Author's Headnote: You know, I did not expect so much writer's blocks writing this. I honestly write myself into so many walls when writing this. Like the one right now, what am I going to do to get myself out of this? Well, I'll be writing, of course. I've started playing inFamous2 again. Y'know, the namesake of this fic COMES FROM a non-canonical inFamous game. While I was coming up with a name for this, the spin off game just popped into my head and boom, here we are, reading the headnote, at least I hope you've been reading them. And don't worry Blake will be developing feelings too. Anywho, onto the reading you go, and onto the writing I go!
RWBY: Festival of Blood: Mundane Morning
Ruby Rose:
Aura Status: 87%
Thirst: Not Thirsty
Semblance: Wilted Petal Burst
Grades: Unchanged
Team Activity (Required for advancement to second year): Nightshift Police Internship, starts at 7PM Thursday.
Team Relations:
-Weiss Schnee: She's thawing out.
-Blake Belladonna: Ruby is thankful for the sacrifices Blake has made; she may also be feeling more.
-Yang Xiao Long: Need to get her contact lenses.
End of Main character status report
Beacon Academy, 3:14 AM, Thursday, RWBY Dormitory
Ruby returned the dorm and went to the bedroom to find everyone asleep. And to notice that Yang's retainer fell out of her mouth, going to need to wash that and put it back in her mouth, she didn't go through speech therapy just to have those braces slapped back on after all. Although she wouldn't be wearing them for as long as she did when she was younger. After her all her adult teeth finally grew in at around age ten, she had some sort of weird tooth problem, came from her mother's side according to her uncle Qrow. She was taken to a dentist and had braces slapped on, that and combined with the fact that she didn't wear contact lenses yet, and she was made fun of in school. But she did manage to shake it off and make some friends, despite her upbringings.
Ruby went into the bathroom with Yang's retainer, washing it thoroughly. She doesn't want Yang to get sick after all, she's her sister, and she cares for her. Like how Yang cared for Ruby. After washing it, she carefully snuck up to Yang's bunk and carefully put her retainer back in her mouth. She's going to be grateful for that. She also tucked Yang in. Ruby than quietly climbed back down to the floor. She sees Weiss is fine as she is, sleeping peacefully instead of turning in her sleep. Ruby was grateful for that, it kept her up all night back when she was alive. Now she sleeps like the dead... Ruby made a quiet giggle after thinking about that phrase. She tucks in Blake though, although Ruby isn't sure why. She'd need all the rest she'd need after that operation though, maybe Ruby thought this would help with that.
Blake's quite cute when she's sleeping. Kind of reminds her of seeing Zwei when he sleeps, but in a different way. Ruby wonders if Blake thinks the same way when she sees her sleep. Ruby will definitely have to pay her back for the 'coffin'. It's a useful gift, although a bit cliche. Although she can't carry a box around with her during missions, so Ruby will have to re-enforce the thought of buying goggles and gloves to cover the rest of her exposed skin.
She has plenty of time before she can go to sleep, don't want to waste the night after all. Ruby takes a long, cold, shower. She spends most of the time just thinking. Thinking about her condition, thinking about her survival, thinking about the worst-case scenario of what would happen if she were found out. Her soul has grimm inside of it, she's a living corpse, she drinks blood to keep her sanity! Not everyone's going to be accepting of that, especially since people tend to have prejudice against faunas. Just imagine when people find out if vampires were real, the negativity would attract grimm from the grimmlands all the way to here just by the strength of the fear, anger, and hatred!
I just wanted to be a hero I didn't ask for- AH GOSH! SOAP IN MY EYES! SOAP IN MY EYES! IT HURTS!
Apparently being distracted in thought makes one not realize they are shampooing their hair. Two minutes of blind showering occurs, Ruby finished up her long shower and stepped out to check the time, she's been in there for forty-five minutes. She quickly dries off and puts her bandanna back on. Being that it is 4 AM now, she gets changed into her underwear and pajamas, getting ready for bed. She climbs up onto her bunk, puts her blanket over her, closes her eyes, and stops breathing.
