Jeanne's currently non-existent eyes, because she is currently dematerialized, narrowed at the sight of Blake Belladonna. It wasn't out of any malice or anything but that of concern. Although the faunus who was concealing her heritage insisted that she was alright, the blackness beneath her eyes were the obvious tell that she was lying.
It began some days ago, just after team RWBY had their latest fight with the criminal known as Roman Torchwick. From what Jeanne could gather, the man was a flamboyant criminal, always willing to make a show. He was effective though, since he has yet to be caught. Whether that was because he knew how to hide despite his showmanship or because he had connections elsewhere was anyone's guess. One significant thing that is of concern here is the fact that he was a human working with the White Fang.
The White Fang on the other hand, was a terrorist organization that sprung up due to discrimination against the faunus. With Blake being a former member from that organization, it makes sense that she would be most familiar with its inner workings. Still, one would think that Blake of all people would know just what a terrorist organization would do after the exposure of their most recent activities. Apparently, Blake wasn't thinking straight to see it.
Blake would fall asleep during classes other than Professor Port's. During free time, she can be found in the library. For anyone else, that would be a regular occurrence. But for teams RWBY and JNPR, the frequency is even greater than usual.
In Combat Class, Blake was getting sloppier than usual, if she was ever called at all. As much as Jeanne doesn't want to say bad things about her Master, Jaune would decimate the faunus unaided with how poorly she was performing right now. If Blake was doing that bad, then no excuse could she give would fly really. Most others are too focused on the dance and so can't give that much time to either notice or act on.
Anyone who isn't Jeanne d'Arc that is. Most of team JNPR's outfits are already done, courtesy of frankly the amazing speed that is Jaune's mother. That pretty much left them to their own devices. In that time, more training had been done and even the occasional scouting of potential opponents. Those transfer students from Mistral Academy had certainly done just that with them.
As the dance got closer and closer, the evidence of Blake's fatigue was far too obvious that it can be seen from afar.
Speaking of afar, Blake once again entered the library. Jeanne had materialized herself this time, making her excuses with team JNPR that she wanted to read. She couldn't for she was illiterate but they didn't need to know that. She was only of help in the academic side because she was dematerialized and shared similar thoughts as her Master, it was only a matter of finding where that thought had gone.
Before she did enter the library however, she paused so as to not make it too obvious. When she did plan to, someone else had got in before she did. It was Yang, Blake's partner.
Thank goodness, she thought. Maybe Yang can get some sense into her. Jeanne still followed anyway, hoping that she can also say her piece without it seeming like the two blondes are ganging up on her.
Following in afterwards, Jeanne opened the doors of the library. The open space was welcoming and the quiet atmosphere was a welcome change of pace from the usual more combative and speedy nature of the classes. There were board games here too, for those who have recreations that aren't training.
Entering the library, Jeanne saw that Blake was once again glued to a computer screen. Her frustration was evident when she slammed her fist down on the table. It would have been a loud one if she wasn't so tired. As it is, she was far too exhausted to even show the physical strength of frustration.
Many rows behind Blake was Yang, hiding behind the many bookshelves and seemingly trying to get something from her pocket. What Yang grabbed looked to be some kind of pen-like object. It had a bulb on its end that definitely made it not a ball-point pen. It was a laser pointer.
The red dot invaded Blake's screen if her eye movement was anything to go by. Much like a cat, Blake was drawn to the red dot, swiping at it to go away.
Don't feed the stereotype, Blake, Jeanne thought. From what Jeanne knows of Remnant, just because faunus have animal traits, it does mean that they possess animal-like behaviors, let alone stereotypes associated with said animal. Then again, there was an exception to everything. Jeanne will grab whatever excuse she can here.
Jeanne sighed as Blake stood up from her seat and began to follow the red dot. As she slowly and unsuspectingly made her way closer to Yang, the blonde brawler was holding her breath until it was too late.
Yang's mouth moved and the two then suddenly vanished.
Following the trail left behind, Jeanne followed the two until they reached the inside of an empty classroom. Stopping just outside, Jeanne could hear faint noises coming from the inside. She couldn't make out what it was they were saying but from the sounds of it, it wasn't a shouting match. That was good, at least.
Jeanne stuck around though, leaning her back on the wall next to the doorway. Her ear positioned just right so that she could make her entrance, not wanting to interrupt Yang's piece. Depending on how it goes, Jeanne would say her piece a little bit later.
Seconds ticked on and the voices from the other side began to grow louder. It wasn't a shouting match yet, but it appeared to be building up to there. Jeanne readied herself before opening the door. She had to get in before it goes there. It was risky and she might just make Blake run away again if she wasn't careful but it had to be said now.
