V1E4 - Baptism by Gunfire
Anon had woken up early, even though he didn't have to. But, he promised Velvet that he would get an actual breakfast this time. The sun was slowly rising from the horizon.
"Fuck..." He squinted at the rising sun. "Last time I saw the sunrise, I hadn't slept for three days in a row."
He got ready and left his dorm room. The dorm halls were as quiet as could be with not a soul in sight.
"The things I do for people," He mumbled through a stifled yawn. "A promise is a promise, I guess."
The mess hall, unlike yesterday, was mostly empty. Though this is most likely because of the hour rather than the day. Anon, like a true britbong, picked a full English breakfast. Unlike a true britbong however, he picked the beans in brown sauce rather than the tomato sauce. Though calling it "Full" might be a misnomer, seeing as how small the portion actually is. He went to his usual seat at CVFY's table. Before he could dig in, a tray rested itself in front of him.
"Blake," He said, recognizing her wrist accessories and the smell of fish from her tray.
"Anon," She replied flatly.
He exhaled as he rested his fork down.
"Judging by your tone, I guess you're not here for a pleasant early morning chat."
"I want answers."
He rolled his eyes.
Of course, you do.
"Apart from how I know about your situation, What do you want to know?"
"Why not?" Her aggressive tone left little for Anon to work with.
"Listen, if you're just going to harass me over this stuff, let's just end the conversation there. I'm not interested in being hounded and cornered like an animal."
Blake glared harshly at Anon.
"Tell me why and I'll consider."
"Like you, I have... Circumstances. I just... I can't tell you. Not yet."
Blake kept her glare, but seeing as he didn't budge under it, she relented.
"Fine. I'll take what I can get."
Anon took a swig of his coffee.
"Ahhh. Ok then, what do you want to know?"
"Who are you? And what's your relation with Ozpin?"
"Anon Hope, college graduate, burned-out ex-office worker and general fuck-up. As for Oz..." He took a bite out of his food. "Let's just say my big mouth forced me into his hand."
"How?"
"I 'knew' some things and let it slipped. Then the fucker cornered me into signing a fucking registration form."
"How did you meet him?"
Anon pulled out his scroll and showed her a news article from a week ago.
"A robbery?"
"Roman Torchwick, Criminal ring-leader and all-around prick decided to flex his mob boss muscles and shake an old man down for his Dust."
"And you came in to stop him?"
Anon snorted.
"Fuck no! I'd get killed! Remember Ruby from yesterday? She's the one who kicked him to the curb ass first."
"I see."
"I was just accessory to her ass-kicking. All I did was help the old shopkeep out of danger."
Blake actually seemed impressed.
"That's quite noble of you." There was a smidge of respect that Anon could feel in that line.
"Meh, it wasn't exactly dangerous for me, I just waited for all the heat to be on her to make a dash for it."
Blake frowned.
"So you used her for your own benefit?" She accused.
"Don't take it the wrong way. If I knew she couldn't take the challenge on, I would have told her to flee."
Blake tried to find a hint of deception but came up empty-handed.
"Ok, next question."
"Warning in advance, if I say 'I Just Know', move on."
"Why?"
"Because as mentioned before, I can't tell you yet."
"...Alright."
The interrogation continued as the two ate together. Most of her questions had to do in some ways with the White Fang or his relationship with it. Even though the cafeteria was mostly empty, he veiled their conversation by using code names for the sake of keeping things covert. A detail that Blake appreciated.
"Last question, what do you know about me?"
"Blake Belladonna, daughter of the Black Lion and his Cougar Queen. Once part of the Beast's Pride, and ex-girlfriend of a certain member of that group."
"So you know about... Him."
"Yes. I know about the Branded Bull."
Blake had to hold down the urge to shake him down for how he knew about all of this. She growled to herself.
"This is... frustrating."
"I understand, it's in our nature as humans to try and dig for the truth, ugly as it usually is."
Blake snorted bitterly.
"Human, huh?"
Anon gave a look that amounted to 'Are you for real?'
"Do you dream?"
"Huh?" Blake looked confused because she was.
"I humoured you by answering your torrent of question. So humour me, please."
He joined his hands together and looked Blake directly in the eyes.
"What's the difference between a Faunus and quote-unquote 'Normal' humans?"
