Hello everyone. J. Van A here and we have the second to last chapter of BLZEing Remnant finally done (I'll explain a bit later). We get to the dance, and the question on everyone's mind is most likely 'Will Eva finally tell Blaise how she feels?' or 'Will Sedric finally get a date?' Well, both get answered in this chapter, and I think near the end you guys may hate me, but just trust me.
This one came in a tad bit later than I'd like because of three reasons: I've been a bit busy with my non-writing life, I'm horrible at writing other things than fighting which has been evident throughout this series, and I had to do some side research on dresses and dances and the results were disappointing for me.
So, for those of you who basically didn't go though the research or just don't know dress terms, I've settled on simple terms and basically the same style. Sheath dresses are basically what Pyrrha wore to the dance, and Qipaos are a traditional slim Chinese dress style that covers most of the body (just google it quick if I'm not being very descriptive). And the term full dress means it goes to the ankles or just before the dress hits the floor.
Now then, I need to save my ramblings for the end.
Enjoy
After finishing setting up the ballroom BLZE went back to their room. Lapis and Blaise passed out immediately from exhaustion, but Zaria and Eva remained awake and began to work on their outfits for the dance.
"So," Eva said picking up a green full length sheath dress and held it against her chest, "I was thinking of a sheath dress since it's simple, plain, and not too showy. What do you think?"
"I don't know," Zaria said closing her magazine after finally finishing reading it, "Not too many people are going to be wearing extravagant outfits. I mean, most of the girls going to the dance are wearing one of the three variations of the same dress, and from what I heard all the guys are going in their Beacon uniforms with bow ties."
"So does that mean you're going to wear that plain dress?"
"Hell no," she replied reaching under her bed to pull out a bag, "Shizuko and I decided to go more along the lines of our family's heritage so we each got a Qipao."
"But weren't you adopted?" Eva asked causing Zaria to freeze before slowly sliding her beg back under her bed.
"Either way," she said jumping back on her bed so she leaned her back against the headboard to look in Eva's way, "Pyrrha bought what appears to be a full length red sheath dress, and from what I can imagine, Reita also probably has a sheath dress since it is a common party dress. So you have two options: find a different dress before tomorrow night, or attempt to show up Reita by looking better in your dress than her."
"I don't really think that is my intentio-"
"Just go with the dress."
"Is he still asleep?" Alex asked poking Blaise's cheek as he, Quinton, and Lapis finished getting dressed. Alex obviously wore his hunting outfit with the substitution of the cargo pants and boots with white dress pants and black dress shoes. Quinton wore a black suit with a red vest. Lapis had bought a blue suit with a black vest. "And would've it killed you guys to buy a suit not like your armors?" He received a blank stare. "Right, forget I asked. So, should we wake him up?"
"I wouldn't," Lapis replied combing his hair to give it a more formal look, "He tends to get grumpy when we force him awake. We still have a few hours before the dance and he set himself an alarm to wake up an hour before the dance. I think he deserves this, after all, his exhaustion isn't only physical."
"Where is Blaise?" Zaria asked team AQRS and the remaining members of BLZE as they headed towards the ballroom.
"Well, Zaria," Alex said, "While you girls were getting dressed in our dorm and we in yours, Blaise was sleeping the whole time. He will probably wake up soon and meet us at the dance."
"I hope he hurries," Eva said slightly adjusting her green dress.
"So," Lapis said getting everyone's attention, "do you think he'll wear his trench coat again?"
"I hope not," Alex replied, "We bought him a suit specifically so he wouldn't wear that worn out trench coat."
"It's almost like he's in love with that thing," Reita commented.
"Either way, if he doesn't wear the suit, we're going to bring him back and force him in it," Quinton said with a slight tinge of annoyance in his voice.
"Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap," Blaise said hastefully throwing on his suit as he prepared himself for the dance. "Why the hell didn't anyone wake me up?!" Blindly grabbing at the coat rack he began to sprint at the window leaping before he hit the sil landing on the tree outside.
Taking that moment he jumped off the large branch hooking his hand on one of the lower branches changing the direction of his descent landing on the sidewalk. Pulling on the jacket he ran straight for the ballroom. Just as he turned around the corner his face was greeted by a person's back throwing him down to the ground.
"Well, that saves us the time trying to find him," a familiar voice said from above him. Opening his eyes he could see the rest of the Campione family, and both Linus and Helena Manos.
"What are you guys doing here?" Blaise asked as Sedric helped him up.
