Merry Christmas to all, a happy Hanukkah, and a lovely New Years to end this terrible, horrid ass year. Hoping next year is better, but... spread as much love as one can.

Chapter Twenty Five: To Hang Your Hat

Months gone by.

The morning sun peeks over the horizon. Rays of light illuminating over the hills. Shadows recede inside the small outpost town, hidden within the nooks of forested valleys. Among the chirps of morning bird songs, a single man exits his home. With narrow green eyes and a pencil mustached goatee, the dark blue haired man glances about. He wears leather armor over a green cloth shirt and brown pants. A long rifle is slung to hang off his shoulders. He places a brown brimmed hat on.

Setting about readying a wagon, he feeds a line of horses, all tied to said wagon. Patting them down, he pats the dear animals in support. Time to check cargo. Walking around the wagon, he checks the wheels, lightly jiggling one. "Hmm. It'll hold."

Opening the closed back of the wagon, the light exposes a form. A smaller masculine frame, arms tied behind their back and a bag over their head. The light sounds of breathing sounds. The man climbs into the sheltered wagon, checking the slumbering form. He looks over to find two others. Each are wrapped in blankets.

Various other crates fill the space as he moves the still forms. The man exits the wagon, strolling to the front. He pulls a scroll out, a buzzing message coming on the screen. 'Time to Wake: approx noon. Administer second dose at 11.'

Getting onto the wagon, he sets the horses on course as the man and wagon leave the town. Sitting at the front, morning brightening, the man opens a map. The page showcases a wide spread of Southern Mistral, red outlines of common Grimm trails. The ride goes uninterrupted, out miles from the town until-

Creek!

The wagon whines, as if more pressured. The caravan driver cocks his head, halting the horses. "Whoa, now..." Pulling the reigns to stop, he steps up. Peeking his head into the wagon, he finds two sets of feet in view and another roll obscured. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Shaking his head, he settles back down. "Hyah!" He riles the horses into continuing on! The rush continues on uninterrupted-

CREEK!

The man hauls the reigns, halting the station wagon. The horses huff as he looks back into the wagon cargo. Nothing out of the ordinary. This was starting to get suspicious. The man gets up, bringing his rifle. Stepping off the cart seat, he first inspects the back wheel.

Hmm. No, still secured.

He steps to the back of the carriage, aiming his rifle out. Stepping to look into the back of the carriage. The bundles of blankets are still there... No forms inside them. His eyes widen in shock. "Shit!" He looks through the carriage, the forms are gone. The kids! How?! They shouldn't wake for several more hours!

The cabin is devoid of said... minor space consumers. The man steps away from the carriage, checking the ground of the dirt road. He finds tracks several yards back. The tracks moving off into a bush... only that still moves. The man takes aim as he approaches. He smirks.

There had been three kids: Two boys and a girl. Only one old enough to have moved the other two. He slowly checks the ammo in the gun as he approaches the bush. "Boy, you gotta be better at this to get one over on me. Ya can't even control your shaking!" The thick western accent rumbles. All the smugness in the world.

He uses the barrel of the rifles to move the bush, revealing... nothing. A faint flicker of fading shards of aura.

"You were saying?" The young voice behind him spooks the man. He turns around, only to see the double barreled revolver flash. BOOM!

. . .

Southern Mistral Savana

Outskirts of Mibu

The hot arid sun burns down as noon sets in. The hazing blur of the horizon as the temperature continues to rise. Dirt dusts up into a cloud at the roar of an engine! The simple van speeds over the land, approaching the ornate bridge that crosses the crevice as a ramp. The bumpy ride smooths as the vehicle pulls in towards the main gate.

The guards at the gate perk as the van stops. They march up, the windows already lowered, as Roman's visage comes into view. He gives a mock salute as he sarcastically drawls. "Your holy gatekeepers, we humble travelers would oh so love it to enter please."

Roman Torchwick

Age - 24

The guard ignores the holy mocking, looking to the blonde in the passenger seat. She looks up from tinkering with a scroll. "Master Kourii gave us access phrase Crimson King."

Blair Goodwitch

Age - 22

The guard nods vigorously. "Open the gate!" The calls made, the gate parts as the golden hues of lantern lighting greets the van. Driving into the simple road, the town seems perplexed at the van, much as the first time they'd visited nearly the better part of a year ago.

Moving through to the East district of the Liger, the lights shift to white. Roman parks the vehicle at the same inn as before. Thankfully, long since repaired since the children tussle with a certain hulking faunus.

The doors open as the fourteen year old Carmine steps out, dressed down to a simple dark blue t-shirt, black pants, silver shoes, and his Buster Armor in Zero form. He stretches, popping his back with a satisfying crack. Then, a boot bumps him forward. "Whoa- Oof!"

Neo steps out, wearing white boots, pink socks poking out, a brown leather skirt over black short shorts, white closed vest over a brown shirt. She steps around the boy, smirking proudly as she offers a helping hand. He gives a dry look as she does in fact help him to his feet.

Neopolitan Rhodes

Age - 13

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit of a bitch?" The boy brazenly speaks to her face. Neo makes a show of consideration before nodding and pointing at the boy. Carmine bobs his head. "Well, yeah, besides me." She mockingly thinks to herself before smiling and shaking her head no. His dry look sunk in. "Thought so..."

"Well, what do we have here?" The deep booming voice catches the two's attention. Walking from the street, the gray brown haired tiger faunus towers above the two, rippling muscle abound. Tora, Royal of the East. "We hadn't heard from you all in a month. Started to get suspicious that things went South."

