Bit shorter of a chapter this time. We're heading into the next arc. Time skip has occurred. Let's go!
Chapter Forty One: Wilted Pains
Quiet, tranquil sounds of birds chirp through the forest. Calm. Serene. Peaceful. The wonderful beauty of a natural forest, a deer grazing off a berry bush. The animal huffs, twitching its ear as it quaintly chews. Around it, sparrows flocking in the trees. One settling next to another, peering around it and making an approach-
Rumble.
An explosion, far in the distance, followed by another. Rapid explosions... The birds scatter, moving into the sky as the deer turns its head... Far off, at the horizon, a smoke cloud trails off... The deer shifts, confused, finding itself on a dirt road...
Ripping tread sounds as a black and gray van roars around a corner. Far in the distance behind it is an outpost. A faction camp with a massive silo connected to the main facility. The deer barely leaps out of the way as the off road vehicle roars past.
Inside, Roman drives the van, relaxed and comfortable with a grin. Her wears black gloves, his bowler hat, a red ascot, a brown long coat fully buttoned, and black pants. He takes a second to glance through the rear view mirror to see Carmine...
The teen's hair has been cut quite short, the natural white tips looking like highlighted tips. He wears a bright blue jacket, right sleeve long, left sleeve short. Dark blue jeans and black shoes complete the normal outfit. His silver cobalt armor locks on his chest and coats his arm.
Roman Torchwick
Age – 25
Carmine Uhlric
Age – 15
Three years til the Day
"It's fiiiine." The man drawls out condescendingly.
Carmine narrows his gaze, angered. "You were NOT supposed to betray them."
The man scoffs, flippantly waving his hand. "Playing people for chumps is what I do, and they always need to know they've been played." A playful smirk plays his lips as he finishes. "Otherwise, where's the fun?"
In the passenger seat, Blair sits straight rigid, brow twitching in her own annoyance. Her hair in its usual state pulled in a straight ponytail with a violet hair tie and bangs framing the left side of her face. Her button up pleated white top has its top two buttoned undone, sleeves ending mid forearm. A dark violet corset completes the top. Skin tight black pants under and white heeled boots. Golden bracelets hang at her wrists. She glares over. "Getting to live without bounty hunters coming after us... again."
Blair Goodwitch
Age - 23
Roman rolls his eyes, dismissive. "Oh well, nothing to do about it now."
Carmine shakes his head, looking to Neo beside him with a sigh. "You got the data, right?"
Neo smiles at his side. Her outfit consists of a pink sleeveless under a brown corset exposing her naval, forearms covered in white arm warmers, black pants, and white heeled boots. Her hair has long pig tails draped behind her, one pink one brown. She holds up a flash drive in hand.
Neopolitan Rhodes
Age - 14
She then pulls up a full plastic bag and sets it between herself and Carmine, leaving the boy to blink at it... Brown leather... "These are wallets." The simple statement turns his gears as he scowls at the girl. "You spent precious operation time stealing wallets?!"
Roman chuckles. "At-ta girl!" Blair facepalming at his open praise. Neo's smirk morphs to an excited grin sitting directly behind him.
Carmine alternates his glare between the man and the girl. When settling it on Neo, the girl hunkers and blinks a coy innocent look up at him. He shakes his head, turning his attention to the bag. Something catches his eyes... a blue wallet that's familiar. He grabs it. "What the- WHY IS MY WALLET IN HERE?!" He opens it fully. "Where's my money?!" He glares at Neo angrily. The girl whistles at the window, watching trees pass.
The exclamation bursts Roman into laughter. Finally getting from a dirt road onto concrete. In the turn, Carmine seethes. "God... DAMN IT!"
"Stop being relaxed, and Neo won't make you the fool." Blair states dryly.
The boy snaps his pouting face up at the blonde. "You just used the 'what was she wearing' argument."
"The best argument." Roman snickers, getting an irritated tick twitching on the boy's head.
"Two things can be true at once. She can keep her hands to herself." Blair sends a glare over the shoulder of the front seat at the girl. She returns her innocent aloof look back. Blair's eyes narrow before turning to Carmine. "And you can at least TRY to safeguard yourself."
The boy rolls his eyes. "Still think it's more her issue than mine." Neo sticks her tongue out at him, doing whatever she can to get under his skin. "Just find us somewhere to eat. Need to figure what else we can do."
Roman looks over the road signs. "Closest location is Oja Terrace. Small village, but I think there's an inn there. Small shop. It's on the rail way lines."
Carmine perks at that... Sounds familiar. He shrugs. "Do it then." He swipes the flash drive from the girl, giving it to Blair. "Here." The woman accepts the drive with a curt nod.
The team has made a trend. Their list of contacts captured from Menagerie a year ago was more than enough to go for a time. Throughout, they discovered a tendency of AZRL buyers to be decorated in multiple forms of crime. Most common being drug trade.
One particularly specialized drug was the mixture of common street drugs spliced with dust. The chemical formula needed to balance out the dust without instantly killing the victims required a skilled architectural mind. And seeing as the only distributors of this drug were recognized by Roman as enemies of Senior, the exact groups that AZRL preyed on for years...
Well, locate the formula maker... locate the AZRL affiliate. At least, Carmine was banking on that being the case...
. . .
The van pulls into Oja Terrace, a small village with wooden barrier walls. Maybe a dozen buildings were within the walls. Farm houses for the most part. However, the edge of the village, to the wood line, finds an uplifted rail road. A large sign labeled 'Rata Railways'. The van pulls to a stop at the newest looking building. A painted yellow and brown two story structure with a large sign.
The van stops, doors opening as Roman inspects the area around. He turns his nose up as he blinks in realization. He gazes around to Carmine, the boy exiting the vehicle with Blair on the other side. "What a time to realize I've been here before. It's not really any better." Carmine blinks at the remark, looking around. It's... really familiar. He gazes at the inn.
