Transcript 1: Homeless
"Two weeks? That doesn't feel like much."
"They don't want us to get rusty, Gale. That's why we have a longer mid-semester break to make up for it."
"I know, Lina, but I wish it was a few more. I can't go and visit my family until the summer."
Lina looked up at the shiny steel posts and platforms around the bus station, with departing students covering the platform like ants covering a jam sandwich.
"You're out at Hammerhead Point, aren't you?" she said as airbus after airbus flew into the station to accommodate the waiting students.
'Yeah, on the south coast of Sanus, a few hundred kilometres from the Vacuo border. But since the kingdom of Vale is in the north-east, it takes nearly four days to get there by train, and that's without Grimm stoppages."
"Rough."
"I'd love to take you there" said Gale, becoming more animated. "It's right next to the beach, but on an inlet so it's too shallow for most large sea Grimm. The river and valley which feed into it give some protection to the town, so it's much bigger and livelier than most other settlements outside the kingdom. It's a bit like Argus, but it feels like a small Vale. There's a spot just outside…"
Gale stopped elaborating on her favourite hometown haunts as Airbus M35 docked in bay 6. Lina and Gale stepped on and it lifted off, edging past the cliff and towards Moss Grove where Lina's family lived.
"I'm sorry, I should be letting you tell me more about your place, since we'll be arriving there in a few minutes. I haven't been to many of the western suburbs, or really many at all since I've been in Vale."
"Oh it's not that much different to the rest of the city, except we have a better view of some of the mountains, and there's a few less shady side streets. Most of the upper class and stuck-up people live here, and I guess they care more about that sort of stuff than others. I know my folks do."
Gale squeezed Lina with her long arms, while Lina, used to this kind of treatment by now, tried to ignore her.
"Thanks for letting me stay with you during the break. I know some people keep living at the school full time, but I couldn't bear to be by myself."
Lina fidgeted a little. "Most people in the western suburbs aren't as touchy-feely as you, just keep that in mind."
"I thought you said your parents cried and practically begged you not to leave."
"Yeah, but they're parents, Gale. I bet yours did the same."
"You're not wrong."
Nero wished he had somebody to keep him company as he left Cherryton Station and the airbus took off back over his head. The girls had taken off together, and Jasper, kitted out in his usual green and red tails, had fist-bumped him and wished him good luck, which made Nero suspect his leader had figured out what he planned to do.
Didn't make it any easier though, thought Nero. Having Jasper or even one of the girls to back him up would help, but it probably would have made it more awkward anyway. It wasn't their fight.
It suddenly occurred to Nero that he might have no idea where he was going. He had only tried to contact his parents once in the three years he was gone, through a cousin in Vacuo who had kept his location a secret. There was every chance they might have upped sticks and moved, particularly since his father had moved back in less than a year before Nero left.
It was with a huge sense of relief, but also apprehension, that he found his mother's car still parked in the old driveway, behind a blue one. Which meant he was here as well, thought Nero. He tensed involuntarily, then steeled himself and knocked twice on the red door. It still had all the old marks, the gash from a flying spanner when his dad was working on the car just before he left, the crack down the bottom when he had run his toy truck into it, and a few new marks, which must have been made while he was gone.
The handle turned and a scruffy-looking man opened the door, slightly shorter than Nero himself, with a slight beer belly and the same bouncy golden-blonde hair. His eyebrows shot up in astonishment.
"Blazing blind worms!" he nearly shouted. "Is that really you, Nero?"
"It is" replied Nero cautiously, not knowing what to expect. "Hello, dad."
"My goodness, you're practically a man now, you've even got a bit of a beard going on there." He reached out towards Nero's chin, and Nero drew back a little. The hand paused, frozen in time as it reached back through the years, and the two shared an uncomfortable silence.
"It's been a while, dad" he managed to squeeze out.
"Of course. Come in, Nero."
"Who's that at the door, Rufus?" came a voice from behind the stairwell, and Nero's heart jumped. His mother.
"A very special visitor, Cassie" came the reply as they walked through the doorway. Cassia August's tired face appeared around the corner, but instantly sparked into life as she saw father and son side by side.
