Monster Chapter VIII: Accepting the horror of your reality.
Frank has no idea about what he's unleashed by taking Carmine as his student.
She didn't approve!
It was a week now since Rudolph had gotten his claws and Frank had instituted a training regimen for Rudolph to catch up with her, and she was feeling left out. The masked man had a lot of things to teach, almost as if he were teaching a son or something!
Not that his sons would look like some mangy mutt or anything, they'd have nice bat ears, maybe a cute nose…
And she did not like him like that! No matter what the stupid Kleopatra was saying, the sly smiles that she said and that slow, grating voice of 'oh… car…mine…you…silly…love…struck…girl.' that always burned her in the wrong place!
She was not in love with Frank Stone, even if she woke up a little stickier and sweatier in the morning, or had been teased with mumbling his name under her breath by Kleo again! It was a completely natural thing!
A little nagging voice in the back of her head that sounded a lot like her late mother's voice was telling her that denial was not healthy and that she should strike while the iron was hot, before he was taken off the market.
Not that she'd want to have him touch her or anything! That wasn't the case, but he was spending too much time with the mutt that kept on taunting her about being a bat faunus!
She couldn't help it that her hearing was sensitive enough to hear the faint panting from that dog when they were doing whatever they were doing at night, for most of the weak, groaning and moaning softly! It was not something that she cared for, and her monthly visitor was finally starting to leave too!
'I don't need to have something like this bothering me! I am calm, I am Carmine!'
"So… how… do… you… want… to… marry?"
That was a silly question! She wanted to marry with a dress, maybe with some people in attendance if they found like, people that wanted to watch her get married that weren't too annoyed with her wearing a dress like that! There'd be flowers and there'd be people, and there most certainly would be muscles on her body when she finally said yes, not that Stone would ask!
'Hm! That mask should not be in the way-'
You couldn't kiss very well with a wooden or metal mask in the way. It was silly, it wasn't like he was ugly or anything. Just some weirdness about his face, but it was not something too bad to her eyes! She just… didn't see very far, which threw her aim off a few times! If she shouted, it became a lot clearer, but still! She wasn't going to get married during some sunny day where the sun shone in her face.
"Oh… And… a… wedding… at… night?"
It wasn't too bad a thought. It wasn't like the night-time was some sort of obstacle for her. He would have to put up some torches and stuff, for illumination for those who couldn't see in the dark as well as she did, but the priest could be bullied into marrying them, if it came down to it.
"Hah… hah… hah. Bullying… priests."
Carmine's attention turned to the almost leering face of Kleo Parsley-Trappe, whose eyes looked entirely too amused by the way that she'd just answered to her thoughts.
"You… mutter… when… someone… asks… you… a… question… Car…mine."
'I DON'T MUTTER!'
"I DON'T MUTTER AT ALL, KLEOPATRA!"
The older woman laughed at her, which made her even more upset and angry! She wasn't someone to be laughed at!
"Oh… you… like… him… so… much."
She didn't like him!
She was just thinking in hypotheticals! Marriage, then some little house somewhere far away where he'd not be wearing the mask, Rudolph put somewhere out in the wild where he'd do woof woof bark bark stuff, and Kleopatra mailed back to Vacuo with slow express mail!
Things could then progress to other things between a husband and his lady wife. She was already prepared! She had looked up a few of those old spinsters and asked a few questions, which she'd been receiving answers that had flustered her a little!
'A good pick, they said!'
Old ladies were bad! She'd never turn into an old lady!
"I don't like him. He's too old for me!"
She hissed at Kleo, who merely smiled.
"Only… ten… years? Maybe… nine? He… can… make… you…"
'He can make me nothing!'
"Shut up! Shut up, shut up! I'm not hearing your words, you creepy slow bandage woman!"
The cackle from the older woman was not at all heartening.
If she wanted Frank Stone so much, she should go and chase after him!
"Funny… I… think… you… are… But… fine… I… may… go… and… steal… him."
'LIKE HELL YOU WILL!'
Who was going to teach her then?! Who would be giving her lessons in how to kill Grimm and be kick-ass amazing with her weapon?!
She had a flash of those big hands on Kleo's body and just giving her all sorts of attentions between a man and a woman, and she remembered the advice about 'pleasuring' her male, and she turned red in the face, though it definitely was from indignation, NOT embarrassment!
She didn't think Frank Stone should be with this bandaged woman!
'But she'd be his age… you'd be going up against a woman who has been with a man, who is more experienced…'
She smothered that little voice in the back of her mind.
"Let's… exercise… a… bit… daughter."
'Great… The men of this place will be watching.'
She didn't like that very much. Nobody batted an eye at Rudolph and Frank going to train, but when she and Kleo were out, there simply was a herd of young men about! Who cared about them! Training and being trained was good!
'I'll show that Stone how Carmine von Blut learns to be a Huntress!'
Reinvigorated by her own little pep talk, Carmine didn't let the thought bother her about that little hint of maybe liking Frank a bit too much to be friends with him.
"Are… you… coming?"
'DAMN IT!'
"Yes, Yes! Kleopatra, wait for me!"
This bandage woman could sure move fast if she wanted to get away!
Ugh!
Frank strung the bow, before he notched an arrow, Rudolph giving him a sharp glare.
"Lower it a little. You'll fire the arrow and it will miss the target."
New skills were something that you could spend some time on when you had enough resting time between encounters. He was aware of that, as Rudolph had said that he would teach him how to fire an arrow and hit a target.
The bowstring snapped, Rudolph giving a frustrated sigh.
"I'll show you again, boss. So, you're with the Bat, aren't you?"
Technically, she was an apprentice as well, Frank giving a little hum, nodding his head. He pulled out another of the bowstrings, trying to find the proper suppleness. He had made sure that Rudolph knew what to look for, when purchasing supplies.
"Good. That shouty red-eyed bitch is just too loud. Does she scream like that when you're together, or do I need to buy ear plugs?"
Frank thought she screamed pretty loudly during their training sessions. It was not something that a monster like him would care much for, giving a small little grunt of acknowledgement of that fact.
"She's loud, but manageable."
