15

Chapter 15: Everyone Loves Pineapples! Second Part

(Pineapple by Imyoshi)

Mission

Jaune cleaned his ears to make sure he heard Ozpin right.

"What? Sorry, I must've heard you wrong? Did you say mission?"

"Correct, all freshman must participate in a few missions. It is a standard procedure."

"Hurray! The TV Gods Heard our Pleas Rubooty!"

"Yea-Wait, What'd You Call Me!? O/O "

Yup, functional ears, a clean bill of health—wait just a flying rug minute! Mission! No, no, no, Jaune stubbornly threw his hands out in protest, the Headmaster must have forgotten he was a one-man play. No one else was around to tag along on a mission. Yes, a mistake, a fuddy-duddy, their poor Headmaster must work too hard. Remembering that he was team-less was asking too much. He would politely show him the errors of his way.

Pyrrha and Ren begun to worry, remembering the first view with Jaune against Grimm by himself…

"Isn't that done with teams? As in four people, not one, ergo me?"

Ozpin never batted an eye. "It would be for a rather gruesome assignment, but yours focuses on mitigating a population of Grimm. Should be straight forward enough. Expel an excess of Grimm until it safe for travelers."

"HE'S SERIOUS!" Everyone, literally everyone backed away as Ruby and Pyrrha stood up in sync, fire in their respective eyes as they glared at the headmaster on screen. Well Everyone but Neo who was no less infuriated. However the worst case was Weiss who proceeded to clutch her head.

MOTHER FUCKING LIMPED DICKED BETA BITCH OLD MAN! SENDING MY DARLING OUT THERE ON HIS OWN!

She gripped her head as she felt a migraine coming on… Never in her life did she ever imagine she would ask the voices in her head to be quiet. Never In Her Life Did She Think There'd Be Voices To Be Asked To Be Quiet!

I've Gone Insane! I Knew This Team Would Drive Me Mad One Day!

Red alert! Okay, common sense and Ozpin must be miles apart. Jaune must calmly apply reason to this situation before things got out of hand.

"Not to be that guy, but it still sounds like a team exercise. Can't I do something else, like clean up the teacher's lounge or help an old lady across the street?"

"That… Doesn't really sound like Huntsman work?" AJ Shrugged.

"My first Mission was helping kids cross the street." Yang deadpanned.

"Seriously, bet you were a real laughingstock." He grinned back.

"I'll have you know I had my own little fanclub, the moms loved me… A bit too much in some cases -/- " He felt a chill run down his spin unaware of the three redheads (Neo's Hair is Pink so it counts!) Glaring his way.

Well… I know One mission Jaune won't need to participate in…

Dumb old Coots! Keep your dirty cougar hands of my Boyfriend!... Friend! I meant Friend, who happens to be a boy -/-

How many bitches am I gonna have to stab to keep my Babies Daddy locked down?

Kill Them All In The Name Of Darling!

Shut Up! /

"I believe you are underestimating your potential."

"I believe you're underestimating how many streets there are in Vale."

"We cannot break tradition." Arms got thrown up.

"You broke it for me! I'm a leader without a team!"

"I mean, he has a point…"

"I did not break it for you." Ozpin smoothly countered. He sipped a velvety ounce of chocolate.

"You were the only one to pass. My hands were tied."

"You could've untied them." Ozpin raised a brow from the edge of his mug.

"And break my word, impossible. A Huntsman is only as good as their word. You, of all people, know that better than anyone, Mr. Arc. Besides, I've been informed by Professor Goodwitch that you are remarkably resourceful, earning victories against your higher peers. It would be a waste of your talents to have you coped up inside, cleaning the coffee maker." Giving up, he kicked imaginary dirt.

"Can't I at least do the mission some other time, when I'm more ready?"

"We cannot break tradition."

"I'm starting to hate that word."

Pyrrha ground her teeth.

"Some traditions are better off forgotten." Ruby spoke next her silver eyes growing concerningly duller by the second…

"And buried with the idiots who enforce them!" Neo didn't like that she was starting to not hate these two, especially since they were the competition.

Ozpin simpered from the edge of his beverage.

"Welcome to Beacon Academy. Enjoy your stay. Now, you best get packing. You leave tomorrow morning on daybreak. Your mission ends in two days, and the greater quantity of Grimm you slay, the higher the rewards." He blinked. Rewards?

"Wait, wait, wait, I'm getting paid for this?" Ozpin mimicked the blink.

"But of course, how else do Huntsmen obtain lien? Rewards for your services are common in this line of business. Everyone has to eat. Please remember, Mr. Arc this is a mission, not an assignment. Do not treat it as such. Your life's on the line, not a piece of paper with an arbitrary grade. This is what you signed up for when attending my academy."

"Right… I guess we sorta forgot that despite how easy it was for us…" Blake followed up her partner's words.

"For most students missions like that are as difficult as… As 'that' view was for Jaune against the Grimm." Nora however shook her head, willing away the fear and anxiety.

"No Way, Fearless Leader Gots This! He's Gonna Kick Grimm Butt And Make A Lot Of Moola!"

Yikes! Well, when he put it like that, Jaune felt silly for arguing. Being a Huntsman, or a Huntsman-in-training, entailed he go on missions and slay Grimm. Thinking otherwise was foolheartly. Who had time for sleepovers or walking old ladies across the street? Someone had to make sure there was a street.

"I guess I have no choice, I mean… it is tradition."

"Between you and I, I hate that word, too."

Jinn spared a chuckle knowing just how true that statement was for the poor cursed immortal.

Numbers

Another Beowulf howled in agony as his sword dug into its shoulder blades.

Jaune left his blade embedded within the dying beast, monitoring the area for anymore Grimm. He wiped his forehead once he noticed no more stragglers, grabbing the handle to twist his weapon, before freeing it from the flesh of a rotting carcass. He sat on the nearest rock, resting his sword and shield between his legs as he took a well-earned breather. Two days he had been out here, in some unknown forest, near a forgettable settlement, slaying Beowolves with the occasional Ursai. The wolves weren't much of a threat, level-three combat drones put up a better fight, but he despised fighting those bears, nothing but muscle on those creatures, made stabbing major organs difficult. Sometimes he blindly hacked-and-slashed it.

Yang nodded, understanding his pains completely, nobody liked the bullet sponges of the Grimm, herself included.

Part of him felt regretful for killing the younger Grimm, they had no fighting experience to aid them, seemed unfair, but then he laughed out loud from the irony. Look at him, complaining about killing Grimm or lack of fighting experience. Months ago he would have freaked out at the idea of meeting one. Months ago he barely knew how to hold Crocea Mors.

That was true, which made it ring that much clearer to his fellow students how impressive his counterpart was for achieving this level in such a small gap of time.

Impressive… I didn't think mister Arc could show this level of competence…

Ren was almost positive that voice was Ms. Goodwitch… Which meant she was watching this all too…

Granted, he ended freaking out, during initiation and when Ozpin informed him of his upcoming mission, but once he got past the initial freak-out stage, things worked themselves out. Who knew going solo with the whole Beacon thing would benefit him in the long run? Crazy. Mind-numbing insane, more like it.