Carmine's embarrassed smile pairs with a scratch to the back of his neck. "Yeah... A few weeks of tracking were spent in bad CCT coverage."

The man's red eyes look the two over. "Well, good to hear the hunt goes well. Do my eyes deceive me or are you finally taller than my waist line? How much ya grown?"

The boy rolls his eyes. "1.2 inches."

Tora grins and looks at Neo, noticing the distinct lack of a trademark smirk. The girl, with a blank face, turns away and raises a conjured sign. '0.5 inches...'

"So, the little girl is only slightly less little." He barks into a laugh. Neo's storming look only doubled his laughter.

As the girl twitches, Carmine's off hand holds her at the shoulder. "Down girl." She resettles her ire towards him. The look was blank, but just a... twinkle in the eye gave the true impression. A shatter message forms on his hand. 'I'm not a dog.' Carmine can't help himself. "But you accepted I call you a b-"

He suddenly felt a chill from the twinkle behind her mismatched orbs... Her lips slowly curl up into a smile as she cocks her head. As if daring him...

He gulps and releases her shoulder. "Right. Too much time with Roman." He then mutters under his breath. "I need to stop cursing. Language."

Tora bellows a laugh as Blair and Roman exit the van and step around. "But business, yes? What brought you back here?"

"We discuss business in the streets now?" Blair raises a brow, looking about as she spots children playing down the road, and a few adults sweeping and tending to the side walks and moss gardens by the houses. "We should head to a room or somewhere private..." She and Roman flash gazes to the van. "We have some... arrivals to worry over."

Tora raises a brow to the van, but remains lax. "I see." His voice lowers. "While we do have tourism with merchants, I would inform you that all members of the clan recognize what you've done for us, and are in the know of Kirran's actions. Any secrecy is only to be used around outsiders other than you."

The four cock their heads for a moment, Roman blinking twice. "It really works like that, huh?" At the faunus nodding, Roman shrugs. He points to the van. "We got one creepy hillbilly and three sad homeless orphans for ya. I'm already over this feel good visit."

And he's marched off. The conman gone, Carmine sighs. "So, yeah. We captured one of them, so... if it's not too much trouble..." He gives a meek look to the royal. "Also, dealing and processing some going to be scared kids once they wake up?"

Tora's feline ears dip as he purse's his lips... "Well, let's... see what ya got."

. . .

"EEEEAGLEEEE!"

Roman pauses in the doorway of the financial building's lobby. He rolls his eyes at the silly buzz speaker over the doorway. He scoffs as he approaches the counter tapping twice within the empty room before hitting the bell. Sure enough, the balding panicked albino man snaps to attention up from behind the counter!

The dull, soulless tone comes out. "Hello, may I help y-" Dory leans back, eyes widening as hos mouth is agape! "Y-... You're alive!"

"Yes, yes, Praise be. I'm here on business." Roman speaks impatiently. Waving his hand flippantly. "Hurry on."

The intimidated lawyer cringes back. "What... do you want?"

"We've exhausted all the transfer chains throughout Mistral. We're looking for anything else that may have come up since we left here last time. Don't wanna leave Mistral missing anything." He starts flicking his hand up and down to shoo the man off. "Now, Go go go." As the law man leaves into the back offices, Roman sits in one of the lobby seats, rubbing at his eyes.

Months upon months. They'd been on the road nearly a year now, and it was a slog. A year primarily sitting in an uncomfortable van, barely giving themselves any time. No time for reflection. No time for real rest. Hell, his longest night of sleep was four hours.

Not helped that he was the designated driver. Sure, Barbie was helping to carry that load, but ever since the group began that 'Witch Doctor' routine for cash, the woman was spending an exorbitant amount of time experimenting with, and taking notes on, various blood samples. Something he felt was really creepy, but he had to admit that it was interesting. Something about stocking up on semblances.

He sighs, tipping his hat lower to cover his eyes. Just a small rest to rejuvenate himself.

. . .

Carmine, Neo, and Blair follow Tora through the temple grounds. The red lighting of the Southern district gives way to white. Moving through the temple, the CRBN members each carry an unconscious rescue while Tora fireman carries the mustached man on his shoulders. The cowboy looking man's shirt and armor was torn open at the chest from a double dust shot, his eye blackened as he's still out cold.

Tora raises a brow. "What did you do to him? We're not going to have to apply treatment for trauma, are we?"

Blair answers. "He had three doses of a sleeping drug. The same drug should run out of these children, but we gave him one to keep him unable to break out." Cradling a young form in her arm, she manages to pull her scroll out, checking the time. "Assuming his instructions are accurate, the children should wake in minutes, actually."

"I see. Zaku should be tending to the main garden. We'll leave the little ones there while I put this one somewhere." The vagueness of where to hold the prisoner brought a dry look from the CRBN members, but they didn't call him on it. Best to roll with the blasé statement at this point.

Moving along the path, it opens upon the garden oasis. Once torched in a fight between said Southern Royal and Roman, now renewed with lush green and blooming flowers. The light peaking through the ceiling of the caverns reflects off the waters, washing the room in a faint blue glow.

However, more surprising is that it isn't Zaku tending to said gardens. The black haired beauty putting hair up on a bun, standing up from a planted set of lilies. Her red eyes blink in confusion before she huffs. "Why am I not surprised that when you return, you bring more complications?"

Rather than answering, Tora pouts. "I thought Zaku was on guard duty for the temple."

The woman shrugs. "There was a dispute between the bar patrons in the Northern district. Apparently, Rama needed some help with it." She eyes the unconscious forms in the group's arms. "So, who is going where?"