"Nero! My boy! I…"
She got no further as she buried her face in his black tunic. Nero held her gingerly and took a step towards the table to sit down. Once extricated from his shoulder, she let forth a barrage of questions.
"Where have you been? What are those things on your belt? Why didn't you let us know?"
"One at a time, one at a time, mum" protested Nero, then paused. "It's good to see you again."
He ran his eyes over the wooden countertops and pondered what he should say next. It had been so long since he had gone away to Vacuo. What had changed since then? Were they still the same people he left? Nero knew he certainly wasn't.
His dad crossed his fingers and stared at him from across the table. "So why did you leave, son?"
"Before you came back, dad, mum was had to try and take on both roles as parent. But then she changed. She began doing the very things she chased you away for." He turned towards a stunned Cassia. "And let you come back."
"That's simply not true, Nero" she gasped.
"It's easy to forget what happens when there's a bottle involved. It got worse when both of you were here, and I didn't know what to do. At least it looks like that's not the case now."
His father peered at him in a mix of anger yet also regret. "It was only a few times, Nero, but that's still too many. It shouldn't have happened."
"Thank you," said Nero. "That means a lot. Maybe it was only a few times, with either you or mum. It seems like a lot more, when you live in fear. That's probably what unlocked my semblance."
"What is your semblance? I didn't know it the last time I saw you."
"Essentially torture."
"Right."
More silence. It was terrifying, yet wonderful. His parents were actually listening to what he was pouring out to them, and he knew it meant he at least had a leg to stand on in this argument.
"Well," a slightly teary Cassia said. "I hope you found a better way to use it training in Vacuo."
The hairs on Nero's neck pricked up suddenly. How did she know that? His clothes were a giveaway, he knew, but what of the rest?
"Your cousin, Roman, told us more than he may have let on" explained Rufus, seeing the startled look in his eyes. "But he respected your privacy and still never told us exactly where you were, no matter how much we tried to convince him. Eventually, we stopped trying. He let us know you were safe, at least."
Nero couldn't fault him for that. He probably would have done the same.
His dad gestured to Draw and Quarter, hanging like shining spools of wire on Nero's belt. "He tells us you are pretty handy with those. Would keep yourself pretty safe that way, I imagine."
"Pretty much. Although in the desert you never know."
"Honey, we thought you weren't coming back" whispered Cassia. "It had been so long, and the desert is such a big place."
"The thing is mum… I'm not exactly planning to stay."
This was the moment it could all go wrong, Nero knew. He hadn't wanted to drop that bomb so early on, but if there was one thing he had learned while he was gone, it was that things didn't always go to plan. He had to be adaptable, here and now, just like he would in a fight, or out in the desert.
"When it was just us, we were forced to learn to be very independent. Leaving was just a continuation of that, so I went to Vacuo, where self-sufficiency is encouraged and further strengthened." He tentatively put his hand out and touched hers. "I'm nearly eighteen. In a normal world, I'm not that far from leaving home already, and I have the experience to help with that process. I'm sorry I stole those years from you, I really am. So I'm here for the next best thing. To apologise for leaving the way I did, and to repair that connection. Or at least, to try."
Nero leaned back, head spinning a little. Three and a half years, summarised into thirty seconds. He had tried and tried to do that in his head ever since he had made his way back from Vacuo, and now it just popped out.
Cassia leaned in. "We were hoping you would, even if it does mean you aren't staying with us. I don't blame you too much I suppose, since it was us that made you choose to leave in the first place. We have tried to improve, darling, for your sake, and even if we aren't perfect, we still want to have that relationship."
"So how are we doing so far?" asked Rufus huskily.
Nero gathered himself a little and looked around. No alcohol to be seen. His mother's ashtray remained, and his dad still wouldn't apologise directly, but at least admitted he was in the wrong. There were still a lot of things to clear the air with, but overall, a definite improvement from what he had seen last time, and since the start of the conversation. He smiled a little, and finally the unbearable air of tension began to ease.
"It's a good start."
Transcript 2: Weather event
"It's fabulous to meet you, Mr and Mrs Lavender!"
The energetic handshake and animated attitude were not exactly reciprocated by the duo, who eyed Gale with a certain amount of nervous anticipation.
"This is the girl who you mentioned?" whispered Skye Lavender to her daughter. "She seems a bit… sensational."
