Work has been a bitch these last few months. I've been rewriting the hazardous waste SOP and getting all of our chemicals documented because no one else has done it in the last 10 years. It's been worth it, though. I'm now the one guy in my entire state lab who knows hazardous waste inside and out.
Also, have fun on your holidays.
Jaune's limbs cried in pain as he awoke. A hardwood floor and the bed frame only exasperated his aches. Everything became stiff like rusted armour. Just lifting his arms and legs was a challenge in and of itself.
However, Jaune's perspective changed when he realised who was pressed against him. Pyrrha was sleeping peacefully on his chest. The Black Spear clutched in her right hand. Whatever stresses afflicting the Spartan seemed to melt away over the night, if only for a moment. This sight made the boy forget about his pain.
He was just glad he'd done something right. If Pyrrha was comforted by his actions, then it was worth it. Jaune could rest later.
"Hughh," Jaune quietly breathed out. A little stress fell off his shoulders as he sat there.
Looking around the room, he realised it had passed the morning hours. Jaune's enhanced eyes could not deceive him here. By the position of the sun, it was noon by now. This caused a slight panic to build in his chest. He was not planning on sleeping in this much.
Are the others already up?
Jaune needed to check on everyone else. They needed to discuss their next move. If they would stay here and rest or depart for Vale immediately. Ozpin was awaiting news from the party, and Jaune did not want the box to remain in their possession for long.
Please don't wake up, Pyrrha...
Jaune slid himself out from under the girl, gently resting her on the ground. Luckily, she seemed to be a heavy sleeper. That he was grateful for. Jaune didn't want her to wake just yet.
Crossing the room, Jaune grabbed the door and gently pulled it open enough to squeeze through. In the hallway, nobody was there or in the tavern. It was empty, aside from the remnants of a fire burning in the main room. A small table near the door caught his eye as he exited the hallway.
There, a note and platter of food was set aside. These were just a few basic items to fill one's belly. Nothing fancy. The smell of freshly baked bread did make Jaune realise how hungry he was. His body had forgotten that he hadn't eaten since yesterday morning.
Fighting back the urge to dive into the loaf, Jaune grabbed the note and opened the letter. He immediately knew this to be Ruby's handwriting.
Jaune,
I talked to Nora, and we want to leave at sunrise. Yang wants to give Pyrrha some space, so we left you two behind while we get everyone back home. I also left you guys some food for the road.
Ruby,
"I hope they got a wagon," Jaune mumbled, crumbling up the note and tossing it into the fireplace as he digested the information.
He wasn't angry or disappointed with them going on ahead. It was a logical choice. Jaune wouldn't have wanted Pyrrha to feel uncomfortable travelling with the group so early after what happened. It was better to take the space and reflect on their encounter.
Taking the platter, Jaune returned to the room. Pyrrha was already up, wiping one of her eyes and yawning tiredly. Her appearance now bore bags under her eyes and weight on her shoulders. Their sleep didn't smooth out everything as Jaune would have liked.
"Hey, I got some food," Jaune said, bringing the platter to a small table. "Ruby didn't want to wake us, so she took everyone ahead back to Vale."
"Oh..." Pyrrha uttered, looking away and averting her eyes. "I get it..."
I hope she didn't read into it that much.
"Hey, would it have been harder to have everyone else around for two days," Jaune posed, breaking the bread into two pieces. "I think they wanted to give you some room."
Pyrrha breathed deeply as she listened, nodding to show she understood. There wasn't any attempt to argue. Pyrrha just accepted the circumstances and joined him at the table. Though, it seemed like she had something on her mind.
"I'm sorry about Weiss," Pyrrha finally spoke up. Her head turned, refusing to meet his eyes with a look of shame written on her face.
Jaune felt his heart tear once more, seeing her like this. He would have just liked to hold her, giving Pyrrha a safe place until these thoughts vanished from her mind. It wasn't fair for her to feel like this. Pyrrha did nothing to deserve it.
"It wasn't your fault, Pyrrha," Jaune asserted, leaning in to face her. "Even if Weiss had died, I wouldn't have put that on you. Everyone knows what happened. Nobody blames you..."
