Cinder was silent after Mercury reported everything he had on Team JNPR. Taking a step back, he hummed to himself, waiting for his boss to get her thoughts in order. Ignoring Emerald's sharp glare. Even when she jabbed her elbow into his ribs, he didn't do anything expect rise an eyebrow at her. Not paying her any more attention than he needed.
Emerald was useful to Cinder, she was the third best combatant on their 'team,' but he personally saw no need for her. Whatever her semblance did, he could do better. Part of him was willing to bet that one of the reasons Cinder kept her around was for having someone singing her praises every opportunity she got. Mercury wouldn't put it past her. Ever since he was recruited at gunpoint, he had always thought Cinder was as vain as she was arrogant.
"And pray tell Mercury, why have I not been informed of this vital piece of information earlier?" Cinder asked, amber eyes burning into his skin.
"I was digging into Arc." He answered nonchalantly. "From what I have gathered, I can't tell if his ability to interrupt, or dispel, semblances was a one-time thing, or if he is just keeping his cards close to his chest with the tournament nearing. I have gone through all the combat footage available for students, and besides the obvious activations of semblances, the only hint I have for that he can see semblances, or their activation at least is that he seemingly 'knows' where that Belladonna girl will appear before she even activists her semblance. I can look deeper, I'm sure I can push those Vacuoan girls towards Team JNPR. Unfortunately, I can't say if they will use their semblances."
"Mare sure that they do." Cinder answered snappily. "If you can stroke the fires without overstepping, then do so."
Giving a nonchalant nod, he had to do his best not to smirk over at Em. Something that became impossible as Cinder gave her a disappointed glare. All the fire in her chest instantly puttering out, Em looking more like a wet dog than any dog faunus out there.
"You are lucky that Arc is too much a goody-two-shoes to report that Ironwood was under the influence of your semblance." Cinder hissed, fire sprouting from her left eye as the heat turned up inside the dorm room. "Your little stunt could have brought undue attention down onto us. Make sure it doesn't happen again."
"What about the tournament?" Emerald asked, almost whimpering under Cinder's harsh stare.
"We will stick to the plan. Arc haven't said anything, as such it's safe to assume he saw it as a prank. He won't interfere unless he notices or finds a reason to." Cinder said.
"Torchwick's little tag along will be compromised." Mercury shrugged nonchalantly. "Arc is too proper to let a clear criminal walk around. And…"
"I will think of something." Cinder replied quickly. Shotting him down before he could even finish his sentence. Rolling his eyes, he leaned against the wall.
"Can't we just… give them wrong info, or sabotage their assignment?" Emerald asked. Saying the most sense he had heard her ever speak.
"No." Cinder shut down immediately. "Team JNPR's assignment is personally picked by the headmaster. We can't directly interfere without drawing suspicion." Amber eyes darting between him and Emerald, Cinder continued. "Keep your heads down, do as you are told, and Beacon will fall, and then the Fall maidens power will be mine. Don't do anything stupid."
###
"Are you sure you know where we are going sis, because I don't know about you, but I think we have walked up and down this corridor multiple times." Yang ribbed good naturally.
"Heh." Ruby chuckled weakly, not needing to look over her shoulder to know that Weiss was preparing a cutting remark. Some something-something waste of time, if Ruby were to guess. "Well… It's… I-" Ruby stammered, trying to find the correct words but always finding herself short. "I may have overheard something I shouldn't have." She settled safely on, not wanting to push Pyrrha under the buss that was Yang's incessant drive for juicy drama.
"Something between Pyrrfection and VB?" Yang instantly replied with a teasing smirk.
"What Ruby overheard is none of your concern Yang." Weiss instantly came to her defence. Making Ruby beam at her partner. "It is, frankly, none of your business. Or our business for that matter."
"As if you aren't just the tiniest bit curios, snow angel." Yang quipped with a teasing smirk.
"Oh I am." Weiss replied quickly, ignoring the teasing smirk her sister sent her. "But I am of the opinion that whatever happened between them isn't something we, as their friends, should stick our noses into. If they want to come out, announce their relationship, or the lack thereof. That is their choice, and it will remain their choice."
"Why am I here again?" Blake sighed from the back. Slouching forward as she held up the rear of their little group.
"Because you need more social interaction than just us, and reading all your little porn books can't be healthy for you." Yang replied, ignoring the tired stare Blake sent her. "And who said anything about relationships, Snow angel?"
Before Ruby could sigh in relief, her sisters sharp lilac eyes returned onto her. "But come on sis, what you heard can't be so bad that you don't want to meet them. Wasn't it you who said we should go and check out their new dorm?"
'Not that bad.' Ruby huffed, silencing the retort on her tongue. 'Yang, if finding out your best friend is steadily losing memories. To the degree that they can't be sure if they one day will wake up forgetting the girl they were dating. Then I don't want to know what is bad.'
Keeping her thoughts to herself, a sigh escaped Ruby. Sending a grumpy look at her sister, another sigh escaped her. "Fine, fine. It should be around here. Their room number is four hundred and four."
Yang nodded, another teasing quip on her tongue, only to be silenced by a familiar voice.
"Friend Ruby! Salutions, to think we would meet here! What joyous coincidence." Penny announced, skipping towards them with a beaming smile as she waved.
