Chapter Text
“You’d make a great Hunstman,” Yang said with a grin to him as they approached the door to Ozpin’s office.
“I don’t want to be a huntsman.”
“Why not?” Asked Blake.
“They always leave their families behind. I don’t think I have the guts to abandon my family like that.”
Oscar didn’t look back at their offended faces, opting to go inside.
Ruby felt her heart crush just a little. Oscar was really cute, and honestly someone her own age to hang with was a miracle. But to hear that? That stung.
But it rang true, didn’t it? Mom had left. Huntsman leave their families behind. But it was an honorable profession, and a good cause. Wasn’t it? Maybe she could change his mind. (Not totally because she wanted an excuse to hang out with him. Totally not.)
“Ruby, come on. Let’s go.” Wiess seemed a little upset too.
Huh.
Ozpin, who had overheard the whole conversation, frowned. Oscar hadn’t mentioned that before when he brought up him being a huntsman.
“I didn’t know you felt that way about huntsmen.”
“It’s just facts. Huntsmen go off and explore the world and don’t always come back.”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
“Well you left, did you? And you didn’t come back?”
Ozpin didn’t get a word in before Oscar shut himself in their shared bedroom.
Oz sighed. Explaining the immortal wizard that possessed him to leave home wouldn’t fix anything. It never did.
Oscar peaked his head back out. “Uncle?”
“Yes, Oscar?”
“Since I have no one to return to, I guess it’s ok if I become a huntsman, isn’t it? Because the farm got claimed by the government, I really might as well travel now.”
“Oscar, you can be whatever you want to be.”
“Is that how you felt when you left?”
“Why don’t you come out and we can chat?”
Oscar glared at him, “ no ,” and slammed the door closed.
Well. That ends that I suppose.
About ten minutes later, Oscar left the room in new clothes.
“Up to chat?”
“Going out.”
“Where?”
Oscar glared and left.
This kid was such a handful.
With a sigh Oz got ready to tail behind him.
Oscar rode the elevator down itching the bandages around his neck. Where was he going? He didn't know. He just needed to escape that conversation before he had to confront the idea that he wanted to become anything more than the farmer he was raised to be.
He found himself meandering the courtyard. He was approached by a group that introduced themselves as team JNPR. Nora, who had dragged everyone to see Oscar, was incredibly excited to see him, and kept calling him tiny and cute.
Jaune asked Oscar, “so where are you off to? Need directions?”
“Nope. I'm good.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jaune looked down, clearly having been excited to be helpful.
“I don't know where I'm going or I'd need directions. I just needed air.”
“Oh! Did something happen?”
“Do you ever want to be more than who you were born to be?”
“I know the feeling.”
“Yeah. Well. Uncle Ozpin seems to have dreams for me.”
“You don't have to become a huntsman if you don't want to. I'm sure he'd understand,” chimed Pyrrah.
“What?” Oscar looked up at her confused.
“There's a lot of great dreams to have that aren't huntsmen, even if being huntsmen runs in the family. There's nothing wrong with a quiet life.”
Oscar sighed. “Nevermind. Forget I said anything.”
“Did I say something-”
“You're fine.” Oscar cut her off sharply. “Please. It's fine. Forget I said anything.”
“Alright. Would you like to sit with us? We were about to do some training outside if you want to watch.”
Oscar was curious so he nodded. Nora took his hand, “he's our son now.”
“No thanks. My family is complicated enough.”
“Not like that silly. It's a thing people do at schools, they take in the younger ones and teach them the ways. We can teach you all about the fun stuff to do to clear your head!”
“I don't think that's a thing…” Ren said reluctantly before Nora shushed him, pulling Oscar along.
Oscar sat with them as they meditated to help boost their auras. Oscar tried to copy them but wasn't sure it was any bit successful. Nobody seemed to mind.
Team RWBY met up with them, completely disturbing the clam meditation session.
Pyrrah rested a hand on Oscar's shoulder and smiled. “Do you feel calmer?”
“I guess? I still don't know what to do.”
“Do you have a scroll?”
“A scroll?”
“A communication device. It allows you to write messages to other people instantly.”
“I'm not a very good writer.”
“That's okay! It's not very formal.”
Thankfully Uncle Ozpin showed up at that moment before Oscar could embarrass himself, “Oscar, there you are. Hello, students. Thank you for letting Oscar join you but I should bring him to dinner.”
Pyrrah smiled politely, “is Oscar allowed to have a scroll? It'd be nice if we could invite him to some of the fun events.”
