"I don't like this," Roman said, his whisper hushed as to avoid anyone outside catching wind of his words. Neo stood beside him, staring down over the ledge and with a bucket full of melted butter at the ready. In his opinion, she'd taken the whole "Schnee betrayal" a little too literally. Granted, he wasn't the one ready to "butter up" someone who apparently shoveled their work on him, so what did he know?
Some passing soldiers gave them weird glances, and Roman debated whether to leave her at the mercy of the day, but he had a few shards of info Neo probably wanted to know. And so, he began their discussion with what he'd come to dub as "Cinder News."
"She's being more direct than usual." Roman leaned on an elbow, slurping coffee fresh from the cup. Ordinarily, he'd break out a cigar, but at the moment he didn't feel like appearing too casual; coffee, at least, implied him bound to certain rules that may, or may not, have been totally applicable. "Cuddling up to faunus students here and there."
Neo looked to ignore every word and continued to scan the sparse walking path below, but the odd lick of her lips every now and then said otherwise; not every acknowledgement needed to be direct and obvious.
"She hasn't said anything to you, has she?" Neo's brief rattle of her shoulders said no. "Figures." He sighed and turned his back to the ledge. "You'd think she'd seclude herself more to stay out of the spotlight, but instead she's mocking them."
Why? he wondered. Cinder faced poor results for whatever she had in mind on the daily, so what jabbed her hard enough into playing innocent this time? Most interactions, at least according to schoolground rumors by both desperate teens and jealous girl groups who'd gossip in passing, pointed to a larger interest and potential seduction attempts towards the male half of the local faunus hub.
Which only added to the suspicions of White Fang involvement from any knowing outsider's gaze; too obviously, for his tastes.
"She's got something big." Neo tapped her shoe against the stone. "I don't know any more than you. Think you can find out?" Her heel scraped against the masonry of the balcony. "No, not directly. Just try to listen for anything, okay?" Two taps next. "No. Keep it to yourself unless it's crazy huge. I'm betting she's suspicious of us together already. But she's keeping you around." Neo sent him an eye, to which he shrugged. "Who can say?"
On the bright side, the lapse in activity made for easy work hours, and she didn't seem super set to plot his murder right away.
A swift kick from the balcony began his trip. Roman redirected himself through the halls and down the stairs. He made sure to suck up any amusement he could gather from the occasional odd look. Most of the student body grew used to him fast enough, however the odd one or two shadowed away or gawked mildly as he passed. Ah, kids these days; always the little sparks of randomness that made life more than a little wild.
Within the small staff lounge, Roman poured himself a refill and made sure to spread his dues amongst the others.
"So, who's the unfortunate sucker today?" Glynda Goodwitch simmered on the spot beside the printer, and he could spy images of what looked to be a "no-no" list of what is, and isn't, permitted in combat sessions. She mumbled, but ultimately surrendered the - honestly useless - information.
"Another student "inspired" by Mint's actions, and chasing the social high." Classic gremlin behavior; kids never knew how unbearably annoying some of their trends could be. Not that he found this one particularly bothersome; he wasn't a teacher.
Roman snorted, which appeared to coax a voice from behind him.
"Something funny?" Up stepped Qrow, who after a quick glance towards Glynda grinned deviously. "Never mind, I think I know what it is. Another "Mint" wannabe?"
The uptight official known for her harsh criticisms and ruthless direct approach towards teaching simply hummed, collected her finished photocopies, and stormed off without another word. She'd forget her anger by tomorrow. Honestly, Roman expected her to hold a pretty mean grudge, but strangely, that ended up being a façade most days, and during less serious problems.
"Well," Qrow said with a shrug. "Guess I'm right again."
"Not that hard when it's the same answer every time." Roman took his coffee break towards the door, before he whipped back around. The student body wouldn't provide much entertaining company this early in the day; may as well make use of a decent opportunity.
"What? Got nowhere to run off?"
"Nope." Roman plopped himself down at the steel lunch table against the back wall. "I just decided I've had enough running around for right now."
"In that case." Qrow swept on over. "I've got a few minutes to kill." He released a deep sigh and sent a curious glance over, to which Roman entertained. "So, what's your girl up to?"
"Plotting her slippery revenge against the Ice-Queen's popsicle."
"Oooh~" Qrow chuckled after. "So, what did 'Mini' do?"
