Chapter Text
There was a light mist outside as Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang sat in their dorm. All four of the girls were excited for the upcoming first year student’s field trip to the Ventail Mountains that were east of Vale. Each member of team RWBY expressed their excitement in different ways however, while Ruby anxiously awaited Qrow’s arrival, she played a game on her scroll, Yang was sitting on Blake’s bed as she read a book about the mountain range they were visiting aloud.
Weiss seemed almost panicked as she went through her suitcase to make sure nothing that might be needed was missing, from Dust to clothing, she checked down to every detail, possibility and impossibility. Ruby rolled over to be on her stomach looking at the desk by the door. Weiss was sitting at the desk refolding and repackaging all of her clothes to be practically airtight inside the suitcase. “I'm amazed you don't have a barometer in that suitcase, with how particular about it you are” Ruby said to Weiss as she reorganized the order and position of dust capsules for the 3rd time.
“Well, I'm sorry for trying to save as much space as possible for provisions.” Weiss harrumphed at Ruby, closing the suitcase “Besides, I'm finished packing now.”
“For the 3rd time tonight, Weiss has accomplished packing a suitcase!” Yang Cheered, her duffle bag was stuffed closed with the outside pockets crammed with shirts and shotgun shells that wouldn't fit inside the main compartment, it was leaning against a dresser with the top drawer on the ground next to the bag, pulled out of the dresser. “Well I didn't just take the closest half of my wardrobe and cram it all into a gym bag! Do you even know where your ammunition is in that thing?”
“Pffft, course I do! Stuffed em in the outer pocket!” Yang said, waving her hand in the general direction of the bag.
Ruby and Yang’s scrolls pinged, Ruby’s sounded off a line of her favorite song, and Yang’s let off an electronic riff. Ruby glanced at the message, “Uncle Qrow is here!” She practically shrieked. Yang stood up and moved towards the door with a smile. Ruby moved to vault off of her bunk, moving her right leg under her stomach into a combination of a diving and sprinting stance. Fear grew in Yang's eyes as she suddenly jumped out of the way of the door and started furiously typing.
Blake, confusedly asked, “Ruby what are you doing?”. As she finished speaking, a beeping sound came from the hallway, and a flurry of petals pushed off from the bed, causing the back end to bash into the wall due to the rope supports.
Ruby blasted through the doorway, and straight into Qrow in a leaping hug. Qrow almost flew through the air on impact. “Uncle Qrow! You’re really here, oh my gosh I have so much to tell you about!” Ruby screamed as she continued embracing the man.
Qrow groaned “Nice to see you too kiddo, now how's about you let me check if you broke my ribs?” Team RWBY and Pyrrha investigated the loud thuds from their dorms and everyone but Yang was shocked to see that Ruby had tackled Qrow to the ground.
Yang shouted cheekily while waving and pivoting to move back into the dorm. “I Tried to warn ya uncle Qro-''
Yang stopped mid-sentence and froze. Ruby looked back at her team and noticed their looks of fear, they looked as if a ursa was in the hall, even Pyrrha appeared terrified. Pyrrha’s eyes seemed the size of dinner plates, Ruby turned her head back around at the sound which struck fear into every student of beacon, the sound of Glynda Goodwitch clearing her throat with thinly cloaked wrath.
While not making any kind of specific noise, the ire of Glynda Goodwitch emanated an aura of anger and fear, like a dark shadow of purple and black stretching down the entire hallway, sending chills down the spine’s of everyone present. Someone (Jaune) rumored the Professor must've developed some kind of psychological Aura manipulation. In truth, as far as anyone has been able to tell, she was just that absolutely terrifying. Now, in the hallway, Ruby realized the mistake she had just made. Glynda Goodwitch had been knocked over by Ruby Rose. Ruby locked eyes with Qrow, her eyes filled with fear. Her voice was meek. “Uncle Qrow… Help…”
Qrow put on a halfway serious face looking at Ruby, waving his hand, “Sorry kid, not even I can save you from Glynda.”
“Miss Rose.” Glynda spoke, eye twitching, moving to stand up, “You will be punished, not now, because I will have plenty of opportunities after our departure.” The rest of team RWBY jaws dropped, Ruby had, unintentionally or not, hit Glynda Goodwitch and gotten away with it, for now at least.
Qrow quickly said, “Glynda is here to speak to team JNPR, so I recommend that we get into your dorm before she changes her mind and throws you through a wall.” Ruby and the rest of her team immediately dashed back into their dorm, Ruby leaving a trail of petals as she went so far as to enable her semblance in her dash.
“Um… Hello Professor Goodwitch…” Pyrrha said as she ducked back into her dorm, barely loud enough for Qrow and Glynda to hear.
Qrow walked into team RWBY’s dorm, with a smug look of confidence upon him. Weiss, Blake and Yang were in a state of amazement when Qrow and Ruby entered the room. Yang stared at Ruby and, stunned, said “The fact you still have all 4 limbs is a miracle.”
