"Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world."
The ship landed shortly after the last spewing sound of VomitBoy. Who Yin aptly named because he hasn't stopped vomiting for the past half hour. Something Yin tried to convince Ruben was awesome.
Ruben felt the ship land on the deck with a dip, before rising to his feet and walking with Yin out the door.
Yin showed no hesitation. No anxiety. No fear. In fact, he was almost skipping beside Ruben. Ruben walked off the ship, his hands at his sides and eyes focused on the ground before him.
He heard the sound of sickness and the smell of throw up in the air. He heard the rushing of feet, the boy's shoulder running into Ruben's arm. His eyes followed the blonde haired boy rush to the nearest trashcan and let out another mouthful of bile and sickness. Make that forty minutes of nonstop vomiting.
He turned away, feeling his own stomach rumbling sickly. His cheeks were paling. His hands sweating up a storm. He ran a hand over his stomach, feeling his mouth filling with spit. He swallowed hard, fighting to keep the sickness at bay. He looked over to his right, seeing Yin in disbelief at the sights.
He was spinning on his heels, getting a full view of the surrounding area. The lovely, fresh cut green grass, the clear soft blue skies, the big puffy white clouds. Ruben turned his sights forward, looking past the crowd of people and seeing the majesty of the school.
The towers connected by bridges to the main school. The sheer size of the place making Ruben almost quake in his boots. Ruben felt his eyes wander, surveying the area for any other worthy sights. He felt his eyes fall upon the students, or better yet their weapons, his lips curling into a smile.
"Vale ain't got nothing on this place! Don't you agree, little bro?" Yin asked, crossing his arms and looking up at the school. A moment passed with no answer from Ruben. "Ruben?"
"Look at that!" Ruben said, his eyes glistening and following a young woman with a weapon in hand. His jaw dropped, his eyes growing wide with unfathomable joy. "A collapsable staff! Oh! Oh! And that girl's got a sword with mystic runes! I didn't think those were still made!"
"Ruben!" Yin said, patting his shoulder to get his attention. Ruben turned to him, his smile growing still and his knees shaking. He was bouncing in his spot. "They're just weapons. Hold onto your mind while you still have it."
"Just weapons?" Ruben scoffed, a mix of shock and disgust blending into the excitement and bewilderment. He turned to the students, wondering how Yin could call them, 'Just weapons.'? "They are an extension of ourselves! Our tools of the trade! That, and they are so cool!"
"Your weapons surely can't match a stick that can transform into a smaller stick." Yin said dryly, rolling his eyes. Ruben blinked for a moment, nearly forgetting his twin scythes tied to his lower back. Ruben smirked, reaching around and grasping the handle of his weapon.
With a chuckle, he tossed one of his scythes into the air and prepped his hand for catching it. The weapon was locked in gun form and spun while it descended before landing grip first into his hand. Ruben spent not even a moment before he started resting the weapon in his arms.
"Of course not! I love Han and Gren! Made 'em with my own two hands." Ruben said, cradling the weapon. He recalled the long nights, the overwhelming heat of his workshop, the hours spent getting the weapon to unfold and lock just right. The sheer amount of man hours put into just one of these scythes.
"That doesn't mean I can't appreciate others. It's like meeting some a new person every time...and better." He finished, his smile faltering and his typical scowl ready to return. Yin rolled his eyes without a sort of negative force behind it, doing it almost humorously. He grabbed Ruben's weapon out of his arms and began inspecting it.
The smooth blood red metal, the golden lever and pitch black trigger and guard. The barrel hidden cleverly in the base of the scythe. The latch to release the empty clips right next to the top of the trigger guard.
The heat vents located on the upper part of the base of the scythe. Then Yin could see the clean cut smooth blade that Ruben devoted days to sharpening and forming just right.
The iron crescents in the chine of the weapon, showing the number of times he spent heating it and pounding it into form. Yin couldn't believe not only how well it was made but how much time Ruben devoted to the weapon. That's not even including it's sister still holstered.
"While it is a sweet to see new weapons, the person who uses it is more important. Which is why you need to not get excited over the weapon, bro. There is a bunch of people here, probably needing friends like you.
Kind, responsible, determined, nutty friends." Yin said with a playful smile, before tossing the weapon back. The weapon convulsed and transforming into it's scythe mid throw, Ruben catching it with his extended hand. With a spin of the wrist, it collapsed itself back into gun form.
He ran a finger over the smooth cold metal, smiling a bit to himself.
"Why do I need people when I ha-" He looked up briefly, seeing Yin running towards a group of his friends that were waving him down. Yin looked over his shoulder, waving goodbye to his little brother.
"I need to catch up with old friends! See ya! Bye! Have fun!" Yin motormouthed off, before taking off in a sprint to greet them. Ruben stood there in a daze, weapon in hand and his scowl returning.
He couldn't help but realize that this was bound to happen, mistaking his brother for the kind of person to help him stand before teaching to walk.
"Typical." He muttered under his breath, holstering his weapon. He looked over at where Yin was running, seeing Yin jokingly talking to his friends. Laughing and discussing the fun times they've had and future things to do.
