A/N: I deeply apologize for such a late delay. It seems that the website has yet fixed it's problems when it comes to 'Desktop Mode' and I had to ask for a different Beta to help with this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and I am sorry for the late chapter!
Disclaimer: Brotherhoof12 does not own RWBY or the Spider-Man franchise.
(Chapter 45: Festival Debut)
Once every two years, there would be a decision made by all four kingdom's governments to choose which kingdom will host the Vytal festival.
Known and watched by people from all over Remnant, the festival served as the stage to demonstrate the skills and abilities of the next generation of huntsmen and huntresses, all under the backdrop of a tournament. The festival was founded to foster goodwill and unity between the four great kingdoms of Remnant, but it also allowed the different academies the chance to show off the results of their student's educations.
And if one of their students won, it would reflect well on their school, which would receive more funds and prestige throughout the kingdoms. It gave off the impression that if the next generation joins that winning school they too would become just as strong and famous.
This year, it was decided that the 40th Biannual Vytal Festival and Tournament would be held at in Beacon Academy. In the months since the decision, thousands of students and officials from all over Remnant converged on Vale for the event.
Today marked the first day of the festival, and already people from all of Remnant packed into the streets to both watch the games and take in the sights of the kingdom.
Two people in particular, both of whom worked at the Valean newspaper, The Daily Bugle, stood patiently on the Tarmac of Vale South Airport, standing next to several large cases packed with expensive equipment used for reporting.
"Okay, Arc, this is what's going to happen." J. Jonah Jameson told his youngest reporter, who had finished stacking the cases that held the cameras. "You might think you know Beacon like the back of your hand, since you've been there so many times interviewing Weiss Schnee and her team. But let me give your 15-year-old mind some advice."
"I'm 17, Mr. Jameson, and I'll be turning 18 at the end of the year-"Jaune quickly shut his mouth and waved his hand from his face, dispelling the smoke that came from his boss' burning cigar.
"Then let me give your 10-year-old mind some advice if you want to stay in this line of work." Jameson took another puff of his cigar and blew out smoke away from Jaune's general direction. "You're going to be meeting different news crews from all over Remnant. I'm talking about the big ones like the Mistral Herald and Atlas Globe, to even gossip rags like WE magazine and International Surveyor, among countless others. Each of them is gunning for the biggest stories to find at the festival. They plan to leave us with nothing but the scraps, usually footage of combat 'Fails' or interviews of the losers from the first rounds just so we can have some viewership."
"That's a bit hurtful, Mr. Jameson." Jaune would hate it if Ruby and her team lost. They were participating this year, alongside other freshmen teams that Beacon Academy had deemed capable enough to participate.
When Ruby called him and told him her team was going to compete, he was so happy to hear that and he promised to be there to support them. But after hearing about what his boss said about interviewing those who lost in the first rounds, it made him think about what Ruby, and how she'd react if her team lost. He didn't even want to imagine how she'd feel about losing before showing everyone what she was really capable of.
"Don't you think you're being a little too hurtful?" upon hearing the boy's words, Jameson looked at Jaune like he had grown a second head.
"The truth is hurtful? Son, you should know by now that the truth always hurts. You need an example? Fire burns when you touch it. That's the truth. Another is that people bleed when they're cut. Or better yet, when you find out that your fiancé was cheating on you with your best man, even after wasting months sending RSVP's and finding the best damn silverware to use at the reception! Evening go so far as to pay extra for engraving your initials on said silverware!"
Jaune kept his silence as the old reporter ranted on, "The truth hurts, and kid, it's a necessary pain. And the only way to handle it is to grow some thick skin! If someone loses, then they got to own up and get better! If we start ignoring the little truths it'll start accumulating into one big lie! You're a reporter, Arc! Not a bleeding-heart hippy! When you're on the job, you don't make friends with the people you're interviewing!"
Jaune had been expecting JJ to go on a rant about how a reporter had to be ruthless in doing their work. Yet the man's expression wasn't his usual smug, jerky, self condescending look. It was firm, professional, and above all sincere as he continued to explain what the truth means making Jaune Arc start to see why J.J is in charge of the Bugle.
"We reporters might seem like vultures, but that's only because we're always hungering to know the why's and how's! But we always try to stay a neutral voice, our opinions untainted by opposing views!"
'Huh, That was… actually good advice.' The blonde looked at his boss with new respect. "I never really thought about that, Mr. Jameson."
"Of course, you haven't. You've only been a reporter for a few months and I've seen many bright young reporters fall to the side when the responsibility becomes too much for them. When we do our job out there, you need to remember that Huntsmen aren't the only ones fighting! We're also fighting our own battle!"
JJ pointed his finger up at the sky with a defiant look, as though he were challenging the heavens.
"It's the battle for media coverage! Every time the Bugle tries their luck at covering the festival, we always get beaten by Lisa Lavender and other popular news channels from the other kingdoms in viewership! This time, it'll be different! We'll be here 24 hours day, seven days this whole week! Always on watch and ever vigilant! And you're going to be the one to do it!"
"Yeah!" Jaune Arc cheered, inspired by his boss' speech. But then reality kicked in and his motivation did a downward spiral when he processed the man's last few words. "Sorry, can you back up a second, what?"
"You heard me, Arc! This is going to be your trial by fire!" Jameson wrapped an arm around Jaune's shoulders, pulling the teen closer, and waved his free arm over the vast arena. "You're going to in the thick of it, standing with the crowds as they scream and cheer! Of course, I'll be doing my part talking to the folks who funded the festival in one of the arena's luxury boxes! Gods, I can feel the memories rushing back to me, back when I was just a dumb kid like you! I was thirsty for the news back then, and you'll feel just the same once the day is over!"
'It sounds like you're dumping most of the work on me!' Is what Jaune wanted to say, yet he chose to keep his mouth shut.
If Jaune were being honest, it sounded like the job JJ described was going to be backbreaking and annoying. At the same time, the teenager couldn't help but feel curious on how he'll perform reporting on something other than Ruby and her friends. He recalled that half of his family was hunters, and they never really thought about participating in the Vytal tournament, instead choosing to watch it on the large TV in the family living room. They would comment on how some of the teams sucked and pointed out the flaws in their strategies, fighting styles, and even their poor use of their weapons. Not once did they even consider participating, choosing instead to just watch and comment on how it was all just a waste of time.
For Jaune, this was possibly the best chance he had of seeing the tournament in-person, instead of on a television screen.
A chance that was also free, so that was a plus too!
