Chapter 3: Salutations
"Did you hear we have some students visiting from Atlas?" Yang whispered in the middle of Oobleck's class the teacher zipping around giving his lecture.
"Yeah, I think their name is team…Co…ca…cabbage!" Ruby proudly stated.
"Cabal you dolt" Weiss corrected paying attention to the lecture despite the distraction.
"You know them?" Yang questioned raising an eyebrow.
"My sister mentioned them last time I saw her, she called them unprofessional and mind numbingly frustrating" The ice queen told.
"I'm sure we'll get along wonderfully then" Yang snickered a piece of chalk being thrown at her forehead by the green haired professor.
"Ow!"
"Focus up!" Oobleck exclaimed gesturing towards the door.
"As Ms. Xiao Long has so poorly whispered, we have students from the Atlesian military academy visiting us for the foreseeable future" The door opened with Winter, Ozpin, and team CABL walking in.
"Hello students today we have several guests all the way from Atlas that'll be joining us" Beacon's headmaster said softly.
"Learning from other kingdoms is vital to being a successful huntress or huntsman I'm sure that you can learn much from them and vice versa" Ozpin looked over to Winter.
Winter gave a small glance to Weiss who smiled gleefully.
"My name is Winter Schnee; your headmaster is right I hope that I can impart Atlas's wisdom and techniques onto all of you as I'll be assisting Ms. Goodwitch in combat lessons."
"I think she forgets Atlas is ALSO supposed to learn from Beacon" Ash mumbled to Loki who tried to hold back a laugh.
"Now my four students will be joining your lessons they are here to help the Vytal festival go off without trouble so if you encounter any issues, please come to them they are eager to help" Ironwood's second in command then gestured her hand to the Huntsmen in training for them to introduce themselves.
"Cobalt Sparks! It's good to meet you!" Cobalt passionately spoke placing his hands behind his back having a sternly resolved glare on his face.
"He's intense…" Yang murmured.
"That name sounds familiar…" Weiss remarked.
"Ash McCarthy don't pay attention to my friend here he's about as social as an Atlesian robot" Cobalt glared at him as he smirked winking at Weiss getting an eye roll in response.
Ash's eyes went to Yang as he gave a confused stare.
"No fucking way…"
"I'm Loki Midora! Y'all seem like a lot of fun I can't wait to get to know everyone!" The little bundle of joy exclaimed.
Weiss and Blake both recognized the name.
Blake who previously was severely uninterested looked up from her book not in a positive manner staring at the young student.
"Introduce yourself…" Loki elbowed Blaidd.
"Blaidd"
Blake's eyes darted angrily from Loki to Blaidd suddenly turning into a shocked gasp that escaped her breath.
All of team RWBY leaned over looking at Blake who suspiciously looked away trying to hide the outburst.
"Team RWBY, I would like you to show them around the school as they'll be given a dorm room right next to yours" Ozpin stated looking at the group.
"You can count on us!" Ruby saluted enthusiastically the rest of the group unsure about being the tour guides to this new group.
"Now that'll be all I wish you the best of luck with your studies" Ozpin left alongside Winter.
CABL sat in the row below RWBY as Oobleck continued his lesson not allowing any time in between for RWBY and CABL to interact.
Blake gave several intense looks to Blaidd who remained stoically looking at a comic book he snuck in from underneath his uniform.
Cobalt and Weiss would get into a competition rapidly answering questions that Oobleck would ask both wanting to claim the title of teacher's pet.
The two students would give each other a competitive glare before moving on to raise their hands forcibly.
Oobleck's class would end as the students would slowly clear out CABL being the first to exit waiting on team RWBY outside of the room.
"Hey Blaidd, why was that girl wearing the bow glaring daggers at you?" Ash asked quietly into his ear.
"We used to know each other" Blaidd rarely showed emotion, but his face seemed uncomfortable and unsure.
"Used to?" Loki titled his head.
"We were friends for years, but she was very upset when I left that organization" Blaidd gave a look to his teammates.
Blaidd used to be a member of the White Fang himself.
A very influential member of the White Fang.
He had left and changed his name only his teammates knew not even Ironwood was aware of his former allegiance.
"How upset?"
"Her exact words were 'I never want to see you again you won't like what happens if we do' a mutual friend of ours then nearly killed me and we haven't talked since" Blaidd spoke more than he had in weeks a drop of sweat came down from his brow.
Team RWBY walked out of the classroom.
"Hello! My name's Ruby it's nice to me- "Ruby held out her hand only to have Blake Walk in front of her looking at Blaidd intensely.
