The screen opened up with a large group of people on a city looking background. Ren stood forth in an old revolutionary style uniform as the music started. "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and scots man dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?"
The scene cut to Sun, grinning broadly. "The ten dollar, founding father without a father without a father got a lot farther by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter by being a self starter. By fourteen, he was incharge of a trading charter." Sun wore a similar outfit to Ren.
Winter Scoffed a little. "Why anyone would trust a fourteen year old with a trading charter, I don't know."
Sun just smiled, seeing himself again.
Neptune stood up, Dressed up in fancy clothes. "And everyday while slaves were being carted away across the waves, he struggled and kept his guard up. Inside, he was begging for something to be a part of. The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow or barter."
"Neptune! It's you buddy!" Sun pointed out. Neptune just nodded. "Yeah, i guess it is."
Next up was Yatsu, dressed like Sun and Ren, AKA a military outfit for the time. "Then a hurricane came, and devastation reigned. Our man saw his future drip, dripped down the drain. Put a pencil to his temple, connected it his brain, and he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain." Ren was shown again, leaning on a cane.
"Well the word got around, they said 'this kid is insane man!' Took up a collection just to send him to the mainland. 'Get your education, don't forget from whence you came. And the world is gonna know your name, what's your name man?'" Jaune stood up, a blue jacket over his clothes. It was a similar military jacket to what Ren was wearing.
"Jaune arc Hamilton. My name is Jaune Arc Hamilton. There a million things that I haven't done, but just you wait, just you wait."
"Got to say, vomit boy looked good in that coat." Yang said, licking her lips just a little. Weiss had to agree. So what, she had a thing for uniforms.
Next up Ruby in an era appropriate dress. "When he was ten, his father split, full of it, debt ridden. Two years later, see Jaune and his mother bed ridden, Half dead, sitting in their own sick, the scent thick." after this, a group of voices whispered. "Jaune got better but his mother went quick."
Next up was Ironwood, standing tall and proud.
"James, it's you!" Glynda pointed out, seeing the general on the screen for the first time.
"I suppose it is."
"Moved in with a cousin, the cousin commited suicide, left with nothing but ruined pride, something new inside. A voice saying Jaune you gotta fend for yourself! He started, retreating and reading every treatise on the shelf." Ren took the stage once more.
"There would have been nothing left to do for someone less astute, he would have been dead or destitute without a cent of restitution. Started working, clerking for his late mothers landlord, trading sugar cane and rum and all the things he can't afford!"
Neptune whistled at the lyrics. "Wow Ren, you really can spit 'em fast, can't you?" yang said, impressed.
"Uh… thanks?" the Monk said, somewhat confused
"Scramming for every book he could get his hands on, Planning for the future, see him now as he stands on the bow of a ship, heading for a new land. In New York you can be a new man."
The company started to sing. "In New York you can be a new man."
Jaune got up on the bow of a ship, looking into the distance. "Just you wait."
"In new york you can be a new man."
"Just you wait."
"IN NEW YORK YOU CAN BE A NEW MAN, IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK!"
"JUST YOU WAIT!"
The company sang again. "Jaune Arc Hamilton. We are waiting in the wings for you. Never backed down, never learned to take your…. TIIIIIME~ oh, Jaune Arc Hamilton, America sings for you! Will they know what you overcame? Will they know you rewrote the game! The world. will. Never. Be. The. Same! OHHHH."
Ren started again. "The ship is in the harbor now, see if you can spot him. Another immigrant coming up from the bottom. His enemies destroyed his rep, America forgot him!"
Sun, Sebastian and Yatsu sung together. "We fought with him."
Sun and a smaller boy, with blue eyes and black hair, tipped with golden blonde. "Me? I died for him."
"Is it just me, or does that look like if Ruby and Jaune had a kid?" Blake blurted out. Ruby turned bright red, hiding in her hood at the idea of her and Jaune having a kid.
"Indeed. The child on the screed does seem to have the similar facial composition as the two of them." Penny supplemented.
The weight of the kid dying suddenly weighed heavily on some of the members. "Oh… right."
Ironwood stood forward. "Me? I trusted him?"
Ruby, Pyrrha and Cinder all sang together. "Me? I loved him."
That got a couple looks at Cinder. She just shrugged while Mercury was starting to think rather highly of this Jaune Arc. "the dude's a sex god. He got The Champ, shortstack and Cinder all in one? Holy cow, not to mention he's got that blonde in a couple of them."
Ren stood forward once more, looking sad and guilty. "And me?" (buh buh buh Bum.) "i'm the damn fool that shot him."
That got some betrayed looks from a lot of the viewers, namely his fellow students. "I- i- i wouldn't kill Jaune. He's my best friend. He is my brother." Ren said, trying to not break down.
"You two were not so good friends in this universe. While you were not enemies, you disagreed on many things." Orb said. "I feel that this version of you did not quite understand Jaune Arc Hamilton. I'll show you why after this."
The entire company sang once more. "There's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait!"
