[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

Blake's ears twitched as she was reading the library. She heard singing. Very sweet singing, actually. She got up and followed the sound, out into the hallway before she looked outside. In a nearby courtyard, hidden in some bushes, Jaune was playing his guitar.



Jaune: "Hm hm hmmm... Hmhmhmmmm... Roland, Roland, your name will live in song,Whenever brave men take up arms to right a grievous wrong.The fairest flower of chivalry to bloom in all the land,And the noblest of all the knights of Charlemagne..."



Blake: "The Song of Roland?"



Jaune: "ACK!" He jumped, and then looked up at Blake. "O-Oh! Hey Blake. You uh... You know it?"



Blake: "It's a very old song. I saw it referenced in... Some historical fiction I was reading."



Armored Hearts, a very spicy and erotic tale about knights and ladies in medieval Vale, but Jaune didn't need to know that.



Jaune: smiles "Yeah. It's very dear to my family, actually, since my ancestors were Charlemagne and Roland. Well, Roland the First... And Second... And a lot of others."



Blake: "Wait... You're one of those Arcs? Descended from Jeanne D'Arc?"



Jaune: "Yep. She's the matriarch. There's a bronze statue of her and everything in the center of Radian. You uh... You like history?"



Blake: "I-I do... Wow. Though I only know more than a little about La Hare, her Faunus rabbit companion."



Jaune: grins "Ser Lapine? Yeah, he has a shrine too. I've even gotten to touch his sword! It was so cool, it's kept in the church along with every other artifact we could save. He became captain of her guard when she became a queen."



Blake: "Yes... And Roland the First?"



Jaune: "Oh, yeah. He was a knight for King Charlemagne, or Charles the Great as he was also known. Also one of his sons. He fought at the battle of the Amber Pass against the Vacuoans. He'd tried to get around the blockade to aid the Gallian Allies on the other side of the mountains, using a secret pass... But he was betrayed and fought to protect his troops as they escaped."



Blake: nods "Yes... It is a sad song. Though... Roland might have been better served if he had retreated with his men."



Jaune: nods "Maybe... Maybe it was a stupid thing to do. But it was also a heroic thing to do. It saved the lives of his men."



Blake: "Mm..." She sat down next to him "Why don't you sing like this around Weiss?"



Jaune: "Er... I mean... I've been singing this song forever. Heck, my dad sings it all the time. I wanted... I wanted to sing her a song I wrote. Be more personal."



Blake: "Mm... It wasn't very good."



Jaune: crushed



Blake: wince "But... But I like how you sing this song."



Jaune: "Oh..." smiles "Thanks."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

One thing that would have been a lot of fun for RWBY? Grimm cults. They've been around since the dawn of civilization, and religious activity is something all humans do. The Grimm are an all encompassing menace, monsters that feed on humans for their negative emotions. They would seem like the wrath of the Gods, or something we might be able to appease if sacrifices were made. This idea of bartering with the supernatural is universal for all humans, and it would arise very naturally in Remnant. For the most part, Salem would not have directly managed these cults. Rather, she would be amused at how they rise, and provided some encouragement here or there to deal with Ozma.

At least in my own fanon, the rise of the Quitalan Empire and other great powers would see these cults reduced to the fringes. A few smaller powers ruled over by Grimm Cultists might have arisen in this ancient period, not too different from the ancient Aztecs, Mayans, Celts, Mesopotamians, and many other civilizations. But being sacrificed to monsters tends to make your people hate your rulers, and so empires whose philosophy detested this practice stamped them out, leaving them to be secret orders. Some were able to infiltrate the ranks of great empires: The Quitalans had at least one mad emperor who tried to make Grimm Worship the dominant religion before their fall, their version of Caligula. Salem might have made an appearance or had one of her agents act as an emissary to guide these cults when it was advantageous.

In the chaos following the fall of the Quitalan Empire, and many other empires like Iksander's, Grimm cults arose in response to the despair and loss and pain. In the wake of wars, these dark practitioners stepped in to try and seduce lost, lonely, and broken people into their ranks. Some were granted boons by Salem herself: A bit of magic, Grimm implants, and so on.

The rise of the Tablebreaker religion was a major counter to these cults and Salem's plans. Ozma would not have anything to do with the actual events of the Tablebreaker religion forming, but he would encourage it as it provided a source of hope against the Grimm in these times. He did the same with Pathism (the equivalent of Buddhism) as its origins were also outside of his purview but he saw the good it inspired and so he encouraged it, and any other faiths that resisted the darkness of the Grimm.

The Witch Queen of Argus rose in the wake of the total collapse of the remnants of Iksander's Empire falling, forcibly uniting the Hellenic League and making war across the sea. The Tablebreaker religion called for crusades against her and other Grimm cultists. Jeanne D'Arc herself was a believer who attributed her victory over the Witch Queen to God. A Monkey Faunus warrior and his Pathist monk ally were able to bring down a Bull Faunus Lord named "Red Boy", or the Divine Infant Great King, who had turned Mistral into his slaughterhouse for Grimm sacrifices.

These defeats made Salem become far more subtle. She would work with her cults here and there quietly, carefully, as the modern age arose. A mad king seeking immortality there, an order of priests subverted to the cult there, but all very quiet and careful.

In the wake of the Great War, many elites became disillusioned with the religions and philosophies of the old world, just as they did on Earth after the world wars. And a number of these elites formed secret societies, becoming Grimm cultists. They used and abused the lost, the poor, and the desperate in their macabre rituals because they had lost faith in humanity. A number were actually found out and arrested, but legal battles with the rich and powerful are complex affairs. At least a few of them got away thanks to their riches, influence, cleverness, or luck. They still try to make contact with Salem, still make sacrifices in the hopes for power, and still practice the old ways in secret.

(Obviously inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's stories.)

This would be seen most dramatically when the Kauravas overthrew Pandu. They didn't overtly practice their Grimm rituals in public as that would lose them influence, but they kept them up in secret. The reveal of this by Team AARN with Ozpin's help allowed for Arjun to rally the people and overthrow them. At the time though, they would be seen as whackjobs who believed that the Grimm were ruled by a goddess, something in the modern day would be seen as insanity. Ozpin would suspect the truth and try to learn more, but the surviving Kauravas went deep underground, and Lionheart helped cover them up.

