Disclaimer, I do not own RWBY
AN/ I'm back, and as I start writing this chapter, Tuesday of this current week, I have turned 21! If this chapter doesn't come out within the week, I'll put something in the second AN. Anyways, not much else to talk about, so let's get on with the chapter!
Weiss had to admit, Jaune was right about the quality of the food. Never before had she eaten something so filling and delicious.
"So, another point for me then?" Jaune asked, a smile plastered on his face.
"Shut up. But yes, the food was amazing." Weiss let out a content sigh.
"So, not to sound like I'm desperate, but how did I do today?" Jaune asked, worry just barely creeping into his voice.
"You've earned yourself a date for the dance. However, I think I would enjoy a second date before I come to a full conclusion." Weiss offered with a small smile.
"I won't disappoint then, Arc's promise." Jaune swore, holding up his right hand.
"I see you two have finished, how'd ya enjoy the meal?" Maple asked, turning towards Weiss.
"Perhaps the best cut of venison I've ever had, pass my compliments to the chef." Weiss praised.
"Will do ma'am. Here's the bill, stay for as long as you like." Maple dismissed herself.
"So on to a different topic, have you noticed Ruby acting a little odd lately?" Jaune asked.
"Define being odd Jaune, this is Ruby we're talking about." Weiss said with a deadpan expression.
"Right, I don't know, a bit more distracted? I can't really place it." Jaune explained.
"In that case yes. When did you notice?" Weiss asked, curious.
"About a couple days after the Haven students arrived, why, do you have an idea?" Jaune asked.
"More or less. I think Ruby is daydreaming of a certain Haven team leader." Weiss stated.
"Really? I guess that would explain it." Jaune agreed.
"I'm still debating on whether I should get Nora involved, but that could go both ways." Weiss continued.
"No. One hundred percent no. Nora would probably scare her off if you got her involved. Also, matchmaker? You?" Jaune asked, dumbstruck.
"Call it paying off a favor she isn't aware of. That and it would probably do her a world of good." Weiss defended.
"Right, well if you need anything, just let me know and I'll help however I can. Now then, let's head back to Beacon, it's been a long day and it's time to relax." Jaune said, stretching as he stood up.
"I think I'll take you up on that offer, mister Arc."
*Beacon*
"So Pyrrha, what exactly did you say to get Weiss to go on a date with Jaune?" Yang asked as she sat in the dorms common room.
"Simply that as long as she gave him a chance, I would be willing to take him if she still decided she didn't want to be with him." Pyrrha stated.
"Really? Why throw away your own happiness?" Ruby asked.
"Because Jaune was the first person to treat me as Pyrrha, not the Invincible Girl. My first true friend, and I wanted him to be happy, with or without me." Pyrrha explained.
"Pyrrha, you and I are going to hit up the town before the dance, no if's, and's or but's, got it?" Yang declared, not taking no for an answer.
"It's a deal, I suppose, though I don't understand why." Pyrrha agreed.
"You'll see." Yang sang as she quickly disappeared from her spot on the couch.
"Yang is an enigma sometimes. When you live with her, you grow used to her outbursts like that." Ruby said calmly, feeling the stares from the rest of team JNPR.
"It would seem that even Yang has her own mysteries then. Is this normal?" Ren asked, his voice as monotonous as ever.
"Kinda, she does this every once in a while, just roll with it, it ends better for everyone involved that way." Ruby offered.
"So Ruby, is there anyone you would like to go to the dance with? It is this weekend after all." Pyrrha asked, shifting the topic.
"I'm kinda being forced to go, so not really, but if someone were to ask me, I certainly wouldn't outright say no." Ruby replied.
"Not even that girl from Haven? What was her name?" Nora asked.
"Arslan, and like I said, if someone were to ask, I wouldn't say no. Besides, I just met her." Ruby said, reaffirming her point.
"And yet you've already spent a good amount of time with her. Ask her to the dance or I'll do it for you!" Nora challenged.
"Not your decision to make Nora, now if you'll excuse me, I have some work to catch up on." Ruby said dismissively as she fled the common room. Once she was out of sight, Ruby began to calm her beating heart.
'I just met her, so why is my heart racing at the thought of going to the dance with Arslan?' Ruby asked herself. She would be lying if she said she didn't feel something when she thought of the Haven student. Suddenly thoughts of the other girl began to fill her mind.
"Something on your mind Ruby?" Blake asked, scaring the younger girl.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" Ruby shrieked.
"Then that's my answer, what's up? You can talk to us you know." Blake offered as Sun gave her a thumbs up.
