---------------------------
A Fist Full Of Domains
---------------------------
Roll: 89 + 4 Prodigy(Faux) + 1 (OWWWLL) = 94!
Well, it's finally time. You know you've been avoiding this moment, but it's something that has to be done.
Every Solus must go through this process if they want the most efficient way of unlocking Domain.
It might be a bit embarrassing, but you won't ignore the opportunity any longer.
With that, you find a nice bed and prepare yourself. A waterfall of information showers your mind, you try and reach out.
Surprisingly, you manage to sort through the information rather easily and avoid most of the...unsavory domains. From the 94 or so Domains you manage to sort through, you narrow that number down to a more manageable 17. The other domains were either too expensive or not something you wanted.
How A Human Managed To Take Advantage Of An Innocent Solus
Kiss Domain, surprisingly a very useful domain that currently allows you to teleport. It's your only means of traveling great distances in a very short time frame.
You figure training it would be a decent increase in your potential to traverse great distances and thus, make your life much easier. Still, how does one train this domain? You could go and kiss random objects or people, but you don't think that would be very fun, besides, Ruby would no doubt get angry.
So, you find Ruby and ask what you should do.
She stutters out a rather amusing "W-What?" before you explain your idea to her again.
She's hesitant at first, but after making sure no one else was in earshot, she quickly agreed.
And so, you both find a nice quiet spot to train. Hopefully, she remembers that training is serious business.
Even if you really like Ruby, you know that she can get easily distracted by the oddest of things.
With scarlet cheeks, Ruby gladly helps you train. It takes quite a few tries to understand how to actually increase your proficiency in this specific domain, but thankfully, everything goes rather nicely.
Ruby even tries to train her own proficiency in kissing once or twice. You know she doesn't have a kissing domain, so perhaps she just wants to get better at kissing?
Either way, you enjoyed it.
Now, how can you get Ruby to stop blushing and looking away from your face every time your eyes meet.
++++++
Learning
++++++
-------------------
Testing Testing
-------------------
"So, Mr.Solus, how are you feeling today?" Horton asks as he goes over your file.
You're feeling fine.
"Really? Because your results say that you have boneitis. It's quite a lethal disease and without treatment, you only have about a week left to live." Horton says with a puff of his artificial cigaret.
"What!" Blake shouts as she jumps over to look at Horton's clipboard.
No, you feel just fine. You think you'd know if you were dying.
"These are just doodles!." Blake says with an angry glare as she jumps from Horton's shoulder to yours.
"Now, now. I simply wanted to test your emotional reactions to sudden and terrible news." Horton says with an apologetic smile.
Ah, that was clever.
"Yes, and I'm a bit disappointed to find out your reaction was so dull. I do hope those counseling lessons go well for you." Horton says taking another puff from his cigaret.
How does he know about that?
"I'm informed about anything that might affect your test results." Horton says with a smile.
Oh.
"Speaking of which, we'll start testing again once you get back from your break. At any rate, I think today we'll be working on-"
[][Test] Soul Testing
[][Test] Semblance Testing
-------------------------------------------
Why Can't I Hold All these Domains!
-------------------------------------------
Hmm, a way to train more domains at once? Why haven't you thought of something like this before?
Perhaps you had been distracted by other more delicious things. No, food is important and shouldn't be considered something as lowly as a "distraction".
At any rate, how should you go about this?
-------------------------
How To Flash a Drive
-------------------------
It's been sometime since since Talitha left her home, so you think now would be a good opportunity to ask her about the "Gift" her mother left for her.
You know what "Flash drives" are, so, you get quite curious at what might be inside.
Finding Talitha, you kindly ask her if she's gotten around to checking the USB.
"Ah, I have. I apologize if it seemed like I was hiding it. It's just, most of the things on the flash drive were pictures about mother and schematics of me." She says with a whisper.
Is that all? You really hoped there was something cool on it.
Talitha Smiles.
"Actually, there was one thing that is very interesting!" She replies happily.
Oh? What is it?
