Hello again my friends! I am so exited to be bringing the first chapter of the re-write to you! I almost couldn't sleep because I was so stoked to be back. This would have been posted this morning but the site was down for quite some time today. But without further words, I hope you enjoy. Do leave reviews! I love reading them.
...
Of course it was raining. The irony of that didn't hold long in Jaune's mind, more from a desire to get back to drowning his sorrows rather than dwell on nature's coincidences. His eyes stared blankly into his drink now, both of his hands clasped around the scotch glass loosely in defeat. The last few hours played over and over again in his head. How could this happen? How could he mess up like this? Similar questions burned behind his stare but deep inside he knew that each one of them had an answer already. That everything didn't work out because evidently he made just as good a liar as he did a mathematician.
The sting of failing yet again melded silently with his swimming vision and the hot sweltering of his scotch-filled stomach. He just felt so defeated. What was he supposed to do now? How was he going to go anywhere with no money left, and no talent for anything besides Origami? The anger he felt towards his bad luck and more potently, himself, started to mound behind his eyes as he began to imagine his return home. The pity of his father, the embarrassment he would face to his sisters. But most damning would be the shame his mother would cast his way for his 'idiotic display' blowing up in his face.
He couldn't do that again. He couldn't stare into her eyes and see nothing, even one more time. But by Monty above he didn't have another option. The reality of knowing he was to be permanently branded as a liar, failure, and embarrassment to his family set in swiftly. Jaune could absently feel his teeth grinding and his body growing rigid as his hands went numb. Seconds went by with him only drowning further in his panic attack. Until a dull sound snapped his mind back into focusing on his senses.
"Oh. Oh crud." Jaune spoke, a monotone tilt in his voice. "How the?"
He was staring at his hands now, holding the scotch glass. Or rather, the remains of a scotch glass. Which was now in several large pieces, and many small ones. Most of them stabbing painfully into Jaune's previously clenched hands. The blood came quick, and started to mix with the spilled scotch and glass remains that littered the space in front of him at the bar. The shock kept him from reacting in a quick fashion. Or maybe it was the alcohol he had pumped his system with. The same alcohol that was influencing him to panic and make a decision quickly. The contradiction resulted in him staring passively with horror as an even flow of his blood began to coat his hands and the cuffs of his hoodie, his mouth moving aimlessly.
The Bartender saw and moved first, thank Monty. His long, weathered fingers worked over Jaune's own to pick out the larger glass shards and sweep away the smaller ones from the first layers of skin. It was then that the pain came. Every small motion stung like being stuck with a needle at the doctor's. Jaune looked up and away so he didn't have to see the largest of the shards removed from his palm, his eyes landing on the Bartender's face. The man was wide-eyed but remarkably calm. A perk of the trade he supposes. The man's mouth was moving and Jaune felt a tightening around his hands, like someone had gripped his hand in theirs.
"Sorry. Sir, what?" Jaune's words came out slurred a bit and slowly. "What did you say?"
"I said you're lucky. The worst of it is cuts. No deep stuff." The gruff man's words finally hit Jaune's ears. "My bad kid, the glass must have been chipped or something. Tab's on me."
Jaune didn't know what to say. The right words to correct the man just didn't come to mind. The dull ache of his hands drew his gaze back downwards. The clean wash rags that were now looped around his palms and fingers reminded Jaune to thank the kind man. As he attempted to do so a hand settled heavily on his shoulder, cutting Jaune short.
"It appears that I have caused undue grief." A formal voice said over Jaune's shoulder. One he recognized.
"Headmaster Ozpin?" Jaune blurted as he swiveled on his bar stool to lock eyes with said individual.
The headmaster stood with his hands now crossing over his cane's pommel. A dissatisfied downward tilt to his lip, and eyes full of… Something Jaune couldn't identify. His prim suit stood out starkly against the middling crowd of the downtown watering hole of the bar.
"I admit I wasn't expecting to meet you again so soon Mr. Arc. Our meeting this morning would leave a bad taste in any educator's mouth. I'm sure you see that." The Headmaster spoke evenly as he drew out the stool closest to Jaune's right and sat upon it with his back straight.
Jaune felt the anger and despair from before washing away. A sudden burst of soberness took hold and rooted him to the conversation. Jaune swiveled so he wouldn't have to crane his neck towards Ozpin and settled his hands in his lap. A subconscious habit he had from childhood when talking to authority figures.
