One of the things that Jekyll hadn't expected to be brought into the city of Vale was the fact that Mulberry of all people needed a companion as he was there to claim a suit. Why did Mulberry even need a formal suit when his own combat attire might as well be a formal suit?
"Makes me look like I'm going into combat," Mulberry reasoned. "You don't wear that unless you're expecting combat."
Jekyll rolled his eyes. He didn't spend his salary on much so he had much to spare. Having worked and lived on Beacon Academy grounds certainly cut down on costs. Granted, his salary went down a little on account of having the electricity, rent, and food being paid ahead of time. Despite that, he was earning quite enough to live luxuriously. In fact, if he were to leave Beacon Academy to find some place to say, he would be obligated for an increase of his earnings since at that point since Beacon wont be covering his living expenses if he did. Maybe something to consider somewhere down the line.
"And you as well." Mulberry dragged Jekyll along. "You are not going to the dance in that outfit. Relax a little."
"Shouldn't it be the students' time to shine though?" Jekyll asked. He relented though when his team leader stared at him. "I guess I can go with something simple."
"That's my team member," Mulberry replied.
Team member. Team MGHT. After everything that had happened with Merlot and Mountain Glenn, the four faculty and staff members of Beacon Academy are practically their own team now. Mulberry and Greene were certainly the happiest one of them all though they had more restraint about it. Peach personally was rather awkward having not been in a team before and while she had gotten along with them before professionally, this wasn't something that she was used to. It was a slight but noticeable change among them. Nothing too bad, just getting used to being called a team member at all.
For Jekyll, he went with a long-sleeved polo of the color green. As for the coat, it was twin-tailed and of the color black. His pants were black slacks. Jekyll had no plans of standing out that much but a formal event is still a formal event.
"Green, huh?" Mulberry asked. "I did hear that Peach is going in a green color scheme."
"Nature-theme," Jekyll corrected. "We're going together anyway as partners, might as well not make it too contrasting." Matching colors is a safe bet.
Trying it on, by the standards of his time, Jekyll would definitely have been one of those respected socialites albeit on the lower end. Enough to be considered one but most certainly not one of the higher lords and ladies. Then again, that sort of thing was something he wanted to avoid when he had made his formula in the first place.
"I like it," Mulberry commented. "Simple enough. Definitely not wanting to stand out."
"This is supposed to be the students' time to shine," Jekyll reiterated. "We really should just keep it simple."
"Doubt that the students will be wearing anything too fancy," Mulberry replied. "Most of them will probably be too awkward."
"That they will most definitely be."
After having put down any payments for the rent, Jekyll and Mulberry then made their exit. They didn't immediately return to Beacon. It was less because of time or preference and more the crowd. With the Vytal Festival practically in full swing, the increase of tourists and representatives had been skyrocketing. Most were civilians, of course. Each one either sampling the local cultures or bringing in their own. Jekyll certainly recognized a few from back in Atlas.
"I wonder if I'll see either the General or Winter again," he thought out loud.
"You probably would." Mulberry hadn't noticed that it was meant to be a thought. "Those two probably would as representative of Atlas. Oh, that's right, you got your license in Atlas, didn't you?"
"I did." He nodded. "For all intents and purposes, I am an Atlesian huntsman."
"You're Valean now." Mulberry placed an arm over his shoulders. "Not like that matters. We as huntsmen shouldn't really pick a side when it comes to countries. Doesn't stop us from picking the school though."
As if answering his earlier question, Jekyll caught sight of Atlesian airships making their way towards Beacon. They were probably just more transfers from Atlas coming to participate but then again, he did see a few of the faculty there. Not ones that he recognized mind but enough that they gave each other some kind of greeting whenever they passed by one another. The same could be said about the students.
Having finally found a Bullhead that would take them back to Beacon, Jekyll and Mulberry protected their suits like sacred artifacts, the latter especially. Jekyll himself did but that was more of the fact that the suit was a rental and that he was avoiding any sort of stain on it.
Hanging the suit by the door, the only place that he can hang it on without too much creases, Jekyll washed himself. There had been a large number of people earlier and the smokes and dusts clouds were enough that he had to wash himself a little. Thankfully, the suit was mostly protected and only needed a little bit of cleaning.
"Wasn't there a steam-based ironing thing?" Jekyll said. "I think it was a handheld garment steamer?" Checking his scroll, he found it. He would have to go out again but that could be done another day. There was still time before the dance anyway and most of the students are either still in class or out sightseeing.