Even if he had to work.
The sound of rushing air made Jaune look above. He watched as large airship hovered in the sky before landing before him and his boss on the tarmac. The airship's engines died down and the side door of the jet slid open to reveal two men dressed in matching grey jumpsuits and bright orange vests. Both men exited the craft and moved to the back of it, waiting for a fueling truck that was heading toward their location.
Following after the two workers were the pilots, all decked out in their uniforms and helmets. It was obvious to the pair of reporters that the two orange-vested men were refueling the airship, perhaps even loading their luggage onto the ship once they were finished. The two pilots walked past Jaune and Jonah and entered the air terminal, most likely to take a moment's rest.
"They're going to refuel this airship; it'll be ready for takeoff in about two hours, Arc. Make sure you let your Aunt know about what your plans are for today, and that you'll have to stay a few nights at Beacon." Jaune looked in surprise at what JJ said. The old man explained further. "It would be a waste of lien and fuel going back and forth between Beacon and the airport. Don't worry about lodging either, because there will be so many people there, especially from among Vale's rich and elite. Those people will have airships with their very own rooms. Your lodgings will already be paid for, if everything is approved by your guardian."
Jaune looked at the man in awe, "Mr. Jameson..."
This was all too sudden! Earlier, he was told that he just had to help move all this equipment to the airport. Now his boss was giving him a chance to do some actual reporting, instead of just interviewing his friends. "I really don't know what to say about this."
"Say that you'll do it and actually mean it, Arc." Jameson removed his now burnt cigar from his mouth and snubbed it against the pavement. "You're young, recently promoted, and now taking part in an event that's only held every two years. Wake up and see that life is literally lining up for you! Don't waste it and don't even consider about sabotaging yourself with some excuse. Call your guardian and explain what I'm offering. I'm positive she'll side with me on this one."
Jameson left the boy to muse over his offer, entering the airship and leaving Jaune alone with his thoughts. The boy weighed pros and cons of this offer, but Jaune already made his decision, as his hand had just pulled out his scroll to contact Aunt May.
"Hello?" Only a second had passed after he dialed her number and Mrs. Parker was already answering his call. "Jaune? You there?"
"Hey, Aunt May." He spoke with a steady voice just as his eyes landed on a certain clock tower. "This might seem out of the blue, but I need to ask you a question."
Jaune wondered how a place that was designed for the sole purpose of training teenagers to fight monsters could host something resembling a carnival. The Beacon Academy he had spent the last few weeks visiting hardly resembled the school he had become familiar with.
The school's vast courtyard, which had once been empty save for the students and faculty milling about had transformed. Where there were once open fields now stood a festive and congested labyrinth. Thousands of people flooded this maze of tents and stands, where food was being served, games were being played, and Beacon merchandise was being peddled. Once there had been a relative silence in the area, now replaced by a thunderous cacophony of yelling and laughter. Off in the distance, in the plaza where the statue stood, a stage had been set up near the monument. A band was performing, their music sending their listeners into a frenzy as the volume increased.
It was honestly breathtaking.
"Seeing this almost makes me forget that Beacon is a prestigious school with all these people here." Taking his camera, Jaune snapped a few pictures of people dancing next to the stage and of the many activities scattered throughout this fair. "Man, I can see students from the other kingdoms here too!"
Jaune wasn't sure which student came from which school, but he could make out the uniforms worn by Beacon's students, who had joined in the festivities, mingling with civilians and the guest students. Snapping a couple of more pictures, Jaune moved his camera to the front of the school building where only students and faculty entered and to make sure it was enforced Atlas and local police blocked it off.
Jaune moved the sights of his camera to the front of the school, snapping a few photos of the entrance, which had been blocked off by Atlas soldiers and local police. The only ones permitted to enter the academy were students and faculty.
'Everyone's sure having a great time,' He raised his camera to the sky, zooming in on the large battleships floating above. He quickly took a few snapshots of the ships. 'But I'm sure the military is more on edge with all these people here. After what happened at the breach, I'm positive Atlas and Vale's police are doubling down on security.'
And he really can't blame them for the added firepower. From what he recalled the last time he had been here, Ruby explained how Atlas soldiers had only been equipped with their standard rifles and body armor. In the time since the breach, they had opted for more gear like heavy armor, extra ammo pouches, side arms attached to their waists. Some were even carrying large packs that held what Jaune can only assume to be ammunitions for the machine gun some were hefting around.
'Police seem to share the same mindset, though I can't say I blame them.' It was weird to see the Vale police decked out in armor holding rifles, shotguns, and even some metal riot shields. But considering that the city had just survived a large terrorist attack that led to a massive Grimm invasion, the young spider was sure that people felt more at ease to see an officer armed with a rifle rather a revolver.
For a moment, he wondered why Vale's own military wasn't present, only to remember that the kingdom had sent their forces to patrol the kingdom's borders. Shrugging that tidbit off, the teen continued his photo op.
'People might be able to check out what's outside, but inside is a whole different story.' Suddenly, Jaune heard the sound of hundreds of people gasping in awe and when he turned, he can see why. 'Then again, when you have something like that, who'd want to see what's inside the school?'
It was flat on the top and was shaped like a circle making it more like an arena rather than a castle. How it was able to float and not having falling rocks crash into Vale was explained by the equally large gravity dust crystal jutting underneath it.
The sight above him made Jaune think back to his earliest childhood memories, back to the time he and his sisters had watched an animated movie about a castle in the sky. What he was seeing now was that childhood fantasy made real, as he saw a vast floating colosseum hover miles above Beacon, with the equally large gravity Dust crystal jutting from beneath it. He had heard about this structure, had seen it on the internet and television, but seeing it in person was something else.
Amity Arena, the traditional setting for the Vytal Tournament..
"To think that crystal is the only thing holding it up." Jaune used his camera to take some pictures of the flying colosseum and saw that the crystal was surrounded by a hard-light shield. "They use gravity Dust to keep it afloat while a hard light Dust barrier holds the crystal together. If the Fang were to attack during the tournament, it might cause a chain reaction if they try to attack the crystal. I guess the new barrier was added for that reason. Kind of makes me glad for the added protection."
Seeing that he had taken enough photos of the festivities, Jaune pulled out his scroll to check the time.
"It's almost time for the main event." Jaune sighed in despair at the implications of what comes next. "The festival's down here, but the tournament is at the stadium way up there. And the only way there is on the School's bullheads, which means..."
He looked to the sky and saw dozens of bullheads flying up to the colosseum.