If it had come to that, Jaune would have only found blame in himself. Jaune should have prepared more. He should have gotten to forging more powerful weapons and armour. Out of everyone in their group, the Paladin was most suited to slaying demons and the like. It was his responsibility.
"T-Thank you..."
A little weight was lifted off her shoulders. But there was still plenty of work to go. Jaune wasn't sure what it would take.
[Three Days Later]
The journey back to Vale was slow. Jaune and Pyrrha took their time riding to the capital city. Their travels were quiet and uneventful. Minimal conversation beyond a few words here and there. Now that they approached the capital, Pyrrha only shrank in fear of the people.
Those few wandering outside the city walls avoided the pair. Some would start to wave only to see their state and think again. The bloody and bruised adventurers must have put off a frightening sight. They likely wanted to give them space in case their wrath was evoked in their direction.
At least they're not bothering us...
The pair continued to ride on through the collection of neighbourhoods outside the walls until they reached the gates. From here, Jaune could see Nora waiting for their arrival. Moments later, she noticed them as well and started in their direction. There, Jaune realised Pyrrha was no longer at his side.
Glancing back at the girl, she was white. Blanched like she'd seen a ghost. Jaune immediately connected that and Nora's presence, whipping his mount around to face her.
"Go back to the house; I'll handle it from here," Jaune requested in as soft a tone as he could. "Take your time and come back to us when you're ready."
Pyrrha nodded, appreciative of the out Jaune gave her. With a click of her tongue, Azura sped off in a medium gallop back the way they came. Her intended path was the long way around Vale, it seemed.
Not too long after, Nora finally rode up to Jaune. The look on her face told him enough. She'd seen Pyrrha turn and retreat at the sight of her. Jaune was glad it was concern painted on her rather than the alternatives.
"How's she taking it," Nora asked in a weak tone.
This close to Nora, Jaune could see the tired eyes and aches on her body. He wondered how the others were if Nora looked this rough. The Barbarian's aura must have been lower than half right now.
"Not great," Jaune stated plainly. "Please don't be mad at her if she doesn't want to talk for a while."
Nora's eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at him. "I'm not gonna be mean to her," she argued. It was almost a hiss aimed at the boy.
"I get it," Jaune replied, conceding that to her. "I just want people to know. I haven't been around, and this whole thing's a disaster."
Like it or not, Pyrrha had brutally beaten everyone in their little group. That was hard to separate despite knowing her body was taken over. Emotions could have run high, and someone may have said the wrong thing if Pyrrha's reluctance to engage was taken the wrong way. Jaune only wanted to be careful to protect Pyrrha's feelings especially.
"I think Sun's still angry about the fight," Nora revealed, leading him into the city. "He doesn't like what we're getting into." She glanced back at him as they passed through the city gates. "Yang and Ruby are just trying to take care of everyone else."
At least it's only one of us...
"Not super sure what it all means, either," Jaune confessed, breathing a small sigh. "I don't know what these guys want or what."
Were they just warlocks attempting to bargain for power? Did they worship the Witch? These were questions Jaune had no answers for.
"Ozpin wants to talk to you about it," Nora warned in reply.
"Did he ask you guys anything?"
"Ruby only told me a little bit," Nora explained in a low voice. "Just what we saw, and she gave the stuff we found to the Professor."
"Okay, let's hurry up and get this over with..."
...
Climbing the several stories of winding staircases leading to Ozpin's office, Jaune could only begin to hate his taste in design. His legs burned with each step up in altitude. Nora's huffing and grunts told him she felt the same. The sight of the door was a relief and mercy.
"Why are there so many stairs," Nora groaned as she reached the landing.
Jaune couldn't help but smile a little. It was a welcome change in tone. He missed it.
"Ah, Mister Arc, I see Miss Valkyrie found you," the man spoke as he noticed their presence. "Come in."
It was only the Wizard in the glass-bound tower. No guards or Professor Goodwitch around either. Sitting before him was a stack of books nearly his height and the box lying adjacent to it. Clearly, he'd been trying to decipher the nature of it without pause.
"Did you figure anything out, Professor," Nora asked, entering an ongoing conversation.
