"You want me to dance with you?" asked Jeanne. Realizing she might have sounded offended at the offer, she quickly amended. "Sure, why not?"
Taking Mercury's hand, the two then began to dance. They both entered the sea of bodies as they made their way deeper into the center. Jeanne doesn't consider herself a good dancer. In fact, she was certain that she had stepped on the boy's toes a few times already. It didn't have the same feel as stepping on someone's foot but she could feel the surface of the shoes there. What were his feet like?
"I noticed that you were looking for someone," said Mercury. "Thought I decided to lend you a hand and get you there a little faster." Jeanne spun as her and Mercury's hand were still intertwined.
"Thank you," said Jeanne. "You're one of the transfer students, right? From Haven? The guy who chose Jaune and I as a sparring partner?"
Mercury smirked. "Did I leave that good of an impression?"
Jeanne rolled her eyes. "Only that you're the only one who surrendered. Everyone else fought to the end, at least."
"Well," Mercury shrugged. "Not everyone has a clutch of a Semblance. I'm probably the only one who's smart enough to back out."
"A clutch?" Jeanne tilted her head.
"Isn't it that what you are though?" Mercury smirked. "No offense but it seems a bit unfair, you know? Always at his side—is he like your master or something by the way? Some huntsman or huntress really could have use the help out there. Yet you're the one here."
Jeanne pondered on the question as the two slowly made their way towards Weiss' general area. It was a slow affair but it was faster than going around the crowd as the dancers made room for other dancers.
Coming up with an answer she found acceptable, she said, "It really is a tragic thing if someone was out there alone. But at the same time, huntsmen and huntresses have unique Semblances that really is all up to luck."
"Yeah." Mercury agreed. "I guess some guys out there have all the luck then. It must be nice having an automatic win Semblance."
"I wouldn't say that." Jeanne shook her head. "Jaune and I don't win all our fights." The strategy of separating the two and pushing Jaune out of the ring or draining his aura quicker was a common occurrence for them. "Besides, while I agree it is not a good idea to be reliant on one's Semblance, it is also really dumb not to use it to ensure your victory. In a fight, if you ever find yourself in a situation where the fight is fair, then really you're doing it wrong."
Just look at Pyrrha, Jeanne didn't say. Specifically, her weapon of choice. Having range, melee and defensive options allows someone like her to have a response to any combat scenario. Her semblance only serves to elevate that when fighting other opponents. While Pyrrha fights fair in that she follows the rules, her fights are anything but. Even the most basic instruction that one's combat teacher would impart would have to exploit enemy weaknesses.
Almost through the crowd and with another spin, Jeanne and Mercury are already in-sync in their dance. At least, she hoped so. She could have sworn that she stepped on his feet many times by now. His lack of reaction on that end wasn't doing anything to confirm if such was the case, not even making some kind of a tough face for her.
Mercury hummed. "Interesting."
"I mean, we are supposed to be fighting Grimm," she reasoned. "They're not exactly going to fight fair, aren't they?"
"No I suppose not," he agreed. "Well, we made it. Thanks for the chat."
The two did one last bow before separating. Having been escorted rather unorthodoxly by the exchange student, Jeanne looked around and found Weiss was still there, watching the crowd of dancers, looking rather glum and miserable.
Jeanne wasn't subtle. She didn't intend to be. Her approach was obvious and noticed. Weiss offered her the empty seat next to her which Jeanne definitely took.
The two sat there in silence. From the corner of her eye, Jeanne could see that Weiss was still rather upset. It is always a painful thing, being rejected. While Jeanne had faith that Weiss will recover from it, she is still hurt here.
"You won't say anything?" Weiss finally said. "I'd thought Ruby would have asked you to talk me out of it or something."
"She didn't ask," Jeanne replied. "She told me about it. Everything that came after was just me, though."
The two resumed their silence. In the crowd, team JNPR had begun an impromptu dance number with all of them in-sync.
"Why didn't you join with them?" Weiss noticed it. "They look to be having more fun than being here."
