In A Grimm Manor Chapter 3: Intermission: Sense and Liability, a rwby fanfic

Hi, Soul here again! Don't worry, the third chapter of In A Grimm Manor is still scheduled for Sunday, 26th of March; this is simply a little intermission! These will be unscheduled looks at what other characters might be doing in the context of the story and, unless noted otherwise, can be skipped if you're really in a hurry.

Sense and Liability (this intermission) deals with what everyone else was doing in Vale that day, focusing especially on the lovely Pyrrha Nikos. I hope you enjoy!

Cake was better than boys. Boys left you in a city you've barely been to with people you hardly know so he can help a girl who you're fairly sure he has a massive crush on.

Cake didn't do that. Cake was tasty, solid. Cake wouldn't let you down.

So why was she still thinking about him?

"Hey, P-Money!"

Pyrrha glanced up from her table, waving for Yang to take a seat. RBY and NPR had been in Vale for a few hours now, and almost everyone else was busy trying out these free baking lessons that were going around for the day. However, after trying her hand at it for a while, Pyrrha couldn't help but feel she needed a little fresh-air, purposefully seeking out an isolated café near the outskirts of the city. It was a little past lunch time, and while there were a couple of well-dressed socialites on the other stylish glass tables, the café was a tad on the empty side. Not that Pyrrha minded, of course. It gave her time to think.

"P-Money?" Pyrrha repeated amusedly as Yang sat down on one of the black wooden chairs.

"Catchy, right? It means you're totally a cool cat!" Yang replied, sending Pyrrha a sly wink.

"Well, if you want to call me that, I suppose I don't mind."

The two girls sat there awkwardly for a moment, Pyrrha swirling her slim glass of orange juice around with a tiny spoon. Why were they always so tiny, anyway? Were these made for dwarf customers or something?

"I got your letter, by the way." Yang noted, glancing around conspiratorially, "Do you want to talk about it now, or…?"

"There's no one around at the moment, so, sure."

Yang scanned her surroundings like a cat on the prowl, smiling seductively at an attractive waiter as he passed by the table. The young man blushed, shuffling away back to the café kitchens.

"Ah, boys. They come in so many different flavours!" Yang commented sweetly, "But you're looking at the tall, blonde and dorky type, am I right?"

Pyrrha looked down at her feet, nodding ever so slightly.

"Aha! I had a hunch, but I wasn't sure I had the right end of the stick- er, spear, I guess. Glad that I did, too, 'cause you two'd make an adorable couple!" Yang exclaimed happily, curling her hand into a 'thumbs up' expression.

"You really think so?"

"Sure! You're a sexy amazonian woman, claiming her directionless man through combat prowess and force of will, and he's a good guy at heart who just needs a strong woman in his life to give him a good slap on the ass! Literally, if you like." Yang teased, waggling her eyebrows.

"U-uh, I'm not sure that's quite how it is, but…I suppose I see your point, Yang." Pyrrha admitted, her blush almost luminescent at this point.

"So what're you waiting for, then? I mean, you're already living in the same room together, and from what I've heard, the touch barrier isn't a problem. Why not just ask him out?"

"Well…I think that he may be attracted to Weiss instead."

Yang blinked.

"What, 'cause he hit on her the first time you met?"

"Yes…"

"Tell me somethin', P-Money. You ever dated a guy before?"

This time it was Pyrrha's turn to blink.

"Uh…"

"If you don't mind me asking!" Yang added hastily, wringing her hands, "Sorry, I'm used to talking kinda straight-up about this stuff."

"It's fine, I was just surprised...and, no, I've never dated anyone before."

"Ever been hit on?"

Pyrrha smiled softly.

"A couple of times, yes."

"Then let me ask you another question. Do you think that the guys who hit on you also liked other girls, but just hadn't showed them the same kind of attention?"

"Probably?"

"Definitely, P-Money, definitely. Now, Jaune-ry the Eighth may have started as a Casanova wannabe, but don't you think he's gotten a bit more sensible as time's gone on?"

"Yes?"

