Re-intro: Action/Video

[maybeitsmaybelline]

Action

He's drowning.

His body jerks into action before his mind can catch up, limbs thrashing in search of something to hold onto, and suddenly he's falling. The bay's icy water hardly registers over the fire in his lungs, but he manages to push himself up on his hands and knees before the coughing sets in. It shakes his body and echoes off the walls, punctuated by desperate gasps for air before his breath catches again and he chokes up more of the thick black blood that fills his airways.

It's not until the fit passes that he realizes where he is and remembers what's happened.

The fight. Neo's gasp as she was ripped away from him. He can't remember Red's words but he remembers the blackout rage, remembers her cowering and the shocks that ran back up his cane when he hit her. The flapping of giant wings, sudden darkness, searing heat pressing against him from all sides.

She took Neo. She took Neo, and she killed him before he could do a damn thing about it. She took Neo and Neo would never know what happened, never find out that he didn't want to leave her. She took Neo and he was here alone, separated by worlds and the distance between life and death.


Video

[Roman is usually striking because of his dashing good looks and impeccable style, but last night robbed him of those so he's had to improvise. First prop: gore. Patches of black blood stain his white coat, splashes of fresh red pop against the unhealthy pallor of his skin. He's still not sure what Grimm are made of, but he's covered in their guts and he revels in it.

His second prop is the smoldering remains of Weiss' welcoming hologram beside him. It produces the occasional flash of a smile or garbled words, but most of it is lost to sparks and smoke.

He gives the camera a smile full of teeth.]

Hello again, Genessia. Did you miss me?

[It sounds like he's swallowed glass, but his voice is steady. He pauses to light a cigar from the hologram's embers.]

It's been a while, hasn't it? I've had some time to look at my life. Really think about the choices I've made, and you-- [Something in the hologram explodes. He waits for the noise to die down. The smile never falters.] You know what I've been missing? Focus. Try to do ten things at once and you'll half-ass all of them. So here's my resolution: pick one goal and see it through till the end.

[He leans in close to the camera, all wide eyes and bloodstained smile.]

I'll be seeing you around, Little Red.

[The video cuts off.]

Comments

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[Revenge. It's not much of a gain, he knows. But he's already lost Neo. He's lost any hope of going home - you can't return to a corpse, after all. He has nothing left to lose. Revenge won't bring either of them back, but at least it might ease his blinding rage.

He's not going to say that to Ozpin, though. There's no point in showing weakness to the enemy, and it isn't as if he'd accept the answer anyway.]

You really believe that, don't you?

[That his students wouldn't string him up. Roman can't even be angry; he's just too amazed at the naivety. Especially after what Roman has just told him about Ruby.]

You've spent too much time up in that tower. You're out of touch with the monsters you've created.

[He smiles slowly, but it isn't the least bit pleasant.]

I wonder how long it'll take them to turn on you.

[beacane]

The problem with people like you, Roman, is that you've allowed your heart to fester so completely that you cannot possibly fathom the idea that there are good people in this world.

[ calmly, patiently, because ozpin isn't going to allow such ridiculously petty words to get to him ]

My students are trained to dispatch of monsters, and to defend themselves to the best of their ability. Should I become a monster, or attack them without cause, then they will do as trained. Seeing as that isn't going to happen in the foreseeable future, I believe I'm safe.

I cannot say the same for you, though, should you elect to attack Ruby.

[ ozpin will take care of you himself, if that's the case, and he'd really rather not ]

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[Roman hardly seems bothered. On the contrary, an amused smile plays across his face. He's as confident in his worldview as Ozpin is in his. The bravado and casual threat wash right off him.]

Well, that's another perspective.

[His smile grows wider as he imagines Ozpin up against Weiss' personal army. Wouldn't that be a lovely time to strike against Ruby? He tips his hat.]

I guess we'll have to wait and see who's right.

[beacane]

I doubt we will have to wait long, if you choose to not keep your hands to yourself.

[ ozpin will throw you off schnee tower himself you piece of garbage :) ]

You have the opportunity, here, to make different choices. I suggest you take it.

[ and he ends the feed ]