Ch23: Seriously Weiss?!.
(Friday, M+3, D+21)
"The Vytal Festival! Oh, this is absolutely wonderful!" Weiss says with a smile.
"Who are you and what have you done with Weiss?" I say. "The real Weiss would never do something so plebeian as smile!"
She stares at me darkly before continuing as before. "A festival dedicated to the cultures of the world! There will be dances! Parades! A tournament! Oh, the amount of planning and organization that goes into this event is simply breathtaking!"
"Aaaannnddd there's the Weiss we know! Nice having you back." I say.
"What do you mean by that?" She asks.
"Oh, you know, somehow managing to turn a fun day in Vale boring. That kinda stuff." I say, a foghorn sounding somewhere in the distance, and the unsubtle stench of freshly caught fish reaching my nose.
"Remind me again why we're spending our Friday afternoon at the stupid docks?" Yang asks.
"They smell like fish." Ruby says, her sleeve in front of her face.
"I heard that the students visiting from Vacuo will be arriving by ship today. And as a student at Beacon, I feel that it is my duty to welcome them."
"So you mean spy on them." Yang says.
"You can't prove anything!"
"Whoa… What happened there?" Ruby says, seeing a storefront almost covered in police tape.
"Probably Roman again." I say, as we walk up.
"Who?" The group asks.
"You know, Roman Torchwick. I stopped three of his robberies. Dust shops appear to be his MO." I say, having done minor research on my foe.
"Oh yeah, that guy." Ruby says, remembering the fight that got her into Beacon.
"What happened here?" I ask the two familiar detectives standing in front of the shop.
"Robbery. Second Dust shop to be hit this week. This place is turning into a jungle." The detective that looks like Burnie says disgustedly, turning to his partner, who looks like Joel.
"That's horrible." Yang says quietly.
"They left all the money again." Detective Caboose says.
"Yeah, just doesn't make a lick of sense. Who needs that much Dust?" Detective Burns questions.
"I don't know, an army?"
"You thinking the White Fang?"
"Yeah, I'm thinking we don't get paid enough."
"Hmm!" Weiss crosses her arms and tilts her head upwards, "The White Fang. What an awful bunch of degenerates." 'Great. Frakking great.'
"What's your problem?" Blake asks confrontationally.
"My problem? I simply don't care for the criminally insane."
"That is quite far from the truth Weiss." I say. "The White Fang is comprised of Faunus. For as long as history can remember the Faunus race has been treated quite poorly. Even now. They're not insane. They're angry and misguided." I state calmly.
"Misguided!? They want to wipe humanity off the face of the planet!"
"When the right people say the right things, an entire nation can turn to evil. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're bad people. It just means that they were lied to, enraged, given a gun, and let loose."
"They're still a bunch of scum." Weiss huffs. "Those Faunus only know how to lie, cheat, and steal."
"Well then. this is getting us nowhere-" I say, before something cuts me off.
"Hey! Stop that Faunus!"I hear someone yell from the docks. We quickly walk to a nearby railing to investigate.
We see a blond Monkey Faunus run off a ship, mock assorted sailors and law-enforcement officials, and run off into the Sun-set.
"Quick! We have to observe him!" Weiss shouts, running after him.
Only to turn a corner and run face-first into a robot-girl.
"No, he got away!" Weiss says, unaware of the fact that she was laying on the ground on top of someone else.
"...Uhhh Weiss?" Yang says, pointing to Penny.
Weiss finally notices and quickly gets up, while Penny still lies on the ground.
"Sal-u-ta-tions!" Penny says.
"'Allo" I say.
"Uhhhh…" Ruby is confused.
"Are you… okay?" Yang asks, confused.
"I'm wonderful, thank you for asking." Still on the ground.
"You want to get up?" I ask.
"Yes!" She says, leaping to her feet.
"My name is Penny! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Hi Penny. I'm Ruby."
"I'm Weiss."
"Blake."
"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" Yang asks before Blake elbows her. "Oh, I'm Yang."
"Kurt."
"It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"You already said that." Weiss points out.
"... So I did!"
"Well, sorry for running into you!" Weiss says, capitalizing on the break in Penny's train of thought.
"Take care, friend!" Ruby says.
We quickly make our way in the general direction of away.
"She was… weird…" Yang comments.
"Now, where did that Faunus riff-raff run off to?" Weiss asks, looking around.
"What did you call me?" Penny says, popping up in front of Weiss.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I definitely didn't think you heard me!" Yang apologizes.
"No, not you." Penny says, moving to Ruby. "You!" She emphasizes, pointing at my little sister.
"Me? I-I don't know. I, what I, um, uh…" Ruby stutters, confused.
"You called me friend! Am I really your friend?" Penny asks, much to the dismay of the others.
"Ummm…" Ruby looks to us, seeing the others motioning negatively. "Y-yeah, sure! Why not?"
The girls faint and I just stand there.
"Sen-sational! We can paint our nails, and try on clothes, and talk about cute boys." Penny says excitedly.
"Oh, was this what it was like when you met me?" Ruby asks Weiss. 'Probably about something that happened in the Forest.'
