Glad to see a bit of speculation and continued enjoyment, Tzeentch would be proud of the fic.
I actually have an important thing to inform you all about, I've been talking with DOOMRAIDER about the fic, and he made mention of the Hound and the Tree of Life.
I'll be perfectly honest: I did not watch V8 or V9. I watched the first episode of V8 and immediately dropped it and haven't touched it since, so any plot details and aspects from those volumes will not be featured here unless there is something that would uniquely work with the fic going forwards as we all learn more about the plot. After the completely hypocritical plot of V7 and Ironwood basically being character assassinated, I simply can't stand the modern RWBY writing. Maybe V9 is better, but from what I have seen? Looks like fanfiction, except not even good. Though I will say I did see that they brought Torchwick and Pyrrha back for a kind of cameo, and I was impressed by that, though I feel like the reason for that happening would give me a writer's migraine and was fanservice at best.
Of course, you are welcome to enjoy those two Volumes, not my place to be the fun police, but for me? I write, and I knowing what I know, I can't stand the lazy and forced writing that seems to have to taken over the show.
Anyway, time to see what are the repercussions happen when the nine foot tall genetical enhanced machine worshipping super soldier gives a portable laser weapon the size of a regular pistol that can be charged with the literal power of the sun if need.
As always, I hope you all enjoy
Here we go...
"RUBY ROSE WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!"
Ruby jumped in surprise, Thorn's Light quickly snapping towards the sudden scream, before quickly gasping and aiming away from the shocked, confused and concerned expression of her white haired partner.
"Uh...hey Weiss?" Ruby's voice was small as Weiss slowly walked up to her, an complicated expression on her face as black wisps of smoke started to fade into the evening light. "W-What are you doing here?"
"W-What am I doing here?!" Weiss shouted, the heiress' voice tinged with shock. "WHAT is that!? That was no D-Dust round and I know you didn't have that yesterday!"
Shuffling her feet awkwardly, Ruby said nothing as Weiss came to a stop in front of her.
"Well...Techmarine gave it to me?" She confessed, uncertain how her partner would react.
"You did not actually steal something from the Techmarine." Weiss stated with a white face as she started to hyperventilate a little. "You actually did not steal something fro-"
"He did! I swear!" Ruby quickly exclaimed back, Thorn's Light hidden behind her back like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "He asked me to help him with something and after he offer to let me have, so long as I continued to be a real huntress."
Weiss' face was still white, but she seemed to calm down somewhat even if she continued to stare at her like she had grown another head.
"I'm honestly telling the truth, he was going to put it away but then he turned around and said I could have it." Ruby explained somewhat. Would Weiss understand the whole, machine spirit thing Techmarine had told her about?
In her hand, Thorn's Light continued to hum comfortingly with his still warm grip.
"What...What is that thing, Ruby?" Weiss whispered quietly. She watched Ruby's closely as she held the laspistol between them, safety on and finger off the trigger.
"He called it a laspistol." Ruby started to explain as her voice started to turn excited. "He wanted to see what he could do with the kind of our level of materials and he made this. Weiss, he said these kinds of weapons are the basic weapon the normal army back in his home used and they have batteries that can be charged through all kinds of ways, even the Sun!"
Weiss' wide eyes gazed down at the laser weapon, before she looked up at Ruby.
"You do realise this kind of thing could cause all kinds of trouble and dangers if someone stole it and figured out how to replicate it?" Weiss asked, to which Ruby pouted frustratedly.
"Duh...why do you think I came out here by myself? I'm fifteen, not five..." Ruby muttered quietly, though Weiss had the decency to give her an apologetic grimace.
"Sorry...I...this sort of thing could radically change technology as we know it Ruby. If that thing can charge from sunlight and can be replicated, it would completely invalidate the need for Dust..." Weiss muttered quietly as Ruby's own eyes went wide in sudden realisation.
Quickly, the red reaper agressively shook her head.
"I promise, I'm not giving to anyone Weiss." She promised honestly while Weiss seemed to look off in the direction of Beacon.
"Just what else can he make...?" The heiress asked herself rhetorically. "What kind of place did he come from..."
Ruby shrugged next to her.
"I'm sure he wouldn't try and ruin your family's buisness on purpose..." Ruby offered uncertainly even to her own ears.
