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Scrublord Yoda

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As he and Pyrrha walked through the dorm halls, Jaune's hand tightened around the grip of his sword until his knuckles ached and his Aura flared to heal them. If it wasn't for that, he was half sure that his palms would already be bleeding. At the moment, though, the ache in his hand was nothing to the one in his head, throbbing in time to every heartbeat as he skulked his way through the dorms ahead of his partner.

Finally, he hissed, "I'll kill Winchester for this."

"Jaune…"

"You can't." Pyrrha said, voice quiet but steady and empty of the normal brightness there. He turned and she met his gaze, face flat and impassive. "The Winchesters are a large family… Too large for one man to face."

"I'm not just a man, I'm an Arc." He countered, turning back to the way they were headed. "My family disinherited me, true, but there's no love lacking between us. If the Winchesters come for me, then it will mean-"

"War." Pyrrha cut him off, an edge to her tone that made him hesitate and flick a look over his shoulder at her. She only raised an eyebrow over an otherwise unnervingly calm face, given everything, and asked, "Correct?"

"Yeah… That." He nodded, rounding the last corner on their way and fishing for his Scroll to unlock their door. "But the Arcs won't be alone in this. Other families will stand with us. Maybe even Menagerie, if I ask Blake to-"

"I will not risk what amounts to another great war over me, Jaune." Pyrrha cut him off and, when he rounded on her, he finally saw emotion on her face. Lip trembling for fear and fury, she set her shoulders and argued, "One woman isn't worth that…"

"But Pyr-"

"And besides the obvious matters to hand." She smiled stiffly, "Is not everything being done here legal?"

"Legal doesn't mean moral…"

"Perhaps no, Jaune, perhaps not." She granted, striding past him to look out down the hall at a distant window, through which Jaune could just make out a blue sky tinged by grey clouds. "But for that, I do not think your calls for help would find so many ears as you think… And by the time you learn that fact, it could cost blood I don't want shed."

"I choose who I shed my blood for." He argued quietly, drumming a finger on his sword hilt. "I've been doing that for years, now. Grimm mostly, but… Well, every Huntsman has to face enemies that shoot back at some point."

"Such is a Hunstman's duty, 'tis true." Pyrrha nodded, "But you are years from that yet, Jaune."

"We'll see if a Winchester on the other end thinks my titles matter, then, Pyr." He growled, turning and nearly slamming his Scroll into the reader. The little lock's chime was a bit too cheery for him, but the door let him through either way, so he supposed he couldn't be too offended.

Even if smashing the damn thing would relieve some pent up anger…

"Jaune, I would be clear about this, since you can be so stubborn." The scarlet-haired woman said as she gathered up what Ozpin had ordered her to bring. Paying him a look, she said, simply, "I will fall onto my own sword before I have any of you bleed for my indiscretions and the law's reprisals therein."

"In Mistral, that's a bad way to go." Mort explained for him, "Shameful, really. Not how a Champion should die…"

"But…"

"Jaune, she's not giving you a choice." Mort argued quietly, "At least in the Arena of Mistral she has a slim chance of surviving… At the end of her own sword, she has none. I can say that for the firmest of facts."

It filled Jaune's stomach with churning bile to hear both of their words, but… But Jaune had an idea, suddenly blooming in the back of his mind. Turning, he leaned against the wall and murmured, "The law's the problem…"

"Jaune?"

"I'm right, aren't I?" He asked, raising one brow, "If the law wasn't on Winchester's side in this, then I wouldn't need to worry about lacking allies. He would. And I could even rip Mistral's claims out from under them to boot. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Not really, no…" She admitted sheepishly, "I… Fear that I am not the best at such things, you understand. With shield and spear, I'm a natural, but…"

"What if the law actually protected you, Pyr?" Jaune explained in the form of the real question at hand, turning to meet the woman's gaze, "What if… What if I had a way that could keep you safe, and maybe prevent this from becoming something even bigger?"

"That would be perfect…" She answered cautiously, head tilted to the side as she appraised him. "Too perfect, I fear."