Ren looked around "What's your name man?"
"Jaune Arc Hamilton!" Everyone shouted. And the screen faded to black, only for it to start back up again.
"After the war, I went back to new york." Ren said, walking through a street
Jaune echoed his friend. "After the war, I went back to new york."
"I finished up my studies and I practiced law."
"I practiced law, Lie worked next door."
"Even though we started at the very same time, Jaune Arc Hamilton began to climb. How to account for his rise to the top, man, the man is"
Everyone finished Ren's sentence. "NON STOP!"
The scene cut to Jaune in a courtroom. "Gentlemen of the jury, I'm curious, bear with me
Are you aware that we're making history? This is the first murder trial of our brand-new nation. The liberty behind deliberation. ("Non-stop" sang the chorus.) I intend to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, with my assistant counsel-"
"Does anyone else notice that this version of Jaune seems less… i dunno?" Yang started, looking for the right word
"Fearful? Worried? Timid?" Weiss supplied.
"Yeah. those work."
"Yes. Jaune does seem to have more confidence in himself in this universe." Pyrrha said, loving the gleaming look in his eye.
Ren interrupted the Arc. "Co counsel Hamilton sit down. Our client Levi Weeks is innocent, call your first witness. That all you had to say."
Jaune looked saddened. "Ok." his eyes light up. "One more thing!" time froze for Ren
"Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room? Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room? Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room? Soon that attitude may be your doom (aww)." the scene shifted to jaune writing on a desk, stacks and stacks of paper next to him.
"Holy hell. That is a lot of paperwork." Ozpin looked, taking a deep calming swig of coffee.
"Yeah." Ironwood agreed.
"Why do you write like you're running out of time? Write day and night like you're running out of time? Every day you fight, like you're running out of time. Keep on fighting In the meantime."
"NON STOP"
Jaune was back in the courtroom again. " Corruption's such an old song that we can sing along in harmony and nowhere is it stronger than in Albany. This colony's economy's increasingly stalling and honestly, that's why public service seems to be calling me ("he's just non-stop" sang the chorus). I practiced the law, I practically perfected it. I've seen injustice in the world and I've corrected it. Now for a strong central democracy. If not, then I'll be Socrates. Throwing verbal rocks at these mediocrities."
"Hamilton at the constitutional convention." sighed Ren
"I was chosen for the constitutional convention!" Jaune said giddy.
"There as a new york delegate." Ren sighed, looking at a Jaune standing in the middle of a delegation.
"Now what i'm about to say may sound indelicant."
"Goes and proposes his own form of government."
"WHAT?"
"WHAT?" was the shock of Tai. "He proposed a form of government? Smart kid" Qrow just agreed silently.
"His own plan for a new form of government (what?). Talks for six hours. The convention is listless" Ren sighed
"Bright young man." said a delegate.
"Yo, who the F is this?" asked another.
Ren sighed, pacing around a frozen in time Jaune Arc. "Why do you always say what you believe? Why do you always say what you believe? Every proclamation guarantees free ammunition for your enemies." the scene cut once more to Jaune writing, papers now stacked on the floor as well.
"Nothing wrong with saying what you believe in." Nora pouted. Cinder scoffed.
"Kid. not being able to say what you believe in is what keeps you alive." Roman sighed, smoking a cigar.
"Hrmp." nora pouted, unable to come up with a refute.
"Why do you write like it's going out of style? Write day and night like it's going out of style? Every day you fight like it's going out of style
Do what you do" Ren continued, and he sat down in his living room
Knock knock
The door opened to reveal a haggard looking jaune.
"Jaune Arc?"
"Lie Ren, sir." Jaune greeted
"It's the middle of the night."
"What does Jaune want?" Ren pondered, wondering why his leader had sought him out in the darker hours.
"Can we confer, sir?"
"Is it a legal matter?"
"Yes and it's important to me."
"What do you need?"
"Sir, you're a better lawyer than me."
Everyone blinked. "I… I thought that Jaune was the better lawyer?" Mercury asked, confused.
"It did seem that other me insinuated that idea." Ren said.
"What does Jaune want?" Pyrrha asked.
"Watch and find out." Orb said.
Ren blinked. "Okay."
"I know I talk too much, I'm abrasive. You're incredible in court. You're succinct, persuasive. My client needs a strong defence. You're the solution." Jaune urged.
"Who's your client?"
"The new U.S Constitution?" at this Jaune phrased as a question, cringing just a bit.
"No." Ren said flatly
"Aww, Renny! Why did you deny fearless leader!" Nora said, gripping to her crush. Ren just shrugged.
"I'm sure other me had a good reason."
"Hear me out." Jaune begged, rolling his head. His hand went behind his head, giving it a scratch.
"No way."
"A series of essays, anonymously published defending the document of the public." jaune reasoned.
Ren shook his head. "No one will read it."
"I disagree."
"And what if it fails?" Ren retorted, posing the possibility
"That's why we need it!" Jaune argued back.
"Do they really argue like this?" Blake asked NPR.