"Blake…" Blaidd mumbled not knowing what to say being motionless expecting to be hit or yelled at.
He'd receive neither as Blake would wrap her arms around him.
"Sable…! I thought I'd never see you again…." Blake squeezed Blaidd as hard as she could causing the wolf Faunus to pause before he wrapped his arms around her hugging her back.
"I'm not the only one who's lost right?" Weiss said the group confusingly staring at the reunion.
"No" Everybody responded in unison.
The two Faunus realized their audience backing away from each other.
Blake cleared her throat composing herself.
"This is my friend Sable; we've been friends for years" Blake calmly recounted.
"I go by Blaidd now" the wolf said wanting to keep his real name on the down low.
"Well, it's really cool that you guys know each other this must be destiny that are groups were put together! Oh, and my names Ruby Rose I'm the leader of our team!" The scythe wielder quickly shook all four of their hands enthusiastically.
"Weiss Schnee, Loki I believe we met at one of my father's parties a few years ago?" Weiss reached out her hand elegantly towards him.
"Oh yes, it was a great party I mean I left early, and the food wasn't that good but…no sorry it was wonderful I hope to enjoy your hospitality again someday" Loki's normal personality and the manners he had learned as a child conflicted while he spoke.
Loki awkwardly shook her hand Yang stepping up.
"And my names Yang, I hear you guys are trouble" she gave a playful smirk.
"Not true/oh we definitely are" Cobalt and Ash responded at the same time.
Yang laughed in response.
"Why don't you guys come back to our dorm, and we can get to know each other?" Yang asked genuinely just finding the group interesting while looking at Blaidd and Blake standing next to each other.
"And it'll give these two some time to catch up."
"We should get to our dorm immediately to set up our equipment but it's a nice offer" Cobalt politely refused.
"Come on pweaseeeeeee it'll be so much fun hanging out with some new people" Loki begged.
"Yeah, can we get one freaking second to relax?" Ash complained.
"Can we?" Blaidd joined in the three surrounding their leader.
CABL had friends at their own academy but only a few they actually hung out with and trusted mainly being team FNKI but besides them they stayed far away from many teams due to discrimination against Blaidd and the general elitism spread throughout the institution.
"Fine! We can hangout but not for too long" Team CABL cheered in victory.
Ash and Loki jumped for joy with Blaidd giving a small thumbs up.
"But I mean it an hour or so tops "Cobalt reminded.
Five hours later….
The teams had hung out till it had gotten dark out speaking about their weapons, adventures, gossip around the school and other topics.
It had gotten late enough where they had all changed from their uniforms RWBY in their normal pajamas.
(The same ones worn in Volume one episode 3)
Cobalt wore grey pajama bottoms and a basic white shirt.
Blaidd had a black long-sleeve T-shirt with a white and red 'Death Battle' logo on it in addition to his black bottoms and wolf slippers.
Ash wore a grey tank top and red shorts showing off a large tattoo on his shoulder that took the form of a black raven.
Loki had a blue Caboose onesie that looked as comfortable as it did cute thought embarrassment did set in upon wearing it for the small huntsman in training.
"Blaidd doesn't talk that much, does he?" Ruby asked the group sitting in a circle in team RWBY's room.
"No not at all, I remember when we met it took him a week to say anything that wasn't required of him" Ash stood up to tell a story.
"I awkwardly asked him what his favorite color and he just nodded and walked away; week later we're in the middle of a fire fight during training" He comically started recreating the scene of the battle making explosion and gunshot sound effects getting a few chuckles from the crowd.
"I get blown up by a grenade that sends me flying, I land right next to me and instead of helping me up he looks at me and says- "Ash points to Blaidd who sighed.
"-Purple"
"He says this and just walks away from me in the middle of a training simulation" The group begins to chuckle at the ridiculousness of the story.
"Okay I got an idea let's play a game with…. this!" Yang reached under the bed pulling out a bottle of whiskey holding it in the air like it was an item from Zelda.
Ash and Loki looked on with excitement.
Cobalt did not.
"Okay that's where I draw the line, we're not drinking alcohol on school grounds!" Cobalt preached getting support from Weiss who nodded in agreement.
"Why don't we arm wrestle for I?" Yang challenged crossing her arms.
"As if I'd fall for such a stupid provocation."
"What are you chicken?" Yang mocked childishly.
It took all of ten seconds after that for Cobalt to be holding out his arm.
Despite being stronger than the average student physically, Yang simply had inhuman strength as she would end up slamming Cobalt hand through the table they would use.
