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[RWBY] White Knight Errant

Reader mode
AndrewJTalon said:
"So… Remember that last thing? About having a baby?"

Yang blinked.

"Eh?"

"About that last one... Being a teenaged mom is nothing to be ashamed of, as long as he marries you."

Yang's cheeks went red as her jaw dropped.

"Dad?!"
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Parental approval acquired.

Thanks for the chapter!
 
Forty-One
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    The Chateau D'Aulnoy was one of the most storied and exclusive hotels in Ponce, a resort town on the western coast of Sanus about ten miles south of Vale proper. Perched atop a tall plateau with sheer cliffs surrounding it on every side, while overlooking a natural harbor, the town had started as one of numerous fortresses across Sanus. Its beautiful oceanside view and natural defensive position had made it popular for vacations and events for centuries-The treaty ending the Great War was, in fact, signed in this very hotel. A framed picture of the signing hung over the largest fireplace in the five star restaurant that dominated the lower level, a modern black and white Atlesian style cafe softened a bit by Valean touches: The warm dark wood paneling and mementos of history hung or arranged on tables in perfect harmony.

    At a table with white silken cloth covering it, drinking the finest imported Mistralian tea, Weiss Schnee took in the ambience and luxurious surroundings with an unusual smile. Oh yes, the hotel overlooked the beaches below the cliffs, where vacation goers of every description enjoyed the surf and warm sands of the beach. The town itself matched the pure white granite of the cliffs, shining like a pure beacon of hope. On the opposing side of the hotel, you could watch people going about their business on the cobblestone sidewalks or driving cars on the narrow paved streets, an endless bustle of every kind of person imaginable. Atlasian businessmen, Mistralian nobles, Valean tourists, human and Faunus alike.

    Yet it all paled in comparison to the company that joined her at the table. Her elegant, beautiful, refined older sister, Winter, who gave Weiss a gentle smile over her own cup of tea.

    "I'm so happy to see you again, sister," Weiss said warmly, sipping her tea before continuing, "How did you get leave on such short notice?"

    Winter shrugged, carefully brushing a stray silver hair back behind her ear.

    "Well, since the Vytal Festival is taking place in Vale this year, my duties give me many opportunities to visit," she said. Her smile grew by just a hair.

    "You look very well, Weiss. I am glad to see it."

    "Thank you Winter," Weiss said with a soft nod, "It has been an… Eventful first semester."

    Winter cocked an eyebrow.

    "So I have heard," she observed. Weiss winced instinctively. Winter shook her head.

    "That was not meant as a criticism, Weiss," she said gently, "I am very glad you came out of those situations unharmed." She let out a small sound that would have been an outright snicker from a non-Schnee.

    "Indeed, I am reminded of my early missions as a Specialist."

    "Really?" Weiss asked with eager eyes. Winter nodded.

    "Yes. I had asked for no special treatment. My commanding officer took that as a sign to throw me into the meat grinder. I had to escort several important dignitaries through the Jotun Pass District."

    Weiss's eyes widened in shock. Winter nodded.

    "Yes. There are an unfortunate number of A to Triple-A ranked Grimm there," she said, "For reasons still not fully understood. My team ran into an A-Ranked Jormungandr on our second trip."

    "Oh my," Weiss murmured.

    Winter chuckled again.

    "Do not be alarmed, sister. Obviously we overcame it, but it was a formidable foe," she said with a nod. "My commander was shocked when we brought the remains in. He recommended me as General Ironwood's attache after that."

    "Of course, nothing but the best for my sister," Weiss said with a smile. Winter nodded back, waving a hand in a tight, controlled manner.

    "There is no need to gush. Besides, I came to talk to you. How are you doing, sister?"

    "Oh, uh, very well," Weiss said quickly, "I came in first place overall in academics. My combat class scores were exceptional, though I am finding that I need more work in a few areas."

    "There is no shame in that," Winter consoled, "You cannot act without solid information, after all."

    "Yes sister," Weiss said quickly, "I strive to improve every day."

    Winter sipped her tea, studying Weiss across the table.

    "And how is your team?"

    Weiss held back a grimace through long, long practice.

    "... They are… Difficult at times," she said, "There are some… Personal issues between us. Nothing I cannot handle."

    "That is an improvement from the letters you sent at the start of the semester," Winter observed dryly. Weiss flushed.

    "It was… A difficult transition," she admitted, "Vale is not Atlas. That has become clear."

    "Mm," Winter agreed, "I am glad of it though, Weiss. You should go out into the world, meet new people, and experience new ways of thinking. Being in the military opened my eyes to many new possibilities." She smiled gently.

    "It lets you become more than you are."

    Weiss nodded.

    "Yes sister."

    Winter smiled softly as Weiss sipped her tea.

    "And it seems to have let you find a boyfriend?"

    Weiss was far too refined to ever spit out her tea in shock, but she did swallow with some difficulty. Winter's eyes glinted with some mischief, which was astonishing.

    I suppose the military really has changed her, Weiss thought in a detached way, if she can tease me…!

    "Oh, uh, well, we're not quite that official," Weiss said, "Not yet. We have agreed to go on some dates, per proper courting etiquette."

    Winter smiled and nodded.

    "I'm glad to hear it. When do I get to meet Mister Arc?"

    Weiss's eyes widened.

    "Wh-What?! Arc?" She gasped.

    "Your letters have been filled with information about him," Winter said, blinking curiously, "I had assumed you were dating."

    "No! No, of-of course not!" Weiss insisted, setting her tea down to avoid upsetting it. She scowled, picking up a pastry and taking a bite. Her cheeks blazed red.

    "He remains the savage, unrefined, violent, ridiculous barbarian he started as!" She grumbled. "Always teasing me, mocking me, doing as he pleases and carrying on in a ridiculous manner! Somehow he got Pyrrha Nikos-Pyrrha Nikos!-to obsess over him! My team leader and her older sister are also infatuated with the lout! No, I want nothing and have nothing to do with Arc! At all!"

    Winter stared at Weiss with perfect Atlaesian stoicism. She then nodded and took a refined bite of her own pastry.

    "I see. Forgive me sister. You wrote so much about him, I simply assumed-"

    "No! Nonono, it's perfectly fine!" Weiss said quickly, quite flustered, "I-I was perhaps not writing as clearly as I could! That savage brute-There wasn't a day that went by he wasn't irritating me! Quite intentionally! He fights like a rude, unrefined brute! Always going about without a shirt! Cooking food he's captured in the wild like a savage! Insinuating I have feelings for him! Bah!"

    She shook her head.

    "Which I do not have for him! No romantic feelings whatsoever!" Weiss said quickly.

    Winter slowly nodded.

    "I see," she murmured. Weiss grumbled a bit.

    "I cannot believe he is Isabel Arc's son, it seems impossible!" She huffed.

    "So you aren't dating him?" Winter asked, her tone a bit skeptical. Weiss furiously shook her head.

    "Not in the slightest! I am dating Neptune Vasilias! Er, well, we will be! He is a wonderful, handsome, caring student from Haven! He protected me from danger! He compliments me! He is refined and debonair! Far better than Arc! That lout!"

    "I see," Winter said with a nod, "I only bring it up because I looked into your finances, sister. Did you pay for Mister Arc's upgraded armor and weapons?"

    Weiss flushed deeply.

    "I uh… He did fight bravely for our teams," she murmured, "He also saved my team leader's life. He is an effective leader, despite being an utter scoundrel. If he is to be associated with me, I thought he should go around in better attire than rags and rusted armor. RWBY and JNPR are sister teams. How he looks reflects on us all."

    "I see," Winter nodded.

    "There's nothing going on!" Weiss insisted. "I am just being a good teammate!"

    "I was going to point out that you should be careful in how you do such things, Weiss," Winter said gently, "After all, you did pay for Atleasian fox fur lining."

    Weiss scoffed.

    "So? It is traditional for Atlaesian Knights to wear such fur," she stated, "He needs all the help he can get to look like anything other than some sellsword brigand."

    Winter's smile grew by just a bit.

    "It is also a traditional gift for ladies being courted by knights to give such warriors fox furs," Winter pointed out. "Foxes mate for life, after all. You are essentially 'claiming' Arc as your own."

    This time Weiss really did choke on her tea. She coughed, and quickly regained her composure before anyone could stare at them from the other tables.

    "I… I was not aware of that, sister," Weiss mumbled in embarrassment. Winter laughed softly.

    "It is all right, sister. It is a very old tradition, and I only wanted to tease you a little," she said, "You are most charming when you blush."

    "Sister!" Weiss hissed. Winter smiled, and Weiss's heart grew lighter.

    How long had it been since it was just them together, relaxing, having fun? Weiss honestly couldn't remember.

    "I will be more careful in the future, sister," Weiss insisted, "I-I would not want Father or anyone else to think I am… Easy."

    "Of course not," Winter said with a nod, "But if you are being courted by another man, you should make it clear that it was only a misunderstanding with Arc."

    "Of course it's a misunderstanding!" Weiss cried, "He's-He's probably-Ooh! I bet he knew that tradition! He's probably laughing right now in the armor I bought for him! That devious scoundrel! He actually flirts with me just to annoy me!"

    Weiss sighed happily.

    "Not like Neptune! He compliments me so sincerely, so poetically! He also plays hard to get! Oh, just like the courtly tales of Old Atlas! So mysterious, so…" Her eyes widened as she locked onto a figure passing outside the windows.

    "Oh! There he is!" Weiss said. "If you'll excuse me, sister?"

    "Not at all," Winter said, rising and leaving some lien on the table.

    Weiss hurried out as elegantly as possible, emerging on the street with a wide smile. She spotted Neptune, and nearly swooned.

    He was dressed for the beach, in perfect form fitting gold and red trunks and an open white button-up shirt. His body was… Oh, Weiss blushed so hard over it! He was magnificently built! Slender but still well defined and muscular!

    He was talking with a pair of black-haired ladies in scandalously brief bikinis. Weiss's eyes flashed in anger.

    How dare they try to steal Neptune's attention from me!

    "Neptune! Neptune!" Weiss cried.

    Neptune turned away from the ladies, his eyes widening in shock.

    "Weiss? Uh, hey Snow Angel!" He said, quickly shifting to a charming smile, "What brings you here?"

    "I am taking the semester break here with my sister," Weiss gushed, moving through the crowds to stand in front of Neptune. She nervously adjusted her hair as she tried to not look like she was… Appraising him. "Er, why are you here?"

    "Oh, well, Sun's uncle was so impressed with us finding Blake that he gave us money to spend time here for the break," Neptune explained. He winked. "My good fortune to find you here, huh?"

    "The best fortune!" Weiss insisted. She took his arm, and turned to see Winter walking up. "Sister, this is Neptune Vasilias! Neptune, this is my sister Winter Schnee!"

    Neptune looked Winter up and down, and gave her a wink and cocky grin.

    "Very nice to meet you, Winter. I see good looks certainly run in the family!"

    Weiss giggled. Winter's expression became a bit tense.

    "I see," Winter said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Vasilias. How are you finding Ponce?"

    "It's great!" Neptune laughed, "Beautiful, really! I've never been here before!"

    "Oh! Please, let me show you around!" Weiss insisted, tugging on Neptune's arm, "I've been here for vacations several times and… Uh…" She looked awkwardly over at Winter. "Oh dear, Winter, I-"

    Winter smiled slightly, and shook her head.

    "It's perfectly fine, Weiss, we'll meet back at the hotel," she said gently. She then turned a stern, deadly look on Neptune. "I'm sure Mister Vasilias will bring you back promptly for dinner, with no problems or issues, correct?"

    Her piercing glare seemed to go through Neptune, who coughed and nodded quickly.

    "Of course, Winter! Don't worry about anything! I'll take good care of Weiss! I'd never let anything happen to my Snow Angel!"

    Weiss giggled. From his lips, such a corny nickname became so endearing.

    Winter stepped up closer to Neptune, glaring into his eyes. Her hand rested on her saber.

    "Good," Winter stated, "I am an Atleasian Specialist, after all, and Weiss does face many threats given her identity. I am very… Very… Good at eliminating threats."

    Neptune gulped.

    "Y-Yes… Absolutely, ma'am," he murmured.

    Weiss felt a tinge of annoyance with her sister. She hid it behind her most charming smile and tugged on his arm.

    "We will see you at dinner, sister," Weiss said, "Come along, Neptune!"

    "Sure thing," Neptune said, letting Weiss lead him away. Weiss still felt Winter's glare as they headed into the busy throngs of people. She huffed quietly.

    "I'm sorry about that, she's very protective of me," Weiss explained.

    "Uh, sure, no problem," Neptune managed.

    Weiss beamed at him.

    "Not to worry though! Come, let's go have some fun!"

    This was already shaping up to be the best vacation Weiss had ever taken! Her sister was here, her paramour was here, and best of all? She didn't have to deal with her ridiculous teammates!

    Especially not Yang, Ruby, or Arc.

    - - -

    The Chateau D'Aulnoy is named for Countess Marie-Catherine D'Aulnoy, a French writer of many fairy tales.

    "Ponce" is French for "pumice stone", and is in reference to the white rock formations of the area.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • AndrewJTalon said:
    He was talking with a pair of black-haired ladies in scandalously brief bikinis. Weiss's eyes flashed in anger.

    How dare they try to steal Neptune's attention from me!

    "Neptune! Neptune!" Weiss cried.

    Neptune turned away from the ladies, his eyes widening in shock.

    "Weiss? Uh, hey Snow Angel!" He said, quickly shifting to a charming smile, "What brings you here?"
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    *Sigh*

    Weiss, dear, you've got it backwards...

    Thanks for the update!
     
    Forty-Two
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    Allerleirauh was in the Old City District, in the neighborhood of Goldentine. It was one of hundreds of buildings built out of the ruins of older Valean walls, structures that had lost relevance as new walls were built for the ever expanding city. The buildings were in the classic Sanusan Federalist-style-Simple brick in sleek, Platonic forms with ellipses and great Valean Eagles. It was a style that had become huge in the Post-Great War building spree, and Allerleirauh was an epitome of the movement, with red brick, dark blue shutters, and an elegant roof crowned with ceramic eagles spreading their wings against the dark blue cornices.

    Blake entered through the front door, the bell ringing faintly through the tailor's shop. She looked around for a moment, and walked up to the front desk.

    "Hello?" She asked quietly.

    "Hello Blake."

    Blake was too old a hand at this to jump, but she spun around with a glare as Katherine emerged from a clothing rack.

    "Hello Aunt Kitty. Where is everyone?" Blake asked.

    "They had to see to something important," Kitty said, "So I volunteered to keep watch on the shop. Oh! I guess I forgot to turn the sign to 'Closed', silly me."

    Blake scowled at her as Katherine walked up to the door and turned the sign in a theatrical manner. She looked back and winked at the teenager.

    "Oh don't make that face. I have to make my own fun, don't I?" She asked.

    "Hello Aunt Kitty," Blake managed. "I…" She clutched at her arm, suddenly nervous. "May we… Can we talk?"

    The older woman stared intently at Blake, as though casing a safe and how she might break it open. She at last nodded.

    "Certainly. Come along to the back, dear."

    They came to a small kitchenette, one cluttered with dishes, photos, pots and pans. Blake sat at the small wooden table nervously, as Katherine pulled together some coffee, heated the water, and then brought it all over with the grace and precision of a runway model.

    The older cat Faunus finally set the mugs down and poured Blake and herself some. She divvied out the sugar and cream, practically flooding her own cup with the stuff before she sipped the brew. Blake nervously sipped her own, before looking up into Katherine's eyes.

    "Aunt Kitty, I… I called my parents," she said softly. "I… I talked with them."

    Katherine was silent. Blake took that as a good sign to continue.

    "I… It wasn't easy," she mumbled, "But… They're happy I'm at Beacon, and not with… With the White Fang anymore. We had a very long talk and…"

    She sighed and closed her eyes.

    "I keep feeling like I have to go around and apologize to a lot of people," she admitted.

    Katherine nodded slowly.

    "If it helps," Katherine said quietly, contemplating her coffee, "I made plenty of mistakes when I was younger, too."

