For the rest of that day Team STRQ received their room and began putting their things away. After a long days work all of them just relaxed for the rest of the day. During the entire time Summer could feel Raven's thousand miles stare on her back. However Summer chooses to ignore it for now. After they all have dinner and return to their room Summer decides to break the ice with her new team to try to learn more about them. Summer begins by raising her voice a bit for the other three to hear. "Alright everyone I think it's about time we get to know each other a bit more." The rest of the team turn their heads to look at Summer with varying levels of enthusiasm. Tai looks ready to go, Qrow groans, and Raven looks like she doesn't want to be there.
"Alright, I'm ready." Tai sits up on his bed and looks excited.
"Do we have to?" Qrow rubs his eyes before looking over to Summer.
"Don't care." Raven turns around and faces away from them.
Summer sighs. "Oh come on you two, you're so pessimistic." Summer thinks about it for a moment before coming up with an idea. "How about each of us asks a question one at a time so we keep it fair. Don't want it sounding like an interrogation or anything." Summer decides to add something else to it in an attempt to persuade them. "Plus if we know more about each other, we can function better as a team as well." Qrow seems a little more willing to cooperate and Raven is at least facing towards them all again.
"Alright fine, but who gets to go first?" Qrow asks.
"I think we should let Raven go first." Summer replies.
Qrow looks completely baffled by this and Raven looks at Summer in confusion. "Why would you let her go first?" Qrow questions.
"Well she seems the least willing to participate, so if she goes first then maybe she'll be more engaged." Summer explains.
Raven finally sits up a little bit as she looks over to the rest of them. "Alright fine... I'll join in."
Summer gives Raven a warm smile. "Thanks Raven."
Raven lightly scoffs before she thinks for a moment. "I want to know what your semblances can do."
"Going right for the battle tactics eh sis?" Qrow raises an eyebrow at her.
"It's going to be needed for strategizing anyways. Might as well get it out of the way." Raven shrugs.
Summer decides to go first. "Alright, my semblance is called 'Petal Body'. What my semblance allows me to do is turn any part of my body into white rose petals." Summer demonstrates by raising her arm up as it immediately turns into a bunch of petals that slowly fall onto her bed. "It also works with whatever I'm carrying on me. The exception is that I can't turn any other living things into petals as well. My semblance is excellent for dodging attacks, stopping falls, and distracting enemies." Summer brings the petals on her bed back as her arm reforms.
Tai raises his arm. "I'll go next." Tai lowers his arm. "My semblance is called 'Precognition'. What my semblance does is heighten my body reactions to their absolute. This allows me to minimize my energy use with attacks and drastically improve my reaction times. My attacks also hit a lot harder, but that is more due to throwing better punches rather than harder ones if that makes sense. It also usually tunes out any outside distractions and I usually can't speak since that function is essentially turned off. I can also use a watered down version of it which allows me to speak and listen to instructions but it usually isn't as effective." Tai thinks about it for a moment before adding one last thing. "Oh and apparently my eyes grey over a little bit while my semblance is activated."
Qrow looks around to see that all eyes are on him. "What? You want me to go next?" Summer nods her head enthusiastically. "Fine. My semblance is called 'Misfortune'. It has the ability to increase the bad luck of anyone I fight. Unfortunately for me its one of those types that's always active so I bring misfortune upon everyone. It can however help in a fight such as using the environment to my advantage or maybe an attack cuts deeper than needed. I can also amplify it if I want, but it's not very good for fighting with a group." Qrow admits.
Everyone turns to Raven. Raven gives them all a blank look. "My semblance is called 'Kindred Link'. It allows me to create a portal using a sword or any other weapon to teleport to those I am considered close to. If I am not close to them then I must ingest a little bit of them in order to make it work similarly i.e. blood. The only person I have a strong enough bond with that doesn't require blood is Qrow. So if there are any strategies which involve you two using my portals I'm gonna need a little blood prior. Keep into consideration that you two can still use my portals I just can't make one to you." They all sit their in awkward silence for a moment before Raven speaks up. "So who goes next?"