"Y-yeah. I guess it would be pretty bad from your side too. I didn't think of it that way." Jaune admitted as he thought of being in Ozpin's shoes. How many kids did he have to turn down a year? Jaune couldn't imagine breaking so many hearts.
"Don't you pay it any mind, young man. It is the duty of the aged to shoulder the burdens of guiding the next generation. Or in my case, the next few." Ozpin began as he drew his cane up and clicked the release lever on the hilt.
Mecha-Shift Jaune thought as he watched the shaft of the cane segment inward till it was hidden away within the confines of the hilt. With the task completed, Ozpin set the tool onto the bar in front of them and crossed his own hands to rest on the wood counter before speaking once again.
"Mr. Arc. I feel now that we are not in a formal setting, that I might be able to share more candor with you. I know my presence is not exactly a hopeful one for you. Given that last we met this morning, I caused the very state you currently sit in. But I wish to tell you something important, if you would entertain an old man." The Headmaster asked with guilt heavily laced in his words.
Jaune felt a sudden urge to scoff. He knows what comes next. He had heard it many times from his mother. You're just not gonna make it as a Huntsman Jaune. Start looking at training in a trade, the world needs ditch-diggers too ya know. The memory of the last words he shared with his mother hurt worse than the cuts on his hands. Which now that he was sobering up, hurt a lot. But Jaune would not scoff. Not to the man in front of him, not to a member of the Vale council and Headmaster of Beacon.
"Let's… Let's hear it I guess. Sir." Jaune said, tacking the last word on in an attempt to sound more respectful.
A long pause settled between them, neither of them moving. Ozpin held still as a ghost, and calm as a card dealer. Then he finally began.
"I turn down several students every year Mr. Arc. Many of them for simple reasons. A lower grade average shifting them to the bottom of the list. Or their temperament being for fame and not duty. Even for simply a lack of heart." Ozpin started.
"Sir?" Jaune interjected with surprise. He had never been insulted quite like that by a stranger.
"Apologies Mr. Arc. None of these examples apply to you. I intended no insult. Your false grades, and letters of recommendation, were of high quality." Ozpin said with a small smirk.
Jaune felt his blood run cold. Ozpin knew. He knew the whole time. Of course he did, who would ever turn Jaune down with the amazing transcripts he had paid to be forged for him? The very quick denial this morning at the community center suddenly made sense. Ozpin must have flown down to meet him in person where he was sure no one would see Jaune's face. No one but Ozpin and Jaune would know of Jaune's crime that way. It was a mercy. One Ozpin had given him so that his mistake wouldn't land him in jail.
"Oh… I-I…" Jaune choked.
"Mr. Arc I am not here to berate you. I am not here to shame you either. From what I've gathered you have had far too much of that already." Ozpin's eyes pierced Jaune with the last sentence.
"Headmaster, I don't know what you're talking about." Jaune lied. He felt he had to. Like he always had when someone asked or spoke about his relationship with his mother. It wasn't any of their business.
"Regardless, young man I am truly here to say that I'm impressed."
"Say what now?" Jaune asked incredulously.
The Headmaster chuckled with amusement before finally leaning forward to a more relaxed position at the bar. Jaune could see the old man was pondering his next words carefully.
"It is not every day that I meet a young hopeful with your breed of determination Mr. Arc. A boy with no formal training, or training in any sense of the word in relation to being a Huntsman. That against the wishes of his entire family steals a priceless family heirloom, before fleeing to Vale, alone I might add. Across fifty miles of dangerous wilderness filled with Grimm, wild animals, and small groups of bandits." Ozpin listed out while smiling wide. "All just to pay nearly every lien he has to have transcripts forged in his name in an attempt to follow his dream. With no back-up plan, and no safety net from the law."
June was taken aback in the best kind of way. Having the Headmaster of Beacon list out your boyish foolishness as something to be proud of to your face wasn't something everyone got to experience. He could feel his hands tugging bashfully at his hoodie's bottom hem as he struggled to maintain eye contact.
"Young man. I have turned down children for any of a hundred reasons from entering Beacon. But I willingly and proudly tell you now that turning you down was simply because if I didn't, I would be wasting a promising Huntsman to slow and tedious growth. Within Beacon's walls you would not have nearly enough time to train and learn enough to stand tall besides your classmates as they are now. It would take you half of your time at Beacon to be at the level some of this year's students are before their first day even begins." Ozpin continued, resting a hand on Jaune's shoulder once again.
