Chapter 59: Un Grande Salto

Yeah... He's got some explaining to do.

"A single mother, Jaune?!"

He was definitely getting grilled on that, as he looked away. Willow technically was a widowed woman, someone who was more likable than someone who was a net drain on society. He didn't think that he'd be able to get out of this, with his sisters and mother gathering around him, Sienna having left about half an hour ago.

"Eh... She's a really nice woman?"

Saphron and Terra weren't really into the conversation, but the looks between the sisters and him on his choices in dating were definitely not too positive as they looked at him with disapproving eyes.

"She's got three children, she's recently widowed, and-"

His mother pressed her lips together, before she sighed.

"We'll greet her with all the dignity we can muster, Jaune. Girls, he's already brought home one of his girlfriends, let's hope she will be cordial and respectful. We'll see her when she comes around, I guess..."

His mother moved the pack of condoms to the side, Coral picking it up and then going upstairs with it, as Camellia and her girlfriend seemed to talk quietly, the deal done with mom's words, as Vivian sat down next to him and grabbed a hold of him, her arm snaking around him and keeping a very firm grip on him.

"So, what's she like? She's not like... twenty or something?"

He hoped that Willow wouldn't have too much of an issue with Vivian's nature, as Vivian had enjoyed the brawl with Sienna, or so it'd appeared, his oldest sister the Huntsman of the family, jerking him close, the smell of sweat and Fire Dust hanging around her.

"A bit older than that. Just like Sienna, but... but a bit older. She's a lot like Sienna."

Vivian frowned sharply at him, like she wanted to send a death laser at him with her eyes.

"Faunus?"

He tried to imagine what kind of Faunus Willow would be, but failed at that point, remembering that she definitely wouldn't want to have a tail or anything like that. Willow was a woman who dressed impeccably.

"No, human, she's... I think she's in her forties?"

It was hard to tell, with how young she looked. He recalled some memories of her father, knowing her Semblance as well as he did, through whatever trick they had done, and he watched how Vivian seemed to think otherwise, crossing her arms.

"She'd better take good care of you, Jaune. If you're going to be some husband that'll be out fighting with Sienna Khan and stuff, she'd better be the best housewife you'd ever get... We'd be getting nieces and nephews out of things, since she's got children of her own."

Her ex-husband had been a dick, Jaune knew, but that was beside the point.

"I'm sure that you'll like her. She's... she's a very different woman compared to Sienna, who can be a bit... explosive."

Vivian laughed at that.

"I like her fire. She's all passion and fury... If I was into girls, I'd be going for her, she's my kind of gal, dad would've just chucked the spear at her and then told her that he'd be training with her... How'd you even meet with her?"

A smile on his lips, as Vivian adjusted him a bit, like some kind of doll. With her strength and her size, she was able to easily manipulate him since she had actual muscles, the joke having been that she was the first Arc boy that was born, but was magically changed into a girl. Jaune had seen her naked often enough in the morning rush for the bathroom, wrestling with Saphron or Sable for the right to use the shower first.

You tended to grow desensitized to the sight of naked skin when you lived with family, or so he supposed. It wasn't attractive to you in the slightest, and he watched as mom came to them.

"Vivian, dear... Why don't you go out and shop for us, with Sable and Salmon? I think we need something nice to celebrate Senna's little gift of meat, even if... even if Faunus customs are a little bit different."

Jaune could tell that mom still wasn't on board with the whole 'Sienna nearly got us all into an orgy', but that she at least seemed to be coming around to the idea that she'd be having a Faunus daughter-in-law. He'd have to soften the blow just a little bit more, before he'd get Willow over.

'If they reacted this badly to a Faunus Rights organisation's leader, I dread to think what they'd say about me being the boyfriend of the richest woman on Remnant...'

He'd need to bring it tactfully, so they wouldn't have the feeling that he was springing this on them. He was sure that Camellia and Mint would approve of Willow Schnee, and that there was a chance that Sable wouldn't be too upset about him dating her boss. Sable had been rather bland in her response, which made sense given that the SDC was her employer, and that Willow probably would have some kind of job for her, according to her talents. The Schnee Dust Company was an entity that selected based on merit.

'Well, at least it can't get worse.'

"I am not charmed by this sudden ambush, General Ironwood."

