Vale's holding cell wasn't very comfortable, although Ruby Rose supposed that was the point. She wasn't in trouble, no, but... the way the blonde was pacing behind her made her feel like she had messed up.
"I hope you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady." She spoke. She sounded... angry. Just in general. "You put yourself- and others- in great danger."
"I was just trying to help..." Ruby mumbled, her eyes looking down at the table so as to not meet the glare of the Huntress behind her.
"Help?" The woman's head snapped to her. "You can help by calling the police, or signaling a Hunter. Not by taking matters into your own hands!" Ruby shrunk down in her seat. The woman looked down at the screen in front of her, which had multiple things displayed on it. "If it were up to me, you'd be sent home with a slap on the wrist..." Ruby squeezed her eyes shut. "And a pat on the back."
'What?' The woman's tone had changed, and she was slightly smiling. "I... I beg your pardon?"
"I saw some of your fight before I stepped in. Some of those moves were simply brilliant, young lady." Ruby's mouth dropped slightly. A Huntress... was complimenting her?! "The criminal you fought tonight was a man named Roman Torchwick. He's a well-known figure in the criminal underworld, and not too bad at fighting, either. To have him on the ropes like that..." The woman got quiet. "Regardless, it's not up to me. There's someone here who'd like to meet you." Ruby's head tilted in curiosity.
A figure emerged from the doorway behind the Huntress, and she moved out of the way. He was holding a steaming mug, as well as a plate of... Ruby sniffed... fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. "Ruby Rose," he intoned. He leaned in close to the girl, who shifted nervously. "You... have silver eyes." Aforementioned eyes blinked in confusion a few times as the man straightened his back.
"So! Where did you learn to do..." he turned to the side as he looked at the screen the blonde woman was holding. "... this?" The video playing was currently displaying her taking out the goons on the street outside the Dust shop bare-handed.
"Erm..." Ruby started, still recovering from the odd statement the man had made. "S-Signal Academy?" She had always been ahead of everyone else in terms of combat skill. It had made making friends hard, so... she just stopped trying, and threw herself into training. It hadn't hurt that her uncle had been, and her father was a teacher there, except for the accusations of favoritism... "It's a school on Patch, just-"
"Off the coast of Vale, I am aware, Miss Rose." The man flashed a smile, and suddenly, she realized where she had seen him before. He was...
"They taught you hand-to-hand combat well enough to take out multiple trained men in combination with your Semblance, as well as to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?" He questioned, peering over his glasses, his tone taking one of incredulity.
"W-well... I... mostly taught myself..." She mumbled the last bit quietly.
"Self-taught?" Ozpin raised an eyebrow. "I see." He placed the cookies on the table in front of her. They smelled heavenly, but she still didn't touch them. Ozpin's eyebrow remained raised. "They're for you, he waved a hand at the plate."
"Forgive me, sir, but..." she laughed awkwardly. "My dad always told me to not accept food from strangers."
The blonde Huntress glowered at her. "Do you think we poisoned them or something? Simply-"
"Glynda." The man held up a hand, stopping the woman's voice, who she now knew to be Glynda's. He turned back to the teen sitting in front of him. "It's just that I've only seen one other scythe wielder of that caliber before..." His voice trailed off. "A dusty old crow..."
Ruby bit her lip. "You called me 'Miss Rose'... That must mean that you know that's my Uncle Qrow."
The man laughed. "Not one to mince words I see. You are correct, Miss Rose, I am aware that he is your uncle. He has been a close friend of mine for many years, and I've known him for many longer than that. But, I must ask, what's a young, adorable girl such as yourself doing at a school designed to train warriors?" His tone had lifted, and suddenly the room no longer felt like an interrogation.
"I'm fifteen..." Ruby muttered dejectedly. It was true that she looked younger, but... she was just growing into her body, and she was plenty strong enough already! Or... at least, that's what Yang told her. She straightened her shoulders, regardless, and started to recite what had been drilled into her head countless times. "I want to slay the monsters that plague-"
Ozpin held up a hand to stop her. "The truth, please, Miss Rose. Not what you believe I want to hear."
Ruby bit her lip and looked down into her lap. After a moment of thinking, she started speaking again. "I... want to help people. I want to be strong enough that nobody I care for ever has to worry."