At least a few in Vale's government could explain why the city fell so fast and why Cinder and her agents were not found out. Lionheart and others like Hazel or Tyrian being contacted by Salem though such a cult would deepen their characters and the lore of the world. And of course, it gives you more possibilities for villains.

At their core? Most of them would be motivated by despair and nihilism. There is no defeating the Grimm, there is no saving Remnant. There is only trying to gain power by appeasing the ravenous darkness threatening to consume us all. Some like Tyrian would feel serving Salem is truly being righteous, is truly fulfilling (and would also be sociopaths). Some might even believe they would be reborn as Grimm when they died. The possibilities are vast.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

A fun idea I had for May? Given Vacuo is very cutthroat and dangerous, May is actually a very effective silent killer. The arena battle played to none of her strengths. Perhaps Blake learns she has Aura Vision and Ruby asks her to help them with the White Fang. May happily agrees.



Ruby: "Okay, we need to take out that sentry-"



May: "On it!"



May sneaks up like a shadow, grabs the sentry from behind and puts a knife to his throat. She then slashes his throat and drops him silently. She looks over at the stunned RWBY and JNPR.



Ruby: "Woah woah woah! What are you doing?"



May: "Oh, I-I'm sorry. You told me to take out the sentry, and um, guns are too loud-"



Ruby: "I didn't mean kill him!"



May: "Ohhhh. You wanted to take him for interrogation to get intel! I'm so, so sorry!"



Jaune quickly works to stabilize the man.



Ruby: "Wha-How-?!"



Jaune: "I did almost get into medical school, you know. Huh! You made a very clean cut."



May: fretting "I'm sorry, I was nervous! I usually do a much better job-"



Jaune: "No, no! It's good because it's easier to heal!"



May: "Oh! Well, um, thank you!"



Jaune: "Er, no problem! I'm sure you do great work with a knife!"



May: blush "You-You're very kind... Um... So Ruby! I don't kill anyone else?"



Ruby: "NO!"



May: "Right, sorry!"



May is basically very sweet and kind, like Hinata Hyuuga and Yor Forger. She is also a very dangerous killing machine who will do whatever it takes to protect her team and loved ones and will kill without a second thought... Like Hinata Hyuuga and Yor Forger.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune: "So, are you looking forward to the tournament?"



May: "I guess so. But I don't think we'll do a very good job."



Ruby: "Aw, but May! You shouldn't be so hard on yourself!"



May: "I'm afraid the rest of my team is mostly focused on frontline, close range combat in support of me. Though they can handle guns and grenades, I'm the only one with any real offensive punch and I can't fight any of you solo in an arena." sigh "It's a real shame how it's designed. If it was an urban combat arena, I might be able to do some interesting things, but it's not very showy so I see why they don't allow it."



Jaune: "Oh? Like what?"



May: "Well, I would split JNPR up with grenades. Jaune's High Aura means a battle of endurance wouldn't work, so I'd have to incapacitate him right off the bat since he coordinates you-Either by separating him from you or knocking him out with poison gas or Grimm venom darts. After that, hit Pyrrha with flashbangs to disorient her and use Dust grenades to herd her into a trap: Land mines and plastic explosives wouldn't register to her magnetic senses."



Pyrrha: pause "... You figured out my Semblance?"



May: blush "O-Oh, um, sorry. I watched hundreds of hours of your arena fights and realized it was either limited telekinesis or magnet manipulation. Given that the former would give you an advantage in blind fighting and would explain your incredible ability to counter, it seemed the more likely explanation. I'd have the guys use wooden weapons or hit you from range to wear you down-Napalm or other fire attacks would distract, drain Aura and be less visible to your senses. Grimm venom darts and my bullets would finish you off."



Pyrrha: "... I see."



Jaune: "That's incredible!"



Nora: "Ooh! OOH! DO ME! HOW WOULD YOU KILL ME AND RENNY?"



May: "Oh, um... Removing Jaune and Pyrrha would leave you two with incredible synergy. Since Ren isn't as tough as you I'd focus all our efforts on killing or incapacitating him, and drive you into a berserker frenzy. When you ran out of Dust and/or Aura, you'd be easy pickings as long as we kept our distance and wore you out."



Nora: "Wow! Good call!"



Ren: raised eyebrow "Yes. Very effective."



Ruby: "Ummm..."



May: "Oh! I'm sorry Ruby, I didn't mean to leave you out!"



Ruby: "No, it's fine-"



May: "I mean it's very rude of me! I've drawn up contingencies to entrap and destroy your team too!" tears up "I-I wouldn't want you to think I didn't care about you! You're my friend and I should always work as hard as possible for my friends!"



Ruby: "N-No! No, that's okay!" hugs May "I'm... Totally looking forward to hearing how you would kill me and my friends!"



May: sniffle "Really?"



Ruby: "Sure!"



May: beams "Yay!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Lilac Arc visits Jaune at Beacon.

Lilac: "I brought sweaters and other things for you and all your friends!"

Jaune: "Aw, thanks Big Sis!"

They hug happily.

Yang: "So, Lilac huh? Guess she's just rose-y cheeked and buddies with everyone, huh?"

Weiss: "Ugh. Please forgive her."

Lilac: "No, I thought it was funny! Hahaha!"

Yang: "Heh! Finally, a family with taste!"

Ruby: groans "Yeah, no..."

Jaune: "Anyway... I'm really glad to see you, sis."

A Grimm Beowulf emerges from the ruins and begins to charge.

Jaune: "!!! How did it get through the defenses?!"

Ruby: "We've got this! I'll just bring it down-!"

Lilac: "Don't worry, I've got this."

Pyrrha: "Wha-What?"

Yang: "WHAT?!"

Lilac turns and glares at the Beowulf. It skids to a halt and stares back.

Lilac: "No! Bad Beowulf! You go and think about what you were trying to do! No more attacking humans!"

The Beowulf nods... Then turns and flees.

Everyone stares at Lilac.

Blake: "... How?"

Lilac: "Oh, um... Well... Naughty Grimm shouldn't be allowed to get away with that kind of mischief! That's my Semblance."

Silence.

Ruby: "WHY ARE YOU NOT A HUNTRESS?! THAT WAS AMAZING!"

Lilac: "Because I want to be a housewife." Happy smile "And being a Huntress would take all my time!"

More silence.

Yang: "Okay, so... She just has a powerful Semblance. It's not like she's a combat prodigy or anything... Right?"

