Cinder, Neo, Emerald, Salem

(Hi All, Withness here! Brief chapter, but hopefully soon to be one of many. Fingers crossed. Apologies if 'Screen-kun's' words aren't properly bolded or italicized. If someone in the comments could let me know how to do that, I'd appreciate it. As for this new branch, I loved the Neo branch that Mr_Unknown wrote and also liked the branch done by Wrynn, but was bummed my preferred ladies weren't all together in one branch. I enjoyed the CYOA of 'Real Waifus Bang You' and it's updated version when I saw it and was pleasantly surprised to see this story pop up in the 'Updated'. I'd never heard of it, but enjoyed it when I started reading. I will probably come back to this chapter to clean up any grammar or maybe retcon/elaborate on some things, but otherwise, I look forward to writing smut about some of the sexy ladies of Remnant. I hope this first chapter piques your interest and future ones get your motors running. Enjoy.)

While you liked the idea of banging Team RWBY and inserting yourself into the story in a way that would derail the plot as you understood it, you had to admit that Team RWBY appealed to you more as a complete set. Plus, your tastes actually ran elsewhere. Besides, looking over the 'powers' sheet, you already had a firm idea of what (and more importantly WHO) you wanted to do.

Not knowing if you had to somehow interact with the screen still hovering in front of you or something, you decided to simply call out your choices. It seemed like it could understand you previously after all. You did have a few questions though.

"Hey, um, screen?" you asked hesitantly.

[Yes?]- - - - - -

"The characters I choose, do I get to meet them right off the bat, or have to work to...make their acquaintance, so to speak?"

The screen responded.

[The powers you choose do not make the characters automatically join you, but it will at least allow you to meet them soon after entering the world. Whether you establish a lasting association with them is up to you, although certain combos do mean that they will join you in a grouping or association regardless.]

I breathed out a little sigh of relief. "Good. That's...good to know. Alright then, I'd like to pick the powers from Cinder, Neo, Emerald and Salem, please." you said.

[In Control, Delicious, Servant and Corruption are the powers you are choosing. Confirm? Deny?]

Looking into the glowing screen, I took a deep breath and with a heavy exhale, I answered, "Confirm. But the group of Cinder, Emerald and Neo does give me access to the combos 'Team ???' and 'Team CMEN' correct?"

[Correct. Three of the four characters you have chosen will be regressed to eighteen years old and enroll in a one of the major hunter academies and assemble into a team with you.]

"Cool, cool. Uh, do I get any say in which academy we start in? Or any say in the backstory of why or how this is all happening?" I asked.

[Due to the combo of TEAM ??? being chosen, academy of choice will be taken under advisement, but not guaranteed. Backstory of characters is already established, but TEAM ??? will ensure all relevant characters will attend academy and be in a team with you without overly questioning age regression or other circumstance of settings. Personal backstory can be considered though.]

I blinked several times while parsing that statement. So the girls would become legal teens like myself, but not really concerned about how they had become teens and ended up in a school on a team with me? At least that made things easier in the beginning. The last part got the gears in my head turning though. "You mean I can choose my own backstory?"

[Suggestions will be considered.]

Better than nothing. One more question though. "Since I'm going to a hunter academy, do I get weapons and a Semblance? I don't really know how to fight or anything. At least not well."

[Fear Not! You will automatically be granted a comparable level of combat ability as other first year students who passed the entrance exams. Weapons and a Semblance can also be supplied.]

Just as I was opening my mouth to ask another question, the screen glowed even brighter as if to cut me off.

[Semblances CANNOT be other powers from the list.]

Welp, there goes that idea. I had a backup plan though.

"Alright, thanks for clarifying all that. Give me a few minutes." I paced in a circle around the screen while it patiently glowed and awaited my input. After several minutes, I had a decent idea of what I wanted to do. Or at least have happen for my 'past'. "Starting off with the school, I'd prefer Haven academy. Cinder and Emerald already had infiltrated through there anyway. For my name, could we follow along with the general theme of colors? Instead of my name, John Doe, I like the sound of 'Coyote Cobalt'." The screen hovered impassively. I took that as my cue to continue. "For weapons, could I get a pair of six shot revolvers? Maybe in cross-draw holsters? And could I have a sort of cowboy or vagabond aesthetic? As for a Semblance, hmmm..." Thinking on something that could be useful, but not obviously overpowered and even unpredictable, my mind wandered to some anime I'd been watching. 'My Hero Academia' came to mind, with the plethora of quirks held by the characters ranging from very useful to only very situational. Then I got it. One of the side characters, a teacher who had a thing for one of the UA teachers, she had an ability that could make other laugh or control their laughing once they started. I could get some mileage out of that. It seemed harmless enough on paper, but with some maneuvering, it could get me out of tight spots and help me play up something of a trickster angle, befitting my chosen namesake.

"How about a Semblance where if I can get someone to be amused by me, even a little, I can make them laugh and control the intensity and duration of the laughter depending on how many people I focus on or my innate power?" I gnawed my tongue (a nervous tic I'd had since I was little) and hoped this idea would fly.

The screen blinked slowly and no answer was forthcoming for what felt like minutes, but finally an answer appeared.

[Acceptable. Weapons, outfit and Semblance: Jokester will be provided with entry. Prepare for insertion to RWBY!]

Realizing I didn't actually go over my actual life backstory, I held out my hands, "Hey, wait! I still need to-!"

The screen beeped cheerfully.

[Too late! Good Luck!]

My vision faded and soon went black.