To understand what a Devastation Scorpion is is a relatively simple task. First, take a scorpion, then make it roughly the size of roughly an eight by two arrangement or so of two-story buildings put together, give it an average land speed twice as fast as a cheetah's, powerful enough armor bounce away most things entirely and shrug off the rest, enough strength in its pincers and stinger to break a 3 foot stone wall in less than a minute, poison so potent that it would almost guarantee the death of all but the luckiest people the moment so much as a few drops entered their bloodstream, the ability to see 300 feet out in complete darkness, and a very high chance of flat out ignoring certain magics too, just to have a chance against most casters. That is a Devastation Scorpion, in so many words.

The Devastation Scorpions were about 300 feet out from Memnol- and like that they'd effectively lost. Because while they were rushing towards Memnol, he calmly cast Fly, then teleported 150 feet up above and towards them and hovered for a few moments as the scorpions arrived below him, one of them even tried to jump at him on the way but only made it around 13 feet further up, which wasn't enough to reach Memnol. Memnol then proceeded to cast Intensified Frostfell from Loom. Ten times in a row. Ten times he summoned the might of immense frost, taking up a solid straight minute. It was only after the tenth time of being assaulted by sheer and nearly absolute cold that the final scorpion fell to the frost.

Let it be noted here for posterity, a high power wizard that can use powerful ranged spells at will and that can fly at the same time, against mindless opponents without range or flight themselves, will most likely win the particular fight if they're not caught too off guard, at least according to the majority of competent 8-balls. Even if not, they'd probably just, you know, leave, considering the paranoia of the experienced Wizards leading to them almost always keeping at least one more teleportation spell ready then they think they'll need.

Memnol, seeing that his initially planned construction area was now a snow-covered desert that was colder than certain parts of the Styx that could even harm him behind his Endure Elements effects, cast a Dispel Magic to let the temperature return to normal and soon realized he didn't have any uses of Epic Spells left, nor did the 9 IA's around him due to the Crunch Zone castings.

"Perhaps I can clear an amount of the area for the foundation first." Memnol thought as he rose Loom up slightly. With a word repeated many times the beams of the Disintegrate removed the scorpion corpses, then the rays were aimed towards the ground and struck, utterly disintegrating the grains of sand they struck. All two grains of sand. This was rather off putting, to say very little.

After a few moments of immense irritation, Memnol thought, "Alright then, I need ways to manage a firm foundation as well as secure the area, particularly between here and the coast. Well, this is a rather perfect excuse to build a construct even earlier than planned, although I will have to test the waters again, so something simple like an iron- no, stone golem should do to start. I will have to expand the sewer lair slightly to account for size, but that should be fine. Right then, I suppose for today I can finish prepping the new amulet for the long term construction, as well as pick up a few more needed spells."

With that settled, Memnol and his entourage teleported to his sewer lair, where Memnol stepped into the Crunch Zones and spent what was about 18 minutes to most of the world, but around 9 hours to him as he researched Haste, Geas, Tenser's Transformation, Bigby's Crushing Hand, and Symbol of Stunning, pausing only to collect the items the wrights made when they were done and give one his Amulet of Fabricates to add Create Food and Water as a command word on the amulet and, after a refresh from his Vest, set the other Wright on making him a Gate Key. Previously when crafting in the Crunch Zones Memnol had just lived with the light hunger that happened from time to time, but he was certain what he would do tomorrow would take long enough that he needed those two as short and long term solutions respectively. It wouldn't solve the hunger for brains though, so he figured he'd try to slip another White Fang member into his diet the next day.

Before leaving Memnol disintegrated four more cubes of space in the ceiling above the workshops, so he could have space build a decent golem the next day, and he put away the Boots of Swiftness designed in a formal style. All that was left for him was, well resting for the night at the moment. He teleported back to Beacon with the entourage, some of them splitting back off onto their patrols, and took the time to wander idly, just looking around to see if anything managed to inspire him or give him any new ideas.