"It's-"
-------------------------------------------
I Want To Feel You With My Feelings
-------------------------------------------
You had realized that Hormones were a key part of humans and Faunus relations quite a while ago.
Still, you suppressed most of your hormones because they provided a large number of distractions.
When Ruby and you had become a "Couple" you had researched ways to have a successful relationship.
Most of the information you found was common sense, things like being honest, trusting your partner, and going on regular private outings together. Other sources had quite controversial things, or so the comments said.
None the less, a fair number of other sources talked quite a bit about emotions and "following your heart".
Doing the later would most likely kill you, as taking your heart out of its proper place so that you can "follow" it would mean you wouldn't have it pumping your blood.
After thinking about it, you assumed they were just talking about emotions and such.
At any rate, it's become clear that the suppression of your hormones will eventually become an issue, so, you've decided to ask Ruby what she thinks of it.
Now, how should you ask her?
Spoiler: Rewards---------------------------------
"Rose" Domain (35 EXP)
---------------------------------
Super Solus Rose: You've managed to find a way to change the color of your hair, among other things.
+ Your hair turns spiky and changes color to red.
+ You can temporarily change the color of anything you touch into red.
+ When in this form, you gain + 6 to injury rolls, but receive a - 6 to combat rolls.
+ Your "Aura" becomes visible and changes to a shade of red.
---------------------------------
"Corrode" Domain (15 EXP)
---------------------------------
Gas Attack!: Well, you did like the way that "Wellboro" could shoot out a debilitating gas attack. sadly, you still have lungs, so, you should probably not stand in your own attack.
+ Can expel a poisonous miasma from your mouth.
+ Ignores armor if the miasma is breathed in.
+ Slowly melts clothes and armor, granting a -5 to all Armor bonuses
+ If affected, the target must make a body roll
+ At failure, the target takes an injury roll with a bonus of +15.
+ Is quite lethal if exposed to the miasma for too long..
+ Unawakened people will vomit up their intestines and die if they stand in it for too long.
---------------------------------
"Random" Domain (10 EXP)
---------------------------------
Random Knowledge: They say knowledge is power, and this specific power gives you quite a bit of knowledge.
+ When used, this power will allow you to learn a random piece of knowledge.
+ Not limited to in universe things.
+ You roll 4 d100.
+ The higher the rolls, the more relevant and important the information.
+ AKA: A roll of 100,100,100,100 will give you the location of H's Base, information on Salem, directions to the realm of food, or something around that level of importance.
+ This could infact give you Out Of Quest Knowledge.
---------------------------------
Tele-Kissing (LV2) --> (LV4)
---------------------------------
You're not sure how this became a domain, after all, Solus don't naturally have the capabilities of giving a "kiss" as most humans would describe it.
Still, the powers are surprisingly very useful, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that most of them have rather strict requirements?
In any case, this power allows you to teleport to any person you've previously kissed, you can even bring along a friend.
+You can teleport to any person you've previously kissed.
+Only people that gave consensual kisses count for the teleportation at the moment.
+You can bring two people along with you as long as you are currently kissing one and in contact with the other.
+You arrive at your target already kissing them, the more people you bring, the more of you that are locking lips.
+Lips, you gotta kiss most people on the lips.
+You can kiss people you recognize as "Family" on the cheek.
+Currently, your range covers about 35% of Vale(Kingdom). This easily allows you to teleport from Spring's end to Patch.
+ The first 3 teleport are instantaneous, anything after has a .75 second delay.
---------------------------------
Kiss Of Transferal (LV1)
---------------------------------
The ability to transfer things to others could be quite useful. So far, you can only transfer physical characteristics, but with training this could be quite a useful power.
+ You can transfer any physical characteristic you have to someone you kiss on the lips.
+ Consensual kissing is required.
+ It's temporary and the characteristics vanish within 1 hour.
+ Can transfer something from another person to you as long as you give them something of equal value.
+ You can, infact, give people your limbs.
+ Cannot give them your head/brain
+ Limited to a total of 4 transfers per person per day.
