Andy's Point of View

"You're alive?" I asked as Alex wandered into the kitchenette.

It was nearly seven in the evening, and none of us had seen him since he'd cheerfully informed Professor Goodwitch that she had a date.

Honestly, we'd all been taking bets on whether he'd survive the day.

Alex looked up from pouring himself a glass of water, one eyebrow rising.

"Hm?" He tilted his head. "Was soll das heißen?"

I stared at him.

"I don't speak German, Alex."

He gave me a deadpan look.

"Leck mich, Andy."

"Alex." I said, my voice dripping with annoyance.

He sighed dramatically.

"Du machst keinen Spaß."

"I don't know what any of that means."

"Good."

He took a drink before setting the glass down.

"Yes, I'm alive."

I waited.

"And no..." He continued, already knowing what I was going to ask. "...Professor Goodwitch did not attempt to kill me."

I narrowed my eyes.

"You're leaving something out."

Alex shrugged.

"She did have me spar against her."

"That sounds like attempted murder."

"She used a wooden staff."

"That sounds like attempted murder with safety precautions."

Alex snorted.

"She was actually a pretty good sport about it."

I blinked.

"...You and I have very different definitions of 'good sport.'"

"She only hit me twelve times."

"Twelve?"

"Give or take."

"And you're saying that like it's a low number."

"It is."

I just stared at him.

"You're a strange man, Alex."

"So I've been told."

"Repeatedly."

He nodded toward the stove.

"So..."

"What're we making for dinner?"

I crossed my arms.

"You're changing the subject."

"I absolutely am."

"And you're not going to tell me what else happened?"

Alex's grin returned.

"Nope."

"Oh, come on."

"You'll hear about it eventually."

"That usually means it's embarrassing."

"For one of us."

"And which one is it this time?"

Alex smiled into the glass he was washing.

"...Yes."

I let out a long sigh.

"One of these days..."

"You'll stop asking?"

"I was going to say I'm going to stop believing you."

He chuckled.

"No, you won't."

I let out another sigh and shook my head.

"Whatever. What's for dinner?"

Alex was already pulling ingredients from the cabinets.

"Thinking shepherd's pie."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Shepherd's pie?"

"Yep."

He set a bag of potatoes on the counter, followed by onions, carrots, peas, and a package of ground beef.

"Technically," I began, "wouldn't that be cottage pie?"

Alex paused.

"...You're right."

He looked down at the meat.

"Guess it's cottage pie."

"You're actually changing it?"

"I refuse to spread culinary misinformation."

I blinked.

"You just put Professor Goodwitch on a dating site."

"Those are unrelated events."

"They really aren't."

Alex ignored me and continued unloading ingredients.

A few moments later the kitchenette door opened.

Francine walked in first.

"There you are." She said. "We've been looking all over for you."

Alex glanced up.

"I was helping Goodwitch."

She frowned.

"For six hours?"

"Well..."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"...There may have been paperwork."

"That bad?"

"There were folders."

Francine winced.

"Ouch."

"And shelves."

"Oof."

"And inventory."

She placed a hand over her heart.

"You have my condolences."

Alex nodded solemnly.

"Thank you."

The door opened again.

This time Team RWBY and Team JNPR wandered in.

Yang was the first to notice Alex.

"Well!"

She spread her arms dramatically.

"The condemned man lives!"

"Told ya." Alex replied.

Ruby hurried over.

"Professor Goodwitch didn't launch you through a wall?"

"Nope."

"Throw you off Beacon?"

"Nope."

"Make you run laps?"

"Nope."

Nora tilted her head.

"Did she make you write an essay?"

Alex visibly shuddered.

"...Thankfully, no."

Jaune looked relieved.

"So what happened?"

Alex began peeling potatoes.

"She had me spar with her."

Every conversation in the room stopped.

"...You what?" Weiss asked.

"Sparred."

"With Professor Goodwitch?" Blake clarified.

"That's generally who 'her' refers to."

Yang whistled.

"Bold."

"Reckless." Weiss corrected.

"Suicidal." Nora added.

Alex shrugged.

"I've been called worse."

Ren looked thoughtfully at him.

"And you survived."

"Mostly."

Yang leaned against the counter.

"So..."

She grinned.

"How badly did she beat you?"

Alex thought about it.

"She won."

Yang nodded.

"As expected."

"But..."

He held up a finger.

"...I made her take a step back."

Yang blinked.

"You what?"

"Once."

Weiss folded her arms.

"You're exaggerating."

"Nope."

"She actually complimented him." I said.

That got everyone's attention.

"She did?" Ruby asked.

Alex nodded.

"Called one of my ideas creative."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Then Weiss spoke.

"I don't believe you."

"I don't either." I admitted.

"I've never heard her compliment a student." Yang said.

Alex shrugged.

"Well..."

He reached for the butter.

"...Maybe she was feeling generous."

Yang laughed.

"Or maybe..."

She pointed a finger at him.

"...she actually likes having you around."

Alex nearly dropped the potato he was holding.

"...Let's not get carried away."

The room erupted into laughter.

Even Blake's book lowered just enough to hide the small smile that had found its way onto her face.

I shook my head.

Alex simply ignored the attention.

He finished peeling the last potato before setting it into a pot of water.

"Andy."

"Hm?"

"Can you brown the beef?"

"Got it."

I grabbed a skillet while Alex reached for a cutting board.

Within moments, the kitchenette filled with the familiar sounds of cooking.

The rhythmic thump of a knife against wood.

The hiss of meat meeting a hot pan.

The gentle bubbling of water as it came to a boil.

It reminded me of home.

"So..." Nora began, leaning against the counter. "Since Goodwitch didn't kill you..."

"She didn't."

"...How's her date going?"

Alex paused in the middle of slicing a carrot.

He looked over his shoulder.

"It should've started about..."

He glanced at the clock.

"...now."

Ruby blinked.

"You're actually curious?"

"A little."

Yang folded her arms.

"You're worried."

"I wouldn't say worried."

"Concerned?"

"I wouldn't say that either."

Weiss smirked.

"Then why do you keep looking at the clock?"

Alex opened his mouth.

Closed it again.

"...I want to know if I was right."

Everyone looked at him.

"About what?" Jaune asked.

Alex slid the carrots into a bowl.

"That she deserves to be happy."

The room fell quiet.

His answer had come so matter of factly that none of us expected it.

No joke.

No sarcasm.

Just honesty.

Blake watched him for a moment before lowering her book.

"I think everyone deserves that."

