Arcing Black

As Jaune Arc paid for some snacks, I went and used Soul Archive on him to see what his situation was at the moment. After lightly touching him for a brief moment, a flood of new memories enters my mindscape that I sift through and organize. Okay... I am now starting to pity Vomit Boy. Growing up with seven older sisters is not easy, not at all, and it made me realize why Carden's bullying never really got to him. Compared to the daily humiliations that his sisters put him through, the bully's acts were considered cute.

An interesting fact I learned is that Jaune's father has two wives, which makes more sense than one woman having to give birth eight times to me. Putting that aside, Jaune is here with his family as everyone's finals that have them are over, and it's a tradition among the Arcs to head to Shion during whatever breaks the family has. I tossed aside any plans of messing with Jaune because he already has it hard with his sisters pranking him, dressing him up in their old clothes, plus makeup, and treating him as the baby of the family.

After Vomit Boy left, I got back to get the information I wanted and resupplied food and essentials. Argint followed me back to the Drake to store everything before we went into the inn to see if Neopolitan got us some rooms. I then saw the poor tri-colored girl surrounded by the Arc girls as they gushed over how cute she was while poking and prodding her. I went over to help her out as she was clearly starting to get annoyed, and I didn't want her to go all stabby-stab on them.

" Ladies, I would appreciate it if you left my friend alone."

Neopolitan immediately hid behind me and even climbed up my shoulders. She was as light as a feather to me. The Arc girls looked at me with appraising eyes, and the tomboy of the family, wearing a green shirt, Jade, asked me with a belligerent tone.

" And who are you?"

" Jade, be nice."

The Arc in a red jacket, Garnet, who was the oldest sibling and probably the nicest if Jaune's memories are any indication, chides her younger sister. The Arc in glasses and an indigo dress, Calypso eyed me as she adjusted her glasses and asked with an inquisitive look.

" Aren't your paws inconvenient at times?"

" Cally, remember what mom said about asking personal questions?"

Sapfron, the Arc in an orange t-shirt, reprimed her younger sibling and apologized to me.

" Sorry about that; Cally is a bit too curious sometimes and tends to ask the first question on her mind."

" It's fine."

Next, the twins with matching blue bows, Aqua and Marine, flanked me as they poked my fur and squealed excitedly.

" HE'S SO SOFT!"

Next, they started holding my paws, and the last of the Arc sisters, Violet, who was wearing an overall purple dress, said.

" Really, let me see!"

" Violet! Aqua! Marine!"

The eldest Arc stopped her youngest sister by grabbing hold of her shoulders and calling out to the twins. I am really starting to pity Jaune after meeting his sister firsthand, and I am beginning to suspect that part of the reason he sneaked into Beacon was to get some space away from his sisters. However, I would probably send him back home if I catch him trying to get into Beacon Academy, regardless, because if it weren't for Pyrrha, he would have died during the initiation, either by breaking his neck during the fall after being catapulted into the air or becoming food for the Grimm. As my patience was running thin, I heard a rough and deep voice call out in exasperation and a touch of anger.

" Girls! Behave yourselves!"

" Yes, dad."

They all replied in perfect unity, which made them erupt in giggles, and I saw Jaune's father in person for the first time. Vomit Boy definitely took after his father as I felt I was looking at an older, more mature Jaune with a thick blonde beard. He walked over to me as the girls stood aside, as he apologized for me being ganged up by his daughters.

" Sorry about that; the girls can be... excitable."

" I can't imagine what it's like to have seven kids, all daughters, on a daily basis."

The Arc patriarch sighed while looking a bit worn but happy and proud.

"They are the lights of my life."

" If you will excuse me."

I turned to leave but not before the Arc father asked.

" May I know your name? It's not often I meet a young man that is not overwhelmed by my daughters' pestering, especially one of your size."

" Silva."

I kept my last name hidden because it's something you say you are in the kingdom of Mistral without inviting trouble and prejudice from others. As I left, I asked Neopolitan, hanging from my shoulders and Argint in tow.

" Did you manage to get us a room?"

The tri-colored girl gave me an okay sign and handed me the key to our room.

***

As Silva left for his room with Neopolitan and Argint, the Arc patriarch, Giles Arc, told his daughters as he kept his eyes on the snow leopard faunus.

" Girls, I want you to promise me not to get near that young man."

" But dad, he's so fluffy."

The Arc twins complained, but he wasn't having it.

" Promise me, Garnet, Sapfron, Jade, Calypso, Aqua, Marine, and Violet."

The Arc girls stared at them as the only time he called their individual names were either when they were in trouble or he was talking about something serious. The girls gave their promises, and Giles then sent some of them away.

" Cally, Aqua, Marine, and Violent. Please go help your mothers with whatever they need. Garnet, Sapfron, and Jade, I need a word with the three of you for a moment."

The three eldest Arc siblings stayed behind to see what their father wanted, and Jade asked.

" So what's the issue, old man?"

" That young man has killed before, and before you ask, the only thing I can give you is a gut feeling and my instincts as a Huntsman as evidence."

The Arc siblings looked at their father in surprise, and the eldest, Garnet, asked with a serious expression.

" Should we keep an eye on him, just in case, dad?"

Out of the three siblings, only Garnet and Jade have Huntress training and are licensed along with their father. Giles then told his daughters.

" Yes, but only when he is in proximity. Don't go looking for trouble, especially you, Jade."

" Oh, come on, old man, I can take him."

" No, and that's final."

Sapfron then added her thoughts to the matter.

" Dad, are you sure that Silva? I think he said his name was. Is he a bad guy?"

Giles sighed before replying.

" I don't know Sapfron, but it always pays to be cautious in these matters. So I need the three of you to keep a tighter reign on your younger siblings than usual while that faunus is about."

The three eldest Arc siblings gave their agreement to their father's orders and went back to their rooms. The Arc patriarch mumbled.

" I hope I am wrong. I really do."

***

Miltia and Melanie, we're back in Vale, supervising the construction of the home Silva was building in Vale. They kept the outfits that they got for the road trip as a type of memento and reminder of failing to do what they had planned to do during the trip with Silva. The brasher twin complained.

" I do not understand how Silva can stand squatting in the woods when the cities provide everything a girl or guy could need."

" While I share similar sediments, Melanie, I think that this trip of Silva's was more of a way for him to destress after his time in Atlas."

Melanie crossed her arms, feeling annoyed that she couldn't argue against her twin's observations, and decided to change topics.

" When do you think would be a good time to have some alone time with Silva?"

" That is difficult to say, Melanie, but we could just simply ask Silva to come over and check everything at the construction sight while sending Emerald away."

" Maybe, plus, it would be easier to tempt him in a nice comfortable bed than a sleeping bag or cot."

The twins continued to scheme and plan while Silva was away and facing the Arc family.