Opening the doors, Jeanne was met with the looks of both Yang and Blake, unsurprising as the two held differing expressions of shock. The difference being that Yang had a more hopeful expression in hers while Blake was more of a scowl.
"Oh great," said Blake. It probably sounded sarcastic in her mind but it came out as more of an exhausted frustration. "What now? I suppose you'll be telling me your sad story in order to get me to take a break?"
"No." Jeanne had to be careful here. A sob story, was it? It would seem that Yang went for a personal approach. It was fine, that wasn't Jeanne's initial plan here anyway. "If anything, I won't be telling you to stop at all. You'd still go after the White Fang no matter what we say." Understanding, Jeanne begins with understanding.
"Then you know that I have to go and stop whatever it is their planning." Blake nearly rushed passed her, only to be stopped by Yang.
"Blake, listen to yourself!" she begged. "You think you can go out there and fight them all yourself? You can't even break free from my grip and I'm not even trying too hard here!"
"I would rather go down fighting them than sit here while more people die, Yang!"
"And what happens to everyone else?" Jeanne had her arms crossed, not getting emotional. She had to remain stoic here. "What happens to everyone that you can no longer protect because you went down fighting?"
Blake slowed her momentum there. It wasn't a complete stop but it was a step in the right direction. Jeanne continued from there.
Jeanne then said, "They say there is a quality in quantity. I can tell you one of them right now, Blake: rotation of soldiers." Jeanne had been a commander once; she had experiences to draw from. "You're not exactly at your best here Blake and I'm certain that not everyone in the White Fang is incompetent. Really, it's only a matter of time before you will go down fighting while they can take turns in dealing with you, ensuring that they are always rested while you get more and more exhausted. When that happens, what of everyone else? Will they be protected from the White Fang after your out?"
"Other huntsmen and huntresses can fight them," replied Blake, now at a full stop. "If they actually tried to pay attention to the White Fang."
"And how many of them know the White Fang as intimately as you do?"
Blake had no response there.
Jeanne continued, "You know they're also fighting the Grimm right?" Both within the walls and outside, from what Jeanne could gather from her time here. "Where would they even find them? Ever since you girls—" Yang winced at that. "had that recent incident with Torchwick, the White Fang—quite obviously—had gone underground to avoid detection."
"Maybe it would be easier to find them if everyone isn't so focused on some stupid festival!" Blake was raising her voice.
"Oh, definitely." Jeanne nodded. "If they put more resources covering the White Fang, then it might be easier to find them." Blake definitely looked triumphant there, as triumphant as she could manage given her exhaustion, anyway. Jeanne tore that down though saying, "They would also find the Grimm much faster with all the negativity being spread on the news."
Morale had always been an important factor for any army. In Remnant, that morale is even more important and encompasses a larger scale. With these creatures of Grimm being drawn to negativity, the morale of both the huntsmen and the civilian is equally important. From a practical standpoint, any negative news should have to be handled carefully.
Jeanne continued. "And when you fall down against them, Blake, you leave Vale—your team—more vulnerable than before. The White Fang does whatever it is they have planned and now someone like Yang could get hurt. Maybe she'll lose an arm or something. So tell me Blake, is that exchange really the right choice? I won't even ask if it's worth it. Frankly, I'm terrified to know if your answer to that one."
Behind her back, Jeanne's fingers were crossed. She did whatever she could to appear relaxed and unmoved. Yang looked as though she would break down there. Blake. Blake stood still, or as still as her exhausted feet would allow. The reality was that she was wobbling in place. The two blondes helped her sit down. It would be too cruel otherwise.
What was important was that Blake was contemplating. She would still be looking for White Fang activity. Jeanne is certain of that much. That was fine enough, so long as she knows when to pace herself.
It was Yang that broke the silence, holding Blake in a tight embrace. "We're not asking you to stop, Blake. Just—please—get some rest. Not just for yourself but for the people you care about. Team RWBY is in this together, remember?"
Yang looked to Jeanne. She only nodded in silence. In truth, Jeanne noticed that Blake acted as though the White Fang were her responsibility. Maybe there were other huntsmen that would deal with the terrorist organization but by conflating Blake's role, she just might reconsider her recklessness here. That was the tactic Jeanne went for anyway.
"I… I think," Blake began. "I think I need to lay my head down for a bit."
Nothing else sounded more beautiful that day.
AN: Writing this I had to wonder: what was Blake's plan assuming she did find White Fang activity?