Before his partner could get depressed AJ spoke up.

"There are benefits to him being alone, but that doesn't mean there aren't for him your Jaune being with you." She looked to him and he smiled, but didn't explain further. If he really had to go into detail why being a leader and having friends he could rely on was a good thing he'd end up talking more then they'd be viewing.

Looking up, he stood and stretched his legs, patting away loose dirt. "Phew! That should be good enough. The Bullhead's set to arrive at night, and the sun's about to set, guess it's time to leave. I can't wait to crash on my own bed."

Not like the settlement didn't provide him with room and board, but he missed his bed. Two days wasn't enough time for the mattress to accommodate his proportions. To think, he just spent those days killing Grimm. Not the easiest feat. Bruises covered his entire body with dried blood coating parts of his skin, some scratches here and there with a few fractured nails, but he survived his first mission. Brainpower was the real champion. Brute strength would have killed him in minutes. No. He played it smart. Annihilate a few and then hide. Kill a few more and then disappear again. Scream to attract the few that grew wary. Conventional, classic, and all-around effective, nothing like fighting second-years or training bots, those opponents had brains and weapons.

Finding them in this forest proved simple enough, especially when one ran out yelling between the trees like some madman, lunacy spoke to the troubled creature, Jaune Arc, the Grimm whisperer!

Ren nodded, he employed similar guerilla-tactics and not far off Blake also gave a approving nod. Neither had really ever thought of Jaune of all people to deal with Grimm like them but were more then opened to the idea. Ren even considering the pros to suggesting such to his own brother-in-all-but-blood, while Blake vaguely played with the thought.

His feet eventually led him to the village elder, a pale man who lived in this village far from real civilization, and he received his due. Without having to split the reward four-ways between a cornucopia of greedy fingers, he ended up with a pretty penny. Who knew people paid so much to clear out some Grimm? No wonder Huntsmen decked out their weaponry with over-the-top gadgets. The sensation to spend was maddening. Heck! Jaune went crazy with his lien, controlled by impulse the minute he landed back in Vale and bought the first painting he saw in the nearest thrift store.

The dogs playing poker hung perfectly over his dresser.

Pyrrha smiled despite herself, while she couldn't say she was exactly happy to see Jaune doing to much better without her she was at least happy he wasn't injured and even proud of her partner. Nora cheered at her fearless leader hitting it big but would've gone for a sloth painting herself. Ren was just content that that seemed to be the extent of his fellow boy's impulse purchases.

Oscillations

One of the few items he brought from home, other than Crocea Mors, was his trusty guitar.

El Diablo.

Weiss's eye twitched, not having good memories of Arc with said instrument…

Some backwater fantasy of his thought he might play it for some quirky girl, but he ended up tuning and practicing alone most nights. Without friends to chat with in person, he had very few things that occupied his free time. One couldn't train and study forever. That lifestyle demanded trouble and an early grave. So he played on his bed, legs crossed with a towel draped around his neck and naked chest. It sounded odd to play after a hot shower but like the cliché saying went, people sung better in the bathroom, and inspiration came naturally.

Ruby and Pyrrha blushed, they were maidens at heart after all, a the ide of their crush singing for them was as appealing as his shirtless top was. Neo grinned, liking the view, liking her Babies Daddy being all wet and half naked. It reminded her of their little tryst from the 'Very' Intimate View, she'd very much like to experience that again…

Fuck! I! Want! HIM!

Ugh! Shut Up Already!

Never!

Weiss clenched her head, no! These were not her thoughts! She didn't know what was going on and worse yet She couldn't even ask Jinn and refused to tell anyone else!

Droplets of water spilled from the ends of his hair. Wet. He strummed against the cord anyway, shaking one foot from a nervous habit he picked up from his sisters. Sound soothed the troubled soul, and every day at this academy irritated said soul. Getting away from it all, the rumors, the stares, the emptiness, recharged his batteries for the next day, but nothing beat playing a few instrumental cords with El Diablo. So he played into the night, watching the crescent moon rise above the sky with the stars shining brightly. The vibrancy of the room allowed for his notes to bounce off the walls, and his heartbeat seemed to respond to each cord.

A melody fitting for a loner.

Blake's ears twitched as she took in the nice calm tune, Pyrrha sighing content.

"I wonder if he'll play me a song if I were to ask him?" Nora grinned and Ren smiled. Neo though just couldn't let things stay nice.

"He did for me."

And like that she felt the jealous stares she'd come to adore on her once more… And not from just her fellow redheads. She turned confused, why, well for two reasons. One outta everyone here the absolute last person she thought it'd be would be Bugbites of all people. And secondly…

Are her eyes red?

YES! Kill The Fucking Midget! THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!

Weiss shook her head, the crimson leaving her eyes and transitioning to her embarrassed cheeks.

Quiet You!

The chilly air created goosebumps up his arm, he had a Dust exam to fret over about tomorrow, and the level-six training bot demolished him today in training, but he played as a man possessed. He struck cords until his fingers ached and feet fell asleep.

Yang sighed, not her favorite kinda show, she was more hoping for something like that talent show view, but VB wasn't giving a bad performance by any stretch of the word here either. Weiss on the other hand despite the literally voice in her head begun to have some relief as the voice begun to quite seeming to listen intently to Arc's song…

I never thought I'd be happy to hear that Dolt play his guitar…

When a yawn seized his throat, he finally set the instrument down and placed the guitar on the nearest bed.

Weiss paled, scared the voice would begin again but instead finding it oddly quiet… Whatever the reason she wasn't gonna complain.

Not jumping into his covers immediately, but instead staring up at the ceiling with his arms bent backward.

Counting specks.

A useless habit he picked up, something that replaced the mundaneness of counting sheep. Not by choice, a byproduct of solitude, every once in a while he envisioned those infinite dust particles as onlookers enjoying his music, an audience. Made playing his guitar in a too quiet room bearable. A pity, but without friends around, he was forced to make them up. How adorably sad. A future Huntsman with imaginary friends. He turned on his side, laughing. Making friends with specks of dust, he must be going crazy.

If only he knew about the plethora of friends and teammates watching him, enjoying said music.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Huh?"

He reached out for his Scroll, flipping the device open to see a video call from Ruby. Hm? A video call this late into the night? What could she want?

"Yes!"

GO OTHER ME!

Happily bouncing in her seat Ruby watched, wide-eyed and eager.

Pressing accept, she appeared on the other end of his device, wearing a black nighty with a heart and sweats combo. A Grimm mask adorned her forehead, and he saw in the background a shower curtain. Above all else, she waved vigorously with her other arm busy holding her Scroll.

"Heya, Jaune! What's new?" Ruby stopped, a toothbrush dangling between her toothpaste covered lips. A quick tilt of the head.

"And where's your shirt? And why's your hair wet?" If he wasn't tired, he might be embarrassed. Instead, he ran a hand over his head to press his hair back.

