A Strange but Friendly Family
"Ren. Where are those papers Jaune left us again?" Pyrrha asked as she searched through their former leader's desk.
"I believe he put it in the blue bin." Ren answered before going back to his homework from Port's class.
"What are you looking for, Pyrrha?" Nora asked, curious, as she exited the bathroom.
"The charts for how many drones we destroyed and how fast we destroyed them during practice in the training rooms." Pyrrha answered as she pulled out the blue bin that was underneath Jaune's desk and began rummaging through it.
"Oh, those. They are in the green bin. Jaune put all the training-related papers there. And the blue bin is for expenses such as dust usage, equipment for our weapons, and repairs, among a handful of other things. He also put a few charts and some outlines for us to copy to keep track of our income and expenses for when we start getting missions that pay us lien."
"Right. I forgot." Pyrrha said, closing the bin. She then moved to grab the green bin and searched through it for a moment before finding the papers she was looking for. "Ah ha. There they are."
"I still can't believe it has been two months since Jaune-Jaune got expelled." Nora said, sitting on her bed.
"Yeah. I still can't believe it happened."
"But it does make sense why Jaune was ill-prepared for Beacon at the beginning of the year." Ren said. Even though he didn't like that Jaune lied his way to get to Beacon, he quickly saw Jaune as a brother.
"Yet, thanks to Pyrrha's training, he quickly earned his place here." Nora said.
"Not just earned a place here, Nora. He more than earned it."
"And he's become such a great friend and leader in such a short amount of time." Pyrrha added as she went to her desk and sat down before looking through the papers.
"Or brother. Honestly, Jauney became something like a brother to me after just the first month of Beacon." Nora said.
"Same." Ren said.
"We did grow quite close these past few months." Pyrrha said. "So, it was sad to see him go."
"Yeah. At least we get to say one final goodbye before he left." Nora said.
"And I'm incredibly thankful that Jaune labeled and organized all the paperwork so we could do it without him." Ren said, looking to the closet before turning to Jaune's former desk.
"That's an understatement for how I feel. There's just so much paperwork here. I'm glad Jaune organized it for us; otherwise, we'd be so behind." Pyrrha said, already annoyed as she began the paperwork.
"I would understand it if we were fourth-year students, but this is too much." Ren said.
"Yeah. It makes sense now. I was honestly worried when I saw Jaune buying those two big bottles of aspirin. But after only doing this for a week, I would have done the same." Pyrrha said, put on some compression gloves. While aura might be a miraculous thing, it didn't help with everything. And after doing the paperwork for two weeks, she began to feel pain, so Ren got her some compression gloves to help with that.
"Now you know why we can sometimes hear Ruby screaming from across the hall. And it's not because of her and Weiss shagging." Nora said, smirking when she heard the sounds of four people falling to the floor. Despite using explosives when she fights, she still has excellent hearing. And while not on par with those like Velvet, Nora could tell when someone was eavesdropping on their conversations from outside their dorm. However, it did help that the eavesdroppers were not so quiet or stealthy.
"Yeah. I wonder if the upperclassmen have it any easier." Pyrrha said, not catching the last part.
"They probably have even more paperwork to deal with. And since they have more missions than us, they also probably have even less time to do it." Ren said.
"Great. I'm not looking forward to it. Maybe they will make a program or device or something in the future that will do the paperwork for us."
"Hopefully. But in the meantime, we can take turns doing the paperwork. That way, it's less of a strain on you."
"I think that is a good idea." Nora said.
"I would appreciate it." Pyrrha said.
"You know. We have a week off next month. Perhaps we can use that week to visit Jaune." Ren said.
"Yeah. He might not be our fearless leader anymore, but Jaune is still our friend. And it would be nice to see him again." Nora said.
"True. Maybe we could stay there the whole week so we can see where he grew up." Pyrrha said.
"It would be a nice change of pace from our studies, combat practice, and studying to fight Grimm and keep people safe."
"True. But first, we would need to find out where Jaune lives." Ren reminded.
"Right. I forgot about that."
"Did Jaune text any of you about his new number?" Pyrrha asked.
Shortly before being expelled, Jaune had lost his scroll during an exercise mission with Glynda in the Emerald Forest. And while Jaune had ordered a new one, it wasn't due to arrive until the next month. But Jaune's expulsion happened two weeks before it was supposed to arrive. And while they had received a few handwritten letters from him for the first two weeks after he left, they stopped shortly after. At first, they were worried that something might have happened. But they calmed down when they received another handwritten message a week later, with Jaune saying that things were a bit busy on his end. And that soon, his new scroll should be arriving.
"Not yet." Nora and Ren answered.
"Hopefully, we get a message from him soon." Nora said.
"Hopefully." Pyrrha said.
"But in the meantime, let's just hope that Jaune is okay and that he is just busy now." Ren said.
"Right." Pryrrha and Nora agreed.
"But in the meantime for us, we should probably get ready for our Peach's class. I'm pretty sure she was hinting at a quiz earlier when we had dust class with her and Glynda."
"Yeah. We should probably get going so we can study a bit before class begins." Nora said.
"And on the way back, we can grab an energy drink or something with some caffeine so I can stay awake." Pyrrha said, looking at the stack of papers she had to deal with. It was so much that she honestly felt bad for Jaune. "Anyway. Let's get going."
Nodding, the remains of Team Jnpr got up, grabbed their bags, and exited their dorm before heading to their next class.
Meanwhile
Team RWBY'S DORM
"THOSE DUNCES! WHY WOULD THEY THINK THAT!?" Weiss shouted as she and the rest of Team Rwby barged into their dorm.
"Yeah! And why would Nora say that when she knows Ruby was there with us!?" Yang growled, covering Ruby's ears.
"Yang. I know what shag means. And I'm sixteen." Ruby huffed, annoyed.
"Nope. You are-"
"Yang. The internet exists. Plus, you and Blake are not that great at hiding the movies and books you-"
"NOPE! You are remaining as my pure, innocent little sister." Yang shouted, unwilling to accept that her innocent sister knew about that dirty stuff despite being sixteen.
"I'm pretty sure she said that to throw us off, considering two of us do not know the meaning of the words quiet and stealthy." Blake said, narrowing her eyes at Yang and Ruby.
"Still." Yang said, coughing to clear her throat, which also allowed Ruby to escape and head to her bed. "Like the others, I can't believe it has already been two months since Jaune was expelled."
"Yeah. I miss having my best friend here." Ruby said. "We even made plans to go to the comic book convention and the weapons tour before he left!"
"While I did find the dunce's flirting attempts annoying and his lies to get into Beacon disgraceful." Weiss said. "I still miss his company. Aside from those things, he wasn't bad to have around. Jaune was certainly better than others I have been around or was forced to spend time with. And we did have some good times studying for upcoming projects."
"Honestly, I found his flirting attempts both painful and hilarious. But yeah, I miss our vomit boy." Yang said as she moved to sit on her bed. "Jaunee was goofy, for sure. But he was charmingly goofy. And he was always willing to help despite being a klutz at times. All in all, he was a great friend to have around and tease from time to time, despite our rocky first time meeting each other."
"Yeah. Jaune threw up on your shoes." Ruby giggled.
"Which rightfully earned him the nickname Vomit Boy. But he made it up to me by buying me some new shoes. But despite that, I'm glad we met him." Yang said before turning to Blake. "What about you, Blake? Do you miss Jaune as well?"
"I... really can't say. We haven't spent much time alone together... or even while everyone else was there. In fact, I think we only talked to each other about ten or twelve times in total. And half of those times were about school work. So... I can't really say anything about Jaune. The most I can say about him is that he wasn't as annoying as I thought he would be and is friendly toward Faunus. And to add to that, the only thing I think we had in common was that we both liked to read, except that he likes comics while I like novels." Blake answered.
"Yeah. That makes sense. You two hardly hardly interacted with each other." Ruby said, with Blake nodding.
"That's why I don't feel like I can say anything without sounding biased or like I'm lying/talking nonsense. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing Jaune again. If anything, he is friendly and somewhat easy to talk to. We never had a problem starting a conversation during the few times we talked."
