An Alternate Method
RWBY w/ Gonna Be the Twin-Tail elements
Jaune Arc / Thoearle / Others TBD
Having to "Withdraw" from Beacon due to outside pressures in regards to his transcripts; Jaune is forced to abandon his dream of being a hero. Or at least that was what he thought until he has an altercation with a grey haired woman; with an offer. Will this alternate method allow him to live his dream, or is he bound for further disappointment.
(Contains Henshin : male to female)
/==/
Jaune was a little creeped out. The small, quaint noodle house was nearing its closing time, and Jaune had been left on his own to do the shut down. Now normally the place would be empty at this time of night, but tonight however there was one other person there with him. She sat at a corner table, apparently engrossed with something on her tablet; but Jaune noticed her repeated glances at him. The woman's deep blue eyes, caused him to shiver. There was a look to them, that made Jaune just fee uncomfortable. However it was closing time, and as much as he would have liked to avoid the strange woman, he had a job to do.
"Miss?"
"Hummm," She looked up from her tablet and gave Jaune a smile. Her pretty face framed by a purely gorgeous mane of silvery white hair. "Yes?"
"It's closing time." Jaune swallowed as he watched the woman's eyes judging him, "I'm afraid..."
"You have nothing to be afraid of, I assure you; I'm quite harmless" she cut in.
"No, that's not... ah," Jaune sighed, "We're closing. I have to ask you to leave."
"Oh... OH!" She covered her mouth with a delicate hand."I'm so sorry."
"It's alright. But you still need to leave. I have to lock up the shop for the night."
"Alright." she giggled again, though Jaune noticed the lightness of the sound didn't touch her eyes. He shivered. He couldn't place the look, but it definitely made him feel uncomfortable."I'm sorry for keeping you."
"It's okay Miss..."
"Thoearle." she cut in.
"Ah, ooookkkkaaaayyyyy." Jaune took an involuntary step back. She was definitely giving off some weird vibes. "Miss Thoearle, it's okay. You just lost track of time, I'm sure. But we are closing so please..."
"I knew exactly what time it was." she commented. "I was waiting for you to approach me."
"Say what?"
"I said, I was waiting for you to approach me."
"Why?" Jaune stammered, as he almost gave into the voice in the back of his head telling him to get away from her.
"I have an offer for you." she gave him a slightly disturbing smile.
"I'm not sure I want what you are offering."
"But you don't know what it is." she said while her face dropped into an almost adorable pout.
"That makes me afraid of what it could be, and even the more sure I don't want it." Jaune took a step backwards, "It's not that your not beautiful, and a lovely person; but I'm sure..."
Her almost hysterical laughter caused Jaune's shoulders to drop, and his face to go slack. It was in that instant he knew he had totally misread the situation, and once again made an utter fool of himself. It was Beacon all over again. She continued for a good five minutes, causing Jaune's self image to further deteriorate.
"Please just go." Jaune stated flatly. He wanted this Thoearle to be gone. He wanted to be alone, he had his job to finish, and he had homework to complete for class tomorrow.
"I'm sorry." Thoearle wheezed, as she wiped tears from her eyes.
"So am I. I have to close up."
"I still have something to offer you." she countered, "And I'm willing to sweeten the deal... if your interested."
"But... but... you just..."
"I'll admit it was funny at first thought, but now... " she wiggled her eyebrows and gave him a saucy smirk, while also taking a step towards him, "I find the thought of it invigorating."
"There is something wrong with you. I mean seriously..."
"The only thing wrong..." Thoearle closed the gap between them, thrusting her bountiful chest towards his face, "... is that you're not taking advantage of the opportunities right in front of you."
"I think I need an adult."
"I'm an adult, let me take care of you."
"Okay. We are closed. Please leave. I have top clean up, and..."
"Do you want to be a hero?"
"What?"
"I asked if you want to be a hero. I can make you into a hero."
"I did, but that was a dream... wait how did you..."
"I can see it in you." she interrupted, before he could finish his question. "I can see the yearning in you to be more than what you are. The desire you want to fulfill. I can help you do that... IF you accept my offer."
"No, no. I tried. I wasn't and I wont be..."
"You can."