Willow had gotten up from her seat, her annoyance showing clearly on her face, looking down at the man.

"My husband has been dead for- for less than half a year, nay, not even three months, and you immediately assume that I would wish to be tying the company to the military?! I am offended, General!"

She was offended in more ways than one, but she couldn't just about say that she already had plans for a young man to enter her bedroom and to give her womanhood a visitor. It was a little different from how she had envisaged it, the General surprised, before he composed himself, like a man made out of metal, her arms crossed below her breasts.

"My daughter might have found- might have found a man worthy of her love amongst the military, but I am not tying myself to any political organisation in my role as the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company, nor as a woman. If this is a ploy to disinherit my eldest son as the heir to the SDC, you will not find the SDC allowing any military Dust use... globally."

She was still the owner and the CEO of the SDC, and an attempt by the man to ingratiate himself into her good graces would definitely not be met with kindness and a 'I'm sorry'. She had standards to maintain, a grace that only a world leader of the industry could maintain, the General's face impassive.

"Ah, perhaps it is a touch unwelcome, but would you have dinner with me in a few days' time? Just as fellow Atlesians, to speak more privately on business affairs."

Willow felt herself being pushed into a corner, the knowledge that the man and her eldest daughter were out to capture the SDC for their benefit, or at least, her daughter's marriage plans...

'It was bad enough that I was under the mistaken assumption that she'd done such a- a thing.'

Her daughter definitely had her late husband's amount of common sense, which clearly hadn't been inherited from her. It was like half-baked plans... or just more than that, her lips pushed into a smile which felt more like a grimace.

'A woman should conduct herself with tact, wit and composure!'

Winter had always lacked the proper etiquette... That'd probably been beaten out of her at military training. She didn't think James Ironwood above marrying Winter.

"I am not charmed, General. I will return, and if you wish to make an appointment for dinner with me, please contact my secretary."

There would be a reckoning for this, as she got up and moved to the door, her daughter following after her, the General left behind, as Willow pulled her Scroll out and dialled the number for her secretary.

"General Ironwood will be contacting you over the next few days with a request for an appointment. Schedule it appropriately. I will be with my children for the foreseeable future, so push the appointment for today to the next week."

She wasn't in the mood for sitting through another dull meeting, but thought back on it. With her in an upset mood, things would get done a lot faster. Jacques always had a rather thunderous nature about him if he wanted fast results.

"Push the appointment up half an hour. I will need some time to finish my makeup, and arrive at the appointment, since my meeting with General Ironwood has been shorter than expected. Negotiations will be continued with the Atlas Military. Send a price report to my Scroll immediately. I will be at the primary office in thirty minutes."

The bodyguard immediately fell in line, the massive man immediately spotting his boss' mood, as Winter looked hesitantly, Willow putting a smile on her lips.

"I'm sorry, Winter. Business comes before pleasure, and we are a global company. It would be... a touch crass for me to tie myself to the largest military on Remnant after losing your father."

There was no hint of love lost in her voice, as Winter nodded, giving a salute, as the aircraft was prepared for Willow and her bodyguard to go, the SDC logo on the sides enough of an identifying mark, as Winter nodded.

"I'll go and ask him out tonight. I will be formal, mother."

Willow smiled, a motherly feeling emerging within her.

"Whitley's girlfriend is adorable... Why don't you bring home a boyfriend that's cute too, Winter? Oh, and do use a condom."

Winter flustered, her expression shifting a little to that girl that had been blushing up a storm when the talk of birds, bees and Schnee Drills came up, Willow's smile soft, as the desire for a bottle of good scotch rose in her throat, Jaune's presence wanted, as Winter gazed down.

"I... I will, mother. He's a reputable young man, a b-, a little younger than me."

Willow hoped that the man was responsible, but it wasn't going to be some sort of bum like that horrible Branwen man. Whoever thought that her daughter and that bum would fit well together must be mad, or a well-paid voice-actor who loves seeing older men have sex with young women who could be their daughters, irony aside. She was in a similar situation, so glass houses and stones.

"Men aren't terribly complicated... I've got-"

She was about to spill the beans, but she held it in. That she had someone in mind might leak back to the General, which would make things a little more complicated for her. A boytoy was one thing, but one with such good publicity as Jaune Arc?