---------------------------------
More For Less
---------------------------------
After much thinking, you've derived a way to train multiple domains at once. It takes great focus, but you can now train two domains if they fall under the necessary requirements.
+ Special Training action unlocked!
+ You can train 2 Extra Domains
+ It is limited to (Highest LVL Domain Power) - 4(LVLs)
+ Currently, that would mean you can train two Domain to a Maximum LVL of (6) - (4) = 2
+ Cannot Be Used To Train Your 3 highest leveled Domains
+ AKA, Time, Body and Kiss
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Training
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------------------
A Faunus And A Space Whale
-----------------------------------
During Your training with Ruby, you managed to make significant progress!
You increased the potency of your teleportation and even managed to learn a new domain power.
Even though Ruby was very embarrassed and shy, you still managed to convince her to let you try out your new power on her.
"U-Umm, you said I'd get something of yours? H-How does that even work?" She says with a blush
Well, your new power, which you call "Transferal" allows you to transfer any physical characteristic you have to others.
Would she not like to see what it feels to have a tail and another set of ears?
You see her eyes widen as she forgoes embarrassment and instead, she is now filled with a childish sense of joy.
"Really! I can have a fluffy tail and set of ears!" Ruby says jumping anxiously as she grabs your hand.
Yes.
"W-Well, c-come on." Ruby says with a stutter. Her previous incandescent blush is instead replaced by a lighter, less prominent blush.
Unsurprisingly, Ruby was in quite a hurry to attain your faunus features and decided to kiss you before you properly managed to prepare yourself to use the power.
Quickly looking herself over and passing her hand through her hair, Ruby whines.
"H-Hey! You said I'd get your ears and tail!" Ruby says indignantly with a small blush.
She was a bit too hasty and kissed you before you were prepared.
"..." She says nothing
Is something wrong?
"No, I just feel really annoyed at that comment for some reason. A-Anyways, let's try a-again" Ruby says with a grossly incandescent blush.
And so you do. Thankfully, everything works out this time.
"So cool!!" Ruby shouts as she chases her new tail. You made sure to instruct Taily not to do anything rude and to humor her.
Taking out your camera, you take a picture of Ruby.
"Ah! That's bright!" Ruby says as she rubs her new light brown eyes.
You take out your scroll and look at your own reflection. While silver eyes look good on Ruby, you think they're not so good on you. You've grown accustomed to your avatar and would like to keep it the way it is.
"Hey! Ruffle my ears! Zwei loves it when we do that, I want to know why!" Ruby shouts excitedly
With a nod, you begin ruffling her hair. She lets out a rather pleased sigh and you see Taily wagging rapidly.
You really hope you don't act like this when you get excited over food.
At any rate, the time limit on your new power soon arrives and you are once more a faunus.
"That's a really cool power!" Ruby says with a large grin.
Yes, and with your advancement in your Kissing Domain, you should now be able to easily visit her from Hazel's house.
"Y-Yeah" Ruby nods with a blush.
I Lied
--------
How does one "Test" your soul? Is it perhaps just a measurement?
"Depends, there's a lot we don't know about the soul. Why do the Grimm endlessly hunt us and not the wildlife?" Horton asks.
"Perhaps it has to do with sapience? What is the difference between a human and animal soul?" Blake asks.
Horton drums his fingers across his clipboard.
"A good question. The current theory is what you just suggested, namely, that Grimm only hunt those with sapience. The fact that Grimm are hostile to you is even more evidence to support this claim." Horton says with a puff of his artificial cigarette.
Perhaps the Grimm are a weapon placed on Remnant to prevent civilizations from advancing to quickly?
Horton turns and gives you an odd look.
"Well, you have quite an imagination, though, with history being so muddled, I wouldn't be surprised if that did turn out to be true" Horton says with a chuckle.
"Can we just get the tests over with?" Blake says with a bored expression as she plays with your ears.
"Fine, fine. You are always a serious one." Horton says.
And so, you are once more lead to the previous room where all the other tests were conducted.
