"I don't know about this lass, there are an awful lot of them."

"Then I'll just have to deal with them."

Alcove sighed as stood next to the stubborn woman. The ship was tucked away in a small canyon a few miles from shore. With so many Grimm it was impossible to get any deeper into the island without worries for the tide of black infecting the skies above.

Ruby herself was at a loss as despite all her experience as a huntress she couldn't pin down any reason for the Grimm to behave in such a way, not unless Salem decided to do something. But such a thing wouldn't make sense. In the current era the queen would have nothing to gain from hoarding Grimm on the island.

Something else was at play, and Ruby intended to find out what.

On the bright side she did need to make a stop somewhere along the way. At best the trip was more along the lines of a convenient detour, rather than a full on obstruction.

"And if they decide to strike?" The captain asked as Ruby focused on the death cloud above them.

"Then we die."

The man let out a tired sigh as he turned away. Ruby herself felt little worry. If the Grimm wanted them dead they would have attacked earlier. The fact that they kept their trail flowing deeper inland proved there was something else they were drawn to. Even if the Grimm did attack they'd be more likely to target her after she brought out the seed.

Gracefully she skipped onto the railing, casting one last look at the ships cabin. She saw Pebble watching from the window. The small boy sent a wave her way and she returned it before gazing down at the land below. The child asked earlier to go with her, but she told him to stay as fighting Grimm required a completely different skill set than breaking into a guard outpost. The boy ultimately relented, instead choosing to give her a good luck charm in hopes of keeping her safe, one that she kept in her pockets as to not let it get broken.

Ruby stepped over the edge and gravity took hold. The drop wasn't very far for hunter standards, and she found herself sliding against the slanted terrain, hopping from stone to stone until she made it to solid ground. The jutted landscape did little to hinder her as she swept off the dust littering her skirt.

With a pseudo-relaxed pace she started along the walled canyon, headed straight for the source of the tide.

Using the current of black to guide her.

.

.

This is strange.

As I strode through the halls I took notice to the odd... apprehension most of the students seemed to hold for me. Their looks changing to ones of visible unease as their eyes gazed upon me.

While they had held a sort of curiosity before, it wasn't along the lines of this, and I was beginning to wonder if something had happened to cause such a reaction.

Was the dance really that impactful on them?

That was the only conclusion I could come to, as it was the only time I had openly assaulted a student. Even if I did so unknowingly it was still reasonable that they would hold a guarded caution when I was around. After all there was no telling if I would supposedly lose my sensibilities again. I shook my head as I realized yy curiosity was getting the best of me. I found myself seeking an answer with each step, and so I did the only logical thing I could think of.

Ask.

My eyes scanned over the meandering crowds as I looked for someone who wouldn't shy away. Not much luck there as every time I met eyes with one of the students they would quickly look away and leave.

Realizing I was getting nowhere I decided to take a breather, wandering over to a nearby tree and taking a seat at it's base. I leaned back, looking to the skies in hopes that it would clear my thoughts.

To my surprise I wasn't alone for very long. The sounds of footsteps wandered nearby and I looked around to the other side of my resting place.

"Oh, you're here." It was the same redhead from before, Pyrrha if I recalled correctly.

"I am, did you need something?" I asked as she shook her head.

"No, it's just that I usually come here to think. Would you mind if I took a seat as well?"

"Not at all." I responded, sliding over as she let herself relax.

Oddly enough she didn't seem all that bothered with me around, and I felt an urge of curiosity again.

"Can I ask you something?" I tried as she sent a side look.

"Go ahead."

"Do you know why everyone seems more... distant than usual?"

She looked confused, only to realize what I was implying a moment later. Casting her vision to the clouds I saw her breathing return to it's steady rhythm.

"Well, your performance down in Vale was a little flashy. It's no surprise really that they feel a little frightened. Nobody's been able to control Grimm before." She told as I voiced a second question.

"How would they know about Vale?"

"It was all over the news." She told as I sat there, no closer to understanding what she was saying.

"News?"

"You don't kno-" She seemed to understand for a moment as she switched to a more humored look. "The news is essentially a collection of information all in one place, spread all around. It's like a scroll call, but everyone can look into it. You didn't get out much before coming here, did you?"

"No, I didn't."

In a way it was funny just how accurate her guess was, yet at the same time I heavily doubted she had any clue as to why. Either way it allowed me to ease myself knowing I hadn't triggered the students ire in a more direct way. They feared me for the same reasons as the hunters in Vale. Although I had no idea whether it was good, or bad that they knew what happened.

Maybe they thought I was Grimm, like the hunters. In which case they'd be right. Of course I couldn't say anything on the matter as it was clear the revelation would do more harm than good.

"Don't worry too much about it, the media tends to get bored fast, so it shouldn't be a problem for too long." Pyrrha said with a soft look, one that held a hint of knowing to it.

