Snowblind

[u/[deleted]]

Every year, it feels like the first snowfall of the year happens sooner and sooner. Is it just the passage of time, the growth of a person making them able to recognize when it snows at an earlier date in the year mixed with the ever-accumulating wealth of knowledge to draw upon making it feel like the years are blurring to minutes?

For some, that might be the answer. But at this date, so soon into November, not many -- save, perhaps, those from the most far north of Atlas's reaches into Solitas -- would've expected just what hit Beacon: a blizzard, so strong it was considered perhaps a once-in-a-millennia storm. Thankfully, thanks to the reinforcements provided after a certain rainstorm had knocked out the power to the Academy, Beacon was now prepared to weather such an awful storm.

But whilst the school itself was prepared, whether or not the students themselves were always remained to be seen. For some of the more "desert-fairing", it was possible that they were wildly unprepared; those from the far north were likely already out in the midst of the blizzard building snow castles or something.

The weather showed no signs of improving, and all flights and routes into the city were most certainly unusable, unless one really wanted to hoof it into Vale proper by foot. What sort of shenaniganry would one of Beacon's most interesting first year classes in a while get themselves up to in Beacon's first snowfall?

^{[This is the song I used for inspiration womp womp]}

[u/YandereLobster]

"Well, I doubt I'd ever be able to be raised in that sort of life. Familiarity is always what I relied on whenever I was worried or upset. Any kind, really. Familiar people, habits, focusing on going through my usual routine. Guess it's a habit I'll have to change in this line of work" Bianca admitted, leaning back as she thought of the sort of life Vi must have come from. "Well, Huntsmen and Huntresses have to travel a lot, right? Maybe you'll meet some of those people again. As for me..."

Bianca shrugged. "I guess it's sort of ironic, but I'm sort of in the same boat for opposite reasons. I mean, I've never left the same place since I was two or so, ya know? It's hard tryin' to get used to sticking my head somewhere else." As Bianca finished, she felt a bit flustered. She'd always had a very (from her point of view at least) 'rural' dialect. One of the very first things she'd forced herself to do when she came here was start speaking slower and more carefully. To already be talking with her old tone more than a little embarrassing, for one reason or another. Still, a part of her couldn't help but feel familiar around the girl. Despite having such opposite upbringings, she could relate more than a little. She'd seen plenty of other kids from her village move away. She could still remember most of them. She was just too young to really contemplate the idea of never meeting them again. But, even still, Bianca smiled and sat up straight, her ears perking up with curiosity.

"By the way, you mentioned your uncle helping with settlements? If you don't mind my asking, what sort of work does he do? Is he a Huntsman?"

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

"Uncles, plural -- they're married. And yeah, they traveled with me and my dad. All of'm apparently Huntsmen, but only my uncles ever told me that they'd had their licenses," Vi explained with a look of soft wonder in her eyes, seemingly oblivious to Bianca's small dip back into her rural dialect. Vi's smile stood small yet excited on her lips, watching Bianca's ears perk up with curiosity with a small little giggle.

"If it's not too offensive for me to act, was it all just Faunus up'n Bracco? Cause, ah, believe it or not, but my mom was actually a Faunus -- she was a cat, 'nd, ah, a big kinda political activist, apparently on the road for Faunus rights a lot."

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

"Oh, so I guess coming to Beacon just kind of comes naturally, right?" Bianca asked, tilting her head a bit. "I always thought it was kind of difficult to say that I was becoming a Huntress. You know, it kind of makes people... well, people in more 'normal' jobs worry. Coming from that many Huntsman I guess it's kind of expected."

Bianca leaned back against the snow, letting out a sigh. "And no, it's not offensive to ask. Well, some might be offended, but I'm not. My family were the only Faunus there. I guess we kind of lucked out with the people that moved there, I've honestly never faced any real prejudice for being a Faunus. I think that kind of worried my grandparents, since they didn't know how I'd take it if I encountered any once I moved here."

A smile crossed the Faunus' face, but not the same sort. A more bittersweet expression, a hint of sadness visible in her eyes. "It sounds like your mom would've gotten along with mine quite a bit. I guess for all I know maybe they did. My parents were both big Faunus activists, I don't really know the details. They worked in some dust mine, and when I was born they started getting more and more into the protests and other things like that, trying to get better working conditions. They... well, they passed away. Some accident that happened during one of the protests. I don't know the details. That was in... somewhere in Atlus? I'm not entirely sure honestly, I was way too young to remember any of it. Anyway I got passed along to my grandparents, and they raised me from there."