"I have to go back in the air!
After 30 long minutes of an excruciating, nauseating, and torturous flight, Jaune was finally free to void his stomach in the nearest restroom. The fact he had held it in for so long was a miracle in his opinion. As he walked out of the restroom, the young reported was feeling much better, and it seemed luck was on his side when he came across a directory assistance desk.
After receiving the directions he desired, he showed the clerks his press pass, letting them know he was a reporter for the Daily Bugle. Eventually, Jaune reached a section of the colosseum that had been set up for the media. He flashed his pass to security and they allowed him through. He found the press booth that had been reserved for some newspapers, the Bugle among them.
"Arc!" Greeting him there was none other JJ, who had been waiting for him along with other bugle reporters. "Glad to see you here! Did you enjoy what the school had down below?"
"Yeah," Jaune raised his camera. "I also got some good shots too. Maybe we can add some to the paper? Show our readers that the Vytal festival isn't just about students fighting?"
"Sounds promising, we'll talk about it later. For now, I want you to meet with your coworkers." Jameson moved aside to let Jaune see who he'll be working with. "You know most of the people at the office, but now that you're a reporter, you'll be needed in the field more often than when you were a photographer. These three have been working as reporters for years, so make sure you absorb whatever knowledge they pass on, understood?"
"Nice to meet you all." Jaune greeted the three reporters. The three adults didn't respond with words, but acknowledging nods as they continued setting up their equipment.
If it had been anyone else, they would have thought his introduction rude and they'd be right. However, Jaune understood their disinterest toward him. Out of everyone present, he was the youngest reporter. 'They probably feel threatened that someone so young was promoted so quickly. If I really want them to respect me, I'll have to show them that I take my work seriously.'
Suddenly, a static reverb rippled through the stadium speakers, which was soon replaced by a booming and boisterous voice.
"Attention, will all participants please go to your waiting rooms. All spectators please take your seats. The first round will begin shortly! Thank you!"
The PA system died down, the sounds of rushing feet and excited chatter echoing throughout the stadium. People seemed to be in a hurry to get to their seats.
"This is it, people! Get to your spots and make sure you get all the angles! Make every second count!" JJ barked out as the reporters finished setting up before scrambling to their positions.
"Arc! Just listen to what they need from you if they need help. Make sure you get as much footage and pictures as you can, understand? I'll be heading up top to bump elbows with Vale's well-off."
Jameson turned to make his exit, only to turn around and remind his employees of one very important detail. "And remember, after the first round is over, our competitors are going to try and interview the winners. I want the Bugle to get the first interview, so one of you better get it!"
"Got it!" All four reporters said in one voice.
J.J nodded at his employees' enthusiasm and walked out of the press booth, leaving his reporters to their devices. Like a well-oiled machine, they went to work with a practiced poise. As they worked, Jaune set about familiarizing himself with his coworkers. The first reporter, a woman wearing baggy pants and a long-sleeved shirt, controlled the tripod holding the video camera. Another female reporter, a blonde wearing tights jeans and a black sweater, was checking her mic and headphones to see if they were properly working. The final reporter was a man wearing khaki shorts, a red shirt with a spider symbol upon it, over which he wore a short-sleeved button up shirt. He was manning the laptop that their scrolls were connected to.
'Okay, Jaune, first time being a reporter, working with other reporters.' If Jaune hadn't been feeling nervous before, he was now. 'Gods, I'm happy that I'm not doing this alone, but the weight of my experience compared to theirs is really making me see the wide gap between us.'
"Hey, Arc," The boy looked to the man on the laptop. "I'm gonna need some help here if you're able. You any good with computers?"
'My time to shine!' Jaune cheered.
Now, Jaune had no pretensions of being tech-savvy. Things like hacking or unlocking of the sort, he hadn't the slightest idea. But if what he saw on the screen was any indicator, then all he really had to was some quick typing and waiting until the problem was solved.
He walked over to the laptop and began typing, "You got some corrupted files, but luckily enough it's a simple fix. Here, I've already recovered them and fixed them."
The man saw the boy's work and nodded in approval, "Wow, good work, kid. I wanted to look it up online, but all the net traffic here is slowing it down."
They were lucky the problem had been solved in time, as the PA system starting blaring music, eliciting shouts of excitement from the audience. The tournament was about to begin!
"Look alive, Arc!" The camerawoman shouted, getting his attention. "Grab your camera and get a good shot of the arena, before the competition beat us to it!"
"You got it," Jaune rushed to the window and observed the arena below. He raised his camera and smiled, "I'll make sure to get the very best pictures."
The minute he looked through the viewfinder, he saw two teams were already making their way to the stage. To his surprise, Team RWBY was one of the two teams. He smiled when he spotted Ruby, who was waving nervously at the cheering masses as she approached the center stage.
"So, Ruby and her team are in the first match." Jaune directed his gaze toward RWBY's competition and noted their appearances. They were dressed as uniquely as RWBY, and they had their own weapons. He could've sworn that one was carrying what looked like a hover board. "Appearances aside, I can tell these guys aren't pushovers. The girls have their work cut out for them... wait, hold up!"
Jaune looked at his camera and then at his fellow reporters. That was when realization dawned on him.
"I'm taking pictures of the fight…. I'm just doing the same job I've been doing for months!"
"AND SO ENDS TODAY'S LAST MATCH, WINNER: TEAM NPR! I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THIS WONDERFUL FIRST DAY OF THE VYTAL TOURNAMENT. PLEASE GIVE THESE STUDENTS ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEIR EFFORTS! THE NEXT ROUND WILL BEGIN TOMORROW AFTERNOON, WITH THE MATCHES BEING TWO-ON-TWO BATTLES!"
"PLEASE LEAVE YOUR SEATS AN ORDERLY FASION. THE CONSESSION STANDS WILL STAY OPEN UNTIL 8 PM. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH FULL BELLIES, TAKE A MOMENT TO VISIT THE GIFTS SHOPS LOCATED AT EACH ENTRANCE. BE SURE TO PURCHASE OUR WONDERFUL BEACON MERCH! YOU CONTRIBUTION IS WOULD BE VERY WELCOME TO BEACON. THANK YOU AND SEE YOU TOMORROW!"
Jaune couldn't help but marvel at what he had witnessed. The first round had been amazing! The teamwork, action, and incredible power he watched put all the action movies he had seen to shame. Even from the press booth, he can hear that the audience had yet calm down, if their excited cheers were anything to go on. The same can be said for Jaune and his co-workers, whom were all congratulating each other and commenting on all the matches.
