Post-Scriptum 02 - Gin Cocktail
Exam season is over at last. Now sat at their table, RWBY and JNPR breathed a sigh of relief at finally being done with exams after exams. They each opened their result sleaves and pulled out their grade note. Those who were expected to do well, namely Weiss, Blake, Pyrrha, Ren and Anon indeed succeeded. Those who were expected to fail, I.e everyone else, made it by the skin of their teeth. The sisters yelled in utter ecstasy at not being held back or having to redo their exams.
"YES!" Yang sobbed happily. "I did it!"
Ruby hugged her sister, just as moved as her older sibling.
"We made it! We made it!"
Weiss looked over at the girls with exasperation but let them have their celebration.
They earned it... Still got a shitty score tho-
Anon snorted at the sisters' jubilance before looking over at JNPR. Ren patted Nora on the head for a job well done. Nora smiled stupidly, clearly loving the pleasing sensation of being praised by the person she loves most in the world.
Just fucking kiss already.
As if sensing the thought, Nora looked at him as if saying 'I'm working on it, ok?!'. Anon gave a devious smile.
I gotchu fam, leave it to me!
Nora matched Anon's wicked grin, an action that made Ren shudder for some reason. They gave each other an understanding nod before he changed target toward his favourite ship. Pyrrha and Jaune were talking like normal but it was clear that Pyrrha wasn't entirely listening. She had this smile on her face, you know the one, as she gazed lovingly at an oblivious Jaune. Anon slid next to the gladiatrix and gave her a knowing grin. Pyrrha blushed hard at being caught mirin'. She looked away, poking her fingers together sheepishly. Anon chuckled at the reaction.
"Well, you two seem close," Jaune commented.
Anon and Pyrrha looked at the blond squire.
"I mean... We are friends," Anon explained. "Right, P?"
"Yes?" Pyrrha looked confused. "How is that even a question?"
"I mean it's just..." Jaune tried to explain what he meant. "I have a feeling that you can, like, communicate. But without the whole speaking thing."
Looks were exchanged around the table. Anon decided to test that theory and gave Nora a specific look and thought.
Bring me Boomer Juice.
Nora hopped to her feet, gave a salute and darted off. She came back with Anon's least favourite energy drink. He hummed in approval.
"I think you're on to something, Jaune," He said as he cracked open the can.
"Think it's your semblance?"
"I don't have an Aura." He pointed to his still-healing back. "Remember?"
"I know, it's just... What do you think it could be?"
Anon shrugged.
"Dunno. But then again, I don't understand a lot of things," He said thinking back at the Pumpkin Pete box back during the initiation.
Yang popped into view.
"Aren't you, like, neck and neck with Weiss for the smartest person here?"
Anon sipped from the zero-calorie, zero-sugar can of raw sewage, spittling and sneering in understandable disgust.
"I said understand, Yang, not memorization and regurgitation of information," He said before sliding the can to a distracted Blake, who had a similar reaction upon sipping it.
Ruby squinted at him.
"So does that mean that you're actually really dumb?"
"Oh, absolutely," He said without missing the beat. "It's always the idiot you have to watch out for!"
"I thought it was the quiet one," Jaune said.
"No, that's in bed."
"I thought it was the drunk." Yang said.
Anon gave her a pointed look.
"Ask your uncle if that's going well for him, then come back to me."
Whiskey dick's a thing, you know.
The chatter continued as usual but since today was only a half-day, they took their time snacking and talking about their plans for the semester break. Yang and Ruby would go back to Patch and chill with their dad and dog. Weiss would go back home to Atlas to do business stuff and hopefully hang out with her sister Winter. Blake, Anon, Ren and Nora would stay at Beacon since they either have nowhere else to go or can't be bothered for a multitude of reasons.
"What about you two?" Ren asked his leader and the prodigy.
"I have to go back home and help at the estate," Jaune said.
Anon perked up.
"You have an estate?"