Hard Leg Taver-
Carmine locks his focus on the inn, eyes wide. Hard Leg Taverns... No freakin' way. He's here of all places? Blair notices the boy. "You recognize this place too?"
"Yeah..." He marches forward absent minded. Neo quirks and follows after.
Blair sends a gaze to Roman, who shrugs. "Last I was here, I met his Super Cop dad and sent him off to rescue the brat."
Blair scowls. "That happened around here?"
Roman rocks on his stance, looking to the tree lines, struggling to remember. "About... who knows how many miles THAT way." He points at a nondescript point of the tree line. "Abandoned cartel outpost." He puts his hands on his hips. "Guess whoever survived the incident brought Silver Streak here after." He spares a look towards the stair ramp leading up to the rail way. "Ah, CCT station over there if you want to check that drive, Barbie. Should have a computer if I recall correctly."
The blonde sighs. "Very well. You know what I like, so order for me."
Roman huffs, rolling his eyes. "Eggs fried, slice of ham, and blueberry waffles." Blair sends a quick look, so he adds. "Ah, yes, and plain tea."
Ahead of the two, Carmine grabs the door, opening it and allowing Neo to enter first. As she passes, his off hand snaps over his front right pocket, wallet inside. He narrows his gaze at her as she smiles and passes. He rolls his eyes and enters after her.
Not what he expected... The room had black tile flooring, Mahogany tables and furniture littered the room, a fireplace on the far wall with an adjacent bar. Very well lit as well.
However... the music.
Carney style old instrumentals with old, old, OLD swing music. The source is a classic red and silver jukebox near the bar as well. Travelers and townsfolk already populated the room, eating and drinking merry. A man at the bar waves at the kids. "Hello there! Take a seat anywhere!"
Carmine and Neo nod back with nervous grins. "Bit old timey with the music, but otherwise cozy." The boy lets Neo lead into the center of the room, finding a four person table for the two to sit down.
Settling in, the boy's head is on a swivel, looking over each person... He frowns, settling in. Neo raises a brow at him, so he mumbles. "It's stupid." Before the words even leave his lips, he's glancing around.
Neo gives a huffing look, signing out. 'You're dumb dumb. That's not an excuse.'
He puffs his chest, indignant. "Just... wanted to see if someone was still here."
The girl perks, an honest look before signing. 'A friend?'
The notion brings a smile. "We'll see. I was just... a dumb kid not worth anyone's time." He perks slightly, smirking. "Literally a day before we met, now that I think of it."
Neo recoils lightly, blinking in surprise, before smirking lightly. The two meet gazes a moment. He smirks lightly in return. A few seconds too long as both break the look awkwardly. A snap pulls their attention up, Roman arriving at the table.
"Barbie's looking at the drive for now." He listens to the music, A piano jazz tune playing as he grimaces. "Not that classics aren't my taste, but I'd like something not more than twice my age old before I was born."
"As if you wouldn't jump in joy for mellow noir soundtracks." The boy drawls. "Order for us, please?"
Roman sneers. "I'm a butler now?"
The boy glares. "Payment for wrecking the plan earlier for a cheap pay raise."
The conman rolls his eyes. "Oh, somebody holds grudges." He sighs before heading towards the bar. Reaching there, he picks up a food menu from a slot in the wood. He lightly skims it over. This Joe guy really likes putting his name out. Joe's Punch? Sloppy Hard Leg Joe? Joe Joe, er, hot chocolate drink. Branding, branding, branding, branding, branding.
While perusing the options, the barkeep approaches across from the man. "Howdy, friend. What can I do you for?" Roman passes a glance at a name tag. Dominique.
He scoffs. "Table with the two brats over there. Four of the custom house breakfast. Fried egg, ham, and blueberry waffle for one. Scrambled, bacon, and chocolate chip waffles with strawberry syrup for another. Omelet stacked in with pancakes with ham for the third. Biscuits with sausage gravy and poached egg for the fourth."
The barkeep blinks as he finishes writing the orders down. "Full table! Drinks?"
"Plain tea, sweet tea, orange soda, and a cappuccino." Roman drones.
'Dominique' nods to him. "Got it. Big order to memorize! You know your friends well."
"Yeah, yeah. Enough with the small talk." Roman waves him off. Or starts to before freezing at the thought. Memorizing orders... Friends. Perish the alien thought. Roman's eyes narrow to a glare. The last person he memorized ANYTHING for was Senior... and that was under threat...
Roman Torchwick doesn't do favors for free... He doesn't go out of his way for you... for anyone else...
But... he is.
His eye twitches as he settles at the bar. "Hey, Dommy. Scratch the cappuccino. Something hard right here please." He settles in at the bar, away from the kids. Neo spots the man at the bar. She raises a brow, but takes her mind from it. The jukebox loudly swaps discs as a banjo and peppy piano tune play. Roman grimaces and dismisses the music as he receives his drink.
The tune plays loudly, Neo faintly listening to the lyrics. "Well, I don't know, but I've been told- uranium ore's worth more than gold." The girl lightly bobs with the music, then the thought ticks to waste time annoying Carmine. "Sold my cad'. I bought me a jeep." Her eyes bulge wide, staring mutely at what she didn't expect. "I got that bug, and I can't sleep-"
"Uranium Fever has gone and got me down!" The boy is mouthing along the lyrics! He's bobbing his head side to side with the beat, eyes closed, enjoying this old jam! What?! He's lip syncing! He knows this old decrepit song by heart too?! "Uranium Fever! It's spreadin' all around." The boy opens his, spotting her staring at him.
Like a dear in headlights, he freezes completely, staring embarrassed back. He stops lip syncing, still frozen. "With a geiger counter in my hand-" The girl, lips pursed and eyes wide, stares back. "-I'm a-goin' out to stake me some government land."
The boy breaks the stare, looking away as he reddens. Neo continues to blink at him. Weird taste. He second verse began as the girl glances at Carmine's fingers. They tap away at the table softly in rhythm to the song.