"True. Despite Jaune's dorky and somewhat nerdy appearance, he was never hard to approach." Yang said. "However, I was always put off by how Jaune never seemed put off by anything strange happening."
"Yeah. I remember everyone, including Ozpin and Glynda, getting a scare when some upperclassmen played a prank on everyone during the school play by dressing up as The Phantom of the Opera. Yet, Jaune almost seemed excited at seeing The Phantom, like he knew it personally." Ruby said.
"Or when everyone thought the library was haunted because the books kept flying off the shelves or moving themselves to different bookcases. Which, in the end, just turned out to be another elaborate prank. But Jaune thought it was someone named Griffin." Blake said.
"How about the time when we saw Peach coming out from one of the lagoons near Beacon? But because she was covered in algae and other things, we thought it was some kind of monster or a new type of Grimm. Yet, Jaune walked up to her and called her The Gill-man." Yang said.
"I want to say Arc was delusional or had gone crazy, but I can't since every student has to take a mental health test before classes start and once a month afterward." Weiss said. "I remember seeing his tests a few times, and they all said he had a clean bill of health. And unlike the transcripts, he couldn't have forged those."
"Then I wonder what could the reason be he was like that." Ruby said. "And I am just now realizing he called all of them the names of famous monsters from some monster movies."
"Well, whatever the reason was, Jaune is still our friend and vomit boy. And it would be nice to see him again. The last time we saw him was when we said our goodbyes." Yang said.
"Maybe we can visit him during our break or on one of the weekends." Ruby suggested.
"While that would be nice, but as Team NPR said, we don't know where Jaune lives." Blake reminded.
"Oh. Weiss. Do you think you can find where Jaune lives? Or maybe get your sister to do it? It would be a nice way to meet with Jaune again and show him we miss him. We can even give Team NPR the address so they could meet him as well whenever they are free." Yang asked.
"Yeah. Can you or your sister do it, Weiss?" Ruby excitedly asked.
"What do you two take me for? I have never stooped to such levels before coming to Beacon. And I won't start now." Weiss answered. But before the others could say anything, she slowly turned to them with a smirk. "But, I can turn a blind eye and convince myself we are doing this out of the goodness of hearts. So, finding Arc's address can be done."
"YES!" Yang and Ruby cheered.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the knowledge, experience, or tools to do so. And despite being in such a high position, Winter doesn't have access, either. Plus, I doubt she would be willing to do so even if she could."
"AW!" Ruby and Yang pouted.
"Do you know anyone that could?" Blake asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do, Blake. And she owes me a few favors. Since it is two-thirty, she just got out of her last class. I'll call her right now." Weiss answered as she took out her scroll, looked through her contacts, and clicked on the correct one. It rang for a few moments before the person on the other end picked up.
'Hello?'
"Hello, Ciel Soleil."
'Oh. Hello, Weiss Schnee. How are you?'
"I'm fine, Ciel. And you?"
'I could be better. I just got out of class. Thankfully, the teacher gave us a lighter homework load than typical.'
"That's good."
'So, what is the occasion for the call since we typically call each other on the weekend as per our agreed schedule.'
"Listen, Ciel. I'm trading in one of my favors I have with you."
'Alright. What do you need?'
"I need you to dig up some information on someone."
'Okay. I take it's for something other than dirt on someone.'
"Yes. I just need some information on a friend."
'Fine. What's their name? And can you give me a description of what they look like so I have something to go off of?'
"His name is Jaune Arc. He has blonde hair and blue eyes and is roughly 190 cm tall."
'Alright. Anything else?'
"Yes. He has a sword and shield called Crocea Mors. And while I'm not sure if it is in any database yet, he was expelled from Beacon two months ago."
'Okay. I wasn't expecting that. And I'm not sure if that last part is in the database. But I should be able to find him. What do you want to know?'
"I want to know his address and where he lives so some friends and I can visit him."
'Okay. For a moment there, I thought it would be something much worse. But I can do that. I should have everything you need in a few hours. I'll text it to you once I have it.'
"Thanks, Ciel."
'You're welcome, Weiss. Goodbye.' Ciel said before ending the call.
"YES!" Ruby and Yang cheered.
"Thanks, Weiss." Ruby said.
"No problem." Weiss said as she put away her scroll.
"Now, once Ciel sends Weiss the information, we can go and visit Jaune." Yang said.
"Granted, we would need to know where he lives. If he lives nearby, we can walk there. But if he lives far away, then we would need to plan and prepare for a whole day trip. Thankfully, our huntsmen-in-training licenses would cover the bullhead costs." Blake said.
"And we would need to do all our homework on Friday, so we don't need to worry or risk having it become late. Plus, we would need to head to bed early to get a full night's rest." Weiss said. "Which means no partying and doing our homework as soon as our last class finishes."
"Normally, I would complain a bit. But since it means we can visit Jaune, I won't." Yang said before smiling. "Besides, who knows, perhaps when we get there, we can find a way to celebrate and then party."
"Still, we should get ready and put aside some stuff for when we do visit, regardless if we are gone all day or not." Blake said.
"True." Weiss said. "I don't want to run into any problems while we are visiting him."
"Should we tell Team NPR about this?" Ruby asked.
"No. Let's keep it a secret for now. Then, once we know that's where Jaune lives, we can make it a surprise for them." Yang answered.
"Alright."
"But while we wait for Ciel to send Weiss the information, let's head to the cafeteria to get something to eat. I'm hungry." Blake said.
"Sure. I could go for a bite." Yang said as they got up and exited their dorm.
One Week Later
Weekend
Noon
"Okay. Do you have the address, Wiess?" Blake asked as they waited for the bullhead to finish landing.
"Yes. Jaune lives at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in a village called Mockingbird Heights." Weiss answered.
"I wonder how many times he was teased for having an unlucky number for an address." Yang said.
"Probably a lot, considering how people are." Blake said.
"I wonder if Jaune would be excited to see us again." Ruby said.
"I'm sure he would be." Yang answered. "But I'm still surprised to learn that Jaune was adopted."
"Yeah. I wasn't expecting that either." Weiss agreed.
"Nor the fact that Jaune has seven sisters." Blake added, with the others agreeing.
"And I thought having one Yang was a lot. I can't imagine having seven." Ruby said, smirking when Yang let out a 'HEY!' "But do you know if Arc is Jaune's birth last name or his new family's name, Weiss?"
"From what Ciel managed to dig up and tell me, Arc is Jaune's birth last name. But when he and his sisters were adopted, their new family allowed them to keep the name." Weiss answered.
"That was nice of them."
"It was."
"How long until we reach Mockingbird Heights?" Yang asked.
"Roughly three hours once we are airborne." Blake answered as the bullhead finished landing and opened the doors a second later.
"Oh. That's not too long."
"But I'm glad we charged scrolls beforehand." Ruby said as they boarded the bullhead.
"And that I got a new Ninjas of Love book yesterday." Blake added.
"You know, if Jaune was with us, I'm sure his stomach would already be acting up." Yang said.
"Even though Pyrrha would have told him several times over by this point." Weiss added with a smirk.
"And then she would take out a spare bag full of his travel medication and give him." Blake said, chuckling.
"You know, if we didn't know any better, you might mistake how they act as older sister and younger brother. Or cousins since they don't look anything alike." Weiss said.
"Or has a crush on him with the way she acts around him. They would make a cute couple if that were the case, and they got together." Yang said.
"I doubt that's the case." Weiss said.
"It would explain a lot, though." Blake said.
"It would explain a lot. Like how she is always looking at him with a dreamy look. But either way, they would make a cute couple." Ruby said.
"And if they do get together, they better get ready 'cause I'm going to tease them like there's no tomorrow." Yang said as the bullhead's doors closed before ascending.
"I wonder what Jaune's adoptive family is like." Ruby said.
"Well, if it is anything like our knight, they must be kind, innocent, and goofy to a fault." Blake said, not knowing how right she was.