"Apparently, your niece's little partner hoisted her work over. Neo didn't get the memo, but based on what I'd been told, I'd say she's got the responsibility of the matter skewed. But then again, nobody can really stop her when she gets going; best I can do is suggest a less destructive method or punishment."
"She doesn't take "no" very well, does she?"
"She can, when the situation calls for it, but there's no real harm in her idea this time." Roman took a solid swing of his coffee and let his body spill over with laziness. "Besides, all it'll take is a shower and things 'll be back to normal."
"Not sure your handler will agree."
Roman rolled his eyes.
"As if anything could carve a smile into her face."
"She's protective of her little sister; a bit too much if you ask me." Qrow took a swig. "But I can't complain; I'd be a hypocrite. Truth be told, I figured you'd feel more apprehensive, knowing what "Mint" has been up to."
"She can handle herself." Qrow didn't mean that, obviously, but in Roman's eyes, Neo couldn't care less about how indecent she chose to be at any given time. "Besides, if she's stripping down, she usually has a reason."
"And the times she doesn't?"
"They don't exist." Roman allowed a small smirk to spread. "Finding a laugh from a few shocked faces is still a reason, you know?"
"I guess." Qrow stretched out a bit. "So, what about Ruby? Half of us were expecting there to be a little more resistance on your part, seeing as she's wiped the floor with you a few times."
"Little Red put you up to this didn't she?"
Qrow nodded, not even trying to hide it apparently.
"She's worried you'll try to take Mint away from her; forbidden friendships and all that."
"No offense, but your niece really needs to stop watching late night dramas."
"Not her cup of coco. Don't tell Winter, but I'm blaming her sister for that one, or maybe even the other girl; haven't decided yet."
Ah, the blame game; perfect for when you don't really want to do anything about an issue, and instead just need to blow off steam. Roman, facing such scrutiny, lifted one hand.
"I solemnly swear, Ironwood's blizzard won't hear a word of it."
"Great."
"And let the nuisance know I barely remember half of what she did." Only a small lie passed through his lips. For as irritating as she could be in the moment, having spent some time around her gang of groupies, it seemed less like she had actively succeeded in stopping his forced labors, and more so she'd been shielded by luck every step of the way.
But luck could only carry one so far.
"I'll paraphrase." Qrow kicked back into gear, seemingly ready for whatever action called to him. "Believe me, it's best not to give her any ideas or reasons to jump."
"Noted."
As Qrow took to the halls to reap the day, Roman decided he might as well get back to work. He'd expected many things when granted the ultimatum to save his skin, but leniency hadn't been one of them. He wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, however the game Atlas and Beacon played was a dangerous one indeed. He hadn't been the only one granted space, and unless they had some major backups in place, they might find themselves shoved away by more than simple curfew.
But unlike her, he himself had the advantage when it came to espionage; not that he had much use for it anymore.
While one could spend years learning how to crack through security, or even plotting the perfect over-convoluted plot to execute some grand scheme, much of it would often amount to little more than wasted time. One of the easiest sure-fire ways to get into a system has always, and forever would be, to gather the good graces of your targets.
Why spend years cracking the safe when you could have the owner lead you inside?
.
.
Cinder hated it worse than anything else, but it had to be done.
Having Emerald clear their room for spyware three times over, she ordered her peons to guard both the entrance door itself, and the outside of the window; Mercury somehow made his seat in the tree look natural.
With everything in gear, and most of the student body out for lunch, she unleashed the dreaded shadows who slinked free from her briefcase. The darkness looked to grow, expand, and wash itself in colors of crimson, ivory, and that sickening black that glistened like flesh after a fresh rain.
The seer had awoken, and thus she performed the duty she'd already been late for.
"Cinder." The ghastly expression, so void of emotion, carried a glazed look in its evil eyes. Impatient, perhaps, but she couldn't honestly tell. Immortality begot endless patience, or so she'd once been told, by the very being to witness her presence. "You're late."
"I apologise." Cinder bowed deeply; her heart steady in rhythm, but pounding relentlessly. "We ran into a few unfortunate hindrances along the way."
"So it would seem. Did any challenge you?"
"No. I've overcome all."
"No, you haven't." Cinder's throat hitched, but she dared not mutter. "You will face far grander struggles to come. Tell me, where are you holding up currently?"
"Beacon Academy, in Vale."
"Have you found the vault?"
"Not yet."
"Has Ozpin any suspicions of you or the rest of your group?"