    Blake started, as Katherine smirked.

    "You don't become the world's greatest thief without a lot of missteps," she said softly, "Some for love, some for patriotism, some for greed… Most of them just because I was stupid."

    "I don't… I don't think I was stupid to fight for Faunus rights," Blake groused.

    "You weren't, dearie," Katherine said kindly, "You still aren't. But the nature of the battle has changed. And the people caught in between don't care about politics."

    "That's what my father said," Blake mumbled. Kitty tittered.

    "Oho! The old bear can learn!"

    "Auntie," Blake growled. Katherine smirked.

    "Take it as a compliment, dearie. I know it feels hopeless right now, but I've been there plenty of times. Given that I'm still here, I was wrong."

    She leaned forward.

    "It's all right to be wrong. As long as you learn from it," Katherine murmured, "Take it from me."

    She pulled up a sleeve of her house dress, showing off a long, jagged scar on her otherwise perfect skin. Blake's eyes widened as Katherine chuckled.

    "This I got when I learned I used the wrong amount of Dust to crack open a safe," she said with a nod, "Still got out with the loot, but it was a LOT harder when you're trying not to bleed out. Lesson learned, mm?"

    "I… Yeah," Blake murmured. Katherine smiled, pulled her sleeve back down, and shrugged.

    "Enough about me. How are you? Are things better with your team?"

    "Yes, we're on semester break," Blake said, "Yang and Ruby went to see their father in Patch, Weiss is meeting her sister in Ponce. Pyrrha is off doing business things…" She shook her head.

    "I don't know what Jaune, Nora, or Ren are up to."

    "I do," Katherine said, "I was going to ask about it, actually."

    Blake perked up in concern.

    "Are they all right?" She asked.

    "Yes, yes, just fine," Katherine said, waving a hand dismissively, "But uh… You are staying somewhere, right?"

    Blake nodded.

    "Yes, a-a safehouse in the warehouse district."

    "Good!" Katherine said cheerfully, "Bit isolating though, isn't it?"

    Blake shook her head.

    "I… I think maybe we need time apart," she murmured.

    "Perhaps some," Katherine agreed, "But how often have you isolated yourself? How much has that affected how you see things?"

    "What do you mean?" Blake asked, blinking. Katherine reached out and squeezed Blake's hand.

    "I learned better ways of dealing with things thanks to connecting with my friends," Katherine said, "And learning through new experiences. Being a total loner locks you into your own mindset, never appreciating others. We need time to ourselves, but we also need to connect with others. And if you're going to be a princess, you should learn how to better connect with other people, yes?"

    She winked.

    "Might also help you learn how to better accomplish your goals, if you relate to normal Faunus and humans for a while, hm?"

    Blake slowly nodded.

    "I… I suppose that's true," she said, "But what does that have to do with Jaune, Nora, and Ren?"

    Katherine beamed, picking up the empty coffee mugs and dumping them in the sink.

    "I'm glad you asked! Come along!"

    - - -

    The Old District had several notable features. The statue of Dorothy The Gale, the Aura empowered lady who had led her team to defeat the Dark Witch of Vale in the distant past. She had wielded a wind-based Semblance, swinging a large polearm with a broom-like fan on the front while wearing a light blue dress, and had been the inspiration for countless Huntsmen and Huntresses. Alongside her was her loyal black hound Toto, a fearsome looking creature that had fought like a demon. Engraved into the pillar that held Dorothy up were smaller but no less detailed statues of her companions: Leo Hardt the Fearless, a lion faunus and the first King of the Faunus to be recognized by human rulers. Ambrose Crane the Clever, a Mistralian ninja whose broad-brimmed hat and homespun clothing made him resemble a scarecrow. And Zinn Holzhaut, the Tin Knight, wielding his mighty ax.

    City planners and politicians had long sought to move the statue from the Old District into the more modern sections where the new Council Hall and Capital Buildings had been built post-Faunus Revolution, but prolonged court battles and protests had kept the Lady of the Western Wind and her companions right in front of the original courthouse. The Emerland Courthouse, which now served as the Emerald Mall after extensive renovations.

    The Emerald Manse too was a big attraction. This was the second home of the Warrior King Oz, a Gothic-style manor slash fortress in the middle of Verdant Park. He had used it as a meeting place to do business closer to the city, as his castle that was now Beacon Academy was quite some distance from the town center. It was still used as a government building to this day, though it was slowly transitioning to more of a museum. It had become city hall when Vale transitioned to democracy, then the Department of Commerce, and now was little more than a DMV and general civic record keeping building. The beauty of the green pillars, cornices, and gargoyles made it a popular place to work and visit though.

    Finally though was Berdea Coastal Park. The marshes and wetlands were a popular place for boating, fishing, hunting, camping, and many other outdoor pastimes. It was within walking distance of Allerleirauh, though why Katherine was taking Blake there was beyond the younger cat faunus…

    Until they entered the grounds proper and spotted three familiar Hunters-in-Training sitting around a campfire. A pot of stew was boiling happily over the flames, while some well made shelters covered their belongings.

    "Jaune? Nora? Ren?" Blake asked, shocked and bewildered.

    Jaune looked up and waved. Nora followed suit. Ren nodded respectfully.

    "Hey Blake! Hey Mrs. Zapatos!" Jaune said happily.

    Katherine sighed.

    "You know," she said, "You could just ask to stay with me."

    Jaune shook his head as he sharpened his sword.

    "What? No, of course not!" Jaune insisted. "We wouldn't want to impose!"

    "We have no money for lodging under the scholarship terms," Ren said blandly.

    "And camping out can be fun!" Nora cheered. "Ooh! Ooh! Let's sing a song! How about 'The Campfire Song?'"

    "We did that a hundred times already," Jaune groaned.

    "But we're getting so good at it!" Nora whined.

    Katherine smiled and winked at Blake, before looking to the three homeless students.

    "Actually, I do need your help," she said. "Blake needs your help."

    Jaune looked at her, immediately concerned. She had to admit, she liked how quickly he reacted like that.

    "What's wrong?"

    "Blake is doing some part-time work at my sister-in-law's bakery and cafe," Katherine said, and Blake knew well enough to not react with shock at that. "She has little experience with doing normal work. The kind that doesn't involve killing Grimm. They're very understaffed. You would get to work, and get to stay in their spare bedroom over the bakery. What do you say?"

    Jaune looked over at his team members in some concern. Nora, suddenly serious, held up her hand. Katherine smiled.

    "Yes Nora?"

    "Would we be able to make pancakes?" She asked.

    Katherine's lips twitched, as she kept her amusement in check.

    "They have a very extensive pancake menu, as it turns out," she said.

    Nora grinned.

    "I'm sold!"

    Ren nodded.

    "It sounds agreeable," he said. "No offense, Jaune, but I have gotten used to showers and indoor plumbing."

    "You and me both," Jaune chuckled. He walked up to Katherine and nodded. He turned to Blake and smiled kindly. His manly, rugged scent washed over her nostrils.

    "You all right with us as fellow employees, Blake?"

    Blake nodded slowly. Honestly, her Aunt Kitty was right: She'd been isolated for a very long time. Maybe trying something new like this would help her mission… And help her.

    "Yes, please."

    Jaune grinned at Katherine.

    "Well, I guess we're all in, Mrs. Zapatos! So… What kind of bakery and cafe is this?"

    Katherine smiled, far too smugly.

    - - -

    The Just Right bakery and cafe was a very popular business, located in Goldentine proper. It had a more streamlined architectural style, meant to evoke the dining cars of trains that were popular in the years before and after the Great War. Chrome dominated the exterior, in sleek Neo-Futuristic design language. Inside, it was more organic: Wooden booths and tables, seastone tiling on the floor, and well placed bookshelves and plants to give it a homey feel. The wooden furniture inside was similarly shaped to work with the design language, adding organic warmth to the bakery's rocket age lines.

    Coco Vadel stepped into the diner, chatting amicably with a friend from outside Beacon. They turned… And stopped in shock.

    Blake Belladonna, wearing a Valean Maid outfit, sighed as she stood in front of them.

    "Welcome to the Just Right Bakery and Cafe, Nyah. We are trying out Mistralian style maid and butler service with our servers, nyah. Please follow me to be seated, nyah."

    Coco blinked. She then held up her Scroll. Blake's glare intensified.

    "Don't you dare-"

    Click.

    "COCO!"

    "I don't know what she's upset about," Nora commented cheerfully, in her own maid outfit, as Ren (in a butler's uniform) flipped pancakes behind the counter, "This is the best job I've ever had!"

    "It's the only job we've ever had," Ren reminded her.

    "WINNER BY DEFAULT!"

    Jaune, at another booth, was serving Katherine and the blonde proprietress of the establishment coffee in his own butler uniform. The woman was tall, muscular, and had curly, blonde hair in a well kept bun. She was dressed in a blue dress with poofy sleeves, over which was a clean but well worn white apron. She snorted as Jaune poured them coffee and presented her with pastries.

    She sipped the coffee, then carefully chewed the pastry as Jaune waited. She nodded with a smile.

    "Not bad, lad. I think you, Pinkie, and Greenie will work out," she said, then nodded over at the frustrated Blake, "But you sure the Kitty Princess is up to this sort of work?"

    "She'll be okay, Mrs. Perrito." Jaune insisted.

    "Just call me 'Goldie', lad, everyone else does," Goldie chuckled, "Still, you sure?"

    "We'll all help her, promise," Jaune said with a confident smile.

    "Indeed," Kitty said with a smile and a sip of her coffee, "And it will be hilarious."

    - - -

    Obviously Dorothy and her companions are a reference to the Wizard of Oz. We'll see more of Goldie and her cafe (and family) in some future chapters.

    Hey, Kitty Softpaws may have retired from being a thief, but she's still got her claws.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • AndrewJTalon said:
    Blake Belladonna, wearing a Valean Maid outfit, sighed as she stood in front of them.

    "Welcome to the Just Right Bakery and Cafe, Nyah. We are trying out Mistralian style maid and butler service with our servers, nyah. Please follow me to be seated, nyah."

    Coco blinked. She then held up her Scroll. Blake's glare intensified.

    "Don't you dare-"

    Click.

    "COCO!"
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    You go, Coco!

    AndrewJTalon said:
    Jaune, at another booth, was serving Katherine and the blonde proprietress of the establishment coffee in his own butler uniform.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Weiss ought to love this.

    Thanks for the chapter!
     
    Omake: The Uniform
  • Extras
    • Blake: "Ugh! This is absolutely humiliating and degrading! I-I'm being exploited!"

    Goldie: "Yes... You... You have a point there, lassie?"

    Blake: "What is this supposed to teach me aside from a human cynically using racist tropes to make money?!"

    Goldie: "Humility and a different perspective. But if you're not up fer it... YO! KID!"

    Jaune: "Yes?"

    Goldie: "Get in the maid outfit and put on these cat ears!"

    Jaune: "Right boss!"

    Blake: "Wait what?!"

    Later...

    Jaune: "I'll be right with you Master, nyah~!"

    Blake: "That... This is so offensive..."

    Nora: "Are you sure you're not just upset that he's more popular than you?"

    Blake: "I AM NOT!"

    She totally is.
     
  • Extras
    • Forty-Three
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    Like most of Remnant's megacities, Vale was a mixture of the ancient and the futuristic. For every old preserved building of an old style, there were holographic roadsigns. For every bridge built before the Great War, there were hovertrains passing to and fro as part of the vast public transit system.

    And for every decrepit, abandoned relic of a building, there was an access point into the CCNet that provided telephone, internet, and communication service across the entire kingdom.

    A young woman with chocolate dark skin and long platinum hair sat back in the ruined,crumbling building. She was dressed in a purple pinstripe suit, accentuating her generous curves and athletic build. She sat on a hastily provided folding chair, one leg crossed over the other, as she watched two technicians at work on the floor with laser torches. At her side stood a slick-looking young man in a black, pinstripe suit and fedora. He leaned on a cane, his black eyes shining behind a simple gasmask that concealed his features.

    The technicians finished cutting, and as one, the three men lifted the block of concrete, and tossed it aside. The lead nodded to the woman.

    "We're all set, ma'am."

    "Excellent," the woman said, "Let's hurry. You have fifty seconds."

    One pulled out a holographic projector, while the other produced a tap. Dutifully, he pressed the tap device into the access point. The young woman leaned forward, her all-black suit a stark contrast with the shimmer of her hair.

    "Codes are in, we're connected, ma'am," the technician reported. The young woman smiled.

    "Then let's not keep him waiting," she said in a soft, melodious tone. She nodded to the third tech.

    The other tech placed the holographic projector into the tap. After a few moments of fiddling, they produced a holographic screen that slowly rotated before the trio. A moment later, a blonde man with green eyes and a thin chin appeared. He nervously adjusted his Atlasian military uniform. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he took a swig of alcohol to calm his nerves.

    "Major Aldebert Hiss, Atlaesian Logistics Division," the woman spoke, her blue eyes narrowed as she smiled in delight, "My associates tell me you have obtained the package."

    "It's been dropped off at the wrong Valean depot," the major reported nervously, "Right where I said it would be. It wasn't easy, but I got you your Paladin."

    The young woman leaned forward, smirking slightly.

    "Along with the schematics, fuel, and ammo, I trust?"

    "Y-Yes, it's all there!" The major insisted.

    The woman looked over to her slick looking companion. He held up his Scroll, and listened to a voice on the other end. He turned to the woman and nodded.

    "Everything is as it should be," he said, "Our people have it."

    "You've done well, Major Hiss," the woman smirked. "I also trust any tracking devices have been disabled on the mech?"

    "Yes, everything," Hiss insisted, "It-It will just look like it fell off into the ocean! I swear!"

    "You of course won't mind if I have my people do a thorough check on that, of course," the young lady said, almost kindly. The major shook his head.

    "Anything, anything... Is... Is that all? Is my debt repaid?"

    The young woman laughed softly.

    "Oh my dear Aldebert... My predecessors were content to just have you drop some gunrunners a free shipment from time to time. Me? Well... We all have our masters, and mine wants more. Much more."

    Hiss glared, the sweat dripping down his forehead.

    "You can't-I can't do more than what I've done! A Paladin alone is enough to-!"

    "Enough to what, Aldebert?" The woman asked, silk wrapped in steel, "To reveal that you got so far into debt betting on underground death matches you've had to betray your country? Your uniform?"

    "You don't understand the oaths I took, the honor I have-!"

    "What honor?" The woman scoffed. "If you were half the patriot you pretend to be, you'd go right up to General Ironwood and admit everything."

    Hiss glared. The woman remained utterly serene, even as her compatriots tensed.

    "Go ahead, Hiss. Show me the true hero underneath all that mediocrity," the woman pressed, "Show me you're actually a man and not just a bitter little boy who got in over his head and now will do anything to avoid the consequences. Go ahead. Go right now."

    She leaned forward, pink eyes glinting menacingly.

    "Go ahead."

    Hiss gritted his teeth... And sagged, looking down at the floor. The woman laughed softly.

    "See? We both know just what kind of man you are. But I promise... I will be a kind master. It's the least I can do for such a useful man," the woman purred. The major blushed.

    "I uh... I appreciate that..."

    "Don't worry," the woman said soothingly, "Your debts will be erased. Like it never even happened. One of my associates will be by to see you shortly. All sorts of new opportunities are now open to you... As long as you remember who your mistress is."

    She smirked.

    "Who is that, Adelbert?"

    "... You, Mistress," Hiss murmured.

    "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you-"

    "You, Mistress!" Hiss said loudly. The woman nodded.

    "Good. Now. I suggest you set about finding me some more useful things, mm?"

    "Of course, Mistress," Hiss replied. The woman made a cutting motion with her hand, and the feed was terminated.

    "Get to the van, go about your business," the woman said. The three technicians bowed, and hurried out, leaving the woman and her slick companion behind in the stillness of the ruins. At last, he spoke.

    "Are you sure you want to keep him alive, Mistress? He turns and he could do a lot of damage to us and the Fire Lady."

