Roman had still been asleep when Neo bounded in, turned on the television and drew his attention to the coverage of last night's debacle. Roman groaned, this meant that he would have to see Junior sooner rather than later. Still if Junior complained he could go in hard on their uselessness. He rehearsed a line about being beaten up by a little girl carrying an oversized gardening implement. He also felt Junior would agree with his views about leaving comic reading, music listening bystanders alone. Luckily, there was no coverage of the roof top fight. Perhaps there was no CCTV up there or alternatively both Beacon and the VPD had joined forces in hushing the whole thing up as being bad for morale. He also wondered whether he should send Lisa Lavender a better photograph or complain again that he had never been convicted of anything in Vale
There was a scroll message from the Punk saying Cinder required his presence at a location near Forever Fall at 3 in the afternoon to meet his new allies and labour force. He brightened at the thought of having minions to move the dust crates around. He dressed in his non-flamboyant clothes, donned the dark wig and removed the last traces of makeup. "Let's go and see Junior" he said to Neo. "Perhaps you can take the twins to brunch afterwards"
They arrived at Junior's club at 10. Clearly there had been a rough crowd in last night and a new record deck and sound system was in the process of being installed. Junior was also talking to his architect and builder. He saw Roman and acknowledged him. Roman looked around- there were fewer minions then usual around even allowing for the five arrested last night and those that were around seemed rather the worse for wear. He also could not see the twins.
The architect and builder left, the latter telling the architect that he would about complain to the council about unfair competition.
Junior walked towards them. He first turned to Neo and said "Sorry, the twins are still in bed recovering from last night. They have asked if you can meet them at Lorenzo's at 10 tomorrow morning– their treat. Order what you want at the bar, while I talk to Roman"
He turned to Roman after Neo went off to order pancakes and ice cream. "Let's keep the posturing and the competitive sneers to a minimum today. I gather we both had girl problems last night, although at least mine could legally buy a drink, on the other hand yours seeming to be auditioning for a horror movie."
Roman was pleasantly surprised that Junior was taking it so well. "I presume you saw the news then. Would you believe it got worse later? Anyway, what happened here?"
"A blonde, an almost but not yet, huntress in training started a fight, beat up all the bouncers and wrecked the club."
He showed some edited highlights and a shot showing the full damage as the blonde left the building. Roman noted that Junior did not show any shots of him fighting which suggested that it had not gone well for him either.
Roman commented "Considering the mayhem, I am surprised that the club is not in worse shape. It looks like you will be able to reopen this evening"
"Goodwitch appeared within ten minutes of the fight, argued for a bit and then agreed to repair the worse of the damage. On the plus side, the club apparently is now structurally sounder than it was before the fight. Anyway, I presume you are here to tell me that my men were useless and that they are all in jail."
Roman deliberated blaming Junior for Goodwitch's intervention in the fight but decided that she must have been in town anyway for her to have arrived so quickly. He contented himself by saying "I wish you had haggled with her for five more minutes as she tried to interfere with my getaway."
Junior grimaced in sympathy.
Roman continued "Look, I will be reasonable about this. Neither you nor I expected that your men would have to deal with a wannabe hero from a comic book last night. Admittedly, one of your men was a real Lagune by trying to steal the girl's pocket money, but I am happy not to ask for a refund if you can ask Little Miss if it is safe for me and Neo to visit Mistral yet. Perhaps you can get one of the twins to ask as a favour to Neo."
Junior thought for a moment and said "Done – provided that you do not ask me for back up for a robbery again until I have replaced the current set of losers"
Roman agreed, there was no harm in being able to tell Cinder that this bridge had been burnt as far as substituting for Neo was concerned.
Junior continued, saying "This might amuse you. Last night Goodwitch asked whether the twins might be interested in applying to Beacon, despite being beaten up by the girl"
Roman would have found it funnier if it had not been for the reality of envisaging Neo at Haven. He replied "Why not raise the idea with the Divine Miss M and if she says yes, run it pass the girls. After all the two older siblings are already being groomed to take over the family business and traditionally the Mistral families like the surplus children to become respectable members of society"
Junior nodded, "No harm in asking and it will give them something to do."
Roman collected Neo, who skipped after him pretending to be the girl from last night, but without gardening implement. While he expected the answer from Little Miss would be yes, provided he did not visit Haven itself, it was still useful to show Cinder that he was trying to be helpful and also to reassure Neo that he would not abandon her.
He was working away on how he could focus Cinder's attention on the downside of sharing a dorm with someone who was besotted with you. He toyed with whether he could at the same time draw Cinder's attention to the risk that she would have to deal with the attentions of 18 to 20 year old boys without being able to incinerate them and also make her insecure at having to compete with Neo on being the hottest member of the team. Perhaps that was an either/or strategy.
