New Divide

"Hey!" Yang called out quietly as she saw Ruby about to walk out the door, "Where you going?"

"To underground parts of Mistral like I said I was…going…to; wow Weiss where did you get that get up?" Ruby asked as she turned back around to confront her team.

The team's Ice Queen was wearing nearly all black, and looking very self-conscious. Blake had given her a pair of tight black pants, and a black corset. From Yang, she had received the blonde's light grey jacket. She had her own shoes on that brought the outfit more together and Yang had been great with the make-up, even to go so far as to cover most of her scar. The only thing that made her feel really uncomfortable was not having a weapon at hand, "It's what took a little longer."

"Where you really going to leave without us?" Blake asked as she looked towards the door and the reaper.

Ruby kept looking Weiss over, unable to really process that her white themed partner was basically dressed in all black and slightly dark colors, "Well again, I said I'd give you five minutes. I was just being nice and gave you an extra fifteen minutes…so twenty minutes went by and I waited enough. Uhm…where is your weapon?" She had noticed Ember Celica and Gambol Shroud on their respective owners, but Myrtenaster was nowhere in sight on her partner.

"You said to be discrete and not be a 'Schnee'. Well having my weapon that uses primarily dust screams my family name…at least according to you." Weiss adds at the end raising a brow, arms crossed.

Ruby hesitates a bit before shrugging, "Yeah I suppose. I mean if you want to go get it then by all means. I was more or less thinking about the Schnee emblem on your clothing. However, I cannot have you go out without some protection." In a flurry of petals, Ruby disappeared back up the stairs.

Before they could even ask each other a question, Ruby reappeared, "Just how many different weapons do you have?" Yang asks wide eyed at the weapon in her sister's hand.

Ruby chuckled, "This is the last of it I promise. Here, it's called an anelace." Ruby hands it to her partner, who gently took it and unsheathed, "I had it specially made so the blade is impregnated with acidic venom from a Dromedon."

"A what?" Blake asked wide eyed as they look at the dagger with a new found hesitancy.

"It's a Grimm creature in Feldspar in the kingdom of Vacuo. I won't get in the specifics, but just like dust has its usages in combat so does this. Just press this switch here before unsheathing dagger itself," Ruby showed Weiss the hidden switch, "and it will charge the dagger so the venom will be released if you go to stab the person…just be sure you don't stab yourself. That shit hurts like a mother." Weiss hesitantly sheathes the dagger and attaches it to her belt, making sure it was out of sight by her jacket, "Now then let's go."

Blake and Yang offer Weiss a look before following their leader out the door, "So what is the plan?" Yang asks as she comes beside her sister.

"There is one place that I know of that can give us the most intel. In fact, you may be familiar with her. Remember the twins that work at Junior's?"

Yang smiles at the memory, "Oh yeah! Melanie and Miltia. I wonder how they are doing…?"

"They were fine when I saw them. Pretty much left me alone once they knew who I was and saw that I wasn't a threat to the establishment. Anyway, the reason why Junior is always so well informed is because their mother is Little Miss Malachite."

"Hold on!" Blake states as she grabs Ruby firmly by the arm to make her stop as they come to the steps that will lead them down to the sketchy parts of the city, "We are seeing a leader of a crime syndicate? Are you insane?!"

"I am going to follow up and ask you why do you know that?" Weiss stated to Blake, "But same thing goes for you too Ruby."

"We didn't agree to this." Yang comments arms crossed. Sure, it was one thing for her to go to a crime boss's club, but it was on another level for Ruby to go to a crime boss's establishment. Then again she supposed she already knew that Ruby had visited Junior, but she thought the guy was pretty tame and partially useless.

"Oh, but you did." Ruby's tone came out in a sing-song voice as she waved a finger in Yang's face, then she motioned to the rest of her teammates, "You agreed when I said I was going to the underworld of Mistral and you wanted to come, so here you are. As for Blake's comment, yes, we are; and more to the point I too would like to know the answer to Weiss's inquiry…unless you were being factious."

"No that was a legit question." Weiss confirmed again looking at Blake, whose ears folded down and she looked away, looking suddenly uncomfortable as lavender, silver, and blue eyes were now on her.