Inside, you see a large number of monitors, a few small instruments, and a large number of scientists.
"So, we're going to see how freely you can manipulate your aura and how much of it you actually have." Horton says.
How exactly will the two of you be doing that?
"Nothing that complicated, we'll just have you two try and move some small weights, a bit of water, and other stuff like that." Horton says with a shrug.
"I had no idea people could manipulate aura in such a way." Blake says with a hint of curiosity.
"It's something most students don't learn until their second year." Horton mumbles as he begins writing on his clipboard.
At any rate, Blake and you try and do only as well as someone with your "reserves" should be able to.
As you finish your tests, Horton looks to the two of you and congratulates you.
"Very good score, you're just about as good at controlling your auras as the average graduate hunter" He says with a smile.
Really? You had thought you were closer to a 2nd year than an actual hunter.
"Ah, about that, I lied, sorry" Horton says with a chuckle and an apologetic smile.
"You what?" Blake replied with an annoyed glare.
"Yep, I just wanted to see if making the task seem easier would improve your results. Lo and behold, you did better than most people. That isn't to say that there are no students with your level of control, just that you are significantly ahead of most of your peers" Horton says with a laugh.
Well, that's, good?
"Yes" Horton says with a laugh.
Borrowing Time
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"And this is how one can perfectly plan out all that they need to do in a simple five-step plan with each step holding 3 steps to follow and each of those steps holding two emergency steps in case any of the previous steps come into conflict." This is what professor Oobleck calmly and slowly says to the class or at least that's what you hear. For everyone else, it must sound like a bunch of hastily arranged words shot out of a machine gun.
"Mordin, did you get any of that? I think he said something about stabbing leprechauns to take their gold and buy time?" Ruby asks you in a whisper.
No, that was just her dream. She was sleeping and the silence must have woken her up.
"Ah, ok. I think this was a horrible decision...." Ruby whines.
But it will help in managing your time.
"B-But I don't understand a thing he said! Maybe he should speak slower?" Ruby whines again.
Maybe she should learn how to think faster?
"A-Are you calling me slow?" She asks
No? You are merely explaining that she should increase the speed at which her brain synapses fire.
"Ugh.... How can I do that?" Ruby asks in a confused tone.
Drinking milk helps.
"Really! I do lots of that already!" She says proudly.
Oh? Well, that's good, but she would have to drink at least 80 gallons a day to get any significant progress.
"Awwwww." Ruby says sadly.
You give her a few cookies to cheer her up.
And the class continues.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Drive Me Closer, I Want To Cut Them With My Sword!
---------------------------------------------------------------
As Talitha takes you to your dorm room, you ask how she's enjoying her life.
"Oh, it's quite fun! Every day I learn and experience new, wonderful things!" She replies with a small smile.
Yes, life is quite amazing.
She nods.
"Yes, I'm also making quite a few friends at the infirmary. The thank's I receive from my patients makes my soul feel very happy." She says with a smile.
Your conversation ends as the two of you finally arrive at your dorm room.
Walking inside, you see that no one else is around.
Sitting on her bed, Talitha motions for you to take the spot next to her. You do just that.
Soon enough, Talitha takes out the flash drive and inserts it into her scroll. Actually, her scroll looks a bit different.
"Ah, yes. I modified it so it could actually interface with the technology of my time. Unfortunately, this time periods technology is very outdated and is programmed rather poorly. I wouldn't be surprised if someone with a bit of programming knowledge manages to hack into Beacon." Talitha says with a frown.
In any case, Talitha soon show's you the important thing on the flash drive, namely, a spaceship.
It is a grand design, but an incomplete one. Nearly everything is finished, though, from the look of the schematic, this is a small exploration vessel. You don't see any weapons, instead, you see a lot of tools and manipulators.
Overall, you think it looks quite cute. Sadly, it's missing one of the most important aspects, namely, a complete power source. On the flash drive are notes about a possible alternative to dust, but it's incomplete and lacking much substance. It does have a schematic for a machine that can transform and amplify someone's soul into energy, but sadly, there is no mention of an actual containment device to allow the energy to become usable.
