A/N Culture shock
Alt title:
.
.
Funny thing is, on a scale of 1 to 10
Weiss's horni levels are a 3, she's just been at a 0 for so long she's not sure how to handle it.
Now her hunger for affection and attention is at an 8. That's what's causing her to act out.
.
AlbinosTheSnake: I'll have to look into that.
GideonBlackthorn: Jacques is not a good guy.
ghouldrago0: It might, but it'd also cause a lot of problems he doesn't want to deal with.
Eseer: I'm sorry?
Anyumaaka: Cyril genuinely believed Ruby put Weiss up to it and was doing a whole, relationship challenge.
Attttth: Sienna was not genuinely hitting on Jacques, her style of diplomacy is basically, 'Make the opponent uncomfortable or agitated, get them to slip and take advantage of it.' She was just poking and prodding Jacques for any weakness she could exploit.
Aaron Dawn: I'm sorry! I've been poisoned not just by them, but by the reviewers on QQ! (Love you guys!) As well! And the discord! Oh the discord!
Forgive me!
Dundariusredripulen: incorrect.
.
.
-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
(Text)
Sounds/Actions*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
-Beacon, Grimm Studies, 09/17, 09:50am-
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
This, is super weird.
Ruby is writing down what Port means and Weiss is writing down what he says as usual. Only difference? Weiss is hip to hip with me and her tail is wrapped around the back of my waist. Laying partly in my lap on the opposite side.
Blake is resting her head down. And I'm trying to follow along. Only it's rather hard when I have a girl pressed right against me. Worst part? Looking over at Weiss, I don't even think she notices what she's doing.
Ruby doesn't seem to notice or care.
"And as I said farewell to my long trusted axe, I turned to the Beowolf and I said-" He's cut off by the bell. "Well it would seem that's all for today! Remember, no class tomorrow! I've got Grimm to slay in the Forever Fall Forest with Professor Peach and Professor Shrieve! Gotta make sure nothing too nasty shows up on your trip!"
"Finally." Blake sighs tiredly as she gets up, followed by Weiss and then Ruby.
"You guys go on, I need to talk with the Professor a bit." I say, causing Ruby to petal around me.
"Kay!" She waves her hand as she walks backwards. "See you in Peaches class!"
"Ruby!" Weiss says. "It is Professor Peach, she earned her-" she continues as they walk out.
Walking down the steps of the lecture hall. I come before Port as he's stacking papers on his desk.
"Ah! Mr. Leon!" Port says as he looks up. "To what do I owe the pleasure? I trust our last discussion bore fruit eh? Judging by the snow fair maiden clinging to your side?"
Why is it that the most perceptive people here, are the ones you'd least expect it from?
"Oh, you uh, you noticed that?" I ask somewhat awkwardly.
"My boy, these eyes may be old, but even I could see that any closer, and you wouldn't be sitting next to each other." He says before giving a slight bow. "A- wink."
Don't like that!
He must've seen my, clear distaste for the, that. Seeing as he bursts out laughing.
"Ohohoho my boy!" He laughs at me. "I simply can't help myself."
"You don't have an issue with the PDA?" I ask, causing him to stop laughing.
"No, not really." He puts a hand to his chin as he thinks. "So long as you're not doing anything too disruptive and still pay attention. Or, at least as much attention as the rest of my first years."
Nice to know he's the cool teacher. Kinda.
Also he's self aware.
"Right, well." I start off awkwardly. "I'm, dating Ruby."
"Good for you lad!" He says jovially.
"The girl with white hair is Weiss." I say.
"I know my students." He says softly.
"I'm going on a date with Weiss on the twentieth." I say.
"Good for you! Ah, young love. I remember when- oh." He says softly before stopping. "Oh I see now. Hmm, tell me Mr. Leon, what do you know of marriage?"
Odd question, but I trust this is going somewhere.
"Two people get married, pledge themselves to each other and usually start a family." I shrug. "Doesn't always work out but, that'd be the rough idea. I guess."
He begins tapping his foot in thought, a fist to his chin as he thinks. Before snapping his fingers.
"You're a monogamist aren't you?" He asks.
It is, that single line that gets the gears turning in my head. This isn't some test from Ruby and Weiss. This isn't some exception. This isn't a prank or anything else.
Me dating Ruby and Weiss, is seen as normal.
" Now you're getting it." Port says just before the bell rings. "I'd talk more but, the second years are coming in soon."
