Chapter Eleven: Broken and Disappointed

Two days later, Monday evening. Just shy of 6 pm. "Carmine!" The feminine hand snaps the thumb and middle finger loudly. The boy flinches, eyes going wide. Standing within the work shop, he grounds himself back in his work. Before him and Blair was a bench full of multiple shaped metal plates and armors.

The boy rubs at his eyes. "Sorry. Are we ready to start putting this together?" He opens tired eyes towards the blonde, who raises a brow at him.

"If you pay attention, yes..." She gives his a stink eye look. "Are you sure you're sleeping enough?"

He chuckles weakly, slapping both cheeks with open hands. "Yeah, yeah! I'm fine! Lezzz do dis!" A flick hits his temple. "Ow!"

"Speak correctly." Blair snaps, not amused. "Now, assuming we've made all the necessary adjustments, input and connected all the dust ports and locking mechanisms, the sleeves for the interlocking blades, we need to make sure it fits to your size."

Carmine blushes, the mental remembrance of the frigid woman taking his measurements flashing in his mind from the day before. He'd been made to stand still in shorts and a tight t-shirt and stand still for ten minutes... Blair's hands are cold. He shivers at the thought.

"Now then, which armor combination do you wish to put on first?" Blair questions, raising a brow.

"Probably the one I plan to be the default. Arm sleeve." He answers, only to get tugged in. "Whoa- hey! I got it! I got it fine! You don't need to- WHA-"

As the woman and boy fight with the metal components to fit them together, Rowa enters the shop. Finding the two at the benches, she snickers and walks over. "So how's it... coming?" Her eyes widen as Blair steps away from the boy. Upon stepping away, Blair stands next to Rowa, eyeing the boy.

Carmine stood, arms held out. On top of his torso, over his jacket, metal plates sit locked into a thin, form fitted smooth breastplate. A cool light gray in color. His right arm remains a simple jacket sleeve, while his left arm, previously sleeveless, now had smaller plating locked into an armored sleeve. The plates end at the hand, fitted to sit over the knuckles, small two inch blades sticking past the knuckle.

Rowa releases an impressed whistle. "Cool armor!"

His eyes were wide, bright, a mad grin forming as he shakes his arm. "HeheheHAHA! This. Is. AWESOME!"

"Now, time for the defense test." Blair states plainly, hand reaching for Florescent Finish.

"Wait what?" Carmine asks, confused. The conversation cuts with Blair moving like lightning, sword drawn and slashing overhead. Carmine reacts with a flinch, raising his left arm in mock defense, right arm supporting it.

CLANG! Sparks fly off as the golden blade halts on the armored arm. Rowa's jaw drops. "Blair! You just attacked the kid!"

However, the blonde merely smirks. "You blocked me." Though she wasn't going to admit it was only 20% speed. "But you're still too slow." Instantly, the sword runs down the armored sleeve, pulling back, before she thrusts forward. The point jabs directly into the smooth breastplate, propelling Carmine off his feet and down the workshop area.

He hits hard into one of the load bearing pillars, yelping out. "ACK!"

Blair keeps her smirk, sheathing her blade. Hmm, so his current point blank reaction speed is between 20 and 25% her own speed. Impressive for his age. Rowa, however, continued to shriek. "BLAIR! WARN THE BOY DAMN IT!"

"He's fine." Blair states plainly. As if in answer, Carmine slides back up on his feet, with wide eyes.

He pats his right hand down his left arm. No damage to the armor. Both hands come to his chest, patting several times. "Ha... haha! It WORKS!" The excitement from the boy makes Rowa calm down next to the blonde.

Said blonde huffs a laugh. "Don't get ahead of yourself! Get back over here!" She glances at her partner as the boy rushes over. A smirk comes on, pride and glee reaching her normally cold eyes. Rowa pouts at her.

"Oh shut up." She snaps.

"Here I couldn't believe my entire team doubted the boy and I could make the weapon work."

"He still needs to transform, and I don't see mechanical systems in it." Rowa defends weakly.

"Like he said, his semblance is the system." Blair response haughty.

Carmine strolls on up, grinning. "Alright, it works! Held up perfectly!" He looks at the violet haired woman, chuckling nervously. "Sorry, did you need her for something?"

The woman simply blinks at the kid for a second before shrugging. "I was just seeing what she was up to. Didn't think I'd find her abusing a youngling."

"Hey!" Carmine pouts, blowing a raspberry as Blair shrugs. He sighs, looking back at the blonde. "Okay, so... now we gotta try a switch?"

Blair raises a hand to stop. "Just... see if you can get it off and on first." The redhead pauses a moment, but nods understanding. The blonde leans to Rowa. "This is the system." Then towards Carmine. "Remember to set a feel for this armor configuration."

"Right!" The boy grins, closing his eyes and concentrating. His arms cross, fingers brushing along the metal. "Hmph. HA!" He snaps his left arm out, an aqua green flash sparking around his arm and chest! All the metal flickers and disappears from the boy's person. Then, all the metal pieces flash into place back on the bench, all separate.

Rowa's jaw drops, head tilting. "Haeee?!"

"Oh, his semblance is time related. He calls it Recall. Did I forget to mention this detail?" Blair smirks. That makes the violette snap wide eyes towards her. "He can infuse his aura with an object and recall it to a previous state. This is how he will switch between his armor modes."

Sending another wide eyed glance at the boy, Rowa starts to calm. "Oh... Oh, semblance stuff. That's why you worked well with him." She leans over to Blair, whispering. "You realize once he's our age, he's going to be a beast, right?"

"Hmm." Blair grunts in agreement, sparking a stink eye from the girl.

"You're not grooming him, are you?" The partner's question causes Blair to recoil in disgust, wide eyed, as a furious and angry flush takes her face.

"How dare you! That's disgusting!" The blonde snaps at her, seething.

The violette holds her hands up in surrender, flinching back. "Well, you've never voluntarily spent this much time with someone! I had to ask!"

Carmine blinks at the two, confused. "What's grooming?" Immediately, both women snap answers.

"It's nothing. Do not ask!" Blair snaps angrily.

"If you're ever uncomfortable, say no, Carmine." Rowa curtly adds.

The blonde's hand claps over her partner's mouth, effectively silencing her. She takes a moment to breath in and out, calming down and regaining authority. "Go ahead and make sure you can call the armor back on."

He raises his brow at the two women. However, he shrugs before facing all the armor pieces. His left arm reaches out as he closes his eyes. Moments pass, the boy reaching out with his aura... finding the aura within each and every piece.

"Ngh!" He grunts, gritting his teeth and focusing. Fast forward. Fast forward and call the armor to its completed state... Call it... "GAH!" The aqua flash sparks as the armor flickers into place on his person. He sways lightly, reaching up to his head.

The two women burst forward. "Carmine!" Rowa steadies the kid, Blair looking back and forth. "What happened?"

Carmine shakes himself back, head throbbing. "Ow... That was the first time I recalled something forward. Different feeling, but... it was also the first time recalled an object two times in a row."

Realization dawns on Blair as she taps her chin. "Right... feeling out your aura in other objects gets more difficult the more ways you can act on it. It can stress the mind." She grimaces, glaring off. "I should have accounted for that."

"How many forms is this supposed to have?" Rowa adds. That makes the boy and blonde share a concerned glance.

"... As with any semblance, practice will help." Blair starts slightly hesitant, but gains confidence. "With experience, feeling out such differences between the armor's states will be easier." The boy's grimace at that was like ice water being dumped on his mood.

"So... just keep practicing it until it stops hurting." He paled lightly at that. "Great..."