"Penny!" Ruby beamed, glomping onto her friend. Rose petals scattering behind her as she almost barrelled down Penny. Penny catching her in just an as crushing hug. Her infectious grin going from ear to ear.
"I have missed you, friend Ruby." Penny smiled at her. Matching her own smile.
"I have missed you to, Penny." Ruby smiled, her smile growing just a tad bit strained as the hug went on. "But please let me go now."
"But don't friends hug each other when reuniting?" Penny asked with a tilted head. Confusion shining in her lime green eyes. Making Ruby blink, having almost forgotten how socially inept Penny was in her glee at seeing her friend again.
"They do." Ruby smiled with a nod. "But a hug can grow stale, or awkward, if held too long. I think."
Penny nodded at her, eyes flashing before her smile return full force. "Then next time I will strive to hug you only the ten seconds required."
"That wasn't what I meant." Ruby muttered, only for her voice to be drowned out as her sister called out over her. "Ey, Penny right? Where have you been? Heard from Ruby what you did at the dock. Cutting a bullhead straight through mid-flight? Rad as hell. Wanted to pay you back for helping my sister and partner."
"The General requested that I shouldn't leave his ship for a period of time." Penny replied simply. "He has allowed me to go visit my friend. So that is what I did." Putting her hands on her hips, Penny turned her head towards Ruby. "But friend Ruby. It was difficult finding where you were since you weren't in your school sanctioned resting place."
"We're checking out Jaune and co's new dorm." Yang answered peppily for her. Another huff escaping Ruby as Yang looked down on her, lilac eyes darting between the two of them before she so maturely pointed subtly over at Penny and gestured a circle beside her head.
"Yang. You can't refer to Ren, Nora, Pyrrha, and Violet as co in polite company." Weiss sighed heavily, giving her sister a tired look. Having grown used to Yang's nonsense after constant exposure.
"Oh, lay of it Weisscream." Yang huffed with a roll of her eyes. "There is a place for proper etiquette and decorum, but I don't much care."
"Maybe if you had cared, you would have gotten a date for the dance." Weiss quipped. A self-satisfied smirk on her lips as Yang gave herself whiplash. Golden hair flying as she snapped a glare at the petite girl.
"Your team is certainly colourful, friend Ruby." Penny said softly. Electing a longsuffering groan from Ruby. "Don't I know it. They are arguing like cats and dogs constantly."
Grabbing Penny by the hand, Ruby skipped the hallway with a smile, part of her almost wishing her sister and partner hadn't noticed how she tried sneaking away. 'I need to ask Blake how she does it.' Ruby thought, Team RWBY's black haired ninja nowhere to be seen. Having long since snuck away.
"Where are we going, friend Ruby?" Penny asked with a smile, skipping with her.
"To check out Team JNPR's new dorm." Ruby smiled, the gloomy thoughts from moments ago nowhere to be seen. "Jaune told me he had materialized another girl, so the headmaster saw it fit for them to move dorms. The dorms are already cramped with four, I can't begin to imagine how small it would be for six people."
Slowing down, Penny sent her an unsure smile. Parts nervous, parts exited. "Do… do you think Jaune will also want to be my friend?" Penny asked nervously. "I don't think your sister and partner want to be my friends."
"I'm sure Jaune would love to be your friend, Penny." Ruby smiled. "Just, promise me to be careful when we meet them. Violet, Jaune's first apprentice was extremely skittish. She still is, but her first reaction when she felt threatened, or surprised, or both, was pulling out her pistol and firing a shot. So please, no overly sudden movements."
"Are they small animals?" Penny asked, getting a grinning nod from Ruby. "Yes, almost. Treat them as you would treat a small and scared animal. Be patient, you can introduce yourself of course, by let them come to you. Don't come off as threatening and before you know it, they will open up to you."
Having said her piece, Ruby took a deep breath before knocking on their door. "I'm coming!" A familiar voice called out, the faucet turned on, and not before long a smiling Jaune opened the door at them. Dressed in a 'kiss the cook' apron, he smiled at them, deep blue eyes shining at her.
"Hello Jaune." Ruby grinned, trying to look over his shoulder and see what he had been cocking. Glancing into the larger studio apartment to see a girl with blue eyes and golden hair turn to towards her. A sceptical frown on her face as she shifted before Violet, the little darling standing by the kitchen counter on a little stool. Sending a shifty gaze towards Jaune as she looked down into the wok pan. The girl who could only be Violet's older sister quickly meeting her gaze, turning to see Violet and whispering into her ear. Earning herself a pout from what could only be her sister.
"I hope you don't mind that I invited Penny?" Ruby asked, smile falling as she did her best not to cringe under his stare. Instantly what she heard on that balcony came crashing to the forefront of her mind. Barely able to catch her question.
"Salutions, friend Jaune." Penny greeted with her usual enthusiasm. A hesitancy creeping into her voice as she looked up at Jaune. "Ruby said that you wouldn't mind being my friend. Do you want to be my friend?"
Jaune looked at Penny, a softness creeping into his expression as he sighed. "Of course I would love to be your friend, Penny." He said, the edges of his lips quirking up into a soft smile.
