Chapter 57: Yakun Natima
Yes, I am still alive. I kept my leg though, there was a brief moment in the past few months where it nearly was amputated. Ah well, I walk on. Enjoy.
She woke up with a pounding headache. She felt her vision swim and noticed the bottle right next to her, grabbing it and then drinking another shot, the strong liquor hitting her like a truck, as she groaned and got up. Willow was in the process of getting dressed, giving her a small wave and a wink, as the red lipstick was applied generously.
'Oh yeah, I slept over, didn't I?'
She should've gone home. The alcohol had been great to banish the nerves. She checked the time and then noticed that it was nearly eight, getting up and then going for her clothes.
'I should get back to the office to pick up the stuff… Can't make a bad impression.'
Humans were always trying to put the Faunus down, after all. She knew that there was nothing she could do about that, since they were pretty different, but she wasn't going to get her body battered with the stresses of worrying about things.
She would do the right thing, even if she needed some more liquid courage. Her head was pounding, and she could identify Willow by scent, as she spoke up.
"You should get in the car and drive, if you can. I'm not calling you a cab."
Sienna didn't need one as she got up, striding out of Willow's bedroom, the red-cloaked girl taking one look at her, her paramour Whitley looking up at her as well and turning pink.
"You're naked!"
The red-cloak spoke, and Sienna's head pounded due to the shrieking voice.
"Shut up, you're giving me a headache! If you speak up again, I'm tearing off your head and pissing down your neck."
People these days didn't know how stressful things could be. She had an organization to run, a boy to chase down and to ensure that she'd have her stress soothed in the morning.
"Get your clothes back on, Sienna. I am not letting my son's eyes feast on the body of my lady friend."
Sienna got up and groaned, realizing that she had gone topless, her underwear still on.
"He should be glad that he's seeing this, Will. If he wasn't looking, he's not much of a man… Fuck, I need to find my shirt. Come on, help me, you evil imperialist snow-dyke!"
Willow laughed, which hurt. More alcohol was needed, as Sienna got her shirt on and her jacket, her vision coming back mostly, to look at her reflection in the mirror and then splashing some water on her face in the bathroom a few moments later.
'Screw makeup… we can do it without until I get to the office.'
She was meeting her man's family, after all. They would need to see a perfectly refined Faunus woman. She had served them Diren de Rou and made sure that they were in the proper respect. She was still Sienna Khan, even after the little issue with Eve challenging her.
That had been a warning, one that Sienna had taken to heart.
'Third, that's what she'll be.'
She went by her apartment first, getting the ritual greeting gifts for a family, before she grabbed the bags of meat, looking into them for a moment and then putting them aside.
'I think I've got everything.'
Eve and Adam should be accompanying her, to make sure that she made an entrance. If the High Leader was unescorted, there would be a lack of respect, stating that the people were not suitable to be graced with the full majesty of the High Leader. It was important, Sienna knew.
She drained the bottle first, the pleasant buzz shooting through her as she began to get the final parts ready before she'd head to the office. She would make sure that she would look as perfect as she could, though she knew that he would accept her either way.
He was sweet like that, as she reminisced on it.
In front of the full-body mirror, she took a few steps, back and forth, without a partner. The lessons that he had given her had been pleasant, and it had been something that she had enjoyed, knowing how nice the young man was when his spine was not like steel, his expression looking at her and causing the burning flame of desire to flare up.
'We should dance again…'
There was time for that later. She needed to prepare herself for the battle ahead, so as to not be seen as weak. There were rules for engaging with the family of the man who you had chosen, laws that had been in place for decades.
'They won't find me lacking.'
She would ensure that Jaune would be a man who would be the envy of the people around him!
'I think I should take another drink.'
Driving to the office and seeing Adam and Eve appear in front of her office, the two dressed in 'formal chique', the black mirrored suits looking more professional than Adam's 'street samurai' and Eve's 'hooker chique', the redheads looking at her.
"Just a moment… I need to do my makeup."
She remembered the importance of making a statement, and she knew that they would follow her lead. Eve had not lorded her status over her, nor over others. As far as she knew, Eve had not spread the news that she had beaten Sienna down in a challenge, even though it was within her right.
"As you wish, High Leader Khan. Eve? Help her."
Sienna frowned, but she couldn't stop the offer from being made, as Eve nodded and they walked into the office, to the makeup kit that she'd stashed there just in case. One never forgot that kind of stuff, since one's appearance was everything in the world of politics.
"It will be fine. Adam's definitely going to make a good impression. You have seniority over him."
Adam was a good Faunus, Sienna knew, as she looked at her reflection, as Eve worked on her eyelashes, Sienna keeping herself stock-still, keeping herself available during the makeup, as Eve did her job, her thoughts going to what she was going to be doing in just an hour or so, as she took sips from her liquor bottle.
'A bit of liquid courage will be fine…'
Sienna was quite unaware that she was already with a blood alcohol level that'd invalidate her for driving. The bottle was drained either way.
Jaune felt nervous energy go through him, knowing that Sienna was coming, that his girlfriend, partner or whatever they defined it as, was coming. Adam and Eve had left during the early morning, Adam sneaking out of his girlfriend's room. Bravery wasn't something that the man had, when dealing with his sister Camellia.