"What about word association?" The two glance at the violet haired woman. She raises a finger for attention, smiling. "The mind can create links between feelings and experiences through association. If a rat receives food after pulling a lever, it will learn to pull the lever when it wants food. SO!" She grins chipper. "Associate each form with a word, and your mind will follow. It will still take time, but you should be able to learn quite quickly with it."

The boy simply stared at her, processing that until he glances at the blonde. Blair nods and smirks. "She takes Psyche courses."

This got the boy to turn back to the other woman, giving a shy smile and nod. "Um, thank you. I'll be sure to try that."

"With that, you should be fine to work out the other armor modes yourself. The pieces all fit together perfectly." Blair straightens herself. "Be sure to find me if you need further help."

"But you'll insult me if I forget anything you said the first time." Carmine says with a pout. Expecting a response, he eyes the blonde... and she merely smirks and gives a nod. As if saying, 'yes, I will. And?' The boy chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks Blair." He turns to Rowa, slightly nervous. "And thanks for the advice. Sorry to bother you guys."

"Hey! It's nothing. We're happy to help. It's what Huntresses do." Rowa waves him off with a grin. At that, Carmine gives Blair another nod before leaving the shop, wearing his new tool... The violette turns to the blonde, grinning. "Aw... you made a lifelong friend."

The blonde was already turning and walking away, making the other woman follow. "Hmm."

"That wasn't a no! Holy crap you actually care about a human being beyond duty!"

"Stop psychoanalyzing."

"I can't! Too proud!"

. . .

Tuesday afternoon, almost 1 pm. Students flock about through the campus grounds. The sun shines bright, beautifully. Slightly humid, probably from the rain the other day. Along the concrete path, walking towards the fountain, a blonde man, two hairs sticking upward on top, walks casually along the academy grounds.

A nostalgic smile came on as blue eyes flick around at the architecture. His muscular arms cross as he nods in approval of some of the various students. Wearing brown cargo shorts, a tan button up shirt with no sleeves, a red bandanna on his left arm, a black finger less glove on his right hand, and black shoes. Emblazoned on his right arm was a fresh tattoo of a stylized heart.

The man continues to walk onward, making his way to the main halls of Beacon. Despite the easy going smile on his face, a small pull of dread filled him. As he enters the elevator to the headmaster's office, he lets the smile drop, sighing long.

A ding sounds, doors opening as he moves through another door into a room he hadn't seen in years. A whistle escapes him as he grins. "Exactly the same! Looking just as majestic as ever!"

Professor Ozpin glances up, a ghostly grin lifting. "Nice to see you, Taiyang. I trust you've been well?"

The blonde snickers. "Yeah, well. When one daughter learns she has super speed and tries to wonder how fast she has to go to floor the other daughter... then the other daughter turns that energy back again..." His head dips, shaking. A groaning sigh leaves him. "Three days of house repair."

The headmaster laughs lightly. "Ah, children will be that way." He sees a slight shift in the man, but that subject can wait. "You have files for me?"

Tai smirks, producing a flash drive from his pocket. "Updated files on each and every student. We have a good crop this year. Not groundbreaking, but they'll be fantastic. Trust me." He flicks the drive over the desk, the silver haired man deftly catching it with ease. "If you got any questions on then while I'm here, I'm happy to answer."

"I'm sure I'll have some questions at some point." He moves to close out the holographic computer window on his desk as Tai moves around.

Just before he's able to close it, the blonde raises a brow. "Security camera footage? That's not good." His light crack was only half in jest. "Who has your attention?"

Ozpin hesitates in closing the window, eyeing the clip of Carmine and Blair from the campus grounds. "I've had suspicions for a while, but it would seem it is harmless."

"May I have a looksee?" The elder nods, leaning back in his chair and allowing the blonde to lean towards the screen. The event plays out, Blair jabbing her sheath into the boy's chest, knocking him down. Shortly after, she helps him up and sends him on his way. After, she interacts with her weapon, but it's not very clear.

Having knowledge of their personalities, I was worried when I saw how this interaction occurred. "The headmaster states openly."

Tai stands straight, crossing his arms with a curious look. "It's weird, but you have to admit it's not the weirdest. Hell, Raven twisted my arm backwards the first time I pitched a tent in the dorm our first year."

"Perhaps an overreaction on my part, but after evaluating her fighting, I grew more concerned." He taps at a holographic board. Immediately, a new recording pulls up and plays, the blonde now sparing with the coyote faunus. A weapon malfunction occurs as Blair takes a shot, jabbing him with her sheath again.

"A preferred move?" Tai asks.

"Only against opponents she's never faced before. She does use her sheath to turn her weapon into a club when she cannot cut an object though. However, she always uses that specific jab when facing someone new." Ozpin lays out.

"That is strange. She could've broken his aura and won the fight earlier if she simply used the blade." Tai nods along. "She had to know that, so there has to be a reason for that." He considers for a moment, eyes remaining on the screen. "You want me to take a cursory look into it? I got some spare time."

Ozpin lightly smirks, considering. "I would not wish to keep you from your girls longer than necessary."

Tai waves him off. "Ah, Qrow has them today. Made sure to stock two days worth of alcohol to keep him home with them." The sentence hangs as a small quiet comes over them. Tai's grin slowly pulls as Ozpin meets his eyes. "So... where is he?" The older man regards him for a moment, eventually letting out a small sigh.

. . .

Tai walks through a doorway, entering into the advanced training room. He pauses upon entering, hearing a metallic bang, metal on metal. Clashes and clangs echo out as the boy's grunts sound as well. The blonde glances around, finding one hexagonal column risen up form the ground as a spire. Around it, at varying heights, rods protrude, rotating around the column at the same height level.

Oh! Tai's smile brightens seeing the mu ren zhaung setting. Usually a wooden dummy rigged to rotate on hits to pseudo counter, this setting was automated to rotate and jab out the rods, taking shots at the user as well!

Beside it, he curiously honed in on the redheaded boy with silver tips, viciously striking the column with his metal coated left arm. One of the rods rotated to counter, so the boy catches the rod with his right hand, pushing it away.

A rod juts out from the pillar like a jab, prompting the boy to block with his armored arm. During the block, a rod sticks out at knee level, swinging around at his footing.

Given the speed of the setting, Tai bobs his head back and forth. Likely 50% max difficulty for this machine. It proves correct when the knee height bar smacks into the boy's leg, buckling his stance. Yeah, typically talented first years can handle the tool, even, but a kid that's pre combat school age?

Carmine grunts, eyes widening as the pillar juts out two bars as they swing at him. Rather than block, he punches the pillar with his armored punch with enough force to knock himself back and out of range.

The pillar continues rotating and jabbing out bars in attacks, not able to reach the kid. Narrowing his eyes, he draws his double barreled revolver in his left had, firing twice. The shots knock two protruding bars back into the column.

Taking the opening, Carmine leaps back in, swapping the gun into his right hand. Twirling the gun in his right hand, he starts using the gun to whip swinging bars back away, and using his armored left arm to block and counter himself.

Another knee high bar comes at him. This time, he kicks it back. Several more bars at varying heights jut out, swinging around at once. Before they get him, he fires his gun point blank at the first, blocks the second, but the third hits him back.

However, as he falls back, he flickers in a flash of aqua aura, his body reappearing back at the column where he was just a second prior. Back in, he deflects and blocks each hit and goes for a jab at the metal pillar.

Only for another right to shoot out straight forward at him from the pillar, hitting his breastplate in the center torso. The strike knocks the boy back, landing flat on the ground. "Ngh! Darn it!"

Tai lets a whistle out, startling the boy. Okay, still too difficult for him, but dang that tenacity. That's spirit! "Okay, that was impressive, can't lie."

