Of Course we are Stuck in a Videogame Chapter 2: We are working to fix the issue, a rwby fanfic

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If you are a lower level than the colony leader of the colony NPC you are trying to recruit, the NPC will not willing leave with you.

Gregory sighs and pulls Dia closer to his side. His colony's military commander purses her lips and leans her head on his shoulder. They aren't the only ones watching the chaos unfold outside of the tear, but Dia is the only NPC officially claimed in the area.

"What about her?" Greg asks, pointing out a lone, confused NPC to his in-game girlfriend. The man lists off the stats observe gives him.

"Maybe," Dia hums, careful of the armguards as she folds her arms. "Likely has memory loss, and recently lost a child by the way her hands keep coming to her stomach with much surprise. Therapy will be extensive."

Gregory listens to his girlfriend, careful not to mention just how correct she is. The father must have been one of the ones who deleted earlier in the day. All data erased, so the unborn NPC kid and any children the deleted gamer helped conceive inside his colony would all be gone. Hard to imagine all these NPCs who were booted out of their colonies by the erasure have no memories from the time meeting their deleted gamer to now. And these are the remaining NPCs; all the really good ones have been picked over and brought to the remaining colonies in the tear.

Still, the fear and confusion has made this a spawning point for Grimm. Terry is off grinding with the rest of the low-leveled gamers while the colony leaders pick who they want.

"She's the best stats-wise," Greg finally answers when he's observed the last of the NPC families. "You may be able to make her into a special-op once she's grounded again."

"We'd have to know her semblance," Dia gives him one last squeeze and then steps away. "While I recruit her, look for someone with the best turret skill and a person with weak constitution."

The gamer raises an eyebrow but doesn't question. "Understood."

Meanwhile, Terry sighs and collects the loot dropped by the latest herd. "Yo, [GinAndToxic6]. Can you sense any more around?"

"They're all on South side," the man groans at the information from Grimm sense. The disappointment is echoed by the few gamers around them. "I swear someone's stealing our kills. There were more."

"Then we'll go looking," Terry nods wearily, shoulders slumping. "A solo player won't last much longer out here. And all of you levels fifteen and below, start falling back! The harder-to-kill ones should start making an appearance with the cannon fodder gone!"

The group he's with nod and start positioning properly. Most, like him, are excited at the prospect of hardier Grimm to defeat. Those ones don't come out unless it's for a special event, making physical grinding much hard past level ten.

Terry will never admit, but this is his favourite stress reliever. Working with a group of people to punch evil so hard it disintegrates is more fun than the television show makes it seem. He just wishes they – his Atlas friends – did this more often. They could do great work in the Hollowed Mountains and Drifting Forests, and maybe even make it further north on the continent than others have before.

Too bad it's rare their real-life breaks never match up a lot.

"Everyone ready?" Terry asks. Once he gets their positives, they start the trek to find Grimm.

A few hours earlier, in Vacuo, Jemma rolls her eyes as she watches people steal and kidnap every good NPC kicked from a deleted colony. What's almost funny is that no one blinks twice at her hidden gamer tag, because everyone here not trying to recruit an NPC has the same [Bandit] tag hiding their name. It's the easiest tag to get, but the sheer number of gamers wearing it today is hilarious for the woman.

Finally, her observe picks up a NPC that matches the bounty's description. A family of four is being led towards the tear by a gamer. It becomes obvious that the male blacksmith is the one [DustToSunlight] wants. The wife has no good stats and, outside of her spear wielding skill, nothing worth recruiting her for. The kids didn't inherit anything from their father but their eyes, so they're out too.

Jemma tsks out loud, double checking her ninja gear hides her features. The nearby crystal woman was just stolen for an eighth time while a master knightsman finally got the ropes off and now attacks those that stole him from his new gamer. Walking into the foray, Jemma dodges a knife thrown and pulls out her drug rag. While the others fight for high profile NPCs, her bounty is a simple blacksmith over a set level. Normally it would difficult, NPCs that high don't leave their colonies happily, but the rash delete makes a perfect opportunity to go for any bounties. So, of course, she goes for the less risk, high reward. Those poor suckers with the crystal woman are going to be fighting for her all day.

Within seconds the blacksmith is knocked out and dragged over her shoulders. She starts running just in time for the other gamer to realize what's going on and chase after her. The family screams and yells, and for a second part of her hurts. Then she's too busy dodging and out-running the other gamer to notice. Only a couple minutes later does the guy she screwed over give up and turn back for the tear. Jemma spends the rest of the hour alternating between sneaking around and running back to Shade's bounty office.

The cash outweighs all guilt.

Jemma has to return to the real world soon after getting the bounty reward. She's barely out of the chair when her breathing picks up and she pales dramatically. The woman crawls across the floor and curls up in the space between couches. That world always feels too real, especially when she has to carry the weight of an NPC forcibly taken from someone else. She stole – kidnapped – an NPC. Once she deals with this guilt here, she's going back in to do it again.

Jemma decides the guilt hits hard this time because she stole a blacksmith. She normally wouldn't care, but now her best friend has a blacksmith people will be salivating for. There will be a bounty for a Spade NPC sooner or later. And that's the legal way; kidnappers and thieves are always on the lookout for NPCs to grab.

