RWBY Crimson Timeline

by CrimsonPhoenixRWBY

Some say we're the heroes of our own story. But what if someone could tell it better?

16. Vol7 Becoming Huntresses

div id="djs-foo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"In the grand probability of endless potential and opportunity, there exists a timeline where everything goes right, rather than wrong. A timeline where events play out as close to the current one, yet key subtle differences alter and change the fates of those touched. Within the endless reaches of time, space and opportunity, we find ourselves in Atlas Academy. After having been shown around, having a rest, they were brought into a different section of the Academy. As the gang heads into the weapon lab sections, Weiss suddenly hears a voice she had come to fear. As they entered the armory, Pietro already giving some throwaway line about how they all wanted a little TOO much for upgrades, Weiss hangs back a little. The Armory was a big open room, with several smaller rooms seen through windows as well as a firing range and suit up area. As Weiss entered, she saw the man who had helped her escape from Jacques. Standing with another man, with blazing red hair and a brown engineer uniform, bent over a table with schematics. Standing with them was a man with the same brown uniform, and velvety brown short hair. He had a familiar look to him. Weiss looked at Blake, who had noticed she was lingering and walked up, her eyes wondering what was wrong./div
div id="djs-72gv7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I have to do this. Will…will you accompany me?", Weiss asked as she grabbed Blake's hand. Who smiled and nodded. As they got closer to the door, the chatter of Coal Argent could be heard./div
div id="djs-8b9vk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No, that ratio won't work, Will. Remember that the overclocking can cause damage to the cylinder. Instead we need to find a way for the chamber to handle hot rounds without the pressure square inch to shred the barrel to bits and harm the shooter", Coal said as he was rubbing his hands together. The other two looked over the same graph as a video played on the image caster of one of their scrolls. "See, if we don't, the damage is astronomical! Even someone like Ironwood would have shredded Aura if a live hot round blows their gun up rather than the Grimm it's pointed at"/div
div id="djs-1egad" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yes but how will we get the overpressure to be stable? The general is demanding the impossible, even for us", the redhead said, clearly with a lot of age and weight on his shoulder, he wasn't much older than Brun had been, older than Coal that's for sure, but not like Qrow. And yet he seemed to be twice as old as he spoke and sank in his chair. "This is an impossible commission"/div
div id="djs-clu40" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We don't give up, remember? Run that test again. Will…would you bring us some coffee? It's been a long few nights", Coal said as he rubbed his temples and walked to a different table, beginning to calculate and measure stuff. When the one called Will, familiar in his face yet Weiss couldn't place him, walked past them and saw, he coughed. "Uhm…mister Argent..we have guests"/div
div id="djs-edu1" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Schnee you'll have that enhancement of your sword when…", Coal looked up and stopped his tinkering and his rant. At the other workbench, the redhead dropped the barrel of the gun he was holding. For a second Weiss thought he'd charge her. His eyes sparked with a pain that she could guess, yet she didn't speak yet. Not until Coal got up and walked towards her; "Weiss…sorry I didn't mean to yell. The general's been…more insistent with our work than before"/div
div id="djs-4lstl" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""It's…ok", Weiss said as she reached for a pouch and held up the revolver and ID card which had belonged to Brun Redlight, who was now probably a carcass out in the wilds. Upon seeing the weapon and card, the redhead gasped and walked forwards. Muttering and stuttering as he reached for the weapon, tears in his eyes. "Chéri…", he said broken as tears welled in his eyes. slowly he took the weapon and cradled it softly, before he turned to Weiss. With Blake next to her she could keep herself standing, yet there was a sense of 'my fault' in this. If she hadn't snuck out, if Coal hadn't offered, the man would still be alive. Before Blake and Weiss could react, the man threw his arms around her and while he tried not to cry, his shoulders did shiver a little. "Merci, mademoiselle Schnee"/div
div id="djs-2cns6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""W-What…?", Weiss stuttered as she also fought back tears. She had expected this man to be angry. To attack her or at least blame her for the death of his significant other./div
div id="djs-229oi" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Heh…you were thinking I'd be angry? Oh you gentle soul. No I'm not angry. I'm glad you brought my chéri home…back to me. Even if all it was is his revolver and card", the man broke the hug and walked back to his chair, emotional but in a way relieved. Coal walked with him. "In truth I'm the one who's to blame for asking Brun. Rouge…I know I've said this before, but I'm sorry"/div
div id="djs-1cam8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""And I told you before that it's fine. Yes I'm sad at the death of my chéri, but I knew. When I came home that one night and found his picture cracked, Mademoiselle Schnee, answer me one thing…did he die a hero's death?", Rouge asked as he looked at Weiss, soft but pleading. Weiss recalled how the ship went down in a blaze. How Brun ran over to her and cradled her as the impact destroyed the cockpit and send them flying through a hole. How his body had vanished as she tumbled through the debris. She had tears in her eyes as she nodded her head. "By saving my life"/div
div id="djs-11uau" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"A watery smile crawled over the face of Rouge. Shaking his head and putting the gun aside, along with the card he stood back up and walked towards Weiss. "You didn't have to bring back his gun or card. You didn't have to face me, yet you did it anyway. And for that I give you my respect and thanks"/div
