Seems the site is working properly again. Nice.

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 64

Coco had the dress ready on the day of the ball and after a few more sessions teaching her various things – more spell theory than individual spells, but things she could use in her own way. As promised, the dress was a rich azure blue that Ruby didn't feel all too unused to wearing. It was slim-fitting around the waist and chest, and not as huge on the hips and gown as she'd been worried about, instead hugging her legs with just a little breathing room. The slit down the left leg was a little more alarming, but Coco promised it only went up to mid-thigh at most.

Its defining feature was a rather clever rose petal feature over her left chest, formed of numerous interlocked bits of silk propped up by stiffer cloth to form the shape and petals of a rose in full bloom out of the same material and colour as the dress. Ruby kept poking at it, flicking the petals and playing with the edges until Coco slapped her hand away.

"Stop that. It should hold but I didn't plan for it to do so with you playing around with it all night."

"Will the dress fall off if it goes wrong?" Ruby asked nervously.

"What do you think I'm making here? It's an accessory. If it falls out of place it'll just look like a droopy flower. Your dress will be fine either way." Coco tightened a string on the back, drawing the corset harshly on Ruby's breasts. For all that she like having some curves now, she didn't much appreciate them at that moment. "There we go. You really are slim. Not as bad as you were when you first arrived, but I guess some proper food filled you out. You have a figure most girls would kill for."

"I doubt it." Yang came to mind, along with Blake. Both had so much more than her in every way. Ruby didn't even feel bad about it; it was just the truth. "I wish I was taller."

"I meant most noble girls. Petite, frail, in need of rescue. It's an attractive look." Coco saw the utterly repulsed face Ruby gave and laughed. "Not a fan, I take it?"

"I'm not some damsel in distress!"

"Ha. I guess not. A lot of girls go for the look, though. Hope to lure in a knight in shining armour – which is ironic since most knights in the city would be considered beneath them. The best they'll get is a noble brat who might have a suit of armour even if he doesn't know how to use it."

That felt pointless. If they were interested in knights, then why not court one of the hundreds of knights in the royal palace? They were nobles. They could go after whoever they wanted. Ruby said that to Coco, but the girl only laughed.

"Family pressure, girl. It's alright to have a shared touch or a kiss or two under the moonlight as long as no one finds out, but you marry up or at the same level. Anything less is a disgrace."

"That sounds stupid."

"It is." Coco yanked another half an inch off Ruby's waistline and then tied the knot behind her back. "It's how the world works, though. You can try and change it for your family if you become matriarch. There. I think we're done. Don't forget the gloves."

Blue, elbow-length but also cut off at the wrist with a single ring to go around her middle finger and a triangle of fabric reaching up the back of her hand. Ruby had already commented on the pointlessness of gloves that didn't provide any covering for your hands, only to have Coco laugh herself hoarse and explain nothing.

Nobility and fashion. Could any two things exist that made less sense?

At least the shoes were normal. Coco had made the dress so no one would really notice what she was wearing, and while boots were still a big no-no, flat shoes were not. That was the big relief of the night, that and the lack of any fur or ridiculous accessories. Coco had said she'd normally wear whatever jewellery she had and had even offered some of her own for Ruby to borrow, but Ruby turned them down. It didn't feel right, and she'd just be tempted to steal them.

"Well, you're good to go. Now remember-"

"It's an Adel custom-made dress. One of a kind. I will tell that to anyone who asks."

Coco wiped at her eye. "I've taught you well. Now go out there and make your man swoon."

"He's not my man!"

Embarrassment aside, she'd already met with Jaune two hours earlier and he'd offered to wait outside while she was being fitted. She wasn't sure if that was traditional or not, but it made everything easier. It felt like something a friend would do rather than a lover, and the way he smiled when he saw her was pure amusement and happiness. No shock, no desire, no tricky emotions she wouldn't have any idea how to deal with.

"My lady, you look beautiful. Honoured am I to have you on my arm today."