"That's fine, I, think I got a handle on it." I say as I pinch the bridge of my nose.
"I wish you luck lad, and just, try not to get too hung up on pleasing one or the other." He departs some wisdom. "When dating, treat it like life itself. Competition is healthy when in measured amounts. Sore loser and sore winners are never fun. And, don't hold grudges."
I think on all he said there. Before piping up.
"Those sound like awfully specific examples." I say.
"Go to your next class, Mr. Leon." He says, uncharacteristically losing his mirth.
I, decide I've probed enough. And I quickly leave the room. Passing a few second years I don't recognize as I do.
.
.
-Beacon, SLBR Dorm, 09/18, 9:10am-
.
.
"And when trying to rhyme a word, do not start with the word you are rhyming." Weiss informs us.
Ruby decided that, to get us all to be better teammates. We need to get to know each other better. And as such, take part in each others hobbies. We drew straws, and it's Weiss's turn first.
She's teaching us how to write songs and poems.
"It is better to end with the intended word, than it is to start." Weiss says. "For example, if the main word you want to rhyme is Spear, then come up with rhymes to it, and have the last rhyme of the limerick be Spear."
"My brainbox hurts." Ruby whines from the wall desk.
I'm at the window desk, and Blake is at Weiss's vanity as we all write.
FYI, I'm cheating. One, sharingan to give me extra time, two, I'm stealing songs I remember from earth and just, changing a few lyrics to fit.
Hey, Weiss is a professional singer, if I can get her to sing some of these then you bet I'm gonna try.
I'll admit, I'm half tempted to write down Last Resort by Papa Roach, just to get a reaction.
About thirty minutes, and one hand cramp later, Weiss collects the papers.
"Let's see here." She says as she starts going through them. After a few minutes of reading the first set of papers, she starts. "Blake, it's a valiant first attempt, but I feel the meaning is lost. What were you describing in, lost on the long voyage of life, you were supposed to relieve my sense of strife?"
"My sushi." She says with a puzzled look. "Was that not obvious?"
Weiss just stares at Blake for a concentrated second before continuing.
"It's not bad, but perhaps be less abstract next time." Weiss says.
"I think I did good." Blake says with a defensive huff.
Going over to Ruby, Weiss picks up the papers. And reads through them, her face falling to a flat look as Ruby's ears fall back.
"Ruby." Weiss says in a soft tone. "Cookies, Rookies, is not a good rhyme. Also, halfway through this, it just turns into doodles."
"I couldn't think of anything!" Ruby whines as she throws her head down. "What do you want from me!?"
Weiss sighs, setting the paper down as she moves on to me. Holding out her hand with a bored look, clearly having the wind ripped from her sails.
"What's the matter, not excited to see my work?" I ask cheekily.
"With all due respect Cyril, I'm tailoring my expectations." Weiss says.
Ouch.
"Geeze, well, here you go maestro." I say as I hand her the papers.
"Thank you." She says with a smile as she takes the papers. Completely missing my sarcasm.
I watch as Weiss reads through the lyrics I wrote. It's just I Promise by HalaCG with a few words changed to fit the context of, well, Remnant. Don't know how well it translates bu- aand Weiss is crying.
"You good?" I ask.
"Y-yes Cyril." She says quickly as she takes the paper over to her dresser and stashes it. "I believe you followed the prompt well enough and, if it is alright with you I'd like to keep this for myself."
There was a prompt?
"Um, sure." I shrug.
.
.
-History class, 10:30am-
.
.
Blake Belladonna POV
.
"So, you wanna say what that was about?" I ask my partner as Professor Oobleck goes over the Menagerian civil wars.
I already know all the material on the subject so, it's not important to me.
"What what was about?" Weiss whispers back as she writes down her notes.
"How you clammed up when you took Cyril's paper?" I ask.
"Yeah, that was weird." Ruby says, leaning over to talk.
"It's, not relevant." Weiss says evasively.
I'd like to know if the human I'm sleeping in the same room as is, unstable. After all, how do you get someone to tear up over the prompt, 'how do you feel about a recent event.'?
"Hey, he's my partner." Ruby says in an exaggerated whisper. "It's very relevant to me!"
Weiss writes down some more of what the Professor says before answering.
"I simply don't think that now's the time." Weiss says. "We can discuss this later."
"Now you have me more concerned." I whisper.
"TEAM SILVER!" Oobleck shouts next to me.
"Aah!" I jump.