Ruben narrowed his eyes, rubbing his right mutton chop. "Fresh off the barge and not even a map." He turned around, a million thoughts running through his mind.
"Where are the Dorms? Cafeteria? Do we have a Dorm? Lockers? Where are the classes? Where do we put our weapons?" His thoughts were cut short when he knocked heads with a fellow student and fell back.
The back of his right foot tripped over his left and Ruben landed on his back, groaning while rubbing his hurting forehead. He felt the blood rushing to his head, his teeth barred as he suppressed every curse under the sun.
"Are you dense? Do you realized what could have happened?" A voice complained, with a painful note to them at that. The voice was suave, almost lovely to hear. Yet, Ruben could hear the burning anger and general superiority go hand in hand with the elegance. He groaned louder, his head booming as he slowly sat up.
"I'm fine, by the way." Ruben grumbled, looking up to meet a pair of snow white eyes. His eyes met with the eyes of Winter, who's expression was all but pleased. His snow white hair was messy yet probably style to seem that way, his dress suit and smooth vest as white as the man's own hair. His black slacks held up by a leather belt, the buckle having a snowflake emblem.
Ruben's eyes fell onto the briefcase besides Winter's feet, focused on what Winter was doing. Winter saw the briefcase was open, a sharp scream erupting out of his mouth as he checked the contents of his briefcase.
He ran his fingers over the vials of Dust, not a single one busted or even cracked. He sighed in relief, turning to Ruben to blame him for almost destroying them and the front of the school. Then he saw it. A single broken vial of Red Dust, with the red powder seeping between the pieces of broken glass.
"You stupid child!" He shouted, standing over him. Ruben growled, standing up to tell Winter off for his words. Ruben, unknowingly, stomped down on the vial and pivoted his foot. The contents sparked and exploded underneath his foot, the explosion covering both Ruben and Winter in a cloud soot and ash.
Winter stood there, his whole body shaking violently with slashes of gray and black staining his vest and shirt. Ruben watched as bouts of ash started falling off of Winter, who's shaking body began to take off some of the dirt. Winter screamed, before he stomped his foot and pointed his finger at Ruben. "You've done it now!"
"Should I apologize or will you blame me for trying to be a decent person?" Ruben asked, barring his teeth. He tightened his fist, standing eye to eye with Winter. Winter glanced at the boy's hands, his broad shoulders and the intense look in his eyes.
Winter smirked, his hand moving down to wrap his fingers around his revolver. The tips of his fingers edging the handle. Ruben's own hand moved to draw his lever action, loosening his wrist while he moved to draw first.
"How about you both calm down?" A voice spoke out, just as the two were about to draw their respective weapon. This voice, by contrast, was rather gruff and yet soft spoken. The gravel in his voice conflicting with the delicacy he spoke with.
Ruben and Winter turned to the owner said voice, equally annoyed and confused.
With the closing sound of the book he held in his hand, Blair turned to them with a look of maturity. A look an older sibling would give to a younger when they misbehaved. When the screwed up.
Blair smirked under his scarf, having to stop the wee children from fighting on the play ground. His hood was up over his head and a dark red scarf was wrapped around his face.
His overcoat ended at around his ankles, the dirty mountain boots he wore the only other form of clothing that wasn't hidden by the jacket. Because of said hood and scarf around his face, the only thing that noticeable was the pair of amber eyes burning in the darkness of his clothing.
A pair of eyes that quickly snapped to Ruben. "Especially you, Red."
"Whatever." Ruben growled out, rolling his eyes. He crossed his arms, looking away from the two. Blair pointing his book towards Winter, as if to make a point.
"You don't 'whatever' the Heir to the Frost Industries. The leading benefactor of Dust, our little vial of manmade magic." Blair said in a 'matter of fact' way. Winter smiled, nodding his head towards this stranger before him.
"Thank you!" Winter said, softly clapping his hands to Blair. Blair then turned to Winter, his eyes taking a turn towards scornful.
"The same family who treat their Faunus workers like slaves and scum. That isn't even going into the many shady partners they have worked with over the years." Blair added, before letting out a huff. "Spoiled little princess doesn't like it when he has to be nice. Much less to people he believe he is superior than."
"Want some of this too?" Winter asked, waving his hands up in the air. Blair shook his head and turned away, opening his book and picking up where he left off. His walk away from Ruben and Winter left the two of them alone to settle their dispute.
Ruben shot a look of hateful eyes at Winter, before walking off without another word.
He could hear the sound of feet following him, his right hand reaching for his weapon just in case Winter decided to get the drop on him. Try to catch him off guard.
"Hey," An unconfident and timid voice spoke out, before the boy moved quickly to walk by Ruben's side. "I saw that little scene. Wasn't exactly the best way to make friends if you ask me."
"Neither is vomiting from a simple flight." Ruben countered, smelling the bile still fresh on the boy's breath. The boy cupped his mouth, breathing into it and smelling his breath. He shrugged it off, smiling.
