A/N: Hello, all! And welcome back to what is surprisingly my most popular story. I am glad so many of you enjoy it.

Also, got my first criticism from this story. Last chapter, specifically.

Someone said that most people don't add so much exposition to such a story. Said it made it harder to read.

And, I agreed.

Could I have said something better in defense of the story? Sure. But, that's my fault for answering reviews at 10pm or later at night. That's when I get off from work.

I do apologize to anyone if that did make it harder to read.

That being said, while this is a more comedic story, I preferred to make it more realistic for the characters, than not. That's just how I am.

anyway, let's get into this.

RWBY is owned by Roosterteeth and the late Monty Oum

Clout

Chapter 3

In a Beacon Chat room.

Speak_to_Text App engaged.

Lancaster's_Arms: Hey Jaune! How ya doing?

ClassicSwordandBoard: Hey Ruby. I good.

ClassicSwordandBoard: Stomach still a bit queasy.

Lancaster's_Arms: Wait! So, you really had to have your stomach pumped? That wasn't a joke?

ClassicSwordandBoard: 'Fraid not, Rubes.

Lancaster's_Arms: Shoot. I'm so sorry about that!

Lancaster's_Arms: The girls and I, we didn't mean to push things that far! Can you forgive us?

ClassicSwordandBoard: Already forgiven, Rubes. Just know, that I will get you guys back for this.

Lancaster's_Arms: Understood. You're not angry?

ClassicSwordandBoard: Ruby, it's me. I wouldn't hold that against you guys.

ClassicSwordandBoard: Frankly, more angry at myself for letting Yang get to me like that.

Lancaster's_Arms: Okay. I'm still sorry, though.

ClassicSwordandBoard: S'alright, Ruby. If you want, you can make it up to me by warning me before Yang does another of her prank vids.

Lancaster's_Arms: You got it, Jaune! [Heart Emogi]

ClassicSwordandBoard: [Thumb's Up Emogi]

Lancaster's_Arms: …

Lancaster's_Arms: Hey, Jaune, can I ask you something?

ClassicSwordandBoard: Shoot. You know I always have time for you, Rubes.

Lancaster's_Arms: Can, can we go on a date? Down in Vale? This weekend? [Left and Right Finger pointed inwards Emogis]

ClassicSwordandBoard: Yeah. Sure.

Lancaster's_Arms: Oh! Gre-

ClassicSwordandBoard: I could use some more Dust, too. Almost out of Gravity and Hardlight myself. Guess it's that time of the month again, huh?

ClassicSwordandBoard: Don't worry, I'll buy your Dust for you again if you need me to, too. I know you're good for it.

Lancaster's_Arms: …

ClassicSwordandBoard: What?

Lancaster's_Arms: Jaune, can I ask you something else?

ClassicSwordandBoard: Uh, sure. Shoot.

Lancaster's_Arms: Let's say that, theoretically, I said someone likes you.

Lancaster's_Arms: How would you react to that?

ClassicSwordandBoard: …

ClassicSwordandBoard: I'd be flattered, honestly. But there's no one like that at Beacon, right?

ClassicSwordandBoard: Not since Pyrrha-

Lancaster's_Arms: Okay. What if I told you that there were several people who liked you. Like, really like you. Four, specifically.

ClassicSwordandBoard: …

ClassicSwordandBoard: And this is still theoretical?

Lancaster's_Arms: Y-yes?

ClassicSwordandBoard: …

ClassicSwordandBoard: Okay.

ClassicSwordandBoard: Well, first, I'd have to ask why they haven't said anything to me. You guys know that I'm… kind of dense when it comes these things…

Lancaster's_Arms: …

ClassicSwordandBoard: So, what haven't they said anything to me about it. Why haven't they made their feelings known?

Lancaster's_Arms: Maybe, maybe it was because they saw how you were after Pyrrha dumped you, and how hard that hit you. And, they didn't want to hurt you further. Or, or make you feel forced to choose between them.

Lancaster's_Arms: Or, or, anything else. Like that. [Left and Right Finger pointed inwards Emogis]

ClassicSwordandBoard: Okay.

ClassicSwordandBoard: Well, then…

ClassicSwordandBoard: Um, and you're sure its not just a crush with them?

Lancaster's_Arms: I think it's a bit more than that now. A lot more, actually.

ClassicSwordandBoard: …

Lancaster's_Arms: …

Lancaster's_Arms: So, what would say you say if you were told that four girls liked you. More than liked you. What would you say if they asked you out? Collectively?

/ /

Jaune looked down at his Scroll for a moment as he reread the last message from Ruby on their private chat channel.

What would you say if they asked you out? Collectively?

He didn't know how to respond to that. How do you respond to something like that?

Jaune? You still there? Ruby asked.

He looked at the Scroll some more before he finally said, "Give me some time to think about it. Then I'll give you an answer.."

