July 25th 1999, in the Arc residence.
Jaune woke up at around 6:45 in the morning, his mother was getting married in five days and he needed to get a few things ready before he went over to pick up Ruby for the first rehearsal.
While Jaune was certainly not Alan's best man, Mr Ironwood who Alan apparently had been friends with since Vietnam was slated for that role. Jaune was going to be one of the groomsmen standing at the front of the wedding. Meanwhile Ruby was not the maid of honor, that honor being given to Sam Nikos. She was however in his opinion, the cutest of all the Bridesmaids.
As a result they both had to be physically present and and ready for the thrilling job of standing in place while the local minister walked his mother and soon to be stepfather through their vows.
That concern however gave way to the fact that as he was waking up he was aware of the weight pressing down on his stomach that was not there when he went to bed last night. Jaune reached down without opening his eyes to see what it was only for him to feel fur. Jaunes eyes shot wide open and he leaned forward to see that at some point a small cat had managed to find a way into the house and nestled down onto his stomach for a nap.
Jaune, wouldn't describe himself as being a particular type of animal person one way or the other, his family didn't really do the whole pet thing as it was just something they could financially swing throughout his life. But the small he wants to guess multi-shaded gray beast on his stomach seemed to be quite content with the situation.
Jaune trying to sit as still as he could as drops of sweat went down his neck knocked on the wall to get someone's attention because who the hell knows where this thing came from? The cat looked up lazily at Jaune and purred as it stretched out on his stomach and flopped to it's side.
Mina stepped in and asked "Morning Jaune, what's wrong?"
Jaune just pointed at the lazy beast that was making his lap a home and signed [Someone's cat got in the house and that's all you can ask?]
"What, Duke Tickle Whiskers? Nah he's a good kitty aren't you?" Mina said as she picked up the fluff ball and started to pet small beast as it cuddled up to her and started to loudly purr
["Duke Tickle Whiskers"? We had a cat wander in and your naming it?] Jaune signed out with a look of distress in his body language. [And it apparently is a land holder in the kingdom of Britain?]
"What are you talking about, this is Alan's cat?" Mina said as she held the cat up to her face and gave it a tiny kiss on top of it's head as the cat was still purring up a shockingly loud storm for its small size.
[What the heck Mom, you didn't tell me he had a cat, let alone that it was being moved in here.] Jaune signed out as he sat up in bed.
"Well I did say we were going to be moving in Alan's stuff from his apartment to here right?" Mina said with a smile.
Jaune face palmed quite a bit knowing where this is going
"Well the Duke here is part of said property" Mina said with a big grin. "Besides anit he just the cutest damn kitty?
[Did Alan actually name the cat "Duke Tickle Whiskers"?] He asked with a look of disbelief on his face.
"You better believe he did, and it's the cutest name for the cutest little kitty ain't chu? Yes you are!" Mina said as her voice and apparent mental state degraded to baby talk at the cat.
Jaune got up and signed [Right, I'm going to get a shower I got to get Ruby so we can go to the church for the rehearsal today.]
Mina waved him off as she walked around with the small cat like one holds a baby.
At around 7:50 or so he arrived at the Long residence, he waved hello and exchanged brief pleasantries with Ms Nikos and Nora. before he went to collect Ruby. Ren was apparently still sleeping at the time.
Jaune stepped into the Long residence living room where he saw Ruby sitting on the floor cross legged staring at the TV, she turned and waved before she got back to watching her show and eating breakfast.
[Are you watching Sesame Street?] Jaune signed to Ruby.
"Yap ai am" Ruby said back "Ai aim taying to Larn how werds Soond"
Jaune smiled at how shockingly cute she sounded just then [Well that's one way to get it done I guess.] Jaune took a look at her breakfast, which was a bowl of Rice Krispies. [Don't you normally drink a breakfast shake for breakfast?]
Ruby just held up her bowl for him to listen, he heard the telltale crackle the cereal made that it
was known for. [Wait your eating this because it makes a noise?]
Ruby giggled as she sat the bowl down in front of her and signed to him [Yeah, I mean when Yang mentioned to me that it did I went out and bought a box to hear for myself.] She then giggled and ran her hand through her hair as she giggled.
Jaune's brain screamed at him "Oh my god she is so god damn cute right now, I just want to hug her to bits!" while he signed out asking [So how are you liking hearing so far? No issues with the implants? No weird pains?]
Ruby laughed and smiled folding her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on them. [It's amazing, now that it's not so overwhelming. I'm learning so many new sounds all the time.]
Jaune smiled as he watched his girlfriend blush and stare at him. She signed out [You must think I'm being silly, I'm eating cereal for the sound it makes, and i'm watching a show for toddlers.]
[Hey if they ever gave me a way to speak or see in colors, i'd be over the mountain looking at everything or talking up a storm as well, so don't feel bad about it.] Jaune signed before he rubbed Ruby's back.
