WAIT, WHAT! HOW MANY I'M MARRYING!?
"Alright. Alright. Are we sure we can't talk you out of this? I mean, you know others are also involved in this." A lady with blond hair and blue eyes asked with desperation evident in her voice.
'Yes. We're sure. And we know. You're not talking us out of this. This is happening.' The voice on the other end of the call answered. 'There is no better person in Remnant for this.'
"Are you sure-sure? I mean, even some of the others said their personalities don't mix well." A male with blond hair and blue eyes asked.
'And yet, they still want this to happen. I know we're not the first you called, and we won't be the last. I can say with utmost certainty that everyones' answer will be the same. They want this to happen. And so do we. We all signed the contracts and agreed that this would occur once everyone turned of age.'
"We know." The lady and man dejectedly said as they wished they could go back in time and stop this from happening. Or, at the very least, reduce the number to single digits.
'Good. And besides, I'm sure they will get along great once they meet. Anyway, I have to go now. I still have to tell her about this arrangement. And you probably do so with him as well. It would be best if you told him rather than hearing it from the others. And I'm sure the others are doing the same now. Take care.'
*Click*
"I can't believe this is happening, Jett." The lady said.
"I know, Aurelia. But we can't blame anyone else. We only have ourselves to blame. Ourselves and our drinking habits." Jett said.
"I really wished we stopped drinking a long time ago. Cause if we did, this wouldn't be happening." Aurelia said.
"I know. I feel the same. But there's nothing we can do about that now. All we can do now is get ready and tell him."
"Should we tell his sisters?"
"Not yet. You know how our daughters are. Three of them will just make things more complicated. Another three will make a scene considering how protective they are of their brother. And the last one will tease him to no end."
"Well, it's nice to know that one of our daughters definitely takes after me." Aurelia chuckled. "I wonder if our grandchild will take after her or her wife."
"Well, considering how things are going, I think he will take after our daughter-in-law." Jett said, chuckling. However, both of them went quiet for a while.
"Do you think he will forgive us for putting him into this situation?" Aurelia asked, worried.
"I want to say yes since our son doesn't hold grudges. But at the same time, this is something else. Something that hasn't happened before that will change his life forever." Jett said, rubbing his face. "I just hope he can forgive us down the road for this."
"I hope so too. But I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't."
"Do you think he will get along with the others?"
"I want to say yes, considering I raised him to be a gentleman. But we don't know how the others are. Some of their parents even said their children can be a bit... much at times."
"Right. Well, we should probably get ready to tell him. And then we should start making preparations since everyone has different versions of this ceremony."
"You're right. I'm not looking forward to this." Aurelia said as they got up and headed to the kitchen.
Meanwhile
Beacon Academy
Team JNPR's Dorm
'How were your finals, bro?' A voice asked over the scroll as the sole person inside the dorm continuously moved about the room.
"It wasn't finals, Saphron. It was mid-terms. And they were exhausting." Jaune Arc answered as he moved to grab a few gifts from the closet before placing them in the box.
It was the final day of Mid-Terms week at Beacon Academy. And most students were getting ready for the week-long vacation. Thankfully, despite what many might claim, the faculty weren't evil. They knew the students would be exhausted, so they made Fridays of Mid-Terms have no classes. This meant that students had a few more days to unwind. However, while most would be heading home or going on vacation, Jaune decided to remain at Beacon. And the reason was two-fold. The first was that his friends would also be staying or returning after a few days. And he wanted to spend some time with them. The second reason Jaune chose to stay was that his family was in Vale, and they were only an hour-long bus ride away. But that didn't mean he couldn't send some things to his family.
'You know, I'm still surprised how similar Huntsmen schools are to regular schools. At least in the structure of education.' Saphron said.
"Yeah, I was surprised too. But regular subjects like Social Studies only cover the basics since they put most of their focus into Dust and Combat classes." Jaune said as he placed a few stuffed animals for Adrian as a birthday gift.
'That doesn't surprise me. But at least you're getting something.'