Alex nodded.

"So do I."

The silence lingered only a second before Nora clapped her hands together.

"Well!"

She grinned.

"If she gets married, can we say Alex technically introduced them?"

Yang immediately burst into laughter.

"Oh my gosh..."

Ruby covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"Professor Goodwitch would never forgive him."

"She already hasn't." Alex replied.

"That hasn't stopped you before." Weiss pointed out.

"Fair."

I stirred the beef with a wooden spoon.

"You know..."

Alex glanced over.

"If this actually works..."

I pointed the spoon at him.

"...you've either done the nicest thing anyone's ever done for Professor Goodwitch..."

"...or you've guaranteed yourself detention until graduation."

Francine nodded thoughtfully.

"Honestly?"

"Yeah?"

"Both seem equally likely."

Alex considered it.

"...Worth the risk."

Yang shook her head.

"You're unbelievable."

"I've heard that one before."

Ren, who had been quietly watching the exchange, spoke up.

"You don't seem to expect anything in return."

Alex looked genuinely confused.

"Why would I?"

Ren met his eyes.

"For helping her."

Alex shrugged.

"If you only help people because you expect something back..."

He turned his attention back to the potatoes.

"...you're making an investment."

He picked up another carrot.

"Not doing something kind."

No one answered.

Even Nora didn't have a joke.

The only sounds in the kitchenette were the knife against the cutting board and the gentle sizzling from the skillet.

After a few moments, Yang smiled.

"You know..."

Alex looked over.

"You're kind of a sap."

He pointed the knife at her.

"Don't ruin my reputation."

That finally broke the silence.

Laughter spread around the room once more.

I shook my head as I stirred the beef.

For someone who spent half his time acting like an idiot...

Alex had an annoying habit of saying something genuinely wise when nobody expected it.

"So what's the skinny?" Alex asked, never looking up from the cutting board as he continued dicing carrots with practiced precision.

A brief silence followed.

"...Skinny?" Weiss repeated.

Yang tilted her head.

"I've never heard that slang before."

Ruby nodded.

"Me neither."

"He's asking what's the word." I explained. "Basically, he's asking what's happened while he was gone."

Everyone looked at me.

I shrugged.

"It's old slang."

Why Alex insisted on using slang that sounded like it belonged several generations ago, I had no idea.

"Oh." Pyrrha said, realization dawning on her face. "Well... Jaune got locked out of the dorm."

Alex hummed.

"How?"

"His shield expanded in the doorway." Pyrrha replied.

Alex stopped chopping for just a moment.

A frown crossed his face as he muttered something under his breath.

It was too quiet for me to make out.

Probably German.

Knowing him, it usually was.

"I see." He said at last, setting the knife down. "Yang, give me a hand with the crust."

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Yang replied with an exaggerated salute.

Alex rolled his eyes.

"It's Sergeant, Yang."

She blinked.

"What?"

He waved a dismissive hand.

"Nothing."

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Inside joke."

Yang narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"...I don't like inside jokes."

"You would if you were inside them."

She grabbed a dish towel off the counter and threw it at him.

Alex caught it without even looking.

"...See?" He said. "Perfect teamwork."

"I walked right into that one."

"But..." Alex said without missing a beat, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "...not into the joke."

Yang let out an exaggerated groan, rolling her eyes as she turned her attention to kneading the crust.

"I also walked right into that one."

"You volunteered."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

Yang sighed.

"I hate that you're right."

"I know."

Nora giggled.

"You sure are a jokester."

Alex nodded absentmindedly, his attention never leaving the vegetables he was chopping.

"Keeps the mood light." He said. "Life's got enough reasons to be miserable. No sense adding to the pile."

The room grew quiet for just a moment.

Then Nora smiled.

"I like that answer."

Alex shrugged.

"It also annoys Andy."

I pointed my wooden spoon at him.

"I heard that."

"I know."

"That wasn't nice."

"I never claimed to be."

"No," I admitted with a sigh.

"...You just make it really hard to stay annoyed at you."

A smug grin spread across Alex's face.

"It's a gift."

"It really isn't."

"It absolutely is."

The room erupted into another round of laughter.

Alex simply chuckled and turned his attention back to dinner.

"Andy."

"Hm?"

"Taste that gravy."

He held out a wooden spoon.

I took it, gave the gravy a quick taste, and thought for a moment.

"...Needs a little more black pepper."

"Thought so."

Alex reached into the spice cabinet, adding a pinch before stirring the pot.

"How's that?"

I sampled it again.

"...Yep. That's it."

He nodded once.

"Good."

Yang looked over from where she was rolling out the crust.

"You two cook together a lot, don't you?"

"Since the last year." I answered.

Alex snorted.

"Mostly because he'd burn water if I left him alone."

"I burned water once."

"You somehow scorched ramen."

"It was one time."

"You also managed to undercook toast."

"I still don't know how that happened."

"Neither do I."

Francine looked between us.

"...Is he exaggerating?"

I sighed.

"I wish."

Alex laughed.

"To be fair, you've improved."

"I have."

"You're only a moderate fire hazard now."

"I'll take that as progress."

"You should."

Nora leaned across the counter.

"So who's the better cook?"

Both of us answered at the same time.

"Me."

We looked at each other.

"You're delusional." I said.

"Says the man who thinks paprika is spicy."

"It has flavor!"

"It has color."

"It has both!"

Alex grinned.

"I rest my case."

Ren, who had been quietly watching the exchange, spoke up.

"I've noticed something."

"What?" Nora asked.

Ren looked at the two of us.

"You argue the way siblings do."

The room fell quiet.

Alex stopped stirring the filling.

I looked over at him.

He was already looking back at me.

After a few seconds, Alex smiled.

"...Yeah."

He returned his attention to the pot.

"I guess we kinda do."

I nodded.

"Suppose we do."

Neither of us said anything else about it.

We didn't have to.

Ruby smiled to herself.

Yang glanced between us before returning to the crust.

Blake lowered her book just enough to hide the small smile on her face.

Even Weiss looked... oddly content.

Nora broke the silence first.

"So..."

She leaned forward with an excited grin.

"Does that mean you two have sibling arguments?"

I didn't even hesitate.

"He puts ketchup on scrambled eggs."

Nora gasped.

"Alex!"

"What?"

"That is a crime."

"It tastes good!"

I pointed the wooden spoon at Alex.

"See? This is what I've had to deal with."

"You're one to talk."

"What'd I do?"

"You eat peanut butter, mayonnaise, and tomato sandwiches."