It might be wiser to wait until he was 18 and out and proud with Sienna...

'Didn't she say something about announcing him?'

"I've got a meeting, and Sienna Khan will be coming by for a visit sometime next week. I love you, Winter."

A shy smile on her daughter's face, as Willow felt her daughter's hands grab her own, and she kissed her daughter on the cheek, smelling the perfume that Winter wore, mingling with her own, as Winter smiled softly.

"I'll- I'll do what you said. You have to strike when the Dust lode is found, after all."

Willow knew very well that there was at least a chance of that happening, as she settled herself in her seat a few minutes later, her bodyguard taking a spot opposite of her.

"She needs a man, Ma'am. She's acting like she is sixteen again."

The irony of her daughter acting like a teenager, shy and blushing, desiring the company of a man, was something that hadn't escaped the bodyguard, the large man's strong body wrought by years of training and dedication, the man's life consisting mostly of guarding her and her family. It was a balance that the man struck, though Willow had never inquired about any family that the man might have.

"Let her. I've got what I want."

A young blonde man with blue eyes, who had dragged her back. Who had charmed a crabby, ill-tempered tiger Faunus and had made her feel like she was sixteen again, before Jacques had stamped her hopes and dreams with his disrespect of their vows.

"You are sure of yourself."

She knew, of course, the merits of that. Klein would be like a dutiful butler, but her bodyguard was different. The thought of being with Jaune was something that gave her purpose, that drove away the despair.

"I try to be. I am an older lady, after all."

An older lady who could pass for her daughter's twin sister, and if she dressed up, she could pass for her middle daughter's sister... sans scar, of course. She was a woman who knew what she had, and Jaune Arc had a date with her, her bed, and several interesting little tricks that she'd heard about and wanted to experiment with.

There was of course something to be said about being a rich older woman with a minibar in her bedroom, ice-cubes, a few little things here and there that would leave him gasping and groaning and... well, definitely having little to no reservations about making sure that her screams of enjoyment were bouncing off the walls.

It was only natural that she give him ample incentive, even if their housecat (Sienna most certainly counted as one) would be joining them in bed. She had been in a loveless marriage for long enough to at least desire some experimentation in the bedroom.

"You still look as fresh as the morning dew, ma'am."

The flattery was enough to draw out a smile, as the man's arms flexed, and Willow's expression changed, her peering out of the window showing the beautiful vista of Vale, much different from Atlas. It would be a sight for Jaune to see when they made it to Atlas.

She would at least try to bring him to her home at least once a year or maybe twice. Holidays during a Huntsman Academy year would do... probably. They had the technology, or so the Atlesian saying went.

"I do attempt to look as fetching as I can."

She would allow herself that little bit of vanity, her eyes glancing at her reflection in the small makeup mirror.

"Could you ask for someone to keep an eye on Winter, without too much attention? I have just been informed that she has her eye on a young man, and I will not have her get pregnant before I have at least inspected the man."

There was a finality to her words, knowing that the bodyguard would get a few people on it, with the contacts that he had. Security for the rich and famous tended to know other people in that line of business, so having her request that her daughter be observed was something that would be within the bounds of normal concern for one's offspring. Within the military, there was an adherence to structure and order, and Willow knew that the feeling of oppression might make her daughter want to go for a young man who wasn't exactly... proper.

'So much energy, so much drive, and so much like me...'

It was the time that she'd spent with Winter that she missed most, from time to time. Weiss had been ten when the world had shattered and she had been raked over the broken glass bottles, her body wracked by the shivers of alcohol withdrawal and the hangover.

'A girl's night out...'

She'd be able to rope Weiss into coming with her friends, she would probably have to get an establishment rented, with delectable men... Something fancy, something where her daughter could be a woman, rather than a Specialist who had the unfortunate ability to know what General Ironwood was thinking...

'Okay, maybe not. I'd imagine she'd be flustered at trying to fish a banana out of a man's undergarment, no matter how many glistening muscles...'

The affair with Jaune that Winter had been involved with must have sizzled out, since she'd definitely put her foot down a little on the ramifications. Sienna did not play second fiddle to Willow, nor would she allow herself to be squared away as just an 'occasional partner'.