The only other option would be to try and recreate what the researchers in Talitha's timeline did, namely, that odd mixture full of dead souls.
Technically, you could also act as the ship's main power source, but that wouldn't be very practical. Perhaps Talitha should try and figure out a containment measure for the "Soul Power" her mother managed to create?
"Yes, I was thinking of doing just that. It will be quite difficult, but thankfully, most of the work is finished and I only need to find a way to contain the energy and make it usable." Talitha says with a small nod.
["A Shooting Star" Crafting Project Unlocked!]
-------------------------------
Hormones Help You Grow
-------------------------------
With the supposed inevitability of problems arising should you suppress your hormones, you decide to ask Ruby about her opinion on the matter.
So, as you both finish a hard day of training your kiss domain, you ask her what she thinks about that fact.
"Ugh...hormones?" She asks with a suspicious look on her face.
Yes, she does know what those are, right?
"Psht! Of course, I do! I mean, who wouldn't know what those are!" Ruby says with an awkward laugh.
Perhaps her? You might be bad at reading other people, but after hanging around her for so long, you think you can tell when she's trying to distract you with technically true statements.
"What? No way! How about you, ugh, tell me what you think hamon is" Ruby says with an awkward smile.
Just because she added "ham" to the name doesn't mean you'll be distracted....much.
"Hehehe, ok, fine, you got me. What are you talking about?" Ruby says sheepishly.
You proceed to inform her what hormones are. She quickly stops you once you start mentioning things like estrogen and testosterone.
"Oh! Ugh, yeah, I know what those are. Why did you give it such a complicated name? Dad's name for those is much better!" Ruby announces proudly.
Name? what does she call it then?
"Gowies!" Ruby says with a large grin.
What?
"Well, they help you grow, right?" Ruby asks.
Well, yes, but-
"I like my name better! Anyways, what did you want to ask?" Ruby says with rosy cheeks.
Ah, yes. You are currently suppressing your h-growies? In any case, this suppression is dulling most emotional and physical reactions you have.
You think continuing to do so might affect your relationship and wanted to get her opinion on that.
"Wait, you mean you're making it so it's harder to feel things? Why?" She asks you with a sad look.
Emotions and hormones can be quite distracting at times. You noticed this when she licked you back at Hazel's house. Your heart started beating really fast.
"W-W-What?! I didn't lick you!" Ruby shouts with now scarlet cheeks.
Didn't she?
"No! It was a k-kiss!" Ruby shouts with clenched fists and closed eyes.
Ah, that would make more sense.
"A-Anyways, I think you should just let your growies act like they should. Dad said that they make you grow up correctly, and I want you to be able to fully feel things with me" She says with a smile.
You smile back and nod, though, you tell her you'll be restraining them during battle.
"That's fine" Ruby says with a nod.
And so, you stop suppressing your hormones and let them reach a normal level for someone of your supposed age.
Your heart starts beating quite a bit faster than normal.
"So how does it feel?" Ruby asks as she moves closer to you.
Your face starts heating up.
You tell her it's as distracting as you predicted.
She giggles.
"Ha! Now who's the one constantly blushing!" she says laughing at your no doubt red cheeks.
Ah, you should both probably head back.
"Sure! Let's go, but it's a bit cold, so let's lock arms and walk real close" Ruby says with a mischievous grin. Even if she's trying to hide it, her cheeks don't lie.
As you walk, you hear Ruby mumble something about "Payback".
Either way, you're happy.
Spoiler: RewardsSouly Learner: As you mature and train your soul, you grow and understand more about the fundamental principals that govern the cause and effect surrounding a soul's actions.
You're rather proud of getting this far.
+2 to all soul training rolls
Kind Soul: Some say that you're rather serious most of the time, you agree. While relaxing is nice, you must always keep constant vigilance over Mordin, lest some fool attempt to hurt him.
While you know he is the strongest, that doesn't mean you're fine with him being hurt. Still, you believe that most disagreements can be solved through talking, after all, no one is born evil, rude, or stupid.