"Well, initially we're chaperoning the dance," Linus said hoisting Helena on his shoulders, "but we're actually helping the hopeless romantic here in his desperate attempt to score a date with somebody-"
"Glynda," Sedric interrupted him.
"Right, Glynda. Also I'm here to visit my daughter and speak with your headmaster about setting up a trade agreement allowing Beacon to have access to powerful new dust and possibly better airships."
"So for the most part, it's a business trip," Blaise said adjusting his jacket that he finally realized wasn't his favorite aviator trench coat. "So why did you guys bring the kids."
"Helena wanted to see her big sister."
"We couldn't trust anyone at the mansion with the twins," Marilyn answered.
"And Ozpin said you could have you guys here?" Blaise asked them mostly directing his attention towards Sedric whose smile faded. "I'm sure he doesn't care."
Ozpin sneezed. "I keep telling you to take that cold medicine," Glynda said to the headmaster as they both watched students start pouring into the ballroom.
"I don't get sick," he mumbled in slight annoyance. "Well, I believe we are going to have an interesting ball this year considering all the extra students brought here from the other academies."
"I'd hate to say this," Glynda said with a sigh, "but I really hope Sedric found chaperones for this dance."
"Oh, first name basis, I didn't think things would be progressing this fast," Ozpin said with a smirk on his face much to Glynda's displeasure. "This reminds me of our time here as students when you fell for that big guy with the-"
"Do not even bring that up," Glynda warned him. "The reason I called him by his first name was because there are more than one Campione attending this school."
"Well," Ozpin said glancing at the doorway as a group of people entered the building, "You are definitely going to have an interesting time keeping names straight today."
She looked over towards the door and sighed. "This is a nightmare."
"Now then, time to mingle," he said leaving Glynda by herself.
"Nice to see you made it," Lapis greeted Blaise as he came over to the group of BLZE and AQRS.
"And that you wore the right jacket," Alex said gesturing towards Blaise's outfit consisting of a black dress shirt and jacket, and white vest and necktie. "We were seriously worried you might show up wearing that old aviator trench coat."
"Hey, I know you guys might not like that coat, but I like it," Blaise said defending the honor of his aviator trench coat then smirk, "and I'm pretty sure you don't want me kicking your ass again."
"Yeah, yeah, you could beat me up," Alex said waving him off focusing his semblance and on the last wave he had Blaise slap himself. "Now then, we should partake in the main event." He walked away from the group towards the group of students sitting on the sidelines, and with a couple quick lines and an outstretched hand he was escorting a brunette out to the dance floor.
"Did he just make Blaise slap himself and get convince a girl to dance with him?" Lapis asked his brother who simply sighed.
"Alex is just confidently cocky when it comes to talking with women," Reita answered for Quinton.
"Eva," a voice said from behind the still somewhat short archer causing her to shiver and form a look of terror. Then in a split second large arms wrapped themselves around Eva and picked her up into the air in a hug.
"Dad! What the hell are you doing at the dance?!" Eva exclaimed trying not to draw attention to herself as she was attempting to kick her way out of her father's arms.
"Oh, Sedric invited me to chaperone," he explained setting his daughter down on the floor. "Not to mention I'm also here to make a business deal with Ozpin. Also." He paused and turned around to quickly pick up something short. In some swift movement he turned around holding Helena and tossed her into the arms of her older sister. "Helena's here."
"Hey you little scamp," Eva said to her rubbing her forehead against Helena's. Then she set her sister down and kneeled in front of her. "Enjoy the dance, but don't dance with anyone you don't know… and try to stay around dad."
"Ozpin," Linus greeted the headmaster with a quick nod as he was followed by Lucius.
"Linus Manos and Orlando Cooper, greetings," Ozpin greeted them both as he sat down at a nearby table and gestured for them both to sit down. "I take it you wish to talk about setting up a contract with me about setting trade agreements."
"Yes, that is why we're here," Linus answered him. "We have several new dust combinations at have been proven to be useful during combat by some of your students-"
"Let me stop you right there," Ozpin interrupted. "I was interested in a trade agreement since over a week ago when your daughter donated several cases of gravity dust rounds and healing dust. So if you want to stop by my office in the next few days to help me with the paperwork, can we please get back to the event at hand."
"Uh, sure thing," Linus said then stood up from his chair and began to perform his duties as a chaperone. Lucius was about to leave, but then Ozpin got his attention.