div id="djs-2501u" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You and your friends will be pleasantly pleased with what Will, Rouge and I have done. Several of your requests were easy enough, but there's a few I'd like to go over with you and miss Belladonna", Coal said./div
div id="djs-3n4i6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-bfjqv" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"First up was Jaune. His upgrades were easy, compared to the rest of them. Having used the gravity Dust bracer in Haven, as well as having Pietro and Coal tell him to use both Hardlight Dust and Gravity Dust to both enhance his shield and extend his range, he was set and ready to go. Polish the armor a little and a pinecone haircut with a red sash and done. Jaune Arc, Huntsman in training, Atlas armed./div
div id="djs-2jnbj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Nora was the second easiest one. Just store a battery pack inside her hammer hilt, so she can charge her own Semblance without outside input. Being shot at by a teammate or sticking her hand in a power socket or needing a thunder strike from a rain cloud was one way of powering up. But there were easier ways. Rouge and Will easily patched that up. Touch up her outfit with armor weave, give it a little bit of extra leather and padding for the cold and presto. Another done and dusted. Ren was slightly more difficult. Taking StormFlower and making it's green blade able to be fired off, was a curious mechanic. Storing cables, especially of a capable and usable length, would prove challenging. Will and Pietro had come up with the idea of using fiberglass cords, rolled up with about four meters of length, containing them on a mechanism encased in 'under barrel' attachment blocks and moved the green blades into the attachment. The tricky part was operating them. A button in the magazine hold, which would be pressed by the middle finger, rotated the blades into 'attack position', squeezing that button and the trigger would launch the blade. If you don't keep the middle finger pressed on the button, the cables retract. At pretty breakneck speeds as well. Add on that the more need for freedom of movement and his longer outfit was cut down. Shorter green weave for more leg motion, protective armor weave in the fabric, a heavy brace for the right arm alone. Curious choice but manageable. Real spicy upgrades came for the rest of Team RWBY./div
div id="djs-5olef" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Yang, made literally no sense. Coal had shipped that off to Will and Pietro as well, not only did Yang have speed, power and endurance, but she also had the mobility and options to almost break through her only weakness which was range. But she had requested explosive sticky bombs that she could punch into a target. That was such a dumb idea. The better idea would be to model her arm to open up into a massive canon for range. Yet Coal hadn't the heart or desire to fix that glaring weakness. Because he was busy with another project. And other things. So when that request was finished, he wasn't all that interested. Lose the long heavy leather coat, a stronger armor woven jacket with fur to protect the neck, yet she did want a belt clipped heavy duty trousers that exposed her thigh? Curious design choice. Heavy duty end combat boots made of enforced leather and a yellowish orange scarf. Ruby was easier on the weapon part. Make a pump action mechanism that would allow the Scythe blade to turn a full one-eighty degrees for easier slaying of Grimm? Make it difficult why don'tcha, Coal could do that in his sleep. The real issue was keeping her freedom of movement. For one, her baggy sleeves needed to be trimmed down to a skin fitting form, obviously enhanced with armor weave. Her gauntlets pulled away for strengthened boiled leather fingerless gloves, since you need a mobile trigger finger for a sniper rifle. Repair the damaged tights and red hood, thigh high steel tipped boots that function to aid her heavy movement and speed. Give the corset armor. What are we? A custom tailor band? Will could do that, as bad as it made Coal feel. That leaves…/div
div id="djs-568lo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-rvtc" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Alright, Blake, tell me the issue of this sword", Coal said as he took the straight hyper sharp edged Wilt. Blake had been trying to use it versus the Sabyr Grimm, yet it didn't seem sharp enough. As Blake explained that, Coal smirked, took a piece of paper and let it drop on the sword that lay edge up on the table. Barely touching the falling paper and it was sliced instantly./div
div id="djs-a3cv5" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""H-how…is that possible?", Blake wondered. As she had used that sword on the Grimm an barely sliced off a paw. Coal snapped his finger at that./div
div id="djs-e1tks" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Wait…Rouge hand me the big tome would you?!", Rogue who was busy working on the battery pack and was finishing up as he sighed, grabbed a big heavy book and threw it across the room, which Argent easily caught and stuck up a thumb: "Thanks"/div
div id="djs-l8l8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Fils de put"/div
div id="djs-3av3f" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Language, still your boss Neuf", Coal said as he flipped through the heavy Tome. Unlike most books and blueprints, which were either very new books or holographic, this was an old dusty nearly falling apart book. And while he was fast at moving the pages, he also took great care not to damage the pages. With a euphoric 'ah-ha!' he put the Tome to the side and reached for a hammer on his toolbelt. Next he spun it around his fingers and offered it to Blake. "Your turn"/div
div id="djs-2qfvo" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What…am I doing?", Blake wondered with shocked eyes. Which made Coal smile very bright! "A long forgotten art! You're gonna infuse part of your Aura, your very soul and essence into this steel"/div