Character Change: Ruby Rose - Blake Belladonna
Beacon Academy, 6:31 AM, Thursday, RWBY Dormitory
Blake woke up to find her blanket tucked in her sleep, Ruby must have done it before she went to bed. Even as a vampire, she's a nice person. Which is a good reason to why no one can find out about her vampirism. People would see her as a monster, treat her as such, and in turn, she would act like such. She's seen it happen before; she doesn't want the sweet, innocent, cute little girl to become like him. Although Blake doubts that she's that innocent, since she was staring at Blake's breasts before she learned about Ruby's condition. Yet again, she doesn't know the combo pattern names come from pairing names, so it is quite mix-and-match. She's also kind of cute, in the sense of the kitten, maybe also something else, Blake's not sure of it though. She's always so sweet, trying to be nice to everyone, but she has trouble talking to someone new, it was a bit awkward trying to get Ruby to talk to Sun, but the two became fast friends after a bit of help.
She gets out of bed and gets a set of clothing out for her to change into. She heads into the bathroom and locks the door. She than goes and prepares to take a shower. Blake takes quick, brief, showers. she doesn't want to use up as much water as the rest of her team does. She can do all the philosophical thinking after getting clean, she doesn't want to get lost in thought and get soap in her eye after all. After showering and cleaning herself in a quick two minutes, thirty seconds. she gets out and dries herself. She heads out of the bathroom and grabs her clothes and changes them in a discreet part of the dorm. She than heads out to make breakfast.
Blake isn't that much of a good chef as Ruby is. If it weren't her for her vampirism, she could drop out of Beacon and become a world class chef, assuming Ren doesn't have the same Idea. But that's not what Ruby is like, she's not that much into the culinary career, she's actually a full-on committee huntress, Blake knows that for sure. Any vampire staying at beacon, despite not having night classes really wans to pursue being a huntress. But Blake gets by with the basic eggs, toast, and apples. No pancakes though, don't want Nora busting out of the window accidentally cooking Ruby. She sets up three plates and begins to prepare three meals, one for each of the non-vampire girls in team RWBY.
It's just a simple five-minute cooking time, she doesn't make over-complicated three course breakfasts like Ruby. She hears Yang walking over to the kitchen table to eat her breakfast, she just got dressed and out of the shower, glasses on and everything. Weiss, for some reason, is still in bed. but she's awake. Wonder what's wrong with her. Anyways, Blake sat down and started eating. It didn't take long for Yang to notice three plates, she than brought it up.
"Hey Blake, why are there only three meals set at the table?" Yang asked suspiciously.
"Ruby slept through breakfast yesterday and we had to order from the cafeteria, I'd figure she wouldn't need something to eat at this time of the day." Blake responded.
"That seems reasonable. Although Rubes has always set up a full table even if one of us isn't attending or attending late."
"Well, I'm not Ruby, Yang. And she didn't make herself something on Tuesday, remember?"
"Okay, you have a point there Blake. It's still weird she didn't make herself something."
"Why is that?"
"I've known Ruby for all her life, she would be hungry at 6AM."
"She likely ate out."
"I counted the Lien she had when she came back. She spent 6,040 Lien. Either those contacts were overpriced as heck, my old pair only costed 400. Or she was buying something other than the contacts and bandanna."
"What do you think she would have spent it on?"
"I don't know. Ruby's typically trustworthy with money. I always tell her never to give lien to anyone not behind a register or near a bill. Did you see her come with anything else?"
"No, nothing at all." She lied. Mentioning Ruby's book is one way to get Ruby's vampirism discovered.
"Well, those contacts better be worth the money, I don't like wearing these glasses, even if Sun likes me wearing them."
"You... have any feelings for Sun?"
"Well we are friends, that's for sure, we have a lot in common. Did you know he can recite every issue of the comics from GC in order of the events that had occurred in the canonical timeline?"
"No Yang, because I'm not a fan of comic books."
"What about Manga? Sun has an entire collection of the stuff back at Haven!"
"I don't read Manga either Yang, I'm not huge nerd for those stuff."
"Your loss Blake, they are incredibly fun to read. Although the films typically aren't faithful to the comics anyway, but they lampshade it saying it's a different universe."
"You are such a nerd Yang."
"Sun likes it too."
"Are you into that stuff because you like it or because Sun likes it?"
"I am offended Blake. I have a Princess Lydia costume, both normal and slave! I got after my braces were removed, since my body looks good in it!"
"You wore braces?"
