Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of A Lingering Ember. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.
(Mistral.)
The bullhead set down and Neo and Desmond climbed out, Desmond looked over the abandoned warehouse.
"It's amazing what criminals leave behind… Might not be much, but it's still a start." Desmond said as the group of thugs carried in crates full of Dust.
Desmond rested on Melodic Cudgel while Neo rested her open umbrella on her shoulder. He turned to look at her before patting her on the shoulder.
"I happen to know some guys due to that talk with Junior… Since you happened to kick the snot out of Junior's bodyguards for me… I'll let you be in charge of this merry crew with me… If you're ok with that. I don't want to tick off the girl who helped me talk on an entire club of thugs alone…" Desmond said, Neo walked to the door and walked inside.
"Ok then, guess we're going to be partners… Hmm…" Desmond muttered before he walked inside where he felt a cobweb in his face, and he brushed it aside.
"Geez, you think the group of low lives would have tidied up this place…" Desmond muttered before he ended up nearly tripping over someone.
He looked down to see it was a man with a gun that had been dead for a few months at least.
"Oh… Never mind…" Desmond said, he stepped over the body and looked at Neo who sat on a metal box.
"You enjoy sitting, huh?" Desmond asked, Neo nodded, and Desmond turned to a trio of thugs and then to Neo.
"She's in charge if I'm not here… Now get the damn dust unloaded, you're not getting paid to stand around." Desmond muttered before he walked away, one of the thugs turned to Neo who nodded at the dust and patted her umbrella into her hand as a warning.
The man started to unload the Dust canisters while Neo walked to the balcony where Desmond was typing on his scroll.
Neo walked up to Desmond and peeked over his shoulder, standing on her tiptoes before Desmond turned to her and laughed.
"I'm enjoying your company, sweet tooth, you're not like those meatheads down there… I'm trying to find a way to expand our little group… Mistral might look squeaky clean… But it has a lot of shady characters… I'm not trying to be a criminal… Do you know robin hood? The vigilante, steal from the rich, corrupted jackasses, sell to the poor… Keep a small profit on the side." Desmond said, he muttered the last part, Neo heard it all the same before Desmond turned back to her.
"I'm looking for more 'employees', I don't plan on going back to Shade, I already graduated Huntsmen school… But I am looking for more guys… Thing is, the muscle around here isn't cheap… I'd either need to sell some stuff… Or we're going to have to uh…" Desmond started to say, he took his cane and swung in the air.
"Knock some heads… Something I'm sure your very good at considering your 'resume'." Desmond said, Neo chuckled at the joked and turned back to the thugs who were paused.
"Back to work," Neo said and rested her umbrella on her shoulder, they went back to work, and Desmond turned to Neo.
"We're going to get along fine… I'm going to talk to someone Junior recommended that will help us get this stuff shipped off… Gentlemen, Neo is in charge… Any of you Neanderthals threaten her, and she doesn't bash your head into the ceiling, you're having a talk with me… And trust me…" Desmond said before pointing his cane at the thugs before bringing up the sight.
"You don't want to see me mad…" Desmond said before he rested his cane on his shoulder. He turned and patted Neo on her hatted head before he turned.
"You have fun, Neo…" Desmond muttered before he started to walk away, swinging Melodic Cudgel around when he walked out the door.
The thugs turned to Neo who looked at them, waiting for them to try and make a move or attack her, they turned back to their work while Neo flipped onto a crate and sat crossed-legged while waiting for Desmond to return.
(With Desmond)
Desmond looked back at the warehouse, he considered returning to it then realized that Neo could easily kill everyone who tried to go after her if she wanted.
He turned and continued walking through the forest. He wouldn't be able to move on with his plan without more pull in the underworld.
That meant cutting deals to get more manpower… He also knew several groups he could raid to get those resources.
Tomorrow they would probably attack one of those said groups.
He could hardly wait to get down to business, they had so much to get done in Mistral. He smirked while he walked through the forest.
He had such wonderful plans for Mistral.
Author Note
Phew, another chapter is done! I want to point out Desmond isn't a villain; he is going to be a criminal at times… But not a massive one. The next chapter will show more of Desmond's plan, and it will involve Desmond, Neo, and their gang attacking another criminal group. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
