Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Neopolitan will forever be thankful to Roman for everything he has done. That of course doesn't mean she hasn't had moments that make her go 'what the actual fuck is wrong with her friend' this shit with that fiery bitch, which she isn't jealous about, she just merely wants to slit her throat whilst she sleeps. Or this moment right now where shes going to help drop off something for Roman when one of his mooks could do this but what the fuck ever it's not like she's looking like herself, instead she's 'Mint' the green eyed, black hair with pigtails goth chick that people just smile and give looks at, and in a better mood maybe she rolls along with those looks and gets to have some fun, but right now? Right now she's looking for some blonde dipshit who looks like he's got his hoodie from that shitty Pumpkin Pete cereal raffle, and got his armor from his grandpas grave, sure looks can be deceiving - how many people think she's stupid and can't hurt people just cause she can't talk huh? - but this guy looks like he's got noth-

Oh shit that's her favorite ice cream place, which isn't a bit of cheap praise from a ice cream connoisseur like her.

Yeah alright she'll give him the benefit of the doubt, the photo Roman has provided for her has a name that looks familiar but she can always bug Roman when she gets back, he looked like there was gonna be a talk after this anyway, mostly him talking, her signing back until they understand each other. She always liked that about Roman, its never 'TriviaNeo please just speak, tell us who broke this' or 'Why can't you be normal?!' its always 'We've got money to make Neo, lets rob some bitches', 'I've got a plan, I'm telling the whole thing to only you' and her personal favorite 'We're gonna have to kill this guy Neo' which has always been about some guy getting Roman so annoyed he kills them, and he hates doing that, bad for business. Still, this blonde guy isn't gonna last, especially since she can tell this is one of Romans forgeries, and he looks like-

Her back burns. Right where that name is. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. Of all the people why is it that her soulmate is some idiot trying to cheat his way into... wherever hes trying to get into? She... She can pretend it didn't happen. He looks a little bewildered anyway, looking around as if hes lost, which, he probably is if the same thing that happened to her happened to him at the same time. Whatever, she's Neo-gods-damned-politan and shes got a job to do, money to collect and a dum-dum to get back to so she can have a good ole talk with, and then complain to, after she gets some ice cream because fuck her she needs some after this has nose dived her day from annoying to being on top 10 worst days ever, probably number... 5 if she had to guess?

She sits down at the table hes at, oddly grateful for the public relations training and all that allowing her to school her face into her patented smugness which makes her look like a cocky goth chick to this buffoon who, admittedly, does look cute, but hes not the handsomeness Roman possesses, and the way he looks at her as if she just came out of no where and looks kinda scared tells her hes lacking Romans confidence and awareness. Unless its a act in which case-

"Hey, the names Jaune Arc, short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it." No fucking way did he just open like that, what in the godsdamn??? She's actually stunned for a second by the audacity before collecting herself with a amused huff, placing the packet, which is rather thick, but it's probably full of paperwork and other such shit, and sliding it halfway across the table, before motioning with her free hand for the money, sure she could sign but she is a creature fueled by spite and ice cream, after all someone has to deserve that - has to earn that right.

"Oh, uh, right, but the guy I talked to on the scroll said that if I don't get in I don't owe the favor... and that I get the money back so..." Weird, how the hell did this guy get that kinda promise from Roman? Gentleman thief or no that's not something he just does. Regardless it earns a raised eyebrow and a head tilt and Jaune chuckles, a little nervously based on her study of his body language thus far.

"Well, I'm trying to get into Beacon and I wanted a guarantee, and this was as good as he was willing to give me, I didn't meet him but..." Jaune rubs his neck, definitely nervous, which is good to know she is reading him right and that her training isn't failing her but... Beacon?! Of course her... "The guy at the bar I stumbled into said he was the go-to for good forgeries and I had the money to pay for it considering I helped protect a group from Anselm to here." Why Beacon? Why does her soul- No. Enough of that. He wasn't there for her ever, and he wants to be like those... Huntsmen who don't help people who actually need it so fuck him anyway and besides, not like he'll drop everything for her, he's probably one of the lucky bastards who gets two or even three soulmates and can just pick and choose who he wants. She recollects herself, still putting on that outward mask that she uses for shit like this and pulls out her scroll, shes gonna need it for this sadly, typing away as Jaune tilts his head opening his mouth, only to have to look at the message she shows him on her scroll.


I can't speak like you, so this and body language will have to do. I'm Mint.


"Huh? Oh. Oh you're mute?" Alright, she'll admit this. Jaune Arc might be a idiotic wannabe who wants to take the easy way but at least she can take solace in the fact that he is easy to read and thus actually doesn't seem to be judging her from her disability, its actually pretty com- She's gotta fucking refocus. She's got a business meeting to get through but now she needs to sate her curiosity, as in why would he waste his life trying to do the shit that doesn't actually help people, ruins lives by causing unchecked property damage and flagrantly is just a mercenary institution? And yes shes aware of the hypocrisy as a criminal who comes from old money, well, old nobility technically but whatever, who cares? The Vanilles are dead so she doesn't need to worry.

Some questions first before we do the transaction: Why be a Huntsman? Especially like this? Don't you have better career paths? If you wanna save lives the Emergency Response Force has both combat training and rescue jobs.

Sure she probably knows the answer to that first and last question, the Arcs, whilst not exactly the most greatest noble family, were a noble family at some point, knights in service to the King, like everyone else though they fell out of nobility after the Great War, for a second there was serious talk about sending her off to marry Jaune, after all, low noble or not, better than nothing but the Vanilles always decided that their unruly, disobedient daughter was going to make them look bad. She was 'damaged goods' if the Muteness was true anyway, and honestly, as much as she would hate to admit it her inability to hold even a flimsy purely sexual relationship over the fact no one can hear her wasn't exactly disproving that assumption, hell that's probably why Roman rejected her when she practically threw herself at him to try and finally, finally get a relationship. Jaune likely isn't any different, men want a woman who they can hear, who they can listen to and enjoy the sound of her voice instead of having to constantly pay attention to her hands, her body language and whatnot.


"Well. My father, my Grandfather and his father before him all were warriors, heroes, saving people... I... I want to be like them I want to go out there and be someone who saves the day, even if I have to take different twists and turns than everyone else." Jaune took a deep breath, seems like this is touchy subject. "My Dad never agreed with me on that. I wish I knew why but he just didn't, so I never went to combat school. But he taught me. I just... didn't learn well enough I guess. And yeah I could be working on the family farm, we own the land and all that, or someone on the Emergency Response Force but... They don't get the same training Huntsmen get, and the Farm back in Anselm... I can't help but see it how my dad does, the place a Huntsman goes when he wants to slow down and do something aside from fight."


Huh, guess that explains a shit ton about him, she could get it, for a bit she even considered it, going into a combat school and becoming a Huntress, mostly just to get away from her parents, hell technically she did but Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy wasn't exactly a traditional combat school, and her fighting style and weapon isn't exactly suited for fighting Grimm. Now granted she has fought and killed Grimm but she's geared for people, not soulless creatures who seem to live only for the thrill of killing people, which is a little problematic for her considering she, last she checked anyway, was a person which meant she wasn't going to get away from that. Wait. She's been using her semblance this whole time but... No combat school, learned from a dad who didn't exactly like this idea? Beacons exam is a lot more extreme than everyone else, and she's a expert on shitty parents so shes getting the feeling Jaune might actually be wholly unprepared, which is causing some... mixed feelings. First though, assume, but confirm.

Do you have your Aura unlocked?


"Whats that?" Shit. He doesn't even know what Aura is?! Who the hell doesn't know what that is? Her mother knew what it was and she thought of Huntsmen shit like that as beneath a proper lady, not that Neo was ever interested in it given what proper ladies did according to Carmel Vanille. Wait. His father is a Huntsman. He didn't tell him? What was he expecting someone else to do it? The Academies? Or... was he just setting up Jaune to fail? Whatever, first things first, she needs to stop him from killing himself in Beacon because Roman never does a bad job. But how? As far as Neo can remember, her Aura and Semblance have always been there, probably something to do with her father given her earliest memory of Jimmy Vanille is him shaking her and demanding she speak. She needs to text Roman, in front of this idiot, not dum-dum because dum-dum is a title reserved for people who she likes but finds unfathomably ridiculous and bewildering at times, at which point of her 19 years of age is... only Roman, actually, wow that's something to unpack later.

Okay, for now, it's like a force-field and a battery at the same time, prevents you from getting hurt and you can use it to power your Semblance. We'll get into that right now I need to check in with my partner first, nothing bad.



"Oookay, well, Mint, I'll order us ice cream, what do you want?"



Neapolitan. I'll be covering the cost.



"Oh, so what I'll be having too then." He has good taste. She should probably ask him about how he knows how good this place is since Anselm isn't exactly a quick walk away but slightly more important matters first. She opens up her chat with Roman.



Ice Cream You Scream: how 2 unlock aura


Smooth Criminal: ???


Ice Cream You Scream: ur idiot doesn't have it unlocked


Smooth Criminal: your fucking with me. i've had a bad day it's gonna get even worse and your fucking with me


Ice Cream You Scream: no, now answer the question dum-dum, i have ice cream incoming


Smooth Criminal: congrats on the ice cream date. anyways, your basically just gonna give his aura a nudge, basically a push, you do have to recite stuff but just do shit personal to you, the core mantra of what you are and shit, mine has been about stealing, thief's honor and surviving. shit like that. people are mystics about Aura and shit like that but cmon.


Ice Cream You Scream: fuk u this isnt over and thats not helping >:(


Smooth Criminal: im painfully aware of that. anyway i need to handle something sooooo


She might actually scream (which would be an impressive feat for a mute person) because that was Roman dodging her for the eventual 'this going to suck' talk which means he KNEW that this was the same Jaune Arc that is on her back, that he was purposefully sending her for no reason seemingly just to fuck with her which she KNOWS isn't like him but fuck is the not knowing doing jackshit to make her shitty day better in the fucking slightest. Whatever, its shit core to her huh? Freedom. Being who you truly are. Loyalty. Yeah... oh shit that's her ice cream. But first...


My partner wants to ensure you survive, so I'll be unlocking your Aura for you. As for your Semblance, either you'll figure it out immediately, sometime later down the track or you just... don't.


"Oh. Uh, thanks. Guess I'm really paying for excellence huh?" He gave a nervous smile to her as the Ice cream was placed in front of them, the server smiling. "Enjoy your time you two." They looked at Neo, their smile turning mischievous, gave a wink and walked away. That's evil, and shes killed people, and if it weren't for the impeccable ice cream she'd be more upset but she's refusing to let anything ruin this part of her day, not the fool across from her, not Roman, nor the feeling building up within her that makes her nervous about the future. After she enjoys the actually divine scoops, she stands up, Jaune looking perplexed as she places a hand on her shoulder. From what she can feel with her own it's... weird. It's like she was a river reaching the ocean. She closes her eyes and focuses on mentally reciting her little mantra, hoping it works.


'Through accepting and becoming who I truly am, I grasp my freedom and use the strength I have gained from it all to stand by those who have deserved my loyalty and love, now I help you do the same.'


The Ocean hits. It's overwhelming, almost knocks her off her feet, she needs to stabilize, refocus and get a grip. She's heard of people having large Aura reserves but that was... different.



"Whoa... that's... a really deep thing to share." Wait, what?


___________________________________________________________________________


Jaune has to admit, as far as this whole running away from home with nothing but what he could pack and carry on his back or side thing has been going, it's been wild. First, he bumps into a lost group of wealthy looking (and boy were they wealthy) tourists, who he protected from some weak Beowolves until they arrived at Vale, as it would turn out, he can do this, and that his dad was wrong about just being strong and a boy with a big heart and good head isn't enough. Then he actually looked at applying and he was lost which isn't something that has happened often, especially with Combat Schools and all of the darnest things on it that he just... doesn't know about. Worse yet, he needed to excel on their special Preliminary Exams if he wanted in without a combat school, and he doubted his ability there, made him realize Dad was wrong about him, but not about everything. In addition he realized that he had to really mean what he said, and a Arc never goes back on his word, his self confidence couldn't take it if he couldn't even hold onto that, so that led him to stumbling into Junior, tough guy but when he mentioned he needed good forgeries and had the money to pay for it, he was practical, and also scary. Thankfully, he didn't need to worry too much as Juniors warning about trying to avoid his kinda life with where he was going but it still really hammered home, meant he could never let anyone know.


The man on the Scroll, RT, was straightforward after introductions and some talking, walked him through what he was gonna do, how he was gonna get him into Beacon, who'd he have to meet, and that if that person changed stuff on him that he needed to do then he needed to do it since that person was his right hand basically. Of course, once Jaune was a Huntsman, he was gonna have to remember who helped him get there in the first place, but he doubted he'd need to bring down this guy to save people from Grimm and people trying to hurt others, he chose Charlotte's Parlor as the meeting place since he wanted ice cream and he remembered having the best ice cream he ever had there. Fast forward four days later of anxious waiting, nervousness and doubt, he got the notification the meeting was happening that day, when he came in and told them he was waiting for a special someone they smiled and let him stay as he got there earlier than when the meeting was set for, Dad always said 'You only come in on time when it helps, being early is far more professional and preferable no matter your line of work'.


Then his Soulmark burnt. It wasn't unpleasant actually it was... Nice, of course with him seated outside, and with the streets busy he wasn't sure where that person was, he didn't even care about stuff like their gender, he just wanted to be loved, to be loved in the way his Dad and Mom loved each other, how Saphron and Terra loved each other. Everyone in his family met and married their Soulmates already and yet even at 16, he was missing it. Then at 17 it came in, Neopolitan. In fancy, gray writing on his bicep. He wept upon seeing it because it meant finally he wasn't going to be as alone as he was afraid of being as his family started to drift away, hell his Dad smiled! Actually smiled which was a rare occasion for him, of course, Jaune kinda ruined it by running away with a misleading note but he was so desperate to realize his dreams of being a Huntsman... and finding whoever Neopolitan was. Hopefully they're a native of Vale, so he'll be able to bump into them again, he doesn't know much about Soulmarks but surely it'll feel that way again so he can find her, right? It wouldn't just be one off thing?


In the midst of this panic, fear, and doubt, Mint, the RT's right hand was pretty nice and straightforward, his dad taught him sign since if he wanted to be serious about anything, he should know sign at the very least, but Mint has preferred to stick to text, which makes sense as he thinks about it, the less criminals give away to others they don't have to, the better for them. He thinks so anyway, but unfortunately it also means he isn't able to get much from the smug gothic girl in front of him, before what happened earlier he'd probably be trying to woo her, ask her out for a date or trying to turn this meeting into a date but now? Now he doesn't even think about it. He had hoped that Neopolitan was her, but Mint shattered that idea, which, honestly, is on him because cmon get real here Jaune it wouldn't be that easy, hes gonna have to work for it, afterall his Dad did say nothing worth doing was easy, although he's pretty sure he was trying to convince Jaune to clean the shed by himself without hearing his complaints.


Then Mint put her hand on him, the black glove touching his shoulder plate, where the soulmark is, it gives the strange feeling of rightness he can't place, as he then feels cold, not a unpleasant cold, but the kinda of cold, free wind you'd wish for on a really hot day. Then he hears the words in his head, clearly not his, as for a single second, he sees a flicker of pink and brown eyes.


'Through accepting and becoming who I truly am, I grasp my freedom and use the strength I have gained from it all to stand by those who have deserved my loyalty and love, now I help you do the same.'


He blinks and its gone, probably the weird, fuzzy feeling he can't place and this... contentedness, like this thing hes been missing all his life yet not know it is finally there.


"Whoa... thats... a really deep thing to share." She seems shocked, and scrambles for her scroll, grabbing it and typing rapidly, then shows him.


Your fucking with me, right? People don't just hear that.

"Well, I guess that's what happens when a mute person does it, because I heard it pretty clearly, it was weird, it was in my mind yet clearly not my thoughts? It was a good weird, like what I felt when you put your hand on my shoulder." That doesn't seem to make the situation any better, as she quickly types out something else. "Y'know I know si-" She waves her hand in dismissal and shows what she typed. Guess they're sticking to text.


Instructions for how to use the forgery are inside. Follow them exactly. Now... our payment?


Ah. Well, all good things had to end sometime. He turns and leans to open his bag, getting out two envelopes full of lien, he hands them to her and she opens them to inspect, nodding and then stashes them away. She stands up, goes inside and pays for the treats they had, whilst he holds the packet she left behind gingerly, delicately and deliberately placing it in his bag, getting up and leaving. He can't help but feel like something is off, but the packets thickness has to be because of the amount of paperwork he has to do, he looks around, hoping, desperately for any sign Neopolitan is out there, but no such luck, guess that means hes heading straight for the apartment, and figuring out what to do from there. Fortunately it isn't far away, just a quick 5 minute walk away, which is rather convenient for him.


When he sits down on the bed and opens it by unhooking the string holding it closed, he stares at a sheet of instructions


Hey, I'm calling in the favor now. I need my right hand to go into Beacon to lay low for a while and have someone she can trust. I also won't be reachable after this so consider this our final words. Whats the more important thing is that you need to go along with whatever she says, and just watch her back for me. Tall order since she's bit of a unruly little shit but you can trust her. She'll be by your flat within the next two days, she'll introduce herself properly then. Anyway for whats in the packet:

Your paperwork and forgery to get you into Beacon. Head to the address at the bottom of this paper once you and her link up and are ready. Within this packet is her own bullshit. It's beneath yours in a separate flap.

Do not mess with that in any way. She needs to handle that herself and she will.

You'll need her to survive Beacon, based on what you've told me and how you talk, you ain't got any chance of making this on your own? Don't like what I just told you? Should've thought about it before you asked for the forgery, because without me you've got a better chance of getting snow in Vacuo than you do at getting in. Talk to her about it.

Good luck, try not to die, -RT


Well. There are worse ways to get his pride beat up he supposes, and besides, if what Mint said was true... He's a lot more lost on some things than he thought. He isn't the biggest fan of being a criminals ticket into Beacon he's ignoring how he is a criminal too technically but there are worse situations, there is a way out, there is a way forward. There's a chance he can help reform Mint, help her like how she'll be helping him, and maybe, just maybe it'll work out, and finally stop having so many twists and turns on his path to becoming a Huntsman. Although now that he thinks about it, Mint likely isn't her real name based on what RT told him, so there's gonna need to be some build up of trust, which he isn't quite sure how to do, but hey, like his dad (who he hopes doesn't show up during his time at Beacon) always said:

Rarely is anything worth doing ever easy.


___________________________________________________________________________


As Neo goes on her walk back, she lets her mind think about this rather unfortunate situation, sure, she could go to Beacon with Jaune, that's clearly the set up being done here, shes not a idiot, she knows what this arrangement with Jaune is really about, it absolutely works for Roman and not even slightly for her. They made a deal! They were gonna lie, cheat, steal and survive all the while living as they wanted to live, being who they were supposed to be, sure she could be a better Huntress than the rest of them but that's like saying Roman absolutely kills it with his looks, Jaune's armor is amateurish and shes drop dead gorgeous, its the obvious. Her tails are swishing again, a sign shes a lot more agitated than she'd like to admit to herself and she has to put her hand in one of her pockets, thankful for the Mint disguise having skirt pockets, she really did think of everything with this one. Regardless, it'll be simple, easy, and worst of all, boring, because she'll be in a school that from what shes heard, does combat sparring mostly against people, she'll fucking ace that shit, and she could adjust her precious Hush from being a melee only weapon but that feels like sacrilege to her and honestly, mecha shifting is slower than just... switching to a sidearm. The material they'll be teaching likely will be accounting for people who grew up outside the recognized settlements so it'll be basic shit for a while and then it'll become what she already reads for fun because being smarter and more knowledgeable than other people, the only barrier would be the basic barrier shes had her entire life, and she isn't really interested in dealing with shitty teachers.


Lady Beat could at least be praised for truly having picked the best teachers, well okay maybe not morally considering she is a criminal by choice right now but she never was demeaned by those teaching her, sure other students shunned her but that's just how things were, most people can't be bothered with the girl who seems to spite them by not talking so she might as well not even bother explaining, not like she owed them one anyway. Sure, maybe some of Beacons teachers are alright but she gets the feeling there'll be others who see her inability to vocalize and simply write her off, and that's not even getting into the idiots she'll be surpassing, if her experience with classmates has taught her anything, its that she won't be socializing much, presuming of course her team isn't a bunch of assholes. Sure, she could admit to herself maybe she deserves to take things easy, but not too easy, after the disaster that was her entire life with the Vanilles, hell if anything getting a feel for how Huntsmen talk and interact will let her fake being one once she goes back to her 'be bi, do crime' way of life, so its not as if its going to all be worthless information, just most of it. Fuck she could even get a feel for why her so called soulmate and his family decided to leave her high and dry in the Vanille shitshow and maybe she might even get that stable relationship...


She needs to stop setting herself up for disappointment honestly, because sure, shes hot, sexy and hyper competent, with perhaps a bit of a ego, shes Neo fucking Politan after all, but shes been through the song and dance enough times to know this doesn't work, didn't work back in Lady Browning, hasn't after she finally got who she was, who she was meant to be, which she thought would've fixed the issue but apparently not. The feeling she had from Charlotte's is back, and its upgraded from nervousness to dread, accompanied by a sort of acceptance that this is the end, Roman has been planning this behind her back (which hurts holy shit) and something she loves about him, which isn't helping right now, is that once Roman gets a plan in his head, its kinda hard to move him from it, he'll change it up but still try to get what it was supposed to be for. There's really only one end goal for this set up: Surviving, there's a bunch of lying, cheating and hell Roman probably stole a bunch to get this going but he thinks shits gonna get real bad, so bad they're completely changing their life for this.


She hates it. She loves him, but its awful, knowing its all going to end like this, she could resist, avoid it, she definitely could make do on her own... but she thrives in a partnership, she thrives with Roman, and she loves him too much to do risk his life like that.


The hideout they have is simple, Roman has entrances from the underground, utilizing his ability to lose people tailing him through various means, mostly be utilizing his intelligence and she has her disguises. No one can really see into the inside with curtains up over the windows and the door's got a camera, not a eyehole, with the sensors having not triggered in a while, so she and Roman are pretty safe to discuss important shit here. When she enters she finds Roman sitting on the couch, his hat and cane on the once messy table, which is a very bad sign, but she trudges on and sits across him when he gestures for her to do so. Another bad sign.


"I won't insult your intelligence by explaining the unnecessary, so I'll get to explaining: I overheard Cinder explaining to her pets I'm not meant to survive her plans. Obviously, this means we need to course correct, but Cinder's got connections, scary connections, which means we need to be... creative. We ain't beating them and sure as hell ain't outrunning them, but we can out smart them. She doesn't wholly understand your capabilities, or who you are exactly, so we can throw her off you by making you appear, and you're not gonna be happy with this I know-"


'I'm Neopolitan Vanille, the abducted daughter of the deceased Vanilles, who was forced into crime against her will by your evil Semblance.'


"Yeah, that's the gist of it. Now-"


'Your actually evil by the way. I absolutely fucking despise this.' There are no words for the anger and shame she feels right now but thankfully Roman seems to get it based off of his wince and sigh, as he runs his hand down his face.


"Look, if I knew of a better way to get you free of the charges they'd throw at you I would, but I don't and I've looked around, this is our best shot for you to lie low and get even better. Hell if I find a way to turn this on Cinder then we're back in business but I get the feeling I'm gonna have to fake my own death, not sure if this upcoming job will be the best place but just in case..." He groans and glares at the table. She doesn't like what he's about to say either and she doesn't even know what it is yet. "You should take Melodic Cudgel, because otherwise you're gonna suffer without it, especially since they'll want you to be mecha shifting and lets me real, ain't no one got that time in a real fight."


Neo nods, it makes sense, and Roman has a back up weapon, but she actually has come to despise Cinder so much within the span of a single conversation she might actually kill her without prompting, even if its the worst option to others. 'Alright, but what if they just don't ask questions or just shrug it off?'


"Doubtful, but in that extremely lucky case... Fuck it, we ball. You'll be improvising a shitton there, but I believe in and trust you. I'm..." He sighed. "sorry for doing this but we don't have much of a choice in the matter."


'I get that, its just I...' She pauses, trying to fight back tears as she collects her thoughts. 'I thought this would last longer, I thought we'd be together. Do whatever we want, take whatever we want and never look back. I love you and this hurts knowing I might never see you again.'


Roman sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Fuck... your ruining my make up, I worked hard on this shit y'know?" The two of them share a ugly wet laugh, her silent laugh being heard even if he can't see or hear it. "I... I can't love you back like that. I'm sorry, but I just can't, but your my best friend, my partner and I wouldn't sabotage myself by removing you if I could. I think you know that but I gotta make sure you know... Enough of this touchy feely shit, you've gotta go with Jaune when he turns this in, go over your story with him, bullshit it however you need to, I would recommend saying I mind controlled you with my Semblance-" The two of them share a laugh at that, Roman has never discovered his Semblance, although a 'fuck off Cinder' one would be welcome right now. "-And that I lost control somehow, you didn't know but grabbed what you could, then my beloved weapon and ran off. Been with Jaune for a while or however long you wanna put it."


She nodded, fingers trembling as she picked up Melodic Cudgel and placed it on her lap. 'I guess... I guess this is it, I get what else I can carry and pass off as what I thought should take'


"Yeah... Wait, one moment, take this." He offers her a hat, the same hat she made for him back when they first got into business, only difference between this one and the one he has is that on this the hat has a white feather. 'Where'd you find this?'


"Y'know Junior? I was talking to him about this upcoming job and he just has it in his office. Grinned and charged me for my own hat! Unbelievable and also the true reason on why this is happening because the embarrassment is awful." He flashed her a grin, and they share another laugh, in spite of everything, it's still just her and her dum-dum, even if it might be the last time she ever sees him or hears his voice, which hurts because she never liked hearing people go on like they love the sound of their own voice until Roman. She flipped the hat around and put it on her head, her ears aren't happy but still she smiled at him, a soft knowing smile.


'I'll get to packing, thank you, for everything Roman. I hope I get to see and hear you again.'


He shot her a smile. "I would recommend placing a heavy bet on my survival... But I hope I get to see you again too you little minx." They laugh, and separate, Neo getting ready to leave immediately, knowing she won't even see Roman as she leaves this hideout for what is in all likelihood the last time.

___________________________________________________________________________


It's becoming dusk when Jaune hears the knock on his door, his room isn't much, he doesn't exactly have much in the way of income and he's been taught by his Mom and Dad to focus on making do with what you have so you can make more, so he's at peace with it. Still, not the best look for a girl to see, but surely she'll understand when he explains it after he opens the door and lets her in and-


Oh no. She's nothing like she was back at Charlottes. Somehow shes hotter and sexier than before, he isn't sure if he can survive this, especially since her smug look has gotten even better with the fox ears on top of her pink and brown hair, and hetero-chromatic pink and brown eyes. The two tails (one pink, one brown, with splashes of white in them just like her hair) swishing about really help completely her look, which has corset and large white, with pink accents, open topped jacket with exposed shoulders, with various necklaces around her neck giving him someone to look at other than the cleavage right below, the back and sides of the jacket reaching her mid shin as it bleeds into a ocean blue. The tight skirt (is that practical or does it just look tight) with garterbelt connecting her black, lacy thigh highs work with the knee high white boots, with heels that could honestly kill him.

Scratch that, her whole look could kill him, especially the thighs and what appears to be a cane and parasol, her weapons? Huh. He never saw them back at Charlottes... was he really that easy to them that she didn't even need her weapons? He really should-


She taps the doorframe with a knowing look in her smugness. "O-oh. Right, sorry, you just look so different- Not that different is bad but-" He's waving his hands, only be interrupted by her silent laughing at his expense. It's cute, and he would love to see it more, he thinks as he steps aside and lets her in, the blush on his face raging. She walks in and looks around, nodding and then takes a place to stand across from where he previously was seated, as she hooks her parasol on her right arm, above the pink cuff on the black gloved wrist. He goes to sit down, taking the cue, and picks up the packet.


"Ok, so RT said in his note that you've got stuff to sort out in this, I would offer to help but he was rather clear I shouldn't touch it." She huffed as she looked through it, shaking her head. "Yeah I got lucky he sorted my paperwork for me." She scoffed and placed down the two bags as she got to work on her paper work, laying down on the bed to do so, which seemed a fair bit less than his transcripts and paperwork combo, but that's probably down to the unusual way he'd be getting into Beacon... Now that he thinks about it is she going through the Preliminary then? Hope she can sort that out without issue in time, since they end... tomorrow? Or the day after? He'll let her focus on her own things as he thinks on how to build up trust and begin the process of getting her on the right path and not go back to being RT's right hand, perhaps-


A poke in his side makes him turn around to her, which now that thinks about it... "Hey, what should I call you, I don't think Mint really fits." That earns a amused eyebrow raise and smirk. "Yeah I know how that sounds but honestly, your way better looking like yourself, I'm glad you've decided to trust me with that." She stares at him for a second then looks away for a bit, one of her tails seemed to swish, making him think he overstepped, and he almost opens his mouth when she turns to him and smiles, before signing.


'Well, you've certainly made a better 1st and 2nd impression than most, so I suppose you deserve my name. I am Trivia Vanille.' Something about the shake in her normally steady fingers and the sudden hardness in her eyes makes him think that maybe it's a tricky subject. Is she trans? He wouldn't judge, his whole existence is because one of his sisters transitioned, so they no longer had a son, but did get Magnolia, who he always liked, consistently always in the top 3 of his sisters, although hes always loved all of his sisters even if they could be overwhelming. Still, if she tells him, it'll be on her terms in her time, and that's fine. 'Anyway, should I put down why I want to become a Huntress because I think so many do dogshit jobs?'


