A/N: Hello all and welcome to chapter 27. I admit I have been slacking. But I just started working again and I'm so glad to be productive again instead of just sweating on Halo. God I missed this feeling lowkey.
Jane Arc's Yuri Harem
Summary: Jane Arc just wanted to go to Beacon and become a huntress. Becoming the object of every girl's desire was never part of the plan! Why did things have to be so complicated?
*Stolen Hearts*
Professor Ozpin reviewed Team JNPR's application to compete in the Vytal Festival with a mere sip of coffee, seemingly bored with the tedious amounts of paperwork that was lined on his desk. If there was one thing Jane learned about the headmaster, it was that he really, really detested paperwork and there was nowhere near enough coffee in the school to help him cope. According to Raven and Glynda, over forty percent of their budget was wasted on coffee alone. Good God the man was either addicted or really stressed. Her money was on the former.
"Well congratulations are in order," the headmaster finally said. "You are one of four teams from Beacon to be competing in the Vytal Festival alongside RWBY, CRDL, and CFVY. While classes are temporarily on hiatus, that does not mean you should misuse your time. You are all fighting to represent Beacon Academy, so I highly suggest you use your time wisely to prepare yourself for the competition ahead."
"Of course, professor. We won't let you down," Pyrrha replied.
"Good luck." Ozpin dismissed them with a second sip of coffee and that was the end of that. Strange. Jane figured he would at least ask them some questions or something about her training. Then again, Qrow and Raven did report directly to him at the end of the day so it wasn't too much to worry about.
Actually, now that she thought about it, Raven reporting to Ozpin was a lot more worrying than it had any right to be. Curse that stupid troll bird.
"So, who's worried?" Nora asked as they walked out of the headmaster's office and into the elevator.
"I'm sort of worried," Jane admitted. "Never did fight in any kind of tournament before. Just jitters I guess?"
"Oh please, we'll be fine!" Nora grinned. "We have a world renowned fighter, a ninja, I can lift five of me, and you can breathe fire! What could go wrong? The worst that happens is we lose, then it's just a few more years of knowing we suck, like ribbons in our hair, and want to kiss all the—"
"We get it," Jane deadpanned. "You don't have to continue. Rin, duct tape her to a chair or something, I don't know. I have enough crap to deal with."
Honestly, between a harem, maiden powers, and leading a team, she didn't know how the hell she lasted as long as she had. Anyone else probably would have started living out of a cave somewhere by now. Either she was secretly a god or her tolerance for bullshit surpassed that of even the headmaster himself, and he had to deal with this kind of shit on the daily.
Her stomach growled and she blushed, looking around with a sheepish grin. "Um…anyone else hungry?"
"Definitely worked up an appetite working out earlier." Nora grinned. "I don't think Rinny and I practiced that much in awhile! We'll smack whoever we fight in the tournament for sure!"
"Oh, now you're a ball of positivity." The blonde rolled her eyes as they walked down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat before the festivities started. They wouldn't be fighting officially in the tournament until it started in two weeks, but there was still the Beacon Dance they had to worry about. Jane was a hell of a dancer, having been taught by her seven older sisters. No, the worry was Nora spiking the punch as some sort of lame joke. She did not want to wake up with a hangover and in some stranger's bed, thank you.
She already had Raven provide enough drunken headaches as it were. Raven was unfunny like that. Jackass. Jane seriously couldn't remember why she even pursued the woman that was a scandal and a half some days. Oh, right. Because she for some reason liked that authoritative tone. And way too short of a skirt. Oh God don't get her started on the thigh highs. Raven had legs for days and she wasn't afraid to remind Jane.
"So, who's your date, Jane?" Nora asked excitedly. "Anyone I know?"
The blonde pushed Nora's face away. "No, no one as of yet. I think there's a bet or something going on about who I'm going with and I am not sure how I feel about that." She wasn't kidding. Part of her was pleasantly surprised by how many people wanted to be the one to take her to the dace. The other part was exasperated that there was actually a bet in the first place. 'Sometimes, I really wish what my life would've been like as a normal girl with a normal semblance. Sure as hell would be a lot simpler, that's for damn sure.'
Never a dull moment nowadays.
"Wait, seriously? People are making a betting chart about your date to the freaking dance?" Nora asked skeptically.
"Sadly, yes." The blonde groaned in despair. "Twenty lien that it was Raven's idea."
"I'll take those odds." Rin chuckled. "So, do you even know how to dance?"
"Yeah. Kind of didn't have a choice with me having seven sisters. As my dad put it, I have moves for days. I guess that's a compliment? I don't know. I just fucking work here." She shrugged.
"You don't get paid," the ninja deadpanned. "None of us do."
Ugh. She wished she could change that. It wasn't like she asked to be a maiden; it just sort of happened one day. It was supposed to be a nice time with Pyrrha and Yang, but nope. She just had to sneeze out fire. Seriously, who the hell does that?
She did, apparently.
Jane rolled her eyes and wished the elevator didn't take so long. Somehow it had this remarkable ability to make even a solid second feel as if it were twenty minutes instead. She wasn't claustrophobic; it would be impossible to deal with having the world's biggest harem if she were. Maybe it was just the pressure of being called up to the headmaster's office despite having visited it many times as the current Summer Maiden. Usually, students were only called up for a personal meeting with Ozpin when they really, really did something utterly stupid.