Stepping outside the dorm room, Jekyll then proceeded his way towards the cafeteria. He and Mulberry probably should have just eaten out now that his stomach was grumbling. It didn't help that the cafeteria was now full of students and the section that is normally reserved for faculty and staff was also full. Jekyll could only hope that there was timing on his part; there wasn't.
After having done all that, Jekyll simply waited for the dance to come. Occasionally, he would go down the Vaults to check on Amber or check the news to see of any updates on Cinder Fall. With their images splattered on the news, it made things easier on them trying to find them. But they were laying low for the most part which meant that he couldn't do anything about it.
White Fang activity had certainly gone down with team MGHT's involvement and their discovery of such activities at Mountain Glenn. From what Jekyll heard, it will take time before the White Fang could ever set foot in Vale again. Most had retreated or are also laying low. With any luck, some of them might just leave such a life behind in pursuit of something better. Jekyll could only hope on that end. At least, he hoped that the reason was because of them not finding it to be lucrative anymore. If any of them left because of what they had seen Hyde could do, he wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Hearts were broken and blossoming in the upcoming days. As the braver students asked others to a dance, some have led to confessions while others led to rejections. Those less courageous opted to go either alone or with friends to make it less awkward. Jekyll even saw one student, unsure of the school since there was no uniform, pop out of a large box with a bouquet of flowers and a smaller box of chocolates. It was certainly a sight as there was a crowd of students that had gathered there. Glynda was there though she didn't really interrupt, more like making sure that it wasn't too much of a mess.
For every student that were excited about the dance however, there was an equal number of students who are only going because it was a requirement. There were those who weren't as subtle and made their displeasure at such an event known to their friends. Jekyll personally never had to defend the need for the dance but it was something that they had to attend anyway which is unfortunate for them; they probably would have had other plans if the dance had been optional.
"Ah, Mr. Jekyll!" Oobleck managed to spot him as he was walking down the hallway. "Reminiscing the student life?"
"I wasn't much of a romantic when I was a student," Jekyll responded. He never usually had the time for that sort of thing anyway. "A bit of a ruffian perhaps." Such memories of those days made him feel nostalgic at the memory of them. Of course, boys should have grown past it by the time they became men. Otherwise, they wouldn't be respected by their peers and be treated as no better than delinquents.
"Ah." Oobleck nodded in understanding. "We all were young once. Course, some still retain such youths even in their old age. In time, these students will either be remembering this fondly or terribly."
"Terribly?" Jekyll realized it soon after. "Ah yes, of course." Embarrassment would always be prevalent in times like this. The sight of the heartbroken was certainly proof enough of that. In time perhaps, they would look back at it and—as they put it—cringe at the memory.
The two academics shared a laugh. They fully admit that they can be like that sometimes when it came to their passions. Who wouldn't be a little childish when it comes to passions? There is little point in being a grown-up if one can't be a little childish sometimes. For Bartholomew Oobleck, that was in history. For Jekyll, that was in a variety of different fields. He had grown more accustomed to Remnant recently. It certainly helped that much of Remnant's practices has similarities to his own. Really the only thing that he needed to wrap his head around was the technology and especially the logistics behind every piece of weapon.
"It is as much of an art as it is a weapon," Oobleck explained. "If a weapon is an extension of the wielder, then it also appropriate that each one is a reflection of them. Even Professor Greene had one before she opted to her usual weapons. It was a shovel."
"She still uses that, though," Jekyll pointed out.
"That she does." Oobleck made no arguments there. "Still, that is her most preferred and accustomed weapon, given that she has used it a lot. Explosives is more of a recent addition, relatively speaking."
Jekyll looked down at his own dagger. It wasn't customed made or anything. It was just one of many daggers that Greene had that he had been given permission to use. "Maybe, I should also consider one for myself."
"I suggest you go to Professor Mulberry for that," Oobleck suggested. "That is his field of specialty after all."
"Maybe another time." Jekyll decided in the end. What kind of weapon would he even get? Would he even get one that had a gun attached to it?
The two went their separate ways, Oobleck was certainly making his way towards his next class in typical Oobleck speeds. Though, upon closer inspection, he was strangely slowed in his movements. Oh wait, he didn't have his usual dosage of coffee yet. Jekyll shook his head. How that man was not having some kind of anxiety reaction from all that coffee is beyond him. Even Jekyll and his tea drinking had more restraint than that.
Further walking around the halls of Beacon, Jekyll could see the students running around. Some were out trying to squeeze more practice before the tournament, others were off making their preparations for the dance. From what he managed to overhear; some were trying to shave off what extra kilograms of weight for their fittings while others still protesting about having to attend the dance at all. Still, for every complaint, he certainly had few overly joyous students at either being asked out or successfully asking out a date for the dance.