Ruby raised her fist threateningly. "I will hit you."

"Alright. You win." He spoke between laughs, moving forward in a very well fitting blue military attire. It was tight white hose with a navy blue uniform jacket sporting a ruffled white undershoot and silver tooling along his shoulders and breast. Even if she wasn't interested, she would freely admit he looked handsome. Very handsome. "You look good, though. Lady Adel is a fine seamstress if she can make something like that so quickly."

"That I am, Lord Arc," Coco said, sauntering out in a golden dress of her own. "And don't you look dashing today.

"Thank you, my lady. Well met."

"Tch." Coco planted one hand on her hip and rolled her eyes at Ruby. "He's a formal one, isn't he? Not managed to break him of that yet?"

He wasn't formal around her, Sun and Weiss at all. In fact, he was as down to Remnant and gritty as every other soldier or guardsman she'd met. Was he putting it on for Coco? Or maybe he put it on for most people and they were just the exception.

"Coco is a friend," she told him.

"Am I some attack dog needing to know who is friend or foe? I've not met her, Ruby. My mother would have words if I was anything but polite."

I've met your mother, she thought, unsure if Jaune knew or not. She hadn't told him, and he hadn't brought it up. That meeting – in so far as one could call it one – had been so short and strange that she didn't know what to make of it.

"Your mother isn't here, boy." Coco winked. "I am."

Jaune laughed awkwardly, but Ruby couldn't help but think he relaxed just a little. Coco's attitude wasn't so dissimilar to Sun's and her own. Jaune responded well to that. "I suppose so. Forgive me then, Coco. How can I make it up to you?"

"You could introduce me to your sisters."

"To make them dresses?" Jaune asked. "I'm sure they'd love to see what you can do if it's anything like what Ruby is wearing. They often feel cheated on dresses since there are seven of them and only so many ways to use blue without looking the same." He tilted his head suddenly. "Or is there some other reason you would like to meet them?"

"Oh? Heard those rumours, have you?"

"A brother has a right to be concerned. Or helpful. My eldest may be of a similar… ah. Inclination."

"Really?" Coco looked very interested all of a sudden. "Well, that would be a scandal if it got out, but I'm not one for gossip. Ha." She fanned herself. "You have me all nervous now. I wouldn't mind the chance to exchange letters with her if she's willing."

Ruby looked between them, questions all over her face.

"I'll bring it up when next I write to her." Jaune promised. "And I'll mention the dresses. I expect word of this will get back to my mother anyway."

It already had, and that was as good a confirmation as any that he didn't know. Was Juniper Arc really that afraid of the Collegium? Something was going on here. Juniper was worried for her son's fate, and suddenly Ruby was as well. I need to become an Arcanist so I can start digging into these things. As soon as this ball is over, we're taking that test!

Coco and Jaune exchanged a few more pleasantries before the bells outside began to toll, not in alarm of to signal the meals but instead in concert, one after the other to play out a clever melody. That was the signal that all were to attend the ball, though Weiss had assured her most people would be turning up fashionably late.

Nobles! What did fashionably late even mean!?

Outside, the air was cool and brightly coloured pennants hung from tall poles set in a circle around an outside area set adjacent to the school building. The Founding Festival was celebrated across all Vale, even in the slums with drinks, song and some limited merrymaking, but within the Collegium it was also split between Arcanists and Initiates.

There was no hard rule to that and a few younger Arcanists and older Initiates attended the other. It was more age and style that separated them than anything, with the adult one, according to Pyrrha, involving a lot more chatting, decorum and drinking, while the younger Initiate-focused one involved more fruit-friendly punch, music, dancing and entertainment.

It was also set up by the school building, with the interior set for when the night grew colder and the dancefloor opened. The outside was more a buffet, with tall bonfires providing heat while food was served on long tables, a whole hog roasted over a fire and warm punch was offered by the goblet. It reminded her, in a strange way, of the winter festival in the slums. There, when the nights grew coldest, huge fires would be lit and people would warm their drinks, stand out beside the roaring flames and sing and dance until the merchants would angrily pelt them with rotten food or stones. The thought of Martyn being conked with a rock brought a grin to her lips.