Three Hours Later
Mockingbird Heights
"So, this is Mockingbird Heights." Yang said as they exited the bullhead.
"Not quite what I was expecting." Ruby said as they looked around.
"But it does look quite cozy and nice." Weiss said.
"And real friendly, too." Blake added, smiling at how Faunus and Humans were walking side-by-side all over the place. They conversing, playing, or simply hanging out with each other. Some even seemed to be in relationships. It was certainly nice seeing Faunus and Humans living together peacefully.
"But we can admire the place later. Let's go find our Vomit Boy." Yang said.
"What was his address again, Weiss?" Ruby asked.
"1313 Mockingbird Lane." Weiss answered.
"So, how are we going to find it?" Yang asked.
"We can use our scrolls, map, or ask someone." Blake answered, rolling her eyes.
"Right. Why did I even ask that when it was so obvious?"
"It must have just slipped your mind."
"Shall we ask someone?" Ruby asked.
"Might as well. And if they don't know, then we'll just use our scrolls." Weiss answered.
"Alright." Blake said as they approached a female mouse faunus and a male talking in front of a bar.
"Excuse us." Ruby said, catching their attention.
"Yes." The man said.
"Can we help you?" The mouse faunus asked.
"Hi. Yes. We just came into town to visit our friend. And we need help finding an address. May you help us?" Weiss asked.
"Of course." The man said.
"What address are you four looking for?" The mouse faunus asked.
"1313 Mockingbird Lane." Weiss answered.
"Uh. Is everything okay?" Yang asked, confused when the man's and the female faunus's smiles went away.
"Uh. Yeah." The man said, snapping back to focus.
"We just weren't expecting that." The female faunus said.
"Is... something wrong about the place?" Blake asked.
"Oh, no, nothing like that. We just weren't expecting it."
"But it's relatively easy to find the place from here." The man said before pointing away. "Go down this way two miles. Make a left and continue forward eight more blocks. Then a right, three blocks, and you're there. And you'll know you're there when the weather suddenly changes, and the house stands out more than usual."
"Um. Alright. Thank you." Ruby said, unsure of what to make of the last part.
"But don't worry. The house might seem strange and... haunting, with the people living there looking like something a grave robber stole from the morgue, but they are the nicest people you will ever meet. You just have to get past their appearances and weird... tastes and outlooks on life." The Mouse Faunus assured.
"Alright. Thank you for your help." Weiss said.
"You're very welcome." The man said.
"Have a good day, you four." The mouse faunus said before the two resumed their previous conversation. As they talked, Team Rwby left, following the directions the man gave them, albeit more confused than they started out.
Twenty Minutes Later
"That was the oddest description I have ever heard about a family." Blake said as they continued following the directions.
"Yeah. What was all that about?" Yang asked.
"I don't know." Ruby said.
"But at least we know they are friendly." Weiss said.
"True." The others agreed.
"But what did he mean by a house sticking out more than usual?" Yang asked.
"Or when the weather suddenly changes?" Blake asked.
*BOOM*
"Like that?" Yang asked as they tensed when thunder roared out of nowhere.
"I don't recall the weatherman saying it was going to rain today." Weiss said.
"Or that it was going to get real windy." Ruby added as a fierce wind blew past them.
"Then that means we must be close." Blake said.
"Now we just need to find the house that sticks out more than usual." Weiss said.
"Uh. You mean like the one behind us?" Ruby asked.
Turning around, they saw a massive house that seemed to be the real-life version of the haunted houses they saw in magazines during Halloween. There were lots of dead bushes, trees, and plants. But there were also lots of live ones as well. However, all of them were poisonous or not safe to handle without protection. The fence was made out of cement blocks, while the gate door looked like something they might see at a mad scientist's castle. Despite there being no clouds, thunder continued to appear behind the house as strong winds swept the twigs, leaves, and dead plants across the property. Yet, despite everything, the house seemed in perfect condition with a gothic and chic look to it.
"I would say so." Blake said.
"Well... this is quite a... unique house." Yang said.
"I'm honestly not sure whether it should be condemned or put in a museum or something like that." Weiss said, shocked.
"I wonder if this is the place." Ruby said. "It fits the description the man gave us."
"I don't think it is." Yang said.
"It unfortunately is. The sign next to the gate says 1313 Mockingbird Lane." Blake said, pointing at the house number sign.
"A-are you sure Ciel didn't make a mistake, Weiss?" Ruby asked.
"I'm positive she didn't make a mistake, Ruby." Weiss answered.
"So... shall we go and knock or ring the bell?" Yang asked.
"Yes." The others answered.
Opening the gate, which was surprisingly unlocked, Team Rwby walked up the pathway. But as they did, they looked around the property, wondering why anyone would choose to live in a place like this. Moreover, if the house wasn't like this and they renovated it, why did they change it to look like this? Walking up the porch steps, Team Rwby took a second look around the property and began to wonder if the information Ciel had given them was outdated, especially since some of the window shutters were in desperate need of repairs.
*AAWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOO! AWO-AWO-AWOOOOOOO!*
"Uh. Was that a wolf's howl we just heard?" Weiss asked as they tensed up considerably.
"I want to say no, but it really sounded like one." Blake said.
"Yeah." Yang and Ruby said.
"So. Who wants to ring the doorbell?" Ruby asked.
"There doesn't seem to be a doorbell. Just a doorknocker." Weiss said.
"I guess I will knock." Yang said, shrugging. Grabbing the door knocker, Yang lifted it and banged it against the door a few times. But to their surprise, the sound it created was so loud they felt like they were standing next to a massive bell that was just rung.
"That was extremely loud." Blake said, uncovering her faunus ears.
"Yeah." The others agreed.
"Well. Hopefully, Jaune or his family are home and not out. Otherwise, we would have to come back later." Ruby said.
"Hopefully." Weiss said.
"Wait. I hear someone coming." Blake said, causing Yang to step back.
Soon, the doors opened to reveal a female with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes who was roughly a few years older than them. She wore a yellow sundress and black heels. All in all, she seemed like an ordinary person, albeit the fur on her black heels seemed a bit off. It made Team Rwby wonder why she was here in the first place.
"Yes. Can I help you?" The lady asked.
"Uh, yes. My name is Ruby Rose, and I am the leader of Team Rwby. And these are my friends/teammates. Weiss Schnee, Blake Belledona, and Yang Xiao Long." Ruby said.
"Well, how do you do." The lady said, smiling. "My name is Marilyn Munster. A pleasure to meet all of you."
"The pleasure is ours." Weiss interjected. "Sorry to bother you. But we were wondering if you could help us."
"Oh, I'd be glad to help you four. What do you need help with?"
"We're looking for our friend, Jaune Arc. We were told he... lives here. Do you know if he is here or not? Or have we been led astray?"
"Oh, you're talking about my brother, Jaune Munster Arc." Marilyn said, smiling.
"You're brother?" Yang asked.
"Yes, he's my brother. Well, technically, he is my adopted brother. And his sisters are my adopted sisters. But we treat them as if they were from us all the same. They are a joy to have around the house. It did make growing up a lot less lonely when you have people who have similar interests with you, especially when you are also adopted."
"That's true." Ruby said, smiling.
"But I'm sad to say that Jaune is not here at the moment."
"Do you know where he is?" Blake asked.
"Oh, Jaune's at work. But he should be here soon. If you want, you can all wait inside." Marilyn offered.
"We would appreciate that. But would it be alright with your parents or guardians?" Weiss asked.
"And are they here?" Yang asked.
"My aunt Lily wouldn't mind. She loves having guests over, especially when they are friends. And she's in the kitchen. My uncle Herman wouldn't mind either. He's at work but should be here shortly." Marilyn answered. "There's also my grandfather. He's down in the dungeon. But he doesn't mind meeting new people."
"Dungeon?" Weiss and Blake asked, looking at each other.
"Yes. Grandpa just loves working on his experiments. Don't worry, though; he always makes sure to keep them on a lid just in case they get out."
"That's... something." Ruby said.