His jaw twitches, almost mouthing the words again. She stifles a laugh. He's trying so hard not to show he likes the song. The second verse leads into a second chorus. "Uranium Fever has gone and got me down!" Neo suppresses her smirk, putting on a poker face. The boy catches her gaze with his own again as the lyrics continue. "Uranium Fever! It's spreadin' all around!"
Neo raises a brow him. "With a geiger counter in my hand-" The girl opens her mouth and lip syncs as the second singer's deep bass voice sounds. "I'm a-goin out to stake me some government land."
Carmine's eyes bug out, body lurching as the image hits like a truck. "PftHA!" He doubles over the table for a second, choking down the urge to laugh. Coming up, he snickers. "How and why do you know this song too?"
The song continues as Neo lightly bumps her shoulders in beat with the music. She signs with one hand. 'No, no. you first. You can't help yourself.'
Carmine rolls his eyes, despite the smirk. "My mom. She was a huge fan of show tune music and classics. Dad would always go for songs with a light tone so he could joke with it. It was like a compromise since he was definitely more of a rock and roll guy." As he spoke, his eyes lost focus on the girl, fondly softening. She smiles seeing the natural grin form as he speaks. He looks to her. "What about you?"
The girl rolls her eyes and signs. 'Guards.' He quirks his brow, so she huffs. The smirk doesn't leave, despite needing to explain. She signs further. 'One of the guards of a facility in Mantle played this crap nonstop. It'll never leave my brain.'
Carmine purses his lips. "So, about as wholesome as expected." His smirk returns, a hopeful look. "Then, how bout we pretend you learned it with me and erase that asshole from your mind."
Neo smiles and nods. The song continues in the background as the two both begin mouthing the words, bouncing with the music. From the bar, Roman glances over and huffs. "Stupid brats."
"What bit you wrong?" Blair states, sitting next to the man at the bar. "Let the children be children. Just for a little while." The man beside her merely hummed. She almost questions him, but the barkeep approaches with drinks, the plain tea for her and another bottled beer for him. "Well, are you going to be mature and tell me what is disturbing you? Or are you just going to be a nuisance?"
Roman snickers, pulling from his funk. "Oh, please. Giving me a choice as if you don't know which I choose." Still, his smarmy grin washes off far quicker than the blonde felt normal. The man takes another drink before continuing. "You find anything?"
"Only a possible alias of the drug's creator, and interestingly a few names of competitors." Blair takes a sip of her tea. "The drug maker's name is Zann. I went ahead and used Carmine's password to access Beacon's hunter database. There's several hits for names."
Roman hums. "So, we call up the competitors for an enemy of my enemy to get the right name. Sounds easy."
Blair nods as he drinks. "That's what I figured, but all but two competitors are based out of Vacuo. And one of the two is Senior."
"Who is sitting in jail thanks to yours truly." Roman smirks as he swirls his beer's contents. "So, one name for our hit list."
"David is the only name we've got for the person." Roman raises a brow at her, to which Blair adds. "Apparently someone new to the South. There is a symbol for them. A calling card I believe." She pulls up her scroll, sliding it over to Roman.
He lazily glances down at the scroll... and stops breathing. Blair becomes alert the moment she notices he's glaring at the picture. A flower. The symbol is that of a flower, its fore ground pristine and pretty, with a 'back' half of the image, slouched and dying if not dead.
"You know them?"
"It's nothing." Roman answers, demeanor chilled. His face is pulled to a grimace. "That'll be a dead end lead. We'll contact Junior and see if he was knowledgeable about this Zann guy."
"Roman." Her voice sternly cuts in. "If this is something we should know-"
"It's nothing." He firmly pushes back with a glare. "It's not worth the look, so we move on." The barkeep arrives with their meals at that moment, Roman huffing and snapping for the man's attention. "Yo, Dommy. Put this in a to go box! I need a smoke with this." The woman is left dumbstruck as he picks up his meal and leaves. She follows him with her gaze as he leaves the tavern.
. . .
Outside, the conman tosses half eaten food into a garbage can, slapping his hands clean. He shakes his head, retrieving a cigar from his pocket and lighting it. He groans as the smoke blows out. Eyes closed, he takes a calming breath, face shielded from the sun under his hat.
Damn it all...
Of all the call signs to see, it had to be...
Annoyed, he draws out his scroll, rapidly tapping a number away. Hitting the call button, he waits. A ring sounds back once. Twice. A click signals an answer.
"Hello?" A gravelly voice starts. "Who can I-"
Roman cuts in, not in the mood. "Well, hey Lurch! How's it been? Good? That's good. You have ten seconds to put me on to Junior, or I'll leak to the cops about that heroine stash."
The voice huffs. "Roman?! Heard you were rampaging through Vale again. Jokes on you. I been clean for three months."
"Months or minutes? I'm serious. By the way, 5. 4. 3."
Bluff called, the man on the other end growls out. "Alright! Alright! Don't get crazy on me, jeez." A click sounds before Roman hears hold music. The conman taps his foot impatiently. Come on. It can't take that long to answer a call!
The click comes. Junior's voice sounds the same as ever despite the two years of silence between the two. "Who is this? Better be important to take me from business."
Roman smirks, despite his current mood. "Oh, we both know you're not talking about your nightclub. How are the under the table deals these days?" Silence meets him for a moment. Long enough that the grin falls away, Roman beginning to worry. "Junior boy?"
"I'm hanging up now." There's the recognition.
"Whoa, whoa! What's the hostility between friends? What happened to old times?" The conman jovially prods.
"50 million Lien that still impacts my operation. For one."
Roman sighs. "Come now. We both know that was a miscalculation on your part. And little Neo has been more than worth it."
"Promising to deal with AZRL when all they've done is muscle in on my territories. For two."
The conman scoffs. "Someone hasn't paid a vacation to Mistral in the last two years. Sounds like you need a vacation. Get out of the city. Site see and appreciate our work."