"Air sickness is very common actually. One out of every three people suffer from it actually." He said, chuckling nervously. Ruben remained silence, the chuckle dying out shortly after. The boy remained silent for a moment, before clearing his throat. "Jaune. Jaune Arc."
"Ruben. Ruben Thorn." Ruben said carelessly, turning to speak to the boy. The youthful innocence in Jaune's eyes was apparent, the baby cheeks he still had, the messy blonde hair. Ruben felt a little bit better.
If someone like Jaune can get in to this school, so could Ruben. Ruben could see in his eyes that this Jaune has never seen a Grimm, much less hold the sword strapped to his hip.
Ruben nodded, before continuing to walk on. Jaune followed him, his hands in his pockets. Ruben could hear Jaune begin to whistle to himself. Either trying to annoy him or catch his attention, he did not know.
After a solid five minutes, he abruptly turned to Jaune, stopping in his tracks. Jaune stopped with him. Ruben stared into Jaune's eyes, taking a step forward. "Why are you here?"
"What?" Jaune asked, his cheeks flushing and hands clamming up. He took a step back, past experience telling him that boys who take the first step forward are usually the ones who are wiling to fight. Usually hot headed brutes who solve problems with fists. Much like the boy before him. "What do you-"
"You don't know even know me, yet you follow me." Ruben stated, seeing the realization hit Jaune moments later. Jaune rubbed his cheek, shrugging softly.
"Ohhhhh. That. Well...I feel like everyone deserves to have a friend. Especially you, considering you almost got into with that Mr. Frost. And Mom always said, 'strangers are friends you haven't met yet.'" Jaune said, smiling softly at his mother's wise words. Ruben opened his mouth to snark, probably something along the lines of his mother. Yet, he opened his mouth only to have the words not follow.
"Friend?" Ruben thought softly to himself, feeling his mind stop to process this thought. He turned away for a moment, his eyes blank of all emotion. He thought about the word. Ally. Companion. But friend? To call someone a friend was to trust them. Enjoy their company. To laugh. To play. To joke. To live.
"Friend..." He murmured to himself, almost disbelieving he heard that word. From a boy who he had just met. Jaune's eyebrow raised.
"What?"
"Your mom..." Ruben immediately said, waving his hand down to collect his thoughts. He fumbled with his hands, shutting his eyes tight. The toe of his boot making small circles on the ground. He let out a anxiety filled sigh. "...sounds sweet."
"She's the best." Jaune stated, cracking a real smile to Ruben. Ruben nodded, his hand running over the back of his neck. Jaune looked at the handle of one of Ruben's weapons, his jaw dropping.
"What's that?" He asked cautiously. Ruben raised a brow, following his eyes to his weapon.
"Oh," He smirked, reached down to pull out the weapon. In a fluid motion, he threw the weapon up into the air and the gun constructing into it's scythe form. He caught it in his hand, spun the weapon in his hands and slammed the blade into the ground before him. With a laugh, he presented his love. "This is Han."
"Hi Han..." Jaune said, letting out a breath of anxiety. The weapon was as big, if not bigger, than Jaune. The blade was just as tall, about as wide and certainly a hundred times more deadly. "So..." He gulped loudly, taking a quick step back. "A big, big scythe."
"Two big scythes actually." Ruben said, turning to show him the other. "Twin High Impact Lever action Shotguns. Both of which are modified handle various ammo types, and both transform into individual scythes."
"Oh...' Jaune said, knowing he had no idea what Ruben just described. "Sweet." Ruben looked over at Jaune's own equipment, nodding as if to acknowledge it.
"Old school sword and shield?"
"Yeah..." Jaune said, rubbing the back of his neck. "My great great grandfather used it in the war."
"That's...nice." Ruben mumbled, rubbing his cheek. He couldn't help but feel as if he showed off a bit too much. A big scythe that doubles as a shotgun typically tromps a simple sword in this day and age. Especially with the actual warriors behind them.
He rotated his hand, hoping something will come to him. "Still a nice weapon though. Looks as if it's kept in a good condition, the sheath is clean and shining. Most, if not, all shields are able to reflect gunfire. Many are Dust resistant. Plus, using it on the field of battle is very...honorable."
"What?" Jaune asked, raising a brow. The boy who has this awesome weapon calling his weapon 'honorable.' "What do you mean?"
Ruben smiled, leaning against his scythe as he spoke to Jaune. He rubbed his chin, furrowing his brows.
"In a world with Dust and firearms, to willing run into battle with sword and shield. Fight tooth and nail is very honorable in my opinion. I know I wouldn't be able to do that." Ruben admitted, smiling a bit. He turned the main entrance to the school, nodding. His thoughts went to the past Hunters and Huntresses, who actually had to fight tooth and nail for their spots in history.
"Let's go Jaune, we better get to orientation so we know what to do."
"After you, Amigo!" Jaune said, raising his hand for a high five. Ruben picked his weapon out of the ground, holstering it. Ruben couldn't help that he ignored him. He was too wrapped up in the idea Jaune just called him a friend. After giving himself a highfive, or 'Self-Five' as Jaune called it, Jaune followed Ruben to the orientation room.