The sun crested the horizon as Reaper approached the pre-fab, still humming the song from the store. She was feeling the absolute freshest she had felt since… well, a very long time. When was the last time I had a real break? Before Korruption it was Creature, before creature it was Torchwick… was it the Vytal Tournament? Has it been that long?
Reaper reached the building and stepped through the front door. Weiss was asleep on the common area couch, and Blake was at work in the kitchen. "What's for breakfast?"
"Some meat, some vegetables, some noodles, a bit of white sauce…" Blake answered, "Whatever I can find and make edible. We have a lot of mouths to feed."
"Need help?" Reaper shrugged, in too good a mood to be her recently unfriendly self.
"Actually, if you could…" Blake pointed out a few directions for Ruby to follow. "Thanks."
"Anything else?" Reaper asked.
"No, this is simple, it's just a lot," Blake smiled, "You might not want to hang around a place with too many sharp objects anyways."
"Why not?" Reaper crossed her arms.
"Winter was on a warpath this morning," Blake informed her, "She was convinced you were involved in a robbery last night, and that it proved everything she thinks about you. I didn't know whether she wanted to arrest you or stab you." The faunus turned to face her friend, "Did you partake in criminal activity?"
"Come on, you really suspect lil' old me?" Reaper put on an innocent smile.
"Nice boots," Blake teased knowingly, "they still have a tag on them, by the way."
Reaper ripped said tag off and tossing it in the trashcan. "No they don't, I've had these forever!" she winked.
She did leave the kitchen, not wanting to be in Blake's way if she wasn't going to be helpful. Besides, she still had someone to show off her new look to…
Reaper re-entered her room and saw Neo was still asleep, her and Chamillia holding each other close. She leaned up against the wall and watched over them for a moment. Ever since the asylum, Chamillia had been stuck to her like glue. It was starting to have a similar effect on her that Neo had in the beginning. And right now, she was in such a good mood that even though she could see it, she just didn't care.
"Breakfast call."
Blake's voice surprised Reaper, who had gotten caught up in her own head. "Right, thanks," she nodded to the feline faunus in the doorway. Once Blake left, Reaper walked over to bed and started shaking the frame with her boot. "Wakey, wakey, girls! Wake up call for thieves and killers alike!"
Neo was roused by the rustling. Something felt strange as she woke. She clearly had her arms around a body, but then why was Reaper's voice coming from behind her? She forced to eyes open to see who it was she was holding. Seeing it was Chamillia was, somehow, not as unwelcome as she assumed… Is this what I did to Reaper?
"C'mon, you two, Blake made breakfast!"
Reaper kept bothering them until the finally got up. On their way into the common area to grab food, Neo stopped to look over Reaper's clothing. "Like it?" the dark woman asked.
Cape? Neo signed in question.
"Store didn't have one, and I kinda felt like tryin' something new anyway," Reaper smiled, "A coat like this is basically a cape with sleeves, right? The hood's the important part," she raised hers to make her point, "and I got that covered!"
Neo stared at her for a second before smiling and giggling silently. You seem better.
"Neo, you ever been depressed for so long, that the second you finally smile again, you just can't stop?" Reaper threw her arm around her small lover as they walked out the room, "I had a bit of fun last night, and I finally feel refreshed for the first time in weeks, maybe longer! Who knew it would take something other than sleep to make me feel rested?"
You had fun without me? Neo frowned.
"Aww," Reaper caught the frown, "Next time I feel like going into town at one in the morning, I'll wake you up, okay?"
Neo smiled and nodded. They stepped into the common area to see most of everyone already there and eating.
Winter was the first to spot Reaper. "You," she growled.
"Mornin', sweetie," Reaper teased, grinning. Neo rolled her eyes, here we go.
"You have nerve returning here!" Winter stood and got into Reaper's face, "We are in the middle of serious business, and you go out and… and… indulge!?"
"What are going to do, arrest me?" Reaper goaded.
