Wait.

You're telling me this chapter is 5k words? That's like 20 minutes of reading time, dude. Stay safe.


Markus and Ozpin were walking in circles and chatting on the courtyard path. The headmaster hasn't been in this particular courtyard in quite a while, but it was one of his favorites. It was also the newest courtyard, and most single most expensive to construct.

Rarely have their conversations gone this far. Markus still wasn't very sure why Ozpin kept coming to him, but it was nice to talk to someone every so often.

...

"A suit?" Said Ozpin.

"Yes. I need a suit." Markus scratched his cheek. "You, uh, wouldn't happen to know where I can get one? I don't think I've ever thought about it."

"You don't like your uniform? It's been designed to work even in the most formal events." He designed it himself. It was leagues better than the previous uniform. "I don't believe I've ever seen you with the blazer. It will look good, I promise."

Markus kicked a pebble. "I've been wearing the same uniform for months now. I'm actually sick of it. Besides, everyone else is gonna wear the uniform."

"Do you want to be unique?" Ozpin asked. He didn't think Markus was the kind to enjoy sticking out very much.

"Well, not really. I just want to wear something new. I've never worn anything really fancy before."

"So, you just want to try out something new, then."

"That's literally what I said, Ozpin." Markus thought on it for a bit. "But, yeah, I guess that's it. I want to experience new things. Things I haven't done before."

"I see." Ozpin nodded to himself. That made sense.

Even though the original question wasn't answered, the conversation ended. They kept walking, but Ozpin stopped when he noticed Markus was not beside him. He turned, and found Markus walking back to the building. Goodbyes were unnecessary, it seems.

Just before he left for good, Ozpin called out.

"Mr. Quinn!"

Markus stopped and looked back slightly. He was about to enter phase two of Operation: Vytal. The suit can come later.

After he had grabbed his attention, Ozpin said, "Mr. Quinn. If you'd like, I may have a suit that you could wear."

Markus turned his head the slightest bit more, and when it seemed to finally sink in, he turned around entirely. He didn't look particularly happy or grateful, but instead wore an expression of incredible suspicion. Markus approached Ozpin and furrowed his brow even more after failing to read his expression once again.

"I said new suit, Ozpin. You've probably had this suit for forty years. Probably even longer, if I'm being honest." Markus crossed his arms. "And I don't want to look like you."

To Ozpin's knowledge, Markus never once said the words 'new suit' (in that order). He understood anyway. After a quick swig from the mug, he said, "Well, yes, I've owned these suits for a long time, but I've never worn many of them. Most are still in perfect condition and wrapped in plastic."

Markus remained silent. That was still only half the issue.

"They don't all look like this one. I'm not letting you wear this suit."

Markus held his knuckle to his nose in thought. Borrowing a suit from a rich classy old guy. Does it get better than that? They looked about the same size, too (well, not really, but forty-years-ago Ozpin may have). And for free, to boot! Why wouldn't he take this deal?

"It's not for free," said Ozpin, as if he could read minds. "In exchange, I will need something from you. A… favor, if you will."

Markus's eyebrows came right back down with full force. First of all, what kind of principal asks for favors from their students?

As if he really was capable of telepathy, Ozpin frowned the tiniest bit.

Suspicious. Very suspicious. Ozpin always was, but that was on the screen. Now, it's glaring at him full force in reality. But… the suit. Now he was in another conundrum. This day could not get any worse.

So, Markus settled. "Let me think about it," is what he said, but he had already decided that he probably was going to go through with it anyway. Old guys lending suits doesn't happen every day.

"I see." Ozpin lowered his head and walked past. "Well, if you ever decide, you know where to find me." Markus sure did, if he meant his tower.

Goodbyes were unnecessary. Ozpin walked into the building and Markus lost sight of him soon after.

He stood there, staring at the building, and suddenly had the urge to yell out a string of many expletives. Who the hell did Ozpin he think he was? It was his job to walk away from conversations enigmatically. Not Ozpin's. Ozpin would be the one he walked away from.

No, it was all wrong.