    The woman chuckled and stood up. The young man took the chair up and folded it into a briefcase, as the woman danced about around the abandoned building floor.

    She spun around like a child, grinning with glee at the shafts of light that shone down through the holes in the roof.

    "Oh my dear Turpen... He knows who his Mistress is. He's a weak man in a hard culture. He keeps up appearances while being soft on the inside. His usefulness will end... But not now."

    She spun around and beamed at him, her hands behind her back.

    "When he stops being useful? Then you'll get to kill him."

    Turpen nodded. He hesitated, and the woman tilted her head curiously.

    "Mm?"

    "The other matter," he said, "I didn't want to say it in front of anyone. Here? There's no one."

    He produced his Scroll, and handed it to her. She took it into her hands, and hit play on a video file. Valean cops were escorting a group of colorfully attired teenagers out through a chainlink fence to a waiting Bullhead.

    "-Lisa Lavender reporting, our reporters in the field were able to get some glimpses of some Beacon students involved in the incident at the docks-"

    She hit pause, her breathing accelerating. She licked her lips as she grinned. Her eyes shone brightly, helped by the glow of the Scroll screen.

    Before her was a still of a familiar blond teenager in a green cloak and white armor. He had glanced at the camera, briefly, so briefly... Yet there was absolutely no mistake.

    "It's him," she whispered, running a finger down the screen over the face, "It's him... He made it. I knew he made it..."

    She looked up at Turpen.

    "He's in Vale then?"

    "A student at Beacon," Turpen reported quietly. "Do you want him eliminated-URK!"

    In a split second, the woman was squeezing his throat hard enough to stagger him. He gaped in horror as his Mistress' eyes blazed in fury.

    "NO ONE TOUCHES HIM, UNDERSTAND?!" She seethed. Turpen managed a desperate nod as the edges of his vision began to go black. His Mistress finally let him collapse to the floor. He breathed hard, rubbing his sore throat as his Mistress went back to caressing the Scroll screen.

    "No... No, my darling requires a more... Delicate approach," she giggled, "Only the best for him~. A warrior like him... No. He needs a chance to cut loose."

    Her face darkened as she got a look at the various teenaged girls around the subject of her desire.

    "A chance to see how much better I am than those whores," she snarled. "And when I do...? Oh, we'll be together forever! His wonderful violence, his heart, his body... It will all be mine."

    She giggled girlishly, and held the Scroll to her chest with a happy sigh.

    "Don't you worry, Jaune... Your Iridescent is here. Your Iridescent... Is coming for you."

    - - -

    Yup. She's back.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Iridescent AI Art
  • Extras
    • Tried my hand at making Iridescent in AI. This is the best I've gotten for her so far: The anime styles are hit or miss. But I'll keep working on it.

    QDGOUAvvSummE8AXPXIMoQ.webp


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  • Extras
    • Forty-Four
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    Patch

    - - -

    Taiyang Xiaolong had gotten a cheap but well-built log cabin on the outskirts of Patch. He'd gotten a great deal on the property, too: Clearing the area of Grimm and protecting the workmen himself had let him pay it off in no time. Taiyang wasn't particularly interested in architecture, mind you: He just thought log cabins were neat, and his then-bride Raven Branwen had not really cared as long as they had a roof over their heads.

    Summer Rose had brought more of a woman's touch into the place, a touch Taiyang had tried to keep after her death. Warm wood paneling and floorboards, tasteful decor, and as many pictures of their little family as could be placed on the walls.

    Yet between Qrow's eternal bachelor ways and Taiyang's rough take on domesticity, it was little surprise that a room was dedicated to nothing but clutter. Here, in between piles of papers, books, and miscellaneous did Ruby Rose sit and sort.

    Ruby stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth as she sorted through yet another stack of papers and books. She sat, cross-legged, in her family home in her socks, shorts, and T-shirt. She looked through them, sorting them neatly into piles nearby like pieces of her beloved Crescent Rose for maintenance.

    She found a photo of a teenaged Summer Rose, grinning for the camera, and gently set it aside. Ruby's eyes lingered on it for a moment, before she scowled.

    "Ugh... This would be so much easier if I even knew what I was looking for," Ruby muttered.

    "You could always ask."

    "EEP!" Ruby jumped three free into the air, her Huntress reflexes letting her land in a crouch. She looked up in shock at her father, who smiled languidly from the door.

    "Need something, Pumpkin?"

    "I..."

    Ruby grimaced. Honestly? She wasn't sure how to bring it up.

    "If it's about Jaune-"

    "You know about Jaune?!" Ruby blurted out, cheeks going bright red. Taiyang laughed.

    "Yang tells me everything."

    Ruby scowled, glaring down at the floor with an angry blush.

    "Why do I never learn?" She muttered angrily, "She always tattles."

    Taiyang sat down with his youngest daughter and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She pulled away at first, but finally acquiesced and laid her head against his broad chest.

    "You... You aren't mad?" She asked quietly.

    "He seems like a nice kid," Taiyang said, "Though... Competing with your sister? That's uh... That's rough."

    Ruby scowled.

    "If one of us gets him, we both win," she insisted. She looked up. "Weren't you like that with... With Yang's mom and Mom?"

    Taiyang was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting far away. Ruby, concerned, bit her lower lip and put her hand on her father's arm.

    "Dad? Dad, are you... I'm really sorry-"

    Taiyang laughed and rubbed Ruby's back.

    "No, no! I... It still hurts, but in hindsight? Yeah. I was an idiot to not notice their feelings for me," he chuckled. "Hell, your mom had to basically tie me up and-"

    "ACK!" Ruby cried, pulling away and covering her ears. "Nonono! I don't need to hear that-I really don't-!"

    Taiyang laughed again and ruffled his daughter's hair. She pouted at him.

    "That said," Taiyang resumed, "I'm glad you're being mature about this. He seems like a decent person."

    "He... He really is," Ruby said quietly. "He did save my life."

    "Good," Taiyang said with a nod, "Just don't make me a grandpa until you're married and he's got his trust fund."

    Ruby gaped at him.

    "DAD!" She cried, slapping his arm. Taiyang laughed.

    "What? I'm just thinking about your future!" He teased. Ruby huffed.

    "I like him for more than that!"

    "I know, I know, but it's just so easy to tease you," Taiyang chuckled, "Ah..." His eyes locked onto a photo of Summer as a teen, atop one of the many piles of paperwork Ruby had been sorting through.

    "She would have loved to have been able to do that to you," he said, "She was sweet, but when she let loose? Geez. I'd have preferred to have been hit by her scythe!"

    Ruby stared at the photo for a moment.

    "Do... Do you think Mom would have approved?"

    Taiyang snorted.

    "She'd probably be concerned that her girls were after another blonde, oblivious doofus, but... Yeah. She'd be very proud of you, Ruby. I know she would."

    Ruby slowly nodded. Her father gave her a side long look.

    "Is that why you're in here?" Taiyang asked quietly, "Trying to learn more about her?"

    "Well... Yeah," Ruby said, "But uh... I mean, there's... Something important I wanted to know. I'm just not really sure how to ask, cause it sounds... "

    She wringed her hands together for a moment.

    "Crazy."

    Taiyang raised an eyebrow.

    "How crazy?"

    Ruby sucked in a breath.

    "The... I mean... Well..."

    She trailed off. She then fixed her father with a serious look.

    "Don't laugh."

    "I'm not," Taiyang said calmly.

    "Did... Could Mom ever do... Like... Stuff with her eyes?" Ruby asked awkwardly. Taiyang remained silent, his face still.

    "What happened?" Taiyang asked, calm and steady. That helped Ruby a lot. She looked down at the carpeted floor.

    "I... In Forever Fall, I was hurt and alone," she said, "I... I was so scared I was gonna die."

    Taiyang instinctively reached out to pull Ruby into a tight hug, and she instinctively hugged him back. She sighed softly, then pressed on.

    "I just stared at all these creepy Vermin and Reynard and Beowulves, and I shouted at them... My eyes burned... And they all turned into stone and fell apart," she said quietly. "I passed out. Jaune and Blake saved me. I... I didn't know what it was. I wondered if maybe I dreamed it?"

    She looked up into her father's eyes.

    "Did I dream it?" She asked in a soft tone.

    Taiyang was silent, his face almost grim. He then gently pulled away and stood up. He walked over to the closet in the spare room, and opened it up. Slowly, he rummaged around, tossing some old clothes over his shoulders to clear the way. Ruby stood up, curious. She made out a small safe in the back of the clutter, guarded by some rolled-up carpets and the pieces of Yang's childhood bike. He unlocked the safe, and slowly pulled out something, before he swung the safe door shut and locked it back up.

    He turned and walked the few steps back to Ruby over the piles of junk, before he sat down with her. He held up a small, leather bound journal. It had an insignia on it-A silver rose.

    "Your mother asked me to hold onto this," Taiyang said softly, "She wanted to tell you all about it herself, when the time was right. But, given how dangerous her job and... Well... Her eyes? She wrote this up. Qrow, Raven, and me are the only other people who know about it."

    He gave her a deadly serious look.

    "Ruby, have you told anyone else about this?"

    Ruby shook her head, her heart pounding in her ears.

    "No."

    "Good," Taiyang sighed softly. He looked his youngest daughter right in the eyes.

    "Ruby, this is very important. Only people you trust completely can be allowed to know about your eyes. Eventually, it might become impossible to hide, but you need to keep it a secret as long as you can, all right? Do you promise to keep it a secret?"

    Ruby slowly nodded, too shocked by her normally goofy father's shift in mood to protest.

    "Yeah, I-I promise."

    "Good," Taiyang said softly. He hesitated, staring down at the journal, before he held it between them. "Your mother only talked a little about her family. Her grandmother was the last of her line. Once, they'd been a whole clan. But their numbers had dwindled over the centuries. They were... They were hunted down."

    "Hunted?" Ruby asked, silver eyes widening, "Hunted by who?"

    "The Grimm," Taiyang said darkly, "And people who wanted to use them as weapons. Or deny other people from using them as weapons. The point is..." He paused, "The point is, your mother was the last of a very long line of what were called Silver Eyed Warriors. Their Silver Eyes let them do incredible things. Kill Grimm with a look, neutralize their abilities, and maybe even other powers."

    "Other powers?" Ruby asked, a bit too overwhelmed to ask anything else.

    "They lost a lot of their lore. Apparently they used to serve the ancient Warrior Kings of Vale, and the Emerald Emperor before then," Taiyang said, shaking his head, "There isn't a lot of history available on them. Just that they were powerful anti-Grimm warriors. There are people who use the Grimm, worship them, who tried to destroy the Silver Eyed Warriors. There are also kingdoms and factions that tried to kidnap them and make them into their personal weapons. Or worse, experiment on them to figure out how their powers worked. In the end... They were hunted down and destroyed."

    He looked upon his daughter with a grave look, as she trembled.

    "You... You might be the last one, Ruby," he said quietly. Ruby trembled again, tears welling up in her eyes.

    "Was... Was Mom killed for her-?"

    "I don't know," Taiyang said quietly, rubbing the small of her back as she clung to him, "It's possible. That's why you need to keep this secret, Ruby."

    A memory flashed in her mind, and she looked up at her father in shock.

    "Ozpin... Professor Ozpin talked about my eyes," she murmured, "Does that mean he knows-?"

    "He does," Taiyang nodded, "He knew about your mother."

    Ruby's eyes widened in horror.

    "Does that mean he-?!"

    "No! No, no," Taiyang interjected, holding his daughter tightly, "He never tried to do anything bad to your mother. He did ask her to share her knowledge of her eyes with him to better fight the Grimm." He shook his head.

    "He got a little obsessive at times. So much so we had to make him back down, and remember she wasn't just a weapon."

    "O-Oh," Ruby murmured, calming down just a little. Taiyang smiled and continued to rub circles into her back.

    "He's on the side of the angels Ruby, really. But he's been at this for a very long time. He doesn't fully trust anyone with the whole truth. You need to be careful around him, all right? I don't mean be paranoid or fearful of him, but... Remember that he's not always right. And always have your friends with you when you talk to him about anything important. Okay?"

    "I... Okay," Ruby managed. "I'm sorry, it's... It's a lot to handle."

    "I know it is sweetie, I know," Taiyang murmured, "But I know you can do it. You can get through this. And you can help a LOT of people. Just remember... You don't have to sacrifice everything for the world if you don't have to."

    Ruby stared up at her father.

    "What... What about Mom?"

    Taiyang sighed.

    "I don't know, Ruby... But she wouldn't have given her life if it wasn't important enough to do so," he said softly. "Just as I know you won't do the same. All right?"

    Ruby managed a firm nod, despite the tears coming from her red eyes. Taiyang held her tightly, murmuring soothing nonsense into her ear.

    She didn't know how long they sat there, her thoughts slowly collecting and collating. She stared at the journal again.

    "... Can we... Can we read it together?" She asked quietly. "I-I mean... It's not going to-to blast you with magic or anything if you're with me?"

    Taiyang smiled.

    "Even if it did? I'd be right there with you," he said.

    Ruby smiled, a bit more relaxed. Her eyes focused on the photo of her mother for a moment. She turned her eyes back to her father and nodded.

    "Okay..."

    They opened up the journal together and began to read.

    Ruby, if you are reading this, it's because I am dead. I am so sorry. I wanted to teach you about this properly, like my parents taught me, and their parents taught them. I left this with your father just in case anything happened.

    Your eyes are a great gift... And a great burden. I wish I was here to help you carry it, but I know that you will find people who will walk with you. I know that your father, your sister, your uncle Qrow, and other friends you make will be with you every step of the way.

    Even if you feel like you're all alone, we will always be with you. Because we all love you. I love you.

    Now, here's what you need to know about the Silver Eyed Warriors...

    - - -

    The canon is well and truly off the rails now.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Forty-Five
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    It had been hours, but it felt like days. It was amazing just how introverted a person was when they were forced to interact with people over and over again.

    "Miss, you're so cute, can we get a photo?"

    Blake sighed and forced a smile.

    "Sure... Nyah," she managed. She tolerated the two teenaged boys getting a selfie with her on their Scroll. One's hand slid down from her shoulders, a little too close... She tensed, ready to break his arm-

    "HEY!"

    Both boys jumped. Goldie walked over to them, glaring. She really was very tall, and her eyes blazed.

    "Don't you think about it or I'll knock yer bloody teeth out!" She snarled. The teenagers winced.

    "We're sorry, Mrs. Perrito-!"

    "Can it and get going, or I'll tell yer mothers!" She snarled. The two teenagers bolted, the door to the cafe ringing loudly as they ran off. Goldie shook her head, and turned a softer look over onto Blake. For a moment, Blake remembered her mother.

    "Sorry bout that. Horny teens, aye?" She looked Blake up and down in her maid's outfit. "You holdin' up there, Kitty Kat?"

    "I... I'm fine," Blake said quietly. "I've done worse..."

    She trailed off and looked aside. Goldie glanced around the bakery-It was fairly quiet this late in the evening. Ren and Nora were cooking in the kitchen. Jaune was sweeping up nearby some businessmen who were talking over coffee. It was all irrelevant.

    All just so... Domestic.

    "Yeah," Goldie said with a slow nod. "Anyway, you've probably had enough fer the night. I gotta get home. Mama 'n Papa are watchin' the pups, but I gotta close up soon."

    Blake blinked in surprise.

    "Pups?"

    "Goldie, honey!"

    Blake turned and frowned deeply. Through the front door came Perrito in yet another strange sweater. He beamed happily and spread his arms out wide for a hug. Blake recoiled, then glanced over at Goldie. Her eyes widened.

    Wha-?!

    Goldie was a woman who had, at first look, seemed carved of stone. She was tall, strong, rough, decent enough, but she hadn't so much as cracked a smile the entire time they were here. Blake was good at reading body language-She had to be.

    And yet... In a moment, Goldie was beaming and blushing like a newlywed on her wedding night.

    Wait... What?!

    "Darling~!" She cried, practically leaping forward to embrace the shorter dog Faunus. They engaged in a heartfelt but still disgusting kiss. Blake glanced over at Jaune, who winced. Yeah, it was a bit unsettling, like seeing her parents make out.

