swagger-and-stalk - Tumblr blog

[swagger-and-stalk]

It was all he could manage to bite his tongue and keep silent as he bowed his head and left.

Soillse’s mouth twitched slightly as she fought to keep an indulgent smile. Definitely someone he fancies. I wonder who she is, to generate such a volatile reaction. “And what about his…

[swagger-and-stalk]

The upperclassman returned a genuine smile. Osahar's technique was good, and he clearly had a solid grasp on the fundamentals of the art. With a couple more years of practice, Franklin thought he might genuinely pose a challenge. But, unless he had some tricks up his sleeve, it wasn't going to happen today.

Franklin spent a while staring at Ossie's target, squinting at the bullseye, before he finally drew his bow and lined up a shot on his own. The arrow flew straight and true, and buried itself in the wooden target about an inch up and away from dead center.

He frowned at it and muttered a thoughtful, "Hmm," then turned back to his opponent expectantly.

The morning sky was bright and clear, and the air over the Beacon Academy grounds was filled with the scent of fresh-cut grass. Franklin Sherwood took a deep breath of it and let out a satisfied sigh. He could’ve hardly picked a better day for this little competition. The sun rising behind the…

[swagger-and-stalk]

Franklin threw his hands up. "That makes no sense at all!" Gesturing angrily at the scroll, he spat, "Are you going to enroll them here next? Why not just invite the whole White Fang to come train here, I'm sure they'd appreciate it!" He turned away, seething, and nearly stormed out the door. His ingrained sense of propriety stopped him short, however, and he reluctantly turned back to her on the threshold.

It took a few seconds for him to calm down enough to speak instead of shouting, and he didn't even try to look her in the eyes. In a subdued, remorseful tone, he said, "Doctor...I'm sorry. If you're telling me Cromwell gets special treatment, that he doesn't have to live up to the same standards as everyone else here...no matter how you justify it, that's wrong. And I..." He stopped, swallowed past a sudden lump of emotion in his throat, and asked, "If there's nothing else, may I go?"

Soillse’s mouth twitched slightly as she fought to keep an indulgent smile. Definitely someone he fancies. I wonder who she is, to generate such a volatile reaction. “And what about his...

[swagger-and-stalk]

Rio had brought a desk and chair out to the field and was seated in the midst of the crowd, shuffling cash into an envelope and taking notes on his pad. Hearing his last name, he glanced up with a reflexive look of panic, but relaxed when he saw Dr. Calico. "Hey, teach," he called with a wave. "Just having some harmless fun, that's all."

Leaning back in his chair, he gestured toward the two archers. "Freshman here thinks he can actually beat Frankie at a shooting competition. I'm just enjoying the show, and hey, if some of our classmates decide to make friendly bets over the outcome, well, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

He smiled cunningly and asked, "So...care to place a wager?"

The morning sky was bright and clear, and the air over the Beacon Academy grounds was filled with the scent of fresh-cut grass. Franklin Sherwood took a deep breath of it and let out a satisfied sigh. He could’ve hardly picked a better day for this little competition. The...

[swagger-and-stalk]

The boy bristled at her statement. "Correct me if I'm wrong, doctor," he said with stiff, forced politeness, "but aren't we supposed to be learning how to fight monsters, not coddle them? What's so important about this...child that he gets such special treatment?" His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and breath hissed through his teeth as he fought to keep his righteous indignation under control.

Soillse’s mouth twitched slightly as she fought to keep an indulgent smile. Definitely someone he fancies. I wonder who she is, to generate such a volatile reaction. “And what about his behavior has you so up in arms? And do you think a physical...

[swagger-and-stalk]

Take Your Best Shot

The morning sky was bright and clear, and the air over the Beacon Academy grounds was filled with the scent of fresh-cut grass. Franklin Sherwood took a deep breath of it and let out a satisfied sigh. He could’ve hardly picked a better day for this little competition. The sun rising behind the school cast long shadows over the field, but the targets at the far end were brightly lit and easy to see.

As he glanced over at the other archer, Franklin couldn’t help feeling a little bad for him. Osahar was only a first year student, but he’d been pretty bold about making the challenge and had never shown any inclination to back down. Fine by me, I just hope he’s not a sore loser, he thought to himself, even as he smiled and asked, “Are you ready to start?”

"Whoa, hold up!" Franklin’s partner shouted from behind them, then turned and waved for the attention of the small crowd of students who had gathered to watch. "Final bets, everyone! Two minutes to starting time!"

Franklin rolled his eyes. Of course Rio would make a gamble out of this. With a shrug and an apologetic look toward Osahar, he said, “I guess we’re waiting a couple more minutes.”

(( Open for spectators/bettors, who can interact with Rio in the background while Franklin and Osahar compete! ))

(( Added note: Osahar is a first-year at Beacon, Franklin and Rio are third-years. This scene takes place about midway through RWBY Volume 1 in terms of time. ))

[swagger-and-stalk]

Franklin paused before answering, took a breath, and managed to calm himself.  With a stern voice and a serious expression, he answered her, "For some people, that's all they'll listen to.  But...I wanted to avoid it if possible.  Which is why I came to you."  His cheeks reddened again, and he looked down, his moment of boldness over.  "And you know what he's like.  The things he says.  To you...and to the girls in class.  He's a pig."

