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yes there may be spoilers
ACTION; at the dream docks
[ The first thing Weiss had done when she woke up, after just sitting for a moment, had been to check her phone. Mayu's text was the first thing that she saw about Torchwick, so that was an issue she had to address as soon as she could. A look back at what she'd missed made it clear that he was going after Ruby and Weiss wouldn't let that happen. She needed to go home and see everyone. Now. She needed to make sure that when she walked in, she'd still be able to see the faces of those they'd lost.
Then.. then she'd figure it out. Weiss didn't have the luxury of sitting home crying, not here. She had work to do. She had to find some way to fix this. Aaand she also needed to make sure that the City Guardian's office hadn't gone to shambles because she left it in the hands of her Deputies who had just met that day. She couldn't mourn. She'd have enough time to do that alone, at home, back in Atlas.
Here she just had to find the people she cared about and protect them. If that meant coming down on crime a hundred times harder than normal, then so be it. Weiss too a deep breath, not checking if Sun and Jaune were awake yet, and turned her device to post. ]
VOICE
This is Nova City Guardian Weiss Schnee speaking.
As of this moment, Roman Torchwick is considered a wanted fugitive. I'll offer level 5 payment as a bounty, direct from the City Guardian office. I would encourage other City Guardians to list him as a high-profile criminal as well. Torchwick's list of crimes includes murder, theft, kidnapping, torture, evading the law and that's just from his previous experience in Genessia. Back home he's done much, much worse.
If you do not have experience fighting, do not approach him. Keep in mind that to keep him alive, you'll need to break his aura but not go beyond that except to disable him. I don't care what state you bring him in provided that he's alive and secure. No one's getting paid for killing him because killing him still means he's free. Anyone found aiding, abetting, harboring, or hiding information about Roman Torchwick is considered a criminal and will be dealt with appropriately.
ACTION; Open to Remnant House / Anyone who wants to visit?
[ Once Weiss had left the Dream Docks, she went home to change clothes and check everyone's rooms. Chances were, those who didn't know what was going on would've just been going about their lives normally, maybe at work or off doing whatever errands, but she still just wanted to see if anyone was home. She wanted to see anyone. She wasn't even bothering with privacy, instead just peeking her heads into doors as she knocked. ]
Hello?
[ The first thing Weiss had done when she woke up, after just sitting for a moment, had been to check her phone. Mayu's text was the first thing that she saw about Torchwick, so that was an issue she had to address as soon as she could. A look back at what she'd missed made it clear that he was going after Ruby and Weiss wouldn't let that happen. She needed to go home and see everyone. Now. She needed to make sure that when she walked in, she'd still be able to see the faces of those they'd lost.
Then.. then she'd figure it out. Weiss didn't have the luxury of sitting home crying, not here. She had work to do. She had to find some way to fix this. Aaand she also needed to make sure that the City Guardian's office hadn't gone to shambles because she left it in the hands of her Deputies who had just met that day. She couldn't mourn. She'd have enough time to do that alone, at home, back in Atlas.
Here she just had to find the people she cared about and protect them. If that meant coming down on crime a hundred times harder than normal, then so be it. Weiss too a deep breath, not checking if Sun and Jaune were awake yet, and turned her device to post. ]
VOICE
This is Nova City Guardian Weiss Schnee speaking.
As of this moment, Roman Torchwick is considered a wanted fugitive. I'll offer level 5 payment as a bounty, direct from the City Guardian office. I would encourage other City Guardians to list him as a high-profile criminal as well. Torchwick's list of crimes includes murder, theft, kidnapping, torture, evading the law and that's just from his previous experience in Genessia. Back home he's done much, much worse.
If you do not have experience fighting, do not approach him. Keep in mind that to keep him alive, you'll need to break his aura but not go beyond that except to disable him. I don't care what state you bring him in provided that he's alive and secure. No one's getting paid for killing him because killing him still means he's free. Anyone found aiding, abetting, harboring, or hiding information about Roman Torchwick is considered a criminal and will be dealt with appropriately.
ACTION; Open to Remnant House / Anyone who wants to visit?
[ Once Weiss had left the Dream Docks, she went home to change clothes and check everyone's rooms. Chances were, those who didn't know what was going on would've just been going about their lives normally, maybe at work or off doing whatever errands, but she still just wanted to see if anyone was home. She wanted to see anyone. She wasn't even bothering with privacy, instead just peeking her heads into doors as she knocked. ]
Hello?