"Just got out of the shower. Now I'm going to bed."

"Same here! Just got to brush my teeth. Dad's a real stickler for good oral hygiene."

"And here I thought it because you were afraid of the dentist."

"You can't prove that! I'll deny it!"

"Pfft! Hahaha!"

"Shutup! Dentist Have No Souls! / "

Their Like Grimm! But You're Not Even Allowed To Slay Them!

From the off-corner of his screen, she noticed the picture of the dogs playing poker.

"Hold up! I've always wanted to see what the rooms at Beacon are like, show me!" He sighed fruitlessly.

"Fine. It's not special. We got four walls, windows, and beds."

"Just show me!" Jaune's Scroll zoomed all across the room with its last line of trajectory resting upon El Diablo.

"Oh, oh! You have a guitar? Do you play?" He rolled his eyes.

"No, it's just there for decoration, of course, I play."

"Play me a song!" He frowned.

"Now? I just got finished practicing, my fingers hurt. How about tomorrow?" She grinned.

"Deal!"

Neo furrowed her brows at that, how dare Red cut in on her exclusive Serenading Rights! Pyrrha didn't fair much better pouting, earning a pat on the back from Nora.

"This is why I say you need to be more aggressive Pyr-Pyr!" Ren nodded.

"Fortune does favor the bold…" Said Spartan gritted her teeth nodding.

"Oops. Hold your horses."

A drop of toothpaste spilled from her mouth and landed on her chest. No problem! She placed her Scroll on the sink and reached down to use the bottom of her shirt to wipe it clean, exposing her bare stomach with the back of her shirt riding up.

Nora grinned elbowing the Reapette.

"Trying to put on a show for Jaune-Jaune?" Ruby's face flushed.

"Sh-shutup! / "

Yang, like a tornado of mischief, chose that moment to walk into the bathroom, blinking in synch with his video feed. A shirtless, wet-haired Jaune greeted her with her sister's shirt half-raised. Ruby suddenly turned tomato faced from the compromising position, lowering her shirt desperately, and her sister jumped at the golden opportunity.

"Well, looks like your gonna try to kill him again…" Yang groaned! She wasn't even mad at VB anymore! Especially knowing how'd she soon react…

"Yang, it's not what it looks like!"

Ruby whimpered, already knowing what'd be coming up next… She didn't Wanna see stupid old angry Yang again!

"Oh my!" Yang hid her growing smirk poorly.

"What kind of video call did I walk in on? You're so bold, Rubes. Excuse me."

"Yang!" Ruby huffed. She pouted at his stunned face.

"I gotta go, Jaune! Next time I call, you better play me a song, okay? Good! Goodnight, sleepy head! Don't let the bed Grimm bite!"

Click!

For a long beat, he said nothing, staring helplessly at his Scroll. Then, without uttering a word, he sat up and reached for his guitar, already messing around with some timeless verse. Just as he said, inspiration happened in the bathroom.

Didn't have to be his bathroom.

The lot all stared…

"Did, did Yang seriously not get angry?" Pyrrha blinked, she supposed it was possible this one could be like that counterpart from Jam, but frankly she thought such a level headed brawler was a one in a million chance.

"Renny! I think Calm Yangarang is scarier then Nice Weissy!"

"Oh Come on! I'm not that b-Augh! Fine, Whatever!... You all suck -/- "

Pirouette

Beacon Academy held dances.

An awkward situation where guys asked girls to accompany them to the dance floor, some people were bolder than others, but he skipped out on the luxury entirely and opted to explore Vale over hanging by the punch bowl. No socially-awkward club for him tonight.

Blake nodded her head.

"I guess he doesn't really have an incentive to attend without any friends going." The others nodded, Ruby and Pyrrha more so than the others since no new hussies would be entering the fray if Jaune didn't attend after all.

Before that, he headed toward the CCT to see what was happening around Vale, maybe spend some of his surplus of lien. Possibly catch the newest film. Minutes passed, he found something suitable, but before he made it to the Bullheads, a figure wearing skintight clothing, black in color with piercing amber eyes, crossed his path. They collided outside the CCT elevator with her eyebrows raising. He merely waved harmlessly.

Ruby stood up panicked.

"It's Her! That's The Lady Who Was Up To No Good In The CCT!"

When she returned the wave, albeit slow, it made sense. Ah, she must be one of those exchange students, such an odd style of clothing, he didn't think it was one of those mask types of dances. Maybe he would have gone if he found a Pumpkin Pete's mask.

"Oh, hi there."

"Greetings."

"Run Jaune!" Nora disagreed with her fellow sugar lover though.

"Kick Her Butt Fearless Leader!" Neo looked to the ginger like she was fucking nutty, her Babies Daddy was no match for Fire Bitch After All! Jaune however just stared, shaking at the possibility this presented, at the chance to out Cinder…

His finger hovered over a button. "Going down?"

She fixed a stare at his goofy grin, knowing full well this man passed initiation where Pyrrha Nikos' failed. Her intelligence circle figured as much with the gossip floating around. Of all the people to run into, and it had to be him. She had no record of his skills, nothing to fall back on, Mercury wasn't blessed to fight in his class, even if she felt confident taking him, but caution won over, and she nodded painstakingly with her knuckles turning white from exertion. Taking chances and starting a commotion would be counter-productive to her nefarious plans. If one thing went amok, just a single hair out-of-place, everything would shatter. No. Too messy. Play along until he made himself scarce.

"Yes."

"I Knew She Was Up To No Good!" Neo couldn't care very much about Red's shouting, she was too busy worrying about her blonde idiot getting incinerated. All the while Ren contemplated something.

Mercury? That name sounds familiar…

Down they went in the slow-moving elevator.

She mentally counted the seconds, impatiently applying pressure to her feet. Tick-tock, tick-tock, the seconds droned on by while he stood their aimlessly, leaning on the guardrail without care. Once they passed the fifth floor, she mentally sighed in relief, only for him to begin talking.

"So do you come here, or are you one of the exchange students?" Jaune asked nervously. Wow, outside the professors and his Scroll, he had the social skills of a rock. Had it really been that long since he talked to a stranger face-to-face?

Neo's eyes twitched, okay. There were a lot of things karma probably had in store for her, but she Really hoped her Babies Daddy flirting with Fire Bitch wasn't one of them…

"And why aren't you at the dance? Wait, let me guess, it cramped your style? Me, personally, I'm not one for dancing. I know how, but..." A pair of lips thinned.

Just her luck, a nervous talker, and right when they touched the first floor. She couldn't stay inside and press the up button without arousing suspicion. Not after answering yes to going down. So she followed when he politely waved for her to move, speaking the drivel nonsense of ladies first.

Once they stepped outside, he followed, and she made zero attempts to push him away. Perhaps she should have because he led her all the way to the Bullhead landing station before he realized she stopped replying in her one-worded answers.

Pyrrha felt as though she'd seen this woman before… Was it from another view? From School?

"And I'm boring you."

"No."

Yes.