"Faunus have animal traits. Ears, tails, antlers, horns, scales."
"In short, purely physical traits. Right?"
"It's in our DNA. Faunus are biologically different than humans."
"So is a man with pale skin is biologically different than a woman with dark skin. But does that invalidate the fact that they are living, sentient beings with ambitions, aspirations, hopes and dreams?"
Anon rose from his seat with his empty tray.
"Let me put it this way: a girl with cat ears is still a girl. No matter what the old plantation owner or mining tycoon says."
Anon left Blake at the table. She pondered his words.
"A girl with cat ears is still a girl..."
A small smile found its place on her lips.
The sun had finally come up from the horizon and the ballroom's crowd rose along with it. Well... Except for one.
"WAKE UP, YA LAZY BUTT!" A certain hyperactive ginger yelled to her companion.
Anon used his pinky to rub the inside of his ear, wincing in pain.
"Can you be any louder, Nora?" He complained to himself.
Anon stood on one of the balconies looking over the ballroom.
"It's morning, it's morning, it's morning!" She sang loudly.
Ren groggily sat up with a sigh. Anon couldn't help but feel sympathy toward a fellow low-energy person being harassed by hyper-active people.
I know that feeling bud. Well, at least you'll get to fuck her later.
Anon looked over as the ballroom emptied little by little and the initiates went to the cafeteria to fill up on food before the test. Instead of wasting his time going there again after eating, he went to the locker room.
To his surprise, some initiates had skipped breakfast to get ready early. At first, he thought that he would stumble in on a scene like the one in Robocop where both men and women changed in the same room. But sadly no, they had already changed in the bathrooms and were simply strapping on their armour and gear. He remembered something about the First Step. Jaune had forgotten which locker was his. To save time (and to save Jaune from fumbling around too much) he texted Glynda to know which locker was Jaune's.
Like a flood, the initiates had entered the locker room and began getting their stuff. Anon immediately saw Jaune trying to open the wrong locker, looking confused.
"Hey, Vomit Boy."
Jaune sighed at the name but perked up when he saw that it was Anon.
"Oh! Morning."
"Morning." He knocked on the locker he leaned against. "I think this is the one you're looking for."
"You think?"
"Certain." He wiggled his scroll in his hand. "I got contacts in high places."
He gave Jaune a pat on the back.
"Try not to die."
"You are just filling me with confidence."
"Thick, creamy and fresh from the tap."
Jaune made a disgusted noise as Anon chuckled. He looked around as Jaune fumbled around with his armour and his sword. As expected, Weiss was being a gremlin and trying to rope Pyrrha into her pyramid scheme.
More like Pyrrhamid... God, I hate myself...
Anon swore he saw a storm cloud form above her head as she turned around and went cross-eyed with an evil smile on her face.
Whadefuck?
Jaune exhaled to psych himself up, before smiling confidently.
"Showtime."
"Oh god, no..." Anon cringed.
He tried to stop him but it was too late.
"You know what else is great?"
Please stop, I beg you.
"Me, Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you."
End this pain.
Weiss was, to put it mildly, not impressed. She turned to Anon, whose face was firmly in hand.
"Oh, you two again." She was unenthused.
Pyrrha, the poor girl, just had to try and be nice and welcoming.
"Hello, Jaune! it's nice to meet you!"
"Yeah, whatever." Jaune brushed past her.
Anon screamed into his hands.
YOU FUCKING DIPSHIT!
"So Weiss," Jaune wore the winningest of smiles. "I couldn't help but overhear your fondness for me the other day."
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!"
"Yahweh," Anon joined his hands together in prayer. "Why are you like this? Where are you going with this shit?"
"Don't worry! No need to be embarrassed!" Jaune's overbearingness was reaching its peak. "So, been hearing rumours about teams! I was thinking you and I would make a good one! What do you say?"
"Actually," Pyrrha explained. "The teams are comprised of four students each, so-"
"Ya don't say?" Jaune was really starting to get on Anon's nerves. "Tell you what, hot stuff, play your cards right and maybe you could join up with the winning team."
I want to choke him.
Weiss, quite annoyed but not quite peeved, got in between the two.
"Jaune, was it? Do you have any idea who she is?"
"Not in the slightest, snow angel."