"I'm afraid not," he confessed, slicking back his hair in frustration. "The magic used to conceal the nature of this box is something I have not encountered. I can feel a hint of its remains, but the actual spell itself is new. As for the box, I believe it to be a receptacle for magical energy. That, too, is a mystery."
"When Merlot opened it, I could feel everything," Jaune added. "It's really powerful..."
"No doubt," he agreed, shaking his head. The man took a sip from his mug and straightened himself out. "But enough of that. Mister Arc, I wanted to know what you'd seen during that encounter. Was there anything unusual? I understand quite a bit of that was going on."
He was right. Everything about that afternoon was unusual. The hard part was to ask what wasn't unusual.
"I don't know what I can add, sir," Jaune stated plainly. He reached into his bag and pulled out some pictures he'd drawn. "I saw this. I drew a picture of the Witch. The outside of the ruins."
Ozpin took the drawings and inspected them thoroughly. The Witch was sketched in as much detail as Jaune could manage. It was a well-crafted portrait featuring her upper torso, with the woman turned slightly askew, looking away from the viewer. Jaune could see the man's jaw clench as he looked over it. There was a sign of fear there.
"Qrow, come down here," Ozpin spoke to the aether.
Behind them, a pair of boots clicked against the stone floor. Until then, Jaune had not even felt the presence of him. Nora didn't know this either, whipping around to face the person hiding this entire time.
The man was around Taiyang's age. Maybe early forties? Jaune instantly thought it was Lime, as did Nora. Both teens immediately reached for their weapons, and he raised his hands high as Ira Rubrum slid from its sheath.
"Woah, kids, easy," he spoke. His gruff voice filled the room like a man who gargled gravel and smoked a pipe daily. "Remember me?"
The man's form quickly shifted in appearance, glowing with a black aura. This magical energy encompassed his entire body, shedding particles into the air as his form shrunk into a large crow. When Jaune and Nora each visually recognised the corvid, he changed back. The slicked-back black hair ruffled only a little by the transformation. His blood-red eyes focused on the pair with an easy-going attitude that betrayed his nature.
Qrow only appeared to wear black leather armour reinforced with armoured plates. A red cloak hung off his back, only going to his waist, where it was diagonally torn. It just barely concealed the scythe holstered on his lower back.
Son of the Forest...
Jaune glanced at the man with enhanced eyes and looked him up and down. He was clean—no sign of vampirism or any taint. Jaune felt a bit better now.
"You warned us about that giant snake," Nora asked, setting Magnhild on the floor.
"Yep," he replied, popping the 'p.' "Did a bit of scouting ahead and saw him. Didn't think you squirts could handle a King Taijitu if it got the drop on you."
At least he was watching our backs...
"Yes, but the important matter is what you witnessed in those ruins," Ozpin spoke seriously. "Does it match what we've previously encountered with this demon?"
They've seen her before?
"As far as I can tell," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "This time, it wasn't a cult fucking around where they shouldn't have. These guys were expecting her."
"Who is she," Nora asked, fighting back the low growl in her throat.
"Well, squirt..." Qrow began, pulling a flask from his hip and taking a long swig from the vessel. "We call her Salem. Some kind of demon. Very intelligent. Very dangerous." He allowed those truths to hang in the air before he continued. "Ran into her over in Vacuo for the first time. I was tracking a cult trying to turn themselves into gods. Instead of pulling power from the immaterial plane, they got her instead. Banishing her was pretty easy. Some kind of strong connection that ripped her out of this plane."
"That's what we know," Ozpin followed up. "She can't travel to our plane of her own free will. There needs to be a different type of rift. Like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, if you get my meaning." He stood tall, massaging his face with a deep groan. "But, we do not know much else about her servants. It seems we're back to chasing leads..."
Jaune felt disappointed hearing this. Their hard work just led back to square one. Who was behind all of this, and what were their motives? There had to be something else beyond just summoning a demon into this world. Given what little they had, they didn't have the information necessary to draw conclusions.
"Then, what do we do," Jaune asked, unsure of his next step.
"For now, you relax and enjoy the semester's end, " Ozpin tersely stated. "As for your reward for the final quest, putting your lives in such peril and retrieving this artefact, I will have a magical forge commissioned on your property. Does that seem fair?"