"An old family estate that dates from before the Faunus Rights Revolution." He scratched the back of his neck, nervously looking at Blake.
"I'll take a shot in the dark and assume that your family used to own servants to run the estate?" She said neutrally.
"Sorry..."
She shrugged.
"You're not the one who put them in chains, you have nothing to apologize for."
He smiled thankfully.
"Thank you." He returned to the subject. "Anyways, I'll have to leave in a few days to arrive on time."
Pyrrha deflated sadly at this revelation, Anon smiled cheesily.
You adorable little leaf you, simping for the lovable idiot.
Pyrrha blushed again, feeling his teasing look and smile.
"Shut up..." She whispered.
Anon chuckled.
"Alright then," He whispered back. "How about I help you out?"
Pyrrha perked a curious ear.
"I'm listening."
Afternoon, The next day...
Vale City, Capital of the Kingdom of Vale. Not very original but it works. It is a place of culture filled with museums, galleries, old heritage sites. However, Vale is also the world's food capital. On every other street, there's either a restaurant, a snack shop or a food stall. All of whom come from around the world, on one street you might find some Mistralli tea parlours, on another you might find Vale fine dining. If you want to sit down and have a heavy and hearty meal, your best bet is an Atlan shop. If you want more of a diner on the go or just want to scratch that naughty itch, Vacuoen food stands are always there if you want something decadently sweet and savoury.
In short, Vale was the perfect city for going on dates. Anon's smile was as big and bright as it was yesterday.
"I'm gonna be honest here," Jaune said. "It's really weird to see you smile this much."
"I can barely hear you over the sound of me not caring!"
Anon walked in front of their little group. His usual outfit now popped with brighter, less drab shades of colour; the blues were deep but vibrant and the greys turned to white.
For the sake of not making an ass out of himself, Anon convinced Jaune to not wear his Pumpkin Pete hoodie. In its place, Jaune wore a simple t-shirt and jeans with an opened button-up shirt. All according to his usual colour palette of orange, black and light blue.
Pyrrha however had gotten a makeover, courtesy of Coco and Weiss. Her hair looked smoother and silkier than usual, she had been manicured and was basically given the whole home spa treatment. She wore a tasteful autumn outfit with a nice cream coat, a dark sweater, a dress skirt and calf-high boots. As always, Coco delivered. Pyrrha was simply beautiful and the fashion duo simply uplifted her natural beauty.
They left Beacon only fifteen minutes ago and she was already turning heads. Luckily, this included Jaune. He tried to act cool but as this was Jaune, he doesn't do subtle very well.
Anon's mood when up every time he caught Jaune sneaking a glance at Pyrrha.
"So uh... Why are we here again?" Jaune asked.
"Pyrrha wanted to get some souvenirs and photos for her mum before she returned to Argus." Anon made up on the spot. "And since you've been around more than either of us, your job is to be the tour guide."
"Oh! That makes sense." Jaune nodded, completely accepting Anon's bullshit without questions. "But why are you here then?"
"I have a few errands to run," He explained vaguely. "Why? Want me to go? Cause I can leave you two alone if you want."
"NONONonono." Jaune brought Anon closer. "It's fine, it's fine."
Jaune huddled with Anon.
"Please, stay! I have no idea what to say or do!" Jaune whispered.
"Dude, I literally told you what you can do." He counselled quietly. "Just be yourself and keep treating her the same way you always do. You'll manage!"
Jaune looked back at Pyrrha. He always thought of her as a great friend, but she was also his partner and mentor. However... Now he didn't see that. She wasn't the battle-ready lady gladiator that works him to the bone every other night or the prodigy that always knows the right answer in class. Right now, he saw a beautiful girl dressed for a day out on the town.
A day out with him.
Well... And Anon...
"That's the thing, dude..." Jaune said awkwardly. "It's me we're talking about."
"Have some backbone!"
"Please! I beg you!"