"What do you want, Roman?" A resignation sounds, knowing Roman would pester until getting heard out at least.
"Tell you what. I'll give you 10,000 for some information-"
"50." Roman blinks before double taking at the scroll.
"Excuse me?"
"You cost me 50 million. You at least give back a thousandth of that before you ask for a damn thing. I want 50,000 Lien."
Roman scowls, boring his glare at the wooden wall of the next building. "... Fair. I'll wire it after. Not before." He hears only a hum in response. "There's a drug maker in Vale. Only name I got is Zann. I want to know where to find him. His wheel house, where he shits, who he bones, the works."
"... I recognize the name... vaguely, but you won't like the answer." Roman's frown deepens. "It's an older name. One of the first crazy nutcases to start mixing street drugs with dust for that extra dangerous, extra potent kick. He left Mistral decades ago after a stint against the Branwen tribe, got busted big time by the hunters over a decade ago, then nothing. His merch disappeared until recently. Old man's dabbling again, or it's a copycat."
Roman snorts. "So, you have nothing useful."
"His product has popped up more in the east from the main city. Always in the sticks."
"That's not nearly enough." Roman growls out.
"Then ask a different question or don't make demands." Roman goes silent, eyes clenching closed as he groans... Junior cuts back in. "So, that money."
"When did the Wilted Cartel come back in town?" Roman voices, regretting speaking as soon as his ears register his own request. The silence is telling. Roman groans audibly. "You're not exactly making me feel good here."
"... Bout a month. Nowhere remotely close to Vale, for their own good. The moment they approach Vale proper is when blood comes. The only major operation I've caught wind of is a muscle operation in the East. Getting mercenary and protection work to extort locals. Haven't heard a name of their leader." It's telling when Junior sounds deathly grim about it all...
Roman's grip on the scroll tightens. "Gotcha... well, thanks for nothing. So you wanted only five thousand?"
"Fifty-!" Roman hangs up. He'll wire the full amount, but he can't help screwing with the bar owner. Better to make him feel better... This was the last thing he expected to hear today. How long's it been? His fingers grip the length of his cigar before clenching and crushing the entire wrap in hand. His eyes lock onto the tree line in the distance, focused only on the green.
. . .
Years ago...
Rapid panting sounds through the shuffle of brown limbs in a field. A full sea of green undergrowth with beige and browns above. A wheat field. Uniform in height with a dumber of the tall stalks shifting side to side with little silhouette running through.
All converging towards a great large, gigantic manor house. Others show in the distance, neatly kept dirt roads part the fields in large grand pathways from building to building. Several adults and teenagers worked away at the fields, some merely sneering at the silhouettes running towards the nearest of the manors. Each worker's closes are interior lined in red, no matter the outer coloration.
The outer edges of the roads and gardens around the buildings are richly saturated in colored flowers in floral arrangements. Oranges, pinks, purples, and reds.
Outside the white, three story manor, the silhouettes converge. Children, no older than six at max, all gather, snickering. Each kid had differing shades of brown, auburn, or red hair. All save for the BRIGHT orange ginger at the head of the group. The young boy's short fade haircut left his childlike features on full display, complete with big green eyes. He wears brown trousers and a white shirt.
Roman _
Age 5
"Romaaaaan. Tell us! What's the idea! Come on! Come on!" A whiny girl, four years old, nearly throws a tantrum to know what the brat lured them out for.
Roman, smiling widely, shakes giddy. "Just wait! Look! Look!" The children gather around one of the manor windows, cracked open. Roman directs them to stand on piles of tools and materials, allowing them to peek inside. A chorus of 'hey' and 'out of the way's come as the children crowd the window. Little roman scowls and shoves one down. "You're gonna get us caught, idiot!"
Inside the window is the manor's kitchen, wide and stocked full of supplies. However, an adult woman with green eyes and a blue-green sun dress steps out, working with the oven. Her brown hair changes shades in the light, the tips almost red, the dress had a stitched red interior. Opening up, a wall of heat blows out, but she reaches inside, retrieving the hot pan. A LARGE ONE. One with over thirty steaming hot cookies.
A chorus of gasps come out as Roman snickers. "THAT'S what we're doin'!" Grinning madly, he rubs his hands together devilishly. "Auntie Alba is making her fresh cookies for my birthday today! And that!" He gestures back to the kitchen, where the woman, Alba, places the dozens of hot cookies together inside a jar. "is our target."
"But... she's gonna give them to ya anyway?" One boy states.
Roman scoffs, heated staring the boy down. "So? I want them now. She wants me to wait?! No!" He snickers as Alba moves from the kitchen to another part of the manner.
Another boy, black hair, green eyes, and a red shirt, smirks. He's a few inches taller than Roman, must be six years old or more. He wears brown trousers, a green shirt, and brown gloves. "Let's go! Come on!"
"Hold on! I got an idea so she won't know we took nothin!" Roman exclaims. The older boy scowls, gesturing widely.
"It's right there! What's she gonna say?"
The two boy's were bickering back and forth. Roman wanting to implement a plan, the older boy wanting to guys take the cookies. However, the children eventually chose to go with Roman's idea... two kids distracting the adults while two others find small snacks in another manor to replace the cookies with. The remaining kids would swap the lame healthy snacks with the fresh cookies in the jar, leaving them with a bag of hot fresh rewards.
None of the children saw through the plot hole of the jar still not going to have cookies inside, but that's a problem for later. Not now.
A mere twenty minutes gone by, the woman shrieks loudly. "ROMAN!" The scream echoes out, followed closely by Roman's own high pitched shriek. "CHEESE IT!" The children scrambled from the house, Roman with a bag in hand. His face is flustered in heated anger, nostrils flared and eyes wide, as he hustles with the goods.
Getting away to a well kept, sturdy tool house, the children breathing heavily and calming down from the heist of the century. Roman, groaning, hands each kid one of the cookies. Reward for helping him. All except for the one year older boy. Roman offers a cookie out, the bigger boy reaching in excitement.