div id="djs-5n5m6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I'm…what?!", Blake's eyes opened in even more shock. How can such a thing even be possible. Coal merely smiled. "You're going to take this hammer and hammer in your own Aura. As you work the hammer, extend your feelings. Will your very thoughts into the sword"/div
div id="djs-6i8o" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""O…k?", Blake tried it. As Coal held the hilt, she began slamming away. Tink. Tink. Tink. The rhythmic clinging went off for a while, as Coal looked over the blade. Nothing seemed to change. Rouge finished up his parts and started on parts of Belladonna's attire upgrades. Long white coat, black body suit to block out the biting Solitas cold, knee high black boots that mix perfectly into the body suit which, off course, has armor weave. As Rouge Neuf is getting through his part of the workload, Coal looks at Blake, who's getting tired, beads of sweat trickling over her skin, her cut black hair sticking to her forehead. Tired expression in her eyes. Coal tilted his head./div
div id="djs-a2gah" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No this isn't right…we should see…difference in the blade…", Coal threw a look back into the book and slapped his forehead. Causing Blake to lift an eyebrow. Weiss who had been looking at them work the entire time, occasionally chatting with Rouge, looked over and was also quite intrigued. "What?!"/div
div id="djs-4t541" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Blake…as you hammer, hold a vow…a goal…something in mind. I missed this small written part scribbled on the page. Thought it was just paper damage. If you want the Blade to accept your Aura, you have to make a vow on it, so the Blade is truly yours and works for you", Coal explained. Blake bit her lip for a moment as she looked at the blade and the hammer. She then looked at Weiss. Her long pretty white hair, the scar over her eyes that made her look surprisingly more pretty, gives her that 'I am tough' vibe. Shook herself awake, wow that makes two people in my life who have damage to their left eye. Doesn't seem special yet it's odd it happened twice. SHe turned to the blade again. I want to protect my friends with everything I have. She struck the hammer on the sword again, this time she felt something. She felt like part of herself was hammered into the Blade! It's dark red steel dulled. Changing colour! I want to protect Weiss Schnee who's important to me. She thought as she slammed the hammer again. Once more, the sword accepted part of her Aura. Tink. I want to protect Ruby Rose, the sister I never knew I wanted. The red began having a bluish hue to it. Tink. I want to protect Yang Xiao Long, the friend I always wanted and will do everything for. Tink. Suddenly the blade shimmered and turned a shimmering and shining violet. Coal smiled. "Well done Blake…and in case you thought about using that movement of yours, your new sword won't be bendable or foldable like Gambol used to. But…I have fixed it up like this"/div
div id="djs-7mmlp" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"With that Coal showed her a pistol with a permanent blade attached to it, so that it would be more compact and easier to use than a sword folded up. Similar to a rope dart. While it does mean she has to add a different holster if she wants her gun versus the easier fold into one. But that would be the only work around. Since Aura Forged weapons don't like to transform. But now she has a lightweight hyper sharp blade on her back and a whip dart like handgun that can be used for mobility. "Now…all you need to do is name the blade"/div
div id="djs-18gbg" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"A long while Blake looked at the violet blade, that once was red, linked to Adam. A man she described as having Passion. She smiled: "Passion. Gambol Shrouded Passion"/div
div id="djs-1voh4" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-4pds0" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Alright now that you're done and with your armor upgrades, miss Schnee", Rouge added after a few more minutes, thick protective winter dress that had grace, freedom of movement, armor weave and belts for Myrtenaster. But now came the biggest sell that Coal ever had to do in his life, "I do…recommend you invest in an offhand weapon"/div
div id="djs-8ki23" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""How so? Myrtenaster and my semblance have perfect form", Weiss said as she drew her blade and looked over her trusted weapon. It's true, ever since the royal test where she had to prove herself to Jacques and be allowed into Beacon, Myrtenaster had everything she could ask for. Range? Glyph Dust enhanced sword motions to blast ice shards or fireballs. Close quarters? The rapier basket hilt gives her all the edges in a duel. Mobility? Her new boots in combination with Ice Dust lets her slip and slide across the battlefield. She has everything! Except…/div
div id="djs-35i3r" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yes but imagine this…you're in a sword lock, what then?", to prove his point, Coal grabbed his, now perfected, revolver which Weiss had seen during the fundraiser, slapped the barrel against Myrtenaster and pushed the sword aside. Weiss looked at him and at her weapon in a bind. While it wasn't often that she was in a situation like this, perhaps, like Winter, she needed something for her right hand to do. "You…make a good point"/div
div id="djs-ba7th" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Thanks. Now, despite what my coworkers have made me do, I still think you'd be better off with either a less powerful sidearm like mine", Coal said as he holstered his weapon back, he pulled out a small dagger handle. Except there was no blade. "This..is what they call an Aura Dagger"/div
div id="djs-fh3ou" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""An Aura dagger?", Weiss said as she accepted the hilt. It fit perfectly in the palm of her hand, the colour matched her ensemble perfectly and unlike the dagger in Winter's sword, this wasn't a carbon copy of her sister. Except..; "where's the blade?"/div
div id="djs-9mpoh" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Thanks to Pietro owing me for a favor, the blade is yours to make", Coal took the blade and pressed the pommel, opening the hilt and revealing../div