Ozpin smiled, knowing that mentioning all Oscar could send is emojis would only feed embarrassment. “It's on my list of things to get him. I owe him a shopping day.”
“Thank you, professor.”
“Come along Oscar, dinner awaits.”
Oscar waved goodbye and followed his Uncle.
“I'm glad you're making friends.”
“I'm their son apparently.”
“Their son, huh?”
“Yeah apparently it's a thing?”
Ozpin chuckled, “culture sure is a fascinating thing, isn't it?”
“I suppose.”
“Did their training interest you?”
“Yeah. I'm gonna need aura to kick that guy's butt.”
“Please don't pick fights.”
“If I had a weapon I could win.”
“Not without some practice.”
Oscar pouted. “I'd be fine.”
“Please don't land in the medical ward again.”
“Fine… for now.”
“Would you like to go to the cafeteria for dinner? I bought some groceries if you'd rather make something.”
“Cafeteria is fine. I'm scared to find out you haven't cooked in so long you don't remember how.”
“You'd be surprised. I'm quite the chef.”
“Tomorrow then.”
“Alright.”
They chatted about Oscar's training as they walked, content in each other's company. Oscar ate half his plate at dinner declaring it too greasy and refused the rest.
“Tomorrow is Saturday which means no school. Would you like to go shopping?”
“Sure. Where are the stores, anyway?”
“We will take an airship to the city.”
“How much money do we have to spend?”
“Are you asking for a budget? We should be able to buy whatever you need. I do get paid rather well.”
“So there's no budget? How rich are you?”
“Oh there's a limit but you won't hit it.”
“I don't believe you.”
“I'll give you my credit card with a limit.”
“What's a credit card?”
“It's like money but digital.”
“There's a whole digital currency?”
“No. It's just not physical coins.”
“Weird.”
“I take it there wasn't much technology on the farm?”
“I can't remember how long it's been since I went shopping. Aunt Dorothy always had a fabric stash for clothes and such.”
“What's the last thing you remember buying?”
“New seeds. It's how I learned to count money. That was last spring.”
“Wow. Tomorrow might be overwhelming. Would bringing along your friends help?”
“I'll be fine. How bad can it be?”
It was not fine. There were far too many people in one street than there should be ever. They hadn't entered a store yet.
Oscar quickly learned you don't ask the sales person for the price you have to read the tags which was an issue for a non reader like himself. He kept asking Uncle Ozpin if something was in the budget and was always told yes. It didn't help him get a sense of price at all. He felt like he was being ripped off and he wanted to cry. How did one haggle without knowing the price?
Uncle Ozpin seemed to be taking this in stride. They had found several fun outfits for Oscar, the only time something was rejected was to look for a different size. Oscar learned to look for his letter on the tags which helped immensely. They found him new shoes as well. Stuff was so fancy. Oscar got home overstimulated and immediately crashed into their shared bedroom with the lights off. What a day. Ozpin let him keep the credit card in his fancy new wallet as an emergency and even put some bills in it that Oscar recognized.
At least Oscar knew how to get to the stores and could go again on his own. Once he could read, of course.
His tutor came by on Sunday morning and Oscar requested to learn words he'd need for shopping. He learned how numbers were written. Reading was truly marvelous.
He got the tutor's scroll number and she taught him the basics of how to use it. Uncle Ozpin had shown him how to add his number and they had picked a silly emoji for “I need help”. (Oscar didn't know that Ozpin mainly wanted the scroll to track his location.)
His tutor thought it would be good for him to learn to type words. This would also allow him to use text to speech and voice to text which would help him learn words on the go. Oscar thought the concept of seeing every letter available to him at once was neat. What a cool thing, a keyboard. He practiced texting the tutor, excited to have a new skill.
Oscar hunted down team RWBY first, knowing the time one of their classes got out. He excitedly showed them his scroll and made them input their own numbers and names. He texted each of them an emoji so they'd have his number.
He went back to the tower rather proud of himself. He listened to their messages as he sat on his bed excitedly. It was incredible; it was like they were talking right with him! And he was seeing new words too! He only responded in emojis, having learned that voice to text isn't as good as text to speech and he should be careful with what he sends.
Ruby texted him the most. And after a while she started sending back only emojis which was super fun because the conversation was so much easier to follow for Oscar.
Ruby giggled in her bed, knowing she was being really silly. It felt so good to act her age. She texted a string of emojis that only half made sense just to see what he'd do. She really hadn't expected the professor's nephew to be so emoji heavy! She had expected all formal messages. But she was glad because this was way more fun.