Sighing she shook her head and said, "We may have had some connection with her organization in the White Fang when Adam would want to know the schedule of shipments for Dust…or other Schnee Company related events…" Then she added as an afterthought, "I never personally met her, however the stories I heard about her were less than pleasant, especially when you get on her bad side."

Weiss nodded, unfazed and almost impressed. The impressed look was held for a fleeting moment before she just shrugged, "Ok I am satisfied." Seeing Blake's surprised look, she says, "Really nothing surprises me about any of this anymore. It's your past, you are here now so stop with this guilt thing. Now then back to Yang's original question…what is the plan?" At this they look to Ruby.

"Well, we get there and I talk with her. You guys are to just smile and nod. Do not really speak unless you are directly spoken too. Do not give any information that will compromise the mission, and for the love of the Brothers, do not give your real names. You are to use aliases, or again better yet just do not speak."

The three women just blinked for a few seconds, arms crossed and leaning back looking insulted with Yang being the first to break the silence with an unamused look and tone equal to match, "Really? Wall flowers, that is what you want us to be?"

"I mean if that is what you want to call it, but no not exactly." Seeing the outrage now, Ruby backtracks and says quickly, "Look, Malachite operates with her 'spiders' in the shadows. I want you to act like those spiders. Keeping observant, but also being careful to not draw too much attention to yourselves. Above all else, I do not want to see you get hurt…not that she would honestly try anything in particular. Where I came from, she was fairly…reasonable."

"You dealt with her?" Blake asks in a resigned fashion after they took a few moments to think her words over.

Ruby starts walking again as she leads them in the main city center before slowly descending to another level, "Yes, in numerous situations where I needed reliable intel. She is one of those…how would you say it? Chaotic neutral types. Neither good or totally evil. Just looking out for herself."

"So aliases huh," Yang states putting her arms behind her head, trying to attempt to change the heavy subject of Ruby's devastating future, "What's yours? Cookie Reaper?"

This brought an eyeroll from Weiss, a small smirk from Blake, and a light chuckle from mentioned Reaper, "No, that name was already taken." Ruby chuckled again, recalling that name was first formed when she was first playing video games as that had been her username. Sobering up though she says, "It's actually Thorn Ravenscroft."

"How the hell did you get a name like that?" Blake asks wide eyed as Yang's eyes narrowed at the first half of the last name.

"Well, my actual last name is Rose. A rose has thorns. By that point I was made more of thorns than the petals on the damn flower. As for the last name…well it had a ring to it honestly." Ruby finished lamely.

Weiss shook her head, "So what was ours oh exalted leader?" She had to know because while she agreed that Ruby's alias did not quite fit the once passionate and bright charismatic girl she once knew, she wondered what their names were.

Ruby fell quiet now. The small smirk that graced her lips vanished and a dark look came across her face as they wandered through the darker alleyway, passing the predatory like stares of the people that were just idling in the streets, "Rubes?" Yang questions calling her sister out of her dark thoughts.

Ruby shakes herself as they approach another staircase leading down, "Oh. Sorry. Your names right. Uhm…" She thought for a moment, trying to recall those moments of undercover work with her team, "Blake's I think was Arryn Nightshade."

"Huh not bad." Blake said mulling it over in her head.

Ruby stopped and motioned them to the side so they were off the main street, "Weiss's, if I recall correctly, was-"

"If it is anything related to snow or ice, I am seriously going to use your own weapon against you." Weiss threatened as she pulled the jacket aside to show the weapon to her friend.

A bead of sweat was seen on the reaper's forehead, "Oh no. Nothing of the sort. By the way I told you that thing really does a number on its victim right? Anyway, it was actually Freya Williams."

Weiss mulled it over, "Ok. Not terrible."

"You picked it!" Ruby accused. Before a counter could be made, Ruby turned to Yang, "Ok so yours was Kayda Seraphina."

"Not bad, but I won't be changing my name anytime soon." Yang comments looking not totally impressed, "The last name makes me sound too much like a princess."

Ruby snorts, "It is more dragon related than anything."

"Oh, well then do tell."

"Not right now." Ruby states firmly, pulling her scroll out and tapping into the home screen. They watch as her fingers fly through the different apps and her eyes move through information before feeling their own scrolls vibrate, "Here is the information that you need. For obvious reasons do not tell anyone of this. Including Qrow, Oscar, and JNPR."