Nora giggled excitedly, rubbing her hands together with a feral grin. She glanced at Jaune with a look that scared him quite a bit. He didn't know what she had in store for him.
"Yeah, I guess it is," Jaune agreed, seeing Nora's reaction. "Can make some new stuff for everyone."
"And in the meantime, I will also put you under the command of Qrow," Ozpin continued, looking at his agent. "Qrow, train them as you see fit."
"You're giving me some new huntin' dogs?"
"Yes, but take some time off first."
Ozpin gestured for them to leave, so Qrow led the way. The Rogue turned to face the pair in the stairwell as the door shut behind them.
"All right, kids," Qrow began. "Name's Qrow Branwen. I'm Ruby and Yang's uncle. One of Ozpin's main guys. Avid connoisseur of many liquors and the ladies at times. That's pretty much all you need to know."
So, this is him? Ruby didn't say he looked half-dead.
Qrow wasn't as impressive as Ruby made him out to be. He just looked like a middle-aged guy after a night of drinking. Jaune was sure that had to be a part of his play. Look unassuming and let your enemies lower their guard for you.
"Can we go home, then," Nora posed, starting to grow a little impatient. "I kinda wanna get back to the others. You can see Ruby and Yang if you're coming with."
"That was the idea," Qrow replied, turning on his heel. "Brats wouldn't forgive me if I made my rounds and didn't say hi..." He paused, facing away from the pair just a few steps ahead. "I heard you took in some strays, too, so I'm just gonna visit and see how it plays out with them. I know about all the stuff with Lime, so I might bounce if those other girls don't like having me around."
The man continued walking without a word. Jaune's idea of him changed a bit upon hearing that. He was considerate, at the very least. It should have been obvious for one of the men who raised Ruby and Yang. As Ruby also wielded a scythe, there was a desire to emulate his style. If she had followed along that path, there was more she would have found to embody.
[Hunter's Repose]
Finally reaching the manor, Jaune felt relieved. He could finally rest up and get a proper night's sleep. His body desired nothing else but that. As he followed behind Qrow, a hand around his arm pulled him back while the older man continued onwards.
"Hey, didya know Pyrrha lied about enchanting her stuff," Nora whispered to him.
"No..."
Pyrrha...
"Ruby asked her if she let Cinder see her stuff, and she lied about it," Nora continued, looking sick as she recounted the details.
Jaune breathed a deep sigh. "Okay, don't bring it up to her," he pleaded. "She's got enough on her plate." Jaune paused as he thought of an idea. "I wouldn't march her to the lab, though. Just swipe her stuff when she's not looking and get it enchanted."
If there was anyone to trust with that, it was Nora. She'd find a way. It was better to be discreet rather than let Pyrrha know in person.
"UNCLE QROW!"
The scream of Ruby filled the front lawn and directed the pair's attention towards a mass of rose petals racing from inside the house. Ruby slammed into Qrow at the waist, attempting to push him over and failing to budge him. Instead, Qrow lifted her off the ground with one arm, letting her hang off it like a kid climbing a tree.
"Didya miss me?"
"Nope," Qrow replied, popping the 'p' before blowing a raspberry at the girl.
Ruby's gaze turned to Jaune and Nora. "Where'd you guys find him?"
"On the side of the road," Nora jestingly lied through her teeth. "He looked so hungry and sad. Can we keep him, please~?"
"Ha ha ha, funny joke," Qrow dryly laughed, glaring back at the two adventurers.
Feeling the cold gaze of death upon them, Nora and Jaune were silent as Ruby dragged Qrow to the manor. There, Yang was waiting, giving the man a hug before welcoming him inside. The rest of the party was sitting in the foyer or den.
"So, this is the place, Firecracker," Qrow said as he stepped inside. The look on his face appeared impressed at their setup. "Got a wine cellar here?"
"How much have you had already?"
"I'm three whiskey's deep..."
"You will not be getting wasted in this house, Branwen!"
Across the room in the den, Winter was starring daggers at Qrow. Next to her were Willow and Weiss, sitting on adjacent chairs with tubes running in and out of their arms. Each Schnee woman was giving blood to the youngest of the trio. All had their eyes affixed on their visitor.
