The Games We Play

DISCLAIMER: This story is NOT MINE IN ANY WAY. That honor has gone to the beautiful bastard Ryuugi. This has been pulled from his Spacebattles publishment at threads/rwby-the-gamer-the-games-we-play-disk-five.341621/. Anyway on with the show...err read.

Recess

The moment I was gone, the whispers started. Student began to talk amongst themselves, first in low tones, but soon all but shouting. There were voices that sounded amazed, disbelieving, stunned, angry, curious, frantic—and through my unique senses, I could see the expressions on the faces of those who spoke, feel the edges of their thoughts and words, and knew who they were. All of them wanted to know more about me and, when details weren't forthcoming, they turned to others.

It didn't take them long to realize I hadn't come from Sanctum and that no one knew me personally, but that did little to stop them. It took only a short while for people to recognize me as the one who'd fought Pyrrha and to make note of who I'd been seen with recently. Messages went out amongst the freshman class, spreading the word about what had happened to anyone who'd listen. Though people had been caught mostly off guard, the fact that we were going to spar today had prompted several people to record what had happened, especially after witnessing Adam's fight—which had been part of the point of Adam going first. Though the recordings had been markedly amateurish and the destruction had introduced a lot of shaking, motion blur, and concealment to the records, a few people caught enough to make others interested.

More than that, the sheer amount of destruction and noise my attack had caused had everyone in Haven looking for the source and word quickly began to spread. It quickly reached the other freshmen, who my classmates knew best, and so it also reached the ears of the heirs to Mistral's Families. What seemed like mere moments afterwards, my connection to the Roma family was revealed and that simply added fuel to the flames of intrigue, encouraging people to look even closer. By that point, word had long since spilt past the freshmen body and reached the upperclassmen and the teachers, and between all of them, clearer records of the events in the classroom began to spread. In a testament to the Hunters of Mistral—or perhaps to Humanity's capacity for gossip—the records were circulating within twenty minutes.

Once that had happened, speculation was inevitable. Soon people were wondering about the extent of my power, as well as its nature. Was I a telekinetic? Was I really a freshman? How could I be so strong? Soon, they began to pull up more about me and my family, trying to put together a puzzle they only had a few of the pieces for. The fact that my father was a telekinetic lent credence to the theories about my Semblance and the history and the reputations of the Arc and the Roma painted an intimidating picture. Having so boldly challenged a teacher and seemingly proved that I truly was the strongest freshmen, both students and teachers began to wonder if I wasn't the strongest student period. My bold display of power made a few students if even the junior or senior students would be able to defeat me and, when several went a step further and actually asked, more than one hesitated or was silent.

And when word of that began to spread, it prompted a reaction. When that hesitance was taken as weakness, many of the faction leaders had no choice but to do something, even if it meant reluctantly making plans to challenge me. At the same time, their fear fed my reputation, and many students began to plot and plan, with against me or in an attempt to forge an alliance. Some began to look for ways to bring me into their groups, to buoy their power with my own, while others began to make preparations to negotiate with the faction that I would create. As I'd expected, quite a few people began looking for ways to get into my good graces or to subordinate themselves to me, while those with either keen eyes or experience began to suspect what I had planned for the school.

But whatever they had to say, within minutes I was the talk of the school.

Perfect.

Through it all, I simply waited comfortably in my bed, eyes closed even as I watched and listened. The moment class had been dismissed, I'd made myself scarce so that no one could ask me any questions—the better to let the fire spread and add a touch of mystery to the picture that was suddenly on everybody's minds. I'd give it some time and lay low for now, but it was only a matter of time before someone challenged me, whether out of arrogance or expectation. I'd crush anyone I faced and in a matter of days or weeks, solidify my hold on the school. From there, I'd be able to push the rest of my plans forward unopposed.