[action]
I was with Blake at the fairgrounds and we saw what happened to Penny over the television. When the Grimm and the White Fang started attacking, we worked together to make our way back to Beacon, making sure as many people could get out as possible. Ironwood's forces turned against us at some point. She and I split up when two big Grimm appeared. She followed an alpha and some White Fang members, I went to help some of the citizens. Eventually I ran into a large group of students-- Team SSSN, CFVY, and FNKI were there. We fought for what felt like forever- Velvet's ability is amazing, by the way, and I managed to summon something.. eventually we made our way out and Professor Port and Oobleck said we were being forcefully evacuated. Blake and Yang.. we found them and they were collapsed on the ground. I don't really know what happened, but Yang was missing her arm and Blake looked like she'd been stabbed. Pyrrha and Jaune were still missing, so Ruby and I went back while everyone else went to get evacuated. Then Jaune called me and I think he-
[ No. That's not important, as heartbreaking and frightening as it was to receive that call. ]
...Pyrrha left on her own, she made it so he couldn't help her and went after Cinder. I used my glyphs to help Ruby run up the side of the tower but I think we were a few seconds too late. I'm not sure what happened, but there was a huge flash. It was blinding. When it cleared, the dragon was frozen atop the tower. Ruby's uncle got up there before I did and got her down and she wouldn't wake up. He wouldn't say anything to me but he had Pyrrha's.. her headdress. I was pulled back to the evacuation and I went to the hospital, but I couldn't wait for most of them to wake up. My father saw the broadcast and set out right away to retrieve me claiming it would be safe in Atlas. [ Weiss rolls her eyes at that. It's very obvious she disagrees. ]
Since the towers were down, I haven't had any news from anyone since. I think Cinder must've gotten away- Jaune told me Ruby, he, Ren, and Nora were heading to Haven when I got up from the Docks to pursue. I'm.. guessing Yang wasn't up for it.
[action]
ruby had cried. blake had too, though she tried to fight it off. not weiss schnee.
he offers her a slight smile, at her eyeroll -- it's clear, by ozpin's own expression, that weiss isn't any safer in atlas as she is in vale -- but when weiss is done, ozpin exhales slowly, humming to himself in thought. how would ruby, ren, nora, and jaune know to go to haven? but as soon as ozpin thinks it, he has to suppress an eyeroll of his own.
qrow. the idiot. ]
... Pyrrha and Jaune were not missing. They were with me. Though I imagine Pyrrha, herself, will want to tell that story soon enough...
[ it's said tiredly, and ozpin looks back out the window again, with a slight frown. he's lost in thought for a moment -- the school is gone, overrun by grimm. there is a dragon on top of his institution, and his city is in ruins. where is glynda, or qrow, or james? and ruby... ]
You, yourself, are fine? Physically.
[ ozpin looks over at her, concern etched into his features. the distinction is important. ]
[action]
I take it you're not planning on sharing until she's ready.
[ Which is annoying. Not that she doesn't expect Pyrrha will share, but the whole withholding of information from everyone is a huge part of what caused this in the first place. Weiss nods. She hasn't bothered to hide the scar etched into her hand, clearly done over and over again so that her aura couldn't heal it by the time she got out, but that's not from their world. That's a year old scar, one she had from Genessia. ]
Tired, but I'm one of the few people who was still standing without any more effort than fighting off exhaustion. Waking up to a text about Torchwick didn't help with that, but I'd rather be warned than ambushed. Are you? If Pyrrha and Jaune are with you, why weren't you around when Ruby and I got there?
[action]
I expect she will ask me whether or not it is alright for her to tell the story, and I will tell her that it is up to her. Whether or not she wants to share it is entirely her right, though I expect Pyrrha won't hesitate to tell you all.
[ but ozpin pauses, and he places both hands on his cane, watching weiss with some curiosity. he hasn't missed the scar, but also won't ask about it. not yet, anyway -- not when he's already prying about wounds that are still fresh. ]
I was not with you all because Cinder attacked Pyrrha, Jaune, and I in the Vault -- a hidden area beneath the Academy. I told Pyrrha and Jaune to run, and they did. Cinder broke my aura during our subsequent battle.
[ it's a bit blunt, but his tone is still as calm as ever, almost as if he's talking about the weather. but in stating that, it's brought up another problem, and ozpin is right back to looking tired. ]
An astonishingly large burden has fallen upon all of your shoulders, and I wish I could remove it. None of this was meant to come to pass, and yet it has. The only thing to do now is to move forward, both here and there, if we are able.
[action]
Whatever you learn here isn't going to have an effect on our world. Just keep that in mind before you go thinking this is spare time to make things better. Otherwise I would've killed Mercury when I had the chance long before I knew what was going to happen back home. If you don't want to tell me what the three of you were doing, fine. I'll wait until Pyrrha tells us or it becomes relevant here, but I know Cinder and Mercury are bad news. What about Emerald?