Once she's calmed down, Jemma writes a quick note to herself to look up things that will help Cole. Things like how to protect an NPC outside of the colony, and anti-theft defences. This will help her too, she reasons. This way she'll learn what to mess with in a colony and what not to. When the woman goes back into the virtual reality, it's in a much better head space.

Austin, walking through the cleared routes in Vale, just wanted a relaxing night exploring the Vanity Ruins. Usually the sin-based dungeon is littered with Grimm at its entrance and it's only through luck he was close by when the crazy happened. Thankfully the empty tear zone he got kicked to – because of course the colony he saved in was owned by someone who deleted – didn't have too many NPCs milling around outside of it. So, with the Grimm already starting to herd towards the tears, Austin wanted to take time and explore the entrance to the infinity dungeon without worry of a fight or death.

What he gets when he arrives is the sound of panicked shouting. Austin sends a look to the generated sky, wondering why him. It takes a couple minutes, the shouting turning into jeers, and when he arrives at what used to be a town's square, Austin is pissed off.

"Well, boys," Austin almost shouts, shoving his hands in his pockets to extend the small claws between his fingers without giving anything away. He doesn't want a fight, but this doesn't look like it will be resolved peacefully. "I don't think that's anyway to treat a lady, now is it?"

The two Faunus holding the human - a traveller, according to her tag - against the ground sneer up at him while the third lifts his foot off her stomach. The woman gasps for breath, turning her head just in time to miss the third Faunus' spit.

"Now," Austin lowers his head, blue hair hanging into his eyes as he grins sharply. "I really don't think you should keep antagonizing that woman."

"Keep her down," the third Faunus says. Definitely the leader of this little group. His tag reads White Fang Member, and Austin almost rolls his eyes. So predictable. "I've got the other human."

"Oh?" Austin hums, raising an eyebrow and ducking his head further to chuckle darkly. "So, it's because she's human. This is why I just can't support the group, you know?" His head jerks up, sneering. The other man pauses in his tracks, eyes narrowed. "Everyone member in Vale has only proven they're all a bunch of racists."

The White Fang member swears at him. "We don't need a human's approval of our group."

"So you've shown," Austin keeps the sneering smile on his face as he lifts his hands behind his head, claws between fingers very visible. The outspoken Faunus faces twists into confusion, and then irritation. "But I don't appreciate senseless violence against anyone, especially for something they can't control."

The member swears again. "Then you should be fighting with us! The humans oppress us! They're the reason we have to attack to show our dominance!"

Austin cringes back at that. "And see, it's wording like that which makes me suspect not all of you are the sanest." The lightly tanned man pretends not to see the White Fang members tense and grab their weapons. "Who even says dominance? It's like you're inviting them to treat us like animals."

This time the other members swear at him, jumping up and rushing to attack. Austin easily dodges, relieved his taunting worked but still feeling the curl of disgust. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the human traveller attack the opinionated member, which means he can focus all his attention on these mooks.

He feels awful when he does kill the White Fang members, watching them turn to dust and gathering the left over loot. The group doesn't do any favours for itself, sending out the crazies to terrorize citizens or make it harder for others to walk between colonies. At least, that's what it is like in Vale. Who knows what it's like in Mistral, where Adam's control of crazy is seen firsthand.

A cry of pain jerks his focus to the other fight. The traveller leans on her staff, clutching her middle. The White Fang member laughs as he flicks his knife, shooting blood off to the side. Austin carefully sneaks over, lengthening his claws and flexing his fingers while the man monologues. "How does it feel, human? Knowing you'll be bested by a Faunus? Knowing that no matter what you do, there is no help coming for-"

Claws rakes across his throat. There is an awful moment when the member's aura tries to heal him and traps the blood in his airway. Austin takes the dropped knife and puts it in the man's back twice, effectively destroying the remaining aura. The surprised, betrayed eyes plead at him, and then the final member turns to dust.

Austin collects the loot, and then turns to the human. She tenses, a mistrustful face turning even more haunted. Through the menu, Austin trades in his new, bloody dagger for potions. Then he holds them out.

The traveller looks carefully between his face and hands, mistrust falling away into uncertainty. It's the blood starting to run through her fingers that decides it. She moves so fast she's a brown blur when she snatches and chugs the health and aura replenishers. "Thank you."

Austin wipes the blood off his claws with mild distaste, shrugging at her. "I shouldn't have to have done it, but the world's not there yet."

"No," she agrees, holding out the empty bottles for him. He smiles and takes them, glad someone is polite enough to return his things. There are always too many NPCs that hog bottles for themselves. "It isn't. So thank you."

He smirks and nods, before face falls as he gazes around the empty ruins and chooses the dialogue that he cares most about. "Will you be okay getting to wherever you need to be?"

The woman pauses and glances around like him. "I… don't know." She turns back to him, expression lost. "They killed my horse. I don't know if I can make it through the Apple Woods without him."

"Where are you going?" Austin winces in sympathy because going through those woods without some kind of quickstep boost is hard. If she needed a horse, then it's going to be a struggle.

"The Adel colony," the woman answers, smiling shyly. "You wouldn't happen to be going that way, would you?"

No, he most definitely is not. Coco Adel's colony is at least two hours from here, and in the opposite direction of his colony. Getting there means cutting across the Apple Forest and somehow crossing the Rapids River.