After an indefinite moment of time, Okay.

He shook his head as he put away the Scroll and knocked on the door to the room before him. After a moment it opened.

Jaune?" Russell Thrush asked in confusion as he stood there. "What're you doing here? The next meeting isn't till this weekend."

"Y-yeah." Jaune said as he rubbed at his head for a moment. "Might have to reschedule that. Ruby and I are going down to Vale over the weekend. Need to get some more Dust, you know? You guys need any?"

Nah, we're good. Thanks, though, dude." The smaller, green-haired man replied.

"That Jaune?" Someone called from inside then.

Russell turned and said over his shoulder, "Yeah! It's Jaune."

"Well, let 'im in then, man!" They said. Russell turned back to him and shook his head before motioning him inwards.

"Jaune!" Cardin called as he was bench-pressing some weights. "Good to see ya, man. Thought our study session wasn't till this weekend? For Oobleck, right?"

"Yeah," Jaune said in answer as he once again rubbed at the back of his head in embarrassment. "Might have to reschedule that. Ruby and I are going down to Vale this weekend."

"Oh, yeah?" Sky Lark said with a smirk as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Finally, got one of those girls to go out with you?"

He then yelped in pain as Dove Bronzewing smacked him in the back of the head. He turned and looked at the shorter man only for him to shake his head at him in disapproval with a frown on his face.

Jaune looked at him in confusion before asking, "What do you mean, man? We're just friends."

"Just friends!? Dude! Wha-ow!" Sky started only to yelp again as he was once again smacked by Dove. He glared at his teammate for a moment before turning back to Jaune to say something only to pause as Cardin motioned him into silence.

"Are you serious, man?" Cardin asked then. "We thought for sure you were with at least one of them. I mean, your in every one of their videos on that CCTnet channel. You know the one, uh, Pollination Knight."

"Yeah, man." Jaune returned as he looked his way. He looked between the leader of Team CRDL and the rest of the team for a moment before raising his hands as he asked, flustered, "What?"

Cardin looked at him in silence for a moment. His friends and teammates did the same off to the side behind Jaune. Finally, Cardin asked, "Have you never watched any of the videos on the channel?"

"Nah, man." Jaune returned.

"Why?" Russell asked as he spoke up then.

Jaune turned to him and answered with. "Cause I promised them not to."

The members of Team CRDL looked at each other at that and knew then what had happened as things suddenly became clear. Jaune and that Arc Promise of his.

"Alright. Well, enough of that." Cardin said as he returned to lifting weights. "So, then. What are you here for then, Jaune?"

Jaune smirked as he could think of something other than what might be going on between him and his friends, which happened to be something to do with his friends. "Well, since you brought it up, did you see the latest video on the channel?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah, man!" Russell interjected. "That was bad-ass as Hell!"

Dove nodded silently as Sky asked, "Yeah, how many did you eat, anyway? Was it really thirty Ghost Peppers?"

Jaune nodded before his blew out a breath as he said, "Was actually closer to forty by the end there."

"Dude!" The trio of smaller men said in stunned admiration/winced in pain at the thought.

"Shit, man," Cardin said as he got up at that and clasped hands with Jaune and shook in approval. "That is bad-ass as Hell." He looked Jaune up and down before he asked, "You doing alright from all that?"

"Yeah." Jaune replied before patting at his stomach as he said, "Had to get my stomach pumped. But, I'm good now."

"Okay. Okay, cool. So, why are you here?" Cardin then said as he placed a hand to his chin in thought.

"Well," Jaune said with another smirk, "was wondering if you'd be willing to help me out with a prank of my own?"

"Oh, so that's why you're here!" Cardin exclaimed with a laugh. "So, my young protege, how might I aid you?

Jaune shook his head as his smirk became a grin and he said with a laugh of him own, "Dumbass."

Cardin cackled at that for a moment before he asked, "Alright, alright. So, what can I do for you, Jaune?"

Jaune glanced around then leaned in and whispered to him, "Can you get me some more of those Mistrali Ghost Peppers?"

Cardin paused then grinned at Jaune. He rubbed at his chin in thought before he said, "I might be able to. Be a few weeks even with my contacts. Glynda will be cracking down on those once she see that video."

"Alright. I got you, man. Didn't know she watched those." Jaune replied with a nod. "I'll wait then."

"Don't worry, baby. I got you." Cardin responded then he raised a hand to Jaune clasp as he said, "Bros for life."

Jaune clasped it as he responded with a smirk, "Losers forever."

A/N: So, as for this chapter, I'm a bit annoyed. I had Ruby and Jaune's usernames color-coded to match their Aura colors. But, well, Fanfiction.

Ah, well. Hope you guys enjoy it.

Essiter out.

P.S. I tried to separate out the chat messages, also like my original draft, but, alas. Sorry about that, guys.