"And you need to be a Huntress for that?" The silver-haired man questioned. He had taken a seat now, and was staring inquisitively into her silver eyes.
"Well... no." Ruby admitted. "But... I also want to follow in my mother's footsteps. She was a Hunter, too. So's my dad, and my uncle, and my aunt, and my sister is applying to Beacon Academy this semester."
Ozpin inhaled. "Do you know who I am, Miss Rose?" Ruby nodded. It had taken her a few minutes to figure it out, but... yeah.
"You're Professor Ozpin, Headmaster at Beacon Academy."
"Hm." He affirmed. "Hello."
Ruby dipped her head in greeting, treating this as the true introduction. "Nice to meet you, sir."
"You want to come to my school?"
"No." The answer surprised the two teachers, but it made more sense with what came next. "I need to come to your school." Ozpin smiled and looked at Glynda next to him, who rolled her eyes, although she appeared to be hiding a bit of a smile.
"Well, okay. Usually students would need to to have finished their primary Hunter's Schooling, or something equivalent, but... as Headmaster, I have a bit of leeway here and there." He gave a conspiratorial wink to Ruby, who giggled. "You'd be accepted into the school as a wildcard, Miss Rose. You'd be placed with other First Year students, and for all intents and purposes, you would be a First Year student. However, you would be recognized as the cream of the crop, so to say. More would be expected of you." His glasses glinted. "Are you sure you're up for that?"
Ruby grinned. "Bring it."
As the duo got up and out of the room, Glynda stared at the man beside her. "In all these years, you've never led me wrong Ozpin, and I trust you here, too. But... her confidence leaves... much to be desired."
Ozpin nodded in acknowledgement. "It was odd," he considered. "It's almost like we encountered two different girls. One on that rooftop, and one in that room. And, yet..."
"You think she could be the one?" Glynda questioned. Ozpin nodded.
"Among others, she has potential." Both looked back to the room, laughing quietly at the sight of the shy girl stuffing the chocolate chip cookies into her mouth. "But... for now, we wait."
"Ohhh, I still can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me!" A blonde teen exclaimed excitedly as she hugged the girl with the red cape, who seemed to feel extremely awkward with the contact.
"Please let go..." Ruby moaned as her body was compressed.
"But I'm so proud of youuuuu!" Yang seemed to be more excited that Ruby was going to Beacon than the teen in question was.
Ruby blushed at the praise regardless. "It was nothing..." she muttered, rubbing the back of her head shyly. "They were just a few goons. They didn't even have cool weapons!" She pouted.
"What about that Torchwick guy?" Yang questioned. "Admit it, you were totally awesome!" Ruby's blush intensified. "Everyone at Beacon's going to be so jealous of you!" Ruby's smile faded slightly.
"Yeah..." She muttered. Yang noticed the difference instantly.
"Sis, you know I didn't mean it like that..."
A holoscreen popped up near them. "The robbery was lead by the nefarious criminal, Roman Torchwick, who continues to evade authorities. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Vale Police Department. Back to you, Lisa." A voice announced.
"Thank you, Cyril," a female newscaster appeared on screen. "In other news, this Saturday's Faunus Civil Rights protest turned dark when members of the White Fang disrupted the ceremony. The once-peaceful organization has now disrupted-" The feed shut off as the blonde Huntress who had helped Ruby on the rooftop appeared. Or, at least, a hologram of her.
"Hello, and welcome to Beacon." The woman was stern. 'She seems so... different.' Ruby recalled the way the woman had treated her in the holding cell. This reminded her of the way she had been at first before she had warmed up to her.
"Who's that?" Yang questioned.
"My name is Glynda Goodwitch," the hologram spoke, as if replying to Yang's question, to which her mouth responded in the shape of an 'O'. "You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy." She continued. "Our world is experienced an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now, it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world." The hologram smiled before disappearing, and gasps filled the room as the airship slowly turned to give them a magnificent view of the city.
"Look!" Ruby smiled as she put her hands on the glass. "You can see Signal from up here!" Yang walked forward, smiling. Her little sister worried her sometimes. But, then she reminded her of just how pure she was. "I guess home isn't too far after all..." Yang slung an arm around her sister's shoulders.
