Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.
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Sunday
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Jaune and Ruby arrive at the Arcs on Sunday. The Arc home is a large, relatively isolated home in a relatively small town on the frontier. It's a modest town which the Arcs have good standing by virtue of being resident defenders. The town is preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival, a celebration of new beginnings set to start Friday. Much of the town is preparing, and most schools are closed.
Jaune's family emerges to greet them, and it's apparent from the start that it's a mixed reception towards both Jaune and Ruby. No one is cold or outright hostile, but there's some cool greetings as Jaune makes introductions.
Jaune introduces his parents, Nicholas and Leandra, and his seven sisters. Jaune's sisters are of varying ages- three are notably older, four are younger. Jaune introduces them all, and part of the sisters introduction is that they're thematically linked to the seven sins: Envy, Avarice, Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony, Lust, and Pride. (They also have thematic/visual ties with Jaune's friends. In the same order: Ruby, Weiss, Ren, Blake, Nora, Yang, and Pyrrha.)
Over greetings and dinner, the family dynamics are set up for each.
Nicholas, Jaune's father, is the one Jaune most wants the respect of, and is the only one cool to both Ruby and Jaune. He's unmoved by their accomplishments at school, and the recklessness of their heroics against Cinder. He's reserved, stern, and visibly withholding his judgement on both Jaune and Ruby, content to let the girls dominate the discussion and watch how Jaune and Ruby respond. Jaune wants his respect most of all, but Nicholas is also the root of the idea of family first, and Jaune's running away to Beacon lingers between them.
Leandra, Jaune's mother, is warm and welcoming for Jaune- maybe overly so. Doting on him, glad to have him home and safe, motherly affection is apparent. Leandra is the source of the Top Ten idea. Leandra isn't truly mean, but she doubts whether Ruby is good enough for her boy, niggling at Ruby's insecurities. Granted, she'd probably feel the same about anyone, but Leandra's questioning of Ruby's worthiness opens the door for the sisters to doubt.
Pride, the oldest sister (and far older than Jaune), is the Alpha Girl who runs the sisterhood and keeps them in line. She was practically raised the first son until Jaune was born, and she's never let go of some of the mannerisms... but for the same reason, she's the sister Jaune grew up wanting to be like the most. Big on the Arcs family pride, rumor is that she's refused to marry because doesn't want to give up her name so much. She's long been one of Jaune's role models, and is an accomplished Huntress herself with ties/connections to SDC and Winter Schnee. She has doubts about Ruby's ability, but her real focus and criticism is towards Jaune and whether, Beacon or not, he's able to uphold the Arc family pride. Her disappointment would be almost as bad as Dad's.
Lust, the second oldest, is the closest to being a proxy of Yang. Another Huntress and former party-girl, she has Yang's reputation if Yang actually put out and had proven conquests. She's brought shame for sleeping around on the family name, she's been married multiple times, and come crawling home after each disaster. She dotes on Jaune and is happy he got through Beacon, but doesn't take his and Ruby's relationship seriously. She thinks it's puppy love at best, and has half-playful/half-suspicion doubts as to the purity of Ruby's intentions towards Jaune.
Avarice, the third oldest, is the primary breadwinner who's trying to keep a well-paying job- while also being married. Her husband is always away on buisness trips, and whisper has it that she prefers it that way because she married for money rather than love. She's the one who supported Jaune financially while he was at Beacon. Despite supporting her family financially, her selflessness only extends as far as family. When Ruby tries to score favor points by complimenting and praising the family's storied history, Avarice suspects that profiting from the Arc family name is Ruby's motivation for Jaune.
Gluttony and Sloth are the underachieving twins, a year younger than Jaune and right at Ruby's age. They are what Jaune could have been if he'd been content to stay home- perfectly normal and mostly content in a mundane school and with relationships of their own. Like Ruby they're just starting to consider their plans for their futures after school, while taking the Spring Break as a chance to relax. They're the only siblings who are both warm for Jaune and welcoming for Ruby, tickled that he bagged a Huntress-to-be while at Beacon, and they're the ones who give Ruby the gossip and less-flattering scoops on each family member that Jaune praises.
Wrath is a (younger) adolescent who, at the time of the story, is going through one of her first periods- though by reputation she's the quietly simmering righteous-anger sort anyway. She has very strong opinions on honor and integrity, and attends school at a local preliminary Huntress training academy on half-days over the week leading to the festival. (Jaune couldn't go because it was girls-only.) Wrath clearly has a beef with Jaune, one that he submits to rather than fight, and one which the twins refuse to explain. Wrath tears into Jaune for lying his way to Beacon, and has a poorer opinion of Ruby for not revealing the truth once she knew. Wrath doubts all of Jaune's accomplishments since arriving in Beacon, questioning what other things a lying liar might have lied about, and suspecting that Ruby is equally complicit.