Quietly, Jaune pushed off the wall and reach around to draw Mort. The sword rasped twice, once for the scrape of the blade and the second to ask, "Jaune… What exactly are you doing?"

"Pyrrha." He said, ignoring the sword, "Kneel, right in front of me."

"Jaune?"

"Just trust me, Pyr." He said, resting the blade of his weapon against his shoulder. Quietly, and aware of the plea in his tone, he asked, "Please, Pyr."

"You clever bitch…"

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"Ah, Lord Arc. Miss Nikos. I'm glad you could make it." Ozpin smiled as the two of them stepped out of the elevator and into his office. Still smiling as they crossed the room, he mused, "My, my, you took a while to get here…"

"Nerves." Jaune not-quite-lied, easing into his seat while Pyrrha took her own next to him. Turning, he smiled and paid the tall blonde at the Headmaster's shoulder a smile and a respectfully deep nod. "Lady Goodwitch."

"Lord Arc." She nodded, curt but as always smiling ever so slightly for his respect. Turning, she offered a wave of a hand to introduce him to the suited man sitting in the third seat, further to the side of the desk. "The Liaison from Mistral, Mister Coppercap here for this… Well, forgive my boldness, but frankly needless review."

"I will forgive naught, Madame." The old, bald man said through a voice that sounded very much like Mort's to Jaune's ears. His skin was wrinkled and pale, too, and even though the seats Ozpin had offered them were comfortable, he sat like he was in pain, and rubbed one of his knees slowly, as if he was easing a sprain. To Ozpin, he asked, "Do you allow all your lessers to speak so freely, Lord?"

"Ah, well, I'm afraid I don't have lessers." Ozpin smiled, "But if I did, I'd let them speak their minds."

"Typical Valeans… They don't know when to hold their lessers' tongues..." The man hissed just lowly enough to be able to politely wave it off if anyone decided to say something, but loud enough to be heard. Rasping out a sigh, the old man moved on. "I presume we are all well aware of why we're here, then?"

"Lord Arc?"

"We are." He answered, paying the Headmaster a nod and offering Pyrrha's documentation with the other. The man hesitated to take it but, after a nod from Pyrrha, did so gingerly. Quietly, Jaune said, "I took the liberty of perusing her records and am happy to inform all involved that they are more than above what is expected of her by her visa contract. Further, in combat courses-"

"Lord Arc!" The Headmistress cut in suddenly, mouth gaping as if in shock, "Surely you know that Miss Nikos' records, much less her visa agreement, are legally not viewable by anyone save myself, the Headmaster and appointed agents of Mistral!"

"That's close to everyone allowed to view these materials, Lady, but you're missing out on one more person." Jaune smiled, turning to meet Coppercap's narrow, suspicious eyes. "In Vale, a Lord has certain… Rights. Things he can do, in specific circumstances, that no one else is able to. Permitted to, I mean."

"What are you getting at…"

"What he's getting at is insane, Mister Coppercap." Ozpin explained, laughing brightly and leaning back in his chair to take a long, deep sip from his mug. Setting it down with a spritely click, he leaned back in and asked, "Am I right, Lord Arc, in presuming that you exercised your Right of Vassalage to get out of this?"

"You are close, Sir. But I did so a fair while ago. It's not recent." He nodded, raising a hand to quiet Pyrrha when she tried to cut in. "I'll handle this, Nikos. I'm ordering you to keep your tongue."

"Y-Yes, my Lord…"

"I see…" And was Jaune insane, or were Ozpin's eyes sparkling? Whatever the case, he turned to Coppercap and waved a dismissive hand. "You may leave, good sir, and I am sorry for having made you come all this way for nothing."

"I may…" The old man blinked, "I have not even begun the inquiry!"

"The inquiry is based on a complaint lodged by the House Winchester, over an event very recently passed." Ozpin said, "One I'm assuming happened after Miss Nikos was…?"

