Chapter 33: Involving the family
Merry Christmas and happy wishes for 2021!
The harbour was still busy, ships being unloaded and men that looked like they'd need a good, hot babe to give them an hour of loving or something like that were walking around. Adelheid Blau did not think too much of them though, because of the contract that bound her.
Saphron was with her now, with the details for the moving company. Freight had to be inspected, even if it were the knickknacks of someone who had lived in Argus all of her life. Adelheid was still saddened by the death of her mother, but her father was still alive, so there was still that hope in her heart, Saphron mustering her best smile for her.
'You're trying your best for me, Saph.'
Saphron was a hurt woman, but that mattered not to Adelheid. To her, she was a best friend, someone she'd call a sister from another mister, a trusted sword-blade if one were to use the Mistralian terms for things. A trusted sword-blade that would not betray the promises made to the one who had gained their loyalty, like a period drama that had been aired on the TV a few weeks before.
"So, got any naughty stuff?"
Adelheid giggled softly, as she knew that some of her 'special reading material' were in the container that carried her stuff here.
"Of course, a girl has to be entertained. Not so much for you, Saph. It's dicks."
Saphron seemed to take the comment in good humour, knowing the feeling of what it was like, to let the burning in her body slowly accumulate and then have a sex session to burn it all out, shuddering in her delight.
"It should be… ah, here. I remember them loading the things into this one. It looks intact."
There was happiness inside her chest as she turned to some of the rough men that were standing around, putting her warmest smile on her lips.
'Charm, create that little hint of tension that'll make them do what you want… That's how you win a hand.'
"Hey there, do you think you could help open it up for me and my partner here? A strong man probably can open it up, a woman like me… not so much."
They did just as expected, Saphron watching as the muscled men opened the container up for the two of them, Adelheid giving her sultriest smile.
"Thanks a lot! I wouldn't have been able to!"
It was important to make men think that they were doing a great job, after all, that's how a publisher kept the spirits high of her clients. With the contract that she was under, she couldn't do a damn thing about her own client, but it was for the best.
Jaune would be around again in a few days, whilst she had to get her stuff all located at her home, at the room that she'd gotten with permission from Miss Umbra, ready to be filled with many of the things that she'd wanted to bring from Argus.
The smell of the perfume was strong, as Adelheid noticed that one of the bottles seemed to have shattered, several large boxes looking intact, her fingers touching over the stained fabric.
"Well, that just makes me smell like I had a flower bukakke…"
The term might not be familiar to Saphron, but then again, Saphron wasn't into porn and stuff. She was just a best friend who happened to love her more than a best friend should, in sexual ways.
"Remember, Addie… I'm here with you, no matter what. Do you have pictures of your mother?"
It was amusing to think about it, but she'd tried to make sure that there were some pictures that she'd have stuffed into the container. One of her graduation, which she'd been really proud of, her mother having the best cake prepared for her, with her father congratulating her over the Scroll.
"Of course, Saph. I wouldn't be… I wouldn't want to be without a picture of mom and dad."
She grabbed one of the boxes and then opened it, pulling out the pictures, setting them on another box, Saphron looking at them as she set them down.
"This was when I was six, when mom took me out to school and I was so proud of being able to go to school that I wet myself. That was embarrassing, heh."
It was a little like sharing secrets about things with a big sister, though a best friend was probably a better definition, something that she could share with Saphron because the woman was someone who loved her in a way that she couldn't fully reciprocate.
"You were a cute kid. A bit like my sister Azora, heh. Did you put your hair in pigtails yourself?"
She hadn't, but she wasn't going to admit that, her lips showing a brilliant smile, as she laughed.
"I had to look like mommy's little angel, because dad wouldn't have been able to attend, he used to lift me on his shoulder and call me his little princess."
Saphron's eyes blanked and she knew that she'd said a bad thing, that Saphron was remembering her father and his actions. The man was a fiend.
"He did that to her… I'm… Sorry, it's still-"
Saphron looked so hurt and broken, so damaged that it made Adelheid cry out, putting another picture on the box.
"This was when I graduated from Home Ec. They made me cook a damn roast, darn those patriarchal standards, eh?"
The burned roast in front of her had the fifteen-year-old Adelheid Blau looking sheepishly at the camera. It had been a fun time when she'd been able to learn some things that she really wasn't all that skilled at.
"I know a few ways to make a roast… I'm- Well, I used to be the cook for the family, mom really doesn't do all that much."
Adelheid could see the darkness in her best friend's eyes, as she saw the picture of her and her father, the man smiling, his big arms wrapped around her and her mother.
'A sweet family picture.'
She wondered if she should risk it, knowing Saphron's own hesitations towards family. Her own family wasn't worth very much, but to hurt her by showing a happy family would be cruel.
"Is that a family portrait?"
Saphron was too perceptive though, so she handed it to her. If the woman wanted to see what they all looked like in a happy moment when daddy wasn't out slaying big monsters, that was her right.
Saphron took the picture and just stared. There was an expression of loss, of feeling heavy emotions.
"We never really had time for a picture like this. D-daddy-"
The tears were coming and Saphron looked at the picture of the happy family, Adelheid feeling bad. She reached out to touch her best friend and Saphron startled, throwing the picture frame against the metal wall of the container.
"Don't touch me!"
The shout from Saphron was loud as she flinched away, hitting her head against the wall. Adelheid felt bad, knowing what Saphron's father had done to Miss Umbra, Saphron cursing loudly in an unladylike manner.
"Sorry, I'm-"
Saphron fled out of the container, taking an escape. Adelheid felt bad, knowing that she'd made her friend hurt, because of what her father had been doing. Jaune wasn't like his father, not some raping beast who would hurt a woman.
She picked the picture frame up and saw that the picture was still intact, looking at it for a moment before she put it into the box again, before she hurried out after Saphron, finding her walking away.
"Saph?"
The questioning voice was barely audible under the sounds of the harbour, but Saphron turned around, her eyes teary and red. The poor woman was looking like she'd just had a horrible experience, Adelheid hurrying to her and hugging her.
"It's okay, I'm-"
Saphron's lip trembled.
"I'm sorry. He's-"
Adelheid could understand the feelings she saw in Saphron. For someone who had heard her father had raped someone, the sight of a man around the same age with his arm around Adelheid would bring back unpleasant memories.
"It's okay. I'm… I didn't mean to remind you of your father. Mine's a lot better, he's warm and caring and he'd never hurt a fly."
The doubt in Saphron's blue, loving eyes was real, as she doubted that. Adelheid felt the pain in her chest double, aware of how it felt to be someone who didn't have power in her life, her eyes meeting with Saphrons' own.
"They're all scum, Adelheid. Jaune is the only one I can trust. He's the one who'd never hurt me."
It was a statement from an older sister about her brother, but it was true, Adelheid smiling a little at her friend's demeanour.
"No, daddy is a good man. He wouldn't mind guiding Jaune, if he needs some h-"
Saphron pushed her, anger showing on her face.
"No! Jaune goes his own way, and nobody will ever touch him again!"
The outburst and the raw anger on Saphron's face reminded her of Rouge Arc, that possessive craving, that outburst of rage at the thought of someone touching her brother, which… which was really understandable.
"Saph, if-"
Saphron grabbed her shirt and pulled her closer, looking like she was going to hit her.
"No, Adelheid. If anyone's laying their hands on him, it'll be us."
That was a breach of contract with Miss Umbra for sure, but Saphron looked into her eyes, something determined in those eyes, and Adelheid sighed. Jaune was 17, he had sex with her already, but she knew that it would be….