Lilac: "Oh no! I abhor violence! But I did get some training when I was little..."

Pyrrha: "May I train against you?"

Lilac: "Certainly!"

Jaune: "Um, Pyrrha-"

Pyrrha: "It's all right, Jaune. This will be unarmed combat."

Pyrrha and Lilac spar, exchange some blows... Pyrrha speeds up, and looks like she's actually having to put in effort. Lilac dodges, deflects and easily parries all her blows. Finally, Pyrrha tries to kick her... And Lilac catches the blow and pitches her over her shoulder. Pyrrha goes flying into a marble pillar, smashing through it.

Pyrrha: "UWAH!"

Jaune: "PYRRHA!"

Lilac: "Oh dear! I'M SO SORRY!"

Later, Lilac fixes Pyrrha up.

Lilac: "I am so sorry, I am so rusty, that was horrible, please forgive me?"

Pyrrha: "Urgh... It's all right... How long were you training?"

Lilac: "Oh, a few years. But Mom and Dad told me I had learned it all and was too much for them!"

Ruby: "Too..."

Yang: "Much..."

Weiss: "For..."

Blake: "Them?!"

RWBY and Pyrrha are very depressed.

Weiss: "Years of training... And a housewife can do that...?"

Yang: moans "I give up..."

Blake: "My life is over."

Ruby: "Well... At least I can still bake cookies and fix things..."

Pyrrha: "All my victories, pointless..."

Jaune: "No! Guys! Don't give up! I mean it's just how she is!"

Ren, wisely, has hung back with Nora. Nora raises her arm.

Lilac: "Oh, yes dear?"

Nora: "Can you teach me to be an awesome housewife too?!"

Lilac: "Sure can!"

Nora: "YAY! Renny honey! You're gonna need a pelvic cast!"

Ren: "I thought as much."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The White Fang took hostages as a regular matter of course. In this case, Adam personally handled the operation, seizing a woman from Radian and bringing her to their HQ.



Adam: "Her mother is holding three of our agents in her hospital after they were captured. We use her to compel their release. Keep an eye on her, but do not harm her."



Guards: "Sir!"



Adam headed off to handle another mission... Leaving the guards with a surprisingly calm Lilac Arc.



Guard 1: coughs repeatedly



Lilac: "That sounds bad. I know a remedy for it, if you have a kitchen."



Guard 2: "Ha! Nice try! What's the remedy, rat poison?"



Lilac: "No, of course not. It's too salty."



Guard 1: keeps coughing "Ugh..."



Lilac: "You can keep suffering or you can feel better. I much prefer people to feel better. Besides, I would never poison someone."



Guard 2: scowls harder



Lilac: "Also, all I would do is poison one person. That won't let me escape now will it?"



Guard 1: coughs more piteously



Guard 2: sigh "Fine..."



They take Lilac to the kitchen. She gathers some local herbs and cooks up some tea. She looks over their other ingredients.



Lilac: "Hmmm... You all look like you could use a good meal." brightens "Do you have any venison? I can make a great stew!"



Guard 2: "Oh please, like we're going to fall for that!"



Guard 1 drinks the tea... Sniffs...



Guard 1: "Wow! It... I can breath! Cough's gone! And... And it tastes great! Try it!"



Guard 2: "Oh come on, you can't be serious!"



Guard 1: "Serious as a heart attack. Besides, she's one woman without her Aura activated. What could she do even if she poisoned it?"



Guard 2 drinks the tea... Blinks in disbelief.



Guard 2: "It... It's amazing!"



Lilac: "Old family recipe! Like this stew!"



She's already cooking it. Other members of the White Fang come in, drawn by the smell.



Lilac: "Oh! Hello! Grab a bowl, it should be done soon!"



Guard 1: "Hey, hang on a second, even if it smells good, we should test it!"



Lilac: "Come on. I would never poison food! Then you wouldn't get to enjoy it!"



Guard 2: "You... Do realize you're our hostage, right? If you don't cooperate, we'll kill you?"



Lilac: "I am cooperating."



Guard 1: "She's got a point."



Lilac: "Wonderful!"



When Adam returns... The guards all look a lot more relaxed.



Adam: "Sitrep?"



Guard 2: "Oh! Lord Adam! Uh, everything's fine, sir! The hostage is safe and compliant."



Adam: "Good. Her mother is proving difficult. We'll need to make a video to show how serious we are."



Guard 1: "Errr... I see, Lord Adam."



Lilac: "Hello Lord Adam! Let me take your coat. It's freezing out there, hm? Here, have some hot tea!"



Adam: "Ah, thank you."



He sips the tea... Then spits it out.



Adam: "Wha-Why are you out of your cell?!"



Lilac: "Well, I couldn't finish my knitting in there, My Lord." She hands him a red scarf "Here you are! Goes with your hair."



Guard 1: "Aw..."



Lilac: "I didn't forget you, sweetie!" She hands him a green scarf with a wink "Goes with your scales!"



Guard 1: "Oh, sweet!" At Adam's furious glare "I-I mean, um... Thank you, you pathetic human!"



Lilac: brightly "You're welcome!"



- - -



Lilac is modeled after Belldandy from Ah! My Goddess! She is thus a strong willed but ultimately kind and selfless woman who is REALLY good at winning people's hearts and minds with kindness. You let her into your HQ she's gonna turn your troops with gentle kindness, understanding, and REALLY good cooking.

Click to shrink...

A day passes. Adam runs into Lilac again cooking for everyone in the kitchen. He approaches her when she is alone. She is humming a soft lullaby under her breath.



Lilac: "Oh. Hello Lord Adam. Is there something you wish of me?"



Adam: "... If they refuse to pay the ransom, your life is forfeit."



Lilac: "I know, Lord Adam."



Adam: "You aren't afraid of that?"



Lilac: shrugs "I am."



Adam: "Yet you still persist like this."



Lilac: "Yes Lord Adam."



Adam: "Why?"



Lilac: "Your men needed good food. Your men need kindness. Everyone does."



Adam: annoyed "We are holding you hostage."



Lilac: "Yes."



Adam: "We are criminals by your estimation."



Lilac: "Yes."



Adam: "We are Faunus, and our goal is to overthrow your oppression and tyrrany."



Lilac: "Have I oppressed you, Lord Adam?"



Adam: "... You annoy me."



Lilac: "I'm sorry, Lord Adam."