"More secrets…fun." Weiss breathes out as she looks through her alias's information with interest and slight distain, "And seriously? What did you do? Hack into Atlas's database to forge illegal hunters' licenses?"

"Remember we were licensed curtsy of Ironwood in the Kingdom of Atlas. Not that hard to make up and fake. Also these are necessary secrets." Ruby corrects, "And to comment on the first part, I do not have their profiles set up yet. And it isn't like they would approve of this anyway, just like you all seem to be."

"But you had our stuff ready to go despite that." Blake says as she too is looking through the information to try and memorize the necessary details of her 'persona'.

Ruby shrugs as she puts her scroll away, giving them a bit more time, "True, but I am still getting their stuff together. Pyrrha, I didn't have because in my time she-"

"Yea we know." Yang says putting her scroll away, "Still though-"

"Look it was mainly our team that went undercover. Jaune, Ren, Nora, and Oscar had their own missions. Winter had us doing things once we made it safely to Vacuo. I know I said I worked with Winter for the most part, but I wasn't involved with creating the names of Jaune's team. So, forgive me if I didn't have something ready for them off the top of my head. You are lucky I had your stuff ready to go."

At this, they looked away, not wanting to think of the kind of missions that they went on for the need to develop these aliases, "Alright then." Weiss says putting her scroll away now and motioning to Ruby, "Lets finish this. Lead on."

"Right. This way. Just one more level. Remember keep your ears and eyes open." Ruby warned as she made them follow her down to the lower levels of the city.

Yang felt a tingling going up her spine as they kept walking. Honestly it should not have unnerved her as they ideally passed by the suspicious (and most likely illegal) shops of the lower levels; after all she had gone to Junior's club in the shady part of Vale. Maybe, though, that was because that area was nicer than the one they were currently in; however on another level maybe it was due to the way Ruby was holding herself that was the problem; and as she continued to observe her sister, it was becoming a more solidified idea in her mind.

The black cloak that was on her sister billowed as she strutted her way down the street. This only added to the personality aura she was giving off too. One that stated 'do not fuck with me'. Clearly this message was well received since the people that kept eyeing them up made no move to approach, "Ok here we are." Ruby announced as she motioned for them to pause.

Yang shared a small look with Blake and Weiss before looking at the building across the way. There was someone standing outside of the building keeping guard, "He is going to take one look at our IDs and send us away." Blake said as she stares at the man as he waves someone inside.

"Oh ye of little faith." Ruby commented, "You are forgetting who you are with."

"A former heiress, a brawler, and…oh right a twenty something year old time traveler in a teenager's body. Yes, how could I forget? How silly of me." Blake retorts with an eyeroll.

"Aside of the cynical sarcasm, Blake has a point." Weiss adds looking at Ruby's unamused expression towards the faunus, "We are teenagers. This guy isn't going to let us in."

Ruby sighed and looked at them, "He will, with the right motivation. Trust me. I got this."

"It isn't about not trusting you." Yang steps in now, "But-"

"No buts. Just watch, after all I learned from the best."

"Oh? And who might that be? Qrow?" Weiss asks with an eye roll.

Ruby laughs lightly, "Not quite. Qrow taught me plenty yes, along with the Grimm Reaper. However, I am speaking of three people that taught and influenced me more than they could ever know." Ruby adds at the end and diverts her gaze.

"Tell us." Yang orders, wanting a clear picture of who to blame for this change in her sister (not including of course the main characters at play).

Knowing her sister's train of thought, Ruby just smiles a shit-eating grin and fixes her demeanor and straightens out her clothes, "How about I will demonstrate, and you guess. We'll make it a game starting now." Protests were ready on the tip of their tongues, but Ruby was already walking away from them towards the guy standing guard.

Sharing a look with each other, they quickly followed just as Ruby met up with the man, "Hello sir. Lovely evening, isn't it?" They heard their leader question in a pleasant and polite manner in what they could only describe as 'high societal'. Even Weiss was surprised at how natural the words and the manners followed.

The man raised a brow and sniffed, "Get lost kid. This isn't a place for children."

Yang opened her mouth to respond, but stopped when she felt a discrete yet firm kick in the boot from Blake, who then shook her head. Looking back, she caught Ruby's firm gaze, but as quick as it came, it vanished as she smiled at the man, "Children? But sir, you are mistaken. We are not children. We are certified huntresses curtsy of the Kingdom of Atlas." Ruby pulled her scroll out and motioned for her team to do the same, "We've been on a long and strenuous mission you see. All we want a drink in this establishment."