But he had better things to do than curse reality. Markus straightened his expression and strolled back into Beacon. Phase two of Operation: Vytal was about to begin. First, a shower.

-Break-

"I am really sexy."

-Markus Quinn

His mirrored self stared right back at him, and though the mirror was steamy from the shower he could see just fine. 318 does not have a shower or anything beyond a toilet and a sink, so the only place available was JNPR's shower.

Markus messed with his hair. He tried combing it nicely, but unfortunately was unable to recognize himself with hair like that. With a dress shirt and pants on, Markus absolutely looked ready to strip.

Before he left, he checked the mirror once more; it was true. Anyone whose name was Markus Quinn could positively say with one-hundred percent certainty that he was the most attractive man on Remnant. If he was unable to get a date, there must have been something wrong with the education system.

If nothing else, Markus was confident. He walked out of the bathroom and was immediately faced by the leader of team JNPR. Jaune was lying on his bed in such a way that he may have just been in a horrible skydiving accident and landed here. That is, of course: face down with limbs splayed everywhere and very jostled clothing. There was some visible scratches on his arms. But yes, he was alive.

Markus sat on the bed next to his and started putting socks on. Putting on socks after a shower is a real challenge, so it took him some time. "Attacked by birds?" He asked in the interim.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Jaune's head rotated this way. He stared for a bit before pushing up and off the bed. "No. I'm just exhausted. So much battling today."

"Rough." Markus worked on the other foot. "Where is everyone else?"

"Everyone else? Markus… they're in 'advanced combat', like every day."

Again, Jaune spoke of advanced combat like it was some sort of ethereal and ephemeral thing that may or may not actually exist.

"Oh. That's every day? You're stuck without any friends and nothing to do for a few hours, every single day?"

Jaune winced a little. "You didn't have to put it that way, but… pretty much, yeah."

Markus whistled a low note for a second. "That's really rough." He stood up and picked up a tie that had been previously laid on the bed.

"But it's not all bad. I'm already this tired just from normal classes." Jaune gestured to himself for effect, "I can't imagine not having a break and getting right back to fighting again every day. I'm not jealous of them at all."

"I'll take your word for it." Markus didn't really. And now his tie was tied. He reached to the ground and lifted his coat.

"Are you going somewhere?" Jaune asked. He was starting to get bored just lying here— well, he got bored every day, but what could he do?

Markus slid his arms in the sleeves of the coat. They vacuum-sucked tight to his arms when he whispered the code to the tiny microphone in its collar (something he discovered only recently).

"I was going to go get a date for the dance, but apparently, they're all in 'advanced combat.'" Air quotes. "So, I guess I'll just take a walk."

"A walk? Can I come, too?"

Markus was at the door and had twisted the knob already. "Are you asking for permission?"

One moment later, Jaune hopped off the bed, though by then Markus was out of the room. He caught up.

"You really think you can beat Ruby in an arm wrestle?"

Markus scoffed. "Of course I can. Do I look like a joke?"

"Well… I thought the same, but she's really strong, you know." Jaune thought back to a certain event around a month ago. He still can't sleep on his right side. "That's right, you haven't seen her fight, have you?"

Markus held up a hand, as if telling Jaune to cease the thought. "I know how she fights. It's not something incredibly strength-reliant."

"Yeah, that's true. But her scythe is really heavy. I tried lifting it once— it's, like, a hundred pounds."

"A hundred? One-hun-dred pounds? Really?"

"Oh yeah. It's gotta be around that. Maybe even more."

Markus stopped. He grabbed Jaune's nearest shoulder and stared into his eyes.

"You're telling me… that Ruby is swinging around a scythe twice her body weight like nothing? Then why isn't she ridiculously buff?"

The hallway remained silent.

Jaune didn't answer, because it seemed that by mutual understanding, a vocal answer was unnecessary. Invisibly, a word began to float between them.

'Girls' was the word.

Oh, it was obvious, wasn't it? Ruby did not grow muscle because she deemed it unnecessary to do so. Yes, that was exactly it.