"Hmph, the Dolt has that effect on people." Ignoring her teammate's words Blake stared, this girl, her name was on the tip of her tongue? That figure and voice and those eyes… It was infuriating she couldn't name who exactly they were, and the fact Neo was staring said woman down only served to impress how important this person was!

Why!? Why'd She have to use all her questions!?

Jaune waved away the concern, walking up the steps to the Bullhead in waiting. He had Nigel Planter and Beneath the Subtext to watch at the theaters. He bored her enough. She appeared to want to head back to the dance.

Ruby sighed in relief, for a moment there she was scared Jaune was gonna invite her to go with him… Because that would be bad! Because She Was Evil! Yeah, that why. Evil, No good! It had nothing to do with her being a leggy brunette, nope no second agendas here, all she cared about was keeping her boyfriend away from the dumb sexy evil lady and her nefariousness!

"Don't worry about it, I'm already leaving. Thanks for listening, bye." Cinder Fall never got a chance to plant the virus, suspicion arose of a lack of students with her objective off by two minutes too late.

"Wait? Did she say virus!" Jaune was so happy Snow Angel had caught that he could kiss her! That joy quickly turned to depression though when he realized said heiress had no questions left much like Blake. And doubled when he looked to his usually levelheaded partner who was no looking to said False maiden less like a threat or target of suspicion and more like a scavenger honing in on her prey. He grabbed his head in frustration.

Dammit! her Jaunession is getting in the way of rational thinking again!

Jinn patted his head in comfort though.

"Don't worry… I'm sure there'll be other opportunities, besides…" She looked to Ren who was obviously deep in thought.

"At Least one of your friends head is in the proper space of thinking."

Quirky

Level-six training bots were something else.

When they moved for a strike, they went for bone-breaking crushers. Aura protected him from such purpose-driven attacks, but nothing dulled the pain in his limbs from blocking such charges. He quickly learned to avoid them entirely, no point in shielding from a strike that delivered damaging recoil. Footwork became his ally in the fight against one of these machines. Dodge! He avoided a blow that shattered bits of the floor. Yes, footwork.

They all stared, some in shock from how capable a drone at that level was and others at seeing their friend or teammate respectively move the way he did. Ren and Yang were the first to notice it though, as familiar with the movements on display as they'd been the first time they witnessed them.

"He's moving like he did in that Machiavellism world…" Ren nodded.

"Though not as honed or practiced, your right."

Clutching Crocea Mors above his chest, he narrowed his eyes at the approaching machine, not seeing an opening as it spun its pole in an endless circle. Tch! He dove back, parrying and sidestepping blows meant to draw blood. Arms tingled from the strikes, and he needed both to block an attack that came in a downward arc, hands placed at both ends of Crocea Mors with his Aura working overtime to prevent the blade from digging into his skin. Same went for his feet with the ground bending underneath the force.

Oh, how he missed dealing with level-one bots.

Kick!

Air left his lungs. Pesky thing kicked him in the gut. He toppled over, digging his sword in the floor to halt his momentum. All good that did, he barely had time to avoid a strike aimed for his forehead, ducking at the last possible second while using the opening to create some distance. Useless. Another kick, this time on his side, and he ended up losing his grip on his blade.

Yang winced.

"Man, didn't think those training bots could pack that much of a punch…"

His body rolled on the floor with his blade resting a few feet away. He looked up from his arm, eyeing his sword and the approaching bot with apprehensiveness, sweat clinging to his neck. A sudden burst of movement, a quick one-two, and he lunged forward to grab his sword, turning with his momentum intact. He rolled in, lifted his weapon, and dug Crocea Mors deep into its metallic chest cavity. Metal met metal, force met force, but only one survived.

The owner of the arm connected to the bot, he breathed heavily, struggling to keep his balance with the machine sliding down his family's heirloom. Muscles strained underneath the added weight. He offered no grin, no celebratory laugh, nothing. A lucky win, nothing to celebrate, he still wasn't ready to beat level-six training bots toe-to-toe, but he trained for that reason.

They stared, not because the display was beyond their understanding, nor because it was particularly breathe taking, no, it was because it was the sorta match they'd need to keep an eye on. Because missing the opportunity to observe a possible opponent's capabilities would cost them if they ever were to face them.

And that realization, that Jaune had achieved such a level of prowess in matter of months, it was staggering.

"There were no wasted movements…" Ren nodded to Pyrrha observation, putting forth his own two cents.

"Not only that, his judgement in quick, he doesn't hesitate…"

"Fearless Leaders awesome, oh oh, I know, I'll start working out with Jaune-Jaune, once fearless leader is Swole to he'll be unstoppable."

Sigh.

He pushed the machine off his sword, struggling with the weight. Oil spilled from the battle wound, drenching his sword and clothing in a slippery substance. He paid extra caution to not slip on the stuff, not wanting a repeat from what happened last—!

"Salutations!"

"Gah!"

A blond knight tripped and fell on his back. Pain-induced eyes opened to see a person blocking his light. She hovered over his downed body, grinning a million-watt smile with her hands placed on her knees. Eyes greener than the grass practically radiated in color, and her hair hinted of fresh oranges with those freckles reminding him of his specks hiding in his ceiling. That pink bow tied it all together, and she continued smiling, against the blurring dots in his vision.

"PENNY!" Everyone looked to the Reapette confused.

"Who?"

Real Doll? The Fuck She's Do There With Darling?

Oh gods, the voice inside her head knew people she didn't… Somehow that was as concerning as the fact that there was a voice in said heiress's head.

"Greetings, friend, I couldn't help but notice you were sparring against a level-six combat droid. Most people fight multiple level-five units. Very few, students-wise, go past that marker, unless they're accompanied by their team. But you are without one, how come?" He stared at the smiling face with his nerves ticking.

"Uh? Because I don't have one. I'm a solo act."

"Don't have one?" Green eyes blinked like she was processing what he just said.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you a first-year?" He saluted from the floor.

"Yup, Jaune Arc at your service. Beacon's only first-year. You might have heard of me. You know, I'm that guy who passed, while everyone else failed. It was all over the third page news, next to the help ads, Miss..." She appeared to brighten up at the word service and offered him her hand.

"Oh! Where are my manners? Greetings friend, my name is Penny Polendina. It's a pleasure to meet you." He accepted her machine-like grip.

"Are you an exchange student?"

"Affirmative!"

Affirmative? Salutations? He grinned.

"You know, you talk like a robot."

…

Weiss blinked, the voice had gone strangely quiet? Did, did it know something?

"Hey sis, why'd you suddenly go all mute, trying to copy Roman's lacky here?" Neo glared, she was so getting top heavy for that later…

"I-I don't know what your talking about, I, I'm just trying to focus on this awesome world… Pfft, pfft!"

Dangit! I'm Too Nervous To Whistle Inconspicuously!

Penny appeared to shut down at the word, twiddling her fingers. "That's absurd. I am not mechanical in any way. I am a normal meat-person, just like you."

Hiccup!

Blake deadpanned…

"Meat Person?"

Gods Dammit Fucking Real Doll…

What Do You Know That I Don't!?