Carmine scrambled from the floor, getting to his feet and eyes this stranger. "H-hi?" He checks his scroll quickly. "Um, there wasn't any reservation or class for this room until later. Should I leave?"

Seeing the kid's nerves, Tai takes a steadying breath himself. This was the boy? If he was, he has horrid bags under his eyes. He needs to sleep more. "Oh, no. I'm not a teacher here, and I'm long since no longer a student. Actually, I'm looking for someone, and I think it's you? Are you Carmine Uhlric?"

Carmine tenses, hearing his name. A stranger knew his name. A stranger was looking for him. No one else was around... The image of a mohawked faunus comes to mind.

He takes a step back, eyes widening slightly. His grip on his gun tightens, holding it slightly forward. Not again. NOT AGAIN. His weapon starts to raise.

Tai stops, seeing a haze of abject terror come over the boy in a split second. He takes a sharp intake of breath when he sees the gun start to shift. The Huntsman raises both hands up, none threatening. "Whoa! Wrong context! My name is Taiyang Xaio Long. I'm a colleague of Professor Ozpin!"

That stops the boy's train of thought, a rapid blinking as he focuses more, finding himself. He coughs out a breath. Carmine's eyes flick to his gun as he overreacts on the opposite end. "Ah! S-sorry!" He quickly holsters the gun.

Tai breaths a sigh of relief. "Heh. You're fine. Sorry, I should have properly introduced myself before strolling in at the stranger. I'm a professor at Signal Combat School actually, and I wanted to talk to you."

Just as quickly as he had saw terror fill the kid, so too does he notice this mood change. Instantly, the boy's eyes trailed off, narrowing. He's annoyed? "Oh... that's why he keeps bringing it up."

The blonde snickers. "I'm assuming you're meaning old man superior? He told me you're not too keen on Combat School." Seeing the boy calm down, he was looking directly back at the man, polite and attentive in his gaze. However, his eyes betrayed a complete and utter disinterest. "Actually, I can see it. It's quite easy to read your face."

That makes the boy pout, a blushing flush coming on. Before the boy can rebuke him, Tai continues. "And that's not an insult. It shows trustworthiness." He pauses a step before lowering his arms. "Just... give me some of your time."

Carmine's posture relaxes more, standing tall as he pulls his scroll back out. A few taps and the pillar behind him drops back into the floor. "Um, are we talking here?"

Tai ponders a second. "Hmm. Try setting 0001? If it hasn't changed, that is." The boy waits a second before doing so, and suddenly, several of the pillars rose to the height of chairs. They raise in neat rows, with one hexagonal pillar raising at the end a bit higher. Tai grins. "Hah. Same after all these years. Classroom setting. Take a seat and I'll sit across."

The boy does so, relaxing more. If he knew a setting by heart, then he's telling the truth. "Okay, sir." He sits down, seeing Tai walk to a hexagonal seat across from him.

The blonde scoffs. "Oh, please don't 'sir' me. Too formal. I tell all my students that there are different kinds of respect. One that I like is the respect of trust." He cups a hand by his mouth, speaking softer. "One of the reasons Ozpin used to be off putting. You can't read the guy behind his poshness!"

That gets a chuckle from the redhead, but he quickly sighs. "I don't have interest in going to Combat School."

"I can see that." Tai states bluntly. "But, who knows. Maybe I can outstubborn ya." He chuckles at his own joke, but mentally chastises himself. He needs to get to it. Sighing, he focuses. "I'm taking an interest in you and making the offer, so I'm asking out of respect for you to hear me out before you send me on my way."

Carmine shifts awkwardly, but finds it in him to glare back. A slight confusion mixes with his look, almost accusation as he shakes his head. "So you're a... talent scout? Combat Schools don't scout. The four great academies have entrance exams that don't require Combat School, so there's no need for them to scout since the academies do so themselves. The schools only real purpose is for students who want to find out what Hunter training is like before deciding to devote themselves to it."

Holy shit, this kid picked his guise apart immediately. Tai blinks at the kid before bursting into a laugh. Summer, you fought for a good one. He gets himself under control, unsure if his laughter is painful. A tear comes to his eye after his thought going to Summer. He wipes it away, playing off as humor. "You're not wrong. I should admit that there's another reason for this talk, but it's not exactly easy to approach. Normally, I'd dive head first into it, but I don't really know if I want to talk about it either."

The boy's eyes hold on him, suspicious. Not trusting. He's used to being ignored. He wants to be ignored. He doesn't want to be center of attention. This man wants something from him... "What do you want from me?"

Tai sighs loudly. "Like I said. I want to talk. That's all." He bobs his head. "Let's start with Combat School. Why don't you want to go?" Carmine opens his mouth immediately. "And saying it's not required isn't an answer. I'm not asking why you do or don't need it. I'm asking why you want or don't want to go."

His mouth clicks shut, taking the words in. "I... don't want to be around people."

Tai raises a brow. "Well, here I thought were were going to be honest." Carmine snaps wide eyes, like a deer in headlights. "I got a rundown on you from Ozpin." He nods to the boy's arm. "You just finished that in the last few days, and you've apparently been endlessly excited about it. As well as working alongside other students to make it work. You like being around people."

The bluntness of the man's rejection of Carmine's answer was blatant. The boy didn't have words for a moment, so Tai continues. "So, it's not that you don't want to be around people. It's that you don't feel you should be around them, am I right?"

Seeing the boy stop any attempt at answer, he knew he hit the nail on the head. His mind recalls his conversation with Ozpin just before coming to this room.

. . .

"I brought up Summer with him just two days ago." Ozpin began as the two walked down the hall. "He didn't take it well. He nearly shut down from the subject." The headmaster spoke with an even voice, but his grip on his cane visibly tightened.

Tai grimaced at that. "Maybe this is a mistake then... What happened?"

"I told him he needed to forgive himself for what happened. His response was... 'A murderer isn't innocent just because he forgives himself.'" Ozpin's voice wavered slightly. Tai's own eyes narrowed at a response. Yeah... this was just as bad as he thought. "I fear Carmine's direction in life is now bound by how he views himself for Summer's death, and anything I say will roll off as simply a lecture."

The silver haired man stops, hazel eyes meeting blue, pleading. "I have no right to ask, as you have yet to settle your own feelings regarding her death, but..." The headmaster takes a breath, tension showing in him. "Please try to help him. He needs to hear it from what he feels is a neutral party at least."

. . .

Tai eyes the boy squirm under his gaze. "I know what happened, kid." The redhead's blue eyes snap to the man's. "Like Qrow, I'm someone close to Ozpin. I know the truth about you." His will wavers a moment, but manages to steel himself. "I know all about the incident six years ago. Both your family... and those that rescued you."

God damn coward. He couldn't mention his own relation to Summer. He continues regardless. "If you feel that you're too dangerous to make connections to people, that's no way for you to live. If you feel that you're responsible for anything that happened, that you don't deserve to live freely... then you're a fool."

Tai had to stop. His eyes clench shut, struggling with his own emotions. As he stewed with himself, Carmine's own quivering voice shot back weakly. "You weren't there..."

The man found himself nodding at that. "Yep... Yep, you're right on that, but you know what?" Tai opens his eyes to meet blue with blue. "Blaming yourself? It's the worst way to go about it."