"Made my Shield." Jaune filled in, smiling wider, "And yes. Almost a week after, in fact. Which, under Valean law…"

"...Invalidates the complaint." The Headmistress murmured as she put the pieces together, eyes flicking between Jaune, Ozpin and Pyrrha quickly. The corner of her lip quirked a bit before she explained for the Mistralian representative's benefit. "A Lord's Shield is not, by law, considered a tangibly separate person. And so, while it is incredibly rarely done, they may fight alongside them in tourneys and training matches."

"Meaning that Miss Nikos' intervention in the combat training bout was perfectly legal." Ozpin finished, "A mite frowned upon, true, but legal. And thus, Lord Winchester has no legal claim to file a review request or a complaint. Lord Arc could, in fact, have simply walked onto the arena floor with her at his side."

"This is preposterous…"

"This is Vale, my friend. And when you are in Vale, you will abide our laws and customs." Ozpin smiled, rising and waving a hand toward the elevator. "And as your reason for being here has been so thoroughly removed, I will thank you to respect my power and begone."

"You cannot-"

"Ah!" Ozpin smiled, raising a single finger for silence. "As you said, I ought not let my lessers speak so freely. So keep your tongue and begone, or I will have you leave your tongue here and remove you personally."

Rising and scowling, the wizened creature of a man turned and skulked to the elevator. Ozpin watched him all the while and, when he turned to press the down button, paid him a smile and a wave in farewell. It was only once the elevator was on its way that the smiling Headmaster retook his seat and sighed contentedly.

"You, Lord Arc," he laughed, pointing a finger at him, "are far more cunning than I first thought you would be. I will have to apologize for that."

"Uh, thank you, Sir?" Jaune blinked and smiled awkwardly. That had sounded strangely like an insult… "I… Forgive you, Lord Headmaster?"

"You're too kind, my Lord." Ozpin smiled and leaned back, tapping one of his long fingers on the rim of his mug idly. After a few moments, he asked, "If you trust me, I am curious… When did you make Miss Nikos your Shield, Lord Arc?"

"..."

"I assure you, my Lord, I'm an ally of yours in this. I've no great love for Mistral's, pardon me Miss Nikos, backwards ideas of entertainment." Ozpin smiled when he didn't answer, and raised his hands in a gesture of playful faux surrender. "I am only curious. That and, well, if this comes up later, I need to know how best to help you."

"What the Headmaster means is that the more iron-clad your legal status, the less likely Lord Winchester and Mistral are to make a play against you." The Headmistress explained tersely, "So, if you would be open with us, we can help you build that legal grounding. If needs be, that is."

"Jaune, you should be careful who you trust." Mort whispered in his ear, "But in times like these, powerful friends in high places are worth taking a risk on. Whatever your way, I'm with you... If only to avoid the box."

It felt good to have Mort back him up so readily, whether or not he tried to play up the box as an excuse for it. He could feel more than that in his words.

"...We did it before coming here, Lord Headmaster." He finally admitted, after turning a questioning look on his partner and getting a nod from her. "I couldn't think of anything else that would cut this off at the knees except marriage or adoption. And I'm not quite old enough for the latter, and I figured Pyr wouldn't enjoy the, uh, well, the conditions of the former."

"True enough, I suppose." Ozpin chuckled, adding after a moment, "By the by, Lord, you may wish to give your new Shield permission to speak again. Whether or not you did it for the theatrics of the moment, which I rather enjoyed, you did issue an order. And Miss Nikos is quite the dutiful one."

"A-Ah, right." He turned, "You can, uh, talk, Pyr. Sorry."

"Thank you, Lord." She finally, sheepishly, answered. Bouncing a leg anxiously she paid Ozpin a nod, "And you as well, Lord Headmaster. You are quite right that my new Lord will need to bear in mind Mistrali sentiment more."

"Okay one, you don't have to call me Lord-"

"Would you prefer Master?"

"-No I definitely would not, Lord works, if you can't just call me Jaune." He sighed, shaking his head and muttering a curse under his breath. In spite of the Academy's rules against it, even the Headmistress only rolled her eyes for it. "And two, don't think I don't hear the passive aggressiveness in there, Pyr."