"Then what am I supposed to do? I'm too old for Signal, and too green for joining the defense of villages close to Vale. Beacon was my last shot to get my foot in the door." Jaune rambled out.
"That is exactly why I am glad to have found you Mr. Arc. Because I aim to give you your open door, so to speak. As you know, the school year has just ended at Signal Academy. The most promising of its graduating seniors are off to Beacon tomorrow. Because of this the teachers at Sanctum are getting their summer off and are available to teach apprentices. This is where you come in." Ozpin stated, taking his hand off Jaune's shoulder and using it to withdraw a slip of paper from within his suit jacket. "Are you familiar with what is required to be named an active Huntsman Mr. Arc?"
"You uh, need to graduate from one of the four academies. Beacon, Atlas, Haven, or Shade I think." Jaune answered.
"While that is the most common option, it is not the only option Mr. Arc. There is also the Huntsman Qualification Exam. Or in exceedingly rare cases, a field commission. The Exam is for anyone over the age of 18. It is a Huntsman led and judged series of tests. Combat prowess, criminal justice knowledge, survivalism, first aid, and several other topics are tested. And with a score of ninety percent or higher, you are passed to receive your Huntsman License."
"Wait, so If I can get a current Huntsman to train me, I can test 'til I pass and get my License?" Jaune asked with hope in his throat and glee in his eyes.
"Indeed Mr. Arc. I even happen to know one teacher at Signal, and one part time teacher there. They are… old friends and students of mine. One of them will soon be experiencing empty-nest syndrome I'm sure. I could pull some strings and get you in to train under them. Your open door…" Ozpin offered, with a hint of something in his cadence.
Jaune couldn't believe this. The Headmaster of Beacon not only kept him from jail time, but is currently offering to set him up with training under experienced Huntsmen. All for free. The excitement in his heart was immeasurable, but the voice of his sister spoke from within his subconscious. If it sounds too good to be true… It usually is.
"I am totally down for that!" Jaune said, bouncing on his bar stool. "But Sir, I think I gotta ask. Is there a catch?"
Ozpin's expression dipped for a split second before hardening. Then softening again.
"You truly are June Ember's son." Ozpin said before pulling out a device from his lower jacket pocket. "I suppose there is a 'catch' as you call it."
Ozpin set the device on the bar and slid it over to Jaune slowly. Glancing down, Jaune could see it was a scroll. A next generation model with hyper-steel casing. The case itself is a deep emerald color, matching the neck scarf of Ozpin's suit.
"Sir?" Jaune asked, not knowing where this was going.
"This is my spare scroll. Should my current device ever break or quit in time. I can afford another. But I give it to you now, for my generosity comes with caveats. Within the scroll, there are two contact numbers. All I ask in return for my help, is that when you begin training, you call the one listed as 'Quickfoot'. They will know what to do and help you repay my charity. Then, when you first get your Huntsman Apprentice Certificate, you will call the one listed as 'Dagger'. They will do the same. I am not at liberty to tell you more as of now. But that is all I ask in return for my help." Ozpin's gaze examined Jaune heavily as the words left his mouth.
Jaune knows that he isn't the brightest bulb in the box. Nor is he adept in the finer art of verbal games. But he isn't oblivious. Something like this feels straight out of the cheap spy movies that Saphron made him watch with her as a kid. But this wasn't a spy movie. It is reality, and reality is often more simple at most times than stories. But yet, in some cases it is ten times as complicated. He just didn't know which one he was facing at the moment. But if he was good at anything, it was throwing caution to the wind and going all in. Being in Vale right now was testament to that.
"Deal." Jaune spoke, taking the scroll and sliding it into his own pocket. "So what now?"
"Now, you go to the south Bullhead docks. The ones that typically take student's to and from Beacon. Platform seven has a Bullhead waiting to take you to patch, tonight. I would let you sleep beforehand, but Beacon's first day starts tomorrow afternoon. So this is your only window. I will wire a set amount of Lien to your mentor to be. It should be enough to purchase you some equipment to begin training with."
Ozpin then stood from his stoll, smoothing out his suit with his hands before retrieving his cane and mecha-shifting it back into its operable form. He gestured to the bar.