"He most likely believes I am bound to the White Fang terrorists, however he has yet to act on such beliefs."
"Is your plan compromised?"
"No. They have only been minor irritants."
"Has anyone of note stood in your way, or shown their faces in any manner?"
"Not to my knowledge." A brief pause followed, but before Cinder could take the chance to break it, Salem continued.
"How long before your plan comes to fruition?"
"Two more days."
"Take heed during them. Ozpin is far more devious than he lets on. Do not let his apparent complacency distract you from your duty, nor allow him to fool you into submission."
"My resolve is unbreakable."
"For your sake, pray that stays true."
Salem vanished, as did the orb. She heard the clip of the briefcase resealing itself, at which point she finally dropped. Cinder swallowed several breaths of stagnant air, which only then seemed to regain its warmth. Not much important information traded between their lips, and yet she felt robbed even of the clothes upon her back. Several of her mistress's questions stood out in the worst of ways, and Cinder debated internally over whether they shadowed a warning.
Up on her legs again, she stuffed the briefcase away. Outside, she ordered Emerald in, telling her to get Mercury inside too while she handled something.
Outside and amongst the commoners, Cinder waited until she spied the first round of soldiers before she made her way over to Blake Belladonna. Adam's favored obsession, or so the rumors stated. She debated finding Ruby Rose, however she figured that far too on the nose, or so to speak.
"Mind if I sit?" she said, plopping down after obtaining permission from the girl via nod. The bench still had space for one more, but nobody looked ready to claim it. "There are quieter places for literature, you know."
"Hmm?" Blake looked over.
"Why pick the park as opposed to the library?"
"Yang." The loud, blonde one. Through a practiced snort, Cinder shook her head and sighed.
"That checks out. And I suppose your room isn't fit either."
"You can say that." A page flipped. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"
Finally…
"Not particularly. I just needed a place to rest for a moment, but since I have you, I might as well ask. How is Mint handling herself?"
"Fine... Why?"
"She rarely sticks around for longer than necessary, and knowing her like I do, if she's not around with us, then she's out causing mischief for someone else. So lay it on me: how much trouble has she sown for your team?"
"Not much, besides teasing everyone every now and then-"
An ear-piercing screech ripped up the grass as it traveled, and like that - and most everyone else - they dashed towards the noise and onto a rather... interesting scene.
Weiss Schnee stood covered in gold, which melted through and down her hair, soaking clothes and skin while slathering her in slippery dew. Flicking whatever mess blobbed within her eyes away, the victim of whatever turned the day's events on its head gazed up. A scowl ripped her lips apart, and thus did the shouts begin.
"MINT!"
Lo and behold, above them all the titular goth waved freely.
"Never mind," Blake said, quick to correct her previous fib. "That happened."
"Indeed it did." While on the outside she may wear a cross frown, on the inside Cinder saw rainbows and sunshine gleaming against the blood of her enemies which rained down from tainted skies of flesh and sinew.
Neo Politan; be she and Roman traitors in kind hardly mattered. Neo still followed her orders, she had to, because while Roman may think himself safe, his favored killer would never be. Just two more days and she'd have no need for either in a direct sense. And yet, if they really had defected to Ozpin, then why wait longer?
Sadly, the answer to that one was obvious, and so ideas of early execution fell flat.
Neo might have gotten used to peace over her time in Beacon, but when the fires rained and the White Fang pillaged all in their warpath, only then would Cinder would put an end to Roman's little scoop of sunshine herself. No one from Vale to Atlas or even the swarms of bugs surrounding them and playing 'friends' would be able to stop her.
And she would kill Roman. And she would kill Ozpin. And she would kill Ironwood.
But most importantly of all, Cinder Fall would personally see to the executions of the entirety of teams JNPR and RWBY with her own two hands, while making the silver eye's death the penultimate and final kill; a spectacle undeserved for such a wretch. Through some manner of misfortune, Ruby Rose had become important to Neo, and thus had to die in the worst of fashions.
Because slaying Neo's body wasn't enough; she had to skin her spirits too.
Author's note
…
A shorter one this time.
Didn't feel like forcing another scene, so the chapter cuts here. Felt like giving Roman some time to shine; we're in the final days before Cinder's plans, after all. Mint's having a good time, although it's to Weiss's detriment.
But most importantly: Salem.
While not as prominent as one would probably want, it does the job. Cinder seems spooked enough, so that's good I suppose.
Until next time.