"Perhaps you'd like to inform the class how the Ylvta managed to escape the Tarak's ambush on the eastern shores of Menagerie?" He says quickly. "After all you seem to be such experts that two thirds of you deem it necessary to converse during my lecture!"
'Shit!' I think as I calm myself down. 'How did he avoid my passive!?'
I can literally sense where people's attention is. He wasn't paying attention to us at all the whole time!
"Um, the Ylvta used ships to escape the ambush after it started." I say, recalling what I know of the seafaring people.
"Ships?" Oobleck asks. "That is your answer?"
"Yes?" I say uncertainly.
"And what of you two?" He asks my teammates.
"Um, they didn't survive?" Ruby tries.
'Damnit Ruby!' I curse the girl for getting us in trouble.
"They, didn't survive the ambush?" Oobleck says with a tilt of his head. "Is that your final answer?"
"I-I mean they weren't ambushed!" Ruby tries sheepishly. "Um, final answer?"
"Hmm, Ms. Schnee?" He looks to my partner, and I hope she answers it correctly.
"They didn't." Weiss says.
'We're screwed.' I think tiredly.
"The Tarak had set up an ambush at the shores, but the Ylvta never landed." Weiss continues. "They had spotted the rocky shores, noted they were unsafe to land with any hope of a swift retreat, and turned around. Heading back for the northern shores where the Tarak had just left, claiming it for themselves while the desert dwelling Faunus waited to attack ships that never arrived."
"Precisely Ms. Schnee!" Oobleck says. "Ms. Rose, I would suggest you to take notes in my class same as your teammate. Ms. Belladonna? I want a three page essay on the Ylvta's navigational techniques and their significance in the civil war due this time on the twenty first!"
He then speeds off. Back to his lecture. Talking more than a mile a minute as usual.
"I told you." Weiss Hisses.
I just let my head fall and groan.
.
.
-Free period-
.
.
Weiss Schnee POV
.
Ruby sets her scroll down as she gets done texting Cyril. Looking up to us as she starts talking.
"Okay, Cyril's at the library studying so, spill." Ruby demands of me.
I take a deep breath. Walking over to my dresser with my arms crossed as I open the drawer and pull out the papers I kept.
"The song he wrote out had some, concerning lyrics and themes is all." I say, not entirely sure how I should handle this. "It, just caught me off guard is all."
"Like what?" Blake asks.
Looking to the paper I pick up on the few choice lines that really caught my attention.
"Well, in the opening lines of the song is, A guilty masquerade, parading across the stage, the people miss it as I break, so slowly." I read out.
"That's so pretty!" Ruby gushes enthusiastically.
"Yeah, I don't get it." Blake says with a shrug. "Is it like, he feels guilty or, hiding something?"
"I'm getting to that!" I shush them. "Further towards the middle of the song is the lines, all of their spirits gone, swept away in a hateful tide, I could only watch."
"That's, pretty, sad." Ruby says less enthusiastically.
'A ringing endorsement.' I think sarcastically.
"Um, what, exactly do we know about Cyril?" Blake asks.
"His favorite color is blue, he likes black cherry soda, he likes X-Ray and Vav comics." Ruby starts listing off enthusiastically.
"About his past Ruby." Blake clarifies.
"Oh." She says before her ears splay back. "Um, well, his family's dead. And, he lived in a very isolated part of the Valean outskirts."
That last one is news to me.
"How do you know he was raised in isolation?" I ask, curious to this new revelation.
Ruby perks back up as she holds out her fingers and starts listing off a few things.
"Oh! He worships nine gods that aren't in the Valean CCT database, he doesn't know about several common laws, he had no clue about Beacon's financial help systems, he had no clue Silver Eyed Warriors were a big deal to most people, and he said that I was the first Faunus he ever met after admitting he knew nothing about the nine recognized tribes." She explains before taking a breath. "And he has no clue where you'd find his home on a map, and in his own words, It doesn't matter, you can't find a place that doesn't exist." She says in a poor imitation of Cyril.
I am, once again left perplexed by Ruby's perceptiveness. The, often tunnel visioned and immature girl picks up on the oddest things.
"So, wait, you're the first Faunus, he's ever met." Blake asks as she steps between me and Ruby.
"According to him, yes." Ruby shrugs.
Blake stands there, not saying anything. Leaning over to get a look at my partner and seeing the blank faced expression of the girl, I look to Ruby with a raised brow. Hopeful to see what she can gleam from this.
She just shakes her head with a shrug. Letting me know she has as much a clue as I do.