Office Hours - Open Starter

[swagger-and-stalk]

Franklin sat bolt upright with a faintly panicked expression.  "What?"  His voice squeaked.  "A girl I fancy?  Of course not!  It's not like I fancy anyone here...and even if I did, that's got nothing to do with it!  I just can't stand to see him behaving the way he does!"

Fumbling over words in his rush to answer, he punched a fist into his palm and declared, "I just, I just feel like someone should, I mean, someone has to do something about it!  About him!"

Office Hours - Open Starter

[swagger-and-stalk]

He experienced a sensation that was roughly the mental equivalent to tripping over one's own feet and falling flat on one's face.  "Wha?"  Franklin finally lifted his gaze to look Dr. Calico in the face and stared incredulously.

Raising a finger, he opened his mouth, then closed it again when he couldn't think of anything to say.  After a second he opened his mouth again, but with much the same results.

Finally, he managed to enunciate enough to speak a clear "Uhhhh..."

Office Hours - Open Starter

[swagger-and-stalk]

Franklin's face reddened.  He raised a hand, intending to decline, but found himself instead taking one of the treats and nibbling at it like a nervous mouse with a fresh crumb.

It actually seemed to work, though, and by the time he finished the boy seemed a good sight calmer than when he'd entered.  "Miss Calico, I've come to...make a complaint, I suppose."  He bit his lip, frowning intensely at the floor.  "It's about Ruadh Cromwell.  Something has to be done."

Office Hours - Open Starter

[swagger-and-stalk]

Franklin Sherwood stepped into the office, and it was obvious something was troubling him.  The six-foot-tall boy was slumped, eyes glued to the floor.  His hands shifted in and out of his pockets, endlessly fidgeting.

Finally he cleared his throat and asked, "Um, Miss Calico, do you have a minute?"

Office Hours - Open Starter

Dr Soillse Calico tapped away at the display next to her office door, correcting the times that she was in her office and when she was lectures. While Professor Ozpin had finally allowed her to start working with Professor Port on Grimm Zoology classes, she still had large spaces of time in her schedule, on account of so few students opting to take on the workload of the Honors level course.

She nodded once, closing the editing software, and strode back into her office, placing her coat on the hook next to the door. She placed her Scroll onto its mount on her desk and withdrew a wireless keyboard from a drawer.

As she opened a file, she heard a rap on the office door.

"It’s open!" She called.

[swagger-and-stalk]

Rio sighed and shrugged.  "Suit yerself, kid.  At least you know where to find my dorm!"  He turned to go, but stopped short when he saw the look his partner was giving him.  "What?"

Franklin shook his head.  "You're...incredible.  And that isn't a compliment."

"Oh, don't you start with me.  You of all people--"

"--Know how much trouble you'll be in once he talks to Wisty.  Or did you think he wouldn't?"

The gambler put a hand to his forehead as he felt his heart sink into his guts.  "Ahh, hell."

"Yeah.  I think it might be best if you talk to her first.  Fess up, head it off before you make things any worse for yourself."

Rio looked away and pointed vaguely toward one of the classrooms.  "Well, uh, actually I'm s'posed to be in Calico's lecture right now and--"

"I know.  We're both in the same class, remember?  That's why I came looking for you."  Franklin grabbed his partner by the arm.  "And this may be the only time you get to say you caught me skipping class on purpose.  But you need to talk to her first."

"Yeah, alright."  Rio let himself be dragged toward their dorm.  "But hey, Frankie being a rebel!  That's worth seeing!"

"It's Franklin."

The professor straightened and turned away with a dubious expression.  “See that you do.  I’ll let this slide, but a repeat performance will not be handled so leniently.”  Students once again scattered to stay out of his path as he marched, more reservedly this time, back to the faculty building.

Rio deflated with a huff, hanging onto Oran by the shoulder.  “Man, that was lucky.  If it was Goodwitch, she’d’ve wrung our necks!”  He took a step away and eyed Oran warily.  “So, now that that’s over…you still wanna rassle some more?”

Franklin, meanwhile, just sighed and rubbed his eyes.  What did I ever do to deserve this guy as a partner?

[swagger-and-stalk]

The professor straightened and turned away with a dubious expression.  "See that you do.  I'll let this slide, but a repeat performance will not be handled so leniently."  Students once again scattered to stay out of his path as he marched, more reservedly this time, back to the faculty building.

Rio deflated with a huff, hanging onto Oran by the shoulder.  "Man, that was lucky.  If it was Goodwitch, she'd've wrung our necks!"  He took a step away and eyed Oran warily.  "So, now that that's over...you still wanna rassle some more?"

Franklin, meanwhile, just sighed and rubbed his eyes.  What did I ever do to deserve this guy as a partner?

Franklin moaned and looked at his partner in disgust.  “You didn’t.”