The man barely glimpsed at the scrolls before once more dismissing them again, "More enough reason to not allow your kind in here. Hunters are not welcomed, now I am not going to say it again. Leave. Now."

There was a glint now in the gaze as Ruby put her scroll away, "Thorn, maybe we should-" Blake started to say, but was cut off by the man shouting, "HEY! WHAT-?"

She slapped a hand over the guy's mouth and they could see one of the knives pressed with just enough pressure to make a point in the man's back, "Ok I tried being polite, in doing so maybe we had a bit of a communication breakdown. Let's see if this is better understood huh?" When the man didn't make an attempt to speak, Ruby pressed a bit more firmly, "That required a nod if you understood."

"I didn't see her move." Weiss breathed under her breath towards Blake, making sure her lips moved as minimally as possible to not draw attention to them, "Almost reminds me of you."

Blake had to agree. The move was unexpected and sudden, as if Ruby took her opportunity to pounce at the man and bringing the knife out of the shadows of her cloak, "The conversation earlier was like you. Polite and aristocratic in nature." She breathed back as Ruby restarted the conversation as they watched the scene. Over to her other side, she sees that Yang is watching on with a thoughtful look, knowing that she had heard the conversation between the monochrome pair.

Frantically the man nodded to Ruby's threat, "Ok then glad we better understand each other now. Nothing is worse when there is a failure to communicate." Tone was sarcastic and back to being more friendly, eerily similar to a certain blonde brawler. Yang's eyes were wide for a moment as Ruby pressed herself a bit closer, narrowing her eyes as she did so, leaning in closely to say in the man's ear, "We are huntresses looking for a place to get something to drink. We've traveled a long way, and seen many horrible things. Things that would make your stomach churn, see the last meal you ate, and have nightmares for many years to come. I doubt very much you want me to regal you with those kinds of stories, correct?"

The man looks at Yang, Blake, and Weiss who tried to look just as firm and deadly as Ruby was portraying, "Is that going to be a problem friend? A simple nod or headshake will do." Ruby finishes.

The man nodded his head, eyes wide and near fearful, "Cool. Glad we had this chat. Now, I am going to take my hand off your mouth, I am going to release you, you will do your job to look at our scrolls seriously this time, and you will not tell a soul as to what happened. Do I make myself crystal clear?" The instructions were said with enough force and bite to them as if they were looking at a mirror image of Weiss in the heyday of her 'almighty than art thou' attitude.

The man nodded his head, and slowly Ruby released him. He was watching them carefully and said in a shaky tone, "Identification, please?" Ruby smiled and once more pulled her scroll out, while she hid her knife away. The others followed suit and showed him before he nodded, "Please enjoy."

"Thank you kindly." Ruby said pleasantly, motioning to the girls to follow her. Holding the door open, Blake, Weiss, and Yang started to make their way in, "Oh one more thing." Ruby states as they pause.

"Yes?" The man asks hesitantly.

"Is Miss Malachite in tonight?"

"Wha-what do you want with her?" Eyes narrowed again, making the man regret asking his question, "Uhm that is I do not know. I haven't seen her today."

Ruby nods, "Ok thank you again. Having a pleasant evening." With that they left the poor man out there alone.

"Wow, that was intense." Yang said, "I'd have thought he damn neared piss himself."

"Y-I mean Kayda!" Weiss scolded, "Language."

"What? It's the truth. Did you see his face, Freya?" Yang comments automatically using the false name and brightens at Weiss's scowl.

Blake just sighs, "Come on let's just do what we came here to do and leave. I have a bad feeling about this place."

Ruby sighs and looks around at the people, noticing their spider tattoos on some of them. The restaurant itself is dimly lit, to match the mood of the area its location. The floors are made of stone and the walls are made of discolored bricks. To the right is a set of stairs leading up the second floor eating area, and directly ahead is a bar; but after looking around, she doesn't see the dark blonde-haired woman, "Let's get a drink. I'm not seeing her yet." Ruby says.

"And what is your plan if you she doesn't show up? I mean it's not like you asked ahead for her to meet up." Weiss states as they all take a seat.

