Hello my lovelies! I hope you enjoy this chapter since I had a clear cut idea but it was kind of hard to translate onto the page, you know? Anyways I'm sorry for these gaps in content but I do have some fan submitted ideas that I am working on, and if you send me an idea and either I don't respond or refuse please don't take it personally. When I write an idea it's because I feel a sort of connection to it, I can imagine the scenario, the dialogue, the characters so on and so forth.
XOXOXO
CoffeyJoe
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Deal or No Deal:
From teleportation to super speed, the world of Remnant has a host of strange and unique powers that those with unlocked auras own. But, even among them there are powers so rare, so esoteric that there haven't been more than one or two users in all of history. Intelligent Design, Time Manipulation, and Dimensional Control being among them, but even among those there exists another, far stranger power. One Jaune Arc is the holder of this power, with the fate of the world at his fingertips the enigmatic man roams the world, looking for new sights and new marks to deal with.
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The Vacuan prince paced back and forth in his luxurious mansion of a house, eyeing the front door every so often as if expecting the grim reaper to float through it. Nervously chewing on his fingernails he glanced at the clock; 1:18 in the afternoon, the man he had gotten into contact with said he'd be here by 1:20 on the dot and yet the gate guards reported nothing!
The anticipation was killing him and he paused his relentless pacing to take a swig of strong liquor from the nearby bar, his butler refilling the pristine glass. He tapped his foot for a few moments more before turning around, exasperated, at his butler.
"What the hell is taking him so long?" he asked, throwing his arms into the air.
Then, as if on cue, the door chime sounded and the two looked towards the wooden barrier as if it was a bomb. The prince jerked his head, motioning for his butler to open the door, and, as he did so, a young man, no more than 17 or 18, swept in past him arms splayed wide.
"Amar Rillo! What did I tell you? 1:20 on the dot!" Amar glanced at the clock to see that it was, indeed, 1:20 on the dot. "Sorry for the wait I like to be punctual."
"It's no problem Mr. Arc, please take a seat." the esteemed young man gestured to a fine seat next to the bar that the mysterious dealer took. "Now, about our deal-"
"You're not holding out on me Amar?" the young man asked, blonde hair slicked back in a close crop. "I hope the trouble I went through wasn't for naught."
"N-No sir!" Amar stammered, shaking his head vigorously. "I-I just wanted to know if you still had my order."
Mr. Arc chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, his appearance belying his importance to the young royalty. A tan hooded jacket that seemed scuffed and messy accenting the equally scuffed and dirty converse and jeans he wore. Despite his rather impoverished appearance, the young man's face held a certain glint, an excitement one might see on a Nemean before it pounces on the unwary traveler.
"Of course Prince Rillo, I would never dream of betraying your trust." The strange dealer said, leaning back in his seat as the butler poured him a glass of expensive brandy. "Your oh-so-precious not yet released manga is safely within my storage."
"Shh! Keep your voice down Jaune! If people knew the next in line to inherent the Rillo family's real estate was a fan of that Mistrali... filth they'd surely ruin me!" Amar cried, waving his hands frantically and looking around.
The now-named Jaune chuckled again and snapped his fingers, there was a flash of white light and a small, almost glowing, slip of paper had appeared upon the granite tabletop. Amar glanced at it and gulped before looking back to his benefactor before finally nodding his head to his loyal butler who retrieved a nearby suitcase. Upon opening it in front of the two gentlemen, Jaune spied around 40,000 lien in unmarked bills stuffed neatly into the expensive case.
"Very nice Amar, a suitable trade." Jaune smiled, snapping his fingers again. In another flash of light the young prince's coveted manga sat upon the countertop, reading the latest issue that wasn't even out yet and even an issue not entirely finished.
Jaune took the suitcase and, in another flash of light, it was gone leaving the two young men to sip their drinks rather tensely. Amar seemed to be looking for something to say, glancing at his butler for assistance every so often.
"A pocket dimension." Jaune cut in, Amar's head snapping to him.
"P-Pardon?"
"The money, it goes to my pocket dimension the same place I stored your manga." Jaune explained casually, inspecting the now empty glass in his hand. "My semblance allows me to put my earnings somewhere y'know, I call it The Vault."
"B-But how did you...?" Amar trailed off, gesturing to the not-yet-written manga edition on the table.
"Deal or No Deal allows me to warp reality to a certain extent where I can pull things that haven't yet been made." Jaune replied lightly with a wave of his hand. "Once I received the minimum payment I could withdraw your precious comic book at any time I wanted too."
"W-Wow, I had heard of your talents but seeing it now... I am happy I made the investment." Amar spoke amazed. "P-Perhaps if I needed money, or a car maybe-?"
"Easy as 1,2,3 my friend, just give me my payment and it can all be yours." Jaune laughed, setting his glass down. "I can see in your eyes you want to know more, so, I'll tell you what, gimme that bottle of Chateau LaFite right there and I'll tell you."
"It's yours." Amar replied immediately, less concerned with some wine rather than answers.