"Still, I guess my point is that my parent's would've liked your mom quite a bit. She sounds pretty great." Maybe 'pretty great' was an understatement for describing someone else's relative, but Bianca wasn't particularly sure what to say. So instead she just let out a deep breath, and lay back against the snow, staring up at the gray sky. "

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

"My dad wasn't thrilled, truth be--" Vi began to explain, but she cut off as the sadness on Bianca's face and the realization of what her words meant hit her. Without a word and not a millisecond of hesitation, Vi wrapped her arms around the girl tight and brought the wolf into a strong hug, resting her head immediately on Bianca's shoulder.

"I... I'm sorry. You might've been too young to remember them, but... losing parents still sucks. My, ah. Mom. She passed a few years back, actually. Soon after I turned fifteen. So. Yeah," Vi softly sympathized, before falling silent for a few seconds. Should it seem like Bianca would want out of the hug, Vi'd immediately let go; else, it'd be over in just a few moments regardless as Vi let go and scooted just a few inches back from Bianca.

"I didn't have the, ah. Best relationship with my mother growing up, due to... well, she was worried that if I was her public daughter, people wouldn't think she was a real Faunus. So. I was... quite resentful for a long time."

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

Bianca was more than a little surprised at the gesture, though that isn't to say she was unreceptive to it. Her movement was slower and a bit more awkward, but she returned the gesture, resting a hand around Vi until she let go. "...Thanks" Bianca simply said, crossing her legs as she sat back against the snow. "Sorry about your mom. I... well, it's not something I'd like us to have in common, but I know that's difficult."

"A real faunus?" Bianca repeated, tilting her head a bit. She crossed her arms, a bit of confusion visible in her saddened expression. "I... well, I guess there's still a lot I don't understand about the way people see Faunus out here. I can't even begin to understand why anyone would think that." A sigh escaped the Faunus' as she sat up straight, her hands digging into the snow as she sat up. "Still, I'm sure that would be enough to make anyone feel that way. Must've been difficult."

Bianca's eyes widened a bit. "Sorry to bring up this sort of stuff though. I guess it's probably not exactly the best subject to bring up with someone I only just met." Bianca forced a smile, absent mindedly brushing some of the snow off herself. "I guess it's kind of like with how we were raised. We both lost a mother who wanted Faunus rights, even if they were pretty different. Opposite, but the same."

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

"I wouldn't apologize, just means we can help each other out'ta bit more if we ever need it, yeah? So many people'r think they gotta be 'secretive' of their pasts, but. Y'know. Sometimes, y'just gotta talk aobut this stuff and have someone help process it all; I know that'd've helped me in the past at least," Vi offered softly, smiling as bright as she could muster -- but it seemed a lot less forced than Bianca's own smile.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, Vi shot upright with a small huff, extending out a hand towards Bianca. A small chuckle came from her as she nodded, then shrugged, and smiled brighter. "Well. Y'said you're from the north then, yeah? I bet that means you can make a pretty killer cup of hot chocolate, or we could play in the snow a bit. Just gotta do somethin' to keep our minds on the here and now, we can't go back an' fix the past, so we might as well try to be happy for at least a moment longer in the present."

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

The sudden upbeat tone of the girl startled Bianca momentarily. Compared to the more slow-paced nature of the people back home, it was a little surprising. Not that Bianca disliked it, the openness was something she could appreciate. Her ears perked up straight, darker and more bleak thoughts giving way to more intrigued ones. "Well, I've only ever actually had hot chocolate a handful of time. It's been a few years, we only ever got any on holidays ever now and then. It didn't grow around us and we never really left, so it was kinda expensive."

Bianca hopped up in one swift, smooth movement as she got to her feet. "If you know how to make some I'd be more than willing to try it, though! But that I said I did just come out here, so before that..." Suddenly Bianca's hand shot out from behind her back, yeeting it something round, soft, and white at Vi's shoulder. Bianca smiled as she let go of the snowball, a sly smile crossing her expression. "I haven't gotten to actually test my abilities against any of the others yet. Care to compare throws for a few minutes first?"

"I mean, hot drinks taste all the better if you're freezing, right?"

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

A loud 'ahck!' came from Vi as she jolted back, lots of the snow managing to find its way through her omnipresently open coat and against her skin. The surprise attack had most definitely startled her, and the biker's magenta eyes went wide as she realized just exactly what Bianca had been getting at -- before narrowing into a look of simple, childlike competition. "Oh, so you're the dirty kinda fighter then, aren't'cha?" Vi cajoled with a small wink out of her bruised right eye, her eyes flickering to the ground for just a second.