[ She needed to know in case any of them showed up here. Emerald.. she'd thought that she was their friend. She'd been the only one of their team to really interact with them too, the only one who seemed friendly.. it hardly seemed like it would be necessary to put on that act if she was involved. But at the same time.. how would someone possibly not realize their teammates were planning something like this beyond willful ignorance? ]
I need to know who our enemies are. I didn't become Guardian to wait until everyone's down before I do anything.
[action] 1/2
but cinder, mercury, and emerald? that he can talk about. but first -- ]
It is absolutely amazing, Miss Schnee, what you have constructed here, and how you've chosen to utilize your time here.
[ it's said quietly, but with a faint smile, and he rests his weight on his cane as he leans forward a bit, eyes bright. ]
I would expect nothing less from one of my best students.
[action]
[ by ozpin's tone, he isn't entirely sure just yet. but -- ]
After speaking with Emerald, I don't believe she's entirely telling the truth in regards to Miss Polendina or her involvement with Miss Xiao Long's tournament fight against Mercury, but I also don't believe she's entirely invested in either Cinder or Mercury's mission. She's... hm.
[ he considers his wording carefully ]
-- over her head, so to speak. Attacking her without proof is pointless, and I don't believe she's a legitimate threat. I also don't believe she should be trusted.
[action]
But now, she has the Blue Spirit's mask and swords locked up in a safe in her closet to make sure no one found out his secret after he left. Between he and Blake, she's learned a little something about people being capable of both change and redemption. That doesn't mean she thinks Emerald is, and she certainly doesn't believe that something could've changed overnight if that were the case. But if Ozpin thinks it's possible that she at least isn't a threat, she's willing to consider it. ]
She took out Coco in that tournament without breaking a sweat and if she really was involved, the fact that she made us believe she was our friend is going to be much harder for some of us to swallow than others. I won't raise alarms about her unless she does something here but I can't guarantee Ruby will feel the same way if it turns out she was involved.
[action]
[ ozpin would not have made her the leader if he didn't think she was capable. he'll talk to her, just in case, though. he doesn't need a war breaking out without full detail of what's going on. ]
But I believe Emerald will come speak with me again, once she's had time to think. When she does, I will be sure to let you know what she says.
[ he'll even be honest about it. look, weiss, even old dogs learn new tricks. ]
[action]
[ Still- Weiss digresses. She holds out her hand with the little hologram she'd picked up earlier and uses a gesture to open it up to a pad. ]
I can give you access to my office; this scans your fingerprints and it'll put it into the system. If something happens and you have to lead them in here, it's fairly fortified. At least enough to act as a decent hiding place until there's a plan, and there are specialized... weapons I've borrowed the lockers for, in case of future emergencies. I'll have one programmed to come here automatically.
But.. I do have to ask one favor that you're probably not going to like.
[action] 1/2
[ it isn't said reproachfully, or with any warning in his tone -- just simply stated. ozpin, too, is a huntsman. he understands the value of life, and how it feels when you cannot save one. he, of all people, doesn't need that explained to him. ]
I would not have said what I did if I did not think Ruby perfectly capable of sorting through her grief, and her emotions, in a manner befitting of both a huntress and a young girl. No one is attacking anyone, and no one is starting a war. We will all be fine -- after we have allowed ourselves room to heal.
[action]
I may have an answer for you that you may not want.
[ mildly ]
What is it, Weiss?
[action]
"Fine" is a questionable adjective, Professor.
[ Buuut there's something that's bothering her more than that. ]
I need you to tell me where the Vault is, how it's secured, and exactly how defended you think it should be. I have an open, active subarchway of Beacon Academy in Nova City that was created before the fall of Vale so if whatever you and Pyrrha are keeping secret might still be down there, I need to make sure that it's not something the wrong people get their hands on.
[action]
I'm afraid I cannot tell you that.
[ simply, with only the slightest of frowns. and his tone almost sounds apologetic, but he sounds firm. ]
Whether Pyrrha chooses to share what she knows is up to her. I am not going to do it for her.
[ and that is that. ]
[action]
[ It feels incredibly strange talking back to a professor when they've explicitly stated that they're not going to share, but Weiss has to reminder herself that he's not the one in charge here- she is. ]
Your duty is to the people from our world. This place is just as much my home as Beacon once was and these people put me in charge of protecting it. I'm not going to let Nova City fall the same way Beacon and Vale did. I'll respect your opinions about Emerald, but I'm afraid I have to insist on knowing exactly how much security is necessary or if it would be better to see about finding a way to close the subarchway now that we've stripped what we need from it.