"I'll take you," Austin says with a sigh, gaze barely flickering as he accepts the quest. The question mark reward better be worth it. "I've got the quickstep ability, if you're up for riding on my back."

The smiling leer she aims up and down takes him aback. "That sounds wonderful."

"A-alright," Austin hesitantly turns his back to her, and breathes a relieved sigh when she doesn't linger getting on. There will be no hesitation to drop her if she assaults him in any way.

"Thank you for this," she mutters, resting her head on his shoulder. "My name is Amber, by the way."

"Call me Aus," he replies. As they move away from the ruins, he wonders why she twitches at his nickname. "So, you ready to dodge some apples?"

She laughs and holds on tighter. "I'll be a good second set of eyes. I promise."

"Glad to hear."

In Mistral, Gina isn't having as much luck with Grimm. She took a lesser travelled route in order to avoid tears and other people, and instead found Grimm hoards travelling towards the routes she's avoiding. The human jumps from tree to tree as careful as possible to avoid alerting ground Grimm and monkey-like Grimm to her location. Thankfully, all the airborne Grimm are staying in the air.

Gina's poison master was upset at ending their work early because of the swarms; if only he knew what was migrating towards the tears. She's certainly not impressed, with both his gall to send her on a fetch quest and the Grimm. How dare they make things harder.

Gina almost curses when a forest line comes into view. She goes to hang a left – there has to be some kind of train or tear or something to get her to Mistral – when she registers the farm being attacked by Grimm. Attacked as in, there must be people inside with negative emotions or the cannon fodder Grimm would have kept on trucking by. Her stupidly soft heart won't let her move on now that she can see there are people in danger. Gina waits until the Grimm not attacking have made it a long way away before she continues to the forest line, secretly hoping the barn will either fall or the Grimm will get bored and leave.

Of course neither happens. It's almost like there's a special kind of luck toying her around today. Never mind getting to Mistral for the fetch quest, she's saving and quitting as soon as possible. Hope for better luck tomorrow. But first, people to save.

A couple of the Beowolves turn and run as soon as she hits the property. She even gets a quest, a basic save whoever is under the question mark name and get a question mark reward. The first of the Grimm are quickly dispatched with her poison tipped fan. She may not love the weapon, but it is best for killing those with no poison immunity. Grimm can shake off the status effect in a few minutes, but her newest blend needs testers and who better than those scraping at the barn door.

Gina almost laughs her disbelief when a giant scorpion Grimm, [Death Stalker], bursts from the trees behind the barn after the grunts are all dust. She really does have terrible luck. The quest changes from save ? ? ? to protect the barn. Gina switches from fans to fire dust arrows because when in doubt, kill it with fire. Sure, the barn almost gets hit by the flames, but she dosed it in water dust so all's good.

Gina turns quickly when the barn door opens. A young man hesitantly steps out, eyes falling and staying on her. The NPC slumps in relief and tries to look brave walking over to her. Her stupid, bleeding heart makes her hurry to him and ask the obvious worried question. "Are you okay?"

"Yah," he shakily scratches behind his head, shoulders curling in. He's definitely younger than her, but also much taller. "Thank you. I… really didn't think I was getting out of there."

The poor shaking guy looks one stiff breeze away from collapsing. Gina slowly broadcasts her movements, taking his arm and guiding him to nearby stump. "Sit down."

He looks at her, confused. "What?"

"Sit down," Gina demands, gesturing to the stump. He blinks a few times and sits – falls – on it. She starts rubbing his shoulder, speaking softer now that he's not at risk of collapsing. "That was pretty scary, huh?"

"Yah," he barks out a laugh and wipes his eyes. "They came out of nowhere. I've dealt with one or two at a time before, but… there were hundreds."

"Are you alone out here?" Gina asks worriedly. It's a big property, and rare for an NPC to be by themselves this far away from a colony. Only main characters do this type of thing, and the kind of luck it takes for a gamer to actually assist more than one main character is astronomical.

"I have been for a few years," the man sighs, hanging his head and clenching his fists. "My aunt went missing awhile back, and it's just been me since."

That makes sense. "I'm sorry," Gina tells him, kneeling down to be at his level. "No one should have to go through that kind of thing alone."

He gives a choked laugh, and then breaks down sobbing. "I thought I was going to die."

Gina hugs him securely; watching the forest lines over his back to make sure no Grimm decides to return. "I know. Let it all out."

He does, quiet sobs against her shoulder as he grips her jacket for a lifeline. He reminds her of the raid survivors in Mistral's hospital. Men and women who thought bandits and rogues were the worst things to look out for until a horde of Grimm showed up before the hunters and huntresses. The difference is she's seen the horde that passed by his barn without destroying it. If her mind didn't see them as enemies in a game – still scary but desensitizing with every kill – then she would have broken down and been found out in the trees ages ago.

She runs her fingers through his hair when she spots a few Grimm straggling through the trees. He draws back, green-hazel eyes red around the sclera and worried face wet with tears.

"Don't turn around," Gina assures him, carefully detangling. "I'll be back."

"What's going on?" he snatches her wrist as she goes past, but doesn't turn.

"Just a problem I'll deal with," she promises. The Grimm roar and he flinches, shoulders curling in more. "Don't worry. Nothing's going to make it this far."

"…Okay," he lets go after a long few seconds. "Be safe."