I blinked.

"...Those are good."

The room stared at me.

"...You're joking." Weiss said.

"I wish he was." Alex replied.

I looked genuinely confused.

"Don't knock it till you've tried it."

Yang slowly raised a hand.

"No."

Ruby followed.

"Nope."

Blake didn't even look up from her book.

"No."

Jaune shook his head.

"I like living."

Pyrrha smiled politely.

"I think I'll pass."

Ren simply said, "No, thank you."

Nora looked torn.

"...I'd try it."

I pointed at her with a triumphant grin.

"See?"

Nora beamed.

"We're both culinary adventurers!"

Alex buried his face in his hands.

"There are two of them."

I looked far too pleased with himself.

"This is why I cook."

"You're never letting this go, are you?" I asked.

"Absolutely not."

I sighed.

"...I knew I shouldn't have brought up cooking."

The conversation gradually drifted back to normal as dinner continued to come together.

Alex slid the filling into the baking dish while Yang carefully laid the crust over the top.

"There."

She stepped back, admiring her work.

"How's that?"

Alex leaned over, inspecting the edges.

"...Not bad."

"Not bad?"

"You missed a spot."

Yang looked where he was pointing.

"There isn't anything there."

"Exactly."

She stared at him.

Then narrowed her eyes.

"You're messing with me."

"I would never."

"You absolutely would."

"I absolutely did."

Yang grabbed a small pinch of flour and flicked it at him.

It puffed harmlessly against the front of his shirt.

Alex looked down.

Then back up at Yang.

"...Ma'am."

"What?"

"You've started a war."

Yang folded her arms.

"Have I?"

Alex reached for the bag of flour.

Every person in the kitchenette immediately noticed.

Ruby's eyes widened.

"Oh no."

Blake slowly closed her book.

Weiss took one very deliberate step backward.

Ren calmly picked up his plate and moved to the opposite counter.

Nora looked positively delighted.

"A food fight!"

"No!" Jaune blurted.

Alex looked at the bag in his hands.

Then at the group.

Then back at Yang.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

Yang matched it.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Alex quietly set the bag back on the counter.

"...Not in the kitchen."

Yang blinked.

"...Really?"

He nodded toward the oven.

"I've got dinner in there."

"That would ruin it."

"Exactly."

Yang sighed dramatically.

"You're no fun."

"I learned restraint."

"Since when?"

Alex thought about it.

"...Five seconds ago."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"That's a new personal record."

"I'm growing as a person."

"No, you're hungry."

"That too."

A timer on the oven suddenly dinged.

Alex immediately turned serious.

"Perfect timing."

He slipped on a pair of oven mitts before opening the oven door.

A wave of warm air rolled through the kitchenette.

The rich aroma of beef, onions, herbs, and buttery pastry filled the room.

Everyone fell silent.

Even Nora.

"Well..." Jaune said quietly.

"...That smells incredible."

Ruby's stomach answered for her with a loud growl.

She immediately covered her face.

"...You heard nothing."

Alex smiled.

"I heard somebody volunteering for first taste."

Ruby's head shot up.

"I can do that?"

"Quality control."

"I accept!"

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You're impossible."

Alex carefully lifted the cottage pie onto the stovetop.

The crust had baked to a beautiful golden brown, with little wisps of steam escaping through the vents he'd cut into the top.

He set it down gently.

"No touching."

Every eye remained fixed on the pie.

"It needs ten minutes."

A collective groan echoed through the kitchenette.

Alex folded his arms.

"I know."

"It smells ready."

"I know."

"It looks ready."

"I know."

Nora leaned so far over the counter I thought she might fall.

"So why can't we eat it?"

Alex looked at her.

"Because..."

He pointed to the bubbling filling around the edges.

"...I don't feel like explaining to Professor Goodwitch why half of Beacon's first years have burns on the roofs of their mouths."

Nora slowly leaned back.

"...That's a surprisingly good reason."

"I have those occasionally."

Yang smirked.

"Very occasionally."

"I'll take what I can get."

The room settled into comfortable conversation once more as everyone patiently, or in Nora's case, impatiently, waited for dinner to cool enough to serve.

Nora lasted exactly thirty seven seconds.

"I'm hungry."

"We know." Ren replied.

"Very hungry."

"We know."

"Extremely hungry."

"We all know."

She looked over at Alex.

"Can I have just a little bite?"

"No."

"A tiny one?"

"No."

"One pea?"

Alex looked at the pie.

"...No."

"What about the crust?"

"No."

"The smell?"

"You're already having that."

Nora let out the most dramatic sigh I'd ever heard.

"This is torture."

Alex nodded sympathetically.

"It is."

"You're not helping."

"I know."

She crossed her arms.

"You're mean."

"I've also got all the food."

"...That's a good point."

Yang laughed.

"You folded fast."

"She controls the food." Nora replied matter of factly.

Alex looked up from slicing a loaf of bread.

"He."

"What?"

"You said she."

Nora blinked.

"Oh."

She looked at Alex.

"...You don't strike me as someone who'd care."

"I don't."

"Then why'd you correct me?"

Alex shrugged.

"Grammar."

Yang pointed at him.

"History nerd."

"Language nerd."

"Same thing."

"They're different academic fields."

"You're proving my point."

Alex smiled.

"I usually do."

The timer on Alex's watch beeped.

He glanced down.

"There we go."

He picked up a serving spoon and gently broke through the golden crust.

A plume of steam rolled upward.

The rich smell of beef, onions, carrots, herbs, and buttery pastry filled the kitchenette all over again.

Nora actually whimpered.

"Oh, thank the Brothers."

Alex chuckled.

"Plates."

Without another word, everyone moved.

Jaune opened the cupboard.

Pyrrha handed down plates.

Ruby grabbed forks.

Yang passed out slices of bread.

Even Weiss found herself setting the table without anyone asking.

It happened so naturally that no one seemed to notice.

Alex, however, did.

He smiled to himself but didn't say anything.

As the last plate was set down, he began serving.

He made a point of giving everyone nearly identical portions.

When he reached Nora's plate, she leaned forward expectantly.

"Can I have a little extra?"

Alex looked at the spoon.

Then at Nora.

"...You'll ask for seconds anyway."

"...Yeah."

"So if I give you extra now..."

"I'll ask for thirds."

"Exactly."

Nora nodded.

"Fair."

He handed her the plate.

She accepted it with surprising dignity.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Finally, Alex served himself.

He looked around the table.

"Well..."