As he walked around he noticed one of Beacon's workshops where they kept the smithies and the like. Walking in for a look around he spotted Ruby and Weiss at one of the many available workbenches, Weiss seemed to be doing maintenance while Ruby was just looking at Myrtenaster with interest.

Ruby did manage to spot Memnol and waved to him and Weiss followed suit. Memnol raised a hand in return and walked over, "Hello Ruby, hello Weiss."

Ruby said, "Hello Memnol."

Weiss said, "Hello. Are you here for maintenance too?"

Memnol said, "No, I've just found myself with some free time so I've been wandering."

Ruby said, "Just found it? Don't you normally hand in Professor Oobleck's work on the way out from class?"

Memnol shrugged and said, "I try to keep myself busy with something more often than not. Although it is during moments like these that I like to see if I can be inspired by something, if you can understand."

Ruby said, "I get it. I do that with weapon magazines sometimes."

Weiss did a test spin of Myrtenaster's dust chambers as she said, "Yeah. I'd look around at the paintings back home."

Memnol nodded, though he seemed oddly focused on Myrtenaster and asked, "Do you have a diagram of that mechanism?"

Weiss said, "The dust chambers? It's pretty much unique to Myrtenaster, so unless you're copying it I don't see how it'll be useful."

Memnol said, "No, not that, just the rotation."

Weiss said, "Just the rotation?"

Memnol nodded and said, "Yes."

Weiss said, an almost playful tone at the end, "I don't have a diagram but I do know how to make it, why?"

Memnol said, "The idea has given me some amount of inspiration on something to make if I can replicate the rotation mechanism on a smaller scale."

Weiss said, "Oh, well if you can grab the materials I'll show you, right over there past the door labeled 'Supplies', you should be able to find it."

Memnol asked, "What will be needed, and where do I go to pay for those?"

Weiss said, "Mostly thin rods, some hollow tubes, some sanding paper to be safe, a few gears, and a few welding masks. We don't have to pay, it's all provided."

Memnol went and brought those, and soon enough Weiss was detailing how the rotating chamber worked.

Once Weiss was done explaining Memnol said, "That was rather helpful, thank you. In fact, yes, I believe I'll make two to be sure."

Memnol quickly went back to the supply room and came back with much smaller supplies and took up one of the empty workbenches next to Weiss and got working. After some time Weiss finished up her maintenance and while Ruby left with a polite goodbye once she realized Memnol wasn't making anything obviously weapon-related, and because she was still partly adapting to being put two years ahead so she wanted the time and rest of the team to help with what they could for the first month or two, Weiss stayed behind out of curiosity. After the first hour he paused for a moment, only to look at what he'd made that Weiss couldn't see from her angle, then draw his Dagger and drive it down in extremely clear dissatisfaction. Memnol left to grab more materials and throw the other thing into the scrap heap, then tried again. This repeated again twice, make it, break it, start over, until eventually he paused and nodded once, pocketing it. Then he started again and eventually he was finished with the second.

He turned and handed it over to Weiss by one end and said, "Here, you inspired it, you get one too. A more than reasonable trade, and maybe I'll give you some combinations should the time or circumstances align."

Weiss was able to get a proper look at it now that she had one. It was a 5-inch long metal cylinder with a 1-inch diameter, the two inches on the right began with a small metal loop seemingly designed with a keyring or something similar in mind and the rest appeared to be a gripping area with an arrow pointing towards the left on the 'front' and Memnol's emblem on the 'back'. The left 3 inches had 6 half-inch wide dials taking up all of it, with 0 through 9 on each dial. Overall it looked quite similar to a bike lock without the actual lock part, just the tube. As Weiss fiddled with it, she actually did find that aside from a number staying where it was moved and aligning with the arrow, there really was no actual lock to it.

Memnol said, seeing the faint confusion on Weiss' face, "I know it doesn't appear to lock anything, that's because it isn't meant to. It will, assuming I go about things correctly, serve as a useful key if given the right combination, actually. If you're not given one, then simply don't worry about it. If you'd rather not have it then simply return it to me, I will not be offended, it would simply be preferable that it not spread randomly into the world." He added telepathically, "Nor will I use the return against you in The Game."