"Okay then." Blake suddenly says as she steps back. "You were saying' Weiss?"
Looking to the girl curiously. I decide not to push it and proceed. Looking back to the paper I continue.
"The other lines that drew my attention were, I promise you that I'll be happy, if not right now then someday. And, You had to go it's okay, leave all the pain fly away."
"He could've just wrote something he thought was good." Blake offers. "He doesn't seem depressed. Or, anything of the like."
"Depression isn't being sad." Ruby pipes up. "It's just an inability to be happy. Anger, sadness, frustration and lack of motivation are all associated."
"Then he'd be attracting Grimm like crazy." Blake points out. "And we didn't encounter a single Grimm during initiation aside from the King Tajitu."
Oh no.
"Um, remember what I said about when I found him?" Ruby says softly with a worried look. One that I imagine I'm mirroring.
"Remind me." Blake says.
"You encountered two packs of Beowolves and a pack of Ursa." I recount Ruby's tale. "And killed another pack of Beowolves before we found you two."
"And, they were targeting Cyril, over me." Ruby says.
I originally chalked it up to Ruby playing up her partner who had a, less than favorable first impression.
'Wait, inability to be happy, irritability, and combativeness are also signs of depression.' I think as I look to Blake. 'Drat! I have two depressed teammates!'
"S-so you think he's venting his feelings in the song?" Ruby asks.
"He could've wrote the lyrics that way knowing you'd have that reaction." Blake says.
That's a stretch at best.
"Or, he could be good at hiding his emotions and this is a cry for help." I counter.
I, know the feeling. And can relate to feeling the need to hide things.
If Cyril has depression, that needs to be addressed. I had my suspicions from when we first met, but he seemed to get better on his own. If he's just bottling it up, then it can only get worse.
Same with Blake. I need to pay her more attention in the future if I need this team to work.
It's as I think that, that I look up in time to see the door close. And Blake looking between it and me.
"Weiss, Ruby just-"
"I see that."
.
.
-Library-
.
.
Cyril Leon POV
.
"Okay let's see here." I say softly as I look through the list of books Velvet recommended.
'Valean Royalty, an overview. In depth on the settling of Sanus, and Menagerie, a cultural study.' I think as I can't help but think I'm missing one.
I can always just text her.
Setting down the books I intend to check out, I fish my scroll out of-
"CYRIL!"
"Shit!" I cry out as I'm tackled to the ground.
"Cyril you don't have to be upset I know you lost a lot butyouhaveusnowandyou-" Ruby starts rambling incoherently on top of me as she attempts to break my ribs.
"Ruby!" I exclaim in shock. "What's gotten into you!?"
"YoursongyouwroteforWeissIknewyou-"
I try and hit the reset by putting a hand on her head. But it doesn't work this time. It only causes her to ramble into my chest.
'Shit, she's gaining an immunity.' I think sardonically.
"What in Oblivion happened?" I ask as I get up, only for Ruby to drag her feet as she holds on. "Ruby! Let go!"
"We'll never leave you!" She declares.
What am I missing!?
.
.
-Beacon, Cafeteria, 09/18, Lunch Time-
.
.
"And then Yang takes the last cupcake, in front of me." Ruby recounts. "Not realizing I sprinkled it with Vacuoan Desert Stinger."
I'm guessing that's a pepper.
"That's abhorrent!" Weiss chides Ruby from across the table.
"She should've stopped leaving her bags out." Ruby huffs.
"What's Vacuoan Desert Stinger?" I ask.
"It's a commonly grown spice in the ash fields of the northern Har Desert." Blake answers, earning a stare from all of us.
Blake, noticing the pause in conversation. Looks up from her soup, looks questionably at everyone before setting her spoon down.
"What?" She asks.
"We're just, surprised is all." Weiss tells her partner. "We didn't expect you to, well, um."
Taking the bullet, I speak up.
"You don't come across as someone overly knowledgeable when it comes to foreign things." I put it as bluntly as possible, while also as delicately as I care to.
"I like to cook!" She defends. "I can have interests outside of, weapons, Grimm, and dust."
"We're not saying you can't." Ruby pipes up. "It's just, you've never expressed any interests before."
"Neither has Cyril." Blake says. "In fact, the only person really-"
"Making an effort to be social is Ruby?" I cut her off. "Sorry to disappoint but, I am making an effort. I just don't do it well because I'm not a very social person."
"I've expressed my interests!" Weiss defends.