Adam: glares... seizes her long hair and makes her yelp. He forces her to her knees and holds Wilt up to her throat.



Adam: "I could end your life in an instant."



Lilac: "Yes Lord Adam... I-I know."



Adam: "So drop the act. You're just trying to manipulate us with lies and deceit!"



Lilac: "No Lord Adam! I-I assure you, I am not-!"



Adam: "Then why this?! Why all of this?! You're trying to make us drop our guard! Allow you to escape!"



Lilac: winces as he digs his blade into her throat "Even if I tried... I know I'm too far away from anywhere civilized to escape. I'd be killed by Grimm or brought back."



Adam: "Then why?! WHY ACT LIKE THIS?!"



Lilac: closes her eyes "Because it's the right thing to do!"



Adam pauses.



Adam: "What?"



Lilac: deep breath "I firmly believe... That people in pain need help and kindness. That it's the right thing to do to help others, even if they want to-to kill me or hurt me. To try, at least."



Adam: "What makes you think I'm in pain?!"



Lilac: "You are. We all are... It is why the Tablebreaker came, is it not? To heal the hurt of the world-?"



Adam: "That religion is nonsense! Just a means of control of the masses! It turns a Faunus into a martyr, just to try and pretend to be fair! All the while the church and governments oppress Faunus!"



Lilac: "No... No, it isn't. Corrupt priests and churches can do bad things in the name of the Emperor Above, but it doesn't change the good at its core!"



Adam: seethe "And so you would do this? Be kind, even to your captors? Even if it meant your death?! All because of your belief?"



Lilac, shaking, manages to look him up in the eyes.



Lilac: "... Y-Yes... Yes, I would."



Adam is silent. So is Lilac. He lets her go and pulls his blade away.



Adam: deep breath "You're confined to your cell. You will not do anything else but sit and be silent."



Lilac: "As you wish, Lord Adam."



A few days pass. Adam returns to her cell. He has three of his Faunus escort her out to a small chamber with a camera.



Adam: "On your knees."



Lilac does so. Adam turns to his guards.



Adam: "The negotiators are trying to buy time. We need to send a stronger message. We have other hostages... We'll kill her to show we mean business."



White Fang 1: "S-Sir... Um, she is the most prominent. Maybe we need to-"



Adam: "Those are my orders. Set up the camera."



The White Fang members reluctantly begin to set things up. Adam waits for the camera turn on.



Adam: "You have ignored our demands. This is the price you will pay."



Lilac: "Lord Adam... May I have a request, please? W-Well... Two requests?"



Adam: glares "What?"



Lilac shakily reaches into her dress pocket, and produces a photo. Adam snatches it and looks it over. His eyes widen behind his mask.



Adam: "You-!"



Lilac: "My fiance... Mercer. He... If you could return that to him..."



Adam: "You... You're engaged?! To a Faunus?!"



Lilac: wince "Yes Lord Adam..."



Adam: glares "... And the other?"



Lilac: "... May I please pray? Before you... You execute me?"



Adam: grits his teeth "..." He steps away. Lilac bows her head and folds her hands.



Lilac: "Tablebreaker, merciful Lord... Please... Forgive them. They know not what they do... And... And please look after my family. I... I won't be there for them anymore..."



Silence. One of the White Fang minions sucks in a breath.



White Fang 1: "Sir... Lord Adam, please. We-We don't need to kill her."



Adam: "Are you questioning my orders?!"



White Fang 2: "Sir, she-Please! Yes humans are our enemy, but-Please, maybe she's one of the good ones-!"



Adam: "There are no good ones! It's a trick! A deception! She's still trying to manipulate you for her life! SHE'S THE ENEMY!"



Lilac: Still praying, shaking, but praying hard



White Fang 3: "Sir, please! Look... I've known many a bad human but she's done nothing!"



Adam: "Humans have done plenty to us! Especially when we did 'nothing'! YOU THINK SHE ACTUALLY CARES?! YOU THINK THIS IS REAL?!" He backhands Lilac and sends her sprawling onto the floor "SHE'S A LIAR! A TRICKSTER!"



He seizes her by her collar and holds her aloft. She chokes.



Adam: "You're just manipulating us! You don't believe we're good! You don't believe a word! Say it! SAY IT!"



Lilac: "N-No! I won't! And I won't stop!"



Adam grits his teeth. He senses his men are about to try and gang up on him. He thinks it over... Then drops her.



Lilac: gasping for breath



Adam: "... Take her back to her cell."



White Fang 1: "Yes sir..."



A day later, Lilac wakes up in a forest clearing. Adam is standing there, silent.



Adam: tosses a canteen at her "You're a day's walk from Matron Village. There are no Grimm around. They'll get you home."



Lilac: "... You're letting me go?"



Adam: "You're too disruptive as a hostage. My men are threatening to mutiny. Your manipulations are too strong... You're too dangerous to keep. So... Go."



Lilac: smiles softly "Thank you, Lord Adam-"



Adam: "Stop that. I don't believe you for a second. This was all an act to get me to release you... And you won."



Lilac: "No... No. I mean... I'm glad to be free... But you're still in pain. And still lost."



Adam: scoffs "I don't need you to save me."



Lilac: "We all need someone to save us. We're all in this together, human and Faunus."



Adam: "..." sighs "... If more humans thought as you do... Maybe I wouldn't have to do what I do."



Lilac: nods "I know."



Adam turns and vanishes into the woods.



- - - -



That just kind of happened. Got a LOT more serious than in the first post, that's for sure. I'm just studying the idea of someone weaker physically than Adam but able to stand up to him in spirit and conviction. It might be interesting to explore, and hey, Lilac is available.



And as usual, I'm not making commentary on real world religions, just using them as inspiration for how it might affect things in Remnant.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Several years ago...



Twelve year old May Zedong had been happy. Maybe she wasn't rich like the girls she saw on Scroll broadcasts, with their many dresses and fancy cars, but she was happy. Her mother and father, Parvati and August Zedong, were farmers in their little village in Vacuo. They worked their tiny patch of land with a tractor and animals, grew and sold vegetables in the market, raised hogs and chickens. She had known nothing but a simple but comfortable house, laughter and joy. Her mother was a wonderful mechanic who fixed other machines in town for good pay, while her father, when not working the fields, would hunt wild game and make her clothes out of the furs.



She would laugh and play with other children her age when she wasn't doing chores or doing to the village school. They had been so happy.