Weiss said out loud, "No, I'm going to keep it. This… Combination Key, let's call it. You didn't have to make one for me, thanks. It's appreciated, even though I admit I don't quite understand yet."

A moment after Weiss put it away they heard, "Are you still in here Weiss?" as Blake poked her head in.

Blake said, adding a brief wave at the end, "There you are, the team's been looking for you, we're about to miss dinner. Oh, hello Memnol, you're still here too?"

Memnol said, "I assume Ruby mentioned me?" After a nod from Blake, Memnol said looking between the two, "Well then, would it be alright for me to join you all?"

After some approvals, they walked off, Blake sending a message by scroll to the rest of the team letting them know. Partway through though Blake stopped and said, "Oh," she turned, "It looks like we did miss it."

Memnol considered for a very brief moment and said, "I suppose since I am tangentially related to Weiss's delay, I'd be willing to host you all tonight."

Blake said, "Really? Thanks. I'll ask the others."

After a few moments of back and forth texting Blake said, "Oh, apparently they got team JNPR to help, is it alright if they come too?"

Memnol considered very briefly again, though there was no discernible delay before he responded, "Yes, that should be fine. I will be placing my Mansion in the gardens today, a slightly more than mild stroll from the main road. Entering from the dorm side, you'll need to take the second right on the path, then take a left, another right, and straight until you see the hedges to your left, and I'll be just behind those. I'll be going ahead then, I'll see you there."

Memnol walked off to the gardens then, while Teams RWBY and JNPR caught each other in the hallway by their rooms.

They just started moving when Ruby stopped in place and said, "Wait, I just thought of something!" and went into the room. She soon came out with her personal notebook and a small bag, then flipped the book open right to the Railroad to Redemption, and pointed at 'Power of Friendship'.

Yang said, "Ruby, what, exactly are you thinking?"

Ruby said, "Well you see, I just remembered something from last time and, well hear me out…"

After the explanation, many of them had a look of complete bafflement, to the point where they weren't quite able to speak up.

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Nora was the first to speak up by changing to a massive smile and saying, "That's genius! I love it, we're doing it!" Nora grabbed Ren by the wrist, dragged him along to their room, and said, "Come on Renny, we're packing!"

Jaune and Pyrrha just looked with still fading surprise and some 'I guess this is happening' on their faces, and Jaune said, "Well, I guess we're in too."

Ruby turned on her team and said, "And that makes five out of eight, majority wins! Come on, let's pack!"

Weiss and Blake gave each other the same look that was on Jaune and Pyrrha, while Yang's mouth just opened and closed without sound, each time almost starting a sentence before dropping it, before eventually saying, "You know what? Fine. Sure."

As Yang walked into the room with the rest of her team for their sudden packing she said, "Ruby, I'm pretty sure you're the only person who would ever even come up with this."

----------------------------------------

While waiting, Memnol had taken a brief moment to flit over to his lair and pick up the Gate Key and Amulet, then set the Wrights on tacking Wall of Stone to the Amulet as well as making him a type 3 Bag of Holding now that he had the strength to carry it. Memnol otherwise just stood by the hedges patiently for his soon to be guests to arrive, which they soon had, each of them carrying a moderately sized bag.

Memnol nodded, "Hello Team RWBY, Team JNPR."

Before anything else could be said, Nora walked right up to Memnol and said, "We're having a sleepover tonight! That's my favor!"

Memnol said, blinking a couple times as he processed that and refused to admit he wasn't certain what a sleepover actually was, "Alright then. Now, without further delay," with some exertion of will alone from Memnol a rectangular shimmering appeared just a step above the ground which swung inwards, "Welcome to my current home."