Anon sighed discouragedly but couldn't turn his back on someone so desperately in need.
"Jesus fucking Christ, you're hopeless." He left the huddle. "Fine, I'll be your third wheel."
Jaune blushed at the obvious implication.
"What do you mean 'third wheel'?!" Jaune blurted.
"Hopeless." Anon reiterated.
...
The goal was simple: Arkos will fully set sail by the end of the day. Anon has some experience in romance, he can figure something out for them, surely!
Never in his life has he been in a more awkward situation than the one he was in right now.
And he has caught his sister masturbating before. In a bush.
There they sat, at a nice outdoor cafe taking a break from sightseeing. They took photos, they bought some corny souvenirs like a flag that says 'I 3 Vale City'. Hell, they went into an arcade and Jaune won her a plushy. So...
How did it get so quiet?!
Anon looked around and the answer became obvious. Couples, a whole heaping lot of them. Anon grinned at the realization.
Oh yeah, it's all coming together now.
One of the waitresses looked at their table and the two crossed gaze. He looked at his two companions, who tried to not look at each other, having become extremely aware of where they were. Anon then looked back at the waitress and without a word, she knew exactly what had to be done. She gave him a thumbs up and slinked into the building.
"There's uh... There's a lot of couples around..." Jaune so astutely remarked.
"T-there is, isn't there?" Pyrrha fiddled with her hair, her mind racing with all sorts of sickeningly sweet and romantic scenarios.
The chime of glass hitting against marble brought them out of their own minds and back to reality. In between the two laid a tall glass of a thick red liquid with a green pearlescent syrup swirled all throughout the drink. It wouldn't seem too odd if it weren't for the extravagant heart-shaped double straw. The pair panicked and looked around, every couple had one.
"Couples only 'Lovey-Dovey' smoothie." The waitress presented with a dazzling smile. "Please enjoy!"
"B-but we're not-" Anon kicked Jaune under the table. "I mean, we didn't order anything yet!" Jaune said.
"It's on the house~." She sang chipperly.
Jaune panicked inwardly even harder than before. He made the mistake to look at Pyrrha, who furiously blushed and looked away. Jaune, desperate to flee from this situation, was struck with an idea.
"A-Anon! let's-"
He turned to see both Anon and the waitress, sitting down and sharing a nearly identical smoothie, but blue swirled with silver.
Wingman special, bitch!
They looked expectantly at the blond squire, his idea dying as quickly as it was birthed. Pyrrha took a deep breath, her face as red as her hair.
"W-well!" She stuttered. "I-it would be rude to waste a free gift!"
She shakily brought the glass closer to them and held one half of the straw between her lips. Jaune looked like he was about to have a panic attack and looked for a way out. A quick look at Anon and the waitress's expecting glare killed that idea right quick. Jaune bumbled silently before jittering forward and joining Pyrrha in sucking down the smoothy. The sickly sweet smoothie was mouth-puckeringly tart, probably some sort of berry and citrus mix. Neither dared to look at the other. They felt like an eternity was passing in between every second. This eternity was interrupted by a camera flash. Anon grinned ear to ear as he showed the photo to the waitress.
"Pretty good, right?" He bragged.
"They are so cute together!" she squealed.
"ANON!" The red and yellow duo shrieked in utter mortification.
"Could be better though... Mind posing again? I need another one."
"Delete that right now!" The beet known as Jaune demanded.
He posed thoughtfully.
"Nah!"
Jaune flew over the table, wrestling him to try and grab his scroll. A quick noise alerted the partnership of a horrific fact.
"Oh look," Anon commented casually. "It was sent to the JNPR chat."
The duo paused before all colours drained from their faces.
"Oh no..." Pyrrha squeaked.
In the distance, a hyperactive cry of victory resounded. They will never hear the end of it. Ever.