Nice self-awareness, jackass.
"This," She motioned to Pyrrha. "is Pyrrha Nikos."
She waved to him.
"Hello again!"
"She graduated top of her class at Sanctum!" Weiss continued a fake sense of pride to her speech.
"Never heard of it," Jaune answered bluntly.
Weiss scoffed.
"She's won the Mistral Region Tournaments four years in a row! A new record!"
"The what?"
Denser than lead.
"The Pumpkin Pete girl, Jaune." Anon was dead inside. Well, deader.
Jaune was awestruck.
"That's you?! But they only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!"
A Pumpkin Pete box appeared in mid-air, showcasing Pyrrha's photogenic smile as she held a bowl of the product in question. Anon carefully went to grab it and, to his surprise, took ahold of it.
WHAT?!
Anon opened it and there was cereal! He dug in and, as expected, it was shitty sugared cardboard with lucky charms in it.
I don't know what I expected.
Back to the conversation.
"It was quite the experience if I do say!" Pyrrha's smile soured. "Too bad the cereal isn't exactly good for you."
"Can confirm." Anon chewed on a particular marshmallow that looked like Pyrrha's shield, Akouo. "God, this is awful! It doesn't even taste like pumpkin!"
Pyrrha looked confused.
"Where... Where did you get that?"
He looked at the box then back to Pyrrha.
"Man, I don't fucking know."
Jaune leaned in.
"Hey, uh... Can I have some, Hope? I kind of skipped breakfast."
Weiss cleared her throat bringing the conversation back on track.
"Anyways..." She poked into Jaune's chest. "After hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?"
Jaune deflated and hung his head in shame.
"Guess not." he faced Pyrrha. "Sorry."
"Don't worry Jaune, no harm done." Seeing as Jaune was still pretty bummed, she taught of a compliment that could raise his spirit.
Please don't.
"Actually, Jaune, I think I can see that you have what it takes to be a great leader!"
You magnificent idiot. You overly nice yet magnificent idiot.
"Really?" Jaune perked up. "You think so?"
She smiled.
"I do!"
Jaune blushed and scratched the back of his head.
"D'oh, stop it you!"
"Please do." Anon and Weiss said in unison.
"This kind of behaviour should not be encouraged!" Weiss continued.
Jaune's machismo returned with a vengeance.
"Sounds like Pyrrha's onboard for Team Jaune. Spots are filling up quickly!" Jaune got uncomfortably close to Weiss. "Now, I'm not supposed to do this, but maybe I could pull some strings, find a place for you. What do you say?"
That's it, I'm choking him.
"All right, that's a bit too close!" Weiss decried as she looked for an escape. "Little help please!"
"OK!" Anon declared as he held Jaune back in a chokehold. "I think that's enough of that!"
Anon leaned into his ear.
"I get trying to be confident but don't you think that that's a bit too much?!"
Weiss sighed in relief.
"So you came to my help huh?" She crossed her arms, bitchy as ever. "You're on my side now?"
"Look, as much as I don't like you, even I think that this is too much."
Weiss scoffed condescendingly.
"So you do have principles."
Anon let go of Jaune, who walked away with a depression cloud above his head.
"More than you, midget."
"My height is perfectly natural! You are just freakishly tall!"
"Bitch, I'm 5"11! If you want tall, go see Yatsuachi! That guy's a fucking mountain!"
Weiss did the tsundere thing where she humphed as she turned and walked away.
"Let's go, Pyrrha!"
Pyrrha cringed.
"Sorry about her."
"No harm done, as you said." He smiled cheekily.
She smiled back in relief.
"I'm glad to hear that." She thanked as she left.
Anon looked back at Jaune, who was hiding in the corner like a misbehaving child before getting picked up by Ruby.
"Hey, Pyrrha?"
She turned to him.
"Yes?"
"Mind doing me a favour?"
She looked unsure about it.
"Yes?"
He pointed his chin to Jaune, who left with Ruby and Yang.
"Could you keep an eye on him? He's kind of an idiot and in way over his head. But at heart, he's a good guy. Be a shame if he got in trouble."
Pyrrha thought about it for a moment. She quickly made her mind though and gave him an honest smile.
"Will do!"
Anon smirked.
"You a real one, Pyrrha."
He offered her a fist bump.