"It sure is. It's nice seeing others being able to do what they love." Marilyn said, smiling.
"Are any of Jaune's other sisters here?" Blake asked.
"Only two. Eldora and Luna Arc. They are in the living room playing with my cousin, Eddie. All the others except one have moved already and live around the neighborhood."
"And the one that didn't?" Weiss asked.
"That's Saphron. And she lives in Mistral with her wife and child." Marilyn said before sighing. "She's so lucky to have found her partner for life and have a child. Meanwhile, I can't get anyone because of my looks. Or them just wanting me to get something they want, like my family's money."
"Uh. I'm not sure about the looks since Marilyn does look quite pretty." Ruby whispered to Blake. "But the second reason seems more reasonable."
"Remember, Ruby. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences. So, to one, she could look beautiful, while to another, they might seem ordinary. But yeah, the second reason could, unfortunately, be true. Some people are willing to do anything to get what they want, even if it means hurting innocent people." Blake said before sighing as she remembered her time in the White Fang.
"Oh, but enough about that. Come on. Let's head inside, where it's nice and comfy, so that we can wait for Jaune. I can even answer any other questions you all have." Marilyn said, moving to the side and ushering them inside.
"Thank you." Weiss said, smiling as they entered the house with Marilyn closing the door.
"Uh." Team Rwby said, unsure of what make of the house's interior.
"Are you sure we're not in a haunted house attraction?" Yang asked.
"No. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was." Weiss answered.
"But you have to admit, if you can get past the cobwebs, creaking floorboards, strange choices of decorations, and eerie atmosphere, this does seem like a cozy place to live." Blake said.
"I guess." Ruby said, not entirely convinced.
"Now, if you four would just go through this door, you can wait in the living room. I will be back in a moment. I just need to inform my aunt Lilly about this." Marilyn said before leaving.
"How did Jaune live like this before coming to Beacon?" Weiss asked, shocked.
"I have no idea." Yang answered.
"But we can ask Marilyn once she returns." Blake said.
"But right now, let's head to the living room and wait. And we can even meet with Jaune's sisters and Eddie." Ruby said.
"Right." The others said as they headed to the living room. Yet, as soon as they stepped inside, they froze in place from another shock.
Inside the living, playing in the center next to a coffee table, was what appeared to be some sort of human-wolf hybrid. And it was playing with two blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls who seemed to be roughly the same age. One had a moon-shaped beauty mark on her left cheek and was wearing a white with yellow stripes t-shirt and overalls. And she had long, straight hair. The other had ponytails with hair clips in the shapes of the sun keeping them up. She wore yellow gym pants and had a yellow t-shirt with the name of a basketball team on it. While they could see the resemblance between them and Jaune, they were still mystified by the... creature they were playing with.
"Oh, hi." The creature said, smiling, as it and the two girls stopped their playing.
"Hello." The girls said, smiling, as they waved at them.
"Who are you four?" The creature asked.
"Uh. My name is Ruby Rose. This is Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao Long, and Blake Belladonna."
"Hey." Yang said.
"Hello." Blake said.
"A pleasure to meet you three." Weiss said.
"What're your names?" Ruby asked.
"I am Eldora Munster Arc." The girl with the ponytails said.
"And I am Luna Munster Arc." The girl with the moon-shaped birthmark said.
"My name is Edward Wolfgang Munster. But you can just call me Eddie." The creature answered.
"Why are you four here?" Luna asked.
"We're friends of your brother, Jaune Arc." Ruby said.
"We met during our time at Beacon Academy." Blake said.
"And we decided to come visit him." Yang said.
"But it seems like we are a bit early." Weiss said.
"Not that much. It's four-thirty. He should be home any moment, along with pops." Eddie said.
"Are any of you his girlfriend?" Luna and Eldora simultaneously asked, catching Team Rwby off guard for a moment.
"Nope. Jaune's just a good friend." Yang said.
"And like an older brother to me." Ruby said.
"We're acquaintances." Blake said.
"We're friends." Weiss said.
"Well, that's too bad." Luna said.
"Maybe that will change." Eldora said.
"Doubtful." Weiss said. Hearing footsteps behind them, Team Rwby turned around and saw Marilyn returning with who they assumed was her aunt.
"Uh, why is she green?" Yang asked.
"I have no idea." Weiss said.
"Here they are, Aunt Lilly." Marilyn said.
"Thank you, Marilyn. I'll take it from here. Why don't you take Eddie, Eldora, and Luna to their rooms and help them with their homework." Lilly said.
"Alright. Aunt Lily." Marilyn said before turning to the other three. "Come along now, you three. Let's head upstairs so we can get started on your homework. Then, we can head outside and play."
"Alright." Eddie said, getting up and walking over to Marilyn.
"Goodbye." Luna and Eldora said as they passed them and followed Marilyn and Eddie upstairs.
"Now." Lilly said, catching Team Rwby's attention. "How can I help you four?"
"Yes. We're looking to meet up with our friend, Jaune Arc. Does he live here?" Weiss asked.
"And is it true that you adopted him and his sisters?" Ruby asked.
"Ah, yes. My dear, sweet little boy, Jaune Munster Arc. Well, I can't really call him little since he was old enough to attend Beacon Academy." Lilly said, smiling. "But yes. He lives here, and Herman and I adopted him and his sisters when they were just babies."
"Oh, that's so sweet of you and Herman." Blake said.
"How old were they?" Yang asked, curious.
"Hmm. I believe the oldest was around seven. And Jaune was four." Lilly answered.
"And did you let them keep their birth last names?" Ruby asked.
"Of course. It was only right that we'd allow them to remember where they came from." Lilly said. "But before we continue, why don't you four sit down and tell me how you know my son."
"Alright." They said, getting slightly annoyed at having to repeat themselves.
"First off. We are huntresses-in-training at Beacon Academy." Weiss said.
"My name is Ruby Rose. And these are my friends/teammates, Blake Belladonna, Weiss Schnee, and my sister, Yang Xiao Long."
"Nice to meet you four. My name is Lilly Munster." Lilly said, smiling.
"And we know your son from our time at Beacon Academy." Blake said.
"While we might not have been as close to Jaune as he was with his teammates, we were still friends. Unfortunately, we lost contact after he got expelled, and he lost his scroll." Weiss said.
"That's why we came to visit Jaune and check on him since we were worried for him and wanted to see him again." Yang said.
"Oh, how sweet. I'm glad Jaune made some great friends, especially since he didn't have any when he was younger." Lilly said. "But what about his teammates? Why didn't they come?"
"It's a bit of a story. But to keep it short, they don't know we're visiting." Blake said.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You see, Mrs. Munster. They are great friends with Jaune but don't know where he lives. We learned that Jaune might live here by... pure chance and luck. So, we decided to check it out to see if it was true. And if it is, which it is, we'll bring them here to visit once they are free as a surprise. That way, they can be reunited again and can visit any chance they have." Weiss explained.
"Oh, how sweet. It sure is hard to find friends like you. And true friends should never be separated."
"It sure is. That's why we are glad to have met him since he is so nice." Ruby said.
"He sure is. Just like his adoptive father." Lilly said before sighing. "But, unfortunately, that makes it so easy for people to take advantage of him."
"Unfortunately. And it also makes him easy to pick on, which did happen. Luckily, his Team and we had his back." Yang said.
"Thank you. This world is so full of nasty people. That's one of the reasons why I didn't want him to go to Beacon since I knew he would get hurt somehow or taken advantage of."
"Then why did you let him go when he wasn't ready, and you were against it?" Weiss asked.
"That's because it was his dream. Jaune wanted to attend Beacon so he could protect others. Not only that, but once Jaune learned that his birth father was also a great huntsman, he wanted to follow in his footsteps and live up to his legacy. I just didn't have the heart to stop him."
"Didn't you try to change his mind?" Yang asked.
"Herman and I did lots of times. We even told Jaune that he didn't have to live up to his birth father's legacy. And that the only legacy that mattered was the one he set for himself. But Jaune said that he wanted to be someone who protected others to be his legacy."
