Holy shit this story isn't dead?! Yes ladies and gents you have survived long enough to see this story's return, although I ask you temper that excitement with realism. While this story now does have a loose plot progression I do not advise hanging off of every chapter, there will be delays, hiatuses, and so on and so forth.
I find that I am much better at creating prompts or small strings of stories rather than fleshed out ones. As much as that sucks for the stories left in limbo, I feel as though "An Arc's Mad World" is a pretty good jack of all trades. Thanks for tuning in while I attempt to get together some good stuff for this story, and thanks for reading.
If you're interested in adopting the story, PM me and we can talk.
Until then,
XOXOXO
CoffeyJoe
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Weiss Schnee was not having a good day.
In fact, it was more apt to say that her entire life since she entered Beacon had been "not good". At the beginning it all seemed so perfect, she was finally away from her mother's grasp, she could finally become the huntress she wanted to be, and, of course, she was on a team with the only known man with aura!
Of course, the reality that the man with aura was actually an unstable boy with extreme anger and inferiority issues had been a bit jarring. And yet, the constant mood swings and grumbled annoyances had almost become an agreeable white noise for her and her team, a change from the high impact energetic violence that was her own partner. But all that paled in comparison to seeing her own team leader, and ass yes but still her team leader, being blown across the pavement in defense of a former terrorist.
It seems no matter what would happen, life would always find a way to mess with Weiss Schnee. The young heiress felt some unpleasant memory bubble up from within her, a long forgotten one about her mother and her so-called "advice".
She had been sitting alone, idly studying her arithmetic when she heard someone enter her chambers. Hoping that it would be Klein or Winter, she would've even taken her near infantile brother Whitley, the young girl tried to swallow her disappointment at seeing her mother. Regal and stiff as always, Willow Schnee crossed the lavish room with the gait of someone who knew what they wanted and how they would get it.
"Weiss," her mother started. "I have come here to speak to you about the possible engagement to Pluto Solaris, that young man from the mining company you met at the party."
"What about it, mother?" Weiss asked, blinking at her.
"Well, it is the board's decision that this marriage would be most beneficial to everyone involved including yourself. So, the process has been started to have you two eventually marry when you come of age." Willow Schnee explained sternly.
Weiss stood up in shock. "Mother?! But I wish to become a huntress, and I can't do that if I have a husband! I don't even know this man!"
"Your sister," Willow grimaced at the word. "Is already training to become a huntress under the tutelage of General Ironwood herself at Atlas. There is no need for yet another one of us to risk our lives in that ghastly profession."
"But mother, I've wanted to become a huntress all my life!" Weiss cried, looking to her parent for something.
"Enough! I will have no more of this selfish caterwauling young lady. This is an unprecedented opportunity for a young lady such as yourself, this business merging could be very beneficial to this family." Willow snapped, causing her daughter to flinch. "You have no idea how much I have sacrificed to give you this opportunity Weiss! I have spent months preparing this and I will not let it slide because of some selfish death wish like your sister has."
Willow turned and began to walk out the door, but stopped to mention one last thing. "Weiss, someone who is no good to her superiors is no good to anyone."
The door slammed coldly following the Schnee matriarch...
If Winter could see her know Weiss would shudder to imagine her response. These thoughts plagued her as she walked around the halls in between classes, students idly chatting around her as she passed. It was with her uncharacteristic carelessness that she bumped into the one girl who she had thought to be the perfect partner at the beginning of her time at Beacon: Pyrrha Nikos.
"Oh, sorry Weiss." Pyrrha apologized politely, red ponytail bouncing with her. "I should have watched where I was going."
Seems I'm not the only one lost in thought Weiss conceded to herself. "It's ok Pyrrha, how has your team been?"
Pyrrha looked slightly surprised at the question, but answered nonetheless. "Oh, ugh, I mean we haven't been disbanded and Blake isn't in jail, so ok I guess? I mean, they've been drilling Blake for questions pretty hard for the past few days and that's left all of us on edge I suppose."
"I see, and how is Ruby taking it?" Weiss may not have been the most... sociable person. But, Ruby was still a child and yet she had been saddled with a criminal teammate and the guilt of an injured huntsman, none of which was her fault.
"She's been, well, kind of a mess lately." Pyrrha sighed, Weiss now noticing the darkened circles under her eyes. "She's taken Jaune's injury pretty hard, she considers it her fault for allowing Blake and him to rush in carelessly."
Weiss placed a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder. "Listen to me Pyrrha, what that oaf did was not you, or Ruby's, fault and you shouldn't think of it like that."
Pyrrha nodded with another sigh. "I know, and so does Yang, but Ruby she's, you know, really heroic I guess? She's considers it her fault, and nothing Yang or I will say can bring her out of that funk."