"Mr. Campione," he said emphasising the fact he knew his last name, "I believe we have some unfinished business. Would you please follow me outside."
"So," Shizuko said to Reita handing her a glass of punch, "who will you be dancing with tonight?"
"I don't know," Reita said adjusting her black sash around her abdomen to fit more comfortably around the teal dress. "I didn't really plan on dancing today. The main reason I'm here anyway is because you guys came. I'd honestly rather be back at the dorm playing video games. We could've been doing that as a big group instead of standing around awkwardly waiting for the night to end so we can get our first missions tomorrow."
"Jeez, rant much?" Shizuko replied tugging a little on the sleeve of her black qipao. Then she looked around the room and spotted Blaise sitting next to Lucia across the room having a chat. "It seems like there is someone you can probably dance with. I think Blaise came here alone and right now he's just wasting time, kind of like you. Now as your partner I command you to just do yourself a favor and have fun."
"So, where do you think everyone else is?" Blaise asked his sister as they both relaxed in their comfortable chairs on the sides of the ballroom.
"Well, last I heard Alex was dancing with some random girls he's been picking up, Zaria and Lapis are dancing together, and I think Shizuko and Quinton are dancing soon," she answered him stretching her arms.
"So, who are you going to dance with today?" he asked her making her tense up and make a wide eyed look at him. "Well, you bought that fancy sleeved grey dress and you won't dance."
"Blaise, I am above the petty squabbles involved in dancing. I find it rather pleasant to sit and enjoy the regular conversations during these events," she answered in a posh tone of voice.
"So basically, you can't dance," he remarked causing her to slump over. "I'm right, aren't I?" A small nod answered his question. "Well, at least you have to worry about dancing butting in on your chaperone duties." A quiet whimper came from his sister. "Alright, so you wanted to dance?" Another nod. "You are a strange person. You know that right?" Another nod.
"Hey, Blaise, Lucia," Reita greeted as she came over to them both. "Are you both enjoying the party? Mostly everybody is dancing."
"Yeah, I think Eva is somewhere with Marilyn and the kids, Sedric is actually doing his chaperone duties so he can dance with Glynda later, and Lucius is outside talking with Ozpin," Blaise remarked before a body sat down on behind him. Turning around he saw Lucius sitting here groaning with a busted nose. "What the hell happened to you?
"Ozpin and I had a discussion regarding my past before being Orlando Cooper," Lucius remarked then held a napkin up to his nose. "That man has a mean left hook."
"So does that mean there'll be no deal?"
"No," he said with a smile on his face, "he agreed to go along with that deal just as long as I didn't kill anymore of his students."
"You killed Beacon students," Reita asked him somewhat in shock.
"Yeah, most of a team… but I didn't even do most of the killing. The mutated grimm did that work before I killed the hipster guy's girlfriend," Lucius replied nonchalantly. "I mean Sedric flat out killed the last remaining member of that team while he was trying to kill Blaise. Bibbity-bobbity-boo, we're friends again."
"What is wrong with your family?" she nearly yelled at them in surprise.
"If I had a day to list off all the things wrong with our family… I still wouldn't have enough time," Lucius said then pushed Blaise's back pushing him off of the chair in front of Reita. "Now, you two have fun at the dance. I'm going to have a talk with my little sister, and if you see my wife tell her I'm waiting to dance."
"Sure thing," Blaise said then held out a hand for Reita. "Shall we dance?"
"I'd like that," Reita replied taking Blaise's hand as he started to lead her out to the dance floor.
"Now Helena, I want you to stay with Marilyn and the twins," Eva said to her sister outside the ballroom. "I'm going to go inside and hang out with some of my friends."
"Yeah, I know," Helena replied then formed a giant smile on her face. "Go have fun with your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend," she hastefully responded pulling back in embarrassment. "Blaise is just my team leader."
"Whatever you say," Marilyn said taking Clara back from Eva. "We're going to go to Lucia's staff housing for the rest of the night so the twins can sleep," she turned to Helena and poked her on the nose, "and you are way past your bedtime. Tell Lucius that after I get them all asleep I'm coming back to the dance."
"Have fun you guys," Eva said waving them off as they headed towards the staff housing.
Turning around to head towards the ballroom only to stop in front of the door. Looking ahead she could see a distinct two people in the room dancing smiling as they did so. She didn't even realize it until she felt something hit her hands. Looking up she thought it was starting to rain before she realized it was a cloudless night. Lifting her hand up she wiped it under her eye and then looked at it seeing the tears glistening on her hand. Turning around she began walking back to the dorm letting the droplets land on the path.