Although…it seemed one of my main goals was already well underway. Word of what had happened reached Cinder quickly, carried by messages from Emerald and Mercury. By the time the videos had reached her, my two teammates had returned to their mistress's side to await her commands in response to the massively changed situation. The night before, Cinder had been content to sit back and watch me, but after something like this she had no choice but to respond and begin to move. I was too large of a variable now for her to do anything else—which meant it was my turn to sit back and watch her every move. I couldn't be sure of what she'd do now, but it should be enlightening.

Besides, I vastly preferred enemies who were caught off guard and forced to scramble and put things together. When the bad guys were content to sit back and wait, it felt too much like they were winning.

So I left them to report their findings to Cinder and kept an eye on them all, opening my eyes only when Cinder dismissed them to continue playing their parts, apparently wishing to be alone with her thoughts. The moment they were gone, she began doing some research of her own and shot of a few messages, but otherwise sat on her bed and considered the recordings on her scroll in silence, even as she returned to her sewing.

Several floors away and on the other side of campus, I continued my own. Even though I'd only been at it for a short while, my Dust Weaving had improved greatly thanks to the sheer amount of work I'd gotten done. Though my field of Accelerated time didn't extend far past my skin and thus normally didn't affect the grinding of skills that weren't personal, my Psychokinesis moved at the speed of thought and improved anyway. Since both Craft and Dust Weaving improved based on the number of items I completed and their complexity, it was coming along nicely and though I was still far from what I would call a master…I was good enough to start experimenting. Not with the Dust Armor, of course, but I had a few ideas that might be worth trying out, after I'd made a few arrangements.

But that would have to wait, it seemed.

As the other two members of my team got close, the air rippled as my invisible hands guided everything smoothly into my Inventory. I didn't even open my eyes as Emerald and Mercury walked back into the room to see Adam and I on our beds, without a sign of what had been occurring moments before.

"Welcome back," I said lazily. "You took you time."

"Yeah," Emerald said, bobbing her head with an expression that was still a touch shell-shocked. "We sort of got caught up in…everything. Yeah, everything's a good word."

I chuckled slightly but didn't say a word. Adam rolled onto his side to turn away from the door, still browsing on his scroll. He and I had been getting a lot of messages, but while I simply ignored mine, he seemed to be entertaining himself by reading them. When neither of us gave a response, the rest of team JAME glanced at each other.

"Speaking of which," Mercury pressed after several long minutes. "What the fuck was that?"

"I told you, didn't I?" I replied in precisely the same tone as before. "I'm the strongest student in our class and our year. Maybe even the whole school."

I felt Mercury twitch at that and wondered briefly if he'd actually take the bait—but after a moment he forced himself to relax and nod before taking a seat on his own bed.

"Maybe," He said at last. "How'd you get that strong?"

I hummed at that before opening one eye and smiling at them.

"I just live right, I guess?" I answered glibly. "I eat my Wheaties in the morning, I don't do drugs, I never drink alcohol or smoke, I work out safely, get enough sleep—I just take care of my body, you know?"

"Ignore him," Adam told them without even looking their way. For their part, Emerald and Mercury looked both unconvinced and unimpressed, which made me chuckle again.

"I trained," I said, closing my eye again. "I trained a lot."

After a moment, Mercury nodded, apparently realizing I wasn't going to say anything else. It was the truth, anyway, even if it was phrased in such a way as to be utterly useless.

"So…" He said after a long pause, sharing a look with Emerald. "What now? I mean, you had this all planned out. Is there a next step?"

"Of course," I replied. "It wouldn't be much of a plan, otherwise."

"Right, of course," Mercury answered dryly but was apparently used to having to fish for answers. "And this step would be…what exactly?"

I was quiet for a moment before opening my eyes and sitting up.

"It's going to be lunch soon," I noted, stretching slightly for show.

Mercury blinked his eyes closed so I wouldn't see him roll them. But, just for the record, I totally did see.

"So?" He asked.

"So," I answered, smiling in approval. "Most of the school is going to be there."