"Brig." He shrugs his shoulders to emphasize the man. "Right here." He thumbs towards the remaining three. With no other words, he walks onto the stone bridge to the main temple doors.

Ururu huffs, watching the three rescued children be set down. "I'm not a kid person, so you're responsible for them when they wake up."

As the group sets the children down, Carmine perks up. "Why is Rama calling in favors from Zaku?"

The woman cocks her head. "We needed someone to carry our Kirran's duties. Rama has control of our export production now, but he's too darn mild mannered to keep some people in line." She scoffs, flippant. "But he HAS gotten some more attention working and learning Master's crafting skills."

That got a grin from Neo, who flashed a glance to Hush in her hands. She hid it as soon as it came, but Blair caught it. "And what of Kirran, exactly?"

"Hmph!" Ururu huffs, turning off. "AZRL still considers him their contact for weapons from our clan, so whenever AZRL probes in, the bat gets to fly about. Outside of that, his leash is tight and he's been put through the grindstone." Waving her hand dismissively, she lists off. "Grimm hunts, manual labor, the works." Neo huffs, raising a brow at the Royal. Ururu narrows her eyes at the mute. "Problems?"

Carmine rolls his eyes at the exchange. "Uh, something something joke about prison populations for free cheap labor."

"Well, I think it's an effective idea." The Royal shrugs at the children.

"But not a good one." The boy mutters under his breath. Thankfully, he eyes the eldest looking of the rescued children begin to stir. "Hey, he's waking up. Could we get some water for them?"

Ururu gives a dry look for a moment and sighs, placing a bucket in front of him. She then points to the stone bridge leading to the main temple entrance. "You know the way. There's goblets in the dining area. The oasis water is more than drinking clean. Gather with the bucket." The Royal then huffs, marching to the nearest rocks large enough to sit down.

"You're so charitable." Carmine dryly mutters, then calms himself. "But thank you. Hey, Neo can you-" The boy stops, simply staring into space for a second. "Yeah, no. I'll get the goblets. You'd take more than just that." Said mute simply points to herself in mock offense. "Yes. Definitely." The girl breaks to a smirk as he stomps off toward the temple. She sets to tending to the children.

Off to the side, Blair steps over to Ururu, sitting next to her. The two simply watch Neo working with the kids as they slowly come to, Carmine soon returning to assist. The royal sends a side glance to the blonde. "I see that you've all gotten more comfortable with one another. You're not nearly as stiff as last time."

Blair sends a critical glare back. "You are mistaking a lack of energy with an abundance of complacency."

"Hmm, true." Ururu eyes each of the CRBN members. "Not a one of you looks well rested. Living purely through inns and a van must be exhausting."

"It... is not ideal"

"Have you all thought about at least setting up a permanent base for yourselves?"

Blair sighs at that. "The thought has come up." The woman runs a hand through her bangs. "The issue is that doing so would require being close enough to a major hold for quick transportation, but would need to be well hidden as to avoid Grimm infestations or thieves."

"Point taken. Although some settlements surely have more well built homesteads you could purchase for the latter reason."

Blair looks at the Royal with annoyance. "Yes, and whose name would we use? My own that's been blacklisted by the Hunter academies, earning scrutiny? Or Roman's name even though he's an established Vale criminal?"

Ururu finally huffs and looks away. "Well, when you put it like that..." After a few moments, the woman blinks in realization. "You know. There's quite a number of failed outposts and fallen villages throughout Anima. Many within regularly patrolled Mistral control. What about one of those?"

At Blair's tired glare, the Royal scowls. "I'm serious. Not all of them failed due to Grimm attacks. Many were removed from modern maps, which makes for a fair number that the bandit clans aren't aware of." That brings Blair to pause in thought. Her lips purse to a fine line. Ururu shrugs. "Just trying to be helpful."

. . .

"EEEEAAGLLEEEE!"

The screeching door calls as Roman walks out onto the street. Holding a fat stack of papers, he scrutinizes page after page. Stopping in his walk, he takes a deep breath, a long exhale. Money transactions hitting throughout Mistral dropped significantly. Sure, they could hunt a few more down, but being effective means going for higher value targets.

It brought a slight smirk to Roman's tired face. "Bout time we leave Anima..." Glancing at another page, the smirk wiped away. "... Not excited about Mantle." His eyes then find something new. "Hmm... interesting. What have we here?"

"Why ask me?" The dull uninterested tone jolts Roman as it comes from behind.

He whips around, off hand ready to jab Velvet Valentine! However, it stops short of striking the voice in the face, a brush of wind blowing blonde locks. Zaku, Royal of the South, stares back almost zoned out. Immediately, the conman's mood sours. "Great." He lowers the cane. "The moron."

Zaku cocks his head at Roman. "You were standing in the street talking to yourself."

A twitch of anger came to the conman. "Shove it. I'm sleepy. And I'm surprised you even noticed." Turning away in a huff, he begins walking towards the temple. Annoyingly, Zaku walks alongside him, carrying a familiar box with a black SDC logo. "Oh, bringing the boss his 'medication', are we?"

"Hmm? Oh. We've been using it for some new weapon constructions." Zaku starts. "Rama is keen on learning new uses with it, but the extra we've been putting to the side for some extra export."

Roman snorts at that as the two leave the blue lighting of the North district into the red orange of the South. "Ah, so basically arming the bandit clans of Mistral to off each other more efficiently. Oh, how some things are the same across cultures!"

Rather than answer the obvious jabbing tone, Zaku perks up. "So, what progress have you guys made against the bad guys?"