"Usually I'd say good luck..." Anon shrugged with a smile. "But I feel like that be like belittling your skills."
She was surprised at first but happily bumped it with him.
"Go get 'em, tiger."
"Will do! Thank you... Hope, was it?"
"Anon, Anon Hope."
She waved at him happily as she left the room. Anon felt drained all of the sudden.
Fucking Jaune... This ain't the eighties, machismo is lame as hell.
He looked down at the box of Pumpkin Pete.
Seriously, how the hell did I do that?
Anon only left for Beacon Cliff once the locker room was empty. Beacon Cliff overlooked the Emerald Forest, the academy's proving ground. He heard glass shattering, indicating that Ruby just learned about the partner system.
"Hey, Oz," Anon called out.
Ozpin turned and smiled at him.
"Ah, Mister Hope. Good morning."
"The locker rooms are empty, everyone's here."
He graciously nodded.
"Thank you for double-checking."
"My pleasure."
Ozpin returned to explaining the test to the initiates. Capture the Flag: Find the Relic, take it and kill everything standing between points A and B. One relic per pair and you are graded on performance and completion time.
"Are there any questions?" Ozpin asked the initiates as he readied his scroll.
"Do you catapult them cause it's necessary or because you find it fun?"
Jaune looked far more worried than he already was.
"Wait, What?!" Jaune blurted out.
Ozpin gave a shit-eating grin before launching everyone into the air. Anon looked up as a bunch of teenagers got thrown into the air by an immortal shit-wizard with his hot assistant.
"What a way to initiate your student than with catapulting them into a forest full of dangers," he commented.
"Baptism by fire as they say," Ozpin replied, still smiling.
Gunfire rang out throughout the forest.
"More like Baptism by Gunfire." Anon corrected.
"Indeed."
Ozpin's smile disappeared.
"Will something out of the ordinary happen?"
Anon squatted near the cliff's edge.
"Beacon will be known for birthing five huntsmen team."
"Those being?"
"The alumni, STRQ. Whose influence will remain throughout this story."
Glynda frowned.
"STRQ? why?"
He looked over to Glynda, frowning at the stupid question.
"Are seriously asking?" He pointed to the still flying sisters, Ruby and Yang. "Their children are flying right over there!"
He put his hand down.
"Tai has done his part, Qrow's part is yet to come and so is Raven's. Summer..."
Anon remembered a detail from later Volumes.
"Let's not talk about Summer," He said quietly.
"Let's not." Glynda rubbed her arm with a sad look into the horizon.
Ozpin nodded.
"I see. and the others?"
"The other two aren't as important in the future. The veterans, CVFY, and the misfits, CRDL."
"CRDL?" Glynda asked.
"Cardin Winchester, Russel Thrush, Dove Bronzewing and Sky Lark."
Glynda shook her head in disapproval.
"I see why you called them misfits, all of them have a history of misbehaviour at their respective huntsman prep-school."
She turned to Ozpin.
"Perhaps we should avoid putting them together."
Anon stood up suddenly.
"No!" He yelled, startling Glynda. "It's fine... Let them stay together."
Ozpin raised an eyebrow.
"If I may ask why?"
"If they are together, we can easily keep an eye on them without diverting your attention between four teams."
Ozpin nodded.
"An understandable motive..." Ozpin looked Anon in the eyes, Clearly seeing through his bullshit. "But in truth?"
Anon cringed.
Sorry, Jaune...
"Let's keep it at, 'They will be important at a later date.' Even if that's all they'll be important for."
"Understood. and the rest?"
Anon put his hands in his pocket and looked into the forest, where the fighting is.
"The heroes in their own rights, JNPR. Composed of the leader Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos and Lie Ren."
Glynda's eyes widened.
"Jaune Arc?! But he clearly isn't ready for any level of combat! How could he be leader?!"
"Of course he's not, he faked his papers," Anon admitted with a shrug.
"WHAT?!" Glynda was understandably outraged.
"But," Anon smirked to Ozpin, who smirked back. "You knew that already, wizard."
Glynda glanced accusatorily at Ozpin.
"You knew and you let him in anyway?!"
"I see immense potential in him," Ozpin explained.
"Give him time," Anon told Glynda. "Trust me, I know."