Gina smirks and walks forwards. Two Grimm turn into two dozen, and it takes longer than she thought to defeat them, but she gains a level so win-win.

"Wonder if I should up charisma," Gina mutters, looking at her new skill point. She glances back at the man still on the stump, and then saves the point for a later date. Her speech options pop up as draws near. The one that extends the quest seems simple enough. "Do you need any help cleaning up?"

The NPC jolts in surprise, and then sends a hopeful smile her way. "I do, if you don't mind. You've already done so much…"

"I wouldn't have offered otherwise." He takes Gina's hand and she pulls him up, shaking it once before letting go. "Call me Gin."

"Oscar," he replies. He slowly builds confidence as he guides her through the steps of fixing the turned over produce and destroyed fields. She gains the farming skill and a couple recipes by the time everything is cleared. They trade contact information, and Gina promises to be back for more lessons. Then, Oscar helps point her to the train station, where she finally heads towards Mistral.

"No!" Gina yells after the third stop, slamming her hands on the table and scaring quite a few other passengers. She seethes a bit before folding her arms and burying her head in them.

[xJemstoneWitchx] is going to have a field day when she sees Gina's brand new, potential relationship quest. Maybe Oscar will get over it. She didn't do anything but help him, so there's a chance he'll dislike who she is and the new quest will go away. Yes, perfect. He'll forget all about her by the end of the week so long as she doesn't message him.

Now she has to work on getting stopping Sun's potential relationship, or at least holding it off until he realizes she works for the poison master. Withholding that secret has to be a romance killer. A betrayal at its finest. No way will he like her after that comes out. She just needs to avoid him until it does.

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Traders in Remnant are some of the best public speakers you'll ever meet. What's rare is finding a trader who can win a physical fight.

Cole enters back into the game during the time all rare or high-level NPCs have been recruited, taken, kidnapped, or stolen. Not that it affects him. A person needs a high recruiting skill to get anyone good, and there is no miracle for the under-leveled to get someone way out of there league. As for stealing, well he doesn't want to kidnap anyone and would have to turn off Lonely Road to do so. Get his butt kicked? No thanks. Cole doesn't plan on recruiting, instead using an hour or two to play the game and get away from homework. Maybe he'll grind up the skill by pestering those outside, but he doesn't want to be that guy, even to computer generated people.

Cole sighs and reads the loading tip. Traders are a common NPC classification around tears with lots of colony zones in them and to the NPC run colonies. His own tear has a few dozen colonies open to the public, so there are supposed to be at least two or three unaligned traders coming through. He'll probably need something to trade with before he thinks of recruiting one. Beginner level farm and mining outpost are a start, but that might not be able to keep up with demand if he does get a trader. Normally the produce and material goes towards keeping the villagers fed and-

…He forgot to make a community center and dump berries there. Bonbon and Spade are probably starving. This session is just off to a great start.

Cole blinks a few times as the loading screen turns into a ceiling. He practically sprints out of his room, skidding into the kitchen. Berries get transferred to the empty fridge, and then he's outside running to a free plot. At the last second he notices the requests board has actual requests. There's some stumbling before he can manage to switch momentum and hurry back.

"Huh," Cole huffs, accepting the requests. The first tutorial that begins is starting a farm. The game gives him potato seeds, so no hunting around or looking for treasure chests just yet. After the pitiful three-by-three plot is watered and fertilized – and maybe he will need to look for chests because that's it for fertilizer – the digging materials tutorial starts. This one is over faster, since he actually has a decent miner skill from all that time spent in the tutorial. The final tutorial, community living, leaves him making pained noises as the semi-decent community hall finishes off his lumber and material stone.

"This looks pretty neat," Spade scoffs, making Cole glance over his shoulder. He closes the screen, effectively transferring the berries as free-for-all meals to the community, and turns just in time to be tackled by his in-game daughter. Spade smirks and grabs a bowel while Cole rubs the girl's head, wishing her a good afternoon. "I had Bonbon take everything from your fridge earlier. Sorry."

It's completely unapologetic, so Cole shrugs in reply. "I don't want you to starve. There should be enough food for a few days, and by then the potatoes will be ready. Sorry about not doing this earlier."

Spade shoots him an indescribable look, and then nods slowly. "It's no problem. I hope you don't expect one of us to farm."

"I don't," Cole replies honestly, but he didn't think about whom else could when he's not playing. Maybe he really will need to try and recruit a homeless NPC. Someone who has low expectations and isn't going to be let down by the pitiful square that is for beginner farmers. That… doesn't actually leave a lot of options.

"I might know a guy," Spade says between spoonsful of dispensed berries. "Jade; son of a jade crystal guy and some old colony rustic. Of course, I haven't seen him since before I was chained down." Her eyes shift away as a scowl twists her face. "The Jetsonery Tribe worked him in the fields as soon as they killed his father. If he's still there, tell him I sent you and that I still have that thing he wants."

"Understood," Cole nods, accepting the quest. Five days to complete it doesn't seem like a lot, even though the objective is only a few hours past Spade's old cave prison. A team member request pops up, and Cole looks down at the girl hugging his leg. "I can't take you with me, not until we get you a little stronger."

Bonbon makes a face at him, pouting and dragging her feet towards Spade. The darker woman rolls her eyes and gets the girl her own bowl. Cole stops her before the dispenser and hands over the iron for the last request on the board.