He fines tears building up in the boy's eyes, still staring back at him. "Is-" The kid is left to swallow his breath down. "Is it? When it's your semblance... t-that ages a dying woman to death in your hands?" The boy shudders. His eyes aren't there anymore. He can tell that the kid's reliving it. Right here. Right now. "When i-it's your power that-" He takes a breath, eyes widening and trailing away. "-when you just wanted to help-"

And there it was. Truly, Taiyang couldn't know just exactly how the boy felt. The same boy that was now hanging his head low, choppy breath answering. Tai knew some of it. He knew some of that pain. Hell, it only took him six years to confront the person Summer died for. When Tai knew the entire time he'd been here.

Tai took a deep breath. His voice might threaten to break, but he knew he had to force it out. "Right again, kid, but still. It seems you just answered it." The blonde keeps his eyes on the boy. For just a second. Just one second, he wanted to hate this child. "You were in a bad place, and did what you thought was right. If it was the wrong decision-... I can't say, but-"

The man takes a moment, doing his best. "Taking that blame might seem noble. In fact, it might be." He starts shaking his head, keeping his eyes on the downcast boy. "But you can't. You can't do that to yourself. You just can't."

He reaches out, placing a strong hand on the boy's shoulder. Carmine's head rises slightly. Not enough to make eye contact, but enough to know he's not fully stuck there. It's not too late. "Come to Signal." Tai tries his damnedest. "I'll do anything I can to help you through this as-" as Summer's husband. "-as a Huntsman." He grimaces at the words.

But he charges on. His hand lifts from Carmine's shoulder, patting down one time before he draws back. He forces a smile. "And hey? It will be a good experience. You're only a year older than my eldest daughter. Might make a good story to see me rag on her as both professor AND dad." He laughs at the attempt to lighten to mood.

His heart swells slightly as Carmine's shoulders shake up once in a single laugh. Tai starts to turn away. The kid needs to process it. "I hope I see you again, Carmine. Take care." And he walks away. He couldn't be there as Summer's husband after all. A part of him had to wonder if that would've made the biggest difference.

. . .

Now Tai walks out from Beacon's campus. It was mid afternoon now. He'd done what he'd come to do, and he's already kicking himself for how it went. Still, the fresh air by Beacon's fountain does him good.

The ringing of his scroll breaks his melancholy. Swiftly answering the country tone, he recognized Qrow's ringtone. "Hey, what happened?" His father mode was back on, full swing. A few words slurred through the other end of the call.

Tai groans, face palming. "Why would Yang-" He tenses, looking back up. "And how's Ruby?" More imperceptible words before Tai chuckles out. "Of course she did." The drunken drawl continued on the line. "Tell Yang that I'm proud, but she's getting a stern talking to!" He ends forcefully. "Right! Love ya, brother!"

Hanging up the phone call, he half chuckles half sigh. He'd need to tell Yang you don't just punch a boy for insulting your sister. You threaten him first and then hope it escalates, so THEN you can punch him for insulting your sister.

Of course, hearing that Ruby tackled the kid from behind when he started fighting back only made him want to laugh. Hell, Qrow was in agreement, laughing the entire time on the call. Nothing like children to completely break and shift your mood.

However, as he made his way to the bullhead transport, he catches something he forgot about. The blonde girl from Ozpin's security footage. Carmine's friend. Brandy? Briar? Blake? Blair? Blair! Blair Goodwitch, right!

Yeah, Ozpin mentioned she was going into Vale today to help out a local health clinic! Well... Convenience is convenient, right? May as well tail her a bit to ease old man superior's conscience.

. . .

Well, to say that the woman was concise and accurate would be an understatement. Tai sat, bored out of his gourd, atop the roof of a three floor clinic. The building was tan, with emboldened red lettering as a medical facility. It wasn't particularly busy, but was consistent in its company.

Why on the roof? Well, rather than be shifty and try to sneak throughout the building like a creep, he simply accessed the building's network from the connecting wires on top. Come on. He built his house and installed all its wiring! Also, that one time Summer tripped an alarm on a mission second year. All four of the STRQ members learned how to work through wires and access local networks after that, lest Raven threaten murder upon them.

With this, he had, potentially illegally, accessed the security cameras of the building, hooking up the feed to his scroll. With that, he could spy on the student with zero possible issues. Although, the lack of significant findings left him mentally charting out all the activities he'd watched:

At 3:45, she entered a cafe and got a spice latte. Paid for it with exact change, which is inhuman.

At 4:00 on the dot, started her shift at the clinic.

At 4:45, Tai burst out laughing as some moron came in with a long thick nail through his hand. Some type of construction accident. He had been waving his hand, nail still in, telling people to touch his nail.

Now it was just passed 5 pm, and Tai was about to call it a day... until a man came in for blood work. On the screen, he watched as the blonde student was the volunteer to work with the man. This wasn't much of an issue really, she took the blood with zero challenge. Apparently, the man was getting the work done fearing he was tragically sick with some deep genetic issue in his blood, despite arguing with Blair about how he most likely had a simple cold.

Entertaining as it was, Taiyang watched eagle eyed as Blair took eleven sealed tubes of blood to the back with the man's test paperwork. He had asked to get every single blood test available just to be sure. No argument.

Tai wasn't a medical expert. Quite the opposite. However, he'd gotten blood work done a thousand times across his life. "Wait, the guy asked for every general blood test."

The blonde man began counting on his fingers, mentally ticking off blood work tests he himself had had before. Blood count, thyroid, coagulation, C protein, etc... but there were only ten. Only ten types of general blood tests. The guy hadn't gotten an order for more, so what the hell?

"Why did he get eleven tubes of blood taken? That's one too many." He watched as Blair separated off and labeled each tube for each of the individual tests. So, he watched. Seven labeled off. Eight. Nine. Ten.

Then it happened. Blair took the last blood tube through the hall. There was a flick of movement. Something that would look like a simple twitch, but his eyes caught it. The eleventh tube was deftly hidden into her sleeve while manipulating papers. Then, the tube was swiftly switched to a pocket.

Tai stopped, going rigid. Two minutes, she didn't remove it from her pocket. Five minutes, she didn't remove it from her pocket. Ten minutes, he saw it shift in her pocket, but she still didn't remove it. All the man's blood samples were sent off, and the man was long gone.

He shut off the connection to the cameras, dialing his scroll and sending a call. Within moments, he got the answer from a female voice. "Professor Peach."

"What's Blair Goodwitch specializing her studies in?" Taiyang asks immediately with no hesitation. There was a pause, as if Peach was actually taken off guard with the subject.

"Excuse me? Tai? Why are you asking about one of my prized students?" The female voice seemed mildly irritated with the query.

"I'm looking into something for Ozpin. I just need to know what she's doing and how. Based on that, I'll know what I need to know."

A short moment before the response came. "She is devoting her studies to the genetics of semblances, and the application of semblances to technology. In one month, she will be presenting the data for her personal research into this field."

"'Personal research'? How exactly has she been conducting her research? From what data and samples?" Tai presses.

"As any other student. Medical students pursuing research positions will often use other students for their own samples."

"Are there limits as to who she or other students can use for these samples? Could they use, say, citizens and the like?"

"Of course not! Without trained auras, citizens are prohibited from participating in such donations for fear of harm and malpractice."

At that, Tai stood up, moving towards the ladder from the roof. "And this research would take place where?" He nimbly slides down the ladder, landing on the concrete without issue.

"For third and fourth years, within their personal work shops inside their dorms."

He grimaces, eyes trailing back to Beacon. "Then I have a favor to ask."

. . .

The blonde woman seethed as she marched through Beacon's halls. All patience left her by the end of that shift. How could so many people be so asininely stupid?! Especially that imbecilic man who believed the sniffles meant he was dying!

She groans as she reaches her dorm. In her hand was a plastic bag containing a can of white paint, for Rowa. Don't need her whining to add another headache. Upon reaching the dorm door, she enters to find the living area completely vacant of life. Raising a brow, she decided to check her scroll. Oh! Two new messages, from Rowa, speak of the devil.