Eventually, Ruby asked him if he wanted to call while she did her homework and he said yes! She propped him up on the table. He was very excited to hear what she was learning about, which was super helpful because she got to explain the content as she wrote her paper. Oscar was thrilled to learn new things and Ruby was getting her homework done on time for once.
“I still can't believe you're an emoji guy. You're so studious!”
“What do you mean?”
“Well. You seem so nerdy, I hadn't expected the whimsy of emoji texting. Not that I'm complaining, it's a lot of fun.”
“Oh. Well. I don't really know how to write yet, I'm still learning my letters. I was told before I can really start writing on my own, I need to master my blends.”
“...wait what. You're learning how to read?”
“Isn't it so cool? I've always wanted to learn, it's like all the words I have learned make so much sense now. I'm also learning how to write my numbers so I can go shopping on my own. Sounds so stressful, honestly, but I have a magic card that lets me buy things and I kinda want to see what kinds of things it can buy.”
“Wow!” Ruby tried desperately to match his energy through her stunned brain, “that is exciting!”
“When I can read numbers, do you want to go shopping with me? I'd probably get overwhelmed if I went alone.”
“Yeah sure. What did you want to buy?”
“A weapon.”
Ruby's silver eyes lit up (figuratively). “Oscar, you don't buy a weapon, you make a weapon. Want me to teach you how? I love making weapons!”
“Really? You can make weapons? Like without a grown up?”
Ruby laughed, “I should show you Crescent Rose sometime. She's a scythe and a gun.”
“That's insanely cool. I was honestly gonna buy a mop handle. Maybe one with a screw on attachment so I can make it a regular mop in a pinch.”
“That is… cool. Like an interchangeable weapon head?”
“Yeah! But also practical so Uncle Ozpin doesn't think I'm picking fights.”
“That's hilarious. We should get together sometime and draft up a weapon!” She spewed off a time the next weekend.
“Sure! It's a date. Oh, Uncle is calling me. Good luck on your homework!”
Oscar hung up. Ruby's tongue was glued in her mouth. Did he just call it a date?
Oscar asked Ozpin if he was allowed to make a weapon with Ruby Rose that weekend or if he'd get in trouble with security.
Ozpin gestured to his own weapon, “this is a huntsman school, Oscar. Everyone has weapons. Including anyone you may want to pick a fight with.”
“Is that a Crescent Rose? Ruby was telling me about her weapon.”
“Every weapon is pretty much unique, although there are common types and categories. Mine is called Long Memory, although these days it's much more of a walking stick than a weapon.”
“Oh! That's so cool!”
“It is indeed.”
“Can I touch it?”
“I'll show you after dinner.”
They got busy playing cards after dinner, but Oscar found himself curious that night after Uncle Ozpin had gone to bed. He had been trying and failing to sleep for hours. He eyed the cane. What if he just touched it? It wouldn't like. Explode. Probably.
Oscar picked it up and sat on his bed. He clicked the handle to extend it and it didn't explode. Oscar watched the gears turn in the handle. Huh . He snuck into the common room of the tower, activating his aura and swiping the cane as if it were a trusty mop handle in a fight. He stuttered backwards at the visions that covered his mind. It was as if he had activated the memories stored in the cane.
And what he saw was terrifying. There was a grim summoning witch named Salem. There was reincarnation into the next cane wielder. There was war and death beyond anything he could imagine.
Why didn't Uncle Ozpin mention the weapon stored memories of it being wielded? This thing was dangerous.
Oscar woke up in the medical bay with hair brushing the back of neck like it had grown inches. Maybe longer since he could visibly see it when he looked down. What happened?
The last thing he could remember was holding Long Memory and dancing around the living room of the tower. But he had the weirdest dream. It was like he could remember centuries worth of battles, many against minions of the immortal witch Salem. Oscar’s aura activated to heal his throbbing headache as he tried to process it all. What was that?
“Oscar's awake!” The doctor hit some buttons on the wall, likely sending a signal to Uncle Ozpin. “Oscar, how are you feeling? Any pain?”
“I feel fine.” Oscar swung his legs over the bed and stood up, but was quickly pushed back to the bed.
“Oscar, you've been unconscious for months.”
“I fell into a coma?”
“Yes. We need to check you over.”
Oscar furrowed his brow but let himself be fussed over. He felt fine. Completely unphased. But months? It felt like he had gained years worth of memories in such a short time.