    Oh, yes. The twitch in his eyes. There was the commiseration.

    "Mwah! I missed you, my sweet puppy-wuppy-lovey-dovey~," Goldie simpered, after breaking the kiss to nuzzle him, "Are you all right, darling? You weren't delayed by any hoodlums again? Just one word and me and the family'll wreck 'em all!"

    Perrito patted his wife's hand with a warm smile, and nuzzled her back.

    "No, nothing like that," Perrito chuckled, "It's all right! Mama said the same thing, but all the gangsters I ran into were really nice! One said I had a great sweater!"

    "Well of course!" Goldie chuckled, "I knit it meself!"

    Goldie caught Blake's look, and grinned at her. She wrapped her shorter husband's arm around her waist as they walked up to her.

    "Honey, you remember Blake Belladonna?"

    "Oh yes! The cat who isn't part of those White Fang meanies anymore!" Perrito said cheerfully. "I like your maid outfit! You look like you work great with white and blake!"

    "I... Thank you?" Blake managed. She blinked and looked between them. "You two are... Married?"

    "Twenty wonderful years with the most wonderful woman in the world!" Perrito chirped. Goldie flushed and covered a cheek with a hand.

    "Oh you~...!"

    "With five children!" Perrito said happily. "I want to bring them to meet you! They love cat Faunus! Seeing as their uncle, aunt, cousins, and grandmother are cat Faunus! And their grandpa, but..." He face fell a bit. "Oh... I made myself sad."

    Goldie hugged him.

    "It's all right sweetie. What delayed you?" She asked.

    Perrito perked up.

    "Oh! Oh, I forgot! Oh geez... Oh hey!" He smiled at Jaune. "Jaune Arc?"

    "Uh, yeah, that's me," Jaune said, confused. Perrito beamed.

    "I met some new clients today-They're wonderful people, really special! They went through some Grimm attacks and they talked about you!"

    Jaune blinked several times.

    "Er... They did?" He asked in worry. Perrito's head bobbed up and down rapidly.

    "Yeah! They said you really changed their lives! I was wondering if you would be okay with meeting with them? Just for a little while? It would be a big help!"

    Blake saw the worried tension in Jaune's shoulders. It was familiar to her as well. If he'd crossed paths with Roman Torchwick in the past, who knew what might come after him next?

    Still... He put on a smile and nodded.

    "Sure, if you think it would help?"

    "Course it will help, Perrito's the best at helping!" Goldie said happily. Perrito blushed and kissed his wife on her cheek.

    "Aw, you're always so nice, Goldie."

    "Course I'm nice, yer my bloody husband!"

    Perrito nodded again, and broke from his wife (reluctantly) to go to the door. He opened it and waved for some people to come in.

    Jaune tensed. Blake sniffed. The scent was... Human, a bit agitated...

    A tall man in farming gear wearing a cowboy hat entered. His face was dark from hard work under the sun, covered by a beard. Trailing behind him was a little girl in a nice if simple pink dress. She looked out from behind the farmer... And brightened.

    "The Knight!" She cried happily. She rushed up to Jaune and hugged him around his legs. She grinned up at him with brown eyes and freckles over her cheeks. "You're the Knight who saved us!"

    Jaune was surprised, pleased, and relieved. He knelt down and smiled, hugging the little girl.

    "Hey! I'm so glad you two are safe," he said, looking up at the farmer. He smiled back gratefully as he walked up to Jaune. The young man stood up, holding the little girl in his arms, as he shook the farmer's hand.

    "I wasn't even sure it was you, until now," he admitted, "Doctor Perrito here was doing counseling in our village. We've rebuilt but, with how Grimm are..." He chuckled. "Thank you, son. We'd have been dead without you."

    "Are you a super Knight who kills Grimm and isn't afraid of anything?" The little girl asked eagerly. Jaune shook his head, still beaming.

    "Nah. I just do what I can," he said modestly. He glanced over at Blake.

    She had been staring intently at the scene. It was just too wholesome not to watch. But she'd begun to pull away, uncomfortable at being in such a sappy situation. It didn't seem like she should be there.

    Jaune, of course, had to think otherwise.

    "But over there is Blake," Jaune said with a smile, "She's a friend who's saved my life, too! She's an awesome Huntress!"

    He lowered his voice in a stage whisper.

    "She's also a ninja. A super cool ninja. But don't let it get around."

    "A NINJA?!" The little girl cheered. She leaped out of Jaune's arms and ran up to Blake, grinning eagerly. "Are you a super cool ninja? Really? Really?!"

    Blake coughed, but managed a smile down at the little girl. Her enthusiasm was infectious.

    "Well... Yes, I am."

    "Can you do Shadow Clones or super jutsu?!" The little girl asked happily. Blake let her Semblance speak for her, stepping away and leaving a Shadow Clone in her wake. The little girl's eyes bugged out in amazement.

    "SO COOOOOL!"

    "It is, isn't it?" Blake asked, her smile growing just a little.

    - - -

    Thankfully, the little girl (named Madison) was easily tired out this late in the day. And her father (Willis) had to get back to his village. Finally, Goldie had to close up shop. Ren and Nora had managed to clean up the kitchen without too much trouble, though there were a few bottles of syrup missing. Nora had insisted she had nothing to do with it... Then Jaune had Ren bonk her, and she confessed.

    She'd be working an extra shift for that, but Goldie and Perrito wanted to get home to their children. The teenagers went upstairs to the bedroom. It was simple but comfortable: Four cots with a couch and table. Not much, but a lot more comfortable than a tent would be.

    Nora and Ren engaged in a high stakes video game tournament (For Nora, Ren looked as stoic as ever), while Blake relaxed with a bit of reading. Jaune went out from the restroom to the balcony. By and by, Nora tired and passed out. Ren dutifully carried her to a cot, and tried to relieve himself of his burden... But Nora hung on tenaciously, and they ended up sleeping together.

    Blake hid her smirk. Ren's lack of expression was very entertaining.

    She got up and walked out onto the balcony. She looked over at Jaune, who was staring away from the shattered moon and at his Scroll.

    "You're going to want to go to sleep soon," she said softly. He started, and looked over at her. He nodded slowly.

    "Yeah... Just looking over some things," he admitted. Blake peered over his shoulder-There was a picture of Madison, dressed in a green blanket for a cloak and wielding a cardboard shield and sword in a laundry basket. She smiled softly as Jaune's face turned red.

    "She uh... Her dad sent me pictures," he said, "She likes playing Knight now."

    Blake nodded.

    "It's... It's cute," she said quietly.

    "Yeah..." He chuckled. "Reminds me a little of my sisters. Some of them acted younger than me at times..."

    "Can I ask you a question?" Blake asked.

    Jaune raised an eyebrow.

    "Didn't you already-?"

    Blake narrowed her eyes. Even a voracious reader like her hated grammar pendants.

    Jaune held up his hands.

    "Right, right, sorry. Go ahead."

    "Why did you pull me into it? With Madison?" Blake asked. Jaune shrugged.

    "You looked like you needed a break," he said, "You know. A cute little kid seeing how amazing you are."

    Blake flushed.

    "That's all?"

    Jaune nodded.

    "That's all." He shrugged. "I mean... It's pretty clear this wasn't your idea. But you're doing it anyway. I just... I wanted to cheer you up. Did... Did it work?"

    Blake slowly nodded, and let out a soft laugh. Jaune blinked.

    "What?" He asked.

    "You. One moment, you're a commanding captain, a knight who fights without fear. Then you're some punk who mocks the heiress of the most powerful company in the world to her face. And now... You're a gigantic dork who is utterly oblivious."

    "Hey," Jaune protested, "I'm not that oblivious... I think. What's your point?"

    Blake shook her head and smiled softly at him.

    "Nothing," she said. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "But you're a dangerous man, Jaune Arc. I hope you know that."

    She turned and walked back into the room. She got into her bed, and pulled the covers up over herself, her book, and her Scroll. Jaune stared after her, and shook his head slowly.

    "Women," he muttered.

    His inner Gato chuckled.

    You are learning faster than most that it is futile to make sense of them, Juan.

    "Yeah, but that doesn't give me any options to deal with them," Jaune muttered.

    Nonsense Juan. They simply use a logic all their own, Gato said, You wanted to be a hero, si? This kind of challenge is part of it. Why not romance her too, mm?

    "I already have three dates to plan for," Jaune groaned.

    Well then, no time to waste! His inner Gato laughed.

    Jaune sighed, resting his chin on his hands as he looked out over the lights of Vale. They seemed to reflect the stars above, a miniature universe all its own.

    "I don't even know if I'm just going crazy, talking to you," Jaune muttered.

    Perhaps you are. Perhaps you are not. But! Over worrying about one's sanity is counterproductive, Juan, his inner Gato said, If I am helping, then perhaps you are fine.

    "I hope so," Jaune muttered.

    Give yourself more credit, Juan. Women love a man with confidence.

    "And yet here I am with three dates and a teasing catgirl."

    ... Touché.

    - - -
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Omake: Pyrrha's Request
  • Extras
    • Before the start of the semester break...

    Pyrrha: "Nora? I have a favor to ask of you."

    Nora: "Sure, Pyrrha!"

    Pyrrha: "Please... Will you and Ren look after Jaune?"

    Nora: "Of course! We're gonna camp together and be hobos!"

    Pyrrha: "Oh good... And you're going to keep him away from any whores?!"

    Nora: "Sure thing! He wants to save money so we'll keep him away from hookers!"

    Pyrrha: "I... No, I mean away from other girls? Like you do with Ren?"

    Nora: "... So, you want me to break the knees of any girls who try to romance Jaune-Jaune?"

    Pyrrha: "Yes."

    Jaune: "No, no she's not going to." He bonks Pyrrha on the head "No. Bad."

    Pyrrha: "Ow! So... You mean you won't cheat on me~?"

    Jaune: "We're not together!"

    Pyrrha: "Oh Jaune, that hurts, but I will win your heart~!"

    Jaune: sighs "Maybe. But no knee breaking, Nora!"

    Nora: "Okey dokey!"

    Jaune leaves.

    Pyrrha: "... Can you get me nude photos of Jaune?"

    Nora: "I dunno... I usually just take photos of Ren for myself." Holds up her Scroll "See?"

    Pyrrha: "Oh... My... I like the lighting?"

    Nora: "He never seems to notice the mirrors!"
     
  • Extras
    • Forty-Six
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    Sleeping in was a luxury Blake indulged in whenever possible. It pleased her instincts in a way she could never really articulate. She snuggled into her blankets and glorified in their warmth and softness. She was practically purring.

    And then her cot was unceremoniously tilted up and she was sent to the wooden floor in a heap.

    "Oof!"

    She looked up in shock and anger as Nora Valkyrie grinned over her.

    "Time to get up, Kitty Kat!"

    "It's the weekend," Blake moaned, and checked her Scroll, "We don't have to be up for another hour..."

    "Ren and Jaune-Jaune are already up!" Nora said, happy and cheerful, "And since they are, I thought we'd have some girl talk! Just you and me!"

    Blake blinked in confusion as she stood up.

    "Okay... I need to get ready-"

    "Sure thing!" Nora chirped, "Bathroom's all clear!"

    She sighed and made her way to the single bathroom. It was very cheaply assembled, just a toilet, a sink with a mirror, and a cheap bathtub, but it was more than enough. She stepped inside and started the water in the sink. She rummaged for her toothbrush.

    "All right," she began slowly, "What do you want to talk about-?"

    She looked up into the mirror and froze. Nora was grinning with narrowed eyes, right beside her.

    How did I not notice-?!

    Nora wrapped an arm around Blake's shoulders, holding her with an iron grip the cat Faunus couldn't escape. She could feel the hum of electrical power through Nora's skin and saw sparks in her eyes. Blake was familiar with people holding back their rage-And Nora's was literally crackling right under her skin.

    "Kitty Kat," Nora began, "I get that you've had a rough life. Renny and me? We've had a rough life too. Bad things have happened to all of us. But me? I've only ever had Renny."

    Blake slowly nodded, forcing herself to remain calm even as her hair began to stand on end.

    "Then we came to Beacon. We met some great people—wonderful people, like Jaune-Jaune. He takes us seriously. He cares about us. And we care about him," Nora said, still grinning but her voice soft and deadly, "He's the kind of person who would sacrifice everything for us without a second thought. He's like our big brother. Probably cuz he has like, seven sisters and he's really good at that!"

    "Y-Yes," Blake managed, as Nora's grip tightened almost painfully.

    "So I'm kinda peeved that you dragged him into a fight that could have gotten him killed without us," Nora said.

    Blake shook her head.

    "I-I told him he didn't have to come-"

    "But he did. He would," Nora said, even more softly, "Because that's who he is. So... If you ever endanger Jaune-Jaune like that again because you wanna get back at your old friends? We'll have another girl talk!

    Her eyes blazed.

    "With my hammer! Got it?"

    Blake very slowly nodded.

    "... I won't," she said quietly, "I-I promise."

    Nora's smile lost its edge and Blake's hair fell back down as the voltage in the air dropped. Nora patted Blake on the back.

    "Great to hear! Now come on! Renny and Jaune-Jaune are working out, and we don't wanna miss it!"

    She practically skipped away. Blake watched her go, still trembling. She took a few deep breaths.

    Okay... Maybe I should start paying more attention to my fellow students, she thought.

    - - -

    Behind the Just Right Bakery and Cafe was a relatively clean backyard. The grass was overgrown in a few spots, and there was an old car on cinderblocks, but otherwise it wasn't a terrible place to be. The early morning sunlight shone down on the alley, reflecting off of wind chimes, windows, and the chrome on the salvaged car's exterior.

    It was pleasant enough, Jaune supposed. At least for what they were doing.

    "Okay," Jaune said. He flared his Aura, and focused, "My mom's strength technique isn't the first Aura augmentation skill, obviously. But it's really simple to learn, and easy to use. She made it that way for medical and rescue purposes. Give you enough strength to lift up a heavy patient, move debris off of someone, that kind of thing. Of course, the fact it's simple to use means it works great for combat."

    Ren, sitting on a cheap folding chair nearby, nodded. Jaune chuckled.

    "Of course, the catch is you either have to have REALLY good Aura control, or a LOT of Aura to use it for longer than a few seconds," Jaune said, "Or to use it consecutively for, say, combat. She does have incredible Aura control and a LOT of Aura. I've only got the Aura. So..."

    He reached into the wrecked car. He grunted and lifted up the entire loose, rusty engine block over his head with one arm. He held it up, concentrating.

    "See?" He managed. He then carefully set the engine block down, letting it thump on the grass, "Now you try it."

    Ren nodded, and stood up. His Aura flared pink, as he focused. He then reached down and took hold of the block. He lifted it up over his head with a grunt, holding it up for a few moments, before he brought it back down onto the grass smoothly. Jaune grinned.

    "Hey, great job! On your first try, too!" He clapped. Ren shook his head.

    "I didn't hold it for as long as you, and I required both hands," Ren said, "I still need work. You're much better than me."

    "Yeah, but eh, I've got more practice and all I've got going for me is a lot of Aura," Jaune said, clapping his friend on his shoulder, "You're gonna be better than me in no time."

    Ren studied Jaune with his usual stoic expression.

    "Why can you never take a compliment, Jaune?"

    Jaune blinked. Ren didn't look away, his gaze even. Jaune coughed and looked aside.

    "It uh... It's that big of a problem, huh?"

    "Yes."

    Ren sat back down on his folding chair. Jaune sat down on the wooden step leaning into the cafe, facing him.

    "... I don't deserve them," Jaune decided.

    "Not a healthy outlook," Ren observed.

    Jaune let out a soft sigh through his nostrils.

    "I'm working on it," he said, "But if I was where I should be... Nobody would have been in danger."

    "None of us are where we want to be, Jaune," Ren said gently, "No one is perfect. That's why we train. If you constantly compare yourself to others, you will never be happy."

    "That's fine for guys who don't have to keep other people alive," Jaune snorted, "It's different for me. I'm your leader. I need to be better. I can't stop improving."