"What makes you think I can? How can I?" Jaune was now getting frustrated. He just wanted the night to end, so he could go back to his crappy first floor one bedroom apartment and move on with the wave of disappointments his life was quickly becoming filled with. "I tried. I was in beacon, I was training, but it wasn't enough. I'll never be a huntsman."
Thoearle burst, hysterically laughing to the point she was doubled over, holding her stomach and gasping for air.
"What's so funny about..."
"Huntsman... Huntresses... so cute... so adorable..."
"What is your issue? Huntsmen and Huntresses protect Remnant from the grimm. They are heroes!" Jaune took a step forward. "With out them..."
"Stop it! I can't... I can't..."
"I... I... I..." Jaune's brain fizzled. This woman was to random to follow. Too chaotic to make sense of. "Just go. Enough of this..."
"Do... do... do you... do you..." Thoearle was barely able to speak as she sucked in air trying to calm herself. Finally she regained control. "Ahem. Sorry. Now, do you want to be a hero?"
"No." Jaune said flatly. His temper finally coming to its end. "Now go."
"With this." Thoearle pulled a small red bracelet from the pocket of the lab coat like jacket she was wearing. "You can be that hero you dream of being. You can even surpass those huntsman you idolize."
"I... what... how... that..."
"You have the strength in your heart to achieve your dream. With the right tools, you can shape that will, that strength, that desire into true power. This is one of those tools." Thoearle held the red bracelet out to him. "Put it on, and you'll..."
An explosion out in the street startled them both; causing Thoearle to jump forward into Jaune forcing him to reflexively coil his arms around her; his large hands landing on her behind as he took a couple of steps backwards to keep them both from falling.
"So you want the second offer?" Thoearle giggled, as Jaune's face instantly turned crimson as he yanked his hands off her, and stumbled backwards. "You can have... both if you want. Just so you know."
"What is wrong..."
A second explosion, broke them continuing the conversation. Without another word Jaune shouldered past Twoearle; making his rushed way out into the street.
"White Fang." Jaune hissed as he saw the carnage that littered the street. Masked figures moved between storefronts. They were hauling cases and boxes from a store as several other places billowed smoke and flame into the air. Screams of terrified customers, and staff brought his attention from the looters to the small armed group off to one side shoving human and fanus civilians to their knees. "No."
"You are capable of helping them. Put this on and be their hero." Thoearle whispered into his right ear as she reached around his waist and held out the bracelet. "Put it on and concentrate. Will yourself to be a hero, and it will give you the tools to be one."
Without giving it another thought, Jaune grabbed the offered trinket and locked it about his right wrist.
/=/
Pyrrha was miserable, and more than a little moody. It had been almost a month since Jaune had bowed out of Beacon. Word of his transcripts had circulated through the student population, and while the reactions varied from indifference, disinterest, and anger; the result had been Jaune leaving. While some pressure did come from other Beacon students; the real pressure had come from parents. Pyrrha, Ren, Nora and all of RWBY stood by Jaune's side and argued against his expulsion; it didn't matter. Even threats of losing "the Invincible Girl" as an alumni; could not sway the outside pressure.
Loss of prospective students, along with monetary support from influential families; was the final nail in Jaune's case. So he withdrew, preventing Beacon from getting a black eye. Pyrrha didn't know the specifics of the deal, but it didn't matter; in the end Jaune was gone, and JNPR was now without their fearless leader. In protest, JNPR refused to change their name, and blockaded any attempts to insert a fourth into their ranks. It was one of the few times that Pyrrha actually relished using her fame. Though Ren did forward the theory that the Headmaster was only allowing it as a consolation for their loss.
While that was playing on her, the fact that neither she nor any member of her team or for that matter RWBY had heard from Jaune in over a week. Was really the lynch-pin in why the hallways cleared as she made her way from class to her dorm. She missed him, in more than a team mate and partner type of way, and was brutalizing herself for not making a move, when she had the opportunity to do so. Though she knew she could still do it, she hesitated. Jaune had dreamed of being a Huntsman, and that dream had been stolen away. She couldn't flaunt that she was going to be what he wanted to be, not that she would do such a thing on purpose.
