Vendetta543

Team Rizzless (Omake 2-2)

Another version of the Pyrrha omake. Some people thought the last one was too mean, so here. She's still a failure, but instad of being a completely innocent victim, she's also a gooner like the rest of the Huntresses. The only difference is she's socially crippled and so comes across as less of a Baalbuddy Elf.

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Pyrrha sat at a table in one of Vale's quieter coffee shops, her hands gripping her cup of tea so tightly it was a wonder it hadn't cracked. She didn't come here for the drinks. She didn't even come here for the atmosphere. No, this was a mission. A desperate, sweaty-palmed, anxiety-ridden mission to do what every other Huntress seemed capable of: get a guy.

Unlike her classmates at Beacon, Pyrrha couldn't just ask outright. She didn't have Yang's aggressive confidence, Weiss's haughty directness, or even Blake's creepy staring thing. No, Pyrrha's method was...subtler. Stealthier. She'd observe, find her moment, and then strike. Like a Huntress in the wild. A very, very awkward Huntress.

She glanced toward the counter where her latest target - er, prospective suitor - was chatting with a customer. He was perfect. A tall, broad-shouldered barista with messy brown hair and a disarming smile. He looked like the type of guy who could chop wood for hours and then write poetry about the experience. Exactly what she needed.

Her leg bounced under the table as she tried to psych herself up. 'Okay, Pyrrha,' she thought, staring at her reflection in the dark surface of her tea. 'You're a champion. You've faced Grimm the size of buildings. You've fought in front of thousands of people without breaking a sweat. This is just one guy. You can do this.'

She stood, smoothing down her skirt and adjusting the straps of her top to maximize the subtle but alluring peek of her collarbones. Subtlety was key. She wasn't like Yang, who'd probably just tell the guy to "jump her bones" and hope for the best. Pyrrha had class.

Taking a deep breath, she walked toward the counter. The barista turned toward her just as she arrived, his smile bright and welcoming.

"Hey there! Need anything else?" he asked, his voice warm and friendly.

Pyrrha froze. Her brain immediately short-circuited, and all the carefully rehearsed lines she'd practiced in the mirror that morning flew out of her head. Instead, she just stood there, staring at him, her green eyes wide and unblinking.

"Uh...hi?" the barista said, his smile faltering slightly under the weight of her intense gaze.

Pyrrha cleared her throat, feeling the heat rush to her face. Say something normal! her brain screamed. Instead, what came out was, "You...have very nice hands."

The barista blinked, "Uh...thanks?"

"They're strong," she added, her voice taking on a weirdly low, intense tone, "You must lift...things. Heavy things."

He chuckled awkwardly, glancing around as if looking for backup, "Yeah, I guess. It's part of the job."

Pyrrha's heart was pounding so loudly she thought it might burst. Compliment him! Be charming! "I bet you could carry a lot of cups," she blurted out, immediately cringing at her own words, "Like...so many cups." The thought of something else he could carry was at the tip of her tongue. Maybe he could cup her ass and squeeze. Or lift and slam her against the wall like she was nothing more than a toy. Or use those fingers of his to make her wet.

The barista's eyebrows lifted, "Uh...yeah. Cups are kind of my thing. Cause of my job."

Pyrrha nodded furiously, desperate to recover, "That's so...impressive. You're impressive." She realized she was leaning forward and quickly straightened, her cheeks flaming.

The barista laughed nervously, clearly uncomfortable now, "Thanks. Uh, was there something you needed?"

"Do you want to sit with me?" she asked, the words rushing out in a breathless tumble, "I mean, when you're not busy. Or even if you are busy. I wouldn't mind waiting." She could stay at this cafe all day. Then maybe he'd use those hands on her.

His eyes widened slightly, and he took a half-step back, "Oh, that's really nice of you, but I'm, uh, kind of working right now. Maybe another time?" His tone was kind, but she could see the truth. There would be no 'other time'.

Pyrrha's face fell, but she forced a smile, her hands clenching at her sides, "Of course. Another time. Absolutely."

She shuffled back to her table, mortified beyond belief. She could feel the wary pity and suspicion in the barista's gaze as he turned back to his coworker. Why did she always do this? Why couldn't she just be normal like other Huntresses?

...Okay, maybe "normal" wasn't the right word. Huntresses were, on the whole, feral when it came to pursuing guys. They threw themselves at men with an abandon that bordered on madness, which Pyrrha had to admit was sometimes horrifying to watch. She'd seen Yang try to pick up a guy by literally picking him up, Weiss demand that a waiter "ravage" her because she thought it was romantic, and Blake...well, Blake just stared at people and muttered about darkness until they got creeped out and left.

But at least they tried. At least they weren't stuck in this weird middle ground where they couldn't stop being awkward and intense. That was Pyrrha's curse: being just intimidating enough to scare guys off, but not forward enough to land them before they fled.

The truth was, Pyrrha was just as desperate as any other Huntress. More, even. She wanted it so badly she could barely think straight most days. It wasn't just about love or connection. It was about release. About finally knowing what it felt like to be desired, to be wanted so badly that men would go mad with lust at the thought of her. To not spend every waking moment wondering if she'd die a frustrated, touch-starved virgin.

But unlike her classmates, who had no shame about throwing themselves at men, Pyrrha couldn't bring herself to be that bold. Not because she didn't want to - she constantly fantasized about having Yang's confidence or Weiss' unfiltered tongue - but because every time she tried, her anxiety twisted her into knots, turning her into a weird, socially inept mess. And that mess, she knew, was creepy at best and downright terrifying at worst.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the barista whispering to his coworker, who looked at her, then back at him, a look of pity on her face. Her stomach churned. They were probably talking about how creepy she was. How the Invincible Girl was an invincible weirdo.

She sighed, staring into her tea. Why can't I just be normal, she thought miserably. All she wanted was what everyone else seemed to get so easily - a connection. A moment. A night. A cock pounding into her snatch while she screamed her brains out.

But instead, here she was, sitting alone, awkward and sweaty, trying to look like she hadn't just humiliated herself. Again.

She drained her tea in one miserable gulp and slunk out of the coffee shop, vowing to try again tomorrow. Because no matter how many times she failed, one thing was certain: Pyrrha Nikos wasn't giving up. She wanted it too much to stop now.

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Pyrrha stomped into the Beacon infirmary, her face a mixture of determination and mild desperation. She'd spent the walk from Vale psyching herself up, replaying imaginary scenarios where she was charming, seductive, and - most importantly - successful. Jaune Arc, Beacon's nurse and possibly the most oblivious man alive, was her target.

It wasn't just that he was the only guy on campus under fifty; it was that Jaune had a kind, dorky charm that made her stomach do backflips every time he smiled. He was sweet, approachable, and always willing to lend an ear, even if Pyrrha's attempts to flirt usually flew right over his head. He was perfect.

She was open to being fucked silly by other men, of course - she was still a Huntress first and foremost - but the one she really wanted to be her life partner was Jaune. He would be her house husband, the one she came home to after a long hunt. He'd greet her with that warm smile and ask how her hunt went while massaging her shoulders. She'd bask in the attention, and later that night, she'd take him to bed and jump up and down his dick till the bedframe broke.

Today would be different, she thought. Today, Pyrrha was going to make her intentions crystal clear. Subtlety had failed her too many times. If she couldn't get him to notice her with sweet words and quiet smiles, then by the Sisters, she'd find another way.

He was perfect, she thought to herself, adjusting her hair for the fiftieth time as she approached the clinic. He was kind, handsome, and he had those amazing arms that could lift her up and - stop that, Pyrrha! Focus! She gave herself a sharp mental slap. She wasn't here to fantasize. She was here to act.

She paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to steel herself. Inside, she could hear Jaune humming softly - a light, cheerful tune that made her knees feel like jelly. With one last deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Jaune was sitting at the desk, his blond hair a little messy as usual, a stack of files in front of him. He glanced up when he heard her, his blue eyes lighting up with recognition.

"Oh, hey, Pyrrha!" he said, flashing her that lopsided grin that made her stomach do somersaults, "What brings you here? Everything okay?"

'Everything would be better if you shoved me against that desk and- stop it!' Pyrrha's inner voice shrieked as her face flushed red, "Oh! Uh, hi, Jaune! Yes, I'm fine. Perfectly fine!" She waved her hands a little too quickly as she sat down, "I just...thought I'd check in on you! You've been working so hard lately!"

Jaune blinked, clearly caught off guard but still retaining that warm look in his eyes. Oh, she was in so much trouble.., "Uh, thanks? It's not too bad, though. Just paperwork today." He gestured to the files.

Pyrrha nodded furiously, her mind scrambling for a way to steer the conversation, "Paperwork! Of course. Very important." 'Okay, now make a move. Something subtle but suggestive. Compliment him. Say something seductive!'

Her mouth opened, but what came out was, "You...have very nice penmanship."

Jaune blinked, "Uh, thanks?"

Pyrrha wanted to die. Penmanship?! She forced a smile, trying to recover, "It's just that...you're so detail-oriented! And strong! I mean, your hands must be strong. To, um, hold the pen. And write so neatly."

"...Right." Jaune chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, "Well, I guess that's a compliment. Thanks, Pyrrha."

Pyrrha's brain screamed at her to stop, but her mouth had other plans, "And, you know, if you ever get tired of writing, you could use those strong hands for...other things." Her voice dipped slightly at the end, her face burning hotter than the sun.

Jaune tilted his head, clearly not picking up on the implication, "Like what? Organizing the supply closet? Dr. Wood's been bugging me to sort the bandages by size."

"No! I mean, yes! That's...fine, too," Pyrrha stammered, practically vibrating with awkward energy. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just say what I want?

She stepped closer, her hands clasped nervously in front of her, "Jaune, you're always so helpful and kind. You're so...strong. And dependable. And, well..." She trailed off, biting her lip. Just say it! Say you want him to bend you over the desk and -

"And what?" Jaune prompted, his expression genuinely curious.

Pyrrha's resolve crumbled, "And...I just think you're a really good friend!" she blurted out, her voice way too loud.

Jaune smiled warmly, "Aw, thanks, Pyrrha. You're a good friend, too."

Her heart shattered into a million pieces. Not that she could blame him - how was he supposed to know that she wasn't interested in being just friends when she was too socially inept to string together a coherent sentence?

Jaune leaned back in his chair, his grin easy and oblivious, "You know, it's nice having someone as chill as you around. A lot of the Huntresses here are kinda...intense. It's refreshing to have someone who's just normal, you know?"

Pyrrha's eye twitched, "Normal. Yes. That's me. Normal." Kill me now. She fidgeted, wracking her brain for a way to salvage the conversation, "So...is there anything you need help with, Jaune? Because...I'll do anything for you." She fluttered her eyelashes at him, hoping she looked salacious. Or maybe just a little tantalizing? Please?

"Actually, there's something I would like some help with, but-"

"Anything! Just name it!"

He had her help in doing paperwork. Pyrrha looked down at the neatly stacked files as her hands moved on autopilot, her eyes dead to the world. Even Jaune's gratitude and compliments about how kind she was being did nothing to help. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Mom said that nice girls always won in the end. It wasn't the only reason she chose to be a good person, of course, but...was it so wrong to expect a reward from not being like the other Huntresses? Just a little one?

Pyrrha's pen hovered over yet another form as she sat in the clinic, dutifully filling out paperwork alongside Jaune. Her hands moved on autopilot, her mind a whirlwind of self-recriminations. This wasn't how it was supposed to go, she thought miserably, her lips pressed into a tight line. She should be pressed against that desk right now, not sitting on it.

Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. Pyrrha glanced up and immediately stiffened when she saw Ruby walk in, her usual bright smile plastered across her face, "Hi, Jaune!" Ruby chirped, bounding into the room with all the energy of a hyperactive puppy. In her hands was a plate of warm cookies, Her eyes flicked to Pyrrha, and the smile didn't falter, "Oh, hi, Pyrrha! What're you doing here?"

Her cheerful tone was like a dagger to Pyrrha's pride. There was no tension in Ruby's voice, no edge of competition. Just pure, unfiltered friendliness. The kind you reserved for someone who wasn't even on your radar as a rival.

"Uh, I was just…" Pyrrha fumbled for an answer, her cheeks burning, "Helping with some paperwork. For Jaune. Since he's, um, busy."

Ruby's grin widened, "That's so nice of you!" she said, nodding happily, "Jaune always talks about how much work he has to do. It's great that you're helping him out!"

Helping him out? Pyrrha bristled internally, even as she nodded along and forced a smile. 'I'm not just helping him out! I'm trying to- ' She stopped herself. Ruby's demeanor wasn't confrontational in the slightest. It was casual, breezy. Warm, even.

Jaune looked up from his files and smiled at Ruby, "Hey, Ruby. What's up? Still feeling that 'cough', or is this just a social visit?"

Ruby giggled, "Just a visit! I figured you might need a break. You've been stuck in here all day." She held up the tray, "I baked cookies! Well, me and Nora did. Does it count if all she did was lick the spoon?" Ruby bounced over to the desk where Jaune was sitting, setting down the tray, "Also, I, uh, accidentally cut my finger on Crescent Rose earlier. Can you check it? Just to make sure I didn't, like, poison myself with rusty metal or something?"

Jaune chuckled softly, glancing at her hand. It didn't look injured at all, the little liar, "Ruby, you can't poison yourself with your own weapon. Crescent Rose is clean."

Ruby grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck, "Yeah, but better safe than sorry, right?"

Pyrrha watched the exchange, her stomach twisting into knots. Ruby's ease with Jaune was infuriatingly natural. There was no stammering, no awkward pauses, no weird compliments about his hands or penmanship. Just...friendly conversation. Her gut burned with jealousy as she watched Jaune inspect Ruby's hand regardless with meticulous care. Even when she asked him to kiss it better, he just laughed and joked along.

Ruby beamed at him before plopping down into a chair across from Pyrrha, "So," she said, looking at her with that same friendly smile, "How's your day going, Pyrrha?"

Pyrrha froze, unsure how to respond, "Uh, fine," she said stiffly, gripping her pen like it might escape.

"Cool!" Ruby said, swinging her legs like a kid, "I've been helping Nora and Ren bake stuff all afternoon. Did you know you're not supposed to put metal in the microwave? Nora definitely does now."

Pyrrha nodded absentmindedly, her mind screaming. Why wasn't she acting territorial? Why wasn't she mad Pyrrha was here? Instead, Ruby's presence was like a cheerful sunbeam, completely oblivious to the stormcloud of self-loathing currently brewing in Pyrrha's head.

"Anyway," Ruby continued, "I hope you don't mind me interrupting. I know how much you probably love spending time with Jaune," The comment, meant innocently (or so it seemed), hit Pyrrha like a sucker punch. The way Ruby said it was so casual, so harmless, that it only made Pyrrha feel worse. Ruby wasn't accusing her of anything. She wasn't suspicious. If anything, she sounded like she almost...pitied Pyrrha.

'She doesn't see me as a threat,' Pyrrha realized, the thought sinking like a lead weight in her chest. 'She's not worried about me at all.' Ruby had feelings for Jaune, she knew that, and yet she saw Pyrrha spending time alone with him in his office as something adorable. Quaint. Like she wasn't even a threat.

"Not at all," Pyrrha managed, her voice tight. She focused on the paperwork, scribbling furiously to avoid Ruby's kind gaze.

Jaune, meanwhile, had picked up some of cookies and was offering one to them both, "You did great! These are actually pretty good," he said, smiling as he took a bite.

Ruby grinned proudly and took two of the cookies, handing one to her. Pyrrha took it numbly, "Thanks! You should tell Nora that before she tries to bake another experimental cake. Last time, she put mustard in it because she thought it'd be 'unique.'"

Jaune laughed, and Pyrrha felt her chest tighten even further. She couldn't even be annoyed at Ruby, not really. Ruby wasn't doing anything wrong. She was just...being Ruby. Friendly, cheerful, and completely oblivious to Pyrrha's inner turmoil. Or if she was aware, she made sure not to rub her nose in it. It was more insulting, honestly. It was the greatest attack one could ever give to a rival: the be ignored.

"I should probably get going," Ruby said after a moment, standing up and brushing crumbs off her lap, "I need to make sure my team didn't get arrested for sexual harassment...again" Her shoulders sagged for a moment, "I'll let you guys get back to work, but I'll be back to help later. See you later, Jaune! Bye, Pyrrha!" She waved as she left, her red cloak fluttering behind her.

The room fell silent, and Pyrrha's pen hovered uselessly over the page. She didn't look up, didn't move, her thoughts swirling in a storm of frustration and self-doubt.

"You okay, Pyrrha?" Jaune's voice broke through the silence, and she forced herself to look at him, plastering on a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm fine," she said quietly, gripping her pen a little too tightly.

But she wasn't fine. Not even close. Ruby's friendly, nonchalant attitude had been worse than any confrontation. It was a reminder that no one - not even the girl who was in love with him - thought Pyrrha was capable of winning Jaune's affection. And the fact that Ruby had been so...nice about it made it all the more unbearable.

She picked up another file and forced herself to focus, her shoulders tense, 'Tomorrow,' she thought bitterly, 'Tomorrow, I'll try again. I have to.'

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Hopefully this one is better.

Team Rizzless - Omake 2

Omake for Pyrrha, the Invincible Girl and walking L of this universe. You thought it was bad in my other fics? You ain't seen nothing yet.

By the way, I'm also thinking of posting a dark 'slice of life' STALKER story due to the release of the new game. It's just a small thing to bring me back to my original writing since I really cut my teeth with dark, cynical stories before transitioning to more humor/romance-based ones when I started writing for Ruby. A return to roots, in a way :)

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail . com

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Omake 2: The Invincible L

The streets of Vale bustled with activity as Pyrrha walked quietly through the marketplace, her hands clasped in front of her and her signature polite smile on her face. She had dressed casually today, forgoing her usual battle gear in favor of a simple red blouse, jeans and a pair of brown boots. Nothing flashy. Nothing intimidating. She didn't want to attract too much attention - not that she could help it. Being a four-time champion of the Mistral Regional Tournament tended to make her, well...recognizable.

But that wasn't the problem.

The problem was that no matter how hard she tried to come across as approachable, as normal, as human, something about her seemed to terrify every man she met. Every. Single. One.

She paused at a fruit stand, admiring the ripe selection of apples. She reached out to pick one up, turning it over in her hands as she smiled at the vendor, "Hello," she said softly, her tone warm and polite, "How much for these?"

The vendor - a middle-aged man with graying hair - looked up at her, his face pale, "Y-you're Pyrrha Nikos," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously to her face.

Pyrrha's smile faltered slightly, "Oh, yes, that's me," she said, trying to keep her tone light, "But I'm just here to shop today. Nothing to worry about."

The vendor stared at her, his hands trembling as he clutched the edge of his stall, "Please, I have a family," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Pyrrha blinked, confused, "I...what?"

"I'll give you the apples! Take all of them! Just...just don't hurt me!" The man scrambled to grab a bag, stuffing it full of apples with a speed that defied logic.

"I - thank you, but I don't need that many- " Pyrrha tried to protest, but the vendor shoved the bag into her hands and dropped to his knees.

"Spare me!" he begged, his forehead nearly touching the ground, "I'll do anything! Just don't crush me with your bare hands!"

Pyrrha's cheeks flushed crimson as onlookers started whispering. She opened her mouth to respond, but the vendor bolted, abandoning his stall entirely. She stood there awkwardly, holding the bag of apples as the crowd gave her a wide berth.

"...Thank you?" she said weakly, her shoulders sagging.

She continued down the street, her spirits dampened but determined not to let it ruin her day. She didn't mean to scare anyone - she just wanted to be normal! Maybe if she made a friendlier first impression, she could change the narrative.

Spotting a young man leaning against a lamppost, she took a deep breath and approached him with her best, most reassuring smile.

"Excuse me," she said softly, clasping her hands in front of her, "Do you know where the nearest bookstore is?"

The man looked up, his casual demeanor freezing the moment his eyes locked with hers, "Y-you're Pyrrha Nikos," he said, his voice trembling.

Pyrrha nodded, keeping her smile gentle, "Yes, but please, call me Pyrrha."

He dropped his coffee, "Oh gods, please don't hurt me! I'm just a normal guy! I didn't do anything!"

Pyrrha blinked, completely thrown off, "I...I wasn't going to - "

"I have too much to live for!" he cried, falling to his knees, "I'm not ready to die! I haven't even been to Anima yet!"

"I just wanted directions," Pyrrha said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man screamed, scrambling to his feet and sprinting down the street as if his life depended on it. He rounded a corner, tripped, and scrambled back up, yelling, "She's coming for me! Someone help!"

Pyrrha sighed, staring at the empty spot where he'd been standing, "This is getting ridiculous," she muttered. Though, she knew she shouldn't have been surprised. This always happened. Always.

She continued walking, her resolve to be friendly unshaken. Surely there was someone in Vale who wouldn't react like she was a walking Grimm attack. She just had to find them. Spotting a man sitting on a bench reading a newspaper, she decided to give it one more try. She approached slowly, making sure her footsteps were audible so she wouldn't startle him.

"Hello," she said gently.

The man froze, lowering his newspaper just enough to reveal his wide, terrified eyes.

"I'm sorry to bother you," Pyrrha continued, her tone as soft and non-threatening as possible, "But could you- "

He screamed. Not just a yell, but a full-throated, blood-curdling scream. The newspaper flew out of his hands as he bolted upright, shouting, "IT'S PYRRHA NIKOS! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

"I just wanted to- "

"NOOOOOO!" the man howled, sprinting down the street, his arms flailing wildly. People stopped and stared as he careened into a fruit stand, sending oranges flying, "SHE'S AFTER ME!"

Pyrrha stood there, her face buried in her hands, trying to shrink into herself despite being one of the tallest people in the area. She didn't even notice the gathering whispers until a woman in the crowd muttered loudly enough for her to hear.

"Poor guy. He's never going to be able to sleep again."

"Maybe I can comfort him tonight" another added.

"She's terrifying," a third whispered, "Why does she even bother coming to town?"

Pyrrha felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she turned and walked away, her head down. All she wanted was a normal interaction. A hello, a smile, maybe even a conversation. But no. She couldn't even say hi without someone running for their life, screaming about how they weren't ready to die. She let out a long, weary sigh. Maybe this was her curse. The invincible, untouchable Pyrrha Nikos. Not because of her victories in the arena or her unmatched combat skills, but because no one would ever come within ten feet of her without panicking.

Her only solace as she walked back to Beacon was that at least her apples were free.

Pyrrha made her way back to Beacon, clutching her bag of apples like a lifeline. The humiliation of her failed attempts to simply exist in Vale still weighed heavily on her, but she pushed those thoughts aside. There was one person who always made her feel normal - Jaune, the school nurse's assistant.

She didn't know what was wrong with her. She was polite, approachable, and sweet - or at least she tried to be. But every time she opened her mouth, it was like her presence triggered some primal survival instinct in everyone around her.

Everyone, that was, except Jaune Arc.

She perked up slightly as she crossed the campus courtyard. The school nurse, Jaune, had always been kind to her. While other men looked at her as if she might rip them in half, Jaune simply smiled and listened. He didn't treat her like she was made of gold or fire. He just treated her like...her.

It was no surprise that she fell for him. She did want to make friends with men, true, but Jaune was the only one she cared about in that way. Pyrrha quickened her pace toward the infirmary. She told herself it was just for a friendly chat, but deep down, she couldn't deny the thrill of getting to see him. He was her sanctuary in a world of fear and chaos, and she cherished every moment she spent with him. And just maybe she could push herself and they could be more than just friends.

As she approached the infirmary, she rehearsed what she would say to him. Maybe she'd offer him an apple? A small gift, a token of appreciation. Yes, that would be perfect. "Hello, Jaune," she murmured under her breath, practicing her tone. "I picked up some apples in Vale and thought you might like one. No, not too formal. 'Hey, Jaune! I have an apple for you.' No, that's weird. Why do I sound weird?" She shook her head. Just be yourself.

Her hand hovered over the door, nerves bubbling in her chest. Okay, Pyrrha, you can do this. Just be natural. Be -

"Hey, Pyrrha!" She froze, the voice sending a jolt through her system. Turning slowly, she found herself face-to-face with Ruby Rose. Ruby's normally cheerful expression was replaced with something much more intense, her silver eyes narrowed and practically glowing with barely restrained hostility. Her body language screamed territorial, like a wolf guarding its den.

"Hi, Ruby," Pyrrha said cautiously, offering a small wave.

"What brings you here?" Ruby asked, her tone casual but her eyes were anything but.

"Oh, I was just..." Pyrrha hesitated, glancing toward the infirmary door, "I thought I'd check in on Jaune. You know, just to...talk."

Ruby's eyes narrowed further, her stance shifting as if preparing for a fight, "Just to talk, huh?" she said, her voice dripping with skepticism.

"Yes," Pyrrha said earnestly, taking a step back. Ruby's glare was starting to feel more dangerous than a Grimm ambush.

Ruby crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly, "Funny, because it looked like you were about to swoon your way in there and steal some time with my man."

Pyrrha blinked, her cheeks flushing, "Your...man?"

Ruby took a step closer, her smile tight and forced, "Oh, didn't you hear? Jaune and I are kind of...together. Super close, actually. If you know what I mean." She waggled her eyebrows. It looked weird from someone who looked so innocent, "So, if you're thinking of pulling some 'tragic warrior princess' routine to catch his attention, I'd suggest...not."

Pyrrha opened her mouth, but no words came out. Ruby wasn't yelling or being overtly aggressive, but the sheer intensity of her presence left no room for misinterpretation: Back off, skank. That ass is mine.

"I-I wasn't- " Pyrrha stammered, but Ruby cut her off with a wave of her hand.

"Look, I get it," Ruby said, her tone softening but her eyes remaining sharp, "You're sweet, you're pretty, and you don't go around Vale prowling for men like a sex pest." She looked at her in sympathy before her expression shifted again, "But Jaune?" Ruby continued, leaning in slightly, "He's special. And I'm not about to let anyone - even you - mess with that."

Pyrrha took another step back, feeling thoroughly out of her depth. Ruby's intensity was overwhelming, and she didn't want to cause trouble, "I wasn't trying to - "

"Oh, I know," Ruby interrupted, her smile returning to something more cheerful - but not less threatening, "I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it. Just a friendly chat, right? Of course. Totally innocent."

"Right..." Pyrrha said weakly.

Ruby clapped her hands together, "Great! Glad we understand each other." She spun on her heel, her red cloak fluttering dramatically as she pushed open the infirmary door, "I'll let Jaune know you said hi!"

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Pyrrha standing in the hallway, stunned and slightly shell-shocked.

She sighed, slumping against the wall. She'd barely made it two steps before Ruby swooped in like a guardian dragon protecting its hoard.

Why did this keep happening to her, she thought miserably.

From inside the infirmary, she could hear Ruby's cheerful voice greeting Jaune. A pang of envy tugged at Pyrrha's heart, but she quickly pushed it aside, "Maybe next time," she whispered to herself. She just hoped Ruby wouldn't be there to block her path again.

Pyrrha sat on the bench outside the infirmary, staring at her hands as a faint breeze rustled the trees in Beacon's courtyard. Ruby's words - and her intense glare - still lingered in her mind, but it wasn't the first time she'd felt overshadowed, misunderstood, or just...out of place. She let out a soft sigh, her thoughts drifting to an impossible dream, a world that could never be.

The arena was alive with cheers, the crowd chanting her name in waves of thunderous applause. Pyrrha! Pyrrha! Pyrrha! The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium, declaring her the victor of the Mistral Regional Tournament for the fifth consecutive year. She stood in the center of the arena, breathing heavily but smiling, sword in hand and shield raised high.

"And there you have it, folks!" the announcer cried, "Pyrrha Nikos, the Unstoppable Warrior of Mistral, has done it again!"

She waved to the crowd, her cheeks flushing as flowers rained down onto the stage. For once, their cheers didn't feel distant or hollow. They weren't screams of fear or the trembling whispers of people avoiding her. These were genuine. Warm. Loving. They adored her - not just for her skill, but for who she was. She was more than the Invincible Girl (a name she grew to despise). She was Pyrrha Nikos.

As the crowd roared, a familiar figure stepped forward from the sidelines. Jaune Arc, dressed in a crisp suit and tie, his blond hair just slightly messy in that endearing way she loved. He was holding a bouquet of white roses, his face as red as the sash tied around her waist, "Congratulations, Pyrrha," Jaune said softly, his baby blue eyes locked on hers. The noise of the crowd faded into the background, leaving only his voice and the warmth in his gaze, "I always knew you could do it."

Her heart fluttered as he stepped closer, extending the bouquet to her. She took it with a graceful nod, her fingers brushing against his for the briefest moment. He looked down, his blush deepening, and she couldn't help but smile at his shyness.

"Jaune," she said gently, her voice soft but confident, "Thank you for coming."

"Of course," he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck, "I mean, I wouldn't miss it for the world. You're amazing, Pyrrha. You're, uh, really amazing."

She tilted her head, her smile widening as he fumbled for words. It was endearing, the way he could face the harassment of Huntresses but struggled to speak his heart. After a moment, he seemed to steel himself, taking a deep breath and looking her in the eye.

"Listen, I...I was wondering..." He hesitated, glancing at the ground before meeting her gaze again, "Would you like to go out with me? I mean, after all this. Like...a date?"

Pyrrha felt her cheeks flush, but she didn't hesitate. She nodded gracefully, her smile warm and genuine, "I'd like that very much."

The crowd erupted into applause again, as if celebrating their moment. Jaune's face lit up, his nervousness melting into pure joy as he grinned at her. He extended his arm, and she took it, the two of them walking off the stage together as the crowd cheered them on.

The fantasy dissolved as Pyrrha blinked, the cool breeze bringing her back to reality. She looked down at her hands, her left clutching the edge of the bench while the right held onto the bag of apples in a vice-grip. The cheers of the imaginary crowd faded, replaced by the faint chatter of students passing by, all of them griping and complaining about their lack of luck with regards to men.

It wasn't real. It never would be. No matter how much she wished for it, the world she lived in was one where her victories brought admiration inside the arena but fear outside of it. Where her strength drove people away instead of drawing them closer. And where Jaune Arc...

She sighed, standing and brushing off her skirt, "Maybe next time," she whispered to herself, casting one last glance at the infirmary door before turning to walk away.

Pyrrha pushed open the door to her dorm room after minutes of walking, her heart still heavy with the weight of the day. She had hoped that coming back to her space, her sanctuary, would bring her some peace. But as soon as she stepped inside, she froze, her gaze landing on the sight that always seemed to twist the knife just a little deeper.

Nora Valkyrie was sitting on Ren's lap. Again.

The cheerful redhead perked up as soon as she saw Pyrrha, her face lighting up with a grin, "Hey, Pyrrha!" she said, waving enthusiastically, as if her current seating arrangement was the most casual thing in the world. Ren, ever the stoic, offered a polite nod in Pyrrha's direction. His arm was draped loosely around Nora's waist, holding her steady as she leaned back against him like a contented cat. Pyrrha could almost feel the invisible aura of smugness radiating off Nora, even if the other girl didn't seem to be trying to rub it in...this time.

"Hello, Nora," Pyrrha said, managing a strained smile. She shut the door behind her and set her bag down by her desk, pretending not to notice how Nora wiggled slightly in Ren's lap, as if to make her presence there even more obvious.

Nora stretched her arms over her head, sighing dramatically, "Ren and I were just having some 'us' time. It's so nice having a boyfriend who actually visits, you know?" She punctuated the statement by snuggling closer to him, her grin widening.

Pyrrha's eye twitched, "How...nice for you."

It wasn't just Ren's presence that bothered her, though it certainly didn't help. Ren was one of the few guys who dared to regularly visit Beacon, and his frequent appearances were a source of immense jealousy for the Huntresses. Most men avoided the academy like the plague, terrified of being caught in the crossfire of the collective thirst that ran rampant through its halls. But not Ren. No, he braved it all for Nora.

And Nora loved it.

Any Huntresses that tried to muscle in found themselves having to pay a visit to Dr. Wood to get their kneecaps fixed, "Oh, it's the best," Nora said, practically glowing, "You know, Pyrrha, maybe you'll get lucky one day and find someone too! I mean, not Ren, obviously." She giggled, playfully poking his cheek, "He's mine."

Bitch, Pyrrha thought bitterly, the word flashing unbidden in her mind. She immediately felt a pang of guilt. It wasn't fair to Nora. She was happy, and she had every right to be. Pyrrha shouldn't resent her for it. But that didn't stop the ache in her chest, the sharp reminder of what she lacked.

It wasn't her fault, she reasoned. Nora didn't ask to be abandoned by her mother when she was barely seven years of age. But oh, how lucky she got after. Ren's parents, taking pity on the girl, decided to adopt her. So even when she awakened her Aura and took her first steps into becoming a Huntress, they all accepted her. Especially Ren. He didn't find her too forward and off-putting. Oh no, he'd become immunized to it early on. The perks of being a childhood friend.

"I'm sure I will," Pyrrha said evenly, sitting down on her bed. She focused on unlacing her boots, trying to ignore the way Nora practically radiated smugness as she tilted her head to whisper something to Ren. He responded with a quiet hum, his voice too low for Pyrrha to hear, but it earned him a delighted laugh from Nora.

The sound grated on her nerves.

"Anyway," Nora said, turning her attention back to Pyrrha, "What's up? Meet anyone interesting in Vale?"

Pyrrha froze for a moment before forcing a smile, "Oh, no, nothing like that. Just...the usual." She busied herself with putting her boots away, avoiding eye contact.

"Aw, that's too bad," Nora said, though her tone lacked any real sympathy. Not because she was cruel, but because Huntresses striking out was the norm. Pity fell by the wayside quick, "You know, if you ever need advice, you could always ask me! I mean, I am the expert on how to snag a guy, after all." She laughed, her fingers toying with a strand of Ren's hair. A part of her was tempted to take out Milo and throw it right at her face.

Pyrrha clenched her jaw, her smile stiff, "I'll...keep that in mind."

Nora, oblivious to Pyrrha's inner turmoil, leaned back further against Ren, letting out a contented sigh, "Isn't it great, Ren? Being in a relationship is just so much better than being single, don't you think?"

Ren, as usual, said nothing, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips as he looked down at her. That simple gesture made Pyrrha's heart sink even further.

She stood abruptly, smoothing out her skirt, "I think I'll take a walk," she said, her voice tight, "Get some air."

"Okay! Have fun!" Nora chirped, waving again as Pyrrha walked toward the door, "Oh, and don't worry, Pyrrha. Your time will come! Maybe you'll even find someone as great as Ren!" She giggled, "Aw, who am I kidding? No one's as great as my Renny!"

Pyrrha didn't trust herself to respond in a way that didn't end with Nora in the infirmary, so she simply nodded and slipped out the door after putting on some house slippers. As she walked down the hall, her fists clenched at her sides, her thoughts swirled with frustration, envy, and guilt.

But mostly envy.

Nora was happy. Pyrrha wanted to be happy for her. But was it so wrong to want a little happiness for herself? Just a moment, a chance, a connection? Was that too much to ask?

Why was it so easy for Nora, Pyrrha thought bitterly. She could demolish a team of Huntresses with one hand tied behind her back and yet she couldn't even muster the nerve to talk to a man in a way that didn't leave them begging for mercy or soiling their pants.

She was a nice girl. She was! She didn't go around harassing men with demands for sex like the other Huntresses, so why was she being treated like she had the plague? She could barely say hi to a man before the waterworks started! Why?!

Unknown to her (which was a good thing given that she would've gone insane if she knew), she was cursed. Her great-grandfather, Lysander Nikos, after failing to make a name of himself, had communed with dark forces from beyond the veil. He demanded that his family name be known forever and the the unknowable beings agreed. His descendant would be known as the greatest warrior of the land, but in exchange, she would never know the touch and warmth of a man. His family name would be known forever, but his bloodline would end. Her virginity would be absolute and eternal.

Eternal fame in exchange for his descendant being an eternal virgin? A price he was willing to pay.

Pyrrha shook her head, taking a deep breath to steady herself. There was no use dwelling on it now. Maybe another walk through the courtyard would clear her mind. And maybe, just maybe, she'd find the courage to speak to Jaune again...if Ruby wasn't lurking nearby.

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Poor Pyrrha. In a world of Baalbuddy Huntresses, she still manages to stick out. The Virginia Kissless of Remnant.

Question:

1. I'm thinking of a 'Guy's Side' omake. Who do you guys wanna see? I'm leaning towards Ironwood, (sane) Adam, and maybe Ozpin who's hiding out in some bunker and desperately trying to not have Salem find him.

An Edgerunner's Mistake (Futa!Weiss x Cyberpunk!Rebecca. Extreme Non-Con)

A NSFW comm I received. Took a while due to writer's block. This one has Rebecca being fucked very non-consensually by a futanari Weiss. Just a warning in case you missed the title, but this is extreme non-con/rape. If that doesn't interest you, please turn away now.

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Ugh, this fucking SUCKED!

Rebecca leaned back on the seat of the car and groaned like a dying engine. She'd fucked up hard. It was supposed to be a simple job. Steal some ride from some corpo gonk and get a few eddies. Simple enough.

Except the 'Fixer' Pilar set her up with, some asshole named Kirk with a fatass for a bodyguard, sold her a load of bullshit!

An in-and-out job, he said. Five minutes of work and she'd get 20 grand, he said. He even gave her some hacking thing to let her steal the car - a goddamn Rayfield - straight out of the garage with no alarms. She'd be back before dinnertime.

Fucker.

Cause of course the damn thing didn't work. She'd barely slotted the piece of shit inside before the alarm hit and she got tazed with like a million volts. Everything after that was a blur of cop cars, sirens, and being dragged while she felt like she was having a seizure. By the time she woke up again, she was sitting at the back of a pig mobile with her hands cuffed, her cyberware disabled, and the NCPD bitch - Officer Weiss Schnee, she said - in front ignoring her yells that this was all a misunderstanding.

"Hey! I'm talking to you, Ice Queen!" Rebecca shouted. The bitch in the front seat pissed her off too, and just cause she was a goon with a badge. Something about her attitude made Rebecca's blood boil. It was that way she turned her nose up at her, the look in her eyes like she was dealing with shit under her boot. NCPD was always like that. Thought they were better than them cause they worked for the rich assholes for a pat on the head like good little boys and girls.

"You have the right to remain silent, miss. I suggest you take it," the bitch said. She didn't even turn back or look up at the rearview mirror. God, Rebecca wanted to kick her seat straight out of the damn car, but she knew those things were reinforced to high hell. Besides, she didn't have any good cyberware for that. Pilar kept the really good arm stuff for himself and she was gonna buy some really good legs with the payday she got from this gig. Too late now.

Rebecca groaned again and sagged in her seat. A part of her knew she was lucky. If the Arasaka suit had his way, she'd be down the river with a new pair of cement shoes by now. But she couldn't help but think that was preferable to this. Sure, dying sucked, but now she had to deal with a few months in a cramped jail cell. And that's if she was lucky. If she was unlucky, she'd get bailed out by the crew. Maine and Pilar would never let her live this shit down, Kiwi would make those fucking comments, Lucy would tell her to be careful, and David...

Fucking shit!

"Can you just shoot me and get it over with?"

"I'm afraid that would be against the law." She could practically see the smug smirk on the bitch's face.

"What, you telling me I've got the only honest cop in the city?" Rebecca snorted and rolled her eyes, "Gimme a fucking break. Look, I got eddies. You can drop me off in the corner and I'll give you five grand. We don't gotta see each other again. Easy payday."

"Hm...tempting, but no." She finally looked up at the rearview mirror. Icy blue eyes - normal 'ganic ones - met Rebecca's red and green optics, "You know what they say, miss. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. I'm sure a few months in lockup will make you reconsider your choices in life." She laughed under her breath.

"Ugh, come the fuck on!" Rebecca growled, "You really got nothing better to do than hauling in someone doing an honest day's work?"

"An honest day's work? That's certainly an interesting way to describe your indiscretions." Great. The pig was uptight and she talked like she had a fancy stick up her ass, "I'm already risking someone's ire by taking you in for processing like this. You could be a bit more grateful."

"Oh yeah, I'm real glad I get to spend months trying to avoid being someone's prison bitch." Rebecca sneered. The pig rolled her eyes and kept driving. She looked back down at the cuffs and grit her teeth. Her arms weren't ganic, but they weren't anything fancy like Maine's or Pilar's setup. Just a ballistic coprocessor to tell how much ammo she had. Wouldn't help her break out of something meant to hold people with gorilla arms even if her cyberware wasn't disabled.

The pig continued to drive before the car suddenly began to sputter out, "Are you kidding me?" the bitch muttered. She put her foot on the pedal and cursed under her breath when the car gave another whine, "Of all the times to need a tune-up." She parked the car on the side of the road and stepped out, slamming the door with enough force to shake the whole vehicle. Damn, must've had some serious cyber under those sleeves of hers.

"Problems?" Rebecca grinned as soon as the bitch opened the back door. Piggy pursed her lips together and narrowed her eyes, drawing attention to the scar that ran vertically across her left eye. Now that she finally got a good look at her, Rebecca saw just how out of place she looked in the uniform. Pale, flawless skin, snow-white hair, and small pink lips. Then there were those eyes again. Seeing them right in front of her sent another jolt of annoyance up her spine. Something about those eyes pissed her off.

"Just step out of the car before I decide leaving you there to bake is better." Rebecca rolled her eyes but did what she said. The engine conking out ruined the AC too and it was baking. Last thing she needed was to be pissed off and sweaty.

She hopped outside and looked around. Watson. One of the shittiest places in Night City, but she'd take it any day over someplace like Corpo Plaza. At least here, people stabbed you in the face instead of the back, "Don't tell me we're walking," Rebecca grumbled.

"I don't like the idea of having to haul you to the station while you whine the whole way." Piggy rolled her eyes. She would've run, but she didn't miss the way she kept her hand close to her belt holster. Her cyberware could let her take a couple of hits, but they were still disabled. That and she didn't like the idea of being shot in the back, cyberware or not, "I'll call the station for backup. I'm sure there has to be someone nearby who's willing to give us a lift back.

"Fuck, come on!" Rebecca stamped her foot, "Seriously? You really gonna go through all that trouble, choom?"

"I didn't realize we were friends." Piggy raised a manicured brow.

"Just...ugh, just listen." Rebecca looked up at her through pleading eyes...even though she hated every second of it, "You can call your buddies up, and then what? You get a pat on the head and then they'll blame you for the car getting fucked up. Offer's still on the table. Five grand. You just gotta take these cuffs off and I'll transfer the eddies."

"Even if that did interest me, which it doesn't, what guarantee would I even have that you'd keep your word? You'd likely try to punch me in the face as soon as you had your hands free." She smirked, "Emphasis on try."

Oh, this bitch was asking for it. Rebecca gnashed her teeth together, but she forced herself to keep smiling, "Cause I'm not an idiot. You think this is the first time I've had to pay some pi- police officer?" She shifted from one foot to another, "I know how this works. Yeah, it sucks, but it's better than a pair of cement shoes or a couple months in lockup. Besides, you know who I am. If I run, you'll just look me up and suddenly I've got a pissed-off cop after me."

"Hm..." Piggy's eyes narrowed and she looked her up and down. For a second, Rebecca had no idea what she was thinking before she quickly figured it out. Oh, she was one of those. She internally smirked. You'd think looking the way she did would make most people back off from the raunchy shit, but she never had any problems...except for David, but that was cause he was head-over-heels for Lucy. Ugh, thinking about it just pissed her off even more.

"Lemme guess," Rebecca said lazily, "You want me on my knees eating you out? Just fucking say so. Shit, it's cheaper than forking over eddies."

"I take it you've done this kind of thing before."

"Yep." What she didn't tell her was that she did it to distract some poor gonk while the rest of the crew did something else. Same for any NCPD piggies, "Look, you want it or not?"

"You make it sound like you're holding all the cards here." Piggy raised her brow again, but Rebecca could tell she was interested. She looked around, as if anybody would give a shit about some cop receiving a payoff, then turned back to her, "...Fine, but not out in the open. The No-Tell Motel is nearby."

"So much for against the law." Rebecca grinned, the gesture all teeth, "Come on, let's get this over with. I'm only using my mouth, by the way. You want me to spread my legs, you're gonna have to do better than taking these cuffs off."

"That can be arranged. Come on."

The walk to the hotel was boring. Like Rebecca said, no one even looked twice at an NCPD pig pushing around someone in cuffs. The bitch wasn't stupid. She kept behind her the entire way and kept her hand close to her holster. Smart. She would've knocked her on her ass and ran for it if she gave her a chance.

That was still the plan. Once they got into a room and Piggy took her pants off, she'd break her nose and run for it, cuffs or no cuffs. The others would give her shit for getting caught, but at least she'd still get away on her own.

Piggy booked them a room. The girl at the counter didn't even look up. The No-Tell Motel was the place everyone who had something to hide went through. Gigs, murders, and actual sex happened between these walls. For every locked door they passed, Rebecca wondered idly what was happening inside. She doubted she was the only one getting on her knees to because of some NCPD asshole just today. It was pretty much the only way these gonks could get any kind of action.

The room was about what she expected. Dim mood lights, a (surprisingly clean) bed, and the cuck chair in the corner every motel had for some fucking reason. Piggy finally walked past her as the door slid shut behind them, "Hm..." She looked around and turned back to her, "This will do. Now, let me reiterate the terms of our arrangement. You give me some bodily pleasure and I look the other way regarding your indiscretions."

"Oh my god, do you have to make it sound so fucking formal? I'm eating you out so you don't put me in lockup. Don't make it sound like a business meeting. You sound like a corpo rat saying shit like that.."

"Point." She shifted from one foot to another before she sat down on the bed, her legs spread, "However, I should clarify that you won't be 'eating me out', as it were. The parts are a bit different than what you expect."

"What are you..." Rebecca's eyes trailed down and she blinked. Between Piggy's legs, she saw the slowly growling bulge that even the loose pants couldn't hide. She was surprised for only a moment before she scoffed, "Got a Mr. Studd in your pants, huh?" She wasn't surprised. In Night City, people got their fun any way they could. She knew for a fact that Kiwi had a Midnight Lady implant. Explained the blueberry nips.

Piggy's eyes narrowed, "Hardly. It's all natural."

"Pfft, whatever helps you sleep at night." Rebecca rolled her eyes and got on her knees. The bitch gulped down her spit, "Since you're not opening the cuffs, you're gonna have to take those pants off yourself. Come on, let's get this over with."

"Right..." She unlaced her boots and tossed them off with her socks following soon after. Rebecca stayed on the ground, waiting for her chance. She couldn't do it too quickly or she'd fuck it all up. So she waited till Piggy got the pants halfway down to her knees before she suddenly sprang up. The white-haired bitch's look of surprise was priceless. Rebecca shot forward like a meteor and smashed her head against her nose before she turned and hauled ass outta there. Hah, eat shit, bitch! That's what you get for-

Rebecca was suddenly shoved back with enough force to knock her on her ass. The Edgerunner screamed and looked up in shock at the sight of the NCPD bitch standing in front of the door, arms crossed and her face pinched in a chilling glare. The smug looks from before were gone. Now she looked down at Rebecca like a corpo bitch looking down at gutter trash.

"I should've seen that coming..." The bitch muttered, rubbing her jaw and nose. Rebecca barely paid attention. Her eyes were drawn down to the monstrosity between her legs. The bitch said it was all-natural, but there was nothing natural about it. Eleven inches of a thick, veiny dick that would've looked oversized on anyone, nevermind someone who looked barely any taller than she did. Above it was a neatly shaved patch of white hair. And underneath her dick was a pair of thick balls that looked like they were churning with cum and ready to unload on her.

The pale cock twitched and Rebecca winced at the thought of it going inside her. She'd seen big dicks before - she wasn't some blushing virgin, even if she might've looked it - but those were obviously artificial. No matter what model someone used, she could always tell it wasn't the original.

This was different. Even from a glance, she could tell the monster in front of her didn't have the additions a Mr. Studd did. Those ones were marketed to making the guys who had them sex gods. Vibration, smoother skin, adjustable temperature, the works. An ego trip. This was different. She already knew that the bitch was gonna fucking destroy her with that thing.

"How the fu-"

"Sandevistan. My family insisted that I get some upgrades since I'd be dealing with street rats." The bitch's lips curled in a sneer, her cock bobbing as she stepped forward. Rebecca tried to scramble back before she suddenly found her entire body going limp, "How stupid do you think I am? I was being nice when I let you walk here on your own two feet. I expected that you'd be stupid and try to run, but I had hoped that you'd find some sense in that pea-sized brain of yours. I guess not." She sighed, but her eyes still looked down at her like a kid who got a new toy, "Oh well, I can still have my fun."

A chill ran down Rebecca's spine as the bitch - Weiss - grabbed her roughly by the hair and pulled her up to her knees. She tried to struggle, but all she managed to do was shake her head like a limp doll. Weiss pulled her up till her head was level with her dick. Rebecca went cross-eyed looking at the tip. The stench of must and sweat wafted up her nose, "Listen, we can still-"

"No. No more deals. Liars don't get the benefit of the doubt." Weiss growled, "You're going to sit there like a good little girl and be my toy."

Weiss pulled and shoved her face into her crotch. The stench of musk and sweat intensified as her nose was pressed into the neatly trimmed patch of pubes, "F-Fuck...!" Rebecca hissed, her body still refusing to move. Up above, Weiss sighed and rubbed Rebecca's right cheek against the flank of her cock. She used her face like a rag, swiping her across every inch of the flank. First the right side, then the left, and then she moved Rebecca underneath till all she could see were her cock and balls crowned by the dim mood lighting.

"D-Don't you fucking da-"

"Shut up." The venomous hiss made Rebecca shudder. Suddenly, she didn't sound like some well-to-do Corpo cunt, "You're my toy now, and toys don't get to complain. Consider yourself lucky if you're able to walk by the time I'm done with you."

Rebecca's face was rubbed up against the underside of Weiss' dick. She shut her eyes, trying to pretend that this wasn't happening, but it only made it worse. Weiss pressed Rebecca's nose against her balls and her mouth practically kissing her perineum. She kept her there, like she knew Rebecca was trying to hold her breath. When it all because too much, she was forced to suck in a deep breath and the stench and taste of sweat hit her with full force again. Fuck, what the hell was she trying to do? Make her pass out?

Weiss sighed and slowly pulled her back out till she could breathe again. Rebecca coughed, looking up at the white-haired bitch with a weak snarl. She opened her mouth to cuss her out again when she interrupted, "Think very carefully on what you'll say next. Is being rebellious worth what you know I'll do you."

The next words - calling Weiss a motherfucker - were almost out of her mouth before she suddenly stopped. Rebecca would never admit it, but she was...scared. She'd had guns pointed at her face and didn't flinch, but something about this bitch made her feel like a weak little girl. And she fucking hated it.

"Good girl." Weiss purred. Rebecca's entire body shuddered, "Now, our arrangement was for you to give me some service in exchange for me looking the other way. Given what you tried to do, I think it's only fair that we amend that." She smirked, "But we can deal with that later. Let's start with you giving me what you owe me first."

The cock got closer again. The head of the pale serpent pushed against Rebecca's shut lips, "You seemed eager and confident earlier, so let's see you put that mouth to good use. Open up."

A part of Rebecca wanted to keep her mouth shut as a silent 'fuck you', but a bigger part of her knew that'd only make things worse. She could barely move her head, so headbutting the thing and trying to run out was a no-go. Her eyes flicked to the door, hoping that maybe the rest of the crew would come in and save her sorry ass, but of course that didn't happen. They had no idea she was in trouble, and her holo was on the fritz ever since they slapped the cuffs on her. Even screaming for help wouldn't work. This was the No-Tell Motel.

No one was coming.

In the end, Rebecca slowly forced her mouth open and stuck her tongue out. Weiss purred again and adjusted her position, her grip on Rebecca's hair turning just a bit more gentle, "That's it..." Weiss slowly inserted her cock inside, looking down at her through half-lidded eyes.

The first thing she noticed was the taste, the salty tang of sweat that made her grimace. She didn't have the chance to dwell on it too long, though. Weiss didn't stop. She kept going, inserting inch by fucking inch of her dick inside her. She didn't have a gag reflex - it was one of the first things she turned off when she got went to the ripper. That didn't mean she wasn't choking on the pillar of cockmeat being shoved down her fucking mouth.

"Mmmgh!" Rebecca grunted weakly, her mouth stuffed to the brim with dick. Weiss was only halfway in before she started getting resistance. The other woman growled and pulled back for just a second before she slammed her hips forward again. The cockhead battered her throat, demanding to let the rest of the length inside. It only took two lazy thrusts before whatever weak resistance she had gave in and let Weiss insert herself more.

Her throat undulated around the head of the cock. Weiss groaned and continued till she was all the way inside. Rebecca's nose pressed against the pubes again, the stuffy balls slapping her chin. Rebecca's hands clenched and she almost bit down. She'd probably shoot her in the face afterward, but it'd be so worth it.

"Out..." Weiss muttered, slowly pushing Rebecca's head back away from her choking hazard of a cock. She could feel every vein her lips passed, and the damn thing was so thick that she couldn't even try to keep her tongue away from it and avoid the taste of sweat and something else she didn't even want to think about. Weiss pulled her along till her lips were wrapped around that mushroom tip again and held her there, looking down at her with a smug, sharp grin.

"...And in." Weiss exhaled and pulled her back in. It went easier than before, but it still wasn't a good feeling.

In, out, in, out. Weiss was relentless. She picked up the pace once she got into a rhythm. She used both hands this time, manhandling Rebecca's head like it was nothing more than a glorified fleshlight.

Rebecca's eyes practically rolled to the back of her head. Spit pooled inside her mouth, the dick sliding in and out with ease. Weiss' hips were like a machine. Every time she thrusted, her throat was battered and those balls smacked her chin with enough force to hurt, "Ngh, fuck!" Weiss hissed, sounding completely alien from how she did before. The words were rough and raspy, and looked as out of place on her as the dick going down Rebecca's throat.

And then she heard three words that made her panic.

"I'm gonna cum..."

Rebecca tried to pull back when Weiss' grip tightened with enough force to hurt, "Don't even think about it," she hissed, "You're nothing more than my cum dumpster, you little slut. You're - ngh! - gonna take it all and fucking thank me! You're no better than a joytoy!"

"Mmmmph! Nggh!" Rebecca tried to scream, tried to do anything, but nothing worked. Weiss held her head like a vice and pulled her in as much as she could. She breathed in and out through her nose in a panic, and her eyes bulged when Weiss suddenly used one of her hands to pinch her nose shut, "NNGGHH!" Rebecca struggled. She couldn't breathe. Her nose was plugged and she could barely get any air between the spit and Weiss' twitching dick in her mouth.

"Here it comes. Here I come."

Rebecca shut her eyes tight as the first wave of jizz released. It slipped past her mouth entirely, shooting directly down her throat and into her stomach. She expected Weiss would shoot out once, maybe twice, considering she had a 'ganic dick.

She was wrong.

Weiss came, and then she kept cumming even as she pulled her hips back. The cock continued to paint her throat white, and then it did the same to her mouth. The taste of salty bleach hit her tongue with the force of a bullet. She forced herself to swallow, ignoring how pathetic she felt and how much she wanted to cry.

The cock left her mouth with a loud pop. Weiss finally let go of her nose and Rebecca breathed in desperately even though her mouth was still sticky with cum, "Oh yeah, this is good..." Weiss covered her face with jizz. Rebecca was so busy trying to breathe again that she barely even cared about how she was being marked and how every time she inhaled the stench of cum wafted up her nose.

Rebecca looked up, face twitching and one eye closed because of the jizz coating. Weiss looked down at her with a sharp sneer, "Now there's a picture." Her eyes glowed blue for a few seconds, "There, now I'll have something to remember you by."

"Are...we done?" Rebecca rasped weakly.

"If you hadn't tried to run out without paying your bill earlier, we would be. But since you've been a naughty girl..."

She disappeared in a blur. A second later, Rebecca felt a kick on her back that forced her to the floor, knees bent and ass up. A hand gripped the hem of her shorts and pulled them down with her panties following after, "Wh-"

"Hm." Weiss murmured, sounding way too calm for someone who was literally about to fuck someone raw in a dingy hotel room, "...Passable."

Rebecca looked back weakly. Weiss hummed, her smirk widening as she stepped forward, the slick, glistening tip of her massive cock hovering above Rebecca's ass. The towering organ twitched slightly, still slick with cum and spit. Weiss reached down, her hand brushing lightly against Rebecca's lower back, the touch sending a shiver down the her spine.

Weiss chuckled softly as she leaned forward slightly, looking down at Rebecca like she was a piece of meat. "Good girl. I'm going to enjoy myself" she muttered, her tone dripping with approval. Without another word, she placed her hands on Rebecca's hips, her fingers digging slightly into the warm skin as she guided herself into position.

Rebecca let out a sharp gasp as she felt the slick, heated tip of Weiss's cock press against her asshole. The sheer size of it was overwhelming, its heat almost unbearable as Weiss began to push forward, the slick, veiny surface stretching her inch by inch. There was no preparation, and whatever lubrication was there wasn't enough to keep it from hurting. Weiss laughed, her movements slow but deliberate as she pressed deeper.

Rebecca's breath hitched, her fingers clawing at the dingy motel floor as a sharp, stinging pain radiated through her. She bit her lip hard, a soft whimper escaping her as she tried to adjust to the massive intrusion. Weiss didn't stop. Her pace was set, and her icy gaze focused on her trembling body as she continued to push forward, the slick, glistening shaft disappearing inch by inch.

"Relax," Weiss muttered, her voice sounding annoyingly calm as she adjusted her grip on Rebcca's hips. "You can take it. I know you can."

"N-No, I fucking can't! It hurts!"

"You should've thought of that before trying to cheat me."

Rebecca let out a strained moan, her body trembling as she tried not to cry. The pain was intense, a sharp, burning sensation that sent shivers down her spine. Fuck, fuck, fuck! It hurt! She'd never been penetrated there. It was always mouth or pussy. Anyone who tried to get into her backdoor always got a punch to the face.

Weiss hummed softly, her icy gaze narrowing as she watched Rebecca's reaction. "There it is," she murmured, her tone dripping with satisfaction. "I knew you'd come around." The pace quickened slightly, Weiss's hips rolling forward with smooth, practiced motions as she buried herself deeper. Rebecca's strained moans grew louder, the pain making her lightheaded as she adjusted to the massive intrusion. Her body quivered with every thrust, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps as she clawed and punched the ground helplessly.

Weiss tilted her head slightly, her hair falling over her shoulder as she leaned forward, her hands tightening their grip on Ruby's sides. "You're doing so well," she murmured softly, her voice a low, silky purr. "Let's see how much more you can handle."

"I can't handle any more! T-Take it out!"

"You can do it. I believe in you," She laughed, digging into the soft flesh as she pushed herself forward with deliberate, unrelenting force. The massive, veiny length of her cock pulsed with heat, its slick, glistening surface stretching Rebecca's tight entrance with each inch she claimed. Rebecca's entire body tensed beneath Weiss, every muscle trembling as she let out a sharp, involuntary shriek.

Weiss was relentless, dominating Rebecca completely as she continued to push herself deeper. Her hips rolled forward again, her pace slow and deliberate as she buried more of her massive cock into Rebecca's trembling frame. The slick, veiny length disappeared inch by inch, the heat and pressure almost unbearable as Rebecca's tight hole stretched to accommodate it. Rebecca let out another shriek, her body jerking beneath Weiss's firm grip as the sensation overwhelmed her.

"You want this."

"N-No I don't, you fucking gonk!"

"Don't lie to me." Weiss slapped her ass. The right cheek stung from the hit, and the pain was almost a welcome distraction from the dick skewering her ass. Her smirk widened as she finally pushed herself fully inside, the massive length of her cock buried completely in Rebecca's tight, trembling asshole.

Rebecca let out a strangled cry, her hands clawing at the ground again as her body quivered with the sheer intensity of it. Weiss paused for a moment, looking down at her screaming and crying, and laughed, "Good girl. Now, here comes the next part."

Rebecca screamed loud enough that she was damn sure that everyone outside the motel could hear. If she thought the blowjob was bad, it was nothing compared to this. Weiss pulled her hips back then slammed them back inside. Slow, fast, it didn't matter. It fucking hurt.

The Edgerunner pressed her face against her arms and tried to muffle her cries. It didn't work. As soon as she tried, Weiss slammed against her even harder than before, "Don't cover yourself. I want to hear that pretty voice of your's screaming my name. Mistress Schnee. Say it."

Rebecca bit her tongue.

"Say. It." Every word was punctuated with a thrust that had her seeing white, "Do you want me to activate the Sandy?"

"N-No!" Rebecca choked back a sob, "M...Mistress Schnee..." Fuck...

"Hm...good girl."

Rebecca broke down sobbing as Weiss thrusted a few more times before finally finishing up. Her ass was stuffed with the cop's seed, and her tunnels - still raw from the fucking - burned with pain. She felt pathetic. She'd told Maelstrom gangoons to go fuck themselves when they had a gun aimed at her face, and now she was just...

"Did you think we were done?"

Rebecca's eyes shot open in a panic as Weiss manhandled her, forcing her to sit upright and ignoring her whimpers of pain, "Wh-What are you-"

"I've fucked two of your holes. I'm going for a third."

She lifted Rebecca up before sitting her down on her lap. Rebecca groaned and looked down, shivering at the sight of Weiss still hard under her. How the fuck was she still ready?! Was this chick abstinent before today?

Weiss put her arms under her knees and lifted. Rebecca groaned weakly as her legs were lifted straight up, her foot aimed at the ceiling. She wasn't as 'flexible' as Lucy, so it ended up hurting, though after everything she went through, it barely registered.

"No complaints this time?" Weiss whispered against her ear.

"...Fuck it, just do what you want."

"Hm, you're no fun." Weiss scoffed. She wiggled her hips until her dick was pointing straight up to her pussy, "I'll still enjoy myself."

With a sharp, calculated thrust, Weiss buried herself inside Rebecca, her massive cock stretching her tight entrance without mercy. Rebecca let out a sharp, choked cry, her body jerking against Weiss' tight grip as the sudden intruders a shockwave of pain (and a bit of pleasure...) through her. There was no foreplay, no buildup = just raw, brutal intensity as Weiss took what she wanted.

Rebecca's cries filled the air, her voice cracking as she struggled to catch her breath. "Ah! Schnee! It's too- ah!" Her words were cut off as Weiss thrust again, her hips rolling forward with deliberate precision. The pace was unyielding, each motion sending a jolt of sensation through Rebecca's trembling frame as she clung desperately to what little dignity she had left.

"Call me mistress."

"M-Mistress, s-slow down!"

"But you said I could do what I want." She could practically feel the faux-innocent smirk on her face as Weiss continued to thrust up, "And I told you before. You're my toy now, and toys don't get to COMPLAIN!" She punctuated the last word with a brutal thrust that sent Rebecca reeling. She could swear she saw stars in her eyes, and not in a good way, "You don't get to make demands. You can cry and scream until you lose your voice, but I'm in charge. Do you understand?"

"I-I get it!" Rebecca sobbed.

"I don't think you do. I feel like you need to be taught a lesson." She leaned in close till her lips ghosted Rebecca's right ear, "Activating Sandy."

Rebecca's eyes widened, "Wait, no-"

Too late. Weiss' cock became a blur as she thrust over and over with the full power of the sandevistan. Rebecca screamed again, struggling and wailing as Weiss absolutely dominated and abused her. Every thrust - which felt like a punch straight to her womb - made her vision swim and made her more and more lightheaded. She couldn't even tell when one thrust ended and another began. It was a non-stop barrage that made her almost pass out.

"Hey, no fainting on me." Weiss growled, "I want you to feel every single one of these."

"Stop...please..."

"Hm...no."

If there was any sort of benefit to this whole thing, it was that the sandy made it go by faster. It only took a minute. A minute of excruciating, agonizing pain, but still a minute. By the time Weiss had finally cum again, her cunt was in so much pain from the battering and friction that she literally couldn't feel it. Fuck, she couldn't even move her legs. All she could do was lay there helplessly and watch through empty eyes as her pussy was stuffed to the brim with baby batter.

"Ahhhhh." Weiss sighed in relief. She stood up and, much to Rebecca's surprise, gently placed her on the bed they never used, "Well, I think you've paid your debt to society." Rebecca twitched but didn't say anything, "Although..." She put a hand on her chin, her slowly deflating cock flopping when she walked around, "...What the hell, one more for the road. Open your mouth."

Rebecca was too broken to argue. She opened her mouth, ready to suck Weiss off if it meant just being able to go home. She didn't even care if the rest of the crew made fun of her for it for the rest of her life. She just wanted to sleep in her own bed.

Weiss gently slipped the head of her cock between her parted lips. Rebecca was readying herself to start sucking when she suddenly tasted something bitter and sour, "Mmgh!" She tried to pull back, but of course, Weiss was faster. She grabbed her head with both hands and kept her still.

"No, no, no. You'll be drinking it all up." Weiss sighed. She was pissing into her mouth! "I don't want to see a drop wasted, pet, or else we're going for another round!"

Rebecca's fists clenched...and slackened. She closed her eyes and began to swallow, choking on the bitter, acrid taste and the feeling of humiliation. She drank it all down like it was whiskey from the Afterlife. All the while, Weiss sighed and moaned above her, muttering to herself about how she 'knew her place'.

The last of the piss finally went down her throat and Weiss pulled back, looking down at her with disappointment, "Huh...not a single drop." She clicked her tongue. Her cock twithed and one final spurt of piss shot out and landed on her right cheek, "...I'm so tempted to count but, but I'm a woman of my word. You're free to go. Come on, I'll give you a ride."

Rebecca was practically catatonic as Weiss carried her down to the lobby, not even bothering to clothe her. Not that anyone looked twice. After a few minutes of waiting, a Delamain cab pulled up and Weiss stuffed her on the back before taking the front. The stupid AI bastard tried to make small talk, but Rebecca didn't reply.

She barely recognized her apartment building by the time they arrived. Weiss opened the door and dropped her to the curb like garbage, "Well...that was a productive day." She put her hands on her hips and looked down at Rebecca with a smile, "Maybe that'll teach you to be a good, law-abiding citizen like some of us." Rebecca twitched, "But if you don't, rest assured I'll be around to...discipline you. See you around, Rebecca."

Rebecca didn't say anything. She just lay there on the curb, naked and covered in dried cum, as the car drove away.

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Poor Rebecca...and yet I can somehow see some NCPD cops pulling this given what we know of them. Next story will be something far lighter.

Team Rizzless - Chapter 4

Hey-ho Stalker 2 is out, but I still managed to get this done. Almost done with the Cyberpunk Weiss crossover NSFW comm too. That one hit me with the writer's block, oof.

Anyway, enjoy Penny, Cinder, and Salem.

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Today was going to be a Sensational day!

Penny Polendina loved visiting Vale. There was so much to see, so many people to meet, and so many opportunities to make friends! Every street corner seemed to hold new surprises. Stalls that sold all varieties of food, shops that hawked every ware, and various other such sundries. While Penny had no need for such things, she approached each with her usual enthusiasm, her bright smile practically lighting up the bustling city. Literally.

A man approached her just as she stopped at a bakery to admire the display of sweet pastries in the window. He was a tall man, and young by Human standards, with dark hair and a sheepish smile. Penny tilted her head at him, curious when he hesitated before speaking, "Uh, hi," he said, scratching the back of his neck, "I, uh, couldn't help but notice you. You've got such a great smile. So bright. Do you...maybe want to grab a coffee or something?"

Penny's eyes lit up, "Oh! Coffee sounds delightful!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands together. Her internals were completely liquid proof and the coffee could be easily expelled at a later date, "We could sit and chat, and I could hear all about your favorite books or your hobbies or your dreams!"

The man's expression brightened, his confidence bolstered by her enthusiasm, "Yeah, yeah, that sounds great!"

"Excellent, I've made a new friend!" Penny said cheerfully, her smile as wide and eager as ever, "Friendship is the foundation of all wonderful connections, don't you think?"

The man froze, his smile faltering as her words sank in, "Oh, uh...just friends?"

"Of course!" Penny nodded vigorously, "It's so wonderful to have friends! I'm always looking for more of them. Would you like to be one of my friends?"

The man chuckled awkwardly, taking a step back, "Uh, maybe some other time. Gotta run. Bye!" He turned and walked away quickly, leaving Penny standing there, her head tilted slightly, "Hmm," she murmured to herself, watching him disappear into the crowd, "He must have been in a hurry. Oh well! Maybe next time." Vale had no shortage of future friends. It was one of the things she loved about it, especially with the Vytal Festival. People from all over Remnant were coming to watch the Huntresses fight in the arena.

According to the Dustnet, people - particularly men - believed that Huntresses did this as a sort of mating ritual. They showed their strength and beauty in order to attract a partner. Penny had her doubts about that, however. There was no official source on such things besides 'just trust me bro', and if that was the purpose of such things, then the Huntresses were utter failures given that her records indicated that all the Vytal champions ended up dying as bitter spinsters.

Undeterred, Penny continued her stroll through the city, taking in the sights with wide-eyed wonder. It wasn't long before she was approached again, this time by a group of three young men who stopped her near a park bench. One of them, a blond with a charming smile, stepped forward, "Hey there," he said, "We couldn't help but notice you. You've got this...glow about you. What's your name?"

"I'm Penny Polendina!" she said brightly, "It's wonderful to meet you all! Are you here to enjoy the park as well?"

The blond exchanged a look with his friends before grinning at her, "Well, we were just talking about grabbing some drinks. How about you join us? First round's on us."

"Drinks? Oh, I don't consume alcohol," Penny said, shaking her head. She could, but her chassis had the appearance of someone below 21, "But I'd be happy to join you for sparkling water or juice! I think it would be wonderful to sit together and talk about our interests." She beamed.

The blond blinked, looking at his friends with sudden uncertainty. Odd, "Uh...sure. So, uh, what kind of...interests are you into?"

"Oh, so many things!" Penny said, her smile widening, "Weapons, engineering, protecting people, making friends...hh, and helping others feel valued! What are your interests?" She leaned forward eagerly.

The blond faltered, his confidence wavering for reasons unknown, "Uh...sports?"

"Sports are wonderful!" Penny chirped, "They build teamwork and cooperation. And as friends, we could even play sports together! Wouldn't that be fun?"

His two friends snickered quietly behind him, and the blond's face reddened slightly, "Uh, yeah, maybe. But, uh, we were thinking of something a little more...intimate."

Penny tilted her head, "Intimate? Like, close friends who share their deepest thoughts and feelings?"

The blond groaned softly, running a hand through his hair, "Uh, yeah, sure. Something like that."

Penny clasped her hands together, her expression radiant, "Oh, that sounds wonderful! Building trust and emotional closeness is so important in friendships. I'd love to be your friend!"

The blond's friends burst out laughing, slapping him on the back as they walked away, "Good luck with that one, man," one of them said, leaving the blond standing awkwardly in front of Penny.

He sighed, his shoulders sagging, "Yeah, uh, I gotta go. Take care, Penny."

"And you as well!" Penny waved enthusiastically as he walked off, his pace quickening with each step, "What a nice young man," she said to herself, "It's so lovely meeting people in Vale."

Penny's day continued in much the same fashion. At a flower stall, a man offered to buy her a bouquet and take her on a romantic picnic. Penny politely declined, insisting that she'd love to enjoy the flowers with her new friend. At a bookstore, another man nervously approached her, offering to read poetry to her in the park. Penny eagerly accepted and specified that it would be a perfect activity to share as new book friends.

By the time she stopped to sit on a bench at a park with a flower she received from another man offering to be her friend, Penny couldn't help but marvel at how many kind people she'd met, "Vale really is full of friendly individuals," she said aloud, swinging her legs cheerfully as she looked up at the waning sun, "I've been invited for coffee, drinks, picnics, and even poetry readings! It's so nice to know that people value friendship so much." She would be sad to leave this place and return to Atlas.

The bench at the other side of the park creaked slightly as two Huntresses plopped down onto it, their exhaustion and frustration written all over their faces. Vale had been full of promise when they first ventured out this morning. The streets were bustling with men from all walks of life - tourists, merchants, locals, and even a few rugged adventurer types. Prime real estate for flirting, or so they thought.

But the day had turned into yet another unmitigated disaster.

"That's it," one Huntress growled, slamming her soda can onto the bench beside her, "I'm done. I've talked to, what, twelve guys today? Every single one of them acted like I was holding them hostage the second I said hello!" She gestured wildly, "I even smiled. Like, a nice smile. Not the 'I might stab you' one."

Her companion leaned back with a defeated sigh, "I asked a guy if he wanted to grab lunch, and he said he had to check on his plants. What kind of excuse is that? It's Vale. There are no plants!"

As if the universe itself was mocking their plight, their attention was drawn to the figure of Penny Polendina skipping merrily down the street. Even from a distance, her bright green eyes and glowing smile were unmistakable. She radiated happiness, and the crowd seemed to part for her like she was some kind of saint.

And, of course, the men gravitated to her like moths to a flame.

"Are you kidding me?" the first Huntress hissed, her eyes narrowing into slits. They watched as a man, tall and athletic, approached Penny with a nervous but hopeful smile. He said something to her - too far away to hear, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what it was.

Penny's face lit up, her hands clasping together in excitement. The man visibly relaxed, his confidence boosted by her enthusiasm. But then Penny said something else, and the man's shoulders slumped. His face fell, and within seconds, he was shuffling away like a dog with its tail between its legs.

The Huntresses watched in bitter silence as Penny waved cheerfully after him, seemingly oblivious to the disappointment she'd just caused, "What...the hell was that?" the second Huntress finally managed, her voice dripping with bitter disbelief.

"That," the first one said, jabbing a finger toward Penny, "was a power move. Look at her. She could've had him. Hell, she could've had all of them. But noooo, she's too good for that. She's just toying with them."

The second Huntress shook her head in shock, "Why would she do that? Why would anyone do that? Doesn't she know how hard it is for the rest of us out here? I've been throwing myself at guys all year, and the only thing I've caught is a bruise to my ego."

"She's doing it on purpose," the first one said through gritted teeth, "Look at her! Skipping around like she owns the place. Rejecting guys left and right. She doesn't even want them - she's just rubbing it in our faces. She knows she could have what we want, and she's choosing not to. It's like she's saying, 'Oh, poor you, struggling to get a crumb of attention. Guess I'll just sit here with the whole loaf and not eat it.'"

"Bitch," the second Huntress muttered, crossing her arms.

A third Huntress joined them, plopping down on the bench with a huff, "You're talking about that that bitch, aren't you? I saw her earlier. Guy practically proposed to her on the spot. She smiled, said something about 'friendship,' and sent him packing. Who does that?"

"Her, apparently," the first Huntress said, her voice dripping with venom, "She's not just oblivious, she's a master manipulator."

The third Huntress raised an eyebrow, "You really think she's doing it on purpose?"

"Of course, she is!" the first one snapped, "She's got the perfect act. 'Oh, I'm just a sweet little innocent girl who loves friendship!' Meanwhile, guys are lining up for her, and we're out here getting ghosted by janitors."

The second Huntress groaned, "Don't remind me about the janitor. He told me he was 'married to his mop.' His mop. And then there's her, rejecting guys like it's fucking nothing."

They all turned to watch as Penny, oblivious to their stares, stopped at a flower stall. The vendor handed her a single rose, and she clutched it to her chest like it was the most precious gift in the world. The vendor said something, leaning forward with a charming smile. Penny nodded enthusiastically, and for a brief moment, the Huntresses thought maybe - just maybe - she'd say yes.

But then, Penny waved goodbye, handing the rose back before skipping away with her usual pep.

The three Huntresses groaned in unison.

"She's the worst," the third one muttered.

"She's evil," the first one corrected, "Pure, unfiltered evil. She's using her bubbly act to destroy every guy's confidence - and ours while she's at it."

The second Huntress buried her face in her hands, "And they just keep going to her! She doesn't even have to try, and they're lining up! I smiled at a guy earlier, and he asked if I was gonna mug him! Then I told him I was planning to steal his virginity and he bolted!" Her shoulders sagged and her friends squeezed her arm in solidarity.

"She's planning to lord it over us," the first one grumbled, "We'll be out here eating rejection sandwiches while she has her pick of the buffet."

Maybe the White Fang had the right idea. All those Faunus Huntresses just formed up and said they wouldn't take any more contracts until the government assigned them all boyfriends. Or at least guys who'd sleep with them whenever they asked. It was genius. Remnant needed Huntresses, right? So they should be rewarded for their hard work saving the innocent people. Were government-sanctioned dickings too much to ask?

Thoughts on inciting a rebellion faded when they saw Penny reject another guy.

"Bitch," they all said in unison, glaring at Penny as she skipped happily into the distance, completely unaware of the storm of seething jealousy trailing behind her.

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At the other side of town, Cinder Fall sat at a cafe table with her arms crossed, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her elbow as she glared at the throngs of people passing by. Her amber eyes narrowed in frustration. This was ridiculous. Completely, utterly ridiculous.

She glared down the street, her amber eyes smoldering with frustration as she watched couples stroll by hand in hand. It didn't make sense. She was doing everything right. She'd dressed to kill - literally and figuratively - in a sleek, curve-hugging dress that showed just the right amount of skin. Her makeup was flawless, her hair fell in perfect waves, and her heels clicked with a commanding rhythm that should have made every man in a mile radius weak in the knees.

She was doing everything right.

Her long, dark dress was just risque enough to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage and the outfit hugged her figure in all the right places. She exuded confidence, allure, and a smoldering intensity that practically screamed 'Come and get it'.

So why was no one coming to get it?

Her mind reeled as she replayed her interactions from earlier that day. First, there was the florist. She'd leaned over the counter, giving him her best sultry smile, her voice low and smooth as honey, "Do you know the meaning of roses?" she'd asked, her finger tracing a petal delicately, "They symbolize love, devotion, and passion. Would you like to see what devotion feels like?"

The florist had stared at her for a long, awkward moment before blurting, "Sorry, I'm allergic to pollen," and bolting to the back of the shop.

Then there was the man at the bookstore. She'd caught him perusing a shelf, sidling up to him with an air of effortless grace. She'd tilted her head, her lips curling into a teasing smile, "You look like the kind of man who enjoys a good story," she'd said, her voice a low purr, "How about I tell you one over dinner tonight?"

The man had turned bright red, stammered something about already having plans, and practically tripped over a display of cookbooks in his haste to get away.

Cinder let out a frustrated sigh, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she scanned the crowd. Vale was teeming with men of all shapes and sizes, yet not a single one had approached her. It didn't make sense. She'd been perfectly charming earlier with that barista at the coffee shop, smiling sweetly as she ordered her drink and complimented his "strong arms" for holding such heavy trays all day. And when he didn't immediately take the hint, she'd turned up the heat - literally - by igniting a small flame in her hand and casually mentioning how easy it would be to burn the place down if someone annoyed her.

Instead of being awed by her fiery passion, the barista had mumbled something about needing to check the espresso machine and bolted into the backroom.

"Men," she muttered under her breath as she stood, "So spineless. Don't they want someone strong? Someone who can protect them? Someone who won't hesitate to destroy their enemies?"

She crossed the street, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement, and spotted a group of three men chatting near a food stall. They looked promising - young, reasonably attractive, and clearly unattached. Perfect.

Cinder approached with the grace of a panther stalking its prey, her lips curving into a seductive smile. She tilted her head just slightly, letting her hair fall across one shoulder as she spoke in a low, honeyed tone.

"Hello, boys," she purred, her eyes glinting like molten gold, "Lovely day, isn't it?"

The three men froze, turning to face her. One of them, a blond with a nervous smile, cleared his throat, "Uh, yeah. It's...it's a nice day."

Cinder took a step closer, her smile widening as she placed a hand on his arm, "It's even better now," she said, her voice dripping with charm, "You seem like a strong, capable man. Tell me...are you seeing anyone?"

The blond blinked, his smile faltering as his friends exchanged awkward glances, "Uh...no, I'm not. Why?"

Cinder leaned in slightly, her gaze intense, "Because I'm looking for someone who appreciates power. Someone who can handle a woman who knows what she wants. Someone who understands the value of...loyalty."

Her voice dipped on the last word, and a faint spark danced across her fingertips as she let her free hand hover just close enough to his chest for him to feel the heat.

The blond's eyes widened, his face paling slightly, "Oh. Uh...that's...cool. But, uh, I think I see my friend over there. Gotta go!" He ducked out of her grasp and hurried away, leaving his friends stammering apologies before following after him.

Cinder's smile froze on her face, her hand still outstretched. Slowly, she lowered it, her fingers curling into a fist.

"What is wrong with them?" she hissed under her breath, "I'm everything a man could want. I'm strong, I'm beautiful, I'm - " she clenched her fists, her flames flickering to life again - "dangerous. Isn't that what they want? Someone who keeps them on their toes? Someone who makes them feel alive?" She paced back and forth, her heels clicking angrily against the pavement, "I gave him the full package! The charm, the confidence, the fireworks. And what do I get? Nothing. Not even a phone number!"

Another man walked by, and Cinder turned on her heel, fixing him with her most dazzling smile, "You there!" she called, stepping in front of him.

The man stopped, looking startled, "Uh...yes?"

Cinder sauntered closer, her smile turning predatory, "You're just the kind of man I've been looking for. Tell me...are you interested in passion? In power? In a woman who will make you feel things you've never felt before?"

The man blinked, his brow furrowing, "Not...really?"

"Don't be silly, of course you are." Cinder's eyes lit up, and she reached out to trace a finger along his jawline, "And I can promise you something no other woman can: devotion. Undying devotion." Her voice lowered, her tone turning darker, "As long as you understand that loyalty is non-negotiable. Look at another woman, even once, and...well..." She let her flames flicker to life again, this time letting them dance along her fingertips for emphasis.

The man took a step back, his face pale, "Y-yeah, I think I left my oven on. Gotta go!"

Cinder stared after him, her flames flickering out as he disappeared into the crowd. She clenched her fists, her frustration boiling over as she screamed in impotent rage. A passing woman gave her a wide berth, muttering something about "drama queens."

Cinder glared after her before slumping against a nearby lamppost, crossing her arms, "This city is full of idiots," she muttered to herself, "Spineless, clueless idiots. They don't deserve me."

She huffed, staring at the ground as her frustration continued to simmer. With a final growl, she pushed off the lamppost and stalked down the street, muttering to herself, "I'm Cinder Fall. The men of this city just don't know what they're missing. But I'll give them another chance."

Of course, she had no luck. Threatening to burn down one man's house if he dared not answer her calls had led to the cops being called on her. And so Cinder returned to Beacon with a heavy scowl and a weight on her shoulders.

Cinder stormed into her dorm room at Beacon, the door slamming shut behind her with a force that rattled the hinges. She tossed her heels to the side with a frustrated growl, flopping onto her bed like a queen collapsing onto a fainting a rose garden. Her arm draped over her eyes, shielding them from the dim light filtering through the curtains.

Emerald, who had been lounging on her own bed, looked up from her book, her brow furrowing in concern, "Rough day?" she asked, cautiously setting the book aside.

"Don't get me started," Cinder muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow, "The men in Vale are idiots. All of them."

Emerald raised an eyebrow, "What happened this time?"

Cinder sat up abruptly, her amber eyes blazing with indignation, "What didn't happen? I gave them charm, I gave them allure, I gave them fireworks! Literally! And what do I get in return? " She threw her hands up, "Excuses. Rejections. One guy told me he had was planning to move to the other side of Remnant just today!"

Emerald coughed, biting the inside of her cheek, "Sounds...rough."

Cinder glared at her, "This isn't funny, Emerald. Do you know how hard it is to find a man who's not completely terrified of a strong, powerful woman?" Because that was who she was. Cinder Fall, the most powerful Huntress in Vale, if not the world. Or at least she would be once she beat that Nikos bitch. Then all of Remnant would see how amazing she was and men would line up by the hundreds for the chance to worship at her feet.

"Maybe it's not about fear," Emerald offered carefully, "Maybe they just...weren't the right ones for you?"

"They weren't even close to right," Cinder snapped, flopping back onto the bed with a dramatic sigh, "I just don't understand. What do they want? A pushover? Someone who's happy to sit around and do nothing? Ugh, it's pathetic."

Emerald hesitated, glancing at her partner with a thoughtful expression, "You know," she began slowly, "there's another option you could consider..."

Cinder groaned, throwing her arm over her face again, "If you're about to suggest I lower my standards, don't bother. I'm not settling for second place."

"No, not that," Emerald said quickly, sitting up straighter, "I mean...maybe you're looking in the wrong direction. Maybe you'd have better luck with...well, women?"

Cinder peeked out from under her arm, raising an eyebrow, "Women?"

Emerald nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly, "Yeah. I mean, you're gorgeous, Cinder. Strong, confident, powerful. Plenty of women would kill for a chance with someone like you."

Cinder scoffed, waving a dismissive hand, "Please. Women are even more exhausting than men. The last thing I need is someone trying to compete with me." She thought of Coco Adel and frowned. She was the only Huntress on campus who didn't want a dick pounding her nightly, something she seemed to take pride in. But her pride didn't change facts. No one was interested in what she had to offer unless she spontaneously grew a cock.

Emerald shifted on the bed and continued, "Not all women are like that. Some would really appreciate you. They'd see you for who you are and support you, no questions asked."

Cinder rolled her eyes, "Sounds boring."

Emerald swallowed, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap, "What if they, you know, already knew you? Like...someone close to you?"

Cinder sat up, her brow furrowing as she studied Emerald, "What are you getting at?"

Emerald's cheeks burned for some reason "I'm just saying...maybe the person you're looking for isn't out there in Vale. Maybe they're closer than you think."

For a moment, Cinder stared at her, her amber eyes narrowing in thought. Then, with a dismissive huff, she flopped back onto the bed, "Don't be ridiculous, Emerald. The only thing I want close to me is a man who knows how to take orders and isn't afraid of a little fire. I have no interest in women." Emerald was already her lapdog and that did nothing for her. No, she needed a man. Preferably a strong-willed one she could break and collar. Maybe mark him with her fire to show everyone who owned him.

"Right. Of course. Just a thought," she muttered, trying to sound casual.

Cinder waved her off, not giving it another thought, "I appreciate your concern, Emerald, but trust me - when I find the right man, everything will fall into place. Until then, I'll just have to keep looking."

Emerald forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes, "Yeah. Keep looking."

"Hm...what about that guy we met in Mistral? The one you insist on being 'penpals' with?"

"Mercury? Well...I don't think he'd-"

"I'm not keeping you around to think." Cinder snapped, "Call him and invite him to the festival, give him one of your tickets. We both know you don't have anyone else coming for you." Emerald winced. Cinder ignored it, "I'll have him on his knees in no time."

"I...okay, Cinder."

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In the heart of the Grimmlands, deep within her towering fortress of black spires and endless shadows, Salem reclined on her throne with a long, dramatic sigh. Around her, the dim glow of Grimm pools cast flickering shadows on the walls, creating an ambiance of brooding menace. But her crimson eyes, which one might expect to be filled with mindless rage and a lust for destruction, were instead filled with something far more...personal.

"I never asked for this," she muttered, glaring at a cluster of Beowolves skulking near the edge of the chamber, "I didn't ask for the gods' curse, for eternal life, or for this never-ending struggle for power. All I ever wanted..." Her voice softened as she gazed wistfully at the map of Remnant sprawled across the table before her, "Was every man on this wretched planet to be mine."

That had been the goal from the start ever since the Sisters cursed her with immortality. Salem didn't care about destruction or chaos for chaos's sake. She wasn't interested in obliterating humanity or wiping out kingdoms. No, her ambition was far more specific, far more focused. She wanted to conquer Remnant, not to destroy it, but to reshape it into her personal paradise. And at the center of that paradise? A harem so vast, so exquisite, that the world itself would bow before its sheer majesty. Women from all over Remnant would weep in envy for what they could never have.

She mused on how things had gotten this far. Even now, countless millennia later, she still remembered how it all began. When she was nothing more than an innocent maiden trapped in a tower by her cruel, selfish father. She'd been an innocent victim, a girl who'd done nothing to deserve such a cruel fate.

...

Alright, perhaps that wasn't the whole truth. Honestly, how was she to know that the stable boy wouldn't be able to keep pace with her? He was alive by the end of it, albeit looking as if he'd been pruned like a raisin. And of course, her cravings hadn't been satisfied just yet so she had her way with the captain of her father's knights. She expected that he would have the stamina and fortitude to satisfy her desires. After all, his wife had never complained.

She was wrong.

Father had locked her into the tower after that. She could've escaped on her own, but then a thought had come to her. Why not wait for a dashing hero to come rescue her? And then she'd reward him generously for his bravery and valor.