"So, you just let him go?" Ruby asked.
"Well, yes and no. We allowed Jaune to attend to Beacon on a few conditions. The first was that he would come home if he suffered any grievous injury. The second was that he would find someone who would train him as soon as possible and unlock his aura. And the third and most important thing was to always remember that we would welcome him back no matter what happens."
"That's reasonable." Yang said.
"Did you know about his forged transcripts?" Blake asked.
"Of course. We know the process of becoming a huntsman is long, and due to events, he simply couldn't start from an early age. So, against our better judgment, we called up an old family who had a knack for creating fake papers and had him make one for Jaune." Lilly answered.
"Well, this might not be the most normal of families, but at least we know that Jaune is part of a family that fully supports and cares for him." Weiss whispered, with the others agreeing.
"And that he cares for greatly as well. I remember him always talking about how he loved his family and would do anything for them." Yang whispered back.
"Oh, where are my manners? Would you all like some tea to drink? I have a kettle of water boiling on the stove. Or perhaps some coffee?" Lilly asked, standing up.
"We would like some tea, thank you, Mrs. Munster." Weiss answered.
"Lovely. I would have that out in a moment." Lilly said. "And once I return, I can answer any other questions you have."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Muster." Weiss said.
"Why, it's no problem at all." Lilly said, smiling before leaving.
"Well, this is certainly an experience." Yang said.
"And the lady wasn't lying when they said the family looked like a graverobber stole them from a morgue. Well, except for Lilly." Blake said.
"But she was also right that they are really nice and friendly." Ruby said.
"Still, we should probably warn Team NPR about them so they don't get the wrong idea." Yang said.
"True." Ruby said.
"But speaking of Team NPR, should we tell Jaune that we're going to bring them around next time?" Blake asked.
"Yes and no. Let's just tell him we're going to bring someone next time we're visiting." Wiess answered.
"Alright."
"Should we also bring Velvet? I mean, she was devastated when she learned that Jaune was expelled." Ruby asked.
"Not yet. Maybe after Team NPR." Weiss answered.
"I'm still surprised that she and Jaune became such fast friends. Granted, that could be because Jaune stood up to Cardin and stopped him from bullying her. And they do share two classes together." Yang said.
"She might get scared from the house. But then she might take some pictures." Ruby said.
"We might need to also tell Coco about this. You know how protective Coco is of her girlfriend." Blake reminded.
"Right. We don't want to cause any trouble." Weiss said.
*BANG*
"WHAT IN OUM'S NAME IS THAT?" Blake asked as the room shook from what they could only assume was an explosion that came from a bomb.
"I don't know. But it can't be good." Ruby said.
"Do you think the town is under attack?" Yang asked.
"Or could the Grimm be attacking?" Blake asked.
"I doubt either of them. But it sounded real close. We should check it out." Weiss said.
"Right. Let's check it out and-" Ruby began as they got up. But before they could leave, they stopped when they heard another door open up nearby. Turning around, they saw a trap door opening up with an older person climbing up some steps while coughing as smoke surrounded him. And from the burn marks, they could tell that he was working on whatever caused the explosion.
*COUGH* *COUGH* "Oh. They just don't make those toad eyes like they used to." The man said, sounding annoyed.
"Um. Are you okay?" Ruby asked, catching the man's attention. And once he saw them, he smiled.
"Oh, company. I just love company." The man said, laughing. "Ah. Don't mind me. I was just working on an experiment."
"What kind of experiment?" Yang asked, wondering if they were in the presence of some kind of mad scientist.
"Oh, it was an experiment to create a potion that would give people who don't have aura a protective layer of skin that would protect them from some harm. But as it turns out, not having fresh, pure toad eyes will lead to an explosion all the time when you mix them with nightingale tongue in liquid form."
"Uh. Nightingale tongue?" Weiss asked.
"Pure toad eye?" Blake asked.
"Oh, just some basic ingredients for magic and potions." The man said. "But tell me. What brings you here to the Munster's home?"
"Well-" Ruby began, but she was cut off when Lilly and Marilyn returned.
"Grandpa. What was that explosion?" Lilly asked.
"Just some failed experiment. I really should get a new supplier. He has been sending me only expired or cheap imitations of the items I need." The man said.
"Are you four okay?" Marilyn asked Team Rwby.
"Yes. We're fine." Ruby answered.
"We just got a bit of a shock when the house shook." Yang said.
"Does that happen?" Blake asked.
"And has this town ever been attacked?" Weiss asked.
"More than we would like to admit with Grandpa's experiments." Marilyn answered.
"But aside from that one weird time when some strange creatures attacked some nearby farms, this town has never been on the receiving end of an attack. Nor have we ever attacked another place as we are a peaceful town." Lilly answered.
"What strange creatures?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, just some experiments gone wrong that some mad scientists from the Old Country accidentally lost control of. Luckily, they managed to recover them before they caused too much destruction."
"And they were brought back to the Old Country. I even flew back and helped them to ensure it would never happen again." The older man said before laughing. "But I did have to buy a ticket for a bullhead since the rheumatism in my wings started acting up again. I should probably make something for that."
"Rheumatism?" Ruby asked, confused.
"Any disease marked by inflammation and pain in the joints or muscles. Basically, think of it as a broader form of Arthritis." Weiss explained.
"Ah. Thanks, Weiss."
"Anyway. Why are you four here again?" The older man asked.
"Grandpa. These four young ladies are Jaune's friends from Beacon Academy. They come to check in on him since he got expelled from Beacon." Lilly answered.
"Oh, that's nice. It's always good to have some friends that care about you." Grandpa said. "But uh. Why didn't you just call or visit earlier?"
"That's because Jaune lost his scroll shortly before being expelled, so we couldn't contact him." Blake answered.
"And we would have been here sooner, but schoolwork got in the way." Weiss lied.
"Oh, that's alright. Better later than never, I always say." Grandpa said before laughing. "Anyway. Ol' Jauney boy should be here soon. He just got off work about an hour ago."
"What kind of work does Jaune do?" Yang asked.
"Jaune's a cruise ship welder." Marilyn answered.
"A cruise ship welder?" Weiss asked, surprised.
"Yup. My grandson is a cruise ship welder at Mockingbird Heights's Westside port." Grandpa said.
"But that is just a temporary job." Marilyn said.
"Temporary job?" Ruby asked, curious.
"You see, dears. Jaune has been taking courses to become a nurse. That's why he predominantly works on weekends." Lilly answered.
"But he does sometimes work on weekdays if he has enough time." Marilyn added.
"Wait. Doesn't it take years to become a licensed medical professional?" Blake asked.
"It depends on the field. For a doctor, oh, they have to study for years for it. But to be a nurse takes a lot less time. It's still rather difficult, though. Yet, I know Jaune can do it. And if all goes according to plan, he would be a registered nurse in about two years." Grandpa explained.
"Doesn't he have to take a few extra courses?" Weiss asked.
"He does. But the school he's going to has it. And he's almost done with it."
"Well, it looks like Vomit Boy is going to achieve his dream of helping and protecting others, just in a different way." Yang said.
"Vomit Boy?" Lilly asked, confused.
"Oh, right. You see, Jaune, I, and Ruby first met on the bullhead heading to Beacon. But Jaune suffered from his motion sickness and ended up throwing up on my shoes, which earned him that nickname. Don't worry, though. It's not to insult him or anything like that. It's all in good fun. Jaune even joined in later on."
"That's good. As long as both parties agree to it and it's for good, clean fun." Lilly said.
"But I thought Jaune no longer suffered from motion sickness because of Grandpa's pills?" Marilyn asked.
"Unfortunately, their effects wore off a week before he went to Beacon. And the new ingredients I needed to create the potion didn't arrive until a month after." Grandpa explained. "But wait. Doesn't he take those motion sickness pills I gave him?"
"He does sometimes." Ruby said.
"But our lovable goofball of a knight sometimes forgets to take them." Yang said.
"And he would have forgotten them almost all the time if it weren't for his partner." Blake said.