Well then, that's a helluva reason if true. "Depends on what you mean. If you think they're being needlessly destructive and think you could do better for everyone then yeah, you can use it, although people will ask you about what you mean." Trivia seems to consider it and nods her thanks with a smug smile and went back to work. "Oh, I should also let you know you can talk to me whenever, even if its silly, we're going to know each other a lot better than everyone else I think." She pauses, giving him a indecipherable glance before nodding and getting back to work. This continues, her asking him questions about what she should put down, and him answering helpfully yet honestly. Then she pulls out her purse, then revealing her license, dated to expire next year, and, most interestingly, cleared to operate cars and...


"You can fly?! How'd you get a piloting license?" She grinned and simply signed 'Very carefully.' causing him to sign and look at her 'Not illegal. I signed up for driving and flying classes. People over complicate both, but I'm a amazing pilot and driver.'

He whistled. "I'll hold you to that should I ever need a ride." She shook her head with a smile and got to documenting her education and such. Some standouts include her being knowledgeable about economics (huh), being certified to operate heavy machinery, knowledge about high society and socialite stuff, public relations training, and advanced dust application. After that, she is done and after putting all of her stuff away, she sits up and stretches, and then signs to him.


'So, you've seen my weapons, Hush, my parasol and Melodic Cudgel, the cane. Whats yours?' Well, those are weird choices but she knows better than him, what with being a trained fighter, having experience and all, besides she is rather short, and not built like a farmboy like him, he grins, standing up, as he unhooked Crocea Mors, unsheathing the blade, letting the shield unfold. "Its called Crocea Mors, its been handed down through my family since my Great-Great-Grandpa." She nods appreciatively, sizing him up as she stands before signing once more.


'Well, first off, you should remember to keep your Aura up, don't want to have it unlocked just so you can get killed. Secondly, your stance is all wrong, your feet and legs need to be positioned like this.' She demonstrates and he adjusts accordingly, not noticing the difference. It must show he doesn't get it on his face because she huffs as she resumes. 'If you wanna be knocked off your feet whenever you get into a fight then keep doing it wrong all you like, but you probably don't know how to roll and use the momentum of your opponents attacks so, doubt you wanna do that. Anyway, thirdly, and this is just so you can get thinking since you have a creative side to your problem solving, remember, a shield is a weapon, and sometimes hitting someone with your shield is a lot safer than going for a strike. Fourthly, you should think of a ranged weapon, there are some Semblances, Grimm and just situations in general where not having one will cause a lot of harm.'


Shit. He avoids swearing since his Mom would shoot him a look whenever he did, but this fits, he didn't even think about what he'll be using to offset that. Hell how had his ancestors done it? His dad used a trusty revolver, but after that? He didn't know. "I... I didn't even think of a ranged weapon." She nodded.


'Most people who don't immediately think of getting one don't have one, now, in that same way you probably don't want a too powerful weapon.' He frowned and she rolled her eyes. 'Do you wanna actually have a weapon that takes out the thing your fighting and the car filled with a family of 5?' He paled and shook his head rapidly. 'Exactly, it's one of my criticisms of Huntsmen as they are, no one tells them to be careful or to not go too far with their designs or weapons!'


"Yeah, I guess people don't, whenever I'd see people talk about them, people tend towards praising them unless they go too far, like that duo some years back." She nodded enthusiastically, signing. 'Those two are actually what made me question if they're doing a good job teaching them. It helps a lot of Huntsmen aren't taught that they're basically marketable mercenaries, and are instead hyped up like they are.'


Jaune shifts a little, causing her to roll her eyes. "Well, there are good Huntsmen, people who are actually in it to help people, and Huntsmen give hope and the feeling of safety, and that helps keep Grimm away." Trivia raised a eyebrow. 'Uh huh and they've gotta be mercenaries with alotta leeway?' At that he just shrugs.


"I don't know, but given the emphasis on helping people, I like to believe there's more good than bad." She sighed and then at her scroll, then up at him.


'Alright lets put that talk on a shelf for now, we need to figure out this sleeping situation.' Ah. He doesn't know if he could share a bed with her and sleep in it, he feels way too nervous about the idea, especially with how his Dad drilled in manners, he gets the feeling he should not attempt to share it even without his nerves. Fortunately, he has a sleeping bag, and now that he thinks about it, she probably doesn't have one because she had to pack today, and without having forewarning probably given how she never indicated her knowledge of this back at Charlotte's, not to mention he had his own place but who knows what Beacon's Initiation will throw at them.


"Uh, I'll just use my sleeping bag, not much space for it but-" 'The fuck are you talking about? We can share, I've shared a bed with worse and you need to get over your nerves of hot Faunus girls anyway.' She grins and winks and he thinks a part of him left his body, but she isn't wrong and he doesn't feel confident in his ability to win a argument with her with the smug look (seriously shes like smug all the time, his self confidence wishes it could be like hers!) shes sending him. "A-alright, sorry if I-" 'None of that, I appreciate it but honestly, if I'm right about you I have nothing to worry about.'


The two of them got to work clearing the bed, making short work of it, then he took off his armor, placing it on his side only for him to hear some rapid shuffling. He looked over to see Trivia doubled over silently, yet clearly losing it at... what? He looked down and realized he was still wearing the hoodie he won from Pumpkin Pete's raffle... Ah. "Hey! I collected 50 box tops to win this hoodie!" She just laughs harder, her tails hugging her body like her arms are. He just sighs, and puts on his pajamas, which predictably, as soon as she starts to stop laughing, makes her laugh even more once she sees them, barely managing to sign. 'How many did that take?' "None. It was a birthday gift from one of my sisters."


She looked at him, her laughter fading away as she started thinking, then signed. 'So how many sisters?'


"I have seven sisters, all older than me." She looked at him. 'You're not fucking with me right?' He laughed, shaking his head. "Nope, I love them all, some more than others but I wouldn't want them any other way... Well okay maybe some of them could be less overwhelming." She nodded, laughing a little, before yawning. She snapped her fingers and her appear shattered like glass, revealing her in a rather loose pink night gown with some brown shorts peaking out from underneath, he quickly laid down and faced away from her, knowing hes gotten her to laugh without looking. He found sleep came to him easily.

___________________________________________________________________________

Neo had to admit, Jaune at least could take her teasing and laughing at his expense like a champ, probably the result of his mother, both because of the whole 7 sisters thing and the fact his mother is a crazy woman for having 8 fucking children. She isn't even sure if her body could support having even one, much less 8, probably something to do with genetics, she apparently wasn't a easy baby to carry to term, something Carmel liked to remind her daughter of whenever she got on her nerves too much. Anyway, she needed to get up and get dressed, as much as she wanted to lay in bed and sleep in there was no way the shit Roman put in motion for himself wasn't going to happen, in fact it was probably happening tonight, she needed to control her narrative, and get away from Cinders reach before she put two and two together. Jaune was already up, the fucking farmers boy he was, dreadful morning person, he was already dressed in his armor and clothes (that fucking Pumpkin Pete hoodie was and still is so funny) reading some comic, which she has to admit, wasn't her first guess, but then again Jaune has been a wellspring of surprises thus far. As she enters the bathroom, she thinks that perhaps he's been full of surprises but none of them have answered her important questions, have they?


Or maybe they have?


Lets see, as far as she can tell, Jaune's father (or mother, that woman did agree to a 8th kid after all) wanted a son, probably old fashioned and patriarchal meaning the mute Faunus girl was never going to get her happy ending away from the Vanilles, but if he wanted to ensure the best for his son then why sabotage Jaune? Sure he'll defend his own father but Jaune was clearly not actually prepared for this life, she doesn't buy for a fucking second that a Huntsman like Nicholas Arc actually trained his son with his Aura unlocked, maybe he entertained Jaune and misled him on what it actually was but even her Mother and Father only let her get trained once they understood she's had her Aura unlocked for a long, long time. Hell he didn't even know how to hold his sword and shield posture, and the only reason she knew was because she was trained on how to beat the sword and shield combo, a basic yet important one to beat, the foundationals, Lady Beat called the ways she had to deal with bullets, arrows, swords, spears, hammers, whatever. If there was a thing she had to fight and deal with whilst on a job, she probably trained against it, then fought against it whilst being Romans partner in crime, a treacherous part of her threatened to derail her even further but she reoriented.


Alright, but why did the Mother agree? Probably her husband, a part of her wants to say it was because bias against Faunus, after all, she would know given her mother wasn't exactly thrilled herself at seeing her traits, and only stopped vocalizing her complaints because Jimmy Vanille loved his mother and loved that Neo had traits just like her. But Jaune if anything seems to not give a fuck, he channels Romans fuck it we ball attitude and puts it towards saving people, now that could be a point towards him as a person, persevering to help people no matter who, but that could also just be his parents chose to not pass on their hatred. Putting a pin in that, she turns to Jaune himself, why not push for her, why not long for her? Sure he seems pretty lonely, lacking his absurd family size and people he knew back in Anselm, but surely he had a inkling of who she was... Unless she wasn't put on his body as Trivia Vanille, after all he didn't react at all to her dropping her hated evil dead name, otherwise based on his kinda bewildered looking around, she probably was put on him as Neopolitan, just Neopolitan as well otherwise he'd ask about a sister or something. Which of course means she was still in the right to use it, but there is no fucking way she's sticking with Trivia, that girl has been dead for a while, hell probably was dead back before she even went to Lady Browning's Academy, she just didn't realize it until she met Roman.


As she exits the bathroom in her full get up, having showered as she thought this over, she turns her attention to the object of her current hyper-fixation: Jaune, who she has upgraded from buffoon to goofball, or even just goof, because he does think, he is using the head up there not the head down there otherwise her interest probably would've dried up unless he had magic dick, he clearly is just failed by those who were supposed to support him. And, well shit, doesn't she get that? But still, he is still the one she waited for, longed for, hoped against all hope that somehow she'd be rescued by her shining knight, and finally accepted for who she was, rewarding her for putting up with so much bullshit but never going to the White Fang like she probably should've long ago. Although maybe not now, the Fang isn't exactly looking to be accepted nowadays, more focused on feared, and being feared gets you put down but that's something for her to probably not have to worry about. Probably. Still, things need to be done today and Jaune is the one of the duo who knows where they're going for this so off they go, she gets her packet, and he has some folder to hold his documents, currently just laying on the bed as hes reading another comic. She taps her heel against the floor to get his attention so she can sign.


'We should probably get our paperwork sorted today, I think its the last day for the Preliminary Exams and I don't have transcripts to fall back on like you do.' He nodded, putting away his comic and documents into a bag, picking it up as he stands up and smiles at her. "Yeah your right, we should stop by a store and stock up on essentials, like a camping bag and such." Oh yeah, she should do that with Jaune's disposable income whilst they have the chance huh, she tilts her head at him with a raised eyebrow, and thankfully he gets her question. "Oh, I went on camping trips with my family when I was younger, I learnt from my Dad what I should and shouldn't pack and what you really need for a camping trip. It's part of why my first ever job as a Huntsman, even if I don't have a license yet, went so smoothly, although admittedly that might've been because the Beowolves were pretty weak and the tourists weren't clueless."


Whoa, she knew he got it from some job outside the kingdoms but she didn't realize he had already fought Grimm, sure it was weak Beowolves but that's still impressive for a guy who didn't even know what Aura or Semblances were, must have a helluva swing with that sword in order to get away with that without a scratch. She signed 'Well, that's still impressive considering how you didn't know shit about Aura and Semblances when we met. You've got a long way to go, sure but that's not a bad metric, you pit me up against Beowolves without a Aura or Semblance and I'm dead.'


He laughed, clearly unnerved by the mention of her dying. "I think you could've done it, better than me too." She scoffed and rolled her eyes at the obvious attempt to deflect and flatter her, as they head out of the flat, and the building its in, to the Preliminary Exam testing site, stopping along the way at a store to stock up on essentials, she has to say, thank fuck for Jaune being surrounded by 8 women and paying attention. As they head into the city, where whilst it's not the upper class Old City of Vale, its still getting wealthier and better as you get closer to Beacon, which still dominates the skyline even in the day. Beautiful, yet imposing at night, pristine, yet domineering in the daylight, the site they head too is much more laid back, although it's still clearly of Beacon's architectural style rather than the rest of Vale's, especially given, much like how everything at Beacon is large, this place doesn't even share it's block. As they head in, Neo is hit with a reminder of whys certain of her bisexuality with the presence of Glynda Goodwitch discussing something with the receptionist, who seems rather plain and uninteresting, aside from the green hair, glasses and coffee, whatever she was discussing is left at the wayside as she turns to them. It's actually illegal what she is doing to her, but Neo doesn't mind, although she absolutely wants to know if her skirt is like hers and is just faking tightness with a pair of shorts underneath, but she will likely never know, alas.


"Uh, sorry for interrupting but I was told that I should turn in my Transcripts here if they're late." Thankfully Jaune is willing to completely lock in for Huntsman stuff, given hes making eye contact with her, maybe he's taken the time to prepare for the utter insanity that is Glynda Goodwitch. She starts signing after he finishes. 'Hi I'm Trivia Vanille, I'm here for the Preliminary exam, sorry for showing on the last day but I've had some... extenuating circumstances and only just finished the paperwork.' Goodwitch frowned at her explanation, not good, but to be fair, she is being vague. "Doctor Oobleck, please handle..." "Jaune. Jaune Arc." "Mister Arc's transcripts whilst I talk with his friend."


As Doctor Oobleck begins to speak, she is grateful for the fact she isn't dealing with him, even if she is dealing with someone who in all honesty might be a lot worse and less sympathetic to her, she leads her to a office, it's not cramped but it's not spacious either, it's clearly not used often. As they sit down and Goodwitch looks over her paperwork in silence, she begins to wonder what is she gonna do if she tells Goodwitch the sob story, only for her to not give a flying fuck and just arrest her. After she finishes looking them over she looks at her, probably the most severe shes ever been looked at and her Mother and Lady Beat are not pushovers when it comes to severe looks. "Miss Vanille, I'm afraid I have to ask you to explain why exactly you match the mysterious right hand of Roman Torchwick, and why you're applying to Beacon." Wait they don't even have her fucking name? That's absolutely insane and also a complete fuck up by the VPD, considering Neo is certain Roman has said her name whenever things are too hot, still, she needs to be careful and sell this, and that starts by tearing up a little and shifting, shaking her hands as she begins to spin her tale.


'Do you know what his Semblance is?' Goodwitch's face turned into a frown. "No, no I do not, it's a subject of constant speculation."


'It's... It's Mind Control, he called it Puppetmaster to me once, knowing I'm seeing everything happening, yet completely powerless to do anything about it. I don't know how it happened in the first place, maybe because of his fight with those Huntsmen, seeing them do more harm than him, but I met him and then it just... happened.'


"Hm... That is unlike any mind control Semblance I've heard of, but more importantly, Trivia, were you ever..." She took a deep breath. "felt, touched or raped by Roman?" That's fucked up, she expected it, because they think her dum-dum is so much worse than he actually is but it still makes her enraged, thankfully, shes got good control of her facial expressions so shes still crying, looking like the mentally traumatized victim. She shook her head and Goodwitch nodded. "Has he ever allowed someone else to do such things to you?" Never in a million years would her Roman do that, never! But still, she has to shake her head. Goodwitch actually sighed with relief. "Thank the Brothers. Seems we've assumed far worse of him than we actually have. Now, how did he control you with such finesse, and are there others out there?"


'Roman always seemed disinterested in that kinda stuff, for what it's worth. I don't know if that helps. But I do know sometimes there was... I don't know how to put it...' "Bleed over from his emotions?" She nodded, causing Goodwitch to hum, as she continued to write in a notebook that Neo just now noticed was there. 'As for your questions... I was the only one he had control over as far as I am aware, which meant he could pull on my training, Semblance and even fighting style, getting to use my knowledge, and the experience I gained under his thumb, to fight for him.'


She hummed. "Thank you, thats a relief to hear, although it's also terrifying how powerful that Semblance is. On that topic, I have to admit, you might still be affected by that even without his Semblance active. Years of mind control can cause some significant changes in someones personality, especially with what you were forced to do."


'Yeah, I think... I think I noticed that when I sparred with Jaune at one point and I loved the thrill of it, the rush of the fight, when before I didn't have any of that. I just want to help people, make sure no one else gets what happens to me, and to set a example of what a Huntress SHOULD be.' Goodwitch nodded, a small, almost imperceptible small on her face as she wrote what she said down. "That's very compassionate of you Trivia. We'll have to conduct a more intensive interview, with a policeman present to clear your name but this should go a long way towards clearing your name."


'Actually... Speaking of that... Is it possible to change my name at some point? I-' She pauses to sell this particular bit. 'I don't know if I'm particularly comfortable hearing Trivia anymore, Roman would always say it in this sorta way that made my skin crawl.' She feels bad saying that but Roman would've kicked her ass if she didn't say it to sell it. 'I never felt comfortable with it before but never uncomfortable with it in the first place if that makes sense?'


"It does. We'll have to wait until we clear you of charges before we can do that unfortunately, as it'll appear as though your trying to muddle the investigation otherwise." Oh thank fuck there's at least a chance she can be free of this shit. "Just two more questions. How did you get free, and how did you get Roman's weapon?"


'I wish I knew, because I wanted to be free so many times before and yet all of the sudden a week ago I just... was. Roman was asleep on a couch at the time in some dingy apartment, I couldn't tell you where it was, I didn't pay attention to it as I was leaving, I was too caught up in my newfound freedom and before I think I had almost given up, because some things towards the end of his control over me are blurry. I grabbed his cane because I wanted to ensure I could escape, I packed whatever I could, what little from before that he decided to keep, and the essentials and I just ran. I met Jaune shortly after, and he helped me a lot, he helped me realize I still could be a Huntress, that I'm not broken by what Roman made me do, that I'm strong because I didn't break under everything that I went through.' Goodwitch sighed.


"I presume you won't accept relocation unless he is relocated too?" She nodded, causing Goodwitch to sigh again and write down something. "I'll keep that in mind. Now, this is a follow up question and then you'll have a break to get your mental bearing for the Exam and then you can take it. Why didn't you kill Roman after everything he put you through?"


Not what she was expecting from her, but then again Goodwitch seems kinda... Tired, probably has dealt with shit like this before, so perhaps she shouldn't be surprised. 'I... I was tired of killing. Maybe I shouldn't have left without killing him but I was so tired and so afraid that if I didn't get out right then and there I wouldn't ever be able to be free again. Maybe... Maybe that was a mistake.'


"Let me say this Miss Vanille: You did not make a mistake, you did what you thought was best for yourself, you focused on surviving your nightmare so you can be here. I'm glad you finally told someone and I promise you, regardless of if you are accepted or not, Beacon will do everything in it's power to ensure that you have justice, and that you are done right by. Head to Room 10, you have 30 minutes and then someone will come by to collect you so you can have your Preliminary Exam administered." Neo offers her a shaky smile, which is returned by a small, soft smile from Goodwitch and she heads out, finding Room 10 which is a small room with food and drink, which she could do with, she hasn't had breakfast yet and shes thirsty from crying and somewhat exhausted by that conversation. Goodwitch is a good person at least, so maybe Jaune is right and maybe she won't have to worry too much about her at Beacon, still shes under surveillance most likely so she spends the 30 minutes eating and drinking, moping a little during and after as she collects herself for this. She'll be going into this mostly blind, as the Preliminaries focus on her knowledge and ability to fight other people, but not the specifics like how, what questions, and if the latter of the two areas of testing are practical or theoretical.


The Knowledge test is mostly just what her tutoring at home and time at Lady Brownings Academy covered, with some extra bits, some stuff, like application of Dust and Aura is something shes familiar with, other stuff like how exactly to calm down people she isn't quite so familiar with, mostly since the questions orient themselves subtly around the ability to vocalize. Her mind is definitely feeling the toll now, given how she spent two hours on the test, in addition to the conversation with Goodwitch. Still, she feels extremely confident, but the Person on Person fighting seems to be a practical test, and she'll have to pull punches in all likelihood to sell the 'I'm tired of killing' thing she told Goodwitch, which will be hard when shes going through the rush and thrill of a fight, but shes done much more difficult stunts in a fight.


As it would turn out though, she ain't got shit to worry about because the practical is easy thus far, some earlier applicants who've volunteered to help Beacon administer the test, the lot of them she doubts she'll be seeing much of after this, they're rather unimpressive and shes basically pulling punches by finishing fights quickly, and efficiently, not making a show of it like she would otherwise. Granted, these are people who aren't getting into Beacon via transcripts so of course their fighting isn't up to snuff. Then Goodwitches voice can be heard over the intercom "Miss Vanille will be fighting Miss Valkyrie next."


Miss Valkyrie as it turn out is a kinda bubbly, if the skipping if any indication, ginger girl with a... is that a grenade launcher? Alright, so it seems like they're upping the difficulty, might as well show she isn't over reliant on blitzing through her fights, and show what she can do. When the fight begins Valkyrie opens up with a barrage, Hush lets her weather it and push up, she even gets some shots off with Melodic Cudgel, which, now that she can feel with her Aura properly with it covering it, actually has a Aura oriented way to alter the Dust infusion that it relies upon to shoot with, she moves from fire dust to electric. She really shouldn't be trying to up one a girl who knows who to arc her grenades at a explosive off, speaking of said ginger, she stops firing and shifts her weapon to a two handed hammer, which, if shes seeing it right, actually has a way to fire even whilst in hammer form. Smart, and also gonna make her hurt even more than she already would, which is fine, she'll make sure she doesn't get hit.


As the two rush, the difference in fighting styles is clear, avoidance and misdirection is, so far, trumping the pure power and surprising agility that Valkyrie is showing off with her hammer, she gets some pretty good strikes in with both Hush and Melodic Cudgel, only for her to fire off Melodic Cudgel into Valkyries face. That is a fuck up that could be excused by muscle memory, given it hasn't happened earlier with her other fights or in this one, but really, the real fuck up is that Valkyrie fucking smiles this demented smiled in response, and rushes her with a speed she didn't display before and catches her with a nasty hammer strike that sends her skidding across the arena, barely avoiding the ring out loss. A quick glance shows Valkyrie at 43%, having endured a beating earlier, with Neo herself at 58%, with it having gone down some from having to use Hush to push up to Valkyrie in the first place, but still, that's probably 30% of her aura gone in a single strike. She spends 1% switching Melodic Cudgel back, cursing her luck as she has to now rush and push up with Valkyrie firing off explosives to keep her at bay, failing to do so however, as Neo leaves behind a illusion of herself to take a blast, Valkyrie for a second completely losing her as Overactive Imagination briefly silences her foot falls and perfectly blends her in with the rest of the arena. By the time Valkyrie catches her, shes taking hits from Hush's unsheathed stiletto blade and Melodic Cudgel's cane end.


The buzzer sounds off Neo's victory, more scuffed than she'd like, but she is thankful she recovered that before it got too messy, she helps Valkyrie up from the ground, as she took a nasty hit from Melodic Cudgel right before the buzzer. Valkyrie grins at her. "Oh wow Goodwitch wasn't kidding! You really are good! Not that I was doubting you but seeing it believing! Sorry if I hit you too hard with that hammer strike, no hard feelings?" Neo scoffed and put on a fake look of offense, signing a 'As if.' only to get a confused look from Valkyrie. She sighed and pulled out her Scroll, typing what she said and showing it, repeating her previous expression, to the ginger girl, who smiles brightly as she get it. "Good, I'll get out of your hair, we probably need to head home and shower, hope I see you at Beacon!" She nods to Valkyrie who hops and skips off. Yeah, she's definitely bubbly.


"This thus concludes the Preliminary Exam of Trivia Vanille, Miss Vanille, please head to Room 5 for your results." Neo decides to take a page out of the Gingers book and skips on over to Room 5, finding herself in good spirits and a bit of a high after so many fights and winning them all, even if her last one was more scuffed than the rest, her body may be tired, her mind emotionally and mentally exhausted at this point but she can't help but be happy right now. In Room 5 is Goodwitch, Jaune and holy shit is that Headmaster Ozpin?


Ozpin speaks first, smiling to her. "You must be the exceptional applicant, I must say you passed your Preliminary in the top 1% of all Applicants, which, of course, means we accept your application to attend Beacon's Initiation. Professor Goodwitch here has also explained the rather difficult situation you are in, and thus, I would be happy to extend our guest rooms at Beacon to both of you to stay in until you have gone through Initiation."


Jaune practically vibrates with excitement. "Really? We can stay at Beacon?" At this Ozpin merely nods with a smile. Hm. He's wearing a smug smile that reminds her kinda of the one she and Roman have whenever they know something others don't. Probably nothing to worry about, at least, for Jaune, after all if Jaune was going to be sent home he wouldn't be here right now. Jaune turns to her and hits her with fucking puppy dog eyes begging her to accept, which she already was going to in order to sell her act but those should not be that effective on her what the fuck. She nods and signs 'Thank you for your generosity, I'm sorry for any trouble.'


Goodwitch simply shakes her head. "You are causing no trouble, and we're only doing the right thing to do in this situation, letting Roman and his associates be able to reach you in the city is just unacceptable."


"Indeed, although do not assume you automatically pass Initiation, you will still need to try, understood?" Both Jaune and her nod, causing Ozpin to nod to Goodwitch. "I'll be off now, I have to things to attend to and Professor Goodwitch can handle things from here. Good day, congratulations on this first true step of your path to become Huntsmen." With that Ozpin exits the room, with Goodwitch taking over.


"I'll be escorting you two back to where you currently are living and then escorting you to a landing platform, where we will take off and head to Beacon from." Jaune seems to pale at that.


"Will we be flying?" He asked softly, but with seriousness. "Yes Mister Arc we will be flying, why?" Jaune shuffles. "Well, I have motion sickness so I might get sick on the ride." Neo smirks and signs at him 'Try to avoid our boots if you do, this white stains far too easily.' causing a groan from him.


"Regardless, you'll be fine for the short flight from Beacon, it's at most 5 minutes. You should count yourself lucky, had you rejected, our airliner that would've picked you up takes longer than that due to stopping in Vale proper and then heading to Signal, then heads to Beacon." Jaune actually somehow pales even more at that and shudders. "Yeah, uh, your right about that."


After that, they head out, Neo and Jaune bantering a little along the way, with Goodwitch giving short comments as well, when they arrive, Jaune and her ask her to wait outside whilst they pack, which she does. Jaune surprises her by opening with sign 'So what did you tell her that caused all of this?'


'That I was mind controlled and forced into a life of crime against my will, and that I want to do better because I'm tired of killing, want to do better than others and want to ensure that no one else gets hurt like I did' Jaune raises a eyebrow at her, causing her to shrug in response.


'And do you actually mean that last bit in any way?'


'I do want to do better than others, and I do want to ensure no one gets hurt like I did...' She sighed. 'Look, RT got me away from my shitty parents, they were awful, and there hasn't been a day that has gone by that I've ever regretted getting away from them, so I do mean that I don't want people to get hurt like I did, but I mean that in that I was treated like shit for something I can't control. Although, if I'm being honest, if I could control it, I wouldn't have it any other way because I'm a spiteful bitch.'


Jaune seems to process that, nodding, before smiling a little. 'Y'know, maybe you can quit crime and actually be a Huntress for real, even if it isn't entirely honest at the start.'


Neo scoffed at that, shaking her head. 'Sure, whatever, you've got as good as a chance of fixing whats wrong with me as anyone else does.' She accompanied that 'fixing' with a particularly nasty glare at him.


'That's not what I meant.' She shrugged. 'Whatever, lets get this shit packed and cleaned before Goodwitch starts wondering if were trying to sneak a quickie or something.' He looks confused, which, yeah she should've guessed Jaune wouldn't have gotten that. 'I'll explain when your older.' She smirked at his deadpan stare as she got to packing up and putting away shit, she starts putting her bags onto Jaune who sighed.


'Y'know, I thought I would be getting away from women using me as a pack mule when I left Anselm.' She scoffed silently. 'As if. For the next 4 years, probably more, assume that I've been killed and replaced by someone with eviler intent than my cruel desire to use you as a pack mule if I ever pass up the opportunity. Also be real here I ain't carrying this shit in that sun, not with the exhaustion I feel.' He bit his cheek and then nodded.


'Alright, fair enough.' She grinned, and it came across as her feral grins too because he paled a little upon seeing it. 'Good, because this is the last easy thing you'll be doing before I put you to task, we've got alotta shit to do to get you actually ready for Beacon's Initiation, much less Beacon's courses. Especially the combat, you're gonna need all the help you can get, by the way, whats your landing strategy.'


'My... landing strategy? Whats that?' She laughed a little. 'Oh you're so fucked, maybe you can use your shield to go through trees to slow your fall or something. Maybe even glide.'


'Well whats yours?' 'Dude. I have a absurdly strong parasol and Aura, I'll be fine. By the way have you been keeping your Aura up all day?'


'Yeah... why?' 'Nothing, just practice. Cmon, let's go out to Goodwitch.'


With that, the conversation ends and they head out to Goodwitch, who's speaking with a pale Faunus woman in a blue suit and with ram horns on her head. "Ah, Mister Arc, your landlord here was actually going to discuss your lease with you."


"Miss Coldwood?" Jaune says, and the Faunus, Coldwood, simply nodded. "I was here to see if you were extending or not, given how your stay is about to be up tomorrow, but it seems I have my answer. Good day Mister Arc, and may the Gods guide you well."


"And you as well Miss Coldwood." Goodwitch hmmed, and then turned to them as Coldwood walked off. "Fortunate your stay is over Mister Arc. To Beacon?"


They both exchanged a look with each other, Neo grinning and Jaune smiling.


'To Beacon.' "To Beacon."

Chapter Text

Jaune has to admit, if he didn't have this rather comfortable bed hes laying on right now, he'd probably be dead from exhaustion and aching of his body. Aura training is no joke either, keeping it up constantly to get in the habit of having it at all, which does strain it but also help his aura reserve expand, on top of Trivia's ruthless combat training as she tried to get him ready for Initiation, although he's pretty sure shes working off steam and some issues. When they got to their rooms from the flat, they were pretty eager to turn in, Jaune was up later than her on account of not having been so drained from the day like Trivia was, as he was in his room, he came to the conclusion he was pretty sure RT was actually Roman Torchwick, that criminal he saw on the news as he entered Vale, which meant Trivia was his partner in crime no one could figure out. When he went to sleep, he woke up, he woke up to the news that Roman apparently died trying a heist on shop called 'From Dust till Dawn', which meant Trivia was probably in a bad mood as soon as she knew, which he supposed he was right and wrong which is a pretty unfun combination.


