TALES FROM THE HUNT TOWER
"That time everyone prepared for a date."
Setting: after Weiss Schnee: Legacy
"Are you sure we can't go to the arcade?" Jaune asked, frowning at his Scroll.
"No, you absolutely cannot," Yang said, crossing her arms. "You and Pyrrha have been dating for three months, and you've not even gone on a proper date yet." She raised a hand as he opened his mouth to speak. "Ah-ah-ah. Going to the arcade doesn't count."
"But we like the arcade." Jaune pouted. "Right, Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha, sat on the couch while she polished her shield with a rag, looked up at them and gave a quick smile. "The arcade is fun!" She turned her eyes back to her shield, concentrating on the task again.
"Going out for burgers is also an option," Jaune said. "We're always up for burgers."
"Wait, what? Pyrrha and burgers?" Yang said. "I don't think those two fit together in a sentence... unless it's a sentence about how Pyrrha absolutely refuses to eat that kind of trash food."
"You're not wrong to think that, but I've found a couple places with vegetarian options that are quite healthy, and delicious to boot," Pyrrha said. "Now if only I could get Jaune to have those instead of his usual…"
"And miss out on all the greasy fun? No way!" Jaune said.
Pyrrha shuddered and shook her head, her hand swiping fervently along the edges of her shield.
"Okay, look. I get what's going on here," Yang said. "You're both new to this whole dating thing, and you're spooked about going outside your comfort zones. And that's okay, because dating can be pretty scary. But this is the sort of thing that's important for you to try out, you know? You two can't just stick to what you know forever." She shrugged. "And hey, who knows, you might just find out that you like fancy dinners way more than playing videogames together for six hours straight!"
Jaune pursed his lips, and even Pyrrha stopped to throw Yang a dubious look.
"Okay, maybe I was stretching it there at the end," Yang said. "But you get my meaning. So, are you gonna chicken out, or?"
Jaune looked at this Scroll again. He had the reservation for the restaurant tonight pulled up, he only had to press a button to confirm that they would be attending. But that felt scarier than fighting a Grimm, somehow.
Yet what Yang said made a surprising amount of sense. He knew Pyrrha enjoyed their dates together, but maybe she'd appreciate a change of pace every once in a while. He could survive a couple hours of discomfort if it meant making her happy. Probably.
"Well… I'm game if you're game," he said, looking at Pyrrha.
She put her shield down beside her and considered for a moment, before she nodded. "Sure! Even if we dislike the experience, I think we'll be glad we at least gave it an honest attempt."
"Alright." Jaune tapped his Scroll. "Dinner at eight, then. Confirmed."
He took a deep breath, and nearly screamed as Yang jumped a meter off the floor and pumped her fist.
"Heck yeah, date night!" she said. "Pyrrha, get to your room! I'll meet you there in half an hour, I've gotta grab some stuff first."
Pyrrha blinked. "I'm sorry, what exactly are we doing?"
"What do you think we're doing? You're gorgeous, girl, but you can't just show up to a fancy date without dolling up a bit first," Yang said. "Don't worry, you won't have to do any work. I've got heaps of experience, trust me."
"I do trust you, Yang, but…" Pyrrha said, "didn't you say you gave up on dating years ago?"
"Shhhh, don't question the master," Yang said. "Fifteen minutes."
"Wasn't it half an-"
"Ten. Be punctual."
Yang ran off, almost crashing into a wall in her excitement. Jaune heard a distant shriek – from either Ruby or Weiss almost getting trampled in the hallway – and then a door slamming opening and slamming shut. He turned to look at Pyrrha, and she giggled as she gave her shield a finishing polish.
"Can't blame her for being excited," Pyrrha said. "I think it might be a bit contagious, actually."
"Right? I'm still kinda nervous, but this sounds like it'll be fun," Jaune said. "This is big, right? I feel like this is big. Maybe I'm just being a dork."
"No, I feel the same way. This will be a wonderful evening, I'm sure of it." Pyrrha stood up. "Well, I'm gonna leave this in the training room… and then I suppose I ought to go get dolled up."
"Don't let Yang experiment on you too much," Jaune said. "Or maybe do. You'll, uh, you'll probably look great either way."
Pyrrha smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then walked away. Now alone in the living room, Jaune couldn't help but grin like a dork. Pyrrha was the most beautiful girl he knew, so she definitely didn't need to do anything to look good for him, but the thought of what she might look like for dinner still excited him.
He frowned. If Pyrrha was dolling up for their date, did that mean he had to do that too? Or whatever the equivalent was for guys. But… he had no idea what that entailed. Pyrrha probably wouldn't care if he went as normal, but if she was going the extra mile, she deserved for him to do the same, right?
The excitement he'd built up over the last few minutes vanished in an instant, and dread set in.
He was screwed.
"Yang, did… did you always have these dresses?"
Pyrrha stared aghast at the arrangement laid out on Yang's bed. Well, arrangement was a bit of a misnomer. There were way too many dresses for them to be displayed in any orderly fashion. The most Pyrrha could make of most of them was a glimpse of their color and material, which wasn't nearly enough for her to make an informed decision.
"Of course I've always had them," Yang said. "What, do you think I bought them for you just for such an occasion?"
"Well, now that you've said it, maybe you did," Pyrrha said.
"Look, we each get a pretty handsome salary, right? And since I'm not an investing nerd like the Ice Queen, I've gotta spend my money somewhere," Yang said. "I like dresses. If I'm ever gonna actually wear them, that's irrelevant."
Pyrrha nodded. She still had the faintest suspicion about where the clothes had come from, but she supposed that was a bit too wild of a conspiracy, even for Yang.
"I don't know, Yang. This just doesn't feel very right," Pyrrha said. "These are your dresses. I can get my own. I've got a handful in my room, they're a bit old so they might be a tight fit, but-"
"No. I'm not having any of that. You'll pick the one you like most from this lot, and I'll lend it to you," Yang said. "Scratch that, I'll give it to you. Consider it my three-months dating anniversary gift to you."
"Is… is that a custom?" Pyrrha asked.
"It is now." Yang shrugged. "Go on, take your pick."