"Cyril's clothes don't count." Blake says.
"Wha-why I, we agreed that was a lapse in judgement to be put behind us." Weiss hisses at Blake. "And I'm referring to my singing and ice skating. I also enjoy many a snow sport. I even have a license to operate a snowmobile."
'That requires a license?' I think curiously.
"Ooh neat!" Ruby says excitedly. "I know how to snowboard too! I don't have any licenses though. Unless my apprenticeship cards count."
"What apprenticeship?" I ask curiously.
" I am currently an apprentice level blacksmith." Ruby says proudly as she crosses her arms. "Third youngest in Vale's history to earn the rank at my age, and in two months, I hope to get my Journeymen's license. My other apprenticeship is in mechanics."
That, genuinely means nothing to me. On technical level. I get that it's impressive, just not sure exactly hot. But I'm not about to say that when it might set Ruby off in a bad way. At least, not in such a public place.
"Team SLBR!" Nora says as she marches over and stomps a foot on the table. Resting her arm on her knee as she leers at us. "I require your assistance in settling a, dispute."
"Um, of what kind?" Weiss asks the girl cautiously.
"Tell me how disgusting this is!" She says as she slams a bottle of green liquid on the table.
"W-what, is that?" Blake asks as she leans away from it.
"It's an herbal and vegetable mix!" Ren yells from two tables down. "It's good for you!"
"It tastes like rabbit food!" Nora yells back.
"Hey!" Blake says. "That's offensive!"
"Not the point!" Nora says.
It's as she says that, that my scroll goes off. Gaining everyone's attention, or glare in Nora's case as I answer it.
"Hello?" I ask as I answer it.
"Hey Cyril, can you tell Blake I'm not offended?" I hear Velvet's soft voice come through.
"Oh, um, sure." I say before looking to Blake. "It's Velvet. She says she's not offended."
Now it's Blake's turn to glare at me.
"You mean to say that the only rabbit Faunus here, called you just to tell you to tell me that she's not offended." Blake says in disbelief.
"She doesn't believe me." I say into the scroll.
"Put me on speaker." Velvet sighs.
I do so and hold the scroll out.
"You're on." I say loud enough.
"Um, I'm not offended by the statement." Velvet says. "It's a-"
"Ooh, you talking to silver boy?" I hear Coco say, cutting off Velvet. "Lemme see!"
"Wha- hey, Coco!" We hear the scroll being moved around.
"Hey, Cervil!" Coco says through the scroll.
"Cyril." I correct her.
"Yeah yeah. Hey, saw your look the other day and I just gotta say, you do not pull off aviators buddy. Get some sports shades." Coco says before hanging up.
Waiting a moment for a call back. I just look up to the girls as I pocket the scroll and clasp my hands together. Motioning for Nora to continue.
"Right!" She starts off as she taps the bottle on the table again. "Drink this! And tell me how disgusting it is."
Nora scoots it forward. Much to the girl's reluctance. Each of my teammates giving shifty eyes and looking to each other.
'I've bit one bullet today.' I mentally shrug. 'What's one more?'
Reaching forward, I grab the bottle and unscrew the top.
"If this kills me, I'm haunting you." I say, pointing to Nora.
"Ooh!" She says excitedly. "If you do, be one of those really active ghosts! Like, toss things at me!"
Squinting my eyes at her. I pop the lid off and give the contents of the bottle a sniff. Not smelling anything foul. I go ahead.
"No. I will be a boring ghost." I say simply before taking a swig.
It's, not bad. Okay, it is. A drink should not taste like literal grass and be this kind of sour. But I make sure not to let it show.
"Hmm, It's not bad." I say evenly, keeping the disgust out of my voice. "But it's not my first choice of drink."
I'd expect Ren to cheer at that. But he doesn't say anything.
"Really?" Blake asks incredulously.
"Yeah, wanna try some?" I ask, holding the bottle out to her.
"No thank you." She says and leans back with a look of disgust.
Shrugging and holding back my disgust at the after taste. I hold it out to my partner next to me. Ruby leans over and takes a whiff, before shrugging and taking it from me. Chugging it down, she gets halfway and stops before burping.
I have, no clue how she can tolerate that stuff.
"It's fine." Ruby shrugs before passing it across the table to Weiss.
"Very well, I can see this is a team thing." Weiss says as she takes the bottle and drinks a bit, before her eyes go wide and she doubles over the side of the table, spitting up the green fluid next to Nora. "Oh god! Why does it taste like grass?"