Then Roman pulls it back, shoving the still hot, semi soft cookie in his mouth. "Hey! That was mine!" The boy complains.
Roman flares heatedly. "You almost got us caught!"
"You were taking too long!" The boy grabs at Roman. "Give it!"
Roman shoves him back. "No! You n your stupid head had to call out while Auntie was right there! We had everything going well, stupid!" The boy grabs Roman, the two tangling in a fight as the other kids start to crowd and cheer on. This atmosphere changes as the larger boy gets on top of Roman, landing hitting two punches.
Fist raised for a third, a young feminine voice calls out. "DAVID, GET OFF HIM! Both of you, separate RIGHT NOW!"
The older boy, David, blinks as fear comes over him. He pushes roughly off, though, Roman doesn't miss the chance to kick up, nailing the boy between the legs. David collapses to a knee, scowling and grabbing a rock.
Roman shields himself as the other boy prepares to hit him with the rock before a hand grabs David's arm. David is wrenched back, a much taller girl plucking the rock away and throwing it into the fields. David looks away angry, still wincing from Roman's nut check. "David, in the house. Go to your room." The voice then directs to all of the children. "All of you! For stealing from Aunt Alba."
A chorus of 'Aw's come before they scramble, shoulders hunched as they leave. David sneers before leaving. The girl reaches down, taking Roman's hand as the boy himself also pouts. A cut on his head lightly bleeds, a bruise already forming on his cheek. "I had him..." He weakly pouts.
The authoritative voice huffs. "Yeah. And you had this." The woman raises the bag containing less than half of the remaining cookies. "Seriously? You just had to hold still for four hours."
Roman crosses his arms, huffing back. He speaks back in a nasally voice. "Seriously?" He mocks before dropping the voice. "I wanted it. Dad says we take what we want."
The woman frowns. She has fair skin, black tight pants, a white long sleeve shirt, and a red ascot. The face... fades with memory... or refusing to recall it at all. The girl, easily ten years older than Roman, middle of her teens, sighs. "Yeah, yeah. He says a lot of things. Doesn't make them good." She gently caresses the growing bump on the boy's head, but he winces, pulling away. "Hurt bad?"
"I'm fine! When did you get back, anyway?" He scowls her way, but raises a brow. "Are you... gonna be in for longer than two weeks?"
She flashes a smile his way, walking around him and planting one hand on each shoulder, leaning on him. "Of course! I had to make it special around my baby brother's birthday!" As he squirms uncomfortable, she drops and wraps him in a hug from behind.
His face pinkens, voice quiet. "Please shtop..." He pushes her off, hearing her laugh.
The woman, Roman's sister, smirks. "Gotta say, good plan with Alba though. You're way too smart for your own good."
Reminded of the last hour, Roman growls. "Bunch of useless idiots..." He crosses his arms, glaring.
She giggles. "And what exactly were you gonna do when she opened the jar later and found berry snack cakes?"
He purses his lips and turns away. "She wouldn't have figured it out..."
"Uh huh..." She says, doubtful. Her smile remains as she kneels to eye level with the boy. "Look at me." She waits patiently as he turns, finally looking a touch guilty. "You know I can't let you get away with the theft though, right?"
His eye twitches. "Why not? It's what dad and everyone does!"
His sister's smile drops for a moment. "You're so smart... you could do so much good in the world. It's such a waste to let it all go to yourself." She reaches up, pinching his cheek and making him recoil. "And Dad isn't correct about everything." Roman rolls his eyes, pulling his face away with an 'ow'. "Here, let me patch you up."
"I don't need any stupid bandages on my face. I'm fine."
His sister mockingly appears in thought before smirking. "Fine. I'll help you help yourself." He looks curiously at her. "Still haven't unlocked your aura, have you?"
He huffs and looks away. "I just don't want to." He crosses his arms in a pout. The girl continues to dote on him, smiling.
"Well, allow me. I learned a trick recently in Vaterra~" She sing songs the end of the sentence, perking his curiosity.
"... Show me. Is it cool?"
She grins, reaching out a softly rubbing his cheek. "Sit still... 'For it is in passing that we achieve immortality...'"
. . .
His eyes open. That was the day his sister unlocked his aura with that Mistrali chant... His left cheek and eye twitch, a phantom sensation tickling the skin. A long breath in before he opens his eyes to scowl. A wince escapes, his hand flinching. He glances down, finding that the lit cigar he'd been crushing in his grip had burnt up to and singed his hand. Roman scoffs, tossing the cigar and moving off for a walk.
Nearby, the others exit from the tavern. Carmine spots Roman marching off. Brow raised, he glances over. "So, is Roman pissy and standoffish to anyone else? More than usual?"
"It would seem he's hiding something." Blair states. "He will tell us later, I'm sure." Neo quirks a skeptical look at the blonde. So, Blair adds. "After we pester him incessantly for the answer." The girl silently giggles, nodding. However, Neo then looks after Roman, a frown forming. She taps Blair's arm and bobs her head towards the man. "Sure. You try."
Neo smiles and skips away from the two after Roman. Carmine blinks a lidded stare before sending it to Blair. "Yay... the two admitted thieves hanging out. What could possibly happen?"
"Would you prefer yourself to make Roman more peppy?" Blair retorts.
Carmine scrunches his face. "It's Roman. I'll just pay him to smile."
Blair bobs her head. "I'm beginning to think it's more difficult than that." The two turn away. "We should grab some supplies."
Carmine stops, looking hesitant before asking. "Would... you handle that?"
The blonde blinks at that. "What is on YOUR mind now?"
The boy scratches at the back of his neck nervously, glancing around. "I, uh... haven't been here since... the day after my dad..." At that, Blair straightens, giving her fully attention. "The... I can't remember what he was, really. I just remember he lived here. I wanted to see how he was doing."