Once inside the dorm she dropped her books on her desk and flopped unceremoniously onto her bed. She rolled on to her side and looked at the empty bed next to hers. They had as a team decided to leave it as is. Untouched and waiting for his return. As impossible as it might be, they wouldn't risk not being ready when it did happen. Pulling out her scroll she checked her messages, just in case he had tried to contact her during classes. Like the last seven days there was nothing. She thumbed through her limited list of contacts and let her thumb hover. Below it, marking his contact information was his picture. His goofy, warm welcoming smiling face. She wanted to call him, or even just send him a message, but hesitated. Was his silence, and attempt at forcing them to move on without him?
Swiping up, she made the messaging app close, and tapped the icon to a CCT-Net video app.
"You're such a coward." she muttered to herself, as she started to browse the most recent and trending videos.
She noticed that there was a bevy of shared and starred videos. The thumbnails all varied slightly, but still showed pretty much the same. It was of a strangely armoured young woman with blonde tipped red hair, wore in a set of twin tails. Tapping on one of the videos, Pyrrha opened it up and began to watch the obviously amateurishly recorded video.
/=/
Jaune groaned as his alarm went off, and in his daze he swatted at his scroll for several seconds before making actual contact; and not only shutting of the alarm; but also knocking the device to the floor. Sighing, he rolled over, his arm draping over a soft and warm form. Jaune's deep blue eyes snapped open; he was instantly fully awake, and bolted to a seated position.
"Is it morning already?" came a almost purring voice, that Jaune knew, and didn't want to hear again. "Morning Jaune. You... (YAWN)... going to make use of the second offer now?"
The thud of Jaune's back impacting with the worn carpet of his floor, was her answer.
"Really?" Thoearle asked as she sat up, still in the same outfit that she had been in the other night. "You offer to let me stay with you, and you wont try and take advantage of a willing participant? Are you sure you like women?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I just said, you offered to let me stay with you, as a thank-you for my help last night." She yawned again as she sat up fully and shifted her position so that she was now seated on the edge of the bed as Jaune climbed up from his point of impact with the carpeted floor. "And I am thankful for you letting me sleep here, so thankful that my heart is just a flutter. If you place your hand..."
"No. Not doing that." Jaune cut her off, causing her to pout. "How did I get home? What happened last night? Why is it all a blur?"
"I transported up here after you collapsed; which is an often encountered side effect of first time using Tail-Gear." Thoearle replied as she stretched before standing. "You controlled it marvellously by the way. I've never seen someone take to it so instinctively before."
"What? Tail-Gear?" Jaune gave Thoearle a sideways look, as he made an obvious effort in keeping his distance from her. "What the HELL happened last night?"
"I'll tell you that, and more but first..."
"First?"
"Coffee, or..."
"Or?"
"Pillow talk?" Thoearle gave Jaune a wink.
"I'll go make some coffee." he deadpanned as he turned and left the room for the kitchen.
"Ready, willing, and able Jaune." she called out at his retreating form. "Just remember that. Ready, willing, and able."
"Not. Going. To. Happen." was Jaune's muffled reply from the kitchen.
/=/
Ozpin was in his office watching the holographic screen of his desktop terminal. Behind him and to his left Glynda stood watching the displayed video over his shoulder. Before them played a shaky amateur video of an altercation that happened the night before. Ozpin was concerned, and impressed.
"She appears to be quite strong, and though she is clumsy with her attack execution; it is obvious she has received some training though." commented Glynda as the video ended and Ozpin hit the replay icon. "She could be an asset to the school."
"Very true, however this video is revealing something troubling."
"The White Fang." Glynda offered, "They've never been this forward before."
"True, and while their normal operations are troubling, this development is disturbing." Ozpin added to Glynda's comment. "The additional apparent fact that they are now lashing out at their fellow faunus, as well openly robbing stores..."
"Something has altered the direction of the organization."
"Or someone."
"Surely she wouldn't."
"We both know her agents have been more active as of late." Ozpin's eyes narrowed as he tried towill answers from the short video. "The attack on Amber, and now this radical change in the White Fang's behaviour."
"So what do you propose?"
"We'll need to arrange a meeting with the Circle." replied as a thought started to roll about his head. "And we should make an effort to locate this young woman. With some additional training she would become a valued addition to our forces."