Rudolph just gave a foul face at that. Frank didn't really get why, but it was clear to him that it was just the unease with another student that would be imposing on the time together, which wasn't something that would be bothering them later, if Miss Parsley-Trappe would find the time to teach Carmine.
"Yeah, keep it down. She's definitely not getting enough, if she's this volatile."
He wasn't really in charge of her, she just forced her way into his time.
"Focus on your aim."
Talking about things like this was a distraction, one that Frank Stone could not tolerate. It was the time for training, and getting a young man up to speed with the tactics of a Huntsman was imperative before they would travel along. The weaponry that a Huntsman used had to be in perfect condition, even if fletching arrows was something that would be a basic skill.
"Release."
The arrow flew true, and Frank looked at the target that they had set up, the string of the bow replaced and the arrow made a meaty sound, hitting the apple that had been the 'target'. It was a good size, about the size of a Grimm eye, and with the techniques that he could impart on the young man, piercing a Grimm with an arrow was not an impossibility.
"Good. We will try for a target at a greater range."
The basic skills were important.
Rudolph just grumbled something about not needing this. Frank disagreed.
"Practice makes perfection."
"YAAHHHH!"
Carmine stabbed, as Kleo dodged, her massive weapon not blocking this time, as Carmine extended herself, her bat ears flapping a little, as she stabbed again.
"Care…ful… daughter. We… wouldn't… want… your… husband… to… know… you… are… rude… right?"
'What husband?!'
She didn't have a husband! She didn't have a man!
She didn't need to think about Frank Stone looking at her and taking her by the hand and then doing that ceremonial thing that she'd seen a few times in the village, with presents, family and gifts from the community! She was more than happy to be here, learning how to fight and be a good Huntress!
"STOP IT! DAMN YOU, KLEOPATRA! IF YOU WANT TO MARRY HIM SO BADLY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO IT? IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'VE GOT A MAN OR ANYTHING!"
The slow bandaged woman stopped, as she lunged again, meeting the weapon that Kleo wielded, the shield-like surface enough, hiding the woman's face from view.
"You… are… not… testing… me… Carmine."
Hell yeah, she'd test this slow woman all the time! Stone was out teaching the doggy mutt and here she was, with a slow woman that spoke in the laziest of tones.
"We're here to fight! Teach me something, or go and marry Stone, he'd-"
It was only her instincts that saved her, as the massive shield came slamming at her, the weapon that the woman wielded flashing, Carmine feeling the edge pass by her throat only moments before, as she felt the rush of adrenaline go through her.
"That's it- That's-"
WHAM.
Carmine's face met with a heavy, fast-moving object and she was thrown back, Kleo moving faster than Carmine had ever seen her, about to block, but her head was spinning, her nose definitely was bleeding and-
CRUNCH
Another blow, this time with the less-lethal part of the sword, as she groaned, the air being expelled from her lips, as she gurgled a little at the feeling of pain shooting through her body, her eyes closing, as she felt another heavy surface smack into her.
WHAM.
Carmine saw pretty little colors, as she just laid there, looking at the woman that stood over her, spitting out a mouthful of her own blood, as she groaned.
'This is going to hurt in the morning…'
"Oh… You've… fallen. Poor… Car…mine."
A foot rose and Carmine joined in blissful oblivion as the older Huntress stomped down on her, a quiet little sigh the last thing she heard, as she felt like she was being pulled up onto someone's shoulder.
"Silly… girl…"
Frank looked at Kleo, who was carrying Carmine, who had a boot print on her face. It was the look of someone who had been put through the wringer, the other Huntress placing the body on the ground and looking at him, before sneezing loudly.
"Sorry… I am… here… with… her."
He sighed a little, before he set to performing some first measures to make sure that Carmine didn't really suffer any ill effects. The nose was straightened out a little, as well as checking the skin to see how much it would bruise, her expression quiet as she gazed at Rudolph, whose expression was probably not too interested, if he had to make a good guess about the behaviour of his errant students.
Carmine woke up, her eyes blinking a few times.
"Stone! What are you doing to my helpless defenseless body?!"
'Oww.'
His ears hurt from the high-pitched shrieking that Carmine did, and he already started on getting the first few things prepared for an eventual lesson that they'd all have to chip in on.
'A bit more work for us…'
It would be a good idea to at least have their teamwork getting up to a level where they'd cover each other's weaknesses.
"We're going to be working on our teamwork."
He announced, Rudolph looking like he didn't like it.
"Hey! Batsy is going to cry because of her makeup getting smudged!"
Frank didn't pay it much attention, as he saw Kleo getting her weapons ready, the woman looking a little more animated than before.
"Short or long?"
He shrugged, not sure what she meant.
"What would you suggest?"
Her eyes roved over the two quibbling students, as Carmine's voice started to reach the higher octaves, the more frustrated she got. It wasn't something that he really worried about, with her.
She wasn't too bad-looking. They would make a good, solid couple together.
"Long. Let's work them to the bone to get their frustrations out."
That would be a solid plan, Frank knew.
"Alright. Who is on whose team?"
Kleo smirked.
"I'll take Carmine. I did rough her up a little, so it'll be good to work with her."
Carmine felt like she had been crushed under a rolling boulder, as Rudolph the mangy mut and Stone the insufferable had battered them. The combination of an axe and a set of claws, coupled with Kleo acting like some slow slug had made them taste dirt more often than not, and it had only been won through the sharpness of her senses.
"Stupid- ugh."
The mutt was grumbling next to her, as they trudged towards the settlement again, Stone and Kleo staying behind on a little 'date', probably with smooching and kissing and all sorts of things.
"You're a bitch, Batsy."
She could agree with the mutt being a bitch as well, but she didn't really think too much about it.
"They gave us a beating."
She got that out, as she spotted a nice bench to sit down on, and sat herself down, groaning a little at the sore spots on her body.
"They're harsh teachers. So, you're not being the masked guy's woman, are you?"
'What?'
Whatever this mutt was thinking, it did not agree with the Carmine Von Blut code of ethics, morals and grand beatings. Clearly, this mutt had brain rot.
"No? Are you saying that I should pick you?"
'Ewwww.'