Pyrrha frowned. "Are you sure? I don't want to just take something that's yours. Maybe I could-"
"Pyrrha, stop fussing and choose. I don't want you to repay me or anything, I just want you to be extra-gorgeous for your date with your lucky noodle of a boyfriend. Trust me, I'd do the same for Ruby," Yang said. "Except Ruby wouldn't be dating a guy, probably. And also, it'd be tough to give her one of my dresses because, unlike us two babes, we don't share the same build." She tossed her hair to the side and cleared her throat. "Not to be vain or anything - I'm just saying."
Pyrrha grinned. This was still a bit too much for her, but now that Yang put it that way, she felt more comfortable with accepting it.
"Thanks, Yang," Pyrrha said. "But you must promise me to wear one of these yourself sometime, okay? It'd be a shame to leave them collecting dust in your wardrobe."
"Maybe when I'm eighty and I meet the right person for me," Yang said. "But yeah. We can go out sometime. Girl's night, no noodles invited." She snorted. "I wasn't even setting that one up, it just snuck up on me! I'm a comedic genius."
Pyrrha patted her on the shoulder. "You sure are, Yang." She looked at the dresses. "Now… Are you familiar with the term analysis paralysis?"
"Huh?" Yang followed her eyeline. "Oooh… Yeah, maybe I should put some of these away. Like, half of them. Just, uh, tell me which ones you don't care for and we'll start from there."
"A sound strategy," Pyrrha said. "…We're gonna be here for a while, aren't we?"
"Yup, we are."
An hour after his realization, Jaune was still screwed. He'd thought by staring at his mirror hard enough for a sufficient amount of time, he'd somehow figure out what he needed to do to look nice for Pyrrha, but he had no such luck. The best idea he'd had was to put on his nicest pair of shoes and a hopefully clean shirt, but that wasn't nearly enough.
If only he could request Yang's help too, but she was busy with Pyrrha at the moment. Even when she finished, he doubted she'd have enough time to work on him too, not unless they were going to delay the date until midnight. He'd thought about asking Ruby for help, but she'd probably be even more clueless than him. Then there was Weiss, but that was a big red nope. Too awkward to even think about.
His last option had been Blake, and he'd actually gone to her room and asked her if she could help him, but she'd just stared and closed the door on him without saying a word. Which sucked for him, but he couldn't be too mad. Dressing up a guy was probably nowhere near Blake's list of interests.
So he had to fend for himself. Which was fine. Except it wasn't at all.
He was about to give up and lie on his bed in a fetal position for the rest of the afternoon, when he heard a knock on his door. Jumping to his feet, Jaune almost threw himself at the door and opened it wide, only to turn pale when he saw Weiss staring at him from the hallway, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Uhm, hello," he said. "Can I, uh, can I help you?"
"No. Clearly, you can't even help yourself," Weiss said, gesturing at his face, and then at his… well, everything. "You are in dire straits. As your friend and teammate, I am here to assist."
"But I didn't even ask you- How did you even know that I'm panicking?" Jaune said. "I mean, er, that I'm having… difficulties?"
"Because I know you, Jaune Arc," Weiss said, "and because I was informed by a third party." She looked to both sides and sighed. "Who seems to have conveniently vanished while I wasn't paying attention. Give me a minute."
She stomped off, and came back shortly, dragging Blake along by the wrist.
"-but I recruited you!" Blake hissed. "Why do I have to be here too?"
"Because this is a task bigger than any one of us!" Weiss said. "And because you're going to be our witness and insurance."
"Witness and insurance…?" Jaune repeated.
"I'd rather not go into excruciating detail. Surely you understand why my assisting you in such an intimate manner might be a little… tense," Weiss said. "That's why Blake's here. Hopefully her presence will make the experience easier on all of us."
"Not for me, it won't," Blake mumbled.
"Wait, so she's here to make sure we… keep our hands to ourselves?" Jaune said, now more confused than anything.
"No! It's just – just for the principle of the matter," Weiss said, her cheeks flushing. "Don't flatter yourself, Arc. I have no intention to ever… you know, with you again."
Jaune blinked. "I don't know how to respond to that, so let's just move on," he said. "Look, I do need help. But… I should go talk to Pyrrha first if you're going to be involved."
"I talked to her myself before I came here. She said she's perfectly fine with it," Weiss said. "Blake, you can attest to that, yes?"
"I can," Blake said. She sighed. "If we're going to do this, can I at least get a book from my room first?"
"No, you cannot," Weiss said firmly.
Jaune scratched the back of his neck. He had been hoping for something to rescue him from his situation, and though a tag team of Weiss and Blake sounded like the most terrifying answer he could have gotten, it wasn't like he had any other options.
"Alright," Jaune said, breathing out and clapping his hands. "But no one's looking at my naked butt!"
"What scenario are you imagining where that could ever come to pass?" Weiss said, pinching her forehead.
Jaune frowned. "Yeah, now that I think about it, the chances of that happening are pretty slim."
"They're non-existent," Weiss said sharply.
"And we're all very thankful for that," Blake muttered.
They entered his room, and Blake promptly sat on the edge of his bed and crossed her arms, a perpetual pout on her lips. Weiss positioned Jaune in front of his mirror and began to lightly smack his face and hair, which he highly suspected wasn't in any way helpful, but since he wasn't an expert, he didn't protest.
"Okay. We're going to have to do something about your hair," Weiss said.
"What's wrong with my hair?" Jaune asked.
"That you have to ask that should be answer enough," Weiss said. "But we can worry about that later. First we should pick out the clothes you're going to wear. You want something classy, but probably not flashy, I'd assume."
It took Jaune a moment to realize she'd posed that as a question. "Uh, yes?"
"Of course," Weiss said. "Well, let's take a look. I'm sure we can find something usable in here."
She turned to his wardrobe and opened it with a grand gesture. A heavy silence filled the room as she stared at what lay inside it, her expression going from resigned determination to just… disappointment.
"Jaune, why… why do you not have any shirts in here?" Weiss asked.
"But I do," Jaune said. "Look, they're right there."