"Ehh, kind of? It certainly mimicks how they argue. Not quite the same though." Pyrrha explained.
Ren sighed. "The constitutions a mess."
"So it needs amendments." Jaune said with a shrug.
"It's full of contradictions!" Ren put his hands in the air, exasperated.
"And so is independence. We have to start somewhere." jaune countered.
"No, no way." Ren turned to close the door.
"Hey!" Ren stopped, turning to the blonde. "What are you waiting for, what do you stall for?" Jaune asked
"What?"
"We won the war, what was it all for? Do you support this constitution?"
"Of course." Ren said without hesitation.
"Then defend it."
"And what if you're backing the wrong horse?"
"Ren. we've studied and we've fought and we've killed for the notion of this nation, We Now Get To Build! For once in your life, take a stand with pride. I don't understand how you stand to the side." jaune turned to walk away. Ren shouted after him "I'll keep all my plans close to my chest ("wait for it, wait for it, wait" sang the chorus)
I'll wait here and see which way the wind will blow. I'm taking my time watching the afterbirth of a nation watching the tension grow."
The scene changed to Pyrrha and Jaune walking in the garden. Pyrrha turned to Jaune
Yes! I finally end up with Jaune! Pyrrha thought to herself, waiting for the romance to start.
"I am sailing off to London
I'm accompanied by someone
Who always pays
I have found a wealthy husband who will keep
Me in comfort for all my days
He is not a lot of fun, but there's no one who can match you for turn of phrase. My Jaune."
"Pyrrha." Jaune sang with remorse.
"NOOOOOOO!" Pyrrha cried, seeing her chance slip away. Nora just patted the poor spartan on the back. She really did want to see Pyr and Jaune get together. She thought that they would make a good couple.
"Don't forget to write." the scene cut to Ruby, who held Jaunes hand. "Look at where you are. Look at where you started. The fact that you're alive is a miracle. Just stay alive, that would be enough and if your wife could share a fraction of your time. If I could grant you peace of mind. Would that be enough?"
Ruby turned to look at Orb, asking silently for an explanation. "Jaune's a workaholic, and far too driven to help the nation. Something similar to your own. He has an incredible drive to help people, his friends in particular. If you guys were not there to prevent him, he would work himself to death." Orb said.
"I don't understand how one can be too driven to help their nation." Ironwood said. Orb just remained silent. They had to understand, not be told.
Ren started to narrate, showing Jaune, Russell and Fox standing together. "Jaune joins forces with Fox and Russell Thrush to write a series of essays defending the new United States constitution entitled The Federalist papers. The plan was to write a total of twenty-five essays. The work divided evenly among the three men. In the end, they wrote eighty-five essays, in the span of six months. Russle Thrush got sick after writing five. Fox wrote twenty-nine
Hamilton wrote the other fifty-one!" he ended in a yell as the papers that surrounded Jaune on his desk and floor started to fly in a hurricane.
Ren started to practically yell at Jaune surrounded by the flying papers, still writing furiously. "How do you write like you're running out of time?Write day and night like you're running out of time?
Every day you fight like you're running out of time. Like you're running out of time
Are you running out of time?
How do you write like tomorrow won't arrive? How do you write like you need it to survive? How do you write ev'ry second you're alive?
Every second you're alive? Every second you're Alive~!" Ren sang. The scene shifted to James looking out a window, Jaune behind him, pouring a glass of burbon. "They are asking me to lead. I am doing the best I can to get the people that I need. I'm asking you to be my right hand man" he said, still looking out into the city.
"Treasury or state?" Jaune said without missing a beat, drinking the bourbon down.
"I know it's a lot to ask."
Jaune rolled his eyes, and repeated "Treasury or State?"
"To leave behind the world you know."
"Sir! Do you want me to run the treasury or state department?"
Ironwood hesitated for a moment. "Treasury."
A grin made its way to Jaunes face. "Let's go."
Ruby was holding on to Jaunes chest as he stood at the doorway. "Jaune."
"I have to leave." he said, as though it hurt him to say it.
"Jaune." ruby said, again with more passion, giving her best puppy dog eyes
"I have to leave." he did not meet her eyes. He knew he would crumble.
"Jaune."
"Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now."
"Helpless~" Ruby said as she held on tighter.
The chorus started to sing "he will never be satisfied, he will never be satisfied."
"History has its eyes on you!" Ironwood said from off screen, leading to a cacophony of voices echoing
"He will never be satisfied, satisfied."
"Helpless~"
"History has its eyes on you"
"I'm not throwing away my shot, I am not throwing away my shot! I am Jaune Arc Hamilton and I am not throwing away my shot!" the song ended.
Orb took a deep breath in. "whoo boy. That was something. What did you guys think?"
Ruby swallowed, thinking about being married to Jaune.
"I liked it." Kali said finally.
"You like everything dear." Ghira sighed with a smile. There was some conversation between the groups about the music. Most of them liked it
"I'm glad you all liked it. So, out of all the universes we've seen, any you want to see more of?"