div id="djs-ddb7j" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Is that a battery?", Blake wondered as she came to look./div
div id="djs-csaa" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yes. See Weiss, just put some Aura in there, and it'll contain it like energy. You need extra help, tap the button right here", Coal indicated the button, a small diamond that was decorating the blade near the guard; "and the battery releases a small Aura constructed blade. Battery lasts ten minutes. So make sure you're using it wisely. You can channel Aura directly into it and maintain the blade longer, but be careful as that drains you"/div
div id="djs-58i6v" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Thank you Coal. Will and Rouge"/div
div id="djs-1dsa2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-7u9si" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-d3la7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-d2ohm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-60sso" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well I don't know who your contact is, but this works perfectly", Adam said as he looked over the returned Blush. Which wasn't anything different at first. But upon closer inspection it was entirely different. The magazine and handgrip to hold onto the sword had entirely changed place. The barrel of the shotgun had been swapped. Now the end of the scabbard shot the bullets, while still also launching the new sword Adam had been using, taken from Dante. The sword, Rebellion, was a sleek katana blade, similar to what Vergil used, which now sat neatly into what once was called Blush. The trigger guard was far bigger, and could be pressed in both directions, depending on which direction it was pressed it either shot a bullet from the back end or fired the sword from the front. As he held the new scabbard he looked at the Happy Huntresses, with whom he had been working since that one day and smiled. He felt like he belonged here. Make a difference. Killing Grimm and protecting Faunus foremost, but also the people who were in need of aid. It felt good to do the right thing. As Adam looked at the feeling of Rebellion in his hand, agreeing with him in the regard to fight the good fight, he felt it was time to rename Blush. And with the new approach to how he was going to be and fighting, he decided to name it Jetstream. Jetstream Rebellion./div
div id="djs-6vvrj" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Adam…I have a mission for you. You'll be keeping Joanna and Fiona safe"/div
div id="djs-4cuu6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Will do!", Adam said as he suited up to aid the women he had been working with. A new long red leather coat, a new set of heavy duty black boots and hair polish. He had taken that from Dante's shop, Grimm May Cry and now he had white hair. White hair and his taurus horns. Adam chuckled to himself. While May had said he looked dashing, going off of what others said and described him, Adam just hoped he'd never run into his old Sensei like this. He apparently looked like a splitting image of Dante with the hair dye. Aside from that his horns were less big than Dante had been./div
div id="djs-92fi9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-ajm7m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-1kjpi" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-uh95" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Just not used to the new hair yet", Yang said as she looked at Blake's shorter hair. Blake blushed. "Is..it bad?"/div
div id="djs-19qbu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No..no it's good. Great even!", As the Ace Ops argued about babysitting and Marrow. Weiss walked up with Blake and had her own cheeks a little red./div
div id="djs-5nge8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You know…I liked the longer hair more", she said shyly, causing Blake to giggle. Looking at Weiss playfully. "But..does it bother you?"/div
div id="djs-bmtel" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Not at all", Weiss said as she smiled, "But…perhaps grow it out a little more?"/div
div id="djs-c2q0a" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"They walked further towards the abandoned mine. Weiss saw the image of the SDC brand and shivered, another headache her 'donor' had caused. Who knows how many Faunus had died there. She recalled this particular mine from a while ago, how her father was more stressed about the loss of income than the loss of lives./div
div id="djs-flhd5" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""It's FREEZING out here!", Ruby said, as she gave a sniffle./div
div id="djs-1e74c" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Without heating or a projected Aura, which will eat your Aura so best stick with heating, you'll be killed in a matter of minutes. Hours if your Aura is strong", Weiss informed, recalling stories of how workers in the mines had frozen to death. Jacques truly had a powerful PR team./div
div id="djs-78nkr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I suddenly don't feel as bad about leaving Oscar behind", Blake said. He was still training, he'd be an Oz-sicle in seconds. The mention of Oscar, did turn Yang's frown into a scowl./div
div id="djs-4telq" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Can we talk about the goliath in the room?", She threw a look at Ruby which Weiss couldn't place. An oddity since she'd learned to read expressions for a living./div
div id="djs-bbadh" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What about it?", Ruby said, attempting to sound confident./div
div id="djs-60ph9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""We're really not gonna tell the general about what happened to Ozpin? What we learned from Jinn? Salem can't be killed", Yang said, nervously looking at the Ace Ops who were ahead./div
div id="djs-bu0og" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yang, we've been over this. Jinn said Ozpin couldn't defeat her. She didn't say WE couldn't. As for Ozpin…if he learned we flipped on Oz like that, he might lose hope", Ruby explained to her sister once again./div