"This is your first Founding Festival here, isn't it?"

"Why are you asking me that when you know the answer?"

Jaune flushed and stammered out, "Ah. I was just trying to make conversation."

"We're friends. Just talk normal."

"Right." He breathed out. "It's the atmosphere, I guess. I've always liked this part of the festival. The contrast between the cold air and the heat of the fire on our face, the roasted food so hot you can taste the smoke."

"Shall we grab some pork?"

"Hungry already?" he teased.

"I'm always hungry. Come on."

Jaune laughed and let her lead, his arm hooked with her own but their hands free. It wasn't hard to differentiate them from the couples who were together, fingers interlaced, staring into one another's eyes. They looked more like children out for mischief. Or maybe that was just her.

The serving man on the hog smiled at their approach. "Hello Ruby. Hungry already?"

Her date looked surprised, but Ruby laughed. "Yep! Pork on bread?"

"It's a hog roast bun," the overweight cook explained. That was how you knew he was a good cook in her opinion. "You should try it with some caramelised apple or cranberry sauce. And you, my Lord?"

"One for myself as well please," Jaune said. "Thank you."

The cook worked quickly and offered them two buns on delicate porcelain plates. Back home, something like this would have been eaten with your hands or a stick, but Ruby knew better than to spill anything on Coco's dress. That way led disaster and punishment.

Biting into the bun, she moaned in delight, leaning forward so the juices ran down onto the plate. "This is amazing!" Just like Jaune had said, it was smoky beyond belief, taking on an acrid and almost bitter taste, offset by the bite of apple and cranberry.

"It really is good." Jaune paused to swallow his bite. "You know the chef?"

"He serves in the school building."

"I expected as much, but still, it's a surprise he would talk to you like that. A pleasant one," he added when it was clear she didn't know how to respond. "Our servants back home have always been treated well and aren't afraid to speak up, but most here, surrounding by nobles of every kind, stay quiet."

Oh, right. That made sense. There were plenty of cool nobles like Weiss, Jaune, Ren, Coco and Nora, but also more like Martyn, Merlot and Glynda who wouldn't have time for them in most situations. You could figure out what your employers were if you worked in a mansion, but there were just so many nobles here that it was probably safer to be polite.

"I talk to them when there's food on," she said. "They're nice people."

Jaune smiled. "I'm sure they think the same about you."

"Eh." Ruby blushed. That felt far too much like a compliment for her liking. "So, what was that about with Coco earlier? Sending letters and all. I didn't understand, like, any of that."

"There are… rumours about her taste. In partners. I don't have issue with it myself, my eldest sister is the same way, but not everyone is the same. I probably overstepped by bringing it up. It ended well, though. Saphron might like her."

"Oh. She likes girls?"

Jaune looked around quickly and then nodded.

"Is that a big deal?" Ruby asked.

"To me? No. To my family? Even less. To some, of course. Everything is a big deal to someone, and the noble houses enjoy any chance to drag a rival down, even if it's something so pointless. It's not my place to tell my sister how to handle her life, though. It's only my place to support her. You don't have an issue with it?"

"It doesn't affect me in any way, so why would I?"

"I feel the same. Not everyone does. You have a good friend in Coco. In fact, you've made a lot of good friends on coming here."

"Haven't you?" she asked.

"Hm? Oh, of course. I mean, Sun was awkward at first, but we soon got on. You and Weiss were the bigger surprise."

Ruby couldn't help but think that was a short list. "Are we the only friends you have?"

"What? No!" He laughed. "I only meant to list the ones you know. Of course there are other Newbloods I get on with, not to mention I have seven sisters and friends from before I came to the Collegium. Don't worry about me," he said fondly. "I only brought it up for you since… well, with Menagerie gone and all…"

He assumed she'd lost everyone she ever called friend. Oh. Now she felt even worse about the deceit. "Y-Yeah. But things are better here. I'm fine. Better than fine."