Yep. Mhm.

Cease your questioning, male.

And that was enough. Markus let go and got back to walking. Jaune did, too.

An interesting species, Markus thought. Closer observation would be beneficial. Whether he realized it or not, that was the true purpose of Operation: Vytal.

Jaune wanted to mention how Ruby likely wasn't that light, but it seemed that was unnecessary as well.

Markus still wanted to arm wrestle her, though.

And now, they arrived back at the dorm. After following a path that could be mistaken for a circle—if you squint—they had returned. In the middle of that path they had taken a break from walking and ate dinner. The food was fresh and hot, and would not be nearly as fresh or hot when the 'advanced combat' students ate (losers).

Speaking of, their class was over about now. Normally they wouldn't immediately go back to the dorm. Instead, they would head to the cafeteria and eat—they always looked starving after their class. Jaune said that, but he also said that he wasn't sure why that was.

Perhaps, Markus considered, this 'advanced combat' class was actually a massive free-for-all battle that took place every day. He hoped this was not the case. That would be terrifying.

Since Jaune was tired of walking and didn't feel like going to the cafeteria to meet up, him and Markus had some extra time to waste before they came here. Jaune had a pack of cards with him; he took it out and said: "Poker?"

To that, Markus replied: "Oh, yeah."

One could describe Jaune as a carefree individual, at least, for now. That is, however, before you bring his money into the equation.

Their game started fine. There was no wager, and things were looking good as a boys' bonding moment. Sometimes Markus would win, but then Jaune would. Sometimes, Markus would win twice in a row, but things would even out quickly. They were evenly matched.

Because, unfortunately for Markus, with his seven sisters, the Arc household was a man-eat-man world. If you wanted something, you had to earn it. You had to prove yourself worthy of it. Since physical fighting was a big no-no, they fought to prove it in another way.

That was, of course, hardcore gambling. For example, if, say, one of his sisters had come into possession of another sister's stuffed animal, you would know that sometime soon that sister would approach the other and bust out a game of craps, putting her own clothes (or something) on the line. As the youngest, Jaune had to learn fast. And he certainly did. He's become rather possessive.

But, also, unfortunately for Jaune, Markus has spent a lot of time in solitude, in this life and the last. That meant he has mastery over all forms of solitary entertainment and other things you can practice yourself. Cards, rubix cubes, chess, checkers—you name it, Markus has done it. He could even do some magic tricks (but he did forget them by now).

Back at the game. Things were going well, but after their fifteenth play, Markus reached into his coat. From within, he pulled out a pair of nice shades. Even Jaune had to admit it, those were some nice shades.

With one hand, they were flipped open. In a slick motion, they were put on his face, and then he spoke in a very low tone. "We're men, aren't we, Jaune?"

He reached into his coat again, and this time took out a small card. The card was ever so gently placed onto the bed, and tapped on once.

"Ten lien."

Immediately after these words entered his ears, Jaune's expression made a massive shift to something much colder. He straightened his back and lifted his head higher than it once was—he was looking down on Markus.

Old instinct. Jaune was taller than any of his sisters, and this fact was a weapon that he tried to use frequently (it never worked).

"Is that a challenge, Markus?"

Instead of speaking, Markus put on a silent smile and tilted his head the slightest bit. Both their faces were unreadable, but they understood nonetheless.

Jaune took out a card from his jeans and placed it over Markus's.

"You're on, Quinn."

And it all really went to hell from there.

Nora bust into the room.

"We're back!" She yelled. "Jau-"

Before she could even finish, she found two stop-sign hands aimed right at her.

"Not now." Said Jaune. "I'm this close to winning."

Markus said nothing.

With such a stern voice from her favorite leader, it would be an understatement to say she was surprised. But then, she realized that the air here was really tense. Like, REALLY tense. So much so that she was afraid it might shatter and leave her with cuts on her body. Markus was here too, which also surprised her. It's been so long since she's talked to him that she was starting to feel bad. He had some nice shades on, too.

But no matter what she thought, for some time, she could only watch.