She put him to task by first making sure he was actually ready, going over his stance, correcting his posture, and some of his footwork by going through his swings, even getting him to test out his shield bash. Then after she was satisfied, she swept his feet from underneath him (literally in one spar) by absolutely going to town on him, and whilst sure, she was just working through the possibility Roman actually died in that heist by beating him up, he couldn't help but not hold it against her, since whenever they had their breaks, she kinda just... stared. It's deeply unsettling seeing her go from the lively, confident and talkative woman he met to the withdrawn, pissed off, possibly grieving woman, who can't even be bothered to tease or poke fun at him, which is very wrong. It's not like he wasn't learning from getting his handed to him constantly, he was lasting longer, and getting a hang for fighting.


Then she'd switch it up by stealing his Scroll, which is pretty rude of her, only to hand it back to him with tabs focusing on Grimm types, tactics, how to calm down civilians, stuff that helps him be better, to try and live up to the 'middling combatant but excellent learner and strategist' thing Roman apparently set up for him in his transcripts. Which, admittedly, is a great way for him to sidestep the skill gap between him and even people taking the Preliminary exam, he's pretty sure that guy with dual daggers Trivia beat in 15 seconds would've wiped the floor with him. Besides that, he's actually been getting a hang for this stuff, even if his mind is getting as taxed as his body was after all that, he just needs to work real darn hard because right now he's massively behind. He now knows what NOT to do with someone going through a panic attack, he knows the difference between a Manticore and a Griffon, the former typically is seen in the northern, colder parts of Remnant, whilst Griffons tend to be seen in Vale and southern Anima, he also knows how to play to his strengths and around his weaknesses.


He still has no clue what his landing strategy will be, but surely Beacon wouldn't test you on that during Initiation, or in the first semester, right?


He still isn't sure when he wakes up the next day, marking the 3rd full day in Beacon, and 11 days away from Initiation. Which is fine, with his progress thus far, and he has a idea on how to help himself, but first, he needs to text Trivia.


Goofbun: Hey, I need to meet with Professor Goodwitch to see if my weapons are locked to what I have on my transcripts or if I can add say, a pistol or rifle to my equipment.


She's unlikely to respond, he gets the feeling she'll be in a awful mood for much of the two weeks they have before initiation, which, even if she is mourning the potentially dead yet still rather violent criminal Roman, he was probably her only friend and possibly the first person she was treated right by. Did Roman really need to do that right as they got their guest rooms at Beacon? The article from Lisa Lavender breaking the news of his death didn't paint a good picture, apparently he got hit by a Signal student weapon a few times and was bleeding heavily, then the Dust shop exploded with him still in it, the Signal student got caught in it as well, but apparently is expected to make a full recovery, and aside from them no one else got hurt in the explosion. Hell the Dust shop owner decided to not press charges, as evidence pointed to Roman as the one who caused the explosion in the first place, and the student made sure he was out of the line of fire first, which is a good sign of that students character, maybe they'll be in his year?


Actually maybe it's for the best that they aren't, he's not sure if they'd survive being in the same building as Trivia, although he's not sure Trivia could figure out who it was that faced off with Roman, sure shes smart, scary smart actually, but there isn't much to go off on in the article. Hopefully Goodwitch or Ozpin don't tell her anything about the incident, and that they just give her space to work through what looks like a really mixed bag of emotions to them. He feels bad for Trivia, and someone did die (potentially) and that is awful, but at the same time, people might feel safer now that Roman Torchwick is gone, at least for a while to lick his wounds if he is alive and willing to go back out there, and it's not like he was the nicest criminal out there... Alright he was pretty nice to him and Trivia but that's two people against a pretty long rap sheet.


He reaches Goodwitch's office and knocks on the door, hearing a faint "come in" and he opens the door to enter and sit down in her office, rather spacious, what with her cabinets, and a table to sit down and eat at, with a mini-fridge nearby. Her desk has a placard with her name and title 'Dean' before her name, which makes sense, shes definitely a nice, if strict, person based on his interactions with her and what he's heard from Trivia. "Mister Arc, I must admit I didn't expect to see much of you until Initiation."


He nodded. "Yeah I didn't mention it when we moved into the guest rooms, thank you for that by the way." "It is no trouble, you don't need to thank us." "Still, manners make the man as my Dad says, anyway, I wanted to know if my equipment is locked in for Initiation or if I can add to it, because I want to add a ranged weapon, likely just a handgun."


"Well, Beacon encourages experimentation and refinement, and we do not prevent you from adding to your equipment for Initiation, all that we ask is that you screen any additions with Beacon staff beforehand, but I do want to ask, why do you want one now, and not before?"


Jaune shifted, he wasn't ashamed per se but it probably isn't a good look to admit he didn't really think about it, especially since that might not match with his transcripts. "I always wanted to be like my Dad, and his father and his father before him, and the thing that was consistent between them all was that they used Crocea Mors to protect and save people, and I guess I just got caught up in that idea I didn't realize how it might be detrimental until Trivia pointed out the flaws I have because of it." That earns him a sigh, which is probably good, even if it is weird to call a sign of exasperation with him a good sign.


"You are not the first person to realize that dreams and ideas don't always mesh with reality, and admittedly I am glad you came to this realization before something happened. If I may suggest something, I would recommend looking into two avenues for ranged attacks, perhaps incorporating Aura Slashes-" What. "augmented with Dust to ensure you do not need to weaken yourself in melee range. Regardless, I cannot clear yet you for using a weapon like a handgun until you are taught gun safety and how to utilize your gun of choice, and unfortunately Professor Port is out in Vale and will be for most of the day, so he will not be available to take you down to the range and teach you."


He sighed, it could've been worse, she could've figured out just from what he said that he probably didn't actually go to a combat school, although the Trivia Vanille Academy of Beatdowns isn't doing wrong by him thankfully. "Thank you Miss Goodwitch, can you let me know when he is available for that? I don't want to be dragging people down in Initiation."


"You won't be Mister Arc, but it is a good drive for you to have to constantly improve. I'll send you a text to head to the range when Port is available to teach you."


"Thank you, th-" His Scroll dings and he smiles at her, which earns a eye roll as he checks his Scroll.


Ice Cream You Scream: whatever u better b free for training


Well, he was probably wrapped up here anyway. "Sorry, that's Trivia, she wants to train with me."


"Before you go Mister Arc, how is she holding up? When I broke the news to her the day after it happened she seemed... conflicted."


Oh boy if only she knew, and he's in the tough spot of having to lie for someone whilst not being a good liar. Still, Trivia did give him a tip when he asked, during a break, about how he's supposed to help her with this whole act she has. "She is definitely going through it, it's weird, but I kinda think she cared for him in a way? I don't know, but she definitely is torn up about what happened, there are times she just looks away and it... I don't know what to do for her." He sighed, because honestly hes at a complete loss for what to do for her.


"That's enough Mister Arc." Goodwitch's tone is gentle, which does save him from the spiral he was about to go down on. "You have done a lot for her by being there, the fact she is even here because of you is a sign of that. She'll appreciate us giving her space and time to sort through this, and being there to support her, to talk to if she needs it."


"Miss Goodwitch, before I go... is... is he actually dead?" Goodwitch took a deep breath and looked at her papers. "We strongly believe that to be the case. More and more evidence points to very little of Roman Torchwick having survived the explosion, as it would appear he was at the center of it. The police want to investigate further, including having their expert on mind altering Semblances to take a look at Trivia and ensure she isn't under the effect of Romans Semblance and that he isn't capable of taking over her body from beyond the grave, as well as interrogate her with regards to if Roman had any other associates capable of helping him fake his death. Normally, you would not be aware of these things, but with the unusual circumstances, I have to ask that you keep a eye out for any suspicious behaviors, signs she isn't herself, well, more than herself going through a difficult time."


"Of course, I haven't noticed anything like that yet, but I'll notify you as soon as I do." Although, he probably should ask about this now that he is thinking about it. "Sorry if this is a overstep, but is the student that fought Roman alright?"


Goodwitch nods. "They are alright, overeager and reckless, but they haven't exhibited signs of being affected by Romans Semblance, however I cannot tell you anything else regarding their situation."


"Right. Thank you for answering Professor, I'll be going now, hope the rest of your day goes well."


"And yours too Mister Arc."


Jaune leaves the office and heads to the training arena Trivia and him have been allowed to use whilst they are in the guest rooms, it's nothing much and he's glad for it, he'd probably feel worse about her wiping the floor with him if it was more ostentatious. Trivia is there, pacing, it would seem shes moved on from being upset in a grieving way and being upset in a angry way, probably due to the routine disruption, since she looks like she might murder him this session. Well, it was a good run, and he supposed there are worse ways to go out than being killed by her legs, but he should at least mention what came up in Goodwitch's office. Not the investigation stuff, definitely not the student but...


"Can you teach me how to do a Aura Slash." And what it is but there's a lot thankfully mutually understood assumptions between them in this room, since neither knows if they're being watched but have assumed so.


'I prefer Aura Projection, not Aura Slash, since I can still do some serious damage by doing a Projection in conjunction with a thrust from Hush's stiletto blade, but sure, you know how you cover your weapons with your Aura?'


"Yeah, it's the only reason Melodic Cudgel and your leg's haven't broken the shield." That earns a huff from her, which is as good as her laughs, which haven't been happening ever since she got the news... Man, Roman really was a master criminal because even right now Jaune's being robbed, he really misses those cute silent laughs she does.


'Try to swing at me, but this time you'll also being focusing on the Aura on your blade and adding to the swing by sending some of it out.' Jaune nodded, and starts the process, feeling his Aura, warm, comforting, almost like a good blanket on a cold winter night and has it cover Crocea Mors once more, something he needs to get down to a instinctual, unconscious level still. He goes swings at her, or more accurately tries to as she jumps back, without a Aura Projection, on the 2nd swing he feels like he almost got it, and by the 3rd he manages a yellow slash in the air that hits Hush in it's open parasol shield. He feels pretty good about managing to accomplish that on the third try, and he does it a couple more times, stopping when Trivia closes Hush and grins at him with the feral vicious grin that he just knows means this is going to be a real tough one, as she rushes him. If he's being honest, the fact she isn't using Melodic Cudgel right now is a sign he should've known this was going to be a real beat down.


It gets even worse when he feels good on the 3rd bout when he manages to land a slash on her, only for it to shatter, making him realize hes completely lost her and has no idea where she is now, only for her to bring him down and lock her legs around his neck in a choke hold. He probably would think of some admittedly not so pure things about his current position in between her legs if he weren't focusing on trying to break free, only to have to give up as his vision starts to blur as he fails to and has to tap out. Thankfully, she isn't cruel, or at least, has mercy when she lets him go, letting him catch his breath and then his attention after half a minute of him doing so by tapping a heel against the ground, which he looks up to her hands and small smirk, which whilst cute, does also feel like she can't even bring herself to be smug, which is kinda wrong.

'You really are a fast learner, took me a bit to get a proper handle on that. Still, you keep letting yourself get caught off guard.' He is absolutely certain that he would be teased about him being between her thighs, which if hes being mature enough to admit to himself, he wouldn't mind if it weren't for the way his soul mark, which still hasn't burnt or really given any feeling since the day he met Trivia, weighs on him. He hasn't been thinking too much about it, what with his training, learning and thinking about how he's making it past Initiation, it's kinda fallen to the wayside, especially since he is pretty sure he won't be seeing Neopolitan for a while, he's got a feeling he won't be heading back out into Vale until midway into the first semester if all things settle well. Speaking of settling things...


"Hey, Trivia-" Her smirk falls, another sign she isn't using her preferred name in the slightest, but he can't push that, especially not now. "I'm here to talk if you ever want to or need it. I'm here for you, just as much as I would want you to be for me." Her face is in a neutral expression, her look is quite frankly beyond his ability to understand right now, then she looks away, sighing, her tails hugging her body, fox ears droopy, and for a second he thinks hes about to be brushed off before she looks back at him.


'Ever since I met Roman, since I made his first hat, which I've avoided wearing because it feels wrong to me, I always thought he'd be in my life forever, for better or worse. Roman... hes a amazing escape artist, honestly hes a genius but not in the conventional sense, he just knows shit and does stuff like its effortless, like how I was praised back in Lady Browning's Academy for excelling at combat, information gathering and reading people. Hes amazing, I could admit being amazed by him at least, but now? Now he's gone. I don't have him anymore and I know what to do with myself I think but I still feel so fucking lost. I feel like that little girl that was always alone because of how my parents were, I feel like that girl back in Lady Browning's that couldn't make friends because I can't talk like them, and you wanna know what? I despise this feeling even more than I hate that I feel as responsible for Roman being dead as that Signal student.' She is crying, has been since she mentioned how amazing he was, shes on her knees, and Jaune hugs her, not really thinking, feeling awful when she freezes, and almost is about to pull away when she wraps her arms around him, holding him in place and buries her face into his chest and cries, as he rubs circles into her back, feeling glad she can at least trust him with this.


After a bit she pulls away, signing 'Thanks. I need 10 and we'll discuss something, I just...'


"You don't need to explain yourself to me, it's appreciated, but not something you have to do." He smiles at her and she looks away, standing up and walking over to her bag, getting a drink, he does the same with his, after passing the 10 minutes in pleasant silence, she turns to him and begins to sign.


'I will be meeting with a investigation team tomorrow. They'll be trying to ascertain if my story checks out, so I'll be seeing a expert on mind altering Semblances and a detective that'll be interrogating me. Doubtful I'll be training with you before or after because I expect it to be exhausting as shit.'


"That's fine, and hey, they have to know your innocent, I mean I and Professor Goodwitch knew just from meeting and talking to you." If there's one good thing from all this lying, Jaune will at least be able to go undercover and handle things, thinking about it as training for such a scenario makes it a slightly less bitter pill to swallow even if Trivia has plenty of stories of VPD not exactly being the best of the best. Roman apparently almost got arrested whilst in a disguise, telling the honest truth and yet still almost got arrested because a cop misread the lie detector, which isn't a good look for them, Jaune has to admit.


'Goodwitch is probably just following her instincts of making sure a potential victim is treated right rather than wrongly, she is a role model and someone people should feel like they should turn to in dire circumstances.' Also probably true, Goodwitch seems to prefer believing Trivia might be truly innocent of this, and he can't blame her, Trivia is a good actor with a lot of training on how to lie and talk, it's like she was made for this. Which is honestly kinda sad, hopefully he can get her on the right path and keep her there, maybe even if Roman is alive, he'll be down a partner he probably never could replace, although if Jaune is being honest Trivia is more likely to ensure Roman has a nice retirement from a life of crime should they meet again.


"Well, regardless, they'll see what I see, someone who is a good person, or, even if you can't believe that, someone who has the potential to be a great person." Trivia just looks at him, then huffs, giving a small smile, which he is counting as a win, then starts to sign.


'Whatever, that doesn't save you from the next two spars, and us going rehashing how to research properly, Dust Application, Aura application and foundationals.' He groans, both for the act and also because he definitely doesn't look forward to it, even if hes learning, but he does earn a silent chuckle, so it's worth it.

 ___________________________________________________________________________


Neo is not going to say she has been having a good time, in fact if she had to forced to say how things were going for the past three days, she'd say they've been going like abysmal dogshit, but at least Jaune is there, even if she is admittedly not treating him perfectly. If Roman is still alive she is so demanding a shitton of ice cream, cute stuffies, and cuddle days to make up for the absolute gut punch and subsequent mess that his stunt at From Dust Till Dawn. Fortunately Goodwitch hasn't been able to monitor or talk to her after she broke the news to her, which she does appreciate learning from a actual person and not some article, as she asked for some space and time to process the news. Perhaps the Headmaster is, but she doubts it, he is busy... Unless the Signal student is being offered entrance into Beacon and he thinks she could be a threat to them, which she probably would be if Jaune weren't here, stewing in her emotions by herself has always led to some... questionable decisions.


She'll have to be tortured to talk about that Sunday.


The comfortable guest rooms, which apparently are for traveling Huntsmen so they don't need to spend money, also help her mood, although that's mostly because she can blanket burrito in peace until she has to get up and train with Jaune, although she isn't sure if her temper and stress being worked out on him counts as training. Still, her goof of a soulmate has weathered her temper pretty well for someone who probably could be learning from someone both more qualified to teach him and someone in a significantly better mood than she has been in these past three days. It got better by the third day, when they had that little talk, as it would turn out, therapists make money for a reason, whodathunk it, it didn't completely remove her mood, part of it was also unfairly complaining she was stuck with him in the first place. But hey, he's learning, and he is still proving her right that he is a good person. Doesn't make up for the fact she cannot, for the life of her, figure him out, a fact that frustrates her as the time for her day to become the worst she'll have in Beacon before Initiation.


She isn't afraid of all of Romans hard work and potential death having been wasted by her, she just isn't it's just she is completely at the whims of strangers, which has only gone well with Jaune, Roman and Goodwitch. She isn't even sure of Goodwitch, considering she probably is just making sure no one is failing a potential victim, but she is at least proving Jaune right either way. Worse still, these strangers are aligned with the VPD, namely a detective who, if they're utterly incompetent, is just as likely to condemn her to prison as they are to simply let her go, and if they're competent then her job just gets harder. This isn't considering variables like the expert they're bringing in, if they're using a lie detector (if they can read it she might be fucked, if they can't she still might be fucked anyway), and this is the crucial one, if they have a semblance that can tell the truth. If they have that she might as well confess to what is actually going on rather than lying, not that it'll do much good when they throw her in prison.


Actually, who is she even trying to fool, she's a Faunus criminal with a considerable rap sheet, she's getting executed. There's a reason she considers the White Fang to be wrong in their methods, not ideas, and they're not even that far off. Even Roman needed to work on his bias against the Faunus, but at least he worked on it and changed.


Sidestepping the considerable societal issues, the expert she is significantly less worried about, mostly since her semblance is... weird. They're likely checking if she's been affected by a Semblance that affects the mind, and Overactive Imagination has done that in the past, not to mention it kinda made some issues worse. Shit like her inability to tell that she has some form of personality disorder, although she's pretty sure it's sorted now, probably, and how her ability to perceive reality was kinda fucked for a while on account of talking to herself basically. She still has no fucking clue how to make a illusion talk beyond what happened when she was still going by Trivia. Still, she has her playbook, her answers, and all of the preparation, training and skills she needs. All that's left now is to go all in and double down.


A knock on the door spells the end of her blanket burrito times and the beginning of what will likely be a long, exhausting interrogation.


She leaves the safety and warmth of her bed and opens the door, seeing Goodwitch, who nods in greeting. "Ready, Miss Vanille?" Neo nods, thankful Goodwitch doesn't use her legal first name, and hoping for the small mercy of not needing to hear it beyond what is necessary. They head off to a wing of Beacon she hasn't been too, probably the staff and administrative side of things from the look of things, they then head into a lounge room, it's pretty comfy looking, clearly for when the staff just need to sit down, relax and not have to worry about shit, and they sit down on a couch that Neo would melt into if it weren't for the people across the stone table.


The pale woman with short black hair and black eyes simply nods at their presence, the detective if the brown overcoat and VPD underneath, with a large bag slung over her shoulder, is any indication. The dark skinned man with white hair and warm green eyes must be the expert then, he's got a green sweat vest and white slacks on, he has a smile on his face, and he does reads more friendly than the detective, who is guarded but somewhat tired with bags under her eyes. The detective speaks first, pulling out just a Scroll, good, no lie detector nonsense. "Before we begin, let us do some introductions and prefacing: I am Detective Nera Syckle." "And I am Doctor Randall Applewood." "I am Dean of students Glynda Goodwitch, a professor at Beacon and a Huntress."


Neo signs. 'I am Trivia Vanille.' "Let the record reflect the signed words were I am Trivia Vanille. You'll be hearing that alot as I cannot record your signings otherwise. Now, some prefacing: We, including you, Goodwitch, but not you Miss Vanille, must disclose our Semblances before this interrogation and to have the proceedings here be admissible in court should the need arise. Hopefully, we will be done with this case by today. Additionally, you can have a right to refuse questioning if you feel the need or want to. There will be some documentation we need to sort through at the end as well. Now, for the first order of business: I will disclose my Semblance, which is that I don't have one." Oh nice, still, doesn't preclude the expert from having a type of truth telling Semblance.


"My Semblance is Clearing Clouds, it'll become clear in a bit, I can tell if someone is or was under the influence of a mind altering Semblance, I can also see their mental fortitude when I do this. I am told when I activate it, it can feel like a cloud or weight lifting whenever I remove influence, however it can be a cloud descending or dizzying should there not be a influence. I cannot control that bit, I am sorry to say." Well, the Doctor has what she wants at least, provided of course her semblance doesn't count as actively influencing her right now, either because of the preexisting issues shes had, or because her hair turned half pink as she started to accept herself, or when her parents died and she got streaks of white. She... still doesn't know how to feel about that really but she can twist that last bit at least.


"Mine is Telekinesis, any part of my body, or my weapon can direct telekinetic force from myself. I will not go into it for security's sake." This earns a nod from Syckle, who speaks again. "Now, with all that said, you can refuse to be affected by Doctor Applewood's Semblance, but I will warn you it will make proceedings messier and more complicated." There really isn't a choice here, but the option is nice, although it really isn't one since she basically might as well be admitting she's bullshitting if she refuses.


'It's appreciated but I don't see any reason to refuse, I want to get my life back.' Doctor Applewood smiles, and speaks once Syckle has finished repeating Neo's signing. "Well, I think that's a sign to begin, unless there's-" "Just get on with it Doctor." Syckle's voice displays some emotion, mostly exasperation, apparently she and him have worked together, not that he's bothered by it.


She has to admit, the feeling of a cloud descending and that it's choking her is fucking awful and she never wants to feel it again. She already didn't want to see this guy after this but she definitely would do alot of things to ensure that she doesn't have the difficulty breathing and getting her thoughts coherent. It thankfully passes after a very tense and awful minute.


"Well, she definitely was affected by a mind altering Semblance, and isn't currently, and her mind is exceptionally strong, which is to be expected considering how in spite of everything she has been put there, she is still here, trying to be better and clear her name. Many in her situation would've already given up, or need significant rehabilitation and therapy after the trauma they experienced." Syckle simply nods. "Well, that means it's my turn for the job."


And thus begins a rather boring set of questioning, mostly going over what Goodwitch interrogated her over back when they met, likely just so they can say they went over it in a actual official interrogation. She answers the same, aside from mentioning her relationship with her parents (it was stormy, a understatement), the hat and why she took it (she made it for him and felt like he didn't deserve to keep it), acting the same but also slightly differently for the sake of how she's been over the past few days, which absolutely is going to be questioned, since her appearance is somewhat disheveled, purposeful to sell the answer she has. Maybe she could've avoided the question but honestly, she wouldn't have been able to do it, she is a great liar and actor, but this is the hardest she has been hit emotionally in a long, long while.


"How did you come to meet Roman, and how did you come to be under his control? We understand you don't know how it happened, but walk us through it."


She nodded, Roman's fake Semblance is her favorite part of this, mostly because of the in joke between her and him, but also because they're clearly freaking out about it. If she's being fair if a Semblance like that existed they should be, she wouldn't be, she's built different but they should be. 'Well, I saw his fight on the news, the one with the two Huntsmen, at the time my parents and I continued to have our relationship plummet, they didn't love me, for reasons beyond my control, and I couldn't love them because of their treatment of me. As a result, I felt drawn to Roman, he had a charisma and his opponents cared more about the glory of bringing him down and into custody rather than the people and building they were fighting in. So I snuck out and sought him out, I wasn't placed under his control in the first meeting, it was short, mostly to set up a meeting so we could discuss me getting away from my parents and their reach. When he agreed to it I was so happy, I felt like for the first time I could trust someone, and I...' She looked away as a blush formed on her face. 'I formed a crush on him that took a while to go away and become something else. When I met him at a Mistrali tea shop is when he took control.'


Doctor Applewood hmmed, and then spoke after Syckle was done with her repeat. "Well, it sounds like that could be the requirement given what happened with-" "Doctor." Syckle interrupts, sending him a side-eye, which won't save them from her curiosity.


'With the Signal student?' She likely won't get much, but she should press on. 'I'm just concerned.'


Goodwitch steps in when the two across share a look and seem to be silently debating once Syckle repeats. "The student in question is fine, it would appear Roman Torchwick's Semblance didn't come into play during their fight or after it. I was around them for a significant amount of the aftermath of the fight." Neo let's some of the tension leave her body, no real new information, although that is interesting, they were said to be recovering, yet Goodwitch was present for a while afterwards. Perhaps out of fear of the Semblance, or are they going to be in her and Jaune's year? They have to be within the 2 last years of Signal's education, sure Roman wants to appear like he died and things do go wrong sometimes, but to die to like, some 15 year old? As if, Roman's pride wouldn't be so happy.


'Thank you, I know that was a overstep but I just... needed to know.' Goodwitch nodded. "It's understandable, and commendable, now, I have a question: Did you feel anything odd about the experience with Roman, did he touch you or did you feel anything strange during it."


'No, although if something like that happened I probably didn't notice it, I was too giddy about the thrill of him accepting, of the possibility of him actually helping me.' Doctor Applewood shifted, he actually seems uncomfortable about it, and when he speaks after the repeat, she can understand why.


"Would you mind explaining what exactly went wrong with you and your parents relationship. You've described it as stormy earlier in the questioning, but this is quite the length to go to over you and your parents not getting along. Surely you two could've patched it up or at the very least parted ways when you became a legal adult." Not at all possible with her shitty excuses for parents, but also she did understate it.


'I...' She shifted, looking as uncomfortable as she felt. Proper ladies promptly answer the question Trivia. Proper ladies don't look like you, like a animal with those horrid eyes. She just needs a second, because this both needs to be sold and also this is probably the most she's spoken about her parents to anyone not called Roman. 'My first memory of my father is him grabbing me, holding me up and shaking me, demanding I speak. I cannot speak. I haven't spoken ever. My mother despised my eyes and couldn't be rid of my Faunus traits because of my father, in fact the only reason I was even considered his daughter is because I look like my paternal grand mother. It never got better with either of them, my mother just simply stopped calling me animal to my face and learned to not look at my eyes, and my father would come home hoping I got over spiting him or faking my muteness. Whenever they weren't forced to bring me, I was locked away in my room or left alone at home. It only changed when after I ruined a party and accidentally caused a fire I was sent to Lady Brownings. I have good hearing, thanks to my ears, so I overheard my father mention to my mother that they'll have legal custody for as long as they want, since they were able to get a judge in his pocket to agree with a paid off psychologist that I am mentally incapable of taking care of myself. When I heard that I realized I would never have a say in my own life.'


She was shaking and crying a little. 'The worst thing is that whenever they were forced to acknowledge me, forced to bring me along to parties or gatherings? They were wonderful, and I always wondered why they couldn't be this way all the time. That they actively chose to hate me.' Okay the tears are alot more than just a little.


Goodwitch cleared her throat. "Miss Vanille. You can stop whenever you need to, we won't judge you or think less of you for it." Neo nodded, shaking out a 'give me 5.' Syckle, who hasn't outwardly shown a reaction, simply nodded and paused the recording.


"Off the record: what you went through was horrible, and really does shed a light on them. It might not sound like a lot right now but this will allow us to tackle their legacy, Jimmy has been suspected of wrong doing, but investigation has been put off on account of no clear leads, victims or evidence as a result of what has happened." Okay Syckle just doesn't show it, great body language control but that definitely sounds like someone kinda angry but also glad. Justice oriented? Hoping for a challenge? It doesn't particularly matter but old habits die hard and she finds it interesting to learn people from the smallest of things.


"Whilst I am not a expert on this, as my specialty lies in Criminal psychology, how to help victims and what Semblances do to the mind, I do recommend you talking to Beacons therapist." Goodwitch nods at that. "Doctor Verde has been exemplary for both students and faculty, and can direct you to someone else if they and you don't mesh well. I strongly recommend it, you might have a strong mind, but being able to talk about your issues to someone goes a long way." Neo tilts her head at Goodwitch, as she pats her empty pockets, happy to find a excuse to not sign, as she hasn't been able to avoid it for this meeting even though she really doesn't think they deserve it. Thankfully, Goodwitch is intelligent and gets the question. "Beacon will cover it, mental health is a important thing for Huntsmen, and you'll find those costs covered in all of the Kingdoms."


"This is rather enlightening, however, it's been 7 minutes. If you need more time that's fine, but-"


'It's fine. I want to be done with this chapter of my life.' Syckle nodded and restarted the recording. "Let the record reflect the 7 minute intermission as Miss Vanille recollected herself. Now, for some follow up questions and were hopefully done with this line of questioning. Were you present at what happened in the Vanille estate? If so, please describe."


'I was, Roman used me to help him execute this plan of his to pit my parents, Hei Xiong and the Spiders from Mistral against each other in order to create a power vacuum in the Valean underworld. It worked by the way, honestly maybe this is weird mixed feelings I have for Roman talking but he was a genius at this, it was amazing. It did... hurt, even though I couldn't love my parents, having them die brought about the streaks in my hair, I think I mourned what could've been, and the people they should've been. Although it kinda sucked given Roman, based on his complaints, didn't get to enjoy the vacuum he created and has someone pressuring him.'