Ruby defeatedly lowered her head and said “I think she’s just waiting for when we get on the mountain. I'm so dead. Not even Uncle Qrow can stop Ms. Goodwitch apparently.”
Weiss tilted her head quizzically and asked/stated “You’re really Ruby and Yang's uncle?” Her voice was charged with disdain as she smelled the smell of cheap alcohol seeping into the room. Weiss’s words and tone managed to be simultaneously polite and confrontational.
Qrow countered, “Yup, and you’re Weiss Schnee, miniature celebrity.” Yang and Ruby snickered at the countering of implied and obvious insults, insults obvious to anyone who knew Qrow Branwen.
Weiss, flustered, stuttered for a moment before angrily, and loudly stating “What's ‘miniature’ supposed to mean? I’m famous across Remnant”
Qrow simply stated, before taking a swig from a flask, “Wasn't talking about your music, shortstack”. Blake simply watched the ensuing explosion for a minute, as Ruby and Yang rolled in laughter and Weiss exploded at a smug Qrow. Weiss’s flood of non-vulgar insults was only drowned out by Yang and Ruby’s howling laughter watching the spectacle unfolding before them.
After a moment, when everyone had calmed down, Blake asked in a calm voice, “You’re Qrow Branwen, correct?” Qrow looked at her, and raised an eyebrow. Him and Blake shared a look for a few seconds, a short staredown of two people who had an idea of who the other was.
Ruby jumped in, confused about their staredown. “What's going on?” she said, confused, switching her gaze between the two of them.
“Blake Belladonna. Yang told me about you over the phone. It's nice to meet you in person.” Qrow smiled, reaching out for a handshake.
Blake returned the handshake, “It's nice to meet you too Mr. Branwen.”
“None of that, just Qrow, It makes me look old.” The man said, shaking his head as he took a drink of mystery alcohol.
“Apologies.” Blake said, straightening herself and bowing her head slightly.
“Dont worry about it” Qrow responded, waving off the entire incident.
Weiss, with a look of contempt, moved to attempt to interrogate the man, she pointedly asked, “You are aware it is against Beacon policy and Valean law to drink in public or on school grounds?”
Qrow shot back: “If I spot such a ne'er-do-well I will let you know, But let's cut to the chase.” Qrow moved to stand by the window “Im chaperoning the 4 of you, much to Glynda’s displeasure, and we are driving 3 days through the Forever Fall Forest, the Emerald Forest, and then setting up camp for 2 days where an Atlas specialist will arrive by bullhead to lead a course on Winter Survival and strategy in snowy terrain.” Qrow motioned at Weiss, “You should be well acquainted, considering it's your sister, Winter, running the show once we get there.”
Yang looked at Weiss and exclaimed “Weiss, we knew you had a sister, but you never told us she was a Professor in Atlas!”
Weiss explained, beaming with pride, “She isnt a professor. My sister, Winter, is a Special Operative in the Atlesian armed forces. And why didn't you? '' Weiss said, suddenly turning and pointing at Qrow, “Not say Winter was going to be there earlier!? I'll have to repack to her preparation standards!”.
Qrow, pushing the finger down, said: “I was getting there, we got some housekeeping to do, if you'd let me get on with the boring stuff” Weiss backed off and sat on her bed, obviously suppressing what she thought to be an undignified excitement. “Thanks Weiss. Anyways, I've got this 13 page article Glynda gave me.” Qrow held up a packet of paper entitled “Rules and Requirements for Huntsman safety during Beacon Sanctioned Field Trips and Excursions'' Anyways, I didn't write this, and I sure didn't read it. You all are 17, plus Ruby, and can handle yourselves without 136 points and regulations to avoid illegal incidents and safety issues. Anyone actually want to read this?”
“Nobody else will, so I'll read it.” Weiss sighed. Qrow tossed the Packet into Weiss’s lap. Weiss flipped it open, “Brothers know Ruby and Yang wont read it.”
Blake asked, “So what are we doing for food on the trip? I don’t believe any of us packed any beyond snacks.” Blake said, as she pointed at the snack bag.
Qrow responded: “There's a corner store 2 blocks from the shuttle landing site, go grab some junk food, I don't know, get some Instant Calzones or something. Qrow threw an obviously cheap and thin wallet at Ruby. Other than that, I've got a crate of MRE’s I borrowed from Winter last time I saw her, so meals are on her.”
Weiss jumped up, a mix of confusion and anger ran through her voice, “You stole from my sister?! You know my sister!?”
Qrow took another swig of mystery booze and chuckled, “Know her? I've worked with her before a bunch, she’s always fun to fuck with, and I did not steal, I involuntarily requesitioned.”
Yang snickered, “Poor choice of words there Unc!” With her arms raiders defensively to block any incoming thrown objects.