"What about you?" asked Jeanne. "Are you having fun?"
"I'm having plenty of fun, thank you."
Jeanne extended a hand. "How about a dance, then?" She then put on her best impression of Jaune's faked confidence. "Maybe a different Arc will do you good."
Eventually, Weiss gave her a smirk. "How is it that you're the worse dancer of the two? Frankly, I feel sorry for that transfer's feet."
"He didn't seem to mind."
The two did dance. They were far away from the rest of the students and Weiss was the one in the lead. Happy to let simply let her, Jeanne followed Weiss' instructions like a good student.
Unlike the rest of the students, Weiss definitely knew what she was doing. Unlike Jeanne's team, Weiss' movements were closer to those galas of those people of higher social status. At least, that is what Jeanne envisions them to be like. If Weiss' dress was touching the floor, she would appear as if flying across the dance floor. With each graceful step, it was as though the two were moving paintings of dancers as they moved with rhythm of the music, still a lively tune.
When their dance came to an end, Weiss seemed a little lighter. However, the sigh that came out meant that she still wasn't quite there yet.
Still, Weiss said, "thank you. I feel a little better now."
"We're also here, you know," Jeanne reassured her. "Things like these happen. I'm sure you'll find another."
"Yes." Weiss nodded. "I probably would."
With a final bow, Jeanne and Weiss separated. In time, the rest of team RWBY were able to have a dance with her. After that, it was the members of team JNPR. It was an awkward sight for Jeanne, especially considering that it was Weiss who asked Jaune this time. Pyrrha seemed to be okay with it since there doesn't seem to be anything from the blonde knight like it had before.
"Not bothered by it?" Jeanne asked.
"No." Pyrrha shook her head. "I see them and yet somehow, I feel like it will be alright."
Jeanne mused. After a moment of silence, she said, "just tell me when to leave you two alone."
"Huh?" Pyrrha turned, confused.
"I don't exactly want to watch. Also that should happen after there's a ring on that finger of yours."
Pyrrha's cheeks turned redder than her dress. "No! That's too soon to think about. Way to soon!"
Jeanne laughed. Pyrrha hit her lightly for that attempt at comedy. Overall, it was a good night. Jokes were made and dances was had. Ruby was certainly awkward on that end. Not even Weiss' advice was of any help there.
The night went on like this, with some having left early. Friends of friends were introduced to one another and for team JNPR, that came in the Atlas transfer who had aided Ruby back when Blake ran away from the team apparently.
This extended with the Arc parents also having to leave early. Of course, early meant quite later as they continued to capture photographs of their son and newly adopted daughter along with all of their new friends. It was nice as there were lots of memories that were kept from this time.
Returning to their dorms, tired but happy, team JNPR didn't even bother to change out of their formal attire and just dropped on the beds in them. Jeanne was the only exception as she dematerialized. The dress wasn't part of her so it simply dropped on the floor.
Suddenly, Jaune's scroll received many messages. They were from his parents. The message contained the different pictures that were taken that night. Jaune's lips curved upwards as he forwarded it to the rest of his team and to team RWBY.
"It was a nice night, isn't it, Jaune?" she asked, knowing full well what his answer was going to be.
"It really is," he affirmed. "Tomorrow is going to be something else though."
"The missions?"
"Yeah. We'll have to prepare for whatever mission we'll be taking."
"I'm sure we'll be fine. You have your sister to look after you always."
"Can't let you do all the work. I want to be the hero, after all. I won't be some kind of liability."
"You already are a hero." There was a certainty in Jeanne's voice. Jaune had yet to accomplish the kinds of feats that most would consider heroic but as far as she is concerned, he already made it there. "And you're not a liability. You've made it this far. We'll make it together, if you'll let me."
"Wouldn't have it any other way… big sister."
The Arc siblings were the last to fall asleep, content in a happy day. One of them anyway, Jeanne technically has no need for sleep.
AN: Alright, near the end of Volume 2.