"Pfft hahahaha!" Ruby doubles over on the bench laughing.
"Yeah no, like I said, it's not good." I say to the smirking Nora.
"Thank you~" She says in a singsong voice as she takes the bottle and skips back to her table.
We watch her leave, heading back to her team as she we contemplate what just happened.
"Why?" Weiss asks as she downs her water to wash the taste out.
"Why not?" I shrug.
"Aahhh!" Ruby just laughs. "Me, dad and Yang did that all the time!"
'Ah, so she was in on it.' I think to myself. 'Knew that stuff wasn't edible.'
"Eat gross things and try to get the other to eat it?" Blake asks.
"Pretty much." I nod. "Must be a sibling thing."
"I have an older sister and we never did such, abhorrent things to each other!" Weiss says as she sets the bottle down.
"Yeah well, you're a little weirdo." I say with a smirk at the glaring girl.
"I am not weird!" She huffs indignantly. Earning looks of contest from each of us. "I'm not!"
"Well, we all have our quirks." Ruby says placatingly. "But they just make us unique!"
"I think you're all weird." Blake says plainly.
"Do you really need my say here?" I question with a smirk as I rest my chin on my fist.
"You all suck!" Weiss says in huff as she stands up with her tray.
.
.
-Library, 2:20pm-
.
.
Sitting here as Velvet overlooks the test sheet she gave me, comparing it to the answer sheet. I can't help but ask.
"So, this may seem insensitive." I start out, earning her attention. "But, your ears."
"Yes?" She asks, blinking a few times. "What, about them?"
"You knew about what Blake said and even called me to address it." I say. "So, are they like, functional?"
"Fully." She says with a nod. "I hear everything."
"Oh, I'm sorry." I say, earning a snort from her.
"You're alright, trust me when I say I've heard far worse." She says with a laugh in her voice.
"I do have more questions if, you don't mind." I say awkwardly. "And, please keep in mind that I mean no offense."
"Um, okay?" She says with a raised brow.
I've noticed that Faunus ears tend to follow the movements of the eyebrow. Like, when the brow raises, the ears perk, when they relax, so do the ears, and when the brows furrow, the ears splay back.
Most of the time.
"The other day, Ruby informed me thst there are nine main tribes of Faunus." I say.
"Yeah, everyone knows this." Velvet says, before her eyes widen. "O-oh. You don't."
"Yeah, I didn't." I say honestly. "I, sort of thought that all Faunus shared a culture."
"Oh!" Velvet further exclaims. "But that's, I, if you don't mind me asking. How?"
"Almost one month ago, I saw the first Faunus of my life." I answer. "A week or so later, I met the second, then became partners with the first, got put on a team with the second and the third Faunus I'd ever met. Met the fourth at breakfast, the fifth is one of my teachers, and you are the sixth Faunus, I'd ever seen in person." I finish explaining.
As soon as I finish explaining. Velvet blinks once, before faceplanting into the table with a thud.
"Rmmmmm." She groans. "I'm never getting that extra free period."
Once again, I've lowered Velvet's faith in humanity.
"I do have another question." I ask, hoping to get this solved before the day of my date comes to pass.
"Hmm?" She asks, rolling her head to the side.
"Is it, normal, for a guy to date two girls at once?" I ask.
"Yeah." She shrugs. "Why wouldn't it be?"
"That answers that." I say with a sigh.
.
.
-Forever Fall Forest, 09/19, 9:30am-
.
.
Stepping off of the Bullhead, I look around the red forest and can't help but marvel at the scenery.
"Wonder how this place got its name." I remark as I walk forward.
"Because it looks like it's Fall, all year round." Ruby answers behind me. "Duh."
Stopping in place, just for Ruby to bump into me. I turn to her and raise a brow.
"What?" She asks with a tilt of her head.
"Never change." I say as I rub her head through her hood.
"Alright students!" Glynda speaks up. "Your assignment is simple. Grab a crate of jars, and fill them up. Be careful as the scent from the sap on these trees is known to attract Grimm."
This is apparently intended to be an exercise in vigilance. As for every jar filled, it increases the odds of Grimm showing up. And any spilled jars, run the risk of attracting a pack.
"Now then, split up, take a large parameter but remember not to stray further than you can be heard." Glynda instructs. "I'll not lose a first year to carelessness this early in the year."
'Well that's comforting.' I think dryly.
"Too the west!" Nora shouts as she runs off.