Weiss screamed, throwing her arms to her sides, “Banish the thought you pervert!'”
“By the way,” Qrow started, “If you want to talk before the trip, or have a problem or anything, call me.” Blake and Weiss’s scrolls beeped and hit a piano note respectively, “And we can talk.” Qrow moved to the door. “Also, Yang, the passcode to the garage with the vans is 1256, but you didn't hear that from me.” Qrow left the room with a wink and a wave and closed the door on his way out.
“I cannot believe that's your uncle,” Weiss said in disbelief, pinching the bridge of her nose, “He's rude and drunk on school premises!”
Yang waved it off, “He's always drunk and I thought he was funny… Shortstack '' Weiss shot up faster than a bullet and marched angrily up to Yang, Unfortunately, Weiss only reached up to Yang's chest and they both knew it. Yang had an ear-to-ear grin on her face.
“I may be trying to be nice now, but call me that again and I'll take a pair of clippers to your hair.” Weiss seethed.
Yang rose to her full height and declared, “You wouldn't dare, ice queen!” With an expression of mock shock on her face.
Blake decided it was a good time to chime in, “I thought he was funny.”
“Well he didn't insult you!” Weiss exclaimed, exasperated.
“Well, I'm going to get snacks for the road! I want NmN’s!” Ruby said, jumping up from her bed. “And you are coming with and buying candy! I know you've been deprived of true junk food in that mansion of yours!” Ruby grabbed Weiss’s arm and dragged her out of the room in a stream of red and white petals.
Yang quickly shouted: “Ruby! Wallet! And buy me some of the Coffee NmNs!”
Ruby blasted into and then out of the room-“ThanksYanggoodluckwithwhateveryouaredoingtothevan” She said ducking in and out of the room, wallet in tow this time.
A minute passed as Yang gathered a few odds and ends and stuffed them in the remaining space in the pockets of the duffle, glancing at Blake every so often. 5 minutes later, Blake started tapping the floor with her foot.
“Alright, I'll bite! Why did Qrow give you the passcode to the vans?” Blake asked, throwing her hands up in the air in mock defeat.
“Well let's go find out what we’re working with!” Yang said, grabbing two pairs of safety glasses that were stashed in a drawer. Yang quickly dashed at Blake, with Blake jumping out of the way. But Yang had expected the move and caught Blake by the calf, swinging Blake with her own momentum onto Yang’s shoulder. Yang grabbed onto Blake’s back using her strength to make sure Blake couldn’t use a shadow clone to escape. Yang opened the door with Blake hammering at her back with her fist’s, Yang laughed as the pair moved into the hallway.
“Put me down!” Yelled Blake, and, as the pair descended the stairs, Blake looked back down the hallway and saw Goodwitch giving a look of exasperation and disbelief for what was definitely not even top 5 on list of odd things she had seen today.
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Glynda Goodwitch looked into the dorm room of team JNPR, and thought that somehow, team RWBY might have been more coordinated. At least team RWBY had Weiss and Blake, they seemed to somewhat have their act together. But, she looked over the dorm room of team JNPR as Pyrrha sat with 2 perfectly packed bags, watching Jaune attempt to pack an electric skillet into a suitcase. Ren sat, meditating, with a single packed duffle bag, while Nora seemed to be attempting to convince him she should be able to pack an entire tray of hotel finger sausages covered in syrup she must've gotten somewhere Glynda didn't even want to know.
Glynda coughed, standing in the doorway- “I have with me a 13 page guide on guidelines for Beacon academy field trips. Familiarize yourselves, I will test you on it tomorrow in the van. I expect everyone to be awake, fed and ready to leave at 0700 hours tomorrow, and I will use my Semblance to carry you across the school and bring you to the van, regardless of your readiness. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal!” Jaune piped up. I swear to the brothers, it must be an aura thing, no woman could be that terrifying just from standing still, Jaune thought.
“Good Mr. Arc” Glynda continued, “Now, I have my own personal rules for what you do in my van. No leaving trash or crumbs, I am not your maid. We may debate radio control tomorrow morning.” Glynda swiftly exited the room and looked down the hall in the direction of shouting. Is Ms.Belladonna being ragdolled by Ms.Xiao Long? Glynda thought under her breath- “score another for Bumblebee I suppose, I may win this bet yet.”
“What was that, Professor Goodwitch?” Pyrrha asked.
“Nothing Ms. Nikos. Go assist your leader in not setting the dorm on fire.” Glynda quickly walked off, I must be sure not to have students find out about this dumb bet. Even if I'm only indulging Oz in his gambling and relationship games to get his mind off of work for a few minutes a day, having such a thing be exposed to the students and faculty would be disastrous for the reputation of Beacon.
Pyrrha ducked back into her Dorm room and let her team know she would be going to get snacks for the trip.