"Sensational!" Penny grinned, rushing at Jaune and throwing her arms around him. "You are very big, friend Jaune." Penny exclaimed in glee. "I almost can't wrap my arms around you like I can friend Ruby." Closing her eyes, Penny laid her head against his chest. Smiling softly. "You are also warm. So very very warm."
Jaune chuckled, clapping her good naturally on the back. Making Ruby sigh heavily in relief that Jaune didn't seem to mind Penny's Pennyness.
"Come in, but please don't touch anything at the kitchen counter, or any knives for that matter." Jaune smiled. "Let me just clean up after us, and I will come with refreshments."
Following Jaune into the room, Ruby's eyes darted all around, taking in all she could. It was bigger than their standard dorm, which was the point of the move, but even after having moved in yesterday, it still felt lived in. A bed leaned up against a wall with the frame out, multiple throwing knives littering it's back. They had moved their bunkbeds into the dorm, having a little corner of to the side where they slept. Ren was over to the side on a yoga mat, moving with a slowness that made her feel tired as he worked his way through a set. Only giving them a little nod before focusing back on the task at hand. Nora looked more dead than alive, slumped over a coffee table, papers and books on old shamanistic practices littering it. Pyrrha was missing, but with what she knew about the girl she was probably out training.
"Violet, Aurora. We have guests. Please go and wash your hands." Jaune called out gently. Aurora, the elder of the two, took her sister by the hand and moved towards the bathroom. Making sure to never turn her back to them. Jaune subtly stepping to the side and Aurora darter to his side, sending them cautious glares the entire way over to the bathroom.
"Please, sit wherever you want. Let me just get this cleaned up first." Jaune said, not at all acting surprised at Aurora's behaviour. Lowering the heat on the gas burner stove, he stirred it a little, before letting it settle. Beginning to thoroughly wash the knives and cutting boards. Waving his hand over the stumps and greenery, making them disappear like a magician.
"What were you making, friend Jaune?" Penny asked, sitting down by the table. Grinning from ear to ear. Her lime green eyes darting around curiously.
"We were making poison." Jaune replied nonchalantly. "A paralytic toxin to be exact. Please don't touch the knives, or anything with a light sheen of dirty purple. It's nothing lethal, and neither is it long lasting. However it is extremely quick acting. Should you be unfortunate to orally ingest it or cut yourself on one of the poisoned throwing knives, I do have antidotes."
"And pray tell, why were you making poison?" Weiss asked with a pointed brow, making sure to take the long way around over to the kitchen table. Icy blue eyes darting between the table where she and Penny sat and between the coffee table where Nora groaned like the dead. A sigh escaping her as she sat down beside Ruby.
"Pff, nice try Vomit Boy. Who even uses poison anymore? It's out of date. And maybe illegal. Probably illegal." Yang snorted, rolling her eyes at Jaune. Twirling one of the throwing daggers in her hand. "Tsk." Yang hissed as the knife edge bit into her finger. Freezing as all her muscles locked up.
Three sets of eyes blinked rapidly, everyone turning to stare at Jaune as he stared dumbly at Yang. "Is your head just for decoration?" He mumbled dumbfoundedly, before shrugging and going back to cleaning. Whistling a jaunty tune as he continued cleaning.
"Shouldn't you do something, Jaune?" Weiss asked, nodding towards where Yang stood frozen. "Give her the antidotes maybe?"
"No. No I don't think I will." Jaune replied curtly. "Yang knows what she did." He continued when he saw their incredulous expressions. "And I gave ample warning. If she can't even follow simple instructions, she deserves to be poisoned. Not to mention it won't last longer than ten minutes. Five minutes tops before the full-on muscle lock slackens. She is going to feel like she went ten rounds with Pyrrha, but that's it. As I said, its nothing lethal unless she were to drink a glass of the stuff."
"But Jaune, poison, why are you using poison?" Ruby asked, staring at her friend for answers.
"Well, for one it isn't called the great equaliser without reason. Ask Yang over there if she can bring out her aura." Jaune said, looking over his shoulder at them. A sharp smile on his lips as he looked at Yang. Lilac eyes burned red; her hair was completely alight. But she still coulndt move. The familiar telltale sign of her using her semblance all there, but Ruby coulndt see the shimmer of aura anywhere. Even as her hair blazed wildly, beads of sweat raced down the nape of her neck.
With disturbingly familiar ease, Jaune plucked the throwing knives out from Auroa's fingers. The girls having returned from the bathroom as they talked. Placing the poisoned throwing knives in one of his vest's many pockets, he finished cleaning up. Making sure that there was no poison residue on anything.
"But it's mostly to give Auroa's throwing knives some extra oomph for the coming assignment." Jaune replied. "Poison is the quickest way to give her something that allows her to stand on her own two legs. We don't have time for physical conditioning, and she shouldn't have to use aura each time she fires a pistol."
"That makes sense, I think." Ruby mumbled, nodding, tilting her head to the side and looking at the girl in question.