Jekyll smiled at the sight. He himself had never been much of a professor. Technically, he wasn't one right now either but the student life had been something he had once. Remnant, for all its differences, shared enough similarities to his world that he could feel himself at home sometimes. It would be more accurate to say that he has come to call this place akin to home.
Checking the time, Jekyll opted to return back to the cafeteria, the number had decreased since then and he finally had a chance to eat. Though there was little in the way of options since most were either emptied or too few to even be considered a serving, Jekyll wasn't too picky and simply picked the ones that were available. Beacon Academy had variety there with some being reminiscent of the ones he had back home.
He had been involved in this, hadn't he? With Mountain Glenn and the White Fang, who knows what would have happened had Jekyll and his team weren't involved. They would have eventually but that would have been at a later time when their enemies would have been more prepared. Beacon had even retained control of the security for Vale during the Vytal Festival, a fact that he had only learned by the withdrawal of some of Atlas' machines. There were still some that stuck around but the number was so miniscule, they were much closer to being guards for important Atlas dignitaries and the like.
I wonder how he would have fared here? It had felt like a long time since he had compared himself to that king of knights. Maybe… maybe I can do it… maybe I could be that hero that Amber deserves… that the people of Remnant deserve. He was already a huntsman and those were often heroes just by existing. He shook his head. He was being childish at the moment, not that it wasn't wrong in anyway. Huntsmen and huntresses were often regarded as heroes, especially since the Grimm are pretty much creatures of evil and destruction.
Finishing his rather late lunch, Jekyll went on with his day. As the night of the dance drew nearer, more and more students are found either taking measures of cutting down their weights or are protecting their outfits like sacred treasures as they made sure that nothing would ruin it. There were a few complaints of those who had gotten the wrong outfit.
The night of the dance had come and the student body have begun to gather around the grander halls of Beacon Academy. Often reserved for big announcements or assemblies, for Beacon students in particular, they were back again at the place that they had gathered during the formation of teams. Jekyll had worn his outfit and it was a well-fit. He managed to iron out the creases and made himself rather presentable. It was comparable to what he normally wore in his eyes, but Jekyll supposed that it makes him appear like he was there to dance rather than to fight.
He didn't need to wait long for Peach, given that they were pretty much neighbors. His eyes widened a little at the sight of his partner for the evening.
When Peach had said that she was going with a nature theme, she meant it. The dominant color was that of the color green. She wore a crown of flowers and her a portion of her back was bare to allow the wings the freedom of comfortability. Her arms had that transparent cloth, with autumn leaves dotting them. She wore heels that made her appear slightly taller. She was, without any doubt, a lady of nature tonight.
"You ready?" she asked. She had light makeup on her face that he only noticed now.
"Of course." Jekyll offered an arm. He had been raised to be a proper gentleman if nothing else, that won't change for him given that he was raised that way in life; it was also just good manners.
Making their way down, Mulberry and Greene were waiting for them. Greene wore blue, which made Jekyll chuckle a little given her name. In contrast, Mulberry had a yellow polo for his as the two waited for them. There was a vehicle waiting for them.
"Got a rental," Mulberry explained. "We are not walking all the way there. It'll ruin the outfits."
The rest of Team MGHT agreed and got on the vehicle. The trip was frankly really short, though given that they normally would have walked on any other day, this was fair.
When they had gotten there, they were greeted by Yang Xiao Long who was wearing a rather plain-looking white dress. She didn't really check for their names and let them in. Only when Jekyll turned did he realize that she was looking for their names. Most of the faculty were there anyway and her focus was primarily the guests, probably.
While there was a sizeable number of students present, it was clear that not all of them were here yet. Most were off to the side with only a few braver ones taking to the dance floor, enduring the stares and a few giggles coming from close friends. The dancing was rather awkward but that was to be expected for students. With them being mostly huntsmen and huntresses, how many of them actually had time to dedicate to dancing? It was probably much closer to a hobby if they did.
"Care for a drink?" Jekyll offered when he caught sight of the snack table. There was punch there, doubtful on the alcohol content given that there are minors.
"I could use one." Peach thanked him.
Both she and Greene stayed behind while Jekyll and Mulberry went off. Mulberry had prepared a plate, full of some snacks with Jekyll following suit. They both returned with some snacks as the two ladies found themselves a table to sit at. There were tables reserved mainly for the faculty and staff, along with the guests.
"Thanks," the two ladies said.
The number of students have begun to increase. With that, some have either mustered enough courage or were simply going to the dance floor with their friends. Others have stayed to the side and kept to their conversations, whatever it may have been.