Turning to face her, Weiss gave Ruby an intimedating start that sent a chill down her spine.
"We need to tell the Headmaster." Weiss declared, her voice giving no room for arguement that had made Ruby cave many times before.
Yet, argue Ruby did.
"Why? So he can confiscate it and keep it locked up and unable to be used to help people? So you don't have to worry about his machines taking over Dust?" Ruby question with a frown, surprise at her protectiveness running through her mind even as she continued to glare at Weiss, who stepped back with a hurt and shocked expression.
"Ruby I would never do that to you just for the sake of my family's buisness!" She shouted back, anger and pain hinting her voice enough that it caused Ruby to blink, before realising what she had just said.
The laspistol in her hand shook a moment, before Ruby realised that was actually her hand.
"Do you actually think that of me...?" Weiss whispered in sadness, as the heiress avoided Ruby's eyes.
With a burst of her semblence, Ruby quickly wrapped the heiress into a hug.
"OhmygodIamsosorryIshouldn'thavesaidthatwhydidIevensaythat?" Ruby's words were mashed into a rushed blur as she looked up at Weiss with wide, apologetic eyes.
When Weiss did not move or respond, Ruby felt her heart twist as in regret, before the white haired girl let out a small relieved sigh.
"I just wanted to make sure the headmaster was aware..." Weiss whispered quietly as she finally recipocated Ruby's hug. "I wouldn't try and force you to give it up even for him. You are my partner, we stick together."
Soon, the two pulled apart. Weiss' eyes had some wetness to it, but Ruby gave her a bright smile that had Weiss chuckle quietly.
"Come on, it's getting late, we need to head back soon." Weiss said as the two girls started to walk back towards Beacon.
Though even as they walked, Ruby could not help but wonder about the strange and sudden surge of protectiveness she had felt over Thorn's Light...
Three days before the Dance...
According to the reports that ran across the screen of the portable cogitator that had been gifted to Santus, the Astartes that had fought some of the most vile foes to ever pollute the galaxy could only think that yet again it seemed insurgent forces would never be taken seriously until they had either stepped too far too quickly, or until it was too late to stop them save for letting the wider community know they had fallen.
Santus frown in disappointment as he read through a report detailing the group's wider actions. Ruby Rose and her squadmates were wise to hunt down and eliminate a threat to global order and continued operations, especially since like many traitors before them, they were cunning enough to realise cutting off the planet's power systems to handicap this world's true defenders. However, it seemed as if these misguided, foolish abhumans were doing so not out of the tactical benefits but rather in response to some ridiculous notion called 'Labour laws'.
Such a thing was unheard of to the Techmarine, and he was unimpressed when he learned the major manufactorum of this world's Dust was claimed to be corrupt and self-serving, cutting corners that hampered the efficiency of their workers. It was no unusual thing for members of a world's workforce to die, production lines and schedules had to be met within the Imperium so that it could continue to stand, but these claims of sub-standard work conditions and worthless acts of cruelty by high ranking officers for mere amusement and thoughts of superiority over Faunus.
In truth, he could relate to these insurgents desire to rebel for their treatment. He had seen far too many world fall to madness by the actions of corrupt and selfish Planetary Governers that failed in their duty to the Emperor. Much like his own Brothers had been after Badab. But despite that, his thoughts regarding them were unchanged. A traitor to a world once would betray their kin again, it was merely a matter of time. As for this 'SDC', he had only one feeling.
It disgusted Santus.
Such a wasteful and problematic hierarchy should be stripped down and forced to undergo Servitude Imperpituis, and would have been already if this world was under Mechanicus oversight for their failures.
Curiously, however, it's seemed Weiss Schnee was in fact heiress to this worthless 'SDC'.
A potential vector of investigation for confirmation of this claims?
His musing were disturbed as the machine spirits within this humble forge whispered to him of Proctor Ozpin's arrival as the doors opened for the elderly man.
"Proctor Ozpin." Santus greeted simply. The man had his customary mug of heated beverage, though he cared not what the substance actual was.
"Techmarine, I hoping to speak with you briefly regarding our conversation with General Ironwood." Ozpin paused, taking a drink from his mug before continuing, "As well, I also wished to speak to you regarding that certain...item...that Miss Rose has recently come to possess."
Placing the cogitator on the workbench, he looked up at Ozpin with his augmented eyes that narrowed on the man.
