Ch. 41 Second Semester Partners

"There was this one time where I was fending off about 15 Grimm….. 15!!... to make time for some civilians of a village to get to safety. And those Grimm weren't just Beowolfs or small Nevermores! They were….." Professor Port was lost in his own lecture as he was telling another one of his stories.

Port didn't care if students did other work in his class, he wasn't paying much attention to the students as he spoke anyway. Alabast was trying to finish Professor Peach's homework. He only stopped to reprimand some students who were talking loudly. Port doesn't assign homework based on his stories unless it can be found in a book. Such as the behavior of Grimm, or the known variations of Grimm. So it wasn't necessary to pay attention to him unless his story was actually interesting, which it rarely was.

"And so I was able to crawl out from beneath the pile of 3 disintegrating Ursai and stand proudly….. alone…. Since everybody else had already fled….. BUT, I felt great pride in doing my job AND surviving!" Professor Port finishes his story and places his hands on either side of his stomach. He looks out among the students. "I'll continue talking about my adventures, though if you wish to get to know eachother feel free to talk quietly to those sitting next to you"

Alabast looks to his left and sees a woman he met the previous night. It was Seraphina Cyrus. How coincidental…..

Seraphina glances at Alabast at the same time he did and gives a small, confident, smile. Her hair is covering her left eye similar to Alabast, but her hair is much smoother and silky looking.

They hadn't greeted eachother since team ANVL and team RWBY rushed into class just before the bell rang. The look on Seraphina's face would be described as…. amused…. as she looked at the two teams. But particularly at the 2 leaders and a certain red haired woman.

And when Alabast took his seat he ignored Seraphina which irked her, not that she would admit it. But she didn't let it show on her face. Just like how she kept her curiosity of Alabast's scars hidden. Mostly because it brought up unsavory memories of her own.

It also turns out that their seat arrangements weren't just for this first class. It was every class, even combat class. They would be partnered up and tasked with different assignments from each class to "strengthen the bond between teams and possibly between schools. As well as promoting various styles of teamwork"

Seraphina's teammates get to sit at the back while she is stuck with Alabast at the front of their classes. Weiss gets paired with Jaune, much to her "delight". Ruby gets paired with Sun. Yang gets paired with Neptune. And Blake gets partnered with Ayaka.

Nobody is happy about this, mainly because this is the first time Beacon has done this. And it probably won't last long, but it is in place for the time being. Ruby and Sun were the least affected by their teammates….. Well, Ruby wasn't affected much. But it's still hard for Sun to get used to Ruby's whiplash rollercoaster of emotions. But he knows there are worse people to be paired with.

Seraphina leans over to Alabast. "So is this all he talks about? His good old days?"

Alabast glances to his left at Seraphina before looking back at his notes. "Basically"

"You don't really like talking do you?" Seraphina asks as she glances at his homework.

Alabast doesn't even look at her. "Not really"

"That's a shame~" Seraphina leans back in her chair. "Because I'd like to talk with you more"

"Shame" Alabast continues to fill out his homework. Why does he need to know plants? He already knows the ones he can and can't eat. What certain medical plants can be used for what. But why does he need to know what they taste like? And it's not like he's going to grow them himself. He's not one to create anything, it's easier to destroy things.

"So, you doing anything after classes today? My team plans on splitting up to make some friends" Seraphina asks the clearly uninterested Alabast.

Alabast writes down the plants that mask their scent. It's the closest thing they have to hiding their presence from the Grimm. It may not hide their emotions from the Grimm. But something is better than nothing. "I'm busy"

"Busy with what?" Seraphina smiles, and for some reason it really ticks Alabast off.

"Apparently, trying to ignore you" Alabast states.

Seraphina's eye twitches twice. "Well, that might be difficult"

Alabast puts his pencil down. "It seems so" He turns to look at her. "What do you want?"

Seraphina puts her fake smile on. "To be friends~, isn't that what this festival is for?"

"You want to be friends?" Alabast flatly asks.

Seraphina smirks. "Since you asked so nicely, I won't refuse. Friend"

Alabast looks into her amber eyes, like closely looks at them. He can almost see something moving inside her iris. Like something moving in waves and sparks. He closes his eyes. He remembers what Ruby said previously about making friends. "Do what you want"

Seraphina narrows her eyes. "I always have and WILL always do just that"

"Somebody doesn't like being bossed around" Alabast states and goes back to writing.

"Do you?" Seraphina folds her arms under her chest.

"No. Can't say I do. But if I have to, I will" Alabast scribbles random flower bull crap on the homework.

