, Yang Xiao Long. Of course, with Yang is her Sister, and they seem to be speaking to each other as siblings do.

I try to spot any other main characters to pass the time, but I'm interrupted by the recording of Goodwitch. Same as it was in the show as far as I can tell. Sadly when Lisa Lavender was on earlier about the white fang, some kids got into a verbal fistfight. Then a real fistfight.

It seemed to be mostly this group of doofy looking humans trying to gang up on this mouse faunus girl, she had a tail. A nearby lizard faunus girl, she has the facial features and mouth of some kind of lizard, surprisingly wasn't having any of it and started a fight. And she won. It was impressive if not for the fact that someone in the crowd that gathered yelled out "Violent animal" at her.

Things settled down when GoodWitch came on, though. I guess they thought she was going to lecture them or something. By the end of her monologue, people seem to have forgotten the girl long enough for her to slip away from the crowd now closer to me.

I try not to make eye contact, which is made easier when Jaune vomits on Yang. It's loud, and everybody looks. A few laugh. Yang holds herself back from murdering the poor kid. It's rather distracting so much so that I don't notice the person whose mouth is just a row of sharp daggers approaching until it's too late.

She announces herself by asking, "So you a stowaway or just rude?"

Her voice is throaty and deep like she's purposely trying to sound tough, which she doesn't need being taller than me with much more muscle. Up close her colour motif seems to be a faded grayish-green. She carries two maces on a chain. She wears a jacket, with a faded undershirt as well as baggy frayed pants. She's also wearing leather gloves and combat boots. Her hair is black with the tips dyed alternating dark green, and gray. Her symbol carried on a chain hanging from a pocket looks like a mouth filled with teeth that's about to bite something round.

I respond articulately, "What?"

She snorts, "Your standing here alone figured either you're up to something or you think you're better than everyone else. So which is it?"

I look around, "Neither. I just don't like crowds. Or people."

She scoffs, "Can't blame ya, I guess. Some of these guys are pricks."

I nod, "Yeah, I saw the fight."

She laughs, "Wasn't a real fight, those three wouldn't be getting back up if it was. But, yeah I saw you watching that's why I came over here, actually. You looked like the only human that wasn't upset I won."

I've so far tried to remain fair, but I don't know how to act around faunus, especially the more 'predatory' kind. Just being myself is working thus far, thankfully. Faunus physiology still baffles me, though.

I let her statement linger for a moment before saying, "They deserved it and aren't even that hurt."

She smiles widely, "What a dopey thing to say. I love it!" She holds out her hand, "Let's try to get on the same team."

I shake her hand and she says, "I'm Lovat Komodo."

I say back, "Tristan Christopher."

She saunters back into the crowd of people after the introductions.

When we land I've recovered from the mental stress of speaking to someone and am the last person out. I take a breath as I look out upon Beacon. It looks like a fancy college, which I guess it is. I don't know what I was expecting honestly, maybe more sci-fi elements. Really the only thing out of place, from the outside at least, is the tower. Sure the fountain is larger than life but not unreasonably so. I'm brought out of my judgment by an explosion.

It would have been more frightening if I hadn't watched the show prior. Still, though I jumped back in fear, right into somebody. I hear a grunt from behind as I collide with a girl about three fourths my height.

Immediately I apologize, "I'm so sorry."

Before I turn around I hear an overly enthusiastic and familiar voice, "No worries, it takes more than that take me down."

I turn to see Nora beaming at me, Ren similar staring close by.

She stands at attention, "Nora Valkyrie and this quiet hunk of a man is my best friend Renny."

I try to sound enthused by her, "Name's Tristan."

Nora begins walking and talking which forces me to follow by the laws of social discourse, "Well it's nice to meet you. I don't think I've ever met huntsman who used a bat before."

I question, "Really? You'd think blunt weapons would be the most common."

Ren actually speaks up, "No, considering that huntsman train with their weapons for a lifetime usually they pick something that'll have a learning curve. A simple weapon like a bat is useful when you don't know how to fight so well, but doesn't have the same versatility or capability as, say a sword or hammer."

I blink at the exposition I was just subjected to causing Nora to chuckle, "Yeah Ren is a brainiac at stuff like this. I usually just smile and nod when I don't understand something."

Ren reacts to this with, "I have never spoken to you in a way that would be difficult."

Nora comes back with, "You do that all the time cause you're wicked smart."

They continued in this weird pseudo argument forcing me to say, "I'm going go. You two lovebirds don't need me third-wheeling."

Nora sputters at this, "Lovebirds! We're just friends. Great friends. The best of friends."

Ren doesn't react at all. His thoughts are a mystery. I begin walking in another direction eager for a moment of solitude. In my quickness to get away, I almost walk right into another social encounter.