"Ok then, so very eager." Jaune cocked his head, a smile on his lips. "Deal or No Deal, my semblance, allows me to produce, create, and trade almost any substance, ability, object, or quality one can desire. In return for a minimum required to complete the transaction between two willing parties, I can pull, from thin air, one's most hidden and deep desires. True love? Easy. Telekinesis? Simple. Healing from that terminal illness? Child's play. With a snap of my fingers it can all be yours."
"By the gods, then can you use it as well?" Amar breathed.
"If you're asking if I can make deals with myself, then yes. I can sacrifice what I have stored in my vault for instant access to power, food, shelter, knowledge, and even limited companionship." Jaune could see the young man across from him didn't understand that last part. "I can produce a facsimile of a person with their abilities and personality, but they do not last long."
"So, could you..." he trailed off and gulped loudly. "Could you even return the dead?"
Jaune's face went sour for a moment before ripping into a snarl before smoothing over. "I..." he sighed and drank from a nearby brandy bottle. "Yes I can, but in return for the buyer's life themself."
Amar was about to say something but was cut off instantly. "Do not presume you will be happy with the return of your loved one's Amar! I have done that deal a mere 6 or 7 times but it does not end well for anyone, the dead are meant to stay dead. Believe me."
An awkward and tense silence hung over the room before Amar finally cleared his throat and looked at Jaune. "I understand, thank you for sharing this with me Mr. Arc. If you ever need real estate help in Vacuo please do not hesitate to give me a call."
Once more a small smile broke out on Jaune's face before he extended his hand for a shake that Amar gladly took. Amar watched as Jaune snapped his fingers once more and, in another brilliant flash, disappeared from the room...
0-0-0-0
Jaune stood outside the small town of Armsville in Vale, having teleported there via a small payment of 7200 lien. He could smell a good sucker not too far, it mingled with the smell of alcohol coming from the nearby tavern, like always the easy ones were at the bar. Entering, he found a surprisingly classy establishment with various geared and armed men and woman walking back and forth.
A hunter's bar, I see Jaune thought to himself smugly, yes these tired people could use a good deal. Maybe some repaired weapons, some healing, or maybe just a good night's rest to get them back on their feet. Either way, Jaune sauntered up to the bar and took a seat next to a blonde man who sat there nursing a small shot glass. The bartender gave him a look before Jaune ordered a small cider for himself, dropping twice the usual price for the older man.
Civilians weren't really welcome in hunter's bars, being the only true refuge for the tired warriors of humanity. And he could tell he was beginning to draw looks from the assembled men and women, unfortunately for them the blonde man next to him beat him to it.
"What's a civvie kid like you doing here?" he asked just a tad drunkenly. "Are you even old enough to drink?"
"Oh I think I'll be fine Taiyang Xiao-Long." Jaune answered, giving up two gold bars for the man's full profile.
Tai snapped his head to him suspiciously, hand switching to the tonfa at his waist. "Look kid, I don't know what you think you're here for but I-"
Jaune raised a hand. "Now now, Mr. Xiao-Long. I mean you no harm, but I can see you're a man in dire need of something. Your daughter just called you not too long ago and she needs help taking care of your other daughter, but the next bullhead doesn't leave until Wednesday, two days from now."
Taiyang leapt up from his and grab a fist full of Jaune's shirt. "How do you know about my kids!"
"Easy sir, like I said I mean you no harm. I'm just going to offer you a way to get to your kids right now." Jaune grinned disarmingly, the older man didn't buy it but did set him down.
"Talk. Now." He ordered, hands still next to his weapons.
"Mr. Xiao-Long I am a dealer in essentials, you need a way to get back like that-" Jaune snapped his fingers for emphasis. "And I aim to offer that to you. In return for say... Oh I don't know, perhaps that amber ring you got from your grandmother?"
"What? No! Absolutely not you con man!" Tai growled at him. "You really think I'm that dumb-?"
By the time he had finished his sentence the both of them had been whisked away from the bar and now stood in a grassy meadow about 14 miles outside of Mistral's capital. Taiyang looked around dumbly before whipping his tonfa with lightning speed into the side of the boy's head, but no before said boy sacrificed a gold ring to completely nullify the impact.
"I-What...?" Taiyang mumbled, taking a step back.
"Do you see now? I can bring you to your children Mr. Xiao-Long there's no need for violence." Jaune said lightly, splaying his arms wide. "I only need that amber ring, and you can be back to your precious daughters at this very moment."
"How... How do I know I can trust you?" Taiyang asked the strange young man.
"Truthfully, you have no way of knowing- but! I can offer you a deal on a smaller scale if it'll convince you. Say... Ooh! That lazuli keychain you got for you 30th birthday in exchange for a new wallet?" Jaune clapped his hands together.
Taiyang tentatively reached into his pocket and withdrew the keychain, handing it over slowly to the young man who took it. Jaune inspected it for a moment before smirking and snapping his fingers, like always a flash and in his hands now rested a fine leather wallet.