He wasn't sure how this would go either. As he got downstairs, a little slower than he normally would have, he looked at his sisters, all seven (with Terra counting as number eight, but she was the wife of his sister), gathered there. Vivian looked like she had barely slept a wink, his mother was busy making pancakes, never mind the large stack that already had been made.
"I won't accept her, no matter what! If that hussy thinks she's taking our little cuddle-bunny away from me, she's got another thing coming!"
Camellia and Mint looked like they agreed with that, if they knew what Sienna was, Camellia offering a small smile, as she pinched Coral for saying such a thing. Coral was wearing a tight top, something that showed her body off. Jaune wondered if she had gotten dressed up especially for some reason after they'd met with Sienna. He wasn't sure what they would do. Eating out might be an option.
"Did you hear about Torchwick turning himself in yet?"
Jaune blinked. The man definitely deserved some justice for his misdeeds, Sienna's bounty for his life something that'd land a Huntsman in a comfortable financial spot with the bounty being claimed.
Vivian held up her Scroll and a clip from the news was played, the hat-wearing crook looking terribly unnerved, surrounded by Vale Police.
"Alright, alright! I'm turning myself in! It's been eleven hours, take me into custody! Those animals are going to hunt me down if I take too long!"
Jaune supposed it was the wisest decision, as the man was cuffed and led into the police car, with a lot of Faunus looking a little regretful at the man's surrender.
"That's one crook in jail."
He watched as a stack of pancakes was put in front of him, his mother's expression warm, as he looked at the portion that had been allotted to him.
"Mom, this is a bit much…"
He didn't think he could eat this much. Sienna might be bringing something, he'd made sure that he got some cake for the visit, just in case.
"You need to eat up so you can go and be a strong Huntsman again, dear. You're going to be just like your father. Ooh, I've ordered something that you're going to love, it's supposed to help in getting better soon. Will Senna be here soon?"
He checked his Scroll, seeing no message from Sienna yet, and he checked the time, seeing that it was nine in the morning.
"Maybe around ten? She's got work to do, so undoubtedly she's busy with finishing up something. You know how Sable always gets when there's work to be done."
Sable looked at him sharply, clearly not liking the comparison, as several of his sisters cracked a smile.
"Oh, she'll be an old spinster soon, married to the job."
There was no reason for them not to poke fun at Sable, who huffed angrily.
"Well, none of you have a job, except for Vivian and Camellia! You should try to find a real job instead of being around the house all the time! Miss Schnee was charitable in giving me the day off, so I will be here with you rather than finding the right reports for Dust Mining Drill Replacements!"
Sable was a little too serious, as Camellia looked at Mint, who smiled at her girlfriend, Jaune definitely hoping that they didn't do a Saphron and Terra before they were ready. Jaune hoped that there wouldn't be too big an eruption of Mt Camellia when Sienna finally arrived, since she looked like she was about to take off Adam's head if it were feasible.
'They probably won't like each other…'
He hoped that they would, but Camellia had been hurt, and he was just the youngest of eight, the only boy of the household, unable to do much about Camellia's situation.
"Saphron did acting!"
That wasn't a thing that should be spoken of, though Jaune looked curiously at Saphron, who was turning red, as mom looked at her.
"Oh? You never told me about that, Saphron."
His sister's grimacing face was polite, but her gaze was shooting daggers at Coral, who'd outed her.
"It was something with Eve, mom. Terra… well, it's not something that really saw much publication."
Terra looked perfectly normal, even if the smile was threatening to break out.
"It was something small, just an extra role. Saphron wasn't all that popular with eh... a certain crowd."
Saphron was spared the burden of having to explain, as the doorbell rang. Jaune checked the time and got up, feeling the jitters go through him. If this was Sienna, unusually early in the morning, either it was option A: she'd come early and this would go well, or option B: he was going to have to deal rapid damage control, if she'd just pop by for a quick introduction.
"Oh, it's Jaune! Hello there, little man!"
'Oh no, it's Mrs Hummus!'
The neighbour was a fat squat woman who counted as one of his mother's friends and associates, her eyes a little beady as the off-colour blonde dye-job started to look a little bit tacky, as Jaune watched her pass him by, realizing that he might have to go and run off to warn Sienna that Mrs Hummus was here…
The woman had fit right along with Camellia's opinion on Faunus and them being hoodlums, accidentally having lost a family member due to a riot that the White Fang had been involved in, if Jaune's memory served.
'Camellia used to look up to her, after the loss of the baby.'
He couldn't imagine what it was like, as he didn't have children on the way yet. Willow's expression would be wonderful to see if she did get pregnant, though. He recollected the image of how she had proudly stared at her belly for the first pregnancy, still in love with her husband.
'We aren't all dealt the right hand in life.'
He wasn't going to give up on the women, as Mrs Hummus called out.
"And the whole family is together! Camellia, my dear, have the animals left the house for now?"
'Oh yes… this is going to go well…'
Sienna would probably be pretty upset with Mrs Hummus. He could see her explode in a fiery rage already, with whatever comment Mrs Hummus offered falling badly with the High Leader of the Faunus.
"They are out at work, thankfully. We're a clean house now again."