"I have made inquiries with the VPD. They have no further information on her. Eye witness reports seem to indicate that after the confrontation someone else made their presence know and the pair vanished into thin air. The semblance of the second individual?"
"Possible."
"So without any further information how should we proceed?"
"Keep the lines of communication open with the VPD. Offer exclusive huntsman and huntress assistance should it be required." Ozpin once again had the video replay. There was something about the lithe young woman's face that was drawing him to it. "Have Bart scrub the the CCT-Net. Video sites, forums, message boards. See if there as any additional information that can be gleaned."
"Should we bring Qrow back? He could scout Vale for signs of the young woman."
"No. His current assignment is much more important to the bigger picture, than the locating of a young woman."
"Anything else?"
"Prepare an offer."
"Offer? Do you plan to extend Beacon's hospitality to her?"
"I do. Full scholarship." Ozpin's eyes focused on the young woman's facial features. "If we do locate her I want to be prepared."
"Of course."
The pair fell into silence as the Headmaster of Beacon once again replayed the short shaky video. The figure appeared young, maybe around the age of Ms. Rose. She was athletic, and as Glynda had pointed out; she was also trained at least in the basics of unarmed combat. While those were of interest, it was more the face, and the outfit. It appeared as if the young woman was garbed in a type of powered combat armour, and the features of her face reminded him of a recently former student. His mind riffled through options, and memories.
/=/
Jaune sat at his small and cluttered dinning room table. Across from him sat Thoearle. Her version of a tablet expanded and displaying one of the multitude of videos featuring a young woman decimating a squad of White Fang. His mouth hung open, as he easily saw the resemblance between himself and the young woman in the video; in fact he knew that she was him. But as much as the idea of being transformed into a young woman should have bothered him, it in fact didn't. He had taken a cursory gander at her figure and outfit; yes he knew checking out his alternate version of himself seemed pervy, in the end it was the hair that drew all his attention.
Thoearle smiled and chuckled as she knew what the blonde young virile man before her was enamoured with. It was one of the reasons she approached him. His obsession. His all consuming passion for a very specific set of attributes. That love was the fuel that would empower him and his Tail-Gear. It would make him a force of good. It would allow him to be a hero.
"Checking out yourself?" Thoearle chuckled, "That's so inappropriate and naughty!"
"Er...what?" Jaune clued in to the insinuation of Thoearle's statement. His face grew bright crimson, "No... not I wasn't... I..."
"Jaune," Thoearle let her smirk deepen into a knowing smile, "I have been observing you for weeks. I know many, many things about you. So what were you admiring? Your modest but budding breasts? The curve of you hips? Or ..."
"No... I..."
"The glorious mane of crimson streaked blond hair, dancing about your body as you moved?"
"I..."
"You were in Beacon. Studying to be a huntsman; correct?"
"Yes... I was... until..."
"And what did you notice the most, during your stay there? What got your blood pumping, and spurred you on to be better? I know the girls there are super models. They are fertility goddesses made flesh. I can't imagine, a young red blooded male like you not checking them out. Not imagining doing rather risque things with them... or was it something else giving you dreams at night?"
"I..."
"How often did you imagine your partner in a set of twin-tails? Or that Schnee girl you chased after? Or those sisters? I know you Jaune, you can't hide it from me." Thoearle winked at him as she continued, ignoring the cooling cup of coffee before her, "What did you notice first about me?"
"No... I..." Jaune was stammering as his mind tried to come up with a plausible denial.
"You. Want. To. Play. With. My. Hair." Thoearle accentuated each and every single word. "I know you. I've studied you."
The simple phrase "I studied you." should have thrown up red flags in Jaune's mind. It should have made him even more distrustful of the woman before him. But he didn't catch it. His eyes drifted from the paused image on the holographic screen to Thoearle herself, as a slide show of images started to play through his mind. His shoulders dropped, along with his head.
"You love hair. You want to play with it. You want to style it, weave it into complex braids and flowing tails that dance about shoulders. Admit. It."
"Fine." Jaune replied in complete defeat. "I do. I could have sat for hours brushing Pyrrha's gorgeous locks. She would look so becoming in a set of curled twin-tails."
"What about Ruby?"