"Beacon's our home, now." Ruby nodded, joy flashing through her eyes. Next to them, ruining the moment, though, was a boy who was most definitely airsick. Ruby rolled her eyes and walked over to the boy and led him to a trash can.
"Thank... you..." he muttered between heaves. "Knew I shouldn't have had that last... slice of cake..." Ruby giggled slightly and made her way back to Yang.
"Ever the hero, huh, Rubes?"
Ruby smiled. "Of course, after all-"
"You know you have puke on your shoes, right?" Ruby looked down quickly, and sure enough...
"Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew get it off!" Ruby started running around frantically, looking for a sink to wash some water on her shoes wish, and Yang laughed. 'She may be stronger than me,' Yang thought with a smile, 'but that won't stop me from protecting her.'
"Ohhhhhhhh" Both girls exclaimed as they took in the sight of the school. It was like a castle designed by an artist. "View from Vale's got nothing on this, huh, sis?" Yang exclaimed, crossing her arms in satisfaction. Ruby wasn't listening, though. Instead, she was busy ogling the weapons. "Sis!" Yang exclaimed as she saw her sister turn into a flubbering mess at the sight of the weapons.
"Yang! Yang! That kid's got a collapsible staff! And she's got a fire sword!" She tugged on Yang's arm as if she was trying to hold herself back from running up to the weapons.
Yang rolled her eyes. "Easy there, little sister. They're just weapons," she poked, knowing she'd get a hilarious reaction out of the caped girl.
"Just weapons?" Ruby exclaimed, feigning shock. "They are an extension of our bodies! A part of us! You can tell so much about a person just by what weapon they use! They're so cool," she moaned out, her eyes shining as she took in all the students in front of her.
"Well, why can't you swoon over your own weapon?" Yang had asked this dozens of times and had always gotten the same answer. "Besides, don't you fight without a weapon too sometimes?"
"That's just when I'm trying to prolong the fight," Ruby muttered dejectedly. "It's no fun if they go down in two hits... Besides, as much as I like Crescent Rose, I've already seen her inside and out multiple times. Seeing new weapons is like meeting new people! Just... without the awkward small talk and the judging glares," Ruby sighed.
"Ruby, come on..." Yang sighed. "Why don't you go try and make some friends of your own?" She asked.
Ruby tilted her head in confusion. "But... why would I need friends when I have you?" She questioned.
"Well... actually, myfriendsarenowgottagocatchup byeeeeeeee." Yang zoomed off as a crowd, quickly disappearing.
Ruby wobbled slightly, but quickly regained her balance. "Wait, where are you going? Where's the orientation?" She called out, but didn't receive an answer. Ruby sighed.
"Could you get out of my butler's way?" A voice snarked from behind her. A young lady wearing a white dress was standing next to a man rolling a large cart full of silver briefcases towards the school.
"Oops, sorry!" Ruby hopped out of the way about ten feet, making sure to put as some distance between her and the voice.
"You better be!" The girl glared. "This isn't some little playground. What's someone as young as you even doing here? This is Beacon Academy! We're here to fight monsters, not spar!"
"Actually-" Ruby raised a hand and started speaking, but was continually cut off.
"Are you here on a field trip or something? Either way... watch where you're going!" The girl raised her nose up high in the air, and Ruby couldn't help but feel the 'holier-than-thou' rolling off in waves.
"Hey, I said I was sorry!" Ruby exclaimed. "Maybe your butler dude should have gone around me!"
"How dare you? Do you know who you're talking to?"
A new voice intruded on the conversation. "Weiss Schnee. Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world." The girl, now known as Weiss nodded her head.
"Thank you," she sniffed haughtily. But, the girl wasn't done.
The black-haired girl dropped a bookmark out of the air and snapped her book shut, catching the placeholder in the middle. "The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and... questionable business partners."
Weiss' eyes widened before narrowing. "What? How dare- You insolent-" Finally, the girl simply huffed and threw her arms down in anger and stalked off.
"Charming personality," Ruby muttered.
The girl next to her didn't look at her. "Indeed," was all she said before silently walking away. Ruby sighed. 'Welcome to Beacon... Lonely as ever.'