Jaune hoped that there would be few of those terms thrown around when Adam, Eve and Sienna were around. He definitely thought that Adam or Sienna would snap if they heard them. Saphron had done… something, something that he didn't know, with Eve, and Terra knew about it, but what it had been, he didn't know.
He wasn't sure whether he'd want to know, really.
"They'll be back later…"
He added, knowing that they'd be bringing Sienna with them, something about 'proper handling'. As far as Jaune knew, none of his sisters were aware of the exact nature of the relationship that he and Sienna had with each other, the burden of being someone in a relationship with a woman who literally was world-renowned for being the Faunus at the top.
"They aren't as bad as they look. Adam is a sweetheart, he's trying his best to keep a careful watch over all of us, and Eve went shopping with me! I got some nice clothes out of the deal!"
Salmon leapt to the defence, with the dark expressions on Camellia and Mint's face definitely showing their thoughts about Faunus and human relationships, even if Salmon hadn't found the courage to go 'this is my guy', like Sienna had.
'She'll have to do some growing.'
"They are citizens as well, and we do not judge. We are not racists."
Sable was the political answer to the situation, as Vivian snorted.
"Speak for yourself, Sable. If one of those animal-blooded people come around and hurt my family, I'm going to set them on fire."
Vivian was much more defensive of the family than several of her younger sisters, as Saphron sighed and mumbled something about never being able to live this down, whilst their mother continued to speak to Mrs Hummus.
"Jaune's girlfriend will be by today, isn't that great?"
Mrs Hummus had tried her best to set him up with a goddaughter of hers, the woman totally not at ease around him, as she'd urged the two of them to 'play nice' whilst trying to encourage him to do something with her.
He had been the awkward teenager, not even able to form words when the twenty-three-year-old looked like she'd rather be anywhere but around him.
'Yes… I don't think she's marrying anyone anytime soon.'
It had been five years ago or something, and the woman had been hinting to his mother that her goddaughter was still single.
'I hope you find someone.'
It was not something that he'd like to recall, the awkward moments, his father going 'what the hell are you putting that old girl with my son, you fat slob!?' as the awkwardness had reached its zenith. Coral had liked chatting with her, of course, but there had been a definite issue with how things had spiralled out of control.
"It's such a pity that Maxine decided to… change herself. You two would have made such a cute couple."
He really didn't know whether that was to be an insult or something, as Mrs Hummus looked saddened by the thought, her expression showing how it was apparently a shame.
"It was his decision, of course you should allow him to express himself."
'Ohh, so he had a sex change.'
That would make sense why he'd always felt a little like talking to a guy from time to time, and the utter lack of interest that he'd felt. He was happy for him, though Mrs Hummus seemed to take her time, sighing deeply, as Saphron and Terra both looked a little uncomfortable for some reason.
"And your daughter who is living with a woman is here too. Are you happy, Saphron dear? You can change, if you want. You're still young, you can find a man."
'Oh shit, this is going to be… very tough.'
Saphron had most definitely been a lesbian, and now Camellia and Mint seemed to be getting out of the closet as well.
'We need divine intervention for this, if she stays around a little longer…'
Sienna was not a woman who silenced herself in tough conversations, nor was she someone who stopped herself from making pointed observations. The sex was great, but Sienna was a woman who fought with the fire and passion of someone about to destroy the opposition.
"We should be preparing for her, Mrs Hummus. Thank you so much for visiting, but this would be a nice moment for the family to be together, after all, Dad would have wanted to have us all together, as a family."
He loved his family, knowing the feeling of responsibility, feeling how he should be the man of the household.
'I can do this. I can be the man of the family.'
He just had to have some confidence, as the woman's mouth opened and she spoke up.
"But wouldn't it be nice for us to meet her? She must be a woman who managed to charm you, little Jaune."
He disliked being called that. The woman did that constantly, as he got up, trying to get into the mood.
"No, I'd like you to leave, please. She's my girlfriend and I would like to show her to my family. Please, leave."
Mrs Hummus started to turn red in the face, as he told her to leave. He wasn't going to make this into a bigger thing than it needed to be, as he looked at his mother, who looked doubtfully.
"Mom, dad wouldn't have wanted her to be there at a family event. Remember how the barbecue went?"
His mother nodded, Mrs Hummus getting up and huffing indignantly.
"It's fine, I know I'm not wanted. Keep yourself safe, girls. Those animals are out there, and they'll make you like little Camellia if you're not careful! The whole lot, led by that woman who has ordered a human to be hunted down like an animal!"
The man had been a criminal, but none of his sisters really spoke up, as he ushered the woman out, Mrs Hummus disappearing swiftly, Jaune's glance at the clock telling him that it was half to ten. His Scroll beeped.
'I'm coming around ten-thirty. Will bring Eve and Adam.'
Sienna's face looked like it had been made up for the visit, and he smiled without being aware of it, as he looked at his girlfriend, the woman who had made love to him, with such passion and fury that it sometimes took him aback.
'We'll be waiting. Everyone is here.'
Sienna was typing something back, as he tucked the Scroll in his pocket and went to rejoin his sisters. There were still some pancakes left on his plate, his mother having added a few.
"Good on you for getting the Hummer out, Jaune. She'd have never left if you hadn't spoken up."