Ozma had been that hero. He'd barely broken down the door and announced he'd come to rescue her before she pounced on him in eager gratitude. The memory of that fortnight would never be forgotten. Days of non-stop passion, of using her magic to perk her dear love up again and then continuing. To think he said that he needed a break. Nonsense. With her aphrodisiacs, he never needed to stop.

...Until he died. Too much of a good thing.

She wept, of course, but she was never one to be denied. She went to the Sisters and demanded the return of the life that had been so cruelly stolen too early. Light and Dark had acquiesced to her request and brought her beloved back. For some reason, he looked afraid when he saw her, but she'd paid it no mind. It was just shock from being brought back into her loving embrace. She'd been so relieved that she continued their passionate romance with even more fervor.

And then he died...again. When she went to the Sisters and demanded his resurrection a second time, they had refused. She'd declared war on them then and there, especially when they granted her immortality to 'keep her away from the poor man's soul'. Bah. She'd never forgive them for keeping her and her true love separated.

She shook away the musings. Her pale fingers tapped against the armrest of her throne as she glared at the map of Remnant spread out on the table before her. It was an elaborate, beautifully rendered depiction of the kingdoms, their borders marked in crimson ink. But today, she wasn't looking at strategic points or vulnerabilities.

"Vale," she mused, her voice a low purr as her fingers traced the map, "Strong, rugged, adventurous types. They'd have that untamed charm...willing to fight for what they believe in. Very appealing." Her finger slid eastward, "Mistral. Elegance. Poets, artists, and warriors, all in one. Sophisticated, yet passionate. They'd write songs about me...odes to my beauty." She lingered over Atlas, her eyes narrowing slightly, "The military men. Cold, disciplined, but capable of being molded into something warmer. They'd serve me completely." And finally, Vacuo. She smirked, "Desert rogues and wanderers. Wild, unpredictable. They'd be fun to break in."

A satisfied smile curled her lips as she leaned back in her throne, her mind whirling with schemes. Why should she waste her eternal existence waging war and spreading despair when she could focus on something far more...fulfilling? After all, she had needs, and she was long overdue for some attention. Thousands of years overdue, in fact.

Salem stood, her long robes flowing like a shadow as she paced the room, the heels of her boots clicking sharply against the stone floor. Her mind raced with plans and possibilities. She had been so close so many times, but something always got in the way. Ozma. Those insufferable Huntresses who thought they deserved the men's attention. How laughable. Thankfully, this generation was particularly lax, too distracted with their own desires to fight her.

It was perfect.

"All I want is to conquer the hearts of Remnant's finest men," she muttered, her tone laced with irritation, "To collect them, to claim them, to own them. Is that so much to ask?"

She stopped in front of a cracked mirror, studying her reflection. Her porcelain skin glowed faintly in the dim light, her silver hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of moonlight. She tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing critically as she examined herself. The dark veins, the obsidian dress, the very aura of corruption that surrounded her. She was...

"I'm flawless," she declared, her voice filled with conviction, "Timeless. Beautiful. Powerful. The pinnacle of perfection. So why..." Her fingers clenched into fists, "Why am I still alone?"

Her thoughts drifted to her subordinates. Tyrian? Deranged. Hazel? Too dour. Watts? Ugh, not even worth considering. They were loyal, yes, but they lacked the spark she craved. The passion. The worship. Well, at least not the worship she wanted. Tyrian worshipped her, but he also declared that to 'sully' her would be something he would never do even if she ordered it. He would rather die than dare besmirch his goddess' dark beauty.

She let out a long, dramatic sigh, her gaze drifting back to the map, "Perhaps I've been too subtle," she mused aloud, "I've spent centuries making plans, manipulating pawns, and building armies, but maybe..." Her lips curled into a devious smile, "Maybe it's time to focus on the true prize."

She turned to a nearby Grimm, a hulking Nuckelavee that loomed in the shadows, "Send the packs out to Vale," she commanded, her voice firm, "I want the strongest, most handsome men brought to me. Fighters. Adventurers. Blacksmiths. Leave the farmers for now; we'll get to them later."

The creature growled low in response, slinking off into the darkness to carry out her bidding.

Salem returned to her throne, her smirk widening as she leaned back, draping one arm elegantly over the armrest. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the cool obsidian as her mind raced with visions of her future empire. Not one built on fear and destruction, but on devotion. Worship. And an endless supply of doting, obedient men,"Yes," she murmured, her voice dripping with satisfaction, "I'll show them. . My harem will be the envy of Remnant. The poets of Mistral will write epic tales of it. The scholars of Atlas will marvel at its scale. And Ozma, wherever he is..." Her smirk twisted into a sly grin, "Ozma will finally understand what he lost and beg for me again."

Her laughter echoed through the dark halls, rich and triumphant. For centuries, the world had stopped her ambitions, but now, her path was clear. She would conquer Remnant and make herself their God-Queen.

And when her harem was complete, she would be unstoppable.

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Penny's just out here living her best life and the femcel gooners gotta try to drag her down. Meanwhile, Cinder thinks threatening arson is the best way to get a man and Salem is trying to start a worldwide harem.

Not sure who the next chapter will be. I'm thinking maybe one last chapter for Neo, Winter, or Goodwitch? Not much else we can go from here.

Team Rizzless - Omake 1

Just a small thing. This one doesn't have a patron wait. Chapter 4 is coming along nicely but I thought I'd put this out before then. That one will have the usual two week wait limit.

Story Note - I deleted the old version cause it was too...rapey. It's fine for Questionable Questing, which is where this fic primarily gets traction, less so here. This new version is (hopefully) more balanced. If you want the old version, check out the thread on QQ.

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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Jaune walked down the dimly lit halls of Beacon, rubbing his temples and muttering to himself. He'd thought coming back from the love hotel with Ruby would be the most memorable part of his week, but now? Now he wasn't so sure. Somewhere nearby, muffled groans of pain echoed from behind a dorm room door, low and guttural like a wounded animal. Jaune froze mid-step, his heart skipping a beat."What the hell...?" he whispered, tilting his head toward the sound.

Instinct kicked in. As Beacon's assistant nurse - and, let's face it, the guy everyone dumped their weird problems on - he figured it was his responsibility to check it out. Maybe someone was hurt, or worse, another Grimm attack on campus. He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously knocked on the door.

"Uh...Hello? Is everything okay in there?"

The groans stopped abruptly, replaced by the sound of frantic shuffling, "In...In here." Jaune raised an eyebrow, his concern growing. That was a guy's voice. He didn't wait for another call and cautiously pushed the door open. The sight inside made his stomach lurch.

A guy lay crumpled on the bed, half-naked and half-conscious, his shirt torn to shreds and his pants hanging on by a thread. His body was a patchwork of bruises, scratches, and what looked suspiciously like bite marks. His arms and legs were twisted into unnatural positions, torn stockings laying down over his tattered pants, and he was clutching his side like a man barely clinging to life. The room was an unholy mess, the bed practically obliterated, the sheets tangled in a heap on the floor.

The guy tilted his head weakly toward Jaune, his eyes bloodshot and haunted, "...Ugh."

Jaune blinked, "W-What the hell happened to you?!" Why was he even asking? He knew. There was only one explanation for what could've happened.

A Huntress actually got lucky. Holy shit.

The guy tried to sit up but immediately collapsed back down with a groan, "Who are you...?"

"Jaune Arc."

"Cardin Winchester." Hm...the name didn't ring a bell. Then again, a guy in Beacon wasn't...it just didn't happen. There was him and Doctor Wood, of course, but they were being paid to be here. No guy willingly came in here unless they were overconfident or suicidal.

"Who did this to you?"

"It was...she said her name was Velvet..."

Jaune blinked, "Velvet? Velvet Scarlatina? Sweet, quiet girl? Always carrying around a camera?"

The guy let out a bitter, wheezing laugh, "Yeah...That Velvet. Sweet. Quiet. Meek." He spat the words out like they physically pained him, "That's how she got me."

Jaune's face contorted in disbelief, "What do you mean, 'that's how she gets me'? She's one of the nicest people here!" Almost creepily so. She didn't flirt with him or try to make up excuses to take off her shirt and inspect her chest. The few times they talked to one another, she asked him how his day was going. He didn't complain. It was nice to not have to worry about getting leered at every time he turned around.

The guy's face twisted into something between a grimace and a sob, "That's what I thought, too. She was all shy smiles and little giggles when she talked to me in the club. Said she liked guys who were 'strong' and 'confident'. Made me feel like I could take her, you know? Like I'd be in charge." He laughed bitterly, the sound barely more than a rasp, "I thought, 'This'll be easy. I can bench 200 pounds. I can handle her.' And, you know, she's a Rabbit Faunus. You know what they say. They're real freaks in the sheets." He looked down at his battered, broken body, "She really was."

Okay...that sounded kinda racist, but they could unpackage that later. Jaune swallowed hard, taking a cautious step back, "What exactly did she...do?"

The guy's eyes glazed over, his voice dropping to whisper, "It started out normal enough. A little kiss here, a little touch there. I thought I'd get her on her knees soon. And then...then she smiled. That smile, man. The second I saw it, I knew I'd made a mistake. She...She pushed me into the bed and then she...started bouncing. Like a rabbit." He laughed bitterly. Jaune didn't even need to ask what kind of 'bouncing' he meant. Jaune's stomach churned as the guy continued, his voice raspy, "She was everywhere. Hands, legs, teeth - she didn't stop."

Jaune couldn't look away, equal parts horrified and fascinated, "How...How long did this go on?"

The guy shuddered, his eyes unfocused, "Hours. She had Aura, Arc. Endless stamina. Every time I thought it was over, she just...kept going. She said I was 'doing so good.'" He let out a hollow, gasping breath, "Like I was just some virgin she was leading by the arm." He suddenly sounded different. Like a guy who refused to back down.

Jaune felt a cold sweat break out on at the back of neck, "Why didn't you, I don't know, stop her?" It was a stupid question to ask, but he felt compelled to anyway. He knew Huntresses could be...insistent, but they always respected it when he said no...eventually. Then again, he'd never let anyone besides Ruby get to the point of clothes being taken off before saying no.

The guy gave him a withering look, "Cause I wasn't gonna let her win." Jaune blinked. That wasn't what he expected to hear, "I'm a Winchester, damn it. We don't...We don't lose!" He clenched a meaty fist, "Especially not to some...bunny girl!"

Jaune raised a brow, suddenly feeling a bit less sympathetic, "Okay...uh, I think you need a doctor. I'll...I'll go get someone-"

"Don't bother," the guy groaned, collapsing back onto the bed, "She went out to go get some water. I'm not done. I..." He grit his teeth, "I'm not tapping out now, gods damn it."

Jaune sighed, running a hand down his face as he crouched next to the battered, half-conscious guy. As much as he wanted to pretend this was someone else's problem, especially since the guy was being an idiot about it, his role as Beacon's assistant nurse kicked in, "Alright, let's get you to the clinic," he muttered, draping one of the guy's arms over his shoulder and hoisting him up. Cardin complained, but Jaune ignored him as he dragged the burlier man out. Hippocratic oath and all that.

The guy let out a pitiful groan, his weight sagging heavily against Jaune, "I said I'm fine," Cardin wheezed, "Gonna get that bunny on her knees."

"Yeah, I don't see that happening," Jaune said flatly, gritting his teeth as he adjusted his grip, "If I leave you here, I'll come back to an overgrown raisin. It's not gonna look good for any of us if that happens."

The trip to the clinic was agonizingly slow. Every few steps, Cardin let out some new pained noise, a symphony of groans, wheezes, and the occasional muttered curse about Huntresses. By the time they reached the clinic, Jaune was half-carrying, half-dragging him through the door.

"Doc, I've got someone who needs help!" Jaune called out, easing Cardin onto one of the beds.

Doctor Wood, the ever-grumpy and perpetually unimpressed doctor, shuffled out from the back room, squinting at the scene before him. His bushy eyebrows rose slightly as he took in Cardin's sorry state, "One of the Huntresses got lucky, huh?" the doctor grumbled, pulling on his gloves. Huntress victims were rarer than a unicorn, but they did exist. They had to. There were hundreds - thousands - of Huntresses. Even the occasional one getting lucky happened. People did still win the lottery these days.

Jaune nodded grimly, "Velvet, apparently. He, uh...thought she was meek." The Doc raised a brow, "And, uh, he kinda kept going because he wanted to 'win'."

Doctor Wood snorted, "Must've hit his head before she got her hands on him. Alright, set him on the bed"

The next hour was spent patching up Cardin, a task that felt less like tending to a person and more like rebuilding a crash test dummy. Jaune set and cast Cardin's fractured arm, cleaned and bandaged a seemingly endless array of bruises and cuts, and applied ice packs to places he didn't even want to think about. By the time they were done, Cardin looked like he'd gone ten rounds with an Atlesian mech blindfolded with both hands tied behind his bead.

He sat slumped on the clinic bed, his torso wrapped in bandages, his right arm immobilized in a thick cast, and his face pale Despite that, he looked not at all grateful for the treatment. Jaune sighed. Figured the only way a Huntress would get lucky was by finding a guy with an ego to fill all of BEacon.

Jaune pulled off his gloves, tossing them into the waste bin with a sigh, "Well, you're patched up. Not sure about your pride, though. That's above my pay grade."

Cardin didn't respond immediately. He just sat there, his expression hollow. When he finally spoke, his voice was a hoarse whisper, "I'm never gonna live this down. Russ, Dove, Sky...I'm always gonna be the guy who got fucked."

Jaune winced, his face contorting into a mix of pity, exasperation, and secondhand embarrassment, "Yeah, uh...maybe next time, stick to someone less...Huntress-y?"

"There won't be a next time," Cardin muttered, his head drooping forward, "I can't ever live this down. Huntresses, regular women...I won't be able to get it up again. Not until I get her back."

Doctor Wood gave an unsympathetic snort as he scribbled notes on a clipboard, "Should probably send him down to Vale to get a CT scan. Seems like he has brain damage."

Jaune rubbed the back of his neck, unsure whether to laugh or cry for the guy, "Okay, well...you're good to stay here for the day. Rest up, drink a lot water, and maybe avoid looking Velvet in the eyes for the rest of your life. For both your sakes."

As Jaune turned to leave, he couldn't help but glance back at the bandaged wreck that was Cardin Winchester. Note to self, he thought grimly. Keep your ego in check. Ruby was sweet, but she couldn't compensate for him being an idiot.

Jaune stepped into the hallway, the stale clinic air giving way to the cooler, quieter atmosphere of Beacon's dorms. He leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath to steady himself after what he'd just dealt with. Poor, stupid guy, he thought, shaking his head. Cardin looked like he'd been hit by a truck. A Huntress-shaped truck. And the worst part was he got hit cause he was standing in the middle of the road waving his arms and practically daring to get run over.

The faint sound of footsteps broke through his thoughts. He glanced down the hallway and froze when he saw her.

Velvet Scarlatina, her rabbit ears bouncing and that ever-present air of bashful sweetness, was prowling toward the clinic. She had her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes wide and innocent like she was on her way to church. But Jaune knew better. Oh, he knew. She might not have been completely at fault, but there was no sweet sympathy behind those eyes. Those were the eyes of a predator who was searching for where her meal went.

"Jaune!" she said, perking up as soon as she saw him, "Oh, thank goodness you're here. I, um..." She looked down, biting her lip in a way that might have fooled someone less experienced with this nonsense. He'd seen the sorts of tricks Huntresses pulled. He lost his innocence pretty quick on that first week, especially since Doctor Wood was no help. He was the 'sink or swim' type of mentor, "I heard Cardin was here. I just...wanted to check on him, you know? Make sure he's okay."

Jaune narrowed his eyes, folding his arms as he stepped away from the wall, "You heard, huh? Where'd you hear that from?"

"Doesn't matter." Velvet's ears twitched, and she let out a soft, nervous laugh, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink, "So, listen, do you mind if I take him back with me." She smiled sweetly, "I can take care of him by in my room. I've even got a nurse's uniform." Jaune raised a brow. Something told him that 'uniform' wasn't up to regulation.

"Take care of him?" Jaune repeated, his tone flat as he reached over to the table near the entrance and grabbed a water bottle, "Velvet, the guy looks like he fought a pack of Beowolves with one arm tied behind his back. And I know it's cause of what you two did last night."

"He was into it!"

"He still got injured." Jaune pinched the bridge of his nose with his other hand. He couldn't deny that, as far as Velvet knew, this was all on the up-and-up. But still..."Miss. Scarlatina, even if someone tells you to keep going, doing so after they fracture a rib is generally a bad idea." He'd heard of extreme stuff before.

Velvet pouted, her hands fiddling with the hem of her skirt, "Well...he said yes, so I figured he was into it. I'd have stopped if he told me!" Her eyes lit up suddenly, hands clasped together like in prayer, "Just let me take care of him back in my room. I promise I'll be gentle" She took a step forward, but Jaune held out the water bottle, his thumb hovering over the nozzle.

"Don't even think about it."

She blinked innocently, "Jaune, I- "

Before she could finish, he gave the bottle a sharp squeeze, spraying a stream of water right at her face, "Bad rabbit!" he scolded, pointing the bottle at her like it was a holy weapon, "You two are staying away from each other while he's at Beacon. If you want to do this again, do it somewhere else!"

Velvet yelped, hopping back and wiping her face with her sleeve, her pout deepening, "Oh, come on, Jaune! It was only seven rounds! I could've gone for at least a dozen more!" Her voice took on a slightly whiny edge, her ears drooping, "Besides, it was my first time! I just...of course I was excited having a big Human helpless under me!"

Jaune stared at her, utterly dumbfounded, "Seven rounds? Velvet, the guy's barely clinging to life in there! Seven was already six too many!"

"That's not what he said!"

"Yeah, well, he's an idiot with more balls than sense. I'm keeping you two separated for both your sakes."

"Look, it'll be fine! I'll be careful and we can have our fun without anything else breaking!" she insisted, stomping one foot lightly against the floor. It was hard to tell if she was that good of an actor or she really believed her lies, "I mean, it's not my fault he told me to keep going! I know better now. Just three, four more rounds. He doesn't even need to move around! He can just lay there and take it. I'll do all the work!"

By the Sisters, how desperate was she? Jaune sprayed her again,"Get," he said firmly, pointing down the hall.

Velvet blinked at him, her eyes wide and pleading, "But- "

"Get." He gave the bottle another threatening shake.

Velvet let out a defeated whimper, her ears drooping even lower as she turned and shuffled away, muttering under her breath, "Stupid Jaune...stupid Cardin...I just wanted to have a little fun..."

Jaune watched her go, sighing heavily as he leaned against the wall again, "Damn horny Huntresses," he muttered, shaking his head, "If you're that desperate, why not just use a toy?" He made a mental note to start carrying extra water bottles just in case.

He took another deep breath, his thoughts drifting to Ruby. Thank the gods she's different. She wasn't prowling the halls or leaving guys half-dead in her wake. She was sweet, kind, and completely normal...as far as Huntresses went, anyway.

Jaune stepped back into the clinic, letting the door click shut behind him. Cardin was still slumped on the bed, looking like a car crash survivor held together by bandages, ice packs, and sheer regret. He muttered plans to himself under his breath. Jaune ignored him. If he wanted to literally break his pelvis trying to 'win', fine, but only after he wasn't nursing a fractured rib and broken arm. Velvet really did need to be more gentle too.

Doctor Wood stood at the counter, scribbling notes on a clipboard with the casual air of someone completely unfazed by the chaos around him. His wrinkled face barely acknowledged Jaune as he approached, "Doctor," Jaune started, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and disbelief, "I just ran into Velvet in the hall. She wanted to visit him," he said the last part softly so Cardin wouldn't hear. The last thing he needed was that idiot arguing he could go for round seven.

Doctor Wood snorted, glancing up from his notes, "Let me guess: she came in saying she wanted to take care of him."

"Pretty much." Jaune sighed, his shoulders sagging, "I know the guy told her to keep going, but you'd think she'd stop after she hears the first bone crack!"

Doctor Wood smirked, shaking his head, "Hmph. Sounds about right for a Huntress."

Jaune's brow furrowed, his frustration bubbling over, "How are you so calm about this? The guy's half-dead! Yeah, he was stubborn about it, but still."

The doctor raised an eyebrow, setting the clipboard down, "Feel bad for him? Boy, let me explain something to you." He gestured toward Cardin's bandaged body with the end of his pen. He'd somehow managed to put on a pair of earphones to tune them out, "That idiot got himself into this mess. Thought he'd do what no sane man has ever done - sleep with a Huntress - and think he was in control. That's not bravery, son. That's stupidity." Jaune winced, suddenly remembering what he and Ruby did last night, "Any man on this earth knows you don't sleep with a Huntress. You just don't. Same way you don't jump off a cliff and expect to land on your feet. Someone does that, you gonna feel sorry for them?"

"Still..."

Doctor Wood chuckled dryly, leaning back against the counter, "That idiot really thought that he had the upper hand, ignoring every instinct any sane man has telling him to walk away." He scoffed, "Any guy who gets it in his head that a Huntress is someone you can bed without getting folded in half is a fool."

Jaune's fists clenched, "Not all Huntresses are like that."

Doctor Wood raised a skeptical eyebrow, "Is that so?"

Jaune nodded firmly, his voice swelling with pride, "Ruby's not like them. She's different. She's sweet, caring, and she actually respects people. She's not prowling Vale like her team and she's not dragging guys into her bed like a brute. She's...normal."

Doctor Wood stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to Jaune's surprise, the old man threw his head back and laughed. Not just a chuckle - a full, wheezing belly laugh that echoed through the clinic. It was the first time he'd seen the old man sound like that. Creepy, "Oh, boy," the doctor said, wiping a tear from his eye as he finally calmed down, "You're even dumber than the idiot on the bed."

Jaune blinked, taken aback, "W-What? How am I dumb? Ruby's not like that! She's nothing like other Huntresses!"

The doctor shook his head, his smirk returning, "Let me tell you something, kid. Every man who's ever fallen for a Huntress - all five of them - think their girl is 'different'. That's how it starts. She's sweet, she's caring, she's not like the others. And then, one day, you end up in a clinic bed, looking like you went three rounds with a Nevermore. You wonder where it all went wrong. She was different, you think to yourself. And then you realize the truth."

Jaune bristled, his face flushing, "That's not going to happen. Ruby's not like that, and we're...we're taking things slow." Well...slow in the sense that they only had sex four times with generous breaks in-between. Hydration was important. But she made sure they both had a good time and he came out of it with only a few hickeys on his neck.

"Sure you are," the doctor said, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "And I'm sure Miss. Scarlatina told that moron they'd 'take it slow' too, right before she turned him into roadkill."

"That's not fair," Jaune shot back, his voice rising, "Ruby's different. I know she is."

Doctor Wood smirked, giving him a pitying look, "Keep telling yourself that, kid. But if I were you, I'd book a hospital bed in advance. Just in case."

Jaune's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything more. He turned back to look at Cardin, who was still lying motionless, his bandaged form a stark reminder of what could happen to a man who underestimated a Huntress.

Ruby's not like that, he told himself again, squaring his shoulders as he turned to leave. She's different.

But as he stepped back into the hallway, the doctor's laughter echoed in his ears, gnawing at his confidence. He shook his head, determined to prove him wrong. Ruby was different, he had no doubts about that. In fact, he was gonna head over there and kiss her on the lips to prove it. Cause she'd take it well and not act liked a horny freak like every other Huntress. Yep, good plan.

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Poor Cardin. That's what happens when you think you get with a Huntress. Jaune, Tai, and Ren are the exceptions, not the rule. Might do one for Neptune in the future.

The Difficulties of being Weiss Schnee - Oneshot

Old idea I had. Weiss is characterized in canon by her rebellious nature against her father and her desire to redeem the Schnee name. So, what if she acted like that in a world where Jacques was a loving husband/father, a good CEO, and a champion of equality and fairness? Well, she becomes Britta from Community.

This'll just be a oneshot. I can't really think of anywhere this would go without it being dragged out. Just enjoy one chapter of Weiss being a delusional wannabe redeemer.

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Weiss' heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor of the Schnee manor, each step echoing her determination as she strode down the hallway toward her Father's office. In her mind, she was a warrior marching into battle, the lone voice of truth in a family shrouded by secrets, lies, and layers of wealth so thick they obscured the cold, hard reality beneath. She would break through all of it - tear down the veil of deception that her Father had draped over the world. For far too long, Jacques Schnee had been pulling strings from his high tower, manipulating people and expanding his empire without anyone daring to question him.

Or so she convinced herself, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Yes, people hailed the Schnee Dust Company as the most ethical corporation in all of Remnant. They spoke of Jacques Schnee as a visionary - a man who prioritized fair pay, safe working conditions, and environmentally sustainable Dust mining practices. The SDC even had a reputation for philanthropic efforts across the kingdom of Atlas and beyond, supporting disaster relief, healthcare, and education initiatives for the needy. It was a pillar of integrity, admired by business leaders and civilians alike, and Jacques was regarded as a paragon of corporate responsibility.

But Weiss didn't buy it. Not for a second. No one amassed that much power and wealth without getting their hands dirty somewhere. She was sure of it. And just because she hadn't found any real evidence didn't mean there wasn't any. If anything, that only made her more suspicious. Her Father was cunning, after all. Deceptively charming, with a silver tongue and the ability to smile in a way that made people forget the influence he wielded over them. It was no wonder no one questioned his motives - everyone was too dazzled by his polished image, his warm speeches, and the apparent "good deeds" of the company.

But Weiss knew better. She had to know better. She was the only one willing to look deeper, to see beyond the immaculate surface. There had to be something there, she told herself. And if no one else was going to expose it, she would.

As she neared the door to her Father's office, Weiss took a deep breath, rehearsing the speech she'd prepared over and over in her mind. She'd thought of every possible retort he might throw her way, every line of reasoning he could use to trap her in her place. This was going to be her stand, her moment of defiance. She would tell him that she was leaving the SDC behind, rejecting its legacy, and going to Beacon Academy to become a Huntress. Her mission would be a noble one: to reclaim the Schnee name from whatever buried corruption her Father was hiding, even if she had to dig it up herself.

With a final steadying breath, she pushed open the door, stepping into his office. Father sat behind his desk, glancing up as she entered, his expression immediately softening into a warm, welcoming smile.

"Weiss! What a pleasant surprise," he greeted, setting down the pen he'd been holding, "Is everything all right?"

She scowled at his genuine tone, but didn't let it throw her off-course. He was always like that, hiding his evil under a mask of affability. She had to focus, to remember why she was here, "Father," she said, her voice hard with resolve, "I'm here to tell you that I've made a decision. I'm leaving the SDC. I've decided to go to Beacon Academy and train as a Huntress."

Father raised an eyebrow, listening intently, but without the faintest hint of shock or disappointment. In fact, he looked almost...proud? Weiss didn't let herself pause, "I...I refuse to be a puppet for the Schnee Dust Company, to become some kind of...figurehead that covers up whatever skeletons you've buried. I know there's something hidden here, some dark secret behind all of this-" she gestured vaguely around the office, "-and I'm not going to be a part of it. I'll redeem our family name on my own terms, and I won't let you stop me."

There. She'd said it. She waited, almost trembling, for the explosion she was certain would come, for her Father's mask to slip and reveal the ruthless mogul beneath. She'd finally made her stand and showed him that she wouldn't be his puppet. He wouldn't be happy.

But Father only laughed - a gentle, affectionate laugh that made Weiss feel like she was twelve again, presenting him with some childish declaration about her future, "Well, that's wonderful news, Weiss," he said warmly, "I can't think of a more honorable calling than becoming a Huntress." He paused, rubbing his chin with a small grin, "Well, being a Specialist counts too, of course. Wouldn't want Winter to think I was playing favorites now, would I?"

Weiss blinked, thrown completely off balance, "Wait, what?"

Father leaned forward, his eyes shining with what appeared to be genuine pride, "I always knew you'd find your own path, Weiss. If Beacon is where your heart is calling you, then I'm fully supportive. A Huntress is a protector of the people, and there's no role more fitting for someone with our family values."

She was speechless, her meticulously crafted arguments wilting under the sheer positivity of his response, "But...but aren't you...concerned about...the family image?" she stammered, trying to find some crack, some sign that he was hiding his true feelings.

Father tilted his head, clearly puzzled by her question, "Our family image? Weiss, I couldn't think of anything more beneficial to our image than having a Schnee in the ranks of the Huntsmen and Huntresses. It would bring even more honor to our name, especially since you'll be doing what you believe is right. Isn't that the very integrity we hold dear?"

Weiss bristled, irritation flaring up in her chest. He's just saying what he thinks she wanted to hear, she thought, clinging to her suspicions. He had to be. This was some plot, some scheme, some nefarious plan just waiting to unfold, "And you're sure you don't mind me...abandoning the company?"

Father gave her a gentle smile, his expression as kind and unbothered as ever, "Weiss, the SDC is more than just a company. It's a legacy built on fairness and respect for all people. We strive to set an example of ethical business practices that I hope will inspire others. Whether you're with the company or off saving lives as a Huntress, you're a part of that legacy. And if you want to take that spirit of integrity and fairness into your new career, I couldn't be prouder."

She felt a flush of irritation rising in her cheeks. He was supposed to push back, to try and convince her to stay and be his perfect little heiress, to keep up the family's gilded image. Instead, he was encouraging her. He was proud of her. And worse still, he was making her feel as though this was all part of some well-intentioned plan that aligned perfectly with his own ideals.

"But...but surely there are issues," she blurted, struggling to keep her tone controlled, "There are workers out there who might...not feel as...fairly treated as you say. Or...or Dust supply issues we're not hearing about, something hidden, something you've kept from us..."

Father's face softened with sympathy, and he sighed, nodding as if understanding her concerns, "I know that it can be hard to believe, Weiss, but we've worked very hard to make sure everyone at the SDC is treated with respect and dignity. Fair wages, comprehensive healthcare, and even profit-sharing for long-term employees. I don't hide these things from you, Weiss - they're part of our family mission. But if you'd like to investigate yourself, please do. I encourage you to seek the truth if it gives you peace of mind."

Weiss swallowed, her frustration now mingling with a peculiar kind of confusion. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Her Father wasn't supposed to be...well, he wasn't supposed to be like this. He was supposed to be distant, scheming, so obsessed with wealth and power that he'd lost sight of everything else. And here he was, encouraging her to pursue justice, to be true to herself, and to question everything - even him.

"I won't pretend that things are perfect, of course. There are those who let their greed and lust for power subsume their morals, but I've been doing my best to punish those who think their positions make them immune to consequences. I understand if this life isn't for you. Winter chose the life of a Specialist and I gave her my support back then too." Only because he wanted to use her to manipulate General Ironwood. She wasn't fooled, "If you wish to pursue your dream as a Huntress, then I'll support you all the way."

"Then...Then I expect to still be the heiress!" Weiss demanded. Surely now, she thought, he'd show his true colors.

"Are you certain?" Father raised a brow. Not angry, as she expected, but...bemused? "I wouldn't be against it. Your grandFather, Brothers bless his soul, did the same thing. And while I admire the man's work ethic, it led to to being stretched thin, especially during his final years. If you wish to take up the responsibility, however, then I'll support you. The virtuous road is not the easy one, as Nicholas often said."

"Well, fine!" she snapped, feeling unsteady as she tried to keep up her defiant stance, "I'll...I'll do just that. Then I'll make sure I uncover anything you're hiding, anything that's been kept from the public."

"Good for you," Father said with a bright smile, nodding approvingly, "After all, a Schnee is nothing if not determined. And I know you'll do our family name proud, Weiss." Her defiant mask cracked for a moment, a hint of exasperation seeping through as she turned to leave, muttering a quick farewell. She was halfway down the hall when she heard him call after her, his voice warm with encouragement, "Weiss, remember. If you ever need support - or just someone to talk to - I'm always here."

She barely held back a groan, stalking down the corridor with her fists clenched at her sides. This wasn't over, she told herself. I'll dig up his secrets, prove he's hiding something. There had to be something. There just had to be.

But as she stormed away, her Father's kind words echoed in her mind, stubbornly undercutting her resolve. It made her question, for just a fleeting moment, whether there was anything to fight against at all. Then she shook her head. No, she was right. She had to be. The SDC was suffering and she was going to save it.

Weiss found herself still fuming almost an hour later. She'd gone in prepared for a battle, ready to stand her ground against his ruthless corporate agenda, only to find that he was...supportive. Encouraging, even. It was almost as if he wanted her to chase her dreams and make something meaningful of herself. And somehow, that made her even more annoyed.

Determined to reassert her sense of purpose, Weiss marched down the mansion's grand staircase, hunting down the rest of her family to announce her decision. Her mind spun with all the ways her siblings and mother might react. Maybe they'd offer the kind of pushback she hadn't gotten from her Father. Maybe they'd try to talk her out of it, tell her she was being foolish, question her priorities. She could feel the righteous fire building up within her again, imagining herself as the lone rebel in a family of complacent elites.

She found them in the sitting room, an opulent space with high ceilings, plush furniture, and walls lined with artwork and family portraits. Her mother, Willow, was curled up on one of the velvet sofas, sipping from a teacup with a calm, slightly dreamy expression. Her older sister, Winter, stood near the window, her posture as perfectly straight and disciplined as ever. And Whitley, her younger brother, was lounging in an armchair, flipping through a book with an almost smug air of detachment.

Clearing her throat, Weiss squared her shoulders and launched into her prepared speech, "Mother, Winter, Whitley, I have an announcement to make. I've decided to go to Beacon Academy to become a Huntress. I'm leaving behind the Schnee Dust Company and our family's legacy to pursue a noble path, one that will allow me to bring honor and justice to the Schnee name." She was still the heiress, of course, but they didn't need to know that yet.

She paused, waiting for the gasps of shock, the outrage, the inevitable resistance. But there was nothing. Mother merely took another delicate sip of her tea and offered her a soft smile, "That sounds lovely, dear. It's good to see you following your dreams."

Weiss faltered, taken aback by her mother's placid response, "Wait...what?"

Winter turned from the window, nodding in approval, "I think it's a wonderful idea, Weiss. Becoming a Huntress is a noble calling, and I believe it will suit you well." She smiled softly, "I felt the same call when I joined Atlas Academy myself. Father's role is an honorable one, but my place is on the battlefield, not in a boardroom."

Weiss opened her mouth to say something, but Whitley snorted from his chair, his lips curving into a smirk, "Oh, let me guess," he drawled, not even bothering to look up from his book, "This is another attempt to 'prove' that Father is some kind of mustache-twirling villain, isn't it?"

"Whitley!" Weiss snapped, her cheeks flushing, "This has nothing to do with Father! I'm doing this for...for justice! For the Schnee name!"

Mother sighed, a wistful look crossing her face as she set down her teacup, "Ah, teenage rebellion," she murmured with a small smile, "Brings back memories. I remember back when I was a teenager and I ran away down to Mantle to start an art commune. We all have hour phases, dear."

Weiss gaped at her mother, "This is not teenage rebellion or a phase!" she said, her voice climbing an octave, "I'm doing this to cleanse the Schnee name of any...any hidden darkness!"

Winter raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching with the faintest hint of a smirk, "Hidden darkness?" she repeated dryly, "Weiss, you do realize that our family has the cleanest reputation of any major corporation in all of Remnant? SDC employees are practically treated like royalty compared to other Dust companies. Father's policies have made us a model of corporate ethics."

Weiss crossed her arms stubbornly, feeling her resolve waver but clinging to her convictions, "That's exactly what they want you to believe! How can you all be so blind?"

Mother shook her head, an amused glint in her eyes, "Weiss, darling, I understand your passion, but perhaps one day, you'll need to...outgrow this fantasy that you're some kind of redeemer."

Weiss felt her face heat up, both with frustration and embarrassment, "Redeemer fantasies?" she spluttered, indignant, "I do not have redeemer fantasies!"

"Ugh, Weiss," Whitley drawled, finally deigning to look up from his book with an exaggerated sigh, "This is just like that time you tried to investigate the housekeeper because you were convinced she was hiding a stolen painting. Turns out she was just moving it to another room to get dusted."

Weiss' cheeks burned even hotter, "That was different! I had...reasons to be suspicious!"

"Yes," Winter said, her tone lightly teasing, "Because you thought it was 'the perfect cover.'" She chuckled softly, shaking her head, "Weiss, your instincts will serve you well as a Huntress, but not everyone is hiding a deep, dark secret."

Mother laughed, too, her gaze fond as she looked at her with warm eyes, "You always were our little detective," she said with a sigh, "I remember you wouldn't let your Father leave for work one morning because you were convinced he had...what was it?"

"A hidden dungeon of slaves," Whitley supplied, smirking.

Mother nodded, trying to hide her amusement behind a hand, "Ah, yes. A hidden dungeon of slaves in the basement that he was using to...oh, I don't even remember." She shook her head, "You had poor Jacques checking every closet in the house to prove he wasn't keeping Faunus locked up in chains."

Mother let out a laugh, and even Winter chuckled softly, while Whitley was clearly enjoying every moment of her discomfort. Weiss' indignation flared, "I was just...thorough!" she protested, her voice cracking slightly, "You all just don't understand!"

Winter gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder, "We do understand, Weiss. And we're very proud of you for following your dreams. Just...maybe remember that there's not always a villain to fight. Sometimes things really are as they seem."

Weiss felt her face flush, her carefully rehearsed speech and righteous anger completely undermined. She looked between her family members, all of whom seemed to be looking at her with a mixture of love and gentle amusement "I..." she stammered, momentarily lost for words. She didn't want them to think this was just some phase, a teenage whim that would fade away. But standing there, with Winter and Willow's patient smiles and Whitley's infuriating smirk, she felt like exactly that - a rebellious teenager with overdramatic ideas.

"Fine," she muttered finally, lifting her chin defiantly, "I'm still going to Beacon. And I will bring honor to the Schnee name."

Winter smiled and gave her an encouraging nod, "Of course you will. Just don't forget to stay in touch, all right? Father and Mother will miss you."

"Winter and I will as well, even if your head is in the clouds." Whitley grinned.

Weiss huffed, flustered and frustrated beyond words. She turned on her heel, storming out of the room while trying to ignore the light laughter that followed her down the hall. They didn't understand, she told herself. They were just too comfortable in their perfect little world.

But as she marched back toward her room, she could still hear Whitley's words echoing in her mind, and her mother's soft sigh about "teenage rebellion." She gritted her teeth. She would show them, she vowed to herself. She would prove them all wrong in the end.

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As Weiss stepped onto the sprawling campus of Beacon Academy, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. This was it - the beginning of her path as a Huntress, the start of her mission to prove that the Schnee name could stand for something more than wealth and influence. She'd spent the entire airship ride from Atlas mentally preparing herself, rehearsing her defiant stance and reaffirming her convictions. This was her chance to strike out on her own and uncover the "truth" hidden beneath her family's perfect image.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed the girl standing in her path until it was too late. The black and red blur bumped into her, causing her luggage to spill its contents. The next moment was a blur of chaos. The collision sent the contents of the case spilling out, colored Dust vials clattering to the ground with a few on impact. The air filled with a glittering haze of powdered Dust, the particles shimmering in the sunlight like something out of a fairytale. But just as Weiss registered the scene, a sharp sneeze sounded from the girl she'd crashed into, and-

BOOM!

A large explosion erupted, sending both of them stumbling backward, their hair blasted back and their clothes covered in a light dusting of Dust particles. Weiss coughed, fanning the air in front of her as she glared at the clumsy girl with silver eyes who was frantically trying to gather the scattered Dust vials, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"What on earth are you doing?!" Weiss snapped, irritation flaring as she brushed her dress off, attempting to regain her composure, "Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? Dust isn't something to be handled so carelessly!"

The girl looked up, her face sheepish, "Uh, sorry! I didn't mean to...It was an accident, I swear! I just...kind of tripped, and- " She fumbled with the last of the vials, carefully placing them back in her case, "Sorry! Uh, the name's Ruby!" she yelped, her voice meek and sincere. She didn't let it sway her from her righteous anger.

Weiss crossed her arms, her glare intensifying, "Sorry isn't going to put these vials back together or make up for the potential hazard you just created." She huffed, feeling a familiar sense of superiority rising within her as she looked down at the clumsy girl, "Honestly, are you some kind of dolt? Do you even know how volatile Dust can be?"

Before the girl could respond, a calm, measured voice interjected, "Actually, I think she handled the situation quite well." Weiss turned, her eyes narrowing as she took in a new face - a girl with dark hair and amber eyes who had been observing the scene from a distance. What really stuck out, however, were the cat ears that crowned the top of her obsidian mane. A Faunus. She walked over, her expression serene, and greeted Weiss with a faint, polite smile, "Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear. Are you Weiss Schnee?"

Weiss felt a prick of irritation at the mention of her name, "Yes, I am," she replied coolly, folding her arms even tighter. She was proud of her identity, of course, but something about the way this new arrival said it burned at her gut, "And who might you be?"

The girl extended a hand, her gaze unwavering, "Blake Belladonna. It's an honor to meet you. The Schnee Dust Company has done a great deal for Faunus rights in recent years. Your family's policies on fair wages and equal treatment have set an example for the entire industry."

Weiss' expression soured. For a moment, she almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. Here was someone - a stranger, no less - praising her family's company as if it were some kind of...of paragon of virtue. She clenched her fists, feeling her jaw tighten as she forced herself to remain civil.

"I see," Weiss replied, her voice clipped, "Well, don't be so easily fooled by appearances, Miss Belladonna. You might think the SDC is some kind of shining beacon of fairness, but I'm afraid you're mistaken. My Father is a master of deception, and he's used that same charm to fool the world into thinking the SDC cares about anyone but itself."

Blake tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful, "I don't think that's entirely fair, though. The SDC has actively supported Faunus rights and has even partnered with various Faunus organizations. Thanks to those efforts, Faunus workers now receive equal pay and have protections in place to prevent exploitation. It's rare to see a corporation, especially a Human led one, with that level of integrity."

"Oh, the SDC? They're so nice." The stranger who ruined her Dust said, "My home, Patch, had a really nasty forest fire a year back. They donated a whole bunch of plant Dust to so we could start growing everything back."

"Integrity? Nice?" Weiss felt her face flush with anger, her fists clenching even tighter, "That's just a carefully crafted image! My Father is a businessman first and foremost, and he knows how to keep people happy by showing them exactly what they want to see. It's all a charade to protect his interests."

Blake blinked, taken aback by the vehemence in Weiss' tone, "Are you saying that the efforts to improve working conditions and fair pay are...insincere?"

"Yes!" Weiss nearly shouted, before catching herself and lowering her voice, realizing that her outburst had attracted some curious stares from nearby students. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, "What I'm saying is that you shouldn't believe everything you hear. The SDC might look squeaky clean, but I'm telling you, it's all a cover-up. There's something deeper at play. Something...hidden," she said the last part in a dark, conspiratorial whisper.

Ruby, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, finally found her voice, "Um...I think it's nice that your family's company is doing good things for the Faunus," she offered tentatively, glancing between Blake and Weiss as though she wasn't sure whose side she should be on.

Weiss shot her an incredulous look, "You too?" she muttered, her irritation simmering, "Look, I don't expect either of you to understand. You're both just...too idealistic. The world isn't as simple as you think it is."

Blake gave her a curious look, her amber eyes studying Weiss with a calm intensity, "It sounds like you're trying very hard to distance yourself from your family's accomplishments."

Weiss felt her cheeks grow hot, and she straightened, unwilling to back down, "I am distancing myself because I refuse to be a pawn in whatever schemes my Father is concocting. I came here to make a name for myself, to prove that I can stand for something more than just being the 'Schnee heiress.'" She put her hands on her hips and turned her nose up, "When Father shows his true colors to the sheeple, I'll be there to guide them back to the path."

Blake's expression softened slightly, a faint hint of understanding in her gaze, "Well...whatever your reasons, I respect your decision. But I think it's worth saying that your family's made a real difference for the Faunus. There are a lot of people who found dignity and security in their work thanks to those policies, and that's something worth acknowledging."

Weiss bristled, feeling a pang of frustration that this Blake couldn't see through the carefully constructed facade her Father had built, "Believe whatever you want," she muttered, turning away sharply, "But one day, you'll see the truth. And then you'll understand why I'm doing this."

Ruby blinked, looking between Weiss and Blake with a baffled expression, "Uh...so, should I...say sorry again for the whole Dust thing?" she asked hesitantly.

Weiss shot her a look, exasperated, "Yes. Apology accepted. Just...try not to be so careless in the future." With that, she turned and strode away, leaving Ruby and Blake in her wake, her frustration still simmering.

Blake watched her go, a thoughtful look on her face, "She's...interesting," she murmured, almost to herself.

Ruby sighed, looking down at her Dust-streaked clothes, "Yeah...interesting is one word for it."

As Weiss walked away, she clenched her fists, telling herself again and again that she was right - that she had to be right. Everyone else could praise the SDC all they wanted, but she would expose the truth. She was certain of it. And if the rest of Beacon didn't understand her mission, then she'd just have to prove it to them one day.

Sadly, everyone else shared Blake and Ruby's view of her Father and the company. At best, they were neutral to the SDC. At worst, they couldn't stop singing its praises. Like that Velvet Scarlatina girl who thanked Weiss profusely once she realized who she was. Apparently, Father had given her a stipend of hard-light Dust as a thank-you for the work Velvet's parents had done for the company. Which was clearly an attempt to manipulate her into being a future slave to the company. Who cared if it was done without a contract? Father was clever and manipulative. He'd find a way to ensure she had to pay him back for his 'generosity'.

To make matters worse, she was forced to share a team with those two gullible lemmings, Blake and Ruby. Her third teammate, Yang, wasn't a sycophant, but she also thought her righteous crusade was, to quote her words, 'a whole lot of rich girl bullshit'. Which was frankly insulting. Her cause was one of sacrifice, of standing against a world that would never appreciate her kindness because they were wilfully blind to the truth.

She was seething in the cafeteria a week later. She barely even cared that the role of leader went into that naive girl Ruby instead of her. Leader or not, she'd make her mark and redeem the family name.

"May we join you?" a soft voice asked. Weiss looked up, schooling her face into a neutral expression, and nodded to Ren and Nora. They were two members of team JNPR. She didn't know a lot about them, though she found Ren polite in the few interactions they had. Nora less so. Nothing against her personally, but she wasn't too fond of 'high energy' people. How Ren dealt with it daily, she had no idea.

"Of course." She nodded and gestured to the other side of the empty table. Her team was busy. Ruby was off tinkering with her weapon, Blake had gone to Vale to call her parents, and Yang...honestly, she had no idea what she was doing. Probably off picking fights or something.

"Why the long face, Weiss?" Nora asked, her mouth full of pancakes. Ugh, how uncouth.

"Merely considering how lonely it is to be the bastion of sanity in a land of willful ignorance." She sighed. She couldn't blame them, not completely. Father was a cunning, ingenious man. A villain who'd fooled even the likes of General Ironwood (who Weiss did NOT have a crush on, thank you very much, Winter). That he also fooled Huntsmen hopefuls - many of whom relied on Dust to fight - was a sad inevitability.

It didn't mean she wasn't frustrated, of course.

"I don't understand, but would it help to talk about it?" Ren asked softly.

"I doubt it, not unless you've seen through my father's carefully crafted facade to see the villain underneath."

"Your father? Do you mean-"

"Oh, the guy in the white suit!" Nora screamed, chunks of pancakes splattering the table. Weiss twitched, "He's the reason me and Ren are here!"

"Excuse me?" Weiss grit her teeth.

"The Gelé scholarship fund," Ren said for Nora, "Nora and I came from outside the walls. Normally, one needs to have gone through Combat School or found some other way to impress the headmasters in order to be allowed entrance into a Huntsman academy. Nora and I qualified for neither despite our skillset. There was always someone...more worthy of attention." Meaning someone with better connections, "We'd almost lost all hope when we were contacted by your father's organization."

"And now we're here!" Nora grinned, syrupy sweet. Literally, there was syrup on her lips, "Thank your dad for us!"

"I'll...be sure to pass it along." Weiss clenched her hands into shaky fists. She wanted to scream, to rage, but seeing the pure gratitude in their eyes made her curb her tongue. It wasn't their fault that they were in such desperate straits that they were forced to rely on his manipulative 'charity'.

Weiss pushed herself off the table and made her way to the bullhead docks. Being at Beacon wasn't the liberating experience she thought it'd be. She needed to cool off, find a way to lighten her mood. As she made her way down to Vale, she searched her scroll for the nearest jazz bar. Not to get drunk - she had no desire to be an alcoholic - but to let the calming atmosphere calm her troubled soul. Thankfully, Vale had some clubs that sold non-alcoholic theme drinks.

She sat in front of the bar counter and looked morosely down at the varnished redwood. This wasn't going according to plan. Her dreams of rebelling against her father's evil and redeeming her family name had died before they even truly got started. Why was it like this? She was supposed to be the redeemer, the woman who stood against insurmountable odds and refused to break. Instead, she was seen as a delusional rich girl with a persecution complex.

Her scroll buzzed. She tapped the screen and her mood only tanked further when she saw a message from her devious father.

Hello, Weiss! How are you doing at Beacon? Ah, but you're doing well, I'm sure. The mansion feels so empty without my little girl around, but I knew this day would come one day. There comes a time when parents have to let their children spread their wings. I know that you'll make the entire family proud and bring honor to our name. I love you, dear. Oh, and don't forget to visit for the holidays! Willow and I are already missing your little deductions.

Weiss gnashed her teeth together as she read to the last word. How...How dare he?! Little deductions? And all that tripe about missing her and her 'spreading her wings'. He was taunting her, wasn't he? He was saying that even from here, he could pull her strings. Well, not if she had anything to say about it! Who did he think he was?! She

"Fuck Jacques Schnee!"

Surprisingly enough, it wasn't her who said that. In all the time she'd spent on her righteous crusade, she never actually cussed her father out. Despite doing what she had to do, she did still love the man, even if she knew that she shouldn't. Her head turned to the left to the source of the cry.

Sitting on the stool next to her was a rather striking figure. A tall man dressed in all black with striking red hair and aqua blue eyes. Between the thick locks of his red hair were two obsidian horns. A Faunus of some kind. He looked down at the countertop with a dry, withering glare. His features were somewhat masked given his stance, but she could tell that he was handsome.

"What did you say?" Weiss gasped.

He turned to look at her, both eyes meeting hers with the same withering glare. Anyone else would've been intimidated, but she found herself drawn to those blue orbs, "Fuck Jacques Schnee." He snarled, voice low and rough, "What's it to you?"

"I just...I've never heard anyone call him out like that." Weiss leaned forward slightly in her seat, "Do you see him for who he truly is?"

"Do you mean if I see past that benevolent CEO act? Of course, I do." She felt lightheaded. Finally, someone speaking sense! "It's disgusting how everyone can't understand that it's so obviously a trick. Even people who should know better. Sienna..."

Weiss' brows furrowed. The name sounded somewhat familiar, "Sienna...do you mean Sienna Khan?" She was one of the leaders of the White Fang, that peaceful Faunus protest group. A group her father was intimately connected to. He had championed their cause because he believed that everyone deserved equal treatment. Or so he said. In truth, she knew that it was because it was a nefarious plan of some sort. Likely planning to use them as a scapegoat for one of his schemes when he was finally exposed.

The red-haired man's eyes narrowed, "Wait, you look familiar..."

"Ah, I'm Weiss Schnee." She held up a hand, "Before you leave in disgust, know that I agree with you. Everyone sees my father as this...this living saint, but I know the truth. Behind that kind mask liies the mind of a schemer. And yet I can never prove it. He's covered his tracks well."

"...You're serious, aren't you? You know what he's like too?"

"It's a burden I've lived with for years." She sighed, looking far older than her seventeen years of age, "I've tried to tell the world the truth, but no one believes me. Not my family, not anyone else. They're all puppets dancing to father's strings. I came to Beacon to escape his influence."

"Huh...last place I expected sanity was from another Schnee." He shook his head, "I did the same thing. Sienna, the Belladonnas...I've tried to make them see sense, but they don't believe me. They'd prefer the comforting lie instead of the harsh truth."

Was...Was this destiny? She opened her mouth to say something when the bartender gently placed a glass in front of her. He did the same for the red-haired man before leaving. He picked up the glass and raised it, "If you're telling me the truth...then I think we have a lot to talk about. Call me Adam."

"Weiss..." She clinked her glass against his and drank half the glass in one gulp, "I...I believe we're kindred spirits, Adam, but I must make one thing clear. My goal is to expose my father's wrongdoing to the world and see him appropriately punished. No more, no less."

"Don't worry, I don't want him dead. Death's too easy for that bastard. No, it'd be better to watch that pedestal he's on come crumbling down." Oh, wow...was this her reward for being so patient? Finding a man who truly understood her?

"Then I believe this will be the start of a beautiful friendship, Adam."

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Oh dear, Weiss has just met Adam. Pity Jacques. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this one. Needed something lighter to deal with some real life stuff. Like I said, this one's just a oneshot since I don't really know where else it can go.

Team Rizzless - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Team Rizzless. We finally get some lemon, though it also means the humor takes a bit of a break. Don't worry, it'll return in the possible next chapter.

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Ruby stood in front of her closet, staring at her usual collection of clothes with a critical eye. Normally, she went for her standard look - cute, practical, ready-to-fight Grimm at a moment's notice. But today? Oh, today was special. She was going on a date with Jaune, and she was determined to look more than just cute; she wanted to look downright sexy. This was the first real date she'd ever had, after all, and she wasn't about to let it slip through her fingers. She wanted Jaune to see her as a mature, confident woman, not just some little girl playing at being a Huntress.

As she sifted through her clothes, she couldn't help but think about her team. Poor, clueless little girls, she thought, a smug smile tugging at her lips. Yang, Weiss, Blake - all of them fumbling around Vale like a bunch of horny morons, completely failing to get a single guy's attention for longer than five minutes. And that's if they were lucky. They didn't know what it meant to actually attract someone. They thought brute force, moody silence, and delusional fantasies were the way to a man's heart. Pathetic.

But Ruby? She was different. Smarter. More refined. And today, she'd prove it.

After a few minutes of digging, she found the perfect outfit: a sleek, form-fitting black dress that hugged her curves in just the right way, paired with a deep red scarf that matched her usual color scheme. For shoes, she chose a tasteful pair of heels that added a couple of inches in height. It made her look different. Sexy. She pulled her hair back in a slightly more sophisticated style than her usual look, applying a touch of makeup to highlight her eyes and add a hint of color to her lips. It wasn't too much - she didn't want to look like she was trying too hard - but it was enough to make her feel older, more confident.

With one final check in the mirror, she smirked, feeling that rush of excitement and pride. She looked like a woman. A mature woman who was about to go on an actual date with a guy she genuinely liked.

As she slipped on her heels, the door to their room opened, and in walked Yang, followed closely by Weiss and Blake. They froze in the doorway, staring at her with a mix of surprise and suspicion. Ruby just looked at them over her shoulder, feeling a thrill of smugness creep over her.

Yang was the first to speak, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, "Well, well, well. Look who's all dolled up. Planning on taking down some Grimm in that, Rubes?" She looked unimpressed as she looked her up and down. Ruby wasn't a tomboy, but her usual gothic outfit was more cute than anything. Not this time. This time she looked like someone who was ready for a tasteful night out in town.

Weiss' eyes narrowed, scanning Ruby up and down, "You don't dress like this unless you're planning to do something. And someone." Her tone was laced with suspicion, almost bordering on annoyance.

Ruby rolled her eyes, waving her hand dismissively, "Oh, please," she said, doing her best to sound casual, "It's not like I need to explain myself. I just felt like...looking nice today. Something wrong with that?"

Blake, ever the observant one, tilted her head, her amber eyes narrowing, "Since when do you care about 'looking nice'?"

"Since I decided to grow up a little," Ruby replied with a smirk, her voice laced with that condescending tone she knew would piss them off, "Maybe some of you should try it sometime. It's called maturity," she said the word like a taunt, and she could feel the irritation radiating from them in waves.

Yang's jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, "You're awfully full of yourself, little sis." She emphasized the word. Normally, that would've annoyed her - especially since she was only a month younger than Yang - but right now it just made her 'big sister' look more pathetic, "What's going on? Who's the guy?"

Ruby gave a little laugh, shaking her head, "Why do you all assume there's a 'guy'? Just because I look nice? Unlike some people, I don't need to throw myself at every guy who walks by. I have standards." She said the words sweetly, but the subtle sting behind them was impossible to miss. She'd always lectured them about being horndogs who didn't care about being Huntresses, but this was different. Now she was doing it because she'd finally won, whether they knew it or not.

Weiss bristled, folding her arms, "So now you're calling us immature? You're acting like some big grown-up just because you threw on a dress. You're being ridiculous, don't you think?"

Ruby flashed her a pitying look, "Oh, Weiss. I'm sorry if that's what it looks like to you, but I wouldn't expect you to understand. Some of us know how to handle ourselves without acting like...thirsty little girls." The words rolled off her tongue smoothly, and she could see the annoyance flash across each of their faces. They were pissed, and Ruby relished in it. Weeks of having to deal with their shit while they talked down to her. Now she was the one looking down on them.

Blake's brow furrowed, and she exchanged a look with Weiss and Yang, "You're being...really smug for someone who's normally all about 'duty' and 'honor,' Ruby."

Ruby just shrugged, letting out a small laugh, "Maybe I'm just tired of being the only one around here with any self-control. Besides, what's the harm in wanting to look good? I'm not out there embarrassing myself like some people." She took another look in the mirror, admiring the way her dress hugged her figure and the way her hair fell just right. She turned to leave, only to find Yang standing in her way, arms crossed and eyebrows raised, with Weiss and Blake hovering behind her, both of them eyeing her outfit with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Yang tilted her head, a smirk creeping onto her face, "Well, look who's finally joining the club. Decided to go out hunting, huh?"

Ruby blinked, pretending innocence as she tilted her head sweetly, "Oh? I don't know what you mean, Yang."

"Oh, please." Yang rolled her eyes, giving her a knowing look, "Dressed up like that, Ruby? Come on, you're just like the rest of us - you're out trying to find a guy, aren't you? No need to be shy about it."

Ruby's lips curved into a small, smug smile, and she shrugged, "Think whatever you want, Yang." She let her voice drop to a honeyed tone, her eyes glinting with a look that made Yang pause, "I guess I'm just...maturing. Growing up. Unlike some people, I actually know what I'm doing."

Yang's smirk wavered slightly, but she didn't let up, "Right, sure. Little Miss High and Mighty finally admits she wants some action." She nudged Ruby's shoulder, clearly aiming to get a rise out of her. They thought she was just like them, that she'd put herself out for any guy and then come back beaten with her tail between her legs. It was so sad. Then again, she thought, maybe she should sympathize with them. Not everyone had the smarts to be as sensible and mature as she was.

Ruby just kept smiling, calm and sweet, a look of pure self-satisfaction plastered on her face, "If that's what you want to think, go ahead." She stepped around Yang and waved over her shoulder, "Don't wait up."

As she left the room, she could feel their stares, especially Yang's, but she didn't look back. Instead, she let her smile widen as she walked down the hall, already savoring the look on their faces when they realized just how far ahead she was.

Today was going to be perfect.

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Ruby stepped out of the airship and into the warm glow of downtown Vale, her heart racing with excitement. She scanned the square, her gaze darting around the bustling crowd until it landed on Jaune, standing just outside a small café near the park, looking a little nervous but genuinely happy to see her. He had on a simple, neatly pressed shirt and jeans, looking far more put-together than usual, and Ruby couldn't help but smile wider as she walked up to him. It was nothing special, but the sight of him in something besides his usual nurse's scrubs made her heart flutter. No one else on Beacon could see that. Just her.

"Hey, Jaune!" she called, her voice bright and cheerful.

Jaune turned, and his face lit up when he saw her, "Ruby! Wow, you...you look amazing," he stammered, his cheeks tinged a light pink as he took in her outfit. His eyes met hers, and Ruby felt a warm flutter in her chest at the way he was looking at her, not with the desperation she'd seen so much of back at Beacon, but with something softer, more genuine.

"Thanks! You look pretty great yourself," she replied, her voice playful but affectionate. She nudged his arm with her elbow, giving him a beaming smile.

Jaune laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, "I figured I'd better try to keep up." He motioned toward the street lined with little shops and eateries, "So, um, ready to get started?"

"You bet! Lead the way!" Ruby chirped, falling in step beside him as they made their way down the busy street.

The city was bustling with activity as they walked, and Ruby felt a thrill knowing she was here, with Jaune, on a real date. She couldn't help but let her hand brush against his every so often as they walked, and eventually, Jaune reached over, letting his fingers lightly intertwine with hers. She glanced up at him, her cheeks warm, and he gave her a soft, somewhat shy smile in return. Oh Sisters, she wanted to kiss him so bad...

But not yet. She had to be patient.

As they reached the museum, Jaune pointed out a large banner across the entrance advertising the new exhibit on "Unusual Weapons of Remnant's Past". Ruby's eyes practically sparkled at the sight, "Oh my gosh, this is going to be amazing!" she said, pulling Jaune inside with newfound excitement. She would've gone to see this herself if she knew, but being with Jaune made it all the sweeter.

Inside, they wandered through glass cases filled with bizarre, experimental weapons that were designed by people as obsessed with combat as they were with pushing boundaries. There was a giant hammer that shot fire from the handle, a crossbow that somehow doubled as a fishing rod, a gauntlet with mini rockets attached to each finger, and a bolt action rifle with a shotgun under-barrel attachment.

And those were some of the more modern ones. The weapons were the past were even more ridiculous despite their limitations. A revolver with a magazine that functioned as a tazer; an antique flamethrower that had big, bulky fuel tanks at the back; and even a little derringer that just that: a gun. Like, a gun with no mechashift or other moving parts. It made her wonder just how people survived back then when they had to use more than one weapon.

Ruby's eyes went wide as she pressed her face to one of the glass cases, "Jaune, look at this! It's like Crescent Rose's weird cousin!"

Jaune laughed, leaning in beside her, "Who even thought of some of these? I mean, I know weapon designers get creative, but this is next-level stuff."

Ruby giggled, turning to face him with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes, "That's what makes it so cool! Imagine having one of these things back in the field - Grimm would have no idea what hit them!"

"True," Jaune agreed, smiling at her enthusiasm, "You know, if anyone could actually get one of these things to work in the field, it'd probably be you, Ruby."

Ruby looked up at him, momentarily caught off guard by the compliment. She felt her cheeks go pink, and she quickly laughed, nudging his shoulder again, "Oh, you're just saying that." She definitely could, though. Besides being a Huntress, crafting weapons was her life. She'd even offered to make a weapon for Jaune, though he refused. Without Aura, most Huntress-grade weapons were unusable, and if he needed something basic he could just buy it at the store.

"I mean it," Jaune said, his expression softening, "You're...kind of amazing, Ruby."

Her heart fluttered, and for a moment, she forgot about the strange weapons surrounding them, about her team's antics back at Beacon, about everything except Jaune and the warm look he was giving her. She took a step closer, letting herself relax, letting herself feel like the mature, sexy woman she truly was, "I'm really glad I'm here with you, Jaune." She reached out her right hand and traced her fingers across his chest.

He smiled, a bit shyly, but he held her gaze, "Me too. This...it's nice, right?"

Ruby's heart practically melted at the way he said it, so soft and genuine, "Yeah. Really nice."

They continued to wander through the exhibit, occasionally cracking jokes about the more ridiculous weapons and marveling at the ingenuity behind the stranger ones. Ruby felt herself growing more at ease, not worrying about how she looked or whether she was coming off too strong. She didn't have to. Jaune was here, with her, and he liked her for who she was. That thought alone filled her with a quiet, steady happiness she wasn't used to feeling.

And it was only going to get better.

After they left the museum, they walked to a nearby park, the afternoon air cooling down as the sun set over Vale. They sat on a bench by the fountain, the quiet sound of water creating a peaceful hum, "So, how's everything going back at the clinic?" Ruby asked, playfully nudging him again, though this time she let her hand linger on his arm, "Aside from, you know...dodging Huntresses left and right?"

Jaune chuckled, rolling his eyes, "Oh, you know. The usual. I've gotten pretty good at politely turning down people, but you'd be amazed at the 'creative' excuses some of them come up with. I think the latest was one of the students saying she felt 'wobbly' every time she saw me." Probably Pyrrha, the poor girl. Ruby actually felt bad for her.

Ruby snickered, "Wow, they're still pulling the sick routine? I thought they'd at least come up with something new by now."

He shook his head, "Nope, still the same." He changed his voice to a higher pitch, "'Oh, nurse Jaune, I'm feeling so sick. Please run your hands all over me so I'll feel better. Here, let me unhook my bra so you can get a better feel'." He shook his head slightly, cheeks flushed with a small blush, "But honestly, having you around to chase off the more...persistent ones has been a lifesaver."

She grinned, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze, "Glad I could help. Not every girl's got a sense of self-control, after all."

Jaune laughed, and for a moment, they just sat there, watching the gentle ripples on the fountain. Ruby felt his hand move to cover hers, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, and she could feel her heart beating just a little faster, "Ruby?" he asked, his voice soft.

"Yeah?" She turned to him, meeting his gaze.

"I...I really like you. I'm glad you're different." His face flushed slightly, but he held her gaze, his blue eyes warm and sincere.

Ruby felt a surge of affection so strong it made her head spin. She was different. She was herself, and that was why he was here. She'd kept her cool, kept herself grounded, and it had worked. The thought filled her with a smug, warm satisfaction. Her teammates could keep running around like desperate maniacs, but she had what they couldn't have. A guy who liked her for who she was because she wasn't a thirsty freak. She was just Ruby Rose.

Slowly, she leaned in, just enough to close the space between them, her eyes never leaving his, "I really like you too, Jaune..." she whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear. And then, without a second thought, she closed the distance and kissed him, her heart practically soaring as she felt him kiss her back, warm and gentle. It felt...amazing.

As they pulled apart, Ruby smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and contentment. She knew this was just the beginning, but it felt perfect. She'd gotten here by being herself, by staying true to what she wanted, not what everyone else thought she should be

They walked back out into the cozy afternoon, hands still entwined, and Ruby felt a warm, cozy glow settle over her. Her mind drifted back to her teammates. Oh, they were in for a shock when she got back. But that was for later. For now, she just wanted to enjoy every second of this perfect day with Jaune.

Hours later as day turned to night, Ruby felt her heart pounding. She glanced over at Jaune, watching the way he still smiled even now, and a sudden surge of bravery welled up in her chest. She bit her lip, hesitating, but after a moment, she took a deep breath, summoning her courage, "Hey, Jaune?" she asked softly, feeling her cheeks heat up. She wasn't going to mess this up, not like Yang, Blake, or Weiss. She was Ruby Rose, and she was gonna get her man!

Jaune turned to look at her, his blue eyes warm and curious, "Yeah, Ruby?"

She bit her lip, glancing away for a moment, feeling her cheeks heat up, "Um...I was wondering...would you...maybe...like to spend a little more time together? Just...us?"

Jaune's eyes widened, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks as he caught the implication. He opened his mouth, stammering a bit as he tried to find the right words, "Oh! Uh...you mean...like...more time? Like...right now?"

Ruby gave him a small, nervous nod, feeling her own blush deepen, "Yeah. There's, um...a place not too far from here. If you...if you want to..."

Jaune stared at her for a moment, his face turning a brighter bright shade of red as he slowly processed what she was suggesting. He let out a soft, shaky breath, then smiled, his hand giving hers a reassuring squeeze, "Y-Yeah...I'd like that. A lot." She nearly fainted at that.

Feeling both thrilled and a bit shy, Ruby led him through the streets, her fingers still entwined with his as they walked together toward the love hotel she'd passed a few times before but never thought she'd actually visit. The neon sign cast a soft glow over them as they approached, and Ruby felt her nerves spark up again, but she pushed through, glancing at Jaune with a shy smile. This was her time. The time for her to truly become a woman.

They walked up to the front desk, and Ruby managed to explain what they needed without her voice shaking too much. The attendant handed over a key with a knowing smile, and soon, they were heading down the hall to their room, the silence between them charged with anticipation and a little bit of nervous laughter.

When they reached the door, Ruby unlocked it and pushed it open, stepping inside with Jaune following close behind. The room was cozy, and softly lit, with a large bed and plush pillows that seemed to take up half the space. Ruby felt her heart pounding as she looked around, her hand still clinging to Jaune's. It wasn't as randy as the books Blake (loudly) read made it sound like, but knowing what it was used for made her feel lightheaded.

She turned to face him, her smile shy but full of warmth, "So...here we are."

Jaune gave her a soft, reassuring smile, his own cheeks still tinged with red, "Yeah...here we are."

They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, feeling the unspoken connection between them. Then, with a gentle squeeze of his hand, Ruby took a step closer, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her as they shared a smile, knowing that tonight was a special, unforgettable moment just for the two of them.

Ruby practically pounced on him, knocking him down to the bed. Jaune yelped in surprise, though she heard the laugh that came after. It made her feel warm inside. He trusted her. He knew that she wouldn't shatter his pelvis like Yang or say something stupid like Blake or Weiss. The trust, the way he let himself be helpless under her, was more intoxicating than any kind of drink. It was something booze couldn't even hope to match.

Her hands cupped the side of his jaw and she pressed her lips against his in a deep, hungry kiss. He didn't even hesitate to kiss her back, opening his mouth so their tongues could meet. He didn't taste like coffee and gumdrops or anything like that, but she didn't care. It was Jaune kissing her, and that tasted sweeter than anything else in Remnant.

They continued kissing for another minute before eventually pulling back for air. A bridge of saliva connected the two, the pair panting as the air around them turned electric. It was her first kiss. Her first kiss and she gave it to her best friend. A giggle sprang forth before she could stop it. The sound of it coupled with her flushed face made her look drunk. And maybe she was. Drunk on love and life!

...

Okay, she needed to stop hanging around Blake while she was reading her filth.

Jaune raised her right hand and cupped her cheek. She shuddered and leaned into the touch, "Ruby..."

"Shh." She put a finger to his lip and smirked, "Just stay quiet and let me take care of you."

The low, dominant tone in her voice made him gulp and nod. Ruby pulled herself back fully and stood at the edge of the bed, She chewed on her lower lip for a moment and took a deep breath. She was Ruby Rose, badass Huntress extraordinaire who was going to fuck her boyfriend(?).

She raised her right hand slowly, fingertips grazing the straps of her dress. A part of her wanted Jaune to tear away the dark fabric and have his way with her, but an ever larger part wanted to stay in charge like the mature, sexy woman she was.

That and the dress was expensive, and she definitely wanted to keep it for future dates.

Staring straight into his eyes, Ruby hooked the right strap under her thumb and pulled it over her shoulder, exposing more of her creamy, pale skin. The other strap followed soon after and the dress pooled around her feet. She kicked off her heels and stood in front of him in nothing but her bra and panties. She was expecting this and came prepared with her finest (read: only) set of lingerie. Black silk with some small furls to add a little flair. Maybe it was nothing compared to what Weiss could buy with her unlimited credit card (or the butt floss Blake insisted was tasteful underwear), but it made her feel sexy and in control. That was enough.

His eyes flicked down to her boobs and muscles, drinking in the sight of her. She wasn't as much of a musclehead as Yang - she preferred not to fight the creatures of darkness and hate with her bare hands, thank you - but she was still a Huntress. Even Weiss had muscles that put most people to shame, even if she used those fancy dresses to try and downplay them. She couldn't exactly pretend to be the dainty lady just waiting to be fucked stupid when she looked like she could carry guys over her shoulder.

"Wow..." Jaune muttered.

She let him look for a few more seconds before her bra and panties joined the dress at her feet, leaving herself bare for him to see, "L-Like what you see?" Fuck, she bit her tongue. Barreling past it, she sank back into the bed and loomed over him again, "Jaune...how attached are you to these clothes?"

"Uh...not very?"

"Good."

She reached both hands out and tore the shirt in two. The sound of ripping cotton drowned out his surprised scream. For a moment, she worried that she might've pushed too far, but the look in his eyes wasn't hesitation at all. It was excitement. Her heart beat loudly against her ears and she licked her lips as she traced her fingers across his firm muscles. Jaune might not have been a fighter, but the lean musculature was proof that he didn't slack off. The skin was warm under her touch, and she relished it. She'd imagined what it was like for weeks, wishing she could get another glimpse at what was hidden under that dowdy nurse's uniform.

And now she was getting it all for herself.

"Ruby, I- ohhhh..." Whatever he was going to say was replaced with a soft, pleased moan as she dipped her head down and licked his faint abs. No acid like she imagined in her fantasies, but she'd take what she could get. She made sure to go slowly, leaving a trail of saliva on the quivering flesh. The taste of it - a faint hint of sweat along with something else she couldn't describe - was making her insane. She deserved this, she thought. Weeks of dealing with her team's bullshit. This was her reward.

Her tongue reached his throbbing neck. She kissed and sucked at the sun-kissed skin, relishing the way she felt his heart beat under her lips. She was doing that, "Jaune..." She bit his neck, eliciting another loud moan, before she started kissing her way up his jaw, "Tell me I'm pretty."

"Y-You're- fuck! You're so beautiful, Ruby!" Jaune cried. Her heart fluttered at the passionate declaration. She'd always been seen as Yang's little sister. It didn't matter that they were practically the same age, her love for weapons and sincere desire to be a Huntress instead of getting fucked stupid like every other woman in Beacon made them look down on her. To them, she was Yang's innocent little sister, the girl who dreamed of heroes and fairy tales instead of what was actually 'important'.

She continued kissing him, leaving faint lipstick marks on his skin, when she felt something pressing against her right thigh. Her eyes widened for a moment before she grinned, showing off her teeth, "Jaune, is that a sword in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?" She didn't care how dorky it sounded. She made it sound sexy.

Jaune gulped but didn't say anything. He looked past her to the ceiling, his eyes glazed over. The sight of it made her mouth dry and she shuddered. She couldn't stop herself. Not now. She adjusted her position till her head was above his crotch. She licked her lips at the sight of the bulge straining hard against the zipper, "Wow..." She rubbed his cock through the jeans and Jaune whined, thrusting against her right palm. Fuck, this was so hot...

With the same strength as before, she tore his jeans and boxers in one go. His cock sprang free, and she was close enough that it slapped her right cheek. She gasped at the warm pillar pressing against her face. The musky smell of his dick wafted up her nose and she shuddered. Holy shit. This...This was a penis. She'd seen them before...through a screen, that is. Like any Huntress, she'd watched the occasional bit of porn here and there. Not as much as the rest of her team, but still. She knew what a cock looked like.

And yet seeing Jaune's up close was enough to make her almost faint. It looked ten inches at a glance, with thick veins and a tip that was already dripping pre-cum. She reminded herself that he was a virgin just like her despite how many times he had to reject the Huntresses in Beacon. He was probably holding himself back every day.

She was tempted to open her mouth and wrap her lips around the pillar of cockmeat, but she held back. She didn't want to wait any longer. Her pussy was already wet and begging to be filled, "Jaune..." She moved again, straddling him with her hands pressed against his chest. Her slit pressed against the underside of his cock and he groaned. She rubbed it across the length of his dick, mixing his pre with her own as they both gasped.

She needed him inside her. Now.

Ruby raised her hips till her pussy was right over the tip before she slammed down, taking him to the hilt. Jaune's eyes widened while Ruby moaned without shame. Her hymen already broke years ago due to the intense training regimen all Huntresses had to go through, so she didn't have to worry about any blood.

Still, the feeling of being filled up by his dick knocked the air out of her lungs. She kept both hands pressed against his torso to stay balanced and panted, face flushed and eyes screwed shut, "F-Fuck..." She groaned and forced herself to stop shaking. This was just the first step, she told herself. It would feel even better.

She forced her hips up till only the tip was inside before she slammed back down. Up, down, up, down. It only took a couple of repetitions before Jaune joined his in earnest. His hands gripped her waist, though it wasn't strong enough to keep her in place. His own hips thrust upward in an unsteady rhythm. They didn't move in perfect tandem, which led to some pain and awkwardness on both ends, but Ruby relished it all the same. Who cared if it wasn't perfect? She was doing it with him. She'd take flawed and genuine any day.

Ruby slowly got used to the feeling of him being inside her. Her hands drifted from his chest till they found Jaune's hands. Their fingers interlaced and she squeezed tight as they got into a more comfortable back-and-forth. The sounds of wet, slapping skin mixed with their moans as the two continued to fuck in earnest. She was close now. She wanted it to last longer, but she knew thqt she couldn't. Not for her first time after waiting for so long.

Her mind drifted to her team. The way they acted like thirsty, desperate idiots every day and looked down on her for being a 'White Knight. The way they mocked her that she'd never get a guy like that while they were putting themselves out there. Shows what they knew. Her head turned from Jaune to the single chair in the corner facing the bed. The same chair every motel room had for some reason. Like they were advertising it as a bonus feature.

She imagined her team sitting there, all of them looking at her with bitter, jealous tears, and she smiled.

Ruby came first. She cried out Jaune's name as everything went white. She collapsed on top of him, smiling and drooling, and groaned happily as Jaune came soon after, stuffing her with his seed. At the back of her mind, she knew that she had to get a pill since they did it without protection, but she'd worry about that later. Right now, all she cared about was snuggling up with her Jaune. She wrapped her arms around him after he pulled his dick out of her sopping wet snatch with a soft pop. They had to do this again. Soon.

"...Hey, Rubes?'

"Yeah...?"

"I love you."

...

"I love you too." Ruby hugged him tighter,

They came back to Beacon the next day at the early hours of the morning after a few more...sessions. Ruby wobbled her way down the hall to her dorm room, her dress askew and her heels held in her hands. Her bare feet slapped against the floor and she knew that anyone who saw her would immediately realize what happened. That Ruby Rose, the 'hero wannabe', got her cherry popped before anyone else at Beacon.

She stepped inside without knocking and wasn't really surprised when she saw the rest of the team already up. Yang opened her mouth, a joke at the ready, only to become slack-jawed when she saw her. Her messy hair, her outfit, the pleased grin on her face. She was doing the walk of pride, "No...fucking...way..." she said. The look of shock lasted for only a second before her eyes turned red, "Who the fuck was it, Rubes?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Ruby sang, throwing the heels to the corner without a care.

"Yeah, I do!" She stood, "Some guy out there's fucking my little sis? We need to talk!"

"Oh, go fuck yourself, Yang. We all know you just wanna convince him to fuck you too." Ruby scoffed, "Not that he would. He's loyal."

"I agree with Yang. I insist that we meet this man," Weiss said.

"Whatever happened to leaving each other's guys alone?" Ruby raised a brow.

"Plans change." Weiss waved a hand through the hair, "Who was it, Ruby."

"A lady doesn't kiss and tell." She laughed smugly.

"...It was Jaune, wasn't it?" Blake asked, her eyes narrowed.

"Jaune? I fucking knew it." Yang started pacing around, "Alright, I can use this. You're my sister, so that means he's obligated to fuck me too. I can-"

"Hey." The chilling smile on Ruby's face made them all freeze. Gone was the smugness, replaced with a deadly edge that promised pain and suffering, "Yang, I don't care if you're family. If you or anyone else on this team even look at Jaune funny, I will fucking end you. Got it?"

"B-But...it's not fair..." Yang whined.

"We've been trying so hard. We deserve something too..." Blake muttered.

"Agreed." Weiss nodded.

"Hm...tell you what." Ruby looked at them all through half-lidded eyes, the smugness coming back in an overwhelming wave, "Maybe if you all apologize for calling me a White Knight and start begging, I'll let you all watch in the corner when Jaune fucks me again." She stood up and made her way to the bathroom to take a shower. Maybe they'd actually beg, maybe not. She'd be satisfied either way knowing that she was the mature one here, not those little girls.

Life was good.

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Ruby loses her virginity, so you just know she's going to be insufferable for the next four years. Oh well, Yang, Weiss, and Blake arguably deserve it given their behavior. It's pretty karmic, all things considered.

Questions:

1. Do you guys want another chapter? It wouldn't be smut, though it would be about as raunchy and comedic as Chapter 1. Total girlfails who can't get a guy to save their life. If so, who would you guys like to see? I've had people saying they wanna see Velvet, Cinder, Neo, Salem, Penny etc etc.

2. If we do choose Penny, we have two choices for her. Either she's a total femcel gooner like the rest of the Huntresses or guys come up to her a lot and she rejects them cause she only wants friends. Which is better?

Team Rizzless - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of 3. Smut will be the next chapter, sorry. Figured we needed to get some setup for the Lancaster lemon.

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The door to their room swung open, and in slouched Yang, Blake, and Weiss, each wearing the unmistakable expression of utter defeat. Their steps were heavy and their eyes refused to meet Ruby's as they trudged in one by one, collapsing onto their respective beds or, in Yang's case, dramatically flopping down on the floor with a groan that practically shook the walls.

Ruby, who'd been sitting at her desk pretending to study (but really keeping an ear out for their return), raised an eyebrow. She closed her book, setting it down with a little more force than necessary, and turned her chair to face them, crossing her arms with an unimpressed look. They looked like shit. Eyes hollow, shoulders low, and their expressions a mix of scowls, frowns, and pouts. They looked like they went toe-to-toe against an Ursa and lost, which would've been a lot better compared to what they were actually doing.

"So, how'd it go?" she asked, the sarcasm dripping from every word.

Yang shot her a glare from the floor, "Don't start, Rubes. Not in the mood."

Blake sighed, burying her face in her pillow, "Men are idiots."

Weiss, still clutching her dignity by the thinnest of threads, cleared her throat and tried to sound indifferent, "Not...as planned," she admitted, sounding like the words pained her, "Apparently, Valean men are completely incapable of appreciating a truly refined woman." Right, a 'refined woman' who wouldn't shut the hell up about how much she wanted a guy to just fuck her on the street like she was 'a worthless slattern'. She didn't know what slattern meant, but she could make a guess.

Ruby snorted, tapping her foot on the floor, "I don't know what's worse. That you guys keep getting rejected or that you're wasting all this time and energy on something so distracting. We're Huntresses, remember? Grimm, bad guys, saving people? Those things we trained for?" Trained for for years. And yet here they (and every other Huntress in the school) were, wasting all that work and talent trying to get laid every single day.

Yang rolled her eyes, rolling onto her back and blowing a strand of hair from her face, "Oh, please, Miss Perfect Huntress. You think we don't know that? It's just...come on, Ruby! Even heroes need a little excitement every now and then."

"Now and then? Yang, you guys go Every. Single. Day." And they never had any luck. Nada. Zilch.

Blake mumbled from her pillow, voice muffled, "Okay, so what? Just because you're pretending to be above it all doesn't mean we should hold back.."

"Pretending?" Ruby's eyes narrowed, "Excuse me, what's that supposed to mean?"

Weiss finally looked up, brushing invisible dust from her uniform in a way that was meant to look elegant, though it mostly just looked pretty pathetic, "Oh, come on, Ruby. We all know you're just as interested in...well, you know...romance as the rest of us." Yeah, 'romance'. That's what she was calling it? "Probably more, with all that hero worship you love to throw around."

Ruby's face heated up, the tips of her ears turning red, "What? Hero worship?! I - What does that even mean?"

Blake turned her head to the side, giving Ruby a flat look, "You put on this whole 'white knight' act, always going on about duty and heroics and the importance of being a Huntress. But if we're being honest? You probably want it just as much as we do."

"Or more," Yang added with a smirk, "But you act all high and mighty about it. Like, 'Oh, I'm not interested in guys; I'm interested in being a hero.'" She put on an exaggerated, mocking tone that made Ruby's face flush even darker. She loved her big sister, she really did, but ever since puberty hit she'd been really annoying about how much she wanted to fuck a guy while literally suplexing him hard enough to break a bed. Then she was shocked that guys didn't want to be near her.

Ruby uncrossed her arms, fists clenching at her sides, "Excuse me for actually caring about the job! You know, the whole reason we're here? We're Huntresses! Isn't that supposed to mean something?"

Weiss rolled her eyes, reclining with an exaggerated sigh, "Please, Ruby. You think we don't care about that too? We do. But you make it sound like we're all...I don't know, desperate."

"You are desperate," Ruby shot back, throwing her hands up in frustration "The way you all act...it's embarrassing! Just last week, you were talking about Valean guys having 'primal urges,' Weiss!" Weiss crossed her arms and harrumphed, "Blake, you're out there quoting your 'romance' books to strangers, trying to sound all mysterious!" Blake pursed her lips and looked away, "And Yang? Don't even get me started on how you basically threatened that guy into coming home with you!"

Yang raised a hand from the floor, flicking it dismissively, "That's called being direct, thank you very much. You think guys want us to just sit around and wait for them to come to us? They want confidence, Ruby."

"Confidence, yeah. Not desperation," Ruby snapped, "You all have it backward. If you stopped acting so...so crazy, maybe you'd actually get somewhere."

Blake's eyes narrowed, finally pushing herself up from her bed, "Right. Like you're so much better. What, are you going to tell us you've never thought about it? That you're completely immune to wanting that connection?"

Ruby's mouth opened, but the words died on her lips as she felt her face go even redder, "Of course not, but that's not - "

"See?" Weiss interrupted, crossing her arms smugly, "You want it just like the rest of us, but you don't admit it. You put on this pure little hero act, like you're somehow better. Newsflash, Ruby: acting all righteous and superior? Not exactly charming."

"Yeah," Yang added with a smirk, though there was a glint of genuine annoyance behind it, "What do you think, that some guy's just going to fall for you because you're all 'dutiful' and stuff? That he'll be, like, 'Wow, look how pure and selfless she is. I just gotta have her. I sure do hope she sleeps with someone so unworthy!'" She made little heart shapes with her hands, mocking Ruby with a pouty expression that made Ruby want to punch her.

Ruby's temper flared, and she took a step forward, fists clenched, "For your information, no, that's not what I think. I'm just focused on what matters! Sorry if I actually care about our job and not...not acting like some thirsty idiot trying to get attention."

Blake scoffed, "Please. Half the reason you lecture us is because you think that same act is going to make you look good. All your noble speeches and high ground? It's so guys will see you as some kind of selfless 'angel of Remnant,' and they'll fall for it."

Weiss nodded, a satisfied smile crossing her face, "Exactly. Don't act like you're above it, Ruby. You're trying just as hard, if not harder, to get noticed. You're just taking the roundabout way."

Ruby's jaw dropped, "That's not...I mean, I do care about being a Huntress! That's not just an act! And how is me lecturing you guys in our private room supposed to get a guy's attention?"

"Oh, we know," Yang said, propping herself up on her elbows, "But don't tell me there's not a part of you that wouldn't mind if some guy worshipping the ground you walked on came around begging to sleep with you after one of your big monster slaying speeches. You think you're better than us, but at the end of the day? You want the same thing." Wow, so she just completely blew past her question, huh? Why was she not surprised?

Ruby clenched her teeth, shaking her head, torn between defending herself and just storming out. The worst part was, she could feel that tiny flicker of truth in their words, and it annoyed her more than anything. She didn't need to put on an act! She meant what she said! But...yeah, maybe she wanted someone to think she was impressive for it. But wasn't that normal? Why did it make her the bad guy?

"I'm not..." she started, struggling to find the right words, "I'm not pretending. I just...I actually want to be a Huntress. I don't care if someone falls for me or not because of it!" The room went quiet as her team stared at her, unconvinced. Ruby fumbled, her frustration spilling over, "Alright, fine, so what if I do care a little? That's not what it's all about for me. I'm still focused on what's important. I still don't think you should be going out every day harassing guys to sleep with you. At least I'm not chasing guys down, embarrassing myself with...with-"

"Maybe we like being fools, Ruby," Weiss said, her voice surprisingly soft, though her words held a sharp edge, "At least we're trying. It's a lot lonelier not to."

Ruby crossed her arms, looking at each of them with a raised eyebrow, "Lonely? Please. You're not lonely. You're horny. Don't make it sound better than it is."

Yang snorted from the floor, though she shot Ruby a glare, "Oh, please, like there's a difference. Besides, you say that like you're not just as bad. Maybe worse, actually, since you act like you're above it all."

"Exactly," Weiss chimed in, sitting up with a huff, "We're not desperate; we're...romantic."

Ruby rolled her eyes so hard she thought she might sprain something, "Right, romantic. Like when you were telling that guy about your fantasies of being ravaged by Valean men? That was real classy, Weiss. I'm surprised he didn't go to the cops about being sexually harassed."

Weiss went pink, but she crossed her arms tighter and lifted her chin defiantly, "Excuse me for having a bit of imagination, Ruby. Not that you'd know anything about that."