"Jaune," The camerawoman called out. "We're gonna hang back to take everything down. You go on ahead and try and talk to one of the winning teams before the other reporters do."
"I'm on it!" Jaune exclaimed as he slung his camera to his side. Quickly, he made his way out of the booth and into the colosseum corridors. Now free to move about, he set out in search of a team to interview. But then the blonde remembered that he had the leader of a winning team on speed-dial. He pulled out his scroll and dialed Ruby's number.
"Jaune!" Ruby answered excitedly through the scroll. Apparently, Team RWBY was still on an emotional high, given Yang's hollering in the background. "Are you here in Amity? I didn't see you there, but did you see it on TV?"
"I'm actually here, Ruby! I'll explain later, but I just want to congratulate you and your team on your victory!"
"Thanks! We honestly thought that other team was a real challenge. We thought they'd be sore about losing, but we talked to them and they're really nice!" Jaune received a text from Ruby. Within that text was an attached picture of RWBY with ABRN, the team they had defeated. "Did you see Pyrrha's team fight? It was awesome! Pyrrha was to hold them all off on her own, giving enough time for Nora to charge up and take them down in one hit!"
"I did see that, yeah." Jaune knew that there would be some students that would be better than others. But Pyrrha and her teammates really made an impression on Jaune, especially after seeing them in action. If he had been accepted into Beacon, he wouldn't have minded being on their team. 'No. Don't think about what could have happened. Remember, Jaune, you dropped that notion of ever trying to be a Huntsmen.'
Jaune pushed those thoughts aside and asked his friend, "I was actually wondering if you're still here. My boss wanted me to interview one of the winning teams, so I was hoping I can talk to you guys."
Ruby didn't reply immediately and Juane could hear her asking her team for their thoughts on the matter. Jaune wasn't sure if he was being too direct with his question or if he was being too rude. After all, Ruby had just finished a tough battle and the last thing she needed was some guy pestering her for an interview, even if said guy was a friend.
'Maybe I'm just being a little too pushy.'
"Sure! We talked it over and you can come along with us!"
'Maybe not.'
"Thanks, Ruby!" He said in a relieved tone. "Say, where are you anyway?"
"We're already at the docks, but we'll wait for you! I'll even drop you a pin!" Again, Jaune received a message from Ruby, this time showing him her location. "See you soon, Jaune!"
She ended the call, leaving Jaune alone to his thoughts. At first, he was pleased that didn't have to go through all that red tape just talk a team. That joy was immediately replaced by horror once he realized where RWBY was.
"They're planning to leave Amity." Jaune's stomach curled on the inside. "Amity… a large stadium… in the sky; which means... which can only mean..." Jaune looked the sky and frowned.
"I have to board an airship again!"
"GHAHAHAHAHAHA-HAA- OWW, THAT HURT, WEISS!" The heiress had just slapped the back of Yang's head to stop her incessant laughter, and to keep Jaune from sinking any lower than the chair he sat on.
After returning safely to the ground, Jaune had to suffer the utter embarrassment of vomiting his guts out. The moment the bullhead landed, the blonde reporter bolted out of his seat, only to be cut off by another passenger. The passenger had the unfortunate fate of having their elbow collide with Jaune's stomach. What followed was the boy throwing up on the hapless passenger. The force of the projectile vomit caused it to splash off that person and onto some of the other passengers, save for RWBY.
After several minutes of shouting, cursing, and some apologies, the teens were able to get out of that situation and make their way to a nearby ramen stand.
The owner of the stand, an old man with a thinning hairline, took their orders and prepared large bowls of ramen. Well, four of the five teens ordered ramen. After vomiting twice in one day, Jaune didn't want to eat anything.
That didn't stop the old man from pushing a large glass of ginger ale with ice in front of the boy. "Sir, I didn't make an order."
"It's to help your stomach. Don't worry about payment, it's on the house." The old shopkeeper turned to team RWBY, "Separate or together?"
"I'll be paying for the four of us, sir." Weiss said with a proud smile as she pulled out a credit card, which she handed to the old man. Just when they were about to dig it, the owner of the ramen stand handed the card back to Weiss.
"Sorry, Ma'am," He said cordially, but the stern expression on his face said otherwise. "Your card's been declined."
"What!" Weiss squawked indignantly, "There must be some kind of mistake!"
Jaune was rather surprised to see the usually calm and composed girl act like that.
"No mistake, your card's useless." Having said his piece, the old man started taking the bowls back.
'That's weird. Why would Weiss, being the second oldest daughter of the Schnee family, have her card rejected? It must have been recently cancelled for her react like that.' If Jaune had to hazard a guess, it was likely that her father was responsible. 'If so, why is she so surprised? Whitley told me how Weiss went against their father when she decided to attend Beacon. So, why wasn't she prepared for something like this? Surely she'd have saved some lien for times like this?'
He watched Weiss staring down at her card in despair, muttering some incoherent words. Ruby and Yang were just as disappointed; knowing that they had lost what was essentially their lunch.
Blake seemed to be the one most affected by this.
"NO!" Blake stared at the table that once held her giant ramen bowl in disbelief. Then she looked at the old man who took it away before returning her gaze to the vacant spot that once held her bowl. Tears welled up as she grieved for the loss of her coveted tuna and noodles.
"NO! No~!" Blake uncharacteristically cried as she pressed her head onto the table, hands on her head, with her hidden cat ears folding down in despair.
'Woman, does Beacon not feed you?!' Jaune thought in bewilderment at the Faunus girl's behavior. He was especially shocked to see that her teammates weren't at all concerned about her sudden uncharacteristic display. 'And why are you guys being so nonchalant about this? Does this mean you guys are used to Blake's antics!? What happened to the mysterious huntress with a dark past?! Was it all a lie?! Does that mean Blake's true self is more cat than person!?'
"Don't you two have any lien?" Jaune asked Ruby and Yang. 'Should I maybe ask Blake? No… she's already breaking down and I seriously doubt she has any cash if even Weiss, of all people, didn't prepare for the worst.'
"No, we were told to leave anything that can fit in our pockets in our rooms." Yang explained. "Also, we're used to Weiss paying for things, especially stuff like food."
'It sounds more like you're mooching off her.' It really was rude now that Jaune thought about it.