'Well, he might not like dad. Dad was big on personal responsibility.'
She had an image of her dad taking Jaune under his wing, the big broad arms resting around his shoulders as well as he spoke to his son-in-law…
'Oh gosh, I thought of him as my boyfriend! Don't think like that! It'll make the boss angry!'
"He's my client, Saph."
She had to say that, because Saphron looked like she wasn't taking prisoners, like she wanted that odd thought to happen. The serious expression on her face was definitely something that made her admire Saphron's willpower.
"He's my little brother, Adelheid. I'll call Miss Umbra when we get home. I'm… I'm sorry about the picture."
Adelheid could understand that. When your father hurt you so badly that he destroyed all of the trust that you had in him, you'd not be as warm to your family. Jaune didn't know about the things that he'd done to the family, to the people that Jaune loved.
It was a sick man, who did sick things to his children. Adelheid didn't like him.
"It's okay, you… I touched you, and it called up bad things. I'm sorry. Hey, at least you've got a little sister in me, huh? Even if it's just through marriage, I won't let you down."
Saphron didn't respond, her eyes dark, as she sighed.
"Yes, indeed. You won't let me down like everyone else."
Things would be different, she knew, with her father around. There'd be some rule of law, and Saphron would probably love the guy from the onset. You could trust dad with your life, he'd make sure that nobody was hurt.
'Let's hope Jaune doesn't get treated with the interrogation… Dad can be protective of me.'
She knew that he'd probably sit Jaune down and show him his blade, with the stern hint that he not sheathe his own inside her vagina. Dad could be protective and a bit too zealous about her 'innocence', so Jaune might have to face the Blau Inquisition.
She'd lost her virginity a long time ago, of course, but her dad continued to think that she was some kind of angel.
"Let's get this stuff shipped back home and get ourselves a coffee before we get back, okay? You need to cool off, and I need something warm in me."
Saphron looked darkly at her, clearly not in a joking mood, Adelheid feeling regret well up inside her. Things had been going so well that it hadn't been a great issue for her to worry about until she'd tripped that trigger switch for Saphron to be in a bad mood, something that she felt guilt welling up inside her about. It hadn't been what she had intended to happen, but it had.
"Let's go and have a coffee. I'll call Mama later, when we're home."
That was a thing she could trust in, Saphron's reliability, even if there was that dark haunting spirit of loss and regret in her eyes.
"Sure, let's get these things shipped to the house today and we can set up my room as my little home away from- well, home. Miss Umbra wouldn't mind if I spruced the look up a little, right? I always wanted to have a blue room. Blau means Blue in Mantlean, so…"
Saphron looked at her and then nodded indulgently, everything was okay again.
"I'm sure that we can arrange for something."
Jaune watched how Yang went through a series of thrusts, her fist jabbing at the dummy that stood there to take the punishment, her hair vibrantly bouncing in that series of strikes, as he followed through the motions with her. Aura made you stronger, it made you faster, it helped your body recover quickly and made you able to gain muscles faster than without Aura in your body.
The dark sea inside him threatened to swallow him, burning and boiling with the impetuous power that he had been given by his Mama, the woman who had been so caring and loving to him.
"Alright, your turn."
The look that Weiss gave Yang as she watched was one that he recognized as jealousy, but Yang shouldn't be a competitor to Weiss, not at all. They were all friends, and they should live together in peace. A good circle of friends, something that he could put his trust in. Yang was compelled because of the secret that they shared, the recording of the murder of Junior backed up on some server far-off in the world, for Doctor Watts to easily retrieve, should it be necessary. A fool, Jaune was not.
He did as she had, his punches weaker than her own, Yang's eyes looking at how the dummy moved under the strikes.
"Try shifting your centre a little, like-"
Her breasts pressed against his back as she adjusted his poise, Yang making sure that he was positioned well enough to strike, and then removing herself. The heat that he had felt enter him from just that touch made the bonfire within his body flare up, his body shuddering under the faint touch of Yang's skin.
Weiss did not give him such warmth, but she was pleasantly warm, her eyes glinting with the heat of her passion. She would be pressing against him in her own fashion, mimicking Yang's stance, trying to 'assist'.
Such a good friend. If she had been nobility, a marriage might be opportune for the two of them. She truly enjoyed his company.
He enjoyed her company as well, because she was smart, endearing and she liked being intimate with him, laying on top of him after they'd had sex. The feeling of Weiss going that extra length to please him was gratifying, as a friend should be wonderful and delightful to be around, at any rate.
With how his own team followed his orders and directions, there was a solid core being formed, something that could be of use to him. A king, a prince, or any member of the upper nobility would need a retinue of companions, something to ensure their safety whilst establishing the control for their rule.
'The first part is the royal praetorian guard, the paladins that fight for the ruler to remain safe. I am not someone who can take many hits, though it has been improving lately.'
Yang had been intense in her training, throwing him into the mix, teaching him to strike and to parry unarmed, her stance much like a boxers' stance, without any sort of hesitation about how he should act. There was the threat of him leaking the video that hung over her head, but there was some genuine feelings that seemed to have sprung up within Yang, within Yang's own desire to be of service to him, enough to make sure that she would not stray from the path that he had picked for her.
A guardswoman, someone who could be a bodyguard, able to fight bare-handed without any sort of impediment, to guard his body even if they were intimate. Her Semblance, as she had explained, allowed her to turn pain into power, and it had been an embarrassing moment where she had admitted that she didn't really mind the pain very much.
"Alright, big dude… hit him again, full power."
He did, the dummy bouncing back, Yang wrapping an arm around his shoulder, her impressive bust rubbing against him as she grinned.
"See? You can do it, you just need to work a bit harder."
It wasn't something to really feel too proud about, since it was just a dummy, but he did feel proud, Weiss huffing in her own way.
"He can do better, Xiao Long. Jaune?"
There was a hint of a question in her eyes, as Jaune watched how she pushed herself into his personal space, wrapping an arm around her, looking at Yang with a gaze that held jealousy. It was a gaze that he recognized, his sisters oftentimes having had a splash of jealousy, when someone was dating someone or there was something that their friends had that they couldn't afford.
"You're someone who needs not to worry. If you need protection, I'll- I'll protect you."
It was endearing, as she pressed herself against him, her petite breasts compared to Yang's massive mountains, Yang making a sound.
"Hey, me too. Don't count me out, Weissey. He's a guy that I owe- well, he's a guy."
Weiss looked challengingly at her teammate, and Jaune had the distinct feeling that there was going to be something off about things again, knowing that look on her. Hard-bitten seriousness, with that hint of cutthroat need, her expression darker than before, as her tongue stuck from her lips, her eyes looking fierce and snowy.
"No, you're- No! Jaune!"
Weiss looked at him as if he were to give the deciding vote on something important, as Yang offered a coy smile.
"Oh, I'm sure that he wouldn't mind having a woman with him who knows how to handle him, right?"
He shrugged. He was pretty sure that he would have Pyrrha and Ren and Nora with him, with Ren acting like a guy. Did it really matter?
"Well… I'd like to keep my friends close. Shall we get cleaned up? I've worked up quite a sweat."
That was a side-effect of the training, a natural occurrence. Something that wouldn't be the main reason for shutting this line of conversation down, Weiss looking sharply at him, as he squeezed her to reaffirm her thoughts. He caught Blake looking at the three of them from a distance, ready to get exercise done as well, if the water bottle and the towel were an indication.
"H-hey… Can we like, have a talk? Privately?"
