Enjoy, friends.
-Phoenyx

"You wanted us, headmaster?" Jaune hesitated at his own question, still on the receiving end from Yang's occasional glower. The Headmaster nodded, pressing both hands onto his cane - whether for support or by habit was hard to tell. "Yes, thank you for being prompt. However, I ask you to follow me to my office, as the subject matter is one regarding Beacon's security."

"Of course." Pyrrha was quick to accept the offer, earning a glance from Jaune and Yang's glower. It soured his mood a bit, though he couldn't deny that he had just become leader. Such a change was likely to take some adjustment. Ozpin nodded and set off down the hallway. They followed closely behind, though the silence made Jaune feel uneasy.

This is most definitely about that Spider-Blighted-Grimm… thing. No way that it isn't. I haven't ever heard of anything like that. He shook his head at the inner monologue, closing his eyes for a few steps and rubbing at his temple. Should remember what I can so I have answers ready.

"Mind the step." The Headmaster warned as a set of doors dinged open. He was first to step in, gathering himself to the side so that team Juniperberry could squeeze into the cramped space. Jaune found himself comfortably uncomfortably close to all three of his teammates. "I apologize for the space. I'm afraid it's not as spacious as I'd hoped when I had it bui-"

"Say, is that your sword or are you happy to see me!?" Yang cut in, shimmying her shoulder back into Jaune's and playing about a look between coy and teasing. Stuck in an elevator with three girls that easily classify as supermodels. He felt his neck go red, so he closed his eyes and took a breath. It didn't help, instead only making three scents known; cherry, cinnamon, and something flowery. Yang chortled. Oh, kill me now.

She shifted and threw her elbow onto his shoulder, leaning her face close and biting her thumb. "Aw, someone's enjoying the attention."

Surprisingly, he was. Kill me... in five minutes.

"You're such a bother." Blake sighed from his right. He'd have agreed, except all that had done was spurn Yang further before his mouth could open. "Oh, I know. He's-"

"Miss Xiao-Long," Ozpin came to his defense as well. "While I appreciate the strong relationships that can be cultivated between my students…"

That killed it.

"You're all no fun." She grumbled during Ozpin's speech, drawing back off of him and giving him a slight bit more room to not suffocate. With an exhale, he cracked his eyes open and did his best to pretend like he didn't need to adjust his armor and itch his hot skin. The sobering thought helped kill it on the spot. How sad that a little attention does this to me. How sad that it's not even real.

His frown deepened as the doors chimed open again. Catching his partner's eye, he was first out behind the Headmaster, coming to a stop under the large cogs and gears overhead. Jaune traced the complex system, trying to figure out exactly what it powered. Finding nothing, he set his sights back onto the Headmaster, who had made himself busy pouring himself a mug of some drink - likely coffee.

"Now, if you would please, enlighten me on the thing you encountered within the Emerald Forest. I'm curious as to how you came across such a threat."

"Sir, I-"

"The question was not intended for you, Ms. Nikos." The Headmaster lifted his mug to his lips and drank deeply in the extended silence. Pyrrha looked chastised, clamping her jaw shut after a quick apology. "Mr. Arc, any questions I ask your team should be assumed to be answered by you unless otherwise specified."

"Okay." Jaune drew out the 'oh' as he glanced between his team. The frown that came to his face deepened. "With all respect, Headmaster, my team are my equals. I don't care if I'm called the leader, I won't overshadow them."

"Hm." The older man sat back and steepled his fingers over his stomach. After a few moments in which Jaune squirmed under his gaze, the man nodded with only a ghost of approval in his tone. "Very well. Ms. Nikos, I believe I interrupted you?"

"Yes…" Pyrrha shot Jaune a glance, though it was hard tell if she was grateful through the measured expression she wore. Her head had turned back towards the Headmaster before he could decipher that look. A quick glance to Yang and Blake held similar results, though the blonde gave him a discreet thumbs up. When Pyrrha did speak, her words were painfully obviously chosen with care. "Jaune and I decided that it was a possibility that the cave in which we encountered the… uhm…"

"Blighted." Jaune supplied. Ozpin's eyes flicked to him for a moment, but no comment was made. Pyrrha nodded and gave a gesture towards him at the word. "Blighted, yes. At first we discovered some sort of organic fluid coating the cave floor… I suppose that just calling this Blight would be apt…"

"It seems to fit."

"Then… uhm." She shifted, uncomfortable. It took a few moments for it to click that she was recalling the spider. He considered how she had froze and stepped forwards. "Then we ran into that thing. There were some words uttered, by me mostly. A bit of high pitched screaming…"

"Also you." Yang added with a wide smile. Jaune winced at the brute honesty. "We could hear you from where we were at. Decided to go see what girl needed help."