"Every night I rang I told you she was a livewire, surely you took it into consideration?"
"Well maybe not every night…"
But it didn't matter. Like her namesake weather event, the Gale had already descended on the Lavender household, and nothing in her path would be spared.
"Books!" shrilled the whirlwind, dissecting the pile on the living room coffee table. "I knew you got your taste in literature from somewhere!"
"Show you my room, Gale?" pleaded Lina, practically pushing her inside and away from the tantalising objects to be investigated. A rich green room greeted them, with large silver curtains partially obscuring a window to the suspended wooden verandah out the back. In the far corner lay a double bunkbed with soft blue flowery patterns covering the quilts. A study desk and large row of bookshelves took up most of the other wall, with a television in the corner opposite the bed. It was too much for an already excited Gale, and a wild glint came into her eyes as she spied the bunk beds.
"Quiet!" Lina whispered frantically, as Gale's mouth began to open. "My parents only barely agreed to have you over, and I think you've spooked them as it is."
"Oohhhhhhh, Lina!" gushed Gale. "You have bunk beds!"
"I'm glad you like them… but I told my parents you were… bouncy and fun… and they didn't seem to realise what that meant. In my family, I'm considered bouncy and fun, understand? They are all very serious and professional people. They should have prepared better, given what I told them, but please try to keep it to a dull roar, ok?"
"Well… alright…" said Gale, reining herself in and looking a little embarrassed. "You do have a lot of cool stuff through, Lina."
Now it was Lina's turn to feel embarrassed, as she realised she had been making light of her quite extensive possessions. Her family was well off, with her three closest relatives being a successful lawyer, an accountant, and the famed newsreader sister, Lisa Lavender. Someone else, especially from outside the kingdom where they fought tooth and nail for every resource, might well be surprised, let alone someone like Gale.
"Thanks. I'm sorry I hushed you up like that, it was a little sudden." She turned her head back towards the door. "Let's introduce you to my parents again, we'll try and get started on the right foot."
The four gathered around the small dining room table, with Gale towering over the tiny figure of Lina and her not quite as vertically challenged parents. There was a certain confusion in the air over what had happened, and an uncertainty over where the conversation was going next.
"Mum, dad, this is my teammate Gale Grigia. You might think I'm crazy and adventurous for learning to become a Huntress, but she lives and breathes adventure. I'm pretty sure she could stare death in the face and laugh at it, not out of spite, but because it was a hoot and a new experience. She has taught me that there is a time to be cool and level-headed, and a time to enjoy yourself, and has shown great perception in actively switching between the two, despite her excitement just now. If you're ready to share a smile and maybe deal with a bit of physical affection, I think you'll like her."
Gale put her wrists on the table and leaned forward, her brown eyes a picture of appreciation and genuine interest in her hosts. "Thank you, Mr and Mrs Lavender, for letting me stay here for these two weeks, and I'm sorry you got to see my worst side first up. I think I'll be happy here, and I hope I'll make it so you'll be happy to have me."
The Lavenders were somewhat bewildered with this sudden turn of events, and were struggling to adjust to the change in pace. Lina's dad was the first to recover.
"A pleasure to meet you, Gale. Where do you hail from? Lina explained that it was a long way from Vale, so it would be better to stay here."
"Thank you, Mr Lavender! Yes, Hammerhead Point is where I'm from, born and raised. I'm so glad you agreed to have me!"
"That's quite a trip."
"It's three and a half days, plus stoppages. So, unless you are planning something big to come into Vale, the Grimm generally keep you in the valley. It would be a big effort to go there and back in two weeks."
"I had a few clients from that area recently," said Asher Lavender, beginning to settle more into the conversation. "Do you know the Algren family?"
"Yes! I love the Algrens, my little cousin is best friends with their youngest. Their grandmother recently passed, poor souls; I suppose that's where you probably came in?"
Lina envied Gale's ability to fit in at times like this. For a girl of such extremes, she certainly adjusted well to the simpler side of life, and the incredible lack of interest conversations like this held. Was it a polite façade, or was this ability to adapt another extreme in itself? Whatever it was, Lina knew she had to tip the conversation elsewhere before she died of boredom.
