(Time to continue operation filler! Let's get started!)
First and Foremost: A Gentleman
After Peach's class of hype, I figured I'd spend a bit of time with Jaune. Old Pukey is someone who's like your dorky, awkward friend, in a good way. My scroll buzzes in my pocket and see it's a message from Silas. I open it up and read it
Where are you at man?
Oh shit I forgot to tell him, I send him a message in reply to tell him what's happening.
Gonna hang out with Jaune for a bit, I'll see you and the guys at Scale's class.
Alright man, see you then.
"Who're you talking to?" Jaune asks curiously, I shrug in response and put my scroll away. "Meh, just telling Silas I'm with you right now. Not much." He nods as we head into a sort of intersection spot; a small courtyard with one big and shady tree and various benches placed about near four door ways. Four signs on each
BATHROOMS, DORMS, CLASSES, OFFICES.
I take a seat at one of the benches with Jaune sitting beside me. "So Jaune, want to tell me a bit about yourself? Because all I can keep seeing is vomiting and dorkiness." I say with a hand wave
"Why gee...thanks for that." He says plainly, I smile at him a bit. "Don't mention it."
"Alright, time for you to know about me." He states taking in a deep breath, "As I kind of eluded to a bit the first day we met, my great-great grandfather fought in the War." Which war? The war, a war where there were two sides; one wanted the freedom of expression and individuality to be among those cherished things, the other wanted to eliminate that...make the world into one without expression, one where not being just among the mob of gray, dull and emotionless automatons that people would be should they have won would be punishable by death. Books were burned, art destroyed, it was one of the many reasons that the war was fought.
But I should be listening to Jaune, shouldn't I?
"The Arc family line was filled with warriors; my great-grandfather, grandfather, and my father all fought. It...kind of gave me some big shoes to fill you know?" He asks, I nod to him. "I can understand that, big name leads to big expectations." I state earning a nod from him.
"Yep...my uh, my mom wasn't exactly keen on me swinging the sword around. I was fourteen before I could even touch Crocea Mors. Let alone swing it."
"I'm sorry if I sound stupid but...what's Crocea Mors?" I ask him giving an innocent smile, "That's the name of my sword." He says simply. "Oh..."
Jaune feeling counter: 3
"Aaanyways, I went to my combat school, got the transcripts and now I'm here talking to you." He says smiling at me
"We isn't your life exciting!" I say with fake cheer, "A big family legacy to live up to, an overprotective mom, and meeting new people." I say dryly
"Oh yeah? What about you?" He asks
I freeze up on that. I'm not going to tell him about it, not yet, only shared it with a microscopic number of people. I should keep it on the down for now
"I'd rather not." I dully tell him
"Oh come on! You can-"
"I SAID NO!" I snap at him, he seems a bit scared by my burst of anger. Damnit Ax calm yourself, I sigh and put a hand on Jaune's shoulder feeling a bit guilty
"Sorry Jaune...my past is something that I want to keep out of your knowledge, I'll- I'll let you know when I want to tell you about it." I tell him quietly
"Alright Axel, I understand." He says putting his own hand on my shoulder, I look at the blonde idiot and smile. He may have reverse ladykiller charm, a weak stomach and is a tad bit of a fool...but he's a nice guy through and through.
"Thanks Jaune." I tell him, "Like you said before. Don't mention it..." Jaune pauses for a moment before looking at the classes sign.
"We should probably get going to Professor Scale's class." He states standing up, I shrug and stand up with him giving a mock salute. "Aye Aye captain."
The two of us head down the hall for class.
Scale helped me out once, time to learn from him.
One trip later
After the conversation between me and Jaune, the two of us arrive in Professor Scale's class. Well time for sitting next to someone different, I take a seat next to Weiss who doesn't seem to look at me.
"Hello Axel." She says politely
"Weiss." I reply, we keep quiet for a moment. I take a moment to scan the room; it looks more like an arena than anything, with weapon racks along the walls along with containers marked 'DUST: HANDLE WITH CARE' on the sides, and there is no desk leaving a slate colored circle instead with a chalkboard behind it.
"So how's this morning been for you Weiss?" I ask breaking the silence away, "It's been good. Yours?"
"Not to bad, talked with Pyrrha and Jaune and besides witnessing the greatness of Professor Peach." I reply back earning a curious look from her, "Greatness?"
"I like her well enough, she's a great teacher!" I say happily earning a dully expression from Weiss, "Was it because she headbutted Cardin?" She plainly asks
"It was because she headbutted Cardin." I reply back, "And just so I can know, you and me are fine right?" She nods
"Yes. You didn't really have much conflict with me to begin with unlike Uriah, but to answer...you and I are fine." She says with a tiny smile on her face.
"So-" I started up
But that'll have to wait hearing the door open, looking I see Professor Scale. Dressed in the grey suit I saw him in the first time with the umbrella at his side, he has something flipping between his fingers.
A silver coin
"Good day class," he starts up "My name-" he gets cut off by the sound of snoring. He takes a look to the back, "Excuse me one moment." He says sighing. He flicks the coin in his hand and it speeds right into the guy causing him to snap awake with a jolt, and like a boomerang the coin comes right into Scale's hand
He gives a small smirk before standing in the middle of the little small circular arena his hands clasped together, "As I was starting to say; Good day class, my name is Professor Gray Scale. You will address me as either Professor, Mr. Scale, or Professor Scale." He gives a more calm and dissonant smile with his eyes being blocked out by his shades, "Am I understood?"