Blair smiles lightly, nodding. "Of course. Any special request for supplies?"
"Uh, yeah..." Carmine glances to the supply post in the distance. "They should have Choco Moo here."
"You hate chocolate." The blonde states confused.
"Yeah, well..." He shrugs, walking around her. "It's tolerable. I'm in the mood." As he marches off, she watches him silently. Seeing his head tilt each direction, scanning the village, a frown forms. It's been months since the last time she'd inquired with him about the... woman he sees every so often. Being here, she can't help but worry.
Still, his interest in finding someone else from back then, a friend at that, eases her... for now. She heads for the shop.
Carmine struts across the village, squinting at each of the houses... He doesn't remember which one it is... Or the color... or how many floors it is... He finally approaches a woman tending to plants outside of a home. "Uh... excuse me, Ma'am? I'm, uh... looking for Joe?" He punctuates the question with a thumb towards the tavern sign.
She points him to a slightly larger yellow house several doors down. Carmine smiles awkwardly, waving thanks before continuing. He marches up onto a large porch... This wasn't here before. He's sure of it. Maybe the guy's doing well enough, he got a new house entirely?
The tavern would indicate so.
He pauses, seeing the plaque reading 'Mayor: Joseph Wallen.' Blinking twice, he breathes a sigh and knocks on the door-
It cracks open from the knock.
He hears a hearty chuckle from inside. "Of course! It'll be there by next week." An older jovial voice sounds. The door creaks open, Carmine standing frozen in the doorway with his knocking hand still raised. A man walks around the corner, older, experienced and well dressed. "It'll be a heck of a harv- Oh!" The man turns about. "Seems you have a young visitor."
A more mellow, soft and lower voice calls from the corner. "Oh, send him in."
Carmine blushes, embarrassed. The older gentleman snickers. "Seems a nervous one." He steps by Carmine as the boy lowers his arm. "Go on." He calls out. "I'll call with an update later!"
"Of course, of course!" Carmine steps around the corner into the living room, lavishly decorated with embroidery. His eyes widen looking around impressed... someone's a successful businessman. He hears the hearty chuckle from the man sitting on the couch. "Yes, I know. It's overkill, but no kill quite like it, right?"
The man laughs as Carmine joins, scratching his neck nervously. "Yeah? Someone's choices worked out." He takes a look at the man. Worn brown boots, easily worked in, khaki pants, one leg open and revealing the wooden prosthetic. He has a brown belt, buttoned flannel shirt tucked in. Like an official boss redneck.
The beard's been trimmed to neck length, gray tinging the sides. His head is fully bald. Brown eyes look the boy up and down. "Well then, what can I do for the young man?" He snickers before adding. "Don't feel intrusive. I've got an open door policy."
The boy smiles at that. "Good to know." His eyes catch the table, spotting the SDC game board set on the table. Set to chess, no less.
Seeing his recognition of the board, the man, Joseph, smirks. "Ah! Business can wait. I've been on and out of meetings for days." He turns the board on. "Up for a game?"
Carmine blinks. "I... uh, sure." He sits on a chair across from the couch.
Joseph adds. "Just type in whatever name you wish to go by. An introduction, if you would." The boy pauses... then smirks, inputting the default name. Joseph raises a brow as the name displays on the board. "Ah! Player." He chuckles in a manner he's likely done thousands of times. "My-"
"Arch nemesis?" Carmine finishes, remembering those words.
Joseph pauses, brow furrowed. "... I know you... right?"
Carmine smiles, reaching into his pocket and placing a stack of Lien on the board. "Uh... this should cover a living room lamp cost, right?"
A flash of change in the man's eyes is followed by his gaze pulling up to Carmine's hair. "My... Wow, this IS a surprise! Boy, have YOU grown!" His eyes look him over anew, a mirth coming over. "Ah, I'm struggling for the name... Years now, I referred to you as the Lamper."
A snort comes out. "Right? I might have grown, but I remember your beard being bigger than any person's should be."
Joseph hums in mock offense, stroking the facial locks. "I was persuaded into trimming it down for marketing." He grins back. "But what about you? You actually became a huntsman in training!"
He scratches his neck nervously, a sweat drop as he answers. "Of... sorts. Yeah!" Joseph raises a brow at the answer, so Carmine pushes further. "I'm actually the leader of a team now..."
"Now, that's something! A good thing for the ye ole resume. I take it the 'where do you see yourself in five years' question is a lot broader if you're doing this well."
"Heh, hard to say." Carmine chuckles back.
"Hard to leg." The man responds, knocking his wooden kneecap with a tap.
Carmine's lips purse, his mind vaguely recalling the statement. He scrunches his face. "Yeah, like... I still have no clue in hell what that means."
Joseph laughs, snapping a finger. "And that's the secret! The only way to find out is to partake." He sees nothing expressed on the boy before stating honestly. "It's become a marketing strategy, Boy-yo. A vague ethos to the grand mythology of the Hard Leg!" He knocks the wood again, gaining a chuckle from the boy. "I'm glad you two got to Vale okay, then. How's the lady been? Your huntress friend?"
Confusion washes over the boy before sucking a breath at the recollection. "She's... fine." He forces out. Rushing to change the topic, he makes the first move on the chess board. "Now, just how big had your business gotten?" The two shifted the conversation as they play. Joseph catches the hesitation to his question, but leaves it alone.
. . .
The conman paces along the wood line. Chin tucked in thought as he scrutinizes the grass. He passes a low hanging branch, marching ten more steps and pauses. With a sigh, he twists around, marching past the branch ten paces, eyes scowling. Pause and pirouette. He paces back... and Neo is sitting on the branch, smiling innocently with her legs swinging.
"What do you want, Neo?" Roman asks, not even looking up from his scrutiny of the ground. Neo raises a brow, waiting for Roman to look up so she may respond. He doesn't, simply speaking again. "I don't have candy, kid. Give me some space."