"You got them," Spade says, impressed. The game automatically changes who holds the material, and a selection screen appears as Spade explains the reward. "Pick which weapon you spend a lot of time using, and I'll make you one."

He clicks the dagger because that's the only one he doesn't have from the options listed, and most of them are all question marked boxes. Spade hums. "The dagger, huh? Is that your main weapon?"

This feels like a really important question, but Cole can't put his finger on why. He hesitantly presses yes, and nothing happens afterwards so hopefully it's all okay. Spade just pockets the materials and turns to take the pouting Bonbon back to her smithy with their food. Cole stops her once again to fill up the babysitting quota. Then he pulls Bonbon into a hug, lessening the girl's sour mood.

"You be good for Spade, alright?" Cole says, rocking back on his heels to keep her gaze. "Listen to her and don't do anything dangerous."

Bonbon nods and scampers off after the woman. Cole sighs and heads for the exit of his colony. It's supposed to take kids a week to grow up in-game. However, Bonbon doesn't look any older than the day before. He was expecting a few more years to be tacked on, had thought maybe he could start getting her level up once she's considered an adult in-game. If she doesn't follow the normal aging rules though, what will happen?

He's brought up short with his thoughts when another tutorial appears. Suddenly, he feels connected to Gina, as one casual gamer to another. There's also pity for Terry, who tries so hard to get Weiss' affection it hurts to watch. Cole goes through the tutorial of pressing the relationships tab and opening the now-active potential romance quest.

The Rosy Reaper

Ruby Rose leads one of the greatest colonies in Remnant, and in another life would have become one of the greatest huntresses the world had ever seen. Get up to standards and maybe you'll have a shot at being included with the greatness.

Step One: Get ? ? ? and ? ? ?'s approval.

Cole actually knows this one. A few of the let's players his group knows and follows have started this quest; most make it to step three before they get stuck. He breathes a sigh of relief, because he has no plans to head to Patch – which means no meeting Zwei – and Yang isn't even on the continent. So, if he does meet Ruby again – which is really unlikely as she travels Vale randomly for a week before spending the rest of her time in her colony – the friendship meter is the only thing that will go up or down. Of course, it could turn into a romance meter without following all the steps, but that's only happened to three gamers and all meters referred to Jaune.

So for now, he's good.

Cole smiles at the numbers for Bonbon and Spade. The girl's meter is past the trust line, while Spade is still hesitant but steadily rising. It's nice to see he's not a complete failure at the game.

When Cole steps out of the tear, all that confidence withers. He goes still, eyes wide as dozens – it has to be over a hundred at the least – of NPCs stand around dazed or scared. He steps out of the way for a small group entering the tear, almost whining at the high levels floating above their heads. After a few more moments of hesitation, he flicks off Lonely Road. It's a bit comforting that the dozen or so gamers running around aren't all as high level as the NPCs, but that might not be such a good thing. If not every NPC can join a colony, then what happens to them? Grimm is the obvious answer.

Cole carefully moves around the gamers and NPCs, observing everything he can. He is flooded with names, occupations, skills, and much more. Familial ties, ages, and – after the moment observe reaches level fifty – descriptions about their likes and dislikes shift through his vision along with their inventory. He twitches, getting used the added information running a marathon in his field of view. Cole finally stops it when his aura meter sinks lower than he wants and he takes a break against a tree to let it replenish.

There is a family of four NPCs across from him. Theirs are the last information boxes in his view, so he takes a moment to process everything there. They are the Lindu family, and they're confused for the most part. The mother, Mari, is a tall, tanned blonde with a near-mastery in sword fighter and a stud nose piercing. The father, Dizon, is a short brunet with one ear pierced, and is a poorly skilled trader. The kids get their pale skin from their father, with the eldest, Kaze, keeping his mother's hair and green eyes, and high-level sword fighting skills. The sister Raine – who goes by gender neutral pronouns, according to her observe details – has their father's brown hair and purple eyes, and love for trading.

Cole can understand why they are still here. Sword masters are a dime a dozen, and Mari doesn't even have the mastery. Dizon doesn't have anywhere close to the high trader skills found by normally generated NPCs on the road. Kaze, as he has adult status, could be recruited without the family in tow, but the scar on his lip is neither intimidating nor attractive. If he wasn't lacking any other weaponry skills, he may have become just another soldier in a colony's army. Swords are apparently all he's good with. Raine is a day away from adult status and that might be the only thing keeping them from being dragged off. A short, pretty brunet with a rare eye colour, they would have been taken by a colony if the low-leveled family wasn't a package deal and the mother and brother couldn't fight off any potential thieves.

The Lindu family isn't the only family being left behind, but they one of the few that gamers don't give a second glance. Cole decides against looking away. Maybe it's because they're the only observe data he read and processed. Or maybe it's the low level farming skill the mother has. Or the sad, low charisma stat the father has.

Cole walks up and introduces himself. "I was wondering if you would like to join my colony."

Dizon attempts to respond smoothly, but it just comes off as trying too hard.

Mari stares down at the gamer with pursed lips and deadpanned eyes. "Why?"

"I've recently started a colony," Cole goes with the honesty option, "and I'm looking for workers."