"Yeah," Blake added, now finally lifting her head from the pillow, shooting Ruby a mildly annoyed look, "Just because you're pretending you don't want it doesn't mean we're in the wrong for going after what we want."

Ruby groaned, her patience running thin, "Oh, my gods, you're still doing it! Stop acting like you're these tragic romantic heroines. You're just a bunch of horny Huntresses who don't know how to flirt."

Yang rolled her eyes, "Jealous much?"

"Absolutely not!" Ruby shouted, throwing her hands up, "You guys are hopeless. You know what? Fine, keep embarrassing yourselves. I don't care anymore."

With a frustrated sigh, Ruby turned and stomped toward the door, shaking her head, "Good luck finding guys willing to ravage you," she muttered as she opened the door, "You'll need it."

Yang, Blake, and Weiss all glared after her, none of them willing to admit she might have a point, "Thanks, Ruby," Yang shot back, deadpan, "We'll be sure to call you if we need lessons in 'pure and righteous heroism.'"

"Yeah," Ruby grumbled, halfway out the door, "Enjoy your romance." She left the room, muttering under her breath as her team just shook their heads and settled in for another night of plotting 'romantic' misadventures.

She stopped when she was a few steps outside and groaned. Ruby leaned back against the wall and softly banged the back of her head against it. She hated the arguments she got into with them, but she was just so...frustrated. She'd seen them fight, seen them take down Grimm, and she knew they could be better. But instead of focusing on that, they spent all their time running around trying to get dick or reading up on 'strategies' on how to get dick.

Her face scrunched as she remembered their needling accusations. It wasn't true...not completely. Okay, so maybe she had fantasies about guys (and only guys) praising her for how good a Huntress she was. Gushing about how she was such a hero and they owed her so much for always protecting them. But what was wrong with that? Everyone had their fantasies. They were harmless. At least she wasn't running around sexually harassing guys to sleep with her.

She shook her head. A part of her wanted to back into her spiral of where it all went wrong, but that would just be depressing. She was here now, and even if her team (and all of Beacon...) were being horny morons, she could still do good.

Ruby slapped both of her cheeks and stepped off the wall. Maybe visiting Jaune would cheer her up.

Jaune was one of the few guys on campus, and the only one below 50. Which made him a target. Turned out, Huntresses did have standards and they weren't willing to rub up on a guy old enough to be their grandpa. Unless they were General Ironwood. The sheer thirst the guy caused when he visited a week ago still made her shudder. She had to lock herself in her room to avoid getting traumatized. She still had no idea how he got out of there in one piece.

Jaune was the assistant nurse to Doctor Wood. Each Huntress Academy had specialized doctors given how severe an injury needed to be to punch through their Aura. For obvious reasons, the vast majority of doctors assigned to Huntress facilities were female, though there were a few outliers. Doctor Wood was one of them. The Huntresses who expected a dashing young professional were disappointed, however. The man was over 60, skeletally thin, and had balding white hair with a thick mustache. Not even the most desperate Huntress was that thirsty.

And then there was Jaune.

Poor, poor Jaune with his baby blue eyes, messy blonde hair, and a look that just screamed 'I'm an innocent guy from the countryside, please don't devour me'. A plea that precisely none of the students on campus listened to. She had no idea what possessed the Council for them to allow someone so young (he was just a year older than her) into Beacon. It was like dangling a sheep covered in sauce and bacon bits over a den of lions except worse. Lions just wanted to eat you. Huntresses wanted other things.

The two of them became friends because she was pretty much the only woman on campus who didn't want to fuck his brains out...okay, she did, but she wasn't trying to come on to him like a dog in heat. She was respectful. Friendly. A nice girl he could spend his time with without being worried about getting molested. Cause she would never do that, no ma'am. Not even when he spilled some (only lightly corrosive) acid from the lab on his shirt and he had to take it off. She wasn't at all tempted to reach out and run her hands across those muscles and lick the acid from his skin...what? She had Aura! It would've been fine!

But it wasn't just liking dirty stuff. She did care about Jaune as a friend too. He liked comic books and video games like she did, something a lot of other Huntresses thought was too immature or boring. She kinda got why - why pretend to be superheroes when they practically were already? - but it wasn't just about that. It was about the stories, the characters, the sense of fantasy. Jaune got that. He said that he'd always been a fan of heroes and Huntresses, so when he got the chance to work at Beacon, he took it. Just like her, he thought that he'd get to see his heroes firsthand.

The reality didn't live up to the expectations for either of them.

She made it to the door and was just about to knock when she heard a voice inside, "Come now, Jaune. Wouldn't you prefer to do a physical examination?" Ruby's eyes narrowed. She could tell that voice from anywhere. She slid the door open and growled at the sight of Cinder Fall practically leaning over Jaune on the table. Her vest was almost completely unbuttoned, showing off her lightly tan skin with her nipples just barely concealed by the thin red fabric.

Her hand went for Crescent Rose on instinct before she remembered that it was back in her room. So instead, she coughed loudly, "What's wrong, Cinder? Sick?" she asked, syrupy sweet. She saw the older woman's amber eyes twitch in annoyance. This wasn't the first time she'd ruined one of her and Jaune's 'moments'. Technically, there was nothing stopping any Huntress from going to the clinic and Jaune was obligated to make sure they were actually sick. Most times, Doctor Wood's presence kept them from doing anything. No one wanted a guy who was more wrinkles than skin (sorry, Doc...) getting handsy with them. But Doc wasn't always around...

Cinder sneered, clearly still tempted to push her luck even with an audience, but Jaune spoke first, " Oh, Ruby! Still have that cough, huh? I knew that bug was getting worse." He sighed, "Sorry, Ms. Fall, but I'm going to have to check on her to make sure she doesn't have anything serious. Please vacate the premises. She might be infectious."

"Yep. Totally sick." Ruby coughed again, though she did nothing to hide her smug grin from the seething Fall, "Better get outta here before I tell Doc Wood I infected you with something. You know how he loves his blood tests." Her expression was sharp.

"...Watch your back, Rose." Cinder's face puckered in annoyance before she stomped her way out, shoulder-checking Ruby as she went. Ruby rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out. 'What a bitch', she thought.

As soon as Cinder was outside, Jaune locked the door and closed the curtains. He waited a few seconds to make sure she was really gone before he let out a soft sigh of relief, "Thanks, Rubes," he said. Even now, hearing the nickname from him made her feel warm inside.

"I told you that you should do the Mad Scientist thing, Jaune." She huffed, sitting down on the bed with her arms crossed, "Any time someone tries getting handsy, you stick 'em with a needle. Say it's just a routine test for anyone who shows up." A bunch of Huntresses were weirdly scared of shots. They'd risk getting bitten, clawed, stabbed, and shot, but a needle? Oh no, they'd make up excuses not to get their vaccines. Not her, though. She didn't mind them at all.

"You know I can't do that. Doc's particular with his stuff. And knowing my luck, I'm gonna get the one Huntress that likes getting jabbed with needles." His shoulders sagged.

"Pretty sure there's a bigger chance you'll find someone who wants to jump the janitor." Ruby scoffed playfully. No offense to Mr. Port, but she was pretty sure the Council deliberately picked old guys to avoid any 'incidents'. Jaune being the exception, of course.

Ruby sighed, flopping on the closest bed and stretching her legs out with a groan, "Ugh, you would not believe the night I had. My team? Total disasters. Again. Like, they're getting worse."

Jaune raised an eyebrow, grabbing a rolling stool and sitting across from her with an amused smile, "Oh, really? Team RWBY, disasters? I'm shocked," he said, not even bothering to hide the sarcasm. Why would he? They tried their luck with him before when they weren't harassing guys down in Vale.

Ruby rolled her eyes, "I'm serious! All they do is chase guys. Huntresses - heroes, trained fighters who protect Remnant - and they're out there desperately trying to get laid. I mean, Yang? She was practically kicked out of Junior's club tonight!"

Jaune blinked, "Wait, they kicked her out?"

"Okay, not really, but they should've!" Ruby snorted, "She goes there every day trying to get lucky. She's been so aggressive, guys are too scared to stay in the same room with her for more than two seconds." She shook her head, exasperated, "You should've seen her when she got back: stormed in, flopped down on the floor, and started ranting about how 'men just can't handle a confident woman.'"

Jaune chuckled, shaking his head, "Well, she's got the confidence part down...maybe a little too well."

"Right?" Ruby threw her hands up, "Like, no one wants to be picked up like a sack of potatoes and marched out the door. And that's if they're lucky. Last week she practically dragged a guy outside by the collar talking about how he won't be able to walk straight by the time she's done with him. I had to bail her out of jail when she got put into lockup and convince the guy not to press charges!" She groaned, "I don't know what she thinks 'flirting' means, but it's not that."

Jaune laughed softly, leaning back and shaking his head, "What about Ms. Schnee? She still doing that 'Valean damsel' act?"

"Oh, don't get me started." Ruby groaned, covering her face, "It's painful, Jaune. She thinks guys want her to be this untouchable, tragic princess. You know, like she's from some old romance novel. But instead of mysterious, it just makes her look...desperate. She's literally begging guys to 'take her' like some kind of damsel, saying stuff like, 'Surely you can't resist your base instincts around someone like me...'" Ruby's voice went high-pitched and mockingly posh as she mimicked Weiss, and Jaune rolled his eyes.

"Oh, wow. She actually said that?" Jaune asked, smiling slightly as he imagined it.

"Yup. Out loud. And in public. They she gets all angry when guys back away, like she can't believe they don't want to, I don't know, whisk her off into the woods and 'have their way with her.' It's like she thinks every guy in Vale is a horny bandit or something."

Jaune snickered, "Sounds like she's spending way too much time reading those trashy romance novels."

Ruby laughed, nodding, "Exactly! And then there's Blake. I swear, she's reading the wrong books, too, because she's still trying to be all dark and brooding, like that's gonna draw guys in. Instead of mysterious, she just ends up coming across as some...weird, creepy stalker. She spends hours sitting on park benches, just staring off into the distance, waiting for guys to approach her like she's some kind of tragic hero or whatever."

Jaune shook his head, grinning, "The mighty Team RWBY, out in full force. So, how'd that work out for them?"

"Oh, well, they all came back here empty-handed, of course. So, you know, I had to be the responsible one again and remind them that we have jobs to do. But nope, they brush me off, like I'm the one who's crazy for actually focusing on being a Huntress." She decided not to tell him about their White Knight accusations. Cause they were wrong. And dumb.

Jaune snickered, nodding along, "Well, it's good to know one Huntress on campus remembers why we're here. So, how about I help you take your mind off the madness? Got an idea that might help."

Ruby perked up, glancing over at him, "Oh?"

Jaune motioned toward the cabinet with the game system they'd set up earlier, "Why don't we finish that zombie game we started last week? We could pick up where we left off, take down a few more hordes, and knock out some bosses. Good ol' gaming therapy, you know?"

Ruby grinned, her frustration already fading. See? This was why she liked spending time with Jaune, "Perfect. I need a win. At least zombies have the decency to stick around while I'm trying to take them out."

Jaune laughed, passing her a controller, "Alright, Commander Rose. Lead the way."

Ruby smirked, grabbing the controller and giving Jaune a little nudge, "Oh, I will. I'm unstoppable now. Leveled up and everything. Those zombies? Super dead. Again."

"Oh, really? That's big talk for the girl who got wiped on level one horde rush last time."

"Hey! That horde was sneaky," she shot back with a grin, "But you're right. No one's safe from me this time."

With a chuckle, Jaune picked up his own controller, "Sounds like you're all fired up. Ready to save the world - again?"

"Born ready," Ruby replied with a grin, momentarily forgetting her team's antics as they dove into the game.

They spent the next couple of hours just killing zombies. Not quite as exciting as killing Grimm, but it took her mind off of how dumb her team was being. The clinic had become her sanctuary ever since she enrolled here. With Jaune, she didn't have to worry about anything.

"So...any weird patients show up?" she asked casually, blowing a zombie's had into little meaty chunks.

"Besides Ms. Fall? Not really." Jaune shrugged, "Though, I guess that depends on how you define 'weird'. I've gotten used to the Huntresses here being...forceful." Thirsty. He was just too polite to say it, "I guess Ms. Nikos? She kinda just...stuttered at me a lot. I think she had a fever? Her face was red and she was burning up."

Ah yes, Pyrrha. All Huntresses were dehydrated on average, but Pyrrha was particularly bad. Ruby could tell as soon as Pyrrha saw Jaune that it was love at first sight. Normally that might've worried her, especially given that she was a four-time tournament champion, but Pyrrha was a rare breed of Huntress: one with a sense of shame. She was just as desperate as the rest of the students - possibly even moreso - but her confidence in the ring didn't transfer outside of it. She could decimate a whole team with one hand tied behind her back but she could barely say two words to Jaune without passing out on her feet. Ruby almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

Definitely not enough to tell Jaune what her deal was. For...personal reasons.

"At least the team's leaving you alone." Ha, another zombie domed.

"Only cause they think you've got dibs on me." Jaune leaned over and nudged his left shoulder to her right. She did the same thing back, making sure to control her strength.

"Yeah..." Her team could be jerks a lot of the time, but they respected that. Mostly because they expected the same thing if (when, they said over and over) they got a guy for themselves, "They think you're my boytoy. Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize. And..." The next zombie bursting covered their screen in a sheet of gore, "Well...I'm not against the idea."

The words were soft, casual, but they might as well have been a screaming declaration to her. Ruby's eyes widened and her hands nearly dropped the controller altogether. Her character started getting mauled on the screen, but she couldn't muster the energy to care. Instead, her full attention was focused on Jaune. He was still playing, still racking up kills, but there was a hint of uncertainty in those blue eyes of his. The way his cheeks blushed a faint red made her want to do unspeakable things to him.

"Wh-What?" she stuttered. Ugh, damn it! She needed to be smooth and confident!

"I...well, this is..." He looked away from the screen to meet her eyes. Both their characters started screaming as they were devoured, but neither cared, "I...I think I like you as...more than a friend," he said slowly, words low and measured. Ruby's heart beat so fast she thought it'd burst right out of her chest, "I mean...you're really cool. You're cute, you're...you're awesome in a fight, and you're not weird like everyone else here is. So...if you want, maybe we could go out this weekend? Like a date?"

Ruby opened her mouth, but no words came. She'd (literally) dreamed of this. Granted, in the dream Jaune was shirtless and firing an anti-materiel rifle one-handed, but this had its own appeal too!

Jaune's face fell and he looked away. The words YOU ARE DEAD lingered on the screen, "Sorry, I guess I made this weird, huh?" He laughed softly, "Just...forget about it. I hope we can still be friends-"

"No!" She leaned forward and grabbed his shoulders with both hands. If she could see her face, she would've cringed at the manic smile she was sporting, "I'd love to go out on a date with you, Jaune! A-Anytime, any place! Just name it!"

"O-Oh? Cool." He smiled nervously. The urge to lean forward and kiss him surged through her mind before she forced herself back. No, she told herself. Jaune fell for her at least partly because she wasn't a thirsty weirdo like everyone else in the academy. She wasn't gonna ruin that now, "We can go this weekend? The weapon museum's opening a display about weird designs throughout history. I figured we'd both like that."

"That sounds perfect, Jaune," she practically purred the words out, and she felt a tingle go down her spine at the sight of him gulping in response, "I'm looking forward to it."

"Yeah, me too." She forced herself to pull back and watched him rub the back of his head, tousling his messy blonde hair, "I'll...see you then."

"Count on it."

Ruby went back to her room with a literal spring in her step. Her team readied themselves for another lecture, but it never came. Instead, Ruby hummed a self-indulgent little tune as she skipped over to her head and laid down with a dopey smile on her face. The three of them looked at one another, confused, but Ruby paid them no mind. She had better things to do than trying to smash her head against a brick wall. If they wanted to waste their time never getting guys? Fine, that was their problem. Ruby was focused on the new feeling blossoming inside her.

A sense of pure, unadulterated smugness.

Because she'd done it. Her. Ruby Rose, the one the rest of her team looked down on as an uptight hero fanatic, had gotten a date. And she got it because she hadn't been a weirdo. She kept her urges in check and actually made friends with a guy so he fell for her. Not the heiress, not the partygirl, and not the wannabe mysterious heroine. Just Ruby Rose, the woman who wanted to be a Huntress. The thought of it made her preen proudly, her smugness radiating from her in waves.

She turned her head and gave the three of them a look of pity. All of them looked annoyed, though they didn't say anything. Because they didn't know, the poor girls. Didn't know that while they were fumbling around Vale making idiots of themselves trying to get laid, she'd actually gotten a man for herself. Sure, they considered Jaune off-limits because of her, but she knew that they didn't think the two of them would ever actually get anywhere. They assumed she would fail just like they did.

A part of her was tempted to tell them what happened. That Jaune asked her out, not the other way around, but she kept quiet. No need to spoil the fun. She would let them seeth in confusion while they tried to figure out why she was so happy. A little revenge for all the name-calling and accusations earlier. Besides, it would've been so petty for her if she bragged. She wasn't a kid anymore. She was a woman going on a date. There was no reason to mock those little girls.

She turned away from them and giggled under her breath. She couldn't wait for the weekend to come.

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Oh dear. Ruby gets asked out and immediately starts acting like a smug little gremlin. Let's see just how bad she gets when she gets fucked. She's gonna be absolutely insufferable. Then again, the rest of the team probably deserves it.

Question:

1. If you were a guy in this world, would you take a chance with anyone from Team RWBY or would you not wanna risk breaking your pelvis? Or be forced into whatever depraved shit they're into.

Tragic Tales From Beacon Academy - Chapter 2

Next chapter of this. Probably not as funny as the last chapter since, for once, Pyrrha doesn't take the L and isn't treated too harshly. To compensate, I upped Blake's Worstness. Figured it's fine since I did write a bunch of Knightshade stuff somewhat recently.

My next comm is a NSFW crossover oneshot between Cyberpunk 2077 and RWBY. Futa Weiss and Rebecca. Let's see if that interests you guys.

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Blake sighed heavily, lowering herself to sit across from Jaune. She wrapped her arms around her knees, curling into herself as though the weight of her words was physically pulling her down. Her expression was distant, the kind of practiced, tortured look that seemed all too familiar to Jaune by now.

"It all started when I was twelve," Blake began, her voice barely above a whisper, "I was young and naive. Idealistic. I wanted so badly to make the world a better place, to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves. And that's when I met him." Jaune fought back a sigh, nodding politely, but inwardly he was already calculating the shortest route back to the dorms. Maybe he could pull off a believable excuse. He had to be creative, though. His foolproof 'dog in the washer' excuse wouldn't work cause Blake was one of those weirdos who hated dogs. She'd probably enjoy the thought of a dog drowning. Sick.

"Adam was...different from anyone I'd ever met," Blake continued, staring off into the distance like she was narrating some tragic scene from one of her (trashy) novels, "There was this...dark charisma about him. He was strong, passionate, and unwavering in his beliefs. I looked up to him. I trusted him, Jaune," she said his name with an almost painful emphasis, her gaze never leaving him. Jaune fought the urge to cringe, realizing with horror that she expected him to actually respond. To sympathize.

"Uh...yeah. I mean, he sounds intense," he mumbled, hoping it would satisfy her enough for him to ease his way out of the conversation.

But Blake just sighed, sinking deeper into her tragic narrative, "He was more than intense. He was...intoxicating." Uh...she was still talking about a person, right? And not a bottle of liquor? "I became enamored with his vision, his drive to make a difference. I believed in him, even when he led me down a path I could never escape." Except she did escape cause she was here, so...

"Yeah...wow, that's rough." Jaune's eyes darted around, searching for any kind of distraction. Nothing. Not even a stray Zwei to draw attention away. He could feel himself getting pulled deeper into her tale of angst and tragedy.

Blake's expression softened, but only briefly, as if the memory itself was so haunting she could hardly bear to remember it, "I didn't know the depths of his darkness then. I thought...I thought he was just misunderstood. That the anger and the hatred in his eyes were justified. It wasn't until much later that I realized...he was a monster."

Jaune gave a sympathetic nod, barely masking his desire to bolt, "Yeah...I mean, he does sound like a real bad guy. But you were young, right? Just got caught up in the moment, like you said?"

Blake shook her head, her eyes reflecting a wounded, tragic wisdom. Or at least, she probably thought it was wisdom, "You don't understand, Jaune. I wasn't some innocent bystander who just happened to cross paths with him. I was seduced by his ideals. I believed in him with my whole heart. And that...that's what makes it so tragic."

"Right. Super tragic," Jaune muttered, inching back slightly, but she moved forward in tandem, her intense gaze locking him in place again.

"There was a darkness in him I thought I could heal. I thought, maybe, I could be the light he needed. Pull him back from the edge. But instead, his darkness consumed me. I didn't see it until it was too late, until I was in too deep." Her voice dropped even lower, as though she were reciting her final words on a stage, "He was a master manipulator, and I was his willing pawn."

Jaune swallowed, feeling a bead of sweat forming on his brow. This was just as bad as he'd feared. Blake had fully shifted into tragic heroine mode, reciting her story as if she were some saintly figure drawn into the dark by an irresistible villain. And she clearly wasn't anywhere near finished, "I remember our first mission together," she whispered, her voice laced with melodrama, "He looked at me with those smoldering blindfolded eyes-" Wait, what? How you you smolder while blindfolded? "-and it felt like he was staring straight into my soul. He told me that we were fighting for the voiceless, for those who had been trampled under the boot of Human greed and prejudice. I was...enchanted."

Jaune pressed his back against the tree, feeling as though he might sink into it if he tried hard enough, "Yeah, sounds like he had a lot of...charisma," he mumbled, attempting to cut her off before she got into more details.

But Blake was unstoppable. Her haunted eyes looked to the distance, though he knew they'd snap back as soon as he tried to escape, "He promised me that he would lead us to victory, that we would finally be free. And I believed him. I thought we were helping the Faunus, that we'd change the world. I was blind, Jaune. Blind to his darkness, blind to his hatred." Her voice dropped into a mournful whisper, "But even heroes can fall. I realized, far too late, that he wasn't a hero. He was...something else. A villain, an embodiment of wrath and spite. And I was powerless to stop him."

Jaune was nodding absently now, his own eyes glazed over. He felt a sort of out-of-body sensation as she continued her tragic retelling, feeling as though he was watching himself sit there, trapped by Blake's long-winded lament of past tragedies where she was purely the victim.

"And by the time I knew the truth, I was already in too deep," she murmured, voice trembling, "I had given him my loyalty, my heart, and he had twisted it, shattered it. He left me with nothing but regret and a trail of broken promises. I was nothing more than a puppet dancing to his strings."

"Right," Jaune muttered, trying to mask his exhaustion and the fact that he just did not care. Maybe that was mean of him, but he'd spent the past ten years having to live with everyone from family to friends to complete strangers treating him like their personal therapist. And Blake was definitely more a stranger than a friend. All he knew before today was that she wore a bow everywhere and liked to read trashy 'romance' novels out in public, "That's...definitely rough. But, uh, you're here now, right? You got away from him. That's good!"

Blake's gaze remained fixed on him, her expression as somber as ever, "But I can never escape the guilt, Jaune. Every choice I made, every time I turned a blind eye to his cruelty...it haunts me. I thought I could save him. But I was the one who needed saving."

Jaune struggled to keep a straight face, "Yeah, I mean, everyone's got a...rough spot or two. But hey, you're doing great here at Beacon! New friends, new experiences. Maybe you could talk to your team about this?" he suggested just a little too desperately.

But Blake just shook her head, clearly locked in her narrative, "I don't think I'll ever truly escape that darkness. His darkness. I carry it with me, Jaune. It's part of who I am now, a reminder of the dangers of loving the wrong man."

Jaune forced a smile, desperately looking around again, hoping for a distraction. Any way to get out of this, "Yeah, I...totally get that." He didn't, "But, um, you know, if you ever need to just, uh, talk about...something less tragic, I'm, you know, here for that too." He'd take her extolling the virtues of Kunoichi Kitty's Sexcapades over this.

Blake looked away again, her expression softening ever so slightly, "Thank you, Jaune. I just...needed to share my burden with someone who would understand."

Jaune's smile grew tighter, feeling like he was hanging on by a thread, "Yep. Here to help. Totally."

Blake gave him one last sorrowful nod, then turned back to the tree, her expression melancholy and distant. For a fleeting moment, Jaune thought he was finally free. Then she looked back at him, her face haunted, and he knew she had more to say, "There's something else..."

Jaune sighed inwardly, resigning himself to yet another chapter in the saga of Blake's Dark and Tragic Past™. There really was no escape.

Blake sighed, glancing up at the sky with a wistful expression that Jaune knew all too well by now. Just when he thought he might have reached the end of her tragedy monologue, she shook her head, as if remembering something even more depressing, "You know," she began, voice thick with regret, "before I met Adam...I had a family. A good family. We were close, we cared for each other, and I never wanted for anything."

Jaune felt his eye twitch. Was she seriously about to give him a tragic monologue about not having a tragic life? He could feel the back of his head calling to him, practically begging him to slam it against the rough bark of the tree.

Blake continued, her expression forlorn, "I had a mother who doted on me, always encouraging me to follow my dreams. My father...he was the chief of Menagerie, respected and revered. They supported me, loved me. I had everything I could ever want. Like fish every day for dinner."

Jaune gave her a slow, bewildered nod, fighting the urge to point out that, by most people's standards, that was a really great life. Especially for someone living outside the walls, "Right, so that's...good?"

Blake's face fell even further, as though he'd said the most tone-deaf thing imaginable, "But don't you see, Jaune? That's exactly the problem. I had no darkness in my life. No deep, personal tragedy. I was so...so...sheltered."

Jaune felt his patience almost snap in two. Almost, "Sheltered because you had a loving family and a strong support system?"

Blake nodded gravely, clearly not picking up on his growing frustration, "Exactly. I was so protected, so privileged. And because of that, I was so painfully naïve when I met Adam. I didn't understand what darkness was, not truly. I was too innocent, too pure. And that made me a perfect target."

Jaune stared at her, dumbfounded. Was...Was she really trying to make herself look better right now? "So...you're saying your tragedy...is that you didn't have any tragedy before you met Adam?"

Blake nodded, her amber eyes brimming with intensity, "Yes! Do you understand now? I was raised in this loving, safe environment. I had no understanding of what real pain was, no reason to mistrust anyone. So when Adam came along with his dark charisma and strong ideals, I didn't see the warning signs. I thought he was noble. That he would protect me, just like my family always had." Right. Protect her. Cause clearly someone with Huntress-level training who he'd seen take down a pack of Beowolves like it was nothing was some tragic, weak maiden.

Jaune rubbed his temples, trying to process the sheer irony of her complaints. He wanted to tell her that most people would probably kill for a life without pain and suffering. But he knew, deep down, that nothing he could say would get through to her. Blake had fully committed to her role as the tragic heroine and nothing he said would change her mind. She'd just take it as another sign of how 'tragic' her life was that people envied her for having what sounded like an idyllic life.

Still, he had to try, "You know, Blake," he began slowly, trying to pick his words carefully, "Most people would, uh, actually be grateful to have grown up like that."

But she shook her head, sighing as though he'd just proven how little he truly understood, "That's the thing, Jaune. I was grateful. I had everything anyone could ever want. But it was like living in a dream with no concept of the real world. And then...I woke up. When I met Adam, I woke up to a nightmare. I was like a lamb led to slaughter, completely unaware of the cruelty the world was capable of. That's why it hurts, Jaune. I was living in blissful ignorance, and it all came crashing down."

Jaune's fingers twitched, again resisting the urge to bang his head against the tree. Unaware of cruelty? Wasn't she a Faunus? Didn't they have the rawest deal on Remnant? "Right. Makes total sense. I mean, who wouldn't be devastated about growing up with...uh, love and support?"

Blake nodded, oblivious to his sarcasm, "Exactly. That's why it's all so tragic. I never knew what real pain was until I met him. And then it was too late."

Jaune forced a smile, feeling like he was slowly losing his grip on reality, "Well, it sounds like a real...complicated situation."

Blake looked at him with soft, sad eyes, as though he'd finally understood her plight, "Thank you, Jaune. It means a lot to have someone who can...share in the weight of it all."

"Right. Any time," he muttered, inwardly screaming. He just wanted to yell, to shake her shoulders and tell her that having a good life wasn't a tragedy. But no, he was stuck here, nodding along, the unwilling listener to yet another tale of woe, this time about the absence of woe.

Somewhere, he thought he heard the tree behind him laugh.

He was forced to listen to Blake recount her 'tragic' childhood tales about her Dad carrying her on his shoulders or how her Mom doted on her. It was...annoying. He loved his family, as large and chaotic as they were, but that love was somewhat marred by the fact that he had to play therapist for them before he even reached double digits in age. For every good memory he had, there was another that ruined it.

Dad teaching him to ride a bike? Great. Dad talking about how he got drunk one night and spent Lily's college fund in a Vacuan casino and now he was scrambling to fix it? Not so great. Saphron comforting him after his first crush only wanted him as her therapist? Sweet. Saphron and Terra using him as their relationship counselor afterward? Well...he needed some bleach by the time the night was done. There were some things family was never meant to find out about each other.

So hearing Blake talk about her no-strings-attached family bonding made him jealous. He needed to leave before he said something he'd regret.

"Blake, I...need to process this," he said slowly, trying to find the right words that would let him get out of there, "Your story's so...tragic that I need time. Time to truly understand the...horrible stuff you've been through." It took a Herculean effort to say all that with a straight face.

"I...I understand." She nodded solemnly, giving him a sad but understanding smile. Ugh, "I'm sorry, I know it was overwhelming, but I needed to talk to someone I could trust." Despite the fact that they exchanged precisely zero words before today. But yeah, trust, "I'll come talk to you again when you process it."

"It'll be a while. It was so devastating to hear." How he managed to say that without sounding like he was being held at gunpoint without his Aura, he'd never know.

"It was. I don't know how I'm still going myself." She grabbed his shoulders with both hands and looked him in the eyes, "Tell me once you finally process it, Jaune. There are still more things I have to confess. More that needs to be said."

"Sure, you have my word." Not too long ago, the thought of even breaking a promise never would've occured to him. An Arc never breaks a promise, or so the family motto said. But you know what? The family motto didn't say anything about everything treating him like their emotional support Jaune! "I should go. The...darkness is making me woozy."

He disentangled himself from her and fast-walked back to team JNPR's dorm room. It was only a stay of execution and he knew it. He couldn't put off Blake forever and she'd eventually start talking about how tragic it was that she'd been spoiled till she was twelve. Hearing about everyone's pasts and dark secrets was bad enough. Having to listen to someone talk about how horrible it was that their life wasn't horrible was somehow even more annoying.

He managed to make it inside the dorm room and froze when he saw Pyrrha sitting on her bed with her back towards him. She didn't turn to face him, continuing to stare out the window, her face hidden from view. That was not a good sign. It was an all too common view he'd seen time and time again. He'd go back to his room, see someone sitting with his back towards him, and then they'd start trauma dumping. It was like they lived on the drama and setup.

Pyrrha had been one of the few lifelines he had in this place. While everyone - even Ruby - looked for an excuse to start confessing to him if he said the wrong word, Pyrrha didn't. She was all polite smiles and gentle encouragement, which was a relief after years of having to watch every word he said. Or worse, the ones like Blake who didn't even need to misinterpret his words and assumed that his silence meant he was totally interested to hear their life stories.

"Hey, Pyr. What's up?" he said casually, a crooked smile on his face.

"Up..." she muttered, still not turning to face him, "You know, people have looked up to me since I won my first tournament." Jaune felt a sinking feeling in his gut. He knew that voice. That was the 'I'm getting ready to spill my guts' voice, "I was so thrilled when I first won. I felt like I was on top of the world. But then, things changed. People started treating me differently. I wasn't Pyrrha Nikos anymore. I was the Invincible Girl, the warrior who could never lose. And after a while, that was all I was to them."

He felt the sinking sensation grow as Pyrrha continued, her voice soft and tinged with a sort of weary sorrow, "It's strange, you know," she said, her gaze still fixed out the window, "For as long as I can remember, people have looked up to me. At first, it was flattering - winning tournaments, setting records. I thought it was everything I'd ever wanted."

Jaune nodded along, unsure how to respond. Sure, it sounded rough, but it was hard to feel too sympathetic. She was talking about being famous and beloved like it was a burden. Wasn't that, like, the dream for most people? That had been his dream when he first got here (besides wanting to avoid more trauma dumping). Be a Huntsman and an inspiration to others she could live up to the deeds of his ancestors. It was pretty rare for a Huntsman to want to keep their head down and out of sight. Ruby was the weird one for wanting to be the normal girl with normal knees, to use her words.

He scratched his head, trying to process her words. He knew Pyrrha as the humble, kind, almost saint-like teammate who never seemed to let anything get her down. Hearing her complain about being 'too perfect' and 'too admired' felt like he'd stepped into some bizarre alternate reality.

"Well, I mean...I guess that's tough," he offered, though he was struggling to keep himself from asking how being famous could possibly be a problem. "But you've got people here who see you for who you are, right? You've got your team, and me, and...everyone at Beacon?"

She finally turned towards him, her expression serious, but her eyes were distant, as if she hadn't fully heard him, "That's the thing, Jaune. Even here, people look at me and see that...ideal. That Invincible Girl who can never falter. And I worry that...maybe they don't actually see me at all."

He tilted his head, giving her a sympathetic smile, but internally, he was struggling. She was talking about how nobody could see 'the real her', but he couldn't help thinking that she sounded like the heroine from some tragic romance novel. The kind that Blake desperately wanted to be. Like, sure, it was probably weird to be famous, but was it really that big of a problem?

That and since when did anyone at Beacon look at her like that? Sure, Weiss was a fan during the day of Initiation, but after that? No one. Nada. Zip. No one in team RWBY or JNPR treated her like she was a celebrity and no one else at school did either. Hell, Cardin tried to 'prank' her by tossing a box of rapier wasps at her during their trip to Forever Fall. And he would've if Jaune hadn't said the wrong (right?) thing and he suddenly got distracted by trauma dumping about his councilman dad. Ugh.

As Pyrrha continued on, Jaune felt the urge to remind her that she was at Beacon, a school filled with students who probably didn't care about her tournament wins nearly as much as she thought. But he also knew that saying anything remotely dismissive would only make her delve further into her sad-but-beautiful isolation.

Pyrrha let out a deep sigh, looking almost wistful, "Sometimes, I just wish I could be...normal. Just Pyrrha. Not some famous warrior or a champion to be worshipped. Just me."

Jaune nodded, resisting the urge to roll his eyes, "Well, that makes sense. Normal's good...I think." Was he being a dismissive jerk? Probably, but it kinda seemed like she was blowing this way out of proportion. Sure, maybe she was a household name back at Mistral, but in Beacon? Literally no one was gushing over her or putting her on a pedestal like she kept claiming. He'd notice if Ren and Nora were treating her differently cause she was a fighting champ.

She seemed to pick up on his lack of understanding, but instead of being offended, she smiled sadly, "I know it sounds strange. But when people expect you to be perfect all the time, it starts to feel...suffocating. Like there's no room for mistakes, or doubts, or...anything human."

Jaune squirmed, his mind racing for a way to escape without being rude. He wasn't mad at her, not like he'd been with Blake. He got that she felt isolated. But hearing her complain about being too perfect, (supposedly) too admired, (supposdely) too well-loved? It was just...weird.

"Yeah," he said, nodding slowly, "I guess that makes sense." He shifted a bit on his feet, glancing at the door, "It's just, y'know, lots of people would probably love to be where you are. Not that it isn't rough, but it could be worse...?"

She sighed, as though his words only confirmed her fears, "I know people think that way. They think, 'What could someone like her possibly have to complain about?' But that's part of the problem, Jaune. I have no one I can really talk to about this. No one who'll understand without thinking I'm...well, privileged and ungrateful."

He winced, feeling a bit guilty now. That was exactly what he'd been thinking. And while he didn't exactly agree with her, he could see where she was coming from. Kind of. Still sounded like making a mountain out of a molehill.

"You're not ungrateful," he said carefully, "And I get that it's hard when everyone expects you to be perfect. I just...I think it's hard for people to understand what that's like."

Pyrrha nodded, seeming to appreciate his attempt to empathize, "I know. And that's why it's so isolating. It's an 'inside the kingdom problem,' as they say." She gave him a small, bittersweet smile, "But it's still a problem."

Jaune gave her a sympathetic nod, but internally, he was torn between relief and awkwardness. Sure, it was nice to see Pyrrha letting her guard down a bit, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was some strange, tragic monologue about...being too amazing. Because she could've just...not entered tournaments? Or maybe not constantly wearing the same outfit that was so connected to the fame she hated so much?

Was he victim-blaming?

"Well, if it helps." He offered her a small, awkward smile. The sane part of him wanted to shut up, but Pyrrha was his friend. His partner. She wasn't the same as everyone else, "You can talk to me about it any time. I may not totally understand, but...I'm here."

She seemed to brighten a bit at his words, and he felt a pang of guilt for wanting to escape just a minute ago, "Thank you, Jaune. I appreciate it more than you know."

"Sure." He scratched the back of his head, glancing toward the door, "But, uh, if you ever want to, you know, do something normal...I'm here for that too."

Pyrrha chuckled, and for a moment, he caught a glimpse of the real her - the one who wasn't a tragic heroine or a famous champion, just...Pyrrha, "I'd like that, Jaune. Really, I would."

He gave her a small smile, genuinely relieved. Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing, after all. Sure, Pyrrha's problems were about as In-Kingdom as they came, but it seemed like she actually needed someone to listen rather than just validate how horrible her life was. And for the first time today, he didn't feel like running.

At least...not yet.

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Like I said, Pyrrha ended up not taking as much of an L as I originally envisioned. Jaune is still internally pointing out that she's making a much bigger deal of it than she probably should, but he's actually sympathetic towards her anyway. Then you have Blake. The tragedy of her lack of tragedy before meeting Adam.

Question:

1. Someone suggested doing a chapter for Cinder. Would you guys be interested? It might be difficult to make it comedic since even for this cast, her backstory is grimm. Literal child abuse and slavery. Not sure if Jaune could be flippant or treat it lightheartedly. Ozpin and Salem have darker backgrounds, but at least those are fantastical and larger than life versus the sadly all-too-real child exploitation.

Team Rizzless - Chapter 1

Another more comedic NSFW story. A few months back, I mentioned the idea of Huntresses being Baalbuddy Elves. Powerful, beautiful, normally unattainable women...who can't get any no matter how hard they try. So I thought I'd incorporate that here with everyone (sans Ruby) being desperate and thirsty in their own insane ways.

This'll be a shorter one, likely two or three chapters at most. There'll be smut on the second chapter between Ruby and Jaune. Turns out, being a sane Huntress has its perks.

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The pulsing lights of Junior's club cast a kaleidoscope of colors across the packed room, where bodies moved to the rhythm of the bass-heavy music. Amidst the crowd, men laughed, drank, and danced without a care, utterly unaware of the force of nature about to crash into their unsuspecting night. That force went by the name of Yang Xiao-Long, and she was on a mission.

Yang leaned against the bar, golden hair spilling down her back like a mane of fire, her lilac eyes scanning the room with the intensity of a predator. She wasn't here to party. She wasn't even here to fight, surprisingly. No, Yang had one thing on her mind tonight: find a guy, bring him home, and finally get some fucking dick.

It sounded so simple, right? She was a Huntress, one of the strongest, most beautiful women in all of Remnant. They were the only ones who could use Aura, and that made them both the strongest and the hottest. Propag- er, totally accurate documentaries showed just how amazing they were. Lone Huntresses turning the tide, taking down an entire horde to save a village with barely a dent to her Aura. They were perfect in just about every way that mattered.

In any normal world, guys would have been falling over themselves to spend a night with her. They'd beg for just a bit of her attention and fight each other like horny monkeys for the chance to see her tits. And yet, for decades - no, for generations - there was an unspoken truth that haunted every Huntress.

Not a single one of them had any gods damn rizz.

It didn't make any sense. They were tough, attractive, and exuded raw power and sex appeal. But something about the whole package just sent men running for the hills. For as long as anyone could remember, Huntresses had been trying - and failing miserably - to get guys to hook up with them. And Yang, for all her charm and confidence, was no exception.

There were a few that broke the curse, of course. There was her mom and 'Auntie' Summer. They somehow managed to not only hook up with Dad, but they both married him. It made the news, though mostly because of how insane people thought Dad was. Most guys ran for the hills getting the attention of even a single Huntress, but 'that madman' (the words the press used so long ago) had gone and tied the knot with two. Yang thought that maybe that luck would pass down to her.

It didn't, of course.

Tonight, though? She was determined to change that. No more rejections. No more awkward, sweaty guys making excuses. She was going to make this work. She had to. She was nineteen, for fuck's sake. Being a virgin when she had this body and this hair was fucking insulting.

Spotting her first target, a guy leaning against the wall, sipping a drink and looking about as alone as she felt, Yang smirked. Perfect. She sauntered over, hips swaying with what she thought was pure sex appeal, her boots clicking against the floor with each step. The guy, a tall and muscle-y Dog Faunus with light brown hair, glanced up as she approached. His expression flickered with mild curiosity, then a flash of uncertainty as he locked eyes with her.

"Hey, there," Yang said, sliding into his personal space without any hesitation, "You look like you could use some company tonight. How about we skip the small talk and get outta here?"

The guy blinked, taken aback, "Uh, what?"

Yang's smirk widened as she leaned closer, her breath hot against his ear, "I'm saying, let's blow this place and head back to mine. I've got a bed that's practically begging for us to break it. And you."

The guy swallowed hard, his eyes darting around like a deer caught in headlights. "Uh...b-break it?"

Yang's confidence flared. She fucking had this, "Oh yeah. You and me, we're gonna have a wild time. Trust me, you've never experienced anything like this before. You're not gonna be walking by the time I'm done with you. Your pelvis is gonna get fucking crushed." She grinned, the gesture all teeth.

The man took a half-step back, clearly trying to edge away from her without making it obvious, "That, uh...sounds intense. Maybe too intense."

Her smirk faltered slightly, her lilac eyes narrowing in what she hoped was a sexy way, "Come on, big guy, don't tell me you're scared of a little fun? I'll go easy on you...maybe." She threw in a wink for good measure. That was the killshot right there.

The buff Faunus coughed and looked anywhere but her, "Uh, you know, I just remembered I have to get up early tomorrow. Really early. Like, super early. For...work." He didn't even bother trying to make it sound convincing before hastily excusing himself and slipping back into the crowd, practically running for his life.

Yang stared after him, blinking in disbelief, "...You've gotta be fucking kidding me." She stood there for a moment, processing the rejection. Again. Her fists clenched at her sides as she scowled at the empty space where the guy had been. This was becoming a serious problem.

She turned back toward the bar, grabbing a drink she hadn't even ordered and downing it in one gulp. Her gaze swept the room, frustration boiling beneath her cool exterior. This wasn't supposed to be this difficult. She was Yang Xiao-Long, for crying out loud! Guys should be throwing themselves at her feet, not running for the exits!

But this was the curse that all Huntresses faced. For as long as they'd been around, they had the reputation of being the strongest, fiercest, and most drop-dead gorgeous women on the planet. But also, somehow, the least desirable when it came to getting a man's attention. It was an irony so cruel, so absurd, that Yang couldn't even laugh about it anymore. How did it make any sense? She was young, she was hot, and she wanted to get fucked. What about that screamed 'run for the hills'?

Across Remnant, the stories were the same. Guys didn't want a Huntress. Sure, they admired them, respected them even. But when it came down to something more, something physical? Nope. They bailed. Every. Single. Fucking. Time.

Weiss had tried the icy, aloof approach, figuring guys would be drawn in by her elegance and mystery. Instead, she ended up scaring them off in about two sentences. Blake? Well, her whole 'brooding loner' thing worked about as well as you'd expect - meaning not at all. And Ruby? Yeah, her little (only by a couple weeks, but still) sister acted like she was too good for it all, the little White Knight. No one was buying it, Rubes. They all knew she wanted it just as much as they did.

Yang gritted her teeth and scanned the room again, zeroing in on another guy. This one was a bit shorter, a bit scruffier, but maybe he'd be more open to her direct approach. With renewed determination, she marched over to him, not even bothering with subtlety, "Hey," she said, louder than necessary, "You and me. Let's get out of here. I'm not in the mood for games, and you look like you need something exciting in your life."

The guy blinked up at her, clearly confused. "Uh...come again?"

Yang leaned in close, placing a hand on his shoulder, her fingers gripping just a little too tight. "You heard me. Let's go. You, me, a bottle of something strong, and we'll see where the night takes us. You won't regret it."

The guy's eyes went wide, and he glanced nervously around, clearly looking for an escape route, "Uh, yeah, I don't think that's a good idea. I've, uh, got...plans. Really important plans. Sorry."

And just like that, he slipped away into the crowd, leaving Yang standing there, dumbfounded. Her jaw tightened as she stood alone once again, the weight of rejection pressing down on her. This was supposed to be easy. She had everything a guy could want - looks, strength, confidence. But it didn't matter. None of it mattered because no matter what she did, she was too much. Too intense. Too much of a Huntress.

Yang grabbed another drink, more to soothe her bruised ego than anything else, and downed it in one go. She could already hear the whispers from other Huntresses echoing in her mind. They all had the same stories, the same frustrations. They'd talk about it in hushed tones, half-laughing (while crying) and half-resenting how unfair it all was. Ruby would've told her that she needed to focus on actually being a Huntress. Pfft, what did she know?

They could kill Grimm by the dozens, survive against impossible odds, but when it came to getting a guy? It was hopeless.

She was about to look for another vict- possible partner when she saw something that made her blood boil. Yang's eyes narrowed as she growled low in her throat, her gaze locked on a corner booth near the back of the club. There, sitting all cozy and smug on Ren's lap, was Nora, grinning like she'd won the jackpot - which, let's be real, she totally had.

"Lucky bitch," Yang muttered under her breath, her grip tightening on the edge of the bar as she watched them. Nora was laughing, practically glowing with happiness, while Ren, as always, looked calm and composed, his arm casually wrapped around her waist like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The childhood friend life hack, Yang thought bitterly, shaking her head. Nora had it all figured out early. Bagged herself a guy before any of the real competition even showed up. Grew up with him, spent years getting all buddy-buddy, and then bam, relationship solidified. It wasn't fair. Yeah, okay, she was an orphan who got abandoned by her mom, which totally sucked (something Yang would never know), but she got Ren in exchange. Seemed like a pretty good offer.

Yang huffed, pushing her hair back from her face. Should've done that when I was a kid, she thought with a scowl. If she'd known it'd be this hard later on, she would've picked some poor boy in Patch, roughhoused with him a little, and claimed him for herself before any other girls had the chance. But no, instead, she had been off training, fighting, and, you know, fighting Grimm. By the time she realized guys were actually a thing she might want to try...well, everyone else had already paired off or was too terrified of her to even think about flirting.

Not that she could blame them, at least not completely. Yang wasn't exactly the queen of subtlety. She liked what she liked, and she had no problem going after it. Problem was, that kind of intensity wasn't exactly working in her favor these days. Why the hell didn't guys like the idea of getting rode so hard that their spines snapped?

She tore her eyes away from Nora and Ren, trying not to grind her teeth in jealousy. They looked so comfortable together, so...easy. Ren was just sitting there, all chill, while Nora had claimed her place like it was no big deal. If Yang tried that, guys would've been running for the hills. Or worse, try to be nice and polite and tell her they only saw her as a friend. Shit, she'd take screaming and running over that.

Yang wasn't one for jealousy, usually, but this? Seeing Nora, bubbly, hyperactive Nora, of all people, locked down a guy like Ren, who was basically the embodiment of calm and collected? That stung.

"Should've found me a Ren when I had the chance," Yang grumbled, knocking back her drink and slamming the glass down on the bar a little harder than necessary.

But nope, instead she'd gone and gotten herself a reputation. Strong, aggressive, and, according to the guys of Remnant, way too intense to handle. It wasn't like she was trying to scare every guy off. It just...happened. Every time. They saw the muscles, the fiery attitude, the Aura, and they bolted. You would've thought a pair of tits like hers would change their mind, but nope. She might as well have been as flat as Weiss for all the good her girls did her.

Yang glanced back at Nora again, who was now playfully bopping Ren on the head with her finger, and Ren, of course, just let it happen with a faint smile. The whole thing was so...domestic, it made Yang's teeth hurt from how sweet it was. She knew she could never pull that off. Even if she somehow managed to convince a guy to stick around long enough to get to the whole "lap-sitting" stage, she'd probably scare him off again with one of her overly aggressive come-ons or by suggesting they actually break a bed.

It wasn't her fault she liked things a little rough. Guys liked that, right? Except, apparently, they didn't. At least not when she came at them like a hungry lioness sizing up her next meal, "Damn it, Nora," Yang muttered, crossing her arms and leaning back against the bar, staring at the ceiling. "Why'd you have to be so lucky?"

But no. She wasn't going to let this beat her. If Nora could bag herself a guy, so could she. Hell, she had way more going for her than Nora. Aura, muscles, gorgeous hair, a personality that was...okay, maybe a bit much sometimes, but still! Guys liked confident girls, right?

Yang's gaze swept the room again, locking onto her next target - a guy leaning against the wall, alone, sipping a drink. This one looks like he's got potential, she thought. Time to put the Yang Xiao-Long charm into overdrive.

She strode over, cracking her knuckles with confidence, but a small part of her couldn't help but glance back at Nora one last time. Damn lucky childhood friends.

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Blake sat on a bench in the park, her usual calm and composed demeanor in place as she gazed at the distant horizon, pretending to be lost in thought. It was a quiet day, with the sun casting long shadows through the trees, and the gentle breeze rustling the leaves above her. It was the perfect setting for a romantic encounter - or so she thought.

She crossed her legs delicately, the edge of her novel resting on her lap, strategically angled so that the cover - a romantic saga about star-crossed lovers - was visible to anyone who might walk by. In her mind, this was the ideal setup: mysterious, alluring, like something straight out of the books she loved so much. She'd read all about how to attract men in those novels. The dark, brooding heroine, quietly captivating with her tragic backstory and unreachable air of mystery - guys loved that. They couldn't resist.

Right?

Blake took a deep breath, keeping her expression distant, enigmatic. She'd practiced this look in the mirror. It was perfect, wasn't it? Guys should be falling at her feet any moment now. All she had to do was wait.

Across the park, she spotted her first potential target. A guy in a leather jacket, headphones slung around his neck, looking like the rebellious type - exactly the kind of character she'd read about in Moonlit Passions. He was walking towards her, completely unaware of the trap she was about to spring.

'Alright, Blake, you've got this. Just be cool, be mysterious, be like that femme fatale in Shadow's Embrace,' She leaned back slightly on the bench, her amber eyes half-lidded, 'Don't talk too much. Guys love it when you're quiet and deep. Just let them be intrigued by your aura.'

As he got closer, Blake uncrossed and recrossed her legs slowly, like she'd read in one of her books. She cast her gaze sideways, trying to look like she was pondering the great mysteries of life, her hands gently resting on her book as though she hadn't even noticed him. It was the perfect pose, the kind that screamed, I'm interesting and you want to get to know me.

The guy walked right past her without even glancing her way.

Blake's cat ears twitched, her brows furrowing in frustration. What the hell? That wasn't supposed to happen. She had nailed the look, right? Maybe he just hadn't noticed. Maybe she needed to be more...obvious, without seeming obvious.

She cleared her throat softly, then louder, making sure her next potential victim - no, target - could hear. It was another guy, this one sitting a few benches away, casually looking through his scroll. He was just sitting there, not doing anything important, so surely he was the type to appreciate a mysterious girl appearing in his life, right?

Blake stood up, letting her long black hair cascade down her shoulders as she slowly walked over, her book clutched against her chest. She'd read that scene a thousand times in her novels - where the alluring woman casually approaches the man, says something cryptic or intellectual, and leaves him begging for more.

When she got close, she stopped just shy of his bench, tilting her head ever so slightly so that the sun caught the edge of her profile, "Do you ever wonder..." she began, her voice soft, just like the heroines in her books, "What it's like to be haunted by a past you can never escape?"

The guy glanced up from his Scroll, blinking in confusion. "Uh...what?"

Blake's heart raced, 'Okay, Blake, keep it mysterious. He's hooked now. Play it cool.' She shifted slightly, trying to make her expression more brooding, "It's...just something I think about sometimes. The weight of it. It's...heavy, isn't it?"

The guy just stared at her, his brow furrowing, "Um, I guess? I don't really think about stuff like that..."

Blake frowned. This wasn't how it was supposed to go! He was supposed to be intrigued by her depth, her mystery! The tragic past just begging to be exposed! She quickly tried to recover, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in what she hoped was an alluring, yet vulnerable gesture, "I've...read a lot about it," she said, holding up her novel as if that would somehow explain everything, "In books, I mean. Books about...life and loss."

The guy looked down at the book, his confusion only deepening. "Is that...a romance novel?"

Blake smiled. This was it. This was her shot, "It is," she murmured, voice alluring. Hopefully, "A story about love and loss, about a woman whose traumas are healed by the perfect guy who understands her pain."

The guy blinked again, and then, without a word, went back to looking through his scroll. Blake stood there, awkwardly, for a moment too long before finally turning on her heel and walking back to her own bench, feeling her cheeks burn at the realization that he hadn't taken the bait.

Okay. That didn't go as planned. But that was fine. It was fine. He just wasn't the right type. Yeah, that was it. The next one would be better.

She sat back down, her mind racing as she mentally flipped through all the romantic advice she'd absorbed from her novels over the years. What was she missing? Was she being too forward? No, she was being mysterious! Guys were supposed to like that! She sighed heavily, leaning back against the bench and staring up at the sky. Maybe I need to be even quieter, she thought, Maybe I'm still saying too much.

But as the afternoon dragged on, Blake tried again. And again. And again.

Each time, the result was the same. Guys looked at her like she was speaking in riddles, or worse, like she was just plain weird. One even asked her if she needed help finding her way to therapy. The horror. The cringe.

Her "quiet and mysterious" act wasn't landing. At all.

By the time the sun was starting to set, Blake was slumped on her bench, her book hanging limply from her hand, defeated. 'This was supposed to work', she thought miserably, 'It worked in all the stories. Why not here?' She groaned, burying her face in her hands. 'Maybe Yang's right', she thought with a frown, 'Maybe I should just go punch a guy and see if that works.'

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Weiss Schnee stood in another park, far from where Blake was bumbling her own attempts at romance. She had no intention of sharing space or strategy with her Faunus teammate - this was a personal mission, after all. She had her own ideas of how to attract men, and besides, the whole "brooding mystery" thing Blake did was far too... unrefined for her taste. Too desperate.

No, Weiss was going for something far more sophisticated. Far more...elegant.

She walked slowly through the pristine park paths, her posture perfect, her hands laying delicately at her sides. The sun shimmered off her white hair, pulled up in its signature side-ponytail, and her icy blue eyes held a haughty, distant gaze. Weiss was embodying the Ice Queen persona she had perfected over the years. The untouchable heiress. The aloof, icy beauty that men would yearn for but never believe they could possess. It was all about making them come to her, drawn like moths to a flame.

The plan was flawless...on paper, anyway.

Weiss had imagined it all: men watching her from afar, entranced by her grace and poise, falling hopelessly in love with her unattainable allure. They'd approach her, nervous, their hearts pounding, offering shy compliments and stammering attempts to impress her. She'd barely acknowledge them, her responses clipped and cold, leaving them desperate for more. It was a delicate game of intrigue and restraint, one she had read about countless times in classic romance novels - specifically the ones where strong, rugged men were drawn to elegant noblewomen like magnets. The kind that would...

No, focus! Weiss shook her head. This was about subtlety. Men were supposed to approach her. All she had to do was remain perfectly composed, letting her unmatched charisma and beauty do the work.

She made her way to a bench beneath a towering oak tree, her every step calculated to exude control. Sitting down, she crossed her legs, perfectly poised, and folded her hands in her lap. The nearby men - two joggers, a guy on a bench, a guy walking his dog - were within her view. 'This is it,' she thought. 'One of them is bound to come over, drawn in by my...presence.'

Minutes passed. Then more minutes. And then, as if on cue, one of the joggers slowed down, glancing her way. Weiss's heart quickened, though she kept her expression aloof. He's interested. He's coming over. He's...

He tied his shoelace and jogged off again without so much as a second glance.

Weiss's eyebrow twitched in irritation. What the hell? Did he not see her sitting there, the embodiment of perfection? Maybe he just wasn't the right type - clearly not discerning enough to appreciate her.

But then, another opportunity arose. A guy with messy blonde hair and a monkey tail swishing behind him, probably some countryside ruffian - she could tell just by his unkempt appearance - was walking by, lazily tossing a stick for his dog. He looked exactly like one of those rugged Valean country boys she'd read about, the kind who spent their days chopping wood and tilling fields, only to get swept up in a whirlwind romance with a woman who was clearly out of their league.

'Oh gods, yes,' Weiss thought, excitement bubbling under the surface. This was her chance.

This was the reason she'd fought for the right to attend Beacon. All the men in Atlas were such delicate, soft little things. Even her little brother Whitley, much as she adored him, was clingy and shy. If she attended Atlas Academy as Winter had wanted, she would've been trapped in a city full of soft, weak men. No, she refused. She wanted - needed - to be ravaged by some big Valean country boy who'd treat her as no less than a common strumpet.

It was hard to say goodbye to Whitley, Mother, and Winter (she could take or leave Father), but she would not be denied the ravaging she deserved.

The guy glanced her way, expression friendly, and Weiss took it as the opening she needed. She shifted her posture slightly, uncrossing and recrossing her legs in a way she thought was subtle, but that just made the bench creak a little. She kept her expression appropriately enticing as she beckoned him towards her with a single finger without saying a word. He gave her a curious look as he approached, and Weiss knew this was the moment.

He was just so Valean, she could feel it in the way he carried himself. In her mind, he was already imagining what it would be like to sweep a girl like her off her feet, to grab her by the waist, pin her against a barn door - No, Weiss, stay focused! This wasn't about your fantasies. Not yet.

But, oh gods, they were hard to ignore. As hard as the dick she wanted to demolish her soft, untouched petals.

As he walked past her bench, Weiss, in a burst of what she thought was her sophisticated Ice Queen tone, blurted out, "You must be used to fucking like a wild animal."

The man froze mid-step, his dog tugging impatiently at the leash, while Weiss immediately regretted every syllable that had escaped her mouth. She wasn't supposed to say that out loud. That was internal monologue only!

But the damage was done, and there was no going back now.

The man's brows furrowed, his face a perfect mask of confusion, "Uh, what?"

Weiss's decided to press the (nonexistent) advantage, "You know," she said, trying to salvage what was quickly spiraling into a catastrophe, "A man like you - someone from the countryside, no doubt - accustomed to taking what you want, unleashing your primal instincts. Ravaging women like me. It's only natural, of course. You see me, so elegant and beautiful, and you realize that you'd give anything to have me. You must already be thinking about how you want to make me choke on your cock."

There was a moment of silence so thick you could've cut it with Myrtenaster.

"Uh..." he stammered, clearly uncomfortable. Shit, "I'm just...walking my dog? And I'm not Valean?"

Weiss, who had already fully committed to this downward spiral, did everything she could to stop blushing as she continued, "That doesn't matter!" she snapped, flustered and grasping for anything that could make this less of a trainwreck, "Where you come from is unimportant. You can't deny that deep down, you probably fantasize about claiming someone like me! A refined, elegant woman, completely at your mercy. It's...only natural. There's no need to be ashamed. I consent."

The guy stared at her like she'd just sprouted a second head.

"I...what?!" He looked genuinely alarmed now, glancing around as if hoping someone would intervene. His dog tugged harder on the leash, desperate to move on.

Weiss couldn't stop the words pouring out of her mouth now. "It's just...in your instincts, you see? You're from somewhere else, you said. Vacuo, perhaps?" He nodded nervously, "Of course you are. You have that ruggedness about you. I've read about it, you know. In novels. The way you Vacuan rogues are compelled to act on your desires, to ravage a woman who you know is unattainable and that stokes your fiery want- "

"I gotta go," the guy said quickly, backing away like she was about to explode. His dog, seemingly in agreement, barked and practically dragged him off before Weiss could finish her tirade.

Weiss sat there, frozen in place, utterly horrified at what had just happened. What in the hell was that? She was supposed to be the Ice Queen, untouchable and refined, drawing men in with her cold allure. She wasn't supposed to be blurting out her fantasies about being ravaged by Valean country boys!

Not that she didn't want to be fucked stupid, but saying it all out loud was so...crude!

She couldn't help it, though. She'd read so many novels, so many stories about strong, rugged men losing control around women like her. The thought had wormed its way into her brain, and now it was manifesting in the worst possible way. Weiss took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. "Okay," she muttered under her breath. "He was just one man who didn't see what was right in front of him. There were other fish in the sea." She straightened up, trying to regain what little dignity she had left as she searched for more prey.

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Back at Beacon, Ruby was slumped over her desk, face planted firmly in her arms, groaning into the wood like the world was ending. Which, to her, it basically was.

It wasn't a Grimm invasion, a rogue Huntress, or some world-ending catastrophe that was driving her to despair. She would've taken any of those over this. No, it was something much worse: the ridiculous, collective obsession of literally every Huntress in Beacon wanting to fuck.

The halls of Beacon, which she'd expected to be filled with the sound of weapons clashing, Aura training, and tactical planning, was instead nothing more than a fraternity club she'd seen in those horrible college movies Yang liked. And Ruby, for the life of her, couldn't (or didn't want to) understand just how far the reality was from her fantasies of what a Huntress school would be like.

"Is everyone going insane?" Ruby grumbled, raising her head just enough to glare out the window, where, in the distance, she could see the buildings of Vale. The same Vale that was currently crawling with Huntresses - her team included - desperately trying to get laid. And failing, miserably.

Like, seriously?!

"All anyone talks about is guys! 'Oh, I'm gonna go to the club, maybe find a hot Valean boy.' 'Did you see the bartender? He's so cute!'" Ruby groused, throwing her hands in the air. "I thought we were training to be Huntresses, not...not..."

She sat up, scowling at her own reflection in the window. "Is it really that hard to focus on saving the world?! What happened to being heroes?! You know, killing Grimm? Protecting people? Doing our job?!"

But no, apparently, the latest craze around Beacon was guys. Specifically, the complete lack of success Huntresses had with them. All her teammates could talk about was how "unfair" it was that no one wanted to sleep with them, despite being, you know, the most powerful women on Remnant.

Ruby snorted at the thought. "Gee, maybe it's because you all act like maniacs the second you get within ten feet of a guy," she muttered to herself. She had seen the horror stories unfold firsthand. Yang, prowling through the clubs like a Huntress on the prowl for more than just Grimm. Blake, trying to play it cool but coming off more like an awkward weirdo who spouted nonsense about "soulful connections." And Weiss...well, Ruby didn't even want to know what happened with Weiss, but she had a sinking feeling it wasn't good.

It was ridiculous.

Ruby stood up and started pacing the small dorm room, hands in her pockets, her brow furrowed, "I mean, come on. Am I seriously the only one who remembers why we're even here? Who cares about getting laid?'There are Grimm out there! Monsters that need stopping! People that need protecting! There's so much to do!"

She stopped, staring at Crescent Rose propped up in the corner. Her baby. That was what mattered. Being a Huntress. Getting stronger. Making sure she could protect her team and the people of Remnant. Not...ugh...chasing guys like it was some kind of competition on who could get fucked first!

Ruby groaned again, throwing herself back onto her bed, her cloak flaring dramatically as she landed, "What is wrong with everyone?!" she practically yelled to the ceiling. Why was this such a big deal? Did everyone become Huntresses just cause they wanted dick? She shook her head. Actually, she didn't wanna know the answer to that.

The sheer exasperation in her voice bounced off the walls of the empty dorm, but it did little to alleviate the feeling of being the last sane person in an insane asylum. Ruby had tried to ignore it, tried to push through the awkward conversations, the constant eye-rolling whenever the subject of 'romance' (read: getting fucked stupid) came up, but it it was everywhere. Everyone was talking about it ever since she enrolled all those weeks ago, still bright-eyed and hopeful. The whole school was buzzing with whispers and complaints from Huntresses who couldn't figure out why they kept getting rejected.

"I mean, seriously, what are they expecting?" Ruby muttered, crossing her arms. "You're not gonna get a guy by threatening to suplex him, Yang! It's not that complicated, is it?"

But apparently, it was. For some reason, every Huntress was treating this like some unsolvable mystery. Like men were the most elusive prey on Remnant, when in reality, the answer seemed obvious to Ruby: just stop being so weird about it!

...Not that she had any luck on that front either. She was friendly with Jaune, the school nurse, but she wasn't obsessed with getting into his pants or anything. She wouldn't say no if he wanted to, of course, but at least she wasn't making an idiot out of herself down in Vale every time classes ended. The only one who wasn't acting like a moron was Nora, and that was more because she managed to get Ren early. It got her a lot of bitter, jealous whispers from everyone else.

She sighed, rolling over onto her stomach and burying her face in her pillow. "Is it so hard to just talk to someone like a normal person?" she mumbled into the fabric. She did it just fine with Jaune, after all. But no, apparently that was impossible for anyone else.

So here she was, stuck in a world where her friends and sister - her team - had lost their minds, running around town like a bunch of sex-crazed maniacs, all while she was stuck trying to keep her head on straight. Not that anyone seemed to notice.

Ruby groaned again, louder this time, "I swear, if I have to hear one more conversation about how 'unfair' it is that no guys will sleep with them, I'm gonna lose it. We have way more important things to worry about!" Like the Grimm? Or the bandits outside the walls? Or the fact that Salem had declared her intention to take every single man in Remnant for herself cause apparently even the Queen of the Grimm couldn't get any.

But no, apparently the end of the world could wait, because right now, all anyone cared about was their sex lives - or, more specifically, their complete lack thereof. This sucked.

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Poor Ruby. Just wants to be a Huntress but all her team cares about is getting laid. But you just KNOW she's gonna be a smug little gremlin about it when she gets some action from Jaune. Probably tell them they can watch fromt the cuck chair if they say please.

Question:

1. Obviously a joke, but which method appeals to you guys the most? Yang being intense. Blake being the mysterious heroine, or Weiss being the Ice Queen who wants to be ravaged?

2. I'm wondering if you guys would be interested in seeing more besides team RWBY. Not sure who though. Maybe Cinder or Neo?

No Victory in Strength (Minecraft Jaune) - Chapter 7

Next Minecraft Jauen chapter. Sorry for the delay, real life stuff. On the bright side, I also managed to get some words in for my 'Huntresses are Bhaalbuddy Elves' idea I suggested all those months ago. Yang, Weiss, and Blake (and Huntresses in general) have negative rizz while Ruby is the only sane one who argues that maybe Huntresses should care about more than getting laid. The three proceed to call her a simp and a white knight. Lancaster story too.

Also got another futa Weiss comm that's a crossover with Cyberpunk 2077 where Weiss fucks Rebecca stupid. We'll see where that goes.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this chapter. More plot setup.

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Ozpin had made countless friends over his long existence. Some of them he mourned even up to now while others had faded from memory. It wasn't due to any fault on their part. As many would tell you, drifting apart was a sadly all too common occurrence in life. Many friendships made in Huntsman academies didn't withstand the test of time. Competition, tragedies, or even just the passing of time led to the fraying of bonds. Ten or twenty years down the line, friendships promised to be lifelong slipped from one's mind. It didn't happen all the time, of course, but it occurred more than people wanted to admit.

Ozpin couldn't be faulted for not remembering all of his friends. He'd lived countless lives, some cut short while others (rarely) ended with him surrounded on his deathbed by people who knew that it was all a farce. And yet they continued the ritual regardless, perhaps out of a sense of proprietary. With so many decades - centuries - it was hard to blame him for not remembering all the ones he'd forged a bond with. The bonds were real, but they weren't eternal. Nothing truly was.

...

So with that in mind, please believe him when he said that he would NEVER be able to forget James Ironwood. The migraines he could would continue to stifle him unto eternity.

Ozpin sipped his mug of hot chocolate as one of his closest friends (in this life, at least) paced in front of his desk like a disapproved schoolmarm. It was a tactic he'd used himself time and again, though he found some ironic humor in being on the other end. Not that he felt ashamed, of course. James was a dear friend, one he trusted despite their numerous disagreements, but he didn't much care if the man had the entirety of Atlas' army under his command. He remembered when he was still a brash teenager with dreams of making a difference.

Of course, he was also a man whose Semblance literally weaponized his stubbornness. He knew that Semblances were unexplainable. They could be boons or burdens with no rhyme or reason as to why, and yet some had it worse off than others. A Semblance that made you expel a noxious stink was nothing compared to constant bad luck or one that drove you into single-minded, near-suicidal stubbornness.

Off to the side, Glynda watched the two of them with a pinched expression. James had been uncharacteristically quiet since Ozpin had arrived. Probably trying to make him squirm with the wait. Well, it wouldn't work. Ozpin had once kept one of his old allies in the hot seat for a month. Oh, poor Sebastian was practically a broken man by the time Ozpin finally spoke. Perhaps it was cruel of him, but Sebastian had broken his trust and deserved fitting retribution.

It took him another lifetime before he could taste hot chocolate again without feeling dirty.

"So..." James started, voice in that disapproving rumble that made many an Atlesian soldier wet their trousers, "When were you planning to tell me about our new...ally."

"In due time." Another sip.

"And when would that be?" James pursed his lips, arms crossed behind his back so stiffly that he could've sworn he heard a creak, "Before or after every other kingdom on Remnant found out first?"

"Before, James." Ozpin sighed and set his mug down, "I told you after I 'hired' Mr. Arc that we needed to talk. You were busy." Not that he blamed him for that, of course. James was a busy man. His two council seats may have given him influence and power, but it was not a 'do nothing' job, "Talking about the details over a message hardly seemed proper."

"And exposing our new 'ally' for everyone to gawk at is a good idea?"

"I couldn't exactly hide him. People would question how I managed to get the cafeteria, docks, and highway repaired within a few days." He ignored Glynda's cutting remark about how that was only because he refused to show Team RWBY the meaning of consequences. Details, details, "If I hid him and he was found out - and make no mistake, he would have been discovered - the other Councilors would band together to remove me from my seat. I don't have the luxury of two seats and the soft power of the army. The Huntsmen respect me, but they don't have the loyalty your soldiers do to you."

"One wonders whose fault that is," Ozpin said nothing. He knew all too well James' feelings on keeping the Huntsmen and Army separated.

"There's no use hiding him regardless. She already knows he exists."

James' eyes narrowed, brows furrowing in worry, "Has she sent any of her agents after him?"

"Mr. Arc has been attacked by various Grimm types since establishing his kingdom." He saw James frown at the word. Kingdom. He could already see the gears turning in James' head, "Kingdoms attacking settlements are not a rare occurrence, but from what Mr. Arc has told me - and he has no reason to lie - this can only be the work of Salem. She's sending hordes after him, and if not for Mr. Arc's powerful constructs, I'm certain she would've taken his life already."

"What about her non-Grimm agents?"

"So far there has been nothing unusual, at least according to him. Though, that doesn't tell us much. We don't know Salem's agents...except for Callows." The madman did nothing to hide. No, he was brazen in his attacks, treating his infamy as a source of devotion, "I've suggested that Mr. Arc take precautions and he's taken it under consideration. And...personally, I believe Salem's agents will have a difficult time if assassination is their goal." The young man hadn't shown him all of his tricks, but he showed him enough. Once more he wondered if Jaune Arc truly had a Semblance or if it went far deeper than that.

"Hm..." He started pacing again, "He knows about Salem then?"

"He knows enough." Not about her immortality...though perhaps he might soon. It was a secret he'd told no one in his years of existence, and yet Jaune Arc's abilities had given him something he hadn't felt in centuries: hope.

"And the council?"

"What you'd expect." Ozpin sighed, letting the years show on his face for a brief moment, "Entitled and expectant. I told them that Mr. Arc is helping me as a personal favor and that I hold no true leverage or sway over him, and yet they believe they can convince him. They're all too used to being able to get their way." He was sure they would try to offer money and connections, completely ignoring his warnings that those mattered little to someone in Jaune's position. It was like offering water to a man with his own lake.

"Hm..." James said again. Ozpin silently refilled his mug. Despite judging the councilors for their short-sightedness, he could already tell that James was planning the same thing. Oh, but it would be different when he did it. He would do it for the greater good (though he was sure Atlas would be the first beneficiary). As much as Ozpin wished to judge him, he'd also attempted to make an alliance with the young man under false pretenses, so he had no room to be high and mighty.

Power had a habit of making fools of them all.

"I wish to talk with this young man."

And there it was.

"Do you believe that you'll have better luck than the Valean council?" Ozpin raised a brow.

"Of course, I will." He nodded, face knotted in distaste as if being compared to them was physically sickening, "I'm not doing it for the sake of petty corruption. We're all allied against Salem and wish to stop her plans."

"On that, we're agreed, but that doesn't mean that Mr. Arc will be amenable to every demand." He steepled his fingers together, "I'll tell you what I told the council, James. Mr. Arc is receiving almost nothing in exchange for his help. No money, no connections, and no favors. I offered these things to him and he refused. Do you know why? Because he doesn't need or want these things. That is what I wish for you to understand. Jaune Arc is a man who wants for nothing and has everything. He's holding all the cards. The only thing he accepted was being trained by Ms. Nikos, and I believe he only agreed to that offer due to his admiration for Huntsmen."

"You make him sound like some sort of golem. He's Human, Ozpin."

"Sometimes, I doubt that." He leaned back on his seat, "I won't stop you from making your case, of course, but you do need to temper your expectations."

"I can be convincing." James smiled grimly, "A stronger Atlas is a better chance against that witch." There it was. James, for all his brilliance, was a man who saw Salem as a nail and Atlas as the hammer. He couldn't blame him for it, however. He had no idea of the truth of her immortality. From his perspective, a big enough gun should be able to kill her, "I've read the reports from Ms. Soleil. These Knights are...intriguing. Better than even the Atlesian Paladins, much as it shames me to say."

"If you're expecting him to share, you'll be disappointed." Ozpin hummed, "Mr. Arc is...quite protective of his belongings. I'm sure he'll loan them to you, but that's about all I'd expect."

"Like I said, I can be persuasive." He raised his left hand and checked his watch, "I have to return for now, Atlas' own council is...deliberating about Mr. Arc, but I'll be back in three days. Make sure to have Mr. Arc here by then, would you?"

"But of course." Ozpin's smile was razor-thin.

James turned and left without another word. Ozpin released a soft breath while Glynda hummed, "You know that he won't be satisfied till he has Mr. Arc's full loyalty. I expect James thinks he'll be able to convince Mr. Arc to put his gifts primarily for the benefit of Atlas."

"I do not doubt that. I can only hope that he takes rejection well."

"Hm." Glynda hummed again, "James won't be taking him. Not over my cold, dead body."

...

"Is there something you wish to tell me, Glynda?"

"Only that he created an automaton that helped do the paperwork. Both mine and the ones you should be doing." Ozpin looked away and whistled innocently, "I triple-checked everything and found that it was perfect. It can't do everything perfectly, of course, but for the tedious busywork? It's flawless. For the first time in years, I've gotten a full eight hours of sleep." Her smile was chilling, "So yes, Mr. Arc will not be leaving here. And if James insists, I shall...have words with him."

"Don't you think you're exaggerating a tad?"

Glynda stared at him with chilling, emotionless eyes, "I've only known Mr. Arc for three days, but if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in Beacon and then myself. Is that clear?"

...

"I see." He downed his hot chocolate in one gulp. Power...it truly was the nectar that made madmen of them all.

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Coco walked through the school with a perpetual raised brow. Not literally - that was a faux-pas she wouldn't be able to live down - but close enough. Her usual cool, collected demeanor was a bit more brittle than usual as she looked around. She knew this Arc guy was a miracle worker. She'd seen the cafeteria and the videos about him repairing the docks and highway that got trashed by some psychos (she had no idea why Beacon cared about that stuff, but whatever).

Still, it was one thing to see that and another to watch the 15-foot-tall knights wandering around the place. Her eyes looked the looming figures up and down and she whistled faintly. The things looked impressive. A lot of old armor was ornate, sure, but they had an impracticality to them that meant actually using the things in a fight was pointless. They were more for posing than fighting. Huntsmen being able to dress however the hell they wanted and look good while killing Grimm was a testament to how good they were. There was a reason that the Atlesian military wore those drab white outfits. It took skill to kick ass looking that good.

The knights felt different. They looked like something you'd see out of a painting, all obsidian armor and blue cloth, but her instincts told her these things were dangerous. Even with Gianduja at her side, she wasn't completely confident that she'd come out unscathed. She'd still still win, of course, but it wouldn't be flawless.

Finding the man of the hour was surprisingly hard. His handiwork was everywhere. She could barely walk five steps without seeing something else he changed around the school. Gilded walls, patrolling knights, stained glass windows (that were bulletproof, judging by some of the comments she heard). And those were just the least insane bits. She didn't even want to think about the statues, the new turrets, and the freaking airship advertising the upcoming Vytal tournament.

That and Professor Goodwitch smiling. The woman was hot beyond belief, but that was terrifying.

None of the Professors said a peep about the changes. Whoever this Arc guy was, the Headmaster let him do whatever the hell he wanted, and he definitely took advantage of that. And judging by how...decorated everything was, Arc wasn't shy about sharing the wealth.

She remembered Ruby's nervous confession about infinite ammo and she smirked. Coco liked to think she was a generous person. Or at least, not a greedy one. She'd been raised well-off, but she never thought she was better than everyone else because of it. Okay, so maybe she had a bit of an ego problem, but that was because she was at the top of her year. It had nothing to do with being a spoiled rich kid like Schnee or Winchester.

It wasn't like she was expecting everything for nothing. She had money and connections that she was damn sure Arc would've been interested in. The Adels were New Money, which got them some looks from the other uptight assholes, but their accomplishments spoke for themselves. They were worth a hell of a lot more than people who coasted on their great great grandpa's whatever. Mom and Dad even encouraged her and her brothers to make their own mark on the world. Keep the streak going.

And she knew that having infinite ammo could help make that mark. Sure, anyone with a bottomless magazine would have an easier go of it, but she and Bun-Bun were the ones better off. Their weapons and Semblances were practically built with unlimited ammunition in mind. Not to knock Ruby, of course, but that rifle and her Semblance emphasized picking her shots instead of trying to win by volume of fire. With infinite ammo, she could take down an entire horde without a sweat and Bun-Bun could kick the ass of anyone at Beacon with both hands tied behind her back.

Finding Arc wasn't hard. She just had to follow the sounds of construction. Coco made her way to the center of the courtyard and stopped, arms crossed and whistling low at the sight of a new statue at the center. Not another one of Ruby. No, this one was a knight with its sword stabbed into the raised platform. The entire thing was made out of silver and gold that seemed to glow in the sunlight, its blue cape fluttering in the wind. He half-expected Roman Torchwick to swoop in out of nowhere and try to steal it.

Arc was at the base of the platform putting the finishing touches. Someone putting their emblem smack dab at the center might've been seen as gaudy for some, but Coco respected the hustle. When you rebuild the academy to make it even fancier than an Atlas villa, you deserved to have an ego.

Time to lay on the charm.

"Hey." She crossed her arms and gave the blonde a lopsided smirk, leaning against the raised stone platform. People were ignoring him for now, but he didn't expect that to last. Eventually, people would get curious enough, and talking to him wouldn't seem as intimidating. She had to get to him early, "Nice statue."

"Thanks!" He looked back at her with a boyish grin. It was charming, in that 'nice country boy' kind of way, but Coco wasn't interested. At least not that way, "The headmaster said I could tweak the courtyard a bit." Coco raised a brow. This was what he called 'a bit'? She'd love to see the guy when he was going all out, "I asked the professors and they agreed to it too. If the students don't like it, I can just move it somewhere."

"I don't think anyone's gonna complain." She laughed under her breath, "I thought you'd make another statue of Ruby."

"Well, I did ask her, but she said the one in the cafeteria was enough already." He shrugged. Coco raised both brows. Wow, this guy must've had it bad for her. Poor Weiss. She'd seen the Schnee malding whenever she saw Ruby's statue. Probably a sore blow for someone with her ego to not get a statue over her teammate, "Eh, doesn't matter. Name's Jaune, by the way. You're...?"

"Adel. Coco Adel." She offered him a hand, which he took. Her eyes scanned his for any trace of recognition and found none. Huh, surprising. The Adels were pretty (in)famous even outside the city. Their fashion line catered to a wide variety of people from the upper elites of Atlas to the rugged survivalists outside the walls. It made sense. Some brands only cared about having the biggest price tag whereas their family understood that variety was the spice of life. And lasagna.

"Nice to meet you." He pulled his hand back and looked back up at the statue, "Hm...what do you think? Too lowkey?"

"Not the word I'd use." Coco chuckled, "This looks pretty fancy already."

"Really? I didn't put in any diamonds." She blinked. He said that...way too casually. Then again, why was she surprised? She was working up to ask him to give her and Bun-Bun infinite ammo, "I wanted to make functional too. You know, so it can act as a defense system if they really needed it?"

"I think we'll be fine." Who would be dumb enough to attack Beacon, of all places? "So hey, while you're here, I wanna bend your ear."

"Hm? Need something?" He didn't even look surprised or annoyed. Good.

"Yeah." She uncrossed her arms and stopped leaning against the wall. May as well shoot her shot, right? "So...I talked to Ruby. She talked you up. Lot of good things. She was practically bouncing with that upgrade you gave her."

"Oh, that was nice of her." He laughed and rubbed the back of his, the very picture of a well-meaning country boy, "I'm glad she enjoyed it, but triple-shot is only a little complicated to put into a weapon. Really, I was lucky that Crescent Rose was so well-built. The better made a weapon is, the easier it is to put in enchantments. Doesn't matter if it's a bow or a sniper rifle. Shoddy builds will just reject any upgrades put into it." Well, that wouldn't be a problem for her and Bun-Bun. Gianduja and Anesidora were top quality.

"Speaking of upgrades." Coco rolled her shoulders. She had to sell this just right, "I was wondering...are you open to requests?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean for certain other people who are interested in expanding their arsenal." She looked at him over the rim of her shades, lips quirked in a cocky smile.

"Those 'certain people' being yourself?" Jaune asked, smiling back lightly. Another good sign.

"Well, me and a friend. Velvet. You'd love her." She unfurled Gianduja, easily carrying it with one hand despite its size. Jaune's eyes widened ever so slightly, "Gianduja here is a real ammo hog, Lots of bullets downrange, but it's not cheap." Beacon gave her a stipend of bullets from the armory, but she wouldn't have that once she graduated. Huntsmen came with a lot of perks - fame, money, lucrative contracts - but that meant they also had to be self-sufficient. Some Huntsmen thought otherwise - thinking they deserved to be reimbursed - but they were a vocal minority. Still, at the rate she was going, she'd need to be careful not to break even after doing contracts.

Hopefully, Arc could change that.

"Woah. A minigun. Never seen a Huntsman with that before." He put a hand on his chin and bent over, poring over the side of Anesidora's casing, "Yeah, I can see why ammo would be an issue. Miniguns are mounted weapons for a reason. It's not really practical even for Huntsmen to use them as a primary weapon." Yeah, that was what her big brother said. His experience? Playing Call of Valor, "What about your friend's weapon?"

"Anesidora. It's a camera." To his credit, Arc didn't look at all surprised by that, "Long story short, her camera stores Hard-Light Dust that she can use to make copies of weapons. Normally that wouldn't be that impressive - most Huntsmen train for a single weapon with a backup just in case - but Bun-Bun's Semblance allows her to copy the moves of anyone as long as she has a copy of their weapon. She's a one-man army." Coco grinned proudly, "Problem is that Hard-Light Dust is expensive. Poor girl has to keep every pinch of it she can."

"Yeah, I can see the problem." He shook his head sympathetically.

"Knew you would." Coco hummed, "She's not the only one whose Semblance buffs up her weapon. Mine makes Dust stronger. You ever wanna see a Nevermore get split in half, you should see me in action." She didn't see the point of being humble. If you had it, own it, "So yeah, we really need help. We'd be way more effective Huntresses if we didn't have to constantly worry about running dry or gouging ourselves to keep our weapons fed. Especially Velvet."

"Hm." He pulled back, hand still on his chin, "So you two are asking for a triple-shot enchantment? I guess I can do that. I've got the proper materials for it."

Coco had to resist the urge to fist bump. Damn, that was easy. She could've been satisfied with that - a lot of people would be - but Coco was never one to settle for second best. She wanted to be the best Huntress on Remnant, not the one who almost reached the top. Yeah, getting a three-for-one deal on her ammo was great, but she knew she could have more. She could already imagine firing Gianduja without stopping, tearing through an entire horde like they were nothing.

She had to shoot her shot.

"Actually..." she started slowly, smile turning to a full-on smirk, "I heard something else from Ruby. She let it slip that the three-for-one was just the first upgrade you were giving her. You know what I'm talking about, right?"

"You mean Infinity." His brows furrowed and he crossed his arms. He didn't say anything, but she felt the air around them turn just a bit colder, "That's a much harder upgrade. With triple-shot, I've already got the materials lying around, but getting the right stuff for Infinity will be a lot harder. That damn tree doesn't like to give up its stuff. If I'm unlucky, it could take me a week to get everything I need. And that's just for Ruby."

"Come on, it shouldn't be that much trouble, right?" Coco said, "If you're already going to get it for Ruby, I'm sure you can squeeze me and Bun-Bun in. We'd really appreciate it." He still looked doubtful, "And it's not like I'm asking for nothing. Not sure if you know this, but the Adels are pretty well-off. We've got money and connections, something anyone could use. You want the backing of a fashion juggernaut? All it'll take is a couple of weeks of work. Sounds like a good deal to me."

"Ah...yeah." Jaune rubbed the back of his head again, "Look. I'll tell you this right now. I don't really need money or 'connections'. Domremy's self-sufficient and money...well, if I need money I'd sell some of my old stuff that's just gathering Dust. Fashion's not really a big thing outside the walls either. Function over form and all that." He shrugged, "Sure, I make my creations fancy, but they still do what they're supposed to above all else."

"The Adel brand agrees. Our 'homesteader' catalog is both practical and fashionable," she said smoothly, "Okay, so no money, but I'm sure we can work out something else. A guy like you must want something."

"Unless you can make that tree drop more of its resin, I doubt it." He shook his head, "Look...I can see why you're doing this. Your weapons do sound like they'd really benefit from Infinity, but I only agreed to go get that for Ruby. Honestly, I don't really like the fact that you heard about it and you decided to just ask me for a couple of copies before I even got one for Ruby."

"Oh come on, it's not that big of a deal, right? I've seen the stuff you've built." She gestured to a passing knight, "Come on, it wouldn't even be a dent for you."

"Huh. Alright, so...if some stranger came up to you asking for two weeks' worth of labor after maybe five minutes of conversation, would you do it?"

"That's...different." Coco winced. When you put it like that she did sound like an entitled bitch about the whole thing, "I mean come on, you're doing it for Ruby, right?"

"I offered. She didn't ask me for it." He shook his head, "Look, I made the offer for triple-shot, and I'm starting to have my doubts about even that." Coco winced, "I'm all about being generous and helping people, but there's a difference between giving help and having someone demand it from you. Especially from a stranger." She...couldn't argue that, "Listen, I gotta go. I guess it was nice to meet you, but maybe next time, don't meet people just cause you want something from them?"

Coco flinched like she'd been hit and watched as Arc walked away. Damn, now she felt like an ass. She took off her beret and ran a hand through her hair. That went horribly. She sighed and looked up at the sky briefly before slapping both cheeks. She wouldn't give up. Arc was right, but that didn't mean she was gonna stop. There had to be something she could offer him. Something that a guy like him would want. Make the trade more equal.

There had to be something.

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Blake watched with a faint smile on her face as Jaune helped her hand out food and other necessities. Ever since he arrived in Vale, he'd been running around non-stop. Whether it was rebuilding the damages from Team RWBY's (justified) escapades or making additions to the school, Jaune did it with an almost infectious gusto. It proved that he was both a hard worker and a selfless one. She knew he wasn't getting paid for any of it. He didn't have to say it. Jaune had enough material wealth on his own that the Headmaster couldn't offer him anything that he couldn't get on his own, and yet he still chose to spend his time on a task with no reward.

It was even more proof that she'd chosen the right man to help save the Faunus.

Yesterday, she'd dropped a subtle hint to Jaune that maybe they could help in the slums. His work at Beacon was great, of course, but what about those who needed his help the most? Jaune agreed and they made plans for the next day.