"I'm actually enjoying tonight," Reita said to Blaise as they both began dancing to the next slower song. "I originally had intended on just staying on the sides not dancing."
"Well, I honestly didn't know if I could dance," Blaise said nervously. "That was the main reason I hadn't asked anyone out to the dance."
"Really, what were your other reasons?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I just didn't know how to ask her to the-" he said before his head jerked towards the door.
"What's going on?" she asked him looking out the door seeing nothing.
"It's just… I smell something. Something salty," he said letting go of her hands.
"Really? I don't smell anything," she remarked then Blaise pointed at his wolf ears then his nose. "Right, faunus nose. Are you sure you didn't just smell someone throw some salt in the air or something."
"No, it's something I've smelled before," he said then started walking towards the door, "around the same time I nearly died. I'm sorry, but I have to leave."
"I understand," she said as she watched Blaise walk through the crowd just before she began laughing at Jaune as he began walking into the building wearing a white dress.
"It appears all the dancers have partners," Emerald said to Cinder as she and Mercury overlooked the dance.
"How long do I have?" Cinder asked from the other end of their comms
"We should probably be home by midnight, just to be safe," Mercury said to her.
"I'll keep my eye on the clock," Cinder replied from a building away before she began her mission.
"Cinder, I do have one question. What are we going to do about Sedric and Lucius Campione?" Emerald asked her looking at the wolf faunus who was currently attempting to get Glynda Goodwitch to dance with him eventually succeeding. "With those two still alive they could come to be a major problem in our plans."
"I already have a plan at hand," Cinder replied on the other side of the comms. "I want you to call up Orson at the White Fang research facility on the east coast of Vale and tell them to begin our plans with the new grimm."
"We'll be alright, right?" she asked her leader who simply chuckled on the other end.
"Don't worry, we will be nowhere near where the plan will be executed."
"So," Blaise said entering the dorm room where Eva was currently lying on her bed face down letting out quiet sobs, "I take it something bad happened."
"Why do you care?" she asked from her bed not looking at him at all.
"Well, I care because you're my teammate and I'm your team leader," he replied taking off his suit jacket then placing it on the coat rack next to his aviator trench coat.
"Is that the only reason?"
"No, I care because you're my friend, Eva," he said sitting down on the side of her bed. "You were with me from day one, always watching my back and scolding me every time I did something stupid. I mean, seriously, every time I pulled some stunt you were always there to slap me or even worse, kick, I'd hate to feel your kicks now with your change of muscle mass."
"Is this supposed to be going somewhere?"
"Well, I'm not the best at doing sentimental speeches in case you haven't noticed," he said placing his hand on her head. "All I'm trying to say is that I care for you. I mean I care for all of you guys, that is why I always pull those stupid stunts; typically I'm the one injured and you guys are safe. That is how much I care. It may seem a tad bit cliche but it's the truth. Back in my days before Beacon I was the only one I cared about, I mean I did some horrible things. Like remember that governor that died a few years back? That was me protecting myself."
"I'm failing to see your point."
"I'd rather die than let any harm come come to you. Old me would've let everyone die back at the mansion when the wraiths were attacking, but I stayed and nearly died. I actually watched my life flash before my eyes and subconscious me is a douche," he chuckled then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, I'm obviously not going anywhere with this, so can you please just tell me what's going on so I can beat the shit out of the guy who made you sad."
"You wouldn't understand."
"And why wouldn't I?"
"Because you're the reason why I'm crying!" she yelled at him picking herself off of her bed to look at him with bloodshot eyes. "I've been in love with you since before the wraith incident. It wasn't a full-fledged head-over-heels kind of love at first, but you were just a good person protecting everyone and trying to save everyone. When I came to realize my feelings you were already dating Yang so I had to keep them bottled up. Then when you nearly died I thought that there would be no way I could be happy without you, even if you were with somebody else. So I just tried my hardest to keep you alive, which is very difficult when you are you. After you broke up with Yang I thought maybe I'd have a chance. I was going to ask you out to the dance but I'm just a shy coward, but when I saw you dancing with Reita…"
"I see," Blaise said standing up from her bed. "This whole thing is a huge misunderstanding." He walked over to the coat rack and started to put on his trench coat. "Reita and I aren't really a thing, never were." He pulled out his scroll and began searching through it. "Honestly we had a little joke bet going on whether or not Alex was secretly dating Quinton, but that turned out to be false. We were still friends after that reminding each other of the small joke." He placed the scroll down on the desk. "Truth be told, I was going to ask this one girl out to the dance. She was pretty with beautiful hair. She has changed a lot since school began, mostly within the past semester. But since I'm a spineless coward in anything other than fighting, I didn't ask her. I thought maybe I could just dance with some of my friends and then ask her nonchalantly, but that plan didn't go over too well. So, Eva Manos, what I'm trying to say here is pretty simple," he pressed a button on his scroll and a slow waltz began playing, "May I have this dance?"