Climbing back to his feet, Rio dusted himself off and shrugged.  “Yeah, I did.  Hey, I had to be sure, okay?  But he’s good.”  He nodded reassuringly, but this only drew another groan of dismay from his partner.

Suddenly shoving past Franklin, Rio clapped Oran on the shoulder and offered a handshake.  “You’re alright, kid.  No hard feelings, okay?”

A deep, booming voice suddenly echoed across the quad.  “Hold fast, young men!”  Students who had begun gathering to watch the fight quickly scattered in Professor Port’s wake as the teacher ran toward the three boys.

Rio cringed.  “Oh, no…”

[swagger-and-stalk]

Franklin moaned and looked at his partner in disgust.  "You didn't."

Climbing back to his feet, Rio dusted himself off and shrugged.  "Yeah, I did.  Hey, I had to be sure, okay?  But he's good."  He nodded reassuringly, but this only drew another groan of dismay from his partner.

Suddenly shoving past Franklin, Rio clapped Oran on the shoulder and offered a handshake.  "You're alright, kid.  No hard feelings, okay?"

A deep, booming voice suddenly echoed across the quad.  "Hold fast, young men!"  Students who had begun gathering to watch the fight quickly scattered in Professor Port's wake as the teacher ran toward the three boys.

Rio cringed.  "Oh, no..."

Someone slipped, and both boys went tumbling in the grass. Rio managed to land on top, and reared up with a raised fist, ready to pound the Faunus’ face into the ground, when suddenly a gloved hand grabbed his arm and yanked him off. He was dumped on his back several feet away and momentarily stunned.

Rio’s partner, Franklin, now stood between the boys. “Enough,” he said forcefully, holding his hands up to ward them both off in case they refused to give up. “I think you both proved your point, whatever it was supposed to be.”

Rio sat up and gave his head a shake, trying to clear it. “Hey, Frankie, give me a little more warning next time,” he griped, without sounding all that perturbed.

[swagger-and-stalk]

Someone slipped, and both boys went tumbling in the grass. Rio managed to land on top, and reared up with a raised fist, ready to pound the Faunus’ face into the ground, when suddenly a gloved hand grabbed his arm and yanked him off. He was dumped on his back several feet away and momentarily stunned.

Rio’s partner, Franklin, now stood between the boys. “Enough,” he said forcefully, holding his hands up to ward them both off in case they refused to give up. “I think you both proved your point, whatever it was supposed to be.”

Rio sat up and gave his head a shake, trying to clear it. “Hey, Frankie, give me a little more warning next time,” he griped, without sounding all that perturbed.

[swagger-and-stalk]

"Ooh, this'll be fun," Rio said with a purr.  He bounced on the balls of his feet, fists clenched and raised, bobbing and weaving.

When Oran came after Him, Rio rolled with the punches, never quite dodging them but always shifting just enough to be able to shrug them off and counter.  The electrical shock was an unfamiliar addition, and it hurt like hell, but he adapted to it as best he could.

The older student's punches didn't pack quite as much of a wallop, but he was somehow getting in more direct hits.  Rio feinted, he danced around, and then he charged in, taking everything Oran threw at him and giving back just as good.

And the look on his face told Oran he was loving every second of it.

Rio watched blandly, his eyes tracking Oran’s every move, judging the kid’s speed and intent.  Thanks to his semblance, he saw it all, moment by moment, and he liked what he was seeing.  Looks like he’s serious about this.  I guess Wisty found a decent guy after all, good for her.  A genuine smile blossomed on his face in the instant before the blow landed.  Now the real fun begins.

Oran’s haymaker landed square against Rio’s temple.  The older student hadn’t made any effort to dodge; if anything, he might have leaned into it just a little.  Stars exploded behind his eyes, and he swayed nearly over in the opposite direction.  Holy shit, this kid packs a wallop.  That electricity ain’t just for show.

His smile widened.  Gritting his teeth past the pain, he rebounded from the blow and aimed a shot at Oran’s solar plexus.  My turn!

[swagger-and-stalk]

Rio watched blandly, his eyes tracking Oran's every move, judging the kid's speed and intent.  Thanks to his semblance, he saw it all, moment by moment, and he liked what he was seeing.  Looks like he's serious about this.  I guess Wisty found a decent guy after all, good for her.  A genuine smile blossomed on his face in the instant before the blow landed.  Now the real fun begins.

Oran's haymaker landed square against Rio's temple.  The older student hadn't made any effort to dodge; if anything, he might have leaned into it just a little.  Stars exploded behind his eyes, and he swayed nearly over in the opposite direction.  Holy shit, this kid packs a wallop.  That electricity ain't just for show.

His smile widened.  Gritting his teeth past the pain, he rebounded from the blow and aimed a shot at Oran's solar plexus.  My turn!

Rio frowned in derision, seeming unimpressed by Oran’s little electrical display.  “What?  Not like it’s a big secret or anything.”  He smirked and gave the kid’s shoulder a little push.  “Hell, I thought about it a few times myself, but I prefer more of a challenge, y’know?  Still, you’re the first underclassman that I’ve heard she got with so, hey, you must have something goin’ for ya.”