Yang looked uncertain, Jaune noticed, her face showing clearly a hesitance to speak. It looked like she was trying to suppress her opinion in the eyes of Weiss, or at least to keep Weiss under consideration, as she seemed to huff.
"Sure. Weiss? You don't mind, do you?"
A direct question to Weiss, who looked at him with her ponytail falling loosely over her side, the aberrant behaviour of the girl that was his friend, one of his first friends since he'd been blessed by Mama's gift, his eyes searching for hers and locking with hers, to keep her in his gaze and to tell her without too much emphasis, that she was still someone who did not get locked out of his friends' circle. He did not give up on his friends, no matter the cause or the reason. They were his friends, after all.
A man needed friends to guard him, to ensure that he wasn't dying from whatever ploy the enemies brought to his castle's gates.
He would ensure that Weiss knew her role to play, even if it meant making a promise to her to keep her content. With her eyes as fierce as they were, Jaune knew that there wasn't going to be some kind of resolution to the problem anytime soon if he didn't act now, to ensure that Weiss would be tamed, for one moment.
"S-sure. I mean, a-as long as you keep your hands to yourself! He's a fragile young man and I would like him to be intact and able to be my fri-friend for a long while! I'll never forgive you if he walks away with a broken body, Xiao Long, you virgin!"
It was a threat, something that Weiss only uttered when she was worried for her friend. Weiss looked flustered, aware that she might be overstepping her bounds as a friend, yet Jaune knew that it was all well-intentioned, that it meant everything for her to be his friend.
He would be that friend that she could rely on, the friend who would be able to drag her into the light and to make her feel like she was worthy of being a part of the greatest retinue in history. A girl who held beauty and a wonderful voice, a songstress who made him feel like she adored him, and strong in Huntsman activities as well.
"Of course I won't do a thing to him, Weiss. He's- No, don't you dare look so snootily at me! You're my teammate, and I won't lay a hand on your loverboy."
He was sure that Yang was just teasing him.
Weiss seemed to take that as a statement that she had to defend him, opening her mouth and being about to deny it. Lovers… were a little different from spouses. Royals married one wife and maybe held concubines.
"F-fine! Just make sure that he's intact, okay?"
He would be. Yang had too much to lose in order to harm him, if there was an altercation.
He was in front of Yang ten minutes later, Yang dressing herself with a short tank top with a white trim and a large emblem on the front, modest for once, without cleavage, her stomach bare, the shorts that she wore looking like they had been a few sizes too small, all for her to look as gorgeous as she did.
"H-hey… you know, she's really into you, W-weiss."
There wasn't that easy attitude that reminded him much of his sister Beryl, but rather a shy look, like Ruby's own, her eyes glancing down at the ground, as if the confidence she'd had when she'd been in the best spot of her life had been but an act.
He laid a hand on her shoulder, offering a smile to the girl that needed support and security. Mama would have done the same, he knew. Those who required faith to guide them through their trials and those who required someone to look up to as their paragon were the ones that were easiest to lead towards their destination, or so he had recalled from a fragment of a strange memory that drifted through his dreams.
"Beguile them, deceive them, bring them to heel! They should know that we are the ones who make their world a reality, not those false gods!"
The expression on Ozma's face had been something that she had not expected, the hint of some dark emotion that flickered through his face, as the message of surrender had come in, the rebellious elements struck down by the faithful in the eastern province.
"Salem, this is not the way! You know that I don't like to lie to people!"
She had not intended for him to lie to the people, but they were the ones blessed with the hopes of the old world, to bring the people together into a glorious empire, with them as Gods before the people.
"They won't obey us out of their own will, Ozma! It is the best way!"
"We're going to be working together, Yang. Trust me."
Jaune's fingers lightly touched her cheek, the red flush on her cheeks something that was accompanied by the warmth that flooded his little flaming bonfire, the dark sea of roiling darkness growing ever more distant from the flame the longer that he touched Yang.
"I know, you- you did help me out. I'm… J-just don't make fun of me, o-okay?"
It was shy, reluctant behaviour, unexpected and unwelcome at this moment, as Yang ran a hand through her hair, her eyes glistening for an instant, as she let her gaze slide down to the screen, her fingers brushing it back, exposing her pale skin.
"You… I thought you were a wimp, someone who didn't get in honestly. Not strong, not… not good as a friend for my little sister. You were so bold to go and do- do those things with Weiss, and she was so open about it."
Understanding, as the morning dawn every day, came to him, as Yang curled a lock of her hair around her fingers, still not looking at him, her cheeks burning red.
"I'm- you know? I get embarrassed, and I just want to make it stop. I'm sorry, if I'm-"
He caught her looking up at him, her body looking appealing, ready to be someone's concubine if she were interested in such a thing, with her features ready for lovemaking. Her hips, the breasts that were full and the vivacious spirit that she showed, as well as her strength… everything made Yang Xiao Long a prime candidate for a lover.
He would not take her as a lover though. If she were interested in him, she would need to be open and clear about her feelings, and how to deny her such a thing…
What he had with Weiss was different, he surmised. Yang wasn't clear.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept your feelings."
She looked up at him, surprise visible on her face.
"What? No, I'm- I'm not interested in you like that, yet! B-but I want to be… I want to be friends. Friends-friends, that- that hug and- and maybe k-kiss."
Something like Weiss, but with more intimacy.
Weiss screamed and the door went exploding outward, someone being thrown out, a Glyph repelling the body of Blake, who groaned as she hit the far wall.
"Weiss!"
Yang was in motion, as he was as well. It didn't seem to be anything that was dangerous, but the weapon that was in Blake's hands was definitely covered in blood.
"Why can't you just die for everything that you've done to my people!"
Anger.
Raw anger and fury welled up inside him, as he stretched out his magic inside him. The flame extinguished as he let his anger power the magic, wrapping around the girl and then sucking the air from her lungs, Blake gasping, lifted up by the force that he displayed.
Pale white skin was visible as his eyes turned a deep bloody red, veins growing over his facial featured as he turned her around like a marionette, and then slammed her against a wall, before he turned her around and then slammed her against the ground. Anger was the dominant emotion, as he let go of her.
Blake Belladonna was out cold and her weapon was out of her hands, half-skittered across the ground, as he moved.
A few steps he took, as he felt his heart try to beat, but not a single beat coming, his eyesight fading to blackness as he felt the breath escape his lips in a rattle, the pain continuing, as he forced his eyes open, but nothing but darkness was visible, his eyes glinting in the light, aware of things around him glowing with light. He felt more of the darkness far out, like a sea of little dots of darkness, all around one of the brightest cities that he could see, many lights flickering in the darkness.
"I've got her- Weiss? Weiss, are you okay?"
He grabbed the wall, breathing heavily as he felt the pain inside him continue, someone grabbing a hold of him, as he felt his vision return, awareness of Weiss looking at him.
"Hold on, he's… He's turning back to normal, he's- Jaune?"
There was a wound on Weiss' side, something that looked like it'd been a straight stab, abandoned only because of Weiss' swift action, nothing more than a flesh wound, as Yang held up their unconscious teammate. The odd feeling that was the same as Tyrian came again, and Yang looked at her.
"What happened?"
Weiss looked like she was trying to come up with an answer to the question, her eyes trying to ascertain his status, her gaze trying her best to make him be alright, with the hopes and wishes that came with it. It was a hope, something that she would not say, even with her body naked as it was. The public showers weren't really a place to have these conversations, but he knew that if he didn't keep things together now, there would be questions.