"Nora!" Ren shouts as he chases after her, followed by Jaune with a crate of jars.
"That's north!" Pyrrha shouts after them as she follows.
I eye Team CRDL as Cardin gives me a sneer. One I return with a smile, and a friendly wave. Which only serves to piss the big lug off even more as he leaves in the opposite direction of Team PRJN.
Well, this'll be fun.
.
.
-30 minutes later-
.
.
"How do you do this?" I ask as I hammer the spigot into the tree. Or, spile, I guess it's called.
"Not every tree has sap." Ruby says as she fills up her third jar. "Just move on to new one. You've already put six holes in that one."
I hate this. I truly do.
"Hang on." Weiss says, as she sets her jar down. "I, sense something."
"What do you sense Weiss." I whisper dramatically as I look to the girl. "What do your vulpine ears hear?"
That one earns me a flat look from Weiss, and a pinecone to the head from Ruby.
Worth it.
"There's something hostile slowly coming towards us." Weiss says with a flat look.
"Is it four somethings?" I ask, thinking I know what it is.
"No, just one but." She pauses as she looks over and points to a ledge about fifty feet away. "It's stopped just there."
So, just Cardin then? Or maybe it's a Grimm. But, what Grimm stays still rather than charging in? An Alpha maybe. No, then there'd be a pack.
Ruby is good at picking out Port's meaning in his tales.
It's as I'm think on this, that a jar gets tossed over the ledge, and at Ruby. Who instinctively pulls out Crescent Rose and takes aim.
Rushing over, as soon as I saw the jar. I push Ruby's gun down in time to force her to miss the shot. Ignoring her protests, I activate my semblance and catch the jar before it can hit Ruby and splatter all over her.
"Ah!" Ruby squeaks as I catch it right before her face.
"Who threw that!?" Blake shouts as she runs forward in front of us.
"I hear a fight!" Weiss says as she rushes up alongside us, Myrtnaster in hand and at the ready. "There are people over the hill and they're fighting!"
"Good!" I say as I set down the jar and unholster Winter's Thorn. "I was getting bored."
"Cyril no!" Ruby says as she petals in front of me. "We need someone to guard the sap and, well, you're the slowest."
'What? No!' I cry out internally at the demand.
"But they're-" Ruby cuts me off with a kiss on the cheek before petalling off. Weiss shouting after Ruby as she takes off after her. Using a glyph to enhance her speed.
'That's just not fair.' I think bitterly as I trudge over and collect the filled jars of sap, putting them in the crate as I grumpily sit down on said crate.
"Can't believe I'm being benched." I grumble as I hear a gunshot go off. And another, and another.
Should I be concerned, that I'm not concerned?
Oh well, guess it's time to do something I've been meaning to do for a while now. And try to pull on that familiar feeling from before. The one I got when gut punching Cardin.
Closing my eyes, I search inward. Looking for something, anything. I, feel it, it's right there! Right under my aura!
It's, no it's not under, more like, next to? Like, there are-
"Arrrooouuughh!" I roll forward with a jolt. Dodging a swipe to the head as I turn around, a large fuck off bear of hatred toxicity before me.
"Well, least I'm not bored!" I feel myself remark sarcastically as I already have Winter's Thorn in hand.
Rushing the bear as it charges on all fours, smashing our crate! That we just filled!
"Jackass!" I shout as I slide under, turning my axes into picks as I do so to slice under it. Pulling the trigger on each as I'm halfway down it, adding more force to the slice as I pull out to the sides. Cutting its back legs off.
Getting to my knees, I quickly turn around and face the bear, now desperately trying to turn around with just its front paws. I aim the gun and take it out, blasting it in the side of the head and killing it.
"Good, now if that's-"
"Cyril behind you!" I hear Weiss call out.
Not even bothering, I roll forward again and turn around to see a fucking pack. Six more Ursa all popping out of the woods and charging at me.
"Oh fuck you!" I say as I aim my axe and shoot the front leg of the lead Ursa, causing its leg to buckle in and collapse. The Ursa falling over and tripping two more before they can reach me.
Of course the other three move around it.
"Fuck this!" I say as I take a breath and center myself.
I hear Weiss and Ruby panic behind me, and give them a second to cover their ears as I prepare.
Been meaning to try something.
"Fus Ro Ven!" Force, Balance, Wind, I unleash. A torrent of swirling air, a directed tornado that eviscerates everything in front of me as I feel my aura drain. By like, a third.