"Someone pressuring him?" Syckle asked, with Goodwitch frowning, having tensed for some reason. She doesn't blame her, she needs to play this carefully, as too much and she unravels things and contradicts, too little and Cinder won't be on their radar as a serious threat. This will be her and Roman's way to out smart her, part of Cinders power is that shes using pawns, intermediaries, connections, and misleading information. Roman for example is supposed to be the big face of dust robberies, and the White Fang is supposed to be something else. She is gambling here, but the only way she sees Cinder going down is by shining a light at her and pointing her out to the people who can rid the world of her, and that's assuming Cinder herself isn't merely a tool for someone or something larger.


'Roman would vent to me, in general complaining, but his complaints about a fiery bitch stuck to me, because this woman... Cinder I think it was, got Roman to do things for her he normally wouldn't, like working with the White Fang, or bringing too much heat to himself. Not to mention his wording implied she had the ability, connections and reach to ensure he died if he didn't work for her. I never met the woman and I think Roman kept me away from her as a sort of tool in his back pocket in case things got to his worst case scenario, but I don't know much beyond that. Usually his complaints were weird, like how her eyes glowed, her skin feeling hot to the touch, as if you were being burnt, shit like that.'


If it weren't for the fact she didn't already want to kill Cinder, she'd be even more pissed because the way Roman described her sounded like he had something for her, but wi- Wait. Is Roman Ace? It just hit her but that would explain what he meant when they last spoke, and why he resisted her advances. Holy shit. Maybe her mother was right and she is just stupid. Roman even admitted to Neo that Cinder was attractive and be the kinda woman she'd thirst over, but he wasn't interested in her like that, and he never expressed interest in girls, even with Neo being right there for him, or guys and enbys now that she was thinking about it. Sure he'd flirt bu-


"Were you aware of his plans for From Dust Till Dawn, and would you describe what you did when you first regained control of yourself?" Ah. Right. Being interrogated. First question is easy. Second one is too but she quite literally didn't pay attention to Roman's planning for a week. She actually can't recall why either, probably something to do with her jealousy over Cinder. She'll unpack her not realizing her dum-dum was Ace later.


'Technically, yes, but he never shared the details, such as when, where, how, things like that. As for what I did after I got control back, I cried, grabbed his cane, the hat I made for him, whatever I could and would want to consider mine, along with the essentials I could carry and ran off. Again I do not remember that hideout, I'm sorry, but I met Jaune in Victory Square shortly after.' Syckle tapped her Scroll, marking that particular location, repeating as she does. "Follow up: Why take the hat? Not killing him is understandable considering everything about your situation, but was that truly necessary?" 'No, but I also didn't want to leave it in his possession. I've actually been thinking about replacing the red band on it with a pink or white one and altering it so I can wear it with my ears out. Might as well make it mine, yknow?'


Doctor Applewood nodded. "It is. Do you sew?" Neo nodded. "I heard it's quite helpful for the mind, I would recommend it as a way to deal with the emotions your feeling right now and in the future." Neo gave the appearance of being thoughtful and nodded. "Excellent."


"Now, we likely already know this answer, but would you like to clearly state why you've been so affected by Roman Torchwicks death?"


'I had a attachment to him, even through it all, I think I just almost gave up on life in general when I got free, but I always thought he was doing what was best for me, for us. I just thought life wasn't for me if this was what was necessary. When I was told he died it felt... wrong. That the person who I thought would be there for better or worse was now just gone and that I couldn't show him the person I would become.'


"Perhaps..." Doctor Applewood started. His body language is nervous, which is good because Neo knows what she has set him up for and hates herself for it, but no one never said lying couldn't result in you end up hurting yourself. "Perhaps that's for the best then? Roman's Semblance could've taken control of you again with the possibly theory you need to have a connection to him like you did."


Neo winced, looking away. "I apologize, but sometimes people captured by someone develop a connection with their captors, and it is usually toxic, meaning it's unhealthy and harmful for them. In your case this connection you had beforehand seemed to have been strengthened, which led you to excuse extremely harmful actions and come to the extremely wrong conclusion that you weren't cut out for living because you believed what you went through was necessary. What you went through, from your parents and what Roman put you through was wrong, Miss Vanille. You don't need to accept that right away, but you should truly question his actions and not excuse them, alongside talking to someone about them." Neo decides to nod, kinda numbly.


'Can... can we go back to me being interrogated.' This actually gets a huff from Syckle once she repeats. "Sure. When Roman exposed Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy for Young Girls, what was your role in this?"


'I think he gathered I was trained there, and he could force me to divulge information with his Semblance by making me write things down. Funnily enough he only tried to make me talk once, just to check if I was lying, and said that my parents really just stupid once he realized I couldn't. From there he realized it was a front for Spider to recruit from, so he decided to expose the Academy to weaken Spider further.' Syckle thought after she finished repeating, then looked at the Doctor, who shook his head and Goodwitch, who after a moment of thought also shook her head.


"As there are no further questions, this concludes the interrogation of Trivia Vanille." Syckle ends the recording and pulls out some papers from her bag. "We will now go onto the documents part of the meeting: we have a affidavit, mostly to reassure people that you will not return to a life of crime, will continue to improve yourself and continue trying to be a Huntress. It is not necessary but it'll mean that once signed your crimes become sealed, and only will be unsealed should it be necessary, should it not be signed, your crimes become available for the public to look at. However, given how you've expressed your desire to change your name we can hold off on that, and instead give you the name change documents now, so you are through being referred to by a name you do not wish to associate with. We unfortunately cannot support changing your last name due to Valean law regarding the last of a family, you'll need to be married for that. I've marked out where you need to fill in." Well, there are worse issues, and being done with Trivia is reason enough for her to go through with it, as she does Goodwitch speaks.


"I can hold onto the affidavit and drop it off with you once the paperwork is processed and Miss Vanille has signed it. When will that be, by the by?" Syckle hands her the affidavit. "Hm. Probably the day before Beacon's Initiation is done? Normally it takes longer, especially in this situation but this case has become extremely straightforward with Roman's death and Miss Vanilles testimony, there isn't much of a case against Miss Vanille, beyond the minor charge of seeking out a criminal. This combined with the testimony regarding a potential power in the Valean underworld we weren't aware of makes it rather undesirable, so were interested in processing the pardon related to being mind controlled that is built into Valean Law. Although for Miss Vanilles sake it won't be processed until the Affidavit is signed."


Neo hands Syckle the name change document, who reads it over and nods. "Congratulations on the new name, Neopolitan Vanille. Now, I believe that is all, and our cue to leave. I wish you well at Beacon you two, and that I do not see Miss Vanille in this setting, with this role, again."


'Believe you me, I don't want to ever commit crime just because I am utterly exhausted by this interrogation.' Syckle huffed again and stood up, with Doctor Applewood sighing and stretching. "I'll miss that chair." "And I'm missing my coffee, you'll live." With a laugh from Doctor Applewood, they leave, as Neo melts into the couch.


'Do me a favor and don't tell Jaune, by the way. I want it to be a surprise for him.' Goodwitch nodded, a small smile on her face. "Very well. Now, unfortunately I nor you can stay on this couch or within this room, but I can take you back to yours. I'll bring some sewing material for you tomorrow, as I imagine you'll want to work on that hat project of yours." Unfortunate, but a acceptable compromise. Neo gets up, stretching a little, as she does she catches red writing on Goodwitchs arm, under the sleeve, only briefly visible due to the angle and rare moment of her being taller than someone. That ends when Goodwitch stands, but Neo is firing off questions before she can do anything else, she'd just gesture but signing feels right with Goodwitch, shes earned it now.


'Is that your soulmark? Why is it red?' Goodwitch looks at her for a long minute, before sighing. "Right. Abysmal parenting. The reason why it is like that is because I have met my soulmate, and red is the color of love. If he hated me it'd be black, and if I had not met him, it'd be grey. I would prefer not to talk about him if you don't mind, given how you'll be a student of mine for the next four years."


'Oh. Right. Sorry.' "Don't be, it's not your fault, I simply wish to keep my private and professional lives separate. I'll drop off a book regarding the soulmark and soulmates when I bring the sewing material, I know a very helpful book full of reliable information, nothing like the stuff you see online." Well that'll be nice, Neo thinks as she nods in thanks. She's looked into it before, both looking through books and internet, but she has found some pretty unhelpful stuff. Including a rumor that Faunus with human soulmarks are doomed to die alone. That was a fun one to find and definitely not hurtful.


As they head back to her room, Neo definitely has noticed a change in Goodwitch, which means she definitely was just humoring her as her duty required, but it's loosened up, not too much, it's still Goodwitch, but she's now less tense and on guard. It's nice to be trusted like that even though it's through completely false means... She doesn't like that pang going through her system. She rarely feels it enough to know what it is, but would rather not deal with that right now.


She wonders if Jaune feels that, or if he hasn't yet due to being put to task by her and the fact he can justify it since he'll be dedicating much of his life to saving people. Speaking of Jaune actually, she definitely isn't up for training, she pulls out her Scroll, pulling up Jaune, smirking at the name change she got in whilst she stole his Scroll that one time.


Ice Cream You Scream: as always im rite im fuckin exhausted from that


Goofbun: That's fine! I was doing gun safety and training with Professor Port.


Ice Cream You Scream: ye? hows port


Goofbun: He talks alot. It's informational, but he seems to like using his stories as a way to convey information.


Ice Cream You Scream: aka i lik hearing my own voice talkin up my shit


Goofbun: ...Alright fine, but at least I have gone over how to use a gun responsibly and I've got a idea of what kind of gun I want to use. It ain't gonna be a revolver.


Ice Cream You Scream: did u just say aint do you have a accent n ive ben denied??????


Goofbun: ...Gosh darn it. Whatever, I'm still going to be practicing Aura Projection with my sword.


Ice Cream You Scream: lmao u sure u didnt forget 2 swear? also u shuld get the sword tuned up 2 use dust i mean u culd inject it in2 the sword arm and use aura 2 channel it in2 the sword and then ur swing but its not ur style


Goofbun: I'm already on thin ice with my Mom for leaving and only using a note to reassure them, I'd rather not fall through. Also wait, I thought Dust Infused equipment and clothing existed?


Ice Cream You Scream: to dust infuse ur sword u wuld need 2 remake it n i doubt u want that clothing culd work but ur still running in2 the issue with injection Melodic Cudgel was made with infusion in mind


Goofbun: Right. I guess I could do something with the pommel and hilt?


Ice Cream You Scream: mayb. shield needs work 2 u might want that dust strike on the draw or on ur bash instead and channeling in2 the shield is just really dumb and wasteful


Goofbun: I'll take it slow, I'm still having to get over the feeling I'm desecrating the sword by changing it.


Ice Cream You Scream: as much as i h8 it mecha shift has takn ovr for a reason n ur not desecrating it ur improving it i bet ur grandpa wuld kill u for not doin it


Neo arrives at her room, and she waves good bye to Goodwitch as she enters and then lays down.


Goofbun: Why do you hate mecha shift by the way? Been wondering if I should just go all the way and have my sword and gun be in the same weapon.


Ice Cream You Scream: waitin 4 ur weapon 2 shift is 1 of the reasons me n roman kickd alot of ass. n keep in mind whilst roman wasn't a saint there are alot more bloodthirsty people workin as criminals, not even considering that in the moments ur waiting for ur weapon, a grimm could kill u or some1 else. drop the sword n pull ur gun instead n u m8 save more lives.


Jaune is quiet for a bit after that. Perhaps she was too harsh but she doesn't have much mental capacity for either proper texting instead of her style nor for softening the blow.


Goofbun: Any other things to point out?


Ice Cream You Scream: shield as a scabbard is dumb n im tired of pretendin its not u need 2 sheath ur sword in combat for any reason n u give a vantage point 2 grab n holding it, sure u can hold it in the shield arm but thats clunky af n part of the dumb is that ur thinkin of how to work around the issue


Goofbun: I kinda look forward to the 2nd opinion that my future team will have


Ice Cream You Scream: gud, i have very biased opinions n think im hot shit - i am but getting the opinion of someone like Valkyrie or that dude w a sword gun that was volunteerin despite being in on transcripts is gonna help u more w grimm, i'm sorted n still geared towards fightin people


Goofbun: I guess there really is too much of a good thing huh?


Ice Cream You Scream: no not really, there is never 2 much of me, i have the semblance 2 prove it


Goofbun: True. I'm going to go research what the best modifications are, what good guns to pair with my equipment and skillset, and what to do in natural disasters.


Ice Cream You Scream: u should look in2 armor upgrades soon, nothin crazy but i am livin proof u need ur legs for fightin n u aint protectin urs. but sure, nite


Goofbun: True, I am not. Your never going to let me live down my accent huh? Oh well, I can live with getting teased about it by a hot fox Faunus. Night!


That cheeky bastard, but at least hes starting to learn how to take teasing and dish it back out, even if it's only over text. She isn't feeling the same as when Roman flirted with her as a joke, that did things to her, so clearly this soulmate shit is bullshit, but then again shes also been treating him poorly... She wonders, does she show up as black writing on Jaune's soulmark? She should check her own when she gets the sewing materials and the book.


The next day is heralded by a early knock on the door, and a obnoxiously cheery Goodwitch, with a bag of sewing materials and a book called 'A beginners guide to Soulmates.' which doesn't fill her with confidence. Still she nods her thanks when she takes them and begins her work on her hat, she wants it ready by Initiation, and she might as well add it to her appearance, it meant alot to Roman when she first gifted it to him, but his replacement she made has replaced it, which she doesn't mind. The pink band is pretty easy to put on it, it's the ear friendliness that takes the most work, but it's still pretty easy and straightforward. She's rarely grateful for not hearing things, even if they are unpleasant since she lives by the saying that knowledge is power, and her ears are amazing for getting knowledge, but her focus was pretty crucial here, so not having neighbors aside from Jaune is pretty nice.


She's actually surprised she hasn't heard anything from Jaune's room really. Sure she isn't expecting to hear him getting some of his fantasies outta his system and onto... where ever, but not even music, or him accidentally putting his Scroll on full blast? The most she hears is his footfalls from there, along with some talking, which from what she gathered has been mostly Huntsmen stuff. It's like Roman, actually, which has her once again going back to the whole whoops didn't catch my best friend and massive crush was Ace! thing that she had yesterday.


How the fuck did she miss that? It'd one thing if she didn't get it immediately but clocked on earlier but shes been with Roman since she was 17! She's 19 right now! Sure she didn't invade his privacy like with Jaune, which sends that annoying pang through her again as she admits that, but she still shouldn't have needed that! Is she just stupid? She groans silently and throws herself onto her bed, book in hand, as she needs a distraction from the absolute state of her life.


After 30 minutes, of skimming and reading what she deems as the important bits, she has come to a conclusion that she finds herself coming back to quite alot: her parents were assholes. She was gaslit into thinking it was her fault, which she turned into Jaunes fault for Jaune never coming when in reality the grey writing was the result of her not meeting him! This shit is the default, and the color of indifference! Now, she'll be honest with herself and admit she probably shouldn't check the soulmark in the mirror. It'll be yellow, the color of mixed feelings, black, because shes a freak a murderous criminal lying as easily as she breathes, or one of the darker shades that typically means the soulmate thinks very little of you.


But as she steps into her bathroom, with only her pink lace bra on, and as she looks at her Scroll, with it's camera reversed, she finds Jaune Arc, written in pink of all things, which is ridiculous because pink is interest and attraction. That's crazy, but her constant checking of if her Semblance is active (it isnt) or if the lighting is playing a trick on her (it isn't) or if she's dreaming and can't tell what reality is anymore (she isn't, jury is still out on the last one though) she finds herself without any answer aside from that it really is pink. She opens the book and checks, turns out pink can jump straight to red, love, deep romantic love, blue, liking someone but not sure, or purple, lust.


This complicates her narrative and also completely throws everything she has thought of him for the past 19 years of her life out the window... or does it? It's only interest. Attraction. She's fucking sexy. She's fucking hot. She could kill someone with both. It would make sense now hes attracted. Now hes interested. After all now he finally understands what he has been missing out on, having a idea of who exactly she is. He could have a whole harem of soulmates waiting back home but she'll still be the baddest bitch he'll ever see or meet. Once they talk more and more, once he realizes what she has done, willingly, and without coercion or even for money, but because she loved fighting, loved the thrill of the kill, loved the fact she finally had control over her life and could do whatever she damn will pleased?


That interest will dry up. Hes the heroic knight who wants to save the day, shes the assassin who's purpose in his journey is to be the dangerous carrot, and once he realizes she has every intent of going back to Roman? He'll be through with her. Hell, he might even try to stop her, and depending on when, like say, near the end of their time at Beacon? By that point, he'll be a pretty big challenge with all of the help she'll be giving him, and the training he'll receive.


She might not make back to Roman then. She always knew dying was a possibility, but knowing it's Jaune in that scenario brings... feelings. Very mixed ones at that, hurt at the idea of it being her soulmate, but also joy at knowing it would be him and not some stranger... and sorrow, because Jaune is not like her, she could probably do it without beating herself up over it at the time, later sure but in the moment? Unlikely. Hell if she had killed Jaune shortly after they met she would be overjoyed at being rid of a perceived tormentor who couldn't accept her, which is unfair. He'd probably be her greatest regret. Jaune on the other hand? No, probably not, and even the hypothetical Jaune would really struggle with it because he is just a genuine person who wants to help people, and killing her would do shit to him.


She couldn't drag Jaune down with her, not unless something happened with his transcripts, which will inevitably cause issues for her, not withstanding Jaune probably taking her down with him in that case, which would be fair, since there'd be no reason for him to keep his silence. He would want to help out even if hes going to prison or facing some other sort of severe punishment, and revealing her expert bullshitting would be in line. But also... she kinda can't do that to him, it feels wrong to do, to even think about doing to. She's someone who has killed people, injured and robbed others, and yet her line is this, which she isn't complaining, after all, who better than her to understand what preventing a person from being who they are does to them? And Jaune would be devastated, perhaps not suicidal but he'd be depressed.


But what if that isn't the only way? Sure Cinder is on their radar, but if shes not the queen or boss then Roman and her could have a very long time before they can walk around without a target on their back. They have funds stored through some forgeries, caches and she won't exactly be hurting for money once she gets going with the Huntress shit, she might even be able to get Jaune in on giving Roman a comfortable retirement. Hell maybe Roman might spring up with some vital, crucial information he strings along for all it's worth and gets himself some cushy job or something. She'll have her knowledge of when to invest and to pull out too, so she'll make money through the market too.


Maybe she can- Her alert for when they're training begins pings, and she groans. She got lost in her head, before the interrogation and now this it's been years since that has happened. She needs to shower, get dressed and shit like that.

___________________________________________________________________________

Jaune hopes that Trivia will be able to show, whilst he's grateful for Ports instruction, he doesn't want to hear about another story of Port and how he saved some girls vegetables from a bunch of boarbatusks. Although he did have a point, why were Grimm targeting that particular patch an- No he isn't going down that rabbit hole. In other news he did look up what he mentioned last night, he's pretty sure he'll just be having a simple handgun, focusing on ease of reloading, no smgs, no sawed off, definitely no revolvers, and no hand cannons. And he's pretty grateful for Trivia's 'how to research bit' as that made his life alot easier, he even had some ability to focus leftover to look up the Vanilles, and it isn't pretty. He's pretty sure Trivia killed her own parents, which is unthinkable to him, but with what little she has said about them, he gets the feeling they sorta set themselves up for their daughter to hate them, which is even worse, since he couldn't imagine bringing someone into the world just to do what they did.


That might be his Dad's words about parenthood just then, which isn't bad, he's pretty sure he turned out alright, even if hes a pathetic liar not taking the same path as everyone else, and his sisters that left always came back, with their soulmates always saying they talked so much about how their wives missed their parents, or how they wished their own parents were like Nicholas and Cornelia Arc. Speaking of his sisters, he apparently is a Uncle now! He's so happy, he sent some pretty happy texts congratulating Saphron and Terra, and that he would visit when he can. Hopefully by then he'll have met Neopolitan and be able to slowly introduce them to the rest of the family, he thinks it'll be fun for them, even if Saph will embarrass him. He's still in contact with Saph, since she encouraged him to take the leap he has, and she is reassuring the family he is fine and is going to a Academy, otherwise he'd be on missing persons posters.


Speaking of, he noticed in the shower his Soulmark is different, its yellow with pink on the edges now, for some reason, he wonders what that means, before it's been grey, then it burnt and was a extremely dark yellow. Now it's still yellow, lighter, but it's got some pinkish hues apparently. Dark pink, but its nice. This doesn't tell him a darned thing about Neopolitan and how close he is to them though, which is... immensely disappointing.


Trivia enters the arena just then, looking... off. Not like she has been since they got here, although he didn't see her yesterday, which made him feel... weird. Regardless, when Trivia looks at him it's sorta like she doesn't want to but has to. Did something happen? He hope nothing has happened, he wants to help her make the most of this 2nd chance she has, and that's pretty hard when shes in prison... or worse from what she has told him about being a Faunus.


'Hey, have you ever met your soulmate.' Oh. She hasn't really talked about this before, not even mentioning it as a one-off like how her father yelled at her to speak one time. He doesn't think it was just that from the way the frown she had at the time deepened, but giving her time, and trusting in her will go a long way.


"Yes? No? I don't know, on the day I met you I thought I did, when you sat down, and then when you showed up at my door. Was wrong on both accounts obviously, it would've been nice." She shifted, looking away. "Oh. Sorry I guess thats-"


'Don't be.' She glared at him, offended at the apology, before her gaze softens. 'I'm sorry, I'm just in a weird mood... Did you ever see them later that day?'


"Nope. I probably won't be seeing them until were in the middle of our first semester, and that's if my team gels well and things settle in easily. I want to, but hey, I've waited 17 years for my soulmark to even appear and then 18 years to even meet them, whats a few months in comparison." That earns a stare, a genuine open mouthed surprised stare from her, which has him lost. "What?"


'Jaune... I've had mine since I was two. I've never heard of a soul mark taking so long to appear.' Oh. So he really was just the unlucky one of the Arcs? He supposed all of the luck went into getting him born in the first place, considering everything that happened before he was even a thought in his parents mind.


"Yeah, it's fine though, I just hope it's just someone finally accepting themself, like if their trans or a enby." That earns a head tilt from Trivia. "The only reason my parents had me was because my sister, Magnolia, transitioned so she isn't their son anymore, shes a wonderful woman by the way, she met her soulmate a year before I left, they're probably engaged or even married right now." Alabaster is a excellent person, tempering Magnolia's rather crazy ideas for improving the farm with their calm rationale and providing some stability for her as she invented. He couldn't ask for a better sibling in law.


'No offense, but your dad sounds...' "Old fashioned?" 'Yeah.' "Yeah Dad's old fashioned, but he loves all of us, no matter what, when Magnolia broke down, confessing, all he could do was apologize for giving the impression he would ever reject her for trying to be happy with her body and who she is. He pledged to support her no matter what, and a Arc never goes back on their word. I'm pretty sure he came close to dueling someone over the way they treated her as she was transitioning, but Mom talked him out it, said the way they got ostracized and eventually had to leave town was more than enough."


She nodded, giving a small smile. 'Your mom sounds like a pretty level headed woman.' "She is, but she kinda has this cold temper that makes you regret even having thought of angering her in the first place. And whilst shes no Huntress, she did meet my dad whilst being a Nurse, apparently she scared him into letting her treat his wound, although when they moved to Anselm she was more the town doctor for kids."


'Huh. Were they soulmates?' Jaune nodded. "Yeah, although my Dad just complained about a burn at the time, not really realizing. Mom knew, and made sure to keep running into him, and the rest was history once he realized." It was a story he's heard a few times, usually from his mother since his Dad just looked away embarrassed by the fact he didn't realize he met his soulmate whilst trying to get back into a fight with a dislocated and bleeding arm. Apparently Mom's soulmark is on the back of her shin, whilst Dad's was on his elbow.


'You think you'll bump into them again?' "Yeah, I'm certain of it, I'm sure they're hoping to see me again as well. After all they probably realized they didn't just randomly get burnt in the middle of the street in broad daylight."


Trivia scoffed, raising a eyebrow. "Hey, don't look at me like that, just because you don't think people are smart doesn't mean I share that opinion. How about you, have you met yours?" The answer is not as clear as he thought, or as nice as he'd like it to be based on the way she flinched, he feels awful, because of course there'd be something awful attached to even that. He really hopes no one passed on her just because shes mute, shes a Faunus, or both, or some other really stupid shallow reason. She's not perfect by any means, but he's really been struggling with himself when it comes to feeling for her, how could he not? She's said it herself a few times: She's sexy, shes hot, competent, smart and in spite of everything, might actually be willing to give this a honest try. But he doesn't want to lead her on, he doesn't want her to think he's just using her as practice for his soulmate and then he drops her as soon as he finds them and gets together with them. He would never do that, he would do everything he could to make it work, and do right by her, but she might feel otherwise, and it takes two to dance.


'I... lets just say I don't know how to feel about the fact they never came when I was with the Vanilles.' That... is a really weird bit of wording and gods does he want to know what she means about it but the way she shifts, the way she flinched, he feels awful for even bringing the topic up. He'll just have to wait, give her space and let her talk about it on her own terms, but he definitely gets why his Dad said that sometimes the most frustrating thing about doing right by people is the way they work. He definitely thinks she'd be better off talking to her, but he can't rush this, so instead he focuses on the fact they are still in the training arena.


"Hey, you wanna wipe the floor with me again? You mentioned you were in a weird mood and our sparring seems to be helpful for you." This actually earns him a silent laugh, a small one, but he'll take it.


'Man, that experience of being in between my thighs really awoke something in you huh? You're one of the first people to actually ask to get their ass kicked.' He feels his face heat up and he just simply shrugs, causing her to shake her head with a smile. 'I'll alter the training we're doing tomorrow, I'll be hopefully making you a new hoodie to use for combat instead of the Pumpkin Pete one you're using since that's a treasure too precious for the field.' He laughs, rolling his eyes. "Thank you, now, lets go."


He doesn't win a bout again, but she's in better spirits, and he's not only lasting longer, but actually getting a couple of hit's in as he gets a better handle for his fighting style. His course prep is different, more grounded (boring) but still necessary, focusing on math, history and the strange environments of remnant. This continues over the lead up to Initiation, Trivia and him gradually improving his skills, with the training getting better as she clearly is in better spirits and is trying different things to help him, although there's a clear limit to what she can do to prepare him.


Still, by the time Beacon's Airships bring the other people attending, he feels pretty good about himself, maybe he won't be the strongest, but he can be the smartest, especially as he adds that gun, which he'll just call Popper, at Trivia's suggestion. On that topic, she apparently has some paperwork to handle so she won't be going around meeting people until they gather in the Auditorium. He doesn't mind, he does need to get the confidence to talk to people aside from her after all. Things go by pretty tamely, although there is a incident where this one girl with white hair in a ponytail and alot of luggage (did no one teach her how to pack) has someone in gothic attire with red accents fall into said luggage and then explode. When he walks over to her as she slumps down onto the ground as people walk away, he feels both bad and kinda disappointed by the situation, he might be the only one bothering to talk to the girl they're done gawking at. He offers her a smile and a hand.


"I'm Jaune."


The girl smiled, taking the hand, standing up with his help.


"Ruby..." She looked awkward, which he gets, hes kinda improvising as he goes along, which, hey, if Trivia can do it to wiggle her way out of being arrested he can handle social interaction.


"So Ruby, what happened?"


"Well, uh I was with my sister, Yang, but her friends from Signal came by and in their rush I kinda got spun around and lost my balance. Then that girl, uh... Weiss, wouldn't let me just apologize and help clean up, she was kinda mean, but I guess it's just the stress and all, after all were finally at Beacon." Jaune shrugged, we all have bad days and moments were not proud of. "Then she shook a fire dust bottle in my face, ranting and I couldn't stop the sneeze, so I just kinda exploded." He couldn't help the snort that came out. "Hey!" "Sorry, sorry, it's just a very succinct way to put it."


Ruby sighed. "Yeah. Anyway, she got madder, meaner, and pointed out I was a younger than the rest of you, then this other girl came up and pointed out who Weiss, apparently shes Weiss Schnee, and that her family's company does bad things? I don't know. Weiss got even madder and stormed off and then the other girl walked off... Kinda a bad first day at Beacon." He should probably ask Trivia about that company comment, seems like something she would know.


"Hey, it's just half of the first day, if you can call it that, we have Initiation tomorrow after all." She nodded, smiling a little. After a bit...


"So I've got this thing." This thing is the weapon she unslings and transforms into a... Scythe? He's not sure, but it's big, red and pretty intimidating. Also fast, which is surprising.


"Woah, is... is that a Scythe?"


Ruby nodded. "It's also a customizable high impact sniper rifle." That's alotta words. Fortunately he understands some. Darn, maybe Trivia really is right, this girl might be fighting people one day, and not everyone will have Aura. But she probably was thinking only about Grimm when she designed it.


"So, in short it's also a gun? That's cool." Ruby laughed a little and nodded.


"Yes it's also a gun. So, what you've got?"


Jaune smirked and deployed Crocea Mors. "I've got a sword. And this shield. I've also got a gun." He taps the grip of Popper, holstered opposite of where he keeps Crocea Mors. Ruby actually looks a little confused.


"It's not mecha shift?" Jaune shook his head in response. "Why?"


"Mecha shift is useful for designs that make the most of it, like yours. I wouldn't want to carry a scythe and that gun, but for me and mine? Crocea Mors, the sword and shield, has been passed down in my family since the Great War, and even my Dad used it for a while, although he's switched to a different weapon. I only just got the gun, Popper."


Ruby nodded. "That's true, and I may have gone overboard designing Crescent Rose, I'm a bit of a dork when it comes to weapons. But your weapons are cool too! The classics are underappreciated these days." Jaune looked at her like she was crazy, she designed that?!


"You... You designed that?"


"Yeah, all students at Signal forge their own weapons... Speaking of I don't recognize you from Signal." And she wouldn't both because on paper he went to the now destroyed Freelight Academy, a small one that before it was destroyed accepted people from Vales outskirts and exterior. It was destroyed a year ago, he actually almost didn't run off as a result, but he was stubborn. "Ah, you wouldn't I came from Freelight."