Ruby signed back [Actually, that would be nice, at least so you'd stop referring to the lightsaber scenes in Star Wars as "Grown adults trying to hit each other with glowing white dildo sticks"]
[I call it as I see it hon.] Jaune signed in reply. [In this case literally]
Ruby sighed out and shook her head before looking at him and asking [So what's going on that your here this early?]
Jaune smiled and signed out [Well my mom and Alan needs us both at the church in an hour or so for the wedding rehearsal and-]
Jaune was cut off as Ruby quickly scramble to her feat knocking over her bowl of Cereal as she audibly said "Aw shat shat shat, dats t'day!" and rushed out of the room.
Jaune chuckled silently and decided to keep her out of trouble by cleaning the mess she just made up while she got a shower.
At Nine in the morning on the dot, Jaune stood in a rented tux standing with the taller James Ironwood to his left and a few other teachers, particularly Port and Oobleck, across the isle on the other side of Jaune. Across the isle in Gray dresses that he was later told were a lovely shade of purple, Stood Sam Nikos, the maid of honor and a few coworkers. Jaune noted that Ruby was missing which Jaune found confusing. It became apparent quite quickly that something went wrong, he signed to his mother, who was wearing her casual clothes still to come with him to see what the hold up was.
When Jaune and Mina arrived at the dressing room Yang was shouting at some delivery person from the dress shop that altered all the dresses. A large part of today's rehearsal was to to allow the Bridesmaids to try their dresses out for and point out any last minute alterations that were needed if they felt the need to.
Jaune walked up and signed to Yang [What's going on? Is Ruby getting flashbacks of that Tom Petty music video? I thought she understood that Tom Petty can't hurt her!]
"What the fu-" Yang spoke out. "No I was just informed that they really screwed the pooch with Ruby's bridesmaid dress."
Mina chimed in "Well how bad is it?" she said folding her arms. "Can she come out and show us?"
"Only if you want your son to see more of her than either of us are comfortable with?" Yang spoke out.
Jaune felt his cheeks reddened as he broke eye contact with the pair and rubbed his neck.
Mina seemed to catch on to this "Seriously? Okay not important right now. Let me go in and see, Jaune keep Yang from murdering the delivery man."
Jaune shot a meek thumbs up just before he caught an elbow to the stomach "Do I want to know what you and my sister have been up to behind my back?"
[I have nothing to say on the matter at this time Yang] Jaune signed [So how bad is it?]
"Gods, we don't have enough time before the wedding to un-fuck this mess" Yang sighed out in frustration. "My sister is a b-cup at best but they altered the dress for like a C-cup she can't go three steps without slipping out"
[That would be bad.] Jaune signed out wearing his best poker face
Mina came out a few moments later, it was her turn to get in the face of the delivery guy "So I just want you to understand, that girl is 16, why in the holy hell did her dress get altered like that, are you trying to get half the men in the at the reception murdered by my son here?"
As if on queue Jaune got to staring down the delivery boy as he cracked his knuckles and let out an eerie rasp from the back of his throat.
"Your company is making my sister look like a stripper!" Yang shouted
"You need to take this dress back and have it re-altered to her proper measurements!" Mina shouted.
The Delivery man stammered out "Ms Arc, please understand, there is simply not enough time to re-alter the dress, we'd practically have to grab a new dress and remeasure her for it."
Ruby having changed into her street clothes came out beat red and signing to Jaune [My god what pervert thought that was a good idea?]
While Mina screamed at the delivery boy Jaune signed to Ruby [How bad we talking?]
[They cut the dress for someone a foot shorter than me and for someone while tits larger than mine, it didn't leave much to the imagination.] Ruby said uncomfortably.
Jaune grabbed the Delivery man by the collar ending all conversation. [Ruby, Continue please…]
Ruby got a somewhat surprised look on her face from her boyfriends reaction and signed out [I honestly don't know how they fucked it up that bad!]
"Language Ms Long!" Mina said.
[Fine, I don't know how they screwed it up that bad. But I'm pretty they should be on a list somewhere for it.] Ruby signed back as Jaune's grip tightened.
"So I know what she said even if you don't, you will either remake her dress, or provide us with materials and pray to whatever god your business believes in that I can fix it in time, or I will unleash the six foot two inch personification of your end standing before you on your business with a fucking sledgehammer, and before you think I can't get away with it?" Mina points at Ruby and shouts "Her father is a fucking cop and will look the other way!"
Jaune hand signed [Mom, Language.]
[Not helping hon.] Ruby signed as she discreetly held Yang back.
"I don't know what you want me to say, are you sure the girl didn't grow since these measurements were taken, or that maybe she didn't hold still while we were taking her measurements?" The Delivery Boy said out loud while looking for someone to come to her aid.
While Mina, Yang and Jaune were giving the young man the riot Sam walked up to ruby and gestured for her to come into the changing room.
Mina shouted "Short of my son dating a creature from "John Carpenters: The Thing" I fail to see how "Not holding still" can cause a screw up on this level!"