"Will anyone from Hammerhead Point come to the Winter Festival?" she inquired innocently.
Gale lit up once again. "A few do, especially some of the weapon makers and combat students. It's the best chance of the year to meet some real Huntsmen and Huntresses, rather than half-trained ones which mostly just clear Grimm and teach students to defend themselves."
"Is that why you wanted to be a Huntress? Did you meet someone that inspired you?" asked Skye. "Lina knew early on that she wanted to because of the challenge and the adventure."
And because it was the best way to break out of the boring family mould, thought Lina.
"Yes! That's why I came to Beacon, a few years back I met a newly graduated Huntress named Amber at the festival. She told me she wanted to make the world a better place, but I was more interested in her amazing fighting skills and the thrill of being able to do something like that if I trained hard enough. Close to what Lina wanted, I guess, but more for the thrill and less for the achievement."
"Funny," frowned Lina. "I remember seeing her too. She was championing Beacon Academy, the only one making an effort to engage and encourage people to be Huntresses. There were other Huntsmen and Huntresses but they were there more for the celebrations. I haven't seen her since that year."
"We should see if she's there this time!" said Gale.
Yessss, thought Lina. "We should unpack, and head on over to there this afternoon after lunch. Might be able to introduce our other teammates or some friends and give you an idea of what we learned so far."
"Well… I suppose…"
Her dad didn't really know how to handle this development. He spent his time fixing up problems and legal battles and wasn't as accustomed to watching real battles pan out.
"We need to practise!" declared Gale, jumping up from her seat and walking out towards the verandah, revealing Sharp Shooting on her back.
"That's a big sword, dear" said Skye nervously. "She hasn't hurt you with that before, has she?"
"Wait until you see Yatsuhashi's. And yes, sometimes, but we train our Aura to protect ourselves from things like that."
"It's… not very reassuring."
"Mum, I both own a machine gun and have been shot by one, what the hell are you worried about?"
Transcript 3: Birds of a feather
"If I'd known it was parents day, I would have brought mine along too!" jibed Jasper as he met up with the rest of Team JNGL.
"Oh shut up Jasper, it's only two of us" snapped Lina. "I didn't even know what Nero's plans were."
Rain had thwarted the girls attempt at getting a head start on the festival activities the day before and they had spent much of the night with Lina's parents getting to know each other. Gale had somehow managed to restrain herself for most of that time, but was getting back to her normal self as the group banded together, and Lina worried that her wicked sense of humour would soon insert itself.
As Huntsmen and Huntresses in training, they were able to flash their student identification to security and skip the line, and were waiting around for the Augusts and the Lavenders to finish passing through the gates. The main streets were closed off for the day and an abundance of stalls had popped up overnight, most coloured white or icy blue shades in keeping with the Winter Festival.
"There's your sister, Lina" said Nero, pointing to a black podium and tent just being assembled. "Setting up to catch the grand opening of the festival by the look of it."
"Do NOT interrupt her, she takes her job very seriously" said Lina. "Even though I wish she wasn't so cold about it."
"But look, she's spotted us," said Jasper. "And I think she's finished for now. Let's go and wait over there with her."
"I'll meet you guys there, I'm gonna grab some liquorice straps." said Gale, eying off the sugary treats.
She lined up at the stall as the others dashed off to meet the famous news presenter, Lina protesting strongly as she was carried along with the two boys. To her surprise, as she finished her purchase she turned to see two blond strangers waiting for her.
"You must be Gale," said Rufus August. "Nero has told us all about you. Do you know where he has gone?"
"Oh, hello Mr and Mrs August!" she gushed, pointing towards the group. "Nero's gone over there with the group, I'll come along with you."
The group had formed a small circle, Lisa Lavender and Nero's backs towards them as Gale walked up with the two parents.
"Nero! There you are! These must be the friends you told us about," exclaimed Cassia as she reached the group with the two others. She looked into the face of Lisa, who had turned to see the newcomers, and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Lina."
A peculiar expression came over the newsreader's face as she slowly grasped the offered hand. "I… think you must be looking for my sister."
Utter horror flooded over Cassia August as she recognised who she was speaking to. "Oh no, I'm so sorry! I thought you looked familiar, I must have confused you from my son's photos!"