On a similar basis were Emerald and Mercury susceptible to Neo vamping Mercury. While Emerald clearly would not countenance a relationship with Mercury, was it important to her to think that Mercury lusted after her? He asked Neo about this who tried out a few illusions. Roman asked her to try them out on someone else – the two of them had known each other too long for him to feel comfortable with this sort of game. He realised that he was worried about how enthusiastically he had reacted to the Goodwitch impersonation. He suggested that she also discuss the possibilities with the twins tomorrow.
He had decided to leave the birth certificate question until the last possible moment. He suspected that Cinder had already addressed the issue and if not would be able to rectify it if she had enough notice. Certainly, Little Miss had plenty of fake identities on the stocks. However, it was worth a shot as even though Neo was 18, she looked more like 15 and could make herself look 12 and it was possible that Cinder had not squared the Haven equivalent of Goodwitch. It was also true that Neo did not have a birth certificate issued in Mistral, that neither of them had her original one in their possession and had not needed to produce one since they had arrived in Vale.
Cinder was still furious. While she realised that what had happened last night had not been Roman's fault, she hated being reminded that she was only partially a maiden. The fact that a mere human had been able to fight her without suffering any real damage was unacceptable. She had not even hurt the ridiculous child as the huntress had been able to protect her as well as looking after herself. It was also clear from Roman's reactions that the bullhead could easily have crashed last night and while she would almost certainly have survived, it would have inconvenienced her and there had been a real risk that she would have been captured by Goodwitch.
She had been working on the maiden project for four years now. Salem had arranged for Hazel to recruit her specifically with it in mind. Initially Salem had seen it as a long shot which was worth pursuing, but she had not expected it to work out. The first three years had mostly been spent looking for information and working on the Grimm glove. It had begun to seem real when Lionheart had joined the conspiracy and had disclosed the identity of the Fall Maiden and that the Winter Maiden was dying. He admitted that his predecessor at Haven had lost the Spring Maiden and that he had no idea whether anyone knew who the Summer Maiden was. Theodore was reticent on the issue and Ozpin did not ask questions in Lionheart's presence. Salem had been intrigued by the rumours which Watts had referred to of Atlas designing a means of transferring the maiden powers to a girl of Ironwood's choice. Hazel and Watts had produced a file on Winter Schnee as being the obvious candidate and Cinder had been plotting strategies for confronting her.
Tyrian and Hazel had each spent time in Vacuo and Mistral trying to locate the other two maidens, but without success.
Salem had asked her Council for their views on whether to pursue the Fall or Winter Maiden first. After Watts had described the security position at Atlas and that the Winter Maiden kept to the Atlas Medical facility, it had been decided that it was probably best to go after the Fall Maiden first.
Initially the plan had been to destabilise Vale and Beacon with a view to bringing the Fall Maiden into the open and she had been exploring options since then. Watts had been quite helpful for a change, although Salem had not disclosed that the plan was intended to assist Cinder beforehand. He had investigated the Mountain Glenn files and suggested using the train tunnels as a route to bring Grimm into the city and using dust bombs to allow the Grimm to break into the tunnels.
However, two weeks ago Lionheart had provided them with information as to the Fall Maiden's whereabouts and that she would be approaching Vale by road. The attack had come so close to total success, but the arrival of Qrow Branwen had been in time to prevent the full transfer of the powers. Salem had been surprisingly relaxed about the result and had taken the view that it had proved that the Grimm arm worked and had even offered to train Cinder in the use of the powers she had taken. Salem could afford to take a long-term view. Cinder had perhaps a five-year window of opportunity to gather the powers of the four maidens
She had to work on the assumption that Ozpin would keep the Fall Maiden hidden. Salem had opined that he would not try and pass on the powers immediately. He would instead hope that the girl recovered at least some of her strength and take time to think about candidates at Beacon. Salem had ordered her to try and force Ozpin either to reveal where Amber was hidden or to bring forward the process of passing her remaining powers on to a third party who would come into the open to deal with the crisis. Destabilising Vale and Beacon still seemed to be the best way of achieving this aim, but the level of destabilisation would need to be greater than previously envisaged. Watts had boasted previously that the last time he had checked the backdoors he had built into the Atlas security systems were still open and had specifically referred to the Vytal festival arena. Cinder was uncertain how she could use this to her advantage, but perhaps combining a Grimm attack and an incident at the festival would cause enough chaos to force Ozpin's hand.
Clearly having a team in the tournament would increase the possibilities for chaos. She had spoken to Lionheart who said that he did have the power to admit up to four students this year at short notice. He could also ensure that they were on the same team. He had stressed that in order to maintain his cover it would be necessary for the team to attend Haven Academy in the period leading up to the festival, to live in the dorms, attend classes and demonstrate enough ability to justify him sending them to the Vytal Festival as competitors.
