Guest 1- Not sure what you mean by tone shift, say more? Regardless, glad you like it.

Seriouslazy- Yaaaas murder shrine! If you are missing Roman I do have another story he is featured in it 'Wait Torchwick is My Consultant? How is He Not Dead?'. And 'I caught you but i didn't expect snuggles'

Merendinomiliano- I'm happy to amuse you.

GojiraFan455515- So glad you found it funny.

Oscar knocked on her door, basket in arm. Ruby's eyebrows raised, "The sun isn't even out."

"This is The Land of Darkness."

"How do you even stay tan?"

He turned to walk away, Ruby followed him. Oscar, "It is fairly bright out, at least enough for plants to grow."

"They probably just grow to spite you." Ruby would still scour the architecture, once you see part of the castle you've seen all of it. She could easily get out, there weren't enough guards to keep her in.

-She probably is preparing for a fight to leave.

"Even if it is out of spite, I'm glad they grow."

Ruby squealed when he walked her to a plot of land that grew all sorts of vegetables and fruits. There were flowers of all shades that shined brightly in the red black soil. Oscar chuckled and laid out a blanket. She was preoccupied with some roses.

"How can the petals be black with red edges?"

"Those are a dark maroon carefully bred to lighten or, as you see, redden around the edges."

He moved to the herbs, weeding. Honestly how did they get here, all the plants were carefully transported and still there are weeds.

-You could have cut a rose for her to flirt with her. Something other than ignoring her. Oscar mentally shushed him, he wanted to ignore this creepy responsibility. Enjoy the day with a nice woman. Who happened to be his prisoner, yeah can't get away from that.

She sat next to him about to help him, he grabbed her hand. "Thyme."

"What? I'm not sure what the time is?" She tilted her head at him.

Oscar laughed, "No the herb is thyme."

Rose giggled, "It looks like a weed to me. How do you know your plants?"

"I was a farm hand in Minstral. At my aunts farm."

"Oh that's right, you mentioned that years ago. How did you end up here?"

"I belong here." Oscar gestured widely, "This is my home,"

She wrinkled her nose, "It's so gloomy and sad here."

Oscar, still held her hand, stood up and dragged her after him. They walked for a bit and the ground had transitioned to ash with red puddles. He stopped and carefully led her in front of him, and pulled her back to his chest and pointed forward.

She stammered, "D-do we need to s-stand so close?"

"Yes, the ground is soft here and I don't want you to step through into a pool of Grimm."

"I can-"

"Look."

She saw where he pointed. A tiny Grimm crawled out of a large pool. It shook itself and began to hop. "It's a little bunny!" He pointed to another that appeared to move as a gazelle and then a turtle. Over and over he pointed to the variety of creatures being born.

"I'll admit the color pallet is a bit repetitive. The land is treacherous-"

Ruby spun and remembered how close she was to him. She tried to take a step back. His hand kept her pressed against him.

"Like I said the land is treacherous, and I won't let you get hurt."

"It is beautiful here."

He felt her hand on his cheek. "I needed help when I first got here to see the beauty."

"You're Ozpin." her eyes wide

-She seems surprised that she said it.

Oscar nodded and met her gaze, assumed his end was here. "I am still Oscar as well. Before you kill me," Oscar let out a shaky breathe before he repeated the lie, "and let Ozpin go to his next incarnation. Might I have a kiss?"

Ruby blinked wildly, they were still locked in an embrace. "W-What?"

"I feel it's an appropriate last request, especially since it's you in my arms." He didn't wait for permission, he gently pressed his mouth to hers. She moved onto her toes, eager to kiss him back.

Eventually they broke away and Ruby had a variety of emotions dance over her face, "That was really nice, but I can't imagine you've had a lot of practice."

Oscar gave an awkward smile "I do have a more experienced man living in my head."

-You're welcome

Ruby burying her face into his chest, "That is so messed up."

XXX

Ruby had dragged Oscar to the kitchen. "This palace's cookies are mediocre."

"I'll talk to the management." Oscar grinned.

She giggled "We're making the secret Rose-Xiao Long recipe."

"Happy to assist make you and your sister's cookies." Oscar pulled out all the ingredients he could think of for cookies.

Ruby shook her head as she started measuring flour and sugar, "My parents' recipe. I can finally do this step." She gave him a quick peck on the lips.

-See pleasant.

Oscar gave Ruby a serious look, "Seems important, how did that step go?"

She leaned forward and before she could plant another kiss, he flicked flour in her face. "Os-Oscar!"

Admired his work, "This is serious business and it deserves a serious baker's look."

Ruby with a flour soaked palm gripped his face, leaving a perfect hand print. She started mixing the dry ingredients and Oscar was about to pour in the eggs she had him beat, and was swatted by a wooden spoon.

"Not yet!" They continued to work then roll the dough into little balls on the pan. "Finally! Now bake my little cuties". She set the timer, turning back to him "we got 15 minutes, what shall we-!". Oscar closed the distance to kiss her and enjoyed her giggle into his mouth. He ignored Ozpin in the back of his mind who pushed the young man to ruin the sweetness of this.

Oscar broke the kiss, "Ruby, you're…" He trailed off.

"You're pretty great too Oscar." She buried her face in his neck and inhaled deeply.

"How are you okay with this?" He looked into her eyes, and Ruby seemed confused. "I mean, Ozpin, me, and Salem. We're going to have to fight."