"Simple ones, tied up with strawberry or cartoon beuwolf barrettes."
"That is why a I chose you."
"Er... what?"
"It was your love of hair, your desire and obsession with twin-tails that signified to me; that you..." Thoearle leaned forward pushing her ample chest up and forward, trying to entice the young man to take a long gander at them. "... have the attribute strength to empower the Tail-Gear. To make it obey you, and serve your needs."
"Okay. Okay, I'll admit I love women's hair, and I can't help but picture every girl I know with a set of twin tails." Jaune was so confused. Being outed for his hidden love, and yet unable to link that love to the power that he felt when he had transformed. "But..."
"I know it's a lot to take in, and even more to understand." Thoearle commented through a pout. She had failed once again to entice the young handsome blond. "But with time it will all start to weave together and make sense. For now, just remember it is your desires and loves that give the ability to empower the Tail-Gear."
"But, why me? I mean there has to be..."
"There are none. I've been on your planet for several months, and no one has the passion that you do in your heart."
"What did you just say?"
"I said no one has the passion..."
"No that other part."
"What other part?"
"The 'I've been on your planet' part." Jaune was lots of things, most noticeably clumsy and dense as lead; however even he couldn't miss the connotations that statement lead to.
"Oh, didn't I mention to you that I'm not from Remnant."
"Not from Remnant, means?"
"Seriously?"
"Just answer and I'll owe you a favour." Jaune commented without thinking, before instantly backtracking at the sight of Thoearle's raised eyes and bright smile. "A favour THAT does not allow you to molest me."
"Fine." Thoearle's features dropped into another pout that Jaune was apparently immune to. "I'm not from Remnant, I from another world."
"Alien."
"Yes. I am an alien." Thoearle confirmed.
"I. See." Jaune rose from his seat. His cold mug of coffee sitting forgotten on the table. "I have to get ready for class. It has been... interesting. Please don't be here when I get..."
"You owe me a favour."
"Er... okay." Jaune mentally slapped his face. An Arc did not break their word, and offering someone a favour was akin to giving them a promise that you would see their request done at a later date. "What is..."
"I want you to let me stay with you."
"Ah... okay. I guess that is acceptab..."
"And to share your bed."
"No."
"You said."
"Letting you stay with me is the favour."
"Letting me share your bed could be a benefit." she gave him an enticing smile.
"No." Jaune deadpanned. "We will work out sleeping arrangements after I come back from class."
/=/
Jaune sat in his biology class, barely paying attention. After withdrawing from Beacon, he enrolled in Vale Community College; with some assistance from the Headmaster. Having his dream of being a huntsman fall apart, hurt; but still he wanted to help people. So he made a few choices. While his academics were good, there were still gaps, which meant he was having to take upgrading courses. Which wasn't too much of a hassle; seeing as he had yet to decide on what training program he was going to take.
His family was happy he was safe, and even before he offered to return Crocea Mors; they were eager to support him in his new career pursuit. With a monthly allowance from his parents, in addition to his job he was making ends meet and had some freedom to live his life. Yet he found himself repeatedly thinking about his time at Beacon. Missing his friends. Remembering the good times; before it all came to a crashing halt. The bell rang signalling the end of class, and like the rest of his fellow students he stood and filed out into the hallways.
He had another three hours of course work and lectures to attend; before he was done for the day. Then he'd have to deal with Thoearle, before heading to the noodle house. Things felt off since last night, and a good part of him was telling him to be wary of Toearle. There was more to her story, and her reasons than she was letting on. He would need to get to the bottom of it all, or he knew he would end up driven insane. He was brought out of his mulling by the vibration of the red bracelet on hi right wrist. His brows knit as he tried to figure out what was going on with it. Taking a shot in the dark he found a secluded corner and lifted the device to his mouth.
"Hello?"
"We have a situation."
"Thoearle?"
"Who else would it be?"
"This thing doubles as a scroll?"
"No, it works as a communicator."
"That's what a scroll does."
"Oh, yes you're right. The yes it doubles as a scroll."
"You said there was a situation. What do you mean?"
"While you were away I took the opportunity to set up some equipment..."
"You what?"
"Never mind."
"What did you do to my apartment?" Jaune hissed trying to keep from raising his voice, and making the other students think him as stranger than he already was.