And finally there's Envy, the youngest- who couldn't be warmer to Jaune if she tried. That last to arrive but the happiest to see him with a flying hug, Envy practically idolizes Jaune even before he's led to show off some of his prowess from Beacon. Jaune is the apple of Envy's eye, and when he's around Envy barely looks at Ruby. Envy doesn't talk much to Ruby, preferring to spend time talking with Jaune instead, and quickly adopts a competitive tone with Ruby over her favorite sibling's attention.
Dinner is a challenging and mixed affair. The Arc family is tightly bound but also tightly wound. It's the sort of family that does volatile family gatherings rather than peaceful reunions- yelling over each other as much as talking with each other, constant bickering and arguments, and sharing unflattering information being par for course. Pride plays disciplinarian, but can only do so much, and while the bickering stays within the sisters at first, it soon spreads to Jaune. The sisters divide on mostly pro- or anti-Jaune lines as he recounts his version of Cinder's attack on Beacon- and when Ruby speaks up on his behalf, she herself becomes a target for discussion and criticism.
By the time Ruby's involved, it's become a full-throated family argument. But when the topic slides from Jaune to targeting Ruby personally, Jaune's had enough- Jaune shouts for the first time in the argument, defending Ruby. He's a fair target since he's family, but Ruby's not- leave her out of it. Jaune means to storm away with Ruby, but is frozen when Nicholas tells him to stop.
Nicholas, silencing all debate when he raises his voice once, bluntly reminds Jaune that this is his family, and asks if Jaune intends to run away and leave his family behind again. Critical shot to the conscience. Nicholas turns his attention to the sisters, and chides them all as well. Those questioning Jaune's character or judgement are reminded that he's family all the same, and tells them judge Jaune on how he is now. Those questioning Ruby are likewise chastised for first impressions.
Nicholas bids all the sisters to get to know Jaune and Ruby over the next week. Dinner concludes much subdued, and while no universal apologies are made, the sisters who were warmer to Jaune or Ruby offer their own apologies. Sloth and Gluttony promise to spend time with her tomorrow, and to ease her encounters with the rest. It's made clear to Ruby that family fights are common enough in the Arcs that she shouldn't be alarmed. As per family tradition, they'll all come together for dinner tomorrow no matter how bad the fight.
Ruby's not alarmed, but she's not happy either. Being called out as not-family in a family that all hold family-first views is the opposite of welcoming. It's a completely different family environment from her own family. But more importantly, it's clear that the bad dinner is affecting Jaune too when the two reunite after dinner in Jaune's room. Jaune wanted dinner and her first day with his family to go well, but instead he's afraid that Ruby's gotten a bad opinion of his family. Seeing how much it matters to him, Ruby forgives the offenses and urges him to make-up with his sisters. She'll win over her batch, he'll win his, and it'll be happily ever after.
It's a tender moment, kiss-worthy even, and they're even drifting towards the bed when they're rudely interrupted by an untimely knock. Envy wants to spend time with Jaune, and Lust is there to show Ruby to her room. She didn't think she'd be sleeping with Jaune with so many young and impressionable minds around, did she?
Lust escorts Ruby to the guest room. It's a massive bed, easily big enough for two, and has far too many mattresses and pillows and blankets. Lust's Yang-isms- protective of her siblings, warm and friendly- also extend to the darker sides. Envy gives Ruby a more private third degree, threatening to castrate her if she tries to sneak into Jaune's room like a harlot and corrupts the minds of any of her pure and innocent siblings. It's threatening, yes- but it just reminds Ruby so much of Yang's third degree to Jaune years ago that it's familiar rather than offensive. Plus, the whole Jaune chaste romance deal. Ruby agrees and gives her word, and while skeptical Lust accepts it and seems open to further engagement later on, leaving Ruby to go to sleep.
(After making a long-distance call to Yang in which she goes over the first day, and recounts Yang's own threats of castration against Jaune. She didn't realize you could do that to girls too!)
Ruby can't sleep, and wakes up uncomfortably to walk the house. In a mock-horror style of the big empty house- and afraid of what might happen if she accidentally does stumble into Jaune's room- Ruby wanders into the study, and finds a trophy room that she hadn't seen before. In it are countless weapons, and Ruby is enthralled until she's discovered. It's Jaune's father, who's been polite but not warm to her so far. The weapon collection is his hobby so to speak, but he's not really interested in bonding over it when she gets excited. It's a foot-in-mouth moment when she asks to try them, and learns that they're all the weapons of fallen Arcs or friends of the family. Practically a mausoleum.
Despite the faux pas, Nicholas isn't annoyed. Instead Nicholas is frank, and touches back on the dinner table. He's told the sisters to give Ruby a chance, but he expects the same of her- to give them a chance. After all, if she intends to marry Jaune, they'll be her family too.