This night though... Everything had changed.



She woke up to shouts and clanging alarm bells. She peeked out her window: She could see fires on houses nearby their farm. She saw dark figures roaming the streets, and coming towards their home. Her eyes widened in horror as red eyes glared back.



Grimm...



The door to her room burst open. Her father and mother stood there, both armed with rifles and axes.



"Come on May, we need to get to the shelter," her mother said, already holding up a jacket. May got dressed quickly, and pulled on the jacket. Her father handed her one of the rifles, the best looking one, which she took with shaking hands. It had a strap, so she slid it securely over her shoulders onto her back.



There were crashes and smashes and snarls from downstairs. Her father cursed.



"Damnit... Roof! Out the window!"



They dashed to the window in her parents' bedroom. Outside and below them was the connecting roof, a sheltered walkway that led to the barn. There was a storm cellar there, filled with food and provisions just in case of a disaster. They sprang out onto the roof, and ran.



Inhuman shrieks filled the night air. May looked and screamed: Nevermores dove for them. Her father and mother opened fire on the flock, their rifles shooting them down.



"MAY!" Her father shouted, "FIRE! USE THE GUN!"



May trembled. The monsters swarmed, their red eyes burning in the night. Her arms twitched, as though trying to obey the order... But she couldn't. She fell to her knees and shook like a leaf.



"MAY!" Her father shouted.



"I-I can't!" She cried. "I can't-I can't!"



August's face... Was filled with guilt and regret. He glanced to his wife. She nodded grimly, and turned to May.



"MAY!" Her mother screamed. "GO!"



"Wait-MOM-!"



Parvati shoved May off the roof. She fell in a tumble, shakily getting to her feet. She looked up in horror as her parents kept firing. Her father waved a flashlight around, deliberately drawing more attention to himself.



"GO! GET TO THE SHELTER!" Her father bellowed. "WE'LL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU! RUN! STAY ALIVE, NO MATTER WHAT!"



May, shaking, still managed to turn and run. She knew the path by heart, dark or day... But as she turned the corner, she saw several Beowulves snarling and clawing at the shelter entrance. They turned and roared at her.



No... Nononono...!



She turned and fled. She hopped the fence, fleeing into the nearest field. She heard the Grimm follow her, their padded feet loud against the grass and brush. She wept as she fled, running for her life, her heart pounding in her ears.



Gotta get away... Gotta get away...!



She tried to circle back, head back towards the farm house. She caught sight of the waving flashlight and gunfire again. She hopped the fence and ducked into the bushes. She saw her parents still fighting, her mother using an axe and her father wielding twin guns in his hands.



She saw a Beowulf lunge... And her father went down, his head grasped in its jaws. There was a splash of red and...



May's jaw dropped. Her mother screamed.



"AUGUST!"



Two Beowulves brought her down, and she fell silent. Only the growls of the Grimm and the wet crunching of bone and flesh could be heard. Flames ignited somewhere in the house, and tongues of fire erupted from the windows. Smoke began to blot out the stars overhead as the farmhouse burned.



May collapsed onto all fours. She looked at the ground, silent, her tears falling like waterfalls to the dirt ground. She heard growls. She shakily looked up.



The blood stained Grimm were stalking towards her, their red eyes gleaming.



For a moment... May did nothing. She stared back at her death, and did nothing.



Get up, a voice whispered in her head. Still she did nothing as the Grimm advanced.



Get up...



They licked their jaws. May's fingers gripped the dirt.



Get up... AND RUN!



She found her will. She stood up, turned and ran. She hopped over the fence, the entire pack of Grimm now after her. She ran through the trees, taking scratches onto her arms. She climbed over another wall, and another, goats fleeing in terror. The Grimm paid them no mind, only focused on her.



The moon peeked out of the clouds, and she skidded to a halt with a cry. Below her was a huge expanse of nothing. She could hear running water, faintly hear the river in the gully below.



She looked back over her shoulder, panting hard: The Grimm were still advancing, still hungry for her. Hungry for her soul.



Jump, the voice whispered again.



I'll die! May thought.



You'll die if you stay, the voice whispered again, but you might live if you jump. So jump...



She turned back towards the river. The Grimm were seconds away.



JUMP! NOW!



She leaped, feeling jaws snapping at her body as she fell. She dove towards the river. Her eyes were wide open as she screamed.



I don't want to die... I DON'T WANT TO DIE... I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I'LL STAY ALIVE!



She shut her eyes tightly.



I WON'T DIE!



She fell, fell... Before she was jerked violently and stopped. She panted frantically, looked behind her.



The rifle, the rifle she had forgotten, had mechashifted into an axe. An axe that had snagged onto a tree branch. Said branch creaked ominously, but it held.



Desperately, May reached up and grabbed onto the branch. It was agonizing having to hold on like this. She pulled herself, slowly, painfully, to the cliff face. Her waving feet found footing, solid rock, and she struggled free. She landed hard, shaking. She fell to her knees... But the stone outcropping held. She clung to the side of the cliff, weeds in the rocks her anchors. She looked up. The Beowulves snarled distantly overhead, their red eyes glowing...



But they did not advance.



She bowed her head, breathing hard. Her heart pounded in her ears. She turned and sat down. She reached behind herself, and pulled the axe free. She held it tightly, and stared out into the night. Her mind was a blank.



She must have fallen asleep at some point, because the next thing she knew it was light and the sound of an airship's engines filled her ears. She looked up, startled, as a Vacuoan gunship flew in the bright blue sky overhead.



For a moment, she hesitated. She was cold. She was alone. The farm... The farm would be gone by now.



She had nothing...



Stay alive... Stay alive...



May squeezed the mechashift weapon in her hands. Clumsily, she groped the weapon for the shift mechanism. It transformed into the rifle, a little dirty but functional.



She pointed the gun up at the sky, and pulled the trigger. The loud retort of the gun echoed through the canyon.



I won't die...



She pulled the trigger again, firing another shot. The airship began to turn.



I won't die...



She fired again, and now the airship was definitely flying towards her. She fired again.



I won't die... I'll stay alive... I don't know why yet but...



May Zedong looked up, face grim, as the airship descended towards her. The hatch opened, and a Huntsman in black military gear reached out to her. Shakily, she lifted her hand to take his.



But I'll stay alive until I find out why.