"I'll let whoever asked the last question pick who goes next." Summer tells Raven.
"In that case it's your turn Qrow." Raven points at her younger brother.
"Thanks for putting me on the spot Rave." Qrow sighs and closes his eyes to think about it. "Okay what are the names of your weapons? I don't need to know what they do as I already saw them in action yesterday, but I'm curious if you all have named your weapons. I'll go first just to get it out of the way. My weapon's name is 'Harbinger'."
Raven decides to also get it out of the way. "My swords name is 'Omen'."
Tai goes up next. "So the thing about my weapon is that none of you have seen it soooo should I also describe mine or just give its name?"
Qrow thinks about it. "Just giving its name should be fine. We should see it in action in combat class anyways."
"In that case my weapon is called 'Primal Origin'." Tai states.
"Looks like I'm going last this time. My weapons are called 'Conceal & Cherish'." Summer adds in.
"Alright let's see... Summer I'll let you go next." Qrow leans back in bed.
Summer begins to think of her own question. "Oh I've got it. Why did you all sign up for Beacon?"
Raven and Qrow both avert their eyes and Summer notices. The room grows a bit awkward until Tai tries to save it.
"I signed up for Beacon because it was the closest Academy for me. It also has one of the most extensive fighting courses which is right up my ally."
Their is more silence until Qrow breaks it. "I think I'll speak on behalf of me and my sister as we were both brought here for the same reason. Essentially we were caught doing something we weren't supposed to do and instead of jailing us the Headmaster decided to enroll us in his school instead. Once are village elders heard about it they immediately sent us off as they viewed it as 'better training'."
Raven nods her head in agreement to that. "Sounds about right."
Summer looks like she wants to ask what they did, but knows that now probably isn't the best time. "The reason I came to Beacon was because I wanted to become a huntress. Being a huntress means I'll be able to see the world and finally see what is out their. Slaying the Grimm is a bonus for me. I'll let Taiyang ask the next question."
"Finally!" Tai dramatically falls back on his bed before getting back up. "Where are you all from? I'm from Patch; although I've been all over Remnant already to pursue stronger opponents so I haven't been back home in a while." Tai chuckles nervously. "My parents are probably super upset."
Raven decides to answer for both her and Qrow. "We come from the Branwen tribe. It's located in Anima. You've probably heard of it." Everyone can just hear the confidence dripping from Raven's words.
"I haven't heard good things." Tai comments.
Qrow interrupts before Raven can get upset. "But you've definitely heard of it."
Everyone turns their heads to Summer who looks away. Summer begins to sweat a little as she tries to think up a lie. Just telling other people where she's from could be extremely dangerous. Summer lets out a sigh and just decides to tell them the truth. "I'm from the land of Draco."
At the mention of that name her other three team members look at her with wide eyes. "WHAT?!" They all yell simultaneously.
"I thought that place was uninhabitable." Qrow points out.
"Isn't that place a hotspot for Grimm?" Raven questions.
"How do you even survive in a place like that?" Tai asks.
Summer sighs. "This is why I was so hesitant to say where I was from. In my tribe it is strictly forbidden from leaving the continent let alone telling others about it."
'If that's the case then why are you here?' Qrow internally thinks to himself.
"Those people must be pretty powerful warriors to be able to live in a land like that." Tai comments.
"You have no idea." Summer ominously replies.
"I'm not too sure what else we can talk about." Tai says. "Do any of you have questions? I'll choose whoever still has a question."
Summer raises her hand. "I've got one more."
"Then it's back to you Summer."
"What are all of your goals? Mine is to graduate from here and become the strongest huntress to ever be known!" Summer points in a random direction for dramatic affect.
"Mine is to win the Vytal tournament." Tai pumps his fist in the air. "I've been in and won many tournaments before, but the most prestigious tournament in the world is the Vytal tournament. If I can win that I can die a happy man." Tai falls back onto his bed with a smile.