It reminded him of when Harry had tried to get friends by spending lien to win their favor. 'Then again, I really shouldn't criticize them. Whitley said his dad's a jerk, not to mention filthy rich. A couple dozen liens is probably chump change to someone like that. So, is there something more to what's going on? Is Weiss' father cutting her off to test how she can provide for herself, or is he trying to make her finally admit defeat and go back to Atlas? I'm probably looking too much into this. I'll let Whitley know; maybe he can shed some light on the matter. In the meantime…'
"Sir," Jaune pulled out his card and placed it on the table. "I changed my mind. I'd like to place an order for a bowl. Actually, make that five bowls, and I'd like the four that you were about to toss out. As for my order, I'd like whatever you recommend, sir."
Nodding at the request, the owner took the card and returned the bowls to the girls.
"Jaune, wait…" Ruby spoke up. "We can't let you do that, right, girl- eh!?"
"Why is my card declined?" Weiss wondered aloud, completely oblivious to what was happening around her, "I'm Weiss Schnee and I know for a fact you know this. My family practically owns all the banks in Atlas, so I know for a fact you're not going to talk your way out of this while pushing the tab onto someone else. Actually, yes, I would like to talk to someone right now. Where is your manager?!"
"Fish~ Fish~ Fish~!" Blake's demeanor did a complete 180 when her food was returned to her. She went from a full mental breakdown to sunshine-and-rainbows. Her elation was cut short when she saw that Ruby and Jaune were staring at her. Her face blushed in embarrassment and she reverted back to her usual stoic and aloof persona. "Thank you for the fish, Jaune. We'll make sure to repay you for this kindness."
'Oh, yeah, right! Forget about equality, you're pretty much a walking stereotype now! And you four are the last people I'd trust when it comes to owing me money!' Jaune's right eyebrow twitched as he watched Blake dig into her dish.
"Thanks, Jaune!" Yang told her fellow blonde. "Glad to know you're such a gentleman! Am I right, Ruby?"
"Mm-hmm..." Ruby's cheeks turned as red as her hood. "I mean, Thank you, Jaune! We're sorry that this happened!"
"It's alright, Ruby." He looked down and saw that his order was a bowl of ramen with large cuts of pork and eggs. "Just consider this a celebration of your win today."
"Oh? If so, then might my team join in on the celebration?" A new voice asked from behind. The group turned to look at the new presence.
"Hello, again~" The leader of two sang as she waved her hand in greeting. Following behind her were Ren and Nora.
"Pyrrha!" Ruby was the first to get of her set to give her fellow team leader a hug. "Glad you guys could make it! We saw your fight, it was amazing!"
"The same can be said about yours as well." The three took the vacant seats next to Jaune and ordered their own bowls of ramen. "Our opponents were nothing to scoff at either. Their sniper had quite the eye. If I were being honest, she might be as good a shot as you, Ruby."
"Hmph!" Ruby huffed and puffed her chest out; Jaune couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at her reaction. "She was alright. She had a good rifle and provided some good suppressing fire. But she really should have picked a better vantage point. That tree didn't give her enough cover, making it easy for you to spot her."
"Yes, I can agree with you on that." The Mistral champion told the reaper. "Honestly, it was quite fortunate their sniper was not taking full advantage of her surroundings. It made it quite easy for Nora to get up that hill. It made it easier for Nora to take them all out in one hit, too."
"Yeah!" Nora inserted herself into the conversation. "When I saw all four of them together, I just had to take them out with my hammer! I mean, like, really?! They were just grouped together, not even trying to distance themselves from each other; it was too good an opportunity to pass up!"
The two teams spent much of their conversation discussing their matches and brainstorming ideas on how to improve for tomorrow's rounds. They even spoke about the flaws they noticed in their strategies leading to discussions on how work around them. Watching them talk made Jaune realize just how close the two teams were to each other.
'If only they knew what was really going on.' The boy glumly thought. Teams PNR and RWBY were not the only teams to advance to the next round. Many teams had won, but there was one that he wished hadn't.
Suddenly, Jaune felt an all too familiar tingle in the back of his skull. Jaune turned in his chair and saw what set of his spider-sense. 'Great. It's them.'
"Hey, you guys! Fancy seeing you here." Emerald Sustrai, or 'Lackey #1' as Jaune referred to her, announced her presence to the teams. "I hope you're enjoying the festival."
"Hey, Emerald!" Ruby, being the friendly person she was, greeted Emerald. If only she knew her new 'friend' was one of the people responsible for the Breach. "Yeah, it's quite the coincidence that we're all here at the same time!"
That was when Ruby noticed that Emerald was alone. She asked the greenette. "Where's the rest of your team, Emerald?"
"Oh, Merc is actually over there looking to buy some new boots." Emerald turned and pointed a finger at t stand that had captured Mercury's attention.
Jaune was rather surprised to see that. There was a stand that was selling boots?! Of course, not many people were interested in footwear. Save for one Mercury Black, assassin and partner to Emerald and one of Cinder's assistants in her plan to destroy Vale.
'Only these two.' Jaune remembered the last time they fought, with him coming out on top. 'If I fight them now, I'm sure I'd win again. Emerald has that illusion semblance, but it's useless against me. Mercury only showed his neat foot technique and nothing else, so maybe he's hiding his semblance for later? Maybe during the next round?'
"I saw your team's fight." Jaune said making everyone look at him. "It ended much quicker than anyone thought. In fact, it was so quick that it looked like your opponents had no chance whatsoever at fighting back."
"Well," Emerald gave Jaune a sickeningly sweet smile as she talked. "That just shows how hard we trained compared to them."
"Yeah, you're two other teammates showed their stuff." Jaune was talking about was of course Cinder and their silent fourth member. 'Neo was using the same disguise from when I stopped that purse snatcher too. I knew It was a bit odd that as soon as I stopped that one another one popped up.'
"Yeah, our leader was really excited when our team finally got to fight."
"A little too excited, I'd say. She was brutal. I'd go as far to say she was enjoying it." Jaune pressed a little further.
"Well, we are training to kill monsters." Emerald's smile started to strain as she defended her team. "We're not supposed to be friendly. This tournament is meant to rough our way of life is, but people tend to forget that when they've got all these flashy signs and good food."
Jaune kept his stoic gaze on her, "Yeah. A pity that.
What started out as a small gathering of friends enjoying their time together became a tense confrontation.
Everyone present could feel the tension in the air. They didn't know what was going on between Jaune and Emerald. As far as RWBY and PNR knew, the two teens were nothing more than acquaintances. They wondered just what warranted this mutual hostility. The two teams watched as Jaune and Emerald kept their gazes on each other, not backing down from the tense stare-off they had initiated. For a moment, it seemed like this contest was going to last for hours. That is until someone caught their attention, one who wasn't seated at the ramen stand.
