This chapter is pretty short, I won't lie. But I promise future chapters will be longer.
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Adjusting to a new life wasn't exactly what Geo and Omega-Xis had in mind when they forced ClockMan to send them home.
"Ah, welcome. Please take a seat."
They also did not expect to be taken to the top of a clock tower to meet with this Qrow person's boss, or for the fact that the drunk had turned into a crow and flew out the window once they arrived. Why is everything confusing always related to clocks and animals? Geo couldn't help but think as he sat down in one of the few chairs in the starkly decorated room. The older man across from him took a sip from his coffee mug, drawing Geo's attention.
"Qrow did inform me of the little information you had given him on your situation," he said, placing his mug down gently. "I must say, it is hard to surprise me, yet here we are."
"If you're surprised just based on that, I'll be sure to blow your socks off," Omega-Xis growled from his gauntlet form, ever the hothead. Geo laughed nervously.
"Sorry about him. He's always been a bit… excitable. Yeah, that's the best word for him," the young man joked, earning a resounding "piss off" from his AM-ian partner and a light chuckle from the still unnamed man.
The gray haired man must have realized his lack of introduction, as he spoke, "My apologies, I am Ozpin, the Headmaster of the academy we are currently overlooking from this tower," the newly named Headmaster said. "You must have questions for me, just as I have some for you. As a sign of good faith, please ask whatever you'd like. I shall answer to the best of my ability."
Geo looked at the man with a little suspicion; it wasn't everyday you get pulled into another world, forced to fight off a gang trying to rob you, and then dragged to some prestigious school by a man named after a bird. Then again, my life hasn't exactly been the 'everyday life' for most people. Determining that this Ozpin character seemed trustworthy enough, he asked his most pressing question.
"Why are your EM Wave Roads a mess?"
He could almost feel the deadpan stare from Mega.
Okay, maybe not the most pressing question, but still important, right?
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Geo sighed as he crashed onto his new allotted bed. Ozpin held true to his deal and answered all he could, and gave Geo some sort of transer-esque device called a Scroll. The man said it would be loaded with information that he'd find pertinent to existing in this new world.
"As much as it doesn't make sense, it totally makes sense," Mega said, taking form next to Geo. "A planet similar to Earth, with humans, no less. ClockMan's portal must've sent us pretty far- time and space wise," the alien grunted out, his pulsing gas-like arms folding as he spoke.
Geo rolled onto his back. "It's definitely not the weirdest thing we've been through, and certainly not the weirdest thing a MegaMan has been through," he said, recalling an incident from 20XX where his past counterpart had to deal with both demon programs and an alien life form that came to judge Earth. Pretty similar to Meteor G, now that I think about it. Shaking his head to clear that thought, he spoke again, "That being said, I'm not sure how much I like the idea of being stuck in a new world, let alone one with monstrous beings that hunt and kill humans regularly," he huffed.
Ozpin had been very kind and understanding, almost to a concerning degree. If Geo was still the paranoid little shit he used to be, he would've been spooked and ran at the first opportunity. Thankfully, he wasn't anymore, and he had time to think upon the offer he received from the man.
'With the questions out of the way, I have a proposal for you,' Ozpin smiled slightly. 'You seem capable in combat, and I just so happen to run a combat oriented academy. I also have major influence on any of the other academies if you'd rather study and learn elsewhere.'
It just all seemed too good to be true, and it probably was. Mega gave Geo a knowing look.
"He's definitely offering this in order to keep an eye on us. It wouldn't make any sense to let us out of his sight," the alien said gruffly. Geo nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I can imagine that'd be the case. I don't know about you, but I'd like to not be directly under his watch. He did mention other academies. Maybe there is one that handles tech a bit better than this one?"
"I like where your head is at. I'm all for that idea, it'll give us some more room to breathe," Mega stroked his imaginary beard. An idea popped in his head.
"You get some rest kid. I'm gonna explore this world's net. I'll fill you in on all the important shit when you wake up."
With that, Geo gave a lazy thumbs up before passing out on the cheap dorm room bed. Tomorrow will be an interesting day.
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"Oz, you sure this is a good idea? You saw what they could do- what that ghost-dog-glowstick thing could do," Qrow asked, leaning against the window he just flew in from.
"If I am to be honest, Qrow, I'm not sure. I am not at all sure that this is a good idea," Ozpin turned his head to look up at the younger-ish man. "But, he most certainly isn't one of the Queen's. The boy is too honest, certainly cannot lie to save his life."
Qrow took a sip from his nearly empty flask. "Yeah, I guess that's true. Poor kid seems to have a good heart, shame he got sent to this shithole of a planet of all places," he finished his flask. "That is, if his story's true. And the fact we got Gods and curses of immortality, I'm down to believe in aliens."
"Yes," Ozpin nodded, "It does help that we've seen said alien. Let us hope they may flourish under Beacon's tutelage."
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"We believe it'd be best to study at Atlas."
"I see," Ozpin did not, in fact, see. He wholeheartedly expected the human-alien duo to stay at Beacon due to the fact they were already there. Hell, Geo was wearing the provided uniform! Not that he had any other clean clothes to throw on, but still!
"It's really only because of their tech. No offense, Ozpin, but they just have more of what we'd be interested in," Geo explained. More of what I'm used to. Ozpin nodded his head slightly with a sigh.
"I have to make a call. I wish you the best of luck with Atlas," he rubbed his temples. "Though, I do request that you return that uniform."
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In all seriousness, I hate having to set up the main story like this. It feels like a slog, and I have no idea if it even reads all that well. I'm hoping that once the actual plot starts, the chapters will be longer and feel more cohesive.
As for the Atlas stuff: I may or may not be re-reading Couer's Second Choice story. I find the militaristic and heavily technological society of Atlas to be perfect for Geo and Mega, given their homeland of a futuristic Japan. The team structure is still kinda undecided. As much as I love Jackpot from Second Choice, I'm kinda missing the J to make it exist.
Also Couer made me like Ciel. I don't know how that was possible, but yeah. She's gonna be up there in terms of importance. Idk about romance, cuz it just feels awkward to write now, but we'll see.
Anyway, feel free to review. I'll have more time to write this fall, so we may even get weekly chapters if I can help it.