The slums she'd chosen were particularly bad. The majority of the denizens were Faunus, though there was an odd smattering of Humans every now and then. It was a sad reality that even amongst the poor and destitute, some had even less than the others. The have-nots for the have-nots. Faunus were that demographic. One would think that only the elite and wealthy would have prejudice, but that was an idealistic lie. The poor were just as quick to show prejudice. Sometimes even moreso. It helped distract them from their lot in life and made them feel better about themselves. They may have been destitute, but at least they weren't those guys.

Jaune was generous, as expected. He'd handed out food and drinks, and even built a couple of greenhouses in the empty, unused lots (she didn't want to think about the property law right then and there). The fast-growing food she saw was a bit harder. Apparently, that was part of the special property of Domremy's soil that he worked on for a while, but Domremy had a pretty big stockpile that he used a portal to deliver.

The sight of the people in shock and then their subsequent relief was a balm to her soul. This was what the White Fang had been during her early years. Yes, they were violent when they needed to be, but they also cared about the Faunus as more than just a message. But down the line, she wasn't sure when, things had changed. Charity work became less and less frequent, used only for the sake of propaganda and gathering loyal recruits. Everything else was just violence and fear.

She shook her head, banishing the heavy thoughts. That wasn't the point. The point of this was to show Jaune how good it felt to help people. Help Faunus. She wasn't against helping Humans, of course, but the Faunus had to come first. They'd been waiting far too long.

"Here you go, little guy." Jaune handed a bag full of goodies to a Wolf Faunus that looked maybe nine or ten. The boy smiled and thanked him before scurrying off to join his friends. The sight made Blake's heart flutter just a bit. Even back in the early days, Adam never did something like that. Oh, he approved of it, but he always kept his distance. He was a warrior, he said. His time was better spent in the fight over doing charity.

Jaune was looking more and more appealing by the day. Anyone else would've become greedy or apathetic, only caring about how that power could benefit themselves. Jaune...cared, and that was a (sadly) rare thing to see.

She helped Jaune hand out more supplies. It was...nice, even if it wasn't exactly her plan. Yes, she did it to show him how amazing it felt to help the Faunus in need, but she also planned to appeal to him personally. A man and a woman, working together for the good of others. So many love stories started with less. Now that she knew she couldn't just appeal to him by being in his presence, she changed her plan. Something that could guarantee her success

Be in his presence while doing something. It was foolproof.

Blake wiped the nonexistent sweat from her brow and fanned her neck, giving Jaune the side-eye. He wasn't looking. Damn it. Maybe she could-

"Oh, Blake, fancy running into you here."

Her head snapped in the direction of the voice and she scowled when she saw Weiss. The heiress looked hilariously out of place in the slums, her pristine white dress and polished heels a stark contrast to her dirty, desolate surroundings. She and Jaune weren't exactly ragged, but they didn't stick out quite as much as the heiress to the SDC. It didn't help that she was being flanked by a dozen men in dark suits, all of whom were pushing carts filled with boxes.

She saw the way the people shrunk back and she glared, "Weiss, what are you doing here?"

"Just doing a little charity work." She looked past her to Jaune, "Oh, Jaune! You're here as well?"

"Huh? Oh! Hey, Weiss!" He patted another kid's head then walked towards her, "Yeah, me and Blake were helping out." He gestured to the stockpile of food and the newly built greenhouses, "What are you doing here?"

"Doing my part." She snapped her fingers and the suited men quickly began to hand out the boxes, "What you're both doing is very generous, but I had other worries. The people here can't afford to pay the bills for things such as power, and they're sorely lacking in Dust. I thought that maybe giving some away would help. Fire dust to keep them warm, Electric Dust to power their necessities. A little bit goes a long way."

"Huh. Yeah, I guess so." Jaune nodded, clearly impressed, "Good thinking, Weiss!"

"Yeah...how generous of you," Blake said through gritted teeth.

"Merely doing my part." Weiss preened. All across them, stone-faced men in suits practically shoved the Dust into the hands of the intimidated Faunus, "I wish I could do more, but sadly, it took everything I had to convince Father to give even this much. And even then, he only cared because he saw the possibility of positive publicity for him."

"That's...pretty selfish. No offense."

"Oh, I agree. Father is a very self-interested man. He doesn't do anything for the sake of generosity. There has to be a return on investment for everything." Her lips pursed bitterly before she sighed and put a hand on her cheek. Fucking drama queen, "Oh, if only I had more control of the company, I could do so much more. People wouldn't have to fight over a single Fire Dust crystal so they don't freeze in the night. The world would be a much better place."

Blake's eyes narrowed. The audacity of her.

"Yeah, that sounds really good." Jaune nodded again, arms crossed.

"I'm glad you think so." Wess practically purred. It took everything Blake had to not pounce on the other woman and wipe that smile off her face, "Actually, perhaps you could-"

"There you two are!" A squeaky voice interrupted. Blake let out a sigh of relief and subtly returned Gambol Shroud to its sheath at the sight of Ruby stomping up to them with Yang lazily following behind her. She was about to stab a bitch...what? Weiss had Aura, she could take it.

She tuned out Ruby's accusations towards her partner and sighed. This was way harder than it needed to be. Why couldn't Jaune just fall in love with her? Life would be so much simpler that way.

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Ozpin kept his face carefully neutral as he sat behind his desk. Per James' request, he'd called Mr. Arc back to his office for a chat. He stayed in the room, more to keep an eye on things than anything else. Per their agreement, Ozpin would be here only to watch and not interfere with his appeal, which he agreed to. He knew from their first meeting that the young man could more than take care of himself, but James was...headstrong. He was a man who was used to getting what he wanted by virtue of his position. And while he would've despised being compared to someone like Jacques Schnee, there were a few similarities.

The main difference was, of course, that James truly did believe he acted for the good of all rather than his own selfish desires. And while Ozpin sympathized with his desire to save as many as he could, James was also stubborn and believed his way was the only correct way.

...

Though, perhaps judging him on that was hypocritical.

James stood with his arms folded behind his back, his face a mask of stone. Across from him, Mr. Arc regarded James with a sort of cautious optimism. It didn't take a genius to figure out that James was no ordinary man, "Mr. Arc. A pleasure to meet you." James offered a hand, which Jaune took. The handshake was firm but brief, "I've heard many things about you."

"People seem to do that a lot. Hear things about me, I mean." His smile was crooked.

"You leave quite an impression given your... abilities." Powers, gifts, miracles, "And from what Oz told me, you're also aware of what we face."

"You're talking about Salem, right?" Mr. Arc asked. James nodded grimly, "Yeah...I mean, a part of me still can't believe it, you know? An immortal queen of the Grimm that wants to destroy all of us. I thought that maybe the Headmaster was just making stuff up cause I was gonna leave, but I guess I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. No way he just came up with that stuff on the spot. Too many details."

"I felt the same when he first told me the truth." James turned his head and their eyes met, "It sounds like the plot of a dark fairy tale, but Salem is all too real."

"I'm guessing that's why you called me here."

"Indeed." James nodded stiffly, "I won't mince words, Mr. Arc. Your skills are extraordinary. Far more than anything I've seen in my short time in this world." Ozpin raised a brow. Subtle flattery wasn't usually James' style, "And I believe that with the right direction, you can achieve great things."

"Direction?" Jaune crossed his arms, expression neutral.

"Yes." To his credit, James continued on the same track, "I've seen the things you can do, the things you've done. It's both amazing and terrifying in equal measure. Do you understand the power you wield? You turned a village into a burgeoning kingdom in just six months' time. And you did so with no help from anyone else. Even the architects that created Mantle would burn in envy if they saw what you did. You did in months what would take years if not decades."

"That still doesn't tell me what you want."

"Come with me to Atlas." Ozpin barely held himself back from laughing. He knew James was brazen, but that was above and beyond even his expectations, "You have a gift, Mr. Arc, one that has to be used to its full potential. Atlas can help with that."

"I've been doing fine on my own so far."

"And you can do better in Atlas. Mr. Arc. Jaune. You know the truth about Salem. Oz believes that the Huntsmen will be enough to win this war, but I have my doubts. If we truly wish to end her plans, the only clear choice we have is to overpower her. Atlas can do that. We have the strongest army, and the most powerful naval fleet, and our technology surpasses every other kingdom. With your help, we could have the strength to defeat Salem and ensure future generations will be secured."

The room was quiet after that. Ozpin regarded his friend with a slight frown. He admired James' belief that Salem could be stopped, but that admiration was also tinged with guilt. He didn't know the truth. None of them did. Salem could not be killed. He'd tried again and again and again.

...And yet perhaps Mr. Arc gave them a chance.

Mr. Arc sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "General Ironwood, I promised the Headmaster I'd help him, and I agreed because what he was asking for was about reinforcing Vale and Beacon. What exactly are you asking for."

"To use your gifts for Atlas." Ozpin sighed. For a straightforward man, James had a bad habit of phrasing things through Atlesian pride, "Helping the army would be tantamount. Those weapons and armor, despite appearing less advanced than our own, clearly surpasses our capabilities. Much as it shames me to admit it." He grimaced, "We'll also need you to create more of those Knights for us. A platoon to start with. I've also heard from Ms. Soleil that you gifted Ms. Rose with an 'enchantment' for her weapon. Outfitting the army with that would be useful."

"Woah, woah. Hold on a second." Mr. Arc put a hand up, "Are you telling to drop everything and just move to Atlas to do all that?"

"Yes." Ozpin shook his head. He didn't know whether to respect or pity James' certainty, "You will be well-compensated for your efforts, and as both General of the army and the Headmaster of Atlas Academy, you can-"

"Okay, stop right there." For the first time since he'd met him, Mr. Arc sounded exasperated, "Let's get this out of the way. I don't need money, or 'connections', or favors. I'm willing to work for those if I need to, but you're not the first person trying to offer those things to me and I don't think you're gonna be the last." His shoulders sagged, "I don't need any of the things you're offering, General. Or if I did, I would ask for an exchange first, not the other way around."

"Is that a refusal?"

"I mean...I'll help you out since you're on the same side as the Headmaster, but I'm not, you know, doing all of that."

"I see."

There was a pregnant silence that stretched for seconds. Ozpin closed his eyes and inhaled softly. He'd warned James that the young man wouldn't be amenable to the usual offers, but he didn't listen. Neither did the council or, as he expected, anyone else who sought out Mr. Arc's abilities for their own benefit.

He assumed the meeting was over before James suddenly spoke up again, "You have a gift, Mr. Arc. One that you're obliged to use for the good of your kingdom." Mr. Arc looked confused while Ozpin groaned. Oh dear, it seemed as if James had short-circuited. Possibly literally. Money had failed and Mr. Arc cared not for his two council seats, so he defaulted to what he usually used: pride in one's Atlesian heritage.

There was just one problem...

"Uh...I'm not Atlesian?" Jaune shifted from one foot to another, "Technically, I'm not even Valean either. I was born outside the walls."

...

"It is your duty to help your kingdom."

"James, I think that's enough."Ozpin sighed and stood, "Mr. Arc has agreed to help you. Perhaps not as much as you wish he did, but he's helping regardless. That's more than what many can say." The Council would not be pleased when they were refused. James was a stubborn man, and a bit of a control freak besides, but he truly did care for the greater good. The same couldn't be said for many on the council, "I suggest we end it here lest Mr. Arc rescinds his offer."

"...Exactly what help are you willing to give?" James asked slowly.

Before Mr. Arc could respond, the door to the room slid open and Winter Schnee stepped inside. Her posture was stiff and her brows were furrowed as she regarded them all, "Sir. I just received a troubling report."

"Go ahead, Specialist."

"Should we discuss the details elsewhere?" Her eyes lingered on Jaune.

"No. Provided it doesn't concern crucial military secrets."

"No, it's a recent incident." She sighed and handed him her scroll. There's been a sudden surge of Grimm in the western territories. Many of our convoys were attacked. No survivors." Ozpin's brow furrowed while James frowned. A plot from Salem or just sheer bad luck? "The cargo contained food and Dust meant for the allied settlements."

Settlements in Atlas were a different beast compared to the other kingdoms. While some were independent, that was more an exception than the rule. Solitas' harsh weather meant that farming was much more difficult. Huge swathes of Atlas were reserved just for farmland. Atlas sent food to outlying settlements in exchange for anything from services to luxury products. Some saw it as too authoritarian, but just as many would argue it was sensible.

"We'll need to dip into the food reserves." James pursed his lips. They would also need to get replacement Dust, which meant talking with Jacques Schnee. Ozpin could tell that the idea didn't appeal to him.

Unexpectedly, it was Jaune who spoke next, "You guys need food and Dust?"

"Yes." James nodded grimly, "I can dip into the reserves, but the rest of the Council won't be happy, and I'm sure Jacques will find some way to gouge us for the Dust we need."

"Hm...not sure if I can help with the Dust just yet, but if it's food and other stuff you need, I can help." James blinked, as did Winter, "You guys said it was for places outside Atlas, right? We can't let them starve. I can help."

"And...what would you want in exchange?" James asked.

"I mean, I'll do it even without that, but since you're offering..." Jaune put a hand on his chin before he suddenly smiled. He pointed to the the window behind his desk which showed a view of the Emerald Forest. And past that, far into the distance to be barely a blip, were the remains of Mt. Glenn. A constant reminder of Vale's failure to expand past their walls, "If you have some ships to spare, I'd appreciate it. Something to help carry goods and people."

"We do, but what exactly are you..."

"You're planning to retake Mt. Glenn," Ozpin said. James and Winter looked at him questioningly while Jaune grinned, "I suppose I can't fault you for your ambition, Mr. Arc." He chuckled under his breath.

"Retake Mt. Glenn." James shook his head, "Do you even have the manpower to do such a thing?"

"I've got that covered."

Back in Domremy, far beneath the castle Jaune called home, hundreds upon hundreds of Knights lay dormant, each of them waiting for the order of their master.

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Jaune's got plans, and they're gonna interfere with the canon. White Fang and Kevin won't know what hit them. Like I said, Bhaalbuddy Elves fic soon. Poor guys have to deal with no rizz Huntresses trying to hook up with them.

Questions:

1. Who do you guys wanna see interact with Jaune next and why? Commissioner has final say, of course, but I'm curious all the same. Penny? Pyrrha? Cinder? Adam? Someone else?

2. Do you guys think Jaune should've agreed to go all-in on empowering Atlas like Ironwood wanted or was he right to say no?

Tragic Tales From Beacon Academy - Oneshot (possible Twoshot)

Just an idea that came to me. Spinning off of Counselor Jaune, this fic kinda goes for the opposite. Jaune has a 'gift' of getting people to open up to him...no matter how much he really doesn't want to. He'd rather just have a normal life, but he's basically an RPG protagonist where everyone wants to unload their dark and troubled pasts on him.

Note - Sorry for the delay everyone. I'm writing the next chapter for Minecraft Jaune and it should come out in a day or two. Till then, hope you guys enjoy this one :)

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As long as Jaune remembered, he always had a gift. Or a curse, as he liked to think of it. People just opened up to him. It didn't matter if they were lifelong friends or strangers he just met. Something about him compelled them to tell him all about themselves.

Now normally, that might not have been a bad thing. Mom always told him that strangers were just friends you haven't met. But they told him everything. A ten-year-old didn't need to know that the neighbor was still bitter because his wife was cheating on him with the milkman (why did their small town even need one of those?) or that the guy from down the street had bodies in the walls (and was genuinely surprised when Jaune told the cops afterward).

His family wasn't any different. Being the only guy with seven sisters was hard enough, but seven sisters who thought he was their personal therapist? Ugh. Every crush, break-up, rivalry, worry, and things they couldn't tell the rest of their siblings, let alone Mom and Dad. Saphron came out to him when he was twelve, and you better believe that twelve-year-old Jaune had no idea what to do with the knowledge that his sister liked kissing other girls. Mostly because he had no idea why that was something bad. He wanted to kiss girls too.

...

What, he was twelve. Sue him.

He thought that going to Beacon would change things. Surely, he thought desperately, the people trying to be the future heroes and defenders of mankind wouldn't have problems...right?

Wrong.

Jaune sat down on the couch in the dorm common room, desperately hoping for a moment of peace. His day had been a blur of training, awkward team bonding (with desperate attempts to keep the conversation light), and struggling to be a leader. He just wanted something easy: a simple, casual conversation. Nothing heavy. Nothing about the looming threat of Grimm or destiny or how they were apparently doomed because of an immortal Grimm Queen (thanks for the heads up, Headmaster). Just...normal.

Yang was sprawled out across the opposite couch, lazily flipping through a magazine. Normally, the sight of Yang Xiao Long relaxed in her usual outfit was a sight that many a guy on campus would kill for, but Jaune only felt a sense of dread. He'd sat down before realizing she was there and now it was too late to just leave without an excuse. He'd already used his 'left the turkey in the oven' excuse three times this week and the lack of turkey being shared was giving him side-eyes.

She glanced up when she saw him, a friendly smile spreading across her face, "Hey, Jaune. What's up?" There was something in her eyes that made him nervous. He could see the eagerness in those lilac orbs.

Jaune mentally prepared himself. This was it. A normal, light conversation, "Not much, just needed a break. You?"

Yang shrugged, tossing the magazine aside, "Same. Sometimes you just gotta relax, especially after everything..." Her voice trailed off, her eyes getting that faraway look that sent a shiver down Jaune's spine.

Alarm bells rang in Jaune's head, "Yeah, uh, it's good to take it easy. How about the weather today, huh? Sunny, right?" He chucked weakly, attempting to steer the conversation away from that dangerous road she was already heading down.

But Yang wasn't listening. Her gaze grew distant, her expression darkening, "You know, taking it easy wasn't really an option when I was growing up. After Mom died...it was just me, Dad, and Ruby. Dad did his best, but...it wasn't easy on him. I had to grow up fast."

Jaune's stomach dropped. He recognized the signs, but it was too late. He tried to pull them back to safer waters, "Right, uh, tough stuff, really tough. But, you know, it's important to focus on the present! Like maybe we should all go grab some lunch later? There's this great new noodle place-"

"I tried to find her once," Yang interrupted, her voice low, barely audible. "Not my mom. Raven. My egg donor. I thought if I could track her down, everything would make sense. But all I found was more questions. More pain. I thought I was strong enough, but I wasn't. Not back then."

Jaune blinked, nodding stiffly, "Uh-huh, right, super tough. But hey, did you see what Nora did in class today? Hilarious, right? Maybe we can all-"

Yang sighed, running a hand through her hair as she continued, completely ignoring him, "You ever feel like no matter what you do, you're always chasing after something you'll never catch? It's like this hole, you know? No matter how hard you fight, something's always missing. You try and try and try to fill it up, but it's always so deep."

Jaune resisted the urge to scream. His hands clenched on the couch cushion as he tried to find some way - any way - out of this spiral, "Uh, yeah, totally, I get it. So, uh, speaking of fighting, how about sparring sometime?" She'd kick his ass, but he'd take it over...this, "Maybe we could-"

"But nothing can ever fill the hole," Yang continued, oblivious to (or ignoring) his flailing attempts at small talk, "It's always there, gnawing at you. I thought maybe becoming stronger would fix things. That's why I pushed myself so hard. But strength doesn't fix everything. Some things...you just can't change."

Jaune nodded mechanically, the dread settling deep in his bones, "Yep. Totally. Strength. That's important. Good stuff." He glanced desperately around the room, hoping for a miracle. Anything to get out of this never-ending monologue of misery.

Before he could concoct an excuse to leave (maybe leaving his dog in the dryer), the door opened, and Weiss strolled in. She took one look at the situation - Jaune, sitting stiff as a board, and Yang, staring off into the distance - and immediately narrowed her eyes, "Jaune, you look like you've seen a ghost. What's going on?"

Jaune practically leapt to his feet, desperate to grab onto any distraction, "Oh, nothing! Nothing at all, Weiss! I was just—"

"I was telling him about my mom," Yang said, her voice heavy, "And how she died. I tried to look for Raven and took Ruby with me, but that just made things worse. If it wasn't for Uncle Qrow, we'd have been Grimm chow."

Weiss sighed deeply and sat down beside Jaune, offering her a sympathetic, "Mothers. They have a way of complicating things, don't they?"

Jaune's face fell, "Oh no."

Weiss glanced at him, her expression serious, "You know, Jaune, my mother wasn't always like how she is now. There was a time when she cared about things; about us. But then she married my father and during my tenth birthday, she found out what kind of man he truly was. And that broke her."

Jaune slumped back onto the couch, feeling the weight of inevitability pressing down on him, "Of course it did," he muttered, resigned to his fate.

Weiss was only getting started, "I used to think that if I could just be perfect, maybe she'd notice. Maybe she'd come back. But perfection isn't enough. It never is. How can she see her daughter if she's so busy looking down the bottom of a bottle?"

Jaune stared blankly at the ceiling, feeling his soul slowly wither, "Yep, perfection's overrated. Got it." He knew there was no stopping it now. He was trapped in the endless vortex of tragic backstories and emotional scars. Gods, and to think he used to have a crush on Weiss. It only took one time calling her Snow Angel before she decided he was perfect to vent all his frustrations and tragedies on. Even more than everyone else did. He knew more about the Schnee family than anyone else on Remnant by now.

As Yang and Weiss exchanged more stories about loss and abandonment, Jaune mentally screamed into the void. All he'd wanted was a simple, normal conversation. How was it possible that everyone he knew had a mountain of trauma just waiting to pour out? Was it something in the air at Beacon? Did Ozpin dose the water with something? Why did they all just love talking about their dark pasts? It was like being the only person without a sob story made him the weird one.

And the worst part? It was only a matter of time before Ruby, Pyrrha, or Nora wandered in and made it a full group therapy session. It happened before.

Weiss crossed her legs, settling into the couch like she was about to launch into a presentation. Her expression darkened, eyes hardening like ice, "You know, Jaune, it's not just my mother who's the problem. My entire family is a mess. My mother... well, let's just say she drinks more than she breathes. If she went to the doctor, I'm sure her blood alcohol levels would make them faint."

Jaune's eyes widened as he leaned forward, hands planted on his knees in an attempt to rise, "Oh, wow, that sounds...really difficult. Maybe we should, uh-"

"And my father," Weiss continued, her tone biting as if she hadn't even heard him, "He's worse. Greedier than a Faunus with a grudge." Wow, that...sounded super racist, "All he cares about is money and status. Everything is a transaction to him. Family means nothing if it doesn't boost his stock price."

Jaune blinked, feeling sweat bead on his forehead. He glanced toward the door, his escape route looming large in his mind. "Yeah, sounds really rough! Uh, maybe we could grab some fresh air or-"

"My father would sell his own children if it meant another percentage point on his quarterly earnings," Weiss said coldly, her fingers tightening on the edge of the couch, "He doesn't care about me. Or Winter. Or even Whitley, his little golden boy."

Jaune was almost halfway out of his seat now, but Weiss was too far gone in her rant to notice, "Whitley?" he tried, hoping that maybe the topic of her younger brother might lighten things. "Well, I'm sure at least he's-"

"A little shit," Weiss spat, her tone acidic. Jaune sat back down, afraid, "That boy is a snake in human clothing. Always lurking around, sucking up to Father, like some kind of scheming, slimy-ugh!" She growled in frustration, her hands gripping the couch cushions so hard Jaune thought they might tear.

He swallowed, his hand reaching toward the armrest for support as he started to rise again, "Yeah, siblings can be tough, but hey, I'm sure deep down-"

Weiss shot him a sharp look, freezing him in place, "Don't you dare say he has a good heart or some nonsense like that, Jaune. I've lived with him. He's a manipulative, spoiled brat who thinks the world owes him everything just because he's a Schnee. He's always trying to tear me and Winter down or curry favor with Father. You know what he said to me the last time I went home?" No, but he was sure she'd tell him, "'Try not to embarrass the family name.' Me! The only person in that house actually doing something worthwhile!"

Jaune was now inching toward the edge of the couch, one foot hovering above the floor like he was preparing to make a break for it. His smile was strained, his heart pounding, "Wow, Weiss, that's...something! Maybe we can continue this conversation later? You know, when-"

Weiss stood abruptly, cutting him off entirely, her voice rising in frustration. "I've had enough of people telling me how to act. 'Be proper, Weiss! Don't embarrass the family, Weiss!' I've spent my entire life under the thumb of Father's ridiculous expectations while Mother drinks herself into oblivion and Whitley stabs me in the back every chance he gets!"

Jaune's foot touched the floor, and he made a slow, awkward attempt to back away, his palms up in surrender, "Okay, I get it, family stuff is tough! I really do! But I think I'm going to-"

Weiss whipped around, her eyes blazing with the righteous fury of years of pent-up family drama. "Do you have any idea what it's like to constantly be judged? To be weighed and measured against standards that are impossible to meet? To be told over and over again that you're never good enough?"

Jaune opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He didn't know how to respond. His attempts to escape had failed spectacularly, and now he was caught in Weiss's whirlwind of emotional venting, just like he had been with Yang moments earlier.

"I'm the heiress to one of the most powerful companies in the world," Weiss went on, her voice sharp and bitter, "But that doesn't mean anything to Father. I'm just another pawn in his game of wealth and power. He doesn't see me as a person. Just an...an asset."

Jaune's hand finally found the back of the couch, and he tried to push himself up, only for Weiss to spin back toward him, her icy blue eyes locking him in place again.

"And Whitley," she snarled, her lip curling. "He thinks he can just slide into my spot, like I'm going to stand aside and let him! Like I haven't fought tooth and nail to earn what I have!" A part of him wanted to point out she earned it by virtue of being born a Schnee, but he wisely kept his mouth shut, "That little rat doesn't even care about the company! He just wants Father's approval, no matter who he has to undermine to get it!"

Jaune, still trapped, was nodding mechanically now, too terrified to even attempt another escape, "Yeah, Whitley sounds...complicated. But maybe, um, we should talk about something else? Maybe team training?"

Weiss let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping as the fire in her eyes dimmed, "You don't get it, Jaune. You've never had to live in a house like mine. With a family like mine."

"Nope," Jaune said, trying to force a laugh, "Can't say I have! You know, we could...we could go do some sword practice instead?" Just please kick his ass normally instead of bludgeoning him with emotional trauma.

But Weiss wasn't done. She dropped back onto the couch, rubbing her temples, "I just want to be free of all of it. The pressure, the expectations, the constant judgment. Sometimes, I wonder if it'll ever end."

Jaune was practically hanging off the armrest now, his body halfway to freedom, but Weiss's tired, drained expression pulled him back just enough to make him hesitate. She looked exhausted, and even if he had no idea what to say, he couldn't just run. Damn him for his empathy!

"Well," Jaune said awkwardly, "I'm sure you'll...figure things out, Weiss. You're strong, right? You're tough. And hey, you've got us. Team RWBY. Team JNPR. We're all here for you."

Weiss glanced up at him, her icy demeanor cracking just a little, and for a brief moment, Jaune thought he might have finally succeeded in shifting the conversation away from tragedy.

Then Yang, who had been quiet for a moment, piped up from the other couch. "Yeah, family's a mess, huh? Makes you wonder if it's even worth trying sometimes."

Jaune slumped back into his seat, defeated once again, as the floodgates reopened and the cycle of tragic backstories continued. There was no escape. Not here. Not ever. Yang leaned back on the couch, arms crossed, her voice carrying that familiar edge of bitterness. "You know, Jaune, I had to practically raise Ruby after Mom died. I mean, I had no choice. Someone had to step up and be the mom both of us needed."

Jaune blinked, confused, "Wait, what? But you're only, like, two years older than Ruby, right? How could you have-"

But Yang was already lost in her monologue, her gaze fixed somewhere far away as she continued without missing a beat, "It wasn't easy, you know. Trying to be both a sister and a mom at the same time. I had to balance taking care of her with training, school, everything. Dad did his best, but let's be real, I was the one who kept things together while he was depressed."

Jaune opened his mouth to argue again, feeling like he was losing his grip on reality. "But...you're literally almost the same age! You would've been, what, five when she was three? How could you-"

"I made sure she ate properly," Yang went on, completely ignoring him, "Helped her with her homework, taught her how to ride her bike, how to fight, how to stay strong when things got tough. There were nights where I'd stay up, worrying about her, wondering if I was doing enough, if I was being a good enough sister—no, a good enough mom."

Jaune was now staring at Yang in disbelief, trying to wrap his head around the logistics. "Wait, hold on. You were barely more than a kid yourself. How the-"

"And then when Ruby started at Signal," Yang continued, her voice full of conviction, "I was so proud of her. She was finally starting to come into her own. But you know, Jaune, it never gets easier. Once you start taking care of someone like that, you never stop worrying about them. I've always had to be strong for her. Always had to put on a brave face, because if I didn't, who would?"

Jaune leaned forward, gesturing helplessly with his hands, "But you're barely older than her! You were both kids! How could you have raised her? It doesn't make sense!"

Yang didn't seem to hear him at all, "Being the 'big sister' is more than just a title, Jaune. It's a responsibility. A burden, really. One I've carried for as long as I can remember. Sure, maybe I wasn't much older, but I was old enough to understand. Old enough to know that I had to be the one to protect her, to guide her. Rubes had no one else in the world. Just me."

Jaune rubbed his temples, feeling like he was stuck in a conversation where logic just gave up and killed itself, "But you were five! You were both probably just eating dirt and watching cartoons! How does any of this-"

Yang's expression hardened, as though she was ignoring all reality and forging ahead with her own version of the story, "It doesn't matter how old I was, Jaune. What matters is that I had to be there for Ruby. I had to be the one to teach her what it meant to stand on her own two feet. And I did it. I raised her."

Jaune slumped back in the chair, defeated once again. There was no point in arguing with her. Somehow, despite the blatant disregard for time and logic, Yang had fully convinced herself that this was the real story, and no amount of protest from him was going to change that.

He gave a weak, resigned smile, "Yeah, Yang. You really did...raise Ruby."

Yang sighed, nodding, "Yeah. It's been tough. But you know, I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm proud of the woman Ruby's becoming. Proud that I was able to shape her into who she is today."

Jaune just stared at her, trying to reconcile the idea of a five-year-old Yang making dinner and teaching Ruby how to read, "Right...of course. You...you really did a great job."

"I did. Ruby's the best." Yang nodded proudly.

"Right." This was his chance. The two weren't depressed and were right at the spot of feeling good about themselves, "Well, I left my dog in the dryer, so I gotta go pick him up before he...drowns. See ya!"

He practically jumped out of the couch and fast-walked out of there. He never ran; they took that as a sign to keep going for some insane reason. Jaune left the common room and debated where to go. Team JNPR's dorm? No, if Pyrrha and Ren were there alone then they'd start trauma-dumping on him too. Or worse, if Nora was alone. You thought that smile meant she had nothing to worry about? Nope. He'd heard all about how great of a mom Mama Valkyrie was.

No, he had to find somewhere he could be alone.

He decided to go to the courtyard. Keeping to himself, Jaune walked till he arrived at a lone tree at the bottom right corner. He looked left and right, and after finding no one waiting to spring a new traumatic history on him, heaved a sigh of relief. He sat down with his back against the bark, relishing in the silence.

"...Jaune?"

His head shot up to see Blake sitting on a branch staring down at him, amber eyes widened somewhat in surprise. Jaune's breath hitched. So far he'd managed to avoid Blake talking to him about her problems. And it was NOT easy. You'd think it would be considering she barely talked to her own team, but the same weird magnetic energy he had drew her to him. But being a magnet for a hot girl with the best butt in Beacon wasn't a plus when he knew she'd take it as a chance to tell him something he'd prefer not to know.

"Oh! Hey, Blake! You, uh, just hanging around!" He cringed, "I'll just...get outta your hair."

He was about to do just that when she hopped down with cat-like grace, "There's something I need to tell you."

"...Can it wait?" Jaune asked weakly, though he alreaady knew the truth.

She didn't reply. Instead, she raised her right hand and pulled off her bow to expose a pair of cat ears, "I'm...a Cat Faunus," she said, voice heavy.

That...didn't surprise him. Okay, so he didn't know she was a Cat Faunus exactly, but she was always kind of weird. Loners weren't uncommon - he was kind of one back home considering he didn't want to get trauma bombed day in and day out - but Blake was particularly standoffish. He still remembered when she'd practically bitten Nora's hand off when Nora tried to pull her bow. She justified it with personal space issues so no one questioned it, but he had a feeling it was more than that.

...

That and he didn't...really care? Like yeah her being a Faunus was shocking, but they literally never talked before this. At least not outside the one time he asked her about the weather and she almost went on a tangent about how it was 'gloomy like the rest of her life'. He got the heck out of there.

"That's...cool?" Jaune wondered if he could chance making a run for it.

"It's not." She shook her head, "To a lot of people, being a Faunus is enough for them to look down on you, to treat you as lesser than them."

"Yeah, that...that sucks." He was sincere about it. It really did suck, but that didn't mean he could do anything about it.

"It does." She nodded like he'd just said something profound, "And it's not just because I'm a Faunus. I was surrounded by bad influences, those that lad me down a dark, sordid path." She looked him in the eyes with an intensity that made him shiver, "It all started when I was twelve, and I met Adam Taurus."

Jaune groaned internally and readied himself for another round of misery poker. It was too late to run now. Blake would track him down and only talk more if he 'interrupted' her. He cursed whatever god out there decided he should be everyone's therapist.

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Poor Jaune. Just wants a normal life and gets this instead. This is a oneshot for now, but I'm actually wondering if I should make it a twoshot. Show other people like Ruby, Pyrrha, and maybe Ren and Nora. What do you guys think?

Like I said, Minecraft Jaune very soon. Hope you guys enjoy!

A Bird in Summer (Qrow x Summer Smut)

A commission for someone. Qrow x Summer smut with Qrow being a dense bastard and Summer taking some drastic measures so he finally gets that she wants him to bone her. Hope you guys enjoy.

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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Summer Rose was a woman who was never afraid to get what she wanted. At 22 years old, she'd accomplished things Huntsmen twice her age could only dream of. After all, it wasn't every day (month, year, decade, century...) that someone managed to beat an unkillable Grimm Queen with the power of their eyes. It was a heck of a way to earn her license, that was for sure.

And then she had to run herself ragged to get back in time to see Yang's birth. Woof, that was a heck and a half. Cause of course Ozpin gave Qrow and Raven the power to turn into birds and save thousands of lien in travel supplies and travel fares. Summer? Oh, she had to take coach and then walk all the way to the Grimmlands. She was still waiting for Ozpin to reimburse her for that. Heroes who saved the world shouldn't have to pay for coach with their own money!

But whatever, that wasn't her biggest problem right now.

"You alright there, Summer?" Qrow asked.

That. That was her problem.

Qrow Branwen, her partner and best friend. What could she say about him? She could talk about how he'd been there with her every step of the way, how he saw a girl who'd been overwhelmed with everything and decided to be her friend even when his bitchy sister thought she was a waste of time. The four years of Beacon she spent with him and their team were the happiest in her life, and he was with her every step of the way. He picked her up when she was down, backed her up against anyone and everyone, and even tried to come with her to the Grimmlands before she'd put her foot down that it was a solo mission. He was everything she could've asked for.

...

He was also the densest motherfucker she'd ever met in her life.

She liked him. No, saying 'like' didn't do it justice. That made it sound like some innocent schoolgirl crush. What she felt for Qrow was...well, if he asked her to strip naked and fuck like animals in heat in the Emerald Forest with all the cameras watching, she would've asked if he wanted her to strip there or go or walk through the school in her birthday suit first. But of course, he wouldn't ask that from her because, as mentioned, he was thicker than day-old oatmeal.

Summer realized she loved him shortly into their second year. She'd tried to deny it during their first year, play it off as her just being grateful, but after the first...half a dozen dreams of Qrow railing her like a wild beast, she had to concede that what she felt went a bit beyond platonic friendship. So, she told him exactly how she felt. Not the dreams about being fucked stupid till she was giving double peace signs, more the fact that she liked him that way and maybe they could start dating?

He laughed. Not in a cruel way - that might've honestly been better - but in that 'haha, you got me' sort of way. He'd gone on about how it was a nice prank but he wasn't gonna fall for any more likes like the time Tai convinced him on the first day that the male students wore skirts. And okay, Summer played along for that one, but still! It was just a harmless prank, but then he vowed that he would never fall for it again. She'd brushed it off at the time thinking he'd forget it in a week.

Oh, how wrong she was...

It didn't help that Raven - that absolute bitch - doubled down on it by telling him that she was just trying to prank him. From then on, he treated every confession she did as a long-running gag that she refused to let go of. She loved Raven, she and Tai were like the sister and brother she never had, but she swore everlasting revenge on her for that. She hadn't done it just yet, but she would. She would let Raven stew in her paranoia for years.

Right now, she and Qrow were watching over Yang while Tai and Rae were out on their first date night in a year. It was her idea. As much as she plotted Raven's downfall, she knew they both deserved a break from taking care of their little spitfire. Yang was a ball of trouble just like her parents. Barely one year old and she was already trying to get out there and make her mark. The fact that Raven unlocked her Aura because 'no child of mine will be a weakling' didn't help. Sure, it helped avoid baby bumps, but she'd already broken out of her crib. Twice. They had to get reinforced ones to keep her from breaking the bars.

"Who's my favorite niece? You are! Yes, you are!" Summer sputtered.

"She's your only niece," Qrow drawled, taking a sip from his hip flask. Non-alcoholic. No booze breath around the kid, Tai said, "Technically, she's my niece. You...eh."

"Tai and Rae piss me off like family so Yang counts."

"Family, huh?" He sat down on the beanbag, "You know, you don't gotta pretend to be happy about this. I won't judge you for it."

Summer smiled and had to resist the urge to smash Qrow's head through Yang's reinforced crib. It amazed her how he could be so smart in some ways and an absolute dumbass in others. He thought she was in love with Tai. Why? Cause when she saw Tai pulling out all the stops to get Rae to date him and she got jealous. Why couldn't Qrow serenade her or wax poetic about how her hair was like 'liquid night', whatever the hell that meant? She would've actually appreciated it, unlike Rae.

But of course, Qrow saw it and thought that she was in love with Tai. Any attempt to correct him on that led to sympathetic pats on the shoulder and reassurances that there were other fish in the sea. Telling him that he was the fish she was interested in led to another laugh and chiding about 'not letting a joke go'.

It was outrageous. She'd saved the world from a (seemingly) unkillable Grimm Queen but she couldn't break through Qrow's thick skull.

Her foul mood faded when Yang reached out and pawed at her face, smiling and drooling in the adorable way all babies did. Her puckered frown turned into a smile and she nuzzled her nose against Yang's pudgy belly. She had to admit, finding out Raven got pregnant was a surprise to her. Especially since, contrary to expectations, it didn't come from a drunken night of debauchery or a broken condom. Apparently, they actually planned it. Amazing.

Her eyes flicked over to Qrow again. Four years she'd tried to convince him that she was serious and he still didn't get it. Anyone else would've given up by now, but Summer Rose wasn't just anyone. She'd grown up in an orphanage with nothing and clawed her way out from the mud with hard work and determination. There was no one to teach her how to fight and survive, but she still made it to Beacon on her own merit. Summer Rose didn't give up. Ever.

Looking down at Yang, seeing those lilac eyes staring back at her, lit a fire in her that blazed more strongly than ever before. Back then she'd been frustrated, but she'd always told herself that she would have more time. Even when she came back exhausted from beating Salem, she found some reason or another to avoid telling him the truth. Well, not anymore. She was gonna tell Qrow exactly how she felt about him and this time she was gonna make damn sure he didn't see it as another 'joke'.

She smiled and nuzzled Yang's belly again. She was going to get her a playmate soon.

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Qrow looked up at the motel sign with a raised brow. The No-Tell Motel, it said. Why the hell would Shortstack tell him to meet here? Did she not know what kind of place this was? His eyes flicked over to the seedy exterior and the people shuffling in and out. Everyone knew what this place was. A place of sleaze where anyone and everyone could get their rocks off without being seen or heard. Everyone from the politicians to the dregs of society (though Qrow personally didn't see any difference between the two) was welcome so long as they paid the fee.

And Summer wanted to meet here.

His lips quirked up in a wry smile. Summer would take on a Leviathan with her bare hands if she had to but she was weirdly inexperienced in a lot of other ways. Far as she was concerned, this place probably was just an out-of-the-way motel with nothing special about it. Heh, he could already imagine her face going red when he told her exactly what this place was. Shortstack was gonna be red up to the tip of her ears once she found out.

He wondered just what was so important that they had to meet here, of all places. She'd already beaten that bitch Salem and was still waiting for Oz to pay her for that. Yeah, saving the world was good and all, but she still had to eat, and rent for that apartment she barely slept in didn't pay for itself. Well, whatever. It was probably about a secret birthday gift for Yang's upcoming birthday. Shortstack was exactly the kind of person who'd make buying a present into a whole thing like this.

Qrow chuckled to himself. She was weirdly innocent despite how deadly she was with that axe. He bet that she'd be sitting down on that heart-shaped bed without even thinking about it.

That thought ran through his head as he opened the door and was met with Summer sitting on said heart-shaped bed with one of the skimpiest sets of lingerie he'd ever seen.

Qrow froze, hand on the knob and his eyes practically bugging out of his skull. Before he could stop himself, he looked her up and down. The lingerie - blood-red lace silk - hugged the curves of her pale, flawless skin. The bra was tantalizingly small, more emphasizing than covering her tits. He called her Shortstack cause she was a lot of oomph in a tiny package, but right now his mind drifted to the other reason someone would be called that. Despite being barely a few inches over five feet and slender to boot, Summer had tits that would make anyone green with envy. Easily double D's, which only looked bigger thanks to those lacy underthings she had on.

His eyes trailed down from her tits to her toned stomach, the result of years of hard work, to her legs. Her legs were thick and muscular, fitting for someone who was a runner. The crimson panties were practically glued to her hips like a second skin and the near see-through material gave him a generous view of her cleanly shaven pussy. The sight of it made his cock twitch and he grit his teeth to will his thoughts away from going down that road. She was his partner, his best friend. And friends didn't think of each other that way.

He always knew that Summer was attractive - you'd have to be blind not to see it - but he put it out of his mind. She was in love with Tai, that dumb bastard. He still had no clue what made him fall for Rae. Sure, she was damn good in a fight, but so was he and Tai wasn't trying to knock on his back door. Summer would've been the choice anyone sane would pick.

Sure, she kept that joke about her liking him going, but he saw the way she pined for Tai from afar. She couldn't fool him. Besides, why would she like some guy raised by bandits out in the wilds when Tai was right there? No, Qrow knew he didn't have a lot to offer anyone and he didn't have Rae's arrogance to ignore how fucked up he was.

"Shortstack, uh..." Qrow trailed off, unable to find a quip or a sardonic comment. It only got more difficult when Summer crossed her right leg over her left, the thick muscles seeming to glow under the pink light hanging above them. He was so distracted he couldn't even pay attention to how gaudy the room looked, "You...You wanted something?"

"Oh, I definitely do." The way she said it, her voice a seductive purr, sent a shiver of desire down his spine, "Why don't you close the door, Qrow? I don't want an audience."

He did just that. Gulping nervously, he stepped inside and let the door close behind him with a soft click. The atmosphere in the room grew heavier as Summer looked up at him through half-lidded eyes, teeth poking out to gently chew on her bottom lip. Fuck, what the hell was going on? His first thought was that maybe she'd wanted to meet someone else, but she didn't act surprised when she saw him. No, she invited him inside like this was all part of the plan.

"You know...I'm pretty pissed, Qrow."

"Yeah...?" He barely heard her. His eyes were glued to the way her tits moved when she leaned back on the bed. The voice at the back of his mind screaming about how he was gonna fuck everything up got smaller and smaller.

"Yeah. See, there's this guy I like, but he just doesn't get it." She stretched her arms above her head. Her chest seemed to pop, the bra barely managing to contain them, "I've told him over and over that I'm in love with him, but he thinks I'm in love with a guy who I see as a brother to me. And he can't get it through his thick fucking skull that I'm being serious no matter what I do or say. Any of this sounding familiar?"

"It, uh...sort of." Gods, what the fuck? He'd faced Grimm ten times his size with nothing but dry quips but the sight of Summer practically naked turned his brain to mush.

"Good. Cause honestly? I'm getting really tired of banging my head against the wall." She looked up at him with an oddly serious look in her eyes, "So here's how it's going to go. You have two choices. One: You turn around and walk away. I'll take that as a rejection and I'm hoping we can still be friends after. Or..." Her lips curled in an enticing smile, "Two: You get on the bed and fuck me raw like a dog in heat. I know which option I'd pick."

His cock was practically straining against his pants, screaming at him to not be a dumbass and fuck the woman offering herself up to him.

Instead, he had to open his big mouth.

"This ain't a prank, right?"

Her eyes narrowed and the temperature in the room turned icy. Her next words were calm but he could feel the frustration bubbling underneath the surface, "Qrow, I swear to the Brothers that if you think that this is a prank or a joke or some kind of gag I'm going to shove Sundered Rose up your ass till you're screaming falsetto. Now I'm gonna ask again: Option One or Two?"

He didn't even have to think.

Qrow forced one foot in front of the other until he was standing in front of where Summer sat. She looked up at him in challenge, lips puckered and eyes unblinking. His hands grabbed her shoulders and he let out a soft breath at just how warm her skin felt against his own. He wasn't new to touching Summer. They were partners, so they'd clapped each other on the back and pulled the other up more times than he could count. But this was different. This wasn't a passing bit of contact. It was heavier, lingering.

"Summer, I-"

"Qrow, shut up and kiss me."

He did just that. Her lips tasted like strawberries and he suddenly felt guilty that she could probably taste the bitter tang of alcohol on his. Not that she seemed to care. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she pulled him on top of her on the bed. The thin material of his shirt allowed him to feel her tits press up against his chest and he groaned. Fuck, this was crazy. He would've been lying if he said he never thought about Summer like this, but those were always in dirty dreams that he felt bad about after he woke up. She was his partner, it felt...wrong to think of her like that when she didn't feel the same way about him.

Or so he thought.

His tongue probed against hers and she let it pass. Their sudden makeout session deepened, the sound of smacking lips and muffled moans echoing across the room. It wasn't the first time he'd gotten hot and heavy - fucked - someone before. Beacon was a place full of fit, good-looking people and their later years were spent in the field doing missions. Tensions ran high and it wasn't uncommon for students to find their own ways to relieve stress. It was how Tai and Rae first got together (okay, thinking about his sister getting action was the last thing he needed...) and Beacon was never short on upcoming Huntresses down to get some action after a hard mission.

Summer's arms held on tight and refused to let go, like she was scared he'd pull back and say he changed his mind. He couldn't blame her. He'd been a fucking idiot for...he didn't even know how long. He was convinced that there was no chance that she liked him that way. Even now, a part of him thought that maybe he'd made a mistake and this was just another joke. He brushed that thought away. Summer wasn't like that.

They continued to make out for a couple more minutes before they finally separated with a loud pop. A bridge of saliva connected the two of them for a moment before she licked her lips and severed it, "Fuck, do you know how long I've been waiting for that?" she whispered, breaths coming out in soft pants, "Four years. Four years of you being the dumbest asshole on Remnant."

"Well...Rae said it was a prank."

"Don't even talk to me about her. She's gonna get her's soon enough." Summer growled, though there was no real heat in it, "But that's not the point. I'm tired of waiting, Qrow. So...take your pants off and fuck me already."

His dick twitched again at the commanding force in her voice. Summer was their leader and he always admired how she took charge in the heat of battle. This was the first time he'd heard that voice outside of when Grimm were bearing down on them.

He liked it.

Qrow fumbled and took off his pants with his boxers and shirt joining immediately after. Summer gasped and looked up as his rock-hard dick sprang free, going almost cross-eyed as she focused on the tip before slowly going down the entire length of it. He knew he was big - ten inches, which a lot of the women he bedded before appreciated - but somehow being exposed in front of Summer made him feel small.

"Wow..." she whispered, looking at his dick like she'd never seen one before. Hell, maybe she didn't. She always held back from the 'stress relief' all the other students got up to.

"Yeah..." Qrow chuckled, feeling a burst of confidence at just how awed she looked.

Summer licked her lips and tentatively reached a hand out. Her fingertips gently brushed against the flank of his dick and he hissed in pleasure. Despite her lingerie and commands, it was clear that she'd never actually gotten this far with anyone before. The fact that she was going to lose her first time to him only made his cock harder. The thought of Summer with her face flushed and her lips desperately screaming his name was intoxicating.

"Wow..." She said again. Her small, slightly calloused fingers rubbed up and down the hard length. It was obviously clumsy, but it felt amazing to him all the same. It wasn't just that he was getting a handjob. It was the fact that Summer was the one doing it. Their fearless, flawless leader, the woman who saved the world, was looking up at him like he was some kind of sex god. If that didn't make him feel like the luckiest man in the world, nothing did.

Her hands suddenly pulled back. He grimaced at the sudden loss of feeling and she smirked slightly when she saw it, "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Just...sit down at the edge of the bed, okay?

Qrow didn't ask questions. He did just that and watched with bated breath as Summer slowly brought her right hand over her lean, muscular stomach before stopping to finger the edge of her bra cup. Their eyes met, silver on red. Watch me, her eyes seemed to say, assertiveness winning out over her nerves. His gaze tilted down and he watched without a word as she pulled the right cup upwards to expose her soft, pink nipple. The urge to bite or pinch them between his fingers was maddening.

She did the same thing to the other bra cup before letting the lingering fall to the ground, "Just sit back and enjoy the show..." Summer smirked. She knelt down between his legs and slowly parted her boobs. Qrow groaned and held the sheets in a death grip when she leaned forward and wrapped her big, doughy tits around his twitching dick. In all the times he'd fucked someone, they never did this. It was usually rutting behind a tree or some room they found and trying to get it over with as quickly as possible. There wasn't a lot of buildup or foreplay since they just used each other to get off.

Summer cupped the sides of her chest and laughed under her breath before oh-so-slowly dragging the warm boobflesh up and down. It felt fucking amazing. Qrow looked up at the ceiling for a moment before forcing himself to look back down and take in the sight of Summer in motion.

She mashed her tits against his cock. It started off slow at first, with each shift taking seconds to move every couple of inches, but it didn't take long for Summer to find her rhythm. She hummed softly to herself and quickened the pace. Up, down, up, down. Most of his cock was sandwiched between her tits while her head was just inches from the mushroom-shaped tip. He could feel every warm breath that came from her mouth.

She licked her lips again and briefly met his gaze before she opened her mouth. Without any preamble, she leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the head of his cock.

Qrow gripped the bed so tight that it was a miracle he didn't tear through the sheets. While her boobs continued to press down the sides of his dick, Summer kissed, sucked, and licked the head. She sucked gently on it while her tongue licked the slit and underside. Her face scrunched slightly, probably from the bitter taste of his pre, but she quickly moved past it and continued to suck. All the while, she continued to mash her tits harder and harder against the veiny length.

His right hand shook and he reached out, running his fingers through her black-red hair. He was so tempted to grip it tight and shove her all the way down to the base of his cock, but he held back. Summer was doing her utter damnedest for him despite how much of a thick, blind bastard he'd been for all these years.

So instead, he ran his hands through her hair and whispered praise as she continued, "Fuck, Summer...that feels amazing..." he hissed. Summer looked up at him, eyes twinkling, and it took everything he had not to thrust forward. All those women back at Beacon might as well have faded from his mind. None of them mattered. All he wished was that he could go back in time and slap his past self upside the head for being so fucking stupid.

The next few minutes passed by just like that. Summer practically smothering his dick with her tits and lips while he forced himself to hold back and drag it out as long as he could. This definitely wasn't how he imagined how this day would go, "Fuck...I'm almost there..." he whispered. Summer hummed, bringing a pleasant tickle down his shaft, and quickened her pace. The sounds of her sucking only got louder and her tits shook like jelly with how fast she was going.

Qrow grit his teeth and breathed out through his nose as he came. Summer's eyes widened for just a moment before she began to swallow. She gulped down as much of the warm, dripping seed as she could, but even then a few drops slipped past her puckered mouth. Qrow watched as the cum slipped past her parted lips and coated her pale boobs, turning them even whiter than they already were.

Summer panted softly and licked her lips, clearing up the cum staining the pink skin, "That was a lot..." she murmured.

Qrow grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up, setting her down on the bed. She squealed in excited surprise while his hands gripped her sides. Gods, even with how firm her body was, she felt so soft against him, "I wanna repay the favor..." His right hand trailed down till it reached the hem of her silky panties. Some part of him wanted to tear it into pieces and rip it away, but he held back. As horny as he was right now, he could tell it was expensive.

Instead, he carefully lowered them, exposing Summer's wet cunt. Her lower lips were already wet with arousal and he swallowed nervously. He'd never given oral before. Like he said, it was always down to just raw fucking after barely managing to slip on a condom. They cared more about the release than anything else.

Just as he was about to lower his head between her thighs, Summer grabbed his hair and gently raised his face to meet her, "Qrow, I appreciate what you wanna do, but I'd really rather we get down to the main event right now."

"Huh? But, you did it for me, I should."

"Qrow." She smiled, soft and sickly sweet, but there was a dangerous undercurrent, "You're the love of my life and the man I want to spend all my years with...but if you make me wait any longer before you stick your dick in me, I'm going to break you like a Kit-Kat bar. We clear?"

"Clear." His cock twitched again at the threat. Huh, something to think about later, "Alright, Shortstack. Whatever you say..."

Summer adjusted her position till her entire body was on the mattress and looked up at him expectantly. His lips curled in a wry smile as he moved on top of her again. This was a lot more familiar, and he felt his confidence coming back.

Summer bit her lip and looked down, watching through half-lidded eyes as his slick cock rubbed up against her pussy lips. He breathed out softly through her mouth, and she cried out in surprise when Qrow suddenly leaned down and kissed her again, "W-Wait..." She pulled back and shook her head, "I just sucked your dick. We should probably-"

"It's fine, Summer." He kissed her again. Some guys thought it was gross, but he didn't see it. She'd gotten on her knees to give him a good time. What the hell kind of partner would he be if he acted like he was too good to kiss her after? "Just let me handle this now, alright?"

He continued to rub the head of his cock against her entrance. Summer moaned and squirmed underneath him, hips thrusting up to try and get to the next part already, but he held back, "Gotta be patient, Shorstack..." he murmured against her ear. Unlike before, she didn't make any threats about him making her wait. As frustrated as she was, he could tell the slow build-up was doing things to her.

His lips trailed down from her mouth down to her jaw and then her neck. Silver eyes shut tight in pleasure as he bit and sucked at the skin, teeth grazing flesh and marking them with hickeys that'd show up in just a few minutes. Aura would heal them before they got back to Patch, but they'd both remember they were there. That was all that mattered.

"Q-Qrow...Qrow! Please!"

"...Alright, guess you've waited long enough."

Qrow adjusted his stance till the cockhead was pressing right up against her entrance. Summer gasped and wrapped her arms tight around his back as he slowly inserted himself inside her. Her breaths came out in soft, little gasps that only made him want to hear more.

He made sure to keep going slow. He didn't know for sure if Summer was a virgin or not, but he didn't want this to go quickly regardless, "Q-Qrow..." she muttered, words coming out in a drooling slur. If this was one of those Mistralian anime Raven pretended not to like, she would've had hearts in her eyes, "S...So good...so big..."

Qrow laughed to himself. The same woman who'd taken his first load like a champ was acting like just putting his dick inside was the greatest thing she'd ever experienced. Hell, maybe it was. She didn't spend all those years trying to get through his thick skull. She trained and trained and trained because she wanted to save them, save the world, from Salem.

She deserved the best after that.

Seconds passed till his cock was buried up to the hilt. Summer's back arched and she pressed herself hard against him, "F-Fuck...!" she cried, arms wrapped around his neck with enough strength to almost hurt. Almost. Qrow let out a soft breath of his own and relished in the feeling of being dominant again. As much as he liked Summer taking the lead, there was just something about the way she writhed and begged for him to please don't stop that got him going.

He gave her exactly what she wanted. After taking a moment to brace himself, he pulled his dick out of her with the same agonizing slowness as before. Every touch and scrape against her walls sent her reeling and the sounds of her moans dominated the room, "Louder, Summer..." Qrow muttered. He stopped when just the tip of his dick was inside her, "I wanna hear you scream."

This time, he did it quick. All ten inches shot inside her with enough force that Summer bounced on the bed. She moaned even louder than before, screaming and babbling his name as he pulled himself back with the same speed. A voice at the back of his head reminded him that he didn't bring a condom, but he ignored it. There were more important things to worry about right now. Like making sure that Summer had the best damn fuck in her life.

His cock was like a piston. In, out, in, out. He knew that Summer wouldn't be able to last much longer, "Look at me, Shortstack." He cupped her face with hands hand and forced their eyes to meet. There were pinpricks of tears at the edge of her eyes, but her mouth was curled in the biggest, brightest smile he'd ever seen, "Shit...you have you any idea how beautiful you look?" Gods, how long could they have been doing this if he wasn't such a stubborn moron?

Her response was to pull him into another heated kiss. She was seconds away from her peak, he could tell. Qrow continued the relentless motions until he felt her entire body shudder and she bit his lip hard enough to almost draw blood.

Summer moaned into his mouth, eyes snapping shut as she finally came. He could feel her release, feel the way her body tensed like every muscle was pinching before she went limp in his arms, but he wasn't done yet. He continued to thrust, seconds away from his own climax, with Summer's words acting as encouragement.

"Ugh...fuck, Qrow! Just - nggh - cum inside! D-Don't pull out! I w-want it inside me!" She cried. She weakly wrapped her legs around his hips. Like he was actually gonna say no when she made it sound like that.

Qrow pulled her into one last kiss as he came too. His cock erupted inside her snatch, painting her inner walls white with his seed. It was the first time he'd ever cum inside someone raw - without a condom keeping little Qrow Jr's inside - and it felt...he didn't know how to describe it. Good, yeah, but it was like he was marking her. Maybe that was the bandit in him talking, but fuck it.

He collapsed next to her on the bed. He felt drained in more ways than one. Summer moaned weakly and cuddled up against him, lips curled up in a satisfied smile. Qrow laughed under his breath and pulled her close, enjoying how warm and soft she felt against him. The two of them just lay there for a while, basking in the afterglow and each other's presence. That was another thing he'd never had before. His 'friends' at Beacon didn't cuddle. Once they both got off, it was straight to cleaning up and pretending like it never happened.

"Finally..." Summer murmured.

"Huh? Wazzat, Shorstack?"

"I said 'finally'." She looked up at him with a weak glare, "You have any idea how nervous I was? I planned all this out and I was worried that you'd say no or still think this was a devious plan Rae set up."

"Come on, you can't blame me!"

"Yeah, I can! How can one guy be so cocky but still be blind to the fact that someone's pining for him for four years?" She huffed, "I guess I'll give you some credit. Thought for sure you'd come up with something stupid like the fact that I'm only fucking you 'cause I'm so heartbroken over Tai choosing Rae over me."

"...Is that what-"

"Qrow!"

"I'm kidding! It was a joke!" He laughed as Summer playfully slapped at him. He pulled her close again and smirked at her annoyed pout, "Look...I'm sorry for being a dumbass. Forgive me?"

"...Fine, but only cause you're cute." She smiled, "Now hug me tighter. I demand cuddles as payback."

"Sure, sure." He put his nose against her hair and closed his eyes. Today was a hell of a day.

Teacher's Pet (Jaune x Weiss Maledom and Non-Con) - Chapter 1

New exclusive story. Chapter 1 of 3. This is also my first maledom work, which is why it took a bit for me to write/the writer's block. Hopefully, it's alright. Warning: this story is very heavy on non-consent, rape, and (later on) mindbreak.

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Being a professor at Beacon sounded like a dream come true. A job teaching the next generation of Huntsmen. The average Huntsman graduate usually spent a few years doing contract work before moving on to something else. Some people kept the adventuring lifestyle while others found ways to more permanent careers. Sometimes it was working as bodyguards or local protectors while others swerved to being celebrities and tournament fighters.

Jaune knew he was lucky. Most professors needed to be in the field for at least ten years before they were even considered for the position. There were a few exceptions - Doctor Oobleck went straight after getting his doctorate - but they were pretty rare. Especially for someone like him. Fresh graduate straight out of the academy and he already got an offer. For some reason, Professor Goodwitch - Glynda, he reminded himself - took a liking to him. He wasn't the best or the brightest, but she said she saw something in him. He was grateful to her for it.

Still, it wasn't exactly easy. Valeans were individualistic to a fault and teachers had to wrangle them to get anywhere. They all had their own methods. Glynda used her terrifying reputation, Oobleck spoke too fast to let them get a word in edgewise, and Port...well, his lectures were so soul-crushing that he doubted anyone would have the will to try and be rebellious. Granted, that meant at least half of his class was half-asleep most of the time, but still.

Jaune? Well, he was still having issues there. At 22 years old, he wasn't much older than the students he was meant to teach. Beacon students started at 18 when they entered. Old enough to be adults in every sense of the word but still fresh from teenage rebellion and thinking they were invincible. The fact that they were training to be the future protectors of mankind only worsened their ego. Huntsmen were known across Remnant as being the best of the best. While they weren't treated the exact same across Remnant - Vacuo placed a higher value on them compared to Atlas, for example - the position of a Huntsman demanded respect from just about anyone.

Valeans valued their independence. Not as much as Vacuo - those guys seemed to think any form of widespread government was oppression - but moreso than Mistral and Atlas. Huntsmen were heroes, celebrities, and larger-than-life figures. Almost everyone wanted to be them, and when they passed Beacon, they were riding high. Usually, the attitude was beaten out of them by the time they got to the second year, but a few kept it up.

Still, Jaune took it all on the chin. He knew that becoming a Professor at such a young age was almost unheard of. Alright, technically he was just an assistant professor, but Beacon was unconventional enough that they allowed him to teach his own classes without needing a monitor. Dust Science. It might've shocked people to know, but he was one of the best in his grade at it despite Crocea Mors not being Dust-dependent. Some of his old friends thought it was weird. He was pretty good at math too, which they considered blasphemous.

And ironically, it was a non-Valean who was giving him the most trouble...

"The application of Fire Dust is varied and numerous," Jaune started, directing the laser pointer to the PowerPoint. No one would ever find Dust Science exciting, but at least the students considered it more useful than 'Legends of Remnant'. Jaune had no idea why the old headmaster insisted that fairy tales and folklore had their own personal subject. Actually, he was an enigma all on his own. He was friendly and open, which was why his unannounced retirement during Jaune's last year came as such a surprise.

Glynda didn't seem happy about it...

He was midway going to the next slide when a hand shot up. Jaune bit back a frown and forced a smile on his face, "Yes, Ms. Schnee."

"Your information is outdated, Mr. Arc," Weiss Schnee said, a syrupy sweet smile on her face that did nothing to hide the smugness in her tone, "A study was conducted four weeks prior that showed exciting new applications for Fire Dust, particularly on weaponry. It's by Professor Markov. I'm sure you'll find it an enlightening read."

"...Thank you, Ms. Schnee. I'll be sure to take that into account." Jaune took a deep breath, "Now, to continue-"

"Also-" she cut in again, still smiling, "-some of the statistics you used seem...miscalculated." Wrong, her eyes said.

"Ms. Schnee, I assure you that I used the latest research in Dust Applications: Volume 8."

"A Valean book." She didn't scoff, but he could hear it plain as day, "Respectable enough, but I would suggest using The Science and Properties of Dust: Volume 13 instead. They've shown far more accurate results." An Atlesian book. He knew about it, of course, and he also knew that more than a few of their research was inflated to get headlines. Not that he said that, of course. That would just lead to an argument and that was the last thing he needed.

"I'll take that under consideration. Now..."

The next hour and a half were filled with interruptions and 'suggestions'. Weiss made sure to always frame it as helpful comments, but he could tell it for what it was. The students already had a hard time respecting him given his age, but Weiss seemed to take it as a personal challenge to one-up him at every turn. Maybe she thought that by showing off how much 'smarter' she was it would convince the other professors that she should be the leader of her team. He'd heard about how annoyed she was being passed up from the position.

The only saving grace, if it could even be called that, was that no one was egging her on or helping her. He couldn't tell if it was because the students found it too much even for them or if they thought she was being a teacher's pet.

Team RWBY wasn't much of a fan either. Ruby's cheeks were flushed and she sunk in her seat, embarrassed by her partner's antics. Yang groaned about Weiss ruining her reputation. Blake didn't say anything, though he didn't miss the way she sighed and scooted her chair just a bit farther. He didn't know them very well, but it was clear that they weren't exactly on board with their teammate trying to knock the professor down a peg.

The rest of the lesson felt frigidly slow and he didn't even bother stopping himself from sighing when it finally ended. Two weeks. Two weeks of Weiss doing everything she could to undermine him. And he could hardly lecture her or put her in detention. She'd play dumb and say she was simply trying to help, so why would he be mad at her? She made sure to never insult him and always framed her 'advice' as well-meaning suggestions. He couldn't exactly put her into detention for suggesting reading materials.

Jaune gathered up his stuff and made his way back to the staff room. Less than a month ago he'd been so bright-eyed and eager, and now he was dealing with daily migraines. He knew it could be worse - a bratty student was hardly the end of the world - but it was still depressing that this was how his first month of being an (assistant) professor was going.

He'd just placed his stuff on his table when he heard a voice, "Long day, Jaune?" He turned and laughed when he saw Glynda giving him a wry smile.

"Yeah, could say that." He sighed and brought a hand across his jaw. He considered growing a beard to try and make himself look older, but no luck so far. Dad said that he didn't grow anything but whiskers till he was thirty. After that, he was practically a lumberjack, "Students being difficult, you know what it's like."

"Indeed I do." She chuckled softly, "First years are at their most...difficult. They believe they've got it all figured out and can do no wrong. It was both charming and frustrating when I first started out, but eventually, that rebellious attitude became more irritating than anything else. It never changes. Young men and women in the prime of their lives believing themselves invincible. Personally, I blame the propaganda. Tell people that Huntsmen are invincible and they'll believe it soon enough."

"This feels different..."

"Oh? Perhaps we can talk about it in more detail over tea?"

"I'd love to, but aren't you busy?" Being the Headmistress was a taxing job. It actually made her miss being a teacher, she told him.

"I was told by Dr. Wood to take prescribed breaks or else he'd have me committed."

"...That's a joke, right?"

"I've got some new tea from Vacuo you might like." Alright, so she just wasn't gonna answer that. Cool.

Glynda's room was far more spacious and ornate compared to the regular teacher's dorm rooms. It wasn't by choice. Her old room had been far more sparse. She'd inherited the old Headmaster's room and simply didn't have the time to re-decorate everything. Or so she claimed. Jaune wondered if maybe something was holding her back. There were rumors that the Headmistress and his Deputy were a lot closer than professional expectations, though none of them pried.

The tea was a deep blue color that he'd never seen before. And as expected of something that came from Vacuo, it had a bitter taste that lingered on his tongue. Jaune coughed and smiled politely as Glynda drank her cup without issue. She always did have weird tastes, "So, your class?" Glynda asked, setting her cup down and refilling it. The ornate tea set stuck out. Collecting them was one of the few indulgences Glynda allowed herself to have. Anyone pointing out that it was an 'old lady' habit was quick to regret it.

"It's one of my students." Jaune sighed, "Weiss Schnee. Do you know her?"

"It would be hard not to." Glynda hummed, "The second daughter of Jacques Schnee and heiress to the SDC. Her choosing to go to Beacon ruffled some feathers back at Atlas, though I expect that has more to do with her choosing to be a Huntress in general rather than being a do-nothing entitled snob." She said the insult in the same way one talked about the weather. He knew that she was Atlesian, though nothing besides that. Glynda was pretty tight-lipped about her personal life, "Her transcripts were excellent and she excelled across the board."

"It's not her grades I'm concerned about." Jaune set his cup down, "She's...entitled." And that was putting it nicely, "She thinks she deserves to be the leader of Team RWBY and refuses to believe otherwise. She also feels the need to make herself the biggest person in the room. I knew it was gonna be hard getting the respect of the students since I'm barely any older than they are, but for the most part, it's just them thinking they can get away with goofing off in class. Ms. Schnee is different. It feels like she wants - needs - to prove that she's better than everyone, and what better target than the professor who hasn't established himself yet?"

"I assume disciplining her is out of the question."

"If only. She doesn't act out in a way that can get her in trouble. Maybe correcting the professor or recommending new reading material is seen as presumptuous, but you can't exactly give someone detention for it." His shoulders sagged, "It's just...so frustrating. It's obvious that she knows what she's doing but I can't call her out on it. That only makes her push harder. Would you believe that she told me that a Valean book wasn't as good as an Atlesian one?"

"Altesians are known for their nationalistic pride. James is much the same way." Glynda sighed.'

"Yeah, I just...I don't know what to do. Should I bite the bullet and give her detention? Have an argument with her in front of the entire class? Just sit there and take it?"

"Let me tell you a secret, Jaune." She crossed her right leg over her left, "Beacon is liable for many things, but there are just as many that are off-the-books, so to speak. The Council understands that the future protectors of mankind can't be coddled."

"What do you mean?" Jaune's brows furrowed.

"I mean that future Huntsmen and Huntresses aren't treated with kid gloves. They're being trained to fight the Grimm and other threats. If we coddle them now then they will fail when they finally arrive in the real world." Her words were calm and measured, but Jaune didn't miss the subtle force behind them, "Ms. Schnee's behavior has been reinforced by her upbringing. She likely grew up getting everything she wanted and never being told no. After all, who would dare refuse the heiress to the SDC?"

"So what should I do?"

"You need to remove that mindset from her." Glynda frowned, "We've had students who never had their egos dispersed and it led to sub-par Huntsmen. They believed that they could do no wrong. Remember Mr. Winchester?"

"Cardin? Yeah. Why?" He was a couple of years ahead of Jaune. And a real asshole to boot.

"He's had his license suspended indefinitely." Translation: the Huntsman equivalent of a dishonorable discharge, "His behavior was abhorrent. He believed himself above others and that consequences didn't apply to him. I don't have to tell you how dangerous a mindset that is in anyone, let alone a Huntsman. And so, we've been given the greenlight to ensure that things like that don't happen again. The students won't thank us for it, but their careers will be all the better for it."

"So...what do you want me to do? Yell at her?"

"No. Simply yelling at someone rarely ever achieves results. They need...discipline." She picked up her scroll and tapped the screen, "Here, I sent you some reading material that should prove valuable."

"I mean, I appreciate all this, but what if Weiss does something? You know, goes to the council or throws her name around? Like you said, she's got a big reputation."

"A reputation, yes, but thankfully for us, Huntsmen Academies are largely apolitical. We certainly play the game but after Mr. Winchester's suspension, the other members of the council began to frown upon Huntsmen with influential parents trying to game the system. It looks quite badly on them when the Huntsmen aren't up to snuff. I'm sure Ms. Schnee will try to throw her weight around, but please don't let it intimidate you. Beacon - I - will handle anything that transpires. You have my word."

"Wow, that's...that's really big. Thanks."

"I'm merely doing my job." She took another sip of her tea, "Our role as professors is to guide these unruly children, and that means being harsh when necessary. The book I sent you will tell me more. I suggest you follow it to the letter if you find yourself floundering."

"Thanks, Glynda. I'll do that after classes end."

Glynda smiled as she watched him leave. Jaune was always a good egg. He wasn't the strongest or the smartest, but he was earnest and had an honest desire to help. It was why she'd offered him a job straight after graduation. It was just like how she was recruited. Perhaps she saw a sort of kindred spirit in him despite their differences. She hoped that the book on discipline would help him. Ms. Schnee was born with privilege and it would take knocking her down a peg to earn her respect.

Perhaps if she looked twice, she would've realized she'd sent the wrong discipline book...

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Weiss walked down the halls away from Team RWBY's dorm room with her head held high. Things in the room were...tense. Ruby still refused to give up the mantle of leadership and it caused Yang to be her usual overprotective self and fight her sister's battles for her. Honestly, it was just more proof that she deserved the role of leader. She didn't hide behind Winter's skirt every time she faced pushback. No, she stood her ground and refused to bend just as any Schnee should.

She'd barely rounded the corner before almost running smack dab into someone, "Woah!" An all-too-familiar voice yelped. Weiss' eyes narrowed as she looked up at Professor Arc. Her lips curled in a slight smirk. She didn't dislike him personally, but it was clear he was unfit and she saw no reason to hold her tongue. A true professor would read up on the proper material rather than simply writing down the drivel from the first book he read.

"Ah, Ms. Schnee. Ahem." He coughed, scratching at his right cheek nervously. Her eyes narrowed. That was another reason she didn't respect him. He didn't have the firmness needed to do his job. None of the Professors here did, really. Professor Oobleck was scatterbrained and Professor Port was a blowhard. She lamented the fact that she'd enrolled just after Professor Goodwitch retired from teaching. She'd heard such good things about her classes.

"Yes, Mr. Arc?" Weiss raised a manicured brow.

"I was actually hoping to talk to you about something." He coughed once more, "It's about your behavior in class..."

"What about it?" she asked back in challenge. Was his ego so fragile that he couldn't take her (very justified) corrections?

"I don't think it's proper to act out so much."

"Act out? I was simply offering my advice. Is it wrong for a student to interact with their teacher constructively now?

"I think we both know that you weren't being constructive, Ms. Schnee." Professor Arc crossed his arms, "If you wish to offer 'constructive' criticism, then do it after class."

"Why wait? I believe the other students have a right to know if their lessons are...lacking in certain areas."

"Choosing a Valean book over an Atlesian one isn't lacking."

"It is if the research isn't up to snuff." She tilted her chin up at him, daring him to argue.

"...Know what, we're not having this conversation here." He sighed and brought a hand across his (messy, poorly styled) hair, "Come with me."

She raised both brows at the sudden assertiveness in his tone and followed him to an empty classroom. Watching him try to stumble and find a reason to scold her might be somewhat amusing. She stepped inside first and he closed the door behind her, "So what did you-"

That was as far as she got before she found both her arms suddenly restrained behind her. Weiss' eyes widened and she immediately started to struggle, but her arms refused to budge, "Hold still." Professor Arc said, voice distressingly calm as he pinned her to the ground with her face pressed against the cold floor, "We just gotta get this over with."

"Get what?!" Weiss shrieked, struggling and shaking, but his grip remained firm. Just barely, she remembered that his Semblance was to amplify his Aura. He was already stronger than her, but right now she might as well have been a child struggling against a goliath, "Let go of me! Let go, you brute!" Weiss tried to kick him away, but her legs felt like they were hitting a steel wall. He easily restrained both her arms with one hand while the other pulled something from behind him.

She barely caught the flash of steel before she felt cold cuffs around her wrists. Almost immediately, everything felt heavy. Her body felt like it was drowning and she lay limply on the floor, barely able to move. All she could do was watch helplessly as Professor Arc walked in front of her and...read his scroll? "Alright, what do I do next?" he mumbled, sounding rather unsure despite just assaulting and binding her, "First you make her helpless, and then..."

"Wh-What did you do to me?!" Weiss shrieked.

"Huh? Oh, Aura-dampening cuffs. It's what they put on Huntsmen who act out." He said it so casually, as if he hadn't just done what he did, "Could you gimme a sec? I gotta read this!"

"No! Let me go, you bastard!" She wriggled weakly, but she only managed to make herself look like a struggling worm. Professor Arc ignored her and kept reading, "H-Help! Anyone! HELP!" Weiss screamed.

"I wouldn't bother screaming. The walls are soundproof. This is the combat class. If it wasn't muffled, no one would hear the lessons." She kept screaming, hoping that he'd just been lying to try and keep her quiet. He sighed, "Look, we both know what has to happen here."

"No, I don't! You're crazy!"

"I'm your teacher, and you've been disrespecting me." He held up a hand, "Let's not bother with the lies, Ms. Schnee. I may be new at this, but I'm not an idiot. I don't know why exactly you've decided to target me. I have some theories, but nothing concrete." He shook his head, " I guess it doesn't really matter why. The point is, you've been acting like a brat and you need to be...disciplined."

The way he said it sent a chill down her spine. Her heart was beating a mile a minute despite her lethargic state and she struggled even more when she saw it. The slowly growing bulge between his legs.

"Oh, looks like the meds are kicking in." He hummed, "Sorry, I wanted to do this more naturally, but I was pretty nervous. Kinda new to this whole thing. Right, now let's just get these down and..."

Weiss gasped when he lowered his zipper. The bulge only got bigger, his d-d-dick straining against his gray boxers. Weiss watched, unable to look away, as the concealed member twitched like a monster struggling to break free of its chains. Her heart was beating as loud as a drum now, drowning everything out. She'd seen glimpses of pornography before. Never her own, of course. Her little brother was at that age where his mind was consumed by his hormones. Borrowing his scroll had led to her eyes being assaulted.

Those videos were nothing compared to the sight in front of her now. Mr. Arc unbuttoned the gap and his cock sprang out like a beast rising from the depths. Her eyes nearly bulged out of her skull at the sight of it. Ten, maybe eleven inches of his rock-hard erection stood proudly. Her eyes traced across its length, at the veins that lined the skin and how it twitched in the open air. Her eyes trailed higher till they reached the mushroom-shaped tip. Her mouth suddenly felt dry. He mentioned taking medication, but seeing the head of his member already leaking clear fluid made her feel faint.

Weiss suddenly felt smaller than she already was.

"Let go of me, let go!" She shrieked. Arc ignored her weak struggles and propped her up till she was on her knees. She would've likely fallen on her side if he didn't grab her hair tight enough to hurt, fingers gripping the silky threads like a barbarian, "Do you have any idea what you're doing?! I will-"

"I'm disciplining an unruly student." He pulled her head forward slowly until her face was just inches from the inches of turgid cockmeat. The musky smell made her lightheaded, "Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard day. Open your mouth, and don't bother biting down. You'll only hurt yourself."

"FUCK YOU!" Weiss screamed. It was the first time in her life she'd ever said something so crass.

"Alright, have it your way." Arc sighed and pulled her closer. She kept her mouth stubbornly closed and turned her head away. She refused to give him the satisfaction of bending or breaking. He didn't care. He rubbed his throbbing dick against her face, smearing her cheeks with his pre. Weiss had never felt more disgusted and humiliated in her entire life, "Wow, your skin's really soft."

"Go to hell, you piece of shit!"

"Still acting out, huh?" Arc sighed again, as if she was the problem for refusing to let herself be raped without a fight, "This would go a lot faster if you just cooperated."

"Go fuck yourself!"

He didn't say anything. Weiss shivered in disgust and fear as he continued to rub his cock along her face like he was marking her with his scent. Her body refused to do more than wriggle slightly in his grasp and she knew that, if he truly wanted, he could force her mouth open with ease. Instead, he continued to humiliate her. He was doing it on purpose, she thought to herself. Trying to humiliate her, to make her accept that profane pillar of her own free will.

She refused. She would not break.

"Man, it's been a while since I've...well, you know." He scratched his cheek. It was absurd. Here he was, manhandling her head like it was nothing more than a sextoy, and yet he still acted awkward. As if reading her mind, his eyes suddenly narrowed and he muttered to himself, "No, wait, remember the instructions. Need to be dominant."

What was he-

His grip on her hair tightened hard enough to make her scream and he thrust his dick forward. The burning-hot length slid across her face, his heavy, stuffed balls landing on her chin and lips. The musky smell became overwhelming and it was a miracle that she hadn't fainted from the sensory overload. Then again, she thought, perhaps that wouldn't have been the worst thing. Passing out would save her from being conscious as this bastard had his way with her.

"You just gotta be a stubborn little bitch, huh?" The awkward, eerily casual tone from before was gone, replaced with a rough growl that sent a chill down her spine. Her already weak knees trembled and she let out a muffled scream against his testicles when he raised ger head up so their eyes could meet, her vision marred by the erect dick lying across her face, "Two weeks you've been acting like a know-it-all, but when you can finally put that mouth of yours to good use, you clam up."

"I-I just-"

"No. The time for excuses is over, and I've run out of patience." He pulled his cock back. The relief lasted for only a moment before he leveled it at her face again, forcing her head down till the tip was inches from her sealed mouth. She went cross-eyed looking at the drooling slit, "One more chance, Ms. Schnee. Open your mouth and accept your discipline. Or else." The last two words nearly had her break down in tears. It wasn't a threat; it was a promise.

Still, she refused to open her mouth, hoping above all that someone would walk in and save her.

"Alright, have it your way."

His grip became so tight that she thought for a moment that he'd rip her hair straight out of her scalp. Weiss tried to bite her tongue, but the pain was too much and she found her lips parting by just the barest amount. It was enough for him. He pushed the tip against her mouth like a battering ram. One, two, three times. Her mouth opened just a bit more on the third hit. She tried to shut her lips again, but it was too late.

The head of his penis battered its way inside. Her eyes widened as she felt the first taste of skin and precum on her tongue, "MMMPPPHHH!" She wriggled her body with a renewed sense of desperation. Despite everything that had happened so far, it was only now that she truly realized the gravity of what was happening. He was raping her, forcing her to suck his cock like she was nothing more than a common whore. The humiliation on top of everything else made tears prick at the sides of her eyes, but Arc didn't care.

Arc wasn't slow or gentle about it. He slammed his dick inside and made her choke on it. Weiss coughed and breathed through her nose as the thick member forced itself past her tongue as if it was aiming to violate her throat too, "Oh, fuck..." He let out a pleasured sigh and looked up at the ceiling through half-lidded eyes. Seeing him look so damn pleased with himself made her temper boil and she mustered whatever strength she had to bite down on his dick.

It did nothing. Arc sighed again and pulled back before slamming back into her poor, ravaged mouth. Weiss' teeth scraped against the veiny skin and she tried to bite down again despite knowing how pointless it was. Not only was she weakened by the restraints but Arc was a sack of Aura. It was one of the few things she hadn't found annoying about him before now.

"You know, you're a lot less annoying like this." He smiled down at her. Weiss glared back at him through her tears, "You could've been a great student, but instead you decided to be a brat. And do you know what happens to brats?" His hand squeezed tighter, "They get disciplined."

His next thrusts were even harsher - more brutal - compared to before. In, out, in, out. Arc ravaged her mouth with wild abandon, shoving his dick deeper and deeper until the tip of it was going down her throat, testicles slapping against her chin. Weiss felt like her brain was rattling around her skull with every push and pull.

It wasn't just the fact that she was being violated. That was horrible, yes, but what really drove her over the edge was how pathetic she was. Here she was, the heiress to the SDC and a future Huntress, being treated like nothing more than some Valean slut. She deserved better than this! She was meant to be a leader, a pioneer, someone her peers and future generations could look up to as the prime example of what it meant to be a Huntress! Instead, she was on her knees getting her throat ravaged.

Arc's constant put-downs weren't helping in the least.

"I always wondered what these lips of yours felt like," he murmured, his voice coming out in a low rasp. It sounded alien coming from the meek man who could barely control his class, "I just wish you didn't make me do this. I wanted to give you a chance, you know. Any other teacher would've done this way sooner." Her fists clenched. The blatant justification burned at her. As soon as she escaped from this hellish situation, she would tell the headmistress and Weiss would ensure that his fucking dick was cut off!

She shut her eyes and refused to make a sound or look him in the face. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break down. It would be just until she escaped, she told herself. Her mind swirled with revenge and the punishments he'd endure. She would be the one to administer it. She didn't care what sort of favor she had to give, she would deny any sort of refusal. Nothing but Arc on his knees helpless and begging would satisfy her.

Unfortunately, her revenge fantasies couldn't completely drown out the fact that she was being orally violated. Weiss' mouth was forced to wrap around the thick slab of dickmeat, drool pooling around the shaft. With every thrust, she felt herself choking on it, spit dribbling down her chin. Every breath was a struggle and Arc's moans rang against her ears. He was muttering to himself about how this was for discipline and that he was only teaching her a lesson. Delusional bastard.

Minutes passed in unrelenting agony before she heard it, "Shit...here it comes..." Her eyes widened and her struggles returned with even more desperation than before. She knew what those words meant. Any attempt to pull her head back was met with Arc holding firm. His thrusts became faster, his groin slamming against her face with unrestrained force. The dick in her mouth grew hotter and hotter and she screamed in muffled rage as he reached his peak.

Arc moaned and held her head tight with both hands as he came. He made sure that she was pressed against his groin, her nose tangled against his shaved pubic hair. His testicles shook against her chin and she shut her eyes again as he ejaculated straight down her throat. Weiss' entire body shook in humiliation while Arc's moans shifted to pleased sighs and groans.

He pulled out slowly, his tip still leaking semen. The bitter taste of his seed on her tongue was another painful reminder of how far she'd fallen. But that wasn't enough for him. As soon as he fully pulled out, his cock springing from her mouth with a faint pop, he aimed the tip at her face and coated it with his essence. Weiss whined weakly and tried to turn her face away, but his grip ensured that she couldn't move as he blanketed her face, turning her already pale skin even whiter.

"Fuck...that felt good..." He sighed and leaned forward, his still-erect dick draped across her face and covering her right eye. Weiss moaned in pain weakly, her entire body shuddering from the assault she'd just received. She felt utterly helpless.

His next words turned her blood to ice.

"Right, time for round two." She felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her at the casual declaration, "Book says three rounds minimum. Good thing I took those meds."

"W-Wait, plea-" She opened her mouth to plead for any semblance of mercy. A mistake. As soon as she did, Arc shoved his dick inside her again. Weiss screamed into the soaking member as he continued his assault, her mind fracturing more and more with every thrust.

Update

Hey guys, sorry for the delay. I’ve been hit with a bout of writer’s block lately. I’m still writing, don’t worry, it’s just coming out slower than usual. Still, hopefully I can come up with an update within the week. Again, sorry formthe delays.

Rolling for Remnant (Gacha RWBY) - Chapter 3

Last chapter of Gacha RWBY. Think I've shown enough for this one. It was fun, but onto other works!

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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In the world of Remnant, the Grimm were universally considered the most evil, powerful source in all of Remnant. No other group could claim to have garnered such universal revulsion and fear from those who lived in their world. Even the various criminals and villains of Remnant understood the necessity of destroying them. Truly, nothing else on Remnant could unite every group in Remnant like the Grimm.

Until now.

Gacha had consumed Remnant like an unstoppable wave and no one was safe. Sure, there were a few who managed to avoid opening their wallets or didn't see the appeal of spending money in the game, but they were helpless before the tide. No one was safe. The most dangerous criminals, the heroes of Remnant, the morally fluid who only cared to keep their heads down. Didn't matter. The Gacha got them all, and they were nothing before its pull.

Not even the Grimm were safe.

Of course, that didn't mean random beowolves were out there trying their luck with wishes. Don't be silly.

...

There was just an immortal Queen of the Grimm out in the deadlands who was doing the same. Much more sensible.

Salem was her name, and she was the vilest being in all of Remnant. Her body count was in the thousands, if not millions, and she'd left a legacy of death and destruction that lasted thousands of years. Her crimes were innumerable and unjustifiable, and so long as she existed, the possibility of Remnant being under threat would always remain. To every single living thing on Remnant, Salem was the greatest threat the world had ever known.

And what was she doing right now?

"Give me the wish!"

Playing Gacha, of course.

Salem watched as the shooting stars turned from blue to gold and cheered like a child on Nondescript Winter Holiday as she got yet another 5-star, "Yes, yes, yes!" She whooped and hollered, dancing without a care. The character she'd gotten was an utterly adorable childling with silver eyes who used a scythe for a weapon. It reminded her of that young mother she'd horrifically turned into an abomination against nature some odd years ago. She didn't know the exact date. Decades tended to blur together.

Watts watched, face utterly dead, as his dark mistress continued to mindlessly play the game. He was sorely regretting setting up Dustnet access in the Evernight. He'd done it for the sake of convenience because using his mistress' Seers was rather...slow. Salem's view of time was distorted given her immortality. Living with all the time in the world made it so that she didn't particularly care if she had to wait decades for a single step of her plan to succeed.

Watts was far less...patient, if one wanted to use that word. He was mortal, and while he had contingencies such as uploading himself to a server in the event of his death, some part of him was aware that it wouldn't truly be him. He was a man of science, but the soul was a documented part of Remnant's history. Even if he was relieved knowing that an Arthur Watts would continue his plans should he perish, he was also aware that it wouldn't be truly him.

Still, as worried as he was about time being wasted, he wasn't suicidal enough to question Salem. He'd done so before when she'd first fallen into her addiction and she'd made it clear she didn't appreciate being disturbed or questioned.