Jaune spread his cards on the bed.

"Full house. You wanna give up?" These were probably the most aggressive words she'd ever heard him speak.

Markus continued to wear that quiet smile. It did not, nor did it ever, betray his thoughts. After a moment, he placed his own cards down.

It was a 4-8 straight. He lost.

"Unfortunate." Jaune said. "I'll be taking this." He grabbed the two cards and put them in his own pocket.

Markus took off his shades and said the first words he did since they started. "Very impressive, Jaune."

With the shades off, Jaune's eyes also turned more friendly. "Awh, it was nothing. You're also very good."

After a firm man's handshake, Jaune cleaned up while Markus stood up.

"Hey, Nora. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Markus greeted.

She was still having trouble getting used to this new, friendlier, atmosphere. "Uh… what were you guys doing?"

"Friendly game of poker." The guys both said simultaneously. They definitely bonded, at least.

"Oh. Cool!" And she was back. She swarmed around Markus. "Markus! Where were you!? I missed you, all this time! Were you always this tall!?"

Markus smiled. The attention felt nice, and he was just about to answer one of the questions, but instead recalled that he still had a mission to accomplish. Operation: Vytal must not be disregarded.

"That's right…" He reached and held both her shoulders for a moment. A small static shock ran through is arm and numbed it. "Listen to me, Nora, this is important."

Nora vibrated at a slower time signature. Her expression changed from wonder to a slightly more curious form of wonder (it's very difficult to tell). "What is it?"

Markus looked around the room. He had to check for any… interlopers.

The room was safe. Suddenly, he took a knee. From his coat, he produced a (very ugly) bouquet of flowers and put on a very charming smile. It's something he spent a lot of time practicing in the shower.

"Miss Valkyrie, would you care to accompany me to the dance this weekend?" He said.

It went brilliantly. Markus could not have performed better. He maintained eye contact.

Behind him, Jaune's jaw dropped.

Nora stopped her vibrating, and also pretty much everything else. She was unresponsive almost to the point of worry, but then she suddenly started giggling like a little girl.

It was only a little bit creepy. But when Markus thought it was over, it kept going.

Eventually, Markus's leg fell asleep. He stood up straight again. By this point, the giggling turned into something more like cackling.

Markus couldn't see what was so funny.

Anyway, she said no.

Markus expected it, yes, but it was still a little crushing. Mostly because she laughed so much. What was so funny? Was she laughing at him? It was uncool.

Nora sat on a bed and swung her legs. "So sorry, Markus! I'm waiting for now. The flowers are pretty, though! Can I have them?"

Markus put the flowers back in his coat. "Yeah, I thought so. And no."

Behind him, Jaune seemed to be in some crisis. He scratched behind his neck furiously and paced in a circle. "You did it! I can't believe you actually did it!"

This was because earlier, while walking together, Markus filled in Jaune with the details of Operation: Vytal. When two boys talk, one of the subjects is going to be girls, no question about it.

When Jaune got the idea, he had said: 'You're… you're gonna ask out every girl you come across?! Markus! That… girls… they… uh, it won't work! It really won't!'

He really stuttered out that last part, thanks to the hard glare he was getting at the time.

"I told you, didn't I?" Markus sat beside Nora. "I don't make up things."

Nora looked from boy to boy. "Told him what? What'd you say? Tell me!"

Jaune threw a hand up like he was talking about the most idiotic thing known to man and that it was also actually happening. "He's gonna ask out every single girl he comes across until one says yes! It's ridiculous!"

Nora's eyes widened. "Wow! That's pretty ballsy, Markus! Very cool! So, what number was I?"

"You were the first."

"Ooo." Nora suddenly jumped up. "Hey! I think Pyrrha is coming! Are you gonna go for it?!"

Markus stood up again. There was very little downtime in the renegade life. "Of course."

In his crisis corner, Jaune was overwhelmed by a wave of anxiety. He's never bitten his fingernails before, but before he knew it, he was.

Oh, god… not Pyrrha… she doesn't deserve this… were some of the mumbles Markus could hear. They weren't very quiet at all.

