genessia | Intro Post

WHO: Blake Belladona and anyone who wants to run into our new arrival
WHAT: Disoriented, confused and trying to make a game plan. (Sorry RWBY people, she's going to keep her head down until she thinks it's safe to reveal herself because she's Blake. >_>)
WHEN: Late evening, Feb. 14th
WHERE: Fayren,The Drunken Monkey
WARNINGS:N/A

[Blake kicked open the pod she was encased in and wasted no time jumping out, Gambol Shroud at the ready. She tried to stay focused, but with everything she'd been through waking up in a pod in some strange cave was the last thing that her nerves needed. Her hand was shaking on her weapon. Her last memory was of the shame and self-blame for what happened to Yang eating away at her until she had come to a decision.

She had to get as far away from everyone as she could. She knew that Adam had been turning into a monster for some time, but she had never imagined that he hated her this much or that he would go this far. Every one of her friends had a target on their backs so long as he had a score to settle with her. And she couldn't take seeing anyone else hurt because of her. So, she had fled. She had no plan on what to do or where to go. If Adam had become this insane he may already be planning to have her tracked down and there was no way in hell she was letting anyone else get dragged into it this time. She felt a cold stone settle in her stomach as she realized that he might already have found her. She still had no idea of how she had ended up in that pod. Or what town or city she was even in.

*An hour later...

She was still shaken up by seeing Weiss of all people on the video. Her heart had felt a stab of something that almost felt like homesickness and she had to clamp down on her impulse to contact her friend. She almost had, then like a coward, snapped the device shut. She just couldn't face them right now. And besides, who knew who else had been brought here?

And so, she was sitting with a stone necklace on and no plan after grumpily assuring the dubious bartender that she did indeed, really just ask for a pint of milk. She winced as she sipped her drink, a sharp pain reminding her of the parting gift her old comrade in arms had left her with. At least it wasn't bleeding. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

-- and, suddenly, Blake had Ozpin's laser focus.

"What did Ruby do?"

It was asked immediately, and he even leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the table -- at attention. The Grimm was frozen on top of the school, because Ruby stopped it? Ruby -- you have silver eyes...

"She froze it? You're certain, Blake? Be as specific as you can."

She blinked at looked up at her headmaster noticing the swift shift in his focus.

"I wasn't there, so everything I'm telling you is from secondary sources," she replied. "But there was this blinding white light on top of the tower where she went after Cinder, so it must have been her that was causing it. It was actually her uncle that brought her back, but she was unconcious."

And shortly afterwards, I ran and never looked back. she thought bitterly. I couldn't face Yang when she woke up. And I wasn't going to wait around for Adam to hunt me down and find another one of my friends to hurt.

Ozpin drew in a breath, at that -- and for some reason, it made perfect sense to him. He didn't go into detail, however, and he certainly didn't look very happy. If anything, he looked like he was going to regret receiving the answer to the question that he asked.

"Why did Ruby see, on top of the tower?"

It was quiet -- apologetic, almost, because it certainly was not going to be good.

Blake's fists clenched on the table and her mouth trembled slightly.

"Pyrrah went on her own...to where Cinder was," the girls said haltingly. "They told me that when Ruby got there, there was only one piece of her armor left - it was like she'd been incinerated." She choked off the last word and despite that she was trying to be strong, a tear ran down Blake's cheek.

She couldn't say anything else. She didn't want to start full on sobbing like a child, not when Ozpin needed to hear clear, concise details.

Edited 2016-02-17 04:59 (UTC)

Pyrrha went on her own.

The moment Blake finished that sentence, Ozpin already knew how it was going to end -- and he settled back into his chair, looking briefly stunned. Caught off guard -- not anticipating that, or expecting anything even remotely close to it. Pyrrha Nikos, dead?

None of this was supposed to happen. Pyrrha Nikos was supposed to be the Maiden of Fall. She was supposed to survive, to safeguard their future... it was destiny. Or was it? Hadn't Ozpin been the one to suggest her? Hadn't Qrow questioned it, said that she was young, and Ozpin had insisted that she was ready. There was no one else better suited to the position...