"Honestly, Pyrrha, his partner, was like his guardian angel. And the one who trained him and unlocked his aura." Weiss said.
"Oh, how sweet." Lilly said, smiling. "Grandpa. Marilyn. Remind me to weave up something for Jaune's partner as a way to thank her for keeping an eye on my son."
"If you want, we can send you some information about her so you have an idea of what to make her or know what you need to do to make it work." Blake said.
"I would appreciate it that. But if you would be so kind, can you write it down on this piece of paper? That way, I can keep it safe." Lilly said.
"Of course." Weiss said as she took the paper and quill. While she was surprised they used a quill and not a pen or paper, she was still able to write down everything with no trouble. "There."
"Thank you, dear." Lilly said before remembering something. "Oh, shoot. The tea. I'll be right back."
"Want me to help you, Aunt Lilly?" Marilyn asked.
"Yes. That way, we can bring everything in one go." Nodding, they left the room.
"Now. Why don't you all sit down? It's much better sitting down than standing while waiting for Jaune to arrive." Grandpa said as he moved to sit in his chair.
"Um. Is that a real electric chair?" Blake asked, worried.
"Yup. I got it at a prison surplus store."
"Then... shouldn't you not sit in it unless you want to get electrocuted?" Weiss asked.
"Don't worry about that. I get electrocuted all the time, and the worst that I had ever felt afterward was lightheaded. And even then, you don't have to worry since it has been years since this thing has been plugged in. I turned it off when we adopted Jaune and his siblings."
"That's good."
"But can I ask you a question?" Yang asked.
"Well, technically, you just did." Grandpa said before laughing. "Sure. Go ahead."
"You said you were making an experiment, right?"
"I sure was. Even though it didn't go so well."
"Has Jaune ever made experiments with you?"
"Oh, yes. All the time. But I make sure to only include him when the experiments or projects have a high chance of success and won't end up hurting him if they fail."
"That's nice." Ruby said as Lilly and Marilyn returned with the tea and some biscuits for everyone.
"All right. Here it is. But do be careful; it is still a little hot." Lilly said as she and Marilyn handed everyone some tea and biscuits.
"What kind of tea is this, Mrs. Munster?" Weiss asked, eyeing her cup as the liquid bubbled.
"Glowfoot tea. It's a delicacy back in the Old Country."
"And what kind of biscuits are these?" Blake asked, looking at the strange black... things that were in it.
"They are Biscotti with nightbody nuts." Marilyn answered. "They have such a sweet taste and nice crunch."
"Enjoy." Lilly said before pouring herself a cup.
Team Rwby looked at each other before taking a tentative sip of their tea. But to their surprise, it tasted a lot like hot cinnamon spice tea but with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Curious, they tried the Biscotti and loved the crunch of it. And while it wasn't sweet like Marilyn said they were, it did have a nice crunch. The taste also got rid of the bitter aftertaste of the tea. However, they all nearly jumped when they heard loud banging again.
"Was that another of your experiments?" Ruby asked, causing Grandpa to laugh.
"Don't be ridiculous. That's just the front door." Grandpa answered.
"I'll get it." Lilly said, getting up and walking to the front door.
"I wonder who it is." Weiss said.
"Perhaps Jaune." Blake said.
"Afternoon, all." A new voice answered.
Turning to it, Team Rwby nearly dropped their cups when they saw a roughly 213 cm tall man walking toward them. He had green skin, bolts sticking out of his neck, and a 'beauty mark' that was in the shape of a bolt of lightning on his forehead. One of his eyes was brown, while the other was chartreuse. He had messy black hair, and the top of his head was flatter than an ironing board while stitches covered his wrists. The man was wearing a black suit jacket with a black shirt underneath and black suit pants. But what confused the girls was the 5-inch asphalt-spreader boots he was wearing. All in all, the man was not only strange but slightly terrifying despite his warm, smiling expression.
"And a good afternoon to you four young ladies." The man said before laughing.
"Uh. G-good afternoon, sir." Ruby timidly said.
"G-good afternoon." The others said, setting down their drinks so they wouldn't accidentally spill them.
"What do we owe the pleasure of having you four in our house?" The man said.
"Herman, dear. These four ladies are some friends our son, Jaune, made at Beacon. They're here to check in on him and see how he's doing and to reunite after he got expelled from Beacon." Lilly explained.
"Oh. Goody." Herman said before turning to Lilly and Grandpa. "You know, Lilly. Grandpa. I am glad Jaune finally made some good, quality friends. I was beginning to get worried. While spending time with his siblings is fine, our son needed friends of his own to socialize. And thankfully, he did."
"Just wait until he meets the rest of Team NPR." Blake said.
"Especially Pyrrha." Ruby added.
"I'm pretty sure they might think they are a couple already." Weiss said.
"That wouldn't surprise me. They already act like one at times, especially with how Pyrrha dotes on him." Yang said.
"That's true. Having friends is really important." Lilly said.
"Yes, siree. Friends are something that everyone should have. That and it is the only cure to loneliness outside of getting into a relationship." Grandpa said.
"Speaking of which, Grandpa. Did you feed the fish yet?" Herman asked.
"Not yet. Let me do that now." Grandpa said before making his way to a fish tank.
"I don't see any fish in there." Ruby said.
"Oh, he's in there." Lilly said.
"He's just shy." Marilyn added.
"Then, why is he picking up a rib eye on the bone?" Yang asked.
"That's just what it eats. Come and get it." Grandpa said before placing it in the fish tank. And to Team Rwby's shock, the water in the fish tank started bubbling violently. After a moment, Grandpa pulled the bone out of the water to reveal that it was picked clean of meat. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's an amazing appetite for a goldfish."
"I-I thought it was a piranha for a moment." Ruby said.
"That's just a misconception. Piranhas don't eat meat like that." Weiss said.
"B-but, regardless, I think I will stay away from goldfish... forever." Blake said, eyes wide in shock and fear.
"Oh, dear. Where is Jaune?" Lilly asked.
"He's outside. He's just parking the koach. I've been having him practice for his upcoming driver's test by having him drive around the block and park in front." Herman answered. "He should be inside in a moment."
"I didn't know Jaune knew how to drive." Ruby said.
"Oh, he does. Grandpa and I taught him a while back. That way, he could help should anything happen."
"That's right. We figured we would teach Jaune how to drive early on. And he, indeed, is becoming an excellent driver. The only reason he is taking the test is so he can drive legally and get his ID." Grandpa said.
"Does he have a car?" Yang asked, curious. If he did, then that would be a great way for them to bond as friends outside of Beacon and classes. She could even help him modify his car to his liking. While Yang might not be as savvy as a trained mechanic, she did know her way around vehicles. After all, she's worked on Bumblebee numerous times.
"Not yet. But his birthday is coming up soon. And we're planning on surprising him with one." Marilyn answered.
"What kind of car are you getting him?" Blake asked.
"An Astra Militarum Shadowsword. Astra Militarum is the name of the company/car manufacturer, by the way." Herman answered.
"I never heard of them." Weiss said.
"Well, that's because the company is a local company that's still relatively new." Grandpa explained.
"And the Shadowsword? What kind of car is that?" Ruby asked.
"Think of it as a rugged car that won't let anything slow it down and will make sure the driver gets to where they need to go." Marilyn answered.
"Granted, it's more of a truck than a car. But I'm sure Jaune will love it." Herman said.
"I'll love what?" Jaune asked as he entered the room. But he became shocked when he saw Team Rwby sitting in the living room. "Well, this is a nice surprise."
"JAUNE!" Ruby shouted before running up to him and giving him a hug.
"Hey, Ruby. How are you doing?" Jaune asked, chuckling, as he returned the hug.
"A bit lonely without you at Beacon."
"I missed you too." Jaune said, smiling. And while being reminded of Beacon did sting a little, he was just glad to see his friends again.
"We all missed our favorite Vomit Boy." Yang teased.
"And I missed hearing your terrible puns, Yang."
"Hey. I'll let you know my puns are top-tier."