Their inboxes were overflowing with unread messages, most were from Nora and Yang. Seems like she spilled the beans, or rather threw it at the ground for the rats to feast. Jaune was hiding his face with his hand, still red in the face from what will now be probably known as the Smoothie Moment knowing Nora's propensity for awful names.
Anon was off doing... Something. From what he gathered, it was something for Nora. Jaune didn't want to think about what it was because he can't be bothered to care about that right now.
But mostly because he's afraid of what it might be.
Pyrrha wasn't much better, looking down at the ground red-faced and fiddling with her new plushie. Things were quiet.
"That was... Embarrassing," Jaune finally said.
"Y-yeah..."
It became quiet again. Jaune racked his mind for what to say, strangely enough. He didn't know how to act or what to think for that matter. Was it a mistake? He didn't feel it was but it sure as heck felt embarrassing. He felt Pyrrha scooting closer to him and dared a peek.
"It's getting kind of cold," She said defensively.
Jaune held his hand out and it felt tepid at best. That and she wore an autumn coat so she should be plenty warm. But...
Jaune scooted even closer, now shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip with his friend.
"Yeah... It kinda is." He agreed with a blush.
Pyrrha's heart skipped a beat, involuntarily squeezing the plushy against her heart. She faced away from him so he couldn't see how happy she was.
...
Meanwhile, Anon just got out of the specialty shop that Coco recommended. He grinned deviously as he held the spoils in his bag.
Oh, Nora's gonna love this.
Anon turned the corner and saw a sight most diabetic. Arkos sat together on a bench really really closely. And their hands were touching! They weren't holding hands, which was a damn shame, but it'll have to do. He felt something drip from his nose, a quick rub revealed it to be blood.
"Oh no, I'm turning into an anime character."
He pulled out his scroll and rapid-fired the camera to capture this glorious moment.
I'm shipping trash and I don't care!
He sent the newly minted folder to Nora, knowing she's going to have fun messing with the two. He took a copy of the best-looking photos and sent them to his phone, under a folder called 'Memories for Her'. He smiled sadly as he looked back upon the content of the folder.
"You liked them as much as I did." His voice was barely audible. "I hope you'll see this when we'll meet each other again."
He pocketed his phone before walking back to his favourite soon-to-be lovebirds.
By sunset, he left the pair off at the bullhead station. Before they left, he gave Pyrrha a set of instructions before giving her the bag. She was confused at first but after telling her that it was for Nora, she stopped asking questions.
Now, Anon was relaxing in the park he first met Neo. He pulled a cigar from a specialty case, a loyalty gift from the tobacconist. It could only hold two cigars but then again, he doesn't smoke constantly.
He checked the time on his phone, humming a tune.
"Should be about midnight in Sin City."
He glared at his screen before sighing.
"Never in my life would I think that I would feel homesick about that quite literally god-forsaken shithole."
He looked at the sunset, taking in the calm atmosphere.
"I guess there's no point in thinking about it now..."
I doubt I'll ever be able to go back... I don't think I want to either. Except maybe to give everyone a proper goodbye.
His thinking was interrupted by a notification from his scroll. He raised an eyebrow before checking his messages.
'Rule63Thor: HDJIFNEDKJHSYJEK I LOVE YOU!1!'
He smiled.
'Ya welcome. Stay safe and have fun.'
He quickly added to his message.
'Also, try to not break him in half. For his sake.'
He wasn't even left on read. Anon laughed nervously to himself.
Sorry, Ren. But it's for the greater good. I think.
He took a walk around the block and stopped in front of a familiar bar.
"Crow Bar?"
He remembered volume 3 when Qrow was introduced.
"Oh right. Still, who the fuck came up with those names?"
He already knew the answers, the writers of the show, but he meant in-universe. He felt a sudden but strong craving for gin. He chuckled at how fitting it was for his day to end.
Oh, what the hell, why not?
He whistled happily as he entered the Crow Bar and right on time too, because it was happy hour.
POST-SCRIPTUM: END
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