[@Ryonara][@Abillioncats][@Crimmy][@FlitterFaux][@Onarax][@Sho Minazuki]

[color=silver][b]STERLING JOHNSON[/b]

[b]"Long time no see, buddy."[/b][/color] Sterling chuckled, ruffling Shaui's long, silky black hair as the smaller man pulled him into a bear hug with one of those radiant smiles that made you think, at least for a moment, [color=silver][i]Yeah, I probably would.[/i] [b]"Sorry for disappearing on you guys like that. Shit got rough and I really flipped out."[/b][/color]

The napalm-factory-turned-waiter's recoiling with as much speed and upturned nose only made him laugh harder.[color=silver] "[b]Damn, am I [i]that[/i] bad? Coulda sworn I took at least [i]one[/i].[/b]"[/color] Being the absolute model (heh) of a hard worker, though, Taidan seamlessly returned to taking orders from the sudden influx of hyperactive freshman— who he'd bet all kinds of money were attracted primarily by his maxed out "prettyboy" looks— after trading a light-hearted shot with the newly arrived Kiran Ali Khan, master of sword and schwarma.

Raising [i]Nuada[/i] and spinning the hand in greeting, Sterling returned the smile to the leader of KNVS. [color=silver][b]"Yo, Kiran! Been a while!"[/b][/color] 

As it had with everyone. Estelle had gone whole-hog into becoming the survival class's teacher, Sarina had become disgusted with his sudden and [i]severe[/i] alcoholism and had promptly disappeared to parts unknown, Lilac had never enrolled after that spectacular failure of guarding the supply shipment, Jorie was nursing a major concussion, Clair had to leave the school before he'd even returned home, as had Jasmine...

His whole team was gone before his eyes already, Ozpin just decided to twist the knife further by making it official.

[color=silver][b]"Yeah, let me at it. Just tell me where you want everything, boss."[/b][/color] he nodded, his sobriety becoming a metaphorical trait as well as a physical/biological one. Tapping the cart and every loose hunk of metal within, he nigh-thoughtlessly activated [i]Airgetlam[/i] and brought them up to a gentle float reminiscent of an object in zero gravity. [color=silver][b]"It's funny you should mention that, though."[/b][/color]

His easy grin had long since become a disquieted grimace.

[b][color=silver]"I may end up helping you three out a whole lot more often."[/color][/b]