"That's enough, both of you!" Weiss shouted, getting between the two, "Back off, opposite ends of the room! That means you too, Reaper!"
"We can't seriously be keeping her around after her 'antics'!?" Winter grimaced.
"Oh, but you need me, right Ozzy?" Reaper shot a glare at Oscar and the wizard in his head. Oscar averted his eyes.
"What does that mean?" Winter asked.
"Never mind, just play nice already!" Weiss pushed her sister back, thoughts of 'silver-eyed warriors' entering her mind. "Seriously, we're on the same team here."
"Are we?" Winter growled.
Reaper stuck her tongue out.
"I hate you," Winter spoke shortly.
"Awww, Winty, you do care!" Reaper put on a cutesy voice.
Winter scowled.
Reaper blew her a kiss.
Weiss sighed, collapsing into her seat. "How are we supposed to save the world with team cohesion like this…"
"Maybe these'll help?"
All eyes turned to the open door where Qrow stood, carrying multiple cases in his hands, arms, and over his shoulder. "Fresh from Atlas labs. They're finally finished."
"Oh, hell yes!" Reaper smiled. Her first good day in a while just kept getting better. I finally get to hold it in my hands… It's just too bad I couldn't make it myself…
"Here you go," He started passing out packages. Mostly resupplies of dust and honed and enhanced weapons. A couple even got new, sturdier clothing. And of course, for Reaper and Neo, custom designed, custom built, brand new kit. Reaper eagerly grabbed her case and ran her finger across the lettering in the corner.
Redjack
Neo grabbed her own case just as quickly. She gave a brief thought to the name on the case, Three Flavors, as she clumsily opened it with her one hand. Inside lay a shining prosthesis next to three thin tubes of dust. She eagerly took the hand in hand ad affixed it to the cap on her stump. She felt a bit of a shock in her head as connections formed, and quickly shook them off. Cautiously, she tried to move the fingers on her right hand.
Slowly, the fingers closed, and Neo smiled.
"It looks good on you," Reaper complimented, having put her own unpacking on hold to watch her lover's new hand.
Neo tested her hand more thoroughly and began to frown. As she moved her new joints faster, she began to notice a delay.
Qrow spoke up about this, "The lab guys told me there may a delay for a few days, but it'll close as the cybernetic gets used to your body."
Neo nodded, reassured. Combat testing was out of the question, but there were till something she could do. Neo eyed a latch on the inside of her new arm, trying to activate its function with aura and mental controls. It quickly unlatched, to Neo's joy, and the bulk of her new hand swung open on a hinge. She picked up the dust tubes and loaded them, one by one, down the top of the open arm into chambers awaiting them. She flipped her arm closed, the dust now secure within.
With a smile, she gestured to Reaper's case with her new hand. Reaper nodded, her fingers going to the latches.
Click. Click.
Reaper opened her case and laid her eye on Redjack. She ran her hand up the matte-black shaft, her gaze wandering ahead of her hand to the headpiece. A stainless-steel skull, because what else? The headpiece was connected by a section of stainless-steel shaft thinner than its black body. A careful eye could see the seam that foretold this silver section extending inside the black shaft. She took Redjack in hand and stood. Left hand on the skull-piece, tip set on the floor, with her elbow bent. It was slightly taller than a walking stick should be, but exactly to her specification.
"A walking-stick?" Blake raised her eyebrow.
"Blakey, Blakey," Reaper smiled, shifting Redjack so it was between her feet with both hands on the head. "In a world where 99 percent of weapons transform, you should know there's always more than meets the eye."
"Well, somehow it compliments your current style of dress," Weiss complimented. "No one would think on first glance it was anything more, which I suppose is what you were after."
"Thank you," Reaper tossed Redjack up and caught it by the middle of the shaft before sitting back down.
"Now that all of this is finally here," Amber spoke up, "can we please get started? I'm tired of sitting on my ass."
"And do what, comb all of Anima, if she's even still on Mistral's continent?" Qrow questioned.
Everyone looked at him. "What are you saying?" Ash asked.