He set the serving spoon down.

"Dig in."

Nobody needed to be told twice.

For several moments, the only sounds in the room were forks against plates and the occasional appreciative hum.

Ruby was the first to break the silence.

"Oh..."

She looked down at her plate.

"This is really good."

Yang nodded enthusiastically.

"Seriously."

Jaune took another bite.

"I think this might be the best thing I've eaten since coming to Beacon."

Pyrrha smiled warmly.

"You're very talented."

Even Weiss gave a small nod.

"The seasoning is well balanced."

Alex looked genuinely pleased.

"Thanks."

Then he pointed his fork toward Yang.

"Good crust."

Yang grinned.

"Told you I'd do a good job."

"I never doubted it."

"You absolutely did."

"I doubted your attention span."

"Rude."

"Accurate."

Yang laughed and bumped his shoulder with her own.

"Yeah..."

She admitted between bites.

"...Accurate."

Dinner carried on at an easy pace.

Plates gradually emptied.

The loaf of bread disappeared far quicker than I'd expected.

Alex wasn't kidding when he said people liked carbs.

"So..." Yang began between bites. "You gonna tell us what your plan is for tomorrow night's dinner?"

Alex swallowed before answering.

"I was thinking barbecue."

Ruby's silver eyes lit up.

"Barbecue?"

He nodded.

"Pulled pork sandwiches."

Nora raised a hand.

"I support this idea."

"So do I." Jaune agreed.

Weiss set her fork down.

"You've planned meals for the entire week, haven't you?"

Alex looked genuinely confused.

"...Doesn't everybody?"

"No."

"Oh."

He thought about it.

"Maybe that's just a me thing."

"It definitely is." I replied.

Alex shrugged.

"Makes shopping easier."

Blake looked up from her plate.

"You cook because you enjoy it."

It wasn't a question.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Alex leaned back in his chair.

"My mom always said a good meal fixes more problems than people give it credit for."

He smiled to himself.

"Doesn't solve everything..."

He glanced around the table.

"...But it's a good place to start."

No one argued.

Because none of us really could.

Nora suddenly pointed her fork at him.

"So..."

Alex looked up.

"Who taught you?"

"My mom."

He smiled faintly.

"She wasn't some professional chef or anything."

"She was just..."

He searched for the words.

"...Good at making wherever we lived feel like home."

The room grew a little quieter.

"She always said recipes are just suggestions."

Yang laughed.

"My dad says the same thing."

"Smart man."

"He also says if you aren't making a mess while cooking, you're doing it wrong."

Alex glanced around the kitchenette.

"I respectfully disagree."

Everyone followed his gaze.

The counters were clean.

The cutting boards had already been rinsed.

The bowls he'd finished using were stacked neatly beside the sink.

Even while cooking for eleven people...

The kitchenette barely looked used.

Weiss blinked.

"...You've been cleaning as you cook."

Alex nodded.

"Easier than doing it all afterward."

She looked almost impressed.

"...I may have judged you too quickly."

Alex looked up.

"...Should I write that down?"

"Don't push your luck."

"Yes, ma'am."

Yang snorted into her drink.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The sarcasm."

"I was being sincere."

"You're physically incapable of sounding sincere."

"I resent that."

"No, you don't."

"...Little bit."

The table laughed again.

By the time everyone finished eating, only a few crumbs of bread and an empty baking dish remained.

Nora leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh.

"I am no longer hungry."

Alex looked at the empty dish.

"Give it fifteen minutes."

"...Fair."

He stood, rolling up his sleeves.

"Alright."

He clapped his hands together once.

"Since y'all ate..."

He pointed toward the sink.

"...Y'all are helping clean."

The room immediately filled with playful groans.

"What?" Ruby protested.

"You cooked!"

"And y'all ate."

He pointed at Jaune.

"You're drying."

Then at Yang.

"You're washing."

"Bossy."

"I prefer organized."

He pointed at Nora.

"You're putting dishes away."

"Yes, Chef!"

"Ren, can you wipe the tables down?"

Ren nodded.

"Of course."

Alex looked around the room one last time.

"Should only take ten minutes if everybody helps."

Nobody complained after that.

Well...

Nobody except Nora.

"This is cruel and unusual punishment."

Alex handed her a towel.

"It's called contributing."

She sighed dramatically.

"I liked dinner better."

"So did I."

Even so, within a few minutes everyone had fallen into a rhythm.

By the time the last plate had been dried and put away, the kitchenette looked as though dinner had never happened.

Alex looked around the room and gave a satisfied nod.

"There."

Yang glanced around.

"...I hate that it actually looks better than before we started cooking."

"I clean as I cook."

"You're weird."

"I've been told."

Nora stretched her arms over her head.

"Well..."

She yawned.

"...What now?"

Alex looked at the clock.

"It's only a little after eight."

Ruby perked up.

"So we're not doing homework?"

Weiss immediately looked at her.

"We are absolutely doing homework."

Ruby visibly deflated.

"...Aw."

Alex leaned against the counter.

"I've already got mine done."

Everyone turned to look at him.

Yang frowned.

"You're telling me..."

He nodded.

"...You skipped half of Goodwitch's class..."

"Yep."

"...Spent the afternoon doing paperwork..."

"Yep."

"...Cooked dinner for eleven people..."

"Yep."

"...And somehow still finished your homework?"

Alex shrugged.

"I had lunch."

Silence.

"That..." Jaune admitted, "...doesn't answer the question."

"It answers my question."

"What question?"

"When did I do it?"

Yang pointed at him.

"He's doing the thing again."

"What thing?"

"The smart aleck thing."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do."

"Nope."

Blake closed her book with a soft thud.

"I know."

Everyone looked toward her.

"He probably did it during study hall."

Alex smiled.

"Ding, ding, ding."

Ruby groaned.

"You actually use study hall to study?"

"That's generally what it's was made for."

"I use it to recover from studying."

"That..."

Alex pointed at her.

"...would explain your grades."

Ruby gasped dramatically.

"You wound me!"

"With facts."

Yang snickered.

"That one's gonna leave a mark."

Ruby pouted.

"I thought we were friends."

"We are."

"Friends don't call each other out like that."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Andy?"

I looked up from wiping down the counter.

"Hm?"

"Tell her."

I sighed.

"Yeah..."

I looked at Ruby.

"...Friends absolutely call each other out like that."

Ruby looked betrayed.

"I've been outnumbered."

"Correct." Weiss said.

Nora suddenly clapped her hands together.

"I've got an idea!"

