Arcs Ironworks: Chapter 3
It was a Friday, and Jaune was once again leaning against the counter, waiting for something to happen. He had already gotten his pay from Roman, who had come to get his order earlier, and while he had another for a naginata, that wasn't to be done for another month, mostly because the wood he needed had to come in from Atlas. Sure he could go get food and clothes and stuff, but that was no fun without someone else. The sound of a door opening caught his attention, finally, something to do.
To his surprise, Ruby walked into the store, followed by another girl with red hair, seemed to be dressed in bronze armor, and stood only a couple inches short if himself. They were having a very intimate conversation, with various degrees of hand motions and sound effects (courtesy of Ruby). Seeing that the two were busy talking, Jaune decided that it would be necessary for him to go over.
"Hey Ruby, need something so soon?" Jaune asked, interrupting the conversation, something about cookies being a better alternative to cake. (An utterly false statement, his Mom's cakes could top anything a dumb cookie could taste like.)
"Hiya Jaune, this is my friend Pyrrha, she needs a replacement sword and spear because her's broke in combat class." Ruby said, oblivious to the other girls embarrassment over the fact that her weapon had been broken.
"Easy enough, what are the weapons and specs that you need." He needed something more than just sword and spear to make the proper weapons the girl, Pyrrha, needs.
"Here, these please. I know it might be a bit difficult, but I need them for Monday if it's at all possible." Handing over a list, Pyrrha could only hope that the blonde smith could get her order done in time.
Looking over the list, Jaune raised a brow, they were some oddly unique weapon specs that this girl wanted. A Xiphos was normally around two feet in length of iron piercing power, but this one was only fourteen inches, a good bit shorter than what was typical, and now it added a bit more challenge in order to make it that length without giving it too much forward weight. The other weapon she needed was a dory, the length varied between peoples preference, this one seven and a half feet long, and the head piece was shaped to be a bit more round than normal.
"I can get it done in time for Sunday, why don't you come over with when Ruby does, it should be done for sure by that time. Any preference of metal and wood?" Jaune questioned, most of the time when people walked in with specific lengths and head shapes for the spears and swords, they often wanted a particular kind of metal to go along with it.
"Yes, can the Xiphos be made of Mistral steel, and the Dory use Valean Pine with Vale Iron for the head piece." Pyrrha was glad he asked, she didn't want to be the one to add details, they were, after all, only temporary until her regular one was fixed, so she didn't need to carry more than one on her person.
"The dory will be easily done, but Mistral steel, thats a very expensive kind of metal. Plus to be done in only a day and a half, your asking for a very hefty price, can you afford that?" Now, Jaune was all for the challenge and was more than willing to help the girl, but he still needed money, (ignoring the high pay job he just had), the dust for his little private project didn't come cheap.
"Jaune, I' sure that she can afford it, she's Pyrrha Nikos, she probably has more money that she could need." Ruby exclaimed, wondering if Jaune thought that just because they were students, that they couldn't afford the price, they had money! (Even if the money came from the school in limited allowances.)
"Nikos? Are you related to anyone named Alekos Nikos by chance?" Jaune asked.
"Yes, actually he's my father." When Ruby revealed her name, the question of being her fathers daughter was never one to come across her mind, and that was slightly good news for her, she came to Beacon to escape her fame after all. (Not that it seemed to work very well.)
"Well then, that should make it a bit more fair. He's the man that I get the materials from Mistral, and man does your Dad drive a hard bargain. Tell you what, if you get you old man to drop his prices a bit for, you'll only need to pay for the dory. Deal?" Jaune asked, if the prices went down even a little bit, then he'd be able to get much more, and even make a bit more profit, and she gets her sword, everybody wins.
"I think I can get him to agree for a bit of a price drop, but only if the Xiphos and Dory are as good as Ruby claims that you can make them. Fair enough?" At his nod, Pyrrha made sure that she would place a call back home when she got back to the dorm.