"Yes. I wore braces, Blake. My teeth weren't always this pristine. I also wear a retainer in bed. I was afraid it dropped out of my mouth last night, guess I was paranoid."
"Well, not everyone's born with good genes Yang, don't get worked up about it."
Weiss just walked into the kitchen, she's dripping wet, must have gotten out of the shower without drying off, she's also wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt instead of her usual 'high-brow' dress. She's also doesn't have a ponytail set up and is wearing her hair down. Clearly, she's in a lazy mood. Which is somewhat reliving, since Blake was afraid that she was going to be an explosive ball of stress with all this time off. Best not to worry about it right now. Weiss sat down at the table and started to eat her food... slowly.
Weiss was just eating minding her own business.
"She seems... different." Blake commented.
"Typically, she tries to keep up an appearance or something, it's weird seeing her like... this." Yang said.
"She's likely going to have a lazy day I guess."
"It's weird seeing her like... this. Just like Ruby sleeping in, she's usually the first one up."
"I don't think the two corelate in anyway."
"Trust me on this, Ruby went to sleep and didn't go outside on Tuesday, she slept in on Wednesday, It's Thursday and she's still sleeping in."
"I don't think staying asleep before 10 AM is 'sleeping-in' Yang."
"It is if you're my sister."
"Well, I'm not your sister, Yang. If I was, you'd be eating a three-course meal for breakfast."
"She does go all out on the cooking, but it's still good food."
"Ya, her cooking is great, but can we get back on topic?"
"What were you two talking about in the first place?" Weiss asked in a calm tone.
"We were talking about how Blake didn't make a meal for Ruby." Yang stated in an irritated tone.
"I can make her something if you want."
"Please don't."
"My cooking's not that bad."
"It is, trust me." Blake commented.
"I don't understand why nobody likes my cooking." Weiss calmly complained.
"You've managed to screw up salad Weiss, SALAD!"
"Can we change the subject?"
"Justicars: Infinite Strife is coming out this Saturday, I was wondering if you two would be interested in seeing it." Yang said excitingly.
"Not a fan of comic book movies Yang." Blake said.
"Eh, I'll just watch it on a streaming service if I feel like it." Weiss said.
"It's literally the most hyped up movie out there! People will be making internet memes of it the second it comes out!" Yang said.
"We're not interested in it. Look, you can take Sun with you." Blake said.
"Well, don't complain when the movie's being spoiled by memes."
"If I wanted to, I can read the outcome of the film from the comic book."
"The SCU is a different timeline from Sensation Universe 616, which is the canonical timeline, Blake."
"If it's not canon, then what's the point!?"
"It's going to be a fun movie!"
"Well, whatever floats your boat Yang, not gonna convince you otherwise."
The three continue to eat at the table, with Yang commonly de-railing the topic about nerd-stuff. It's just a typical morning breakfast with team RWBY, minus Ruby now, because well... let's just say it's best if they don't know why Ruby's oversleeping. She tends to have this some sort of tranquility when she sleeps, not sure if it was always like this, or it was because of her vampirism. Blake is also afraid she may be developing affectionate feelings for Ruby due to the Florence Nightingale effect... why is it called that anyway? who the heck is Florence Nightingale? And why is a psychological condition named after this person? Likely connected to the origin of why oranges are called 'oranges'.
Blake finished her breakfast and put her dishes in the sink, Ruby can clean them when she wakes up. She grabs her book and heads to the courtyard to read her book. By than everyone is up and has gotten up to go eat breakfast or has already eaten breakfast.
Character Change: Blake Belladonna - Jaune Arc
Beacon Academy, 8:00 AM, Thursday, Cafeteria
Jaune decided to eat at the cafeteria today, typically he'd eat one of Ren's breakfast's, but now he needs info on the third year. Anything to find out anything about them. The only people who would possibly know about the third year, would be of course, the fourth-year students at Beacon. They were around while when the third year first attended Beacon two years ago. Jaune needed to know what happened two years ago that made them the only student in their class. He decides to eavesdrop on some students.
"Hey, did you hear that Chief Blue went on a rampage yesterday?" The first student said.
"Yes, the entire school was talking about it, apparently he was investigating... who again?" The second student said.
"The Third Year."