    "That is true," Ren said, "However, constantly tearing yourself down won't help. It will also demoralize your team."

    Jaune winced.

    "I... Well..."

    Ren tilted his head.

    "Jaune... You aren't the savior of the world. You shouldn't act like you are. You'll only end up destroying yourself."

    Jaune sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping.

    "... It's just... I want to be a hero. I was raised to be a hero. My mom is a hero. My dad died a hero. And when push came to shove... When my mentor needed me, I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't... I wasn't good enough."

    He stared down at the grass, glum and angry. Ren hummed.

    "When the Grimm destroyed my village, orphaned Nora and I... We also weren't good or strong enough."

    Jaune looked up sharply, his eyes wide.

    "That's different! You were kids! No one would ever blame you for-!"

    "I did," Ren said softly, "I sometimes still do."

    Jaune grimaced in sympathy.

    "Ren..."

    "I'm mostly past it now. I couldn't afford to let myself be weighed down with guilt... I had to look after Nora. I couldn't afford to be weak for her. She's... She's my everything."

    Jaune was silent. This was probably the most emotive Ren had ever been. His eyes were distant, his voice heavy with feeling.

    "... I do want revenge. I want the Grimm that killed our families, destroyed our village, dead. I want it to suffer before it goes, and I will ensure it feels pain and fear before it dies if I can. But it's not my highest priority right now. Nora is. And she always will be."

    "Yeah... Yeah. It'd be impossible not to see that," Jaune said with a nod. "But you guys... You earned your place here. I feel like I don't deserve it. Not... Not after everything I'd been through, or... Or done."

    Ren leaned forward a bit.

    "Jaune. You can use a technique that would let you win almost every fight if you wanted to. So why don't you?"

    Jaune scoffed in disbelief.

    "Because I'm not an insane, murderous asshole! I'm not gonna unleash an Aura Blade blast in Combat Class!"

    Ren nodded slowly.

    "Then it's more complex than just a matter of who is stronger. You have many talents, including leadership. We follow you for more than just your competency as a Huntsman, after all."

    Jaune chuckled.

    "I... Thanks, Ren," he said quietly. Ren smiled softly.

    "I've done nothing but speak the truth. A good leader appreciates truthful feedback to grow."

    He looked at him intently.

    "Besides. Nora likes you very much. As do I. We don't want to lose you."

    Jaune chuckled softly.

    "... You know... I'm pretty sure she'd marry you if you asked," he said.

    Ren was silent. He stared back at Jaune impassively.

    He couldn't help continuing.

    "It's hard not to see how attached you are. I mean... I don't think you two are gonna go with anyone else. You've been through too much," Jaune went on, "And she's not exactly, ya know... Subtle about her feelings."

    Ren sucked in a deep breath, and let it out as a sigh that seemed both wistful and exasperated.

    "... That is... More complicated," he finally said. He gave Jaune a wry look.

    "Besides, I wouldn't be talking about romantic troubles if I were you."

    Jaune winced.

    "Touché, bro. Touché."

    He stood up and stretched.

    "Let's get back to training-"

    The door burst open behind Jaune, and knocked him off balance. He stumbled and yelped as he fell towards Ren. Ren's pink eyes widened comically just before Jaune slammed into him and drove him into the grass.

    "GAH!"

    "OOF!"

    "RENNY! JAUNE-JAUNE! BREAKFAST TIME-!" Nora announced before she trailed off. Jaune looked back over his shoulder as Nora gaped in shock. Blake looked over Nora's shoulder in equal disbelief, and her face went bright red.

    "NOOOO!" Nora cried, throwing her hands up and wailing to the heavens, "THAT FLAT CHESTED TSUNDERE TURNED JAUNE-JAUNE GAY! AND NOW HE'S AFTER RENNY!"

    "WAIT WHAT?!" Jaune yelped, forcing himself up to his feet and waving his hands frantically. "NO! NO NO NO-!"

    "DON'T WORRY, JAUNE-JAUNE! RENNY!" Nora cried, reaching to yank her shirt off, "I'LL CONVERT YOU BACK! YOU CAN BOTH HAVE ME!" She turned to Blake. "KITTY KAT! GET NAKED!"

    "Wh-What?!" Blake gasped, her face burning brighter red.

    "YOUR PARTNER AND HER SISTER LOVE JAUNE-JAUNE!" Nora cried, "HELP THEM BY KEEPING THEIR MAN ON THE RIGHT SIDE!"

    Ren, now on his feet, calmly walked over to Nora and pulled her into a hug. She continued ranting into Ren's chest.

    "We'll go get breakfast started," he said evenly. He carried Nora into the cafe, as she clung to him and wailed. The door shut behind them, leaving Blake and Jaune alone. Jaune coughed and rubbed the back of his head.

    "Never a dull moment with them, huh?" He tried with an exasperated smile.

    "Y-Yeah," Blake agreed.

    The faint sounds of early morning traffic dominated for a time. Jaune cleared his throat.

    "So... Did you call your parents?"

    Blake nodded.

    "Yes."

    Jaune stared at her.

    "How did that go? You uh, you don't have to tell me-"

    "It... It went better than I thought it would," Blake admitted quietly. She fixed her eyes onto his.

    "Thank you for pushing me to do it," she said. "There's... Still a lot of work to do, but it's... Better."

    Jaune nodded.

    "Good."

    Blake looked at the backyard and the engine block.

    "What were you two working on?" She asked.

    "Oh," Jaune said, "I'm teaching my team my mother's Aura strength technique. After that fight with Thanh, I want us to all work a lot harder and I figure it can be a nice ace up your sleeve even if you don't rely on brute force." He smiled at her.

    "Would you like to learn it?"

    Blake nodded.

    "I... I would like that," she murmured.

    "Cool," Jaune said, "We'll do it after work, then."

    He went to the engine block, and lifted it up. He then carefully slid it back into the car. Blake studied his motions, impressed despite herself.

    "You have excellent control over the technique," she said.

    Jaune paused. Then he smiled back at her.

    "Thank you," he said, "My mom taught me it and trained me how to use it. It's... Probably one of the only reasons I survived out there." He looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers, "That and Gato's training."

    "I... He taught me some of that as well," Blake said, "I would be happy to help you with your Aura Blade techniques, if you'd like? I've never been very good at them, but I learned the basics well enough."

    Jaune smiled warmly.

    "I... I would appreciate that, thank you," Jaune said.

    They stood in awkward silence for another moment. Then, Goldie's voice rang out from inside the Cafe:

    "KID! STOP MAKING OUT WITH THE KITTY PRINCESS AND GET TO WORK!"

    "ACK! Y-YES MA'AM!" Jaune shouted, quickly rushing into the cafe. Blake, blushing just as hard, dodged out of the way as he scrambling inside past her.

    "W-We weren't making out-!"

    "WHATEVER! WE'VE GOT A BUSINESS TO RUN!" Goldie shouted.

    Blake held in a sigh. She lingered a bit. Part of it was her natural stubbornness. The other part?

    She whipped out her Scroll and quickly texted Yang.

    Yang. How are you?

    Less than a second later, Yang replied.

    Hey Kitty! I thought the cat had taken your tongue! Nice to hear from you! How are you? You okay?

    Blake smirked and rolled her eyes.

    I'm staying with Nora, Ren, and Jaune. Working at a cafe.

    There was a longer pause. Yang then texted back:

    Really?

    Yes. Really. He's in a butler outfit. And he can be all yours.

    Another pause. For a moment, Blake wondered if she'd gone too far.

    Then...

    When and where?

    Blake smiled. It wasn't the most conventional apology she could imagine... But it was a start.

    Besides, if Yang finally made a move? She wouldn't have to put up with her struggling conscience as much...

    - - -
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Omake: Cinder's Approach
  • Extras
    • Cinder walked through the halls of Beacon, in her Haven school uniform. She locked onto one of many people of interest Roman and Iridescent had made her aware of: Jaune Arc. Studying alone in the library.

    Cinder: The only son of the Arc family. Mother is Isabel Arc, the famous doctor who invented Healing Dust. Hmm... He doesn't seem like a threat, but the White Fang underestimated him. Perhaps it would be useful to pump him for information...

    She sits down across from him with a warm, sensual smile and mischief in her eyes.

    Cinder: "Why hello. I'm Cinder Fall. What's your name?"

    Jaune: "Hm? Oh, Jaune Arc. What's up?"

    Cinder: "Well... I'm a transfer from Haven, and I got turned around! I was hoping you could show me where the south dorms are?" She played with her hair

    Jaune: "Sure..."

    Cinder: Yes, this will give me the opportunity to-

    Jaune holds out his Scroll.

    Jaune: "There's a map app you can download. It'll take you right there."

    Cinder: Is... Is he serious?!

    Cinder: "Ah... That would be nice, but I struggle with technical matters. Could you please get up and guide me there yourself?"

    Jaune: back to his book "Not interested."

    Cinder: "Wha... How are you not interested in me?!"

    Jaune slowly looks up from his book and looks her up and down.

    Jaune: "... Eh. 7 out of 10."

    Cinder: "I-EXCUSE YOU?! I am a TWELVE!"

    Jaune: "Look sweetheart, do you think I can't recognize a honey trap when I see one? Half my middle and high school experience was fending off gold diggers! Now, if you had approached me openly, maybe we could have talked and made a connection, but no. You leaped right to playing around. Sorry, if you're going to hide your intentions, I'm not interested."

    Cinder: "But-You can't be uninterested in me! Look at me!"

    Jaune: "I did. Still not interested, and the way you're reacting proves my point. Have a nice day."

    Cinder gets up and storms out, seething angrily. Some little nobody rejected her like that?! Thought she was some mere gold digging thot?!

    SHE'D SHOW HIM!
     
  • Extras
    • AndrewJTalon said:
    Cinder walked through the halls of Beacon, in her Haven school uniform. She locked onto one of many people of interest Roman and Iridescent had made her aware of: Jaune Arc. Studying alone in the library.

    Cinder: The only son of the Arc family. Mother is Isabel Arc, the famous doctor who invented Healing Dust. Hmm... He doesn't seem like a threat, but the White Fang underestimated him. Perhaps it would be useful to pump him for information...

    She sits down across from him with a warm, sensual smile and mischief in her eyes.

    Cinder: "Why hello. I'm Cinder Fall. What's your name?"

    Jaune: "Hm? Oh, Jaune Arc. What's up?"

    Cinder: "Well... I'm a transfer from Haven, and I got turned around! I was hoping you could show me where the south dorms are?" She played with her hair

    Jaune: "Sure..."

    Cinder: Yes, this will give me the opportunity to-

    Jaune holds out his Scroll.

    Jaune: "There's a map app you can download. It'll take you right there."

    Cinder: Is... Is he serious?!

    Cinder: "Ah... That would be nice, but I struggle with technical matters. Could you please get up and guide me there yourself?"

    Jaune: back to his book "Not interested."

    Cinder: "Wha... How are you not interested in me?!"

    Jaune slowly looks up from his book and looks her up and down.

    Jaune: "... Eh. 7 out of 10."

    Cinder: "I-EXCUSE YOU?! I am a TWELVE!"

    Jaune: "Look sweetheart, do you think I can't recognize a honey trap when I see one? Half my middle and high school experience was fending off gold diggers! Now, if you had approached me openly, maybe we could have talked and made a connection, but no. You leaped right to playing around. Sorry, if you're going to hide your intentions, I'm not interested."

    Cinder: "But-You can't be uninterested in me! Look at me!"

    Jaune: "I did. Still not interested, and the way you're reacting proves my point. Have a nice day."

    Cinder gets up and storms out, seething angrily. Some little nobody rejected her like that?! Thought she was some mere gold digging thot?!

    SHE'D SHOW HIM!
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Some say Cinder's Thirst grew 3 sizes that day....

    TFTC + Omake
     
    Forty-Seven
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    Well, as far as trying to make things up to her, Yang thought Blake was putting her best foot forward. She'd grabbed the first ferry back to Vale from Patch she could, and grabbed Bumblebee. She drove through the early morning traffic, weaving through the cars at high speed with a reckless smile on her face.

    She had been fair to Ruby though. She'd left her a message about it, so she could catch up... After she'd gotten enough sleep. She'd been working with Dad on some 'special training'. Yang had pried a little, but Dad had just told her it was private and Ruby would tell her when she was ready.

    Well, after everything they'd gone through this semester, Yang couldn't blame her or Dad for wanting to work harder. Yang pushed herself a lot this past week for the same reasons, and she was going to keep it up in the next.

    And go even harder in other ways.

    She drove through the New City sections first, filled with gleaming skyscrapers and crisscrossed with hover train bridges. Then passed through the old Middle City walls, deeper into the interior. Finally she passed the Old City District Walls-Or rather what was left of them. Aside from a few sections preserved here and there (many covered in graffiti), the ancient walls that had once protected Old Vale were pretty much gone.

    Not that Yang spared them a lot of thought, she had more important things to worry about.

    She pulled up in front of the Just Right Bakery and Cafe, and turned off the engine. She took a deep breath as she caught sight of Jaune through the windows.

    Geez...

    She'd been on dates before, even gotten up to heavy petting, but all of that had just been for some fun. Like trashing nightclubs. A stress reliever. She wasn't a loose slut who rode any handsome man she ran into... She had too much responsibility for that. Despite everything, she took those responsibilities seriously.

    Now Ruby was growing up, and... Here was a guy she had some genuine feelings for. A guy who... Well.

    Yang noticed a lot about her childhood friend. A lot of things others might have missed. White lines on his calloused hands and body, for instance: Scars left over from Aura healing. To even have those thin little lines meant he'd had to have fought and gotten hurt a lot.

    He threw himself into a fight without fear or hesitation. He took charge when it was needed. He saved her sister, and the rest of them, without a second thought. He was domestic too, able to cook, clean, and do a lot of other things you'd expect out of a house husband!

    And he'd grown up to look damn good.

    Honestly, that was the problem. He was... Everything she might want in a man already and it was overwhelming. The fact he shied away from aggressive women like Pyrrha was also trouble: Yang was aggressive. That was her very nature!

    So she hadn't known how to approach him. Especially not with Ruby infatuated with him!

    Ultimately though, she couldn't just keep hemming and hawing. Her dad was right: She had to be true to herself.

    If he didn't like it, then she'd know it wouldn't work out.

    Still, she thought to herself as she rose from Bumblebee and walked towards the cafe doors, No sense in scaring him off. We've got a date, and Gods know I'm fine with taking it slow. Not rushing things. Just... Easing in, since it's clear neither of us knows what we're doing.

    She walked in. Jaune perked up when he saw her and smiled warmly. He walked up to her, trim, fit, and handsome in his butler's outfit, and bowed.

    "Welcome, Mistress Xiao-Long, how may I serve you today?" He asked with a grin and a wink.

    Yang flushed, and grinned as her eyes burned just a bit.

    "Oh, the ways I could take that line," she chuckled. Jaune shrugged.

    "Yeah, I thought you'd appreciate it."

    "Maybe I'd like it better if you were on your knees, Crybaby," Yang teased back. Jaune paused for a moment, and Yang worried if she'd gone too far.

    He then smirked.

    "Maybe you'd like it better on yours."

    He was flirting back. He felt comfortable enough to flirt back holy shit...!

    Yang grinned and advanced, wrapping her arms around Jaune and looking right up into his eyes.

    "You gonna put me there, Ladykiller~?"

    Jaune coughed but didn't back down. He pressed back against her, his firm chest feeling very nice against hers.

    "If my Mistress desires it, of course," he said.

    Ohhhh shit, Yang thought as her cheeks went bright red. Down girl down girl down girl...!

    "OI!" Goldie shouted, making them both jump, "Kid! If you want to make money as a gigolo, do it when we're not serving breakfast! I'm not taking a bloody downgrade on my health department grade!"

    "You told me to flirt back!" Jaune cried in exasperation.

    "I didn't tell ya to be an exhibitionist!"

    Jaune tried to pull away, but Yang gave him a kiss to his cheek. She beamed at the irate woman.