In front of me is Pyrrha Nikos walking towards the assembly hall. I slow my speed so that we don't cross paths. A few more students are seemingly walking towards the assembly hall as well. None I recognize immediately other than Pyrrha. What is interesting is that only one person seems to be aware of Pyrrha being somebody other than me.

There's a tall girl in what I would call Arabian nights clothes. She has a scimitar on her back and long black hair. Her flowy clothes are a mix between dark green and blue. She's fairly ripped, her exposed midriff being all abs. If I had to compare her to something I would say a gerudo from Legend of Zelda. Her symbol is on a tassel connected to her sword which appears to be three stars interconnected around a dot. She's giving Pyrrha a sneer and walks far away from any other person.

I only notice her because of how much she stands out. I can't say I'm not afraid of her because she does look like a grumpy giant with a sword that's longer than my body.

I keep a wide berth from everyone and encounter no issue. Upon entering the assembly hall I find a corner to hide in. I lose sight of anyone I would recognize. It seems not everyone has gathered here yet though as the mic is still being set up. I guess all the preppy students got her before everyone else.

I watch as people trickle in one by one. I spot various characters and Komodo gives me a look when she comes in. I manage to catch the conversation between Ruby and Weiss which seems mostly the same until the end.

I hear, "And we can paint our nails and try on clothes and talk about cute boys, like tall, blonde, and scraggly over there or the scrawny freak skulking in the corner!"

She points to Jaune then at me. I flip her off, but only the sisters notice. Ruby looks wide-eyed and Yang smirks at me.

Ozpin begins his speech and I half pay attention. The speech is as it was, aloof. Goodwitch directs us to the ballroom.

I had a sleeping bag provided for me so I find a corner to set up in when I'm approached from behind. I hear someone clear their throat loudly.

I turn to see Komodo who looks happy to have found me. She's changed into pajama pants and a white t-shirt that has a flag on it.

She smiles showing off her sharp teeth, "Wasn't sure I'd find you again, today."

"Yeah well, I get around," I respond.

She chuckles, "Well hope you haven't already gone and made a team."

I rub my neck, "Don't think anyone is clambering for me to join them."

"Don't sell yourself short," Komodo says, "Like I said earlier I wouldn't mind teaming with you."

Caught off guard I say, "Oh yeah?"

She nods, "Of course we're friends, you're stuck with me."

She then begins to make her sleeping bag. To think, she would actually want me on her team. She'll change her mind when she sees how unskilled I am. There's also the issue of aura. I didn't see a point in asking Ozpin if he could try to unlock mine. If I don't have one I don't want him to start asking questions. Who knows what would happen if anyone figured out I don't have a past let alone my true origins. If I do then I'll unlock it later. Hopefully, whoever I partner tomorrow will be strong enough to carry me, metaphorically, of course.

I begin to turn in for the night trying to block out all the negative thoughts I have. Tomorrow will be fine, I'll find Komodo, and she won't let me die horribly, hopefully.

I wake up relatively early, which is normal for me. I begin my morning rituals of laying awake, unmoving, trying to work up the will to actually get myself up. As it happens, the chatter of the few students who are also up keep me from falling back to sleep.

After I change, I find that the cafeteria is serving breakfast. I get a stack of rolls and black coffee. I then, find a table at the corner of the room and sit there. I spot all of team JNPR. Ren and Nora are doing the scene they did in the show. Jaune is having cereal, and Pyrrha is eating alone. I don't see anyone else I recognize. I try to use this moment of calm to prepare myself for the trial ahead, the immediate one not the world ending stuff.

I have thought of a few landing strategies before the school year began. One is flailing until my spiked bat catches a tree. The newest is to get Komodo or someone to catch me. But in the end, I'm not superhuman, so I decide to rely on my initial idea.

When it was time to gather one's equipment a bell sounded off. The locker room is giant, bigger than any I have ever seen. The room was filled with students, male and female. Loose groups had seemingly begun to form. I was lucky enough to be assigned a locker away from the main cast. So far, the scene had played out the same. I was attempting to not look like a creep when staring at people in the locker room when I feel a large framed person shove past me.

I grunt out a "Hey," as I catch myself from falling down. Turning my head to see who just pushed me I spot the girl who was glaring at Pyrrha. She has the locker directly to the right of mine.

She regards me with a frown but doesn't say anything. I gather my equipment and scamper off assured that this intimidating girl will not be important in any way.

Authors notes

Chapter 2 for you all. Cookies to anyone who can tell who the OC team is, however obviousit is. I tried to find a way to tie Tristan to the main cast in the most organic way and for whatever reason Nora and Ren seemed the easiest to do. Hopefully you all enjoyed. Shout out to the one fellow who followed.