"That paper has the name of your mentors, along with a short message to let them know what to expect. I wish you luck Mr. Arc. It is a hard path you now walk, but a rewarding one. I have high expectations of you in the future, make us both proud."
With that, Jaune watched as Ozpin took his leave. The sudden ambience of the bar filling the space the conversation left vacant. Jaune pondered for a few moments before grabbing the slip and reaching down and to his left to grab his prized possession. Corcea Mors had been resting this entire time against the bar to his flank. With purpose he stood and made his goodbye and thankfulness to the bartender clear. He made for the door and wished he hadn't drank at all. Because he already got sick every time he flew, and with scotch in his belly he already was sure he'd ralph during the flight over to patch.
Taking the slip and checking the information on it he read two names.
Taiyang Xiao Long
Qrow Branwen
The first name he had never seen before and had no clue who they were. But the second… Now where had he seen or heard that before? They sounded familiar. With nothing coming to mind, Jaune shrugged it off and made sure to double time to his destination. It was about seven PM now, the sun having set no too long ago. So with haste he could be in Patch by nine thirty to ten. Hopefully Taiyang and Qrow would still be awake to welcome him. He wishes he could go back and grab his extra clothes from his hotel room, but it was six blocks in the other direction and he didn't want to arrive on his first day of training at midnight. It was only two sets of extra outfits anyway, and Ozpin said he would have money to get more equipment anyway. T-shirts and jeans weren't expensive so to hell with his clothes.
Tonight he was going to start training to be a Huntsman! Who cares about anything else? His dreams were going to be reality even if he had to scrape tooth and nail for them.
Now… How would he get to the docks fastest?
…..
Yang laughed hard as the marshmallow bounced off the back of her dad's head. Taiyang rounded on her quickly and pointed his metal skewer her way as a mock threat.
"How… Dare you!" Taiyang exclaimed while fighting down his own laughter. "I raise you with manners and this is how I get repaid?"
All three of them broke down giggling and laughing. Having to stifle their amusement with their hands. Yang could spy from the corner of her vision Ruby, still working on Crescent Rose on her side of the firepit.
"Rubes, would you relax? You've cleaned it three times already. It won't get dirty sitting on your lap." Yang pleaded. She just wants Ruby to chill out before their first day at Beacon. Have some fun.
"Hey! I'm just making sure SHE's ready for the big day! I want her in tip top shape if we're gonna fit in." Ruby fired back before sighing. "If we fit in at all…"
"None of that! You are gonna be great. I know you are. You just have…" Taiyang began before Ruby and Yang cut him off in unison.
"To put your best foot forward, remember the basics, and think smart not fast." The girls' combined voices droned.
"Dad, we know." Yang said with a playful roll of her eyes.
"Ok I get it, I get it. I just want you both to know I have confidence in you guys. No one worked harder to be where you two are than you." Tai finished, putting his hot-dog back over the fire and sitting down in his lawn chair.
"It helps that Ozpin saw us both kick some serious butt." Yang said, punching the air while Ruby made mock karate chops.
"Again, getting into a fight willingly with an entire gang on their home turf is not a good thing. If they weren't organized criminals, your butt would be in a cell. You're lucky they weren't the kind of group that keeps runaway Huntsman on the payroll. You could have been seriously hurt! Or worse!" Tai lectured animatedly while Yang hung her head a couple inches.
She knows she messed up, the authorities, and her dad had made her aware of that several times since it happened. Heck, even Uncle Qrow had pitched in through text and let her know how upset he'd been with her.
"I get that. And I'm in no hurry to get into trouble again any time soon. I promise Dad." Yang pitched out the last word hoping it got the conversation to switch gears.
"Well, being in Beacon will hopefully curb this trouble spree you've been on. I know Glynda will be keeping tabs on both of you for me." Tai said, giving each of his daughters a meaningful warning glance.
"The old lady with the crop?" Yang asked.
"Hey! Don't call us old! We are not old!" Tai said, waving his finger at her.
Ruby giggled and Yang snorted. It was sometimes too easy to rile their dad up. Honestly she thought about pointing out how he looks older than Professor Goodwitch, even though they were the same age generally. Just to see him squirm and check his graying hair in the reflection of his scroll. But, she knows when to give him a break too. He wasn't wrong here. For someone who was creeping up on fifty, her ol' man was as capable as ever. Especially when they spar. He hits like a truck with no brakes.
"Dad…" Ruby suddenly said in a quiet voice. "Do you hear that?"