Rowa: Glynda is out assisting local school's fundraiser drive. She won't bother you once you get back all crabby!

Rowa: Neither will we apparently. Professor Peach requested help from Cella and I! Don't celebrate too much alone.

Blair could do without the series of winky faces after the second message. Although, that was odd. Peach was... an enigma to say the least. If she needed assistance, Blair had never heard of such an instance. She shrugs, determining to ask the others once they return. She places the can of white paint on the counter closest to Rowa's door, a sickening pink door.

The blonde then enters her own room. Opening the door, she lets herself slow down, twisting and turning her back lightly to pop it. Her eyes close, allowing her guard to lower and body to relax. She needed it.

In her movement, the faint clang of glass on glass sounds from her pocket. Her hand reaches into the pocket, withdrawing three tubes of crimson liquid. Each of the three was labeled with chicken scratch writing. Physical descriptors and traits of the... donors.

After eyeing the tubes to ensure all were properly sealed, she crosses her room, heading towards the other door. The door for her lab. Reaching it, she grabs the knob.

And she freezes. The door was already open, not shut completely.

Her eyes open wide, seeing the lights inside her lab on, peeking into her bedroom. Her lab was open. The door required her scroll to unlock. How?! HOW DID SOMEONE OPEN IT?! WHY?!

Blair jerks back from the door, her free hand reaching and grabbing the hilt of Florescent. Swiftly, she throws the door wide open with her left hand, right hand resting on the sheathed weapon. The door flies open, revealing the fully lit room.

All the cabinets were open, revealing lines upon lines of crimson capsules. The golden plate on the counter was now red. Finally, standing at the end of the room, leaning against the far wall with crossed arms, was a very angry looking blonde man.

"Hello there. Sure took your time coming home." Tai comments. Despite the light tone and voice, his face remained cold, a glare fixed on the woman.

"Who the hell are you, and what business do you have here?" She demands, drawing her blade and directing it at him.

He remained lax on the wall, merely tilting his head. "Just a teacher correcting some bad behavior." He nods towards the cabinets. "Care to explain yourself?"

"I've no obligation to explain to an intruder! You will leave this room after explaining what you had to gain by coming here! I will drag you before the professors to stand for trespassing!" Her voice carried loudly through the dorm, a near panicked shout.

"As a Huntsman of Beacon Academy, I have the standing authority to investigate upon discovery of probable cause." His voice held steady, as if nothing was off.

"You're a Huntsman?" Blair's posture relaxes just slightly, but she then steps forward, aggressively. "Probably cause?! What are you accusing me of-"

"Blair Goodwitch of Team CBRG." Taiyang spits out, cutting the woman off angrily. The pure anger in his tone cuts at her. "As of this moment, you are being questioned by myself, Taiyang Xaio Long of Team STRQ." He steps off the wall, standing tall and glaring at the woman, like a furious parent ready to scold a child. "I suggest you change you attitude accordingly, Huntress-in-training."

At the mention of the legendary Team STRQ, Blair's posture shifts entirely. Her eyes widen as she takes a cautious step back. However, she doesn't back down fully. While slowly sheathing her weapon, she keeps a heated glare on the man. The pull of rank in his last sentence set a fire in her, but she knew she couldn't just attack the man here. "Fine. Go on then. Why am I being investigated?"

Seeing her sheath her weapon, Tai allows his eyes to leave her. "Awfully defensive." His gaze falls on the now red plate on the counter. "This is quite the interesting piece of technology here. Would you please explain it's purpose?"

She bites back a scathing comment, taking a calming breath. "It's designed to absorb genetic material through blood. Through that, it allows a person to channel their aura into the device, activating the blood that's soaked inside. I use it to study people's semblances in a controlled environment after I obtain samples for my research."

Taiyang nods, eyes falling back on the plate. "May I use it to verify that statement?"

Blair twitches, scowling furiously at the man. Still, she contains the bite in her voice. "No more than a few drops of fresh blood will overwrite whatever material is currently inside it." Her voice strains at the end. "I see you already added one of my samples to the plate. It's default state is golden."

He regards her for a moment before turning to the plate. "Fresh blood huh?" The man brings his index finger to his mouth. Opening and biting, he clips the tip of his finger with his teeth, cutting it open. Holding the hand out, he drips four drops onto the metal.

Within seconds, the material disappears into the sea of red. He waits a moment, hesitating as he glances at Blair, raising a brow. "It's overwritten by now." She answers him.

He nods, still keeping eye contact on her. His finger heals from his aura before he clenches a fist. CRASH! He smashes his fist down into the plate, the counter shuttering from the hit.

"Now, add your aura to the plate." She instructs. Slowly, he places his open palm atop the place. Her eyes widen. "Not like that. The semblance will release on top. Add aura from the side-"

"I figured." He cuts her off. The plate activates, pulsing out in aura before-

CRACK! Physical force emits from the plate in a single violent vibration. The pulse of concussive force blasts Taiyang's hand off the plate, sending a crack down the entire length of the counter top.

His brows raise, mildly impressed for a moment. "Hmm... isn't that interesting?" It wasn't a question. He was daring her to say something. He sends a rather carefree look to meet her seething, burning stare. "Oh, child, you can stop the glare. I know a red eyed bird that puts your gaze to shame."

"Are you satisfied?" She bites back, venom dripping from her words. "I'm researching the application of semblances to technology. This research is the beginning of an entire branch of technological advancement! Mass production of specialized semblances for ALL practices. I hardly see anything wrong with pursuing this."

Rather than answer, Tai simply holds his hand out. "Show me your weapon, Huntress-in-training."

Her eyes widen, then narrow down. "Why?"

His stare is not amused, ignoring any threat she gives off. "Show. Me. Your weapon. Huntress." His words come out forceful, enunciating each syllable. For a moment, he almost expected her to lash out, like a petulant child. However, begrudgingly, she holds out her sword, allowing him to take hold of it.

During the exchange, she silently hides the three blood tubes back in her pocket.

Tai runs his hand along the sheath, inspecting each and every inch of the container. His hand fits over the hit, drawing the blade. His eyes fall on the gold metal. His mouth parts to speak, but he stops. He hand falls to the hilt, popping open the dust chamber inside the pommel.

He nods at the blade, placing it upon the counter top. He then inspects the inside of the sheath, peering into the hole. Asides from a raised brow, he says nothing. However, he then inspects the end of the sheath.

A grimace pulls over him. "Aha." With a flick, he gets the three syringe prongs to jut out from the end. Despite the satisfaction of finding it, he didn't feel cheerful in the slightest. And so, he pops open the secret compartment, finding an empty capsule inside the sheath's end. "Damn it." He mutters, eyes clenching shut for a moment.

Blair's teeth start to grit against each other, threatening to crack. "You have something to say?"

He eyes her from the side, sheathing the weapon once more. A cursory glance of the trigger on the hilt shows him that it has three pulls. A slight pull for dust, a moderate pull while sheathed elicits an opening of the capsule at the end. Finally, a full pull, which he guesses at the function. To use a semblance from the blood captured by the prongs.

"This is a beautifully crafted weapon. Deadly and efficient. Flawless craftsmanship." He bobs his head back and forth. "And a very well hidden feature with the prongs. I assume it's quite effect." He continues on. However, he also finishes with a sigh. "And, it confirms everything I need to know." He looks her in the eye, making it clear under no uncertain terms. "This is done. Your research is over."

"WHAT?!" She snaps back. "You don't have that right! And no grounds to do so!"