As they entered, the appearance of the mansion was rather different from the last time team RWBY had seen it. There were no longer multiple floors, though the symmetry aspect was generally maintained. The main hallway was 35 feet long and wide by 10 feet tall, the middle 5 feet at the opposite end of the entrance were taken up by a tall fireplace, with a painted depiction of Memnol on the right side, and a depiction of Memnol and a tall, red, and horned being at a table on the left with a game between them, and double doors taking up the remaining 10 feet on each side. At 15 and 25 feet in on either side of the entrance hall were single doors, with the second pair being only 5 feet tall unlike the rest of the doors, which were 9 and a half feet tall. The handrails that were there previously were gone, allowing more of the still marble white wall to be shown and decorated by various landscape paintings, though only one appeared even faintly like anywhere on Remnant, as to Jaune and Pyrrha it looked quite similar to the view of Vale they got while training, except for the bronze sky and every-color sun.

The ceiling appeared to just be a dark oak wood, as did the floor. Made of the same dark oak based on the look of the legs was the long table at the center of the room ten feet in, which was already covered with an array of foods and fine silverware, among which appeared to be crab, boar, soup of some sort, bread with butter beside, lobster, and indeed swan or some other type of large bird. The four chairs on either side of the table were the same wood, though they had red cushioning built into them, while at the head of the table by the fireplace was a taller and somewhat more ornate chair.

Memnol turned to his guests and said mainly to Team RWBY, and even then he was mostly looking towards Weiss, "I've tried this newer layout for some time now, I think it's suitable so far. Most of the modernization is located in the guest rooms, first doors on either side. There's been some discoveries even, which were quite exciting. I've managed to integrate plumbing to a basic extent, but haven't been able to manage any form of electricity. Although I have managed to integrate flame-resistant materials without lowering the bedding quality just fine, so even if a hand slips while holding the candles by the bedside there shouldn't be any issues. Besides, we all have our auras, so stamping or pinching out a small flame or candle shouldn't be an issue if one can't just blow it out."

Memnol cleared his throat for a moment before saying to both teams, "Excuse me, I got a touch off track. Though Team RWBY have been my guests before, the others here have not, and there have also been changes, and I'd be remiss if I presumed they'd remember, so I'll repeat the drinks options. I have ale, beer, rum, mead, red or white wine, alcoholic or nonalcoholic ciders, water of course, and in the most recent addition there's also lemonade and some sodas as well."

Yang blinked, but was the first to speak, and said, "I think I'll try some of what Uncle Qrow had, if you've got it." She added almost awkwardly at the end, "I won't, you know, rush it or anything."

Memnol nodded, shouting back to the servants, "Moon Rum for Ms. Xiao Long!"

With that everyone started speaking in order and Memnol shouted what they wanted back afterward.

"... for Ms. Valkyrie, and a bottle of the Burduskan Dark for myself!"

Yang said, "Y'know, I wasn't expecting you to just come out the gate offering drinks again. I mean, no offense, but you seem like a pretty strict rules kinda guy, so I figured after you heard the drinking age it was done."

Memnol said, adding a slight laugh at the end, "I assure you, not only do I find that utterly inoffensive, I actually appreciate it. To put it simply, loopholes and personal cultural differences. We are not on Valean land at the moment technically, we are slightly above it, among another argument should it come to that, and in my original land the age of adulthood for the standard human is fifteen, although it is acknowledged that there is still more than some small amount of growing left to be done. Since Faunus are so close to humans, I say it's fair to apply that same age there as well. Well, assuming there were faunus in this room."

Blake understood the mixed hint and save and hid her relief well.

The drinks steadily arrived, though only Memnol and Yang actually went for any alcohol, and everyone sat down. As they did Yang said in a joking tone, "Of course you'd take that as a compliment."

Memnol, seeing the lighthearted tease for what it was, said in return, "Trust me, I'm not the only one from my la- oh yes, everyone present is part of our conspiracy already I suppose. I hadn't quite even realized I used land earlier too. Anyhow, from my world there are others who would take that just as heartily as I." He looked around the table more and said, "Since I can see you've waited a moment, your manners are noted and appreciated. Now then however, you're all guests here this evening, so feel open to relax, use a butter knife for the soup if you so want to, and most of all, dig in!"

They all rather eagerly started, and conversation wouldn't pick up for a good few minutes as everyone went to try the various foods.