He knew that Vivian was just grateful for the opportunity to have Mrs Hummus leave, Vivian being the worst-off when it came to Mrs Hummus trying to set up a girl with a 'good date'. Of course, Vivian loved to be a Huntress, just like dad, so the polite 'I'm sorry, but my work pulls me away a lot' answer to the question of whether Vivian would like to go on a date worked pretty well on the woman.
"She could have stayed, couldn't she?"
Mom was a lot harder to deal with, Jaune knew. If it wasn't spending a lot of money on something that she'd seen 'totally discounted, Jaune', it was something that went along with the emotions that the woman who'd given birth to all eight of them, felt, Jaune realizing that there was little he could do against his mother, who hadn't stopped for one moment to care for them all since the day of their births.
Since his father had died, he'd needed to step up, but his mother had just continued along, borrowing money from loan sharks and not getting it together, financially uncertain.
'Maybe Sienna knows a good accountant?'
He wasn't sure about that, but he knew that Sienna would at the very least know a lot more people than he did. She was very well-connected amongst the Faunus, so it would at least be a step in the right direction, knowing that his mother needed some advice, some assistance and some help around the house.
'I've got the money, but she doesn't want it.'
Sienna was independently wealthy, he knew, sort of. She and Willow never quite really talked about money, but from Sienna's liquor drinking, he knew that she preferred the heavier stuff, though he probably never would start drinking himself.
"I want this to be for the family, mom. Dad would have wanted us to be a family."
It was mean to use his father as an argument, but his mother could understand.
Sienna was on her second bottle, as she marched from her office, made-up perfectly to meet with her man's family, Eve walking a few paces behind her, Adam at Eve's side, ready to walk along, as Sienna's head turned to the grunts working.
"Have a nice workday, you all. Just because I am not in the office and working, it doesn't mean you can slack off! One day of me taking time off doesn't give you liberty to go and become some kind of rampaging band of miscreants!"
She would put her foot down, even if she looked like she was someone who was heading out on a date. Several of the women already were gossiping, her ears detected, and she cracked her whip.
"Silence! Work harder if you've got time to gossip! Come on, I want those reports on my desk in the morning! Monday morning!"
She was definitely not returning home until she'd done her duty! Every woman who respected the Faunus customs would know that it would show great disrespect to the family of the person they had decided to lower themselves to if they were to leave.
'We're not savage barbarians!'
The meat had been brought, enough for the eight people she would need to charm.
'I can do this. I am Sienna Khan, and I am not fearful of anything!'
She might be seeing double a little, but that wasn't something a shot of liquor wouldn't fix! She was strong, she was powerful, she was a little tipsy!
"Adam, Eve! You two burgers on legs, get moving! Get the car out, we're going to him. The rest of you, get back to work! You'd think that it's 'gaze at Sienna day' or something with how all of you are staring!'
She was in the car in five minutes' time, Eve sitting at her side, as the female escort. For someone like her, such things usually were unnecessary, but since she did not want to drum up Ghira and Kali as the people who technically were supposed to escort her, they would have to do.
'You can do this. It's just the family, some of them don't like us, but you will do this. It is just a meeting and if they have a problem, they can eat my pussy out!'
She had to keep in mind the facts, of course they would be upset with a Faunus deciding to become Jaune's, but she was raised properly! She would do as recommended by tradition!
'They should be glad that I am not poisoning them and stealing my man!'
Traditionally, that was the reason. The current-day efforts of the women to 'obtain' the Prime's seed to be blessed with a child were… definitely politically inconvenient.
Being the High Leader as a woman sucked. It didn't make her feel very happy that she'd have to place the Faunus before herself, when it involved her man!
Willow would be laughing about this, as she put on her sunglasses, in an effort not to show her eyes. They were wonderful inventions, making sure that nobody saw where her gaze went, as Eve started to laugh.
"We're not going to be acting like this is going to be a spy thriller, Sienna."
'What do you know?! If I wasn't first, you'd be the one doing this!'
The meat had been brought, the other things…
'I can do this. I can do this and they will not find me wanting.'
The schedule was clear, she had the time off, long enough to get to know them all. It would be the standard formal inquiry.
'Just like you've been taught, Sienna… You will ascertain whether they have been treating him right.'
Seven daughters and a mother… That was going to be a challenge. Faunus only had one or two children, if they were lucky. Jaune was someone who was blessed with a large family.
'They won't find Sienna Khan lacking!'
She was a politician! She was a former terrorist freedom fighter! She could find her way through a facility and get the data if it so was required, without anyone being any the wiser.
"We're here. You've brought the customary meat, I see…"
Adam didn't have to remind her of that. She frowned at him, but didn't speak up.
"Open the door for me. I will not be given a lessened amount of respect."
She would be able to do this, no problem. It was just like politics. They were Jaune's siblings, they were his sisters.
They would know that Sienna Khan was coming.
Emerging from the car with Adam holding the door and Eve taking the bags of meat, Sienna looked around. An average neighbourhood, someplace where people rarely saw Faunus, undoubtedly. People were staring at the car, but they could go and rot, according to her current mood. She was Sienna Khan and wherever she went, people watched. She straightened her back, taking a moment to breathe in and out, to steady herself.
'They will not find a Faunus wanting.'