"She just came at me, stabbing at me me, I was able to make a Glyph to repel her, I always do ever since my- Why would she do such a thing? I thought she was just aloof, not- not jealous of what I was doing."
There was a question, as he went for the bow that Blake wore, her ears twitching once, as he untied the bow, showing a set of cat ears. Weiss hissed in anger, frustration and more.
"A Faunus… She was a Faunus all this time, just waiting for me to lower my guard… By the Gods, I-"
Jaune knew more than that, undoubtedly. The file on Blake Belladonna wasn't something he'd really looked into in-depth, more a cursory glance, but he'd not really been interested in her yet, as Ruby and Yang had been the more pressing targets for his attentions. The hidden dangers that came with being a prince were indeed things that he had forgotten about.
"Let's get her back to your dorm room. Yang? Do you think you can keep her up whilst I try to get my breath back?"
Just touching Blake was enough to recover some stamina, the flame slowly sputtering back to life, the veins slowly receding, his vision growing broader as he did, his eyes opening and a deep breath escaping his lips.
Jaune felt the power slip back into his body, shivering at the warmth that he felt.
He watched Weiss dress herself, after the wound was slowly mended through the aura that regenerated it. He might have offered assistance if he could, the blood inside her body like a liquid he could manipulate. The gift that Mama had given him could be spread, undoubtedly, but he didn't want Weiss to feel as badly as he had. He had an inkling that it would be a very bad thing if he were to share the power with her.
She looked at him for guidance, for help and assistance, as Blake was held up by Yang alone.
"W-what will you do?"
He looked at the unconscious Faunus and then made a decision.
It wouldn't be a soft hand that he would use, but rather, something that he could glean. Information about Blake Belladonna was there, and he had to make a call.
"I'll call someone."
The Scroll ticked off twenty seconds before the person answered the line.
"Yes?"
Jaune cleared his throat.
"Doctor, do you think you could find out the best way to get in touch with Blake Belladonna's associates? Preferably someone close to her."
The man looked sharply at him, the video feed cutting in to show the man surrounded by technology, his moustache bristling.
"I am a little busy right now, mister Arc. Give me fifteen minutes, if you would. What sort of information would you require?"
The man was being polite, just because Jaune knew his Mama would be upset with the man if he decided to speak up and make him upset, as the man's head nodded once to something off-screen.
"Best way to strike at her. Something that'll make sure that she knows her place. Weiss Schnee, a very close friend of mine, was nearly assassinated by her. Ensure that you have the information, Doctor, for I wish to ensure that she regrets her actions."
He checked to make sure that Yang had not been paying attention, the blonde looking at the unconscious Faunus girl with an expression that was dark, obviously lost in thought at the way things had unveiled themselves.
"The animals are put to heel, right? I knew that there was enough reason for the information war… Very well, I will send you the information. I know of a few avenues to put the fear of death into her heart… After all, little miss Belladonna was quite a naughty girl."
Blake was tied to a chair in the middle of team RWBY's room, Yang and Weiss looking at Blake, Weiss currently holding her Dust rapier as Jaune's Scroll beeped.
"Your associate, he deals in information, does he not?"
Weiss asked, Jaune nodding once.
"He's… He's someone who works for my Mama. He fears her, I believe."
Weiss nodded, looking down moodily.
"She is… she is frightening, my father cowered before her. I… I'm glad that nobody else is hurt. How-"
Jaune paid careful attention to Yang, so as to ensure that there were no connections made between her and Junior, but Yang seemed to be lost in thought, the bindings on Blake's body enough, as Jaune read through the information.
"Decisions… Turn her over to Adam Taurus or to involve a kinder fate… Weiss?"
The information on Adam Taurus painted him as an extremist monster, a revolutionary who did not stop until the human opposition was dead and gutted. A man who Jaune could trust to let Blake suffer a fate worse than death by, given the information about Blake leaving the man mid-mission… There had been sixty deaths confirmed during that heist.
"Y-yes?"
Yang looked at him, and she was doubting his motives. The world was broader than she expected. She was a pawn, but she was also someone who held some measure of control over her fate.
"Do you want her to die?"
It was a condemnation, Yang inhaling sharply as Weiss looked at her, her eyes cast down.
"W-what… What would happen?"
Weiss did not understand what would happen. Doctor Watts had compiled the information quickly, the ramifications of Weiss Schnee dying and the effects on the economy. There were two suggestions, both looking rather appealing to his eyes.
"She would die. You would not see her again and there might be a new teammate assigned, if there is such a thing."
She had tried to hurt one of his friends.
"If- She could be mad about it, but-"
He looked at her and sighed softly.
"If you died, Weiss, I would be very upset. You're my friend, we're- We're friends. Yang is your friend and she's my friend too. Blake- Blake doesn't seem to know what her actions would have caused. The other option isn't… really something that I would like to use, but if I must…"
He sighed. It would be the kind option. Weiss did not feel like she could kill someone. She was a gentle girl that wouldn't harm a fly, wouldn't dare to harm someone if she could help it.
"A-alright, and… and the other option? You said- you said there were two?"
He looked at Yang. The blonde was looking ready to act on his signal.
"Do you think you could go and keep Ruby away for a little while?"
Yang looked at him, questioning whether he was sending her away.
"Weiss? I'll… I'll work my magic. Just to pretend like you died. I'm going to do something that'll make her see what she has wrought. After all… Well, you'll see afterwards. Trust me… Keep Ruby away for a while, okay?"
Weiss nodded, her shirt showing a red stain, looking at him and then nodding again, the hand going to the wounded area, gritting her teeth.
"I demand that she give me an answer, Jaune. Just… send Yang or something. If you need to do something with her body, I- The shower drain is good at cleaning the blood away."
She was assuming that he would torture the girl, but he knew that it wouldn't be something like that, as he was more refined than that.
The call connected, as Yang stood behind Blake, looking darkly at her.
"Wake her up when I give the signal. Use the bucket."
It'd be messy, but the girl needed to be awake for it. Jaune punched in the numbers and the area code, and then took a moment to connect, the ringing sound enough for his ears, and he caught sight of a woman's face for a moment, as someone looked quizzically at the phone.
"Ahh, hello? How do I answer this thing? Ghira! Help, someone's calling and- Oh, hello, can you hear me?"
The phone number of her parents, Kali and Ghira of Menagerie, the Chieftain and his wife, the de facto king and queen of the kingdom of the Faunus.
"Miss Belladonna, hello. I'm calling to inform you about your daughter…"
Shock on the woman's face, as she seemed to go stock-still, her eyes flicking back and forth, ears flattening against her scalp.
"Is she alright? She's not dead, is she? Is Adam there?"
Information that he filed back for later, as he shook his head.
"Mister Taurus isn't here, I am calling you from Beacon Academy, do you think you could get your husband, please?"
He was being political. The bullet points on Kali Belladonna read 'Empathic, motherly, warm' and not much more.
"Ghira! Open up the door! There's someone on the Scroll about Blake! I don't care if there's a meeting going on with Sienna or something!"
The sound of someone protesting about there being a meeting and a door slamming to the ground, as he caught sight of a meeting room, several Faunus including one with dark skin sitting there, her expression dark and gloomy, a large man at the head of the table, reading glasses on his nose, a large document visible in front of him.
"Ghira! It's someone who talks about Blake!"
The man's face looked impatient for a moment, as golden eyes narrowed at him. Jaune was not intimidated in the slightest.
"Yes?"
Jaune put on the grave look of someone who was to deliver some serious news.