- - -

Have an origin story for May Zedong!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I did have a twist on the idea of RNJRY(W?) reaching Kuroyuri. In this case, it's been repopulated. The new magistrate, a former Mistral special agent, is seemingly kind and generous. He was a Huntsman made a special policeman by the Mistralian government, who tried to get to Kuroyuri but was too late to save it. He apologizes deeply for this and offers Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie their old home back and any of the belongings of Ren's family to them. He even offers to let them stay in his home, feeds them, and is altogether kind.

But it is all a deception. This mayor worked for Leonardo Lionheart. Leonardo provides excuses for him to not get to villages attacked by Grimm in time, and the lawman in turn splits what he loots with his lawmen and Leonardo. He kills people Lionheart needs removed, he assisted Cinder and her group with any legal issues, and to keep Kuroyuri safe, he sacrifices criminals to the local Grimm to keep them occupied-Especially the Nucklavee. He then tries to do this to our heroes, which leads to not only a fight with the Nucklavee (and our heroes killing it) but facing the magistrate and his goons. This gives us a first hint as to what Lionheart has been up to (as how much he was involved is revealed depends on you) and shows that something is rotten in Mistral. It also puts a human face on Ren and Nora's tragedy. Ren wanted to martyr himself, not caring if he lived or died as long as the Nucklavee perished... But if someone was beind this? Someone who had a choice? Then Ren now has to face a more complex moral choice, which could help him and Nora develop their characters.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Mercury: "You know, I'm completely well adjusted. I don't need to be here, I wasn't even involved, but I'll do it if you require me to-"



Isabel: "You're a very good liar, Mercury Black. You might have even fooled me... If not for the fact my team fought your father once. And lived."



Mercury: eyes widen



Isabel: "Now, there's no need to be alarmed. I won't divulge anything you tell me, and plenty of Huntsmen have had even worse childhoods than yours. I just want you to know, there's no need for fear."



Mercury: "You... How did he not kill you-?"



Isabel: "It wasn't easy. But the job ultimately proved to not be worth the trouble. Even he realized it wasn't worth it..." cough "That and Arjun outbid the man paying for the job. Money talks."



Mercury: "How... How much?"



Isabel: "About five hundred thousand lien."



Mercury: "Money... He had money and... And... That... That son of a-!"



Mercury smashes the floor, kicks a table, kicks a hole in the wall. Isabel then stands in front of him, and catches his kick in her hands. Her super strength and enhanced reflexes let her hold him.



Isabel: "Mercury! Mercury, look at me. Look at me. It's all right... It's all right..."



Mercury: breathes hard, not sure how the FUCK to handle any of this!



He sits down on the couch, shaking. Isabel stays a respectful distance away.



Isabel: "... You don't have to talk about it, all right? You don't. Not now."



Mercury: "... I just... Fucking hell..."



Isabel waits. Mercury manages to get himself back under control.



Mercury: "... Why... Why tell me?"



Isabel: "Because it's the right thing to do."



Mercury: "..." sighs "I don't understand that."



Isabel: "I take it your father just took, and took, and anything he gave you... It had a price tag attached?"



Mercury scowls... He manages a slow nod.



Isabel: "All right... Then I will make you a deal. It will all be on your side. You can decide whether or not to take it. The power is all yours."



Mercury: "... What are you offering?"



Isabel: "First? Let me fix the nerve damage to your legs."



Mercury: eyes wide "How did you-?!"



Isabel: "I'm very good at spotting prosthetics, and I felt your leg when you kicked me. I also know when prosthetics are poorly attached. This isn't part of the deal, this is just me doing my job as a healer."



Mercury: "... You have one minute. If I think you're trying anything-"



Isabel: "More than enough time."



Mercury hesitates... Pulls his trouser legs up. Isabel applies some Healing Dust with her gloves to the connection points. Instantly, the near constant pain he's been suffering is gone.



Mercury: "... It... It was that simple?!"



Isabel: pulls back "The only reason a doctor wouldn't fix those is if they didn't care. How many doctors have you seen, Mercury?"



Mercury: "... Not many." Watts doesn't count as a medical doctor, and he wouldn't give a shit about my pain...



Isabel: nods "They were bad at their jobs, then."



Mercury: "... You talked about a deal. What is it?"



Isabel: "Let me find you replacement prosthetics. Better ones."



Mercury: "I can't afford them-"



Isabel: "Let me worry about that. A lot of cybernetics companies can do pro bono work in exchange for tax benefits. A decent set of combat capable prosthetic legs isn't that expensive. My twins do a lot of work on custom jobs anyway, and they like a challenge."



Mercury: "And in exchange?"



Isabel: "Let me help you."



Mercury: "The hell do you get out of it?!"



Isabel: "I became a doctor to help people. You need help." smiles "The non-material rewards can be just as important as the material."



Mercury: "That... You feel better doing it?"



Isabel: "And I make you feel better."



Mercury: "I just..." he shook his head "It sounds crazy."



Isabel: sighs "Does it help that my hospital gets more business the more pro-bono jobs for Huntsmen it does? Or that I'm actually paid to help people?"



Mercury: "I mean... I get that. You should have led with that."



Isabel: smiles "I didn't want to be dishonest. I wanted to show all my motives, including the ones you might not understand."



Mercury: "I guess so..."



Isabel: "And if you need more incentive? Maybe I could find out if your Semblance is truly gone."



Mercury: "... You'd do that for me?"



Isabel: "We did have to fight your father. He tried to steal all our Semblances. He failed, thankfully. That and the money convinced him to flee. But I can't imagine he wouldn't have done it to you, given your reactions to his memory."



Mercury: Shit... Cinder's gonna kill me... I know it... I know it because I'm gonna defect... No! No, come on. There's no way I'm gonna change sides just for this...



He rubbed his legs. Legs that were no longer hurting.



Mercury: ... Right?



- - -



I'm not very happy with this. It's too rushed, like most of my rough drafts. I do think it could be interesting if I expanded it. But honestly, given how easily Emerald and Mercury defected in canon? It isn't a stretch that they would have done so earlier if Isabel was involved. And yes, Team AARN would have been a target of Marcus's in the past. The Kauravas would have paid him to try and take Arjun out. But they were very formidable and Arjun's access to some secret family bank accounts let them pay him off.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The entire student body of Beacon had gathered in the main auditorium, a sea of curious faces filling the vast space.