div id="djs-c930m" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""What about the relic? You think it wise to inform the man who didn't believe me back in Beacon about the question we have left? As a matter of fact, shouldn't we use it on something?", Yang once more opted./div
div id="djs-2jk6u" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I think it's pretty admirable that he returned the relic to us. He seems trustworthy", Ruby shrugged at her sister's paranoia. They had learned from Pietro that he had designed and made the prosthetic arm with aid from Will, James had just taken the credit./div
div id="djs-he4d" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Ruby's right. You've seen how tired and exhausted he looked. If he learned we're the reason that Oz is gone, we might loose favor", Weiss added. Blake nodding in agreement; "he's showing he's willing to play open hand and we're also doing that, we're just not informing him of the verbal words we had with Oz"/div
div id="djs-1g1li" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Hey fresh meat…don't get cold feet over there", Marrow called after them./div
div id="djs-erumr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-90cc6" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-35lom" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-69uu9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You are not gonna talk to me are you", fisherman asked as Qrow walked a good five steps ahead of him, treating him to the cold shoulder. He sighed and threw a look back, before answering, "I don't usually work with people who don't listen"/div
div id="djs-8po9n" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Look, I said I was sorry about that. We had our orders, don't you follow yours?", Clover asked as they both kept walking. Advancing ever onwards toward the objective. "Not blindly, especially when someone says they're licensed…"/div
div id="djs-e8vv2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Alright I get it…gees, with that attitude no wonder you're working alone", Clover said, speeding up his step when a crack above head caused a razor sharp icepike to break loose and miss him by a hair./div
div id="djs-4sdt9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I work alone because of a different reason. I can't believe I'm now one of James' men. I once told him I'd shoot myself if it came to that", Qrow said with a groan as he walked forwards. Clover sighed and brought his hand to his earpiece. But before he spoke into it, he turned to Qrow. "I think that's a shame…"/div
div id="djs-7jfuk" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Alpha Here, give me a sitrep", While the team of Elm and Vine replied, Nora tries to get a conversation started with Ren, yet is shot down. Instead of the canon timeline where Jaune is a clueless idiot, he notices it in this timeline and simply and silently puts his hand on Nora's shoulder, giving a soft nod of understanding. After all, he had been the Ren of his own love story, dense and blind./div
div id="djs-8l4s7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-5k469" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-bb2t2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-5o20h" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""...we're sealed off, there's a cave in. Not sure if it's recent or from the first accident", Harriet said as Blake's eyes widened. Weiss, who stood close by, noticed but didn't say anything, not yet. She had a suspicion as to why but needed a bit more information. Yang turned. "You ok?"/div
div id="djs-ereki" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I just realized where we are…this..this is where Adam was..'stationed' when..", Blake pointed at her left eye. She had heard the story a few times, but never completely. She knew he worked in a Dust mine and was rescued by someone he called Sensei./div
div id="djs-cmpri" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I…thought that was the case", Weiss admitted, Blake turning to her in curiosity, "I remember how my father one day came home, furious about the dead Atlesian guards. Some…'monster' had attacked and slaughtered everyone, collapsing the mine. Yet he didn't care about the lives lost, only his 'profit margin'. I'm so sorry the pain my father caused the Faunus. I wish I could take it back. Or change my years of complacency in it.."/div
div id="djs-e7qa9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You are not your family name, Weiss. You're better than that", Blake said, slowly taking Weiss' hand. Weiss smiled at that, if feebly. She felt responsible. Her grandfather had built their name to be a symbol of quality and honor. Now all that remained of that was a memory and a promise./div
div id="djs-9otul" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""This society is set up for Faunus to be at the bottom. And Humans to remain at the top, as they're willing participants in that hierarchy. Benefitting while doing nothing to help us, while there are those who willingly abuse us for their own selfish gain", Marrow said, shoving himself in the conversation and looking at the SDC logo on a disheveled crate, while glaring daggers at Weiss. Causing Blake to get defensive./div
div id="djs-fe4kr" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Weiss is not that person. She's been doing her best ever since Beacon. And you don't get to accuse her of anything", Blake hissed. Making Weiss look at her and feel…flattered. Her friends really did stick up for her after all./div
div id="djs-ekrun" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Yeah well I didn't come here to solve systemic societal issues. Harriet has found a hole and we think one of you can squeeze through. Preferably one who can see in the dark?", he said pointing over his back./div
div id="djs-bf4c9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-b70k7" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-elbcb" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-32d6a" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Darnit…", Clover said as the Geist fled further into the tunnels, "This is Alpha, target engaged but fled, last seen heading East"/div
div id="djs-29elb" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Qrow walks up next to him, staring into the pit next to them. CLover puts his thumb up in a thanking motion. "Nice callout. That could have been bad"/div