'Winter needs to get laid...'

Willow needed to get laid too. A long, hot and heavy weekend, a cooler full of drinks that had no alcohol and that famed Arc baby breeding stick of dynamite shoved right between her l-

"Ma'am? We're landing."

She let her thoughts snap back to the present, realizing that she was flushed a little, her bodyguard aware of her absentmindedness.

"Do you think Winter would like a strip club trip with several very good-looking men as a bit of a family outing?"

The man's expression was as rock-like as it always was.

"I would imagine that she might find it somewhat objectionable. Her choice in man to follow seems to be much like your ex-husband, ma'am."

Jaune was much more palatable.

"Why, yes. It seems that she has not had her delusions shattered yet... Now, I would need a brief moment..."

She decided to call Jaune. Hearing someone throw up audibly in the background just confirmed to her that Sienna was definitely in his presence.

'Well... someone's going sober for a while, I bet.'

Sienna kicked open the door, her face annoyed, her outfit feeling restrictive and several of the people that'd been in her path had been bowled over.

"What the flying devils is wrong for you to call me back from-"

Eve would have to wait for a bit, as the mousy-looking secretary flexed her floppy bunny ears a little, a deer-in-the-headlights look on her face.

"H-ah? High Leader Khan, t-the- Menagerie, the-"

There was no sense that was being made, Sienna could tell, as she made a crabby sound.

"What's with Menagerie?"

There was annoyance in her voice, as the secretary thrust a Scroll at her, Sienna snatching it and looking at it.

The Chieftain of Menagerie and his wife will be arriving on Saturday at nine in the morning.

'Why is that... Oh, they're coming here.'

There were a few cuss words, but she could see the logic in her being summoned back to the office. Jaune had gotten rid of some of the worst of his stress and she had at least had one nice filling, so he'd be allowed to recuperate a little.

"Alright, I will speak with the Chieftain myself through a secure line."

'They weren't supposed to- ugh...'

It would speed things up just a little, since the announcement would be able to get done in less time, and there'd be no special stage required... Humans were so fussy, but they wouldn't find her lacking. The youngest sister Coral seemed to be open to appearing in the bedroom, and Jaune just needed to be told that she would be joining them!

'How dare he say no to me!'

It was hot to have him say no to her. It made her feel like she should be pushing a little more, to see what kind of response came from him. A little push in a direction and seeing that flame rise in his eyes again and hearing him tell her that he wanted something different.

It was a sweet little blissful second that she stared at the screen before the ringtone of the connection coming to a firm stable green blip, as the call was answered. It was of course a call through the official channels, so it would be monitored... but the High Leader wasn't someone who could just call Johnny Everyman.

'Alright... Beard looks fine, reading glasses? Hm, that's Kali peering at me too...'

Jaune didn't know the traditions, but he'd learn them! It'd just require a bit of creative meddling, some really nice preparations and a bit of additional gritted teeth when she had to announce that she was officially resigning in most capacities as the High Leader...

'The Albains will probably scream bloody murder...'

Well, they were ranked a lot lower than she was, so they could scream until they turned into girls and had her foot lodged right in their new-made manginas. They'd be screaming like the girls they were when she made them into girly boys.

'I'm still strong...'

"Sienna, what a pleasure to see you. I trust you are well today?"

The mature, adult voice of a man she trusted like a second father was there, present and ready, Kali's soft voice speaking up with her husband's presence there.

"Sienna, dear, have you laid a proper claim on him yet... You can't forget that, can you?"

Sienna winced a little.

"I brought the meat and the diren de rou, Kali. The family wasn't- Humans apparently don't love their family enough!"

Kali nodded in understanding, whilst her husband stared at her like she'd done a bad thing. She hated that look, because it made her feel like she'd messed up.

"Well, no, they consider it wrong. They don't have the variety in children that we do."

That Kali and Ghira Belladonna had been related was a thing that they had never really hidden, but they loved each other, even if Kali was Ghira's younger half-sister from his father's second partner. It was of course, perfectly acceptable in Menagerie, where people didn't judge. Sienna supposed that it was just something peculiar for humans.

'I don't think they eat properly...'

Not enough meat.

"How far are you along? Ooh, Ghira, we should go and take him shopping! Just like we did before, and take Blake!"