"Mister Belladonna, I wish to inform you that Weiss Schnee was just assassinated by your daughter."
The man's face turned grave, as people seemed to inhale deeply, someone going 'oh fuuuuuuck' in the background, the man's expression darkening with that hint of anger.
"She would never do something like that! I know my daughter, she wouldn't-"
Jaune looked at Yang for a moment, before he offered a small smile to the man. He pressed the mute button, aware that he was on the speaker there now.
"Let's wake her up, shall we? I was Weiss' - well, you could call me her boyfriend."
That would be the best way to explain that they weren't courting formally, but that she was close to him in his retinue of retainers.
The water crashed over Blake and he turned the front-facing camera on, rather than the one that showed his face from that angle.
"Fuck! You son of a bitch, what did you do?"
Angry, rough language, unbefitting of a girl.
"Weiss died, Blake. When you stabbed her, she repelled you, but she died from the stab you gave. Are you happy now?"
A snarled, angry hissing sound from Blake's lips.
"That soulless monster rots in hell, where she belongs! Our people had jobs, but that witch of a mother of hers made thousands upon thousands of my people homeless! I'm glad to have done my duty to the Faunus!"
He noticed that Yang was recording the conversation on her Scroll, something that she seemed to have picked up, not even at his prompting.
"She was innocent of her father's crimes, Blake. Why would you kill her?"
It was important to ask the right questions, as Blake tugged at her bonds. He'd made sure that she was tied very tightly, as he un-muted the call, the deafening silence on the other end louder than before.
"Because she was a Schnee! You can't trust them not to screw over the Faunus and I did my duty, just like Adam did! Who cares about humans! It is time that we get what we deserve!"
Ghira Belladonna's face was ashen, as he took a deep breath. Someone in the background took a very deep breath, and there was a silence that fell for the space of several breaths.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that, human? Sad that your little girlfriend is dead, huh? No longer able to fuck her and bring her to orgasm, are you?"
The man spoke up, his voice almost breathless in its seriousness.
"Blake? You have no idea what you have done with that- that-"
Surprise and confusion on Blake's face, as she spoke up sharply.
"Dad?!"
Someone grabbed the Scroll from the Chieftain of Menagerie's hands and he was looking at angry eyes and a dark-skinned set of features, a jewel on the forehead looking like it cost quite a bit.
"Blake Belladonna, please tell me that the guy is lying about Weiss Schnee, Heiress to the SDC, being killed by your hands."
Jaune didn't know who the woman was, but he could see anger, rage and more in her features. Answers that she wouldn't like would be given by Blake, the dagger driven further into Blake's back.
"Sienna? Yes! I know how to put someone on ice, you taught me that yourself!"
Someone seemed to faint, as someone hit the ground loudly and there was shouting on the background by someone, the man shouting his wife's name.
"Someone get her conscious again, whilst- Blake, do you have any idea what you just did? You put WINTER Schnee, Specialist of Atlas, in the spot of primary Heir. They- Oh by the Gods… They are going to massacre Menagerie with the SDC's support if I know General Ironwood's stance on Faunus Rights as well as most of Atlas! Oh no… No, no, you just- You stupid girl! YOU JUST KICKED OFF THE NEXT FAUNUS RIGHTS WAR! Do you think we can FIGHT?! The population is just recovering from the last conflict, and it'd take-"
The woman was spitting angry words, her eyes enraged, as Jaune turned the camera on, showing Blake in the background as he turned to her to show her the face of the woman called Sienna.
"That boneheaded- utterly stupid move to kill Whitley Schnee already inflamed tensions and we were just mid-meeting and- I- Oh gods… We're going to be at war again. The war is happening again, and this time it was- You stupid girl! You don't know what you did! You're the daughter of the only Faunus leader of note who is still active in global politics, functionally the leader of Menagerie and the Faunus and you just killed the daughter of the biggest economical powerhouse on the planet without even thinking of the consequences! It'll be Mistral, Atlas, Vale and Vacuo against Menagerie, with all of us trapped like rats in a cage… Oh Gods, this is terrible, this is-"
The Scroll was taken and Blake's father appeared again. He looked grave and serious, his eyes dark and scary, Jaune could see that much.
"Blake, you must hand yourself over to the authorities. If you act swiftly, you can… maybe, avert a war. The people, they wouldn't have-"
Jaune cleared his throat.
"I have not informed Headmaster Ozpin of her crimes yet. I would not imagine that the man would have admitted a known murderer in his school, if he had known of the deaths and rapes that she had been an accomplice to."
Someone made a shocked sound, but it wasn't something that made Jaune look away from his quarry, his eyes checking the reactions that Blake gave.
"Rapes?!"
It definitely was Blake's mom, as someone in the background cursed, the same woman who'd been the one to hiss at Blake about the war that might spring up from her.
"I had nothing to do with that! I just made sure that they got one bullet each, just to-"
A monster. Blake Belladonna was a monster, and she freely admitted it under the pressure. Causes for 'rights', 'Revolution' and 'the Cause itself' were ways to worm yourself into the minds of those who were willing to fight and to sacrifice.
People were lionized for less.
Blake's mother seemed to take the Scroll again.
"Blake… Blake, why did- they're humans. They're still women. Why would you-"
Someone seemed to pace in the background, an angry voice speaking up as Kali spoke words that were definitely on the verge of breakdown. She looked like she was definitely going to cry, Jaune feeling bad for the woman.
"I should've been more aware of things. Gods, half of the leadership of the White Fang is female, I can't imagine that- Fuck, imagine how that sounds to humans, Ghira! See a hot human, want her? Just fuck her and execute her! I didn't teach her to do that! Mercy kills only, and only kill if you were cornered! I may not like humans much, but they need to fear us, not- Not… that. That's never okay. I may carry a grudge, but I'm not a moron who would ruin relations with humanity in another war!"
Blake didn't seem to know how to formulate an answer. There was a deep silence, as someone in the background asked whether they should prepare the harbour defenses against the invasion forces, and the Chieftain of Menagerie seemed to gather his wits.
"Blake? Where… where was Adam? Why didn't he- Did he?"
The mother seemed to grasp at any straw to keep herself from slipping into a state where she'd stop believing in her daughter, anything to ensure that her precious daughter was not in such danger that it'd be leading to an execution and a war.
"He wanted to kill innocents, mom! I left him, because- because there were innocent Faunus on the train, when we were raiding them for the Dust!"
There was no hesitation in Blake's voice, as she tried to defend herself. It was an admission of guilt, nonetheless. 'Innocent Faunus', not 'innocent people'.
"How many did you kill, Blake?"
The strict voice of the woman, as Blake seemed to adjust herself just a little in her mental gearset.
"Nobody, not- not personally. Adam always- He always said that this was what humans deserved, what the men deserved when they found a pretty girl that was fighting. I made sure to deal with them as they deserved, because they'd-"
Ideological drivel, reasons for a war that did not seem to feature in the world that he lived in. If Weiss had died, he would have made the war a reality, but right now, her parents needed to see what a monster their daughter was, in order to correct her.
"Blake- we tried to go for peace, not- not- We'll have to apologize to the Schnee family, Ghira. She's… she's just in need of treatment, she's obviously not well. She's… she's sick in the head."
It was a shocking thing to Blake, as disillusioned eyes looked at the woman who had birthed her. Her parents were giving up on her, they were betraying Blake, undoubtedly to bash the thought into her mind.
'Not as effective as with Yang, but it will shake her awake…'
The door opened and Ruby entered, excitedly.