Rudolph was probably the least interesting person that she'd envision her life with! Stone was where it was at, he had big hands and was pretty good-looking, behind the mask.
"No! I am-"
She stopped, taking a breath and then getting herself sat down, Rudolph sighing softly, as he brushed a hand through his hair.
"Ewww."
That was her general summary, as Rudolph snorted.
"Well, I don't think I should get into the path of your romance, Batsy. You're going to be pregnant with that tall bastard's kids, undoubtedly."
Carmine's expression didn't really shift to something more positive, knowing that the dog was just trying to goad her into making a mistake or something. She didn't trust the mutt one bit! It was probably some trick to get her to lower her guard.
"That would require being actually in his presence, Mutt. You don't know half of how frustrating he is to work with! He'll be like 'focus on the basics, Carmine' and the bandage woman is not even trying to curb that!"
The hits had been painful! Kleo could hit like she was trying to kill her, that was just too much for her to take!
"He is not a bad Huntsman. The ones accompanying us during the travel were like him too. Focused on defense. My brother always said that he would like to become a Huntsman, if it was possible."
'Great…'
She grumbled under her breath, as she poked at Rudolph's chest.
"Then be one, for your brother! I'm going to take my weapon and shove it into some tender bits if something looks at me funnily! Make him proud! We're Faunus, and now, we're traipsing after a pair of humans."
Not that she minded it too much, looking at Frank Stone's silhouette when he was busy with reconnaissance of the surroundings. The man had something dependable about him, and Carmine was not saying the L-word yet!
"Hm. I bet you're secretly joining him in bed every morning, Batsy. Can't handle being away from your big strong human, can you?"
Carmine hissed, her voice turning higher in pitch, as her eyes looked right into Rudolph's, grabbing the fur of the clothes that Rudolph wore, the fur definitely giving the wolf Faunus some credence to being a Huntsman.
"I don't do that with him, damn it- I'm- What do you want?"
She saw one of those guys looking at her breasts, currently still kept in place by her shirt, her expression probably clearly showing how little she really wanted to talk with people around here.
It wasn't proper huntress behaviour either!
"Would you like to go and join me for a walk, miss Huntress?"
She made a fouler face, her gaze sliding over the young guy's facial features and finding stuff to critique. Nose too big, face too awkwardly proportioned, probably a good-looking man if she had been in any way interested in that.
"Ooh, you've got a date, Batsy. Are you going to smooch?"
She most certainly wasn't going to, as she gave the civilian guy a dismissive look.
"No. Go away. We're talking here."
She turned back to Rudolph, who was grinning meanly.
"Aww, Batsy is afraid of going on a little walk with a human. Are you scared you might go and- HEY!"
Smacking the mutt was proper in this case, as she gave her best growl at her nuisance of a companion.
"Shut up! Why would I go on a stupid walk with someone when we're leaving? Do you think I'm going to want to be stuck here in the middle of nowhere?!"
Clearly, it was not the proper answer to give, but Carmine did not give a hoot about what other people thought. She was a Huntress, not a housewife.
Weird dreams aside.
"Aww, Batsy doesn't want to make some guy-"
The mutt cut off, as Carmine noticed Frank Stone moving to them, the mutt's tail standing on end, as she glared at the man.
"Stone! Where have you been?!"
The man's mask was still in place, as implacable as it always was, but Kleopatra was nowhere to be seen! The woman must be sleeping somewhere, lazy as she was.
"I was fetching you some ammunition, Carmine."
'Great!'
She could use some ammunition.
"Alright, let's go! Rudolph, get your ass off, it's training time. Bye, whoever you are. I'm going to be doing some Grimm-slaying."
She didn't really care very much about what happened, but there was plenty to be done with new ammunition!
'I can shoot at shit!'
This was amazing!
Frank let his attention drift to the dejected-looking guy, understanding that an attempt had been made to coax Carmine into some sort of encounter, and he had stepped in.
She was not Rudolph, who was taking well to the lessons, but he would have to admit that he saw some promise. A woman should be taught by a woman, however.
"Hit the target. First one to hit it will receive a lesson."
It was motivation. He would have to thank miss Parsley-Trappe for the tip.
"YEAH! MUTT FACE, I'M GOING TO GET THAT BIT OF COACHING! STONE, GET READY TO TEACH ME THE SPARKY THING!"
'Aura…'
It was not going to be easy to awaken Carmine's Aura. The ritual for it varied, and he only knew of his own.
'Undressing around her…'
He had been eight, according to his teacher and adoptive father. Carmine was eighteen, or something near that. He didn't really know whether there were requirements for that to be done at age eighteen or not, but the thought was no longer something which was too alien.
Kleo had hinted that she would travel with them for a while, so it meant that Carmine would have a female Huntress to teach her, while he could make Rudolph into his apprentice. Men should teach men and Carmine should be with Rudolph, so they would be able to have happiness and a long life, a monster like him barely able to be around people.
'Everyone would die, thanks to the curse that I bear.'
"Start."
These two would be better off together, for support and care. A boy could be taught, a woman was trouble, or so Percey had taught him.
"YEAH! I'M GOING TO WIN THIS!"
Carmine definitely was burning with enough enthusiasm, Frank had to admit.
Carmine laid on the ground, gasping and groaning, her muscles aching. Rudolph laid next to her, as Frank Stone stood over them, his axe in his hands, wielded in the manner which showed how casual he was about the beat-down that they had.
"A-CHOO!"
Kleo appeared, sneezing loudly, and Carmine gave a little chuckle.
"Batsy, stop being in heat. You'll rub onto Stone's side with your weird bat scent."
Kleo loudly sneezed again, as Carmine got up, Frank grabbing her arm and then pulling her up to her feet. She wasn't intimidated by the large hulk of a man, at all! Just… a bit. Maybe a shudder.
"Batsy's with her future husb- OOF! HEY!"
Rudolph got a fist to the gut.
"SHUT UP! KLEO! You're- HEY!"
She was tussling with Rudolph again, this time being on top, punching at the face and letting him know that she was still the older student! Of course, she would show her supremacy.
"YOU BATTY BITCH!"
"Children… do… not… fight."