But of course Pyrrha wouldn't listen to him. Why would she? She had her duty, and her honor, and why would Pyrrha leave him behind in the Vault? Or even worse, if Pyrrha had expected Ozpin to be dead, she would have surely gone on to fight Cinder herself... to obtain her rightful power, or to just make things right.

Incinerated.

Ozpin wouldn't even be able to tell her parents.

"I will think no less of you, if you need time."

Finally, and Ozpin drew in his own quiet breath, letting it out slowly. Letting it sink in.

Ozpin was far too old, now, to cry over a fallen comrade, but it was impossible to mask his expression completely, and to store away all emotion. Guilt, heartbreak, sympathy, frustration --

"Would you like to go outside?"

Blake didn't really think going outside would make her feel much better. The only thing that helped was to keep her mind busy. She hadn't had much of a plan at first outside of protecting her friends. But with the other kingdom's limited knowledge about what had actually happened, she thought it might be best to find out what the mood was in other kingdoms. She didn't think she could prevent all out war or get them to trust in each other again, but Cider had said she was from Mistral. Maybe she could at least try to begin to piece together why what had happened had happened. Maybe there was a clue. At any rate, it would have put a safe distance between herself and the others.

"If that's what you would like, sir," she replied, quietly. She really didn't think the news would feel any less harsh outside than inside, but she'd let him process it however he needed to.

"I am fine."

It was more for Blake's sake, than his, and Ozpin shook his head slightly before drawing in a deep breath. Pyrrha Nikos is dead. The game had officially changed. Dramatically. There was no more successor. Keep thinking about this practically, Ozpin. Pragmatic. Calculated.

Pyrrha.

"... I am sorry that I could not do more."

Blake cocked her head and looked at him. She should reassure him. That was probably the right thing to do. What he needed. But what was she supposed to say? That everything would be okay? That there was some kind of deep meaning to all of this? Nothing would bring Penny or Pyrrah back.

Or make her able to look Yang in the eye again.

"That makes two of us," she said, simply. She let the silence hang for a moment. Then,"What will you do now, sir?"

It was a good question. An excellent question. What would Ozpin do now?

"I am going to collect the rest of the students of Beacon, and the other institutions, that may be here. We all need to be on the same page, with information -- and safeguard against what may turn up next."

Ozpin paused before refocusing his attention on Blake, with the quietest of frowns.

"Should Adam arrive here, Blake, I hope you know that we will do everything within our power to stop him. You will not be alone in facing this fight."

Blake felt her shoulders relax a little. At least with Ozpin here there could be some measure of safety for the people she cared about. Though a negative little voice in the back of her head reminded her that Ozpin being there hadn't done much for the most recent events and he couldn't be in several places at once. Not that she didn't respect him, but he was only human after all.

"Yes I will," she said firmly. "I'm not letting anyone else get mutilated for the crime of being human and my friend."

If there was one thing she was definitely not going to budge on it was that. Having Adam anywhere near any of them ever again was her worst nightmare. She'd seek him out first if that's what it took and people might be furious with her for it, but they'd be out of the crossfire.

"I am afraid I am not giving you an option."

It was said gently, and finally, Ozpin offered her a tiny smile.

"I am far faster than I look -- so I am afraid you will have to, at least, deal with my company until you are ready for more."

"What does that mean?" she demanded.

She was not getting anyone else involved this time. Even if she had to jump through the window and leave behind an army of shadow clones in her wake to misdirect him. The one thing she was good at was escaping.

"Beacon's gone you know," she said, bitterly. "And I'm not your responsibility anymore."

Edited 2016-03-02 00:30 (UTC)

"Simply because the school is gone does not absolve me of my responsibility to the students that were placed underneath my care."

But Ozpin stood, offering Blake another small smile, and he inclined his head toward the door.

"But you have much to think about, as do I. I will leave you to your thoughts, Blake, but do not hesitate to reach out if you need me."

Intro Post

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