Raven crosses her arms. "My goal is to finish this school as quickly as possible and get back to what I was doing before. Can't say I really care for all the frivolities around here."
Qrow scratches his chin in thought. "Can't say I have a goal. I've never really thought about it." Qrow answers honestly.
"Come on Qrow there's got to be something." Summer pushes.
"Sorry, can't say I really have one." Qrow shrugs. Qrow suddenly remembers something. "Wait I've got one more question as well."
Summer gives Qrow a thumbs up. "I'm glad to see you participating so much. Go ahead."
Qrow slowly breathes in and out. "Ok. What did you all think of that thing we saw yesterday?"
The entire room tenses up at the memory of the event. "It was awful." Summer responds with a little strain.
"It was like a Grimm, but not one at the same time." Tai remembers.
"Don't forget that it had a person inside it." Raven points out.
"This next question is more for Summer specifically." Qrow grabs her attention. "Since you're the leader you're the one calling the shots. I just want to know: what if more of those things show up?"
Summer thinks about it for a moment. "If more of them show up, we will fight them ourselves. We can't let those people suffer anymore than they already have." Summer proclaims.
"Sounds fine to me." Tai agrees.
"Just wanted to see what you thought. I'll help if they show up." Qrow offers.
"I'll lend a hand. If those things are that strong in the future then that'll give me a challenge." Raven declares.
Summer closes her eyes and smiles towards them. "Thank you guys, I'm going to need all of your help."
Raven then turns over. "That's enough questions. I'm going to bed."
Tai suddenly yawns as he stretches his arms out. "Agreed. I'm pretty tired as well."
"About time." Qrow pulls the sheets over his head.
"Alright alright, I understand." Right before Summer turns off the lights she whispers to all of them. "Good night everyone."
Qrow and Raven don't respond. "Good night back." Tai responds.
That night in the deepest layers of Beacon, Ozpin and some doctor are standing next to the body of the girl who was attacked in the Emerald Forest.
Ozpin looks up to the doctor and asks: "What have you been able to gather about this?"
The person looks at the tests and looks back unsure. "The victim seemed to have a large stab wound in the middle of her chest. But that's not what caught my attention." The person put on some plastic gloves and pulled out a small plastic bag. "This is what caught my attention."
Ozpin looked at the contents of the bag. It was a small black orb that seemed to be slightly pulsing. It had two longs tips at the top and bottom of it as well. "This was found inside the stab wound of the girl."
Ozpin can sense something very familiar about the orb but doesn't say it out loud. "What can you tell me about it?"
"It seems to almost be alive in a way. It convulses almost like a heart. From what I can tell it seems to be made of the same material as Grimm. It shares almost all of its characteristics with them. However that's not all."
"What else is there?"
"I'm... not sure. There seems to be a very powerful and dark aura resonating from inside of it."
"Are you suggesting that this is some sort of container for something much more sinister?" Ozpin questions as he narrows his eyes at the doctor.
"Indeed I am. If you would like I can try opening it up to see what it is hiding." The doctor offers.
"I'll allow it. Please be sure to inform me immediately once you have done so." Their is a pause. "Is there anything else you can tell me about this thing?"
"As of right now, no. This is the first of its kind that we've ever seen so we don't have a proper comparison to make. If another of these things exists then please bring the subject in so I can get to work contrasting the two specimen so I can officially categorize this thing."
"Very well. You have given me sufficient data on this issue." Ozpin walks back towards the elevator and leaves.
The next day once everyone woke up they all realized something. Summer was gone.
"Hey guys do you know where Summer went?" Qrow asks Tai and Raven.
"Can't say I do. Sorry Qrow." Tai responds.
"She wasn't here by the time I woke up so I don't know." Raven responds. "Doesn't really matter though." Raven walks to the bathroom as the two begin to hear the water running.