"Glad to hear it." He nodded to the raised state. "Look, the entertainers are coming on."

Two men in tight-fitting and brightly coloured clothing that seemed to consist of a hundred different scraps of square cloth sewn together tumbled and cartwheeled onto the stage. A third followed, intentionally failing every roll and somersault, landing hard and rocking the wooden stage. The other two silently bemoaned with hands over their eyes and stomping feet, making the audience laugh.

Ruby giggled with them, especially since it was so obviously feigned. The two stomped over to the third and hauled him up, dressed him down in silence and then pointed to the crowd as if to say he was mucking it up for all of them. The third then held a hand up as if an idea had struck him, then produced two apples and placed them atop the heads of the first two who, confused, stood still and looked upward.

The clumsy one then cartwheeled, flopped and slammed down onto the wood away from then, scrambled to his feet and produced three gleaming daggers, wickedly sharp.

The crowd, along with Ruby, gasped, while the two acrobats started to frantically wave their hands and make `no` motions, clearly still an act, but now with a hint of danger that had everyone on edge. Was he really going to try and throw a dagger twelve feet and hit an apple of a person's head? Off two people's heads!?

Ruby could personally attest to how hard throwing a knife was, having tried with Yang to learn knife throwing in the slums. She was confident she could hit a person running at her, but that was hit a person. There was no guarantee where on said person she'd be hitting.

Jaune watched silently with her, the audience going deathly still as the man made a long show of peering at his colleagues, straining his eyes and moving his head from left to right as though the twelve feet of distance was twelve kilometres and they were but specs on the horizon. Then, he raised one dagger up with the tip between finger and thumb, stuck out his tongue and pulled his hand back and threw!

The dagger thunked down behind him. His empty hand threw nothing.

The crowd nervously giggled and tittered as the fool made a show of staring at his hand in confusion before looking behind, slapping his forehead and looking to the audience, asking how it got there. He was really milking it, but Ruby was among those giggling, even as she hugged Jaune's arm nervously. It was still a ridiculously impossible task ahead of him.

Even more so when he shrugged and held up both hands, a dagger in each.

Ambidextrous as well?

As if that wasn't ridiculous enough, he took a running step or two back, vaulted into the air, twisted and threw before he'd even hit the ground. The twin streaks of silver flew through the air and Ruby wasn't the only one holding her breath.

Slice. Slice.

Thunk. Thunk.

Two apples, impaled through their centres, impacted the wooden stage and rolled to a stop behind the very still actors. The third thunk sounded as the thrower landed down, spread his arms out wide and bowed.

Ruby and Jaune applauded loudly with the other nobles, Ruby wanting to cheer but recognising that no one else was. Tch. If they'd done a show like this in the slums, people would have been all over themselves roaring and whistling. Too pedestrian for the upper class, she supposed. The three acrobats bowed again and cartwheeled and somersaulted off the stage, this time all three doing so perfectly until the very last second where the thrower again mistimed his jump and landed flat on his butt, making a show of rubbing it and stumbling off the stage while the audience laughed.

"They were good, weren't they?" Jaune asked.

"That was amazing!" Ruby enthused. "I thought they'd have magic tricks since it's the Arcane Collegium but that was brilliant!"

"Hah. I think magic loses its excitement when everyone has seen it all year long. There's more than just acrobats," he said, nodding to the stage as a troubadour came up with a group of minstrels, strumming a lyre as a bard stood and began to speak of a tale long told. "The Collegium hired an entire wandering troop from Mistral for this. I believe this troop even performed for the Queen of Mistral's wedding last year."

A troop? She'd heard people talk about those – mostly in the sense that some people would go on about how they wanted to leave the city and travel with a performing caravan. People said that all the time, but she'd never seen or heard of anyone actually doing it. Then again, no troops came anywhere near the slums. Why would they when there was no coin to be had?