Losing the smile, Neo hums. In one fluid movement, she tilts forward, off the branch, and rolls up to her feet in front of the man. Roman finally looks up, narrowing his eye on her. She gestures to him, raising a brow.
"None of your business. Go continue your play date with fearless leader." Roman moves to walk around the girl, leaving her frowning, miffed. Roman makes it a few steps before hearing a flap. The conman sighs... as Neo drifts gently by, floating with Hush open. She gently lands next to him, closing the parasol.
She starts walking backwards beside him. A smile back on. The two stop. Neo leans with a smirk, earning a glower from him. "What will it take for you to leave?"
Neo feigns thought, looking up in exaggerated wonder, then snaps her fingers. She reaches into a pocket, producing a coin. One side head a three pronged symbol, the other a chiseled face. Showing him the face, she points to herself before gesturing walking away with her index and middle fingers. Then she flashes the tails side, pointing at him before miming a hand puppet talking.
Roman huffs, crossing his arms before smirking. "Fine. Do it."
Neo flicks the coin up high, flip spinning rapidly. The girl holds her hand out, only for Roman to pluck it from the air above her hand. Roman smirks, and opens his hand. Tails. His eyes widen as Neo smirks. "Hmm..."
The girl lightly sweats, hoping he didn't notice what happened...
Roman scoffs. "Damn... Well, seems I lost." Neo smiles in relief. She raises a brow and gestures for him. He rolls his eyes. "It would seem... the pendulum swing of personal issues has finally swung my way."
The girl waits for him to continue. She waves her hand for him a moment later when he doesn't elaborate. He huffs, settling a glare on the tree line. "Seems our next contact is family."
Neo freezes, blinking in shock. A moment passes before she stares off at the general store, spotting Blair exiting. "Not hers." The girl then has her head in a swivel, darting her gaze around. "No, we're not meeting old man superior." Neo then blinks wide, a finger raising to herself. Roman, annoyed at the lengths she's going, huffs. "It's mine." He narrows his gaze at the girl.
He expected some form of surprise, only for the girl smirk and roll her eyes. Ah, she was merely playing along. Roman rolls his own eyes to mock the girl. She looks back, expecting more. "You already got enough."
Finally, Neo signs back. "Trouble?"
The conman tightens his grip on his cane. "... Not for you, perhaps." He turns away, signaling the topic's end. "Oh, and by the way..." He holds a hand out, back still turned to show the coin she'd flipped. Tails facing her, his semblance sparks over it...
Shatter.
The coin surface cracks off and fades, revealing Heads. Not tails. Neo had cheated. She sucks in a breath at being caught, only for Roman to look over his shoulder with a wicked grin. "Nice try, but you'll have to try harder. Be glad I'm generous today." He takes his leave of the now pouting girl. He just wanted to show that he could've shown she failed from the beginning.
Still, she vaguely appreciates something, bringing a smile. He shared when he didn't have to.
If only the whole day could be that warm and fuzzy.
. . .
An hour had passed, Carmine having been pulled into conversation. About hunter life, travel, to business, to puppies vs kitties, to whether the correct shortening of Soda Pop is the word soda or the word pop. Carmine vehemently fought for pop, but this bearded bastard had to play devil's advocate. The traitor.
Still, too much time was passing. After a fourth game of chess, Carmine's loss, the two walk out from the house. "I'm glad you're doing okay, Player!"
Carmine purses his lips. "I... don't think anyone would take that the way you mean it."
"Doesn't matter." Joseph laughs. "Only my arch nemesis is kind enough to break my lamp and bother to pay me back a decade later." The boy laughs with that. "Is there anything I can do for you as you leave town?"
He takes a moment to ponder that... "Yeah, actually. You know of any issues with any outposts this way dealing with drug or trade issues?"
The man scrutinizes Carmine, stroking his beard. "One should really say no to drugs, kid."
"NO! No!" Carmine blurts in defense, waving a hand. "It's mission related! Tracking someone mixing new drugs in the region."
"None in these parts, no... Should I hear something, is there a way to alert you, little officer?"
The name was almost condescending, but the man stated it with such a stern authority, Carmine let it pass. "If anything, just leave it as a tip on the Jobs hot-line for Beacon with a scroll call. If it's related to our missions, someone will harass us." He sends the man a salute. "Take care!"
Strolling away from the house, he marches to the parking area near the tavern. Finding Blair loading some bags into the van, he could also see Roman and Neo approach. Right, memory lane time gone. Back to business. "Yo!"
Blair, spotting the boy, nods, reaching into a bag and tossing him a small cup container of Choco Moo. "Here you are." He catches it, popping a cap open. Neo and Roman notice out of the corner of their eyes, then double take. Carmine with chocolate?
"You hate chocolate." Roman states clearly, Neo emphatically nodding with wide eyes.
Annoyed, Carmine pops the cap. "... Shutty." He takes a sip, swishing the chocolate beverage in his mouth. "I'm in the mood." He manages to get out... before his left eye and nose twitch lightly. Before they can call him on it, he speaks up. "So, what are our leads?"
Blair and Neo both look to Roman. The man crosses his arms in a huff of defeat. Blair raises a brow. "Roman?" The man waves off the woman. Blair cuts her eyes at him before explaining. "There's a faction of cartel members to the South competing with the man who's been making the drugs."
Carmine grimaces. "Great. So we're gonna do a bunch of mobsters a favor just to get a name or location." Grumbling unhappily, he continues sipping on the chocolate milk drink. Neo grins, almost excited... Until Carmine blurts out at her. "No! You're not stealing from a freaking cartel! Not unless we can get away with it!"
Roman scoffs. "Well, bully for you, Silver Streak." He opens the van driver door. "Because this is a solo mission."
The three others snap their looks at the man. "Uh, scoozy?" Carmine mutters before processing the declaration. "The hell does that mean?!"
Roman shuts the van door, turning his head out the window. "Barbie, remove whatever bags you guys need. You're all staying here for the next couple days."
"EH?! Explain in one sentence why that's a good idea!" Carmine slides to a stop by the driver window. Hands gripping the open window, he scowls in Roman's face. "You go alone, what happens if you die. We're just stuck here forever thinking you either died or dicked off to somewhere for life."
Roman puts his face in the boy's, aggressively glaring him down. "One sentence only? How about not wanting the myriad of problems bringing an ignorant brat with me will cause."
Blair cuts in. "Roman." Getting his focus, she almost asks various questions. However, she sighs, knowing none would get an answer. But she can do one thing... "You can have one fourth of my side of payment from our next job if you actually come back... and I will pay you one honest heartfelt compliment." Use bait to make sure he comes back at least.
Roman huffs. "You think SO LOW of me that I would abandon-"
"Yes." Neo cuts in with sign language emphatically.
Roman sends a glare back at the girl. The man glances up to ponder. "A heartfelt compliment from the frigid Barbie is tempting."
Unable to help himself, Carmine mutters. "The hell is heartfelt about it if it's a freaking business transaction?!"
"You got yourself a deal, Barbie." Roman smirks before sending a harsh glower at the teens. "Sit tight."
"Since when did I, your LEADER, consent to- YEOW!" The window raises, pulling Carmine's fingers up and pinching them in the seal. Carmine instantly recalls several feet back with his semblance. A burning fury comes over his face as he glares at the van.
Roman hits the gas, pedal to the medal as the wheels kick up a storm of dirt and dust before roving out from the town. Blair and Neo shield their eyes as the dust clears.
Neo frowns at the distance of the van before looking from it- Her eyes widen. The girl whips her head one way, then the other.
Beside her, Blair holds a bag in hand. "Well, it would appear this cartel is something Roman's more than familiar with, and is unwilling to involve us with it as well." Blair glances Neo's way, spotting the girl peeking around the corner of a house. "Probably best to trust him. Roman isn't suicidal-... What are you doing?" Neo jolts out, on her tip toes, squinting, then dropping low. "Neo!" The girl stiffens. "What is wrong?"
Neo stiffly turns, lips pursed. She points to herself with one hand, lifting a finger on the other. Then, she points to Blair, and raises another finger. Suddenly, she waves her arms wide, a worried brow quirking.
Blair blinks once... twice. Then, her own eyes blow wide as she looks around. "Where's Carmine?!"
(It should be a reminder that this chapter takes place immediately following the events of Trailer CRBN, listed as chapter two of this story on Fanfiction dot net. This is not on the AO3 version)
Alright, we're finally getting into this story's, this universe's version of a Roman backstory. You know, something canon should have done six FFFFFFUCKING years ago.
Speaking of… Rant time in 3. 2. 1.
AND, I JUST found out that they're finally revealing Neo and Roman's backstories... in novel form. Ahem. My reaction?
"Oh. You have no interest in delving into characters on screen without creating your new politically motivated ones. K... fuck you too."
That's about how I feel. And, also very underwhelmed with Neo's real name. It's not bad, just neat at best. Roman's backstory people have spoiled is serviceable. Like, I went onto the wikis just to grab a name of something, and found this all out, and that it's very recent. Sigh.
Maybe I'm overly negative, but like, compare RWBY to, say, Naruto. Naruto had data books and novels, sure. But, the novels all got adapted to on screen material through filler (The only good filler), and the databooks rarely had things that were important. They did sometimes, and it annoyed me then too, because I should not require outside material to complete a character. That is proof positive an admission that your writing is flawed.
And again, I'm a shitty writer, but I understand this.
Seriously, Neo is such an easy character to have be important in the main story. Her goal is to FUCKING KILL RUBY FOR REVENGE. That is literally a story piece begging you to explore Neo's backstory THROUGH RUBY building a connection between a hero and villain, while presenting your hero with a different problem above brute force. Seriously, hearken back to Ruby's statement to Blake in volume one stating she hopes they ALL will have a happy ending, and have her try to help Neo. Maybe fail? Maybe succeed? Drama! It's not rocket science.
But no. The main series has to be focused on only maidens, new characters for the volume of the week, and not giving Ruby the main character something unique to her... My favorite RWBY character in concept that they don't do anything with beyond silver eyes. (Ruby Rose is my 13th favorite fictional character, and that's from a mix of spite against the writers and interest in what could have been.)
Hell, I don't think I need to tell you that Carmine in this story will, at some point, be made known to Ruby... and that's related to the express purpose of his character's creation. (No, not a romance, but I'm not spoiling it.)
Seriously, they need to trash the volume format, release one to two episodes monthly, and just steadily move through arcs with any variance of time so they can explore these things. Sticking to their volume format on top of their need for plot over characters is a large part of why RWBY's writing has been made fun of and trashed since Volume 3.
I shouldn't be this mad, I have had an embargo against Rooster Teeth in general since 2018 and haven't watched RWBY volume 6 forward, Red Vs Blue season 15 forward, or GenLock. But man. Not even going into the backstories IN the show?
Not to go harp on the Naruto comparison, but Roman Torchwick should have been Ruby's Zabuza. The tragic end first villain that brings a reaction from the main character to have a goal, one Ruby echoes in the previously mentioned conversation with Blake.
Between how they handled Penny, Ozpin's backstory which yes I'm using for this story but I refuse to ignore something they imply but try to not think about, implications with Jaune's character... I love RWBY's characters. I freaking love them... I despise the plot. I really, really do. Why yes, I have deliberately kept Salem only to references and nothing more in this story. Why do you ask?
Rant over.
References:
In universe song choice of Uranium Fever. No express reason other than it's goofy classic, so Carmine is such a nerd for knowing it by heart.
David is based off his source much in the same way Rocky Rhodes is based off Rocky Road ice cream. It's an object, and the object he represents will be more apparent next chapter.
Join us next time in Chapter Forty Two: Knocking Heads.