"Really? Were... were you there?" Ruby looked at him with concern and interest.


Jaune simply shook his head. "No, when it fell, I was visiting my family when it happened..." Fortunately Ruby gets the hint from him trailing off, as she drops the subject.


"Well... Why'd you help me out back there?"


"Why not? My Mom has always said strangers are friends you haven't met yet." Trivia would laugh at him for repeating that, but he's willing to stand by that saying.


Ruby looked around, only for him to stop and gesture to the door to the auditorium. "This is the auditorium, ladies first." She snorted a laugh and nodded, walking in ahead of him.


"RUBY! I saved you a spot... Huh? Oh and bring your friend!" Ruby sighed and nodded. "Cmon, I'll introduce you to my sister." As Jaune nodded and walked with Ruby, he notes a familiar splash of pink. "Seems like I'll be introducing you to a friend of mine as well."


"Oh really who-" Trivia pulls him to her side and grins, waving. "Hey, Trivia, meet Ruby and her sister, Yang." Yang smiled, but it was terse, Trivia was messing with her wasn't she? Ruby at least was awkward in her smiling and waving back, which hey he gets that.


"Were acquainted. How's your first day gone so far Ruby?" "You mean after you ditched me and I exploded?" Trivia scoffed and looked at him, raising a eyebrow, he simply smirked, causing her to look at Ruby and then at him. "No I didn't help her explode."


"Yeah, I literally blew up a hole in front of the school, because I tripped over some crappy girls luggage and then she screamed at me and then I sneezed and I exploded, I think there was some ice and sparks, and then she yelled at me again and I just wanted her to stop-"


"YOU!" Jaune jumps a fair bit actually, he didn't even realize someone was practically right behind him, Trivia simply winced at Weiss' volume, whilst Ruby had jumped into Yang's arms. "You're lucky we didn't get blown off the side of the cliff."


"Oh my gods you actually exploded."


Jaune actually wants to step in, getting the sense this might not be a fun conversation, but Trivia stops him, amusement in her eyes, so he sighed and let it play it out. Ruby hops out and apologizes, causing a pretty lengthy... Wait is that a legal disclaimer?! The Faunus to his side is laughing, it's cute but he feels a little bad for Ruby, because this isn't short, it takes her a minute to finish reciting it, which causes Ruby to make a confused sound, prompting a sigh from Weiss.


"You really want to make it up to me? Read this-" Weiss shoves it into Ruby's hands. "-then never speak to me again."


"Look it sounds like you both got on the wrong foot, maybe you should start over and try again?" Yang suggested, and that prompts another scene that he doesn't look forward too.


"Great idea sis, uh, hi I'm Ruby Rose, wanna hang out? We can go shopping for school supplies." Oh no does she actually not have school supplies? He even got some more on Trivia's suggestion, although Goodwitch had to chaperone him for that trip, due to security concerns. Apparently there's another threat that has come to their attention during Trivia's interrogation, which just has to be the reason Roman and her are even doing the things they're doing right now.


Weiss' voice takes on absurdly fake tone. "Yeah, and we can shop for clothes, paint our nails and talk about cute boys like tall, blonde and scraggly over there?" Jaune decides that is enough and speaks up, because that's just rude and Trivia seems oddly offended. Probably on his behalf.


"Hey! At least I know how to avoid packing my entire room and can tell where a cliff actually is." Weiss whirls on him, clearly insulted. "Excuse me?!"


"Your excused, because honestly your just as mean as Ruby says." Trivia nods, laughing at the exchange. Weiss, who looks hurt for a second until her anger reclaims it's spot, is about to say something when the mic blares after being tapped.


"I'll keep this brief." And he does it's a pretty depressing brief speech but it is brief, and does seem to be calling upon them to really take this seriously. Trivia actually seems thoughtful, so that's nice, maybe depressing but brief speechs of profound important are the way to go?


Either way, now that he's done... "I'm a natural blonde you know." Jaune flashes a mischevious smile at Weiss, Ruby and Yang, the latter two smile back, amused whilst Weiss just facepalms and walks off.


After they desposit their belongings and weapons, Trivia and Jaune find themselves with Yang and Ruby, who of course laugh at his pajama onesie. Give him a break, it's really comfy and Dahlia got it for him! She's always so busy and rarely can visit or make them for the rest of her family, so he has to cherish it. Neither Ruby or Yang have soulmarks on them, which is interesting, but then again he hasn't seen Trivia's he kinda wants too, just to see what kind of person is missing out so much right now. "It's like a big slumber party!"


"Doubt Dad would approve of all the boys though, sorry Jaune." He shrugs, giving them a smile.


"I know I do." Yang grins and looks at the rest of the room, causing Trivia to roll her eyes and smirk.


"Yes your a bi disaster Trivia, let her have her fun." Yang raises a eyebrow whilst Trivia sticks out her tongue at him. "You get her expressions? And you're bi?" Trivia nods whilst he smiles a little.


"She's pretty straight forward once you get to know her, she does know sign by the way, she just chooses to menace everyone around her." She shoots a look at him. "Don't look at me like that, you definitely were menacing Yang for not being able to get your expressions." Trivia actually rolls her eyes and pulls out her Scroll.


It's just shrimply a krill issue from her. Body language and expressions are immensely important.


"Well, she isn't wrong. It's difficult but I've been getting the gist of it." Ruby says, causing Yang to groan, and then very subtly change the topic. "So whatcha writing?"


"A letter to the gang in Signal, I promised to tell them all about my time at Beacon." Huh, why would she-


Wait. Oh no. Of course he bumped into the Signal student, Ruby was awkward sure but he thought she was just more of a introvert than him, which she is but what she said about Weiss noticing her being younger clicked with what she just said. He looks at Trivia, who is laughing at the antics he's tuned out. Apparently he missed Yang getting hit by Ruby's pillow.


"Well, at least you've got Trivia and Jaune, they are... nice." Trivia scoffed, looking offended. "I'm not translating that for them." Which prompts the return of her Scroll.


You suck, also I'm not nice, I'm sexy. And also completely interested in chaos, money, ice cream and stuffies.


"Whatever, they're plus 2 friends! That's a 200% increase!"


"Pretty sure Weiss counts as a negative friend." Which causes Trivia to nod sagely, although now that he starts to pay attention to it, her body is stiff and her muscles underneath that white night gown tenses. Speaking of, Jaune notices a flash of pink... Wait is that- No look away that's extremely rude Jaune. Whatever that pink was, it definitely was not for him to see. Once he looks away, apparently Yang somehow got herself hit with another pillow. That's impressive. Trivia holds up her Scroll.


Yeah Weiss is definitely a enemy. Sorry ;p


This is probably the hardest thing Trivia has had to do thus far for Roman, not murder his potential killer. Jaune yawns, fortunately it's getting late and gives a excuse for her to think clear in the morning. "Well, I think we should shelve the discussion of friends and enemies to after Initiation." Getting nods from Ruby and Yang, who begin to prep for sleep, whilst Trivia stares, and then lays down staring up.


Yeah, he's shelved the discussion of friends and enemies alright.

___________________________________________________________________________

This is some bullshit, Neo thinks as she wakes up before Red and Yang, of course Jaune has the fucking magnetism to find Romans potential killer and start a budding friendship with her before realizing she might've caused Roman's death. Hell, she doesn't look that old, probably would just be entering her 2nd to last year in Signal! What the fuck was Roman smoking on that heist planning? Did shit go tits up somehow? He probably had to make do and that's why the explosion happened, given how Red seems to favor her left side, which would explain was she was recovering from the explosion in the first place.


Whatever the fuck ever. She'll just... not murder Red, that's what people who actually might want to be Huntresses do, right? After she gets freshened up and changes into her outfit, she finds Jaune, who has done all of what she has before her because hes a despicable morning person. He flashes a smile at her and she grapples with the weird feeling she has. Fucking hell does Jaune not look at his soulmark or something? How is she getting away with her absolute mess of feelings? She got annoyed at Weiss for even joking about being interested in Jaune. Then she got annoyed at her for mocking the idea of being interested. It went away when he reminded her of why he's so interesting: he doesn't just take it, he can dish it out sometimes, but has restraint. 


It is pretty amusing the possibilities Weiss either exagerrated the cliff's distance to them or just doesn't know how to measure distance. Not to mention the luggage comment, which doesn't surprise her, as a ex-heiress herself Weiss definitely wouldn't have been taught or known to look at what to pack. Still, she has a better idea now and she is in a exceptionally petty, spiteful mood. She'd be working on his hoodie, but unfortunately it's with her belongings and she'll need to report to the armory, collect Hush and Melodic Cudgel, and then go wherever they're directing them. Still, there's good smelling breakfast, Jaune and- Wait what.


"Ooooo! Ren, look it's the girl I told you about!" Valkyrie rushes up to her, with a calm, neutral, if albeit tired man in a pretty green, white, and black Mistrali outfit, with gold accents in tow. His hair and eyes have her seal of approval for the pink in them, he's not bad looking if she's being honest but given the way Valkyrie is talking to him, and the way he listens to her and follows her constant movement, she is pretty sure these two are together, probably Soulmates.


Jaune is rescuing her from the probably impolite stare she gives the two of them. Although she probably wouldn't sign to them anyway, Valkyrie doesn't know apparently and she doubts her friend does either. "Hey, this is Trivia Vanille, I'm her friend, Jaune. Trivia is Mute."


Ren nodded and nudges Valkyrie, who is clearly about to say something else, when she appears to get the message and shifts, her body language going from excitable to awkward in a second. "Uh, hey, I'm sorry for not realizing that back when we meet during the Exams. I am Nora Valkyrie, this is my friend Lie Ren." The man in question bows.


Neo just dismisses with a wave, shrug and a smile. They take their leave after Jaune starts to dig in, and she does as well. Something she isn't a fan of, and it especially is pretty bad now in hindsight as she probably should've thought of this issue beforehand afterall, is that Jaune is introducing her as Trivia to everyone, which wouldn't be a issue if it weren't for the fact she'll be announced as Neopolitan Vanille part of whatever team she winds up on. It was a admittedly impulsive decision back when she talked to Jaune, deciding to not tell him about the name change at all and let him find out via the announcement of the teams, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. But Goodwitch didn't question her about it when she came to sign the affidavit, so apparently she was just being monitored when there was a case against her... which makes a fair bit of sense when she thinks about it.


Still, it's a test of Jaune, how he'll react, how he'll treat her as a result, and if the slightest issue will throw him off her. And if he's actually lying about the 17 years bullshit.


Because wouldn't that be her luck? She's apparently never truly had a soulmate until Jaune just suddenly decided to get a Soulmark? That's roughly around the time she fully felt herself, like she was whole, but why the in the everloving fuck did she get passed on over for 17 years?! She was just wasting her fucking time for no gods damned reason with the Vanilles? All of her suffering was actually, genuinely for nothing? Saying she's conflicted is underselling her whirlpool of emotions. She should be overjoyed to finally have Jaune, and she is, shes also pretty much considering actually taking that first step into being a Huntress and trying to use Beacon to maybe orient her moral compass slightly better. But she's also utterly insulted by what that implies. That she was never going to be good enough for him until she was through with her nightmare? That he only wanted her at her best, never at her worst?


Jaune isn't that shallow, but that's also in the present, who knows what she missed back when he was 17? She... She can't let herself open up, get hurt again over this soulmate shit. Not until she can reassure herself of him, because surely he'll understand why she felt like this was necessary.


That's what she tells herself and uses to justify what is probably not a smart decision.


She looks at said object of immense internal torment, as he smiles that damned smile and stands up. "Man, that was delicious, but we should probably get going and ready. You done?" She nodded, getting up and following him out. Neo of course, just can't walk behind him without being hit with a ugly thought: Green, particularly bright toxic green, can be the indicator of toxic love, and she doesn't know what she'll do or how to fix it should this result in her and him being just like her parents, who had that color for the entirety she knew them. Still, even if she wanted to explain it, which is a bit of a conundrum considering she doesn't know how to explain that to him right now, because even the phrase nearly destroyed goods doesn't do her situation justice.


Whatever, she'll just figure it out. She has some time, including the time they'll spend for the Initiation. It'll be uncharted territory for her, actually just straight up intentionally at the very least annoying Jaune and at the worst angering him in a way she might've not seen otherwise for a while.


As she finds her locker, she finds herself next to... Holy fucking shit bisexual awakening reason number 2: Pyrrha Nikos. She's actually pretty interested in who exactly has been at the top of Mistrals tournaments... Fuck it, she'll bust out the signing, this woman is the only one in the entire Academy's first year who she might actually find a challenge in. A tap on her locker gets her attention, she heard some weird noise from behind Pyrrha but she's not at all interested.


'Hey, I'm Neopolitan Vanille, you?' Pyrrhas eyes scruntinize her, apparently someone has PR training based on that false smile that creeps upon her face, and whatever she finds in her body language doesn't make her tenseness go away, but she does speak.


"Pyrrha Nikos. Sorry if this is a bit direct... Are you mute?" Neo nodded, sending her a genuine smile and hoping her own body language loosens up. 'I am, were apparently locker neighbors, assuming we don't get moved after Initiation. Why are you here?'


That isn't a question Pyrrha expected, and a part of that fake smile becomes genuine. "Well... I always felt like I was destined to be a Huntress, as I took quickly to fighting and my moral compass had me asking: if I don't... then who will?" Weiss comes out from behind Pyrrha, her face scrunching up into a frown at Neo's presence. "I believe you're being extremely modest with your victories Pyrrha, I-" "Weiss, she's talking." Pyrrha sounded polite, yet clearly hoping to avoid the woman to her right, who is so obvious to Neo, Weiss clearly wants her due to being at the top of Sanctums graduating class, normally not public knowledge if it weren't also combined with her 4 year streak of victory in the Mistral Regional Tournament. Thankfully Pyrrha can tell when she's gearing up to talk, willing to make space in the conversation for a mute person.


'That's pretty noble of you, I'll be honest, I'm hoping to find out if you'll be a challenge, and if you'll be worth having as a friend.' Pyrrha's eyebrows reached. "Oh? Not looking for a teammate?"


"You'd have to be stupid to not even try." Neo rolls her eyes and gestures at Weiss, causing Pyrrha to giggle a little, whilst Weiss huffed. "Well, it is certainly a interesting strategy."


'If we could seriously just pick and choose our team mates they'd have some way to make sure people like Pyrrha didn't end up with someone like me. And besides, we'll be here for four years together.' Pyrrha nodded, her smile becoming truly genuine. "Well. I would love to be friends."


"Excuse you, would you mind explaining?! You're just not on Pyrrha or even my level." Neo cocked a eye brow. 'I scored top 1% of the Preliminary exam, and my combat portion of the test had all but one fight end within a minute.' That gets Weiss' attention.


"Wait, that was you? Why in the world are hanging out with that blonde?! You're so much better than him!" Man, she didn't want to say it, but that has forced her, but Weiss really is different than how she envisioned her: She expected her dismissal to be because shes a Faunus, not because Weiss is arrogant enough to believe in her own superiority when out in the outside world away from home. 'Well, that blonde goofball didn't automatically assume I'm beneath him-' Weiss clearly was suppressing a wince there. '-and hes pretty nice when you're not blatantly insulting him by using him as the butt of a joke so you can be mean to a different person entirely.'


Weiss is silent for a bit, as Pyrrha sighed, before looking at her with interest. "Well, I look forward to meeting him."


"Hey, do you know where my locker is?" Speak of the devil. Neo turned to him with a cocked hip and raised eyebrow. "Look, there's alot of lockers here." She can feel Weiss' facepalming from behind her, Pyrrha is laughing a little.


"Do you even know who your interrupting?"


Jaune frowned. "Well, heres my friend, then you, and... uh..." Alright he has to be doing a bit or something there's no way mister Pumpkin Pete hoodie and pajama onesie here actually doesn't recognize her.


"She's Pyrrha Nikos! She's at the top of her Class in Sanctum!" Jaune blinked and then shrugged. "She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete marshmellow flakes box!" This actually works at getting him to recognize her? She has to ask him about this later. Anyway, after Jaune and Pyrrha exchange words over the cereal box thing...


"Do you really think you should be interrupting us? Or was this a excuse to ask us to be on your team? Do you really think you should be doing that." Damn okay chill, all he did was not let you walk all over him Weiss you don- "Actually... yeah, why not, what do you three say? Wanna be on a team together?" Weiss just stood there gobsmasked, whilst Pyrrha and Neo are just laughing, Neo nodding.


"Yes, I think it would sound wonderful." Weiss looked at Pyrrha betrayed as Jaune's face took on a grin. "Well Snow Angel-" No fucking way is he calling her that. Theres a rather unhappy feeling in her at the nickname, she doesn't have one! But this is too funny. "-Spots on Team Jaune are filling up fast, but I think I can pull some strings and secure you a spot."


"I- You- that's..." Weiss let out a noise of frustration, Neo actually noticed Weiss' ears are actually kinda red, and she walks away.


"Man... That confidence training really is paying off. Thanks." Neo huffed and then nodded with a smile. Her ears might be red if the heat in her face is any indication. She still wants a nickname.


Goodwitches voice comes on through the TV... intercom thing. "Would all first year students please report to Beacon cliff for Initiation. Again, all First Year students, please report to Beacon cliff immediately."


"Say, Jaune, do you actually not know where your locker is?" "Yep, not a clue!" Oh my gods, she is never upgrading him to dum-dum before they have that chat. But boy is he trying to get it to happen. 'It's on the other side. I walked past in when I came in.'


"Oh. Thanks!"


After that, Pyrrha and Neo get on their way. "Now, Neopolitan-"


'Call me Neo.' Pyrrha blinked then smiled. "Alright, Neo, I do recall seeing you before actually, I was watching Vales news, since I've been interested in going to Beacon for a while and I recognize you from-"


'Being with Roman Torchwick?' Pyrrha nodded. "Forgive me if it's too forward but what happened there?" Well, she clearly trusts Beacon to screen her properly, or wants to get her story before judging. Probably a mixture of both if she had to actually guess.


'I...' Have to sell this, letting her body language tense up, and appear apprehensive. Remorseful, it's not often shes like that, but feeling the way she does about how she can't bring herself to trust Jaune all the way helps. 'I was mind controlled by him for a while. Completely unable to resist. Then one day he just... Lost control of me. I ran off, bumped into Jaune, who helped me get here so I can get my life back and help people. Oh, and don't apologize, I'm just glad you didn't think the worst of me.'


Pyrrha nodded, before smiling again. "Well, I'm glad you trusted me with that. Between you and me... Jaune and you have been such a breath of fresh air, having people that recognize me but just don't seem to care? That's... It's been a while since that happened."


'Well, I did mean what I said back there, if you'll have me.' Pyrrha laughed a little. "I do remember saying I would love to be friends with you, and nothing said has changed my mind on that." Neo smiled at her, it's nice, she might be friends with her first ever serious celebrity crush, that feeling of guilt pangs through her, but she pushes it down. She has more important things to do and worry about.


They arrive at the cliff, and oh fuck yeah she is going to get launched into the air and land into the forest! This is the first interesting thing she's had Huntress training wise. She wonders how assignment is gonna work, and her questions are answered by Ozpin and Goodwitch once all the students arrive. Which, holy shit she'll be paired with someone just based on where she lands and the first person she makes eye contact with! That'd be a amazing challenge for a single exercise and not a completely random variable that determines how fun her next 4 years of her life are gonna be.


Red seems to be distraught by this as well, so hopefully she suffers and gets Weiss. She doesn't know if she'd be the worst per se but holy shit she isn't suffering through the rest of this school year as her partner.


Heading to the northern of the forest will be pretty easy, since she has a compass at Jaune's suggestion, man she really did help bring out the intelligent leader type in him huh? He looks pretty relaxed until the whole destroy everything that gets in your way, or your dead part. She doesn't feel any apprehension, in fact she is feeling the same way she has felt before every one of her best fights. The speech goes on, grading and monitoring but no intervention, as well as the relics in the temple, the relics are tied to her grade, along with her standing, and what the fuck ever. Surely Jaune has it covered, and doesn't need help. Besides, worst comes to worst he can just tank through the trees with his shield to break his fall and land that way. He'll be fine.


As for her? She's fucking raring to go.

Chapter Text

Jaune has to admit: This one is on him.


He quite vividly remembers going "ah I won't need to worry about it too much, it's not like Initiation would test him on that!" and then he looked at the launchers and Ozpin said they won't be helping them during this. Trivia isn't of much help right now, flying through the air herself and if he's being honest shes probably been looking forward to this. Best not to disturb her, besides he needs to do this himself. He needs to prove he belongs here, both to them and to himself.


He deployed Crocea Mors, he won't have long but he has enough. He could stab his sword into a tree and stop the fall that way, but that seems unwise. Wait. She mentioned something about trees and his shield. He notes he is starting to go down now, so he puts his shield in front of him and makes absolutely sure his Aura is up. No point in doing this if he doesn't survive the landing.


He does, but he breaks his fall through 6 tree trunks, 17 different branches and a failed, goofy roll results with him with his back against a tree. He needs to work on his rolls, apparently.


He's just glad he didn't get sick from the fall. He lays there for a few minutes before standing up, brushing himself off wincing at the ache in his shield arm. No damage but the impacts he had throughout his fall definitely put a strain on his arm.


It's a painful reminder that he isn't a real Huntsman on the same level of everyone else. Still, that is hopefully the worst part of his Initiation complete, although he absolutely got points deducted. He pulls out the compass he brought with him, it survived the fall, which is good. He's pretty thankful for Trivia, if it weren't for her there was no way he'd be surviving that without help. She got him to think, to really put his brain to work to make up for the fact he can't outfight someone. He knows where hes going and-


"Jaune?" He turns and locks eyes with Pyrrha Nikos, he breaks out into a smile and she does as well. "Oh, hey Pyrrha. Guess this makes us partners, glad I can honestly say I look forward to the next 4 years then."


"And so am I." Pyrrha looked him up and down. "Did your landing strategy not work out?"


"I, uh, failed the roll at the end." "Oh. Well, I admittedly went through a tree too many before finally stopping myself, so we all have out things to work out." That's probably not as comparable but he appreciates it all the same.


"I should let you know Pyrrha, I'm not a great fighter. I want to improve of course, but I like being honest, both with myself and others. But I do like to think I make up for it in other ways." He shows her his compass, and she looks surprised, like she hadn't thought of it, which to be fair, before Trivia he wasn't thinking too hard about this either.


"I think I have to agree. Besides, if you want, I can provide some pointers after Initiation and we settle in." Jaune's pride stings at the idea. It's stung at Trivia's help as well but she was relentless, hes got a weak spot for her, and as much as he hates to admit it, he probably would be at best very injured on the first real day of Beacon. He can't pass up help, but hes weighing others down he doesn't have to feel good about it. He nods, and they head off, and not until long they heard gunfire.


"It sounds like our comrades have encountered the enemy."


"I think we should continue on, if we see someone in a fight, or the fighting is close by then we should stop and help." It'll also let him focus on- the branch Pyrrha held up hit him and breaks upon his face. He blinks as she stopped, wincing.


"I'm sorry, I was listening to you and got careless." She looks very apologetic, and... afraid? It really isn't a big deal.


He shrugged, giving her a smile. "Your fine. I'm just glad you were listening to me. Cmon, those relics won't move themselves."


After some time, they come across a cave, there's some markings and Pyrrha looked around. "I don't think this is where were going Jaune."


Jaune nodded, still looking at the markings... is that... a Deathstalker? Oh no. "Yeah... Pyrrha. I don't think this is where we should-" A hiss cuts him off as the cave entrance bursts open with a very old looking Deathstalker. He pockets the Compass and immediately rolls, managing to dodge a pincer, only to have jump to avoid the stinger, although he finds himself unable to stay on his feet, as the stinger takes him along for the ride back to its ready position. He's screaming and holding on for dear life as it shakes, having not drawn Crocea Mors in time, trying to drop him onto it's face or pincers. "OH WHY! WHY! PYRRHA! DO SOMETHING!" The Deathstalker tries to catch him with it's pincers, clearly annoyed by his resistance to being killed.


"JAUNE! Whatever you do don't let-" He doesn't catch the end of it, but it's pretty clear what she meant to say, but unfortunately it's not very helpful, for the Deathstalker got tired of it's previous options, and has decided to launch him away with it's tail. It's so sudden and with so much force he gets catapulted as a result. What the fuck is his luck.


As he flies through the air, he thinks of his landing strategy, he could do it again, right? At least that's what he thinks when he slammed in Ruby Rose with his shield and winds up stuck in a tree with her. Oops.


Hopefully Trivia is having a better time.

___________________________________________________________________________

Neo is having a fucking blast.


She lands and is immediately beset by a Ursa, which she deals with by blasting it with Melodic Cudgel and a well placed pointed Hush thrust. She's gotten better at dealing with Grimm, especially 1 on 1, and having it reflected in her victories is pleasant. She dispatches a Boarbatusk that makes it's presence known by charging at her, which she manages to dodge by flipping over it at the right time, and proceeds to play hit and run until a blast knocks it onto its side, allowing for a clean execution. Then some burnt and wounded Beowolves arrive from the direction of a large smoke plume, led by a wounded Alpha.


That was a true challenge, and for a while, with her ducking, weave, dodging, flips, redirects and shit like that, it was touch and go. She'd force one back and wound another, only for the rest of the pack to join in, and whilst her Semblance is excellent for escapes and re-engages, Grimm are only fooled for very brief moment by it. The blasts shes gotten off with Melodic Cudgel help even the odds when it brings down a few, but the pack refuses to leave. They know shes alone, that shes full of negativity, and that they've gotten some hits on her despite her best efforts. In spite of all that?


She is on top of the whole fucking world. As she gets ready for the rest of the fight, the Beowolves are forced to make room.


A large, armored man makes room with his similarly large mace. Each swing kills a Beowolf, and they growl, whine and bark at him as he stops upon seeing her, groaning as she locks eyes with him, and they unite after she makes her way over with the Beowolves circling around them. Her new partner definitely is pissed, based on the way he isn't speaking to her and glaring at the Beowolves around them, who rush in after the Alpha makes a decision. They fight together alright, him being a big tanky force that can hold his own and take hits whilst she darts around and fires off blasts. They actually take down the Alpha together in a nice little display of teamwork.


He took a deep breath and then turned to her. "One of them got away, lets get going, we need to make it to the temple. I want to get this over with." She shrugged, pulling out her compass and tossing it to him. His face, barely neutral breaks out into a frown, and he tosses it back. "I know where were going. Cmon." She rolled her eyes but followed him. They got there shortly after two other pairs did, both having people she recognized. One had a guy from the Preliminary Exam, Bronzewing, decent fighter, displayed competence even if she found him predictable and easy, his partner she didn't know, but both were pretty well armored, although Bronzewing was more designed for maneuverability. The other pair had Yang, who was paired with some other girl with a bow tha-


Did that shit just twitch? There's breeze but surely- Whatever, she isn't dealing with that.


Big large and loud went and grabbed a black bishop. She had a feeling her day and time at Beacon was going to be a lot less fun than how it started.


Whatever, bad vibes or not from her partner, she had bigger problems, like when they heard a scream.


"Did you hear that? Sounds like someone is in trouble!" Yang at least has her priorities, but her partner is looking up, and as Neo follows she-


Is that Red?! Why in the world is she falling? Like that?! And wha-


This day is fucking hilarious. Jaune just hit Red out of no where with his shield! She's losing it, only for the sound of explosions to pull her out of her fit.


The source of them is... a Ursa? Oh no never mind it was a crazy bitch, Nora Valkyrie of course, riding said Ursa which fell and died, with her partner, Ren of course. Nora looked pretty disappointed by this turn of events, Ren looked like he only was there for Nora, which is a point towards the 'soulsmates' theory she had. Yang's partner, Miss Bow Neo has decided, Bronzewing, his partner and Neo's partner all looked confused. Miss Bow was questioning if she actually did just do that, only for Nora to speed past them to grab a rook, proclaiming herself queen of the castle with a little dance.


"NORA!" Oh so he does have a limit, which Nora actually respects and jaunts on over with a "Coming Ren!" after doing a salute. Then sounds of trees breaking gets all of their attention, to... a really old looking Deathstalker chasing a lone Pyrrha Nikos running like hell. That's concerning.


Red, who looks dazed but mostly fine, greets her sister, who greets her back, only for Nora to pop inbetween them... When did she get there? How did she-


"Did she run all the way here with a Deathstalker on her tail?" Yang's partner asked, whilst Neo's own just shrugged and looked at her. "Alright. I'll admit, you might not be the worst one I could've gotten." Wow. High praise.


She shrugged and pulled out her Scroll. Somewhere in the background Yang snapped and was losing it, but whatever, she'll be fine.


Neopolitan. And yes, it could've been worse, you could've gotten some of the idiots I faced in the Preliminary Exam.


He grunted. "Fine. I'm Cardin Winchester. I'm calling you Neo." She shrugged again, she recognizes the last name, they were a pretty small noble family, above knights but below hers back in the day, only for a voice from above to interrupt their moment and get their attention.


"HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME?!" Oh. That's Weiss. On a really big Nevermore. Wait. Red fell so that means... Oh wow that's nice, she's willed Red getting Weiss into existence. Yippee.


"I said jump!" Red said, whilst Miss Bow simply replied. "She's gonna fall." 3. 2. 1. "She's falling." And boy is she, apparently not thinking about how she is gonna land either.


Said forgetful heiress gets saved by Jaune, who manages a goofy smile as he manages to catch her and then falling, managing to land on his feet with her still in his arms, although he clearly winced at the impact. Goofball really wants to test his Aura reserves huh, along with her patience and ability to control her annoyance at the way Weiss' face went somewhat red as she indignantly walked away. She knows Jaune is a chivalrous goof who hasn't caught onto her impulsive but still good for some reason decision to keep her name from him, but man does he like giving the opposite impression.