After all the paper work was settled, Ruby asked Jaune if he wanted to hang around Vale with them. Seeing a good chance to go get some new clothes and some food, he agreed. Making it to a store, he went in to get and to his dismay, the girls tagged along and commented on his style of dress. Getting some blue jeans and black t-shirts, with a bit of convincing from Ruby and Pyrrha, white, red, grey button downs., and a dinner jacket. Moving over to the shoes, he got a pair of boots, sneakers, and worst of all, dress shoes. According to them, a guy must always have clothes needed for formal events. (What did they know about what a guy needed to dress himself.) Jaune decided to get them something for doing out to help him, a black scarf for Ruby (nothing else would work with her outfit, according to her.) and a red sweater for Pyrrha.
Walking the girls to the docks to get their ride back to Beacon, Jaune bid them a good night. Making his way back, Jaune started to think about how he would start for Pyrrha's weapons.
At Beacon
"Hi Dad, it's me, Pyrrha. Do you happen to know a person by the name Jaune, Jaune Arc?"
"Arc, yes I know him, why? Did he do something to you?" Call him what you want, but Alekos Nikos was very protective of his family, especially his little girl, the fact she had won four tournaments in a row not putting a dent in that resolve.
"No, nothing at all like your thinking. I had an accident with Miló, and while I sent it back to Joan to get him fixed, I still need ones to use in combat class. The price for what I need was a bit too high, but we came to a kind of deal."
"What kind of deal, Pyrrha, is he forcing you to do something? If he is then I'll-"
"No Dad, nothing like that. He said that your his supplier for the things he needs from Mistral. You and I both know that you charge more than what some of those supplies are worth. So the deal is that if you drop the price a bit, say five percent, and he'll only charge me for the Dory."
"Using my baby girl to make me drop my prices, that little punk."
"Dad!" Pyrrha loved her father very much, but sometimes her could get on her nerves, and sometimes she could get sick of it at times, like now.
"When do you need these weapons by?"
"Monday, Dad."
"Test them out, and if they hold par, then tell him I'll drop it by twenty five percent, and you don't have to pay a dime." He sighed out, honestly, the things he does for his little girl. They continued to talk a bit more before bidding each other a good night.
With Ruby
"Ruby, this is the third time you've went to go see this Jaune guy. I think you need to spend some time with us, your team." Yang said, while she was happy her baby sister was taking an interest in guys, (just think of all the conversations they can have, bonding over girl talk, just what she always wanted), it was staring to look like an obsession, and with one already on cookies, well, one was bad enough.
"Yang, I already told you, I went down because Pyrrha needs replacement weapons for class. Jaune makes weapons, it only makes sense that i introduce them." Ruby honestly didn't see what the problem was, she was helping her friends, Jaune needs customers, and Pyrrha had to get weapons, it was simple logic to get them together.
"I have to agree with your sister on this one, Ruby. I know that you'll be having these feelings of attachment that comes with growing up, and you have these thoughts, but this level of them is not healthy." Blake piped in, noticing how red Ruby got at the mention of attachment and thought centered around Jaune.
"Weiss, help me." Ruby begged of her partner.
"I have no want to get involved with your love life, Ruby." Weiss said, smirking slightly as her leader flopped on her bed and groaned into the pillow.
Sunday
Pyrrha and Ruby walked back into the store together after school, and there they found Jaune polishing a blade in his hand. Looking up, he smiled as he saw the two. Gesturing for them to follow him, turned and walked out the back door. Ruby immediately walked back with him, and after a second of hesitation, so did Pyrrha. She saw Ruby swinging what she recognized as a Mistral dirk, and she was surprised, she thought that Ruby would rather be dead that use something other than her scythe.
"Here Pyrrha, try these out, see if they are up to snuff." Jaune called out, tossing the spear at her, and after catching it, the Xiphos.
"They feel alright, but how do I know that they'll stand up to battle standards." Pyrrha questioned, knowing that just because something gelt good, didn't mean it preformed as well.
"Well, then we'll just have to have a little spar, now won't we? Give me a minute, let me get my gear." Jaune questioned, smirking slightly are her before turning to retrieve Frost and Volt.