Everyone instinctively became nervous.

Alex slowly turned toward her.

"That sentence has historically led to property damage."

Nora ignored him.

"Game night!"

The room paused.

Yang tilted her head.

"...Actually..."

Ruby's eyes lit up.

"Ooh!"

Jaune smiled.

"That could be fun."

Pyrrha nodded.

"I'd be interested."

Blake gave a small shrug.

"I don't mind."

Even Weiss didn't object.

Alex looked around the room before smiling.

"...Sure."

Nora pumped a fist into the air.

"Yes!"

"What're we playing?" Yang asked.

Alex rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Well..."

A mischievous grin slowly spread across his face.

"...How does everybody feel about Monopoly?"

The room fell deathly silent.

Ren calmly set his cup down.

"...No."

Blake reopened her book.

"I've suddenly remembered I have reading to do."

Weiss looked genuinely alarmed.

"Absolutely not."

Yang pointed accusingly at Alex.

"You're trying to start another war."

Nora nodded enthusiastically.

"I'm in!"

I buried my face in my hands.

"...We're never going to financially recover from this."

When I came to, morning sunlight was already streaming through the dorm room windows.

I let out a tired groan as I rolled onto my back, blinking the last traces of sleep from my eyes.

"...Morning already?"

With another grunt, I sat up and stretched.

The first thing I noticed was Alex's bed.

Empty.

His blankets had already been folded, and his backpack was gone.

"Of course." I muttered.

He was probably already awake, either making coffee, or somehow finding another way to get himself into trouble before breakfast.

A sharp knock echoed from the dorm room door.

I climbed out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I shuffled across the room.

Pulling the door open revealed Yang standing in the hallway, dressed in her workout clothes with a towel draped over one shoulder.

"Morning." She greeted.

I stifled a yawn.

"What time is it?"

"Seven."

I frowned.

"The sun's already up, but you're here instead of running?"

Yang scratched the back of her head.

"That's actually why I'm here."

She looked past me into the dorm room.

"Where's Alex?"

"Hm?"

"I haven't seen him all morning."

I blinked.

"...He isn't here."

I glanced over my shoulder at his empty bed before looking back at her.

"I figured he was with you."

Yang shook her head.

"Nope."

Now it was my turn to frown.

"Huh..."

That was unusual.

Alex was usually up before everyone else, but if he wasn't in the dorm...

...and he wasn't with Yang...

Then where had he gone?

Yang and I exchanged a glance.

Neither of us liked unanswered questions.

"Well..." Yang said, trying to sound unconcerned. "He couldn't have gone far."

"He usually doesn't."

I stepped back into the room and grabbed my phone from the nightstand.

No messages.

No missed calls.

Not that the latter mattered much in Remnant.

"Did he say anything last night?" Yang asked.

I thought back.

"Not really."

"He wasn't acting strange?"

I shook my head.

"No more than usual."

Yang snorted.

"That doesn't narrow it down."

"Fair."

I slipped my phone into my pocket.

"Knowing Alex, he's probably either reading somewhere, tending that garden of his, or feeding those birds."

Yang blinked.

"...Garden?"

I immediately realized what I'd said.

"...Forget I said that."

She folded her arms.

"Andy."

"What?"

"You said garden."

"I did."

"You're going to elaborate."

I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Well..."

"Andy."

"He made a little rooftop garden."

Yang stared.

"A what?"

"A garden."

"On Beacon?"

"Yep."

She looked completely caught off guard.

"Since when?"

"A month ago."

"And nobody told me?"

"He wanted to keep it quiet."

Yang narrowed her eyes.

"Why?"

I shrugged.

"Said it was peaceful."

She was quiet for a moment.

"...That actually sounds like him."

"It does."

Yang sighed.

"Well..."

She pointed toward the hallway.

"Let's check there first."

"Works for me."

I stepped out into the hallway, closing the dorm room door behind me.

The dormitory was already beginning to come alive.

Students wandered toward the cafeteria with bedhead and coffee mugs.

Others hurried toward early training sessions.

A pair of second years jogged past carrying practice weapons.

None of them had seen Alex.

At least, judging by the blank looks we got when we asked.

"No luck?" Yang asked after the fourth student shook their head.

"Nope."

She frowned.

"That's... odd."

Before either of us could say anything else, another familiar voice drifted down the hallway.

"Looking for someone?"

We turned.

Blake was approaching with her book tucked beneath one arm.

"Morning." Yang greeted.

"Morning."

Blake looked between the two of us.

"You seem worried."

Yang pointed toward me.

"Alex's missing."

Blake raised an eyebrow.

"Missing?"

"He wasn't in the dorm when I woke up." I explained. "Yang hasn't seen him either."

Blake was quiet for a second.

Then she asked the obvious question.

"Have you checked the roof?"

Yang looked at me.

I looked at Yang.

"...We were just on our way."

Blake gave a small nod.

"He likes quiet places."

"Yeah..." I admitted. "...He does."

Without another word, the three of us headed toward the stairwell leading to the academy roof.

If anyone knew how to disappear without actually leaving Beacon...

It was Alex.

We climbed the final flight of stairs and stepped onto the rooftop.

The cool morning breeze greeted us immediately.

"...He's not here." Yang observed.

I scanned the rooftop.

The benches were empty.

The railing stood undisturbed.

The only signs that anyone had been there recently were the neatly tended garden beds and the little aquarium tucked into the corner.

Yang wandered over almost instinctively.

Instead of looking for Alex, she crouched beside one of the planter boxes.

"So he isn't here either."

She gently brushed a tomato leaf between her fingers, examining it with surprising care.

"Garden looks good."

She nodded approvingly.

"Tomatoes are healthy. Leaves are a nice deep green. Doesn't look like they've been overwatered."

I raised an eyebrow.

"...You garden?"

Yang looked up.

"I did back home."

She smiled faintly.

"Helped Dad save money on groceries."

Her eyes drifted across the rest of the garden.

"Besides..."

She lightly pressed a finger into the soil.

"...Beacon's also does the same thing, to help with cost."

Blake looked genuinely surprised.

"I didn't know that about you."

Yang shrugged.

"Not exactly something that comes up in conversation."

Blake wandered toward the small aquarium sitting in the corner.

I immediately pointed at her.

"Blake."

She stopped.

"Yes?"

"Stay away from the aquarium."

She blinked.

"Why?"

"Alex was worried if you found it..."

I nodded toward the fish lazily swimming through the water.

"...you'd eat the fish."

