Beacon Library - Jaune's Point of View

I'm still randomly shuddering from the tickle counter-attack. I need to remember that, because soon enough, I'm going to spar with that damned nerd. But that's for later.

All is quiet now, actually. Sitting around the library, teams BEER, RWBY, and my own of JNPR, and Sun who had been accompanied by Neptune.

Curiously enough, one would think that Blake Belladona would have preferred to ignore Tobias after his spat with her friend Weiss. Contrary to that particular expectation, upon social contact at this library, they simply nodded to each other. After some time, their arrangement was clear: they would peruse the literary collections of the bookshelves together, Blake stacking books into Tobia's open arms. Sometimes the carrier would offer a suggestion, and Blake would add the book to the stack. After pursuing this for some time, they returned to the main group of us who still remained sitting at the tables. On the floor, sitting back to back, reading with the stack of books within the arm's reach of Tobias and Blake also on the ground, they quietly read. Since when did Tobias ever bother with books? He always reads off his scroll, always saying how books can't get updates, hyperlinks, or kawaii desktop buddies to give him high pitched reminders of everything he won't do anyways.

Hiding behind my magazine, I continued to watch as Ruby made the mistake of trying to talk to the pair, presumably to tease them. The result was mildly comical, ending with Blake sitting on Ruby, as the red rose simply laid there, muttering violence against the two. Its difficult to say exactly what happened, but between the reflexes of the two readers and Ruby's speed semblance made things nearly impossible to keep track of. To placate the younger girl, Tobias then simply took her scythe, and threw it across the room for Ruby to bolt out from under Blake to retrieve her precious weapon. Doesn't look like they'll be getting along anytime soon.

Suddenly, the magazine I had been reading had been snatched out of my hands by the Sensei Pyrrha, replacing the reading material that was previously in my hands with a thick book. Looking up to glare at her, my gaze of initial anger had been withered away by the red-headed Spartan's facial expression.
I'll be nice, and let this one go. At least, that's what I want the ginger to think, since as she went to take my reading material of not porn, I quickly slipped my hand into her pocket, and took her room key card. I always needed an extra copy, but the only way to get these key cards is to bring them to someone who has sufficiently flexible morals and the technology skills needed to dupe the school's locking system. This really is why they don't let us use our scrolls to open the doors, but hey, when its this easy?

Meanwhile, Sun had decided that it was his turn to bid for Blake's attention, a justifiable concept. Since when did Blake ever so smoothly get along with anyone else like that? However, before Sun could even say a word, Tobias had pushed a book in his hands without looking up, shushing the monkey Faunus with his finger. The tech expert then shuffled over somewhat, allowing Sun some space to sit with the two readers, which Sun took no hesitation in assuming.
How is it, that this newcomer had so easily and smoothly got along with everyone except Weiss, even Ruby when the scythe wielder was at her greatest annoying potential?

Since when has Sun been so interested in books? Pardon the pun, but he always seems to be monkeying around in the most nonacademic way any other regular time.
As if Tobias had been listening in on my thoughts, he then got up, pointed to me, motioning me to follow as he began to walk away. Curious, I obeyed, putting the book down and my right hand on Crocea Mors. It never hurts to be prepared. Unlike the others, I know what Tobias' semblance is, but that only puts me at a severe disadvantage: knowing that his fancy ability has nothing to directly do with combat, Tobias' life had been split between going full geek into technology, or training for combat.

Weaving between the book cases, I then suddenly found myself facing my old friend, a old fashioned non-dust pistol of his and his older brother's old hobby in one hand, and Weiss's scroll in the other. The tip of the pistol was unique, with a long cylindrical attachment protruding from the end of the barrel: an addition which I knew from my time with the two brothers to be a silencer.

Ozpin's Office - Ozpin's Point of View

Sitting behind my desk as I always do, with a certain finesse and *fabulous*, I opened the glass container which encapsulated a spoon and multiple sugar cubes, using the spoon to drop a single spoon in the the hot coffee in the middle of my desk.

That's right.

Its on the middle of my desk.
Suggesting not that the paperwork I should be doing is the priority, but that my coffee takes priority over the affairs of my job.
That's right.

Sass.

Besides, its not every day that General Ironwood visits for the fun of it, any other day he would come spewing death, doom and gloom. Someone needs to annoy him, that Penny of his is just too sweet.
Maybe another lump of sugar...
Finally speaking up, Ironwood begins his little comments.