"Yes, I won!" Salem cheered again, which looked absurd considering she was a six-foot-tall Grimm woman. She had functionally unlimited rolls because of his hacked credit card, and yet she still treated each 'wish' as a roll of the dice rather than a minor setback at worst. When she won she cheered and when she lost she cursed and promised eternal revenge (before forgetting about it on her next roll). He'd heard dozens of vows to make this mysterious creator pay dozens of times now.

And judging by her detailed screams about boiling them alive in Grimm tar, she'd lost her roll. Again.

"My lady-"

"Not now, Watts!" Salem didn't look up from her scroll. Oh, how he rued the day he gave it to her. He assumed it would allow more expedient communication between her and the rest of their cabal. Instead, he'd doomed himself to throwing away everything he had for nothing.

Salem had changed tracks ever since she'd gotten hooked on the glorified gambling. All her plans, her schemes (or rather, their schemes which she supported) had fallen to the wayside. The plans to destroy Vale and devastate Atlas? Gone, put off as something far less important compared to her Gacha rolls. They couldn't afford for a kingdom to fall, she said. That might hurt the company and thus disrupt her daily wishes. And they couldn't have that, could they?

She'd become utterly enamored by the game. He knew vaguely that she was a mother in eons past, and her maternal instinct had transferred to the bits of code. Day in and day out she was obsessed with rolling the Gacha to gather more characters, ensuring they had the best items, houses, and whatever else counted as luxury in that digital world. Watts personally didn't see the point of it. Some scientists, like that fat idiot Polendina, found themselves attached to the artificial. He considered machines and data to be just that.

Salem boldly announced that her new children would want for nothing and grow up to be the happiest children on Remnant. Attempting to tell her that her 'children' were lines of code that would never actually grow up had been initially met with utter confusion. It took him over four hours of explaining for her to understand that these data constructs were not actual human beings with thoughts and feelings but rather ones and zeroes meant to encourage gambling.

Sadly, it had only emboldened her more. Immortal children that would never leave her? Why, that was positively grand (he was being sarcastic, if one couldn't tell). She'd gone from enamored to downright zealous in ensuring her 'immortal children' wanted for nothing. All her plans, all her schemes to take over Remnant? Gone. Now she spent her day doing 'daily commissions' or some other such nonsense. He knew of the randomly generated garbage these game companies used to keep their customers hooked. Most people would eventually grow tired of it, but Salem? She was an immortal with a disrtorted view of time. She saw no issues doing the same tasks day after day for decades if not centuries.

Watts sighed and questioned his choices in life once again. He always considered himself the only sane one of their little group. Yes, he'd given up a distinguished position in Atlas out of spite against Ironwood for daring to snub him once, but he was still focused and goal-oriented. Everyone else was too...disjointed. Focused on their own dysfunctions and emotions to the detriment of actually accomplishing their goals. Cinder was the worst of the lot, but everyone else was hardly any better.

Case in point.

Watts' deadened eyes shifted from his dark mistress to Hazel. When he was still new, he respected the other man. He thought that he was a sensible, pragmatic type who didn't let petty emotions get in the way of doing what needed to be done. He found his desire to limit casualties baffling considering who they worked for, but he would take a misguided bleeding heart over crazed psychopaths like Cinder and Tyrian. They were the type to cut off their nose to spite their face.

Now the hulking man was curled up in the corner with and glued to his scroll. He'd taken a particular liking to a spear-wielder in the game by the name of Gretel and was obsessed with her being safe from harm. Which meant ensuring she was at the maximum level, had the best equipment, and was thus the strongest being in that virtual world. Any attempts to dissuade him by pointing out the futility of such a thing were met with a glare and a declaration that he wouldn't lose her 'again'.

He'd even gone to Tyrian - Tyrian - in the hope for some sort of sanity, but the man had been utterly broken. Seeing his goddess go from a NEET with plans for world domination to just a regular NEET had shattered his mind. He rocked himself and cried like an abandoned infant, which Salem didn't care for since she had to do her daily questing.

Watts sighed and considered hurling himself off the top of the castle. He'd also considered using his skills to somehow hack the game and perhaps force it to crash permanently, but he relented. Not only were the servers' locations not present anywhere on the Dustnet - he checked - but even if he could find it, it would be no use. No one else on Remnant was brilliant enough to destroy such a goliath and thus his culpability would be immediately made obvious.

No, he was forced to live in this insane world now. He wondered if it was too late to defect back to Atlas?

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General James Ironwood was a man of focus, commitment, and sheer will. One didn't become the General of Atlas otherwise. He'd faced hordes of Grimm, lived with the knowledge of an eternal Grimm Queen that sought their demise, and had to deal with Winter Schnee's daddy issues.

One of those things was more devastating than the others.

And yet despite all that, he found himself utterly helpless as the new threat consumed all of Atlas. Gacha. Even thinking of the name made him shiver in disgust. He thought Jacques Schnee was the epitome of subversive corruption. Oh, how foolish he was. He was nothing compared to the monolith that was Allogene Clash. It cared not for who you were. Men, women, children. Poor or rich. Human or Faunus. It didn't matter. All were consumed by the pull of the Gacha.

It started with the teenagers, of course. Always the teenagers. If he could find some way to skip those selfish hormonal years for everyone in Remnant he'd do it in a heartbeat. But alas, he was no god. He should've banned it the second he heard that some of his students were playing the game, but hindsight was always 20-20. He assumed it was nothing more than a harmless distraction and knew that soldiers needed to let off steam. It was healthier than alcohol or casual sex, he thought.

Oh, what a fool he'd been.

It had started with teenagers but quickly spread like cancer. Both Atlas and Mantle found themselves enthralled by the game and soon the citizens were throwing their money away. Miners from Mantle had shifted from booze and whores to rolling the Gacha. Many would say it was an improvement, but he knew better. Gacha was a slower, more insidious killer than any other vice he'd seen. Taking and taking till you had nothing left to give. Then asking even more.

His soldiers fell prey to it as well. It started off subtle at first, just a few privates playing it in their off-time. As the days passed and his army was subverted from within, James realized that it was too late. He might've been able to stem the tide had he stopped it sooner, but now his entire army was addicted to the Gacha. Attempting to ban the game now would lead to refusal at best. At worst, they could launch a coup and have him executed for tyranny.

All for the Gacha.

James walked with heavy footsteps to the barracks belonging to the Ace-Ops. For a short time, he'd held out hope that perhaps his very best soldiers would be immune to the madness.

He should've known by now that hope was a lie.

"This is BULLSHIT!" That was the sound that greeted him as soon as he opened the door. Huddled together like a group of teens sneaking drugs, the Ace-Ops - the strongest Huntsmen in Atlas - all kept their eyes glued to their scrolls and didn't so much as look up at his arrival. The one who'd screamed was Harriet. She was always brash and eager to prove herself, but he had to admit he'd never seen her look so murderous as she ranted about 'losing the 50/50'.

"Ha! Got it!" Clover pumped his fist.

"That's 'cause of your bullshit good luck Semblance!" Harriet spat.

"Call it whatever you want, but I've just got my fifth C6." Clover grinned.

"It's unseemly to brag," Vine said. He sounded as calm and controlled as always, but he heard the sounds of the 'wish' from his scroll all the same.

"Yeah. No need to rub it in, boss." Marrow huffed, though James didn't miss the way his tail wagged in excitement.

"You guys need to stop trying to get every character." Elm rolled her eyes, "Look at me, all I need are a few mainstays and I'm good to go! Even got some wishes saved up for that new character coming tonight."

"Eh, I wouldn't bother. You've seen the leaks, right? Trash kit," Marrow said.

"Eh, I don't trust leaks. Most of it's bullshit. Like, am I really supposed to believe that the Corroded Knight James Crescent from the future?"

"Yeah, that sounds like BS, but the kit leaks have been pretty good so far," Marrow replied.

"Either way I'm sure I'll get the new character." Clover laughed.

"Oh, go fuck yourself." Harriet scowled.

James watched his most loyal group with naked grief. The strongest Huntsmen in Atlas, and look at them now? Utterly broken addicts.

But that was nothing compared to the one that caused him the most pain. His gaze turned from his addicted specialists to the one that truly broke his heart. Winter Schnee, the woman he considered like a daughter to him. Gone was the cool professionalism and heart of ice. What was left instead was a woman who looked like she hadn't slept in days, her hair messy and her eyes unfocused as she played the game on her scroll. Her uniform was messy and likely hadn't been changed in days.

It was worse for her. For the others, they treated gaining these digital characters as a point of pride. To Winter, the world was one of escapism and fantasy. She'd taken quite a liking to the character of Osha, a female knight with an ice theme who sought to remove herself from the chains of her family's dark legacy. It was obvious why it resonated with her, though understanding the reason didn't make seeing her wretched state any easier.

Winter's spiral was the most heartbreaking. Of all people, he thought that she would be above such things. He still remembered when he first found her playing the cursed game. Grief, rage, and fear had all mixed together and it took all he had to not utterly break at the realization that no one was safe. If Winter - the strongest of his subordinates - had fallen, then what chance did the rest of Remnant have?

Holding back bitter tears, he closed the door without a word and made his way back to his office. Perhaps if he pretended hard enough he could trick himself into thinking that this was all some delusion and that his kingdom hadn't been crippled by glorified gambling.

"Salutations!" Penny Polendina greeted him cheerfully.

"Oh. Hello, Penny." James nodded. He hadn't seen her since all this madness started, "How are you doing?"

"Very well, thank you for asking! I come with exciting news!"

"Oh?"

"Yes!" She raised her scroll (which she didn't need, but they gave her one just in case) and practically shoved it to his face, "I - or rather my likeness - am officially becoming the newst character of Allogene Clash and will be released tonight!"

Ironwood's face twitched. He wanted to grab the scroll and throw it clear off Atlas' edge, but Penny's bright, innocent smile kept him from losing control, "That's...good."

"Yes! Father was quite proud of me as well." She puffed up her chest like a child who received a gold star, "I received a message that they found my performance in the Vytal tournament intriguing and asked if I was willing to model for them. The money we received should fund Father's research for years to come!"

"I...see." Ironwood smiled stiffly. It was good news, but he couldn't find himself to be happy, "Well...I'm proud of you, Penny."

"Spectacular! Cent Pollyanna will be combat-ready tonight!"

James watched her leave to share the good news with the Ace-Ops and Winter. Without another word, he returned to his office and poured himself some bourbon in a small cup. He always considered alcohol a vice and a weakness, but now he no longer saw the point in holding back.

He took the bottle and swigged.

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Down in a small corner of Vale in an out-of-the-way shop, the mastermind that brought Remnant to its knees chuckled to himself.

Spreading the Gacha had been easier than he thought. It started off small at first. Gather some employees and spread it across Vale as a small game. When the first consumers came, hungry to spend their hard-earned lien on more characters, they expanded astronomically. More characters, more lands, and more weapon types. More things to suck people in and have them consume the Gacha. It'd only been a few weeks and they multiplied their initial investment by more than a million.

Finding characters wasn't hard either. There were a few that he offered compensation for their likeness, but most were 'inspired' by the troublemakers that frequented his shop. Making trouble and dragging their problems into his poor, poor shop. And did they care? Of course not. They joked around like it was no big deal or protested that they were trying to do something good so wasn't that worth a little property damage?

Feh.

Oh well, he'd more than gotten his revenge. Those punks and miscreants were as addicted as the rest of Remnant to his creation. There were a few holdouts, of course, those who didn't see the appeal of spending all their money on the virtual, but he paid them no mind. No matter how loud they screamed. they would be drowned out by the mob.

Speaking of which, he had to do something to keep them enticed. He was sure that more characters and story would be enough to keep them going for years to come, but he wasn't one to rest on his laurels. He had more than enough money, after all, so why stop now?

The Shopkeep chuckled to himself. Today was going to be a great day.

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The atmosphere in Beacon's dining hall was unbearably heavy. Though the students all came for their customary breakfast, almost no one ate. They sat at the tables, heads down and hand grasping their scrolls like lifelines. The few that didn't stuck out all the more for it. There was Ren and Nora, the former drinking a cup of green tea while the latter shoveled pancakes and bacon into her mouth. She tried to talk (with her mouth full...), but no one paid her any mind. There was also Mercury, who yawned and lazily bit into some toast.

And then there was her. Weiss. A woman denied her Gacha. Ever since her father cut off her allowance, the world had turned dull and gray. She had a few characters, of course, but nothing that would mark her as a true top player. She looked on jealously as Cinder Fall, that odd transfer student from Haven, rolled wish after wish without a care. Where did she get that money, she wondered. Her gut burned with envy and desire.

It didn't help that the rest of her team ignored her horrid predicament. Yes, they had to be conservative due to their own limited funds, but at least they could still roll! Her suggestions for them to stop using the Gacha as a show of Solidarity had gotten her laughed at. Even Ruby - Ruby! - had called her crazy and told her to 'stop being salty'.

Weiss grit her teeth and stabbed her fork into the meatloaf. After all she did for them, this was how they repaid her? Lousy, ungrateful bit-

"Oh, free wish," Arc said. Weiss looked up and stared blankly at the blonde doofus set his scroll down at the table and tapped the screen. Arc was a true dolt who actually did the quests to get his wishes instead of paying for it like a respectable person. What did he think this was, a game? She scoffed. He'd probably just get some four-stars and trash weapons. That was what those freemium players deserved for being such cheapskates.

The wish finished and Weiss' eyes nearly bugged out of her skull at the sight of not one, not two, but six Pythia units showing up on screen. The other four were five-star weapons and one Dull Blade. Weiss' mouth parted in shock but no words came. The rest of their table looked similarly surprised sans Ren and Nora.

"Huh. Nice," Jaune said, as if the roll was only moderately good instead of life-changing.

Pyrrha bit her lip, "Jaune, maybe you should-"

Weiss watched, utterly horrified, as he took the six Pythias and ruthlessly killed, murdered, sacrificed them to empower his other units. Pyrrha didn't say a word, simply looking ahead with empty eyes. The rest of the table was similarly in shock at the casual way he'd commited the gravest of sins. Blake raised a brow, Yang looked like she'd swallowed something sour, and Ruby's fists clenched shakily like she was resisting the urge to grab Jaune's head and smash him clean through the table.

Weiss wasn't so controlled.

She shrieked and jumped across the table, tackling Jaune to the floor. The utter fool screamed in surprise as she grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head on the ground, "Why?! Why, why, why?!" She screamed with tears in her eyes.

"Why what?!" Jaune asked back in a panic.

"WHY?!" She screamed, her face inches from his. She didn't elaborate because she didn't need to. He knew exactly what he did. The fact that even Pyrrha wasn't moving to defend him proved that.

She was about to slam his head again when everyone's scrolls buzzed. Reluctantly letting go of him, Weiss stood up, checked her scroll, and froze. It was an announcement from Mahoya. A...A new game had just come out. No advertisement, no no trailers, just a notice that it was up on the store. Her hands trembled. She wanted to play it so badly, but she was still cut off. What was the point of getting it if she couldn't gather 5-stars?

And then she saw it: First Ten Rolls Free.

...

The Dustnet proceeded to crash at the sheer influx of downloads that came after.

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Shopkeep is an evil genius, but he also saved Remnant. And of course Salem would be the kind of player to enjoy constant radiant quests. Ozma should've thrown Skyrim at her. Woulda bought him at least a hundred years. Maybe if he's smart he'll change his name to Todd Howard.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this one! Next thing coming is a Patreon exclusive smut. 

With Age Comes Experience - Chapter 2

Wow, so...a buncha people really like the story, but not for the reasons I expected. This was meant to be a story where Jaune fucks bratty women stupid. Instead, the majority of people want to focus on Glynda and Jaune's relationship along with Jaune's college life as a 38 year old divorcee. You guys do know that was just meant to be a minor background thing, right?

Well, ask and you shall receive. This chapter is focused on Jaune and Glynda talking plus a brief flashback. I'll ask about that in the bottom Authors Notes.

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Ending up in the headmistress' room on your first day meant you either did something very good or very bad. With Jaune, it was more of a mixed bag. After all, he doubted that a student being the ex-husband of the headmistress was a thing that happened often. It might've been the first time it happened in all of Remnant, really.

Not exactly how he wanted to make his mark in the history books...

"Here." Glynda handed him a cup of chamomile tea and sat across from him on the other side of the small table, a steaming teapot between them. Chamomile tea was always Glynda's favorite, even back then. It took him a while to like it himself.

"How've you been?" Jaune asked.

"Busy as always." She laughed softly, "Beacon's going to be holding the Vytal tournament this year. As expected, its led to a fair share of scrambling. You'd think it would be as easy as setting up an event, but no. Everyone's too busy treating it like an international dick-measuring contest." The crude phrase sounded out of place coming from her. A reminder of a far less...controlled past, "There's the arguments. Vale wants to show off with as much pomp and luxury as it can, but it's not as if we have the funding. Correction. We have the funding, but just about everyone is dipping into it like it's their own personal piggy bank. And yet they have the gall to act surprised when I tell them that buying that villa in Anima means we're suddenly lacking in lien."

"Sounds rough." Jaune laughed under his breath.

"The less said about their 'suggestions', the better." Glynda sighed, "Would you believe that they suggested that we siphon funds from 'less important' projects?"

"Less important?" Jaune raised a brow.

"Yes, because clearly the money being used to help with maintaining the defenses and ensuring low-income people don't starve to death isn't important." He could hear the annoyance dripping from every word, "Why does it matter to them? They're cozy up on their 'legally acquired' mansions and the Huntsmen will always be there to protect them. Why even bother with maintaining the defenses so heavily? It's not as if a horde of Grimm will breach the walls, so clearly we shouldn't bother at all!"

"Now I get why you picked chamomile." He didn't envy her. Being the headmistress of Beacon sounded like a prestigious position, but it also meant dealing with superpowered young adults with more balls than sense and politicians who were detached from reality. Jaune didn't know how she'd lasted five years without going insane.

"You didn't come here to hear me ramble." Glynda sighed again, "How about you? How fares your team?"

"...Not good." He didn't sugarcoat it. One thing he and Glynda never did was lie to one another, "Weiss clearly didn't like being passed over as leader and I could tell she was looking for flaws to pick at. Probably thinks she can 'depose' me."

"Yes. Miss. Schnee does seem the type to have never been told 'No' in her life." Glynda pursed her lips, "She'll have to be disavowed of that notion. Far too many people choose to be Huntsmen for the sake of their ego. You've seen the type." More times than he cared to count, "I've no idea why she chose Beacon instead of Atlas, but it doesn't matter. In here she can't simply throw her name around expecting special treatment. You're her leader, so you have to put your foot down."

"Easier said than done." Jaune drank the tea, "Blake's quiet for now, but I can tell she doesn't like Weiss."

"I'm not surprised. A Faunus would hardly have positive views of a Schnee."

"Figured that was the case." Jaune let out a single, unamused laugh. He'd seen Faunus trying to hide their traits before, the ones who experienced prejudice before moving to Domremy. There were a few prejudiced assholes back home, but he did his best to set them straight when he ran across them.

"She didn't even change her last name. I've no idea why she thinks she's being subtle." Glynda scoffed, "And your third teammate?"

"Yang? She's..." Before he could stop himself, clear picture of what she'd done before returned. Yang raising her crop top and showing off her generous breasts. He wasn't some virgin who had no experience with nudity, but he was still surprised by just how...brazen she was. He'd seen flirtatious women back home, but not to the point of flashing someone they knew for less than a day.

Glynda took his silence as a cue to talk, "She's...difficult." She traced a finger on the rim of her cup, "She had the best grades in combat at Signal, but she had a habit of getting into trouble."

"Define trouble."

"She pushes limits, sees how far she can get and doesn't stop until she's disciplined. The typical teenager, except she has the ego of a future Huntress on top of it." She pursed her lips, "Honestly, I had my doubts on letting her enroll here. She's got the aptitude, certainly, but her devil may care behavior has led to issues in the past. Huntsmen who let their perceived superiority get in the way of their duties. For them, being a Huntsman is all about the fame or fun."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Jaune smirked.

"You'll never let that go, will you?" Glynda glared half-heartedly.

"Nope."

"Ugh, why did I fall for you again?" He knew why, but it wasn't exactly something proper to say to your ex...

His eyes looked over the rest of the room to try and distract himself. As expected, it was sparse. A bed, wardrobe, a desk, and a few other necessities. There were some hints of personalization - particularly a generously filled bookcase and the ornate tea set she used - but apart from that, the room was almost purely utalitarian. She wasn't one for 'frivolity or excess', to use her words. Ironic considering the graceful, elegant image she had. That cape was almost a decade old at this point. A present from...

"How's Jade?"

Glynda's cup paused mid-raise. Of course, she was so measured that not a single drop fell. Jaune took a sip of his own drink and waited for her to collect herself, "She's fine," Glynda eventually said stiffly.

"Just fine?"

"You'd know better than I would." Her words were carefully neutral, but he could tell the undercurrent of regret in her words.

Jade Arc...their daughter, the apple of his eye. Fifteen years old and a bit too much like her old man for his liking. His lips curled in a wry smirk at that. Jade was an Arc born and bred. She loved the stories about heroes and wanted to be one herself. That was probably his fault. Growing up, he'd practically spoiled her on fairytales and stories about heroes and Huntsmen. Men and women who rose up to defend innocents against the Grimm and the criminals.

It really shouldn't have been a surprise then that she decided she wanted to be a Huntress. Domremy didn't have a combat school or a Huntsman, but he knew some Huntsmen who were willing to take contracts training people. It wasn't useful for an adult like him, and it cost a pretty penny too, but they managed it. He didn't make a lot running the militia (or at least, it definitely wasn't enough to afford a Huntsman for an extended period), but Glynda and the rest of the family helped pitch in. Her connections even got them a discount.

And now she was here. Jade chose a combat school called Signal on the island of Patch. He'd been happy when she made the choice, even if he was confused when she suddenly told him that she wanted him to attend Beacon while she attended Signal. She wouldn't go there unless he agreed to go to Beacon, she said. He didn't know whether to laugh or cringe when she'd sprung it on him like an ultimatum.

She'd pushed through all his arguments. So what if he was pushing forty? He had Aura and there were no rules against attending late. And it wasn't like he had anything else to do. He'd already trained a decent successor for the militia and they could handle things for a few years while he wa sgone. And so on and so forth. She refused to his arguments and told him that she knew he wanted to be a Huntsman, so why couldn't they both fulfill their dreams?

He could never say no to her...

"I haven't seen her in a week." Jaune shrugged. She still texted him, of course, but he told her to focus on Signal for now while he set everything up. He couldn't just up and leave without warning. He had to make sure someone watched the house while they were gone, gave instructions for the new captain, and told the rest of his family too. They were all supportive, and Adrian even mentioned that maybe he'd come visit when the semester break came.

"Our talks were...limited." He could tell she wanted to use another word, but he didn't pry, "I was here to meet her when she arrived, but she refused my offer to stay. She chose to spend the week-long wait in a hotel."

"She didn't tell me that." Jaune's brows furrowed.

"I assumed not. It's to be expected." She smiled sadly and took a dainty sip of the tea, "You wouldn't want to live in a stranger's house."

Jaune sighed. He'd like to say that it was all planned, that he and Glynda wanted to start a family, but the truth of it was that it wasn't planned in the least. He and Glynda were young and...passionate, and one thing led to another. Some petty part of him, the one that came out during his most stressful moments, blamed Jade for not being able to achieve his dreams. Absolute bullshit. It was his fault for being too lazy to train. If he could go back in time, he'd slap his younger self upside the head for being such a petty, selfish asshole.

But he wasn't the only one. Glynda was...focused on her work. The rest of his family had far less generous things to call her. She was a Huntress born and bred. She tried her best to spend time with them those first couple of years, but being a Huntress wasn't conducive to being home a lot. Missions could take her away for weeks at a time, sometimes even months depending on how dangerous they were. During those times, the only communication she had with them were scattered calls and messages.

Becoming the headmistress didn't improve things. She was busier than ever, always swamped with work and politics with never enough time for herself. Apparently, her predecessor left a lot of fires burning and her appointment left her with a lot of cleaning up to do. Communication didn't get any more frequent and the few times she had free were holidays where half her mind was still focused on what work she had to do by the time she got back to her job.

"She doesn't hate you."

"She has no fond feelings for me either." She set her cup down on the table, "I'm not going to act resentful over it. I don't have the right to. We both made the choices we did."

Jaune didn't disagree. As much as he saw the best in Glynda, he didn't miss the way Jade and the rest of the family viewed her. Jade had gone from eager to slowly apathetic as the years passed and Glynda was forced to cancel planned meetings because something else came up. She remembered how devastated she was the first time it happened. Now? Now he had to remind her that Glynda had made plans to spend time together, and he could tell that she had to force herself to go.

The rest of the family wasn't any better. Mom and Dad kept their comments to themselves, but his sisters were all vocal about their thoughts on her. Glynda stopped attending get-togethers with them after they made it very clear that she wasn't family as far as they were concerned.

"Maybe this is a chance to reconnect?" Jaune asked softly.

"I've been absent for most of her life, Jaune. I can't just pretend everything's okay just because she's at a marginally closer distance. It wouldn't be fair for you or for Jade." She shook her head, "She'll have a place in Beacon after graduating if she wishes it, but I wouldn't be surprised if she chooses Haven or Atlas Academy. I'm surprised she encouraged you to come here, in all honesty."

"Yeah..." That might've had more to do with Saphron mentioning that Beacon had been his dream academy. She didn't mention Glynda once during her appeal, "...Still, Jade and I agreed that we'd meet up in a couple of weeks. Are you free?"

"I don't want to impose."

"It's not imposing if I'm asking." He reached out and squeezed her left hand for a moment. She briefly reciprocated the gesture before they both pulled back, "Whatever else you think of her, Jade's still your daughter."

"But I'm not her mother. Mothers do more than send money and call every few months." She shook her head, "Jaune...I appreciate what you're trying to do, but we can't walk back all those years. Perhaps if I could go back in time, I would tell myself to focus more on family instead of work." She paused, "And yet, I can't deny that good things have been done. Lives saved, disasters averted...would I give all that up? Is it right to? ...Does that make me a bad person?"

"Glynda..."

"I'm getting melancholy in old age, I think." She laughed. There was no joy in it, "We should end it here. You have classes tomorrow and I'd be a poor headmistress if I kept you up too late."

"Yeah..." Jaune sighed. He wasn't looking forward to seeing his team again.

"Chin up, Jaune. If anyone can deal with their idiosyncrasies, it's you."

"Using big words doesn't make me feel better." He finished his tea and stood, "But you're right, gotta get back to it. It was...nice to see you again. Glynda."

"You too, Jaune."

He made his way back to the dorm room. Thankfully, everyone was already asleep by the time he got back. Weiss somehow looked stiff even while she was sleeping, which was impressive. Blake kept her bow on too. He had to deal with that at some point. He'd wrangled racists back home. The militia had some prejudiced recruits who had 'dated' thoughts. Most of them were Humans who looked down on Faunus, but the reverse was there too. Gave him a headache even just thinking about it. People with prejudices were bad enough, but entitled racists were a whole different breed.

His eyes flicked over to Yang. She was...messy. Limbs splayed haphazardly, tanktop riding up to expose her stomach, and snoring on top of it. Jaune covered her loosely with a blanket before he crawled into his own bed for a long, dream-filled sleep.

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19 years ago...

Jaune looked at his reflection in the mirror and smiled. This was it, he told himself, his first big job since joining the militia.

Okay, maybe it wasn't big, but it was definitely a step up from all the usual grunt work. Most days he and the other recruits manned the walls. The most exciting part of their job was seeing a lone beowolf through the scopes of their hunting rifles. It was wrong for him to wish for anything else - a day of boredom meant a day of safety like the captain said - but it was hard not to feel like he was wasting away sometimes. Days just standing in one spot looking out into the roads was training his brain to mush.

Not today. No, today he was being sent on an actual mission!

...

Okay, he was being sent to escort someone who was doing a mission, but it still counted! Especially since the person he was being sent to kill was a Huntress- okay, Huntress-in-training, but still a Huntress. He'd seen Huntsmen a few times around the village, but he never really talked to them. It was always the mayor or the captain that did that stuff.

Honestly, he was surprised that he got picked. Captain Dornan had called him up just a few hours back and said that he was going to help escort the Huntress since he knew the area pretty well. Apparently, the scouts found a group of Creep Grimm that ambushed them. They all managed to get away, thank the Brothers, but it was clearly too much for the militia to handle so they called a Huntress. But of course, Creeps were subterranean Grimm, meaning that they'd be hiding in caves. The Huntress could track them down herself, but it would've been faster if someone who knew the area lent her a hand.

Which meant him. Nicholas, the lead hunter (not Huntsman) was still out of town, so he was the next best thing. He tried to take it as a compliment.

Jaune washed his face and stepped out of the house, breathing deeply to try and calm his nerves. Maybe escorting the Huntress to some caves wasn't exciting or impressive, but he was still looking forward to it. The chance to see a Huntress in action outside of television screen or scroll? He wouldn't pass this up for anything! Captain Dornan told him that they'd meet at Shellam, the local inn. Domremy wasn't big enough to need hotels, but travelers needed a place to stay.

He was a few steps from the entrance when he heard the voice.

"FUCK OFF!"

Jaune's eyes widened and he stepped to the side just in time to avoid the figure that crashed through the door and skidded against the ground. He recognized him. Tommy, the local strong man. Well, strong in the sense that he had an unlocked Aura and almost no one else didn't, which made him the strongest man in Domremy outside of Captain Dornan. A fact that he wasn't shy about taking advantage was the biggest bully in town.

And now he looked like he just got the shit kicked out of him.

In any other situation, Jaune would've turned around and gone back home. Not now. Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the door and hoped he wouldn't be thrown out of it.

The inside was a mess. Overturned tables, scattered (and broken) chairs, and dozens of shattered glasses on the floor. Sprawled across the hardwood were the usual drunks and troublemakers, all of them looking like Tommy did.

At the center of it all was someone who couldn't have looked more out of place if she tried. A young woman with light blonde hair tied up in a messy ponytail and emerald green eyes. Her outfit stuck out. A black tanktop, frayed jean shorts that barely reached her thighs, fishnet stockings, and black leather boots with thick wedge heels. To complete the ensemble, she wore a purple leather jacket wrapped around her shoulders like a cape.

She was pretty, he would've been blind if he said otherwise, but right now that was the last thing on his mind. Mostly because she'd rounded on him with a scowl that could make Grimm quake, "Who the fuck are you?" she spat, "You another asshole who thinks he can get lucky?"

"Uh..."

"Great. Am I talking to the village idiot here? Fucking hicks." A wave of anger shot through him despite his fear. Most travelers were polite enough, but a few thought that being from a kingdom made them better than everyone else.

"I assume you're the Huntress," Jaune said in a clipped tone. Things were already off to a bad start.

"What was your first hint, numbnuts?" His right eye twitched, "Yeah, I'm the Huntress that's here to deal with this shit cause none of you can even wipe your own asses. Name's Glynda Goodwitch. Don't call me ma'am or miss or I'll shove a broken bottle up your ass without lube."

Well, that was an image, "Right. Name's Jaune Arc." He looked around the sprawled drunks, "Can I ask why you beat everyone up?"

"Fuckers deserved it." She spat. Literally this time, "I come in and these dumb yokels try to start shit. They see a bad bitch and think they can get lucky. And you know what? Fine, whatever, I can deal with limp-dicked assholes thinking they're hot shit. Then that big prick thought he could get handsy." She scowled, "Drunk fuck. Yeah, cause I want a middle-aged fatass staring at my tits and grabbing my ass." She crossed her arms, emphasizing said tits. They were...big, and it wasn't just that. Her outfit didn't leave much to the imagination. Large breasts, thick, muscled thighs, and shapely rear. It was no wonder Tommy tried something, though Jaune wouldn't be shedding tears if he really did touch her without asking.

"And everyone else?" He gestured to the knocked-out patrons.

"Drunks getting into a brawl. When I threw that first punch, everyone else freaked the fuck out. Not surprised. Everyone here seems like they're itching for a fight. Or maybe they thought I was easy pickings. Dumbasses." She scoffed, "Whatever, the missing teeth should teach them a lesson."

"A Huntress beating up civilians isn't exactly a good look..."

"Don't get your panties in a twist. I didn't use my Semblance or my weapon. This is just a bar brawl." She crossed her arms, "Anyway, you're the one who's gonna lead me to those caves, so let's go already. Queen Bitch hasn't kileld Grimm in a while."

"I'm sorry, who?"

"Queen Bitch. My weapon." She pulled a whip (how did he miss it?) from her side and grinned, the gesture almost manic, "Never go anywhere without her. Ain't a single Grimm around here's gonna survive when she comes out to play."

"You named your weapon that?"

"Yeah. Why?" Her look dared him to say that there was something weird about it.

He didn't take the bait, "So...Beacon, what's that like?" he asked as they walked out. He'd need to pass by the clinic later and tell Doc. Kemp that he'd have a few more patients

"What it to you?"

"Just curious." Cause he was tempted to sneak his way there just a year back.

"It's a pain in the ass is what it is." She stretched her arms above her head. Somehow, the jacket didn't fall, "It's a lot of rules and old fucks with sticks up their asses talking down to us like we're idiots. Yeah, no shit I know how to handle Dust. I'd be fucking dead if I didn't." She clicked her tongue, "They're the only reason I'm out in the boonies. Think doing bitch work out in some village on the ass end of nowhere will teach me something. All it's 'teaching' me is that there are horny old bastards here just like there are in the city."

"Not sure if that's the lesson they were hoping to teach."

"Tch, whatever. All I'm here for is to make sure that those Grimm are gone. Don't give a shit about anything else." She stopped suddenly and looked at him, "Know a place to eat around here? Woulda eaten back there if some fat turd didn't slap my ass."

"Uh, sure-"

"Great. I want something meaty. Beacon food sucks ass. All health and shit. You're my tour guide, so do your job."

He wasn't a tour guide, but he didn't argue, "Speaking of, you did a lot of damage back there..."

"Me? I was defending myself from drunk horndogs!" Glynda snorted, "Look, take it up with Beacon, alright? This ain't my problem. Those pricks should consider themselves lucky I didn't do something more permanent."

"Still, could you maybe tone down the property damage next time?"

"Yeah, yeah. Now come on, I'm starving for steak."

He had the feeling this was gonna be a long few days...

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Jaune awoke to the sounds of someone banging at the door. His first thought was that someone was outside before he looked up and saw that it was Weiss rapping her knuckles against the bathroom door, "Xiao-Long, you've been in there for an hour!"

"You can't rush perfection, Weisscream!" Yang taunted through the other side of the wooden barrier.

"We're going to be late for class at this rate! And don't call me that!" She banged on the door again. He could practically see Yang's smirk when Weiss' knocks were suddenly drowned out by loud, off-key singing, "Argghhhh!" She rounded on him now, "You're the leader! Fix this! I refuse to be late on the first day of classes!" Off to the side, Blake was sat on her bed reading without a care to what was happening. Great, so no help there.

Much as he wanted to disagree, she had a point. It wouldn't look good for him to be late on the first day given his situation, "Alright, hold on." He yawned and made his way next to Weiss. He knocked on the door at a much gentler pace, "Yang? You're not the only one living in this room. The three of us need to use the shower too."

"Ugh, alright! Yeesh..."

The sounds of running water stopped. He was just about to tell Weiss to not be so frantic next time when the bathroom door suddenly swung open. Of course, his head swiveled to the source and he found himself staring at a very naked Yang Xiao Long.

Okay, she wasn't completely naked - she had a pair of panties on. Everything else? Completely bare. His eyes trailed down across the expanse of her body. There were her boobs again, as firm and voluminous as they were the night prior. Her soft nipples seemed to taunt him, and he heard a long-repressed voice at the back of his head whisper that he should make them hard.

Her breasts weren't the only thing that drew attention. Yang Xiao Long was a prime example of a Huntress-in-training. Her arms and legs were thick with corded muscle, though that did little to detract from her looks. Down past her tits were abs that almost made him jealous. It was clear that Yang worked hard to get where she was. His eyes focused on a single drop of water that fell between her breasts and dripped down to her abs, the still-wet skin seeming to almost glow under the room's lights.

He realized what he was doing and he forced his eyes up only to see Yang's shit-eating grin, "Second time you've stared at me, old man." She laughed. Wrapped around her shoulders was the towel she should've been using to cover herself, "What? Cat got your tongue?"

"...Just get dressed. We need to go to class. I'll stay outside first."

"I don't mind if you stay and watch."

"He will not be watching!" Weiss screeched. Jeez, her voice could probably kill Grimm, "Leave the room till we're all dressed, Mr. Arc!"

"I got it already!" Jaune threw his hands up and left, shutting the door behind him. He pressed his back against the wall and brought a hand across his face. It was a cliche, but screw it: he was too old for this shit.

He could deal with this. He could. He'd survived way worse than a bunch of rowdy young women who thought they were invincible. Things would be fine...

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Glynda Goodwitch, the original bratty bitch. Wonder how Jaune managed to get together with her? A story for another time.

Questions:

1. So if we were thinking about an actual pairing for Jaune (not just sex) for this fic, who would it be? Besides Glynda, since people seem to want the two exes to get back together. I'm not wholly against the idea, but if you guys had to pick between Yang, Blake, and Weiss, who would it be for an actual relationship?

2. What do you guys want for the next chapter? I can do a full flashback with Glynda Badwitch or focus more on setting up Yang to eventually get disciplined.

No Victory in Strength (Minecraft Jaune) - Chapter 6

Hey! Sorry this took a bit. Birthday and real life stuff. Anyway, here's chapter 6. We're finally in Vale and Jaune's already starting to make waves. Now the faction warfare can begin. Mwehehe.

Patreon Note - Writing the Jaune x Weiss maledom next. Hope you guys enjoy :)

Wanna commission me? Email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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So this was him.

Ozpin steepled his hands together and looked at the young man seated across from him. Jaune Arc. He'd seen him before during their brief video conversation, but it still astounded him to confirm that the one responsible for Domremy's meteoric rise was this young man who looked no older than a first-year student. Had he not seen the pictures and heard Qrow's (oddly sober) testimony, he might not have believed it. He'd been in this world longer than any one man should, and yet he'd never seen that sort of ability. S

Semblances were a mixed bag, of course. Some, like Miss. Scarlatina, could build their entire fighting styles around them. Others, like Qrow's or James', could be active detriments. He'd seen his fair share of non-combat Semblances as well along with ones so powerful (Glynda's Telekinesis came to mind) that the layman from centuries back might've considered them magic.

And yet even still he found himself wondering if this was some sort of trick or con because not even Glynda could hope to make even a fraction of what Jaune Arc had. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Arc." Ozpin's lips curled up in his telltale smile. He'd chosen to meet with him alone in the office. Team RWBY had (rather fervently) insisted that they should be present, but he shut them down. He had no idea what had happened in Domremy in the past couple of days to make them so attached to the young man, but right now, that wasn't his problem. He had more important things to worry about than teenage hormones.

"Uh, same!" Jaune laughed somewhat awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head, "Gotta admit, I wasn't expecting to get a call from the headmaster of Beacon today.

"And what were you expecting today, if I might ask?"

"Oh, you know, going out mining and seeing what else I could build." He shrugged and leaned back in his seat, "Not that I really need to worry about it. Home's at a pretty good place right now and we don't really need any more space, at least for now."

Yes, his home. Domremy, the village-turned-kingdom. No one else on the council was aware of its existence just yet, but it would only be a matter of time. It was a miracle in and of itself that he hadn't been exposed yet. He hadn't exactly done anything to keep a low profile. Ozpin himself had been too busy with....recent events to pay attention to things happening outside the walls. His focus was turned inward. Sending Team RWBY to investigate the 'village' had been done mostly to ensure there wouldn't be a repeat of the incident at the docks. Or the incident on the highway. Or the disastrous food fight that they were still paying repairs for.

Oh, the things he looked the other way for to cultivate new agents. 

"That's actually what I wished to discuss." Besides the Grimm, of course. Ozpin was no fool. While Jaune Arc had slipped by him, he hadn't done so for Salem. Much as he disliked the idea, he knew that it could be leverage, "Your Semblance is...miraculous." And that was putting it mildly. He'd seen actual miracles that paled in comparison to what he'd done. The closest equivalent was eons ago, back when Man still had the gift of magic and what would be considered fairy tales were just another fact of life.

"That's what everyone says." Jaune shrugged, "Honestly, I felt kind of like an idiot for a while. I got my Semblance after I started punching trees. I was really mad 'cause...well, doesn't matter." He shook his head, "The next day I just had the sudden urge to build stuff. Before I knew it, I'd built a whole new second vineyard for the family. Dad looked like he was gonna pass out."

"That would be the normal reaction by anyone, I believe." Ozpin chuckled, "I assume that's what everyone in town acted like, really. A young man performing miracles out in the open would astound anyone." He still remembered when he and Salem had used their magic to gain the awe of the masses. Oh, how foolish and shortsighted he was back then. He'd assumed that things would be better if everyone and everything was under their control. That everything would be fine if they and they alone were solely responsible for everything.

"Heh, yeah..." Jaune shifted slightly, "So...why'd you call me here? You said it was about the Grimm?"

"Indeed." Ozpin nodded. A part of him wanted to tell the young man everything - about Salem, about the Brothers, about the war - but he held back. No need to reveal things unnecessarily, "I believe that you and your village may be in danger. Not everyone is aware of this, but if a Grimm survives long enough, they gain...well, life isn't the proper term for it. Perhaps animal intelligence? The average Grimm will attack any Human or Faunus it sees regardless of the odds. Older Grimm are willing to be patient. 

"So...you're thinking that the Grimm who attacked me are some of the smart ones?" Jaune asked, "But I've been getting attacked for a while. I doubt there's that many intelligent Grimm that are just hanging around near Domremy."

"Perhaps not directly, no, but ancient Grimm could send other Grimm in their stead." A half-truth. Grimm such as Wyverns and Leviathans did attract Grimm like a Siren, but they wouldn't hang back out of sight. While older Grimm were willing to be patient, that was all for the end goal of causing as much destruction as possible. Once the attack started, their instincts wouldn't allow them to not involve themselves in the slaughter.

"Huh." Jaune put a hand on his chin, "Wonder why they're after me, though. I've had Grimm attack me like a dozen times now."

Ozpin's brows raised. A dozen? A not-unexpected number, but it still gave him pause. Salem was many things, but most of all, she was persistent. Clearly, she considered Jaune Arc a threat. Enough of a threat that she continued to attack him despite numerous failures. Despite her gifts and curses, she did have her limitations. Commanding an army of Grimm from her place in Evernight wasn't feasible or else she would've wiped them all out by now. But commanding groups of Grimm using seers as makeshift communications devices? Yes, that was well within her purview.

The fact that Salem had taken an interest in Jaune Arc and that he'd repelled her advances only exacerbated the young man's value. 

"Let's get down to brass tacks then." Ozpin leaned forward slightly, "I believe that we can come to a mutual benefit here, Mr. Arc. Your skills place you in high demand, and it's clear that the Grimm personally consider you a threat. Perhaps they see your kingdom's rapid growth as something that goes against their destructive instincts." Not wholly true, but believable enough from a certain point of view, "Perhaps we can come to an arrangement here. I could have Huntsmen assigned to your town on a permanent basis to ensure the safety of yourself and everyone else who resides there. In exchange, you do some work for me. Does that sound agreeable?"

"Wow, that's really nice and everything, but...I'll have to say no." Jaune shook his head. Ozpin's smile faltered for a moment before returning, "I'm not sure what Team RWBY told you, but I've been dealing with the Grimm for a while now. The Knights I made are handling them pretty well. Plus the other defenses too." He smiled proudly at that, "That and I wouldn't want to take up the time of Huntsmen who could be doing something besides waiting around. There's never enough Huntsmen, right? They could be doing something way better."

"You're saying they would be redundant?"

"Well...kinda?" He shrugged guiltily, "My Knights aren't as smart or flexible as Huntsmen, but when it comes to defending places and killing Grimm? They're really great. I never go too far from Domremy, so a Huntsman would just be overkill. Besides, I don't think it'd be fair if I got special treatment. If Domremy needs a Huntsman, we could post a contract on the board like everyone else does."

"I see." He couldn't tell if the young man was being humble or arrogant dismissing his offer out of hand. Oh well, he had other avenues to explore, "Something else then? Perhaps a trade agreement and payment for services rendered? Vale's coffers may not be as deep as Atlas' or Mistral's, but we can be very generous. The Council were pinch purses at the best of times, but he was sure he could convince them otherwise."

"I don't really need money, though." He shook his head again, "Domremy's pretty self-sufficient after everything, and money isn't really something I worry about. Mom and Dad had me sell some stuff in Mistral a few months back and we've been sitting on a pretty good nest egg right now." Mistral? Oh, if they only knew the golden goose they were dealing with, "Most of what I really need are materials, but they're not...here. On Remnant, I mean. Unless you've got some enchanted books and mother tree bark?" He looked hopeful.

"Ah...no, I'm afraid not."

"Yeah, I figured." Jaune sighed, "Gathering those is a pain, especially since I promised Ruby I'd give her Infinity for Crescent Rose. That damn raccoon always asks for the most insane stuff."

He didn't elaborate, but Ozpin picked up enough from the context clues. Infinity...he was offering Ms. Rose unlimited bullets - unlimited Dust - and treated it as more of an annoyance than an impossibility. Not for the first time that day, Ozpin wondered whether it truly was a Semblance or something more than that. And yet even magic had its limitations. He certainly couldn't break the rule of energy neither being created nor destroyed. Only the Brothers could do that.

The implications did not sit well with him.

"Let us dispense with material offers then," Ozpin said, "I can offer you something equally valuable: connections." Jaune's brows furrowed, Ozpin continued, "Domremy has gone from a village to a kingdom in a matter of months. That puts you in a rather precarious state, Mr. Arc. Neighboring kingdoms, or perhaps even Vale itself, might consider your home a threat."

"So what are you saying?" Jaune crossed his arms.

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but I'm not just the headmaster of Beacon. I'm also a member of the Valean Council. With my endorsement, I can ensure that Domremy is...taken under Vale's wings, so to speak."

"Just tell me what you mean."

"Being under Vale's protection ensures that the other kingdoms will see Domremy as a part of us. Your home's position would be far stronger and more secure." He pressed his fingers together, "This was before your time, but a couple of decades back, Vale had attempted to expand into Mt. Glenn. It ended in tragedy." One that still weighed on him even today, "But perhaps things could be different now. Domremy could represent a hope not just for those within its walls, but also for Vale as a whole."

"Hm...and in exchange, you want me to work for you?"

"For certain tasks that require your unique abilities, yes." Ozpin nodded, "What do you say, Mr. Arc?"

"Well...it kinda sounds like you want to take over Domremy even though Vale didn't do anything to build it to what it is now."

Ozpin blinked at the young man's sudden acidic tone. Jaune didn't scream or scowl, but the venom in his voice was clear as day, "That's not what I meant."

"Sure sounds like it." Jaune shrugged, "You're saying that Domremy'll be part of Vale even though they didn't do anything to help us build. We - I - worked really hard to turn Domremy into what it is, so why should Vale get to come in and say we're part of them now? I'm not asking Vale to be part of Domremy either, right?"

"This is not Vale taking over. This is mutual cooperation."

"Didn't sound like it from what you said." Jaune shook his head, "Outside the walls...we didn't have the kingdom and its big tech to rely on. We made do with what we had. A bunch of us really would've loved to have the kingdom's help, but we didn't get it. I know I did a large part of the work, but Domremy isn't what it is now only because of me. There are people there who are working hard and helping out as much as they can, so they deserve to be there. Vale doesn't."

"Mr. Arc-"

"Maybe you think I'm just some dumb kid from the country, but I'm not that stupid. Dad warned me that people are going to try and take advantage. Maybe I would've accepted the offer before when I was still trying to build things, but not anymore. You can't just...look at something someone worked hard on and say you own a part of it!" He threw his hands up, "And you're asking me to do work for you so Vale can take over! That's like...asking your partner to do you a favor so you'll put your name on the project he did by himself! How's that fair?"

Ozpin found himself caught flat-footed at the passion in Jaune's voice. He'd seen numerous craftsmen in his life, and many of them took personal pride in their work - sometimes to the point of hubris. As a craftsman, Jaune made them all seem like kids making sandcastles by comparison. Perhaps he shouldn't have been shocked that the young man had such fervor when it came to his home. It was his greatest creation, and in his eyes, Ozpin and all of Vale were circling vultures. 

Before he could think of another argument to turn things around, Jaune suddenly stood, "Look, if that's the only reason you wanted me to come here, then I'm leaving. If you actually want 'mutual cooperation', then you'll talk to the rest of the people in town too."

Jaune had turned and took only a couple of steps before Ozpin stood as well, "Mr. Arc. Wait." He expected the young man to ignore his call, but he stopped and looked back with a doubtful look on his face, "We've gotten off on the wrong foot. While it wasn't my intention to take over your work, I can understand why my offer isn't that tempting to you." Ozpin took a deep breath, "Perhaps you would be more amenable to something else then: a plea for help."

"Help? With what?" Jaune turned to meet his gaze, still suspicious.

"That is...a long story, one that you might want to be sitting down for." He gestured to the chair.

"...Fine, but I'm not gonna be taken advantage of." He sat back down.

"Yes. I suppose I'll have to be honest if I wish to gain your aid." Ozpin sat down as well and looked Jaune in the eyes, "Tell me, Jaune. What's your favorite fairy tale?"

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Cardin Winchester was someone who was used to being at the top. It came with the territory, really. He was the only son of Councilman Wardes Winchester, which was a long and respected line. Their family fought in the Great War, the Faunus 'Revolution', and they were one of the first to sign up to be Huntsmen. It wasn't perfect - damn Animals won their little war - but it was still an illustrious history. One that he was living up to by attending Beacon.

Being here wasn't as great as he thought, though. His teammates were cool, though he wouldn't have said no to a few more women on the team. The other students weren't great either. Being a Huntsman meant being the best of the best. They were the guys who kicked ass, killed Grimm, and everyone respected them. They were the only reason the Grimm hadn't battered down the walls. The civvies looked up to them for it, as they should.

Still, even if Beacon wasn't as good as it could've been, it was alright. Better than anywhere else, at least. Just about everyone knew who his dad was, and while he wasn't a sniveling brat who cried for his dad to solve his problems for him, his dad's position and reputation meant no one was willing to fuck with him. No one except that Animal lover Adel and her team, at least. Her family made it big in the fashion industry and it gave her a big head. Whatever. He'd kick her ass in the ring if she didn't have that giant and the blind freak backing her up.

So yeah, Beacon was full of ups and downs. And this day? It was down.

First, Team RWBY and PNCR came back from whatever mission they were sent on. He wasn't ashamed to say he didn't like either group. They just did whatever the hell they wanted and none of the teachers so much as gave them a dirty look. He still remembered that food fight they had a week ago. Anyone else would've been at least suspended, but those two teams? Not even a slap on the wrist. If he pulled something like that, he and the rest of the guys would've had to deal with suspension from Port even with his dad's connections. 

He bet it was cause of Nikos and Schnee. Schnee's dad was probably the richest guy on Remnant and Nikos was a big deal cause she won some fights back in Mistral. He didn't see what the big deal was. It wasn't like she won the Vytal Tournament or anything, just some local tournaments. He would've won if he entered local brawls too. 

His mood only worsened when he was paired against Belladonna during Combat Class. For some reason, she really didn't like him and made sure to be extra vicious whenever they fought. He halfway expected her to try and claw his damned eyes out. His ribs were still sore from when she literally kicked him when he was down.

And now there was a crowd in front of the cafeteria. Cardin scowled and pushed his way past with his team following, ignoring the stupid gawking looks of everyone gathered. He was tired and hungry, and he didn't give a shit if someone else was having another food fight.

He barely managed a couple of steps inside before he stopped, "What the fuck...?" He looked around the dining room. Beacon wasn't as fancy as Shade, but they still didn't skimp when it came to their facilities. Cardin was used to rich digs, but this? This was insane. Stained glass windows, marble floors, mahogany tables (the good kind, not the cheap shit), and chandeliers that bathed the room in a warm light. There was even a full second floor now. Looked more like a high-class restaurant than a cafeteria.

But all of that was nothing compared to the gods damned fountain at the center. He definitely wasn't imagining it. A marble fountain with a twenty-foot statue of what looked like that teacher's pet Rose on top of it. The statue was struck up in a heroic pose with that stupidly big scythe aimed high at the air. Water that looked like it was sparkling shot out of the vertical tip, cascading down to the ornate pool in a shining curtain. It looked like something you'd give a war hero, not a grade skipper.

"What in the Brothers is this?" Schnee's cut in. Cardin looked back and saw Team RWBY behind them. Xiao Long and Belladonna looked at the statue, wide-eyed like fishes. Rose's face was completely red and she tried to hide in her cloak as if it'd do anything to help. 

Schnee was the worst off. Her face was red and she looked like she was about to blow a gasket. She was jealous, that was pretty obvious, though she did her damndest to hide it. Her eyes flicked between the fountain statue and Rose, who was still trying to make herself look even smaller than she already was. Didn't help. People were finally filing in and the first thing they noticed was that marble monstrosity smack dab at the center.

"Oh, hey!" Another guy he didn't recognize walked up to Team RWBY. He was definitely a civilian. It wasn't just because he didn't have a uniform. Cardin could tell by the way he carried himself. Huntsmen had a feel about them that the untrained people didn't have, "You guys made it just in time! Like the new cafeteria?"

"It's delightful, though the statue is somewhat...ostentatious, if you don't mind me saying," Schnee said in a clipped tone.

"Is it? I just wanted to pay Ruby back for the present she gave me." He showed off a crappy rose keychain like it was the greatest thing ever, "I thought you'd like it, Ruby. Do you...not?"

"No! I love it! Super love it!" Rose screamed. Her face was still red, especially since people were looking at her.

"Indeed, why wouldn't you? I would certainly appreciate it if someone gifted me a statue." Wow, Schnee was being green-eyed. The rest of her team could see it too. Xiao Long snickered while Belladonnarolled her eyes. The weirdest one was Rose giving her partner a smug smile even while her cheeks still burned. 

"You made all this?" Cardin asked. Team RWBY all turned to look at him like they just noticed he was there, "How the fuck? This place was the same yesterday!" Barely held together cause RWBY and PNCR decided that ruining everyone's day was fun.

"Yep!" The blonde doofus grinned. For some reason, Cardin already knew he didn't like the guy, "I did some work this morning. The headmaster said that the cafeteria got wrecked and he asked if I could help with it. See what I could do, I guess. He really only wanted me to fix things up, but then I figured why not spruce the place up a bit?" Cardin looked at the stained glass windows and the statue again. A bit, "Apparently, someone really trashed the place in a fight and the school was having trouble finding someone to repair it with their budget. Wonder which jerks did that?"

"Ahaha! Yeah, total jerks! No regard for anyone else!" Xiao Long grinned and put an arm around the blonde's shoulder, "Come on, we should check out how great this new place is!" 

"Oh, you guys can go on ahead. I'm thinking about heading down to the docks in Vale. Apparently, someone blew that up too? This place sounds really dangerous. What kind of crazy person just blows up a place like that?"

"Maybe they had a very good reason." Belladonna suddenly grabbed his right arm in a vice grip, "But Yang's right, we should go and eat. It'll be our treat." Wasn't the cafeteria food free?

Cardin watched as the four of them dragged the idiot off to a corner table. A call from Dove kept him from staring too long and he sat down on the (cushioned!) seats at one of the tables. His hands traced across the surface and he frowned. It felt better than the table back home.

His eyes flicked over to the guy who supposedly made all this. How, he wondered. Even if he was bullshit levels of rich like Schnee was, there was no way he could get people to do all this in less than a day even if he hired a thousand desperate idiots. No, he made it sound like he did all this by himself. Was that true? He would've called bullshit, but the proof was right there in front of him. Less than a day ago, this place looked like shit, and now...

Cardin's mouth twitched when he saw Xiao Long trying to feed the guy. He might not have liked Team RWBY, but he couldn't deny that most of them were smoking hot. You had to be blind not to see it. Xiao Long had a killer bod that put just about anyone to shame, Belladonna had the best ass in Beacon (seriously, the other guys did a ranking on it), and Schnee looked like a damn princess. Sure, Rose was an annoying runt, but three out of four wasn't bad.

And now they were all crowding over that dork.

He wasn't jealous. Why would he be? He was a Winchester and he was about to turn into a Huntsman. He was way more important than some civilian who wasn't gonna do something important with his life. In just a few days, he was sure that everyone would forget about the guy.

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Coco Adel was someone who was used to getting what she wanted. It kind of came with the territory. The Adels might not have been on the scene for long, but they were a force to be reckoned with. Sure, they might not have been as well-connected or rich as the Schnees or Winchesters, but that was cause they still had a little thing called common decency. The family was aggressive, but they didn't have a habit of stomping on people to get what they wanted. 

It was one of the reasons why she became a Huntress. She wanted to make her mark in the world without trampling over innocent people. Huntsmen only went after Grimm and the worst kind of scum. 

Still, that didn't mean she turned into some kind of humble ascetic. Huntsmen advertised themselves. It was a brand. Sure, you didn't need to look fancy to get contracts from the board, but if you wanted to get the attention of people high up then you had to stand out from the crowd. That was why a lot of Huntsmen had such unique fashion. Coco was no different. She prided herself on her style, both with her clothes and her weapon Gianduja. 

But style came at a cost. She made sure to get the latest fashions, but those cost a pretty penny. Not enough for her to be in the red - Mom and Dad taught her how to handle money - but enough that she found herself struggling sometimes even with the money she got from her social media posts. That and Gianduja wasn't cheap. Miniguns were pretty infamous for how fast they could spray downrange and and Coco wasn't exactly shy with her barrages. She knew it'd eat into her wallet when she chose it, but she just couldn't resist. A minigun purse just screamed 'Coco Adel'. 

Right now she was heading towards Beacon's firing range. Dust for personal use was expensive, but the school gave them a weekly quota they could burn through if they needed to practice. It was lower-quality Dust, which Coco personally disliked since she always preferred to get the very best, but it was free so she couldn't complain too much. 

Coco arrived at the firing range to find it empty save for one person. Tucked away at the corner spot was Ruby Rose. Coco knew who she was, though they hadn't exactly met before. Team RWBY's performance in Initiation earned them a spot in the Beacon's unofficial hall of fame. The same spot Team CFVY had last year when they outperformed everyone in their own Initiation. While Team PNCR was famous because of Pyrrha Nikos, Team RWBY was (in)famous as a whole.

That and it was hard not to know who she was after what happened at the cafeteria yesterday. That statue definitely caught the eye, and nobody missed the fact that it was Ruby. In a school full of downright bizarre fashion senses, she was the only one who wore a cloak. Go figure.

Coco hung back as the younger girl set up her rifle. While she wasn't a weapon fanatic like Velvet was, she could still appreciate a finely designed weapon. The sniper-scythe wasn't something she'd pick for herself, but it definitely went well with Ruby's grim reaper look. 

She crossed her arms and watched as the targets popped up and Ruby shot them dead center. It wasn't her performance that got her attention though. It was how much she was firing. Judging by the size of the magazine, she guessed that the thing held ten rounds, maybe fifteen if she was being really generous. Ruby fired thirty times in a row without slowing or reloading, and it was only after that thirtieth trigger pull that she finally took out the spent magazine. 

"Nice shots." Coco whistled. The cloaked freshman jumped up with a slight squeak and turned towards her, though she made sure not to flag her with the gun.

"Wha- who are you?" 

"Name's Coco. You're Ruby Rose, right?" Coco smiled.

"How do you know that?"

"Statue."

"Ugh, of course, it's the statue." Ruby frowned and her shoulders sagged. Coco was tempted to reach out and pinch her cheek, but she held back. That was what old people did.

"Hey, I'd be flattered. Shows how bad your boyfriend's into you."

"He's not my boyfriend...yet." The 'yet' part seemed to really get to her judging by her deep frown.

"You sure? That guy just builds statues for everyone, does he?" Maybe she could commission one.

"N-No, he doesn't! Only for people he's really close to!" Coco didn't miss the defensiveness and worry in Ruby's tone and had to hold back a chuckle. Oh, she was cute.

"Don't worry, I'm not going after your future boyfriend." She was ninety-nine percent into women. She wasn't discounting the idea of liking a guy, but she found it pretty damn unlikely considering her track record so far, "Actually, I'm interested in something else. Your weapon holds a lot more rounds than it looks."

"Oh! That's 'cause of Jaune!" Ruby beamed proudly. She guessed that Jaune was her not-boyfriend's name, "He set it up so that I can fire three times at the cost of a single bullet! Isn't it awesome?!"

"He can...do that?" Coco raised a brow.

"Yep," Ruby said, popping the P, "Oh, check this out." She turned a dial and inserted a new magazine. Raising the rifle again, she squeezed the trigger, and three bullets shot out in a burst, "I can fire the three-in-one bullets all at once for maximum damage or save it for individual targets. Both cost the same."

"That sounds..." Useful. Brothers only knew how much ammo she expended firing her weapon even for just a few seconds. Tripling her ammo count or rate of fire would be massive. It'd be useful for Velvet too. Her poor Bun-Bun's Anesidora was a technological marvel, but the price of Hard-Light dust was horrific. Letting her have three shots for the price of one could seriously up her effectiveness, "This Jaune guy seems like a catch."

"I know, he's so great." Ruby giggled. Urge to pinch cheek rising! "And that's not the only one! He says he'll find a way to give me Infinity later so I-" Her eyes suddenly widened, "Uh, nevermind! Forget I said anything!"

"Infinity, huh?" Coco hummed, "Why stop now? You've already told me this much."

"It-It's a secret!"

"A secret, huh?" Coco smirked, "Alright...I'll just ask your boyfriend." It wasn't a serious statement. She just wanted to poke fun at her. Besides, she had a good idea on what the reaper meant.

"No, don't! It's supposed to be special between us!" Ruby shook her head, "If I tell you, do you promise not to blab about it to everyone?"

"Scout's honor." Velvet wasn't 'everyone'. And Coco was never a scout.

"Fine." Ruby chewed her lower lip and whispered conspiratorially, "It's infinite ammo!" Well...that was obvious, "Jaune says it takes some rare materials to make, but he's gonna gather them up when he can." She sighed dreamily, "But remember, don't blab about it!"

Coco made a zipping her lips gesture, which seemed to satisfy the younger girl. Ruby folded the scythe across her back and left, leaving Coco alone on the range. Infinite ammo...her mind was already whirring with ideas. Her goal in life was to be the most famous, respected Huntress in all of Remnant. Her weapon and Semblance - the ability to supercharge Dust - made her a monster in a fight, but she couldn't really win battles of attrition. 

But if she didn't have to worry about ammo? Oh, she could see that working wonders. Entire hordes of Grimm would've been buzzsawed by Gianduja. And it'd cut down on her spending costs too, so more money for fashion.

Then there was Velvet too. She could already imagine Bun-Bun without being held back by that hideously expensive Dust. She'd never have to second-guess herself and wonder if THIS fight was worth using one of her precious cartridges. 

If this Jaune guy was willing to give Ruby unlimited ammo, doing the same for a couple of other Huntresses shouldn't be too hard, right? The Adels had deep pockets and connections. She was sure she could convince him. 

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Attending council meetings was something Ozpin always considered to be a necessary evil. While he had no regrets in refusing kingship over all of Remnant - he knew more than anyone how flawed that system was - it didn't change the fact that politics was a wholly unpleasant thing to deal with. In an ideal world, people would vote for those who held their best interests and those in power ensured that those who counted on them lived the best lives they could have,

This was not an ideal world.

No, politics was a den of corruption. Backstabbing and bribery were the norm and those in power cared only for keeping said power and indulging themselves. There were a rare few that truly did have selfless intentions, but Human nature was often cruel and flckle. He'd seen idealists turn to their antithesis more times than he cared to admit. It was a miracle that Vale was still standing considering how short-sighted many of the people he had to deal with were. It was only their sense of pragmatism and awareness that there had to be a city for them to rule over that kept their worst excesses in check.

Sometimes, it made him wonder if James had the right idea of abusing his dual-seated position.

Ozpin sat at his normal spot in the boardroom. It was obvious why they were here: the young man from Domremy who had started to work his miracles in Vale. Ozpin made no attempt to hide him. Not only would it look worse if he did, but it wasn't feasible even if he could avoid the blow to his reputation. People would ask questions on how damaged parts of the city were suddenly repaired. No, not repaired. Improved. Jaune adding a new helipad in the docks was one of the least absurd things he put in.

"Who is this young man?" Wardes Winchester asked. Ozpin despised the man, but picking a fight with an elected official over dated views and unsubstantiated claims of corruption would be difficult. He had enough on his plate.

"As I told you before, he is Jaune Arc."

"That's not what he's asking." Elise Brunet said. She was corrupt as well, though not to an unbearable extent. Still, that new mansion of hers didn't come from hard work and dedication, "Who is he? Where did he come from? How can he do these...things?"

"On that front, I know just as much as any of you," Ozpin replied neutrally, "I heard rumors of a village that had expanded extensively and I sent a team from Beacon to investigate. It was there that they made contact with Jaune Arc and I requested for him to go to Beacon, upon which I asked for his help regarding certain matters." At the cost of giving out something he was rare to grant: the truth.

"An outside settlement. He's not a Valean citizen then." Richard Blanche hummed. The only Faunus on the council, something that had earned him the ire of Wardes Winchester (and numerous other individuals in Vale that had more 'dated' views). His hands weren't clean, but he seemed to direct the filth at those who deserve it, at least.

"What does that matter?" Delara Azure scoffed. She was the oldest one here, perhaps above even him (a joke, obviously). The woman's face had more wrinkles than not and her great-grandchildren were running for office as well, "He still lives in Saunus. As far as I'm concerned, that means he's beholden to us."

"I think you'll find that many would disagree with that statement, Delara," Ozpin said coolly, "We all know that those who live outside Vale's walls are outside of our protection, but that also means that they're outside our control. Or are you saying the council should claim responsibility for every settlement that falls to the Grimm or bandits while we do nothing to help?"

"He's right. Out of sight, out of mind has always been our policy." Richard hummed, "There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but we can't retroactively claim that Domremy is an extension of Vale unless you want a political faux-pas."

"All this talk of citizenship is pointless," Winchester said, "It doesn't matter if he's a citizen or not. He's working for Ozpin, and that means he's working under the council."

"That's not exactly accurate either." Ozpin smiled sardonically, "Yes, the council does have influence over those who are under my employ, but Jaune is not. He's helping me as a favor."

"A favor?" Elise raised a skeptical brow, "I find that hard to believe. What did you offer him in exchange for help?"

"I merely asked." Twice, though they didn't need to know that, "Jaune Arc has chosen to help me without accepting any remuneration. He is not an employee. he is a young man who chose to help out of his own free will. And he can rescind that help any time he wishes. My honest opinion? I doubt he can be swayed  to do the council's bidding."

"This is foolish." Delara scoffed once more, "Perhaps you convinced him with tales of helping the Huntsmen, but Jaune Arc is still Human. Would anyone turn their nose at the chance of having the gratitude of an entire kingdom?"

"What do you wish to offer him? Money? Connections? Perhaps one of your estates?" The last comment had the old woman frowning, "You'd have better chances offering pictures to the blind. You've seen what he can do. I'm sure that videos of him rebuilding the docks and highway are already all over the Dustnet. What can you give to a man who can make anything?" 

"Perhaps it will be more difficult than the norm, but I'm sure there's something he wants, and there's little we can't give," Elise said.

"Such generosity. It warms the heart to see," Richard laughed, words sharp as a knife, "And what will we ask this young man if convince him to work for us?"

"We'd ask him to help for the betterment of Vale." Wardes' tone was painfully neutral.

"How selfless of you." Richard smiled, exposing his sharp canines, "I'm sure we all have the betterment of Vale in mind, Wardes." 

The betterment of Vale. More likely the betterment of themselves. He was sure that they would want Jaune to improve Vale, but only after they had their piece. He could see the greed in their eyes. They wanted Jaune for their own benefit. Even Blanche. Ozpin sighed. He knew this would happen, but it was still a disappointment Too many were short-sighted and only cared for immediate gratification over anything else. Perhaps he was biased - he had good reason to have a long view of things - but it was a shame regardless.

The meeting ended soon after. He knew the other four would already make plans and consider their offers. Money would be the first, and then they would try the same things he did. He wondered if Jaune would be even more annoyed being offered annexation with a smile. Wardes might use his son to try and befriend the young man as well, though he doubted he had to worry about that. Cardin Winchester was hardly the most charismatic.

He was barely out of the building when his scroll rang, "Glynda, what is it?"

"James is here. I assume you know why." He could practically see her frown.

"...I see. Tell him I'll be there soon." Ozpin cut the call and sighed. The next few weeks were going to be turbulent.

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Poor Ruby. Wants to be a normal girl with normal knees. Ends up getting a freaking statue in the cafeteria where people will see it every day. Meanwhile, Weiss is jelly because SHE wants a statue.

And yeah, we already see the entitlement spreading. Not just at the councils and Ironwood, but students like Coco who want in on what Jaune can do. Hopefully they're not all going to be dicks about it. 

Questions:

1. Okay, I have to ask, but what is with people in reviews shipping Ciel and Penny with Jaune? Not only are they not mentioned as part of the pairings, but why those two? Penny I can kinda get cause 'she's a robot and he's a builder', but why Ciel? Her entire character is being Penny's throwaway partner, and she disappears after V3. 

I would've thought Neo would be suggested more cause people really like her, but apparently not? 

2. Any thoughts on the factions/groups so far? I'm brainstorming ideas on how Coco would try to appeal to Jaune once she realizes that, like everyone else, she can't just offer money and connections.

3. What do you guys think of Jaune having a guy friend character? And who would it be? I'm leaning towards Mercury like in Seasons since he might be the only guy who legitimately wants nothing from Jaune. Cardin is jealous of some country boy getting the attention he thinks he deserves while Ren might be tempted to restore Kuroyuri. Mercury just doesn't care. 

True Control [Patreon Exclusive] - Chapter 3 (Arkos Pairing)

Third (and final) chapter for True Control. Wanted to put this out before my birthday came up. Not sure if I'll have another chapter after this, though someone is planning to commission another Arkos femdom work with a focus on peggin. We'll see. Hope you guys enjoy.

My next exclusive work will be a Jaune/Weiss maledom BDSM fic. Look out for that.

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"Mmmm."

Pyrrha leaned back on the edge of the hot springs and closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the water envelop her as the broken moon shined overhead. Her muscles seemed to sigh in relief as the healing waters soothed the small aches and pains. She deserved this, she thought. After all, it wasn't every day that you won the Vytal Tournament. And perhaps it really shouldn't have been anything special given her history of tournament victories, but she felt proud all the same. Among all the four academies on Remnant, she'd proven herself the best.

And now it was time for her reward.

Her head lolled back and she peeked one eye open. Across from her sat Jaune - her partner, her dear, her pet. She'd gotten a reservation for the hot springs for just the both of them after her victory. She felt somewhat bad leaving Ren and Nora to themselves, but they'd assured her that they understood. Nora had even grinned and wished her luck 'confessing'. The sincere encouragement made her smile. They had no idea just how far she and Jaune had already gotten.

She opened her other eye and slowly, lustfully raked her gaze over Jaune's body. Even through the steam of the hot bath, she easily made out every detail of him. His soaked hair that he'd pulled back to keep away from his face, those sky blue eyes of his, and those lips that she wanted to kiss and bite till they were raw and bruised.

Then there was his body. Jaune was never ugly, but his previous physique was that of someone who engaged in some light exercise at best. Now? Now he had the body of a Mistralian hero. Firm arms, broad shoulders, and lean, corded muscles that easily matched – if not surpassed – the other students. The result of months of grueling work turned him from a fraud who could barely hold his sword straight into a respectable future Huntsman. He might not have been equal to meatheads like Cardin or as well-built as the likes of Sun Wukong, but he was tantalizing in his own right.

And someone worthy of the Invincible Girl.

She giggled at the thought. Not too long ago, she hated even the idea of people calling her that. It made her seem like an object, something for others to prop up on a pedestal without a care about who she truly was. Now she reveled in it. It was a title she took with pride. Not because of something petty like winning tournaments or having her face on a billboard, but as someone who knew exactly who she was and what she deserved. Someone who could see the man she wanted and take him rather than demuring and letting him waste his time with some spoiled heiress who wouldn't have put in even a quarter of the work Pyrrha did to mold Jaune into being more than an egotistical fraud.

Their eyes met and Jaune looked away with a slight blush. Even now after so many months, he was still embarrassed. So cute. Her lips curled up in an amused smirk and she crooned, "Oh, Jaune~" He looked back at her as if on command. The subservience gave her a rush of pleasure and she made sure to go slowly as she put her hands on the edge of the bath and pulled herself up to sit on the stone.

Her curvy rear landed on the warm surface with everything above her knees exposed. Water fell down her body in rivulets, making her toned, flawless body almost shine in the moonlight. She saw the way his eyes focused on a particular droplet that fell from her neck down between her breasts, embarrassment replaced by desire. It was an alluring sight, and one that she was sure many of her fans would kill for even a glimpse of. An image of the Invincible Girl without her armor, every inch of skin bare and waiting to be worshipped. She could already imagine some of her more frantic admirers doing just that, getting on their hands and knees and treating her as a goddess come from on high.

But she didn't care about any of them. There was only one person in all of Remnant who deserved to see her like this.

"Jaune~" She raised a hand and beckoned him to her. Jaune gulped and slowly walked towards her, eyes hungry and desperate. He understood his place now, and while some embers of masculine pride protested at the idea of being subservient, it was drowned out by his desire to serve and worship.

He was close to her when she lifted her right foot and pressed it against his chest to stop him, "Ah, ah, ah. Don't be greedy now." She purred, feeling a pleasant tingle in her spine at how he almost pouted, "You know what you have to do, Jaune. You have to earn it."

She raised her foot up higher, toes pressing against his chin. Jaune gently grabbed her ankle before he pressed his lips softly against her heel in a soft kiss. Pyrrha breathed out in satisfaction as he kissed her over and over, making his way up her foot till he reached her toes.

He bit and sucked the digits briefly before dipping his head. He continued to kiss down to her ankle before slowly making his way up to her leg. The kisses were feathery light and worshipful, eyes searching for approval as he looked up at her. Pyrrha sighed and licked her lips, "Good boy," she whispered, smiling once again as he continued to kiss his way to her thighs.

Why had she waited so long, she wondered as she closed her eyes again. She could've had this so much earlier if she'd simply fought for what she wanted sooner. She imagined what it would've been like if she simply let Jaune walk away all those months ago, bristling with pride and machismo. He would've gotten expelled, she was sure of that, and then what? He'd be back home as nothing more than a disgrace - a cheat who tried to trick his way to glory - and she would've been back to where she started. Alone and lonely.

No, it was good that she did this. It was the best for both of them.

"D-Did I do something wrong?"

"Huh?" Pyrrha opened her eyes once more and looked down at Jaune.

"You're frowning."

"I was?" She raised a hand to her parted lips, "No, I...was just thinking about how difficult classes will be again. It's not your fault."

She reached forward and gently brought a hand through his soaked hair, marveling briefly at how soft it was. Jaune took it as encourage and kissed his way past her thighs till his face was inches from her shaved quim.

Pyrrha licked her lips and watched with bated breath as he closed the gap and kissed her soaking lips. She moaned shamelessly, hands clenching, as he began to lick her folds. He'd gotten better at it since their first tryst in the showers. Now he made sure to do it slowly, the pink wall of muscle ghost across her skin with a feather-light touch. He wasn't trying to rush or lick up as much as he could like before. Now he dragged it out to make sure the pleasure slowly built itself up.

"Good boy...such a good boy..." Pyrrha gasped, her grip on his hair tightening somewhat.

"Mmmph." Jaune moaned against her snatch, the vibrations sending a pleasant little thrill up her spine. Through half-lidded eyes, she saw his right hand moving underneath the water. He was pleasuring himself at getting her off.

The next words came out before she could think about it.

"Stop." He looked up, confusion etched on his face, and she continued, "No pleasuring yourself. You have to earn it." Every word dripped with domination and want.

"But-"

"Jaune." She didn't raise her voice, but the command was clear. He paused for a moment before he eventually complied. At this point, she'd stopped feeling guilty at his occasional dejected looks. She wanted - needed - him to be under her control. To know that she could tell him to jump and all he'd ask for was how high she wanted him to.

Jaune continued to pleasure her, his tongue moving at the same languid speed. Beneath the calm facade, however, was an obvious undercurrent of desperation. He wanted her to cum so he could have his turn but he wasn't willing to rush and risk displeasing her.

Pyrrha closed her eyes again and focused on the feeling of his tongue licking at her sensitive folds. He'd gotten enough experience to know what she wanted.

It wasn't just his tongue either. His hands explored her thighs and sides, her skin electric from his touches. His hands moved without much rhyme or reason, but they didn't need to. With his tongue licking her pussy and his hands gliding across her skin, she felt like she was in heaven.

And then he got to her clit.

Pyrrha moaned again, even louder than before. This time there was no gradual escalation of licks. No, he took the nub into her mouth and sucked. It wasn't gentle, and for some it might have hurt, but it felt utterly grand for her, "Jaune, keep going~" she smiled deliriously as his tongue roughly licked at the nub.

"Mmmph," he moaned again, hands twitching against her sides. For a moment, she thought that he'd disregard her implicit orders and continue to jack off again. Instead, his left hand trailed down her side before he curled every finger besides his index and middle.

He inserted the two digits inside her quivering folds. Pyrrha gasped like she had the air knocked out of her lungs and lay back completely against the warm stone embankment, "G-Good boy, such a good boy for me!" she cried, grinding her hips against his face and hand. While he continued to please her clit with his tongue, his hand pumped in and out of her sopping cunt. Slowly at first, trying to ease into her insides, before he began to pick up the pace.

In. Out. In. Out. His fingers invaded her quim without resistance. His fingertips pressed against her walls as he pushed and pulled, only increasing her pleasure, It took a few more pumps before he found her sweet spot again, her back arching as he made contact. She couldn't see him, eyes closed and arms covering her face as she was, but she could imagine his smirk as he curled his fingers.

Pyrrha's eyes shot open for the last time as she moaned and finally came. He'd barely gotten his finger outside of her slit before she grabbed his head with both hands and roughly shoved his face into her pussy. She held him there while he continued to lick and suck at her folds like his life depended on it.

Pyrrha continued to press him against her crotch and only let go when her orgasm finally stopped. She lay on the ground and panted, mouth curled up in a delirious smile. She loved this, loved him. It was so grand that they were together now. She sat up and looked down at her submissive lover.

Jaune's face was absolutely coated in her cum, and he looked almost drunk as he stuck out his tongue and licked the clear fluid above his lip. She'd marked him, a voice at the back of her mind whispered. He belonged to her now and forever.

But of course, they couldn't stop here. Oh no, Jaune had been a good boy. It was time for his reward.

"Jaune...fuck me."

His eyes widened at that, "A-Are you sure?" So far, they'd mostly been limited to handjobs and blowjobs. Sometimes, she'd rewarded him for doing very well during training and let him thrust between her thighs, but they'd never gone all the way.

"Do you not want it?" Pyrrha asked, tilting her head to the side in faux-confusion. Her next words came out in a teasing lilt, "Well, I suppose we could go back to a handy if you want-"

"N-No! I mean, uh..." He winced and gulped, too stunned to even wipe away the cum on his face, "I...I really want to fuck you, Pyr. Please."

"Hm...alright, but only because you've been such an obedient partner~" She scooted back till her feet were off the way and lay back down. Jaune quickly washed his face before stepping out of the pool. Her eyes raked over the hard-won muscles and the nine inches of throbbing cockmeat. The rod was thick and veiny, the head an angry red as it desperately cried for release. A petty part of her couldn't help but think of Weiss and how she absolutely would've been destroyed if Jaune used that sword of his on her.

He crawled on top of her, hands pressed against the floor by the sides of her head as he lined up his cock against her cunt. She was still sensitive from cumming, but she didn't care, "Go ahead, Jaune." She raised both hands to cup the sides of his jaw and smiled, "Fuck me."

It wasn't smooth. His hips lowered and his dick slid across her lower lips, grazing her clit. She chewed on her bottom lip and willed herself to be patient as Jaune raised his hips and tried again. It took a couple more attempts - something she was sure she'd look back on fondly - before he finally hit his mark.

The tip of his erect cock finally slipped past her folds. There was no need for foreplay given what they'd just done, and she was more than good enough to fit his entire length inside her. Unlike before, she didn't scream or moan. Instead, her next breath came out in a slow, almost relieved sigh as Jaune slowly bottomed himself into her snatch. All the while, she kept a gentle but firm grip on his face, ensuring their eyes never stopped looking at one another.

Jaune groaned when his dick was finally sheathed up to its 'hilt'. They were both virgins, but she did her best to not let her inexperience show, "Good boy," she whispered, giggling at his starstruck look and crimson cheeks, "Now, keep going." She tried to remember every dustnet article and raunchy novel she'd ever read. She couldn't afford to crack and lose her place here. Not now after all she'd done.

Jaune raised his hips again like he was carrying the weight of the world before sliding himself back in. It felt good, but what really drew her attention was Jaune's face. His eyes were pinched shut and he bit his lower lip to keep making a sound. She almost laughed at how adorable he was.

"No holding back," she whispered, tightening her grip around his face, "I want to see you."

He only hesitated for a moment before following her instructions. He breathed out quickly and his next groans and moans came out unrestrained, his pinched expression replaced with that of unbridled pleasure.

Pyrrha smirked and pulled him in for a sudden kiss. His eyes widened for a moment before he quickly reciprocated the gesture, deepening the kiss as he began to thrust in earnest. Their tongues clashed with one another, battling for dominance, She could sense the slight tinge of desperation in his movements. Was this some way for him to try and gain back some of his previous pride?

She internally smirked at the thought.

Jaune screamed in surprise as Pyrrha suddenly flipped their positions. He was on the ground now while she was on top of him, his dick still fully hilted inside her cunt, "P-Pyr-"

She raised her hips and slammed them down. Jaune moaned, whatever argument forgotten, as she continued. Pyrrha did her best to keep her breathing level even as her movements got quicker and she could practically feel Jaune get closer and closer to reaching his limit. This was what she wanted, she told herself. All those nights pining, all those daydreams about finding someone who saw her as something else than a celebrity.

No, this was more than that. To Jaune, she wasn't just Pyrrha Nikos. She was his mistress, his...his goddess.

The thought of that made her laugh out joyously, "Cum for me, Jaune!" she cried, her hips a blur of movement, "Cum for your goddess!"

He did. Jaune grabbed her hips - whether to pull her down or her push her away, she didn't know - and came. Pyrrha gasped his seed filled her, painting her insides white. The feeling of warmth was absolutely intoxicating and she moaned as she came for the second time that night. This was it, she thought. She'd finally gotten her reward.

Pyrrha practically collapsed on top of him, a punch-drunk smile on her face. Jaune was the same, his expression a mix of relief and awe as his slowly deflating cock slipped out of her pussy. The loss of the erect member allowed his seed to spill out.

"Pyr...?"

"Hm?"

"Please tell me today's a safe day."

"Hm~" She didn't answer even as Jaune grew more panicked and made quick promises that he'd take responsibility for her and their child. Today was a safe day, but she kept quiet about it for now. Jaune promising to marry her felt almost as good as everything else that came before. Almost.

Their stay at the hot springs lasted for only a couple more days before they returned to Beacon. Nora was all smiles and Ren quiet congratulations when they saw the two of them holding hands. Pyrrha didn't bother to correct them on the idea that they'd only gotten together during the trip. Why ruin their fun?

Later that night, Team JNPR decided to hang out with Team RWBY before they parted ways for the semester. Yang had been somewhat sore losing against her in the finals, but she took it rather well, all things considered. They all also congratulated her and Jaune for getting together, though Weiss had made a backhanded compliment about Jaune. Pyrrha smiled and refused to let it dampen her mood. If the heiress failed to see what she'd missed out on, it was no skin off her nose.

"Awww, he's so cute!" Nora cried, hugging Ruby and Yang's pet corgi - Zwei - to her chest, "I wish we had a dog!"

"No, Nora. If we get a dog, you'll get bored and I'll have to take care of them." Ren sighed, "I still have no idea how you managed to get away sneaking him in here," he said to Team RWBY

"You're no fun, Ren!" She pouted and turned to Jaune, "What do you think, Jaune? Don't you want a dog?" She gave him the puppy dog eyes.

"Well...maybe." Jaune smiled and shrugged.

"Hey, don't say something so careless! You'll just encourage her!" Ren glared at Jaune.

"Alright, alright! Geez..."

"Boo!" Nora turned to her now, "What about you, Pyrrha? Don't you want a dog?"

"Well~" A mischievous smile suddenly blossomed and she made eye contact with Jaune. The blonde blinked when she suddenly patted his head, "I already have one."

Nora and Team RWBY laughed, assuming it was all a joke, while Jaune blushed, "H-Hey, I'm not a dog!" he protested

Pyrrha raised a brow and looked at her partner. His determined expression suddenly faded, "Jaune," she said. One word and she could tell he was already primed to obey her, "Sit here." She pointed to the ground in front of her.

Ren, Nora, and Team RWBY watched in silent amazement as Jaune did just that. He knelt on the ground and looked down, face red with embarassment.

"What the f-"

"Good boy~" Pyrrha said, cutting Yang off. She scratched under his chin and smiled.

"I...I'm not a dog..." Jaune said weakly, though he still leaned into her touch. If he were a dog Faunus, she imagined his tail would've already been wagging happily despite his protests, "I'll give you a treat later for being so good for me."

"Y-Yes! Thank you!"

Her eyes flicked to the rest of their friends. Nora looked at them in slack-jawed shock, then looked at Ren with possible plans forming. Ren himself looked away with a cough and a slight blush, though he managed to maintain his composure.

The same couldn't be said for most of Team RWBY. Ruby screamed and flailed as Yang suddenly covered her eyes in a vice-grip in a desperate attempt to retain the reaper's innocence. The blonde runner-up looked at Pyrrha in embarrassed disbelief, cheeks red like someone who'd seen something naughty for the first time in their life. Huh, so much for that party girl mask she put on. Meanwhile, Blake looked impressed, raising a brow briefly before she nodded in respect.

The worst of it was definitely Weiss. Her entire face was colored crimson and she looked like she was short-circuiting.. Her eyes flicked between Pyrrha and Jaune before they settled on the hand that was still scratching at his chin.

And then she fainted, blood dribbling down her nose.

Pyrrha smirked at that and whispered another teasing offer to Jaune. Oh yes, life at Beacon was going to be so grand from now on.

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And then Cinder kills Pyrrha the next week. I'm kidding.

Like I said, I'm not sure if I'll have another chapter out for this. Feels like this ended pretty well. Hope you guys enjoyed!

No Victory in Strength (Minecraft Jaune) - Chapter 5

Last chapter in Domremy before we go to Vale and start getting into the various factions that want Jaune. And then chaos ensues. Both good and evil groups are gonna want a piece of Jaune. Plus all the romance stuff with Team RWBY and soon Pyrrha.

We'll also delve a bit more into Jaune's character since, per the request of the commissioner, he hasn't gotten any POV segments yet. Hopefully seeing him bounce off of people trying to openly exploit him will show more of his personality.

On a side-note, I'm thinking of writing an omake where Jaune is a Faunus here. This causes most of the various groups to shit bricks since the various groups have a history of mistreating Faunus and without the usual offers available, they know Jaune has no reason to be sympathetic to their pleas. Meanwhile, Blake is at a major advantage since she has way more buttons to press to convince Jaune.

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This place was so odd.

That was the thought that ran through Pyrrha's head as she walked along with the rest of her team. Jaune had offered to show them around, which they all gratefully accepted. She'd been born and raised in Argus, so a miniature kingdom like this wasn't completely alien to her. Still, it was undeniably impressive. Especially since (if the briefing was accurate) it had only shown up all in one year, if not less than that. She'd heard of fast construction before, but this was absurd.

Their official mission was to reinforce team RWBY and confirm their report. Beyond that, they weren't told much of anything. The headmaster did say that he would contact them later in the day, but until then, they were free to do whatever they wished. A part of her felt somewhat guilty that they were so lax during their mission, but she brushed it aside. It wasn't her fault that the headmaster had chosen such a thoughtless mission for them. Wasn't Team RWBY's report confirmation enough?

"Oh, wow! Look at that!" Nora pointed excitedly at many of the buildings they passed while Ren nodded along. From what the two of them had told her, they were both orphans since they were children and spent most of their lives surviving on the outskirts of Anima or in the slums. Living costs in the kingdom were expensive; far too much for the two of them to afford. A part of her felt guilty at that before she again brushed it off. It wasn't her fault that she was lucky enough to be born to living parents in a stable pseudo-kingdom.

