The blazing afternoon sky eclipsed over Beacon Academy as the campus lays barren. The silence filling the hallways and campus as it anticipates Initiation weekend. The Headmaster of Beacon, Ozpin, was sitting on a lone bench near the docks, admiring the view of Vale and the hustle and bustle of its occupants. In his hand rests a fresh cup of coffee, the first one of the moment. The smell was intoxicating as he anticipated the first sip of the day. Nothing could ruin the moment. His arm raised the cup and tipped the lid towards his pursed lips.

"We have a problem." The deadpan voice of Glynda Goodwitch startled Ozpin, forcing his mind out of the serenity he was previously in.

Ozpin cocked his head to face her. A remarkably fine woman who was able to handle any amount of work given to her without any complaint, if you don't count backhanded comments. His pursed lips transformed into a bitter frown. He couldn't even have a single sip of coffee without an issue popping up.

"Of what severity? It could wait until after initiation." He replied, using his free hand to motion a carefree attitude. Glynda's cold demeanor hadn't changed from her original statement.

"That's the problem. One of the chosen initiates has unfortunately notified us to his reasoning for why he couldn't attend the academy." Her answer coincided with her multitasking on her scroll.

On her scroll, she pulled up a photo of a brawny young man with dark orange hair and sun kissed skin. Her scroll passed from her own hands into Ozpin's free hand. He gave the photo a good look over as he recalled the boy. Clay Meadows, a boy of honorable upbringing, humble personality, and gifted skillset. It's a shame that he came to deny his acceptance.

"Any reason he stated on why he is unable to attend?" Ozpin asked, handing back the scroll and finally taking his first sip of coffee for the day.

"He was killed in grimm invasion of his home village several days ago." Glynda coldy stated, causing Ozpin to choke on his coffee, "I've already had condolences sent on behalf of Beacon to his family and the village. The number of people killed in the attack was last stated to be thirty-two as of several hours ago."

Ozpin cleared his throat,his mind racing with thoughts of the news. This was a problem. An incomplete initiation schedule throws the entire school attendance system out of the loop for at least 3 weeks. Finding a replacement student would be the easiest solution. He was not going to deal with that recalibration process ever again.

"Are the applications still in my office?" His request was met with a stern nod from Glynda.

"I had them placed on your desk after I received the news."

Ozpin smirked, standing up with a sigh as he stretched his legs. So much for a free day at Beacon Academy. He turned and motioned for Glynda to follow him as he picked up his cane from the end of the bench and sluggishly strutted towards his office in the clocktower.

"Well, we have five days until Beacon opens for the new school year. If we pick the first promising face in the pile, we'll be done in several hours. This should leave us enough to get Dr. Oobleck to rework the attendance file on the system and to have the golden boy" He paused for a moment, "or girl, time to pack and arrive to Beacon on time." His monologue was brought upon Glynda's shoulders as she was occupationally tied to Ozpin's schemes.

The walk lasted several minutes as they soaked in the rare view of an empty and silent Beacon academy. A school that was so often bustling with sound of students was dead quiet, the clack of Ozpin's cane filling the air as they walked.

At the base of the clocktower, a small lobby filled the interior with an ornate elevator being the centerpiece of the room. Ozpin and Glynda stepped inside, a pregnant pause filled the awkward elevator ride until Glynda decided to speak up.

"So, how long do you believe it will take?" She asked, adjusting her glasses.

Ozpin adopted an indecisive sneer, teetering his hand from left to right. He honestly didn't have a definitive answer himself. It's not like the perfect candidate would just pop up out of nowhere. While convenient, it would just be absurd. Ozpin's thoughts were cut off with a bitter smell filling the elevator as it reached his office. Where was this smell coming from?

The elevator doors open, revealing the office of Ozpin filled with a layer of smoke. The source, revealing itself to be a lit cigarette on the hand of an outstretched arm from Ozpin's chair, facing toward the window. Glynda adopted a hostile glare and prepared her crop as Ozpin maintained a professional appearance, merely raising an eyebrow to the figure.

"Quite a view, but the clock motif is a bit exaggerated though." The voice seemed to hide a faint accent that Ozpin couldn't quite place.

Glynda stepped forward, nonverbally announcing her presence to the mysterious intruder.

"Excuse me, sir. Beacon Academy is currently on summer vacation and is unable to have any visitors during this time." Her poorly hidden threat behind her statement reeked of venom.

Oh, I'm not a visitor." He said, spinning the chair and revealing his identity, "I'm here to be your golden boy".

The intruder was a young man of 17. His hair was a short blonde and eyes a piercing blue. His appearance bore the semblance of a sketchy car salesman: a plain white button up shirt with a black tie, grey khakis, and a grungy, well used, tan trench coat. His toothy grin gave off a creepy vibe, as if intentionally. He took a drag of the cigarette, blowing the smoke out into the office air, looking back at Ozpin and Glynda.

"Mind if I smoke?" He cynically asked, crushing the remnants of the fag into a bowl filled of recently used cigarette butts and caramel hard candys. He pulled out his pack and began to fiddle with it to pull out another stick.

"Yes." Glynda affirmed, using her semblance to pull the pack from his hands, floating them to the trash can at a moderate velocity.

Ozpin kept his mouth shut, analyzing the young man. His staring was noticed by the young intruder. He promptly stood up from the chair, dusted the ash off his trenchcoat, and bent over the desk, outstretching his hand.