"Which is when we ran into Pyrrha." Blake filled while Jaune shot his fellow blonde a narrowed glare. The Headmaster held up a hand and leaned forwards on his elbows. His stare transfixed Jaune as much as his words. "Mr. Arc, I am curious as to why you decided to sacrifice yourself for somebody you had just met."

"Ah…" That got him stares from the team as well, most notably with Pyrrha wearing a complex expression. He felt his face heat up and scratched at the back of his neck. "Well… Pyrrha's a world class champion and her weapon couldn't pierce the thing…"

"But yours could." His partner frowned. Jaune nodded, his eyes never leaving Ozpin. "I figured that it wouldn't be a great loss if she survived and a nobody farm boy from Woad didn't."

Silence reigned over the room. Each second that passed made him feel more uneasy, something that wasn't exactly helped by the way everyone was staring at him. Blake and the Headmaster had blank expressions, though the gears were turning in their heads. Yang looked surprisingly distraught, if not a bit angry, while Pyrrha just seemed like she didn't - or couldn't - believe him.

Finally, it broke.

"Tell me about your sword."

"Uh. Family heirloom, named Crocea Mors. It's been passed down in my family for generations, used in many wars and by many heroes."

"Ah, and despite this it hasn't ever been used to spill human blood, correct?"

"Yeah… how-" Jaune cut the question short. "Right. My dad went here."

"Grandfather too." The man leaned back again, sipping at his drink "Why did it cut through this… blighted?"

"I don't know."

"Well, tell me more then. Did it require a strong strike?"

"No, it most definitely didn't." Pyrrha said. "He was making to parry a strike, I was certain he was dead because of it. That thing was strong, and it wasn't a particularly good defense..."

She trailed, Jaune winced.

"But his weapon just sort of… cut it."

"It also left fire on the wound." Blake crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Seemed to really hurt the… blighted."

"Very interesting. I have kept you long enough, however. I'm certain you are all in need of rest. Glynda should be waiting for you on the ground floor." Ozpin stood, walking them to the elevator. "I shall send for a more detailed report during your Grimm Studies class. I'm certain Peter would enjoy the story. Good night, students."

"Good night." Jaune and the others echoed as the door closed. Once the lift began to descend, he let out a breath and felt tension he hadn't recognized leave his shoulders. "Well."

"That was something. Do I finally get my sleep." Yang leaned her back to the wall, resting her head and letting her eyes close. "Fighting takes a lot out of a girl."

"I hope we do." Pyrrha slid her scroll out of a pouch and checked the time. "It's pretty late."

"Do you wonder why he didn't ask anything about how the blighted had got there?" Blake frowned, something that Jaune mirrored. She was right. The Headmaster had stated that it was a matter of security, but didn't seem at all surprised by a new, uncategorized threat… He seemed more interested in trivial information. How it was found, his sword, his reasonings. Yang made a noncommittal noise. "He probably just forgot, Blakey."

"With all that caffeine in his system?" The black haired girl huffed in response. "He downed three cups of coffee during the ceremony. Three cups in two hours, and a fourth just now."

"It is a bit suspect." Pyrrha pursed her lips. "I suppose he does have his reasons, though."

"And you trust that? Jaune and Yang sustained injuries through Aura." Blake argued, setting her sights on the redhead. "Didn't think that was important?"

"I…" Her conviction wavered, "I don't know."

"I don't like it when our mom and sis fight." Yang whispered to Jaune, leaning close to avoid being heard under another one of Blake's biting replies. "Dad, do something!"

"Yang, I hate you. And don't call me dad." Jaune muttered back with only a slight bit of belief in the first statement. Still, he moved forwards in the small space and raised his hands in an attempt to placate the debate. "Hey, guy- uh, girls. Let's talk about this back on our room? Or after we get some rest, clear our heads?"

Both shot him a look, neither too happy. Almost like clockwork, they simultaneously seemed to waver, then take a breath to clear out whatever heat was left. "That seems like a grand idea." Pyrrha was the first to speak, opening her mouth to say something to Blake as the elevator dinged. The doors open, and left a tired, frazzled looking Glynda Goodwitch.

"No bunk beds." She snapped almost immediately. Her hand came up to massage a temple, voice calming as the woman collected herself. "Follow me, memorize the route, and please stay somewhat quiet. Team Rowan has given me quite the headache."

"Yes ma'a-" Jaune stopped as the deputy turned to lead them away, doing his best not to join in on Yang's silent chuckle as they followed. So Ruby's team were troublemakers… considering Ruby and Nora, he didn't see it as much of a surprise. Much less that Weiss was someone who could easily be the strict type… He couldn't help the smile, whispering to Yang. "Ruby's team sounds like a recipe for disaster."

"Yeah. They'll probably get all the long, tough assignments." She smiled, "Go across the continent, break this ice statue. Then go back across and fight this Lizard Grimm. Then go here and spend hours freeing council members…"

"Jeez, Yang. What an imagination." Jaune chuckled along with her, earning himself a friendly punch in the shoulder. His good shoulder, luckily. "What else?"