Adam and Eve might not remember courtesy, but she did! She'd sat through the lessons, and she would not be found to be lacking.
The doorbell was loud, though. Her Faunus trait flattened against her scalp, her eyes closing, as the door opened and she saw Jaune. He looked a little nervous, which was silly! She was not nervous herself, even if she swayed just a little bit. She just needed more alcohol. Much more alcohol.
"Jaune."
He smiled, like he always did. He was walking, which was good. She grinned without intending to. She could do this, she would make a great impression, no matter what she'd thought before.
"Hey, eh… Welcome. Please don't take anything they say personally, I'm-"
'Who needs that? You're the one I want, the rest is all bonus.'
Humans were fussy about these things. He led her inside, Adam hanging his coat up on the coat rack, whilst she remained as clothed as she was. Formality gives function, or something.
They were the family that she would belong to, eventually. She was going to make an impression, and she would try to be like Kali. She would be tactful, attentive and she would do as the traditions demanded of her.
Seven sisters and one mother looked at her, and one of them shouted at Jaune.
"You're dating Sienna Khan?!"
Humans lacked tact. Jaune merely smiled, so she'd have to speak up. It was his family, so she would defend him! He was her man!
"Do you have a problem with that, huh?!"
Sienna was perfectly tactful, when it was required.
Jaune was nervous.
He knew Sienna's personality. He knew how explosive she could be when she burned hot, and he knew that she had a flair for the dramatic, unlike Willow, who was cool and efficient bargaining. Contrasting the two women was like trying to mix fire and water into lightning… and that didn't work.
"Ah, great, she's here."
'Please don't do anything that they wouldn't approve of…'
Sienna was a lovely gal, she definitely cared for him, but her sensibility sometimes was a bit off. The whole 'hunting down Roman Torchwick' thing had been a bit too… much.
"Woah, it's the cow twins again."
Let it be said that Camellia didn't exactly mince her words and that the 'cow twins' was a bit more polite than the words that she'd used, mom making a face. Clearly, mom wasn't thinking about the ramifications, as he saw Sienna get out of the car.
'Damage control, damage control…'
He'd like to get through this with only minimal screaming. With Mint and Camellia being of the strictly anti-Faunus crew, with Vivian offering support, he definitely wanted to make sure that there'd be no drawn weapons…
'I'll intercept them at the front door.'
He should do what Dad would've done, and kept his ground, standing tall and being the man of the house.
That'd be a good option for him, as he walked to the front door and he heard the doorbell scream. It sounded a little softer than it had before, but that might just need more batteries.
Opening the door to see her stand there, a look on her face that definitely made him feel a little bit giddy, as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Jaune."
Her voice was cute, as she tried to sound formal but it was more of the type of moan that she'd make when they were in bed together, a happy little sound that made her sound like a big pussycat, as she smiled, the suit that she wore looking formal and serious.
"Hey, eh… Welcome. Please don't take anything they say personally, I'm-"
He hoped that he wasn't going to have to have a problem with Camellia or with Mint, knowing that they'd probably already be guessing about what Sienna was doing here. He knew that he'd have to try to keep the anger to a minimum.
'You can do this, you can do this. It's just introducing your girlfriend to the family…'
He entered the living room, where his sisters and mother were located, guiding Sienna in. He could see the half-crooked smile on Sienna's face remain, as she took a deep breath, clearly trying to go and do her best introductions.
"You're dating Sienna Khan?!"
Camellia's voice was loud, and Jaune hoped that Sienna would have at least the patience to stop herself from immediately rising to the challenge. He spotted Eve holding plastic bags with something in it.
"Do you have a problem with that, huh?!"
Camellia did, as she and her girlfriend Mint got up.
"Thanks to your species, humanity is in decline, we're not-"
He slammed his hand onto the table with a loud bang. It's a dad thing to do, but he knew that they'd devolve into an argument if things went on like this, and Sienna would rise to the bait.
"Shut up and sit down."
Camellia was a fragile woman, but he wasn't going to let this get into an incident, even though Vivian looked like she was glaring daggers at Sienna. Clearly, there was nothing good about Faunus that Vivian had experienced, and Sienna looked like she was going to leap at his sister for daring to challenge her.
"Jaune, she's the jungle queen of that whole zoo of animals, I'm not-"
He fixed her with a look, narrowing his eyes just like dad had always done. A man should have confidence, and he tried to affect himself with confidence.
"Sit down. She's my girlfriend. Sienna, sorry, I'm-"
Sienna looked at him with one of those looks that didn't quite seem to get why he was making a fuss about it.
"No, it's okay. Some resistance was expected. I would not be who I was if I did not know how to fight."
She said it as if there was going to be a riot to be smacked down by her personally, as she sat down on one of the open seats at the table, smiling at his mother, who seemed to be trying to parse the world in her own manner again.
"Ah… I was not expecting you to be so…, so… unique."
Sienna didn't seem to take that as an insult, but mom had a habit of understating the obvious. Sienna Khan was not what he should have brought home.
"I am Sienna Khan. If I wasn't unique, I wouldn't be where I was."
Coral was silent, looking at Sienna with prying eyes. She'd been someone who had been vocal only an hour ago, and now, her silence made him feel a little bit disconcerted.
"So… Senna."