Whatever their shortcomings, Emerald and Mercury were talented enough fighters to be attending Haven and to justify being selected as one of the top four teams in the year. Lionheart said that there were ways around the coursework issue – for various reasons neither of them had had much formal education. Cinder clearly had talent to spare and she might even find the course work interesting. That had meant it was necessary to find a fourth team member. Lionheart said that he would also watch out for competent new students who would be strong fighters but had not yet already formed a team. Unlike Beacon, the Mistral elite had arranged things so that teams were officially chosen by the school. Unofficially students coming from Mistral combat schools could, provided they had enough clout, choose their own teams in advance. Cinder considered that Neo was of an appropriate age and ability and likely to be better than the students who had not already been claimed. Besides which, the fact she was with them would be a means of keeping Roman under control while she was absent from Vale.
Thinking of Roman, he had been far too compliant yesterday. She had expected a bit more resistance and had been looking forward to crushing him. Perhaps he did know his place now, but she would work on the assumption that he had simply played for time and was looking for an out to spring on her at the last minute.
She remembered the process of recruiting Roman. Hazel had spoken to one of the Mistral Crime bosses, Little Miss about possible contacts in Vale for some heists. Little Miss had asked what qualities Hazel and his associates were looking for and had suggested Roman when Hazel had stressed that that they were looking for efficiency, finesse and discretion rather than numbers at least to start with. She said that he had a small crew, that he preferred his independence but would take on sub-contracts. He liked to play the gentleman thief and had trained as a hunter for two years. She said that she had no complaints about the work he had done for her, but that he could be arrogant. Little Miss had charged them for the recommendation and then said there would be an additional fee for negotiating the introduction of they wanted to go ahead.
Hazel had asked Lionheart about Roman before Cinder finally decided to explore the option. Leo said that he had been in the top ten of his year despite not having unlocked his semblance. He had been not unusually troublesome as a student, a conceited smart ass rather than a bully. He had been good at knowing how to push things so far but no further. One day he had vanished from the Academy and reappeared in Mistral City a week later with a young girl in tow. He had not returned to Haven other than to inform Leo and his teammates that he was withdrawing. According to his teammates whatever had happened in the week away had changed him and made him harsher and more cynical. Leo's contacts in the Mistral underworld had informed him that Roman had taken a job with Little Miss to support himself and the girl. He had worked for Little Miss for two years and had then relocated to Vale along with the girl, apparently with the blessing of his employer.
When they had initially approached him, he had tried to put them off balance. After the first meeting with him which she and Emerald had attended, Cinder had expected him to try and follow them back to their hotel. She had ordered Emerald to cast an illusion to confuse him. Mercury had been watching and had reported that Roman had not even tried to track her and Emerald and had also confirmed that no one else had followed them back to the hotel, although he had remarked that there seemed to be rather a lot of short people in Vale. Despite this, when they had left the hotel for the second meeting, Roman and the girl had been waiting in the lobby of their hotel for them. She had initially assumed that he had just guessed well and had contacts in the hotels who had identified them from photographs. It was only later that she worked out that the girl was more dangerous and talented than Roman.
Mercury had been looking forward to the meeting between Adam and Roman. He happily acknowledged to himself that he enjoyed being a jerk, but he could not compete with these two. However, the closer it got to happening, the more conscious he was that it could not be allowed to develop to its full potential.
Adam's belief in the cause and in himself was such that he honestly believed that what was good for Adam's position in the White Fang was good for the cause. He also was convinced that Faunus were superior to humans and should have nothing to do with them. It had taken Cinder using her full powers to curb stomp a camp of his followers and then promising him the chance of bringing down an Academy and possibly even a Kingdom to persuade him to join them. Still introducing him to an effete dandy from Mistral might be a step too far. Even Cinder had recognised that the two should have as little direct contact as possible.
Roman on the other hand believed in nothing but looking after himself and Neo. He revelled in being the centre of attention. The suit, the hat, the cane, the makeup and the whole gentleman thief persona were not calculated to keep him under the radar. Admittedly, it did mean that there were so many surface details for people to focus on, that if he put on a wig and an off the peg suit or jeans and a T-shirt he could walk past his victims without them noticing. He could more easily hold himself in check than Adam - he seemed to do much of the grandstanding for his own amusement. He did have the standard Mistralian attitude to Faunus and so could be offensive even when he was not trying to be and be extremely offensive when he merely meant to tease. He did not think that Roman particularly disliked Faunus in themselves, but in the game of one-upmanship he played with the world, he used all the verbal weapons at his disposal. Having him meet a self-important and serious Adam seemed calculated to bring out his worse instincts.