Uncle Ozpin showed up, and Oscar immediately began spewing apologies for taking Long Memory and was immediately shushed. The doctors gave him a clean bill of health, declaring he'd need rehab to walk again.
But Oscar didn't feel weak. He felt fine. Ozpin laughed when he said this, extending a hand and asking him to try to walk.
Oscar took his hand and walked without support. He did a twirl and a jump. The doctor was shocked, taking notes.
“Do you remember what happened?” Ozpin asked him, “this is unusual for a coma patient.”
“I was messing with your cane and then I found out why it's called Long Memory. I'm sorry for stealing the memories stored in it.”
“Oscar, there's no memories stored in Long Memory. It's just a name.”
“But that doesn't make sense. I saw the memories of you using the cane. And the people you inherited the cane from.”
Uncle Ozpin hummed in recognition. “Why don't we go home.”
Oscar thanked the doctor and they left.
“Oscar, do you know what your semblance is?”
“Yeah. Wait. You think that was my semblance?”
“Once we get home why don't you tell me what you saw?”
“Okay.” Oscar thought to himself. How much should he tell Ozpin? Was Ozpin aware that the previous wielders went to war? And fought witches that could control grim?
Oscar sat on the bed and looked up at Uncle Ozpin. I shouldn't lie.
He told Ozpin the key things he could remember, which led Ozpin to pinch his nose and remove his glasses. “I didn't want you to know, Oscar.”
“I think I want to be a huntsman.”
“Why? So you can die to Salem too? You're just a child. You can't even read yet.”
“I wonder if I can absorb more memories about reading! And then I could know how to read for real!”
“No. No, we're teaching you the old fashioned way. I can't risk you falling into a coma again, Oscar. Not now that you know.”
“But no one else knows that I know. And you can keep a secret.”
Ozpin put his glasses on. “Don't use your semblance until we figure out more, okay?”
“Fine.” Oscar huffed and threw himself on the bed facing away from Uncle Ozpin, curling into a ball.
“Are you up to sleep? It is quite late.”
“Yeah. I have big plans for tomorrow.”
“Like what?”
“I need to learn how to fight.”
“I'm afraid you're quite right. I'll have a professor train you, I'm afraid I don't quite have the time.”
“That's okay. I think I've seen enough of you recently, anyway. You're gonna haunt my dreams I think.”
Ozpin sighed. “I'm sorry you had to see that.”
“I've seen a lot of people die now. All of them holding that very cane. I don't think I'll ever see being a huntsman the same again. That cane is older than the great war! That's insane!”
Ozpin stared at his cane longingly. “I'm so sorry, Oscar. You're far too young to know any of this.”
“But I know now so get over your wallowing.”
“Hm.”
“Hey Uncle?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think Ruby is mad at me? I was supposed to meet up with her that weekend…”
“I'm sure she'll understand.”
“Hm.”
“Why are you worried about Miss Rose anyway?”
Oscar flushed. “I just feel bad.”
“You've got much to recover from. Rest, Oscar.”
Oscar fell into a restless sleep, haunted by the deaths of people he had watched fight for humanity, and fail.
Oscar was sent to a weapons professor in the morning. He would need a weapon to begin combat training. The professor asked where he wanted to start and laughed when he said cane.
“Oh come on, dear boy. Surely you want to be independent of your Uncle just a little.” She handed him a rounded blade for each hand. “This is a fun one. Try to hit me.”
Oscar swung and it felt wrong. He felt a tingle in his head, feeling all the previous students who had ever swung the weapon before him. “Absolutely not the vibe.”
“Swords, a good classic.” She exchanged his weapon.
Oscar gave it a test swing. Many students before him had swung this sword and sharpened it.
“Kid, you don't have to activate your aura every time you take a weapon.”
“My aura doesn't like it. Not the vibe. I want a mop. I bet I could hit you with a mop handle.”
The professor laughed. “Alright. If you can hit me with a mop handle, I'll let you be boring and dustless like your Uncle.”
“Boring?”
She handed him a broomstick after taking an axe to the broom end. “Your Uncle fights well, but it's with a retracting walking stick.”
Oscar chose not to counter with what he knew the cane could do because he had seen it. Instead he struck hard and fast.
It was like he had muscle memory from all the memories in Long Memory. The professor's eyes shot up. “If you were already trained in a cane, why did you come to see me?”
“I- I didn't know I was trained.”
“That doesn't make sense. You don't learn to fight in your sleep, kid.”