Mom mangled her name, clearly not quite out of the shock of him bringing home an older woman who was the political pillar of the Faunus freedom movement, Sienna's eyes narrowing, but she didn't correct mom.
"Ah… Yes, the gift. I have brought meat."
Sienna motioned to eve, who put the plastic bag on the table and Sienna pulled out very fine-looking, bloody pieces of meat, wrapped perfectly. Vivian frowned like this was personally offensive, whilst Saphron and Terra remained quiet, the others ranging from disgust to curiosity. Sable was making a quick calculation, if he caught the calculator's sheen briefly.
'Are you calculating how much it'd have cost?'
"Is that customary for your people?"
His mother asked dumbly, not sure why Sienna was putting pieces of meat in front of each member of the family save for him, Sienna nodding.
"I am taking flesh from you, so you must be repaid in kind."
His mother was trying her best to keep up with Sienna's high energy, as Sienna placed the final piece of meat in front of Saphron, before she looked a little closer, turning to him and raising an eyebrow.
"You didn't tell me you were related to Sapphocles."
'Who?'
Saphron looked extremely uncomfortable now, as Eve coughed with something that might be amusement.
"Oh, were you and Eve in the same programme, Saphron?"
Mom looked like she was curious, and Saphron looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here, as she coughed.
"Y-yeeeessss…. I met Terra there."
Terra looked like she'd want to tease, as Sienna hummed.
"I can see where he gets it from. He has been taking care of all of you very well, has he? If he hasn't, I will make him take good care of all of you! Seven sisters is a big challenge, but he will give you your due!"
'I'm not sure whether the financial support for the family would be able to cover that, Sienna.'
His mother smiled, as Jaune saw his sisters change their expressions, Sienna's diversion of the topic something of a power-move by his girlfriend, but he didn't think that Sienna would be such an apt negotiator.
"He's been helping us out, the sweet dear. Right, Jaune?"
His mother was definitely trying to be the peacemaker, as Sienna looked at him, as he sat down next to her. Adam and Eve stood behind the two of them, acting as bodyguards for Sienna, or something.
"Well… I try. You are all important to me."
Sienna seemed to sigh in relief. He hoped that she'd remain in this good mood, as she looked at each family member.
"I'd be on your case if you weren't taking care of them! You're going to be treating your family well, Jaune! I will not let you disrespect your family. Things will be different with me as your partner!"
He supposed that he should be glad that Sienna was someone who was as family-minded as he was, as Camellia spoke up.
"So much for the great Sienna Khan, murderer of hundreds! How many people have you killed, you murderous bitch?!"
Sienna looked at his sister, who'd levelled such an accusation, Sienna's eyes blazing.
"Nobody who deserved it has escaped me, eh, whoever you are."
Camellia cleared her throat sharply.
"Camellia Arc, jungle queen. Why don't you tell all of us about your plan to destroy humanity's brightest hope, the Schnee Dust Company?"
Jaune supposed that this was a topic that he'd have to study, if Willow didn't have some kind of easy to stomach explanation ready for him. It was stuff that he'd have time to read later, but he wasn't going to let Sienna get slandered.
"What plan?! We're sponsoring the Vytal Festival together! Do you even know how much work goes into that, and having to clear my schedule for visiting my man's family?! I rarely get enough time to sleep!"
Coral looked at Sienna, clearly not happy with how his girlfriend was defending herself, even though Vivian looked like she wanted to say something, keeping her hand on her weapon, Sienna's eye halfway on Vivian's weapon, clearly out of concern.
"Clearly it's like the great jungle queen can just march into some human's home and try to corrupt a young man who doesn't need some half-wild zoo animal as his partner!"
Camellia was being harsh again, Jaune noticed, as he watched her get up, pointing at Sienna, who seemed to be trying to restrain herself.
"Camellia, dear… We should thank Miss Khan for cooking for us, the chicken was delightful, my dear."
Sienna looked a little mollified by the compliment, smiling a little, before she lowered her head. It looked a touch respectful to his mother, probably because she was his mother, though.
"Diren de Rou is not often made. It was my duty to do so as the highest one, to soothe the anger and fill the stomach of those maligned."
'Well, Camellia's silent now.'
Mint Julep seemed to be finding herself in a mood right now, as she pointed at Sienna.
"Just because it was some cooking, that doesn't make it alright, what you animals do to good and honest people! Cam has suffered greatly, and-"
Camellia was looking a little green, and Jaune remembered that he'd been served food made by Sienna twice.
"The seasoning was nice. Very tender. Are you an experienced cook, Sienna?"
Sienna shook her head, looking a little embarrassed, his other sisters looking at Camellia, who had grown paler.
"It is tradition. Diren de Rou must be offered to smoothen relations. I prefer takeout."
Sienna didn't act out of the ordinary, and Adam and Eve didn't seem to make much note of it, as Camellia took a few deep breaths.
"Eh… Are you okay, Cam?"
Mint was asking her girlfriend whether she was alright, but Camellia looked at Sienna like she was looking at a monster.
"She's a monster."
Sienna shrugged. Jaune wanted a bit more clarification. He spoke up, trying to defend his girlfriend.
"Well, we knew that, Cam. So, why is she a monster? Aside from looking like she eats babies."