Ruby shrugs as she pretends to go through the drink menu, "I'm still the go with the flow."

"What can I do for you ladies?" The bartender asks coming over to them before anyone has a chance to comment on Ruby's 'plan'.

"Four horsemen please." Ruby requests.

"Strawberry Sunrise." Yang comments, and giving Ruby a look at her choice of drink.

"Uhm…Mai Tai?" Blake questions.

"Is that a request or asking if I can make it?" The man asks writing down Yang and Ruby's drink, before he raises an eyebrow to look at her.

Blake hesitates. She was never one to actively drink any type of alcohol, even during her time with Adam and the White Fang. In fact it was mostly discourage due to the high need to be on alert almost all the time, and looks to her partner and leader as if to guide her, "Both?"

"Well, I can make it, but is it what you want?"

"I do not know. Actually, surprise me?"

The bartender gives her a look and shrugs, "Suite yourself." He writes something down after giving her a look over again, before turning to Weiss, "How about you princess?"

Weiss narrows her eyes at the man, but he is unphased. Stealing the menu from Ruby, she looks at it, trying to buy some time. She wasn't opposed to having a drink, she mostly socially drank at the societal parties. However, she also didn't want this to become a habit, seeing as what it did for her mother. Sensing her time was up and she honestly didn't feel like having anything, she sighs, "A white wine please. Anything will do." He nods and walks away from them.

"Four horsemen?" Yang questions as the drinks are getting prepared, "What is that?"

"Something appropriate for the situation that we are in." Ruby says as her drink is placed in front of her, "Thank you, and do you happen to know if Little Miss Malachite will be here tonight?" She questions as he starts to move away to get the ingredients for Yang's drink.

"No idea. I just bartend, which-obviously you are of age since you got passed Dominick-but are you really old enough to be here?" He raises another brow towards them.

Ruby just smiles and sips her drink, face momentarily lighting up at the taste, "Why yes; yes we are." She flashes him a brilliant smile and they watch as his face flushes, "So that guy out there. His name is Dominick?"

"Ye-" he coughs and clears his throat, "Yes; yes, that is his name."

Yang is amazed as Ruby leans forward in interest as she is handed her drink, but she took a sip at the wrong time, "What is your name?" Ruby asks in a sultry tone.

Yang starts coughing and Blake pounds her back. Weiss's face is even a shade red as someone hands her a white wine. Ruby and the bartender ignore her, "Ryan."

"Ryan what?" Ruby asks.

"Ryan Cano." He responds as he goes back to making Blake's drink.

"Ryan Cano. Very nice name."

He smirks and glances at Ruby, "And just who do I have the pleasure of talking to?"

"Thorn."

"Thorn. Pretty badass name." He compliments, "Is there an equally kickass last name?"

"Ravenscroft."

"Mysterious." Yang did not like the way this guy was looking at her sister. Then again, it would seem that Ruby was using some of her flirting tactics; driving the point home that somehow they were responsible for teaching the innocent reaper these things, "Here you go." He then turned to Blake and handed her a large red and white drink, "We call this Midsummer Night's Dream."

"Thank you." Blake says taking a small sip of it, before lighting up, "This is good." Both Yang and Weiss sigh.

Ruby takes another sip before focusing back on Ryan, "Ryan, how do you find out if your boss is coming in? See we are on a time sensitive mission, and need her help."

"Maybe I can be of assistance." He leans forward and stares into her eyes, giving her this 'steamy' look.

"Oh please." Weiss breathed out as she took a small sip of her wine, "This is just sad."

"Agreed." Blake commented, keeping her senses on alert as she caught the change in movement down at the end of the bar, "In coming."

Yang looks to see where Blake is watching and a guy with wolf ears is coming toward them. His spider tattoo in full view, "Do we run interference?"

"Nope, we are to be discrete." Weiss said with an eye roll, but then she too notices something else at the other end of the bar coming towards them, "On second thought, we got one on my end too." Blake and Yang look to see a girl with fiery red hair, tattoo markings on her face, and a malicious glint in her dark blue eyes.

"Thorn?" Yang nudges Ruby, who giving her a withering stare along with the bartender, "We got-"

"Problem ladies?" The wolf faunus asked as they were both cornered, "Is Ryan bothering you?"

"Or…" they turned to see the girl leaning on the bar, taking Weiss's wine out of her hand and taking a sip of it, "are you bothering our friend?"