[action]
[ it's said gently, at the end of her explanation, and while ozpin looks sympathetic -- and respectful, of her role in this city, and of her leadership... she's young. she doesn't know the truth of their world, and she shouldn't. she wasn't told for a reason, just like her sister wasn't told for a reason, and ozpin has absolutely no intention of spreading the secret even now.
but he knows his role in this system, and he knows his duty to beacon, and to vale. to the maidens, to fighting against her -- and while ozpin is extraordinarily tolerant of his students toeing the line and talking back to him (and encourages it, even), he also won't be told how to handle something that they don't understand. ]
You are asking a question you already know the answer to, but requesting details you do not need. You saw what happened to Beacon, and to Vale.
[ in short: closing the archway would be best. ]
Should you feel the need to close the subarchway, then I will not stop you. But I am not going to tell you what is in the Vault, or how to get there. It is no longer of any concern.
[ now that cinder has the maiden's powers, even half-dead amber would be useless. absorbing her additional aura would probably just push cinder over the edge and kill her. one can only hope. ]
[action]
With all due respect sir, you've informed me that you were hiding something where we lived, ate, and slept. My team had multiple run-ins with the enemy that caused this and we had no chance at preparing for anything like what actually happened, training as huntresses or not, because you decided we didn't need those details. Penny's death could've been avoided if her identity as mechanical had been recognized before her and Pyrrha's match.
[ Weiss backed up, moving back to her desk and resting a hand on it, trying to calm herself as she speaks. Remain mature, don't get riled up, don't get emotional. ]
I'm not saying you didn't have your reasons, but your judgment about what are and aren't details that we need is not something I'm willing to stake anyone's life on right now. If there's a way to keep the Vale and Beacon archways open without it being a risk, I'd prefer to do that instead of pay whatever price it's going to cost to close them. Dust likely won't work without those subarchways around and I've already paid to get one open to help protect this place from the soul-sucking monsters that are being kept out by the barrier. I can't afford to close two and open another safer area, especially when I have no idea what is or isn't safe because of people like you who decide we don't need to know what world-ending goals the enemies you've practically invited into our lives have.
[ She turns back around, opening up a hand out to her side as she continues, not pausing long enough for him to get a word in edgewise- she's very good at that when she wants to be. ]
What happened may not be your fault, but us not being prepared for it? I guess we just didn't need to know that we weren't going to graduate, that we weren't going to see some of our friends again, that we were just fooling ourselves when we thought we were ready, or that our teams wouldn't even make it through the end of school without us being torn apart by death, fear, injury, or separation.
[ Her expression saddens slightly, then softens. ]
All I'm asking is that you help me make the right decision here without losing myself for it if there's another way around it.
[action]
his head is starting to hurt. ]
... a secret, Weiss, that is told to more than one person, is going to come out eventually. I did not tell you, or the rest of the student body, for the same reasons I did not tell your sister -- for one, it was none of your business. [ his tone turns a bit dry, but soon goes back to being calm and even ] For another, when you arrive at my institution, you are children learning how to navigate a world that is far too big for you. And perhaps that is still true, even after these events have taken place. I do not train soldiers; I train compassionate individuals who have the ability to make the choice between hatred and love, and who fight the Grimm to secure peace. Not to start wars -- not to fight them. Perhaps that was my own undoing, but I was not going to begin your first day at Beacon Academy by carefully detailing out every single horror that you must encounter in this world, including what is underneath your feet -- that is not how life works, unfortunately, and had I told you, you would have been no more prepared than I was when I had to encounter what became of the Vault. But --
[ and here, ozpin just delicately navigates forward, before weiss can have the opportunity to cut him off ]
Everything that transpired at Beacon is my responsibility -- no, I'll use a strong word, I should not be so dismissive... it is my fault. Everything that Cinder did was in order to create chaos, and to destroy me. Pyrrha's murder -- [ and, again, he uses the stronger word, because that is what it is ] -- rests entirely in my hands, and my hands alone. None of you are to blame for what occurred, though I expect certain portions of your group will take far more convincing to believe otherwise.
[ he pauses, there, weighing out what he wants to say -- weiss is correct, in that the students have no reason to trust him, but ozpin is correct too -- or so he believes. he cannot, and will not, give out their world's secret to everyone who asks, not even weiss schnee. that is not his responsibility, and the only reason why he is allowing pyrrha nikos the opportunity to tell her friends is because it is her story, now, much more than it is his. ]
You have no reason to trust me, and I appreciate that. But what remains in the Vault cannot be used, except by Pyrrha, and I will never allow her to do such a thing. I very strongly doubt she wants anything to do with it, either. Cinder, should she attempt to use it, should she arrive here, would only get herself killed. Currently, no one can access the Vault except for myself. Not even Pyrrha can get to it without me. So.