Everything remotely not nailed down is blasted back and shredded. Several trees and their branches included. Leaves ripped off and the grass torn.
Looks like I hit the place with a sky dragon roar. Which, I guess I did.
"Well, that's new." I think out loud.
"Cyril!" Weiss shouts angrily as she runs up behind me.
"What?" I ask as I turn around. "I gave you time to cover your ears!"
"Not that!" Weiss says. "The sap! We only have about twenty minutes left!"
"What!?" I look back between her and the wind torn section in front of me. "That's not my fault!"
"It literally is!" She stomps her foot. "We'll get a failing grade now! You had one job! What were you even doing? How did you let six Ursa sneak up on you in three minutes? Were you asleep?"
"No!" I defend. "I was, meditating I guess?"
Weiss stares at me plainly as I watch Ruby petal off back to the Bullhead. Probably to get some more jars, or to get Goodwitch.
"Meditating?" She asks with a raised brow as she crosses her arms.
"Yes?" I say unsurely.
Yeah I got nothing. I'm screwed here.
Turns out it was Cardin. And, surprise surprise! He was pressganging his team with threats of what daddy might do if they don't follow him.
Turns out his partner, Russel, is the one who got fed up and outed him entirely. I, wasn't allowed to know anymore but, daddy bitch is on his way over, again.
Meanwhile I, have other concerns.
.
.
-Later that night-
.
.
"You can do this." I tell myself in the mirror. "Come on. You felt it earlier today. You know what to look for."
I search deep within. Like, I focus on everything I can focus on. Intent on finally getting it. No distractions! Find it! My heart beat, my pulse, the tension in my joints, that weird muscle feeling when you get ready to move, but don't. And then I find it. Not in my body, but, on my Aura? No, more like, next to it? It's next to my aura. Kind of, like that internal battery. It's a separate battery. Larger, but, less controlled and more spread out.
If my Aura is a pond I can pull from to fuel my semblances. Then, this, magic, is a lava pool I need to force my way into.
'Come on!' I scream in my head as I reach for.
Coursing through my bones, I feel it, like cold lightning that stays in place. My head feels ready to pop as my arms go numb. And I see it, my hands. My hands are-
My hands are dispersing into blue petals. Just, like, Ruby.
"Cyril are you okay?" Weiss peeks through the door.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bonus
.
.
Didn't have, a lot of time, wrote 5k in one day soo. Here's some things I answered floating around the discord!
.
Weiss is a bastard, Willow cheated on Jacques to spite him. Jacques only found out after Weiss was born due to, obvious differences.
Jacques got petty after that and all of Willow's attendants are now female. And Willow has had a 16 year long dry spell.
.
Cyril's favorite book series was the Ranger's Apprentice.
.
Ruby's dream date is one that starts off at Bubba Bubba Boba, leads to an action movie, and ends with a kiss.
.
Yang has had 7 speeding tickets.
.
Blake has already replaced her copy of Ninja's of Love, and Ruby is on chapter 3.
.
Weiss is more touch starved than she is horny.
.
Pyrrha doesn't hate Cyril, she just hates that she lost to him.
.
Jaune refuses to say his last name and has in fact kept it secret. Even having it omitted in team announcements.
.
Cyril is from the Midwest of the United States, and was transported mid Pandemic.
.
Sienna Kahn has 3 husbands and 2 wives as per her station and alliances she's made to become Chieftan of the Kahn.
.
Adam's Teammate Perry, is a platypus Faunus with spurs on his feet. And was adopted and was raised by a human family.
.
Velvet has a harem of Coco, Yatsuhashi, and Fox.
.
There is a music artist named Odd Tim, he's Remnant's Weird Al. Weiss hates that he made a parody of one of her songs, and that she likes it. Publicly she has no opinion.
Song: Glass Bird
Parody: Blast Turd
One line
Original: I hit the ground, and shattered
Parody: was ready to pound, and sharted
Yeah, Weiss hates the fact that she likes the parody, arguably more than the original.
.
.
A/N
.
The phone call where Coco interrupted and hung up. Was Coco taking the scroll and telling Velvet not to get involved.
There's more I wanted to say, but I'm tired and can't think. I'm just writing this to get it to 6.9k words for the joke. And it's sooo close! There. Done.
.
I am growing fat on comments! I am the mayor from Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs, and I want MOAR!
.
Find me in my channel, newb's-grotto, on the discord.
Link to the discord: discord .gg/DarkWolfShiro