"The media... that's what it's called?" I asked as she nodded.

"They'll jump at anything if it gets them attention." Her voice seemed to dull near the end, and I felt the need to pose another question.

"You've dealt with them before?" She seemed to nearly laugh at that.

"For the most part. I guess you could say they're the reason I'm mostly known as the 'invincible girl'. They focus on one distinct trait, ignoring all others as well as reason itself, all so they can spin their own narrative." Pyrrha explained as I felt a wave of disgust flow through me.

"Is it really that bad?"

"From my experience it is. It's probably not fair to generalize all of them in one camp, but I find myself doing it on accident. It's rare to find some who try and uncover the whole truth, but those that do are usually overlooked in favor of the more 'embellished' tales. People would rather hear what they want, instead of what's true." Her voice seemed to trail off near the end, as if the words themselves brought pain.

As vile as it was to hear, I couldn't help but accept her reasoning. Even back home the people would rather have others tell them their beliefs were right, rather than be proven wrong. To know that it still existed in the current time made me wonder if it was simply a part of human nature.

The need to be right, regardless of the facts. It was one of the most dangerous habits to be controlled by. However the worst part of it was knowing that the only way to catch it was to be directly proven wrong. And even then there was only a slim chance that it would be accepted. Everyone was a victim of it, even I, and no matter what happened everyone would always experience it's grasp at least one.

"Then how do you deal with it?" I asked in an attempt to clear the silence that started to settle.

"You don't. I just ended up ignoring it. It didn't really effect me, so I left it alone." She faced me with a hint of curiosity. "So what will you do? Most of the rumors are targeted at you now."

I sat on the thought for a moment before leaning back into the tree.

"The same I guess. Until they try anything against me I see no real reason to do anything about it. No matter what I say they won't believe me anyway; no changing their minds now."

Even if they did try something I found it hard to believe they'd get so far as the front of the school before the headmaster stepped in. It didn't matter if they hated me, it wouldn't change any of my plans anyway.

However there was one big difference in my scenario.

Unlike Pyrrha the rumors surrounding me were true. I am Grimm, at least partially, and I could understand why they'd be afraid in thinking that. Grimm were always changing, and new ones were constantly being discovered and documented. Each type always seemed designed to combat humanity in new ways, so it was completely possible that at some point a Grimm with the ability to blend in with people would come about.

"Just don't let it get to you. The ones who spread the rumors are usually the vocal minority, and most regular people tend to treat things like this with silent caution at best. Eventually they'll see you differently, they just need time to get used to you."

"Is that what happened to you?" I asked as a slight smile bubbled across her features.

"In a way." She looked much more relaxed than before, and admittedly that spread to me as well.

"You two having fun?"

The voice broke through the calm and I looked up to see Weiss stride over with Ruby trailing at her side. She had an overall confident air to her, almost springy in her step as she stopped before us. I was about to speak when I noticed the odd jitters of Ruby. She seemed to be debating whether to speak or not, and jumped slightly as Weiss gave her a slight shove. The girl scowled back for a moment before facing me again.

"Hey V, how's it hanging?"

From the corner of my eyes I saw Weiss cover her own, letting her form slump and looking tired as I set my gaze back to Ruby.

"I'm not hanging anything at the moment." I answered as Weiss wore a flat look. Ruby herself just gave a blank stare before shaking her head.

"I-I mean how are you?"

"Fine, and you."

She looked nervous for a moment as Weiss seemed to visible lose all drive to stay standing, dropping to her knees and muttering something. I saw Pyrrha next to her, looking to council the girl, as well as trying to hold back a laugh.

"Good good... so... um."

"For dust's sake get on with it!" Weiss yelled as Pyrrha went back to calming her, not really make all that much progress on the girl's apparently short temper.

"Is there something you need?" I asked in an attempt to help the stuttering girl.

"Well, it's... I wanted to know how you were feeling." She told with a low voice.

"I'm fine, like I said before. Why? Is something happening?" I asked as she looked away.

"Well, with all the rumors and things being said I wanted to check on you." She muttered as I felt it all click into place.

So she's worried about me.

It wasn't a huge revelation, but considering the fact that I'd only caused trouble for her team since my arrival I never expected any of them to really care about my thoughts. Then again they'd asked before, but that was a demand rather than a question; and a well deserved one at that.

"I am. Without action their words mean nothing. They can hate me for whatever reason they want, but that doesn't mean it makes a difference to me. After all, their words are just that: words." I told, standing from my place as she held a relieved look on her face.

"Right, okay." With more cheer in her voice she stepped closer. "So, I've been meaning to ask you something for a while now."

"What is it?" I asked as she shook in place; smile stretched wide and just barely keeping her excitement at bay.

"Can I see your sword!?"

.

.