"Since Vaterra, we've had fifteen stops throughout Mistral territories of Anima. Counting today's rescued kiddies, since Silver Streak's decided to kill his brain cells counting, we're at 153 rescues." Roman explains. In his head he breaks that number down. After saving twenty five blues in Vaterra, they'd gotten some other blues rescued in transit between Eastern Anima and the City of Mistral. Saving 43 in total. Four of which were actively serving AZRL, leaving no choice but to leave them to local jailers.

In fact, almost all their rescues came from interrupting travel. Many of the kids they found hadn't even been branded yet. Which made sense as Roman thought of it. Beyond all the kingdoms, Mistral has the largest problem of law and order outside of their capital. What with the bandit clans and wider stretches of harsh terrain fostering Grimm.

Not to even mention the large bulk of children they'd gotten saved in Vale when the Silver Auditorium fell. The only time they've saved any blacks thus far. Again, fitting. They'll be the most secure. And much like Vale and Vaterra, they'd had to leave the AZRL men to local law enforcement almost every time.

The two men walk in relative silence, eventually entering the first gate into the temple grounds. The path opens up into the oasis. The first thing they see is the three rescued children were all awake. Ururu is now giving them a checkup, with Carmine and Neo standing by them. The boy notices Roman and the Royal approaching.

He rushes over to meet them. "Hey, anything good?"

"I wouldn't call any of it good, but it's useful." Roman snidely corrects, earning a pout from the boy.

"You know what I meant... Ass."

"Scathing." Roman dismisses, looking at the group by the waters. "What am I looking at?"

Following his gaze, Carmine nods. "Two of the kids are from a collection of farms to the Northeast. Different households but they know each other. That helped calm them down. We had a scare with the third freaking out." He points out the eldest, the brown haired boy. "He's a farmhand from a frontier homestead much closer to the City of Mistral... The man we captured seems to have taken him by force in broad daylight."

Raising a brow, Roman sighs. "Ah, so he's orphaned now." The blunt statement earns a harsh glare the boy. "What? It's the truth. You should know."

Carmine's fist clenches, but he bites his tongue from yelling at the conman. "Ururu has agreed to handle returning the first two with the clan's trade caravans and an escort... Tora said he'll talk to Master Kourii about how to handle the third. They might shelter him for now."

Zaku nods. "A foundling if the child accepts it? It should be fine, but depends how the boy takes to it." The Royal answers in a bored tone. "Otherwise, we'll just have to help him to a major kingdom city that can handle extra homeless. Vale territories are better for those." Without further input, the Royal marches by the scene, walking to the temple.

Carmine and Roman each look over to Blair, who concentrates on a scroll in hand by the rocks. "She still hasn't cracked it, has she?" Roman asks, unimpressed.

The boy sighs. "That guy's scroll has... incriminated software?"

"Encrypted." Roman corrects.

"Shut up." Carmine snaps back, blushing embarrassed. "Anyway, she's hasn't cracked it." The two walk up to her. "Any luck, Blair?"

The blonde, oblivious to Roman's presence, growls low in frustration. "No. I'm able to get into the scroll's own data, but I can't trace where any of its communications came from or went due to the... Ugh, EZ-VPN."

Roman snickers. "Our scientist. Bested by a commercial virtual private network product."

Realizing his presence, Blair's anger flares as she burns a glare at him. "My expertise is the study of genetics tied to aura! If you would be better with communications technology, be my guest!" She returns her attention to the scroll, muttering under her breath. "Fools thinking that just 'scientist' means expert at all things. Moronic."

The boy gives a shaky laugh. "Well, if you're done picking on Blair-"

"Never, but go on." Roman waves him off dismissively.

Carmine's shaky smile shifts to annoyance instantly. "ANYWAY! We were talking about what our next job will be."

"Well, good thing it won't be a question." Roman wags the stack of papers up. "It seems that they're moving operations West-"

"Hey!" The barking shout of Tora comes from the main temple. The large faunus cups his mouth and yells for them. "Something's up with your prisoner! Come here!"

In unison, each member of CRBN grimaces. Carmine's shoulders dips as his fists clench. "Not again... How do they keep..." He shakes his head, looking from the rescued kids to Ururu and Zaku. "Um, could you..?" Ururu waves him off as he gives an appreciative smile. "Thanks. Let's go."

. . .

Inside the temple, the group enters a locked hallway. A jail of sorts, being a hall with barred sections. The barred doors show locks, most of them unused with rather large cells. Each cell had the standard fare, bed, plumbing restroom, the works. Much better than a typical setup.

Upon entering, the nearest cell was locked, the bound form of the captive man inside. Tora opens the cell and sighs. "I just-... I picked up on a change in his breathing and found his eyes open. Knew he was awake and was ready to have to watch over him, but..."

Gazing at the body, Roman interjects. "But he suddenly seizes and keels over dead. We've noticed the trends." Tora quirks his brow, looking to Blair, who sighs.

"We've captured a number of AZRL agents over the last few months. The trend seems to be that they have little to no useful information, or the second they regain consciousness, they die." She runs a hand into her hair. "It isn't a simple cyanide trick, either. Nor is it linked to aura. I used Ururu's semblance I captured last time we were here to drain one to near absolute zero, but it still occurred. Dead upon revival."

"Brothers... No autopsy?" Tora asks, stunned.

Carmine and Neo share a sickly look before Blair mutters. "I've tried one. No result. There was no clear damage to any organs. It was as if they simply shut down, with the flip of a switch."