"True. But we would be getting more if it wasn't for the council."
'Yeah, unfortunately. But anyway. Are you still going to come for Adrian's birthday?'
"Of course. I wouldn't miss my nephew's birthday. Speaking of which, I'm placing the gifts in the box I'm sending you. Can you wrap them for me?"
'Sure. I got some spare wrapping paper here. Is there anything fragile?'
"No. But there are two gifts that have multiple pieces. But it's still in the box, so you don't have to worry about any parts missing." Jaune said as he placed a few items to protect the toys.
'Alright. Thankfully, Adrian isn't as destructive as you were when you were a baby.'
"Hey, don't leave yourself out, Saph. You didn't leave your destructive phase until I was five."
'Anyway.' Saphron said. And despite them talking over the scroll, Jaune could tell she was rolling her eyes. 'How's life at Beacon? And how different is it compared to back home?'
"It's fine, not as chaotic as back home. But it's equally as dangerous. Although, the headmistress, Glynda Goodwitch, does remind me of Mom when she gets angry."
'Is she as scary?'
"No, but close."
'Well, if the rumors are true, her scariness and anger are warranted. She does have to manage an entire school filled with children wilding weapons basically by herself. But like mom, in the end, she is only watching out for everyone and ensuring they are prepared for their future career as huntsmen.'
"True." Jaune said as he closed the box and began the arduous process of tying the box so the contents wouldn't spill during travel.
'But since we are on the topic of Beacon.' Saphron said in a tone that Jaune knew all too well. It was the same tone she used when she was going to tease him relentlessly.
'Oh, no.' Jaune thought while mentally preparing himself.
'When are we going to meet your special someone, lil bro?'
"I'm not seeing anyone." Jaune sighed.
'Oh, don't give me that. Wait. Are you still using Dad's terrible advice?'
"No. I stopped doing that a month after coming here."
'Good, 'cause we all know how long it took for Mom to clue him in. But still. You have to tell me if you're seeing someone. I need to be able to embarrass you in front of your special someone. It's a cardinal sin if an older sister doesn't do that to her little brother.'
"No, Saphron. I'm still single and not in a relationship with anyone."
'Oh, pooh. That's too bad. Hopefully, that will change soon. I know you will make a fantastic boyfriend to whichever lucky girl gets in a relationship with you.'
"Thanks, Saphron." Jaune said, smiling as he finished tying the box.
'You're welcome, Jaune. But also, where is the rest of your team? I don't hear the usual destruction that comes with your teammates.'
"Oh, I'm the only one in the dorm. Ren is in Professor Peach's class for extra credit even though I'm pretty sure he has an A in the class."
'Well, extra credit is never bad. But what about your two female teammates?'
"Pyrrha and Nora are in Vale at the moment. They're grabbing some supplies for movie night."
'Oh, movie night. That's always nice. Well, it was nice talking with you, lil bro. But I have to go now. I need to start making lunch for Adrian and Terra once she gets home.'
"Okay. See you, Saphron." Jaune said as he ended the call. "Oh, I'm so glad Terra got a better job."
Smiling, Jaune grabbed a black marker from his desk before writing out the address on the box. Then, with a bit of a struggle, he placed it on the moving dolly before pushing it out of the dorm and closing the door. But before he could lock it, Jaune nearly jumped when he felt someone tap his shoulder. However, he quickly calmed down when he recognized the voice. And the nickname.
"Hey, Vomit Boy." Yang said as Jaune turned around.
"Hey, Yang. How's it yanging?" Jaune asked, earning an eye roll from his friend.
"Not bad. But puns are my schtick, Arc." Yang said. "Anyway, everything's going fine. I just woke up from my nap. Exams got me tired. They were brutal."
"That's an understatement. I don't think anyone expected them to be this brutal." Jaune said.
"True. I'm pretty sure I even saw Snow Queen struggling with some questions and down an entire pot of coffee to stay awake." Yang said before pointing to the box. "Anyway. What's in the box?"
"Just some stuff I'm sending to my family. And some presents for my nephew."