Ruby panicked adorable, as was her nature.

"I-I say Meat Person All The Time, It's Perfectly Normal!"

"Sis, I've literally never once heard you say tha-" With a adorable pout she closed in on her sis.

"ALL THE TIME! /"

"Yeah, Yangarang, Meat Persons like a normal thing right Renn-"

"Nora don't add to this…"

She's doing it for the lolz… 'Sigh' but what else is new…

Huh, so Real Doll blew her cover at least once… 'Sigh' Fucking called it.

What Are You Talking About!? Who Are You!

"Show Yourself!" The fact that her team looked less surprised and more worried this time made her want to scream all the more. Except Ruby, Ruby was glad the focus was off her…

He chuckled at her cute hiccup and rubbed his neck free from oil.

Pyrrha's eyes narrowed.

"Did, did he just say cute?"

"Okay, okay, meat person, got it. I won't make that mistake again."

"Sensational!" Penny paused for the briefest of seconds. So far this person hadn't inched away from her presence.

"Do you perhaps want to do the hanging out? We could go to the movies, or get ice-cream, or play board games."

"Did, did the new girl just ask VB out?"

"SEE PYR-PYR! I Told You! Fearless Leaders A Hot Commodity! Strike While The Irons Hot And Your Rivals Are As Bad As You!"

"W-well, it, it's not like Jaune will agree so…"

"I'm covered in oil."

Pyrrha smiled, relieved.

"See."

"I believe there is a water fountain thirty yards from here." He snorted at the joke. How could he argue with that logic.

"Just give me a minute to clean up." Her brows knitted.

"In my understanding, humans require more than a minute to get cleaned up. Several if I'm not mistaken."

"Are you sure you're not a robot or an android?"

"Positive."

Hiccup!

Beacon's socially awkward Jaune Arc, meet boundary-breaking Penny Polendina. Together they ended up going to watch the latest Burninator movie, something that apparently spoke to her, consumed mint-flavored ice-cream, and ended up playing board games in his vacant room.

"SEE PYR-PYR! IRON, HOT, STRIKE! NOW!" Pyrrha head dunked in shame, but the look in her eyes that came forward was 'very' telling.

"Don't worry Nora, I have no intention of letting 'Certain' people get the chance to 'take' Jaune…" Neo didn't miss the glare she shot her, she smiled, oh she was gonna make her regret that. Nora leaned in close to Ren then.

"Renny, I think Pyr-Pyrs starting to lose it…"

"She does seem rather… Intense."

"Yeah… It's kinda hot."

"So were just gonna ignore how VB and Sis's here friend just totally went out on date?"

"It's Not A Date! / My Friends We're Just Hanging Out!" Blake interrupted.

"But Pennys not your friend yet?"

"Yes She Is! She Just Doesn't Know It Yet!" Neo snickered.

'What? Are you a Arc like my Baby Daddy now?'

Ruby looked over to the grinning Neo, her cheeks breaking out into a utter red for a second, until her silver eyes narrowed, seeming… Duller and a unsettlingly innocent smile showed across her face like a crescent.

"Not yet…" Pyrrha and Neo alike froze.

Fuck… Pedo-Bait might be the biggest threat… Shocking to say the Fucking Least.

Stop Making fun of my Partner!

Penny was nice and quirky. He enjoyed talking to her. She didn't give him anything but her company, which included hiding in his room from some troublesome teammates, or so she put it. Those metallic footsteps, yeah, no, he didn't want to know. Either way, he introduced her to what a board game was, and even if he lost every single match—who rolled that many twelves, no Penny, getting Yahtzee six times in a row was not natural—her company more than made up for the crushing defeats.

Probably the most fun he had ever since stepping into this academy.

Ruby paled.

Note to self, never play boardgames with Penny…

Yang Snickered, practically seeing the fear in her sister's eyes, man if she hated losing to VB in that one view, she'd pay top Lien to see her face Penny in another. The fit she'd throw would be legendary.

Representation

Not again.

"Well, that's not a good sign…"

No, seriously, what the heck? Jaune had trouble un-biting his tongue from the unexpected news, this close to waving his arms in the air. Why? Why, why, why would Ozpin come up to him and offer—by offer he meant demand—for him to participate in the upcoming Vytal Festival?

"WHAT!?" Pyrrha was seething!

'Bang Bang Bang!'

Jinn glared at Ruby who'd taken several pot shots at the Ozpin on screen, her eyes still annoyingly dull.

Imma Kill Him!

Weiss clenched her head in frustration at the voice having an utter tirade in her head!

The mission he understood, not really, no, but it made sense in a life kicks you while your down kind of way, but asking to compete in a tournament? Alone? Solo. Without a team to back him up? Now he knew for sure the headmaster was out of his rocking chair. Had to be a sick joke, a prank for being the only first-year. Ha-ha, please laugh.

He wasn't laughing.

"You can't be serious?" Jaune almost yelled. Even Professor Glynda sided with him, shooting Ozpin a meaningful look.

'Sigh' Of curse you would Ozpin…

"When Ms. Goodwitch is on your side you know you're in the right…" Ren nodded to Blake's logic, even he'd admit this was upsetting him. After all, they were essentially being told they'd be viewing June facing entire team by himself. It was no different than their novice leader Jaune having to face Cardin who was eight in strength among first years. Maybe even more so in its unfairness…

"Me and the Vytal Tournament? I don't stand a chance. I have no team."

Nobody liked that they agreed with him…

Ozpin remained undeterred, smiling in a way only he knew how.

"If it's any consolation, Mr. Arc, I full heartedly don't expect you to make it past the first round."

'Sigh' Ozpin… Why?

Okay Blake was sure now, whatever that voice was, it was a dead ringer for miss Goodwitch…

Old Fucking Asshole!

For once Weiss didn't disagree.

He choked, both the blonds paused, and then he threw his hands up.

"Then why make me compete? It's going to be a slaughter fest, and if you say it's—!"

"It's a tradition that a few first-years compete." Ozpin waited for a moment, twirling his hot chocolate. What a troublesome word.

'Bang Bang Bang!'

AJ sighed.

"Ruby, would you mind stopping, just cause you can't break the screen doesn't mean its pleasant to hear…"

"And with you being the only first-year, you're the default choice. The tournament isn't for another month, do not worry, you'll have ample time to prepare."

"That's not the problem here." Seeing that reasoning with the delusional man was out of the question, he turned to his Combat professor.

"Can't I just forfeit?" Simple and fast, a sound strategy, but she huffed dejectedly and pressed her specs upward.

"Sadly, no, you are only allowed to lose in combat. There is no forfeiting in real battle unless you desire to die. The tournament is authentic in that aspect." He frowned.

"So I have to get my butt kicked before I'm allowed to lose?"

'Sigh' This is ridiculous… Why must I force him to participate?

Nora spoke up.

"Why do you force him to face Cardin then, both seem pretty unfair." The fact that the voic only returned silence was telling.

"Am I being ignored?" She pouted.