"Ow…!" Cobalt held his hand groaning.
"Yes! All hail Ms. Xiao Long!" Ash and Loki began to shower Yang with support as she stood victoriously.
"Hey, have some sympathy for your leader here!" Cobalt shook his fist at the two knuckle heads sighing in defeat.
"What's the game…?" The defeated Atlas solider asked sitting down the circle they had reforming.
"Dare or drink, someone says a dare if you can't complete it then you drink" Yang explained.
"You can ask a question as a dare to if they can answer you drink obviously, we'll be safe and make sure nobody ends up hurling in the bathroom though I will say that would be hilarious" Yang chuckled at the thought looking at Ruby.
"Hey! I'm not puking I can handle myself" she crossed her arms.
Nobody was convinced.
"Okay I'll start Blaidd" Yang smirked mischievously.
"You and Blake, you guys ever have any romantic encounters? Any unspoken feelings or tension?" Blaidd looked at Blake who held her face in her hand in embarrassment.
"We dated for a few weeks, we mutually agreed to break up" He spoke monotonously.
Both teams were surprised to hear this neither of them seeing Blake or Blaidd as the dating types.
"Why'd you break up?" Yang asked incredibly curious.
"You're only allowed to ask one question not two" Blake responded giving a disapproving glare at the blonde.
"Okay I relent."
"I have one for you Yang" Ash thought about what had previously bothered him when he had seen her for the first time.
"Oooo okay lay it on me."
"What's your mother like?" An awkward silence hit the room as Yang looked confused then angry then reserved as she gripped the bottle and took a big sip of whiskey.
"Next" she said aggressively.
Ash noted the response the rest of his team looking confused.
Ash didn't give much of an expression asking the question investigating a theory brewing in his brain.
He didn't have any malice behind the question.
" …uh…Topic change! Weiss Kiss, marry, Kill uhhh Blaidd, Cobalt, Blake!" Loki questioned pointing at the ice queen whose face went red.
"What a ridiculous question?!" Weiss let out her from embarrassment.
"Come on answer!" Ruby encouraged.
Weiss didn't like alcohol, so it was a difficult choice between embarrassment and the disgusting drink.
"Fine…. kill Blaidd, I just don't know you that well" Weiss said with Blaidd nodding not at all offended.
"Kiss….um…Blake…I guess…" Weiss looked at the ground.
"So, you're marrying Cobalt? Your wedding would become a college lecture I'm pretty sure" Ash joked.
"I just think we have similar outlooks on life though obviously we've only just met" Weiss logically explained.
Her flustered face reappeared looking up at Cobalt.
"But that's just hypothetical I am not looking for a relationship at all!" The ice queen spoke Cobalt having no big reaction as he wasn't one to get flustered easily.
"Oh, I got one! Loki why'd you want to become a huntsman?" Ruby tried to veer the subject to something more innocent.
"Oh well…" Loki took a moment considering.
"My family makes weapons it's what we're famous for" Loki recounted Weiss nodding growing up hearing about the many inventions for the Atlesian military supplied by the Midora's.
"Many of which were used on civilian protestors" Blake sharply accused glaring at Loki.
"Blake!" Ruby opened her mouth to defend their new arrival before Loki spoke up.
"No, she's right, I built a weapon using my vibration technology I thought it'd be used only for construction I'd been promised by my parents that it would cause harm to no one but…" Loki clenched his fist.
"It was used on a group of peaceful protestors in Mantle the device completely deafened 46 different people causing profuse bleeding of the ears" He recounted Cobalt moved closer to him patting him on the back.
"My parents stole my research and sold it as their own, I can't get it back…" he looked at Blake a few tears forming in his eyes.
"I know the technology my parents and…I made have caused innocent people to suffer I wanna become a huntsman to make up for my family's sins if even a little bit" Weiss reached out gently grabbing his hand.
"That's not your fault Loki, I understand feeling that way, but you aren't your parents" the heiress could relate too much to him.
"Well tell that to the families who've been hurt…" Loki spoke harshly angrily staring at the floor before shaking his head giving a weak smile.
"Sorry thank you I appreciate the support" He nodded standing up.
"I'm gonna head to bed, it's been fun" he began walking out waving meekly.
"We should probably join him" Cobalt began to stand up Ash and Blaidd joining him.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to ruin the mood" Ruby remorsefully spoke.
"You didn't know it's okay, Loki's tougher than he looks" Ash said.
"We should all get some sleep anyway we have classes tomorrow after all" The two teams said their goodbyes retreating for the night.