[ he finally looks over at weiss -- tired, but firm, his lips twisted into a frown. ]
I would not keep it secret if I thought more people were going to die. This city is safe.
[action]
[ She very quickly takes out the points that pertain to what she wants to know with as much precision as she delivers with her sword. The last one bothers her more than she'd like. It'd be one thing if it was about revolution or a cause that mattered. But Ozpin had just essentially admitted to this entire thing being some kind of ridiculous personal problem that had gotten far out of hand. If he was looking to repair any trust, he wasn't doing too well. ]
It may be your responsibility that we were involved and you may be related to it, but unless you actually assisted in committing the acts, Professor, it's no one's fault but the people who did this. Just like I told Jaune and Ruby, I don't care if you think you could've done more or you could've done things differently. You're being a complete dolt if you think you could've controlled the actions of anyone other than your own. I blame you for not sharing the information that could've been used to change how everyone handled things, but I don't blame you for what happened to Vale.
[action]
she will not win. this war, to tear down everything he holds dear, won't work. hope is a very powerful thing.
but ozpin allows himself the good grace of a soft laugh -- more of a chuckle, really, and he shakes his head slightly -- not disagreeing with her, but in the barest hint of amusement. ]
You will come to see, in time, that the more responsibilities you have, the more things become your fault, regardless of whether or not they actually are. There are a million different decisions that I, and a group of others, could have made differently in order to prevent what happened to Vale. But we chose a million different other paths, and ultimately, that rests on my shoulders. I appreciate your honesty more than you know, and I am sorry that I cannot return mine. Once I have the opportunity to speak with Pyrrha Nikos, you will undoubtably have what you seek. Until then, I ask you to be patient. And...
[ as he ducks his head slightly, to meet her gaze. ]
Never stop questioning authority, Miss Schnee. It is only through the youth that old people like me are constantly reminded of our own errors, our own failings, and so we can continue improving.
[ that is, after all, one of the reasons ozpin had accepted a schnee into his school. ]
[action]
[ She wouldn't, and her tone suggests that she's probably just joking, but she's sure she definitely could if she wanted to twist it that way. The little smile on her lips fades a little, though. ]
Would you mind letting me know if any of the people from our world need help? I know it probably isn't my business, but Sun and I have been here long enough to.. already know how to handle what happened in Remnant more easily than the others. If they won't talk to you, just let one of us know and we'll try. [ Almost like she's listing off groceries, she starts ticking her fingers off as she goes through a list. ] We've already been through the breakdowns, constant nightmares when we can sleep at all, overworking to avoid thinking about things, being scared to sleep alone, seeking retribution, intentionally breaking rules just to get away from everything- though Sun had to drag me along for that one the first time- [ The first time. ] depression, doing something incredibly stupid... I don't feel like I'm selling this very well, but I don't want them to have to go through that without someone who's dealt with it before. Teammate or not. I'm sure Sun would say the same thing.
[action] 1/2
It's a turn-of-phrase, Miss Schnee.
[ lighten up, girl. ]
I simply never want you to change. That is all.
[action]
all of that sounds well and good, and it gives ozpin hope, again, that they're all taking care of each other. but: ]
I will endeavor to do so, but who is going to look after you?
[ gently, prodding.
take a step back, weiss. ]
[action]
I had someone before, but if there's one thing you learn here it's that everyone disappears eventually and if they come back their memories of the first time are gone more often than not. Sun is the only one who hasn't disappeared on me and I think.. even if I have before, I've been the longest for him. We've been there for each other a lot. I've learned to take care of myself otherwise, and if I get too bad one of the many ex-military in my employ tend to make sure I at least take a break.
[ It's a nice system of 'everyone make sure Weiss doesn't get too cranky' combined with her not having anything too bad happen in a few months and giving her time to get better. You know until things go horribly wrong again. ]
Oh, and I have Frost and Char. [ Is she definitely taking her device out to show him a picture of a Charizard looking chill with a teacup maltese. This definitely counts as a support system right?? ] And some other Pokemon, but Char was my first one.
[action]
... and there is the slowest arching of eyebrows, his mouth opening to say the first thing that comes to mind (someone gave you a dragon?) before ozpin wisely thinks better of it, and settles for his second impression: ]
... how ... fitting.
[ it's totally said in the tone of a parent who has been given a child's drawing that is literal garbage and they say "how beautiful!" anyway ]
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