All three of them fell silent. The only sounds that Yang could hear were the crackling of the fire, and the ambience of the woods around their house. But then, she finally heard a dull sound. A repeating thrum of a… Bullhead?
"It's… a helicopter?" Taiyang said with surprise in his voice.
"A helicopter? But farmer Derris wouldn't fly this close to the woods at night." Yang said standing and glancing around at the night sky, trying to spot the chopper.
"I don't know, there could be a fire on the coast. She might be heading there to help the authorities scope for people trapped." Ruby said, also standing.
Tai had taught them both of the many ways locals help each other around Patch. While helicopters were rare nowadays, they weren't extinct technology. They were last used en masse during the Fanus Revolution but most of them were phased out when the Bullhead was invented by Atlas. A good dozen still fly the skies of Vale, but most are simply farmers using them to track animal herds, or Fire Departments using them to rescue people trapped in wildfire or off the coast in a boat crash or grimm attack.
Yang knew that only one helicopter was in operation on Patch, and it belonged to a sheep and cattle farmer named Derris. The wonder of what was going on only mounted as the helicopter grew closer to them, judging by the sound at least. Eventually the sound became deafening as the great metal beast soared in from over the forest and reared to a hover above the clearing in front of their house. It was a lightly armored single prop bird, with olive green paint and light blue lettering and numbers on the tail.
"What's the deal!" Yang shouted over to her dad. Who she could see throwing himself in front of the fire, desperately trying to shield the front of his house from the sparks the helicopter was throwing around.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Tai yelled with confusion and a wide eyed glance towards his chair.
Yang glanced as well, to see the flashlight Tai had brought out to help him see in order to start the fire. She leaned over and snatched it up before turning it on and flashing it towards the helicopter's cockpit. She then turned it off and on again in rapid but measured sequences.
Dot dash dash, dot dot dot dot, dash dot dash dash.
WHY
Yang waited as the transport continued hovering before the spotlight on the nose of the bird switched on, bathing the entire clearing in white light. Then the great machine began its gentle descent, slowly coming to rest on the grass of the clearing. Yang could see the rotors slow enough that they weren't oppressively loud, but were still moving fast enough that she knew the pilot was preparing to take off again soon. Then the side door slid out and to the rear, exposing two figures exiting. Once she could see them in the dim light, she noticed one was wearing what looked like a military uniform from Atlas, but dyed deep green and absent the armored plating. He was wearing a flight helmet with a gold tinted half-visor down over his eyes. On his hip was a medium caliber handgun, with three magazine pouches on the opposing hip.
The second figure was… normal? Just a guy. Maybe around her age, blonde, and wearing slim fit jeans and a baggy hoodie with a bunny rabbit on it. Under one arm he was clutching a bundle of cloth the size of a backpack, and in the other he was holding what she could only guess was a barf bag. On his hip was a sword of some kind. Tai defensively stepped forward while waving Ruby and Yang to stay put. Like hell Yang was listening to that. She followed a couple steps behind till their two pairs met halfway between the house and the running helicopter.
"What is going on?" Tai yelled as the figures approached.
"Are you Taiyang Xiao Long?" The pilot yelled back, holding out his hand.
"Yes! Why are you here?" Tai responded, taking the pilot's hand and shaking it.
"My pleasure Mr. Xiao Long! I work with…" The pilot's head turned to Yang for a second. "Our mutual friend with a clock." The pilot finished.
"Ah. Understood! What's the situation?" Tai asked, glancing backwards to Yang in a similar manner to the pilot.
"Asset delivery! One personnel, armed and ready for training! Orders from the top to deliver him here to be received by you or Huntsman Qrow Branwen. Non-documented flight, rush order. Hence the old lady!" The pilot laughed loudly as he gestured back to the helicopter with his head.
"I wasn't told!" Tai shouted in confusion.
"As I said, rush order! Take this, the mission brief's inside! Good luck Mr. Xiao long, I'm returning to roost!" The pilot shouted, clapping Tai on the upper arm before jogging back to his helicopter.
Yang watched as the bird slowly started its ascent again before whipping to the side and swiftly speeding away through the air. As the sound started to grow distant once more she shook her head. She knew Bullheads were slow, but that thing made them look like snails with how fast it took off and flew away. Her attention moved back to the individual left with them as the last noise of the helicopter faded in the distance.
