A/N:
Hi friends!
Welcome back to RWBY: The Selection, and what a time to be back! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and Ruby and Jaune have their first one-on-one date :)
If I put actual chapter titles instead of just the POV names, this one would be "Ruby Rose greatly oversimplifies the reasons why people go to war and puts far too much faith in her own kingdom", but that's too long, so the title is just "Jaune" XD
Once again, please review with any comments/questions/concerns/reactions/anything else that strikes your fancy.
Enjoy!
Chapter 43: Jaune
"Oh come on," Jaune laughed, after Ruby 'nope'd his fourth attempt at a pickup line. Their date was simple compared to the extravagant show he had put on for Weiss last night, just a walk around the courtyard. It was easy to plan a date for Ruby, just as it was easy to talk to her, and that was why he had been so determined that they have a one-on-one this week. Now, he was grateful that he'd had that foresight. It had been a hectic week. "I thought that one wasn't half bad,"
"It wasn't half bad," Ruby conceded. "It was full bad. Don't ever use that line on anyone," her eyes widened, "especially not Weiss,"
"Point taken," Jaune laughed. They walked in silence for a few seconds. It was a beautiful day, and, after trying so hard last night, it felt good to just relax with a friend.
"So, how are you?" Ruby asked, "we're told we can't see you during the week because you've got a bunch of 'princely duties' going on, but what are 'princely duties' really?"
Jaune shrugged. "There's just a lot of meetings. War with Vacuo. White Fang attacks. And then just… regular kingdom-running stuff," he shrugged again, "if I'm being honest, I fall asleep most of the time,"
Ruby gaped. "Even when talking about the war and White Fang attacks?"
"I think I'd be more interested in it if I were Huntsman and could actually fight, but, as a prince, I can't really do anything." Ruby bit her lip, and Jaune felt the bitterness seep into his tone. "No one really tells me anything or lets me make my own decisions, so I just kind of sit there. Maybe when I'm king it'll be different." He felt Ruby's eyes on him and looked away. "So, what about you? How are Huntress lessons?"
"Amazing," Ruby swooned, "We spent most of this week sparring, but next week, we start actually fighting with weapons, and I am so excited to use Crescent Rose!"
Jaune laughed. "I have to admit, that scythe does kind of scare me,"
Ruby pouted. "It's not just a scythe. It's also a high-impact customizable sniper rifle,"
"Come again?"
"It's also a gun,"
"Oh…" Jaune fell silent, his mind still struggling to move past how upset Weiss had been last night. "Hey, Ruby, are all the girls nice?"
Ruby paused for a second. "Some of them are," she explained, "Yang's great. Penny's so sweet. Pyrrha and Nora are amazing. Weiss is… interesting. I'm sure we'll all get along better when classes start ramping up."
"Has anyone been… mean to Weiss?"
Ruby chewed on her lip, and Jaune looked at her intensely.
"Yeah," she finally said, "Neon doesn't seem to like her very much. She said she smelled tacky."
"She said she smelled tacky?" Jaune asked, bewildered.
"Yeah," Ruby admitted, "I thought she smelled good!"
"I did too…"
They walked around talking for a little while after that, discussing weapons, girls, and life, whether it was in the massive halls of Beacon Castle or the tiny island of Patch. Time flew by while Jaune talked with Ruby, and it wasn't until they were found by a panicked Oscar that Jaune realized how far the sun was in the sky.
"Vacuo has something that we want. No one will tell me what it is, but I think if we could just meet with them, it could work out." Jaune explained, sidestepping a statue. Their lighthearted conversations had turned into a discussion about the war.
"Exactly," Ruby insisted, "if you sit down with the Council of Vacuo, and explain why you want whatever they're holding onto, they can give it back. After all, I'm sure it's for a good reason, and Vacuo just doesn't understand. But once we make them understand, then we'll have peace, and then we can finally focus on the Grimm and the White Fang, and-"
"Prince Jaune!"
Jaune turned to see a wide-eyed, panicked Oscar, who seemed to be struggling to catch his breath. "Oh, hey Oz,"
"I've been looking everywhere. The Capital Report starts in an hour,"
Jaune's jaw dropped. "An hour?"
Oscar nodded breathlessly.
Jaune turned to Ruby. "Hold that thought, okay? I'll see you tonight,"
"Okay," Ruby flashed him a grin. Unlike him, she seemed unfazed by the creeping terror of the Capital Report. He had so much to prepare and so little time to do it, he thought as he jogged toward the castle. He had to change. He had to write an opening speech. He had to give Port and Oobleck the questions to ask the contestants so they didn't just grill them with his mom's queries. He had to talk to his mom. He had to talk to his mom…
Every week before the Capital Report, he met with his mother in her council room to discuss what could and could not be shared with the public. Although Port and Oobleck told the majority of the news, Jaune was expected to share some key insights into the royal family during a Q&A session with callers throughout Remnant. Seeing their prince on-screen taking the time to answer their questions boosted the morale of the people, and, with growing White Fang and bandit attacks across the continents and a dangerously close-to-home war, morale boosts were desperately needed to keep the Grimm at bay.
"Sorry I'm late," Jaune exclaimed as he burst through the doors to his mother's councilroom. Queen Salem was already wearing a ballgown, makeup, and intricate braids for the night's Capital Report, while Jaune had yet to get ready. She was always so put together. Sometimes it surprised him that he was her son. "I was out with Ruby, and I lost track of time, and-"
"Lady Ruby Rose?" his mother asked.
Jaune nodded. "Yeah. She's… great."
"Do you think she's the one?" Salem asked sharply.
Jaune bit his lip. The simple answer to that question was 'no'. Ruby had already informed him that she was only interested in being friends, but if he told his mom this, would she order him to send Ruby home?
"Too early to tell," he shrugged, "but I really like her. She'd be a great princess, or a great Huntress." The Queen's smile was thin as a knife blade, and he swallowed nervously. "So, the report tonight," he prompted.
"Right," Salem smiled, "now that you are dating fourteen girls, there will be less pressure for you to answer… difficult questions from the people of Remnant. Caste conflict, bandits, civil unrest, all of these things are far less entertaining to the people than a dating competition," she pointed out, "so I don't think you need to worry. Just smile, wave, and act lovestruck,"
Jaune nodded slowly. "What if they ask why we're at war with Vacuo?"
Salem blinked. "Excuse me?"
He swallowed. Talking to Ruby about the war had instilled some courage in him to question why they were really fighting, but he still needed to watch his tone. "I mean, we're fighting in Vacuo because they have something we want. What if one of the callers asks what that is?"
His mother stared at him in silence for a long minute, her eyes narrow. Jaune began to sweat, his heart pounding. "They won't," Salem replied simply.
"But what if they do?" Jaune pressed. Part of him didn't care whether or not the people asked. This was his way of asking. "What do we want from Vacuo?"
"Then you can graciously deflect the question and talk instead about some drama with the contestants," his mother snapped. "Now go get dressed. You look like a Three."
Jaune looked down at his armor and pressed his lips together. Ruby liked his armor. He liked his armor, and he wanted to wear it on the show. "It doesn't matter what I want," he thought bitterly, and, with a "Yes, ma'am," to his mom, he turned and left to change for the Report.