"Nobody Ignores Me!" Ren sighed, that was in fact very true, Nora would make you notice her one way or another.

"Just for one round."

Jaune glared at his Headmaster.

"Not. Helping." Ozpin merely clasped the young man on the shoulder.

"Please, Mr. Arc, you must. Without you, Beacon Academy has no one to represent them during the tournament, and the Vytal Festival is all about unity between Kingdoms. You only need to show up and lose."

"Don't you have other teams? I can point out a few over your shoulder."

"Yes, they too will be competing, but not as first-years." Calmness filled the air. Had to be whatever it was their Headmaster was enjoying. "First-years inspire hope for a future generation. Not having one would send the wrong message to our enemies."

"Um, enemies?" Weiss rolled her eyes.

"Obviously he means Bandits."

"Or the White Fang…" Weiss nodded to Blake's words.

He titled his head.

"You mean the Grimm?" Ozpin wavered for a split-second.

"Precisely. That is why you must compete."

"… It's a joke surely…" Yang shrugged.

"Not a very good one."

"There is something rather ironic about you criticizing other's sense of comedy."

"'Pfft' don't hate Weisscream."

Jaune clicked his teeth, crossing his arms with his sight pushed toward the floor. A burden pressed against his shoulders, and he kicked imaginary dirt. Why was it so blasted difficult to argue with his Headmaster? Like the word no did not exist in his vocabulary. Sigh. He felt a headache coming in. Whelp! There went his training and studying for the day.

AJ groaned, the old wizard always did have a way of talking people into shit, as much as he may have had against him he had to give credit where it was due. Probably came with living so many lives he guessed.

"... A month you said?"

Ozpin smiled.

"So VB will be getting his butt kicked in Vytal."

"Yang!"

"What!? I'm just saying what everyone's thinking is all."

"Bitch…"

Yang blinked.

"Did you say something Weisscream?" Said heiress covered her mouth panicked, newly crimson'd eyes shifting back to their regular icy blue.

Sloth

On the bright side, the Vytal Festival brought in a lot of festivities.

Three weeks before the tournament, and already the food stalls, prize booths, and costume stores popped up all around Vale. People celebrated hard for this festival, going all out and then some.

All eight smiled at that, even Neo, hey just cause she was a criminal didn't mean Neo couldn't enjoy a good time. Ruby and Pyrrha both thought of their own respective times they could spend with a certain blonde as well.

The Arc couldn't take a step in the Kingdom without someone screaming bargain or the smell of food blasting his face. Now that he thought about it, his stomach growled at the prospect of food. Something tasty should help replenish his energy after finally beating down that troublesome level-six combat drone. Blood, sweat, and tears went into cutting that thing down to size, but he managed. Reward time!

Pyrrha nodded, it was always a good idea in her book to celebrate one's achievements, it made them all the more worth doing after all.

What to eat, what to eat?

So many choices.

His stomach growled at all of them, confused bugger. A whiff of burgers sounded delectable. That pizza stand appeared appetizing. Just look at those boneless wings! Stomach rumbling! Ah! He scratched his neck, shaking his head to the sides. Burgers, chicken, or pizza? A melting pot of choices. Oh! Chili sounded good, too. Gah! Maybe he should eat at Beacon and save his money?

Ren chuckled, yes, this was definitely their leader, decisive in battle he might be but give him options on food or activities and his brother in all but blood was quite the source of entertainment.

Sniff!

Or not? He stopped to inhale a overwhelming aroma, mouth-watering at the smell. He nose dragged his feet, and he came upon a noodle stand. Hm? Yup! That would have to do! Noodles sounded too irresistible with that smell backing them up. So he grabbed the nearest seat and waited to be served between either of the two people in charge.

Ren nodded, some noodles did sound pretty good about now…

Some energetic, short orange-head, unable to stay still, or a long-haired cook with precise movements. When she turned around, turquoise grew in size.

"Jaune? Jaune! Is that you?!" He leaned back, eyes squinting.

"... Nora?"

"LOOK RENNY ITS ME!"

"Ren I assume I work there too."

Oum knows the idea of leaving her by herself at a job is… 'problematic' at least.

"It is you!" Nora rushed from the stall and tackle-hugged from the other end, crushing him in a mighty grip. Her feet kicked in the air, and she turned with her eyes shining.

"Ren! Ren! Look, it's Jaune-Jaune!" Ren stopped pasteurizing dough to offer him a simple smile.

Yang grinned over to the young Lie.

"Man, you two really are attached at the hip aren't cha?"

"Yep! Me And Renny Are Like Two Peas In a Pod! Or Peanut Butter and Jaune, Or Sloths and Energy Drinks."

"Think I'm gonna need to explaining on that last one?"

"'Sigh' Nora…"

"Yep, that about answers it…"

"Hello. It's good to see you again, Jaune. How's Beacon?"

"Yeah!" Nora fussed, poking him multiple times in the chest. "How is it! Tell us all about it! You got to have stories, and don't hold out on me!" He grinned, rubbing the spots she poked.

"There's not much to tell. Beacon, honestly, has been kind of boring. I go to class, study, and train. Sorry, but no stories." She frowned at the bland tale, hands on hips.

"Nope, that won't do, you should be having adventures, not stuffing your face in some dusty, old book. What's the point of going to a Huntsmen academy if it's boring? Things need to be exciting. If me and Ren went there, we would've caused a food fight or something."

Yang shot a mean grin Nora's way.

"Yeah, by throwing a pie in someone awesome's face…"

"Huh? I thought threw the pie at you Yangarang, not Pyr-Pyr or Jaune-Jaune?"

"Grr…"

The worst part is she's somehow totally sincere about it!

His smile somewhat faltered at the claim. Not the monotonous part, but them missing out on the Beacon experience. Maybe a change of subject was in order.

"So what are you two up to, working at a noodle stall? How'd that happen?" Her pout turned into a grin. A quick salute and then she zoomed over to stand next to Ren.

"After we failed initiation, we needed to find jobs until we could try again next semester. And this cranky old man hired us when Ren showed him how to make noodles. We've been working here ever since."

Several nodded not really surprised but it did earn a notable praise from Pyrrha who grew up in Mistral and knew just how long some noodle chefs practiced their craft.

"You must be very proficient if it impressed a professional." Ren smiled shaking his head.

"Hardly, I think I only barely managed." His words earned a poke to the head from Nora.

"No Way! Renny's Noodles Are The Best! I Bet He was Begging Renny To Work For Him, Neigh! To Teach Him His Rameny Ways!"

"Nora… -/-"

"Why didn't you just go back home?" She shrugged easily.

"We don't have a home."

"Ren and You?"

"Yup! You called it! No families! Orphans for almost eleven years now." Now his smile died with his lips impossibly thinning. An overcast fell over him. No families? Harsh. He sometimes hated how his family acted, but we wouldn't trade away his seven sisters and overbearing parents for anything in all of Remnant. Knowing that, coupled with their failure to enroll, forced an ashy taste to enthrall his taste buds.

"I'm sorry."