Glynda sighed and crossed her arms.
"Fine, but don't expect me to hold back for him."
"Wouldn't be much of a good instructor if you gave people special treatment. In fact, I'm kinda hoping that you'll push him harder so that he can keep up."
Anon pulled out his scroll.
"And lastly, the Heroes of this Story. Team RWBY, Lead by Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao-Long."
"A silver-eyed warrior, the daughter of a Dust magnate, an ex-terrorist and a bandit queen's daughter." Ozpin listed off, he followed with a whistle. "It does sound like a band of heroes from the stories of old."
"HA!" Anon exclaimed. "Not quite! Because this story is gonna unfold before us."
Ozpin smiled.
"Let's hope that this story has a happy ending then."
...
"The last pair has formed," Glynda announced at last. "Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie."
"It seems your predictions are correct so far. First Miss Rose and Schnee, then Mister Arc and Miss Nikos, Miss Xiao-Long and Belladonna and finally Mister Lie and Miss Valkyrie."
Ozpin seemed pleased with something.
"Perhaps I made the right choice with you."
"Don't count on me too much, Oz," Anon warned. "I'm not omniscient and my knowledge is limited to certain people and events."
"Still, better some knowledge than none at all."
Glynda's head was in the cloud, busy thinking about what to do with what she learned today.
"You ok there?" Anon asked.
"I just don't really understand how this 'Team JNPR' is going to work. Both pairs are polar opposites of one another. Lie Ren is a calm and relaxed person while Nora Valkyrie is completely off the walls."
"They grew up together, after the destruction of Kuroyuri."
Glynda froze before her face drooped in sadness.
"Oh... I see."
"They only had one another." Anon looked at the forest with a thousand-yard stare. "You may think that they are incompatible, but I can guaranty you that if they were with anyone else, it wouldn't work."
"They appear to be incompatible, but in reality, they complement each other." Ozpin completed.
"Exactly." Anon sat down on the grass, still looking at the forest. "As for Pyrrha and Jaune..."
He smiled.
"I know that things are going to work out." Anon cringed. "All we need to do is for Jaune to shake off the machismo, and he'll be golden."
Ozpin chuckled.
"Yes, I have watched that disaster unfold."
"Yeah. Fucking cringe lord."
Glynda ran a few calculations.
"They should reach the temple in a few minutes. Speaking of which-"
"Chess pieces." Anon monotonously revealed.
Glynda didn't say anything as she slowly pivoted to face Ozpin, who was brow deep in his coffee. her expression was screaming "Fucking really?". Ozpin kept his nose in his coffee.
...
"Four pairs have reached the temple," Glynda announced. "JNPR and RWBY."
"As you predicted. Once more, I am impressed."
"If I were you," Anon pointed to Ozpin's scroll, showing the two future teams facing down the Grimms. "I'd put some countermeasures. Those Grimms are too powerful to be here."
"You do not doubt their abilities, do you?"
"If it were anyone else, I'd worry, which is exactly the problem. If it were anyone else, there would be a massive problem."
Ozpin hummed, the scroll displayed Ruby charging at the deathstalker.
"Is she mad?!" Glynda yelled.
Ruby got swiped by the Deathstalker's claw, stunning her and knocking her on her ass.
"No, she's just an idiot." Anon sighed. "She'll get better."
Just before Ruby was about to meet her end, Weiss came in to save her.
"Miss Schnee is quite skilled," Ozpin commented.
"She is, and smart to boot. Graceful too."
"And here I thought you didn't like her."
"She's an insufferable brat that I want to choke the privilege out of. But, I pride myself on giving credit where it's due."
"Interesting."
The group had escaped to the bridge, where they made their stand and vanquished the threat.
"Impressive coordination, considering they basically just met," Ozpin said with a twinge of admiration.
"Told you so."
Anon rose to his feet and stretched.
"Welp. That's done with." Anon walked away. "I'm outta here."
"You're not going to stay for the ceremony?" Glynda asked.
Anon smiled mysteriously, as he seems to do every fucking time he's about to say-
"I already know what's going to happen."
"I... honestly don't know why I even asked at this point."
"See?" Anon smirked cheekily. "You're learning! And learning's half the battle."
"What's the other half?" Ozpin asked.