+ 3 to all social rolls.
[+1 Social Action]
Time Management 101
-----------------------------
"Psh, Mordin, do you know the answer to number 5? It's the last question I need." Ruby asks from the seat beside your own.
She tries to be as subtle as possible, but she clearly fails as Professor Oobleck looks her way. Surprisingly, the professor looks away and returns to quietly watching over the class.
Turning to her, you quietly tell her that the answer is "Henry's Schedule"
She smiles and thanks you.
"Really, how am I supposed to remember the name of some old guy?" Ruby whispers.
Memorization usually helps.
"Hmf! We can't all be geniuses like you." Ruby huffs with a pout.
Is she not considered a prodigy due to her mastery of the scythe?
"I'm just a quick learner. Uncle Qrow was the one who taught me, it was more that I had a really good teacher rather than me being a genius" Ruby whispers.
You doubt that. You've seen her during most sparing matches in class and how she leads your team. She's perfectly fit to fall under the "genius" category.
Ruby's cheeks heat up and an embarrassed smile adorns her face.
"Hehehe, you think?" She says as she scratches the back of her head.
Yes.
Ruby gives you a large smile and begins to say something. Her cheeks brighten a tiny bit and she speaks just a bit faster than usual.
"Hey, do you want to go out and eat after class, just the two of-"
Your small chat is interrupted by Professor Oobleck's speedy appearance at your table.
"Mr. Solus, Ms. Rose, would you care to share with the class what you were privately discussing?" He says quickly as he takes a sip from his coffee mug.
Being discovered, Ruby jumps from her chair and lets out a small shriek.
Everyone in the class turns their attention to the both of you.
"Well, Ms. Rose?" The professor asks as he looks at Ruby.
"W-Well, we were....ugh.....Mordin! What were we talking about again?!" Ruby says passing Oobleck's attention to you.
Hmm?
"Well? Care to explain, Mr. Solus?" Oobleck asks with an analytical gaze.
Ah, Ruby was asking if you would like to go eat some food with her, just the two of you. You believe she wants to go out on a date.
Ruby lets out a weird gurgling noise as she covers her face with her scarf. You think you hear her shouting something into it?
Some of the students laugh, others whistle, some start whispering among themselves and other ignore the commotion.
"I see you've both finished your tests, carry on then." Oobleck says raising his mug to you.
You nod, Ruby sinks deeper into her scarf and students laugh.
---------------------------
Eventually, the class ends and the two of you exit. Ruby seems to have calmed down a bit and still asks if you'd like to get some pancakes from the cafeteria.
You agree and head off.
On the way, Ruby accidentally crashes into someone as she's turning a corner.
The finely dressed man offers Ruby a hand to lift her up. As Ruby thanks and grabs his hand, you study his appearance.
Perhaps he's here for business?
"You have very firm hands." The man says as he helps Ruby up.
"Uhh, thanks? It must be from all the swinging I do with my scythe?" Ruby answers awkwardly.
"I see, well, Have a good day." The man says as he continues on his way.
Continuing on to the cafeteria, you encounter Rosim Lounds.
"Oh! Mordin, good to see you!" He says with a bright and cheery smile as he waves at you.
You wave back and walk closer to him.
"Umm, hi. Nice to meet you" Ruby say with an awkward smile.
"Oh? Are you perhaps Ruby Rose?" He asks.
"Yes?" She answers.
Rosim smiles.
"I've heard about you on the rare occasions Mordin and I talk." Rosim says with a smile.
Ruby looks at you and back at Rosim.
"So, you're friends?" She asks.
Yes, you met him at your last commercial job. He has a sister and is a very nice guy.
Rosim smiles and scratches his right cheek.
"Ah, shucks, you're the nice one here. I really can't thank you enough for recommending me to the headmaster." He says with a bright smile.
You nod.
The three of you talk for a bit before you part ways and enjoy a nice meal with Ruby.
Now, you need to do that training for your Kiss domain, Ruby will agree, right?