"Blake! I heard you- Oh, hi! Are you Blake's parents? I heard something happened to Weiss and- and I'm sure it's just nothing!"
Ruby, with her innocent silver eyes, made the two parents look at each other, Ghira making a serious expression before he spoke up.
"It…"
The man sighed, as Jaune looked at Ruby, shaking his head a little with Ruby's sudden entrance, pretty sure that she'd make the plan go awry, Weiss nowhere to be seen, thankfully.
"It is regrettable that we must meet under such circumstances. My daughter has-"
Blake made a pathetic sound.
"I'm not sick, I'm- I'm fighting for what we should get! We deserve better rights!"
Ruby made an 'Ooh!' sound, as she appeared at Blake's side.
"You've got kitty ears! Oh gods, you're a Faunus? Are you mad at Weiss like everyone else?"
The questions seemed to make Blake wince, as her mother seemed to whimper something in a language that he didn't know, someone saying something back in a soothing tone.
"Ruby, I- She had to die, it was for- for my people. You don't know what it's like, Faunus dying because of how we are treated. We are tired of being pushed around all the time."
Ruby tilted her head.
"But Weiss is fine? Oh, no, not quite fine, but she had to get some stitches. Are you sure you're fine? Isn't it like, bad with your ears behind that bow?"
Ruby was spoiling the game, but that didn't matter, as someone seemed to heave a sigh of relief in the background on the call. Jaune's mind flicked through his options. Claiming ignorance wouldn't work, but spinning it into the tale of redemption and ensuring that Blake got the help that she needed… That would work.
"She's alive?"
Blake sounded surprised, and he affirmed that with a sound.
"If you don't want to see that you should work together, then you must be exposed for the sick girl that you are. I had an option, Blake. I could turn you in, and Menagerie would probably see Atlas forces storming the beaches in a month, because General Ironwood is noted to be a very strong proponent of ensuring compliance… or I could call your parents. I don't want to see anyone hurt, so if I have to lie and help you through one little fabrication, to show to the people who love you that you're in need of help…"
He took a deep breath, trying to find the words to properly express himself.
"My sister lost her wife and her baby, all because of an accident. I don't want to make other people lose someone who became a Huntress because she wanted to help people, but I'm not going to let you hurt my friends, Blake. If your parents can't convince you, if- Eh, I kind of went in blind, sorry, I don't know many of your names, but I got the number for the Scroll from someone at an embassy."
Ghira Belladonna, Blake's father, looked seriously through the camera.
"The message is understood, Mister… I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."
Jaune cleared his throat.
"I'm a friend… Well, I would like to be her friend, if she can stop trying to kill my friends. I'm… I want to be a hero, someone who can make the world a better place for everyone."
It was ideological talk, something that he had wanted to be. Someone who could be a Huntsman, a protector of those who required protection, someone taking a deep breath and a loud 'eeehhh!' as Ruby pulled herself into the view.
"That's my friend! He's going to be a Huntsman too, protecting everyone from the Grimm! Don't worry, we'll- I'm Blake's team leader, I'm not going to let her hurt my partner! Weiss is my partner and even though Jaune always makes her make funny squeaky sounds when Yang tells me to get out of the room because Weiss is getting 'freaky', I mean, there's nothing wrong with having a bit of a two-player game, but does she have to shout 'oh gods, oh gods, harder' all the time? Hmm…"
Jaune caught sight of Blake looking like she'd lost something important, an expression on the Faunus man's face, something that seemed to be a leader of sorts.
"I can't leave Menagerie now since they need me here… Sienna? Will you take care of things? You're the High Leader, you can make decisions without my input, right? My daughter is sick in the head, and I want you to take a personal hand in her recovery. Kali?"
The door opened and Weiss entered, looking awkward in Ruby's corset, the dress making her look a lot more 'warm' than the white and red ensemble. It made her look sexy too, as Weiss looked at him, then at Blake.
"Chieftain Belladonna, greetings."
The formal speech that Weiss used made the man straighten and square his shoulders.
"Miss Schnee."
The man responded, as Weiss looked at him.
"Your daughter is rather ungrateful for being on a team with me. I did not expect her to be a Faunus, or trying to ambush me in the shower… It was only thanks to my teammates and- and my- Ahem, partner, that I still am alive to speak to you. If there was no assistance, I will assure you that there would be… serious questions raised about Blake Belladonna, daughter and heir to the Chieftain position of Menagerie."
The man gave a laborious sigh, as his wife peered past him. Her ears perked up just a little, as she looked empathically at Weiss, as if begging for forgiveness for Blake.
"I'm sorry for her behaviour, miss Schnee. I wish that she would let you see the beauty of the Faunus, rather than our… our distaste for your fathers' business acumen."
The political words weren't enough for Weiss to be soothed, but Jaune could see that she was mulling things over, looking at Blake for a long moment before rubbing the bridge of her nose, something that would not make things easy on the other side. She had that look that she often had when she was going to do something that definitely wouldn't be acceptable under normal circumstances, but she had the mood to be rebellious.
"It is understandable if you are disappointed with your daughter. I am too. I do not take kindly to people screaming about my father and such, even though I agree that he is a reprehensible man. I would have to say that after the loss of my brother, my opinion on Faunus has… soured. With my mother making an executive decree, I would imagine that things are quite dire."
It was political talk, something Weiss had experience with, like any daughter of a merchant. Jaune watched how the formalities were adhered to by the letter, and Weiss spoke of her 'utter devastation', the woman on the screen and her husband making apologies, whilst Blake was starting to look like she was just about getting to that lowest point in her life.
It wasn't anything that he could touch outright, but he knew that Blake needed to be brought to heel. The danger that Yang presented had been nullified, but Blake presented something very real.
"I will be sleeping with you, Weiss. You don't have to be afraid of Blake just slitting your throat in your sleep."
The two parents looked horrified, but there was that smidgen of realization in their eyes that their daughter was not to be trusted anymore.
"That would be very pleasant, thank you. I… I will admit that I would not like to sleep alone, not after what has… happened."
He wrapped an arm around her in order to show his support, Blake's father clearing his throat.
"Blake? Expect Sienna in a week or two, maybe three. Until then, I do not want to hear a word from Miss Schnee or about Miss Schnee and if she is harmed in any way, I will disown you. You know what that means, right?"
Jaune didn't, but Blake seemed to be shocked by it.
"B-but- I'm your daughter."
The man looked sternly at his 'daughter', as he fixed his gaze directly on her.
"I will not have a daughter if this leads to war. Think about what you are doing! If not for Miss Schnee surviving, this would have been a war meeting rather than to figure out some way to appease the Schnee Dust Company so our people can at least have someplace to work!"
It was a danger excluded from harming Weiss, Jaune knew. He would make certain that Weiss would have her safety.
"And you, young man… it seems that I owe you at least some respect for bringing this to my attention. I will not forget this favour. You may have been well-meaning, but brashness could lead to an ill-thought-out decision. You would do well to remember that."
The man looked serious, his wife pushing him away. The man grumped something about Kali being too sensitive.
"Blake? Blake, this is serious. I don't want to disown you, my sweet daughter, but- but your father is right. We love you, but- but we have to think about the people too. If- if it averts a war, I will be very sad, but I will have to. Your father finally managed to get the trade agreement settled, before the issues with the Schnee and their- their- death in the family. Everything can be discussed, but… But please? Please don't hurt anyone. I believe you're still my lovely little daughter, willing to help people and bring humanity and the Faunus together, but- but I'm not happy with what I heard. It's-"
Kali was pushed aside, the woman known as Sienna appearing in the camera.
