Due Process

“May I take this seat?” He begins, approaching Yang with a gentle smile. Hands gesture to the open spot on the bench beside her. Once permission is granted, he sits down, looking ahead and out the massive windows that display Atlas nicely.

Tired blue eyes open once more. Exhaustion had been threatening to claim him once more, but as his only remaining platoon member spoke to him, injured man forced himself through the fog of weariness to answer his question. To address his concerns. It was no secret that Clover was concerned about his semblance, and rightfully so. Everyone always seemed to chalk things up to his semblance, but that was hardly the case. James saw as much during his assessment. He knew it wasn’t luck.

“How you moved.” James turned his head toward his friend, smiling tiredly as he did so. The steady beeping in the background from his heart monitor faded from being prominent. He had long since gotten used to the sound.

“People don’t just land perfect back flips, or scaled walls as you did just on luck. Things like that take skill. As does aiming your weapon, and knowing how to take down grimm. Luck can aid in such aspects, sure. But it takes real talent and skill to do things like you did. Luck gives you a boost. It doesn’t teach you how to fight.”

To say that Father Courage knew the God of Knowledge well would be an understatement. Both of them had been linked together for a long time, both by mortal’s tales and from their own actions. Ozpin was his longest friend. He had been there for him through some of the toughest moments of his life. Most gods had it early, but James now knew the mortality of man better than any of his fellow deities. And Oz had been by his side through it all. 

“It’s unlike you to roost by your window.” The Grand General comments as he reaches the final steps of the tower. “I could see you from my gardens. And thought you might like some silent company.” 

With a gentle smile, and no other words spoken, the man shifted forms into that of a massive, three-legged wolf. He sat beside the window and curled upon himself, so if Oz chose to nestle within his fur, he would be warm and comfortable. And there he remained for many hours, providing his dear friend with companionship.

          “you know, technically, you’re not even the boss’a me.”

{ Hobbies }

While James doesn’t have very much free time, considering his position as Headmaster General. But when he does find some time to himself, he has a few hobbies he likes to indulge in.

Wood working is one of them. While he doesn’t have the skills to make furniture from scratch like his brother Broderick does, he can make smaller objects. The fence in his backyard at home is home to many small picnic tables, where he puts out food for the squirrels so they stay away from the bird feeders. There might even be a couple in the academy courtyards.

He enjoys spending time doing upkeep on his weapon, as well as tools around the house. This hobby usually comes into play during weekend cleanings of the house. He’ll spend time maintaining weapons and tools, as well as checking the hinges and locks in the house to ensure they’re working properly.

{ James & Weed }

James has never been one for drugs. As a man who values control both over his physical body and his mental state, drugs as a whole have always been something he steered clear from. He never had any issues with those who would smoke around him, in the case of weed. But he would never partake. Until his accident at least.

Pain and James are something that go hand in hand after his accident. Pain days a very common occurrence. And it was Odet ( @cygns​ ) who suggested smoking weed as an alternative to his typical pain medication. It was before they were married, shortly after they moved into a new apartment together. James was having a horrible pain in the left side of his body. And Odet suggested a small bit of weed to help with the pain. It wasn’t the first time that he had tried it, curiosity getting the better of him a few weeks prior. And so he agreed. And it helped! 

     arthur rolls his eyes at the little tease, a small smile tugging at his lips. “no, james, extra peppers will not be necessary.” he sighs, exaggerating his exasperation.

     the promise of this being the last late night makes arthur perk up a bit, and he finally looks away from the paperwork spread out before him. blueprints and reports and essays and all the little things that have been making his head  a c h e  for days, and all it seems to take to ease that is one little promise. he smiles.

          “that’s great!” he realizes quickly he jumped the gun on his praise, and clears his throat. “that you’re getting a squad, i mean. a-are they being assigned to you, or are you choosing them?”

James can’t help but chuckle as Arthur is quick to praise the news of becoming a squad leader. It had been something James was working towards for some time now. Ever since his promotion, truthfully. And for it to be happening finally is like a dream.

“Most of them will be assigned, but the General has told me that I will get to pick one or two soldiers to bring in. I haven’t given too much thought to it yet, but there is one soldier that has caught my eye. But it will be a year or so before I can bring him in.”

she’s lost in thought as she stares out one of the wide windows in her office. winter knew what was at stake before and now she’s even more on edge after finally becoming the winter maiden. fria had warned her about she’d have to deal with afterwards, the cold, unwavering feeling like there’s someone or something always with her. the sense is overwhelming as she keeps her distance from everyone, isolating herself and only being present when she’s needed.

a knock on her door pulls her out of her daze, clearing her throat and picking up some of the papers on her desk.  ‘ come in. ‘

He hadn’t seen Winter since she had become the maiden, and for him it was rather concerning. The top specialist in Atlas was usually never far from his side. So to have her retreating away, hiding and being cold? Well, James couldn’t stop the concern from overflowing. And so he went with a small offering. In hopes she would permit him to stay. While he may be the General, he wasn’t about to force himself into anyone’s space.

     arthur looks up from the mess of paper strewn across the coffee table when james speaks. another late night. he should have expected it, but it still hurts. arthur started working from home as often as he could to spend more time with james, but either the job is really that demanding, or he’s not being given the same kindness. he swallows down the bitterness on the back of his tongue and smiles.

          “take your time.” he insists. “don’t rush just because of me.” the offer of food does brighten his spirits a bit, and he places a finger on his chin as he thinks. “something spicy from that new mistrali place near the school? i haven’t tried it yet.”

He hums gently at the request, nodding thoughtfully. Arthur had pointed out the place a few times on their walks to work. And knowing his partner, and his love is Mistralian food? Perhaps he should have ordered from there sooner.

“Something spicy. Got it.” The new sergeant smiles warmly, pressing another kiss to Arthur’s head. “Would you like me to get extra hot peppers on the side? Just in case it doesn’t quite meet your standard of burn.” James laughs warmly at the jest, knowing full well that Arthur’s tolerance for spicy food was much higher than his own. He had gotten better with it since they started dating, but only to a certain point.