"Never mind. I've been tracking these White Fang as you called them."
"How..."
"I'll explain it later. Are you at Vale Community College right now?"
"Yes, I'm at school. Why?"
"They are closing on the school. Make yourself ready."
"Why would they..." Jaune stopped himself in mid sentence. Last night they had been after dust. The tormenting civilians was icing on that cake; and if they were after dust. "The labs. What do I do Thoearle?"
"Get somewhere secluded, and activate your Tail-Gear. I will notify the authorities, just be ready to keep people safe."
"Activate it? How do I do that?"
"Oh right, never discussed the bracelet's functions did we. Use the phrase Tail-On, but give me three minutes before you do."
"Why?"
"So I can program it in as the activation command, silly."
"Why wasn't that done already?"
"Never mind. Just get somewhere to activate the transformation. They'll be there shortly. Hurry."
Jaune sighed, looked around and rushed off, heading for the most secluded spot he could think of. The roof. Tactically it would be an ideal location. Not only would he be able to transform out of sight, but he would also have a excellent vantage point for observing the campus.
/=/
"This is Lisa Lavender reporting live from the Vale Community College Campus, which was just recently the site of a White Fang attack. The Vale Police Department have yet to release a statement; we at VNN have have received several eye witness videos of the incident. While we will only be showing two of the videos we can confirm that all the videos show an altercation between at least a dozen White Fang, and a single young woman. The same young lady that had stepped in during another White Fang action last night."
Blake watched wide eyed as the video began to play. She had been surfing the CCT-Net lurking on what she knew were White Fang message boards; looking for any clues as to what they were doing in Vale. Before her amber eyes a young woman, maybe around Ruby's age dashed back and forth between armed White Fang members. Her attacks were clumsy, and telegraphed. Anyone with more than a basic knowledge of unarmed or hand to hand combat would have been able to easily countered every strike, yet then again. Blake could only imagine the power behind those blows as each strike dropped one of the extremist fanus. She was fast too. Dashing between targets and dispatching them with ease.
"What is going on out in Vale? Why would they attack a school campus?" she asked her self as a second video from another vantage point showed the exact same scene.
A young woman in a black and white old school skin tight tank style bathing suit, black gloves and what appeared to be black stockings. She was further outfitted with obvious armour on her feet, shins, forearms and hips. Everything accented with red. Her blond tipped crimson hair arranged in a set of nearly ankle length twin-tails, locked in place with stylized triangular barrettes.
"Who are you?" Blake whispered as she also winced as a she watched a once fellow White Fang go tumbling across the ground from a single punch. "What were they trying to accomplish?"
"The VNN will be hosting the offered videos, and will open our news forums to allow for submissions of other videos showing this mysterious heroine people are calling Tail-Red in action."
Blake quickly shut off the feed and made her way to the VNN forums. Right after she shot her team and (J)NPR a message to check out the forums as well. As much as the white fang's actions bothered her, something else was nagging at her thoughts after watching those videos. While nothing was absolutely in focus, and there was no crystal clear images, something about Tail-Red's face seemed familiar to Blake. It was almost as if she knew her.
/=/
Jaune's heart was beating a mile a minute. The adrenaline from jumping into a fight with armed White Fang members, followed with her hasty exit to keep from being detained by the rapid arrival of the VPN, along with the news cameras and reporters. She was having a hard enough time just coming to terms with the situation. There was no way she was going to expose herself further until she understood everything that was going.
With liberal use of the jump-jets situated in her hip armour; and her enhanced agaility, she evacuated herself from possible further notice. Hidden in a dark and dank trash cluttered alleyway she reverted. In a ball of almost flaming light the cute, and petite teen girl morphed into a lanky and rather forgettable looking young man. His bracelet vibrated, so he brought it up to his face.
"Jaune?"
"I'm here Thoearle."
"Good, just checking in. I'm monitoring multiple data streams and it appears as if you've earned a name."
"A name?"
"You're cute and delicious alter ego is now being called Tail-red."
"I have to ask. Why do I become a young girl when I use the tail gear? Like seeing as I'm a guy, shouldn't I stay a guy?"