Eventually Pyrrha was the one to start talking first by asking, "Pardon me, but I've been wondering, why were you so dismissive of me and my tournament experience, before I, you know…" Pyrrha shuddered very slightly at the end, still reeling slightly when she thought of it.

Memnol said, "I might illuminate by asking a question I already know the answer to, how many of those fights were to the death?"

Pyrrha paled and said, "N-None of them of course!"

Memnol nodded and said, "More than a few times some errands of mine had sent me to a place known as the Duelist's Chasm, and the fights there were very to the death."

Jaune quickly asked, "Wait, how do you get more death than just death?"

Memnol said, "What color and texture is the arena floor in Ms. Goodwitch's combat class?"

Jaune looked confused, then like he'd just discovered something rotten in the fridge as he said, "I think it's brown with a woodish texture, why do you…"

Memnol said rather dryly, "Red Slush," to the collective blanching of the group for a moment, before returning his focus to Pyrrha and saying, "No offense to you, but after ending the first half-dozen 'champions' and their delusions that their victories let them escape the normal hierarchy, as favors and errands for Martinet so he could handle more important business, it became rather apparent that many of them got too complacent with tournament rules and just ended up weakening themselves by it outside of that format. I had presumed the same of you, but that time I suppose I had been the complacent one."

Ruby saw an opportunity and decided to seize it, and said, "Was Martinet a friend of yours?"

Memnol grew a bit of a smile and said, though without any real bite to it, "That would be Sir Martinet or something similar to you. But yes, he and I were colleagues and got along rather well. You see, both of us were in a similar position, we only answered directly to our boss and nobody else, and our boss was the boss, if you understand."

Nora said, "Oh, so both of you were like helpers? Also," Nora pointed towards the painting to the left of the fireplace with the steak knife she removed from her bisque, "Is that him in that picture?"

Memnol said without looking, "No, that is actually the moment I had managed to earn the employment of our shared boss, by managing two stalemates in a row in chess."

All of them were confused for varying lengths, Weiss, Blake, then Ren the least, and after a look from Yang, Weiss said, "I'm pretty sure it's a Game thing."

When his own team gave Ren the same look, he added, "It does seem a lot harder to deliberately tie than win, since you have to control the game even more than just winning would."

Memnol said, "Yes, and precisely! You know, Mr. Ren, I believe you could make a great ambassador if you chose to."

Ren said, "What makes you say that?"

Memnol said, "Well, you have had a calm demeanor any time I have seen you, a quiet kind of- well most things on further thought- but right now a quiet sort of self-confidence, a wellspring of patience, and certainly the right sort of insight. Yes, you have much of the making of a good ambassador or diplomat already."

After a pause of thought, Ren said, "Hm. Thank you."

After a little while it was clear that that topic had died out, Blake asked, "So, how'd that stuff go in Menagerie yesterday?"

"Quite well," Memnol said, "Although in hindsight it may have technically been pointless, beyond some 'first claim' to the land I hope to own, which is certainly more of a mild suggestion than the ironclad deal I'd hoped it'd be."

Blake said, "Oh, you were meaning to make it on your own? In Menagerie? I mean, I love the place, it's home to me, but still. There's the… wildlife, if you get too far out."

Memnol said, "If you mean the Devastation Scorpions, then I assure you I am quite personally aware, and am far more understanding of the irritation at being given that and told to make do than I was before."

Blake said, more than a little surprised, "You have a name for those? Wait, did those exist in your world too?"

Memnol put down the glass he had taken a moment to drink from and said, "Yes, the things are an absolute pain to deal with on short notice like that, but if I prep for a little bit I should be more than fine to make sure a decent area's clear. No, the problem at the moment is setting the foundation, but I should be able to manage that by tomorrow or so."

Blake said, "I'd say they're more than just a pain, but I guess I'm not the practitioner here," and thought, "Then again, if he doesn't even step back from a Nevermore diving at him, maybe a fifteen-foot scorpion doesn't even register," then held back a laugh at the thought of Memnol surrounded by scorpions and going through an entire day without noticing.