"I spoke to Ironwood when I picked up the gear. We need to narrow down our search before we get ourselves lost in the wilds," the greyed huntsman explained, "He's going to send spies out to try and narrow the field."
"But Ironwood still answers to the Vytal council," Winter pointed out.
"And if we're not telling the council about all this, he has to try and keep it all from them…" Weiss realized. "Are… are we really still waiting!?"
"It gives us more time to train?" Oscar pointed out.
Even Weiss groaned at that.
"If only Ironwood didn't answer to the council…" Chamillia complained.
"Everyone has to held accountable," Winter defended. She narrowed her eyes at Reaper, "Otherwise the world would be full of-"
"Criminals!" Reaper cut her off, her voice full of inspiration.
Qrow turned to fully face his niece, a curious look in his eye. "Are you thinking something?"
"I'm thinking if we want to speed up the search, we need someone who has influence not unlike the general's, who doesn't answer to anyone," Reaper formulated, "Even better if they themselves don't ask too many questions."
Neo's eyed shot wide, immediately picking up on Reaper's idea. She shook her head, are you crazy?
"You got a better idea?" Reaper asked her colorful lover, "Please, someone have a better idea! I don't want to deal with him any more than you all do."
"Who?" Ash asked.
"You wouldn't!" Winter caught on, "We can't!"
"Oh, shove it, Winter," Reaper rolled her eyes, "This is a shadow war! We might have to do some shady shit to get ahead. The only reason you put up with me at all and haven't already arrested me is because, deep down, you know that. And I'm your expert on shady shit."
Winter opened her mouth but found herself without a response.
"Look, if Ironwood comes through before we're done dealing, we can cut ties and use the General's intel," Reaper offered. "None of us want to stay here another week – another day – and this plan gets us, boots on the ground, doing something."
"How is finding this person any easier than finding Raven?" Qrow asked. He still wasn't quite sure who 'he' was.
"He'll definitely be in kingdom, either Mistral or Vacuo…" Reaper thought aloud.
Neo sighed in defeat, singing a quick 'M'.
"Neo's thinking Mistral. Its criminal reputation precedes it, so it's certainly likely," Blake translated.
"Right, and wherever he is, he's likely established already," Reaper continued thinking aloud, "He's not afraid to play dirty to get what he wants as quickly as he wants."
"That's still an entire kingdom," Weiss pointed out, "Not to mention the hardest to search to begin with."
Reaper looked Winter dead in the eye, and Winter's gaze fell to the ground. Reaper smirked, "You still have Creature's Eye, don't you?"
"Um, ew?" Ash winced.
Winter sighed, "Yes. It's hidden with my regular equipment, which is in my private quarters on base since I am on 'vacation'."
"So unless someone does have a better idea – and I repeat, please do," Reaper quietly pleaded, "Or unless you really do want to sit here, waiting on the 'official channels', I'd say we have a plan."
Everyone sat in stunned silence. "Well?"
"We do agree," Weiss nodded, "We're just a little surprised, I think. You didn't exactly make it a secret you originally planned to take off. Now you're coming up with our plan?"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not suddenly enthused for this war," Reaper assured them. "But if I am staying, I might as well try and be useful. And to be fair, it's not like I used a lot of brainpower or planned this pitch for days or anything. It just came together and made sense."
"I suppose I'll go retrieve the Eye…" Winter stood up.
With that, the impromptu meeting adjourned, and those who finished their food left to prepare for the trip ahead. Those who hadn't even started breakfast yet, like Reaper, stood to feed themselves before making their own preparations.
Reaper stopped as she passed Weiss, turning her head to face her. "I hope you took my advice and enjoyed the last of our rest."
"Things are about to 'kick off'," Weiss nodded, "I'm ready."
Reaper smiled, twirling Redjack. "Good."
Another act come and gone. Hopefully the next one won't be so... troublesome. I really hope I'm not just burning out on this story, because I do want to finish it. I'll see you all in act 3!
-VengfulFate