"So… who the heck are you?" Yang asked the boy when she noticed he was standing there like a bowling pin expecting to be knocked over.
"Yang. Take Ruby and wait inside would you? Me and Buddy Boy here are gonna have a chat." Tai said, opening the manilla envelope that the pilot gave him.
"Ah come on dad I wanna…" Yang started, gesturing with her hand towards the boy.
"Go. Not up for debate." Tai snapped lightly, cutting her off.
"Ok yeesh." Yang said, taking her leave and shushing Ruby as they went inside.
What the hell was all that?
….
It was official. There was something on Remnant that Jaune hated more than Bullhead flight. And that was flight in that ancient death trap contraption that definitely wasn't a proper Bullhead like Ozpin said. His guts felt like they were upside down and stuffed up into his lungs. Not to mention his feet and rump were mostly numb from all the vibration during the flight over. The steely eyed glare the man in front of him was laying on him wasn't helping, and made him scared that this was all some kind of mistake.
"So you're…" Jaune began to ask.
"Nope." The man Jaune now knew as Taiyang said cutting him short. "I ask the questions, you stand there till I finish reading this. Then I ask the questions."
Several long moments went by with Jaune feeling more awkward by the second. He felt like he was in trouble. Which wasn't fun, seeing as he was only doing as he was told. Checking his scroll, he saw it was nine ten PM. Dang! He got here fast. Or rather, the monster that was the helicopter and its pilot got him here fast. He had never seen one before, having lived so close to Vale that Bullheads were the standard air travel from his entire side of the kingdom. It was either that, or getting on a ground transport with the traders. Heck the only privately owned car in his home town belonged to his mother. A squat van with six seats and a broken heater. And she only ever really used it to drive to and from Vale before or after missions.
Tai made a choking sound before sighing. Which drew Jaune's attention back to him. The older man was pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand, while the other rested against his hip, clutching the envelope and papers from within it.
"Dear Monty. Of course you pull something like this Oz…" Tai started before crossing his arms and looking back to Jaune. "So, you're Jaune Arc, son of Victor and June Arc. And you failed entry to Beacon because you forged transcripts and Ozpin caught it. So that geezer sees something in you he likes and sends you my way hoping that my fear of being alone when my daughters leave for Beacon tomorrow will make me passive and easy to convince to train you. That about sum it up?" Tai finished.
"Um. Yes?" Jaune answered with sheepishness.
"Monty damn it!" Tai scoffed as he turned to walk towards the house. He took several steps before stopping and glancing back to Jaune. "Well? Come on! I can't turn you away now. It's the middle of the night, and your ride took off. Come inside so I can show you the damn bathroom."
That comment had Jaune glancing down, before realizing there was a speck or two of dried puke on his hoodie collar. Nodding, he rushed after Tai and walked next to him past a fire pit close to the house. A glance down informed Jaune that it was smoldering dully, the Helicopter probably having blown out most of the fire's unburned fuel.
Tai opened the front door and held it for Jaune. Who entered and stood in the living room while Tai closed and locked the door behind them. The sound of bare feet could be heard as two figures entered from the kitchen. Jaune spied the short one first. A girl generally his age, but a little younger. With black hair that brightened into rose red at its tips. She had silver eyes, and a shy but curious gaze aimed right at him. She was wearing a black tank top and full length pajama pants that were white with roses printed all over them. She seemed really nice, from what he could tell.
It was the second figure to enter that had him shocked still for a split moment. She was definitely his age, if not a little older. With long golden blonde hair a tad darker than his own, running down to her mid back. Her eyes were a gentle lavender color and stared quizzically at him, gauging him up and down. She wore a lavender tank top that left little to the imagination and loose orange sport shorts. Before he could get caught staring Jaune turned to look at Tai to his right. Only to see Tai staring at him with raised eyebrows and a flat lipped expression, arms crossed yet again. Oops.
"So… what's up?" Ruby asked, plopping down onto one of the sofas.
"Yeah dad, who is he? Why was he dropped off all badass and covert by a helicopter? And why do you look so unhappy about it?" Yang fired off rapid questions as she dipped back into the kitchen.
"Well. Girls this is Jaune Arc. He was dropped off like that because his mom scares the shit out of the owner of that helicopter and me, and we don't want her to know. And I'm unhappy because said helicopter owner is preying on my insecurities with lethal accuracy." Tai answered, taking Jaune by his bicep and lightly shoving him down onto the couch opposite Ruby.
