Modify their Minds

"Alright. Let's make the most of this situation," said Roman, as he took out the book and opened it to a clean page.

"What are you doing?" asked Blake, staring at him with fire in her eyes.

"Shut up for a second will ya. I'm gonna get some well-deserved fun for once."

Picking out a pen from his pocket, he began to write up his ****.

THE GIRLS IN THIS ROOM WILL BELIEVE WHAT I, ROMAN TORCHWICK, TELL THEM IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH.

He had hoped to have worded that correctly so that he can enact his little plan just as he wanted.

However, who would he choose to start on.

"Release us this instant you monster!" Yelled Blake, losing her temper at the man who had been her soul target for some months.

"The little kitty cat. That'll do," he said, making his way over so that he was right in front of her.

"Don't call me that, freak."

"But you are a kitty cat. And I'm not a freak. You are. You need to treat me with respect."

"You," she began, and then stopped herself as something in her head clicked. "Of course, Sir. I'm sorry."

"Blake! Why the fuck are you apologizing to him."

Blake paused, unsure why. Seemingly, without thinking, she stuttered, "Because I need to treat him with respect."

The other team members were aghast at that, fueling Torchwick to continue on.

"That's right. And do you know why that it."

"No. I don't. I hate you. You're working with the White Fang." Blake said, although this time far more cordially.

"I'm a human and you and your little White Fang friends are animals. You know they need a human to lead them."

"Yes. You're with them because they need a human to lead them." Blake affirmed.

"You know for a fact that faunus are all dumb animals that only live to make things easier for your human superiors. You're overjoyed to have me here giving you commands because you know you belong at my feet."

"Of course, I'm a dumb animal, sir. That goes without saying," said Blake, her glare disappearing as she gave him a contented smile, and then bowing her head, "Thank you for coming all this way to give this lowly catgirl some proper guidance."

"Blake, no!" Cried Ruby from where she stood, unable to move.

Yang's response was to try desperately to pummel Roman, but also found she couldn't, so resorted to yelling.

"You bastard! How could you do something so vile and sick? I'll fucking kill you!"

"Stop yelling, will ya, Blonde. If ya gonna be like that, I can move onto you next."

At that moment, he was kind of lost of what to do. The others he had something to work off of but, if he was being honest, Neo had probably shared more time with her than he had. And, even then, it was mainly them fighting. Well, if Neo was to be believed, it wasn't really fighting as much as Neo dominating the girl so much so that she needed to get help from her mama.

Actually, now that he thought about it, it has been a while he had got his partner a present. He grinned at the thought, all the while, Yang was still screeching.

"I'll make sure you rot for the rest of your days after I tear out your poisonous tongue you smarmy asshole!"

"Listen, Blonde," Roman began, "I know why you're getting so hot under the collar."

"Yeah! Because you turned my best friend into your fucking pet." Yang roared.

"I'd love to be your pet, Mr Torchwick," Blake exclaimed, starry-eyed.

Roman ignored her for now and carried on.

"No. That's not it. You're hoping that, if you get me mad enough, I'll take you to Neo."

"Wh... Yeah, I want you to take me to Neo, so I can beat the two of you together."

"No. You want Neo to beat you again because you liked it so much the last time."

"I-uh... Yeah. I did like Neo beating me up. I want her to do it again."

"Yang." This time, Ruby just sounded worried but couldn't do anything.

"After the incident on the train, you can't stop thinking about how much better Neo is compared to you. She deserves to do whatever she wants to you, because you worship the ground she walks on. You want to be her loyal servant. You don't care for anything nor anyone else, except maybe me, because Neo is my partner, after all."

Whereas Yang's face had been heated before from rage, it now seemed to be that of a blush.

"You're absolutely right. I want to do what Neo wants. She's so much better than me. Please take me to her, Torchwick."

"Yang. Please don't say that," Ruby sobbed out, seeing the change in her sister as all fight in her disappeared into obedience.

"You really are as sick and vile as she mentioned. Robbing dust stores was terrible enough, but this is beyond scummy," Weiss spat, remaining dignified from where she sat on her chair.

"Weiss. Don't," Ruby pleaded.

"Hang on, Red. I'll be with you in a moment. I think the little princess here had a bit more to say."

"Yes. I don't know how you're doing this but don't get too comfortable. We've stopped your escapades before."

"You know, it is annoying how you keep interfering with my good work."

"Yes, while you do very fine work, we still keep getting in your way, which is aggravating." Weiss said firmly, before realising what she had actually claimed.

"Wait. What." She looked confused, as she tried to understand what she actually hadn't meant to claim. It was annoying how they kept interfering with Roman's good work. Right?

Roman took the opportunity to go on.

"You don't hate me for robbing dust. In fact, you adore me for it. You're clearly over the dust trade or you wouldn't be here at this Academy, right? You hate SDC and not only are you happy about any of my heists, but you'd also be more than willing to assist me. Isn't that right, Schnee?

"Quite." Weiss said, confusion faded, "I appreciate the good work that you do, Mr. Torchwick. If there's anything you need, like information or a helping pair of hands, just say. I'll happily help out."

Good work indeed, Roman, good work indeed.

However, it appears that he missed one. Turning, he saw a small, frightened girl crying to herself as she stared daggers into him. In only a couple minutes, he had essentially done away with all of Red's closest friends. Moreover, both he and she knew that he was going to move onto her and hopefully save the best for last.

"What do you think, Red? Still holding onto that hope of yours?" He stood over her, waiting for her to answer through sniffles.

"We'll stop you," she muttered.

"So, the answer is yes then. Well. We'll have to fix that, won't we."

"Please don't," Ruby pleaded. Roman saw her eyes held real fear. Fear that he'd irreversibly change her to believe whatever he wanted her to.

"What about you three?" Roman called to the other girls, standing there contently looking at the scene, "Have you got any objections about what I do your friend here?"

"Oh no, you crack on," Weiss said with a flippant wave and a smile, "anything you do is bound to be brilliant."

"It's not my place to tell you what to do, Sir," Blake giggled, "you're a Human. You don't need my opinion."

"Do whatever you want. I just want Neo," Yang called, looking at Ruby apathetically "I don't care what you do to her. Just make it quick."

Hearing those responses from what used to be her closest friends, Ruby completely broke down and wept. She didn't spare much mind of the man who stood above her, watching her first with amusement, then with disdain and then with subtle pity.

"Don't take it that hard, kid. The world is unkind like that."

Yes, Ruby thought, the world was unkind to have people like Roman Torchwick walking its surface.

"Eventually, everyone realizes that the best way to survive in such a cruel world us to be just as cruel back."

Yes: Roman was right. She was realizing just how stupid she had been to expect good from others by being so innocent, wide-eyed and kind. If she had been a bit meaner, she probably wouldn't be in this situation.

"You should be grateful that I taught you that lesson early, so you wouldn't waste your time searching for the best in everyone."

You know, yeah. She was grateful. She'd have spent years trying and failing to live up to some pipe dream that she had read in simple fairy tale books.

"You don't know how to survive in this world, but you know that I do. You should forget about becoming a huntress and instead listen to me."

Everything was so clear now. How could she have been such an idiot? Trying to become a huntress, like her mother, like the characters in her books. They were fictional and her mother is dead. Why had she ever admired them.

She looked up at Roman. She liked him no more than before, but he was right. He knew how to survive in this world far better than martyring huntsmen. If she wanted to survive to, she should listen to him.

"Let me be your disciple," she said.

Roman was taken aback by the offer. He assumed she'd just 'listen' to him; not ask for an apprenticeship. Maybe he can make use of that at a later time.

Right now, he wanted to enjoy his handiwork.