"No- she seems far more coordinated." Weiss says.
"So… what are you doing in Vale?" Yang asks Penny.
"I'm here to fight in the tournament." She answers.
"Wait, you're here to fight in the tournament?" Weiss asks, surprised.
"I'm combat ready!" Penny says, saluting.
"Forgive me, but you hardly look the part." Weiss says.
"Says the girl wearing a dress." Blake jabs.
"It's a combat skirt!" Weiss retorts, Ruby zipping to her side.
"Yeah!" My little sister says, as they low-five.
"Wait a minute." Weiss says, walking over to Penny and grabbing her shoulders. "If you're here for the tournament, does that mean you know that monkey-tailed rapscallion?"
"The who…?" Penny asks, confused.
"The filthy Faunus from the boat!"
"Why do you keep saying that?!" Blake asks angrily.
"Huh?" Weiss turns to Blake.
"Stop calling him a rapscallion! Stop calling him a degenerate!" Blake angrily tells Weiss.
"He's a person, just like the rest of us." I say, gesturing widely.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Weiss says, releasing Penny from her clutches. "Would you like me to stop referring to the trash can as a trash can? Or this lamppost as a lamppost?"
"Stop it!" Blake yells angrily.
"Stop what? He clearly broke the law. Give him time; he'll probably join up with those other faunus in the White Fang!"
I just stare angrily at Weiss, unable to form speak without using every curse word I know. And then using German to make more.
"You ignorant little brat!" Blake angrily growls.
Blake walks away and Weiss follows her.
"Call me when it's over. I'm getting tired of Weiss." I say to my sisters, barely managing to keep my voice under control. "If weiss hasn't calmed down by the end of the day, let me know." *bamf*
"Hey Kurt! What brings you here today?"
"Not much Tuckson. Couple of my teammates just decided that today would be a wonderful day to get into a quite irritating argument. Got anything on vehicle engineering?" I ask, looking for information on one of my many projects.
"You read a lot of technical books for a Hunter in training." Tuckson remarks, walking into the back to find the books for me, motioning for me to follow.
"I'm a very creative person, what can I say."
"What do you think about the White Fang?" He asks out of the blue.
"Why do you ask?"
"I… I don't know. I used to think they were the answer to our problems. Now, I can see that what we do only creates more problems. We were supposed to be a symbol of unity." He says sullenly.
"I'd have to agree with you. You planning on pulling a runner?"
"Word is we're planning something big. I don't want to be around anymore when that happens. I don't want to be a part of it."
"I agree. If I were you, I'd be quiet about it. Don't make any noise, don't rock the boat. Just have a plan ready. When your exit strategy is ready, leave. What I'm saying is, be VERY careful. I don't think the White Fang appreciates deserters, or even those that are just thinking about it." I caution, remembering his fate on the show.
"Thanks. What you're looking for should be over here." He says, pointing to a row of shelves.
"Thanks Tuckson." I say, reading the spines of the books to find what I'm looking for.
"Why vehicle mechanics?" He asks, standing at the end of the row. "Trying to make yourself a car?"
"Something better than a car. Much better." I say cryptically.
"Alright then. Make sure everything goes back where you found it when you're done."
"I will."
[An hour and a half later.]
"Alright, here's your change." Tuckson says.
"Thanks."
"Kurt, could you do me a favor? I need this delivered to the Den. That club out in the commercial district. the address is on the box. Deliver it to a man named Junior." He says.
"What's in the package?" I ask, suspicious.
"Just a few books on drink mixing. There are a few drinks in there that he doesn't sell. Yet."
"Alrighty then. See you later." I say, walking outside.
I bamf to my room to drop off the books I'd bought and then bamf back to the city to drop off the package at Junior's.
[About fifteen minutes later, The Den.]
"Hey, kid. What're you doin here?" The bouncer asks, blocking my way.
"Delivery." I say, holding up the package. "For your boss."
"Alright." He says, stepping out of my way.
"Where would your boss be, exactly?" I ask the bouncer as I walk past.
"In the back, past the DJ booth, take a left, third door on the right." He says.
"Thanks."
*Whistling* I whistle the tune of Piano Man while walking through the club to the door next to the DJ booth. I notice that most of the employees are armed with pistols, the occasional axe or sword, and a handful of assault rifles. 'I guess Yang taught them a lesson.'
"What are you doing here?" A girl dressed in red asks, holding a similarly-colored claw in my face, blocking the door next to the DJ booth.
"I'm here to deliver something to Junior." I say, holding the package up as emphasis.
"I'll take it to him." She says, reaching for it.
"Oi!" I say, pulling the package out of her reach. "I was told to give this to Junior, and I intend to make sure it gets to him."
She just looked at me angrily and stepped aside.
I nod to her and walk down the hallway, knocking on Junior's door.
"Who is it?"
"Package from Tuckson."
"Come in, it's open."
I open the door to see Junior sitting on a couch, opposite one of his men, something very similar to a Tommy gun on the table.
"Tuckson sends his regards." I say, tossing the package to him.