"Stand down and keep your mouth shut. I'll decide on what to do with you, if I get… Damn it, Ghira! I need guards, if Adam's deciding to turn Vale into his personal Faunus fiefdom, I'll need people I can trust. We are not having an assassination of the High Leader too. I should've stopped him when he was so ready to-"
The woman started to speak in a language Jaune didn't know, Weiss making a serious expression.
"I'll get my stuff. Ruby? I'll be sleeping with Jaune for a bit. He's… he'll keep me safe."
He would keep her safe, as Blake looked at Weiss, anger and frustration showing on her face.
"You're a Schnee, why do you care? He's just the guy you're sleeping with! There's no love from him, because he doesn't care about you or your feelings!"
Jaune watched, as Kali appeared on the phone again, her expression showing clearly disappointment and sadness.
"He's willing to help her, Blake. You shouldn't- You shouldn't dismiss things so easily. Weren't you the girl that told me that you'd marry Adam someday?"
A wince from Blake, which Jaune filed in the back of his mind, Yang having remained silent throughout most of the encounter, as the Faunus side of things was abuzz with conversation, Yang speaking up.
"Blake, you were my partner. Didn't you think that you could trust me? We've been together for more than two months now, do you really think I would care if you had a set of cute fuzzy ears or some kind of dick growing between your legs? This hurts, Blake."
Yang looked at him, nodding her head to him.
"Mrs B, if eh, you go by Belladonna, that is, if your daughter acts out, I'm going to sort her out. There won't be any sort of damage done to my little sister's partner, I'll tell you right here and now. Blake? You're my bitch now, and I'll make sure that you end up in a ditch if you ever start meowing about Weiss being a 'soulless demon'. I may not like that she's trying to poach a good guy, that's not what I like, but I'm not going to let you go to jail and- and do things that're not good, girl."
There was a knock on the door and Jaune sighed, shaking his head lightly to himself. Ruby opened up and the Headmaster came in, looking serious in his expression.
"Miss Schnee, I have heard about the… unfortunate circumstances. A student reported them, and I had the most curious sensation. Mister Arc, is- oh, Chieftain Belladonna, it seems I was perhaps a touch late."
A wave of anger smouldered inside Jaune, the rage and power growing and burning like a rampant black wave to swallow him, his eyes closing for a moment, as he felt the burning power within him sizzle and rage. Wrath that was not his own surged through his bones, through his body that was frail.
"Things are under control, my… My daughter seems to have been led astray. Miss Schnee is fully within her right to demand that Blake be removed from her team due to the threat to her life."
There was no mention of the other things that Jaune had mentioned, as Ghira Belladonna seemed to be politically maneuvering towards the best resolution.
"Regrettable, indeed. I spoke to you about your dreams for acceptance, Blake. Why did you try to hurt miss Schnee?"
There was an air that seemed to be reconciliatory, as Blake looked at the man and took a deep breath.
"Thousands upon thousands of Faunus, without a job. They- They are to blame. Them, and- and their company. She's the daughter of Jacques Schnee."
Jaune grabbed a hold of Weiss and he sighed. The connection with the Belladonna's on his phone was growing tenuous. Weiss tugged lightly on his shirt.
"I'd like to stay with Jaune in his room. I'd feel safer, sir. I'd… I don't blame her, because my father is not a very well-liked individual, but… But I'd like to have a moment to myself before I can bring myself to trust her. Given the circumstances with my brother and his- My mother was distraught."
The rest of the conversation was as expected. Ghira Belladonna said that 'High Leader Khan' would be coming to Vale in order to ensure some cooperation, Ozpin deciding that there would be some penalty for daring to attack a student under his watch, and Blake agreed to it, in order to save her skin. It wasn't an amicable resolution, Jaune knew, yet there was nothing that could really be done about it. They were students, Weiss was the heir to the SDC yet not on good terms with her father, and there were too many factors included, the Headmaster giving them a moment to gather themselves.
"It is regrettable that these things happened, young huntsmen like you should not be forced to bear such a burden, though I do wonder… How did you get the number for the Belladonna family, Mister Arc?"
It was an answer that he could fib, easily. If he remembered the political situation in the world, he would know of several routes to take.
"Do you not think that the heir to the Schnee Dust Company would not know the name and Scroll number of someone who had led the largest opposition to their existence? Professor Ozpin, please do not assume that the lawyers of the Schnee Dust Company are as incompetent as to not know the names of those individuals who had been instrumental in bombing and murdering those people who work for the Company, though High Leader Khan professes innocence of the extremist actions."
Weiss came to his rescue, as he looked at her, showing no surprise, but grateful for it nonetheless, the headmaster's acceptance of that answer depending clearly on how he thought on the matter.
"Miss Belladonna… I am going to have to request that you come with me. Alternate accommodations for you are to be provided, and this will go on your record. A second chance, child, is not to be wasted."
The man looked saddened by Blake's actions, as Ruby chirped something excitedly, those silver eyes making his own head hurt.
Later, as he and Weiss sat on his bed, the girl resting her head against his side, smiling, as naked as the day that she'd been born, she hummed softly.
"Why did you lie to him?"
She was an acquaintance, a lover, someone who was a friend, not a… not a-
The word wouldn't be uttered. Their class was different, and their status was different.
She looked at him and kissed his lips softly, a needy, almost desperate kiss, her eyes glinting with that hope within their deep blue depths.
"Because I love you, silly. I'm… You are someone I love."
He looked at her, as she snuggled a little closer, kissing his throat softly.
"And you hurt yourself to protect me. I'm not- You're someone that won't suffer, not for some stupid Faunus girl who thinks that she's- she's going to have a bad time."
The door opened and Pyrrha appeared, her features dark.
"We heard about what happened. Are you doing okay?"
There had not been a team meeting today, he knew.
"We're fine. We're… Heh. Mother said that I should do what I thought was fun, and not to care about things. Sex is great, you know? That feeling of when Jaune holds me and protects me, I- He's amazing."
Pyrrha nodded, Ren and Nora entering five minutes later, setting their combat gear back into the appropriate spaces.
Pyrrha had settled down on his other side, Jaune realizing that there wouldn't be any getting up, as Weiss was talking animatedly about something about 'professional standards', Pyrrha actually engaging in the conversation.
'I really don't know what they are talking about.'
"Ooh! Yes! Yes! Ren, check him out! He's got a beauty in his lap and a beauty at his side! Quick! Let me sit on his face and you can-"
Ren touched Nora and the excitement drained out of her, Ren offering a small smile.
"Will you be staying with us?"
Weiss nodded.
"For the foreseeable future… I really don't… What if there was a booby-trap set? I- I'll be here, thank you for being my hosts."
It was perhaps for the best.
"Awww, I really wanted to sit on his face! He's got a cute face, Rennie! Why'd you have to do that, huh?"
Adelheid was worried. She was beyond worried, because Saphron hadn't emerged from her room for two days. It had been two days since Saphron had come home, she'd rang Miss Umbra and there had been shouting, crying and more from behind the door, something about 'He's still out there and he will rape again!', obviously about her father. Miss Umbra would know where the man was, the woman knew a lot of things that she shouldn't…
The need inside her to fuck was growing stronger, as Saphron gave no showing, Adelheid unsure of what to do. Saphron had not opened her door again, even though Tyrian had said that he'd given her something to eat, and it was nearly the weekend.
'I'll have to call Jaune.'