"Yeah..." Weiss trailed off, the frustration between the two teams having cooled off some time ago. "Look, Pyrrha, I-I'm sorry for what I said about Blake, ok? I-I didn't mean it, I was just worried about my partner and she was the only thing that was there and-"
Pyrrha huffed a small laugh. "It's ok Weiss, I forgive you. I think Ruby and Blake do too, but Yang may still be on the fence with her attitude and all."
That was some consolation to the heiress, she breathed a sigh of relief and the two continued chatting. Pyrrha asked how Jaune was doing only to be informed he had not been enjoying his stay at the infirmary, apparently Professors Oobleck and Port had been harassing him in between their classes. Pyrrha laughed at that and wished her the best of luck as she scurried off to go do whatever it was she had to do, leaving Weiss alone once again.
Hmm, maybe I should go see Jaune to make sure he's ok she though to herself idly, something flickered in her brain causing her to blush and she forced it aside. Or maybe I'll bring Rin and Nora to come see him with me...
0-0-0-0
"Fuck kid you look like shit!" Qrow Branwen commented upon seeing her protege's appearance. And, as crude as it was, she was, unfortunately, not too far from the mark as Jaune did not look like the picture of health.
Nights of restless sleep mixed in with nightmares and general stress of both school and injury had cause the young man to become somewhat sunken in appearance. He needed to shave badly and there were bruise-colored bags beneath his eyes that spoke of insomnia. Even so, the young man snorted his characteristic snort and looked back at the face on the scroll.
"You're one to talk, did you check that fucking mess for birds yet?" Jaune shot back, looking at the wily mess of black locks sitting atop his teacher's head.
Qrow narrowed her eyes with a frown. "Ha ha kid, I'll have you know this little birdie was picking some seed last night, know what I'm saying."
Jaune's face turned strained as he threatened to yak at the imagery causing Qrow to flinch back in offense.
"What the fuck kid I am not that ugly!" she snapped at him.
"No, not ugly. Just old, really really old." Jaune grimaced, happy his teacher wasn't close enough to strangle him.
"Fucking kids I swear," Jaune could hear her mumble. "anyways I needed to make sure you were still sucking air like the good little leech you were. But I didn't expect you to look like the goddamned crypt keeper."
"Laugh it up Qrow, karma's gonna kick you in the ass one day." Jaune retorted, leaning back into his mound of pillows.
"You have no idea kid." she said cryptically, a strange look scrolling across her face momentarily. "But I guess that wraps up my mandatory one hour a month mentor-student chat. Keep out of trouble, don't do drugs, yadda, yadda."
"Hey Qrow." Jaune interrupted, causing the older huntress to place her attention on the scroll. "Can I ask you something?"
"Ugh, sure kid what is it?"
"Do- Do you think I could be happy here?" Jaune asked genuinely, causing Qrow to snap her head to the screen.
"Um, what?" she asked dumbly, eyeing her pupil strangely.
"I-I mean, like, do you think that I just stuck this out things would get better? Like, they'd have to right? I have a team, and friends, and all that good shit so I really don't have a reason to leave, right?" Jaune began to rush out, prompting Qrow to raise a hand to calm him.
"Geez kid pump the brakes a little. Look, is something wrong?"
"Wrong? Who said anything about wrong? No, nothing's wrong." Jaune shook his adamantly, his somewhat shaky tone betraying his words.
"Jaune, is something wrong? Are you feeling alright? Do I need to come down there for a visit?" the huntsman's teacher asked, brow furrowed in concern. "Look, if I need to talk to the headmistress I can but-"
"No!" Jaune shouted, Qrow looking taken aback for a moment. "Ugh, I mean- look, just forget about it. See you soon love ya lots, bye!"
"Wait kid-" she didn't finish her sentence as the scroll clicked off, ending the video chat just as Jaune's teammates entered.
"Fearless leader! We have brought you some food!" Nora crowed as she skipped into the room.
"Keep your voice down Nora, we aren't alone." Rin chastised, earning a grumbled "finally" from Cressida. "But she is correct, we have come to give you some food Jaune. How have you been feeling?"
"Oh you know, same old burn wound and drugs. They got me on this new thing that makes me feel light as a feather when I take it." Jaune chuckled, rattling a orange bottle of pills.
"Wonderful, just what you needed: drugs." Weiss scoffed as she followed the two. "You look terrible."
"Yeah, well, that's been going around or so I hear." Jaune retorted, but despite his cocky grin his eyes carried a resigned tiredness to them.
"Have you been sleeping well?" Rin asked, reaching a hand up to her partner's forehead.
Jaune lightly smacked it away. "I'm fine, probably just this medication making it hard to sleep."
"Right, well we heard that Professor Oobleck is going to want to talk to you after her classes are done so we'll make sure not to bother you until that's done." Rin nodded slowly. "But, before that, let's get some food in you, I've tasted the stuff they have here and I personally think it should come with a biohazard symbol."
"Oh Rinny, you say that about all food that wouldn't be served in a four star restaurant." Nora giggled. "But shes' right, Nora's hungry!"
"Nora, you just ate 7 plates of food at the cafeteria." Weiss said, rubbing her temples.