"Winter, do you know this man," Willow asked, sitting up now there were guests.
"He's a pain in my ass and a drunk," Winter hissed, moving to stand up, but was stopped by the tubing leading from her arm.
"Is it just me, or am I seeing two more of you," he wondered, leaning in to discern the three Schnee women from one another. "Oh shit, you guys have the whole set..."
"Ahem," Iris coughed from the side, now glaring at Qrow. Her hands covered Lily's ears, protecting the young girl from the elder's language.
The look from Iris was the one thing that got him to change the conversation. Not even Winter's icy glare could get through to him, but hers did. The man only stepped into the middle of the den where the rest of the party, minus Blake, gathered, creating distance from the housekeeper.
"All right, kids, blondie and the brat already know, but I'm in charge of this outfit now," he began, falling into an armchair. The man began to melt into the furniture, deflating as he remained. "We're not gonna do too much right now except training, so I'll explain the rules you need to know." He began listing them off with his fingers. "Rule one: Rest and Relaxation. Take the time you have off and make the most out of it... Go to that festival or sleep. I don't care..."
The man kicked his feet up onto a table and immediately fell asleep. His snoring quickly filled the room, to everyone's amazement. The fact he could pass out so quickly was astonishing. Perhaps a secret of older adventurers or old men in general.
"Any ideas," Yang spoke first. "Ruby gave us the rundown, so if you've seen Ozpin, you know what we know."
Makes this conversation easier...
"We don't have any leads, so we're just waiting," Jaune concluded, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't really know what to do."
"Ozpin put your uncle in charge of us," Sun asked, looking at Ruby and Yang."
"First we heard of it."
"I think Professor Ozpin's gonna want us to kill these guys," Nora surmised. "We're his 'huntin' dogs,' now."
"Ozpin gave you to Qrow because you're already familiar with the situation," Taiyang emphasised. "Bringing another group of students up to speed would mean more people knowing about that demon. So Qrow's going to put everyone through their paces. You'll hate it, but you'll come out twice the fighter you were going in." He looked over the whole group once, ensuring they each heeded his words. "Qrow will start off light, observing before he decides to toss you in the river to see how you do. Then rinse and repeat until he's confident."
Jaune could see his friends grimace at the thought. If what they'd been through wasn't enough, what did Qrow have in store? Jaune felt a sense of apprehension build in his chest, but what if Qrow could give him the training he needed? Lessons from a man of his experience were worth their weight in gold.
"Don't worry guys, Uncle Qrow, isn't that mean," Ruby asserted, trying to lighten the mood. "That's why he wants us to get some rest!" She glanced between her friends, pausing only for a moment. "We should hold off on going to the festival, though... How about we play some games here?"
[Ruby]
Ruby was sure most of their friends weren't ready to go out into town. Everything that happened with Pyrrha made that an easy choice. It would have been wrong to attend the festival while she hid in her room. The others were too beat up to think about walking around Vale anyway.
The training would only come after everyone recovered enough to handle it. Uncle Qrow was fair when it came to that. It wouldn't make sense to risk more injuries by forcing his students to train without rest.
"I think some food and drinks would be nice right now," Ren expressed, hefting himself onto his feet using a pair of crutches. "We could use the time to decompress..."
Nora lit up and wrapped her arms around Ren from behind, nearly toppling him over as she exclaimed joyfully. "That's the spirit, Renny!"
"I think that's a great idea," Weiss said, pushing herself out of the chair. She held her hand over her wound, keeping pressure on the sore muscles. "I'll start preparing some food." Her last words filled with a high pitch as she winced in pain.
"Are you sure about that," Jaune asked, slightly worried as if Weiss was about to fall apart.
"Are you planning on getting us into a fight," Weiss asked rhetorically. "I should be okay just to sit next to the stove."
Ruby beamed a little, seeing Weiss up and moving. Pyrrha missed the critical parts by a few inches, but it was almost the same wound the Reaper had, minus the poison. The healers at the infirmary worked their wonders, and now she was walking on her own. It would be a long road before she was back in fighting shape.
However, Ruby's bright spot faded as she watched Sun return to his room.
"You passing on tonight, Sun," Yang asked after him.