"So, you finally came back," Lucius said as his wife walked towards him.
"Well, the kids took forever to be put to sleep, and I think Helena is still awake watching TV," she said sitting next to him then she took notice of his nose. "What happened?"
"A business deal," he said wiping the rest of the blood from his nose.
"I take it went well."
"We landed the deal. So now we have a decent flow of income and with our other deal with the Schnee Dust Company we will have the resources and funding to make new dust in bulk," Lucius said then stood up from his chair and held out a hand for his wife. "Now then, shall we?"
She smiled as she took his hand. "I really hope you've improved since our wedding night."
"Well, after several awkward classes with several of the mansion's scientists and even Linus, I think I have it down," he said as they both started dancing.
"So, did you run into Eva?"
"No, did you happen to run into Blaise?"
"No, I thought he was here and Eva was coming back to dance with him."
"Well, he was dancing with Reita before he suddenly left. You don't think that-"
"Yeah," she interrupted him, "he's probably either making this situation better or a lot worse."
"Knowing him, it is a strong probability that it is the latter."
"Lucius."
"Yes."
"You're still bleeding," she said looking at his face where blood was pouring out his nose down onto his suit.
"So, I have to ask," Eva said wrapping her arms around Blaise's neck as they began dancing to their third song, "How did you even know to come after me? I barely was in here before you walked in."
"Which would you prefer, the creepy truth or the romanticised lie?" he asked her then she placed her head on his chest.
"Please, no more lying, we've gone through too much of that this year."
"Alright, you asked for it," he said then sighed. "I smelled your tears."
"That's creepy."
"I told you that."
"But how did you even know it was me?" she asked him looking up to look him in the eyes.
"Well, that time I nearly died, just before I did I smelled your tears and it sort of imprinted itself in my head," he explained somewhat embarrassed.
"You are one strange puppy," she said resting her head back on his chest.
He chuckled. "Well, that has been proven true many times throughout this year. I kinda wonder what next year will have in store for us."
"Try to focus on the present."
Ha! You guys almost thought that Blaise was going to be the ultimate douche (well now he's just a creep who smells girls' tears).
Anyway, I think I wrapped that up nicely. We even brought in the whole family. Why? Because they will be important in the next chapter.
In case you can't tell I'm not having teams BLZE, AQRS, and BRNZ participate in the Breach with RWBY and JNPR because I just think that OC stories should be filled with a lot of original content because the show wrapped it up nicely with the finally and leaves little room for OCs without making it seem annoying.
Also, lately I've been getting several requests from some OC writers asking if I could help them out, and I'm not saying I hate it. If anything I like it since you guys think that I write a good story, but for a writer to make their own unique story with OCs, it needs to be your own thing. Some fun things can come from doing a group project like the thing I'm doing with Kaimi Kreissel where we just let each other use our OCs and don't really have each other dictate what the other does when using their OCs, like the combat with Zelony (and Kaimi, you'd enjoy what I'm doing next chapter using Emmet) or just having ridiculous conversations like K Wolf Omega and our railgun chats where we somehow came up with a possible way to make a railgun flamethrower.
So, I've been thinking of after I finish this story posting a new story that will be labeled 'J. Van A's Guide for OC Writing' because there are so many OC stories on fanfiction, and I'm not the best I'm willing to admit that, but the better ones I see haven't done anything like that. Maybe it'll be successful and people will like it or it will seem like me stoking my ego. I don't know.
So, onto other news, I finished Star Wars KotOR 2, and apparently after I finished Nar Shaddaa the game went pretty quickly. Then I played and beat Devil May Cry 4, and now I have beaten all the games I have and can't think of anything else to do in my spare time. I might be able to find the DmC: Devil May Cry game for Xbox. Or I could finally go back to work on the group project I'm working on with my friends.
Well, I think I've wasted enough of your time, so I'll let you guys go now.
Have a nice day,
-J. Van A