"I know right? I should have gone for more!" Nora nodded, opening up what was once Jaune's lunch.
0-0-0-0
Later that day...
"...In conclusion, knowledge is good and ignorance is bad. Any questions?" Oobleck finished to her injured pupil, who had asked for a short review to cover what he missed.
"Ugh, yes?" Jaune answered hesitantly. "I think I've got a solid... grasp on the fundamentals."
"Wonderful, now, we must have a moment of self review Mister Arc." Oobleck pushed, causing Jaune to shift uncomfortably.
"Didn't I already do this with Petunia? Why do I have to do this again?" he asked.
Oobleck breathed deeply. "Because, Mister Arc, that is not how therapy works. Because, despite what you may think, this is a therapy session. Now, I heard a little about your family, but now I wish to talk about you."
"Ok..." Jaune trailed off, waiting.
"Mister Arc, your teammates have said you haven't been sleeping very well lately." Oobleck began. "I would like to start off by you telling me why you think that is."
A sour feeling rolled in Jaune's gut. "I-I have no clue, it's probably the medication."
"Ok, so no nightmares? Or perhaps you might be feeling guilty?" the distinguished professor asked.
Jaune forced himself to remain stoic at the mention of nightmares. "Maybe I'm feeling a little guilty about going ballistic. I have to admit, I still don't know how to feel about it."
"That's normal, Mister Arc, after such an episode anyone would have mixed feelings." Oobleck agreed. "So then, tell me, how are you feeling about Beacon?"
"Can I be honest?"
"Of course Jaune, I would have it no other way."
"Then, it's been strange. I never thought I'd be the leader of Team ARSN, or even a leader at all but now I'm saddled with 3 people who I didn't even know existed until a few months ago." Jaune began, straining to come up with the words. "Weiss... She's a handful, but I think part of it comes down to the fact I don't know how to talk to people, I can't communicate with them. I don't feel like I'm really a part of this team, I feel like I'm just a placeholder for someone else, someone more suited."
"Ozpin would not have chosen you if she didn't feel you were ready." Oobleck countered.
"Really? Because sometimes I don't feel like I can even trust her Oobleck." Jaune sighed. "I don't know, she's so enigmatic and she has this thing where she moves people around like they're on a chess board, like we're pawns. Maybe it's just because I haven't been feeling myself, but she seems so... untrustworthy to be honest, and the more I think about it the more unnerved I become."
The doctor nodded. "Can you elaborate on that for me?"
"Well, Ozpin likes to coat the truth with thinly veiled half-lies and then write them off like they were necessary. I didn't even know she had cameras all over Forever Falls, and that probably wasn't the end of them either."
"A security measure, that's all it is I assure you."
"How do I know? How do you know? Have you ever gotten the feeling that Ozpin has ever told you the full truth?" Jaune demanded, looking into his teacher's eyes.
"Well, to be honest, no. But that's because sometimes the full truth isn't what's necessary, truth can be very dangerous in the wrong hands Mister Arc." Oobleck explained, adjusting her glasses.
"No, this is different. It's less of her not telling the truth and her deliberately hiding something until she feels that it needs to be said. Doesn't that bother you in the slightest?"
"Mister Arc, is this really about Ozpin?" Oobleck asked, looking for the root of the problem.
Jaune swallowed stiffly. "Well, I guess not. I mean, I still have a lot of reservations about her, but, to be honest, I think I'm just more unhappy with my situation than anything. I mean, I wanted my independence, my male freedom, you know? And instead I was tricked into thinking I had it while I run in circles for the council and Ozpin."
"Well Jaune, it also comes down to how you choose to see it." the professor nodded. "This could be an unprecedented opportunity for a man like you Jaune."
"Oh please, I am so sick of being fed that line. Especially when nothing has really changed, people talk about how I have this wonderful opportunity, but what is it? No one can tell me what that is or what I'm striving for, I certainly don't entertain the idea of getting gender equality through becoming a huntsman." Jaune scoffed. "It's like I said, I've been tricked into thinking I've been set free into this world when I'm really just stuck in a gilded cage."
Doctor Oobleck wrote something down on a notepad she produced. "I see, well Jaune from one person to another I have to say that perhaps you need to let people in more."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means you need to stop being so defensive, you need to let your team in. You're their leader, they rely on you for guidance and, occasionally, strength and you need to be that for them. If not, then your whole team will suffer for it."
The words impacted with the young man, leaving him to think on them. The two talked a little bit more until Professor Oobleck decided to call it a day and left with a few words of support. Jaune limped his way back to his hospital room (it seems his condition was finally turning around) but was surprised to find the nurse already there and waiting.
She sat on the edge of his bed, idly playing with her nails before she looked up to acknowledge his presence.
"Ugh, hi Miss Laurel?" Jaune half-asked. "I didn't think you'd be here."
To be fair, he also didn't think the nurse's eyes would suddenly change color...