div id="djs-f105b" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I wouldn't thank me yet. I bring Misfortune where I go", Qrow said depressed./div
div id="djs-4e6ft" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Don't beat yourself up about it, lucky you, I've got good fortune!", CLover said, winking as he pulled the pipe down and went ahead, calling for Charlie and Bravo squads./div
div id="djs-551h9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-90jr5" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"…/div
div id="djs-94otu" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-akqv3" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Some of us are ALL assets!", Qrow groaned. Seeing them fight together was inspiring but as the Left Eye of Ozpin he had seen the key flaw in all of this. Sure they all could pretend to be perfect, something even Kiddo was able to fall for, yet there was no cohesion. Everyone worked together, yes. But none of them truly cared for one another. This was a job, not a living. He saw how they teased the Faunus, something Qrow also wondered. Why Marrow? There was no personality match. He was brash, arrogant and a dreamer. Though not in the Summer type way. Oh Summer. If only you'd be here to see these fools. You'd scold them for not being friends. As if we four in the day had been friends. Qrow sighed. Yeah perhaps team RWBY had been unique in that regard. As Nora and kiddo began trying to bond, it became clear. At this rate Ruby was one of the better ones, since their friendship pushed them onwards. It's not a 'job' to save your allies. It's an obligation. Qrow couldn't disregard how often Tai had bailed him out, after getting him in trouble to start off. He smiled, noting how her friends left Ruby dry as she wanted to have fun after a mission completed. She was so much like Summer. Qrow felt bad she was being shot down, he'd been the one to always indulge Summer back in the day, which he still had a few inappropriate stories about. But duty calls./div
div id="djs-7lu10" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Someone was killing people in Mantle. Executing those who spoke out against Atlas and by extension James. Not a good look, especially with the election. But stuff was escalating quickly. He had walked a few blocks in Mantle and perhaps it was the cultural difference, but it felt wrong. And Qrow could know, he'd been all over. It was kind of hard to say which one was worse. Vale obviously was the best of the four. Good climate, no harsh weather, green, a culture that stands the furthest in 'equality' between Faunus and Humans. A place to raise a family. Mistral has the biggest criminal underbelly, as well as some 'upper class' vs 'lower you go' shenanigans. But that wasn't nearly as terrible as Atlas. Mantle was considered the left over now, with the floating part being the 'dream'. The slums of Atlas would seem like the high ends of Mantle. Poverty, poor work environment, social unrest. It wasn't the first time people like that had 'disappeared', even if it wasn't Jimmy's fault. This time. And then Vacuo was just inhospitable desert, with it's people being a simple folk. Simple in that you get respect if you deserve it. And if not…well let's say Jacques wouldn't survive long in Vacuo./div
div id="djs-6f05q" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""With tensions on the rise, this station's launching. Your teams could be useful here", Qrow rolled his eyes when James wasn't looking. So that's what's going to happen. Use the kiddo and her friends to try and get back some good will. Well there's worse things I suppose. Similarly, thinking of their plans, there were three spies. Overlooking and noticing Amity Colosseum, Fiona and Joanna lay flat in the snow and used binoculars to see what was happening, while Adam stood guard nearby. He noticed Aura in the distance, one of which was Blake. He debated whether he'd reach for his communicator and contact her, but decided against it. For now. Speaking of Jacques…/div
div id="djs-5otba" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""So let me get this straight James. In addition to this nonsensical Embargo of yours crippling my business, You've also decided you have the authority to commandeer private property? When the council hears about this…", far off in the distance as this exchange happens, Joanna turns and becomes a little worried. Adam's breath is heightened and fast, his hand clutching his new scabbard while desperately trying not to fly off the handle, as the world is red enough as it is./div
div id="djs-dljhv" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Gabe..you ok?", Joanna asks as Fiona puts her hand on Adam, helping him calm down, if only a little. He takes a few breaths, centering himself./div
div id="djs-ci31c" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Lets…just say I have a bone to pick with that creature", Adam hisses. They knew him as Adamant Gabe, the blind man who they had encountered while he searched for Dante. Who had been killed, the message of 'Devil in hiding' scribbled all over the wall. Yet the surprising thing was, Dante wasn't a devil. He was a Faunus. As he gently steadied his breathing, the new cowl he had commissioned worked with him a lot better to disguise who he was. After all, with the red fabric covering his eyes, the emblem of a cyclamen embroidered on it with two holes for his horns to fit through, covering his red hair and making him more of a colorful character, rather than a dark one. Likewise, he recalled this place, where he had been saved from slavery by his master. If only he knew about his brother, Adam thought./div
div id="djs-6ov9k" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well get in line, all of Mantle wants to chew him out for the treatment of the people", Fiona said, her sheep ears flicking to the sides as she turned to overviewing what was happening. Adam was battling his anger, the desire to fight and kill Jacques. Not that it would be hard. There was only one black soul among them. And it wasn't black like one would think a hurt soul. No that Aura was as dark as a Grimm, it was void..empty./div