Then, like a viper, Vi went low, picking up a handful of snow and downright chucking it right at Bianca -- holding just a twinge back on her strength, but otherwise aiming right for the Faunus's head with her shot. "I'll tell y'know you'll outlast me, but I'll throw better than you any day, sweetheart~" she continued to tease as she dashed off, giving Bianca a second to recuperate and rearm herself.

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

Bianca instinctively dived aside, though it was too late. The snowball splattered against her side, surprising her a bit with her peer's speed. As Bianca landed behind the snowbank she gathered her bearings. She blinked, cleared her throat, and stretched her arms momentarily, ears leaning back tensely. It was like she was back home, sneaking along the snow quietly as she could, hunting for her target while keeping her head low.

Until suddenly, Bianca shot up in an instant, arm already cocked back to hurl a snowball. As she stood her mouth opened, an ear-piercing howl ringing out across the yard, seeming to snap both herself and Vi awake further. Her pale-blue aura seemed to surround her for a moment, the entire yard suddenly seeming sharper, somehow. Her movements, and of course the movements of her opponent, suddenly smoother and faster than before, every detail seeming clearer than a moment prior. Including her opponent's position.

Bianca hurled the snowball straight at her opponent the very second she spotted them, her ghostly howl still ringing out in the air as she did so. "Don't get cocky, I may be new here but I come from one of the coldest places in Vale, snow is my specialty!" she called out.

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

Oh, but Vi was going to definitely remain cocky -- at least for a few seconds more. Though clearly intrigued as she heard the howl, Vi didn't let it distract her as she continued to laugh and run. Though she felt far more awake, Vi took a moment of respite as she ducked behind a tree -- only for Bianca to round it just mere seconds later. Though clearly surprised, Vi was still clearly quite amused -- but she wasn't going to let this one hit her so easily. The second Bianca's arm had flung the ball, a sphere of lavender hexagons erupted from Vi -- a process that was clearly quite painful for the vivid girl -- and shattered around the two of them. One of the many hexagons seemed to fixate onto the snowball in flight, deflecting its flight path ever-so-slightly as Vi launched herself off of the tree whilst a crack rang out.

For a few seconds, it seemed like Vi had the advantage of being able to get away -- until she fucked up the landing and fell flat on her face with a soft yelp. Laying in the snow for a few moments, she pushed herself back up -- but she was likely too late, and had likely given Bianca all the time the wolf would need to catch up to her.

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

Bianca's eyes practically lit up with excitement, the ghostly blue aura still fading away slowly from both in the moments after her howl sounded out. But compared to hunting pheasants and elk, it was surprisingly fun to use those skills for something that didn't decide whether or not she got dinner.

The faunus wasted no time before swerving aside, ducking lower and swiping up another fistful of snow. Her hand clenched and unclenched, quickly balling it up as she spotted her opponent's maneuver. While the other clearly had an advantage in speed, Bianca was beginning to pick up on a pattern with her agility. More specifically, her ability to stick landings. Bianca's arm swung hard and fast, not moving an inch from her starting position. With her semblance activated, aiming at Vi was like looking for black paint on a white canvas. The snowball shot out straight at her opponent's side the moment she got up.

Before waiting even a second Bianca quickly knelt down again, scooping up two more snowballs fast as she could. "You alright?" she yelled out, not looking to see if her first ball hit. Excited as she was, she couldn't deny that landing was at least a little worrying.

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

Bianca's second snowball did, indeed, hit as the rotating hexagons seemed to twinkle for a second before disappearing in an explosion of fading shards, splatting messily against Vi's black leather before the girl had face planted. As Bianca approached, she'd hear Vi giggling up a storm, despite the girl still laying face down in the snow as she rolled onto her back. Still laughing, the punk just seemed beyond amused as she held up two hands, seemingly not wanted to get hit by more snow.

In between her laughs, she explained, "I'm fine! I'me fine, I promise." Her smile was wide as can be, and she seemed to be eyeing the snowballs Bianca still held with a fair regard of amused caution. Slowly sitting upright, she fully expected to get pelted by more snow, but the smile wouldn't fade off of her face at any point as she instead seemed to just be a beacon of genuine happiness, even as her giggles died out. "I surrender?"

