Mindfulness and perception followed Ruby everywhere now, like a second weapon she kept cleaned and oiled next to Crescent Rose. She kept it close and applied it whenever she could, becoming so used to noticing that she almost didn't notice... which was why she nearly missed the second presence at her back.

Alone out by Beacon's pond, Ruby should have felt at least a hint of unease. But there was no one who would harm her here, and she knew that shadow pretty well now.

"Hey there, Headmaster."

If Ruby wanted to congratulate herself on noticing him, it was lessened somewhat by Ozpin's position: sitting rather languidly on the bench, feet stretched out in the grass like he'd been there a while. Maybe he had. In fact, Ruby would bet cookies on it.

"How'd you do that?" she asked softly. It seemed like a soft kind of moment.

Ozpin raised his eyebrows, rather teasing. "Do what?"

Ruby huffed. "You know what. Sitting there for however long you were sitting there for, before you let me notice you." She shrugged at his surprised look. "Ms. Goodwitch is teaching me how to pick up on details and...uh... how'd she put it... ? Oh! 'Be mindful of your surroundings, so much so that nothing can get past your defenses.'"

"That does sound like Glynda..." Ozpin let out a laugh, patting the space beside him. Ruby sat. She wasn't sure she appreciated the look Ozpin was giving her though.

"What?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing. Just wondering how you can be so successful in Glynda's teachings, so observant... and yet fail to notice the time." Ozpin produced a pocket-watch and dangled it before her. The hands pointed to a good hour past curfew.

"Shoot!" Ruby gripped at her hair. "Aw, sir, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't realize—"

Ozpin chuckled kindly. "It's alright, Ruby, I'm far from mad. If anything, it's a pleasure to see you taking your studies so seriously." He side-eyed her, just a bit. "And I was here for quite a while... chocolate?"

The clock had been replaced by a green bag of sweets and Ruby took one without hesitation, then a couple more when Ozpin left the bag enticingly between them. Though they all had the same silver wrapper on the outside and appeared to look the same, each was a surprise when Ruby bit into it. She got milk chocolate, then dark, raspberry filling, something that tasted faintly of almonds... the unexpectedness was as neat as the taste itself and Ruby had plowed through a significant portion before it occurred to her that this might be... well. Rude.

"Uh..." Ruby quickly wiped a bit of peanut butter from her lip. "Sorry? Training sorta makes me hungry..."

Ozpin shook his head. "I wouldn't have offered the bag if they weren't for you to eat. I come prepared now, after you so successfully demolished that plate of cookies." He nudged the bag again, despite Ruby's expression, and she dutifully stuffed another chocolate into her mouth, if only to postpone having to say anything.

Ozpin kindly changed the subject. "Did you know that power is often linked to an excessive love of sweets?"

Ruby's eyes popped. "Mm mmm!"

"I say 'linked'..." Ozpin waved a hand. "It's perhaps more honest for me to say that I have noticeda potential link between the two. Those with extraordinary semblances and fighting prowess have a tendency to crave foods high in fats and sugars, perhaps because their bodies need the extra calories...or perhaps I'm simply reading into thing, as they say." He smiled. "But you may have noticed that your instructors indulge in more subtle ways. Ms. Goodwitch, for example, has a particular fondness for gingersnaps. Bart puts so much cream and sugar into his coffee that it's hardly coffee at all. Others bypass that entirely and go straight to hot chocolate..."

Ozpin bent, retrieved the white mug at his feet, and toasted her.

Ruby stared.

It hit her randomly nowadays: this strange feeling of having a relationship with her headmaster. It wasn't like this with her other professors, not even Oobleck, and Ruby had actually traveled with him, lived at his side. The feeling was similar in temperament to what she had with Uncle Qrow... but Ozpin wasn't family. Not technically.

The only thing Ruby could settle on was that he was a friend. Or something like it. Which made this little speech all the more weird.

"Is that why you let me come here?" Ruby asked and was pretty relieved when Ozpin immediately shook his head.

"No, no. I let you into my school for a number of reasons, but chief among them was because you wanted to come and because you asked." Ozpin took an easy sip of his drink. "Between you and me, you aren't the only student who got here largely out of perseverance—though your ability toremain speaks far more highly of your skill set, of course."

Ruby squinted at him in the dark. She hadn't understood a lot of that, frankly. What student had gotten here just because they wanted to? Weiss? No, she had money, sure, but Ruby knew better than anyone that she had the talent too, even more now that she'd joined Ms. Goodwitch's training. Besides, she couldn't imagine Ozpin accepting a bribe from anyone (no matter how hopefully Nora remained). So who...?

"Don't think too much on it, Ruby," Ozpin said. "I shared my little theory only to pass the time... and perhaps to ease your mind about helping yourself to chocolate."

"And to answer my question."

Ruby said it far more decisively than she was feeling, but Ozpin's smile told it all. Yang, with sisterly status, had a tendency to tease Ruby about her 'simpleness,' as she called it, but even she could work out the basic logic: Ozpin had controlled exactly when Ruby could sense him. Powerful people apparently liked sweets... and it certainly hadn't escaped her notice that he'd been sneaking two chocolates for every one she had.

Just then there was a flash of silver as Ozpin tucked another wrapper into his pocket.

"Perhaps you're right," he said and that was even more of an answer than Ruby had expected. Ozpin had the same expression as when he'd pointed out her silver eyes, and a spark reminiscent of when he'd announced her leadership. Ruby knew by now that Ozpin wouldn't admit too much straight out—let alone give her an explanation. He'd only release hints: tiny implications of power in the unwrapping of sweets.

Maybe understanding that, even accepting it, was some sort of perception too.

So Ruby stretched. She found the last chocolate at the bottom of the bag, split it in half—caramel, sticky in the middle—and dropped the larger bit into Ozpin's waiting hand. She didn't feel like standing up again. The exercise she'd been working on was a simple one: dodge the fireflies. Beacon's campus swarmed with them after dark, especially around the lake, and though Ruby had always loved throwing herself into their midst, now the silly game was actually helping her. Weaving in and out of such tiny targets was no easy task, even with her semblance, but with a better sense of the world around her—and a healthy appreciation for history, why she needed these skills—Ruby was managing. Succeeding, even.

Ozpin noticed her gaze, poised on the lights dancing before them. "You've been busy lately," he said and Ruby recognized it for the praise it was.

How do you thank someone for the simple things? Like words and chocolate? Passion... or even just a bit of your time? Ruby figured that continuing the conversation was as good a way as any.

"What are you doing out anyway?" she asked. Maybe small talk should have come first... but when had they ever done thing's 'right'?

That was so boring.

Ozpin slid down the bench a bit. He smiled up at the stars. "I'm enjoying my night, Ruby," he said. "You?"

"Same, sir. Same."

~fin.