"I presume you refer to her laspistol?" Santus questioned, though by his tone there was no mistaking he knew that was what the man was referring to as Ozpin nodded.
"Suffice to say, it is an extraordinary device, and if Miss Rose's recount is correct, you told her such weapons were commonplace within your homelands?" Ozpin inquired, his voice one seemingly of honest curiousity, if not for the battle-hardened instincts of an Astartes whispering to him that there was more to the man then simple curiousity.
So, Santus merely nodded.
"I see. I must say, but Miss Schnee seemed quite on the fence regarding it's most interesting detail." Ozpin continued as he casually walked up to the far larger Astartes as if he was merely another mortal like himself. "Have you had a chance to learn about the SDC?"
"I have. Your world's largest manufactorum of your Dust substance. I presume she was apprehensive regarding the potential of even a simple power pack for a laspistol?" Santus inquired, to which Ozpin nodded.
"Indeed. Such a device, even one so small, would inspire many to risk their lives to be able to produce their own." Ozpin explained as he looked down at Santus' cogitator. "The White Fang?"
Santus nodded, "Correct. As for the laspistol, it was the will of the Omnissiah that she was chosen to wield it." His tone brokered no arguement, and Ozpin was wise enough to nod in understanding.
"I see. I have informed both Miss Schnee and Miss Rose that her new sidearm should only be used in case of an emergency while they study at Beacon." Ozpin said informingly, "The last thing either of us should want is the masses of Remnant crying out for the designer that created it to be revealed or Jacque Schnee wishes to try and put pressure on Beacon to hand it over."
At this, Santus faced the old man with a contempteously stare.
"Are you to say you lack the strength to defend both your own stronghold as well as your position?" He questioned openly. The man seemed momentarily surprised by his bluntness, before he strangely decided chuckled quietly, as if he had heard a joke that he knew the answer to.
"While there are many that would enjoy seeing a new headmaster, I can assure I have more then enough ways to ensure such a thing does not happen." Ozpin answered with a cryptic smile, one that reminded him once more of Inquisitor Forthax. If not for the situtation, this man might have once been an Inquisitor with his cryptic nonsense and hints of latent control over many within power. "Though I must say, your choice of words reminds me of an old mistake of mine..."
Such words continued to raise his suspecions of the man.
"Regardless, I am sure Miss Rose will take great care with Thorn's Light, even if she has taken to holstering it where ever she goes. My, Bart had been quite frustrated when Miss Rose arrived to his lecture regarding the disarmament of Mantle after the Great War with a pistol holstered to her side." Ozpin offhandly mentioned to the Astartes, who presumed this, Bart, individual was a proctor within the schola.
However...
"Thorn's Light? Then the girl has already named her weapon?" He asked curiously as his inner tech-priest metaphorically leaned forward with interest. Though he had been told that it was custom to name one's weapons on this world, in the wider galaxy, such named weapons typically were artifacts with long and glorious histories, such as Phoros' own Glaive Encarmine and Catechist.
Perhaps Ruby Rose's Thorn's Light would one day be as vaunted an artifact as many others within the Imperium?
"Indeed. I heard she has added some decoration to it's frame as well, though of course as Headmaster, my time is often taken by work and I have yet to see it. Did she not show you yet?" Ozpin asked, despite the fact the man had never been present when Ruby Rose often join him while he underwent his holy work.
Santus shook his head however.
"She has not visited my forge in the last few days, though Jaune Arc and Nora Valkyrie did visit earlier today." Santus admitted. Clearly, the man was watching the halls of his forge district carefully.
Ozpin nodded as he looked back down at the cogitator with a curious expression.
"What do you make of White Fang?" He questioned the Astartes, who look down at the report visible on the screen with a scowl.
"Though I sympathise with their ideals, to betray one's own world for their own desires invites their own destruction. As for this 'SDC', while Weiss Schnee does seem to be an outlier if the reports are accurate, this 'company' would have already been made an example of for their direct contributions to the creation of this insurgency and a more efficient replacement would've been installed in it's place." Santus told the man, though he suspected Ozpin would not understand the purpose of Servitude Imperpituis. Even within the Imperium there were those that found the practise disturbing somehow.
As expected of the unaugmented, Ozpin clearly was disturbed, though it was curious he would seem so when he hadn't even mentioned turning them into Servitors.