"Interesting question, and while I admit a guy could wear twin tails, it wouldn't be the same. Besides, that's just how I made the gear work, also you look so cute as Tail-Red."
"It works that way, just because you wanted it to work that way?"
"Precisely."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Oh, before I forget. Your mother called while you were fighting the White Fang."
"My mother... you answered a scroll call from my mother? Why was she calling you?"
"She didn't call me silly. I answered your scroll while you were busy."
"How?"
"Oh, simple really. I inserted several benign programs into the infrastructure of your scroll, allowing me to clone it's functions. So anytime you get a call or message I can address it while you go out and be a hero! Isn't that grand."
"You what?"
"Though you might want to clear your browser search history. While I appreciate the peek into what may sexually interest you, I'm not... who am I kidding. Of course I would! So anytime you want..."
"Not. Going. To. Happen."
"Well anyway your mother wants you to call her when you get home."
"Is that all?" Jaune could feel a sense of absolute dread welling up inside him.
"Oh and she says congratulations, and she hopes we will be very happy with each other, though she does want a ring on my finger before the grand-babies start arriving."
Jaune choked. It was worse than he thought it could have been.
"Are you there? Jaune? Jaune?"
/=/
Thoearle smiled sweetly as Jaune entered his now shared apartment. Her smiled fell upon seeing his situation. He was not the lively young man that had left that morning. Gone was any indication of pride or even the semblance of a zest for life. He was hallow, a shell of his former self. Thoearle instantly began to search through her thoughts and memories, fearing that this situation was a possible side effect from using the Tail-Gear. The notion was quickly and resolutely quashed. There was no way something of her creation could do such a thing. No this had to have been caused by something else.
"Why?"
"Why... what?"
"Why would you talk to my mom? What did you tell her? Please for the love of the gods tell me this is a joke!"
"I did talk to her, and I talked to her because I thought she was reaching out to you due to a family emergency." Thoearle replied as she rose from her seat before the triple monitor setup that was taking up the wall his couch used to sit against. "And I just told her the truth. You said I could stay with you and that we slept together last night."
"She's going to kill me, and then my sisters are going to..."
"Don't be so dramatic. You are not in any danger."
"You don't know my family. They'll be coming for me. They'll want answers, and then blood."
"Your mother is a genuine and lovely woman. While I will admit my information about you did surprise her at first, she quickly recovered." Thoearle spoke as she took Jaune by the arm and lead him to the couch she had moved. "Like I told you she is happy for you, and again wants a ring on my finger before..."
"Please don't."
"Oh, and yes she would like your first daughter to be named after her, and your first son to be named after your father. She said that would make her exuberant."
"Please no. Please just make it all end." Jaune moaned as he fell face first into the worn cushions of his couch.
"Enough with the drama. We have more important things to discuss."
"Like?"
"Well firstly I need more room. This space is inadequate for my needs which include your needs."
"Needs?"
"Training, upkeep, data collection just to name a few." Thoearle replied, "I can not keep your Tail-gear functioning perfectly if I do not have the space to work on it. You can not master your abilities unless you have space to practice. Plus I need space for servers, and other things."
"This is the best I can afford. Make do." Jaune mumbled.
"There is no need for us to move."
"Then how?" Jaune asked lifting his head to regard his unwanted roommate with suspicion.
"Give me permission, and I will create us an underground hub, that will serve all our needs."
"You'll what?"
"You heard me."
"Ah... fine. Go ahead." Jaune sighed as he once again buried his face into the cushions of his couch.
"Plus there are other things we should discuss."
"Why bother." Jaune whined, "You'll just do what you want anyway. Just leave me alone for a bit. I've had a long day."
"This is important Jaune. Ignoring everything else that has happened, this you need to understand." Thoearle sat on the couch next to him, and idly reached out and started to play with a lock of his hair. "I came to Remnant in an effort to prevent the tragedy that took my home from me, happening here."
"You lost your world?" Jaune had to fight his brain to allow his voice to speak those very words. It couldn't be real could it? Life from beyond the stars. She had to be lying, but then again she was here. She was real, and what the Tail-Gear she gave him allowed him to do was insane.