"You need to calm down."

"No! You're insane!"

Markus and Nora approached the door. Markus stuck his head out, and Nora could see him also bring his arm out and wave down the hall after a second. After retreating his head back in she was shooed away. "It's her. Get back."

Nora hopped over to Jaune's corner and sat on the nearest bed. "Isn't this exciting!?"

Jaune was wiping his forehead with paper towels. "I don't think I'm gonna make it…" He was sweating quite a bit.

Markus looked at Jaune for a moment. Was this that so-called secondhand embarrassment? But that was all— there was no more time to think about Jaune. After straightening his back, Markus refocused on the door.

And then, just a second later, the door opened and the Pyrrha Nikos stepped in.

"That was you, Markus! It's been-"

Markus commanded attention with a snap and then flourished a bouquet from within his sleeve, like a magic trick (he recalled it just in time). "Miss Nikos. Would you care to join me at the dance this weekend?"

He did well, he thought. Nora seemed to like it. Jaune had to sit down.

"I don't get it."

It sucked. You know, it really sucked. Markus was rejected, of course, but she didn't say 'no.'

No, she said 'I'm sorry…'

What… the hell does that mean? What is he supposed to do with that information? Sorry? Sorry for what? Did you forget to lift the toilet seat after you finished? Is that it? Markus could look in the dictionary, thesauruses, encyclopedias, almanacs, and he would not find a single definition of 'I'm sorry…' that would fit the situation.

It really did suck. He was kind of banking on the idea that Pyrrha would be unable to say no, too. Technically, he was right. And why would she say no, anyway? She isn't going with anyone, and it's not like it's a lifelong commitment—you can go to a dance with a friend, right?! Bullshit! Are you lonely or not?!

Too old. Markus was too old.

He held his head in his arms. "I just don't get it, Nora."

She sat beside him on the bed. She wrapped an arm around his back. "I know. It's okay."

"Am I… do I just not look pathetic enough?" He thought, and this was the only conclusion that made sense.

"Pathetic?" Nora's eyes flicked between Markus and Pyrrha. "Yeah… you may have been a little too confident."

Markus chuckled in a hollow way. "I never thought that would be a problem…"

"It's not!" Nora clapped his shoulder. "I loved it! Pyrrha is just weird! Don't give up now, you're only two girls deep!"

There was probably a better way of putting that, but it worked. Markus gripped his hands into balls. She was right. Markus does not give up, ever.

As quickly as he became depressed, he turned back to normal. The rapid mood shifting was not anything to worry about. Markus stood up.

By now Jaune had probably filled Pyrrha in on Operation: Vytal. It was easy to tell from the strange glances he would get from her every so often.

Now that he was rehydrated (thanks to Pyrrha), Jaune looked much better. He stood up as well.

"That's it, then, right? No more?"

Markus crossed his arms. "Depends." But he uncrossed them right after because the flowers were creasing in his sleeve.

As if on cue, the door opened again. This time, Ren stepped in.

Markus looked over. "Hey, Ren. Did you see Ruby's team coming, or are they already in their room?"

Ren was surprised for a moment. A long time has passed since he's seen him, and maybe even longer since he's thought of him. Ren kind of forgot what he sounded like. "Yes. They're on their way right now."

Markus looked back to the leader and winked.

For some odd reason, Jaune felt another spell of sickness coming. He sat back down. "This isn't real…"

Pyrrha offered a bottle of very real water.

-Break-

Ruby turned the corner to where her and Jaune's dorms were.

Weiss and Blake had gone ahead of her. She was so exhausted after advanced combat that she had conked out right after eating, right at the table. She had later woken up and found herself alone in the cafeteria. If her friends didn't wake her up, it must have meant she needed the rest (right?).

Suddenly, something felt off. This hallway did not look as it normally did. It felt dark, dreary even. Much darker than it was outside. Or was it really that late?

And then she saw it. Slumped on the wall near her door was a body. She couldn't recognize who it was until she had got closer.