Tai suddenly gets an idea in his head. He smiles from ear-to-ear to himself. "Hey Qrow we should start getting ready for class."
"Agreed. Class should be starting in about an hour or two." Qrow walks over to a wardrobe and begins looking through it for a proper uniform. As Qrow is looking Tai continues speaking.
"You know Qrow I'd recommend the kilt variation of the uniform for you seeing as you need to move a lot when you fight with your weapon. Those regular uniforms may not be as efficient." Tai slightly activates his semblance so he doesn't give himself away.
"Ah sweet, they actually make combat uniforms for this school?" Qrow's interest is piqued.
"Yep. They actually keep them in the other wardrobe though so you'll have to find them in their." Tai points to the other side of the room which has another wardrobe.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but thanks Tai. That sounds exactly like something I would need." Qrow walks over to the other wardrobe and opens it up. When Qrow looks inside he looks for one in his size. It takes him a minute but he eventually finds one. As he pulls it out he shows it to Tai. "Are you sure these are kilts? They look like skirts to me."
Tai amplifies his semblance as to not start laughing as he continues to keep a straight face. "What are you talking about Qrow? It looks exactly like a kilt. Just think of how aerodynamic you'll be."
Qrow thinks about it for a moment before he nods his head. "Alright, if you say so." The two of them then wait around until Raven finally emerges from the bathroom in her school uniform.
"I haven't had a proper shower like that in weeks." Raven sighs in content. "If I have to attend this dumb school just to have bathrooms this nice I'll gladly stay." For the first time Tai sees Raven with an actual smile on her face.
"Hey Qrow, you can go next if you want. There's something I'd like to talk about with my partner." Tai offers.
"Thanks. I'll take you up on that offer." As Raven is walking out of the bathroom and Qrow is walking into the bathroom she sees a glimpse of the skirt he's carrying.
After Qrow enters the bathroom Raven looks over to Tai in confusion. Raven then walks up to Tai and asks. "Why was my brother carrying a skirt into the bathroom?"
Tai finally deactivates his semblance and tries his hardest not to laugh. Tai begins to whisper so Qrow doesn't hear them. "I convinced him that the skirts were actually combat kilts. Pfffftt. And he actually believed it!"
A grin starts to make its way onto Ravens face as she looks back towards the bathroom door before turning back to Tai. "I can't believe he fell for it." Raven starts to lightly chuckle as well. Just then Summer comes through the front door to their room.
Summer seems to be sweating from exhaustion. "Good morning team." She tiredly announces.
Raven and Tai turn around as Tai greets her. "Hey Summer's back."
"Where were you?" Raven asks.
"Oh you know... just a little morning training. Nothing all that interesting." Summer waves away Ravens questioning look.
"Well it's good to see you so dedicated to improving." Tai gives Summer a thumbs up.
"Did I miss anything?" Summer asks.
Just then Qrow emerges from the bathroom. "Gee you really weren't kidding Rave. These showers are to die for." Qrow stretches. Upon seeing Qrow in a skirt Tai immediately brings his semblance to full power to prevent himself from laughing. Raven can barely keep a straight face but she somehow manages. Summer looks at Qrow then down at his skirt then immediately pulls her hood further over her head to hide the huge blush that quickly spreads all over her face. She then turns around so Qrow can't see her.
"Q-qrow... what are you w-wearing?!"
Qrow looks over at Summer in confusion. "Why do you sound so embarrassed? It's just a combat kilt."
Summer looks up to see what Tai and Raven think of this as she sees both of them give her a look that says 'Go along with it.' Summer realizes this and goes over to the wardrobe to quickly pick out her clothes for the day. "Your right, I'm sorry for such a reaction. It should've been more obvious to me." Summer still has her hood covering most of her face so Qrow can't see her as she walks past him into the bathroom. As she closes the door Qrow looks back towards Tai and Raven.
"What was that all about?" Raven covers for Tai this time. "She was just tired from the training she did."
"Ah ok." Qrow then sits back on his bed as they wait for Summer to finish up.