"Even the nobodies we got arrested in Vaterra we heard all dropped off as soon as they were 'stable'." Roman scoffs. The group grimaces, Tora shaking his head. That is, until a new voice sounds.

"Perhaps I should try?"

The emotionless, yet polite and light voice catches the CRBN members off guard. Three cells down, laying stiffly on a bed in loose gray pants and tunic, is Kirran Mibu. The bat faunus twitches his ears lightly as he cocks his head.

Carmine squints his eyes suspiciously. "And just why would we trust what you say?"

Kirran's lip curls to a smirk. "A funny sentiment considering all three of your team members have a shady background."

"What was that?" The boy's eyes widen. "Who... how do you..?" He sputters and double takes at the group. He looks at Roman, whispering. "I didn't talk about you three last time, did you?"

Roman rolls his eyes. "No, but your reaction just now gave him an answer, dunce."

"Don't compliment me that highly." Kirran responds. "I had the idea when I first found you all last time. It's the way you walk and move. The passive distance you put between yourself and others."

The conman cocks his head. "A neat observation to make from a blind man."

"It's because he's a bat." Carmine mutters. "A faunus relation to their animal sub species. Animals like bats, and their faunus counterparts can use echo location to see. Right?" Neo blinks in surprise at the boy. Her confusion is clear as Carmine adds. "My... my mom was a faunus. I pay attention to faunus stuff." He ends lamely.

Blair nods. "Add to that his semblance controlling sound waves, and he can 'see' well enough." The blonde then critically eyes the captive faunus. "But I fail to see what you can discern from a corpse."

At that, Kirran sits up, his false calm smile, like a doll face, on. "Straight to the point. What exactly is sound?"

"Vibrations of a certain frequency in the air, registered by the ear before being interpreted as impulses to the brain." The blonde answers clinically.

Tora scratches at his chin. "Kirran, you think you can honestly find out something for them?" The group eyes the tall faunus skeptically. The bat faunus returns a look to the man, pursed lips. "I say, let him have a go."

The CRBN members grimace, sharing questioning glances. Neo frowns and shrugs. Roman shakes his head, Blair giving a nod. Great. He's the tie breaker. "Sure, give him a shot. But how do you plan to do it?"

Tora is already marching towards Kirran's cell as the young man responds. "Sounds rebound different depending on the surface. Even more different is how dense a substance is can affect how sound and vibrations travel through it." His false smile curls, creepy as all hell. "I'm not entirely sure if I could tell a difference. I'm merely offering help, but I'll require one of you to give me a human control example, so I can tell differences between his body and yours."

"Oh I'm out." Roman immediately marches to a corner and sits.

Neo likewise ducks out, sitting on the ground beside the man. At Blair and Carmine's look, she conjures a sign. 'Already mute. Not adding deaf to that'

Carmine sighs. "I..." Nausea, sickly bubbling in him as he grates out. "I can recall any damage, so I'll do it."

The click unlocking Kirran's cell sounds. Kirran steps out, maintaining his smile. "Very well. It shouldn't leave any permanent damage." At Blair's narrowing glare, Kirran's smile widens. "To answer what I'm sure is your next question, humans have far more consistent biology, so no I would not be as reliable if I used Tora."

Blair maintains her scowl before shifting focus to Carmine. "As long as you're sure."

Reentering the captive man's cell, Kirran steps to the middle. "Place the man onto the bed, sitting upright, please." Tora does so, putting the bound corpse upright on the mattress. "Without the chains." Unbound, the bindings rattle onto the floor. The bat faunus points to the mattress. "Please sit on the other end of the mattress."

Carmine grimaces. Seeing the body be moved, completely limp, just... His vision hazes.

A torso laying front to the ground, head and face covered by a mess of hair.

A frail shape shrouded in a white cloak.

A limp body placed into a hole, the white cloaked individual filling it with dirt.

The raccoon bagged eyes going hollow as the drug addict falls.

A dog faunus laying bleeding on concrete... followed by a voice. "I used this hand."

His hand raises to his head, only for Kirran's grip on his wrist to snap him out! His wide eyes look to the blind man. The creepy smile drops, almost a genuine analytical showing from the former enemy. "Careful now." Carmine's eye twitches as he looks to his held wrist. "I haven't started, and your heart rate is already erratic."

Carmine scoffs, feeling the eyes of his team on him. "Just do it."

Kirran's other hand grips the dead man's wrist. "Very well. I'll try my best." Focusing, his aura pulses, the boy slowly plugging one ear with his finger. His face pulls down as Kirran smiles. "Unfortunately, that will not have any effect." His semblance activates... Silent to the other four in the room, but to Carmine?

EEEEEEE!

His bones shivered, a vibrato shaking every limb in the body of the boy. However, he didn't register how it shook. Only the high pitched ring, searing pain into his head from both sides. His Right hand clamps over his ear, eyes twitching before clenching shut.

Carmine screamed, but couldn't hear it. He kicked, but couldn't feel contact.

And it's gone.

Carmine falls into place, eyes too wide as he quivers and shakes numb. Everything was blurred, and his hearing was... it was... what? Everything sounded simultaneously far away, yet right beside him. His head hung lightheaded, hazed as he tries to think...

And he recalls.

The body flickers with his semblance, rewinding to a standing position. As he appears, he stumbles to a kneeling position. Vision back, hearing back... Everything numb and he nurses a splitting migraine! A supporting arm stabilizes him, holding him to stand. "Carmine! Are you okay?"

Groggy, Carmine side eyes her. "Note to self. Using my Recall to heal damage still hurts." Leaning his weight on her, he mutters. "Can we look into that? Maybe I'm doing something wrong."