Ghira was by far the more modest out of the two, Sienna knew, as he sighed and calmed his wife. Kali calmed down immediately, and Sienna wondered whether there was something in the man's demeanour that had done so, or Kali had been given some kind of new novel way of making her life a little bit more complicated.

"I wish to visit his family, Sienna. He's ahead of me, and... And I wish to explain things to his family. You probably know this from human studies, but you will need to explain things calmly, lest they think we are all rabid cannibals... Kali, how about we make them some Menagerian dishes?"

Kali looked like she'd been given the order to poison another meal, Sienna swallowing, as Ghira's voice was soothing and calm, as they discussed some of the plans.

"And what with your friend?"

Willow was going to be an integral part of the Vytal Festival as well, Sienna knew, but it wouldn't make too much sense right now to immediately open up about their friendship. It would rock too many boats, too many feathers would be ruffled and she would lose the advantage.

"She will be endorsing the joint White Fang-SDC cooperation, undoubtedly. It is not that she is unconnected to things."

It was best to keep things vague, just in case. Kali looked like she was going to vibrate with happiness, Sienna's expression kept carefully neutral whilst her eyes went for the face of the Chieftain of Menagerie, who clearly shot her a look that meant an in-person talk with Willow Schnee at some point in the future.

Sienna grabbed the bottle that she kept in her desk and took a sip. She'd thrown up earlier, but the buzz was needed to work, a pen and paper pad fetched and then pushed through, as she looked at the expressive face of the man, clearly showing to her an expression that didn't hint at his thoughts on the subject.

'Meeting with Willow Schnee + Ghira, schedule?'

"I will make sure that there will be some arrangements made. You will be received well."

It was, of course, the need that they had to get things cleared before the Vytal Festival would well and truly kick off. Jaune was important, but the people came before her lover. It would be a bit hard to explain why she was off with a young man who was fetching, cute and sexy, but she was already nearing thirty.

"I trust you, Sienna."

There was implicit trust in the man's voice, a rare thing as far as the management of the Faunus went. Clearly, there was more than just a little subtitling needed, since Ghira was giving her subtle cues that she should play into, but she was a little bit too buzzed to pay that much heed.

"I'll be there, full escort. I'll inform those stuffy Council members that the Chieftain of Menagerie and his wife will be visiting for the Vytal Festival as well..."

Knowing Ghira, he would have let her do that job. Ghira nodded.

"We're just visiting as parents, Sienna."

There was that, of course. Blake was a Beacon student, Adam was someone who definitely was getting fucked by the Arc sister that he'd managed to, by some grace and virtue of the almighty, attract, and Eve was competition.

'Why do I even bother...'

She should just abduct Jaune, strap him to the bed and then make him orgasm enough times to burn a hole in his balls. That'd make her feel a lot less stressed, and it would make him a lot more agreeable!

She did not hear no often enough, and when he did that little wag with his eyebrows, she was going to kiss his filthy little mouth until he was green in the face.

She shuddered a little at the thought of being with him again, her body trembling with the need.

"Someone's looking pleased... You are taking care of your needs, right Sienna?"

There was an invader in her good mood space, as Sienna looked at Kali, who'd wormed herself into her husband's lap, smiling cattily at the woman.

"Yes, yes... I've had that done. You interrupted me... These low-ranked bitches can't understand why... Let's go out for dinner, shall we? And no fooling around with my man!"

Kali smiled at him, and Sienna glared at the woman. The woman could be awfully canny when her mind was for it, as her tongue slid over her lips.

"Oh, I'm sure-"

Ghira growled at his wife, who merely smiled.

"Now, don't growl at me, you grumpy old man... I'll-"

Ghira Belladonna's poker face was great, as she did something that had the man's face turn a shade paler.

"make it up to you? Aww, who's my little big Ghira, hmmm? Doesn't that feel nice, my big fuzzy man?"

The man was turning red, as Kali's hand was doing something outside of the camera's view, and Sienna had the sneaking suspicion that the wife was definitely getting more action than Sienna Khan, High Leader of the White Fang, did. It needed to be rectified and Jaune Arc e-rectified.

It wasn't fair!