"Your people would just...remove them from their position?" Ozpin asked in a quiet tone.
Santus nodded.
It was the most logical course.
"It is a rare day that a world in the Imperium succeeded in threatening the safety of the wider galaxy for the sake over averice, without paying for their crimes against mankind." He confirmed.
The schola's lead instructor narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the workbench, at the reports across the device's screen.
"I see." the man replied, before looking up at Santus once more. "My apologises, I appear to have forgotten to speak about what originally brought me here." He gave Santus an apologetic chuckle. "Forgive an old man for his lack of manners. I wanted to inform you that General Ironwood is arranging for a team of specialists to assist you in the repair of your...Thunderhawk, and shall be arriving just prior to the Vytal Festival for security's sake. Although, the General insisted on having one of his Atlesian Specialists come with them as their own protection. Is such an arrangement acceptable?"
Santus thought over the man's explanation for a moment, but could find no tactical flaws in the General's operation.
"His terms are acceptable. I shall use the time in between to further my expertise and knowledge with your technology. As for this, Atlesian Specialist, I presume they are some kind of elite unit within his forces?" The proctor nodded at Santus' question, who continued, "I can understand the desire to protect one's engineers from potential threats of harm. I myself am well used to such treatment."
"You are?" Ozpin asked in honest surprise, which made Santus smile briefly.
"My position is not one many have the calling for, while my brothers and I have...suffered terrible misfortunes that means that any of our brothers in positions of importance are of critical protection." Santus explained as his thoughts briefly drifted to lost brothers giving their lives for his, Emperor and Omnissiah preserve their souls.
He was given an understanding and sympathetic smile from the elderly man before him.
"Ever are those with the highest responsibilities are forced to watch others die around them." Ozpin seemingly quoted with a familiar smile that Santus had often seen on his own brothers thinking of past glories and tragedies, to which he could only nod in agreement. A peaceful moment of silence remained between the two men as they reflected on their roles in the deaths of others, before Ozpin finally spoke once more. "Well, I am sure James will be pleased to know you are more then understanding of his request. I'll inform him to organise his people, then I have to get back to organising the staff for the dance..." That last aspect was whispered quietly for Ozpin's own ears, though Santus' metahuman physiology was more then capable of hearing.
He smirked, "Indeed, I suppose us both have our own tasks to see to. If their are an issues regarding the girl's new sidearm, please inform me so I can see to the sanctity of the weapon."
The Head Proctor nodded in confirmation, before turning neatly on his heel and walked out of the forge.
"Wait, since when did you start walking around with a handgun?" Blake asked their team leader who was sat at the dorm's desk, despite the still lingering red blush of guilt that had been hanging over the girl since she and Yang had returned to their dorm. It had seemed the usually bombastic blonde had managed a moment of seriousness to get Blake out of her White Fang obsession, something Weiss would appreciate for the change of pace that it was.
However, Weiss was more focused on the shocked expressions on both Ruby and Yang's faces, as well as her own raised eyebrow at the normally attentive faunus.
"She has been wearing a holster to class for the last three days." Weiss deadpanned, before adding, "Professor Oobleck even demanded her explain why during his lecture only two days ago."
Blake looked at her with an equally shocked expression.
"Wait, is Ruby even allowed to do that?" Blake's sense of priorities seemed to question that first, even if it was perfectly valid.
Ruby nodded even as she gently patted her holstered gun as if comforting a child.
"Ozpin said I could since I got it from Techmarine. Even if nasty Blake didn't even want to see you..." The red head fifteen year old whispered strangely to the weapon, as if she expected it to respond somehow. Despite her surprising capabilities, it was times that this that reminded Weiss that her team leader was a fifteen year old hoplophiliac.
"Our illustrious team leader's fetishes aside," Weiss said despite Yang's laughter and Ruby's offended 'Hey!', "I assume the fact you only just noticed means that Yang has managed to talk some reason into you to take some rest?"
Blake had the self-decency enough to embarrassingly nod the heiress a yes.
"Annnnd she will be going to the dance." Yang added with a pleased smirk, as if she expected praise for her actions, though she continued, "Plus, I think I know someone that might wanna take her too."
"Sun?" Asked both Weiss and Blake with unimpressed stares. Even Ruby shrugged as Yang looked at her sister in hope.