"Oh. Him. Ya, never spoke to him much... come to think of it, no one ever did. I feel bad for what happened to his original team."
"I don't think there was anyway to prevent that."
"I don't think we should bring that up, he always gives out the deadliest glare when someone bring it up."
"Do we even know his name?"
"I think his name is cursed after what happened."
"Curses aren't real."
"Do you think his semblance brings up Bad Luck wherever he goes?"
"No, that's a terrible semblance! What kind of reasonable huntsman would have such a thing?"
"Fair point."
"I don't think a huntsman with such a semblance would even survive getting into Beacon in the first place!"
"A semblance like that would likely screw everyone over. They likely wouldn't be allowed in Beacon!"
"It's a weird semblance for sure, alright."
"Good luck, I understand, but bad luck? Clearly meant for someone that would work alone."
"I can see bad luck being useful in combat, can screw over the opponents, but wouldn't it also screw over the person with the semblance as well?"
"I don't know, I don't have an A in Aura and Semblance studies!"
"I can tell."
"Excuse me for not studying all hours of the night!"
"Your life after Beacon depends on this!"
"As if I need people to check my grades for a huntsman contract!"
"Fair point."
Jaune stopped eavesdropping, mostly because the conversation topic derailed. All that Jaune learned is that the Third Year is a guy. And that something happened two years ago, going to need to tell Ren about this before he hacks into the CCT on Sunday. After learning about all that, he continued to eat his breakfast to avoid drawing attention the fourth-year students, or worse, the staff or the third year. He's having the standard stock waffles and eggs. He could have pancakes since Nora isn't around, but he needed something more filling for today.
Yesterday, he hasn't seen Ruby until the meeting... which is odd, since she's up and about during the day, or at the forge tinkering her weapon. Jaune could ask for a weapon from her, but he doesn't want to ditch Crocea Mors. It's a family heirloom. He faked his transcripts and his family thinks he actually passed the exams! Jaune didn't have a weapon, so they gave him Crocea Mors. He got a parachute for the missions, he figured he'd need it after the initiation. Pyrrha basically saved his life! He also needed to unlock his semblance. He knows can't be at 100% without it unlocked. Sure, he's a gifted tactician and strategist, but he's quite sucky on a 1v1 fight. It would suck if his semblance is a supporting one that can't be used in a 1v1 fight.
He can find Velvet later and further ask about Coco. As for Penny, that's a tough one, nobody here knows who she is, he has to wait until the Atlassian students arrive. He could try and ask the fourth years directly on the third year, but from the conversation he was eavesdropping... it's a sore subject. But he cannot give up, the lives of Vale depend on it, maybe... or at least the security of Beacon Academy. Whatever happened two years ago at Beacon Academy, must have been gruesome if only one student in the class survived it. Not sure why the Headmaster had him repeat the first year and have him re-do initiation, he likely felt sorry for the third year.
But none the less, he needs to do some training and training he shall! Jaune first heads into the locker to grab Crocea Mors, no need to damage the roof of Beacon Academy for a weapon. After equipping Crocea Mors, he heads into the training yard. To train of course, that's why it's called a training yard. What else is he going to do? Clean up flower petals off the floor?
Beacon Academy, 8:23 AM, Thursday, Training Yard
Jaune walks up to the training yard, only to find the combat professor, Miss Goodwitch carrying a dustpan and broom.
"Ah good, I was afraid I had to call you up here, Jaune. Someone was littering withered flower petals last night and I need you to sweep them up for me." Professor Goodwitch ordered Jaune.
Of course, When I actually come here on my own, something comes in and blocks me from doing so.
Jaune nodded reluctantly and began sweeping the withered flower petal covered floors. Who goes around throwing flower petals from dead flowers on the floor? And where does one get so much dead flowers? Although among closer look, they resemble the rose petals that Ruby leaves behind when she uses her semblance. But that's not possible, those Rose petals stay red and lifelike. These ones are more red-violet and crumbly. So clearly, they didn't come from Ruby. Unless they did? But semblances can't change like that, can they? Out of curiosity, Jaune picks up one of the wilted flower petals to give to Ren for analysis. He's the team's expert on semblances and aura. But that doesn't excuse Jaune from being tasked to clean up all these petals.