Jaune, his brow furrowed, glanced over at Ruby, who sat beside him.

"Any idea what this is about, Ruby?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Ruby shook her head vigorously.

"No! Blake, do you know?" she exclaimed, casting an exasperated look at her teammate.

"You should pay attention to politics," Blake, ever composed, responded coolly.

"But that's borinnnng!" Ruby whined, slumping in her seat. "Also, not an answer! Weiss?"

"Even I don't know what this is about," Weiss sniffed.

"Maybe they're just gonna make us sign up to vote," Yang shrugged, "Ya know, ballot us up?"

"HA! I get it!" Nora giggled, as she sat next to Ren. Ren himself remained silent.

"I'm sure it will be very interesting," Pyrrha said with a small smile.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Jaune sighed.

At that moment, Headmaster Ozpin stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding an immediate hush over the restless crowd.

"Students," he began, his tone measured and calm, "new legislation has just passed that affects all of us. To summarize things and get on with our day, I managed to get this video made."

With that, he stepped aside, and a large holowindow flickered to life, its glowing display visible to every corner of the auditorium.

The screen proudly declared: A Production of the Valean Ministry of Health. A redheaded, middle-aged man appeared, seated in an elegant study before a crackling fireplace. His receding hairline and large handlebar mustache framed a kind smile.

"Hello," he said warmly. "I am Rufus Winchester, and I'm here to ask you a question. What is the purpose of Hunters? Well, that should be obvious: to protect man and Faunus from the Grimm."

The scene shifts to a vivid battlefield, where Huntsmen and Huntresses clash valiantly with snarling Grimm. Rufus strode into the frame, saluting the warriors. "Those of you who choose this path are noble Defenders of life on Remnant! You deserve gratitude, praise, and money! Because this is a hard job, and many brave souls pay the price."

The image dissolved into a somber graveyard, where Rufus walked mournfully among the headstones.

"Awards, citations, medals... These are given to Hunters who give their lives in the service of us all. But the loss of these heroes is felt more acutely if they do not leave a proper legacy."

With a wipe, the scene transformed into a cheerful tableau: a Huntsman and Huntress surrounded by their laughing children. Rufus stepped in, beaming broadly.

"Money, fame, awards: These are all hollow compared to a family. Your hard work as a Hunter will be better appreciated by your children and grandchildren than any statue could."

The Huntsman grinned at his wife.

"Sure am glad I have you, my loving wife! And my wonderful children!"

"Same, my wonderful husband and children!" the Huntress replied, her voice brimming with affection.

"We love you, Mom and Dad!" the children chorused, their faces alight with joy.

Rufus chuckled warmly before turning back to the camera. "Studies show that married Hunter couples are three times as likely to return home than single Hunters! And your skills and abilities will not vanish with you when you die! Indeed, children of Hunters are ninety percent likely to join their parents' professions!"

The scene returned to the study, where Rufus now cradled a squirming baby.

"Of course, having children is expensive! But that's where Council Bill 2276 comes in! Under this law, married Hunters and Hunters-in-training get up to sixty percent off their total taxes and are eligible for financial assistance, no matter how many babies you have! Thanks to Aura, Huntresses can recover from birth and get back into fighting shape in less than three weeks!"

The baby let out a loud burp, and Rufus laughed good-naturedly.

"Aw, feisty little guy, isn't he?"

The screen wiped to the happy family once more, now seated together in their cozy home. Rufus stood behind them, hands resting on their shoulders.

"So while you are killing the scourge of the Grimm in the present, invest in your future and the future of Vale! Have a family! Save the world!"

The video concluded with bold text: Sponsored by the Valean Council and Approved by the Lion Pope. As the holowindow faded, Ozpin stepped forward again, hands clasped behind his back. "Any questions?" he asked, his voice cutting through the silence.

For a moment, there was nothing but quiet. Then, chaos erupted. Nora leapt to her feet, seizing Ren's arm and brandishing her hammer with wild eyes.

"HANDS OFF, YOU WHORES! I SAW HIM FIRST!" she bellowed, her voice echoing through the auditorium.

"Easy Nora, easy!" Jaune said quickly, waving his hands as he stood up. He took a deep breath.

Well, that's Nora for you, he thought, glad everyone else is a lot more calm and even tempered-

He felt a pair of hands wrap around his upper arm. He glanced down. Yang was smiling shyly.

"Oh, hey VB. Tell me: You have how many sisters again?"

"Er... Seven?" Jaune managed.

"Yang!" Weiss gasped.

"What? I'm just thinking about the future," Yang grinned.

"YANG!" Pyrrha growled, which was as surprising as a magnolia eating the cat. Yang shrugged.

"What? You snooze you lose, Cereal Girl. You had your chance-"

"H-He hasn't agreed to anything!" Pyrrha sputtered.

"YEAH!" Ruby growled, popping up and grabbing his other arm. "And he's MY best friend!"

"You're too young!"

"He had a crush on me!" Weiss declared.

"You never had any interest!" Pyrrha shot back. Weiss flushed.

"W-Well, I'm just thinking about my future and finances!"

"Oh yeah, that's sexy!" Yang snarked.

Blake raised an eyebrow. She then sighed and looked to her left. Sun Wukong stood there with a grin.

"Hey Blake! So... You doing anything later?"

"Probably washing my hair," Blake deadpanned.

"Need any help?"

Cardin Winchester sank deeper in his seat, wincing at the stares and glares tossed his way.

Pandemonium broke loose as students shouted and scrambled, alliances forming and dissolving in an instant. Ozpin sighed deeply, rubbing his temple.

"Last time I play poker with Councilman Winchester," he muttered under his breath. "Cheating bastard."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ruby and Jaune do need to learn how to manage their teams. And connect with other team leaders. So there's a class for that... And a lot of fun to be had.
And paperwork. Lots and lots of paperwork.

- - -

Ruby was practically bouncing off the walls with joy as she walked down the hallway, her enthusiasm a stark contrast to Jaune, who trudged along beside her.

"Come on Jaune! Isn't this exciting?! Our first leadership class!" Ruby exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

Jaune sighed.

"I know... Sorry Ruby, but given how hard everything else is? I'm not feeling the enthusiasm."

Ruby tilted her head, undeterred. "Aw, come on Jaune! This is awesome! We're our team leaders! And yeah, you kind of suck at, well, a lot of stuff-"

"Thanks," Jaune deadpanned. Ruby winced and then continued.