"Kali, please. I'm trying to-"

Kali's fingers tickled under the man's chin, an intimate gesture, as Sienna caught sight of the woman's other hand-

"I will inform the Council. I will be there to greet the two of you."

There was an indistinguishable groan from the man that definitely made the hairs on the back of her neck rise up.

'I didn't need to know that...'

She did not need to know what turned Ghira Belladonna on. To be tickled below the chin was... lowly.

Everyone knew that the spot between the Faunus ears was much better!

She pressed the buttons on the device to be connected to the Council, her expression looking as formal as she could, as the dried-out bastards on the Council appeared, their faces looking like they always did to her, weathered, human and entirely too smug and dry for her to stomach for long.

"High Leader Khan, what is the reason for your sudden intrusion, through the private channels? We were in the middle of our recess."

There was of course no need for her to call, but she liked lording over them the power that the Faunus had. It would be unfair for them to know that she was planning on announcing a relationship with a young man. A riot or two, struck down with a simple personal appearance and then declaring Jihad upon the one responsible for it... well, that was chump change.

"The Chieftain of Menagerie and his wife are to visit Vale, I am making you aware of that, and request ambassadorial lodgings to be made available under the Vytal Diplomatic Act, section seven-three-beta."

The jargon was something that she actually had paid attention to, knowing that there was no need for a dumb High Leader who would lead the people into some kind of nebulous ambush or something. She was Sienna Khan, a leader of many, a leader of a people who had been oppressed and who lived in squalor in many places in the Four Kingdoms.

"Ah, very well. I will have the secretary forward the official documents. Thank you for letting us know, High Leader Khan."

She was a political animal at the best of times, knowing that there was enough blackmail in certain circles to be found, with the power that rested within being a former terrorist and knowing one of the better burglars of the world.

Eve didn't look like it, but she could get into places you wouldn't expect. For such a huge rack and her pacifist nature, Eve still had the skills to back up her place in the hierarchy and such... and she'd beat Sienna Khan in a spar and kept her mouth shut about it.

'We will need to discuss this at length...'

"It is my duty to Menagerie and the Faunus, councilman. Would you be so kind as to appraise Headmaster Ozpin of the circumstances?"

She waited until a guarantee was given, before she downed the bottle again after shutting the terminal off, browsing through her file history, and chancing a look at the Huntsman registration form that she'd signed to sponsor Jaune Arc for the Beacon Huntsman Academy.

'Funny how one little human can make such a difference...'

That sister of his would be like putty in her hand, and the eldest would be given her due!

Sienna Khan did not nearly lose to the elder sister of her man!

'Revenge will be mine!'

"Jaune, we need to talk."

Sable looked like she wanted to commit war crimes, dragging him into her room and then pointing at the chair, sitting down in the other chair, her fingers rubbing her temples, as she stared right at him.

"For some reason, you have managed to charm one of the biggest hindrances to my employer's Dust processing into becoming your girlfriend. You are lucky, or you are a moron who has great skills in finding a girlfriend. I'm inching to the latter."

Sable crossed her arms, giving that stern look that oftentimes meant getting a preaching, as she took a deep breath, holding it for a moment as she fixated him with a look. He'd expected something like this before, as she tapped against his chest suddenly.

"I am not saying that you can't love her, but my boss will give me trouble if she finds out that the biggest nuisance on the face of Remnant is related in any way to me. I'm on a trial basis and the work is rough. Your girlfriend could get me fired."

Sable seemed to wait for a moment to let that message sink in, as she fixated him with that stern sisterly stare, one that Vivian wouldn't ever give to someone because it was rude and demanding.

"So, we keep this quiet. Willow Schnee will never learn that the biggest and baddest, meanest pussycat is getting some Arc rammed into her. Don't you dare deny it, the shower smells of booze and sex, Jaune Arc. You're disgusting."

'She's really mad.'

They'd grilled him about his mysterious 'single mother girlfriend', but it hadn't went anywhere specific, since an argument ensued about Sienna Khan being a nuisance from the two Liga members, Camellia and Mint having decided to interrupt.

"Well, she got sick, she was a bit nervous an-"

His sister's eyes bored into his own with a merciless, pitiless look. Sable had always been focused on ambitious goals, and getting a good job with the SDC meant that she could make money.