"Over the top violence and heart-wrenching drama. The perfect combination for an engaging story."
Anon was stopped once more in his track, this time by Ozpin
"May I ask where you are leaving to?"
"I'm going to a tobacconist? Why?"
"Hmmm. I didn't take you for the smoking type."
Anon scoffed.
"You have coffee, I have cigars. We all have our vices."
"Please do indulge in moderation," Glynda said like you would expect a teacher to.
"What are you, my mom?"
Anon froze, clearly thinking about something he shouldn't.
Actually, that doesn't sound too bad...
"You thought something inappropriate, haven't you?" Glynda scolded.
"And that's my cue to leave!" He yelled as he ran away.
Vale's commerce district was as bustling as when Anon first came to Remnant. People mingling, walking in groups, commuting by bike or bus, talking and joking in Cafés. Though as he expected, the people were just black silhouettes with only the most minor of differences. Anon felt a twinge of an indescribable feeling. It was neither good nor bad but to him, it was all too familiar.
Lovely, it's here again. Hello, my old friend.
He let out a small hollow laugh. He double-checked his scroll to see where the tobacco store was.
It should be... Here?
He looked up and realized that this is where From Dust till Dawn used to have been. Now the sign read as "Ashes to Ashes".
"Well, he packed up quick." He thought aloud, remembering the old shopkeep.
A bell rang as the door opened to a cozy and lavish interior. Walls with art engraved and carved in their wooded frames. Fine glass cases where both artisanal and mass-produced tobacco products were presented from the most appealing angles. Fine cigarettes, cigars, smoking pipes, all of them with a small digital barcode that gave the producer's history, pedigree and all of the information regarding the product itself.
"This place is fucking baller!" A rare twinkle in his sullen eyes.
"Welcome."
Anon turned to see a young, dapper-looking fella at the counter. The young man had strange bleached spots all over his warm caramel-coloured skin, striking orange eyes and platinum blond hair. he wore an orange waistcoat with a black back, black dress slacks and fine leather shoes. On his nose rested a monocle. All in all, a devilish-looking fellow.
Devilish might be the right word, his eyes look shifty as fuck and his smile isn't helping!
"Afternoon," Anon answered back.
"Your poison of choice?" He asked suavely.
"Cigars."
The tobacconist smiled shadily.
"Specs?"
"Premium, long-filler perfecto," He said as he walked to the counter.
He nodded before disappearing behind the counter before returning with a large humidor box. He slid the key in and revealed the content to Anon. A good dozen and a half cigars were neatly arranged inside the padded box.
"How long do you plan to smoke it for?"
"An hour or two at the most."
He removed a notepad from his breast pocket and took some notes.
"Flavor profile?"
"Mild."
"Pairing?"
"Sweet fuck-all."
He nodded again as he kept taking notes.
"I see, I see."
Anon examined the man a bit more. His monocled eye had a larger pupil than the other and he seemed to have scars on the back of his neck and forearms.
"Do I tickle your fancy?" the tobacconist flirted.
"Nah, you just have... A striking appearance, compared to... Well most everyone else."
"I did notice that actually." He laughed. "Sometimes I swear I see them as just black shades!"
"You too?!"
"Ahhhh, Birds of a feather?" He chuckled. "Pardon the pun."
"Pun?" Anon paused before face-palming, causing the tobacconist to laugh.
"Ha ah! I always love that reaction!"
"I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that you're a bird Faunus?"
The tobacconist smiled sadly.
"Not much of one anymore, I'm afraid." He tilted his head and rolled his sleeves up, putting his scars front and centre.
Anon didn't react, though his eyes betrayed his sympathy.
Another one like Adam...
"Atlas?"
"It's poorer neighbour actually. Feathers got burned after a boiler exploded behind me."
He inhaled sharply before spluttering.
"Pfffff. It was an ordeal." his smile turned dark. "At least our manager got what he deserved. hehehe..."
He looked up saw that Anon had, in fact, not fled. He clapped his hands on his cheeks a few times.
"What am I thinking, bothering a customer with my sob story?" His smile returned to normal. "Any preference on origin?"
"Dealer's choice."
The tobacconist clapped his hands together.
"Then may I recommend this Vacuoen Puro?" He said as he removed one of the cigars from the box. "Cylo brand's Los Puto. All to specs, a smaller length but longer burning filler for about two hours of smoking."