Camellia took a deep breath, looking at Adam and Eve as if they were going to leap at them and tear them apart. Jaune was pretty sure that they wouldn't.
"We've been fed Diren de Rou, and… And after the revolution, the representatives of the Kingdoms were given the same honour. Ah… I think I'm going to be sick."
'What's that got to do with anything?'
Sienna looked like she agreed with that.
"It's perfectly natural to do that! If I didn't do that, I would not be honouring my position as the High Leader! I had to make it twice! That's unprecedented! Once is enough, but twice?"
He… wasn't sure whether it was a dish that was served normally, or whether it was for funerals.
'I don't think someone died…'
"If it's not insensitive to ask, what… what exactly is Diren de Role?"
Coral was quick to ask, but Camellia just looked out of it, shut up for once. That was unusual, she'd normally have spat fire at Sienna, but she was trembling, whether it was out of disgust, fear or anger.
"Justice. Your sister was harmed by one of our people, and a life lost. Your brother was harmed by one who tried to break the traditions, and they were punished."
Coral looked surprised.
"So, eh… did they make it? Like, did they eh, prepare the dish?"
Camellia took a deep breath.
"They made it, alright. We ate Faunus. Flesh of the Defeated, they let the representatives of the Kingdoms eat the leaders of the Revolution, cooked and prepared! Oh gods, I ate my ex-boyfriend!"
Sienna looked like she didn't agree with that at all. A fierce expression, as she pointed her finger at Camellia, definitely with a fierce retort brimming on her lips.
"It was meat! It was unworthy of a name! Struck from the rolls, erased! The bones are sent, the flesh consumed, their life erased! It is the highest shame for one of us, to never be known."
She said it like it made perfect sense to her, which it must have.
'Oh, so that's why Adam nor Eve wanted to eat chicken…'
That made sense. Camellia was wobbling to the sink already, and the sound of her throwing up was heard loudly, as the other sisters looked like they'd wanted to do the same, but Camellia had actually known the man whose flesh she'd eaten.
"Oh… So you eat people."
Mom looked like she was going to faint, and Jaune hoped that she wouldn't, Sienna frowning at his mother.
"No! Whatever would give you that idea!? He caused the death of an unborn child, so he was dealt with! It's justice!"
Jaune had the sinking sensation that Sienna's version of justice didn't really hold up to the Kingdom's version of justice, but he wasn't going to make an issue out of it.
'Wait, does that mean that I ate Ilia?!'
He looked at Sienna, who frowned and looked at him, clearly not feeling like 'explanations' and 'apologies' right now.
"Did I eat Ilia?"
Sienna nodded. Jaune felt a little guilty for having enjoyed eating a Faunus, but the girl had tried to kill him. If it was some ritual custom… well, he'd at least not disrespected the Faunus.
"Nobody gets to kill the Prime before they put their challenge out! She treated you with no respect, simply for her own desires, so she paid for it! She would have been eaten raw by any Faunus who encountered her who was eligible, Jaune! At least now you have their respect! Torchwick gave himself up before... A shame. Quite a few people undoubtedly would want to take a bite."
Coral made a low 'oof' sound, as she seemed to get herself comfortable in her seat. She looked by far the best out of all of his sisters, most of which seemed to find it a little tough to stomach that they'd had Faunus meat in their stomach.
"Well, I approve of her! Count one vote for Sienna becoming an Arc. Any woman who's like 'I'll eat you, raw!' has my vote! My hunny-bunny-man needs a woman who's able to stand straight!"
Mom had passed out, Jaune noticed, as Camellia was being massaged slowly, Mint trying to get her to stop throwing up. It wasn't very effective, as Jaune noticed something about 'Arial' being mumbled in-between heaves.
"He must be giving you your due, little sister."
Coral frowned at that term.
"He's my cuddle-bunny-wunny-munny brother! Don't call me little sister yet!"
And she was back to normal, though several of his sisters seemed to crack a smile.
"Hey, Saphron approves of Jaune getting some dark meat, doesn't she? Come on, Saph, anyone who likes that performance that you put on is worth a vote from me too!"
Sienna looked a little closer at Terra, and nodded, as if she'd recognized something about Terra that made her think.
"You should return to acting. Eve showed your one-hundred man gangbang video once during movie hour. That was impressive."
Jaune supposed that it was lucky that mom was unconscious, because Terra looked like she'd rather not have those questioning looks directed to her. Questions, judgement, and Vivian was mouthing something like 'a hundred men?' Sienna had the heat taken off her with the 'what the fuck, Terra' looks that Terra was getting, the slight flush on her cheeks, as she looked a little embarrassed with all the attention she was getting.
"It was a generous paycheck? I met Sapphy, we got an apartment, eh… Yeah, hmm, we work great? Saphron, we should do a return to the scene! Sapphocles and Terra Cocktaker versus the Mighty Moo! It was great money!"
Eve looked unflappable, as Saphron made a long-suffering sound, and Jaune wondered whether Adrian was present or not, finding the young child playing in the corner, Sable clearing her throat.
"Whatever Saphron did, it is not in our best interests to be affiliated with Faunus scum."
Saphron grimaced, as Terra looked at her wife and nudged her, whispering something in her ear.