div id="djs-bg5k8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-beb0s" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You…", his cold uncaring eyes had finally spotted her, Weiss felt a shiver down her spine yet she didn't give in. She was done being afraid of this man. As if he realized this mention of the word 'you' revealed just how insufferably vile he was, Jacques, ever the snake, put the spin on his outburst, as he pointed at James, "You roped my missing daughter into these schemes of yours too? How long has she been back in Atlas? Did Winter know-"/div
div id="djs-8rfsb" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""It was my decision to come here. I wasn't missing in the slightest. Just as it was my decision to leave. Or have you forgotten all about that?", Weiss said. Having been fed up with his behavior. Missing? You were the one that wanted to lock me in a cage. And now here I am, surrounded by family and more free than I've ever been. Jacques looked Weiss over once before smirking: "If you think I'm one to forget anything, girl, you've clearly misjudged the man your father is"/div
div id="djs-d6em3" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Believe me, I know EXACTLY the kind of man you are", to put emphasis on that, she casually but deliberately brushed a lock of her hair near her left eye. One would be excused for not simply guessing she was drawing attention to the scar on her eye while also blaming Jacques for the entire ordeal. Something that Jacques directly understood and he wasn't happy about it, surrounded by so many people who could see him in this weakened position. "How dare you! I have half a mind to-"/div
div id="djs-2tg26" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Get my other eye and balance it out?", Weiss sneered. The sudden lack of leverage put Jacques at a disadvantage. Weiss was done being scared or bullied by him. Well if threats don't work, I have another angle to play. Plus I best not lay hands on my own spawn in front of the general, lest I lose credibility./div
div id="djs-ctdda" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You know…your mother was devastated when you left", he changed his approach. Rather than talk in a stern voice, he put up a performance. A more 'soft' and warm voice as he slithered his way through the situation. This will get her to doubt herself, "Didn't leave her room for days. You know how she gets…when she's upset"/div
div id="djs-9tj1q" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Well a better husband would make time or put in an effort to soothe and comfort his wife", Weiss spat back, unbothered and untainted by the advance Jacques tried to pull. Sure mother was a little unique and she did drink more than was normal, even more than that uncle of Ruby, nevertheless in her time back after the fall of Beacon, Willow never once came to Weiss' door. She wasn't around earlier either. Missing rehearsals. She didn't even come to see off Winter or Weiss when both left for Atlas and Beacon respectively. All she did was drink, sit in her room, drink some more, visit the Schnee garden, drink and sleep. So this angle wasn't anything to go by. Jacques' expression turned vile however./div
div id="djs-4ev38" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""A better daughter would be there for her mother! A better daughter would deserve the limited time I have", Weiss glared at Jacques while he turned and gave her the cold shoulder. Ruby, standing closest by, felt a deep regret and pain. Sure her father had some rough patches, but he was always there for her. When she had a boo-boo, when she was scolded by a raven telling her Summer was a coward, when other kids had picked on her in Signal. Tai wasn't 'dad of the year' like mom was, but he was still the best father she could long for! Yang on the other hand didn't think of her father, or her mother as she saw this. She recalled how lonely she had been raising Ruby alone after Summer died. How most of her childhood was stolen away, all because Raven was a coward and never came to help. Qrow was there to pick up after Tai broke down. Ruby got the treats and Yang had to survive on her own. She felt a kinship with Weiss. Both being isolated and alone. Yang decided she'd try and make an effort to be better friends with Weiss. But the biggest support Weiss didn't realize she was getting, was Blake. She recalled Kali and Ghira. The warm and affectionate hug after she had returned home after Beacon, tearful that they still loved her. Kali's words when they went fishing for The Big One in Menagerie, about a parent's obligation to love their child and be there for them. How her father had smiled and offered her tea when she came to speak with him. And longer ago, how her home was always a warm and safe place. She even recalled how Kali had gotten herself tangled in yarn when she and Blake were playing, resulting in Kali's laughter as Blake was a mischievous little kitten and tickled her defenseless mom. Sure she had one less tuna that day during dinner, but seeing her mother happy was worth that! Blake shivered, what cold family did you come from Weiss? No wonder you were so…abrasive back then. Honestly, how were you never worse than that?/div
div id="djs-6ula3" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""You'll regret this…", Jacques said as he turned away from James to glare at his daughter once more. Only this time she wasn't alone. Red hood and clothing that scream bargain bin, blonde in unruly boots and clothing, looking like a street thug. But the worst was that Weiss was holding hands with an animal! He composed himself, wouldn't wanna show off just how elitist he was seeing his daughter colluding with the Faunus enemies. "So there are the friends you threw it all away for…I expected better of you"/div
div id="djs-cae39" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Not friends…family", Weiss saw the anger and frustration in his eyes. She felt Blake's hand in hers and emboldened to anger her, she gently lifted Blake's hand up and planted a kiss on the back of her hand. She hoped above all things Grimm that none of them would say anything about this and ruin the very proverbial slap in the face she had given that man. But he only growled and walked off. As his ship flew off, Weiss released the breath she didn't know she was holding and let go of Blake's hand, Ruby put hers on Weiss shoulder, giving an 'I told you we'd have your back' look. Who looked at her with an embarrassed blush, causing Weiss to blush as well. "sorry..I just really wanted to shut him up"/div