"Ruby!"

Weiss waved from a short distance away and pushed around the back of the crowd to reach them. She'd come in a rather nice, if plain, white gown with her hair tied up and a silver tiara nestled among it. Beside her was Lie Ren, also in white. He nodded at Ruby, smiling faintly.

Ruby had thought it obvious she and Jaune weren't together, but with how Weiss and Ren stood inches apart, she might have to re-evaluate. They didn't touch and they didn't move together. If anything, they looked like two people who had been let down by their real dates and were now sticking together for company.

That's exactly what Weiss wants, isn't it? And Ren can't be seen to be involved with anyone because of his engagement. They both had their goals in mind, but if that was what coming as friends meant, how bad did she and Jaune look arm in arm? Nervously, she slid hers out from his, hiding the motion in greeting Weiss with a hug.

"You look fantastic," Weiss said, looking up and down her dress. "I love the rose motif."

"You look good as well."

"Please. This is an old gown and we both know it. Good evening, Jaune. Ruby knows Ren of course."

"We do," Ren said, then offered a hand to Jaune. "Lie Ren of the Ren Household. I believe we met at your sister's sixteenth."

"And before," Jaune said, shaking his hand. "You entered suit for Jade's hand in marriage."

"My family entered me, yes."

Clearly, that hadn't worked out or gone through. How could they be so relaxed about their family being bandied around like currency? It just felt wrong. There didn't seem to be any ill will between them.

I wonder if Nora even came tonight. Ugh. I feel bad for her…

"Did you see that knife throw?" Weiss whispered to her.

Ruby dove into the conversation, taking it for the distraction it was. It was rare enough for Weiss to be excited about anything, let alone something Ruby could get into. Before long, however, Jaune and Ren were done with introductions and came back into the conversation.

"Weiss tells me you're intending to try for your gemstone," Ren said.

"Did she?" Ruby asked, surprised. Weiss shrugged as if to say she hadn't known what else to talk about. "We are. I wanted to stay in the Azure obviously, but you know…"

"I do. I haven't been allowed back into my own quarters yet."

"What? Still!?"

"Hmm." Ren made a frustrated sound. "Most others have been allowed in, but they're saying mine is taking a little longer to deem safe. I have no idea why. Perhaps it's above the Archives or something. If you do pass, would you mind helping with that as a favour? If it's not too much to ask."

"Sure. No point getting all that authority if I can't abuse it, right?"

Weiss looked horrified by the prospect, but Ren was far more pleased. "Thank you. I've told them they can just hand me back my research papers and I'll find another room but getting anything decided is a nightmare. I'm sure there's a lot distracting them with the Grimm in the Archives and all, but my research has been put on hold. I can't even distract myself in the Archives anymore."

"What have you been doing?"

"What little research I can outside it." He shrugged. "Not much if I'm honest. I'm starting to think about leaving the Azure myself. It just feels like such a waste when I'm so close to a breakthrough."

"Ahem." Weiss coughed into her fist. "Not to be rude, but listening to two Azures talk is… well, it's not exactly the definition of entertainment."

Not to be rude but here's an insult? Ruby rolled her eyes and Ren did the same, smirking as if he was used to it. He probably was given Nora. The Azure had been her first home in the Collegium, though, and she still held onto it fondly. Maybe there was more she could do to help them. If she got into the White, then she could enter the Azure Archives again, which meant she could figure out what was going on down there and maybe fix the place up.

If not, she could at least help with the investigation to make life easier for the Azure and get Ren's room sorted out. It wasn't like Lady Goodwitch was doing anything about it. They hadn't even mentioned it around her, which probably meant it was being handled by someone else. Someone not doing their job properly.

"We may as well go inside before it gets too busy." Jaune said. "It will save on the gawking."

"I agree," Weiss said quickly.

"Gawking?" Ruby asked.

"You'll see. Just trust us on this."