Jaune was becoming increasingly pissed on his girlfriend and mothers behalf. He stood in place in stoic but still very angry silence. After taking a deep breathe he eased his grip on the delivery boy when he realized he was about to commit a felony assault on a man over a dress.
"I just don't know what options we have short of refunding the dress itself. I'm sorry we are simply too booked up to do another round of alterations on that dress!" The Man said.
As if on Queue Sam Nikos stepped out and said "Refund her half and provide me with a full bolt of fabric of that color"
"Excuse me?" Mina and the Delivery person said in unison.
"Oh please Mina, I had to do dress repairs on Nora's and Pyrrha's dresses for over a decade. Hell I'll make her dress better than the hack jobs these clowns sold us." Sam Said. "Oh that being said if you want Jaune to punch the person who did the measurements for apparently measuring more with his dick than a ruler based on the cuts they made. I'm sure we'd all look the wrong way."
Jaune thought about it for a second, what was the guys name? Ruby had mentioned it once or twice… "Michael?" No that wasn't it… "Matt Bragg?" Nah that wasn't it…
Jaune snapped his fingers before gut punching the man standing in front of him. "Mercury Black" some pervy looking guy that trying to get friendly with Ruby now that he thought about it.
"Dude, what the heck!?" Mina asked.
[I remembered, Ruby complained to me in private about the guy who did the measurements, felt like he was getting a bit to fresh with her, I don't know if that's why the dressed got fu- messed up, but this guy did the measuring] Jaune said pointing at the man grabbing his stomach.
Sam said "Actually, on second thought, we have the run of the place all day, let me go take care of this with your son." as she got a wide Grin on her face. "It's been a while since I've seen your boy fired up like this"
Mina rolled her eyes, "Fine we'll put the rehearsal on hold for a little while…" As Mina went to go let Ozpin and the rest of the party know what's up.
An hour and forty five minutes later Sam was laughing out loud as she recounted the conversation they had with the dress shop "Yeah, I showed them the dress and gave them my expert opinion on the measurements taken and our concerns that, one of there employees might have been attempting to exploit a minor, and yeah they refunded her dress in full and gave me the materials for the fixes I'll need to do."
"You never cease to amaze me Sam." Mina said over lunch just after they completed a not quite dress rehearsal
Ruby signed out [So what happened with that guy Jaune sucker punched[
Jaune held his hands before signing [Sucker punch? I'd never, I rose to defend your honor with pride and dignity.]
"Well it turns out he was not fully to blame, while I'm sure he is a bit of a creep, he didn't fuck-" Sam said before she was interrupted
"Language…." Yang said as she sat quietly at the table drinking a soda.
"He didn't mess up the order on purpose, seems that there is a person out there with the measurements they used, and he got her mixed up with Ruby's order.
"Oh for pity's sake…" Mina muttered "You are super sure we can fix the dress in time?"
"Oh absolutely I can, I promise you that!" Sam said. "Hell I'll try not to make young Ruby steal your spotlight"
Ruby let out a soft giggle when Jaune translated what they said before signing out a quick [Thank you] to Sam.
Sam smiled at Ruby and said "It's quite alright dear".
[I kinda feel bad for punching that guy.] Jaune signed out.
"Jaune it's not the first time you punched someone over a girl." Mina paused "That still being said, don't do that again." Mina said with a smirk.
Jaune silently laughed out loud at that one. Ruby wore the biggest smile on her face she's had in a long time as she thought "I don't think I've ever seen him laugh that hard before"
Jaune looked at Ruby and signed [Sorry you told me to let you do the punching that one time, but you were in the other room and-] Jaune's signing was cut off by Ruby as she gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
[You can be my hero if you want.] Ruby smiled at Jaune.
Jaune silently chuckled at her as they both started joking and chatting casually.
Sam got a grin on her face as she excused herself, as she walked by to get herself another drink she thought to herself "I'd say that boy is in good hands"
Privately Sam swore she'd make sure she made sure she'd make that dress the best damn dress she could. With a smile she walked back to the group.
So I think I more or less got this AQMW writing bug out of my system now. it took enough chapters right? So not much to say about this chapter as it's kinda the start of the next major story arc of this fic. I have a curve ball planed for a few chapters from now, but i'll let you all experience that when it happens. But because this was not an "impact-full" chapter I don't have to much to say about it. I'm pretty happy all of you seemed to get a kick out of it.
So I'll get this out in the open, I have a twitter account, I barely use it except to upload screen caps from switch games and occasionally shit-post about anime, and I feel like I can do better. I know their might be a few of you out there reading this or Dust Eater that don't have a Fanfiction account, and I want you all to be able to participate or to tell me how i'm doing. So you can now Send me messages on there and i'll do what I can to respond. I'll also try to get into the habit of posting updates when I upload chapters on their as well on a trial basis.
Other than that, it's 11:30 pm my time, and I need to be up in a few hours. So again, thanks for reading as always and i'll see you next time.
EDIT: So because I am that tired, I forgot to mention the link to the twitter page is in my profile page, sorry.