div id="djs-1o75l" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""It's…ok", Blake said, going even more red. Yang merely rolled her eyes. As Winter showed up. …/div
div id="djs-chj5i" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;" /div
div id="djs-b9qlm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"As everyone was having fun, minus the scene of Yang taking selfies with Blake while smiling like a dumbass, Ruby found herself sitting apart from the rest. James had gone through all this trouble and yet this all felt…hollow. Sure they had trusted him about the question and the things that happened. But hiding what they said to Ozpin began to bother her. She wasn't sure anymore if she was doing a good job. And seeing how well the Ace Ops worked together, she rubbed the red friendship bracelet under her glove as she looked at her own team. They had begun getting back on track, but there was a clear splinter happening. Was she even pulling her weight enough as their leader? She was two years younger, how could she not doubt herself with such strong personalities. Ruby sighed. Oh Coco where are you…I could use your advice./div
div id="djs-28a42" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Don't sulk like that Kiddo", Ruby eeped as she was shaken from her thought train as Qrow sat next to her. She looked at him and sighed. "Hey uncle Qrow"/div
div id="djs-607m9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""It's a big day…you should be happy", Ruby didn't know about that. Sure she had always wanted to be a Huntress like the ones from the books. But was she even able to still believe in that? Having seen and followed the path she had? Beacon had fallen and while they did save Haven, the school was still understaffed from last they heard, the relic was 'safe' here in Atlas yet she wondered shouldn't they just use the question and make the threat of it being lost dangerous? "It's…definitely a day with lots to take in…"/div
div id="djs-enep9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Which part? Getting to Atlas, getting your license or not telling the entire truth to Ironwood?", Qrow had taken to always being respectful of James when he was with Ruby, but she knew he didn't like him that much. She had heard him talk in the hallway, calling him Jimmy and being at odds with the Ace Ops, "Or all of the above?"/div
div id="djs-9pnl0" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""All of the above", Ruby smiled at her uncle, but it vanished just as quickly as she dashed around the battlefield, "I tried to do what I think is right. But I can't tell anymore if what's right is what's best. Or if I'm making mistakes.."/div
div id="djs-3qcuq" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Ruby…Ozpin held his hand far closer to his chest. You're letting your friends breathe and grow, you're holding them together. You're listening to your heart. Thinking logical when needed but also putting your foot down. Stealing an airship wasn't your best moment, but you did put your faith in your allies. ANd that's the making of a good leader, I think", Qrow said as he looked at the splitting image of Summer, she was just as nervous back in the day, back when they were still a team./div
div id="djs-dqp3c" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I hope so..", Ruby gazed at her license again, "this says I'm a Huntress now. But I don't feel like I know any better than at Beacon. The opposite actually. I knew even less…Mistral proved as such. I marched myself and Jaune's friends all over the continent, if you hadn't stepped in I'd be dead at Oniyuri"/div
div id="djs-55l5p" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""And if it wasn't for you keeping a level head I'd be dead in the Brunswick estate. And while the feeling of not knowing never goes away, I and your friends will be the first to tell you that you're doing well…your mom would be proud of you, kiddo", Ruby smiled at that but like before that vanished like snow in summer./div
div id="djs-fnkv8" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Is that why she went on that mission for Oz? Did you know?", she asked Qrow, "because she was a Huntress or because she didn't know what was best or right?"/div
div id="djs-7u2rh" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""I have no idea. Back then we did lots of secret missions for Ozpin. But that night, was exclusively a Summer mission. We were all in the dark about what she did or where she went. I've long since wondered what would have happened if I tagged along…she was always the best of us", as he said that Ruby nuzzled up to him. Affectionately he cradled her for a moment. Before seeing Summer in Ruby once more. "She was a bit of a brat though. But hey…I like brats"/div
div id="djs-fjilm" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;"Ruby elbowed him! I'm not a brat, she thought before she was called over and saw the mission board. With energy bustling as if she had downed five liters of coffee, Ruby's imagination rang loud, wondering all the kinds of romantic book missions she could go on! Her rambling is only interrupted by the sniffing and scoffing of Marrow./div
div id="djs-58iq9" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Smell that? Smells like Fresh Meat!", he said arrogantly./div
div id="djs-9o9u2" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Or wet dog", Qrow groaned as he sauntered over, earning a laugh from everyone except Blake and Marrow. Qrow merely shrugged. Only he was allowed to tease Ruby. And besides, he didn't trust these Ace Ops jokers. The conversation progressed until Marrow once more proved how bone headed he was./div
div id="djs-c6c04" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""Thanks! Juan..Djuan..jim?"/div
div id="djs-39d6q" class="daeditor-paragraph" style="margin: 24px 8px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.3px;""No problem Burrow, Merrow…fellow", Jaune countered his teasing./div