Carmine felt a brief moment of weightlessness, as she hit a tree, groaning, Kleo having kicked her or something, as the Huntress stomped on Rudolph, Carmine trying to get some feeling back into her body again. It wasn't working well right now, with her body hurting, the Huntress walking to her, her tread without any slowness.
"That was uncalled for, Miss Parsley-Trappe."
The woman's head turned to Stone, a look on her face that was more serious than anything Carmine had seen on her face before, as she pulled Carmine up.
"They need to learn that life is pain, Mister Stone."
Carmine tried to get her breathing back in order, as she fought to breathe again.
"Get… up."
The slow voice was back, and Carmine wished that the woman would speed up her speaking a little so that they'd be able to follow her, the woman giving her a no-nonsense look.
"We are going to bathe. Do you wish to join, Mister Stone?"
The offer was not too unkind, and Carmine supposed that it might be nice to see the body of the man that was supposed to be her teacher again. It had been a while. The coat stayed on whenever she saw him.
"I will pass."
Carmine could do with a bath after this, so it was a good idea to have some time for relaxation.
"Why are you such a mean bitch?"
The bandage-woman, now without any of the bandages, looked like just any average woman, the gaze driving her insane with how angry it made her.
"What… do… you… mean?"
The woman asked, in her slow tone, and Carmine laid into her.
"Why are you acting like this, huh? What's crawled in your butt that made you like this?! Bring back the slow retard!"
Carmine realized at the last moment that perhaps, she should not have challenged a professional Huntress, as she stared at the woman, who had gotten up, like a snake, moving into striking range. It was a sharp hiss that sounded through the air, as Carmine looked at the woman, her pale skin looking like it needed sunlight, the marks of the bandages enough.
"You… will… be… with… him… all… day. All… night. Careful… You may… be… a… wife… soon."
Never!
'What the hell does she think I am, some animal that needs her affection?!'
"KLEO!"
The woman sat down, leaning against the wall, a quiet exhaling making the air hiss as it escaped the older woman's lips, her eyes looking at her with a forlorn look.
"A… man… has… needs… Car…mine. I… was… married… once… too."
That wasn't the point!
'I AM NOT MARRYING FRANK STONE!'
She didn't have a dress. Or any plans for dresses!
She had an outline, sure. Maybe a few ideas for fabric! But it wasn't for Frank Stone with his big hands! His big hands, stupid mask and-
And more.
"You… should… move… quickly. He… is… handsome… below… the… mask… yes?"
He was definitely a little bit better-looking than many. She would have to admit that he would not… look too bad.
"What do you know?!"
The older woman's gaze rested on her for a long while, before the woman's hand brushed through her hair, Kleo's expression more serious than before, as Carmine gulped.
"I had a husband, a house and…"
The woman's expression turned pensive, as she looked up from the morose state that she had found herself in suddenly.
"You should… be… blessed."
She wasn't feeling blessed. The woman got up and grabbed the cloth, before scrubbing Carmine's back.
"A… home. A… husband. A little… dog. Not… Ru… dolph.'
The mutt could go and get settled here, for all she cared.
"I don't like him. He's taking time away from Stone. I need to train to be stronger."
The woman's voice was quiet and without any hint of affection.
"A… home. Do… you… want… to… live… a… woman's… happiness?"
She could not be a Huntress if she was popping out babies every year! That was not a good time for her, but maybe after she had made a name for herself as the 'Great Carmine Von Blut, Huntress', maybe.
"I don't need that. I'm not-"
The woman's hands grabbed her by her scalp and pulled her head back, forcing her to look up at the woman. Carmine personally thought the woman should trim her nostril-hair, but the cool eyes that looked down at her with a hint of scorn in their depths made her freeze up.
"You… do… not… wish… to… be… alone. Find… a… man."
She could decide that by herself!
"I'm fully able to-"
Those eyes shut her up.
"Care… ful… Car…mine. I… thought… it… was… fine… once… too. Just… a… hunt. Back… for… dinner. Do… not… wait. Other… women… will… not."
She didn't have competition! Who was going to be with Frank Stone?
"I don't think I want competition. Who would want Frank Stone?"
A mocking laugh from Kleo, as she stared at her.
"Many… women… would."
Kleo might've had a husband and a dog, but Carmine was sure that nobody would want Frank Stone.
The little inner voice that told her that she was being uncharitable better keep its mouth shut, because she was not being blind as a bat to certain things! She was a huntress-in-training! An apprentice!
He'd better not deny that!
"So, tell us about how you defeated those… Geist? Was that their name? Again, Master Stone."
Frank looked at the women that had gathered around him, aware that he was definitely the subject of their interest. Carmine and Kleo were out having some bathing or the other, while Rudolph was out on the town. Frank had given him some coin for entertainment purposes. It was not certain to Frank why Rudolph had responded with embarrassment, but it was not important.
"It was possessing the wall of a barn, shaping itself into different shapes."
These women were annoying him, he had to admit that they were not really what he had been expecting. What he had been expecting was a mystery to him as well, because they just wanted to hear stories.
'I don't understand their interest in Grimm. Women should not be out in the mud and the grime, fighting against the creatures that threaten our survival…'
Carmine would chase them off, if she were here, but she was not here.
"Oh? Perhaps you'd like to show us a little demonstration of how you fight? We can offer you a nice massage, if you'd have an interest in that… I'm very good with my hands."
'I don't think that is needed…'
"I don't think I require a massage. As for a demonstration…"
It was not really something that he enjoyed. Showing off was for people who were not afflicted with the curse of his appearance. The men and women who had natural beauty would be much more suited for such a thing than someone marked like he was.
"I do not think I can demonstrate adequately. It is already the evening hour."
The blonde woman shifted herself a little, and Frank idly noted that she must have some irritation in her chest, as she showed her pale breasts a little. Maybe it was contagious, because the other girls seemed to be doing something similar.
"And your female 'friend', Master Stone?"
They were thinking of Kleo, undoubtedly. He was not sure whether Carmine would be able to moderate her tone.
"We are acquainted and Huntsmen that will defend your settlement for as long as we are present."
Money was not as great a trouble to find right now, as the night shifts of watching the perimeter were a fine way to rack up enough funds for their future travels.