"Nervous, fine. You dating the biggest terrorist bitch on this side of the planet, not so fine, Jaune Arc. The moment Willow Schnee finds out that you've been fooling around with Sienna Khan, I'm out on the streets, fired for a conflict of interest!"

'It won't be that bad...'

Willow was perfectly reasonable when it came to such things, he knew from personal experience. That Sienna was a personal friend to the both of them, albeit slightly misinformed about human relationships, was just beside the point. It was not something that he would need to worry about too much whilst he was busy with getting himself back in proper form. He knew that he had little to fear from the Faunus element now, or so he hoped. Eve wasn't with him right now, but Adam was definitely looking out for him.

"Well... I'm sure that she'll be reasonable, she's a very nice woman, after all an-"

Sable's hand around his throat and the near-manic look in her eyes was something that he'd seen a few times, as she stared into his eyes.

"If you do anything to make me lose my job, I will unman you, Khan be damned. I worked hard for my job and I was qualified, so if you make Willow Schnee get a whiff that you're either hitting on her, her family, or the damn butler, I swear that you will know why I am your older sister and you should fear me."

The threat was that, a threat. He swallowed, knowing how serious Sable was about her job, the money she made, and keeping everyone properly cared for. She had been asked to provide, even with Vivian getting a large payout of hazard pay since she was a Huntress, Saphron and Terra's donation... They still had a large house to worry about.

"A-ah, fine, good... I'll- I get that, I understand."

He tried to, at least, knowing that Sable might do something radical if she didn't get her way, Sable definitely more militant, much like Camellia was now, as she let go of his throat, the non-Huntsman-trained woman looking at him with a sharp expression.

"Good. You're still my little brother and I love you, but cost me my job and I will make sure that you know that my love is followed by the fist of justice. Or the flamethrower of justice, if Vivian has anything to say about it."

Jaune swallowed and winced, before Sable nodded to herself.

"Now, to get Salmon... She wanted more money for clothes..."

Jaune hoped that Sable would turn her irritation to other means, as he was let go and Sable just barged into Salmon's room, like she always did. The joke had always been that she should work in debt collection, rather than the international Dust business.

"SALMON ARC!"

Jaune winced as he heard Adam give a confused sound.

"Shut up with yer damn preaching, Sable! Get the fuck out of my room and let me get laid!"

Jaune caught sight of Salmon manhandling Sable, tossing her out of her room and giving him a ghastly look of what she looked like mostly naked, Sable looking offended and like she was going to do a Camellia, as the door slammed shut.

"Some nerve, storming in and- Oh no, you're not getting off that bed, Baby-Moo! SIT!"

Adam made a sound of protest, as Sable's cheeks turned red in obvious anger, flustering. It was no small secret that Salmon was pretty strong, much like dad had been.

"It seems there is an epidemic... Damage control... and a damn cow ear tag... ugh, at least the big breasted one doesn't have any kind of- Oh no, she did things with Terra and Saphron... Just my luck... I guess we've got to bury the gays..."

Jaune hoped that Sable was joking about that last part. She definitely looked like she was going to object, so he'd keep the fact that he was dating the supreme boss of the SDC a secret... if they were dating, that was.

'I should ask Willow...'

Things might be complicated with how Willow responded to that question, but she did tell him to come over.

That would amount for something at least. A knocking on his door an hour later made him look up from the homework assignment about 'enemy Grimm trajectories', the annotations that Ren had made complicated, a little strange and Nora's scribble of 'BOOM THEM ALL TO DEATH DOOM MURDER!' on the side, with a little heart explosion cloud made him wonder about the sanity of his team in his absence.

"Jaune?"

His mother spoke up, as Jaune smiled.

"Hey mom. I'm not... I'm not a bother, with her, am I?"

His mother shook her head, clearly not thinking that, or if she did, she'd kept that under wraps, sitting down on his bed. He liked that she had been so accommodating to Sienna, even with dinner underway. He didn't know whether Vivian and the others had gotten properly settled in yet, as his mother smiled.

"Of course not, Pumpkin."

The pet names came out, like it had been before, when he'd been much younger. Pumpkin Pete was a perfectly good cereal brand, it even had Pyrrha on the box sometimes. He could only wonder whether there would be some kind of royalties for his team if they ever got onto the front of a cereal box.