"Yes Professor Scale." The class says in unison, "Good! Now then, any questions you lads and ladies have for me?" He asks scanning the room before fixing on the student who got hit by the coin, "You sir, what's your question?"
"Are you blind?"
Scale sighs and shakes his head, "No. I am not blind thank you," he says taking off the shades revealing relaxed sea blue eyes with gold flakes in them, "I merely just enjoy sunglasses." He puts the triangle shades back on and shrugs
"Now then, in this class you will be learning in the form of combat." He starts up, "But...we already know how to fight." I hear Jaune say. Scale merely chuckles and pulls the umbrella away from his hip
"My dear boy you and everyone else may know the main point of fighting. But not the art." He chides, "But I am glad you do not, for you are dull blades. Some...duller than others." He starts up before pointing the umbrella's tip toward the ground, "But I will be sure to sharpen you to be able to split hairs." He casually states
I smile to those words, I'm more than ready to get started.
"Now then, for this class you will need your weapons of course. We won't be sparing quite yet of course, so I am just going to be sure to remind you all that this will be one of the classes where you must bring equipment." He says a bit sternly his face crinkling, it quickly changes back to a casual smile. "And should you have any troubles, I will help you in whatever way that I can. So with that being said, you may talk amongst yourselves until the bell rings."
Well this is strange, I turn back to Weiss who seems to be thinking about something. "Hey Weiss." I say to grab her attention, she turns her head my way "Yes? What is it?"
"You seem a bit...out of it, is everything ok?" I ask a bit concerned, she's probably think up something but I need to make sure it's something that isn't bad. "I'm fine Axel don't worry." She says with a smile, a fake one. It suddenly hits me that she may still resent her spot, damn it man her envy will probably end up causing more problems for Ruby's team.
"You're a terrible liar Weiss." I tell her in a low tone causing her eyes to widen, "Wha-"
"You hide it with a fake smile, I'm not sure if you noticed." I cut in, she sighs and looks away. "You're right...not everything is ok..." She says sadly.
"It's Ruby. Am I right?" I ask, Weiss doesn't respond for a few seconds before she turns back to me. "Yes." She says simply, I chuckle a bit before replying "Still upset that she's leader and not you?"
Weiss merely groans and closes her eyes as she rubs her temples, "I'm not sure. It's just that I still feel as though I should be leader...during initiation she acted childish; coming up with idiotic plans, acted without even thinking, like I said yesterday she's done nothing to earn her position." She sighs and lays her arms on the desk and rests her head on them, a stoic expression on her face but weariness in her eyes.
"I've done all that I could to prepare for Beacon; studying, training, the works...and now it's gone." She says quietly
I feel a bit of sadness grow in my heart, here's a girl who's gotten what she wanted in life. Now that she's been denied it, she can only wallow in misery and confusion which turns into scorn and anger toward the one who denied it.
I place a hand on Weiss's shoulder and give a squeeze. "Hey. Cheer up alright? Like Uriah said, 'Everybody looses eventually'. And I'm sure Ozpin has the best of intentions." I tell her smiling myself, the heiress looks at me with the same expression in her icy-blue eyes.
"But. Even someone like Ozpin makes mistakes, right?"
I sigh, she's not wrong.
"You're right on that part: everyone makes mistakes. And I'm sure Ozpin has made many mistakes before...hell more than anyone, but I'm sure Ruby being made leader isn't one of them." Weiss looks at me curiously now with an eyebrow raised, "So what if you didn't get to be leader? If you trained and studied for the role, don't be brooding over it like an angsty teen: but help your partner excel at it. She has skipped two years remember, she's not exactly ready yet. Moral is, if you can't use your skills and knowledge to be the best leader...then use them to be the best person you can be."
"Are you sure about this?"
"You're a good girl Weiss. You're skilled, so use that skill and be a great partner and learn to be a good friend. Alright?" I ask hopefully, I could feel empathy for her. She gives a warm smile and takes a deep breath
"I'll try my best."
I smile and give her a pat on the back, "Atta girl." On those words the bell rings and people start to get up from their seats
"Have a good day everyone!" Scale says waving everyone off. "Well Weiss it's been nice talking to you, but I should be back with my team now. Take care Snowflake," Weiss gives a smile but glares at me
"Call me that again and I'll use Myrtenaster to make you a pincushion." She says with a bit of malevolence, guess that's the name of her weapon. I smile back evilly
"You try that and I'll be sure to blow you into nothing but ash with Cerberus." There's a pause for a moment before the two of us laugh it off, "Alright. See ya Weiss." I say walking down the steps and meeting with Silas, Uriah and Roy who seem a bit terrified
"What's wrong guys?" I ask them tilting my head
"You and Weiss...we heard the two of you. More like Silas did and relayed it back, but still." Uriah says with the other two nodding. "Awwww, are you afraid that I'm going to steal your wife Uriah?" I ask with an impish grin
"I can't really get mad right now." He states plainly
Oh God...is that a bad thing or a good thing?
Well. Fun day through and through however. Only hope Weiss'll take my advice to heart though, I smile a bit earning a loom from Roy. "What's with that smile?"
"Nothing Roy, nothing at all."
(Here we go to a close, thanks for reading this chapter. I also got to see the preview for volume 4, I AM HYPED. Remember to review this, still want thoughts and constructive criticism and the like.)