"Those are t-shirts, Jaune. I'm talking about dress shirts, any kind of formal wear," Weiss said. "Please tell me you keep those somewhere else."
"…Nope? I just have those. Ten exactly," Jaune said. "You know, one for each day of the week? For two weeks straight."
"But that'd be fourteen shirts for fourteen days," Weiss said, baffled.
"Oh, I guess I didn't count Saturdays and Sundays. I usually repeat shirts those days," Jaune said. "…I'm saying exactly all the wrong things, aren't I?"
Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. Even Blake looked disappointed in him.
"Okay. We're going to need to go out and buy you some new clothes," Weiss said. "Actually, we should probably revise your whole wardrobe, but we don't have time for that today. And I certainly don't have the mental fortitude right now. We'll just get your evening's attire and call it a day."
"Sorry," Jaune said. "But come on, you have to appreciate the efficiency of my system."
"I don't have to do any such thing, actually," Weiss said. "We'll head out immediately. Blake, you're coming with us."
Blake slipped off the bed. "But-"
"No buts!" Weiss interjected.
"Can I please bring a book with me at least?" Blake said. "Please?"
"Alright fine. One book, that's all. And we're leaving right now, so you go to your room fast and get it," Weiss said.
"Thank you!"
Blake all but ran from the room, and Weiss turned and shook her head at Jaune.
"What are you looking at me like that for?" Jaune said. "Nobody complained until now! I wouldn't have to change anything if you hadn't stuck your nose in my stuff."
"That's exactly the issue," Weiss said. "Honestly, Jaune. Your girlfriend has to be the most patient woman on Remnant."
"Oooh, how about this one?" Yang said. "No, no, this one! I like the bun. Kinda complicated but I think I could do it. What do you think?"
Pyrrha sucked on her teeth, seeing through their reflection in the mirror that Yang was barely paying any attention to her as she swiped through the images on her phone. She was sure Yang was right and all the hairstyles she was suggesting looked positively magnificent – but she couldn't be sure, seeing as she couldn't get a look at any one of them for more than a couple seconds each.
"That one is nice," Pyrrha said. "I really liked the… the other one. With the… waviness?"
"That doesn't narrow it down much," Yang said, biting her lip. She showed her Scroll to Pyrrha again. "You mean this one? Or this?"
"Maybe? I don't really remember," Pyrrha said. "They've all kind of blended together in my head."
"Huh?" Yang blinked and put down her Scroll. "Oh, I'm doing the thing again, aren't I? Sorry, Pyr. You really should have said something sooner."
"You were just so excited, I didn't want to stop you," Pyrrha said. "I think all the hairstyles you showed me were wonderful, and I know you'll do a great job replicating them, so how about you narrow it down to a couple options and I'll take my pick?"
"I do have fantastic taste for hair," Yang said, and grimaced. "Yeesh. I just got a weird mental image." She blinked and shook her head. "Do you want something elaborate, or something simple?"
Pyrrha tilted her head to the side, looking at her reflection. "I think Jaune would like something simpler more than something elaborate."
"Simple it is, then. Give me a minute."
Yang sat down on her bed and started looking through her Scroll gallery again. Pyrrha took a strand of her hair and twirled it between her fingers. She kinda wanted to try out a few of the more elaborate styles Yang had shown her, but combined with the dress and the make-up she was going to apply later, that would probably be way too much. She didn't want to send Jaune into a catatonic state – whether that came from awe or terror didn't matter.
She wondered if his preparations were going as rigorously as hers. Pyrrha had never really seen him dress up for anything, so the thought was very exciting. She just hoped he wasn't uncomfortable or anything. Or…
"Yang?" Pyrrha called, frowning at her own image.
Yang looked up from her Scroll. "Yes, my liege?"
"Do you think I'm stupid for letting Weiss help Jaune?" Pyrrha asked.
"Not really?" Yang said. "We all know they've got some, uh… sordid history, but I don't think she'd try anything with him, and vice-versa. Why, are you worried?"
"No. It's just… I wonder if I should be worried. Or angry, or jealous," Pyrrha said. "What would you do in my situation, Yang?"
Yang stood up and walked over, standing behind Pyrrha and putting her hands on her shoulders.
"To be honest, I don't really know. I'd like to think that, if I were dating someone I really loved and trusted, I'd understand and be totally cool with it," Yang said. "But I don't know, I'd probably go on a bloodthirsty rampage or something."
"Oh," Pyrrha said. "Should I do that…?"
"No, that wouldn't do anyone any good, I don't think," Yang said, chuckling. "Do you trust Jaune?"
"Absolutely!" Pyrrha said.
"And do you trust Weiss?" Yang asked.
"Yes," Pyrrha said. "I think she's just trying to be supportive of him after everything that happened."
"There you go, then. Nothing to worry about," Yang said. "Pyrrha, there's never any way you should be feeling. You get to choose how you feel about things, and if anyone wants to tell you you're wrong, screw 'em. What do they know?"
Pyrrha looked at the mirror and smiled. Yang was absolutely right. If she was happy or otherwise, that was her own choice. And right now, she was pretty damn happy.
"Thanks, Yang," Pyrrha said. "I don't know why you're so against dating. You sound like you'd be a master at it."
"Well, it's easy to sound wise and mature when you're giving opinions on someone else's relationship," Yang said. She looked away, as if thinking about saying something else, but she only shrugged and sat down on the bed again.
"Well, personally, I think you'd make for a wonderful girlfriend," Pyrrha said. "Anyone would be lucky to have you."
"You think so?" Yang crossed her legs, smiling smugly at her. "If I didn't know you better, Ms. Nikos, I'd think you were making a pass at me."
"You know I wasn't doing that," Pyrrha said.
"Sure, sure. Good try, but that ship has sailed," Yang said. "You're a committed woman now, and I… I am no homewrecker." She put a hand on her chest and sighed dramatically. "Oh, but the temptation! Hold strong my soul!"
Pyrrha rolled her eyes and leaned on her elbow. "As if you could handle me."
Yang choked, her Scroll nearly slipping between her fingers as she fumbled with it. "A-anyway, hair! Choose hair! Hair choose!"
Pyrrha chuckled. Yang was too easy sometimes. She was lucky Pyrrha was a merciful friend.