Blake stared at me.

"...That's a little racist."

"In this context?"

I shook my head.

"No."

She folded her arms.

"And why not?"

"Because every time we've been near fish..."

I started counting on my fingers.

"...you've either bought fish, ordered fish, stolen bites of someone else's fish..."

Yang snorted.

"...or spent five minutes staring at fish in the market."

I pointed at Yang.

"Thank you."

Blake opened her mouth.

Closed it.

"...That's circumstantial."

Yang raised an eyebrow.

"Is it?"

"...Maybe."

A sharp caw interrupted the conversation.

We all looked up.

Perched atop the wooden fence surrounding the garden sat a familiar crow.

It watched us with bright black eyes, tilting its head from one side to the other.

"Well, hey there." I said.

The crow answered with another caw.

I smiled.

"What're you doing up here?"

It hopped a little closer.

Then another.

Yang frowned.

"...That's odd."

"What is?"

"It doesn't seem scared of us."

She was right.

Wild birds usually kept their distance.

This one acted like it knew exactly where it was.

I crouched down a little.

"Well..."

I smiled at the bird.

"...What's your name?"

The crow let out a single, confident caw.

None of us understood it.

"You must be one of the birds Alex's been feeding." I said.

The crow let out a single approving caw.

Then, without the slightest hint of fear, it hopped over to one of the planters where an ear of corn had been left behind.

It pecked at it once.

Then looked back at us.

Another caw.

After that, it flew back to its perch on the fence, as though expecting us to understand the demonstration.

I watched it for a moment.

"...I think it's trying to tell us something."

Yang folded her arms.

"Like what?"

I pointed toward the untouched ear of corn.

"It wants us to feed it."

The crow immediately cawed again.

Yang blinked.

"...I think it just agreed with you."

Blake looked between the bird and the corn.

"...Either that..."

She smiled faintly.

"...or it's trained us better than we realize."

The three of us looked at the crow.

The crow looked back.

"...Well?" Yang asked.

I sighed.

"I guess we're feeding the bird."

I walked over to the planter and picked up the ear of corn Alex had left behind.

The crow watched my every movement.

"You're spoiled, you know that?"

It answered with an impatient caw.

"Yeah, yeah."

Breaking off a few kernels, I held out my hand.

The crow didn't hesitate.

It fluttered down onto the edge of the planter and began pecking at the corn as calmly as if it'd known me for years.

Yang smiled.

"...It trusts you."

"No."

I shook my head.

"It trusts Alex."

Blake nodded.

"We're just the people holding the food."

"That..."

I admitted.

"...is probably more accurate."

For a few moments, the only sound on the rooftop was the quiet pecking of the crow and the breeze rustling through the tomato vines.

Then another shadow swept across the garden.

A raven landed gracefully on the fence a few feet away.

Unlike the crow, it didn't immediately go for the food.

Instead, it looked around.

Once.

Twice.

Then a third time.

Yang noticed it first.

"...Is it looking for someone?"

The raven let out a questioning caw.

It hopped to the spot where Alex usually stood by the railing.

Looked around again.

Then cawed once more.

The sound was softer this time.

Almost... expectant.

Blake's ears twitched.

"...I think it's looking for Alex."

The realization settled over the three of us.

The crow paused its breakfast and looked toward the raven.

The two birds exchanged a few quiet caws.

Neither of them touched the rest of the corn.

Yang's expression softened.

"They're waiting for him."

"I think so." I replied quietly.

The raven hopped onto the railing where Alex usually leaned, tilting its head toward the stairwell.

When no one came through the door, it let out another low caw.

"...Well..." Yang said after a moment. "...now I kinda feel bad."

"For what?"

She looked at the birds.

"I thought he was joking when he talked about feeding crows and ravens."

I watched the pair for a moment.

"So did I."

The crow suddenly looked at me, then toward the stairwell.

Then back at me again.

"...Don't look at me."

It cawed.

"I don't know where he went either."

The raven answered with another quiet caw, as if unconvinced.

I sighed.

"...Great."

Yang raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I think we've just been recruited into the search party."

The crow let out another sharp caw.

Then it hopped off the fence.

"What's it doing?" Yang asked.

Before I could answer, the bird landed on the edge of the stairwell door.

It looked back at us.

Cawed once.

Then flew a short distance down the rooftop before landing again.

Blake's bow twitched.

"...It's trying to get our attention."

"You think?"

The crow cawed impatiently.

"...Okay, okay." I said, holding up my hands. "We're coming."

The raven launched from the railing, gliding silently overhead before joining the crow a few yards away.

The two birds looked back at us in perfect unison.

Yang folded her arms.

"...This is either going to lead us to Alex..."

"...Or we're about to be mugged by birds." I finished.

"I don't think that's how mugging works."

"You've never met determined wildlife."

Yang laughed.

"Fair."

We followed at a leisurely pace.

The birds didn't fly away.

Instead, they'd move a little farther ahead, wait for us to catch up, then repeat the process.

Almost like they were making sure we didn't get lost.

Blake watched them with growing curiosity.

"I've seen animals lead people before..."

She frowned.

"But usually only when they trust them."

"They trust Alex." I said. "They're just tolerating us."

The crow glanced back and gave an indignant caw.

"...Present company excluded."

It seemed satisfied with that answer.

Eventually, the pair stopped near the far side of the rooftop.

There wasn't much there.

Just the academy flag, a weather vane...

...and the railing overlooking the cliffs beyond Beacon.

Yang looked around.

"...There's nobody here."

The raven landed on the railing.

The crow joined it a heartbeat later.

Both birds looked over the edge.

Then back at us.

Then over the edge again.

Blake stepped closer, carefully peering down.

"I don't see him."

Neither did I.

Just trees swaying gently in the morning breeze.

The crow gave another insistent caw.

Yang frowned.

"They're definitely trying to show us something."

I walked over to the railing and rested my hands on it.

"Alright..."

I looked first at the birds...

Then out across the forest stretching beyond Beacon.

"...What're we missing?"

"That..." a familiar voice said from behind us. "...is precisely what I would like to know."

The four of us turned in unison.

Professor Goodwitch stood a few paces away, her riding crop tucked neatly beneath one arm as she regarded us with her usual composed expression.

Though if I'd learned anything over the past month...

It was that the calmer she looked, the more trouble someone was usually in.

"Ah, Professor Goodwitch." I said, straightening instinctively. "What brings you up here?"

"One question at a time, Andy."

She glanced from me, to Yang, to Blake, before briefly taking in Alex's rooftop garden.