Aurora was dressed in an old timely dress that reached all the way down to her ankles. It looked almost directly out from some old history textbook. Compared to Violet, who also orbited around Jaune, it was clear as day to Ruby that they did so due to different reasons. Violet was staring curiously at Penny, her blue eyes darting rapidly between Jaune, her sister, and the girl in question. Who for her sake gave Violet a little wave. Caution and distrust were the only thing she could see in Auroa's eyes. Even when Pyrrha opened the door, her cheeks rosy and sweat trailing down her cheeks. Aurora gave her the same look as she did them.
However, if there was one thing that stood out the most to Ruby, besides Aurora's obvious hostility, it was how thin she was. She could almost count her ribs trough her dress. The only reason she didn't sweat as she followed Jaune around the kitchen as a lost ducking was because Ruby was certain that she simply coulndt sweat. Which gave credence to why a type of tiredness never left her eyes.
"Friend Jaune, is it not irresponsible to bring your apprentices with you on your teams oncoming assignments?" Penny asked curiously.
"The headmaster has informed me that they will add an invisible clause to our assignment, safely protecting civilians trough dangerous territories, since neither Aurora nor Violet can be further than twenty meters from me." Jaune answered.
"I'm not weak." Violet grumbled, Jaune instantly drying his hands and turning around. Swiping her up into a hug as Violet tried to hold a pout. "I never said you were, princess. However, neither you nor your sister are at a level where I or any of our team will feel comfortable with letting you out of our sights."
Ruby cooed as Jaune acted just like her dad. Lifting Violet up on his shoulders and placing a gentle hand on Aurora's shoulder. The girl relaxing at his touch. Her hostility didn't leave her, but she breathed easier. Metal still glinted in her apron's pocket, metal clinking when she moved around. However her fingers weren't nervously playing with her apron's pocket anymore.
Looking over at her friends, Ruby saw the quiet longing for something that never had been hers in Weiss's eyes. Beautiful crystal blue eyes shining in envy at Violet, before she snapped out of it. Her cheeks turning rosy. Penny on the other hand just looked lost. Something indescribable shining in her eyes together with confusion and loss.
"It's good to hear that the headmaster isn't going to throw your team under the buss. Do you think this will be affecting your grades?" Weiss asked, coughing into her hand as Jaune came around. Aurora hiding behind Jaune, acting as if they carried some disease or plague.
"To be frank, I don't much care about my grades right now." Jaune shrugged. Eliciting a giggle from Violet as she bounced up and down on his shoulders. "I'm simply going to do my best, be it as a leader, or to raise Violet and Aurora properly. No one can ask more than that."
"I for one, think you are doing great at both accounts." Pyrrha smiled, coming out from the bathroom after what could only be describes as a bird bath. Leaving Ruby gaping. She didn't know someone could spend so little time in the shower. Yang used all the warm water, Weiss had twenty different soaps and shampoos, and she wasn't sure what Blake did, but it involved hissing.
'Why coulndt my team just be normal.' Ruby thought with a whine. Blatantly ignoring how Aurora was reaching for her apron's knives again.
"I h-a… ~sss r..a~v… a ge." Yang slurred out trough gritted teeth. Moving as in slow motion as she forced herself to try and move. Planting herself face first into the floor as her body didn't obey her.
Instantly Ruby was beside her, setting her down in a chair. Her earlier hesitancy gone now that she knew the poison wasn't contagious. Yang's hair puttering out into gold as lilac returned to her eyes.
"Ha. Good luck with that." Nora quipped, looking up from her own homework with eyes twinkling in mirth. "You are going to feel like you are walking on pins and needles until tomorrow at least. And it's frankly your fault for having worse impulse control than me. I for one at least asked Jaune what was going to happen before licking a knife."
"Yang, I would have happily given you the antidote if you hadn't given Violet a spiked drink." Jaune answered plainly, heat creeping into his voice.
"Yang!" Ruby glared at her sister. Who for her part didn't show anything on her face, on account of being poisoned.
"While I agree that Yang shouldn't have given a minor alcohol. Leaving her poisoned does seem a bit excessive." Weiss pointed out. Electing an understanding nod from Jaune. "I hear your advice, but I'm choosing to ignore it. Who wants to bake some cookies."
"Jaune, you can't just change the subject like that." Ruby sighed. But her usually mature friend blatantly ignored her. Walking back into the kitchen area with Violet, Aurora and Penny following him like lost ducklings. Taking out pots and pans before opening a drawer and taking out baking chocolate and flour followed by butter and sugar.
"Jaune." Ruby sighed tiredly. Wondering what her life had came to when she was suddenly made to be the mature one.
####
"How was your day, Penny?" General Ironwood asked with the hint of a smile. Project P.E.N.N.Y had so far been a great success. Unfortunately there were still many of the military's upper echelon that only saw Penny as a killer robot meant to infiltrate and slaughter Atlas's enemies and not as the sweet girl she had proven herself to be. 'Maybe that Arc boy's semblance can sway their minds. The Gascoigne's are technically Penny's cousins in that they aren't 'natural' lifeforms.'
"My day have been a cool sixteen degrees Celsius outside, and standard Valean room temperature inside Beacon proper." Penny replied with a smile on her face. Electing a fond but exasperated smile from Specialist Schnee of to the side.
"It is a saying, Penny." Specialist Schnee pointed out helpfully with a fond little smile. "Asking someone 'how their day were' is the equivalent of asking someone 'what have you been doing today'."