    "Sorry ma'am, just appreciating the customer service from the staff," she chuckled. "I'm always right, hm?"

    "People who said that never had customers," Goldie harrumphed. Yang gave Jaune another kiss on his lips, before heading off to a booth. Jaune flushed.

    "Hope you're planning out our date, Ladykiller~," Yang tossed back. Jaune coughed and looked over at Goldie. Goldie shook her head.

    "You adding a blonde to your harem, Kid?"

    "I don't have a harem!" Jaune protested.

    Yang sat down at the booth, smiling happily. She looked up at Blake as she walked up to her table. Blake's ears twitched a bit before she spoke.

    "Hello Mistress nyah. May I take your order, nyah?"

    Yang stared for five seconds, before she erupted into laughter. She wrapped her arms around her belly and laughed her ass off. Blake glared.

    "This isn't funny!"

    "HAHAHAHAHA! It totally is!" She cackled.

    "This-this is degrading and objectifying-!"

    "You were maid for this kind of thing, ahahahahahaa!"

    Yang got herself under control, and wiped the tears from her eyes.

    "Ohhh... Best morning ever!"

    Blake sighed.

    "Well... I don't feel guilty for texting Pyrrha and Ruby now," Blake deadpanned.

    "Wait what?!"

    Blake sniffed.

    "I'm kidding," she said.

    "Yeah!" Nora cried, waving from the back of the cafe, "I did that!"

    "NORA!" Both Yang and Jaune shouted.

    "All's fair in love and war!" Nora declared.

    - - -

    Pyrrha had rushed out of her hotel and into the nearest taxi the moment she'd gotten the text, only pausing to throw on street clothes. She practically bounced with glee in the back of the car as it pulled out into traffic, her mind focused on one thing.

    Her Jaune... Her team... Her friends...

    Oh, this long week had felt like an eternity without him or her other friends! So many forms, so many meetings! Her mother had kept trying to contact her, kept trying to apologize and... It had all been so emotionally taxing. She had felt so worn down, so empty and hollow.

    The hurt in her mother's eyes had nearly broken her, so many times... Yet she thought of her friends, and her resolve returned.

    Now... Now she could be back where she belonged. With the ones she loved.

    And more importantly...

    Jaune in a butler outfit! Jaune serving me in a butler outfit! Jaune in a butler outfit! JAUNE!

    Pyrrha trembled happily as she pictured it in her mind.

    She sat in her room in her mansion back in Mistral, sipping her tea while on the phone. Jaune, her beloved butler, cleaning up around her. She sipped her tea as he went about, locking the doors and pulling the curtains shut.

    "Yes, yes, that will work fine, thank you, goodbye," Pyrrha murmured. She then put down the phone onto the cradle with a click.

    "Is that all the business for today, Jaune?" She asked.

    "Yes Mistress," Jaune said with a nod, "Save for our..." He cocked an eyebrow, "Personal business."

    Pyrrha licked her lips, set her tea down... And pounced on Jaune.

    "Jaune~! Jaune! Jaune!"

    "Miss? Miss? We're here?"

    "Ah?!" Pyrrha gasped. She looked at the dark-skinned taxi driver who held out a hand to her. He made a grasping motion.

    "My money?"

    Pyrrha quickly dropped some lien into his palm, and darted out of the taxi cab. She looked up at the cafe, and took a few deep, steadying breaths.

    Don't be crazy. Don't be crazy, she thought to herself, You're going to be better. You're not going to lose control.

    She used some techniques she had trained in since childhood, to relax and calm down her raging feelings.

    He knows you're not a monster, Pyrrha argued with herself. He knows you'll never hurt him. Not like that BITCH who hurt him...

    Pyrrha shook her head.

    Just go in and show him how much you miss him,     she decided, In a calm, collected manner that shows how sane you are!

    She smiled softly, and opened the cafe door. She walked in. Nora bounced up to her, looking cute in a maid outfit.

    "Heeeeyyy Pyrrha! I mean, Mistress! Welcome to the Just Right Cafe!" She greeted. Pyrrha beamed back as she began to scan around the cafe.

    "Hey Nora! Where's Jaune-?"

    Her eyes locked onto him. Her face turned bright red.

    There... There he was. That butler outfit was superior to what Weiss had put him. It was impeccably tailored and fitted to show off his height and his body. He turned and beamed at Pyrrha, even as he hovered nearby... Yang.

    "Hey Pyrrha!" Jaune said cheerfully. "It's great to see you!"

    "Mm," Yang grinned, "Yeah~. Just got here early to get serviced by Ladykiller."

    "Served by," Jaune sighed.

    "Same thing~," Yang teased with a cocky wink right at Pyrrha.

    For a moment, Pyrrha contemplated seizing every metallic object in the cafe and shooting them all at the smug blonde. Judging from how Jaune recoiled, her smile had gotten rather dangerous.

    No, no, Pyrrha thought to herself, Don't fight like that. Fight like… Fight like a woman. Like Hoss said...

    With that, she walked right up to Jaune, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips against his.

    Her eyes crossed from the explosion of warmth that burst deep inside. She trembled as electricity shot through her body. Jaune opened his mouth in shock, and the kiss just got better!

    My first kiss… It's right in front of a rival, with my true love… It's perfect…!

    She paused and pulled back briefly.

    "Ah, is a kiss all right, Jaune?" She asked, suddenly unsure.

    "H-Huh? Y-Yeah, sure," Jaune managed, looking dazed. Pyrrha beamed.

    Like in her Mistralian manga that she had been extensively researching over the past week! Her brain was slowly turning into happy mush…!

    Jaune was yanked away by Yang, who scowled.

    "Hey hey! Ease up, P-Money!" She snarled. "I've got first date!"

    Pyrrha grabbed onto Jaune's other arm and yanked him back.

    "I got his first kiss!" Pyrrha growled.

    Yang smirked smugly.

    "No you didn't~," she said, pulling Jaune right back. Pyrrha looked at Jaune in shock, seeking out proof that she was lying… And he coughed.

    "Ah, well-"

    "YOU," Pyrrha snarled, eyes burning in rage at Yang. The blonde's eyes flashed red.

    "Bring it on, P-Money! Let's see how invincible you really are~!"

    Jaune glanced over at the tall blonde woman in the blue dress and arpon who was at the cash register.

    "Uh, Mrs. Goldie? You want to intervene?"

    Goldie smirked and sipped a mug of coffee.

    "Not my department," she said, "She hasn't bought anything."

    Jaune sighed heavily, and summoned up breath from his diaphragm. He held them both apart by their shoulders.

    "Okay, come on, enough," he said flatly, "This isn't something to fight about. Yang, Pyrrha, sit down. Pyrrha? Order some breakfast."

    Reluctantly, the two ladies sat down at the same booth. Jaune took a deep breath and calmed himself. Pyrrha felt a flush of guilt, but it vanished at Yang's smirk. Jaune shook his head.

    "How about you just get breakfast and relax, huh? We can work things out after-"

    The door burst open, and a crazed, wet looking Ruby burst in.

    "JAUNE! NORA TOLD ME YOU WERE ELOPING WITH PYRRHA!"

    "I sure did!" Nora shouted out.

    Ruby vanished in a burst of rose petals and reappeared, tackling Jaune.

    "OOF!"

    "SAY IT ISN'T SO!" She cried.

    "IT ISN'T! NOW LET ME GO!" Jaune growled, bonking Ruby on the head. Ruby winced.

    "Owwww…!"

    He sighed, and rubbed her head gently.

    "Calm down, okay? Sit down, order something. We'll sort this out properly, okay?"

    Ruby sniffled.

    "... Do you have chocolate chip pancakes?"

    "Yes."

    Ruby beamed, and kissed Jaune's cheek.

    "Mwah! I love you, Jaune!"

    Jaune patted her head.

    "Yeah yeah… Come on, sit down, order. We'll work this out calmly and rationally." He looked over at Yang and Pyrrha. "Right?"

    "Oh, of course Jaune!" Pyrrha said with a tense smile.

    "Absolutely," Yang purred, smirking at Pyrrha, "Whatever you say, Lover Boy~."

    Jaune guided Ruby to the booth. She scooted in next to Pyrrha, where she grabbed the menu. Jaune glared over at Nora.

    "Seriously Nora? What's the deal?!"

    "What?" Nora asked, shrugging as she poured more coffee for another patron, "You did elope in my dream last night!"

    "You didn't mention that part!" Ruby grumbled.

    Nora winced.

    "Whoops!"

    Jaune glared.

    "Ren? Bonk her extra hard when she returns to the kitchen," He called out.

    "Got it," Ren tossed back.

    "And no more pancakes from the kitchen!"

    Nora gasped.

    "Jaune-Jaune! No! Please!" She skidded to a halt in front of him, on her knees.

    "You're taking my sweet Renny away! Don't take the other love of my life away!" She sobbed. "Unless…" She gasped. "You want us both!"

    Jaune groaned and bonked her on the head.

    "Owwww~!"

    "No, I don't."

    "What if Ren was a girl?" Nora asked, tilting her head. "Like a sweet shy Mistralian ninja princess?"

    "Still no! Come on, back to work," He stated, exasperated, as he patted her head. "We'll work out your punishment later."

    Nora nodded, sniffling a bit.

    "All right. Thanks Jaune-Jaune!"

    "Yeah yeah," Jaune sighed, as Nora got up and skipped away. He glanced over at the owner of the bakery, still behind the cash register.

    Goldie smirked and nodded.

    "See? You didn't need me at all," she chuckled.

    "I'm getting the feeling you're just trolling us," Jaune sighed.

    "Welcome to the real world, kiddo," Goldie smirked, "Now, Cat Princess! Get on Booth 7!"

    Blake, who had been staring intently at everything going on, blushed and scurried off to Pyrrha, Yang and Ruby's booth.

    "Yes ma'am!"

    Jaune sighed. He looked so stressed. Pyrrha frowned. She really needed to help take some of the burden off his shoulders…

    "I'll just take the Baby Bear Breakfast," she said, glancing over the menu, "That looks good!"

    "Ooh, let's get the cookie pancake plate, Yang!" Ruby cheered. She beamed at Blake. "It looks great! And you look great too, Blake!"

    "Thank you, Ruby," Blake sighed, though she managed a slight smile at her cute team leader. The outfit did look good on her, Pyrrha had to admit.

    "No Ruby, you've had enough sugar," Yang sighed. "We'll both take the Valean Omelets, with fruit on the side."

    "Extra strawberries!" Ruby insisted.

    Goldie cleared her throat. Jaune looked away from them.

    "Come on Kid, tend to your harem later. We got more customers!"

    "They're not my harem!" Jaune insisted again, as he went back to work.

    "Sure they're not," Goldie chuckled.

    - - -

    Blake Belladonna did not read smut. Ninjas of Love and other assorted works were not just mindless, poorly constructed excuses for erotic encounters! They were intricately plotted, well characterized, and fantastically written stories of adventure, intrigue, and erotic scenes that were just as well written!

    She wasn't reading cheap Valean bodice rippers, thank you very much!

    She could admit though, she did tend to look for literature based upon what kind of… Erotic situations they delivered on. The writing had to be pitch perfect, of course, but she had her preferences like anyone else!

    For instance, she rather enjoyed the harem genre. Usually it was just a male power fantasy, with a harem of fawning waifus who had no personality just there for the blank main character's sexual satisfaction. Most of it was trash, but the gems in the genre seemed to address more than just the petty sexual needs of the reader.

    They addressed the need to feel loved, to feel cherished. Or explored the complex relationships between humans and Faunus.

    It wasn't a racial thing, thank you very much! She enjoyed White Wolf for its complex dynamics of a male wolf faunus with a harem of human women who all had their own issues (many of which were solved with very intense sexual coitus, of course, but also a lot of psychological discussion and examination) as much as she enjoyed The Good Master about a group of damaged Faunus women who, with the help of a kind but firm human master, began to heal by recognizing that they didn't have to face the world alone. That they also solved those issues with intense sexual coitus did not take away from the excellent interpersonal drama and character work.

    They both explored the often complex relationships between human and faunus on the personal level and definitely wasn't just for some kind of fetish.

    Now though… As she served her friends breakfast, she had a realization.

    Her love of erotica could be helpful to others. It could be more than just her 'weird' little hobby.

    "Excuse me Mistresses, nyah," Blake murmured, as Ruby giggled. She headed back to where Jaune was finishing gathering up some dirty dishes from an empty table. She followed him into the kitchen, where he set the dishes down on the sink. He looked back over his shoulder.

    "Something I can help you with, Blake?" He asked.

    "Yes," she said, "What are you going to do for dates for your harem?"

    "They're not…" Jaune trailed off with a sigh, "They're not my harem, all right? They all asked me on dates, and… And I'm going to try to keep them happy-"

    Blake moved in front of Jaune, eyes narrowed.

    "Just keep them happy? Is that all you're going to do?" She demanded.

    Jaune started.

    "Wha-What do you mean? They're interested in me… I guess-"

    "You guess?" Blake pressed, pushing Jaune back against a wall covered in pots and pans. "Is that all you feel for them?"

    Jaune glared in confused anger.

    "No! Of course that's not all I-!"

    "Are you just stringing them along?" Blake pressed. "Just using them for their talents, their bodies-?"

    "NO!" Jaune practically yelled, his eyes burning with repressed Aura. It was strong enough Blake was almost pressed back by the sheer power he unleashed.

    "No, I…" He narrowed his eyes. "I would rather die than let harm come to any one of them."

    Oh. Oh wow. She felt her mouth go dry, and her cheeks flush red. The sheer sincerity in his voice, that turned what would be a cheesy line into a stone cold fact.

    Just like Isaiah in "White Wolf",     she thought happily. Even now, she could imagine Jaune as the White Wolf, the fearsome, damaged warrior wolf Faunus. Confronting the fearsome ninja princess Sayako about his past. Their passions would explode as the truths of their dark pasts were exposed, he pinned her against the wall and kissed her, tearing her clothes off and-

    Ahem.

    "If it helps," Blake said carefully, "I uh… I have experience with romantic relationships. It… It didn't end well… But I can offer what advice I can to help."

    Jaune stared at her. Blake shook her head.

    "I just… I just want to help. To make up for what I've done."

    "You don't have to-"

    "But I want to," Blake insisted, backing off and allowing Jaune to step free of the cookware. "I want… I want to make my teammates… My friends… Happy. Don't you?"

    Jaune smiled, and slowly nodded.

    "Yeah. I do," he said. "I just… I mean, I'm kind of dating three girls at once. I feel like a manwhore-"

    "It's just dating, Jaune," Blake said quickly, "You're just going out to learn more about them in a social setting you both control. That's all. You all know about it, you all accept it."

    Just like the harem in The Good Master. Jaune even resembled Troy, the human lead, in that story. He had to be tough, in charge, to keep his harem happy. That required strength, character, the ability to communicate boundaries well and to be selfless.

    Being well endowed had also helped in that story but she was sure Jaune was fine in that department. He had seven siblings, after all.

    "It's not like you're immediately getting married," Blake continued, "They clearly want it. Do you want it?"

    "I… I don't deserve-"

    "That's not what I asked," Blake said quietly, "Do you want it?"

    Jaune smiled.

    "To go have fun with people I care about? Yeah… Yeah, I do."

    "Then just go with that," Blake said with a soft smile.

    "It's just been a while since I even had a date," Jaune explained, "I mean, my mom and my sisters were pretty controlling back in Radian."

    "Oh?" Blake asked, tilting her head curiously. Jaune nodded.

    "Yeah. I mean, in hindsight, I get that they did it because there were a lot of girls just after my family name and money. I did the same to guys who were after my sisters for the same reasons, or just for a thrill. But the furthest I ever got was a few dates out at restaurants or movies."

    He scowled.

    "And one girl who was just using me to get back at her ex."

    Blake nodded slowly.

    "Then I can help you," she said softly. "I mean… My relationship wasn't the most conventional. And honestly? It was… Not very healthy, but…" She smiled. "I'm willing to share my experience. To help you."

    "Are you sure?" Jaune asked, raising an eyebrow. Blake nodded.