"I was wondering why three students appear to be preparing to leave campus without notifying a member of staff."

Yang shook her head.

"We're not trying to leave Beacon."

Professor Goodwitch raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"We're looking for Alex." Yang replied.

That finally earned a visible reaction.

"Alex?"

"Yes, ma'am." I answered.

"He's missing."

Professor Goodwitch's expression remained composed, but I caught the subtle narrowing of her eyes.

"Define 'missing.'"

"He wasn't in the dorm when I woke up." I explained. "Yang hasn't seen him all morning, and he wasn't up here either."

Blake stepped forward.

"I checked his locker before coming here."

Professor Goodwitch looked at her.

"It was empty."

Blake nodded once.

"His weapons are gone."

A brief pause.

"So is the rest of his field gear."

The professor's gaze shifted toward the empty rooftop.

For just a moment...

She said nothing.

Then she spoke, her voice calm and measured.

"...How long has he been unaccounted for?"

I exchanged a glance with Yang.

"At least since before seven." I answered.

Professor Goodwitch looked once more at the untouched garden...

Then at the crow and raven perched on the railing.

Both birds were watching her intently.

"...I see."

There was no panic in her voice.

But the seriousness in it had unmistakably grown.

Professor Goodwitch's eyes swept across the rooftop one more time.

She looked back at us.

"Did Alex leave a note?"

I shook my head.

"No, ma'am."

"Has anyone received a message from him?"

Yang pulled out her Scroll.

"No."

Blake checked hers as well.

"Nothing."

Professor Goodwitch nodded once, filing the information away.

"Very well."

She turned toward me.

"Andy."

"Yes, Professor?"

"You know him better than anyone else here."

"I'd like to think so."

"If Alex intended to leave campus, would he normally inform you?"

I didn't even have to think about it.

"Yes."

"Without exception?"

"Without exception."

That answer seemed to weigh on her.

"Then this is... unusual."

Yang frowned.

"Do you think something happened?"

Professor Goodwitch didn't answer immediately.

"I think..." She said carefully. "...that jumping to conclusions rarely helps anyone."

She looked toward the open countryside beyond Beacon's cliffs.

"But I also think Alex is not in the habit of disappearing without informing at least one person."

She folded her arms.

"Especially after yesterday."

I remembered the conversation we'd had over dinner.

The jokes.

The cooking.

The plans for barbecue tonight.

Nothing about him had suggested he intended to vanish.

"He was normal last night." I said quietly.

"As normal as Alex gets."

Yang nodded.

"He was already talking about dinner for tonight."

Professor Goodwitch acknowledged that with a small nod.

"Which makes a voluntary departure without explanation less likely."

A quiet caw drew everyone's attention.

The crow hopped along the railing before taking flight.

Instead of disappearing into the sky, he circled once over the rooftop.

The raven immediately followed.

The two birds completed a second loop before flying toward the forest beyond Beacon.

After several seconds, they returned.

Landing on the railing once more.

The same direction.

The same path.

Professor Goodwitch watched them closely.

"...Interesting."

Yang blinked.

"You don't think..."

"I don't know."

The birds repeated the pattern.

Out toward the forest.

Back to the rooftop.

Out again.

Back again.

Almost as if they were trying to demonstrate something.

Blake's ears twitched.

"They're not wandering."

"No." Professor Goodwitch agreed.

"They're following a route."

The professor's gaze sharpened.

"Andy."

"Yes, Professor?"

"You mentioned these birds have become attached to Alex."

I nodded.

"They visit him every morning."

She looked toward the pair.

"And they appear to be trying very hard to direct our attention toward the same location."

The crow let out an impatient caw, as if agreeing.

Professor Goodwitch made her decision.

"Very well."

She reached for her Scroll.

"I'll notify Professor Ozpin and request a search party."

Yang looked toward the birds.

"And us?"

Goodwitch met her gaze.

"You three will remain on campus until I receive further instructions."

She paused.

"...However..."

Her eyes shifted to the crow and raven.

"...I would appreciate it if those two stayed exactly where they are."

Almost on cue, the crow gave a single caw.

The raven answered a heartbeat later.

It felt like the birds knew something the rest of us didn't.

After nearly an hour of searching, we finally found him.

Not injured.

Not unconscious.

Not kidnapped.

Filming a movie.

I just stood there for a moment, trying to process the scene before me.

A group of second years had transformed one of Beacon's unused training fields into what looked like a movie set. Cameras sat on tripods, floodlights illuminated makeshift scenery, and students bustled around carrying props and pieces of painted plywood that were apparently supposed to be part of a spaceship.

Standing in the middle of it all...

...was Alex.

He was dressed in his combat gear, speaking with what looked to be the student director when he noticed us approaching.

He blinked.

"Andy?"

His expression shifted from confusion to surprise.

"What're y'all doing here?"

I stared at him for a long moment.

"...I could ask you the exact same thing."

Alex frowned.

"Huh?"

"You disappeared."

"I did?"

"Yes!"

"You've been missing for over an hour!"

Alex looked genuinely puzzled.

"I've been here the whole time."

Yang folded her arms.

"We searched half of Beacon."

Blake nodded.

"Professor Goodwitch organized a search."

Alex winced.

"...Oh."

"Oh?" I repeated.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"In hindsight... I probably should've left a note."

"You think?"

"Yeah."

He looked suitably sheepish.

"My bad."

I let out a long sigh.

"So..."

I gestured toward the cameras, lights, and collection of second years.

"...What's all this?"

Alex brightened immediately.

"Oh!"

He pointed toward the elaborate set behind him.

"I'm helping them with their student film."

"A film?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"It's about a soldier who gets abducted by aliens."

I blinked.

"...Aliens?"

"Yep."

"They kidnap him, he escapes in one of their escape pods, crashes on another planet, and gets caught in the middle of a war between two alien factions."

He said it so matter of factly that it somehow sounded completely reasonable.

"They asked if I'd play the main character."

"Why you?" Yang asked.

Alex looked down at his gear.

"Well..."

He tugged lightly at his vest.

"...Apparently dressing like a soldier twenty four seven has its advantages."

One of the second years overheard us and hurried over.

"Oh! You're Alex's friends?"

"Unfortunately." I answered.

The student laughed.

"He's been a huge help."

"How so?" Blake asked.

"We were having trouble making the military stuff look believable."

He pointed at Alex.

"Then he showed up."

Alex gave an awkward shrug.

"I made a couple suggestions."