Mari frowns hard but stays silent while her husband rambles on about how 'they're not looking for a beginning colony' and 'it's not you, we just want better for our family'.

"If that's truly how you feel," Cole starts, getting notified of his new bluffing skill, "then I'll turn around and not bother you again. You won't have anything to do with my colony, and I'll respect your wishes to look elsewhere." Wow, that sounded weak even to him.

"Hold on," Mari stops her husband from saying anything else and glares at Cole. "What jobs would we be doing?"

"Farming, mining, or helping the local blacksmith," he pauses and adds, "or babysitting."

"Do you have tools for us to work with?" Mari hums thoughtfully.

"Yes," he nods because, really, he doesn't need a watering can to fight Grimm. "And you can always request if you want something else."

"It sounds good," Raine squeaks softly from where they cling to their brother's shirt. "A new start."

"I want to go," Kaze says quietly, slowly to make sure his words don't slur. He locks eyes with Cole. "Will there be a training ring?"

"Eventually," Cole answers.

"Then I'm in," he turns to his parents. "You two might want to find somewhere better, but we can make a colony better. We can help shape this into a place we want to live. And if it starts with doing basic jobs, then so be it."

Cole is impressed with the guy's enticing. Mari and Dizon share a long look before Mari nods and turns to Cole. "Lead the way, boss."

Cole twitches at the name and motions them onwards. "Just call me Cole, please." They easily get past the gamers and NPCs still standing around, and he feels guilty not inviting the rest to his colony. Then he remembers there now isn't enough food to last a few days. The colony also gets water from a well at the moment, which needs to be filled with water dust every now and then. There just isn't enough for a large group right now.

The gamer pauses near the tear as a thought occurs to him. He turns to the family and looks each in the eye as he asks, "do you have any problems with Faunus?"

"No," Mari answers for the group, the kids seeming confused.

"Good," Cole smiles a little and motions them through the tear set to his colony's plane. "The blacksmith and my daughter are Faunus, and they were here before you."

"We understand," Dizon says coolly.

Cole's smile drops. "Just making sure."

It could be worse. Some Atlas colonies are all-human or all-Faunus because of the discrimination. That question always has to be asked in Mistral as some colony shop keepers won't serve the other race. If Cole's remembering right, there is a let's player with a truly divided colony.

After getting the group settled and showing them around, Spade stands behind her counter, watching the children and Kaze run around while the parents explore their house. She tilts her head towards the gamer leaning against her workshop. "So there's a new sword fighter in town."

"Yep," Cole rolls his eyes at the dialogue.

"She's not yet a master, but she's getting there." A pointed look is thrown at the man. "I'm opening up my stock to include swords. If you want to buy any, let me know."

Well, that's interesting. "Thanks. Do you need any more material?"

Spade gives him an indescribable look that melts into a soft smile. "Nah, I'll be good for now. Thanks, Cole."

They go back to watching the others, but Cole jolts slightly at a new quest. He bites his tongue to hold a groan and opens the relationship tabs. The exasperation shifts to disbelief as Shade, who is still hesitant to trust him, now has a potential romance quest and a romance meter.

The Fox-smith

A certain blacksmith you know thinks you're decent enough to not have ulterior motives for talking to her. Not only does she appreciate it, it's a requirement of hers when she looks for a potential bed buddy. Now to meet the rest of those requirements…

Step One: Give Spade three iron ores, five bronze ores, and any ? ? ?

Cole takes that as his cue to leave. He waves goodbye to his in-game daughter and hops out of the colony, setting Lonely Road on. The next hour is spent scavenging for food, and then the hour after is spent leveling up his sneak skill as he evades Grimm. While he ends up taking a longer route to the quest for a farmer, he wonders if Jade will turn out to be a datable male. It's a known fact in the game that men are very outnumbered by the women, and NPCs are more likely to have a daughter than a son so it only increases the divide. Every character is set to allow an open-ended or poly relationship; it's in the game's handbook and warnings. Still, it's a surprise those relationships don't happen more often. Then again, 'healthy' NPC relationships – where people follow the steps for romancing options – don't have too often either.

Cole almost groans when he sees the numbers for camera recording time. He's been in here longer than he thought, and really needs to get out. The nice thing is that he finally activates the quick-travel tutorial when he enters an empty tear plane. He gets back to his room in his colony, and saves and exits the game.

School awaits for tomorrow.

Game Saved!

Exiting in 3… 2… 1-

Jemma slides into the seat beside him with a quiet 'good morning' and Cole replies with the same greeting. He only put his book away after a few seconds of her staring and pushing papers to his side of the desk. "Uh…"

"These are things to help with your colony," Jemma says, talking a bit too fast. She fiddles with the thermos in her lap, and he just knows she's running on little sleep again. Happy Monday to them. "I've gone over what I know and complied lists on what you'll want and where you'll want to put money into. Start recruiting baseline NPCs that want to become weapon wielders or some kind of hunter or huntress or something because then you can unlock weapons with the blacksmith and the higher the NPC rank with the weapon the better weapons Spade will make and that way you can level up your weapon skills with them to gain more experience."

He takes the break in sentences with both hands and looks up from the very detailed list. "Jemma." She blinks back at him. "Thank you." Her soft, relieved breath almost hurts think about. Just how much time did she spend on this? At least she printed it out; her handwriting is terrible. "Can I message you if I have any questions?"