    "Completely. If you'd like the help?"

    He was silent for a moment, before he nodded with a smile. She rather liked it.

    "I… I would like that," he said. He coughed.

    "I'd better get back out there, so Goldie doesn't yell some more."

    "G-Good idea," Blake said quickly.

    Jaune hurried out. Blake again hesitated. She felt eyes boring into the back of her head, and slowly turned to look at the source.

    Nora stared intently at her, looking just as intimidating as ever despite her cute maid outfit.

    She then slowly lifted her fist… And gave Blake a big thumbs up.

    "That's the way, Blakey!" Nora said cheerfully. "I'll be Auntie Nora in no time, spoiling cute little blond kittens!"

    "... Thank you?" Blake managed.

    "You're welcome!" Nora chirped, as she bounced off with plates of food in her hands out the swinging doors of the kitchen. Blake watched her go, then looked over at Ren, who was hard at work at the stove.

    Blake opened her mouth.

    "Don't ask," Ren said, "It's just how she is."

    "I… See," Blake managed.

    - - -
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • AndrewJTalon said:
    They both explored the often complex relationships between human and faunus on the personal level and definitely wasn't just for some kind of fetish.

    Now though… As she served her friends breakfast, she had a realization.

    Her love of erotica could be helpful to others. It could be more than just her 'weird' little hobby.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Some realizations shouldn't be shared.....

    Like ever.....

    Thanks for the chapter!
     
    Forty-Eight
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    Ponce had a very long, beautiful central plaza overlooking the beach in the cove below. The tall white walls reflected the sunlight onto the beach, just as the white buildings did, making the entire town glow.

    It was always warm and comforting, even with the masses of tourists and cars driving around the area.

    Sun, Scarlet, and Sage were sitting at a table at an outdoor cafe with a parasol shielding it from the hot, bright sun. All in swimsuits and shirts (Though Sun's was open, as usual). All three sipped their frosty fruity drinks as they watched Neptune escort Weiss back to her sister. Weiss hugged Neptune and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek, before she headed back to meet the imposing Winter. Neptune waved back with a smile and a wink.

    Weiss swooned a bit, while Winter just glared death. Neptune, by sheer dint of his Mistralian nerve, waved and walked across the crosswalk toward his friends. He sat down with them at the table.

    "Hey guys, what's up?" He smirked and leaned back in his chair, putting his feet up on an empty one, "I was just escorting a beautiful girl around the town! How about you?"

    "We were taking bets on when her older sister would kill you," Sage deadpanned.

    "I think Weiss will kill him," Scarlet said with a nod, as he sipped his drink. Neptune scowled as he ordered a drink on the restaurant app on his phone.

    "You're just jealous!"

    "Unlikely," Sage observed, as Scarlet snorted in laughter. He then moaned.

    "Shit, you made my drink come out my nose, you dick!"

    "Ugh," Neptune grunted, before he looked over at Sun, "Can't one of you assholes be happy for me?"

    "Dude, you are going to get yourself killed and then I'll have to find a new team member," Sun said dryly.

    "I mean, does the heiress to the biggest corporation in the world seem like a pump and dump?" Scarlet asked, after wiping his nose with a napkin.

    "She's not a pump and dump!" Neptune protested, as he happily accepted his fruity frosty drink from the server. "It's just a nice, fun fling!"

    "I'm sure her sister will be thrilled to hear that," Sage deadpanned. Neptune scoffed.

    "Look, it's a front," Neptune said, "She wants to enjoy the romance, and I'm providing it! Weiss isn't that serious about all this either!"

    "She looked pretty serious about it to me," Scarlet observed. Neptune scoffed and crossed his arms petulantly.

    "It's not like that! And her big sister just has to chill out! Let Weiss make her own decisions! This is just some fun for both of us!"

    "So you haven't even considered the fact she might be serious about you?" Scarlet asked.

    Neptune huffed.

    "Not even a little!"

    Sage and Scarlet both looked over at Sun. Scarlet's face was despairing, while Sage was more obliquely stoic than usual. Sun sighed.

    "He's my best friend, but he really doesn't know how to use his cool the right way."

    "Hey!" Neptune growled.

    "I blame you for why he's like this," Scarlet stated.

    "HEY!" Neptune yelped.

    Sun scowled.

    "You were the one who helped with his wardrobe and convinced him to dye his hair. I blame you for his douchery!"

    "Please," Scarlet scoffed,"You can't blame me when you have-!"

    "Peace, you two," Sage advised, "Let's just be there for him when he crashes and burns."

    Scarlet nodded.

    "Yes, so we can mock him."

    "And maybe fix him," Sun chuckled.

    "Before Winter or Weiss 'fix' him," Sage deadpanned.

    "Screw you guys!" Neptune growled, as his friends laughed. Well, Sun and Scarlet laughed, Sage just kind of smirked. "And I wouldn't be talking, Sun!"

    Sun gestured to himself with both hands.

    "What's that supposed to mean?"

    "You're simping over your princess, bro," Neptune stated, "Just ask her out!"

    "I'm not simping over her," Sun stated smoothly, as he sipped his drink, "Mm, banana. I'm texting back and forth with her because she's my responsibility! And we're friends!"

    "Uh huh," Scarlet deadpanned.

    "Seriously though man, just ask Blake out," Neptune stated, "Maybe you'll stop ragging on my romance if you have your own!"

    Sun rolled his eyes.

    "Even if I was interested… Not saying that I am!" He said quickly. "She's literally a princess, dude. You gotta do things properly."

    "In that case, you had best hurry," Neptune snarked, "Or that Arc guy will add her to his harem!"

    Sun rolled his eyes again. He was doing that a lot when it came to Neptune.

    "What, the guy who looks like he's gone through a war? That hardcore guy? Come on, he's not some kind of playboy!"

    "He literally got three girls to ask him on dates all at once!" Neptune growled. "That guy is a menace!"

    "You did notice how hard it was for him to do that, correct?" Sage asked. "He clearly has had a difficult past-"

    "That's like catnip to girls like Blake!" Neptune argued.

    Sun raised an eyebrow, and Neptune grumbled. Scarlet interjected.

    "I think he means that Arc is the noble and dark type. He pushes women away because he doesn't want to burden anyone with his inner demons. That's catnip to girls."

    "He also tried to selflessly sacrifice himself for all of us," Sage added, "That tends to stick in a girl's mind."

    "Yeah but that doesn't mean he'd know how to do anything about it! Besides, he's got Pyrrha Nikos," Sun said, perhaps coming off a bit defensively, "That hot blonde chick, and that cute smaller girl! He's got his hands full!"

    Sun smirked and patted his stomach.

    "Besides… I have abs!"

    "And yet," Neptune pointed out, "Who is she spending her semester break with?"

    Sun checked his scroll.

    "... She's working at a cafe with Jaune," Sun read dully. At the smirks from his friends he scowled.

    "That doesn't mean anything!"

    "Honestly, I think you're better off letting her join Arc's harem," Scarlet said, "The girl is insane."

    "She is not!" Sun protested. "I mean… Okay, so she's obsessive and has her issues, but who doesn't?"

    Scarlet groaned and held his forehead.

    "Oh Gods... You're going to try to fix her. You're in full broken bird syndrome."

    "I don't want to fix her! I just want to help her!" Sun insisted. "And I'm not simping over her! See? Here I am, with my friends-who happen to be assholes-and not simping over her!"

    Neptune laughed mockingly.

    "Yeah buddy, sure, we totally believe you!"

    "She led us into a trap against terrorists, bro," Scarlet said, "And she still thinks the White Fang can be reformed or something."

    "And I got a look at her reading history," Sage deadpanned. "You know not what I have seen."

    Sage's eyes were haunted. Sun snorted.

    "You get flustered over holding hands with your girl!"

    "Because still waters run deep," Sage stated, "In Blake's case, there are some very scary monsters in those deep waters."

    "I can handle it! If I'm into her… Which I'm not saying I am," Sun went on. He glared back at the smug looks on his friends' faces. "Knock it off!"

    "Give it up, Sage, there's no convincing him," Neptune said, "Sun has always had trash taste."

    "Hey!" Sun protested.

    "I suppose that would explain why you're his best friend," Sage deadpanned. Neptune sputtered.

    "HEY!!!"

    "Assholes, all of you," Sun grumbled, sipping his drink. He checked his Scroll again: Blake had just texted him.

    "And what does the girl you're totally not simping over want now?" Scarlet asked.

    "For your information," Sun stated, "She wants my help with Jaune's romantic life! Not that she wants to join him," he clarified, glaring at the smug Neptune, "But wants me to help him with it."

    "Oh? And how would you be helping him?" Neptune mocked.

    Sun smirked.

    "Harem ending."

    Neptune choked on his drink.

    "WHAT?!"

    "I take it back," Sage said, "She might not be all that bad."

    "Especially if she makes Neptune have a stroke," Scarlet snickered. "It'll be more merciful than what Weiss or Winter will do to him."

    "You're all just so fucking hilarious!" Neptune growled.

    - - -
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • AndrewJTalon said:
    "She's not a pump and dump!" Neptune protested, as he happily accepted his fruity frosty drink from the server. "It's just a nice, fun fling!"
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Let's pour one out and hit F for Neptune preemptively, before Winter is through with him.

    AndrewJTalon said:
    "Because still waters run deep," Sage stated, "In Blake's case, there are some very scary monsters in those deep waters."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Listen to the man, Sun....

    Thanks for the update!
     
    Forty-Nine
  • Threadmarks
    • - - -

    It was great being back in Vale with her friends! The last week with her dad had been so heavy, she'd been begging for some kind of relief.

    Not that she hated learning about her mother and spending time with her father. It… It really was nice to reconnect with her, in a way.

    Even with the entire 'fate of the world' and 'being hunted for your eyes' thing.

    Geez… She really needed to talk to someone about this.

    But I have to trust them completely, Ruby thought to herself, even as she tore into her omelet, I have to be careful. I'd be in danger, but… So would they.

    It was a sobering thought, and her earlier good cheer faded away.

    "You okay, Rubes?" Yang asked, looking over at her sister curiously.

    Ruby glanced up, and then put her eyes back on her plate.

    "I'm… I'm fine," she murmured. "Just, uh… A little tired."

    The moment she'd gotten Nora's text, she had rushed for the ferry back to Vale. And maybe abused her Semblance a lot. So she wasn't lying, exactly.

    Even Pyrrha shot her a concerned look.

    "Are you sure?" She asked quietly. Ruby glanced between her concerned sister and concerned… Friend? Mentor? Rival?

    She needed a break.

    "H-Hang on, I need to use the bathroom," she said. She scooted out of the booth, and made her way towards the restrooms.

    She rounded the corner underneath the wooden signs that denoted "Men" and "Women", and nearly ran into Jaune coming out of the men's room.

    "Ooh! Oh, J-Jaune!"

    "Hey Ruby," Jaune said with a smile, "Sorry I haven't been around your table a lot. Been hard at work."

    Ruby nodded quickly. He then frowned.

    "You okay? I didn't get a good look before, sorry, but you look… Tired."

    Ruby smiled awkwardly.

    "I'm just… I've been…"

    How did she even begin? Where did she begin? If she couldn't tell Yang, how could she tell Jaune?

    "It's… Complicated," she mumbled. Jaune sighed, and took her hand. Her cheeks went bright red.

    "Ah, Jaune, I-! Your job-?"

    "I'm on break," he said, leading her out the back door, past knicknacks and tables, through the kitchen where Ren busily worked (she gave him a smile and he nodded back to her, finally into a cramped but fairly clean backyard.

    Jaune turned around and smiled at the little reaper.

    "Besides, more people come for Nora and Blake in their maid outfits."

    "I-I bet you'd be great in a maid outfit!" Ruby blurted out. Jaune stared back at her, and she flushed deeply.

    "I-I mean… I think you would…" She mumbled.

    Jaune sighed, and scratched the back of his head. He then pulled out his Scroll, opened it, and flipped through some apps before he turned it to her.

    Ruby's eyes lit up, and she held her hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh at the image.

    "Is that… You?! In a dress and pigtails?!"

    "Yup," Jaune said, popping the 'p', as he showed off the ancient picture, "I was like, four, and my sisters are evil, evil people."

    Ruby giggled. She giggled hard, bending over as it turned into a laugh.

    "AHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHA! Y-You just… You keep that on your Scroll?!" She managed.

    Jaune coughed.

    "They… They sent me it," he said. He shrugged as he closed it back up. "Came in handy, right?"

    "Y-Yeah, yeah," Ruby snickered. She looked up at him with a bright smile. "Thanks. That… That helps a lot. I feel so much better."

    Jaune smiled back warmly.

    "I'm glad. So… What's bugging you?"

    Ruby, startled, looked up at him.

    "Is… Is it that obvious?"

    He grinned and shrugged.

    "What? We're friends. I can tell something's bothering you."

    Ruby frowned, and looked aside.

    "It… Well…"

    All of this was so new. So scary, so heavy.

    How did she start this conversation with any of her friends? 'Hey, turns out I have magical superpowered eyes that make me a target and might get my friends killed because the fate of the world might be on my shoulders!'

    Even Ruby knew that wouldn't go over well with anyone.

    Jaune frowned.

    "Is it the date?" He asked.

    Ruby shook her head rapidly.

    "N-No! No! Not at all!"

    "Because if you don't want to do it, we don't have to," Jaune said gently. He chuckled. "I mean, if you wanted us to go out as friends, you just had to ask. You don't have to compete or anything-"

    Ruby scowled.

    "Why?" She asked. "What's wrong with me wanting to go on a date with you?"

    Jaune blinked. He shrugged uneasily.

    "I-I mean… There's a lot of better guys-"

    "You saved my life, Jaune," Ruby stated, "You read comics and play video games with me! You bake cookies with me!"

    "I haven't done a lot of that with you lately," Jaune tried joking, but Ruby was unmoved. He shook his head. "I guess… I mean, I'm not-I'm not disrespecting your feelings or anything, really."

    Ruby's frown deepened.

    "Is it because you don't like me?"

    "No! Of course it's not that!" Jaune protested. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I like you, Ruby. I care about you, a lot. I care about all of you! Which is the problem. I just… How am I supposed to handle three girls wanting to go on dates with me all at once?"

    Ruby shook her head, and shrugged helplessly.

    "I-I don't… I don't know! This is the first time I-I've wanted to go on dates! That I've been interested in a boy! I-I just…" She shook her head.

    "I just know that… That I want to date you. Okay? I-I trust you and like you and…" She shrugged helplessly.

    "Isn't… Isn't that enough?"

    Jaune stared at her. He walked up and hugged her tightly. She returned it.

    "Yeah," Jaune murmured, "Yeah, it… It should be. There's just a lot about me that… That I don't know you'll like when you learn it."

    He rested his chin on her head. She pouted up at him despite it.

    "Well… You might not like parts of me, either," she said, "Isn't that what dating is about? Finding that stuff out? Maybe… Maybe Pyrrha and Yang won't like parts of you either. We-We'll still be friends, right?"

    Jaune nodded.

    "Absolutely," he said softly. Ruby beamed.

    "Then… Then maybe we shouldn't overthink it?" She asked. "I-I mean… I know it can get complicated. It might get really complicated. I-I don't know anything about it and… And uh…" She trailed off, looking away in embarrassment. Jaune rubbed her back.

    "Or maybe it'll work out great," he said. She glanced up at him in shock.

    "You… You're being positive?" She asked.

    Jaune blinked.

    "Is it really that weird?"

    "A-A little, yeah," Ruby said with a nod, "Usually you're kind of a grump. I mean, a nice grump but still a grump. I mean, I like you being a grump but this is… New."

    "I'm… I've been talking some stuff out," Jaune admitted, "With some people. It's helped a lot."

    "Y-Yeah," Ruby said, "I uh… I've done some talking about stuff, too. It helped."

    She smiled at him.

    "There's… I mean, there's stuff I want to talk about but can't and… Yeah. Kind of the same thing with you, I-I think? Maybe?"

    Jaune slowly nodded.

    "Maybe."