"Psst. Pyrrha, just a quick heads up, Jaune's weapons have dust in them that shock you with his baton, and freeze you with his revolver." Ruby had appeared next to her, whispering quickly before going right back to hitting the dummy as Jaune walked back.
"Ready?" Jaune asked, and getting a nod from her, got into his stance.
Taking out Akoúo, Pyrrha swung her new Xiphos a bit before advancing towards her opponent. Blocking the bullets, she took a swing at Jaune, who stepped back firing the rest of Frost's bullets at Pyrrha, before pulling out Volt and settling into a defensive stance. Rushing forward, Pyrrha tried to stab Jaune, who side stepped and was meet with Akoúo plowing into his on his back, Jaune rolled to the side, avoiding being stabbed. Standing up, he rushed and jumped to kick at her. Pyrrha blocked with her shield, and felt him propel himself back flipping before landing in a crouch. She saw him reload Frost, wanting to stop him, she threw the dory that was on her back at him, rushing forward. Jaune tilted his head to the side, avoiding being impaled in the eye, as he spun the cylinder around.
Jaune was having a hard time with this fight. Every time he swung at an exposed part of her, it was blocked or avoided. Running at her again, Jaune meet her swing with his own, the two meeting, as Jaune struggled to keep her sword where it was as he fired a shot at her midsection, blocked once again by Akoúo. Letting her win the strength battle, he ducked and spun, attaching her in the hells, brining her to meet the ground. Standing and firing a couple rounds at her, Pyrrha rolled over and threw her shield at Jaune, who ducked under it, only to fell it smash into the back of his head, throwing him off balance. Shooting at her as he regained his footing, he saw her rush at him, and he was hard pressed to counter her swings. Stepping back, he realized his mistake as she slammed him once more with Akoúo. Pyrrha thrust the Xiphos at her downed opponent, surprised at the surge of electricity going up her arm as Jaune hit her wrist as he back rolled onto his feet.
Rushing forward once more, Pyrrha stabbed towards his chest, expecting him to move to a side. Surprised, she found that he had gone low, picked her up from behind the knees, and slammed her back into the before trying to fire Frost at her chest. Blocking once more with Akoúo, she wrapped her legs around his waist before rolling, bringing her where she pointed the Xiphos at his neck, knees at either side of his chest. Breathing heavily, she saw that he had pulled Frost up and it was pointed at her face, muzzle a few inches away from her face. It was silent for a bit, before Jaune sighed, his arm falling at his side.
"You win." Jaune sighed, he was out of breath, and it was worse that one of his own weapons that was pointed at his neck.
"Really, I think it was more like a draw." Pyrrha said, remembering his gun right infant of her face.
Grunting, Jaune flipped the cylinder open, showing her the empty chamber. Pyrrha looked surprised, but it made sense. There was only a limited amount of bullets that can be fired, she guessed one could lose track of the amount fired during the heat of battle. Looking at his blue eyes, she couldn't help but stare at them, a deep looking blue that reminded her of the sea water that her father took her to, once upon a time.
"Hey guys, are you ok? You've been like that for a bit." Ruby asked, looking at Pyrrha sitting on Jaune's chest made her a little mad, especially how they were looking into each others eyes.
"Yeah, you've been staring for a bit." Jaune asked, as Pyrrha jumped up in panic.
"No, I'm fine. The uh, weapons are perfect. Dad said that he'll drop his price by twenty five percent." Pyrrha blushed in embarrassment, she didn't mean to stare at him.
Jaune was speechless, that was so much more than he could have ever expected. Jumping up, he hugged Pyrrha spinning around, laughing in joy. All the possibilities, incredible, so much profit. Putting her down, and promising Ruby that they would work together closer Tuesday, he waled them back to the stop to get the ride back to Beacon. Today was a good day, now only if his family wasn't coming down to see him this week, it make this an overall good month.
Yay, are you guys proud of me? I tried, but was having a bit of writers block. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed it, but I'll see you all in the next chapter.