"Damn, you can see the regret in VB's face…"

"Cause Jaune's Nice, I Bet He Feels Bad…" Weiss nodded to her partner's words.

"It was a rather significant stumble on his part, still I'm sure he meant nothing by it."

She waved her hand dismissively.

"Psh, don't be, it happened a long time ago. We're over it." A pencil clicked on a notepad.

"Now, can I take your order?"

Ren smiled, reaching out and rubbing his partner's head.

She does have her moments…

Most might've been offended, Nora preened from the sudden and rare action before turning beet red upon finding Pyrrha and Yang smiling wryly her way.

"Stop Looking! / "

His order? Right! Jaune blinked and finally took in their appearance. Nora wore a ramen bowl hat tilted to the side with the chopsticks poking out from the corner. Her tiny apron vibrated as she rushed from customer to patron, swinging loosely to her idiosyncratic movements. She hummed a haphazard melody, notepad in hand as people ordered in a disorganized fashion with her trademark pink making her standout. Somehow Nora fit right in, beating insanity with mania.

Ren appeared the opposite, calm and in control with a pink apron saying Tip the Cook. His hands moved in concise, rhythmic motions, bending dough and creating the broth without fault. Fingers worked effortlessly. Not a move was wasted, not a noodle too long or short, and his ramen hat sat perfectly on his head. Somehow this clustered pair worked well together, blending noodles.

Pyrrha wasn't surprised, Nora and Ren just had that sorta chemistry, a undeniable (and just as unexplainable) knack for working together… Frankly she hoped her and Jaune would reach such a synergy one day if not as unorthodox as them.

"Uh, a bowl of noodles?" She ignored his wrong request.

"Ren! The special! Make it extra, extra good."

"Isn't the customer always right?" Nora grinned.

"Nah-uh, I'm always right, the customer is doesn't know what's good for them like Mama does. Silly Lacy Blakey, you don't order the regular when Rennys on the job."

"Nora! Stop Calling Me That!"

"Never!"

He laughed. Arguing it would be pointless. Guess he was having the special?

Ren nodded, it would seem his leaders keen observational skills were as competent as always.

Nora would have loved to stay and chat some more, but more customers flocked to the stands, and she scurried over to serve them with energy putting Ruby's to shame. She moved like an orange blur in the stands, while Ren stood perfectly still in one spot. When the bowl reached them, filled with an assortment of chickens and meats with noodles long and tangy, broth soaked in a delicious aroma, and serving size large, he licked his lips and dug right in. From the first bite to the last sigh, each noodle was perfect, beyond that even, and he asked for seconds, and then thirds. When finished, Jaune pushed the bowl away and brushed his stomach. She noticed his stuffed belly and threw her hands out before he slinked off his chair.

"Wait here! Out shift ends in an hour! Then we could go explore the festival together." He simpered.

Fine with him, he hadn't planned on leaving for quite some time. Fun at the festival sounded like a blast. Beat going to his room.

"Dammit now I want Noodles…" Yang grinned when she remembered that yes, she could in fact imagine herself up a bowl. Said bowl landed before her as she smiled and by the sound of slurping right beside her she wasn't alone. So much like her partner and sis she dug in. Nora waved her index though in disapproval.

"Silly Yangarang, no imaginary Noodles can equal up to the real deal though.

Renny's are to die for!"

An hour passed faster than he expected, and when he heard Nora yell out quitting time, he knew his day only just began. She dragged Ren out the stall before he removed his apron, gripping his wrist in an iron-grip, too. Off they went to play games and trade laughs, bouncing between each event with a little more vigor than the last. Games, prizes, fatty foods, they explored each one. Ren won every game of luck, Nora was the champ of strength, and he outwitted the vendors' fixed contests with a bit of tactic and some Aura. Never a dull moment, and he relished each memory in the Kingdom of lights.

Ren was vaguely recalling the reason his team was kicked outta the arcade. Through in Pyrrha quite literal abuse of her semblance and competitive streak and JNPR tended to make it a habit of being kicked outta game establishments…

Then they lastly found themselves at a skeeball game where none of their talents proved beneficial. Jaune's points ended up scoring the lowest with Ren in the middle and Nora in the high. She chose the biggest sloth plushie they had, balancing a mountain of prizes between her arms with a load of snacks. He would have laughed at her tiny form trying to carry a plushie almost her size, but she pressed the sloth plushie into his chest with a grin brighter than the overhead moon.

"Here!"

"You want me to hold it?" She shook her head, slurping some of her soda.

"Nope! It's all yours. I won it for you, silly." His stomach warmed.

"Nora, I can't—?"

"Hold onto it." Nora pressed the sloth plushie firmer into his arms.

"If you don't want it, then give it back when we get into Beacon. Sir Scrabbles is going to keep you company until we get there. Someone's gotta make sure you know how to have fun back there."

"Sir Scrabbles?"

"That's his name, don't wear it out!" He glanced over to Ren, only for the Lie to pointedly look at the gift locked in his arms. He never had a chance to argue.

"Fine, Sir Scrabbles can stay."

"It's So Cute!" Weiss rolled her eyes at her partner's words…

IT'S SO FUCKING ADORABLE! I'D KILL A BITCH FOR A PLUSHIE LIKE THAT!

Please stop acting so insane over a toy…

Fuck You, Don't Act Like You Weren't Just Squealing Like A Bitch A Second Ago In Here…

Q-quiet you -/-

Nora cheered and spilled some of her soda. Ren quickly shooed them away when some unlucky bystander slipped and fell on the beverage. What a fun way to spend the weekend, Jaune made sure to grab their Scroll numbers before departing back to his no-longer-empty room, but first, he repaid their kindness tenfold by finding that cranky, old man and offering them his surplus of lien as a tip.

Sir Scrabbles' idea.

Ren smiled, that to was just like his leader. Pyrrha grinned as well, she hoped her and Jaune's encounter would be as endearing as this one…

Tactics

Crocea Mors embedded into an icy floor with a shaky hilt.

Jaune Arc reached his limit.

Beating a level-seven training bot pushed him to the breaking point, but he knew he needed to train more on the current level before he even attempting a level-eight. For now, between now and the tournament, a level-seven would suffice as training. Acceptable, because his feet wobbled from overexertion. He only beat that monstrosity by sprinkling Ice Dust on the floor, drawing it into a close-combat zone as he used Crocea Mors to slice across the stage with infused Aura to encase the ground in a sheet of ice. When the droid refused to move, metal limbs trapped in ice, he cut its mechanical head clean off, but not before it landed a devastating pole smash against his lower abdominal that knocked the air out of his lungs.

Weiss blinked, genuinely surprised, since when had droids been such capable combatants? Perhaps Whitley had a point about them replacing the average foot soldiers…

Higher difficulty levels burns their CPUs out faster. Fucking things don't last a hour on seven before they fry themselves out…

And again the voice was giving information she wasn't aware of! How!? How Did It Know This!?

Impressive… Ozpin really did know what he was doing by accepting him…

Ruby grinned speaking to the mature sounding voice, even if it wouldn't reply.