"I got my ribs stomped on, and everything in my shoulder broken," he said as he walked away. "Not really up for anything..."
"You and Blake need a chaperone?"
"Ha," Sun laughed halfheartedly. "Haven't had any luck there... She talks to you more than she does to me.~" The slight inflexion at the end held a tangible disappointment you could taste in the air.
Yang winced as Sun disappeared down the hallway. "Oof, that's rough..."
"We can come up with something to cheer him up," Nora said, patting Yang on the shoulder. She then turned to Ruby. "You wanna ask Pyrrha if she wants to hang out?"
Ruby's insides twisted at the idea. Not because she didn't want Pyrrha to be here but because she approached knowing her state of mind. If the Reaper were in her place, she wouldn't even know how to begin making amends.
Ruby's stomach tightened a little more just thinking about that. The party was her first group of friends here in Vale. If Ruby hurt any of them, she'd be inconsolable.
"Yeah, I can do that," Ruby answered without hesitation, trying to hide the fear in her voice.
With a swirl of rose petals, Ruby bolted up the stairs and down the hall where she and Pyrrha lived. Touching down a few feet away, Ruby tried her best to flatten out her skirt before realising it was pointless. She was about to talk to someone through a door.
Okay, Ruby, let's do this...
Ruby rapped her knuckles on the hardwood door, tapping in a musical rhythm. "Hey, Pyrrha," she called out. "Nora wants to know if you want to hang out?!"
They weren't going out dancing—just food and drinks to enjoy the night and rest. Maybe some games, too. That's what Ruby told herself. Pyrrha wouldn't be getting left out of something too exciting if she wasn't up for it, but she still needed to ask.
A body shuffled behind the door, stepping a few feet towards it. Sluggish like she'd just gotten out of bed. "I'm sorry," she spoke quietly. "I'd like to stay in for the night. Thank you..."
Ruby frowned but expected this. There was no way anyone would be bright and smiley after what happened. It wouldn't be fair to expect that from anybody in the party.
Once everyone rested, they could spend the time mending the serious wounds.
"Okay..." Ruby replied, pausing to think of her following words, but could not find anything more to say.
Ruby sighed as she stepped away. She took a deep breath and put on as bright a face as possible. Tonight was about resting and trying to squeeze some fun in. Ruby didn't want to spoil it for the others.
However, perhaps there was something she could do for Pyrrha. The festival was opening tonight. A wide arrangement of treats and dishes would lift her spirits, if only a little. At least it was something she could keep herself occupied with.
...
Ruby raced across the forest to May's house. She landed on the front stoop and slid to a stop on the verdant lawn. There, Ruby's friend sat waxing the string of her bow. The sound of Ruby touching down alerted the other girl to her arrival.
"MAY, I need your help," Ruby began loudly, dashing up to her. "Buncha bad stuff happened on our last quest, and I need to find some snacks to cheer one of our friends up!"
"Sure..."
"Cool, I'll explain on the way," Ruby chirped, grabbing ahold of her before ascending them in a mass of rose petals.
...
Filling May in on as much as Ruby was allowed, the pair set down in Vale just inside the city gates. Already, the sights and sounds of the festival filled the air far away from the grounds it was set upon. Hundreds of people were wandering the streets as the sun rose high in the sky. Drinking, dancing, and joyful conversation were on every corner. Merchants were selling food and trinkets by the cartload to all the travellers who journeyed to the city. Other parties of adventurers wandered the streets, searching for a diversion to entertain themselves.
Ruby beamed at all the sights. It was something she'd never got the chance to enjoy on Patch. Though dulled by the presence of the prior days' events, it was something to appreciate. Hopefully, she and the party could enjoy the festivities later this week.
May was also relishing in the atmosphere herself. A wide-eyed look on her face mirrored Ruby's own. Unburdened by the truth of what happened in Skystead, she was allowed to enjoy herself without care.
"Where should we start," May asked, getting to the point. "What does Pyrrha like?"
Hmmm...
Ruby had to think about it a little. She didn't know that much about Mistrali culture or Pyrrha's tastes to give a clear answer. Mistral was filled with hardy people who valued strength. What snacks fit that mould?
"What do people in Vacuo like," Ruby asked in reply.