"That right, and those grounds, come when I inform Professor Ozpin how you've been acquiring your samples." He speaks plainly, talking down to her, as though it's obvious. However, he begins to let anger bleed into his words. "Did you really think it was okay? To just take people's blood? To experiment with their genetic material with no regards to consent?"

"Consent? That's what this is about!" She nearly snarls at the idea. "Technology! Capable of saving the entire world's population if given time. You'd sacrifice that just because some obnoxious fools say 'sorry, I don't think so'?!" She scoffs, disgusted at the idea. "Every sample was obtained from a healthy, perfect specimen, and with the application, no one should judge me."

Taiyang's eyes were wide as saucers. This wasn't just a breach of privacy and safety. This is FAR worse than he even bothered to consider! "Obnoxious fools?! These people are here under your PROTECTION!" He snaps the word at her.

Before she can continue, he takes an aggressive step towards her, causing her to flinch a step back. "Citizens who look to you with trust. Students who look to you as a friend. Teachers who look to you with care!" He steps right up to her, standing taller than her looking down eye to eye. His voice lowers to normal, barely containing the anger and shame. "You've spit in the face of all of that, and your excuse is a tenuous authoritarian needs of the many argument?"

The sheer disbelief in his words shows, as he shakes his head. Just trying to wrap his head around it, he continues. "That might work in Shade. Hell, it might work in Atlas in that glorious name of Science! But not here. Not at Beacon, God damn it!"

Unable to take more, she snaps back under her breath. "Oh please. No physical harm was done to anyone. Violating a few adults privacy isn't the worst offense in the world." She glares on, challenging. "Go ahead. Inform Ozpin. I'll prove my worth with my research and continue on."

And finally the mistake. "Is that so? Taking from adults is bad, but excusable?" He tilts his head, looking at the woman like a child. "What about stealing blood from a 12 year old orphan?" Blair freezes, wide eyed, at that mention. "A boy who calls you his friend, right? I know you used your weapon to steal Carmine's blood. What will Ozpin think of that?"

The two stand, eye to eye. Blair's eyes trail off, mind wandering after his last point. With that, Tai nods. "Thought so." He raises his off hand, patting her on the shoulder. "When this is over, be prepared. I can't guarantee you'll remain here at Beacon." With a final pat, he moves to walk around the woman.

Only, her hand snatches his forearm, jerking him still. "No..." Her eyes harden, grip tightening. "You will give me back my weapon, and you will NOT tell Ozpin." She can't possibly-... Tai leans back, scowling back. "I won't allow you."

"So, what? You'll attack me? And what? Kill me?"

The challenge is set, the two maintaining eye contact... That is, until Blair's aura activates. "I'll just make sure you see things my way."

Instantly, a shimmer of aura washes over Taiyang, Blair's semblance taking hold of the man. Channeling through her hand, onto his arm, and flowing freely over the man, she injects her aura into his.

Tai's eyes widen, a sharp jab of pain shooting through each pore of his body. "Ngh!" His footing sways, Blair quickly snatching her weapon back, strapping it to her side. Taiyang stumbles back, the infected aura burrowing the pain into his mind, Blair putting her full focus on her semblance.

"This ends when you agree to leave and never come back here." Blair states clearly, raising her chin to look at him with authority. "You'll learn not to stand between me and my goals." She begins to draw her sword... only for Taiyang's hand to jab out and catch her wrist.

Tai stops swaying, his aura flaring. His body begins to saturate back to normal colors, his aura rejecting the woman's semblance! Eyes clenched shut, he grits his teeth as his hair starts to flow up and down. The blonde hair begins to shine, burning yellow as aura begins to flow around each individual blonde lock. (Heavy guitar riff begins, ending the riff with two words. "Round One")

His eyes snap open, brilliant blue suns shining at the woman. His hair flicks as if made of flame itself, his grip tightening and getting a grunt of pain from the fourth year student. "And you will learn just who you're threatening." (Riff repeats, percussion adding with secondary guitars)

. . .

Outside the dorms, the sunset is in full swing, only a few select students walk along the concrete path. Nonchalant chatting about, as if it was a regular day. That is, until the third floor of the nearby building erupts out in an explosion from one wall. ("Round begins in 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.-")

From the blast, Blair soars out from the building. She hits the ground, breaking through the grass and rolling to her feet on the pavement. In front of her, on the grass, Taiyang lands in a superhero landing. He stands tall, eyes shining blue and hair a golden flame. ("You got blood... on your face! Looks like you're a total disgrace!")

He dashes forward, fist raised. Blair leaps back, the man's fist burying into the concrete and shattering it apart. She pops a light blue dust cartridge into Florescent's hilt, blade shifting a sky blue. She activates the dust, slashing back with wind infusing with the attack. ("You came here... to take me down!")

However, Tai simply rips the concrete up. The wind slash shatters the concrete slab. But, Tai charges through, kicking forward into Blair and propelling her away, into the trunk of a tree. ("But I only see one of us on the ground!")

The man charges after her. With a cocked fist, he jabs forward. At the last second, Blair uses her sheath to deflect the punch into the tree, completely blowing out the bottom half of the trunk! She ducks back for distance, but Tai's already catching the falling tree, gripping the trunk and swinging the entire mass around. ("Like a dog... with a bone!")

Blair swaps dust in her hilt, switching to fire as Florescent lights up orange-red. She slashes, releasing flames to incinerate the swinging tree. She then swings down, launching a burst of fire directly at Taiyang. ("I won't stop til you're buried in your tombstone!")

Taiyang bursts from the flames unaffected, throwing punches and kicks. Blair deflects and blocks with her sword, sheathing her sword and jabbing it at his chest to steal his semblance. However, the man catches the jabbing weapon, throwing Blair back further. ("Reads 'Here lies a soul...'")

The woman backpedals, ejecting the fire dust and swapping ice. The blade shifts from orange to blue, giving off a chill. She performs a draw slash, releasing a burst of ice and freezing a mound of ice over Tai. ("'... who should have fucked with someone that wasn't so cold!'")

Blair back steps, moving into her kendo stance. A few students across the way take notice of the fight, watching on shocked. The mound of ice begins to steam, melting in front of her. ("Better pull yourself together... better figure out a plan!")

Tai growls under his breath, throwing his arm out, striking, and shattering the remaining ice. He walks forward, stepping one foot forward. His right hand clenches, arm held up by his chest. His left arm comes up in front, forearm angled up with an open palm for defense. "You're good." ("You're about to get your beatin'... You better take it like a man!")

"But you're still only in training." Angered, Blair dashes forward, going on the offensive. She makes three stabbing thrusts. The blonde man uses his forward left arm to parry the thrusts aside while dodging. Blair faints a thrust into a spinning slash, Tai dropping down and ducking. ("It's gonna be a long day, and it's only just begun!")

He sweep kicks her leg, knocking off her balance. Simultaneously, Blair uses her off hand to grab Florescent's sheath, jabbing its syringes into Tai's leg, and Tai puts his weight into a punch, smashing into Blair's chest. ("Cause it's only Round One!")

Blair's launched into the wall of the dorm building, the wall shattering into dust upon contact. Tai stumbles grimacing, hand going to his leg. Growling in frustration, Blair's semblance tries to infect him, but he quickly expels her aura. (Music bridges into instrumental solo.)

Within the dust cloud, Blair gets up to her knees. She jabs Florescent into the grass, pushing off it back to a standing position. Calming herself, she ejects the ice dust from the hilt and inserts earth dust next. (Music plays out and quiets.)

The dust settles, revealing Taiyang stepping right in front of her. Blair reacts immediately, blade coloring tan activating earth dust. With a flourish, earth and rock forms around her blade, adding mass until she's wielding a massive stone blade. ("Welcome to the terror dome. Now, there's no escape!")

