Author's Note: I'm finally back to using a decent keyboard and my fingers couldn't be happier. It also looks like a snowstorm is going to keep me stuck inside, so why not use that time to work on this story some more?
Juane was summoned shortly after talking to Watts. Salem was sitting at the end of a table that was even longer than the one she and her friends normally sat in. It looked like it would take a person six minutes just to reach the other side.
"Sit down," said Salem. "We have much to discuss."
Jaune awkwardly shuffled to the chair closest to him and sat in it. He wasn't looking forward to what she had to say.
"Uh….hi," said Jaune as he nervously stared at the table.
"Watts has informed me of a rather...graphic depiction of me." As if to make Jaune feel even worse, Salem pulled up the sheets of paper that composed Jaune's fanfiction. Her sickly looking fingers flipped through every single page as her eyes continued to focus on Jaune.
"I must admit that your description of me is...interesting. 'Curvy' is not a word I would use to describe my figure. People like you are such simpletons."
Every word felt like a wooden stake being dug into his chest. Jaune wanted to disappear entirely as Salem continued to flip through the pages and make faces of disgust.
"I think I've had enough of this," she said with one curl of her nose. "I asked you here because I have one question to ask of you."
"Does the question involve that...uh-"
"Revolting smut?"
"Do you really need to say it like that?"
"I think so."
Jaune slumped in his chair some more and swallowed. "So what's the question."
"Answer this for me, Mister Arc. What do you think I do when I see a little girl cheerfully walking down the street with a balloon in her hand?"
"Kill her?" Jaune asked sheepishly.
"Of course not," Salem scoffed. "I pop the balloon and watch her suffer. Mister Arc... I'm a very unhappy person. I spend every day looking like an Eldritch meth addict. Much of my time is spent on plotting the destruction of this world, only to have them ruined by a dysfunctional group of angsty teenage girls. Can you see why I have little patience for nonsense?"
"...uh...what's with this reveal?" Jaune asked.
Salem groaned and slammed her head against the table. "I'm trying to tell you that I need a break from nonsense. You and I are stuck together for six more days. We either make this work or I force you to spend time with my latest OC."
Jaune felt his eyes twitch as visions of Autumn Rose entered his mind.
"I think we can do this," said Jaune. He hoped they would. The next day would be different for sure.