"Aww, how about you come and see whether I've got some Grimm Child hiding under my bed, Master Stone?"
That was an impossibility. If such a Grimm did manage to clear the wall of the village, it would most certainly not be hiding underneath a young woman's bed.
"That is an impossibility, I'm afraid."
His markings would have ached, as he felt the dull burning of the pain shoot through his cheeks, aware of the Grimm being out in force tonight. He got up, preparing for another night shift.
"Master Stone, please, stay a little while longer. I'm sure that Sandy wouldn't mind telling you one of her experiences in the large city."
The sandy-haired girl was currently busy with undoing her bodice a little, maybe due to the heat or due to circumstances of comfort. Frank didn't really know, though he wondered briefly whether the customs of this place were a little loose with how attire was treated.
Their term of respect 'Master' was simply one that was the more formal address to a Huntsman. It was not really a thing insisted upon, but he was a Huntsman who had his skills and who kept the place safe.
It would scarcely be a thing to remark upon.
"Oh?"
He had heard about that, and he wondered whether there was a good way for him to obtain some further gear for Carmine to get used to Huntsman-level armor. With how she wore her clothing right now, it would all wear out after a short while, where the need for replacements would be a current threat.
"It's a very big place, Master Stone. Perhaps you've been there? A large road, with several merchant caravans, and a large church present for worship of the Brothers.I am not someone who gladly goes for the church, Master Stone. Perhaps you would care to brush up on the official texts with me, before bed-time?"
'I don't see what that has to do with anything…'
People were weird, Frank Stone had learned, as he could see Carmine descend, her face already sour and dour, clearly not as happy as she pretended to be, her expression darkening even more when she saw the young women sitting around him, though he supposed that it might be due to her own desire to be a Huntress, taught by him.
'A bit of moderation…'
The women of the settlement backed away, as Carmine grabbed his coat.
"Stone, stop gallivanting around! We've got stuff to do."
She wasn't happy for some reason, as Kleo came ambling on, Rudolph giving the bandaged woman a sniff, the woman sneezing loudly again, as she rubbed her nose.
"We… are… going… out… Mister… Stone. Come… along."
They had business to do, and the blonde was tightening her blouse up a little again. It must be bad stitching or something, he wasn't sure what the woman's aim was.
Carmine was grumbling under her breath about something involving 'cats', as he was not sure what exactly had gotten into her, Rudolph and Kleo already getting their weapons out, ready for a long sojourn, as Kleo took the lead.
"We… got… a… mission… to… deal… with… a… Grimm. It… is… to… the… west… It would… be… good… to… deal… with… it… now."
He nodded, and his weapons were already prepared, Carmine holding the pack with supplies, as well as his own, which he placed on his shoulders, knowing that the work would be beginning, that there would be time for fighting, Rudolph looking a little nervous.
"We'll do the ceremony outside, then."
It was time for him to accept that Carmine would be a student. The sacred bond between a Huntsman and their apprentice was not something that should be done lightly. It was a pouring of the Aura, the light of one's soul, into that of another, and it would affirm to the world that Carmine Von Blut would never be a housewife.
'It is what it is…'
He'd do Carmine first, since seniority was prized by one's companions, according to his adoptive father, and then Rudolph.
It would go right.
Carmine's blood pressure rose, the moment she saw those bitches trying to flaunt their bodies to Frank's eyes, the man obviously about to be drawn into bed with them! It was the slow chuckle from the bandaged-up woman with a sly tone to it that made her up her speed a little. A mission that they'd gleaned from someone that'd been around, a Grimm emerging from the western roads, and it was perfect for the four of them, dog mutt included.
'How dare he flirt with people!'
She couldn't let him out of her eyesight for even a minute! That girl's melons were smaller than hers, she noted briefly, as she moved with a fierce tread, the pack already fetched from Frank's room.
Kleo had been doing the formal acceptance, as she breezed up to Frank, who looked at her with that mask on his face. It wasn't like her to be so agitated, but she felt agitated. Her teacher was not going to be getting with any of these hussies, trying to get themselves a Huntsman for the night.
"Stone, stop gallivanting around! We've got stuff to do!"
She could hear Slowpoke Kleo mumble something in her usual slow as molasses drawl, as she headed towards the exit, knowing that Rudolph would be coming out of the woodwork as well…
Stupid mutt, trying to take her place. She'd wring his neck if the mutt actually did something to interfere with her training! Stone was giving that guy too much attention!
And he was getting too much attention for her liking too! Those women were thinking they could bag a man that was hers!
As a teacher, of course. Just as a teacher, he'd teach her everything, those big hands could be put on a finer set of melons and the mutt could hear her crow victory as she-
'I AM NOT THINKING ABOUT THIS!'
"Stupid cats in heat, trying to- ugh… Ugh!"
She wasn't thinking about that! Not at all! There was a pace to that sort of thing and it'd involve being kick-ass for at least two years, a house and maybe something that'd net them a nice stable income beside the Huntsman thing.
She wasn't thinking about something like marriage or something. No. It was just… a place for living. With her teacher.
Master Stone sounded like he was some sort of owner of hers, which wasn't the case.
Definitely not. Kleo would be like some sort of crypt mummy or something, rising from her slumber, mumbling about how she missed her husband in the slowest-ever tone of voice.
She wasn't thinking about marriage, but if she was, she might need to ask Kleo about the vows that were usually taken… Carmine hated to admit it, but she didn't know the faintest thing about who asked who to marry them. That just hadn't come up with her parents.
Her ears were fluttering a little, as she glanced at the hulking form of Frank Stone, as he unslung the axe from his belt and then checked it, like he always did. She was ready and willing to fight, her weapon kept in perfect form! She'd oiled the chain just earlier this morning and there was nothing that she couldn't keep up to perfect standards with a bit of spit, some effort and Frank stone's watchful eye.
She heard him and the slow woman speak, and there was a thrill of something in her heart at knowing now what this ceremony would give her! The glowy thing! Poof!
She'd be even more kick-ass and there'd be nothing standing in the way of her romance!
'He'll see that I'm strong! Carmine Von Blut, Huntress!'