Jaune set his cloth bundle down on the floor with a clunk, and set Crocea Mors on the cushion to his right. Before he could even glance up Ruby had covered the distance and was squatting in front of Crocea Mors, staring at it with a gleam in her eyes.
"Ooh a weapon! What's its name? How heavy is it? Does it shift? Where did you get…" Ruby rambled questions as her hand went for the sword in its scabbard.
"Not so fast, Rubes!" Yang exclaimed, looping an arm around Ruby and hoisting her up onto her shoulder. She must have returned when she heard Ruby ask those questions.
"No fair! I'm in weapons mode! This is illegal!" Ruby wailed, slapping Yangs back and kicking her legs.
Jaune couldn't help but chuckle.
"I-it's fine if she wants to look it over. I don't mind at all!" Jaune said to Yang, holding Crocea Mors up slightly with one hand.
"Nope. She barely stops tinkering with her own, adding another to the mix is a no can do Chopper-Boy." Yang said before shrugging Ruby off her shoulder back onto the opposing couch.
"Girls. I'm gonna need you both to butt out for a bit. I know you're curious, but Jaune and I need to iron some things out and you both need to finish packing and get ready for bed. Long day tomorrow and I don't want you two dozing off in orientation." Tai said, coming to stand between the couches at their ends.
Jaune watched as Ruby blew a raspberry and slinked off to the stairs. Yang followed after an awkward moment of staring at Jaune that had him feeling both uneasy, and tingly?
"Fine…" Yang groaned out before lazily making her way after her sister.
Jaune watched her go, making sure to keep his eyes on her hair, in case Tai was watching again. Then looked away when the room was empty but for the two of them.
"Bathroom is the door on the right at the top of the stairs. Don't use the green soap, it's mine. We can go get you house supplies and some new clothes tomorrow when we go to Signal to pick up your curriculum." Tai said, flipping up the other couches' cushions to reveal a cubby underneath that held several quilts and pillows. He took them out and tossed a large double matted quilt his way. Followed by a soft throw pillow. "Couch under you is a pullout bed. Everything goes back the way it is when you wake up."
Jaune nodded and gave a thumbs up, not quite knowing what to say. Tai smirked, and finally let his face relax into a more friendly expression. He began to speak as he replaced the cushions of his couch and took a seat.
"Listen Jaune, I don't really understand what Oz wants from you. I doubt you do either. It sucks, but that's just how it goes with him most times. But if he flew you out here using one of his private connections, with a Patch bank slip with enough Lien on it to pay me and Qrow for a year's worth of teaching at Signal on it… Then even I gotta admit that I'm interested." Tai said leaning forward to rest with his elbows on his knees and his hands dangling between his shins.
"You mentioned going to Signal tomorrow?" Jaune asked with excitement.
"Nice deflection man." Taiyang sniped, before shrugging. "Yeah, if me and Qrow are gonna train you right, you'll need the right books. I'm allowed to take home a couple of them over the summer to help me with planning next year's curriculum. I'll grab all of the first year core books, and honestly I gotta warn you. If we are gonna make you exam ready by winter then this is gonna be brutal on you."
"Wait wait wait. I'm supposed to be ready for the HQE by winter?" Jaune asked wide-eyed and confused. His barely healing palms suddenly felt very sweaty.
"That's what the brief by Oz says. You weren't told?" Tai asks amused.
"No, I wasn't told! He didn't tell me anything other than to come here and meet you. Is it even possible to be ready for the exam in six months?" Jaune asked, slightly deflated.
"That depends on you really. Training, like all opportunities, is just what you make of it for yourself. If you want to slack off, not give it your all, chase girls and half-ass everything then no. It won't be possible to get ready in time. But if you spend every moment chasing this chance down, never quit or fade, I mean really give it your all. Then you should just barely make it. Like I said, this summer and fall are going to be torture. I'll have you on a sleep schedule, a strict diet, workout and physical training routine. Not to mention whatever Qrow will do to you or what situations he'll put you in. So I guess all I'm gonna ask, to make this official is…" Tai led on.
"Anything. I'll answer the best I can!" Jaune said. Determination lacing his very being.
"How do you like your eggs?" Tai asked simply.
"Um… Cheesy?" Jaune balked.
"Wrong answer. Scrambled with butter it is." Tai said, smiling deviously. "This is gonna be fun."
….