"Then you should simply have asked, General." Penny replied curtly. "But I visited friend Ruby's sanctioned dorm at exactly twelve-fifteen."
"This isn't a report, Penny." General Ironwood smiled gently. "Please speak freely."
Nodding unsurely, Penny continued. "When I didn't find friend Ruby or her team in their dorm, I began wandering Beacon's hallways in hope of stumbling onto them. Stumbling onto them in building five, as they were on their way to visit friend Jaune and his team in their new dorm. I was introduced to the miracle of fatherhood, Ruby's sister Yang's inability to listen to orders and advice as she got herself poisoned, and I had an absolutely terrific time as we made some chocolate chip cookies. It was great fun."
"Excuse me, poisoned?" Specialist Schnee asked carefully. Mirroring his own surprise.
"Yes. Friend Jaune was creating a paralytic agent for his daughter-apprentice Aurora, as to give her an edge on the coming assignment." Penny answered with a nod. "From my preliminary observations, Aurora is dangerously malnourished. When I took it up with friend Jaune, he informed me that they were aware of the fact and were making sure she got both calorie rich foods together with multiple vitamin capsules. Unfortunately, Aurora will be unable to put on a healthy amount of fat and muscle before their assignment. They are aware of it, but friend Jaune have made it abruptly clear that they see Aurora's long-term health as more important than the assignment."
"But still. Poison, Penny, poison." Specialist Schnee replied with growing frustration.
"Friend Jaune made sure the kitchen was clean of any poison residue and other containments before we started baking." Penny answered. "Neither allowed he anyone expect himself and his apprentice-daughter's, who for their part never touched anything, to be in the kitchen when the wok with poison was still on the fire. After the poison had turned into a sludge, while it is still effective, it was effectively and easily contained in the fridge."
"What Specialist Schnee is more worried about is the existence of poison in first place." General Ironwood clarified. Electing a short nod from his temporary right hand.
"Why? Friend Jaune followed all steps of standardised lab safety when it comes to handling hazardous material. Neither is there any Valean or international law that out right outlaws the use of poison in a huntsman or huntresses arsenal." Penny replied quickly. Tilting her head at him, not understanding Specialist Schnee's concerns.
Not that he didn't understand where both of them were coming from. Specialist Schnee saw Penny as girl first android second. While it was something that he was thankful for, it also made it hard for her to remember that Penny ran on cold, calculated logic first and foremost. While Penny had shown herself capable of emoting emotions, she wasn't capable of feeling. From her perspective her friend had done nothing wrong as he was within his rights to do so. While Specialist Schnee saw an untrained, unskilled, person play with dangerous substances.
'Such a shame that a machine will always be a machine, even if she has a soul.' General Ironwood sighed internally. "I will be taking this matter up with Headmaster Ozpin on our next meeting. With most of the students out on assignments, it would give us an easier time to search their dorms. Everything confiscated will of course be given to the Headmaster and he will decide what actions to take from there. Remember, this is Vale, not Atlas. We are guests."
While he preferred to give his students the benefit of the doubt, Atlas Academy held routine room inspections for the sake of discipline. He and his teachers were well aware of who and what was smuggled into the Academy. However, he would pretend to look the other way unless they were caught with something dangerous. He ran a school, not a prison, not to mention his students were young adults. No matter how well disciplined, they needed freedom. There were also that the incentive of a room inspection helped knit teams together. After all, when the entire team would be punished together it incentivised not brining in more than they could handle, or something overly harmful.
He was aware that Ozpin ran his school freer than him, but Beacon also had room inspections.
But the primary reason he wanted to push for room inspections was the simple reason that the silence unnerved him. Qrow's message lit a fire under his seat. While the Vytal festival was probably one of the safest events in modern time, only one thing needed to go wrong before everything spiralled out of control.
A random room inspection, which would likely catch nothing, was a great first move to give them some momentum of their own. He doubted posturing would unnerve Salem's agents; however Atlas being seen as Vale's militant, but helpful allies would go far to settle what little friction he had noticed between his soldiers and distrustful Valeeans.
"Penny, Specialis Schnee, you are both dismissed." General Ironwood replied evenly, moving his gaze down to the stack of paperwork by his side. As General, he had the power to change things. Unfortunately he also had the last say in a lot of things. Doing his best not to sigh as it was unbecoming of someone of his station, he grabbed his pen and began reading trough the first of many forms.
"Is there a reason you have not left, Penny?" He asked, putting down his pen and looking up at Penny. Quirking a brow as he saw genuine nervousness in Penny. 'It seems I must retake my previous statement; Penny is able to feel emotion. Or she has become the world's greatest actor.'
Opening her stomach like it was a door, Penny pulled out a warm paper bag from inside herself before closing it again. "Friend Ruby said that chocolate chips cookies are for friends and those who care for you. So I asked friend Jaune if he could give me a paper bag. Would you like a cookie, sir?"
"I would love one." General Ironwood answered with a kind smile, reaching into the paper bag and pulling a still warm chocolate chip cookie out. Knowing that Penny was incapable of giving him something poisonous, he bit into it. Chuckling to himself as he imagined all the faces of the military's staunch traditionalists if they were to find out Atlas's top-secret android was finding an interest in baking.