"Ah," He said, mouth opening slightly as he understood. "And…what are we going to do?"

I laughed slightly at that and got off my bed.

"I'm going to walk in like I own the place," I told him. "Because I do, even if some people don't know it yet."

A thought made the doors open wide as I approached and I entered the grand hall with a confident stride. I didn't make a fuss, I didn't say a word, I didn't even make a display of it—but voice by voice, the cafeteria fell silent around me as eyes turned my way.

Quirking my lips up minutely, I cast my glance once from side to side, wondering if anyone would try and start something ahead of schedule. When no one did, I walked down the aisle between the middle tables, passing by the other students without another glance. My eyes drifted for a moment to the staff that sat at the head of the room, meeting the gazes of those I'd already met—Himmel, Toxotes, and my sister Olivia. I gave a slight nod to each and the first two returned it, but my sister rolled her eyes at me, though she was unable to keep the smile off her face. I didn't so much as glance at anyone else as I walked down the length of the underground hall and took a seat near the center of the hall, allowing myself to be surrounded.

The entire room watched my every move and that was part of why I walked as far as I did—to give them all a chance to gawk. The rest of my team followed a step behind me, Adam keeping his eyes forward while Emerald and Mercury looked around a touch more wearily. Even after I seated myself, they remained standing and waited for a moment, if for different reasons.

"Go ahead and get some food," I told them, putting an elbow on the table and placing my chin on a hand.

"What do you want?" Adam asked for the sake of appearances, knowing I didn't need to eat.

"Anything's fine," I answered with a shrug, not even looking behind me as I spoke. Adam left immediately, already aware of what was happening, and after a moment's pause, Emerald and Mercury followed, conveniently leaving the seats all around me empty even as it separated me from my allies—a fact that drew attention as well as any invitation.

The silence my entrance had caused soon gave way to quiet murmurs and the sounds of motion as the gathered factions truly saw me for the first time and, more importantly, saw their chance. This was an opportunity to approach me, to speak to me, and to confront me, and it wasn't something any of them could afford to pass up. They were watching me even as they discussed what to do, how to approach me, and who should go first. Not all of it was blatantly spoken, but looks were exchanged and students stood and exchanged seats, offering their positions up so others could get closer or at least have a better view. Several of the smaller factions sent members to each other—envoys, really—to compare notes and determine a course of actions and I felt displeasure spread like a virus when it came to light that each group had different intentions for me.

That was part of why I was doing this—why I was forcing everyone to act quickly before anyone could compromise or come to true agreements on how they would handle me. Right now, each group had very different intentions because they also had very limited information; they were uncertain and each saw different ways to handle the situation. If I drew this out, built things up over weeks or months, they'd change their minds as they learned more, find common ground, and eventually put up a united front, but with the fight having occurred less than an hour ago?

There was no way a bunch of people who probably didn't get along at the best of times were going to come to an agreement now. The larger groups didn't even bother trying.

So in the pause created by their indecision, I took the chance to look them over and fill in the gaps in my own knowledge. Lunch was a special time and it gathered students from every year and every group into one place, allowing me to get a good look at them and pick out both patterns and trends, and I took advantage of the opportunity to confirm several of my own suspicions. On average, freshmen seemed to have levels in the twenties to thirties, sophomores in the thirties to forties, juniors in the forties to fifties, and seniors in the fifties to sixties. Those were just averages and there were outliers who I assumed were the stars of their years, but most of the people I saw fell into those categories. Because of that fact, it was easy to pick out those who stood out and give them the attention they deserved as the leaders of their peers.