"Where are my manners? My name's Jaune Constantine. I'm here for the opening in the initiation."

The statement sent chills down the spines of Ozpin and Glynda. How could he possibly know about the opening? The issue only arose minutes beforehand. Ozpin dashed the suspicion, exiting the elevator and approached his own desk, fulfilling Jaune's handshake. The grip on Jaune was fierce, but consistent. He knew exactly what he was doing. Ozpin smirked at the realization, taking one of the small chairs in front of his desk, usually meant for students that had gotten into trouble.

"Well, Mr. Constantine. You seem to have come in an opportune time. May I ask for your credentials and application?" Ozpin stated, waving off Glynda to have her back off.

Glynda furrowed her brow as she lowered her crop, backing up to the front of the elevator, glaring at Jaune like a hawk. Jaune gave Ozpin a chuckle, stifling it with a cover of his hand.

"Oh, I don't have any of that. I've never went to combat school, but you'll still accept my application.

Ozpin was taken aback by the sheer audacity of the boy's words, even hearing a faint gasp from Glynda from the elevator. He breaks into school property, violates the no-smoking rule, ruins his candy bowl, and even demands his acceptance without doubt of rejection. What was with this wild child?

"Well, if you are not well versed in combat, I legally cannot accept you. It would be dangerous not only to yourself, but to the people around you." His words did not drop Jaune's prowling smile. Ozpin fell right into his trap.

Jaune took a long, hard look at Glynda, before turning back to Ozpin. He raised his hand and motioned Ozpin to lean closer. Ozpin obliged, humoring the boy. He leaned closer and Jaune extending his head to Ozpin's ear. Moments passed before they both parted. Ozpin's eyes were like plates, as wide as they could be.

"If you're going to accept demands, I want immunity from the no smoking policy. I dunno, make up some shit about me medically needing it." Jaune said, relaxing back into Ozpin's cushy chair.

Ozpin lost his composure as he hastily grabbed a notepad off his desk and began to scribble Jaune's requests. Ozpin quickly attempted to regain his professional image and stood up, showing Jaune to the elevator, which Jaune obliged. Glynda stood beside the elevator, slack jawed as a rude, impudent ass like that would be accepted into the academy.

Ozpin waved goodbye to the guest as the elevator doors shut, leaving Jaune with a large shit eating grin as he silently celebrated his success. Ozpin's body language instantly changed, his frame wobbling towards his desk and digging into his drawers. Moments later, a bottle of brown liquor appeared on his desk. He didn't even bother with a shot glass, just opening and downing as much as he could on a single swig. The liquid burned his throat, but it didn't matter. He was absolutely fucked.

Glynda approached Ozpin, her face, for once, visibly worried about her boss. The clicks of her heels acted like a metronome as she got closer and closer.

"He knows, Glynda." He stated, in between swigs.

Glynda stopped getting closer, leaning closer. Her reluctance being overpowered by her concern.

"Knows what?" She asked, seeing Ozpin put the bottle down. He turns to her, wiping the drips of liquor off his chin with his sleeve.

"He knows that Magic is real."

/

"You should have seen the look on his face! The moment I mentions magic, he practically shat his pants!" Jaune said, downing the last of his shot glass.

The laughter of Nick echoed through his parlor as he began to wheeze, refilling Jaune's shot glass. The parlor was dark, the only light emitting through the open windows. Outside, the wooden sign of "Nick's Knacks" hanging at the front of the building. The closed store front being cluttered with antiques, furniture, and junk.

"Oh, Jaune. What I would give to see that reaction in person. To have someone like that eating from the palm of your hand." his laughter died down, wiping a tear away, "So, what's the plan now?"

Jaune played with his glass, staring at the liquid as the pondered. Honestly, he had no fucking clue. He just wanted to see Ozpin's reaction.

"I dunno. I'll just let things flow naturally and let whatever usually happens come to me at Beacon." Jaune lamented, sipping from the glass.

"Well, well, well. I'll just tell you this, Beacon was some of the most eventful and best years of my life. You won't regret this." Nick reassures, placing a messaging hand on Jaune's shoulder.

Nick had been a huntsman for 30 years before losing his leg and partner in combat. Now, all he does is run a failing antiques shop that somehow, despite almost never having a profit, hasn't shut down yet. Nick's door has been open to Jaune for the last 5 years, being the closest thing Jaune's had to a best friend. The next few days were a blur as Jaune woke up for Initiation day.

/

The Airship station was cramped and cluttered, an innumerable amount of kids Jaune's age just waiting for the airship for Beacon to arrive. Jaune had gotten up several hours earlier, buying several packs of cigarettes as Jaune patiently waited, his habit giving himself his own personal space from everyone else. In the end, the ship arrived as Jaune was one of the first people to step foot into the carrier.

By the end lane of seats, Jaune spotted a nice trio of open seats. It was a match written by Oum's mighty pen. In the oncoming moments, Jaune placed his back against the end of the airship, and extended his legs across the seats. Jaune settles himself in the seats and closes his eyes, awaiting a peaceful nap to Beacon.

"E-Excuse me, sir? Are those two seats available?" a faint feminine voice interrupted Jaune's nap.

Opening his eyes, Jaune was met with a pair of two girls. A short girl with black hair and red hi-lights and a busty blonde girl next to her.