"Sure they are. How have you been, Yang? Just Yanging in there?"
"Nice pun, Arc. But puns are my shtick." Yang said, smirking before moving to wrap her arm around Jaune's shoulders. "But I have been fine. I did miss hanging out with you."
"Same." Jaune said, smiling, as he wrapped his arm around Yang while making sure not to accidentally damage her hair.
"Hello, Ar-I mean, Jaune." Weiss said, smiling.
"Hey, Weiss. How are you?"
"I am fine, Jaune. A bit tired from the trip, but fine nonetheless."
"That's good. How's Beacon life?"
"Tiring. The teachers have been giving us a lot of schoolwork and almost no time for ourselves. Plus, the paperwork I have to help Ruby file is just absurd."
"Yeah. It's ridiculous." Ruby said.
"Tell me about it. I had to do my team's paperwork. And it's just going to get worse since they're going to push more of it on you when you become second-year students." Jaune said.
"Ah. How much paperwork are you talking about, Jaune?" Grandpa asked, curious.
"Let me put it like this. You know how difficult it is to get back into your skin after getting scared out of it?"
"Yes."
"Now, imagine having to do that a thousand times a day. You would prefer to do that than all the paperwork they give us."
"Oh, my." Marilyn said, shocked.
"N-Now, that's a lot. It's almost inhumane." Herman said, equally shocked.
"Doesn't the headmaster of that Academy know it's important for the children to have time for themselves to recover and grow?" Lilly asked.
"I want to say yes, but I'm not sure, to be honest." Jaune answered.
"Does he even give you pointers to do it or offer help since, while I know you know how to do some paperwork, not everyone else does?" Grandpa asked.
"Nope. They just shove it onto each team's leader and expect them to know how to do it. I had to look up a few videos on Dusttube to figure some of them out."
"Hmm. It seems like they want to burn out the students so they can fail."
"It seems like it." Jaune said before turning back to Weiss. "Anything else happened at Beacon?"
"Well, technically, yes. But nothing interesting, really. The only exciting thing that happened was Beacon receiving some new training bots from Atlas. But that meant some new paperwork I had to help Ruby with."
"But speaking of helping Ruby. Are you still helping them with their studies and making sure they don't put everything off until the last minute?" Jaune asked, smirking, as Yang and Ruby pouted.
"Yup. I'm sure these two would be borderline failing without my help." Weiss said, smirking, as Yang and Ruby stuck their tongues out at her. "But I'm happy to help them since they have helped me so much in other ways."
"That's good." Jaune said as they shook hands. He then turned to Blake. "Hey, Blake."
"Hey, Jaune." Blake said, awkwardly smiling.
"How have you been?"
"I've been fine, Jaune. Nothing really interesting has happened on my end."
"Are you still reading those books?"
"Well, rereading since I already read them a while back. But yes. I'm just waiting for the next book in the series to come out."
"Hopefully, it comes out soon."
"Hopefully."
"Well... that was somewhat awkward." Marilyn said.
"Well, that's because, despite being friends, Blake and I haven't interacted much during our time at Beacon." Jaune explained.
"Makes sense. Not everyone is as close with people as others are. Like me and some of my 167 wives." Grandpa said, surprising Team Rwby.
"But hopefully, that would change soon." Blake said, genuinely smiling.
"Hopefully." Jaune said, smiling.
"This is a nice sight. We'll leave you four alone so all of you can catch up. Come along now, Herman and Grandpa." Lilly said, with Grandpa and Herman following her out of the living room and toward the kitchen.
"We missed you, Jaune." Ruby said, with the others agreeing.
"And I missed you four as well." Jaune said, chuckling.
"So, how have you been since... you left Beacon?" Yang asked as they guided Jaune to the couch and sat down.
"Well, I was a bit sad for a week since it was my dream to become a huntsman. But I got over it with my sisters' and brother's help. And as they said, Oum works in mysterious ways. This could just be his way of guiding me to what I'm meant to do."
"That's one way to look at it." Blake said.
"We heard you're working as a cruise ship welder." Weiss said.
"Yup. I'm working as a cruise ship welder at Mockingbird Heights Port. It's a bit tough and messy, but it pays well for the hours."
"I can imagine. But I have to ask." Yang said, smirking.
"Ask what?" Jaune asked, curious.
"Do you work without a shirt on? I bet some people would love to see you work like that. You know, flexing your slowly developing muscles like that."
"No, Yang." Jaune said. "I wear protective clothing. You might not know it, but the sparks from welding are quite painful when they land on your exposed skin, even with aura. All it takes is for one or two sparks to land on you for you to always wear protective gear."
"True." Yang said, chuckling.
"Who taught you how to weld, Jaune?" Ruby asked.
"A mentor. I forgot her name. A program at one of my schools taught us how to weld and do other things. I signed up out of curiosity, and she taught me everything I knew. But that was a while ago." Jaune answered. "And I got this job because one of the people in charge recognized me from the program. He gave me a test, which I passed, earning me a position there."
"That's good. At least you have some income now." Weiss said.
"But is it true that you are also studying to become a nurse?" Blake asked.
"Yup. While being a welder is nice, and the income is decent, it's not enough to survive off alone. But also because being a nurse is another way I can help people. I've also been told I have a knack for helping people in need. Although, not in the sense of being in danger from the Grimm or anything like that." Jaune explained.
"I can see that. You always had this way of helping people outside of combat when they needed it. And you always knew what to say to make them know that everything was going to be okay." Yang said.
"Thanks, Yang."
"So what else has been happening since you... left Beacon?" Ruby asked.
"Well, aside from the classes and work, not much. I did hang out with my sisters and my brother, Eddie."
"What is Eddie anyway, if you don't mind me asking?" Weiss asked.
"He's my brother. But I get what you mean. He is a Dhampir werewolf. And that's just a fancy way of saying a werewolf that was born from a vampire and a human. But the werewolf part comes from Lilly's side of the family. She's also a vampire."
"Oh."
"So, Herman is the... human part, right?" Blake asked.
"Y... yes. Herman was created by a scientist called Victor Frankenstein. He is technically human because they made him of human body parts, but he is also a creation." Jaune answered.
"And your grandfather?" Ruby asked.
"Grandpa is a vampire and a mad scientist. His name is Count Vladimir "Sam" Dracula."
"You certainly have a... unique family, Jaune." Weiss said, choosing her words carefully.
"You can just say it, Weiss. I don't mind, and neither do my sisters. Our adoptive family is quite strange. But that's just because of where they are from. And despite their unique quirks, they are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet."
"Yeah. Strange is an understatement, but they really are friendly." Yang said.
"How is Marilyn connected to this family?" Ruby asked.
"And is she a vampire too?" Blake asked.
"No, she's human. Marilyn is Lilly's niece. They adopted her when her parents died." Jaune answered.
"That's really sweet of them." Weiss said.
"What was it like growing up with them?" Yang asked, curious.
"A bit strange, but great. They were strict but very fair." Jaune answered, smiling fondly at the memories of growing up with the Munsters.
"I guess it was quite different than how others were raised, right?" Blake asked.
"Oh, yeah. It was quite different. Granted, I thought ours was normal, and the other kids were strange."
"That must have been quite a shock when you realized it was the other way around." Weiss said.
"Oh, yes. It was." Jaune chuckled. "And while it took us some time to adjust, it didn't matter in the end. We loved our family and wouldn't trade it for anything. But we did have to remember that ours was different so as not to confuse others."
"Did you ever make anything with your grandfather in his lab?" Ruby asked.
"A few times. But they were all pills to help with something. Nothing extreme or dangerous."
"But how about a creation?" Yang asked.
"Well... twice. Yeah. Twice, I made a creation. The first time, I made a snail that could glow like a disco ball. The second time, I made a fly that could turn into other insects. Unfortunately, it transformed into a Mayfly. And those have short lifespans. It died in the next hour. Again, I never made anything dangerous or extreme."
"Well, your grandfather seems like he didn't want you to get hurt. So, it makes sense." Blake said.
"But what happened to your snail?" Weiss asked.