"Feels nice, doesn't it?" opened Mulberry. "Being able to see the younger ones just enjoying themselves."
"Harrold…" Greene said.
"Sorry," Mulberry replied. "It's just nice to see them like this. Not having to go on missions. Get enough missions and the only thing you'll be wanting to do is go back home and sleep on a good bed and eat good food."
"I'm sure the world will be a much better place if that is where our priorities lie," Jekyll assured his now team leader. Taking the initiative, he also added, "isn't that why we're here?"
Peach stayed quiet. Rather than involve herself in the conversation, she sipped her drink. Her eyes didn't leave Jekyll though. He felt her looking at him for a while now.
Slowly, there was a buildup of laughter. The four of them turned to see that the students had caught sight of something hilarious.
"Well," Mulberry said. "Either Mr. Arc had a promise to keep or he lost a bet."
When the crowd of students cleared enough, the other three managed to catch sight of Mr. Arc wearing a dress. He was approaching Ms. Nikos. There was conversation between them which Jekyll could not hear. Pyrrha Nikos laughed but accepted the hand that Jaune Arc offered, the two of them then proceeded to dance, soon accompanied by the other members of their team.
"Team JNPR must be really in sync," Peach commented. "Coming up with that on the spot."
Greene nodded her head. "If that is true then, they really have their act together."
The four them chuckled as they downed their drinks. As far as Jekyll is concerned, they were having a good time. It is something that they would look back on fondly many years down the line.
I'll make sure that they do, Jekyll thought. I'll make sure that they will all remember times like these. He may have been a huntsman because he needed a cover for however long he needed to perform his duty, but that time spent had allowed him to become part of Remnant. He had met the people, both good and bad.
"Hey, Mulberry," Jekyll opened up. "I was thinking of getting my own weapon."
The other two had their interests piqued.
Jekyll continued. "I'm not sure how that would come to look like though. I was wondering if you could help me on the design and functionality. Nothing too complicated, just a dagger that could also function as a firearm."
Mulberry smiled. "Of course. Simple enough, nothing that requires too much transformations."
"Will need safety mechanisms though," Greene added. "Wouldn't want to pull the trigger on accident while trying to cut Grimm."
"Like I would make a weapon without some sort of safety system in place." Mulberry rolled his eyes. "Still, a dagger? Really preferred to be up close and personal."
"It's what I'm used to," Jekyll said. I'd rather not give Hyde any sort of advantage if he did think tactically, he did not. "Thank you."
With whatever spectacle that was that involved the team of Mr. Arc, the other students have decided to join in the dance. Some have left early for whatever reason which Jekyll would rather not think about. The other professors were certainly not acting in that regard though some did keep an eye out. Mulberry and Greene also soon joined with the students, leaving Jekyll and Peach behind.
"Care for a dance?" Peach then stood offering a hand. "I mean, sure, it is the students' night to enjoy but that doesn't mean we can't have our own enjoyment."
"Of course," Jekyll replied, taking her hand.
Their dance together was more refined. Being part of the upper classes of his life, Jekyll's lessons all involved some level of dance. It certainly helped that the music changed to a slower pacing meant for the romantics. Peach's twirls and turns proved to be rather difficult at first given her wings but Jekyll managed to adjust quickly enough.
The two bowed as their dance ended. They then returned to their seats. Peach hit him slightly on the arm. "You didn't tell me you were a dancer," she said.
"You didn't ask," Jekyll replied. "Besides, it was rather plain and I have been rather rusty."
Shortly after, either Peach or Jekyll joined the others with the dance. It was more of a formal gathering and there were certainly no emotions behind it. A simple formality that was exchanged among the professors. Though, in the eyes of the students, it might as well be the case. Jekyll shook his head. Children and their imaginations.
The night went off without much trouble. While there were students who tried to leave early, they were mostly found simply outside on the balconies, enjoying the night skies. There wasn't any friskiness that was had though there were certainly those who tried. Jekyll would rather not think about that as he, along with the rest of team MGHT, returned to their dorms.
"Night, partner." Peach raised a fist.
"Good night," Jekyll replied, bumping the fist with his own. "Partner."
Closing the door behind him, Jekyll hung the coat by the door. He removed his shoes and massaged his feet; they were aching after tonight.
"A team, huh?" Jekyll said to himself. "I suppose it is similar enough to a Master and Servant, only…"
His head fell on the pillows. If Amber did recover and choose to leave Beacon, should he also follow? He is still her Servant, after all.
"I'll cross that bridge when I get there," Jekyll said to himself. His eyes closed and he had a peaceful dream.
AN: Might as well have a break for our team MGHT here. Give them time to celebrate.