Like accidentally setting half the class on fire during a simple training exercise. Good going, Yang. The brawler still had PTSD from having to scrub the toilets in the second floor bathrooms.
Still. Could be worse.
She didn't know how, but it could. The Gods would find a way to make her already chaotic life suck even more. Like making her fight some sort of crazed demon or something. Or a bunch of rag tag idiots.
"Yeah, I know." Jane let out a grumble. "And I seriously wish I did. I think I've earned it after dealing with as many headaches as I have this year. What first year student has to deal with as much crap as I do on a daily basis? I'll wait."
When nothing but literal crickets answered her, her point was proven. There it was.
"…are you seriously going to ask Ozpin for a salary?" Rin asked exasperatedly.
"Yes." Jane nodded seriously. "I think I've earned it."
Rin could only sigh while Pyrrha rubbed her back apologetically. "Sorry…things must be rough on you right now."
"A little," Jane admitted. "Raven and Qrow have both upped the length of our sparring practices in preparation for the tournament. I don't know the full details, but it seems to me like they're both on edge about something or someone. I just don't know what for or why." One of the agreements she made to the headmaster was to not tell anyone, including her team, of what was currently being hidden beneath the school. The fewer people that knew of the status of the Fall Maiden, the better. As Ozpin said, it would bring chaos and panic, in turn bringing the Grimm to their doorstep. With everyone already slightly on edge from recent events, it would not bode well.
"Well, there's no point in worrying about it for the time, right?" Pyrrha asked. "Focus on the present and deal with it when the time comes."
"Yeah, you're right." Jane cracked a smile. "Don't know what I'd do without you sometimes."
"Isn't that what partners are for?" The redhead gave her a hug.
Maybe it wouldn't be that bad after all.
Jane peeked her head out, aware that the faces of both Team RWBY and her own team were waiting to see what she would be wearing to the dance. With her face red she slowly exited the locker room and blushed when she heard all the gasps from her friends. "W-well? How does it look?"
She was wearing a strapless light blue dress that came to her knees and strapped heels, her hair styled into a single ponytail down her shoulder.
"Oh my god…" Weiss was breathless, eyeing Jane. "You look amazing. Certainly dressed for the occasion. Who are you going with?"
"Well…" The blonde scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "No one. No one asked me. I don't know if it's because there's a bet or no one wants to risk invoking your wrath, but I don't have a date."
"What!?" Yang exclaimed. "That's bullshit! How could no one ask you of all people?"
"I don't know. I just wanted to go and hope to God Nora didn't spike the punch bowl." She shrugged meekly, aware of all the stares she was getting. "…what? Do I have something on my face?"
"No. Just shocked is all." Yang shook her head. "Can't believe that you, the girl everyone practically wanted, is going to the dance alone."
"Yeah, well, here I am." She sighed. "Either way, I'll have a great time. I hear Rin has something planned for us so there is that to look forward to." Rin wouldn't spoil it, but when she was smirking about something it was definitely an event to look forward to. Rin barely got excited about anything unless it was another one of her half-baked recipes that normally didn't make sense but somehow worked. Her recipes were funny like that.
There was one other person in the locker room with them; one of the exchange students from Haven, she was pretty sure. She was very attractive with green hair styled in a fringe bob and two tendrils going down her back. Her own dress for the dance was a dark green and her ruby red eyes glinted at her hungrily.
Jane blushed and took that as a sign to leave. "I'm going to go make a few last minute preparations. Don't wait for me, okay?"
She left before she even heard anyone reply and Jane nearly stumbled in her heels. "Oh hell! Damn heels suck compared to what I'm used to…"
She knelt down to adjust the straps on them and she froze when she heard the soft clinking of heels behind her. "Yang, I swear to God, if that's you—"
"Did I hear right? You don't have a date? Wow." That wasn't Yang. Nor was it someone she could recognize.
Jane stood up and turned to see the girl from earlier. One hand was on her hip and the corners of her mouth were curled into a grin. "Hard to believe a pretty face is going all by herself."
"Um…what was your name again?" Jane asked curiously. "I've seen you before; I accidentally set you on fire I think? I just never got your, well, name?"
"Emerald," the girl replied. "And yes, I know who you are. Interesting little circle you have running. I thought one of them would go with you."
"Well…there's a bet going on and—"
"You want to go with me?"
Wait. Someone she almost incinerated a few weeks ago was asking her if she wanted to go to the dance with her.
"Yes? No?" Emerald prompted.
"Sure. Why not?" Jane cracked a smile and glanced past Emerald to see Yang grudgingly slapping a crisp twenty lien card into Weiss's hand. 'Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me. There was a bet on me going with Emerald? Really?'
Weiss flashed her a thumbs up as if to say to go on with her and Jane shrugged. 'Well, I already said yes. Alright, I can do this. It has been awhile since I danced and I never did it in heels. Damn things are like stilts.'
With a nervous smile Jane took her hand. "Escort me to the dance floor?"
Emerald looked too happy to oblige.
A/N: Nothing like being way overdue and cramming it last minute. Oh well, it's kind of what I do. Idk why, but I'm just fuckin' lazy as shit and couldn't be asked to do anything NSFW today. Lowkey tired with the constant moving around and refurnishing a house.
-Classiest#8332