Her eyes flicked to her partner. Like Nora, Ciel looked around at the various amenities and took note of everything. Literally. She hadn't stopped tapping into her scroll since they arrived. Ciel was never the most talkative partner, but now Pyrrha felt even more awkward at the thought of disturbing her. Especially when her eyes practically bugged out of their sockets at the sight of a building marked 'Airship Dealership'. Was that a shop selling what she thought it did?

Finally, her gaze turned to their impromptu tour guide. Jaune Arc. The briefing told them that he was (apparently) singularly responsible for his village's miraculous industrial revolution. Pyrrha found it hard to believe, if she was being honest. She knew Semblances could run the gamut from extremely powerful to nigh-on useless. Her own Polarity ranked very high up on the scale, and even it paled in comparison to Professor Goodwitch's Telepathy.

Still, a Semblance that allowed him to turn a village into a kingdom sounded absurd. Even if he could build everything by himself, the timeframe made no sense. Argus took years of thousands of people (at least) working together to get to where they were. That and the backing of both Atlas and Mistral. This place - Domremy, she reminded herself - had one man's Semblance and nothing else. It sounded too unbelievable to be true, but here they were.

Argus was a trading port. While they had luxuries like movie theaters and even a spa, it was still nothing in comparison to what real kingdoms had. Domremy was different. While a decent chunk of the city was taken up by essential systems such as farmland and the like, another part of town seemed to be built just for entertainment. Bars, theaters, hot springs, various restaurants, and even an arena.

That last one in particular drew her attention. Argus had an arena, but until recently, it was a small place where some of the local youths trained for the tournament circuit. It was only within the past couple of years that the government decided to put some funding in to expand it.

After all, the hometown of the Invincible Girl attracted many young hopefuls hoping to be the next champion of the circuit. They even put her photo up on a banner...

"OH...MY...GODS!" Nora screamed, jolting her out of her negative thoughts. Pyrrha looked to where the other redhead was pointing and blinked at the sight of a crowd gathering in front of a stage that had a table full of people and...pancakes? Pyrrha rubbed her eyes to make sure. Yep, there were plates upon plates stacked with pancakes as tall as she was - and she was not short by any means. Nora looked up and drooled shamelessly at the sight.

"Oh, that's a pancake-eating contest," Jaune said casually. Nora was hyperventilating now. Even Ren looked somewhat worried, "We have contests like these from time to time. Gives people a chance to unwind with something silly." He looked at Nora and blinked at her borderline unhinged expression, "Uh...do you wanna join-"

"YES!" Nora didn't even wait for him to finish before she practically charged onto the stage. The host looked confused before he spotted Jaune in the crowd, who gave the older man a nod. That was all the host needed to announce Nora as a last-minute contender. The crowd didn't much care. One more person they could see try to stuff themselves with food. The team and Jaune all looked at one another before they sat down on some of the spare chairs.

The rules were simple enough. Eat as much as you can. No pausing for more than ten seconds or you were out. So on and so forth. The thing that really grabbed her attention was the prizes. Ten thousand lien for first place, five thousand for second place, and two thousand five hundred for third. It wasn't much - about on par with some of the amateur tournaments she'd been in - but for a pancake-eating contest? That was a pretty penny. Their weekly Beacon stipend was about a hundred lien a week. Just enough to buy Dust and parts for other repairs.

Jaune was sat to her right with Ciel to her left. Her partner had actually stopped taking notes while Jaune just looked on with a somewhat bored expression, "I've seen it before," Jaune said as an explanation, "It was cool at first, but one guy always wins."

He pointed to the guy sitting at the center of the long table. He was fat. That wasn't her being mocking, she was merely stating a fact. He looked like he took up three chairs all by himself. He had curly red hair that ended in thick sideburns along with equally thick eyebrows. Pyrrha wasn't one to shame people for their appearance - she knew that it mattered more what was on the inside - but something about him made her frown. The term Fat Bastard suddenly came unbidden before she could stop herself. That was so mean of her.

"BEGIN!"

Watching the contest was both impressive and grotesque. Pyrrha had fought everyone from peers her age to adults, many of whom had brutal fighting styles. And yet all of it paled in comparison to the sight in front of her now. Watching men and women of various ages gorging themselves on pancakes like their lives depended on it. The utensils were left forgotten as people used their hands to stuff themselves full of syrup-covered wheat.

Nora wasn't any different. She grabbed pancakes by the fistfuls and ate and ate and ate. Pyrrha felt somewhat sick watching it. Her diet had been strictly regulated by her trainer to ensure maximum gain. Even after going to Beacon, she still preferred to pace herself. Aura and the average student's required training regiment meant that they burned through most of the calories they ate regardless, but she still preferred to err on the side of caution. Nora was the opposite.

Sadly for her, even she couldn't hope to match the reigning champion. As everyone else tapped out or passed out, Nora and the rotund man were left, and it was clear Nora was flagging. Her hands were shaking and her eating slowed. Meanwhile, her opponent continued to eat at the same fast rate as before with no signs that he was stopping. Heck, he was even eating from the other contestant's plates! Pyrrha covered her mouth and swallowed down her bile.

"I...I can't..." Nora stopped, looking at the next towering pile she was given after she just finished the last one, "This...is impossible...! I'm...queen of the castle...!"

"Not in this castle!" The large man said in an indecipherable accent, spewing chunks of pancake everywhere. Urk, "I'm bigger than ya! I'm higher on the food chain, lassie!" And then, just to rub it in, he grabbed a handful of pancakes from Nora's plate and ate it. Were it any other situation, his legs would've already been broken, but Nora was too stuffed and too weak to protest. Instead, she raised her hand before tipping over to the side, a woman defeated.

"And the winner is...Bob!" The announcer screamed.

The audience clapped politely, though it was clearly only out of obligation. Fat b- er, Bob didn't care in the least and kept on eating even as the announcer congratulated him and put the stack of ten thousand lien next to him.

Nora was utterly inconsolable. She cried and screamed about how she was dethroned and completely ignored the five thousand lien stuffed in her pocket. For her, pride mattered more than money. Ren rubbed circles around her back and whispered soothing words of comfort as Nora wept. It wasn't graceful either. She ugly cried the whole time and she hadn't even bothered to wipe the pancake crumbs and syrup away from her mouth. Not that Ren cared, of course.

"That was...disturbing," Ciel muttered.

"It's all in good fun," Jaune said, though even he sounded unsure, "Gives us something to do with some of our excess grain."

Ciel nodded, "Yes, we all saw your crops." Crops that grew within minutes. She knew people who would (perhaps literally) kill for those, "I assume you stockpile those given the sheer quantity."

"Yep. We also try to give out the excess to any villages that need it." Ciel noted that down, "Not everyone is willing to leave their village and go here, which I totally get. They set themselves up there and worked really hard to get where they are. It's unreasonable to tell them to pack up and move. So I - we - try to help where we can."

"That's very generous of you." It was a kind gesture...and a sadly rare one. She'd done promotional work for a fair share of charities, but the cynic in here couldn't help but wonder how much of the donations actually went into helping those in need versus the various 'fees' of the charities themselves.

"Not a big deal. They're there and we can help them." Jaune shrugged, "Anywhere else you guys wanna go to?'

"Well, I was actually interested in the arena we passed by earlier. Do you all mind if we go there next?" Pyrrha asked. Everyone agreed; even Nora who was still warbling about how 'horrific loss', "I'd be interested to see the fighting skills of this city's miltia."

"I doubt they can match up to a Huntress-in-training, but sure. I'm sure everyone's gonna be excited to see what a future Huntress can do!" Future Huntress. Not the 'Invincible Girl' or 'Mistral Regional Tournament Champion'. Pyrrha found herself smiling at that. That was the whole reason she came to Beacon. She wanted to be more than a face on a billboard.

The fights in the arena were, sadly, rather mundane. While it was to be expected - she was dealing with militia members and local youths - it was somewhat disappointing. She felt the same at Beacon. While the students put up decent fights, rare was the enemy that required her to even use her Semblance. So far the only one that required it was Yang, and even that was only on their first bout. After that, she'd gotten wise to the blonde pugilist's tells.

As Pyrrha defeated her last opponent, she briefly wondered if it was all going to be a disappointment when Jaune suddenly came up to her, "Why don't you fight one of my knights?"

"I'm sorry, your...knights?"

"They're not actually knights. They're golems, like the ones you guys saw near the entrance. I made a bunch of 'em and testing them against a future Huntress could really help me gauge how far they're coming along."

"Hm, I don't see why not. I just hope you don't mind any damages."

"Ha, nah. Go nuts."

Pyrrha took her place on the right side of the arena and watched as an ornate suit of white and red armor strode to the other side. It was finely made, easily surpassing some of the decorative suits she'd seen in some of the high-class abodes she'd been (forced to) visit. It was a fine piece of craftsmanship and she almost felt bad at the idea of trashing it.

Her guilt lasted until it suddenly charged towards her with surprising speed. Pyrrha blocked the blow and gasped in slight surprise as the force of it actually pushed her backward before she could brace herself. The knight continued the assault, slashing at her with an unexpected ferocity. Unlike her previous opponents, there were no tells and obvious signs, at least as far as she could see so far.

Her heart beat faster and she smiled.

The fight lasted for a couple of minutes. It was...thrilling. Possibly due to its nature, the golem moved with inhuman speed and almost matched her blow for blow. She was still faster, of course, but the knight didn't have to worry about accumulated damage. The knight's armored frame was easily strong enough to take the impacts of her blows without her having to hold back. She even found herself using her Semblance to pull back some attacks that would've gone past her defense.

By the end of it, she was victorious and the knight lay in pieces across the dirt. The crowd cheered, and for some reason, she found herself beaming when she saw Jaune among them, "Congrats!" Jaune said as he ran up to her. The thought that she was reeking of sweat suddenly came to her and she took a subtle step away, "You're the first person I've seen who's ever beaten one of my knights!"

"Thank you," Pyrrha demured. She was used to praise, but she found herself smiling genuinely regardless, "It was a fruitful challenge. I'm sorry for wrecking one of your best golems."

"Nah, I told you that you could go nuts. Besides, that was just a scout."

...

"A what?" Pyrrha asked.

"A scout. You know, the ones you send to see how bad a place is. That's why it was so small." That was small? "I've got other units and they're the ones who do the bulk of the fighting."

"Such as?"

"Well...the warriors, the vanguards, the tanks. Different knights for different roles." Back at the stand, Ciel was tapping on her scroll so fast it was a miracle it didn't catch fire, "Using anything besides a scout on a tournament just didn't seem fair so I never put them out."

"...Jaune?"

"Yes."

"Let me fight a warrior."

"Huh? But-"

She grabbed his shoulders with both hands firmly, suddenly not caring about any sort of embarrassment, "Let me fight a warrior. Please."

"Uh...okay? Sure."

Jaune looked confused but complied anyway. Pyrrha was practically vibrating as she took her place on the right side of the arena again. A scout. The golem had given her a challenge and it was just a scout. How much stronger would the other knights be, then? Her heart beat rapidly, a rush of excitement that she hadn't felt in a long time coming to the surface. By the time she was fifteen, fighting in the tournaments felt more like an obligation than something she did for the thrill of the sport.

The feeling of excitement was intoxicating.

It only got better when she saw her opponent. Another knight. this one colored black and blue, took up the opponent's side. It was easily twice her height with a sword that could easily cleave her in two if she got careless. Her mouth split into an open-toothed grin and she got into a battle position.

With a joyous laugh, she charged the knight and jumped in the air.

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Back at the castle, Team RWBY lay sprawled out in front of the castle's gate. All of them - even that traitor Blake - had enough sense to not want to fight and wreck Jaune's place and make him mad. Then when they kicked Blake's butt (okay, not really since she still had like half her Aura next), Ruby rounded on Weiss and got mad at her for trying to steal her soulmate. Then Yang butted in and suddenly they were all fighting till they were all on a heap on the grass.

Okay, all of them still had half their Auras, but it was the principle of the thing.

"Alright, new rule," Yang said as she sat up, "No more sabotaging each other or pulling blackmail shit." She looked right at Blake and Weiss as she said it. Both her partner and Blake refused to look at her, "We all like Jaune, some of us for better reasons than others, but that's no reason to tear each other's throats out."

"We wouldn't need that rule if you guys just butt out. He's my soulmate." Ruby crossed her arms and harrumphed.

"Soulmate? Ruby, you met the guy literally yesterday. I'm all for dating him, but I'm not gonna act like he's the love of my life or anything."

"Exactly!" Ruby slapped both hands on the ground, "To you, he's just another guy! You can find someone else to date once we're back in Vale! And both Blake and Weiss just wanna use him!" The two protested, but Ruby ignored them, "So really, you three should just let me and Jaune be happy!" Why didn't they understand? She and Jaune were practically made for each other! They had so much in common and he'd already touched her baby in a way no one else, not even her family, did.

"Ruby, stop being a child!" Weiss scowled, "Jaune's abilities are a gift, one that should be used for more than just improving your weapon. Didn't you become a Huntress because you wished to be a hero? You should be helping me! My plan will help improve the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, across Remnant."

"You're already the heiress, you can change things around with Jaune's help," Blake said, "But the Faunus don't have that privilege. We need Jaune if we're going to have any sort of hope of being more than second-class citizens."

"Alright, we're just going around in fucking circles." Yang sighed, "Alright, something else we need to talk about."

"Like what?" Weiss scoffed.

"Like those Grimm that showed up earlier." The reminder of the horde made them quiet. As mad as Ruby was with them for trying to steal her soulmate, they were still her friends and she was still a Huntress(in training). This was just as important as getting together with the love of her life, "Cause that shit definitely wasn't normal, right?"

"Definitely not." Weiss shook her and stood with the rest of them doing the same, "While Grimm are known to work together when hounding a victim, they hardly do so in the wilds. It takes an alpha beowolf to do so to its lesser compatriots when they're not all summoned by mass negative feelings."

"Jaune didn't look like he was suffering from negative feelings when we found him, but those Grimm were definitely beelining for him."

"Are you saying the Grimm were targeting Jaune?" Ruby asked. The thought of it made her gut churn with worry, "I know Professor Oobleck said that the Grimm get smarter when they get older, but this feels...different."

"Jaune said that this wasn't the first time either." Yang hummed, putting her hands behind her head, "So this happened a buncha times already and it'll probably happen again. No way there's that many old Grimm hanging around here."

"Grimm care for only one thing: destruction. Perhaps Jaune's constant and rapid building has somehow drawn their attention due to that innate desire?"

"Maybe, but they attacked Jaune when he was out of town. Why wouldn't they try to attack the city itself? No, it's almost like they were waiting for him specifically."

"But how the heck would the Grimm know Jaune was the one who built everything? They don't make plans!" It was one of the reasons classes on fighting Grimm were different from fighting people. The Grimm didn't plan and they didn't care about tactics. Sure, some of the older Grimm knew how to be patient, but they were still all about killing as many people as possible. Why target one guy far away from the town instead of trying to ram the walls and get at the people inside?

"We don't know, and that's worrying." Weiss sighed, "I think we should tell the headmaster about this. He might know what's going on."

"We should, but I doubt he'll tell us anything we don't already know. Like is he gonna say someone's actually commanding the Grimm or something?"

"Don't be dumb, Yang." Ruby rolled her eyes. Everyone knew that the Grimm couldn't be controlled. That was like trying to lead a hurricane. There were horror movies about big stupid corporations trying to do it and they always got their faces eaten. It was one of the few times she rooted from the Grimm. Stupid Meyland-Antani.

"Hey, I'm just spitballing here!"

"Either way, we should be on alert."

They all nodded at one another, hostility (temporarily) forgotten. Ruby was a Huntress and Grimm organizing like this was something that needed to be stopped.

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This place was fucking weird.

That was the thought that ran through Qrow's head as he transformed back to a human behind a building out of sight. Oz told him to shadow the kids and make sure that they weren't just talkin' out their ass about some sort of miracle kingdom that popped out of fucking nowhere.

Well, they definitely weren't. This place was real as real could be, "Shit..." He took a swig of his flask and watched the townies walking around. The cynic inside told him that it was all too good to be true. That under all those happy smiles and skipping kiddos was a layer of rot. Maybe that made him seem like a prick. but instincts were instincts and that was how he'd lasted so long in this line of work. You needed to see what people were hiding.

He had to admit, though, this place was damn convincing. Put some of the poorer districts in Vale to shame. The living costs in the kingdoms were high since it was the only guaranteed safety in Remnant. That meant a buncha people bled themselves dry paying for a cardboard box underneath an overpass. It sucked, but at least they knew that no matter how miserable they were, the Grimm weren't gonna be mulching on their guts tomorrow.

This place didn't have that. There was no place where the dregs and burnouts were, and he looked. People had roofs over their heads and everyone worked or spent their money in the entertainment district. It was...perfect. Too perfect. This was the kind of place the kingdoms made themselves look in all the commercials. Happy citizens where everyone got what they wanted and worked hard for the betterment of the community. It was damn creepy.

Raven would've loved a place like this. Not to stay and work hard, of course not. All she'd see was a fat big for her and the rest of their 'tribe' of parasites to feast on.

Shaking his head, he walked around aimlessly and stopped when he saw a sign for a bar. Well, it'd been a while since he had a drink. A proper drink, not swigs from his flask that he mostly spat out anyway. Place looked high class too. He usually went to dive bars, though that was mostly out of necessity. Villages didn't exactly have a lot in the way of luxuries. Alcohol outside the walls was meant to be quick and cheap. It made you forget your problems and come back for more. Well, he could afford it. Being the best Huntsman in Vale, and Ozpin's personal agent, paid pretty well. And unlike Jacques Schnee, he didn't spend it on mansions he never even stayed in.

Qrow stepped through the double doors and breathed in deep. Place looked like a saloon, but it was too clean to be a real one. The people didn't look up from their drinks or pay him any sort of mind. Huh, usually the weapon would draw attention. Well, whatever. Qrow walked up to the counter and took an empty seat. The bartender, a guy in a suit polishing a glass, grunted at him.

"What'll ya have?"

"Strongest and most expensive thing ya got. Feel like spoiling myself."

"Tough guy, huh? Fine. two hundred fifty lien."

Qrow slapped the lien card on the table and the bartender came back with...a bottle of beer? Qrow scowled at the guy, "This a joke? Two hundred fifty lien for a glass of beer?" He liked beer, but that was cause it was cheap.

"Our grain's top shelf. Trust me. You'll be out before you even finish that."

"Really?" Qrow drawled.

"You don't like it, you can check at the other bars."

"Ah, fuck it. Fine." Qrow grabbed the bottle and took a swig. He better get his money's wo-

...

...

...

Qrow's eyes opened to the worst headache he'd ever had, "Ugh..." He moaned. Oh Gods, his head felt like it was being drilled open! What the fuck? He looked around blearily and saw that not only were all the customers the same, but it was still light out. How...How long was he out? Fuck. He lay back down on the ground. One swig. He'd take one fucking swig and went out worse than the time Yang thought she was big enough to drink from his flask when she was fifteen.

"Arf."

He turned his head to the side and saw Zwei looking down at him in disapproval. He was also wearing a fedora for some reason, "Oh, don't you start." He scoffed at the judgemental corgi, "You've been going missing for days at a time, you don't get to go 'tut tut' at me, you little bastard." Zwei was a Huntsman-grade pet, unlocked Aura and everything. Breeds like them were pretty independent and it wasn't rare for Zwei to go wandering off for days ever since Yang and Ruby left for Beacon. Tai wasn't worried. He always came back eventually.

Well, now he knew where he went.

"So this is where you've been, huh?" He rubbed the corgi's back weakly, "Tell you what, you don't tell anyone what I've been doing and I don't look too close at what you're doing here. Sound like a deal?"

"Arf!"

"Yeah, suddenly you don't care when your ass is on the line." Qrow rolled his eyes and winced. Okay, no, calm down on the eye-rolling. He got up and sat back down on his seat. His bottle was still there, "...How long was I out?" he asked the bartender.

"Ten minutes. I trust you were satisfied with your drink, sir?" Qrow wanted to wipe that smug fucking smile off his face, "We sell remedies if you're interested. Only one hundred lien. Back to tip-top shape or your money back."

"Sell the poison and the cure, huh?"

"Is it poison if people seek it out?"

"Whatever. Gimme that remedy then."

He was handed a small cup of something that smelled like a pig's asshole. Sighing deeply, Qrow chugged it down and- what the fuck? He looked around and shook his head. A few seconds ago, that would've had him reeling. Now he felt stone-cold sober.

...

"Gimme another drink, something less strong this time, and get one of those remedy things ready."

"As you wish, sir."

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Pyrrha panted as she fell to one knee, sweat falling down her body in rivulets. Her Aura had been broken for the first time since...she couldn't even remember. Across from her, the knight lay still with its head missing. The aftereffect of her last desperate attack, using her Semblance to amplify her javelin and throwing it straight through the helmet with enough force to utterly destroy it. For anyone else, that would've been the end, but the knight kept going and hit her with one last slash that destroyed her Aura.

It wasn't technically a win, but it wasn't a whole loss either. In any other situation, it would've guaranteed her victory, but she wasn't fighting a Human or a Faunus. Still, Pyrrha held no shame in the tie. She took its head, it took her aura. She was satisfied with it.

"Pyrrha, that was amazing!" Jaune and the rest of Team PNCR helped her walk and hobble to the stands. The people were still cheering and she heard a few whispers about how they recognized her. She didn't care. She was too satisfied with the fight to let it bog her down.

"Yeah, that was awesome!" Nora cheered, her depression forgotten. Ren nodded while Ciel handed her a towel to wipe the sweat off.

"Here, drink this." Jaune pulled out what looked like a potion and handed it to her. She drank it without any hesitation and suddenly felt revitalized, all exhaustion forgotten.

"What was that?"

"Just an energy potion," he said that far too casually. Ciel took down another note, "Anyway, you guys said that you wanted to check with Team RWBY, right? Ruby should be awake by now, so do you guys wanna head up."

"Of course. Lead the way, Jaune."

They followed after Jaune as he led them up to the castle. She'd seen it before they landed, and she figured Jaune owned it, but it was still a bit of a shock, Pyrrha had a decent nest egg from her tournament winnings and other media appearances, but her family strictly kept themselves to above middle-class. Mom and Dad didn't much care for extreme luxuries. Better to have money saved than spent on useless things, as Dad always said.

Team RWBY was sitting in the living room when they arrived. Weiss' eyes widened when they saw them, "P-Pyrrha? What are you doing here?"

"The Headmaster sent us to check up on things," Pyrrha replied with a slightly forced smile. She didn't dislike Weiss, but she still remembered how the heiress tried to cozy up to her due to her reputation. First impressions were hard to break.

"Does he not trust us?" Blake's eyes narrowed.

"He simply wanted a second pair of eyes. The report your team sent sounded rather...fantastical," Ciel said.

"Fantastical, was it?" A new voice asked. Nora shrieked in surprise as a purple and cyan cat creature suddenly appeared on the table, "New visitors! So many coming in recent days! Does anyone want to talk about their life stories? I'm always willing to listen!"

"How long have you been here?!" Yang screamed.

"That is the question, isn't it?" It hopped off the table and landed on Ciel's shoulder. Amazingly, her partner didn't seem to care in the least, "Would you like to talk, beret-wearing person? You seem like someone who's going to be notable!"

"Curious! We talked about personal space!" Jaune scolded.

"Oh, I don't mind. I am willing to answer any questions this creature has in exchange for questions of my own being answered. Does that sound fair?"

"More than fair!" The cat purred.

"Excellent. Oh, before I go." Ciel pulled out her scroll and tapped the screen, "The headmaster informed me that he wished to talk with you, Mr. Arc."

"What does the headmaster want with him?" Weiss asked.

"That is between the two of them."

Ciel handed Jaune the scroll before leaving, the cat chatting away the entire time. Pyrrha and everyone else crowded around Jaune and waited for the headmaster's face to show up on the video call, "Ah, Mr. Arc. Good afternoon to Teams RWBY and PNCR as well. I was hoping to talk with you."

"What about?" Jaune asked.

"Well, that is-"

"Forgive my rudeness, headmaster, but we must tell you something first," Weiss said. The rest of Team RWBY suddenly looked troubled, "We've encountered something that I believe requires your immediate attention."

"Okay. What is, Ms. Schnee?"

Pyrrha listened as Weiss told the headmaster about a horde of Grimm. Hordes were somewhat rare but not exactly unheard of outside the walls, but this was different. As Weiss gave explicit details on the types and number of Grimm they encountered, she saw the headmaster's brow furrow in worry even as Jaune claimed that it was hardly something to worry about and they were easily dispatched the last six times they tried something.

Her fists clenched in worry at the thought of Jaune being attacked.

"Hm...this changes some things." The headmaster steepled his hands together, "Mr. Arc, I was hoping to have a proper conversation with you, and this only exacerbates that need. Might I request your presence at Beacon? I understand that this is sudden, but Grimm activity such as this is more than a little worrying.

"Alright, I don't mind. It'll give me a chance to use one of the new ships I made too." The headmaster looked utterly gobsmacked at the casual declaration, "Guess we'll see you there."

"Indeed. I look forward to our first meeting, Mr. Arc."

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Beacon, here we come! I'm sure things will be totally fine once they get there :P Anyway, we've had Pyrrha get some focus and see here more excitable Battle Junkie state. It's a bit more fun than 'I'm lonely cause I'm so famous (even though no one treats me that way onscreen)'. She also seems to get along with Jaune and isn't quick to fall in love with him. Kinda ironic given canon.

Anyway, that's it. See you guys next time.

Questions:

1. Do you guys think Ironwood would lean towards being a villain in his desire to control Jaune's Semblance or remain on the heroic end? The commissioner suggested the latter, but I'm curious regardless since whoever controls Jaune's Semblance esentially has the capacity to be the biggest superpower on Remnant.

2. Does Cinder seem like the type to seduce? Fanon seems to think so, but her personality in canon doesn't seem to have a lot of charisma outside of desperate street urchins like Emerald. I wonder if she'd try to charm Jaune or just immediately go to threats.

3. How do you guys think each faction/group (sans Blake, Weiss, and Ozpin) would try to appeal or convince Jaune? As mentioned in the previous chapter, offering money, connections, and protection isn't gonna fly since Jaune doesn't need any of it. This makes it very difficult for the various groups to try anything. Some will definitely try kidnapping and threats, but that's not gonna end well for them.

The Path (Elden Ring x RWBY) - Chapter 1

Another commission, this time with Penny and Jaune ending up in the Lands Between after Volume 8. Given that this is Elden Ring, expect things to be pretty angsty and downbeat for the most part.

Next chapter will either be a smutwork for Dedicated Readers or the next chapter of Minecraft Jaune. We'll see. 

Wanna commission me? Email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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When Jaune fell into the abyss, he thought it was the end. Watching the bridges fade and the portals disappear felt...odd. He knew it meant dying just like...just like Team RWBY. Watching his friends die and...and Penny...

Too much. It was too much. As much as he hated to admit it, a part of him just wanted it all to end. He hated himself for - so many people were still fighting - but he couldn't lie to himself anymore. As the last of the light faded and he was left alone in the void, Jaune closed his eyes and waited for oblivion. He only wished that he had a chance to say goodbye to everyone. His family, his friends...he hoped they'd be alright. He fought as hard as he could, now it was time for him to-

Everything stopped.

...

...

...

Jaune shot up with a gasp. His chest heaved with every strangled breath and he placed both hands against his chest. His heart beat so fast that he could've sworn he felt it even through the breastplate. He...He wasn't dead? Or at least he hoped not, cause the ringing in his ears and pain in his temple didn't exactly scream peaceful oblivion. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to let his heart calm down. It felt like minutes before it felt like his chest wasn't going to burst open.

"Wh-Where...?" He looked around, his vision slowly clearing as he made out the details of dull gray stone walls. Remnant didn't have a real centralized religion. Sure, everyone knew about the Brothers, but they weren't universally worshipped any more than The Tortoise of Creation or Albion, the Goddess of Life. That meant everyone had their own ideas of paradise and the afterlife. Heaven and Hell. For him and everyone back home, heaven was open fields and lush forests where no one wanted for anything.

It definitely wasn't a cave that stank worse than a Vacuo latrine.

Jaune stood up and stumbled, barely managing to keep himself balanced by grabbing the (thankfully dry) wall, "Fuck..." he cursed, the word tasting weird on his tongue. He generally tried to avoid doing it - growing up with three younger sisters tended to do that - but he felt like he deserved it. Where the hell was he? Ruby made it sound like falling off the bridges was just death. Maybe not even going to the great beyond, but just...not existing altogether.

Well, this sure didn't feel like either.

His cynical thoughts were cut off by a weak moan. Jaune turned to the source of the noise and froze, "P-Penny...?" He pushed himself off the wall and stumbled towards Penny's prone body. He fell to his knees and reached a hand out, fingers freezing an inch before making contact with her dirty blouse. He could see it again. Penny begging, so weak and desperate, for him to end her life. A sacrifice to ensure that monster Cinder didn't get the powers of the Maiden.

No, he had to make sure she was okay.

Softly, gently, Jaune pressed both hands against her side and rolled her onto her back. Her clothes were filthy (so were his), the blouse and skirt marred with dirt and dried blood. On her chest was a thin hole where...where...

Where he stabbed her through the heart and watched her die.

Jaune shook his head. Stop. Breath. He took a deep breath and looked down at Penny again. He pressed two fingers against her neck and felt the pulse through his gloved hands. Alive...she was alive. Jaune almost broke down in tears then and there, but he forced himself to stay calm. He still had a bit of Aura left. Activating his Semblance, he pressed both palms against her stomach and concentrated, willing his Aura to join Penny's and heal her.

Penny's eyes snapped open and she gasped. Jaune was pushed back slightly when she suddenly sat up, covering her mouth with both hands as she coughed, She looked awful, but he was pretty sure that he did too. She continued to cough for a few more seconds before her eyes turned to him. He flinched. Jaune expected her to fear him. Hate him. It was a stupid thought - she was the one who'd begged for his...his help - but it stayed and continued to fester.

The last time he'd looked into her eyes, it was when he watched the light fade from them.

"J-Jaune...?" Penny asked, her voice scratchy and weak. There was no hate or fear in her eyes, only confusion and even a hint of relief. His gut churned with guilt, "Is...are we..."

She didn't get the chance to finish before Jaune suddenly pulled her into a crushing embrace, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." Jaune whispered. He said it over and over again without caring about how crazy he sounded. Penny was alive. She wasn't dead. She wasn't-

"Jaune..." Her arms raised and she weakly reciprocated the embrace. Her grip was weak, but he still felt it even through his chestplate, "I...I am sorry as well. I shouldn't have...you didn't deserve to..."

They talked over one another, apologizing for what the other had to go through. Jaune didn't know how long they kept at it, but eventually, they separated. Alive. They were both alive...somehow.

"Where are we?" Penny asked.

"I have no idea." He stood up and offered her a hand, which she gratefully took. Jaune pulled her up and looked around. This was definitely a cave. His eyes trailed to a wide hole a few paces ahead and far above them. Too high to jump, especially not in the state they were in. Ruby's Petal Burst or Weiss' glyphs might've made it, but not him.

Penny followed his gaze and her brows furrowed, "That might be the way out..." she murmured. She took a few hesitant steps and closed her eyes, face scrunching up in concentration. Her expression turned to one of frustration after a few seconds, pale skin turning an angry shade of red. He wondered if she should do something before her eyes suddenly widened and she gasped, both hands suddenly grasping at her throat.

"Penny, are you alright?!"

"Y-Yes!" She coughed, "I...I simply forgot that I must breathe now."

Jaune blinked before the realization set in. She'd only been Human for...what, a few hours? At best? It was a miracle she could walk around and fight as well as she did. Maybe if she'd still been a robot, they could've...

He shook his head. No time to dwell on what-ifs.

"Why were you so focused?"

"I was...trying to see if I could tap into the magic of the Winter Maiden and fly us through the hole, but...it appears to be lost..." She put a hand to her chest, fingers tracing against the bloody slit in her blouse.

"Yeah. Winter, she...she has the magic." But it didn't matter. She failed. They failed. Cinder still got the Relics while he and Team RWBY fell into the abyss. He didn't say that, though. She didn't deserve to have that weight on her shoulders.

"Oh...I see." She nodded, her expression unreadable, "That's a good thing. She can help everyone with it." She chewed on her lower lip, "But it'll make leaving this place more difficult."

"We'll find a way. We've survived so far." Somehow. He peered into the darkness and raised his scroll, using it as a flashlight, "The cave goes deeper. Let's see if we can get out another way. Can you walk?"

Penny looked down and wiggled her bare toes, "Yes, I'll be fine." She smiled at him. He could tell it was forced, "But...I don't have any weapons. I created replicas of Floating Array using the Maiden magic beforehand, so if we run into any Grimm or other hostiles..."

"We'll get to that later." He wasn't much better. He unsheathed Crocea Mors and frowned at the sight of the broken blade. Cinder had been furious when the magic was 'stolen' from her. He could still fight with it, but it wouldn't be at its best. He still had his shield, at least, "Come on, let's go." He turned the sheath back to its shield form and held it tight. The last time he went into a cave it ended up with him and Pyrrha being chased by a deathstalker.

Jaune made sure to keep ahead of Penny. She could take care of herself, but like she said, she was unarmed. A part of him also wondered just how good she'd be in combat without the weapons she was used to. Had she even been trained (or downloaded) the knowledge to fight with regular weapons? He shook his head. No time to worry about that now. First, they had to get out of this damn cave before they passed out from the smell of rot.

For a few minutes, there was no sound outside of their footsteps against the stone. The quiet made his thoughts go back to what happened before. He wasn't dead, and neither was Penny. How? Maybe Ruby was wrong about what falling into the abyss meant, but what about Penny? She died. The Maiden powers wouldn't have transferred to Winter otherwise. He watched her take her last breath, saw her body go still, and felt her blood on his hands.

Even now, his gloves were coated in her dried blood.

"How are you feeling?" Jaune asked, mostly to break the silence, "Are you hurt?"

"No...not exactly. My body feels sluggish and heavy, but I cannot be sure if that's not simply a side-effect of my transformation. I...do not appear to have any wounds either." Meaning she didn't have a hole where her heart should be, "And you, Jaune?"

"I-I'm fine. I still had a bit of Aura left when I...fell."

"Fell..." Penny's footsteps slowed, "Jaune...what happened after I..." Died, she didn't say, "Did we-"

Two years of impromptu Huntsman training had given him a sense of danger. As soon as he saw the hint of the shadowy figure far above and ahead of them, his arm moved to cover his upper body with the shield. And not a moment too soon. A second later, an arrow bounced off the shield.

He didn't even have to say anything before Penny took position behind him, making sure to keep herself covered, "Let's go!" Jaune shouted. Penny grabbed his right shoulder with one hand and kept pace as he walked ahead steadily. The angle of his arm meant he couldn't raise his scroll anymore and see who was shooting at them. All he could do was keep his shield hand firm and make sure that Penny wasn't hit.

"Stop shooting! We're not hostile!" Jaune shouted.

The archer didn't care. Arrows impacted his shield and bounced off or cracked when they hit. He was used to blocking Dust rounds, so arrows were pretty easy to deflect too unless they were added on top of something else. Still, he didn't allow himself to get cocky. Not when he and Penny were in such dire straits. He kept walking and grit his teeth with every arrow that bounced against the shield. As he got closer, he could see who exactly was shooting down at them.

A knight, or at least someone that looked like one. The armor's details were hard to make out and the face was obscured in shadow, but at least he could see them now. They were stood above them on a natural ledge too high for either him or Penny to jump. He suddenly regretted the fact that he didn't have a gun. If not to shoot that bastard right in their damn face, then maybe to use the recoil to boost himself up and snap that bow over their head.

They eventually managed to get far enough that the knight couldn't shoot down at them anymore. Jaune turned around and kept his shield raised in case their attacker decided to jump down and attack them head-on. Behind him, Penny lowered herself into a combat-ready stance. Even in their state, they were still both Huntsmen.

The two of them stayed like that for a minute. Jaune's heart pounded in his ears and he tightened his grip on his broken blade. Despite that, the knight didn't come back down, "...We should keep going, Jaune. I shall keep an eye on our rear to make sure he doesn't surprise us."

"Got it." Jaune spun around and walked forward at a brisk pace while Penny made sure the knight didn't try for a surprise attack. What the hell was that? Why did that knight attack them? They'd completely ignored his shout too. Bandits, maybe? They'd run into their fair share of them back when Team RJNR was making their way across Anima. But what kind of bandit wore knight armor and hung around caves all day shooting at whoever they saw? There was no way anyone knew the two of them were here either.

None of this was making any sense.

They walked for a couple more minutes before Jaune saw a light ahead. He slowly turned off his scroll and peered ahead. Dozens of Candles lined the walls and bathed the tunnel in a warm orange light. Jaune let out a small breath. The natural brightness and smell of burning wax were oddly comforting despite their situation. He didn't even question who would spend their time lighting dozens of candles in some dank cave.

"I can't hear footsteps. I don't think he's following us anymore," Penny murmured.

"Yeah..." Jaune still kept his sword and shield out, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, like I said before." Her words were just a bit too insistent than he'd like. Jaune didn't push her on it, "However, I don't like the fact that I'm currently unarmed."

"We'll get you something when we find the next town." Because there had to be a town somewhere here. There were people here. Hostile, sure, but people nonetheless. But first, they needed to get out of this damn cave then find some shelter, and maybe some food. All of them had been running around almost non-stop for the past few days. Aura allowed them to go longer than the average person, but even they couldn't keep going on fumes like this.

The tunnel curved right. Jaune and Penny both stopped when they rounded the corner and saw what was at the end. A large, thick wall of puke-yellow mist that completely blocked their view. The two shared a glance before they both cautiously walked towards it. As much as neither of them wanted to, they didn't have much of a choice. The way back was a dead end (and that fucking archer), so the only chance they had was to keep moving forward.

The pair stopped in front of the mist wall, "If it's not one thing..." Jaune raised his sword and tentatively poked it against the mist. There was only a slight bit of resistance. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his right palm against the wall and pushed lightly. He winced at the feeling. It was like...pushing through week-old custard. Still, it didn't seem to be harmful. He couldn't feel his Aura draining, at least. And they had no choice but to keep going, so...

"Take my hand."

Penny looked down at his offered hand and nodded. She gripped it firmly as they walked through the mist wall. Jaune held his breath, though it ended up being pointless when they made it to the other side in just a couple of steps, "What the...?" What greeted them on the other side was...different. A large circular room that was illuminated by a natural light. The floor was covered in water that was high enough to cover their feet. Penny let go of his hand and shuddered slightly, kicking her feet up and displacing the (oddly clear) fluid. He could feel how cold it was even through his boots.

It wasn't empty either. There were coffins, each of them empty and scattered haphazardly around the area. One corner even had them stacked up against the wall. Across from them at the end of another tunnel was a second mist wall. Was that the way out?

Jaune took two steps forward and stopped when he heard the sound of charging footsteps and clanking armor. He unsheathed both sword and shield again right as another knight charged out of the mist, both hands holding onto a greatsword. Now that they were in a brighter room, he made out more details. It - he - was tall, easily a head over him in size, and covered in rusted iron plate from head to toe. Across his chest was a faded green and orange surcoat emblazoned with a tree and what looked vaguely like a lion.

What really drew Jaune's attention was the knight's face under the open helmet. Splotchy gray skin and an ajar mouth that exposed rotted teeth. He looked like a corpse and yet was undeniably moving towards them both.

The knight didn't say a word or give out any warning, "Penny, get back!" He raised his shield to block the clumsy, powerful strike. Unlike the arrows, he felt the strain against his arm with that hit. Jaune hopped back to avoid the next strike and gripped Crocea Mors' broken blade tightly. A broken blade and an Aura that was near to breaking entirely. It didn't matter. He was a Huntsman, and they fought to the bitter end.

Jaune charged forward and rammed his shield against the knight before he could wind up for another hit. Jaune slashed his opponent twice in the chest, and while he didn't feel the telltale block of a full Aura, the knight didn't seem to care either. No blood spewed from the wounds and the damage the armor received didn't seem to bother the pallid swordsman in any way.

The knight raised the greatsword overhead and brought it down in a powerful strike. Jaune deflected the blow and stabbed the knight in the torso where his heart should've been. Again, Crocea Mors pierced through the old, rusted armor, and again, the knight didn't care.

"Hey!" Penny shouted right before throwing a decent-sized stone at the knight's head. For someone without Aura, that should've been enough to knock them out, if not break their neck entirely. Instead, the knight ignored the force of the impact and charged straight at Penny. The former android's eyes widened and she hopped back to avoid the blow.

"Don't you touch her!" Jaune growled. He jumped in the air and brought the broken blade down across the knight's back. The sounds of metal against metal echoed throughout the wide room, quickly followed by another as Jaune slashed perpendicular to the last line.

The knight turned back to him and raised his sword at an upward swipe to Jaune's right side; the one opposite where his shield was. He blocked it with his blade, the the greatsword's edge inches from his torso, and used the momentum to stab the knight in the stomach and twisted the hilt

No scream, not even a pause, before his enemy to suddenly reached forward with his left arm and grabbed Jaune's neck. The hand felt like a vice around his throat and Jaune grunted. Jaune grit his teeth, grabbed Crocea Mors' handle, and pulled it away before stabbing him again.

Jaune stabbed the blade into the pallid swordsman's gut. One stab, two, three...the knight's grip loosened for a moment before he let go of the greatsword in favor of strangling him with both hands. With a sudden burst of strength, the knight pushed him into the water and kept his head under the surface. Jaune struggled against the surprise drowning, grabbing at the knight's arms with one hand and pushing against his face with the other, sword and shield forgotten.

He stayed under the water with his vision slowly fading when he heard a muffled shout, "Let go of him!" Penny came from behind and bashed the knight across the back of his head with Jaune's discarded shield in a running strike. The sudden burst of strength faded and Jaune managed to kick him away with enough force to knock him on his back. Jaune scrambled to his feet and gasped, desperately trying to take in air, but he didn't slow down. Instead of grabbing his own broken blade, he grabbed the fallen greatsword and brought it down on the knight's head.

The pallid swordsman had barely gotten to his knees before the greatsword practically split his face in half. For a second, Jaune expected it to ignore the mortal wound and somehow keep going. It didn't. The knight stayed kneeling like it was frozen before Jaune scowled and kicked it again, dislodging the blade as the pallid knight fell onto his back for the second and last time.

Jaune let go of the greatsword and panted with his hands on his knees. Nearby. Penny carefully set his shield on the ground before making her way towards him, "Jaune, are you okay?" She rubbed circles across his back.

"Y-Yeah, just...ugh, I feel heavy." He shook his head and wiped away some of the water clinging to his skin. Running around for days, fighting non-stop, falling into the void...he wasn't just running on fumes. No, he was running on the vague memory of fumes. That and there was something about this place. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he could've sworn he felt weighed down ever since he woke up in this damned cave. Like his arms and legs were clamped down with weights.

They needed to get out of here. Now.

"Thanks for helping me." Jaune stood up straighter and gave Penny a somewhat strained smile.

"I only wish I could've done more. Without my previous systems, I have to rely on 'muscle-memory', but even that is difficult since I've only had this body for less than a day."

"You're the first robot to ever turn Human. You're doing pretty good, I think." He picked up his sword and shield before looking at the fallen greatsword and the body of its former owner. They couldn't afford to be picky. Taking a deep breath, Jaune picked up the greatsword and handed it to Penny before kneeling down over the fresh corpse. His mouth curled up in a disgusted scowl at the sight of the nearly-bisected head and the gray skin. This wasn't Aura. Jaune had stabbed Crocea Mors clean through multiple times and the bastard just kept going. The wounds were still there too, so it wasn't like he healed fast like when Jaune used his Semblance.

Ignoring his feeling of disgust, Jaune grabbed the straps of the back scabbard and pulled it away from the dead body, "Ugh..." Jaune looked at the cracked, dull brown leather. It looked about as good as the sword and armor, but beggars couldn't be choosers. He shook it to try and dislodge some of the water before he put it on, "Penny." She handed him the greatsword again. It was big - obviously given the size of its former wielder - but he could still use it and he had experience with greatswords.

"Here." Jaune offered Penny Crocea Mors. He knew how morbid it was to offer her the same weapon that he used to...do what she wanted, but it had to be done. He crushed down any guilt he felt right at that moment and focused on the fact that they needed to survive.

"What? Jaune, that's...I can't just-"

"You're unarmed, Penny." The blunt interruption made her wince, "We can't be picky. I know it's broken, but it's still better than nothing. He offered her the shield too, and she reluctantly accepted both, "We can find something better once we get to the next town, but right now, we'll make do with what we have. Or do you prefer this?" He raised the greatsword slightly.

"I..." She held Crocea Mors' blade with her right hand and swung it experimentally, "No, I think this would be better. My fighting style focused on speed over power. A greatsword would be more difficult."

"Alright." Jaune nodded, "Let's keep going. Keep the blade close. There might be more of these bastards around."

They went through the next mist wall and ended up in a pathway overlooking a wide tunnel filled with more coffins. Ahead of them at a far drop at the edge of the path was a set of stairs leading up to a large set of double doors, "That's the way out. It has to be." He looked down and saw a shimmering golden tree under the drop. The bright, almost majestic light was a stark contrast to what surrounded it. Piles of dead, rotting bodies so thick that he could barely see the ground. The smell of it nearly made him heave. Was that what they were smelling when they first woke up?

Penny looked over the edge too and shuddered, "Oh no..."

"We have to keep going. Come on, it's not a steep drop and then we can leave."

"A-Alright."

Jaune held his breath and jumped down first. His boots landed on one of the bodies with a disgusting squelch and he covered his mouth and nose to keep from gagging when he saw guts and some black, noxious fluid seep from under his feet. Fuck. He scrambled away from the pile towards the tree. As soon as he got close, the smell of rot and decay disappeared and he suddenly felt like he was back home snug in his own bed. His eyes drooped and he almost fell asleep then and there.

And then Penny shrieked.

Jaune turned, ready to fight, to the sight of Penny trying to rush out of the corpse pile towards him. It wasn't an enemy, though that might've honestly been easier. She practically collapsed next to him and looked down in both surprise and disgust at her feet. Her bare feet. Damn it, how the hell had he forgotten that? He could barely stomach it and he wore thick boots meant for the Atlesian tundra. He didn't even wanna know how it felt getting anything from that pile on his bare skin.

"Shit, I'm sorry!"

"I-It's fine." It clearly wasn't, but she forced herself to smile anyway, "I...I suppose I simply have some things to get used to when it comes to being Human."

"Yeah. People tend not to react well to gross stuff." Jaune forced out a little laugh, "We'll...We'll find you some shoes when we get outta here." He sighed, "Look, we gotta leave, but I'm not making you step in that again. I'll carry you. And no arguing!" he said before she could protest, "It'll just be for a bit."

Jaune stood up and felt a sudden weight on his right hand. A small golden ball clung to the palm of his glove. He didn't even remember picking it up. Shaking his head, he put it in his pocket and sheathed the greatsword to leave his hands free.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

She hopped up slightly and he picked her up in a princess carry. In any other situation, he might've found it funny or cute, but right now all he cared about was putting all this behind them. Holding his breath again, Jaune stepped over the decaying bodies and ignored the sounds of squelching flesh. He carried Penny up the stairs and didn't let go until after he forced the double doors open with his shoulder. The room on the other end was covered in stone bricks, which was a good sign. That meant people built it.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Don't mention it." He pointed to the next set of stairs, "Come on, we're getting higher. Let's keep going.

The stairs led them up to another hall and then an elevator that was activated by a pressure plate. Jaune's heart beat louder as the elevator reached the top. One more set of stairs and finally a door with no knob, "Huh..." He pressed his hand against the surface for a few seconds till he saw the handles at the bottom. Taking a deep breath, he crouched down and held it with both hands before pulling the thick metal door up.

The light that greeted them was almost blinding. Jaune covered his face with both hands and Penny did the same. When the brightness faded, they were met with a sight that left them both frozen in place.

Vast fields of grass and stone with numerous yellow trees jutting out of the earth. Dotted around the landscape were the ruins of numerous buildings. A long distance away on a raised landmass was a castle connected to a long, ruined bridge that looked as dilapidated as every building they could see. It reminded him of a painting he'd seen once about a land ravaged by war. The place looked like no one had lived in it for decades, at least.

And yet all of it paled in comparison to the giant golden tree off in the distance. It was huge, almost like he was looking up at Atlas' floating island again. Both Jaune and Penny looked up at the tree in awe and the golden sphere in Jaune's pocket suddenly felt heavier.

"Jaune...I cannot recall ever reading about this phenomenon in my old records. Have you seen this before in your travels?"

"No, definitely not." He'd remember a giant golden tree the size of an island.

"So...what does this mean?"

"I...I dunno." He shook his head and forced himself to tear his eyes away from the golden light, "We need to find some shelter. Look, the sun's going down." He pointed it out, "We need to find some shelter before night comes."

"Perhaps there?" She pointed out some ruins off in the distance. It was still pretty far off, but it was closer than anything else.

"Sure, let's go."

The next hour of walking was painfully silent. Both of them had so much they wanted to say, but neither had the words. This was crazy. He didn't recognize this place at all. Where the hell did they go when they fell into the void? Why was Penny even alive? None of this was making any sense. Why here? What was this place? Why did he and Penny end up in that cave? Was there anyone else here? Their friends, were they were in this madhouse too?

They made it to the ruins just as the sun was going down. It was in a horrid state - holes in the walls and ceilings with a thick layer of dust over the whole thing - but it was better than sleeping out in the open. His legs felt like lead by the time they got there and he could tell Penny was tired too. Her eyes were drooping and she looked both annoyed and confused at the fact that her new Human body couldn't just keep going indefinitely.

Jaune peeked inside. It was empty, but something else drew his attention. A small jewel of light floated a couple of feet off the ground. Instinct told him to be careful, but he found himself drawn to it anyway. Penny did the same, silently trailing after him till they stood in front of the condensed light. Jaune reached a hand out and gasped as plumes shot out harmlessly and he felt a surge of power. His Aura...it was back to full, and judging by how Penny looked down at her hands in wonder, she must've felt it too. They were still completely exhausted, but at least now they could put up a fight.

"What was that?" Penny asked.

"No idea, but it definitely helped. He sat down at a nearby wall and let out a relieved sigh. A part of him just wanted to close his eyes and sleep for the next day, but he knew that wasn't a good idea. Penny was even worse off than he was, "Penny, got some sleep. I'll keep watch."

"Huh? No, I can-"

"You look like you're about to pass out." She bit her lip and didn't argue, "Penny...you're Human now, and that means you can't just stay awake 24/7. You-" died, "-went through a lot of things and you're exhausted. I can stay awake for a few more hours while you get some rest and then we can swap."

"I...understand, but just a few hours." She lay down on her side next to the light with her back towards him. Minutes passed in complete silence and he thought that she'd fallen asleep when she suddenly spoke up, "Jaune...what happened after I..."

"I told you. Winter got the powers of the Maiden."

"Yes, but...did she...did we..."

Did we win? Did we keep Cinder from taking the relics? Jaune was torn between a blissful lie and the painful truth. They'd failed. Cinder got the Relic of Creation and all of Team RWBY had...well, he didn't even know. He and Penny fell into the abyss and they were still here. Were team RWBY here too, he wondered, wandering around just as confused as the two of them were. As crazy and confusing as this place was, he'd still rather see them here than anywhere else. At least then they could work together.

"Jaune?" Penny whispered.

"Huh? Oh, sorry." Jaune shook his head, "We...won. Salem's still out there, but Winter managed to get the staff and she killed Cinder." His hands clenched and he felt the weight of every lie as he forced himself to continue, "I did my best to help, but I fell. Last thing I remember seeing is Winter stabbing Cinder in the heart." If she had one.

"That's...That's good." Penny let out a soft breath, "I always knew Winter could do so much good with the powers of the Maiden. I hope we can return to them soon and aid in their fight."

"Me too, Penny. Me too."

She finally fell asleep after that, her breaths coming out in a slow, gentle rhythm. Fuck it. Fuck all of it. They weren't even old enough to drink and yet they had the weight of the world on their shoulders. He remembered his 'last' thoughts when he was falling. How he just wanted all this to end. He couldn't do that now. He was still alive, and that meant he had a responsibility. To his family, to his friends, and to Penny. The girl who gave up her life for the sake of everyone else. He couldn't let them down.

Night came, and with it something else that nearly made him break down and laugh. A moon. A full moon with none of the shattered pieces everyone back home had grown up seeing.

They weren't in Remnant anymore. Even thinking it to himself sounded crazy, but how else could he explain the giant golden tree and the restored moon? He had no idea where they were, or how any of it made sense, but it was the truth. Gods, what was Penny going to think when she woke up? She'd turned Human, she died, and now she was in a different world with her killer.

Soft footsteps came from outside. Jaune's eyes widened and unsheathed the greatsword, "Penny, get up! Someone's here!" She didn't hesitate and unsheathed the broken blade, ready and alert despite having just woken up.

A cloaked figure stepped out of the darkness. Their entire body was covered to the point that Jaune could only make out their boots. They didn't seem to care about the pair's raised weapons and stopped a few feet in front of them, "Greetings, travelers from beyond the veil," a female voice said. A familiar voice. Jaune's eyes widened and he gasped, his grip on the greatsword's hilt wavering as she knelt down in front of them both and lowered her hood.

Crimson hair and deep green eyes greeted them. Eyes that looked up with absolutely no sense of recognition or familiarity. Jaune dropped the sword to the ground while Penny gasped, looking at her in both surprise and fear.

"I am Pyrrha, and I've come to offer you both an accord."

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Jaune and Penny woke up in the tutorial cave, somehow managed to beat Rick, and met their maiden. They're off to a good start. Now they just gotta get Penny a proper weapon and some freaking shoes then they can make the Lands Between their bitch.

And before you guys ask. Yes, Torrent will be here, it's just that the revamped tutorial switches some stuff around. I'll also try not to be too 1:1 with dungeons and stuff since a lot of that is for gameplay purposes and would bog down the story.

Question:

1. Do you guys want more RWBY characters to show up - like team RWBY - or just stick to these three? The commissioner already made his choice, but he says he's curious all the same. 

With Age Comes Experience - Chapter 1

You guys voted for it, so here it is. With Age Comes Experience. A story of a 38-year-old Jaune attending Beacon late and being put in the same team as 18-year-olds Weiss, Yang, and Blake. And they act like absolute pains in the ass, meaning Jaune has to discipline them (with his dick).

Warning: lots of Jaune fucking bratty women stupid.

No smut for this chapter just yet. We do still have to set everything up. I'll ask something in the lower authors' notes.

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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Well...here he was. Beacon.

Jaune shuffled along with the rest of the students towards the auditorium. Today was the first day, meaning that they were about to get their official orientation. He'd read up about it on the pamphlet. Orientation, Initiation, and then the assigning of teams. It was supposed to weed out those who passed the far more controlled entrance exams and combat schools. To test how well they'd do in a relatively open-ended challenge.

Jaune was just one of the many students. Hundreds of hopefuls fighting to achieve their dream of becoming the protectors of mankind. They came from all walks of life. Rich and poor, inside the kingdoms or outside the walls, Beacon wasn't picky. So long as they could prove themselves capable, Beacon welcomed them all.

He had to remind himself of that as he tried to ignore the looks of the other students.

In a lot of ways, Jaune was no one special. The only son of a big family, he'd always had dreams of becoming a hero like his grandfather and great-grandfather. Life had other plans. Family issues, some really bad years on the winery...he had to pull up his bootstraps and live in the real world. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. Childish fantasies of becoming a Huntsman - a Hero - had faded into the wayside.

Until now and he finally had the chance to accomplish just...a bit later than normal.

...

Okay, a lot later than normal. There weren't a lot of Beacon first years at thirty-eight years old.

Jaune's right hand twitched as he stared doggedly ahead. Beacon required its students to be eighteen years of age by the time they were enrolled, but there was no set age limit beyond that. Technically, there were no rules that said you couldn't enroll at forty or fifty so long as you could pass the tests. While your career as a Huntsman wouldn't be as long as those who entered in the prime of their lives, Aura let you last longer and stay active even into old age. He'd seen Huntsmen in their sixties who were still trucking along and fighting as well as people half their age, even if they were rare.

So why couldn't he attend Beacon? Sure he was started...twenty years later, but he could still contribute. He trained both by himself and with experts, and he passed the entrance exam with flying colors. All he had to do was pass Initiation and...get grouped with a bunch of people over half his age. Simple. He could make this work. He'd always been good when dealing with all sorts of ages back home. Kids loved him, and the other guys in the Militia respected his experience. He was sure he could gain the trust of his teammates too.

Jaune continued to ignore the looks his fellow Huntsmen-in-training threw his way as he rubbed his jaw. He decided to shave today, if only in the vain hope that it would make him fit in a bit better. It was a fresh start, he told himself. He was still noticeably older than the rest of the students, but it helped. Or at least he hoped so.

The students' looks were drawn away from him to the woman who took the stage. Glynda Goodwitch, Headmistress of Beacon, "Quiet," she said. All the whispers across the entire room stopped, "Thank you. Now, I'm sure you're all experiencing a variety of feelings. Anxiety, excitement, impatience...all perfectly valid, but I'm here to tell you now: disregard all that." The order made a few students stand up at attention. She always did have a way with words.

"You are the future defenders of mankind. The time for time for hesitation or treating this like fun is over. You are all that stands between the Grimm and those they seek to destroy. This is no game or adventure. The life of a Huntsman is a difficult one, and for many, it's one that ends all too soon. But despite that, you all must stand and fight. Because that is what being a Huntsman is about. Struggling against the seemingly impossible in search of that chance of victory."

Glynda's gaze swept across the crowd and their eyes met. Jaune smiled slightly and for just a moment, the Headmistress' eyes softened before she continued.

"Now, tomorrow is the Initiation. Let me remind you all that failure to pass means that you will be ejected from Beacon. There will be no remedial or make-up tests and you will have to try against the next year." More than a few students shuffled nervously at that. While that was info they were already given in the introduction booklet, hearing it from the Headmistress herself made it sound more real. It wasn't just about the sting of failure, but the loss of pride too. Knowing that you were so close to starting the path to your dream only to stumble right before the starting line.

The students began to find their own spots across the dormitory. Jaune took a little corner for himself and lay down on the sleeping back one of the professors handed out. At least they didn't give him weird looks, "Ha..." He looked up at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. Twenty years ago, he would've given anything to be here. So many dreams about how he'd go in, get a super strong Semblance, and become the greatest hero Remnant had ever known. Being here was a bittersweet feeling. The only reason he took a chance in taking the exam was because-

"Ugh, you absolute brute!" A high voice pierced through the air. Yang sat up and looked at the source. The one who screamed was a slender young woman with long, silvery-white hair dressed in a fancy nightgown that definitely wasn't Vale standard. She looked like a princess straight out of a fairytale. Her accent was definitely foreign too. Atlesian by the sounds of it.

"Pfft. Don't blame me for your shit, princess."

The woman she was yelling at was her complete opposite. Tall with lightly tanned skin and a wild mane of blonde hair that somehow looked both messy and perfectly styled. She was all muscles and curves, which her orange tank top and black shorts showed off generously. Country girl, definitely. He'd seen women like her back home and the accent she spoke with definitely wasn't Valean. Maybe one of the outlying settlements like Patch and Samara.

The two of them continued to argue, seemingly uncaring at how everyone was staring at them. Jaune sighed and lay back down. Huntsmen were a rowdy bunch by nature, and sure enough, the pair's arguments barely seemed to register before everyone returned to what they were doing. Some guys took off their shirts to try and show off to their female counterparts, of course. Back home some fresh Militia recruits would (sometimes literally) thump their chest and talk about how impressive they were once they had their Aura unlocked.

Sleep came easily, and when he woke up again it was an hour before the start of Initiation. Jaune yawned and rolled up the sleeping bag before-

Something smacked hard against his back. Years of carrying heavy loads meant it barely even fazed him. Not so much for whoever bumped into him. Jaune looked back and raised a brow as a guy stumbled back, his face knotted in a scowl, "Tch. Watch where you're going, Grandpa!" the younger man spat.

Jaune's eyes narrowed. The guy obviously tried to make him fall, then probably kick him while he was down by mocking him about how someone his age couldn't even take a 'small bump'. He'd seen it before. Some of the freshest militia recruits had more balls than sense and they were obsessed with proving themselves the alpha. They often had to smack them down, sometimes literally. That kind of attitude could get themselves or others killed.

Jaune looked him up and down. Big and broad-shouldered with slicked-back brown hair. He definitely had the build of a fighter, but his accent was upper-Valean. Rich kid looking for someone to pick on. He clamped down the urge to physically shove him back and just smiled back wryly, "You bumped into me, kid. Seems like you're the one who needs to get your eyes checked."

The kid scoffed and walked away. Jaune watched him leave and shook his head. the Defenders of Mankind and some of them still acted like this was high school. Then again, they were the right age for it. Young enough to think they were invincible but not old enough to realize just how much risk they were in even with Glynda's speech. She told him once that being a Huntsman meant choosing to fight a life fighting against the impossible. The Grimm never stopped, and they would always be there. They could never win, only stem the tide.

Brushing away the cynical thought, Jaune made his way to the locker room and picked up his gear. A few paces to his left was the white-haired student from last night trying to cozy up to a redhead Mistrali warrior who looked vaguely familiar. Jaune paid them no mind and put on his armor and weapons. He didn't have any fancy mechashift weapons, but Crocea Mors was sharp, well-cared for, and killed more than its fair share of Grimm. And for anything at a distance, there was his trusty hunting rifle. Might not have been cool, but it was a hell of a lot less expensive to repair.

Jaune checked over both the sword and rifle before he made his way to the meeting point. By now his novelty had faded and only a few people looked at him. He took his spot below the flag with his name on it and took a deep breath. Glynda didn't tell him what Initiation entailed and he didn't pry. They both wanted this to be fair.

Glynda walked in front of the crowd, "Greetings, students. You all know what today is." A buzz of excitement went through everyone, "I'll be brief. You will all be launched into the Emerald Forest in random locations. From there, you have to seek out relics in the shape of chess pieces. The Emerald Forest will be filled with Grimm, however, and anyone whose Aura breaks will be immediately retrieved and considered to have failed. Beacon does not reward reckless behavior." She gave the crowd a sweeping glance, "Your partners will be whoever you make eye contact with first. Begin."

Jaune braced himself before the ground underneath his feet shot up like a spring. Leave it to Beacon to make their tests as weird as possible, "Ugh, here we go!" Jaune deployed his shield and tilted his angle till his upper body was facing the ground. He pumped Aura into his arms and then amplified it, feeling the power coursing through his limbs. He'd taken some big falls before, but this was the first time he'd literally been launched anywhere.

He landed and skidded against the dirt. Jaune grit his teeth as he slid roughly for a few seconds before eventually stopping a few feet in front of a large tree. That would've been a nasty impact, "Right, where am I?" He stood up and looked around. Glynda said they had to find some chess pieces. He doubted they'd be scattered around the area at random, so he had to assume they would've been placed somewhere students would go to check. Ruins, landmarks, caves...

A fierce growl and heavy steps came from behind. Jaune turned and raised his shield just in time to stop the charging Ursa. Jaune grunted from the straight and pushed his shield back, knocking the demonic bear away. It flew through the air and landed with a loud crash, "Just like being back home." He unsheathed his sword and slashed it in the face before it could get up.

Crocea Mors slashed through the inky black skin. The Ursa roared in both anger and pain and swiped at him in a frenzy. Jaune blocked the clumsy blows and then stabbed his sword upward, piercing the thing through its gut. Jaune grabbed the hilt with both hands and pushed, stabbing the blade up to the pommel before he dragged it up. Crocea Mors slashed through the thick hide like a hot knife through butter and nearly split the Ursa in two.

The Grimm dissipated into nothing. Jaune sighed and was about to reposition when he heard more growls, "Come on..." He looked to the source and cringed at the sight of four beowolves stalking towards him. That wasn't something to worry about too much, but the longer he was distracted, the more chances that the obvious relics would be taken. Even if there was enough for everyone (and he couldn't be sure), if he couldn't find one cause all the exposed ones were gone then he'd fail the test.

The Beowolves charged at him. Jaune braced himself to fight when the beowolf at the back of the group was suddenly hit by what looked like a shotgun shell from above, "Coming down!" A somewhat familiar voice shouted. Jaune resisted the urge to look up and focused instead on the remaining three Grimm that took no notice of their fourth's death.

Jaune cut down the first one that reached him and blocked the second that tried to gnaw on his face. The third was about to snap its jaws on his side when it was kicked away by his rescuer, "Thanks!" he shouted. Jaune shoved away the beowolf and took it down in a couple of slashes before turning to watch his rescuer punch the Grimm with enough force to send it flying. It disintegrated before even hitting the ground.

The other combatant turned back to him and laughed. The woman from last night, the one arguing with the Atlesian. Her lilac eyes shined with mirth and she she smiled at him, "You alright there, old man?" She put her right hand on her cocked hip. Her outfit was just as daring as her pajamas. Tight black shorts, a bright yellow tube top with her crest emblazoned on her left ti- chest, and a pair of boots that only drew attention to her long, toned legs. If not for her puffed-up jacket and skirt...thing, she would've worn less than what she did last night.

Her weapons drew his attention the most. A pair of bright yellow gauntlets the same shade of yellow as her hair with two nozzles at the center. Shotguns, judging by the sound he heard before.

Jaune didn't leer at her. That would've been wrong. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on her face and those shining orbs of her, "I guess this makes us partners. Name's Jaune." Short, sweet, rolled of the tongue. Ladies loved it. He didn't say that, of course. That line was over a decade out of date, "And your name is...?"

"Name's Yang, but you can call me 'Boss'." She was joking...right? He didn't get the chance to ask before more Beowolves stalked out of the trees, "Looks like we got company. Don't break a hip!"

She pointed her arms back and shot both barrels, using the recoil to boost herself forward. Jaune's brows furrowed and he charged in after her. Huntsmen were flashy to a fault, he knew that from experience. The few times Domremy needed to call a Huntsman for help they went out of their way to make it a performance every time. Showy attacks, personalized outfits, and weapons that probably cost more in repairs than what the average person made in a month. It definitely drew attention, though some of the old-timers back home found it more pretentious than anything.

Yang wasn't any different on that front. She attacked without hesitation, using her rounds to flit and flip between targets as she bludgeoned them with her fists. Jaune took his own Grimm in a less flashy way, blocking and countering their attacks. Slow and steady won the race.

The beowolves all died soon enough and Yang tilted her head back to give him a cocky grin, "You alright there, greenhorn?"

"Just fine." He sheathed his sword and sighed. Something told him the nicknames weren't gonna stop anytime soon, "Look, let's just find the chess pieces, alright?'

"Whatever you say, gramps."

...

This was gonna be a long Initiation.

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"Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, Neo Politan, and Lie Ren. Henceforth, you will all be known as team PNNR (Pincer), led by Pyrrha Nikos."

Jaune watched as another team stood proud on the stage. He only barely saw them back at the Emerald Forest. They were the ones who were fighting a Nevermore. His own team was busy dealing with a deathstalker...mostly because his two other teammates - Weiss and Blake - had disturbed its cave and ran right into them during their tactical retreat. And the Deathstalker, being a creature of darkness and hate, decided that attacking him and Yang was a bonus.

It probably would've been easier to deal with if Blake and Weiss hadn't spent most of the fight snapping at each other instead of focusing on the giant Grimm that was trying to sting them to death. It was a miracle that they managed to kill it and snag a couple of Rooks from a nearby ruin. Thankfully, his experience in leading a bunch of rowdy militia for the past ten years came in handy. Getting people to focus on the mutual enemy

They got their cue and the four of them stood at the stage as Glynda announced their names, "Jaune Arc, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao Long, and Weiss Schnee. Henceforth, you will all be known as team ABYS (Abyss), led by Jaune Arc.

"Hey, congrats, gramps!" Yang punched his side, "Team ABYS. Is that the coolest shit or what?"

"Hmph...well, I suppose with age comes experience." Weiss sniffed.

Blake didn't say anything to indicate she approved or disapproved either way.

"Yeah...thanks."

The newly-formed team ABYS made their way to their new room. Beacon's dorm rooms - like every Huntsman Academy - weren't separated by gender or race. Or age. Four beds and a decent amount of room. Definitely bigger than most of the rooms back home," Hm." Jaune set down his luggage. He didn't bring a lot with him, so he wouldn't take up much room.

"So, how do we-"

"Dibs on the left side!" Yang jumped and belly-flopped onto the bed without even taking off her boots.

Weiss scoffed, "Could you not act like such a boor- hey! I was going to take that spot!" she shouted as Blake sat down on the rightmost bed.

"Too bad," Blake said. She took her shoes off and lay down on the bed, pulling a book out of her bag and opening it while Weiss seethed.

Jaune smiled awkwardly and shrugged when Weiss looked at him expectantly. Was she expecting him to put it up to a vote or something? "So...you wanna take the left or right bed?"

Weiss scoffed again and dragged her luggage to the left bed. The one farther away from Blake. Shaking his head, Jaune sat down on the one remaining bed and brought a hand across his face. He knew what he had to do next, but a part of him dreaded it and just hoped that maybe things would be okay if he didn't bring it up. He knew from experience that people their age would tear him apart if given the slightest chance. Your brains were just weird at that age. It was the only way he could explain some of the shit he'd seen.

Jaune coughed and stood back up, drawing their attention. He walked to the front of the beds and clapped his hands, "Alright, so we should get the goliath out of the room. Yes, I'm older than all of you. Thirty-eight, if you're curious about the exact age." Yang snickered, Weiss pursed her lips, and Blake raised a brow, "It's weird, I won't deny that, but I'm just another student like the rest of you. I came here to be a Huntsman and I'm going to do just that. With that in mind, I think we should clear the air, and deal with anything awkward since I'm going to be the leader. Anyone have any questions?"

"The obvious one comes to mind." Weiss crossed her arms, "Why now? While there is no stated age limit - only a minimum age requirement - most of your age will have already settled into a career. Hardly the right age to train to be a Huntsman." There was an accusatory edge to her voice.

"I've been dealing with personal things. I was going to enroll in Beacon twenty years ago." He even considered using fake transcripts for it. Idiot, "But then some family issues happened. I'll keep the exact details to myself, but suffice it to say, I lost my chance of enrolling in Beacon. I've been busy for the past two decades and this is the first chance I've had since back then to really push through it."

"Why enroll at Beacon? You're more than old enough to take the licensure exam," Weiss asked again.

Jaune's right eye twitched at the second jab at his age, "Because I don't have the level of training equal to a full Huntsman. I've fought in the militia for my hometown and received personal training as well, enough that I made it here, but not enough that I can make it as a full Huntsman. That's why I'm here. Domremy doesn't exactly have the teachers that a place like Beacon has access to." Most Huntsmen weren't exactly keen on sticking around a place that didn't even have movie theaters.

They didn't even have a combat school. That was one reason she...

"If you're asking why Beacon specifically? Well, I have family nearby, and moving here killed two nevermores with one bullet." Jaune shook his head, "That doesn't really matter. Like I said, I'm just another student and I'm not going to use my age to get some kind of special treatment. I earned my place here, and if that ever changes, I'll flunk out like anyone else."

"Hmph." Weiss pursed her lips, "You were made leader of this team. Do you have any experience in leading groups?"

"Do you?" Blake asked back before he could reply, "It's pretty obvious you think you deserve the spot, but last I checked, the only thing you're used to ordering around are servants. And I'm no one's servant, Schnee."

"I certainly know more than-"

"Alright, cool it." Jaune cut in. Was Weiss going to insult him, Blake, or both of them? Best not to think about it, "I do have some leadership experience. Like I said, I fought in the militia back home and they put me in charge of the new recruits." Mostly making sure they didn't get themselves killed trying to solo a group of beowolves to impress women. Too many of them thought that they had the makings of Huntsmen and that being a member of the militia was just a stepping stone.

"I hardly think that leading some country bumpkins armed with spears is the same as leading a group of Huntsmen." Weiss rolled her eyes. Jaune's right hand clenched at her snobby, dismissive tone. Look on the bright side, he thought sarcastically. At least she wasn't making another crack at his age, "But I suppose some experience is better than none. Very well, Mr. Arc, I'll give you a chance, but I will not be ordered around like some half-witted recruit."

"I'll keep that in mind. Also, you can just call me Jaune."

"I don't think it'd be proper to do so. One must respect their elders." Oh, now she was talking about respect? And there was another strike at his age. The worst part was that she actually sounded sincere about it.

"Bet you must be excited, huh?" Yang said, looking up at him with a mischievous look in her eyes. Her position, lying down on the bed with her head angled upwards, gave a generous view of her chest and the valley of her cleavage, "One guy all alone in a room with three Huntresses in the prime of their life. I know a lotta guys your age who'd fucking kill to be in your place right now." Somehow, he doubted guys Yang's age would be any less tempted.

"Ugh! Why would you even put that idea in my head!" Weiss shrieked. It was a nice distraction from the sight of Yang's boobs squishing against the mattress, "Just...ugh, you're sick, Xiao Long!"

"What? We were all thinking about it!" Yang shrugged.

"We most certainly were not!" Weiss snapped back.

"...It did come to mind," Blame murmured.

"Perverts! I'm surrounded by them." She suddenly glared at him, "And don't get any ideas, Mr. Arc. I will not stay silent if you choose to slake your lustful eyes on me!"

"I'm not having a lustful anything!" Gods, he was getting a migraine! "Look, I've bunked with women before. I grew up with seven sisters, for Brothers' sake."

"Eh...I dunno. Did your sisters have these babies?"

And then, without any hesitation, Yang shucked off her jacket and pulled up her tube top. The first thing he noticed was that she didn't wear a bra. The second was that Yang Xiao-Long was, in fact, as generously endowed as her outfits made her look. Her breasts were large and seemed to balloon out of her chest. D-cups easily, and he was a man with experience when it came to very generous endowments. Yang wasn't quite the largest he'd seen, but she was pretty close.

Then there were her nipples.

...

Alright, fuck it. Her tits, her tatas, her chest berries, her hooter handlers, and a dozen other names that came to mind. They were light pink and soft, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't tempted to reach out and pinch them to make them stand at attention. It'd been...a while since he had any action besides jacking himself off, all clinical and perfunctory, in the shower. He wasn't married, but the thought of bringing women back home to fuck or going to a brothel (one of the few pleasure centers they had at Domremy) felt wrong. He wanted to set a good example for-

"Not lustful, huh?" Yang's voice cut in. His eyes snapped from her knockers to her face. The younger blonde had the biggest shit-eating grin on her face, mouth parted to expose her teeth. She looked like the cat that ate the canary, "You looked pretty damn lustful right now, Old Timer."

His right hand clenched into a fist again and he took a deep breath. Whatever he was about to say in his defense, Weiss screamed, "Xiao-Long, put those...those things away and stop being so juvenile!"

"Those 'things'?" Yang asked back mockingly. Thankfully (or at least that's what he told himself), she actually did pull her tub top back down, "They're called tits, Ice Queen, and everyone has them. Just cause you stopped growing after you're thirteen-"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

Jaune winced at just how shrill Weiss' shriek was. As a leader, he knew that he should've tried to cut in, but he also knew from experience that some things were a lost cause. These two clearly had it out for each other, and nothing he said would do anything to stop the argument now. He turned to Blake and wasn't even surprised to see her with earphones on and her eyes glued to a book. All the while, Weiss continued to scream while Yang, with the same shit-eating grin on her face, kept pushing her buttons.

Sighing, the (nominal) leader of team ABYS turned and left the room. Their voices immediately faded into nothing as he closed the door behind him, "...Fuck." Jaune leaned back against the wall and brought a hand across his face. He knew that being a Huntsman student at his age was going to be difficult. The students - so young and proud - would've looked at him like he was a sideshow and the average person would've been hesitant to room with a guy twice their age. And they were all women too...

Very, very attractive women.

The image of Yang's exposed tits came rushing back. He shook his head and grit his teeth. He wasn't blind. They were all attractive. The same could be said of any Huntsman or Huntress, really. It was a common joke that there was no such thing as an ugly Huntsman. Aura kept them looking in their prime and the strict training regiments of gave them bodies models would kill for. He'd seen middle-waged Huntresses who could beat out people half their age in looks.

Yang was hot and she knew it. Flaunted it. She probably thought that he'd be too embarrassed to do anything even if she flashed him her boobs.

"...I need to take a walk." He stepped off the wall and made his way to the courtyard. It was at times like these that he hated himself for quitting smoking. Sure, Beacon didn't allow smoking or drinking of any kind (even if he was pretty sure the professors broke those rules), but it was the principle of the thing.

Jaune stepped out of the building into the courtyard and made his way to the fountain. The school looked eerie at night without the crowds and noise. Still, he found it calming in a way. It reminded him of night watch during his earliest years in the militia. Keeping an eye out for Grimm in the darkness was a downright masochistic endeavor, but he stuck through it without complaint. A few of the others slacked off and were asleep when Grimm started battering at the walls. He still remembered Captain Dornan screaming at them so badly that they were practically puddles on the ground by the time he was done.

He stayed and looked at the fountain for a few minutes, letting out a cold breath. He was finally here, but he was already having doubts. Should he really have come here at his age? He was established and respected back in Domremy. He was-

"Jaune."

He looked back and blinked at the sight of Glynda standing a few feet away with both brows raised. He didn't even hear her, though that wasn't a surprise. Glynda could be as quiet as a Nightmare Grimm when she wanted to be.

"Glynda, hey." He smiled, and for the first time since he arrived, she allowed herself to reciprocate the gesture.

Glynda Goodwitch. Vale's premier Huntress, headmistress of Beacon Academy...and his ex-wife.

...

He should probably keep that last bit a secret from his team.

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Team ABYS has formed and Jaune is not having a good time. How long until he breaks and decides these three (though primarily Weiss and Yang) need to be disciplined? Only time will tell.

Question:

1. Do you guys wanna focus more on the story or smut? Latter means the first woman gets fucked in chapter 2 or 3. Former means it'll be a bit longer before we get to the naughty stuff.

2. Who do you guys want to be 'disciplined' first? The plan was Yang, then Weiss, then Blake, but maybe Weiss could go first? She was arguably just as annoying, if not moreso, than Yang this chapter. Either could work as the first person Jaune snaps against and proves he's not just a middle-aged guy trying to play hero.

No Victory in Strength (Minecraft Jaune) - Chapter 4

Next Minecraft Jaune chapter. This ended up being way more popular than I thought so I decided to make it a priority. This chapter is more focused on the romcom shenanigans. I'll admit it's not as funny as I intended, but hopefully it's alright.

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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The five of them slowly made their way back to town with the golems and the knight trailing around them. Growing up the way she did, Weiss was used to being heavily guarded. Even before she became the heiress, she was still considered valuable. The second daughter of the Schnees, and the 'backup heir' at the time. Both the SDC's nominal allies and their enemies knew what getting to her meant. Her value only increased once she was made the heiress proper after Winter joined the military, which only made her position skyrocket in their eyes.

It was one reason that she'd insisted on learning how to defend herself. Having to be surrounded by bodyguards as soon as she left the mansion was stifling. It was that, and her desire to live up to her grandfather's legacy, that pushed her to not only learn to defend herself but also surpass the stoic men who treated her like a piece of porcelain. A part of her preened at the fact that she could more than easily match, and even surpass, many of the ones who used to guard her.

And yet another far smaller part missed it. Back when she'd been young and innocent (naive), she'd viewed herself as a princess being protected by her cadre of knights. She'd learned soon enough that they were less knights and more men just trying to earn a paycheck, but the fantasy lingered at the back of her mind.

Seeing Jaune's knight brought that same fantasy rushing to the forefront. The towering suit of armor walked stoically forward, sword and armor gleaming in the sunlight. It looked absolutely pristine with even the clumps of dirt and soot from the mortar falling away a while back, seemingly too afraid to dare besmirch its obsidian visage. It made for both an intimidating and inspiring visage, a figure straight out of a fairy tale.

She had to admit that she was a bit jealous. Despite her skill with her Semblance, Summoning had sadly eluded her thus far no matter how much she trained. The thought of the Arma Gigas - the obstacle her Father placed in her path - being a servile knight was an appealing one. As such, seeing the subservient suit of armor that followed Jaune made her feel jealous. That years-old desire to be the fairytale princess (albeit one that could more than defend herself) was coming back to the forefront.

She wanted...no, needed to convince Jaune of the righteousness of her cause. They could do...so much good together for all of Remnant. His abilities and her guidance, they would be unstoppable.

But how, she thought. Again, she was forced to reckon with the fact that she had nothing to offer him. Money and connections were pointless to someone with his gifts. She could try to convince him with just words - she always thought she had the gift of the gab - but what she was asking for was no easy thing. Months, if not years, of dedication with nothing to incentivize or reward him with. Jaune seemed to be a good man, but would he do all that out of nothing but the goodness of his heart? Domremy was his home, so he had a vested interest in improving it, but she couldn't get that same guarantee for the SDC. Helping all of Remnant sounded good on paper, but it was too...abstract. Indirect.

And then, an idea came to her. Seduction. He wouldn't do so much for a stranger regardless of how good of a cause it was - she doubted anyone on Remnant would - but for a partner? Yes, she could see Jaune caring enough to put in all his effort.

A voice at the back of her head whispered about how she was being no better than Father. She squashed it down. This was different. Father married mother for the sake of greed and short-sighted profit without a care for who he hurt. She was doing this for the greater good of Remnant. And besides, she wouldn't have been...opposed to getting together with Jaune. He was kind, generous, selfless, and rather fetching to look at. It would be a happy union, not like what Mother and Father had.

Yes, it would do just fine...

Trailing behind the rest of the group, Ruby looked down at the ground with her lips curled in a pout. She was looking forward to using Crescent Rose so much! After Jaune's upgrade, she really wanted to see her baby cut through Grimm like it was nobody's business. And, you know, maybe show off in front of Jaune. He told her back when they were forging that he wanted to be a Huntsman before he got his Semblance. Kicking Grimm butt in front of him would've shown how cool she was.

Not that seeing the knight and that Dust mortar wasn't cool, but still!

"It's okay. We'll get our chance next time." Ruby whispered to Crescent Rose, holding the compressed sniper-scythe with both arms, "Then we can do more upgrades! You'll be the awesomest weapon in all of Remnant. Yeah..."

Yang and Blake looked at their sister/team leader and stepped back to get some distance.

To the left of the group, Yang raised her arms above her head and yawned. This definitely wasn't how she thought this mission would go. She expected they'd find news about some settlement that found a good spot and managed to grow pretty quickly, but this? This was nuts. A whole kingdom, talking ani- things that did not happen, and most of all, Jaune. She eyed the golems and the knight. The guy had more protection than Jacques Schnee! She was pretty sure the CEO of Racism would've been seething with jealousy if he saw how much this 'country bumpkin' had.

Her thoughts drifted back to the Grimm. A horde like that definitely wasn't normal. So many Grimm types all working together like that, and aiming for Jaune specifically? It was like something straight out of a Captain Atlas comic book.

She shook her head. Dwelling on it by herself wouldn't do anything. They'd talk about it later. Besides, she had better things to focus on. Her mouth curled up in a smirk and she licked her lips at the sight of Jaune's shirt clinging to his back. Growing up in Patch made her a country girl at heart, and that affected her tastes in men too. Seeing shirtless men working hard chopping wood was what made her realize she liked guys. Being in a Huntsman Academy gave her a lot of free eye candy too.

Generally speaking, Jaune wasn't exactly the hottest guy she'd seen. He looked good, sure, but so did just about every other Huntsman-in-training. It was a common joke that there wasn't a single ugly Huntsman or Huntress in all of Remnant, especially with a trained Aura keeping you looking younger than your age.

Still, Jaune was different, at least so far. Not a meathead jackass like Cardin or some of the other guys at Beacon, and he actually liked her (awesome) sense of humor. That was more than a lot of guys who pretended to laugh while trying to look down her shirt. She was gonna win this one. Weiss cream wouldn't know how to flirt if it bit her in the ass, getting Blake to talk was like pulling teeth, and Ruby...well, she loved her little sis, but she wasn't exactly a social butterfly.

Yeah, she was pretty sure she had this in the bag.

To the right of the group, Blake looked down at the ground, her head a jumble of thoughts. She wasn't worried about being distracted. With Jaune's golems (and that knight) around, she doubted anyone could get near them. No, she had more important things to worry about.

The first being those damn cats. She was used to being insulted - she grew up hearing slurs from cruel and apathetic Humans - but something about being mocked by cats, of all things, pissed her off to no end. They already had it bad enough being called 'Animals' by the Humans, and now the actual animals were calling them fakes and wannabes? She was putting up cats next to dogs on her list.

The second being that loan. The cherished book was back in their temporary room in Jaune's castle. As much as she wanted to read it, she didn't want to reveal her secret habits in front of the rest of the team. That and the 2000 lien debt weighing on her mind. She needed to find a way to pay it back. She couldn't face her parents (one of these days...) with something like that hanging over her head. Even Adam would've been too ashamed to look at her.

At least it gave her an opening to broach the topic, "So, Jaune...is there any work you need done?" she asked. Her three teammates looked at her with suspicion. She ignored them all.

"Work? Uh, should be stuff around town to do. Why?'

"Uh...I'm going to buy something. I can't say what it was-" Weiss rolled her eyes, "but it's something I really need, and I need some extra cash for it. "

"You need more money than the gold bar, Blakey? I wonder what you're buying." Yang grinned.

"Oh, how much? I could give it to you if you-"

"No, no. Thank you, but...I'd rather earn it for myself." The gears in her head shifted, "But if you're thinking of good causes to be involved in, could I suggest-"

"So, Jaune, you were thinking of expanding your kingdom?" Weiss asked in a rush. Blake hissed and looked at the babbling heiress. She did that on purpose. Well, it wouldn't matter. She'd convince Jaune to help her one way or another.

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She could do this!

That was the thought that ran through Ruby's head as she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She could do this. She was Ruby hecking Rose, she fought beowolves for fun and could strip an assault rifle with her eyes blindfolded. Dating a guy? Easy street. Wouldn't even be any effort!

...Right?

Okay, so maybe knowing how to build firearms from scrap metal wasn't something that translated to dating, but she could make it work! She got into Beacon two years early and made the leader. That had to mean something, right? Right, of course, it did. Headmaster Ozpin wouldn't just do that for no reason!

She slapped her cheeks and pulled back from the sink. She and Jaune were going to build another upgrade for Crescent Rose, which gave her the right time to 'strut her stuff'. Whatever that meant. She knew she couldn't just ask Jaune out. They'd barely known each other for a couple of days and all the romances from her favorite comic books didn't just...happen! Okay, some of them did, but those were the ones that got a lot of people up in arms in forums. She needed to be better than that. No one would accuse them of being poorly written!

"Ruby, you ready?" Jaune called from outside.

"C-Coming, gimme a sec!" She adjusted her hair and stepped outside, looking up at Jaune with a bright smile, "Ready!" she chirped, trying to sound...uh, seductive? Alluring? Bah, it didn't matter!

They made their way down to the basement with Ruby smirking smugly at her team as they passed them by. They all tried to suggest crafting together, but Jaune said that it was better if they worked on Crescent Rose alone since it was a personal project and that was sacred. Oh, how she felt all floaty and warm when he said that. He really was the one for her. Everyone else treated building and maintaining their weapons as a chore, a 'necessary evil'. They should've been thanking their weapons for giving them the honor!

The warmth of the forge was comforting when they got there. Ruby breathed in the smell of steam and coal as she put on the nearby apron, "So, any ideas?" Ruby asked as she laid Crescent Rose on the crafting table. Past Ruby wouldn't have even considered the idea of anyone but herself tinkering with her baby, but that was...well, in the past. Past Ruby was dead, long live Present Ruby!

"Hm, I have a few." Jaune put a hand on his chin, "We could put in an Unbreakable enchantment. Make sure that it never breaks, but you probably don't need that right now. I can tell that Crescent Rose is really well-maintained. Better than just about any weapon I've seen, really."

"She is." Ruby preened at the compliment. It was about time somebody realized.

"Alright, so we'll shelve Unbreakable for now." He snapped his fingers, "Oh, oh! Alright, I hear me out. I'm thinking of two things. First one is Sharpness. Smite already makes your weapon hit harder against Grimm, but Huntsmen still have to fight criminals and bandits and a bunch of them have Aura. With this upgrade, Crescent Rose will crunch through their Aura in one or two hits."

"Huh, cool! Buh, uh, I'm trying to focus on fighting Grimm." She knew she had to fight people at some point - it was practically impossible for any Huntsmen not to run to bad guys, but still - "Maybe we could shelve it too?"

"No problem. I get it." He smiled understandingly before grinning, "Then I think I have the perfect upgrade." He pulled out a blueprint from...somewhere and put it on the table, "Multishot! Three bullets for the price of one! One bullet not enough to get through a Goliath's hide? How about three at a time hitting the same spot with every pull of the trigger? Especially since Crescent Rose uses high-impact rounds. Grimm are gonna get mulched! And with a little tweak, you can switch between having it shoot all at once or separately."

"That...sounds...AWESOME!" Ruby squealed. Crescent Rose's weakness was always her rate of fire. Sure, it could pack a hit, but it was still a bolt-action rifle with a limited magazine (NOT CLIPS). Ten rounds were nothing to scoff at, especially with each bullet's power, but it was still a deficiency. Sadly, a fifty-round magazine just wasn't feasible, "Oh, I can't wait to kick some Grimm but with this!" Maybe with Jaune watching so he could ooh and ahh about how amazing she was.

"Let's get to it."

Sadly, Jaune had to do most of the work. It wasn't her, he said, it was just that you needed his Semblance to make sure that the enchantment actually stuck. Anyone else and it just wouldn't work. He still did his best to include her, which she appreciated.

"And...done!" Jaune stepped back and gestured to the unfurled sniper-scythe. It didn't look any different than before (except for a new lever close to the safety), but she could feel the power radiating from it, "Why don't we test it out?"

"H-Here? Are you sure it's safe?" Ruby asked, though she was already shifting her baby to her sniper state.

"Yep! I've done it before." He made his way to the other side of the room and trapped a button. The wall shifted around to show a training dummy...wearing diamond armor. She was sure Weiss would've gotten a heart attack at the sight of it, "Sorry if it looks rough. That was the first diamond armor I ever made. Not really useful for actual patrolling, so I use it to test out how strong some of the weapons I make are."

"Rough. Sure..." It looked pretty darn good to her, but maybe she was just blind, "Alright, here we go..." She twisted the lever to the 'tri-shot' position, as Jaune called it, and aimed straight at the torso. Taking a deep breath, Ruby squeezed the trigger and watched in awe as three bullets, one right after the other, impacted against the diamond's shiny surface. Her eyes widened. The recoil hadn't increased at all, and when she detached the magazine, she saw that only one bullet had been spent. Just like he said.

"Oh, my Gods." Ruby gasped. This was one of the most amazing things she'd ever seen.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Jaune grinned.

"It's more than cool, Jaune! It's, it's...!" She didn't know the right words to say. Instead, she turned Crescent Rose back to its compact form before she tackled Jaune in an excited embrace. Jaune laughed even as he struggled slightly to keep balanced, "Thank you, thank you, thank you! This the best thing someone's ever given me!" Well, someone outside of her family, at least. Dad, Yang, and Uncle Qrow gave her a lot of stuff growing up.

...But it didn't mean she'd give up her soulmate to Yang!

"You're welcome. It's nice to see someone who really loves their work." He (sadly) pulled back from her embrace, "Make sure to kill a lot of Grimm with her!"

Her. He even talked to Crescent Rose with the proper pronouns. Was he trying to show her just how perfect he was? Cause she already had plans for an engagement sniper rifle up and ready!

Speaking of...

"Jaune, I wanna thank you for all the great stuff you've given me."

"Oh, you don't have to-"

"No, no. I want to." Ruby shook her head, "I wanna build you something. I know I can't do as much as you can, but still!"

"I...well, thanks, Ruby. Sure!"

Ruby smiled and turned to the forge proper. What could she make? As tempting as making a sniper rifle was, it would've taken too long even with the right materials. She had to make something small, something he could keep on him.

In the end, she decided to make a keychain with a Rose emblem hanging off it. It wasn't the best thing, but still, "Here." She offered it to him.

"Thanks! I'll make sure to keep it with me!" Jaune nodded happily as he took it. Okay, now it was time for her to flirt! Show him that they were soulmates!

"So, Jaune, are you a runner? Cause you've been r-"

"Oh, by the way, I'm thinking of another upgrade!" Jaune said, cutting off her awesome line (that she totally didn't steal from Yang).

"Y-Yeah?"

"Yeah! We could get something like Piercing - so your bullets punch through the Grimm and hit more targets - but I'm thinking of something rarer. Infinity." Her brows furrowed. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? "It'll take a bit for me to gather the materials, some of them you can only find in the Ever After, but when Crescent Rose gets it? She'll be shooting, well, infinitely! Infinite ammo! No more reloading! How does that sound?"

How did that sound?! He was basically offering to turn Crescent Rose into the best gun in the whole wide world! It was...it was...!

Ruby's mouth curled up in a delirious smile before she passed out. The last thing she remembered was Jaune's eyes widening and asking if she was okay before everything went dark and she had dreams of her and Jaune frolicking in a field of bullets and Dust grenades.

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"What am I gonna do with you?" Yang sighed as she set Ruby down on the bed. Jaune had come up carrying her worrying about how she'd passed out. Weiss and Blake had forgotten to be mad with how worried they were, but Yang wasn't fussed. She knew what the smile on her little sis' face meant. She wasn't hurt. On the contrary, she'd passed out from sheer weapon overload. It happened before, mostly when she got really into finding just the right upgrade for Crescent Rose. Jaune must've said something.

"How is she?" Weiss asked as soon as she left the room.

"She'll be fine. A couple hours of sleep and she'll be right as rain." An idea suddenly came to her, "Actually, could you two keep an eye on her? She moves around a lot when she gets like this."

"Why don't you do it?" Blake raised a brow.

"Cause I gotta get something to calm her down when she gets grabby. Old Xiao Long family recipe." It wasn't a lie...kinda. So what if the old recipe was warm milk and some cookies? It did make Ruby calm, "I'll go down in town and get what I need. Should be back in like half an hour tops."

"Maybe I should go with you," Blake said.

"Maybe I'll give you something to pay back that loan you took if you stay here," Yang countered.

Blake's eyes widened, "H-How did you know that?!"

"The guy running the place asked me to keep an eye on you. Wants to make sure you don't just skip town and leave him hanging." She liked Blake, but she wasn't gonna help her dodge a loan. Or drag the rest of their team into it.

"You took a loan?" Weiss looked aghast, "I thought you were smarter than that, Blake!"

"Sh-Shut up! I needed it for something important!"

"Yeah, yeah. Be a good girl and keep an eye on Rubes with Weiss cream and maybe I'll pull you out of that hole you dug for yourself. 'Kay? Bye~" She walked out the door while Weiss lectured Blake about being responsible with cash. Oh, the irony.

"Is Ruby alright?" Jaune asked. He stayed down in the living room while they carried her up to give them some privacy.

"She's fine. Just got a little too excited. I'm sure you've seen it before."

"People passing out? Uh...no, not really."

"I mean getting girls excited. You know, like me."

"Uh...okay?" Jaune looked confused. Was she being too subtle? Well, time to up the ante, "So...what do you say the two of us go down into town and you give me a private tour?" She made sure to lean forward and grin. It was a killer move that would've had any guy back at Signal or Beacon wrapped around her finger, "What do you say?"

"I guess I could, but I thought you guys already got the tour and explored the town? Not sure what else I can show you."

"Oh, come on! You built this place! I'm sure you know all about any secret places. You know, the kind where we can get a lot of privacy~ So we can do stuff that...private like?" Shit, she was talking too much.

"I don't really know any places like that, but I'll give you a tour, sure."

"Great!" Yang gave him a megawatt grin.

The tour was...okay. Jaune actually gave her a tour and wasn't distracted at all when she tried to subtly show off in front of him. Yang knew she was hot. Call her proud or whatever, but she never saw the point of pretending to be humble. She was hot, badass, and had the best hair in all of Patch if not all of Vale. Trying to deny it would've just been lying to herself. She was also undeniably the hottest girl in girl at Signal. She got some competition once she got to Beacon, but her looks were still nothing to scoff at.

But Jaune didn't look at her twice. She was almost offended before she saw exactly why, "Hey, Jaune~" A girl with tan skin and long brown hair grabbed his arm and cozied up to him, "You wanna go somewhere tonight? I've got tickets for that new Spruce Willis movie."

"Oh, Chai! Uh, sorry but I'm kinda busy-"

"Jaune, Jaune!" Another girl, this one almost as pale as Weiss with her blond hair in two long braids, took his other arm, "My family's been inviting you to dinner since forever! Are you finally gonna accept?"

"Eris, I'm actually kinda-"

So on and so forth. Jaune couldn't take two steps without being swarmed by another gaggle of girls trying to get his attention. It made sense. He was the guy who turned a regular village into a kingdom that could rival Argus. And that was just six months. In six years the place might've been flying higher than Atlas! No shit the women here wanted a piece of him. He was Jacques Schnee without the racism and oldness. He would've been a hot thing even in Vale.

"Oh, Jaune. We still have a tour to do," Yang called out. The group of women all turned to look at her with daggers in their eyes, but she just smirked back. She was training to be a Huntress. She'd stared down Ursa Majors without blinking. It'd take more than a bunch of thirsty civilians to scare her.

"R-Right! Tour." He extracted himself from the pile of disappointed women and led her away to a cafe. Everyone in town greeted him happily and Jaune was quick to respond, greeting back and asking questions about their family or how their studies were going. Man of the town. He led her to a corner booth and slumped down on the chair, "Thanks for that. Going down here is kind of hard sometimes."

"You seem popular." Yang grinned.

"I guess." Jaune laughed, "I mean...they're interested in me cause of my Semblance. I'm not stupid." He sighed and rolled his eyes, "Me and Chai actually used to date. We were only together for a few months before she broke up with me. Said I wasn't ambitious enough. I was actually tempted to fake my transcripts to get into Beacon Academy when I turned 17." He laughed softly, "But then a week after our breakup I got my Semblance and...well, plans changed."

"A good change, right? I mean, look at this place!"

"Yeah." He chuckled, "I mean, I got what I wanted. I'm helping a bunch of people, I made my family proud, and I've lived up to my ancestors. That's a big thing for us Arcs. It was when I started building that Chai talked about how it was all a big mistake and she thought wrong."

"Yeah, I bet." Yang snorted.

"Yeah. But, I don't hate her. I just don't wanna get back together."

She doubted it'd stop her from trying, "So...anyone special you do have in mind?"

"Huh? Not really. I've been so busy with building everything that I didn't really think about that. Things have been slowing down recently, though. Makes me wonder if I should go somewhere else. Expand my horizons or whatever you call it."

Yang grinned. Alright, he'd just opened up to her and he was definitely single. Time to hit him with the one-two punch!

"Hey, Jaune. Are you a rash? Cause you make me hot and uncomfortable!"

...

Jaune didn't look as flattered as she thought he would at the fact that a hot girl was flirting with him. Actually, he looked really confused. What the heck? She was giving him a compliment!

Okay, here came another!

"Are you a runner? Cause you've been running all over my head since yesterday!"

"Uh..." Jaune scratched the back of his head. That wasn't 'flattered to be hit on' scratching. That was 'what the fuck is going on' scratching. Didn't he get it? She was flirting with him! And with some of the best lines she had!

Fine, again!

"Did it hurt when you fell from the sky? Cause, you know, you're so great!"

"It...what?" Jaune shook his head, "Uh...sorry, I'm lost. Are you trying to see how good the puns are? Cause they're okay, but I'm not really sure why you started joking." His eyes widened, "Oh, wait, you're trying to cheer me up, right? Thanks!"

"No! I mean, yeah, I am, but that's not-"

"Well, well, well." Yang froze and turned to the left before cringing at the sight of Weiss cream glaring down at her. Despite barely passing five feet in heels, Yang suddenly felt small at the heiress' look, "What was that about finding something to help Ruby?"

"Ahaha...about that-"

She didn't get the chance to explain herself before Weiss pulled the ultimate dirty move. She reached her right hand out, grabbed Yang's ear, and twisted. The powerhouse of team RWBY screamed and whined as Weiss dragged her up and out by the ear while everyone watched. Ugh, this was so embarassing! The worst part was Jaune just laughed along like it was a big old joke! Ah, whatever! She was gonna get her chance with him later!

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"Honestly..."

Weiss dragged Yang back to the castle. The blonde struggled and whined the whole way, though every time she did, Weiss just twisted her ear harder. Yang was easily stronger than she was, but there was something about getting your ear twisted that just made you feel like a helpless kid.

"To think you would use Ruby's state to get some alone time with Jaune. For shame, Yang." Weiss finally let go of her.

"Oh, come on! Ruby's fine! She just passed out cause Jaune made her too excited about guns."

"And yet you had to get a 'secret family recipe'." Yang just laughed and rubbed the back of her head, "Well, you're going to be watching over your sister and keeping Blake busy while I talk with Jaune."

"Uh-huh. And I'll do that cause?"

"Cause if you don't, you can kiss any help from me with the upcoming midterms goodbye."

"Wha- that's blackmail!"

"Yup," she said, popping the P. She'd been spending too much time with them, "And you know what'll happen if you fail midterms. Remedial lessons with Professor Port." Yang looked as if she'd been told she only had minutes to live, "Just imagine it, Yang. Two months of listening to his lectures, and actually having to pay attention like I've been for the past few months. And I won't help you with a single test. You'll have to take down notes, parse through his droning to the actual lessons all while resisting the urge to slam an icepick into your brain-"

"Okay, okay! I'll do it!" Yang shook her head, "Geez, anyone ever tell you how scary you are?"

"It's come up. Now, off with you then."

Yang scoffed but did as she was ordered. Weiss waited at the front of the castle till Jaune came back, "Oh, Jaune!" She put a smile on her face that was less forced than she initially expected, "How lovely to see you. Apologies for what happened just now."

"No, it's fine. Yang was just trying to cheer me up."

"Oh. Is something wrong?"

"Nah, just some old stuff. I'm over it." He shrugged, "You need something?'

"Nothing crucial. I was just wondering if you could perhaps show me around your home? I would explore myself, but I wouldn't want to be rude and intrude in places I'm not supposed to."

"I don't really mind if you go looking wherever, but sure. Least we won't get mobbed here," he said that last part under his breath. She was tempted to press him before thinking better of it. This was meant to be the start of their courtship so it would be better not to bring up something negative.

Weiss smiled and nodded along as Jaune walked her through the castle. She'd been through many, many tours of mansions and estates growing up. For the elite of Atlas, it was their way of showing off how much wealth they had; or were desperately trying to cling to. Many families like the Marigolds were in debt and yet they still insisted on getting the finest furnishings and decorations. It didn't matter that all of Atlas already knew of their impoverished state. It only counted if they actually admitted it.

The tours of her childhood were all self-aggrandizing and filled with not-so-hidden boasts. Jaune was different. While there was obvious pride in his voice, it was that of a craftsman who took a healthy amount of fulfillment in his work. Every single part of the castle was personally crafted by him sans anything their family brought over from their old estate. The rooms of his parents and sisters were all locked, of course, but everything else was open.

Weiss didn't let herself get distracted by the luxurious trappings. She had to court Jaune, and that meant Jaune courting her. Atlesian decorum demanded it, really. Growing up the way she did, Weiss was used to being pursued. She was the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. Many sought out her hand in order to tie themselves to her family name. And as she grew up, their attention was drawn to her personally as well. She was a beautiful and talented young woman. The White Rose of Atlas, though she despised the name.

Weiss had little experience in being the more aggressive one in a courtship. She was raised as the one pursued, and Atlesian culture demanded that there was a proper ritual to it. One couldn't simply club someone over the head and take them back to their cave or h-hold hands like the Valeans did it. There was a proper chain of events. Even her short-lived crush on Neptune was initiated by him flirting with her after she gave him the signal that she was open to it.

"So, Jaune...have you considered the future?"

"What do you mean?" He turned back to look at her as they stopped walking.

"Well...you're a young man in the prime of your life. I'm sure you don't plan to stay in your kingdom forever, splendorous though it may be. Do you have no wish to expand your horizons? Perhaps with a partner by your side?"

"Huh. I mean, yeah, I'd wanna explore around one of these days, I guess." He stretched his arms above his head, "I'm still looking at places to expand, but Domremy's in a pretty good place right now. They don't really need me around looking after things, at least for a while."

"Would you say you'd be willing to dedicate yourself to a different cause then?" she asked carefully.

"I'm willing to help people out, sure, but there's only so much I can do even with my Semblance. I can't help everyone." Indeed, that was the source of her conflict with Blake. Even with Jaune's gifts, he had to choose who to prioritize.

And she needed to ensure he chose her.

Weiss made a show of picking up a silk handkerchief from her skirt pocket and dropping it to the ground. This was the first and most common sign that you were open to being courted. Jaune watched the handkerchief slowly fall and land on the floor without a sound.

...

"Uh, your handkerchief fell."

"So it did." Weiss looked straight at him. She couldn't just tell him to pick up. That defeated the whole point of the gesture. No, he had to pick it up and return it to her of his own volition. Perhaps, if he was being particularly gentlemanly, he would kiss the cloth before handing it back to her.

...

The two of them stared at one another, "Are you...gonna pick it up?"

"I suppose I will if I must." She pursed her lips. Why couldn't he see what she wanted him to do? It was so obvious! Weren't Valeans the ones who had archaic customs about knights and chivalry and honor? This should've been a no-brainer for him.

Unless...was he saying that he wasn't interested in her? The thought made her heart clench both out of pride and worry. She needed to convince him and this was the only way she could gain an advantage over Blake.

Plans borne of desperation came forth. Perhaps...she could serenade him? Not singing outside his door like some lout, but a private concert? Yes, she could see it. She could frame it as a thank you for the sword he'd given her. Weiss took pride in her singing voice. If not for her desire to be a Huntress and redeem the SDC, she could've made a career of it. Her fans numbered in the hundreds of thousands, at least. She could no doubt charm Jaune.

Her brainstorming was interrupted when his scroll rang. He looked at the screen and his eyes widened, "Oh crap, the new Captain Atlas show's premiering! Sorry, we gotta this short! See ya!" He turned and left before she could say anything, leaving her (and her handkerchief...) alone in the hallway. She'd failed.

Weiss slapped her cheek. No, she hadn't failed. Not yet. Despite missing her glaringly obvious opening gambit, she was sure that she could charm Jaune in the end. With a resolute nod, Weiss picked up her handkerchief and turned only to run smack dab into Blake, the Cat Faunus giving her a narrow-eyed glare.

Weiss barely opened her mouth before she found it gagged and Blake unfurled Gambol shroud's ribbon.

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She had to seduce Jaune.

That was the thought that ran through Blake's mind as she left Weiss bound and gagged in one of the guest bedrooms. All day long, her treacherous teammates had been trying to sink their hooks into Jaune. From Ruby's cutesy attitude and eagerness to craft, Yang's (terrible) flirtations, and Weiss...honestly, she had no idea what she was doing. Dropping her handkerchief? Was she trying to make Jaune pick it up like he was one of her servants?

She shook her head. It didn't matter. She had better things to focus on than what her friends were doing. Right now she had Jaune to herself. Ruby was still sleeping and both Yang and Weiss were...tied up. It'd give her the chance to enact her plan.

She overheard the conversation between Jaune and Weiss. Jaune was open to helping people, but he needed to choose who to focus on. Clearly, he should choose to help the cause of Faunus equality, but she knew she had to convince him. Why help the Faunus over everyone else? Especially as a Human. He wouldn't have been nearly invested in it as she was.

But what did she have to convince him with?

Money and connections? She had far less in both compared to Weiss, and she doubted he much cared about either given his gifts. The gratitude of the Faunus? Perhaps, but that was too abstract, and she wouldn't be surprised if Weiss also made claims about how all of Remnant would be grateful to Jaune.

And then it came to her: Her. She could be what pushed him to help the fight for equality. It wasn't perfect - and she couldn't deny that a part of her felt guilty for even considering it - but she would only use it to push him in the right direction. She could find some other way to repay him for all his hard work. If not money, then maybe exotic materials he couldn't find in Vale or those portals of his? She was sure she could come up with something. Even a guy like Jaune must've had things he couldn't just get and build.

But that could come later. For now, she had to enact the first step in her plan.

Jaune was in the living room watching a show on the big-screen TV. Perfect. It was almost too easy. Blake sat down on one of the plush chairs, leaned back...and waited.

It would only be a matter of time before Jaune fell for her. That was how it always worked. Adam fell for her, Ilia fell for her, and Sun fell for her. And in all three cases, she didn't have to do anything but be near them while they were alone. Jaune would've been no different, she was sure. All she had to do was stay near him and he'd fall for her. And then she could guide him to the right cause he could devote himself to. This was all for the greater good.

An hour passed and Jaune...didn't look up from the television at all. Blake pursed her lips in annoyance and crossed her right leg over her left. That should've gotten his attention...but it didn't. He kept watching, and even when the show ended thirty minutes later and he finally looked up, he llooked at her the same way he always did, "Oh! Sorry, didn't see you there, Blake! Did you watch the show too?"

"Yeah, it was...interesting." She made a show flipping her long raven hair.

Still nothing.

"Yeah, Captain Atlas is awesome! Really glad I got to see the premiere." He stood up and stretched, "Well, I gotta go. Promised the dogs I'd give em a walk. See ya!"

And then he left, leaving Blake feeling like she got an egg on her face. What just happened? Why didn't it work like the last three times? She sat near him, crossed her legs, and even flipped her hair. Ilia would've gone crazy at this point! How much willpower did Jaune Arc have?

No, she couldn't be discouraged. She had to put in more effort than she thought, but this wasn't the end. Thankfully, she was a reservoir of knowledge due to her taste in literature. She could find a way to seduce Jaune easily. All for the good of the Faunus.

She stood up from her chair and left the living room only to run into Ruby, Yang, and Weiss all glaring at her with their weapons drawn.

"Any last words, Belladonna?" Weiss hissed.

...

"I regret nothing."

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Their first mission.

Pyrrha stepped off the Bullhead and breathed in the crisp country air. The place they were sent to - a miniature kingdom, according to the briefing - reminded her of Argus. It was completely landlocked, sure, but the atmosphere was the same...well, before she became the Invincible Girl. Then it became stifling.

"Four AM. We've arrived exactly on schedule." Her partner, Ciel, said. She didn't really know how to feel about her. While she wasn't a fan (which was a good thing), she also wasn't very open despite being her partner. Ciel wasn't unfriendly, but she was also taciturn to a fault. She'd assured Pyrrha early on that it wasn't anything against her personally. She simply preferred to keep to herself, and while Pyrrha respected that, it made her feel as closed as she'd been back in the tournament circuit.

Especially given their other teammates.

"Woah! Ren, look at this place! It's awesome!" Nora screamed.

"Indeed. Very impressed." Ren nodded calmly.

Ren and Nora. The two couldn't have been more different from her and Ciel if they tried. The two were childhood friends and, while friendly to both of them, were obviously far closer to one another than the rest of the team. She had to admit, she'd felt jealous seeing their close bond and inside jokes. The last time she tried to tell Ciel a knock-knock joke, she got told that she wouldn't open the door unless the person on the other end properly identified themselves without 'making a circus of the whole thing'.

Sighing, she looked around once more. Their mission was to make contact with Jaune Arc and reinforce Team RWBY's claims of a village being turned into a kingdom. Judging from everything around her, it seemed like they were telling the truth.

Her eyes landed on a particularly creepy-looking crow perched on top of the bullhead before she turned away. She hated crows. Always so ominous.

"We should make contact with this Jaune Arc," Ciel said.

It didn't take them long to find him. A guy walking around with eight dogs was bound to draw attention. Nora, of course, cooed at the sight of the animals while Ciel simply noted it down, "Ah, hello!" Pyrrha smiled awkward, "Um, my name is Pyrrha Nikos. This is my partner Ciel Soleil, and my teammates Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren. We were sent here to check up on team RWBY?"

"Another Huntsmen team? Huh, cool! Name's Jaune Arc!" He stuck his hand out. She looked for any trace of recognition in his eyes, but there was nothing. She let out a sigh of relief and offered her own hand in a firm handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Jaune."

The creepy crow from before cawed. She hoped that wasn't a bad sign.

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Pyrrha has arrived, and because this isn't a personal story for me, she isn't gonna be a walking L whose role is to suffer. Anyway, Team RWBY has tried and failed to get with Jaune. Ruby was the closest and she passed out at the end.

Next chapter we can finally meet Ozpin and start exploring the factions more.

Questions:

1. So...how scummy do you guys think Weiss and Blake are? They're both working towards the perceived greater good, but they're undeniably doing some iffy stuff with the way they're trying to seduce Jaune to their side.

2. To continue a previous chapter's question, how do you think Pyrrha would try to flirt? Canon shows her just being passive and by V3 she was too bogged down with the Maiden stuff. Given team RWBY's aggression here, I expect she'll have to be aggressive herself if she wants to try and get with Jaune too.

3. So, which RWBY girl are you all rooting for currently now that we've seen them all try (and fail) to flirt with Jaune?

Yandere RWBY Oneshots - Chapter 1/Weiss

New commission. A Yandere oneshot series of various RWBY girls. Just about all of them will ping-pong between somewhat comedic to absolutely horrific. You've been warned.

Writing up next chapter for Minecraft Jaune (and maybe another chapter for Gacha RWBY?) then a new NSFW story about an older Jaune attending Beacon.

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Weiss was someone who'd always known what she wanted. It was something she chalked up to the way she was raised. Schnees did not ask or beg, they took, or so her Father said. Late Father. He'd been one of the casualties in the Fall of Atlas. While she would've been lying if she claimed she had fond feelings for him, it was undeniable that he'd shaped her personality in more ways than she wanted to admit. It was the reason why she'd been so...prickly during those first few weeks at Beacon. Entitlement had been bred into her bones.

Even after she'd gotten better, some of the traits he'd instilled in her remained. She was stubborn to a fault, which was both a benefit and a detriment depending on the situation. It had saved her life time and again when she refused to give up and it was that same stubbornness that gave her the push to run away from her gilded cage of a home and reunite with her true family...and Jaune.

Even now, the thought of her knight in rusted armor made Weiss' face flush. Their first meeting had been...rough. While Jaune had been in the wrong for not taking 'No' for an answer on their first term, Weiss herself had been needlessly belligerent during introductions by treating him as nothing more than a pest to be rid of. Either way, he'd made up for his boorish behavior during the dance and Weiss had in turn become less bellicose towards him due to his efforts.

Shame Neptune ended up being a cad...

But that didn't matter now! The point was that they'd buried the hatchet and become friends, especially after he saved her life at Haven. They'd only gotten closer after that. They spent time together in Atlas during their off-time (Oscar was there too, but she chose to ignore that) and even went to the movies together (again, she chose to ignore Oscar's presence). Perhaps they might've become more than just friends, but the timing made any sort of relationship difficult. Always so busy dealing with this and that.

And then she saw him in The Ever After.

Jaune had definitely filled out nicely after Beacon - Mr. Muscles, as Nora called him - but his Rusted Knight self in the Ever After was...well, it made his 19-year-old self look downright comely by comparison. She'd blurted out about how Mature she found him, though they were all too weighed down back then to dwell on it. So many things were on their mind. The fall of Atlas, Penny's death, the failure to keep the Relic out of Cinder's hands...it was all too much.

She'd never forgive the Blacksmith for taking away his warrior's wolf tail and that magnificent beard. And that voice...oh, it could melt butter.

But that was behind them now. All of it was. They'd returned from the Ever After and managed to defeat Salem. A long story, and one she had no wish to recount. The point was that they'd defeated the Ultimate Evil and...it didn't solve every problem. Atlas had still fallen into Mantle, Vale was still a ruin, and now both Vacuo and Mantle had to deal with the refugees from the war. Not to mention the fact that some of her minions were still fluttering about. Tyrian was still alive.

It was a mess all-in-all. Hardly the storybook ending they were hoping for. So much for resting on their laurels. They had to split up in the end. Ren, Nora, and Oscar had gone to Mistral to help due to their familiarity with the continent while Yang and Ruby had returned to Vale. Blake had gone to Menagerie and was working with the Faunus to try and help wherever they could. Ironically, the Faunus were one of the stronger groups in Remnant at the moment.

Which left her and Jaune in Vacuo helping to deal with the refugees and other sorts of chaos. It was difficult work, but honestly? She wouldn't exchange it for anything. Without the weight of Salem ending the world bearing down on their shoulders, dealing with the daily problems felt almost relieving. Grimm hordes, missing refugees, and having to guard supply routes was downright soothing at times. It also gave her a chance to spend time alone with Jaune.

She wasn't ashamed to admit that she had feelings for him and she was...reasonably certain that he had feelings for her. She was his first love, after all, though the nearly two decades he spent in that nonsensical fairytale land had likely affected his feelings more than she wanted to admit. She couldn't just out and out say that she loved him, after all. That would be too boorish. Atlas may have fallen, but she was still a Schnee. There was a proper way of doing things. She had no problems giving him hints and letting him reciprocate.

There was just one problem...

"You're working so hard. Here, this is for you." Weiss' eye twitched as the middle-aged Vacuan woman - Sage, if she was remembering right - smiled and offered up some sort of stew to Jaune. It smelled like tomatoes and mold, so she was sure it would've tasted awful. But Jaune, of course, was too much of a gentleman to simply throw that unwanted stew at the woman's face. Instead, he smiled and said he appreciated it while the woman tittered like someone half her age.

Whore.

Weiss' right hand twitched and she grit her teeth. It would've been so easy to unsheath Myrtenaster and stab that thieving bitch in the throat. Her and every other tramp. That was the problem. Middle-aged women coming onto Jaune likes bitches in heat. Those whores. Gods damned sluts who didn't know how to keep it between their legs. She hated them. Jaune was her's, not their's. They should've considered themselves lucky that she didn't slam their face into the sand and grind until there was nothing left but raw, bloody flesh.

She took a deep breath to calm herself down. It was fine, she told herself. She was simply a randy single mother looking for excitement by trying to flirt with a strapping young Huntsman (well, as young as someone who was technically 40 could be). She didn't have to-

"So, would you like to come over sometime?" The old woman smiled and traced a hand across Jaune's upper arm.

...

This tramp was dead. She would die screaming.

"Ahem." Weiss coughed pointedly, making the two-lien slattern jump up slightly and pull back. Good, "I'm sorry, but my partner and I have to do our mission. Please vacate the premises." Weiss gave the hag a razor-thin smile. She looked like she wanted to argue, but then looked her - young, beautiful, powerful - up and down and realized it wasn't a fight she could win. The witch mumbled something about having to pick up her kid from school then left.

Jaune waved and looked down at the stew, "Well...at least we don't have to worry about lunch." He laughed in that simple, endearing way that set her heart aflutter. It was one reason she'd fallen in love with him. Most anyone else would've been broken having to spend nearly two decades in that land of fairy tales and insanity, but not Jaune, "She was really nice."

"Was she?" Weiss hummed.

"I mean, she made us stew." Made him stew, she didn't say, "I...kinda feel sorry for her. A bunch of the women here lost their husbands during the war. It must be so hard to raise kids by yourself."

"Maybe she should focus more on her child instead of cooking stew for strangers then." She forced away the bitter feelings she had and smiled. At least she and Jaune were alone now, "By the by, how are you doing on the...relationship front?" She chewed on her lower lip. Weiss had little experience in being the more aggressive one in a courtship. She was raised as the one pursued, and Atlesian culture demanded that there was a proper ritual to it. One couldn't simply club someone over the head and take them back to their cave or h-hold hands like the Valeans did it. There was a proper chain of events.

"A relationship? Like, dating?" Jaune laughed and set the stew down at a nearby small table. Currently, the two of them were waiting at a shaded pavilion for the next caravan they were going to escort back to one of the remote settlements, "We both know we're too busy for that, Weiss. Way too many things on our plate." He sighed and sat down, arms crossed as he leaned back on the wooden chair. Weiss resisted the urge to plop herself atop his lap and (reluctantly) took the chair on the other side of the table, "Why? You thinking about someone?"

"I...well, there is someone that comes to mind." She blinked up at him charmingly, hoping that he'd catch the hint.

No such luck. She could've sworn she heard what sounded like Pyrrha screaming about how it wouldn't work that way.

"Oh, really? That's awesome! I'm sure the lucky guy's gonna be thrilled!" It took everything she had to not sigh so loud all of Remnant could hear it. Jaune was...amazing, but he was oddly oblivious when it came to being the recipient of affection instead of being the one to give it. She wished she could go back in time. Not to stop Salem or prevent Atlas from falling, but to slap her past self upside the head for not knowing about the benefits of investing early for massive profit.

"I'm not so sure. He's not being receptive to my hints..."

"Oh...are you sure he knows what they are? Guys can be pretty dumb. I'd know." He gave a self-deprecating little laugh.

"I've been quite obvious, yes." Again, she fluttered her eyes up at him, leaning forward slightly on the table to expose just the smallest bit of skin on her chest, "Perhaps he simply isn't attracted to me..."

"Come on, you're Weiss Schnee! One of the heroes who saved the world! Any guy would be lucky to have you!" Her next double-meaning response was cut off when he reached a hand out and gently squeezed her own. Weiss' cheeks burned red and she gasped softly. H-How forward! "Listen, Weiss...I dunno who this guy is, but if you like him, I'm sure he must be a good person. You should go for it. You and everyone else...you deserve to be happy."

"So do you..." She chewed her lower lip and squeezed his hand back, "You've been through so much." Her eyes flickered to the streak of white on his blonde hair. The one mark he had left after his time in that deranged land. Perhaps it was wrong of her, but she didn't really consider it a fault on the Curious Cat's part that it killed that selfish little brat Alyx, "You deserve to be happy just as much as the rest of us. Moreso, even."

"Heh...it's nice you think so." Jaune smiled, and the gesture was so warm and sincere that she found herself leaning forward. She wanted to kiss him, even as every part of her screamed about how improper it all was and that she was breaking all the steps. So close. Just a few inches and-

"Oh, Mr. Arc!" A new voice cut in. Jaune turned his head and his hand slipped from her grasp as another middle-aged, thirsty whore walked up to them. This one looked even older than the last one, and the makeup caking her tan skin did little to hide the crow's feet or wrinkles around her mouth, "So good to see you! Are you doing a mission?" He so obviously was, Weiss thought, but these hussies were so obvious that it was pathetic.

"Oh, Reina! Yeah. Me and Weiss are escorting a caravan of supplies."

"Oh, how nice." She didn't even turn to look at her. Her attention was all on Jaune and his sleeveless stop which exposed all his hard-earned muscles, "You know, you really do work too hard. You should take a break. A couple of friends and I have some passes for a hot springs. Perhaps you c-"

"Oh, that's no-"

"I insi-"

Their words were slowly being cut off, turning to static in Weiss' ears. She couldn't hear what they were saying to one another. All she could think of was imagining all of them - Jade, Reina, Amira, Dalia - and every other desperate whore dead. She imagined the woman's face locked in a horrified expression as Weiss stabbed Myrtenaster into her gut and twisted. She wouldn't make it slow. Oh no, all those sluts deserved to go out screaming in agony. And then their heads would be put up on pikes as a warning for anyone else who thought about stealing what didn't belong to them. The message would've been clear and final.

Weiss Schnee did not share.

Her face twitched the longer the two talked. If anyone had turned to look at her, they would've seen Weiss Schnee - hero of Remnant - twitching like a broken animatronic. The thought of Jaune being put-off by her appearance was what she needed to calm down, her expression calming. This wasn't the end. While she'd nearly broken the steps by kissing Jaune right then, there were still appropriate methods to dealing with these obstacles.

No, even calling them obstacles gave them more worth than they deserved. They were trifles. Speedbumps. And while Atlesian decorum demanded not being so crude as a Valean or Vacuan, it also encouraged making sure thieves were dealt with.

And oh my, she had so many thieves she had to prune...

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"Hello, ladies! How are we all doing?"

Jane grinned and waved happily as she met up with her friends for their daily meeting. It was something she did every night after putting the little one to sleep, just talking with them about whatever came to mind. Right now, that was the scrumptious not-so-little thing that had gotten all their attention recently. Jaune Arc was his name, one of the heroes who saved them from that evil Grimm queen. Honestly, a lot of it was still a blur. They were all just trying to survive with the sudden influx of refugees and Grimm attacking their walls.

What she was glad for was Jaune. So earnest and kind. He had a maturity about him, but there was an underlying innocence past all that. Something she just wanted to gobble up. It'd been...so lonely since her husband died. Since all their husbands died fighting against the Grimm. Going to bed cold and alone had been so hard, and there Jaune was, ripe for the taking. So selfless and genuine but also strong and brave. He put many of the men here to shame.

And her friends agreed. They found Jaune just absolutely charming and they were all willing to...share, as it were. Reina had suggested going to a hot springs where they could seduce him and they'd all enthusiastically agreed. Jaune was so obviously a virgin, and they'd all agreed that teaching him the ropes would be ropes would be absolutely amazing. Those big strong arms clumsily grabbing her tits while he pumped his long, hard cock into her dripping snatch.

Jade licked her lips and shuddered at the thought.

"Looks like Jane's already thinking about our stud." Amira chuckled, leaning against the wall.

"Shut up, so are you!" Jade laughed back. The four of them were alone right now in their own little spot, so they didn't have to worry about holding their tongue, "So, Reina, what did he say about the hot springs?"

"No luck." Reina sighed, "He says he'd love to, but there's always something to do and he can't afford any time off."

"He's so selfless. Not like some of the men around here." Dalia clicked her tongue, "I wish he'd just take the hint. How many times do I have to lean over and expose my tits?"

"Maybe she's dating that girl he's always with?" Amira asked.

"The Schnee? I doubt it." Jade scoffed, "Why would he pick a bony little girl when he could have an actual woman? The pale little thing wouldn't even know what to do once she saw his dick. She'd probably blush and scream about how she can't handle it. You know how those Atlesians are."

Amira laughed again, "Yeah, you're right. I'm sure she-"

Amira's words suddenly stopped, drowned out by a booming crash that sent her, Reina, and Dalia flying through the air. Jade landed with a painful crash and looked up in horror at the sight of her friend's body crushed under an ethereal white sword the size of a car. Blood and gore were splattered across the blade and the thing holding it - a white knight that seemed to be made out of ice - raised the blade once more, pulped organs falling to the ground near them.

It was looking straight at her.

"AAHHHHHHHHHH!" Jade's scream pierced the night air, which was quickly followed by Reina and Dalia's voices joining her own. Her body moved on its own and she ran, arms flailing and legs desperately trying to keep balanced. She barely even noticed that Dalia and Reina were following behind her.

Jade ran out the door and out the alley in a panic, stumbling and tripping over her steps as she lost herself in the concrete maze. Her heart beat loudly against her ears and every breath came out in a panicked gasp as she forced herself to keep going. Her lungs burned with every step and her eyes were blurry with tears. Amira was dead, but right now that was the last thing on her mind. All she knew was that she had to keep running.

Her mind was a scrambled mess and she twisted and turned across the alleys randomly. She should've gone back to the main street, the rational part of her mind said, but it was an unheard whisper compared to the screaming panic urging her to just keep moving, to get away from whatever the hell that thing was.

Dalia screamed behind her. Jade looked back and screamed once more as a trio of ethereally white beowolves pounced on her friend's back and mauled her without mercy. One grabbed her right arm between its jaw and pulled, ripping the limb off in a shower of blood. Dalia's scream of pain and horror was cut off when the second beowolf bit down on the back of her neck, spraying more blood to the sand and between its teeth.

It wasn't quick. She wasn't given even that mercy. No, Jade saw the way her eyes bulged in a panic and how she opened her mouth to scream, but all that came out were weak croaks and a torrent of blood that fell past her lips.

Jade kept running. She couldn't help her now, and staying would only lead to her death, as much as a part of her raged at being so cowardly. She couldn't die her. She couldn't-"

"AHHHH! GET AWAY, GET AWAY!" Reina screamed.

Again, Jade looked back and saw another horrific sight. Reina surrounded by what looked like dozens of white bees the size of her hand. They stung every inch of flesh on her body, every single one poking finger-sized holes in the skin. She tried to bat them away, but it was no use. They stung her arms, her legs, her chest...no part of her was safe. They didn't stop until every single part of her was covered in bleeding holes that left her looking grotesque.

Maybe it was her imagination, but she could've sworn that the monsters avoided aiming for anything vital to try and draw out her pain. It was only when she was on the ground that two of the hornets surged forward and stung both her eyes at once.

Jade had stopped screaming now. She was too weak for it. She kept running and running, barely able to see two feet in front of her in the darkness and panic. She rounded another corner and didn't even notice the wall till she ran right into it. The pain of the impact cut through the panicked haze and she gasped. Her vision was hazy from the collision and as she was floundering to try and get back up she heard soft footsteps behind her.

Jade scrambled away till her back hit the wall, "S-Stay away!" she shrieked.

What came out of the darkness wasn't another monster. It was that Schnee girl. Seeing her - a Huntress, one of the good guys - should've been a relief. Instead, all Jade felt was a sinking feeling of dread in her gut. The girl was far too leisurely for someone who would've heard screams or saw the mangled bodies of her friends. More than that was the way she looked at her. Jade shivered at the empty look in the younger woman's eyes and the way her lips curled like she was staring at a bug.

"P-Please, help me! My fri-"

"They're dead. I made sure of it." A chill ran down Jade's body at the Schnee's nonchalant interruption, "Honestly, I wanted to make it slow for that first one. What was her name again? Dalia?" She clicked her tongue, "I had a plan for her, but then she ended up talking all that trash about me and I...well, I lost my cool." She sighed as if it was just a small inconvenience for her, "Hear that trash spewing from that whore mouth of hers was infuriating."

"I-I...w-why-"

"Why? It's simple." She unsheathed her rapier and pointed it at Jade's face, the tip just an inch from her nose. Jade froze, scared to move and have the crazed Huntress stab the blade through her face, "Cause you and the rest of your whore friends couldn't keep your hands to yourself." The absolute venom in the Schnee's voice made her shudder, "You just had to put your filthy fingers on Jaune. He deserves better than some middle-aged skanks trying to get men half their age."

Jaune? This was about Jaune? Her friends died because of that? She wanted to feel outraged, to scream at the psychopath who'd killed them all for something so petty, but fear (and the sword) overpowered the anger. Instead, she looked up at the deranged Huntress with tears in her eyes, "P-Please, I didn't know, I didn't-"

"Yes, you did!" The Schnee his. She flicked the sword and the tip swerved to the left and cut her cheek. The sharp pain made Jade gasp in fear, "Every day you came and bothered us, trying to spread your legs like a bitch in heat. Do you have any idea how infuriating it was watching how desperate you were? It almost made me vomit."

"P-Please, I...I have a son! He needs me!" Jade cried desperately, tears mixing with the blood that ran down her cheek.

"You should've thought of that before you decided to throw your life away. You have no one to blame but yourself." The deranged Huntress sneered, "Now, I'm going to make sure you spend the rest of your short life regretting it."

Jade's screams echoed throughout the city.

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"I can't believe this."

Jaune breathed out heavily and looked away as Jade's dismembered corpse was wheeled out of the alleyway. Weiss made a heroic show of looking sad as well as she patted Jaune's arm. Killing those four hussies last night had been almost too easy, honestly. Vacuo was a place that prided itself on its harshness and even after the war, screams in the night were a common sound. Just about everyone turned their heads and ignored it. Better to not get involved.

"How did this happen?" Jaune asked. While she adored his large heart, it took everything she had not to tell him those tramps didn't deserve his tears. Weiss didn't feel guilty about what she'd done. All she did was keep Jaune safe from those thirsty wastrels and make sure that they couldn't get between the two of them. If there was any regret to be had, it was for the children who had been left behind, but Weiss quickly dismissed the thought. It was their fault for trying to take what was hers. If they wished to be with their children they should've chosen to actually be mothers.

"I doubt we'll ever know," Weiss lied as easily as she breathed, "Come on, I think you need a break."

"I can't." He shook his head, "Four women were murdered last night and...I'm supposed to just relax? No, I won't stop until we find out who did this."

Weiss' lips pressed into a thin line. Jaune's selflessness was both admirable and infuriating at times, "I think I have an idea of who it might be." Jaune's eyes widened, "It must be Tyrian. This fits his M.O., and it would explain how...savagely-" Elegantly "-the corpses were damaged last night."

"That makes sense." Jaune nodded, "The state their bodies were in...there's no way this was just a robbery gone wrong or even a random assault. No, this was planned."

"Quite intelligently at that." Weiss hummed, "Then again, we shouldn't be surprised. Callows is a madman, but he's not stupid. Remember what Ruby's uncle told us about how he killed Clover?" However, she personally blamed Specialist Ebi for that. Prioritizing Qrow over the serial killer? Not very smart, "I'm sure we can find Callows if we put our heads together, but that means having to put off any other missions we have." A pause, "I also suggest we stay in the same room together for the interval. For safety's sake."

"Right, good idea." He nodded again, "I'll see if we can rent an apartment around here..."

"Oh, I'll handle that." She smiled and gently squeezed his upper arm. She already had a little place prepared. She was hoping they'd move into it when they got together, but needs must, "Jaune, you really do need to relax. Take a day to calm down. If we're going to deal with Callows then you need to be at your very best. We can't be careless when dealing with him."

"I...you're right, Weiss." He sighed and brought a hand through his hair, "I just...this reminds me of another thing that happened...months ago." He almost said 'twenty years ago', she could tell, "There was this woman. Her name was Cassy. She visited me almost every day when I was working the crosswalk back in Mantle and keeping an eye on the kids there." Another slattern that needed to be dealt with? "She...died. Tyrian killed her when he tried to frame Penny for those murders." Ah...nevermind.

"We'll stop him this time. He won't hurt anyone again."

"Yeah...I know." He smiled.

It took them a couple of weeks to find Tyrian. In the meantime, she and Jaune lived together and it was...bliss. Sleeping in the same room (on separate beds, sadly), waking up to his sleeping face greeting her in the morning, spending time together poring over reports and details...it was hard not to wish that it could last longer than it did. But as much as she wished it, she didn't dawdle around. Getting rid of Jade and the rest of her group of hussies was all well and good, but she was still a Huntress. Protecting the innocent (who didn't get in the way of her and Jaune) was her duty.

Callows ended up being holed up in a cave far away from the city. Thankfully, Jaune was so filled with righteous anger that he didn't question that his location wasn't exactly conducive to killing random women in the city. Or that no more bodies had piled up in the interim.

The serial killer was in quite a state when they found him. He was hardly the paragon of sanity while Salem was still alive, but he was even worse now. His clothes were in tatters, his neat braid was replaced with a tattered mess of locks and a bushy beard, and he looked absolutely filthy. Not to mention that when they found him, he was worshipping at a statue of Salem made out junk and animal parts, loudly begging 'his goddess' to come back.

It almost made her pity him.

Fighting him was almost too easy. His combat ability had degenerated alongside his physical and mental state. Not to mention Jaune was particularly motivated to make him pay for 'his crimes' and Weiss was motivated to put the entire thing to rest so her well-justified retribution could finally be put to bed.

Minutes later and the crazed Scorpion Faunus was on his knees with his hands holding onto his slashed stomach, "That's for all the people you killed!" Jaune spat, "Why did you do it?! Why did you kill those women in the city?! They didn't do anything to you!"

"Women in the city? What are you-"

That was as far as he got before Weiss summoned her Arma Gigas and had it impale its gargantuan sword vertically to Tyrian's torso. The length of the blade nearly split him in half and he died before the ethereal knight slammed him to the floor with an audible crunch.

"We couldn't take him in alive. He already escaped twice," Weiss said before Jaune could say anything.

"Right, I guess that makes sense." He sighed and sheathed his sword, "Why did he look so confused when I told him about Jade and the others?"

"Who knows?" Weiss shrugged, trying to ignore the jolt of annoyance she felt at hearing that slut's name on Jaune's lips, "My guess? He probably doesn't even remember them. Psychopaths like Callows don't remember their victims. They're all just bodies to him."

"Yeah, you're right. Sick bastard." Jaune kicked his mangled body and turned away without another word. They'd leave his corpse to rot in the desert. It was what he deserved.

The ride back to town was calming. Her retribution was complete, her 'crimes' had been pinned on Callows, and now she and Jaune were free to be together. She'd broach the topic of perhaps staying in the apartment long-term, at least while they were staying in Vacuo. Honestly, it was either here or Mistral, and at least Mistral didn't require her to slather herself in sunblock every day. Her pale complexion was not built for the Desert heat.

They got off the convoy and Weiss was just about to suggest the apartment deal when another voice cut in, "Jaune! Did you get him?" Weiss almost growled at the sight of another middle-aged woman walking up to Jaune like it was no big deal.

"Yeah, we got him." Jaune smiled and nodded.

"Oh, thank the Brothers." The stranger wrapped her hands around Jaune in a tight embrace. It took everything Weiss had to not summon a flock of miniature Nevermores to pluck the woman's eyes out, "Ruben and the others will be so happy to hear that!"

"Yeah." Jaune reciprocated the hug - KILL - before stepping back and looking at her again, "Oh! Weiss, this is Amaya. She is...was neighbors with Jade. She's been taking care of the kids after their moms..." He trailed, "Well, she's been a big help."

"It's nothing, Jaune. You're the ones who stopped that monster." Weiss' right eye twitched as the woman put her fingers on his bicep, "I really should thank you for giving the kids peace of mind. Oh, I know. How about you come over for dinner?"

Jaune's response was drowned out by a burst of static. Again, Weiss found her face twitching unnaturally as the two continued to talk to one another. Well...it appeared she had to deal with even more thieves. Callows was dead, but she was sure that she could find some other way to deal with this strumpet. And anyone else who thought they could get between her and Jaune.

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Those MILFs never learn. Hope you guys enjoyed this one.

No Victory in Strength (Minecraft Jaune) - Chapter 3

Next Minecraft Jaune chapter. We get the first hint of Jaune becoming more well-known and more about how he does what he does. For those curious about portals? Yeah, they're explained.

One thing I find funny is people making theories about Jaune's family. Neither I or the commissioner really planned anything for them. The only canon family we have is Saphron and I have no interest on making a bunch of OC's for Jaune's sisters/Mom and Dad. I'll be focusing more on Jaune himself in later chapters, albeit from the POV of other characters who try to exploit him.

Cause that is the biggest selling point here (besides the comedy and harem). The faction warfare. One thing that's going to be interesting is that all these groups want Jaune's help but have basically nothing to offer him. Money? He has billions of lien in assets. Connections? His kingdom is fully self-sufficient and does not need the help of others. Jaune wants for nothing while they want his powers.

So it leaves these powerful people - Ozpin, Ironwood, Atlas, Cinder, White Fang etc - scrambling because, for the first time since forever, they have empty hands and no cards to play. So they have to get creative. Seduction is the easiest, which is what Weiss and Blake go for. White Fang might go for kidnapping and trying to enslave Jaune, ditto Cinder. So on and so forth.

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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Ruby woke up feeling like a million lien. The leader of Team RWBY sat up and stretched her arms above her head. She felt absolutely amazing. Like she'd slept in a field of rose petals after a full chocolate bath. Yes, Yang, that would feel awesome, shut up!

She yawned cutely and looked at the rest of her team. Her friends, fellow Huntresses...and the ones trying to steal her soulmate!

Her mouth dipped down as she remembered what happened yesterday. Everything was so perfect. They'd gotten their first mission, they went to a really cool place, and she met Jaune. Her soulmate. The guy she was gonna spend the rest of her life with. She wouldn't say it was love at first sight or anything like Mom had with Dad, but it was close enough. He liked the same things she did, he was super nice, thought her being a Huntress was cool, and he loved building stuff! Just like her! Okay, maybe she preferred weapons to buildings, but so what? They still shared crafting, which was more than she could say for the rest of her traitorous teammates.

Ruby pouted and kept glaring at the rest of Team RWBY as they woke up. If she wasn't so angry she might've thought it was weird that they all woke up at the same time, "Your face is gonna lock up if you keep glaring like that, Rubes." Yang yawned and moved her arms, making her stupid big boobs bounce. Ruby wasn't jealous. She was gonna grow up to be even sexier than Yang was anyway, so why would she be? Besides, she knew Jaune liked fun-sized people more. Just a feeling she got.

Everyone got up and looked at one another, but none of them said a word. It was hard to forget what happened last night. They were all after Jaune, though the rest of them were being selfish. Blake and Weiss just wanted to use him for their plans and Yang...well, she was a butt cause she was trying to take her soulmate! Yang didn't have the connection that she and Jaune had. She spent her time partying in nightclubs and doing 'cool kid' junk while Ruby was the one who liked all the 'dorky' stuff. Yang couldn't just decide she liked that stuff now just cause Jaune did those things too!

A part of her wanted to rush out and tell Jaune about Blake and Weiss' plans, but she held back. Logically, she knew she had no proof. She knew she was telling the truth, and maybe Yang would back her up, but they could also accuse her of just making stuff up to make them look bad. It would've just been 'He said, She said' if she told him now. Even ignoring that, as mad as Ruby was at the two for being so selfish, they were still her friends. She didn't want Jaune to be mad at them.

Especially since she wanted to invite them to the wedding.

The tense atmosphere was broken up by a sudden call from outside, "Hey, if you guys are awake, I made breakfast!" Jaune called.

The four of them got dressed and went down. The smell of eggs and bacon in the air made Ruby salivate, and it only got worse when they got to the dining room and saw Jaune in an apron with his hair tied back. Big muscley guy with an apron...oh yeah, "Oh, morning!" Jaune smiled at them, "I hope you guys had a good sleep." He set down a plate filled with a towering stack of pancakes. She could already hear Nora screaming in jealousy.

"It was a very satisfying rest. Thank you, Jaune." Ruby's eyes narrowed at the demure way Weiss replied.

"Yeah, awesome. Shame I had to sleep alone." Ruby gnashed her teeth together at Yang's wink.

She expected Blake to say something stupidly flirty too. Instead, she went past Jaune and picked up a couple of the plates from the kitchen counter, "We're the guests here. It's only right that we help."

Ruby almost screamed in frustration. Her team was stealing her soulmate! "I-I can help too!" Activating her Semblance, she zipped between the kitchen and dining room, carrying the mountain of plates between in no time at all.

"Thanks, Ruby! You too, Blake." Ruby pursed her lips. She carried two plates. Two!

Biting back her anger, the five of them sat down and dug into the mountains of food. They were all used to varied meals back at Beacon, but this was pretty extreme even by their standards. The table was huge enough to accommodate the stack of plates, each of them filled with amazing-looking food. Crispy bacon, sunny side-up eggs, pancakes, meat on a stick, a plate of cookies, a whole cake...anything they might've wanted back at Beacon. It tasted so good too. Beacon hired the best chefs they could, but this made that food feel stale.

Ruby looked up from the eggs to Jaune. What could she do or say to get his attention, she wondered. She had some alone time with him later cause they were upgrading Crescent Rose, but she didn't wanna risk them doing something funny before then.

Her plan of somehow extending her leg ten feet to play footsie was ruined when a pair of cyan-colored eyes appeared next to her on the table. Ruby shrieked and jumped up while the rest of the team put their hands up, "My, my. This always happens." The pair of eyes blinked and a body of what looked like a purple and cyan cat made out of Hard-Light Dust suddenly appeared. She, Weiss, and Blake looked on at the...thing curiously while Yang suddenly had a haunted look in her eyes.

"Well, that's what happens when you suddenly appear in front of people, Curious." Jaune huffed lightly.

"I introduced myself to the blonde one yesterday!" the cat thing protested. Yang suddenly found her nails super interesting, "But fine. I am the Curious Cat, though most people call me Curious. Are any of you interested in chatting?"

"About what?" Ruby asked before she could stop herself.

"Anything!" It stood up on its hind legs and touched her arm, "So many new arrivals, all with such fascinating lives! A farmer, a warrior, a drunkard, a man of peace, a man of war...so many interesting histories! Word on the grapevine is that you four are Huntresses-in-training. I've never talked to one of those before!"

"Wait, Curious Cat?" Blake muttered, "Hold on, are you the Curious Cat from the stories? 'The Girl Who Fell Through the World'?"

"I suppose you could say that." The Cat sighed and licked its right paw, "Though Alyx was rather flattering to herself in that little tale. Though, I suppose saying she was a vicious little monster wouldn't have gone down very well." Ruby blinked at the sudden nastiness in its tone, "But, let's not talk about such unpleasant things. Tell me, how is it being a Huntress? I've heard such fascinating things! Is it true that Huntresses spend their time fighting while not caring at all about civilians?"

"What? Where did you hear such a baseless idea?" Weiss scoffed.

"One of the new residents was from the city of Vale. She mentioned a story about when she'd gone to a club of night when suddenly some Huntress attacked the owners and destroyed the place. The poor woman sounded so scared. It must've been horrifying."

...

Ruby, Blake, and Weiss looked at Yang. Her big sis whistled innocently and refused to look them in the eyes, "Come on, that wouldn't have been a Huntress," Jaune laughed, rubbing the Cat's chin, "I bet it was, like, another criminal or something. Cause what kind of Huntress just attacks a place full of civilians like that?"

"Ahaha, yeah! Be totally crazy if a Huntress did something like that." Yang grinned, "So...uh, who's the Cat? Like is he literally the one from the fairytale?"

"Pretty much. At least that's how they tell it." Jaune shrugged.

"Are you telling us that fairytales are real?" Blake asked, "What about the story of the four Maidens or the Silver-Eyed Warriors? Are those real too?" Ruby blinked her silver eyes at Blake's sudden excitement. It was the most expressive she'd seen her in the months they knew each other. And if Blake wasn't a thieving cat who was trying to steal her soulmate, Ruby would've found it cute. But she was, so Ruby refused to find it cute.

"I don't know about that, but I guess? The Ever After is definitely real. I've been there."

"I'm sorry, are you telling us you've been to a fairytale land?" Weiss asked, "Despite all the borderline miraculous things I've seen so far, I find that rather unbelievable, Jaune."

"I could show you after we finish eating." Jaune shrugged.

The four of them ate much quicker after that, Blake slightly less so cause she was fangirling over the Hard-Light cat. Ruby wiped her mouth and rushed the dishes back to the kitchen after everyone was done. As much as she wanted to monopolize Jaune's time, she was curious about how Jaune was gonna prove fairy tales were real. She was a big fan of those stories too, though she preferred the ones where evil was vanquished and the good guys won. The depressing fairytales were just dark and boring.

Jaune led them to a door with the words 'PORTAL ROOM' signed over the top. They stepped inside and Ruby gasped at the big room on the other end. It was as big as Beacon's auditorium with big stone doorways lined up in a semi-circle around the center. She counted seven of them, each showing a different willowy image. The one to the left had a big tree and a multicolored field while another showed a village full of people carrying weapons twice their size and wearing awesome-looking armor. She almost reached a hand out to touch it before Jaune suddenly pulled her hand away.

"Be careful, Ruby." She barely noticed that he was holding her hand before he let go, "You can't get into the portals unless I give you the right crystals, but it'll zap you something fierce if you try to touch it."

"Wh-What is this place?" Ruby asked.

"Portals to other dimensions," Jaune said way too casually. Weiss' mouth opened in a slack-jawed expression while Blake and Yang peered into the shimmering portals, "Some of the things I wanted to build came from materials that...well, just didn't exist in this universe. I was racking my head for what to do and it just suddenly came to me one morning. If it doesn't exist here, why don't I go to a place where it does exist? That's how I first got to the Ever After."

"A stroke of fate I still praise," the Cat said, brushing against Jaune's legs.

"But even the Ever After didn't have all the materials I needed, so I made a few more portals." He gestured to the other six gates, "One world's filled with giant monsters and the people who hunt them, so I use that when gathering up materials for weapons and armor. There's another world that's been frozen over that's just full of minerals and other gems. And this place is The Nether." He pointed to a gate that looked like it led straight to hell, "The Nether's not a nice place. I don't like going there or to The End."

"Um...so, you access different dimensions?" Weiss asked the obvious.

"Yep," Jaune said, popping the P. Just like she did, "Don't get me wrong, Remnant has a lot of awesome materials - I'm stockpiling Gravity Dust to make a floating castle - but if you want something exotic, staying in one dimension is just so limiting." He shook his head and pointed to the gate on the rightmost side, "And it's a good place to take a break from it all sometimes. That one leads to a beach world. Just the sun, waves, and all the fish you can eat." Blake shivered and wiped some drool from the side of her mouth, "That's where my family's at right now, actually. I suggested they take a vacation to celebrate my nephew's first birthday."

"I explore those worlds at times, though I find myself always returning to Remnant," the Cat added.

Blake coughed, "Speaking of beach islands. Jaune, what do you think about-"

"I think we should give Jaune some space. We wouldn't want to impose too much on his hospitality," Weiss cut in forcefully. Blake gave her a venomous glare and looked like she was about to spit out something nasty when Weiss continued, "We haven't really explored the town as a team, so I think we should do just that and give you some time to return to your crafting."

"Huh? Alright, have fun!"

Jaune left with the Cat following after him. Blake waited till they were out of sight before she rounded on Weiss with a glare, "You can't stop me, Weiss."

"I'm doing what I can for the good of Remnant as a whole. Jaune can help you once my father doesn't have a stranglehold on a resource that everyone, Human and Faunus, need to survive."

"You're both being jerks!" Ruby stamped her foot. She still cared about them, but they were being real butts right now, "Jaune isn't someone for you both to...use like that! He's a person! He's free to choose what he wants and who he should be with." And he should choose her. She wouldn't force him - she wasn't a bad person - but she was better for him than Weiss and Blake were. She wouldn't use him to try and change Remnant or anything.

"Gods, why are you all being idiots about this?" Yang sighed, "Look...let's just go down to the city like Weiss-scream said. Then maybe you three will stop being so dang crazy about this."

"Tch, don't as if you're so above it all, Xiao-Long." Weiss scoffed, "What was it you said earlier? 'Shame I had to sleep alone'?" Weiss asked sarcastically, changing her voice to sound eerily close to her big sister's, "Blake and I may have our disagreements, but we're not doing this for something as petty as getting a boyfriend. Look at what Jaune has done and tell me Remnant wouldn't benefit from his gifts. With my guidance, things can change for the better."

"I agreed with you up until the last part." Blake rolled her eyes.

The four of them looked at one another for a moment before they eventually filed out. At least if they were all in town then it meant that the other three weren't sinking their greedy claws into Jaune. Ruby stared ahead with a firm expression. She always said that she didn't wanna stand out. Just be Ruby 'Normal Knees' Rose. Well, nuts to that! She wasn't gonna lose here! She was a hecking awesome kick-butt Huntress that got to Beacon two years early for a reason - cause she was that good!

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Glynda set her glasses down and pinched the bridge of her nose. Being the Deputy Headmistress of Beacon sounded like a prestigious position, one that demanded respect and admiration. Perhaps that was true, though it was also a position that demanded being Ozpin's gopher.

She respected the headmaster, she truly did, but a part of her still wondered how exactly he'd attained his position. Immortal puppetmaster or not, the man flagrantly flouted the rules whenever it suited him, played unabashed favorites (such as with Team RWBY), and refused to do his paperwork even as he was dragged kicking and screaming into it. Which left her having to do the paperwork, if only because she didn't want Beacon to collapse. She'd nearly had a heart attack when they were audited last month and their paperwork made it appear they were pocketing half of the budget for themselves.

They weren't, of course. Ozpin was simply very bad at managing his paperwork.

She sighed and looked to the office she was temporarily sharing with the headmaster. Her own office was currently under repair because a certain someone who shall not be named - though their name rhymed with Rang Xian Lung - had picked a fight with one Cardin Winchester after he made an off-color remark about her little sister. The fight had spilled over to her office and it somehow ended with the entire room being coated with orange paint. Mr. Winchester received detention. Ms. Xian Lung did not because Ozpin played favorites.

Her eyes flicked over to the headmaster. The old man sat on his chair and looked seriously over at the screen of his computer. To anyone else, he might've looked hard at work, but Glynda saw the reflection of what was undoubtedly a card game on his glasses. Her right eye twitched and she took a deep breath. Flinging the computer straight at his head would only strain the budget even more and possibly kill him. That would've been murder. But even worse than that, they'd have to wait for him to through puberty again. And she was not going to babysit the headmaster.

Ignoring her boss, she looked back at her own computer and read through the reports. The first years were going on their first official missions, which was always a transitional period. It was the first time for many of them to do a task without having the professors as a safety net. Even the Initiation was closely monitored. Granted, none of the first years were allowed to take Grimm extermination missions. The average first-year mission involved shadowing a more experienced Huntsman or camping out in the field.

And reports. Better to teach them early that the contract board demands meticulous record keeping.

She scanned through the reports on autopilot. So far so good. There were a few incidents of some incidents like one student who used poison ivy as makeshift toilet paper, but nothing life-threatening. She slowed as she came to Team RWBY's report. Team RWBY had proved...troublesome. A very effective team given their age - their performance at Initiation spoke for itself - but also troublesome. The fact that they'd destroyed a chunk of the docks a few weeks into the school year only proved that.

That wasn't even getting into the members themselves. Ruby Rose was a fifteen-year-old girl who Ozpin let in early because of her Silver Eyes and reckless vigilante actions. Weiss Schnee was heiress to the SDC, which wouldn't have been a problem in and of itself if the headmaster somehow didn't think it would be a problem to put her on the same team as Blake Belladonna, former White Fang terrorist who didn't even bother to change her name. And of course, there was Yang Xiao Long, who'd destroyed a nightclub that belonged to a 'reputable businessman' by the name of Hei Xiong. While she had little sympathy for criminals, instigating fights where civilians were involved would've gotten almost anyone suspended, if not expelled outright.

But of course, she was Qrow's niece, so the matter was swept under the rug.

Glynda sighed once again. She wasn't naive. Huntsmen were as political as anyone else despite their seemingly apolitical nature and she was well aware of the need to grease certain palms or look the other way at times, but she had her doubts that giving Team RWBY such blatant favoritism wouldn't blow up in their faces. Teenagers who thought themselves invincible and immune to consequences got big heads and thought they knew better than everyone else.

She scanned the document and stopped. Ms. Schnee's report was...enlightening. And yes, she knew it was Ms. Schnee writing the reports. While the grade demanded that leaders be the ones to write those, she was willing to look the other way if it meant making her life just a bit easier. And perhaps she sympathized with Ms. Schnee for doing the job her leader was supposed to do. She'd make sure to give her a few extra credit bumps.

Glynda read through the report twice to make sure she was getting it right. Were it anyone else, talk about 'diamond armor that could take a bullet from Crescent Rose', 'plants that could grow in minutes', and other such fantastical things would've already been disregarded as someone clearly incapable of distinguishing from fantasy from reality. But this was Ms. Schnee. The idea of her lying about this was unlikely. No, clearly the fantastical things she listed must've been real.

"Ozpin, you should read this report from Team RWBY." She forwarded the report to him.

"Thank you. And it's Headmaster, Glynda."

"I'll call you that when you do your own paperwork, Ozpin," she said, giving him a sickly sweet smile.

He looked like he was going to argue before remembering how much he hated actually doing his job. Instead, he turned back to his computer and read through the report, "This sounds rather...unbelievable." Ozpin hummed, "I'd heard rumors of a village that was rapidly expanding out in the countryside, but this sounds far more...intriguing than I anticipated." Oh no. Glynda could already see the gears turning in his head, "This Jaune Arc could prove useful."

"Ozpin." Glynda breathed out roughly, "How many teenagers are you planning to induct? You're already giving Team RWBY blatant preferential treatment."

"For good reason. Ms. Rose is a prodigy, Ms. Xiao Long is the best fighter in her year outside of Ms. Nikos, Ms. Schnee is the future heiress to the SDC, and Ms. Belladonna is the daughter of the leaders of Menagerie. A little favor here and there is worth their assistance against her." He said the word like a curse, "If Mr. Arc is even half as good as Ms. Schnee's report makes him out to be, then gaining his aid would be invaluable."

"You're very fortunate that I'm aware of the context else I'd have to report you for collecting teenagers like trophies," Glynda said flatly.

"Noted. Please send Team PNCR to reinforce Team RWBY." Team PNCR (Pincer). Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren, and the Atlesian transfer student, Ciel Soleil. Besides Team RWBY, they were the ones who had proven the most adept in their year. Ozpin hadn't treated them with favoritism...yet. It was only a matter of time, "Ms. Soleil is very meticulous with recording details. I'm sure she can gather information better than anyone else can."

"Why are you like this?"

"There is a method to my madness." So he knew he was mad? She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, "And...it's not just with regards to Salem." Ozpin coughed, "We've been having some...budgetary issues of late that Mr. Arc could help with."

"Hm, and I wonder why that would be?" Glynda gave him a withering look, "Could it be because we had to pay a settlement to avoid Hei Xiong from suing Ms. Xiao Long? Because we had to pay for reparations for the docks incident since it was our students who were responsible? Or maybe because we had to repair the cafeteria after Team RWBY and Team PNCR had some 'innocent fun'?" Her Semblance was impressive, and she certainly made a show of repairing everything easily, but that was far from the truth. Plates were still broken, food was still wasted, and the infrastructure needed proper repairs after the damage the two teams had done. All of which cost money.

"I'm sure I don't know." Ozpin didn't look her in the eyes, "Beacon could use some repairs, and if Mr. Arc is as adept as Ms. Schnee claims him to be, well...I wouldn't say no if he offered. Some of the technology in this Domremy settlement sounds fascinating. Easily enough to beat even the "

"...Please limit your schemes, Ozpin."

"You need more faith in me, Glynda." He sipped his hot chocolate while Glynda slammed her head on her desk. Something told her she was going to be cleaning up whatever mess came from this.

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Well...this was awkward.

Blake was used to silence. Preferred it, really. Her idea of a good time was curling up in the library or the fireplace with a good book and a cup of tea. It was one of the few things she and Weiss had in common.

Still, just because Blake preferred the quiet didn't mean that she was a fan of awkward silences, which was exactly what was going on here now. Team RWBY was noisy, but it was a...comfortable kind of noise. Usually Ruby would've been chattering on about this or that while Weiss made snippy but obviously affectionate remarks. Yang would jump in with whatever topic came to mind and would try to get her to talk too, which she sometimes did if she was in a good mood. It was a dynamic she'd gotten used to over the months she spent with them.

Now there was nothing. No noise, no chatting, just a heavy silence with nothing but the sounds of their footsteps as they walked down from the castle. Leaves crunched underfoot and a calm breeze blew through the town, causing Blake's long hair to dance. It was a picturesque scene that was ruined by the miasma of misery hanging over their team. She knew it was inevitable, but that didn't mean she felt good about it, even if she knew she couldn't stop. The fate of the Faunus rested on her shoulders.

She didn't hate Weiss. A part of her understood exactly why the heiress was so determined to get Jaune's help, and in many ways, she respected her goals. But this went beyond cheaper Dust and better workplace conditions. This was about the Faunus as a whole. Equality was centuries in the making and they'd waited long enough. A kingdom of their own would go a long way to ensuring that they could stand as equals against their oppressors. She knew she could sell it to her parents and the less radical of the White Fang.

They made it down to the city proper and the silence was overridden by the sounds of the citizens going about their daily lives. She debated splitting off from the others or staying to try and find some way to help the awkward situation (that was in no way her fault) when she heard it. Voices that had an odder undercurrent to them. Her cat ears twitched from under her bow and her brows furrowed. Being a Faunus meant having better hearing than the rest of her team alongside her night vision, and she picked up the subtle conversation. There was something different about the words that she couldn't explain, but she found herself drawn to the sound regardless.

"Hey, Blakey? What's up?" Yang asked. Blake ignored her and kept moving, slipping past crowds of people till she got to an alley. Her cat ears were practically thrumming and she untied her bow, exposing her Faunus trait for all to see. She didn't have to fear being judged here.

She walked down the alley till she reached a slightly ajar door. The voices got louder and louder and she was compelled to reach her hand out and pry it open till she felt a firm grip on her right shoulder, "Don't do it, Blake," Yang said, her voice hollow. From behind her, she saw Weiss and Ruby look at them both in confusion, "Once you open that door...there's no going back."

...

Blake shrugged her off and opened the door to peek inside.

Cats. Lots of cats. She counted at least a dozen of them sitting on a table fit for fine dining. Embroidered cloth draped over a dark mahogany table, fancy silverware, and even a burning chandelier overhead. The room was equally fancy and decorated with paintings and royal gold wallpaper. If it wasn't just a single room in the middle of an alley, she might've thought that she was peeking into one of those fancy restaurants she never would've been able to afford.

Her attention was drawn once again to the cats. She'd seen many cats over the years, though not enough to really distinguish one breed from another. Despite her lack of knowledge, she definitely knew that cats wearing monocles, top hats, and suits were definitely not normal. Some rich people - Atlesians, mostly - dressed up their pets, sure, but this was going above and beyond. They were dressed better than most of the people in the city!

"I've heard the dogs growling again," one striped cat said. Its - his - voice was unbelievably posh considering it was licking between its legs, "The mongrels are threatening us once more because they cannot understand their place." She barely noticed Ruby and Weiss peeking up and over her shoulder. Yang had chosen to stay well far away.

"Oh dear, don't let it bother you," the female voice came from a fat, orange cat, "Lesser beings often hate their betters. To be Better is to be scorned. Take their hatred as proof of our superiority." Blake's right eye twitched. Why did she suddenly feel like murdering a cat? She wasn't a fan of dogs either, but still... "Speaking of our Lessers, did you hear the rumors? One of those Faunus has shown up in town. And not just any Faunus." Its face scrunched together, "A Cat Faunus."

That got a load of hissing and angry meows, with one even coughing up a hairball, "It's bad enough that they imitate the other animals poorly, but must they involve us in their charade? The thought of us being mired with lesser beings..." The brown cat shuddered.

"One wonders where such genetic aberrations originated from?" A pure white cat licked his paw, "Did some of our kind deign to debase themselves by interbreeding with lesser beings? Or perhaps they're the creation of some humans that wished to get closer to true perfection?"

"I think they're Humans who simply needed an excuse to be victimized." A black cat added. Blake grit her teeth and resisted the urge to reach for Gambol Shroud, "The Faunus who come here never stop whining about how they were treated oh-so-poorly before they arrived here. Poppycock. No one treats us with such scorn. No, the Humans are well aware of who is the true superior species. Honestly, I've half a mind to file a complaint about them appropriating our species for their own selfish ends."

"You're both wrong." A brown cat adjusted his top hat, "Don't you all remember the story of the gods? They created the Humans and the Faunus both. And now they're gone." He shook his head, "I don't blame them for not coming back. How else would one feel seeing how their creations have strayed? Do you think the Brothers stay away from because They too live in fear at what They've created here on this planet?" The other cats looked at him, "Stop looking at me like that. It's a good question."

Blake was torn between leaving and giving these arrogant felines a piece of her mind when she felt a sudden pressure on her back. She barely heard Ruby squeak before she, Weiss, and Ruby stumbled inside. They quickly regained their balance - Huntress training, and not because she was part cat - only to look up and find themselves the center of attention of a dozen pairs of feline eyes. Blake pursed her lips while Ruby and Weiss scrambled beside her.

"Oh, it's one of those," the orange cat said snobbily, "Come to see your betters, false feline? You should really remove those fake ears. It's an insult to us true felines. Why, you didn't even remove those inferior human ears of yours! If you're going to take being a cat, at least put in an effort!"

"Fake?!" Blake snarled, "Listen here, you little shit-"

"Oh, and it speaks! How adorable!"

Blake snarled. She'd dealt with racist shitheads before, but she was not gonna be talked down to by something licking its own crotch!

She was just about to reach out and strangle the damn thing when Ruby and Weiss grabbed one arm each and dragged her outside, "Let me go! I'm gonna kill them! These things are gonna die!" Blake snarled and struggled, legs swinging and mouth practically frothing. The cats smugly preened and waved at her as she was slowly dragged out of the room. She thought she was better than this, that she'd learned to swallow her pride, but she was wrong. She was gonna skin those cats alive!

Ruby and Weiss didn't let go of her till they were far away from the alley and those damn cats. Blake panted angrily and scowled at her two teammates, "Why did you stop me?"

"I'm sure we'd get in trouble if one of our team gets caught murdering a score of cats." Weiss sighed, "Those felines were rather... aggravating, I'll admit. It felt like I was back home in Atlas."

"I wouldn't have gotten caught..."

"Those were talking cats!" Ruby threw her hands up, "How are there talking cats? Jaune said he made intelligence potions, but he didn't mention it made animals talk!"

"Let's not question it," Yang said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. The four of them looked at one another, the tense air from before all but forgotten, before Blake nodded. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea.

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They ended up on the wall. Ruby suggested that they check out the defenses of the place and the others agreed. Her bad mood from before, already fading because of the weird cats, practically disappeared as soon as she got a closer look at the defenses, "The people here are very well-equipped." Weiss hummed. Everyone was wearing iron armor and weapons. It looked pretty dated, especially for someone who used Aura instead of armor, but they knew better by now than to judge by appearances. Ruby wouldn't have been surprised if the armor could stop bullets as good as Aura could.

And speaking of bullets...

"Oh, wow! Awesome!" Ruby squeed, looking closer at the AA gun. It was big. REALLY big. The defenses back at Vale weren't anything to sneeze at, but they were...basic. The designs were from the Great War and hadn't changed much over the years.

This thing looked sleek. Curved gray and white metal with a long, smooth bore. The ones back at Vale were... utilitarian. Boxy metal contraptions filled with shells meant to blow Nevermores clear out of the sky. They packed a lot of power in them, sure, but they weren't elegant and they didn't push boundaries. She'd written more than one letter to the council suggesting improvements on the defenses. They never wrote her back...

Ruby salivated shamelessly at the big shells and it took everything she had not to sit down and look through the optics. There weren't any Grimm around, and the last thing she wanted was to cause a panic by firing something through that long, hard barrel. Still, she could at least imagine it. She closed her eyes and imagined a flock of Nevermores flying over the village. And then there was her, Super Huntress Ruby Rose with a cannon that would make Atlas jealous shooting them out of the sky.

And then Jaune would be so thankful about how she saved his kingdom. He'd tell her all about how awesome and brave she was and how he'd do anything to be with her. And then...and then!

"Rubes, you're...giggling pretty creepily there." Yang shook her shoulder, washing away the pleasant dream of Jaune giving her an engagement sniper rifle.

"I know you have a crush, Ruby, but please do try to control yourself. It'd be a shame if you became a slave to your hormones." Weiss sighed.

"I-I'm not!" Ruby stamped her foot on the ground and glared at her bestie, "And you shut up, Weiss! I saw you staring at Jaune's chest too!"

"I-I was not!"

"You were," Blake said.

"You shut it, Belladonna!"

Their lighthearted bickering was cut off when something else caught Ruby's eye. A collection of blurry figures in the distance outside the walls. "Hold on, is that..." She leaned over the edge of the wall and narrowed her eyes, trying to focus. Too far. She unfurled Crescent Rose and looked through the scope.

It was Jaune. He was whistling a tune and walking with a skip in his step, a diamond pickaxe slung over his shoulder. Surrounding him were a dozen golems wielding a myriad of melee weapons ranging from swords to axes to hammers. What really got her attention, though, was the ornate suit of armor. It was big, maybe 15 feet tall (though she might've been wrong given the distance), and colored black and blue. Unlike the golems, it looked stupidly fancy with intricate designs, sigils, and a flowing blue and gold cape. In its hands, it held a greatsword bigger than Jaune was, the obsidian blade lined with gold runes that seemed to glow in the sun.

It was the sexiest thing she'd ever seen. Besides Jaune, of course.

"What's wrong, Ruby?" Blake asked.

"It's Jaune. He's out there with a bunch of golems and a knight." She lowered the scope, "We should go out and help him. It's not safe out there."

It was obvious that they didn't buy that reasoning, but none of them disagreed. The four of them hopped down the wall and rushed to where Jaune was. She could've gone there faster with her Semblance, but she didn't bother. She could beat the rest of them in winning Jaune's heart if it came to a fight.

Jaune turned around when they showed up. The golems and the knight raised their weapons, "Woah, hold on, guys! They're friendly!" His bodyguards lowered their weapons and Jaune smiled, "Hey! What are you guys doing out here?"

"We saw you out here and got worried," Ruby said. No sense in lying, "Are you sure it's safe out here?"

"You mean the Grimm? I'll be fine. I've got my bodyguards." He grinned and tapped the knight's side. Now that she got a closer look, she saw the flowing white mane at the back of its helmet, "I go out here sometimes to gather materials or see if the land's good to expand to. Can never have enough space."

"Still, I think we should stay and-"

Ruby was cut off by a sudden growl to the left. Huntress instincts kicked in and she unsheathed Crescent Rose. And not a moment too soon. Out of the forest came a horde of Grimm. No, that was an understatement. The average Grimm group consisted of Beowolves with an Alpha if you were unlucky. If you were really unlucky then there could've been more exotic types like Beringels or Nevermores. Those usually made mincemeat out of militias.

The horde that stepped out wasn't anywhere close to that. There were four Beringels out near the front, their gorilla-like bodies shaking as they stomped the ground, Behind them was something that would make even experienced Huntsmen pause. Twenty Alpha Beowolves and fifteen Ursa Alphas, each of them snarling and pawing at the ground. To the left and right was were a pair of deathstalkers, their pincers raised menacingly. And at the head of the horde was a Grimm type they'd never seen before. A big, fat Cyclops-looking thing carrying a club made out of Grimm bone. It looked down at them hatefully through its blood-red eye and roared.

Ruby's heart pounded in her ears and she got down into a battle stance. She would've been lying if she said she wasn't nervous. She was pretty sure even her Dad and Uncle Qrow would've hesitated to fight a horde of this size, but she refused to back down. She was Ruby Rose, and she'd never turn her back on to the Grimm and the innocents they hurt! She was here, she was with her team, and Crescent Rose just got a new upgrade. She was ready! This was gonna be a battle for the ages!

...

Or at least it should've been.

Before any of them could move, the knight roared and charged ahead, a read Aura covering its entire body. It flipped through the air and smashed its greatsword into the ground, disintegrating two Alpha Beowolves in one go. The rest of the Grimm moved to attack it, snarling, biting, and clawing, but it didn't care at all. Ruby watched with both awe and horror as the knight reached out one of its gauntlets and crushed a Beringel's head between its armored fingers, turning the head into pulp before the Grimm disintegrated.

The sounds of whistling came from overhead and Ruby plugged her ears just before a barrage of artillery shells landed at the thick of the horde. The explosives tore the Grimm apart and created the ground, The Grimm didn't get a chance to recover before more shells came from overhead, slamming into the earth and mercilessly destroying them in a barrage of fire and heat.

By the end of the barrage, there was only the knight and the Cyclops left. The animated suit of armor looked almost pristine sans some dirt and ash while the cyclops was desperately trying to crawl away from the crater they were both in. Ruby almost felt sorry as she watched the knight slowly stride forward before it stomped the back of its bulbous head, slowly, painfully crushing the Grimm into the dirt while it screamed and flailed.

The armored boot stomped through the head and the Cyclops dissipated, leaving no trace of the horde that had been there just minutes before.

...

"Uh..." Yang said, breaking the silence.

"Sorry about that. Weird Grimm types show up around here for some reason. That's why I bring these guys along." The knight strode towards them and bowed to Jaune like he was a king. Weiss pursed her lips and looked more than a little jealous, "But yeah, I'm pretty safe around here with these guys around." He raised a hand, which the knight hi-fived.

"So many dangerous Grimm types converging together is...unnatural. I suggest we return to town and figure out why," Weiss said.

"I mean it's pretty common around here, but sure, why not? Let's go."

Jaune led the way back while Ruby took one last look at the crater where the horde used to be. Next time, she told herself as she held Crescent Rose. Next time she'd get her chance to shine and play with her upgraded baby.

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Hm, I'd love to see Adam and the others try to go after Jaune with the Knight there. I'm sure it'll totally be a fair fight. Anyway, next chapter we have the girls individually trying to flirt with Jaune plus the introduction of Team PNCR. For all you Pyrrha fans out there, the commissioner said she's part of the harem, so against my desire to make her life suffering, she's gonna win out here, at least partially.

Questions:

1. Which faction do you guys want to focus on first and why? Ozpin will be prioritized, of course, but what about after that? Ironwood? Cinder? White Fang? Another group?

2. Who do you guys want to win Jaune's heart first? This is a harem, but obviously they don't all confess at the same time. Readers seem to want Ruby, but maybe Weiss or Blake might be better for plot? Or Pyrrha just to get egg on Team RWBY's face?

3. Do you guys think Ruby is too thirsty? If so, I can tone her down for future chapters. 

Another NSFW Project

I'm thinking of putting out another NSFW story that won't just be Patreon exclusive, so it'll be available for all supporters. I'm kind of torn between a couple.

1. With Age Comes Experience. This one has an older (mid to late 30's) Jaune attending Beacon late because there's no technical age gap. After Initiation he gets put in the same team as 18 year olds Yang, Blake, and Weiss. Yang loves to tease the 'old man', Weiss tries to be polite but makes backhanded comments, while Blake openly reads porn. Cue eventual brat correction.

2. All For The Money. This one has Jaune being an escort who specializes in pleasing Huntresses. Less story-focused and more a different RWBY girl per chapter availing of Jaune's services with a focus on different fetishes. So Weiss likes being worshipped, Yang likes rough play etc.

Rolling for Remnant (Gacha RWBY) - Chapter 2

Next chapter of Gacha RWBY, this time focusing on the villains being affected by Gacha. After this, I'll be writing the next chapter for Minecraft Jaune.

For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543@gmail.com

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But it wasn't just the heroes of Remnant that had fallen into the Gacha's clutches. The allure had claimed both the virtuous and the villainous, the saints and the sinners. From the greatest heroes to the most depraved of monsters, no one escaped the all-encompassing pull.

Such as it was with one Roman Torchwick. The infamous thief trudged back to his safehouse with his head hung low. Working for Cinder wasn't fun. The fiery bitch didn't pay a single cent for all the jobs he did for her and she saddled him with those White Fang animals. Amateurs and zealots. Say what you would about him, but he was a professional. Just cause he was a showman didn't mean he let it stop him from doing what he had to. So what if he was on every camera? He still stole from that bank or store or museum!"

The reminder of what crime he could be committing made him depressed. It was a perfect, crime-full day! People were practically begging to be victimized! But nooo, apparently no one else thought so! Neo - his partner, the only person that mattered on this Brothers forsaken planet - wasn't answering his calls. Junior, who was normally so reliable, wasn't taking his calls either. Even the White Fang and Cinder were ghosting him! They were blackmailing him and now they didn't even have the time to answer his calls! Rude!

And why had everyone in this city gotten so damn lazy? One word: Gacha.

It took over the city by storm. One day everyone was excited about the Vytal or gossiping about which Huntsman would snag the win and the next they were all glued to their scrolls talking about 'banners' and 'husbandos and waifus'. Roman wasn't an old man - he was only 33, thank you very much - but he definitely felt like one listening to everyone talk about things that went in one ear and out the other. What the heck was 'freemocrystals' and why did people cry about 'getting C6 Benny'?

His shoulders sagged as he walked down the street. That would've normally been dangerous considering he was the most infamous criminal in all of Vale, but no one even cared. They all looked down at their scrolls and passed him by without a second glance. Even the cops didn't bother to look up from their scrolls. Roman had stopped and coughed at a bunch of them, just daring them to look up and actually do their damn jobs. All he got was some half-hearted 'we're busy, citizen' and a couple saying he should 'get that cough looked at'! Arggggh!

Even going to Junior's place directly hadn't helped. Junior, his entire gang, and even those two bouncers of his face were too busy 'rolling banners' or whatever the heck those crazy addicts called it. It was right then and there that Roman knew that he wasn't going to get anywhere today. Even if he could rob some place right now, everyone would still be too glued to their scrolls to notice. Fire bitch could've enacted her plan to destroy Vale right now and they couldn't be assed to look up.

Sighing, Roman picked up his scroll. Not to play the game (because he wasn't a moron), but to check his bank account. Things had been pretty tight lately but so far he and Neo managed to avoid spending any-

He nearly dropped his scroll at the numbers that greeted him. 37 lien. 37 lien out of the tens of millions he'd squirreled away over his decade of being Vale's premier thief. It might not have sounded like a lot, but a lot of his assets came in the form of priceless stuff that couldn't be sold on the black market. Still, what he did have was enough for him and Neo to live comfortably off the grid if it ever came down to it. 30 million lien could grease a lot of palms.

Now it was all gone.

And he knew exactly who to blame, "NEEEEOOOOOO!" He screamed, his voice echoing across all of Vale. He ran like a man possessed and didn't stop until he reached her apartment. Without even bothering to knock, Roman kicked the door down and stomped inside, mouth frothing in a rage, "Where are you?!" You have some explaining to do, young lady!"

He kicked down the door to her bedroom and found the culprit looking like all was right with the world. Contrary to her usual looks, his partner looked borderline unrecognizable. Gone was the effortless style and cockiness that marked her as Roman Torchwick's equal. Instead, she looked absolutely haggard. Hair messy, bags under her eyes, and wearing nothing but a stained, oversized shirt and a pair of boxers that definitely didn't belong to him; he preferred briefs, thank you.

The entire room was a mess too, laden with empty bags of chips and energy drinks. He sniffed the air and grimaced at the stench. By the Brothers, how long was it since she bathed?! "You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady!" Roman grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out. She struggled like a limp cat, hands desperately pressing her scroll against her chest. Roman resisted the urge to toss her into the tub for a much-needed soak and instead dropped her on the couch.

"Explain." He snarled, crossing his arms like the disappointed father he was far too young to be.

Neo tilted her head to the side like the little girl she definitely wasn't and gave him a look of pure confusion, "Uh-uh, I'm not falling for it! Don't forget who taught you that look, young lady!" Roman pointed his finger at her nose, "What the hell happened to all our savings?!"

Neo shrugged and looked away.

"I know when you're lying. I taught you everything you know!" Neo rolled her eyes. Roman's mouth twitched. This little brat. Fine, she wanted to play hardball? He'd play.

Without warning, he reached down and took the scroll from her hands. Neo gasped silently and reached out, but it was too late. Neo might've been the brawn to his brains, but there was one undeniable truth: he was tall and she was short. He raised his left hand, the one holding the scroll, and grabbed her head with the other. She struggled and (silently) screamed, desperately trying to take back her drug, but he refused. Even her Semblance didn't help. He knew exactly what kinds of tricks she pulled.

"You're not getting this back until you explain!" He grimaced and ignored how she scratched and bit at him. There was a reason he didn't indulge in anything addictive. In the end, you always lost, "I'm giving you the count of five before I toss your scroll out the window! One...two...three-"

Neo suddenly pulled back and, much to Roman's surprise and disgust, got down on her hands and knees. Neo never begged for anything in her life, and now here she was, doing just that for her game. Roman's heart broke at the sight of it, "...Explain." Roman sighed and handed her the scroll back.

His partner made a wide array of gestures and expressions as she told her 'gripping tale'. She'd played the game for a few days and realized a bitter truth: there was no 'husbando' just for her. She looked and she looked, but there was no one that scratched that itch. And so she designed one of her own. The perfect 'husbando' from top to bottom that appealed specifically to her. And then she put her super super special original character into the game.

"But why did you spend money?!" Roman threw his hands up, "You know how this works!" She made an X-shape with her hands and stuck out her tongue, "What do you mean 'you tried to do it the usual way'? Find an employee and threaten him. If that doesn't work, kill him, hide the body, then go for another-

Another long string of gestures and expressions. She did try to threaten an employee to find out who the mysterious boss of this Gacha machine was. They refused to break under torture and she disposed of them. Then she went after half a dozen more. It always ended the same way. Whatever Neo did to them. They were more loyal to their mysterious boss than they were scared of losing their life to whatever Neo did to them. Neo loved herself a spot of torture here and there, but she knew when she was beaten. She couldn't get her 'Husbando' into the game with threats, so she dipped into their bank account...

"Neo, that was all of our savings! You know we can't sell everything else we've stolen!"

She was completely shameless, of course. It was worth it. She had to get her personal spank material into the game. She needed this. So on and so forth. Roman groaned and sat next to his diminutive partner. What else was he supposed to do? Neo didn't know the meaning of shame and telling her that spending 30 million lien on pixels was a bad thing just wouldn't register. Might as well tell her that theft and murder were generally frowned upon.

"Ugh. Fine, you know what? Show me this virtual boyfriend of yours. I should at least see what you spent our life savings on."

Neo jumped up excitedly and shoved the screen in his face. Roman wrinkled his nose at the smell of days-old junk food and watched as she tapped through a bunch of her characters. A blonde dame with her fists up, someone who looked like Pyrrha Nikos, some blonde knight with a really punchable face...shit, how many did she have? She cycled through a few (dozen) more of them before eventually stopping at her original character that must not be stolen. She tapped the screen and smiled proudly at him.

...

...

...

"This is the exact same as that knight character!" Roman screamed.

Neo looked horrifically offended at the idea and scowled. 'You take that back,' her eyes seemed to say. Roman did not. Instead, he grabbed her scroll and cycled back to the blonde knight. James Crescent. What a stupid name, "Your 'original character' is literally just this one except yours has heterochromia and a white streak in his hair! That's it! You spent thirty million lien on a color swap!"

'Nuh-uh!' She didn't say that, of course, but she kicked his side and took her scroll back before she stuck her tongue out at him. She swiped back to her color swap and cooed at the screen. How? How could she not see that it was literally just the same guy with slightly different colors?! He'd call it a scam, but that would imply they had to put in the effort to trick her! Passing off a cardboard box as Schnee Manor wasn't a scam, it was bending reality!

Roman sagged on the couch as Neo continued to fawn over her Original Character. Gacha...such a terrifying, evil thing. Addiction made fools of them all, he thought as he lit a cigar. Never catch him falling for that trap.

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Sienna Khan had worked hard over the years to turn the White Fang from a ragtag group of ineffective activists into a name that struck fear in those who would oppress their kind. They called themselves freedom fighters. Others called them terrorists, though that came from a place of ignorance and entitlement. It was so easy to brand those who did not conform to your narrow worldview as criminals, deviants, and aberrations. Terrorists. They were simply people who were tired of being stepped down on.

It took years, but she'd cultivated a complex network of cells and informants, all ready and willing to give their lives for the cause. That and various legal and illegal ventures that funded their various activities. Connections to the black markets and funds entrusted only for usage only to those most loyal ensured that they never lacked for material support. While they couldn't match the Schnees or Atlas' cherished military, she ensured that no member of the Fang ever went into battle lacking, despite what their enemies claimed.

Sienna's right eye twitched as she sat up on her throne. Looking down at her scroll, she pinched herself with her free hand to make sure she wasn't dreaming. It hurt, so she wasn't dreaming and she really was looking at multiple near-empty bank accounts. It would've been foolish to put all their eggs in one basket, as it were, and as such she made certain that their numerous front businesses and ventures were deposited into dozens of bank accounts or stored physically in various safe locations.

And now it was all gone.

All of the White Fang's accounts had been drained down to the last zero. Meanwhile, no one in the cells she contacted was responding to her calls. Was it a simultaneous decapitation attack? Impossible. They were scattered all across Remnant. It would've taken a combined alliance of all four kingdoms to hit them at the exact same time, and there was no chance that any of her numerous spies and moles wouldn't have warned her of such an alliance.

So what was going on? What threat had taken her entire organization and brought it to its knees?

Elsewhere on Vale, deep in Adam's White Fang cell...

"No, I lost the 50/50!" Perry screamed. The bespectacled terrorist fell on his knees and punched the floor like he'd been told he had only seconds to live.

"So did I! What the fuck is with this?!" Deery shouted after.

"Don't give up! Keep rolling! Money isn't an issue!" Adam shouted. His entire cell was gathered in one room, dozens of them huddled over their scrolls as they rolled the banner over and over. It wasn't just any banner, though. It was for the newest character, one whose banner had been released just a day prior.

The Mysterious Beauty, Kunoichi Kitty. A ninja catgirl who used a combination of a katana and various ninja tools to incapacitate her opponents for quick burst damage. Not that he really cared about that, of course. Playing this inane game was beneath him. However, something in the character...stirred something within him that he couldn't explain. He was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Her amber eyes, that dark hair...her rear end. It was familiar in ways he couldn't explain.

And he wasn't the only one. His entire cell, and other cells as well, found themselves drawn to Kunoichi Kitty too. To them she was an undeniable presence, temptation made flesh...er, data. It wasn't enough that he had her. All of them had to have her. They would not rest until everyone in the White Fang had C6 Kunoichi Kitties! For that, they'd suspended all active operations and withdrawn as much funding as needed. As one of the White Fang's trusted leaders, he had access to all the bank accounts and put that position to good use.

"I...I did it! I got her!" Ilia cheered, hopping up in excitement. She showed off her scroll, the screen dominated by Kunoichi Kitty standing with her back to the player, exposing her bountiful rear clad in those tight leather pants. Because ninjas wore tight leather, obviously, "I can't believe it!"

"That's a good start, but we have to keep going!" He raised his own scroll with a C2 Kunoichi Kitty, "We won't stop till the entire White Fang has her at C6! Kunoichi Kitty belongs to the Faunus, not those filthy Humans, and we'll prove it here! For the White Fang!"

"FOR THE WHITE FANG!"

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Cinder Fall had grown up with nothing. Born in an orphanage in the ass-end of Mistral, she'd grown up wanting along with the other abandoned dregs of society. While others grew up with loving parents and wanted for nothing, Cinder had to scrounge for everything. Mistral was a land of Haves and Have-Nots, and the former had no sympathy for the latter. If you were poor and helpless then it must've been because you deserved it. And so Cinder must've been the same.

Things only got worse when she was 'adopted' by the Madame and her two daughters. Her time under their care, and Rhodes' uselessness, taught her one thing: the world didn't care about who you were. If you wanted something you had to take it, and Cinder wanted power. To never be weak again. Things such as morality and rules were to be disregarded. It was nothing more than an excuse for the powerful to stamp down those beneath them. They didn't care for morals and neither did she.

Whatever Cinder wanted, she got.

And right now she wanted all those characters!

Cinder smirked as she added another C6 to her collection. Dozens of characters the game had and she was going to take them all. While others were limited to such things as money and the need to save in order to survive to the next day, Cinder wasn't burdened with such weaknesses. Working for Salem came with many benefits, one of which was a hacked Black Card that came with nigh-unlimited funds. She could've used it to buy all the Dust she needed, but that would've drawn attention. Besides, the chaos Roman and the White Fang enacted helped in her plans.

She was far less shy about using the card for this, however.

Cinder returned to her list and smiled gleefully at the sight. All of the playable characters unlocked, all C4 at minimum, and all of them loaded with the best weapons and equipment money could buy. She wasn't going to stop until she had the best account in the entirety of Remnant. It was what she wanted, what she deserved. She would throw away millions if it meant being able to lord over all the cretins at this school, to see their envy at what she'd achieved with her own two hands.

She returned to the game and blinked. A new quest had popped up.

"Emerald!" Her servant was at her side immediately, always eager to please, "Another world quest. Finish this up soon. I want to keep rolling."

"Y-Yes, Cinder!" The girl bowed and held her scroll like it was a holy artifact as she began to play. What? She wasn't going to actually play the game like some plebian. She rolled the gacha for characters and equipment, but she left all that tedious grinding and equipping to Emerald. Because it wasn't enough that she had all the characters but also an account that completed every single thing. Every treasure chest, every quest, every difficult boss fight. All beaten by Cinder Fall's account.

She'd heard that rankings would be released soon. The most prolific accounts would've had their names immortalized, and she aimed to make sure that her name was on the top of the list. She closed her eyes and smirked at the thought. Everyone in Vale - no, everyone in Remant - looking on at her in envy and desire. The top Gacha player in the entire world. Oh yes, the looks on their faces would nourish her for years to come.

Across the room, Mercury lay down on his bed and looked at his two 'teammates'. Cinder was sitting down and cackling to herself while Emerald ran herself ragged to play a game she didn't even like. Simp. The assassin rolled his eyes and tapped his own scroll. He wasn't interested in that stupid gambling shit. Apart from drinking, gambling was the other vice his old man enjoyed. He wasn't very good at it either. Explained why the best assassin on Remnant lived in a dilapidated shack in the ass-end of Anima.

And he was a sore loser too. He had a lot of bruises every time Marcus came back from a losing streak.

So yeah, he wasn't interested in all that shit, but there was something else that got his attention. People were obsessed with leaks. Like, they'd sacrifice their own moms if it meant finding out who the next character would be, where the story would go next, and what kit would be the new meta.

So...he got creative. He wasn't a supergenius hacker like Watts, but the old man taught him some tricks. He found out who the next character would be and leaked it in specific places on the Dustnet. Places that everyone at Beacon went to. It was both stupid and scary how much people cared about that shit. Everyone was panicking about whether they should save their money for the new character and there were fucking fistfights over whether the new character made the other ones redundant.

Then he realized he could have his fun.

A few fake emails and spoofed addresses later and he'd turned himself into the most prolific leaker on the Dustnet. Sometimes his leaks were accurate, sometimes they were total bullshit. It was never fully one or the other. Too accurate and it'd get boring, but too much bullshit, and people would stop caring. Seeing the arguments people got up to was the highlight of his day.

Like yesterday when he released the (true) leak that James Crescent and the Corroded Knight was the same guy from different points in time. Holy shit, the school went ballistic. Schnee went on a rant about how it was impossible and that there was no way 'that dashing knight' would be the same character as 'that lout James'. For some reason, that led to Nikos getting pissy and starting a fight with her. It was fucking amazing how obsessed people could get about their favorite pixels.

Maybe he was an asshole for it, but it wasn't like he made them act like morons about their favorite 2D drawings. They were the ones who chose to get so obsessed with them. He was just having his fun where he could.

Like right now. His next (fake) leak, complete with edited screenshots. The idea of it just came to him last night. A leak that Pythia Nicolaides was going to die in the next patch against the new bad guy, Ember Rise. And then James Crescent and Obsidian Nightshade would get together because they realized life was too short. He got the feeling that this would set the school on fire. Maybe literally, maybe not. Either way, he was gonna have his fun.

He uploaded the leaks and waited. One hour passed, then two, and then came the shriek, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" He winced. Huh, sounded like Nikos. Geez, she had a pair of lungs on her. He was surprised their windows didn't shatter. He turned on his scroll again and laughed under his breath at the comments. Some of them calling bullshit, some of them saying they knew it was gonna happen, some celebrating 'their OTP', whatever the fuck that meant.

Mercury scrolled through the comments and then turned his scroll off, letting the sounds of panic and screaming outside lull him to sleep.

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Poor Roman. And Sienna. If only they weren't murderous thieves and terrorists, you could actually feel sorry for them. Anyway, I considered a Salem segment but I cut it out. Maybe if I make a chapter 3, but I'm tempted to end it here.

Question:

1. If there is a chapter 3, who do you guys wanna see be affected next? We already dealt with most of the main characters at this point.

True Control [Patreon Exclusive] - Chapter 2 (Arkos Pairing)

Warning: more Pyrrha domming Jaune and emotionally breaking him. You've been warned.

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Training with Jaune had brought a new sense of relief to Pyrrha. No longer did she have to bite her tongue and measure her words for fear of offending someone. Instead, she was the one who dictated the course. If she wanted something done, Jaune had to follow her command because he needed her. Without her help, he would've flunked out. His lack of combat skill was plain for all to see.

She was his one lifeline. His salvation from drowning in the mire he put himself in. He hadn't flunked out of Combat Class only because of her. Her lessons had allowed him to go from always losing to (barely) managing to scrape together a victory from a very cocky Sky Lark. They both knew that it was more luck than anything and that he couldn't hope to repeat the feat next time without improving himself.

"Hyaaahh!" Jaune ran towards her, Crocea Mors held with both hands. His stance and grip was much better than before, but he still had a long way to go. It made sense. He was a quicker study than one might've expected, but he was still essentially a civilian just a few months ago. Everyone on campus had trained years to earn their place here, even bullying braggarts like Cardin. Jaune's hope that he could catch up after just a few weeks of training was naive and something he had to be beaten out of.

Pyrrha easily deflected the blow and kicked Jaune in the gut, knocking him to the ground. Her partner gasped and heaved, sweat falling down his face in rivulets. They'd been training for the past couple of hours now and she'd given him one simple task: hit her just once. One hit and she would consider today's training a success.

So far he'd had no success. It wasn't a surprise - she'd fought the very best of Mistral's tournament circuit and came out on top. There was a reason she was called the Invincible Girl. She'd trained her body into the perfect weapon and made sure never to rely solely on her weapons or her Semblance. Her versatility was one of the biggest reasons she'd flourished despite her young age.

"I…I can't…" Jaune rasped.

"You have to try," she said firmly, "The life of a Huntsman won't coddle you, Jaune. Neither the Grimm nor the criminals will give you any mercy if you're weak. They'll take advantage of any weakness. Do you want to be Huntsman?"

"Y-Yeah…"

"I can't hear you. Do you want to be a Huntsman?"

"Yeah!" Jaune looked up at her. There was a fire in his eyes. A weak one, but a fire nonetheless, "I want to be a Huntsman more than anything."

"Then prove it." Pyrrha stepped back, giving him a chance to stand, "Prove that you want to be here and that you'll do anything to stay."

The spars continued for another hour. Jaune still failed to land a single hit on her, and that was while she kept Milo and Akuo sheathed. Pyrrha was used to dominating her opponents in the ring, and what had once brought her a sense of pride had long turned to apathy. She was never challenged, and victory simply became an expectation rather than something to be truly fought for and earned.

And yet the ease with which she dominated Jaune sent her heart fluttering. Seeing her partner - the man she adored - utterly helpless against her brought a thrill that couldn't be replicated. She could've won the Vytal blindfolded with her hands tied behind her back and it wouldn't have felt nearly as intoxicating as watching Jaune, red-faced and sweaty, on his hands and knees before her. Like a supplicant bowing in worship to his goddess.

"Is that all you have, Jaune?" Pyrrha murmured. There was no judgment in her tone. He lost, but he gave it his all till the last. That was worthy of respect.

"I…I can't…" Jaune gasped, "I…"

"Shh. It's okay. You didn't give up, that's what's important." Pyrrha knelt down and patted his head. She was an exacting taskmaster, but she also knew when to be kind, "But…you lost, Jaune. You know the rules."

"Yeah…I know." He nodded, still panting.

Pyrrha stood up and made her way to the nearby bench to ready herself. Jaune stood up shakily and followed her, his steps unbalanced. Without a word exchanged between them, Pyrrha raised her skirt and lowered her panties, exposing her quim.

Jaune didn't hesitate. His hands gently grasped her powerful thighs before his head dipped down, mouth pressing against her vaginal lips. Pyrrha cooed and closed her eyes as his tongue slipped out to lick at her folds. The stench of sweat and his fatigue did nothing to deter him. In fact, it seemed to only spur him on even more. With every lick and show of subservience, he only seemed to grow more determined.

She'd told him once that if he ever succeeded in any of her tasks then the roles would be reversed. She would be his plaything and do whatever he desired. The thought of it seemed to spur him forward, which sent a tingle of excitement down her spine. He wanted her. He could protest all he wanted, but she could see it in his eyes.

"Good boy…" Pyrrha gasped. She rubbed his messy hair with her right hand and looked down at him lovingly. The praise only seemed to encourage him and he quickened his pace, his tongue slipping past her folds to lap at her inner walls. He'd gotten so much better than his first clumsy licks all those weeks ago.

His tongue hit just the right spots. Pyrrha bit her lower lip and wrapped her powerful legs around his head. Her thighs pressed harshly against his cheeks and she gasped. Jaune made a muffled noise against her skin and breathed in deeply. As much as he denied it, it was clear that he enjoyed a bit of pain and being dominated. And Pyrrha was all too happy to be the one to give it to him.

It didn't take her long to reach the precipice. Pyrrha's head shot back and she moaned shamelessly as she came. There was no restraint or embarrassment. Her fluids shot out and coated Jaune's face, marking him with her release. The sight of him coughing, his face coated in her fluids, brought a smile to her face. To think a part of her wanted to let him be a stubborn ass and go off on his own. She made the right choice making him heel.

"Good boy," she cooed again, "You're getting so much better!"

"At fighting…or this?"

"Both!" Pyrrha giggled. She stood up and fixed her skirt and panties, looking like a proper student once more, "For someone who's been training for only a few weeks, you're definitely doing well. With a few more months of training, I'm sure you can show your worth to Professor Goodwitch."

"A few months…" Jaune stood, wiping away the fluid coating his face with the back of his hand, "That feels too long."

"There's nothing we can do about that, Jaune. Life isn't like those video games and comics you love so much." Jaune winced. Pyrrha continued, "You chose to enter Beacon without any training or even Aura. If I hadn't helped you, you might not have even survived Initiation. There's no shortcut to becoming a Huntsman, Jaune. All of us have trained for years to earn our place here. You don't get to just walk in and stand as an equal without putting in the work.

"I…I know."

"Do you?" Pyrrha raised a brow. A part of her realized that she was being cruel, but she knew it was necessary. She had to stamp out that sense of entitlement and pride that convinced him that being a fraud was a good idea, "Jaune, the only reason you're still here is because I'm helping you. You understand that, right?" She looked him in the eye.

"Y-Yeah, I know…" He looked away.

"Look at me, Jaune." She gently grabbed his chin and forced him to face her again, "You need me. Without my training, without me talking to Goodwitch, you would've already been expelled. Who else would've helped you? Weiss? Blake? Yang? Ren and Nora? Or maybe Ruby? I'm sure she'd try, but she wouldn't know how. She hasn't taught anyone before and she has a different weapon than you. Everyone else would've exposed you for what you did. No, the only person who can help you is me."

"I-I know that!" Jaune's face flushed, though he made no move to get away from her.

"If you want to be a Huntsman, Jaune, you have to earn it." She let go of him, "And that means letting go of your pride. You might think people like Yang or Cardin are cocky, and they are, but they earned their place here. If you want to stand alongside your fellow Huntsmen, you have to throw away your pride until you properly deserve it."

"Yeah. I'm working on it!'

"Good." She smiled, "We should take a shower now. Wash the sweat off."

They'd barely gotten inside the stall with the warm water dripping over them before they began the next part. At Pyrrha's raised brow, Jaune turned around and pressed his palms against the wall. The champion smirked and wrapped her arms around his torso, her nipples pressing against his back. Jaune may not have won against her even once, but that didn't mean she had to be selfish. She could give him pleasure too.

Calloused fingers slowly traced down his torso, humming appreciatively at the beginnings of muscles. It was proof of his hard work, something she was more than a little proud of. It showed that he was willing to put in the effort, even if she had to push him into it. It made her wonder what Jaune would've been like if he trained like the rest of them and got into Beacon on his own merits.

"Pyrrha-"

"Don't call me that, Jaune." Her hands dipped down and she squeezed his cock somewhat roughly. He gasped, "You know what I like to hear."

"M-Mistress…" Jaune bit his lip. Was it shame or something else that caused his face to redden?

"Good~" Pyrrha purred. Cumming from her hands was the only way he'd earned any sort of release. She'd forbidden him from masturbating and made sure to give him a handy only a few times to let the frustration build. It made him all the more desperate to beat her, "You're backed up…" Pyrrha smirked, fondling his churning balls.

"W-Whose fault is that?" Jaune shot back weakly.

"Talking back to your mistress? Tsk, tsk…" She traced a single finger up the length of his rock-hard member. It twitched in response, the head drooling pre-cum that was quickly washed away by the running shower, "Well, if that's how you feel..." She sighed theatrically and made a show of pulling her hands back.

"No, wait! That's not what I meant!" Pyrrha smirked, unseen by Jaune. Maybe it was mean of her, but she liked tweaking his nose a bit, "I…I'm sorry. It's not your fault, mistress."

"That's better." Pyrrha languidly jerked his cock, making sure to drag it out. She closed her eyes and relished the power she held over him. How many weeks had she held her tongue while he made a fool of himself going after Weiss? She wondered now why she ever tried to encourage him. Weiss was clearly bad for him. She was so much better.

Jaune breathed through his mouth, biting his lip to keep from moaning. She could've ordered him not to muffle himself, but she didn't. She always felt a swell of pride making him lose his senses.

She'd barely started jerking him when the sounds of footsteps came. The showers at Beacon were communal, which had caused complaints from some of the student body - Weiss in particular. Most didn't much care. Preparatory schools like Signal and Bulwark prepared them for those kinds of circumstances. Huntsmen couldn't be picky with their lodgings once they graduated and it was best to nip it in the bud.

Pyrrha stopped and Jaune froze, eyes wide. The pause didn't last long before Yang's familiar voice called out, "Yo, who's over here?" she asked lightly.

Pyrrha's and Jaune's eyes met. She saw the panic clear on his face and her lips curled up in a smile, "Just me, Yang~" Pyrrha replied, suddenly jerking his cock again. Jaune had to bite his tongue to keep from making a sound, "Just relaxing after some exercise."

"I hear that." Yang groaned, "Me and Weiss just got done sparring too. Guess who won?" She could practically see Yang's smirk.

"Shut it, XIao-Long!" At the sound of Weiss' irritated reply, Jaune's entire body seized. Even now Jaune still felt odd around the heiress. He'd stopped flirting with her long ago. She didn't order him to stop, but he did it all the same. Pyrrha had been ecstatic - as was Weiss - but it was clear there were still regrets from his first crush being unfulfilled.

A bolt of annoyance shot through Pyrrha's chest. Pushing Jaune harder against the wall, she quickened the pace of her handjob. Jaune bit his lip so hard that she was sure it would've started bleeding if not for his Aura.

Yang and Weiss continued to exchange lighthearted barbs as they took showers to the left and right stalls, respectively. The walls were high enough that they weren't exposed, but if either of the two decided to jump and look over, they'd see exactly what she and Jaune were doing,

The thought of exposure caused a pleasant heat to pool at Pyrrha's core. She'd long since grown tired of fame. The fans, the stalkers, the entitlement…it made her stick to her stomach. And yet the risk of being exposed here, to be caught with her hands literally wrapped around her pet's cock, caused her heart to beat with excitement.

Jaune opened his mouth but made no sound. How could he? They'd hear him if he so much as tried to whisper. With a calm, serene smile, Pyrrha continued her ministrations, slowly but surely driving him to the edge.

"Anything new, P-Money?" Yang asked casually.

"How do you mean?" Pyrrha replied with the same nonchalance. Jaune squirmed in her grip.

"I mean between you and VB, duh!" Pyrrha almost laughed, "I've seen you two hanging out a whole lot more and he's stopped flirting with Weiss cream. You finally tell him how you feel?"

"In a manner of speaking." Her thumb played with the head of his cock. Jaune's face was tomato red as he struggled to stay silent.

"It's about time." Weiss scoffed. Her feelings for the heiress were mixed given their poor first impression, but she did acknowledge now that resenting her for Jaune's previous crush was a mistake. She didn't choose to be the target of his affections, and she'd made it very clear that she wasn't keen on his attempts to woo her, "I don't know what you said to him, but he's been far more tolerable as of late."

"He's doing better in class too. Can't believe he actually beat Lark," Yang added. Pyrrha hummed proudly, "Shoulda seen the look on Cardin's face. Guy was reaming Lark the whole way back to their dorm. VB's gotta watch out, though. That jackass is gonna kick his ass once they get paired up in class. No way he'll take a member of his team losing down."

"Honestly, I have no idea how he's lasted this long." Weiss scoffed. Jaune shut his eyes tight, shame mixing with the arousal at the heiress' cutting words, "Given his performance so far, I'm surprised he even made it through Initiation. I've seen better combat skills from militia recruits."

"Hey now, Weiss-cream. He's doing his best," Yang said, though the defense was half-hearted. She couldn't exactly disagree with Weiss, callous as her words were.

"'Doing your best' isn't good enough, Yang. We're training to be Huntsmen, the best of the best. There's a reason the standards are so rigid." Jaune's fists clenched. The cruel words mixed with her handjob made for a potent cocktail to his emotions, "I'll admit that Arc has improved since the beginning of the year, but that's not exactly high praise given how low he started. I assume his change is because of you, Pyrrha?"

"I'm helping him, but Jaune's training on his own too." Her free hand lowered to cup his balls, gently fondling him, "I'm proud of him, really. He's working hard and putting a hundred percent into improving himself."

"At least he's stopped trying to 'woo' me." Weiss sighed, "Whatever you told him, I commend you for it. Not only has he started improving his combat skills, but he stopped being such an annoying braggart. Honestly, why would he think that any woman would be attracted to that?" Jaune winced.

"Some people are into that. Isn't that right, Cereal Girl?" Yang laughed.

"Who can say." Pyrrha laughed back. She could feel Jaune's member twitching, all nine inches of rock-hard cockmeat shaking in her grip. He was so close, "I'm just doing my best to be a good partner. Jaune has potential, and I think he could be one of the greatest of us if he worked for it." Pyrrha's words, so sweet and sincere, were a sharp contrast to the previous criticism.

"Eh…if you say so," Yang said.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Weiss added.

"It's true. Jaune has his flaws, but he also has his virtues. That's why I'm happy that he's my partner." She kissed his right shoulder gently, His body shuddered at the contact as her jerking increased its pace, "And I'm sure that he'll more than prove worthy of my trust."

Her handjob reached a fever pitch. Jaune's eyes widened and his mouth parted, ready to moan and expose himself as he came. Taking mercy on her partner, Pyrrha leaned forward and captured his mouth with her own. It reminded her of the first kiss they shared all those weeks ago. The contact was enough to keep him from groaning and outing his presence.

The spurts of cum coated her palm and fingers, the warmth lasting for only a moment before it was quickly washed away by the running water. Jaune's legs shook and he leaned against her, Pyrrha easily carrying him despite his size. She wanted to hum and call him a good boy, but they needed to keep quiet.

Weiss and Yang continued to shower for a few more minutes before eventually leaving, allowing the two of them to be alone once more. Pyrrha hugged Jaune gently and smiled, hands rubbing circles on his back, "Did you enjoy it?" Pyrrha asked, " Almost getting caught, being jerked off just a few feet from your old crush…you like it, didn't you?"

"N-No, I didn't!" Jaune shook his head, cheeks red.

"You're lying~" Pyrrha sang. Jaune bit his lip but didn't say anything, "Well, I'll be happy to do this again if you want, but I have something else I think you'll like."

"Huh?" Jaune slowly regained his balance and stepped away from her.

"A hot spring!" Pyrrha grinned. Jaune blinked, "A sponsor gifted me two tickets as a bonus for a commercial I did last week. It's in Mistral, and there's a long weekend coming so we can both go. If you want, of course." Despite her words, Pyrrha knew he wouldn't refuse. She had him wrapped around her finger, and she aimed to keep it that way.

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Sorry if this chapter ended up being kind of a re-tread. It was supposed to be the lead-up to the Hot Springs segment but ended up becoming a bit too long. The next chapter of this will have some Hot Springs sex and amazon pressing.

Rolling for Remnant (Gacha RWBY)

Gacha parody with RWBY characters, as I mentioned in a previous fic. Note that despite the portrayal here, I don't really have anything against Gacha. Mostly because I don't play Gacha games and my main exposure are rage videos where people lose their minds when they lose the roll.

This'll be a two-part story. Chapter 1 shows how the heroes are handling the introduction of Gacha games while chapter 2 shows the villains. Turns out even the worst monsters on Remnant can't resist the allure.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this one. After this, I'm thinking of writing a 'What If' chapter for Minecraft Jaune where he chooses to go all-in on helping Menagerie and the consequences of that. And for supporters, the next chapter of True Control and Surviving Women.

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A new threat had taken over Beacon Academy, one that surpassed the Grimm or even Salem in its insidiousness. All the students, and even some of the professors, had found themselves helpless before it. It was a threat that could not be fought, that tempted even the strongest wills into giving themselves up before it. In all the years Ozpin had been alive, he had never before seen something so insidious, so subversive in its temptations. Ozpin took a sip of his hot chocolate and shuddered as the name passed through his mind.

Gacha games.

Even Salem's machinations paled in comparison to the reach of this new calamity. A week ago back when he'd first heard of it, he had shrugged and assumed that was just another fad that would pass. As an immortal, he had been witness to hundreds of trends that people assumed would last forever. Human sacrifice, religious inquisitions, disco...all ultimately came and went. They existed in some manner across Remnant even now, of course, but not to the peak of what they once were.

This was different, he could tell. There was something about it that made Ozpin understand that this new horizon would dominate Remnant in its entirety for eons to come.

Ozpin brought his hand across his face with a shuddering breath. It seemed harmless, one might think. People spending money on pixels. But Ozpin knew that it was just the start. Right now it was but a mere taste of the insanity. They wouldn't spend too much money, they would say. It's just a little bit of fun. Like a gambler taking their first bid. Except there were rules on gambling, strict rules that kept it from being accessed by teenagers.

He should've banned it when one of the students first started playing the damnable thing, but he'd refused. His age had blinded him to its true nature and he had foolishly assumed it was just another one of these video games the children of this age liked. Foolishness. Utter foolishness. How could he have been so blind?

His students - the future protectors of mankind - had (almost) all fallen under its thrall. He could count on one hand those who did not succumb to the temptation of these 'husbandos' and 'waifus'. Why butcher the language like that, he wondered. The headmaster of Beacon sighed and stared down morosely at his almost-empty cup. For thousands of years, he'd fought against impossible odds and yet he'd never felt so helpless as he did now.

He summoned Glynda on his scroll. She would know what to do. Banning the games outright wouldn't sit well with the students, but Glynda was nothing if not crafty. She could find some way to reduce the effects of the vile temptation that had overtaken his campus. Maybe by running the students so ragged during training that they wouldn't even have the energy to scream about 'losing the 50/50' and ranting about wanting 'freemocrystals'. Curse the youth and their insane slang!

Ozpin smiled as the door opened...only for it to fall at the sight of Glynda, deputy headmistress of Beacon Academy, walking with her nose buried in her scroll. Normally that wouldn't have been too odd a sight, but he heard the all-too-familiar sound emanating from the device.

"Come on, come on...no!" Glynda wailed, "How? Why am I not getting the Corroded Knight again?! I've spent hundreds already! This banner is rigged!"

"Ahem." Ozpin coughed pointedly. Glynda looked up from her scroll with obvious annoyance, "Good morning, Glynda."

"Headmaster. What do you want?" The blunt question made him blink in surprise. Glynda had always been respectful with a strict belief in hierarchy. Now she was looking at him like an unwanted distraction.

"I was actually hoping you would-"

"Hold that thought." She tapped her scroll and Ozpin's right eye twitched at the familiar whooshing sound that emanated from the screen. Seconds passed before Glynda's eyes suddenly widened, "Yes, finally! C6 Corroded Knight!" Glynda whooped and pumped her hands in the air, "Finally! Now my party can survive in the Abyss."

"Glynda-"

"Alright, now I just need to get the right composition," she continued, completely ignoring him, "Satin Crimson is good for off-tank and healing, but it's not enough when I get to floor 50. Obsidian Nightshade is good for DPS, but her low health means she's gonna get one-shotted by the barrier boss. Ugh, why did they have to nerf her?"

"Deputy Headmistress!" Ozpin screamed. It had been decades since he had to raise his voice.

"What? Can't you see I'm busy?" Glynda sighed, looking up at him with a slight scowl, "I need to get the right team or I'll never make it past abyss 50."

"I have no idea what any of that means." Ozpin pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "Just...I need you to-"

"Actually, there's something I wanted to say first." It took everything Ozpin had not to scream when she pulled out a folded slip of paper and slid it across his desk. I'm cashing in all the vacation days I've saved up. I'll see you in a couple of months, headmaster."

"What?!" He eyed the form then looked back up at Glynda's already retreating form, "Wait, you can't just-"

"I can. I read up on the rulebook and there's nothing saying you can't cash in years worth of vacation days at once. Please do not contact me for the foreseeable future."

"But-" He didn't get to say more than that before she left and closed the door behind her. Ozpin stared at the door, mouth ajar. He halfway expected her to double back and explain that it was her cruel idea for a joke, but she never returned. Ozpin slumped back in his chair, a man defeated. Curse you, Gacha! Curse you!

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Down in Team RWBY's dorm room, the four members were cooped up inside. It was a rare sight. Just a couple of weeks ago, the team had been flitting about all over Vale, picking fights with criminals and terrorists without fear. Now they were all lazing around on their beds or chairs with their faces practically glued to their scrolls. Not unusual for Ruby or Yang, but definitely so for Weiss and Blake.

Up on her bed, Ruby bit her lip as she looked over her party's stats. Allogene Clash had so many characters and finding the perfect build so they could complement one another was more complicated than Professor Oobleck's tests. She needed the perfect parties for the overworld exploration, boss fights, dungeon crawls, and resource gathering. There was no perfect party that could do everything at once...which only encouraged people to roll the banners to get as many characters as possible.

And weapons.

Silver eyes flicked to the second banner. It had a spear that would be perfect for the head of her dungeon party, but still...

Her mouth twitched and she gulped as she looked at her remaining primocrystals. She only had enough for two more rolls. After that, she'd have to spend money. She still had some Lien saved over, but she'd been hoarding it to get some new parts for Crescent Rose.

But she also knew that her party would've been at least 30 percent more effective if she got that spear...

Before she could stop herself, her finger tapped the Shop button. Just ten more rolls would be fine, right? It wouldn't be too expensive and she really needed that weapon if she wanted to get the perfect meta build. There were rumors that the company would put out a PVP update next month and the thought of being a scrub made her gut churn. Ruby Rose was not a scrub! She was the unbeatable queen of games no matter what Yang said.

Gulping once more, she bought a stack of primocrystals and went back to the weapon banner. One, two...twelve rolls later and the spear still didn't spawn. Ruby growled and went back to the shop, finger hovering over the currency button. She told herself she'd only roll ten times...but she was sure that she could get it! She could feel it in her bones. Just a few more rolls and she'd get the perfect weapon for Crimson Wolf! Her burst DPS would be insane!

A few more rolls wouldn't hurt...

Fifty rolls later and she finally got it. Ruby's eyes widened as the spear popped up on screen and she cheered. Okay, so maybe she'd spent multiple months worth of allowance on it, but so what? She could earn that back easy! Maybe do some missions on her free time. Crescent Rose would understand. She'd want her to be happy.

Across from Ruby on her own bed, Yang scowled at the screen as her party was wiped by the world ! This wasn't fucking fair! How the hell was anyone supposed to win against this fucking thing?! She growled and respawned at the nearest altar. Fuck, she was fighting the boss for hours now! What the hell was she supposed to do?! She memorized the patterns and got to the max level with her party. She even grinded to get a nice bow for Umber!

Okay, so she was playing with the default starter party, but so what? They had to be viable if they were given for free, right? So what if people said Umber was only good as a torch or that Eliza had shitty DPS? She ignored Ruby's previous taunts about how her team 'wasn't meta' and qued up for the boss again. She was gonna win this thing no matter how many tries it took. So what if she had to lose a few days banging her head against a wall? Huntresses didn't give up.

Her focus briefly shifted over to the banner before she scowled and looked back to the screen. She wasn't gonna spend her money on it. She wasn't! She could do this! She could-

"Hmph! Know your place, swine!" The boss stomped Kyle's face into the dirt. Game over.

...

It took everything Yang had to not chuck her scroll against the wall. No, it wouldn't help. It would just mean that bitch Capuccino won. Taking a deep breath, she scrolled over to the banner and put in her credit details. She could deal with less nights out at the club for the next few weeks...

Pacing around the room, Weiss skipped through the summoning animation and breathed out through her nose at the lineup she received. A couple of 4-stars and a smattering of low-tier weapons and ascension the heck was going on?! This was her 200th roll this day and she'd only gotten two five stars! One was that two thousand-year-old dragon in the body of twelve year old, because of course it was, and the other was a teenage boy with the most generic design she'd ever seen.

Weiss sighed in frustration and tapped the banner again. How could she lose the 50/50 so often? That had to be breaking some sort of rule? Was the company aware of who she was and deliberately rigging her rolls to ensure she spent more money? If so, she was going to have words.

...Right after this next roll.

Another 4-star, this one of James Crescent, the rookie knight. Ugh, how had she gotten ten copies of this wastrel already? Why couldn't she get the Corroded Knight? Her lips puckered into a deep frown as she stared longingly at the second banner. The Corroded Knight was featured prominently, his bearded visage and striking eyes staring straight into her soul. He was the very picture of a dignified warrior and gentleman. Something that all of Atlas could aspire to.

But of course, she'd had no luck in getting him. Oh no, she had to get 4-stars like Lian and Genevieve. How was she supposed to play with these weaklings? She hadn't even done anything after beating the tutorial. She wanted to start her journey right with the perfect team. All 5-stars, all max level, and equipped with the best weapons and accessories. Only then could she get through the tutorial and be taught how to use a glider.

She chewed on her lower lip and flicked over to the first banner. While she hoped to get the Corroded Knight, there was one character she wanted above all else. Pythia Nicolaides. A powerful warrior who was good at both range and melee distance. Her flaming red hair, striking green eyes, and flattering armor drew one's attention, as did her inflated stats. She was bar none the strongest character in the game as of the latest patch.

She was also obviously based on Pyrrha. She didn't say anything about it, humble as she was, but they all knew. Her stats and appearance meant that she was the rarest character to get with an estimated 0.1 percent chance of getting even a single spawn, nevermind the five other copies you needed to to access her later upgrade paths. There were even rumors of people who sold their houses in order to get enough money to make wishes.

They didn't get her anyway.

She tapped the banner again and her brows furrowed as the wish didn't register. She tapped once more and the banner remained static, "What the...?" She went to her payment details and looked it over. Everything appeared to be in order, so what was-

Her scroll suddenly rang, forcing the game to minimize. The word 'FATHER' slapped across the screen made her grimace, "Yes?" she asked, barely even attempting to hide the surliness in her tone. She could've been making wishes right now.

"Weiss." Her Father's greeting sounded terser than normal, "I've been receiving notices of numerous payments you've made over the course of the past week. Were you aware that you've spent close to ten thousand lien just this week alone?"

"That is..." She knew she'd been spending a lot recently, but she'd lost track of the exact amount. She simply always bought the highest primocrystals package since it meant saving money in the long run, "I've been buying some Dust recently." Blake, Yang, and Ruby looked up from their screens with questioning looks and raised brows. Weiss ignored them all, "With the recent Dust crisis in Vale, the supplies of Dust have only gotten more expensive. I can't be blamed for that."

"Dust? Is that what you call buying these so-called 'Primocrystals'?" Weiss winced. Drat, "Because I don't recall any sort of Dust product or promotion that has such an asinine name."

"It's, um-"

"I didn't come here to hear your excuses. As of this moment, your allowance is suspended."

"What?!" Weiss shrieked. The windows seemed to rattle with how loud she was, "Y-You can't do that!"

"I very well can. It's my money."

"You don't understand! I've only gotten for five starts this past week and they're still in C2? I can't stop now until I get Pythia! I won't let this be for nothing!"

"...I have no idea what any of those words mean. Regardless, you're cut off."

The call ended and the game dominated the screen once more. Weiss numbly raised her hand and tapped the banner again.

Nothing happened.

...

She fainted.

Blake looked up from her beanbag chair as Ruby sighed and hopped off her spot to drag Weiss back to her bed. The reaper not-too-gently just threw her onto the mattress before going back to her game. Blake rolled her eyes. Judging by the looks on both their faces, it was obvious that they'd spent far more than what they were comfortable with to get their wishes.

How shortsighted.

Blake was different. Five years she'd spent on the road having to scrounge for a living. The White Fang wasn't exactly rolling in lien and they all had to learn to live off the land. Especially in Mistral. Many services wouldn't dare accept a Faunus customer regardless of how much money they had.

She smiled at her scroll. While she didn't have the most optimal party, she'd gathered enough characters to be prepared for anything.

The best part was that it didn't cost her a penny. Well, sort of. While everyone else had to dip into their allowances, savings, and even the Beacon stipend, she'd found alternate means of funding herself.

Commissions. The game had an extensive list of characters and shipping had gone into overdrive. Many were less interested in actually playing the game compared to reading about the characters and Blake was there to provide that service. An afternoon spent writing and she had enough lien to go for ten or twenty rolls. She made money off the game while the game made money off her. The circle of life, she called it.

And seeing the looks on her teammate's faces, she knew that she'd made the right call.

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Team JNPR's room was a contrast to their sister team. While Jaune and Pyrrha had their nose buried in their scrolls as well, the palpable feeling of anxiety in the air was absent.

Pyrrha smiled slightly as she tapped the weapon banner. It was odd. When she found out her likeness had been used as part of the game, she'd been utterly mortified. The company's reassurances that she would be well-compensated hadn't done much to help. Her face had been plastered on things before, of course, but this felt different somehow. People couldn't exactly control her likeness if it was in a cereal box, for example.

She spent the first few days utterly ignoring the game even as it spread through the school like wildfire. It was only when Jaune started playing it that she decided to give it a shot. Maybe it would allow them something to talk about. She'd even rolled on that Gacha thing, if only to make sure that she knew what she was talking about.

It was then that she fell in love...okay, not exactly, and she didn't fall for the gacha. No, it was something different.

James Moon, the Rookie Knight. From what she gathered, he was considered a low-tier character with not a lot going for him. Pyrrha didn't care. There was something about him that drew her like a moth to a flame. The striking blue eyes, blonde hair that shined like the sun, and a dorky smile that made your heart melt. Who cared if he had 'low DPS', whatever that meant. She liked him for his character, for his earnest desire to help people no matter the odds.

She made sure Jau- er, James wanted for nothing. While she didn't make a habit of advertising it like Weiss did, Pyrrha had a very generous nest egg. Her tournament winnings combined with her various sponsorship ensured that she could live comfortably even if she decided to retire early. Withdrawing some funds to fund her rolls hadn't even made a dent in her bank account. After all, she had to make sure her Rookie Knight had the best. The right weapons, gear, and materials to ensure that he reached the max level as soon as possible.

And of coruse, he needed a companion. A...partner. A quick call to the company and they agreed to tweak her account's probabilities. Now she had both James and Pythia in her party as an adventurering pair exploring the land of Vatey. Alright, there were two others in the party due to hard-coded requirements, but she never put them in the field. She didn't need to. Pythia and Jaune were more than enough to explore the word.

...

She meant James.

She looked up from the screen to her partner. Like almost everyone else at school, he was playing the game, though so far he hadn't spent a single lien. She'd offered to give him the money - give because she didn't expect it to be paid back - but he refused. Completing specific missions gave a person one or two rolls. It was a slow method, and one the rest of the students considered far too tedious to do. Who had time to actually play the game when they could simply pay to get wishes?

And yet Jaune seemed to have Atlesian luck. Every single time he rolled, he'd come up with a minimum of four 5-star characters. She'd called the company and asked if they'd modified any other accounts but they assured her that she was a special case and she only got that benefit because of her work with the company.

"Sweet, another roll." Jaune cheered.

Pyrrha hopped off her bed and looked over Jaune's shoulder as the animation played. She was sure his luck would keep up.

And so it did. Pyrrha gasped softly at the sight of five Pythia characters lined up in a row next to a single Rookie Knight. This...was this a sign? Pyrrha believed in destiny, and this felt like fate giving her a signal, "Huh. Hey, Pyr. These 5-stars kinda look like you."

"S-So they do," Pyrrha blushed. I heard they have really good stats, so why don't you-"

"Wow, these guys go for a lot of experience!" Pyrrha watched, utterly horrified, as he put a single Pythia into storage then dragged the other four away. "I've been hoping to level up Obsidian." He tapped the screen and the four Pythia copies were consumed to strengthen Obsidian Nighthsade. A reaper type character dressed in all-black who fought with a scythe. Pyrrha's eyes bulged as the four Pythias were consumed and turned into raw experience for the gleefully smiling reaper.

"Wh-Why did you do that?"

"Huh?" Jaune looked up, "Well...Obsidian's my favorite character. I really like her playstyle and I wanted to level her up."

"B-But what about Pythia! S-She has the best stats in the game!"

"Sure, but...I'm not playing this for stats or anything. I pick characters who are the most fun." Jaune shrugged. His utterly uncaring nature after having murdered four innocent Pythias nearly made her faint, "I mean, I might try the one I left in storage later, Obsidian's playstyle is just really working for me right now. Scythes are cool."

"I...I see." Pyrrha forced a smile on her face and stumbled back to her bed. Turning on her scroll once more, she smiled at the sight of Pythia and James exploring the world as a duo.

Across the room, Ren and Nora looked at their teammates with pity. Ren shook his head and sighed while Nora had an uncharacteristic frown on her face, "Ugh, I can't take it, Renny! Why's everyone acting so weird? That's my job!"

"It appears you're now trapped with me in the land of sanity, Nora."

"But I don't like it here~!"

"There's nothing we can do about that." Ren sighed once more. Of everyone on campus, they were rare ones - possibly the only ones - who failed to see the appeal of this glorified gambling ring. Perhaps it was due to living a life of frugality for over a decade. Orphans outside the walls didn't have many opportunities for luxury and they had to learn to save every little bit of lien they had. Stormflower and Magnhild were the result of years of hard work. It was something tangible.

The thought of spending so much money for the chance to get some pixels on a screen made him feel sick. Who could afford such gluttonous excess, Ren thought. At least Nora's pancakes filled her stomach. Lines of code were meaningless.

"How long do you think it's gonna be like this?" Nora asked with a scared whimper.

"I don't know exactly, but I have the feeling we're going to be in this for the long haul."

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Yikes. Some people just can't control themselves, huh? At least Jaune and Blake are handling it well. Hope you guys like this one.

Anyway, like I said I'll be writing either the Minecraft What-If or a couple more smut stuff. It depends.

No Victory in Strength (Minecraft Jaune) - Chapter 2

Second chapter of Minecraft Jaune. Wow...this really blew up. Over 100 reviews and over 500-600 follows and favorites. I was pleasantly surprised with the detailed reviews people had when I asked if they sided with Weiss or Blake more. And people who wanted Ruby to just steal Jaune and screw them both over.

Speaking of, as dictated by the commissioner, the story will be a harem with team RWBY and possibly Pyrrha down the line with Jaune. For those interested in the faction warfare and societal stuff, don't worry, it's definitely still a major part of the plot going forward.

With that in mind, I'm thinking of some factions who'll try to use Jaune for themselves. Gimme suggestions you guys have for changes/new groups:

Blake and Weiss - Already shown in this chapter.

Ozpin - Wants his help against Salem. Tries to appeal for the morality of helping stop Salem.

Ironwood - Wants him to make potions and equipment for his soldiers, plus airships and other tech. Not sure how Ironwood tries to sell equipping a foreign army.

Cinder - Wants his power for the sake of just having his power. Power lust and greed. Tries seduction.

Adam - Wants to either kill Jaune to spite the humans or enslave him to be a craftsman for the White Fang. Tries murder.

Happy Huntresses - Want him to improve Mantle as a small scale version of Blake's plans. Try to appeal to his sense of goodness. Sends Fiona to try and seduce him otherwise cause sheep girl.

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Yang stretched her arms and walked down one of the castle's halls. Ruby was upgrading her weapon with the stud while Blake and Weiss went back down into town, leaving her all alone. Lame. Didn't they know a good Yang needed constant TLC? They were gonna pay for ditching her later.

Sure, she could go down to town too, but she wanted to check out the castle. She wasn't a craftsman (craftswoman?) like Ruby or snooty about history like Weiss, but she was still from Saunus. A proud independent Patch woman. Architecture was in their blood the same way snobbiness was in an Atlesian's. Their cathedrals were the best in all of Remnant, no matter how much Atlas and Mistral tried to sneer down at them as country bumpkins.

She walked down the hall and looked around. This place was huge. Not as big as Beacon, obviously, but still fucking enormous. She was betting that even Weiss Cream's mansion had nothing on this place. She eyed the gleaming silver suits of armor and the paintings on the walls. This place looked like it was ripped straight out of a Bunkers and Beowolves game. Then again, why was she surprised? Jaune just gave Weiss a diamond sword like it was no big deal.

The weight of the fist-sized Ruby in her jacket pocket reminded her that Weiss wasn't the only one who'd gotten a gift. She'd asked for a present mostly as a joke, she didn't expect him to actually give her one! Cause seriously, who just did that?

'The same kind of person who builds a castle for shits and giggles,' her brain snarked back. She kinda wanted to give it back, but that felt even more awkward! Ugh, she shoulda just kept her big mouth shut. But then again, another voice whispered, how much stuff could she get if she pawned the thing off? Bumblebee needed some upgrades and nightclubs would've been a hell of a lot more fun if she didn't have to worry about burning a hole in her pocket...

Shaking her head, Yang kept up her solo tour of the place. Jaune said they had free reign of the place while they were visiting. How did he not worry about someone stealing something? Or maybe he just didn't care. This was the same guy who gave out diamonds to people he just met.

She traced a hand across the wall. Not even a bit of dust. The place felt like it was preserved in time. Yang peeked inside one of the rooms. A queen-sized bed with a canopy, a window with a good view of the countryside, and the same fancy decorations the rest of the place had. Yang looked up at the crystal chandelier and...was that a painting of the stars on the ceiling? Brothers, this made their dormroom back at Beacon look like the poorhouse. She could tell it was a spare room too - it didn't look lived-in at all - and it made her wonder just how much more intricate the actual family bedrooms were.

Yang looked around for a moment and, after making sure there was no one around, she jumped and belly-flopped onto the bed.

Oh. My. Brothers.

Ever heard the expression 'like sleeping on a cloud'? Well, forget that noise. This was like she was sleeping on...she didn't even know how to describe it. It felt like every inch of her body was being massaged by the mattress and the pillow covering her face was so damn comfy that she wouldn't have struggled even if someone tried to smother her with it. Her thoughts drifted back to her bed at Beacon and she shuddered. Going back to that after just a brief taste of this...maybe she could exchange the ruby for one of these beds?

Her utter bliss was interrupted by the sound of laughter. Yang (hesitantly) pulled her head out of the pillow paradise and furrowed her brows. That didn't sound like anyone from her team - she'd know. Maybe Jaune's family came back? If they did, it'd be a pretty bad look for them to catch her napping on one of their beds. She forced herself out of her new best friend and made her way back to the hallway. Be rude of her not to introduce herself and explain why they were here.

The sounds of laughter led her to a slightly ajar door. Yang debated between knocking or just calling out to them when the door opened just a bit more and she was hit with the smell of booze and smoke, "So I bite the old boy in the ass!" A roar of laughter came in response. The accent was hard to place. It sounded South Valean, a real 'wrong side of the tracks' kind of voice, but there was something off about it that she couldn't really explain.

Curiosity got the better of her and she peeked inside the ajar door.

Only to quickly wish she didn't.

Dogs. Half a dozen of them. Now, Yang liked dogs. They were her favorite animal (sorry, Blake) and Zwei was the best doggo in the world. That didn't mean she wasn't gonna react at the sight of six dogs sitting around a table playing cards. No, she wasn't imagining it. Six guard dogs - three Atlesian Shepherds, two Pugs, and one Rotweiller - were sat upright around a table playing cards. The table was filled with cards, glasses of booze, and...were those cigars?! How in the heck did dogs get those?!

"I'm getting too fat," the rottweiler complained, "There haven't been any intruders to chase in months!"

"No one wants to mess with Master Jaune." One of the pugs picked up (HOW?!) a glass of whiskey and chugged it down before lighting up a new cigar, "It's more annoying that we can't do anything about those cats down in town. Smug pussies think they're so much better than us. Bet they won't be so smug once I get my paws on 'em!"

"Hey now, the Master's friend is okay," the other pug said.

"Rrrgh, fine, but all those other cats!" The pug growled.

"Fuck cats. Let's talk about something better," One of the Atlesian Shepherds, "New people in town. And you know what that means." His mouth curled in a wolfish(heh) grin, "New bitches!"

The whole table was a mess of excited howls and barks. It didn't take a lot to figure out what kind of 'bitches' they were talking about, "Oh yeah, I saw 'em." Another Shepherd licked his lips, "Big golden retriever. I could tell just by looking at her. She's a workin' bitch." The other dogs howled in response, "I got a good look at her. She wasn't no mongrel or crossbreed. Nice smell too. Her owner named her Rosemary."

"A fine name for a fine bitch," one of the pugs nodded in approval. It was fucking freaky looking.

"I sniffed her butt earlier." The Shepherd somehow managed to make that sound dignified, "She sniffed mine too. We're going to meet up later, maybe howl at the big night light."

"Some dogs get all the bitches." The Rottweiler sniffed and drank his glass of gin, "I'll spend some time with the Master later. The family's worried about him. Whenever he gets into one of his moods he always forgets to eat or sleep."

"Master is very kind. He gives us good scratches and food that makes us smart. Master deserves better. His packmates should pat his head more." One of the Shepherds nodded sagely, "Lotta bitches in the village want him to sniff their butts but he never does. So sad."

"They should sniff his butt instead," the rottweiler howled sadly.

"Maybe the new visitors will do it." Wait, were they talking about team RWBY? "Four new bitches. I would've bit their butts if Master didn't say we should let visitors inside."

"I saw them," one of the pugs said, "The one in black and red smells like chocolate. Don't bite her. You'll probably die." Yang almost laughed at that. Despite her looks, Ruby more than ate her weight in chocolate and cookies. Yang had no idea how she was so thin, "The one in white hurts my nose. So full of that thing humans spray themselves with."

"The yellow one smells good. Like fried meat and burning wood." Yang's brows furrowed. Was she supposed to be flattered or offended? She resisted the urge to raise her arm and sniff, "But the other one..." He growled. It was a sound full of hate, "She smells like those damn cats. If she gets near the master, I'm biting her butt. Master deserves better than a cat that stinks like those smug pussycats. She should stay away." He growled again.

The dogs continued to chat and play cards. Any thoughts of going inside were immediately squashed by the part of her brain that still wanted the world to make sense. She grabbed the edge of the door to close it and give the doggos some privacy when it suddenly creaked.

The noise drew their attention. All six heads snapped to where Yang stood and the blonde found herself frozen as a dozen eyes bore into her. It was stupid - she could fight fucking Ursas, dogs were hardly a threat - but she found herself rooted to the spot anyway.

The human and the half-a-dozen dogs stared at one another for almost a full minute before the rottweiler spoke up, "Ya mind? We're having a private game here."

"R-Right, sorry." She closed the door, muffling the words and growls that came from the other side. Talking dogs. Talking dogs that drank, played poker, and talked about how much they liked butts and bitches. She'd literally seen just that.

...

Nope, nope, nope. Yang shook her head. She didn't see that at all. This was a dream and she was totally still asleep back at that amazing bed she'd flopped into earlier. Speaking of, she should get back to it. Maybe if she went back to sleep she'd wake up from this weirdass dream.

Yang turned around to do just that only to see Zwei walking down the hall with a cigar in his mouth. He and Yang stopped to just look at one another. This time the stareoff lasted for just a few seconds before he slipped past her, went inside the room, and shut the door behind him...somehow. The dogs inside cheered at his arrival and yelled about how 'now it was a party' while Zwei barked back. He wasn't talking, but the others seemed to understand him just fine.

...

Okay, that was another thing she didn't see. Time to-

"Oh, hello!" A pair of eyes appeared in front of her. She didn't get the chance to scream and bat them away before the eyes turned into a multi-colored purple and cyan...thing shaped like a cat standing on a nearby cabinet, "A visitor? My oh my, Jaune is rather popular these days." It laughed, "Would you be interested in chatting for a while? Oh, I do so love talking to the new arrivals! They always have such fascinating stories, and so many are eager to talk!"

"Bwuh?" Yang said.

"Oh, where are my manners?" It licked its paw, "My name is...well, I am the Curious Cat, though everyone calls me Curious for short. It's both my name and describes me perfectly well." It jumped down from the cabinet and rubbed up against her legs, "Would you be willing to talk? You look like someone with a good story!"

...

Yang didn't say anything. She walked past the cat, ignored the sounds of howling dogs, and belly-flopped back onto the most amazing mattress on Remnant.

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

Weiss walked around the town aimlessly. She'd been in a foul mood after her brief argument with Blake and she hoped that taking in the sights would improve that. She looked around the buildings and hummed. From what she was told, Jaune built almost every single building in this burgeoning kingdom all on his own. The villagers tried to help where they could, of course, but his Semblance made it so that it was far quicker and more practical to simply do everything on his own.

She didn't know how to feel about that. While she was already planning to ensure Jaune's help for her plans, she also wasn't one on being completely dependent on others. She knew that she'd need Jaune's help to oust her father. After that, however, she hoped that she could stand on her own two feet. Jaune would give her the leg up she needed, certainly, but once she was established she would lead the SDC to a far more righteous path than her father ever did with her own power.

It was one reason she disagreed with Blake's plans. She hoped that Jaune could uplift Menagerie - and by extension, the Faunus - by turning the island into their own kingdom. It sounded good in theory, but would the Faunus truly be satisfied knowing that their elevated position came from the efforts of a single Human?

And how long would others have to wait for Jaune's help? While she understood that her own plans were a time investment, it was far less so compared to turning an entire island into a kingdom. And what about the White Fang? For someone who'd been so obsessed with them the past few weeks, she certainly seemed to ignore the fact that they would be less than amenable to a Human providing such crucial aid to their cause for equality.'

But what did she have to worry about? While she couldn't entice Jaune with money, she was sure that she could find some way to convince him to join her cause. Perhaps by leveraging possible connections to the newly reformed SDC? Money was immaterial to him, but she could offer other things. More than Blake, that was for certain. She was sure that he could find the value of forging connections with one of the most powerful organizations in Remnant, especially one led by a CEO with a debt of personal gratitude to him.

Her musings were cut off by a sudden voice.

"GREETINGS, CITIZEN!" She jumped up at the booming voice. Ignoring her instincts to draw Myrtenaster, she turned to the source of the sound and blinked at the sight of a nine-foot-tall stone golem. She'd seen Atlesian robots before - the SDC was working in tandem with the army to create the new Paladins - and yet she still found herself gaping at the sight of the stone sentry. Rather than sleek metal and wiring, the golem looked like a roughly carved statue with nothing powering it or enabling it to move.

And yet move it did.

"I'm not a-"

"FAREWELL, CITIZEN!" It saluted her and went on its merry way. Patrolling, perhaps? Weiss eyed its retreating form and looked it up and down, searching for any sign of what might've been powering it. Nothing. It looked like a carved statue and yet it moved like a robot powered by Dust. Yet another impossibility in the world Jaune Arc inhabited.

"Excuse me," she called out to a passing farmhand.

"Yes, ma'am?" he asked with a pleasant country drawl.

"Do you know how those golems are powered?" She gestured to the golem that was saluting another person as it walked through the gate leading outside.

"Don't rightly know." He hummed, "Never really thought about it much. I saw Jaune build one of 'em fellers once. Just puts 'em together out of some pieces of rock and then they start moving. He puts them outside usually so they can smack around any Grimm that gets past everything else. It must've been helping someone else." He rubbed his patchy chin, "Never seen 'em stop patrolling or need to get fixed, though. Those big boys walk all day and night."

"I see. Thank you." Weiss nodded and walked away, deep in thought. While she couldn't discount the possibility that they were powered by Dust, there was an equally likely chance that they were powered by something else entirely...or that they required no power source at all. The thought made her both excited and nervous. Her father secured his domination because of the fact that everything needed Dust to function. Some outside settlements used alternative power sources such as windmills, but they couldn't truly match Dust. Dust was power. It was energy, fuel, bullets...

Could Jaune change all that?

Weiss shook her head. Focus, she told herself. She could worry about that later. Right now she had to focus on her plans.

She wandered around the kingdom without a destination in mind. Truthfully, she was more focused on the people. Perhaps it was cynical of her, but she found herself looking for signs of discontent. Weiss had been raised on propaganda and doublethink. The employees were satisfied with their lot in life. Those who complained weren't justified, they were simply greedy and lazy. The Faunus weren't discriminated against, they were entitled and thought they deserved more than they were oh-so-generously given.

And so on and so forth. She'd heard the myriad of propaganda and justifications for over a decade now. It led to a rather pessimistic viewpoint she'd done her best to rein in ever since she arrived in Beacon. The world was far more complex than her father's propaganda machine liked to portray it as.

Case in point, Jaune's kingdom.

Weiss was adept at seeing under the masks people put up. It was a necessity when men and women thrice her age attempted to exploit her for their own benefit. Father was hardly a loving parent and he took her ability to see through deception (or not...) as a measure of whether she was worthy to be his heir.

Which was why she found it both amazing and relieving that she hadn't seen a single person putting on a mask. All around her, the villagers worked with a gusto that she'd never seen in anyone who worked under her father's management. Many of them had smiles on their faces and they worked in tandem with an easy cooperation that seemed more like they'd done it for years rather than mere months. Those taking breaks eagerly chatted with one another and they all did their best to ensure that the workload was easily shared.

What drew her attention the most, however, was the spirit of cooperation. Under her Father's rule, the SDC had fostered a culture of paranoia and mistrust. Employees were encouraged to stab each other in the back and used anything they could to gain a sense of superiority. Older employees lorded over younger ones out of perceived superiority and many sucked up to those they perceived as their betters. The Faunus received the worst of it. Even those at their lowest considered themselves better than them for no other than because Atlesian society deemed the Faunus lesser.

Weiss wanted to say that she was better than that, but she too had been blinded by prejudice up until recently. While she wouldn't apologize for her feelings on the White Fang - they hated her and she saw no reason to give them any leeway - not every Faunus was responsible for their crimes.

Her eyes were once again drawn to the farmers and laborers. Young and old, Humans and Faunus. It didn't matter. They all worked together as equals. A young Faunus man and a middle-aged Human man laughed and chatted like old friends as they worked the fields. Something like that would've never happened in one of the mines. Or if it did, it was an extreme rarity. Yet here it was treated as nothing special by everyone around them. An Arcadia where people stood as one.

This was what the SDC could've been. The SDC her grandfather built. A company built on the spirit of cooperation and fair treatment of its employees before her Father had corrupted it. This was what she could turn the SDC back into. A company that cared for others and made proud the lineage of the Schnee name. All of this - the spirit of cooperation and equality - could be spread across all of Remnant.

All she needed to do was ensure she received Jaune's help...

The sounds of whirring drew her attention elsewhere. Weiss watched, utterly gobsmacked, as the farmers left the freshly harvested field only for a machine to suddenly roll over the empty dirt. It looked like an oversized tractor or combined harvester, except instead of shearing away the fields, it spread seeds and water with extreme precision. That in and of itself wouldn't have been too odd. After all, she'd seen similar machines back at Atlas.

No, what really made her gape like a fish out of water was the sight of the plants growing right before her very eyes. Weiss rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing correctly. Yes, the crops were growing from fresh seedlings to assorted fruits and vegetables in a matter of minutes. And as soon as the crops finished growing, the farmers quickly set to harvesting them with practiced ease. Was that why they never had any problems feeding their rising population?

She stared at the machine which continued to plant more seeds and water. Could Jaune perhaps do the same with other resources? Perhaps Dust?

The possibilities made her feel lightheaded. Weiss took one last look at the efficient farmers before slowly walking back to the castle. She had to ponder some things...

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

At the other side of the settlement, Blake made her way through what could be considered the 'downtown' part of the city. While a decent part of the city was devoted to needed things such as agriculture and production, the other parts were more focused on what you might expect from a kingdom.

Settlements outside the walls were practical beasts by nature. Unlike the kingdoms, the threat of being attacked by Grimm or bandits meant that pragmatism won out over leisure. Villages and towns focused on ensuring production and protection. Militias and walls were crucial and the most common source of entertainment were bars. It was the easiest way to release the tension held by the villagers and helped foster a sense of camaraderie. Alcohol was a cheap repellent against negativity.

She remembered being so surprised when she first got into Vale. Movie theaters, nightclubs, bookstores, spas...any sort of Want was there for those who could afford it. While outside settlements did have those occasionally, it was unheard of for them to be present in such excess. Things like horror movies were considered contraband. Inside the kingdoms, they were amusements. Outside of them, however, the fear and dread they elicited could draw Grimm to the settlement.

Jaune's rising kingdom matched the likes of Vale in that regard. She couldn't walk down the street without spotting some form of entertainment. A movie theater showing horror films, a sports center, and an arena where people cheered in drunken revelry as people fought. There were shops too, which sold anything one could think of from armor and weapons to airships(!). Atlas would've had a heart attack at the sight of the ships being sold.

Blake's stomach grumbled and she made her way to a cafe. The waiter cheerily took her older of a fried fish meal and tea, The smell that wafted from the inside made her mouth water. She'd gotten used to subsisting on rations and foraging for her food in the past five years she spent with the White Fang. While Beacon was far better than what she was normally used to, the food tasted oddly bland considering the grade of ingredients they were working with.

Her eyes drifted over to the other cafe patrons and she lingered at the sight of a young couple. A female Cat Faunus and a male Human. They were clearly together judging by the way they held hands and laughed, leaning against one another without shame. The sight of it made her smile. Back in Vale, couples like them would have to hide their relationships. Oh, Vale claimed to be equal, but she knew from experience that a Human-Faunus couple would be considered 'eccentric' at best or freaks at worst.

And Vale was one of the nicer places to their kind...

Her cynical musings were cut off when the waiter returned with her food, which she quickly paid for. Blake sniffed the fish fillet appreciatively and, after a second to brace herself, bit into the crispy food.

Blake did not moan. She merely hummed in appreciation at the taste of the fried fish. And no, it did not not remind her of her mom's home-cooked meals. Don't be silly. Blake finished off the whole thing and even licked up the flakes. Just to not be rude, of course.

This was what Menagerie could be like, she thought as she left the cafe. A place where Humans and Faunus could live side-by-side without judgment. A home that was more than crammed together wooden huts. They could have a true sanctuary. A kingdom all on their own.

And Weiss would take that from them so she could take over a company she was already set to inherit. Blake wasn't petty enough that she couldn't see her teammate's good intentions, but compared to the salvation of the Faunus, Weiss' plan seemed so insignificant in comparison.

Blake stopped when she passed by a bookstore. While she would've been interested in checking it out regardless, the sign up front made her breath seize in excitement, "Auctioning a limited edition copy of Kunoichi Kitty: The Untold Chronicles." Her mouth went dry after she read it. Kunoichi Kitty was her favorite...tasteful literature, beating out even the Ninjas of Love. The plot, the setting, the characters...the PLOT. It was all so enthralling and she eagerly devoured every single book she could get.

Sadly, the author was a famous recluse and finding copies was hard. The Untold Chronicles was so rare that she heard that there were only 100 copies in all of Remnant. Finding one here was a miracle. She opened her wallet and gulped. 3000 lien, all the money she'd saved up over the past three years. What? It wasn't like being a terrorist for five years led to a lot of money-making opportunities. People signed up for the cause, not the salary and health benefits. They couldn't all get allowances from their rich parents.

Blake stepped inside and winced at the crowd of people - easily two dozen - already sitting down. She could tell by the looks on their faces that they were all true connoisseurs like her. She'd have enjoyed discussing the plot (and the PLOT) with them at any other time, but right now, they were her enemies. They all wanted the same thing here.

The store owner - an old man who looked to be in his eighth decade of life - spoke into the microphone with a nasally voice, "Thank you for showing up, everyone. I see we've got some new visitors too." His eyes scanned the crowd, "Well, there's no sense in dragging it out. We all know what we're here for."

He took out a briefcase from a nearby table and opened it slowly. Blake's breath hitched at the sight of the holy relic he so carelessly put on the podium, "Ninjas of Love: The Untold Chronicles." He coughed. If he got his spit in it she would kill him! "A collector's item. I've heard it's valuable, so let's start the bidding at 5000 lien."

...

What?

5000? She looked down at her wallet and found, much to her dismay, that she hadn't gotten 2000 extra lien since she last checked. M-Maybe he'd misspoken? He must have. He looked like he had one foot in the grave. He probably meant 500 or-

The middle-aged woman to her left raised her hand. Blake's turned to her in disbelief, "5000. Do we have 6000?" A young man two seats in front of her raised his hand, "6000. Do we have 7000?"

Up and up the number went. 10,000, 20,000, 40,000...Blake found herself frozen and helpless, unable to raise her hand even once as the bidding war escalated. This...This couldn't be happening. She'd finally found something that could give her true joy after so many years of struggle and now it was being taken from her. Didn't she deserve this? Deserve a reward for fighting for half a decade? Why was fate being so cruel?

And then a light, a memory of what could be her salvation. Blake groped desperately for her pouch and pulled out the gold bar Jaune had gifted her. She'd almost forgotten about it with her (selfless) plan to save Menagerie. She held it with both hands like a mother cradling her child and looked up just as the owner said, "70,0000. Going once, going twice-"

"80,000!" Blake said in a rush, raising her hand and the gold bar. All attention was drawn to her sudden entry. Many were surprised, and yet just as many looked at her with respect. Blake ignored them all and focused solely on the book.

"80,000. Going once, going twice...sold to the new arrival."

The crowd clapped politely while Blake nervously went in front. She took a deep breath to steady herself and walked up to the makeshift podium. The gold bar felt heavy in her hand and she handed it numbly to the old man, "Here..." Blake didn't even look at him or the crowd shuffling out of the store. All she cared about was the book. Her heart beat so loudly that it was all she could hear and she reached a tentative hand out to the holy scripture.

"Hold on a second," the nasally voice cut in. He slammed the gold bar on the table and gave her an unamused look, "What's the idea? This is only worth 75,000 lien."

"What? How could you tell?" Blake asked, disbelief cutting through her excitement.

"You ain't the first person who's tried to buy with gold and jewelry, little miss. Now, are we going to have a problem here or-"

"N-No! No problem!" Blake opened her wallet and pulled out the lien cards, "I-I have 3000 here. I know it's not enough, but I can get more!" How, her mind asked. Was she shameless enough to ask Jaune for another handout? It was one thing to ask him for help with the Faunus, but for something so selfish?

"Hm..." The old man took the lien cards from her and rubbed his chin, "There's a loan office a couple of streets down. You can get something there. They got reasonable rates. Or you can find some other way to get the 2000 lien. I'm gonna need it by the end of the day."

Blake bit her lower lip. A loan office...even thinking about it made her shudder. You could run from the Huntsmen and the Atlesian army, but debt collectors? They would hound you to the very ends of Remnant. Not even Adam would risk defaulting on a loan. Say what you will about her ex, but he had an amazing credit score.

Ultimately, she decided to bite the bullet and take a loan. The interest rate was 3 percent every month. It wouldn't take her much to pay it off if she did a couple of missions, but she'd have to convince the teachers to let her do some cleanup work. Or maybe she could beg Yang for a loan to pay off this one once Yang sold off the Ruby. Yang was a lot of things, but she wasn't a loan shark. Blake would still have to pay her back, but there wouldn't be any interest.

She went back and got the book. Once her fingers touched the smooth leather cover, she felt as if it was all worth it. Blake smiled brightly and returned to the castle with a skip in her step.

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

Weiss ran into Blake at the castle's entrance. Their previous argument was still fresh in her mind and she halfway expected her teammate to snap at her.

Instead, she had a dopey smile on her face - and dopey was the last word Weiss ever thought she'd use to describe Blake Belladonna - and pressed a book against her chest as if her life depended on it, "...What are you so happy about?" Weiss asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing." Her face flushed and she held the book tighter.

"Right..." Weiss crossed her arms. Something told her that way lay madness, "Well...I've been walking around trying to get a lay of the land. Would it be too much to assume that you changed your mind in the meantime?"

Blake's smile immediately disappeared and she looked at Weiss with a narrow glare, "No."

"Of course not." Weiss sighed, "Jaune helping me is for the greater good, you know."

"For who? For the people who already have more than enough?"

"For everyone." Weiss grit her teeth. The words came out far more strained than she would've liked, "I saw things down there. People working together equally with one another. It didn't matter their age or race, they cooperated with smiles on their faces. Imagine how much Remnant could be improved if the SDC was run like that. No more mining accidents because the company decided safety checks were too expensive. No more employees being mistreated and forced to work for pennies so some corrupt bastard can afford another mansion he'll never actually use."

"I thought you'd want the same thing, Blake!" Weiss threw her hands up, "Haven't the White Fang been attacking the SDC - my family - because they wanted equal treatment." Blake winced slightly at the reminder of how often Weiss had been at the other end of her former group's wrath, "Under my leadership, Faunus will finally be treated equally and Dust will be made far more available to all of Remnant. Villages outside the settlements won't have to pay through the nose just to afford Fire Dust that will let them survive the winter."

"It sounds like a pleasant dream, Weiss, but you're wrong about one thing." Blake's gaze was firm, "Your plan won't make us equal. We'll be treated better at the SDC, sure, but what about outside of it? How do better wages and more affordable Dust help the Faunus? We'd still be seen as nothing more than filthy animals without even a kingdom to go back to. Jaune can give us that. He can turn Menagerie into a true sanctuary for the Faunus so they aren't forced to survive in cities that treat them as second-class citizens."

"The Faunus will have the power to stand with their head held high. The other kingdoms can't ignore us if we've got a kingdom of our own. We don't have to hide and bow our heads because some racist asshole decided attacking us is the only way he can get some meaning out of his worthless life. We can have a chance at true equality, something we've been denied for as long as we've existed. How could I not fight for that chance?"

"And what about the White Fang?" Weiss raised her head, "For someone who has been positively obsessed with them for the past few weeks, you're quick to ignore the risk they pose. Do you believe that they would allow the Faunus to achieve equality if it comes at the hands of a Human?"

"That's..." Blake grit her teeth, "Not all of the White Fang hate Humans. Many of us just want equality."

"And just as many would abhor the idea of being reliant on a Human for anything. They'll sabotage any plan you make with Jaune." Weiss scoffed, "And even if they did accept his help, do you think the other Kingdoms will respect a Menagerie that houses the White Fang? Is Menagerie willing to disavow the White Fang if it means Jaune's help? If not, your plan is short-sighted and doomed to failure."

"As if you're any better." Blake scoffed, "Do you think your Dad and the rest of the snakes on his board won't try to take advantage of Jaune? Even if Jaune refuses, Jacques Schnee is not a man who's accustomed to being told no. And neither is General Ironwood. I'd take the White Fang over Atlesian politics."

The two of them glared at one another for a moment before going back inside. It was clear neither would convince the other about why they deserved Jaune's help more. Weiss sighed. She really did want to become friends with Blake, but right now, she felt as if their relationship was on tenterhooks. It wasn't as if she didn't understand Blake's motivations, she did, but her plan was simply far riskier and more of a time investment compared to her own.

They'd barely managed to step inside before they caught sight of Yang lying down on the couch with a look akin to someone who had stared into the abyss.

"Uh..." Blake nervously palmed her book.

"Blake, Weiss...this place is fucking weird," Yang said.

"Yeah." Weiss sighed again.

Thankfully, they didn't have to ruminate on that for long before they heard Ruby's voice, "Oh, that was amazing~" Weiss turned around and blinked at the sight of her partner. Ruby was never the neatest girl in Beacon. While her outfit was as ornate and well-fit as any other Huntresses, Ruby was a tomboy and a blacksmith at heart. Her quarter of the room was often messy with blueprints strewn haphazardly and weapon components littering her mattress and the floor. Wiess often had to remind her to clean up after herself.

Ruby looked like she'd been through a particularly in-depth 'caring session' (she called it that, not Weiss) for Crescent Rose. Her blouse and cloak were wrapped around her waist. Instead of the expected camisole, however, she wore a light green shirt that clung to her body due to how sweaty she was. Weiss' nose wrinkled and she tried to ignore both the smell and the grease smears on her cheeks. If only she'd brought her perfume along...

"Oh! You guys are back?" Jaune stepped into the living room last. He wasn't shirtless this time (pity...), though he'd rolled up his sleeves to his shoulders and the sweat had caused the light blue shirt to cling to his torso like a second skin. Weiss did her utter best to not stare at the line of muscles that his wet shirt did absolutely nothing to cover.

...

Okay, she stared heavily, but she still did her best not to! And it wasn't like Blake was any better. Blake tried and failed to look like she didn't care while Yang openly leered without any shame.

"Hey there, stud. You and Rubes have fun 'yanging' out?" Yang grinned, forcefully ignoring her previous look of shock.

The rest of Team RWBY groaned. Yang's puns were incorrigible and weeks of her trying to force them to see how 'funny' she was hadn't done her any favors.

Jaune, proving once again how alien he was in this world, actually laughed at the horrible, "Haha. 'Yanging' out. I get it. Good one."

"Huh. At least someone here has a sense of humor." Yang laughed in turn and then gave the three of them the biggest, smuggest smile. Weiss rolled her eyes, "So...what were the two of you doing?"

"Oh, oh, oh!" Ruby squealed, loud enough to make Weiss wince, and unfurled Crescent Rose again, "Me and Jaune did some crafting and now Crescent Rose is gonna do WAY more damage against Grimm!" She paused, "I mean, I haven't tested it yet, but it's pretty obvious that everything Jaune makes works perfectly!"

"I wouldn't say that, but thanks." Jaune laughed and rubbed the back of his head, "It was nice talking to someone as interested in crafting as I am. Maybe we can do some more upgrades next time?"

"We super will!"

Ruby squealed again and, before any of them could react, she wrapped her arms around Jaune's neck and kissed him on the cheek. Weiss blinked at the sight and didn't realize her hands her balled into shaky fists till she felt her nails digging into her palm. Blake's eyes narrowed, though she didn't react overly much.

The same couldn't be said for Yang. The blonde looked utterly gobsmacked at Ruby. Among everyone on the team, Ruby had been the least interested in relationships. Yang peeked into the boy's locker room, she had her short-lived crush on Neptune, and even Blake read those pornography books she thought she kept hidden from the rest of the team. Ruby had once bragged that she knew more about the inner workings of a rifle than interpersonal relationships.

Ruby seemed to remember that she wasn't alone and pulled back from Jaune, face as red as her cloak, "S-Sorry!" she squeaked.

"It's fine. You were excited." He smiled back somewhat awkwardly, his own cheeks somewhat red, "S-So what are your plans?"

A lot of things, mostly including trying to convince Jaune to help her for the good of all Remnant. Since she couldn't say that, however, Weiss instead said, "Technically, our mission is complete, but our allotted time for the task is three days." When she first heard of the mission she'd rolled her eyes and assumed it was would be a quick in-and-out. Now she thought that a mere three days wasn't long enough, "We'll be staying at an inn - or a hotel, I suppose - in town. The teachers gave us a stipend for just that."

"A hotel? You don't have to do that. There are tons of guestrooms here! You guys can stay in one. Only if you want to, of course!"

Normally, a man trying to offer four women he'd barely known a place to stay would make Weiss suspicious, but Jaune was sincere enough. And besides, it would give her more of a chance to convince him about helping her with her plans, "Well...we all graciously accept." The rest of team RWBY agreed with her and they went to get the luggage that had been sent ahead to the hotel.

The room Jaune led them to easily matched the opulence of Schnee manor. No, that wasn't right. This place felt...warmer, if that was the right word. Every part of it felt as if it was created with care, "Hm." Weiss sat on a nearby desk and took out her scroll after setting the diamond sword down while the others situated themselves. Ruby had gone to the bathroom for a quick shower, Blake was reading that oh-so-precious book of hers, and Yang was lying drinking a soda she got from the mini-fridge and staring at the ruby she held with her right hand.

Ruby stepped out of the bathroom minutes later with a fresh change of clothes, "Whatcha doing, Weiss?" she asked.

"Making the report we're giving to Miss. Goodwitch." Which was supposed to be Ruby's job as leader. Something the younger girl seemed to realize judging by her wince.

"Oh...I-I could do it if you want?"

"Nevermind. I'll be correcting it anyway before you send it." Weiss shook her head. Ruby had many good qualities as a leader, but paperwork wasn't one of them.

"Thanks, Weiss."

Silence settled over the room. Weiss continued to type while Ruby had taken to sharpening and cooing at her scythe. Huntsmen had a special bond with their weapons, but Ruby took it to some downright uncomfortable levels.

The semi-comfortable quiet was broken when Yang suddenly spoke up.

"I'm gonna date Jaune."

The reaction was instantaneous. Weiss dropped her scroll, Blake dropped her book, and Ruby dropped Crescent Rose. The last one was surely a sign of the end times, "Y-You can't!" It took Weiss a few seconds to realize that she'd been the one to say it.

"Uh...pretty sure I can?" Yang raised a brow and sat up on the bed, "Like, I can go to his room right now and tell him I wanna go out with him. Pretty sure I got a good shot of him saying yes." Yang smirked and crossed her arms under her chest.

"Wh-Why do you wanna date him?!" Ruby cried in a panic.

"He's nice, he's buff, he's got a good sense of humor...do I really need to go on?" Yang shrugged.

"All this because he laughed at your stupid pun?" Blake scoffed.

"Excusing you? It was a great pun! It's not my fault you guys can't see my comedy genius."

"You can't date him, Yang. You'll ruin everything," Weiss said firmly. Right now, Jaune Arc was (presumably) a free agent. If Yang got her grubby hands on him then he'd never agree with her plan. Not unless Yang could convince him, and Weiss doubted she cared about the Dust situation and the state of the SDC's employees.

"Yeah, Yang. Think about more than just having fun," Blake added.

"Wait, what are you two talking about?" Ruby rounded on them.

Weiss winced. She was tempted to lie or come up with an excuse, but Ruby was oddly perceptive at the worst of times. She knew making up a story wouldn't work here. Sighing, she told Ruby about her and Blake's plans to enlist Jaune's help. The Faunus looked obviously annoyed at being outed, but if Weiss was going to confess then there was no way she'd give Blake an undue advantage by covering for her. She still needed her plan to succeed.

Ruby looked at both her and Blake with an expression of pure disappointment, "Y-You two are so selfish!"

"What?! How am I selfish?! I'm doing this for the good of the SDC's employees and all of Remnant!" Weiss shot back.

"This isn't for me, Ruby. This is for the Faunus," Blake said after.

"You two can dress it up all you want, but you're both just trying to use Jaune!" Weiss winced. It certainly seemed that way at a glance, "We just met him today and you're already thinking up schemes to have him do what you want! That's selfish!"

"Yeah, I'm with Rubes here. That's pretty messed up." Yang added.

"Hey, you're not off the hook either!" Ruby rounded on her now, "You were the one who asked Jaune for free stuff and took that Ruby!"

"It was a joke! ...Sort of!" Yang groaned, "What do you want? I can't just give it back now! It'll be super awkward!"

"All of you are just trying to use Jaune." Ruby crossed her arms and harrumphed, "I think it's best that I date him instead. At least I'm not in it for anything."

"Now you want to date him? Since when?" Weiss raised a brow.

"S-Since earlier! He's my s-soulmate!" Ruby said it fiercely. Or at least she tried to. The stutter and red face ruined the effect.

"Soulmate? You still believe in that stuff, Rubes? That's cute." Weiss laughed.

"Rrrgh, don't look down on me, Yang!" She pointed at her, "You'll see! I'll go out with Jaune and we'll be crafting partners! And unlike some people, I'm not doing it because I want Jaune to do me favors."

"Hm. And I'm sure the upgrades to Crescent Rose have nothing to do with it, right?" Blake asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Th-That's different! We did that together! I didn't ask him to do stuff for me!"

A tense, heavy silence settled over the room. Weiss looked at each of her teammates - her friends - and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. They all wanted Jaune. Maybe not for the same reasons, but they wanted him all the same. Weiss would've been lying if she said she wasn't worried, but she quickly dispelled the thought. She was Weiss Schnee. Even if she couldn't rely on money to convince Jaune, she had other methods.

None of them said a word to one another as they turned off the lights and went to sleep. Their friendships would survive this, she was certain of that, though she expected that things would be tense for the next few days. Honestly, couldn't they all see that her plan was the most sensible? And it wasn't as if she would force Jaune into anything. She'd find a way to convince him on why supporting her would be for the best.

...

...

...

"Oh yeah, you're a bad bitch. Raise that butt up higher," a voice said outside their window. It was quickly followed by some barks.

"What the hell was that?" Blake asked.

"Trust me, you don't wanna know," Yang said. Her voice was flat and oddly serious.

The three of them decided Yang was right and they all went to sleep, ignoring the sounds of howling that lasted throughout the whole night.

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Jaune's out here just casually breaking the setting even more. It's gonna be chaos once the stuff in Domremy spreads to the kingdoms and people realize just how busted Minecraft powers are in a pseudo-death world setting. There's a reason I called this 'Raise but not as dark' elsewhere.

Anyway, the four members of team RWBY have staked their claim on Jaune. Let's see how this goes.

Questions:

1. How do you guys think each member of Team RWBY would try to seduce Jaune? Yang is likely a flirt, but what about the other three? Ruby has never shown interest in romance while Blake and Weiss are used to being pursued rather than the other way around.

2. Following up on Weiss' question, do you think the White Fang (or even the Faunus as a whole) would let their technological leap come at the hands of a Human? Especially Sienna given that she died before her character could be well-established.

3. Same as the above Authors Notes, which factions/characters do you wanna see involved in the Minecraft free-for-all? And how would they try to get Jaune to help them?