"Ozpin, shouldn't something other than coffee and sugar be on your desk?"

Totally called it. Of course he wouldn't be able to ignore my l33t sass.
"Yes, Ironwood, like what?"

Stroking at his chin in mock thoughtfulness, the military man tilted his head for dramatic effect, while nursing his own coffee.

"How about cream?"
Beacon Library - Jaune's Point of View

Uh...
Shit.
Why is there a gun pointed at my chest?

It's silenced too...

He could kill me now, disappear my corpse, and get away with it.
It wouldn't be the first time Tobias made someone disappear.
It wasn't the first time his older brother was in danger either.
Sometimes family members make debts, and those close to you help pay them off. Tobias never seems to lack money or the capacity to get things done.
In some ways, there are some things that Tobias can do that some of the most powerful militaries, even the Schnee Dust Company can't get away with.

Like a benevolent criminal.

The police force of Vale keep all their evidence copied on the central server, as well as all other relevant data.
Someone like Tobias could make every finger pointing at him vanish, while creating execution warrants for those accusing him.
The dark nerd wouldn't be above something like that, in fact...
I could swear that he's done it before.
And I just threatened him, with four fingers and a thumb doing nothing more than touching the hilt of a relic, a weapon of a very old war.

Ozpin's Office - Ozpin's Point of View

Ironwood, you smartass.
Cream? What the hell do you mean, no cream?
I need to keep up the impression that I drink black coffee, that glass jar is supposed to appear as a jar of mints, not sugar. Otherwise, who would take me seriously?
The fact that he mentioned cream proves that he noticed that it was the only thing which wasn't missing.
It means he saw right.

Through.

The.

Damn.

Jar.

But yet again, Ironwood always had the reputation as a marksman, the kind that requires very good eyes. No, wait a second, didn't I just add sugar to my coffee while he was RIGHT THERE? Damn, I need to pay more attention to what I do these days.

"General, we both know that there's a student who nearly shot a particular Mr. Arc, and you want to talk about cream and coffee?"

Rolling his eyes, the General revealed the scroll he had been holding between the desk. I had also been doing the same with my scroll, the pair of us watching the library security footage in our stakeout of watching Tobias.

"Naturally, my fine feathered headmaster."

With Ironwood's eyes lighting up, he offered an insight onto his latest idea onto me.

"We need to get Glynda into a maid's cosplay."

Beacon Library - Jaune's Point of View

Instead of ending my life, Tobias is offering me Weiss's scroll, while meaningfully looking at my right hand which rested on the hilt of my blade. Why isn't he killing me?

Frightened to the point that his hand trembled, Tobias seemed to have issues controlling his pocket protector as he spoke. "So this is what it is? End my brother, then me?"

That's right. My hand is on my sword. A mistake, really, when considering that the other person is carrying a set of blades designed to penetrate through the skull, even a rounded steel helmet, and still and gut the brain. Never knew he also carried a pistol, though, where was he concealing it? Trying to ease the situation, I answer the request.

"Oh... Sorry Tobias... Hey! You both are like cousins to me, I would never..."

Taking the offered scroll, I drop the hand which was on the hilt to my side, non-threateningly. In response, Tobias offers and apology.

"No, Jaune, I'm sorry. Here I am, back to the cruel teasing. I should be glad to be with an old friend again, especially when so much of my world has changed like this... And instead, I'm tormenting you and pointing a firearm at your gut. So you give that improved scroll back to Weiss. Tell her that a friend replaced it, with all her data that she lost with her destroyed scroll. Say that its a gift from that friend, who happens to develop scrolls for a living. Don't use my name, and take all the credit that you can, if needed, I'll back you up."

Nodding, easily, I sigh in relief as the other teenager lowered his weapon.

"I guess we're calling it even, Tobias?"

Doing some nodding of his own in agreement, the pair of us then walked back to the group together.
I far prefer this to being shot by an ancient silenced pistol in the library. Once we entered in sight of the group, who still were playing their board games, reading, and Blake sitting on Ruby, I stopped cold, nerves getting the better of me.

Tobias turning his head to look at me, as he stopped at the same time as I did, reflexively, he slaps me on the back, shoving me forwards to where Weiss sat, crying over the loss of her holdings in the board game.
This... Me shy with the girls, Tobias pointing guns at me, and him fixing tech to get me closer to someone of the opposite sex? Is just like old times.

I wonder what he's hiding...