Jaune's always been tasked to do mundane chores ever since Cardin ratted out that he faked his transcripts. As it turns out Headmaster Ozpin actually knew his transcripts were faked, he was only accepted because his first name started with 'J'. So instead of expelling him, he was sentenced to 'teacher internship'. Basically, being tasked doing mundane chores for every single member of the teacher-staff body. Which also screwed over the rest of the student's because now they have to sit in a room instead of cleaning, sorting files, or watching over Port's pet nuckaleeve, which he named 'Dave'. Jaune was only partially surprised about learning about Dave. On one hand, he knew Port was the kind of person who would keep a grimm as a pet. On the other, he just didn't expect a high-ranking one like a nuckaleeve, he thought it would be a nevermore with sunglasses! Which on hindsight sounds stupid. A bird wearing glasses? This isn't a cartoon. Even than, it would just look ridiculous. Jaune also wasn't allowed to look at the files he was sorting, since a number of them contain answer sheets for tests, and if they get lost, Jaune would fail automatically. Even if he wasn't the one who stole it. Cleaning is the most common task he's assigned to do, grimm-sitting Dave is second place though.
One would argue that watching over a pet grimm is anything but mundane. They would be right, but it doesn't excuse how dangerous it is, especially if it's a nuckaleeve! The last student that faked their transcripts was killed by Dave. Port says half of their body was still on the ceiling when Dave was done with them. He spends two hours after class every Thursday watching over Dave. And today just so happens to be Thursday. That means either Nora, Pyrrha, or Ren has to tell Ruby and Blake that there won't be a meeting today, because he has to watch over Dave at 3PM today. And after that's done, they have to go to the clinic for their team activity. Tight schedule and all.
Jaune spends a record time of twenty-five minutes of cleaning up those suspicious flower petals. Hopefully they won't turn up again. Jaune's just glad he can finally start up training again. May as well be practical before having to watch over and tend Dave's needs. Not sure why Port has a pet grimm in the first place anyway, and a nuckaleeve no less! But he has to go find Professor Goodwitch before he can continue, because he has to give the dustpan and broom back. He begins to wander around looking for her across the Beacon Corridors and occasionally check the places she'd typically be.
Character Change: Jaune Arc - Blake Belladonna
Beacon Academy, 8:23 AM, Thursday, Beacon Courtyard
Blake's enjoying the quiet morning with her book. Yang's talking nerd stuff with Sun, those two have oddly so much in common. Weiss actually hasn't left the dorm, which will be problematic when Ruby wakes up. Said red vampire is currently asleep. She wonders why Weiss is so lazy today. She can Ruby about that later. As for checking news, it won't matter since Blake and Ren were incredibly stealthy when sneaking into that White Fang hideout last night. Blake received a text from Pyrrha, says that the meeting for today is cancelled, she wonders why. Most common scenario is that there were events planned before they started the investigation and they had to get them all done today.
Which means nothing will get in the way to help Ruby get contacts for Yang today, thankfully she got the box just for that.
Blake received a text from 'automated'. It says the police internship activity starts at 7PM. Well, guess she'd need to get those contacts earlier than scheduled. Why did Ruby select that activity? It must have been something way more tolerable for the team and it's at night, so... Blake can see why. It's honestly a good decision, but she honestly made things harder for herself in hindsight. She'll be going into the box after she gets ready to head out. But at least advancement into second year is secured. Weiss will be happy about that for sure. She concentrated back into reading her book, since she has all the freetime she wants until Ruby wakes up. Hopefully she can make something up to Weiss when the time comes.
Author's Footnote: Well, that's this chapter. I didn't forget that Ruby's semblance has changed, and neither have you hopefully. So, it was inevitable that someone would find her wilted petals. Wonder how Ruby's going to cover that up. I've also did some more Jaune this chapter, along with an eavesdrop segment, been awhile since I've done one. I've also revealed the third year is in fact, a dude. I likely already did in an earlier chapter and forgot to fix that. We're going deeper down the rabbit hole. Why does Beacon only have one student in it's third year class? What happened two years ago? All of this will be covered soon. If you have any questions, comments, criticism, suggestions, etc. Leave them in the reviews, along with any name suggestions for Ruby's oversized pizza cutter. If no other name suggestions take place by the Saturday in fanfic time, 'Slice of Life' will become the name of the pizza cutter. See ya next chapter.