-Oscar! It's too soon for this!

She ran fingers through his hair, "I know I've been ignoring reality, to just enjoy you. Do you have to fight? Do you really need to destroy the relics or Salem?"

"Salem wishes to make human's worthy of the Gods' again. No one should be able to make that decision if humans are 'good enough'."

Ruby frowned, "It is too risky to assemble the relics and if they judge us not worthy and annihilate us." Ruby's eyes started to water. "I get it Oscar, but I can't help you."

Oscar pulled her tightly into a hug, "I know, I don't expect you to fight your friends or family. I hope I can destroy one of the relics and my main fear is taken care of."

Ruby rubbing her face in his chest "Just one relic and this is over?"

Oscar sighed, "Ozpin craves to kill Salem, for what she has done to my-I mean the Maidens. I wouldn't ask you to carry out someone else's vengeance."

-Oscar what the hell are you-

Mentally "Just shut up Ozpin."

Ruby, "I just want to live in this bubble a little longer."

Oscar chuckled, "I think I can help with that" He was about to kiss her again then they heard the timer ding.

Ruby squealed, "Yay cookies!"

XXX

Ruby and Oscar walked down the hall. Oscar balanced the plate of cookies, alarmed at the rate they disappeared. He saw her falter and drop the sacred treat. He followed her gaze. Cinder stared for a moment unsure what to do.

Ruby snarled, "How's the depth perception Cindy?"

He flinched to hear her so venomous.

Cinder morphed from hesitant to confrontational, "Ah this?" she moved her hair aside to expose the covered eye, "Just a part of my destiny, like stepping over that red head." Fire danced in her hand.

Ruby sped, grabbed Cinder's hair, pulled the older woman down to smash a knee into the Maiden's face. Cinder wretched away and kicked Ruby in the chest. Blood dripped down her face, fire blazed in her hand.

Oscar threw himself in between, spun his ax to deflect the fire Cinder had thrown. Backhanded her bloody face. He growled "What the hell?"

Cinder watched him slowly spin his ax, much like Ozpin would with his cane, "Just kill her and be done with it. Enough of your games."

Oscar could feel Emerald and Mercury watch them, "Just like you Cinder, Miss Rose has potential. I am able to help you both realize it."

"You've been acting like a teenager. You can't see this straight."

-You are a teenager

"No Cinder, you are not seeing the whole picture."

Ruby heckled, "Give her a break she only has one eye."

Screamed, "That you took!"

A red blurred passed, pinned Cinder to the wall. Oscar's ax at the Fall's maiden's throat. He looked at his empty hand, impressed she snatched it from his grip.

"I took your eye AFTER you killed Pyrra!" Ruby moved the ax to the other eye.

Oscar grabbed Ruby's arms and pinned them back. "Cinder go." When the woman's hand glowed with fire, he shoved Ruby aside, hand around Cinder's throat. "Did you forget who is your Master."

He gripped too tight for her to speak. He shoved her aside, "Go."

His back to the leaving Fall Maiden he turned to Ruby, silver eyes glowing about to be unleashed.

-We were really playing with fire with those two in the same building.

Oscar snatched Ruby's wrist, spun her around and pressed it to her back. He pushed her on her knees.

"I thought I couldn't kill Ozpin." The venom directed at him was so much worse.

Oscar gritted his teeth, "You would still kill me. I for one am not quick to die."

Ruby, "I should have killed you the second I saw your Grimm blood. What was I thinking, that you could possibly be better than Salem? You killed Amber!"

He needed to avoid that question, for his own sanity. Who was good? "Ozpin regretted it, he tried to transfer the power smoothly. Huntsmen interrupted and I had no idea how to proceed for my daughter."

Ruby tried to turn, but Oscar tightened his hold. "Yours?"

"It is hard to differentiate between his memories and mine. Ozpin or rather Ozma's daughters. What do you know about them?"

"They died when Ozma confronted Salem on building the academies. To create ambassador's or Hunters across Remanent."

"The Maiden's"
"Salem gifted them their powers to act as leaders of each of their academies. Not that it worked out."

"Salem learned a lot by studying me- I mean Ozma's reincarnation. She had cursed their daughters to suffer from the same reincarnation. Bringing peace to Remanment would take generations, I believe it is impossible."

"So Cinder is like your kid?" Ruby had stopped her squirming and settled into the awkward position.

"Salem could not accomplish the reincarnation at the same level as the Gods. The daughter cannot speak, but each Maiden can feel the soul see through their eyes."

"So Ozma's kids are stuck in passenger seats unable to do anything other than watch someone else use their powers."

"Yes, Ruby. It breaks my heart." he released her, sat on the ground. Waited for her to finish this. Oscar was tire, he did his best, to shoulder these responsibilities and do what he was told. To push back where he thought Ozpin wasn't right. Ruby's back was still to him. "I-I lied Ruby. You could kill Ozpin and me if you use your eyes. Please-I can't be the bad guy in this war. I have ordered violence to weaken the academies and I will not stop until I have a relic destroyed."

-What the actual- Oscar pushed Ozpin down in his clammer for control. He did not see Ruby turn around. She gripped his hands, eyes calm of their storm.

"Salem has made abhorrent sacrifices to gamble that she can make humanity good enough. That isn't right either." She stood, pulled him up, and kissed his tears away.