Anon snorted.
"Nice name. Sure, I'll take it!"
"That will be one thousand liens."
Anon didn't balk at the price.
If I didn't know that liens are counted like yens, I'd feel like a right shmuck.
(A/N: for context, 1000 yen is roughly 9 bucks American as of June 2021.)
Anon sent the amount through his scroll.
"Thank you for your patronage! Would you like me to cut and light it for you?"
"Just cut it, I have my own lighter."
The tobacconist took a small cigarette case-looking container and took out a small pair of cigar sheers. He cut tip-off and offered it back to Anon.
"There you go."
"Thanks."
Anon took a cold draw and nodded to himself when there were no blocks.
"Till next time," Anon said as he walked out of the shop.
The tobacconist bowed.
"I look forward to your return. And future patronage."
Black silhouettes passed about in the streets and in the park's paths, cars occasionally drove by, hazy like blurs. Anon slouched on the park bench with his cigar in his mouth, occasionally puffing from it.
"This ain't too bad." He admired the peaceful view. "Not bad at all."
The park was really pretty, with lots of green grass, big trees and flower patches. It somehow smelled even cleaner than at Beacon.
"This... I'd like to get used to this."
Anon hung his head back and just enjoyed his surroundings. The sound of the nearby bustling streets slowly emptying as the afternoon rolled by. The whistling of the warm breeze, carrying with it the fresh scents for the flower patches. The crinkling of the leaves in the trees.
"It's..." Anon began drifting off. "So peaceful..."
...
Anon groaned as a chilly breeze took him back to the waking world. The sky had darkened but the moon wasn't quite out yet. He checked his scroll's clock.
"Fuck, that was a power nap." He looked around for any sign of people. "Surprised I didn't get mugged or something."
Anon got up and stretched his back.
"Fuck, that's gonna be hard on my spine."
He grabbed his cigar, which had gone out on its own. He tried lighting it back up but his lighter was not cooperating.
"C'mon!" He muttered. "Piece of shit... C'MON!"
A small flame popped out in front of his cigar. He looked at it curiously before shrugging.
Well, don't mind if I do.
He puffed his cigar back to life, toasting the wrapper evenly. The cigar smouldered, giving an ambient glow in the darkness of the late afternoon.
"Cheers." He thanked as he exhaled the smoke. "You're a lifesaver-"
The glow illuminated the face of a small woman with two-tone pink-brown hair. Their eyes locked, his rapidly rescinding hollow pupils meeting her heterochromatic pink and brown eyes.
Awwwwww ffffffuck!
She looked at him funny for a moment before making a series of gestures.
"Sign language? err, I'm kinda rusty but I'll try."
'You. alright. question. you. on. drugs. question.'
"No, I'm not high."
She looked pleasantly surprised that he understood her.
"If you don't mind me asking, why are you hanging around this late?"
She exaggerated her body language to make it apparent that she was rather annoyed.
'Boss. Love. Penis.' She signed before mimicking fellatio, with tongue firmly in cheek.
"Ok? Your boss is a chode gurgler?"
She silently giggled before signing again.
'He. Love. Smoke.'
The penny has dropped for Anon.
"Oh! Your boss likes to smoke."
She nodded enthusiastically, beaming at the fact that someone could actually communicate with her.
"If you're looking for a good place, there's Ashes to Ashes."
Her face scrunched up and she thrust her finger in front of her mouth, mimicking throwing up.
"Yeah, I know. But the guy has a really good selection." He presented his cigar. "Got this one from him."
She looked at it curiously before pointing at it.
"You want to try it? Sure."
He passed the cigar, she took a puff and held it in her mouth. She exhaled slowly and nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Pretty good, right?" He said as he took the cigar back.
She signed.
'Where. going. Shop.'
He pulled out his scroll and showed her the path he took from the shop to the park. She smiled happily before walking off with a sway to her hip. Before he knew it, he had received a text on his scroll.
NEWCONTACT: 'Thanks for the pointers, stud. See you 'round.'
He laughed nervously.
'Me: Till next time, Ice Cream.'
I'm definitely going to see her again... shit.
V1E4: END!
NEXT ON PLAYLIST: V1E5 - PLAY?