"I'm just thinking about the dance is all." Ruby said, trying to keep her musings to herself.
"Ruby, I know we kinda just met, but even I can tell it's something big if we were able to sneak up on you." Sun countered. Noticing the tilt of Ruby's head, Blake explained.
"He read up on your whole, ability, we'll call it. But he's right, something's up." Blake said as blocked Ruby's path.
"Ok, I'm thinking about something Nora said, but that's it, I swear." Ruby let out a defeated sigh.
"Is it about having a date?" Blake prodded further. Ruby nodded her head.
"Are you waiting for someone to ask you? You can ask them if you'd like you know." Sun suggested.
"That's not it, I told Nora that I would be going alone, and she insisted I ask someone myself." Ruby explained, omitting who the topic was about.
"Well, Nora is rather straightforward. I'll talk to Ren if you'd like." Blake offered.
"No, it's not a problem, it just got me thinking is all." Ruby said, trying to keep her team out of her situation.
"If you say so, but we're here to talk if you need to. If anyone asks where I went, tell them I'm with Sun, ok?" Blake asked, stepping to the side.
"Not a problem, just keep out of trouble this time please." Ruby joked as she walked past. Breathing a sigh of relief, Ruby resumed her thoughts as she walked aimlessly.
*Haven Dorm*
"What has you in such a good mood?" Reese asked as she looked up from her scroll.
"What do you mean? Am I not allowed to enjoy myself?" Arslan asked.
"No, it's just that last time you got like this, we found out you signed us up for extra training." Nadir complained.
"Well then breathe easy, it doesn't involve any of you this time." Arslan shot back, not looking up from her scroll.
"But it involves someone else." Bolin stated.
"Maybe it does, so what?" Arslan defended.
"We just want to know if we need to prepare for an international incident, that's all." Reese joked.
"Oh, be quiet, all of you. I swear it's like I get no privacy in my life anymore." Arslan groaned, wishing for silence as she continued to read. Being the leader of team ABRN had taught Arslan that having multiple tabs open was a godsend. The white minimalist format of an official Atlesian website burned into her eyes as she read, desperate to soak up any and all information she could find. Certainly, looking at a site like this wouldn't have put her into a good mood, but the reason she was here certainly would have.
"What are you even reading anyways? If it was research for the tournament you would have told us last week." Reese asked.
"I'm reading up about a certain blind prodigy and her potential abilities." Arslan spoke curtly, trying to avoid suspicion.
"Are you really that worried we'll have to fight her? I'm sure we could take her no problem!" Bolin said triumphantly.
"No, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. Have you all picked out what you're wearing for the dance? I haven't seen anything come into this room to suggest you have." Arslan asked, looking up to see various reactions.
"I wasn't going to go, dresses aren't my thing." Reese replied.
"Seems like it would be boring." Bolin responded half-heartedly.
"I don't have a date." Nadir said sheepishly.
"Boring, all of you. Enjoy your night in this weekend then. And if I find out one of you broke something, annoyed someone or did anything I would deem unacceptable, I will work you to the bone, understood?" Arslan threatened. If she was going to go to the dance alone, she was going to make sure she didn't have to worry about a fire being started in the dorm.
"We got it, now go back to your reading." Reese whined. Reading the last paragraph about the Third Eye Program, Arslan closed the tab. As the white background was replaced with a more pleasant background, Arslan found herself on a tourism page for Patch. On the front page Arslan found a picture of Ruby, sitting professionally.
'A bit of islander pride for Ruby it would seem. Oh well, just makes my life easier.' Arslan thought to herself. Clicking on the attached link, Arslan found herself swimming in information regarding Ruby and various island traditions. Hours went by as Arslan found herself deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of information. By the time Arslan looked up, the moon was out, her team asleep, and she had just finished reading about certain traditions that carried over into Vale proper.
"Remind me to never do that again." Arslan spoke aloud, not expecting any answer. As she prepared herself for bed, Arslan found her thoughts drifting back to Ruby. "You've certainly piqued my interest Ruby, but how have you done it so effectively?"
AN/ So I turned 21 this Tuesday, hooray for me. Whiskey sucks, vodka is enjoyable, and kvass is impossible to find near me. Oh well. So, what do you think so far? Doing good? Doing bad? Anything that needs to improve? I'm open to suggestions. Next chapter is going to be the dance, or at least the start of it, I'm not sure about how long it'll be, but we're almost to where I want to be, and I'm ready for it! It'll probably be about 4 chapters away before the tournament starts, maybe 5, again I'm not sure. Anyways, until next time, have a great day!