After all, it was only natural for the factions to build themselves around those with power. The different groups simultaneously crossed years and built themselves around them—while there were factions amongst the sophomores, juniors, and seniors, the underclassmen groups seemed to exist with the support of the upperclassmen, based on the complicated web of emotions that surrounded them all. It was easy to imagine why; the weaker factions served as proxies for the stronger ones, ways for them to strict at their enemies while remaining several steps removed. The politicking amongst students was unlikely to ever go too far with the teachers there to keep the peace, but Haven fostered competition and this reeked of Mistrals style. Just as the Families competed through proxy organizations that supported students, so too did the students divide and control those beneath them as best they could. The loyalties they made here would play into their lived beyond the school as they graduated and became Hunters.

It was all about connections, I thought absently as I began to trace the lives with what I saw and heard. For all that Haven was a school, it was a school for Mistral's future and a place to raise their strongest warriors. The way things were arranged encouraged people to fall in line and form groups, to bond with people they'd later be able to contact for support—and, most importantly, built loyalties both among groups and to their supporters. Each of the senior most factions probably had ties back to at least one of the Families and they'd likely be recruited as soon as they graduated. Though everyone was here to become a Hunter, the friends they made here could still decide their future.

And this was the first time this year that those groups truly came together, edged on by the variable I'd added to their equations. Not everyone was gathered yet, both because several classes hadn't let out and because there were some that were lying in wait, but everyone could feel that things were about to change. Perhaps before, things had been balanced and both dreams and grudges set aside, but they were bubbling up to the surface as people saw their chances to change things—or rather, as I saw mine.

Now that everyone together, it was easy to see where the lines were drawn. The strongest, and largest, faction present seemed focused around a team of juniors that were watching me closely. Two of them—a pair of brothers—were both frowning severely, while one of their teammates whispered plans to them. Though the brothers seemed to want to approach, they held back at his command and waited, while their forth teammate looked on passively. Around them was a gathering of other upperclassmen, weaker groups that helped prop up their power in return for support of their own.

The Wide-Ruling

LV66

Skoyro Atreus

The Resounding War Cry

LV65

Foteino Atreus

The Man of Twists and Turns

LV62

Halkino Ithacan

The Spear That Throws From Life

LV68

Erythro Argos

Looking them over with the back of my neck, I marked Halkino down as their strategist and possibly their biggest threat. Erythro seemed to be their strongest warrior with a Semblance designed to pierce defenses, but frankly, I wasn't worried about anyone in this room when it came to battle—whereas someone smart enough to hold back and try to subvert me in other ways might be annoying. Skoyro seemed to be the leader of their team and fairly intelligent in his own right, but what made him dangerous was that he seemed to be willing to heed Halkino's advice. Even so, I doubted any of them could afford to standby as their positions were besieged and Foteino seemed to wish for a fight already. I'd need to keep an eye on them and how they chose to approach, but with things as they were now, they could hardly hold back.

Besides, the advantage of facing upperclassmen was that they'd been around for a while—and had already had time to make enemies. From their biographies, the way they were sitting, and how their emotions flared when eyes met, I'd say they had a hard time getting along with a second, far smaller group of juniors.

The Judge of Light

LV59

Porfyro Alexandria

The Cruel Eyes of Fate

LV55

Asimi Alexandria

The Man Loved by the Stars

LV64

Aspro Victrix

The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships

LV53

Helen Laconic

Two Alexandrians, I noted. If Kyanos is the heir, they can't be siblings, so…cousins, perhaps? Or perhaps there's more to it; I suppose I'd find out soon enough or else I'd just ask Kyanos himself. Regardless, there seemed to be some bad blood between the groups and given their smaller size and relative weakness, I doubt that rivalry had been going very well for them. Given the way Porfyro was looking between Foteino and I, I suspected it wouldn't take much to get him to approach me and ask for my support—and from there, it would be simple to make them subordinates, which might be enough to incite a conflict with the Aetreus in and of itself.