There was a knock on the door. Yang immediately went to open it, thankful for the distraction.
"Oh hey, Ruby," Yang said. "Didn't expect you."
"Hi! Yep, it's me," Ruby said, and Yang opened the door wider to let Pyrrha see her as well. "Hey, Pyrrha."
Pyrrha waved. "Hello again!"
"So, are you guys still choosing a dress?" Ruby asked.
"Pyrrha settled on one already. Now we're trying to decide on her hair, and then I'm gonna get to work on that," Yang said.
"Cool!"
Ruby smiled at Yang and Pyrrha, nodding slowly. Nothing else was said. Yang looked back at Pyrrha, then at her sister again.
"So, did you need something?" Yang asked.
"No. I was just passing by, and…" Ruby shook her head. "It's nothing! I'll get out of your way so you can do your thing."
"Ruby Rose, you have many talents. Lying is not one of them," Yang said.
"That's debatable," Ruby said, raising a finger. "I mean, think about it. How would you even know?"
Yang opened her mouth, then closed it. "Damn. Got me there," she said. "But seriously, spit it out."
"I was just… Everyone's helping out with date stuff. Even Blake's been recruited," Ruby said. "I was wondering if I could help too, but like, that was dumb, you can forget about it. This is girly stuff – not really my thing and all, I shouldn't have come and bothered-"
"Ruby, just because this isn't your usual thing, doesn't mean you can't enjoy it sometimes," Yang said. "Although, this is a very important night for Pyrrha, so I don't know if you should start with this. You don't really have any experience. You can…" she took a deep breath. "…y-you can practice with my hair later, if you want."
Ruby gasped. "You'd really let me, Yang? Your hair?"
"Yes." Yang swiped at her eyes. "I o-only want the best for my lil' sis."
Pyrrha gawked at Yang. Was that display real? Or was it all pretend? She couldn't really tell, and by the look on Ruby's face, she couldn't either.
"You know, Ruby, I'd be happy to let you help with my hair," Pyrrha said. "You can be Yang's assistant."
"Are you sure? Like Yang said, I have no experience at all," Ruby said. "Actually, one time when I was five, I decided to try and cut my own hair. Mom found me in the bathroom with the scissors just in time to stop me. I'm lucky I still have my left ear!" She frowned. "I probably shouldn't have told you about that just now, huh?"
"I don't mind. Your assistance will only make this occasion all the more special!" Pyrrha said. She looked sideways at Yang. "…You won't be using scissors, right?"
"Nope," Yang said. "Well, if Pyrrha's okay with it, I'll gladly take you on as my apprentice. But you must follow my every instruction, got it?"
Ruby saluted. "Yes, Ma'am!"
"Alright. We've still gotta decide on what we're going for, but Pyrrha said she wants something simple," Yang said, pulling Ruby close to look at her Scroll. "These are the ones I'm considering. Now, I'd personally go for this one, but maybe-"
"Actually, I've changed my mind," Pyrrha said, tilting her chin up as she looked in the mirror. "I think… I'd like something elaborate." She looked at Yang. "Sorry."
"No sorries from you," Yang said. "Your wish is our command."
"Yes!" Ruby put her hands on her hips and nodded. "You shall receive the best haircut-"
"Just hairdo, really," Yang said. "No scissors."
"-in the history of Remnant! And best of all-" Ruby pumped a fist in triumph and pointed at Pyrrha "-you shall keep both ears!"
Pyrrha grinned. She was in good hands.
-x-
"Again I ask, why did I need to come with you?" Blake said.
"Because you are part of this now, whether you like it or not," Weiss said. "I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is."
"So, you don't have a real answer," Blake said. "Fine. I can tell this is going to take a while, so I'm gonna sit over there with my book." She pressed her book against her chest and looked at Weiss imploringly. "Can I do that?"
"Fine. But don't even think about sneaking back home," Weiss said. "I should find Jaune anyway, he's been gone too long. I swear, if he got lost because we left him on his own…"
Weiss marched off, and Blake took the opportunity to retreat to a corner of the department store and sit down on a waiting bench. She opened her book, giving a quick look at her surroundings first. She caught glimpses of Weiss stomping by the aisles in search of Jaune, but otherwise there was nothing of interest happening. Shrugging, she turned her attention to her book, picking up where she'd left off last night.
She'd barely gotten through one page when she heard footsteps approaching, and she looked up to find Jaune staring at her dejectedly.
"What happened?" Blake said.
"Weiss got mad at me because I hadn't chosen any clothes yet," Jaune said. "She told me to wait with you while she picked them out."
Blake sighed and slid to the side, making room on the bench, and Jaune sat beside her.
"Why do I feel like a kid being taken clothes shopping by his overzealous mom?" Jaune said. "Well, Weiss would be my mom in that case, which is a weird thought and I wish I hadn't had it. And you'd be my…"
"If you call me Dad, I will kill you in your sleep," Blake said.
Jaune nodded. "Understood."
Blake turned back to her book.
"So, what'cha reading there?" Jaune asked, peeking at the cover. "Sounds like a fantasy novel?"
"Yes," Blake said dryly. "That's a very astute observation, Jaune."
"Thanks. I also like fantasy. Most of those stories have guys with swords, and they're way cooler than me, but that's okay. I gotta find inspiration somewhere" Jaune said. There was pause as she just waited for him to continue his point. "I should read more books. They've, uh… they've got words in them, which is cool."
"Mhmm. I also like that about them," Blake said.
She slowly turned her eyes back to her book, only to close it when she saw Jaune perking up again at the corner of her vision.
"Jaune, I don't think either of us is good at small talk," Blake said, "but we can try anyway, if you insist."
"Right. I'm being annoying, aren't I? It's the nerves," Jaune said. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this. You probably wish you were anywhere else right now. I'll just… find another bench."
Jaune stood up and made to walk away, but Blake caught him by the wrist and pulled him back.
"Stay," Blake said. "Look, you're not wrong. This isn't exactly my idea of an idyllic afternoon. I was hoping to finish this novel before dinner, but alas, I don't think I'm gonna be doing that. Just... don't mistake my annoyance for apathy."