For once Mercury had raised his concerns directly with Cinder. She acknowledged that he had a certain insight in relation to arrogant males and had even welcomed his analysis of how things were likely to go down between the pair. She had therefore sat Roman down in the truck as they drove to rendezvous point and warned him that they were meeting a Faunus who would loathe him on sight. However, while he could respond to taunts from Adam, he should not initiate and argument and on no account was he to challenge the Faunus to a fight. A description of Adam's semblance and weapons followed and seemed to convince him. Roman and Neo had exchanged looks and Mercury wondered if they were planning something. Mercury then told Roman that referring to the Faunus as animals would be regarded as initiating an argument. Roman had then reeled off another ten Mistralian phrases and asked for confirmation that these were also inappropriate
Mercury went back to thinking about how they could avoid taking Neo with them and preferably avoid sharing a dorm with Cinder. Thinking about it Roman was a lot easier to stomach when he was with Neo – the jokes and jibes at other people were somehow more playful rather than half in jest, wholly in earnest. Mercury wondered if perhaps there was a germ of an idea worth working with here.
They arrived at the rendezvous which was a clearing in Forever Fall with a tent in the middle and then White fang members standing outside. Mercury and Emerald got out first. They were known to Adam and would encourage him to appear. Two of Adam's lieutenants appeared from the tent, one was carrying a chain saw, but it was not immediately apparent what type of Faunus he was. The other was a huge Bear Faunus. Shortly behind them were ten smaller Faunus. Neo and Roman then got out. Adam Taurus then left the tent and Cinder finally left the vehicle, ignoring the helping hand proffered by Roman.
Cinder said "Roman Torchwick, meet Adam Taurus, a leading member of the White Fang. Adam Taurus, meet Roman Torchwick, the most notorious criminal in Vale."
Adam turned to Cinder and said, "Do you really expect the White Fang to work with this scum?"
Roman replied "It is good to meet you, Mr. Taurus. I look forward to a profitable working relationship. I prefer to think of myself as the cream as that also rises to the top." He then bowed while Neo curtsied. While no one could fault the words in themselves, it was hard to avoid the sense that Roman was taking the mickey.
The Faunus with the chainsaw had been staring at Neo and asked, "Is this bring your daughter to work day, Mr Torchwick?"
Roman laughed and said "I would like to introduce my associate and bodyguard, Neo"
This brought out a burst of laughter from the Faunus. The Bear Faunus said "No, it is a pimp and his dumb doxy"
Neo pouted and rapidly signed a message at Roman. Roman coughed and said "Mr. Taurus, I would be grateful if your associate could apologise to my associate. If he does, she will not act on her desire to challenge him to a duel and convert into a carpet for her lounge. By way of fair warning her aura has been unlocked and she does not make idle threats. While I take the view that words cannot hurt me, my associate is jealous of her honour"
The Bear Faunus roared "Bring it on" and waved the club he was carrying at Neo and Roman.
Cinder and Adam seemed to have decided to watch how things panned out. Adam had the look of someone who suspected that the Bear Faunus had been manipulated into a mistake but could not see how. When the club broke on the parasol, the Bear Faunus realised he had been played for a sucker. After his feet had been pulled from under him and he had been jabbed by the sword stick a few times, he had lost his cool altogether and charged Neo. Neo seemed to vanish at the last minute and the Faunus crashed into a tree which no one had realised was there. He staggered back and collapsed. She looked ready to carry out the skinning threat when Roman said, "I think he has learnt his lesson, Neo." She still looked ready to carry out the threat until Roman said in a louder voice "Neo, please stop". She reluctantly replaced the sword stick in the parasol and skipped back to his side.
Roman spoke again, "Mr. Taurus, you are probably justified in your estimate of my character, but I hate many of the same people you do. The ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms. The huntsman who charge extortionate amounts for protection, the teachers who tolerate bullying of disabled children. I may never be your friend, but I am the enemy of your enemy. I trust your associate is not badly hurt, but the D word does bring back bad memories for Neo."
Adam grunted, but indicated that he was prepared to talk to Roman and Cinder and ushered them towards his tent.
Mercury wondered to himself how much of that had been pre-planned by Roman and Neo. If it had, then Roman had been subtler than he thought he was capable of being. Still it gave him an excuse to say that he was concerned that without Roman around, it might be difficult to restrain Neo from seriously injuring other students at Haven if they pushed her buttons. Cinder certainly understood the concept of berserk buttons.
Part of the above was trying to rationalise exactly what Cinder's plans were in volume 2 and how useful Leo would have been to the Salem faction.