"I didn't know you were an uncle, Jaune. How old is he?"
"Yeah, it never came up. And Adrian is turning five this Wednesday."
"Wow. He's becoming a big boy."
"He is. And he's becoming a handful."
"I can imagine. And if half of the stories you told us about your family are true, then I'm slightly worried for his parents."
"I'm worried for them too. But I'm sure they can handle it."
"Hopefully. Anyway. Want some help with the box?"
"Sure. Thanks, Yang."
"No, problem. The mailroom, right?"
"Yup, the mailroom." Jaune answered as they started making their way there.
Meanwhile
In Vale
"Alright. Is that everything on the list?" Pyrrha asked as she and Nora headed to the bullheads.
"Yeah. I think so." Nora said as she looked over the list. "We got everything... except for the food."
"Wait. I thought we had the food already." Pyrrha said, confused, while lifting the bag with snacks and drinks.
"Snacks, yes. But we still need to get the main course, so to speak, like pizza."
"I think we should get something else. We had pizza the last few times."
"True. What do you think we should get?"
"Tacos?"
"Nah. But maybe next time. How about chicken wings?"
"Maybe, but we could choose that if we can't settle on anything else. How about nachos?"
"What kind?"
"Mistral Pita Nachos?" Pyrrha suggested.
"Sure. That sounds good. But where should we get it?" Nora asked.
"I know this place that makes some good nachos. Follow me." Pyrrha answered before running off, with Nora quickly following.
Five Minutes Later
"Alright. We're here." Pyrrha said as they stopped in front of a restaurant.
"Blazkowicz's Afterlife Grill?" Nora asked, confused. "When did this place open?"
"Last month. Jaune and I came here a few times, and the food blew away our expectations." Pyrrha answered before handing Nora her bags. "Wait here. I'll go inside and order. It might look big on the inside, but in reality, it's really cramped."
"Alright." Nora said as Pyrrha entered the restaurant.
Grabbing the bags, Nora placed them on the nearby bench before sitting down next to them. She then began looking around at all the shops to pass the time. However, one quickly caught her attention. It was a beauty shop. Getting up, Nora crossed the street and looked at the display items. While never one for makeup, Nora always did light touch-ups when it came to events like the Beacon Dance. However, this time, it was different.
"Hmm. I wonder which one Jauney will like more." Nora said as she looked over some of the perfumes.
She didn't know exactly when it began, but Nora found herself crushing on her leader, Jaune. And, like Pyrrha, she had been dropping hints every chance she had. But also, like Pyrrha, Jaune failed to pick up on any. However, that didn't mean she wasn't going to give up. She was only going to change up tactics.
"Maybe a fruity-smelling perfume. I remember Jaune saying he used to like that scent. And maybe I can get a campfire-smelling perfume for Pyrrha. Jaune did say he loves the scent as it reminded him of home."
Typically, most wouldn't help someone else that is crushing on the same person they are crushing on. However, Nora was different. She honestly didn't mind sharing Jaune with Pyrrha. And she knew Pyrrha felt the same, even though she wouldn't admit it out loud. While this kind of relationship would be unconventional, Nora knew they could make it work. However, first things first. They had to clue in their goofy knight.
'Better make this quick.' Nora thought as she entered the store.
Five Minutes Later
'Alright. I'll give this to Pyrrha when we get back to Beacon.' Nora thought as she placed the perfumes in the bags. And just in time as the restaurant's doors opened a second later.
"Okay. I'm back. Sorry for the wait, but it was packed." Pyrrha said as she exited the restaurant while carrying the food.
"Alright. Let's get going." Nora said as they headed to the bullheads.
Meanwhile
Beacon's Mailroom
"And here's the receipt." The employee said as he handed Jaune the papers.
"Thanks." Jaune said as the employee left. He then turned toward Yang. "And thanks for the help, Yang."
"No, problem, Jaune." Yang said. "Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get the mail for my team."
"Same." Jaune said as they went to the counter.
"Names." The employee behind the counter said.