Jaune sat down, frowning at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I do actually care that you and Pyrrha have a perfect evening," Blake said. "She means a lot to me, and… you do too. That's why I went to Weiss after you knocked on my door. I wish I could have helped beyond that, but trust me, you and Ruby aren't the only ones who are clueless about dating stuff."
"But I thought you read romance novels all the time?" Jaune said.
"I do, but romance and dating are two different worlds. One's way more real and scary, in my humble opinion," Blake said. "Now, if what you needed was romantic advice, I could do that for you. With a disclaimer that, yes, most of what I know comes from books."
"But you're confident that you know your stuff," Jaune said.
"Exactly. Just like Weiss. How many times has she dressed up for a date?" Blake said.
"That's true. I guess she's dressed up for a bunch of formal events, but those aren't really like dates," Jaune said. "It's all about confidence… That is good advice, Blake. Thanks!"
"You're very welcome."
Weiss chose that moment to come back, carrying in her arms a pile of shirts so tall it almost came up to her chin.
"I have assembled a collection," Weiss said. "You shall try on each one of these, and you shall do so without complaint. That is an order."
"Okay," Jaune said, standing up. "I can go to the changing rooms first, right?"
"Yes, you-" Weiss said, her tone of voice lowering drastically when she saw the grin on his face. "Haha, yes, make jokes at the expense of the woman who has so selflessly given you her time and effort. You realize I could have just left you to your sorry fate?"
"Right, and I'm so grateful that you didn't!" Jaune said. "I'm gonna go try these on. And I won't even complain about it."
"You better not."
Jaune took the clothes from Weiss and walked to the changing rooms. As he left, Blake looked at Weiss and couldn't miss the way her eyes followed him, nodding her head almost imperceptibly.
"Aha," Blake said. "I get it now."
Weiss turned to look at her. "Get what?"
"The reason I've been dragged here," Blake said.
"Do you now?" Weiss rolled her eyes. "Go on, then. I'd love to hear whatever you've come up with."
"I am a witness," Blake said. "A witness to your penance."
Weiss took a slight step back, looking down at Blake. "Pardon?"
"You knew nothing weird was going to happen between you and Jaune. You knew from the very start. Yet you insisted that I must be present anyway, for the sake of his and Pyrrha's relationship," Blake said. "That was a ruse. A rationalization of your innermost of minds. Perhaps you knew so, perhaps you did not."
She stood up suddenly, and Weiss squeaked as she paced in a circle around her. Blake had the brief thought that she shouldn't be taking such joy in psychoanalyzing Weiss, but how often did she get to play detective? Besides, she deserved this for all she'd suffered today.
"No. You didn't need insurance," Blake said. "What you needed was someone to see that you were helping Jaune. To witness how, for all you've hurt him in the past, you are now giving all of yourself to ensure his happiness. I am here not for Jaune, not for Pyrrha-" she rounded and stopped in front of Weiss "-but for you, Weiss Annalise Carolin Schnee, and solely you! To make you feel better about yourself."
She finished by poking the tip of Weiss' nose, then sat back down, crossing her right leg over her left. She rested her hands on her knees, and smiled up at Weiss, who stared back at her, mouth hanging open.
"But I-" Weiss said. "I didn't mean to do that…?"
"Like I said, you probably didn't do so consciously. Hence the excuses and avoiding giving me a real reason," Blake said.
Weiss sat down, grasping her hands over her lap, and Blake noticed they were shaking. Okay, perhaps she had gone a bit overboard with the monologue.
"I'm an awful person, aren't I?" Weiss said.
"I don't think you are, to be fair," Blake said. "You genuinely meant to help Jaune, didn't you?"
"I suppose I did? But maybe I'm doing all of this just because I feel obligated to. Maybe I wouldn't have bothered if I hadn't…" Weiss stopped, her throat bobbing up and down. "I'm an awful, awful human being! I don't want to genuinely help people, I just don't want anyone to realize how rotten I am inside..."
Brakes! Brakes!
"Weiss, it's okay. Just because you had a little bit of a selfish reason behind your actions, doesn't mean everything you've done today should go down the drain. I'm sure Jaune would say the same," Blake said. "A good deed isn't better because other people know about it – but it isn't any worse either. Right?"
"I g-guess…" Weiss said. "Sorry, I need a moment."
Weiss leaned forward, burying her face in her hands, and Blake softly patted her on the back. People were starting to look their way, which made Blake feel uncomfortable, but at least Weiss wasn't actually crying. That would have been a scene.
This is what she got for indulging in her detective persona.
"Okay. I'm better now," Weiss said, sitting up straight and rubbing her eyes. "Gosh, that was a lot. Sorry, I didn't mean to make a scene."
"Don't worry about it," Blake said. "I'm glad you got that out of your system."
"I still feel bad about dragging you here, though," Weiss said. "You can go back home now, if you want to."
"You know what, at this point, I think I'll just hang around to the end," Blake said. "I'm too invested to quit."
Weiss nodded. "We'll wait for Jaune to come back and find him some matching pants, then. Hopefully he'll have chosen one of the better shirts."
Blake didn't have much hope regarding that.
"Wait, what was that you called me before?" Weiss said, squinting at her. "Weiss… Annalise Carolin Schnee? Those aren't my middle names." She blinked. "I don't have any middle names."
"I know, but you really should," Blake said.
"Why?" Weiss said.
"It'd be neat."
Weiss stared at her, utterly confounded by her reasoning, and Blake just shrugged in response. It was clear Weiss hadn't grown up around any books that didn't have equations in them.
Speaking of. Maybe now she'd actually get to read hers for more than a minute. She opened it again on the page she'd stopped at, and smiled as she found the paragraph-
"Hey guys," Jaune said, appearing before them. "Did I miss anything?"
"Okay, forget this." Blake closed her book and stood up. "I'm going home."
It was then, after many trials and tribulations, that Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang reunited in the living room of the Hunt Tower. They waited eagerly – some more eagerly than others – as the clock hit twenty past seven, and they heard two doors open in the hallway.
"Gah! This is so exciting!" Yang said, barely keeping still. "His jaw is gonna drop."