"These are great, Penny." He said sincerely, smiling at Penny. The synthetic skin around her cheeks almost tearing as she smiled from ear to ear.
"I'm glad you liked them General." Penny smiled, skipping out of his office with a beaming smile. Taking another cookie, General Ironwood turned his attention back to the forms before him. Frowning slightly to himself as he went back to work.
#####
"What are you doing?" Violet heard her sister ask, looking up from the work to see the tired eyes of her sister stare judgementally down on her. Another badly hidden yawn escaping as Aurora looked over the ritual circle ma- her father had asked her to write.
The first ritual she had held had been a success. She just knew it in her guts. That she woke up in cold sweat or that she felt bits and pieces of a headache every time she saw the doll was nonconsequential. She had performed magic. She had made her dad proud. Her dad had praised her. She remembered the pride twinkling in his eyes. There was nothing she wouldn't do for him to look at her like that again. She still felt butterflies in her stomach, and a gentle warmth washing away all the bad thoughts whenever she was near her dad. She would make him proud. And if she had to deal with her sisters judgmental stares, then she would.
"Father asked me to work on my ritual circles." Violet replied crisply.
"The hunter isn't our father, Violet." Aurora sighed, sitting down beside her as she looked over what she was doing. "And why are you doodling silly circles when you should be reading up on either flora or beasts? Come, read with me."
"But!" Violet protested, but Aurora wouldn't hear it. Closing her journal and placing down her pens as she lifted a large tome onto her work desk. Breaking it open and revealing the picture of a plant. Notes upon notes littered the sides of the book, and she eagerly scoured the sides to see if she could find her fathers handwriting anywhere. For a man not of the cloth or the aristocracy he had beautiful penmanship.
Pouting when she didn't see it anywhere, she huffed and crossed her arms. Ignoring how her sister rolled her eyes at her. Instead Auror began to loudly read. "The common ragwort, not to be confused with yellow daisies, is capable of causing severe illness, even proving fatal in a few instances, should it be orally ingested. The seeds of the plant can be crushed and boiled to produce a mild poisonous gas that will lead to spasms and temporary paralysis. The roots can be harvested, sun backed, crushed, boiled, and made into paste to be smeared on any aspiring hunters weapon. Due to the potency of the poison, this hunter recommends that a smaller but lighter bladed weapon be used in conjunction with this paste. As should enough enter a beasts bloodstream, it will lead to temporary increased aggressiveness before the beasts heart gives out. However use at your own risk. If there is no other alternative, eating the head of a single ragwort can serve as a temporary painkiller in a pinch. The ragwort grows in-"
Violet had to fight to stay awake as her sister droned on. Poison was interesting, Violet was sure her father knew this tome from one end to another, so she would strive to do the same. However poison seemed so inconsequential to the raw potential blood magic held.
It could heal, harm, see the future, control the minds of lesser men, even trick death. There was nothing blood magic coulndt do.
It wasn't poison that made her sister capable of drawing breath. Aurora hid another yawn behind her hand, turning the page and continued reading aloud. Even if her father had performed a miracle, regrowing her sisters lower organs, Violet wasn't blind to the tiredness that clung to her sister constantly. She could eat with them now; Violet would never forget how her sister lit up after eating her first cookie. However the tiredness never escaped her.
With another yawn, her sister leaned back into her chair. "I… I think I'm going to rest my eyes for a little while." Another yawn escaped her sister. "I constantly find myself exhausted by all the energy the hunter surrounds himself with. And I must admit that my ears still ring after the insistent whine of the red cloaked girls voice."
"Ruby isn't that bad." Violet felt the need to chime in. Even if she had to do her best not to cringe. Ruby's voice took a bit getting used to. Violet could clearly remember covering her ears every time Ruby was around and she saw something interesting. But she had grown used to it. Just like she had grown used to Aunt Nora's never-ending energy.
"Uncouth and lacking manners is what she is." Aurora snapped back. "So is that outlaw of a sister she has. Can you believe that they even are sisters? They look nothing alike. It would not surprise me if she or her sister was born out of wedlock. And they go around openly sharing such same. Shameless is what they are."
Violet was almost waiting for another tirade to escape her sister, instead she yawned for the nth time since waking up in the workshop. "Stay with me, please." Her sister whispered as she leaned back into her chair, wrapping her dad's coat around herself.
It wasn't long before the only sounds in the workshop was the sound of her sisters breathing and the crackling of the hearth. Waiting a little bit longer, Violet snuck out from her chair. Leaving her sister alone in the workshop as she grabbed her journal, pistol and saw-cleaver and stepped down the stairs.
Coming up short as she looked between the different headstones.
"The Kind Hunter woke up in the abandoned workshop. However I do not recommend interrupting him right now. He is performing delicate ritual work." The Doll said from behind her helpfully. Sending Violet's heartrate spiking as she quickly turned around. Heart hammering in her chest so hard it hurt.
"What do you mean?" Violet asked. Doing her best to channel even a hint of her fathers calmness, trying to sound more in control than she felt. Having to fight a pout as the Doll smiled at her.
"The hunter is holding a ritual for himself, as he did for you not so long ago." The Doll said, bringing Violet's attention to her bone white hair.