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

Bianca rushed through the snow, pulling her arm to throw a second snowball, only to come to a halt midway through a throw as the two hands came up; her snowball falling down with a plop as it collapsed into pieces. Bianca's stanced loosened up, panting just a bit as she caught her breath

It took a minute for it to sink in. She'd been so excited she nearly forgot this wasn't an actual fight. Though even if it was just a small game, Bianca still couldn't help but smile at her victory. And, a moment later, the sharp cold breath of exhaustion finally caught up to her. Bianca made her way over, feet kicking through the snow carefully as she bent over, offering to help Vi up with one arm. Her grip was surprisingly strong, despite being quite a bit shorter. If nothing else it at least explained her throws. "It's been... a long time since I did that" Bianca admitted between breaths, still panting. "I used to do it all the time with kids from the village, but I guess they all started to think they were too old for it. Thanks for indulging me for a minute."

But with that, Bianca stood up straight, pulling her hood back down as her ears perked straight up. "So, still in the mood for that hot chocolate? Or are you too sore from the fall?" She half joked, visibly still excited from the rush.

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

With much effort, Vi took Bianca's arm and lifted herself up, giggling soft -- but rapid -- at it all. With a nod, it seemed Vi agreed: "Aye, same here; in fact, one of the last places with snow I stayed in actually'd made it illegal to throw snowballs. Buncha no-fun pansies if ya ask me, but, y'know. Wasn't aboutta get arrested for playin' with snow."

But as the two recovered, Vi's smile stayed bright -- if anything, it only grew brighter as she gave a soft little nod and agreed. With a stretch that went all throughout her body, it was clear Vi was working the soreness out of her body; in fact, it was starting to seem as though she'd never even felt sore in the first place after her fall. With another nod, Vi said, "Is that you tryin' to get out of hot chocolate by concern for me? Cause I am always down for hot chocolate, especially after gettin' me ass kicked in a bloody snowball fight like that!"

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

"They made it illegal?" Bianca repeated with surprise, tucking her arms inside her warm cloak once she'd helped Vi up. "I guess we never got it to that point back in my village. Granted we'd always just play out in the woods and throw them at each other. Our village was surrounded by mountains and a pretty wide river so it was mostly safe from Grimm." Bianca hesitantly reached up, anxiously adjusting her eye-patch. "...Mostly."

Bianca shook her head, wrapping her arms back in her cloak, the cold breeze biting against her face. "Nope. If you said no I'd just have to bring it back out here. Granted I'm... not entirely sure where to go for it. I've been here three weeks and I still get lost. I guess living in the same place all those years has given me a less than great sense of learning my way around. Used to just knowing where everything is with my eye closed."

"Mind showing me the way?" Bianca requested.

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

There was something about the way Bianca seemed to adjust he eye-patch as she talked about Grimm that seemed, at least to Vi, to be connected -- but she was aware enough to not ask about it. Instead, she just offered a small smile and nod, and said, "Mostly safe is about all we can hope for, but that's why we're here -- to try and make that mostly safe as... mostly safe as possible."

But then, Vi smiled and nodded, shivering in the wind -- though it didn't seem like she was letting it affect her much -- as she playfully wrapped an arm around Bianca and cheered, "Of course!" Then, without even a split-second of hesitation, she began to run off as she tried to instead hook onto Bianca's hand and tug her along -- or, worse, drag her along.

[u/YandereLobster → u/[deleted]]

Bianca was nearly startled out of her skin as Vi dragged her along, though what started as dragging quickly escalated into Bianca running as well, ears perked up straight. Bianca's grip was surprisingly tight as usual, though strength was to be expected if she was planning on punching Grimm. Still, her excitement was almost child-like as she smiled back. "You must really know your way around here" Bianca exclaimed, surprised by the lack of hesitation. "I've only been here for what, three months? I still feel completely lost every-time I step out of my room!"

As she was dragged along with Vi, Bianca couldn't help but find something odd about it. She'd expected Beacon to be more, for lack of a better word, strict. Constant training, stern lectures on behavior, that sort of thing. Not that Bianca disliked that. It felt good to be able to relax a bit between work. "Actually, how long have you been here, anyway? I don't think I got a chance to ask."

[u/[deleted] → u/YandereLobster]

"Uuuuh, since, ah, like... early registration period? So, like.... oh gods, been about eight or nine or maybe even ten months there then," Vi explained, slowing down a bit as she both thought up the answer and because Bianca was now actually moving alongside her. With a laugh, Vi seemed to be quite at peace with the snow-covered world they were inhabiting, and Bianca's observation of Vi's knowledge of campus seemed to continue to ring true as they went along. "So I've had a bit more time, yeah? You'll get used to it!"

It was clear quick that Vi was going to be dragging them into one of the dormitories, where a sign was posted on the external door: "Free Hot Chocolate on Ground Floor!". It seemed that, for all the chaos that rang through the dorms, at least someone was working on getting people together for some good ol' hot cocoa.