"You guys are no fun, I swear." Yang muttered as she walked over and hopped into her bed, adopting a relaxing position. "So, wanna explain what it is Rubes?"
At her name being mentioned, Ruby looked up the amazing device she had been running a finger along the design on.
"Oh, yeah, Thorn's Light?" Ruby asked as she got up from the desk she had been seated at and drew the laser weapon.
The previously plain steel had been coated black and red, much like Ruby's own aesthetic, where the upper frame was the same red as her scythe while the handle had been textured and painted black. Along the frame were stylised thorns running up either side in bright gold, while on the top was her personal emblem entangled in more stylised thorns also in gold.
"Techmarine made it because he wanted to see if the quality of our materials could be used to make stuff he knew. I helped him make a little of it a few days ago and when he was going to just store it but then he gave it to me because he said the laspistol wanted me to use it!" Ruby cheered excitedly even if she kept her voice understandably quiet given the subject matter.
"Wait, laspistol?" Blake questioned with a confused frown. "What is that?"
Before Ruby could answer, Yang cut in with a smirk.
"Oh, you know, just a hand-held laser gun that apparently blows clean through Grimm and is used all the time where Techmarine is from." Yang explained as if it was just a little thing. Blake, understandably, turned to look at Weiss for an explanation.
"I saw Ruby do it." Weiss simply explained with a shrug as Blake looked at Ruby with a shocked expression.
Ruby giggled with slight embarrassment.
"You just trusted whatever he decided to give you might not be rigged to explode or track you?" Blake contiinued to question, though Ruby's peculiar over-protectiveness that had been popping up when people questioned the weapon was quickly to come to the forefront.
"Hey, I told you already, he was going to put it away but then he told me that Thorn's Light chose me." Ruby retorted with a stare and the start of a frown. "Maybe you don't get it but neither of us were going to use it until then."
Blake gave Ruby a perplexed look, but Yang just waved her off.
"Don't worry about it, Blake. Ruby's always like this with new weapons." Yang nonchalantly offered. Ruby gave her sister an annoyed look, but looked away as Blake just wandered over to the blonde. Weiss, seeing no reason not to, also walked over to her own bed to lie down and in no way listen in to Yang and Blake. "Yeah, she gets weird about her weapons. Likes to think of them like her kids I think, I've heard her call Crescent Rose her baby and a girl. Hell, I think I called that pistol a he the other day..."
The former terrorist just stared at Yang.
"And the fact he just gave her some kind of literal laser weapon apparently is fine?" She questioned.
Yang just shrugged. "I mean, she is being smart about it, and if Tech wanted to give it to her, I doubt he'd need a fifteen year old to do anything he couldn't, so unless something happens, I'm happy to let Ruby be happy."
Blake huffed frustratedly.
"And what about him? Some kind of religious nutjob that thinks guns have consciousness?" she continued, but Yang shrugged again. Once again, Blake looked to Weiss to be the voice of reason, and once again, she was disappointed.
"Did you know the battery that thing runs off can be charged by sunlight?" Weiss asked simply. Blake paused at Weiss' question, then her eyes widened slightly as the same realisation that had come to the Schnee heiress just a mere few days ago. "Something like that is just...unthinkable on Remnant. And here he is, using it to power a laser sidearm just as a test for product quality."
Weiss turned to face her teammate's gaze.
"As far as I am concerned, that man's knowledge is beyond anyone on the planet and is capable of making who knows what. He can be as strange and eccentric as he wants, because could we really stop him?"
A few hours before Beacon's Annual Dance...
"So tell me, why do I find the three of you here today?"
"Well, me and Ren are giving the girls a chance to get ready for the Dance. Ruby's just hiding from her team." Jaune Arc confessed honestly, though he did take a slightly embarrassed smile as he looked at Santus, who had been tuning his Omnissian Axe on a whim.
"And tell me, why would you be wishing to avoid your teammates?" Santus asked as he turned his gaze onto Ruby Rose, her laspistol holstered by her hip acceptably, though he spotted she had coated the weapon in paint, as well as etchings in gold.
How curious...