"Oh, he's dead. Somehow, I made an old, small snail. And snails typically live up to fifteen years. So, he died within the next few years." Jaune answered before remembering something. "Oh, how's my team doing? I haven't been able to contact them or write them since I was so busy and still waiting for my new scroll, which should be here in two weeks."
"Your team is doing fine." Blake answered.
"Except for Pyrrha, who seems to be close to having a meltdown from all the paperwork she has to do." Ruby said.
"Yeah. I might have helped her by organizing everything and making a few example sheets that she could go off, but it is still a lot." Jaune said. "I do miss them, though."
"They miss you as well, Jaune." Weiss said.
"Just as we missed you." Yang said.
"Thanks. But can you guys do me a favor?" Jaune asked.
"Sure." Weiss said.
"What is it?" Ruby asked.
"When you four return to Beacon, can you tell them that I am okay, I miss them, and that I will contact them as soon as I can?" Jaune said.
"Of course, Jaune." Yang said, smiling.
"Thanks."
"But now, can you tell us some adventures you had while growing up with the Munsters?" Ruby asked.
"Sure. We had quite a few adventures."
"Were they ever dangerous?" Weiss asked.
"Some were dangerous. But most weren't."
"Would you mind if I write them down? I'll change the names around if you want to remain anonymous." Blake asked.
"Sure. You can write it down, Blake. Just change the names; we don't want to draw any... unsavory attention to us."
"I will. Thanks."
"So, what story are you going to tell us, Jaune?" Ruby excitedly asked.
"Let's see." Jaune said, racking his head for a few moments before snapping his fingers. "I got it."
"What is it?" Yang asked, curious.
"We call it Mummy Munster. Marilyn was at the museum for a school project, and Lilly told Herman to pick her up. But he had just taken a sleeping pill the grandpa made him that would put him to sleep at a certain time. However, by the time Herman got to the museum, it was too late. He tried to call home by using what he thought was a phone booth. But it was a sarcophagus, which he ended up trapped inside and falling asleep in. Then, we had to go and rescue him before the archeologists ship him to Atlas for further study."
"Oh, you have to tell us how that ended."
"Alright. It started like any other day. However, Herman had trouble sleeping again, so he asked Grandpa to make him something so he could sleep."
Two Hours Later
"Thanks again for the refreshments, Mrs. Munster." Weiss said, bowing.
"You're quite welcome, dear." Lilly said.
"It was nice seeing you again, Jaune." Ruby said.
"It was great seeing you four, too." Jaune said.
"You still have our numbers, right?" Yang asked.
"Yes. Because you wrote them down for me so I don't forget." Jaune said, holding up the piece of paper.
"Good. And as soon as you get your new scroll, call us so we can talk. But if you don't, we're coming back here, got it?" Yang asked.
"Got it." Jaune chuckled.
"Thanks for the stories, Jaune." Blake said.
"You're welcome, Blake."
"Do come back and visit again now." Lilly said.
"Goodbye." Herman said, waving.
"Goodbye." Grandpa, Marilyn, Eddie, Luna, and Eldora said.
"Goodbye." Team Rwby said as Lilly closed the door. They turned around and exited the property, and headed to the bullheads.
"They were nice." Ruby said.
"A little strange and weird, but nice nonetheless." Weiss said.
"But, honestly, they might be "Monsters" by other people's standards, yet they seem more human and down to Remnant than others." Blake said.
"True. And it was nice seeing Jaune again." Yang said, with the others agreeing.
"Yeah. It was. Hopefully, we can visit again soon." Ruby said.
"We have to. Jaune said that he would be getting his new scroll soon. And if we are going to keep it a surprise for Team NPR, we need to bring them here next week." Blake said.
"What should we tell them, though?" Yang asked.
"Perhaps we could tell them that we found a place with great deals for our weapons but need to make an account in person to shop there. Something like that, but we have today and tomorrow to come up with a convincing lie. But we have to tell them soon so they can clear their schedule." Weiss said.
"True, especially for Pyrrha since she has paperwork to do and needs to deal with her sponsors." Ruby said.
"Should we tell Jaune's family about this? That way, they can be prepared." Blake asked.
"I think that's a good idea. I'll run back-" Yang began, turning around. But before she could make the three-block trek to the Munster's house, she froze.
"Uh. Yang? What's wrong?" Weiss asked.
"I-I think I... we should head to Beacon and get ourselves checked out. We can mail them a letter instead." Yang stuttered.
"Why? What happened, Yang?" Blake asked, worried.
"I'm not sure what was in the tea or biscuits. But I think I just saw Neo walking up to the Munster's residence while walking a giant dragon, like it was a dog. And in her hand was a leash that was connected to the collar the dragon was wearing."
"Yeah. I think we should get ourselves checked out. While I don't think Mrs. Munster would purposely put something in the refreshments that would harm us, something is not sitting well with us." Weiss said.
"Possibly. Let's head back to Beacon and have Peach check us out." Ruby said. Nodding, they helped Yang back to the bullheads, hoping it was nothing.
Meanwhile
With The Munsters
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
"Ah. Neo. Roman. You're both back. Thanks again for walking Spot and grabbing some groceries for us." Lilly said after opening the door.
"No problem, Mrs. Munster. May we come in?" Roman asked.
"Of course. Of course." Lilly said, opening the doors before stepping inside."
"Thank you kindly."
"Come on, Spot. Back into your room." Lilly said as Spot entered his dungeon through the stairs. "Now, did you enjoy your walk with Neo?"
*ROOOOAAAAARRRR*
"That's good." Lilly said as the entrance closed. "Was Spot any trouble?"
'No. He was good. He did eat a manhole cover on the way back, though.' Neo signed.
"Oh. Hopefully, that doesn't spoil his appetite. But speaking of that. Roman. Neo. Care to join us for dinner? We're having Grim Thunder Critter soup."
"Sounds delicious. Do you need some help?" Roman asked.
"Some help would be lovely."
'Where's Jaune?' Neo signed.
"He's in the living room, doing his homework. But do be quiet if you're going to stay there. He needs to concentrate for an upcoming test. And Herman and Grandpa are in the basement, helping Luna and Eldora with a science project for school."
'Alright.' Neo signed. However, as soon as she stepped foot in the living room, an annoying voice spoke.
"AARRGH. Oh, look who it is. Santa's lost elf and the failed fashion fopaux." The Raven in the clock mocked. But it retreated back inside the clock just in time to avoid being struck by Neo's weapon.
"Ugh. If there's anything I can't stand, it's a big mouth raven." Lilly said.
"That bird better watch itself; otherwise, it might end up as chicken soup." Roman growled.
"It might one day. Anyway. Let's go finish making dinner, Roman." Lilly said.
"Right." Roman said before following Lilly to the kitchen.
With them gone, Neo turned around and saw Jaune sitting on the couch, listening to music through headphones as he did his homework. Smirking, she walked over to him and looked over his shoulder to see what he was doing. Neo stayed like that for a few moments. And it paid off as a moment later, Jaune turned his head and nearly jumped out of his skin when he came face-to-face with her.
"NEO!" Jaune gasped. "Don't do that."
'What are you working on?'
"Just some homework. Then I'll be studying for an upcoming test."
'Think it will be difficult?'
"Yes. But that's normal at this point."
'True. Anyway. Mind some company?'
"Even if I say no, you would stick around." Jaune said, smiling.
'Yup. Don't worry. I'll keep the volume low.' Neo said as she turned on the television. She flipped through a few channels before settling on a movie called Gun Crazy. Feeling like it would be a good movie to pass the time, Neo put down the remote and got comfy. And no sooner than she did, Kitty moved onto her lap and let out a lion's roar before getting comfortable. The strange sight caused Jaune to chuckle.
'We sure are a strange family with unconventional pets and surprising friends.' Jaune mentally chuckled. But he became mildly concerned a second later. 'I just hope Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren can handle my family if they ever get a chance to meet them.'
Notes:
Couldn't sleep. Stayed up watching the Munsters and this idea came to mind.