"A couple?" The second year repeated.

"He reorganized our entire prop room, corrected our actors on how to carry their rifles, fixed our formations, showed us how to stack on doors..."

He started counting on his fingers.

"...explained radio etiquette, camouflage, hand signals, patrol spacing, and somehow convinced half our cast to stop pointing their weapons at each other."

Yang slowly looked back at Alex.

"...You couldn't help yourself, could you?"

Alex looked genuinely innocent.

"They asked for advice."

The second year nodded emphatically.

"And now the whole production looks ten times better."

I stared at Alex.

Of course.

We'd spent the last hour convinced he'd mysteriously vanished.

Meanwhile...

He'd accidentally become the military advisor for a student science-fiction movie.

"What's your character's name?" I asked.

Alex's grin widened.

"Sergeant John Frostwire."

He shot me a quick wink.

I couldn't help but smile.

I knew exactly where he'd gotten the name.

John.

Our friend.

The one who never appeared on Remnant with us.

There wasn't even an alternate version of him here.

In a small way...

I guessed this was Alex's way of making sure he hadn't been forgotten.

"That's a good name." Yang said.

Alex gave a small nod.

"Thanks."

Before anyone could ask another question, one of the second years hurried over, looking far more excited than he probably should have.

"Alex's been a huge help."

"Oh?" Blake asked.

The student nodded enthusiastically.

"Originally, our script just had 'Planet X' fighting 'The Bad Guys.'"

Yang winced.

"...Creative."

"I know."

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"But Alex sat down with us during lunch and started brainstorming."

He began counting on his fingers.

"He came up with the planet's name, the names of both factions, military ranks, insignias, radio call signs, even bits of their history."

I raised an eyebrow.

"He wrote all that?"

"In about twenty minutes."

Alex shrugged as if it were nothing.

"They wanted the world to feel lived in."

The second-year laughed.

"He also pointed out that if a soldier crash-landed alone behind enemy lines, he'd spend more time trying to survive than making dramatic speeches."

"I stand by that." Alex said.

"He even rewrote one of our scenes because he said no trained soldier would walk casually into an unknown building."

Yang looked at Alex.

"You rewrote their script?"

"I suggested a few changes."

The second-year laughed.

"Alex..."

He pointed at him.

"...'a few changes' turned into six new pages."

"I got carried away."

"You absolutely did."

"I was invested."

I sighed, shaking my head.

"Somehow..."

I looked over at Yang.

"...I'm not surprised anymore."

Yang smiled.

"Neither am I."

"Hey..." Alex said, looking between us and the second years. "...if these blokes are alright with it, we could always work you three into the film."

The student director didn't hesitate.

"I've got no problem with that."

He laughed, gesturing toward Alex.

"At this point, he's practically a co-creator."

Another second-year nodded in agreement.

"He's done more worldbuilding in one morning than we managed in two weeks."

Alex rubbed the back of his neck.

"I think that's stretching it a little."

"It really isn't."

The student looked back at us.

"If you're interested, we'd be happy to have you."

Alex clapped his hands together once.

"Right then."

He looked at me first.

"Andy..."

He pointed in my direction.

"You'd make a good pilot."

"Me?"

"You've studied aviation more than anyone else I know."

He shrugged.

"Doesn't have to be a fighter pilot. Could be a dropship pilot, transport pilot. Something along those lines."

I had to admit...

That actually sounded pretty fun.

He turned to Yang.

"Yang..."

He looked her up and down for a moment, clearly picturing the role.

"You could go one of two ways."

"Oh?"

"A cyborg..."

He held up one finger.

"...or an experimental supersoldier."

Yang grinned.

"I like the sound of both."

"I figured you would."

Finally, he looked at Blake.

"You..."

He smiled.

"...Night operations."

Blake tilted her head.

"Meaning?"

"Recon. Infiltration. Special operations."

He gestured toward her bow.

"You already move quietly, keep your emotions under control, and prefer striking from the shadows."

He shrugged.

"You'd fit the role of a black-ops operator without changing much."

Blake considered it for a moment before giving a small nod.

"I could do that."

The student director's eyes lit up.

"Oh, that's perfect!"

He pulled out a notebook and immediately started scribbling.

"We've been trying to figure out what to do with our reconnaissance team."

Alex smiled.

"There you go."

Yang nudged him with her elbow.

"You've really thought all this through, haven't you?"

Alex looked genuinely confused.

"I've just been helping."

The second years all looked at him.

"No..."

One of them laughed.

"You've been writing half the movie."

Alex opened his mouth to argue.

Paused.

Thought about everything he'd done since arriving that morning.

Then slowly closed it again.

"...Fair enough."

The second years laughed.

"One of the biggest things he's helped with is the soundtrack." One of them said.

He gestured toward Alex, who suddenly looked very interested in adjusting a prop rifle.

"Alex's been letting us use that weird Scroll of his."

"Our Scrolls don't have anything like it," another student chimed in. "It has hundreds, no thousands, of songs stored on it."

They looked at us with excited smiles.

"He's been helping us pick music that actually fits each scene."

The first student nodded enthusiastically.

"At first we were just going to use generic orchestral music."

He laughed.

"Then Alex started asking questions like, 'What's the emotional tone of the scene?' and 'What are you trying to make the audience feel?'"

Alex shrugged.

"Music tells half the story."

The second years all nodded in agreement.

"He's not wrong."

"One minute he was showing us these really emotional piano pieces..."

"...then the next he was introducing us to military marches..."

"...and then somehow we ended up listening to heavy metal."

Yang slowly turned toward Alex.

"...Heavy metal?"

Alex scratched the back of his neck.

"There may have been a battle montage."

"There was a battle montage." The student corrected.

"And the music fit perfectly."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"So..."

I looked at Alex.

"You've become an actor..."

I held up one finger.

"...a military consultant..."

A second.

"...a worldbuilder..."

A third.

"...and now you're the film's music director?"

Alex looked genuinely embarrassed.

"I just like helping."

One of the second-years snorted.

"He keeps saying that."

"Meanwhile he's rewritten half the script, trained our cast, helped build the setting, and introduced us to music we never would've found on our own."

Alex glanced toward us and gave an awkward smile.

"...In my defense..."

Yang crossed her arms.

"Oh, this ought to be good."

"They asked."

The entire film crew burst into laughter.

I just shook my head.

Some people couldn't help taking over a project.

Alex somehow managed to do it without ever intending to.
--------------------
A/N: And done. kuwebby2, what do you think?