The blonde releases a sigh, but barely curls her lip, a ghost of a smirk. "Indeed." The expression washes away as she looks to Kirran. "Well? Did that work?"

The group looks to the bat faunus, who stands frozen. Head cocked, his ears twitch, almost showing thought through his furrowed brow. "The man's skull." The CRBN members perk, focusing on him. "Embedded into his skull, within the brain, is a high density object. It affected the sound passing through his head."

"Inside the brain?" Roman scrunches his face and scoffs. "So we're dealing with mad science at this point."

While the blonde agrees, she has to admit, that isn't an area she'd checked before. "You're sure?"

The faunus turns, his mask like false smile on again. "Outside of that and pumping blood, there was no discernible difference between the waves effects in their bodies." Without prompting, the faunus marches out of the cell, walking down the hall to his own cell. "Do with that as you wish."

Tora follows, locking the bat back in the barred area. Roman and Neo share a glance, the ginger shrugging. "So, we're smashing a head to check a prize? Cause I'm used to gruesome, but..."

Noticing Carmine cringe at the man's statement, Blair lightly pushes the boy away. "I'll do it. Carmine, talk to Roman." The boy and Roman perk, one in realization, the other in confusion. The red and silver haired boy bobs his head to the door in direction as they exit, leaving Blair and Tora alone with the dead body... and Neo, who watches with wide curious eyes. "Neo, you go too."

The girl scowls, raising a sign. 'Can't I watch?'

Tora cringes, looking to Blair. Blair looks to Neo, the girl pouting. "Leave." The order works as the tricolor girl leaves. Blair then looks to Tora. "What?"

The faunus leans back, eyeing the door as it shuts. He takes a sniff. "Okay, she's out. Would you, uh..." He points at the door. "Would you consider that a red flag?"

Blair can't help but to pinch her nose, already annoyed while turned away from the man. "It's not exactly a concern of a man who attempted to kill her before." Before he fires back, she sighs. "But your concern is noted... and shared. However." Recovering and directing a chilling stare onto the dead man. "First thing's first."

. . .

"Sorry, I'm not quite sure I heard that right." Roman starts condescendingly, talking down to the boy who sends him a dry look. Waving his hand flippantly, he continues. "Run that by me one more time."

Between them stands Neo, glancing back and forth with a touch of mischief in her eyes. This should be entertaining.

Carmine maintains a half lidded stare. Emotionless and done with the conman's tone, he rushes out lazily. "We're discussing setting up a home base in one of the abandoned villages to the North. Preferably, closer to the capitol of Mistral so we can take advantage of Bulkhead transports more often."

The man looks at him as if the boy was something stuck to his shoe. "You DO realize that they're abandoned for a reason. Good for a pit stop at best, but to stay in any of these places sounds just asinine at face value."

Neo conjures a sign in the hand by Roman reading, 'First insult from Roman! Easy prediction.'

Carmine shrugs. "Frankly, we really need a place where we can sleep and recharge. Our first thought was buying a place, but..." Neo frowns, her other hand forming a new sign. 'Arguments aren't fun with logic, Carmine. More insults!'

"But someone's name would be on it, considering we're made up of two children, a blacklisted hunter, and an international criminal." Roman finishes with a scoff. "Leaving our options with being easily tracked or saying, 'Just wait, Grimm. We're coming to you!'"

The girl's sign by Roman shatters to a new one. 'He's got a point.'

Frustrated, Carmine throws a hand up. "You know? Maybe instead of criticize, you help make something work. We've been dead on our feet for a week!"

Neo shatter swaps the sign by the boy. Now, it's a picture of an ancient elderly man in a suit and tie with a speech bubble saying 'Come on, Man!'

On the one hand, Roman wanted to agree. His eyes narrow as his other hand spoke louder. Fight all the battles! "Look, you're aware that Grimm aren't the only trouble with this idea, right? YOU should know this more than most." At that, Neo allows the signs to shatter and looks to the boy as well.

The unsubtle reference stirs indignation out of the boy. Huffing and looking off, his eyes clench shut for a moment. Just a second, Roman would believe the boy was falling asleep on his feet. The boy finally opens his eyes, a touch narrowing and closer to shut than before. "Look-"

"Fine." Roman groans out. The boy recoils at that, eyes wide. Neo double takes as well. "What? I can be agreeable at times."

"Impossible."

"Ah! You mean improbable!" The conman corrects. "But, I get free reign deciding where this happens. I refuse to shack up in what amounts to a neon sign reading 'kill me, I'm here!'"

"Noted..." Letting out a sigh, he looks at the door to the 'dungeon' as it were. Tora enters from the door, looking a slight bit grim. "How is it?"

"Bloody, but she found it." Tora states in a grimace. "She's... tidying up."

The boy shakes off the mental image, "Good. Hopefully, we'll be out of your hair by the end of the day."

"You're not gonna at least sleep for the night?"

The touch of concern prompts Carmine, Neo, and Roman to share glances at one another. Roman waves him off. "Quicker we find a permanent residence, sooner we can actually get used to sleeping." The man is nudged by Neo as she passes a shatter note. "Ah, we would need a few things if we can buy them here."

"I'm sure Rama can direct you if need be." At that, the door opens as Blair walks in with a bloody rag in hand, cradling an object inside. "Ah, the mad doc is finished... and the body?"

"Cleaned and wrapped in a bag. I'm not sure where to place it, unfortunately." Blair answers. The faunus simply nods and walks back to the prison area, presumably to dispose of said body. At the questioning looks given, Blair nods to the rag, held up. "Yet another technological advancement that isn't exactly public knowledge."