"Of course," she beams.

They fall back to a peaceful silence as class starts, taking notes with everyone else. About halfway through, their phones light up in sync. Jemma unlocks hers while Cole continues writing. She rolls her eyes, replies, and goes back to the notes. "It's from Terry."

Cole nods and goes through his messages when the professor shows a video clip. He almost snorts, catching and turning it into a cough.

Cole Kraydo – 9:52 am: It's only the second Monday back. How bad can the class be?

Terry MacDougal – 10:22 am: Don't even jinx me like that. Anyways, anyone free to meet up?

"Do you have time?" Cole asks his friend as they pack their things.

"For an hour," Jemma makes a face. "I'm sort-of regretting shoving all my classes into the first few days."

"At least they fit," Cole gripes as he follows her, texting Terry a confirmation for the both of them. "I have to take an extra data management class next term because everything happened during my core courses."

"Ouch," Jemma hisses theoretically. "At least you end before seven."

"Touché."

"Someone end me," Austin groans as meets them in front of the library. "Three weeks in and I. Can't. Even."

"Ooo, you kind of need that for a math career," Jemma laughs at his disgruntled face. "Seriously, though, why do you do this to yourself?"

"I thought I could manage six courses," Austin rolls his eyes as they grab one of the few empty tables. "Two of them are fluff things, you know? But apparently third year just wants to kill me early."

"I'm so sorry, man," Cole shakes his head pityingly.

"Hey, guys," Terry says, dumping his bag on the ground. "Anyone heard the news about Col. RWBY?"

"No," Jemma sits up with another gulp of coffee.

"What's up?" Austin asks, dragging out a large textbook.

Terry makes a dramatic pause. "Yang's returned to Vale."

They all jump when Cole's head hits the desk. "Ow…"

"Dude, why?" Austin blinks and taps him with the book.

"I got Ruby's romance option," Cole grumbles, rubbing his forehead.

Jemma can't hold in her laughter while Terry rolls his eyes, expressing his displeasure that everyone seems to get a romance option but him.

"I still don't have anyone," Jemma reminds him. There's a pause before they all turn to Austin, who pretends not to notice by reading his textbook.

"Dude," Terry waves a hand under the other man's face. "This is when you say 'I don't have one either'."

"Her name is Amber," Austin says, aiming for breezy but just sounding strained. Jemma starts laughing again, much to Cole's confusion. "I didn't know at the time, but she has, like, five minutes of screen time in the show."

"Seriously?" Terry asks, looking interested. "What does she do and how did you meet her?"

"I saved her from some White Fang thugs," Austin shrugs like it was nothing. "And then escorted her to a colony."

"She dies super quick in the T.V. show," Jemma shakes as she takes another drink of coffee. "Like, one long, drawn out death scene across season three. Not really all that helpful in the whole thing."

"She was the Fall Maiden," Terry snaps his fingers and points at Austin. "Dude, that will make you the first gamer to potentially romance a Fall Maiden."

"It's just been a week of firsts," Cole smiles sympathetically at the red haired, tanned man. Austin looks knowingly back. "Where do you think she's been hiding this whole time?"

"Who knows," Austin shrugs. "It's a big world, and I only met her in a dungeon entrance that was cleared of Grimm."

"Huh," Terry tilts his head thoughtfully. "Now that is interesting. What do you guys think to doing a raid? See if it will happen again."

"Not until I'm higher leveled," Cole makes a face. "I am so close to level six it isn't funny."

"Wait," Terry sits upright and stares. "You mean you've done all this crazy stuff and still haven't leveled up?"

"People keep kill-stealing me," Cole rolls his eyes. "All the EXP I get is from talking to others or using aura skills. It's not a lot."

"Not now," Austin nods. "But one day, you're colony will be huge, and you'll get tons per day just for showing up and talking to people."

"Ugh, social situations," Jemma mock shutters. "I'm fine taking requests and killing Grimm, thank you very much."

"Introvert," Terry jokes.

"And proud of it."

They eventually have to part ways for next class. Cole, alone in the back of the lecture hall, pulls out Jemma's tips and tricks lists. He settles in to reading while he waits for the room to fill.

It's rather useful. Especially the tip that the Jetsonery Tribe is known for keeping its farm fields a couple dozen kilometers separate from the clan compound. The tip is supposed to help if he wants to steal some food, but it will make finding Jade a lot easier.

He takes out his phone and pulls up the fan page on the Jetsonery Tribe. A little more light reading shouldn't hurt. He really does need all the help he can get.

Loading…

Dying in-game erases all data up to your last save. Only other gamers will remember any progress you may have made.

Cole: Hey Austin, can you recommend and hunting/gathering spots around my area?

Aus: I've never been to the area where you are, sorry.

Cole: Np

Cole: Was just interested; been picking fruit for hours and don't want to get any closer to the Apple Forest.

Aus: Go into the forest. It's a good way to get free apples.

Cole: And injuries. My quickstep skill takes a quarter of my aura to use still.

Jem: Ouch. It's a good idea to try leveling that up like yesterday.

Cole: Aren't you in class?

Jem: Yes, until 7.

Cole: Alright then.

Cole: I thought your phone didn't support the app to chat.

Jem: It doesn't. And I wouldn't be caught on my phone in class.