"-But you're good at leadership! Come on! Be happy! For me?" She let loose her puppy dog eyes.

Jaune let out another sigh and then shrugged.

"I'll try."

"YAY!" Ruby beamed, and Jaune couldn't help a little smile at that.

They reached the classroom where Professor Ozpin awaited them. Cardin, already inside, winced upon seeing Jaune, who scowled back. With a sigh, Cardin gestured to two seats beside him. Ruby blinked.

"Eh? Hey, what's your deal?"

"I'm trying to be nice, pipsqueak. You got a problem with that?" Cardin replied gruffly.

Ruby shook her head and shrugged.

"No! I guess? And I'm not a pipsqueak! I'm drinking my milk!"

"Thanks Cardin," Jaune offered quietly, as they took their seats.

Ozpin looked around gravely before he addressed the room.

"Good of you all to join us. Simin Magister, as the leader of team SLVR and one of our senior teacher's assistants, I leave the rest to you. I have other matters to attend to."

Why'd he botherr to come if that's all he was going to say? Almost everyone thought.

With that, he exited, and a handsome young man with dark red hair, tanned skin, and a long gray jacket stepped forward, smiling warmly.

"It's great to see so many new faces," Simin began. "Now, leadership of a team is more than just keeping it together in the field and fighting. There's a lot of hard work off the field too."

Ruby perked up immediately.

"Ooh! Ooh! Like training?"

Simin nodded.

"That is also important... But more important? Is paperwork."

Ruby's jaw dropped.

"Paperwork?!" She gasped.

Simin smiled in nostalgia.

"Yep! As team leaders you must account for your team's stores of supplies, types of supplies, finances, training room time, medical condition, and many other things! You must also demonstrate your ability to write mission reports and convey information properly that other Huntsmen, the police, the military and other organizations use when it comes to Grimm, the ground of your missions, and damages you cause or others inflict."

Ruby faltered, but quickly rallied with a smile.

"Well... Um... I-I'm sure it can't be that bad to start, right?"

Simin beamed, his teeth shining like knives.

"That's the spirit!"

Moments later, Simin dumped several large stacks of paperwork onto the leaders' desks. Ruby gaped.

"Wait, actual paperwork?!" She cried.

Simin grinned.

"It's so you can get used to the digital stuff later. Trust me, it will be a breeze after this!"

Ruby slumped, her face slamming into the stack with a moan. Jaune chuckled and patted her on the shoulder.

"Living the dream, huh?" Jaune asked.

Ruby moaned louder.

Hours passed, and Cardin grumbled as he filled out another sheet.

"Geez... I thought helping dad with his campaign finances was bad..." Next to him, Ruby, her eyes spinning, cried out in despair.

"Wha... What's an index?! WHAT'S A LEDGER?! WHAT IS ALL THIS?!" She slammed her face into the stack again and moaned, then glanced to her right at Jaune.

"Jaune? You okay there budd-?"

To her shock, Jaune was already up, handing his completed paperwork to Simin.

"Wha-He's already done?!" Ruby stammered. Cardin's jaw dropped.

"No way... It can't all be done properly-!"

Simin flipped through the stack before nodding in approval.

"Very good, Mister Arc! Everything checks out! You can relax until everyone else is done."

Jaune smiled, "Thanks, Mister Magister!" and returned to sit beside Ruby. He then looked over at her and Cardin, who both stared at him in utter disbelief.

"What?" Jaune asked innocently.

"Wha-How did you get all that done so fast and correctly?!" Ruby demanded.

Jaune shrugged, looking a bit proud.

"Well, I had to help my mom with paperwork at the hospital, help my dad with paperwork at the militia, help my sisters with paperwork for various reasons, did some accounting for my great-grandpa's restaurant..." He shrugged, "In comparison, this isn't too hard! Plus, Nora has to ask me for more money for Dust and she has to get the proportions just right, so she's pretty good at keeping track of things. Pyrrha buys most of her own stuff but she still reports it to me, and Ren is very good at math too. So, we're pretty set."

Ruby's soul seemed to droop and drag her down with it at every word.

"Oh… Oh…"

Jaune smiled and patted her shoulder encouragingly.

"I'm sure you can get it too, Ruby! I mean, Weiss is rich: She must know something about business? And Yang was like your mom so she has to know finances? And Blake... Um..."

Ruby nodded weakly, "Y-Yeah... I'm sure they'll be fine... Totally fine...!"

Cardin spoke up at last, his face very serious.

"Jauney-boy? I take back every bad thing I ever said about you. Mind helping me out? My team will train with yours... I'll carry your books? Set you up with my hot sister?!"

Coco Adel leaned over from the desk behind them, adjusting her glasses with an eager grin.

"Like hell he will! Arc, you help me out and I'll let you take Bun-Bun on a date! And I'll make sure she's extra sexy for you!" Jaune laughed a bit nervously and held his hands up.

"It's just paperwork, guys. Don't be so melodramatic. But! I will help you all out... If!"

"I get Weiss to go out with you?!" Ruby guessed eagerly.

Jaune flustered.

"What?! No! I want to do that myself! I know I'm wearing her down!"

"Ummm," Ruby coughed, "Er, well…"

"Should have offered her your sister, she's much hotter," Coco suggested.

"Look," Jaune interrupted, "I'll just ask that we all be friends. And I get some help with the stuff I'm not good at when it comes to Hunting."

Coco smirked.

"So... Everything then?"

Jaune winced, and slowly nodded. There was a hint of pride in his eyes though.

"... Yeah... Except for this."

Coco hummed and then nodded.

"Sounds fair."

"Seriously, offering him your teammate?" Cardin muttered.

"What? She's got a thing for big, dumb galoots!" Coco countered, lowering her shades at Cardin, "Maybe if you weren't a racist on top of that, I'd have set you two up!"

Cardin blushed.

"I-I would never be interested in her! N-Never! I don't think she has pretty eyes either!"

Much staring. Cardin scowled.

"I didn't say that!"

Ruby hummed.

"Well... I guess it's nice to have more friends who are as awkward as us."

"I am not awkward," Cardin grumbled. Jaune chuckled.

"Yeah, see? We're socializing more already!"

Ruby beamed at her best friend.

"Yeah! I... I think this is gonna turn out just fine!"

And then the fight with the White Fang at the Wharves happened, but that's another story.