"Hey, um, Ozpin?"  Oscar peeked into the office.

"Ah, Oscar.  Is Velvet with you?"  He asked.

"Yes," she said, popping her head into view from behind the door.

"We got news of a rumor, so we decided to check it out," Oscar admitted.

"Ah, I see, and what would that rumor be?" Ozpin asked.

The two students entered the office and sat on a chair.  "Something about not going to the forest for a school project?  It was kinda fuzzy so we wanted to get clear insight?"

"Oh,  I see.  Well, yes.  So as I said that even though you were faultless, but without proof, by the rules, you too have to be well..."

"You can say punished," Oscar offered.

Ozpin sighed.  "Yes, I suppose... well, I mentioned that we usually have the students do "volunteer work around the grounds.  Originally I was against the idea, but neither me nor Glynda could come up with a better solution.  We decided to put you two on tomorrow's work.  Team CRDL the day after.  I suppose Cardin will have to figure out what to do with one hand.  He should do well, I'm sure."

"So we miss the field trip?"  Velvet clarified.

"It has little to do with your grade.  I purposely set up your time schedule so that it causes the least disruption to your grade.  Same for team CRDL, but you may or may not have the advantage.  You merely collect sap tomorrow."

"Oh... why?"  Velvet raised a brow.

Ozpin shrugged.  "That is not of my knowledge.  Supposed Emerald and Mercury will enlighten you when they return.  Then you may enlighten me after.  How does that sound?"

"Of course Professor," Velvet agreed.

"Oscar, are we good?"  Ozpin asked.

The boy nodded.  "Yes."

The Professor looked relieved.  "Good.  Now go on, I'm certain you're itching to go on."

"Thanks, Professor," Velvet added before the partners left.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

Oscar pulled out a weed and put it in the trash bag.  "I guess we're almost done," he said.

"Mm-hmm..."  Velvet nodded.  "Hey, Oscar?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to answer, but what are your parents like?"

Oscar sighed.  "I don't know.  They kinda left me on the door step of a random house.  At least... I hope they didn't know where they left me.  I like to think that maybe we were in danger or they couldn't take care of me and I was in immediate need of a home,so they left me in the house that looked like they treat me best... but that's just what I've imagined..."

"Oh... so what were your foster parents like then? If that's ok to ask."

The boy paused, memories flashed across his mind.  Particularly the one when the woman threw a book at his head.  He could hear their abusive shouting ringing in his ears.  "I was meant to be perfect.  I never reached their expectations.  They'd get a little... violent when I wasn't able to compete something how they wanted."

"Oh, Oscar... I'm so sorry-"

"No, it's ok... because in the end, if I wasn't there, a huntsman wouldn't have been sent to my house and rescued me.  He's like an uncle to me now and I wouldn't be with Ozpin."

"Ozpin's like your dad?"

"Well... yeah.  Yes, I think of him like my he's my father..."

"I'm glad.  I'm glad you're in a better home now.  You're happy right?"

"Yeah.  The happiest I've been in my whole life.  What about you?  Are you happy where you're at?"

"Home wise? Yes.  I have very kind, loving parents.  I'm lucky to have been blessed with them.  They were super supportive about me deciding to go to Beacon.  Happy with what I'm doing?  I guess you can say I'm trying to find myself.  I guess I could have been a photographer, but it felt like something was calling me here."

"I'm glad you came."

"Thanks, I am too.  You know, I never thought a human would become my best friend.  The town I grew up in wasn't exactly... accepting to faunas."

"I don't know why," Oscar frowned.

Velvet laughed.  "But it's nice to know that my team are very open to faunas.  Even if there's people like Cardin out there, it's nice to actually know people who aren't like Cardin.  You know?"

"I get what you mean..."

"I'm lucky I got a team that doesn't care who I am or if I have bunny ears or not.  I've never been supported like this by anybody besides my parents."

Oscar grinned.  "Can I be honest with you?"

"Sure?"

"I mean, it feels awkward giving a heart filled conversation about this sorta things after weeding, but since we're already on the subject... I've never had friends my age.  I rarely left the large house back when I lived with my guardians.  After that, I went through so many court sessions from a year long case, I just homeschooled.  He tried to get me to socialize, it was me who refused to.  Especially after I went to school one year, but thanks to bullies, that ruined that experience.  Never was someone who can just fit into a group or a mold someone expected from me... I'm not sure why... Then I came here and now suddenly I have you, Mercury, Emerald, team JNPR and team RWBY.  It's crazy."

"I get that... it was hard for me to fit in back home too...  You know, it's nice to finally talk about this with someone," Velvet said.

"Yeah, it is," Oscar agreed.  "I mean, I talk with Glynda and Oz about it, but it's nice to share it with someone around my age."

"Yeah..."  Velvet stood up and stretched her arms.  "Let's throw these weeds away and try to get into the showers before Merc and Em come back."

"Sounds good to me," Oscar said.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Hey, guys.  We're back!"  Mercury announced.

"How'd it go?"  Oscar asked, using a towel to dry his hair.

"It was boring," Mercury retorted.

"Pfft."  Emerald rolled her eyes.

"What?  Well, it was until that Grim showed up."

"There was a Grim?"  Oscar looked at the older boy in surprise.

"Yeah, it attacked Jaune and that stupid CRDL leader," Mercury answer answered carelessly.

"Wait, what?!  Are they ok?!"  Oscar's voice raised with concern.

"Relax, they're fine.  Jaune took care of the Grim.  Also looks like Cardin's done messing with Juane and you two," Mercury added as he nodded to Velvet, who was just coming out of the bathroom.

"Well, I'm glad no one was hurt."  Oscar sighed with relief.

"Dude, we're here to fight grim.  What's one going to do?"

"Merc, it's Juane," Emerald reported.

"Oh, yeah.  Ok, so he's not the sharpest one of the bunch."

"But he is underestimated by a lot of people.  He'll surprise you," Oscar added.

Velvet nodded with agreed.  "He's really nice."

"So what about you two?  How was your afternoon?"  Emerald pressed.

Oscar shrugged.  "Not much.  We weeded.  Had a conversation here and there."

"It was hot," Velvet added.

"Yeah, no kidding Sherlock," Mercury muttered.  It earned him an elbow to his gut from Emerald.  "Ow-hey!  What was that for?"

Emerald rolled her eyes and groaned.  "Just because, nitwit!"

"Hey, do guys know what we should do?"  Velvet suddenly piped up.

"What?" Mercury asked.

"Have any of you played a board game recently?"

"Nope," Oscar admitted.

"Nah," Mercury followed.

"Can't say I have," Emerald answered coolly.

"Do you all want to play one?"  Velvet inquired.

Mercury shrugged.  "Why not?"

"Sure, I guess," Emerald said.

"Which one?"  Oscar asked.

Velvet pulled a box out from under her bed revealed a collection of board games.  "Any of these.  Do they seem good to you all?"

"What's that one?"  Emerald pointed to a game called 'Catan'.

Velvet gasped.  "You haven't played that game?"

"I haven't either," Mercury admitted.

"Oscar?"  Velvet looked at her partner.  "Have you ever played?"

"Yeah.  Ozpin and Glynda and James play it all the time, so I play it with them.  It gets intense," he laughed.

"We're gonna show them how to play this game because it is a must!"

The two shrugged.  "Sure."