"He is not holding the same ritual. So he will not be returning with a head of white." The Doll's gentle laughter sounded more teasing than it did helpful in her ears. "However just like the ritual that turned your hair the colour of snow, should he be interrupted while performing this ritual, not even the dream would be able to help him."
Ice raced down her spine as Violet looked at the Doll in abject terror. Not understanding how the Dream coulndt help her dad. Violet would admit to not knowing much about the dream. But how could someone that could allow them to cheat death not be able to help? What was her father doing? "How?"
"While I can't pertain to the secrets of the ritual, I am aware of what it entail. To a degree that is." The Doll said helpfully, tucking in her dress as she bent down on her knees beside her. Violet's eyes never leaving her even when her heart hammered in her chest. Wanting to be by her father's side more than anything. "In broad strokes, it is the empire of mind over body. The hunter is actively redefining how his instincts and how his body will react to both internal and external stimuli."
Violet stared blanky at the Doll. The big words passing right over her. Tentatively nodding, she waited for the Doll to further explain. Doing her best not to pout at the look the Dream's Caretaker sent her.
"The reason why the Dream is unable to help the hunter should he be interrupted is simple. He is alive. And he will be alive even if the ritual is interrupted." The Doll continued. "However he will be irreversible changes, in a way only holding the ritual again would be able to fix."
"But how come that is bad?" Violet asked. Not understanding what the Doll was hinting at.
"Because the hunter you would meet, would not be the kind hunter. It would be another mind entirely wearing his body. Mishandling the ritual is sure to lead to either death or insanity. All the human body's instincts and impulses completely turned on their head." Seeing her confusion, the Doll gave her a gentle smile. Making Violet pout. "Could you imagine, every time you look to the left, you would be assaulted by extreme sadness. Whenever you blinked your fight or flight responses would trigger. Each breath would make you grow blind with anger. When you walk, you wouldn't feel your feet making contact with the ground beneath you. Your pain receptors would be on if your right hand was palm upwards and off when it was palm downwards. The act of talking would make you temporary deaf, and instead of hearing, your body would instead send the signals to your nose. Making you smell what you were hearing instead. Do you think the kind hunter, or anyone for that matter, would be able to prepare a ritual that requires hours of preparation and three black hearts as regents?"
"That doesn't sound pleasant." Violet answered, not bothering to answering the question. She coulndt even begin to count how many ritual circles she had messed up because her nose had been itchy, a strand of hair had been tickling her neck, or she had to blink.
"Therefore, the best you can do for your kin right now, is simply to wait for him to finish the ritual." The Doll finished softly. Violet only pouting as she turned to the headstones. Her saw cleaver clattering on the stones as she crossed her arms and huffed. She didn't want to wait. But she also knew better than to blindly rush in and interrupt her father when he was holding a large ritual.
'Remember Violet. There is one rule stands supreme when it comes to blood magic. It is a rule you must never forget. And one rule you must swear by. And it is simple, there are fates far worse than death. Whatever it is, wherever you are, never forget this adage. It is the difference between living long while practicing blood magic, or living the rest of your life being one large twisted abomination of flesh and misery.' Her fathers words rang in her mind. She had never taken them wholly to heart, instead she had sworn to remember it because her dad thought it was important.
"But I don't want to hurt dad. Even unintentionally." She mumbled to herself. She wanted her father to return to her healthy and smiling. Not with some mind abomination that would make him go mad. 'Even if he already is.' Her mind whispered. 'After all, no one sane would ever dare to hold hope in Yharnam.'
"I can say for sure that your kin would be proud of you for being so mature." The Doll smiled softly. "And for what you are burning to get off your chest, I'm sure he will be proud of what you are doing for your sister."
Violet huffed, pouting at the Doll. Flinching and tearing her eyes away when she felt a spike of pain race trough her head. It wasn't lasting, more akin to a flare of pain. But it still hurt. It still made her question what had happened after she had performed her first ritual successfully. 'Why was my success rewarded with pain and questions?' She wondered.
"Do you know if… father… is finished soon?" Violet asked, throwing a quick look back to the workshop where her sisters light snoring still rang out.
"He already is." The Doll smiled softly at her. Ignoring the glare she sent. "The hunter was in the finishing stages of the ritual when you came down, he is finished now."
"Then how do I 'wake up' where he is?" Violet all but demanded. The Doll only shaking her head good naturally before walking over to a headstone. "Simply lay your hand on this headstone, and then focus on where you want to wake. You may be an apprentice, but you are still a hunter of this dream. All its blessings are for you to enjoy, as they are for your kin."
Violet didn't need anything more. Placing her hand on the headstone and focusing on dad. A gasp escaping her as the world around her suddenly felt more tangible. Opening her eyes, Violet blinked. Wondering if she had woken up the wrong place. Standing before the Old Abandoned Workshop, she wasn't met with an old run-down building lost to time and on it's last legs. Instead the only reason she was sure she hadn't accidentally woken up in the dream was because the Doll was nowhere to be seen and she could see the great bridge connecting Cathedral Ward and Central Yharnam from here.