"It's okay, we can do this. Riiight, Sable? You remember how eh, how we sort of saved your mom's bank account with that cash? Saph's a little starlet, I'm a starlet, how do you think we otherwise could help out like that when your mom spends that much money?"
They also lived in a big house in Argus, which had to be paid for somehow, so it wouldn't be out of line for them to…
'How does that work?'
He didn't think he should ask.
"But still- I'm… Bah, I can't judge. If she's good with money, I don't have a problem with it. She's the leader of the Faunus White Fang organization, so… I guess? But don't think that you're going to be donating money to us, Khan. We're the Arcs, and we aren't going to take charity!"
Sable, ever-defensive, as Camellia and Mint came to the table again, Camellia looking pale and a little worn from throwing up.
"How could you do that?! He was a dick! He was a moron, he dumped me, and we ate him!"
Sienna looked as unflappable as she always was.
"So? Do you think that we like to hear how someone evaded responsibility?! We're not animals! If not for your brother surviving a Pogrom and coming out on top, there would be no justice! Respect is everything!"
He had to ask whether that was culturally significant later, as Sienna looked like she was going to get herself an Arc barbecue if Vivian's thumbing of the activator on her weapon was any indication.
"So, you're going to be with him for the rest of his life, aren't ya?"
Vivian's voice was dark and gloomy, as she spoke up, her expression threatening, Sienna meeting that threatening look with her own threatening glare.
"Of course! Who do you think I am, Baby-Moo?"
Salmon started to laugh, whilst Adam groaned softly at the nickname.
"Alright, she's got my vote. Anyone who can diss Adam is an alright gal in my book."
Adam looked offended, briefly, but Salmon seemed to mouth something that sounded like 'it's okay' at him, and he quietened down, Adam looking like he was swallowing whatever would emerge.
"Baby-Moo knows that he's second bitch after his sister."
Vivian threw up her hands, groaning.
"Alright, alright, I'm okay, I give up. Dad just said that I should make sure that we got a person that we like as a sister-in-law, so if Jaune can stomach that whole angry pussy look of yours for the rest of his life, we're not having a problem. He's my little brother, so I guess I'll have to acquiesce to little tiger runts running around."
The largest obstacle had been conquered, as one by one, his sisters acquiesced, Camellia looking sharply, as mom slowly roused herself to awareness once more, Jaune definitely hoping that she'd like his girlfriend.
"Alright… Since everyone seems to agree, I guess it might be… okay. Mom? We're… sort of alright with pussycat here. Camellia will need some time to adjust, but... well, she's definitely proven that she likes jaune."
The others looked like they'd want to chip in, Vivian having put away her weapon for now.
"Oh, eh… welcome to the family? Oh dear, this was quite a- well, welcome."
Sienna smiled broadly, like the tiger who stole the meat.
"Good, good, let's get to the next part. Who'll be first?"
A collective blink, as Sienna reached within the plastic bag and then put a 100 pack of condoms onto the table. Jaune idly noted that they were his size.
"For what?"
Sienna looked at him as if he was born stupid. He probably wasn't, but he didn't know why she was giving him that look, as Adam and Eve seemed to face-palm at the same time.
"They're humans, Sienna…"
Sienna didn't care for that, as Adam had spoken up.
"Well, we're fucking them anyways! You make sure that your family is kept happy! I brought the condoms, Jaune can put a bit of extra spring in his hips, we're getting some sex going on! Who volunteers to be first?!"
Adam's low 'Oh noooo…' was contrasted by Eve's louder voice of 'Oh fucking hell no…'.
"I volunteer!"
Coral spoke up, becoming the focus of the conversation at hand, as several of his sisters looked at her, as Sienna nodded immediately. Did that mean that Faunus had a ritual sex thing going on? He wasn't really into that…
"Coral!"
Sienna looked smugly at Eve and Adam, Jaune noted, as both seemed to stare at her with looks that implied surprise.
"See? They know tradition!"
Eve's voice was louder, clearly upset with Sienna.
"Did you even graduate Human Studies?! Humans don't have orgies with the family like we do upon finding a man to show your commitment! That's year four stuff!"
Sienna's face definitely looked like she didn't agree with that.
"The teacher said that I'd only graduate if I let him do things with me, so I tore off his balls and stuffed them in his mouth! Dare to mess with Sienna Khan and get your nuts handed to you! Seriously, how that old man thought that I'd be some easy mark! I got full marks regardless!"
Eve's slightly horrified 'Oh gods, the White Fang's High Leader never graduated Human Studies class…' was oddly humorous, as Jaune wondered whether his mother was alright.
She looked like she was going to faint again.
'Oh dear…'
"Alright, I'll take you on! Coral, right? To the bedroom! I've not had sex for entirely too long! I'll bring the condoms. He'd probably get you pregnant if he tried. He's my man."
Sienna's grabbing of his arm and mom passing out definitely wasn't what he had expected.
This explains so much about Faunus behaviour that I shouldn't have to explain. Sienna... has a habit of forgetting that not everyone is a Faunus.
As someone stated, Sienna's dead-last in the official race for his partner, whilst Willow holds the advantage... But Sienna is pretty canny on loopholes and such things.
Leave a review if you'd like, and happy liberation of Europe day soon!