"Yes. We were attacked, and tried to resist but we couldn't. It was only just before our final defeat that I was able to perfect the Tail-Gear that you are currently using." Thoearle removed her hand from Jaune's head. "So I took my creations, and ran. I left my home behind, and attempted to get ahead. To get to a target far enough along their path of destruction that I could train them to be strong enough to resist. To be strong enough to defeat them."
"So more aliens."
"Yes more aliens."
"Jaune I know you like to discard what I say, and you think I'm just a random ditz who wants in your pants..." Thoearle started playing with her own hair as she stared at the floor, "These entities that are coming, are powerful. I would hazard even more powerful than your Queen of the Grimm."
"Our what now?" Jaune asked as he bolted to sit up straight.
"Your Queen of the Grimm?"
"That's what I thought you said."
"Be that what it may. I can give you the information, and the tools needed to defeat them... but I need you. Without you this world will be defenceless."
"If I choose to do this. If I accept all this insanity, can you help Remnant deal with the grimm? Help me protect my world from this Queen of the Grimm?"
"Are you seeking to make a deal with me?"
"I guess I am."
"There is no need. I've already decided that I would help you defend this world from all threats."
"Then why?"
"You need to know what you agreed to when you accepted the Tail-Gear. These beings that are coming, will be looking for you. You will be their primary target, the focus for all of their most brutal warriors." Thoearle continued to start at the floor, and play with her light grey hair. "If you think that is too much to take on, I'll understand, and I will still do anything I can to prevent your world suffering the fate of mine."
"I'll do it."
"Excuse me?" Thoearle looked up at Jaune a slight look of shock on her face.
"I said I'll do it." Jaune leaned towards Thoearle and let his deep blues stare right into her bright blues. "I'll help you. Teach me, train me, outfit me. I will fight. I promise, and an Arc always keeps their word. Like you said I want to be a hero, this may not be the way I thought I could achieve that dream, but it's the opportunity I have."
"Thank you, Jaune."
"So what's the first step?"
"I need to construct our base of operations."
"Where and how? I mean if these beings are on their way do we have time..."
"I will build it under your apartment, and it should take two days, three if I run into anything troublesome."
"Why am I not surprised." Jaune sighed. He did notice how quickly he was just becoming accepting of all of Thoearles quirks. "Do these beings have a name? What should I watch out for?"
"They refer to themselves as Elmelians; and you don't need to watch for anything. When the appear you will know them, but also once the hub is completed I will be able to monitor all of Remnant. So basically you only need to practice with your Tail-Gear. Build up your skills and be ready to act when I call you."
"Okay. Anything else?"
"Attempt to use your Aura when in your Tail-Gear."
"Why?"
"It will give me data that I can use to upgrade your Tail-Gear. If I can modify the Tail-Gear to also utilize Aura in addition to your Attribute Strengths in regards to twin tails and being a hero; you may become nearly unstoppable." Thoearle stood and moved towards the kitchen. "At leats that is a theory I have been contemplating."
"So what now?"
"Get some rest. You have work do you not?"
Jaune sighed, rubbed his face with his left hand, and then stood. Without another word he moved into his bedroom and flopped face first into his unmade bed.
/==/
I mentioned that I was thinking of attempting to mesh "RWBY" with "Gonna be the Twin Tail" elements. So here is the attempt. This is also an attempt to doing something more lighthearted than my normally darker works.
It was interesting, and fun to be honest to just be random with Thoearle (Twirl), and having Jaune just be a straight man, defeated accepting what happens. At least that's how I hope it comes across.
Anyway, I'm in a creative mood, and after a re-read a few chapters of "Monster" to centre my thought process on the path of that story; I do plan to upload a new chapter for it in the next few days. I also have plans for an update to "Reunion".
The poll is going to remain up for awhile, and so far it is looking like "Monster" and "Reunion" are the two stories you my readers wish to see completed first.
Because I never said it earlier. My apologizes for taking so long in updating any of my works. It is not my intention to be the type of writer that starts and never finishes (that annoys me, but I know RL happens. But still, to end up invested in a story for it to suddenly stop... I understand the frustration some of you might be experiencing with me. Sorry about that.)
Anyway. As always comments, critiques, reviews, and suggestions are more than welcome. (They do make my day, so thank you to all those who take the extra time to post reviews.).
Hope you enjoyed. Later.