"Hey, Em!" Mercury called out to his partner, carrying a bag full of merchandise and a wearing shirt that read 'Ask me about my time at Beacon' over his jacket. "Guess what I got... Huh, what's going on here?"
Everyone stared unsurely at him, now free from intense atmosphere generated by Jaune and Emerald's heated discussion.
Mercury blinked, "…What I miss?"
The two teams didn't ask about what happened, even after Emerald bade them farewell and dragged her partner away. Jaune brushed it aside and resumed enjoying the festival with them. He stayed with all throughout the day, right to the moment when the sun began to set. Jaune had been ready to call it a day when he received a call from JJ.
To his surprise, he was to be his boss' plus one to a gathering of Vale's most influential citizens. JJ provided the location of the event via scroll, informing Jaune that a suit had been delivered to his room. Jaune was pleased to know that the party wasn't being held at Amity. The last thing he wanted was to show up in a vomit stained suit.
And so Jaune Arc found himself standing within Beacon's ballroom, dressed in a suit that he could never afford, mingling with Remnant's richest.
'God,' Jaune tugged his collar. 'They did not know what size to give me, cause I feel like if I try to sneeze I would cause a dress malfunction. I wonder, if I get angry with this on would only the dress pants be intact?'
"Arc, glad to see you here." Dressed in a finely-tailored tuxedo, J. Jonah Jameson greeted his youngest reporter. Standing next to the old reporter was another man, "I'm sure you've heard of this man?"
Jonah introduced the man, "This man here is-"
"Jaune," The reporter watched in shock as Norman raised his hand to Jaune. "I can't tell you how relieved I am to see a familiar face."
Jaune took the offered hand and shook it, "Hello, Mr. Osborn. I didn't know you were back in Vale. How's Harry doing?
"We arrived today, actually. My dealings had concluded quicker than I expected. When I saw that the Vytal Festival was in full swing, my son and I were on the first airship heading to Vale. I wanted to see how the tournament played out." After finishing his explanation, Osborn turned to a still surprised Jameson and said. "He and my son are classmates, best friends, actually."
"I see," JJ glanced at Jaune and then back to Osborn. "Well, Arc here is my newest reporter. He's a hard worker, so I decided to promote him from freelancer to full reporter, the youngest on my staff."
"Hard work and grit always bring the best rewards." Osborn reached into his suit's breast pocket, pulling out a business card which he handed to JJ. "I've planning to reveal my company's new project soon, once we finished running a few more tests. When we're ready to unveil, I'll make the Bugle the first paper to know, Jonah. Now, I'd like to talk with Mr. Arc in private for a bit, unless you need him to work right now?"
"Not at all. A pleasure to see you again, Norman." JJ told the businessman as he pocketed the card away. "Arc, be on your best behavior. This is high society, not one of your school's pep rallies."
Jaune watched as his boss faded into the sea of socialites, leaving him to speak with the father of his best friend. Osborn motioned to the young reporter to follow him to the balcony on the top floor. Once outside, Jaune took the moment to look upon the school grounds. It amazed him to see that even after the sun had set, the festival was still in full swing. The lights of the stands and rides shone in the distant darkness, the sounds of people enjoying the festivities filling the air. He can even see that the city was abuzz with activity. Such a sight made Jaune realize just how large the Vytal Festival truly was.
"It's nice looking at it all, isn't it?" Osborn said. "Tell me, Jaune, what do you think of it all? The Academy and the festival."
"What I saw today was really great." Jaune wasn't lying when he said that. He saw how much work had been put into planning all this. From the flying arena to the nice amusement rides, he can understand why the festival was so popular. "I think Vale really needed something like this, especially after the Breach."
"Yes," Osborn stood next to Jaune and took in the sight of the festival. "The Breach was indeed something many people would want to forget. Though, I'd like to say it was a real wake-up call for Vale. People nowadays seem to forget that Remnant is a dangerous place and that monsters are quite literally in our backyards. The Breach made us realize this and we're more aware of what's at stake. The illusion of safety has lifted and yet the Council wants to keep us in a false sense of security. And what better way to do that than a flashy tournament?"
'That sounds like something Emerald would say.' Jaune thought before he asked. "You don't like the festival, Mr. Osborn?"
"I hate it. I find it wasteful to spend so much money on something like this. We already do this with sports, yet why bother with the Huntsman Academies? Entertainment, obviously. Why would we watch average people throw a ball when we watch people hurl lighting or fire? Do you know the reason why, Jaune?"
"Aura." Jaune answered. "Because huntsmen schools are monitored by staff and the students have aura to protect them. It's understandable why people would rather watch that rather than normal sports. Where's the fun in watching a ball being passed around when we can watch people fight without any of the fatal consequences?"
Osborn shook his head, "It's sad to see that even after all the progress we made, humanity will always revert to that base need for violence. But yes, people do tend to watch these fights as some form of wish fulfilment. But do they ever think of training so they can experience that same pleasure? No, they'd rather just sit back and let other people do it for them."
"Yeah," This conversation was starting to dampen Jaune's spirits. "That's a pretty grim outlook. I think sometimes it's alright to enjoy things like the festival. It helps remind us that the world isn't all bleak and dark."
"I won't fault you for that, Jaune." Silence came between the both of them as they continued to watch the festival.
"You know, the reason I'm talking about this is because it reminds me of what happens to people like you, Jaune."
"Me?" Jaune was confused by the man's word. The number of people who knew why he came to Vale could be counted on one hand. Mr. Osborn was one of those people.
"Yes, you see, Jaune, not many people have the same drive as you. Someone like you, who came to this city to chase a dream beyond your reach." Jaune felt as though Mr. Osborn was belittling him, but then he saw the older gentlemen giving him a fatherly smile. "You're a good friend to my son, Jaune. As well as an example of what I wish to see in him. I was like you once, penniless and without a name, yet that didn't stop me from climbing my way up to the top, regardless of whatever obstacles get in my way. Sadly, due to my success, I also inadvertently raised my boy with a silver spoon in his mouth. He'll never understand what it means to be hungry, to be born with literally nothing. Not you though."
Jaune watched as Mr. Osborn regarded him with a gaze filled with nothing but respect. It was as though the businessman was looking upon him like he they were equals.