"Excuse me Jed, but the lady and I are having a lively discussion." Ryan said before the girls could defend themselves.

Yang's fist balled at her side and Ruby could see the flame about to ignite, "Easy Kayda. Freya stand down. Remember we don't want any trouble now." Ruby said soothingly and actually thankful for the interruption. Yang took a breath and Weiss swiped her glass back from the girl, fighting hard to not summon her glyphs. Blake's ears are pinned to the side as she glares at the wolf faunus.

"A discussion huh? Well, I know all about your discussion." The man, Jed, points to his ears then gives Blake an equally dirty look, "So I suggest you three come with us while you get back to serving these hardworking and thirsty people." He then looks over to his friend, "Babs?"

The girl, Babs, nods and takes Weiss's arm, "Come on. You heard him."

Weiss pulls away, "Get your hands off of me." She reaches in and pulls out the knife while the girl reaches behind her and pulls out a gun. This creates a chain of events simultaneously:

Blake and Yang have their weapons out as all chatter dies down. The people with the spider tattoos and even the equally shadier crowd all have weapons drawn. Heavy tension is now in the air as everyone is eyeing each other up. Ryan reaches under the counter and pulls out a gun, only he hesitated at who to point it at, while everyone else seemed determined to point it at each other and at the three of them.

Only Ruby is calm and composed as she raises her hands and gets off the stool, "Ok let's all just take it easy. We are not here for a fight." She says, "After all a fight would only end in the demolishment of this rather…fine establishment."

There was a subtle clapping that was heard. Heads turned to see a large plump woman with dark blonde hair approaching them, behind her were four people: two men and two women, both wearing bored looks on their faces, "Well said dear. Well said." Then looking around at the scene she says, "Well? You heard the little lady. Put the weapons away and return to your business, otherwise you will be asked to leave."

"That is Ms. Malachite?" Yang asks to Ruby out of the corner of her mouth, as she slowly lowers her arms and locks her gauntlets when she sees everyone else slowly disengaging from the still emotionally charged atmosphere

"Yup." Ruby says smiling as Blake and Weiss eyed the woman with wariness.

"Now then," Malachite says approaching the bar, "who has the audacity to start trouble in my establishment?"

"They did." Babs said pointing at team RWBY.

"Actually, they were just sitting here-" Ryan started to defend.

"No. Do not want to hear it. You four, with me. Step into my office. Jed, Babs stand outside and make sure we are not disturbed." Ms. Malachite orders as she turns to walk away.

Ruby shrugged as they gave her looks, "So what was this about us 'keeping observant, but also being careful to not draw too much attention'?" Blake asks as she leaned over into Ruby's ear when they started following.

"A temporary set back that worked in our favor." Ruby muttered back.

"I swear you are a total dolt." Weiss stated, "And we better not have to pay for drinks we didn't get a chance to finish."

"I agree." Yang muttered darkly, "I was enjoying that Strawberry Sunrise too."

"If you are done," They looked to see that they approached the door and Malachite waiting by a large oak desk, "please come in." She waved to two seats, they felt a shove, and heard the door slam behind them.

Malachite took a seat and waited patiently looking at her four guests. Ruby stepped forward, followed by Weiss. They took a seat while Blake and Yang stood behind them, "Now, I heard you were looking for me. Why?" Malachite asks.

Ruby leans forward and says, "You have information that we need."

"Bold of you to assume things…Ms. Rose."

"You know who we are?" Yang blurts out.

Malachite laughs darkly and sits back in her seat, "Of course. You do not think my daughters kept me informed of what goes on in that club? You of course are the Blonde Bimbo. Red here was described as being more civil of the two. And you two…" She looks at Weiss and Blake, "You can hide who you are related to only so much." She stares right at Weiss, who can't help but to shrink back by a small amount, "And your past is obvious just by the way you react to every little thing." She waves a hand when Blake goes to say something, "Also it is my nature to know information about things."

"And someone already came to you;" Ruby surmised as she too leaned back, looking unfazed, "about us."

"Which again begs the question; what can you pay before I call upon my spiders to turn you over to my friend." Malachite smiles deviously before pulling an hour glass out of her drawer, "You have until the sand runs out to make me an offer." She places it on her desk and in a fluid motion flips it, "Starting now."