Jem: I just don't get the special features on the laptop app but oh well.

Jem: BTW Gina, Cole and Austin got main characters' romance options.

Gory: Wait seriously? Why didn't you guys say anything?

Aus: It's embarrassing.

Ter: Not really.

Cory: No, I'm with Austin. And Gina.

Aus: I'm not here for romance; I'm here to kick butt and keep my civilization alive.

GinTheRainbow: THANK YOU!

GinTheRainbow: I got another main character too and I almost threw myself off a train.

GinTheRainbow: The loot was too great though.

Aus: Stay strong, Gin.

Jem: Who was it?

GinTheRainbow: Some guy named Oscar.

Jem: Wait, really?

Ter: OZPINHEAD Oscar?

GinTheRainbow: Yeah, but he doesn't have Ozpin in his head as far as I could tell, not that I realized it was him until I looked him up.

Jem: I'm impressed.

Jem: How did you even find him?

GinTheRainbow: He runs a farm off the beaten path. It was surrounded by Grimm.

Aus: I wonder if the saving-people-thing is how to get the good guys.

Ter: So I just need to save Weiss to get her to like me?

Gory: Would the bad guys be us kidnapping people or something?

Cole: I was just nice to Ruby so I don't think saving them is necessary.

Gory: Until Zen says something, you just have to keep trying with Weiss.

Gory: Hold up, you got Ruby?

GinTheRainbow: Cole, you are so screwed.

Cole: Thanks for the vote of confidence.

GinTheRainbow: I mean, Yang is in Vale again.

Gory: Right, you'll have a chance to meet her and get her blessing.

Cole: I don't want to date Ruby.

Ter: You might not now, but the views Cole~

Cole: I'm not even sure I want my vids to be posted after this week.

Ter: Cole, come on man.

Jem: We might not need his. Three other bloggers and players succeeded in the tutorial and are already ahead of him.

Jem: By the way, are you stalling?

Cole: Maybe.

GinTheRainbow: Why?

Cole: I need more food for the others, and there are some requests for seeds and tools and I'm intimidated by Jade, alright? The guy is 6'4" and looks like he could crush a watermelon between his thighs. I don't want my head to be the watermelon.

Ter: Too much info dude.

Aus: Why do you need the guy?

Cole: Spade's quest for me to get a farmer. I've got three/four days to complete it. Right now I'm trying to level up and feed my colony and bond with Bonbon and avoid Spade who's decided it's alright to unlock the romance option with me.

Cole: Bonbon's really taken to knife throwing so we have lots of fun going over that.

Ter: Didn't you kill a dude in front of her by throwing a knife?

Cole: Yes. Please don't remind me.

Ter: Noted.

Cole: How was class, Jemma?

Jem: Long. How's avoiding your problems?

Cole: I'm now level seven.

Jem: Nice.

Gory: How are your skill points looking?

Cole: Six additionals and I'm scared to use them.

GinTheRainbow: Why?

Aus: Fair.

Cole: I want to add them to everything, but don't know if I want to stay even or have one lord-tier stat eventually.

Ter: The hard questions.

Gory: I recommend keeping your charisma high as long as you are a colony leader. It gives you extra help with speech skills and multiple options the higher it is.

Cole: Thanks. I'm sort of regretting having strength at eight when I don't seem to attack anything as often anymore.

Jem: You'll get there.

Ter: Guys, do me a favour and save where you are right now.

Aus: Alright.

GinTheRainbow: Done.

Cole: Yep.

Jem: Not playing, but I'll do it again as soon as I get in.

Gory: Okay, I'm good, what happened?

Ter: Died to some stupid ice-Grimm-thing in the mountains. Lost all my progress from an hour ago.

Aus: Ouch.

Cole: Sorry, man.

Gory: Don't try doing it alone again. I'll come with you tomorrow.

Ter: Thanks, but I'm calling it a night.

Cole: See you early tomorrow.

Ter: Ugh, don't remind me.

;;;

Jemma Saurten – 11:34 pm: I emailed you everything people know about game-version Oscar Pines.

Tuesday, September 16th, 2042

Gina Sinclair – 8:21 am: Thanks. I actually saw the one about his aunt included in the missing person's list.

Jemma Saurten – 8:27 am: Do you think it's weird? I think it's weird. Like, you are the first person to see him since version 3.

Gina Sinclair – 8:53 am: That's weird to think about. Do you think he-is-Ozpin sort of thing?

Jemma Saurten – 8:56 am: Honestly? No clue, but I really don't think so. The fan base has been screaming for hawt wizard headmaster since day one.

Jemma Saurten – 8:56 am: I'm not making that up, by the way. Type in 'hawt wizard headmaster' and you get more results about Ozpin than Dumbledore.

Gina Sinclair – 9:00 am: …Not going to ask.

Gina Sinclair – 9:01 am: Are you free to meet for lunch today?

Jemma Saurten – 9:01 am: Yah. Library at noon?

Gina Sinclair – 9:02 am: Yes and yes. See you then.

Gina Sinclair – 10:43 am: Oh my gosh.

Gina Sinclair – 10:43 am: Link: (WhenYouCan'tBePartOfTheActionBecauseSchool)

Jemma Saurten – 10:52 am: Holy red flag batman, Adam's been busy.

;;;