Yang said, looking kind of inspired, "I just had an idea! We're watching cheesy monster movies tonight, and Memnol's doing commentary! All in favor?"

A round of agreements soon came from the table, and Nora said, "Democracy wins again!"

Memnol said in a light tone, "Oh my, how utterly dreadful."

Jaune gave a light laugh and said, "Not a fan of monster movies?"

Ruby said in a friendly way, "Or, you don't have to talk during it if you don't want to."

As Memnol said he'd be glad to chime in during the movies, Weiss refused to mention the third possibility there, and before she could think much on it, a chime from Yang's scroll cut through the conversation.

Yang looked only slightly sheepish and more curious as to what it was, only for expression to rapidly change around as she read before she said, "Yo, Weiss, Memnol, you two are in the local news!"

Yang flipped her scroll around to show them the picture she was sent, but sure enough, just a little bit to the right after the main story about some robberies ended on one of the inner pages, was a picture of Memnol leaning on Weiss as she helped him during his initial recovery a week ago.

Memnol figured they mustn't have had time to fit it into last week's paper, since there actually seemed to be some decent journalism, as they had managed to confirm that despite appearances he wasn't in any way blind, but he was recovering from something at the time. That was where the decent journalism ended, and the wild theories and rumor mongering began, ranging from Memnol being a secret friend who went back some years at the somewhat plausible end, to it actually being him faking it the entire time so he could give Weiss a supportive shoulder hold since she apparently just discovered some form of reptilian ancestry on both sides of her family due to a blood test they did on her at Beacon for absolutely no given reason at the less plausible end.

Then there was the accusation that both of them were, in fact, holograms and the entire thing was a pr stunt done purely to force that exact same newspaper to address them, thereby forcing them to use ink on the story and theories, in order to drive their costs up so eventually the SDC could buy them out. Which might have had even the tiniest amount of plausibility to someone, if it didn't suggest that the White Fang were somehow behind it.

Even with the small print, it all took up half of that page.

Most everyone had a bit of a laugh at the theories, although Weiss only half-heartedly joined in, having a slightly more worried look on her face. When Ruby asked about it, Weiss said, "I can't even imagine how my father's going to react when this reaches Atlas."

Memnol asked, "I presume your father, being the head of a company that large, is at least somewhat intelligent?"

Weiss looked a mix of confused and almost affronted as she said, "Yeah, why?"

Memnol said, "Then he's probably going to either publicly support this or decline comment in a way that leaves it open to interpretation. As far as privately, I'm not exactly certain, but given that it seems to be decent PR, bar the conspiracies, then I'd say he'll probably just endeavor not to be the one to bring it up. Well, that somewhat depends, does he tend to act on his emotions?"

Weiss gave a slight scoff and said, "Unless you count pride, then not really."

Memnol said, "Then it should work out fine, and besides, you oughtn't worry yourself at least for the night."

Weiss said, "Yeah, that did kind of help, now that I'm thinking about it like that. Thanks."

Memnol said, "Bah, the least a host can do."

Eventually the conversation died down to more mundane topics, like schoolwork and such. Once the dinner and subsequent dessert ended, everyone went to the respective guest and master bedrooms.

Only for, to Memnol's surprise, Nora to burst through the doors of the Memnol's room while he was just starting up that Spellglyph again, followed by the others, all of them carrying the pillows and sheets from the guest rooms. After they all set themselves up on the floor and Memnol joined them, after some light insistence from Ruby, Yang propped up her scroll on a pillow taken from Memnol's bed, and put on the cheesiest monster movies she had on it for the rest of the night.

A quarter into the first movie, Attack of the Moon-Mole-Men, they added that Memnol wasn't allowed to say "Disintegrate" as any kind of solution anymore, then about ten minutes after that, a "No Art" rule. With those in place, Memnol actually had to think about it for a little bit longer during the movies. To Teams RWBY and JNPR, it was pretty funny most of the time, until they ended up calling it a night.

As Memnol let himself drift into sleep, enjoying movies for the first time and surrounded by- he'd figure out what he considered them later- he found that it was actually pretty alright.