"Yang Xiao Long of Team Rwby. Picking up mail for all teammates." Yang said.
"Jaune Arc of Team JNPR. I'm also picking up the mail for the rest of my team." Jaune said.
"Okay. Team Rwby. And Team JNPR. Ah, here you both are." The employee said as he found the names on the computer. He then grabbed their mail and handed it to them. "Here you go. Have a nice day."
"Thanks." Jaune and Yang said as they exited the mailroom and headed back to their dorms.
Five Minutes Later
"See you later, Jaune." Yang said as they arrived at their dorms.
"Will you still be coming over for movie night?" Jaune asked.
"Obviously. Although, Weiss might be a bit late. She said she's expecting a call from her mother and sister later."
"That's fine. See you later, Yang." Jaune said as he entered the dorm.
Sighing, Jaune went over to his bed and set the mail before going to the bathroom for a quick shower. After about ten minutes, he came out in a new set of clothes. Jaune then grabbed a bottle of water and took a sip from it before sitting on his bed beside the mail. He began sorting out the mail and putting them on his teammates' beds. However, Jaune became confused when he looked through his mail. While most of it was junk mail or reminders of some clubs, he was part of, the last one was... weird. It was from Vale's City Clerk office, and it was pretty thick and heavy.
"Weird." Jaune said.
Grabbing his letter opener, Jaune opened it and pulled out a stack of paper. But his confusion only increased when he realized each sheet was a marriage contract/certificate. However, his confusion turned to worry and horror when he realized it wasn't a prank. Each one was legitimate with a seal of authenticity. And his name was on the side for the groom. And while some names on the bride's side he recognized, the rest he had never seen or heard before. Moreover, what nearly sent him over the edge was that there was a different name on each contract/certificate. In total, there were eighteen different names.
"W-what? T-this has to be a prank. Y-yeah. A prank. Maybe Esmerelda forged them. She was always good at that. I-I s-should probably find a way to get her back. Yeah. It was a good prank." Jaune said to himself, trying to make sense of the situation.
But that all changed when he noticed something on the bottom of each contract/certificate. Beneath everything, there were four signatures. While Jaune didn't recognize two of them, he knew the other two. After all, they belonged to the people that raised him. Grabbing his scroll, he quickly dialed his home phone. And after a few seconds, they finally picked up.
'Hello, sweetie. How have you been? And what's with the sudden call?' Aurelia asked in a sweet-sounding voice. But Jaune instantly saw through it. He knew his mother was nervous about something.
'We weren't expecting a call from you until tomorrow or the day after.' Jett added in a tone that Jaune instantly recognized. It was the same one his father used when he was trying to hide something.
"Yeah, I planned on calling you guys tomorrow. But something came up. Something weird." Jaune said.
'And what's that, son?'
"I got the mail for my team, and there was this strange letter from Vale's City Clerk office."
'Really? That's odd. What was in it?' Aurelia asked.
"Well, according to what was inside, I am now married."
'Married? To who?' Jett asked.
"Well, I can't say who."
'Why not?' Aurelia asked.
"It's not that I can't tell you. It's because I'm not married to one person. I am married to a total of eighteen people."
'Eighteen! This has to be a mistake. Maybe Esmeralda is playing a prank on you again.' Jett suggested.
"I thought so too. That is until I saw something on the bottom."
'And w-what's that, dear?' Aurelia asked.
"It was your guys' signatures. And I know it was you two and not Esmeralda because her penmanship is pretty bad. And you guys write in a very fine cursive." Jaune explained. "So, tell me. What is happening? What's going on?"
'Well, son. We have something to tell you. Something we are not proud that we did.' Jett said.
'And before you say anything, we tried to annul these contracts. But to do so required both parties' consent. And well, they said no to canceling it.' Aurelia added.
"What's going on?" Jaune nervously asked.
'Jaune. There's no easy way to say this. So, I'm just going to say it.' Jett said before sighing. 'Those contracts are real. You are getting married to all of them in an arranged marriage. And it's going to happen soon.'