"They made me go and get a dress and heels to wear for the dance..." Ruby Rose uttered as if she had been told she had to charge into the Eye of Terror with nothing but an entrenching tool. Though, those Kriegers probably would have if order, his idle thought pushed aside as Ruby continued in a much more standard tone, "And I was hoping to show you Thorn's Light and maybe look after it for me during the dance?"
Santus nodded, though in truth he was curious to see what she had done to the humble laspistol. Though a competent, engineer, as this world put it, she was no was true servant of the Omnissiah. He gestured the trio to step forward while Ruby unholstered the now named laspistol to show the Techmarine. His inner artificer was critiquing every part of the etchings, though for the uninitiated, it was acceptably done. Running his fingers over the pistol as Ruby placed it down on the workbench, the machine spirit within spoke of contentness and satisfaction.
"The machine spirit is content, you have done well Ruby Rose, and as I requested." Santus praised the girl, who smiled widely up at him while the two men next to her gave the two of them confused looks. "Though I am curious, why the gold etching when your overall appearence is for darker tones?"
Ruby did not seem to have an immediate answer, as she blushed awkwardly for a moment in silence.
"Um...well...it just felt right?" The girl offered him, and while her companions seemed as confused as most, Santus nodded approvingly.
"Excellent. I am certain that Thorn's Light will aid you in combat well for your proper treatment of it." He said confidently to the girl, who perked up. "Though I must ask, why do you desire for me to hold your weapon during your...dance?"
"I mean, my team said I couldn't, and I doubt the headmaster will want me walking around with a holster on the whole time." Ruby explained glumly as Jaune sympathetically patted her shoulder.
"I presume due to fashion norms of this world? Have you considered a holster under your dress? I once had to design a specialised holster for Inquisitor Forthax's acolyte and I am sure I could replicate the feat." Santus offered, seeing no reason for the girl to be unable to have a weapon on hand.
The girl strangely blushed, while the two teen males gave him shocked expressions for a moment.
"I-I'm fine!" Ruby exclaimed with a forced laugh, "I-I-f you can just hold on to it, I'd appreciate it so I don't have to leave it alone in our dorm."
A reasonable precaution, though if she deemed this social event was safe enough to go unarmed, he would not question her judgement.
"If you deem so. Though if you require such a thing made for future events, I would be willing to aid you or any of your companions." He offered freely to the girl, who gave him an understanding smile, if still blushing for some reason unknown to the Techmarine.
The other man, Ren, seemed to look down at Ruby's laspistol for a moment.
He looked up at Santus with a questioning expression, "Ruby told us apparently the battery can be charged by sunlight. Is this true?"
Nodding, Santus withdrew the power pack of the laspistol before laying down on the table.
"In truth, any source of energy or heat could charge it, though sunlight is one of the most commonly available sources. If left near a reactor or forge, it would gather the off-set heat and store it as energy, simply put." Santus explained as he began examining the battery for damages.
Jaune looked over at the power pack with an impressed smile.
"Damn, that kind of thing could replace Dust entirely." He praised openly in respect to the power of the Omnissiah. "I'd love to have a laser gun."
"Unfortunately, I will no be replicating any weaponry for now, unless the Omnissiah deems otherwise." Santus warned the young man, who nodded, chastised and understanding.
Santus placed the pack down and reinserted it with Thorn's Light, which hummed with satisfaction.
"So, was there anything else you desired from me?" Santus asked again, but this time, Ruby shook head appreciatively.
"Nope, just need to suffer my old sister forcing me into heels." Ruby said cheerfully as she turned to leave, while the two boys moved to follow.
"I guess we'll just...go somewhere else now..." Jaune Arc muttered quietly to himself as the doors sealed behind him and Ren.
He could not help the small chuckle that echoed from his augmented throat even if it took on a slightly mechanical tinge. As he returned to working on his axe, despite his levity, the lack of outright threats and relative calm he had gotten after months trapped in the Warp at best, he felt a familiar pressure in the back of his mind, one that told him not all was as simple as he seemed...
Oh wait, Santus forgot to turn off the oven!
Anyway, Guest being up to his usual schtick, get logged in man, stop making me inflate my word count haha. As for Ruby, well, she doesn't know what is going on now does she? And the mechanicus is very protective of their secrets to the fleshy ones. As for Cinder? Well, I got plans, interesting plans.
Sorry for the delay, dealing with life and other assorted bullshit lol.
Any advice or criticism is always appreciate, A.D.