But would the grudge between them be more trouble than it was worth? From the whispers in the room and the murmurs between envoys, Foteino seemed to loathe Porfyro with a passion and something like that was unlikely to go away any time soon. While I couldn't say I really cared if everyone got along or not, this seemed like something that ran deep—presumably because of the rather stunning Helen that seemed central to the conflict. Worse, while their enemies seemed united, Porfyro's team hardly seemed as such, as neither Helen nor Asimi seemed close to each other or the rest of their team. Porfyro and Aspro seemed the closest and even then they barely looked at one another; if there was anything tying them together, it looked like it was the fact that they couldn't survive apart. It seemed that Haven's teambuilding had backfired in this case, because while such friction wouldn't have been out of place amongst freshmen, it was rather alarming between juniors. And…while undoubtedly sad, I couldn't help but think that I had more important things to do with my life.

On the other hand…it was hard to deny that they were interesting in other ways. Asimi's Semblance seemed to give her a form of precognition. Given the bags under her eyes, how she stared off into space with glazed eyes, and the way she'd suddenly started shaking—a fact that I suspected I might have been at fault for—I doubt that what she saw particularly pleasant, but talents like that were exceptionally rare and undeniably useful, even with the limitations to what she could see. With my healing abilities and other powers, I might be able to curb some of the side effects of that and make her ability a touch more pleasant and I'd happily brush aside whatever drama lay between the teams to have a power like that on my side. With the close ties between the Alexandria and the Roma, as well as my own friendship with Kyanos, it should be simple enough to arrange. Added to Porfyro's ocular abilities, Helen's unconscious influence, and Aspro's odd talent…they were interesting. It just might be worth sorting out their issues, given their abilities.

But there was still something missing. Porfyro's group wasn't powerful or united enough to truly oppose their enemies. Did the Atreus' brothers rule the junior year unopposed? It was possible if they really were the strongest, but even then I'd expect someone to try to oppose them, if only because power was richly rewarded.

I pondered that as I looked around, not moving a muscle. I'd already noticed the gaps—the seats that were being saved, the groups that were incomplete. I'd already seen the faces of everyone in school that's to the breadth of my senses, but it was easiest to get a feel for the connections between people when I could see them together. Still, with most of the already classes let out, it was easy to fill in the blanks and, reaching out, I rifled through the juniors still outside the lunch hall, already pretty sure I knew who I was looking for. A crowd was already making their way towards us, accompanied by a large number of other juniors, but the one with the highest level was…

For Every One, Fifteen

LV70

Roland White

I'd see who he was closest to when he arrived, though I was pretty sure his cousin Charles was one. Still, what mattered was that that accounted for the junior factions, though the most important groups were still unaccounted for. Most of the seniors seemed to be waiting for something, but none of the factions seemed to be out in force yet. Although…there was one student that seemed to have gathered people around himself and who was looking at me passively. Even so, there was an intensity to his interest that told me he was merely waiting before making his move and that his current calm had nothing to do with uncertainty. When the rest of the students arrived, he'd be one of the first to act, I was sure—I just wasn't certain how. But with a title like his…well, he didn't seem like one for meekness.

The Worker of Despair

LV74

Desher Ozymandias

But still nothing happened. I almost wanted to laugh at how quiet the room remained even as a few minutes ticked by, but I supposed everyone here was waiting for the same thing before we got this party started. Well, but…they'd been here from the beginning, waiting to make an entrance, though I suppose I couldn't fault them for that.

Moments after the rest of the student body tickled in, the doors to the hall opened again and a group of seniors made their way inside in neat little rows and the entire room seemed to take a collective breath at the sight of them. Several silent glances were exchanged and, almost as one, several students stood from their chairs and made their way towards me. Tilting my head slightly, I meet Adam's eyes and we both smiled as he made his way back to the table with a tray in hand.

The last of the seniors in three rows, their leaders at their heads. In the center, Cinder walked with a quiet clicking of glass on stone, but to the sides.

The Once and Future King

LV84

Albus Arcturus

The Giant's Causeway

LV81

Fionn Fiamma

Here was gathered what was supposedly the strongest generation Haven had seen in decades, with dozens of plans forced to come to a head.

It was time to have some fun.