"I'm certain it will. As for Pyrrha…" Weiss said, brushing a hand over her shoulder. "Well, suffice it to say she will be very impressed as well."
"You think Pyrrha liked what we did with her hair?" Ruby asked. "I mean, Yang did a good job, but I'm scared I screwed it all up."
"I'm sure she is more than happy with your work, Ruby," Weiss said.
"Does that mean I can style your hair sometime?" Ruby said, jumping over to Weiss' side. "Pretty please? It would be so awesome!"
"Err… We can talk about that tomorrow," Weiss said. "Or next year."
Yang brought her hands up and bit down on her knuckles. It was impossible to say for sure, but it looked like she was actually starting to tear up a bit.
"I can't believe this is happening," Yang whispered. "They grow up so fast…"
"You guys do realize this is just a date, right?" Blake said, looking up from her book. "It's not like they're getting married."
"Shush, you!" Yang swallowed a lump in her throat. "Don't ruin my moment."
Blake rolled her eyes and went back to reading, though every once in a while, she too would glance towards the hallway in anticipation.
Finally, footsteps approached, and they all turned to look as Jaune emerged from the hallway. He wore a white button-down shirt with a black blazer and tie over it, and dark slim jeans, finishing with a pair of black dress shoes. His hair hadn't been styled in any special way, but as it had been actually combed by competent hands for once, he looked like a new man altogether – and a handsome man, at that.
"Hey-llo," Jaune said, his voice cracking. "I mean, uh, hi."
Yang walked over to him, nodding her head appreciatively as she looked him up and down from up close. "Hot damn," she said. "Alright, Weiss, I'll give it to you, you made a proper man of our noodly boy."
"Thank you very much," Weiss said, nodding appreciatively. "But please reserve your compliment to the man in question. After all, an artist is only as good as her canvas."
Yang whistled. "And what a nice canvas you got, princess."
"You actually think I look good, Yang?" Jaune said, blushing.
"No, you don't look good. You look hot." Yang winked. "I'm actually a little jealous of Pyrrha now. Way to go, Jaune! You should dress like this more often."
"Well, I'm glad all the effort was worth it, I guess," Jaune said, messing with his collar. "This is a little uncomfortable, though."
He looked at Ruby, and she flashed him two thumbs-up. "You're great, Jaune! I really like your, uh… shoes?"
"Thanks!" Jaune said. "You know, I actually had a nice pair of shoes already, but Weiss insisted I wear new ones tonight. I don't know why."
"Jaune, those weren't nice shoes," Weiss said. "They were sneakers."
"They were nice sneakers, though!" Jaune said. "Blake, what do you think?"
Blake looked at him briefly and nodded. "Cool," she said, and went back to reading.
Jaune fumbled with his tie, grumbling about how tight it was, and Yang and Weiss moved in to assist him in loosening it. Just as they finished, a quiet laugh came from behind him.
"Thank you for taking care of him," Pyrrha said.
Everyone stared in stunned silence, Jaune almost falling dead on the floor. Pyrrha turned away, a bashful smile on her lips. She wore a deep crimson sleeveless dress, which went down to her ankles and left the upper half of her back exposed. She stood on a pair of equally red high heels, and her arms were covered by black evening gloves up to her elbows. Her hair was done in a high, intricate bun, secured off-center by two crossing pins, with strands falling down the sides to frame her face. Two bronze earrings dangled from her ears, and around her neck hung a golden necklace with an emerald inset.
After a minute of everyone just staring, Yang finally broke the silence, elbowing Weiss lightly on the side. "Admit it," she said. "I win."
Weiss made an affronted face, but then she looked at Pyrrha again, and the expression dissolved instantly. "You win." She walked over to Pyrrha and took her hand. "Pyrrha, you look positively gorgeous!"
"Thank you! I owe it all to Yang," Pyrrha said. "And Ruby too, of course. She's actually largely responsible for this!" She pointed at her hair.
"Is that so?" Weiss said, throwing a skeptical glance Ruby's way.
"I have very dexterous fingers!" Ruby said, smiling proudly.
"Color me surprised," Weiss said. "Maybe I'll let you do my hair sometime, after all."
"Just make sure there aren't any scissors within reach," Pyrrha said.
Yang grinned and walked over to the sofa, where Blake was currently occupied trying to fit her entire head through the pages of her book.
"So, Blakey, you got any opinions about P-Money's look you'd like to share with the gang?" Yang said. "I mean, wow, just look at her! Couldn't you just stare at her for days?"
"Uhm, I suppose someone could do that if she allowed it, yes, but I'm really invested in this book right now," Blake said, her voice muffled by the pages. "I just can't take my mind off it, you know? There's dragons and a hero princess and this all-powerful relic and if she doesn't find it before her evil sister does the whole world could be torn asunder - it's a really powerful story!"
"Ah. Well, if you wanna maybe go to your room to... finish it..." Yang chuckled. "I'm sure no one would blame you."
"T-that won't be necessary, thank you. I'll stay right here."
Yang returned to the others. Ruby and Weiss were standing idly by, an awkward look on their faces as Jaune and Pyrrha were locked in a back-and-forth of nervous compliments and thanks.
"Oh boy," Yang whispered. "They've got it bad, don't they?"
"I'm starting to get a little creeped out," Ruby whispered back. "Please go stop them, Yang!"
Yang shook her head. "No way. This is way too endearing."
"I shall take this upon myself, then," Weiss said, and clapped her hands to get Jaune and Pyrrha's attention. "Alright, you two! You had better stop whatever you're doing and get a move-on, or else you're going to lose your reservation. We didn't go through all this trouble so you could eat at some third-rate establishment. Go!"
"Sorry!" Pyrrha said, taking Jaune's hand. "Weiss is right, look at the time! We really need to get going."
"Yup," Jaune said. "Okay, guys, see you in a couple hours, I guess-"
"Wait. Before you go," Yang said, completely serious all of sudden. "I need a moment with the boyfriend."
Offering no further explanation, she grabbed Jaune by the wrist and dragged him to the kitchen. Ruby and Weiss shared an incredulous look, while Pyrrha stood awkwardly with her hand hovering in the air where she'd just been holding Jaune's.