She'd show Stone that she was going to be kick-ass as well! She'd be beating those monsters and then making him recognize her as a worthy apprentice! The Mutt could watch! She'd be the student and the Mutt could just apprentice under Slow-Mo-Kleo!
'And when we're established as kick-ass huntsmen, we'll find a nice place to live in!'
She knew how to clean a house. She knew how to cook! (Maybe).
She wasn't some sort of wallflower that needed protection, she was a strong woman at a mature age of 'nearly twenty!' Stone was definitely wearing that mask for too long if he thought that a strong Faunus woman wouldn't be a good student for him!
'Women should find a man… pah! I am not going to be some meek housewife!'
"You… are… turning… red… Car…mine. Something… funny… to… share?"
Stone and Kleo were looking at her, the mutt barking at her again.
"Ha! I bet she was thinking about Masky here, with her little Batty ears flapping like that!"
She wasn't going to dignify that with a response that the dog would like.
"WHY YOU! GO AND FIND YOURSELF A POOCH TO SCREW, YOU!"
Rudolph just laughed, making her even more incensed than before.
"Aww, Batsy is embarrassed! Come on, why don't you tell us the truth, huh? Batsy loves the masked man that's teaching her how to wield his sword."
Stone just had to speak up at that moment.
"It's an axe. There's a difference in the edge."
Her ears were fluttering, as she gave a pointed glare at him. Now he was just being dense, and Rudolph wasn't helping this at all! He would probably just be howling at the moon and licking his butt like some mutt.
"Don't go and make this about axes! Mutt, if you don't shut up, I'm going to shut your mouth for you!"
She was controlling herself, Frank still looking at her, her cheeks burning red with the embarrassment of being the focus of his attention. She was not having feelings for him! She did not have feelings or want to feel his hands on her, or have those weird wriggly feelings inside her guts that felt like butterflies or maggots crawling in her.
"Aww, the Batty girl is shy. Don't go and flex that brutish strength, Batsy! You might scare the masked guy off!"
Frank Stone's quiet 'Shut up' was heeded immediately. Carmine didn't want to shut up but the man looked tense.
"There's a Grimm out there."
Carmine immediately got ready to fight, seeing how the Mutt also got itself ready to fight. The guy was just unfairly advantaged by having Stone pay attention to him! He shouldn't be paying attention to Rudolph, he should be paying attention to her!
'Stupid stone.'
She wanted to be paid attention to, at the very least somewhat. If it happened that she got some personal instruction and could beat Kleo into the dust, that'd be great. If not… well, training. Training worked a lot with someone with the desire to succeed.
"You two are going to kill the Grimm. Together. Decide who will be the vanguard and who will be the rearguard."
Carmine's expression turned sour, as Rudolph looked tense, the claws that he wore already enough to make most things take a broader path, but there was that hint of something dangerous, the bow that was slung over a shoulder still looking like a perfectly valid tool of silent murder.
'Factoring in that he's definitely a bit more focused on the melee side of things, it wouldn't be a bad thing to have Rudolph be the vanguard…'
If she did a good job at this, she'd get a shot at more personal guidance! The bandage woman could take Rudolph under her wing and she'd find the proper time to imprint on Frank Stone that she was his apprentice!
He'd teach her how to be bad-ass, how to beat up crooks, bandits and other people who didn't know how rough it was to be a Faunus in this world and be a kick-ass Huntress too!
"Alright, Batsy! Follow my lead!"
He was enthusiastic, at least, already on the way to meet the Grimm in combat.
"HEY!"
She'd better give chase. She hated being responsible…. Ugh.
Frank watched as the two apprentices went careening towards the Grimm, already thinking about how to officially mark them as his Apprentices, since Carmine seemed to have no desire to settle down yet. It was regrettable, but women should be at the home caring for children and not fighting with the Grimm.
"They… make… too… much… noise."
Miss Parsley-Trappe was saying wise words, as Frank nodded. Another demerit that would be addressed, but nothing that would be stopped now. If the itching on his skin died down, there were not many Grimm around, a straggler or a stray undoubtedly calling forth more of an agitation.
"They will need to learn to fight together."
Carmine was more troublesome than Rudolph, though both were independent. Frank did not try wondering whether it was the shared Faunus ancestry or something that spurred that conlfict on but he would endeavour to push the two together.
"I… hope… they… stop… shouting. They… are… loud."
It was enough for Frank to have to invest in some plugs, if Carmine reached the higher pitches. Of course, Carmine could always try to insert herself into a discussion, but with her shouting, she scared off any of the wild game with her screeching. It was not pleasant in the least.
"They will learn to be quieter."
He really hoped that being around a young man her age would make Carmine realize that it was a good thing to be feminine and quiet, maybe submitting to the young man that she'd learn the trade from as a partner. He didn't have any illusions that he would ever find a companion to be around, since he was disfigured and marred by the curse of his birth.
His veins ached with the disfigurement, the scars growing more pained and intense, even with the young woman and her future co-apprentice charging at the Grimm. A Beowolf, lone and without the pack, Frank could tell that it was either young and still not possessing of a mind, or damaged in some fashion and just recuperating, as it raised its head, Carmine shooting at it, as the two quibbled loudly.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY! I'LL KILL IT FIRST!"
There was nothing but a small bemused sound from his lips, knowing of the troubles that those two might cause, but satisfied with the way of approach, somewhat. Rudolph would be able to temper Carmine a little and make things peaceful, while Kleo could be the one to teach them, should he not be up for the task.
"Would you like to take up Carmine's training?"
He tried, but the older Huntress laughed softly.
"Are… you… scared?"
He was not scared in the slightest, but he knew very well that the interests that had been gathered around Carmine would be evolving, as she grew in skill. He was not sure whether she was beautiful, but already, there had been yung men staring at her, maybe due to her boldness or some-such. It was none of his concern.
Carmine and Rudolph reached the Grimm and they assaulted, Rudolph coming in from below, claws flashing, as Carmine's stab roared with the chain cutting into the hide, piercing through the skin and finding a good home within the Grmm, some sort of hurt placed upon that which had been thought immune to such things.