"Interesting~" Seraphina looks at the short and plump Professor Port. "So, tell me about yourself"

Alabast stops writing. "I'll tell if you tell me first"

"Quite bold, Alabast. But I suppose it's not as bold as showing each other" Seraphina suggestively shoots back, avoiding the requirements and taking the reigns of the conversation.

"Haven't asked nor been aske-" Alabast remembers Ayaka. "Well, I turned her down"

"Oh?" Seraphina smiles a little. "I guess somebody is shy. Maybe you're hiding something? Or are you more of a grower?"

Alabast looks at the rose he drew in his notebook. "I had nothing to prove to her. And everyone has something they hide and other things they want to hide" Alabast looks at Seraphina. "And my penis just stays in my pants, I don't talk about it even with my girlfriends"

Seraphina raises her left brow. "Girlfriends? Plural? You dog~" Seraphina nudges his arm with her elbow. "How many? And how do you keep it a secret? Mercury might want to know it"

Alabast doesn't appreciate the way Seraphina speaks like she's on a higher platform and talking down to him. "You answer first. How many boyfriends have you had"

Seraphina eyes narrow. "That's not an answer"

Alabast closes his notebook without looking at it. "You answer my question, then I answer yours. And these personal questions aren't so fun when you have to answer them huh?" He smugly smirks.

Seraphina glares at Alabast for a second but then closes her eyes. When she opens them they're back to their usual high and mighty look. "Fine. No, I have not had a significant other. Now you answer"

"I have 5 girlfriends currently" Alabast glances to the side where Weiss is ignoring Jaune. "Now your turn" He looks back to Seraphina. "Why do you want to be friends with me?"

Seraphina smiles and shrugs. "Why not you? Your my partner for the rest of this semester. And you seem to have an interesting story to tell" She looks at Alabast's scars. "Now you. How did you manage to get 5 girlfriends?" Seraphina is dreading having to pretend she actually cares, but this might get interesting.

Alabast closes his eyes and sits back in his chair. "How did I manage? I'm pretty sure I didn't even do anything. I used to believe in monogamy. But one thing lead to another. It's mostly because my girls are very accepting as well. There is also the fact we might die at any moment when we become Huntsmen. And we decided to give it a try, and so far so good" He looks back to the girl sitting next to him. "So Seraphina, have you ever loved anything? So much that you would even sacrifice yourself?"

Seraphina narrows her eyes. "No. No, can't say I have. And you do? You don't strike me as the self-sacrificing type of guy"

"Because I'm not" Alabast opens his palm as Darkness swirls in a spiral towards the center. "I should say I wasn't that type of guy. Because when it comes to my girlfriends, nothing else matters. If I can see them smile I will do almost anything. And then I'll do almost anything to preserve that smile" He closes his palm and looks menacingly at Seraphina. "That includes removing obstacles"

Seraphina raises her eyebrow. "Interesting. Maybe it's a good thing I've never loved anything then"

"Wrong" Alabast puts his arms under his other arm over his chest.

Seraphina narrows her eyes. "Wrong?"

"Yes, wrong" He glances at her. "There is something you love, or something you've loved. You aren't a Grimm, you have a soul, so there must be some attachment to something. Maybe not physical….. an idea perhaps…."

Seraphina sneers. "You talk big for a student"

Alabast looks at Seraphina. He leans down over her and looks directly into her eye with his own. "Because we ARE students. I am big, and I can back it up. I'll be glad to show you in combat class"

Seraphina doesn't back away. She places her index finger under Alabast's chin. "I'll be sure to put you in your place then"

"Mr. Noir and Mrs. Cyrus! Please wait until class is over and you are on your own time" Port states and everyone looks at the pair. Alabast moves back and sits up straight with his arms crossed over his chest.

Port fixes his suit collar and tie as he continues. "Now, before you guys go to your next class, I will continue…."

Alabast looks over at Seraphina. 'Why did I answer her questions? Even if I started because of Ruby, it's like there was some force compelling me to answer….. She wouldn't….' Alabast thinks to himself as he looks around and finds Ayaka talking with Ruby. Alabast doesn't think she did anything, but it's the only explanation besides magic.

Seraphina might look smug on the outside, but on the inside she is pissed. 'Why can't he just be a good dog. No wonder Sienna Khan couldn't keep him on his damn leash. Perhaps she was to lax. Perhaps I can…..' She considers adjusting her plans to include Alabast. 'He would make a good pawn, just have to find that leash. But it seems I won't need to look too hard' Seraphina remembers the fact Alabast only cares about his girlfriends. And it lines up nicely with some of her plans.

Now all Seraphina has to do is test Alabast's strength. And look into his past, there might be an easier way to manipulate him.

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