"You came to this city nothing but the clothes on your back. You found a nice home, studied hard in school, found a job, received a promotion at so young an age, and now you're standing here talking to one of the richest men in Vale."
Osborn raised his hand to the young man, "Jaune Arc, you have my respect."
Here at this moment, Jaune Arc was left speechless by what he had heard. The feeling he was having was not one of guilt or self-deprecation, but elation. Someone as important as Norman Osborn was acknowledging him for his hard work.
'I didn't get to where I am without help.' The blond thought back to all the people who believed in him. People like Ruby, Aunt May, JJ, Mr. McCarran, Whitley, and Uncle Ben came to the forefront of his mind. 'But…. It still feels nice to know someone like Mr. Osborn thinks I'm doing a good job.'
Jaune took the offered hand and gave it a firm shake. "Thank you, Mr. Osborn."
"You're welcome, son." Osborn looked at his watch and his eyebrows rose. "Wow, look at the time. All this talk about self-perseverance certainly made time fly! I have to get back to my typical routine of shaking hands, nodding my head in agreement, and pushing brown-nosers away. I'll let Harry know you're here, so he can enjoy the festival with a friend."
Osborn turned to walk back inside only to stop midway. He looked over his shoulder at Jaune.
"Oh, and Jaune," His face turned dark. "I might dislike the council's decision to host the festival, but I don't trust the person in charge of it. I'm speaking of Beacon's headmaster, Ozpin."
'Ozpin? Qrow's boss?' Jaune thought. 'What's the story between him and Mr. Osborn?'
"In my years as a businessman, I've learned to recognize when a person is acting out of personal interest. But that Ozpin," Norman shook his head. "The man may be teaching the next generation of hunters, yet I feel he isn't doing it out for altruistic reasons. No, I feel that he is only interested in churning out as many huntsman and huntresses as he can. Like a cog in a machine, Ozpin is just trying to keep the gears going, regardless of how many cogs he breaks. Be careful with such a man if you ever meet him, Jaune. Trust me, I may be a corporate shark, but even I have some standards."
Leaving Jaune to mull over his words, Mr. Osborn returned to the ballroom, mingling with his associates.
Jaune stood there for a few seconds, trying to process what the businessman had told him. He sighed and scratched his head. "Well, this just keeps getting more and more complicated. I don't know much about Ozpin, but maybe I'll know more once Qrow introduces me to him. I'm just gonna file that tidbit away until I talk to Whitley about it later."
Pushing those thoughts to back of his mind, Jaune returned to the ballroom, intent on looking for his boss. But then he noticed that a great number of people were congregating in one spot. Curious as what warranted such attention, Jaune strolled toward the growing crowd.
"Excuse me," Jaune pushed his way into the crowd. "Pardon me."
As he edged closer to the center of the group, he found that some were too stubborn to move than most. But thanks to his super strength he easily passed them by. "Sorry for pushing."
Eventually, he found what had drawn all these people's interests. To his joy, it was another familiar face.
"Oh hey, Jaune, how's it going?" Whitely Schnee casually greeted the boy, despite being the center of attention.
"Hey, Whitley." Jaune reciprocated the greeting with a casual tone.
The youngest scion of the Schnee family excused himself from the crowd and approached his fellow vigilante. The last time he had saw the boy; he had worn a simple short-sleeved black dress shirt with light blue vest. Now, the blancette was dressed in a manner befitting the heir to the Schnee fortune. He was all decked out in a full-blown black business suit, complete with a red tie. He certainly looked the part of a young tycoon.
"You're looking pretty spiffy for someone visiting a glorified school festival." Jaune told his friend.
Whitley smiled. "Thanks, but you should see my other suit. I made it myself. Come with me."
The two boys walked away from the crowd toward a secluded part of the ballroom.
"Did you come here to see your sister?" The blonde asked.
"That and more." Whitely smirked. "I'm also here to cheer on some friends taking part in the tournament. There's a chance you'll see them in action tomorrow. I also have someone here that I want you to meet.
As they neared their destination, Jaune watched as Whitley waved and called out, "T'Challa!"
The Blonde followed his friend's line of sight and perceived a person approaching them. He saw a dark-skinned young man, who looked no older than them, dressed in a simple yet regal-looking black suit. As he got closer, Jaune saw that the man had vibrant violet eyes that seemed to cackle with an unrestrained energy. The stranger greeted the Schnee with a firm handshake.
"Whitley, it is good to see you again, my friend." The man said with a friendly yet refined deep voice. "Am I to assume that this is the friend you told me about?"
"Indeed. Jaune, allow me to introduce Prince T'Challa of Wakanda." The Schnee told the Arc.
'A prince? I'm talking to a prince? Jaune thought in shock. Do I bow or something?'
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Jaune Arc." T'Challa told the blonde spider. "As Whitley said, I am from the kingdom of Wakanda, as well as the heir to its throne. But please ignore my title; I've never been one for formalities. I hope you and I can be friends."
Ok, so this is just the introductions of what comes next. I plan to make another chapter that starts other small roles and then will get the ball rolling afterwards.
But now, I come with some sad news. I might not be able to produce a chapter every month due to me finally getting my rear in gear and getting started on going to college. I would be focusing more on my education then the story, but I will not forget to still wrote whenever I get the chance.
I didn't want to put too much on the fighting here, since I don't want to wrote stuff that we already watched from RT and YouTube, so I just decided to wrote about what was happening outside the arena.
The Bugle is does both Newspapers and news. I thought it would be more modern that way, since newspaper alone won't keep the Bugle afloat.
PNR rather then NPR, cause I thought it would be weird that way to just leave it NPR without 'J'. By the way PNR means PaNzeR like the tank.
Norman shows that he respects Jaune, cause like he said Jaune reminds him of his youth. I know it's not 100% accurate, but it mostly closes cause of their way of pushing through hardship. Anyway, I know all of us knows he's a bastard, but to Jaune he is like another father figure he looks up to. Which will be all the more sadder when Norman shows his true self in future chapters.
T'Challa makes an appearance! And that makes 5! Meaning, that in a few more chapter I will have the team all set! So please, wait a little longer as I weave a tale on how they all assembled!
Also, I know some of you wanted him to be part of Menagerie, but I plan to explain that soon and I wanted it in a way to show Remnant is starting to be a bigger world. Plus, my plan consists of using some more Marvel background story to fuse with RWBY, so I hope you guys will like what ii have planned.
Thank you to my Beta for fixing some of my mistakes and ya'll should check his story! Please like, fav, and leave a comment too!