"So that Atlas connection is all but certain at this point." Roman mutters. "What mad science is it this time?"

Blair gives a poignant stare, but doesn't engage, speaking to Carmine. "Neural implant. It is connected to interpret impulses. I've only heard of experiments being done to use these to replace damaged parts of the brain. However, this was not replacing. It was only connected."

Neo raises a sign. 'So it did nothing?'

"It most certainly didn't do 'nothing', but I'm going to have to look into what actually occurred."

"Something for later then." Carmine sighs. "Let's get some food or something, get supplies, and we can leave, okay?" At nods from the females and a begrudging grunt from Roman, the boy smirks and nods. "Let's go."

"So long as you don't pick some trashy fast food again." Roman grumbles.

. . .

"And here I thought fast food was dumb enough." Roman grumbles.

The four sit lined up at a counter. The outside lit blue for the Northern district, the ramen stand is lit bright, empty bowls before the four. Happy faces upon the teen faces until Carmine glares Roman's way. "Why? What problem could you have now?"

Rather than answer, Roman scoffs. "So, we headed out now, or what? Gonna stop and rescue a cat from a tree, Silver?" The man stands after the four pay for their meal.

Pouting, Carmine huffs. "What? No dessert? When's the last time you indulged a sweet tooth?"

The conman sends a glare over his shoulder at the boy. However, said boy waits patiently for a verbal answer. His glare moves to Neo, who grins. Then to Blair, who shrugs. "I'll pass. I'm not one for kiddie treats."

As the man turns, Carmine smirks. "I'll pay."

The immediately heel spin puts Roman back to facing the four. "Well, I guess I wouldn't mind." His now chipper tone grating their ears.

"So, all I ever have to do is pay you to do anything I want?" The boy's now dry look and tone oozes annoyance. "So much for dignity."

"You underestimate the power of money, brat." His chuckle contrasts the insult.

"And you underestimate how much you're being a tw-at." The boy fires back, pronouncing twat with the same hard 'a' as brat.

"Children." Blair groans out loud. "There's a parlor." The four stop before the building, a parlor featuring a cartoon cow with googly eyes. As they enter, the eye piercing colors burn at Roman's eyes, the teens perking as Blair only mildly grimaces. "A bit bright for my tastes."

The dry comment gets a chuckle from Carmine. Something he was learning to appreciate were the little moments with his team. It was... nice. The group sits at the counter, Blair at the end, followed by Neo, then Carmine, then Roman. The server, a blonde cat faunus with red eyes, steps up. "Hello there! Name's Dominique, welcome to Moo Mare! May I take your order?" The chipper man asks.

"Name is retarded." Roman grumbles under his breath in a whisper.

WHACK!

Carmine swats Roman's side under the counter. Maintaining a smile, Carmine forces out. "You order first." Sending a sly look to the man to annoy him. Roman is left to stew for a second, eyes glancing for two seconds at the menu. Ah, a parlor that custom makes your order from a long list of ingredients.

Lazily, the man rattles off. "Double chocolate shake with cocoa whipped cream, fudge and chocolate chip chunks, topped with a white chocolate bar and extra chocolate syrup." He looks at Dominique, whose wide shrunken eyes and purse lipped stare is annoying. "What? The brat is paying."

Carmine recovers, Blair and Neo equally wide eyed at the man. "Okay, shock aside, I want the vanilla version of all of that!" He stares at the menu, eyes shining. "Vanilla with marshmallow chunks, whipped cream, cookies and cream chunks, and honey drizzle!"

Dominique stares wide eyed writes the orders. "Right... um, is there anything else you want?"

"Diabetes apparently." Blair states before adding for herself. "I'd like a strawberry smoothie, please."

"Come on, add some more. Live a little." Carmine eggs on, Neo jabbing a finger into Blair's stiff side.

"I believe I would actually shorten my life and live less if I added more." Her eye twitches as the kids continue eyeing her. "Fine... Use the strawberry smoothie instead of milk with strawberry ice cream to make a float. Add some whipped cream."

"Yes!" Carmine silently cheers with a small fist pump. Neo giggles mute before conjuring a shatter paper and sliding it to the cashier.

Dominique takes the slip, paling further. He chuckles nervously. "Right... a party of sweet tooths I see. I'll be right back with your orders." As he disappears, a blast of shouts faintly sound from the back, one sounding 'You're taking the piss. They want what?!'

Laughing at the employee's expense, Carmine turns to Neo. "How bad was your order?" She makes a show of thinking before holding up seven fingers. "7 out of 10, huh. You're merciful today." At her devilish smirk, he turns to Roman. "So, I can't possibly imagine you with a sweet spot. Chocolate?"

Roman raises a brow. "What? I can like things." All three of the other CRBN members send incredulous stares his way. "So, maybe I developed a habit of stealing from the cookie jar as a wee lad."

"I am both shocked and not surprised at all." Blair mutters. "I am assuming that is a hyperbolic story."

Roman actually engages the conversation, chuckling. "No, actually. You'd be amazed how popular you become among your fellow children when you get that sweet score behind Auntie's back." The man laughs, shaking his head. "I mean, sure. She was a mind boggled ole bat, but if she could bake like that, she had to have SOME awareness. I impressed myself."

Both Blair and Carmine are tapped at the sides by Neo, who shook her head before smirking and pointing at the man. She makes an o face, before holding two fingers up. Then, one hand makes an O, while the other sticks its index finger out, inching towards the O. Then she points at Roman again.