"Just for the record, I like-" Jaune flicked Mort's gem before he could finish and the spirit hissed. "Dick."

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." She smiled, cocking her head to the side and adding quietly, "I was merely offering my Lord proper guidance."

"Uh-huh." He sighed and rolled his eyes. Honestly, who would have expected Pyrrha Nikos to tease him, now of all times? Moving on, he asked, "Will that be all then, Lord Headmaster?"

"Almost." He nodded, "Do you know how to mark her out properly as your Shield?"

"Mark her out…?"

"Your tutors should have taught you as much." Goodwitch explained with a weary sigh, "A couple years ago, at the least, when most nobles begin to look into such matters. But… But you were not at home at the time, I suppose, and so would have missed out on such lessons. I apologize."

"I missed out on a handful, yeah." He nodded and shrugged dismissively, "Mostly economics and politics, but yeah, I missed out on some martial stuff too. And don't apologize unless you mean offense, Lady Goodwitch. I have plenty of real enemies out there, and you're not one of them, so I won't ask you to walk on eggshells."

"But-"

"How about I won't tolerate it, then?" He asked, smiling, "I told you already I'm not the most strict of Human beings when it comes to these kinds of things. I learned fast, out on the Frontier."

"I suppose that is sensible… Moving on, then." She sighed, explaining quietly, "Shields are typically marked out by icons of their sworn family, usually on shields or on cloaks they wear, much like Lords do."

"Strictly speaking, you can contest a Shield's actions if they aren't marked out properly. As Miss Nikos isn't." Ozpin added, "Though the easy way to dismiss it in this case would be for you to argue you lack the Lien."

"Which isn't a lie." Jaune added, for Pyrrha's honor's sake. Turning to her he asked, "unless you have it and don't mind?"

"I do, and I don't." Pyrrha nodded, "But we will have to head into Vale to get it. Which will require time, no?"

"Forward the Lien to me." Ozpin said with an oddly coy nod, "I'll call in some favors from some rather exceptionally old friends of mine."

"Are you sure?" Jaune asked, "I don't want to put you out…"

"It's no trouble, they owe me so it won't cost to have it rushed through." He answered, waving the matter off with a hand when Jaune frowned unsurely. "It's no trouble. And honestly, truth be told, I'm not exactly fond of the House Winchester. While at the same time, I have something of an attachment to House Arc."

"I wasn't aware of that…"

"It's a personal one, not official." He answered, "And mostly due to our agreements on matters of principle and politics. I've favor with several Houses for the same reasons. As well with Menagerie."

"I see." And that went some way to explaining why, exactly, Blake had chosen Beacon for her education. If Ozpin had those feelings, and they were even mildly public, it would have been easy for Blake to find out.

It explained a few things about the student body, too…

"Well, now that that's settled, you're both dismissed." Ozpin smiled and raised an eyebrow, "Unless you have anything else to tell me?"

"Now why does that feel like a leading question?"

"Nothing, Sir." He shook his head, rising and turning to leave. "Good day, Lord Headmaster."

"The same to you." He nodded and then, as the elevator came and they stepped into it, he called out. "And by the by, that is a very… Fine sword you have, regardless of its appearance. The gem alone is exquisite."

"Thank you, Headmaster." He answered, wrapping a hand around the grip and nodding his thanks. "It's a family sword."

"Oh, I know." Ozpin smiled as the doors slid closed, "Believe me, I know."

"Well, that was creepy…" Mort murmured as they descended.

They'd taken the words right out of Jaune's mouth, too...

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For the record, because I know some will leap to the conclusion-

No, this mess isn;t handled by a clever lie. And no, Pyrrha is not happy about it. Both these will be expanded upon in coming chapters.

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Underdogking :

Glad you caught it in one! Lol.

Nightengale :

I don't mind suggestions at all! Lol. Some of those will be tweaked, though, if I use 'em. Mort has a fire motif that's kinda obvious, and I'm doing it both for aesthetics - *cackles in pyromancer* - but also for meaning. Jaune is based on Jeanne d'Arc, after all.