"She's... she's different, but I had a little talk with Vivian and I've decided that- that she's welcome. Ambrose would have- Your father would have wanted you to have a nice girlfriend, not... not something awkward, like- like a woman with children. She doesn't have children yet, does she?"

Sienna did not, Willow did.

"She's a bit older than me, mom... I'm not- I'm not sure whether we're fully dating yet."

He'd killed the woman's husband for her freedom, paying for it by getting hospitalized. It was the sad state of affairs that came afterwards.

"I'm sure that she'll be a lovely girl. Do you have a picture of her?"

'Do I have pictures? Eh, clothed ones?'

Willow oftentimes sent stuff that was barely doable with propriety, especially with Sienna being over, the latter drinking whilst Willow abstained. Would it be a good choice for him to just show a picture of what Willow looked like, or would it be better to slowly break it to mom that he was dating someone as important as... well, Willow Schnee?

"Ah, I'm- she's kind of friends with Sienna, and they don't... They don't feature much on pictures. They are both busy in their chosen professions..."

He could definitely call Willow if mom wanted, to at least have the two of them talk, but it might be a bit too early after that whole shock of Sienna wanting to get intimately acquainted with the family.

'I'm not going to be sleeping with my family members!'

Vivian had looked at Sienna like she might put Sienna through the wringer, which was definitely not something that Jaune would want.

"Do they both make a lot of money, Jaune? If she's a single mother, she must need to keep the family up. Knowing Senna's occupation, I'm sure that she can provide, but... She's got children, so..."

Whitley was a damn fine young man, Jaune knew, even without things going Jaune's way.

"She's pretty wealthy. She's a widow, so it's not like her late husband left her with nothing."

He had made her a widow, like an ancient avenging hero, but that was best left in the annals of suspicious rumours as his mother smiled at him.

"Good... Dinner is ready, we're all going to eat. Miss Taurus has returned with the news that Senna will be preparing something for an... ah, some famous people are coming."

'That probably means Kali and Ghira...'

That would be a troublesome encounter as it was. He remembered that foot and how she'd apologized, and how it had felt, the woman having little shame as far as Jaune was concerned. If Sienna was wild, then Kali was elegant and yet untamed.

'I pity you, Ghira...'

The man would sympathize with him more than Jaune knew, as he watched his wife pull out several of the nicer parts of her undergarment to model them for him, the man looking dazedly after she'd just pulled a very naughty little trick on him during the call with Sienna.

After dinner, the doorbell rang and Jaune watched as Coral was the first to get up, mumbling something about heading for the bathroom after seeing whether Mrs Hummus needed something. The neighbour had a funny habit of always coming after dinnertime had just ended, something that mom often enjoyed as an after-dinner conversation about stuff.

Camellia and Mint were quietly talking about going to someplace to see something, but Camellia seemed to be a little bit more quiet and sedate, as if the edge had been blunted, probably by the news that they'd eaten her ex. It was hard to keep living in that past, whilst Saphron and Terra and little Adrian kept to themselves, mom obviously not very happy with Saphron's life choices, nor her wife's.

"Jaune! Get to the front door!"

He got up, pretty sure that it wasn't the police, or he'd have seen more flashing lights, seeing the formal uniform of the Atlesian Specialist Corps, the pale hair that had been tied up a little bit more elegantly than he'd seen it before, and the lipstick that was a shade too red for the lips.

"I'd like to go out on a date with you, Jaune Arc, with intent to marry."

'What... the...'

The flowers that were being offered looked like they'd desperately needed water, thrust at him, as his eyebrows shot up in surprise, Coral pushing past him suddenly.

"Oh hell no, that's my little hunny-bunny-wunny-brother! You're not getting your fancy soldier hands on him yet, you- you- bimbo!"

Winter at least tried to keep composed, as Jaune blinked at the sudden offer.

'This... this got a lot more complicated.'

"Is this your girlfriend, Jaune?"

Vivian just had to ask, as Winter smiled in that same way that Weiss could also smile.

Jaune didn't know whether to laugh or to cry at this moment.

Winter: Too military to consider anything but ultimate annihilation. If she wants a man to replace the daddy she lost, she'd better go for the man who was with him in his final moments.

There's something Freudian in that.

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