"There's your answer then! The reason Jaune showed interest in Weiss before but not you now isn't necessarily because he doesn't like you, but because he knows better. He cares about you, and probably doesn't want to risk your friendship when the attraction might be one-sided."

"You really think so?"

"Sure! I mean, I don't know Jaune as well as you do, but I've seen his type plenty of times. They're good guys at heart, so in relationships, they'll always be putting your feelings before their own…it's just sometimes they get it a bit wrong, yeah?"

"So…you think I should just ask him on a date?"

"Maaaaybe." Yang replied mysteriously, rolling her head from side to side, "Wanna hear a better idea, though?"

"Sure!"

"Nudge him along, bit by bit. Drop progressively heavier hints that you're interested in him, and make yourself someone he can trust absolutely. That way, at some point, he'll figure it out himself, ask you out, and think that it was his idea the entire time!"

"…wouldn't it be easier just to ask him?" Pyrrha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well yeah, but this way is about a billion times more fun! Don't you think? Eh? Ehhh?"

"I don't know…I feel like I'd be stringing him along a bit."

"Hey, to each their own, right? Anyways, if you just wanted my opinion on whether he was interested or not, then there you go, you've got it. Like, seriously, if Weiss and Jaune come back from their little trip as boyfriend and girlfriend, I will literally break my own arm."

"Is it really that unlikely?" Pyrrha questioned doubtfully.

"'Course it is! Weiss needs a guy (or girl) who's either super submissive or super opposed to her, I reckon. Jaune's in that middle area where he's got too much pride to do everything she says without protest, but he's nice enough to consider her feelings and help her out when she needs it. For Weiss, he's perfect friend material, but no more than that…I think."

"Hm…"

"But you're still not sure if he's even attracted to you in the first place, right?" Yang asked sagely.

"Yeah…"

"Excuse me, an order for 'Pyrrha Nikos'?"

The two girls had been so caught up in their conversation that they hadn't even noticed the waiter from earlier, who had just pulled up with a delicate plate topped with a delicious-looking raspberry cheesecake.

"Cheesecake? I don't think I ordered this…"

"You didn't, young miss. However, not too long ago a blonde boy came into the café, paying in advance for this cheesecake, saying that it was 'a thank you for all of her help'. You are Pyrrha Nikos, right?"

"Yes, thank you very much, sir." Pyrrha mumbled, handing over a few Lien, "A little extra for the excellent service, and I'll be sure to recommend this place to my friends!"

The waiter accepted the cash with a grin, setting the creamy dessert down in as gingerly a manner as possible. As he turned to walk away, Yang called after him.

"Hey, waiter boy! I wouldn't mind if you gave me some excellent service one of these days." Yang noted seductively. The attractive waiter merely coughed awkwardly.

"I'm afraid I'm already taken, miss."

"Gah, assbiscuits! I mean uh, have fun with your guy slash girl slash other!"

Yang whined as her 'prey' escaped unscathed, looking jealously at Pyrrha's cheesecake.

"I wish guys bought me cake." she complained, pouting, "...more often, anyway."

Pyrrha took a dessert spoon out of the table's cutlery dispenser and, ever so gracefully, began eating it, bit by bit.

So what's your favourite dessert, Pyrrha?

Why do you ask?

Well uh, I just thought of it when Nora was ranting about food earlier, and, you know...

Hm…cheesecake, I think...strawberry cheesecake. I always used to have one after a big tournament.

Really? It's a shame the cafeteria doesn't do any…

It would be nice, but it's okay. I found this café the other day that does fantastic desserts in Vale, anyway, so it's not really that annoying.

Cool! What's it called?

Pyrrha glanced up to the neon sign spelling "Celica's Soothing Café" in beautiful curling letters, then looked down to her half-gone raspberry cheesecake.

Close enough, Jaune… Pyrrha thought happily, continuing with her demolition of the creamy pudding, Close enough.

As usual, the next actual chapter will be out this Sunday, on the 30th of March. Stay tuned!

Addendum: A big thank you to frik1000 for helping me fix a rather large unintentional plot hole that was in the original version of this intermission. Oops!