“...right. I apologize for hiding my training. I uh. Didn't want to tell my Uncle.”
“...right. He's going to find out though.”
“Of course. I'll come clean right away. If you'll excuse me. Mind if I keep this for now?”
“Yeah go ahead. Tell your Uncle I need a new broom.”
“Of course.”
Oscar sat in a closet surrounded by other brooms. “Don't worry, broomy, you're safe,” he teased the broom that was still intact. He used voice to text to message Ruby. “Can you meet me by the weapons room.”
He hoped it was correct. He received a green checkmark in reply. He left the closet and waited for her.
“Oscar! You're awake!”
“Ruby! Sorry I missed our weapon making date.”
“...it's fine! I'm just glad that you're okay. What's the stick for?”
“I need to build a weapon. Can you fit me in your schedule? I think I got off on the wrong foot with the weapons professor.”
“Of course! But also what'd you do, she's really nice?”
“I uh. May have lied about not having prior training and she thinks my weapon idea is boring.”
“Oh. Yeah that'll do it.”
“Also, can I test something? I just want to swing Crescent Rose around for a bit.”
“Uh, sure?”
“You can't tell my Uncle though.”
“Why?”
“It could potentially put me in a coma?”
“Then no!”
“I don't think it will. Your weapon was built by you, right? Then if I'm right about my semblance I shouldn't go comatose again.”
“What's your semblance?”
“I think I can absorb a weapon’s use memory. Like I get the muscle memory of how to use it.”
“Wow! That'd make you super powerful in everything but hand to hand combat!”
“Assuming new weapons don't make me go comatose. Heh.”
“Oh yeah. That's true.”
“Please? I think it's based on the age of the weapon and how much the item has been used. Uncle Ozpin has inherited that cane so there were a lot of memories to absorb.”
“If you're sure. Let me go get Crescent Rose and we can go to the training room.”
Ruby handed him her weapon, to which he activated his aura and attempted to swing it. It was quite heavy. But sure enough, he could feel her memories in the weapon, fighting and training with Qrow, fighting Torchwick outside the Dust shop, fighting countless grim.
Ruby was panicking. Oscar had slowly fallen over and she had lay him on the ground. She immediately ran to get Professor Ozpin.
By the time she got back with Professor Ozpin, teary eyed and out of breath from explaining, Oscar was on his feet and expertly swinging her weapon around.
“You're okay?”
“My hypothesis was correct. It depends on the weapons history.”
Ozpin frowned.
“Uncle Ozpin. Will you spar with me? Assuming I can borrow your weapon, Ruby.”
Ruby nodded, purely curious. Ozpin raised his cane. “I hope you're prepared.”
They sparred, Oscar knowing how Ozpin fought saving him where Ruby's skills were far too weak. Ozpin wasn't going all out, he could tell, but that was fine.
“You really are fighting like Ruby. How fascinating. Trade weapons with me.”
They traded weapons. Ozpin has used Qrow's weapon before, mainly for fun, so he had a vague idea how to use this. Oscar's skills were exponentially greater with Long Memory. Ozpin observed Oscar closely.
“I bet if we got you to learn gauntlets, you’d learn hand to hand. Then it would just be a matter of strength training to get you up to speed.” Ozpin smiled softly, “I could make a huntsmen of you yet, young man.”
“Once I learn how to read, there will be nothing left to stop me!”
Ozpin chuckled. “Indeed. Reading is quite the powerful tool.”
Ozpin returned Crescent Rose to Ruby who was in awe at the whole thing.
Ruby stuttered out, “you really can learn any weapon’s skill set based on its past use. That’s incredible. That might be the strongest semblance I have ever seen.”
“Right, but he must be diligent not to use it on a weapon with too long a history or he will go comatose,” Ozpin reminded her.
“I could be the greatest historian though!” Oscar grinned, “I could write 1st person history books based on weapons!”
“Wait,” said Ruby, “I thought you just gained muscle memory?”
“Uh. About that. I may have seen you do some really really really epic fighting. I also got battle memory.”
“Wild!” Ruby smiled, “you may want to keep that secret, people won’t lend you their weapons to learn if they find out you learn about their private stuff too.”
“Oh. I guess. It’s probably better to be honest though, I think. Consent matters.”
“You didn’t tell me though?”
“I didn’t know what my semblance was fully yet, but I guess I did know the risks. You did look awesome though.”
“I don’t recall you telling me I looked awesome,” Ozpin teased ruffling his hair.
“You fight with a walking stick. Par for the course.”