She was a little curious about that already. Ruby wanted to know what May liked, giving her a better idea of what to get Pyrrha. Another person's perspective would keep the Reaper from throwing bags of cookies at the Spartan.
"Dried fruit and meats," May explained, looking over the many street foods sold around them. "Spiced jerky is one of my favourites."
Okay, practical...
Food needed to last a long time if you were in harsh climates. It only added to its benefits if you could make it taste good. Ruby had a soft spot for cured meat, slicing off portions of a dried goat leg as a snack in her youth.
She soon eyed a vendor selling a wide array of meats. Smoked sausage, pastrami, jerky, prosciutto, and most other varieties you could think of. The scent of the smoking meat in the store made Ruby's mouth water in anticipation.
"Can we get three legs of prosciutto, five sausages, a side of bacon, and three pounds of jerky, please," Ruby confidently requested, holding a few coins in her hands.
The woman running the stand nodded and quickly gathered their produce into a small burlap sack. Before the last pound of jerky was placed within, Ruby swiftly separated it from the lot. She offered it up to May, holding the open pouch in a free hand.
"Thanks," May said, smiling as she took the bag. The girl removed a hefty piece of dried meat and offered it to Ruby in return.
Ruby tossed the sack over her shoulder and grabbed the jerky. May started on her own portion, scarfing it down with gusto. The Reaper didn't hesitate either, biting into it with her molars and tearing out a chunk.
The delightful taste of smoked beef hit her tongue immediately. Garlic and black pepper followed, delivering a lovely combination of savoury flavours. There were a few more spices that Ruby couldn't differentiate, but it all tasted amazing.
"Is it good," Ruby asked, swallowing the jerky.
"Yeah, it's really good," May replied, going to grab another handful. "We gotta find some spicy stuff next time."
Next time...
"Heh, wanted to take it easy," Ruby followed with a slight laugh. "It'd probably kill Weiss if we picked out something hotter than this."
That elicited a snort from May as she went to take another bite. The momentary laugh nearly caused her to choke on the jerky as it slipped down the wrong pipe. Coughing it back up, May went on eating the jerky without pause.
The pair walked a little longer until they came across a vintner. This young man peddled a wide selection of wines in all different types of bottles. Ruby immediately recognised a bottle with Mistrali script written on the label. An import from somewhere around Windpath.
"It's a sweet red," the merchant explained, eyeing Ruby's interest. "If you're looking for something to go with those cured meats, I'd recommend it."
"I'll take three..."
...
Returning from Vale, May and Ruby slipped into the manor through the backdoor. Their hands were filled with dozens more goodies from the festival. Before sharing these with their friends, the pair stealthily assembled something for Pyrrha.
A wicker basket was soon decorated with the best arrangement the two could manage. Chocolate-covered strawberries, cookies of all different types, their meats of choice wrapped in cloth, handfuls of fresh and dried fruit, and finally, the wine. Indeed, it was a decent spread. Though Weiss would definitely have something to say about the presentation or something fancy, that didn't matter.
When it was completed, Ruby immediately raced back upstairs with the basket. Gently landing at the entrance to the hall, she stalked her way back to Pyrrha's room. Upon reaching the door, Ruby set the basket right at the threshold. All she did from there was knock three times and dash back down the hall.
Before she returned to the party, Ruby waited a moment, watching the door. A few moments after her knocks, the door opened. Though Pyrrha did not poke her head out, she noticed the basket. Ruby could only see her arm reach out and take the goods, pulling them back into the darkness.
Ruby grinned wide, knowing it was accepted. Hopefully, Pyrrha would see the group was thinking about her. Now, it was up to the Spartan to return when she was confident enough to face the party.
[Weiss]
After a few rounds of drinks and much to eat, many of the remaining party members were sleeping in the library. Ren was the first to pass out, followed by Ruby, Nora, and May. Lara and Iris had retired to their room rather than sleep on a sofa. That left Yang, Jaune, and Weiss alone.
Weiss sat to the side as Jaune and Yang played a hand of cards. Though she couldn't see their hands, their body language was enough to tell where they stood. Yang was going to win this.
"What d'ya got, Arc," Yang taunted across the table. "Lay 'em out."
