Jaune wasn't sure what to do, his reprimand on his tongue but he choked it back as Tyrian grabbed his hand and dragged him excitedly to the door of the house, and away from a scowling Cinder. Jaune gulped as the man opened the door. "Why'd you bring me here, especially for a first date?" he whispered frantically.
The taller man raised a brow. "Why wouldn't I? If we're going to be dating you'd have to meet my family eventually. Might as well get it over with now." He shrugged.
Jaune stared incredulously at him. "Okay, there's so much wrong with that I don't know where to begin." He muttered, and sighed in frustration as he was tugged to the dining room.
It made him freeze up again, because this was actually, really happening – he was so not ready for this. Jaune swallowed nervously, his nerves not helped as Cinder shut the door and stalked by them. She took the seat furthest away from everyone on the long table decorated for something like a banquet than a dinner.
"Mother, how wonderful it is to see you again!" Tyrian said to the stately, ageless woman at the head of the table.
She had her hair tied up, a blonde so white that it almost matched her very pale skin and made her reddish eyes stand out more. Her expression was set in a stern line, and only inclined her head towards the man. "Tyrian. I see you've brought a guest."
"Yes, Mother, this is Jaune." Tyrian pulled the blond closer to him, slinging an arm around his shoulder and Jaune tried not to fidget. "He's my date!"
Though it was incredible difficult not to.
Cinder's visible eye narrowed as if attempting to stop herself from rolling it, while the other two at the table Jaune finally took notice of in his nervous haze both looked like they equally cared less.
The stately woman though settled a piercing gaze on Jaune, who tensed like a deer in the headlights. It was only a brief moment, but it seemed to stretch on as her eyes narrowed as if dissecting him, but just as easily her expression softened a touch even she wasn't smiling. "Welcome, Jaune. I am Salem, and this is Hazel," she gestured to the silent, buff brown-haired man, "Arthur," next indicated was the man dressed like he was going to a business meeting than a dinner, "and Cinder."
Jaune was so awkward already, that he blurted the first thing that came to mind. "I know Cinder, we go to the same university."
Cinder glared at him. "We don't know each other." She said before anyone could speak up. "I'd never hang out with a freshman."
"You mean you're not Cinder's age?" Tyrian asked, sounding bemused.
Jaune furrowed brow, his nerves fraying even more. "No, I'm nineteen." He paused, then with a little trepidation, he followed up with, "How old are you?"
"I did not know we'd be getting dinner and a show." Arthur said.
"Arthur." Salem said in reprimand, before her gaze turned to Jaune and Tyrian. "Now is not the time to have this discussion. Please, sit and let us eat."
"Yes, Mother." The faunus said quietly.
"Sorry, ma'am." Jaune added, and sat down awkwardly at the end of the table. He really wanted to disappear at that moment. Even more so when Tyrian glanced between the seat next to Jaune, and the empty one next to Salem, the taller man went to sit next to his foster mother.
Jaune's eyes widened incredulously, the urge to shout at him again tempered by the sheer embarrassment of being left sitting by himself. His cheeks flamed red. Well, this evening isn't getting off to a great start.