"Thanks." Junior says, pulling out his wallet. "Here's your money." He says, giving me twenty Lien.
"Sweet." I say, tucking the money into my greatcoat.
"Now, I know I just met you, but since you're here, would you mind delivering something for me?" He says. 'Wunderbar. Another delivery.'
"Sure, why not."
"Alright, I need this package," He hands me a relatively small box with an address written on it. "To be delivered to that address." He walks to the corner and picks up his bat/rocket-launcher. "If anyone asks you, this never happened." He says, shifting the bat into a rocket launcher.
"HAHAHA!" I start to laugh uncontrollably. "Okay then. but I don't really think you're in a position to threaten me." I say, pulling one of the flaps of my greatcoat to the side to show the various grenades, explosives and magazines attached to the inside. "Honestly." I tell him, "A bribe would have worked much better." I tuck my coat back, turn around and walk out, package in hand and Junior and his employee staring dumbly at the walking arsenal that is me. I pull out my headphones, put them on, and hit shuffle.
*Come on Carolina! Have fun Carolina!*
[AN: Come on Carolina courtesy of Jeff Williams and the wonderful people at Roosterteeth.]
I hum along and walk out of the club, heading to the address written on top of the box.
[About half an hour later.]
I walk up to the row of tenement houses. 'Nope, nope, nope, there it is.'
I walk up a couple of steps to the door and press the doorbell, which produces a musical chime. After about ten seconds, the door opens, revealing. 'Oh.' I think, surprised. 'Run? Stay? Run? Stay? Run? Oh, frakkit, stay.' I think, debating whether to run or stay, deciding to deliver the parcel without fleeing for my life (yet).
"Package from Junior." I say. "Anyone in specific that I should give it to?" I ask the pint-sized powerhouse.
'"Nope."' I hear. 'Wait, is it just me or did her lips not move?'
"Did you just?" I ask, horribly confused.
'"Wait, you heard me?"'
"Yeees." I say, still confused. "Or the voices in my head are back, either way." I say, shrugging.
'*Giggling*'
"Alright then." I say, shivering. "What's in the box, if I might ask?"
'"Just some fabric for my parasol. It got a few holes in it. And a list of contracts."' I hear, as she pulls her parasol from a can next to the door, opening it to reveal a few large bullet holes. '.50, I'd guess.'
"How'd you get those? I wouldn't expect someone of your… appearance... to get into a firefight. I'm honestly a bit impressed. And also a bit terrified."
'"Sniper. Caught me when I wasn't expecting it."'
"Hmm… how do you fight with a parasol? Is there some sort of gun or sword you carry alo-" I stop abruptly when she pulls the sword from the parasol's handle. "Cool."
'"You're being quite calm about all of this."'
"I've had weirder days. My name's Kurt." I say, holding out my right hand.
'"Neopolitan. But most people call me Neo."' She says, shaking it, '"Come inside. It'll be nice to talk with someone for once."'
"Alright." I say, stepping inside to the small tenement's main room. Neo sits down at a small table and motions for me to do the same. "Nice place you've got here." I say offhand, looking around to see a rather unassuming dwelling. "What did you mean, 'It'll be nice to talk with someone for once.'?"
'"I'm mute."'
"Alright then. So, what did you want to talk about?"
'"I want to know why Junior didn't send one of his men."'
"I delivered something to him and he decided to ask me to deliver your package to you and said I quote 'If anyone asks you, this never happened.', while threatening me with a large rocket launcher."
'"How sweet of him."'
"I, of course decided to one-up him. And then walked here to deliver your package."
'"One-up him with what?"'
"These." I say, standing up and pulling my greatcoat apart, revealing my small arsenal.
'"Oh. Where'd you get those?"'
"That's for me to know. Maybe I'll tell you some other time."
*Red like roses fills my dreams*
"Sorry about that." I say, pulling my scroll from my pocket. "Hey sis. What. Seriously. Alright, I'm coming." I talk into my scroll, hearing Ruby tell me that Blake ran out. I put the scroll back in my pocket. "Sorry, I've got to go. A friend of mine ran off. Some days I just can't catch a break." I sigh, standing up. "Nice to meet you Miss Neo. See you later." I hold out my hand and she shakes it.
'"See you too."' She says, a strange gleam in her eye.
"Bye." I say, walking out and slipping on my HUD-glasses. I walk a few blocks, making random turns to make sure I'm not being followed which, for a change, I'm not.
*Bamf*
"Hey Blake. Isn't that the guy from the boat?"
"AAAHHH!" Sun jumps up, screaming in a manly fashion
"How'd you find me?" Blake asks.
"Ruby called and told me you'd bolted. I guessed you couldn't have gotten too far. My next stop would've been the airship docks. Figured you'd want some time away from the Ice Queen." I say, walking towards Ozpin's tower.
"Where are you going?" She asks me.
"I'm going to talk to Ozpin. I've got a favor to ask of him."
"Who's he?" I hear Sun ask, having just landed after leaping surprisingly high in the air.
"One of my teammates." She says, as I see her lead Sun towards the airship docks.