Roderick Hill
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The moment the elevator doors dinged open, Roderick stepped into the executioner's office, big enough to rival the arena sized classrooms from the lecture hall.
Motors cranked the dozens of gears clunking up in the rafters and along the walls, and the executioner himself stood in front of the large window behind his desk, a statue enjoying a steamy fresh mug of whatever right before work time.
"Please, take a seat," Ozpin said.
Roderick did as told and focused on the many gears spinning inside the glass desk to distract himself from his shaky nerves.
This was it; the moment of truth.
After how much commotion they caused down at the docks the other day, it'd be strange if everyone involved got away without so much as a scolding. However, getting personally interrogated by the Headmaster himself was much worse.
For a handful of seconds, Ozpin kept his focus outside the window as the Beacon Tower clock on the other side of it ticked in reverse, and once the minute was up, he finally came over and joined him at the desk.
The Headmaster's sights aimed straight for Roderick's forehead.
"Roderick Hill." Ozpin checked the side of his mug while pouring out a teapot into it. "That's quite the pendant. Almost looks alike."
Roderick glanced at the crest of the Kingdom of Vale, crossed axes over a laurel wreath on the mug. "Um, thanks?"
"So, I'm sure you know why I called you in here today."
His heart sank.
"According to Professor Goodwitch's report, a minor discrepancy took place at the docks not long ago, involving Ruby Rose, Stiofan Ua Binn, Blake Belladonna, and yourself." The Headmaster arched an eyebrow. "I've already spoken to your partner, Mister Ua Binn, Miss Rose, and Miss Belladonna. What they've told me do not stray far from each other. Would you mind sharing your side of the story?"
There was no point in trying to hide it. The odds were stacked—a landslide, really. Besides, Ozpin had a certain feel about him like he'd catch whatever and any lie Roderick could spin, so he told him the truth, plain and simple.
Well, he did leave out the whole Stiofan trying to kill Blake bit. Wasn't technically lying, right?
Rodrick started from when Stiofan received the alert and how he joined him on the way to the docks. There, they encountered the aftermath of a battle, finding several unconscious White Fang agents, destroyed Atlesian androids, and shipment containers of SDC property Dust missing.
"What you say certainly does line up with what the others have said." Ozpin hummed. "And Mister Ua Binn, how does he fare now that his. . . headache has faded away?"
"He's doing fine." He awkwardly laughed and shrugged. "Nothing a little Aura can't fix."
"And you wouldn't happen to know of how he got it in the place now would you?"
"He was shot in the head."
"How?"
"He followed his duties and got ahead of himself trying to stop the White Fang."
"Is that all?"
"Yup."
Ozpin oozed suspicion, and Roderick did his best to stop the bucket of sweat about to run down his face.
"I see," said the Headmaster. "And how are you? I also heard you took quite the beating."
"I'm fine, I guess." Roderick wrinkled his nose at the sickly sweet aroma hitting him head on. Was that hot chocolate? "Kinda feels like things could've gone better if I did things differently."
Ozpin slurped his drink. "That reminds me of the spat Miss Rose and Miss Schnee had on the first day of school."
He perked at the recollection of the incident in Professor Port's class.
"I'm sure you know by now that nobody is perfect. I have all the time in the world, yet even I, as shocking as it may sound, still can't quite figure it out." He adjusted his glasses. "That's why we must always do our absolute best to overcome our struggles, fight with everything we have, and never give in until we overcome them. If you can do that, then there should be no reason to hang your head when things don't turn out the way you hoped."
Roderick almost laughed. 'Story of my life.'
"How is Reynold by the way."
The comment caught him off guard. "You know him?"
"Your brother is a rather famous Huntsmen. How could I not know of him?" The way Ozpin looked at him seemed as if he was waiting for him to do a flip or something. "He was one of the best students I had the pleasure of knowing, and I'm hoping you'll be, too."
Roderick tried not to show it, but the bar of expectations he had for himself raised even higher over his head, and he wanted to smash it through the desk.
-----
Leon Alexander Gates
-----
Alexander got his ass verbally flogged.
The combat professor paced behind her desk while he sat there, taking her tongue lashes as she went on a rant over his irresponsibility and recklessness last semester. It got worse when she started whipping him with good expectations and a better start for the next semester.
Once it finally ended, Goodwitch collapsed into her seat, took off her glasses, and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"Now that that's done with," she said and put her glasses back on, "do you want to know what else I called you in for today, Mister Gates?"
Alexander shook his head.
"I noticed that you have a certain habit, yet as good as it is to see you 'work,' I have qualms about how you. . . treat bullies." Her burning gaze locked onto him. "Next time, leave it be and report it to us professors. Can't have a repeat of that stunt you pulled in the dining hall ever again, am I clear?"
"Depends whether they grow a brain or not," he said.
Goodwitch sighed and propped her elbows on the desk, fingers laced in front of her mouth. "Look, I know it must seem like I'm being hard on you all the time, but it's for your own good. You must understand that."
Alexander stared.
"Okay, let's try this again." She cleared her throat. "Tell me why you insist on going out of your way to do those things?"
The ticking of the clock, and the muffled voices outside the window filled the silence.
Goodwitch's eye twitched.
"Mister Gates, please work with me here." She eased off with the murder glare. "I only wish to try and understand you, and there's only so much I can do if you don't cooperate."
Again, he stared.
"This is beyond ridiculous. If it weren't for Ozpin, then I'd. . ." She massaged her brow and exhaled her exasperations. "Keep this up, and you might find yourself in hot water sooner than you think, young man."
Alexander grunted. "The sooner the better."
Goodwitch growled and stood, reaching down and raising a leg to draw a collapsible riding crop out of her boot.
"Whatever happens next is up to you," she said and crossed her arms. "Last chance. Are you with me or against me?"
"Neither."
The amount of force she used to grind her teeth was good enough to make dental flour.
"I've been rather lenient with you so far. But from here on out, if you try me," she smacked the desk with her crop, "expect more than just a slap on the wrist."
Alexander glanced at the crop and looked her dead in the eyes. "If."
The single word chiseled a crack in her armour. Her eyes widened, and for the first time since he entered, she was the quiet one.
Goodwitch walked over to the window and waved her arm. "I've had enough of you. You're dismissed."
Alexander left the room and walked straight into next semester, prepared for whatever storm of miseries awaited him.