Miss Parsley-Trappe would know better how to train a female student, undoubtedly, Carmine needing a woman's touch, without question. It was not his concern what his student did, as long as it served his needs of passing the traditions on to a worthy successor, like how he had been taught.
He did not expect to feel anything for a student, but he knew that Rudolph would inherit his skill, making it into something which would be more or less a passed-down trait.
"Do you wish to take Carmine?"
He asked again, the older woman giving a breathy, almost mocking laugh.
"Do… not… fear… the… girl. She is… honest."
Frank didn't fear much in this world, but he knew that with his marks, the curse that had rested on him, it would be hardly something to mention to a prospective student, the throbbing in his cheekbones fading, as he watched the two apprentices to be cut it down.
"They have performed well… I think."
Carmine's voice was loud as she protested against the words from Rudolph, while the Grimm was slowly dissolving, Frank putting a bit more pace to his steps, Kleo keeping up without any serious issues with the pace that he set.
"-FIRST, YOU MANGY MUTT!"
Carmine didn't get why Rudolph was boasting so much, the shrill voice that she used like a call to action, as she made her way towards her teacher, Frank Stone.
"We killed it, Mask Man!"
He'd see that she was someone that could be trusted with the glowy glowy power thing! It was not going to be a life in some dingy little house for her with no weapon to defend her and three screaming brats that waited for their father to come home, naturally.
She wasn't thinking about that, or anything. Rudolph was snickering at her.
"Look at Batsy getting all excited! Ooh, I'm-"
She stabbed at him.
"I AM NOT EXCITED, MUTT!"
Why this mutt was barking at her was beyond her! She was going to get that weird little glowy thing first!
"We'll do the ceremony tonight, when the moon is bright."
Already, Carmine knew that this would be epic! Amazing! Cool!
"YES!"
Stone would see that she was someone who was very capable of having her own life and her own feelings for certain parts of the life of a Huntsman, even with his silly little reservation about Female Huntresses.
Frank Stone looked at the two who stood there, remembering the words that he'd been taught. He knew that this ceremony would tie him to the acolytes forever, as sharing one's Aura to awaken others' Aura was something of a sacred act.
The moon was rising, as Kleo looked like she had already prepared for the burden of being the second Huntsman to witness the ceremony.
"It reeks!"
Carmine was making a loud fuss again, as he prepared the food that he had eaten when he had been given the blessing of Aura, awakening his potential as a Huntsman. It was a simple stew, mixed with herbs and roots that he had gathered earlier during their trip. It was something that had the effect of purifying your body, or so he'd been told.
Either way, though it might not smell good, it was very good for you, Frank knew.
"It is the food that one eats before the ceremony, Miss Von Blut."
He defaulted to politeness, as Carmine's cheeks heated.
"Carmine! Just call me Carmine, Stone!"
Frank wouldn't really call her that, until the official ceremony had been unlocked. He glanced at the others, behind the mask keeping his features set in the way that it wouldn't really reveal him tipping the mask, as he watched each of the people there, poking at the stew a little.
"Miss von Blut."
She looked like she was going to get physical, her cheeks burning red and those eyes of hers flashing.
"YOU! YOU! YOUUUU!"
She grabbed his coat and brought her face close to him, her words lost in the screeching that she was doing, as he idly noted that she was spitting on his mask.
"Why don't ya kiss him, Batsy? I'm not going to-"
Carmine, in search of a different target, leapt onto Rudolph, screaming indignantly about being embarrassed in some way, Frank not sure what exactly a kiss would do. It wasn't really a thing for him, with a mask in-between.
There were no twitches of his muscles or burning of his markings to be felt, though. Everything was calm and placid, as he let his attention go back to the stew, adding some more salt to it, knowing that Carmine might have a little bit of truth to her statement about it being quite horrible to the nose.
"Eat a bowl. It will imbue you with the strength to beat the monsters that stalk our world."
Words that had been said to him a long time ago, where there had been no time for him to understand. The recipe had been something that had been passed down to him by his teacher, as he recalled the man sitting there on the tree stump.
"Make sure that you eat all of it. Even if it does not taste well, you must learn to eat the bitterness that is life."
He was a monster, marked with the curse of the Grimm. Every nerve of his body was telling him that it was not wise to take an apprentice, but he knew that there was no stopping it. Kleo took a bowl as well and poured some of the stew into it with an improvised ladle, as Carmine and Rudolph got a bowl each, each of them looking at the pot, as Frank took the moment to swallow his reservations.
"To be a Huntsman is to sacrifice. To be a Huntsman is to cast away all trappings of the civilized world and hunt."
"A Huntsman is an ideal. A Huntsman is a figure that stands against the dark creatures that stalk the earth, to bring forth their demise. You must understand that, Frank. You are maligned by all, a monster whose appearance frightens others. You will get the strength from this meal that you will need to have in your bones."
He would pass along the tradition then. The least he could do was this, even if his students, if Miss Parsley-Trappe did not wish to train them, would barely know his face. To be a Huntsman was to walk with death and be a monster in human shape.
"To… be… a… Huntress… is… to… persevere. To… be… a… light… in… the… darkness."
The words were slow, but they had a cadence to it, a shiver going through the woman.
"To look at others that are not like you and to shy from them, for you are one who has become a part of what is the light."
Her voice gained strength, speeding up, as the bandages rustled and she showed her face, the shadows cast by the bandages making her look old and yet young.
"To be a Huntress is to fight. To survive. Your weapon is a direction where your death comes from."
She bowed her head to him, and he held the bowl up.
"Redroot, ground into mulch, three parts. To be as the tree, imbued with strength. Green herb from the corpse of a tree, so that you may not rot like bark."
His voice was stronger, as he remembered the ceremony.
"Essence of the tree within the sap, so that you may not remember the blood that has been spilled for the sweetness mixes with it all. The fat from the hunted meat, so that you may grow stronger."
Words that he recited, as he had heard them.
"Essence of the tree within the sap, so that you may not remember the blood that has been spilled for the sweetness that it mixes through it. Fat from the game we have hunted, for the strength to continue on."
Kleo gave a nod, and Rudolph and Carmine looked unimpressed.