Omake: Bad Luck or something more?
For decades, Beacon Academy has been considered to be one of if not the most well-respected and dignified Hunter Academy in all of Vale. With a high graduation rate, world-class education topped with field experience, and a curriculum centered on team cohesion, it was easy to see why so many people would want to apply there.
However, most people tend to forget Beacon was still a school! And like all schools, they used large gatherings such as the Vytal Festival to do one thing and one thing only.
To sell merchandise!
Beacon hoodies, sweaters, shirts, posters, pencils, and even coffee mugs were out on display for prospective customers! All of these products were being sold for the purpose of raising funds for the school. Yes, Beacon Academy wanted to show Remnant that its students were spending their time wisely, and what better way for one to show their support then to buy the school's merchandise!
'Father, mother. I hope you two are smiling down on me as I still hold some principles when it comes to spending money on useless things. I only spend it on important things, like whiskey or bar tabs.' Qrow Branwen thought as he walked the busy cobbled stone path that was full of Hunters- in-training and civilians enjoying the Vytal festival. 'Then again, you guys were bandits, so you're probably looking from below than above.'
As Qrow thought over the conundrum of his parent's afterlives, he failed to notice a man in baggy sweat pants and a shabby white shirt, heading towards him. The man bumped into him, causing the both of them to stumble.
"Sorry!" The shabbily-dressed man cried out before speed walking away from the huntsman.
"Meh." Qrow shrugged it off, resuming his walk.
"I think Ruby and Yang are about to fight, so I should probably go to a bar and watch it from there. Now," Qrow patted himself. "Where did I put that wallet?"
"Ugh, Seriously!" The baggy-clothed man groaned in despair as he searched the wallet's contents. "This guy only has bar receipts! Come on! He's an even bigger bum than me!"
The pickpocket had expected a guy who was decked out in nice clothes to have at least some lien he can afford to lose, but instead this time looks were deceiving as the fancy looking guy was in fact just a drunk!
"The only things here are bar tabs and some pictures!" There were two in fact, one was of four people, obviously hunters, and the other was of the man holding some woman in his arms. "The wallet seems okay though, maybe I'll just keep it."
Putting the photos back in the wallet, the man inspected the wallet further, its shiny metal button gleaming under the sun. The glare of the reflective button flashed into the eyes of a bird, blinding it and sending it into spiraling dive-bomb, hitting the head of an elderly man as he was setting up the sign for his ramen stand.
The sudden avian bombardment caused the man to toss the sign into the air, ultimately landing on top of another tent hosting a shooting gallery. A customer who was about to fire his plastic weapon was caught off guard as the tent collapsed, causing him to fire the rifle in another direction. The cork fired from the rifle sailed through the air, ricocheting on several poles and increasing its speed.
The speeding cork found a target in the rear end of one Cardin Winchester, who was lifting a sledgehammer for a strength testing game. The teenaged huntsman yelped as he felt a sharp pain coming from his butt checks, causing him to throw the hammer into the air.
As he tried to sneak out, the thief looked up into the sky and saw something flying towards him. He thought that it kind of looked like a hammer.
"Gahh!" The blow to the head was enough to make the thief involuntarily throw the wallet out of his hands. The wallet landed on the stone path, just a few feet away from the now unconscious pickpocket.
Immediately, the thief was found by security and brought to the medical tent to get treated. At the same time, security went over their cameras to find out as to how he had been hit rendered unconscious. Imagine their surprise when they made the startling revelation that this man was stealing festival goers. He was arrested the instant he made a full recovery
As for the wallet, it was soon found by another person.
A person who knew Qrow quite intimately.
"Wow!" A mustachioed bartender marveled as he watched the TV airing the tournament's first round of fights. "That team sure knows how to fight."
"Yup," Qrow said with a proud smile as he downed his third glass. He placed the glass on the table and nodded to the bartender for a refill.
As the bartender refilled the glass, Qrow spoke. "The blonde and the little reaper are actually my nieces. I'm planning to meet them after this."
"Well, when you do, I hope you treat them to something nice!" With that said, the bartender stepped away from the counter to fetch the Huntsman another drink.
As he waited for the bartender's return, a thought occurred to Qrow. 'I just remembered that I still don't have my wallet and yet I'm asking for another drink. I wonder if i should just dash out before he comes back?'
But just as quickly as the thought entered his mind, Qrow quickly cast it aside. "Meh, that's in poor taste and washing beer cups doesn't sound too bad."
Just as he said that, a new customer entered the bar. This person strode to toward the slightly intoxicated man and took a seat next to him. Just as Qrow was about to greet them, he was surprised to see a feminine hand plant his wallet right in front of him.
"Huh? Oh!" Qrow exclaimed as he grabbed his returned wallet in joy, telling the Good Samaritan. "Hey! Thanks!"
"No," Qrow turned his head to look at his savior, only to be stunned into silence by the person sitting next to him. It was a woman his age that was quite beautiful with flowing brown hair that cascaded down her back and beautiful brown eyes. The woman looked at Qrow with a neutral stare, a look that felt so familiar.
"I should be thanking you. After all," Her voice and stare made Qrow feel like he seen those eyes before. "I've been looking for you, Qrow."
"Wha-?" Qrow blinked and rubbed his eyes, making sure he was seeing things.
As he stared at the woman before him, his mind was suddenly flooded with memories. Suddenly, he felt as though he were transported back a decade. Back to when he had been hired to guard a village in southern Sanus with other Hunters. Back to that moment where he stayed at the local inn. An inn that was owned by a woman who became the most important person in his life. A woman that he was sure was sitting next to him.
Just to be doubly sure he wasn't seeing things, Qrow took out two photos out of his wallet. These pictures he held very close to his heart, especially the one of him and the woman he thought lost so long ago. Quickly looking between the woman in the photo and the one before him, he compared the two. She had aged, naturally, but she was still as beautiful as the day they took that picture together.
Still in disbelief, Qrow croaked out, "...Miranda?"
Miranda smiled softly and told the man, "It's been a long time, my rugged reaper."
"I'm back, sir." The bartender announced as he came back with a full bottle of whisky. "Oh? What would you like, Miss?"
"Actually," Qrow's usual drunk stupor was dropped and replaced with one of melancholy. "We'll be having two glasses of water."
Getting the message, the bartender was about to pull the whiskey away and fulfill the new order. He stopped when Qrow grabbed the bartender's hand.
"Leave the Whiskey; I have a feeling I'm gonna need it soon."