Oh. There's also Pyrrha Nikos, who lost the footrace against the Deathstalker. "Great, the gangs all here, now we can die together!"


"Not if I can help it." Red said, and then charged off with a warcry, causing alarm from Yang. Neo just exchanged a bewildered look with Cardin, as she just types.


Bet on her dying to the Deathstalker?


"Please." Cardin said, offended by the suggestion, to which Neo just shrugs. Hey, can't blame a girl for trying to get some easy money.


Red meanwhile just gets slapped away by the Deathstalker. It'd be pretty amusing to see if it weren't for the fact they might be next on the menu. Red stumbles over her words as she says to them. "Don't worry! Totally fine!"


Yeah alright, focus on the creature you decided to fullsend into. And then run away from? The Nevermore seems to take notice of the fight, as another sound is heard, that being a large conglomerate of rocks, logs and shit... Ah. That's a Geist. Must've been distracted by the recovering, agitated and fearful Initiates. She also probably isn't helping. The Geist seems to be bidding it's time though, staring, apparently smart enough to realize whats happening. Yang and Red are having a hard time apparently, and oh yeah the Deathstalker has decided to kill Red... Only for Weiss to zoom on in to save her.


Yippee, Red gets to live for being a idiot! As for the people at the temple... Nora and Ren are both ready for a fight, Pyrrha is taking potshots at the Nevermore, Miss Bow is looking after Yang, and Bronzewing and his partner, Halberd boy, are with Cardin. Cardin however is glaring at the Geist, mace in hand, whilst Jaune is looking at the Nevermore making it's way around. "Guys, we can't stay here, that thing is making its way back around." "And this Geist is waiting for it. Smart Grimm, and this ground is really good for them." Oh so he has a brain mayb- "We can still fight our way through them." Eh, not the dumbest thing he could've said and Neo is itching for a fucking awesome fight, and this looks like it.


"There is no point in dilly dallying." Who the fuck says- "She's right, our mission is just to grab relics and return back to the cliff, there's no point in fighting these things." Pyrrha is nodding along, but Miss Bow hmmed. "I don't know if we can outrun them."


"Run and live. That's a idea I can get behind, besides as someone else said, this terrain works better for the Grimm." Jaune said, whilst Cardin grunts, and twists the handle on his mace, causing the gem to switch out from red to brown, as he slams it down in front of them to create a large earthen wall. "Fine, hurry up and get running. We'll watch your backs whilst you run."


As they make their grand escape, with Cardin, her, Bronzewing and Halberd boy holding the rear, keeping a eye on the Grimm as they do, the Deathstalker breaks free of it's icy prison, whilst the Geist smashes through the wall, stomping it's way on over to them. It takes some of the ruined Temple along with it to replace the more damaged parts. It's slow and unsteady though, walking awkwardly, the Deathstalker is faster than it, and the Nevermore simply takes a commanding position over the ruins they find themselves in. Cardin looks at the Geist in particular.


"That thing is like me, but worse. I think we can take that, maybe we can throw it into the pit. Either way we can't let it reach the rest of the ruins." Jaune and Red nodded at that. "Everyone else, move!" The Deathstalker speeds on past the four, prioritizing the larger group, which is strange, it's probably annoyed at a specific person or duo, probably Pyrrha and whoever her partner is.


As the four of them descend upon the Geist, they run into a issue: The Geist is pretty tough with it's fake body, tanking hits and acting like they were flies. Slow and lumbering, with a pretty good swing if Halberd boys scream as he got backhanded away was any indication, but that does open a opportunity and Neo has to pull some crazy dodges to avoid taking nasty hits. But she does come close to hitting the face, only to get body slammed away, although Bronzewing also comes close on the openning, missing the mask but making it hold a arm in front of its face to block the rest. Another issue becomes apparent as the fight continues: The other three are not nearly as agile or quick, and Cardin seems to notice that as he stands his ground as the Geist tries to hit him, only for him to slam his mace into the incoming arm, breaking it with a loud thunderous noise. This buys them some time as the Geist stumbles back and acquires a new arm.


"Thank fuck for Thundering Impact. Alright. Bronzewing, Lark, keep the arms open and focused on you. I'm going for a leg. Neo." She tilts her head at him. "It doesn't care for the rest of it's body, but when you and Bronzewing went for the face, it freaked out. Give it a reason to this time." She grins.


They rush in again, this time with a better plan than last time, and the Geist might be smarter than other Grimm, but it's still a Grimm, and still a Geist, not able to realize it's lack of care for it's body and weapon of choice is getting itself into a trap. As Lark and Bronzewing create a opening, Cardin slams his mace into the leg, forcing it to a knee, whilst Neo jumps off his back and fires Melodic Cudgel at it's face.


The body crumbles as the Geist vacates it right before she connects the shot, and in the chaos, Shes almost sure they'd lose it if it weren't for the sounds of Bronzewing's weapon going off. "Got it!"


Cardin grins and lifts his mace over his head with a happy shout, then turns to her. "Alright Neopolitan, you're one of the good ones. Who knows, maybe you've got some noble blood in you." She raises a eyebrow and pulls out her Scroll.


I'm a Vanille. I just don't advertise it.


He looked at the screen then her, then at the screen then his eyes widened. "I thought I recognized you before, but I thought you were just one of them. Well, guess this is the most noble team in all of Beacon." Uh huh, sure buddy whatever you say whilst you have clear racist undertones to you. At least Bronzewing looks uncomfortable, Lark seems to be looking at them to see who he should be more afraid of.


By the way, I'm not just one of the good ones, I'm the best fucking one of both Nobles and Faunus, and don't you forget it.


He blinked at her and then glared, tensing up, only for Bronzewing to clear his throat. "Winchester, were still in Initiation, and besides, I've fought her and watched her fight, she'll mop the floor with you. She has a point with Faunus anyway."


"Yeah, Winchester, I don't exactly wanna fight her or get into trouble. Beacon won't tolerate it." Cardin groaned but nodded.


"Fine, fuck it, whatever. We play nice with her then."


Well. That was disappointing but also pretty nice, who knows maybe shes secured her way to a alright next 4 years. As she turns to the cliff with the rest of her team, she hears one of them let out a whistle as... Red, she thinks, finishes the fight with the Nevermore, decapitating it after reaching the top of the cliff. The Deathstalker isn't anywhere to be seen, just Jaune and his probably future team. Jaune waved at her, and she waved back, smiling. Not quite the crazy fights she wanted, but still, pretty fun!


She is probably forgetting something, but in spite of the tense moment with Cardin, she's in a really good mood, she doubts it'll go down with how late into the day it's getting.

___________________________________________________________________________

Jaune has had a good time with his team, especially after they recognized his ability to take charge.


The fight with the Deathstalker was tough at first, but after he got back to them by getting Nora's hammer to hit his shield and send him back over, he and his team fought the Deathstalker on a shaky bridge, and with good capitalization and direction, killed it. Hopefully at least, it had it's stinger embedded into it and then sent over the cliff. Trivia finished up her teams fight with the Geist, although there seemed to have been a bad moment between her and her partner, but she seems to have it handled based on the smile and wave. Ruby also killed the Nevermore in crazy fashion with her team, even if they aren't announced as such yet, there's no way they're getting placed with other people.


They are brought into the auditorium again, this time in front of the rest of the school and announced. Trivia is up first and he's pretty excited for her and-


"Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Neopolitan Vanille, Sky Lark. The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces and from this day forward you will be known as team Cardinal-" The Acronym, CDNL, shows on the screen and Jaune is... confused. He's happy for Trivia... or Neopolitan now? But that can't be right, unless she just hasn't told him? But why? She had- They're getting motioned forward, his team gets announced, and hes announced as team leader. He smiled, a nervous shaky smile, Pyrrha gives him a punch in the shoulder as encouragement and he barely stays upright, but he laughs it off with her. He's thankful for the distraction as his mind races a million miles a minute. Ozpin says something about the year being interesting.


Yeah, he'll agree. Unfortunately his friend and her team are currently heading to the dorms, so he's stuck with his thoughts for now as his team does the same, Goodwitch having handed them the keys and directions. Why Neopolitan? Why the name on his Soulmark? That doesn't have a last name? It doesn't make sense but it also does in way. Why would his soulmark want to have the name of family who hated his soulmate? Why would his Soulmate use it unless forced to by the outside world like Neopolitan has been? That still explains nothing of his situation.


Why wouldn't she tell him? To sell the lie? Alright but why not tell him before Initiation? Why now, through this way of all things? Why didn't his soulmark give any indication he was meeting her again? Why didn't he think to ask his family for pointers?! There's another thing that bugs him, the yellow has changed, but it's still yellow, some days it's darkened with no pink, some days it's brightened and has pink on the edges. When he went to shower this morning his mark had the most pink it ever had, not taking over completely but still. There were touches of green too, dark green. He doesn't know what it means but he feels conflicted all the same.


Pyrrha seems to notice his issue because she pulls him to the other side of the room after he showered and changed, thankfully not commenting on the onesie, and speaks in a low voice. "Did you not know? Ren and Nora seemed confused as well." Jaune shook his head, and whispered back. "I didn't. I know a lot about Tr- Neopolitan, but I didn't know this was coming. I think she might've wanted to make a bit of a show of it? But then why have not have me refuse to introduce her? Or say it's a surprise?"


Pyrrha frowned. "She introduced herself to me as Neopolitan Vanille. I was meaning to ask you about her throughout Initiation but with everything that happened..." Jaune nodded.


"I understand..." He sighed. "She has the same name as my soulmate. And I thought it was her when we first met, but..." Pyrrha nodding, looking thoughtful, for a minute they don't speak and then Pyrrha breaks the silence.


"Soulsmates are tricky, soulmarks especially so. Your bond typically reflects in your Aura and Semblance, your Aura feels like a ocean, whilst Neopolitans feels like a river. It's... interesting to see from the outside. The Soulmark merely tells you when you meet, and how they truly feel about you, through the same way we express the individuality through out names. Color."


"My Soulmark... It's... yellow, with alot of pink and touches of dark green." Pyrrha hmmed. "You should really have a honest talk with her. It sounds like things aren't as simple between you two as you once thought, but in some ways, they are. Yellow is the color of mixed feelings, dark yellow is bordering on hate, but the presence of pink means interest and attraction, which is a good sign. The Green... well, dark green is envy. Brighter green is toxic, many conclude its toxic love, but those whose bond is platonic find sometimes they wind up with the color as well."


"What... what do I say?"


Pyrrha shrugged. "The truth. Your soulmate is the person who may be the only one to ever truly understand you, to know the person who you are on the inside. It's a bond that transcends many things and it's powerful in it's influence, you've likely already felt it, before and now."


Jaune nodded, this helps, but also does not help him. He's glad this is after Initiation though, he'd probably be a walking Grimm magnet otherwise. "I... I think I'm going to lay down and go to sleep. Thank you Pyrrha, this means a lot."


"Jaune. Before you do, how long have you had your Soulmark?"


"Since I was 17. I'm 18 now." Pyrrha takes a deep breath.


"That is... almost unheard of, and can cause a great deal of pain. Be careful, but be truthful." Jaune nodded.


"Good night Pyrrha." "Good night Jaune."


He instantly went into a haunted, awful sleep when he hit the bed.

Next day, Jaune woke up early, as always, unpacked and then after showering, took a few minutes to hype himself up before pulling out his Scroll.


Ice Cream You Scream: i envy pyrrha rn


Goofbun: Can we talk?


Ice Cream You Scream: Ah. Yeah, we probably should. I don't know when or where, I'll let you know if I get a idea, and vice versa? Not today, Cardin wants to do this sparring thing between the team, managed to secure a training arena for us.


The serious texting. Rare of her to bust out.


Goofbun: Sure. Maybe over the weekend? I think there's access to the Rooftop for us.


Ice Cream You Scream: That sounds like a plan. I'll check it later today.


There's a vague weekend on the rooftop in place. He'll have to let his team know, but at least this way he isn't explaining that he's looking through a needle in a haystack, which is even worse than it sounds, only that the haystack is the entire city of Vale and the needle is his soulmate.


This is such a mess.


Somehow, in spite of him forgetting the whole reason they were going to Beacon, to yknow, learn how to, they were only late by 5 minutes, although Oobleck simply let them off easy, although warned them next time he won't be so generous. That was a wild class, what with Oobleck running around like crazy whilst he went over the course and how it'll work in record speed before beginning a small lecture that took the remaining time they had left. He barely kept up, thankful he was already aware of the meat and potatoes of the lecture, but he should absolutely read ahead and familiarize himself with the material before the next lecture.


Thankfully for Port's class they're on time, although Cardin and his team were there already, with Neo nodding towards him before refocusing on getting ready for the lesson. It is mostly introductory, although a part of him got annoyed at the sight of Port winking on mentioning Huntresses, but getting expelled on the first class isn't his ideal way. Neither is cheating to get in. The lecture is to help instill honor where is his? reliability, education, wisdom and strategy, even if Port takes a... winding way to do so. But Jaune can't complain, it's something his Dad did, sitting him down and telling him stories about Huntsmen, although dangerous and in some stories downright lethal, he always admired what it took. Weiss apparently took the lesson to heart like he did, as she volunteers.


It's uh, a interesting fight. Weiss was clearly worked up over something, and boy can't he relate? But she isn't getting what she wanted from the fight, and definitely had to get help from Ruby in order to win the fight. He should talk to her in between classes, hopefully it's as simple as getting a outside perspective.


He finds her on a balcony after class, overlooking campus, mulling something over as Port walks away, who nods with a smile to him. "Hey Weiss." She startled and looked at Jaune.


"Jaune... I'm sorry." Guh? "I've been... rude. To you and I've let some of my issues lash out at you." Jaune shrugged, smiling.


"I've not exactly helped, besides, strangers are friends you just haven't met yet, and I like to think we're still strangers. Jaune Arc." He offers a hand, and she takes it with a small smile even if she rolls her eyes.


"Weiss Schnee. Jaune, would you do something for me?" "Yeah?" "Don't ever call me Snow Angel again." He laughed and nodded.


"Not to ruin the good mood but I saw you were kinda in a bad mood earlier, it really hampered your performance, and decided to come find you." Weiss sighed, looking away and to the view, and Jaune stands next to her.


"I... I'm feeling conflicted. On one hand, Ruby is a childish, unreliable, and constantly finds a way to vex me as if it's her duty, ever since I first met her, but especially in the forest. But Ozpin saw something in her, saw something that he didn't in me. I don't know what it was, but Port agrees with him, and that should be enough but it isn't! I just feel so... lost. Ruby is two years younger than me and yet she's not only here, but she's my superior. What does that say about me?"


"I think that it says that your a very talented woman. You are at Beacon, but Ruby is a prodigy, has to be if she's here after all." Weiss nodded, and Jaune took that as a sign to continue. "Besides, between you and me, Ruby and I are a lot more alike than you and I. We're awkward introverts I'm just a lot better at pretending and making do. I've been told it's my great improvisational abilities at work."


"That doesn't explain how or why shes team leader."


He shrugged. "I think you're focused too much on what happened in the forest, and not in the ruins. Without the ruins? Nora or Pyrrha are leaders of team Juniper. Hell, maybe Cardin isn't leading Cardinal." Weiss nodded, before pursing her lips and looking at him. "Speaking of... I overheard the day before Initiation her name was Trivia but..."


Oh wow his problems have a way of bouncing back to him when he tries to avoid them, whodathunk it. He sighed and took his turn to dramatically look over the view. "I wasn't aware she changed her name until the teams were announced. Apparently she introduced herself to Pyrrha as Neopolitan but decided to never correct me. I'm hoping to sort it out over the weekend, which is thankfully only 3 days away."


Weiss nodded. "I wish you luck, now if you'll excuse me, I need to figure out how to be even better." Jaune gave her a thumbs up. "Good luck!"


With that Weiss leaves and Jaune stares over the view, it's quite nice, the descending sun casting a warm orange light, and he's about to leave when he hears a voice.


"Arc." He turns to see Cardin Winchester walking up to him. "I want to talk to you for a minute."


Oookay, this spot is immensely popular for talks today apparently. Jaune nodded, prompting Cardin to continue. "I want to find my soulmate and you're gonna help me if you want that weekend free to talk to my partner." Oh gods dang it. His annoyance must be visible because Cardin grips his shoulder and stares at him. "I don't give a flying fuck what you think, there used to be a time where your family would ask how high when mine said to jump. Now I'm stuck with a... Faunus-" Definitely not what he would've said, Neopolitan must've gotten on him about his language. Sky did seem pretty cowed by her in class now that he thought back upon it. "-I can't trust her with this, but I think I can trust you with this if we make a deal."


Jaune doesn't idea of helping a all but proclaimed racist, but he also doesn't want to make Neopolitan's life any harder than necessary. But still, he might be able to get more. "I can always find another time Cardin, I want something more if I'm going to be committing to what could be a pretty long haul."


Cardin growled, tightening the hand still on his shoulder. "I'm not haggling with you, you little shit." Jaune shrugged with his free one. "Sounds like no deal."


Cardin glared into his eyes, and Jaune doesn't meet them, instead he glares at the hand. Easier to keep his nerves about him, although he almost loses his nerves before Cardin lets out a deep, tired sigh. "I just want to be happy. That's all I want. I don't want to be in your debt or anything." Oh. That... is painfully similar to him, but not what he wants.


"Not what I want Cardin. Heck I understand wanting what you want! What I want is that I want you to be better to Faunus, I can tell you dislike them, maybe even hate them, but I believe you can be a better person. A better Huntsman." Cardin frowned.


"How will playing nice with them make me a better Huntsman? A better person?"


"Do you think it's beyond the realm of possibility your soulmate is a Faunus? Or that they might consider you thinking of them as animals as a deal breaker and thus not worth their time? How happy will you be then?"


Cardin stared again, not a glare, but hard, thinking, before he sighed. "None at all. Fine. I'll look into it, try to be better to Faunus and I help you with your little rooftop date or whatever it is and you help me find Velvet Scarlatina. Deal?" He removes the hand from his shoulder and offers it.


"I'm glad to do business with you." Jaune says, with a smile and shakes the hand.

The past three days were pretty simple. Jaune would get up, further hammer out details with his soulmate(?) and then head on into classes. Professor Glynda Goodwitch handled combat, Aura techniques, and personal strategy, Professor Thumbelina Peach handled Survival training, plant science, and animal science. Professor Ann Greene taught Stealth, Security and Stability classes, going over how to stay hidden, how to stay safe, and how to keep yourself stable financially, physically and mentally. Professor Harold Mulberry handled Weapon Crafting, Upkeep, and Dust Application. There's also next week, which adds a leadership class, mostly to focus on what they should do in situations, whilst providing team leaders insight on further actions and such, Port and Goodwitch handle this. Then there's a Law and Ethics class, since being a Huntsman means you're a role model and there are special laws related to them, Ozpin apparently goes over this one.


He also has some training spars with Pyrrha, Ren, Nora, Ruby and even Cardin. Cardin had to be convinced, but he came around to it when he mentioned that they had to take this seriously if they were gonna make it. It'd be disrespectful to their noble lineage after all, even if he doesn't care all that much about his nobility, he's more concerned with how to help people. He gets a lot of tips, like how to utilize his stance better from Pyrrha, how to keep a level head in combat from Ren, how to use his speed in a fight from Ruby. Then there's what he gleamed from Cardin and Nora, like how to take a hit and how to deal with high powered ranged weaponry.


All in all, it's good, and he feels great about it, he feels like he's going to achieve his dream and there won't be any twists and turns he has to take in order to do so, which he is relieved about. Sure he met his soulmate(?) at probably the perfect time for them to met but gods damn is he ashamed of himself done with the lack of clarity and communication between them. Speaking of Neopolitan, he's been pretty distracted by her, whenever he sees her in class he has to focus off of her and he isn't sure how he'll survive if this doesn't work out.


No matter, he has a rooftop date with Neopolitan, which normally would make him extremely happy and ecstatic, but it isn't really a date, it's a conversation that will likely leave him and her completely out of it by the end. It might even be the end of his dream of finding and falling in love with his soulmate, which makes his chest tighten and his soulmark weigh on him like nothing else he's felt. He arrives early, enjoying the view at about 10 minutes before noon, and checking around to see how secure their conversation will be, Cardin and the rooms below have their windows closed, which he is thankful for. There are a few other closed windows nearby on the building as well, but for the most part its safe. Still, best to avoid certain topics when possible. Like how he's a fraud.


She arrives at noon, looking around and doing a few more checks than he did, and he trusts her, when shes done, indicated by her satisfied nod, she turns and signs to him. 'Before anything else: Did you actually not recognize Pyrrha back in the locker room or were you just fucking with Weiss?'


That... is not what he expected to be the first thing she said, but he's thankful for the momentary delay on the conversation. "I wasn't messing with Weiss there, until she mentioned Pumpkin Pete I genuinely didn't know."


She nodded. 'Alright, that shit has been plaguing me for no fucking reason since that happened. I'm pretty sure if this talk went bad and we never exchanged another word I'm pretty sure that would haunt me to my grave.' He laughed, shaking his head.


"Well, I can't blame you... Can I ask you a favor?" She raised a eyebrow. "Can we be... truthful here? I don't know what I did but I really do want this to sort out our issues. I want this, whatever we have right now and whatever it may turn into, to work for us." She looked away, and for a minute, Jaune was dreading that this was going to be a even worse talk than he was dreading, before she looked at him and gave a nod.


'I want to show you something before we begin.' He nodded, and she turned around, drooping her jacket to show... His name. In pink tinged with some yellow. His name is there. That explains so much and yet also nothing at all! Wonderful! Wait.


"You... You said you've had my name since you were two?" She nodded, having turned around. "Oh my gods no wonder you almost hated me when we first met."


She laughed, gods did he miss seeing her laugh. "I genuinely didn't have either of your names until I was 17, and even then it was only Neopolitan."


'I know. You... You aren't the type to lie but I was afraid. Last time I put actual hope in you, or in this whole soulmate thing, I spent than I should've longer with my parents hoping that I'd just be married off to you. Or that you'll come in like my knight in shining armor, and whisk me away to a happier, better life.' She wiped a tear. 'I should've known better about my parents, that they'd never risk their appearances like that. The second I was gone from their home I was a threat to their image, to the Vanille image. They'd never let me go.'


'Then Roman happened, and I began wondering why I even bothered, why I hurt myself like that, and how I could ever possibly be so stupid to believe that I'd be that lucky? Life showed me how lucky I was when I got born the way I was, life showed me I can't be truly who I want to be unless I fight tooth and nail for it, because I don't deserve it otherwise. Then I met you and shit got all complicated, instead of hating you like I thought I would, like I have been ever since I decided upon hating this idea, I found myself liking you as a person, appreciating all the little ways you do for me, liking the way you make me feel.'


He stepped forward, only for her to hold up a hand to stop him, then she continues. 'I... I don't know how to handle this shit. I'm practically destroyed goods and-' Jaune feels awful for this but he can't watch her put herself down like that.


"Don't you ever call yourself that. Your Neo fucking politan." She stares at him with a wide eyed stare. "Yeah I know I just swore but this warrants it. You... You have no idea just how little I care. How much I'm willing to put in the work if you are as well. How much I've looked at you and hoped that maybe things can work out with you. How much I can't stop myself from staring, from wanting only to finally understand why. I don't want someone else, I don't give a damn if it's Weiss or Pyrrha, I want the girl in front of me who I can't get off my mind." He caressed her cheek, wiping away a tear. "I... I want you. If you'll have me."


She stares at him for a long moment, before crashing into him for a hug. They stand there for a while, him holding her and rubbing circles into her back whilst she cries into his chest. His hoodie is getting wet and he doesn't care, he's just glad they might be on the right track.


She pulls away after a bit, and he smiles at her, earning a small, shaky smile back. She sniffled, her semblance taking over as she "holds" a sign that says: I don't know if I can sign or type right now. Sorry.


"I don't know, you seem to be perfectly fine signing to me." She stares for a moment only to start laughing, he joins in, he gets a light swat to the shoulder for the joke, but making her feel better and helping get some of the tension out of them makes him feel like hes so much better at this relationship business than he really is.


She collects herself, and dropped the semblance, signing again. 'That was foul. I want you to call me Neo, by the way. And to come up with some lighthearted nickname but that's my jealousy at Weiss talking.'


"Y'know, Weiss did say to never call her Snow Angel, so you won't need to worry about that." She brightened at that and his heart skipped a beat. "But if you want, Ice Cream Babe-" She swats his shoulder again, looking very amused and also... is she blushing? That's so dang cute. "Alright, I'll workshop it. I gotta get that right to see you blush like that after all." She rolled her eyes and pouted, holy shit he might be the luckiest guy in this Academy.


'Anyway, do you have a shirt on underneath that?' "Uh, yeah, why?" 'I wanna see my name on you.' Ah. Fair enough. He pulled off his hoodie, revealing his simple white tank top, and she stares at his bicep, his soulmark turning pink, losing it's yellow and having already lost it's green, running her hands over it. She does so for a minute until she pulls back, as it's now purely pink.


'You're a lot more muscly than I expected. I suppose the hoodie and onesie cover that.' She grinned at him, causing him to roll his eyes amusedly. 'You can put it back on, I'm... glad I didn't ruin things with this stunt of mine. I guess I did get what I wanted but I should've known from just talking and having gotten to know you over the past few weeks.'


"Well, we all have our flaws, mine is my ignorance, yours is that rarely you make a mistake. It happens." She rolled her eyes, smiling still. "There is still two really important things. Both I cannot get out of my mind, that has to be addressed before we do anything else." She looked at him expectantly. "Would you be my girlfriend and would you like to go to Creamiscle." She smiled, and pulled him in for a kiss.


Jaune got his answer.

___________________________________________________________________________

Neo might be in the best mood she's been in since she destroyed her parents house and got to watch the fires burn and smoke rise. Neo might be even better than that time she and Roman pulled the biggest heist of their careers! For the first time in her life the shriveled, nearly dead romantic side of her was finally given reason to live. Which is amazing because the past week has been awful.


Cardin and Sky still needed some prodding from her, Sky stopped after the first day, when he called her a animal when he thought she didn't hear him. The kick she gave him, on top of the utter trouncing in the spars, told him very clearly otherwise. Cardin was still Cardin after the first day, he wasn't pleased with own loss, but he seemed to have a switch flipped, trying to be better with regards to Faunus, but he's still kinda of a ass. Eh, she's spitefully not even bothering to see if they know sign, instead only typing to them, so she supposed she shouldn't be throwing stones in her glass house, but she'll dodge, she's built different.


Dove Bronzewing continues to be weird, he clearly has chivalry and honor on his mind but it's like he's afraid to rock the boat too much unless he has too. Still, he's a pretty good fighter, really so is Cardin, Sky has a lot of potential, but he is a coward and needs to stop losing mentally.


That's just for her team, her classes are not fun outside of Goodwitch's class, Port's would be fun if he brought in Grimm for them to fight everyday instead of these long, winding, sleep inducing lectures that she only keeps herself awake through by preforming mental gymnastics. Not as fun as normal gymnastics. Mulberry is shit she already knows but has to be tested on, but she'll go to her fucking grave before turning Hush or Melodic Cudgel into a mecha shift monstrosity. Greene would be interesting if she didn't know all of this shit aside from mental and bits of physical health. Then again only Mulberrys under certain conditions could be worse than Law and Ethics, both of which she has spent a while spitting in the face of. It'll be a challenge, so maybe it'll be interesting but also legal bullshit and philosophy might also kill her or make her actually fall asleep.


Then she had her dreaded talk with Jaune, where she expected fully that she ruined everything, Romans hard work, her relationship with Jaune, her own work for Roman and Jaune. Then instead all of it gets preserved and instead she walks away from the rooftop not having a desire to jump off it which is quite pleasant in of itself.


She also got herself a boyfriend and a ice cream date! At Creamiscle! That shit is amazing, she also has no fucking idea for how long Jaune will be able to pay for these dates but right now she doesn't care she's fucking riding this high into the sunset!


They also talked about what they wanted, Jaune wanted reassurances that she is going to try and actually be a Huntress, and she agreed, however she wouldn't abandon Roman and wanted to help him either change or get a comfy life/retirement. Of course they didn't name drop him, they said former friend but they knew who they were referring to. Jaune agreed to help anyway, saying that he felt like he owed Roman for bringing them together, not caring for why he did the things he did. Neo thinks it's because he has a bleeding heart and would help where ever he could.


She also made it clear she wanted the long haul, that included maybe potentially marrying and finally losing her last name, she joked that Neopolitan Arc had a better ring to it. Jaune blushed and stammered about her just casually jumping to the idea, saying he hasn't even introduced her to his family, but did admit he was glad to hear they were going to try and be together. That mention of his family led to the second, somewhat painful part of their talk.


Neo made it very clear what she thought of his father: Too much like her parents, stifling him, preventing him from even having the basic of having his Aura unlocked, much less actually be trained correctly. Jaune defended him of course, but then she pointed out why not explain to him about the Soulmark, why did they have to learn from people aside from their parents? She knew he knew what his soulmark changing under her fingers (holy shit he was muscly) meant from the growing look of joy and fascination. He admitted to running away shortly after getting it, taking what he could feasibly carry with him over to Vale and Crocea Mors, so his father didn't have the time too.


Still no excuse in her eyes. This is basic, important shit, something she only didn't know because her parents decided her misery was deserved. She didn't know much about his mother but she still called out her part for not questioning if her husband was actually training their only son. Jaune pointed out his mother trusted his father to do it right, and sure maybe he didn't do it perfectly but still, he felt prepared enough to handle it. And then Neo would need to call out Jaune's sisters for that as well, and Neo decided to drop it, since Jaune also pointed out that constantly doubting your family's intentions and how they might hurt you is actually not a healthy thing.


He's not wrong, she supposed and he admitted that maybe his father didn't do perfectly right by him, but he taught him a lot useful things, gave him advice and words to live by. He just tripped for some reason on the last bit, which sure, whatever. Jaune did mention he wanted to do some dates and then introduce her to Saphron and Terra, he is a uncle now, well technically has been for a while but feels like he could be a actual one to Adrian. Neo expressed concern over the whole 'oh shit I might be a aunt at some point then and I don't know how to handle children' thing which he simply said she'll do fine, Saphron and Terra will make sure of it.


This topic of introductions led to the rest of the family, who Jaune hoped to avoid until he was a year in. It's not her, it's more he ran away and wants to prove to them that he can do this, deserves to be treated seriously and that they don't need to worry about him. There was the unspoken acknowledgement they might have to worry about them asking how he got in, which won't be fun. They agreed to shelve it for now, for the other awkward introduction related topic.


How to explain the mistake she did in a way that doesn't draw suspicion? She decided to admit that she was afraid and letting her traumas affect her decision making, and that she is truly sorry for the confusion caused. This led her to the present, as team JNPR eats lunch with her sitting in.


"It's understandable when you explain it." Pyrrha said, with Ren and Nora nodding, with Nora adding on after swallowing her food. "Your parents must've done a terrible job if you can't even trust your soulmate."


"Thank you for clarifying." Ren simply said. "I believe you mentioned you had another announcement Jaune?"


Jaune's face broke out in a goofy grin and she smiled softly upon seeing it. "Well. After we talked, cleared things up, and realized we were soulmates, I asked Neo to be my girlfriend and out to a date. She said yes."


Pyrrha smiled, whilst Ren frowned and Nora tilted her head. "I'm so happy for you two! I hope you have a great date!"


"Do you think thats wise?" "I didn't even know you could figure it out." They all pause a moment and look at Nora.


Nora. That writing on your body? It's your Soulmark, that's how you know who your Soulmate is.


"Oh is that why I have Rens name on me? That explains so much!" Ren flushed and looked at her, then decided to eat, Jaune laughed at her antics.


"Yes Nora, that's why his name is there. Also, Ren, I do think it's wise because I'll be honest, we both want it, we both agree our communication was lacking and want to improve it, and we both like each other."


Pyrrha nodded. "Sometimes soulmates are rather straightforward like that."


It also helps we have romantic sides that desperately want this and to make it work.


"Yeah, and don't feel bad for not knowing, I didn't even know much about soulmarks until Pyrrha and Neo started explaining."


Pyrrha nodded. "If you ever have questions, please come to me, I would love to help."


"Right. Thanks." Ren simply said before going back to eating, whilst Nora nodded furiously, before returning to eating.


"Well. Neo, I presume you're going to clear this up with team RWBY?" Ah. Right.


That team. Red's Team. The team filled with 3 of her least liked people and some random person under Red's leadership. She doesn't really want to talk to them, she doesn't even know if Miss Bow knows sign at all. But she should, if only to clear the air somewhat, it'll never be fully because if Red did cause Romans death she'll need to avoid her like the fucking plague.


That or hope she dies in a unfortunate accident which is totally and completely unrelated to Neo, she would never cause the oh so very tragic demise of Red!


Fuck she can't even take that seriously in her own head.


Yeah. I don't know where they are or when they'll be available and I don't look forward to hunting them down after class.


Jaune, the ever so helpful dum-dum, yes she upgraded him to dum-dum, shush. "I think Ruby is in the dorms, RWBY's dorm is across from ours, on the floor below yours, right now, doing something with Weiss? Not sure exactly, but you can clear it up with them once you finish eating." She's still keeping him as Goofbun though, it's too good for her to just give up unless inspiration strikes her.


Anyway she just nodded and they ate, with some small talk like weather and shit like that. After that she hunts down Red and hopes this will be short.


The noises of surprise and annoyance makes her think that she might not be that lucky. Or she will be but it'll be too short, which would be really annoying and solidify Red and Weiss as people she despises.


Red is the one that opens the door and when she sees her she waves and smiled, although it was slightly forced. "Hey! I guess you wanna talk?" She nodded.


'It shouldn't take long. Sorry for interrupting.'


"No, no it's fine me and Weiss needed a bit of a study break anyway!"


"Ruby Rose you are lucky it's her at the door and not someone else otherwise you would not receive that break." Red chuckled nervously and opened the door further to gesture her inside.


Are those bunkbeds? Is one of them held up by rope somehow? The other one is marginally better but why? How would you even get up to the 2nd beds without risking-


"I told you it'd distract guests!"


Red whined. "But it's cool! And it's fine! She'll get used to it. Probably." She hopes to never be in here long enough to get used to it, this room is enough chaos and insanity that it makes her want to go back to CDNL's dorm and she doesn't want to suffer through the bad mood her coming back would cause by interrupting the impromptu boy's day and night. It really is a boy's dorm, with the only reasons her stuff is accepted is both because she has no where else to place them and because Cardin's stuff would be defenestrated and he'd not be able to bring it back into the room otherwise.


Weiss gave her a stare and then turned her attention to Neo. "So. Why are you here?"


'I wanna explain what happened: I let my insecurities and issues affect my decision making, nothing is wrong with Jaune, I talked it over with him and he helped me realize I made a rare-' Weiss raised a eyebrow, she ignored it out of mercy. '-mistake. My name is Neopolitan Vanille.'


Red gasped. "LIKE THE ICE CREAM?" Weiss groaned and glared at her, but Neo nodded, her ears hurting but deciding to be polite. "That's cool!"


"I guess I understand, I and Ruby haven't started out on the best foot because I have let my personal biases get in the way. She is admittedly alright." Red grinned at that. "And Weiss is pretty cool! She knows so much more about Dust than anyone else I've ever known!"


Weiss shifted and then smiled a little. 'That's nice. By the way me and Jaune are dating now, so-'


"Wait you and Jaune? Whilst I wrote him off a little early myself and we had a talk that made me re-evaluate how I treated him... I still feel like you could do better."


'He's my soulmate.'


"Oh." Red meanwhile was shaking in place trying to contain her excitement. "That's so awesome! I'm glad my first two friends at Beacon-" She has been friend adopted. It's never been more over. "-are going to be happy together. I haven't really-"


"Ruby, you don't need to share." Weiss said, and for a moment there's a pause before she realizes as Red wilts. "But, you can, it's just not something usually done. I certainly won't be sharing mine unless I have too."


"Right, right, sorry. I'm just really excited, wait where are you going?"


'Creamiscle. I am a walking stereotype: ice cream named girl really likes ice cream, however I will accept tribute of plushies if you have angered me and need a gift.' Red laughed, whilst Weiss rolled her eyes in amusement.


"I'll keep that in mind. By the way, you were... How do I put it..." Ah, Weiss noticed huh?


'I was pretty jealous of you, kinda my fault, probably could've avoided you getting a nickname from Jaune before me but y'know, we all have our flaws. We should be alright though, unless you go out of your way to-'


Weiss shook her head rapidly. "Jaune is nice, and admittedly I was flustered by him, but I just don't see myself with him? It's flattering but he seems so..."


'Goofy? He's just sincerely a goofball who wants to help, and he genuinely believes in chivalry and honor and all that.'


Ruby snorted. "Yeah, Jaune is a goofball, how'd you two meet anyway?"


'Oh, I uh, got away from a really bad situation where I was forced against my will to do some fucked up shit. I'm still dealing with it and I ran into Jaune, he took me in and provided a safe place for me to get myself together and helped me know what I wanted to do. He did introduce himself with a ridiculous line: Jaune Arc, short, sweet, and rolls off the tongue, ladies love it.' Red and her share a laugh after she finishes, whilst Weiss just facepalmed and shook her head.


"Come on Weiss, give him a break, after all he did tell it to a lady and she clearly loved it!" Neo laughed some more as Red got Weiss to glare at her before sighing.


"Neo's willingness to put up with ridiculous introductions aside... I am glad to know he is just chivalrous, although he did tell me he was awkward." Weiss raised a eyebrow at Neo.


'He is, he was awkward throughout our meeting and sharing a room, much less a bed with me. It was pretty endearing that he was willing to sleep on the floor, but I decided I wasn't in danger with him and he proved me right.'


Red grinned and was about to say something before Weiss cut in. "Whilst this has been very enlightening and good to know all round, I do need to ensure Ruby doesn't slack in her grades. She thinks a C is acceptable."


"It is acceptable! Asking for all As is insane!" "If you would apply yourself then all As would be easy!"


Neo rolled her eyes, maybe Weiss and Red aren't terrible after all. Still going to flip on Red if she killed Roman but eh, she can cross that bridge when she gets to it.


She has a date, after all.

Chapter Text

Goofbun: I am once again asking you to change your name.


Baby Momma: Nuh uh, not happening!


Goofbun: Can you justify why.


Baby Momma: Easily!


Baby Momma sent Precious Child.png, which is a picture of Adrian Cotta-Arc wrapped in night sky blankets, he is staring up with a goofy smile whilst also holding onto a olive skinned finger of Terra Cotta-Arc.


Goofbun: Fair enough.


Goofbun: Need your advice for a date.


Baby Momma: Guh?! Since when! Who is it! Is it that girl you keep talking about? Trivia?


Goofbun: Neopolitan, actually, yes that Neopolitan.


Baby Momma: OH MY GODS!!!!! I'm so happy for you! I can't believe I missed out on my baby brother meeting and asking out his soulmate!


Goofbun: Saph.


Baby Momma: Alright, alright! First off: You taking her to somewhere she likes?


Goofbun: She has a thing for Ice Cream, shocker I know, so I'm taking her to Creamsicle, that place where Mom took you and me after we got lost?


Baby Momma: Ooooo, good choice. You plan on taking her out to Charlotte's?


Goofbun: Yeah, probably won't be for a while though, we met at Charlotte's actually, I didn't actually know we were soulmates until we had a talk yesterday though.


Baby Momma: Second off: All things sorted out? Sometimes soulmates tend to rush things thinking it'll all be smooth sailing once you met, and it doesn't work like that. Gods I wish it worked like that with Terra's parents.


Goofbun: Her parents are dumb. But yeah, I don't expect everything to be sorted but were a lot more in sync and on the same page now were actually communicating. She has a lot of issues because of her parents, it's fucked up and I hate she has to deal with that but I can at least be there and talk to her should she need it.


Baby Momma: Damn, must be even worse than Terra's if they are getting swears outta you. But that's good, having realistic expectations and healthy communication is key! Third off: Try to ignore Dad's advice, not all of it works, trust me I tried the whole 'women like confidence thing' and failed kinda with Terra. Got lucky she realized I was her soulmate and I was winging it with advice.


Goofbun: Will probably go for my goofy confidence, apparently Neo found the 'short sweet rolls off the tongue' line pretty endearing.


Baby Momma: Fair. By the way you mentioned she doesn't speak is that a you thing or...?


Goofbun: Oh, I meant she's mute, sorry worded it wrong.


Baby Momma: gjmfgoljfgdfghoi YEAH KINDA! Man you really must be getting good use outta Dad's sign lessons whilst talking to her huh? Kinda like how me and Terra sign to each other whenever she's on the phone with her bosses!


Goofbun: I haven't been more prepared for something like this than the Horse incident.


Baby Momma: Don't remind me. Anyway, yeah, lastly: Just talk about what you two like! What you share and all that, hell one of the best ways to tell if a relationship will go right is if you can pay attention just as well if it's not something you both like and vice versa.


Goofbun: Right. Think she'll like X-ray and Vav?


Baby Momma: Noooooooo I changed my mind don't subject her to that! That's cruel and unusual! I still cannot believe Maggie and you lore dumped poor Alabaster like that!


Goofbun: They asked!


Baby Momma: They definitely didn't ask for a two hour rant about the series! They just wanted a primer! It's a miracle they and Maggie married after that! Btw Maggie says you better have gotten into a really good school for you to miss out on her wedding, hope Beacon counts in her mind because you might unironically be ruined otherwise.


Goofbun: Oh I'm so screwed if it doesn't. Think introducing her to Neo second will smooth things over?


Baby Momma: You can introduce her to Neo first, I ain't leaving Argus for a while and neither is Terra. Appreciate the thought though!


Goofbun: Thanks. For everything, really.


Baby Momma: Don't mention it. I don't wholly agree with everything you've been doing but this has been good for you in a way not even the ERF would've been. And hey, you met your soulmate at the right time too, so Dad and Mom would have to be crazy to disagree with me on that. Just try to avoid repeating run ins with criminals before you graduate if you can help it, alright?


Goofbun: I'll try my darnest.


Baby Momma: Good. Now give your soulmate a first date to remember!


Goofbun: That's the plan! Love you, talk to you later Saph!


Jaune shook his head fondly with a smile and pocketed his Scroll, he definitely owes it to her for the help, both advice and financially (his money was put into a account she opened for him, gods bless that woman) He definitely would be really lost without her, not to the extent he'd be without Neo, but it's second to his soulmate.


Speaking of: He had to admit, the skip she did after their talks on the roof and at the cafeteria really made his heart swoon, it was so darned cute to see! He really didn't understand Soulmates before her, he thought he did, from the reading and what he heard from everyone else but to actually be with his own, to see her every day it just changed everything. He hopes to see those silent laughs and skips again on and after the date. Which reminds him, they set up the date at Creamsicle so they'll be meeting there instead of walking to there, which might be unwise considering Neo mentioned during their talk someone else pressuring Roman before she was 'freed', but Jaune is certain it'll be fine, she and him will be sticking to the streets and Vale is always busy on the very end of the week, before classes and work restarts.


Jaune is a little worried, but he's sure Headmaster Ozpin, the VPD, Vale's Huntsmen and the Vale Militia can handle Roman's shadowy forceful puppeteer who probably would've attempted to kill Roman and Neo. All he can do is hope he and Neo don't get exposed in the process of that takedown, or after, he's got to hope for that, it'd be too cruel for him to get this far, to meet his soulmate just for it all to go away.


He shook his head again, trying to refocus on something else: Roman. Him. He likes Roman for the opportunity and how good he was to Neo, but he also is worried about his influence on her. Roman was a heck of a career criminal and a showman to boot, no denying that, Jaune seriously doubts Roman will just go retire from that life and do what exactly? Write memoirs or crazy stories about his life in the criminal underbelly of the world under a pseudonym? Seems boring, and he's worried Neo won't be able to get him to settle for a lawful life that makes it easy on her and Jaune.


Whatever, it'll be fine, they'll handle it, and as awful as it is to say for anyone, even for someone who is just not a good person like Roman and Neo and he himself are good people? it would be easier if Roman is as dead as he appears. Although he doesn't look forward to explaining to Ruby why Neo suddenly decided to hate her. Or helping Neo explain that herself. Still would be easier to have frosty relations with someone than worry about Roman being alive like Jaune is right now, which he feels awful for saying.


He should just head out early, it's a good time too, 1 hour before the date, gives him time to get to Vale via bullhead, grab his surprise gift for Neo, get to Creamsicle, and then wait for her so he can hopefully hit it off.


Hopefully the cat plushie he saw her look at is still available.

___________________________________________________________________________

Neo has to admit, waking up with a decent mood instead of the kinda shitty mood she has been in before the talk really does change her day's routine. Granted she also had a, uh, dream about Jaune which she is glad to be out of. Wasn't bad but she is absolutely certain she won't be able to get that far after a first date with how she acted beforehand. Besides, Jaune is too much of a golden retriever to do the things dream him did.


Not really fair to herself or him to be dreaming like that when they've only done the first kiss, which is mostly because she couldn't help herself. Ah well, still she gets her stretching done, her tails all sorted, and then into her get up that she got ahead of time whilst out with Goodwitch when she was clothes shopping before Initiation. She briefly considered going full goth, but decided it'd be too cruel, and too weird for Jaune. For now anyway.


Instead her get up was rather simple: A pink shirt with connected sleeves at the bicep, exposing some of her muscle and shoulders, she decided upon using a brown bra with shoulder straps, this would be combo'd with a white skirt, with black thigh highs and boots ending at the mid shin. Still very good for kicking however, and her legs whilst in thigh highs still showed some muscle, so she was never really unarmed, especially with the special concealed knife holsters in the boot. Her tails were free too, above the skirt and she kept her hat on too, perhaps unwise but she was a sucker for it.


She still needed to finish that hoodie for Jaune, progress has been slow since entering Beacon but she's sure it'll be done sooner rather than later. Once it's done she'll give it to Jaune and then he won't be risking his Pumpkin Pete hoodie in combat anymore. Unless he values the hoodie she makes too much to risk it.


She might've made another mistake already. Ah well, she'll still be stealing a hoodie.


Cardin sees her as she exits the bathroom and clears his throat, and it's at this moment she notices the lack of Dove and Sky. Hm. Her bad really, should've paid more attention, but Cardin is at least not tense or portraying any hostile body language, yet anyway. "You all dressed up for Jaune?" She nodded with a smug grin. "Right. Next weekend I'll want you to stick around, need to do some training and team activities. Additionally: I..." He groaned and mumbled something to himself, apparently not aware she can pick up on it with her ears. "Can't believe that bastard put me up to this." He looked up at her again, her body language or grin not giving away what she just heard. "I need you to teach me shit about the Faunus."


Buh? The fuck? Is mister 'your one of the good ones' for real right now? She tilts her head, raising a eyebrow.


"Yes I'm fucking serious, I kinda have to be because of..." He growled, she finds it pretty amusing that he thinks of Faunus as animals and yet he's growled more than her! "Arc decided to make it a requirement for a deal. I ensured you didn't get pulled along over the weekend for shit and you went to meet the fucker on the rooftop and I would try to see things from the point of view of fucking..." He takes a deep breath, but at this point Neo has decided she might have actually lucked out with Jaune because this is some above and beyond type shit here. Also probably torturous for Cardin Winchester which she didn't think he had it in him, but then again Cardin deserves it in her perhaps biased Faunus point of view.


Alright, alright, I'll take pity on you, after you tell me what exactly is so precious to you that you're willing to try and be a better person, considering you probably think I'm the best of a bunch of animals.


He sighed, and his body language takes a more... defeated, depressed posture. "I'm nobility. My family hasn't been around for as long as yours has been, but it's still well off in spite of us losing our titles. Yet for all of that, I'm fucking lonely, I don't have siblings, and I don't have much time with my parents, and those loyal to my family haven't been able to find my soulmate, Velvet Scarlatina since I received my soulmark when I was 7. I decided... I decided I needed a outside approach, you were a no go because I barely trust you with my back, I sure as hell am not trusting you with my soul, so that led me to the only other worthwhile noble blooded person in this academy: Jaune Arc."


She nodded, because in all honesty to herself: She gets it. She's been desperate for her soulmate for as long as she could remember. Wanting that love you can see around you, but growing up and still not having it? It can do things to someone in a awful situation. Doesn't excuse the shitty worldview, that's probably inherited there, but it does explain the grouchiness and general annoyance with the rest of the team. Apparently Sky is a bit of a coward because hes got a special someone back home, wants to support them, protect them. It's admirable although perhaps silly to choose Beacon, but hey he got in.


It also probably explains why he seemed so annoyed by her mentioning Jaune's her soulmate. It's full blown jealousy because when she came back she was over the moon and Cardin was especially pissed. Basically stood up and went to bed fuming. A part of her remembers the first Winchester she met and thrives upon the fact that same Winchester has such a miserable son. Another part of her, well, she wonders if maybe she should actually help him. After all, she had some help from Roman and Goodwitch... Hm, thought for later. Anyway, she does have a date in like, 30 minutes, so she can't exactly stay for long.


Sadly, I've got a hot ice cream date so- "I do not need more information about your love life." you're gonna have to wait for me to come back for more: But Faunus are basically like humans, we just have some extra shit.


"Like broad species wide night vision?" Stereotype from the Great War: Win one big battle at a place unironically fucking called Fort Castle because of clever tactics utilizing night vision in certain Faunus and boom. Night Vision is something every Faunus has.


Nope! That's from a stereotype. I have night vision but that's more a thing intrinsic to my type of Faunus. Some other Faunus have night vision, some others have abysmal night vision. It'd be like if I said all humans are annoying and racist as fuck based off of the interactions I've had with you and yours!


"Wait, me and mine?"


Yep! Your father and mine disliked each other, and I dislike your dad considering the first words he said to me, in front of my own father was: You are a worthless animal, a freakshow to parade around the degeneracy of the Vanille name, your barely worth being a sow for a Grimm, much less a human.


"Ah. That..." Cardin sucked in a breath. "That does sound like my old man... Look. I don't hold all of his beliefs. It's the only reason I'm even considering this changing shit, and that's only because I don't want to meet my soulmate only to drive them away because I act like my dad."


The great defeat of prejudice: Humans being irrevocably down bad for Faunus soulmates and thus being unable to keep it up. Now granted, that's only been true for her grandfather and now possibly Cardin, but she feels pretty sure about her being right on the money here. Still, there's something else to drive home.


So by the way: Faunus heritage can skip a generation, it's pretty rare, happened to me, obviously, since my dad didn't express any Faunus traits, so this isn't something that should just be a one and done thing. I'll help you look for Velvet, though good luck keeping a relationship.


"Yeah. I know. I'm probably going to have to wait for my dad to die before I can be openly with my soulmate if she is a Faunus... Shit even if she isn't she might not approve of me being like my old man." He runs a hand down his face. "He got lucky my mother didn't give a shit."


Figured. Still, she needs to go now or she'll be late and that's unacceptable. Cardin dismisses her with a wave of his hand and she leaves.

___________________________________________________________________________

Jaune was admittedly less good at navigating Vale than he thought he was, considering he took 15 minutes to find the shop where Neo saw that cat plushie (it's adorable and also purchased now, safely in a box and a bag) and then 30 minutes to find Creamsicle from there. He arrived with roughly 7 minutes to spare before the date actually begun, but he arrived there at the same time Neo did, who looked pretty pleased with herself. He smiled at her and hugged her, receiving one in return, with her tails wrapping around them as part of it.


When he pulls away he takes in her outfit and he feels like Neo just casually takes his breath away just with her looks. How does she do it? He might never know, but he is definitely thankful for it. "Y-you look wonderful." He kinda feels like that sells her short and his nerves are definitely eating at him but her smile brightens and his heart soars.


They take a inside seat, Creamsicle is busy so they take the time to wait it out, and she raises a eyebrow at the bag. "I decided to get you a present. I know I don't have too but you're making me a hoodie so I felt like something nice for you was the least I could do to kick off our relationship. I think you might know what it is already considering I saw you look at it whilst we were out before but..."


For a moment he thinks it might be too strong but she simply signs 'No one has ever bought me something they actually noticed me being interested in. Not like this, anyway.'


"Wait really?" He genuinely can't believe that. How are people so awful at this? He's including himself since he feels kinda lost.


'It's never been something like what you did. Most people see me eying a drink or some food and buy me it in a way to get a quick date or lay, sometimes the first worked, and depending on the mood...'


Oh yeah, she did mention something about not being to hold relationships, it doesn't bother him, honestly he kinda prefers it since that means she knows her boundaries and what he might be doing wrong.


"That doesn't bother me, I'll be honest, I haven't actually, uh, dated before this. Your actually my first kiss." Aside from his mom but that doesn't really count.


'Really? You're pretty handsome, cute and built. That's my kinda crazy about you.' He laughs nervously. 'Wait. No way did you struggle with relationships because you didn't have a soulmark.'


"Yeah way. Anselm isn't that big, a lot of the people there know each other, when you're 15 and the only person in your teens without one by that point, well, it kinda sucks. First person I crushed on actually was interested then next day got their soulmark." And it wasn't him, it really sucked and that kinda trend continued, it hurt, it hurt a lot actually. But now he feels like it was definitely worth it, even if it means he has to work really hard on keeping him and her safe. And on the right side of the law. And on the right side of the rest of his family.


'Hey, are you alright?' Oh his worry must've shown.


"Yeah, I'm just worried about how my family will react to you and uh... well me being at Beacon. I know what you think about my dad-" He was right to not train you if she is right "-so I'm just happy with you two co-existing honestly, but-"


'Your scared of me fucking it up and burning the bridges down completely.'


Jaune shook his head rapidly. "Absolutely not, I'm scared of having already burnt down the bridges, and then you have to deal with all of the issues that causes. I just... Can you try and take it easy on my sisters? Aside from Saph I kinda stressed them all out and missed a wedding, which is pretty big because I've been at every other wedding already."


'Oh, Magnolia marry her soulmate?' He nodded. 'Yeah I think I can see why that would perhaps be a source of frustration.'


"Yeah, sorry I know this is bad first date material but-" She waved it off. 'I'd rather it come up than not at all. Besides I haven't had a actual first date at a ice cream place that was good so you're getting deserved leeway.'


"That's fucked up." That earns a laugh from her and he smiles, then notices that the line has died down. "Alright, lets get to the actual ice cream portion of our ice cream date."


She gave a nod, standing up with him as they went through the process of ordering, Creamsicle does their own little 'make your own Creamsicle' where you decide the flavor of the ice cream and then the coat. They do have suggested and proven stuff, he does a classic orange vanilla one and then a chocolate ice cream with cherry coat. Neo has a rather large, absurd combination of mint chocolate, cotton candy, cookie dough, and banana but the staff is pretty good at customer service (knows sign which is a plus) and are pretty patient with her order.


She seems to enjoy her unholy combination but he isn't sure if that's the mint chocolate coat or the ice cream talking. His is pretty good, the chocolate and cherry works well to him and the classic is a classic for a reason. She takes her time savoring her creation but does make some pretty cute faces whilst she does, so he counts it as a double win.


"So, you're pretty good at sewing, what else do you do for fun? Aside from being gorgeous of course." Jaune asked once they were done, getting a amused eyeroll from Neo.


'Well, I love gossip, enjoying the misery of people I don't like-' Yeah that tracks, he's pretty sure he caught her grinning at Ruby's first bout which was a loss against Pyrrha. '-reading shitty fanfiction, games, learning stuff to be smarter than everyone else... Oh and also I really like comics, particularly Bluesaver and Greathorn. I mean there's also my flair for theatrics and fashion but that's more or less necessary for how I carry myself.'


"I can't exactly say I'm complaining about your fashion choices." She actually gives a little snort and a giggle, shaking her head.


'Y'know I never expected you to like me and my clothes so much, usually people consider it too much or prefer me in less... Although perhaps you still fit into that last category?' She winked with a grin and he blushed, sputtering out nonsense, and managing to avoid groaning by looking at the table for a few seconds, then looking back up to her laughing. He might actually be killed by this girl and he's not sure he minds.


'Alright, alright, that might've been a bit cruel of me to do but I just had to see what it'd do. Have to admit, don't mind you seeing so flustered, it's really cute.'


"Y-yeah. I uh, can we keep that to one joke like that per date? I don't know if I could survive more like that." She giggled, but nodded.


'Fair. I suppose my wanton cruelty will have be sated next time.' She grins at him and he shivers a little. 'But what about you?' Kinda tough to answer actually, considering he put a fair few hobbies on the back burner to try and achieve his dream.


"Well I'm kinda boring, but I'm kinda into comics too, although mostly X-ray and Vav. Y'know them?" She gives a little shake of a hand. He has to remember Saphs words, don't go on a 2 hour lore dump. "Well, they're a couple of people trying to be superheroes. Kinda like me, actually, guess that's why they're so popular, a lot of people wanna be Huntsmen after all." She raised a eyebrow. "I said a lot of people not everyone miss 'this is too easy' not everyone can be as cool as you."


She giggled. 'Alright, I think I remember seeing them a few times. It never caught my interest for that reason though, always liked Bluesaver and Greathorn way more. Bluesaver because of the setting, the characters and the fucking art is beautiful. I mean, being a Altesian dissident during the Great war advocating for creativity and individuality, trying to survive all that? It's crazy and the art just helps sell everything. Greathorn because it's one of the few stories about a Faunus that actually paints them in a nice light that isn't just blatant fetishism or overhyping unique Faunus culture.'


He perked up, he didn't realize it was that Greathorn and Bluesaver. "Oh my god yeah! I couldn't really get into Bluesaver, Great War Atlas is just too bleak for me unfortunately, but Greathorn was such a interesting look into the Faunus, it really sets a better tone and path for writing Faunus and writing to Faunus! I really liked the part in Greathorn volume 5!"


'The part where he charges down a Boarbatusk and manages to send it flying by applying the force correctly at the right time, turning it's momentum into it's death blow onto the rocks below?!' Neo signed rapidly, he almost didn't catch it all.


"Yeah yeah yeah! Then there's also the time he fought that bounty hunter until they realized they had been played by the employer!" Neo's smile widens and shes shaking with excitement.


'Oh my gods I think I might have hit the fucking jackpot. Alright what else do you do?'


"Oh, well, I'm a pretty good dancer, 7 sisters and all of them married with different styles so." She nodded. "I also like star gazing. And astronomy in general although we kinda don't know much beyond Remnant itself, but the Moon has always been pretty interesting. Although you can't get a good view from in the city. Kinda sucks, I miss being able to see the red planet from the tallest hill I could climb."


'Yeah, I could see how you could miss it, although I never was a big fan of the star watching. Too much here to see and do to want to go out and sit on a hill y'know?'


He raised a eyebrow. "Even the moon?" She rolled her eyes. 'Yes even the moon. I bet there's a ton of moons like it.'


"Sure, whatever you say van-" He bit his tongue causing her to tilt her head and do that thing with her ears. "Bad nickname, you wouldn't have liked it."


She smirked. 'At least you're still trying with the nickname.'


"Yeah, I actually almost started calling you Wonder because of how wonderful you are but-"


'You're such a hopeless romantic, and lucky I find it especially endearing and cute.'


"I like to think I'm lucky for a lot of reasons when it comes to you." She laughed, a blush on her face. "Finally! I got to see it again!"


'Congratulations, wanna celebrate it with another round of Creamsicles then a walk after?' He nodded, getting a huff of amusement from her as he got a Neapolitan with cherry creamsicle, whilst she got a vanilla with banana coat creamsicle. After that they went on a walk, going around Vale whilst letting Neo talk his ear off about certain places in Vale.


'That place is awful, I'm pretty sure they bribe health inspectors, there's another seafood place that's way better, run by a very avid Tiger Faunus that blatantly doesn't give a fuck about the stereotype. Then there's Tukson's, good bookstore, guy looks like hes built but hes a total softie, if you ever want romcoms and shit like that, he'll talk your ear off about which ones are good in his opinion.'


"What about that place?" 'Abysmal, I could probably cook you a better burger and I fucking suck at cooking. Last time I did Roman said it was a miracle I didn't burn the water for the ramen.' "Well, it's a good thing I know how to cook then." 'That should be one of our dates then, you one-upping some of the worst places I've been too.'


He laughed, shrugging. "I don't see why not, although I probably will have to look up recipes for some." She shrugged. "Good point, probably can't be worse than the people bribing health inspectors anyway." She laughed, before pointing at another place.


'That right there is one of the nightclubs you would probably like, more toned down than what I would go too.' "You like nightclubs?"


'It's a good place to de-stress, unwind, and not have to worry about a damn thing as you party away. Although some bad clubs don't have good enough security for you to avoid some of the shitty assholes, one guy tried to slip something in my drink in front of me and I probably downright ended any chance of him having children with how hard I kicked him.'


"Sheesh, deserved but I would hate to be on the receiving end of a kick like that from you." She nodded before shifting her posture, thinking of how to convey what shes thinking but he got it. "It's not that I plan on doing anything like that and you haven't done a kick like that to me I just would not survive that if it were me." She snorted, shaking her head.


'You would, although you would probably wish you didn't.' She stopped after seeing something, he followed her gaze and saw a broken shop. 'That's a dust store.' Wait. Roman was robbing a dust store. Yet there's still a string of dust robberies... He'd head back to Beacon to mention this to Goodwitch, or have Neo mention it to her but two detectives come on over.


"Hey, were detectives from the VPD, do you know anything regarding the robbery of this store?" Neo and him shook their heads.


"Any friends that have expressed a need for dust?" Dust? Not money? Wait, did Roman try to rob From Dust Till Dawn for the dust not the money? He shook his head alongside Neo again but he was still confused.


"You sure young man?" The older of the two spoke, and Jaune sighed. "Well, I heard on the news Roman Torchwick-" Neo winced as she knew where he was going. "-tried to rob a store but I didn't realize the why."


"Ah, yeah that's not really disclosed to the public, and we'd prefer to keep it on the downlow that was the case." "It's also why I said this was a bad idea and you're too inexperienced to do it like this. Cmon lets look at the actual crime scene now."


The two walked away, and he turned to Neo who simply shook her head. "Right. Sorry. I uh, I think I saw a stand near the station for some cheap ice cream." She rolled her eyes, but nodded, holding his hand as he led them. He took it as a sign it was his turn to talk her ear off.

___________________________________________________________________________

Neo has had a pretty good date thus far, even counting the painful reminder she doesn't know where Roman is or if he's even alive and that the whole reason they had to do all this is still out there causing trouble. Thankfully, she still had Jaune, who probably thought this tanked the date even though all it did was slightly bring down the mood.


"Y'know, last time I was in Vale was when I was 12, Dad took the family on a business trip since we hadn't been in Vale for a while. I entered a little hand to hand combat competition behind his back, he kinda forbade me from it and combat stuff in general but all I've ever wanted was to be a Huntsman, so I thought maybe I could show him." When he looked at her she tilted her head, she noticed he had better hand to hand than she expected, but winning a combat competition at 12? "I didn't win the whole thing, I actually won two though, Dad showed up in the middle of my second match, it was a slog, pretty messy but I managed to pull the win. Third match I got demolished and then brought over to him. I was so sure I was gonna get grounded for a month but he just took a look at me, sighed and ruffled my head, smiling whilst he said he was proud of me."


Alright, that is surprising and redeeming Nicholas Arc slightly, she doesn't remember the last time her own father said the words "I'm proud of you" to her... Did he ever? Her surprise must've shown because Jaune gave a little laugh. "I wasn't out of trouble, but that's how I learned of Charlotte's, because he took me there after that, he also let me know that I absolutely could not do that again and that I got lucky that everyone was as inexperienced as I was, along with being grounded for a week when we got back. But he started training me, it's part of why I'm so built up even though I don't know much about the how of fighting."


She decided to not comment on that, it's a nice story admittedly, and she doesn't exactly want to try and torpedo her relationship with Jaune or try to torpedo his relationship with his father. Even if his father is at best a misguided asshole. "I know, you don't like how he trained me, but I don't think I could even have beat Sky like I did in my first bout if it weren't for the fact I had the strength to help when I have to improvise. Maybe I could've found a way if I didn't have my strength but I definitely haven't been minding it."


She decides to sigh and nod, because it isn't wrong but it also isn't right. She was built up and trained how to fight along side getting to fight people for Roman, so why wasn't Jaune?. "Anyway, before that I was last in Vale when I was 7. Got lost with Saph whilst we were looking around for something, think it was some toy store Saph saw and Mom found us. We cried into her arms and she took us to Creamsicle to help us calm down and cheer up."


They stopped near the stand, there's a line of 6 people so they wait, she lets go of his hand. 'No wonder you weren't in Vale for a while, your father probably freaked the fuck out each time you walked off and did something.'


He laughed a little, rubbing his neck, she enjoys the little nervous smile. "Yeah, Dad didn't feel comfortable taking us out to Vale unless he felt like it. Somehow our camping trips on Anima were easier for him to manage than a trip to Vale."


'Makes sense though, he's a Huntsman and he lives out in a smaller settlement, probably has spent more time in the wilderness than in the city.' She'll bug him about those trips sometime, she knew he went camping but she thought it was on Sanus, not Anima.


"Yeah, back in his Beacon days he would always mention that he swore Vale was intentionally designed to be confusing."


She nodded, it definitely felt like that to her when she was younger and more sheltered. 'It can be if your new.'


"I get it though, when I first got here on my own for the first time I genuinely felt more lost than when I was 7. Managed to get a place and find where I needed to go but man was it difficult." Alright she has to admit she forgot he practically was stumbling around, she noted he seemed confused and lost, but didn't realize just how bad it was.


'So you're saying when we went to the Preliminary Exam site I could've led us and found it faster?'


"Probably." She rolled her eyes with a smile and then they ordered, Jaune had to order a 3 scoop Neapolitan cone for her since the guy running the stand didn't know sign, looked apologetic but truthfully she didn't give a shit. At least the ice cream was good, so if it's here again she'll definitely try it again. He tried out banana, seemed to like it, which is nice because she had a strange appreciation for some weird flavor combinations and the underrated flavors. Of course, nothing could ever top Neapolitan for her, but she definitely had 2nd, mint, and 3rd, cookie dough, favorites.


After they ate, they walked to the Bullhead, Jaune looking a little afraid and nervous, she found it amusing back when she first learned of it, her soulmates words of "All I'm saying is that motion sickness is more common than people let on!" ringing in her head, now she wishes he had those pills to help with it sooner.


When they sat down, he pulled a box and gave it to her with a anxious smile, and she opened it to-


No fucking way did he see that exact plushie she wanted! It's a adorable tuxedo cat with a :3 face and everything, it's about the size of her arm and she fucking adores it. The only reason she didn't get it back when she saw it was because they had places to be, and she didn't get a chance to come back yet. She looks at him with teary eyes, her hands are trembling with the joy and utter adoration shes feeling for him because she cannot remember who else aside from Roman who's cared this much about what she wanted.


She tackles him into a hug, the plushie in one hand as she cries a little into his chest. It's something she's done a lot it feels like but it doesn't matter, because she signed 'I love you' into his back as they held each other. He froze before relaxing, letting out a breath and she didn't need to look at him to know he had a goofy smile on his face.


She unfortunately has to pull away but she is right about the smile, she has one on her face as well because she definitely likes this dum-dum. Probably even loves but she can't easily check her soulmark. He snapped a picture of her holding the plushie, Precious she's decided, in her arms whilst she smiles at him. Unfortunately she has to put Precious away for now to sign but she's sleeping with this in her arms tonight.


'I'm naming it Precious and sleeping with it in my arms and no one can stop me. This is the best thing I've ever gotten as a gift on a date, and I'm including the guns and super expensive Atlesian brandy I've received.' She wound up drinking it with Roman after the gift giver tried to get what he wanted by force from her. She walked away from that apartment pretty upset, but glad that the idiot would never trouble her ever again, although she had to lay low as they investigated the murder.


"Well, I hope it can make it for the admittedly not the most best date." She scoffed, raising a eyebrow because he's being absolutely absurd. She pulled him in for a kiss, a soft one, it was short but gods she's been wanting to do that for a while and reassuring him that she had the best first date she might ever get in her life seemed like the best time.


"So... I guess that means were good for a second date sometime?" She huffed and nodded, restraining a laugh at his hopeful, puppy dog face. Absolutely adorable, although he could stand to assume some things with her. She doubts he'd overstep and she gets the feeling when he does she'll probably not even care. "Cool... I'm going to go lay down and celebrate when we land because man do I not like bullheads." She shook her head, keeping the smile as they landed, signaling the end of their time together.


With a wave to him as they parted, she skipped her way with Precious safely in the bag and box she got it in, she'll need to appropriately threaten Sky to stay far away from it, Dove seems to be the smartest guy on team CDNL because she hasn't had a issue with him. As for Cardin he's smart enough to know that he shouldn't mess with her stuff, so no worries there although he'll make a snide remark about her sleeping with a plushie but she honestly couldn't give a fuck.


That was the best date Neo has ever been on, especially since half of her dates have been foreplay to set the mood when they get to somewhere else to fuck. She hasn't minded the lusting for her in the past, but seeing it mostly devoid, she caught him from time to time slightly staring, but she'd honestly be more offended and concerned if he didn't want her like that. He's trying to be the gentlemen and she does make it her mission to not make it easy, so the fact he does so well is something to celebrate really.


With her skipping and musing to herself she only barely manages to avoid crashing into a rather stressed looking Miss Bow. She is a little upset, but is too intrigued by her, especially since once Miss Bow sees her, the bow on her head twitches. She just has to know now doesn't she?


"Sorry for almost bumping into you." Miss Bow almost gets away with that but she holds a hand up to stop her and give herself time to sign.


'You know sign?' "I pride myself on not discriminating." Oh fuck yeah this bitch is a Faunus like her, she'll bet her next ice cream meal on it. Probably Fang based on the tension in her body and the fact she's hiding her heritage, hell didn't Jaune mention someone pointing out the whole heiress to a shitty company thing Weiss has going on? He wanted to know more about the SDC but forgot to mention it earlier so he texted her last night, she gave a pretty brief run down because she needed her beauty sleep.


'Cool. I want to know your name and why exactly your deciding to let me be the only Faunus in our year.' Miss Bow full on flinches, bingo! She won her bet with literally no one! Roman and Jaune would be so proud.


"Blake Belladonna-" That's a fake as fuck name. "-and can we not talk about it here? There's a spot on the overlook where no one goes."


'Sure, lemme drop this box off and tell my teammates to not touch it unless they wanna be flayed and then we can go.' "Right."


Neo leads Blake over to her dorm, she opens it and enters, Sky, Dove and Cardin are playing poker, Cardin looks up surprised. "Your back? I thought you'd be out with Jaune still or doing whatever you people do with your Soulmates." Yeah he's such a work in progress, she can't wait to offload him to Velvet the second they meet him. She places Precious on the bed and turns to them, gesturing to not touch.


"Right, no touching your stuff." Dove scoffed. "We aren't stupid... Maybe Sky is-" "Fuck you." "But I'm not interested in whatever torture you have planned for whoever wins the dumbest person in Beacon award."


"What is your plan for the winner of such a illustrious award Neo?" Cardin asks, and fortunately Blake answers for her. "She mentioned flaying."


Sky paled and Cardin laughed. "Sky, come on man get real, I wouldn't let her do that." Oh? "We need you for four years, so we'll toss you off the roof instead." Ah there we go, Cardin is rather pragmatic at least. Sky groaned and hit his head on the table. "Why'd I get placed on the team with a psycho, a asshole and Dove?"


"The fucks that supposed to mean." Blake cleared her throat and Neo motioned herself going with Blake, causing Cardin to wave her off with a excited grin. "Poker's back on boys."


"Oh thank the gods something I can win at."


With those words she and Blake headed for the spot, it wasn't bad, nice view of Vale with the sun setting in the background, the trees are pretty far so it'll be hard for someone to overhear if Blake is smart, which she might not be. Like come on did she seriously expect another Faunus to just be okay with this? To not immediately clock on and go "Wait guh? What the fuck is this bitch doing?"


Blake took a deep breath and turned to her. "What can I give you that can earn your silence?" She raised a eyebrow and Blake just seemed to sigh without sighing. "Right. Sorry, I mean what can I give you that can earn you not telling anyone else this?"


'Technically? Nothing because I'm not keeping this from Jaune.' Blake's face scrunched up.


"You might be soulmates but surely you keep things from each other. You can understand why he can't know." Oh she can fuck off with that shit.


'Nah, I actually cannot because I did keep things from him and I almost screwed it all up. I haven't even told you what else I've noticed about you just based on what I've noticed and been told.' Blake actually groaned and glared at her, before deflating.


"Look, if I tell you I'm hiding from the Fang, trying to redo with a second chance, like you-" Ah figures she would've put two and two together there. "-then would that work? I would help you with Jaune, whatever just keep it between us."


'Including him?' She let out a defeated sigh. "Yes... Even him."


'Cool. So you're on the run from the White Fang under a fake as shit name and a shitty bow because you were one of them?'


"Yeah. I thought... I thought I could just go to Beacon, be judged for who I am as a person not for what I looked like. Then you clocked onto me from the second you met me." That's really your own fault, you're not exactly fooling everyone, hell Jaune probably would've gotten it because he's quite the attentive man.


'I mean to be fair, Jaune and I would've caught on anyway.'


"I don't know, Jaune doesn't seem all that smart, honestly he seems more like nepotistic entry." Neo scoffed, because Jaune earned his place, he thought of a way to get in and has been working hard, harder than a lot of the year. Some of the other first year teams she saw were fucking slacking. Hell he's working harder than her and she probably shouldn't be letting that happen!


'Jaune's not some nepobaby, hell that's more applicable to me or Cardin, he's got a good lineage but he's worked damn hard and he's got a damn good head.'


"On his shoulders right?" She nodded, having to restrain her laughter because holy shit that would be something she'd say not miss terrorist here. "Well, in any case, what about you? You were Roman's sidekick and now all of the sudden your here and he's a-" Neo stamped her foot, cutting her off because she tensed up and studied her, whilst Neo positioned herself so people from behind her can't see what she's signing.


'Officially, I was mind controlled by Roman. Unofficially... There's someone out there with a lot of reach, connections and power in the Valean underworld. Roman was given a choice to comply or die, and as his partner, I went along with it, we lived by the phrase: Lie, Cheat, Steal and Survive so we figured it'd be fine. Only for Roman to overhear bosslady didn't exactly intend for him to survive, and were a package deal so I was going down with him.'


Blake sucked in a breath, frowning. "So. You're basically just-"


'Waiting out the heat was the idea. But then I met Jaune and now I'm actually considering giving this whole Huntress shit a shot. For the record, I think this school is too easy, and what it promotes is bad, but if it means I can stick with Jaune and help Roman, then fuck yeah I'll play ball with the system.'


"Is... Is Jaune's dick that good?" Neo glared at her. "Look, I can't exactly get going with my soulmate, and he apparently has you reconsidering something you've been doing for a while."


She rolled her eyes. 'I haven't even fucked Jaune yet, and if I'm being honest here: That's fine, because he's so fucking pure and actually a good person that it's probably the only reason we even work. At least I'm not lusting and crushing on a ace guy anymore.' Blake hisses. 'No I only realized it after I started the whole Beacon bullshit. And no I'm not interested in sharing Jaune.'


"Right. In any case, I can't exactly blame you for not liking Huntsmen, especially given how too many take to the way the profession has been set up to mean they are free to be barely better than mercenaries, but I feel so... Lost. I was out in the first rallies the Fang did, as soon as I could understand and protest. It's been my whole damned life, I don't even talk to my parents anymore because I... I..." She wiped tears away and Neo doesn't feel bad for her in the slightest.


'Are a idiot for driving away people who actually loved you?'


"Yeah." She sniffled. "I've fucked up, if that makes you feel any more superior to me." She already felt superior enough, now she just kinda pities the Faunus in front of her.


'Look, I only said that because I didn't exactly have that. I had parents who fucking hated me and would've celebrated my passing in private and had another child in hopes of having one that worked right, so I'm not exactly shedding tears over you being dumb.'


Blake nodded, looking away and holding a arm. "I can understand that... Can I... Can I talk to you about something?" As if she'd miss out on free information and shit.


'You already are but go off I'm honestly too interested to walk away right now.'


"How in the hell do you deal with Cardin? The only reason why Weiss and him aren't friends is because he looks down on her lack of noble blood and she thinks hes a brute. He holds contempt for the Faunus, I know he does but is restraining it so he doesn't get tossed out and it infuriates me. Weiss is such a spoiled brat who won't face the consequences of such a action so she just goes on about the Fang like she really knows them, like they never did good, like their ideals aren't worthwhile. I must really be paying for what I did in the Fang because I don't know how else to explain away the misfortune that had to occur for me to be on the same team as a Schnee, especially her."


Yeah, Neo can't blame her, especially since giving away the whole 'whoops I was once in the same group of people that have tried to murder your family and would celebrate its demise' thing would basically kill Blake. So that rules out threatening people, and being such a dominating menace to your teammates since Weiss doesn't really respect strength and force of will like Cardin and the rest of the team does.


'Simple, get to know her.' "What?!" 'I'm dead serious, Cardin is actually trying to change his worldview because his soulmate might be a Faunus, Weiss might be the same, she seems pretty lonely and desperate for companionship if I'm being honest. I would suggest just going full honesty, or even partially but you kinda seem like a coward so we'll skip that.'


"Excuse you?! I'm not a coward!" 'Uh huh, who ran away from the White Fang and is currently hiding away from her team?' Blake winces, and she continues. 'Look, being a coward selectively is good, but you can't just deny it when it's pointed out. Besides, who knows? Maybe the rest of team RWBY will surprise you, I didn't expect to like Red or Weiss, yet I find them more tolerable once I gave them a chance. Hell even my team is tolerable, they're a bunch of jerks but they're my jerks, and by giving them a chance I'm actually trying to be a Huntress. You can't half ass this job Blake, this isn't some terrorist group.'


Blake is silent for a minute, before sighing and nodding. "Your right. I'll... I'll try to ease them into the truth I guess. I have a question though, why did you not like Ruby? I saw you with her throughout the day before Initiation even whilst you were..."


'Making a mess by not telling everyone my name change and letting my insecurities and issues almost tank my chance with Jaune? Yeah. Look, I like to tell myself Roman is a showman, and he wouldn't miss a chance to try and make a spectacle of his demise, real or fake, and he almost certainly wouldn't lose to some brat who wasn't even in the last two years of Signal... and yet... you know better than almost anyone else in this Academy that shit just happens on a job. Especially when your playing with your life trying to fake your death.'


"Yeah. I do. I didn't even realize Roman was the one Ruby fought to get into Beacon so early. I just thought she was a genius and a prodigy, ahead of her courses and all that, since she didn't take classes seriously at first." Yeah that sounds like Red.


'I mean, she might still be, but Roman hit the shop she was in at the time, so one thing led to another and all of the sudden boom. It meant my investigation closed favorably since they didn't have a Roman to try and cross reference.'


"That's... wow." 'Yeah, me and Roman were best friends, I owed him so much before this shit went down, I owe him even more now. I'll feel so lost if he's actually dead.'


She nodded, her face softening. "I can understand that..." She looks like something just came to her. "I... Someone mentioned on the days before I left that someone was scouting the camp I was at, do you think it could've been the person that-"


'Abso fucking lutely. Roman was freaked out at first when they sent the ultimatum, but figured we'd just weather it all out, or that we could get them whilst they were more vulnerable. Whatever he heard spooked him hard off that plan, and they are probably more than a match for your average White Fang grunt.' If she's being honest, Cinder might be capable of taking on a few Huntsman level threats based on the vibe Roman got from her. He could see through bullshitting confidence and earned confidence, and Cinder reeked of earned confidence. That's not even counting her lackeys and who knows how many of them shes got lying around.


"...They were mentioning Dust stores were still getting hit even despite Roman's death..." Neo shrugged at that, because she does remember Roman complaining about passing up the money, sure they get it in exchange for the Dust but it's just not the same, and she definitely got where he was coming from. It makes sense to conclude they wouldn't stop getting Dust even if Roman isn't around to do his part.


"We need to stop them."


Guh? Since fucking when is there a we? She looked at Blake's determined frown and groaned internally. 'Look, you and me aren't on their level, and their biggest advantage of secrecy is gone since I managed to slip in they even existed. Trust that the Huntsmen, VPD, Militia and Beacon can handle it, because I sure as hell ain't fucking with them if we can avoid it. I'm good but I'm not that good, and you wouldn't be here if you were either.'


Blake groaned and stomped around, pacing now. "But if we just let them do what they please then who's to say we will get that time?" The slight flaw in Romans plan reveals itself: She ain't got a fucking clue how he solved the timeframe issue. But Roman probably thought of it and is ensuring it won't rear it's ugly head if he is still alive, and if he isn't? Then it'll most likely still work there just won't be that certainty that Roman brings.


'Roman likely is solving that if he is alive. And he wouldn't make a plan regarding me if he didn't feel sure of it's success. We'll have that time, and hey, if not then it'll be down the line where everything and the kitchen sink, were the kitchen sink in that analogy by the way, gets thrown at them. We just have to lay low and not fuck things up for ourselves. Don't forget, they went to me and Roman, not the Xiongs. I'm sure they probably are affected by a piece of their plan leaving even if they're acting like it isn't, and the White Fang getting heat onto themselves will only cause trouble, especially since they'll be losing people because they just ain't on me and Romans level when it comes to robbing people.'


Blake seems a little mollified by that, but Neo's sure she'll have to deal with this a lot. "Fine. We trust in the authorities to handle it. Back to the topic of Weiss... Do you really think she's lonely?" Neo kinda just feels like she got slapped by the whiplash of topics but alright she'll take the W when it presents itself.


'Yeah, I really do, Red can be annoying and she did get jumped up 2 years, so Weiss probably wouldn't want to deal with her if she could help it, but she let Jaune in on a talk and proceeded to actually try with Ruby the day after, although she makes a show of trying to appear like she doesn't actually like her. Hell if I wanted to deal with the bitch I'd probably be her friend if I put in the effort, but I'll prefer colleagues for now because I might want to distance myself from Red.' Distance is the polite way of saying she'd murder Red if she could get away with it if she did cause Romans death even if he did fuck around trying to fake it in the first place.


Blake nodded, pursing her lips. "I... I didn't notice it. What about Yang?"


This bitch really likes causing Guh? moments from her holy shit. 'I don't fucking know, I menaced her on the first day I met her but I've generally avoided your team. That's probably gonna change though since you sit with JNPR at lunch.'


"You must really like Jaune." 'Damn right I do, he's a helluva catch and I sure as hell wouldn't be as happy as I am. In fact I'd be objectively miserable being in Beacon by myself with CDNL and not knowing anyone else.'


Blake did some nervous fidgeting which clearly means shes about to elicit a guh from Neo again, she wasn't ready for the targeted strikes upon her mind like this from Blake. Actually wait before Blake even speaks...


'Is Belladonna your real name or are you just fucking with me?'


"Oh, uh, it's actually Nasukakuro, Belladonna is just what I heard my mother use for something and decided to use that as part of my fake name. I actually was named Blake though, my mother liked the name a lot and thought it'd be good for me." Huh, that's nice.


'Better than being fucking named Trivia like I was some fun fact in my mother and fathers lives.' Blake winced. "Holy shit your parents must've been awful."


'Their soulmarks were toxic green. I honestly might've completely broke their already fucked up marriage because my father was a coward and my mother was a ambitious bitch.'


Blake sucked in a breath. "I... I can see why they might've been like that then." She raised a eyebrow and a tail flicked and Blake seemed to realize the implication because she hurriedly tried to correct it. "Not that it was you who actually was the problem but they probably just didn't do anything about it because they were such a mess."


Neo was sated by it, more so by the reaction really, and Blake continued. "Anyway, what's your read on Ruby." 'Red is like Weiss, mostly since Yang took her friends from Signal with her and she didn't which means Jaune, Weiss, Yang and me are her friend group. She does seem like a good person though, which can be a double edged sword for you. Good because she might think you deserve a second chance and become a Huntress. Bad because she might realize you're a ex-terrorist who murdered at least one person, probably more and thus might deserve jail, even if we both know Faunus like us don't just get jail.' Blake sighed, not even flinching or anything, just resigned.


"You're right, we wouldn't get jail if we were found out. Fuck I might be riding with criminals instead of being a Huntress or being in the White Fang." Neo just shrugged at that.


'If we get found out I'm not sure what Jaune will do, but partners could be pretty beneficial should that happen.'


"...Fine, but if we're going to be partners in that event were going after that person hiding in the shadows, and you will tell me more about them." So she is smarter than she looks.


'Cool, just know I'm going to let you do a lot of the talking but the planning is probably our weak point since I generally let Roman do it and you wanted to nosedive into Vale's criminal underworld unprepared.'


"I would've had you." 'Congrats you got a tour guide so you know everything about a area.' "...Fair."


'Anyway, just don't do stupid shit, we'll chat on our Scrolls but just keep in mind we might be monitored on there so keep it vague and shit.'


"Right." They shared contact details and stepped away from each other. "Neopolitan-" 'Oh my gods just use Neo.' "-Neo. Thanks, I'd probably be doing a lot worse if it weren't for this talk."


'Faunus solidarity and all that.' "Sure, like you believe in that." 'Hey, the only reason I didn't let you suffer was because it was amusing and also because your another Faunus.'


"Whatever." Blake smiled a little though, not exactly matching the smug smirk shes been wearing. "Talk to you later?"


'Sure.' As Neo and Blake walk back, she definitely feels like she secured a ally here, even if its a flighty, impulsive one.


Roman wouldn't approve, but against Cinder? She'll need all the help she can get if shit goes bad.
___________________________________________________________________________

Whilst the pills for motion sickness help, man does Jaune still not feel amazing physically, but at least he has the fact that he gave Neo such a good date that she was skipping away after kissing him and telling him she loved him. It might not actually be at that level but he felt like he was on top of the world, still kinda does if hes being honest. Pyrrha enters the room and notices him laying down and laughed.


"I see someone had a good date, how long have you been smiling?" Has he been smiling? Huh.


"Probably since she kissed me at the end of our date. That was, uh, a bit ago." Pyrrha laughed some more, sitting down on her bed facing him.


"So, I take it went well?"


He nodded. "Yeah, I uh, got her a plushie she saw a while back, it wasn't cheap but I have this as her contact picture now so I think it was worth every Lien." He showed her the picture, causing her smile to brighten. "She looks so happy, and it is a adorable plushie."


He chuckled, remembering how he felt when he saw it. "Yeah, I just knew I had to get it when I saw it in the store."


"Jaune, how much money do you have in reserve?" That is the awkward question, whilst he has made it last, he almost certainly won't have much by the end of the semester, if at all with the way these dates have been hitting his wallet.


"I'm probably going to be out of money by the end of the Semester, and whilst my Sister might be able to provide some, she has her own worries... I'm probably going to have to cut back."


"Well... I was thinking, I want to be sure you and Neo can be happy, seeing you so worried was... difficult. I don't know what we could've done if that talk went poorly, and if I'm being honest, I feel like this is what friends do."


"I'm not exactly sure I want to take advantage of your kindness." Jaune's pride is stinging hard, because he should be able to provide for his own dates. Sure, Neo would yell at him in her own way for being crazy enough to turn down money like this, but he feels like he should be doing more things on his own.


Pyrrha sighed, and shook her head, looking at him with a hard to read look, but he isn't feeling happy with being on the receiving end. "Jaune..."


"I really appreciate it but I should do somethings on my own."


She bit her lip, he almost thought that was that but then she spoke again. "Just... just know its still there."


He feels kinda bad, and for a minute they just sit there in awkward silence until he speaks again to break it. "Well, thanks, and uh, Pyrrha? What else is there about Soulmates?"


She looked surprised for a moment before smiling a little. "Well, soulmates are typically what you make of them. Many do tend towards being romantic, but some people are basically best friends for life when their sexualities don't match up or if they just feel like its better that way. Of course, when people let their bond go bad, it typically results in some... complicated relationships."


"Like how in the Wolfs tale?" "Exactly, it's not exactly pleasant and I'm glad you avoided that."


He definitely agrees with her there. "Right. So what do you think Ren and Nora are?"


She put a fist to her chin, thinking it over before answering. "Those two? It's hard to say without knowing more but if I had to say I'd say romantic, if only because Nora can be... obvious."


Jaune laughed a little, because yeah, Nora can be obvious it's just Ren for his emotional support and advice over the week can be pretty clueless to himself. It's ironic really but he'll avoid poking fun at him, if only because Jaune isn't much better.


"Anyway, do you think anyone else will find their soulmates here?"


"I mean, yeah, we'll be here for four years, seems pretty likely. Speaking of, I kinda need to help find a Velvet Scarlatina."


Pyrrha frowned. "I have heard of a second year with that name, why?"


"Well, I want to respect their privacy but I was asked to help in exchange for something. Honestly, I would've done it anyway, I know the feeling."


"Makes sense." Her face a had small smile. "You know Jaune, I don't know if many would do the same, in fact I don't know if your own soulmate would help someone with theirs."


He shrugged. "Opposites a attract then I guess." Pyrrha laughed at that. "Anyway, I think I'll go shower and sleep, unless you wanna shower first?"


"I think I would prefer it first, thank you." She got up and headed into the bathroom, and Jaune took a deep breath and smiled.


Sure, he's got issues in the future certainly, but it feels bright all the same.