Tai lessens his semblance enough to be able to speak again. "So how is the kilt?"
Qrow moves his legs around to get a feeling for it. "Pretty good I'd say. I've never been able to move this freely before."
"That's good to hear buddy. Good to hear." Tai responds.
"So what kind of classes do we have today?" Qrow asks.
"From the looks of things we'll only be given the introductions to all our courses today so nothing special." Raven informs him.
"Alright then." After that the group waits a few more minutes until Summer comes out of the bathroom in her school uniform. Summer is also wearing her cloak on top of her school uniform with the hood pulled over her head.
"I'm done getting ready if anyone else needs to use the bathroom." Summer announces as she moves out of the way for anyone else who needs to use it.
"I'll take you up on that offer." Tai grabs his uniform and makes his way into the bathroom and closes the door.
"Hey Summer, why are you still wearing your cloak?" Qrow questions.
"Well these hoods have a special meaning in my tribe. To wear one is considered an honor." Summer replies innocently.
"Ok, but do you have to wear the hood as well?" Qrow asks while pointing at it.
"Well you see that is part of my culture as well. In my tribe it is strictly forbidden to show your eyes to anyone who is not considered apart of the tribe." Summer explains.
"Then why did you show us then?" Qrow asks.
Summer brings a finger up to her chin in thought. "That's because the Headmaster made it to where pairs could only be formed with eye contact. In that case I was forced to show my eyes. As for why I let Raven and Taiyang see my eyes, thats due to them also being apart of our team now. I am your leader and you are my team. I can't expect trust from all of you and not give my trust back. So I risked it all by showing all of you my eyes. I am going to put faith in all of you to not tell anyone else about them."
"Can you at least keep your hood down when we're in private like this?" Qrow asks.
"Is their any particular reason why?" Summer begins to very subtly go into a defensive stance.
"Well its just that your eyes are beautiful and I'd like to see them more." Qrow very bluntly responds without any trace of flirting whatsoever.
This makes Summer's cheeks tint pink even if no one else can see them. She was not expecting the sudden compliment. "Well I guess that would be fine." Summer pushes her two index fingers together.
Tai finally emerges out of the bathroom with the normal school uniform on. "Don't worry Summer your secret's safe with me." Tai gives her a wink.
"You heard all that?" Summer asks in surprise.
"Yeah you were kind of loud with your explanation." Tai points out. "Also that was real smooth Qrow, you have my respect." Tai gives Qrow a nod of approval.
"What do you mean?" Qrow is oblivious to what Tai is talking about.
"The way you complimented her eyes dude." Tai specifies.
"I was simply stating what I was thinking. Nothing more nothing less." Qrow shoots back.
Tai realizes that Qrow is being serious. Tai then puts his hands behind his head. "If you say so buddy."
"Who wants to get breakfast?" Summer asks as she opens the door to their room.
They all agree in various levels of enthusiasm.
"Then let's go." Summer walks out the door as the rest of her team follows behind her.
As they exit Qrow realizes that Tai is wearing the regular uniform. "Hey Tai, why aren't you wearing the combat kilt?"
Tai yet again activates his semblance to prevent giving himself away. "Well you know how it is Qrow. I just don't need one personally. I think I can manage without one."
"Over confident I see." Qrow responds.
"Perhaps." Tai shrugs.
That day would prove to be a very long day for Qrow. As well as a day full of laughs for the rest of Team STRQ.
to be continued...
Authors Notes: Hooray! Are team knows a little bit more about each other. Also I did not forget that one comment Taiyang made about Qrow wearing a skirt in the show. A few more gears are set in place for future chapters as well. What are these mysterious black orbs? Why do they turn people into monstrosities? Will Qrow ever be able to recover from this? The answers are: Later, Later, and No. Anyways that is this chapter complete. What did you think of this chapter? As always I'd like to know as I do enjoy reading reviews after all. With all of that being said this is Exile Mansion signing off.