Roman interprets the gestures. "Hmm. You're right. It IS the first time I've mentioned my family. Let's stop that, shall we?" He turns away with a grimace.

Carmine huffs. Oh, like he'll let Roman off that easy. Sure, the family spot was sore for the boy, but he chose to latch onto the new information. "You know about my family. We both know a bit about Neo's, and I've met Blair's sister. Come on. Tell us something."

Rolling his eyes, the man sighs. "It's nothing relevant. Most exciting thing is numbers. My generation in the family ran 37 strong."

All three of the others go wide eyed at him. Carmine slow speaks. "Um... only child here."

Neo holds a conjured sign, body stunned still. 'Same'.

Even Blair is stunned as she barely gets out. "One of four daughters of the family..."

Roman again grunts. "That 37 counts over 22 families. All but one of the others were my cousins." He answers in a dry tone. "I couldn't possibly image a woman that gaped."

The crass image brought to mind flushes Carmine's face, sickens Neo's, and brings an unimpressed look to Blair. The blonde responds. "Horrid image aside, that's more believable. Still quite an extended family. Must have been close if you can recall that many cousins alone. I don't know many people to connect with that many who aren't directly related."

"Yeah, it's not all it's cracked up to be." The man responds in a grim tone.

A lull pulls into the conversation, Neo poking Carmine to perk his attention to get Roman. The boy then taps Roman, getting him to look at her. She flashes a shatter note. 'Are they alive? Is that why you don't talk about them?'

He snorts at that. Honest to god snorts into a fit of laughter. "Oh- Oh. Oh gods. Brothers, yes they're alive." The man doubles into a fit of chuckles, shaking his head. "And I could think of many reasons not to talk about them. Primary among them being... screw them." As if it's the simplest thing in the world, he continues to stare off, a small smirk adorning his face.

Something about the dismissal irritates the boy. Narrowing his gaze at the man, he pushes. "What about your sibling? No one can dismiss their sibling."

Blair huffs, Carmine flinching at having walked right into that minefield.

Unfortunately, rather than expected anger from the blonde, a searing glare comes from the conman. "She's a harlot bitch that, for all I care to know, either fucked off or died." Leaning just a touch, causing the boy to pull back. "I'll say this one last time. I. Don't. Care... About any of them. I hold no wish to see them, or check up on them in their merry lives after almost two decades."

Once more, the conversation pauses. Awkwardly so, but thankfully not for long. Dominique enters from the back of the counters carrying a serving tray with three large glass drinks and a bowl.

For Blair, a gorgeous pink smoothie shake float topped with whipped cream and a cherry. If he looked at her face, he'd see her show just a small smirk.

For Neo, a triple scoop bowl of multiple flavors. One scoop of purple Moon Mist, one of Rocky Road, and one mint chocolate chip! Cookie crumbles were sprinkled on top with an added layer of melted hot marshmallow sauce. Okay, Carmine had to credit that.

Then Roman's. He may not be a chocolate man, but it's the most beautiful brown beverage he'd ever saw. Black chunks in the milky smooth cocoa color, with dark deep brown lines of syrup mixed inside. Dark black whipped cream as well with a white chocolate bar stuck into the cream beside the straw.

For just a second, he imagined a white cloaked woman that would cry tears of joy at such a thing.

But then comes his own drink, the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life. A slightly tinged off white with pure black and white cookie and cream chunks, marshmallow, and whipped cream glazed in honey. Call him Wilford Grimmley, cause he's getting diabetes... happily.

"Are you going to eat or just stare longingly like a fat lard?" Roman mocks from the side, already pulling the shake covered white chocolate out and chomping down.

Snapping out of the food trance, all four take in a mouth full of their desserts... simultaneously snapping eyes wide. Neo quickens her consumption of the ice cream as Blair eloquently sips away at her drink. Carmine is the one to give up and just begin beer chugging his shake. Downing half the creamy drink, he pulls it away, staving off the cold headache and wiping the whipped cream stache from his lips.

Roman lowers a now empty glass, first to finish his. The boy's jaw drops as the conman coolly wipes his lip with a napkin. "Alright, I don't regret the feel good meal time. Happy?"

"How the hell did you-... You finished that so fast..."

"Cause I'm better than you in all things." Roman smirks as he turns away from the counter. "I'm going shopping for supplies to set up our... 'base camp' nonsense."

"Yeah, yeah..." Carmine gives dry glare as the man leaves. He then lets out a sigh, turning Neo. "So, how about-" And she's gone. The bowl quivering back and forth empty until it settles to a stop. A solid ten seconds pass with him just staring. "When did she..."

"She finished and left while you were looking at Roman." Blair answers, still sipping at her own beverage.

"So... did she pay-"

"You know she didn't."

Eyes clenched, Carmine gently lowers his face into his hands. "God... damn it, Neo." Running his hand over his head, he's collected. "At least you're not cheap like those two." He looks over... And empty, tinted pink beverage glass and no blonde woman. He snaps his head around, finding himself alone. "No..."

Dominique returns, bright smile. "You ready to pay?"

The boy looks back like a deer in headlights.

"..."

"..."

Echoing out of the parlor was a vulgar scream. "MOTHER FUCKER!"

Joy of joys! They get ever closer to having just a place to sleep for themselves. Further complications and implications for AZRL's technology. A revisit to Mibu. Showing the group getting closer with even Roman offering up SOMETHING about himself. By the end of next chapter, should be mostly finished with Mistral for the time being.

Join next time in Chapter Twenty Six: Homestead.