"Hmm.. oh! What if they're doing it all just to get some random cooking ingredients?" The look on his face must have been quite something, judging by the way that Yang threw back her head and cackled at his face. He blinked twice, the noise drawing a glare from Goodwitch while Yang worked to control her laughter. After a few moments, however, he found himself caught up in her mirth, which in turn prompted Pyrrha and Blake to ask. After the story was told again, Pyrrha was covering her mouth and stifling a giggle, while Blake rolled her eyes and muttered something about 'Strange teammates.' Even Ms. Goodwitch raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes, her face losing a few of their stress lines. "Your room is here." The older woman stated, ignoring the sound of arguing and banging from the door across the hall. "I made the decision to settle your room across from team Rowan's, due to the fact that you're all likely to become friends by extension of the siblings."

"Sounds like a plan." Jaune shifted his weight and settled his hand on the hilt of his blade. "What are we supposed to do with our equipment?"

"Tonight, you stow it in your room. Tomorrow you will be reassigned permanent lockers and be provided uniforms to wear around the school grounds." She let out a long exhale, "Do be sure not to create too much of a ruckus. Other teams are trying to sleep, unlike Ms. Rose's."

"Thank you, Ms. Goodwitch." Pyrrha smiled. Glynda Goodwitch returned it politely, though hers was tight and brief. She waved her scroll over the pad on the side of the door, to which it beeped and clicked. "In you go. By tomorrow, your scrolls will be synced up to Beacon's network properly, and as such you will be able to unlock your door properly. Gather in the cafeteria for breakfast at eight sharp, where the rest of your day will be planned out as well. Sleep well, team Juniperberry."

"Good night, Professor." Jaune replied, followed by the other three. Ms. Goodwitch looked between the three of them, before turning and striding off. As she went, Jaune caught a muttering of words. "Juniper berry is supposed to be two words…"

"Okay then." He sighed, turned, and shouldered his way into the room. Or, shouldered was the most apt way he could describe how he simply leaned into the door and slugged his way to the nearest bed. The door was just an unfortunate bystander in his path. "I am ready to sleep. All in favor?"

"I." Was the resounding response, followed by the sound of armor and weapons clinking and clacking together as the team made themselves comfortable. Some rearranging of sleeping arrangements was done, with Blake preferring a bed near the window, and Jaune preferring one near the door. It felt surprisingly comfortable to be sleeping in the same room as three other girls, though he was more accustomed to them being related to him by blood. Far too tired to think on the fact that they weren't related to him, were all gorgeous in their own right, and he hadn't completely embarrassed himself yet...
"We'll need to get you proper bandages tomorrow, Jaune." Pyrrha told him, "And we'll have to clean the wound again."

"Okay. Sounds like a good idea." Jaune smiled at her, twisting in his bed and dropping his body like a rock. His head hit the pillow, bounced, then remained still. Things are going well… And they'll continue to go well. I fit here.
The next two weeks would tell him otherwise.

Lemme know what you think.
-Phoenyx

Advice for the Aspiring Author: Purple Prose

'It was a dark and stormy night...'

I'm certain, as a writer, that you've heard this phrase mocked before. It's considered the quintessential example of a melodramatic style known as 'purple prose'

The entire opening sentence is a chore to read. Over the top, unnecessary detail.

'It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets(for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.'

Now, one or two sentences, or paragraphs, among a story that read like this are fine, but you write like this the entire time and you'll find your readers bored and fatigued from just how much information you end up trying to pack into. The hallmark of a good writer, in my opinion, is one that can say the most with as little as possible. So how do we avoid it, how do we do that?

Well, take a look at the previous aforementioned sentence. In one sentence, there are 9 adjectives, 4 points of view, and you have exactly no idea what's going on in the scene. I can think of two separate ways to accomplish the exact same setting without going too far into the purple prose.

'It was a dark, stormy night, and the wind was rattling the housetops of London.'

Or, if you want to be completely pure; 'It was a dark, stormy night.'

So why avoid purple prose?

Some people like purple prose, they really do. Now I'm not saying they're wrong for liking it, but from the standpoint of being a storyteller, and an effective author, all the flowery language is distracting and detracting from your plot and scene. It's like the Michael Bay effects of writing; Too many explosions. These people tend to miss that you don't need to be into purple prose to have flowery writing. In the same vein, not all flowery writing is purple prose.

So how do you avoid purple prose?

Cut adjectives and keep from swapping points of view. You don't need an adjective to describe every look between characters, every way the character says or does something. You don't need to show everything, sometimes you just need to let the scene be interpreted.

As funny as it sounds, I treat all writing as if I were to be writing erotica; Provide the scene, and let the imagination do the work.