The first thing that Isabelle Arc noticed was the state of her son's physicality. "Have you gained weight? What are they feeding you in Beacon?" Given the nature of huntsmen and huntresses, it is only expected that they eat a lot. Sure some have maintained a rather slim physique despite the amounts they consume but that is only because they more or less burn the same amount through rigorous activity. Not that such reasons would fly with Jaune's mother.
"He is a growing boy, dear," Jacques Arc said, finding some excuse to save his son, a practical one in this case. "He should be eating a lot you know".
Isabelle gave her husband a deadpan stare. She ignored his reasoning. "Anyway. I can work with this. I even brought the tape measure and everything. Oh and bring your friends in as well. My son's team is going to be the best coordinated dress in all of Beacon or my name isn't Isabelle Romée Arc."
None of team JNPR made any protest. Isabelle certainly seems like she knows what she is doing. In fact, when they arrived earlier there were different roles of fabric of different kinds and colors. Even Jeanne was not exempt from this. As she was being measured, Isabelle was already asking a lot of questions about her. Frankly, Jeanne wasn't sure how Isabelle was able to keep track of it all while still noting down her measurements.
"If only we all could be like you, sweetie," sighed Isabelle. "I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that eating a lot without gaining too much weight would be a dream. Of course, some genuinely want to for their own reasons but you know what I mean."
Jeanne nodded along, as did the everybody else in the room. It was a hotel located nearby Beacon. A large room for two people though the different materials and things definitely made up for that. There were two single-sized beds that were pushed together in the middle of it. The view from the windows wasn't good as much of it was blocked by other buildings. Not like it mattered since the Arc parents seemingly only stay here to leave all these things and sleep. Beyond that, the room is pretty much bereft of any human being besides the occasional staff to clean up the place.
Having done their measurements, Isabelle then proceeded to cut the different fabrics into various shapes and sizes. The swiftness and smoothness of her movements made it look as though the fabric was being cut as her hand flew in the air. The fact that the cuts line perfectly with the lines made earlier was more impressive.
"Yeah," said Jaune, cheeks blushing red. "It sort of happens when you have 8 children. Not just in dresses but like when you forget to tell her about some materials you need for class the next morning."
Team JNPR had a laugh at that. Jaune's mother must have had it rough in those times. Still, that left them with a lot of time now that it was done. Not wanting to go back to Beacon just yet, team JNPR chose to hang around the hotel room awhile longer.
They were doing their own thing for the most part, Ren and Nora were at the kitchens, offering to make snacks for the rest of the team and the Arc Family. Jaune and Pyrrha were at a training room that was provided specifically for huntsmen and huntresses. Practice swords were given to them as they did so.
Jeanne, on the other hand, stayed behind in the hotel room with Jacques and Isabelle. Her Master's aura was pretty much full and went unused for much of this day so she could stay for longer. The training room wasn't that far either making the already insignificant drain practically negligible that she could stay like this for the rest of the day.
She was there watching Isabelle work on the different dresses. Isabelle started with the boys it seemed, having already finished one of the coats that will be used. At the pace that she was going, she would have finished before the dance proper and still have time to spare. The speed and precision she was going was frankly absurd to Jeanne.
None of that was the focus though, Jeanne spent more time just staring at the woman. Sporting similarly blonde hair, Isabelle looked remarkably young for someone to have children. She looked really beautiful too, especially after having 8 children. A woman of focus and commitment, it was as though she was in her own world as she did so.
"She's remarkable isn't she?" Jacques noticed Jeanne staring at her. "It's what drew me to her in the first place."
"That's nice." Jeanne didn't know what to say. Instead, she focused more on the family itself. Specifically, she wanted to know more about her Master.
"Jaune has always wanted to be a huntsman," said Jacques, expression turning sullen. "I was training him myself whenever I could. Never went to combat school since we could never afford to, the best ones anyway. Being a huntsman pays well sure, but try taking care of 8 different kids and you'll see how much that stings on your account."
"So how did he train?"