The food hall had been turned into the main dancefloor and ballroom, while the entranceway had become something of a reception. A servant offered them light snacks and tall crystalline glasses of lightly flavoured wine, then they were ushered to someone with a guestlist, who read down and ticked their names off, handing them on to a servant in a crisp black suit, who bowed and bid them follow him to the entrance.

Jaune took her arm again and this time Weiss and Ren did the same, each of them standing apart with their date. The servant gestured for the two of them first and Jaune drew her up, walking them to the top of the short steps leading down into the ballroom.

"Lord Jaune Arc of the Arc Household!" the servant boomed out in a loud, clear voice. "And his partner for the evening, Lady Ruby Rose of the Rose Household!"

Ruby swallowed nervously as the six or so people in the hall turned lazily to look their way. Someone clapped, but only one person. The hall was still mostly empty.

I guess this is why they wanted to get in early.

Walking down the steps with Jaune, she heard the crier begin again behind them. "Lord Lie Ren of the Ren Household, and his partner for the evening, Lady Weiss Schnee of the Schnee Household."

Once they were together again and away from the stairs, Ruby rounded on them. "Are they going to do that for every person who enters?"

"Every single one." Weiss said. "I told you it was important to come with someone. Imagine how damning it is when your name is announced without a partner. I'd rather not come at all than come alone. I expect most of those in here now did so and arrived early so no one would hear it announced."

"Who particular nobles come with is just as interesting in the grand scheme of things as what they wear." Ren paused to look at Jaune. "Particularly those of certain status or renown."

Jaune closed his eyes, annoyed. "I apologise."

"I did not say it was your fault," Ren said.

"Still. I apologise. It is why I prefer to get this out the way early. It won't stop them looking, but it spares us the worst. For now, anyway," he muttered. For now? What did that mean?

"Just try and have some fun," Weiss said. "We're all friends here and people will forget about us once the evening gets on and people are into their cups. I'm sure there will be someone who will make a fool of themselves before we do, and then they can become the gossip of the evening. On that note, Ruby, do whatever Jaune says. Please, for the love of everything, do not be the first person to make a fool of yourself."

"Why do you automatically assume I will?"

"Because it's you! Just trust me. Follow Jaune's lead. He knows how to handle the attention better than you do."

"She's right," he said. "The attention will be worse than you're used to because you're with me. It should be fine if we stick together but get cornered alone and they may ask you something incriminating. A wrong word, no matter how innocently it's said, could cause trouble for both of us."

Great. Just the kind of thing she hated. Ruby nodded, determined to seal her lips shut if she had to. Jaune saving her from the embarrassment of Martyn was looking more and more like a disaster. The bright side was that her Wildmagic was under control as long as he was touching her. Ample reason to let him hold onto her arm and stick close.

"Announcing Lord Martyn Malneux of House Malneux!"

Not a moment too soon.

So, the site should be up and running again. I'm sure people will PM me if it isn't. This has happened one or two times before, and people have asked why I don't post on Spacebattles or the other one I forget the name of, Sufficient Velocity?

The main reason is because it's forum-based instead of review based like here, so if someone dislikes my work here, they can post it and that's that. No drama. They can even post anonymously if they feel more comfortable. On a forum, however, if someone makes a negative post or dislikes something I write, it can turn into all-out war with people arguing for or against that PoV. It still happens here, but less intense because you don't "reply" to a review and that person doesn't get an email alert.

Now I'm fine with people having their differing opinions, but if it turned hostile then the thread would forever be getting moderator attention and it'd become my job to moderate and calm down anything like that. Given my fast schedule of updating, that'd mean having to spend so much time calming people down, wading in or making sure things don't get too intense. That may end up not being a problem most times, but it only takes one instance every other week to get tiring, and also whole threads can be locked while mods wade in or time people out, and that could be really bad when I'm trying to keep a specific schedule.

Anyway, that's the reason. It's not some deep seated hatred of the sites, lol. I admit it'd be handy when site issues like this occur, but they're thankfully very rare.

Next Chapter: 15th November

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur