"Will those work as good replacements?"
I glanced at myself in the glass as we passed by a series of windows in the path, and observed. A set of armor that was functionally the same as my old set rest on my body, but it was far more brutalist in appearance. Sparse strips of crackling black paint ran around the scraped bland steel of the cuirass and gauntlets, while the bulky pauldron was painted entirely. I let my gaze flick away from the reflection in the glass just as the series of windows ended, and focused forward. With each step I felt the weight of the tower shield and long sword on my back, and the other odds and ends I was equipped with clinked with the movements.
"I'll manage." I shrugged noncommittally, glancing at my companion from my peripheral. "You coming with?"
"It is your first official mission as a certified Huntsman!" Elm gushed, clapping her hands softly as we walked. "I felt it in good taste to tag along to observe your display, and the General agreed. I've been assigned in-post to the mission with you and the Huntress."
I hummed at the info, thinking it over in my mind as we arrived at the departing docks.
"… suppose that's smart." I conceded, eyeing the numbers lining the dock and maneuvering towards the right one.
"Ah, I see your hesitation now!" The accented woman exclaimed, patting my shoulder roughly with a toothy smile. "I won't be getting in your way, Arc. No need to worry!"
"It's not you I'm worried about." The words were stoic, but needed no further explanation. Going on a mission with a Huntress isn't anything special, but in this particular situation she's basically an unknown to me. When I selected the mission from the terminal earlier today she was already locked in and was just awaiting a second person. According to the listing she has skills as a marksman, and is a certified Explosives Expert.
'Whatever that entails, exactly. I just hope she isn't a pain to work with.' I didn't bother voicing my thoughts and just let them remain as we boarded the Bullhead. The journey was quick and filled with me stoically humoring Elm's excitable quirks, and attempting to ignore how physical her shows of expression were. More than once she'd slap me on the shoulder or bump into me while explaining something, and I just experienced the woman quietly with a frown that was quickly becoming natural for me. It wasn't long before our ride landed in one of the docking zones of Mantle, and as a pair we hopped off the Bullhead.
"Back to Mantle! You know, I seem to find myself here more often than I thought after becoming a Specialist…" My companion thought aloud. Her hand stroked her chin thoughtfully as she gazed at the tall brick buildings that were cast in a warm glow from the fire dust network. A hum left her lips before turning to me, and I met her with a cool gaze. "I don't think I have ever asked what you think of here, no? Impression?"
I grunted at the question and took a second to soak in the city. The buildings and the toasty color of the lights against the glass windows combined with the sprays of neon signs to form a pretty peculiar air around the place. I'd only been here twice so far, and I'm aware that most would find the people to be on the rougher side. For myself, I thought of the place as homely for reasons I couldn't express.
"More charming that Atlas." I answered finally.
"I couldn't have put it better myself!"
A new voice joined the conversation after my words, it was light and airy. Elm and I shared a look before checking behind us, where the culprit was standing. I studied her quickly, and she stood with her hands on her hips and a bright smile on her lips as she flicked her attention between us. It was a woman with pixie-like features and long silky brown hair that was tied into a ponytail, and a fringe that parted down the middle and swept to the sides. There was a red headband tied around her forehead that matched red cloth likewise tied around her wrists, and she wore a skin-tight body glove underneath armor comprised of brown leather and polished steel. Grenades and an odd collection of magazines were strapped around her waist and thighs along with twin pistols.
I felt my eyebrows raise as I took in the figure. For some reason, something about the way she wore her hair reminded me of…
"I must be growing foolish!" Elm exclaimed, knocking me out of my mind. "I should have realized it was you based on the listing!"
"That's right, the best explosives expert in all of Solitas is right in front of you again!" The woman lauded dramatically, putting her soft voice to use in exaggeration as she threw a victory sign towards the Specialist.
"Haha, as modest as ever, aren't you?" My companion laughed, getting a smile from the newcomer.
"Well of course Elm. Honestly I'm disappointed you didn't roll out the red carpet for yours truly…" The woman pouted, puffing out her lip dramatically. I glanced slyly between the two, slightly amused at the banter just before I noticed the lady staple her attention on me. A mischievous expression overtook her face and she sauntered towards me, hiding her smile behind her hand. "Though I'll take a consolation gift anytime! Got a name, Huntsman?"
I met the interested gaze of the brunette with a flat expression, instead studying on how she leaned towards me. Her honey brown eyes stared at me playfully, and because of my silence she tilted her head at me.
"… Jaune." I kept my response simple.
"That's Jaune Arc, he's your partner for this mission. I just decided to tag along." My companion answered for me, explaining everything but not ripping the woman's attention away from me.
"Jaune, hm? Jessie, it's a pleasure for you to meet me!" She exclaimed, throwing a pretty wink at me and leaning in closer as she did.
I raised an eyebrow at her oddly, somehow keeping cool under her assault. Her hand fell and the corners of her lips tugged up with a bright smile. She poked my borrowed cuirass playfully and hopped back a step with a laugh.
"Sike!"
"Hm." I grunted, just before turning and beginning to walk away. The sounds of Elm's laughter and sputtering met my ears just before a hand landed on my pauldron.
"W-wait, where are you going?! I've already got a plan together and everything!" Jessie whined, shaking my shoulder and trying to stop me from leaving. "Sheesh Elm, doesn't your friend have a sense of humor?"
"Of course he does… underneath his spikey exterior, that is." She chuckled.
I sighed before turning back around and looking at the two women non-plussed. Elm still had her smile, but Jessie pouted with a huff after letting me go.
"You need to lighten up! A man who's all business is no fun, you know." She scolded, wagging her finger up at me. My eyes rolled, and my arms crossed soon after. The brunette huffed before turning and walking off down a street towards our right. "Fine, if you want to be all stoic and serious that's on you, Huntsman! Follow me, we need to get supplied for the mission."
Just like that she walked off, her ponytail bobbing behind her with each step. I glanced at the Specialist in our group and got nothing more than a shrug before she left in pursuit of the Huntress. The only thing I could do was shake my head and set out after them. We traveled a short distance through the streets of Mantle, and I took this time to admire the city. Heat poured from the circulatory system of fire dust that trailed the streets imbedded in the buildings and foundations, and silently I soaked up the cozy warmth as I walked near them. With great care to remain unnoticed I watched the people as we passed them. Most completely ignored us, and instead focused on their own tasks in life. Others seemed to pause and look at us, likely pegging Elm as a member of the Ace Ops given how famous they are in Solitas.
I tuned out any conversation between Elm and Jessie ahead of me and just followed them to our destination. Perhaps fifteen minutes passed of the Huntress leading us before she ducked in between two brick buildings and onto a wide path. My Specialist partner forged on without a second of thought, but I paused at the maw of the path for a second. The alley was shadowed by the tall walls that sandwiched it, but probably wide enough for a car to pass through with ease. A sigh left my lips as I stepped forward and began walking after them, following all the way and stopping alongside them underneath a flood light mounted to the wall.
"Prepare to be amazed!" Jessie touted, pulling out her scroll and waving it at the loading door we were led to. It was far thicker than any I had seen when I was still in Vale, but that might be by design. The steel sectional garage door lifted slowly, and the second it was pulled completely to the ceiling lights flicked on. "Welcome to Casa de Rasberry!"
Strings of bulbs that were pinned to the walls and ceiling shined warm light onto the interior of the converted storage area, and I couldn't help but stare. Tons of things caught my attention all at once, and my eyes took precious seconds to slide over them all. An ammunition press lay against the wall surrounded by professional Dust storage containers. Casings, payloads, Dust propellent, primers and all sorts of things I wasn't acquainted with were organized on the wall behind the mills in drawers, while some of the components cluttered the work surface. Buckets littered the floor around the mill overflowing with finished rounds, each of a different caliber and Dust type. A steel work surface lined the back wall, framing the many hung firearms that were mounted and providing storage for what I could only think were pipe bombs.
The garage was full of things just as interesting, from the wire components being chopped to size, to the love seat and recliner set comfortably in the corner, and even the tarp covering something against the wall. It was a struggle to keep my jaw from dropping.
"Since when do you know the regional dialect from Vacuo?" Elm asked, confusion evident on her face. A pout grew on Jessie's face and she immediately aimed it at the only other woman in the group.
"W-well I don't." She admitted. "I did spend a vacation there, though!"
"I think I am shocked." Elm hummed, crossing her arms with a curious expression as she gazed at the girl. "You've always been more for the food than the culture, yes?"
Jessie jerked back from Elm looking scandalized, but it didn't last long. She bounced forward and grabbed the Specialist by the shoulder to yank her down to her level, bringing up her other hand to funnel her words towards her friend.
"C'mon girl, you're embarrassing me! Cut it out!" She whined quietly into her ear. Elm just chuckled at her brusquely.
"Haha! Thinking with your stomach is nothing to be ashamed of, Jessie. Just look at me!"
"That's exactly what I don't want, Meathead!" Jessie retorted with her face flushed.
My feet led me forward into the room while they bickered. I found myself with a stray bullet in my hand that was plucked from a counter I passed. The large .50 caliber rifle round flicked through the air after I tossed it up, with the crystalized Fire Dust tip leaving an arcing trail behind it. I snatched it out of the air, and turned it around between my fingers.
"Impressive." I stated frankly. The assertion must have been loud, as it cut right through the teasing between the women.
"Isn't it? You've got a better eye than I pinned you for, Mister Huntsman." Jessie sighed blissfully, breaking away from Elm and coming to join me in the garage. I glanced at her as she approached, and flicked the round at her. It shot quickly, but she caught it decisively with a smile. "This is my home base, where I keep all of my fun toys and plan for missions! Don't live here though, no shower."
"Shame." I grunted, getting a giggle.
"Finally, someone that understands my pain!" She moaned out, languidly leaning herself over a table full of papers in the middle of the room and pretending to feint.
"I believe this is why Clover calls you a ham. I still don't really get it…" Elm commented offhandedly as she came to join us.
"Oh boo, that goody-two-shoes wouldn't know good acting if it hooked a fish for him." Jessie scrunched her nose, sticking her tongue out at Elm and getting a laugh from her. "Well, enough fun for now. Wanna see the plan I cooked up?"
Elm and I shared a look, and responded with nods. Jessie clapped her hands together happily and pulled her scroll out with a smile. With a few taps the door shut itself and her scroll extended out to show a larger map.
"As you read in the mission listing, there've been multiple Grimm sightings close to Mantle. Those reports recently got investigated by a military survey team that was dispatched, so we have confirmed Grimm activity." Jessie explained, adjusting the map to show a large swath of land beyond the northern edge of Mantle. She pointed to a shaded section on the map carefully. "It's around this area that we'll be operating, a little over ten miles from Mantle."
"The Nevermelt Forest?" Elm asked, leaning over to squint at the map. I focused on the layout, studying the path from the city to the tree line.
"Got it in one! Our goal is to survey the area and kill anything we find!" Jessie cheered, jabbing her fist in the air excitably.
"Nice and simple." The comment left my lips, and the woman winked at me while cocking a finger gun in my direction.
"With any luck that is. As far as planning goes, I figure we'll do a pincer maneuver on the forest itself and sweep through from both sides. Grimm are drawn to us naturally, so the odds that we'll miss any are low." She said quickly, moving to disengage the map. A large hand caught hers before she could though.
"That might be too simple…" Elm mumbled, taking a closer look at the map as Jessie shot her with a curious look. "Reports said they like to remain at the southern border of the forest, yes? So would it not leave one group to pull the most weight while the other encounters nearly nothing?"
"I- huh." Jessie hummed, resting her chin in her hand. "You might have a point there. I didn't think of that."
I remained silent and watched the interaction between the two with my arms crossed. My eyes flicked between them as they planned.
"We should still plan to attack from the south since that's their main grounds, so I think you and Jaune should launch from there. You can pick off any Grimm stalking the tree line with ease, and then they'll be drawn to you like moths to flame!" Elm proposed, pointing out her plan on the map. The Huntress with us nodded, contemplative over the new path.
"That all sounds good! Here, I think visual aids makes the dull stuff way more bearable." She spouted, quickly dropping points on the digital map near the southern border of the map and drawing a basic pathway from Mantle to them. She paused, looking at the map. "Where are you gonna be, Elm?"
A wide smile took over her face just as she jabbed a finger in the direct middle of Nevermelt.
"Dropping right there!"
"Improvised landing strategy?" I extrapolated.
"Exactly! I'll requisition a Bullhead and jump straight into the fight with lots of noise. Draw the attention of the Grimm in the rest of the forest while you two deal with the main encampment on the border. According to the report, the concentration in the rest of the forest is nothing compared to the area you are to attack so I won't be having trouble."
I nodded, accepting the maneuver without any worry. If it were anyone other than Elm, I'd worry about them going alone. However, given that I saw her flip over a carrier truck like a simple tire two days ago I had zero concern for her.
"Hm. Well, I guess that's that!" Jessie clapped happily before bouncing over to one of the storage areas and flinging something at Elm from across the room. A bundle of technical-looking pipe bombs rested in the hands of the Specialist, and she flashed her a warm smile before turning to leave.
"I'll put them to good use. See you two there, try to be on time!" She announced. A quick lever-pull had the door opening again, but before it was done she ducked under and raced off back the way we came. I watched her go with amusement.
"Well, looks like it's just gonna be you and me, cutie." I whipped around to face Jessie, hiding how strange I found her attitude. She sashayed towards me from across the room, swaying her hips with each step until she reached me. She leaned close to me, reaching up with her hand and grasping lightly at the collar of my armor. "Try and be gentle with me, if you can. I've heard how hard you work with the Ace Ops, I'd hate to get hurt."
"Huh?" I couldn't find words to express the incredulity.
"Sike! You so fell for it, hahaha!" She teased childishly, pure joy shooting across her features.
"Whatever." I could definitely find words to express my annoyance.
I hid my amusement well, and just watched as she bounded all around the room gathering things from tables and wall mounts. Before long, the tarped object that had been leaned against the wall was pushed next to me in front of the garage door. Jessie gazed at me with anticipation written on her face. I raised a brow at her in silent question, and in response she ripped the tarp off dramatically.
"Ta-da!"
…
"Oh. Hell yes." I muttered after my awe had run out. My partner just smiled at me brightly, leaning over the seat of the machine.
"I was hoping you'd say that! I had to call in a favor with a friend to get this beauty made." She sighed happily, right before fixing me with a look. "So, you have your license?"
[AN- Sup. On to a new mission! As you can see I'm using a character everyone loves. Simple reason why, this Jaune took some Cloud inspiration for his personality so I'm just running with it. There won't be any plot cross, so don't worry. Just figured with a city in the sky and squalor down below, it just fits well. Thanks for the huge jump in follows and favs, as well as the comments! It seems it was a controversial chap, as everyone can tell by the comments, but I'm glad most people had fun. Hope you enjoy!]