"Yep, he could tell Jaune would be awesome!" The voice didn't deny it, but whether it heard her remained to be seen.

"So you're Jaune Arc?"

"That Voice!" Everyone turned to the heiress and her unusually excited tone.

Shit…

He glanced up to see a person strikingly similar to Weiss, just taller and somehow more regal with perfect posture. She stood at attention, like a soldier awaiting an order, and glared down at him with impassiveness that made Ren seem like an emotional outpost. Without a shadow of a doubt, he knew she wasn't a student. People like her stood out on principle alone, which made the question to how she knew his name all the more interesting. Now, what did she want with him? Hard to ask while he caught his breath.

Breathe!

"How'd you know?"

"It wasn't difficult. My sister informed me of your appearance, tall, blond, and scraggly. You're the only one here fitting that criteria."

And again everyone stared at Weiss who looked down embarrassed.

So your like a bitch by default then…

She ignored the voice in favor of focusing on the screen and more importantly her sister.

Well fuck you too then Icy tits!

"Sister?" Her lips thinned.

"Weiss Schnee? I believe she sent you that Dust holster you're wearing. It's top-of-the-line, not such a deficient gift." Weiss' sister? Yes, he saw the family resemblance now. White hair, ocean eyes, an atmosphere of authority, all of that must be a genetic trait. That answered one question. On to the next!

"Uh?" Her eyes widened by the tiniest of margins.

"Excuse me, where are my manners, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Winter Schnee. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." He stood and cleaned himself up.

Pyrrha couldn't help it! After all she could practically see the slight attraction that was blossoming from her partner on screen towards the older Schnee! She had to take a jab at somebody!

"Well… It would appear at least one person knows not to be insulting towards Jaune upon meeting." Weiss was floored, a jab from Yang or Nora sure she could understand but Pyrrha!?

"'Ahem' Y-yes… I suppose I could learn from sister's example -/- "

"Oh, hey, the name's Jaune Arc."

"Yes, I'm well aware." Oops.

"Ah, right, so what can I do for you, Miss Schnee?" She braced with a smudge of a smile for the formality.

"Nothing in particular, I only came to observe the person who passed the initiation where my sibling failed." Winter paused for a cool moment, expression stern.

"Your form could use some work, but overall impressive for a fighter without the use of trajectory-based weaponry. Against a superior opponent, you used tactic instead of brute force. A wise decision."

Weiss nodded while Pyrrha silently agreed.

Tch, guess the bitch is at least as decent at fighting as she is at running away…

"Silence You!" And again everyone was staring… Or would've had they not been so focused on her sister's observations.

He blushed at the rare compliment. Been a while since he talked to someone in person at this academy.

"Ah, thanks, but it was nothing special."

"Nonsense." Winter left no room for an argument.

"You have a keen eye for strategy, an admirable trait. Most soldiers blindly follow orders, and if you had been one of our men, then you would have perished in the line of duty against such a foe. You don't charge at danger. You wait for an opportunity to strike. I highly suggest you practice those observational qualities. They could mean the difference between victory or defeat." Again, he blushed, and this time he played with the threads of his hoodie.

"You think so?" She raised a brow at the humbleness.

Pyrrha pouted, she wished their was something she could've added or even just stated in contrast. The fact that there wasn't was vexing. The fact that she'd be using said observation to help her own Jaune was twice so…

"... Now I see why my sister failed."

"She should've tried harder."

Her facade shattered for a brief second, revealing a small grin that morphed into a jitter.

Weiss's eye twitch.

"How Dare He!"

Hahaha! Fuck Yeah Darling!

Stop It! You're Inside My Head! I Demand Your Emotional Support!

Eat a dick.

The others snickered too much to said heiress's annoyance, for him to say that to her sister of all people!

Winter quickly looked away, catching herself before any more meaningless laughter passed her lips, but the damage was done, and when she turned around, he smiled all-knowing. Only one recourse left to take. She ever so sternly raised her finger, along with one eyebrow.

"Not a word of that to anyone."

Weiss gasped horrified! Had Winter just laughed at her expense!

"Uh-oh, I think fearless leader gots a chance with Weissy big si-" Said Valkyrie shut her mouth when Pyrrha turned to her, darling her oh so loveable but sometimes annoying teammate to jynx things. Neo giving a very similar look herself.

"What was that Nora?" Said ginger whistled.

"What are you talking bout Pyr-Pyr, I never said anything."

"Oh, silly me then, I suppose I misheard then…"

"Only if you do me a quick favor." The second brow raised.

Later, during the weekend, delivered by express mail from a generously tipped carrier, Weiss Schnee received a letter from her older sister, Winter. Not an uncommon occurrence, they wrote letters to one another quite often. A unique commodity made the act appealing to the Schnee siblings.

Weiss smiled, it was always a good day when she received a letter from her sister…

Yet this letter made her face burn as her blood boiled. She almost tore the paper in two, this close to allowing her emotions to get the better of her.

Dear Weiss,

It has come to my attention, dear sister, that Beacon Academy, while lacking in discipline, would have been an exceptional school for you to have attended. The facilities may not have been up-to-par with my standards, but an excellent academy regardless. It is quite unfortunate that you failed your initiation and after careful consideration, added with the benefit of speaking personally to the one who did pass, the reason for your failure is quite frankly moot.

You should've tried harder.

Sincerely,

Winter Schnee

Silence, absolute and utter dead silence filled the room as Weiss stared at the still image of the letter on screen. For several seconds the heiress said nothing… Until.

"ARRRRCCCCC!" Everyone, literally everyone in the room broke into laughter, whether it be her own team or JNPR's, Neos silent but utter bursting bellows as she writhed on the floor or the bodiless snort of the distant mature voice of one Glynda not a presence wasn't stirred to laughter. Even AJ and Jinn above couldn't help it, but above all the single most infuriating one was.

HAHAHAHAHA! I LOVE THIS FUCKING STUD!

She wanted to stab the voice in her head, almost as much as she did Arc himself! Frankly a Lobotomy appealed more and more with each laugh it gaze in her cranium.

Oh Gods Please Tell Me Fucking Darling Will Fuck With This Bitch Again!?

Jinn nodded.

"It's not rare for Jaune's alternatives to toy and tease Weiss when they have a bit more confidence in them. I assure you plenty of views will feature such." The room went silent as Jinn blinked.

"What's wrong?" Weiss pointed with a shaky finger the giantess's way.

"Y-you heard it?" Jinn nodded smiling calmly.

"Indeed I did."

"S-so then… She real? She's not just a voice I'm hearing!?"

I'm not going insane!

Again Jinn nodded, pleased, a bit too pleased.

Hey… Wait Fucking Minute! Bitch You Used My Question!

Quiet you how can a, voice. In… My…

She stared at the smiling Genie.

"Wait, so Weissscream really does have a voice in her he-Mmph!?" Blake covered her partner's mouth glaring at the almost wasted question while Weiss stared in abject horror.

I DID IT AGAIN! I USED ALL THE QUESTIONS!

YOU BITCH!