To that, Jacques laughed. "Isabelle once sent me a video of him practicing some new move he learned online. Same thing about his conditioning. We didn't want him to push himself too hard. Just imagine our surprise when we learned that he got into Beacon. Imagine the bigger surprise when we learned through that spar the two of you had with the headmaster."
Jeanne smiled at that. While she wouldn't have called it a long time ago, it had been quite some time since then.
Jacques continued. "Seeing him train now and taking it seriously as he does really alleviate all of my—our worries." He then put his hand on Jeanne's shoulders, tears streaming down his eyes. "Out of all possible Semblances, I am glad that it's you. At least I can rest easier knowing that someone will always be there for my boy."
There, Jeanne vowed by saying, "I won't let you down si—dad. On my word as a Servant. I will protect my Master."
"And stop calling him Master. You're family as far as we're concerned Jeanne, treat him as though he were your sibling."
If Jeanne turned around, she would have noticed that Isabelle was looking at them both. She slowed her pace just enough to listen in and not hurt herself. Her lips curved upwards.
/-/
In the training room, Jaune and Pyrrha trained with the training swords that were provided. The grip was standardized and so felt a little off for both of them. The blade portion was dulled that it was more of a blunt weapon that a cutting one. Frankly, it couldn't be used much other than training. Jaune showed remarkable improvement here, more grounded than Pyrrha's but definitely had some flair to his own moves.
Jaune even began to implement some of his own techniques. Taking the sword by the blade and striking at Pyrrha with the pommel, even controlling her sword whenever they were locked to one another. There was more power behind his swings as opposed to Pyrrha's speed but that does not mean he was slow.
The sparring session ended when Jaune and Pyrrha's blades clashed. Jaune's superior strength managed to shock Pyrrha's arms momentarily which Jaune used to his advantage. Pushing her blade aside with his cross-guard, Jaune stroke at Pyrrha head causing her to stumble back and eventually fall.
"Pyrrha you okay?" Jaune immediately stopped and helped her out.
"I'm fine, Jaune," she replied. "You beat me. You actually beat me." She was laughing. Her smile couldn't be any bigger. Jaune tried to help her back up only to be pulled down next to her. "One last thing," she said. "Just because your opponent is down doesn't mean she's out."
The two shared a laugh. They were both tired now and just laid there on their backs, staring at the ceiling of the room as though it were a starry night sky.
It was Pyrrha who spoke first after this asking, "So Jaune. Any plans on the dance?"
Jaune turned his head to face her. "Honestly," he began. "I'm not sure."
Pyrrha's eyes widened, a little hopeful. "Not even going to ask Weiss?"
"I did. It's just… I don't know. Maybe it's dumb and I shouldn't stress about it too much, but it's Jeanne."
"Jeanne?"
"Yeah. I don't want her to just stay dematerialized for this but it's going to be really awkward if she goes alone while I get to be with anyone really. What kind of Master—as she calls me—would I be by doing that, you know?"
Pyrrha mused. It was not what she was hoping for there but it was something. "You know, we could go together—team JNPR, I mean. As friends, all five of us could just go as a team. Your mom already went through the effort of making coordinated on outfits."
"Yeah, sorry about that if it bothered you guys." Jaune's scratched the back of his head, cheeks slightly red and it was not from the training.
They laid there for a while longer before Pyrrha got up, stretching. She extended her hand for their team's fearless leader and both soon returned to Jaune's parent's hotel room after they took a shower that was within the training room.
Jaune's parents insisted that they stay a while longer for supper. Team JNPR did. When they had finished, they rested for another while longer as it was a filling meal. By that time, the first set was already finished. It was Jaune's suit, of course.
Jacques Arc insisted that he escort them back to Beacon. When they arrived, he ruffled his son's hair before ultimately saying farewell.
"Take good care of my son, you hear!" he declared.
"We will," the other members of team JNPR replied in unison.
With that, everyone there said their farewells and good nights.
AN: Welcome to the family Jeanne