A minute later, Yang and Jaune returned, the latter looking paler than a ghost as he walked over to Pyrrha and took her hand.
"Uh, let's… let's go," he said. "Bye, everyone."
"Have a nice date, lovebirds!" Yang called after them, waving cheerily.
Jaune and Pyrrha left the room, and a few seconds later, they heard the elevator going down from their floor. As soon as they were gone, Ruby and Weiss rounded on Yang.
"Yang, what the heck did you say to him?" Ruby exclaimed. "You didn't big-sis threaten him, did you? You know that's really uncool."
"Relax, I didn't threaten him or anything like that. I gave him some encouragement, actually," Yang said. "And, you know, I might have slipped him some extra Aura, if you catch my drift."
"No, we do not catch your drift," Weiss said. "How would you even slip Jaune any Aura? That's his Semblance, not yours."
"Yeah, and why would he need any from you? He's got truckloads already," Ruby said.
"All valid points," Yang said. "It's just that you never know when you might find yourself needing a little extra protection."
Weiss' expression shifted immediately. She paced away from Yang, groaning, while Ruby looked at the two of them in confusion.
"What do you mean protec- oh." Ruby frowned. "Oh.Yang!" she yelled, and punched Yang in the arm. "I can't believe you! You're – you're such a pervert! You know they aren't gonna do anything like that!"
"What?" Yang scoffed. "Ruby, you can't seriously believe Jaune and Pyrrha, two very healthy, very much in-love young adults, who constantly get into mortal peril together, are not going to have sex eventually, very likely this very night!" She laughed. "Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they've already done it. All those long days slaying Grimm… We all get a little crazy then, hmm?"
"No, we don't!" Weiss exclaimed. "Maybe you do, but I certainly don't."
"Yeah, right. You're not pent-up at all," Yang said. "And Ruby, you just wear those costumes because they look cool, right? There's nothing more going on there."
"They're uniforms," Ruby said, "and I don't know what you're talking about."
"And you, Blake?" Yang turned around. "Are you gonna play innocent too?"
Blake cleared her throat, bringing her book even closer to her face. "Can't speak. The, uh, the princess is removing the magical sword from the stone." She lay down on the sofa, disappearing from their view.
Yang gestured emphatically at the three of them. "See, this is why I don't date. I'm too busy being y'all's Mom," she said. "Anyway, I'm bushed. I'm gonna take a shower and crash. We can have a group talk about the birds and the bees tomorrow."
She walked away, leaving a shell-shocked Ruby and Weiss standing in the living room.
"…Ruby?"
"Yes, Weiss?"
"Remind me to never again go on a mission alone with your sister."
"Wow, so… This place is fancy," Jaune said. "Like really, really fancy."
He looked up at the ceiling of the restaurant, which seemed so very far away, with its dozens of chandeliers casting a dim light across the length of the room. And it was a big room. He couldn't even count the number of tables inside, each with a candle to provide a more private glow to the couples sitting at them.
Jaune swallowed dry, and put on a brave face. He might be feeling a tad overwhelmed, but for Pyrrha's sake, he had to hide it. Looking back, he saw her staring out at the restaurant, same as him, except she seemed awed by the scenery before them rather than terrified.
Despite himself, Jaune grinned. Good. This had been the objective, to make Pyrrha happy.
"Mister Arc, I assume?" a woman in a beautiful black-and-white suit approached them.
"Yes!" Jaune said, a little too loud, he realized a second later. "Mister Arc. That's me. And this is my girlfriend Pyrrha. Pyrrha Nikos."
Pyrrha smiled politely and nodded.
"A pleasure to meet you. You two make a wonderful couple," the woman said. "If you are ready, may I show you to your table?"
"Yes thank you! I'm famished," Jaune said. "I mean – your, uh, your restaurant is… quite something. I'm amazed!"
"Thank you, Sir," the woman, a little smile coming to her lips. "But this is not my restaurant, of course. I'm just tonight's hostess."
"Oh. Right," Jaune said. "I totally knew that."
Pyrrha chuckled and patted him on the back, and they followed the hostess to one of the tables along the left wall. They sat down, and the hostess replaced the burning candle already there with a newer one.
"Is this your first time dining here?" the hostess asked.
"It is," Pyrrha said. "Actually, you could say we're new to this kind of establishment. It's very exciting."
"Then we'll be sure to make yours an unforgettable first experience," the hostess said. "A waiter will be with you in a moment. You can ask him anything, and if you require any help, I'm always at your disposal."
"Thank you!" Pyrrha said, and Jaune echoed her.
The hostess walked away. Jaune looked around, taking in the other couples nearby. He caught more than a few of them looking their way and whispering at each other. Semi-celebrities that they were, they'd probably been recognized already. Or maybe these folks were surprised that such young people were eating under the same roof as them.
"This place is amazing, isn't it?" Pyrrha said, looking around as well.
"Sure is. Looks like someplace my parents might eat at if they were celebrating an occasion," Jaune said. "Except only if, you know, they were five times richer."
"Well, we're not exactly rich, but this is an occasion," Pyrrha said. "Happy three months!" She tapped the glass on her side of the table. "I'd say we should raise our glasses, but I think they need to not be empty for it to mean something."
"To three months!" Jaune said, raising an imaginary glass.
He started to look around again, only to catch Pyrrha frowning as she did the same. He turned to look at her, but her expression was already back to normal, and the waiter arrived shortly after.
"Good evening, sir and ma'am," he said. "My name's Jonathan, I'll be your waiter for the evening. Are you familiar with our menu?"
"We're not," Pyrrha said.
"Here it is, then," the waiter said, handing each of them a copy of the menu. "Would you like to order an appetizer first?"
"I think we'll take a few minutes to decide, right, Jaune?" Pyrrha said.
"Yup!" Jaune said. "I mean – verily."
The waiter nodded and walked away. Jaune opened the menu, and his eyes widened as he stared at the first item on the appetizers list and couldn't decipher what it meant. What was that, Atlesian? He skipped to the next item, but it was no less enigmatic. Then his eyes wandered to the prices, and he nearly fell limp from his chair.