"Can we eat now? I'm hungry and even this rotten stew is starting to smell good!"
Frank nodded.
"Let us eat. We will conduct the ceremony after we have eaten the stew."
He lifted his mask a little and then spooned in one of the spoonfuls of stew, tasting it and closing his eyes for a moment, sighing softly at that bittersweet taste. It was not a named stew, but it bore with it the memories of his teacher.
'It is unfortunate…'
"This shit is RANK."
Rudolph might have some issue with the flavor, though.
"And… wait. He… is… preparing."
Carmine felt like preparing was not enough to put it into words. Stone was slow!
"I don't care if he's just waiting for the moon to rise or not, we ate that stew! Even Woofles the Mutt is throwing up!"
That stuff had left a bad taste in her mouth, Kleo giving a humored smile, as she seemed to think it amusing that she adn the Mutt were not feeling good.
"It… gets… better… daughter… of… mine."
'I'm not your daughter!'
"YOU! I AM NOT YOUR DAUGHTER!"
Kleo's voice was amused, as she laughed, running a hand through her hair at the thought, or somehow contemplating that.
"No… you… are… not. When… my… husband… became… my… student… we… had… a… ceremony… like… this. We… were… happy."
The woman smiled fondly, as Carmine felt annoyance go through her at the feeling of being somehow left out a bit, the woman reminiscing about her husband again, Carmine just frustrated, even with Rudolph making gagging sounds in the background.
"Oh yeah? What was it like for you?"
She asked, curiosity compelling her, the woman smiling softly.
"My… teacher? Or… my… husband?"
Carmine shrugged. Kleo spoke, very wistfully.
"She… threw… me… into… a… ravine. Said… I… needed… to… get… out… to… become… her… student. I… became… her… student. The… others… did… not."
That sounded like a story for another time, Kleo carrying on.
"My… husband… was… a… little… different. We… had… just… made… our… home. Our… dog… was… so… happy. I… gave… him… the… training… and… I… accepted… him. You… know… As… a… woman."
Carmine was not thinking about it, of course not. She wasn't thinking about her and Frank Stone doing something like that! How could this lewd old lady just say this! This old lady who was only twenty or so years older than her! She was close to Frank in age, this bandaged woman didn't know what she was talking about.
"Shut your mouth! I'll be his apprentice! His student! Just you watch!"
Frank seemed to be lost in his thoughts, as Carmine found that she didn't want to approach him. Like some sort of thundercloud, it hung above him that he was thoughtful about something, before he glanced up to the sky.
"It's about time. Miss Von Blut, Mister Rot, please come here."
Carmine knew that this was going to be amazing! She'd get to learn some cool stuff and be kick-ass!
She didn't have a little fantasy about Frank being so amazed with her that he'd do all sorts of adult things with her, of course. She'd never admit that to her dying day.
"Batsy already wants you, mask man."
'WHY YOU!'
Carmine clenched her teeth and she glared at Rudolph, who was wiping his mouth.
"No dawdling… children."
Kleo just had to speak up. She might've had a nice home and a husband that'd become her student, and even a dog, but the woman had no right to lecture them!
Kleo sneezed again, wiping her nose, her eyes a little teary.
"Bah."
Frank looked at Carmine, standing there before him. He looked at Kleo, who was in attendance as they stood in the moonlit clearing in the forest. It felt like a sacred moment, a sacred little moment between him and his students and a Huntress.
"Carmine Von Blut, you are here before the shattered moon and within the darkness."
"Frank Stone, you are here before the shattered moon and within the darkness."
Words that had been said to him, came up, as he laid a hand on her heart, at least where he figured it was. Her cheeks turned red, and he continued.
"Within you rests the heart of a Huntress. You shall feel the power of your soul within you, the light that shall burn within you until the day the Grimm or the darkness overwhelms you."
"Within you rests the heart of a Huntsman. You shall feel the power of your soul within you, the light that shall burn within you until the day the Grimm or the darkness overwhelms you, my boy."
He felt the beat of her heart, as he closed his eyes.
"I, Frank Stone, hereby accept your darkness. Let my light blossom within you and find that spark to light the flame to banish the darkness."
"I, Percey Shells, hereby accept your darkness. Let my light blossom within you and find that spark to light the flame to banish the darkness, my son."
He sent a pulse of Aura through his arm into Carmine, waiting for rejection or acceptance from her, her eyes opening wide, before she took a deep breath and her Aura sprang into being. For a moment, he connected with her, feeling her indignation and her frustration, as wel as some emotion that he couldn't quite place.
"THIS IS AMAZING!"
The exclamation drew him out of his thought, as he felt her pull away, and he just did the final speech.
"I accept you as my disciple and my charge. You are a Huntress now, under my watch before you are left to go out on your own."
Carmine wasn't listening to him, but he could tell that she was in a good mood, Jaune watching Rudolph, as he repeated the gesture. Skin to skin contact would work best for this.
"Bare your chest, Rudolph. Collarbone, at least."
The fur was pulled back and a pale collarbone was exposed, as Frank laid his hand on that, and he felt the warmth shoot through his skin at the touch.
"Rudolph Rot, you are here before the shattered moon and within the darkness."
The words of tradition, as he spoke them, only repeating after what he'd said before.
"Within you rests the heart of a Huntsman. You shall feel the power of your soul within you, the light that shall burn within you until the day the Grimm or the darkness overwhelms you."
His hand sent forth a pulse, feeling lightheaded suddenly, as he found that he was starting to feel the rough day that he'd had earlier wear down on him, as the aura sprang into being around Rudolph, and Frank took the time to take a few deep breaths.
"I accept you as my disciple and my charge. You are a… ah-"
He felt heavy and responseless, as he straightened. Darkness was encroaching on his vision, as he tried to finish the sentence.
"You are a Huntsman now, under my watch and… and… before you are left to go out on your ohhh-nnn."
He passed out before the final bit could be spoken aloud, his Aura mostly depleted, falling flat on his back, but barely caring for that, since he was unconscious.
His last thought was that he should not have tried to awaken the aura of two people at the same time.
Oh no. Battsy and Muttface have their auras awakened! Things can only get better.