Nicholas is aware of how serious Ruby is about Jaune. He's also completely ambivalent. He refuses to either approve or condemn the relationship, saying that Jaune is free to make his own choice and his own mistakes, just like Envy and her multiple failed marriages. Whether he considers Ruby a mistake in the making will depend on whether she's been a good influence on Jaune since he abandoned family and fled to Beacon. If Jaune's still the sort who would run away from family, Nicholas asks why Ruby thinks Jaune would stay with her any longer. Ruby protests in Jaune's defense, but is called biased. At Ruby's prodding, Nicholas gives his metric- he'll approve of Jaune (and Ruby, and Jaune and Ruby together) if Jaune is a man all of his sisters can be proud of.
Nicholas and Ruby part, with Nicholas giving Ruby a key to a separate room with more weapons if she wants to see. Still insomniac, Ruby does. This room has weapons too- but Ruby quickly notices that all the weapons are broken or damaged. When Ruby comes to a plaque big enough for Crescent Rose, a voice from behind her raises that very fact.
It's Leandra, Jaune's mother. Where Nicholas was mature and cool, Leandra plays a shotgun daddy role (played for comedic effect), revealing that those are the weapons of all the people who've made the Arcs cry- all the cheaters, abandoners, and heart-breakers. Lust practically has her own wall. Leandra emphasizes her position from dinner- she loves Jaune, but has doubts severe doubts about Ruby's worthiness. Jaune's been swayed by pretty faces before (Weiss), and many of the daughters have been approached and hurt by would-be paramores.
Leandra gives a direct threat to Ruby- that if Ruby ever makes her child cry, Crescent Rose will be on that wall. That's fine, since Ruby has no intention of breaking Jaune's heart, but Leandra adds an additional condition. Her own test of worthiness. If Ruby can't win over the support of all the daughters for their relationship, Leandra herself won't accept or approve of Ruby. And if Jaune's own mother disapproves of Ruby…
Well, you know of the Top Ten, right? Who do you think taught Jaune it? It's a family tradition, and every Arc knows of it, just like every Arc knows what family first means.
Leandra leaves Ruby, and the terms and conditions are set as the first act ends. Ruby has a week to not only help Jaune reconcile with his sisters, but to bond with them herself. Failure to do either of these means losing the approval of a parent- and with it, Ruby's fears could come true. Instead of fear, though, Ruby feels resolve, and even hope- despite their reservations, both parents gave Ruby a goal she could work towards. All she has to do is win over the sisters and convince them how great she and Jaune are before they leave on Sunday. Remembering how Jaune stood up for her at dinner, Ruby feels good about it, and goes to sleep.
Or would, if she could actually fall asleep in the over-stuffed and empty bed without Jaune. When Jaune greets her in the morning, it's to a sleep-deprived but maniacally optimistic Ruby ready to spend time with his family.
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Author Notes:
A few people who read the Writer Games version have wondered what the point of releasing it separately is. Why re-post?
It's not just a re-post. The short version is that I wanted to make it better. The longer version is that I wanted to better communicate my intent, and correct the flaws in the presentation that made the reception more controversial than intended. Controversy isn't a bad thing when it's deliberate- no one is supposed to think that Jaune's Top Ten list is charming- but it needs to be considered carefully, and you can't do that if you're taken by surprise. My intent is one thing, a reader's interpretation is another, and I was taken aback by how widely the two diverged. Looking back, I shouldn't have been- what I emphasized here, what I glossed over there, shaped the interpretations. Throw in a a few bad decisions on top of it, and the interpretations were understandable even if I disagreed with some parts. I wanted to correct that, because I liked the core concept and I wanted to make it work better.
This chapter is the crux of what this version of Meet the Arcs is all about- elaborating the base concept, and balancing the relationship of Jaune and Ruby. It starts with the sisters- the heart of the story (gee, seven days, seven sisters, I wonder if they're important), who were largely glossed over in the first draft. I wanted to flesh them out in a way I didn't before, Coeur made an important point about not having them be uniformly against Ruby, and what you see is what you've got. Le gasp, not everyone is against Ruby. Ruby still bears most of the weight in proving herself, but shares that burden with Jaune who tries to support, which creates a touching relationship moment before family separates them, leaving her alone and isolated.
To me this isn't that much of a change- the biggest change is that Jaune faces resistance from the sisters as well- but there's a big difference between entire paragraphs about how Ruby gets pulled into a family argument and Jaune stands up to her, to the original practically throw away 'Jaune chides one of his younger sisters for being mean to Ruby.' Same with the scene with Jaune at the end- actually describing the intent (a scene of mutual support between the couple, ended by Envy's interruption) rather than glazing over it ('Jaune is dragged away by Envy'). In one, Jaune is mostly noted for his absence. In the other, his support for Ruby is clear.
Coeur gave a blistering critique of the first draft that stood out with the charge that Jaune didn't care about Ruby. That was never my intent. If I do my job right, by the end of Meet the Arcs story you shouldn't ever think the same.