"Well, this menu is certainly…" Pyrrha said, squinting at her copy. "…intriguing."
"You can read it?" Jaune asked.
"I can. It's Mistralian, but an older dialect," Pyrrha said. "I'm not sure I know any of these items, though."
"Oh. Maybe we can skip the appetizers, then? Go straight for the main course?" Jaune said.
Pyrrha nodded and flipped to the next page. She read it from top to bottom, then flipped the page again. In a minute, she'd reached the end of the menu, and she looked up at Jaune with a sheepish expression.
"No luck," Pyrrha said. "But that's not to worry! We can always ask the waiter for some help."
"Or maybe take a look around at what these other people are eating and see if something catches our eye," Jaune said. "Worst come to worst, we pick something at random! How bad could that turn out?"
"This is supposed to be an adventure of sorts," Pyrrha said. "Alright, let's see…"
She looked down at the menu, smiling, but Jaune noticed it didn't quite reach her eyes. Frowning, he sat up and reached his hand across the table to touch hers.
"Pyrrha, are you feeling okay?" Jaune asked.
"I'm great, why do you ask?" Pyrrha said.
"Well, you seem a little uncomfortable, I guess," Jaune said. "And earlier, you made a face. Like a I wish Yang wouldn't leave her wet towel on the couch face."
Pyrrha kept her smile for a moment, before she sighed and put the menu down. "You caught that. Damn. So much for all those years of training."
"Hey, don't feel bad. You almost had me fooled. It's just that I know your tells," Jaune said. "But seriously, why are you uncomfortable? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, not at all! You've been great tonight, Jaune," Pyrrha said. "I'm just feeling a little… overwhelmed."
"Overwhelmed. You." Jaune sat back. "Why didn't you say something?"
"I didn't want to disappoint you. I know this means a lot to you," Pyrrha said.
"You didn't want to disappoint me? But the whole reason we're here is because I thought you wanted this," Jaune said. "You know, the fancy dinner, the dressing up, the mood lighting… Isn't this the kind of thing you've always dreamed about?"
"Dreamed about?" Pyrrha said. "My dream has always been to have someone I can hold close, someone I can spend time with and… discover myself with them. So I guess in a way, you're right, this is the kind of night I've dreamed about." She frowned. "But in reality, it's not worth much if the other person isn't having a good time. I could never be happy if that's the case."
Jaune covered his face for a moment. "Right. That's obvious. I should have known that's how you actually feel," he said. "I'm sorry, Pyrrha. I feel really dumb now."
"No, it's okay! I know you were just trying to make me happy," Pyrrha said.
"I am! And I will," Jaune said, straightening up. "Starting now, I am Perfect Date Man. You'll be dazzled by my dinner-eating skills, and my smoldering eyes!"
"No, Jaune! You're missing the point," Pyrrha said, holding his hand. "You don't have to change for me. You were my best friend before we started dating, and you still are. I like spending time with you, even when you eat really disgusting food." Pyrrha smiled. "I'm not faking. So you don't have to either."
Jaune sighed. He looked at Pyrrha and smiled back.
"Good. 'Cause I gotta tell you," he said, "I'm really not feeling this place."
"Right?" Pyrrha said, wiping her forehead. "So stuffy! I feel like we're inside an oven."
"I'm pretty sure the candlelight is just to hide the fact that everyone here is sweating buckets," Jaune said.
The waiter came back, giving them a curious look as he took out a notepad and a pen. "Sir, ma'am. Have you decided on your appetizer yet?"
Pyrrha looked at Jaune. "Want to get burgers?"
Jaune shrugged. "Can't say no to that."
"Sir, ma'am. We don't serve… burgers, here," the waiter said.
"Jackson's not far from here. That's the one with the salad thingy you really like, right?" Jaune said.
"Yes," Pyrrha said. "And from there, the arcade is just around the corner."
"Arcade!" the waiter gasped. "Sir, ma'am, this is a – a classy establishment!"
"We know," Jaune said, pushing his chair back. "Uhm… Something came up. We're gonna have to leave."
"Thank you very much for your assistance, Jonathan!" Pyrrha said, following his lead.
They stood up and held hands, walking away and leaving a very astonished waiter behind them.
They walked out into the open, the night breeze washing over them. Jaune loosened his tie a little, sighing in relief.
"Alright, I guess I'm getting us a ride, unless you wanna walk there?" Jaune said, taking out his Scroll.
"Either way is fine with me," Pyrrha said, fanning herself with her hand. "I bet Weiss will be furious with you once she learns she wasted all that time getting you all proper and handsome."
"Eh, I think she's happy I've diversified my wardrobe a little. She'll probably drag me out shopping again anyway," Jaune said. "What about Yang? Isn't she gonna be mad at you?"
"No, she'll be proud of me," Pyrrha said. "Besides. Even if this evening didn't go as intended, that hardly means the whole day was a waste."
She smoothed out her dress and spun in a circle, giggling as she did. Jaune blinked and cleared his throat.
"Definitely not a waste," he mumbled. He stared for a moment more, before he noticed Pyrrha was checking him out as well. "Anyway – ride!"
He turned away to arrange their transport with his Scroll, but as he did he couldn't help but notice the building at the other side of the street. It was a hotel, astonishingly tall even for Vale's standards, and from the look of it, it was just as high-class as the restaurant they'd just fled from.
He stared at the hotel for a moment, then looked back at Pyrrha, noticing she was looking at the building too. They locked eyes, then looked at the hotel, then looked at each other again.
"You know," Pyrrha said, "I bet they have really good room service there."
"Yeah. And the arcade," Jaune said, "it's not going anywhere."
Pyrrha nodded. "We can always get burgers tomorrow."
He offered his arm, and she linked hers with his. Together, they crossed the street and entered the hotel.
And then they played checkers all night long.
This chapter was very fun to write for 90% of it. I would have finished it much sooner if I hadn't stopped once to research the perfect fake middle name for Weiss, and then again to hopelessly search for the perfect date looks for Pyrrha and Jaune. Please... learn from my mistakes.
-Zeroan