"What." Violet whispered, walking nervously up the steps. Her saw-cleaver at the ready if something was going to jump her. Sneaking a nervous look into the workshop, all her anxiety melted out of her as she saw her dad cleaning up after the ritual. He didn't look different; he didn't look like he was going insane. If she were to describe him, he looked more relaxed that she had seen in a long time. Almost as if a large weight on his shoulders had been removed.
"What did you do, master?" She asked, stepping into the warm workshop, curiously looking at the three chalices that still flickered with deep crimson flames almost bordering on black.
"Ah, Violet. I wasn't expecting you to come." Her father smiled gently. "I should have expected you do to something like this. You never have liked sitting still."
Violet did her best not to blush as her dad chuckled softly.
"But if you are wondering what I did, I simply tied a violent cocktail of emotions to a trigger." Her father explained like it was the simplest thing in the world. "Of course I will still feel the emotions, but they are muted and will only come when called upon."
Snapping his fingers, an invisible wind swept trough the workshop. Drowning the heavy feeling of blood and tainted magic under a blanket of nonsensical nothing. With another wave of his hand the fire died down in the chalices.
"However, that isn't why you are here, is it?" Her father asked gently, walking over to her and gently taking his hand in hers as he sat down on a chair before the burning hearth. The lifeless doll's head falling to the side as it's lips crack up into a smile.
Ignoring the Doll, Violet climbed up in her fathers lap. Feeling warm and safe. Almost closing her eyes as she rested against his chest. Having to fight against herself to not fall asleep.
"This is about your sister, isn't it." Her father asked softy. Violet only hummed, pulling her knees into her chest as she didn't know what to say.
"Aurora doesn't have long, does she." Violet whispered. Her father only sighing heavily in response. "No. No she doesn't. She has to Friday, maybe less." Leaning into her fathers chest as she hummed, she waited for what he was going to say. "However, I thought this was about something else. You haven't exactly hidden your displeasure against her sister."
"I don't like Aurora. She is always judging me, wanting me to be like her. Not liking that I want to be me." Violet whispered. "But I don't want her to die."
"Do you remember what I taught you about spirituality?" Her father asked, making Violet blink the tears out of her eyes as she looked up at him. "Huh?" Was her eloquent reply. Earning a soft smile from her father.
"It is made up of three pillars? The body, the mind, and the soul?" Violet replied, racking her brain to remember. Breathing easily when she saw her father nod at her.
"You would be correct." He smiled at her, sending butterflies dancing in her stomach as pride surged trough her. "Do you remember when we baked cookies today, and one egg came out different."
"The yolk and the egg white mixing together?" Violet asked, not understanding completely where her father was going with his tangent.
"Exactly. While I don't want to brag, I like to think that I have found much success in the Reanimation aspect. Partly out of necessity, partly because I would rather heal than harm." Her father explained. Violet nodding along, remembering the green glow that enveloped her sister. She went from pale, a walking corpse, to looking healthy and living. "I can heal the body; I can also mend minds to a degree. I cannot mend the soul. Your sister's soul is like that egg, all layers in her soul bleeding together. Even for the Dream, she is beyond saving."
"Oh." Violet mumbled, not knowing how to feel. It was just so much. She didn't like her sister, but she didn't wish harm on her either. Just for Aurora to let Violet be herself.
"I'm not saying that you should drop everything for your sister, emotions are more complex than that. Trust me, I would know. But could you be there for your sister? You don't have to do much; you don't even have to agree with everything she says. Just keeping her company would be enough. Can you do that for me?" Her father asked. Violet nodding, a tear gently trailing down her cheek as she nodded.
Jumping out of her fathers lap, moving towards the lamp. Before turning back to her father with a frail little smile. Blinking, she felt a new question appear, almost burning her from inside out. "Is… fa-master… do you think there exists beasts out there that can attack the soul directly? What would aura do against them?"
"Nothing." Her father answered simply as he stood and stretched. "As for beasts, undoubtedly. I do not know where they are, probably scurrying along in shadows the light hasn't touched in a long time. But they will die like any other beast. Don't worry about it. Go back to your sister for now so I can finish cleaning up."
Reaching for the lamp, Violet woke up back in the dream. Not saying hello to either the Doll or to Gehrman as she made her way inside. Throwing her weapons to the side as she crawled up beside her sister. Aurora instantly wrapping her arms around her, making Violet feel how cold she was. Her sister stopped shivering, breathing easier. Closing her eyes, Violet leaned into her sister. Remembering all the times they had shared a bed while they had been small.
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Note: Aurora is older than Violet, which means that she has been immersed in more of Yharnam's culture. She is wary of anyone 'outsiders', quick to point fingers, and overall just a lovable mess. Aurora is also as 'Yharnamite' as she can be when she is in a place she feels safe. And if her values clash with those of Remnant, that is almost to be expected. She is basically a 'mini' old crone. Less spite and anger and more ignorance and surrounding culture growing up.
Note: Violet is a territorial little thing. And only nine years old. She also has an extreme black and white thought process. That simply mostly boils down to, everything Jaune does and/or likes is good, everything else is bad. Of course it's more nuanced like that, she has her own emotions and goals.
Note: And this chapter is a bit everywhere, Cinder's plans are still going off without a hitch as Ruby was to emotionally distraught to notice her sneaking around. Ironwood is beginning to move, wanting to give their side some momentum of their own. So the world is moving.