This was… Markus! But what happened to him? It's not like she smelled blood, and Markus didn't look injured at all.

Then, he turned his face towards her. She saw the damage. On one cheek, a bright red mark could easily be seen. She may have been wrong, but it was kind of shaped like a hand. The other cheek was not better off. There was no bruise, but instead four parallel scratches, like he had been attacked by some beast. They weren't very deep, and the only real danger was the risk of infection, but they looked scary in the light (or lack thereof).

Ruby grabbed his arm. "Markus? What happened to you?"

She had thought Markus would be weary, exhausted, beaten, but it seemed he was not tired in the slightest. judging by his voice, he he may have even been energized.

"...Don't ask." He said, looking to the left in a textbook suspicious way.

"Are you okay? What's going on?" She looked around. Was the dreary atmosphere just her imagination? It really didn't seem like anything was wrong.

"No. I won't. Listen, Ruby. This is important." He sounded serious. Ruby looked back at him and leaned in.

"What is it?"

She heard him suck in a breath through his nose.

"Do you… wanna come with me to the dance?" At this same moment, he took out the well-used bouquet of flowers that he was hiding behind his back the whole time.

At the same time that all the thoughts in her head were deleted, two of the doors in the hallway shut completely. Until then, they were barely cracked open—just barely enough to allow an eye to peek with. Of course, everyone else was let in on Operation: Vytal.

"Wh-what!" This was not they way she saw her evening going. He was joking, right?

"You heard me." Markus's head was not as turbulent as Ruby's was.

One, two, three, and… now. This was the point of no return. Sure, she had been asked out before, but usually by now they would have been knocked out or shoulder-thrown across the park. This time, it never came. These were officially no man's lands, and Ruby found herself trapped right in the middle of them.

Sweat began to bead on her brow. Ten million thoughts raced through her head (some of them were quite nice).

Markus grasped her arm so she could not run (which she absolutely was about to).

"Uh… mm…" She looked left and right like she was about to cross the street. She was looking for allies. Things could not be worse.

And then, "O… o-okay…?"

Markus let go. The flowers were laid on the ground gently and his other hand hit the floor. "Oh, okay."

And it was all over. Ruby didn't think it would be that easy. Markus returned to a lifeless state.

She stepped over his legs. "See you later."

"Yeah."

Suddenly, his arm shot out at the speed of light and grabbed her wrist. "Wait!"

Ruby may have screamed a little. "W-what!?"

"You… what did you say? Did you say okay?! What does that mean?!" Markus pulled himself up on his knees and was now about eye to eye with Ruby. He gripped her shoulders.

"H-huh?"

"Okay… okay… does that mean yes?!"

"I-I guess?"

"No! No guessing! I swear to god, Ruby, do not mess with me! Does it mean yes!?"

"Ye- uh… yes?"

Ruby was assaulted by a superglare. He scanned every single feature for any trace of lie. After he had thoroughly examined everything, he let go of her. The hype in the air disappeared without a trace.

Markus reached down and picked up the flowers. He lifted her hand and placed them in. "You may go."

Ruby wandered towards her room like she was trapped in a dream. With shaky steps, she looked over her shoulder at him. She looked tired. Markus smiled and waved.

Finally, she disappeared into her dorm and closed the door. Markus got back on his feet and began to stroll down the hallway. He's just about had enough human communication for one day. That, and he was pretty sure about half of his 'friends' would try to beat him up when they found out how he had just won at life.

Destination: 318. It was time to regroup and debrief himself in preparation for phase three.

But, man, he felt like a winner. Next time he saw Blue he would brag all about it.


My man Kev (sob)

Anyway, today's Valentine's day. What a coincidence. In celebration I made 9 cups of cherry jello and ate it all for lunch and dinner.

So, I saw volume seven a few days ago, since then I could binge it all at once. Okay. It's okay.

Do you wanna know how many plotlines I gotta scrap because Atlas and Mantle are in the exact same geographic location? You really don't. But I'll tell you. It's one. Not an important one, and I don't even remember it now. Okay. It's okay.