Taiyang sighs, shaking his head. "Please, just surrender. There's no point to this." ("See what happens when you tug on Superman's cape!")

"I won't let you destroy all my work!" Blair snaps. She swings Florescent with its massive stone blade. However, Tai raises his arm in a block, shattering the stone blade and leaving the tan blade halted on his forearm. ("Accept your fate. It's too late to try to save face!")

Straining his arm against the weapon, Tai roars out and pushes forward. He shoves Blair back as her blade returns to its gold color. ("I'mma leave your ass in pieces all over the place!")

He advances on her, moving into a flurry of blows. Blair deflects the first punch with her blade, second with her sheath, dodges an uppercut, and blocks a knee. She throws him back, throwing two slashes back, but he blocks both, tanking hits with his aura. ("Jabs, hooks, uppercuts. Yeah you're goin' down!")

He ducks down, attempting a leg sweep, but Blair leaps up. Doing a flip above, she comes down, swinging both hands and activating the earth dust again. Eyes wide, Tai dodge rolls to the side. Blair comes down, casting a slash out. The dirt rips upward in a line in front of her, shattering the concrete road. ("I'm guaranteein' you won't make it out the first round!")

Blair takes the moment to leap away, back onto the cement road. Sheathing Florescent, she activates the second switch. Her earlier jab with the syringes to Tai's leg managed to fill the blood capsule. Accessing that, Taiyang's blood drains into the blade inside the sheath. ("Look at your eyes. I see I got your ass shook!")

Blair glances up, finding Tai already charging at her. She draws Florescent, the sword blade now a glowing crimson red. Holding it up, broad side forward, she blocks Tai's charging punch with the blade. The force propels her back, rolling on the ground, rolling to her feet, and skidding to a halt. ("Best believe you're 'bout to get your monkey-ass whooped.")

In her hands, the crimson blade vibrates violently, Taiyang's semblance absorbing physical force inside. The blade gives a faint burning orange outline. The vibration sounds out a whir in the air. Blair flourishes the blade, ending it directed point toward the man. ("Better pull yourself together! Better figure out a plan!")

"Like you assumed." She starts, pulling the trigger fully to activate and release the captured semblance. "It's quite effective!" The woman lashes out at Tai. The man brings both arms up to block, the blade hitting on flesh! ("You're about to get your beatin'! You better take it like a man!")

The energy releases in an orange kinetic burst. A shockwave shatters the ground under the two, kicking up dust and debris. Both the Huntsman and the Huntress-in-training momentarily disappear. ("It's gonna be a long day, and it's only just begun!")

The dust cloud clears. Blood drips to the dirt, lightly. The clearing debris shows Taiyang, still standing with his guard up. A fine gash marks from one arm to the other, a small trail of blood trailing and dripping from his elbow. However, he simply glares ahead, more furious than anything. ("Cause it's only Round One!")

Blair twirls her now golden blade again, meeting his glare. Despite momentarily overwhelming his aura with that attack, she sees the gash already healing slowly. The fight wasn't close to over. The two step into stances, waiting for the other to move. (Music plays out, dying down completely.)

More students had filed out into the open, watching the two from a safe distance. Whispers and murmurs rumbled around. A creeping dread built up in Blair. None of this was good, but to stop now would be to admit fault.

She would not- COULD not give ground and let everything end with this man's accusations against her. He's a fool, and she was correct. She'll subdue him, get him with her semblance, and make him promise, swear to all to abide by her!

She won't let it all be for nothing!

Blair twirls the sword before charging. Taiyang's scowling eyes keep on her as the distance closes. The golden blade slashes at the Huntsman-

CLANG! The clash of metal on metal rings in everyone's ears.

A black rod had smacked into the golden blade, flinging Blair's weapon up and knocking her balance off. She stumbles back, catching herself, only for her eyes to widen in horror... Professor Ozpin stands between herself and Taiyang.

The silver haired man sends a side glance at his student. In one look, she felt like she was suffocating. His presence and aura emanate out and smother her. Behind Ozpin, Taiyang's hair dulls, returning to a normal blonde, eyes no longer shimmering, semblance deactivated.

Ozpin's cane taps into the shattered concrete under his feet. His voice carries to the students crowding around. "All students return to your rooms for the evening. This disturbance is no longer anything to mind." The students send wary glances among themselves. That is, until Ozpin turns just enough, showing them only a frown with burning eyes. "Now."

Seeing genuine anger in the well mannered man, the crowd disperses. After a moment, only the three of them remain in the open air. The headmaster addresses the present company. "Now then. Taiyang, what is the meaning of this?"

Tai's posture relaxes, arms still healing with his aura. "I investigated Blair after leaving Beacon and discovered what she did to Carmine, as well as dozens of her classmates, and an unknown amount of innocent people of Vale."

The blonde rattles off. "Her weapon is rigged to bypass aura with syringes in the sheath, stealing blood in a single jab. This is how she's obtained blood samplles for her 'research' from students, including Carmine." Blair notices Ozpin's face harden at the mention of the boy. "Her work at the Vale clinic is a front to obtain more blood than necessary from blood work requests, taking the extra contents for further material."

"She also attempted to subdue me to force me not to notify you after I confronted her." Tai adds with a shrug.

The man was silent, absorbing the information. The entire time, his eyes didn't leave the woman. Seconds tick by as he continues to bore into her with his gaze. "Is this true?"

She grits her teeth, staring daggers at the blonde behind the headmaster, before meeting the elder man's gaze. "Sir, my research has yielded the ability to capture and perfectly replicate and apply semblances within technology. The only reason I have gotten this far is because I've used whatever means to obtain them."

Her scowl deepens. "Students were already an approved means to gain samples, and civilians allowed me to discover untapped semblances. These gains will help the world, and any qualms over my means are minor compared to the benefits. Yes. It's true."

Ozpin regarded her for a moment, head tilting ever slightly. "They were all very noble to allow you to take such samples, then. Wouldn't you think so?"

She tenses, eyes hardening. The blonde stands her ground, not looking away. "I did not ask. Frankly, it does not matter to me."

"Is that so. Care to explain why?" The silver haired man inquires. His calm voice mismatches with his burning gaze.

"No one was harmed in my research. It would be prudent for such endeavors be placed above ones ability to make petty choices." She reiterates.

"Choice matters!" Ozpin's voice raises. Blair flinches back from the man, eyes wide. She takes a step back as Ozpin takes a calm step forward. "Choice is what allowed you to pursue your path. Choice is what allows one to truly live. Choice was you going out of your way to help a lone child." The blonde's eyes flick to the side at the reminder. "Choice is everything, Miss Goodwitch, and you have sorely misplaced your priorities."

He waits a moment, for her to pull her gaze back up to meet his. The man sighs, eyes softening in disappointment. "From this day forward, you are expelled from Beacon Academy."

Blair's body goes numb, rigid. Her eyes remain wide, breathing stopping. "W-what?" She forces out. "But-"

"Your pursuit of scientific practice within the Vale territories is hereby barred." Ozpin continues, words chilling the woman. "Your hunting license will be deactivated. You will be unauthorized to pursue hunting work. Your research notes and materials will be confiscated by Beacon's programs for destruction."

She tries to object, but nothing comes out. Ozpin meets her gaze hard as he finishes. "I wish you luck in your future endeavors, Miss Goodwitch."

Without further word, Ozpin steps around her. He walks away, leaving the woman. Tai meets her eyes, sighing as he runs a hand through his hair. "... Sorry, but I warned you." As if the two hadn't just been fighting, he easily walks by her, patting her on the shoulder as he leaves.