Weiss smiled as Jaune sighed. He only had a pair of sevens. Yang, on the other hand, was armed with three kings. The blonde brawler clicked her tongue and reclined back on the sofa, thoroughly satisfied in trashing Jaune in this game of cards. The third hand in a row that he lost.
"Whelp, I'm exhausted," Yang continued, standing up and stretching her arms high. "I'm gonna go crash. You two ladies have some fun."
Just as Yang moved to leave, she winked at Weiss. The slight gesture caused the Mage's cheeks to darken. Clearly suggesting something lewd, Weiss ignored Yang as best as she could.
However, Yang did leave her and Jaune alone. The Mage had to admit it was pretty daunting. There was a different kind of fear in this solitude.
The sound of Jaune yawning and rubbing his face drew Weiss back from her thoughts. She could see the exhaustion growing paired with the excellent food and drink they had consumed. Weiss herself was feeling sleepy.
"Jaune, could you help me back to my room," Weiss asked.
The request caused the boy to snap to attention. "Yeah," he followed with, standing and limping towards her.
Weiss' aching bones groaned and popped as she moved to stand. Her legs quivered just as she put any weight on them. Jaune allowed her to use him as a crutch, wrapping an arm around her back and cradling her only good arm in his right hand. This way, they walked like a nurse assisting an elderly patient.
Weiss was starting to get used to being carried around at this point.
Slowly, the pair walked to the front of the house. Their soft footfalls filled the air, causing a loose board to creak every few steps. The palatable silence in the rest of the home made these gentle sounds appear greater.
Entering the foyer, Weiss felt her mind drift to the events of Lime's visit. The break in silence caused those feelings to resurge as she remembered the near-silent steps of the vampire. Weiss' pace slowed as an anxiety began to build up inside her chest.
"Are you okay," Jaune asked. He must have sensed her discomfort.
Weiss gulped, trying to bury her fear. The momentary pause was enough, however. Jaune gave her a gentle squeeze with the arm wrapped around her back.
The gesture made Weiss feel safe. Reassured that no harm would come to her at the moment. The corners of her lips stretched slightly as a warmth filled her chest. It allowed Weiss to continue pushing through the dimly lit halls of the house.
When they crossed the threshold to the manor, Jaune helped Weiss down the cobblestone stairs. Outside, the cool summer air chilled their skin. The sound of crickets and frogs calling out to each other was nearly deafening. The wet, dew-covered grass began soaking her slippers with each step.
As the pair walked across the field between the manor and the cottage, Weiss allowed her arm to slip from Jaune's grasp. Slowly, she pulled her arm into place, letting her hand sit within Jaune's.
Weiss took a deep breath before clutching Jaune's hand tightly. Her heart beat into her ears as Jaune paused. She could tell he was thinking.
There was no fanfare. Weiss was getting it off her chest. There were too many close calls recently to justify keeping a secret like this.
"Weiss..." Jaune spoke softly, seemingly in shock. "I didn't know..."
"I-I didn't make it obvious," the Mage stuttered, red-faced, unable to meet Jaune's gaze. She took another deep breath, slightly pulling at Jaune's hand. "Just follow me."
...
Jaune helped Weiss up to her bedroom. She fumbled the key due to shaking hands but opened the door soon after. The second that threshold opened, the pair spilt into the room. Their aim was the bed itself.
Boots and slippers were discarded as they crossed the room. When they hit the edge of the large bed, they each fell onto it. Their aches and pains were ignored as they lay across the middle of the mattress. Their bodies sank into the soft feather mat, dissolving their forms as they rested.
The Paladin reached an arm out and pulled Weiss to him, clenching her tight against his chest. He did not hesitate to crane his neck and press his lips against Weiss'. She returned the gesture with equal enthusiasm.
Weiss' heart and mind raced as she savoured Jaune's presence. They'd shared a bed before, but this was entirely new. Something Weiss didn't want to end.
For the rest of the night, Weiss made sure she would get the most out of it.
It's finally happened.
I wanted Weiss just to do it. Not make a huge diatribe before just saying it. She's almost died a few times in the recent weeks of their adventure, so just saying something is how I'd envision she'd go about it.