Jaune handed it over and smirked again at the older huntsman's expression. "See? In exchange for that ring you'll be back home in Patch!"
"H-How do you know so much about me? About my family?" Taiyang asked, gripping his weapons tighter.
Jaune laughed. "Mr. Xiao-Long I have my ways, but enough dawdling what do you say?"
Tai swallowed dryly before glancing over the man once again. "Just the ring?"
Jaune's smile almost split his face. "Aye, just the ring."
"Ok, but you best hold up your end of the deal." Tai murmured, digging into his chest pocket and handing over the beautifully crafted ring.
"My good sir, I am no con man." Jaune twirled the ring before, apparently, finding it satisfactory "Alright, to your kids it is."
Jaune snapped his fingers and the man before him disappeared. Suitably amused for the day, Jaune decided to retire for the night and teleported himself into the parking lot of a decently fine chain motel in the middle of southern Mistral. Getting his room and laying down for a bit, Jaune pondered over what he would do tomorrow, the options were truly limitless.
347 years of wealth provided enough bargaining fuel to make any grown man green with envy. However, Jaune couldn't escape the nagging feeling that this was starting to get boring, and, for a moment, considered going back to the huntsman academies for laughs. The thought died an ugly death when he remembered his old team, Team HABN (Habanero), and what had happened to them.
Tch, huntsman academies, more trouble than they are worth. he thought sullenly as he turned over in his bed. Maybe he'd go pester Ozpin again to see if he would finally sell him the land rights to Beacon, with that kind of power he'd be to control the very ground that future heroes would walk upon.
He saved those thoughts for tomorrow, instead opting to go to sleep. Like always, his nights were filled with an empty nothingness, no dreams to count on...
0-0-0-0
Ozpin knew his day was getting off to a rocky start when a flash of light appeared in his office. He had been grading papers (sorting them into piles for Glynda to grade) when he felt the familiar disturbance of aura building up in his office. And what a disturbance it was when Jaune Arc waltzed out of the light like some sort of prophet from God himself.
"Jaune, what are you doing here?" Ozpin asked, not bothering to look up at him. "Oh yes, and I am not selling you Beacon's land rights anytime soon."
"Oh come on Ozzy!" Jaune pleaded, sauntering over. "You can't think that I just came here to solicit you, do you?"
Ozpin sighed, considering the last 129 times he was here he was soliciting the headmaster, then yes, he did believe so. Ozpin removed his glasses and stared up at the immortal man before him, seriously, some of these new kids get all the luck. While he was essential an immortal parasite that still got older in every vessel, this damn kid could just buy himself more youth on the spot. Smug asshole even offered to remove the curse upon him once or twice... in exchange for Beacon's land rights.
"Jaune, why do you even want it?" Ozpin asked, rubbing his temple.
"Because I can go around the school saying I own it." Jaune smiled unabashedly.
Goddammit, it's always that same stupid smirk with him isn't it? Ozpin grimaced in his head. By now Jaune had gotten over being immortal and had resigned himself to petty pranks and deals to entertain himself.
"Oh Jaune, whatever happened to that bright young hunter all those years ago?" Ozpin reminisced, leaning back in his chair. "Why you and your team remind me so much of that team STRQ. What with your wanton desire for destruction."
"They all died and I was the only one left." Jaune shrugged as if it were a passing comment, even so Ozpin could see a flicker of strain in his eyes. "Anyways you must have something for me to do, a deal, a negotiation, hell even a mission? I'm boooooooored!"
Ozpin was absently reminded of a whiny child as the fully grown man before him pleaded with him for some kind of entertainment. Ozpin sighed once again (it was becoming a habit) before looking at the stack of ungraded papers, taxes, paperwork, and missives still needed to be written. The temptation was fierce, but as headmaster he needed a much stronger willpower to avoid taking the easy way out-
Just then a towering stack of paper collapsed under its own weight and hit the floor with a loud Thump! scattering white pages everywhere.
"I'll give you 50,000 lien if you take care of all this paperwork." Ozpin said immediately, now somewhat grateful for his old friend's arrival.
Jaune pouted like a child who didn't get what he wanted. "That's no fun Ozpin, I have, like, millions in lien I don't need more. Gimme something else."
"Take it or leave it." Ozpin said lightly.
The pout grew wider. "You're not the one who holds the cards here Ozpin, maybe I should just go-"
"Wait!" the mere thought of having to do this alongside Glynda brought him back to the bargaining table. "You can harass my students for the rest of the day too."
"The week!" Jaune demanded, back still turned.
"I-I can't just-"
"It's been a fun chat Ozpin I'll get out of your hair-"
"Deal!" Ozpin said almost immediately, idly remembering one of his older vessels telling him never to try gambling.
Jaune spun around with a huge smile on his face, snapped his fingers, and just like the all the paperwork had been organized and filled out to the T. Ozpin looked over his once messy and disorganized desk before looking back up to thank Jaune, only to find him not there. From below, he heard a loud crash and a booming voice ask if anyone wanted to make a deal.
Perhaps he should have asked Jaune to ward off his headaches...