That was the best option. She'd done her room up perfectly now, with the walls to be painted blue, which apparently had been an option, according to Mister Callows… But now Saphron wasn't talking to her, or to anyone. One of her sisters had been by, the one called Beryl, looking worriedly and asking quietly whether Saphron was okay, only getting a shouted 'Leave me alone!' from Saphron.
It might've been the period that'd came in earlier, as Adelheid used a warm heating pad on her stomach during the cramps, undoubtedly something that would be fixed with care, love and a bit of extra help.
It was going to be a while, she surmised, before Saphron would emerge again.
"H-hey."
Saphron sounded frail and weak as she emerged, her body wearing a dress that Adelheid remembered buying with her, a small smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry, little sis… I just… You know?"
Relief flooded Adelheid, as she realized that her friend was feeling better, that it would be better now for their future together as friends.
"I was getting worried, big sis. I mean, you shut me out, and I'm sor-"
Saphron laid a finger to her lips gently, shaking her head softly in acceptance of her.
"No, no, don't apologize. I was wrong, I was… I was wrong, little sis. I thought I saw dad, and… and it brought back horrible memories. Let's invite Jaune over tomorrow, okay? How about I make arrangements, and… did you have your period? Flush those damn tampons, Addie."
Adelheid grinned.
"You too?"
A small nod, as Saphron seemed to pat her stomach.
"I'm sorry, I- Emotions, you know? Jaune will be happy to come over, and he'll be happy to come and entertain the two of us, that silly boy. He's… Mama said that we're going to be one happy family together, and I know that you'll love having Jaune around."
Adelheid couldn't deny that. Those blue eyes, that cute face, those nice and firm buttocks that she'd just love to grab a hold of and cram his big hard fuckshaft down her-
"Cram his big hard fuckshaft down where?"
Saphron interrupted her train of thought, Adelheid realizing that she'd said that aloud. It had been a lot of excitement, and worry and fear for Saphron's health had not made her be able to take care of her little sex addiction. Everything seemed to be able to make her get excited, and she could see Saphron's nipples peak against her dress as well.
"H-hey, I didn't mean anything with that. Miss Umbra will-"
Saphron's fingers pressed against her tongue, as she pushed her hand into her mouth.
"No, no, don't talk like that. Jaune will understand. Mama said… Well, it doesn't matter what she said or whether it's wrong, Adelheid. Let's just have a nice evening tonight, and we'll have Jaune over all weekend, okay?"
That sounded like a perfect way to spend her morning and evening, and discussing business with him. That would be kind of amazing.
Adelheid smiled at Saphron, who returned the smile.
"Little sis needs to let big sis go and get a shower though… I feel like I'm a randy bitch in heat, oof…"
Adelheid could agree with that. She felt like she could just grab a guy's dick and make it pop off and give her relief. It was bothersome.
Very bothersome.
"Want me to join you? Big sis needs someone to wash her back, undoubtedly… So I'll sacrifice my tender body for now, how about it, huh?"
She was going to make love to Saphron, if she wanted to make love to another woman.
Adelheid was a good friend, yes!
She'd prove that to her bestie. If Saphron needed to be made love to, then Adelheid would swallow her sexuality and be there for her bestie.
More Dies Irae goodness for Christmas!
KNOWLEDGE WARS SPECIAL REPORT
"Coming at you raw, from the Remnantist lair… Mark Rutter!"
The man looked surprised, the suit and the tie that looked to have been pressed into shape by some kind of standardized process, the man's fingers tapping lightly against his glasses, pushing them up his nose, the serious expression on the face immediately assumed as Alexandrite moved herself in front of him. Three members of the man's security detail stepped in front of her.
"What are your answers to the questions of the people about the affair with the three Faunus kids that were cut up into pieces in lower Vale, Mister Rutter? The public deserves to know! Are they getting their lives transplated in Valean citizens who are at the end of their life? Are you planning some kind of hostile takeover with your whole Ferrotic Union?"
The man waved his bodyguards aside.
"Miss Stones, as I have told you before, we are a party for freedom, ensuring that the members of the Valean congress will have their voice heard. That I am due to assume office as Councilman of Vale is not in any way related to my work for the Ferro- whatever union you are talking about."
The man kept himself polite and to the point, as the cameraman from Knowledge Wars adjusted the view a little, the camera zooming in on the face of the man.
"Darn lies! You work for the Atlesian unions to grind up kids and to make em eat frog Faunus liver for breakfast so they can have their service to the pedophiles in Atlas! Admit it, we all know the truth! The kids in Argus died for Cordovin's evil ploy, and you're getting facial treatments with Faunus foetal matter to look eternally young! You haven't aged in ten years, ever since you assumed office!"
The politician, for that was what the man was according to the text that appeared on-screen below his name, seemed to sigh.
"I must be off, Miss Stones… Please, do see yourself out. I have arrangements to make for the next week."
Alexandrite turned to the camera again as the man moved away.
"You've heard it, folks! Rutter himself admitting that he's going to be making arrangements for the mass cremation of dead Faunus bodies! A true villain, and- Hey! Hey you! Meghan Marker! I see you, you half-Vacuan migrant! What're you doing here?!"
A woman who looked half-Vacuan, at the arm of a redheaded man who looked decidedly uncomfortable.
"Being here with my husband, who is amazing, Miss Stones. I thought you'd decided to die off or something after that joint venture went up, but it seems you're still telling those fanciful stories. Harrison? Shall we go and get ourselves back home? I think I'll go for some Vacuan Barbecue…"
Alexandrite was left behind, her face growing redder as a pumpkin, as finger raised to the heavens.
"Alright! This won't stand! It's going to be investigation time! Only at Knowledge Wars will you get the truth! Now, get some Faunus Female Vitality, with our new host Greg Stones there!"
The camera cut away for a moment, the Knowledge Wars logo appearing in the screen next to 'Greg Stones', as the main studio appeared. A man, truly familiar to any loyal listener to Alexandrite Stones, sat there behind a table, a Faunus woman standing at his side.
"Super Faunus Vitality! Guaranteed to put the Faunus in YOUR body, before it goes OUT of your body! If you want to have the power to last all day, Super Faunus Vitality is here to stay!"
The assistant, the woman wearing a floppy red hat with a white tip, held up the bottle of pills, the horns poking up.
"Deery here has taken several pills and she feels great, right don't you, girl?"
The casual address and the giggle that 'Deerie' made, as she nodded.
"Of course, Mister Stones. I'm just waiting for you to finally make a move. Show the people how a Faunus shows her vitality to a hot and sexy man… Hmmm, just like you."
Greg Stones was immutable like the surname that he and Alexandrite shared.
"Super Faunus Vitality! It's guaranteed to turn on your woman, because I seem to have many interested in me."
Deerie smiled brightly.
"Oh yes… There's a sale now, thirty-three percent off, and the chance to win a date with The Greg Stones. Don't let that opportunity slip out, because the man is as great a prey as any."
Greg looked not very happy with that news.
They were sold out of stock for the next three weeks within less than two hours.
Alexandrite's company received a financial boom again. Another studio was being built, for the Knowledge Wars special podcast.
Knowledge Wars: The More You Know, The Greater The War.
Raw, live and uncut.
Knowledge Wars: There is a war in your mind, and a fight to be fought.
I like writing these conspiracy theory stuff things. Now, for some political figures that aren't really all that popular… or known. None were harmed during the making of this chapter.
Leave a review if you'd like to! I like seeing people's reactions to the wondrous worlds I unveil before them!