Lina looked like she was about to go into hysterics as Lisa quickly excused herself and returned to the production set. The whole team was stunned into silence, before a wide-eyed Lina looked up to face Gale.
"How did you pull that off, Gale?" she squeaked in a high-pitched voice. "How?"
"I didn't! I only said to Mrs August that Nero was over here with the others, I promise!"
"How?" she said in a distinct wobble.
"But I never… well..."
Then the wobble gave way to a full belly laugh and Lina collapsed on the ground, tears streaming down her face. It was a very surprised duo which walked up on this scene, seeing their daughter writhing on the ground in ecstasy.
"She… she thought it was me! Did you see the look on her face? She had no idea what to do!" cried Lina as she sat back up and saw her parents. Ignoring them, she gave a perplexed but also highly amused Gale a massive hug. "You've made my day, Gale. I've been taken for my sister more times I could count, and no one has EVER returned the favour."
"I will admit," said Asher Lavender. "It's usually the other way around. But please do behave yourself, Lina, we're not exactly the only ones here."
"But don't you see?" implored Lina. "How is this any different? I can't even count how many times I have been humiliated in public because people have asked me for a picture, thinking I was someone else. I would take this type of embarrassment even if there were a thousand people watching me."
Brushing the dust off her combat skirt, she turned and addressed Cassia and Rufus.
"I don't hold anything against you for what you said, Mrs August. It's hard sometimes, being related to such a well-known face. Breaking free from that by coming to Beacon is a big reason why I'm friends with your son and Jasper and Gale in the first place." Lina returned to her mum and dad. "Sorry if I embarrassed you, it wasn't my intention. Let's go and enjoy the festival."
A tall figure in grey watched them go, his red cape fluttering slightly in the gentle breeze wisping through the streets. A buzzing came from his belt, and he reached past a large, segmented sword on his belt, picking up his scroll to reveal Ozpin's face.
"Hey,"
"Hello Qrow, how are you doing down there at the festival? Seen anything out of the ordinary?"
"Not much" continued the Huntsman in a gravelly voice. "It's pretty quiet down here, other than a pipsqueak news presenter getting offended. Seems to think one of your teams pulled some sort of stunt on her."
"They aren't bothering people, are they?"
"No, no, it's the one with her sister in it, just your regular family discourse."
Ozpin sounded relieved. "I'm glad that's the case. I thought somebody might try something during this festival. There's still a few days left, anything could happen."
Qrow took a swig from his hip-flask and continued, waving the flask about in a small figure of eight. "I hope you're wrong," he intoned. "but it's starting to get preeetttttty boring down here."
"I know. But given what has been happening lately, first with Amber and then the griffons earlier this year, I think she might be starting an attack on Vale sometime very soon."
"You really think it's Salem?"
"It has all the hallmarks. I've seen it before, but not quite this extreme. And with so many civilians in the one place, not to mention students and other Huntsmen and Huntresses, it would seem the perfect opportunity to strike again. So be vigilant."
"Alright then," said Qrow, draining the last of the alcohol. "Talk to you later. I'll let you get on with your preparations with Amber." He strode over to the beer-tasting stall for a refill, his third already for the day. Something stronger this time, if they had it.
High up in Beacon Tower, Ozpin watched the masses seeping through the streets down in Vale, like so many grains of rice pouring into a bag. A trap, perhaps? A bag whose string could suddenly close? Nobody knew what was going on up in the tower, but he couldn't explain it away like last time if something went wrong. Behind him, Glynda Goodwitch looked over from beside Amber's new bed and medical gear, which had been delivered secretly at the beginning of the holidays.
"It's all put together now" commented the tall Huntress. "Do you think she's sleeping any better?"
"It's hard to tell" replied Ozpin from the window. "She looks more relaxed, but she's still unconscious."
"Ozpin," said Glynda, rising from her stool. "General Ironwood is sending us all this equipment, but it's like pouring water on sand, there's hardly any difference at all. In a few weeks, we are going to Atlas to get a top-secret piece of military and scientific equipment, but I still don't know whether that's going to be enough. Now, answer me truthfully, Ozpin."
He met her steely gaze, and nodded.
"Do you think she will ever wake up?"