    "Maybe stuff… We could talk about on our date?" She asked sweetly. Jaune sighed softly.

    "Maybe. It might be a bit of a bummer."

    "My stuff too," Ruby admitted, "But… I'm glad we can talk about it."

    "Just please don't kill your sister or Pyrrha over me," Jaune said, a small smile on his face, "I'm definitely not worth it."

    "The best way to do that is to make us all your girlfriends," Ruby said. Jaune blanched. "At least, that's how it works in Blake's Mistralian comics-"

    "Ruby!" Jaune hissed. Ruby giggled. He sighed and shook his head.

    "I thought you were so innocent."

    "So does everyone," Ruby snickered, "It can come in handy sometimes."

    Jaune sighed and shook his head. He ruffled her hair, which she pouted at.

    "Gonna have to keep a closer eye on what you read, before Yang kicks Blake's ass."

    "Nngh, stop doing that," Ruby grumbled, pushing his hand away. "I'm not a kid, you know."

    "Okay, so what should I do instead?" Jaune asked. Ruby flushed and looked aside, tapping her fingers together.

    "You… I mean… Yang and Pyrrha… Um… They kissed you," she mumbled. "Can't you… You know… K-Kiss me?"

    Jaune stared at her. He leaned forward, slowly. Ruby's cheeks went bright red. She closed her eyes, puckered her lips…

    His lips pressed against her forehead. Her eyes shot open as Jaune pulled away with a smile.

    "I… I meant on the lips, you jerk!" Ruby stuttered.

    "Maybe after you turn sixteen," Jaune said with a smile, and a gentle bonk to the top of her head. Ruby whined.

    "Awww…!"

    "But don't worry," Jaune said, patting her head, "I'm planning it out. I'll make it great for you. I promise."

    Ruby pouted a bit, but her mood was much improved.

    "You'd better."

    "Ahem."

    Both Jaune and Ruby jumped. Goldie stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest.

    "Your sis and the redhead are done with their food and paying the check," she said, "They want to say goodbye to their harem lord and take their little squirt with them."

    "They're not my harem," Jaune sighed, as Ruby giggled.

    "After that you're bussing their table, Kid," Goldie smirked. "And you'd better keep attracting them! They tipped well!"

    "Yes ma'am," Jaune sighed. Ruby took his hand and snuck a kiss to his cheek.

    "Come on Jaune," Ruby said cheerfully, "Time to say goodbye to your harem~!"

    "You're so unfunny!"

    Ruby giggled again as Jaune led her up and out. Yang and Pyrrha were a little testy with her for holding Jaune's hand, but it made her feel good. They both got in kisses goodbye with him-Yang taking longer, and Pyrrha then wanted another kiss, but Goldie then forced them all out.

    Jaune looked like he was going to protest, but a glare from Goldie and he just gave them an apologetic expression.

    Ruby blew him a kiss, and beamed at Yang and Pyrrha.

    "Want to go play video games?" She asked.

    Pyrrha blinked.

    "I… I actually haven't been able to do that a lot," Pyrrha admitted, "It was fun at Beacon."

    "Then let's go game!" Ruby cheered. "To the arcade!"

    "Oh, what the hell," Yang chuckled.

    "Plus, Jaune likes it when we get along," Ruby said cheerfully.

    Pyrrha sucked in a deep breath, and flushed. Yang blushed as well.

    "Did you get that from one of Blake's books?" Yang asked, suspiciously. Ruby beamed and shook her head.

    "Of course not!" She said, just as cheerfully.

    She did glance back at Blake who was smiling at her through the windows as well, and waved. Blake waved back… And winked.

    It was nice she had Blake to give her advice on these things, Ruby reflected, as she dragged Pyrrha and her sister off to have some fun!

    - - -

    Jaune gave Blake a suspicious look.

    "Did you just wink at Ruby?"

    "No," Blake stated calmly. "Now, go bus the tables. Then? We will be working on your dates with your harem."

    "They're not my harem," Jaune said wearily.

    "Not yet!" Nora said brightly. Jaune scowled at her.

    "REN!"

    "On it," Ren said, bonking Nora on the head.

    "Owwww!"

    Blake wisely held her tongue, but couldn't keep a small smile off her face.

    - - -

    Almost done with the semester break...
     
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    • Fifty
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    • Beacon had started as the Beacon Castle for the Warrior King of Vale, several centuries back. The original architecture had been nearly all replaced, built over with the current egg-shaped exterior tower that rose up high into the sky, but some remnants of the castle and the city that once surrounded it could be found all over the grounds, from the palatial gardens and fountains that had once hosted parties and battles for the sake of Vale, to the many ruins covered in vines and grass that littered the training areas of the Emerald Forest.

    While the school was closed for the semester break, Ozpin would take meetings out in the gardens. This was his favorite: The Bastinda Memorial Gardens. It was framed in white columns and arches without a roof, with long rectangular pools drawn down the center of the white tiles like morse code. White stone tables, stools and benches were artfully arranged, and flowers bloomed everywhere.

    Bastinda had been a wonderful wife to his warrior king incarnation: Patient, kind, loving, and understanding. She had struggled with Ozma taking over her husband, but had stayed with him through it all. Despite the pain and loss she felt every day, as Ozma became more dominant than the love of her life. She had made Ozma feel guilty over his curse, as few ever had. She had seldom raised her voice, only taking the pain inside and being supportive, but also challenging him.

    She had reminded him of Salem, before she fell. What she could have become, if they could have been happy together.

    Thus, after her death, he had ensured all of his incarnations kept this garden in her memory, with her favorite flowers, Galucium, or the horned poppies. They came in yellow and red, bringing a splash of color to the usually austere garden fountains and statues.

    They were also toxic, which had the benefit of keeping most garden pests away.

    A pity it does not work on politicians, Ozpin lamented, as he sipped his coffee and looked over at his mealtime companion: One Rufus Winchesterm Councilman of Vale. He was a tall man dressed in a burgundy suit, with a bright red tie over his white undershirt. His waistcoat was black, and stretched slightly from his belly growing only a bit larger than his still formidable muscles. His dark red hair was receding, with stripes of white running over his temples, but his most distinctive features were his handlebar mustache, his keen, gray eyes, and the red of his cheeks as he ranted.

    "It's completely ridiculous, Ozpin! On the face of it, no matter how you look at it!"

    The tall, beefy man waved his hands animatedly, as though trying to grasp the concepts he was yelling about.

    "These Grimm attacks, the White Fang raids, the Dust shortage-All of these are higher priorities than this nonsense being pushed by Glocken! Why are we worrying about unionization and discrimination when some kind of horrible invasion might be at our doorstep?! It's completely idiotic!"

    "Calm yourself Rufus," Ozpin said, as Rufus rose to his feet and began to pace.

    "Bad enough the Vytal Festival is upon us-These endless raids are overwhelming the local militias and police! Even the Valean Rangers aren't able to keep up!" Rufus wagged his finger in the air. "They're packing military grade equipment and we can't figure out how! It's getting dangerous out there, Ozpin! We can't just ignore all this in favor of some media crusade against discrimination or leave it all to an overstretched Atlas! That bloody Glocken is playing to the crowd while the country burns!"

    He turned to Ozpin and shook his fist.

    "As stunning as it may sound to you, Ozpin, I don't enjoy seeing people get killed!" He snarled. "We need to take action, NOW!"

    He slammed his fist on the table, nearly upsetting the plate of cookies and coffee pot. Ozpin steadied the table, and scowled up at Rufus. Rufus coughed, and pulled his hand back.

    "I'm sorry about that," he said, "It's hard not to see those young men and women coming back in body bags, and think about my son or daughter being the next victims."

    He scowled.

    "You might think I'm just manipulating you, Ozpin, and damnit, maybe I am! But I do actually give a damn about our people and I want you to give a damn with me!"

    "I agree," Ozpin said.

    "I know you've got a hundred arguments about why we need to pass this bill to get what's needed," Rufus continued, as though he had not heard Ozpin at all, "I know damnit, that's how politics works! We all have a share and we all need to work together to get it! Of course I know that's how the game is played! But we all have a common interest in not dying! I know you think I'm some kind of blowhard-"

    "I don't, actually," Ozpin said, and Rufus kept going.

    "-but I'm a blowhard with a point and we need to get my proposal passed, damnit! What do you say?"

    Ozpin stared at him for a long moment.

    "I agree with everything you're saying, Rufus," Ozpin said.

    Rufus blinked a few times.

    "I… What?"

    "I agree," Ozpin said with a nod. "Would you care to sit down, Rufus? Or would you like to ignore me in favor of another rant? I don't know about you, but I am a busy man."

    Rufus looked caught between a scowl and laughter, before he sat down.

    "You could have stopped me a bit sooner," Rufus muttered.

    "It would have taken more effort than I was prepared to exert," Ozpin said, still amused, "Besides, you were on a roll."

    "Then… You do believe in re-establishing the Valean Defense Force?" Rufus asked, hopefuly.

    "I do," Ozpin said.

    Winchester chuckled. He shook his head.

    "Forgive me. It's… A surprise. I know we have rarely seen eye to eye, Ozpin."

    "True," Ozpin agreed with a nod and sip of his coffee, "But it has only been out of principle. Which is something I appreciate."

    "Is that so?"

    "I would rather an enemy who opposes me out of a genuine belief that I am wrong, than sycophants who will say yes to everything I say. It is... Refreshing, after a fashion."

    "I would take that as a compliment but I feel that it would also be an insult," Rufus muttered. Ozpin chuckled.

    "Take it as you like. I do agree we have become far too reliant upon Atlas-All of us have."

    "We won the war and they became our mercenaries," Rufus snorted, "Sometimes I wonder if they were the true winners. Our militias just can't handle this rise in activity and Atlas has too many commitments as it is!"

    "That said," Ozpin interjected, "Atlas' reaction to a military build up might be problematic. Another Great War is in no one's interests."

    Rufus nodded.

    "If we must, we can buy from them to get our army started, until our domestic production is able to meet demand. They will probably try to drag it out, make us reliant on them as long as possible."

    Ozpin nodded back.

    "Indeed. But those are growing pains in a necessary process."

    "Mm," Rufus said, eying the cookies and coffee. He finally took some coffee from the pot into a mug, and prepared it with the barest hint of sugar and cream before he imbibed.

    "Ah… South Vacouan, very nice."

    "My preferred brand," Ozpin said, "I can support this... If you will support the Faunus Rights bill being considered."

    Rufus looked up from his coffee, and scowled over it.

    "I can't do that, Ozpin. Not how it's written."

    Ozpin sighed.

    "Rufus, it is this stubbornness that makes the media paint you as a racist."

    "They'd paint me that anyway if it got their darlings more power," Rufus sneered, "Look, we don't want to end up like Mistral, do we? Every single effort at 'equality' has been used to split up the various factions and ethnic groups even more, pitting them against one another to seize more and more for the ruling elite! That has resulted in a country that looks more like dozens of smaller, constantly feuding countries! Do we want that here, too? Faunus and men are equal. The law must reflect that."

    Ozpin was silent for a moment, considering things, before he answered.

    "... I agree there are issues there. But with the White Fang activity, the Council wishes to convince the Faunus that we are not the enemy."

    "And pandering to them has always brought the greatest results? We need a bill, that's not just about Faunus but for all living beings, we need a Universal Civil Rights Bill. That is something I could support, but not what will effectively create a caste system that will breed resentment and hatred! The very things the Grimm feed upon!"

    Rufus drank his coffee, and ate a few pastries. He wiped his mustache clean with a napkin as Ozpin silently thought things over.

    At last, the Beacon Headmaster let out a long sigh.

    "... I can use up a favor to get it sent back to committee, and keep it there until next year. But this issue is not going to go away, Rufus."

    Rufus smiled slightly. It was a rare thing to see, but then, the stubborn man rarely gave an inch on anything.

    "I never said it would... But we need better ways to approach it. Not unless we're going to end up fighting eachother as much as the Grimm. Still... A favor?"

    "I will make noises about how we are putting militarism over domestic civil rights... As I must." Ozpin sipped his coffee. "In return... You have the contract for the city's defense systems, correct?"

    "Yes, Winchester Arms does handle that. They're mostly Atlas-based systems but we build them domestically with our own code."

    Ozpin leaned in.

    "How sure are you of their preparedness?"

    Rufus frowned in some concern and confusion.

    "Very sure."

    Ozpin nodded.

    "Good. I want to know as much about the city's defenses as possible. Every weak point, every gap, anything that can be exploited."

    The Winchester patriarch's frown deepened, drawing lines in his forehead.

    "May I ask why?"

    "Not right now."

    "... Is this related to the Grimm migrations?"

    Ozpin kept his body language and facial expressions perfectly neutral. He had more than enough practice at it, after all.

    "They might be. Let's just say, I want every option available for now. If I'm wrong? Then at least I better know how the city is defended."

    "If you're right?" Rufus pressed.

    Ozpin met his urgent gaze with one of cold detachment.

    "... Let's hope it doesn't come to that," he said. "Also, you must rein in your efforts to go behind the Council's back."

    Rufus coughed, and looked to the side.

    "I… Don't know what you're talking about-"

    "The riders attached to Bills 204.4, 204.5, 205.5, 207.8," Ozpin recited, "All meant to invoke Articles 9 and 11 for the creation and provisioning of militias and issuance of letters of marque."

    Ozpin arched his eyebrow at the slightly uncomfortable looking Councilman.

    "It is fortunate indeed that no one read through those Articles of the constitution for those riders because they were attached to farming bills," Ozpin said dryly, "And that the budgets for such things have not been touched since the Great War due to interlocking amendments to keep the government solvent. Otherwise they might have said you were raising your own army."

    Rufus sighed, and looked Ozpin in the eye as a few birds tittered nearby.

    "Even if the VDF bill passes, it will still take time to get it up and running," he said, "We need military forces yesterday. It's not like I just started tossing out Letters of Marque to any idiot air pirate or mercenary company I ran across!"

    Ozpin sighed heavily.

    "Then who did you give these letters to?"

    "The Merry Men Convoy, the Ali Baba Company," and here Rufus did manage a slight smile, "And the Jolly Roger Pirates."

    Ozpin stared at Rufus in disbelief.

    "What? They're mercenaries at worst!" Rufus protested. "They never go after individual towns! They follow rules of engagement!"

    Ozpin sighed and pushed up his glasses. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

    "I am well aware of that, Rufus… But did you have to choose companies that are so very… Eccentric?"

    Rufus sipped his coffee and snorted.

    "I wouldn't be talking about eccentric companions if I were you, Ozpin."

    Ozpin met his stare evenly and finished his coffee before he reached out to pour himself more.

    "... Touché, Rufus. Touché. You, however, are taking responsibility for the headaches they cause."

    "I knew what I was signing up for," Rufus shrugged. He hesitated for a moment, bird song filling the air and attempting to lift the suddenly awkward atmosphere.

    "So… How is my son doing?"

    "Very well," Ozpin said, "He had some issues at the start, but he has evened out. I believe his new girlfriend is helping with that."

    Rufus raised his faded eyebrows.

    "Girlfriend, you say?"

    Ozpin held back a smirk.

    "Yes. You can ask him all about it at dinner."

    He had to take his victories where he could, after all.

    - - -

    Bastinda is the name of the Wicked Witch of the West in the Russian version of "The Wizard of Oz". Hence why her favorite flower is a poppy.

    "Rufus" means "Redhaired", a fitting name for Cardin Winchester's father.

    And you can guess the references in the PMCs that Winchester has hired. We will meet one in the next chapter which will finish up the Semester Break Arc.
     
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    • AndrewJTalon said:
    They're mostly Atlas-based systems but we build them domestically with our own code."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Smart move.

    AndrewJTalon said:
    "Very well," Ozpin said, "He had some issues at the start, but he has evened out. I believe his new girlfriend is helping with that."

    Rufus raised his faded eyebrows.

    "Girlfriend, you say?"

    Ozpin held back a smirk.

    "Yes. You can ask him all about it at dinner."
    Click to expand...
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    This will be good.

    Thanks for the chapter!
     
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