Winter marched through the halls with purpose, not stopping for so much as a glance at the various soldiers who rushed past. Yet none would dare to obstruct her, avoiding her altogether as they hurried to their posts.

As much as she wished to avoid it, Winter knew she needed the general's input on the situation, if nothing else to ease her worries. While the battlefield was something she had no qualms with, her current predicament required a more discrete viewpoint.

The door zipped open and she made her way inside. General Ironwood looked up from his work, sending her a slight nod as he leaned back. Winter stepped forward and fell into a salute as she spoke.

"Sir, I've been keeping track of public opinions and thoughts over the past couple of days and I request some advice." She asked, still holding the form, only to drop it and link her hands behind her back as he gave another nod.

"What is it you need?" His tone was formal, but his eyes held a hint of tension, as if worried for something.

"While the fluctuation of our reputation was expected, most of the conversations are aimed at the Faunus community."

"And I assume our young charge is the center piece of each discussion?" Ironwood asked as the woman nodded.

"Most are leaning into the 'Faunus-Grimm' theory; a particularly backwards belief that the Faunus are an evolved form of Grimm." Winter explained as the general sighed and let head drop into his hand.

"That's ridiculous." He lifted his gaze and relaxed his breathing. "I take it there's more to it than that?" He questioned as Winter straightened her stance.

"There is. While the theory is particularly foolish, there are more sensible minds making up the other half of these discussions. The more... shall we say 'reasonable' side of the public has proposed the idea that Vermillion is not related to the Grimm in any way, and is more likely a spider Faunus due to his display of prominent veins that serve as their most common defining trait."

"And of his semblance? How are they taking that bit of information?" Ironwood asked as Winter wore a cautious look.

"Well... it's not as... extreme as before. Most of the concerns are directed at whether he's a Grimm in disguise or not. There are some who talk about his apparent control of Grimm, but those discussions are usually overtaken when someone brings up the idea of him being Grimm in any way."

"Good."

"Sir?" Winter asked as Ironwood let his arms rest; hands linked as he held a calm look."

"They're focused too much on whether he's a Grimm or not. At the end of the day such claims can easily be disputed again and again. While slightly annoying, it is ultimately harmless, and they have no real case to make other than appearances alone. His semblance on the other hand would be much harder to handle as it could be argued as uncontrollable and extremely dangerous. The Grimm are humanity's greatest enemies, and having control over them could lead to catastrophic disasters if used incorrectly. This way we have no need to defend it, as all the talks are about his appearance."

Winter let herself relax as she fell back into form. While she may have worried about how to deal with everything it seemed she had no reason to. It sounded like the problem would fizzle out on it's own so long as nobody tried anything, and the general looked as calm as ever.

"Then I shall continue to monitor online activity."

With one last salute and a nod from the general Winter took her leave.

.

.

Ironwood let out an agitated grumble as the door shut, already feeling the headache form as he considered their options.

Capturing Roman Torchwick was supposed to be a good thing; a sign of victory on the horizon. Of course all that was spoiled when the general public started making up stupid ideas such as Faunus and Grimm being related. Now there were even more issues to deal with, and considering that the Vytal festival tournament started it's first matches soon only made the situation worse.

The real irony was that the public was half right, Vermillion was - at least partially - Grimm. But they couldn't know that, nor could he let them find out. The outcry and panic would be on leagues with that of the great war, and he knew just how deadly those battles were.

The history books provided to the public were greatly dulled down, omitting most of the more... vile events and tactics of the tragedy. As both general and seat holder of the Atlas council he naturally had a copy of the complete history of the war; everything they managed to document back in the day in all it's uncut revulsion. From diseased prostitutes used as bio-weapons on enemy camps to stringing up child carcasses to lower their morale, the book had shown the more twisted and downright disgusting extents of human imagination and creativity.

Needless to say he knew just how far people could go in tense situations.

But this wasn't a war, this was simply a concerned population worried for their safety. Ironwood understood this, yet he remained on guard as he didn't know when or if anyone would go to the extreme.

Deciding he was maybe overthinking things the man stood and made for the door. There was nothing any of them could do to calm the people yet, so he decided to leave the problem alone for the time being.

After all, he still had a particular criminal to question.

Author's note

...

Back with another chapter, and feeling bright and ready to boot. And look at that, we've reached 100 followers, not sure how long it'll last but still it's nice.

I had a pretty good time writing this one, exploring the inner workings of a few of the characters, as well as having V show his lack of knowledge towards modern advances yet again. This time we got a bit more on the way of what the internet of Remnant thinks about V, and as many have probably already suspected it isn't exactly great.

Also snuck in a bit of Future Ruby, as she didn't get any appearances over the past few chapters. It's short I know, but I'm trying to move the main events on a bit, as it feels a bit slow currently.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think and I'll see you next time.