Thus, Blair is left alone in the courtyard... unable to process anything at all.

. . .

Carmine steps out from the Bullhead transport. Following his father's wishes, he'd decided to at least go to Vale. For about an hour that is. He'd had visits to the city a few times over the years at this point, but going there alone was more unsettling than anything.

It was now 3 pm, Wednesday. His mind wandered to that blonde man he spoke to yesterday. The idea. To be free from the weight he feels. "Maybe Blair knows something about that." He questions out loud, but suddenly barks a laugh. "Nah, I highly doubt she's ever been wrong. She'd scream at me for being an idiot."

He chuckles, taking the concrete path. Walking under the arches, he stops, eyes widen. "Huh?" Further up the path, he sees Team CBRG out by the large ornate fountain. Glynda stands far off from the group, seeming to be saying some choice words, but he couldn't hear.

Soon enough, Cella breaks from the remaining two, moving to Glynda as they leave the area. With only Rowa and Blair by the fountain, Carmine starts his walk towards them. He grins, eyes flicking to his armored arm. Yeah, she helped build it, but he'll never get tired of showing it.

However, his glee dies as he sees their expressions. Rowa, chipper as she always was, looks like her puppy was kicked. Blair seemed to offer her hand towards the woman, getting a grimace and hesitation from Rowa.

Overcoming it, Rowa accepts the hand, the two exchanging some last words with one another. That is, when Rowa peers over Blair's shoulder to see Carmine slowly approaching. Clamming up, the violet haired woman speaks up. "Well, guess ya got one more goodbye to give." She gives a weak chuckle to Blair. "Take care of yourself." She gives Carmine a wave, then walks away towards Beacon's dorms.

Carmine blinks, confused. "Hey Blair. Got a mission?" His gaze falls to the bag by her side. She wore her mission garb, Florescent Finish strapped at her side.

She turns towards him, the sight taking him back a second. Her eyes gaze down at him weakly, exhaustion showing in the bags under the amber orbs. Her eyes were rimmed with red, evidence of tears?

She glances back at him, seeing the bags under his eyes. It didn't take much to tell he had something on his mind. The woman nods respectfully. "Hello, Carmine." A slightly awkward pause fills the air between them. "You look tired. I told you, you should sleep more."

Carmine frowns at her, inspecting her face. "Heh. I'm fine. You look like you need some rest yourself."

That gets a weary smirk from the girl. "Yes... Yes, I suppose you're right."

"Blair? Are you okay?" Carmine felt a weight building inside. Something sitting wrong.

She takes a moment to respond until she settles on an answer. "I'm... leaving Beacon."

The words definitely got a reaction. Eyes widening, mouth parting slightly. "W-... what?" He keeps his stare on her, waiting for further information. Further explanation. Just... more. Nothing comes. He chuckles weakly. "Um, when will you be back?"

"I won't be." She states bluntly.

A choked laugh comes out of the boy, awkwardly chuckling. "Um. O-okay." However, his face quickly began to fall. "Um, where are you gonna go?"

Blair took a moment, staring at the boy. Strange how she had begun to really enjoy instructing the kid. He was going to be moving on to do great things, she was sure. Great things she could contribute to. Suddenly, her mind files through the things she'd learned about the boy.

Orphaned. Left with his parent's possessions. Taken in for care by Ozpin. Was the victim of a terrible kidnapping, and was still actively pursuing such a dangerous lifestyle. Was ransomed to Beacon- wait...

His mother was a faunus, and father was not. Such couples rarely had children... and the offspring would be the same species as the mother. For him to be human... he would have to be adopted. Ransomed to Beacon. Taken in for care by Ozpin.

Her eyes widen, looking on the boy as if the first time. Sharp features. Facial structure. His eyes are slightly bigger, blue obviously, but... silver tinged tips. It's the same silver.

The sudden realization makes the frigid woman burst into a laugh. Of course! The moment she began speaking to this child, she doomed herself! Absolutely sentenced herself to oblivion in the eyes of the headmaster!

Stopping herself, she smiles at the boy. "I'll be fine, Carmine."

The boy's confused and concerned eyes remain on her. "Wait, weren't you trying to become a researcher? What are you doing with that?"

She huffs a laugh. Absolutely nothing is the answer, but for once, she lies. "Actually, I'm still pursuing that. It's my choice." She smiles at him. " I'm sure we'll meet again someday. Until then, you better take care of yourself. And be sure to keep working on yourself, okay?"

He tries to speak, but nothing comes forth. The boy simply manages to nod back. With that, Blair takes the single bag and walks by him, moving towards the Bullhead transports in the distance.

Carmine simply watches as she disappears into one of the transports. He stands motionless until the transports leave, marking Blair's leave from Beacon Academy. The only thing screaming in his head is why. Why did she have to leave?

"Hello, Mr Uhlric." The greeting finally pulls his attention, finding Ozpin walking up beside him. "Did your venture into Vale turn out fruitful?"

Carmine eyes his father, brow scrunched in thought. "It was fine." He weakly responded, thoughts running a mile a minute. "Why did Blair up and leave? You know, right?"

Professor Ozpin sends his glance down at the boy, seeming to think it over. "All I can say is Miss Goodwitch's leave marks a lesson in choice. She made her decisions, and I trust she will still do well here on." He gives a ghost of a smile. "I know you took well to her. If fate is willing, your paths will cross again."

A thousand emotions fly through the boy's eyes, the words running through his mind. All he can say... a lesson in choice?.. She made her decisions. He didn't know how, but, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.

"You had something to do with it." Carmine accuses softly, eyes meeting his father's.

Ozpin's smile broken, but he held his gaze. "What's become of Miss Goodwitch is a result of her choices. Not mine." The two keep their gazes on each other, the hard road clearing of students. The two effectively left alone, the headmaster moves on. "She will be fine." He brings a smirk up. "I trust you're excited to use your new weapon in our next training session, Son."

The actual use of the word 'son' was a rarity, but Carmine knew it only happened because no one else was present. However, the boy's eyes pulled to a scowl, glaring back at the man. He doesn't know what Blair did, but frankly, he didn't care. "Of course, Professor Ozpin."

Carmine walks around him, brushing past Ozpin's arm. The headmaster is left alone by the fountain, left to his thoughts as he sighs. He did the right thing. The boy will see that some day.

Ah, sad times for Blair and Carmine seeing as she's his only friend right now. Also, a nice fight with Taiyang.

Notes:

Song used was Round One by Jeff Williams. Didn't use the second verse. Song is recognizable for fans of Red Vs Blue.

Going into Blair's weapon more, Florescent Finish has the ability to absorb blood for a shining crimson blade. The trigger, just like with dust, allows for a single power attack that utilizes a weaponized version of whatever semblance comes from the blood. This would be why her sheath holds a special syringe to break aura barriers and steal blood from her enemy.

Now we have Carmine's own crafted weapon. The Buster Armor System, or BAS. A transform armor that currently has three modes. More on this as time moves on, but here we have the default form: An armored sleeve on the left arm (The arm that doesn't have a jacket sleeve) and a combined chest piece for light armoring.

Finally, Taiyang. Similar to canon, he had his 'shut down' after Summer's death, and this is him on the tail end of coming out of it. Not fully over it or accepted to it.

I made his semblance similar to Yangs, minus the red eyes that Yang inherits because of Raven. Similar to other fics that make their own differences between Yang's and Tai's semblances, he can store as much as he wants and permanently store it for use whenever, while Yang's is exponential growth that has to be used nearly immediately.

Join next time in Chapter 12: Three Times the Power